While people will be saying “Happy New Year!” on Thursday, all Thoroughbreds will be celebrating their birthdays. Horses that were 2 at the start of the week will turn 3 on Thursday and that’s when the talk about the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve really begins to intensify.
Balboa Can Land Knockout Punch in 2026 Jerome Stakes
The first Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifier of 2026 is Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, which will be followed by the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park later that afternoon.
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Jan. 1-4
The North American Thoroughbred racing calendar turns to 2026 with a busy New Year’s Day slate of racing on Thursday, and two days later on Saturday, Jan.
Rookie Rankings for Dec. 30: Leading 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders
As 2025 draws to a close, Week 5 of the Rookie Rankings features a Top 10 that is largely unchanged from Week 4. But there is one small shift worth noting as the series wraps up.
