Racing

all in Racing

Oaklawn Park, 2026 Smarty Jones Stakes, Universe, Rancho Santa Fe, Road to the Kentucky Derby

2026 Smarty Jones Stakes at a Glance

While people will be saying “Happy New Year!” on Thursday, all Thoroughbreds will be celebrating their birthdays. Horses that were 2 at the start of the week will turn 3 on Thursday and that’s when the talk about the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve really begins to intensify.

Rookie Rankings, Kentucky Derby, Ted Noffey, Triple Crown, Paladin, Further Ado, Satono Voyage, Blackout Time, Litmus Test, Cannoneer, Napoleon Solo, Iron Honor, Golden Tempo, Fair Grounds, Pyromancer, horse racing, ABR

Rookie Rankings for Dec. 30: Leading 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders

As 2025 draws to a close, Week 5 of the Rookie Rankings features a Top 10 that is largely unchanged from Week 4. But there is one small shift worth noting as the series wraps up.

Horse racing, fans, gamblers, gambling, promotion, promote, industry, racetrack, horses, Griffin Johnson, influencer, social media, Nick Tammaro, Mike Smith, jockey, Acacia Clement, TV, NYRA, marketing, survey, BloodHorse, ABR

BloodHorse Industry Survey: Panelists Discuss Promoting Horse Racing in 2026

As Thoroughbred racing heads into a new year, it faces the inevitable challenge of learning from the past 12 months and applying those lessons going forward.

With 2026 at hand, BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport’s leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing horse racing.

2025 horse racing memorable moments, Sovereignty. Journalism, Bill Mott, Kentucky Derby, Breeders Cup, Forever Young

Horse Racing Year in Review: Ten Unforgettable Stories from 2025

America’s Best Racing correspondent Tom Pedulla reflects on his top 10 stories in Thoroughbred racing in 2025:

Malibu Stakes, San Gabriel Stakes, American Oaks, LaBrea Stakes, Mathis Mile, Laffit Pincay Jr., Goal Oriented, Ambaya, Hiding in Honduras, Cabo Spirit, Usha, Nysos, Bob Baffert, Jonathan Thomas, Santa Anita Park, horse racing, ABR

Goal Oriented Wins Malibu Stakes to Headline Santa Anita’s Opening-Day Card

Trainer Bob Baffert capped a stellar opening day at Santa Anita Park Dec. 28 by sending out Goal Oriented and Midland Money as the winner and runner-up of the featured $301,000, Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

all in Racing

newsletter sign-up