Thoroughbred Horse Racing 2025

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The 2025 Kentucky Derby is coming up this Saturday and is streaming on Peacock! No idea about any of the entries, really, except for Owen Almighty who doesn’t seem to like distances much more than a mile so… who knows!

Derby runners

 

[purple skates]

@sk8pics, next Saturday. This Saturday is still April.

 

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@sk8pics, next Saturday. This Saturday is still April.

Haha, really? Guess I’m more tired than I thought…

 

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Derby was exciting, congrats to Sovereignty and Godolphin (owner), Bill Mott (trainer) and Junior Alvarado (jockey). It was Godolphin’s first Derby win as an owner, Mott’s first Derby win where the horse crossed the finish line first (His horse Country Road won in 2019 when Maximum Security was DQ’d), and the jockey’s first Derby win.

Godolphin is a class operation; I’ve been to both Darley (stallions) and Gainsborough (mamas and babies). They are always kind and welcoming and I have multiple caps they’ve given me as well as a horseshoe that one of their big name stallions wore. They were connected with Cody’s Wish, 2023 Horse of the Year and a feel-good story. I’ve written to their COO of NA operations a couple of times to compliment him on the employees, horses, and grounds, and he’s always answered me within a couple of hours. Kind of amazing!

 

[Vagabond]

Sheikh Mohammed, the man behind Godolphin, is odious. The operation does, however, have some good horses.

 

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Sheikh Mohammed, the man behind Godolphin, is odious. The operation does, however, have some good horses.

I don’t know him personally and the only people I do know are kind and generous, so I will be happy for all of them.

 

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Heard on the news that Sovereignty is not going to run in the Preakness but will target the Belmont. I’m surprised but if they’re listening to the horse, that’s great. For me, since the Belmont is not at Belmont Park again this year, and it’s not its usual 1.5 miles, there would not be a Triple Crown anyway. So why risk coming back in 2 weeks? I know others disagree but what the heck.

 

[skipaway]

I am glad they made that decision. Mott’s always been about what’s best for his horses.

 

[Sarah]

I am glad they made that decision. Mott’s always been about what’s best for his horses.

I’m not surprised at all. The Preakness doesn’t favor is running style at all anyway and knowing Mott (his non answer in the winners circle said it all…it wasn’t a “I hope so” but rather a “I don’t know” which probably would have been a “no” if he could have said so at the moment), he puts the horse first.

 

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Amazing Preakness performance yesterday by Journalism. Outside horse came in on him as the jockey was trying to block him, Journalism basically shouldered him aside and said, “Hold my beer.” Crazy acceleration from him in mid-stretch and especially considering the bumping.

I’m bummed that Journalism will be at Coolmore at stud. Not because they don’t treat their horses well but because he won’t be as accessible as if he were at some of the other farms.

 

[Vagabond]

Outside horse came in on him as the jockey was trying to block him, Journalism basically shouldered him aside and said, “Hold my beer.”

The outside horse, Goal Oriented, should perhaps have been disqualified for causing Journalism to bump into Clever Again, who was eased and finished last, and Goal Oriented's jockey, Flavien Prat probably should have been fined for careless riding. I understand that stewards seldom impose these penalties in Triple Crown races, but here all three horses might have fallen.

 

[skipaway]

I also think Journalism did not have a lane when he barreled between GO and CA. He was at fault too for knocking CA off stride. He is a courageous horse to do what he did but those two riders put CA and Jose Ortiz in jeopardy. I too think there should be some penalty..GO should have been DQ’d behind CA.

 

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I also think Journalism did not have a lane when he barreled between GO and CA. He was at fault too for knocking CA off stride. He is a courageous horse to do what he did but those two riders put CA and Jose Ortiz in jeopardy. I too think there should be some penalty..GO should have been DQ’d behind CA.

I thought the head on view showed the horse on Journalism’s outside coming in on him. The other angles seemed to show Journalism plowing through a hole that wasn’t there. I figure the head on view is what the officials scrutinized in order to make their final decision.

 

[skipaway]

Definitely GO came in on him, no doubt about it but J had no space to go through to begin with.

 

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Christophe Clement passed away today. Got an email from MRH but haven’t seen a news report yet. ?
Clement

 

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[url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/immigration-enforcement-descend-upon-delta-downs/]Saw it Coming[/url]

The immigration raid came as a surprise to the Delta Downs backstretch, said Hamelback, who added that he has heard second-hand reports of horses being left unattended on wall-ties and on horse-walkers.

“I was told of one rider that was told to get off the horse and let it go,” said Hamelback, who added that the “lack of concern for equine wellbeing is also a major concern.”

???

 

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Saw it Coming

The immigration raid came as a surprise to the Delta Downs backstretch, said Hamelback, who added that he has heard second-hand reports of horses being left unattended on wall-ties and on horse-walkers.

“I was told of one rider that was told to get off the horse and let it go,” said Hamelback, who added that the “lack of concern for equine wellbeing is also a major concern.”

???

 

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Thanks, @skipaway. I’m not surprised at the lack of concern, really for anybody. I know people at farms in Kentucky who are concerned about losing many or all of their workers, not because they’re undocumented but because they are Hispanic and scared.

 

[skipaway]

From a MyRacehorse email I received today:

“Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has unfortunately been battling a severe infection and will not be returning to training. He will be spending his remaining time with his family,”

He trained Seize the Grey to a Preakness win and was getting another of my horses ready for Saratoga. ?

Article from Paulick Report

 

[Sarah]

From a MyRacehorse email I received today:

“Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has unfortunately been battling a severe infection and will not be returning to training. He will be spending his remaining time with his family,”

He trained Seize the Grey to a Preakness win and was getting another of my horses ready for Saratoga. ?

Article from Paulick Report

An end of an era.

 

[skipaway]

D. Wayne Lukas passed away on Saturday. RIP
Article

From his family:
Racing Community,

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather, D. Wayne Lukas, who left this world peacefully yesterday evening at the age of 89, surrounded by family.

Wayne devoted his life not only to horses but to the industry – developing generations of horsemen and horsewomen and growing the game by inviting unsuspecting fans into the winner’s circle. Whether he was boasting about a maiden 2-year-old as the next Kentucky Derby winner or offering quiet words of advice before a big race, Wayne brought heart, grace, and grit to every corner of the sport.

His final days were spent at home in Kentucky, where he chose peace, family, and faith. As we grieve at his passing, we find peace in knowing he is now reunited with his beloved son, Jeff, whose memory he carried in his heart always.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from all corners of the racing community — from racetracks across the country to lifelong friends and respected rivals, and from fans who never missed a post parade when ‘Lukas’ was listed in the program.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Laurie Lynn Lukas; his grandchildren, Brady Wayne Lukas (Dani) and Kelly Lukas Roy (David); his great-grandchildren, Walker Wayne Lukas, Quinn Palmer Lukas, Jonathan James Roy, and Thomas David Roy; his sister, Dauna Lukas Moths; and his brother, Lowell Lukas. He also leaves behind an extended family of horsemen and horsewomen whose lives he shaped, mentored, and inspired.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Oaklawn or Churchill Backside Chaplaincy or the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance — two causes that Wayne held close to his heart.

A private service will be held with immediate family, with a larger celebration of life to follow. Details will become available at a later date.

With love and gratitude,

The Lukas Family

 

[Sarah]

Blood horse had a great article

Industry-Shaping Horseman Lukas Dies at Age 89

Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose life included many different chapters—nearly all of which shaped today's racing—died June 28 in Louisville, Ky. He was 89.

www.bloodhorse.com

 

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That was fast at the end for Lukas. I’m glad he didn’t suffer long. I had his cell phone number for awhile because I was volunteering with CANTER Mid-Atlantic and he had some horses stabled at Delaware Park. I think we helped him with one or two. He seemed to run a good operation there.

Meanwhile,
Commentator dies
Tator, as his friends called him, was a great and quirky horse with a sense of humor. Once when he was still living at Old Friends in Kentucky, a group of us was walking up a hill. You had to be careful not to get too close to some of the fences but we were also trying to avoid deep puddles that had formed in some gouges in the gravel path. I watched Tator reach over the fence with his nose and —boop!— push one of the visitors into one of the puddles. It was hilarious. Rest in peace, sweet boy, you were loved and will be missed

 

[skipaway]

Meanwhile,
Commentator dies
Tator, as his friends called him, was a great and quirky horse with a sense of humor. Once when he was still living at Old Friends in Kentucky, a group of us was walking up a hill. You had to be careful not to get too close to some of the fences but we were also trying to avoid deep puddles that had formed in some gouges in the gravel path. I watched Tator reach over the fence with his nose and —boop!— push one of the visitors into one of the puddles. It was hilarious. Rest in peace, sweet boy, you were loved and will be missed

I loved Commentator! He will be missed.