Racehorses and Bourbon

12/20/2024

The G1 Malibu Stakes drew a strong field of 8 including the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato, the G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold and the G2 Pat O'Brien Stakes winner Raging Torrent!

Check out the Malibu Stakes entries ⬇️
https://equibase.com/static/entry/SA122624USA-EQB.html

12/20/2024

Diamond Creek announces that Karl will not stand at stud in Kentucky in 2025 and will return to training.

Karl has been at Diamond Creek in Kentucky since the first week of December. Preliminary tests indicated he is unlikely to serve a full book of mares in 2025, however his fertility may improve over time.

To all his fans and share/breeding applicants, we appreciate your support and patience. We wish Karl and his owners all the best and thank them for the opportunity to work with this amazing horse.

If you need help booking to another Diamond Creek stallion - please contact the office.

📸 Jon Siegel

12/19/2024

💫G1 CHAMPIONS OF 2024 💫

REBEL'S ROMANCE 💘

A true globe trotter in 5 G1s in 2024 🌎

🇦🇪 Dubai Sheema Clasic
🇭🇰 Hong Kong Champions & Charter Cup
🇩🇪 Preis von Europa
🇺🇸 Breeders' Cup Turf

12/19/2024

Kentucky Standardbred industry will expand number of live racing dates in 2025

by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Lexington, KY — The Kentucky Standardbred industry will expand the number of live racing dates in 2025 based on an approved calendar that appears on the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation website.

In 2024, the state’s three pari-mutuel harness tracks — Oak Grove Racing, The Red Mile, and Cumberland Run — were approved for 79 racing programs. The 2025 total is 84, but if 12 “optional dates” on the calendar are used, the number would increase to 96.

Oak Grove, scheduled to offer 33 programs from March 24 through July 15 or July 16, has selected eight optional dates for a maximum of 41. The bulk of the programs will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays as has been the case in recent years.

The 39-day Red Mile meet scheduled for July 20-Oct. 5 will begin with three programs (Sunday through Tuesday) the first week and then four a week (Wednesdays added) through Sept. 3. Racing returns to three-day weeks Sept. 7-Sept. 16 followed by two three-day weeks of Grand Circuit action on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule.

Cumberland Run will open Oct. 11 or Oct. 12 and race through Nov. 4. The eastern Kentucky track has 12 dedicated dates and four optional programs that would be held on Saturdays. The regular schedule is Sunday through Tuesday.

The additional dates for the most part are designed to accommodate the growing Kentucky Standardbred Development Fund program, which again will have five racing tiers: Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series, Commonwealth Series, Goldenrod Series, Wildcat Series, and the Kentucky Proud Series held at fairs and The Red Mile. It was noted during the Dec. 11 meeting of the KHRGC that equine participation across all divisions is projected to increase 33% from 2024. There is also an effort to accommodate the growth in the number of overnight horses at the tracks.

The 2025 purses and structure for legs, consolations and finals are similar to those of 2024. The Championship Series for 2- and 3-year-olds at The Red Mile will again feature four legs ($80,000 each race) for each division and $400,000 finals for each division. The finals are scheduled for Sunday (Sept. 14).

The full schedule of 2025 Kentucky Standardbred Development Fund race dates can be found at this link:
https://khrc.ky.gov/Documents/2025%20Kentucky%20Standardbred%20Race%20Dates%20&%20Conditions.pdf

11/28/2024

“🍻” 📷 Rob Willis

11/28/2024

“🌹” 📷 Rob Willis

11/27/2024

11/26/2024

“ 🎄 “ 📷 Rob Willis

11/26/2024

“Conversation” 📷 Rob Willis

11/25/2024

“🥃” 📷 Rob Willis

11/11/2024

“🍻” 📷 Rob Willis

11/10/2024

Cheer Pittsburgh. Drink Pittsburgh. 🏈🍺

11/08/2024

Racing!!

11/06/2024

“Cumberland Run” 📷 Rob Willis

11/06/2024

“Wild Turkey” 📷 Rob Willis

11/05/2024