Kentucky Derby

Liberty National (Maxfield), named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' following an impressive maiden victory on the Stars of Tomorrow II program at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, could make his next start in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds Dec. 20. A well-beaten sixth on debut for trainer Ken McPeek in a live maiden special weight at Keeneland Oct. 16, the Brookdale Racing, Inc. and Fern Circle Stables colorbearer took to two turns with aplomb at second asking with a 4 1/4-length, come-from-behind decision beneath the Twin...

The sun had just barely emerged above the tree line at Turfway Park when Ethan West was given a leg up onto his next galloper that morning. It was the usual late August affair--hot, humid, and deviating from the direct line of the nearest fan made it feel like one was walking through soup...or drowning in it. And yet, the barn moved to the beat of its own drum as everyone went through their usual paces. Emerging from the shedrow on the back of an eye-catching grey, West allowed the...

Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Kentucky Derby Museum during its 'Derby in December' celebration held Thursday, Dec. 11. Following the ceremonies, the many guests that were on hand enjoyed a meet-and-greet with the 1992 Kentucky Derby-winning rider and explored a new exhibit in Day's honor. The exhibit at the museum features decades of his accomplishments. The collection ranges from his high school photo to awards celebrating milestone victories as a jockey, including the silks he wore during his final race...

Umberto Rispoli, who captured his first riding title at the recently concluded Del Mar meet, will make a return visit to Hong Kong for Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley. The Italian ex-pat spent six years riding in Hong Kong before relocating to Southern California in 2019. For Rispoli, who flew into Hong Kong last Tuesday--just two days after claiming the Del Mar title--the trip is part sentiment, part family vacation, and part professional competition. "I rode here for six years, so obviously Hong Kong is a place...

There's a certain buzz that comes with welcoming a Kentucky Derby winner to a stallion roster. Bret Jones knows the feeling from when Mage retired to Airdrie Stud in 2024. This year, they're repeating the milestone with Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who arrived at the Midway, Kentucky farm three weeks ago. "We've been totally busy since we announced that we were showing him," said Jones. "Everybody wants to see a Kentucky Derby winner. Breeders are coming away impressed with not only how well he handles everything, but with what a beautifully...

Having already conquered trips of 1200 meters and 1400 meters on the dirt, owner Hajime Satomi's immaculately bred Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief) successfully negotiated a stretchout to the metric mile and reported home a comfortable 1 1/2-length winner of Saturday's $194,621 Cattleya Stakes, good for 10 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The 1600-meter contest is run under allowance conditions around a left-handed bend at Tokyo Racecourse. The son of Brazilian Horse of the Year and three-times North American graded winner Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) had...

Spendthrift Farms' Further Ado (Gun Runner), who will make his next start in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs, ran sensationally in his last start, winning a Keeneland maiden by 20 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer figure. The Beyer number is tied for the second fastest race by a 2-year-old in 2025 and earned the colt 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' status. But he's also somewhat of a mystery. Why did he run so poorly in his first two races and can he once again turn...

5. PUBLISHER, CD-2nd, 11/20, 6 1/2f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-84 (2nd) (c, 3, American Pharoah--Indian Pride, by Proud Citizen) O-Gus King and the Estate of Brereton Jones. B-Brereton Jones (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Irad Ortiz Jr. This spring he was perhaps America's best-known maiden, finishing second in the GI Arkansas Derby to earn a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby starting gate. Nearly seven months later, he's still a maiden. Last week he was an odds-on runner-up in his return to maiden company, and now has been second, third or fourth...

GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) has been made the 6-1 individual morning-line favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Thursday at noon and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. "All Others Foaled in 2023" is the pool's overall 9-5 favorite. Brant (Gun Runner), third in the Breeders' Cup juvenile, is 10-1, and Further Ado (Gun Runner), expected to go postward in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Saturday, is 20-1. Running concurrently with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is...

Kentucky-based artist Grayson Reynolds has designed both the official Mint Julep Glass and "Art of the Kentucky Derby" for the 152nd running of the GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Churchill Downs announced Wednesday. This year's glass features three horses racing at different strides surrounded by roses as a nod to the garland draped over all Derby winners. The names of every official Kentucky Derby champion--from Aristides in 1875 to Sovereignty in 2025--wraps around the back of the glass. Reynolds' official Derby 152 artwork showcases five Thoroughbreds charging from...

Sponsored by Pedigrees 360 Into Mischief and a Bernardini mare: on the face of it, "the Sovereign remedy" for a sophomore round Churchill Downs in 2025. It produced the GI Kentucky Derby winner, and has now given us a filly moving rapidly through the ranks in Shred the Gnar, winner of the GIII Chilukki Stakes after a six-month layoff. If anything, however, it feels overdue for the dominant stallion of our times to come up with one or two stars from daughters of such an outstanding broodmare sire. Interestingly, the...

Live racing returns to Santa Anita with the traditional Dec. 26 opening card of the 48-day Classic meet featuring the GI Malibu Stakes, and continues through the close of the 30-day Hollywood meet June 14. The two meets will feature 81 stakes worth $11.75 million, including the newly named GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes Feb. 7, the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 7, and the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4. Overnight race purses are slated to increase from the start of last year. "The overall 5% purse increase for...