Cubs Roster Takes Over Churchill Downs as Alex Bregman’s Horse Delivers Late-Race Win

With an off-day on Thursday and a series against the Cincinnati Reds looming, the Chicago Cubs found an unusual group activity: a trip across the Ohio border to Churchill Downs to watch a horse co-owned by third baseman Alex Bregman.

The horse, Act of Parliament, ran in the day’s final race and gave the traveling party plenty to cheer about. Breaking from near the back of the field, the entry methodically advanced along the outside before overhauling the leader by more than a length in the closing stretch to take the victory.

The celebration was, by all accounts, full-throated. Video shared by trainer William Walden captured the group erupting as the horse crossed the wire, and the players later lifted jockey Axel Concepcion onto their shoulders in the winner’s circle.

Bregman documented the outing on Instagram, posting photos of teammates dressed in jockey silks aboard the team plane, along with a clip of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong meeting the horse before the race under the caption “PCA pep talk we couldn’t lose.”

The venue itself is no stranger to big moments. Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN), which operates the historic Louisville track, runs a portfolio that spans live and historical racing venues, wagering services, and regional casino gaming across the United States. The company’s shares closed recent trading at $82.22, down 0.52% from a prior close of $82.65, valuing the business at roughly $6.07 billion. Listed in the consumer cyclical sector within the gambling industry, the company draws much of its national attention each May during the Kentucky Derby, but weekday cards like Thursday’s regularly host ownership groups and celebrity connections of their own.

Cross-sport crossovers like this one have become a recurring feature of the sports calendar, with athletes increasingly investing in racing partnerships and sharing the experience — and the content — directly with fans on social platforms.

What to watch

• The Cubs open their road series against the Reds following the off-day excursion.
• Churchill Downs Incorporated’s next quarterly earnings report, which may detail wagering-handle trends across its racing calendar.
• Any future starts for Act of Parliament and whether the Cubs’ traveling support becomes a repeat storyline.

Source: original release