Alicia Wincze Hughes, Lexington Herald-Leader

Alicia Wincze Hughes

Lexington Herald-Leader

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Recent:
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Past:
  • Lexington Herald-Leader
  • The Kansas City Star

Past articles by Alicia:

Keselowski works fuel mileage to win at Kentucky

Brad Keselowski milked his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford and its empty gas tank across the finish line 0.175 seconds ahead of Carl Edwards in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday. → Read More

Alert issued in Central Kentucky for Potomac horse fever

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington issued an alert Tuesday regarding two cases of Potomac horse fever confirmed this week in one racehorse and one broodmare. Both had diarrhea and fever. → Read More

Front-running Bradester wins Stephen Foster

Joseph Sutton doesn’t make many trips to the racetrack. Aside from an annual venture to Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby week and the occasional trip to Gulfstream Park or Saratoga, the Houston-based owner often must settle for the nail-biting task of cheering on his horses from afar. → Read More

Stephen Foster’s ageless wonder Majestic Harbor still finding his best stride

Fresh off his 10th win in 41 career starts, Majestic Harbor is climbing back under the ropes Saturday night for another title shot, so to speak. The Paul McGee-trained warrior sits as the 5-1 co-second choice on the morning line in the Grade I, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. → Read More

American beauty: Champion Tepin reigns in Queen Anne Stakes

Tepin, the reigning champion turf female in North America, took her talents to England for one of horse racing’s most prestigious meetings and departed with her name firmly planted alongside some of the great grass performers in recent decades. Under masterful handling from jockey Julien Leparoux, the 5-year-old daughter of Bernstein rated patiently off the early going before striking the front… → Read More

Belmont Stakes favorite Exaggerator finally the star of the show

While this year’s Belmont Stakes does not have the sexy anticipation of a Triple Crown possibility – something racing fans have been spoiled with the last two years in California Chrome (2014) and conquering hero American Pharoah (2015) – 9-to-5 morning line favorite Exaggerator brings his own intriguing narrative to the table as he readies to face 12 contenders looking to exert their own… → Read More

Bad boy Lani commanding respect in advance of Belmont Stakes

When the gates open for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, Lani and Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator will share the bragging rights of being the only horses to start in all three legs of the Triple Crown this season. There is more than a little bit of irony in the fact that the sophomore who has least fit the supposed mold of a classic contender now appears to be in better form at the tail end of the… → Read More

Bobby Flay buys minority interest in Belmont entrant Creator

Celebrity chef and renowned restaurateur Bobby Flay has finalized a deal with WinStar Farm to acquire a minority interest in Grade I winner and Belmont Stakes entrant Creator. → Read More

Royal Ascot not set in stone for champion Tepin

Plans to send the reigning champion turf female to the England for a start in the Group I Queen Anne Stakes on June 14 are being re-examined after trainer Mark Casse said Saturday there is concern over the fact the 5-year-old daughter of Bernstein would not be allowed to use a nasal strip in England. → Read More

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist to miss Belmont Stakes

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will miss the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 11 after he was found to have an elevated white blood cell count, trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed Tuesday morning. → Read More

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist spikes temperature, does not ship to New York

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist did not ship from Baltimore to New York to begin preparations for the Belmont Stakes as planned on Monday after he was found to have a 102 degree temperature, trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed via text message. → Read More

Nyquist, Exaggerator ready to resume rivalry in Belmont Stakes

Less than 24 hours after Exaggerator handed Nyquist his first career loss in the Preakness Stakes, both camps confirmed that a classic rubber match was on tap. Humbled but proud trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed Sunday that Nyquist would ship to New York on Monday to begin preparations for the Belmont Stakes on June 11, while Keith Desormeaux also declared his colt definite for the 1 1/2-mile final… → Read More

Longtime horseman, former state senator Fred Bradley dies at age 85

Fred Bradley, the longtime Frankfort-based owner and breeder of such standouts as champion Groupie Doll and Grade I winner Brass Hat, passed away Friday in Wilmore at age 85. Bradley had been in declining health in recent years. → Read More

Handicapping the field for the Preakness Stakes

A closer look at the field for Saturday’s 14st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., on Saturday. Post time for the second leg of the Triple Crown is 6:45 p.m., with the race to be televised live on NBC. → Read More

On eve of Preakness Stakes, confidence overflowing from Nyquist camp

For all the fuss made over the two-week turnaround between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, keeping those who ran in the first leg of the Triple Crown in form 14 days later has proven far and away the most successful formula. Beginning with Codex in 1980, only six horses who did not run in the Kentucky Derby have won the Preakness Stakes, with one of those being Hall of Famer Rachel… → Read More

Emotions run deep for Romans as Cherry Wine readies for Preakness Stakes

Trainer Dale Romans can not overstate what it would mean to give Frank Jones Jr., co-owner of Cherry Wine, a victory in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. In the five decades Jones has owned race horses, he has only employed two trainers — one being the late Jerry Romans, father of Dale, the other, the 49-year-old conditioner he has watched develop into one of the nation’s elite. → Read More

Long-tenured crew a hallmark of trainer Doug O’Neill’s operation

Continuity and loyalty can be rare beasts on the nation’s backstretches. In the Doug O’Neill barn, however, it is the status quo. Where many training operations understandably go through their share of staff turnover, it is a unique feature of Team O’Neill that it hasn’t had a major face change in several seasons. → Read More

Stronach creates world’s richest Thoroughbred race

The Stronach Group announced Wednesday that it will hold the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park January 28, 2017, becoming the world’s richest Thoroughbred race. → Read More

Trainer Romans recovering after Derby-night car accident

Trainer Dale Romans was at home Sunday afternoon recovering from pulled rib muscles after being involved in a serious car accident following the Kentucky Derby Saturday night. → Read More

Nyquist ready for more after Kentucky Derby victory

Freshly minted Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was in good order Sunday morning with his feed tub reportedly empty and his legs cold less than 24 hours after his classic triumph. He won’t waste any time taking his unbeaten show on the road as he is slated to ship to Baltimore on Monday to begin preparations for the Preakness Stakes on May 21, the middle leg of the Triple Crown. → Read More