Features

Churchill Downs News Release: Record Spring Meet Wagering

Godolphin’s talented homebred First Mission, an impressive winner of the Alysheba Stakes (Grade II) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, headlines a competitive field of nine older horses that entered next Saturday’s 43rd running of the $1 million Stephen...

For veteran trainer Donnie Habeeb, his morning starts with a familiar routine but it’s a routine unlike most on the backside of Churchill Downs. Habeeb, who trains four horses, handles every aspect their care alongside his wife of 40 years, Beth. Donnie...

Rob O’Connor II, a fixture on the Kentucky racing circuit for nearly 39 years, has decided to retire from his career as a trainer, marking the end of an era filled with dedication and passion for the sport.
“There are so many people in this game that...

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito may be down on horses but he’s far from out of the game. At age 76 the veteran conditioner, who has won 35 Grade I races, including two Kentucky Derbys, two Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness Stakes, currently trains 12...

Trainer Steve Margolis has been a fixture on the Churchill Downs backstretch for more than two decades. Despite his string of 40-50 horses shrinking to just six this year, Margolis remains determined to rebuild his stable back to the numbers it once was.
“Winning...

In a new series, we will be showcasing veterans of the horse racing industry who have dedicated more than 30 years to the sport while training fewer than 30 horses. The first article in the series will highlight trainer Jimmy Baker.
Baker, a multiple...

Lil E. Tee paved the way for Pennsylvania-breds, becoming the first to win the Kentucky Derby in 1992. Smarty became the second in 2004.

A week after 36-1 Birdstone surpassed Smarty Jones in the final 70 yards of the 2004 Belmont S. (G2) to wreck the favorite’s Triple Crown bid, the second-largest upset in Stephen Foster H. (G1) history took place at Churchill Downs.