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Tall Tales of the Track: Bourbon, Bets, and the Beatles
The combination of a well-timed swig of bourbon, a fortuitous wager, and a basement music club made history not just in horse racing, but also in rock and roll.
Features
Later developers increasingly the ones to fear in American classics
It was only five years ago that we were still talking about the “Curse of Apollo,” whereby horses unraced at age two were perceived to be at a serious disadvantage in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem May 15, 2023
Jason looks back at the weekend, including the Grade 1 win from 9 year-old Red Knight in the Man O'War Stakes.
Features
Betting Strategy: Free Roll for a Seat at the NHC
The second of five free online qualifiers for the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) is set for this Sunday, May 14.
Features
The Heart That Wears the Crown: War Admiral
Lofty expectations are laid upon the greats when they exit stage left to enter the next phase. When Man o’ War said goodbye to his life on the track, the focus then became on whether the 20th century’s greatest racehorse could produce another one like him. Whatever it was that made Big Red so dominant and so iconic had to be passed along to his progeny, but what would that look like?
Triple Crown
The Jury: Bets and fades for May 13
The TwinSpires Jury returns this week, a relatively quiet one between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1).
Wagering
Kentucky Derby Reflections by John Mucciolo
The 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs didn’t disappoint with a huge crowd on hand, a massive viewing audience from afar, and a thrilling race with a great storyline, too.
Kentucky Derby
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for May 11, 2023
Jason looks back at closing day at Tampa Bay Downs and his second season at the Oldsmar oval.
Features
Racing Roundtable: 2023 Kentucky Derby weekend
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson recap the events of Kentucky Derby weekend in this edition of the Racing Roundtable.
Kentucky Derby
2023 Kentucky Derby: Five Takeaways You Need to Know After Mage's Win in 149th Race
Mage’s victory as a 15-1 chance in Saturday’s 149th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) will leave plenty of food for thought in the coming days. For the moment, here are five instant takeaways.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Mandarin Hero
Mandarin Hero will be the third Japanese runner in Kentucky Derby 149. There are a couple of key differences from compatriots Derma Sotogake and Continuar.
Kentucky Derby
Top 10 angles to watch in 2023 Kentucky Derby
The 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) offers several intriguing historical angles. As we settle in to enjoy the 149th Run for the Roses, let’s see which come to pass, and how many are deferred for another year.
Kentucky Derby
Angel of Empire – Kentucky Derby Context
An off-the-pace runner, Angel of Empire displayed a terrific turn of foot in the Arkansas Derby (G1), surging from sixth to reach the lead by the top of the stretch, and the up-and-coming colt established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender while notching his first triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating (101)
Kentucky Derby
A King's Coronation on 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket
While much of the racing world’s attention on Saturday is focused on the Kentucky Derby (G1), earlier in the day, an heir to a centuries-long legacy will be crowned at a venue rich in tradition.
International
2023 Kentucky Derby by the numbers
Below we look ahead to the latest edition of the Run for the Roses with these fast facts and figures related to the 2023 Kentucky Derby field, along with the history of the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Kentucky Derby
Can Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Predict the Kentucky Derby winner?
With the advancement of artificial intelligence, we decided to test out the theory that A.I. could forecast the outcome of the Kentucky Derby. Thank you ChatGPT!
Kentucky Derby
Who was the biggest underdog ever to win the Kentucky Derby?
Most recent underdogs weren’t facing an overwhelming favorite or toppling a budding superstar or two. In fact, many underdog winners can be judged less on how much they paid, but by who they beat.
Kentucky Derby
Betting with, and against, Forte in the Kentucky Derby
The historic contest attracted a fantastic field full of excellent contenders for this edition of the tilt, but the clear one to beat is Champion #15 Forte (3-1) for conditioner Todd Pletcher.
Kentucky Derby
Catching My Eye: Mornings with the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Runners
Working on the Kentucky Derby notes team, I’ve been on the backside from the opening set at 5:15 a.m. until the final gallop at 10:00 a.m. every day for the last week.
Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed Rating Report for 2023 Kentucky Derby
Brisnet Speed ratings provide a measure of how fast horses have run in their preceding races and serve as a valuable handicapping tool for Saturday’s 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby
Dosage Index, foaling dates for 2023 Kentucky Derby contenders
There are other data points, long predating a horse’s racing career, that some Kentucky Derby handicappers take into account – foaling date and the Dosage Index.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Oaks international scouting report: Mimi Kakushi
Named for a Japanese restaurant in Dubai, Mimi Kakushi is the second straight UAE Oaks (G3) winner to try the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
International
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for April 27, 2023
Jason writes about his first experience owning a horse back at Portland Meadows.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem April 24, 2023
Jason looks back at some of the weekend races and discusses his own handicapping biases in those races.
Features
Betting Strategy: Using the Power Box at Keeneland April 22
When I have clear groupings for the horses I want to use, but I believe the finishing order will be a cross section of these multiple groupings, I use a Power Box.
Wagering
The Jury: Bets and Fades for April 22
Older horses are in the spotlight across the country on Saturday with graded tests scheduled at Keeneland, Oaklawn Park, and Santa Anita.
Wagering
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for Apr. 20, 2023
Jason talks about sharing bets with friends and the pros and cons of it.
Features
Forte – Kentucky Derby Context
The Kentucky Derby favorite, Forte will bring a five-race win streak to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Catching My Eye: Keeneland racing Sunday, April 16
I’ve been enjoying this Keeneland meet: the fields, the performances, and the payouts have all been strong.
Analysis
Pedigree notebook: Chez Pierre brings down the house for Mehmas, and Lure
The latest standout for Mehmas, Chez Pierre is out of a mare by Orpen, who has preserved the legacy of his fertility-challenged sire – two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile star Lure.
Pedigree
Tall Tales of the Track: I Am Woman, Watch Me Win!
In the first years of the 19th century, Alicia Meynell rode in not one but two match races against a man on an English racecourse, demonstrating that same self-assurance and drive that many a woman, including Annie Oakley, would need in their male-dominated pursuits.
Features
The Jury: Bets and fades for April 14
The quorum of James Scully and Vance Hanson have assembled to provide their best plays of the weekend in this edition of the TwinSpires Jury.
Wagering
The impact of the new Road to the Kentucky Derby points system
Four consistent horses that in previous years would not have made the Kentucky Derby field are set to make it this year under the new points system that rewards those which run more often in prep races.
Kentucky Derby
Betting Strategy: Chris Larmey, “Nobody wants to be a fish"
To succeed long term, a horseplayer needs to know how to bet in order to cash in. Chris Larmey has begun a new podcast “Bet With the Best” aimed at exactly that.
Education
Swimming in the pools of Kentucky Derby betting enthusiasm
Betting handle reveals the enthusiasm for the Kentucky Derby (G1). Contested annually on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby serves as the standard-bearer for the North America Thoroughbred racing industry.
Kentucky Derby
MC Hammer, Bacharach & Steinbrenner: Kentucky Derby celebrities are uniquely fans and participants
However, what differentiates the Derby from, say, the Super Bowl or Wimbledon, is that not only can well-known personalities come to Churchill Downs to watch the big race, but they also have an opportunity, however small the chances, to actually participate in it.
Kentucky Derby
Pedigree notebook: Starspangledbanner yet waves with Papilio, and more
By the time that Papilio got up in Saturday’s Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland, sire Starspangledbanner was already having quite a weekend.
Pedigree
Catching My Eye: Keeneland Opening Day
Horses that caught my eye on the opening day of the Keeneland 2023 spring meeting.
Features
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Derma Sotogake
Derma Sotogake rates as Japan’s leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contender after his front-running coup on Dubai World Cup night.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Continuar
Having lost all three match-ups with leading Japanese contender Derma Sotogake, is there a case for Continuar to turn the tables in the Kentucky Derby (G1)?
Kentucky Derby
Jason Beem's Monday Morning Message April 10, 2023
Jason looks back at the weekend and discusses Tapit Trice's win as well as the current Kentucky Derby points leaderboard.
Racing
Top 5 horse racing songs
We look at the top five horse racing songs customarily played at Thoroughbred racetracks around the country, and give honorable mention to one toe-tapping tune broadcast before a harness race in Ohio as well as a beloved ballad sung by racegoers Down Under.
Features
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Omaha
When any Triple Crown winner goes to stud, the high expectations set by winning that coveted trophy come along, as fans eagerly anticipate the next generation. Can he copy himself and produce another just like him? Of the 13 to have worn the crown, only one has done what is nearly impossible, a feat unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon: siring another Triple Crown winner.
Education
Mattress Mack: A colorful gallery of big bet action
There are few more colorful people in the United States than Houston Furniture store tycoon "Mattress Mack". Successful businessman, he's also a unique figure in Thoroughbred racing.
Kentucky Derby
Santa Anita Derby International Scouting Report: Mandarin Hero
After two Japanese horses are already in the Kentucky Derby (G1) – Derma Sotogake by romping in the UAE Derby (G2) and Continuar accepting the Japan Road invitation – Mandarin Hero tries to make it three in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Catching My Eye: In Person at the Arkansas Derby
I walked the last block, taking in the Arkansas Derby Day crowd. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort was buzzing.
Features
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for April 6, 2023
Jason discusses his favorite race call of all time, the 2005 American Oaks from Hollywood Park.
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson discuss the two major Kentucky Derby (G1) preps of the past week and also a little Kentucky Oaks (G1) talk in this edition of the Racing Roundtable.
Features
Pedigree notebook: Grace blooms for Amazing family
German import Amazing Grace combines several themes — an imperiled sire line, excellent family, and connections to current headliners in both Europe and Australia — along with individual appeal in the female turf division.
Pedigree
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem April 3, 2023
Jason looks back at this past weekend's Florida Derby and discusses the race and the top two finishers.
Features
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Forever Young
A powerful seven-length victory in Japan’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse stamped Forever Young as a formidable 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender, a status he confirmed with globetrotting victories in the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2).
Racing
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for March 30, 2023
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and Jason shares some thoughts on that.
Features
Racing Roundtable: Derby and Oaks prep review and Dubai World Cup
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson review the leading events of the past weekend from Dubai, New Orleans, Kentucky, and elsewhere in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Analysis
Pedigree notebook: Big mo for Uncle Mo
Uncle Mo’s big weekend extended to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps, won by two of his granddaughters.
Pedigree
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for March 23, 2023
Jason finishes up his Thursday series, "The Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors," by writing about chasing losses.
Features
Pedigree notebook: Cornucopia of angles in Super Chow
Super Chow pays tribute to late sire Lord Nelson and doubles down on some of his key ancestors.
Pedigree
2023 Dubai World Cup: Top 10 storylines
From the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), to exceptional turf races, contentious dirt events, and a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth on the line in the UAE Derby (G2), Saturday’s extravaganza at Meydan offers a spectacle on a truly global scale.
International
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem March 20, 2023
Jason discusses the "quiet" weekend that just wrapped up as we get ready to come into the final stretch of Kentucky Derby preps.
Features
The Jury: Bets and fades for March 18
It's a relatively quiet weekend from a graded stakes perspective, but Vance Hanson, Ashley Anderson, and Keeler Johnson have found much to chew on from this Saturday's menu of options.
Wagering
Catching My Eye: Cashing on Hot Barns
With two weeks to go at Fair Grounds, there is a new leading trainer as Ron Faucheux won his 33rd race of the meet on Sunday, March 12.
Analysis
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for March 16, 2023
Jason continues the series "Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors" by writing about betting to win/place.
Features
Racing Roundtable: Tampa Bay Downs and the Distaff division
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson review the leading events of the past weekend at Tampa Bay Downs and Oaklawn Park in this edition of the Roundtable.
Features
Pedigree notebook: Talk of the Nation another one for Zenyatta's family
Recent Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game put Zenyatta’s family back in the spotlight, since his dam is a half-sister to the Hall of Famer. Not to be outdone, another Zenyatta relative has produced a high-profile three-year-old who’s turning heads, but on turf – Talk of the Nation.
Pedigree
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Tapit Trice
Victories in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass (G1) vaulted Tapit Trice into the Kentucky Derby picture.
Kentucky Derby
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem March 13, 2023
Jason looks back at this weekend's Tampa Bay Derby, including his thoughts and perspectives on the winner and the race from up in the booth.
Features
Tall Tales of the Track: And the Winner Is…
Rumor had it that it was not Bend Or who ran down Robert the Devil at Epsom, but a horse named Tadcaster, an accusation of mistaken identity that was resolved more than a century later.
History
The Jury: Bets and fades for March 11
The TwinSpires jury of James Scully, Vance Hanson, and Ashley Anderson offer their thoughts on the Tampa Bay Derby card, along with competitive races at Santa Anita and Oaklawn.
Wagering
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for March 9, 2023
Jason continues the "Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors" series with the fourth installment, talking about tracking equity in your horizontal plays.
Features
Cheltenham Festival: Questions to ponder for 2023
Here are some posers to watch for as the Cheltenham Festival unfolds.
International
Catching My Eye: Emerging 3-year-olds and turf stakes at Fair Grounds
Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy examines up-and-coming three-year-olds and a couple of turf stakes that caught his eye at Fair Grounds during the first weekend of March.
Analysis
Pedigree notebook: More ‘Mischief' as Practical Joke turns stakes triple
Practical Move’s convincing victory in the San Felipe (G2) alone would have been an advertisement for young sire Practical Joke, who now has a proper Kentucky Derby contender to his credit. But Practical Joke also scored a stakes double at Aqueduct earlier on Saturday.
Pedigree
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem March 6, 2023
Jason looks back at the Davona Dale Stakes from Saturday and a lesson in forgiveness.
Features
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Forte
One of the most accomplished horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is Forte.
Kentucky Derby
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Gallant Fox
Gallant Fox’s victories in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes were the first to come with the name “Triple Crown,” as those intervening years saw the three races enter the sport’s consciousness with that sobriquet attached.
Triple Crown
Handicappers Debate: 2023 The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Fillies and mares on the turf are featured in this week’s debate, as handicappers Vance Hanson and Ashley Anderson offer differing opinions on Saturday’s $150,000 The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Features
Kentucky Derby Report: Rebel upset precedes flurry of early March preps
March opens with a bang for Kentucky Derby contenders, as four qualifiers in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series will be held on March 4
Kentucky Derby
Catching My Eye: Fair Grounds Feb. 25-26
Racing analyst Kevin Kilroy discusses a group of three-year-olds who caught his attention at Fair Grounds during the final weekend of February.
Features
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for March 2, 2023
Jason writes the third installment of his series "The Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors" and talks about race and pool selection.
Features
Racing Roundtable: Rebel, Honeybee, and Saudi Cup
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson devote this week's Racing Roundtable to recapping Rebel Day at Oaklawn Park and the events of the Saudi Cup program from last Saturday.
Features
Pedigree notebook: Sweet cross on display in Candy Man Rocket
Aside from his reminder that Candy Ride also gets sharp sprinters, Candy Man Rocket is a further example of his cross with Storm Cat-line mares.
Pedigree
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Feb. 27, 2023
Jason looks back at the Rebel Stakes and the wonderful post-race interview from trainer Keith Desormeaux.
Features
The Science of Horse Racing: Why Do Some Horses Bleed After a Race?
For this month’s Science of Horse Racing, let us look at EIPH in Thoroughbreds and how it can affect a horse on race day and beyond.
Features
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for Feb. 23, 2023
In Part 2 of his "Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors," Jason writes about poor fund allocation and not realizing every dollar's earning potential.
Features
Racing Roundtable: 2023 Louisiana Derby Preview Day
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson are back to provide takeaways from the Louisiana Derby Preview Day card at Fair Grounds in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Features
Pedigree notebook: ‘Classic' patterns recur
Champion Classic Empire celebrated a graded stakes double on Saturday, and both of his winners are out of Bernardini-line mares.
Pedigree
Tall Tales of the Track: Sysonby, the (Almost) Unbeatable
A skeleton of a horse once hung in the American Museum of Natural History, the limbs positioned as if in flight.
History
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Feb. 20, 2023
This past Saturday, a nationwide moment of silence was held at racetracks from across the country to not only remember jockey Avery Whisman, who passed away last month, but to raise awareness for the mental and physical struggles that can come along with riding horses as a career.
Features
Handicappers Debate: 2023 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds
New Orleans is the destination for this week’s debate, as handicappers Alastair Bull and James Scully offer different opinions in Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Features
The Jury: Bets and fades for Feb. 18
The Jury reconvenes to deliberate on an excellent day of racing from coast to coast, highlighted by Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds.
Wagering
Catching My Eye: Morning Breezes Ahead of Louisiana Derby Preview Day
As the three-year-old campaigns build momentum and with Louisiana Derby Preview Day on Saturday, the morning workouts at Fair Grounds have been heating up.
Kentucky Derby
Derby Report – Stakes debuters continue to strike in Davis, Withers; Risen Star gets big field
Hit Show and Litigate became the latest first-time stakes performers to win a qualifier, jumping on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with respective wins in the Withers (G3) and Sam F. Davis (G3) on Feb. 11.
Racing
Jason Beem's Thursday Column for Feb. 16, 2023
Jason starts a new series for the Thursday column called the "Six Secrets of Unsuccessful Bettors."
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson take a look at the latest developments along the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) trails in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Kentucky Derby
Pedigree notebook: Gulfstream turf sprint double for Uncaptured
Gulfstream Park staged two stakes on Saturday, and progeny of Uncaptured won both.
Pedigree
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Sir Barton
Thoroughbreds are fast and powerful athletes and the most elite are the ones whose names become a part of our collective consciousness, but, like familiar faces like Tom Brady and Michael Jordan, they were living, breathing beings who interacted with the world around them and left a distinct impression on those who cared for them.
Triple Crown
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for Feb. 13, 2023
Jason writes about the Suncoast Stakes and how there's never a sure thing in horse racing.
Features
Saudi Cup Day prospectus: Country Grammer, Taiba, Elite Power among probables
Now that the projected fields for the Feb. 25 Saudi Cup Day extravaganza have been announced, let’s get a head start on the handicapping! Here are the key contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) as well the five Thoroughbred stakes on the undercard.
International
Racing Roundtable: Holy Bull and Robert B. Lewis
James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson look back at last weekend's classic preps and other three-year-old doings in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Features