Kentucky

Five-time Grade I winner Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck--Gay Charm {Brz}, by Ghadeer {Fr}) was euthanized at Park Equine Hospital Wednesday due to complications from cancer. He had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2019. Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein captured the 2009 GI Santa Anita H. and four Grade I stakes on turf. In all Einstein made 27 starts, winning 11 races. He won or placed in 13 stakes, all of which were graded, and his career earnings totaled $2,703,324. Einstein retired from racing in 2010 to stand at...

None of us, after 2020, will ever again take even our simplest indulgences for granted. How much more culpable, then, was any complacency the industry may have permitted itself, over the years, in the patronage of the greatest investor in its history? His absence from the September Sale, a year after once again heading the buyers' table at $16 million, sharpened a sense of the incalculable collective debt owed to Sheikh Mohammed. His team did resurface, to much relief locally, for Book 1 of the October Sale at Tattersalls last...

Making just her second lifetime appearance in a true one-turn race and trying a distance as short as 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time in career start number 25, the classy Got Stormy (Get Stormy) needed every inch of the Keeneland stretch, but was shoved across the line by Tyler Gaffalione to win Friday's GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. Got Stormy broke outward at the start, bothering Chalon (Dialed In) to her outside, and settled near the back of the field through the opening exchanges. Not rushed into...

Four-time Grade I winner McKinzie (Street Sense--Runway Model, by Petionville) has been retired from racing and will stand stud at Gainesway in 2021, the farm announced Wednesday evening. "McKinzie was absolutely brilliant. He was an undefeated Grade I winner at two, as well as a multiple Grade I winner and top-rated horse at three and four years of age," Brian Graves, General Manager of Gainesway, said. "His speed, precocity and good looks make him an absolute standout." Purchased by Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman for $170,000 at Keeneland...

A caravan of four massive Sallee Horse Vans journeyed from Fayette County to Bourbon County today to deliver the 13 members of the Hill 'n' Dale stallion roster to their new residence: Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. While Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura said there was apprehension going into the big move, everything went smoothly. "It's kind of like when a horse goes in the starting gate- lots can go wrong," he said. "But thanks to the quality and class of the horses and the horsemanship of everybody who...

With the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale and New York-Bred Yearling Sale all canceled, the sale's company offers a combination of all three auctions Sept. 9-10 at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase. "It was a situation where we had to develop alternatives as it became apparent that the July Sale could not be conducted," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "At about the same time, it also became apparent it would be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to have a traditional...

In this corner comes 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), a filly by one of the world's hottest and most fashionable sires who was purchased for a seven-figure price tag at public auction and has whitewashed Grade I rivals by a combined 25 3/4 lengths in her last two starts. Sharing space in the other corner is Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), a much more modest auction purchase, who is perfect in her last four against her own sex; and Speech (Mr Speaker), not quite as accomplished as her two chief rivals,...

Win, Place Show, the first lottery game based on horse racing results, has officially launched with the Kentucky Lottery and is available at retailers across the commonwealth. Players are able to purchase quick-pick tickets based on the results of a live horse race each day. Races can be watched live or on replay via the Win, Place, Show mobile app available for Android and iOS devices. "We could not be more delighted to launch our first game in my adopted home state of Kentucky," said EquiLottery Games Founder and CEO...

After originally floating plans that would have required any jockey intending to ride during the Sept. 1-5 meet that includes the GI Kentucky Derby to arrive in Kentucky by Aug. 24, Churchill Downs is now requiring that all jockeys be in the state by Aug. 31. The details were in a document distributed by Churchill officials to the Jockeys' Guild late Thursday. Many jockeys, particularly those who ride regularly in New York and California, were on the fence about riding in the Derby as, under the Aug. 24 guidelines, it...

If you peak through the windows of the new café in downtown Versailles, Kentucky, the sights and smells of the tantalizing cuisine draw you closer to the door. Cajun shrimp and grits, chicken pesto pizza and beef short ribs are laid out across wooden tables adorned with mason jars filled with freshly-cut flowers. Normally, many people living in this community wouldn't dream of stepping across the threshold of such an upscale, and perhaps mistakenly pretentious, establishment. The dollar signs listed on the menu next to those mouth-watering entrees would make...

Ellis Park Racing & Gaming has increased track and racing protocols/testing requirements, effective immediately. All jockeys and valets must have a negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to being admitted to Ellis Park. Once a negative test is reported, they will not need additional testing unless they leave the local area, Kentucky or ride/race at another racetrack. All backside entrants, including jockeys who do leave the local area or the state of Kentucky after their initial test, will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48...

In an effort to ensure that all health and safety protocols are in place, officials at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, announced that they are moving back the scheduled opening day of the season from June 28 to July 2. "We were going to be open one day and then be dark for three days, before picking back up on July 2," said Jeff Inman, Ellis Park's general manager. "Just waiting until July 2 gives us additional valuable time to institute all the safety protocols involved with staging horse racing...