Kentucky

Kentucky Derby 2024: Formulas for weekend’s 4 points preps

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

Kentucky Derby 2024: Formulas for weekend’s 4 points preps

The Fountain of Youth, the San Felipe and the John Battaglia
Memorial traditionally are held around this time of the winter. We may not have
known it at the time, but the eventual Kentucky Derby winner three of the last
four years came through one of these points preps.

Authentic won the Grade 2 San Felipe in 2020 at Santa Anita on his way
through the outbreak of a human pandemic and a six-month wait before he took
the Derby at an empty Churchill Downs.

Click here for entries and results at all tracks.

Rich Strike earned one qualifying point in the 2022 John
Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. If not for that bob of the head against Erase, he would not
have finished fourth, would not have gotten that all-important point, would not
have been an also-eligible entrant in Louisville and would not have drawn in the
day before he was the 80-1 winner of the Derby.

It was not such a razor’s edge for Mage, but he also
finished fourth in his late-winter prep last year at Gulfstream Park. From that result in the
Fountain of Youth (G2) through a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby (G1), he
would pull off the 15-1 upset last year in Louisville.

The Gotham (G3) is the lone outlier this weekend. Secretariat
won at Aqueduct on his way through the 1973 Triple Crown to the Hall of Fame.
He is still the only graduate of the Aqueduct race to win the Derby.

Recent histories for these four races reveal not only how
important they are on the road to the Derby but also the styles that do well in
each race.

Fountain of Youth

Fourteen horses who finished first in the Fountain of Youth went
on to win the roses in Louisville. That is a record for a Derby prep currently
run in the winter.

The table here shows Derby starters who came out of the
Fountain of Youth since 2000. The higher the number in the Quirin Speed Points, the more
likely the horse was to lead in the first turn. E means early speed through the
first half of the race, E/P an early presser indicate of a stalking style, P for
pressers running in mid-pack and S for a sustained run typical of closers.

Year	Horse	Quirin	FoY	Derby
2023	Mage	E 6	4th	1st
	Rocket Can	P 6	2nd	9th
	Cyclone Mischief	E/P 6	3rd	18th
2022	Simplification	E/P 4	1st	4th
2021
2020
2019	Code of Honor	S 2	1st	*2nd
	Vekoma	E/P 5	3rd	*12th
2018	Good Magic	P 4	3rd	2nd
	Promises Fulfilled	E 8	1st	15th
2017	Practical Joke	P 3	2nd	5th
	Gunnevera	S 1	1st	7th
	Irish War Cry	E/P 8	7th	10th
2016	Mohaymen	E/P 6	1st	4th
2015	Frosted	E/P 4	4th	4th
	Itsaknockout	P 4	*1st	9th
	Frammento	S 0	3rd	11th
	Upstart	E/P 7	**2nd	18th
2014	Medal Count	P 3	5th	8th
	We Miss Artie	P 3	8th	10th
	General a Rod	E/P 8	2nd	11th
	Wildcat Red	E 8	1st	18th
2013	Orb	P 2	1st	1st
2012	Union Rags	P 2	1st	7th
2011	Shackleford	E 6	5th	4th
	Soldat	E/P 5	1st	11th
2010	Ice Box	P 3	5th	2nd
	Jackson Bend	E/P 5	2nd	12th
2009
2008	Anak Nakal	P 1	8th	7th
	Court Vision	S 3	3rd	13th
	Z Humor	E/P 5	4th	14th
	Cool Coal Man	E/P 5	1st	15th
	Adriano	P 3	9th	19th
	Monba	E/P 3	12th	20th
2007	Nobiz Like Shobiz	E 7	3rd	10th
	Scat Daddy	E/P 5	1st	18th
	Stormello	E/P 8	2nd	19th
2006	Jazil	S 2	7th	4th
	Flashy Bull	E/P 5	*2nd	14th
2005	High Fly	E/P 6	1st	10th
	Bandini	E/P 6	2nd	19th
2004	Read the Footnotes	E/P 6	1st	7th
2003	Ten Cents a Shine	S 2	6th	8th
	Offlee Wild	E/P 4	4th	12th
	Supah Blitz	P 1	2nd	13th
2002	Harlan’s Holiday	P 3	2nd	7th
	Blue Burner	S 0	3rd	11th
2001	Songandaprayer	E 8	1st	13th
	Talk Is Money	E/P 5	10th	DNF
2000	Deputy Warlock	S 0	7th	10th
	High Yield	E 8	1st	15th
	Hal’s Hope	E 7	2nd	16th
	*Promoted 1 place
	**DQ’d from 1st

Mage ended a long drought for the race currently run at 1
1/16 miles around two turns at Gulfstream Park. Orb in 2013 was the only horse
between 1996 and 2022 was the only Derby winner to come out of the prep.

Closers like Grade 1 winner Locked, the 5-2 second choice on
Saturday’s morning line, have done well lately in the Fountain of Youth. It
might be a stretch to call 2023 victor Forte a closer, but he was the third
consecutive winner to rally from at least fifth place. He also was the third
straight favorite to finish first.

These were the Fountain of Youth winners since 2000 with
their running lines gleaned from Equibase charts:

Year	Winner	1/4	1/2	3/4	Str	Fin	Odds
2023	Forte	5 – 2	5 – 2 1/2	4 – 2	3 – 1/2	1	f 1-2
2022	Simplification	6 – 3 3/4	7 – 2 1/4	6 – 1	1	1	f 5-2
2021	Greatest Honour	9 – 7 3/4	8 – 6	8 – 8 1/2	4 – 5	1	f 1-1
2020	Été Indien	1	1	1	1	1	3-1
2019	Code of Honor	5 – 7 1/2	5 – 8 1/2	3 – 4	2 – 1/2	1	9-1
2018	Promises Fulfilled	1	1	1	1	1	18-1
2017	Gunnevera	10 – 13	7 – 9	5 – 4	1	1	4-1
2016	Mohaymen	5 – 3 1/2	3 – 1 1/2	2 – 1/2	1	1	f 2-5
2015	x-Itsaknockout	3 – 1	4 – 2	4 – 5	4 – 1 1/2	2 – 2 3/4	5-1
2014	Wildcat Red	1	2 – hd	1	1	1	9-2
2013	Orb	7 – 8	6 – 8	5 – 5 1/2	2 – 1 1/2	1	5-1
2012	Union Rags	3 – 1	4 – 2	4 – 2 1/2	1	1	6-5
2011**	Soldat	1	1	1	1	1	f 7-5
2010**	Eskendereya	2 – 2	2 – 1	1	1	1	7-2
2009*	Quality Road	2 – 1 1/2	2 – 1	2 – 1/2	1	1	5-1
2008**	Cool Coal Man	4 – 2 1/2	4 – 4	4 – 2	1	1	7-1
2007**	Scat Daddy	7 – 5	6 – 4 1/2	5 – 3	5 – 4	1	5-1
2006**	x-First Samurai	1	1	1	2 – 1/2	2 – 1	7-1
2005**	High Fly	2 – 2	2 – 1 1/2	2 – 1	1	1	f 1-1
2004	Read the Footnotes	3 – 2 1/2	3 – 1	2 – 1	2 – 1/2	1	2-1
2003	Trust n Luck	1	1	1	1	1	9-2
2002	Booklet	1	1	1	1	1	5-1
2001	Songandaprayer	1	1	1	1	1	18-1
2000	High Yield	1	1	1	1	1	f 2-1
	*1 mile
	**1 1/8 miles
	Others 1 1/16 mi.
	x – promoted to 1st
	f – favorite

The 2-1 morning-line favorite Saturday, Dornoch has a front-running
style that would be the exception to the recent rule. Since the Derby
established qualifying points in 2013, only two horses led at every call prepping
in the Fountain of Youth. Promises Fulfilled went on to finish 15th in Kentucky
in 2018, and Été Indien did not start in the September 2020 running of the Derby.

San Felipe

Last year marked the first time since 2007 the San Felipe
did not produce a Kentucky Derby starter. Fevers were said to have stymied top-three
finishers Practical Move, Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner in the weeks following
last year’s race.

Thirteen eventual winners at Churchill Downs used this race
as a prep. All four since 2000 were pacesetters or stalkers.

Year	Horse	Quirin	SFS	Derby
2023
2022	Happy Jack	S 2	3rd	14th
2021	Medina Spirit	E 7	2nd	*19th
2020	Authentic	E 8	1st	1st
	Honor A. P.	E/P 5	2nd	4th
	Storm the Court	E 6	3rd	6th
2019	– no San Felipe –
2018	Bolt d’Oro	E/P 4	1st	12th
2017	Gormley	E/P 5	4th	9th
2016	Exaggerator	P 3	3rd	2nd
	Mor Spirit	P 3	2nd	10th
	Danzing Candy	E 8	1st	15th
2015	Dortmund	E 8	1st	3rd
	Bolo	E/P 6	3rd	12th
	Ocho Ocho Ocho	E/P 3	8th	14th
2014	California Chrome	E/P 7	1st	1st
2013	Goldencents	E/P 8	4th	17th
2012	Bodemeister	E 8	2nd	2nd
	Creative Cause	P 4	1st	5th
	Liaison	P 2	4th	6th
	Rousing Sermon	S 0	5th	8th
2011	Comma to the Top	E 7	4th	19th
2010	American Lion	E/P 8	4th	11th
	Sidney’s Candy	E 8	1st	17th
2009	Pioneerof the Nile	E/P 5	1st	2nd
2008	Bob Black Jack	E 8	3rd	16th
	Gayego	E/P 7	2nd	17th
2007
2006	Point Determined	P 5	2nd	9th
	Bob and John	E/P 5	3rd	17th
	A. P. Warrior	E/P 3	1st	18th
2005	Giacomo	E/P 5	2nd	1st
	Don’t Get Mad	S 0	3rd	4th
	Wilko	P 3	4th	6th
2004	Action This Day	S 1	7th	6th
2003	Atswhatimtalknbout	S 0	2nd	4th
	Buddy Gil	P 3	1st	6th
	Ten Cents a Shine	S 2	8th	8th
	Domestic Dispute	P 3	5th	10th
	Brancusi	E/P 7	3rd	16th
2002	Medaglia d’Oro	E/P 8	1st	4th
2001	Point Given	E/P 5	1st	5th
	Jamaican Rum	S 3	3rd	6th
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	E/P 7	1st	1st
	Anees	S 0	3rd	13th
	The Deputy	E/P 5	2nd	14th
	Commendable	E/P 4	4th	17th
	*DQ’d from 1st

In the Derby points era, early speed has dominated the 1
1/16-mile San Felipe. Seven of the 10 winners led from gate to wire. Six were post-time
favorites.

Year	Winner	1/4	1/2	3/4	Str	Fin	Odds
2023	Practical Move	4 – 2 1/2	3 – 1 1/2	4 – 1 1/2	1	1	4-1
2022	Forbidden Kingdom	1	1	1	1	1	f 1-1
2021	Life Is Good	1	1	1	1	1	f 1-2
2020	Authentic	1	1	1	1	1	f 6-5
2019	– no race –
2018	x-Bolt d’Oro	4 – 3	4 – 1 1/4	3 – 1	1	2-hd	6-5
2017	Mastery	1	1	1	1	1	f 4-5
2016	Danzing Candy	1	1	1	1	1	5-1
2015	Dortmund	1	1	1	1	1	f 4-5
2014	California Chrome	1	1	1	1	1	f 7-5
2013	Hear the Ghost	4 – 2 1/2	5 – 4 1/2	4 – 6	4 – 6 1/2	1	5-1
2012	Creative Cause	5 – 4	5 – 2 1/2	4 – 1 1/2	2 – 1/2	1	2-1
2011	Premier Pegasus	6 – 5 1/4	7 – 7 3/4	5 – 4 1/2	1	1	7-1
2010*	Sidney’s Candy	1	1	1	1	1	7-2
2009*	Pioneerof the Nile	5 – 4 1/2	2 – 1	2 – 1/2	1	1	f 1-5
2008*	Georgie Boy	3 – 1 1/2	3 – 1 1/2	3 – 1	3 – 2	1	f 7-5
2007	Cobalt Blue	1	1	1	1	1	2-1
2006	A. P. Warrior	5 – 2 1/2	6 – 2 1/2	4 – 3/4	1	1	7-1
2005	Consolidator	2 – hd	2 – hd	2 – hd	1	1	7-1
2004	Preachinatthebar	3 – 2	2 – 1 1/2	1	1	1	8-1
2003	Buddy Gil	5 – 1 1/4	6 – 2	5 – 3	4 – 1	1	9-1
2002	Medaglia d’Oro	1	1	3 – 1/2	2 – hd	1	8-1
2001	Point Given	5 – 5	5 – 4	1	1	1	f 2-5
2000	Fusaichi Pegasus	2 – 1	2 – 2	2 – 2	1	1	f 6-5
	*synthetic
	f – favorite
	x – promoted to win

Practical Move last year was an exception to the
frontrunning rule, although he never was more than 2 1/2 lengths behind at any
call. Hear the Ghost in 2013 was the last San Felipe winner who made up more
than three lengths.

Nysos, who is 3-for-3 for eight-time San Felipe-winning
trainer Bob Baffert, is certain to be the favorite this weekend. He made his
debut with a gate-to-wire win but then stalked the early lead in winning the
Bob Hope (G3) and the Robert B. Lewis (G3).

John Battaglia Memorial

There is a lot of white space in this chart showing the
horses who came out of this race and ran in America’s biggest race.

Year	Horse	Quirin	JBM	Derby
2023
2022	Rich Strike	S 0	4th	1st
	Tiz the Bomb	P 2	1st	9th
2021	Like the King	E/P 4	2nd	12th
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014	Harry’s Holiday	E 6	3rd	16th
2013	Giant Finish	E 8	2nd	10th
2012
2011	Twinspired	P 2	4th	17th
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002	Perfect Drift	P 3	2nd	3rd
	Request for Parole	E/P 7	1st	5th
2001
2000

The absence of Battaglia Memorial horses advancing to the
Derby can be explained mostly by its not being a qualifying prep until Churchill
Downs Inc. bought Turfway Park and gave it the points cachet in 2021.

Another factor is that the Florence, Ky., racecourse has had
a synthetic surface since 2006, putting more guesswork into how horses coming
out of the race will do on the dirt in Louisville.

Closers have thrived in the Battaglia. The last three
winners and five of the last eight gave up at least seven lengths of ground
before their triumphant rallies.

Year	Winner	1/4	1/2	3/4	Str	Fin	Odds
2023	Congruent	12 – 7 3/4	12 – 9	10 – 4 1/2	3 – hd	1	16-1
2022	Tiz the Bomb	7 – 7	7 – 4 1/2	4 – 2 1/2	1	1	f 8-5
2021	Hush of a Storm	8 – 7	8 – 6	6 – 2 3/4	3 – hd	1	6-1
2020	Invader	3 – 1 1/2	3 – 1	2 – 1	1	1	5-1
2019	Somelikeithotbrown	3 – 1	3 – 1 1/2	3 – 2	2 – hd	1	f 1-1
2018	Magicalmeister	4 – 3	4 – 3	3 – 2	1	1	39-1
2017	It’s Your Nickel (g)	9 – 9 1/2	8 – 5 1/4	7 – 4 1/4	1	1	f 2-1
2016	Surgical Strike	10 – 7	11 – 6 3/4	7 – 2 1/4	1	1	3-1
2015	Royal Son (g)	1	1	1	1	1	9-1
2014	Solitary Ranger	1	1	1	1	1	9-1
2013	General Election (g)	7 – 10 1/2	6 – 8	6 – 5 1/2	1	1	13-1
2012	State of Play	2 – 1/2	2 – 1 1/2	1	1	1	2-1
2011	Positive Response (g)	1	1	1	1	1	f 2-1
2010	Vow to Wager-x	6 – 1 3/4	6 – 5 1/2	7 – 3 1/4	2 – 1	2 – 1	23-1
2009	Proceed Bee	3 – 1 1/2	5 – 2 1/4	4 – 3/4	1	1	4-1
2008	Absolutely Cindy (f)	11 – 15 1/2	11 – 21	10 – 10 1/4	3 – 2 1/2	1	19-1
2007	Catman Running	4 – 2	3 – 1/2	2 – hd	1	1	9-2
2006	Laity	1 – 1/2	4 – 3/4	2 – hd	2 – hd	1	6-1
2005	Magna Graduate	2 – 1/2	2- 1 1/2	2 – hd	1	1	3-1
2004	Silver Minister	2 – 1	2 – hd	1	1	1	f 2-1
2003	Champali	4 – 1 3/4	3 – hd	1	1	1	2-1
2002	Request For Parole	4 – 1 3/4	3 – 2	2 – 1	2 – hd	1	f 3-5
2001	Bonnie Scot (g)	7 – 8	6 – 9	4 – 4 1/2	1	1	f 3-5
2000	Nature	6 – 7	5 – 4 1/2	4 – 3	1	1	2-1
	x – promoted from 2nd
	(f) filly
	(g) gelding
	f – favorite

Epic Ride, Bolt at Midnight and Encino, the top three horses
on the morning line, have shown a forward-going style in their races.
Gettysburg Address and Blue Eyed George, each 6-1, come from off the pace.

Gotham

It has been 24 years since Derby runner-up Aptitude was the most
recent Gotham finisher to hit the board at Churchill Downs.

Year	Horse	Quirin	GS	Derby
2023	Raise Cain	P 2	1st	8th
2022
2021	Highly Motivated	E/P 6	3rd	*9th
2020	Necker Island	E/P 5	5th	9th
	Attachment Rate	E/P 3	3rd	14th
2019
2018	Firenze Fire	S 3	4th	11th
	Enticed	P 3	1st	14th
	Free Drop Billy	P 2	3rd	16th
2017	J Boys Echo	P 2	1st	15th
2016	Shagaf	E/P 4	1st	DNF
2015	Tendencur	P 3	5th	17th
2014	Samraat	E/P 6	1st	5th
	Uncle Sigh	E 5	2nd	14th
2013	Overanalyze	S 4	5th	11th
	Vyjack	E/P 4	1st	18th
2012	Hansen	E 8	1st	9th
	Done Talking	S 0	10th	14th
2011	Stay Thirsty	E/P 2	1st	12th
2010	Awesome Act	P 2	1st	19th
2009
2008	Visionaire	S 3	1st	12th
2007	Cowtown Cat	E/P 6	1st	20th
2006	Sweetnorthernsaint	E/P 7	3rd	7th
	Keyed Entry	E 7	2nd	20th
2005
2004
2003
2002	Saarland	S 3	2nd	10th
2001
2000	Aptitude	P 2	2nd	2nd
	*promoted

Putting aside the race’s poor track record for producing
Derby horses, there was a most noteworthy horse who became a champion. Who knew
Knicks Go would go from a sixth-place finish at 20-1 in 2019 to become horse of
the year in 2021?

The Gotham used to be a two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race. It
reverted to a one-turn mile six years ago. The split since has been even between
winners who were forwardly placed and those coming from off the pace.

Year	Winner	1/4	1/2	3/4	Str	Fin	Odds
2023	Raise Cain	11 – 4 1/2	9 – 5 1/2	7 – 4 3/4	1	1	23-1
2022	Morello	2 – 1/2	2 – 1/2	2 – 1/2	1	1	f 1-1
2021	Weyburn	2 – 1/2	2 – 1/2	2 – hd	2 – hd	1	46-1
2020	Mischevious Alex	4 – 1	2 – hd	1	1	1	f 8-5
2019	Haikal	7 – 12 1/4	7 – 14	5 – 8 1/2	4 – 4 3/4	1	4-1
2018	Enticed	6 – 3 1/4	5 – 3	2 – 2	2 – 1/2	1	3-1
2017*	J Boys Echo	4 – 3 1/2	4 – 7	4 – 2	1	1	6-1
2016*	Shagaf	2 – 2	4 – 2	3 – 2	3 – 1 1/2	1	f 6-5
2015*	El Kabeir	9 – 12	6 – 8	5 – 4	1	1	f 6-5
2014*	Samraat	4 – 1 1/2	3 – 1 1/2	3 – 1/2	1	1	f 2-1
2013*	Vyjack	10 – 7	8 – 7 1/4	8 – 6 3/4	3 – 2 1/2	1	2-1
2012*	Hansen	3 – 1	2 – 1/2	2 – hd	1	1	f 4-5
2011*	Stay Thirsty	4 – 3	4 – 3	3 – 2 1/2	2 – hd	1	f 4-5
2010*	Awesome Act	7 – 5 1/2	6 – 4	4 – 1 1/4	1	1	f 5-2
2009*	I Want Revenge	2 – 1/2	2 – 1/2	2 – hd	1	1	3-1
2008*	Visionaire	x	x	x	x	1	9-2
2007*	Cowtown Cat	3 – 1	4 – 1	4 – 1	2 – 1 1/2	1	2-1
2006*	Like Now	1	1	1	1	1	36-1
2005	Survivalist	7 – 3 1/2	8 – 4 1/2	4 – 2	3 – 1 1/2	1	3-1
2004	Saratoga County	5 – 1 1/2	5 – 1 1/2	3 – 2	1	1	9-2
2003**	Alysweep	1	1	1	1	1	9-1
2002	Mayakovsky	1	1	1	1	1	f 3-5
2001	Richly Blended	1	1	1	1	1	3-1
2000	Red Bullet	6 – 2 3/4	5 – 1 1/4	5 – 2	1	1	f 1-1
	*1 1/16 mi (2 turns)
	**1 mi 70 yds (2 turns)
	All others 1 mi (1 turn)
	f – favorite

Bergen and Just a Touch, perhaps the two most highly
regarded of trainer Brad Cox’s four entrants, have different styles. Bergen
came from off the pace to win the Jimmy Winkfield sprint in the mud at Aqueduct.
Just a Touch flashed speed in his debut victory going six furlongs in the slop at
Fair Grounds.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.

Cash Ball

02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09

Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Evening: 6-3-0

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 5-7-6-0

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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kentucky

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.

In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.

Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope claps after a possession during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)

In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope shakes hands with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari prior to the game at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Kentucky hits the road at Texas

This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.

Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Which game could be a trap?

We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.

Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.

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Kentucky

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Published

24 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Kentucky state law permits fireworks use unless prohibited by local ordinances.
In Louisville and Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are illegal, but smaller items like sparklers are allowed.
Certain fireworks are banned in Louisville if their labels include words like “explosive,” “rocket,” or “firecracker.”
Safety officials advise keeping water nearby, not relighting “dud” fireworks, and never allowing children to ignite them.

Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.

Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?

Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

Are fireworks legal in Louisville?

In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.

If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.

But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky

How to use fireworks safely

The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:

Use fireworks outdoors.
Obey local laws.
Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Read and follow all instructions on the label.