Road To The Kentucky Derby Getting Busier
The Derby Trail is open for business this weekend with three Kentucky Derby prep races. The winner in each of their respective races will earn twenty qualifying points in hopes of drawing a spot in the gate the first Saturday in May. These three contests are the feature events for Saturday: The Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Park. Inaugurated in 1874, one year before the Kentucky Derby, … Continue reading Road To The Kentucky Derby Getting Busier
Who Wins The Pegasus World Cup?
The 10th annual Pegasus World Cup Invitational is set to go on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 1, $3 million-dollar, 1 1/8-mile contest is a Win and You’re In race for the $7 million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 31st at Keeneland. Here then is a brief look at the field for this year’s Pegasus World Cup: 1. DISCO TIME [ML 8-5] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad … Continue reading Who Wins The Pegasus World Cup?
When ‘The Road’ Began
Prior to 2013 the traditional qualifying factor for horses wanting to participate in the Kentucky Derby was total Graded Stakes purse earnings. The more money an eligible horse won, the increased chance of entering the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. But beginning in 2013 Churchill Downs scratched the classic earnings method in favor of a points-based system which totally revamped the traditional Prep Races. These Prep … Continue reading When ‘The Road’ Began
Pegasus World Cup
The 2026 edition of the Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park is Saturday, January 24th. The event is the winter season’s first truly monumental day of racing and wagering. Pegasus World Cup Day is one of the year’s premier days of Thoroughbred racing that features seven Graded Stakes races with total purses of more than $5 million dollars. The feature race is the 3-million-dollar, Grade 1, Pegasus World Cup Invitational … Continue reading Pegasus World Cup
Who Wins The Lecomte Stakes?
The next phase of Derby prep races begins Saturday with the $250,000-dollar Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The top five finishers in the Grade 3 Stakes will receive 20-10-6-4-2 points in descending order. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. QUALITY MISCHIEF [ML 10-1] Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza. Trainer: Brad Cox. Made some progress in the Gun Runner Stakes over this track when he rallied for 4th … Continue reading Who Wins The Lecomte Stakes?
The Kentucky Bunbury ?
There is no horse race more iconic in the United States than the Kentucky Derby. A race that has been contested every year without a miss since 1875. The contest is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, with the exceptions of 1901, 1945 and 2020. Taking place at Churchill Downs, the prestigious race is the first leg of the Triple Crown and is often considered to be the … Continue reading The Kentucky Bunbury ?
2026 Wish List
Nine days into 2026 and, as always, there is plenty of excitement being generated for what’s ahead this year in the wonderful world of horse racing. A plethora of exhilarating races, memorable moments, and great times at tracks all across the country await us. Everyone (even horseplayers) make New Year’s resolutions; and as most resolutions go, some are more successful than others. That said, the Daily Racing … Continue reading 2026 Wish List
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
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?
C.A.W.
2026 is just a couple furlongs away and the issue of Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) is not going away with the flip of the calendar. The issue needs to be revisited given the extent to which it has grown. Bettor concerns are valid, and the question has always been whether any group- large or small, is given an unfair advantage that is not available to … Continue reading C.A.W.
