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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Dave McKenna

Jockey Umberto Rispoli crosses the finish line on Journalism #2 to ahead of jockey Luis Saez and Gosger #9 win the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 17, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

150th Preakness Stakes

Horse Racing

Journalism Finally Meets Its Deadline, Wins The Preakness

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One Last Trip To Pimlico, A Dead And Damned Racetrack

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Ray Ratto

Journalism, who is a horse, is washed during the morning training for the 151th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2025.

151th Kentucky Derby – Previews

Are You Sure You Want To Bet On Journalism?

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Kathryn Xu

A racegoer relaxes on day two of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, north-west England, on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

RACING-ENG-NATIONAL

Life's Rich Pageant

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Racegoers fight each other as they scuffle on the second day of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, north-west England, on April 12, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Giuliani Receives Major Endorsement In Washington

Politics

Pat Robertson, Anti-Gaming Crusader And Horse Racing Enthusiast, Is Dead

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Albert Burneko

Horses race in the 2023 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

churchilldowns

Horse Racing To Hide Somewhere Else Until Storm Blows Over

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Barry Petchesky

149th Kentucky Derby

That’s Too Many Dead Horses

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

You Simply Must Hoot And Holler At The Zooming Horse

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 12: Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Medina Spirit is bathed following a training session for the upcoming Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 12, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Preakness Preview

Dead Horse Guilty


<p>Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.</p>


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Dan McQuade

A horse track that's all dark except from the reflection from the scoreboard

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The Neigh-t The Lights Went Out

DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 05: Jockey William Buick rides Modern Games after Albahr in the two hole wouldn't load into the starting gate before the start of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar Race Track on November 05, 2021 in Del Mar, California.

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Breeders’ Cup Fiasco Ruins Bettors’ Friday Night

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Patrick Redford

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 02: Kentucky Derby Trainer Bob Baffert looks on during morning workouts in preparation for the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Kentucky Derby Preview

Bob Baffert Admits Horse’s Butt Fungus Treatment, Not Cancel Culture Nor Pee Whoopsie, Caused Positive Test

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 03: Kentucky Derby trainer Bob Baffert looks on before the 145th running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

2019 Kentucky Oaks

Bob Baffert: My Horse Is The Victim Of Both Cancel Culture And Some Hay With Bad Pee On It

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David Roth

Medina Spirit leads down the stretch at the 147th Kentucky Derby.

147th Kentucky Derby

Florida Blogger: Even The Horses Are Junkies Now That Trump Is Not President Anymore

<div class="gmail_default">Ryan Goldberg is an award-winning freelance journalist who has written for <em>Texas Monthly</em>, Deadspin, Vice, <em>The New York Times</em>, ProPublica and more than a dozen other publications in a long and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/gizmodo-media-group-settles-defamation-lawsuits-led-by-charles-harder-11547852464" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gizmodo-media-group-settles-defamation-lawsuits-led-by-charles-harder-11547852464&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1617716436060000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGnwX76ZVlHZ9D5IZMiC7g30JoBuA">eventful</a> career. You can find more of his work at <a href="http://ryangoldberg.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ryangoldberg.net&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1617716436060000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEJr75Dmnzq8LVYtDuTwuDys8LfPw">ryangoldberg.net</a>.</div>
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210404 Ryan Goldberg photo

Ryan Goldberg

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Is Horse Racing Still Too Big To Fail?

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Samer Kalaf

robjames

Second Dead Horse Sat On

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Trainer Gordon Elliott on the gallops at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 08, 2020 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Cheltenham Gallops

Defector Up All Night

Champion Horse Trainer On Photo Of Him Sitting On A Dead Horse: I Had To Take A Call, My Bad