Jennie Rees Journalist Profile

Articles

Kentucky's 2024 Win Leaders: Brad Cox, Steve Asmussen, Luan Machado

Jan 14, 2025 | yahoo.com | Jennie Rees

After sending out a combined 1,038 starters throughout the nine meets at Kentucky’s five Thoroughbred racetracks, Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox finished 2024 with 96 victories apiece. That led all trainers for wins within the Commonwealth. Just about 24 percent of the Hall of Famer Asmussen’s North America-leading 407 overall victories last year came in Kentucky, while about 41 percent of Cox’s 243 seasonal wins came in his home state.
Damon Thayer To Keynote HBPA Conference

Jan 13, 2025 | yahoo.com | Jennie Rees

Damon Thayer — who served as one of horse racing’s foremost champions during his 22-year tenure in the Kentucky General Assembly — will be the keynote speaker at the National HBPA Conference Feb. 25-27 in in Safety Harbor, Fla. Thayer will address the conference on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on Tampa Bay. Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, said he strives for keynote speakers who bring in a topical but also uplifting message.
'I Know She’s Not Seabiscuit, But She Is To Us': Winningest Horse Of 2024, Tennessee Moon Takes On Claiming Crown

Nov 15, 2024 | paulickreport.com | Jennie Rees

Mark Hibdon, owner-trainer of Tennessee Moon, didn’t know his 4-year-old filly was North America’s winningest horse in 2024 until he came to Churchill Downs for Saturday’s $100,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper. The one-mile Glass Slipper, one of eight Claiming Crown races that kick off with Race 4 Saturday, is for fillies and mares that have competed for a claiming price of $12,500 or cheaper in 2023-24.
Claiming Crown: Molly's Rose A Winner Just For Making It To The Races

Nov 14, 2024 | yahoo.com | Jennie Rees

Generate Key TakeawaysNo matter where Molly’s Rose finishes in Saturday’s $150,000 Claiming Crown Tiara, for Lexington-based owner-trainer Erin Riefenberg the 4-year-old filly is a winner just making it to the race at Churchill Downs. Or any race for that matter. "There are not a lot of horses that could go through everything she went through and even want to run at all," Riefenberg said of her one-horse stable.
Claiming Crown: Molly's Rose A Winner Just For Making It To The Races

Nov 14, 2024 | paulickreport.com | Jennie Rees

No matter where Molly’s Rose finishes in Saturday’s $150,000 Claiming Crown Tiara, for Lexington-based owner-trainer Erin Riefenberg the 4-year-old filly is a winner just making it to the race at Churchill Downs. Or any race for that matter. "There are not a lot of horses that could go through everything she went through and even want to run at all," Riefenberg said of her one-horse stable.
From Arizona Ranch Horse To Claiming Crown: Hoodlum On Best Behavior For Al Stall

Nov 13, 2024 | paulickreport.com | Jennie Rees

Veteran trainer Al Stall Jr. will have his first horse in the Claiming Crown when the 5-year-old gelding Hoodlum starts in Saturday’s $100,000 Kent Stirling Iron Horse Memorial at Churchill Downs. But Stall got a taste of the event designed to celebrate racing’s workhorses last year. The 2023 Claiming Crown was at the Fair Grounds in Stall’s hometown and winter base of New Orleans.
A Boy Named Girl: 'Powerhouse' East Coast Girl Takes On Claiming Crown Sprint

Nov 13, 2024 | yahoo.com | Jennie Rees

Generate Key TakeawaysFirst off: East Coast Girl, while from the East, is a boy. Never mind the name, Penn National-based trainer Carl O’Callaghan said Island View Farm’s 4-year-old horse in Saturday’s $100,000 Claiming Crown Ready’s Rocket Express is all man. “He’s just a powerhouse,” O’Callaghan said at Churchill Downs, host to the Claiming Crown for the second time in two years. “He’s built like a tank. He wants to give you his all.
Arkansas HBPA Installs Free Wi-Fi In Each Of Oaklawn's Barns

Nov 13, 2024 | yahoo.com | Jennie Rees

Generate Key TakeawaysWhen horsemen ship into Oaklawn Park for the 2024-25 race meet, they’ll find every barn equipped with wireless internet. The Arkansas HBPA, which represents horse owners and trainers at the state’s only racetrack, paid to install internet in all 38 barns and is picking up the monthly bill. Each barn will have its own router with the wifi password protected. “Even our older trainers are using the internet now,” said Arkansas HBPA President Bill Walmsley, a horse owner.
Arkansas HBPA Installs Free Wi-Fi In Each Of Oaklawn's Barns

Nov 13, 2024 | paulickreport.com | Jennie Rees

When horsemen ship into Oaklawn Park for the 2024-25 race meet, they’ll find every barn equipped with wireless internet. The Arkansas HBPA, which represents horse owners and trainers at the state’s only racetrack, paid to install internet in all 38 barns and is picking up the monthly bill. Each barn will have its own router with the wifi password protected. “Even our older trainers are using the internet now,” said Arkansas HBPA President Bill Walmsley, a horse owner.
Claiming Crown: Eight Full Fields Of Valuable Horses - No Matter What They Cost

Nov 11, 2024 | paulickreport.com | Jennie Rees

The 119 horses in the entries for Saturday’s eight Claiming Crown races at Churchill Downs might have been inexpensive at some stage of their career. But that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable.