Tag: Horse racing

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce purchases stake in race horse ‘Swift Delivery’

#Chiefs TE Travis Kelce purchased a stake in a race horse named “Swift Delivery” this week ahead of Kansas City’s regular season kickoff.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce purchased a stake in a racehorse, as reported by America’s Best Racing on Twitter.

The name of the horse?

“Swift Delivery.”

It seems only natural that Kelce would have wanted to buy an ownership share of the winning thoroughbred after he saw the name.

As a shareholder Kelce will not have full ownership of Swift Delivery and will likely not be present for all the races due to his schedule with the Chiefs but there will certainly be more horse racing appearances for Kelce in the future.

America’s Best Racing shared the news on Twitter, revealing the next race for Swift Delivery this Saturday in the Toronto Cup at Woodbine:

Perhaps Kelce will show up at Woodbine to cheer on his newly purchased racehorse while the Chiefs are taking time off ahead of the NFL Kickoff scheduled for primetime on September 5 when Kansas City hosts the Baltimore Ravens.

 

2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will race at Preakness Stakes after all

2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is headed to the Preakness Stakes next weekend.

This year’s Preakness Stakes will feature the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner after all.

While it wasn’t a sure bet after Mystik Dan won the Run of the Roses last weekend, the horse will indeed participate at next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said it’s “all systems go” for Mystik Dan to race next weekend and that “the horse is doing fantastic,” per ESPN.

That’ll give Mystik Dan a chance at achieving the Triple Crown with the Belmont Stakes in June another realistic goal for the horse.

If you’re headed out to Pimlico Race Course next weekend, you’ll now get the chance to see a Kentucky Derby-winning horse run for a further chance at history.

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Will Mystik Dan run at the 2024 Preakness Stakes? Here’s what we know

Why Mystik Dan’s trainer will wait until the “last minute” to decide on the Preakness

After stunning the field at the 2024 Kentucky Derby, horse Mystik Dan might not contend for the Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes.

Mystik Dan’s photo finish at Churchill Downs on Saturday turned him into an instant celebrity in the horse racing world. However, he may not make the trip to Pimlico Race Course on May 18.

Trainer Kenny McPeek cast doubt on Mystik Dan being locked into the Preakness, understandably saying it’ll be up to how the horse is feeling as to whether or not it will compete, via the Louisville Courier Journal:

“We’re not committed to the Preakness. No, not yet,” McPeek said on Sunday. “We’ll just watch him over the next week. It will be one of those where we’ll probably take (the decision) up to the last minute. … We’ll let him tell us. If he’s not in the feed tub, he won’t run.”

We’ll know soon enough if Mystik Dan is acclimated enough to run for the Preakness, with the June 8 Belmont Stakes in New York (relocated to Saratoga during renovations in Elmont) a more realistic goal for this year’s Kentucky Derby winner.

The post position draw for the Preakness is slated for Monday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

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Larry Collmus absolutely nailed his call of the electric 2024 Kentucky Derby photo finish for Mystik Dan

Larry Collmus’ broadcast call for the 2024 Kentucky Derby photo finish was outstanding.

In what’s easily the closest finish in recent Kentucky Derby history, Mystik Dan edged out the field by a nose to claim the 150th Run of the Roses on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs.

The photo finish left the crowd and viewers at home breathless and waiting to see which horse would be crowned the victor, but Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. got just enough distance in the end to win.

Legendary Kentucky Derby broadcaster Larry Collmus knew exactly what an electric finish this was, and his broadcast call was absolutely fantastic.

You can hear the excitement in his voice as he clearly knows he’s calling history.

This was as exciting a Kentucky Debry as we’ve gotten in a while, as Mystik Dan ran its way into history and Collmus cemented the moment as legend with his stellar broadcast call.

You’ll want to rewind this one back and watch it again and again.

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Jockey Florent Geroux is wearing customized Creed pants during the 2024 Kentucky Derby

We didn’t have this on our 2024 Kentucky Derby bingo card.

During Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, jockey Florent Geroux and racing horse Just A Touch will hope to go … higher … in the Run for the Roses.

On his custom race pants, Geroux will be wearing the logo for the band Creed in honor of its 2024 reunion tour.

Geroux must be a big fan of the “Higher” and “My Sacrifice” rock group to spot them on his jockey pants for the 150th Kentucky Derby, so he’s got to win “Creed fan of the year” for repping the band in such a visible way.

We didn’t have Creed on our 2024 Kentucky Derby bingo card this year, but we’ll definitely take it.

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Travis Kelce showed up at the 2024 Kentucky Derby in a sleek white suit

Now THIS is a derby look.

The running of the 150th Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 4, and, as expected, the fashion is on point. Every year, locals and celebrities descend upon Churchill Downs in stunning (and sometimes over-the-top) outfits to watch some horse races.

MORE: 15 photos of Kentucky Derby fans in hilarious and absurd horse hats

Seersucker, giant hats and pastels are generally the stars of the show. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce made an appearance on Saturday in a fantastic all-white suit, looking sleek for the prestigious affair. Kelce, who is coming off a huge extension that will keep him with the Chiefs for two more years, paired the pinstriped look with a light blue shirt, patterned tie and gray hat.

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Every Kentucky Derby winner since 2000

A look back at some Kentucky Derby history, including a couple Triple Crown winners.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in the world, and it has a rich history leading into Saturday’s 150th running.

It’s nicknamed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” because the 1.25-mile race on Churchill Downs’ dirt track often produces riveting racing and thrilling finishes. Even in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike appeared seemingly out of nowhere to steal the victory, despite the longest odds in the field at 80-1.

So ahead of Saturday’s 150th Kentucky Derby, here’s a look back at some Derby history with all the winning horses, plus jockeys and trainers, since 2000.

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The Kentucky Derby vs. Kentucky Oaks, explained

What’s the difference between the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks? Let’s find out!

The Kentucky Derby is perhaps the most famous circuit in horse racing, but it is by far no means the only one that matters.

In fact, there is another race that is run at Churchill Downs right before the Kentucky Derby called the Kentucky Oaks. But what’s the difference between the two? It’s actually pretty simple!

In the Kentucky Oaks, only three-year-old fillies — female horses — are allowed to compete. Compare that to the Kentucky Derby, which allows all Thoroughbreds to compete, though fillies are quite rare in the race itself.

MORE: Kentucky Derby 2024 — Updated post position, odds as Epic Ride replaces Encino.

Not only that, the Kentucky Oaks is a shorter race than its counterpart, clocking in at one and one-eighth miles compared to one and one-half miles of the Kentucky Derby. Plus, the prize pools are different, with the Kentucky Derby purse at $5 million and $3.1 million going to first place, while the Kentucky Oaks has a $1.5 million purse with at least $750,000 going to the first place winner.

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Here’s the easiest mint julep recipe you can make at home for the Kentucky Derby

This is an easy one.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2021 and has been updated.

It’s Kentucky Derby time! And that means we get to see lots of colorful hats and fashions, celebrities who will enjoy the race — and did I forget the actual horses who will compete at Churchill Downs?

That means you might be at home making the classic bourbon cocktail known as a Mint Julep.

If you’re not experienced at making cocktails, fear not. That’s what I’m here for — and I have made this recipe every year with much success, which is basically just like this version from Real Simple (and when I say basically, I mean that I ignore the measurements, eyeball it and taste along the way):

  1. Take a tall glass, mix some sugar with a little water at the bottom (if you want to go a step further to make a simple syrup by boiling water and sugar, go ahead! Here’s a good recipe).
  2. Real Simple calls for you to “Clap … 6 mint leaves in your palms to release the herb’s oils, then add them.” I’ve never tried the clapping part, but I will this year!
  3. Put some ice in your glass (the traditional one calls for crushed ice).
  4. Pour bourbon on top.
  5. Garnish with mint.
  6. Stir!

That’s it. Cheers! Drink responsibly, Derby fans.

(Here are some other recipes, including for some non-Mint Julep drinks.)

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The 13 horses who have won a Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing

Will another horse join the list?

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.

The Kentucky Derby is here, and that means the attempt to win the Triple Crown will begin with whoever takes home the Run for the Roses in 2023.

Of course, that attempt to win all three — the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont — felt way more impossible just a decade ago, when the last Triple Crown winner was in 1978.

In the last eight years, we’ve seen TWO horses complete the three wins. We’ll see if this is a trend or an exception as the years go on.

Before Saturday’s race, here’s a look at the 13 horses who took home the Triple Crown: