Horse Racing

11:09 PM ET ESPN staff Vow and Declare took out a thrilling Melbourne Cup at Flemington, the Australian stayer beating a host of international raiders to give jockey Craig Williams his first win in the “race that stops a nation.” The Danny O’Brien-trained stayer worked up the rails in the straight to edge out Master

6:21 PM ET Australians are expected to sink over $300 million into the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but what does the horse you have bet on say about you? ESPN horse racing expert* Mike Wise has run the numbers, read the tea leaves and had a chat to a mate that swears blind that he

10:59 PM ET ESPN News Services Mongolian Groom was euthanized after running in the $6 million Classic at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, the 37th horse to die at the California track since December. The marquee race was the last of the two-day world championships, which had seen 13 other Cup races run without

9:09 PM ET Associated Press Vino Rosso won Saturday’s $6 million Classic by 4¼ lengths at the Breeders’ Cup, where a long shot horse was eased up in the stretch with a leg injury. Mongolian Groom, a 15-1 shot, was part of the early pace in the 1¼-mile race that capped the two-day world championships

8:32 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — So much for settling the early Kentucky Derby picture. Next year’s outlook is downright fuzzy after a couple of little-known colts challenged each other down the stretch before 45-1 shot Storm the Court staged a stunning neck victory in the Juvenile on opening day of the Breeders’

4:09 PM ET Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The home of the Kentucky Derby plans to begin work next month on a $300 million project that will include a hotel, historical racing machines, new stadium seating and a Millionaires Row renovation. Churchill Downs announced the tentative plans Wednesday in a statement saying it would also

6:33 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — Santa Anita is looking into the possibility of removing its dirt surface, where the majority of the track’s 36 horse deaths since December have occurred, and going back to a synthetic surface. That’s according to Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group, which owns

8:34 AM ET The 36th edition of the Breeders’ Cup will kick off two days of action on Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs. A lot of eyes will be on the Breeders’ Cup Classic, will run under the lights on Saturday evening, but with so many high-profile races in the mix, there are numerous opportunities

9:11 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — McKinzie, with a new jockey replacing Hall of Famer Mike Smith, is the 3-1 favorite for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic this weekend at troubled Santa Anita. The track is hosting the world championships for a record 10th time Friday and Saturday. A total of 36

10:11 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — A 2-year-old filly injured her right-front leg less than a half-mile from the finish line in a race at Santa Anita and was euthanized, making her the 36th horse to die at the Southern California track since December. The incident occurred in Sunday’s third race. It was