Mon, 09/07/2020 - 11:26

Kentucky Derby: John Velazquez wins his third, agent Ron Anderson his fifth

Barbara D. Livingston
John Velazquez had previously won the 2011 Derby on Animal Kingdom and the 2017 edition aboard Always Dreaming.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Authentic was the third Derby winner for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and his first with Ron Anderson as his agent. Velazquez, who previously won with Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), donated a portion of his earnings to fellow rider Vinnie Bednar, who suffered lower-limb paralysis in an Aug. 22 spill at Los Alamitos.

The Derby was the 200th career Grade 1 victory for Velazquez, making him just the third jockey to reach that milestone, following Jerry Bailey and Mike Smith.

Mon, 09/07/2020 - 11:10

Kentucky Derby: Black Lives Matter protests a somber backdrop to Authentic's victory

Barbara D. Livingston
A plane with a banner reading "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" flew over Churchill Downs just prior to the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Even though Churchill Downs on Saturday was closed to spectators and all but a select few as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the calls for racial justice that have gripped Louisville for more than three months were visible before, during, and after the Kentucky Derby.

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 18:23

Kentucky Derby TV viewership off sharply from year ago

The Kentucky Derby broadcast on NBC-TV on Saturday peaked at 9.8 million viewers, a steep fall from the viewership for last year’s broadcast when the race was held in May.

According to NBC, the viewership number was derived from a “fast national” rating of a 4.8 with a 14 share. Last year, the broadcast had a national rating of a 10.9, with a 25 share. Share measures the percentage of televisions in use watching a specific broadcast.

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 14:00

Kentucky Derby: Baffert calls it 'the most crazy 30 minutes I’ve had in racing'

Barbara D. Livingston
Authentic will remain based at Churchill Downs for the next few weeks, trainer Bob Baffert, right, said Sunday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In vivid contrast to the previous day, Sunday morning at Churchill Downs was a place of serenity.

Bob Baffert, who on Saturday tied the legendary Ben A. Jones for the all-time record for most wins (six) by a Kentucky Derby trainer when Authentic triumphed under John Velazquez, made a morning-after appearance at his Barn 33 in front of just a handful of media – as opposed to the usual swarm that congregates in non-coronavirus years.

Sat, 09/05/2020 - 21:47

Kentucky Derby: Authentic turns back Tiz the Law to give Baffert record-tying sixth victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Authentic would not let Tiz the Law (left) by in the stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths. He earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Leave it to the year of the coronavirus to give a surreal ending to the Kentucky Derby.

Authentic won the 146th running of the fabled Run for the Roses on Saturday at spectator-free Churchill Downs, giving Bob Baffert a record-tying sixth victory in America’s greatest horse race while leaving the Hall of Fame trainer choking back tears.

Sat, 09/05/2020 - 21:32

Kentucky Derby 2020 handle down 52 percent

Debra A. Roma
Authentic wins the 146th Kentucky Derby. A total of $79.4 million was bet on the race.

Total handle on a Kentucky Derby run four months after the first Saturday of May dropped just more than 50 percent this year, underlining the importance of the race’s longtime spot on the calendar.

Sat, 09/05/2020 - 20:40

Great expectations evaporate into disappointment for the Sackatoga team

Barbara D. Livingston
Exercise rider Heather Smullen consoles Tiz the Law after his second-place finish in the 146th Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was not quite the gathering they wanted.

Sat, 09/05/2020 - 19:45

Kentucky Derby 2020 payouts

Winning payouts on the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, 2020.

Sat, 09/05/2020 - 16:57

Sittin On Go draws first blood with Iroquois victory

Emily Shields
Sittin On Go wins the Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, becoming the first horse to earn points toward the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - About three hours before the 2020 Kentucky Derby was run, Sittin On Go announced himself as the first arrival on the road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The colt remained unbeaten in his short career by springing a $50 upset in the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, the first points-scoring race toward next year's Derby.

Fri, 09/04/2020 - 18:54

Kentucky Oaks-Derby double will-pays; early Kentucky Derby odds

Debra A. Roma
Shedaresthedevil, with Florent Geroux up, wins the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Here are the Oaks-Derby double will-pays and the early odds (as of 6 p.m. Eastern on Friday) from advance wagering on Saturday’s 146th Kentucky Derby (pool totals unavailable):