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The Great Match Race Series

The Times brings its readers a four-part series on this celebrated match race of 1823 between American Eclipse and Sir Henry, beginning with Part I, "Napoleon Challenges the North."

Go There

New Orleans Eclipse Course Series

The Times brings its readers a five-part series on the inaugural New Orleans Jockey Club races over the Eclipse Course in 1837, beginning with Part I, "Captain Oliver's Triumph."

Recent Articles

January News: On This Race Day in 1852; and Remembering Louisiana Champion Lecomte

Editor | Jan 12, 2021

On this day in New Orleans in January 1852, racing was cancelled on account of—snow? Mild winters in New Orleans mean that few days, if any, fall below freezing in a given winter, thus snowfall is a rarity. While nineteenth-century race days were often rescheduled due to …

[Read more...] about January News: On This Race Day in 1852; and Remembering Louisiana Champion Lecomte

Handy Rules for Laying Out a Race Course

Editor | Dec 7, 2020

The following “Rules for Laying Out a Race Course” is shared from an 1833 issue of the American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine. Enjoy! …

[Read more...] about Handy Rules for Laying Out a Race Course

Countdown to Another Event of Equine Stars—the Annual Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland

Editor | Nov 9, 2020

When the Breeders’ Cup is over and the Keeneland November sale is in full swing, another annual event celebrating exceptional equines is on the horizon—the Sporting Art Auction. Now in its eighth year, the auction is a highly anticipated event offering paintings and sculpture in …

[Read more...] about Countdown to Another Event of Equine Stars—the Annual Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland

Support Retired Thoroughbreds through TRF’s Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies Event!

Editor | Oct 19, 2020

The Times is pleased to sponsor the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s (TRF) fundraiser Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies, slated for Sunday, October 25th at Pitney Meadows Community Farm in Saratoga Springs, New York. This event will split its proceeds between Pitney Meadows’ …

[Read more...] about Support Retired Thoroughbreds through TRF’s Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies Event!

It’s Preakness Week! Revisiting Triple Crown Winner Assault’s 1946 Preakness

Editor | Sep 29, 2020

In honor of Preakness Week, the Times looks back at one of the race’s historic winners from 1946, the improbable Triple Crown hero and “Little Chocolate Galloper,” Assault. In our Kentucky Derby post in May, we shared one of our favorite quotes about his victory in that first …

[Read more...] about It’s Preakness Week! Revisiting Triple Crown Winner Assault’s 1946 Preakness

The First Kentucky Derby, Unhorsed by the Louisville Cup

Editor | Aug 31, 2020

It was the first Kentucky Derby, but the race wasn’t the star attraction of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association’s six-day inaugural spring meeting in 1875. Opening day on Monday, May 17, 1875, drew more than 12,000 attendees to the new track that would later …

[Read more...] about The First Kentucky Derby, Unhorsed by the Louisville Cup

Kentucky, the First Winner of the Travers Stakes, Immortalized in Oil

Editor | Aug 4, 2020

It’s Travers Week, and we look forward to crowning the next three-year-old champion of the mile-and-a-quarter “Mid-summer Derby” this Saturday at Saratoga Race Track. The race has amassed 150 winners to date, its earliest titleholder being a colt named Kentucky in its inaugural …

[Read more...] about Kentucky, the First Winner of the Travers Stakes, Immortalized in Oil

Remembering Edward Troye, America’s Equine Artist of the 19th century, on His Birthday

Editor | Jul 8, 2020

Saturday, July 12, marks the anniversary of the birth of Edward Troye (1808--1874), America's preeminent animal painter of the 19th century. During his 40-year career in the U.S., the Swiss-born Troye painted commissions of hundreds of prized Thoroughbreds, and was recognized by …

[Read more...] about Remembering Edward Troye, America’s Equine Artist of the 19th century, on His Birthday

A Poem for this Weekend’s Epsom Derby: Ode to No More Betting on the Races

Editor | Jun 29, 2020

Racing schedules have been turned upside-down across the globe due to COVID-19, and this Saturday, July 4, will feature the second leg of Britain’s Triple Crown, the Derby Stakes (officially the Investec Derby) at Epsom Downs Race Course—a race that was first inaugurated in 1780 …

[Read more...] about A Poem for this Weekend’s Epsom Derby: Ode to No More Betting on the Races

Virtual Tour of Historic Race Track Bar Neir’s Tavern on Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m. EDT

Editor | May 27, 2020

Here's your chance to attend a free virtual tour of Neir's Tavern in Queens, New York, on Thursday evening. This past winter, the Times reported about this historic race track bar that was opened in 1829 by the proprietor of the nearby Union Race Course. Read more about the …

[Read more...] about Virtual Tour of Historic Race Track Bar Neir’s Tavern on Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m. EDT

He was called everything from the “Texas Terror” and “Murder, Inc.” to the “Little Chocolate Galloper”—Learn more about Assault, one of 13 Triple Crown champions competing in Saturday’s Virtual Kentucky Derby

Editor | Apr 27, 2020

Horse racing fans are lamenting that this week is typically Kentucky Derby Week, with the “Run for the Roses” slated for the first Saturday in May. As the Derby has been postponed to the fall, NBC will broadcast a virtual Derby on Saturday, May 2, featuring 13 Triple Crown …

[Read more...] about He was called everything from the “Texas Terror” and “Murder, Inc.” to the “Little Chocolate Galloper”—Learn more about Assault, one of 13 Triple Crown champions competing in Saturday’s Virtual Kentucky Derby

Hello, Old Friend: A Visit With Lexington (Stallion) in Lexington (Kentucky)

Editor | Apr 17, 2020

While many businesses and other institutions have temporary closed due to COVID-19, some are offering online services, including museums. The Smithsonian, for example, is now offering a variety of online virtual exhibitions and museum tours—see link for more information. Here …

[Read more...] about Hello, Old Friend: A Visit With Lexington (Stallion) in Lexington (Kentucky)

The Louisiana Derby in History: Did the Spanish Flu Impact the Race in 1918–1919?

Editor | Mar 20, 2020

This Saturday marks the 107th running of the Louisiana Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds at the distance of 1 3/16 miles that for the first time will be contested spectator-free at the Fair Grounds Race Course due to COVID-19. This global pandemic has …

[Read more...] about The Louisiana Derby in History: Did the Spanish Flu Impact the Race in 1918–1919?

It’s February–Time to Celebrate the Birthdays of Two Leaders of the New Orleans Turf

Editor | Feb 10, 2020

On February 11, we celebrate the birthdays of two leaders of the nineteenth-century New Orleans turf whom we've written about at length here at the Times, both born on this date: Colonel Adam L. Bingaman (2/11/1793—9/6/1869), originally of Natchez, Mississippi, and Duncan F. …

[Read more...] about It’s February–Time to Celebrate the Birthdays of Two Leaders of the New Orleans Turf

Historic Race Track Bar in Queens Saved from Closure #NeirsForYears

Editor | Jan 11, 2020

In follow-up to our previous report of the impending closure of Neir's Tavern due to a rent hike, we are pleased to announce the historic bar located in Queens, New York, will remain open for business. Late Friday, news outlets reported that city leaders assisted Neir's owner Loy …

[Read more...] about Historic Race Track Bar in Queens Saved from Closure #NeirsForYears

Neir’s Tavern in Queens, Opened in 1829 by the Union Race Course, Will Close January 12

Editor | Jan 9, 2020

While in New York for the 2013 Belmont Stakes, Times staff visited Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven, knowing its unique history and ties to the sport of horse racing. Neir's was originally opened in 1829 as The Blue Pump Room by Cadwallader Colden, track proprietor for the nearby Union …

[Read more...] about Neir’s Tavern in Queens, Opened in 1829 by the Union Race Course, Will Close January 12

Support & Talk Horses at the Fall Racing Preview Handicapping Party–and Try a “Turf Times T-bred” Cocktail!

Editor | Sep 30, 2019

We are pleased to share information regarding this Fall Racing Preview Handicapping Party taking place on Thursday, October 3 in Lexington, Kentucky in advance of opening day at Keeneland Race Course. Benefiting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation that supports critical …

[Read more...] about Support & Talk Horses at the Fall Racing Preview Handicapping Party–and Try a “Turf Times T-bred” Cocktail!

“It was a damned rascally decision!” A racing fan’s account of an 1838 horse race disqualification

Editor | Sep 28, 2019

  Even casual fans of the sport of horse racing will recall this year's disqualification of Maximum Security by state stewards in the Kentucky Derby. Let’s revisit another stewards’ inquiry—this one from 1838 concerning Rule 42 and a horse blanket, enforced by the Adams …

[Read more...] about “It was a damned rascally decision!” A racing fan’s account of an 1838 horse race disqualification

Happy Birthday to America’s Equine Artist, Edward Troye

Editor | Jul 11, 2019

On Friday, July 12, we celebrate the birthday of Edward Troye (1808--1874), America's preeminent animal painter of the 19th century. Readers who have visited Lexington, Kentucky may have unknowingly seen his work across town as "Big Lex," the big blue horse that was adapted from …

[Read more...] about Happy Birthday to America’s Equine Artist, Edward Troye

Revisiting Our Guide to the Louisiana Derby

Editor | Mar 18, 2019

It's Louisiana Derby Week, with the 106th Louisiana Derby slated for Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Fair Grounds Race Course. Brush up on the race's history here in our guide that we contributed to Lady and the Track and US Racing last year. Back again this year for Derby Day will …

[Read more...] about Revisiting Our Guide to the Louisiana Derby

Happy Birthday to Two Pillars of the New Orleans Antebellum Turf

Editor | Feb 10, 2019

On Monday, February 11, 2019, we celebrate two leaders of 19th c. racing in New Orleans who were born on this day: Colonel Adam L. Bingaman (1793--1869) and Duncan F. Kenner (1813--1887). Read more about their contributions to the sport by revisiting the 1837 Eclipse Course …

[Read more...] about Happy Birthday to Two Pillars of the New Orleans Antebellum Turf

New Year, New Site

Editor | Jan 15, 2019

The Times is pleased to announce the launch of its upgraded website that offers an improved online and mobile experience for readers. We hope you enjoy it (and agree that it looks stunning) as much as we do! …

[Read more...] about New Year, New Site

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Recent Posts

  • January News: On This Race Day in 1852; and Remembering Louisiana Champion Lecomte January 12, 2021
  • Handy Rules for Laying Out a Race Course December 7, 2020
  • Countdown to Another Event of Equine Stars—the Annual Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland November 9, 2020
  • Support Retired Thoroughbreds through TRF’s Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies Event! October 19, 2020
  • It’s Preakness Week! Revisiting Triple Crown Winner Assault’s 1946 Preakness September 29, 2020

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