Horse Racing

Michael A. Fletcher, ESPNMay 19, 2023, 07:42 AM ET Close Michael Fletcher is a senior writer with ESPN’s enterprise and investigative team. Before that, he wrote for ESPN’s The Undefeated, focusing on politics, criminal justice and social issues. He spent 21 years at The Washington Post, where his beats included the national economy, the White

Associated Press May 19, 2023, 10:05 AM ET BALTIMORE — Brad Cox-trained First Mission has been scratched from the Preakness on the advice of veterinarians, taking one of the top contenders out of the Triple Crown race 36 hours before post time. Owner Godolphin and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the scratch early Friday, saying

ESPN.com staff May 19, 2023, 09:26 AM ET The second leg of the Triple Crown kicks off this Saturday, May 20, with the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will look to continue his bid for the first Triple Crown since Justify did it in

Associated Press May 15, 2023, 05:59 PM ET HALETHORPE, Md. — Kentucky Derby winner Mage was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness at the post position draw Monday. He’s the only horse in the field of eight set to take part in the second race of the Triple Crown two weeks

Associated Press May 14, 2023, 10:14 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A horse died Sunday after a race at Churchill Downs, making it the eighth fatality in recent weeks at the home of the Kentucky Derby. Rio Moon “suffered a catastrophic injury to his left foreleg a few strides after the wire,” according to notes

Associated Press May 12, 2023, 11:12 AM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby winner Mage will run in the 148th Preakness following an encouraging workout at Churchill Downs, his co-owner said. Mage galloped about 1½ miles at a brisk pace with exercise rider J.J. Delgado aboard on a cloudy but mild Friday morning at the

Associated Press May 11, 2023, 05:31 PM ET NEW YORK — Hall of Fame horse trainer Todd Pletcher has been suspended 10 days and fined as the result of a positive 2022 drug test involving Forte, who was scratched hours before the Kentucky Derby last weekend because of an injury. Forte was disqualified after winning

Associated Press May 11, 2023, 03:41 PM ET Kentucky Derby winner Mage remains on track to run in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore next week, with a final decision expected Friday. Ramiro Restrepo, part of the ownership group, said Thursday those in charge of deciding Mage’s next race wanted to see one final workout before

Associated Press May 8, 2023, 06:44 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky racing officials have placed scratched Kentucky Derby favorite Forte on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list that may require the colt to pass a soundness test in Maryland in order to race in the Preakness. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced the update on

ESPN News Services May 6, 2023, 09:15 AM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two more horses died in races at Churchill Downs on Saturday — making it seven in all in recent days — and early Kentucky Derby favorite Forte was scratched with an injury in another series of blows to a sport already reeling from

Associated Press May 6, 2023, 07:14 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mage crossed the finish line to win the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, overtaking Two Phil’s down the stretch to win the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Mage, who had only one victory in three previous races, covered the

ESPN News Services May 6, 2023, 09:15 AM ET Kentucky Derby favorite Forte has been scratched from Saturday’s race, Churchill Downs announced. The decision to remove Forte was made after a Saturday morning workout. Forte galloped on the track and then jogged outside the barn, with trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole seen meeting

Associated Press May 5, 2023, 06:53 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Pretty Mischievous took charge in the stretch and survived a late push by Gambling Girl to win the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks by a neck on Friday at Churchill Downs. The Brendan Walsh-trained filly started from the No. 14 post at 10-1 odds and

Anita Marks May 5, 2023, 01:21 PM ET The 149th Kentucky Derby is Saturday with 20 of the best athletes in the world facing off in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. They have been bred for speed and distance, trained since birth by the best in the world. For them, this moment

Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff WriterMay 5, 2023, 01:20 PM ET Close Covered the NFL since 2013 Previously covered the Saints for the Times-Picayune and The Athletic Bengals beat writer for ESPN from 2016-19 You have questions about the 2023 Kentucky Derby? We’ve got answers. When, where and how to watch the Kentucky Derby The 149th

Associated Press May 4, 2023, 02:26 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Practical Move won’t run in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday because of an elevated temperature. The scratch was announced by Churchill Downs on Thursday. The colt trained by Tim Yakteen was the early co-fourth choice at 10-1 odds. That moves Cyclone Mischief into the

Associated Press May 4, 2023, 06:02 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indefinitely on Thursday after the sudden death of two of his horses, while Lord Miles, trained by Joseph, was scratched from the Kentucky Derby. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph,

ESPN.com staff May 4, 2023, 01:30 PM ET The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Forte, trained by Todd Fletcher, opened as the 3-1 morning-line favorite leaving from the 15 post after Derby post positions were released Monday. Tapit Trice had the second-shortest morning line