With the 2026 Breeders’ Cup less than three weeks away, the North American racing calendar has entered a relatively quiet stretch, with no remaining Challenge Series races on the schedule ahead of the World Championships on Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.
Racing is filled with the disappointing tales of horses who are bought for a seven-figure price tag but never come close to repaying their owner for signing that huge check.
Then there are horses like Royal Delta, who left her owner with no regrets about paying a king’s ransom for her, even if she did not cover a humungous price tag.
The story of Royal Delta actually has two chapters.
Few sports fans ever have the privilege of watching a world-class trainer cultivate a champion athlete—and even fewer fans have the opportunity to witness the development of an elite animal athlete. The transformation of Cigar from a horse that showed modest turf ability to one that developed into a legend on dirt illustrates how critical a trainer’s role can be in our sport.
The transformation of Cigar from a horse that showed modest turf ability to one that developed into a legend on dirt illustrates how critical a trainer’s role can be.
Forever Young stands on the edge of immortality. The Japan-based star has a great chance to join Tiznow as the only two-time winners of America’s richest race. Less than three weeks before his big opportunity in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct.
For a fleet, 3-year-old filly sprinter who may not be ready to face their elders in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland is a rather nice option.
