Sue Finley

Sue Morris Finley grew up in Weston, Connecticut, the daughter of a high school French and Spanish teacher and a homemaker–both of whom loved horse racing. She spent her childhood driving back and forth to Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga with her family. A cum laude graduate of New York University with Bachelor's Degrees in French and Journalism, she began an internship in the NYRA press department while still a senior at NYU and accepted a full-time position at the track in her final term. She worked for NYRA for eight years, where she made the early morning line and was in charge of promoting the sport through television. In 1991, she went to work as a researcher on ABC's Wide World of Sports, where she covered horse racing as well as amateur sports, spending six weeks at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. In 1993, she was part of the team that took over the production of the Thoroughbred Daily News, and oversaw its move to Red Bank, NJ, becoming its co-publisher. For 12 years, she was the First Vice President of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a national organization dedicated to the humane retirement of former racehorses, and served three years on the board of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. A native New Englander and lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, she lives a stone's throw from the TDN's Red Bank, NJ offices with her two children, two rescue dogs, and the occasional foster dog.

Thoroughbred racing at Philadelphia racetrack
Charges Against Trainer Dunn Dropped After Pa. Investigators Provide Contradictory Statements

The charges against Parx trainer Felissa Dunn brought when Pennyslvania State Horse Racing Commission investigators claimed to have found syringes in her barn has been dropped after an internal investigation revealed that one or more of the investigators made material misstatements of fact, according to a ruling posted on the HIWU website. “While obviously we [...]

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Version of SAFE Act Passes Out of U.S. House Committee

Early Friday morning, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a surface transportation reauthorization bill that includes a bipartisan ban on transporting horses for slaughter, according to Chris Heyde, who runs the governmental affairs firm Blue Marble Strategy, and who has long worked on the ban, and Patrick Cummings of the National Thoroughbred Alliance. [...]

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Viola Receives Prestigious West Point Distinguished Graduate Award

Vinnie Viola, the co-owner of this year's Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin), was honored Tuesday at West Point as a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate Award. The annual award, one of the most prestigious the school offers, is given to alumni whose character, distinguished service, and stature reflect the Academy's motto, “Duty, Honor, [...]

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PETA Raises Concerns About Lopez's Preakness Ride; Laurel Stewards Reviewing Footage

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has raised concerns about the winning Preakness ride by Paco Lopez on Napoleon Solo, suggesting that Lopez raised his whip above his helmet on three different occasions before striking his horse, in violation of HISA regulations. HISA announced Monday night that they were investigating the concerns. [...]

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USA Today Alleges More Cockfighting Ties to Ortiz Brothers

A story in the Thursday edition of USA Today alleges that the ties to cockfighting for Jose and Irad Ortiz go beyond the social media video which surfaced in January showing them taking bets at an undated cockfight, documenting photos and social media posts which suggest a deeper participation in the sport. In January, the [...]

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Trump's New Tariffs Also Illegal, Says Trade Court

President Trump's 10 percent tariffs–instituted to replace his initial slate of tariffs which were struck down by the Supreme Court in February–are also illegal, a federal trade court ruled on Thursday, according to the New York Times.  Owners of European-bred horses purchased abroad are now in the process of applying for refunds for tariffs paid [...]

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After Ulcer, Fever, Curlin Done Breeding For 2026

Curlin, at 22 one of the most influential stallions in modern history, will not cover any more mares during the 2026 breeding season after a brief illness, said Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa owner John Sikura Wednesday afternoon. “Curlin, about 10 days ago, exhibited some discomfort,” said Sikura. “Dr. (Nathan) Slovis from Hagyard examined him [...]

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Kentucky Tent Caterpillars: More Direction from UK

As anecdotal sightings of tent caterpillars in central Kentucky give rise to concerns that this might be a bumper crop for the region, entomologists at the University of Kentucky have weighed in with guidelines to control the pests. Dr. Jonathan Larson, an entomologist at the UK's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, said that [...]

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Eastern Tent Caterpillars: A Heavier-Than-Normal Year in Kentucky?

After numerous sightings of the nests of Eastern Tent caterpillar nest on his farm, Frank Taylor said that he has been vigilant this season about spraying to destroy the nests. As the weather warms up, and the caterpillars are leaving the nests and making their way elsewhere, this is the time of year when they [...]

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Undefeated Shane's Wonder Features in Inglis Digital USA April Sale

The Inglis Digital USA Sale, which opened Friday and concludes next Wednesday, April 8 at 2 p.m., offers an eye-catching entry in undefeated Shane's Wonder (Eastwood) from Bob Hutt's Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC. Shane's Wonder won his Feb. 17 debut at Parx, going six-furlongs against state-bred maidens, by 11 1/2 lengths, and followed that up March [...]

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Baffert to Leave Horses at Churchill For The Summer After Derby Week

Trainer Bob Baffert will leave some horses at Churchill Downs this spring rather than bringing all of his stable back to California, said the trainer when reached by phone Thursday afternoon. The story was first reported by Ron Flatter at Horse Racing Nation. Baffert stressed that he is not abandoning the West Coast. “I've always [...]

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Donald Trump
24 States Sue Trump Over New Tariffs

A group of 24 U.S. states sued American President Donald Trump on Thursday over his imposition of new tariffs on imports around the world, according to the New York Times, which said that his administration would now be forced back into court to try to maintain those tariffs. The lawsuit is led by the states [...]

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