Byron King

Louisville

News Editor at The Blood-Horse

News Editor at Blood Horse, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters President

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Articles

Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone Matchup Set in Stephen Foster

6 days ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Equine star power will be on display June 28 at Churchill Downs, and not just in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), where and meet beneath the twin spires for the first time since they were noses apart when 1-2 in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1). While the Stephen Foster is certainly the afternoon's highlight-six of the seven entries are millionaires-five other stakes on the program also lured numerous graded stakes winners.
Sterile Flies to Be Used to Combat New World Screwworm

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

A $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm fly dispersal facility in South Texas, along with a comprehensive protection plan, will be used to combat the risk of NWS spreading into the United States, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced June 18. The facility at Moore Air Base is scheduled for completion in 2025. NWS is a pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, humans.
CHRB Again Denies Dates for Northern California Racing

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Mirroring contentious votes from two prior California Horse Racing Board meetings, the CHRB again chose during its monthly meeting June 19 not to award race dates this year in Northern California. Bids from the Fresno County Fair to conduct racing at Fresno and from the Humboldt County Fair to run at Ferndale both failed with four commissioners opposed to awarding dates and three in favor. Fresno had requested seven dates: Sept. 19-21, 26-28, and Oct. 1.
Fair Grounds Racing to Continue After Agreement Reached

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Churchill Downs Inc., which owns and operates Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, has reached an agreement with Louisiana horsemen for racing to continue at Fair Grounds from around Thanksgiving until early next spring. The New Orleans racetrack will keep its customary schedule of race dates from late November until late March, pending anticipated approval from the Louisiana Racing Commission during an emergency meeting scheduled June 24.
Whiskey Decision, Redistricting Score on Monmouth Grass

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King |Isaiah Pinto

The two stakes on grass June 14 on Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth Park belonged to trainer Chad Brown. The five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, whose stable is known for its dominance on turf, won the Monmouth Stakes with before running 1-2 with and later in the Eatontown Stakes (G3T). Both races on Saturday carried a purse of $150,000, with the Monmouth Stakes an open race at 1 1/8 miles and the Eatontown a 1 1/16-mile contest for fillies and mares.
Take Charge Milady Edges Immersive in Monomoy Girl

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Racing June 14 in the $168,450 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, did what no filly could do last year: beat champion . Throwing down with the reigning Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly of 2024, who made her first start in 7 1/2 months in Saturday's race, Take Charge Milady outgamed Immersive through a long stretch battle to prevail by a neck.
Carmouche Fined, Suspended for Riding Crop Violation

1 week ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Stewards in New York fined jockey Kendrick Carmouche $5,500 and suspended him one riding day for exceeding the limit for use of the riding crop in riding Deterministic to victory in the June 8 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. He struck Deterministic seven times on the colt's hindquarters, one more than the six-strike limit under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules. Deterministic led throughout in the 1 1/8-mile Manhattan, holding on for a head victory over Integration .
Uncertain Future for Fair Grounds Amid Gaming Changes

2 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

A June 9 letter sent by Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., to the Louisiana Racing Commission and political leaders in the state, noting CDI's intention to surrender its racing license at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, appears unlikely to result in immediate regulatory or legislative relief. The letter, sent following comments made last month at an emergency meeting of the LRC by a CDI representative, echoes perceived financially detrimental changes in the state's gaming laws.
Mercante Wears Down Brilliant Berti in Arlington Stakes

3 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Many racing highlights for owner/breeder Carl Pollard have come at Churchill Downs, among them Caressing's victory in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and My Trusty Cat's triumph in the 2005 Humana Distaff Handicap (G1). Now, Pollard has another graded victory beneath the twin spires, thanks to , who wore down favored Brilliant Berti to win the $273,500 Arlington Stakes (G3T) at the Louisville, Ky., track. Mercante, dk b/br, 5/g Gun Runner - Caressing, by Honour and GloryOwner: Carl F.
World Beater Catches King of Ashes in Audubon Stakes

3 weeks ago | bloodhorse.com | Byron King

Wearing down stretch leader King of Ashes in the closing strides by a neck, World Beater notched his first career stakes victory in the $273,500 Audubon Stakes May 31 at Churchill Downs. The victory was the second in a row for the 3-year-old son of Oscar Performance , who a start earlier had broken his maiden in his fifth career start in a 1 1/8-mile maiden race at Churchill Downs May 2. His record now stands at 2-1-1 in six starts with earnings of $263,914 for owner Pin Oak Stud.