Jennifer Kelly
In a plain brown wrapper, the yearling colt did not leave the same impression that struck those closest to Secretariat when he was that age. With a fair pedigree and a front leg that toed out, he...
Legends
Posted April 24th, 2024 ·
Setting the Record Straight: New Book Demystifies the Legend of Black Gold
Few horses touched the heart like the Black Gold did. Thanks to Marguerite Henry’s 1957 book, this black colt with the little white star was a childhood favorite of generations of racing fans, his...
Pop Culture
Posted April 20th, 2024 ·
Kentucky Derby Forefathers: Louisville Visionary Charles F. Grainger
The journey from the first Kentucky Derby to the 150th has included its share of influential names, men and women who have left their mark on the country’s most famous race.
Legends
Posted April 19th, 2024 ·
The Best to Wear the Lilies: Top 10 Kentucky Oaks Winners
The Kentucky Oaks began as a companion to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, much as the English Oaks at Epsom serves as the female version of the prestigious Derby.
Legends
Posted April 18th, 2024 ·
Panus Shares Road Map Through Life’s Most Difficult Moments in ‘Walk On’
To be human is to know both love and loss. Experiencing the highs and lows of life is both a universal and individual pursuit, inhabiting common ground between strangers and also being a singular...
Pop Culture
Posted April 17th, 2024 ·
Tips for First-Timers: How to Do Kentucky Derby Like an Expert
The Kentucky Derby is iconic among America’s signature sporting events. Along the lines of the Super Bowl and the World Series, being at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May is not just a...
Racing
Posted April 8th, 2024 ·
Triple Crown Turning Point: Tenacity Allowed Assault to Overcome Early Adversity
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines courage as “the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” We see human examples of this each time jockeys...
Legends
Posted April 3rd, 2024 ·
‘Jockey Queen’ Profiles Lillian Jenkinson Holder, Adds Chapter to History of Women in Racing
Before Kathy and Diane, before Barbara Jo and Cheryl, before Julie and Rosie, there was Lillian.
Pop Culture
Posted March 25th, 2024 ·
Going Out on Top: Julie Krone’s Magical 2003 Season
When Arcangelo sailed across the finish line in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on June 10, 2023, he gave Jena Antonucci a historic victory as the first woman to train the winner of a U.S...
Legends
Posted March 15th, 2024 ·
Triple Crown Turning Point: How War Admiral Nearly Slipped Away From Owner Riddle
Into each horse’s career comes a fateful moment, a decision or an injury or some outside force that changes the trajectory of their career. For Sir Barton, it was a cough caught from a stablemate....
Legends
Posted March 13th, 2024 ·
Kentucky Derby Forefathers: The Lasting Impact of William E. Applegate
As the Kentucky Derby entered its third decade, its future was in doubt. The Louisville Jockey Club was deep in debt, had turned a profit only once in two decades, and clearly needed new leadership...
Legends
Posted March 13th, 2024 ·
Keeping Them Safe in the Saddle: Jockey Safety Has Been a Century-Plus Quest
Each race day, jockeys suit up with gear that echoes their predecessors. Those early riders wore a silk cap and jacket with the owner’s colors, but those caps offered no protection from injury and...
Racing
Posted February 20th, 2024 ·