Horse Racing

Associated Press May 20, 2023, 07:14 PM ET BALTIMORE — Bob Baffert’s National Treasure crossed the finish line first in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday in the trainer’s return from a suspension and just hours after another of his 3-year-old horses was euthanized on the track. Baffert headed to the winner’s circle on the same

ESPN News Services May 20, 2023, 10:10 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A horse died Saturday after being injured following the sixth race at Churchill Downs, making it the ninth fatality since April 27 at the home of the Kentucky Derby. Swanson Lake, a 3-year-old filly, was pulled up by jockey James Graham about 100

Associated Press May 20, 2023, 02:07 PM ET BALTIMORE — A horse trained by Bob Baffert was euthanized on the track after injuring a leg during a race on the Preakness undercard Saturday and sending his unseated jockey to the hospital. Hours before the second leg of the Triple Crown, favorite Havnameltdown buckled forward and

Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff WriterMay 19, 2023, 10:01 AM ET Close Covered the NFL since 2013 Previously covered the Saints for the Times-Picayune and The Athletic Bengals beat writer for ESPN from 2016-19 Additional betting analysis provided by Anita Marks. File has been updated to account for news of No. 8 horse First Mission. The

Associated Press May 19, 2023, 06:58 PM ET BALTIMORE — Taxed raced to an upset victory in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday, closing strong for a convincing win over Hoosier Philly and unbeaten favorite Faiza. Claimed by owner Richard Bahde last year for $50,000, Taxed won this $300,000 race at Pimlico by 3 3/4

Michael A. Fletcher, ESPNMay 19, 2023, 07:42 AM ET Close Michael Fletcher is a senior writer with ESPN’s enterprise and investigative team. Before that, he wrote for ESPN’s The Undefeated, focusing on politics, criminal justice and social issues. He spent 21 years at The Washington Post, where his beats included the national economy, the White

Associated Press May 19, 2023, 10:05 AM ET BALTIMORE — Brad Cox-trained First Mission has been scratched from the Preakness on the advice of veterinarians, taking one of the top contenders out of the Triple Crown race 36 hours before post time. Owner Godolphin and the Maryland Jockey Club announced the scratch early Friday, saying

ESPN.com staff May 19, 2023, 09:26 AM ET The second leg of the Triple Crown kicks off this Saturday, May 20, with the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will look to continue his bid for the first Triple Crown since Justify did it in

Associated Press May 15, 2023, 05:59 PM ET HALETHORPE, Md. — Kentucky Derby winner Mage was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness at the post position draw Monday. He’s the only horse in the field of eight set to take part in the second race of the Triple Crown two weeks

Associated Press May 14, 2023, 10:14 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A horse died Sunday after a race at Churchill Downs, making it the eighth fatality in recent weeks at the home of the Kentucky Derby. Rio Moon “suffered a catastrophic injury to his left foreleg a few strides after the wire,” according to notes

Associated Press May 12, 2023, 11:12 AM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby winner Mage will run in the 148th Preakness following an encouraging workout at Churchill Downs, his co-owner said. Mage galloped about 1½ miles at a brisk pace with exercise rider J.J. Delgado aboard on a cloudy but mild Friday morning at the

Associated Press May 11, 2023, 05:31 PM ET NEW YORK — Hall of Fame horse trainer Todd Pletcher has been suspended 10 days and fined as the result of a positive 2022 drug test involving Forte, who was scratched hours before the Kentucky Derby last weekend because of an injury. Forte was disqualified after winning

Associated Press May 11, 2023, 03:41 PM ET Kentucky Derby winner Mage remains on track to run in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore next week, with a final decision expected Friday. Ramiro Restrepo, part of the ownership group, said Thursday those in charge of deciding Mage’s next race wanted to see one final workout before

Associated Press May 8, 2023, 06:44 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky racing officials have placed scratched Kentucky Derby favorite Forte on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list that may require the colt to pass a soundness test in Maryland in order to race in the Preakness. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced the update on

ESPN News Services May 6, 2023, 09:15 AM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two more horses died in races at Churchill Downs on Saturday — making it seven in all in recent days — and early Kentucky Derby favorite Forte was scratched with an injury in another series of blows to a sport already reeling from

Associated Press May 6, 2023, 07:14 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mage crossed the finish line to win the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, overtaking Two Phil’s down the stretch to win the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Mage, who had only one victory in three previous races, covered the

ESPN News Services May 6, 2023, 09:15 AM ET Kentucky Derby favorite Forte has been scratched from Saturday’s race, Churchill Downs announced. The decision to remove Forte was made after a Saturday morning workout. Forte galloped on the track and then jogged outside the barn, with trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole seen meeting

Associated Press May 5, 2023, 06:53 PM ET LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Pretty Mischievous took charge in the stretch and survived a late push by Gambling Girl to win the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks by a neck on Friday at Churchill Downs. The Brendan Walsh-trained filly started from the No. 14 post at 10-1 odds and