Churchill Downs

The problematic, $10-million turf course that was installed at Churchill Downs prior to the 2022 spring season will be getting another maintenance break that will mean no grass racing in Louisville for the upcoming Sept. 12-29 meet. Usage of the Churchill turf course has been curtailed on several occasions over the past two years because of concerns over its growth, maturity and root establishment. Darren Rogers, Churchill's senior director of communications, told TDN on Thursday that track management expects the course to be usable in time for the autumn meet...

The suspension of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from racetracks owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated has been rescinded, effective immediately, CDI announced Friday evening. The decision was detailed in a statement from CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen: "We are satisfied that Mr. Baffert has taken responsibility for his actions, completed a substantial penalty and is committed to running in full compliance with the rules and regulations going forward. All parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter to a close and focus on the future. Mr....

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by a trio of victories for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.   Klaravich Filly Earns Listed Badge Chad Brown saddled Tampa Bay maiden winner Oversubscribed (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the Listed Wild Applause Stakes in the Belmont at the Big A meeting in June, and the Klaravich Stables-owned filly waltzed to a 3 1/4-length victory (video). The two-for-three daughter of Listed Rosemary...

During its nine-week 2024 meet, Colonial Downs will offer more than $2.4 million in non-stakes purses to horses who are Virginia Certified and the track's first condition book features 46 Virginia-restricted races. Any horse that maintained residency in Virginia for at least a six-month consecutive period prior to Dec. 31 of its 2-year-old year qualifies. "We often hear from owners and trainers who did not know their horse qualifies for our Virginia Restricted races," said Gary Palmisano, Executive Director of Racing for Churchill Downs. "The rules are unique to what...

The list of trainers that have been informed by the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) that a horse they train has tested positive for the controversial drug Metformin has grown by two. According to postings on the HIWU website, Greg Foley and James Lawrence II have been notified that horses under their care had Metformin in their system. Lawrence's positive came from the  horse Cherished Wish (Mshawish) in a May 23 race at Penn National in which she finished second. The Foley horse to test positive was Camaro...

The 150th Spring Meet at Churchill Downs concluded Sunday with a record $708.3 million wagered over the 43-day meet. That broke the 2022 Spring Meet record of $614.8 million by $93.5 million. Just 10 years ago, the Spring Meet betting totaled $368.8 million. All sources handle during the six-day Derby Week (April 27-May 4) rose to $446.6 million--including $320.5 million on Kentucky Derby Day--to eclipse last year's Derby Week record of $412.0 million. The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37 days of the Spring Meet (May 9-June 30) as...

Fresh off a spectacular four-timer during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, Wathnan Racing--the horse racing operation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani--saw its blue-and-tan colors cross the line first and second, respectively, in Sunday's Hanshin Stakes by the progressive Cagliostro (Upstart) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), each acquired by Wathnan over the last several months. Placed in last year's GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. and fifth in the GIII Oklahoma Derby for a partnership including West Point and David Ingordo, Cagliostro narrowly annexed a two-turn Keeneland...

Taking advantage of a pace reactor failure of epic proportions, Politically Correct (Violence) ran down the lane to secure the 123rd running of the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon. The Chris Davis trainee debuted a winner by 1 1/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs over this course May 30. As a 7-1 shot here, the juvenile trailed from the bell, but the fractions through the far turn were stiff enough that mounting a charge was feasible. Running on down the center of the main track after...

A talented if unlucky juvenile runner, Raging Torrent broke his maiden on debut at Del Mar but had to settle for third, fourth and fourth respectively behind 'TDN Rising Stars' in Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) in the GIII Best Pal Stakes and the GI Del Mar Futurity and Muth (Nyquist) in the GI American Pharoah Stakes. Brought back as a 3-year-old on the grass, he made a good account of himself when second in the John Shear Stakes two back April 7. He then broke through in a big way...

The 2024 Churchill Downs Spring Meet leading jockey race came down to the wire on closing day Sunday with Tyler Gaffalione and Jose Ortiz tying for the most wins. Gaffalione and Ortiz shared leading rider honors with 45 wins apiece. For Gaffalione, it was his 12th Churchill Downs title as leading jockey. It was the first local championship for Ortiz, who began riding in Kentucky this spring. Luis Saez, who had 32 wins following Day 42 of the 43-day meeting, was in third place followed by Florent Geroux (22), Cristian...

Freshman sire Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile) collected the first stakes win of his promising stud career, as Vodka With a Twist clinked her glass after getting her picture taken in the Debutante Stakes on closing day at Churchill Downs. The former charge of Jason McCutchen broke her maiden under his tutelage at second asking over a sloppy course under the Twin Spires May 17. With her new barn and as the 6-5 choice here, Vodka With a Twist got down to business from the bell by blazing a...

Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) earned an automatic berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic with a dominant victory in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. The 2-1 shot rated just off the pace as First Mission (Street Sense) and Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) took the field through a moderate opening quarter in :24.13. First Mission, the 4-5 favorite, took charge as the half went up in :48.38, but Kingsbarns was rolling up three wide to grab control into the stretch. The favorite attempted to fight back, but...