The 2025 Kentucky Derby is Saturday May 3rd at Churchill Downs. Up to twenty 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will get loaded into the starting gate with roughly 150,000 fans on hand cheering for their favorite(s). Approximately two minutes after the jailbreak (gate opening) the horses will begin the cavalry charge down the home stretch and a new Kentucky Derby Winner will be recognized. With that many lightly … Continue reading Some Facts About Derby Favorites
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is Saturday May 3rd. The Derby was first held in 1875 which makes it the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States. This year is the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby, which had been held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs every year since 1946- the exception being 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement … Continue reading Some Tasty Kentucky Derby Morsels
The 100th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 dollar Wood Memorial is this Saturday at Aqueduct Park. Having begun in 1925, the Wood Memorial has long been an important proving ground for Kentucky Derby contenders. Originally contested at a mile and 70 yards (and later 1 1/16 miles) at Jamaica Race Course, the Wood Memorial is named in memory of the late Eugene D. Wood, … Continue reading Don’t Knock The Wood
One of the two premier prep races for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday is the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/8-mile contest has been very influential on the Triple Crown trail this century. Several horses have exited this race and gone on to star in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. Most notably is 2015 Triple Crown Winner AMERICAN PHAROAH as well as last … Continue reading Who Wins The Arkansas Derby?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is getting shorter, so the qualifying races are hitting fast and furious for the next few weeks, beginning on Saturday with two 100 point contests. The Winners of these races are pretty much assured a spot in the gate, should their connections decide to run. THE ARKANSAS DERBY The third and final leg of Oaklawn Park’s 3-year-old Kentucky Derby … Continue reading Two Big Races On Saturday
Prep races are in full swing, owners, trainers and fans are getting caught caught up in Derby Fever- and rightfully so. It was over thirty years ago when a Kentucky Derby hopeful had his Derby dreams dashed on the morning of the first Saturday in May. And even after all these years, when old rail-birds talk about him, his name is usually prefaced with but … Continue reading A.P. Indy…What If?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, with the running of the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. This 1 1/16-mile event typically draws a deep, competitive field, buoyed by a massive purse plus 50 qualifying Derby points going to the Winner. The race was inaugurated in 1961 as the Rebel Handicap, and was changed to the Rebel Stakes … Continue reading Rebel History
On Saturday, Fair Grounds will host the $500,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. It’s the first race of the season to offer the Winner 50 qualifying points toward a spot in 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 … Continue reading Risen Star Stakes Historic Stars
The New York Racing Association announced last week that general admission tickets, hospitality offerings, and reserved seats for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will go on sale to the public February 13th. Highlighted by the 157th running of the $2 million dollar Belmont Stakes on June 7th, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be conducted June 4-8. For the second consecutive year, Saratoga … Continue reading Belmont Stakes @ Saratoga Round Two.
Saturday is the Grade 3, $250,000 dollar Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The race is the second of four stops at the New Orleans venue on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. For a race that carried a mere $40,000 purse as recently as 1996, it’s impressive how quickly this contest has developed into an important stop on the Derby Trail. The race is named in honor of … Continue reading The Lecomte Stakes
