Category: Kentucky Derby

horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Triple Crown

Derby Prep Races Are Underway

The two-year-old racing season is over, so happy belated birthday to all the 2026 Derby Contenders. The Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby is open for business and traffic will be getting heavier as the Prep Races begin in earnest.   Here is a basic primer/review about how horses qualify for the Run for the Roses. WHO: THREE-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBREDS: When you hear that Winning the Kentucky Derby is a once-in-a-lifetime event, that’s … Continue reading Derby Prep Races Are Underway

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Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Oaklawn Park, Post Position, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Smarty Jones Stakes?

Saturday is the $250,000 dollar Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The mile & 1/16th contest is a Kentucky Derby points race that offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. UNIVERSE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Ran 2nd in a pair of Churchill Downs Graded Stakes races at this distance in his last two … Continue reading Who Wins The Smarty Jones Stakes?

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Fair Grounds, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Gun Runner Stakes?

Saturday is the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. The 2-year-old Stakes contest is the first of four Kentucky Derby preps at Fair Grounds. The mile & 1/16th Gun Runner will offer a total of 21 Derby qualifying points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at Saturday’s field: 1. MESQUITE [ML 9-2] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Cherie … Continue reading Who Wins The Gun Runner Stakes?

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Fair Grounds, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle

The Gun Runner Stakes

A new addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series of races is the Gun Runner Stakes. The mile & 1/16th contest at Fair Grounds was inaugurated in 2021. The race is named in honor of GUN RUNNER, the 2017 American Horse of the Year and a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee. The 5th edition of the Gun Runner is Saturday and is the first in a series … Continue reading The Gun Runner Stakes

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Arkansas Derby, Handicapping, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Oaklawn Park, Wagering

Oaklawn Park Set To Open

Some of the winter season’s best dirt racing returns to the Midwest with the start of 2025-26 campaign at Oaklawn Park. This Friday (12/12) the winter/spring meet at the Hot Springs, Arkansas facility gets underway. Oaklawn racing boasts big fields, which make for good betting races for handicappers. They feature an excellent Stakes program, along with very strong purses throughout its 64-raceday season that will continue … Continue reading Oaklawn Park Set To Open

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Aqueduct Park, Handicapping, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, NYRA, Post Position, Trainers, Wagering

Who Wins The Remsen Stakes?

If NYRA and the New York jockey colony can reach some form of an accord on Thursday, Aqueduct Park has a good card come Saturday. One of the feature races is the Grade 2, $250,000 dollar Remsen Stakes. 2-year-olds will be tested around two turns at a 1 1/8-mile distance with the top five finishers being awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Here is a brief … Continue reading Who Wins The Remsen Stakes?

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

Tampa Bay Downs Live Racing

World-class Thoroughbred racing returned to Tampa Bay Downs today, (11/19). The Opening Day card of the 2025-2026 meet kicked off the tracks 100th year of operation! Tampa Bay Downs is the only Thoroughbred racetrack on the West Coast of Florida and is known as one of America’s oldest and most well-maintained racetracks. Tampa Bay Downs first opened its doors in 1926 under the name of Tampa Downs and … Continue reading Tampa Bay Downs Live Racing

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Bourbon, Fair Grounds, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Louisiana Derby, Trainers

NOLA Racing Resumes

Live racing returns to Fairgrounds on Thursday (11/20) as the New Orleans racetrack hosts its 154th season. The 2025-26 meet will encompass 70 race days that run through March 22nd. As always, the winter session at Fairgrounds offers racing fans and handicappers some of the best wagering to be found. The track will unveil a renovated paddock area for the 2025-26 meet as well as a new lounge overlooking … Continue reading NOLA Racing Resumes

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Belmont Stakes, horse racing, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Preakness, Triple Crown

What A Ride For ‘The Kid’

Over four decades (can that be right?) removed from his sensational jockey career, Steve Cauthen lives the life of a typical Thoroughbred insider in his hometown of Verona in Northern Kentucky. Best known for capturing the 1978 Triple Crown aboard AFFIRMED, Cauthen had established himself as a potential superstar in his first full year as a jockey in 1977.  He was honored for that season with three Eclipse Awards—outstanding apprentice and journeyman … Continue reading What A Ride For ‘The Kid’

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Belmont Stakes, Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Preakness, Secretariat, Triple Crown

Overshadowed SHAM

Most horse racing enthusiasts of a certain age recognize that SECRETARIAT was one of the best — if not THE best — racehorses of all time. Over fifty years later Big Red’s career still resonates with some of the most unforgettable performances in the history of the sport. During the 1973 Triple Crown, SECRETARIAT had a rivalry with a talented colt in his own right, SHAM.   A … Continue reading Overshadowed SHAM

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