Churchill Downs is eager to stimulate added international interest in next year's Kentucky Derby through the creation of a path to gain a berth for horses based in Europe and the expansion of its current series for Japan's top dirt horses.
Why spend a million dollars on an untried yearling when you can buy a piece of history? We're not talking just any piece of history, but items that represent three superstars of The Turf, Secretariat, Dr. Fager, and Arts and Letters.
So what do we make of the beginning of the second half of the 2017 race season, where in the space of one week we’ve seen the defeats of Arrogate, Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, Irish War Cry, and Timeline with nary a battle offered?
In what will be their first starts since the second classic in Baltimore, Always Dreaming will try and make his last outing into an aberration, while Cloud Computing is out to reinforce his late-blooming upside.
Always Dreaming, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), put in his first workout since finishing eighth in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) and covered four furlongs in :49.96 over the Belmont Park training track July 1.
Humans and animals overcoming physical handicaps and going on to achieve great things has always been a sure way to bring out the sentimental side of people, who admire grit and resolve in the face of adversity.
While the scratch of Epicharis (JPN) impacted the amount of money wagered, the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park still became the first United States classic simulcast into Japan.
Janis Whitham's homebred McCraken put in his first timed move since running eighth in the first leg of the Triple Crown, going an easy half-mile in :49 4/5 at Churchill Downs the morning of May 23.
For the second year in a row, the late In Excess—a former juggernaut on the California stallion scene--has figured in the first three generations of a Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (G1) winner.
If you enjoyed the Kentucky Derby dream, no sense waking up now. You might as well keep dreaming until you are jolted back to reality, if and when that ever occurs.
While the short rest between the first two legs of the Triple Crown has been a popular lament over the years, the modern history of the Preakness Stakes reflects a trend that is actually most unkind to the oft-proclaimed "new shooters."
Spending a day with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming's dam, Above Perfection, at Dromoland Farm.
As I have done the past several years, I thought it would be interesting to go back week by week and re-live the observations, race reports, workout reports, and any news regarding the eventual Kentucky Derby winner.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming got acquainted with the racing surface at Pimlico Race Course May 10 during a light jog in preparation for a scheduled start in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1).
Derby week a perfect time to grow the sport
Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, La Troienne, Humana Distaff, American Turf, Eight Belles, Alysheba, Churchill Downs, Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, Sheepshead Bay, Twin Spires Turf Sprint, Edgewood, Pat Day Mile and more.
Always Dreaming, winner of the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), departed Churchill Downs at 6:40 a.m. May 9 for the short ride to Louisville International Airport and a flight that would take him to Baltimore.
NBC Sports' coverage of the 143rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) posted numerous viewership milestones according to fast national data provided by The Nielsen Company and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner is latest major stakes winner bought at auction by agent Steve Young.
What's it like to own the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby? Follow along with Terry Finley, whose West Point Thoroughbreds is a minority owner of Always Dreaming, as he experiences the joy of a in the run for the roses at Churchill Downs.
To "peak in the Derby" was a main part of the strategy Pletcher and owners Anthony Bonomo and Vinnie Viola laid out for Always Dreaming this winter.
Impressive Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner (G1) Always Dreaming will head to historic Pimlico Race Course for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, the 142nd Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20.
Overnight of 10.5/23 is second-highest in the past 25 years.
Trainer Todd Pletcher stated all was well with newly minted Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming the morning after the colt's stirring triumph in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Claire Novak updates us on Kentucky Derby runners Always Dreaming, Lookin At Lee, Battle of Midway, Classic Empire, and more.
Relive Always Dreaming's victory in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). See where your favorite horse was at several crucial points of the race with our interactive slideshow.
Always Dreaming with John Velazquez wins the running of the 143rd Kentucky Derby at Churcill Downs on May 6, 2017.
Kentucky Derby 143 post race press conference featuring the connections of winner Always Dreaming.
With wagering above $200 million for the first time and a top-10 crowd on Kentucky Derby Day, Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. expects to add between $4-6 million in increased profitability, the company announced May 6.
Claire Novak recaps Always Dreaming's win in Kentucky Derby 143 and shares post race details.
Following a tracking trip under John Velazquez, Always Dreaming took command in the stretch to score a 2 3/4-length victory in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Claire Novak sets the scene for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, including a brightening on the horizon.
BloodHorse takes you behind the scenes as 20 horses prepare for the race of their lives, the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
China Horse Club and Clearsky Farm's Abel Tasman, 9-1 winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has set up potential payouts for the Oaks/Kentucky Derby double ranging from $73 to $1,195.
The term "wide-open" has been tossed about the Churchill Downs backstretch like a baseball of late whenever the connections of Kentucky Derby aspirants are asked about the complexion of this year's Run for the Roses.
The Todd Pletcher barn was busy and humming Friday morning, a day before Kentucky Derby 143.
Topped by Tapwrit's $1.2 million price, a dozen of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) were purchased at public auction, several of them more than once.
It will be strictly business for Stone, 33, Churchill's track announcer since the 2015 spring/summer meeting.
Steady rain provided a wet start to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks day card at Churchill Downs and was forecast to continue throughout the day. Also there were no scratches out of the May 6 Kentucky Derby before the 9 a.m. Friday scratch deadline.
Images from the days of training leading up to the 143rd Kentucky Derby and Oaks.
Handicapper Dave Litfin sizes up the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
Steve announces his final selections and wagers for the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Kentucky Derby.
While the world may know the Casse barn for its work in campaigning two-time champion turf female Tepin, Classic Empire may be the poster boy for the resolve of the connections who say they want a Derby triumph above all prizes.
Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. has served as a mentor to fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has in turn passed riding knowledge to Jose Ortiz.
America's Best Racing catches up with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah at Ashford Stud, to see how the retired superstar is enjoying his second career as a stallion.
Solomon Del-Valle has been a friend and client of trainer Antonio Sano for 40 years, and the pair team up with Gunnevera for what would be the biggest victory for Venezuela since Canonero II won the 1971 Kentucky Derby
Vincent Viola went to Aqueduct Racetrack with his father early in life, and learned lessons that have helped him in his profession and a market trader, business founder, and Thoroughbred owner, lessons he is using with Derby hopeful Always Dreaming.
Claire Novak reports on the activities of Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders Girvin, Classic Empire, J Boys Echo, Sailor's Valentine, and more.
But for the toss of a dart, Girvin might not have been foaled and would not be a major contender for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
