Claire Novak
Claire Novak has melded her love for human-interest journalism and the equine breed into a successful Turf writing career. Winner of the 2008 Louisville Metro Journalism Award for Sports Writing, she maintains connections to esteemed organizations such as the Associated Press and The Blood-Horse Magazine. Her byline appears regularly in numerous other publications.
Articles by Claire Novak
Teuflesberg Surgery Successful; Prognosis Good
October 11, 2007
Teuflesberg, who fractured both sesamoid bones in his left front leg in the Oct. 6 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland, underwent a successful surgery Oct. 11 at Rood & Riddle Equine Read More
Kentucky Farm Managers' Meeting Focuses on Equine Health
October 10, 2007
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club focused on equine health and biosecurity and offered a presentation by guest speaker Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM, of the Gluck Equine Research Center Oct. 9.
Prior to Dwyer's Read More
Belmont Equine Medical Center to Bear Ruffian's Name
September 21, 2007
The state-of-the-art equine medical facility currently under construction at Belmont Park will be named after the great filly Ruffian, the IEAH Corporation announced Sept. 20.
"We are honored to able to carry out the legacy of Ruffian on th Read More
Australians Seek American Help in Fight Against Equine Influenza
September 16, 2007
In a Sept. 14 meeting at Keeneland Race Course, William Inglis and Son – Australia’s leading Thoroughbred sales agency since 1867 – sought American help to fight the ramifications of an equine influenza outbreak that could result in the loss of Read More
Barbaro Jockey Prado Injured in Saratoga Fall
September 02, 2007
Jockey Edgar Prado took off his mounts and was hospitalized with a possible injured right ankle following a Sept.1 racing accident at Saratoga Race Course.
The jockey rode Christophe Clement trainee Admiral Bird to a second-place Read More
Eight Inducted into Racing Hall of Fame
August 06, 2007
Eight legendary figures from the Thoroughbred industry were inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Aug. 6, as University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino gave the keynote address at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion Read More
Rags to Riches Sound, Training at Saratoga
August 02, 2007
Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches shipped from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course July 31 and has galloped over the upstate New York racing surface the past two mornings. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the 3-year-old filly would continue to gallop Read More
Rags to Riches Pulled Up During Drill
July 23, 2007
Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches was pulled up Sunday morning shortly after beginning a five-furlong workout at Belmont Park. According to Daily Racing Form, the 3-year-old filly did not display any immediate signs of injury. Read More
Kentucky Equine Humane Center Draws Interest
July 07, 2007
The Kentucky Equine Humane Center held its inaugural open house June 23 at the organization's leased property in Nicholasville, Ky. Formed to facilitate adoption of unwanted horses in Kentucky and to provide humane treatment and shelter during Read More
Trainers of Belmont Contenders Ship, Plan Final Works
May 31, 2007
With the June 9 Belmont Stakes fast approaching, trainers of the expected contenders were making plans for travel and pre-race works May 31.
Larry Jones will ship Hard Spun to Belmont Park from Delaware Park June 2 and will ready the son of Read More
Eight to be Inducted into Racing Hall of Fame
May 29, 2007
Five persons and three horses will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Aug. 6. The class is the largest since nine were inducted in 1978.
Jockeys Jose Santos and John Sellers; trainers Henry Read More
Appeals Judge Upholds Ruling in Funny Cide Case
May 19, 2007
The Florida District Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the Miami Herald in a defamation case filed by the owners of Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby.
The case centered around the Read More
New Pennsylvania Track to Install Tapeta Surface
May 13, 2007
Presque Isle Downs, the new Erie, Pa. track owned by MTR Gaming Group, will install Michael Dickinson's synthetic Tapeta racing surface before its inaugural Thoroughbred meet begins Sept. 1., said Rose Mary Williams, director of racing at Read More
Barbaro's Owners Purchase His Derby Saddle
May 06, 2007
The saddle worn by Barbaro in the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) sold for $220,000 at the May 4 Mint Jubilee Gala, with proceeds of the sale going to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund.
Dwight Manley, national Read More
Churchill Prepares for Visit from Queen
May 03, 2007
Staff members and security guards at Churchill Downs are preparing for a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip, who will attend Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby.
According to Julie Koenig Loignon, official Read More
Derby Horses: What's in a Name? Tradition, Humor
April 28, 2007
1. Street Sense (Street Cry–Bedazzle): Breeder/owner James Tafel says there's no particular reason for the "sense" portion of his colt's name. The first part, of course, is derived from the name of Street Sense's sire.
2. Scat Daddy Read More
Hall of Fame Jockeys Support Disabled Riders at Keeneland
April 19, 2007
Hall of Fame jockeys Steve Cauthen, Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day, Don Brumfield, Earlie Fires, Chris McCarron, Bobby Ussery, and Kent Desormeaux took questions from racing fans and signed autographs at Keeneland in an April 18 event that supported Read More
AAEP On Call Program Highlighted in Triple Crown Teleconference
April 17, 2007
Equine orthopedic surgeon Larry Bramlage, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, discussed equine health and safety issues during an NTRA Road to the Triple Crown teleconference April 17
Bramlage, who will be serving as the American Association of Equine Read More
Barbaro Saddle Donated to Benefit Disabled Jockeys' Fund
April 03, 2007
During a press conference held at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning, Jockeys’ Guild manager Dwight Manley called for support of the Disabled Jockeys’ Fund as Edgar Prado formally donated the saddle worn by Barbaro, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Read More
Drug Positives Lead to December Suspensions for Two Leading Trainers
December 17, 2006
Trainer Scott Lake, who currently leads the nation with 528 wins for the year, and two-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher, who leads in earnings with a record-setting $27,427,878, are both to begin serving suspensions for medication Read More
Barbaro Doing Well: Vets Plan to Remove Cast Next Week
November 02, 2006
Barbaro, the unbeaten winner of the Kentucky Derby, is in good health and progressing well on his road to recovery, Dean Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, told reporters in a Nov. 1 press conference during the National Turf Writers' Association dinne Read More
Keeneland's Polytrack Popular With Breeders' Cup Hopefuls on Saturday
October 28, 2006
Racing may have been winding down on Saturday, Oct. 28, the final day of Keeneland's fall meet in Lexington, Ky., but top stakes contenders were taking advantage of the opportunity to get in one last work over Polytrack before the Breeders' Cup Read More
Racing Museum to Debut Unique Horse Racing Simulator
August 02, 2006
The National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame is expected to unveil its one-of-a-kind equine simulator during a press conference Aug. 3 museum communications director Mike Kane said.
Under development for approximately three years, the Read More
Asmussen Faces Six Month Suspension and Fine
June 26, 2006
Steve Asmussen, North America's leading trainer in 2004 and 2005, is facing a six month suspension for a medication infraction involving the Class 2 drug mepivicaine, a local anesthetic.
According to the Louisiana Racing Commission, Read More
Jockey Injured After Colt Wins Forerunner
April 21, 2006
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey John Velazquez remained hospitalized Thursday evening (April 20) following a nasty spill in Keeneland's feature race, the Forerunner Stakes. The incident occurred when Velazquez's mount, Up an Octave, broke Read More
