Churchill Downs

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has released a new campaign advocating for passage of a bill that would repeal a wagering tax as part of legislation passed by Congress earlier this year, the NTRA announced Tuesday. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law July 4, there was a tax change regarding wagering losses--reducing the deduction from 100% to 90%. In response, Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr has introduced the WAGER Act (Winnings and Gains Expense Restoration Act), new legislation which would restore the deduction back...

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) will host its largest annual fundraiser, 'Benefits for the Backside: A Day at the Races', Friday, Nov. 21 in the First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, the non-profit announced via press release. Set to begin at noon, guests will enjoy a day at the races with front row views from the clubhouse turn while celebrating and supporting backstretch workers and their families. An auction will be available both in-person and online, and a raffle will be held for a chance to win a Derby or...

Did you hear the one about the wrestler who opted for three foals and a submission? Understandably, Jeff Kerber feels a little conflicted about the "submission." In his youth, as Iowa's first high school wrestler unbeaten through four years of varsity competition, everything came down to what he could do with his bare hands. In lately discovering a flair for a second walk of sporting life, however, Kerber had to make a pragmatic concession to the economic odds against him. His entire Kentucky program comprised four mares, and one of...

Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) lived up to his name when rallying from last to surge past 7-5 favorite Universe (Global Campaign) in deep stretch and win Sunday's GIII Street Sense Stakes on opening day of Churchill Downs' 136th Fall Meet. Breaking from post 7 on the far outside, Incredibolt was wide into the first turn and unhurried in last early as unbeaten Ganaas (War Front) set modest early fractions of :24.29 and :48.83. Into the final turn, Incredibolt began to pick up the pace and zipped into fourth...

Trainer Brad Cox celebrated a win in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks a mere six months ago when Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) ran to her odds that Friday afternoon. On Saturday at Churchill Downs another 2-year-old filly conditioned by him took home her first Oaks points when Life of Joy (Gun Runner) got her picture taken in the Rags To Riches Stakes. With only one race under her belt, Life of Joy certainly made it a memorable one when she romped over the competition by some 14 lengths at Horseshoe...

Churchill Downs' late Vice President of Communications John Asher, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 62, will be honored by the city of Louisville on Oct. 27 with a "Hometown Hero" banner that will be displayed in front of Presentation Academy, a school he championed for decades. Monday's ceremony will take place at Presentation Academy (861 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40203) and begin at 1 p.m. ET. Asher joined Churchill Downs in 1997, becoming one of the most respected figures in the track's history. His passion for the...

A horse by the name of Sovereignty (Into Mischief) showed up for last year's GIII Street Sense Stakes as a maiden and departed as one of the leaders of the division with a remarkable come-from-behind rally to break his maiden. It waits to be seen whether any of the seven juvenile signed on for Sunday's renewal can achieve similar heights, but--as always in this business--hope springs eternal. The single, most solid piece of form in the field belongs to Universe (Global Campaign), whose trainer Ken McPeek sent out King Fury...

3rd-BEL, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 2:11 p.m. ET. A $900,000 Keeneland September purchase, STRONG EFFORT (Practical Joke) goes out for St Elias and trainer Chad Brown. Responsible for MGISP Reinvestment Risk (Upstart), dam Ridingwiththedevil (Candy Ride {Arg}) was a $210,000 buy for Gainesway at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale while Strong Effort was in utero. The first-time starter's extended female family includes Canadian MGSW My List (Banker's Gold). TJCIS PPS 1st-BEL, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10 p.m. ET. Trainer Todd Pletcher has a pair of uncoupled entries set...

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming's Holiday Meet returns Wednesday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 27, headlined by the second annual Synthetic Championships on Saturday, Dec. 13, with four stakes contests worth a combined $1 million, according to a Friday press release from Churchill Downs. The meet will also feature record $100,000 maiden special weight purses and allowances worth up to $106,000. Along with the four races on Synthetic Championship night, the Holiday Meet stakes schedule also includes three new stakes events. In addition to the $1.375 million stakes schedule, connections...

A new four-story structure called Victory Run, which will include private suites, indoor and outdoor dining, and covered box seating, will be built on the first turn of the Churchill Downs Racetrack, according to a release from Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) Wednesday afternoon. To be built between the First Turn Club and the Skye Terrace, it will replace approximately 6,400 uncovered, ground-level box seats and dining areas with a new space for approximately 7,800 guests. CDI anticipates the project will cost between $280 million and $300 million. "We are excited...

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will be honored in a special retirement ceremony during Race 6 on Sunday at Churchill Downs before she begins her second career as a broodmare at Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa in Lexington, Ky. Last year's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine will walk over with the field for Race 6 at approximately 3 p.m. (all times Eastern) and remain in the Churchill Downs paddock for approximately 20 minutes until the race is completed at 3:26 p.m. Trainer Kenny McPeek announced Thorpedo...

GSP Howling Time (Not This Time--Werewolf, by Arch) will stand as a new sire for 2026 at the Midwest Vet Hospital in Trafalgar, Indiana, according to Tommy Wente on Saturday who purchased the 6-year-old for an undisclosed amount in a deal brokered by Lisa Groothedde. Wente said that a stud fee will be determined at a later date. Initially purchased during Keeneland September by Albaugh Family Stables for $200,000, as a juvenile Howling Time won at first asking under the Twin Spires then took home the Street Sense Stakes over...