Tag: Iroquois Stakes

A beaming Steve Asmussen escorts Stellar Tap and Ricardo Santana Jr. to the Saratoga winner's circle after the juvenile made the conditioner the winningest trainer in North American history. Stellar Tap is the 3/1 morning-line favorite to win the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Image: Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photos)

The 2022 Kentucky Derby Trail Begins Here, With the Iroquois Stakes

- 3 min read

The Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes open the gate for the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail. But perhaps winning the first points race on the Derby trail is a poisoned chalice. Win the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois, named after the first American horse to win the Epsom Derby – along with the Native […]

Shedaresthedevil bedeviled her opponents in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs. She returns to one of her favorite tracks on opening weekend for the 12-day fall meet. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs Returns with Three-Weekend, All-Dirt September Meet

- 2 min read

Horse racing continues its return from the post-Saratoga/Del Mar hiatus today, with the beginning of Churchill Downs’ 12-day September Meet. The Kentucky track joins Belmont Park, which began its fall meet Wednesday. All 117 September races at Churchill Downs will run on dirt. The track began work on its new […]

The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby begins Sept. 18 at the home of the Derby: Churchill Downs. (Image: Churchill Downs)

Suspended Baffert Not Invited to Join 2022 Kentucky Derby Trail

- 2 min read

When the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby begins Saturday, Sept. 18, the trail to the Run for the Roses will proceed without the trainer synonymous with Derby success: Bob Baffert. Churchill Downs announced in a Friday statement that no Derby qualifying points will be awarded to “any horse trained […]

Bodexpress captured last year's Grade 1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. That older-horse race is the only Grade 1 on the track's September or Fall Meet schedule. (Image: Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs Announces September, Fall Meets Stakes Schedule

- 3 min read

Churchill Downs will offer only one Grade 1 event during its September and Fall Meets. But, even as interesting as the Grade 1 Clark Stakes is on the day after Thanksgiving, there are other races further down the class food chain worth some serious attention. Those races are the track’s […]

Newspaperofrecord won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs two years ago. She returns to Churchill Downs as the expected favorite in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on Derby Saturday. (Image: Edward Whitaker)

There’s More to Kentucky Derby Saturday than the Derby

- 3 min read

On Kentucky Derby Saturday, horseplayers and fans get Tiz the Law, Honor A.P., Art Collector and the rest of the Derby Trail survivors. However, to steal a phrase from late-night TV – but wait, there’s more — to Derby Day than the Derby. Not only do you get prohibitive favorite […]