Belmont Stakes 2025: Everything you need to know about the famous US race
Grab your fancy hats and prep your mintless drinks – the Belmont Stakes is back, galloping into Saratoga Springs for another year of high-stakes horse drama, thundering hooves, and surprisingly complex cocktails.
Here, Sports News Blitz provides you with a cheat sheet for America’s final Triple Crown race of the season – no binoculars required.
Horse racing news: Irish Guineas win puts Field of Gold ahead of Ruling Court on Timeform ratings
Field of Gold has shot to the head of Timeform's three-year-old pecking order after earning a rating of 124p (from 122p) for his emphatic victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday 24 May.
He scored by three and three-quarter lengths, making him the widest-margin winner of the Irish Guineas since his own sire Kingman scored by five lengths in 2014.
Pride of Arras emerges as leading Derby contender after Dante Stakes triumph
Pride Of Arras’s victory in the Dante Stakes on Thursday has been rated by Timeform as the pick of the performances in the middle-distance classic trials this spring and places him behind only 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court on ratings for the Derby.
Horse racing news: Galopin Des Champs named Horse of the Season at Timeform Jumps Awards
Galopin Des Champs, a three-time Grade 1 winner in the 24/25 campaign, has been named Horse of the Season at the Timeform Jumps Awards for the second year running.
Elsewhere, British stars The New Lion and Sir Gino beat the Mullins battalion to win the Top Novice Hurdler and Top Novice Chaser awards, respectively.
William Hill punter stuns bookies with incredible return from £16 in bets
William Hill have been stunned by a racing punter who has pulled off a remarkable haul after their series of multiples all landed, seeing them walk away with £74,215.87.
Timeform ratings reveal scale of Dan Skelton’s challenge in title battle with Willie Mullins
Timeform ratings help highlight the incredible strength in depth at Willie Mullins' disposal and just how difficult a task Dan Skelton has faced in trying to wrest the title from the champion.
Star Sports partners with George Boughey as trainer expands at Newmarket base
Star Sports is the new sponsor of Classic-winning trainer George Boughey’s yard in Newmarket.
Punchestown Festival 2025: Jumps, jockeys and a whole lot of euros – what you need to know
The Punchestown Festival 2025 is galloping our way, and it promises five days of top-class racing, big names, and probably more tweed than a countryside wedding.
This is the grand finale of the Irish National Hunt season, where Britain and Ireland lock horns (again) just weeks after the Cheltenham dust has settled.
Here, Sports News Blitz takes a look at the Irish spectacle…
Kentucky Derby 2025: Dates, drama, dapper hats and the people to watch
It’s almost that magical time of year again, when mint juleps flow, outrageous hats defy gravity, and elite horses sprint for glory in under two minutes.
Yep, the 2025 Kentucky Derby is galloping our way, ready to kick off the greatest three-part horse party in America: the Triple Crown.
Craven winner Field Of Gold leaps to top of three-year-old ratings
Field Of Gold's impressive victory in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday has propelled him to the head of Timeform's three-year-old ratings and marks him out as the one to beat in the 2000 Guineas.
Horse tattoo serves as lucky charm for Old Gold Racing owner
A horse racing fan from Northamptonshire was so keen on the horse he’d just purchased a share in, Akimos, that he had the equine athlete tattooed on his leg before Wednesday’s race at Ffos Las.
Two punters pull off Grand National betting masterclass
Official Betting Partner of the Randox Grand National Festival, William Hill, are reeling after two shrewd punters won big thanks to Saturday’s main event.
£250m to be staked at Grand National festival as I Am Maximus tops betting
The year’s most popular horse race, the Grand National, is expected to attract £150m in betting turnover in the UK and Ireland this year, with official Grand National betting partner William Hill anticipating the betting industry to see around £250m staked across the three days at Aintree.
Grand National tips: Bookmaker thinks 2025 could be a grey day at Aintree
Data from William Hill has revealed that backing grey horses has been no way of winning money on the Grand National.
Since the turn of the millennium, 62 greys have gone to post across the 24 renewals.
But of those runners, a mere seven have placed in the first five, and there has been just one winner since 2012.
Despite this, William Hill think it could be a good year for the greys, offering just 3/1 that any of the eight greys set to run will win the 2025 Grand National.
Grand National news: Gavin Sheehan’s horse Hewick has the quality, bravery and class to win
Irish jockey Gavin Sheehan, set to ride Hewick in Saturday’s Grand National, has told BetVictor that he believes the Shark Hanlon–trained 10-year-old has enough quality, bravery, and class to be competitive in the race.
The renowned jockey further explained how the Aintree event is the pinnacle for any rider.
Grand National news: Course changes are bad for the race but good for Hewick, says Gavin Sheehan
Irish jockey Gavin Sheehan, set to ride Hewick in Saturday’s Grand National, has told BetVictor that he believes recent changes to the fences and field size will have a negative impact on the race but could work in favour of his mount this year.
In a wide-ranging interview, the jockey also offered his thoughts on the Canal Turn being the toughest fence on the famous course.
Iroko best-handicapped National contender in likely absence of Mr Vango
Timeform’s best-handicapped horse heading into Saturday’s Grand National is the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained Iroko with a rating of 183p, ahead of the Gavin Cromwell-trained duo, Stumptown (182) and Perceval Legallois (181).
Bookies fear Irish domination at the Grand National
Official Betting Partners of the Randox Grand National Festival, William Hill, can report that three Irish-trained runners are their worst results in this year’s Randox Grand National.
Ryan Moore eyes Hong Kong Derby glory with Mickley in high-stakes return
Ryan Moore is preparing to return to Hong Kong to ride the John Size-trained Mickley in the HK$26 million (£2.6m) BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday 23 March, one of seven rides he has picked up on the card.
Sir AP McCoy defends Jonbon and reflects on a dramatic Cheltenham Festival
Sir AP McCoy has told William Hill that he believes Jonbon’s stellar reputation has been unfairly tarnished after he was unable to break his Cheltenham Festival duck last week.
Speaking to fellow William Hill ambassador Nick Luck and reflecting on the week at Prestbury Park, McCoy said that he believes Jonbon’s standing has been unjustly derided after defeat yet again at the Festival.