LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, April 16, 2025) – Churchill Downs announced today that GRAMMY®-nominated recording artist Grace Potter will perform the national anthem at the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Named for the first winner of Pimlico’s original race, the Preakness Stakes occupies a special place in the heart of the American turf. This 1 3/16-mile classic asks 3-year-olds to try a distance just a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, a test of their stamina, conditioning, and heart two weeks after the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Tickets are now available for the 10TH annual America’s Best Racing (ABR) Pre-Preakness Party. In celebration of the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, the ABR Pre-Preakness Party is set to be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore, Maryland.
The focus of the horse racing world in North America hones in on Churchill Downs this week, as contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve arrive to the iconic Louisville track and begin training in preparation for the 151st Derby May 3.
To me, the most important thing you have to learn how to do when it comes to bringing young horses of any breed along is to trust the process. It oftentimes feels like for every step you take forward, you take two or three back. That has definitely been the theme of the last couple months or so for Valobra, aka “Maverick” and me both.
I had major surgery in early February that kept me out of the tack for about six weeks. During that time, I sent Maverick to get some training hoping it would be a good leg up to have us show ready by early May.
.jpeg?itok=oHjL_B3J&c=ed3e9d31bcd31872abbee8116bcf88af "Thoroughbred, makeover, Jordan Sigmon, Maverick, Valobra, Retired Racehorse Project, OTTB, retired racehorse, training, horse show, trailer, aftercare")