We’re almost halfway through 2025, and the horse racing world has witnessed a series of remarkable events.
So far, this season has been a patchwork of historic victories, emerging talents and controversies.
We’re also on the verge of some significant changes in the sport, with more focus on the mental health of stable workers, trainers, and jockeys, as well as the wellbeing of the animals.
From the muddy tracks of Churchill Downs to the historic grounds of Aintree, this year seems to be the one that will stay engraved in history.
We are witnessing a great era of some of the greatest racehorses of all time, that delivered us the moment that will surely be remembered for years to come.
In the United States, the Triple Crown series launched with Sovereignty’s impressive win at the Kentucky Derby, overcoming challenging conditions to achieve victory.
Also, Journalism snatched the win at the Preakness Stakes, building the momentum for the upcoming showdown at the Belmont Stakes.
Across the pond, the Grand National at Aintree saw Nick Rockett, under the guidance of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Patrick Mullins, triumphed, beating the unfavourable odds and leaving the audience stunned.
However, the race was overshadowed by the tragic death of Celebre d’Allen, reigniting discussions on race safety and animal welfare.
This year also has its fair share of controversies, as usual. There were medication violations and illicit drugs on both sides of the Atlantic.
This triggered multiple investigations, suspensions, and even changes in regulations in some countries. The horse racing sport is realising that some things are bound to be relinquished from the sport to make way for progress.
Further, the whole industry might go through an overhaul. Debates over betting taxation in the UK threaten the financial stability of the sport, with leaders warning of potential losses amounting to tens of millions.
Also, the British Horseracing Authority is going out with new requirements and suggestions about the work conditions of the staff.
A lot of changes are scheduled to happen by the end of this year, along with some amazing face-offs, extraordinary horses, and high-adrenaline races.
Notable Races So Far
Grand National, April 5th
The winner was Nick Rockett, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son, amateur jockey Patrick Mullins.
The conditions of the race were challenging, but Nick Rockett pulled it off despite being one of the underdogs in the race, with odds of 33/1.
Last year’s winner I Am Maximus came in close second, failing to make history by winning two years in a row.
The race was also marked by the unfortunate passing of Celebre d’Allen, a 13-year-old horse that was in bad shape to even begin the race which further sparked the conversation about animal welfare in the sport.
Kentucky Derby, May 3rd
The 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs witnessed Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, clinch victory under sloppy track conditions.
Sovereignty is one of the fastest, most cherished horses on the track today.
Preakness Stakes, May 17th
Journalism came unexpectedly from behind in the last stretch to secure the win at the 150th Preakness Stakes this year.
Even though Sovereignty was the favourite of the race, especially since winning the Kentucky Derby a couple of weeks ago, Journalism thrived in this race.
It’s obvious that dry conditions are more suitable for this horse than the damp, muddy track at the Kentucky Derby where it finished second.
The Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli made history as the first jockey from Italy to win any of the Triple Crown races.
Upcoming Races
Epsom Derby, June 7th
The 2025 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse, promises to be a thrilling contest among the season’s top three-year-old colts.
Betting markets at Stake.com are already on fire about each horse, giving Delacroix, trained by Aidan O’Brien, the best chance to win.
Delacroix has shown impressive form at the Cashel Palace Hotel Trial Stakes on May 11th, setting itself apart from other horses and possibly reaching a record eleventh Derby victory for O’Brien.
Following closely behind in odds is Ruling Court, with 4/1 odds, and Pride of Arras trained by Ralph Beckett with slightly lower odds at 5/1.
It’s going to be a fierce, close battle on the track, and fans are all geared up for this year’s Epsom Derby.
Also, The Lion in Winter was once a contender for the crown, however, a few mishaps happened recently that took him off the list of favourites.
At Dante Stakes earlier this year we watched a disappointing performance that caused his odds to drop to 6/1. Other contenders who are expected to excel this year include Damysus at 10/1, who finished second in the Dante Stakes, and Lambourn at 14/1, another O’Brien-trained entry.
Belmont Stakes, June 7
Due to ongoing renovations in Belmont Park, just like last year’s race, this year we’ll be watching the race at Saratoga Race Course.
This year’s event, also called “The Test of the Champion”, will cover 1.25 miles instead of the traditional 1.5 miles, due to Saratoga’s track configuration.
Leading the field is Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, who skipped the Preakness Stakes to focus on the Belmont.
Hopefully, this was a smart move, but the results are yet to be seen. He’s the current favourite with 8-5 odds. Close behind is Journalism, the Preakness winner, at 9-5 odds.
The showdown between the two colts is expected to be the highlight of the race. The strength and speed are about the same in both horses, so the whole race may be going to be about tactics and jockey skills.
Other horses that might make a mark on this year’s race are Baeza with 7-2 odds, who finished third in the Derby, and Rodriguez with 6-1 odds, the Wood Memorial winner.
A shorter track this year might change the outcome of the race. Horses who are faster on short lengths might have better chances to snatch higher positions in the finals.
Others, who typically thrive in the last seconds of the race, might have to adjust their strategies.
Also, Gosger who finished second at Preakness Stakes is being rested for summer races. It’s going to be an exciting conclusion to the Triple Crown Series.
Royal Ascot, June 17-21
Royal Ascot 2025 promises to be one of elite racing, international glamour and high stakes drama. The betting platforms are gearing up for one of the main events in the season.
The meeting features contests like the Ascot Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup, and Queen Anne Stakes. Every event is much more than just simple horse racing.
The British Royal family will be front and centre just like every year, along with many other well known personas from all walks of life; businessmen, bankers, CEOs, celebrities, actors, and everyone else that we regularly see as part of the top tier events.
In the Ascot Gold Cup, Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios aims for a third consecutive win but faces a recent injury that might dim his chances, causing his odds to drop from 10/11 to 6/4.
The surprising surge on the betting market is Stablemate Illionois who is now second favourite at odds 9/4.
Right behind is Willie Mullins’ Sober who doesn’t seem to have a lot of chances to win, at odds 33/1, but some are marking this horse as a possible upset in the race.
The Commonwealth Cup sees Babouche leading the market at 5/1 after a win in the Goffs Lacken Stakes. A close second is Shadow Of Light, with odds 4/1.
In the Queen Anne Stakes, Rosallion is favoured at 4/1, with Dancing Gemini at 5/1 and Notable Speech at 6/1. It’s going to be an exciting race with such close odds, especially if they throw in Treanmor as a possible contender for the win after an amazing debut.
There are also a lot of international entries from the US, Japan and Australia. However, there was a slight disappointment with Constitution Hill’s withdrawal from the Gold Cup due to form concerns.
The Most Outstanding Horses in 2025
Several racehorses had exceptional performances this year, positioning them among the elite in the sport.
Journalism
Journalism, foaled on February 6, 2022, has rapidly risen through the ranks of American Thoroughbred racing.
This colt was acquired for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale by a partnership including Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert V. LaPenta, Coolmore’s Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor.
Journalism quickly set itself apart from other racehorses with 5 wins, 1 second, and 1 third place in the first seven races, earning close to $3 million.
This track record is stunning for a 3-year old horse. Journalism is trained by Michael W. McCarthy and ridden by an Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli who is currently making history.
In the Preakness Stakes, Journalism passed the traffic to win by half a length, marking Rispoli’s first Triple Crown victory and making him the first Italian jockey to achieve this.
The horse is one of the top contenders at Belmont Stakes on June 7th.
Sovereignty
Sovereignty captured the attention of the audience with a solid victory in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Godolphin, this colt demonstrated exceptional speed and stamina.
After the win, it positioned itself as one of the top horses to look at this year.
Regulatory and Industry Challenges
It looks like this is going to be a year of change for the horse racing sport.
Some controversies can not be overlooked anymore, and governing bodies decided to take a firmer approach.
Upgrades for Staff
In 2025, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) took the initiative to modernise racecourse facilities, focusing on the welfare of jockeys and race day staff.
All weighing rooms will go through renovations in the future, ensuring that jockeys have modern conditions on every racetrack in the UK.
Rest spaces and changing rooms will also be refurbished to provide decent conditions for athletes.
BHA took a firm stand on this, giving facilities limited time to complete all upgrades by the end of 2026. If not, they will face the suspension of hosting races until certain conditions are met.
The idea came from years-long complaints from female jockeys who didn’t have appropriate changing rooms and rest areas.
Financial support for these upgrades is available through loans of up to £400,000 per racecourse, aided by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Debate Over Online Casino Taxation
Horse racing leaders have been lobbying for a long time for higher taxes for online casinos that offer sports betting.
Their main argument is that the casinos do not contribute to the sport, or the communities as much as it was expected, so to balance it out they came up with the idea of taxation.
This was met with strong opposition from the Betting & Gaming Council, which stands for lower taxes and fewer regulations in the industry.
Calls for Triple Crown Schedule Reform
The ageing infrastructure of Pimlico Racecourse and the demanding schedule of the Triple Crown series have incited calls for reform.
The idea is to have four weeks between races so that horses can have lighter schedules. This could also be a more profitable model since the audience is more likely to visit races.
However, the traditionalists are very strict in keeping the schedule as it is, claiming that any changes would compromise the tradition.
Notable Disciplinary Actions
Jockey Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended for two racing days after exceeding the permitted number of whips during the Kentucky Derby, using eight whips instead of the allowed six.
This raised eyebrows among animal welfare activists who are fighting for a ban on whipping horses under any circumstances.
Professional conduct among jockeys is another issue that the sport has been facing. Horse racing is extremely competitive, and tensions on the track are always running high.
The recent incident where South African jockey Gavin Lerena stroked fellow jockey Jason Gates with his whip during a race, prompted a call for action highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of regulations.
