Horse Racing

Jockey Umberto Rispoli had reason to celebrate his 4 1/2-length Santa Anita Derby victory. But Rispoli won't ride the undefeated Candy Ride colt in the Kentucky Derby -- Joel Rosario will. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Derby Musical Jockeys: Rosario Replaces Rispoli on Rock Your World

In a case that’s flipping what-have-you-done-for-me-lately on its ear, jockey Joel Rosario will replace Umberto Rispoli aboard Rock Your World for next week’s Kentucky Derby. Rock Your World’s trainer, John Sadler, discussed the decision on the Thoroughbred Los Angeles radio show on Sunday morning. He took full responsibility for the […]

The nose -- in this case, Letruska's -- knows victory. The mare held off champion Monomoy Girl by a nose to win the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap. It marked Letruska's first Grade 1 win in the US. (Image: Coady Photography)

New Distaff Star Letruska Basks in the Shine of Her Apple Blossom Upset

Plans for horse racing’s newest female star – you know her as Letruska – remain fluid entering the week, less than 48 hours after the 5-year-old mare’s stirring Apple Blossom Handicap victory. ‘I think we’re going to take a little bit more time with her,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez told Oaklawn […]

Swiss Skydiver is the 2/1 second favorite in Saturday's Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

Monomoy Girl vs. Swiss Skydiver Brings Fans a Tasty Apple Blossom

You could make a credible case the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park is the clubhouse leader for the best race of 2021. The reason you can make that case leads you to make cases for the two principals in Saturday’s Oaklawn headliner. Even-money favorite Monomoy Girl vs. […]

Addeybb and jockey Tom Marquand renew their rivalry with Verry Elleegant in the feature race of The Championships, Day 2: the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. (Image: Racing and Sports)

The Championships Day Two Bring On a Rare Battle of the Sexes

The second day of The Championships – Australia’s version of the Breeders’ Cup – gives racing fans something they don’t see nearly enough of anywhere: A Battle of the Sexes. With a $4 million purse in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes as the carrot. First, a quick primer. Day […]

Rombauer won't run the May 1 Kentucky Derby. But expect to see him two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. (Image: Zoe Metz Photography)

Panadol, Rombauer Become Latest Kentucky Derby Defectors

Kentucky Derby watchers can scratch Panadol and Rombauer off their proposed tickets, after connections for the two horses said they won’t run the May 1 Derby. Both horses had guaranteed spots. Panadol had 40 points and the supplemental Triple Crown fee behind him. Rombauer was originally outside the initial 40-point […]

At 10%, Canterbury Park offers the lowest Pick 6 takeout of any North American track. Both the Minnesota track and NYRA's Belmont Park return to a traditional Pick 6 for their upcoming meets. (Image: Canterbury Park)

NYRA, Canterbury Get Traditional With Their Pick 6 Wagers

The New York Racing Association revamped its Pick 6 wager for Belmont Park’s upcoming Spring/Summer Meet, returning to their traditional format. When Belmont Park’s Spring/Summer Meet begins on April 22, horseplayers will ride back to the future with a $1 Pick 6 featuring a 15% takeout. That takeout comes on […]

Tiz the Law's 2020 Belmont Stakes victory came in front of empty stands at Belmont Park. NYRA has the go-ahead to sell tickets at 20% capacity to the Belmont Stakes and the rest of its Spring Meet. (Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Cuomo Green-Lights Fans at NYRA Racetracks Starting April 23

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo caught the New York Racing Association by surprise on Wednesday when he announced fans could return to the state’s racetracks as early as April 23. That’s one day after Belmont Park’s Spring Meet opens. According to Cuomo’s edict, attendance at the three NYRA tracks, Belmont […]

Hidden Stash has a likely Kentucky Derby berth, courtesy of trainer Chad Brown selecting only one of his two Derby qualifiers to run at Churchill Downs. (Image: Coady Photography)

Brown’s Choice Puts Derby Dominoes Into Play

The Kentucky Derby dominoes continued to fall on Wednesday as we head toward the May 1 Run for the Roses, with Chad Brown saying he intends on running only one of his two Derby prospects — Highly Motivated or Crowded Trade — in the race. Brown told Blood-Horse that Highly […]

Rachael Blackmore and 11/1 Minella Times brought home more than winning Grand National tickets. The first woman jockey in the 182-year history of the world's most famous steeplechase captured the world's fancy. (Image: PA)

Blackmore-Mania Hits Grand Peak After Barrier-Breaking National Win

This is what awaited Rachael Blackmore after she became the first woman jockey to win the Grand National in the 182-year history of the world’s most famous steeplechase. A congratulatory tweet from Ringo Starr. Calls for her to receive a damehood – the female equivalent of a knighthood. Odds on […]

Super Stock reeled in a Kentucky Derby spot by reeling in Caddo River (2) and heavy favorite Concert Tour in the Arkansas Derby. (Image: Coady Photography)

Kentucky Derby Points Show the 20 Survivors of the Derby Trail

The Kentucky Derby Trail ended Saturday, which means it’s time to parse the Derby qualifying points ladder and see who’s in, who’s on the bubble, and who won’t be discussed as a Kentucky Derby starter. It took 40 points to make the top 20, the usual target number connections shoot […]

Concert Tour and sizzling rider Joel Rosario come into the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby unbeaten in three races, including this 4 3/4-length victory in last month's Rebel Stakes. (Image: Coady Photography)

Get Your Concert Tour Tickets for This Arkansas Derby

For reasons ranging from handicapping to running style to history, the Arkansas Derby is the perfect last stop on the Kentucky Derby Trail. You could dial up a better finishing prep race. But you’d second-guess yourself mid-thought and wind up back at Oaklawn Park. Yes, Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby […]

Cloth Cap flies into the 2021 Grand National as a prohibitive favorite for reasons ranging from age to form. (Image: Focusonracing)

Bettors Tip Their Wagering Caps to Grand National Favorite Cloth Cap

Cloth Cap won the Virtual Grand National Friday afternoon. Now, can the prohibitive favorite for the biggest race in Europe win the real thing Saturday evening? The bettors seem to think so. According to Oddschecker, they’ve unwound Cloth Cap down to 5/1 at most UK bookmakers. That lists Cloth Cap’s […]

Nature Strip is the reigning Horse of the Year and Sprinter of the Year in Australia. He attempts defense of his TJ Smith Stakes title at The Championships at Royal Randwick in Sydney. (Image: Steve Hart)

The Championships: Creating Australian Legends of the Fall

The Championships, Australia’s version of the Breeders’ Cup, begin tonight at Royal Randwick in Sydney with one of the most anticipated rematches in Australian racing. That’s Nature Strip vs. Eduardo in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes, the eighth race on Friday night’s card. The TJ Smith Stakes is one […]

By My Standards won the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes last year at Fair Grounds. However, a Grade 1 eludes a horse who won more than $1 million in 2020. He opens his 2021 season at Oaklawn Park in the Listed Stakes Oaklawn Mile. (Image: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.)

Oaklawn Mile Brings Three Familiar Names With Familiar Stories

The field for Saturday’s Listed Stakes Oaklawn Mile brings three familiar candidates with eclectic stories of redemption to a race that punches far above its weight class. There’s By My Standards, who makes his 2021 debut as the 5/2 favorite at the site of one of his 2020 victories. Hard […]

Mystic Guide's convincing vicory in March's Dubai World Cup convinced Longines World's Best Racehorse raters to make the American horse one of the top two horses in their latest rankings. (Image: Coady Photography)

Mystic Guide Joins Mishriff Atop World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

Mystic Guide had to travel halfway around the globe to earn his spot in the latest Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Mishriff merely had to travel back to the turf to keep his. The two share the top spot in the latest Longines rankings, both earning a 122 rating. That […]

Hit the Road scored his first Grade 1 win in last month's Frank E- Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. He goes East in search of No. 2 in Friday's Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Turf Terror Hit the Road Goes East in Search of Maker’s Mark Mile

Hit the Road allows Dan Blacker to call himself a Grade 1-winning trainer. He also allows Blacker the luxury of having “the right horse” for a course, like in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile. And, Hit the Road allows Blacker the luxury of hitting the road – taking his […]

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson returns to Liverpool's Aintree for this Saturday's Grand National.. The iconic manager finds success on the track harder than he did on the pitch. (Image: Reuters)

Could Sir Alex Ferguson Bring ‘Fergie Time’ to Grand National?

The sight of Sir Alex Ferguson anywhere in the Liverpool city limits is one guaranteed to boil the blood of any Liverpudlian. The man once considered evil incarnate when he was leading Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles in 26 seasons – often at the expense of Liverpool – […]