Thoroughbred Horse Racing 2025

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[sk8pics]

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

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

 

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[sk8pics]

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.

 

[skipaway]

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

 

[skipaway]

[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.”

 

[skipaway]

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.”

 

[sk8pics]

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.