Summer Bird must love the State of New York. The 3 year old son of Birdstone added to his Belmont victory by winning the Travers Stakes , which dates back to 1864, today on a muddy track at Saratoga. Summer Bird took the lead in the Mid-Summer Derby over rising star Kensei at the quarter pole and never looked back, holding off a late closing longshot, Hold Me Back to win and earn his second Grade 1 victory in the slop. Quality Road finished third.

"I could have went to the front at the seven-eighths pole," winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said after winning the prestigious race. "For at least a half a mile I had him under restraint."

The winner, sent off as the 5-2 second choice, paid $7.80, $4.30, and $2.70. The exacta (6-1) with 17-1 Hold Me Back paid $115.50. The trifecta (6-1-4) was $343.50.

Here is a video replay of the race:

Don't miss your chance to go to the 2009 Cuyahoga County Fair. The weekend weather is forecasted to be perfect and at just under $6 the fair is a bargain price for the entertainment that is offered.

Among the events going on today will be a tribute to teen sensations Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, and Demi Lovato who will play the grandstand area at 2 pm. Please be aware that their is a supplemental admission price ($5 and $10) for this show. For the more mature audience a big attraction will be a special exhibit on American television which we took in and found it be put together very well. This evening a Bob Seger cover band will play a free show. There is much, much more at the fair and we suggest you head over to their website to find out all the fun stuff that is going on and take in the action in Berea.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's declaration that he would support horse tracks getting slot machines capped off a whirlwind week at Cleveland area race track Thistledown. Just two days ago, the struggling facility, who has seen wagering dollars leave the state to racinos and casinos across state borders, was threatened with closure. Now the North Randall attraction will likely be poised for a Phoenix-like rebirth if the plan sees the light of day - as it should.

Thistlledown in the last decade has seen purses dry up, leaving it with sub-standard racing and the once respected track had become a laughing stock across the country. Its parent company, Magna Entertainment, had been trying to sell the track for years but had no suitors as they had been bleeding money with no sign of relief from the state in sight. The addition of slots will make the sale of the track much easier and "The Big T" will likely become a popular destination for casual gamblers in the area.

Rachel Alexandra had the fairer sex jump for joy when she became the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes in 85 years. Now the leading canadiate for 3 Year Old Horse of the Year campaign will be "racing for a cure". Jess Jackson, who owns the newest superstar in the sport of kings, has stated that they have donated $20,000 to Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure for research to combat breast cancer.

“Rachel Alexandra is a magnificent horse. In her honor, we are making a gift to the Susan B. Komen Race for a Cure" said his wife in the announcement.

If the success continues on the track, the connections have said that more contributions will be given to the group so when you are rooting for Rachel down the home stretch in coming races, you will rooting for a good cause as well.

The most famous horse track in the United States will start a new era today. Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, will host night racing for the first time in its history. Many are comparing this to when Wrigley Field installed lights becoming the last Major League Baseball team to do so.

The company that runs the track hope to attract a bigger crowd with night racing and invested $600,000 in the lighting fixtures at the track.

Local fans of the sport of horse racing won't have to far to drive to watch the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner strut his stuff. The connections of Mine That Bird have announced that the gelding will be making his next start Mountaineer Park on August 1st as a prep for the prestigious Travers Stakes later that month.

"The West Virginia Derby fits our schedule the best, and that's the main thing," said Chip Woolley who trains the horse that finished in the money in all three of the classic races this spring.

Mountaineer Park is less than a 2 hour drive from Cleveland and is a popular destination for local gamblers. One can assume that a lot of horse racing fans will be making trek to see the horse that shocked the world with 50-1 to claim the "Run for the Roses".

In 1980, Genuine Risk made headlines worldwide by becoming the first filly since 1915 to win the Kentucky Derby. Like Genuine Risk 29 years ago, super-filly Rachel Alexendra will try to break a long losing streak for her gender in a Triple Crown race and become the first lady winner of the Preakness Stakes since 1924. Some thought that Genuine Risk was robbed of her chance to become the first female Triple Crown winner after a bumping incident down the stretch in the middle leg of the Triple Crown.

Jacinto Vasquez, who had to settle for second place on the filly, said after the race:

"I thought this was a race track, not a rodeo".

"He hit my horse over her head with the whip. He came out and bumped me and took me to the outside fence. And after that, she stopped running."

"I don't want to see the rerun on the films. I know what he did. He went out and and bumped me and threw my horse off stride. The rules should be obeyed whether its the Preakness or any other stakes race. And the rules say you should race a straight course".

Headlines read "A Preakness Purse-Snatching" and death threats were made to winning jockey Angel Cordero's life. Cordero denied any wrongdoing. The matter went to court but the judicial system ruled that Codex, did in fact, win the race.