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 McLeanWork Tab for Friday, April 12: Binoculars On Spinoff, Cutting Humor
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 […]
Work Tab for Thursday, April 11: Binoculars Focused On By My Standards, Bodexpress, & Others
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 […]
McLean’s Selections for Keeneland on Wednesday, April 10
Day Results 7-2-5-4 2019 Overall 508 508/196-192-250 Win % of Top Pick 38.58% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 41.86% 2019 Top Pick in the Money –360 of 506 71.15% Top Selection ITM / KEE 28-36 77.78% Top Selection Win / KEE 16-36 44.44% “Key Horses” @ KEE 6-4-1-1 66.67% win “Key Horses” in […]
“They’re Off”: Construction Is Racing Down at Oak Grove’s New Racing Facility
On Tuesday morning, it became officially official. A new, live, Standardbred racing venue — which will have a state-of-the-art Historical Racing venue, an equine center, hotels and other commercial development attached — is now fully under construction in little Oak Grove, KY. For now, construction is racing to get the new facility built in time […]
CORRECTION / Breaking News Updates: G3 Lexington Stakes May Have 11 Hopefuls; Serengeti Empress Still Improving; Mark Hennig & Bourbon War Doing REAL Well in Sunny Florida
(Knicks Go, trained by Ben Colebrook, may take another swing at there Triple Crown in this Saturday’s G3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes / Photo by Holly M. Smith) It’s a busy time of year, for sure. Horse time in Kentucky. Foals hitting the ground. Mares being bred. Yearlings to be fed. Babies learning how to race. […]
Keeneland Is More Than Just Sales & Racing: A Look Through the Lens of Holly M. Smith
Undoubtedly, Keeneland is known internationally as the home of some of the best horse sales in the entire world. The September Yearling Sale. The November Breeding Stock Sale. The January Horses of All Ages Sale. And, the reinstitution of the April 2YO & Horses of Racing Age Sale — which will be held this Tuesday. […]
“The Pressbox’s” KY Derby Rankings Has A New #1 For First Time: Roadster
Rank Horse Trainer Rider Last Race Next Race Comment 1 Roadster Bob Baffert Mike Smith 1st in G1 SA Derby G1 KY Derby on 5/4/19 Looked Like “The Man” in SA Derby 2 Game Winner Bob Baffert Joel Rosario 2nd in G1 SA Derby G1 KY Derby on 5/4/19 Did Rosario Move Too Early in […]
McLean’s Updated Handicapping Stats After Keeneland’s Sunday Card
Day Results 7-2-5-4 2019 Overall 508 508/196-192-250 Win % of Top Pick 38.58% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 41.86% 2019 Top Pick in the Money –360 of 506 71.15% Top Selection ITM / KEE 28-36 77.78% Top Selection Win / KEE 16-36 44.44% “Key Horses” @ KEE 6-4-1-1 66.67% win “Key Horses” in […]
Work Tab for Sunday, April 7: Binoculars Focused On Galilean, War of Will, Rowayton, Liora, Concrete Rose & Others
(War of Will winning the G2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds earlier this year / Photo by Holly M. Smith) 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 […]
Louisville Thoroughbred Society On The Way “Up”: Towers Going Up; Walls Going Up; Elevator Shafts Going Up
The Louisville Thoroughbred Society is up to a lot of things these days. “Up” being the operative word. The new and improved website — www.thelouisvillethoroughbredsociety.com — is now “UP” and online, and prospective members can access that portal to find out more about how the project is progressing and how you can join immediately and […]
Work Tab for Friday, April 12: Binoculars On Spinoff, Cutting Humor
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 […]
Work Tab for Thursday, April 11: Binoculars Focused On By My Standards, Bodexpress, & Others
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 […]
McLean’s Selections for Keeneland on Wednesday, April 10
Day Results 7-2-5-4 2019 Overall 508 508/196-192-250 Win % of Top Pick 38.58% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 41.86% 2019 Top Pick in the Money –360 of 506 71.15% Top Selection ITM / KEE 28-36 77.78% Top Selection Win / KEE 16-36 44.44% “Key Horses” @ KEE 6-4-1-1 66.67% win “Key Horses” in […]
“They’re Off”: Construction Is Racing Down at Oak Grove’s New Racing Facility
On Tuesday morning, it became officially official. A new, live, Standardbred racing venue — which will have a state-of-the-art Historical Racing venue, an equine center, hotels and other commercial development attached — is now fully under construction in little Oak Grove, KY. For now, construction is racing to get the new facility built in time […]
CORRECTION / Breaking News Updates: G3 Lexington Stakes May Have 11 Hopefuls; Serengeti Empress Still Improving; Mark Hennig & Bourbon War Doing REAL Well in Sunny Florida
(Knicks Go, trained by Ben Colebrook, may take another swing at there Triple Crown in this Saturday’s G3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes / Photo by Holly M. Smith) It’s a busy time of year, for sure. Horse time in Kentucky. Foals hitting the ground. Mares being bred. Yearlings to be fed. Babies learning how to race. […]
Keeneland Is More Than Just Sales & Racing: A Look Through the Lens of Holly M. Smith
Undoubtedly, Keeneland is known internationally as the home of some of the best horse sales in the entire world. The September Yearling Sale. The November Breeding Stock Sale. The January Horses of All Ages Sale. And, the reinstitution of the April 2YO & Horses of Racing Age Sale — which will be held this Tuesday. […]
“The Pressbox’s” KY Derby Rankings Has A New #1 For First Time: Roadster
Rank Horse Trainer Rider Last Race Next Race Comment 1 Roadster Bob Baffert Mike Smith 1st in G1 SA Derby G1 KY Derby on 5/4/19 Looked Like “The Man” in SA Derby 2 Game Winner Bob Baffert Joel Rosario 2nd in G1 SA Derby G1 KY Derby on 5/4/19 Did Rosario Move Too Early in […]
McLean’s Updated Handicapping Stats After Keeneland’s Sunday Card
Day Results 7-2-5-4 2019 Overall 508 508/196-192-250 Win % of Top Pick 38.58% Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall 41.86% 2019 Top Pick in the Money –360 of 506 71.15% Top Selection ITM / KEE 28-36 77.78% Top Selection Win / KEE 16-36 44.44% “Key Horses” @ KEE 6-4-1-1 66.67% win “Key Horses” in […]
Work Tab for Sunday, April 7: Binoculars Focused On Galilean, War of Will, Rowayton, Liora, Concrete Rose & Others
(War of Will winning the G2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds earlier this year / Photo by Holly M. Smith) 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 […]
Louisville Thoroughbred Society On The Way “Up”: Towers Going Up; Walls Going Up; Elevator Shafts Going Up
The Louisville Thoroughbred Society is up to a lot of things these days. “Up” being the operative word. The new and improved website — www.thelouisvillethoroughbredsociety.com — is now “UP” and online, and prospective members can access that portal to find out more about how the project is progressing and how you can join immediately and […]
