1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Nadal Favored in Rebel Stakes as Road to Kentucky Derby Makes Stop at Oaklawn
A week after Bob Baffert scored a big victory with Authentic in the San Felipe Stakes, the legendary trainer rolls out another one of his big Kentucky Derby contenders Saturday at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming. Nadal is the 5-2 favorite for the...
Illinois, Ohio Casinos to Close as the Two Midwestern States Fight the Spread of COVID-19
First, it was the sports world that felt the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Now, it’s the casinos' turn in Illinois and Ohio. On Friday, casinos in Illinois received notice from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) that they...
Coronavirus Pandemic Ushers In ‘Unprecedented’ Time as US Sportsbooks Adjust To No Leagues
This weekend should have been some of the best days on the sports betting calendar. Friday would have seen most of the major college basketball conferences hold their tournament semifinals, with the possibility of Duke-Florida State and Louisville-Virginia matchups in the ACC...
March Madness Muted: COVID-19 Outbreak Forces NCAA to Cancel College Basketball Tournaments
March Madness became a casualty to the coronavirus pandemic, as the NCAA announced the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, as well as other winter championships, would be canceled. The news came just a day after NCAA President Mark Emmert initially announced...
Coronavirus Concerns Prompt NCAA to Ban Fans from March Madness Tournament, NBA Suspends Season After Player Tests Positive
The US sporting world Wednesday was thrown into the chaos, as fears grew about coronavirus spreading led to numerous announcements and reports. It prompted the NCAA to announced that the association’s upcoming championship events – including the men’s and women’s Division I...
Kentucky Sports Betting Bill Sponsor Remains Optimistic as It Awaits Floor Vote
The Kentucky state House of Representatives passed a nearly $24 billion budget plan last week. While that spending proposal did not include potential revenues from sports betting, the lawmaker leading the charge to legalize the activity isn’t deterred. State Rep. Adam Koenig...
Maximum Security Trainer Jason Servis Among 27 Facing Federal Charges in Horse Racing Doping Scheme
Trainer Jason Servis faces up to five years in federal prison, as he’s one of 27 individuals charged in a scheme to administer illegal performance-enhancing drugs to several racehorses. That includes Maximum Security, a winner of multiple graded stakes races, who ended...
Kentucky Derby Futures Bettors Believe in Baffert-Trained Authentic After Winning San Felipe Saturday
With Saturday’s three Kentucky Derby preps now behind us, it appears Tiz the Law now has a competitor to be the favorite when the horses gather in Louisville on May 2. And his name is Authentic. The Bob Baffert-trained colt cruised to...
Chicago-Area Rivers Des Plaines Casino to Launch Sports Betting in Illinois on Monday
On Monday, Illinois will become the 15th state in the US to allow sports betting when a suburban Chicago casino opens its sportsbook. The BetRivers Sportsbook will open Monday at noon CT at the Rivers Des Plaines Casino. The Illinois Gaming Board...
Road to Kentucky Derby 2020 Makes Stops at Tampa Bay Downs, Aqueduct and Santa Anita on Saturday
We’re now less than two months away from the Kentucky Derby, and Saturday serves as a big day in deciding the field, as three more horses will likely earn their way into the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The winners...
