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Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Disco Time
Is the Kentucky Derby’s testing 1 1/4-mile journey within Disco Time’s distance capabilities? His pedigree gives off mixed signals.
Racing
Tall Tales of the Track: Donau Doesn’t Play
Every Kentucky Derby winner leaves their mark on the race, a collection of 150 stories writing the history of this sporting institution. One particular winner, Donau, came to Louisville with a colorful background and an even more colorful personality, his tale one of a champion with an attitude all his own.
Racing
TwinSpires weekely promotions and sign-up offer
TwinSpires offers a wide range of promotions for every player across a variety of tracks. Prepare for the weekend with the offers listed below, and don't forget about our upcoming tournaments as we inch closer to the Kentucky Derby!
Features
Horses to follow in 2025: Just a Touch
Just a Touch hasn’t been seen since last summer, but the runner-up to Sierra Leone in the 2024 Blue Grass (G1) brings plenty of upside into his four-year-old season.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Pletcher saddles three winners
Last Saturday, Pletcher saddled no fewer than three sophomore maiden winners at two different racetracks, and all three look like possible candidates for this year’s Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: 14 horses seek double points in Lecomte
The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 110 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Jan. 13, 2025
Jason discusses cancellations of cards in racing in the more modern times.
Racing
Likely Exchange: The little mare with outsized influence
Who was Likely Exchange? In brief, a mare of hickory on the racetrack whose too short life as a producer nonetheless stretched in influence well into the 21st century.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Jan. 9, 2025
Jason discusses some things he'd like to see go away in racing in 2025.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Rodriguez romps at Santa Anita
The two-year-old Thoroughbreds of 2024 turned three year olds on Jan. 1, barely more than four months before the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Horses to follow in 2025: Raqiya
While Todd Pletcher has the likes of Fierceness, Locked, and Mindframe in his arsenal for 2025, the Hall of Fame trainer picked up a fascinating new turf recruit in Raqiya.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Coal Battle, Cyclone State win first preps of 2025
The first week of January produced a bevy of notable updates on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.
Racing
2024 in review: Travers Stakes left the biggest what-if
Imagine that the Travers (G1) post positions for Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna were reversed.
Racing
Horses I’m looking forward to in 2025
As a memorable season of racing comes to an end it’s time for me to look ahead to what might be in store for 2025.
Racing
Why I voted nay on Thorpedo Anna for Horse of the Year
When the 2024 Eclipse Award ceremony is held in late January, the most likely name to be pulled from the envelope containing the voters' choice as Horse of the Year is Thorpedo Anna.
Racing
Exploring Famous Racehorse Names and Their Meanings
Scan the entries on a typical racecard and you'll see a wide assortment of ordinary nouns and phrases make up a significant portion of the names Thoroughbreds carry with them throughout their lives.
Features
2024 In Review: Monthly Highlights
James Scully reviews some monthly highlights from Thoroughbred racing in 2024
Racing
Sierra Leone registers top Brisnet Speed rating of 2024
Here’s the list of the top two dozen winning Speed ratings of 2024, led by Sierra Leone's 114 in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: 6 from Derby-winning trainers
Four Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainers combined to saddle six high-profile two-year-old maiden winners last week.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Jerome, Smarty Jones kick off 2025
The first two Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers of 2025 are coming up on Saturday at Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Dec. 30, 2024
Jason discusses the past weekend of racing including the closing of Freehold Raceway and some things to learn from it.
Racing
2024 in review: 10 favorite horses
While the Eclipse Award champions of 2024 will get plenty of fanfare, I’d like to take a more subjective approach and highlight my own personal favorites over the past year.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Dec. 26, 2024
Jason discusses his favorite opening day of the year. If you’ve never been there, I don’t think you can be prepared for the first time you see the view.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Built impresses in the Gun Runner
As the year winds down and the holiday season hits its peak, let’s catch up on the latest news and notes from the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) trail:
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Amoss saddles two winners
Last Saturday, trainer Tom Amoss saddled a pair of juveniles to win maiden races at major tracks.
Racing
At Long Last: Perseverance Pays Off at the Kentucky Derby
For names like Day and Pincay, Whittingham and Stephens, and Mellon and Genter, the road to Derby glory is long and winding, but their arrival is a celebration of the triumph of spirit and perseverance that finally brought them Kentucky Derby glory.
Racing
Remembering the champions we lost in 2024
Through Dec. 19, si Eclipse Award-winning Thoroughbreds are known to have died in 2024. Here are short sketches of each one in chronological order according to the year their championships were attained.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem Dec. 19, 2024
Jason welcomes in some friends to talk about what they love about Turfway Park.
Racing
Horses to follow in 2025: Senza Parole
Remember Senza Parole, the sensational debut winner at Saratoga who was sure to be the red-hot favorite in the Frizette (G1)?
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Journalism among three prep winners
Last week, three Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifiers took place over the course of four days. Many new names emerged on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
First-crop sires: Kale’s Angel heralds promise for Complexity
Complexity has furnished several additional stakes performers since our last installment, chief among them Kale’s Angel, who starred in the Advent S. on opening day at Oaklawn Park.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Dec. 16, 2024
Jason looks back at the season coming to an end at Woodbine Racetrack.
Racing
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: One Horse, Two Women, and a Derby for the Show Me State
Bred by Emma Holt Prather, Elwood came east from California to contest the Kentucky Derby for his owner Lasca Durnell, not only giving Missouri its lone rosy victor but also becoming the first bred and owned by women.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Coal Battle
Sprints and short routes are clearly within the wheelhouse of Coal Battle. But can he handle the testing 1 1/4-mile distance of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)?
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Myriad Love
A filly hasn’t contested the Kentucky Derby (G1) since Devil May Care finished 10th in 2010. That could potentially change in 2025.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Poster stars in the Remsen
No fewer than five Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifiers are taking place in the U.S. and Japan this month. The first was contested last week, and three more are on the agenda this week.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Dec. 9, 2024
Jason discusses some races from the weekend and talks about how he'd like to see more races at various distances.
Racing
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Sunny’s Halo, 1983)
Sunny’s Halo bested injury and a full field on Derby Day to bring another victory in the Run for the Roses back to the Great White North.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Thanksgiving weekend recap
The Roundtable this week looks back on an action-packed Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with emphasis on the two-year-old action at Churchill Downs and elsewhere.
Racing
2024 Hong Kong Vase: Trends and storylines
Unlike the other three Hong Kong International Races, the about 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Vase (G1) remains a happy hunting ground for invaders. The trend is expected to continue in Sunday’s renewal at Sha Tin.
Racing
2024 Hong Kong Sprint: Trends and storylines
Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust will attract the notice of North American racing fans, but the center of gravity in Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint (G1) lies with the locals led by Ka Ying Rising.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: First Resort
A pace-tracking victory in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) suggests running long on dirt is First Resort’s true strong suit.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: First Resort joins the leaderboard
We’re closing in on a milestone: Wednesday marks 150 days until the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Dec. 2, 2024
Jason looks back at Churchill's final weekend of the year and the big season for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Racing
2024 Hong Kong Mile: Trends and storylines
The retirement of Golden Sixty has created a golden opportunity for a new star to emerge in the Dec. 8 Hong Kong Mile (G1), but it’s less obvious to predict his successor at Sha Tin.
Racing
2024 Hong Kong Cup: Trends and storylines
Two-time defending champion Romantic Warrior furnishes the leading storyline going into the Hong Kong Cup (G1) while illustrating recent trends in the Sha Tin feature.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Baffert, Cox unveil new winners
Last week, Baffert and Cox saddled flashy debut winners with the potential to make noise on the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Natural Rise wins the Cattleya Stakes
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is heating back up, and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is officially underway.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Nov. 25, 2024
Jason discusses the Fall Highweight and talks about weight in horse racing.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Natural Rise
A brief glance at Natural Rise’s pedigree suggests he’s cut out for success on turf rather than dirt. But dig deeper, and dirt influences become evident.
Racing
Trying for Lilies and Roses: Fillies Who Ran in the Kentucky Derby and Won the Kentucky Oaks
In its 150 years, five fillies were able to win the Kentucky Oaks after their turn in the Kentucky Derby, putting these distaffers in a class of their own.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem Nov. 21, 2024
Jason looks back on Tampa Bay Downs opening day and other opening day cards.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Guns Loaded wins for D’Angelo
Trainer Jose D’Angelo has yet to saddle a Kentucky Derby (G1) starter, but that may change in 2025. Guns Loaded looks like the type who can factor on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Previewing the Cattleya Stakes
Let’s get up to speed on upcoming Kentucky Derby (G1) action and recount a few noteworthy developments from last week:
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Nov. 18, 2024
Jason talks about the Claiming Crown and remembers some of his favorite all-time claimers!
Racing
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: One Winner, Two Sires?
Named for 1882 Kentucky Derby winner Apollo, this phenomenon commemorated the Bluegrass-bred colt’s extraordinary victory over a popular choice in Runnymede.
Racing
Claim to Fame: Ex-claimers that made racing's Hall of Fame
Claiming race alumni through the years have taken their talents to levels that warranted induction into the sport's Hall of Fame.
Racing
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Dust Commander, 1970)
In 1970, Dust Commander made dreams come true for a journeyman jockey, a young trainer, and a family new to racing, a victory that rewarded the faith of the few who believed in this long shot from the Land of Lincoln.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Admiral Dennis wins second try
The week after the Breeders’ Cup tends to be a quiet one in U.S. horse racing. But “quiet” is relative; there’s never a dull moment where the Kentucky Derby (G1) is concerned.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Giocoso gets a win on grass
The first Saturday in May is 173 days away and it’s anyone’s guess which horses will visit the winner’s circle.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Thorpedo Anna's half McAfee wins; Speed King recalls Whitmore
Thorpedo Anna's half-brother McAfee wins on debut, and Speed King elicits comparisons to Whitmore in his unveiling for Ron Moquett.
Racing
Breeders’ Cup Sires: Into Mischief, Dubawi, More Than Ready in tie with Curlin
Hovering in the background of the 14 Breeders’ Cup events is another race of sorts – among sires, for the most wins at the championships.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Citizen Bull tops the leaderboard
Our Kentucky Derby Roundup series is kicking off exactly 180 days out from the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Racing
2024 Breeders' Cup News and Notes
Come here to find updates all week including free handicapping selections, news, trends, analysis, contenders, Breeders' Cup picks for Friday, Saturday, and more. Find all your best horse racing bets here with our live Breeders' Cup odds and content to better understand how to bet on horse racing for Breeders' Cup Weekend.
Breeders Cup
History's Top 10 Breeders' Cup Juvenile performances
Since its inaugural running in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) has produced many impressive winners and exciting editions.
Breeders Cup
History's Top 10 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint performances
The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) enjoyed its inaugural running in 2007. In the years since, the race has been a proving ground for the fleetest female racehorses in North America.
Breeders Cup
History's Top 10 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile performances
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is one of the younger Breeders’ Cup races, dating back to 2007. But the past 15 years have produced an impressive roster of winners.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders’ Cup: Betting the Future Stars Friday Pick 5
James Scully analyzes and provides a ticket for the Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday program
Racing
2024 Breeders' Cup handicapping show - Picks, trends, and beyond
Breeders' Cup is almost here! Are you ready? Join us today on a special-edition video as our panel of experts preview six Breeders' Cup races to guide you during your 2024 Breeders' Cup handicapping.
Breeders Cup
All Access Breeders' Cup coverage, picks, analysis, trends, and more
TwinSpires heads to the track to give you exclusive interviews with Breeders' Cup trainers and jockeys. Check in everyday for our All Access Breeders' Cup coverage, picks, analysis, trends, and more. Breeders' Cup weekend is quickly approaching. Don't miss this behind the scenes all access.
Breeders Cup
History's Top 10 Breeders' Cup Sprint performances
Over the course of 38 editions, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) has produced a bevy of eye-catching winners. Let’s take a tour through history and rank the Top 10 best Breeders’ Cup Sprint performances.
Breeders Cup
Scully: Longshots to consider for 2024 Breeders’ Cup
James Scully picks five Breeders’ Cup race contenders at double-digit morning-line odds to consider at Del Mar this weekend.
Racing
Breeders’ Cup betting handle: Charting the rise and fall since 1984
The Breeders’ Cup is one of the biggest annual betting days in horse racing, and that’s been the case since its inaugural running in 1984.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Another winner from a key race
Just how many Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders will emerge from a six-furlong maiden special weight contested on Aug. 24 at Saratoga?
Racing
The best horse racing movies of all time
The best racehorses are judged by the prizes they win and the dollars they earn. It’s only fair to hold the best horse racing movies to the same standard.
Racing
The best horse racing books of all time
The following six volumes rank among the best horse racing books ever written:
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Cox, Dutrow send out winners
Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainers Brad Cox and Rick Dutrow both saddled winning juveniles last week.
Racing
The best horse racing owners of all time
The history of Thoroughbred horse racing is long and storied. Racehorse owners, each with colorful silks to distinguish their horses from others, have helped chart that history.
Racing
Top 10 best horse racing tracks in the USA
From coast to coast and everywhere in between, the United States is home to many top-tier Thoroughbred racetracks.
Racing
Not Always the First Saturday in May: The Kentucky Derby’s Changing Calendar
Through war, pandemic, and the ever-evolving sport of horse racing, the Run for the Roses has rolled with the punches, finally settling into its familiar place on our calendar.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Oct. 21, 2024
With two big Pick 6 carryovers later this week, Jason writes about the glory days of the old $2 Pick 6 and a big carryover.
Racing
Breeders’ Cup Rankings for Juvenile Races
A total of five massive contests for two-year-olds will be held during Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar on November 1, as part of the much anticipated ‘Future Stars Friday’ card.
Breeders Cup
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Keewaydin impresses at Aqueduct
It’s increasingly apparent that a six-furlong maiden special weight contested on Aug. 24 at Saratoga was a key race with an above-average field.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: A look ahead to the 2024 Breeders' Cup
This week, the Racing Roundtable convenes to talk about what caught their eye over the weekend and discuss who it's looking forward to supporting and fading in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
Racing
Tall Tales of the Track, Kentucky Derby Edition: ‘The Truck Horse’ Does Good
The 1918 Kentucky Derby brought the sport one of its most beloved figures, Exterminator, whose surprising victory in the Run for the Roses showed that great performances could come from the most unexpected places.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Built, C K Wonder win at Keeneland
Did you know five of the last 15 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners raced as juveniles during the Keeneland fall meet?
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: East Avenue
A gate-to-wire victory by 5 1/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) launched East Avenue onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Road to the Kentucky Derby day of stakes races: Keeneland, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita
We will be here throughout all the stakes races of the day at Keeneland, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita, bringing you live odds, promotion, entries, replays, expert picks, analysis, and live updates to make you feel like you're at the track celebrating with everyone else.
Kentucky Derby
2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Top storylines
Sunday’s 103rd Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) lacks a standout on paper, making for a contentious renewal at ParisLongchamp.
Racing
Faded Glory: Forgotten Winners of the Kentucky Derby (Venetian Way, 1960)
In 1960, with a Hall of Famer in the saddle, Venetian Way scored his signature victory for his soft-spoken owner and big-dreaming trainer, with his ultimate legacy coming in the form of another historic moment for America’s most famous race.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Chad Brown saddles two winners
Trainer Chad Brown has come close to winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing second with Good Magic (2018) and Sierra Leone (2024). First prize has proven elusive, but that may change in 2025.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Breeders' Cup implications at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, and Belmont at Aqueduct
This week, the Racing Roundtable talks about the racing action at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, and Belmont at Aqueduct last weekend and some thoughts about Keeneland's opening weekend.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Sept. 30, 2024
Jason looks back at a few standout performances from this past weekend at Aqueduct.
Racing
Churchill Downs, Aqueduct, and Santa Anita stakes race coverage with live odds, results, replays, and more
Get set for an exhilarating night of thoroughbred action! We kick off with live racing today at Santa Anita and Aqueduct (Belmont at the Big A). Check out the Santa Anita entries, Aqueduct entries, and prepare for Santa Anita races today. As evening approaches, we'll transition to the Churchill Downs live racing schedule for full card coverage through the last stakes race.
Features
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Optical stuns by 14 lengths
At Churchill Downs last Saturday, Keith Desormeaux’s Optical won a one-mile maiden special weight in a manner suggesting the Kentucky Derby (G1) is a viable goal.
Racing
Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Soul of an Angel joins the fray
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 39 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:
Racing
Mary Hirsch, father Max Hirsch and Jack Horner (Photo courtesy of Keeneland Library Cook Collection)
She Was the First: Mary Hirsch, No Sir, and the 1937 Kentucky Derby
In the 1930s, as racing grew from coast to coast, more women sought the chance to become a part of the country’s oldest sporting pastime. One of those was Mary Hirsch.
Racing
The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets and Fades for Sept. 21 [Video]
Racing analysts James Scully and Darren Zoccali talk their best bets and fades for Parx’s biggest race day and Churchill Downs’ Saturday stakes action. James provides his thoughts in the written portion below. Be sure to check out Darin’s opinions in the on-camera portion!
Racing