Bill Finley

Bill Finley is a New Jersey-based writer who writes a weekly column on espn.com, and is the co-host of Down The Stretch, an Eclipse Award-winning weekly radio program on Sirius Satellite Radio. He began his career working for Daily Racing Form at the Northampton Fair after graduating from Tufts University with a degree in Economics. He went on to work for the New York Post, the Daily News and wrote frequently for the New York Times. Bill won the 2010 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Magazine Writing for the Thoroughbred Daily News.

Champion Serena's Song Passes Away

Serena's Song, the 3-year-old filly champion in 1995 and the winner of 11 Grade I stakes races, passed away peacefully Wednesday at Denali Stud, where she spent her entire post-racetrack career. She died 25 days before her 34th birthday, but was officially considered 34 at the time of her death. Inducted into the National Museum [...]

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The Latest on the FAIR BET Act: A Q & A With Congressional Aide Dick Cooper

When the details of Donald Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” were introduced, there was an unwelcome surprise for horseplayers as well as all gamblers. It included a provision whereby gamblers could only deduct 90% of their losses from their winnings. For example, if a gambler collected $100,000 in winning bets during a year while also [...]

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The Blue Grass Could Be Next for The Puma

The Puma (Essential Quality) returned to his base at Gulfstream Park early Sunday morning after his win a day earlier in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, and his connections reported that he came out of the race in good order. Though no firm plans have been made regarding his future schedule, Gustavo Delgado Jr., who [...]

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Week In Review: It's Time for the Aftercare Debate to Include Passage of the SAFE Act

It is, of course, a good thing, that the subjects of aftercare and slaughter are being so widely debated, with influential owners like Mike Repole and Aron Wellman all but demanding that the industry come together and solve the problem. Just last week, Pat Cummings, who has been working side-by-side with Repole on the issue, [...]

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Sandman works at Saratoga July 5
D.J. Stable To Send Sandman, Ewing To Ocala To Be Reevaluated

With Eclipse Award-winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), who will be heavily favored in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn, having won her 2026 debut in the GIII Bayakoa Stakes, D.J. Stable could well be on its way to another successful year. But not everything has gone right in 2026 for the Green family and its stable. [...]

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The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Mar. 5: Explora Makes a Big Move

The biggest move made in this week's poll was the jump made by Explora (Blame) after her game win in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. She jumped from seventh to third. The latest list also includes She Be Smooth (Lexitonian), who lands at No. 4 after her impressive win in the GII Davona Dale [...]

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It Wasn't Easy, But Keeneland's Roethemeier Is On His Way Back To Kentucky

As part of his official duties, Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Dean Roethemeier was attending the races Saturday at Meydan in Dubai at the same time that drone and missile attacks launched by Iran were hitting nearby. While he said he never felt unsafe, he noted that his biggest worry was, with the Dubai International [...]

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Magnitude
Despite War In Middle East, Most U.S. Connections Still Planning To Head To Dubai

While the war raging in the Middle East has caused uncertainty and danger throughout the region, it appears that most among the group of U.S.-based horses that had been planning on running on the Mar. 28 GI Dubai World Cup card will make the trip to the United Arab Emirates and continue to prepare for [...]

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John Kimmel Steps Away from Training to Focus on Bloodstock Business

Among the top trainers on the New York circuit for decades, John Kimmel has announced his retirement. Citing the economic difficulties facing many trainers these days, Kimmel, 71, said he would devote his time to building his business as a bloodstock agent. Kimmel has been doing double duty over the last three or four years, [...]

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Among The Most Improved Horses In The Sport, Can Nu What's New Spring The Mild Upset In The Razorback?

When Nu What's New (Munnings) started his career last year a sixth-place finish in a maiden race at Churchill and followed that with a seventh-place run in a maiden on the turf, trainer James DiVito couldn't have been happy. He had paid $300,000 for the horse at the 2024 OBS April sale and Nu What's [...]

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Will HISA Ban Lasix in All Races? Its Board of Directors Will Soon Decide

Since the inception of HISA, the diuretic Lasix (also known as furosemide) has been banned in all 2-year-old races and in stakes races. But that may be about to change. On May 22, HISA's nine-member Board of Directors will take a vote on whether or not the medication should be banned in all races. On [...]

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Admission To Preakness At Laurel Will Be Limited To 4,800

With the GI Preakness moving to Laurel for this year's running, attendance will be limited to just 4,800 patrons, according to a spokesperson for 1/ST Racing. The story was first reported by Matt Hegarty in the Daily Racing Form, who provided 1/ST with a list of questions regarding this year's race. Though 1/ST had turned [...]

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