Although it is a somewhat uncommon occurrence, the need for surgery to unblock Omaha Beach’s breathing passages should not deter from the colt’s chances in the second half of this season, with major grade 1 events beckoning.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said May 2 at Churchill Downs that being forced to scratch Omaha Beach from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) drained his emotions.

Louisville native Randy Bloch and partner Brad Stephens are taking a ‘Champagne Anyone’ approach to the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Julian Pimentel and Sophie Doyle were introduced to horse racing through their families, and from a young age, being on the back of a racehorse was the goal. This weekend they’ll ride in their first Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1).

On May 4, jockey Rajiv Maragh hopes to again be part of the post parade as “My Old Kentucky Home” is played and 20 horses head to the starting gate for the famed Kentucky Derby.

Shadwell Stable’s homebred Haikal is being treated for foot abscess in his left front. His status for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) will be announced tomorrow. Scratch time for the Derby is 9 a.m.

Belmont Park will get its moment in the Triple Crown spotlight June 8 when the final leg of the series is contested, yet the home of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) will be quite busy May 4 playing host to three graded stakes.

Stacked with talent from one end of the gate to the other, the field for the May 4 $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Twinspires.com (G1) features former classic runners, graded stakes winners, and a tremendous amount of class. 

Omaha Beach, the morning-line favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), will not run in the race after being diagnosed with an entrapped epiglottis.

Seeing Rookie Salsa display an understanding of racing beyond his years, Jeremiah O’Dwyer’s wasted no time in nominating the son of Two Step Salsa to the $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes.

Marcelino Torres and Manuel Quintana’s My Good Girl broke her maiden by 7 3/4 lengths in her third start May 1 at Indiana Grand to become the first winner for her sire Danza.

A 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds, the first running of the Oaklawn Invitational offers an added bonus tied to the Triple Crown as the winner will receive a guaranteed spot in the Preakness (G1), provided the horse is nominated to the Triple Crown.

When Jon Court swings his leg over Long Range Toddy and heads out for the post parade in the May 4 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the 58-year-old will make history as the oldest jockey to ever start in the Run for the Roses.

Dunaden, winner of the 2011 Melbourne Cup for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s Pearl Bloodstock, has died aged 13 due to complications following a paddock accident at his home at Overbury Stud.

Christina Jelm and Mike Puhich’s Ms Headley scored on debut May 1 at Churchill Downs, giving her sire, The Big Beast, his first winner from his first starter.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced that Colonial Downs, located in New Kent County, east of Richmond, Va., has joined the organization. 

NBC Sports will present its first-ever Kentucky Derby Day betting show – NBC Sports Bet: Derby Special – this Saturday, May 4 live at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSports.com/Bet and the NBC Sports app.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Monmouth Park has earned re-accreditation from the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance. 

Precieuse, who secured her first United States win when opening the season with a victory in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $400,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T).