Author Archive: John Asher
Best Kentucky Horse Story Of 2012? Easy Choice
A few weeks back the office phone rang and Mark Story, the talented columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, was on the other end of the line. He wanted to talk about horses and horse people.
Kentucky Horses Dominate 2012 Eclipse Award Nominees
The list of finalists for the Eclipse Awards that will honor the most accomplished horses and humans in American racing are out, and the roster of nominees has a decided Bluegrass State flavor.
2012 In The Rear-View Mirror
As we recover from the holidays and the celebration of your choice to ring in the New Year, it should be noted that all Thoroughbreds celebrated a universal birthday for racing purposes on Jan. 1.
Gift Ideas For Derby Fans And Horse Lovers
Santa Claus is inside the eighth pole, but there’s time for holidays shoppers to pick up some Thoroughbred-related gift items.
McPeek’s Pure Fun Offers Late Season Surprise
Lexington-born trainer Ken McPeek’s 2012 would have concluded on a high note had the year come to a halt on the weekend after Thanksgiving, which wrapped up the Fall Meet at Churchill Downs.
Fall Meet Honors And A Glance Ahead
After taking a few days to consider the events of 21 racing days during the 2012 Churchill Downs Fall Meet, it’s time to list the stars – both four-legged and bipeds – and best moments the meet had to offer.
Farewell By Shackleford A Sentimental Fall Meet Highlight
The closing weekend of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet is always a lovely jumble of emotions and sensations, but it never fails to be special.
Holiday In New York For Groupie Doll?
Trainer Buff Bradley had planned for his streaking Breeders’ Cup star Groupie Doll to spend the Thanksgiving weekend and a few tranquil weeks on the family farm near Frankfort, Ky. before gearing the current queen of Kentucky racing up for a 2013 racing schedule.
Memories Celebrated And Created
The brief Fall Meet at Churchill Downs is frequently most memorable for its hints of racing’s future embodied in the performances of promising and well-bred 2-year-olds, the horses that could step into racing’s brightest spotlights the following spring in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
Santa Anita Now A Bluegrass Outpost
The 2012 renewal of the Breeders’ Cup lacked sizzle heading into last week’s two-day run at Southern California’s Santa Anita. But, as usually happens, the horses saved the days.







