Horse Racing

8:24 PM ET Associated Press BENSALEM, Pa. — Taiba won the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby by three lengths on Saturday for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Ridden by Mike Smith, Taiba ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.67 and paid $4.80, $3 and $2.60. It was Baffert’s fourth win in the Grade 1 event at

12:09 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs has modified paths to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, awarding points to the top five finishers in qualifying races and increasing significance for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and late prep season events. Most Derby prep races during the qualifying series for 3-year-olds will award points

8:11 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs Inc. has agreed to buy Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, for $79 million in cash. The deal announced Thursday with Enchantment Holdings LLC includes Churchill Downs assuming Ellis Park’s opportunity to build a track extension facility in Owensboro. The deal is subject to certain working

7:14 PM ET Associated Press SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — John Velazquez, already the leading career rider at Saratoga, had his 1,000th winner Thursday at the historic track. The 50-year-old Hall of Fame jockey won the eighth race by a neck aboard Precursory, who paid $14 to win. The filly is trained by fellow Hall of

4:05 PM ET Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. — A prominent New York-based horse trainer whose Early Voting won this year’s Preakness Stakes is facing a domestic violence charge for allegedly pushing a woman down a flight of stairs and trying to choke her, authorities said Thursday. Chad Brown, 43, was arraigned Thursday morning in Saratoga

7:35 PM ET Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Cool Papa Bell scored the biggest upset in the history of the Hambletonian, charging late to edge filly Joviality S by three-quarters of a length in a wild finish to the most prestigious race for 3-year-old in trotting. The stunning victory by the 52-1 shot gave

1:21 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Belmont Park will hold its fall meet at Aqueduct during construction of vehicle and pedestrian tunnels that will allow access to the horse racing track’s 45-acre infield. The New York Racing Association said the 28-day “Belmont at the Big A” meet begins Sept. 15 and runs through

11:19 AM ET Associated Press LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — An unraced 2-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert was euthanized after an accident at Los Alamitos, becoming the 10th horse to die at the Southern California track this year. Officials at the track in Orange County said Rapacious had completed his morning workout Tuesday when he

7:28 PM ET Associated Press A federal judge said Tuesday a national horse racing authority cannot enforce its rules in Louisiana and West Virginia while a lawsuit challenging the organization is in court. In granting a preliminary injunction, Western District of Louisiana Judge Terry Doughty said the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority likely went beyond

8:37 PM ET Associated Press DEL MAR, Calif. — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had two victories on the opening weekend of Del Mar’s summer meet, three weeks after his 90-day suspension ended. Havnameltdown won by 2 1/4 lengths in his first career start in Sunday’s $80,000 fourth race at the seaside track north