r/horseracing

Hi! My family (me, hubs, two 15 yr olds, & two 13 yr olds) is spending a week in Kentucky in late June/early July. I’ve been working on my list of potential stuff to do. I’d originally been looking at visiting Churchill Downs for a tour, but found that we’ll be there during the last live race of the season (Sunday, June 28). I’m curious about advice on visiting for tour or race, where to sit, and whether reserved dining tix actually have good food on non-Derby days.

The fam loves all kinds of animals (already on my list is some of the “retirement homes” for race horses). I’m honestly not sure how we’d all feel about watching live racing. I know the animals are absolutely stunning athletes. I also know we’d be devastated if we saw a bad injury. I don’t know how often it happens, and I’m not really interested in googling that 🫪

It’s an opportunity to visit an iconic US venue, which is cool, especially since we don’t find ourselves in or near Kentucky ever. Will we or the kids get bored if we went for the race? We’re not especially into gambling, though I’m sure we’d place some small wagers for funsies.

There are seats available for like $60 in the SI Club, Rose’s Lounge, and Stakes Room, all of which include dining. I cannot for the life of me find out anything about the food there except for Derby week. I’d like to know if I’m getting a 5-star experience or sad hot dogs and grey hamburgers. There are also a few resale tickets available in the Turf Club boxes, regular tickets in the Champions Loge, and plenty of options in the 300s boxes at the finish line.

Overall, tour or race? If race, which seats? If dining, what food can I expect?

Thanks! 🐎🌹💵💜

Who is calling race here now? This must be his first time calling races.

I am working on a bucket list of tracks to visit, other than the ones that are probably on everyone’s list: places in KY, CA, Oaklawn, Saratoga, FL wherever. Think about the smaller tracks that don’t host graded stakes races. Are there any that are worth a road trip? Where there is a decent racing culture, where it’s not just an oval attached to a field house full of slot machines? Many thanks.

Oof.

It’s a field of five. Three of which have never won a stakes race:

McVay has tried six stakes races. He is 0-0-1 in those races, placing third in a 4-horse San Felipe in 2024.

Forged Steel has alternated between the turf and dirt. He has ten tries in stakes races (only one graded stakes) and is 0-1-3.

Malarchuk has tried one stakes race (Black Type) and finished second: Before that, he was racing well in allowances.

For the second straight year, Baffert doesn’t have an older horse to throw into the mix. For a while, he dominated this race.

It all leads to 7-year-old Subsanador as a likely strong favorite. British Isles did win the Santa Anita Handicap in January but followed that up with a 6th place finish in the Ben Ali. Maybe he is a horse for the course.

Romantic Warrior will bid for the Hong Kong Triple Crown

I am heavily considering going to the BC. Its really contingent on whether or not Forever Young is going which i think he most likely is. I was wondering, aside from watching the horses (obviously), what else is there to do at the track? For instance are there typically any souvenir shops open on/around the track, any kind of "must-see" things happening around that time, etc?

A few months ago, I shared with this community that my mom has always loved watching horse racing, but has never attended a race, and that I wanted to take her to a race for her birthday. A few of you mentioned the Preakness in Laurel, and that's what we went with.

We attended the Preakness on Saturday and had the best time. I think it was actually beneficial that it was at a smaller venue this year, because we never felt like we were competing with a mob of people for a good line of sight.

Everyone we met was really kind, and when they found out this was our first time at a track, they explained how everything worked and wished us luck with our bets.

All in all, a day neither of us will ever forget. Thank you!

Okay so I was looking at the Preakness results from yesterday and Napoleon Solo won at 10-1 odds, paying $17.80 to win . That's a massive price for a horse that won the Champagne Stakes as a 2-year-old by 6 lengths . I know he struggled earlier this year and missed the Derby, but still. The favorite Taj Mahal faded hard and finished 10th after setting those fast fractions . The time was 1:58.69 which isn't blazing but the track at Laurel might have been slow .

What's wild is trainer Chad Summers had never even started a horse in a Triple Crown race before this . First timer wins the Preakness. And Golden Tempo (the Derby winner) skipped it because of the short turnaround . So no Triple Crown threat this year. Napoleon Solo paid $17.80, Iron Honor was second at $9.20 to place, Chip Honcho third at $8.20 to show . Anyone else cash a ticket on the gray colt? I had Taj Mahal and I'm still sick about it.

I know this sounds silly but I heard that horse's can give footstamps as autographs. Is this possible to get from a horse after a race? If not, how long does the jockey usually stick around to sign things? Thanks in advance.

How was your weekend? Were you up, down, flat? What did you learn? What did you drink? What are you going to do differently next weekend?

Post all of your thoughts here, in our weekly discussion post.

Napoleon Solo Joins Seize The Grey In the Preakness Wins

He obviously had that issue early in the year that took him off the Derby Trail but iirc it should be corrected by now? Has he returned to training? Just want to make sure he's doing okay

Let me be the first to congratulate Fred Armisen for winning today's Preakness. Boy, that guy is versatile!

https://preview.redd.it/8lmfj7tagl1h1.jpg?width=296&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25c6264a37099a55abea03b629a3fffc2679dd45

I’m just a casual watcher of horse racing and no expert so I’m not sure why the lineup feels so… bleh. Well, at least compared to the Kentucky Derby and last year’s Preakness.

Tell me i’m not the only one who feels this way 😅