Tag: Epsom Derby

Desert Crown won Saturday's 243rd Epsom Derby by 2 1/4 lengths. It gave 76-year-old trainer Sir Michael Stoute his sixth Derby victory over more than four decades. (Image: Epsom Downs Twitter)

Favorite Desert Crown Shines Brightest, Wins 243rd Epsom Derby

- 3 min read

Two of British racing’s iconic figures: Queen Elizabeth II and the late jockey Lester Piggott, were absentee honorees from Saturday’s Epsom Derby. But both would have found Richard Kingscote’s Derby-winning ride aboard Desert Crown a masterstroke of horsemanship. Kingscote piloted 5/2 favorite Desert Crown to the Epsom Derby title Saturday, […]

At 25/1, Serpentine blew away the field in the 2020 Epsom Derby. He became the first Derby champion in more than 100 years to be gelded. (Image: Bill Selwyn)

The Unkindest, Rarest Cut: 2020 Epsom Derby Champ Serpentine Gelded

- 2 min read

Winning England’s Epsom Derby — which Serpentine did in 2020 — is considered the biggest boon to a colt’s stallion future. Win the biggest 3-year-old race east of Kentucky and your stallion potential is limitless. Not in Serpentine’s case. Not anymore. The now 5-year-old son of the iconic Galileo was […]

With this Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes win on the resume, Tiz the Bomb is the class of Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. (Image: Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Back Off Dirt, Tiz the Bomb is Poised to Go Off in the Battaglia Memorial

- 3 min read

The John Battaglia Memorial isn’t one of your A-list Kentucky Derby preps. It’s probably not a B-lister either. But the status trip down the alphabet got a boost with the presence of Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes winner Tiz the Bomb. Tiz the Bomb headlines an oversubscribed 14-colt-and-gelding field in Saturday’s […]

Love won last year's Epsom Oaks by nine lengths. The daughter of the late Galileo and winner of seven of 11 is the 5/2 favorite for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. (Image: Megan Ridgwell)

Top Talent Brings Equine Palace Intrigue to King George Stakes

- 3 min read

The storylines in Saturday’s Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are almost as loaded with intrigue as the field is loaded with talent. And this field for the 1 ½-mile turf trek at Ascot is loaded with talent. But each high-profile contestant comes with his – […]

Jockey Adam Kirby aboard 16/1 Adayar scored a resounding upset in Saturday's Epsom Derby. A game of musical jockeys put the 32-year-old Kirby on Adayar earlier in the week. (Image: PA Wire)

When the Music Stopped, Kirby and 16/1 Adayar Win Epsom Derby

- 3 min read

Adam Kirby wasn’t supposed to be on Epsom Derby surprise winner Adayar. And Adayar wasn’t supposed to sniff the Epsom Derby winner’s circle. Not at 16/1, and not as Godolphin’s third-string colt. But in a replay of the Kentucky Derby here in the US, colts don’t realize they’re not supposed […]

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 […]

Newmarket's Rowley Mile track won't be grounded if UK racing resumes June 4. Two Classics: the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, are tentatively scheduled. (Image: Festivals of Racing)

UK Racing to Return with Major Races Out of the Gate

- 3 min read

Nonplussed by the British Government’s announcement that live sports won’t resume until June 1, at the earliest, the British Horseracing Authority released a tentative schedule of major races that gets matters going in a hurry. The UK racing schedule opens with the first two Classics – the 2,000 Guineas and […]

Queen Elizabeth II, seen arriving with Princess Alexandra for the 2018 Royal Ascot meet, is a fixture at Royal Ascot's summer meet. It may run behind closed doors this year. (Image: NBC Sports)

With Other English Races Shelved, Royal Ascot May Run Behind Closed Doors

- 3 min read

With the other four British Classic races postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Royal Ascot plans on racing ahead with its June 16 opening for now – albeit behind closed doors. This announcement came almost simultaneously with Jockey Club officials postponing the first four Classic races on the British racing […]