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Horse Racing Sense

Horse Racing Sense

Real horse racing advice from a Louisiana Thoroughbred owner with 30+ years of experience – handicapping, ownership, breeding, care, and equipment based on firsthand experience.

Road to the Kentucky Derby – Updated Sept. 13

The 2027 Kentucky Derby Field Is Starting to Take Shape

No 2-year-old has separated himself yet, but the picture’s getting clearer. The Good Life stayed unbeaten winning the Hopeful at Saratoga, and Salahudin became the first colt to actually bank Kentucky Derby points with his Iroquois win at Churchill Downs. Here’s how Booked, Twinkle Town, and the rest of the group stack up so far, and what I’m watching from here.

Read My Derby Trail Update →
2026 Travers Recap: Leading Change Stuns Golden Tempo|Kentucky Derby Guide: How the Road to Louisville Works

Start Here

Whether you’re learning to handicap, following the Derby trail, considering racehorse ownership, or thinking about claiming your first horse, these guides give you a solid foundation.

Buying a RacehorseConformation first – the lesson 30 years taught me Cost to Own a RacehorseReal annual numbers from Fair Grounds to Delta Downs Horse Breeding Age GuideMare and stallion limits – plus auction economics Handicapping for BeginnersA six-step elimination process from a 30-year owner Why Conformation MattersWhat to look for before pedigree, price, or test results Horse Racing Class LevelsMaiden, allowance, claiming, and stakes – explained

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Betting & HandicappingHow to read odds, place bets, and find value at the track Racehorse Ownership CostsReal numbers for board, feed, vet work, and first-year setup Racing HistoryTriple Crown winners, record holders, and racing legends Racehorse HealthSoundness, ulcers, tendon injuries, and owner essentials

Gear I Actually Use

After 30+ years around racehorses, I’ve put together a running list of riding boots, cowboy boots, ice boots, bits, bridles, and supplements I actually use and recommend on my own horses.

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Most Read Articles

Miles Henry, Louisiana Thoroughbred racehorse owner and author of Horse Racing Sense

Written by a Thoroughbred Owner

Louisiana-based Thoroughbred racehorse owner, breeder, and author with more than 30 years of hands-on experience. Racing license registered under my legal name, William Bradley. Horses have run at Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs. Most articles are informed by horses I have owned, bought, or raced through Louisiana tracks and regional claiming circuits.

About Miles Henry →

Latest Horse Racing Articles

The Travers Didn’t Go to Either Triple Crown Winner

Golden Tempo came to Saratoga with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on his resume. Napoleon Solo had the Preakness. Neither got the Travers. Leading Change upset the 2026 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, running down Preakness winner Napoleon Solo in the final strides to win by a half-length in 2:02.98. Manuel Franco rode the Brad …
Thoroughbred racehorse galloping during a race.

2026 Travers Stakes Preview: Can Sea Strike Beat Golden Tempo?

The Travers Stakes gives Saratoga the matchup it wanted all summer: Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo against Jim Dandy winner Renegade. Haskell winner Baby Vino, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, and Curlin Stakes winner Sea Strike add real depth behind the two established stars. The question is whether Renegade can turn the tables …
Racehorse in training, highlighting the importance of early detection in EPM

How Tall Is Your Horse? Learn to Measure It Correctly

Two inches can change how a horse looks on paper. At a sale, a 16-hand colt and a 15.2-hand colt may bring different expectations before they ever walk into the ring. In pony competition, even a small measurement difference can determine eligibility. Knowing how to measure a horse correctly is not just a technical detail …

The 2-Year-Olds Shaping the Early 2027 Derby Trail

The 2027 Road to the Kentucky Derby is off and running, and it’s already crowded at the front. Four different colts have won four different races in the last two months, and we’re still just getting started. No 2-year-old has separated himself yet. The Good Life and Salahudin are carrying the most momentum right now …

About Horse Racing Sense

Horse Racing Sense is written by Miles Henry — a licensed Thoroughbred owner and breeder who has raced horses at Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs for decades. Every article on this site is grounded in hands-on ownership experience, not secondhand research.

The site covers horse racing betting, handicapping, racehorse ownership, breeding, and racing history. Our content has been referenced by Wikipedia, Inside Edition, and multiple publications. Miles has also appeared as a guest on podcasts discussing ownership, handicapping, and the realities of running horses at regional tracks.

If you're learning to handicap, thinking about claiming your first racehorse, or just following the sport seriously — this is the right place to start.