Racing

Big races, contenders and life after the track.

52 articles

What Is an Apprentice Jockey? The 'Bug,' Weight Allowances and a Teen's Keeneland Debut

A 17-year-old from Puerto Rico broke last and rallied to second in his first race at Keeneland. Here is what the asterisk next to his name means, and how a 'bug' rider earns his way to journeyman.

Updated Oct 15, 20267 min read

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Caulfield Cup 2026: The 150th Running, Ballot Exemptions and G1 Form
Melbourne's great handicap reaches its 150th running on Saturday with a record A$6 million purse, and the field is set. Here are all 18 runners and four emergencies, the storylines from the draw, and how weights, ballots and the road to the Melbourne Cup work.
Oct 14, 20268 min read
Who Is Calandagan? The Gelding Defending His Champion Stakes Crown at Ascot
The 2025 world's best racehorse returns to Ascot to try for back-to-back Champion Stakes wins. Here's who he is, why he's a gelding and what to watch on Saturday.
Oct 14, 20266 min read
What Is a Barrier Trial? How Racehorses Rehearse Before Race Day
Soldi won the Debutant Stakes at Caulfield on her first start after a recent barrier trial. Here's what these practice races are, how they work and why their results can mislead.
Oct 14, 20267 min read
Thoroughbred Foal Crop 2027: Why the Jockey Club Expects Only 16,500 Foals
Fewer stallions, bigger books and a Kentucky share near 70%: the new Report of Mares Bred numbers explain where North American racing's next generation is coming from.
Oct 13, 20266 min read
Mallorca Trotting Races: Son Pardo and the 2026 Gran Premi del Criador
On October 12, Magic Mar and Joan Antoni Riera won Mallorca's big race for four-year-old trotters. Here's how Balearic harness racing works and how to see it yourself.
Oct 12, 20266 min read
Cox Plate 2026: Warwoven, Weight-for-Age and Why 3-Year-Olds Matter
Warwoven just won the Golden Rose–Caulfield Guineas double. Now his trainer is weighing a shot at Australia's great weight-for-age race, held away from Moonee Valley for the first time.
Oct 11, 20266 min read
Velka Pardubicka 2026: Final Orders Wins Czechia's Toughest Chase
The horse his trainer called the smallest in the field beat a former winner over about 4¼ miles and 31 obstacles. Here's how the race works and why it's so famous.
Oct 11, 20266 min read
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup 2026: Tam Tam Wins Keeneland's Grade 1 Filly Turf Test
Tam Tam led throughout under Junior Alvarado to take the $750,000 Grade 1 on the Keeneland turf, her second straight Grade 1, three weeks before the Breeders' Cup comes to town.
Oct 10, 20265 min read
Cesarewitch 2026: Newmarket's 2¼-Mile Marathon Handicap Explained
A £175,000 heritage handicap over 2 miles 2 furlongs, with last year's winner Beylerbeyi back. Here is how a long-distance handicap works.
Oct 9, 20264 min read
Fillies' Mile 2026: Musical Times, Rogue Passion and the Road to the 1000 Guineas
Charlie Appleby's unbeaten Godolphin filly goes for the Group 1 prize at Newmarket today. Here is what the race is and what to watch in two-year-old fillies.
Oct 9, 20264 min read
British Champions Day 2026: Bay City Roller's Ascot-Keeneland Double
Two weeks after chasing Daryz home in the Arc, Bay City Roller is set for Ascot's Champion Stakes, with Keeneland planned two weeks after that. No horse has won both the Champion Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf in the same year since 2000.
Oct 8, 20266 min read
Dewhurst Stakes 2026: Desert Castle vs Darkness Falls at Newmarket
Godolphin's unbeaten Frankel colt meets Coolmore's Golden Fleece winner on Saturday, Oct. 10. Here's what the race is, who's in it and what to watch.
Oct 8, 20266 min read
Who Is Sandman? The Arkansas Derby Winner and Social Media Star Retires to Stud
Griffin Johnson, the influencer who co-owns him, announced on Oct. 7 that the gray Tapit colt is done racing. Here's his career, what life at stud looks like and why New York was the pick.
Oct 8, 20266 min read
What Is a Claiming Race? Possiblemente's Path to the Breeders' Cup
Claimed for $50,000 at Woodbine a year ago, Possiblemente now has an automatic, expense-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. His story is the best way to understand racing's most common race type.
Oct 7, 20266 min read
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Who Is Ka Ying Rising? The World's Top Sprinter After His Trial Loss
Hong Kong's unbeaten-since-2024 sprinter was edged by a neck in his last trial before defending The Everest on Oct 17. The same thing happened last year.
Oct 6, 20266 min read
Breeders' Cup Supplemental Fee: Why Sorrento Sky Needs $200,000 to Run
Phil D'Amato could send six horses to Keeneland on Oct 31. One of them, a two-time Grade 2 winner, can only run if his owners pay $200,000. Here's how Breeders' Cup eligibility works and why it costs so much to fix later.
Oct 6, 20266 min read
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Breeders' Cup Juvenile 2026: American History, No U. S. S. Valor
Two Grade 1 wins on Oct. 3 shaped the 2-year-old picture for Keeneland. One winner is unbeaten and in. The other earned a free ticket, and his owner has now said he won't use it.
Oct 5, 20266 min read
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf 2026: Agate, Repo Man and the Keeneland Mile
Agate won Keeneland's Bourbon for an automatic berth, and unbeaten Repo Man survived an inquiry at Santa Anita. Here's who is headed to the 2-year-old turf championship, why Europeans keep winning it and how the Keeneland mile plays.
Oct 5, 20267 min read
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint 2026: Adonius Wins the Indian Summer
A European-trained gelding rallied wide from off the pace in his U.S. debut to take a four-horse photo at Keeneland. Here's what the race is, why Europeans ship in and what to watch on Oct. 30.
Oct 5, 20264 min read
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Arc de Triomphe 2026 Result: Daryz Wins Again, Admire Terra 11th
Daryz won the Arc for the second year running on Oct. 4 at ParisLongchamp, beating Bay City Roller by 1¼ lengths with Diamond Necklace third. Japan's Admire Terra finished 11th and Meisho Tabaru 14th, so the wait for a first Japanese Arc goes on.
Oct 4, 202611 min read
Who Is Blue Bolt? Juddmonte's Unbeaten Miler After the Sun Chariot
Andrew Balding's 4-year-old filly made it four Group 1 wins in a row at Newmarket on Oct. 3. Next could be Keeneland, but nobody has picked the race yet.
Oct 4, 20266 min read
Delaware Handicap 2026: Regaled Goes Last to First for a DelCap Double
The Whit Beckman-trained mare swept wide on a muddy Delaware Park track to become only the eighth horse to win the DelCap twice. Here's how she did it, and what it means for the Distaff.
Oct 4, 20265 min read
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Breeders' Cup Mile 2026: Zulu Kingdom, Lake Forest and the Turf Mile Test
Keeneland's $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile hands its winner a free spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile, which is run over the same turf course four weeks later. Here's who's running, how the course plays and what to watch.
Oct 3, 20266 min read
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf 2026: Classic Q Wins the First Lady by a Nose
A $40,000 yearling just beat a $3.7 million rival in the last stride at Keeneland. Here's what that win means, and doesn't mean, for the Oct. 31 turf championship for fillies and mares, explained in plain terms.
Oct 3, 20266 min read
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint 2026: Nobals, the Woodford and Keeneland
Keeneland's Woodford Stakes is the marquee turf sprint prep over the Breeders' Cup course before Oct. 31, but it doesn't hand out a ticket. Here's who's in it, why the 2023 champion skipped it, and how a 5½-furlong grass race is won.
Oct 3, 20267 min read
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Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies 2026: Emphatic Stays Unbeaten and Books Her Spot
The Nyquist filly led all the way at Keeneland to go 3-for-3, and she has now won over the exact course and distance of the Oct. 30 championship.
Oct 2, 20266 min read
Breeders' Futurity 2026: Coach Pope and Keeneland's Juvenile Test
Kenny McPeek's Tapit colt, named for Kentucky's basketball coach, tries two turns for the first time in a race that sends its winner straight to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Oct 2, 20266 min read
Frizette Stakes 2026: Libby Lloyd and the Dirt Dozen Path
A Grade 1 test for seven 2-year-old fillies, with Breeders' Cup entry money on the line for the top three.
Oct 2, 20264 min read
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 2026: R Disaster and Ways and Means
R Disaster went gate to wire at Belmont on Thursday and her trainer says Keeneland is likely next. Two days later the Thoroughbred Club of America hands out the last automatic spot. Here is how the female sprint championship works and who is heading there.
Oct 1, 20267 min read
Champagne Stakes 2026: U.S.S. Valor vs Gaudreau at Belmont
Six two-year-olds run a one-turn mile on Saturday for a Breeders' Cup Juvenile berth and Kentucky Derby points. Here is who is in, what the numbers mean and how it all fits together.
Oct 1, 20264 min read
Juddmonte Spinster 2026: Counting Stars Takes On Older Fillies and Mares at Keeneland
A five-horse Grade 1 on Sunday gives a 3-year-old filly her first test against older fillies and mares, with a Breeders' Cup Distaff berth on the line.
Oct 1, 20264 min read
Keeneland Fall Meet 2026: 90th Anniversary and Family Guide
Seventeen days of racing, 22 stakes and the track's 90th birthday lead into the Breeders' Cup. Here's how to plan a visit or follow along.
Sep 30, 20265 min read
Turnbull Stakes 2026: Sir Delius Defends at Flemington and What It Means for the Cups
Sir Delius defends the Group 1 at Flemington on Saturday. Here is the field, why the race matters and how the Spring Carnival ladder works.
Sep 30, 20265 min read
What Does 'Win and You're In' Mean? Breeders' Cup Challenge Races
Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend and Belmont's Oct. 3 card are full of races whose winners earn a Breeders' Cup spot. Here's what that promise really means.
Sep 30, 20265 min read
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Melbourne Cup 2026: 71 First Acceptors, Half Yours and How the Field Is Cut
The VRC's first acceptances trimmed 101 nominations to 71, with the defending champion still in. Here is how the last 24 get chosen.
Sep 29, 20264 min read
Epsom Handicap 2026: Autumn Boy, Well Written and Handicap Weights
The Group 1 mile at Randwick has its 19-horse field. Here is who drew where, and how weights and barriers shape a handicap.
Sep 29, 20264 min read
Breeders' Cup Distaff 2026: Nitrogen Leads the Mares to Keeneland
Champion Nitrogen cruised through her final prep at Belmont Park, and champion Super Corredora came back with a win in the Zenyatta. Here's what the Distaff is, how Breeders' Cup qualifying really works and which fillies and mares already hold a spot.
Sep 28, 20267 min read
Breeders' Cup Sprint 2026: Listenupshance and the Race to Keeneland
A $10,000 yearling who won his first race in a $20,000 claimer just won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship after grabbing the lead in the first 100 yards. Here's how six-furlong racing works and what to watch when the sprinters meet at Keeneland.
Sep 28, 20266 min read
Breeders' Cup Turf 2026: Atitlan and the Storm-Delayed Turf Classic
A five-year-old coming off an 11-month break just won Santa Anita's big turf prep, and a nor'easter pushed Belmont's 1½-mile Grade 1 to a Thursday. Here's who matters, how horses qualify and what to watch until the gates open at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Sep 28, 20266 min read
What Is the Canadian Triple Crown? King's Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes
Longshot Fire and Wine led all the way in the 2026 Breeders' Stakes, and nobody swept the series again. Here's how Canada's three classics work and why a sweep hasn't happened since 2003.
Sep 28, 20267 min read
Frankie Dettori Magnificent Seven: 30 Years Since His Ascot Sweep
On Sept. 28, 1996, one jockey won every race on a seven-race card at Ascot. Thirty years later, nobody in Britain has matched it. Here's how it happened and why it still stands.
Sep 28, 20267 min read
The Everest 2026: Jimmysstar, the Slot System and the A$20M Sprint
Jimmysstar's last-to-first Manikato win put him back in the Everest conversation. Here's how the world's richest turf race picks its field, and why a Group 1 winner can still be left out.
Sep 28, 20266 min read
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Breeders' Cup Classic 2026 Contenders: Forged Steel and Dragoon Guard
A 12-1 upset at Santa Anita handed out the last automatic ticket to the $7 million Classic on Oct. 31. Here's who's in, who's knocking and how the field gets picked.
Sep 27, 20266 min read
What Is a Grade 1 Race? Group vs Grade, Explained with Belmont and Newmarket
Newmarket stages two Group 1s for 2-year-olds today, and El Cordobes heads the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont, moved to Oct. 1 by a nor'easter. Here's what those labels actually mean.
Sep 26, 20267 min read
Two-Year-Old Racehorses: Why Juvenile Races Like the Cheveley Park Matter
Newmarket just crowned three juvenile stars in one afternoon. Here's what a juvenile is, why their races matter, and the honest debate about racing horses at two.
Sep 26, 20267 min read
Lukas Classic 2026: Churchill's Breeders' Cup Prep and Its Namesake
Churchill Downs runs its fall showcase for older dirt horses today, five weeks before the Breeders' Cup Classic. Here's what the race is, who's running, and why it carries the name of racing's most famous white-hatted trainer.
Sep 26, 20266 min read
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How to Name a Racehorse: Jockey Club Rules and the Merrylegs Rename
A debut winner in Indiana was forced to take a new name this week. Here's how Thoroughbred naming really works, from the 18-character limit to the names you can never use.
Sep 24, 20266 min read
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Breeders' Cup 2026 at Keeneland: Dates, Post Times and How to Watch
Future Stars Friday, a Halloween Championship Saturday and a possible Forever Young vs. Sovereignty clash: your family-friendly guide to watching every race.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
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Who Is Forever Young? Japan's Champion Racehorse Bound for the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic
The defending Classic champion tops the rankings after a Belmont win that left his own trainer only half satisfied. Here's his record, his rivalry with Sovereignty and why Japan keeps coming.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
Little Brown Jug 2026: Harness Racing's Big Day and How Pacing Works
Eleven 3-year-old pacers go for harness racing's most famous trophy at a county fair in Ohio. Here's who's in, how the heats work and why these horses move the way they do.
Sep 23, 20266 min read
What Is an OTTB? Retired Racehorses and the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover
The Thoroughbred Makeover hits Kentucky Oct. 7–10 and Japan's Retired Racehorse Cup has ex-racers trending. Here's what an off-track Thoroughbred is, what it can become and how to bring one home.
Sep 23, 20267 min read

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