Horse Racing

Irad Ortiz Jr. celebrates after breaking the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet riding title aboard Known Agenda i the Florida Derby. (Image: Ryan Thompson Photo)

Irad Ortiz Jr. Breaks Gulfstream Park Riding Record in Florida Derby

Irad Ortiz Jr. broke Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet riding record with an exclamation point, Saturday, piloting Known Agenda to the Grade 1 Florida Derby title. The victory not only gave Ortiz his first Florida Derby, but gave him 138 victories for the South Florida track’s marquee meet. That sent the […]

Mystic Guide put on blinkers in time to win last summer's Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. He's carried that form into favorite status in the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup. (Image: Janet Garaguso/NYRA)

Dubai World Cup: Where Buying American Often Pays Off

The list of Dubai World Cup champions since the race’s 1997 debut include inaugural winner Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Curlin, Animal Kingdom, California Chrome and Arrogate. True Thoroughbred stars who commanded attention the moment their names entered a race. This is apt. Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup comes […]

After winning the Holy Bull and the Fountain of Youth here, Greatest Honour goes for the Gulfstream Park Kentucky Derby prep hat-trick in Saturday's Florida Derby. (Image: Coglianese Photo)

Greatest Honour Chases Another Honor as Florida Derby Favorite

The only thing standing between Greatest Honour and keeping Spectacular Bid company in the history books is one of the best Kentucky Derby preps on the calendar – Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Well, that – and the little matter of getting past 10 other horses in […]

The winner of this December allowance at Gulfstream Park, Tarantino brings turf prowess and speed to the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks. (Image: Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo)

When it Comes to Derby Threats, Jeff Ruby Steaks is Tough to Chew

In its nearly 50-year existence, the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park went under 11 different names. It opened as the Spiral Stakes in 1972 and meandered through a myriad of monikers until arriving at its current name in 2018. But whatever you call the Grade 3 Jeff […]

Arrogate's record victory in the 2016 Travers Stakes was Fox Sports' first telecast of that iconic race. Along with purchasing an equity stake in ADW NYRA Bets, Fox Sports signed an extension to television NYRA races through 2030. (Image: Jesse Caris/Caris Photography)

Fox Sports Buys Share of NYRA Bets, Extends NY Race Coverage to 2030

Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association unveiled an expanded partnership agreement Thursday that extends the regional sports network’s television rights for NYRA races through 2030. The agreement opens up options for a Fox Sports subsidiary to purchase a 25% stake in NYRA Bets, the association’s advance deposit wagering […]

Spielberg, seen here nipping The Great One to win the Los Alamitos Futurity, makes his ninth start at his fifth track in Saturday's Florida Derby. This marks trainer Bob Baffert's first Florida Derby starter in his Hall of Fame career. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Baffert Directs Spielberg to Florida for Rare Gulfstream Park Start

Bob Baffert may be synonymous with Kentucky Derby prep races, but the Hall of Fame trainer isn’t synonymous with Gulfstream Park or one of the premier prep races on the calendar, the Florida Derby. Until now. Baffert will make his Florida Derby debut on Saturday, sending the ubiquitous Spielberg eastward […]

Essential Quality follows up his Southwest Stakes victory here with next week's Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. He opens as the 3/1 favorite in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool Friday. (Image: Coady Photography)

Essential Quality Opens as KDFW Final Pool Favorite

Essential Quality opened Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager as the favorite. Now, the undefeated Tapit colt opens the fifth and final KDFW pool as the 3/1 favorite. Pool 5 of Churchill Downs’ plunge into the Derby futures market opens Friday at 9 am PT and closes Sunday […]

Swiss Skydiver (4) passing Authentic in deep stretch provided a memorable 2020 Preakness -- that no fans watched live due to COVID. Pimlico announced Tuesday it will sell 10,000 tickets to the 146th Preakness May 15 at Pimlico. (Image: Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports)

Preakness Gets Some of Its Fans Back, Pimlico Opens Doors for 10,000

The Maryland Jockey Club announced Tuesday it will allow 10,000 fans into the 2021 Preakness Stakes when that second jewel of the Triple Crowns runs on Saturday, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. This decision came after The Stronach Group officials met with Baltimore-area and Maryland state health officials, who […]

Hot Rod Charlie pulled away from Midnight Bourbon and the rest of the Louisiana Derby field for a two-length victory that clinched him a spot in the Kentucky Derby. (Image: Jamie Newell/Twin Spires)

How Hot Rod Charlie Brought One Small Syndicate to the Derby

In October 2019, Greg Helm took a call that changed his horse racing ownership life forever. On the other end was bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, brother to trainer Doug O’Neill, with a proposition for Helm and the rest of his small Roadrunner Racing syndicate. “He asked me if I wanted […]

Medina Spirit (right) nipped Roman Centurian (left) and Hot Rod Charlie in a Robert B. Lewis photo finish in January. The Bob Baffert trainee becomes the expected favorite in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby. (Image: Benoit Photo)

With Life Is Good Out, Baffert Shuffles His Derby Prospects

With Life Is Good off the Kentucky Derby Trail with what’s been diagnosed as an ankle chip, Bob Baffert shuffled his deep bench of Derby contenders. The shuffle means both Medina Spirit and trail newcomer Defunded will run the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Baffert made the […]

Life  Is Good turned in another bullet breeze Saturday morning. But the Kentucky Derby favorite suffered an apparent leg injury that takes him off the Derby trail. (Image: Zoe Metz Photography)

Life Is Good Taken Off Kentucky Derby Trail After Leg Injury

Current Kentucky Derby favorite Life Is Good suffered a leg injury during a Saturday morning workout, taking him off the Kentucky Derby Trail. Horse Racing Nation first reported the story, citing WinStar Farm CEO and president Elliott Walden, who texted the outlet that the horse was going to see noted […]

Roadster roared up from the stretch to win the 2019 Santa Anita Derby. The now-5-year-old returns for the first time in a year with a new trainer in the rade 2 New Orleans Classic Saturday at Fair Grounds (Image: Benoit Photo)

Roadster Returns to a Road Less Traveled: New Orleans

In the summer of 2018, Roadster was one of the hottest juveniles on the Kentucky Derby watch list. He won his debut at Del Mar by 4 ¼ lengths, then won two of his next three races. Through his first four races, Roadster was 3-for-4, with a Grade 1 victory […]

Proxy finished second in both Fair Grounds Derby preps: the Lecomte and the Risen Star. Can the 7/2 third-favorite break through in the Louisiana Derby? (Image: Hodges Photography)

Louisiana Derby Offers Big, Familiar Names in the Big Easy

Yes, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby has a familiar look to it that goes beyond bringing us familiar names like Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon, Proxy – and yes, California import Hot Rod Charlie. It’s those first three that give the first of the 170-point Kentucky Derby preps that déjà vu look. […]

Santa Anita Park ran with empty grandstands for a year. The iconic Southern California track reopens to limited capacity Friday, April 2. (Image: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Santa Anita Park Reopens to Fans in Time for April 2 Derby

With California relaxing guidelines on allowing limited crowds into sporting venues, Santa Anita Park announced Thursday it will reopen to the public on Friday, April 2. That’s just in time for the following day’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Track officials didn’t reveal how many tickets they will sell or […]

British bettor Paul Dean took a cash-out offer for a quarter-million pounds on a bet that would have won him more than £511,000. Dean looked like a savant after his chosen horse fell in Cheltenham's first race. (Image: Teesside Live)

Dean’s List: British Bettor’s Smart Cash-Out Brings Him £250,000

Almost immediately after favorite Envoi Allen crashed out of the Marsh Novices’ Chase, punters and journalists around the world were calling Paul Dean’s decision the greatest cash-out in the history of wagering. Dean, who stood to win £511,225 if Envoi Allen won the Cheltenham Festival’s Thursday opener, instead took a […]

Clairiere (1) and Joe Talamo ran down Travel Column and Florent Geroux to win last month's Rachel Alexandra Stakes. The two top 3-year-olds tangle for the third consecutive race Saturday in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. (Image: Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography)

It’s Clairiere and Travel Column 3.0 in Fair Grounds Oaks

Clairiere and Travel Column. Travel Column and Clairiere. The two 3-year-old fillies are becoming linked in many ways as they prepare for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. The two staked their grounds as the top 3-year-olds this spring, seizing attention from last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old, Vequist, along with contenders […]

Del Mar likely will open 2021 like it opened 2020 here -- without fans in the stands. But the San Diego-area seaside track plans to sell tickets for its 2021 summer meet. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Del Mar Officials Plan for Fans at 2021 Summer Meet

Del Mar officials announced Tuesday they will allow a limited number of fans into the seaside track when its summer meet opens in mid-July. Track officials didn’t specify an allotted number of tickets it plans to sell when its 82nd summer meet opens on Friday, July 16. Nor did it […]

Rachael Blackmore rode into the history books Tuesday, becoming the first female rider to win the Cheltenham Festival's Champion Hurdle. She and Honeysuckle prevailed by 6 1/4 lengths. (Image: Horse Racing Ireland)

Blackmore Makes Cheltenham History on Festival’s Opening Day

In any other year, Rachael Blackmore’s Champion Hurdle victory aboard Honeysuckle would send Cheltenham into delirium. The Gloucestershire city would palpitate with electricity that could power the entire region. But this being anything but an ordinary year, the buzz surrounding Blackmore’s historic feat was saved for the electronic devices used […]

Al Boum Photo and rider Paul Townend seek their third consecutive Gold Cup in Friday's Cheltenham Festival's Gold Cup. (Image: Healy Racing)

Cheltenham Festival Jumps Into Action Without Customary Crowds

To get a handle on what the Cheltenham Festival is, take the Super Bowl, mix it with the Olympics and the Breeders’ Cup, and add heavy, heavy betting to the brew. Then, spread it out over a four-day, 28-race jumping bacchanalia. Well, hold the bacchanalia this year. This year’s Cheltenham […]