LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Saturday, more than 150,000 spectators are expected to descend on the famed Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, but the story of race day begins long before the crowd arrives.

For those behind the scenes, Derby Day on May 2 isn’t about crisp mint juleps and eye-catching hats. It’s the culmination of years of training, millions in investment and the final hours when it all comes together.

And spectators willing to spend a pretty penny for the elite experience could dole out approximately $16,800 for a seat at a table above the track, while costs listed on the website for private turf suites start at $280,000.

«It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these horses,» Stan Bowling, lead tour guide at the Kentucky Derby Museum, told Fox News Digital. And some fans feel the same way.

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Only 3-year-old thoroughbreds can qualify for the race, with training that begins early and intensifies in the years leading up to the Kentucky Derby, affectionately called the «fastest two minutes in sports.»

«A lot is riding on that two minutes and a little bit of change for all these owners, trainers and jockeys,» said Bowling, a Kentucky native who has attended the race 28 times. «There are no do-overs on this track.»

While the race itself is quick, the road to Churchill Downs is anything but. Along the way, horses earn points through qualifying races, while trainers manage every detail to ensure the thoroughbreds peak at precisely the right moment.

Qualifying horses arrive in early March to adjust to the track and settle into life at Churchill Downs, which hosts roughly 750 races each year. But no other race on that track carries the same weight of the Kentucky Derby, the 12th in a 14-race lineup that anchors the day’s events.

«Every morning, from mid-March through the end of the year, the horses are going to be out on the track training between 5:30 and 10 a.m.,» Bowling said as he steered a golf cart beneath the famed track toward what’s known as the backside.

He noted that, by mid-March, approximately 1,400 horses arrive at the stalls.

A qualifying horse during an early morning training session on the track at Churchill Downs. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

It’s here, beyond the grandstands and away from the pageantry, that Churchill Downs takes on a different identity. The backside operates like a small, self-contained community, with 47 barns housing the horses and as many as 600 workers living and working on site.

The grounds include a chapel and even a small school, part of a self-contained world that runs parallel to the spectacle just steps away.

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The backside stretches across rows of mostly nondescript stalls, punctuated by a few bearing the names of famed horses and their jockeys.

«Want to take a guess how much it costs to rent one of these stalls at the most famous racetrack in the world?» Bowling asked.

«$7.50.»

About 1,400 horses fill the stables across the sprawling grounds of Churchill Downs. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

That modest fee is just a starting point, a small figure compared to the millions that can go into preparing a single horse over the course of its training and care.

That level of investment is mirrored in the fan experience, where attending the Derby comes at a steep price.

«It’s an expensive ticket, I will grant you that, but, for most people, coming to see the Kentucky Derby is a bucket list event,» Bowling said.

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Tickets range from about $160 for access to the 26-acre grassy infield, where the race is watched on large screens, to about $800 for one of the cheapest seats in the grandstand.

For grandstand ticket holders, food, alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price, along with entry to races held on both Friday and Saturday.

«Among the 60,000 grandstand seats, those closer to the track and farther from the finish line tend to be the least expensive,» he added.

At the higher end, prices climb steeply.

A view of the Kentucky Derby grandstand at Churchill Downs, where seats can range from $1,000 to more than $16,000. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

«If you want to be in the Woodford Reserve Paddock Club for a very unique, elite experience, a table on the glass for six would cost you $16,800 a seat,» Darren Rogers of Churchill Downs told Fox News Digital.

«We have a number of different levels of packages to suit the experience guests are looking for, especially out-of-towners and bucket-list visitors.»

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Meanwhile, tickets on a typical non-Kentucky Derby race day can cost as little as $10.

But, for many, the lofty price is worth paying for a fleeting moment — two minutes that carry years of work, millions of dollars and a lifetime of ambition.

En Ecuador, los asesinos seriales no han sido un fenómeno masivo, pero sí profundamente perturbador. A diferencia de países donde estos casos forman parte de un patrón criminológico más frecuente, en el país andino su aparición ha sido esporádica, casi siempre rodeada de conmoción social, cobertura intensa y preguntas incómodas sobre el sistema de justicia, la salud mental y las condiciones sociales que rodean estos crímenes.

El reciente caso de Andreína Lamota, una mujer condenada por el asesinato de su madre y vinculada a otro crimen previo, reabrió una discusión que parecía dormida: la existencia de homicidas con patrones repetitivos en el país y la dificultad para detectarlos a tiempo.

El nombre que inevitablemente aparece en cualquier recuento es el de Juan Fernando Hermosa. A inicios de la década de 1990, cuando Quito aún no dimensionaba la magnitud de lo que ocurría, Hermosa, un adolescente de apenas 15 años, asesinó a múltiples personas en una cadena de crímenes que generó pánico colectivo.

Sus víctimas incluían taxistas y conductores, y su forma de operar combinaba violencia directa con una frialdad que desconcertó incluso a investigadores experimentados. La prensa lo bautizó como el “Niño del Terror”, un apelativo que reflejaba tanto su edad como la crudeza de sus actos. Su caso marcó un antes y un después en la percepción de la violencia criminal en Ecuador.

Una década más tarde, otro nombre sacudiría no solo al país, sino también a Europa: Gilberto Chamba. Su historia expuso una grieta institucional difícil de ignorar. Tras haber sido condenado en Ecuador por el asesinato de varias mujeres, Chamba recuperó la libertad en medio de decisiones judiciales controvertidas. Migró a España, donde volvió a matar. Fue finalmente condenado a una larga pena de prisión.

Pero no todos los casos están tan documentados o han tenido la misma cobertura internacional. En registros policiales y estudios criminológicos aparecen nombres como William Cumbajín, Luis Taipe o Mario Bermello, asociados a homicidios múltiples con patrones que, aunque menos mediáticos, cumplen con los criterios de criminalidad serial.

En estos casos, las víctimas solían pertenecer a entornos vulnerables, lo que contribuyó a que los crímenes permanecieran más tiempo fuera del radar público.

También hay hechos que, aunque no corresponden a ciudadanos ecuatorianos, dejaron una huella profunda en el país. Uno de ellos es el de Daniel Camargo, quien en la década de 1980 confesó decenas de asesinatos de niñas y adolescentes en varios países, incluido Ecuador. Su presencia generó alarma regional y obligó a repensar la cooperación internacional en materia de investigación criminal. Durante meses, su nombre estuvo asociado al miedo en distintas ciudades, en una época donde los sistemas de información y coordinación eran limitados.

El caso más reciente, el de Andreína Lamota, introduce un elemento poco común en la historia criminal del país: el de una mujer con un posible patrón serial. Según las investigaciones, Lamota no solo fue responsable del asesinato de su madre -a quien mató, descuartizó y escondió en una lavadora–, sino que también estaría vinculada a la muerte de una amiga años antes.

Aunque cada uno de estos casos tiene particularidades propias, existen elementos comunes: la baja frecuencia del fenómeno en Ecuador no implica menor gravedad. Cada caso ha tenido un impacto desproporcionado en la opinión pública, precisamente por su carácter inusual. Además, varios de estos episodios evidencian debilidades institucionales, ya sea en la detección temprana, en el seguimiento de antecedentes o en la coordinación entre entidades.

Asimismo, la evolución de los perfiles sugiere que estos crímenes ya no responden únicamente a contextos de marginalidad extrema, sino también a dinámicas más complejas que incluyen planificación, ocultamiento y, en algunos casos, integración social aparente.

El interés que despiertan estos casos no es nuevo, pero sí revela algo más profundo: la inquietud social frente a formas de violencia que rompen con lo esperado. Un homicidio puede ser interpretado como un hecho aislado dentro de un contexto de inseguridad generalizada. Pero cuando se identifican patrones, cuando el crimen se repite con cierta lógica interna, la percepción cambia.

Aparece la idea de una amenaza persistente, difícil de anticipar, que desafía tanto a las instituciones como a la comprensión colectiva de la violencia.

After a month on the sidelines, the 2026 primary season is back with a vengeance.

A dozen states from coast to coast hold primaries or runoffs in May, and the results of those nomination contests may ultimately determine the outcomes of November’s midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their slim Senate and razor-thin House majorities.

Also on the line in some of the ballot box showdowns: President Donald Trump’s immense sway over the GOP, as his endorsements in key races will be tested.

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Indiana and Ohio kick off the action on May 5, with Nebraska and West Virginia holding primaries a week later, on May 12. Louisiana’s nominating contest follows on Saturday, May 16. Three days later marks the busiest day of the month, with Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania holding primaries. Texas wraps up May with runoff showdowns on May 26.

Here’s a closer look at some of the top races.

MAY 5 – Indiana and Ohio

The first major test of Trump’s grip on the GOP comes in Indiana.

Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given solidly red Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to eight GOP state senators who voted against the redistricting bill.

The president’s allies have spent millions of dollars to try to oust the state lawmakers who opposed Trump’s redistricting push. Among those in the political fight on behalf of the president are Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth.

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Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith announces the results of a vote to redistrict the state’s congressional map at the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11, 2025. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

The intra-party battle is seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP.

«We’ve got to change those old-style Republicans, put in people who will fight, fight against the Democrat gerrymandering,» Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital.

McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, said «I want to see my state do the right thing.»

In neighboring Ohio, there’s a lot less drama.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur and business leader who grabbed national attention during his bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination before dropping out and becoming a top Trump surrogate, is all but certain to capture the Republican gubernatorial nomination in his home state. Ramaswamy, who is backed by Trump, will face off in November against Dr. Amy Acton, a doctor and researcher who served as director of the state Department of Health from 2019 to 2020. Acton is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The winner will succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine.

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Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2025. (Jon Cherry/AP)

It’s the same story in Ohio’s Senate primary, where appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted, a former lieutenant governor, is unopposed in the GOP primary. Former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is expected to cruise to his party’s nomination. The winner will serve the final two years of the term of Vice President JD Vance, who stepped down from the Senate after the Trump-Vance ticket won the 2024 presidential election.

Once a top general election battleground state, Ohio has shifted to the right over the past decade, with Trump carrying the state by 11 points in the 2024 election. But this year’s races for the Senate and governor are expected to be very competitive. And the Senate race is one of a handful across the country that may determine if the GOP holds the majority or if the Democrats flip the chamber.

May 16 – Louisiana

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is facing primary challenges from two Republicans: Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming, who is currently the state treasurer. Trump earlier this year weighed into the race by endorsing Letlow.

Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate.

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Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., seen speaking during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17, 2025, is facing a rough road to re-election this year. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But since the start of Trump’s second term 15 months ago, Cassidy has been supportive of the president’s agenda and his nominees.

If no candidate cracks 50% of the primary vote, the top two finishers will face off for the nomination in a June 27 runoff election.

May 19 – Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania

The third major test of Trump’s endorsement power this month is in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, where Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Ed Gallrein.

Massie has long been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress, repeatedly taking aim at the president over the Epstein files and foreign policy.

Rep. Thomas Massie arrives for a House vote on the funding bill to reopen the government in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 3, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump allies have spent big bucks to boost Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and to take aim at Massie.

The president’s endorsement is also being tested in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial nomination, in the 2026 race to succeed popular conservative Gov. Brian Kemp, who is term limited.

Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is trading fire in a competitive and combustible battle with healthcare executive and mega GOP donor Rick Jackson, who has infused millions of his own money in his bid. Among the others battling for the nomination in a crowded Republican field are state Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

GOP candidates for Georgia governor, Rick Jackson, left, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, right, are pictured with President Donald Trump as they campaign as Trump loyalists. (Getty Images/Rick Jackson)

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who later served in then-President Joe Biden’s administration, is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Among the other contenders in the crowded field of candidates are Mike Thurmond, a former DeKalb County CEO and former state Labor Commissioner, and former Republican lieutenant governor turned Democrat Geoff Duncan.

Republicans are hoping to flip the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs this year in Georgia. The GOP views first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election this year. But beating Ossoff, who has built a massive war chest, won’t be easy in the southeastern battleground state.

Making matters worse for the GOP: There’s a nasty primary between major contenders Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former college football coach Derek Dooley, who is backed by Kemp. Trump has remained neutral to date in the Senate primary in Georgia.

May 26 – Texas

Longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn is fighting for his political life as he faces off in a runoff election against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is a MAGA firebrand and major Trump supporter.

Trump has stayed neutral in the showdown between the two Republican titans in right-leaning Texas.

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, left, faces Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a GOP primary runoff election. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Cornyn narrowly edged Paxton in an early March GOP primary that also included Rep. Wesley Hunt, but with no candidate topping 50%, Cornyn and Paxton advanced to the runoff.

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The winner of the runoff will face off in November with Democratic nominee James Talarico, a state representative and rising Democratic Party star who hauled in an eye-popping $27 million in fundraising the first three months of this year.

Democrats are confident, and Republicans are concerned, that if Paxton wins the GOP nomination, Republicans will have a harder time in the general election holding the seat. And similar to the Senate race in Ohio, the showdown in Texas is one of a handful across the country that may determine if the GOP holds the majority.