Kentucky Derby News

Hip No. 343, a chestnut colt by Giant's Causeway was one of two horses sold for $1.6 million dollars.

By Dick Downey @DowneyProfile The Kentucky Derby is only 53 days away now, and the quest for valuable qualifying points has intensified and changed the shape of the leaderboard quite a bit in the last couple of weeks.

The up-and-coming colt cut a wide swath through the Triple Crown preps at . The eventual Kentucky Derby winner's commanding victories that spring in Louisville and in Baltimore at the Preakness Stakes helped the pint-sized Pennsylvania-bred bring 120,139 of his closest friends to for what figured to be a Triple Crown coronation.

ESPN's Game Day - or at least a little slice of it - is heading to Louisville to help kick off this year's Kentucky Derby festivities.

Churchill Downs has revealed its hand. No longer able to hide behind Louisville's iconic twin spires is a looming casino, slots and online gambling company.

Two new Derby contenders jumped into the points race over the weekend at the Tampa Bay Derby and the San Felipe Stakes.

Charleston's Elise Testone, who's enjoyed a solid run of performances on the national stage since becoming an American Idol finalist in 2012, will be heading to the Bluegrass State's famed Churchill Downs for the annual Kentucky Derby weekend, May 2-3.

IN NEW MEXICO. THE HORSE FACED 50 TO ONE ODDS, WHEN IT TOOK HOME THE VICTORY IN THE 2009 KENTUCKY DERBY.

"I'm not making any plans , you know what I mean?" said the 77-year-old Sherman, whose long years of toil are being rewarded by the unlikely California-bred colt.

A bill that passed the state Senate 48-1 on Friday could provide more financial flexibility to horse racing at Kennewick's Sun Downs.

Leading gate to wire, California Chrome most likely punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a 71/4-length romp in Saturday's $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

Triple Crown prospect Top Billing cracked his right front cannon bone in a workout Saturday and is off the Triple Crown trail.Trainer Shug McGaughey says Top Billing will undergo Your Take contributions have not been reviewed for accuracy by USA TODAY.

It was smooth sailing after that as Ring Weekend, a 14-1 shot, won the Grade II $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby with ease Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs before an announced crowd of 10,359.

Ring Weekend and jockey Daniel Centeno went straight to the front from the inside post and stayed there in the sophomore prep, clicking through fractions of :23.62 and :46.68 while all the time increasing their advantage on the field.

On the same track where Breeders' Cup glory has eluded him, Game On Dude won the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap by 1A3 4 lengths Saturday, becoming the first three-time champion in the race's 77-year history.

California Chrome romped to victory by 7A1 4 lengths in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Saturday, inserting the colt into the Kentucky Derby picture.

Kentucky Derby contender Top Billing has an injury and will not be able to race in this year's Run for the Roses.

As the saying goes you are allowed no more than just fifteen minutes of fame. There are just too many people to absorb in our brave new world of social media.

The Indiana side of the Big Four Bridge is on track to open around the weekend of the Kentucky Derby, Jeffersonville's mayor said Friday.

In the course of the horse racing season, late winter early spring is a tough time to make a case for the importance of races that have nothing to do with the word derby.