Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism, Publisher and other past horses with media-themed names

New York Times

01-05-2025

Photographers, writers and perhaps anyone with a press pass might have a silent favorite in the 151st Kentucky Derby.
Journalism, the Santa Anita Derby winner, is a 3-1 favorite to win Saturday's Derby. Journalism got his name from co-owner Aron Wellman, who was once the sports editor of the Beverly Hills (Calif.) High School student publication, Highlights.
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Wellman told the Louisville Courier Journal that he gave up journalism for law after graduating from Beverly Hills in 1995. He was a soccer and baseball player who also had a column in high school called 'Ace in the Hole.'
'I've often been accused of being a disgruntled sportswriter because of all the writing I do for Eclipse, for our partners and our horse updates and weekly newsletter,' Wellman said. 'So, journalism is something that I value very much, and I appreciate responsible and diligent journalists.'
Journalism will have those in the actual field paying attention. But he isn't the first horse to compete in the Kentucky Derby with a media-themed moniker.
Here's a look at some horses with names that have media ties.
Owners: Gus King and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Every good journalist has someone to publish assignments. Journalism will have to deal with Publisher on Saturday.
Publisher has the genes. He was sired by American Pharoah, who won the Triple Crown in 2015. But Publisher has 20-1 odds to win Saturday.
It could be said that mainstream media flows best with a good publisher, so maybe Journalism and Publisher will run in tandem for a bettor's exacta. Maybe not.
Owner: Allied Racing Stable, LLC
Trainer: W. Bret Calhoun
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
Coming in as a huge longshot, 46 1/2-1 final odds, Mr. Big News nearly shocked the world by finishing third in the 2020 Derby. His effort led to a big payout for anyone who took a chance on believing in him.
MR BIG NEWS ran a cracking race to finish 3rd in the Kentucky Derby. Inbred (4×2) to full-sisters GLORIOUS SONG and ANGELIC SONG. pic.twitter.com/cWKqA3ExKd
— Chris Campbell (@chris62campbell) September 6, 2020
This race was held in early September after being delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the race took place outside of its traditional first-Saturday-in-May schedule since 1945, when the event was moved from May to June because of World War II.
Owner Chester Thomas said the name is a combination of a nod to his stablemate (Mr. Money), the horse's sire (Giant's Causeway) and hoping they'd make 'big news' at some point.
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Owner: Samuel F. 'Sonny' Henderson
Trainer: Donnie Von Hemel
Jockey: Luis S. Quinonez
Leaving the gate at 24-1 odds, Suddenbreakingnews made news by finishing fifth in the 2016 Derby.
Sonny Henderson wasn't a big news watcher, but he liked the name 'Breaking News' for a horse. He told ESPN in 2016 that the Jockey Club rejected the name because two other horses had been granted the name since 1995. It was his office manager, Janice Redding, who suggested adding 'Sudden' to the name.
Owner: Overbrook Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Gary Stevens
An editor's note provides additional context to a journalist's work. For Editor's Note, his additional information involves his results a month after his Derby run 29 years ago.
Sired by 1988 Derby runner-up Forty Niner, Editor's Note finished sixth in the 1996 race in May. However, he bounced back to win the Belmont Stakes in June.
Editor's Note had lost nine straight races before the Belmont Stakes, but trainer D. Wayne Lucas won his third consecutive Belmont on June 8, 1996.
Owner: Elmendorf Farm
Trainer: John P. Campo
Jockey: Jean Cruguet
Saturday will mark the 50th anniversary to the day of when Media competed in the 101st running of the Derby. The result was a fifth-place finish for Media; Foolish Pleasure claimed victory on May 3, 1975.
Rewinding 50 years to the 1975 Kentucky Derby ⏪ pic.twitter.com/Lcig1yfDyr
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) April 28, 2025
Media had a top-five finish at Churchill Downs, but his jockey went on to have a more memorable career. Jean Cruguet won the Triple Crown riding Seattle Slew in 1977.
Owner: Thomas Jefferson Megibben
Jockey: B. George Quantrell
The Derby was only in its eighth running on May 16, 1882. Few traditions were established as they are today, and a horse named Apollo had finished no lower than third in 20 of 21 races that year. For the longest time, the Derby lived with the 'Curse of Apollo,' which involved Apollo being the last colt who hadn't raced as a 2-year-old winning the Derby. That curse was broken in 2018 by Justify.
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While Apollo won the Derby, Newsboy … didn't finish last. He took 11th out of 14 horses. Side note: Newsboy's jockey was B. George Quantrell, who finished third in the 1883 Derby riding Lord Raglan.
There was a time when it was easy to find someone who once worked as an actual newsboy, who sold and delivered newspapers. With the internet and digital publishing, that gig is now considered antiquated.
(Top photo of Journalism: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)