Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:26

Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold dead at 31

Barbara D. Livingston
Touch Gold's win in the 1997 Belmont spoiled runner-up Silver Charm's Triple Crown bid.

Touch Gold, winner of the 1997 Belmont Stakes, has been euthanized at age 31 due to the infirmities of old age. His death was reported by Old Friends, where he had resided for the past decade.

Thu, 11/13/2025 - 10:50

Excessive forecasted rain forces Saturday cancellation at Del Mar

Barbara D. Livingston
Del Mar will run Saturday's scheduled Desi Arnaz to Sunday, when it will be co-featured with the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes.

Due to a pending rainstorm, Del Mar has canceled racing Saturday and postponed the scheduled $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes. The seven-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies is moved to Sunday. It would be run as a co-feature with the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes open to 2-year-old males.

As of Thursday morning, Del Mar still planned to race Friday. Post time Friday was moved up a half-hour to noon. The storm, expected to arrive late Thursday or early Friday, is forecast to dump as much as six inches of rain on Southern California.

Wed, 11/12/2025 - 10:26

Trainer Romans announces run for U.S. Senate

Julie Wright
In announcing his run, Dale Romans said he would “relive the pain and pressure of the affordability crisis on working people."

Dale Romans, a leading trainer in Kentucky and president of the local chapter of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, has launched a campaign to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Mitch McConnell.

In an announcement, Romans said that he will be running as an “independent Democrat.” The Democratic primary for the seat is scheduled to be held on May 19, and four other Democratic candidates with significant political experience have already announced their own campaigns.

Sun, 11/09/2025 - 16:49

Fully Subscribed could fill older female dirt division void for Brown

Joe Labozzetta
Fully Subscribed earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's triumph in the Mother Goose at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Fully Subscribed, dominant winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes, should fill the void left by the retirements of Grade 1 winners Randomized and Raging Sea for trainer Chad Brown in the older female dirt division in 2026.

Fully Subscribed, now fully healed from a tibial stress fracture that cost her the first half of her 3-year-old season, won the Mother Goose by  4 1/2 lengths, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. It was her third start off a layoff, which saw her lose twice in the first-level allowance ranks.

Sun, 11/09/2025 - 16:41

Disco Time's next race could be Saudi Cup

Susie Raisher /NYRA
Disco Time was given a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's victory in the Dwyer at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Disco Time’s dominant and fast victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Dwyer Stakes earned him a shot at the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 in Riyadh and that could very well be the undefeated colt’s next start.

The Saudi Cup is 98 days from the Dwyer. Disco Time, who remained undefeated in five starts, won the Dwyer off a 50-day layoff after he won the St. Louis Derby off a 244-day layoff. He won the Dwyer by 9 3/4 lengths, ran a mile in 1:33.86 and earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Sun, 11/09/2025 - 13:45

Sweet Azteca, Ag Bullet will continue racing, Baltas says

Barbara D. Livingston
Sweet Azteca was scratched from the BC Filly and Mare Sprint by regulatory veterinarians due to an issue with her right front.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sweet Azteca and Ag Bullet are not done yet. Notwithstanding uncertainty following the Breeders’ Cup, plans call for both Grade 1 winners to continue their racing careers, trainer Richard Baltas said Sunday morning.

Fri, 11/07/2025 - 13:10

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan retired

Barbara D. Livingston
Mystik Dan scores his biggest victory, in the 150th Kentucky Derby in 2024, defeating Sierra Leone and Forever Young, both eventual Breeders' Cup Classic winners.

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan has officially been retired, Churchill Downs and trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday on social media, McPeek saying he was "extremely proud" of his "brave and intelligent" horse.

Mystik Dan, who raced for Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm, now retires to Airdrie Stud, which announced in June that it had acquired his future rights. First, however, he will make a farewell appearance at Churchill Downs, parading in the paddock with the fourth race on Saturday.

Thu, 11/06/2025 - 12:49

With racing future uncertain, Sovereignty flies from California to Kentucky

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Bill Mott said it's been over a week since Sovereignty spiked a fever or had an elevated temperature.

Sovereignty, the dual-classic winner and leading candidate for Horse of the Year, arrived at Keeneland Wednesday afternoon following a flight from California, trainer Bill Mott said Thursday.

Mott said he does not have any official word from the higher-ups at Godolphin on whether Sovereignty will race again. Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner, was forced to scratch from last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a fever.

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 14:34

Journalism to return for 4-year-old campaign with Met Mile as initial target

Debra A. Roma
Journalism has won six races and $4,348,880 from 11 starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Journalism will target the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap as his first main objective in 2026, trainer Michael McCarthy said Wednesday.

McCarthy confirmed that Journalism will stay in training at age 4 following an admirable eight-start 3-year-old campaign that included three Grade 1 wins. He also finished fourth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.

“He will stay in training next year,” McCarthy said. For an initial target, the trainer did not hesitate in saying, “The Met Mile.”

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 13:56

Baffert unveils 2026 plans for Breeders' Cup trainees

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Bob Baffert said he'd like to take Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos to the Saudi Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nysos and Splendora hope to parlay 2025 Breeders’ Cup victories into successful 2026 campaigns, while Seismic Beauty will seek redemption next year.

Early this week, trainer Bob Baffert outlined plans for his Breeders’ Cup runners, including Dirt Mile winner Nysos and Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora. Plans call for both to remain in training next season at age 5 along with Seismic Beauty, the beaten favorite in the Distaff.