Wright Thompson: Graves of past champions explain today’s Kentucky Derby contenders

A thoroughbred trainer suspended one year for violating horse medication rules received a temporary stay of his suspension Wednesday while Kentucky racing officials consider his appeal. Patrick Biancone received the suspension last week from Kentucky racing stewards after a search of a refrigerator at his Keeneland barn found snake venom, which can be used to numb a horse’s nerves.

A prize-winning racehorse dubbed the “Blonde Bombshell” and a thoroughbred colt were stolen from their stables in Italy on Tuesday, in a blow for an industry reeling from years of crisis. The abduction of the chestnut mare, called Unicka, and the colt, named Vampire Dany, was discovered by the horses’ trainer at the Wave stables near Pisa, northern Italy, when he went to feed them on Tuesday morning, the stables said in a statement. “This make us think the heist was carefully planned by experts in the equine world.” Italian media have speculated that the thieves plan to demand a ransom, as the animals are registered, making it harder to sell them on the black market.

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