Steve Haskin

Haskin's Belmont Picks

June 06, 2009

Warning: what you are about to read should be taken with extreme skepticism. Not to sound self deprecating, but yours truly is on one nasty losing streak in the Triple Crown, and the selection for the Belmont Stakes will be made as a means of Read More

Belmont Report: Love That Bird

June 05, 2009

Ok, I am officially smitten with Mine That Bird. I admit to being one of those misguided souls who paid no attention to him before the Kentucky Derby other than to comment what a beautiful mover he was. After the Preakness and seeing him on the Read More

Dogwood Stable Names Mine That Bird's Brother

May 28, 2009

Dogwood Stable, which paid $485,000 for Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird's half-brother by Yonaguska at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale, has named the colt Brother Bird.

According to a Dogwood spokesperson, the colt, out o Read More

Preakness Recap: Remarkable Rachel

May 20, 2009

Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring," wrote: "One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, 'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?'"

Although Carson was referring to the beauties of the Read More

Search is on Again for Mine That Bird Jockey

May 19, 2009

For the second race in a row, Mine That Bird's connections must look for a different rider, as Mike Smith has decided to honor his commitment and ride Jerry and Ann Moss' Madeo in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes at Hollywood Park the same day as Read More

Big Brown Farrier Managing Quarter Crack in New Derby Contender

April 07, 2009

Farrier Ian McKinlay, who was in the news last year dealing with Big Brown's quarter crack prior to the Belmont Stakes, is back on the Triple Crown trail once again, treating a Read More

Owner Reflects on Big Brown's Injury, Career

October 14, 2008

One minute, Mike Iavarone was all smiles after watching Big Brown work a sharp six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 over the Aqueduct turf course in company with stablemate Kip Deville on Oct. 13, and the next he was Read More

Suspensory Injury Brings Retirement of Evening Attire

September 29, 2008

The old warrior Evening Attire, a stakes-winning Thoroughbred racehorse at age 10 and earner of nearly $3 million, has been retired due to a suspensory injury, co-owners and breeders Tommy Kelly and Joseph and Mary Grant announced Sept. 28. Read More

Big Brown to Retire at End of 3-Year-Old Season

September 14, 2008

Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, clarified a story published in yesterday's Washington Post that was picked up by other publications that stated Big Brown may race as a 4-year-old. Iavarone said that although IEAH has the righ Read More

Racehorse Lava Man to Reside at Old Friends

September 04, 2008

A jubilant Michael Blowen announced Thursday that Lava Man, one of the greatest racing geldings of all time, is scheduled to arrive at Old Friends on Sept. 16, where he will live ou Read More

Photo Series Shows Big Brown's Belmont Shoe Trouble

June 24, 2008

Each day brings new entries in the "Brown Shoe Diaries." The latest photos from the Belmont Stakes reveal Big Brown was stepped on by Guadalcanal leaving the gate, and that the shoe did not re-set itself during the race as previously thought; th Read More

Big Brown's Owners Adopt No-Drug Policy

June 23, 2008

International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH) Stables--the partnership that races Big Brown--has taken the first bold step in securing a no-drug policy in racing by announcing Monday that all its horses starting Oct. 1 will race without any Read More

Stone Bruised Casino Drive to Return for BC Classic

June 10, 2008

Casino Drive's quest to become the third straight Belmont Stakes winner produced by his dam Better Than Honour failed when the colt suffered a stone bruise two days before the race and was scratched the morning of the race. But this isn't the Read More

Big Brown to Work Tuesday Without Hoof Patch

June 02, 2008

Trainer Rick Dutrow said Sunday afternoon that Big Brown will not be fitted with a patch on Monday as originally scheduled and will work on Tuesday without one.

"I'm going to breeze him just the way he is and give him more time to let Ian Read More

Big Brown's Hoof Shows Improvement

May 27, 2008

Ian McKinlay, the farrier who has been treating Big Brown's quarter crack, said Monday morning the colt's left front foot has shown improvement and he and trainer Rick Dutrow remain confident the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will not be Read More

Big Brown Has 'Slight' Quarter Crack

May 26, 2008

Big Brown, who will be seeking the coveted Triple Crown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), has a "slight" quarter crack on the inside of his left front foot, trainer Rick Dutrow said Sunday, May 25. The colt did not go to the track Saturday o Read More

Steve Haskin: Remembering John Henry

October 09, 2007

It was a shock to hear John Henry had died, even though he had been in ill health and was 32 years old. Some things, like the mighty Redwoods, seem eternal, and John always was eternal in my mind. Or perhaps that feeling was more rooted in my Read More

Race Injury Sidelines Belmont-Winning Filly Until 2008

September 17, 2007

Trainer Todd Pletcher announced Sept. 16 that Rags to Riches suffered a hairline fracture to her right front pastern during Saturday's Gazelle Stakes, but that the injury is not career-ending.

"She is expected to make a full recovery," Read More

NYRA Planning "Funny Cide Day" at Saratoga

July 16, 2007

The New York Racing Association, after speaking with Sackatoga Stable managing partner Jack Knowlton and trainer Barclay Tagg, is moving ahead with plans to hold a "Funny Cide Day" at Saratoga Aug. 10, at which the recently retired Kentucky Derb Read More

Derby, Preakness Winner Funny Cide to Retire at 7

July 15, 2007

Sackatoga Stable’s Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and one of the most popular horses in recent years, has been retired, trainer Barclay Tagg said July 13.

Tagg stated that Funny Cide retires perfectly sound. Read More

Invasor a Horse to Remember

June 25, 2007

Invasor, Shadwell Stable's reigning Horse of the Year, suffered a career-ending injury to his right hind ankle and has been retired from racing. For more information see Read More

Steve Haskin's Belmont Recap: Wonder Woman

June 12, 2007

Call it fate. Call it kismet. Whatever title you prefer, Rags to Riches seemed destined to give trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez their first classic winner.

Although "Johnny V" has been Pletcher's first-call rider for years, it Read More

Steve Haskin's Belmont Report: The End of the Road

June 08, 2007

It's been a wild and crazy Triple Crown (no tip intended) with lots of twist and curves, and it all comes to a rousing conclusion in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Will Curlin finally regress, and if so, how much? How special is Rags to Riches? Will Read More

Curlin vs. Rags Has Belmont Abuzz

June 06, 2007

When all is said and done, the 139th Belmont Stakes has turned out to be one heck of a race after all, Street Sense or no Street Sense. We have seven legitimate horses, with none of the usual no-hopers that seem to pop out of the woodwork for the Read More

List of Belmont Contenders Continues to Grow

June 04, 2007

They're not pouring out of the woodwork, but they're coming--slowly but surely. Normally, if the winner of the Kentucky Derby defects from the Belmont Stakes, it's going to bring a deluge of newcomers looking to take a shot at the final leg of the Read More