Gene McLean
Gene McLean began his professional career in 1977 as a sportswriter and columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., and was recognized as one of the state’s best writers, winning the prestigious “Sportswriter of the Year” honor in 1985. Now the President and Publisher of The Pressbox, McLean sets the vision for the site and still finds time to handicap races, interview trainers and keep his finger on the pulse of the industry, More About Gene.
Stories by Gene McLeanWorkouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Catholic Boy, Timeline
(Trainer Chad Brown had Timeline back on the track at Belmont Park this morning / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of […]
Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Miss Kentucky Looks Solid for Winning Colors
(Miss Kentucky / Photo Courtesy of Coady Photography & Churchill Downs) From the Media Team at Churchill Downs: Preston Madden’s Winning Colors (Grade III) victor Miss Kentucky is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for Saturday’s $75,000-added Roxelana Overnight Stakes as the 4-year-old filly attempts three straight wins for trainer Rusty Arnold II. […]
McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Friday, June 22
Day Results 8-3-5-6 Churchill 297-100-101-149 Top Pick Win % 33.70% Top Pick ITM % 188-289 65.10% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks at CD 39.30% 2018 Overall 886 325-333-393 Win % of Top Pick 36.70% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.50% A really nice day, as far as the exacta plays were concerned, […]
Pedigree of the Day / Updated at 7 p.m. ET: Captain Cade & “One Other” May Pique Interest at Churchill Downs Today
(Orb, a son of Malibu Moon, is the sire of Captain Cade / Photo Courtesy of Claiborne Farm) We were recently contacted by a couple of regular viewers and asked if we would reinstitute our “Pedigree of the Day” feature, and pinpoint some possible “Claim Prospects” that may pique some interest in the claim box. […]
Workouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Possible “Hidden Gems”
Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know. Some of them, you may not know — as of […]
Miss Kentucky Favored For G3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs This Saturday
(Miss Kentucky is favored to win this Saturday’s G3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs / Photo Courtesy of Coady Photography & Churchill Downs) From the Media Team at Churchill Downs: Preston Madden’s Winning Colors (Grade III) victor Miss Kentucky tops a field of seven fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday’s $70,000-added Roxelana […]
McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Thursday, June 21
Day Results 10-3-1-8 Churchill 289-97-96-143 Top Pick Win % 33.60% Top Pick ITM % 182-281 64.80% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks at CD 38.80% 2018 Overall 878 322-328-387 Win % of Top Pick 36.70% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.40% We finished up Sunday’s card in good order. Despite only three winners, […]
Asmussen Pulling Away in Race for Churchill Downs’ Training Title
(Steve Asmussen leads the Trainer’s Title race at the current Churchill Downs meet / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Steve Asmussen had big hopes when 2018 started. He still had the great Gun Runner in his shed row, for a little while, as he got ready for the finale in the Pegasus World Cup. He had […]
Workouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Bravazo, Reride, Sporting Chance
Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know. Some of them, you may not know — as of […]
Thought of the Day: Miss You Pops
(My Dad, on the far right, with me and my daughter, Alex) Father’s Day was Sunday. I know. Didn’t forget. Took time out to think of my own. And, give him thanks. My Dad passed away in February of 2017, just a year and a few months ago. He left us just a couple of […]
Workouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Catholic Boy, Timeline
(Trainer Chad Brown had Timeline back on the track at Belmont Park this morning / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of […]
Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Miss Kentucky Looks Solid for Winning Colors
(Miss Kentucky / Photo Courtesy of Coady Photography & Churchill Downs) From the Media Team at Churchill Downs: Preston Madden’s Winning Colors (Grade III) victor Miss Kentucky is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for Saturday’s $75,000-added Roxelana Overnight Stakes as the 4-year-old filly attempts three straight wins for trainer Rusty Arnold II. […]
McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Friday, June 22
Day Results 8-3-5-6 Churchill 297-100-101-149 Top Pick Win % 33.70% Top Pick ITM % 188-289 65.10% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks at CD 39.30% 2018 Overall 886 325-333-393 Win % of Top Pick 36.70% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.50% A really nice day, as far as the exacta plays were concerned, […]
Pedigree of the Day / Updated at 7 p.m. ET: Captain Cade & “One Other” May Pique Interest at Churchill Downs Today
(Orb, a son of Malibu Moon, is the sire of Captain Cade / Photo Courtesy of Claiborne Farm) We were recently contacted by a couple of regular viewers and asked if we would reinstitute our “Pedigree of the Day” feature, and pinpoint some possible “Claim Prospects” that may pique some interest in the claim box. […]
Workouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Possible “Hidden Gems”
Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know. Some of them, you may not know — as of […]
Miss Kentucky Favored For G3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs This Saturday
(Miss Kentucky is favored to win this Saturday’s G3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs / Photo Courtesy of Coady Photography & Churchill Downs) From the Media Team at Churchill Downs: Preston Madden’s Winning Colors (Grade III) victor Miss Kentucky tops a field of seven fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday’s $70,000-added Roxelana […]
McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Thursday, June 21
Day Results 10-3-1-8 Churchill 289-97-96-143 Top Pick Win % 33.60% Top Pick ITM % 182-281 64.80% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks at CD 38.80% 2018 Overall 878 322-328-387 Win % of Top Pick 36.70% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 39.40% We finished up Sunday’s card in good order. Despite only three winners, […]
Asmussen Pulling Away in Race for Churchill Downs’ Training Title
(Steve Asmussen leads the Trainer’s Title race at the current Churchill Downs meet / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland) Steve Asmussen had big hopes when 2018 started. He still had the great Gun Runner in his shed row, for a little while, as he got ready for the finale in the Pegasus World Cup. He had […]
Workouts That Just May Work Out For You: Today’s Focus On Bravazo, Reride, Sporting Chance
Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country. We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers. Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know. Some of them, you may not know — as of […]
Thought of the Day: Miss You Pops
(My Dad, on the far right, with me and my daughter, Alex) Father’s Day was Sunday. I know. Didn’t forget. Took time out to think of my own. And, give him thanks. My Dad passed away in February of 2017, just a year and a few months ago. He left us just a couple of […]
