LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the split second of silence between the last horse loading into the gates on the first Saturday of May and Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone yelling “They’re off,” Scott Jordan stands atop a small metal perch on the track’s inside rail 20 jockeys sit astride 20 adrenaline-fueled thoroughbreds squished into a space that barely contains their girth all waiting to break for a mad dash toward history 160,000 people dressed in seersucker suits joining millions more doing the same from their living rooms and Kentucky Derby parties across the country the same sort of innocuous mechanism a Jeopardy contestant might use to buzz in When Jordan decides it is time, and only when Jordan decides, he presses the button to drop the gates and start the Kentucky Derby. Horse trainer Al Stall stands atop a wall of pavers just outside the rail near the third turn of the track A few furlongs and what might as well be a world away people stream around on the backside by the hundreds Out-of-towners trail tour guides through the barns many dressed in their Catholic school uniforms primed for a quick dash to beat the first bell after watching the Derby horses train a small collection of workers and an ever-rotating line of horses quietly walking about — that some of the most important bits of the horse-racing business get done and in this small patch of dirt that serves as his weekday office Starting a race is much more than pushing that button Packing a 1,000-pound animal itching to race into a metal pen and asking it to wait for its release is as unnatural as it sounds That’s why during the days leading up to the Derby every one of the entrants will frequent the six-horse starting gate tucked into the quarter chute just off the Churchill track to “school.” “Schooling” is a horse term for exactly what it sounds like — teaching the animals how to start correctly and safely “We’ve got that filly who wouldn’t load the other day coming,” Stall yells to Jordan the still unnamed horse and rider approach She is still not terribly interested in wedging herself into the gate She turns sideways and stubbornly refuses to budge for the attendant trying to lead her in Jordan grabs her lead and starts coaxing her in It takes more than a few tries to determine the victor in this equine-versus-man battle the filly settled into the gate where she stands for a handful of minutes to get used to her new surroundings The misleadingly simple and incredibly important work is completed referring to the six-time Derby winner and winningest trainer in Churchill history The game’s hard enough without messing up the start of the race.” He grew too tall and instead settled for galloping horses at Beulah Park in Columbus The head starter there asked him if he wanted to help out working the gate in the afternoon a simple decision grew into a full-on pivot and he wound up bouncing from Beulah to Belterra Park in Cincinnati and Turfway in Florence People at Turfway knew a guy or two at Churchill Jordan relocated to the famed Louisville track to man the gate which meant that along with the countless other races there he was put in charge of starting the single most famous event in horse racing He appreciated the enormity of the gig and leaned on the late John Asher the beloved vice president of communications Jordan knew horses well and understood that part of the job He’d bring Jordan along when he spoke to owners and trainers helping his new starter to forge the sort of trusting relationships necessary to do his job well and it’s really difficult,” Baffert said of Jordan Horses aren’t unaccustomed to starting gates but Derby horses are only 3 years old; many have only raced a handful of times the clang of the metal doors closing and the nearness of their neighbors can be unsettling In the ninth race at Churchill Downs on Thursday Alvarado is fine (Caramel Chip went on to finish second though a jockey-less rider is automatically disqualified) but it showed how one bad step can easily be the difference between history and disaster Jordan looks out for quirks and tendencies A fidgety horse not only is a risk for itself and its rider; it can affect all of the horses waiting to start Jordan spent extra time with Sierra Leone after the horse delayed the start for several minutes in the Blue Grass Stakes Sierra Leone broke well and wound up finishing second What a shame.’ It’s just two minutes of agony and you’re like a Baffert 3-year-old positioned for Saturday’s Pat Day Mile came to school with assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes on hand to watch Madaket Road has only raced five times and not since early March The horse fought loading for a good few minutes while Jordan calmly shared instructions with one of his staff telling him not to guide the horse but to let him turn himself around combining the tough love of a few shoves to the horse’s hindquarters to get him straight with some soothing conversation aren’t you?” he said as he got Madaket Road square radioing the horse’s progress back to Barn 33 “He’s slowly learning,” Barnes said with a smile Madaket Road and his rider sauntered off with Barnes “Thank you guys,” Barnes called over his shoulder The real challenge for the Derby is its scope a potential 20-horse field is uncommonly big and in 2020 Churchill created a new starting gate to house them The gate stretches 65 feet and while the interior of the stalls is an inch-and-a-half wider than the typical gate Jordan doubles the size of his staff for the Derby stationing an extra two bodies as rovers to be on call if something goes wrong Jordan will call for help if he thinks a horse needs soothing pick up his tail and see how he does,’” Jordan said is the one thing Jordan cannot school the animals on — the 160,000 people who rise to their feet when the horses begin to load It is unlike any race the horses have run in It also adds to the enormity of the job with which Jordan is tasked “You try to play it like it’s just another race,” Jordan said and you’ve got 160,000 people in the stands and millions of people watching Over 20,000 people from all around the D.C. area are expected to head to the Washington National Cathedral over the weekend for the 86th Annual All Hallows Guild’s Flower Mart. Not only can you expect to see a wide variety of flowers the festival offers more than 60 gift vendors and 20 food trucks and eateries told WTOP there’s a lot of people you can shop for at the festival “There’s the perfect gift for the mom with Mother’s Day coming up and graduations,” Tydings said The spring tradition dates back to 1939, and is put on by the All Hallows Guild, a gardening guild that maintains the beautification of the cathedral’s grounds grounds and woodlands that surround our beautiful National Cathedral They’re free and open to the public all the time but they do need continuous care and feeding and we are the stewards that help support that,” Tydings said there will be dance troupes and poetry reading if you are worried that your kids might not enjoy the Flower Mart Not only are there rides and games for kids “So you have the option of climbing lots of spiral steps to the top of the cathedral central tower,” Tydings said If you want to cool off during your time at the Flower Mart head inside the cathedral for a special floral-themed display area who are contributing incredibly gorgeous floral displays that tell the history and the culture of their country through flowers,” Tydings said The free event will be open Saturday from 10 a.m Due to the amount of people expected to attend Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Jimmy Alexander has been a part of the D.C media scene as a reporter for DC News Now and a long-standing voice on the Jack Diamond Morning Show Alexander brings those years spent interviewing newsmakers like President Bill Clinton Guns N' Roses debuted a live cover of Thin Lizzy's "Thunder and Lightning" at the second show of their 2025 world tour You can see fan-shot video of the performance below Bassist Duff McKagan handled lead vocals on the group's version of the title track to Thin Lizzy's final album, which was released in 1983 It was one of 28 songs Guns N' Roses performed Monday night at Yokohama, Japan's K-Arena. That's six more than the played on opening night of the awkwardly named Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things tour last week in South Korea only in the world of Guns N' Roses is a 22-song set considered "short.") "Don't Cry," "You Could Be Mine," "Hard Skool," "Absurd" and "Madagascar" were also added back into the set Read More: What to Wear to Guns N' Roses 2025 Tour Guns N' Roses' next scheduled show is Saturday night at Taoyuan Sunlight Arena in Taoyuan, Taiwan and is currently scheduled to conclude on July 31 at Germany's Wacken Open Air. You can get complete show and ticket information at their official website Watch Guns N' Roses Perform 'Thunder and Lightning' Hear Thin Lizzy Perform 'Thunder and Lightning' "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"11 via SetList.fm Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli After a slightly shortened opening night, the band was back to their usual marathon ways in Japan.\nRead More Guns N' Roses debuted a live cover of Thin Lizzy's "Thunder and Lightning" at the second show of their 2025 world tour Bassist Duff McKagan handled lead vocals on the group's version of the title track to Thin Lizzy's final album, which was released in 1983 It was one of 28 songs Guns N' Roses performed Monday night at Yokohama, Japan's K-Arena. That's six more than the played on opening night of the awkwardly named Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things tour last week in South Korea Read More: What to Wear to Guns N' Roses 2025 Tour Guns N' Roses' next scheduled show is Saturday night at Taoyuan Sunlight Arena in Taoyuan, Taiwan and is currently scheduled to conclude on July 31 at Germany's Wacken Open Air. You can get complete show and ticket information at their official website via SetList.fm NEW YORK -- Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago, and he plans to rule on a request to end the sport's permanent ban of the career hits leader, who died in September Speaking Monday at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors Manfred said he and Trump discussed several issues including concerns over how immigration policies could impact players from Cuba Manfred is considering a petition to have Rose posthumously removed from MLB's permanently ineligible list The petition was filed in January by Jeffrey Lenkov a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose prior to the 17-time All-Star's death at age 83 "I met with President Trump two weeks ago .. but I'm not going beyond that," Manfred said I'm not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was." Trump posted on social media Feb. 28 that he plans to issue "a complete PARDON of Pete Rose." Trump posted on Truth Social that Rose "shouldn't have been gambling on baseball It's unclear what a presidential pardon might include Trump did not specifically mention a tax case in which Rose pleaded guilty in 1990 to two counts of filing false tax returns and served a five-month prison sentence The president said he would sign a pardon for Rose "over the next few weeks" but has not addressed the matter since Rose had 4,256 hits and also holds records for games (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890) He was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners An investigation for MLB by lawyer John M. Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989 Manfred said reinstating Rose now was "a little more complicated than it might appear on the outside" and did not commit to a timeline except that "I want to get it done promptly as soon as we get the work done." "I'm not going to give this the pocket veto," Manfred said. "I will in fact issue a ruling." Rose's reinstatement doesn't mean he would automatically appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. He would first have to be nominated by the Hall's Historical Overview Committee, which is picked by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and approved by the Hall's board. Manfred said he has been in regular contact with chairman Jane Forbes Clark. "I mean, believe me, a lot of Hall of Fame dialogue on this one," Manfred said. If reinstated, Rose potentially would be eligible for consideration to be placed on a ballot to be considered by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee in December 2027. Manfred said he doesn't think baseball's current ties to legal sports betting should color views on Rose's case. "There is and always has been a clear demarcation between what Rob Manfred, ordinary citizen, can do on the one hand, and what someone who has the privilege to play or work in Major League Baseball can do on the other in respect to gambling," Manfred said. "The fact that the law changed, and we sell data and/or sponsorships, which is essentially all we do, to sports betting enterprises, I don't think changes that. "It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball. As with every privilege, there comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that they not bet on the game." Manfred did not go into details on his discussion with Trump over foreign-born players other than to say he expressed worry. "Given the number of foreign-born players we have, we're always concerned about ingress and egress," Manfred said. "We have had dialogue with the administration about this topic. And, you know, they're very interested in sports. They understand the unique need to be able to go back and forth, and I'm going to leave it at that." Mother’s Day is just a few days away — are you prepared with a sweet gift for Mom or the other mother figures in your life you could go the splashy route with your gift idea something as simple as flowers can really make their day Rather than fight the crowd and overpay for flowers at the florist or give her a random grocery store bouquet reaching the end of its shelf life delight Mom without even leaving the couch. You could just save plenty of time and cash thanks to this Rose Farmers voucher and you might win the “Best Kid” award this Mother’s Day Mom will receive two dozen long-stem roses in beautiful mixed colors that Rose Farmers personally selects based on freshness so that her blooms last Here’s how easy it is to gift these roses: Purchase your rose delivery voucher here Head over to Rose Farmers’ website to redeem it. or just add your giftee’s address. It’s important to note that your recipient isn’t based in Alaska or Hawaii as this deal is only valid in the continental US you’ll want to redeem your voucher as soon as you can Rose Farm recommends selecting 1-3 days before Mother’s Day or any other holiday so treat her (or any other mother figure) to beautiful blooms this Mother’s Day and be sure to order ahead of the holiday StackSocial prices subject to change The Official Guide to Portland In Portland, there is no surer sign that spring is here and summer is quickly approaching than colorful rose blooms across the city. And while you’ll find gardens on quiet side streets and in pastoral parks alike, there is no grander display than the International Rose Test Garden (or the Portland Rose Garden Roughly a century after the first flower was planted, the garden remains the oldest testing ground for new rose varieties in the country and is home to over 10,000 rose bushes representing more than 600 varieties. View this post on Instagram A post shared by International Rose Test Garden (@portlandrosegardens) The garden is open daily, and admission is free. While great city and Mount Hood views are offered year-round, the best rose-viewing months are May through September. (When you’re finished admiring the flowers, head just uphill to the majestic Portland Japanese Garden for more fabulous flora.) Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Portland International Rose Test Garden Roughly 12 miles of trails traverse Portland’s “living museum of trees” — which hosts more than 2,300 species from across the globe the Oregon Zoo is home to more than a thousand animals The zoo also hosts public and private events Every event booking helps the Oregon Zoo protect endangered and threatened species at home and around the world This authentic Japanese garden comprises eight garden styles Learn about the forest’s many wonders through engaging exhibits and interactive attractions encouraging sustainable forestry Let your little ones loose on this massive accessible playground View this post on Instagram A post shared by International Rose Test Garden (@portlandrosegardens) Ready to visit? Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know — and what to enjoy — at the Portland International Rose Test Garden The roses are undeniably the star attraction at the garden, but Mount Hood towers over the city skyline to the east creating a picturesque backdrop to the beautiful setting Free public tours led by knowledgeable guides are offered at 1 p.m Four specialty gardens are nested within the broader rose garden, each reflecting a different theme. The Royal Rosarian Garden, for instance, honors members of the Royal Rosarians — an organization whose members serve as goodwill ambassadors for Portland the Shakespeare Garden hosts roses named for characters in the Bard’s plays and the fourth is where various roses — including miniatures — are tested for possible commercial release If you’re looking for a rose-themed souvenir, stop by the Rose Garden Store at the southern edge of the garden The gift shop sells locally-made bath and body goods Sakura blooms take over the waterfront each spring; here’s how to enjoy the best of Portland’s cherry blossom season Portland has a long-standing reputation as the City of Roses — so we dive into the city’s history with the fragrant flower share the lowdown on rose gardens around town and offer tips for visiting the Portland Rose Festival in late spring Round out your floral explorations of the Rose City with a visit to Southeast Portland’s lush Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden The park boasts more than 2,500 rhododendrons visitorinfo@travelportland.com 1-888-503-3291 (toll free)503-427-1372Monday–Sunday 1132 SW Harvey Milk St #104,Portland, OR 97205 Get the guide Local Businesses Media Meeting Planners Travel Industry Professionals Event Organizers We are a promoter and steward of this evolving city and its progressive values which have the power to transform the travelers who visit us The Kentucky Derby is giving folks a live look at the assembly of the Garland of Roses to be draped over the 2025 winner The Kentucky Derby Facebook page is livestreaming the construction to a backdrop of music and the display of Derby facts and trivia The Rose Garland is being crafted at the Kroger in Middletown They’re spending about 80 hours putting the greenery together and will spend another eight hours on Oaks Day sewing in the roses the Rose Garland will be displayed at the store until a police escort carries it to Churchill Downs The garland will be on display in the paddock on Derby Day before it’s taken to the Winner’s Circle For those wanting to see the Rose Garland creation process in person Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264 Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social 3Science🚀The future of bacon? Gene-edited pigs get US FDA approval for human consumption Mrigakshi Dixit15 hours ago 7Culture🚀2,000-year-old rice recipe brought back to stunning life by Chinese students Maria Mocerinoa day ago 2Culture🌟Trump’s secure messaging app hacked, deportation airline also hit by cyberattack Aamir Khollam2 hours ago 3Energy🌟US scientists end 70-year fusion struggle, paving way for better reactors Aamir Khollam4 hours ago 5Science🌟In a first, protons in biological system seen following quantum rules: Study Mrigakshi Dixit5 hours ago 7Space🌟US orders NASA to build first lunar time zone to guide astronauts on the Moon Aamir Khollam5 hours ago 10Science🌟Sperm cells use heat as a switch to power up for egg penetration, finds study Mrigakshi Dixit8 hours ago Maria Mocerino Pixabay French and Dutch scientists ran genetic tests on the world’s most beloved flower to find its first ancestor bringing the delightful rose into the sunlight fresh for the spring a team from Beijing Forestry University analyzed 707 genera in 215 domesticated and wild rose samples to conduct a thorough survey of the world’s beloved flower to advance breeding practices in the age of climate change After an extensive investigation of cultivated and wild roses the research team found a simpler version of the multi-petaled and even mini roses that decorate florist shops and tables The exquisite rose has evolved into many colors people have regarded the rose as a symbol of beauty its history spans even further back: 30 million years studies hadn’t confirmed where they had originated or what the first rose looked like researchers from Beijing Forestry University have been reaching into the genes and analyzing recorded species and their evolution to construct an evolutionary tree of the family Though scientists thought that China first cultivated roses in imperial gardens as described by Confucius the study confirmed that what “Confucius says” was indeed true Many popular varieties today are hybrids with Chinese species South Morning China Post reports that the rose entered a new phase in its illustrious career in the late eighteenth century Engineered with Chinese and European cultivars to display a wider variety of attractive traits like fragrance scientists traced the origins of the modern cultivated rose to eight to ten species The researchers continued that the genetic composition of cultivated roses originated almost entirely from two groups within the genus two regions of rose diversity were identified: the northwest and southwest Smaller yellow species and white fragrant flowers were found in these regions There are over 35,000 rose cultivars, demonstrating the star power of the aptly named “queen of the flowers.” Researchers were able to trace all those variations back to one single source “Ancestral trait construction showed that the common ancestor of Rosa most likely showed single-petal flowers with yellow color and seven leaflets,” the team explained via South Morning China Post In hopes of revolutionizing breeding practice, the mathematical formula involving wild and cultivated roses has limited any recent breakthroughs. The paper “lays a solid foundation for future re-domestication and innovative breeding efforts using wild resources.” climate change is changing breeding practices as the cultivated species needs genetic support The study was published in Nature Plants 0COMMENTABOUT THE AUTHORMaria Mocerino Originally from LA Maria Mocerino has been published in Business Insider Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Premium GUNS N' ROSES kicked off its 2025 world tour earlier tonight (Thursday South Korea's Songdo Moonlight Festival Park The concert marked the band's first live appearance with new drummer Isaac Carpenter the longest-serving drummer in GUNS N' ROSES' storied run GUNS N' ROSES' setlist for the Incheon show was as follows: Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover)14 is an accomplished American drummer and songwriter known for his dynamic contributions to alternative He rose to prominence in 1995 by co-founding LOUDERMILK while in high school only to be signed to Rick Rubin's label American Carpenter's career spans an impressive roster of acts including live and studio work with Duff McKagan's LOADED the hardcore metal outfit BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA in addition to his large session film and TV roster Carpenter has made a name for himself by uniquely blending versatility and groove with crushing force and technical skill cementing his reputation as a multifaceted drummer in the industry GUNS N' ROSES's "Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things" tour will next hit the Middle East and Europe in late spring and early summer Frank first joined GUNS N' ROSES during a show in June 2006 helping anchor the rhythm section during subsequent tours including their recent outings featuring the reunited trio of singer Axl Rose Ferrer's last show with the band took place November 5 Ferrer laid down drums tracks on five songs on GUNS N' ROSES' most recent studio album He also appeared on the live portion of 2022's "Hard Skool" EP with former drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia appearing on the studio tracks and GUNS' ROSES' 2023 singles "Perhaps" and "The General" Isaac Carpenter AXL ROSE introduces ISAAC CARPENTER at his first show with GUNS N’ ROSES🔥 🔥 🔥 #isaaccarpenter #gunsnroses #GnFnRs #gnr2025 #southkorea Posted by The General Guns N' Roses on Thursday Guns N' Roses did something for the first time since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined at their 2025 tour opener South Korea on May 1 at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park and it was their first performance since November of 2023 The tour is named "Because What You Want and What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things," and they seem to be living up to the title by switching the setlist around a bit Guns opened most of their 2000s shows with "Jungle," and then opened with the Chinese Democracy title track during most concerts from 2009 through 2014 this is the first time the band has started a show with "Welcome to the Jungle" with Slash and McKagan since the early 1990s when they were touring in support of the Use Your Illusion albums READ MORE: Guns N' Roses Kick off 2025 Tour, Play First Show With New Drummer - Full Setlist + Video "It's So Easy" was actually moved quite a bit further into their set as they followed "Jungle" with "Bad Obsession" and "Mr Brownstone." They played a total of 22 songs ending with the fan-favorite "Paradise City." This was also the band's first-ever performance with new drummer Isaac Carpenter, as they parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Ferrer earlier this year See some fan-filmed footage of their performance of "Welcome to the Jungle" below. Tickets for the band's 2025 tour are available on their website Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner Guns N' Roses opened their first 2025 concert with 'Welcome to the Jungle,' which is the first time they've done that since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined.\nRead More Guns N' Roses did something for the first time since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined at their 2025 tour opener READ MORE: Guns N' Roses Kick off 2025 Tour, Play First Show With New Drummer - Full Setlist + Video This was also the band's first-ever performance with new drummer Isaac Carpenter, as they parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Ferrer earlier this year See some fan-filmed footage of their performance of "Welcome to the Jungle" below. Tickets for the band's 2025 tour are available on their website These symbols of romance are geometrical enigmas A rose is a rose is a … geometrical marvel Scientists have long wondered how rose petals achieve their iconic shape It turns out that a unique type of stress forges the rose’s graceful curves and curls Lots of plants owe their form to the push and pull of physical forces Their tissues often grow unevenly: For instance the edge of a leaf may grow more quickly than its interior so the leaf takes on a ruffled shape to account for this mismatch This is driven by a phenomenon called Gauss incompatibility which explains the waves commonly found on the edges of petals But rose petals are different, according to recent findings published in Science that the shape arises from another type of rule-breaking The Mainardi-Codazzi-Peterson condition states that curves evolve smoothly and consistently across a surface sparking geometric frustration and accumulating concentrated stress at petal cusps during growth This incompatibility forges the sudden sharp edges on the tips of the petals The team tested this theory by cutting strips from rose petals in multiple directions creating faux plastic petals to mimic the growth process Their findings revealed that the immense stress fixed on petal cusps affects how the surrounding tissue grows smooth curves morph into polygonal shapes with sharp The team also suggests that understanding the forces at play in developing rose petals could inspire designs for self-morphing materials in robotics and spaceships unraveled by the very brightest living thinkers You’ve read your 2 free articles this month Access unlimited ad-free stories like this one sign up for the free Nautilus newsletter: science and culture for people who love beautiful writing (WACH) — The annual Festival of Roses was on Saturday welcoming residents and visitors with smiles Firefighters from Orangeburg Department of Public Safety welcomed guests to explore Tower 1, one of the department’s key firefighting vehicles. Attendees had the opportunity to meet first responders, learn about fire safety, and enjoy free goodies given at the department’s table. The department said the event had a strong turnout. “Thank you to everyone who stopped by Tower 1 and spoke with the firefighters,” they shared. The Festival of Roses, a long-standing tradition in Orangeburg, celebrates spring with food, music, and activities at the city’s Edisto Memorial Gardens. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association opens its doors to the public for guided tours Experience the rich history of Pasadena and Wrigley Mansion You are invited to take a peek at the Tournament House uncover the stories and see this iconic landmark little-known facts and endearing trivia about the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and Tournament House You will learn about the history of the house and hear more about the traditions of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game the house was once home to William Wrigley Jr and his wife Ada Wrigley was also known for the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field and Wrigley Chewing Gum the Wrigley family presented the property to the city of Pasadena with the request that it become home for the Tournament of Roses the house has served as headquarters for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game We ask all individuals to register at least one day in advance Each guest must have a complimentary ticket Are tickets to the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game available for purchase at the Tournament House Tickets for the Rose Parade are available from our partner Sharp Seating Tickets for the Rose Bowl Game are available from Ticketmaster Visit www.tournamentofroses.com for more information the Pasadena Tournament of Roses offers group tours which are booked separately from individual tickets Group tours are available during business hours from May to August on Thursdays Are tours offered during inclement weather Do you allow food or drink during the tour We ask that you wait to eat or drink before or after the one-hour tour All children must be accompanied by an adult A small retail/gifting area is located in the office lobby Please use the grounds during daylight hours and dispose of waste in the provided trash receptacles Masks and hand sanitizer are available upon request Please email: membership@tournamentofroses.com Audience for NBC Sports’ Milestone 25th Kentucky Derby Presentation Peaked at 21.8 Million Viewers – Best Ever for NBC Sports Derby-Winner Sovereignty Invited to Run in 150th Preakness Stakes -- Sat. 2025 – NBC Sports’ milestone 25th presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered an NBC Sports-record average of 17.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock – marking the largest Kentucky Derby audience since 1989 (18.5 million viewers won by Sunday Silence) and a 6% increase from last year (16.7 million viewers for Mystik Dan’s victory in a three-horse photo finish) Viewership peaked at 21.8 million viewers from 7-7:15 p.m as Sovereignty ran to a 1½-length victory over Journalism The peak audience was the largest ever for an NBC Sports presentation of the Kentucky Derby (up 8% from 20.1 million last year) the “Run for the Roses” posted NBC Sports’ largest streaming audience for a horse racing event with an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 959,000 viewers – up 34% from last year (714,000) and nearly tripling 2023 (371,000) NBC Sports has averaged 15+ million viewers across all platforms for 10 of the last 12 Kentucky Derby races held in May (2013-2024 excludes 2020 Covid-impacted event which was moved to September) the 2025 Kentucky Derby will rank as NBC’s most-watched Saturday program since the NFL Wild Card Playoffs in January 2024 (excluding Paris Olympics) Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day custom fast national figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics Official metrics will be available on Tuesday MAY 17: Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty has been invited to take the next step towards the Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes NBC Sports’ coverage of the 150th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore begins with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday NBC Sports presents the 150th Preakness Stakes on Saturday A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem There are a few factors to consider if you want your roses to flourish preventing roses from receiving the necessary full sun falling tree branches can cause physical damage to the delicate canes Guns N' Roses kicked off their 2025 world tour on Thursday at Incheon South Korea's Songdo Moonlight Festival Park delivering a 22-song set that closely resembled their recent outings You can watch video from the performance and see the set list below Otherwise, the biggest change-up during the band's performance came from the set list order. Guns opened with "Welcome to the Jungle" for the first time since 2012, according to setlist.fm "It's So Easy," appeared later in the evening READ MORE: The 30 Wildest Moments From Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion Tour Guns N' Roses' current tour will continue through the rest of the spring and early summer scheduled to conclude on July 31 at Wacken Open Air The band has not yet announced any North American dates Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Welcome to the Jungle' at 2025 World Tour Kickoff Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'It's So Easy' at 2025 World Tour Kickoff Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Perhaps' at 2025 World Tour Kickoff Watch Guns N' Roses Play 'Rocket Queen' at 2025 World Tour Kickoff 5/1/25, Songdo Moonlight Festival Park "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"14 It marked their first show with new drummer Isaac Carpenter.\nRead More Guns N' Roses kicked off their 2025 world tour on Thursday at Incheon Otherwise, the biggest change-up during the band's performance came from the set list order. Guns opened with "Welcome to the Jungle" for the first time since 2012, according to setlist.fm READ MORE: The 30 Wildest Moments From Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion Tour Guns N' Roses' current tour will continue through the rest of the spring and early summer, scheduled to conclude on July 31 at Wacken Open Air. The band has not yet announced any North American dates. 2025DETAILSThe Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation is excited to host our 4th annual Golf Classic on Friday at Brookside Golf Course in the shadow of the historic Rose Bowl Stadium Please help the Foundation bring our A-game as we strive to expand our grant-making for their mission-aligned recipients and the thousands of children and seniors in the San Gabriel Valley who benefit the Tournament of Roses Foundation has given more than $5.5 million to more than 800 organizations Golfers will enjoy the course designed by famed golf architect William P The day will also include fun hole activations and conclude with the 19th hole on the field on the Historic Rose Bowl and Cocktail Reception in the Terry Donahue Pavilion The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation Golf Classic has great sponsorship opportunities To purchase a sponsorship package, click the button below. For more information contact the Foundation at foundation@tournamentofroses.org or 626.449.4100 Who’s your Kentucky Derby horse With that in mind, The Courier Journal offers its annual breakdown of why each horse can and can’t win the Kentucky Derby — many serious which hasn’t produced a Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986 The last 2-year-old champ to win the Derby was Nyquist (2016) 2. NeoequosWhy he can win: Never worse than third in his last six starts this horse always is in the mix and figures to be near the lead early Why he can’t win: Every horse in the field has to answer the mile-and-a-quarter question but this one seems the least likely to want to go this far Why he can win: Took a big step forward in winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks at 15-1 odds Why he can’t win: The “wise-guy” horse never wins Why he can win: Improving colt dominated the Virginia Derby Wayne Lukas showed he still can win on the Triple Crown trail after Seize The Grey took last year’s Preakness Why he can’t win: The seven-week layoff between the Virginia Derby and the Kentucky Derby is concerning as is the horse’s 0-1-0 record in three starts at Churchill Downs Why he can win: Showed some toughness in holding off Heart of Honor to win the UAE Derby and did so at a distance (1 3/16 miles) many of his foes haven’t yet tried Why he can’t win: Seems the lesser of the two choices coming from Japan Why he can win: He’s won four straight races and has a Triple Crown winner — sire American Pharoah — in his blood which seems destined to win this race sooner than later Why he can’t win: Forever Young was perhaps the best horse ever from Japan to compete in the Kentucky Derby and finished third last year Luxor Cafe doesn’t appear to be on his level Why he can win: Because he’s the best horse in the field with not just the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (108) but also the second fastest (102) Showed toughness by overcoming some trouble to win the Santa Anita Derby Why he can’t win: As anyone in the newspaper business will tell you “Journalism wins!” feels like the unlikeliest of headlines Why he can win: His Beyer Speed Figures have improved with every race of his career Why he can’t win: Of the last 71 geldings to run in the Derby only two have won — Funny Cide (2003) and Mine That Bird (2009) The “unkindest cut of all” has consequences 11. Flying MohawkWhy he can win: Because you believe in miracles Why he can’t win: His lifetime best Beyer Speed Figure (84) is the slowest in the field, and he’s never raced on dirt Why he can win: Maybe his runner-up finish in the Blue Grass Stakes was a return to the form that made him one of the nation’s top 2-year-olds last year Why he can’t win: Had every chance to win the Blue Grass and couldn’t hold off Burnham Square 13. PublisherWhy he can win: Seems to be training well over the Churchill Downs surface and adds one of the world’s top jockeys in Irad Ortiz Jr Trainer Steve Asmussen says the laid-back Publisher will be “the easiest horse we’ve ever saddled in the Derby.” Only three maidens have won the Kentucky Derby Why he can win: Seems to be improving after running the best race of his career to win the Louisiana Derby by 2 ¼ lengths over Chunk of Gold could he get first run at the front-runners Why he can’t win: No trainer has entered more horses without winning the Kentucky Derby than Asmussen (0 for 26) Perhaps this one’s just not meant to be for the Hall of Famer 15. Render JudgmentWhy he can win: The only victory of his career came at Churchill Downs last October Why he can’t win: Trainer Kenny McPeek didn’t want to run this colt in the Kentucky Derby but was overruled by his owners Why he can win: Perhaps the most versatile colt in the field he’s won at four different tracks and done so with varying styles Why he can’t win: Seemed to take a step back when finishing third in the Arkansas Derby. Horse racing could use a story like 72-year-old trainer Lonnie Briley winning the Kentucky Derby but the sport recently hasn’t been that lucky 17. SandmanWhy he can win: He’s always coming late which could be the perfect scenario in a race that always has plenty of speed With the Metallica angle to his name and his striking gray coat Why he can’t win: His three races at Churchill Downs were the three slowest of his career 2 betting choice in the morning line (5-1) and is a major threat His backers love the way he was charging at the end of the Florida Derby and figure the longer stretch at Churchill Downs will be a benefit Why he can’t win: Trainer Bill Mott hasn’t had much luck in this race his only win coming via disqualification with Country House in 2019 19. Chunk of GoldWhy he can win: Never worse than second in four career starts and could be ready to take another step forward Why he can’t win: This $2,500 purchase has already exceeded expectations Why he can win: Throw out the sixth-place finish in the Blue Grass and he’s never finished worse than second Seems to like it at Churchill Downs with a win and a second in two starts Why he can’t win: Son of Speightstown likely wants no part of the 1 ¼-mile distance 21. BaezaWhy he can win: Lost to Journalism by less than a length in the Santa Anita Derby and figures to improve off that finish Why he can’t win: Late bloomer was foaled on May 13 Probably won’t be at his best until the summer Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. thousands of spectators line the Rose Parade route to enjoy two hours of floral floats The parade’s 5.5-mile journey kicks off at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Blvd where the majority of the parade’s excitement unfolds the parade turns north onto Sierra Madre Blvd with the support of the Tournament of Roses Association and city officials will begin closing the Rose Parade route to vehicles starting at 10:00 p.m Residents and merchants hosting viewing parties or receiving deliveries during this time should notify their guests or vendors to arrive before 10:00 p.m and guests and vendors may need to park in nearby areas with unrestricted parking For more information on safety tips, rules, and regulations, please refer to the guidelines provided by the City of Pasadena If your seats are located along Orange Grove Blvd please be aware that foot traffic in this area will be blocked off due to parade activities To enter the Tournament of Roses® security zone on Parade Day to get settled in before the parade starts You’ll need to show your ticket or valid credential to ushers or any authorized Tournament of Roses representatives or could pose a safety risk are not allowed The City of Pasadena and volunteers assist the Tournament of Roses with coordinating three street-level viewing areas along the parade route reserved for people with disabilities and their guests Each person with a disability is allowed up to four guests At one of the three viewing areas there is a section with audio description for visually impaired visitors and another section with sign language interpreters To request space at one of the three viewing areas, please complete the following form HERE. Tickets for limited wheelchair-accessible seating at grandstand locations are sold through Sharp Seating Company Floatfest is a unique opportunity to get up close to the beauty and splendor of Rose Parade floats after they have made their debut. More information can be found here Paid parking is also offered on a first-come first-served basis at various lots and parking structures near the parade route Overnight parking on Pasadena streets begins at noon the day before the parade All “No Parking” areas and red curb zones remain off-limits and vehicles in violation will be subject to impound and a fine There is no parking allowed on the parade route itself Illegally parked vehicles will be impounded In addition to RV Parking available from Sharp Seating Company overnight RV parking is available in Brookside Park at the RoseBowl Stadium prior to January 1 RV’s must be completely self-contained; there are no hook-ups Space is limited and made available on a first-come For additional information please contact the Rose Bowl Stadium at (626) 577-3100 For limo and bus parking information, please call Blanchard Parking at (626) 397-4220 or Sharp Seating Company at (626) 795-4171 Metro will operate 24-hour service on Metro Rail also on the Silver and Orange Lines on the night of December 31 through the morning of Parade Day Metro will offer enhanced service on the Metro Gold Line to accommodate large numbers of anticipated riders on Parade Day Metro will also provide regular bus service to areas near the Rose Parade Buses will originate from locations throughout the county For real-time info on Metro service, follow @metrolaalerts on Twitter For more info, call 323-GoMetro (323) 466-3876 or visit metro.net Metrolink will provide special early morning train service on the San Bernardino, Antelope Valley, Orange County, Ventura County and 91 Perris Valley Lines specifically for individuals to enjoy the Rose Parade. Check metrolinktrains.com for schedule information or call (800) 371-5465 for more information For additional information on transportation, please visit the City of Pasadena website As part of ongoing efforts to provide a safe environment in which to enjoy its many events the Pasadena Tournament of Roses has partnered with the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Police Department in “See Something Say Something™ ,” a nationwide campaign to raise the public’s awareness of indicators of terrorism and to emphasize the need to report suspicious behavior promptly to the proper law enforcement authorities If you witness a crime in progress or other emergencies including activity that you believe to be suspicious call the Pasadena Police Department at 626.744.4241.You can also report criminal activity to CRIMESTOPPERS at 800.222.8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org (Be sure to reference Pasadena if you use this method.) You can also text this single word– ROSEPARADE–to 888777 to get up-to-date text message alerts from public safety officials as needed follow the Pasadena Police Department on Twitter:@PasadenaPD Download the Official Rose Parade app on IOS & Google Play Store Curbside camping along the parade route is permitted starting at noon on the day before the parade you can move up to the “blue honor line” If your seats are located on Orange Grove Blvd We recommend arriving at your seat by 6:30 a.m on parade day to ensure a smooth experience if you’re located near the start of the parade plan to arrive at least two hours before the parade begins The Kentucky Derby is one of the most iconic sporting events in the world often referred to as the most exciting two minutes in sports that has everyone planning their trips to Churchill Downs It’s the full day and full weekend of traditions and pageantry that have captivated millions across the globe RELATED: When is the Kentucky Derby 2025: How to watch, post time, TV and streaming info, schedule, location, date The Kentucky Derby is known for its colorful and flashy hats and fascinators (an often-elaborate headpiece) Make your own at home using an old hat or headband and whatever materials around the house inspire you USA; Women huddle together for a photo as they wear derby hats during the 145th running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Mandatory Credit: Jim Owens-USA TODAY Sports If you’re pressed for time or have run out of ideas, there are also many options available online or in stores. Check out the 2025 Kentucky Derby Style Guide for inspiration RELATED: 2025 Kentucky Derby updated odds - Post positions, analysis and predictions According to the Kentucky Derby guidelines guests are encouraged to wear elegant attire with “pastel tones Pastel tones include but aren’t limited to baby blue The recipe why not try a cherry-infused variation of the Mint Julep RELATED: Kentucky Derby drinks - How to make a mint julep the champion horse is given the iconic garland of roses in the winner’s circle hence why the race is nicknamed “the Run for the Roses.” Berry Wall presented roses to the women at a party Churchill Downs founder and president Meriwether Lewis Clark announced that roses were the official flower of the Kentucky Derby the tradition of draping a blanket of 554 red roses on the Kentucky Derby winner began KENTUCKY - MAY 07: Jockey Sonny Leon aboard Rich Strike celebrates after Rich Strike won the 148th running at Churchill Downs on May 07 When it comes to Kentucky Derby cuisine, it doesn’t get much better than the Kentucky Hot Brown. The hot brown is a product of the historic Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville Chef Fred Schmidt was looking for a late-night delicacy for partying night owls and found it in this open-faced turkey sandwich topped with bacon and Mornay sauce You also can’t talk about Kentucky food without talking about its world-famous fried chicken Thanks to Colonel Sanders and his roadside restaurant in Corbin globally known export out of the Bluegrass State the Kentucky Derby winner would stand in a circled area on the racetrack drawn in chalk dust It began to be known as the “winner’s circle.” From 1930-1937 organizers moved the trophy presentation from the track to an area adjoining the clubhouse An electric odds board and presentation stands were added in 1938 and every winning Kentucky Derby horse since then has been led to the winner’s circle The winner’s circle is usually only reserved for winners of the Derby but it has hosted a limited amount of weddings and even has ashes of prominent horse racing and breeding industry workers spread on the ground After the Call to Post is the playing of the state song “My Old Kentucky Home.” The tradition dates back to the 1920s and the University of Louisville marching band has been part of the performance almost every year The song was written in the 1850s by Stephen Foster and features depictions of slavery in the pre-Civil War South The song’s exact meanings and intentions have been subject to varying interpretations over the last 170 years there have been renewed calls to re-examine the song’s place – on Derby Day and in American society at large Live coverage begins at 12 PM ET on USA Network and will continue throughout the day on NBC, starting at 2:30 PM. You can also live stream every moment of the action on Peacock. Sign up to watch all of our live sports and events You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here T&D photo correspondent Yon Line provides images from the 2025 Festival of Roses in Orangeburg Email notifications are only sent once a day soap bubbles and the smell of roasting meats filled the air Saturday at the Edisto Memorial Gardens as Orangeburg’s Festival of Roses kicked off its 52nd year Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Janis Whitham began Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC with her husband They started with quarter horses in county fairs then moved to thoroughbreds in the 1970s. Together, the Whithams won the 1989 and 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff with Bayakoa leaving Janis to continue the couple's business reached the Kentucky Derby and finished eighth the Kansas native is back with Burnham Square and will look to become the oldest Derby-winning owner at 93 years old Frances Genter was 92 when Unbridled won the 1990 Derby Whitham's story is just one of the many interesting storylines worth following in the 151st Run for the Roses Here are three more for your reading pleasure: Coal Battle has had a solid racing stretch leading up to the Derby 23 before placing third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby a month later Tomy Lee) as the third-oldest trainer to win a Kentucky Derby Unfortunately, Keith, who named the colt In his last race before the Run for the Roses he finished fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 The Iroquois High School graduate became the first Louisvillian to win the Derby when Mandaloun took first in the 2021 Derby after Medina Spirit's disqualification Owned by former MLB outfielder Jayson Werth the colt placed second in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 22 Beckman's Derby debut didn't go as planned it was seemingly over for him,” Beckman told The Courier Journal in April Now having had the Derby experience, he'll look for a better outcome with Flying Mohawk Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit there are three of them to choose from in this year's Kentucky Derby: Chunk of Gold If the forecast rain actually falls on Churchill Downs this Saturday maybe that's a sign to box them in a trifecta?The National Weather service is currently forecasting an 80 percent chance of rain on Saturday with rainfall amounts expected to range between three-quarters of an inch and an inch There is also a chance of rain for Friday's Kentucky Oaks card though it's slightly lower at 60 percent.Rain or shine the Kentucky Derby's 20-horse field has plenty of intrigue and a handful of blue bloods to boot. Several top older horses are also expected to run this weekend: reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in Friday's G1 La Troienne at Churchill last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Lake Ouachita at Oaklawn and G1 winners Locked and Fierceness in the G2 Alysheba at Churchill - G1 American Turf Stakes at ChurchillIron Man Cal who came within a neck of winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last fall at Del Mar will make his 2025 debut when he headlines a field of 14 plus four also-eligibles for the 34th running of the $1 million American Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.Trained by Phil D’Amato Iron Man Cal took the Zuma Beach (G3) at Santa Anita before his Breeders’ Cup run Named for baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. Iron Man Cal will be ridden by Antonio Fresu from post 10.Also coming out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is Qatar Racing’s New Century (GB) New Century won the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine prior to his Breeders’ Cup run and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr from post 3 in his 2025 debut.American Turf Entries By Chelsea HackbarthChelsea is an avid equestrian with experience ranging from ponying on the racetrack to jumping her own off-track Thoroughbred around the Kentucky Horse Park She is a graduate of the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program She is passionate about equine advocacy and bettering the human-equine relationship. Each jockey's silk is a reflection of the horse owners and has a unique design that cannot be replicated by other owners. No two owners have the same silks, and each design is registered with the Jockey Club, according to the Kentucky Derby Museum A maximum of two colors is allowed on the silk jacket and two on the sleeves Navy blue is the only color not allowed on the silk Here is what each jockey in the 151st Kentucky Derby will wear: Reach sports reporter Prince James Story atpstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory How it is that Pete Rose has found further humiliation may need the asterisk to explain his time in baseball and beyond Donald Trump has promised that he will pardon Rose The long take here is that a pardon would ease Rose’s way into the hallowed hall of remembrance in there with immortals like Arky Vaughan and Chick Hafey Rose accepted an agreement in 1989 that placed him on the “ineligible” list and the Hall of Fame decreed that no one on the list could be considered plus anyone voting for such a person would have his entire ballot voided I never got to vote for Rose because of that rule Rose had petitioned three times to be reconsidered finally admitting in his 2004 autobiography that he did foregoing all caps and making no difference to his reinstatement baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has said he will think about ruling on the request to reinstate Rose meaning he could remove Rose from baseball’s ‘ineligible” list where listees are not allowed to have anything to do with Major League Baseball and reminders of their achievements are discouraged Pardons were merciful forgiveness for injustice rushed to rescue the wronged still digesting a last meal Now pardons are passed out like dinner mints which I suppose would still be OK with Rose if it gets him into the Hall of Fame Any renewal of Rose would still face the gauntlet of selection probably consideration by a couple of committees the one that lately got Dick Allen and Dave Parker into the Hall Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner — selected by baseball writers will fade from memory almost as soon as the ceremony ends Rose’s fame has lasted longer than if he had a plaque on a wall in Cooperstown and as long as he does not have one he is useful And with the current cuddle of gambling and sports easily ignored like actual laws such as singing in a swimsuit or taking a poodle to the opera or burping in church I wonder if it all works out for Rose finally if any gesture of forgiveness will not be tainted by the company Rose will be associated with I do not mean just those already honored in the Hall of Fame Nowhere on his plaque does it say that Ty Cobb once beat a cripple with his own crutches No mention is made of Cobb and Rogers Hornsby conspiring to fix a game No indication is given of Babe Ruth being serially unfaithful or that Mickey Mantle ruined his liver and was jumped to the head of list for a new one There is no explanation as to how Roberto Alomar is “ineligible” but in the hall since 2011 I do not mean the steroid era folks like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who surely will find forgiveness eventually but I’m thinking of a pardoned Rose being lumped in with the group of exonerated misdoers who have been pardoned in the last 100 or so days fraudsters and extortionists lately absolved — Bored and with time on his hands between games against the Louisville Bats Jayson Werth and a few of his Syracuse SkyChiefs teammates wandered over to Churchill Downs on a random day in May A baseballer through and through, with genetic Major League lines tracing from his great-grandfather to his grandfather to his uncle to his stepfather, Werth knew two things about horse racing: They competed for something called the Triple Crown, and the Kentucky Derby was a big deal Werth hit the ninth race of the day when a horse by the name of U.S Jets crossed first for the fifth win of what would eventually be a middling 12-win career Werth left Churchill with $3,500 in winnings a veritable king’s ransom for a minor leaguer Though he always remembered the horse’s name he promptly forgot about the sport for the next two decades as he roared into a 15-year career in the big leagues and won the 2008 World Series with the Phillies will be one of 20 horses to break from the gate for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby The road from casual bettor to a man who on Wednesday afternoon was handing out MHRGA (Make Horse Racing Great Again) hats en route to a crawfish boil at his barn is indeed a pivot “Anybody who knows me wouldn’t be surprised,’’ Werth tells The Athletic by phone while tossing out hats “My mom always says I only know how to go all in I played baseball from the time I was five until I was 39 Werth wasn’t sure what he was looking for when horse racing found him searching for something but not quite sure what it was buying a 300-acre plot of land in Illinois Werth teed up for a round of golf with his friend Averill got started in horse racing the same year that Werth was cashing in on U.S partnering on a gelding named Fun n’ Gun that year He now has 725 starts and more than $4 million in earnings As Werth watched the horses come around the final turn he felt a very familiar surge building inside him “It’s like playing a big game and you’re sitting in the dugout down two in the bottom of the ninth,’’ he explains and you’re cheering and screaming because that’s all you can do he partnered with baseball agent Jeff Berry and Florida real estate developer Shawn Kaleta to form Two Eight Racing he bought some fillies and quite literally went off to the races Blessed with a sweet dose of beginner’s luck Werth made his first Derby appearance last year a moment Werth compares to his World Series victory in terms of its immediate euphoria That victory not only gave Werth a new jolt of competitive fire it provided him with a dose of something he says he never felt before: nerves “I’ve played with a guy who would throw up before every game ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ And now here I am but I have all these crazy emotions with this sport.’’ he doubled down on both his investment in horses — he is the front and center owner for Flying Mohawk — and his commitment to the sport “Horse racing does a terrible job marketing itself,’’ he says noting more than a few friends and former teammates who are skeptical about his new passion They don’t see that there is more good than bad and most of these horses are not only treated well Watch them and you know they want to go.’’ bringing buddies to the track or to the barn to let them see for themselves the majesty of its athletes and the draw of a race day Filled with the blush of first love for his new passion Werth also feels compelled to spread the joy turning himself into a self-appointed horse racing pied piper Have a hat!” He loves almost everything about horse racing — “I was like the bubble boy so I’m fairly certain I’m allergic to everything in the barn,’’ he says — and wants people to feel what he feels He’s also savvy enough to understand his own personal draw With his long hair hanging out from his fedora and his MLB fame brings a different kind of attention to his horse and horse racing by extension He knows that bringing more people with some celebrity cache will only raise the industry’s profile Werth did not expect Flying Mohawk to be a Derby contender The horse’s first five races were all on turf But trainer Whit Beckman had a plan for the $72,000 He moved Flying Mohawk to the synthetic surface at Turfway Park for the Jeff Ruby Steaks When Flying Mohawk finished second there in March he earned enough points to make it into the Derby field setting off a celebration so boisterous that people with the actual winner wondered what Werth and his team were doing down by the winners’ circle Werth knows that with no real experience yet on dirt Flying Mohawk will be a long shot (he opened with 30-1 odds) “Owning a horse that runs in the Kentucky Derby is literally the highest level of sports,’’ he says “It’s like getting your name called on Opening Day to run out on the field for a storied franchise like the Phillies or the Yankees or somebody like that.” He pauses for comedic effect Then he’s asked to do the impossible: Where might a Derby victory line up on his personal list of accomplishments with the bonkers Philadelphia parade as 1A Then he ruminates for a few minutes on his own athletic foundation — the great-grandfather whose pro career was cut short by injury; the grandfather who spent 18 years in the Majors and won a World Series with the Pirates in 1960; the uncle who spent 14 years in the bigs and also won a World Series a former first baseman for the Yankees and the Royals; and his mom a track star who competed in the 1976 Olympic Trials “To win a Kentucky Derby at this point would take over them all We’re here for a reason and we’re going for it.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker (Editor's note: This story has been updated with news that Grande was scratched from the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Friday.) Coined "the fastest two minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby is one of the great American treasures on the sports calendar each season Much of the reason for that has to do with the unpredictability of the Run for the Roses, as 19 different 3-year-old horses go head-to-head against each other each first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs The Kentucky Derby, in fact has not seen a morning-line favorite go on to win the first leg of the Triple Crown season since 2018 with Justify — something Journalism looks to break this year Mystik Dan had 20-1 odds going into the day of the sesquicentennial run of the derby last year before winning it which was tied for sixth best among all horses Saturday's Kentucky Derby is the first time that Baffert will be back at Churchill Downs after serving a three-year suspension following a failed drug test by 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby has an estimated post time of 7:02 p.m Here are the latest odds for the Kentucky Derby and who within the USA TODAY Network have picked as their long shot selection to win the Run for the Roses: REQUIRED READING: What are the horses' numbers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby? USA TODAY: Luxor Cafe (13-1)"I’m going to take a bit of a different path here and pick Luxor Cafe I think he is a super talent with a devastating turn of foot that many Derby winners have the quality of horses he was running against in Japan is a huge question So is the transition to America all the external factors that come with shipping a horse halfway across the world But Forever Young’s performance last year showed that the quality of top Japanese horses is good enough now to win a Derby at some point I also expect Sovereignty to run a huge race 19 Chunk of Gold changed tactics in the Louisiana Derby when jockey Jareth Loveberry sat a little closer to the pace They won the battle — finishing ahead of all the front-runners — but lost the war to Tiztastic who closed on the outside to get the top prize Chunk of Gold sold a dimension that day that could serve a purpose here." KENTUCKY DERBY WINNERS: History of winning horses at Churchill Downs since 1875 Here's who experts at the Louisville Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network picked as their long-shot picks in the derby: NBC will nationally broadcast the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3, from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The post time is set for 7:02 p.m. ET. Streaming options include Peacock, NBC's subscription streaming service, and Fubo which carries NBC and offers a free trial to new subscribers The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more Much has been written and poetically waxed about the tricky existential conundrums of the Millennial generation But no one seems to nail it quite like Esther Rose who has been quietly building a catalogue of powerful achingly beautiful songwriting for the past few years she sings in golden hues about following whims and getting involved with the wrong partners feeling empowered by being untethered and teenaged nostalgia is a continued exploration of living in that indecisive discomfort But despite all the directions that pull her Rose’s confidence as a writer and performer has been steadily growing and it is some kind of miracle to see her stepping so fully into the light where she belongs In the cranked-up haze of lead single “New Bad,” Rose confronts all the endless caverns of her desire and the many places it’s led her “From the lakes of Michigan / To my friend Louisianne / And to old New Mexico / It’s my heart that I follow,” she sings with the reframing that what seemed like following lovers — something women are shamed for — might have actually just been Rose following herself tuned into her own instincts and curiosities is one of a few especially tender moments on Want along with the Elliott Smith-like “Messenger” and “tailspin,” that finds Rose contending with acceptance — of her vulnerability and ability to keep shape shifting as she’s called to with threads of garage rock and pop that always let Rose’s gift for melody and articulation of all the thorniest parts of herself shine The title track and its reprise bookend the album with a gorgeous brain dump of needs that shouldn’t be contradictions but somehow have become so in a society that insists on an unattainable mode of perfection Rose gives as much weight to the surface things as she does to the deeper ones the simple pleasures of life like holding hands and birdwatching and the really knotty struggles of intimacy What she ultimately finds on the final cut is her “capacity to hold it all and breathe.” By Maeri Ferguson on April 19 By Maeri Ferguson on March 24 FRESH TRACK: Steve Bardwil Band – “Send ‘Em Love”Check it outSPONSORED BY Steve Bardwil Band From pretty much the very beginning, Guns N' Roses were an instantly recognizable band in terms of their outer image "I try to express myself through my clothes," Axl Rose told Rolling Stone in 1989 I'm not afraid of what people think about different ways I look And Rose was not the only one showing his identity through his clothing "Steven [Adler] enjoys the hell out of the clothes he wears," Rose said, "whereas Slash and I wouldn't be caught dead in them; then again there's things Slash and I wear that Steven wouldn't be caught dead in either It's just different personalities." Several of those personalities will be on full display in 2025 when Guns N' Roses launches their Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things world tour on May 1 in Incheon If you've got tickets and you're pondering your own outfit choices we have some suggestions for you below with links included And in case you were wondering, no, Slash never meant for his hat to become as iconic as it has. He stole it from a Los Angeles store way back in the day before GNR became superstars. "It just spoke to me," he explained to Conan O'Brien in 2022 "[It] just became a thing where I just really identified with it There was a way you pull it over your eyes; you could hide behind it if you were really high I had no intention of it being this long-term show thing." Slash sure does enjoy a sleeveless number from time to time, especially the denim cutoff kind. (To be fair, some of his bandmates have also sported them.) You could get a plain one, or you could go the extra mile and grab an official Guns N' Roses sleeveless denim vest from their website complete with "bullet seal on the back and GN'F'NR across the top back and front panels." Rose and Slash are by no means the only rockstars to don aviator sunglasses but you sort of can't complete an outfit inspired by either one of them without throwing on a pair switch things up with the hardware and/or lens color Again, Slash picked up the habit of wearing this accessory because it worked as a sort of shield from people. "Now wherever you go, because everybody's got camera phones, people take your picture, and you just end up never taking the shades off," he told The New Zealand Herald in 2015 It makes me very uncomfortable to look directly into the face of the crowd." This one won't work for everyone, but if you're someone with long enough locks, you could really get the Slash look by curling your hair with a small-barreled curling iron like this one. (Of course, you could also wear a wig.) Weirdly, Slash's hair on the cover of GNR's debut album Appetite for Destruction is....straight But we all know the real signature look is those voluminous curls Bandanas, flannels, top hats and more.\nRead More From pretty much the very beginning, Guns N' Roses were an instantly recognizable band in terms of their outer image "I try to express myself through my clothes," Axl Rose told Rolling Stone in 1989 "Steven [Adler] enjoys the hell out of the clothes he wears," Rose said, "whereas Slash and I wouldn't be caught dead in them; then again Several of those personalities will be on full display in 2025 when Guns N' Roses launches their Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things world tour on May 1 in Incheon And in case you were wondering, no, Slash never meant for his hat to become as iconic as it has. He stole it from a Los Angeles store way back in the day before GNR became superstars. "It just spoke to me," he explained to Conan O'Brien in 2022 Slash sure does enjoy a sleeveless number from time to time, especially the denim cutoff kind. (To be fair, some of his bandmates have also sported them.) You could get a plain one, or you could go the extra mile and grab an official Guns N' Roses sleeveless denim vest from their website Again, Slash picked up the habit of wearing this accessory because it worked as a sort of shield from people. "Now wherever you go, because everybody's got camera phones, people take your picture, and you just end up never taking the shades off," he told The New Zealand Herald in 2015 This one won't work for everyone, but if you're someone with long enough locks, you could really get the Slash look by curling your hair with a small-barreled curling iron like this one. (Of course, you could also wear a wig.) Weirdly, Slash's hair on the cover of GNR's debut album Appetite for Destruction is....straight