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The Kentucky Derby is one of the most fashionable sporting events in the world. See the splendor
The Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 1:15 p.m. | Save Story
A Kentucky Derby look isn't complete without headwear. Hats or fascinators for women. Hats for men, and not only traditional ones.
Logan Sargeant is the only American driver in F1. His seat is in jeopardy as he heads into home race
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 4 - 11:49 a.m. | Save Story
The only American driver in Formula One had a somewhat decent showing in the Saturday sprint race ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. It's just not clear how long Logan Sargeant can stake claim to his seat with Williams as the Floridian heads into his home race Sunday under tremendous pressure to deliver or lose his job. Williams team principal James Vowles has said that to keep his seat, Sargeant must elevate his performance to consistently match teammate Alex Albon. The speculation is Sargeant could be replaced this month. The leading candidate to take Sargeant's seat is Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Kentucky Derby could be a wet one. Early favorites Fierceness, Sierra Leone have won in the slop
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 11:18 a.m. | Save Story
The 150th Kentucky Derby has a couple early favorites in Fierceness and Sierra Leone. Beyond them, it's a wide-open race. The forecast for Churchill Downs in Louisville calls for a 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms at various times throughout the day. The dirt surface was upgraded to good early in the afternoon after being listed as muddy to start the day's racing. Both Fierceness and Sierra Leone have won on messy tracks before, and so have four others in the 20-horse field. For the second straight year, Japan has two entries that will be looking to deliver the country's first Derby win.
Kentucky Derby to remain on NBC through 2032 in extension with Churchill Downs
The Associated Press | Posted May 4 - 10:07 a.m. | Save Story
The Kentucky Derby will remain on NBC through 2032 after the network and Churchill Downs Inc. extended their contract through 2032. The deal was announced hours before the running of the 150th race on Saturday. The race switched to NBC in 2001 after airing on ABC from 1975 to 2000. It was on CBS from 1952 to 1974. The multi-year extension will make NBC the longest-running home of the Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby is turning 150 years old. It's survived world wars and controversies of all kinds
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Posted May 3 - 10:24 p.m. | Save Story
The Kentucky Derby turns 150 years old this Saturday. America's longest continuously held sporting event has survived two world wars, the Great Depression and pandemics, including COVID-19 in 2020. That year it was run in virtual silence without the usual crowd of 150,000. The first Saturday in May is known for fast horses, stylishly dressed fans and mint juleps served in souvenir glasses. Among the changes this year is the value of the race, which has been boosted to $5 million, and the new $200 million paddock where the Derby horses will be saddled at Churchill Downs.
Filly Thorpedo Anna goes wire to wire to dominate soggy 150th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs
Gary B. Graves, Associated Press | Updated May 3 - 6:22 p.m. | Save Story
Filly Thorpedo Anna went wire to wire in the 150th Kentucky Oaks, pulling away from a charging Just F Y I to win by 4 3/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs. Thorpedo Anna went off at 4-1 odds and took charge from the start, leading by at least a length over Fiona's Magic and then Into Champagne as Just F Y I charged into contention entering the stretch. Thorpedo Anna broke away from there in to cover 1 1/8 mile in 1:50.83 for her fourth win in five starts and pay $10.98, $6.06 and $4.36.
F1 now makes 3 stops a season in the United States. Could Miami become a victim of oversaturation?
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 3 - 3:12 p.m. | Save Story
Formula 1 is back in the United States for the first time since its sparkling Las Vegas debut six months ago. The first stop is the Miami Grand Prix, the race that was supposed to be the American showpiece. But Las Vegas last November rated as one of the best races of the 2023 season, and Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is a stalwart event for passionate F1 fans. Miami was the big party when it debuted in 2022. In under three years has its status fallen enough that Sunday's race is simply just the first of three events inside NASCAR country?
Larry Demeritte is just the second Black trainer since 1951 to saddle a horse for the Kentucky Derby
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated May 3 - 9:35 a.m. | Save Story
Larry Demeritte has run horses on Kentucky Derby day in the past, just never in the big race. The 74-year-old trainer says it was all practice for Saturday, when he will saddle West Saratoga in the Derby. The gray colt cost just $11,000 and is the pride of Demeritte's 11-horse stable in Lexington, Kentucky. He's just the second Black trainer since 1951 with a horse in the Derby, a race that was dominated in its early years by winning Black trainers. Demeritte was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and undergoes chemotherapy. He's from the Bahamas, where his father was a trainer.
Chevrolet denies participation in Team Penske's IndyCar cheating scandal
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 3 - 9:21 a.m. | Save Story
Chevrolet denies having any knowledge of the IndyCar cheating scandal within Team Penske and says it hired an independent law firm to investigate if any General Motors employees were involved. General Motors President Mark Reuss says the manufacturer respects the "decision and actions" of IndyCar following last week's disqualifications of winner Josef Newgarden and Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin from the March 10 season-opening race. IndyCar nearly two months later discovered that the push-to-pass software system on all three Penske cars had been manipulated to override series rules and allow the drivers to utilize the boost of horsepower during restarts.
Year after flip flop, NBC's Eddie Olczyk hopes he feels better about his Kentucky Derby pick
Joe Reedy, Associated Press | Posted May 3 - 4:00 a.m. | Save Story
remains a part of the network's horse racing coverage even though it no longer carries the NHL
F1 paddock watches to see if Verstappen leaves Red Bull with car builder or if Hamilton lands Newey
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 4:19 p.m. | Save Story
The jostling for superstar technical director Adrian Newey is rampant through the Formula 1 paddock a day after the champion car builder announced he will leave Red Bull early next year. Three-time reigning champion Max Verstappen is signed with Red Bull through 2028 and says he is not ready to reveal if he's interested in following Newey. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari next year. He was asked at the Miami Grand Prix he would "very much" like to see Newey at Ferrari next year.
For ex-Derby winner Silver Charm, it's a life of leisure and Old Friends at Kentucky retirement farm
Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press | Updated May 2 - 4:11 p.m. | Save Story
Michael Blowen can step outside his house anytime and visit retired racehorses at Old Friends, the thoroughbred retirement farm he founded in Kentucky two decades ago. The farm is dedicated to providing dignity and comfort to retired racehorses. Blowen's favorite resident is 30-year-old Silver Charm. The oldest living Derby winner resides at the 240-acre farm outside Georgetown, Kentucky. Visitors to the farm can take a guided, 90-minute walking tour while getting up-close looks at some of the farm's most famous residents, including Silver Charm and I'll Have Another, the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Old Friends has about 250 thoroughbreds in its care at its farms in Kentucky and New York. The Kentucky Derby is Saturday.
Churchill Downs unveils new $200 million paddock ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby
Gary B. Graves, Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 3:36 p.m. | Save Story
A new paddock for the horses has opened at Churchill Downs just in time for the 150th Kentucky Derby. The new $200 million paddock offers a clear vista of the iconic Twin Spires from inside. It also allows spectators to observe horses from several levels of a stadium-like layout before they head to the track. The paddock area was expanded from 5,100 to 12,000 square feet and more than doubled capacity from 1,000 to 2,400 people. The area includes 3,600 new seats and standing room for 3,200. Attendance at two clubs is expensive.
Kentucky Derby: How to watch, the favorites and what to expect in the 150th running of the race
The Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 2:34 p.m. | Save Story
The Kentucky Derby turns 150 years old on Saturday. That's when 20 horses will stampede 1 1/4 miles around Churchill Downs in pursuit of the roses. The morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds is Fierceness. He's trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, who own a combined five Derby victories. The early 3-1 second choice is Sierra Leone, who cost $2.3 million, making him the most expensive horse in the race. The least expensive horse is long shot West Saratoga, who cost $11,000. There are two Japanese horses in the field, Forever Young and T O Password.
2 horses fall and unseat their jockeys in 2nd race at Churchill Downs
The Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 2:03 p.m. | Save Story
Two horses fell and their riders were unseated in the second race at Churchill Downs, two days before the historic track hosts the 150th Kentucky Derby. Territoriality clipped an outside horse's hind heels and fell, throwing jockey Irving Moncada. Vostra struck another horse and lost jockey Emmanuel Giles. A track spokesman says both loose horses were corralled by outriders and walked back to their barns. Moncada and Giles were taken to local hospitals for further evaluation. Last spring, 12 horses died at Churchill Downs, including two on Derby day, which prompted the track to make several changes ahead of this year's 150th edition.
How well do you know the Kentucky Derby? Try the AP quiz
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated May 2 - 1:25 p.m. | Save Story
How well do you know the Kentucky Derby? Try this AP trivia quiz about the history of America's oldest continuously held sporting event without help from search engines.
The Kentucky Derby in the words of the winners, from Smith to Espinoza
The Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 12:32 p.m. | Save Story
The Kentucky Derby is celebrating its 150th running this Saturday. Some of racing's greatest horses, like Secretariat, Affirmed and Citation, are among its champions. The roll call of winners includes memorable trainers and jockeys, too.
Erik Jones cleared to return by NASCAR but will sit out Kansas race after back injury at Talladega
The Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 12:09 p.m. | Save Story
Erik Jones was cleared by doctors and approved to return by NASCAR on Thursday, but his Legacy Motor Club team will hold him out of this weekend's race at Kansas Speedway to allow him more time to recover from his crash at Talladega. Jones sustained a compression fracture in a lower vertebra during the wreck. Corey Heim will drive the No. 43 Toyota in Sunday's race. Jones plans to be in attendance at Kansas and help crew chief Dave Elenz before returning to the driver's seat at Darlington Raceway, where he has two NASCAR Cup Series victories.
Off-track soap opera follows F1 into first 2023 stop in U.S. Andrettis plan to meet with series
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 2 - 11:08 a.m. | Save Story
Five races into the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen and the globe-trotting series have made their way back to the United States for the first of three appearances. The Red Bull driver has four wins through five races headed into the Miami Grand Prix, a race he won in its first two iterations. The actual racing has been dwarfed by off-track scandal and the soap opera has also arrived in Miami.
