Southern California

A new circuit, riding titles and multiple graded stakes victories led to overwhelming support for Abel Cedillo to be honored as TVG Breakthrough Jockey of the Year for 2019. The award is voted on by a panel of industry experts who select a Jockey of the Week for JockeyTalk360.com based on weekly riding accomplishments by […]

Grade 1 winner Voodoo Song has been transferred from trainer Linda Rice in New York to the barn of Richard Mandella in Southern California, reports drf.com. The 5-year-old son of English Channel is a homebred for owner Barry Schwartz, who also has a home in Santa Barbara. Voodoo Song first made noise with four consecutive victories […]

On Saturday, Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza will ride Midcourt for trainer John Shirreffs in the Grade III $100,000 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. A victory would be stakes win No. 102 for Espinoza at Del Mar and move him within six of Corey Nakatani for the No. 2 spot on the track’s […]

Jockey Joe Talamo, two shy of his 2,000th career victory, is scheduled to ride four mounts on Saturday in quest of the milestone. Records show Talamo, 29, won No. 1,000 on April 4, 2012 in the fourth race at Santa Anita aboard Splendid Fortune, an Arnold Zetcher homebred trained by Bob Baffert. The 2-5 favorite […]

As the days during which racing was suspended at Santa Anita mounted up last winter, taking a toll on all horsemen, Tyler Baze was faced with a dilemma. Ride out the storm of troubles in Southern California, his home and base of operations for most of his 20-year career. Or leave the work-less days and […]

At a special Board of Directors meeting held Sunday, October 27, the leadership of California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) voted to assist in immediate fund-raising for the Southern California Equine Foundation (SCEF) purchase of an equine MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) facility to be added to the Equine Imaging Center at Santa Anita Park. The proven technology […]

Dan Hendricks, who has trained horses on the Southern California circuit since 1981, will send out his last starter this afternoon when R L Stable’s Matson goes postward in the 10th race at Del Mar, a $50,000 maiden-claimer for 2-year-olds. “Don’t really have any plans,” said the 61-year-old conditioner when asked about his decision. “Time […]

The Santa Anita winter/spring meeting lost 24 racing days either in the name of safety or not having enough horses to race four days a week. Los Alamitos cancelled three racing days during its three-week meeting due to a lack of entries. That was the situation facing Del Mar Thoroughbred Club executive vice president, racing […]

Nick Alexander is a staple throughout the Southern California horse racing scene as a respected owner, breeder, and local car dealership owner that just can’t ever seem to say “no.” XBTV’s own Millie Ball caught up with the Chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California recently to discuss horses, cars, and his deep rooted history […]

Edwin Maldonado is not the leading jockey at Santa Anita this meet, but at five feet six, he’s certainly among the tallest, and with 13 wins from 63 mounts, a gaudy 21 percent, he is fifth in the standings, thanks in the main to good luck and hard work. The 35-year-old native of Columbus, Ohio, […]