A unique encounter occurred this past Friday, May 2nd, 2025, as Metallica frontman James Hetfield met Sandman, a three-year-old equine namesake of the band’s legendary 1991 song, “Enter Sandman.” The gray colt, which was bred in Kentucky and is trained by Mark Casse, was among the twenty horses anticipated to compete in the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, which took place just yesterday, Saturday, May 3rd.
Earlier in the year, Metallica showed their support by providing band t-shirts for the horse’s barn crew. This gesture was highlighted a couple of weeks ago on the official Kentucky Derby Facebook page, featuring a picture of Casse’s workers proudly wearing the Metallica merchandise, with Sandman himself looking on. The post gratefully acknowledged the band’s contribution, stating: “Shout out to METALLICA for outfitting the Casse barn with merch!”
The inspiration for the horse’s name comes from one of his owners, Jonathan Green. As reported by The Sporting News, Green is a significant fan of Hall of Fame New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, who famously entered games to the sounds of “Enter Sandman.” Green bestowed the name upon the horse hoping he would possess the same powerful finishing ability as the legendary closer. The track itself remains a cornerstone of Metallica‘s catalog, having climbed to number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991.
The Kentucky Derby, known as “The Run for the Roses,” is a historic 1.25-mile race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually on the first Saturday of May. It stands as North America’s longest continuously held major sporting event and serves as the first leg of the coveted Triple Crown series in horse racing.
In other news from Metallica, they are launching re-release of their multiplatinum 1996 album, Load. Scheduled for release on June 13, 2025, via the band’s own Blackened Recordings, the reissue has been remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, with longtime producer Greg Fidelman overseeing the project.
The remastered Load will be available in various formats, including standard 180g 2LP, CD, cassette, and digital (featuring a Spatial Audio mix). Expanded 3CD and deluxe digital versions will also be offered. Notably, several formats, including the 2LP and expanded editions, will feature the extended version of “The Outlaw Torn” for the first time, which was originally shortened due to CD time constraints.
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