As part of its effort to honor Black jockeys and trainers who played a significant role in racing history, particularly during the first 30 years of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs inaugurated a new 6-furlong race for 3-year-olds in 2015 called the William Walker Stakes. Held …
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"Walking Lion"—This 19th-century French racing trophy with a mysterious history resides in a Baltimore museum
NEWLY UPDATED WITH TROPHY PHOTOS! Read about this stunning French racing prize that has been in a U.S. art collection since 1885—yet was attributed to the wrong race for more than a century. Our research has corrected the erroneous information and is now referenced by the Walters Art Museum.
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The Great Match Race Series
Now celebrating the 200th anniversary of this race held on May 27, 1823, at the Union Course on Long Island, the Times brings its readers a four-part series on the historic North versus the South match race between American Eclipse and Sir Henry: "Napoleon Challenges the North;" "Which Hero of Napoleon's Southern Army Will Face Eclipse;" "See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes;" and "The Aftermath."
Recent Articles
January News: On This Race Day in 1852; and Remembering Louisiana Champion Lecomte
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 19th-century race days were often rescheduled due to rainfall …
Handy Rules for Laying Out a Race Course
The following “Rules for Laying Out a Race Course” is shared from an 1833 issue of the American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine. Enjoy! …
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Countdown to Another Event of Equine Stars—the Annual Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland
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 …
Support Retired Thoroughbreds through TRF’s Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies Event!
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’ …
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It’s Preakness Week! Revisiting Triple Crown Winner Assault’s 1946 Preakness
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 …
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The First Kentucky Derby, Unhorsed by the Louisville Cup
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 …
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