Bregman's Horse Wins at Churchill Downs With Cubs Team Watching — SkimNews
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- Alex Bregman's horse Act of Parliament won a race at Churchill Downs on Thursday night with the entire Cubs roster in attendance during a team off day that fell before their Cincinnati series, roughly 90 minutes from Louisville.
- Jockey Axel Concepcion rode Act of Parliament to victory, and teammates celebrated by putting Concepcion on their shoulders while reliever Ryan Rolison wore a full horse costume he estimated felt like 100 degrees and plans to reuse for Halloween.
- Bregman has hit .305/.384/.623 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI in the second half of 2026, trailing only teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong in second-half WAR across all of baseball and ranking second in slugging, fourth in home runs, and second in RBI.
- Manager Craig Counsell called Churchill Downs 'like a Wrigley Field for horse racing' and praised Bregman as 'a relentless competitor' and 'baseball junkie' who is 'always looking for ways to get an advantage.'
- Bregman called the win 'probably the most memorable' of his racing experience despite being 'the smallest' race they'd won, emphasizing team chemistry over prize.
- The Cubs entered the weekend holding the National League's top wild-card spot with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Why it matters: Bregman's .305/.384/.623 second-half line and 17-home-run surge — trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong in NL second-half WAR — have transformed a disappointing first half into an NL MVP-caliber push, and the team-bonding trip shows a clubhouse peaking at the right moment as they sit atop the NL wild-card race with nine games left.
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