Leading Churchill Downs jockeys target winter meets

With just two days remaining in the Churchill Downs fall meet, attention is turning to winter plans as the track closes for live racing until spring. Many trainers and jockeys will remain in Kentucky to race at Turfway Park, while others are heading to circuits across the country for the season.

Turfway Park’s winter meet begins Wednesday with a first post of 5:55 p.m. EST, and several leading training outfits are keeping strings of horses in Kentucky based at either Turfway or the Trackside Louisville facility, which remains open for winter training.

Among the prominent trainers staying in Kentucky are Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, Cherie DeVaux, Greg Foley, Mike Maker, Michael McCarthy, Joe Sharp and Brendan Walsh. Additionally, new stables joining the Kentucky winter scene include Michelle Lovell and Brittany Vanden Berg.

Top jockeys from Churchill Downs are also making their seasonal moves. Here is a look at where some of the top riders from the fall meet at Churchill Downs are heading:

Gulfstream Park: Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez

Fair Grounds: Axel Concepcion, Florent Geroux, Brian Hernandez Jr., Edgar Morales, Jose Ortiz, Jaime Torres

Oaklawn: Francisco Arrieta, Rafael Bejarano, Cristian Torres

Turfway: Gerardo Corrales, Corey Lanerie, Luan Machado

Following Sunday’s closing-day program, live racing at Churchill Downs resumes April 26 with the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3.