Serengeti Empress goes wire-to-wire for Kentucky Oaks win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Serengeti Empress dispelled questions about her health and ability with a signature performance in the biggest race of her career. The filly went wire-to-wire to win the US$1.25 million Kentucky Oaks by 1 3/4 lengths over Liora on Friday at Churchill Downs. The start featured a scary moment when Positive Spirit […]
Piggott tips Aidan O'Brien for rare third straight English 2,000 success
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) - Aidan O'Brien will become the first trainer since the 19th century to win three consecutive English 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, predicts a man who won the famous mile classic five times -- Lester Piggott. The legendary jockey, an 11-time British champion and winner of 30 classics, rode Rodrigo de Triano […]
English 2000 Guineas – the analysis
Best of British Too Darn Hot had sat happily atop the betting for the first British Classic for much of the off-season, with many predicting a victory in the 2000 Guineas would simply be a walk in the park. Sadly, for John Gosden, Frankie Dettori and owner, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Too Darn Hot picked up a knock […]
Singing in the rain? Baffert eyes history, wet Kentucky Derby on tap
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Bob Baffert times three. In a Kentucky Derby lacking a dominant favourite, the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer saddles the top three choices. On what could be a wet day at Churchill Downs, Game Winner is the pre-race favourite, albeit a tepid one at 9-2. Improbable and Roadster were installed as the […]
Triple Crown winner Mike Smith gets Kentucky Derby ride
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith will ride in the Kentucky Derby after all. He picked up the mount on 30-1 shot Cutting Humor, trained by Todd Pletcher, race officials said Friday. The 53-year-old rider had been on the early 4-1 favourite, Omaha Beach, until the colt was scratched because of a […]
KENTUCKY Derby 2019: Game Winner new favourite in Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The new favourite enters the Kentucky Derby seeking his first win of 2019 and tops several contenders on modest winning streaks that could factor large in the sport's marquee race. Game Winner is now the favourite to win Saturday after Omaha Beach was scratched. He has already won more than US$1 […]
Jockeys in Kentucky Derby to use new crop whip
Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of The Jockeys’ Guild, said Wednesday that “the majority” of riders in Saturday’s 2019 Kentucky Derby are expected to use the new 360GT (gentle touch) whip — formally known as a crop. The guild’s board of directors co-chaired by Mike Smith, who had the assignment on favorite Omaha Beach until that […]
Favourite Omaha Beach withdraws from Kentucky Derby: trainer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Suddenly, the Kentucky Derby is wide open. Favourite Omaha Beach was scratched because of a breathing problem Wednesday night, leaving a pair of Hall of Famers on the side-line — trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Mike Smith. Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia revised the morning line to make Game Winner the […]
Baffert takes aim at record-tying 6th Kentucky Derby win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The pain of seeing Cavonnier get beat by a nose in his first Kentucky Derby nearly kept trainer Bob Baffert from returning to Churchill Downs. He figured he would never again have a horse good enough to win on the first Saturday in May. A year later, though, he won the […]
Superstar Irish jockey Ruby Walsh retires from horse racing
PUNCHESTOWN, Ireland (AP) — Irish jockey Ruby Walsh has retired from horse racing, ending a career in which, he had more than 2,500 winners and earned more successes at the Cheltenham Festival than any other rider. The 39-year-old Walsh made his decision after riding Kemboy to a two-length victory at the Punchestown Gold Cup on […]