Horse Racing: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Saratoga Kicks Off Fourth of July Racing Festival

For the first time, Saratoga is set to host the July 4th Racing Festival. The four days of racing are typically held at Belmont Park but were moved upstate while the home of the Test of Champions is renovated. First post on Thursday is 1:10pm EDT. The Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes is the only graded stakes on Thursday’s card.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Intro to Horse Betting: The Pick 5

With Saratoga and Del Mar about to kick off, now’s the perfect time to sharpen your skills for one of horse racing’s most exciting bets: the Pick 5. It’s a high-stakes wager that can deliver massive payouts if you know how to play it right.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 30

Divisional Rankings: Mindframe edges stablemate Fierceness for top spot

With a victory in the Stephen Foster, Mindframe narrowly edges his stablemate Fierceness atop the division. While Fierceness is obviously talented, Mindframe has beaten some of the country’s best horses from seven furlongs to nine furlongs.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 29

Tom’s Magic Pounces in Tale of the Cat, Eyes King’s Plate

Tom’s Magic, a 3-year-old colt by Justify, captured Saturday’s edition of the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park, marking his third win in five career starts for CJ Thoroughbreds.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 29

Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas passes at 89

After being assigned her barn at Saratoga for the summer, Cherie DeVaux took to Facebook to share what it meant to move into Barn 83, once the summer home to the legendary D.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 28

Patches O'Houlihan wanders in stretch but holds off My Boy Prince to take Highlander

While very much a fan favorite at Woodbine, Patches O’Houlihan got a little too close to the fans - and gave his backers some worry - in the stretch of Saturday’s Grade 2 Highlander.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 28

Brilliant Berti leads DeVaux exacta in Wise Dan

Second by a neck to Mercante a month ago in the Grade 3 Arlington, Brilliant Berti got back to his winning ways in Saturday’s Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 28

Mindframe proves he belongs with impressive Stephen Foster win

It might seem silly to suggest a horse that is already a Grade 1 winner emerged as a superstar Saturday at Churchill. However, Mindframe did just that, turning in a very game and impressive victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 28

Thorpedo Anna coasts to rebound victory in Fleur de Lis

While not quite a slam dunk, Thorpedo Anna did indeed rebound from a last-place finish in the La Troienne with a relatively easy victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 28

'My Old Kentucky Home'

When “My Old Kentucky Home” plays at the track, who doesn’t get a little choked up? It’s tradition, its nostalgia, it’s pure Kentucky. The man behind that iconic song, Stephen Foster, never saw a horse race at Churchill Downs, but his legacy gallops on in the form of the Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 27

Strangles Outbreak at Saratoga Triggers Weekend Scratches at Monmouth Park

The unfortunate news of another strangles outbreak at Saratoga, this time in Barn 66 with the George Weaver-trained filly Tenacious Child, has affected racing procedures at the Jersey Shore.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 27

Lambourn tops five for O'Brien in search of 17th Irish Derby victory

It’s only fitting that it’ll be an O’Brien-fest Sunday at The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is not only Europe’s top trainer but the record holder when it comes to the Irish Derby.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 27

Churchill Downs Late Pick 5 Strategy for Saturday, June 28

Churchill Downs will feature a loaded card on Saturday, including four graded stakes races. The late sequence includes three of those and offers some wide-open and great betting opportunities.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 27

Grade 1 Winner Highland Falls Returns to the Races in New York

Grade 1 winner Highland Falls is set to make his five-year-old debut in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont at the Big A on Friday. The Brad Cox trainee received automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024 after winning the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 26

Positive Case of Strangles Identified in Saratoga’s Barn 66

Another Saratoga barn has been placed under quarantine due to a strangles outbreak. A group of horses in Barn 66 at Saratoga Race Course will undergo a 14-day quarantine, per the New York Racing Association, Inc.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 26

Hanshin leads stakes action to close out Churchill's spring meet

Churchill Downs concludes its spring meet Sunday with a stellar quintet of stakes - two juvenile sprints, a 3-year-old sprint, a turf route for older females, and a one-mile contest for older horses.

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 26

Summer Stakes at Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs isn’t just about the Run for the Roses, it’s a summer destination packed with high-stakes action every weekend. This Saturday, June 28,

Horse Racing News / Horse Racing on SI / June 26

The Unsung Heroes of Churchill Downs

Sir Edmund Hillary had Tenzing Norgay, Tiger Woods had Mike Cowan. And if you’re a young horse nervous before a race at Churchill Downs, you have Harley the Magnificent.

Horse Racing News / Yardbarker / June 8

Sovereignty's Belmont Stakes win sparks huge question

Sovereignty's Belmont Stakes win sparks huge 'what if' question

Sovereignty topped Journalism again on Saturday evening, winning the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes and claiming two of the three Triple Crown races in 2025.

Sovereignty outruns Journalism again to win Belmont Stakes

Belmont Stakes recap, winnings

Best photos from Belmont Stakes 2025

...and best outfits from Belmont Stakes

Renovated Belmont to host Breeders' Cup in 2027

Horse Racing News / Yardbarker / May 17

Watch: Journalism wins Preakness Stakes with incredible finish

After a close second-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, Journalism bounced back in a big -- and thrilling -- way on Saturday to gets its big win of 2025 by taking the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes.

Journalism was resilient to the end with Preakness victory

Preakness Stakes 2025 results, payouts after Journalism's fantastic finish

Can you name every Preakness Stakes winner since 1873?

The 'Triple Crown winners' quiz

Horse Racing News / Yardbarker / May 4

Watch: Sovereignty edges out Journalism in 151st Kentucky Derby

It may not have been as close as last year's photo finish Kentucky Derby, but the 151st running on Saturday evening still produced plenty of drama down the stretch.

Mike Tirico forced to exit Kentucky Derby coverage early

Ahmed Fareed steps in as host

NBC provides update on Tirico

Bob Baffert horse was suddenly scratched from Kentucky Derby

Meet the Kentucky Derby horses who ran in the 2025 race

Mike Tirico News / Larry Brown Sports / May 3

Mike Tirico forced to exit Kentucky Derby coverage early

Mike Tirico had to turn to the bullpen during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. The longtime NBC announcer Tirico was forced to exit early from the network’s coverage of the annual Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Horse Racing News / Field Level Media / May 2

Kentucky Derby field down to 19 after Grande scratched, owner questions why

Grande will not run in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Bob Baffert News / Field Level Media / May 1

Journalism (4-1) aims to end Kentucky Derby favorites hex

The betting favorite has not won the Kentucky Derby since 2018, adding to the drama when Journalism enters the starting gate at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday evening.

The 'Kentucky Derby winners' quiz

Horse Racing News / Field Level Media / April 29

Japan's Kentucky Derby hopefuls chasing history, flash in final prep

The pair of Japanese horses entered in the Kentucky Derby turned in their final work on the Churchill Downs dirt track on Tuesday, with mostly rest ahead prior to race day in Louisville, Ky.