Horse Racing

7:08 PM ET ESPN News Services LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With favorite Epicenter and Zandon dueling in front, Rich Strike came charging up the rail in the closing strides for a stunning 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Jockey Sonny Leon guided Rich Strike from far back in the 20-horse field to beat 4-1

7:24 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Secret Oath charged from pack to grab the lead from Yuugiri and off favorite Nest by two lengths Friday in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, giving 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas his fifth Oaks win and first since 1990. Coming off a third-place run behind colts

12:38 PM ET ESPN News Services Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is banned from the Kentucky Derby, is on a mission to restore two legacies — his own and that of Medina Spirit, who was stripped of the 2021 victory after testing positive for an anti-inflammatory medication following the race. “I haven’t had

6:56 AM ET ESPN Betting Insiders The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby kicks off Triple Crown season. The race for the elusive crown begins this Saturday at Churchill Downs with Zandon as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Our focus moves to pari-mutuel betting, which is different from the normal sports betting futures we are used

12:45 PM ET ESPN.com staff The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Zandon, leaving from the 10 post, opened as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after Derby post positions were released Monday, followed closely by Epicenter at 7-2 from the third position. Post time for Saturday’s

12:20 PM ET Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A deal for Drug Free Sport International to police medication in horse racing was announced Tuesday, two months before the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority takes effect. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency had been set to become the regulator for anti-doping and medication control for thoroughbred racing.

4:31 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Zandon and filly Nest are the morning-line favorites for the 148th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively, at Churchill Downs, which will host both marquee races at full capacity for the first time since 2019. Zandon, trained by Chad Brown, drew 3-1 odds on Monday and will

12:35 PM ET Associated Press A retired New York State Supreme Court Justice on Wednesday recommended a two-year suspension for Bob Baffert after the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer’s hearing with the New York Racing Association. The ruling by O. Peter Sherwood is not a final decision. Baffert’s camp and NYRA each have seven days to

7:34 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — A filly died Tuesday after suffering a training injury at Santa Anita, the track’s second such death in two days and fifth this year. Cayton Kid, a 4-year-old filly trained by Gary Stute, suffered a musculoskeletal injury during training at the Arcadia track, according to the California

9:42 AM ET Associated Press The Kentucky Derby television broadcast will be produced by a woman for the first time in the 148-year history of the race. Lindsay Schanzer is the new senior producer for NBC Sports’ Derby coverage, overseeing the network’s horse racing production. It’s her 10th Derby but her first running the show

4:50 PM ET Associated Press Zippy Chippy, horse racing’s lovable loser for never winning in 100 races, has died at the age of 31. The bay gelding was living at the Bobby Frankel Division of Old Friends at Cabin Creek thoroughbred retirement farm near Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York since 2010. The farm

5:40 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Mo Donegal rallied to win the $750,000 Wood Memorial on Saturday at Aqueduct on the last weekend of major prep races for the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Mo Donegal ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.96. Trainer Todd Pletcher tied “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons for most Wood

12:51 PM ET Associated Press LIVERPOOL, England — Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen had quite the retirement ride Saturday. The 39-year-old Waley-Cohen marked his final race in the saddle by winning the world-famous Grand National horse race aboard a big outsider in 50-1 shot Noble Yeats. “It’s a fairy tale. It’s a fantasy,” said Waley-Cohen, who

11:31 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Bob Baffert won the sixth race at Santa Anita on Saturday, sending the Hall of Fame trainer out a winner two days before his 90-day suspension begins. Baffert was in the winner’s circle with Shaaz after the $72,000 race. He was joined by Hall of Fame jockey

7:55 PM ET Associated Press HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — White Abarrio and Charge It were the first two horses across the finish line at the Florida Derby on Saturday. Soon, both might be on their way to Churchill Downs. White Abarrio made a big move to prevail in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, getting

8:36 PM ET Associated Press HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Cyberknife won the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday in the richest prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Florent Geroux, Cyberknife ran 1⅛ miles in 1:50.42 and paid $13.60, $7 and $3.60. Barber Road returned $7.40 and $4. Secret Oath, the filly trained by

8:12 PM ET Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Court of Appeals on Friday rejected trainer Bob Baffert’s motion for emergency relief from a 90-day suspension. As a result of the order signed by Acting Chief Judge Allison Jones, the Hall of Fame trainer’s suspension is scheduled to begin on Monday. “The Court emphasizes

3:34 PM ET Associated Press HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Simplification will be the morning-line favorite at Gulfstream Park for Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby, one of the last big prep races for the Kentucky Derby. Simplification was given 5-2 early odds. White Abarrio was narrowly installed as the second choice at 3-1. Simplification