John Shirreffs, who trained Zenyatta to a Hall of Fame career and saddled Giacomo to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby, died in his sleep Feb. 12 at his home in Arcadia, Calif. He was 80.
Tag: Racing
Byron King’s Derby Dozen for Feb. 12
BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his weekly Derby Dozen for 2026, with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.
Nearly, Paladin Sit 1-2 Atop New NTRA Triple Crown Rankings
Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.
2026 Sunland Park Derby at a Glance
The Sunland Park Derby lost its graded status for 2026 but still offers a half-million-dollar purse and, perhaps more importantly, 42 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve distributed to the top five finishers. This year’s renewal drew a competitive field of 3-year-olds shipping in to New Mexico from all parts of the U.S. It will be televised live Sunday on FanDuel TV.
