Keeneland

My first trip to a Thoroughbred racetrack came in the summer of 1961 at Ellis Park. At the time, I was 16, closing in on 17, and Kelso was four, closing in on the second of five consecutive Horse of the Year titles. Kelso never raced anywhere near Ellis, but his enduring class was such that he ranked among the sporting world's most recognizable heroes of the day. The New York Yankees' pinstriped pair of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, in their pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record,...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) launched Horses Work for Kentucky to share the impact, and lesser-known aspects, of the state's signature industry and are now seeking submissions, the group announced Monday morning. Supported by names such as Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Red Mile, and the KEEP Alliance and Foundation, the initiative is set across digital platforms, social media, radio, and a new website in order to showcase the essential role horses play in driving Kentucky's economy and heritage forward. The campaign invites Kentuckians from all 120 counties...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin Racecourses: Saturday, March 22, 2025 2nd-HSN, ¥10,600,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m GYLFI (JPN) (c, 3, Nyquist--Maedean, by Tapit) is the first foal from her dam, a $450,000 Keeneland September yearling who would go on to win the...

The tariffs that will be placed on goods coming into the U.S. from Canada, and elsewhere, don't go into effect until Apr. 2. But they're already producing dire forecasts for what they will mean for the Canadian breeding industry. For instance, if someone brings a Canadian-bred to a U.S. yearling sale, the purchaser will have to pay a 25% tariff on top of the purchase price. That will probably mean that the Canadian breeder will disappear from the U.S. sales. No one has paid closer attention to this situation than...

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (c, 3, Volatile--Attempt to Name, by Consolidator), last seen finishing a very solid second going a one-turn mile in the GI Champagne S. at Aqueduct Oct. 5, is nearing a return to the races. The Travers day debut maiden winner has posted seven workouts at Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base in 2025, most recently drilling a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.73 (1/5) Mar. 13. He is targeting a six-furlong allowance race at Keeneland Apr. 5,...

7th-Colonial Downs, $100,000, (R), Hcp, 3-14, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:20.03, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. BOOK'EM DANNO (g, 4, Bucchero--Adorabella, by Ghostzapper) was clearly the showstopper here as the field scratched down to just three from 11 horses, and he made his 2025 bow a winning one. Last seen running fifth in a salty GII Cigar Mile Handicap Dec. 7, he'd been winless since claiming the Listed Jersey Shore Stakes by a nose in mid-July at Monmouth Park. He'd hit the board in the GIII Perryville and GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial...

Amr Zedan made his first purchase of the week a big one, with bloodstock agent Donato Lanni going to an OBS record $3 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 654) on behalf of the Saudi businessman Thursday. The gray worked a furlong in a bullet :9 3/5 last week. He was consigned by Eddie Woods and is out of Tynan (Liam's Map), a half-sister to graded winner Pappacap (Gun Runner). He was purchased for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.   The previous record price for...

Adam Corndorf isn't afraid to admit that he has never been to the Kentucky Derby, but the reason behind his skipping the iconic event--even after living in Kentucky for the past 15 years--offers some insight into the tenacious drive and determined strategy that define his leadership of Blue Heaven Farm. "I've always said I'm not going until we have something connected to a horse that is running," explained Corndorf. "We've never had a horse run at Churchill on the Friday or Saturday of Derby weekend, but I'm hoping that we...

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Maxfield (hip 119) will be heading to Japan after selling for $1 million to the bid of trainer Mitsu Nakauchida during Tuesday's first session of the OBS March sale. The colt, who shared the :9 4/5 bullet during the first under-tack show last week, is out of multiple stakes winner and graded placed Eyeinthesky (Sky Mesa). He was consigned by Wavertree Stables and was purchased by a pinhooking partnership for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

The longtime director of communications at Keeneland, Amy Gregory, has announced her retirement from the Kentucky icon effective June 1, the track shared via press release Monday afternoon. Gregory joined Keeneland in 2006 and was named to her current position in 2013. She will continue to provide support during race meets and sales and consult on special projects. As director, Gregory oversaw media and public relations for the Spring and Fall meets as well as the auctions and held key roles in brand enhancement and messaging. On the auction side,...

The reigning Horse of the Year 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has emerged from her tour de force in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes, and is on track for an anticipated start in the GI Apple Blossom Apr. 12 at Oaklawn Park. Having emerged from her seasonal bow in said local prep for the Grade I marquee race for older fillies and mares, she will return to Fair Grounds early this week where trainer Kenny McPeek said she will train this month and 'maybe' into April before returning...

Trainer Tom Morley reports that 'TDN Rising Star' SW & GISP Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) has exited his Mar. 6 seasonal bow at Fair Grounds in good form and that the connections have started mapping out a potential path through his 2025 campaign. Listing off plans which include a start in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mark Mile, the GIII Poker Stakes at the Spa, and the GI Fourstardave Stakes over the summer, Morely says it is not out of the wheelhouse that his charge might be running in a seven-furlong graded...