Horse Racing

9:30 AM ET The 145th Preakness Stakes will close out the reshuffled 2020 Triple Crown season. Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes in June, and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic is the favorite to win Saturday in Pimlico Here is a breakdown of every horse in the Preakness Stakes, suggested plays and picks. Note: Horses

7:00 AM ET Multiple Contributors Quick, which athlete has the most roads in the U.S. named after him or her? (Hint: The athlete is not human. Like, literally not a person.) Which sport has the most streets named after its athletes? (Hint: Again, not humans.) After six months of unprecedented research, we can answer those

9:44 AM ET Associated Press NEWBURY, England — The champion jockey of British horse racing has tested positive for cocaine. Oisin Murphy returned a positive test for metabolites of the drug in a test undertaken in France on July 19, a statement from the Professional Jockeys Association read on Thursday. He denied ever taking cocaine.

7:23 PM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Jockeys and exercise riders in California will be working under a more restrictive rule governing the use of whips that goes into effect on Thursday. The amended Rule 1688 was designed by the California Horse Racing Board to further protect horses without compromising the safety of horses

1:00 PM ET ESPN.com staff Kentucky Derby winner Authentic is the favorite to win Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. 1 Related Typically the second race run in the Triple Crown, the Preakness will be the final leg after the schedule was altered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tiz the Law, who

3:25 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House approved a bill Tuesday to create national medication and safety standards for the horse racing industry to discourage use of performance-enhancing drugs that can lead to horse injuries and deaths. The “Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act” comes after the racing industry has been hit by a

1:07 PM ET Associated Press Kentucky Derby winner Authentic was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness and drew the No. 9 post position at the draw Monday that lacked the usual fanfare of owners and trainers packing into a crowded tent in the infield at Pimlico Race Course. Authentic’s trainer, Bob

4:19 PM ET Associated Press BALTIMORE — Swiss Skydiver will become the first filly since Rachel Alexandra won in 2009 to run against males in the Preakness on Saturday. Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed the decision on Sunday. Jockey Robby Albarado, who won the 2007 Preakness aboard Curlin, will replace Tyler Gaffalione on Swiss Skydiver. In

10:33 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Improbable rallied from last to a 4½-length victory over stablemate Maximum Security in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Improbable ran 1⅛ miles in 1 minute, 49.01 seconds to earn his third consecutive Grade 1 victory and fourth

6:09 PM ET Associated Press BALTIMORE — Jockeys riding in the Preakness and other races at Pimlico next weekend must undergo a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their first mount. The Maryland Jockey Club announced protocols Friday for jockeys competing Oct. 1/3 at the Baltimore track. Riders from out of town will have to

1:39 PM ET Associated Press Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law won’t run in next month’s Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico concludes this year’s reconfigured Triple Crown series, which was run out of order because of the coronavirus

4:05 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Authentic had his first major workout since winning the Kentucky Derby as he prepares for the Preakness next month. The 3-year-old completed five furlongs in 59.20 seconds under jockey Martin Garcia on Saturday at Churchill Downs, where he has remained since his Derby victory on Sept. 5.

9:07 PM ET Associated Press DUBLIN, Ireland — Nine-time Irish champion jockey and 2016 Epsom Derby winner Pat Smullen has died. He was 43. Horse Racing Ireland said Smullen, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018, died in a Dublin hospital on Tuesday. Britain’s Press Association said Smullen’s initial treatment had been positive,

7:26 PM ET Associated Press Keeneland will hold next month’s 12-day fall meet without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic but will allow a limited number of participants and essential personnel. The Lexington, Kentucky, track had a similar policy for a special five-day summer meet after canceling its spring card. Keeneland will conduct the season-ending

8:31 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Honor A.P. has been retired because of an injury suffered in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished fourth. The 3-year-old colt will stand at stud for next year’s breeding season at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Honor A.P. had two wins in six career starts and

7:30 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Opening day of Santa Anita’s fall season will be pushed back a week until Sept. 25 because of poor air quality caused by a wildfire burning near the Southern California racetrack. The meet had been set to open Saturday. The city of Arcadia, home to Santa Anita,

3:14 PM ET Associated Press BALTIMORE — The official state song “Maryland, My Maryland” will not be performed before the Preakness next month because the lyrics are perceived by some to be racist. A spokesperson for Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness, said Friday the tradition of playing the song before the race will

8:04 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — A key House committee on Wednesday gave bipartisan approval to legislation to create national standards for the horse racing industry to prevent fatalities and discourage illegal medication practices. The Senate’s top Republican said he would press to pass the bill before the year is out. The 46-5 vote