Kentucky Derby favorite Empire Maker is washed down Thursday outside the barn area at Churchill Downs Bruise or no bruise, Empire Maker faces a tough task trying to give Frankel his first Derby victory Two-time Derby winning trainer Nick Zito, who doesnt have a horse in the race, says history could work against Empire Maker In Empire Maker and Peace Rules, though, Frankel has one of the strongest Derby hands ever

JUDDMONTE OWNER MOST PROUD OF BREEDING This year, it might be Prince Khalid Abdullah The Saudi Arabian prince owns Juddmonte Farms, the breeder and owner of odds-on Derby favorite Empire Maker Prince Khalid has multiple wins in the Epsom Derby and the Arc de Triomphe Prince Khalid has never been to a Kentucky Derby Prince Khalid entered the horse business in 1977, purchasing four English yearlings Chandler asked

During Derby weekend, all eyes on racing Area horse racing fans and professionals will have their eyes on Churchill Downs for today's Triple Crown race, but Antus and other horse racing enthusiasts also have their sightsset on next year Horse racing tracks also received a major economic boost from the addition of slot machines Hayes, 62, started racing horses in 1974, a year after Commodore Downs opened in Fairview No horse racing track has operated in the Erie area since

Kevin McCullough sends tips on the Derby Five years after his father's death, Kevin McCullough is still printing and distributing the "Kentucky Derby Comment Sheet" -- affectionately called the Green Sheet because of its green construction paper cover When Jim McCullough started printing his derby comments, it was one sheet on green onionskin, circulated to 12 friends The Green Sheet became a party staple Horse racing is different from casino gambling, McCullough said "There's a big knowledge factor,'' McCullough said "

The trainers were Bob Baffert and D Wayne Lukas The race was last year's Kentucky Derby That left Baffert with one Derby entrant: Indian Express, a Utah-bred who raced in Panama "I think this horse is as talented as Proud Citizen," Lukas said Chess bought Indian Express for $150,0 Baffert said the strategy is simple for Indian Express

The truly breathtaking aspect of Empire Maker's bid to win the Derby is his trainer's unshakeable conviction he is unbeatable I'm running Empire Maker's task might be made easier because two key Derby preps - the Santa Anita Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes - were run so slowly they timed them with a calendar The Santa Anita Derby was almost as funereal Ten horses in the field have never won a graded stakes race One of them, I think, will win the Derby