Just Grazed Me wins the California Distaff Handicap

Two of France’s top thoroughbred horse races, the Prix du Jockey-Club and the Prix Diane, will be raced on the same card for the first time ever at the Chantilly racetrack on July 5, likely behind closed doors. Horseracing is a major economic activity in France with 10,000 licensed professionals, over 9,000 thoroughbred racehorses and 142 racetracks. Warm-up races to the Diane and the Jockey Club should be raced at Longchamp in Paris June 1, where France’s top race the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe is raced in October.

The undefeated grey colt, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin, will have jockey Luis Saez aboard in the 20-horse race that is the first jewel of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. “I think it’ll be a good spot,” said Essential Quality trainer Brad Cox. Essential Quality, perfect in five career starts, will attempt to become the first reigning juvenile champion since Nyquist in 2016 to win the Kentucky Derby.

Flores, one of the best jockeys in Pennsylvania history, died of injuries suffered when he was thrown by a horse at the suburban Philadelphia track.