Midwest trainer John E. Churchman Jr., who started two horses in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), died Aug. 18 after a long illness.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
In the opinion of her breeder and co-owner, Dolphus Morrison, Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Rachel Alexandra "could have been competitive" in the Run for the Roses, but he said he "didn't have a fleeting thought" of running her against the boys.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Macho Again, who has won two of three starts at Churchill Downs, makes a return visit to the historic track for the May 1 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard as he takes on nine rivals in the 1 1/16-miles race.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A horrific accident on the track at Churchill Downs the morning of April 27 provided a tragic kickoff to the week leading up to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Monday, April 27, 2009
Hialeah Park received a Quarter Horse permit from the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering on March 17, with an apparent mandate to begin that racing by March 17, 2010.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wagering in Florida on Calder Race Course's recently concluded Tropical at Calder meet fell 31% in 2008, according to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Nominations for the 2009 Triple Crown of racing the 135th Kentucky Derby (gr. I), 134th Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and 141st Belmont Stakes (gr. I) are being taken from horsemen with promising for 3-year-olds.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Trainer Mike Maker established a Churchill Downs fall meet record for victories Nov. 19 when One Eyed Joker won the eighth race. His victory gave Maker his 21st triumph of the season.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
With two weeks left before Calder Race Course's July 12 Summit of Speed, Churchill Downs Inc. and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association remain deadlocked in contract talks for the Miami Gardens, Fla., track.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Sent off at odds of 5-2, Mike Tarp's American County went wire-to-wire to win the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Meeting in Florida Jan. 18, representatives of the Jockeys' Guild and the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis said they will partner to develop standard programs for on-track treatment of spinal and brain injuries suffered by jockeys and exercise riders.
Friday, January 18, 2008
As of Jan. 9, HRTV was still not permitted to show races from Aqueduct. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board continues to assess HRTV's application to show video from Aqueduct.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Los Alamitos Race Course and Woodbine Entertainment Group's Thoroughbred simulcast productions were declared co-winners of this year's Simulcast Award, presented Sept. 18 by Post Time Technologies 18 at the International Simulcast Conference in Kansas City, MO.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Though Breeders' Cup officials believe Churchill Downs is a premier host site for the World Championships, the rebuilt clubhouse at the Kentucky racetrack has created a problem providing quality seating for guests of Breeders' Cup.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Things were quiet at Barn 17 on the Churchill Downs backstretch the morning of Oct. 31. But Norman Casse knows that is about to change. And, he's glad.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Churchill Downs will accept entries for races during its upcoming Oct. 29-Nov. 25 Fall Meet and subsequent race meets three days in advance of those races.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
It is Todd Pletcher day at Churchill Downs Friday. When he sent out Oonagh Maccool to an easy win in the $271,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares, the trainer was notching his fourth winner of the day...and that's from four races in which he had runners.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Favored Gouldings Green won a stretch battle with Wild Desert to beat last year's Queen's Plate winner in the $114,500 Alysheba Friday at Churchill Downs.
Friday, May 05, 2006
A group of racetracks and racing organizations are joining with the Jockeys' Guild to raise funds for the immediate needs of permanently disabled riders.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The 21-day fall meet at Churchill Downs, the first at the historic track since the completion of its $121 million renovation and the first since 2002 that was not limited by construction, concluded on Nov. 26 with gains in both on-track and total wagering and on-track attendance.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Churchill Downs will bow to youth Nov. 5 when it cards its first "Stars of Tomorrow" program--all the races in the condition book are for 2-year-olds, including two grade III stakes.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Horses from the last of three Churchill Downs barns under quarantine because of an equine herpesvirus outbreak resumed regular training hours and racing June 12.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Three jockeys who appear to have worn unapproved advertising during the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) are expected at a hearing before Churchill Downs stewards May 21 in Louisville.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Mighty Beau, who just missed last time out in the Shakertown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, easily took the $113,500 Aegon Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs Friday.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Sweet Talker burst to the lead as the field straightened for home and held off the late charge of Rich in Spirit to win the $112,400 Edgwood Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs Friday.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Bob and Beverly Lewis' Consolidator, winner of the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), has been withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) picture after suffering a fractured sesamoid in his right front ankle. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed the situation Monday and said Consolidator has been retired.
Monday, May 02, 2005
The New Orleans City Council is seeking a declaratory judgment on whether installation of slot machines at Fair Grounds would violate the city charter.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Churchill Downs Inc. officials discussed the company's financial picture, alternative gaming initiatives, and the industry's tote system during a March 17 teleconference but shed little light on their intentions for Hollywood Park, the Southern California racetrack that is the subject of sale rumors.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Churchill Downs Inc. announced Feb. 15 it has contracted with LRA Worldwide to help develop a customer experience management (CEM) program at its seven race tracks.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
With the doubling of the purse for the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) to $2 million, the total value of purses in Churchill Downs' 2005 schedule of stakes races will reach a record $10 million.
Friday, January 07, 2005
During a season hampered by ongoing construction, near-record rainfall and the loss of several top jockeys in a dispute with management, Churchill Downs ended its 21-day fall meeting with increases in attendance and on-track wagering while experiencing a slight decline in total wagering from last year's record total.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Horsemen at Calder will find a little something extra on their plates Thanksgiving Day. The track announced a purse increase of $1,000 per overnight race, which will take effect with the Nov. 25 race card.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Jockey Dean Sarvis has been removed from a published list of jockeys who were excluded from riding at Churchill Downs through the remainder of the fall meeting and he will return to the saddle on Friday.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The Jockeys' Guild, in the wake of the ejection of 15 riders by Churchill Downs, has targeted the racetrack and the state of Kentucky in a rapidly developing conflict over what the Guild believes is inadequate medical insurance in many racing states.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
The conflict over adequate medical insurance for jockeys continued to escalate Nov. 7 when Churchill Downs escorted several riders from the grounds after they refused to accept mounts for the Nov. 11 program.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Churchill Downs is trimming the maximum size of its overnight fields for races on the main track from 14 horses to 12 beginning Saturday.
Friday, November 05, 2004
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will conduct its New and Prospective Owners seminar on May 16 at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
It's not the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but handicappers will have the opportunity for plenty of action May 5 when Churchill Downs continues its spring meet with a pick six carryover of $268,246.
Monday, May 03, 2004
Stroll had won a grade III and grade II. Now he has a grade I on his resume, winning Saturday's $453,900 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths the race prior to the Kentucky Derby (gr. IT).
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Favored Lunarpal made it look easy, coasting home by five lengths in the $115,400 Three Chimneys Juvenile on the Kentucky Derby day undercard.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Based on the Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby daily double, Tapit is the favorite in Saturday's Derby. The gimmick with Oaks winner Ashado and Tapit would pay $42.80.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Lead Story made a huge move on the turn for home and went on to win the $327,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), leaving heavily favored Sightseek and the others in her wake.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Lydgate closed with a huge rush to win the Ageon Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs Friday on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Congrats answered the question whether he can win two races in a row. The answer is yes.
Friday, April 30, 2004
It is well known that jockey Pat Day is a very religious person. So, could something be at work other than circumstance that led him to his 2004 Derby mount?
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Fair Grounds, after failing to reach an agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. on a sale of the track, filed in bankruptcy court Monday evening a Chapter 11 reorganization plan that would allow for an auction of the track through the court.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Churchill Downs will offer free admission on weekdays after the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) during its "Spring Meet of Champions," which begins April 24.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Patrons accustomed to a bird's-eye view of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) from Millionaires' Row will instead be watching from the infield this year as a consequence of Churchill Downs $95 million clubhouse renovation.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Churchill Downs reached another milestone in its historic $121 million renovation Tuesday as the final steel beam was lifted into place in the large section of the track's clubhouse that is being completely rebuilt in the project.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Robert Decker, previously executive vice president and chief financial officer for Churchill Downs Inc., has opened a Louisville, Ky., consulting practice that will provide advisory services to racetrack companies and racing support companies, as well as Kentucky-based firms in other industries.
Thursday, February 05, 2004