Mine That Bird questionable for Preakness after pulling off Kentucky Derby upset

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bennie Woolley Jr. swears his trademark black cowboy hat is not a fashion statement, that he’s not some renegade trainer from New Mexico bent on setting the horse racing world on its ear.

Long-ago bar fight brought Kentucky Derby connections together

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mine That Bird stood regally, his ears pricked, his gaze fixed on the rows of clicking cameras. Then the 50-1 upset winner of the Kentucky Derby put his head down and began munching on grass, leaving his human handlers still in shock about his stunning 6¾-length victory a day earlier.

Long shot Mine That Bird stuns field to win Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The cowboy and his horse beat them all. Four Hall of Fame trainers. The ruler of Dubai. Two very sentimental favorites. Trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. hitched Mine That Bird to the back of his pickup and drove to the Kentucky Derby from New Mexico. With an inspired ride on the rail from Calvin Borel, it all added up to one of the greatest upsets in 135 years of America’s most famous horse race.

Horse racing hopes to turn the page with exciting, controversy-free Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Larry Jones was at the chapel on the backside at Churchill Downs earlier this week when he noticed the bracelet he’d been wearing for a year in honor of fallen filly Eight Belles had vanished.

‘One-horse guy’ McCarthy gives fans a feel-good rooting interest in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — “Is that the one-horse guy?” a visitor asked as he walked past Tom McCarthy’s rented stall on the backstretch at Churchill Downs.

A year after Big Brown, Iavarone and IEAH Stables back in spotlight with I Want Revenge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Michael Iavarone leans against a black limousine outside Barn 24 at Churchill Downs, hands tucked in the pockets of his sweatpants, sun reflecting off his designer glasses.

Baffert eager to make grade again with Pioneerof the Nile at Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bob Baffert had so much success in his early years at the Kentucky Derby he thought it would go on forever. Three wins in six years will do that. Then karma caught up and sent him into a humbling slide.

Talamo all a-Twitter as young jockey prepares for first Kentucky Derby aboard I Want Revenge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Maybe the only place where it’s hard to catch Joe Talamo is on the race track.

I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile among favorites in expected full field for wide-open Derby

It’s Kentucky Derby time again, and Nick Zito is looking toward the winner’s circle as always. Not for himself, though. For the sport.