Kentucky

Travis Kelce Explains Why His Racehorse Won’t Run in Kentucky Derby

Published

2 years ago

September 4, 2024

Travis Kelce Explains Why His Racehorse Won’t Run in Kentucky Derby

Travis Kelce LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)

If Travis Kelce returns to the Kentucky Derby next year, it will be as a spectator — and not as the owner of one of the participating horses.

Travis, 34, gushed about his racehorse, aptly named Swift Delivery, to his brother, Jason Kelce, on an episode of their “New Heights” podcast, which aired Wednesday, August 4. In their discussion, he confirmed Jason’s claim that Swift Delivery, who is 3, has already aged out of eligibility for Triple Crown races.

Swift Delivery can still compete in other races, however, and Travis revealed that the gelding finished second in the Toronto Cup Stakes over the weekend. He also gave fans a Swift Delivery scouting report.

“I liked the way that Swift Delivery ran. I’ve seen three or four races that Swift Delivery has been in, and sure enough heard nothing but great reviews,” he said. “It’s more of a finishing horse. It comes around that [last] turn and just hits the top speed and kind of saves the last straightway with all the juice that it’s got.”

While football remains Travis’ first sporting love, he has dived right into the horse-racing world, brought on by his appearance at the 2024 Kentucky Derby. He attended as a guest of family friends Bruce and Alex Zoldan, who are horse owners themselves.

“I had one of the best times ever at the Derby and they were my hosts, and sure enough, I was like, ‘Man, it’d be fun to get involved and see one of your horses in a race,’” he said. “Sure enough, they asked me if I wanted to jump in on a 3-year-old they had, and it made sense to team up with this one, it being Swift Delivery.”

Even before we knew Travis bought a horse after the race, his attendance garnered plenty of headlines. Some fans lauded (while others mocked) his Derby fashion sense as he donned a pinstriped suit and black fedora on the red carpet before watching the race and coming within inches of winning $100,000.

Travis was, as he put it, “a nose away” from a six-figure payday, which he would have earned if Japanese horse Forever Young placed second. He placed third.

“I was a beginner. I didn’t get too far into that,” Kelce said of his betting. “I just wanted to f–king put the money that I brought in there and throw it down on like one horse and just get f–king pumped if that thing was even close. And sure enough, coming around that corner, you see that thing … come up.”

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Kentucky

Game time set for Iowa State vs. Kentucky in March Madness second round

Published

5 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Game time set for Iowa State vs. Kentucky in March Madness second round

Iowa State men’s basketball will play Kentucky in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, March 22.

The No. 2-seed Cyclones (28-7) are coming off a 108-74 win over Tennessee State. The No. 7-seed Wildcats (22-13) are coming off a thrilling 89-84 win over No. 10-seed Santa Clara, which featured a buzzer-beating logo 3-pointer by Kentucky to send the game into overtime.

Check below for the need-to-know game information for Iowa State’s first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament:

Buy Iowa State NCAA tournament tickets vs. Kentucky

When is Iowa State vs. Kentucky in Men’s March Madness?

Date: Sunday, March 22
Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri

What time does Iowa State play Kentucky in 2026 NCAA tournament?

Time: approximately 1:45 p.m. CT

What channel is Iowa State vs Kentucky in March Madness?

TV: CBS
Stream: FUBO (free trial)
Can’t watch? We’ll have live updates on DesMoinesRegister.com

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Kentucky

Kentucky basketball vs Iowa State prediction, pick for NCAA game

Published

17 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky basketball vs Iowa State prediction, pick for NCAA game

Kentucky basketball will face Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament second round after both teams earned victories Friday in St. Louis.
Iowa State dominated Tennessee State after UK escaped Santa Clara in overtime, but Cyclones star Joshua Jefferson left the game with an injury.
Who has the edge with a Sweet 16 berth on the line? Here’s our prediction.

ST. LOUIS — Kentucky basketball survived. And advanced.

Thanks to its 89-84 overtime victory over Santa Clara on Friday, UK sealed a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

But the challenge for coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats is about to get considerably tougher.

The next opponent for seventh-seeded Kentucky (22-13) is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, Iowa State. The Cyclones had far less drama in their first-round matchup than the Cats. Iowa State trounced Tennesseee State, 108-74, in the game immediately following UK/Santa Clara at the Enterprise Center.

The Cyclones are one of the country’s best teams. They enter Sunday’s matchup 28-7 in 2025-26. ISU went 12-6 in the Big 12 during the regular season. Its conference tournament ended in agonizing fashion, however, falling at the buzzer to Arizona in the semifinals.

The winner of Sunday’s game between UK and ISU will clinch a spot in the Sweet 16. And pack their bags for Chicago, where the Midwest Region’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be contested next week at the United Center.

Watch Kentucky vs. Iowa State on Fubo (free trial)

Here’s what to know about Kentucky’s second-round battle against Iowa State:

The Cyclones began the 2025-26 campaign 16-0. Not only was that the program’s best-ever start to a season, but it doubled as the longest win streak in school history. Iowa State also notched 25 wins prior to the postseason for only the third time in the program’s annals.

But if the Cyclones are to set a single-season school standard for wins, they’ll need to win out. The current record holder is the 1999-2000 club, which had 32 wins. To reach 33, Iowa State must win the national championship.

In just five seasons at the helm, T.J. Otzelberger has carved out plenty of space for himself in Iowa State’s record book.

He enters today with an overall record of 123-52. That’s the most wins for any ISU coach in the first five seasons of a tenure. Otzelberger was the quickest in program history to 100 victories, needing only 145 games. He also holds the Cylcones’ mark for wins over Associated Press top-25 foes (30).

His overall winning percentage (.714), conference winning percentage (.587) and home winning percentage (.874) also are No. 1 among Iowa State coaches. And Otzelberger’s six NCAA Tournament wins are two more than any other coaches the Cyclones have had.

He’s fourth on the school’s all-time wins list, trailing Johnny Orr (218), Louis Menze (166) and Glen Anderson (142).

It’s a safe bet that if Otzelberger stays in Ames, Iowa, long enough, he’ll also be atop that list in the future.

Joshua Jefferson is averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 and 1.7 steals per game this season. That’s a stat line no Big 12 player ever has averaged in a single campaign. And, per the Cyclones’ official game notes, only five players in Division I history have done so since steals began being tracked in 1974-75. It’s a list that includes Larry Bird and Penny Hardaway.

But Jefferson’s status for Sunday is unclear.

He injured his left ankle in the first half of Friday’s rout and did not return. Jefferson made it to the team’s bench in the second half using crutches, with a boot on his left foot.

If he’s unable to take the floor Sunday, other Cyclones will have to step up.

Two of his teammates fit the bill.

Forward Milan Momcilovic is arguably the deadliest 3-point shooter in college hoops. He already has Iowa State’s single-season mark in that category, with 130 entering Sunday. Prior to Friday’s games, his 127 were tied for first nationally alongside Samford’s Jadin Booth.

More remarkably, his volume hasn’t adversely affected his accuracy. At 49.6% on the season, he also paces Division I in that category.

In the backcourt, senior guard Tamin Lipsey averages 13.3 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per outing. He’s among the top 20 in the country in both assist-to-turnover ratio and steals per game.

If that’s not enough, he’s also the Cyclones’ career leader in steals (308) and games started (135).

Buy Kentucky NCAA Tournament tickets vs. Iowa State

Iowa State 71, Kentucky 68: With a healthy Joshua Jefferson, the Cyclones likely would be close to a double-digit favorite. But if he’s hobbled, that hurts Iowa State. And if he’s not able to play at all, that’s even tougher. Yet it’s not as if the Wildcats don’t have injury issues of their own. Starting point guard Jaland Lowe has been out since January. And forward Jayden Quaintance would need a miracle to be cleared Sunday.

Kentucky used up more energy — physically (going to OT) and emotionally (barely keeping its season alive) — than Iowa State.

It’ll be a bare-knuckled fight Sunday.

But Iowa State will eke out a narrow victory to bring down the curtains on Kentucky’s second season under Mark Pope.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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Kentucky

Who are Northern Kentucky’s returning boys, girls tennis qualifiers?

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Who are Northern Kentucky’s returning boys, girls tennis qualifiers?

The boys and girls tennis season for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association is underway and several players who made postseason runs, including a state champion, are back on the court for 2026.

To get back into the action, take a refresher and read about the returning Northern Kentucky tennis players who reached the 2025 KHSAA state tournament singles and doubles.

Note: Some doubles teams from 2025 are grouped together if both returned in 2026. They may not necessarily be doubles partners again this season.

Northern Kentucky boys tennis returning state qualifiers

Shayaan Ahmad, Villa Madonna

Ahmad was the runner-up in the Ninth Region tournament, retiring in the second set to Covington Catholic’s Alex Yeager, who would win the KHSAA state title. Ahmad reached the Round of 16 in the state tournament.

Blake Hussey, Covington Catholic

The junior has had postseason success as both a singles player as a freshman and last year in doubles when he teamed with Kalei Christensen to win the doubles state championship.

Jacob Kramer/Will Tribble, Covington Catholic

These sophomores paired for doubles competition last season, finishing as regional runner-up to their state-champion teammates. At the state tournament, they reached the semifinals.

Finley Mackay, Walton-Verona

A freshman for Walton-Verona this season, Mackay made the KHSAA state tournament as an eighth-grader last season, winning his opening match. In the Eighth Region tournament, Mackay reached the finals and finished as runner-up to North Oldham’s Samuel Gurevich.

Colin McClure, Dixie Heights

McClure reached the state tournament in doubles for the second time last year with now-graduated partner Griffen Derry. The pair reached the semifinals in the Ninth Region tournament and the Round of 16 at state, where they fell to the state champions from Covington Catholic.

Neel Reddy, Beechwood

Reddy qualified for the KHSAA state tournament last season in singles after finishing as a semifinalist in the Ninth Region tournament. He won his first two matches at the state tournament before falling in the Round of 16.

Navneeth Selvaraju, Ryle

Ryle’s Selvaraju, as a junior last year, was a semifinalist in the Ninth Region tournament, qualifying for state. In the state tournament, Selvaraju reached the third round with a win coming against Walton-Verona’s Finley Mackay in round two.

Cameron Wells/Christopher Wells, Campbell County

Now seniors, the Wells boys were finalists in the 10th Region tournament to qualify for the KHSAA state meet in 2025.

Northern Kentucky girls tennis returning state qualifiers

Gabrielle Browning, Simon Kenton

Browning was teamed up with Hope Dupin for doubles in the postseason last year. Browning returns after being a semifinalist in the Eighth Region and winning the state tournament opener to reach the Round of 32.

Malia Christensen/Isabella McElwee, Notre Dame

The Panda pair were just sophomores last season when they finished as Ninth Region semifinalists, qualifying for the KHSAA state tournament. At state, Christensen and McElwee got as far as the Round of 16.

Annika Derks, Simon Kenton

Derks, now a senior, reached the state tournament last year in a doubles grouping with the since-graduated Natalie Lukey. The pair qualified for state by reaching the semifinals of the Eighth Region tournament.

Cassidy Derry/Isabella Norvell, Dixie Heights

Derry, a junior, and Norvell, a senior, were doubles partners last year when they finished as Ninth Region runners-up before the state tournament, where they went 1-1.

Kayla Johnson, Cooper

Last season, Johnson repeated as the Ninth Region singles champion, beating Beechwood’s Sadie Jones in the finals. In the state tournament, she won her first two matches before falling 6-2, 6-2 in the Round of 16 to eventual state champion Sydney Zakic of Scott County.

Avery Love/Niveditha Selvaraju, Ryle

Love was a junior last year and Selvaraju, just an eighth-grader, when the pair prevailed as Ninth Region champions, beating Derry and Norvell of Dixie Heights 6-2, 6-1 in the finals. They won their opening two rounds at state before falling 6-4, 7-6 (12-10) in a hard-fought Round of 16 match.

Kaylin Lovell, Scott

Lovell was a junior in 2025 when she reached the finals of the 10th Region tourney where she was the runner-up after a 6-4, 6-1 match. She won her first match at the state tournament before exiting in the Round of 32.

Rylee Ritter, Campbell County

Ritter was a semifinalist in the 10th Region tournament in 2025, falling to the regional winner, Aysha Garza of Bourbon County. Ritter battled in her state opener before falling 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4).

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