The Road to the Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn Park reaches the end on Saturday, when the track hosts the $1.5 million dollar, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. A deep and talented field of ten will travel 1 ⅛ miles on the main Oaklawn track in search of the prestigious Win that also includes maximum Derby qualifying points. The Winner will get 100 points, while the runner-up will receive 50, … Continue reading The Arkansas Derby
Only five horses that have participated in the Louisiana Derby have gone on to Win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. They are: BLACK GOLD (1924), GRINDSTONE (1996), FUNNY CIDE (2003), COUNTRY HOUSE (2019) and MANDALOUN (2021), albeit the last two by disqualification. BLACK GOLD and GRINDSTONE both Won the Louisiana Derby prior to their Victories in the Run For The Roses. This year’s competitive … Continue reading Louisiana Derby Field
As most of you reading this are aware; Thoroughbred horse racing is an outdoor sport and races typically take place rain or shine. That means track conditions can vary widely with the weather. Racing literature in every iteration often refers to track conditions and the amount of moisture held by dirt and turf (grass) racing surfaces. But even for those of us in-the-know, track condition … Continue reading Track Conditions
The Road to the Kentucky Derby runs through Tampa Bay Downs Saturday with the 43rd edition of the Tampa Bay Derby. In addition to the $400,000 dollar purse, the Grade 2 contest offers a total of 105 Derby qualifying points, with 50 going to the Winner, 25 to 2nd, 15 to 3rd, 10 to 4th, and five points to 5th. Here’s a look back at a couple of … Continue reading Tampa Bay Derby OG
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 Derby preps at nearby Gulfstream Park. But even in the face of 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 Tampa … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby
SPECTACULAR BID, BET TWICE , THUNDER GULCH and ORB are just a few of the well known, modern-era Winners of the Fountain Of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. First run in 1945 and currently contested over 1 1⁄16 miles, the Fountain of Youth has been producing Derby contenders for generations. TIM TAM put the race on the map by completing the Fountain of Youth/Kentucky Derby double in … Continue reading Fountain Of Youth Stakes
As March draws near the anticipation for the 2024 Kentucky Derby is ramping up. That said, Saturday the focus will be on Oaklawn Park for the 64th running of the Rebel Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is the third of four prep races for the Kentucky Derby held at Oaklawn and offers, along with a hefty $1.25 million dollar purse, a total of 105 qualifying points for the … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes ?
The competition for qualifying points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby heats up on Saturday with the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. This is the first prep race offering 50 qualifying points to the Winner. That should be enough to secure a spot in the field of 20 for the May 4th Run For The Roses, but coming close can be rewarding as well … Continue reading Who Wins The Risen Star
The 2024 Risen Star has drawn a deep 12-horse field with local runners squaring off against out-of-state challengers. It’s shaping up as a challenging race to handicap but a fun Stakes to bet. Looking at the past 15 years of Risen Star results, you can glean some tips and trends to guide your handicapping: Pace Advantage Typical of most U.S. dirt racing, the Risen Star is … Continue reading Risen Star Trends
Saturday is the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. It will be the first race of the season to offer the Winner 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The contest will award a total of 105 points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. The race was first held in 1973 as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes. In 1989, it was renamed in honor of Louisiana-based … Continue reading The Risen Star
