Thu, 04/23/2026 - 15:04

Del-Cid leaves California, plans to retire from riding

Barbara D. Livingston

Vicente Del-Cid was a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022.

Jockey Vicente Del-Cid, a leading rider at Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs in recent years who currently ranks among the 20 leading riders in the nation in wins, left California earlier this month and told his agent that he plans to retire.

Del-Cid has not ridden since April 5 at Santa Anita. He moved from Louisiana to California in late February and had three wins from 25 mounts at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“He retired from riding and moved back to Guatemala,” his agent, Ryan Glatt, said on Wednesday. “I think he wanted to be closer to his family.”

Thu, 04/23/2026 - 14:27

2026 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Litmus Test works quickly from gate in blinkers

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Litmus Test, seventh without blinkers in the Arkansas Derby, will add the equipment back for the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs
Thursday, April 23
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 66°
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The inexact science of preparing a horse for a grueling race like the Kentucky Derby was never more on display than Thursday at Churchill Downs, with trainers using very diverse methods of bringing their 3-year-olds up to the big event. Even within their own barns.

Thu, 04/23/2026 - 11:47

Front-loaded spring meet opens with record $27.8 million in purse money

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

This Saturday kicks off the Churchill Downs spring meet, with a total of 44 race dates and 50 stakes races.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This week, the eyes of the sports world are on Louisville, as the River City prepares for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

“It’s a great, great time of year,” said trainer Brad Cox, a Louisville native. “It’s Louisville’s day to shine throughout the world.”

But there is life beyond the Kentucky Derby. This Saturday kicks off the Churchill Downs spring meet, with a total of 44 race dates and 50 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $27.8 million.

Thu, 04/23/2026 - 11:43

New protocols released for Santa Anita downhill turf course

By Brad Free

Barbara D. Livingston

Hillside sprints will now be limited to stakes and allowances.

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the wake of a fatal breakdown in a hillside turf sprint April 4, followed by miscommunication that compromised heavily favored Queen Maxima in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes the same day, Santa Anita veterinary staff have issued new protocols for hillside turf sprints.

The Santa Anita Downhill Turf Course Protocols limit horses eligible for downhill races and require jockeys to school their mounts downhill over the dirt crossing before going to the starting gate at the top of the hill. The directive also precludes apprentice jockeys from riding in those races.

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:05

Von Hemel noncommital on Preakness for Crupper

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Crupper put up a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 80 in the Bathhouse Row.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Triple Crown nominee Crupper earned a Preakness berth for his win in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes last Saturday at Oaklawn Park and will be considered for a start in the 3-year-old classic, according to his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.

Crupper emerged from the Bathhouse Row in good order and is now settled in at Churchill. Von Hemel and Robert Zoellner, who bred and owns Crupper, will be debating a start in the Preakness.

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:03

Met Mile in play for Saudi Crown's next start

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Saudi Crown launched his 6-year-old season at Oaklawn on March 5 with a ratings handicap win over 1 1/16 miles.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown and the 3-year-old colt Munnings Challenge have been two of the most notable winners trainer Brad Cox has had at the current Oaklawn Park meet that closes May 2.

Saudi Crown launched his 6-year-old season here March 5 with a ratings handicap win over 1 1/16 miles, earning one of the meet’s best Beyer Speed Figures, a 101. Saudi Crown then traveled to Keeneland and won the Grade 3 Commonwealth over seven furlongs April 4. For his next start, the $3.6 million earner could return to Grade 1 company, according to Cox.

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:20

Santa Anita has extensive Derby week schedule

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Santa Anita will conduct racing from April 30 to May 3, with a twilight program on May 1, the same day as the Kentucky Oaks.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita will conduct races for four days – from April 30 to May 3 – and run a twilight program on May 1 in conjunction with Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.

The track announced earlier this spring that racing will be held on Thursday, April 30 as a makeup for weather-related cancellations since late December. The April 30 program will be run on conjunction with a program at Churchill Downs that includes three stakes, which could lead to strong simulcast handle.

On May 1, Santa Anita will begin its live program at 3:15 p.m. Pacific.

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:20

D'Amato adds graded stakes winner Majestic Oops to Kentucky barn

By Steve Andersen

Coady Media

Majestic Oops, an upset winner of the Azeri, has been added to trainer Phil D'Amato's Kentucky-based stable.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Phil D’Amato said earlier this week that he has added the multiple stakes winner Majestic Oops to his Kentucky-based stable.

Majestic Oops, a 6-year-old California-bred mare, has won 9 of 36 starts and earned $1,064,808. She was previously trained by Dan Ward, who recently accepted a position as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in Kentucky.

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:19

D'Amato will have Almendares, King of Gosford in search of sixth Shoemaker Mile win

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Almendares won the American Stakes, with his Phil D'Amato-trained stablemate King of Gosford in fourth.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Almendares and King of Gosford, first and fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita last Saturday, will represent trainer Phil D’Amato in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 25.

D’Amato has won two of the last four runnings of the Shoemaker on turf, including last year with King of Gosford. He has won the race five times in his career since 2014.

Tue, 04/21/2026 - 11:05

Jockey Eliseo Ruiz suspended 30 days for unsightly ride

By Patrick Moquin

Debra A. Roma

Eliseo Ruiz will begin his suspension on Thursday. He said he was riding Bailout Billy to instructions on March 31.

Eliseo Ruiz has been suspended 30 days for his controversial ride aboard Bailout Billy at Parx Racing on March 31, in which the jockey is said to have “failed to give his best effort and failed to use proper diligence.”

Ruiz was riding the front-running 4-year-old filly in a first-level allowance and carried a two-length lead into the stretch, but he elected to not use his crop as several rivals began making up ground in the six-furlong sprint.

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