Rowan Ward

Rowan Ward

Rowan Ward is a horse racing writer and handicapper based in Chicago, with more than a decade of experience following and betting on the sport. They have been attending the races regularly since the 2013 Arlington Million and have become a familiar presence on the local circuit, especially at Hawthorne Race Course.

Their racing coverage focuses on national stakes races, Chicago-area racing, and pedigree analysis. Author profiles on betting sites describe Rowan as someone who values pace-based handicapping, with a particular interest in local Chicago races, major stakes contests around the country, and two-year-old maiden races with strong bloodlines.

Beyond local racing, Rowan has attended some of the sport’s biggest events, including the Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby, and Woodbine Mile. Their work has appeared on their own blog and across horse racing websites, and they are also listed by America’s Best Racing as a chartcaller at Hawthorne Race Track.

Education

BA, University of Chicago.
JD, Washington University in St. Louis.

Professional Achievements


  • Chartcaller at Hawthorne Race Track

  • More than a decade attending and handicapping races in Chicago

  • Published sports writer with extensive coverage across regional platforms

Latest from Rowan Ward

Florida Derby: Gulfstream-loving Nearly can extend win streak

2026/03/26

The best Kentucky Derby prep race yet happens Saturday, March 28 at Gulfstream: the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby. Like all the races this time of year, it offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points, meaning at least the top two finishers, and possibly more, will make it to Louisville. But, no prep yet has been […]
Cheltenham Gold Cup Haiti Couleurs well suited to distance

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Haiti Couleurs is well suited to distance

2026/03/12

The best staying steeplechasers in the world line up Friday, March 13 for the £625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1), the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival. A field of 11 top jumpers will navigate 22 fences over a testing distance of three miles and 2 ½ furlongs. The field is wide-open this year, too, making […]
Fountain of Youth Commandment can make Kentucky Derby trail impact

Fountain of Youth: Commandment can make Kentucky Derby trail impact

2026/02/25

The Gulfstream Park spur of the Kentucky Derby trail reaches fever pitch Saturday, February 28 with the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile race offers 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its top five finishers, meaning the winner is virtually assured a spot in the Run for the Roses. A deep […]
John Battaglia Memorial Two Out Hero can stand tall on return

John Battaglia Memorial: Two Out Hero can stand tall on return

2026/02/19

Turfway’s spur of the Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway Saturday, February 21 with the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes! The race offers a $175,000 purse as well as 20-10-6-4-2 points toward Kentucky Derby qualification – enough to put the winner well on their way to a berth in the Run for the Roses, and […]
Pegasus World Cup all roads lead through Tappan Street

Pegasus World Cup: All roads lead through Tappan Street

2026/01/22

The first top-level showcase of the year in the older-horse dirt division happens Saturday, January 24 in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park! The 1 ⅛-mile dirt race offers a colossal $3 million purse, one of the biggest of the year, and its winner is in the driver’s seat heading into the year. With […]
Lecomte Stakes All Systems Go for Stop the Car

Lecomte Stakes: It's all systems go for Stop the Car

2026/01/15

The Fair Grounds spur of the Kentucky Derby trail heats up Saturday, January 17 in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes! The $250,000 race drew a field of 11 exciting three-year-olds to battle for not only that purse, but 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Kentucky Derby trail. The big field makes it one of the most exciting […]
Arima Kinen Museum Mile ready for masterpiece

Arima Kinen: Museum Mile is ready for a masterpiece

2025/12/29

The most eagerly awaited race of the year in Japan, the Group 1 Arima Kinen, happens Sunday, December 28 at Nakayama. The 2,500-meter turf race offers a purse of ¥955 million (US$6.1 million), one of the biggest of any race in the world, and the race drew a full field of 16 top-class horses between […]
Breeders Cup Classic Local Prep Key for Fierceness

Breeders' Cup Classic: Local prep is key for Fierceness

2025/10/31

Anyone who bets on horse racing makes sure to play the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar. The richest race of the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting, the race drew the best Classic-distance dirt route horses for an epic clash. At stake is not only a huge purse, but a […]
Arc de Triomphe Minnie Hauk looms large but longshots can go close

Arc de Triomphe: Minnie Hauk looms large but longshots can go close

2025/10/03

Sunday, October 5 at ParisLongchamp is the most prestigious turf race in the world: the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe! The race draws the best 1 ½-mile turf horses from around the world to battle for the glory of winning one of the world’s great races. The spoils are rich, too: a €5 […]
Gosger can work right trip in Pennsylvania Derby

Pennsylvania Derby: Gosger can work the right trip

2025/09/18

The last big opportunity for the three-year-old classic crop to chase a seven-figure purse against their own age group happens Saturday, September 20 in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. The 1 ⅛-mile dirt race drew a field of 10 headlined by Baeza and Gosger, two Triple-Crown placegetters who finally get to […]
Natalma Stakes Dixie Law price play in competitive turf race

Natalma Stakes: Dixie Law is price play in competitive turf race

2025/09/11

Top juvenile grass fillies take the spotlight Saturday, September 13 as part of Turf Champions Day at Woodbine in the Grade 1, $500,000 Natalma Stakes! The race covers one mile on the inner turf, and at stake is not only a lucrative purse but also an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. […]
Travers Stakes Sovereignty can stay atop division

Travers Stakes: Sovereignty can stay atop the division

2025/08/21

The richest and most exciting race of the summer at Saratoga Race Course happens Saturday, August 23: the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes! Since 1864, many of the best horses have shown up to Saratoga to try the Travers…and, with so many notorious upsets in the race, it is always one of the most […]
Arlington Million Fort Washington spotlight

Arlington Million: Fort Washington can step into spotlight

2025/08/07

Older turf routers take the stage Saturday, August 9 in the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. The world’s first million-dollar Thoroughbred horse race when it began in 1981 at Arlington Park, this jewel of the American turf racing season has outlasted its original home track, which hosted its last live racing season in […]
Haskell Journalism ready for triumphant return

Haskell Stakes: Preakness winner Journalism is ready for triumphant return

2025/07/17

The Haskell Stakes (G1) happens Saturday, July 19 at Monmouth Park! The $1 million race covers 1 ⅛ miles on the dirt, and it is the first major summer race for three-year-old main-track horses in the summer. Some of the sport’s greats have won this race: American Pharoah, Holy Bull, Rachel Alexandra, Serena’s Song, and […]
Division Leader She Feels Pretty can shine once more

Diana Stakes: Division leader She Feels Pretty can shine once more

2025/07/11

The best older turf fillies and mares in the country clash Saturday, July 12 in the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. The 1 ⅛-mile grass race, open to female horses aged four and older, is a perennial showcase of the best middle-distance turf mares in the country, and sometimes even from abroad. Horses who […]
Belmont Stakes Baeza can step into spotlight

Belmont Stakes 2025: Baeza can step into spotlight

2025/06/04

The Triple Crown draws to a close with the 2025 Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7. With Belmont Park under construction until 2026, the race is at Saratoga one more time, at 1 ¼ miles on the dirt. Next year, it will return to its traditional course and distance, 1 ½ miles on the Belmont […]
Kentucky Derby Burnham Square right trip

Kentucky Derby 2025: Burnham Square can work the right trip

2025/04/29

Whether you’ve been betting horses for years or you’re curious to do it for the first time, betting the Kentucky Derby is an opportunity you cannot miss! The race happens Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs, and it’s the best betting race of the year. 20 of the best three-year-olds line up to go a […]

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