All articles tagged with #churchill downs
Hall of Fame jockey Robby Albarado, who had more than 5,000 career wins (5,222 total) and earned over $221 million, died at 52 after undergoing surgery for a heart blockage. A standout at Churchill Downs, he won the Preakness Stakes twice (2007 and 2021) and claimed Breeders’ Cup titles on Curlin before retiring in 2021.
The storied Triple Crown appears eclipsed by a new six-race Thoroughbred Championship Series announced by the NYRA and Churchill Downs, beginning with the Kentucky Derby and concluding with a September finale at Churchill Downs with a $5 million bonus; the Preakness is excluded, prompting trainers to shift focus to the new series and threatening to diminish the old crown’s relevance as the sport reorganizes its marquee 3-year-old calendar.
CDI and NYRA announced the Thoroughbred Championship Series, a six-race season-long competition for America’s leading 3-year-old Thoroughbreds with a $5 million prize pool, running at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, and Saratoga starting in 2027 and culminating in a championship race at Churchill Downs. The schedule includes the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Matt Winn Stakes (G3), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), and Travers Stakes (G1), with a final championship race in September. Races will be televised by NBC and FOX under a unified points system designed to keep top contenders aligned throughout the season.
Churchill Downs Inc. and NYRA unveiled a six-race Thoroughbred Championship Series for 3-year-olds starting in 2027, pairing the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with races at Churchill Downs and NYRA tracks (Matt Winn, Jim Dandy, Travers) to crown a season-long champion with a $5 million bonus for the top eight point-earners. Each event will offer at least $1 million in purses; horses must compete in four of the six races. The Preakness is excluded, and the finale at Churchill Downs will be in September; NBC and FOX will televise the races.
A Horse Racing Nation column argues Churchill Downs Inc.’s $85 million bid to acquire Preakness IP signals a push to restore the Preakness’ prestige and could involve moves like a race reschedule and bigger purses; it critiques Cherwa’s plan while urging concrete, actionable steps from track owners to save the Triple Crown rather than rely on rhetoric.
Golden Tempo rallied from last to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, giving Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win the race; Renegade finished second and Ocelli third, with the complete order of finish and payouts—highlighted by a $1 Super High Five worth $1,777,720—detailed in the report.
Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with day-after photos showing trainer Cherie DeVaux celebrating with the horse, the rose blanket laid outside its stall, and affectionate moments as DeVaux and Golden Tempo are photographed post-race.
Golden Tempo rallied from a slow start to surge past the field and win the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with jockey Jose L. Ortiz guiding the last-to-first triumph.
Great White was scratched from the Kentucky Derby at the last moment after throwing his jockey, but the horse is reported to be fine and has been seen working at Churchill Downs.
This article provides a comprehensive preview of the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, detailing the 19-horse field after a late scratch, led by 4-1 favorite Renegade, key contenders and post positions, and odds, plus a practical betting guide with current promo codes from TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, 1/ST BET, and DraftKings Racing and wagering strategies (Win/Place/Show and exotics). It also covers betting trends (Beyer Speed Figures, Final Fractions Theory), how to wager via apps, payout structures, Derby records, and Triple Crown history.
The Kentucky Derby is celebrated as much for its pageantry and historical grandeur as for the race itself, with the dirt track, stylish spectators, and a centuries‑long tradition creating a dramatic, photo‑rich spectacle that defines the day.
Hollywood A-listers descend on Churchill Downs for the 2026 Kentucky Derby weekend, turning Derby Day and the accompanying galas into a star-studded photo spectacle featuring attendees like Melissa Joan Hart, Richie Sambora, Chaka Khan, Nicole Scherzinger and Rob Gronkowski.
Rhetorical rode wire-to-wire to win the Old Forester Turf Classic, adding momentum to Derby weekend, while last-minute scratches shuffled the 152nd Kentucky Derby field: Silent Tactic and Fulleffort scratched earlier, The Puma withdrew leaving 19 starters, and several also-eligible horses like Great White, Ocelli and Robusta moved into the field; Renegade drew the rail in post position 1, a tough assignment for Derby favorite Todd Pletcher, as final prep coverage builds toward race day.
A photo gallery from Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs (May 2, 2026) captures finish-line moments from the undercard races—The American Turf (Stark Contrast), The Pat Day Mile (Crude Velocity), The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Classic Q), The Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Tour Player), and The Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Yellow Card).
Classic Q edged Portfolio Duration to win the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs, while Yellow Card took the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint. The Puma was scratched from the Kentucky Derby, making So Happy the new favorite at 5-1 as Derby odds and schedules were updated for the day.