Kentucky Derby

Stories 81 - 100 | << Prev   Next >>

Big Brown Jockey Rides for Ailing Son
Big Brown Jockey Rides
for Ailing Son

Big Brown Jockey Rides for Ailing Son

Desormeaux wants Triple Crown for family as much as for himself

(Newser) - Kent Desormeaux, the jockey who rode Big Brown to victory in the Kentucky Derby, wants his son to see him win the Preakness tomorrow—before his eyesight fails entirely. Nine-year-old Jacob suffers from a genetic disorder that took his hearing and is slowly compromising his vision, but that hasn't stopped...

Eight Belles Jockey Defends His Ride

He says the filly gave no sign she was injured during race

(Newser) - The jockey who rode Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby says the filly seemed to be in fine form during the race and denies pushing her against her will, USA Today reports. "I'm not going to encourage her to run if I know something is wrong because I can...

Owner Haunted by Derby Filly's 'Horrible' Death

Wishes 'talented, mild-mannered' horse was back in the barn

(Newser) - Eight Belles' owner is still shocked and saddened by the death of his filly, put down at the end of the Kentucky Derby—but believes she belonged in the race, reports the Palm Beach Post. Rick Porter switched from celebrating his horse's thrilling second-place finish to mourning her death within...

Eight Belles' Trainer Defends Jockey's Conduct

(Newser) - The trainer of euthanized filly Eight Belles adamantly defended the way jockey Gabriel Saez handled the Kentucky Derby runner-up. In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Larry Jones said Saez applied the whip only to prevent Eight Belles from crashing into the rail.

PETA Cries Foul Over Filly's Death
PETA Cries
Foul Over
Filly's Death

PETA Cries Foul Over Filly's Death

Activists want changes in horse racing, jockey suspended

(Newser) - PETA is calling for broad reforms in horse racing after the second-place finisher in Saturday's Kentucky Derby broke her two front legs and was immediately euthanized, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. PETA is calling for horses to begin training at their third birthdays, rather than their second, and also for synthetic...

'Moral Crisis' Plagues Horse Racing
 'Moral Crisis'
 Plagues
 Horse Racing 
analysis

'Moral Crisis' Plagues Horse Racing

Eight Belles, Barbaro indicative of huge hearts, too-fragile bodies

(Newser) - NBC cut away from Eight Belles’ devastating breakdown and euthanasia at Churchill Downs yesterday, but we need to take a good hard look at the very real cost of the sport of kings, writes Sally Jenkins in the Washington Post. Eight Belles is a primetime example of the average two...

Filly Euthanized at Derby
 Filly Euthanized at Derby 

Filly Euthanized at Derby

(Newser) - Eight Belles, the filly who crossed the wire 4 3/4 lengths behind winner Big Brown to take second in the Kentucky Derby today, collapsed with two broken front ankles and was euthanized on the track. The first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby appeared to be fine as...

Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby
 Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby 
Event of the Day

Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby

Race tarnished by fatal injury to second-place filly

(Newser) - Favorite Big Brown outran a 20-horse field today and claimed the Kentucky Derby by a solid 5 lengths, NBC Sports reports. But tragedy struck at the finish line for runner-up Eight Belles, which broke two ankles and had to be euthanized on the track. For unbeaten Derby runner Big Brown,...

Heartland Tornadoes Kill 7 in Arkansas

Severe storms and hail also hit Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri

(Newser) - Severe storms spawned twisters in America's heartland today, knocking out power, toppling tractor-trailers, and killing seven people in Arkansas, the AP reports. Up to 25 tornadoes also hit Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, a state where hail smashed windshields and storms derailed railway cars. “It just seems like we’re...

Derby Trainer Finds Redemption
 Derby Trainer Finds Redemption 

Derby Trainer Finds Redemption

Big Brown conditioner Dutrow finishes journey

(Newser) - Ten years ago, Richard Dutrow Jr. was living in a racetrack barn. Disowned by his dad, renowned horse trainer Dick Dutrow, he was a drug-addicted mess. “I was living fast,” Dutrow tells USA Today. “I got myself into all sorts of nickel-and-dime scrapes.” Now, Dutrow is...

For Racing's Blue Bloods, It's Thin Blood

Most of today's top horses are descendants of Native Dancer

(Newser) - The only race Native Dancer ever lost was the 1953 Kentucky Derby, but in industry circles he is best known as the most valuable sire ever. All 20 horses in this year's Derby are descendants of Native Dancer, as is about 75% of the thoroughbred population. But with those champion...

Derby Fave Big Brown Saddled With Outside Post

Meet the favorite in Saturday's Run for the Roses

(Newser) - Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is positive his colt Big Brown will win the Kentucky Derby, and the odds-makers agree, pegging Big Brown as a 3-1 morning-line favorite. Never mind that the colt is starting from the deadly 20th position, has had front hoof problems, and has, in Dutrow, a controversial...

You Can Lead a Horse to Mares, But You Can't Make Him Sire

Champion War Emblem isn't so studly

(Newser) - War Emblem was a champion on the track, winning the 2002 Kentucky Derby, but as a sire, the racehorse is nowhere near as surefooted. Though surrounded by mares, War Emblem hasn't produced a live foal since 2005, and in more than five years at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan has...

Monba, Cowboy Cal Run 1-2 in Blue Grass

Trainer Pletcher has two horses make Kentucky Derby field

(Newser) - Todd's squad came through in the nick of time at Keeneland. Down to perhaps his last chance to return to the Kentucky Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher now has two contenders after Monba beat stablemate Cowboy Cal by a neck in the Blue Grass Stakes today. "I was hoping for...

Kentucky Derby Has Full Field, Few Contenders

Pyro, Big Brown and Colonel John current favorites

(Newser) - When the gates open at Churchill Downs on May 3 a full field will start out hoping to win the Kentucky Derby, but only a small handful are considered to have a realistic shot at victory. Pyro, Big Brown and Colonel John are the only horses of the 20 3-year-olds...

Curlin Wins Muddy Classic
Curlin Wins Muddy Classic

Curlin Wins Muddy Classic

Horse caps great year by taking sixth victory in nine starts

(Newser) - Curlin capped a grand year by winning the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic today, the AP reports. He blew by Hard Spun and Lawyer Ron in the home stretch and ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.59 on a sloppy track, claiming his sixth win in nine starts....

Street Sense Captures Travers
Street Sense Captures Travers

Street Sense Captures Travers

Derby winner adds 'Midsummer Derby' to trophy case

(Newser) - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense triumphed in the "Midsummer Derby" today at Saratoga, holding off longshot Grasshopper to capture the $1 million Travers Stakes by a half-length. The superstar 3-year-old, under regular rider Calvin Borel, paid $2.70 to win after the crowd at the sweltering Spa sent him...

Funny Cide Jockey Retires
Funny Cide Jockey Retires

Funny Cide Jockey Retires

Jose Santos calls it quits after breaking his back in a fall

(Newser) - Future Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos retired yesterday, six months after breaking his back in a fall during an Aqueduct race. Santos, 46, rode Funny Cide to the winner's circle in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He posted 4,076 North American victories in his two-decade career, with...

Preakness Top 3 Head for Record at Belmont

Could be first 3 year olds to take all 3 races

(Newser) - As Preakness winner Curlin and his trainer, Steve Asmussen, enjoyed a rare day-after rest today, thoughts turned to Belmont, and the possibility that the trio of 3 year olds that took the top honors at both the Preakness and the Derby—Curlin, Street Sense and Hard Spun—may be rematched...

Curlin Foils Street Sense
Curlin Foils Street Sense

Curlin Foils Street Sense

Upset ends Triple Crown pursuit by a nose

(Newser) - Curlin won the Preakness by a nose today in Baltimore, upsetting favored Street Sense and ending the Kentucky Derby champion's chances of capturing the first Triple Crown since 1978. Street Sense rallied to the lead in the stretch, but Curlin found another gear and slipped past in the final strides...

Stories 81 - 100 | << Prev   Next >>
Most Read on Newser