7:26 PM ET Associated Press For the first time, the Arkansas Derby will be run in two divisions next weekend. Both will carry the full 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. The race was originally set to have a $1 million purse. Now, each division will be worth $500,000. A total of 22 horses

1:09 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — A 2-year-old colt has died after what was called an accident at Santa Anita, making it the 12th fatality at the track since late December. Last Renegade, who had yet to make his racing debut, died Friday, according to information posted on the California Horse Racing Board

10:53 AM ET Associated Press Churchill Downs will recognize the first Saturday in May with a “Kentucky Derby at Home” online party, highlighted by a virtual Derby featuring 13 former Triple Crown winners in an effort to raise $2 million for coronavirus relief. The 146th Kentucky Derby was moved from May 2 to Sept. 5

9:00 AM ET Ryan Hockensmith A few years ago, a guy in his late 20s approached famous jockey Ron Turcotte and rolled up his sleeve. Turcotte is best known as Secretariat’s rider, and he was in Virginia that weekend signing autographs and swapping stories for the legendary horse’s birthday party. Yes, Secretariat might have died

8:48 AM ET Associated Press British horse racing’s most successful flat trainer of all time is recovering after contracting the coronavirus. Mark Johnston has been isolating since having the symptoms confirmed, and his family says he is making good progress. His son, Angus, told Racing TV “he had a couple of days in bed but

7:02 PM ET Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Chaney has been named executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, replacing Rick Baedeker, who retired last month. Chaney’s appointment was announced Thursday by racing board chairman Greg Ferraro. Chaney has been a steward in California since 2005, serving initially on the Southern California thoroughbred

6:14 PM ET Associated Press The Breeders’ Cup is donating cash to help racetrack backstretch communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Lexington, Kentucky-based organization gave $25,000 to the Race Track Chaplaincy of America. The money will be allocated to help those most in need at various backstretch communities. Breeders’ Cup also donated 4,500 gloves,

1:29 PM ET Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. — A horse broke down after completing a workout at Santa Anita and was euthanized, marking the 11th fatality at the track since late December. M C Hamster, a 4-year-old filly, suffered a fractured left front ankle after a three-furlong workout on the main dirt track Wednesday. It

11:18 PM ET It was a good Saturday for one lucky horse racing bettor, who turned a 50-cent Pick 5 into over half a million dollars. One bettor won the Early Pick 5 — correctly picking the winner of the first five races — of Saturday’s 13-race program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida

6:05 PM ET Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Quarter horse trainer Bobby R. Martinez, whose combined earnings over a decades-long career total nearly $13 million, has been hit with a hefty fine and a 34-year suspension for several doping violations. Documents obtained from the New Mexico Racing Commission show the violations involved horses that tested