Alabama-owned horse Coal Battle finishes 11th in 2025 Kentucky Derby
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Hoop Jr. won the Kentucky Derby in 1945. That was the last time an Alabama-owned horse won the big race at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, a businessman in Semmes was hoping to break that streak. Robbie Norman bought a horse named Coal Battle who earned a spot in the 2025 Derby, eight decades since Hoop Jr.’s victory.
And while he didn’t get the garland of roses, Coal Battle still represented the state on the big stage. He finished 11th out of 19 horses, 17 lengths behind the winner Sovereignty.
Coal Battle
Prior to The Two Most Exciting Minutes in Sports, Coal Battle made a name for himself in the qualifiers. He reeled off three consecutive stakes victories, most recently displaying tactical versatility in taking the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park by 1 1/4 lengths.
Saturday’s rain caused for a muddy track in Kentucky, giving some hope for Coal Battle who won each of his two previous wet track races.
Coal Battle had 30-to-1 odds to win prior to the race. He spent the first half of the race off the rail, trying to make a move through the front group but once the final straightaway arrived, Coal Battle struggled to keep up.
In the end, Norman’s horse finished 11th out of the 19 horses in the race.
Robbie Norman
According to an article from Trainer Magazine, Norman went to Troy University and majored in accounting before taking a job in a grocery warehouse.
Just over a decade ago though, he shifted his focus to a new venture—horse racing.
Two years ago, Norman spent $70,000 on the Louisiana horse that would eventually lead him to the Kentucky Derby. Coal Battle has turned into $1.2 million in race winnings over the last two years.
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