Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Worth, 1912)

Mon Mar 02 2026Jennifer Kelly

In Louisville, the big show went on as racing fans once again celebrated another Kentucky Derby, its victor a champion colt whose brief time on the racetrack left the sport wondering “what if?”
Japan's ascent in international horse racing: World rankings tell the tale

Fri Feb 27 2026Kellie Reilly

Japan has dispatched a series of outstanding Thoroughbred ambassadors on the world stage in recent years, becoming a force in international racing festivals.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Sunny’s Halo, 1983)

Fri Feb 27 2026Jennifer Kelly

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.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Sir Barton

Mon Feb 23 2026Jennifer Kelly

Thoroughbreds are fast and powerful athletes and the most elite are the ones whose names become a part of our collective consciousness, but, like familiar faces like Tom Brady and Michael Jordan, they were living, breathing beings who interacted with the world around them and left a distinct impression on those who cared for them. 
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Jet Pilot, 1947)

Mon Feb 23 2026Jennifer Kelly

In a year sandwiched between Triple Crown winners, Jet Pilot capitalized on his good fortune and brought home a rosy victory for his famous owner and Hall of Fame trainer.
Tall Tales of the Track – A Case of Mistaken Identity?

Wed Feb 18 2026Jennifer Kelly

With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of the horse’s premature death, however, were greatly exaggerated. Instead, the colt’s journey to that fateful day involved a top sire, a famed owner, and a legendary jockey, all of whom played a role in the story of a horse named Riley.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Whiskery, 1927)

Mon Feb 16 2026Jennifer Kelly

The history of the Kentucky Derby is rich with names that have left their mark on this classic race: Bradley, Woodward, Chenery, and Whitney, owners who all celebrated more than one victory of their own. The Whitney family’s connection to the Run for the Roses spans more than a century with four wins from their long list of starters.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Gallant Fox

Mon Feb 16 2026Jennifer Kelly

Gallant Fox’s victories in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes were the first to come with the name “Triple Crown,” as those intervening years saw the three races enter the sport’s consciousness with that sobriquet attached.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Omaha

Mon Feb 02 2026Jennifer Kelly

When any Triple Crown winner goes to stud, the high expectations set by winning that coveted trophy come along, as fans eagerly anticipate the next generation. Can he copy himself and produce another just like him? Of the 13 to have worn the crown, only one has done what is nearly impossible, a feat unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon: siring another Triple Crown winner.
Tall Tales of the Track: Honoring the Memory of a Rider Long Gone

Thu Jan 29 2026Jennifer Kelly

By the late 19th century, the Kentucky Derby had become a fixture on the American stakes calendar, but its home track struggled with its finances and with attracting good horses for its list of feature races. When Chant arrived in Louisville for the 1894 Derby, he would face a short field, but a victory would give his young jockey a place in the sport’s history books and preserve his memory for years to come.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: War Admiral

Mon Jan 26 2026Jennifer Kelly

Lofty expectations are laid upon the greats when they exit stage left to enter the next phase. When Man o’ War said goodbye to his life on the track, the focus then became on whether the 20th century’s greatest racehorse could produce another one like him. Whatever it was that made Big Red so dominant and so iconic had to be passed along to his progeny, but what would that look like?
Faded Glory: Forgotten Winners of the Kentucky Derby (Dark Star, 1953)

Mon Jan 26 2026Jennifer Kelly

In 1953, the sport had fallen in love with a gray colt who seemed destined to sweep every race he tried, but in that year’s Kentucky Derby, Native Dancer’s unexpected defeat came thanks to a colt named Dark Star.
Jason Beem Thursday Thoughts feature
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Jan. 22, 2026

Thu Jan 22 2026Jason Beem

Jason discusses the upcoming Pegasus World Cup and the race's history over the last decade.