CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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.

Defector

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.

Horse Racing

Are You Sure You Want To Bet On Journalism?

Patrick Redford

Mounted police officers remove the riot gear from their police horse outside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, site of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Defector Up All Night

They Defunded The Ponies

Albert Burneko

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JANUARY 17: Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at LaBelle Winery on January 17, 2024 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. DeSantis, who finished second behind frontrunner, former U.S. President Donald Trump in this week's Iowa caucuses, is campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of that state's primary on January 23 before moving on to South Carolina on Friday. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Politics

Nation Rejects Sweaty Pig

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Two wild Przewalski's horses nuzzle each other in a field.

Creaturefector

The Real Horse-Wives Of Hortobágy Aren’t Here To Hurt Feelings, But They Will Stirrup Trouble

Laura Wagner

SIENA, ITALY - MARCH 04: Demi Vollering of The Netherlands and Team SD Worx attacks while a horse gallops beside her during the Eroica - 9th Strade Bianche 2023, Women's a 136km one day race from Siena to Siena 318m / #StradeBianche / on March 04, 2023 in Siena, Italy. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Cycling

Wannabe Cyclist Horse Steals The Show At A Spicy Strade Bianche

A lady lifts a comically small Shetland pony out of a van in Germany.

Animals

Pumuckel The 20-Inch Pony Has Other Mini-Horses Quaking In Their Hooves

Rose Eveleth is the host of the podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flashforwardpod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flash Forward</a>, and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flashforwardpod.com/book/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the book by the same name</a>.&nbsp;

Rose Eveleth

Olympics

If Horses Are Gone From Modern Pentathlon, Is It Time For Mechanical Bulls?

Tom Ley

Heed The Wisdom Of The Horseman

CHOFU, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Annika Schleu of Team Germany looks dejected following her run in the Riding Show Jumping of the Women's Modern Pentathlon on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Horse Innocent!

Barry Petchesky

CHOFU, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Ieda Guimaraes of Team Brazil riding Caleansiena YH falls at a jump in the Riding Show Jumping of the Women's Modern Pentathlon on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on August 06, 2021 in Chofu, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The Horses Are Not Having It

Giri Nathan

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is Nikola Jokic Trotting With His Horse

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)

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)

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

David Roth

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

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

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)