Beth Harris, Author at Daily Hampshire Gazette

Javier Castellano celebrates in the winner’s circle after riding Mage to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Mage wins star-crossed Kentucky Derby amid 7th death

by Beth Harris Associated PressMay 7, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After seven deaths raised questions about the future of horse racing, Mage earned a surprising Kentucky Derby victory on Saturday, capping a nerve-rattling day that included two more fatalities ahead of the 149th edition of the…

Kentucky Derby entrant Derma Sotogake, from Japan, works out at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 6. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

19 horses to tangle in wide-open 149th Kentucky Derby

by Beth Harris Associated PressMay 5, 2023

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, photo, broadcaster Vin Scully poses for a photo prior a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles. The Hall of Fame broadcaster, whose dulcet tones provided the soundtrack of summer while entertaining and informing Dodgers fans in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, died Tuesday night, Aug. 2, 2022. He was 94. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles mourning death of Dodgers’ announcer Vin Scully

by Beth Harris Associated PressAugust 3, 2022

Kentucky Derby entrant Epicenter works out at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Horse racing’s new governing body in rush to starting gate

by Beth Harris Associated PressMay 5, 2022

Tim Yakteen smiles in his horse barn at Santa Anita Park on Monday, April 25, 2022, in Arcadia, Calif. He will saddle two horses - Messier and Taiba, both formerly trained by Bob Baffert - for the Kentucky Derby. Baffert is serving a 90-day suspension from horse racing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Tim Yakteen brings 2 top horses to 1st Kentucky Derby in charge

by Beth Harris Associated PressMay 4, 2022

FILE - John Velazquez atop Medina Spirit competes during the 146th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Baltimore. Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert had just completed five furlongs in his second workout since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic a month ago at Del Mar, according to Craig Robertson, Baffert’s attorney. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapses, dies in California

by Beth Harris Associated PressDecember 6, 2021

A member of the Breeders’ Cup veterinarian team looks on during training before the Breeders’ Cup World Championship horse races Wednesday in Del Mar, Calif. For the first time, all 14 Breeders’ Cup races this weekend at Del Mar will be run without race-day medication.

No race-day meds, strict whip rules at Breeders’ Cup

by Beth Harris Associated PressNovember 4, 2021

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 1973, file photo, Southern California fullback Sam Cunningham, left, and running back Anthony Davis embraces in locker room after USC.s 42-17 triumph in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Pasadena, Calif. Cunningham, an All-American fullback at Southern California whose performance against Alabama was credited for helping integrate football in the Deep South before he went on to a record-setting career with the New England Patriots, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, at his home in Inglewood, Calif., according to USC. He was 71. (AP Photo/File)

Sam Cunningham, who starred at USC and in Patriots, dies at 71

by Beth Harris Associated PressSeptember 7, 2021

Caeleb Dressel reacts after winning the men's 100 butterfly during wave 2 of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Swimming: Michael Phelps is gone, but plenty of star power at Olympic pool

by Paul Newberry Associated Press, and Beth Harris Associated PressJune 29, 2021

Fans watch race six before 147th running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Friday, April 30, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

With fans and flowery hats, Kentucky Derby is back at old home in May

by Beth Harris Associated PressApril 30, 2021