By Tim Wilkin for Kentucky Downs FRANKLIN, Ky. (Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023) — When the horses came out on the track for the $500,000 FanDuel Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Thursday, trainer Whit Beckman had to do a double take. He knew his 5-year-old gelding Harlan Estate would not be one of the favorites … Continued
Photos courtesy Triton Airways FRANKLIN, Ky. (Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023) — The most lucrative seven days in American racing overlap the most important yearling sale in the world, with the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs staged 170 miles from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Now Keeneland is offering a way to be at both venues … Continued
Grace Clark photo: Kitodan winning last year’s Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs. Video interview with Eric Foster and Kitodan HENDERSON, Ky. — Trainer and co-owner Eric Foster had to regroup last year when Churchill Downs’ canceled its Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes. Plan B was running his $80,000 claim Kitodan against older horses in Ellis … Continued
Edited Keeneland stakes recap (Photos by Grace Clark/Kentucky Downs) LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 24, 2021) – Highlander Training Center’s Summer in Saratoga held off a late bid from favored Luck Money by a half-length to win the 30th running of the $150,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) for fillies and mares Sunday afternoon. The victory keyed … Continued
FRANKLIN, Ky. (Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021) — Led by a record-smashing $20,849,967 wagered on Saturday’s showcase program, the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs completed North America’s most lucrative six-date run with betting totaling $74,088,532. The previous records were the $17,437,731 on the corresponding Saturday as part of the $59,828,441 total bet last year. That’s an … Continued
Joel Rosario clinched his first Kentucky Downs riding title on the second day of the meet, when he won five races for the second straight day. He went on to win seven more, including four on the final card to extend his track record total to 17. The previous record was the 12 won by … Continued
By Paul Rolfes, for Kentucky Downs FRANKLIN, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 11) — Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing Ltd., has assembled an impressive streak of success at Kentucky Downs, and he’s not about to let it end. For the third year in a row, a horse from his stable came back to the … Continued
By Paul Rolfes, for Kentucky Downs FRANKLIN, Ky., (Saturday, Sept. 11) – Even-money favorite Princess Grace gave her backers in The Calumet Bourbon Ladies Turf a small shock when she broke dead last in the field of nine fillies and mares in the $750,000 Grade 3 race at Kentucky Downs. Asked if he was … Continued
By Mike Kane, for Kentucky Downs FRANKLIN, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021) – Timing is everything in sports and life as In Good Spirits proved again Saturday in her victory in the $600,000 Grade 3 Keeneland Mint Ladies Sprint at Kentucky Downs. Bal Mar Equine’s 4-year-old Ghostzapper filly drew into the race when She’s So … Continued
FRANKLIN, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021) — A horse trained by Rusty Arnold earned a free roll in the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for the second time in three years as Calumet Farm’s Gear Jockey wore down front-running Bombard to take the $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint by 2 1/2 lengths. … Continued
