Horse Racing

This front-running outing is what Major Fed's connections need to see to keep him on the Kentucky Derby Trail. He is the 7/2 second-choice to win Wednesday's Indiana Derby. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

Derby Trail Now Runs Through Indiana, with Major Fed Taking Center Stage

- 3 min read

When looking at, and understanding, the Indiana Derby and its place on the Kentucky Derby Trail, it’s important to take a page from one of the favorites – Major Fed. Don’t look away at the wrong time. Major Fed brought us this lesson through his misadventures at March’s Grade 2 […]

Tom VanMeter is one of the most prominent owner/breeders in Thoroughbred racing. He apologized Tuesday for racist comments he made on social media last week. (Image: Keeneland)

Amid Industry Heat, Noted Horseman VanMeter Apologizes for Racial Slurs

- 3 min read

In the face of fallout from across the racing world, Tom VanMeter, a prominent Kentucky horse owner and breeder, apologized Tuesday for racist remarks he made last week on social media. A well-known figure in the Kentucky horse industry, VanMeter owns Stockplace Farm, the birthplace of 2015 Triple Crown champion […]

Seen here with 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, trainer Bob Baffert plans fighting the positive drug tests of Charlatan and Gamine. (Image: Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

Second Samples Come Back Positive for Two of Baffert’s Star Horses

- 3 min read

More than a month after two of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s star horses failed post-race drug tests at Oaklawn Park, the split samples of both tests both came back positive. The “B” sample tests confirmed the initial findings that showed undefeated Charlatan and Gamine both tested positive for […]

(Image: Brad Penner/USA Today)

June’s Racing Economic Indicators Bring Some Welcome Good News

- 3 min read

Equibase’s monthly report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing for June revealed the first uptick in racing handle since February, before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the industry. June’s uptick is slight, 0.76% over June 2019. This result is due to tracks opening or re-opening throughout June. That said, […]

Mike Smith and Swiss Skydiver rolled to such an easy victory in June's Santa Anita Oaks that her connections may send her into Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes against the boys. (Image: AP Photo)

Swiss Skydiver Looking to Leap into Blue Grass Stakes

- 2 min read

Will Swiss Skydiver run with the boys? Will the talented filly who doesn’t need Kentucky Oaks points enter Saturday’s Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland – a Kentucky Derby prep? Or will Swiss Skydiver enter the Grade 1 Ashland Oaks and tangle with her usual fellow filly suspects? These […]

Citing the coronavirus, Lone Star Park officials suddenly suspended racing following Sunday's first of nine scheduled races. (Image: Mike Stone/For the Dallas Morning News)

Lone Star Park Abruptly Closes, Cites COVID-19 as Reason

- 2 min read

Lone Star Park suddenly suspended its Sunday racing card and officials announced via Twitter that they’re halting all racing at the Texas track until further notice. The announcement came from the track’s Twitter feed, which cited “an abundance of caution” due to COVID-19. It provided no further details, either on […]

Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Instilled Regard through a slim opening to win Saturday's Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park. This was Instilled Regard's second stakes victory in less than a month. (Image: Joe Labozzetta/Coglianese Photos)

What Can Chad Brown Do for Instilled Regard? Make Him a Turf Terror

- 3 min read

That Instilled Regard snatched and grabbed victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park isn’t surprising, coming from a horse with nearly $1 million in career earnings. That the Chad Brown-trainee took Manhattan wasn’t surprising either, considering this was Brown’s sixth Manhattan title in nine years. It was […]

The horses breaking from Del Mar's starting gate for its summer meet will undergo health scrutiny unlike any seen before. And they'll do it in front of empty grandstands at the seaside San Diego-area track. (Image: Horsephotos /Getty Images)

Del Mar Goes the Extra Miles Implementing Human, Horse Health Reforms

- 3 min read

In this coronavirus era, you expect to read about the health protocols for Del Mar’s impending summer meet. But officials from the seaside track north of San Diego unveiled further guidelines addressing horse safety along with human safety. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC), which operates the track, announced the […]

Maximum Security's hasn't raced since winning the $20 million Saudi Cup in late February. The 4-year-old standout colt returns to action July 18 at Del Marl. (Image: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia)

Maximum Security Returns to Racing at Del Mar’s San Diego Handicap

- 2 min read

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert answered the question racing fans asked throughout the spring when he announced Maximum Security returns to action July 18 at Del Mar. Baffert told the Daily Racing Form 2019’s Champion 3-year-old male will run the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race […]

One of the most underrated horses in the country, Vekoma splashed home to win the Carter Handicap by 7 1/4 lengths last month. The competition increases dramatically in Saturday's Met Mile at Belmont Park. (Image: NYRA)

Meet the Many Contenders in the Met Mile

- 3 min read

The beauty for horseplayers and horse racing fans alike in Saturday’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Stakes, popularly known as the Met Mile, is the variety of runners meeting in the Belmont Park starting gate for a one-turn mile. Sprinters? They’re there with Vekoma, Hog Creek Hustle and Network Effect. Routers? How […]

With Frankie Dettori in the irons, English King brings all the advantages of royalty into Saturday's Epsom Derby. All, save a favorable starting stall. (Image: Megan Ridgwell)

Epsom Derby Favorite English King Seeks to Make, Overcome History

- 3 min read

This will test every ounce of Frankie Dettori’s considerable and well-chronicled riding skill. His mission is to win Saturday’s Epsom Derby aboard favored English King from Stall (Gate) No. 1. In English racing, that’s on the outside rail. At Epsom, it’s the Stall of Death. That stall hasn’t sent out […]

Given his advantages, pedigree and training, betting on Tacitus makes sense on paper. But the Tapit progeny is without a win in 15 months. (Image: Seth Wenig/AP)

Tacitus Brings Everything to the Track — Except Winning Tickets

- 2 min read

You can say many things about Tacitus, your 9/5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 2 $200,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. You can call him a disappointment — $2.7 million in earnings aside. You can say the 4-year-old Tapit progeny should own more than three victories in 11 career […]

Because the horse bears the name of his late friend Brad McKinzie, Bob Baffert takes special pride when McKinzie wins races like last year's Whitney. He will be one to watch in Saturday's Met Mile at Belmont Park. (Image: NYRA Photo)

McKinzie, Baffert Carry a Special Bond Into Every Race

- 3 min read

To Bob Baffert, Saturday’s Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont Park is more than one of the top older-horse races on Belmont Park’s summer calendar. To the Hall of Fame trainer, watching McKinzie seek history in one of the most historic races on the East Coast means more than another […]

Thousand Words (right) outdueled Anneau d'Or in last fall's Los Alamitos Futurity. The two slumping horses duel again in Saturday's Los Alamitos Derby. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Can Thousand Words Answer Uncle Chuck at Los Alamitos Derby?

- 3 min read

Uncle Chuck and his Bob Baffert stablemate, Thousand Words, headline a small, but eclectic field at Saturday’s Grade 3 $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby. And, should one of the two Baffert charges win, they’ll not only bring in 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, but bring Baffert his fourth consecutive Los Alamitos […]

Beginning Thursday, a limited number of fans will see the sight of horses making the turn at Ellis Park. The Kentucky track announced seven backstretch workers tested positive for the coronavirus. (Image: Coady Photography)

On Eve of Meet, Seven Ellis Park Workers Test Positive for COVID-19

- 2 min read

Less than a week before Ellis Park Race Track’s most historic season is set to begin, the track announced that seven backstretch workers tested positive for COVID-19. Track officials announced their summer meet will begin as scheduled on Thursday, with limited fans in attendance. Of the seven Ellis Park backstretch […]

Cezanne captured more than his debut race earlier this month. He seized the imagination of value-hunting Kentucky Derby bettors. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Cezanne Creates More Buzz Entering His Second Career Race

- 3 min read

Cezanne’s potential as a Kentucky Derby contender will be further revealed on Thursday when the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old enters the Los Alamitos Race Course gate for his second career race. A $3.65 million purchase and one of the loudest buzz horses on the Kentucky Derby Trail, Cezanne is the 4/5 […]

Ellis Park gets ready for its 2020 close-up when it opens to limited spectators Thursday. It is one of a handful of racetracks allowing fans inside. (Image: Ellis Park Racetrack)

Kentucky’s Ellis Park to Open Historic Meet with Limited Fans

- 2 min read

Ellis Park will become the first Kentucky racetrack to allow spectators when the track opens Thursday for its summer meet. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s directive allows racetracks to admit spectators up to 50% capacity beginning Monday. The Henderson facility plans selling reserved seating to its Sky Theater, the second floor […]

John Sadler, seen here shaking hands with owner Kosta Hronis after their Accelerate won the 2018 Pacific Classic. will sit out the next 15 days. Three of his horses tested positive for banned substances. (Image: Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune)

Top Trainer John Sadler Fined, Suspended for Medication Violations

- 3 min read

John Sadler, one of the top trainers on the West Coast, was fined $15,000 and suspended for 60 days for three 2019 medication violations involving his horses. The ruling, handed down by the California Horse Racing Board on Sunday, came out of a settlement agreement between the CHRB and Sadler. […]

By My Standards won his first stakes race, last year's Louisiana Derby. He faces his biggest challenge to date against tough, seasoned Tom's d'Etat in the Stephen Foster. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

Stephen Foster Composes Beautiful Front Line of Contenders

- 3 min read

As marquee races go, this isn’t the Kentucky Derby. But you could do a lot worse than the Stephen Foster as the headline race of your meet, abbreviated and all. The Grade 2 Stephen Foster not only headlines Saturday’s strong 11-race, four-stakes card at Churchill Downs, it provides an enviable […]

Trainer Peter Eurton takes the blinders off Storm the Court for Saturday's Ohio Derby. Will Storm the Court put on the speed he used to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile? (Image: Horsephotos.com)

Seeking to End Slump, Storm the Court Downshifts into Ohio Derby

- 3 min read

Storm the Court’s 2020 season defines the term “sophomore slump,” which explains why you’re seeing the Champion 2-year-old in the starting gate for Saturday’s Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. The consolation for Storm the Court? There are two. He gets back Flavien Prat, the West Coast’s top jockey, who […]