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.

Florent Geroux and Gratefully at Santa Anita
Week in Review: Florent Geroux Has His Mojo Back

The year 2025 was not a good one for jockey Florent Geroux. A jockey who had won at least 100 races for 11 years in a row, and won 217 races in 2016, he won only 75 races last year. The start of 2026 was no better. When he left Fair Grounds after the Feb. [...]

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After Blowout Allowance Win, Reagan's Honor is Headed to the Blue Grass

Though she had risen rapidly through the ranks to become one of the sport's top trainers, Cherie DeVaux has yet to start a horse in the GI Kentucky Derby. That may soon be about to change. DeVaux unleashed one of the more impressive 3-year-old winners of the year last week at the Fair Grounds when [...]

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Churchill Downs racing
Churchill Downs Issues Statement Regarding Beef With HISA

In response to allegations from HISA that Churchill Downs owes the organization $2.4 million in fees, Churchill Downs issued a statement Thursday in which it said it does not “accept HISA's mischaracterization of our actions” and rebuffed any suggestions that Churchill Downs and its affiliate tracks are not fully committed to safety and integrity. The [...]

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New President Has Ambitious Plans for the Maryland Million

When the Maryland Million program, the brainchild of famed sportscaster Jim McKay, was launched in 1986, it was hailed as one of the most innovative and successful programs of its kind. It has been something that has been copied in racing states across the country. But when TK Kuegler took over as the president of [...]

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The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 19: Bella Ballerina Makes A Big Move

There was only one graded stakes race on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks this weekend, but it was a big one. The GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes has produced 12 winners of the Oaks. The list includes last year's Oaks champion Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) and 2023 winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). So, [...]

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Sovereignty and Neil Poznansky at Saratoga
Sovereignty Is Back On Work Tab; Could Resurface In The Oaklawn Handicap Or The Alysheba

Unraced since winning the Aug. 23 GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) got back to work Sunday morning at Payson Park in Florida, working three furlongs in 37.40 breezing. It was the first workout this year for the 2025 Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Champion. “We've got him back on a regular [...]

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Gutierrez Survives Gulfstream Spill With No Broken Bones

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who went down in a spill in Sunday's ninth race at Gulfstream Park, has reported on X that he was not seriously injured. After being attended to on the course, Gutierrez was transported to the hospital with complaints of a sore hip. “Counting my blessings today,” Gutierrez wrote. “Yesterday was rough, but [...]

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Hawthorne Takes First Steps to Convert Racing Surface, But Horsemen Want Guarantees Meet Will Begin on Time

Though Hawthorne maintenance crews took the first step Monday toward converting the racing surface so that it is suitable for Thoroughbred racing, Illinois horsemen remain skeptical that racing will proceed when the Thoroughbred meet is scheduled to open Mar. 29. Hawthorne officials had testified at a meeting of the Illinois Racing Board that work would [...]

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Kevin Bond Charged with Conduct Detrimental in Wake of Facebook Incident

Trainer Kevin Bond, whose Facebook page sported an antisemitic comment regarding Rob Reiner, has been charged with conduct detrimental to the best interests of racing and to the New York Racing Association's Business Operations, as well as a breach of his stall application, NYRA revealed Friday. NYRA has issued a notice of hearing and Statement [...]

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The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 For Feb. 12: Zany Stays on Top

It's been three weeks since our last GI Kentucky Oaks Top 10, and a lot has happened. But no one stepped up with the type of explosive performance that would have shaken up the standings. We've dropped four horses from our original poll. Mythical (St. Patrick's Day) just wasn't good enough in the GIII Forward [...]

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Hall Of Fame Trainer King Leatherbury Passes At 92

Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury, whose career spanned eight decades and included 52 training titles combined at Pimlico and Laurel, has passed away. He was 92 and died Tuesday at his home. “He's one of a kind, said one of his twin sons, Taylor Leatherbury. “There's never been a man more appropriately named than [...]

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Paddock at Gulfstream Park
The Week in Review: After Setback in the House, Florida Horsemen Hunting for Solutions

   Though it was hardly a surprise that a bill that would allow decoupling at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs was advanced Tuesday by the Florida House Commerce Committee, it was not good news for the troubled Florida racing industry. Having now been advanced by two House committees the bill, HB 881, can be [...]

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