Kentucky Derby

Controversial and never afraid to speak his mind, owner Mike Repole has been called a disruptor, which means that he is intent on challenging the status quo when it comes to how horse racing is run. And his primary target has been The Jockey Club. When the TDN interviewed Jockey Club Chairman Everett Dobson on last week's podcast, Repole asked for equal time. It was a reasonable request, so Repole joined the team on this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the...

Mike Repole joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to discuss his criticisms of industry leaders and the future of the sport, as well as his Kentucky Derby contender Renegade and Oaks filly Zany.

A trio of California-based Kentucky Derby 152 hopefuls were on the track in Kentucky Wednesday morning after arriving from the West Coast Tuesday. Norman Stables and Saints and Sinners' GI Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy (Runhappy) jogged a mile under Gustavo Alvarado during the 7:15-7:30 training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners. Also at the same time, Reddam Racing's Pavlovian (Pavel) jogged a mile under Tony Romero and Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures' Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) jogged two miles under Alejandro Galindo. Trainer Michael McCarthy sent out...

Churchill Downs Incorporated has entered into an agreement to acquire the intellectual property, including all trademarks and associated rights, of the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan from 1/ST Maryland LLC, the company announced Tuesday morning. The purchase price was $85 million and the deal is subject to customary closing conditions. Under the terms of the deal, CDI will license to the state of Maryland the intellectual property rights necessary to conduct the running of the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in exchange for an annual fee. "This acquisition adds...

Mike and K.K. Ball's Chief Wallabee (Constitution) worked five furlongs in company in 1:00 on a crisp Monday morning at Churchill Downs. Working during the special training period for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses from 7:15-7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) with recent maiden winner Gilded Bandit (Charlatan), Chief Wallabee produced fractions of :24.80, :36.60, :48.20 and 1:00 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven-eighths in 1:26.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Jockey Junior Alvarado was in the irons. "It was a good work," Alvarado said. "We...

Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), winner of last year's GI American Pharoah Stakes, worked four furlongs in :47.20 (2/97) at Santa Anita Sunday and will ship to Churchill Downs with connections hoping to gain a spot in the May 2 GI Kentucky Derby. "I didn't [expect that]," trainer Jeff Mullins said of the work, which was quicker than he had anticipated. "But we often get what we don't expect." The colt currently sits 22nd on the qualifying Derby points leaderboard and will need two defections to make the field for the race....

1/ST TV will offer video workouts for contenders of this year's GI Kentucky Derby under the "Triple Crown Trail" tab on its website. The section provides free access to a library of current and previous works for Derby contenders. 1/ST TV also supports the workouts for FanDuel and TwinSpires Kentucky Derby preview shows.

In an article posted last week in Sports Business Journal, it was reported that the GI Preakness Stakes would be pushed back a week next year to be run three weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby and that the GI Belmont Stakes would also be pushed back by a week. The stir the article caused quickly died down when Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Bill Knauf denied that any decisions had been made regarding the date of next year's Preakness. But the story did get some important things...

It's no secret that The Jockey Club has come under fire recently, particularly from owner Mike Repole. The Jockey Club Chairman Everett Dobson joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to address some of the criticism and to talk about other issues.

The show "BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing" begins at the breakfast table as a quiet middle-aged Hispanic man is slowly eating his breakfast. Then the camera pans to his clock. It reads 1:56. The message is clear: even at this hour, this is a man who has to be somewhere. He must be dedicated to his job, no matter how difficult it may be. That message resonates throughout the documentary, which debuted Monday and is part of PBS's Infinite Lens Series. For the next hour or so, the...

His grandfather gave him an allowance, a dollar a week. But he wanted to know how the boy planned to spend it, and didn't like it when he put a nickel into a pinball machine--even though you could win free games if you were any good. "You don't get anything for your nickel," his grandfather complained. "Well, I get a free game," the boy replied. "If you bet on a dog or a horse, at least you have the opportunity to make some money if you're a good handicapper." So...

Several horses clustered near the bottom of the "Road to the GI Kentucky Derby" are eligible for the race based on points, but their connections have not committed to the Derby. So this list differs slightly from the official qualifying rankings with respect to a few horses who are currently outside the top 20 points leaders and looking to get in. 1) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief--Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000...