Kentucky Derby News

Stakes Recap June 29, 2025

Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Will Take It Battles for Neck Victory Over Banishing in $296,000 Hanshin Presented by JRA

Will Take It fought his way past a determined Banishing in the final strides to win Sunday’s 72nd running of the $296,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by JRA (Listed) at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, a longtime assistant to Hall of Famer D....

Features June 29, 2025

Churchill Downs News Release: Legendary Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Passes Away at Age 89

Legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas passed away peacefully at his home in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday night. He was 89.
 
The following is a statement from the Lukas family:
 
Racing Community,
 
It is with heavy hearts that we...

Latest News June 29, 2025

Churchill Downs Closing Day Update: Ortiz Clinches Spring Meet Title; 20-cent Derby City 6 Force-Out Will Be Multi-Millions

Jose Ortiz officially clinched the 2025 Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs as he entered closing day with 61 victories through 42 days of racing – well ahead of Luis Saez (45 wins) and Brian Hernandez Jr. (38).
This marks Ortiz’s second riding...

Latest News June 28, 2025

Churchill Downs News Release: Pool for Mandatory Payout of Sunday's Derby City 6 on Closing Day Will Be Multi-Millions

Bettors have a massive $1,413,928 carryover in the Derby City 6 to chase Sunday at Churchill Downs for the 11-race closing day program.
 
There is a mandatory payout in Sunday’s 20-cent Derby City 6, which covers Races 6-11 starting at approximately...

Stakes Recap June 28, 2025

Churchill Downs Stephen Foster Day Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Mindframe Stout in Epic Grade I, $1 Million Stephen Foster

In what was billed as one of the best races of the year and a showdown of North America’s top older horses, Mindfame, winner of the $1 million Churchill Downs (GI) on the Kentucky Derby undercard, cemented his status as a major player in 2025 with a...

Latest News June 28, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Cox Looking Forward to Getting Saudi Crown Back to Churchill Downs for Hanshin Stakes

FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown, a multi-millionaire and Grade I-winning 5-year-old, returns to action Sunday at Churchill Downs with trainer Brad Cox confident he can add another victory to his resumé in the 72nd running of the $300,000 Hanshin presented...

Latest News June 27, 2025

Churchill Downs News Update: Lanerie Passes Borel for Second All-Time Leading Rider at Churchill Downs

Jockey Corey Lanerie added another milestone to his storied career Friday at Churchill Downs when he surpassed fellow Louisiana native Calvin Borel for second on the track’s all-time leading rider list.
Lanerie notched career victory No. 1,233 beneath...

Latest News June 27, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: McPeek Looks to Reignite Season with Thorpedo Anna in Saturday's Fleur de Lis

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will attempt to return to top form following a troubled seventh-place finish in the $1 million Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (Grade I) when she leads four rivals entered in Saturday’s 50th running of the $500,000...

Latest News June 26, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Richest Field in Stephen Foster History Set for Saturday's 44th Renewal; Winners of Grade I Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, Churchill Downs Lead Seven-Horse Field with More Than $26 Million in Earnings

The $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) has consistently drawn top older horses to Churchill Downs, but this year’s edition is arguably the deepest and most accomplished in the race’s 44-year history.
Set for Saturday beneath the Twin Spires, the...

Latest News June 25, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Sierra Leone Arrives as 5-2 Morning Line Favorite in Saturday's $1 Million Stephen Foster

Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) winner Sierra Leone returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since his narrow runner-up finish to Mystik Dan in Kentucky Derby 150, this time as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster...

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVES

Missed something? Catch up on past Churchill Downs news