Trainers have won three races in one day. The same goes for jockeys.
But a mare?
Well, trainer Ryan Walsh will try it on Thursday when the three horses he has entered for opening day at Kentucky Downs are sired by the same mare. Sweet Nkosi, owned by Walsh, will be the proud mama watching Sweet Bebsi, a 2-year-old mare, Sweet Lilibet, a 3-year-old mare, and Jill Jitterbug, a 4-year-old mare, run in the colors of Shagbark Farms, owned by Walsh’s mother Anne.
“That’s pretty cool,” Ryan Walsh said by phone. “Three horses from the same mare in such a spectacular competition? We’ll take a chance.”
They are all outsiders. Sweet Bebsi is at 20-1 in the fifth race, a $170,000 special weight, Sweet Lilibet is at 50-1 in the sixth race, an $80,000 allowance, and Jill Jitterbug is at 20-1 in the eighth race, an optional allowance race with a $210,000 allowance.
Ryan Walsh said he didn’t send these horses to Kentucky Downs just because of the mare.
βIt just worked out,β he said.
Sweet Nkosi is now 14 and Walsh said she is doing well.
If one of his horses manages to find the winner’s circle, it will be his first victory at Kentucky Downs since Cast Ashore won a claiming race in 1995, when the track was still called Dueling Grounds.
First of three handicapping competitions on the opening card on Thursday
Kentucky Downs’ first live money online betting competition will take place tomorrow (Thursday) with a $300 buy-in. There will also be a $400 buy-in tournament on Sunday. Both offer seats to the $2,500 buy-in King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge on Sept. 7.
The King of the Turf, with its new one-day format, is the largest handicapping contest the track has ever hosted. The competition takes place on Kentucky Downs’ 12-race special card, which features five graded stakes worth $2 million each for Kentucky-bred horses.
The $2,500 buy-in per entry covers $1,500 for the player’s bankroll and $1,000 for the prize pool.
The first-place King of the Turf winner will receive a prize package to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) in Las Vegas next March, as well as a $10,000 entry to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC). The winner will also receive $25,000 in cash (based on 100 entries) as well as their winnings balance. And of course, there’s the instantly iconic Global Tote King of the Turf belt, modeled after boxing’s championship belts and guaranteed to earn the recipient the respect and envy of fellow tournament players.
Email Brian Skirka, Tournament Director of the King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge, at [email protected] with any questions or to register for the King of the Turf and Play-in tournaments on August 29 and September 1. All play will be online only and everyone must pre-register. All TVG/4NJBETS players must pre-register with Skirka by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the contests. Xpressbet players can register directly with Xpressbet up until the Race 1 start time on contest day.
Blankenbaker, Rabaut and Bobby V from ESPN Louisville live on the race track
Louisville’s ESPN 680/105.7 will broadcast live from Kentucky Downs on Thursday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central. Deener Show co-host Mark Blankenbaker will be on from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by Louie Rabaut’s Rabaut & Co. Show from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bob Valvano and his son and producer Nick will be on site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for his ESPN V Show. In addition to 680 AM/105.7 FM in Greater Louisville, ESPN Louisville will be streamed worldwide at www.espnlouisville.com and on the ESPN 680/93.9 app.
Blankenbaker and Rabaut will return to the track on Thursday, September 5th.
β By Tim Wilkin and Jennie Rees