Horse Racing News

Saturday morning at Churchill Downs was all about the rain, the sloppy racetrack, and trainer Todd Pletcher, who made the biggest splash by working five of his Derby contenders, but not the likely Derby favorite Eskendereya.

As the son of a trainer, Dale Romans grew up around Churchill Downs. He has seen plenty of changes over the years.

About 12 months ago, Garrett Gomez hit the top of the stretch at Churchill Downs with a ton of horse beneath him.

The worst-kept secret in racing was finally revealed on Saturday.

Setsuko will run at Churchill Downs this weekend, but not in the race that trainer Richard Mandella would prefer.

Even if the California Gold Rush program has slimmed down for 2010, Saturday at Hollywood Park is still a big day for California-breds.

Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 San Francisco Mile will be a rematch of an April 2 allowance prep that Bold Chieftain won over comebacking Monterey Jazz.

The Derby Trial has been a misnomer for many years, a Ben Jones-era throwback that Churchill Downs just never had the heart to toss in the dumpster.

Closing day at Keeneland on Friday turned into old-timers day, as Musketier, a relative youngster of 8, beat 9-year-old Brass Hat to take the Grade 2, $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes for long-distance grass runners.

The board of directors of the Breeders' Cup put off a decision to name future host sites for its two-day year-end event for 2011 and beyond at a board meeting on Thursday in Lexington, Ky., Breeders' Cup said in a release.