1 Itsmyluckyday Eddie Plesa Jr. Lawyer Ron—Viva la Slew, by Doneraile Court Let’s face it, no one has really stamped himself as a bona fide Derby favorite. What prompted the switch this week was the impressive Swale score by Clearly Now, who had been trounced by 13 1/2 lengths by Itsmyluckyday in the...

The Kentucky Derby is like a mountain. It never changes and never withers with time. But in some ways it does change, as every year, new climbers gather on its slopes and attempt to reach the summit, disregarding the many perils along the way. There is no greater feeling an owner can have than to see...

(Originally published in the February 9, 2013 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine . Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column. ) By Eric Mitchell - @BH_EMitchell on Twitter Thirty points. Under Churchill Downs’ new points system, 30 points is expected to be the minimum...

At year's end we typically see many of our favorite stars move into retirement or second careers. Inspite of the many fan favorites and talented athletes who have left the track, one thing remains...their finishes. Let's remember and celebrate our many athletes by looking back at some of the hair raising...

This story appeared in the May 22, 2004 issue of Blood-Horse magazine Get the golden coach ready; we're heading to the ball again. After so many failed attempts, maybe this time Smarty Jones can fit into that elusive glass slipper, and Thoroughbred racing and the Visa Triple Crown finally can live happily...

The following story first appeared in the April 28, 2007 issue of Blood-Horse magazine, with a few additions thrown in. This feature, about Team Smarty and what became of everyone, will kick off our “Smarty Jones Tribute Week,” in preparation for his departure for Uruguay next month. Each day we will...

By Jennifer Wirth, of The Saturday Post Every now and then, a remarkable racehorse can elude you when it is in your direct line of sight. And, in our home, there are few places to fix your eyes without finding a photo of some racehorse that was a remarkable horse for varying reasons, ranging from claimers...

(Originally published in the May 7, 2011 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine . Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column. ) By Lenny Shulman There aren’t many advantages horse racing has over other sports when it comes to being television-friendly. Games such as football...

With morning-line favorite Premier Pegasus scratched from the 2011 Santa Anita Derby , is it now anybody's race? Will Silver Medallion take to the dirt? Is it time for another surprise? Now is your chance to see how your picks stack up against the rest of the BloodHorse.com community. Need more information...

Who will win the 2011 Louisiana Derby? Who will complete the exacta? The tri? Is it all Mucho Macho Man? Will Machen or Elite Alex make some noise? Is it time for a new horse to enter the Triple Crown picture? Now is your chance to see how your picks stack up against the rest of the BloodHorse.com community...