The Cajun Country of Louisiana has produced its fair share of great racehorses. Yet Risen Star was different than any other. He did more than just race in New Orleans. He raced for New Orleans, becoming the pride and joy of anyone who called the bayous home and making Louisiana the capital of the horse racing industry for a brief, yet unforgettable period of time. It happened in 1988, when Risen Star emerged from Louisiana to become the hero of a Triple Crown season filled with more color and controversy than most years in the historic series.
Tag: The Sport
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.
Afleet Alex: Amazing Athlete Earned Improbable Preakness Win
Everyone has an opinion in horse racing. It’s one of the most alluring aspects of the sport. Debates rage about which horse was better, which performance was greater, or which rivalry was the most memorable. Handicappers, racing writers, and fans rarely — in fact, almost never — agree. But there is one performance that stands out as unequivocally one of the best races a horse has ever delivered on the Triple Crown stage: Afleet Alex’s Preakness Stakes victory in 2005.
Forever Young and All the Key Horses to Know for the 2026 Saudi Cup Card
The seventh running of the $20 million Saudi Cup will be held Feb. 14 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Japanese and U.S. champion Forever Young the headliner in a deep and talented field for a race that anchors a robust card.
