Record Wagering for 150th Kentucky Oaks
The historic 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 3 saw record wagering in spite of intermittent showers at Churchill Downs as Thorpedo Anna splashed her way to win the lilies wire to wire.
The historic 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 3 saw record wagering in spite of intermittent showers at Churchill Downs as Thorpedo Anna splashed her way to win the lilies wire to wire.
If the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) is the last Derby I'll ever see in person, there was no better way to put a cherry on a run of 21 unforgettable experiences at America's most organically weird and wonderful sporting event.
Reigning 2-year-old champion male and Florida Derby (G1) winner Fierceness is favored in early wagering for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Longtime New York owner/breeder William "Buck" Butler earned his first graded stakes win May 3 on one of racing's biggest stages—Kentucky Oaks (G1) day—with My Mane Squeeze's two-length score in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2).
While eyes were focused on trainer Chad Brown's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Hard to Justify, it was Brown's other entrant, Dynamic Pricing, who came out victorious in the $529,670 Edgewood Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
Fending off an early stretch bid from Just F Y I, front-running Thorpedo Anna pulled clear late under Brian Hernandez Jr. to win the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
The 2023 Japanese 2-year-old champion male, Jantar Mantar, heads a diverse cast of 3-year-olds in the May 5 NHK Mile Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Godolphin's First Mission, scratched from the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) due to a physical setback that cut short his 3-year-old campaign, is making up for lost time this year at age 4. He won the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs May 3.
Fast as Flight rallies into a not-so-fast pace and ran on to win the Modesty Stakes (G3T) May 3 on yielding turf at Churchill Downs.
Last year's European champion juvenile male City of Troy carries huge expectations into his classic campaign after his unbeaten first season was illuminated by breathtaking displays in the Superlative Stakes (G2) and Dewhurst Stakes (G1).
Royalty Interest, the longest shot in the field at 10-1, held off a furious rally to take the $194,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G3T) in a photo finish May 3 at Belmont at the Big A.
Ova Charged, unstoppable this season in her native Louisiana, holds on gamely against open company May 3 at Churchill Downs to win the Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G3T) after shrugging off all challenges.
The $135,000 Whimsical Stakes (G3) May 4 at Woodbine features an overflow field of 14 plus one also eligible.
After retiring her horse Creemore, Andrea McGowan knew where to look for her next horse: LongRun Thoroughbred Adoption Society, where she found Rule the Sea, now known as Britania, or Britta for short.
In her first start of 2024, reigning champion older female Idiomatic repelled challenges in the stretch to win the $1 million La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs May 3. Last year's champion 3-year-old filly, Pretty Mischievous, finished third.
As a pay channel, the JRA does not have viewership numbers for its past Kentucky Derby (G1) broadcasts. But as of March, the Green Channel has 219,000 subscribers to its TV channel and 155,000 to its Internet broadcasts.
Monmouth Park's racing office will have a new look when the 51-day meet starts May 11. Gerry Stanislawzyk takes over as racing secretary.
Whit Beckman, who grew up in the east end of Louisville, Ky., has his first starter in his city's feature event. The former Todd Pletcher assistant sends Honor Marie to the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate.
A lawsuit brought by a group of bettors against trainer Bob Baffert and Churchill Downs Inc. was ordered dismissed for a second time by federal appeals court May 2.
By the Numbers looks at Kentucky Derby history.
At long last, the field for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) is set after the Kentucky Oaks Day scratch time passed.
Following morning rain, the dirt is sloppy to begin and the turf course is yielding.
The Road, presented by Gainesway and Darby Dan Farm
Four-time Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas is putting his trust in the riding intelligence of first-time Derby jockey Keith Asmussen with Just Steel this year.
After just missing in her debut, West Memorial delivered a sustained run through the stretch to post a 1 3/4-length victory in the $247,165 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Laulne goes for second consecutive stakes win at Santa Anita Park, again facing Alluring, Girl of My Dreams, and Antifona from the Angels Flight Stakes.
While the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale faced challenging conditions and a "well below par" clearance rate, the Horses in Training portion of the sale realized substantial gains thanks in large part to the sales of John Dance-affiliated horses.
Details surrounding the 4-year-old's death are unknown, but he has had a history of bleeding. He last worked May 1 at Oaklawn Park going four furlongs in :48 4/5.
Trainer Chad Brown looks to continue his dominance in the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) as he attempts to win his fourth in a row May 4 at Churchill Downs. The trainer sends three postward.
Among stallions with their first 3-year-olds in 2024, Lane's End's Catalina Cruiser is the only one with a starter in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He will be represented by Catalytic, who was runner-up in the Florida Derby (G1).
Light Up Racing aims to empower industry members with the right knowledge, tools, and resources to be educated advocates of horse racing.
Brook Smith, long-time Backside Learning Center supporter, challenged owners to enroll their horses to the BLC's "Purses for a Purpose" initiative. The challenge inspired trainer Cherie DeVaux and bloodstock agent David Ingordo to also take part.
Owner Clark Brewster arrived at Churchill Downs the morning of May 2, popped his head in the office of trainer Steve Asmussen to say hello, and then headed to the stall of his first Kentucky Derby (G1) starter: Track Phantom.
The top four finishers from the April 6 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland are set for a rematch in the $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
For the third consecutive year Japan-based horses will participate in the Kentucky Derby (G1). As talented runners continue to arrive, each Derby year the same words can be heard on the Churchill backstretch: "Japan is going to win one eventually."
Willis Horton Racing's Tapit Jenallie will be scratched from the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (G1), trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. announced May 2. Courtlandt Farms' Our Pretty Woman draws in off the also-eligible list.
Letters to the Editor for the May 2 edition of BloodHorse Daily.
Public auction prices for the 21 horses entered and still under consideration for the Kentucky Derby (G1) range from a $11,000 bargain buy from the last book of the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to a $2.3 million sale topper.
Surging to the front in the final 100 yards, Stud Montana's 57-1 shot Che Evasora scored a half-length victory May 1 in the 1 1/4-mile Gran Premio Criadores (G1) for fillies and mares on the dirt at Hipodromo de Palermo in Argentina.
Timothy Vaughn Kegel, beloved father, brother, and friend to many, died surrounded by his three kids April 25. He was 74 years old.
Trainers Phil D'Amato and Michael McCarthy, who have horses in the Kentucky Derby (G1), will be represented by half the field in the Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
This is the What's Going On Here column from the May 2024 BloodHorse Magazine.
Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby will try to pull off an encore May 4 in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T), sending out international traveler Ottoman Fleet in search of back-to-back wins in the $200,000 turf stakes for older horses.
That the end comes the same weekend as the Kentucky Derby (G1) seems appropriate for Court, who recalls telling his parents while still in diapers that becoming a jockey was his goal.
It's back to home sweet home for Hoist the Gold.
Godolphin's homebred Exceed and Excel son will have started at nine different racetracks around the world when he starts May 4 in the Turf Sprint (G2T) at Churchill Downs. He has already won a grade 1 and placed in a grade 2 in his two U.S. starts.
Ova Charged has won four straight including posting career-best Equibase Speed Figures in the her last two times out, culminating with a 123 in the Page Cortez Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 24, winning by 12 1/2 lengths.
A horse's auction price is not a reliable indicator of future racing ability, but when price is considered in aggregate among stakes-quality performers then class does tell.
In winning the race that has produced the most Kentucky Derby (G1) winners, Fierceness crossed the line 13 1/2 lengths in front in a blistering time of 1:48.22 for the mile-and-an-eighth. But was it too fast?
Zoustar currently leads the Australian general sires' table by winners (173) and is equal to leading sire I Am Invincible rival by stakes winners (14).