The roots of racing in medieval England were planted when horses for sale were ridden in competition to demonstrate their speed to potential buyers. During the reign of Richard the Lionheart (1189-99), the first known purse was offered for a three-mile race, and knights were the riders.

Secretariat's achievements are enhanced because he defeated these 10 star horses.

Letruska is among the five best horses ever to win a stakes in Mexico. What makes Letruska's path toward stardom so interesting, and unique?

The $1.25 million Travers S. is Saturday, and James Scully has compiled a list of his 10 favorite editions

General George Washington wanted something simple for the men serving with him in the Continental Army. He sought a way to recognize “any singularly meritorious action” by a soldier, an insignia that rewarded loyalty and valor and encouraged others to the same. With that in mind, on August 7, 1782, Washington created the Badge of Military Merit, a purple heart-shaped patch to be displayed on a recipient’s uniform. Nearly a century and a half later, another legendary general, Douglas MacArthur, took a cue from our first President and revived this award in 1932, calling it the Purple Heart.

A century ago, the Kentucky Derby was blossoming into the Run for the Roses, America’s most famous horse race. Names now iconic in Derby history contributed to its growing popularity, these humans and horses synonymous with cascading blankets of roses and icy cups of mint juleps: Regret and Exterminator, Harry Payne Whitney and Colonel Matt Winn. In the 1920s and 1930s, another Kentucky colonel added his name to that list, Edward Riley Bradley.

A century ago, January 21st saw racing in the midst of its yearly changing of the guard, the champions of 1920 giving way to their successors.

When the Kentucky Derby ran in June. 1945 proved a record season for Thoroughbred racing with nearly $1.4 billion wagered following the lifting of the ban.

For almost seven decades, Bill Boland has been able to call himself a winner of the Kentucky Derby. The Hall of Fame jockey recently looked back on his career and his stories are priceless.

Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, who died this week at 85, is best remembered for defeating great champions rather than training them. Indeed, only one in his plethora of stakes winners – Sky Beauty in 1994 – ever topped a year-end poll as divisio ...

The 36-year streak of Triple Crown futility dates back to unquestionably one of the greatest racers in history, the mighty Spectacular Bid. Coming into the 1979 Belmont Stakes, the Triple Crown had been captured three different times in the last s ...