Churchill Downs

GI Arkansas Derby hero Sandman (Tapit) completed his final work for Kentucky Derby 151 on a clear Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, while Journalism (Curlin) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) made their first appearances after shipping in from California on Tuesday afternoon. Sandman, who was a $1.2-million OBS March buy a year ago, worked five furlongs under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse. The 3-year-old went easy as he produced fractions of :13.60, :26.20, :38, 1:02.40 and out six furlongs in 1:15.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols....

Beginning Thursday morning, Apr. 24 and through Wednesday, Apr. 30, Churchill Downs will be open to the public from 6:45 to 10 a.m. at no cost to take in the morning exercise sessions of horses pointing to the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks. Training hours at Churchill Downs take place daily between 5:15 and 10 a.m., but there is an exclusive window reserved for Derby and Oaks participants from 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. following the renovation break that begins around 6:45 a.m. and lasts for approximately 30 minutes....

Norman Stables' Coal Battle (Coal Front) and Junko Kondo's G2 UAE Derby winner Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) put in half-mile works for the Kentucky Derby over a fast track Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. Working during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. EST training window reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders, Coal Battle was the first to go, clocking a half-mile in :47.80 under Bethany Taylor. Fractions were :12.40, :24.60, :47.80, and out five furlongs in 1:00.80. "I was thrilled with it. He keeps getting better every time he goes out there,"...

Kentucky Derby Week kicks off Saturday night as Churchill Downs opens its 43-day Spring Meet. Kentucky Derby Day features 14 races, including seven stakes contests, with a betting menu that includes six Pick 5s, five Pick 4s and a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot.   In 2024: The Pick 5 ending in the Kentucky Derby handled $4.4 million and returned $188,958. The Pick 4 ending in the Kentucky Derby handled $3.2 million and paid $18,300. The Derby City 6 Jackpot handled $2.3 million, with a payout...

The video game publisher and developer Cygames, Inc. has announced a partnership with Churchill Downs, which will run the Unbridled Sidney Stakes Presented by Cygames on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard May 2. In addition, on Derby and Oaks days at Churchill Downs, Cygames will have an on-site activation where visitors can play video game demos and take photos. The Cygames Booth in the track's infield will feature demos of various Cygames titles including: Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and Umamusume: Pretty Derby. A 360-degree...

Rodeo Creek Racing's GIII Gazelle-winner Ballerina d'Oro worked a half-mile on Saturday over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the GI Kentucky Oaks, NYRA said in Saturday press release. Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro breezed under jockey Dylan Davis and was caught by NYRA clockers covering the distance in 48 seconds flat outside of 'TDN Rising Star' & GISP Hill Road (Quality Road), who the conditioner said is pointing to the GIII Peter Pan Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet May...

In his penultimate work for the GI Kentucky Derby, American Promise (Justify) went fast by design for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and will ship to Kentucky Sunday. The breeze Friday morning at Oaklawn Park, shortly after the renovation break, was a seven furlong trip from the gate in 1:25.20 under Nik Juarez, who will also have the call in the big race. According to Oaklawn's lead clocker Jim Hamilton, American Promise rolled through :22 for the opening quarter, :33.60 for three furlongs, a half in :45.80, five furlongs in :57.80,...

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training had one more seven-figure juvenile up its sleeve with a colt by Tiz the Law bringing a sale-topping $1.5 million during the final session of the four-day auction which concluded with it third straight record average Friday. "We are very appreciative and glad and happy--all of the adjectives you can apply to the week," OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Friday. "It was a...

Having produced a five-furlong breeze which pleased trainer Brad Cox and completed his winter season in Indiantown, FL Friday morning, GI Florida Derby hero Tappan Street (Into Mischief) is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Saturday morning. Going the five panels in company in 1:01.40 at Payson Park Training Center, it marked the penultimate breeze on the sophomore's schedule in advance of his expected start in the GI Kentucky Derby May 3. Tappan Street worked with stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Rapture (Uncle Mo) for the second straight week. The son...

Shortleaf Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW & MGISP Quietside (Malibu Moon) breezed five furlongs alone Friday morning at Keeneland as her march toward Louisville continues for the first Friday in May. With jockey Jose Ortiz in the irons, no relation to trainer John Ortiz, the filly rolled through her five panel work in :59 flat and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20. Her sectionals were :12.20, :36.20, :59 (end of her work), and 1:12.20. "We wanted to give her a good five-eighths to get some air in her," said trainer...

Godolphin's Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), the likely favorite for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, turned in her most serious work to date Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with a five-furlong breeze in a sharp :59.40, the fastest of 10 at the distance. The undefeated filly hit the track at 7:15 a.m. EST wearing her usual set of blinkers and partnered with trainer Brad Cox's longtime exercise rider Edvin Vargas. She began her workout at the 4 1/2-furlong pole and broke off about two lengths behind stablemate and maiden Saucier (City...

Churchill Downs Racetrack has forged a new partnership with TEN20 Craft Brewery to release Churchill Downs Light, a light lager brewed to honor the legacy and lifestyle of enjoying a day at the races. Churchill Downs Light is crafted with crisp, clean finish and subtle hints of citrus that complement its light body. Housed in a 16 oz. can, the design features Churchill Downs' Twin Spires and a galloping Thoroughbred silhouette--set silks worn by jockeys. "Creating Churchill Downs Light has been a labor of love--rooted in craftsmanship, community, and celebration,"...