Horse Racing

6:38 PM ET Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — Wells Bayou took an early lead and held off NY Traffic to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by a head on Saturday in one of the few U.S. sporting events to continue as scheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic. For the 107th running of the major prep

Mar 20, 2020 William Weinbaum The only track in the U.S. that is still running harness races during the coronavirus pandemic was turned down by the California Horse Racing Board for a requested schedule change. Cal Expo’s general manager, Chris Schick, told ESPN Monday night the Sacramento track will have to stick with a Friday-Saturday

6:49 PM ET William Weinbaum After five closure announcements in the past 48 hours, a track in Sacramento, California, is the last with plans to remain open of the 18 in the United States that had harness racing prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Chris Schick, the general manager of Cal Expo harness racing, told ESPN

6:44 PM ET ESPN News Services FREEHOLD, N.J. — A fourth member of a New Jersey family died Thursday from COVID-19. Vincent Fusco died Thursday morning at a hospital in Freehold, NJ.com reported. His death was confirmed by Roseann Paradiso Fodera, an attorney and relative. Fusco’s mother, Grace Fusco, died Wednesday night, hours after another

In the days since the coronavirus pandemic brought America to a standstill, a pastoral sporting scene in Southern California has offered an idyllic atmosphere to overtake apocalyptic thoughts, if only for a moment. “It’s like being at a mountain lake,” veterinarian Jeff Blea said. “Peaceful, serene, holistic. Horses and riders in a beautiful setting, with

9:51 PM ET For the first time since 1945, the Run for the Roses will not take place on the first Saturday in May. Churchill Downs is expected to announce Tuesday morning that the 146th Kentucky Derby will be postponed, sources confirmed to ESPN. It’s the latest iconic American sporting event to be halted by

9:17 PM ET ESPN News Services Churchill Downs is delaying reopening its stables and training center until March 31 after consulting local public health officials amid the coronavirus outbreak. The home of the Kentucky Derby is expected to provide an update next week about horse racing’s marquee event, scheduled for May 2, and its upcoming

7:17 PM ET Associated Press A major prep race for the Kentucky Derby will be run as scheduled next week, without spectators. Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans is joining other tracks in banning fans through the remainder of its racing meet that ends March 29. Only essential staff and credentialed horsemen and media

12:34 PM ET Associated Press Horse racing is continuing to operate in North America and abroad without fans in the stands. Races at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in California, Aqueduct in New York, Gulfstream Park in Florida, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, Laurel Park in Maryland and Turfway Park in Kentucky will go on

2:06 PM ET Associated Press GEORGETOWN, Ky. — War Emblem, the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, died Wednesday at age 21. He had been at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center since 2015 after returning from Japan. Officials said the cause of death was believed to be a paddock accident, but exact details weren’t known.