Churchill Downs
Turfway Park, currently in the midst of being demolished and rebuilt under new corporate ownership, is projecting 2,400 applications for 900 stalls for the upcoming 52-date combined holiday, winter, and spring meets that will open Dec. 2. But even though a larger-than-usual number of Kentucky racing outfits are expected to remain at Turfway for the winter instead of shipping out to warmer-climate race meets, track officials told members of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory committee during an Oct. 6 video meeting that purse expectations should be tempered because...
Saturday's opening day at the meet rebranded as Gulfstream Park West will truly mark the beginning of an end. Barring an 11th hour reprieve from the courts, the 40-day season will be the last ever run at Calder Race Course, the meat-and-potatoes South Florida track that has been operating since 1971. Since 2014, the racing operation has been leased by Calder's owner, Churchill Downs Inc., to Gulfstream Park's owners, The Stronach Group, which renamed the track Gulfstream Park West. That lease expires at the end of the year and TSG...
In an attempt to resolve years of federal Clean Water Act (CWA) violations at its Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC, has agreed to pay a $2.7 million penalty--the largest civil fine ever paid by a concentrated animal feeding operation in a CWA matter. Under the terms of the settlement announced Sept. 29 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the limited liability company that runs Fair Grounds must also implement $5.6 million in operational changes and...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency HALF TO WHITMORE DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL 4th-CD, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:14p.m. Ron Moquett unveils a half-brother to his stable star Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in SKIP INTRO (Liam's Map). The $190,000 KEESEP buy's talented older sibling has captured 10 graded events so far for earnings over $3.1-million. Juddmonte homebred Floriform (Into Mischief) also debuts in this test. The bay is out of MSP July Jasmine (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Rob Roy (Lear Farn). TJCIS PPs MOTT UNVEILS GODOLPHIN...
A trio of candidates for the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico Oct. 3 turned in their final serious moves Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini), who was forced to miss the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby owing to a minor foot injury, tuned up for the final leg of this year's reconstituted Triple Crown by drilling a half-mile in :48 flat with big-race rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the saddle. The GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby hero was caught in fractions...
GIII Razorback H. victor Warrior's Charge (Munnings) headlines a full field in Saturday's GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs. Kicking off this term with his first black-type score in the Razorback, the dark bay was second to recent GII Alysheba S. winner By My Standards (Goldencents) in the GII Oaklawn H. May 2. Fourth in the GI Met Mile July 4, he crossed the line second in the GIII Phillip Iselin S. last time at Monmouth, but was promoted to first when the winner was DQ'd Aug. 22. Ebben...
GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) put in his final work for next weekend's GI Preakness S. Saturday with a half-mile move in :50.40 (59/68) at Churchill Downs. With regular exercise rider Tony Camacho in the saddle, the bay went in splits of :13.20 and :25.40 with a five-furlong gallop out of 1:03.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. "He left the pole really strong, which is how he was working before the Derby," trainer Bret Calhoun said. "We only wanted an easy work and...
4th-Churchill Downs, $69,074, Msw, 9-20, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.50, ft. DECADE (f, 2, California Chrome--Emma Carly, by Unbridled's Song) was pounded down to 1-5 after a close-up second in her career debut at Ellis Aug. 15. Firster Color of Dawn (Exxaggerator) jumped to the lead early and Decade was hustled into a stalking position through an initial quarter in :22.82. Asked for more by Ricardo Santana Jr. leaving the far turn, the heavy favorite collared Color of Dawn and was on equal terms with her rival turning for home....
GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) and GI Kentucky Oaks victress Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) both returned to the worktab Saturday at Churchill Downs. GI Preakness S.-bound Authentic covered five panels in :59.20, the fastest of 38 works at the distance. With jockey Martin Garcia aboard, the bay clicked off splits in :23.80 and :35.40, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.20. "It went very well. Martin has been with me," said trainer Bob Baffert, who came to Louisville from the Keeneland Sale in Lexington. "He knows what I expect. I told...
Third-place GI Kentucky Derby finisher Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) geared up for Pimlico's Oct. 3 GI Preakness S. with a half-mile breeze in :48 4/5 (22/76) Friday at Churchill Downs. Regular exercise rider Tony Quinones was in irons. "He was very sharp this morning," said trainer Bret Calhoun. "I know it was cool. He went a little quicker than we wanted, but did it very easy, well within himself. He was full of energy, kind of what we wanted to see. It was what we wanted or better." Mr....
Three Chimneys Farm and Harrell Ventures LLC's Stayin' Out Late (Tapit) was sent off at a chilly-on-the-board 21-5 in Friday's seventh race at Churchill Downs, but the well-bred chestnut turned the 6 1/2-furlong affair into a procession, galloping away to score by 7 3/4 lengths. Away without incident from the inside gate, the son of GSW Graeme Six (Graeme Hall) made the lead with a minimum of fuss and was allowed a soft time of it up front, covering the opening quarter in :23.66 and the half in a route-like...
America's Day at the Races returns this week on FOX Sports and MSG Networks to provide coverage and analysis of racing from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Delaware Park, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. After a summer hiatus, the show resumes Thursday with live racing from Churchill Downs and Delaware Park, before transitioning Friday-opening day of the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet--for complete coverage of this weekend's live racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. Produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, the acclaimed national telecast airs...