Tag: Javier Castellano

Dowagiac Chief broke his maiden in this Kentucky Downs maiden special weight. He is one of the favorites for the marquee Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park's Northern Stars Turf Festival Wednesday. (Image: Coady Photgraphy)

Canterbury Park Gets Mystic with Northern Stars Turf Festival

- 3 min read

The center of the horse racing universe will migrate north to Minnesota’s Canterbury Park on Wednesday, where the annual Mystic Lake Northern Stars Turf Festival offers five stakes and a rich smorgasbord of betting options. Those options include an all-turf stakes Pick 5 that offers an industry-low 10% takeout. That […]

Tiz the Law brings that placid demeanor everywhere but the starting gate. It's one reason he's the favorite to win Saturday's 146th Kentucky Derby. (Image: Churchill Downs)

No Asterisks Needed: Breaking Down the 2020 Kentucky Derby

- 10 min read

Historians 100 years from now will note the 2020 Kentucky Derby took place the first Saturday in September, instead of the first Saturday in May. They’ll note that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, America’s annual racing bacchanalia was shy of bacchanalia because Churchill Downs was shy of spectators. Barring any […]

Like Charlatan, the horse Martin Garcia rode to victory in May's Arkansas Derby, Garcia is now on the shelf. He tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantined for 14 days. (Image: Richard Rasmussen/Hot Springs Sentinel-Record)

Jockey Martin Garcia Latest Rider Testing Positive for Coronavirus

- 2 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic invaded the horse racing world again this week when jockey Martin Garcia tested positive for the coronavirus. The news came after Kentucky health officials told Garcia about his positive test, according to the Daily Racing Form. Garcia’s agent, Jay Fedor, said Garcia was on his way to […]

Jockey Javier Castellano has more reason to give a thumbs-up than winning his 5,000th race. He exited quarantine and plans to ride again May 1 in Arkansas. (Image: Getty Images)

Hall of Fame Jockey Castellano Leaves Quarantine, Plans Racing Return

- 2 min read

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, the first major North American racing figure to test positive for the coronavirus, is out of quarantine and back in New York. He plans on returning to racing May 1 at Oaklawn Park. After testing positive for the coronavirus on March 24, Castellano spent […]

Javier Castellano is one of the best big-race riders in the country. Now, as the first prominent jockey to test positive for COVID-19, he becomes the unwilling face of the pandemic in his sport. (Image: Getty Images)

Hall-Of-Fame Jockey Javier Castellano Tests Positive for COVID-19

- 2 min read

Hall-of-Fame jockey Javier Castellano announced on Twitter Thursday that he’s tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first US rider known to have a coronavirus infection. The initial announcement came via a tweet by his agent, John Panagot who said Gulfstream Park required Castellano to take a physical. He took […]