2024 Kentucky Derby

It will be a hugely important weekend for trainer Kenny McPeek as Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will be in action Saturday at Churchill Downs. Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will be heavy favorite in the GII Fleur De Lis while 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan faces a tough assignment in a loaded GI Stephen Foster Stakes. To talk about the two biggest stars in his barn, his hiring of Jimmy Jerkens and even his new tattoo, McPeek was the Gainseway Guest of the...

Mystik Dan (Goldencents--Ma'am, by Colonel John), the winner of the GI Kentucky Derby in 2024, is set to stand stud at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky, upon the conclusion of his racing career, according to a press release from the farm Monday morning. A three-time graded stakes winner with earnings to date of more than $4.4 million, Mystik Dan has been campaigned throughout his career by trainer Kenny McPeek for the ownership group of Lance Gasaway, 4G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC. Mystik Dan first...

Larry Demeritte, whose inspiring story of battling cancer and making it to the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby captivated racing, passed away Tuesday evening after a lengthy battle with blood cancer. He was 75. A native of the Bahamas, Demeritte was the first Black trainer to saddle a horse in the race for 35 years. Demeritte's father was a trainer in the Bahamas and his son was often at his side when he was running or training horses. Demeritte said that he watched the Kentucky Derby every year on television and...

Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister) was humanely euthanized at Fawn Leap Farm outside Midway, Kentucky Monday, according to Debby Oxley, who phoned the TDN with the news. In a remarkable achievement in last year's Kentucky Derby, Darling My Darling was the granddam of both the second- and third-place finishers, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). The pair ran first and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last fall. "She's 28 years old and she is brought in every night and on Monday morning, they...

In its second year as an official partner of the Kentucky Derby, FanDuel experienced increases in key metrics across the board on the first Saturday in May. Highlights include: Double digit year-over-year growth for active account holders, a record for the Kentucky Derby and the biggest day of racing ever for FanDuel Group. Peak bets on Saturday were at Super Bowl levels and the wagering platform performed without interruption. More than 700k customers bet the Kentucky Derby with FanDuel Group (last year was ~500k). Estimated over 200k customers bet on...

Churchill Downs released the 2024 "Official Art of the Kentucky Derby" by artist Wylie Caudill, the track said in a release Thursday. Originally from Cynthiana, Kentucky, Caudill gravitated to public art and expanded his street art to murals which can be seen across the state, many of which include his signature roses. His artwork for the Derby features 150 red roses representing the Winner's Circle surrounded by white, gold and cerulean roses to symbolize the colorful fans from around the world. "As a Kentucky Native, it is an immense honor...

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will serve as the keynote speaker at this year's 21st annual Race For Grace May 1, which benefits the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy. Held along Millionaires Row in the clubhouse at Churchill Downs, the dinner will include a live auction featuring a box for the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, while a silent auction sports leather halters from last year's Derby participants, horse racing art and other assorted memorabilia. Scott Davenport, Bellarmine University men's basketball coach who led the Knights to the...