Bill Finley

Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, has come a long way in the 3 1/2 years he has been training on his own. He's already won more than 100 races and collected a pair of Grade I wins, including World Beater (Oscar Performance)'s score in last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes. And now it looks like he'll have a starter in this year's GI Kentucky Derby. In winning the Virginia Derby, the Mott-trained Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) earned enough points to guarantee himself a spot in...

Trainer Riley Mott joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss the steady growth of his stables in its first four years and the emergence of a top-level talent. Following Incredibolt's impressive score in the Virginia Derby, Mott talks about the progression of his stable star and the team's plans as they look toward the Kentucky Derby.

In the ongoing battle between HISA and Churchill Downs Inc., HISA fired the latest shot Tuesday, ordering Churchill to pay it $5,024,848.56, plus interest in the amount of $250,631.77. In documents released Tuesday by HISA, the authority charged that if CDI does not comply with the order it will no longer be able to simulcast races from any of its tracks to out-of-state locations starting Mar. 27. The legislation that created HISA allows it to revoke a tracks simulcasting privileges if HISA believes a track is in violation of its...

On May 22, the HISA Board of Directors will take a vote that could result in the ban of Lasix in all races. Any decision made by the Board, whether to keep the rules as they are, or to enact a full ban, must be unanimous. In response, five trainers and Eric Hamelback, the CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, signed a letter imploring HISA to continue to allow the use of the medication in most races. Trainer Ron Moquett was among those signing the letter. To...

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 one of the world's richest days of racing. "We're making plans and arrangements as if the world were normal," said David Fiske, the racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, which owns Dubai World Cup hopeful Magnitude...

Trainer Ron Moquett joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to weigh in on HISA's impending vote on race-day Lasix and the open letter he recently co-signed on the subject.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a lot to discuss on this week's TDN Writers' Room. This weekend on the Kentucky Derby trail, he'll send Jackson Hole to the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes and Class President to the GII Rebel Stakes, plus he has two fillies in the GII Davona Dale Stakes.

Trainer Brendan Walsh joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss his undefeated 3-year-old filly Bella Ballerina after her win in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. He also shares stories of the filly's Kentucky Oaks-winning half-sister, Pretty Mischievous, and some of his other favorite past trainees.

Trainer Mark Casse joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to recap a big weekend with GIII Southwest Stakes winner Silent Tactic and fan-favorite filly Nitrogen. He also discusses the recent announcement of him being named chairman of OBS.

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 my father." Born in Shady Side, Maryland, Leatherbury was raised on a farm where his father had horses. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in business administration, Leatherbury went to work...

Chris Block, the President of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, discusses the recent events at Hawthorne and the future of Illinois racing.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. finished 1-2 in last weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup with Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio. He joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about the impressive achievement.