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Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

Favorite Further Ado turns in historic performance, wins Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

Sports / Horse Racing /

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Further Ado prevailed Saturday in the 102nd running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, a key Kentucky Derby prep race.

Trained by Louisville native Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Further Ado covered 1 1/8 miles on Keeneland’s main track in 1:49:58 on a warm Lexington evening to win ...Read more

Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Northern California horse racing suffers final blow as Golden Gate Fields is sold

Sports / Horse Racing /

The fleeting hopes by Northern California horsemen that as long as Golden Gate Fields was still standing, racing, even if only as a simulcast or gaming facility, could one day return to Northern California, were dashed on Monday when The Stronach Group (TSG) entered into a deal to sell the 141-acre facility to a nonprofit, which plans to ...Read more

Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

After major prep races, which horses are set to run in 2026 Kentucky Derby?

Sports / Horse Racing /

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Less than 35 days remain until the 2026 running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

With the race set for May 2, the projected 20-horse field for the 152nd edition of the Derby is becoming clear.

This past weekend featured four major prep races on the road to Derby 152. Both domestically ...Read more

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America/TNS

CHRB dashes hopes of Northern California horse racing

Sports / Horse Racing /

LOS ANGELES — The hopes of Northern California racing and breeding interests were once again dashed when the California Horse Racing Board refused to license short racing dates to the Tehama District Fair and the Humboldt County Fair on Thursday.

Rather than a discussion about how to grow the sport, the 2-hour, 45-minute meeting was mostly ...Read more

John Shirreffs, trainer of Zenyatta and Giacomo, dies at 80

Sports / Horse Racing /

LOS ANGELES — John Shirreffs, the soft-spoken giant who trained Zenyatta, perhaps the best mare of all time, died in Southern California on Thursday. He was 80. No cause of death was announced.

Shirreffs was one of the top trainers in Southern California with 3,589 starts, 596 of them wins resulting in $58.5 million in purses.

He was a ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Trade unions back Santa Anita Park's use of betting machines

Sports / Horse Racing /

LOS ANGELES — The dispute between California and Santa Anita Park over the use of a new betting machine was ratcheted up Wednesday when four major trade unions sent a letter to Rob Bonta, the California attorney general, urging the state to return the terminals it confiscated on Saturday. Santa Anita filed suit against the state on Tuesday ...Read more