Five of the biggest shocks in Kentucky Derby history

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

Unlike games of chance that you might encounter in a casino, the result of a Thoroughbred horse race is far from a random outcome event. That’s not to say that there aren’t inexplicable surprises from time to time. In its century and a half of longevity, the Kentucky Derby has seen its share.
Kentucky Derby scratches that changed history

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

While a comprehensive list of Kentucky Derby scratches since 1875 is not possible, these four withdrawals perhaps were the most significant.
20 songs for your Kentucky Derby playlist

Thu May 01 2025Sara Dacus

Do you know these 20 familiar songs referencing horse racing or the Kentucky Derby?
STUDY: Is the Kentucky Derby's Apollo Curse a negative or positive?

Mon Apr 28 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Is a lack of juvenile racing experience a detriment in the Kentucky Derby, or is the Apollo Curse a myth resulting from an insufficient sample size of horses?
A Glass Full of Memories: A History of the Derby's Iconic Mint Julep Glasses

Fri Apr 25 2025Jennifer Kelly

From their humble beginnings in the 1930s to their collectible designs in 2025, the mint julep glass is another piece of the Kentucky Derby experience that leaves fans with lasting memories of their day under the Twin Spires.
Tall Tales of the Track – A Bargain Mare Yields a High Class Horse

Sat Apr 19 2025Jennifer Kelly

The product of an unwanted mare and an unheralded stallion, Lieutenant Gibson was a record-breaking Kentucky Derby winner and a beloved horse, his too-short life unable to give him the legacy that his performances might have merited.
Seabiscuit: 10 interesting facts about the legendary horse

Mon Apr 14 2025Alastair Bull

Here are 10 interesting facts about America's favorite equine underdog.
Top 10 best racehorses of all time

Wed Apr 02 2025J. Keeler Johnson

Ranking the greatest racehorse of all time is an exercise fraught with challenges and subjectivity. But I'm going to give it a try.
Kentucky Derby Lucky Losers: Cryptoclearance (1987)

Sat Mar 29 2025Jennifer Kelly

Cryptoclearance was another exceptional member of the class of 1984, a hard-trying horse who was always in the mix in the sport’s biggest stakes and a stellar sire who passed on his champion genes to more than one classic winner.
Tall Tales of the Track: Whose Horse Is He Anyway?

Sat Mar 22 2025Jennifer Kelly

Owning a racehorse is a point of pride for many a racing fan; owning one who wins stakes races and competes in classics like the Kentucky Derby takes that investment to another level. For one Derby contender, the story behind the name on his papers turned out to be one laden with controversy and intrigue.
Tall Tales of the Track: A Tale of Two Clydes

Wed Feb 26 2025Jennifer Kelly

Once upon a time in the rolling hills of the Kentucky Bluegrass, a little chestnut horse was born. What he lacked in stature, he made up for in talent and heart, especially on rainy days. Named for his equally diminutive trainer, Clyde Van Dusen put on a big show on the first Saturday in May and did his big sire proud with his Kentucky Derby win.
Horse Racing History: The Biggest Bets Ever Placed

Tue Feb 11 2025J. Keeler Johnson

The history of horse racing is filled with stories of bettors and horsemen who gambled big dollars in search of huge payoffs.
Tall Tales of the Track: Donau Doesn’t Play

Sun Jan 19 2025Jennifer Kelly

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.