News

  • Derby / Oaks Update - 4.30.13

    BLACK ONYX (No. 11) – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx galloped 1 ¾ miles under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez during the Derby and Oaks training session.

    “It was a little bit longer gallop, a little bit stronger at the end,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He came out of it looking dynamite.”

  • Dreaming of Julia, Beholder Headline Longines Kentucky Oaks

    The top 3-year-old fillies from all corners of the country, headed by  Dreaming of Julia, the 21 ¾-length winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII), and Eclipse Award winner Beholder  passed the  entry box Tuesday morning for Friday’s 139th running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I).

  • Video Charming Kitten gallops at Churchill Downs 4.30.13

  • Derby / Oaks Update - 4.29.13

    BLACK ONYX (No. 11) – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx jogged one mile under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez during the Derby and Oaks session. The Rock Hard Ten colt is officially dark bay or brown but appears black.

  • Derby Week Begins - Monday Morning on the Backside 4.29.13

  • Churchill Downs Announces Longines as Entitlement Partner of Longines Kentucky Oaks 139

    Churchill Downs Racetrack, home of the world famous Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, has entered into a long-term agreement with internationally renowned Swiss watchmaker Longines to serve as Entitlement Partner of the Kentucky Oaks and to retain its role as Official Watch and Timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby. As a result of its existing and expanded partnership, the Kentucky Oaks has been renamed the “Longines Kentucky Oaks,” and Longines is the Official Timekeeper of Churchill Downs Racetrack.

  • Opening Night at Churchill by Dan Dry

  • A Derby Sunday Mornin'

  • Opening Night at Churchill Downs

  • Derby / Oaks Update - 4.28.13

    Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx walked the shedrow at Barn 41 the morning after working a half-mile in :48.60. Exercise rider Aurelio Gomez reported that the Spiral Stakes (Grade III) winner came out of the work “good” and likely would return to the track Monday during the portion of training hours dedicated to Derby and Oaks contenders from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. (all times Eastern).

  • Video Behind the Scenes, turning Churchill Downs into Derby !

  • Forty Tales Wins Derby Trial Before Crowd of 21,038

    Perretti Racing Stable’s Forty Tales held off Capo Bastone by a diminishing neck to win the 89th running of the $201,425 Derby Trial before a crowd of 21,038 on “Opening Night” Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka.

    Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forty Tales was the fourth of five winners on the night for jockey Joel Rosario.

    “When we turned for home, I asked him to go and he went and put me in a good spot,” Rosario said. “I’m lucky to be here (Kentucky). Things have been going great and hopefully they’ll continue.”

  • Rise and Shine Derby Contenders

  • Opening Morning on the Backside 4.27.13

  • Derby / Oaks Update - 4.27.13

    BLACK ONYX (No. 12) – Trainer Kelly Breen supervised the half-mile work by Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx at 7:30 Saturday morning then headed back to New York to saddle a horse in a stakes at Belmont Park later in the day.

  • Derby / Oaks Update - 4.26.13

    BLACK ONYX (No. 12) – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx had an uneventful morning on the track, galloping 1 ½ miles after the Friday morning renovation break under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez.

  • Video Derby Backside Buzz with Jill Byrne 4.26.13

  • Country Star Martina McBride Will Sing National Anthem at Kentucky Derby 139

    Award-winning country music star Martina McBride, a four-time the Country Music Association (“CMA”) “Female Vocalist of the Year” who has sold more than 18 million albums worldwide, will add a new experience to her career resume on Saturday, May 4 when she performs the National Anthem prior to the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) at historic Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”) on Saturday, May 4. 

  • Java's War: Charles Fipke digs deep for shot at Derby victory

    The Cliffs Notes of Charles Fipke’s life make for fascinating reading: An industrious and brilliant child from the Canadian prairies grows up to become a renowned geologist, unearths one of the world’s biggest diamond mines in the wilds of the Northwest Territories, makes a life’s fortune several times over, and then jumps head over heels into thoroughbred breeding and racing.
     

  • Goldencents breezes 1:16 1/5 for three-quarters in final Derby move

    In his final work in preparation for the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita Derby hero Goldencents breezed six furlongs in 1:16 1/5 Thursday morning over Santa Anita's fast dirt under regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia, as trainer Doug O'Neill, jockey Kevin Krigger and several owners watched from the grandstand.

    Working from the half-mile pole around the Club House turn to the three-quarter pole, Goldencents was timed through splits of :27 1/5, :40 1/5, :51 1/5 and 1:03, according to Santa Anita clocker Dane Nelson.