Horse racing has many different terms to measure margin of victory. Going from closest to largest, a horse can win by a nose, head, or neck, by fractions of a length, or by a length or more (a length is, as you might guess, the estimated length of a racehorse, roughly eight feet). But sometimes, there is no margin to measure – the horses reach the finish line equally together. When that happens, the familiar term “dead heat” is applied, usually after a several-minute wait while the racetrack stewards examine the finish line photo.
Tag: Racing
Key Takeaways from the Haskell Stakes and Other Weekend Races
America’s Best Racing editor Patrick Reed presents four takeaways from an eventful weekend in horse racing highlighted by the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, featuring several race results that should have an impact on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the fall.
Kona Gold’s Sustained Excellence the Signature of His Hall of Fame Career
To make it to one Breeders’ Cup is special for any horse and the people connected to them To win a Breeders’ Cup race puts that horse in elite company. To make five consecutive starts at the Breeders’ Cup is a testament to a horse’s quality, a trainer’s expertise, and an owner’s faith. Kona Gold was a stalwart sprinter whose soundness and speed made him a star and earned him accolades aplenty, including a spot in the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Longshot Baby Vino Beats Napoleon Solo to Score Dramatic Haskell Stakes Upset
The 59th running of the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes attracted a stellar field to Monmouth Park on July 18. There was a classic winner in the Haskell field of seven along with another Grade 1 winner and three other colts who were Grade 1 placed, but on a grey, rainy day filled with smog and lightning and two weather delays at the Jersey Shore, the eventual winner was none of them.
