Churchill Downs
In a letter released to the media Friday afternoon, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), along with 15 bipartisan supporters, are urging the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to launch an investigation into the equine deaths at Churchill Downs earlier this month. Addressed to HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, Blumenauer's letter requests a response within 60 days and makes note of figures from the Equine Injury Database showing that between 2009 and 2021 some 7,274 Thoroughbred fatalities have occurred on American racetracks. The Congressman urges HISA to make the findings of...
Two-time Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) continues to train at Churchill Downs following her victory in the $300,000 Unbridled Sidney S. on Kentucky Oaks Day. Owned in partnership by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables, Caravel is likely to make her next start at Royal Ascot in the G1 King's Stand S. Tuesday, June 20. The Brad Cox-trainee galloped about 1 3/8 miles Friday under exercise rider Fernando Espinoza. Caravel would be Cox's first starter at Royal Ascot. "One...
10th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 5 1/2f, 5:26 p.m. As the last foal out of blue-hen broodmare Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek), LADY IRENE (Kantharos) has a pedigree second to none. Her trio of illustrious half-siblings hardly need an introduction but are none other than 4x Eclipse winner Beholder (Henny Hughes), GISW & sire Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), and perennial leading general sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday). Retained by her breeder Clarkland Farm, Lady Irene debuted with an on-the-board closing finish under the Twin Spires last Nov. She picks up Lasix Saturday...
Katrina Helmer has been named the new Director of Communications at the Kentucky Derby Museum, taking over from Rachel Collier Carr. As Communications Director, Katrina is thrilled to be part of the creative team that will drive the Museum's messaging and storytelling for the historic Derby 150 and beyond. "Katrina has done a stellar job with our Communications platform since coming to Kentucky Derby Museum," said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO. "She was a natural fit for the Director position, and we are excited about her bright...
2nd-CD, $134K, OC, 3yo, f, 6f, 6:28 p.m. A pair of fillies will look to stay unbeaten in their third career starts at Churchill Downs on Friday evening. 'TDN Rising Star' SUNDAY SHOES (Pioneerof the Nile) came from off the pace breaking her maiden sprinting at Turfway Park Feb. 15, then got up by 3/4 of a length in Florence Apr. 1 in the Serena's Song S. over next-out stakes winner Jill Jitterbug (Cross Traffic). The $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale purchase trained by Wesley Ward counts among her female...
Next week at this time, we'll know if the sport is on the cusp of another Triple Crown sweep. Of all the potential excuses for GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) not emerging victorious from the GI Preakness S., intense media pressure is unlikely to be one of them. You could make the argument that the diminutive, white-blazed chestnut with the endearing overbite has enjoyed one of the least-scrutinized post-Derby weeks of any winner in recent history. That's not so much because the spotlight on his accomplishment has dimmed....
Lisa Lazarus, the CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), has written an open letter to industry participants, addressing the measures HISA plans to implement in the wake of a spate of fatalities during the first week of the Churchill Downs meet leading up to and including Kentucky Derby day. The statement, in its entirety, reads: Fellow racing participants, I wanted to take a minute of your time to share an update on HISA's role related to the events of last week along with a perspective on what's...
Lucky Seven Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy), impressive winner of the GII Alysheba S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs May 5, will make his next start in the $1-million GI Stephen Foster S. July 1, trainer Ken McPeek told the track's media office Friday. Eighth in last year's GI Kentucky Derby, the $185,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase graduate returned from a 10-month absence with an impressive allowance victory at Oaklawn Park Mar. 16 and was a good third in the GIII Oaklawn Mile Apr....
3rd-PIM, $52K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:37 p.m. As Pimlico's meet tunes up before Preakness week, $450,000 KEESEP purchase REBELLIOUS STAGE (Justify) heads to post four in this maiden attempt. Trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by Sheldon Russell, the chestnut colt's second dam Mon Belle (Maria's Mon) is a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Monarchos and she produced GSP Supreme (Empire Maker), who is the dam of GI Met Mile champ Silver State (Hard Spun). TJCIS PPS 4th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 2:13 p.m. As the Triple Crown...
They know perfectly well, by this stage, that the apostrophe shouldn't be there. They've been asked, and told, about it often enough. But you know what? They're fine with that. They have come round to the view that it fits the horse, that quirky outlying touch; fits their whole story. Because really there's no way they should be here, either. "Every year, 20,000 foals are born," reflects Anthony Sagan. "And only 20 make it to the Derby. But not only did we make it, we were a length off winning...
As well documented by Bill Finley in the Week in Review, Kentucky Derby Day (as well as the week preceding it) was a very bad day for racing. "Efforts to end the sport picked up a lot of momentum Saturday and that's a very scary thing," is hard reading, but it is real. What also scares me is what I read in Sundays TDN in the article "Two more equine deaths at Churchill Downs" was in the statement from HISA that said: "Dr Peterson has assured both HISA and Churchill...
In our insular world, the story Saturday evening was that Mage (Good Magic) won the 149th GI Kentucky Derby. There were some feel-good storylines, particularly the one about well-liked 45-year-old jockey Javier Castellano winning his first Derby. Handle set a record. Attendance was up from last year. Plenty of A-list celebrities were in attendance. As always, the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home" could bring a tear to your eye. To many in racing those were the stories, but only because there are not enough of us who are worried...