May 4 Local News Derby Winner To Run In Preakness Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will run in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 16. Trainer Chip Wooley said Sunday he wanted to see how the three-year-old gelding recovered from his Derby run before deciding if he would compete in the Preakness. Wooley made the decision Monday morning to go to Baltimore after […] By Rick Howlett May 4 Local News Derby Winner To Run In Preakness Rick Howlett
May 2 Local News Derby Favorite Scratched From Race Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge has been scratched from today’s race. That leaves a field of 19 for the Run for the Roses. Here’s the announcement from Churchill Downs: ANKLE PROBLEM FORCES SCRATCH OF MORNING LINE FAVORITE I WANT REVENGE FROM DERBY 135 I WANT REVENGE – Morning-line favorite I Want Revenge was scratched […] By Rick Howlett May 2 Local News Derby Favorite Scratched From Race Rick Howlett
May 1 State of Affairs Handicapping the 2009 Oaks & Derby Will Pioneer of the Nile break new ground in this River City? Or will his feet be held to the Fresian Fire? I Want Revenge could go head to head with Hold Me Back. But maybe it's a Desert Party with a little Chocolate Candy. What's this nonsense? It's not gibberish, it's actually part of the Derby field. Listen to the Show By Laura Ellis May 1 State of Affairs Handicapping the 2009 Oaks & Derby Laura Ellis
May 1 Arts and Culture A Sportingly Brief History of “The Star Spangled Banner” The Early and Not-So-Early Years Birth of a Song: In 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote new lyrics for a popular song. World War I: Patriotic ceremonies were common at baseball games. Official, Take 1: In 1916, Woodrow Wilson decreed a presidential order that made the song the official anthem of the United States. The First: […] By Elizabeth Kramer May 1 Arts and Culture A Sportingly Brief History of “The Star Spangled Banner” Elizabeth Kramer
May 1 Local News Three Derby Jockeys To Be Featured On Reality Program A production team from the Animal Planet reality series “Jockeys” has been at Churchill Downs this week, following three Kentucky Derby riders who will be featured in the show’s second season. Two of them, Joe Talamo and Mike Smith, were part of the first season of the program, which gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at […] By Rick Howlett May 1 Local News Three Derby Jockeys To Be Featured On Reality Program Rick Howlett
May 1 Local News Trainers, Jockeys Make Final Preps For Derby 135 The 135th Kentucky Derby will be run shortly after 6:00pm Saturday, with a full field of 20 in the Run for the Roses. The early favorite, at 3 to 1, is I Want Revenge, followed by co-second favorites Dunkirk and Pioneer of the Nile, at 4-1. The third favorite, at 5 to 1, is Friesan […] By Rick Howlett May 1 Local News Trainers, Jockeys Make Final Preps For Derby 135 Rick Howlett
May 1 Arts and Culture Churchill Downs: Taking a Gamble on a Song Listen NowThe Kentucky Derby has invited LeAnn Rimes to sing the national anthem, marking the first time it’s had a national recording artist sing the song at the event. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer reports on why the Derby had begun what it is calling “a new tradition” and what it means. Singing “The Star Spangled Banner” […] By Elizabeth Kramer May 1 Arts and Culture Churchill Downs: Taking a Gamble on a Song Elizabeth Kramer
Apr 30 Local News UPDATE: Possible Swine Flu Cases In Kentucky; Derby Plans Unaffected From Kentucky Public Radio’s Tony McVeigh Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says Saturday’s 135th running of the Kentucky Derby will go off as scheduled. He says the possible presence of swine flu in the state will not alter those plans. “States around the nation are continuing to hold such major events. I’m talking about NBA playoff […] By Rick Howlett Apr 30 Local News UPDATE: Possible Swine Flu Cases In Kentucky; Derby Plans Unaffected Rick Howlett
Apr 30 Local News Police Ready For Oaks, Derby Traffic Hundreds of Louisville Metro Police officers will be on traffic control duty on Kentucky Oaks and Derby days. LMPD Lieutenant Doug Sweeney says authorities will shut down some Watterson Expressway offramps near the end of each race day to facilitate the flow of traffic out of the racetrack area. The Department of Transportation, one of our […] By Rick Howlett Apr 30 Local News Police Ready For Oaks, Derby Traffic Rick Howlett
Apr 29 Local News A Field of 20 Will Run In Derby 135 The post positions are set for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. A full field of twenty is entered in Saturday’s race. The early favorite, at 3 to 1, is I Want Revenge, trained by Jeff Mullins. This is Mullins’ fifth Derby, but his first as trainer of a morning line favorite. He says […] By Rick Howlett Apr 29 Local News A Field of 20 Will Run In Derby 135 Rick Howlett
Apr 28 Local News Police Easing Some Derby Cruising Rules Louisville Metro Police have lifted some of the restrictions that were put in place to crack down on Derby weekend cruising along West Broadway. Assistant Chief Philip Turner says motorists will no longer need a permit for access to the route, and police won’t divert traffic unless there’s a heavy backup of vehicles. “(Such as) […] By Rick Howlett Apr 28 Local News Police Easing Some Derby Cruising Rules Rick Howlett
Apr 28 State of Affairs Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Churchill Downs You know about the twin spires and the bugler, and maybe you've heard about a certain thoroughbred race they host every year… but do you know how many mint juleps they serve, that the KY State Fair was once held there, or how many landscapers it takes to keep Churchill Downs looking pristine? Listen to the Show By Laura Ellis Apr 28 State of Affairs Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Churchill Downs Laura Ellis
Mar 2 Local News Churchill Downs Rolls Out New Safety Rules Authorities at Churchill Downs, Incorporated have announced a sweeping new list of safety measures for horses and jockeys. The announcement comes in the wake of some horse racing tragedies and scandals. By Kristin Espeland Mar 2 Local News Churchill Downs Rolls Out New Safety Rules Kristin Espeland
Aug 12 Local News Date Set for Eight Belles Memorial A date has been set for the memorial for the filly Eight Belles, who finished second in this year’s Kentucky Derby. She collapsed moments after the race when she suffered fractures in both front legs. Eight Belles was later euthanized on the track. The Kentucky Derby Museum announced in June the ashes of the horse […] By Stephanie Crosby Aug 12 Local News Date Set for Eight Belles Memorial Stephanie Crosby
Aug 7 Local News Churchill Begins Search For New Announcer Churchill Downs has formally launched a search for a successor to Luke Kruytbosch, the racetrack announcer who died suddenly last month at the age of 47. Track spokesperson John Asher says the new announcer will call the races for the on-track crowd and simulcast audience, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. He says only […] By Rick Howlett Aug 7 Local News Churchill Begins Search For New Announcer Rick Howlett