And while it was perhaps not at its gourmet best (served in huge boiled chunks in a lukewarm greasy stew with a sheep's head perched on top) the thought of what I was eating - and I'm not talking about the sheep's head - was a thousand times worse than the nasty taste. And while it was perhaps not at its gourmet best (served in huge boiled chunks in a lukewarm greasy stew with a sheep's head perched on top) the thought of what I was eating - and I'm not talking about the sheep's head - was...

Two congressmen introduced legislation that would provide injury insurance for jockeys and others who work in horse racing. The legislation would provide at least half of the fees that horsemen's groups receive for approving simulcast racing agreements to state racing authorities. Julie Koenig-Loignon said May 4 that Churchill Downs, where racing fans were gathering for the Kentucky Derby on May 5, and the company's other three tracks Arlington, Calder and Fair Grounds all took out...

He broke inward and got squeezed, raced a little wide in the first turn, a little wider in the second and then got sandwiched between horses in the stretch before finishing third. He appears to be the most talented horse in the field, and his breeding suggests he'll like the move to the grass. With one of the largest stables in the region, he should make a bid this year to win his first Lone Star training title. Making his first start in two months, he circled horses and finished...

The longtime Greenwich resident had registered a name with thoroughbred racing's regulatory organization for one of her horses, but she was in no hurry to use it. All she could do was retain her rights to it until that moment when she had the perfect horse. It was crafted from the title of the unforgettable song by Irving Berlin that expressed all of the joys wrapped into a life on the stage and was intended to honor the memory of her late husband, Tommy, who passed away in February of...

But Street Sense, the second choice on the line at 4-1, has been the backstretch buzz horse all week. With rain in the forecast, the prospect of an off-track looms over the Derby, which has been run in the mud just three times in the past 40 years. Arkansas Derby winner Curlin, unbeaten and untested in three starts, was rated the 7-2 morning-line favorite by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. If they bet him like they're talking about him, Street Sense will go off as a strong...

Royal admirers entwined a string of Union Jacks along the flowered paddock near the racetrack's entrance, and the monarch's visit added excitement to what is the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. The queen, wearing a lime green wool coat with a matching silk dress and lime green hat with fuchsia trim, arrived with husband Prince Philip a little more than two hours before the late afternoon race. LOUISVILLE, Ky, May 5 (Reuters) - Spectators in seersucker and straw hats...

As an honored guest, she would have been unlikely to get her knickers wet had the heavens opened, but should the unthinkable have occurred, HRH would have been able to warm up fast with a top-shelf snootful: Diageo's Crown Royal whisky -- a brand originally created to commemorate her parents' visit to Canada in 1939 -- planned to present her with a bottle of its XR Extra Rare Heritage Blend. But this horse has never run a bad race and he did everything he was supposed to. As an honored...

Donna Graham, CRRA board secretary, said the rodeo will include all the regular events, from barrel racing to bull riding, and will feature many local cowboys and girls. In addition to the regular rodeo events, the CRRA is offing barrel racing for youths age 16 and under. The admission fee is $5 and children age 6 and under will be admitted free. each day, and will feature some of the best stock, Graham said. About 300 contestants participated in the rodeo last year, Graham said. Rodeo set...