Churchill Downs news stories on Newser

Kentucky Derby Body Was a Groom

Matt Cantor — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:37:25 CDT

Police have identified the body found yesterday at a Churchill Downs barn , whom they believe was murdered. Adan Fabian Perez, 48, was reportedly a groom for trainer Cecil Borel and had been licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission since 2008. The Guatemala native lived on Churchill Down's backside, where...

Body Found at Kentucky Derby Track

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:51:42 CDT

The day after I'll Have Another broke from the field to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, Kentucky police are investigating a man's body that was found at Churchill Downs this morning. The body was found in Barn 8, just four barns away from where the new Derby...

Horses Run Loose After Tornado Hits Churchill Downs

Rob Quinn — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:40:55 CDT

A tornado hit the home of the Kentucky Derby Wednesday night, damaging several barns and leaving horses running loose. No injuries to humans or horses were reported after the tornado at Louisville's Churchill Downs, reports the AP . The horses were corralled and no damage to the racetrack's iconic twin spires...

Kentucky Derby Caller Quits, Cites Crippling Anxiety

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:10:05 CDT

"The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports" turned out to be the most hellish for the man who has been tasked with calling the race 13 times. Tom Durkin's annual preparation went well beyond poring over photos of horses and flash cards and toting around a notebook containing more than 2,...

Rain Cancels Derby Workouts

Sat, 01 May 2010 09:51:52 CDT

Heavy rain has postponed early morning workouts at Churchill Downs, where all 20 Kentucky Derby horses are still expected to start. Most turf races were being moved to the main dirt track today, at least until late in the day. That sparked numerous scratches in minor races. Kentucky state veterinarian...

You, Too, Can Pick a Winner

Wesley Oliver — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:37:02 CDT

Put down that mint julep: The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, and you still don’t have a horse to bet on. But you do have a prayer, because Christina Settimi of Forbes, with help from horse racing expert Dean Keppler, outlines a winning strategy. With $118 million wagered, novices have a...

Safety Remains in the Spotlight

M. Morris — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:40:01 CDT

A year after second-place finisher Eight Belles had to be euthanized following the Kentucky Derby, safety has improved—but the inherent dangers of horse racing remain immutable, MSNBC reports. The industry has altered the rules regarding steroids, whips, and horseshoes, "but the bottom line is, not a lot of change,...

I Want Revenge Is Early Derby Fave

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:06:55 CDT

I Want Revenge has been made the early 3-1 favorite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, with Pioneerof the Nile and Dunkirk sharing second-favorite status in the full field of 20 horses. I Want Revenge, coming off eye-catching victories on dirt in the Gotham Stakes and Wood Memorial at New York's Aqueduct,...

Crazy Colt Triggers Churchill Downs Tragedy

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:23:10 CDT

A colt who went bonkers during a workout at Churchill Downs threw his jockey then slammed into a filly who had to be put down because of her injuries, reports Horse and Hound . Several hopefuls for the upcoming Kentucky Derby were on the track, but none was injured. "The horse...