Tracy Gantz

Tracy Gantz is a freelance writer based in Southern California. She is the Southern California correspondent for The Blood-Horse and a regular contributor to Paint Horse Journal, Paint Racing News, and Appaloosa Journal.

Articles by: Tracy Gantz

Santa Anita Track Open after Surface Overhaul

Horses are back in training, with several galloping, on Santa Anita’s newly reconstituted racing surface Aug. 31. Most of the Southern California horses have not yet returned from Del Mar, so few horses are currently housed at Santa Anita.

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Tropical Storm Fay Damages Equine Hospital

Although Tropical Storm Fay attacked the Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, Fla., with a vengeance on Aug. 19, no people or horses were injured. The veterinarians were quickly back at work, and the clinic was running fairly normally as of

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Safety Net for California’s Ex-Racehorses in the Works

Look in the winner’s circle after any offspring of Unusual Heat wins a race and you’ll likely see a petite, brown-haired woman hugging the jockey, high-fiving the trainer, or congratulating the owner. Madeline Auerbach fiercely champions her former

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Santa Anita Surface Overhaul in Progress

Large piles of material dot Santa Anita’s backside parking lot, as work continues on the overhaul of the track’s synthetic surface. Repairs to the drainage system are expected to be finished soon, with the next step being the placement of the

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Former Claimer Lava Man Retired After Stellar Career

Lava Man, the only horse to sweep the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic in the same year, has been retired.

Lava Man won grade I races on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces and joined Native Diver as the only

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Horse Finds Help in California Fire

When a horse lost amid the 3,043-acre Mill, Calif., fire happened upon a band of tired firefighters July 15, it was the most fortuitous encounter of his life. The firefighters, local veterinarian Sheri Cronin, DVM, and John Madigan, DVM, MS,

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Racetrack Enacts Zero-Tolerance Slaughter Policy

Sending racehorses to slaughter will not be tolerated at Suffolk Downs racetrack in Boston. Track management will now deny trainers stalls if they sell a horse for slaughter. This latest move bolsters other efforts underway to protect

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Millionaire Racehorse Nashoba’s Key Euthanized

Millionaire and multiple grade I winner Nashoba’s Key was involved in a freak accident in her stall at Hollywood Park and had to be euthanized May 28.


The 5-year-old daughter of Silver Hawk fractured her left hock when she kicked the

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Santa Anita to Replace Racing Surface

Experts from all avenues of the racing industry presented statistics and opinions on synthetic surfaces before a standing-room-only crowd during a six-hour special meeting called by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Feb. 20. While some

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Q&A on Santa Anita Footing Fix

Ian Pearse of Melbourne, Australia, is receiving plenty of attention these days as the man expected to fix Santa Anita’s troubled Cushion Track synthetic surface. Founder and president of Pro-Ride Racing Australia, Pearse this week begins what is expected to be a four- or five-day renovation of the Santa Anita main track in an effort to cure the drainage problems that have plagued the surface

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More Rain, More Cancellations at Santa Anita

After getting a break in the weather enabling the Sunshine Millions program to go forward Jan. 26, Santa Anita announced it has canceled its live racing programs for the next two days after more rain hit the track

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Rain Shuts Down Santa Anita Racing

Santa Anita officials canceled racing for Jan. 5 after Southern California was hit with the first of a series of rainstorms the previous evening. The Cushion Track synthetic surface, installed at Santa Anita this past summer to replace its main dir

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