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Features June 22, 2025

Legendary Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Hospitalized; Horses Transferred to Veteran Assistant Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, one of the most prolific trainers and influences in horse racing history, has been hospitalized in Louisville, Ky. and will not return to training, according to Lukas family members.
 
According to the family,...

Stakes Advance June 22, 2025

Churchill Downs Closing Day Stakes Advances: Grade I Winner Saudi Crown Headlines $300,000 Hanshin

FMQ Stables’ Grade I winner Saudi Crown is set to face an accomplished field of eight horses that entered next Sunday’s 72nd running of the $300,000 Hanshin presented by JRA (Listed), one of five stakes contests on closing day of the 43-day Spring...

Stakes Recap June 21, 2025

Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: Vahva Regains Top Form, Repeats in Grade II Chicago Stakes

Vahva, winner of last year’s Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs but winless in three subsequent starts, regained her top form Saturday night in the 35th renewal of the Grade II, $298,250 sprint for fillies and mares by out-finishing Claret Beret down...

Features June 21, 2025

Churchill Downs News Release: Special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 Offered Closing Weekend at Churchill Downs

A special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 will be added to the wagering menu for next Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Churchill Downs, the final two days of the 43-day Spring Meet.
 
The $3 All-Turf Pick 3 will have an all-stakes sequence for the Saturday, June...

Stakes Advance June 21, 2025

Churchill Downs Stephen Foster Day Stakes Advances: Kentucky Derby 150 Top Two Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone Clash With Grade I Winners Hit Show, Mindframe in Star-Studded $1 Million Stephen Foster

Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) winner Sierra Leone will square off against Kentucky Derby 150 champion Mystik Dan, Dubai World Cup (GI) hero Hit Show and Grade I-winning sprinter Mindframe in a showdown of North America’s top older horses in next...

Latest News June 20, 2025

Churchill Downs News Updates: Thorpedo Anna Fires Sharp Work Ahead of Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis

Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks 150 winner, completed her major preparation for the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (Grade II) on June 28 with a swift half-mile move in :47.80 Friday morning at Churchill Downs under...

Features June 20, 2025

Churchill Downs News Release: September, Fall Meet Tickets On Sale Today at Noon

Tickets for the September and Fall racing meets at Churchill Downs go on sale today (Friday, June 20) at noon (all times Eastern) at https://www.churchilldowns.com/day-at-the-races/. Guests also may call (502) 636-4450 or email groupsales@kyderby.com.
 
The...

Latest News June 19, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Emery Attempts to Rebound as 5-2 Favorite in Chicago Stakes

Stonestreet Stables’ multiple graded stakes winner Emery will attempt to rebound from her fifth-place finish in last month’s $1 million Derby City Distaff (Grade I) when she faces 10 accomplished sprinters as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday...

Latest News June 18, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Downs After Dark: 'A Caribbean Night at the Races' Headlines Penultimate Week of Spring Meet

Churchill Downs rolls into the penultimate week of its Spring Meet with the final Downs After Dark celebration set for Saturday evening, featuring the colorful theme: “A Caribbean Night at the Races.”
The 11-race program begins at 6 p.m. (all times...

Latest News June 15, 2025

Churchill Downs Update: Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Works Toward Stephen Foster; 20-Cent Derby City 6 Jackpot Up to $786,174

Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., preparing for a likely start in the $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) on Saturday, June 28.
Mystik...

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