When Journalism loaded into the gate at Del Mar on July 18, 2026, nobody expected it to be his curtain call.
He was the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, facing a field he should have handled with ease. But horse racing rarely follows a script. Before the gates even sprung open, the 4-year-old colt thrashed around, striking the front of the gate and injuring himself. When the doors finally opened, he broke dead last. He conceded six full lengths to his rivals before he even found his stride.
What happened next was pure instinct. Under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Journalism did not panic. He steadily chewed up the ground, circled the field on the far turn, and dug deep down the stretch to pull off a dramatic victory by three-quarters of a length.
Six days later, on July 24, 2026, Coolmore America and his ownership group, led by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, made it official. That gutty win at Del Mar was his final race. Journalism has been officially retired from racing due to the injury sustained in that gate mishap. He leaves the track with seven wins, six graded stakes trophies, over $4.7 million in earnings, and a guaranteed spot at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky for the 2027 breeding season.
He leaves as a champion who gave everything he had, every single time he stepped onto the track.
The Unforgettable Del Mar Sendoff
Most horses would have yielded after getting hurt before the race even began. Spooked, battered, and trailing by half a dozen lengths on a track that favors speed, Journalism had every excuse to pack it in.
He didn't.
Trainer Michael McCarthy did not hesitate to put the performance into perspective. He noted that what Journalism accomplished at Del Mar was the ultimate mark of a true champion. To suffer an injury in the starting gate, give away that much territory, and still pull off a victory purely on class and grit tells you everything you need to know about the colt. He truly owed his connections nothing more.
Post-race diagnostic evaluations revealed the damage done in the gate. While the injury was not life-threatening, it was enough to end his racing career. Continuing to push a horse who had already achieved so much made zero sense. The owners wisely chose protection over pride.
Inside the Del Mar Race Chart
- Race: Grade 2 San Diego Handicap (1 1/16 miles)
- Track: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
- Starting Position: Spotted the field 5 to 6 lengths after gate trouble
- Final Margin: Won by 0.75 lengths as the 1-5 favorite
- Career Record: 14 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds
- Total Earnings: $4,770,755
A Classic Campaign for the Ages
To appreciate Journalism, you have to look at his 3-year-old season in 2025. It was a grueling, classic campaign of a caliber we rarely see in modern racing.
Purchased by Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, the son of Curlin showed early promise. He won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity as a 2-year-old before stomping through Southern California in the spring of 2025. He claimed victories in the San Felipe Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, proving he was the top contender heading to Churchill Downs.
In the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Journalism was sent off as the post-time favorite. He made a soaring move at the top of the stretch that looked like a winning run, only to be caught late by Sovereignty, who went on to earn Horse of the Year honors.
Two weeks later, Journalism took his revenge in Baltimore.
The Preakness Miracle at Pimlico
The 2025 Preakness Stakes defined Journalism's career. Bouncing back on short rest, he was roughed up turning for home. Bullied into a tight gap along the rail, he refused to back off. He shoved his way through, stuck his nose out at the wire, and secured his defining Classic victory.
He didn't stop there. He ran second in the Belmont Stakes, then traveled to Monmouth Park to capture the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes with another thrilling late surge.
Consistency was his hallmark. Across 14 career starts against the absolute best horses in North America, Journalism finished out of the top three exactly once—a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic. That is a remarkable record in an era where high-end thoroughbreds are often kept in cotton wool.
The Bloodline that Built a Champion
Journalism was not an accident. His pedigree promised greatness from day one.
His sire, Curlin, is a two-time Horse of the Year and a Hall of Famer who has become one of the most prolific stamina influences in North American breeding history. Curlin regularly stamps his offspring with balance, distance capability, and relentless desire.
His dam, Mopotism (by Uncle Mo), was a Grade 1-placed racehorse herself, winning over $870,000 on the track and capturing the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes. Mopotism was acquired by Don Alberto Corporation for $1.05 million in 2019. Though Mopotism tragically passed away in 2025, her legacy is secure through Journalism and her remaining young offspring.
┌── Smart Strike
┌── Curlin ───┤
│ └── Sheriff's Deputy
JOURNALISM
│ ┌── Uncle Mo
└── Mopotism ─┤
└── Peppy Myna
This blend of Curlin’s classic distance capacity and Uncle Mo’s precocious speed gave Journalism a rare tactical versatility. He could sit off a blistering pace, handle tight traffic, and still produce a devastating late turn of foot.
Breeding Future Champions at Ashford Stud
Coolmore America secured Journalism’s stallion rights during his 3-year-old campaign, recognizing his commercial and athletic value early on. He will now reside at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky—joining an elite roster of stallions that includes Justify, American Pharoah, and Uncle Mo.
Charlie O'Connor of Coolmore highlighted that Journalism possesses all the raw physical attributes breeders look for: size, bone, correct mechanics, and an unquestioned mental toughness. He was a horse who thrived under hard work and never flinched when the fighting got tough.
His stud fee will be announced later this year before he begins covering his first book of mares in early 2027. Given his pedigree and racing record, expect blue-chip breeders to line up fast.
How to Follow Journalism into Retirement
For fans wanting to keep tabs on Journalism as he transitions from elite racehorse to premier stallion, here are the immediate next steps:
- Watch for the 2027 Ashford Stud Roster Announcement: Coolmore usually releases stud fees and roster updates in late autumn.
- Follow Coolmore America Updates: Check their official breeding announcements for photos of Journalism settling into his new Kentucky home.
- Keep an Eye on his Bloodline: Mopotism's 2-year-old filly Magic Queen (by Into Mischief) and her yearling filly by Flightline are next in line to carry this sensational dam line forward.
Journalism leaves behind a racing career defined by class, durability, and relentless heart. His final victory at Del Mar wasn't just another entry in the record books—it was a fitting farewell for a true warrior of the track.
