#kentucky-derby

#kentucky-derby

(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

If you go by the morning-line odds, the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday should be very competitive.The odds were revealed during the Tuesday post-position draw.It certainly showed that post position in a field of nine going 1½ miles really doesn't mean a lot.

It's not often that the best of the Triple Crown races is the last one but that's how it is this year with 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.It has arguably the best 3-year-old in Forte, the winner of the Preakness Stakes in National Treasure and eight other horses who should be fresh enough to handle the always tricky 1½-mile course.

(Benoit Photo via the Associated Press)

As horse racing wades through its most notable five-week period of the year, there is one name that, as usual, dominates the conversation, that of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.Even though Monday's $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita wasn't part of horse racing's 3-year-old Triple Crown series, the spotlight shined on Baffert as his 5-year-old gelding Defunded won his second Grade 1 race of his career in the last big race of the marathon Santa Anita winter-spring season, which ends June 18.

(Julia Nikhinson / Associated Press)

The Preakness day card took a tragic turn during the Chick Lang Stakes on Saturday when Havnameltdown, trained by Bob Baffert, broke down and was euthanized on the track.Jockey Luis Saez was hurled to the ground and may have been struck by the horse.He was taken to a hospital.

Walker Buehler may not return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation during the 2023 season, but he nevertheless continues to move along in his recovery from a right flexor tendon repair and second Tommy John surgery.Shortly after Buehler began throwing from flat ground at 150 feet, the right-hander advanced to pitching off a mound.

Walker Buehler may not return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation during the 2023 season, but he nevertheless continues to move along in his recovery from a right flexor tendon repair and second Tommy John surgery.Shortly after Buehler began throwing from flat ground at 150 feet, the right-hander advanced to pitching off a mound.

(Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)

In an unprecedented move, Churchill Downs will move its current spring/summer meeting to Ellis Park in the wake of 12 horse deaths since April 27.The legendary track made the announcement Friday afternoon after agreeing with a recommendation from the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that conducting a top-to-bottom review of all safety protocols should be the first priority.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

The horse death toll at Churchill Downs continued to grow Friday when Lost in Limbo, a 7-year-old gelding, was euthanized after breaking down in the seventh race.The horse was running in a claiming race, his 35th lifetime start.Adding that to a previously unreported death two weeks ago, 11 horses have died in a month at the Louisville home of the Kentucky Derby.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

Kentucky Derby champion Mage's path to becoming the 14th Triple Crown winner got a little easier Monday, not because of his draw for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday but because competitor Disarm was pulled from the race.Disarm, the fourth-place finisher in the Derby, was not entered in the Preakness and instead will be pointed toward the Jim Dandy Stakes and Travers Stakes, both at Saratoga in upstate New York.

(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Saturday because he developed a slight fever after training Thursday."He spiked a temp on us," trainer Tim Yakteen said."He might have a bug and was reacting to it.

The plot was hatched in June when Aidan Butler, the soon-to-be chief executive of the Stronach Group, owner of Santa Anita racetrack, sidled up to Europe's most recognizable and accomplished jockey and suggested that spending a winter in Southern California might be a good idea."I guess it resonated," Butler said.

Trainer Bob Baffert has won some incarnation of the Los Alamitos Futurity 13 times and he had three of the five horses in Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 race at the Orange County track.So, it makes sense he would up the number to 14, especially since he had the heavy favorite Arabian Lion in the race.But, in spite of what everyone figures will happen, they still run the races and in the end Baffert's former longtime assistant Tim Yakteen won the race as Practical Move pulled away in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

LEXINGTON, Ky.As far as great horse racing debates go, this one is civil and wholly welcome.Is Flightline one of the sport's all-time greats?Should he be regarded alongside Secretariat, Man o' War and a couple of dozen others who have captured the public's imagination throughout the years?Those who don't love or play the horses may answer with the question, Who is Flightline?

One day after attending the 149th Kentucky Derby, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made the trip to the F1 Miami Grand Prix.It has been quite the week for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.To start off the week, Mahomes and his wife Brittany made the trip to New York City for the 2023 Met Gala.

Here's what's on this week: Ferry Flicks at the Ferry Building, a Star Wars Sith Rave, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Sonoma's spring farm tours, the Bay Area Book Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, SailGP, Kentucky Derby watch parties, Woofstock at Marin Humane, and much more.Have a good one.Celebrate Bay Curious' new eponymous book.

LEXINGTON, Ky.No one was coming for Flightline, and Flavien Prat knew it.He looked over his shoulder on the far turn.Six horses were struggling to keep up.Life is Good was ahead of him by a couple of lengths.So what?Prat and his colt looked like a couple of Secret Service agents jogging alongside The Beast, as the presidential limousine is known, barely breaking a sweat.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

The death count at Churchill Downs grew to six in a week and a half when Chloe's Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, was injured in a maiden race, vanned off the track and then euthanized.There were no details of the exact cause of the injury.It was yet another black cloud over a sport that has been wrestling with safety and perception issues.

The article will be updated.LOUISVILLE, Ky.Kentucky state veterinarians on Saturday morning scratched Forte, the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, after examining him and finding him unfit to compete.The veterinarians did not give details, but rumors that the colt was unwell had swirled throughout the backside of Churchill Downs throughout the week.

It made perfect sense that Tim Yakteen would find himself in the winner's circle after Saturday's running of the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes, a major prep race leading to the Kentucky Derby, at Santa Anita Park.After all, he had five starters in the race by virtue of inheriting four horses from fellow trainer Bob Baffert, so those horses would be eligible to win Derby qualifying points while Baffert is banned at Churchill Downs.