Nearly every year since 2010, I have written a story about how all the horses in the Kentucky Derby get their names, and you can probably guess which one will lead my lineup in 2025.

That’s right ... Journalism. In a landscape of shrinking newsrooms, misinformation, threats and lawsuits, it’s a thrill to see a horse named by someone who ...Read more

Several of the horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field have famous sires.

Among the contenders are the sons of two Triple Crown winners, one other Derby victor and the most prolific sire of the last decade. Stellar bloodlines alone are not a guarantee of Derby success, but they certainly are a point in the favor of a horse when making your bets...Read more

The roster of jockeys slated to ride in the 151st Kentucky Derby represents both extremes on the experience scale.

Five jockeys — Javier Castellano, Brian Hernandez Jr., Flavien Prat, Joel Rosario and John Velazquez — who have already won the Run for the Roses will seek to do so again Saturday.

Meanwhile, ranging in age from 25 (Joseph ...Read more

As is always the case, this Kentucky Derby won’t lack for storylines.

The biggest will obviously be the return of trainer Bob Baffert, who has six Derby victories, still tied for the most all time after his seventh was stripped in 2021 following the disqualification of Medina Spirit due to a medical violation. That led to a Churchill Downs ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There is a bullseye on the back of the impressive-looking 3-year-old colt named Journalism, but the favorite for Kentucky Derby 151 is paying it no mind.

Outside of trainer Michael McCarthy’s Barn 35 at Churchill Downs on Thursday, the mood was a mix of clam and confidence.

“Smooth as silk,” said Aron Wellman of the ...Read more

The only also-eligible horse for this year’s Kentucky Derby has moved into the 20-horse field for Saturday’s showcase race.

Baeza — trained by John Shirreffs and to be ridden by Flavien Prat — now has a spot in the starting gate for the 151st running of the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby. Post time is 6:57 p.m. EDT Saturday for the ...Read more

The jockey who wins the Kentucky Derby earns 10% of the victor’s purse. Last year, Brian Hernandez Jr. made $310,000 for booting Mystik Dan home first in a scintillating three-horse photo finish.

Yet the cash may not be the most-appreciated perk for a Derby-winning rider.

On Kentucky Derby night, the Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Louisville ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If, as weather forecasts suggest, the track turns muddy or sloppy for Kentucky Derby 151 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, it will be a new experience for the majority of the colts making a run for the roses.

Only six of the 20 horses entered in the 2025 running have experience running on a muddy or sloppy track. And two of ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The backstretch at Churchill Downs is a magical place during Kentucky Derby week. Big-name trainers talking to well-heeled owners, media haplessly standing around hoping to grab a quote or a quick stand-up interview. Yet the most important part of this annual carnival of horsedom is that one of the occupants will be the next ...Read more

It’s been seven years since the post-time favorite won the Kentucky Derby.

Justify — who went on to become horse racing’s 13th, and most recent, Triple Crown champion — was the last race-time favorite to win the Derby when he did so in 2018 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Since then, six post-time favorites have entered the starting ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lonnie Briley had been a thoroughbred trainer for over three decades before he finally entered a horse in a graded stakes race.

Three months later, the 72-year-old Louisianan is in his first Kentucky Derby.

“There’s a lot of people from Louisiana that’s calling and leaving text messages and things of that nature. They...Read more

Getting a horse into the Kentucky Derby requires big dreams, and often big bank accounts. But that’s not always the case as syndicates, or groups of owners, band together to make a chase at the “Run for the Roses.”

There are 47 owners listed among the 20 horses in this year’s field. A pair of Derby hopefuls — Citizen Bull and ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 2025 Kentucky Derby is Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and the Lexington Herald-Leader has asked horse racing experts around the country for their top handicapping picks going into the big race.

Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism is the favorite, with Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty and Arkansas Derby ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keeneland’s top Kentucky Derby prep race is in a drought when it comes to producing winners of horse racing’s signature event.

It has been more than 30 years since the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland — the showcase race during the Lexington track’s annual Spring Meet — has gone on to win the Kentucky ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Before Ethan West could fully immerse himself in Kentucky Derby week, Chunk of Gold’s 32-year-old trainer had a paternal duty to perform.

West is the coach of his 15-year-old son Lane’s youth basketball team. Sunday night, West returned to his home base in northern Kentucky for the league championship game.

“Someone ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby is back to normal.

Gone is all the talk about the best horses not being there because the trainer of more Derby winners than anyone currently in the sport wasn't there. Gone is all the talk about a spike in fatalities and the lack of understanding as to why it was happening. Gone is the intrigue about the ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Trainer John Shirreffs is a patient man. He takes his time developing horses. He doesn't rush them to the track. He doesn't put them in races until he believes they are ready.

But he is at Churchill Downs with a horse that is more than ready but currently doesn't have a spot in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby on ...Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bob Baffert looks a little thinner to me, but maybe that’s because we haven’t seen him in awhile. Not in person, anyway. There are a few more wrinkles on his 72-year-old face, but there’s still the signature shock of white hair and the ever-present sunglasses.

In case you haven’t heard, Bob is back. After what turned...Read more

Bob Baffert is back.

Those four words tell you all you need to know about the top storyline entering Saturday’s annual running of the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Baffert — the polarizing, 72-year-old trainer — has been mired in scandal and missing from the last three editions of the Run for the ...Read more