LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Things have gone so well all spring for Journalism that the sometimes nerve-wracking event that is the Kentucky Derby post-position draw didn’t weigh heavily on his trainer, Michael McCarthy.

But Journalism did fare extremely well, drawing post 8 in a field of 21 entered Saturday for the $5 million Kentucky Derby to be run May 3 at Churchill Downs. A stalking-type runner, Journalism did draw outside most of the expected speed in the race with the exception of East Avenue, who drew post 12.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Saturday, April 26
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 56
Track: Sloppy/Good/Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A drying-out surface had several trainers with Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders handicapping the condition of the racetrack as the morning progressed before deciding if and when to send their respective horses out to work Saturday at Churchill Downs.  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Having worked around Kentucky Derby winners Unbridled and Street Sense as well as race participants Vicar and McCraken, trainer Ian Wilkes knows there’s little margin for error to get to the world’s most famous horse race.

“You can’t have things go wrong, you have to keep the timing right,” Wilkes said.

With a week to go before Kentucky Derby 151, Wilkes believes the timing is right for Burnham Square to run his best race.

“He’s right where I want him,” Wilkes said.

In the late winter of 1993, California trainer Wally Dollase walked to Don Warren’s barn at Santa Anita to inspect a 5-year-old gelding who had amassed six wins.

A private deal was reached for $50,000, the same value as the gelding’s latest claiming race. With that, Journalism wound up with owner Rick Stephen and Dollase.

This winter, another horse named Journalism has developed into the nation’s leading 3-year-old, winning three consecutive graded stakes since mid-December at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita in the buildup to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Churchill Downs Inc. has put nearly $1 billion in renovations to its flagship Louisville track on hold, the company announced on Wednesday night, citing “increasing uncertainty surrounding construction costs related to tariffs and trade disputes, as well as current macro-economic conditions.” 

Coal Battle, the four-time stakes winner, had his third workout over Churchill Downs's main track since arriving in Louisville from Arkansas, going a half-mile in 47.97 seconds Tuesday morning in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch had Coal Battle going his first quarter in 24.38 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.16. Exercise rider Bethany Taylor was aboard.