Record Heat Prompts Churchill Downs to Shift to Night Racing Schedule on Friday and Sunday
Churchill Downs officials will adjust their post times and race exclusively in the evening for the final three days of its 138th Spring Meet due to looming near-record triple-digit heat in the forecast for Louisville. The first race on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Forecast of Triple-Digit Heat Prompts Cancellation of Thursday, June 28 Racing
With weather forecasts calling for near-record triple-digit heat, officials at Churchill Downs Racetrack have decided to cancel the track’s live racing program scheduled for Thursday, June 28.
Positively Works Bullet Three-Eighths in Prep for Saturday's Bashford Manor
Chuck and Maribeth Sandford LLC’s Positively, a recent maiden winner at Churchill Downs, drilled a bullet three furlongs beneath the Twin Spires in :35.20 Sunday morning for trainer Pat Byrne in his last major training move prior to Saturday’s $100,000-added Bashford Manor (Grade III).
Blueeyesintherein Gives Simms Back-to-Back Debutantes
Blueeyesintherein circled around horses on the far turn and powered clear in the stretch to win Saturday’s 112th running of the Grade III, $112,200 Debutante at Churchill Downs by 2 ½ lengths over Quiet Success.
Dullahan Gets Back to Work, Will Point to Haskell
Donegal Racing’s Dullahan appeared on the Churchill Downs work tab on Saturday for the first time since his seventh-place finish in the $1 million Belmont (Grade I) and trainer Dale Romans said the son of Even the Score would run next in Monmouth Park’s $1 million Haskell Invitational (GI) on July 29.
Morrison's Shesakitty Seeks First Win in Saturday's Debutante
Not many horses record their first win in a graded-stakes race, but trainer Lon Wiggins believes Shesakitty could do just that in Saturday’s $100,000-added Debutante (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
Simms Hopes to Continue 'Miracle' Meet in Debutante
Trainer Garry Simms won last year’s running of the Debutante (GIII) at Churchill Downs with Flashy Lassie and he will attempt to repeat in the first graded stakes event in North America for 2-year-old fillies with Barry King and Dorothy Self’s Blueeyesintherein, the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
Blueeyesintherein Could Give Simms Second Consecutive Debutante
Veteran trainer Garry Simms will bid for rare back-to-back wins in the $100,000-added Debutante Stakes (GIII) when he saddles Dorothy Sell and Barry L.
Young Stars, Music, Family Fun Headline Next-to-Last Spring Meet Weekend
Only two weekends of racing remain in the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, and the next-to-last weekend of racing beneath the Twin Spires features a look at racing’s future stars in the historic Debutante Stakes, terrific live music and another Sunday of Family Fun activities presented by Kroger.
Humana Distaff Winner Groupie Doll Returns to Churchill Downs
Groupie Doll has resumed training at Churchill Downs following a brief vacation at trainer Buff Bradley’s Indian Ridge Farm in Frankfort after her record-breaking performance in the Humana Distaff (Grade I) beneath the Twin Spires on Kentucky Derby Day.
Ron the Greek Rallies for Grade I Stephen Foster Upset, Caps Huge Night for Mott Before 25,417
Ron the Greek, sixth in the early going, rallied along the rail in the stretch under jockey Jose Lezcano to grab the lead from heavily favored Wise Dan in the final strides to win the 31st running of the $437,200, Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap by a head before 25,417 ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing fans on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Champion Royal Delta Scores Jaw-Dropping Fleur de Lis Win
Besilu Stable’s Royal Delta, North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2011, returned to the scene of her greatest victory with a jaw-dropping, eight-length victory over Afleeting Lady in the $161,700 Fleur de Lis Handicap Presented by Finlandia Vodka on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Centre Court Wins 43rd Regret
Centre Court, the 3-2 favorite in the field of 11 3-year-old fillies, took the lead at the top of the Matt Winn Turf Course stretch and never surrendered her advantage, crossing the wire a length in front of Colonial Flag in the 43rd running of the $114,200 Regret (GIII) on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Neck 'n Neck Rolls to Matt Winn Triumph
A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Neck ‘n Neck ran away from the field in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $107,100 Matt Winn (Grade III) by a record 7 ¼ lengths over Stealcase. Macho Macho was a neck back in third, while Right to Vote, the 9-5 favorite finished fourth.
Heavily Favored Homerun Bertie Rolls in Feature
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Homerun Berti entered the stretch of the Matt Winn Turf Course with a clear advantage and continued to increase his lead from there to win the $54,704 Friday feature at Churchill Downs by a widening 3 ¼ lengths over City Cool.
Leggio Expects Big Run from St. John's River in Fleur de Lis
Dede McGehee’s St. John’s River has run well in her two notable starts at Churchill Downs, and trainer Andy Leggio Jr. expects another top effort over the Louisville track from the 4-year-old bay daughter of Include in Saturday night’s 37th running of the $150,000-added Fleur de Lis (Grade II).
Some Dining, Seats Available for Saturday's 'Desert Oasis' 'Downs After Dark', J.D. Shelburne Set for Friday Happy Hours
The atmosphere of Churchill Downs and fashion choices by its racing fans will reflect the sights and sounds of the Middle East as the historic track is transformed into a “Desert Oasis” for the “Downs After Dark” Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka celebration on Saturday, June 16, with spectacular on-track action highlighted by the
Lopresti Says Wise Dan is 'Spot On' for Stephen Foster
Wise Dan, the winner of last fall’s Clark Handicap (Grade I) at Churchill Downs who recently broke a track record at Keeneland in his 10 ½-length romp in the Ben Ali (GIII), was reported to be full of himself Thursday morning and trainer Charlie Lopresti said his star is ready for Saturday’s $400,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).
Churchill Downs Refines 'Road to the Kentucky Derby', Oaks with Point System
In one of the most essential developments in the storied history of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Racetrack will abandon the graded stakes earnings criteria it has used since 1986 to determine which 20 horses get into the starting gate for the 1 ¼-mile classic on the first Saturday in May and institute a point system to qualify for America’s Greatest Race.
Champion Royal Delta, Hilltop Winner Coup, Peter Pan Runner-Up Right to Vote Top Trio of Graded Stakes on Stephen Foster Handicap Undercard
Royal Delta, champion 3-year-old filly of 2011; Right to Vote, runner-up to Mark Valeski in the Peter Pan (Grade II); and Hilltop winner Coup headline the entries for the trio of graded stakes to be run under the lights Saturday at Churchill Downs as part “Downs After Dark” Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka
