Free Republic

The first leg of horse racing's famous Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby brings out the top horses, owners and jockeys, celebrity appearances and bold fashion statements. Here's a look at the favorites and longshots, and who showed up to Churchill Downs in Louisville for the 152nd running of the "fastest two minutes in sports."

Horse racing at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, is suspended following the death of 12 horses at the track. Spring and summer races will be rescheduled to take place at Ellis Park. However, practice at Churchill Downs is still permitted for now. A report on Horse Racing Nation stated the following about the tragic situation: “Even though the investigations and expert reports have indicated no surface issues, in an abundance of caution, and in alignment with a recommendation from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Churchill Downs Inc. has elected to relocate the meet in order to conduct...

It could be the farm itself, where Rice’s son Kevin and his wife Emily reside, and where Gail Rice stayed at foaling time in a camper by the driveway. The ecosystem itself can prove downright recuperative: dogs, goats, a week-old foal hanging next to the mare, chicks scrambling around in the grass, potbellied pigs named Chester and Walter. “He’s such a cool dude,” Rice said, patting Chester. “So I’m like, ‘God told me to get my butt home, right in time,’ ” Gail Rice said, “because the feet were coming out too far up and torn through, and so, it...

Click on link It appears white v black will be meeting at Churchill Downs.

A national group calling for justice in Breonna Taylor's killing plans to make its presence felt during the Kentucky Derby. Until Freedom plans to march on Derby day at 4:30 p.m. in South Central Park, according to a message posted to the group's Facebook page Sunday night. "We need the cops that killed her to be charged and arrested immediately. Justice delayed is justice denied," the post reads.

After several attempts to dwindle down the capacity, the decision has finally been made to hold this year's Kentucky Derby without fans. Churchill Downs made the announcement to reverse course on Friday. It said, in part: "Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance. We were confident in that plan, but dedicated to remaining flexible using the best and most reliable information available. With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our...

Churchill Downs announced Thursday that it will conduct a virtual running of the Kentucky Derby during a telecast on NBC on May 2 from 3-6 p.m. ET on the traditional day of the Kentucky Derby. Called the “The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown,” the virtual race is a computer-simulated version of the American classic, which was postponed this year due to COVID-19 from its traditional running on the first Saturday in May until Sept. 5. The virtual race, created by Inspired Entertainment, will feature the 13 past Triple Crown winners and use data algorithms including historical handicapping information about each...

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Churchill Downs Inc. has reached an agreement to purchase Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky for $46 million, giving the company an additional foothold in a heavily populated area to expand its casino operations. The deal, which came together quickly over the past four weeks, was reached as Churchill was mounting a challenge to Turfway Park by submitting a dates application for the track’s winter dates. Under that proposal, Churchill had said that it would build an entirely new track and casino in the northern Kentucky-Cincinnati metro area if it was awarded the dates. If accepted by the...

A possible tornado damaged several horse barns at Churchill Downs, prompting track officials to temporarily halt races Thursday at the famed Kentucky Derby horse track. Some horses have been moved to private farms, Keeneland racetrack in Lexington and to different barns at the facility, track president Kevin Flanery said. Flanery said multiple barns sustained damage after 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday when the storms blew through the area, knocking down poles, trees and power to thousands in Louisville. Flanery called off Thursday's racing card while workers assess damage and do repairs, but said he was optimistic racing can resume Friday and...