Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs welcomed outstanding Metro Louisville area high school students who are members of the 2008 Churchill Downs Governor's Scholars initiative to the historic home of the Kentucky Derby with a reception at the track on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Due to preparations for the Spring Meet and for Kentucky Derby 134 on Saturday, May 3, Churchill Downs will move simulcasting operations to its Trackside Louisville facility at 4520 Poplar Level Road from Wednesday, April 2, through Friday, April 25.  Simulcasting will also be available at Trackside Louisville on Kentucky Oaks Day, Friday, May 2; Kentucky Derby Day; and on Sunday, May 4.

TOP STORIES: - Dozen Entered in Wide-Open Lane's End- Sierra Sunset Injured, Off Derby Trail- Derby Favorite Pyro Back in Kentucky- War Pass Passes Gallop Test After Flop

Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable’s Curlin dazzled onlookers with a strong work at Churchill Downs on Monday as the reigning “Horse of the Year” tuned up for planned run in th

It’s 900 wins under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs and counting for jockey Larry Melancon, who reached the mark Thursday when he guided A.P. Xcellent to a front-running victory in the eighth race.

Churchill Downs has been selected as the final resting place for 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who was euthanized one year ago after a lengthy battle with laminitis. The announcement was made Tuesday by Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, at a Churchill Downs news conference.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES:

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s Big Brown has a maiden win on turf and an allowance victory on dirt in his two career starts and he drew the unfavorable outside post for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (Grade I), but his reputation is so huge that the inexperienced colt was still installed as the 3-1 morning line choice for the 1 1/8-mile race.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will join Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum representatives for a news conference on Thursday, May 1, to introduce the artist that has been selected to create a permanent memorial honoring Barbaro.  The Kentucky Derby 132 winner died in January 200

 

Trainer Helen Pitts was already looking to have an explosive Fourth of July holiday weekend with her stable star Einstein headed for Friday’s Firecracker Handicap (GII). An added bonus could come in Sunday’s one-mile Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) with Meribel. 

Churchill Downs today launched the official Web site for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, www.kentuckyderby.com, and the official 2008 Kentucky Oaks Web site, www.kentuckyoaks.com.

DERBY WINNER BIG BROWN JOGS AGAIN ON MUDDY TRACK

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s Big Brown, the unbeaten winner of the Florida Derby (Grade I), remained the top choice of Kentucky Derby fans as the third and final pool of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager reached its midway point.

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s undefeated Big Brown was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite Wednesday afternoon over 19 rivals for Saturday’s 134th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) at Churchill Downs.

Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable’s reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin completed his serious training for Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) with an easy half-mile work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died on Monday at the age of 31.  Relive her crowning glory here and watch as she set the racing world aflame in 1980 with her victory in the Run for the Roses.  

Churchill Downs has established the dates for the three wagering pools that will comprise the track’s 2008 renewals of its Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) and Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (“KOFW”).

Ashbrook Farm’s Wicked Style, winner of the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (Grade I) at Keeneland and one of the top 2-year-olds of 2007, is set to make his anticipated debut at three in a one-mile allowance race on turf on Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs is still accepting applications for its “Chief Party Officer” (“CPO”) of the Kentucky Derby 134 infield, but time is growing short -- the deadline to apply is Sunday, April 13.

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Churchill Downs and Great Britain’s Kempton Park Racecourse have announced a partnership to create a race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that will provide a clear path for the winner to a starting spot in the field for the 2009 running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

Louisville, KY (Feb. 5, 2008) -- The mutuel field, or “all others,” wager has been favored in the first of three pools of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager every year since the bet was first offered in 1999. The trend is expected to continue in 2008 as fans line up on Thursday, Feb.

DENIS OF CORK SET FOR MEMORIAL DAY WORK FOR BELMO

The Kentucky Derby “Road to the Roses” Fantasy Challenge, a free online contest that allows racing fans to manage a stable of Kentucky Derby contenders during the three-month buildup to the historic race, is now open for registration.

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s Big Brown justified his trainer’s confidence and the faith of the betting public by powering to a 4 3/4-length victory over Fox Hill Farms’ filly Eight Belles to win the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands before a crowd of 157,770, the second-largest in history.

The countdown to the opening of the second half of the 2008 campaign by Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable’s reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin is now down to hours, and trainer Steve Asmussen is ready to see the imposing chestnut colt run in Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

The solid gold trophy that will be presented to the owner of the 3-year-old Thoroughbred that wins the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3, arrived at the historic track on Thursday, March 27.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, the 5-1 second choice in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, will go for his third straight victory of 2008 when he faces 11 rivals Saturday in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) at Keeneland.

 

 

Louisville, KY (March 4, 2008) -- Unbeaten 2-year-old champion War Pass, winner of the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I), and Pyro, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup and a dazzling winner of the recent Risen Star Stakes (GIII) at Fair Grounds, are the early favorites for Pool 2 of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens its four-day run

TODAY'S TOP STORIES:

A trio of contenders for the 134th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) turned in strong workouts on Sunday at Churchill Downs in preparation for races that will serve as their final preps for the “Run for the Roses” on May 3.

Churchill Downs will again implement special hospitality and safety measures for the Kentucky Derby 134 and Kentucky Oaks 134. Patrons are advised to arrive early on both days to accommodate expanded search procedures at all entrance gates. All patrons are subject to being scanned by magnetic wands before entry to Churchill Downs.

PURE CLAN WORKS FIVE FURLONGS FOR REGRET – With part owner Lewis Lakin looking on, Pure Clan put in her final work for next weekend’s $200,000-added Regret (Grade III) by working five furlongs in 1:02.20 over “firm” turf Thursday morning under Julien Leparoux.

Eight Belles, the runner-up in Kentucky Derby 134 who was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury moments after the race, will be memorialized at the Kentucky Derby Museum on Sunday, Sept. 7. The service will be open to the public and is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. ET in the Museum's outdoor garden.

Louisville, KY (March 9, 2008) -- Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s homebred Pyro has failed to defeat reigning 2-year-old champion War Pass in three meetings, but racing fans across North America appear to believe a showdown in the 134th Kentucky Derby presented by Yum!

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER BIG BROWN IN EAGER IN GALLOP

Directors John and Brad Hennegan and other special guests will be in attendance at the Louisville premiere of the riveting Kentucky Derby documentary, The First Saturday in May, on Sunday, April 13.

Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein (BRZ) will be hoping the third time’s the charm Saturday when he takes on seven rivals in the 22nd running of the $400,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), one of five graded stakes preceding the 134th running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) at Churchill Downs.

DELIGHTFUL KISS RETURNS TO HIS OLD KENTUCKY HOME – A year ago, trainer Pete Anderson was hopeful of getting a matchup against Curlin on the main track at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby with Hobeau Farm’s Delightful Kiss.

Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died on Aug. 18 at the age of 31. Relive her crowning glory here and watch as she set the racing world aflame in 1980 with her victory in the Run for the Roses.

Churchill Downs Incorporated has partnered with Truly Indie and filmmakers John and Brad Hennegan to distribute their award-winning documentary The First Saturday in May to U.S. theatres for a week-long national run in 18 major markets starting Thursday, April 18. A special one-night Louisville, Ky., premiere is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, at The Louisville Palace Theatre.

LEPAROUX STILL TOPS, BUT ALBARADO CLIMBS INTO A TIE

Louisville, KY (Feb. 10, 2008) -- The first of three pools of the Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Future Wager ran true to form as the mutuel field, or “all others,” ended up as the favorite on a roster of 24 wagering interests.

Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron took the lead out of the gate and never looked back in posting a front-running 4 1/2-length victory in the 74th running of the $282,000 Churchill Downs (Grade II), the first of six graded stakes on the Kentucky Derby 134 card at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Rancho San Miguel, George Todaro and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Hystericalady, runner-up in last fall’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade I), makes her second appearance of the spring at Churchill Downs on Saturday when she heads a f