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BELMONT STAKES 2011: News and Notes

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 05:  Nehro is lead on to the track in preparation for the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 05: Nehro is lead on to the track in preparation for the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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D-Day

Memorial Day was a week ago, but today carries extra significance due to the anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy in 1944.  Current estimates indicate that there are about 45,000 D-Day veterans still alive today, one of which is my grandfather who was part of the invasion at Utah Beach. A special remembrance today to all the Allied soldiers - American, Canadian and British - who took part in that historic event 67 years ago.

Belmont Stakes

It must be June if we into the week leading to the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Below is a look at some of the current news around this Saturday's Belmont.

Animal Kingdom Zips Over Belmont Surface - BloodHorse.com
Animal Kingdom zipped a half-mile in :47.76 on the Belmont Park surface June 6 as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner showed his readiness for the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Belmont Stakes: Nehro gets in his final drill - Daily Racing Form
Nehro, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, completed his preparation for Saturday\'s Belmont Stakes with a four-furlong drill in 50.85 seconds early Monday morning at Belmont Park. Nehro remained well off the rail through fractions of 13.18 seconds for the opening furlong and 25.74 seconds for a quarter-mile. He went out five furlongs in 1:03.97.

Belmont Stakes: Mucho Macho Man works over Belmont main track - Daily Racing Form
Jockey Ramon Dominguez on Sunday morning got acquainted with his mount for next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, working Mucho Macho Man a solid five furlongs in 59.57 seconds over the Belmont main track.

Belmont Stakes Programming on TVG - BloodHorse.com
TVG has released its schedule of special Belmont Stakes (gr. I) programming, much of it from New York's Belmont Park on June 10-11.

Dominguez Rides Six Winners at Belmont Park - BloodHorse.com
Ramon Dominguez joined Jorge Velasquez as one of only two jockeys to win six races in a single day at Belmont Park, aided by a sweep of the June 5 New York Stallion Series races aboard Darrin's Dilemma and Hessonite.

Richard Dutrow License Hearing

Controversial trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. is in the midst of a hearing in New York to determine whether he will be allowed to continue to train in the state after his most recent suspension. 

Dutrow's fate remains up in the air as hearing before board begins - ESPN
On a mostly bright, sun-splashed, and pleasant Wednesday morning in Saratoga, some horsemen couldn't help but wonder about the storm clouds hanging over trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.

Dutrow’s attorney says license elimination would be too severe - Thoroughbred Times
The attorney for controversial Thoroughbred trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. will ask authorities to eliminate license revocation as a punitive option his client might face.

Dutrow: 'I Think I'm Good for Racing Game' - BloodHorse.com
Embattled trainer Rick Dutrow made a plea for his career June 3, when he told a New York hearing officer considering a license revocation case against him that he has been good for the Thoroughbred industry.

Michael Baze

Autopsy concludes Baze died of accidental overdose - Thoroughbred Times
A report from Jefferson County (Kentucky) Deputy Corner Jim Wesley concluded that jockey Michael Baze, 24, died of an accidental overdose.