March 29, 2024

John Rotz, Hall of Fame jockey, dead at 86

July 13, 2021 0

“Gentleman John” Rotz, the retired Hall of Fame jockey and former Jockey Club steward in New York, died July 12 at the age of 86 at his home in Warrensburg, Illinois. Rotz’s riding career spanned […]

Remembering Hall of Famer Bimelech

April 4, 2020 0

Had Keeneland’s spring meet gone forward, we might have seen unbeaten Maxfield launch his comeback in the Blue Grass (G2). Instead I’m finding refuge in the past, and a perusal of the Blue Grass honor roll led me to back to Hall of Famer Bimelech (1940). […]

Yesterday and Today: Opening Week at Saratoga

July 20, 2018 0

The highly-anticipated racing season at Saratoga begins Friday with an abbreviated four-day week that runs through Monday. While the day-in, day-out racing remains the best in the country, in some ways it’s a far cry […]

Manny Ycaza, Hall of Fame jockey, dead at 80

July 17, 2018 0

Manny Ycaza, the Hall of Fame jockey who was among the first generation of Latin American riders that came to dominate the upper echelons of the sport and whose colorful and aggressive riding style endeared […]

Best of Hanson 2017: An Anthology

December 18, 2017 0

The end of another year is upon us, thus time to anthologize some of my better (IMHO) takes and features published throughout 2017 at Brisnet.com. (you can find my “Best of” collections for 2015 and […]