VILLA RIDGE, IL (KFVS) - A horse with ties to several Heartland states will round the track at Churchill Downs this weekend.
It's the Breeder's Cup weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, and a locally owned mare will help kick off a day of big races in Louisville.
"She'll be up against the toughest competition she's faced," said owner John Mathis.
John and Holly Mathis of Ridgewood Stables in Villa Ridge just learned Tuesday their horse Gibson Crystal will be one of only 12 horses to compete in race one on Breeder's Cup day at Churchill Downs.
"The breeder's cup is the thoroughbred world championships," said Holly Mathis. "Our filly is on the undercard, she'll race opening race on Breeder's Cup day."
The Ridgewood Partnership comprised of 13 investors, from the southern Illinois, the Missouri Bootheel, western Kentucky and several other states, just bought Gibson Crystal last month.
Now the newly formed group's first race with its first racehorse will be at a historic track during a major event.
"With a little luck, we'll make our way into the winner's circle and there's not a better place to experience that than Churchill downs on breeder's cup day," said John Mathis.
The couple says a win at Churchill downs could open the gate for Gibson Crystal's career to really shine.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:18 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:18:36 GMT
Jason Ellis (Source: Bardstown Police)
K-9 Officer Jason Ellis, 33, was shot and killed on the ramp of Exit 34 from the Bluegrass Parkway to Highway 55 in Nelson County early Saturday morning.
K-9 Officer Jason Ellis, 33, was shot and killed on the ramp of Exit 34 from the Bluegrass Parkway to Highway 55 in Nelson County early Saturday morning.
Authorities say they have found a child's body believed to be that of an 18-month-old girl as they continue to investigate a series of Kansas farm deaths.
A body recovered amid an intensive search is believed to be that of a missing 18-month-old girl whose mother was found dead along with two men on a Kansas farm days ago, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday, May 25 2013 11:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:00:12 GMT
DALLAS (WFSS/CNN) – There's a new trend in the bar scene that involves your favorite hard liquor and dry ice. Breathing in the alcohol vapors gets you buzzed fast and some say you don't ingest any empty
There's a new trend in the bar scene that involves your favorite hard liquor and dry ice. But doctors say it's dangerous.