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Yrpes very frustrating ifcyou money's onm but happen quite often, maybe  Franco Tim today, got tough draw though.

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Gilded Bandit (c, 3, Charlatan–Diamond Ore, by Tapit) had plenty of steam behind him ahead of his debut on the stacked Coolmore Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28. He fired back-to-back bullet drills at Bill Mott's Payson Park base, including a four-furlong move in :48 (1/53) Feb. 20, and was well-supported as the 3-1 second-choice off a 10-1 morning-line quote in a deep six-furlong maiden special weight. The Pin Oak Stud newcomer was quickly outfooted from his wide draw, however, and only had one beaten in ninth through an opening quarter in :22.34. He re-entered the picture in sixth as the race's eventual winner Lincoln's Law (Liam's Map), a half-brother to MGISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), and favored runner-up Quentin B (Promises Fulfilled) continued to do battle up front passing the quarter pole. Guided to the inside by Junior Alvarado for the stretch run, Gilded Bandit came home fastest of all (clocked in splits of :11.75 and :12.40) to finish a promising fourth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in a race dominated on the front end. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.44 over the fast going. Gilded Bandit earned a respectable 76 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. “We were very pleased with his debut,” said Michael Hardy, Pin Oak Stud's Director of Farm Operations. “We are hopeful that he will improve from the experience and graduate next time out. After that, we can start to consider options for the remainder of the year.” Hailing from the first crop of 2020 GI Arkansas Derby and GI Malibu S. winner and 2021 G1 Saudi Cup runner-up Charlatan, Gilded Bandit brought $550,000 from Pin Oak Stud as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. Bred in Kentucky by Taylor Made Stallions Inc., Brunacini Stables, Clearview Stable LLC, et al, the chestnut was produced by the stakes-placed mare Diamond Ore, a half-sister to the gone-too-soon Hall of Famer Arrogate (Unbridled's Song). Diamond Ore RNA'd for $745,000 carrying Gilded Bandit at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Gilded Bandit's fourth dam Meadow Star was the champion 2-year-old filly of 1990. Since launching 'Second Chances' in 2017, 78 maidens have been featured in these pages (through 2025), producing 22% graded stakes winners, 31% stakes winners and 45% stakes horses. The series has introduced eight future winners at the top level, led by 2025 Horse of the Year and dual Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) and fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). Last Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. winner  Commandment (Into Mischief) was profiled in 'Second Chances' following a debut fourth at Keeneland last fall. The post Second Chances: A Rallying Fourth on Debut, Gilded Bandit ‘Will Improve From the Experience’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Growing up, Rebecca Thompson West found herself fully immersed in the agriculture industry, from taking care of her mother's retired show horses to later joining the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Through these experiences, she developed an appreciation for working hands-on and developed a skillset that would serve her long-term. However, when it came time for West to head off to college, she felt an opportunity had revealed itself to break the mold from a life she'd always known and branch out on a new path. Attending West Virginia University (WVU), she spent two years pursuing a degree in biology before coming to the realization that a life spent in the company of horses, based in the agriculture industry, had been the best fit all along. “I was trying to break the idea of 'I grew up doing it, I have to keep doing it,' but I couldn't ignore my passions. After a break year, I came back to school and when I took my first equine class, I thought, 'I have finally found my niche.' From there, I dove in headfirst,” said West. In May of 2023, West graduated with a degree in Agribusiness Management, accompanied by a minor in Equine Science, and worked throughout the summer at WVU's equine studies farm. It was during this time that West was introduced to Amplify's mentorship program, which piqued her interest as an opportunity to expand her professional network in the horse industry while learning more about potential paths. Not longer after applying, West was accepted and paired with Anne Litz, working at the time as the Field Marketing Specialist for the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB). “Growing up in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry, I had an outlet to be involved and to work within that industry, so I've always respected it. However, I know there are barriers to entering it,” explained Litz. “When Amplify started this program and reached out to me, even though I wasn't working directly in racing, I saw it as a chance to connect with people that wanted to be a part of the industry and support it from the inside.” The format of Amplify's mentorship program, a three-month hybrid experience which makes long-distance mentorships possible through the flexibility of meeting virtually or in-person, afforded West an opportunity to get involved in something unlike anything to which she had had access previously. Before being accepted into the program, West's horse experience had given her access to the animals she loved, but didn't necessarily offer any upward mobility in terms of long-term career potential. She was not only ready to apply what she had already learned to a more advanced experience, but also grow her abilities beyond the collegiate level. “The Thoroughbred industry and racing in general are something I've always been interested in, but didn't have the inside knowledge to get more involved. While in college and thinking about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I considered the Kentucky Equine Management Internship [KEMI] program, but that's six months and it's not free,” said West. “I appreciate Amplify's goal of improving access to, not even just the Thoroughbred industry, but the horse industry in general. So many people know about the Triple Crown, but they don't know what goes into the industry itself.” Anne Litz and Rebecca Thompson West | courtesy Rebecca Thompson West Staying in touch through Zoom and FaceTime calls, Litz and West developed a progressive mentor-mentee relationship built upon a foundation of question-and-answer sessions, discussions, and take-home projects that culminated in a day spent together at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale in Timonium, Maryland. “Each call we had, we would dive into more specific parts of the industry Rebecca was interested in. I would give her things to look into, sales to watch and events to look out for, and each time she would come back more immersed in the industry, with even better questions each time,” said Litz. The experience also opened West's eyes to the expansiveness of the equine industry and the opportunities within the state of Maryland. “With most of my equine education coming from college, it was really nice to see how Maryland made such an effort with their horse industry. It inspired me to see that they have their own Horse Industry Board, along with the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center,” said West. “I enjoyed learning about the sales, witnessing the back-end of things and seeing the numbers behind it all. Maybe in the future I could pursue a career in Thoroughbred sales.” Following her time in Amplify's mentorship program, West relocated to Mississippi to support her husband, a member of the military, as he attended tech school. When it came time for him to submit a request for the location of his first duty station, West's husband posed the question to her and the answer was simple: Maryland. Things have come full circle for West, who now works full-time in the horse industry as the Office Manager and Assistant Barn Manager at historic Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, Maryland. “All you can do is benefit from Amplify's mentorship program. You'll gain knowledge and make those connections, not just in the Thoroughbred industry, but within the entire horse industry. Then, you can utilize those connections to branch out,” said West. For Litz, who is now the Executive Director of the MHIB, nothing has been more rewarding than watching West come into her own within the industry. “Rebecca has really developed into a wonderful leader and teammate in the horse industry. I'm just so impressed with how much she's accomplished,” said Litz. “I credit the Amplify team with how willing they were to have me take on a mentee and explore other aspects of the horse industry, outside of racing. Being able to teach my mentee how it all works together is very forward-thinking, not only in our state, but in the country as well.” West's love of horses inspired her to build the foundation for a potential career, but it was Amplify's mentorship program, and her mentor, that opened the door to reveal the opportunities to make that dream a reality. It's something West is now passing on in her current role. “I love seeing the kids that are serious and dedicated to it. They're the ones that give me hope for the horse industry. I pour my heart, time and effort into them, trying very hard to provide them with information to create that pathway if they're interested in working with horses,” said West. “We wouldn't all be here if we didn't love horses and I'm just trying to make sure that there is another generation to come.” Tomorrow's Front Runners is a TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursuing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry. The post Tomorrow’s Front Runners: Amplify Opens Door for West to Pursue Passion Professionally appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lol Betcha have been offering it to anyone recently and heard the TAB is doing the same to some at the mo. Just make sure that you lose or they will not  offer you any bonuses or promotions in the future!

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has agreed funding of £10.5m in grants to support a wide range of projects and initiatives across British racing in 2026. This funding is in addition to the £97.7m already announced for prize money and the regulation and integrity of the sport. The non-fixture grant area supports a significant number of areas including the promotion of racing, people training, welfare and development initiatives, thoroughbred health, horse welfare and aftercare.  HBLB runs annual funding rounds to support non-fixture related grant initiatives. Since 2000, £101.5m has been invested in these areas, including £44.3m for Industry People, Training and Recruitment, £22.6m for Marketing and Promotion, and £6.8m to support Point-to-Point Racing. Alan Delmonte, Chief Executive of HBLB, said: “Levy funding underpins a very substantial range of important activities across the sport, covering widespread projects to benefit the sport's promotion, its horses and its people. The Board is pleased to have been able to continue this significant investment and extend it into new areas for 2026.” The post Horserace Betting Levy Board Confirms £10.5m in Non-Fixture Related Grant Funding in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He won’t be at Flemington this Saturday, but star miler Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is close to beginning his build up towards a racetrack return. Lindsay Park ruled the eight-year-old out of this year’s Autumn Carnival when they discovered a small chip in Mr Brightside’s left fore fetlock last December. Mr Brightside has contested the past four editions of the All-Star Mile, winning it in 2023 before finishing second the past two years. “He’s in great order,” said Ben Hayes, who trains Mr Brightside in partnership with his brothers Will and JD. “He is in the paddock currently and he’s just coming in now to get back on the water walker because we don’t want him to put on too much weight, he’s a very good doer. “He’s come through the surgery excellently, he looks a million dollars, and we look forward to seeing him in the spring.” Despite the absence of Mr Brightside, the Hayes brothers will take a strong team of 11 runners to Flemington on Saturday, highlighted by Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the G1 All-Star Mile and War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) in the G1 Newmarket Handicap. “I thought his first-up run was very good,” Hayes said of Evaporate. “He wasn’t beaten very far, he’s a horse that generally improves into his preps, which he’s shown. He’s got barrier eight, so we’ve got to work out if we’re rolling forward or we’re slotting in yet, I haven’t really had a good chat to Luke (Currie), but I could not fault the horse, we’re really happy with him and think he’ll run a nice, competitive race.” Evaporate is at $16 with Sportsbet for the All-Star Mile. Hayes also believes that Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine can bounce back to form in the Newmarket Handicap. “After his below par run at Pakenham, we freshened him up deliberately and were looking to target the Newmarket,” he said. “He’s had two jumpouts into it, and I thought his last jumpout in particular down the straight was very good, he was so strong through the line. He’s got a good straight record, one from one and I think it’s a track that really suits him. “He’s tightened up again and it wouldn’t surprise me if he can really shake the race as a genuine top three chance.” War Machine is at $12 for the Newmarket Handicap with Sportsbet. View the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the permanent appointment of Brant Dunshea as Chief Executive Officer. Dunshea has been leading the BHA in an acting capacity since December 2024 following the departure of Julie Harrington. He has held several senior positions at British racing's governing and regulatory body since joining the organisation in March 2015, most recently as Chief Regulatory Officer prior to being appointed acting CEO. The BHA board has also approved the appointment of David Jones as Interim Chair. This follows the resignation of Lord Charles Allen on Tuesday 3 March. Jones assumes the role for a second time, having previously filled the position between Joe Saumarez Smith stepping down in January 2025 and Lord Allen formally joining the BHA in September of the same year. He was appointed to the BHA Board in January 2021 as Senior Independent Director, with extensive experience of British racing and the regulation of the sport, including as a BHA steward for more than a decade. Dunshea commented, “I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of the BHA. It is no secret that the sport has experienced a challenging period as it faces up to the process of change at a governance level, but I want to be clear that this has not stopped the BHA and the industry making important progress to safeguard the long-term health of British racing. “The past year has seen growth in racecourse attendances, the success of the Axe The Racing Tax campaign, major initiatives to ensure more horses are raced and retained on our shores and continued improvements in horse and human welfare.” He added, “I know that the incredible team at the BHA shares my deep passion for our sport and is committed to securing a brighter and more sustainable future for our people and horses.It is a huge privilege to be given this opportunity to lead such a knowledgeable and dedicated team at a time of great opportunity for British racing.” The post Brant Dunshea Appointed BHA Chief Executive Officer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

First up this week we have James Stormont on Lovable Rogue. Sitting pretty three deep the fence and comes off the fence at the 400m straight onto the back of the parked horse going backward. Runner behind him said thanks I will take the place instead. Terrible decision.

For real? Imagine how much you'd have to be loosing to get a deal like that. What about all this safer betting crap they go on about. What a bunch of immoral toads.