Betty's Critters - & History Views

 John R. Velazquez and Bob Baffert teamed up with National Treasure to win the 2023 Preakness Stakes.  John has won almost every Grade 1 race in the United States, but this was his first Preakness win, on his 13th mount in the race.      Bob Baffert had just returned to Pimlico this week, after staying in California for a couple of years, and had to witness his star colt, Havnameltdown, in the Chick Lang Stakes (the 6th race on today's program) stumble, fall, and be euthanized on the track.  It was a terrible occurrence.  Jockey Luis Saez was galloped over by the following horse, and was taken to the hospital.  Saez is OK, and will ride tomorrow.    National Treasure, the bay son of Quality Road and Treasure, took control out of the gate, and led all the way, though he had to fight off Blazing Sevens in the stretch and won only by the margin of a head.  Once he got the lead, he slowed down, so that the majority of the other ent...

 Taxed, the gray/roan daughter of Collected and Yankee Union, won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico this afternoon by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths.  Taxed finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.35, and took home $180,000.  The winning trainer was Randy Morse, and the jockey was Rafael Bejarano.  Hoosier Philly was second, and the previously undefeated Faiza was third.    There were three scratches, so a field of 9 contested the Grade 2 race.  Hoosier Philly, another gray/roan filly, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of Faiza, who was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Balpool. Taxed winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes    The complete order of finish, with purse earnings follows:  1.  Taxed ($180,000); 2.  Hoosier Philly ($60,000); 3.  Faiza ($30,000); 4.  Balpool ($18,000); 5.  Merlazza ($9,000); 6.  Cats Inthe Timber ($3,000); 7.  Towhead; 8.  Comparative; 9.  Sacred Wish.  Scratched entries wer...

 On Saturday, 20 May 2023, the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place at Pimlico Race Course on the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland.  The scheduled post time is 6:50 p.m. EDT  (4:50 MDT), with eight 3-year-old Thoroughbred males racing 1 and 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) on the main track of the racecourse known as "Old Hilltop."  The young horses will each carry 126 pounds in the race with a purse of $1.5 million to be awarded.    Mage won the Kentucky Derby on 6 May.  He is the only horse that ran in the Derby that is racing in the Preakness.  The field of eight contains 2 geldings; Chase the Chaos is Pennsylvania bred and Maryland bred Coffeewithchris.  The other six colt are all Kentucky bred.  Six of the horses are bay; Mage and Red Route One are chestnuts.  There are 6 stallions represented by the 8 runners, with Good Magic the sire of three.  There are eight different trainers for this race. Mage, winner of t...

 The Preakness counter-part of the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies is the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.  It will take place this Friday, 19 May, at Pimlico Race Course, outside of Baltimore, Maryland.  The Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, 20 May.  The Black-Eyed Susan is now a Grade 2 race.  It's run on the main dirt track at Old Hilltop, as is the Preakness.  The race is now a handicap race, where the fillies who are considered "better" by the horsemen at the track carry more weight in the race than the other entries.  This race covers 1 1/8 miles, or 9 furlongs, and the purse is $300,000.  Post time is listed as 5:44 pm EDT  (3:44 MDT).  There are 12 entries, carrying weights of 118, 120, or 124 pounds.  The weight differences are supposed to get all the fillies at the finish line at the same time.    Of the twelve fillies entered, Pate was bred in Virginia, Miracle was bred in New York, Balpool and Frosty O Too...

From  The Peninsula Enterprise  newspaper, edition of Saturday, 6 January 1894, on page 3, column 2, under the heading "Neighborhood Notes:"      "Chincoteague.    Miss Georgie Tracey left this week for Philadelphia, to take music lessons there during the winter.   Large shipments of oysters are being made now daily from this place.  On last Monday 628 barrels were sent to market.   The steamer Chincoteague at this time is making three trips daily to Franklin City, leaving here at 4.42 a. m. and 12.15 and 2.30 p. m.   Mr. W. C. Payne will open up a mercantile establishment soon at this place  he proposes to carry a large and select stock in many lines.   Mrs. Thomas Phillips, daughter of Wm. Booth, died on the 30th ult., of consumption, aged 34 years. Her husband and two children survive her.   Wm P. Reed and Miss Eva K. Moore, and Fillmore Taylor and Miss Annie Watson, were married December 21st, Rev. Mr. Sandfo...