Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby Museum is launching 'Ari's Horseshoe Adventure', an interactive experience that encourages young Museum guests to learn about horseracing in a kid-friendly way. This clue-finding experience was designed in honor of Mighty Aristides, the Museum Ambassador. Cue cards placed throughout the exhibits encourage kids to find Ari's missing horsehoe by locating the answers to multiple Kentucky Derby trivia questions. Young guests will also find several coloring activities on the cards to keep them engaged. Children will learn about pivotal Derby-winning jockeys and trainers, the importance of the Call...

Rich Strike (Keen Ice), winner of the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby, has been withdrawn from Friday's Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale and will remain in light training, owner Rick Dawson has announced. "After much consideration, I have revised my plan for Rich Strike (KY Derby Champ #148/2022) and will not enter him in Keeneland Sales auction on Friday, 11/17/23," a statement from Dawson read. "At this time Rich Strike will continue his stay and light exercise at Margaux Farm. I would like to thank my family, friends and...

Keeneland has added 10 supplemental entries to its Horses of Racing Age Sale, which will be held Friday in Lexington. The added entries, which include 2023 stakes winner Lady Lowery (Munnings), bring the total number of catalogued horses for the one-session auction to 330. Bidding begins at noon. The other supplements are: two-time 2023 allowance winner Detroit City (Dialed In); 3-year-old filly Frothy (Liam's Map); recent Churchill maiden special weight-winning 2-year-old Heart Headed (Oscar Performance); 3-year-old filly Lady Claypoole (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); 2-year-old colt Masmak (Vino Rosso); two-time 2023 allowance...

Edited Press Release Kentucky Educational Television (KET), a state network of PBS member stations serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky, will air 'The Legacy of Black Horsemen' an hour-long documentary that details the story of Black jockeys, trainers, grooms and exercisers in the 1800s who played an important role in the Thoroughbred industry. The program documents how Black horsemen were subjected to discrimination and cruelty throughout much of their lives. During slavery, many won the faith of their white owners and were trusted with major financial and horse training decisions. In...

ARCADIA, CA - As Javier Castellano gets ready to ride three mounts on Breeders' Cup Saturday, the recently turned 46-year-old is amidst one of the best years of his career. And it almost never happened. A pair of Breeders' Cup wins at the 2019 Championships put an exclamation point on the Hall of Famer's eighth straight season with more than $20 million in earnings. But, the year 2020, like it was for so many, was more about overcoming adversity for the native of Venezuela. Castellano was the first jockey to...

The Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention is being held in Indianapolis, IN and 125 different groups have booked tours in the Kentucky Derby museum. With almost 6,000 expected visitors this week, the 40% increase compared to standard weekly October attendance has proven it a popular destination for attendees. "FFA members represent the future of the Thoroughbred horse racing and agriculture industries, so it's always exciting to host them in the Museum," said Pat Armstong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO. "The fact that the number of FFA groups choosing...

The horse racing industry is a unique societal tapestry of people who approach each race day from a different perspective. You have your core glass half full optimists, who see every race and every horse as the key to a financial windfall, but we also know we can easily find those pessimistic half empty folks as well. If you happen to ask Kyle McGinty, Founder and President of the Blackout Group, how he perceived his glass, he would probably retort, "it doesn't really matter as long as his glass has...

Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is set for its three-day run Tuesday-Thursday and features 40 betting interests, including recent Grade I winners Locked (Gun Runner) and Timberlake (Into Mischief). Wagering will begin Tuesday at noon and close Thursday at 6 p.m. ET in advance of the Breeders' Cup World Championships' Future Starts Friday. The 15-1 individual favorite is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's GI Breeders' Futurity winner Locked. Trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Todd Pletcher, Locked is among the top interests in Friday's GI Breeders'...

In the Sept. 30 edition of the Thoroughbred Daily News, we ran an interview with John Sikura  (Sikura: No Simple Solutions for a Fractured Sport, TDN, Sept. 27) in which he raised questions about the funding mechanism and purse of the Kentucky Derby. In Tuesday's TDN, industry insiders weighed in with their own commentary. Today, we publish additional opinions on the subject. Scott Heider, owner It made me smile recently when I saw my friend John Sikura shared his opinions in the TDN. Similar to the ongoing discussions we have...

American jockey Steve Cauthen and the outstanding turf mare Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}) will be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the official Hall of Fame for Flat racing in Britain. The newest inductees will be recognized on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Oct. 21, with Cauthen making a rare trip over from the US. Cauthen becomes just the fifth rider to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, while Pebbles becomes the first of her gender to be inducted alongside the likes...

In the Sept. 30 edition of the Thoroughbred Daily News, we ran an interview with John Sikura in which he raised questions about the funding mechanism and purse of the Kentucky Derby. In the article, Sikura says: "(The Kentucky Derby is) "The single event that drives the commerce of the industry. The point of entry to virtually everybody that owns a horse: 'I want to win the Kentucky Derby.' If you're fortunate enough to do so, there should be a financial reward that recognizes that--not just pride in achievement. A...

This year's GI Kentucky Derby winner, Mage (Good Magic--Puca, by Big Brown), will stand at stud at Airdrie Stud upon his retirement from racing, Airdrie announced Wednesday. The chestnut, who was bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine, will continue to race for the ownership team of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds. Currently being pointed for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Mage has earned $2,507,450 to date in a career that includes runner-up efforts in the GI Haskell S. and GI Florida Derby as well as...