Churchill Downs
The gaming corporation that owns Churchill Downs told a federal judge in a late-night Tuesday court filing that Bob Baffert's lawsuit to try and get his private-property banishment and exclusion from the GI Kentucky Derby lifted would not only harm the corporation's portfolio of tracks, but would hurt the owners and trainers of other horses who have rightfully earned Derby berths but would be precluded from entering if the court rules they had to be pushed off the qualifying list to make room for the barred trainer. "This lawsuit is...
In an era where most every trainer has grown way too cautious and overly patient, 86-year-old Wayne Lukas has emerged as a breath of fresh air. Lukas announced last week that he was going to run his star filly Secret Oath (Arrogate) in the Apr. 2 GI Arkansas Derby against the colts instead of in the safer pick, the GIII Fantasy S. run the same day. It's not just a bold choice, it is a smart choice. With the contingent of males heading to the Arkansas Derby an unusually weak...
The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy will celebrate 50 years of racetrack ministry May 2 at the Louisville-based track with its annual Race for Grace banquet. It is the primary fundraiser for the organization and the money generated allows the Chaplaincy to continue their mission to minister to the fundamental and spiritual needs of the horsemen and women working at the racetracks and training centers in Kentucky and Southern Ohio. With over 7,000 licensees and three chaplains across five tracks, the group serves the stable workers, jockeys, starting gate crew, and...
Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 03/11/2022 Licensee: Donald Palmer, owner Penalty: Suspended license Violation: Failure to appear at hearing Explainer: Owner Donald Palmer (DBA: Live Your Dream Racing), having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards...
The Churchill Downs spring/summer, which will include an Arlington Million Day card transplanted from the shuttered Chicago racetrack, will offer a record 53 stakes races worth $20.37 million. The 44-day Spring Meet is highlighted by the $3-million GI Kentucky Derby May 7 and will run from Apr. 30-July 4. With the coordination of Ellis Park and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill will host a special Arlington Million Day Aug. 13. The card will feature four stakes cumulatively worth $2 million: the $1-million GI Arlington Million; $500,000 GI Beverly D....
The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy will host its Race for Grace Banquet and Auction May 2 on Millionaires Row in the clubhouse at Churchill Downs. The fundraiser will be held from 6-9 p.m. Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day will be the event's Master of Ceremonies and the keynote speaker will be Pastor Bob Russell. There will be a live auction featuring Keeneland's Director of Auctioneers Ryan Mahan and items will include six seat boxes for the 2023 Kentucky Derby and Oaks, leather halters from 2022 Kentucky Derby entries and...
Edited Press Release Churchill Downs Racetrack will host a job fair on Saturday, Mar. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to hire positions for the upcoming Kentucky Derby and Spring Meet. Billed as the "Staff Call to Post," Churchill Downs and its vendor partners--Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC), Levy Restaurants and Prichard Sports & Entertainment Group and United Tote--will be looking for candidates to fill various positions for Derby Week and the 44-day Spring Meet, which begins a nine-week run Saturday, Apr. 30 through Monday, July 4. The 148th runnings...
For the first time, officials at Churchill Downs will open general admission access to the infield for the annual 'Thurby' presented by Old Forester. The day's events will feature live music from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats as part of the celebration of music and Kentucky bourbon. "We couldn't be more excited to expand our Derby Week entertainment with this infield music experience on Thurby," said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "As a day that has come to be celebrated as Kentucky's Day, we're confident this event...
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) voted 10-0 Friday to deny stays of penalties while trainer Bob Baffert and owner Amr Zedan appeal their equine drug positive rulings related to Medina Spirit's disqualification from the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby. One of Baffert's attorneys, W. Craig Robertson III, told TDN after the vote that the decision was "very disappointing." He added that "I have never seen the KHRC not grant a stay in the past. We will take the matter back up with the Franklin Circuit Court on Mar. 17." Robertson...
Trainer Bob Baffert has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI), CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen and CDI Board Chair Alex Rankin. Baffert is seeking a preliminary or permanent injunction that will enjoin Churchill from barring him. At present, Baffert cannot compete in the 2022 or 2023 runnings of the GI Kentucky Derby or any other races at Churchill or Churchill-owned tracks. He is also fighting a separate action from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which suspended him for 90...
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has denied trainer Bob Baffert's request for a stay of a 90-day suspension handed down to him earlier in the week for Medina Spirit (Protonico)'s betamethasone positive in the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby. The KHRC also denied a stay of its decision to disqualify Medina Spirit from first place in last year's GI Kentucky Derby. The Louisville Courier Journal and the Daily Racing Form were among the first to report the story. In most circumstances, once a trainer or owner has appealed a racing...
A total of 103 horses have been nominated to the GI Kentucky Oaks and they all have one thing in common: none are trained by Bob Baffert. According to Churchill Downs Senior Director, Media Services, Darren Rogers, it was not a case of Churchill rejecting Baffert's nominees, but a matter of Baffert failing to nominate any horses. Baffert is under suspension at Churchill and ineligible to race in the Oaks, but that doesn't mean that horses currently under his care won't be able to compete in the race. Baffert's owners...