Kentucky

Op/Ed: It was a Great Kentucky Derby Day, but Not Without a Sour Note as CAW Players Feasted on Regular Joes

Published

1 week ago

May 4, 2026

Op/Ed: It was a Great Kentucky Derby Day, but Not Without a Sour Note as CAW Players Feasted on Regular Joes

There were plenty of people who liked the chances of Japanese shipper T O Elvis (Volatile) in Saturday’s GI Churchill Downs Stakes. He had won four straight races, was on the improve, and the word out of Japan was that this horse might be as good as any sprinter in the world. That he was 30-1 on the morning line made the idea of placing a large wager on the 4-year-old even more enticing.

He was never going to be 30-1. The linemaker whiffed badly on that one. But as the field left the gate, T O Elvis was 12.82-1, a price that would have led to a $27.64 payoff had he won. For a horse who was competitive on paper, but was surely facing the toughest assignment of his career, the price seemed right.

T O Elvis came through, thrashing 10 quality horses to win by 3 1/4 lengths. It should have been a time for his backers to celebrate, but there was likely more resentment than satisfaction among winning horseplayers when the win price was posted. T O Elvis went off at 5.87-1 and paid $13.74.

The ones who were really celebrating were the CAW players, who, without a doubt, were behind the massive odds drop and likely won about $1.6 million on their win wager.

And that’s just in the win pool. The winning exacta combining T O Elvis and Disruptor (Gun Runner) dropped from $122.77 to $54.22 in the very last betting cycle.

It appears that CAW players also crushed the daily double, combining T O Elvis and GI Turf Classic Stakes winner Rhetorical (Not This Time). In the next-to-last betting cycle that double combination was paying $63.82. It wound up paying $26.08 for a $1 wager.

That information is courtesy of economics professor and horseplayer Marshall Gramm, who charted the changes in the pools and the prices and posted them on X.

“In the third-to-last click, T O Elvis was 12.82-1, representing 5.97% of the win pool,” Gramm wrote in an email. “In the next click, the total win pool increased from $3.69 million to $4.39 million. If we assume the ‘regular’ money remained constant at 5.97%, then of the roughly $311,000 wagered on T O Elvis in that cycle, about $269,000 likely came from the team. (I’m using the singular since it appears to be one group).

“They also heavily bet into the other pools, definitely the exacta and double and likely others as well, all during this second-to-last click. The final click was relatively small. T O Elvis’s odds actually drifted slightly from 5.81-1 to 5.87-1. That last click appears to be when they finalized their exotic positions.”

So, here we go again. Horse racing is the only gambling game where you can win a bet and be made to feel like a chump. As expected, there were a number of players who voiced their outrage on X.

NYRA linemaker David Aragona posted this: “T O Elvis was dazzling, and anyone who watched his last race can’t be surprised he just did that. But hopefully this race serves as a needed inflection point around the lack of regulation of CAW wagering, because that was as egregious as you’ll see.”

“T O Elvis listed at 12-1. Wins easy at 5-1,” Mike Mutnansky tweeted. “You thought you were getting a $26 winner. You got a $12 winner. What a terrible look for racing. Happy this happened on national TV. What a [expletive] joke they’ve let the CAWs become.”

It’s not that this was anything particularly new. We’ve seen thousands of these large odds drops over the last several years and it happens at every track in the country. But what made this different was that it was on the Derby Day card. Some people believed and said that the pools are so big on the day that the action from the CAW players couldn’t possibly put more than a small dent in the prices.

Obviously, that’s not the case. Between the win pool, the exacta pool, the double pool and whatever other bets they used T O Elvis in, the CAW players easily bet more than $500,000 on the horse. The race went to show the money these teams have, the power they have and their willingness to wager huge amounts when they think they have found inefficiencies in the wagering pools.

They could have lost. But they didn’t. And their windfall cost the regular player hundreds of thousands of dollars they would have collected had the CAW players not been involved.

Here’s what Del Mar Dennis had to say on X. “The CAWs most certainly did. What gives. There’s “funny business” and then there’s funny business when the winner, T.O. Elvis, drops down seven clicks as the gates open. Why? Better question, why am I and fellow fans like you still betting?”

A lot aren’t. Especially when you factor in inflation, pari-mutuel handle is plummeting in this country and the most obvious reason why is that a lot of horseplayers have simply given up, knowing that they can’t compete with the CAW players.

Unfortunately, nothing is going to change. The tracks are not going to turn down the billions in handle that comes from the CAW teams. And there are tracks, Churchill among them, that own betting outlets set up to take bets from CAW players.

But there is a cost. On the sport’s most important and visible day, the T O Elvis payoffs were a terrible look and added to the growing anger among those who just want to have a fair chance when it comes to playing the horses. T O Elvis won, but the sport lost as his win no doubt led to more customers deciding that they are done with this game.

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Kentucky

Chase Matthew’s bassist Carsen Richards charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at Kentucky festival

Published

12 hours ago

May 12, 2026

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Chase Matthew’s bassist Carsen Richards charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at Kentucky festival

Country singer Chase Matthew’s bassist has been charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at a Kentucky festival.

Carsen Richards, 22, was arrested Saturday and is accused of sexually abusing an autistic boy on two occasions in 2020 and 2022 when they were ages 12 and 14, LEX18 reported.

Footage shared on TikTok showed Richards being surrounded by cops after he had performed at the BBQ & Barrels event in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Cops waited until the Tennessee-born guitarist had left the stage before arresting him amid fears he could be armed.

Richards has since been charged with sodomy and incest involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years or older, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The boy’s mom reported the alleged abuse to Winchester cops in November last year and the child confirmed the claims during a police interview the following month.

Richards was confronted by the woman outside his Hendersonville apartment, on Feb. 12, according to court docs seen by the Owensboro Times.

“There is nothing more I have regretted in my life,” he reportedly told her before saying “I made an awful mistake.”

His alleged victim has Level 1 autism — the lowest support level, according to Vanderbilt University.

Matthew, known for his breakout hit “Love You Again,” has since fired Richards.

“The situation has honestly been one of the most shocking and heartbreaking things I have ever experienced,” the 28-year-old singer-songwriter wrote on Instagram.

“When I first heard the allegations, I was sick to my stomach. I would never associate myself with a person I think could even be remotely capable of something like this, much less hire them to be on my team.

“The reality is, you don’t always know what someone may be doing outside of your workplace, and nothing would have made me believe this was a possibility.”

Matthew said, “I do not support or tolerate behavior of this kind whatsoever.

“I am truly disturbed and disgusted by the details of these allegations. My heart breaks for anyone affected.”

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Kentucky

Liberty Trees planted throughout Kentucky

Published

24 hours ago

May 11, 2026

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Liberty Trees planted throughout Kentucky

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Ky. (WXIX) – Liberty Trees are being planted across Kentucky in celebration og America 250.

FOX19 NOW’s Philip Krinsky went down to Campbell County, where a Liberty Tree dedication took place.

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Kentucky

2026 Kentucky Derby: The Sporting Event Expanded Its Partnerships

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

2026 Kentucky Derby: The Sporting Event Expanded Its Partnerships

LOUISVILLE, KY.—Jockey Jose Ortiz rallied long shot Golden Tempo from way back in the pack to claim the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, beating his older brother Irad Ortiz Jr. by a neck and making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby winner.

Held at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky., this year’s race averaged 19.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-viewed Run for the Roses on record since Nielsen began tracking average audiences in 1988.

In the week leading up to the first Saturday in May, Churchill Downs hosted a full roster of events, including 502’sDay, Winsday, Thurby, and the Kentucky Oaks (when fans watch 3-year-old fillies compete), which, for the first time, was contested in primetime and on network television.

As part of the racetrack’s ongoing renovations, the sixth-floor space, 10,000-square-foot ultra-VIP space known as The Mansion opened its private doors, revealing a $30-million refurbishment. There were improved amenities in the Finish Line Suites this year as well.

But that wasn’t the only newness happening. This year introduced several firsts, including the Derby’s first-ever beauty partnership with L’Oréal, an MLB activation where fans were able to put their pitching skills to the test, and a limited-edition Graeter’s ice cream flavor, Bourbon Backstretch Cherry.

Returning partners also evolved their experiences for 2026, including Old Forester serving up a new signature cocktail with a fruity twist called the Perfecta and Red Bull expanding its lounge area in the Infield, which included a custom Ford F150 DJ booth with custom Red Bull cocktails.

This updated partnership strategy is part of the racetrack’s efforts to attract younger fans and the Gen Z demo. “Reaching new and younger audiences is how the brand stays relevant after 152 years,” said Casey Ramage, senior marketing and partnerships consultant for Churchill Downs Racetrack.

“Churchill Downs does this by offering onsite fans brand experiences such as beautiful photo moments around our iconic Twin Spires and partner collaborations and merchandise brands that are relevant to this audience such as vineyard vines, lululemon, and Aviator Nation,” she said.

For the fans at home, the Churchill Downs team also turned more to social media to educate the viewing audience. This year, the Derby’s social media accounts saw a 59% increase during Derby Week, Ramage added.

As for the L’Oréal partnership, Ramage said it just made sense. “With fashion being one of the first things you think about for the Kentucky Derby experience, Churchill Downs has always wanted to partner with a beauty brand, and L’Oréal Paris is the perfect fit,” she explained.

The brand was the presenting partner of the Derby’s Green Room, where celebrities and VIPs were able to touch up their makeup and hair before walking the red carpet. L’Oréal also produced activations in the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza fan zone with product giveaways and surprise-and-delight makeup moments in the ladies’ restrooms.

Keep scrolling to see more from the 2026 Kentucky Derby and the brand activations and parties surrounding the historic event…

^{L’Oréal produced activations in the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza fan zone with product giveaways as well as surprise-and-delight makeup moments in the ladies’ restrooms.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack}

^{Because of Churchill Downs’ strong partnership with NBC, the racetrack also highlighted the network’s new relationships with both the MLB and WNBA. The MLB hosted an interactive pitch activation, where fans were challenged to test their fastball and track their throwing speed in real time.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack}

^{Attendees posed inside a WNBA bespoke photo moment.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack}

^{The WNBA logo was made out of red and white roses, as a nod to the Derby race.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Racetrack}

^{Apparel brand vineyard vines marked its 16th year as the Official Derby Style with on-site activations, including a fully branded stage in the Infield, featuring live entertainment and giveaways such as its fan-favorite whale hats, sunglasses, and more.}^{Photo: Courtesy of vineyard vines}

^{Fully wrapped F-150s and Broncos in a vineyard vines print were located at the track’s “First Turn.”}^{Photo: Courtesy of vineyard vines}

^{Sports Illustrated Resorts’ Club SI hosted guests across both Oaks and Derby Day at Churchill Downs. The exclusive hospitality suite offers a view of the paddock and paddock runway. SI Swim model Camille Kostek hosted Oaks Day, while commentator Nate Burleson led Derby Day.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{Guests received custom caricature illustrations in the hospitality suite.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{Sports Illustrated, in partnership with}J Wagner Group^{, closed out Derby weekend with its third annual late-night celebration, Revel at the Races presented by DraftKings, which was headlined by Tiësto and held at}Ice House^.^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{As the official apparel partner, Ted Baker presented a branded photo moment.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{Verizon served as the exclusive wireless partner, offering expedited entry via a dedicated fast lane and ticket access through Verizon Access.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{As the official bourbon partner, Maker’s Mark served up premium cocktails.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{HydroJug provided on-site custom engraving, delivering a personalized takeaway for guests.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Live, a Division of Authentic Brands Group}

^{The Derby experience starts long before the bugle sounds at Churchill Downs, so Delta turned the journey to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport into a spirited ride. On May 1 and 2, in partnership with Brown-Forman, Delta offered travelers in the Atlanta and JFK Delta Sky Clubs a bespoke Mint Julep syrup. Once onboard their flights, passengers could pair it with Woodford Reserve bourbon to craft a cocktail.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Delta}

^{The airline also surprised travelers with arrival and departure goody bags on April 30 and May 3 at the Louisville airport.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Delta}

^{Crew members donned fascinators to close out the weekend.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Delta}

^{Herradura returned with its official cocktail, the Horseshoe Margarita. The brand also collaborated with Q Mixers on a new track-wide cocktail featuring Herradura Reposado called the Paddock Paloma.}^{Photo: Courtesy of Herradura}

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