by Andrew Champagne

“What is a foul that merits disqualification?”

Like everyone else, I’ve been struggling to wrap my head around what happened Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs. It’s something we’ve never seen before: The winner of the Kentucky Derby was disqualified for interference during the running of the race.

As the social media age dictates, reaction to the decision has been mixed and loud, and it’s not expected to quiet down anytime soon. Many people I like and respect voiced support for the unanimous decision that disqualified Maximum Security and elevated Country House to the top spot. Many people I like and respect also thought it was a terrible, awful, no-good, very-bad call that disgraced the biggest race of the year.

My opinion is that the DQ was warranted. We can go on and on about this, but while Maximum Security didn’t bother Country House, his drifting nearly caused War of Will to clip heels, and Long Range Toddy was sandwiched as a result. Maybe neither horse was winning, and maybe Country House was never getting by, but I don’t think any of that matters.

However, I’m writing this not to take one side or the other, but to put forth an alternate hypothesis. With all due respect to the writers, handicappers, and pundits that have voiced their opinions…I don’t think it matters what any of us think of the decision.

Why? Because there’s a bigger elephant in the room nobody wants to address that was front and center Saturday afternoon.

“What is a foul that merits disqualification?”

Ask that question to officials in Kentucky, New York, Florida, and California, and you’re going to get four different answers. By the letter of the rules in each state, infractions that merit disqualification in one state don’t necessarily merit disqualification in another. This is even before the human element of the story comes into play (as a former TVG colleague states often, horse racing is the only sport where officials consult the athletes on whether or not to call a penalty).

Read more: Country House, Maximum Security, the Kentucky Derby, and the Question Nobody’s Asking

Alexis Garske works in the media and press relations department at Santa Anita Park. She also is one of the founding members of the #IAmHorseRacing campaign. Garske took some time to explain the origin of this new initiative and how it became a reality.

Can you explain the idea behind #IAMHorseRacing?

The main objective was to create a platform to share the stories that exist in and around racing. We certainly didn’t reinvent the wheel. Stories are being told every day by very talented people within the business providing thoughtful features and interviews, but it’s hard to get the traction those so often deserve.

Our idea was to create snapshots of these people’s story using a medium that was easily digestible, incredibly visual, and had the raw potential to go viral. Our main focus is the extensive care for these horses, the passion for the sport, and the many jobs that make up this industry.

We’re a community of hard-working, resilient men and women who are passionate about what they do. How many people outside of racing can say they get out of bed at 3:30 a.m. every morning to go to work no matter the day, the weather, or the sacrifice it can sometimes entail? Many do this for decades and wouldn’t have it any other way.

We come from all walks of life and each have a story to tell about what brought us here. There’s nothing more empowering than sharing your truth in a way that people can relate to, in one way or another. It invites compassion and shows our humanity. And, just maybe that will encourage a greater curiosity and willingness to learn.

Read more: Q&A with Alexis Garske of #IAmHorseRacing

On Thursday, March 21, the Secretariat Heritage Center announced its formation as a new 501c3 organization designed to celebrate the legacy of Secretariat and Meadow Stable at The Meadow Event Park. The nonprofit has plans to elevate the current Secretariat tour program and its existing historic assets to a national heritage tourism destination and educational center.

Secretariat, acclaimed as the greatest racehorse in America’s history, was born at The Meadow in Caroline County on March 30, 1970. His Triple Crown victory in 1973 stands as one of the greatest moments in all of sports, and he remains the only Triple Crown winner since 1919 to set track records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Those three track records remain unbroken today, and his bloodlines continue to dominate Thoroughbred racing.

Initial plans for the Secretariat Heritage Center focus on restoring the original barns, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Included are the yearling barns, with the farm manager’s office and tack room, the stallion barn, Secretariat’s foaling shed, training barn, and a horse cemetery. A Hoofprints of History Trail will link all the key points of interest on the property.

Read more: New Heritage Center Launched to Establish Secretariat’s Birthplace as National Tourism Destination

Have you ever wondered how odds are determined? If you frequent the horse track, you know how exciting it is to pick a longshot favourite from the field, place a wager with the counter, and pick up your handsome reward when your pick gallops to victory.

But how does a dark horse get those longshot odds in the first place? You may know how to read odds, and you may know that prices can fluctuate up to the gates springing open, when the starting price becomes fixed.

Here’s how oddsmakers arrive at this moment.

Money and Math

Race odds are largely compiled from a formula that processes the total amount wagered on a race, the amount wagered on each participating horse, and the amount the trace or betting facility makes. If wagers have yet to be placed, the odds consider the estimated cut of the total betting pool each horse is predicted to receive.

Oddsmakers are specialists in predicting the outcomes of horse races. They often have years of experience breaking down mountains of data into single, simple to understand outcomes for each race entrant.

Read more: This is How Horse Racing Odds are Determined

The last three runnings of the Grand National have gone to Irish or Scottish raiders. It's a race everyone wants to win and an English-trained winner will have their work cut out for them at Aintree near Liverpool this year.

With the prospect of up to half the 2019 Grand National field being from the Emerald Isle, the world-famous National Hunt horse on Saturday, April 6 promises to be fascinating. Who are the leading English-trained contenders for this ultimate test of thoroughbred and jockey?

Elegant Escape

Colin Tizzard could aim his young improver Elegant Escape at the Grand National. The seven-year-old is bidding to become the first of that age to win the world's most famous steeplechase since 1940.

Stats are there to be defied, however, and Elegant Escape had sufficient stamina to win the Welsh Grand National at Christmastime. The Aintree race is over three-quarters of a mile further than that event, but there are no doubts about his staying credentials.

Bookmakers like Paddy Power already have Grand National runners odds and Elegant Escape is towards the head of their betting market. As he's open to much more progress, this horse is the leading English-trained contender for Aintree.

Read more: Four Leading English-Trained Contenders for 2019 Grand National

In the UK, no other racing event is more popular than the Grand National. Its first race was run in the year 1839, so it can rightly boast of a very long history. It is also the most valuable jump race in Europe. The prize fund of the 2017 Grand National was £1 million.

The Grand National will be held this year at Aintree Racecourse in April. The mega racing event is not far, so you better start making your preparations, especially if you are a punter. You can bet on the Grand National by using the freebets site which ensures that you enjoy the best betting experience by giving you all the best free bets and offers. You can also enjoy all the best betting tips and news updates at the site.

So enjoy all the best offers of Paddy Power, Coral, Bet365, Betfred and Betfair. With Bet365, you can get up to £100 in bet credits. Coral has come up with the special Grand National offer of Bet £5 Get £5. While with Paddy Power, you can get your hands on £40 free bets offer. Check all the offers and then choose the one that suits your needs the best.

1- Aldaniti (1981 Grand National winner)

The success story of Aldaniti is hugely inspirational. He established himself as a top steeplechaser in the 1978-79 season. He finished third in that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup while grabbing the second position in the Scottish Grand National. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious injury in November 1979 that threatened to end his racing career.

Read more: Top Grand National Winners

Paisley Park has come a long way since his failure at Cheltenham Festival last season, developing into one of the most talented horses in the National Hunt in the 2018/19 campaign. Emma Lavelle’s charge was an outside candidate for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, and although he was not expected to mount a challenge for the crown, the bay gelding finished 13th in a field of 20.

The Irish-bred horse has bounced back with a vengeance with a sublime run of form this term, reeling off four victories on the bounce. Paisley’s Park form has seen him installed as one of the leading Cheltenham tips to take the Stayers’ Hurdle title in March. The seven-year-old has put forward dominant performances over the last six months and it would be no surprise to see him in the winners’ enclosure at the end of the meet.

Paisley Park was a long way from the horse that would be considered a Cheltenham favorite last season. He only had one victory under his belt in four races before entering the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. At +3300, the bay gelding was an outsider, but as the race would prove, perceptions before the action can count for very little. Whereas Lavelle’s charge failed to make an impression in the contest, his compatriot Kilbricken Storm – valued at the same price before the meet - was outstanding and won the event by three lengths ahead of his nearest rival.

Read more: Paisley Park On Track For Cheltenham Success

Irish trained National Hunt horses winning at the Cheltenham Festival has been a predominant theme over the last three years.

Emerald Isle raiders have gone in time and again at the four-day jumps horse racing spectacular at Prestbury Park of late, so who are some of the leading Irish hopes for the 2019 Cheltenham Festival?

Apple’s Jade

Mares don’t come any tougher than the Gigginstown House Stud owned, Gordon Elliott trained Apple’s Jade. She’s still only a six-year-old, but recently recorded a third consecutive success in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over 2m 4f at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival.

While it’s perfectly common for Apple’s Jade to take on the geldings at the highest level throughout her campaign, connections have preferred to race her against her own sex come the Cheltenham Festival. It’s for that reason that she is a best-price 2/1 ante post favourite to regain the Mares’ Hurdle title with BetVictor and reverse last year’s form with Benie Des Dieux.

Read more: 5 Leading Irish Hopes for 2019 Cheltenham Festival

by Bob Ehalt

Rivalries are on the verge of becoming passé these days.

With shorter careers and horses receiving more time off between races, the best horses are squaring off much less frequently than decades ago.

In fact, one of the most heated rivalries since the turn of the century involved Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra – and they never raced against each other.

The situation was markedly different, of course, 40 or 50 years ago, especially in 1967 and 1968 when Damascus was at the center of battles between three of the best horses of the last 60 years.

Owned by Edith Bancroft and trained by Frank Y. Whiteley Jr., Damascus squared off with Dr. Fager and Buckpasser in a few of that era’s most famous races and he won two of the meetings – which was not unusual for him. In 32 career starts, Damascus won 21 times and finished second seven times, earning $1,176,781, numbers that justify his induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga in 1974.

Read more: Damascus: An Unforgettable Champion