11:23 PM ET Associated Press HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — A jockey has been suspended 60 days for misusing his whip — not on a horse — but on another rider in a race at an Arkansas track. A stewards’ ruling posted Thursday on the Association of Racing Commissioners International website alleges that David Cohen “deliberately”

10:06 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita will race three days a week instead of four over the next four weeks because the track has lost some of its horse population to out-of-state venues. Several stables have shipped horses to Kentucky to run at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, leaving Santa Anita with

1:54 AM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs will invest $8 million for an on-site equine medical center as part of several other measures to improve safety for horses and riders. The medical center is expected to open next March and will include a quarantine facility. Next month’s Kentucky Derby will have a

5:37 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita will continue racing through the end of the current meet on June 23, despite objections from animal rights activists who urged the California Horse Racing Board to shutter the historic track. Chairman Chuck Winner said at the racing board’s monthly meeting Thursday that he sees

12:17 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Several major tracks, including all three sites of the Triple Crown, have agreed to phase out the use of an anti-bleeding medication starting next year, followed by the elimination of Lasix in stakes races in 2021. Among the tracks that have come together on the divisive medication

8:46 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — The California Horse Racing Board has amended proposed changes to rules governing how jockeys may use riding crops in races, while The Jockeys’ Guild continues to press its case that the crops are necessary for control of a racehorse. Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith told the racing

6:20 PM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor says she has formed a task force to investigate 23 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park between December and March. District Attorney Jackie Lacey said Tuesday the task force of prosecutors and peace officers will “determine whether unlawful conduct or conditions affected

10:08 PM ET Associated Press Omaha Beach moved ahead early before holding off favored Improbable to win the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by a length Saturday at Oaklawn Park, earning 100 points and vaulting himself into second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. After entering the day 19th in the standings with 37.5 points, the

8:37 PM ET Associated Press BALTIMORE — The northern grandstand at Pimlico Race Course has significantly deteriorated and will be closed for the Preakness in May. The Stronach Group said Saturday that the northern grandstand adjacent to the clubhouse is the oldest section of seating at 125 years. Its capacity of 6,670 fans is no

5:00 AM ET Tiger Roll — the winner of the last two Grand Nationals — is a long shot to run the race next year, according to the horse’s owner Michael O’Leary. The 4-1 favourite became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals when he cruised to victory at

8:44 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Roadster defeated Game Winner by a half-length to win the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, giving trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish and the possibility of three horses in the Kentucky Derby. His other standout, Improbable, is set to run in the Arkansas Derby next weekend. Ridden

7:27 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Tacitus has won the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, earning 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Tacitus ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.23 on Saturday. The 5-2 wagering favorite paid $7.20, $4.70 and $3. Tacitus rallied from 10 lengths back to win

4:44 PM ET ESPN Chalk The 2019 Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, kicking off the Triple Crown races. We’ll keep this page updated as the 145th running of the Derby approaches. Odds as of April 4. 2019 Kentucky Derby odds Horse Odds Game Winner 5-1 Improbable 7-1

9:00 AM ET The runner is standing before he opens his eyes. His morning routine is unvaried: Wake up before the sun rises over the San Gabriel Mountains. Hydrate and eat. Get his temperature taken — with body fat that low, he’s susceptible to bugs. Gear up. Head to the track, weather permitting. He’s eager

7:55 PM ET Arms Runner became the 23rd horse to die at Santa Anita since the start of racing season on Dec. 26 after falling on the dirt crossover portion of the track Sunday. Arms Runner was competing in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, the feature race of the day, when he appeared to injure

7:42 PM ET Associated Press HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Maximum Security bolted from the gate and never got caught, going wire-to-wire to win the Florida Derby on Saturday and earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Unbeaten in four career starts, Maximum Security won easily and held off 70-1 long shot Bodexpress — a maiden

11:15 AM ET Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Plus Que Parfait went to the lead in the stretch and won the $2.5 million UAE Derby on Saturday. The win was worth 100 Kentucky Derby standings points for Plus Que Parfait. That would be more than enough to get him into the May 4

4:56 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Racing is underway at Santa Anita for the first time since it was stopped nearly a month ago following the deaths of 22 horses. Discrete Stevie B, the 8-5 favorite, won the first race on the main dirt track Friday under jockey Tiago Pereira. The race was