Joe Drape

I am a New York Times reporter writing about how the intersection of money, power and sports impacts our culture.

What I Cover

I focus on personalities and tales that appeal to a general audience as well as to sports fans.

My Background

I joined The Times in 1998 to cover college football and basketball. I also added horse racing to my portfolio. In 2004, I became an enterprise reporter across all sports, including the N.F.L., N.B.A and the NCAA. I have led award winning investigations on doping in horse racing, the rise and fall of daily fantasy sports and how the pandemic impacted the sports economy. I am a Kansas City native, a graduate of Southern Methodist University and have worked previously on the Metro Desk of the Dallas Morning News and as a national correspondent for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Because of my roots, I am very interested in stories that tell us what is going on in between the coasts. I have written seven best-selling books, including the New York Times best sellers, “Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen” and “American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise.” My latest book is “The Saint Makers: Inside the Catholic Church and How a War Hero Inspired a Journey of Faith.”

Journalistic Ethics

Like all Times journalists I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I want all of my work to be accurate and fair. I protect my sources. I make every effort to understand issues from multiple angles. When I am working, I always identify myself as a reporter for The Times.

Contact Me

Email: [email protected]
X: @joedrape

Anonymous tips:nytimes.com/tips

Latest

With Belmont in Saratoga, Horse Racing’s History and Hope Are Linked
The storied track is hosting the Triple Crown race as progress around safety and increased capital investment lift the battered sport’s prospects.
By Joe Drape
Barred by Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert Is Welcomed at the Preakness
Controversy over doping and horse deaths has trailed the successful trainer for several years, but deep-pocketed owners have stuck by him.
By Joe Drape
How Humans Failed Racehorses
An exploration of the troubled state of horse racing in the U.S.
By Joe Drape
TimesVideo
Our Reporter on Safety at the Kentucky Derby
At the 150th Kentucky Derby, the sport is grappling with how to ensure the safety of racehorses.
By Joe Drape, Gabriel Blanco and Claire Hogan
Horse Racing’s Loudest Critic Is Favored in Its Biggest Race
The brash owner Mike Repole will take a break from tweaking horse racing’s powers when his colt Fierceness runs in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
By Joe Drape
As Kentucky Derby Nears, Last Year’s Deaths Cast Long Shadow
The breakdown of 12 horses in the days surrounding the celebrated race a year ago has led to existential questions about the sport and its future.
By Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert
Times Insider
We Watched Horses Die on the Track. Will Anything Change?
Last year, 12 horses died at Churchill Downs, and another 13 died at Saratoga. In a new documentary, two reporters examine the issues surrounding the sport.
By Melissa Hoppert
How S.M.U., Once the Rogue of College Sports, Got Back to the Big Time
For those wanting to trace the evolution of money and college sports over the past half-century, Southern Methodist offers a perfect example.
By Joe Drape
Leagues Have More Than Just Players to Watch on Gambling
The wagering situation involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter shows that people adjacent to the players and coaches can also be a risk.
By Ken Belson and Joe Drape
With Fans Ever More Fickle, Sports Leagues Warm to Rule Changes
Baseball’s pitch clock is just one example of how professional sports are competing for public attention in an ever-evolving entertainment world.
By Joe Drape and Tania Ganguli