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Latest News September 27, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Sixth Consecutive September Meet Crown in Sight for Gaffalione

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will try to secure his sixth straight September Meet riding title during the final two days of the meet while holding a 22-15 advantage over Irad Ortiz Jr., who is riding his first full meet at Churchill Downs.
Gaffalione, a 13-time...

Latest News September 26, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Willy D's Give Maker Special Lukas Classic Connection

Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) at Churchill Downs will take on added meaning for trainer Mike Maker as he sends out Willy D’s in the race named for his former boss and mentor, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away three months...

Latest News September 25, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Hanshin Winner Will Take It Returns for Saturday's Grade III, $400,000 Ack Ack After Summer Break

Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm’s Hanshin Stakes (Listed) winner Will Take It has been on a brief layoff since his June 29 triumph at Churchill Downs, and trainer Dallas Stewart hopes the freshening sets him up for a strong fall campaign...

Features September 24, 2025

Churchill Downs News Release: Thoroughbred Aftercare Day Set for Saturday at Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs Racetrack will host Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Saturday, honoring organizations and individuals dedicated to retired racehorses.
 
Saturday’s 11-race program begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and is headlined by the $500,000...

Latest News September 24, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Lukas Classic Contenders Mystik Dan, Hit Show Train Over Sloppy Track Wednesday at Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan and defending Lukas Classic (Grade II) champion Hit Show continued their preparations for Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic by training over a sloppy, sealed surface Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs.
Mystik Dan...

Latest News September 21, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Mystik Dan, Hit Show Complete Final Breezes for Saturday's Lukas Classic

Several top contenders for Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) turned in their final preparations for the September Meet marquee race at Churchill Downs, including Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan, who breezed a half-mile in :47.60, and...

Stakes Recap September 20, 2025

Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Dogwood, Bourbon Flight, Harrods Creek and Seneca

Ragtime, the runner-up in the Grade I Test in her previous start, overcame a sluggish start but charged down the homestretch with style to defeat longshot Strong State by 2 ¼ lengths in Saturday’s 50th running of the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented...

Stakes Advance September 20, 2025

Churchill Downs Update and Stakes Advances: Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan, Dubai World Cup Winner Hit Show Set to Clash in Next Saturday's Grade II, $500,000 Lukas Classic

Kentucky Derby 150 hero Mystik Dan will square off against Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show in next Saturday’s 12th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II), the marquee event of the Churchill Downs September Meet.
The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic...

Latest News September 19, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Cox Hopes Champion Immersive Can Returns to Winner's Circle in Saturday's Seneca

Godolphin’s champion filly Immersive has yet to find the winner’s circle during her brief 3-year-old campaign but trainer Brad Cox hopes the filly can return to her 2-year-old form at her home track in Saturday’s $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes...

Latest News September 18, 2025

Churchill Downs News Updates: Top Louisiana-bred Sprinter Smoken Wicked Tries to Bounce Back in Saturday's $300,000 Harrods Creek

Valene Farms’ top Louisiana-bred sprinter Smoken Wicked will return to Churchill Downs on Saturday as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $300,000 Harrods Creek as he looks to rebound from a subpar effort in last month’s H. Allen Jerkens (Grade I).
Trained...

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