Latest news with #OaksDay
Courier-Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
‘Biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup': Aidan O'Brien takes another swipe at Jan Brueghel scratching
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 'We thought he was the biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup last year.'' This was Irish training genius Aidan O'Brien's comment at Epsom Downs overnight when asked about the controversial scratching of his top stayer Jan Brueghel just days out from the Melbourne Cup last spring. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Jan Brueghel, who gave O'Brien a 10th win in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom's Oaks Day meeting, was Melbourne Cup favourite only to be withdrawn by Racing Victoria veterinarians just days prior to the famous Flemington two miler. O'Brien was asked about the Melbourne Cup controversy after Jan Brueghel, who was the unbeaten winner of the English St Leger last year, held off favourite Calandangan in a Coronation Cup thriller. The champion Irish trainer has never won the Melbourne Cup but thought Jan Brueghel was weighted to win last year with 54kg. 'He was in with such a low weight. We thought he couldn't get beat, really,'' O'Brien said. O'Brien was at the US Breeders Cup meeting when Jan Brueghel was scratched from the Melbourne Cup and was critical of Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols. 'They made the decision and our vets didn't agree with that,'' O'Brien said at the time. 'They said there was a shadow in front and a shadow behind, but every three-year-old at this time will have shadows and fissures and have this and have that. 'There comes a point when it becomes ridiculous, the horsemen and women have been taken out of the picture.' O'Brien was asked at Epsom if Jan Brueghel would return for the Melbourne Cup this year and the Irish trainer replied emphatically: 'No, absolutely not!' O'Brien suggested Jan Brueghel is likely to be set for the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and has not ruled out running the stayer in Europe's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October. Jan Brueghel was the first of two Group 1 winners for O'Brien at Epsom as he also trained the quinella in the English Oaks with Minnie Hauk defeated stablemate Whirl. Minnie Hauk was O'Brien's 11th winner of the English Oaks. Originally published as 'Biggest certainty ever for the Melbourne Cup': Aidan O'Brien takes another swipe at Jan Brueghel scratching after Coronation Cup success
New York Post
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Livvy Dunne shows off all-pink Kentucky Oaks outfit as she takes in first derby
Olivia 'Livvy' Dunne is more than ready for the Kentucky Derby. Dunne, 22, showed off her outfit for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, wearing all-pink threads for the derby precursor. The former LSU gymnast and social media sensation first revealed her Oaks Day outfit on social media, posting a video captioned with 'Your girl's first derby :)' to her Instagram story and TikTok accounts. Wearing pink is seen as a tradition at Churchill Downs, as it is the color of the Oaks' official flower, along with being in honor of the racecourse's advocacy and fundraising for breast and ovarian cancer. Dunne was seen again later in the day, this time giving the official 'rider's up' remarks at Kentucky Oaks in a video shared by NBC Sports. 4 Livvy Dunne shows off her Kentucky Oaks outfit to kick off the Kentucky Derby weekend. TikTok @livvy 4 Livvy Dunne preps for Kentucky Oaks on Friday. TikTok @livvy 'Kentucky Oaks fans,' she said. 'Now for the annual tradition that we have all been looking forward to, riders up!' Dunne is also set to conduct a meet-and-greet with fans, even with the impending weather conditions — which include a forecast of rain all weekend — scheduled to hit Churchill Downs. In addition to Dunne, winner of season 23 of 'The Voice,' Gina Miles was also in attendance. She sang the national anthem before the race kicked off. 4 Race fans walk around in their derby hats and attire for Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 2, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Following the Oaks race is the Kentucky Derby Eve Gala, which is set to feature a slate of celebrities, ranging from music artists to professional athletes. Former Packers and Jets teammates Aaron Rodgers, Devante Adams, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb will be in attendance. Seven-time Olympic gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles is also confirmed to be on the list. On the music side, Machine Gun Kelly, Dierks Bentley and Boyz II Men are some of the artists who will be there Friday night. 4 Good Cheer with Luis Saez up makes a move in the final turn Friday, May 2, 2025, during the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Actors Tracy Morgan, Blair Underwood and Wilmer Valderrama are also going to the gala. The event, which is held annually, has raised and donated $21 million to the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center at the University of Kentucky.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jockey-trainer duo reflects on pulling off Oaks-Derby sweep
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the most difficult feats in all of sports, let alone horse racing. Even more rare is winning both the Derby and the Oaks, but there is one duo that made that happen. 'I mean, going into last year, we went into both of those races really optimistic, thinking we had a really, really big chance,' said jockey Brian Hernandez. A chance that, after an Oaks Day win, turned into a shot at history the very next day. 'That was probably the longest two minutes in sports in my life is what I've always told everyone, you know, because I've ridden quite a few Derbies in the past, and I've always kind of thought that if you get to the eighth pole in front in the Kentucky Derby, horses don't really surge late. And when those two horses surged at us the last few jumps and we weren't certain,' said Hernandez. RELATED l Kenny McPeek eyes another 'McDouble' Oaks, Derby sweep this year One of the most dramatic finishes in Derby history, fitting for a historic achievement with a photo finish in the Derby, and pulling off an Oaks-Derby double. 'Before that year, it had only been done eight times. So, to be able to be the ninth jockey to do it, it was an incredible feat, and we were just so proud of both horses, to step up and be the best horse on the right day,' Hernandez said. Joining Hernandez in rarified air is trainer Kenny McPeek, a man who spends countless hours getting horses ready to race and one who has had several close calls in the past. 'These are races that I had been kind of around the bullseye on. I had run well in the Oaks, had been second three times, which was a little frustrating, but I really went into the Oaks expecting to win. Thorpedo Anna, from the beginning, been such a high-level talent,' said McPeek. 'The Derby was a race that I thought, and I knew that I was going to need to have a bit of racing luck and, fortunately, we got a great ride from Brian, and we were able to pull the double off.' Something that takes true teamwork to pull off. 'We've kind of grown to learn and to trust one another, and that's the fortunate thing: when I ride for Kenny, he goes out there and legs me up and just lets me do my own thing,' Hernandez said. 'We keep it real simple. We work hard to try to figure out whatever talent level horses we get and where they settle into, and Brian's a big part of the team,' McPeek added. A dynamic duo that is ready to repeat. Born to race: The Ortiz brothers reflect on their careers ahead of 151st Kentucky Derby Honoring the forgotten fillies: Derby mint juleps support retired mares at Our Mims Haven Jockey-trainer duo reflects on pulling off Oaks-Derby sweep 'I'm not going to tell you anything complicated. You get a good horse, you keep him in a good routine, you get him eating well, you get him happy, they run well,' McPeek said. FOX 56 reporter Vasi Prokos asked Hernandez, 'Do you think you can win both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby again this year?' 'We're going in there with big chances. The nice thing about it is, I know I'm going in there with two really nice horses and a lot of confidence, said Hernandez. And when it comes to big races, McPeek stays true to his winning ways. 'I don't take pre-race photos. I believe you save all your photo energy and photo mojo for the winner's circle, and so when somebody asks, 'hey, can we get a picture before the race?' I'm like, 'No, no, no, no.'' McPeek said. FOX 56 reporter Vasi Prokos asked McPeek, 'What do you think about the saying sweep, like McPeek? Have you heard that?' 'I haven't that one, no, but they call it the McDouble,' laughed McPeek. Hernandez simply calls it a moment he and his family will never forget. 'It's history-making. So, it's, you know, you're proud of the accomplishments, but I think I was more proud of the horses. And, you know, it's something that we're going to be able to look forward to the rest of our lives and my kids as well, you know, it's something that they can brag about,' added Hernandez. What horses are running in the Kentucky Oaks? Here's the latest on post positions, odds Honoring the forgotten fillies: Derby mint juleps support retired mares at Our Mims Haven Creating the Garland of Lilies for Kentucky Oaks winner draws crowd at Middletown Kroger As for Derby 151, the excitement continues to build for both Hernandez and McPeek. The duo will partner up again with Take Charge Milady, hoping to win the Oaks again this year. Hernandez will be running in this year's Derby as well, but not with McPeek. He and trainer Ian Wilkes are hoping to ride the momentum of Burnham Square's win at the Blue Grass Stakes into the Derby. Kenny McPeek will train Render Judgment, the horse of the late Toby Keith. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
More than a prelude: The Kentucky Oaks blends tradition, triumph and a touch of pink
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — When it comes to Churchill Downs, Kentucky's famed 1.25-mile track, the Kentucky Derby is the event that garners most of the attention, but it's not the only prestigious race that happens there. The Kentucky Oaks is an annual thoroughbred race on the Friday before the Derby. Tradition is one of the things that makes the Kentucky Oaks what it is today. But to understand how these rich traditions came to be, we have to go all the way back to 1875. Kentucky Derby field reduced to 19 with scratch of Grande, leaving owner Mike Repole 'shocked' Pirates fan who fell over railing at PNC Park identified as former college football player More than a prelude: The Kentucky Oaks blends tradition, triumph and a touch of pink 'The first winner was Vinaigrette. Early on in its tenure, I'd even say all the way until about the 1970s, the Kentucky Oaks was just kind of a race for three-year-old fillies; it was never a race that was sought after nationally for horses to, say, ship in from New York or California to win. That all changed in the 1980s,' said the senior director of communications and media services at Churchill Downs, Darren Rogers. The Oaks and Derby are like the timeless legends of American sports, holding the title of the oldest continuously contested events in American history. 'Betting dollars back then on the day, you handled about $35 million,' Rogers explained. 'Now, we're challenging $80 million on Oaks Day. So, it's really grown tremendously in the last few years.' Ever since 2001, around 100,000 fans have flocked to witness the magic of the Oaks. But, beyond the thrill of the race, ever wondered why everyone's rocking that bold, fabulous pink? 'It's a nod to the official flower of the Kentucky Oaks, the Oaks Lily,' said Rogers. 'We love for people to incorporate pink into their wardrobe, and people have really done an outstanding job of doing that, and that's probably been a tradition for about the last 15 years or so.' But the color pink isn't just a fashion statement. 'I think one of the most moving tributes on Oaks Day and a tradition that started back in 2009 is the Kentucky Oaks Survivor Parade, where we offer people the opportunity to share their stories of battling cancer and surviving the fight,' Rogers added. Rogers knows the Kentucky Derby like the back of his hand, and he has a playful twist on the Kentucky Oaks, calling it the perfect appetizer to the main event of Derby Day. 'It's a test drive for all the preparations we've done,' he said. 'The energy is tremendous, and it's a great dress rehearsal for Derby.' Creating the Garland of Lilies for Kentucky Oaks winner draws crowd at Middletown Kroger 1 arrested, 1 dead following Newtown Pike shooting Rowan County superintendent announces new protest policy The cherished heritage of Oaks Day connects generations of fans right back to the heart of the Kentucky Derby. 'It is very important to us. People love the traditions. From Derby Day, wearing the hats to drinking the mint juleps to singing My Old Kentucky Home, we really created these traditions for Oaks Day in recent years,' said Rogers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Grace Hayden: Aussie cricket legend's glamorous daughter gets huge career news that means she'll be seen by hundreds of millions of fans on TV
Grace Hayden, the glamorous daughter of cricket legend Matthew Hayden, is continuing to follow her father's footsteps into the sports TV industry, this time landing her biggest gig yet. The 22-year-old budding TV presenter is on her way to the subcontinent to present Indian Premier League coverage for Star Sports. In a heartwarming twist, Hayden will also be joining her cricketing icon father in commentary as they present to an insane number of fans, with Star's coverage reaching more than 500million viewers last season. 'Everything's larger, louder, and brighter in India,' she told News Corp. 'It's pretty cool to work alongside my dad too, and carry on the legacy.' Hayden, who has already carved out a niche for herself in presenting, didn't plan on working in sports media. 'I never thought life would take me in this direction,' she said. 'I was always super sporty. (I) tried every sport growing up, and I've always loved being in front of the camera.' Her famous father, who played for Chennai Super Kings, sparked her interest in all things India. 'He used to bring home spices and we would cook Indian food together,' she said. 'Then I started visiting myself for the IPL and embraced the fashion, the people, the energy. 'It's different from Australia, but it feels like home.' Hayden's breakout role in 2022 as Channel Seven's Oaks Day Ambassador propelled her into the spotlight. She has since become a part of the Seven horse racing team, where she works as a fashion reporter during its spring carnival racing coverage. The 22-year-old says she's looking forward to being back in India Earlier in the year she landed the exciting role as the lead presenter for international Hong Kong-based digital platform, Racing X. The job will see her travel the globe covering different sporting events in places like Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Las Vegas. Hayden is currently dating Wilson Statham, who is the son of Queensland cotton moguls Danielle and David Statham. The couple went public with their romance at the Randwick races on April 6 and were spotted a month later holding hands at a Sydney pub. Wilson's parents, Danielle and David, own and operate the Sundown Pastoral Company, a family run but privately owned cotton and cropping enterprise.
