Apr 242026
 

Friday, May 1, 2026

Longines Kentucky Oaks GI $1,500,000 3 Year Old Fillies 1 1/8 miles

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve GI $5,000,000 3 Year Olds 1 1/4 miles



Phil has a question:

How would you know it’s Derby time if Phil didn’t drag out a couple of old chestnuts.

John Jeremiah Sullivan – Horseman Pass By

Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.

Fast Eddie Felson

2001 Kentucky Derby

Horseman, Pass By – Larry McMurtry

Americans don’t want cowboys to be gay.

Larry McMurtry

2002 Kentucky Derby

The older the violin, the sweeter the music.

Larry McMurtry

Times Like These

Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read.

Francis Bacon

Grantland – Michael MacCambridge – Director’s Cut: ‘The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,’ by Hunter S. Thompson

Ooh Las Vegas

For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled. 

Hunter S. Thompson

Eli’s Coming


Louisville Weather


2026 Kentucky Derby CLIII – Steve Haskin Derby Recap Ranking And Other Dozens And Sundre Stories


The secret of a happy life is respect. Respect for yourself and respect for others.

Ayad Akhtar

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

Mae West

Sympathy For The Devil

Riptide

The Rose

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Paulick Report – Road To The Roses Presented By Six K’s Training & Sales: Seller’s Remorse With Renegade

TDN – Friday Derby/Oaks Notes: Contenders Put In Final Drills, Busy Saturday Ahead

Paulick Report – Inside Trip Could Help Right To Party ‘Run The Race Of His Life’ In Kentucky Derby

Riptide

Phil has a question:

Will the lexicographers ever remove words from the dictionary like – original or authentic – words that have become meaningless from over and misuse.

Here Comes the Rain Again

We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap.

Kurt Vonnegut

Bloodhorse – Dick Downey – 12-Second Furlongs: Contenders That Didn’t Make Cut

Darling Be Home Soon

Bloodhorse – J. Keeler Johnson – 2026 Kentucky Derby: How Fast a Pace Will We See?

Radar Love

Bloodhorse – Lizzy Madden – Emerging Market, So Happy, Wonder Dean Post Derby Works

Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.

John Wooden

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Smith, 59, in Pursuit of Derby History Aboard So Happy

Good Vibrations

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

Oscar Wilde

Bloodhorse – Ortiz Jr. Riding Wave of Success Into Kentucky Derby

Paulick Report – Kevin Kerstein/Churchill Downs Inc. – Kentucky Derby Update: Renegade, Silent Tactic Breeze

Phil has a question:

Has the thrill of just being in the Kentucky Derby gone.

With A Little Help From My Friends

America’s Best Racing – J. Keeler Johnson – 2026 Kentucky Derby Data: How Fast This Year’s Contenders Finished

Bloodhorse – ESPN Louisville Plans Six Days of Derby Coverage

TDN – Wednesday Derby/Oaks Notes: California Contenders Take To The Track

Bloodhorse – Alan Porter – Japan’s Derby Contenders: A Tale of Two Pedigrees

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Tom Pedulla – Meet the Jockeys of the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Bloodhorse – Dick Downey – 12-Second Furlongs Portend Kentucky Derby Success

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – From the Start: A Look at Kentucky Derby Post Positions

Paulick Report – Tom Pedulla – Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: So Happy Carrying Extra ‘Angel’ Into Kentucky Derby

Bloodhorse – The 48-Year Love Story That Produced So Happy

Happy Together

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Further Ado Honed, Maintains Top Spot in Derby Dozen

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Brown Points Iron Honor to Preakness Instead of Derby

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

Voltaire

TDN – New Wagers, Big Pools Highlight Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill

TDN – Classic Contenders Chief Wallabee, Lorelei Lee Work at Churchill Downs

Paulick Report – Bob Baffert-Trained Potente Works At Santa Anita, Will Ship To Churchill Wednesday

Paulick Report – Kentucky Derby Update: Cox Trio Continues Prep, Emerging Market Arrives At Churchill

Irony is wasted on the stupid.

Oscar Wilde

TDN – Intrepido, Hoping for Derby Spot, Turns in Strong Work at Santa Anita

Paulick Report – Victor Ryan – Intrepido To Head To Kentucky After Sharp Half-Mile Drill At Santa Anita

Paulick Report – Victor Ryan – Kentucky Derby Hopeful Pavlovian On Santa Anita’s Sunday Work Tab

Bloodhorse – Elliott Awaits First KY Derby Mount With Right to Party

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ottinho to Bypass Kentucky Derby

TDN – Ottinho Out of Derby But Works Well at Keeneland, Oaks Hopeful Bella Ballerina Breezes

Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Renegade Has Penultimate Derby Work at Palm Beach Downs

Paulick Report – The Puma Comes Through With ‘Big Work’ At Gulfstream

Bloodhorse – The Puma, Albus Among Saturday Kentucky Derby Workers

Paulick Report – Mike Davey – Kentucky Derby Firster Jaime Torres ‘All About Enjoying The Moment’

Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I’ll waste no time reading it.

Moses Hadas

America’s Best Racing – J. Keeler Johnson – A Dozen Historical Trends to Know Before Betting the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Bloodhorse – J Keeler Johnson – 2026 Kentucky Derby: 3 Live Longshots to Consider

Phil has a question:

Was Potente’s Santa Anita Derby loss a result of “Who needs a Plan B when Plan A is so good.”

We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart. 

H. L. Mencken

House Of The Rising Sun

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.

Vincent Van Gogh

Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – The Road – Equibase Ratings Flatter Renegade, Commandment

Paulick Report – Lillian Davis – Renegade Returns To Work Tab In Florida, Will Work Once More Before Kentucky Derby

Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Renegade Has Penultimate Derby Work at Palm Beach Downs

Bloodhorse – Who Will Be the Kentucky Derby 152 Favorite?

Paulick Report – Tom Pedulla – Road To The Roses Presented By Sky Racing World: ‘Don’t Let Success Or Failure Change You’

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – 2026 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet

Phil has a question:

Who’s gonna get the first call out of the gate and the first call after the first quarter mile.

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – The Basics: How to Bet the Kentucky Derby

Phil has a question:

Where did the last son of Mr. Prospector stand.

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Sixteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby

TDN – T.D. Thornton – Week in Review: Re-Establishing the Arkansas Derby Three Weeks before the Kentucky Derby is a No-Brainer

Rebel, Rebel

TDN – Kentucky Derby/Oaks Hopefuls Spotted on Track at Oaklawn Park

Don’t Lose My Number

Bloodhorse – Jay Hovdey – To Win the Derby, a Jock Needs All the Right Moves

TDN – Kentucky Derby Notes: Commandment, Fulleffort Lead Friday Work Tab At Churchill

Paulick Report – ‘Nice And Relaxed’: Kentucky Derby Hopeful Golden Tempo Works At Keeneland

DRF – Nicole Russo – Kentucky Derby 2026: Runners begin prep as field takes shape; Class President out with bone bruising

The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

Bertrand Russell

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

Horse Race Insider – John Pricci – POINTS ISSUES SETTLED, TOP 25 TO CONSIDER ARE LISTED WITH EARLY IMPRESSIONS TO PONDER

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – An Early Look at the Probable Field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – 2026 Kentucky Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for April 7

Paulick Report – Who Will Irad Choose? Brad Cox Awaiting Kentucky Derby Decision From Ortiz

DRF – David Grening – Riley Mott hoping Albus will continue progression in Kentucky Derby

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

Horse Racing Nation – 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – 2026 Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles: Santa Anita Derby Winner So Happy

Happy Together

 

America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Beginner’s Guide to the 2026 Kentucky Derby

 

 

Dedicated Follower of Fashion

The Hat Girls

The Rookie Wire – Check out 16 milliners, hatmakers selling Kentucky Derby 2026 hats

 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

 

Bells of Rhymney


Phil M. Stockmen

 

I never lie because I don’t fear anyone. You only lie when you’re afraid.

John Gotti

Fortunate Son

 

A true hero helps others, not for praise, but because it is right.

Robin Hood


Phil M Stockmen

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