Category: Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs, Coffee, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Lifestyle, Saratoga

Get Out Of The Gate Quickly With Some Kentucky Derby Coffee

As you are all very much aware, the 2026 edition of the Kentucky Derby is a mere 10 days away- Saturday May 2nd. That said, it’s certainly not too early to begin planning for your Derby weekend. On the morning of the Kentucky Oaks or Derby why not begin your day with some wonderful gourmet coffee from Saratoga Cool Beans? More specifically how about a cup of My Old Kentucky Home. It truly … Continue reading Get Out Of The Gate Quickly With Some Kentucky Derby Coffee

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle

Kentucky Derby Headwear

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is less than 2 weeks away. Horse racing enthusiasts around the world are preparing for the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports. And, for many of these fan’s part of their prepping includes choosing the appropriate hat for the Run for the Roses. It doesn’t matter if Derby fans will be at Churchill Downs or a Kentucky Derby watch party, their outfits should include some sort of headwear. You can’t think … Continue reading Kentucky Derby Headwear

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Blue Grass Stakes, Churchill Downs, Florida Derby, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Triple Crown, Wagering

Some Little Known Derby Facts

The Kentucky Derby was first held in 1875 which ranks it as the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States. This year is the 152nd edition of the Derby, which had been held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs every year since 1946. The only glitch in that streak is 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the race until … Continue reading Some Little Known Derby Facts

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Trainers

And Here Comes GIACOMO !

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is less than four weeks away. The annual event is not only the most anticipated, most watched Thoroughbred race in the world but an essential part of American sports culture. Memories are made with each Run for the Roses, but some over the passage of time become legend, not only to day-to-day followers of horse racing but to the general public. The first Saturday … Continue reading And Here Comes GIACOMO !

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Churchill Downs, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Post Position, Santa Anita, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Santa Anita Derby?

The final three major prep races for the Kentucky Derby are scheduled for Saturday. Each of the three races offers 100 qualifying points to the winner. The last one scheduled is the $500,000, Grade 1, Santa Anita Derby. Here is a brief look at the field for that contest: 1. CHEROKEE NATION [ML 5-2] Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Bob Baffert. The light bulb finally went on for him … Continue reading Who Wins The Santa Anita Derby?

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Blue Grass Stakes, Churchill Downs, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Keeneland, Lifestyle, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Bluegrass Stakes?

The Bluegrass Stakes is Saturday at Keeneland Race Course. The Bluegrass is the marquee event at the Spring meet in Keeneland. The $1.25 million-dollar, 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old Kentucky Derby hopefuls drew a competitive field of nine for the 102nd edition of the race. The Blue Grass distributes the Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. Here is a … Continue reading Who Wins The Bluegrass Stakes?

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs

The Tampa Bay Derby

The 1 1⁄16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. The race has long existed in the shadow of richer Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at neighboring Gulfstream Park. But despite facing fierce competition to attract the best three-year-olds in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has more than held its own as a productive prep for the First Saturday in May. First held in 1981, the … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby

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Aqueduct Park, Churchill Downs, Gotham Stakes, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, NYRA, Post Position, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Gotham Stakes?

This is the time on the calendar when Derby hopefuls should be concentrating on two-turn preps and qualifying points. The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Park on Saturday is a bit counter intuitive to this thinking. The Gotham is contested as a one-turn mile; however, the winner does receive 50 Derby qualifying points, a total that should be good enough for a spot in The Run for … Continue reading Who Wins The Gotham Stakes?

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Turfway Park

The John Battaglia Stakes

This weekend’s lone stateside Derby qualifier is the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. The race honors John Battaglia, former general manager at Latonia (now Turfway) and other tracks. His son, oddsmaker and retired announcer Mike Battaglia, called the Kentucky Derby from 1978-1996. Inaugurated in 1982, the John Battaglia Memorial was added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series in 2021, and the 1 … Continue reading The John Battaglia Stakes

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Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Santa Anita, Trainers

One Of The Good Guys

The man who trained ZENYATTA to a Hall of Fame career and saddled longshot 2005 Kentucky Dery winner GIACOMO has passed away. John Shirreffs died in his sleep February 12th at his home in Arcadia, California. He was 80 years of age. Known for his patience and individualized attention to his horses, Shirreffs left his mark in some of Thoroughbred racing’s greatest events. “The industry … Continue reading One Of The Good Guys

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