Brian Robin

Muck Rack profile
Tiz the Law overtook Ete Indien in earely stretch to win the Holy Bull Stakes nearly two months ago. The two renew their rivalry Saturday in the Florida Derby. (Image: Ryan Thompson)

Tiz the Law, Ete Indien Renew Rivalry in Florida Derby

One found himself a Kentucky Derby favorite last year. The other had his Derby-contending status thrust upon him last month. Now, both find themselves the headline acts in a deep, talented, and contentious Florida Derby. Tiz the Law, the 6/5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s marquee Kentucky Derby prep at Gulfstream […]

Despite legal threats from a city official who says racing is a non-essential business, Gulfstream Park intends to reach the finish line with its meet card. That includes Saturday's Florida Derby. (Image: Getty Images)

City Official Threatens Legal Action Against Gulfstream Park for Racing

Despite threats from a Hallandale Beach city official to take “legal action” if racing isn’t stopped, Gulfstream Park has no plans to close its doors this week and intends to run Saturday’s Florida Derby without any spectators in the grandstands. Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana said Broward County’s ban […]

With his gate-to-wire victory in the Louisiana Derby, Wells Bayou currently leads the Kentucky Derby points standings. (Image: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.)

Kentucky Derby Qualifying Trail Becomes Longer, More Unpredictable

With the postponement of the Kentucky Derby from May to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Derby Trail just got a lot longer. That means the Derby’s qualifying points system figures to get a lot steeper in terms of how many points are required to earn a spot […]

Gulfstream Park, the site of this Saturday's Florida Derby, is one of two American parks to institute regulations that jockeys and their agents are trying to navigate. (Image: Gulfstream Park)

Oaklawn, Gulfstream Institute New Jockey Restrictions For Riders

New jockey restrictions put in place by Oaklawn and Gulfstream Park sent the rider colonies at those two parks – and elsewhere — into a scramble of altered plans, missed racing days, and enforced quarantines. The new regulations, placed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have jockeys and their agents […]

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

The $12 million Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse races, became the latest sporting casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic when organizers canceled the race and the rest of Saturday’s card. That card at Meydan Racecourse forms the world’s richest race day, one featuring $35 million in purses […]

Even by moving the Arkansas Derby from April to May, Oaklawn Park's role as one of the last Kentucky Derby preps won't come into play in 2020. (Image: Oaklawn Park)

Oaklawn Park Moves Arkansas Derby From April To May

Oaklawn Park in Arkansas became the latest facility to adjust its calendar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moving its flagship race – the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby – from Saturday, April 11 to Saturday, May 2. That is Oaklawn Park’s closing date. It was also the original date for […]

Enforceable is the 7/2 favorite in a packed Louisiana Derby field. But can he beat the traffic with his closer style? (Image: Coglianese Photos)

Full Field, Equal Talent Means Betting Opportunities in Louisiana Derby

When it comes to A-list 3-year-old talent, this year’s Louisiana Derby is an example of a race that is an inch deep and a mile – actually 1 3/16 miles – wide. It’s a Kentucky Derby prep featuring 14 solid, but heretofore unspectacular, horses all in search of a breakout […]

Horses won't be coming down the stretch at New York's Aqueduct Park in the foreseeable future. The track closed Thursday after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. (Image: NYRA)

Aqueduct Park Closes After Backstretch Worker Tests Positive for Coronavirus

In the latest COVID-19-related news to hit the horse racing community, officials closed Aqueduct Racetrack in New York until further notice after a backstretch worker tested positive Thursday morning for the coronavirus. The unidentified worker, who lives and works in nearby Belmont Park, has been quarantined. He developed symptoms on […]

The Golden Slipper Trophy is the hardware for the world's richest race for 2-year-olds: the Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney.

Golden Slipper, Richest Race for 2-Year-Olds, a Go in Australia

While the rest of the world postpones or cancels races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s almost business as usual for horse racing in Australia. The $3.5 million (A) Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney is all set to run on Friday, albeit in front of an […]

Jockey Club Reports Horse Fatalities at Lowest Point in a Decade

Jockey Club Reports Horse Fatalities at Lowest Point in a Decade

The incidences of horse fatalities at American thoroughbred racetracks are now at their lowest point in a decade, according to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database (EID). The 2019 rate of fatal injuries to horses is at its lowest number since the EID began collecting data in […]

The entrance to one of American racing's cathedrals: Churchill Downs, will be silent the first Saturday in May for the first time since 1945. (Image: KY Bluegrass/Wikimedia Commons

Kentucky Derby Moved to First Saturday in September, Fans Included

For the first time since World War II, the Kentucky Derby will not run the first Saturday in May. Instead, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will run the first Saturday in September. Churchill Downs officials made the announcement Tuesday morning in response to a directive from the Centers for […]

Maryland Governor Orders Racetracks Closed In Wake of COVID-19

Maryland Governor Orders Racetracks Closed In Wake of COVID-19

In the latest move to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan became the first governor to shut down racetracks Sunday when he issued an executive order closing all Maryland casinos, racetracks and simulcast betting facilities to the public. The executive order closing Laurel Park, Pimlico […]

The gate for the Grade 3 Sunland Derby at New Mexico's Sunland Park will be empty. The Derby prep race was canceled Sunday in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image: Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino)

Sunland Derby Becomes First Derby Prep Race Canceled Due to COVID-19

The $700,000 Sunland Derby, New Mexico’s contribution to the Kentucky Derby Trail, became the first Derby prep casualty of the COVID-19 virus Sunday when track officials called off all races. Set for March 22, Sunland would’ve awarded 50-20-15-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers — enough to […]

The twin spires of Churchill Downs could stand guard over an empty infield and grandstand the first Saturday in May. Officials plan to make an announcement on the Kentucky Derby's status this week (Image: Yahoo News)

Will the Kentucky Derby Be Canceled for the First Time in History?

World wars, great depressions and countless global calamities have never stopped the Kentucky Derby, going all the way back to 1875. Only once, in 1945, was the Derby delayed, from May until June. Now, with only seven weeks until the 2020 Run for the Roses and the coronavirus pandemic shutting […]

Seen here winning the San Vicente in January, Bob Baffert's Nadal checks all the boxes for a Rebel Stakes winner. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

Which Speedster Can Lock Up Kentucky at the Rebel Stakes in Arkansas?

Like its Santa Anita counterpart, last weekend’s San Felipe, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is a Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep race that boasts predictability, a blueblood pedigree of winners, and the ever-present Bob Baffert. The Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile, two-turn test, is Saturday’s lone Derby prep […]

Until further notice, fans won't be able to enjoy this spectacular view of the San Gabriel Mountains behind the Santa Anita finish line. The track is closed to spectators. (Image: Santa Anita Park)

Last Sport Standing? Horse Racing and Betting Continues, Just Not In Person

From a betting standpoint, the coronavirus outbreak that has canceled or suspended events across the sporting spectrum means America’s horse racing tracks are some of the few venues with action available to punters. Provided you have a remote betting account or betting app. Due to the threat of coronavirus and […]

Trainer Jason Servis is accused of administering  PEDs to horses in his caire. That includes Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old Male Maximum Security. (Image: Getty Images)

Fallout from Horse Doping Scandal Moves Maximum Security to Baffert’s Barn

Federal authorities indicted 27 horsemen on Monday for using performance-enhancing drugs on thoroughbreds. The horse doping charges are shaking up barns throughout racing, with the biggest tremor involving Jason Servis, who just last week won the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup, the richest purse in racing, with Maximum Security, his […]

The 8/5 favorite for the San Felipe Stakes, undefeated Authentic isn't a drama-free runner. He won the Sham by 7 3/4 lengths despite inexplicably breaking for the rail twice down the stretch. (Image: OG News)

Undefeated San Felipe Favorite Authentic Finds Unorthodox Ways to Win

He is the offspring of Into Mischief, which probably explains why San Felipe Stakes favorite Authentic found himself causing trouble in his last Kentucky Derby prep race. It was in January’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita — the same track Authentic will tackle Saturday as the 8/5 favorite […]