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In this BH monthly interview, Karen M. Johnson profiles young racing personalities. View the full article

Industry Voices, Christine Sanchez outlines the need for finding ways to keep horses in training.View the full article

Good work, few of mine raring to go today, literally, not in the way I wanted, that's horses.

With less than five weeks until the first leg of the 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February – and with the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March on the horizon, Karaka graduate Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) is on the march after recently posting his third successive victory. While only relatively new to the Hong Kong scene, Newnham knows what it takes to give the Classic Series a shake after he prepared My Wish to snare last season’s Hong Kong Classic Mile before running second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby. “You’d say he’d have to be in the top three (favourites for the Hong Kong Classic Mile) at the moment. He’s improved every run and that’s what you need to keep doing,” said Newnham. “I was in a similar position last year with My Wish and he improved all the way through, so we’re hopeful that we can do the same thing this year.” Secured by Newnham for the Ibis Syndicate from the Kilgravin Lodge draft at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Invincible Ibis posted two seconds from as many starts as a three-year-old in his debut season before returning a more mature animal this season. After finishing third on the opening day of the 2025/26 season, Invincible Ibis has reeled off three straight victories culminating in a one-and-three-quarter-length victory under Zac Purton in the Class 3 Poinsettia Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on 20 December. It was that most recent victory over a mile that gives Newnham confidence that his son of Hellbent will be competitive deep into the Four-Year-Old series. Settled on the fence behind midfield by Purton, $2.95 chance Invincible Ibis took ground off his rivals on turning before coming off the rail soon after straightening, attacking the gap when it presented and striding clear of his rivals, which included fellow Four-Year-Old Classic Series hopefuls Fortune Boy (NZ) (Contributer) and Dazzling Fit (NZ) (Ribchester). “That was important because as we work through the whole four-year-old series he’s going to have to go past a mile,” said the trainer. “He’s got the right racing pattern for it – he relaxes well during his races so he gives himself every opportunity to finish the race off if he’s conserved energy. “He gives himself every opportunity to run further than a mile. They went fairly steady the other day but he still had to finish the race off. “He looked like he still had more to give over the last 100m, so things are trending in the right direction.” Before trying to emulate the feats of My Wish, who has gone on to be a strong Group 1 performer, Invincible Ibis will have one more chance to add to his mark of 83 when he runs in a Class 3 1600m contest restricted to four-year-olds at Sha Tin on 11 January. View the full article

Last Friday was a bittersweet day for White Robe Lodge. The Otago stud farm lost their Group One-producing stallion Ghibellines, but their fortunes quickly took a turn for the better when their young sire Ancient Spirit recorded his first stakes win when his daughter Bobby Mcgee (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) took out the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) down the road at Wingatui. “It was a good result, we thought that filly was above average and she won well,” White Robe Lodge Stud Manager Wayne Stewart said. While saddened by the passing of Ghibellines, the southern horseman is choosing to take a silver lining view to recent events. “It was a sad day what happened before that but there are plenty of good things to look forward to,” he said. A son of champion sire Shamardal and Group One-winning mare Camarilla, Ghibellines was a half-brother to four-time Group One winner Guelph and Dazzler, the dam of triple Group One winner and subsequent Group One-producing sire Bivouac. Ghibellines had just the eight career starts, all at stakes level, with his highlight being victory in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m), while he also placed in the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) and Listed Canonbury Stakes (1100m). He retired to stud at White Robe Lodge where he sired nine stakes winners, including Group One winner Smokin’ Romans. “He consistently left reasonable horses right from the start,” Stewart said. “He left that Dunedin Guineas winner (El Gladiador) in his first crop and most seasons he had multiple winners. “As time went on, they did take a wee bit of time to develop and mature, and today’s market is hard, people want those two and three-year-old winners. He did a good job, he was a good bread and butter sire.” The farm is now looking forward to the future with their two stallions, Ancient Spirit and Alflaila, with the latter having just finished serving his first book of mares. Stewart was buoyed by Ancient Spirit’s stakes-winning result last week, and is hopeful other promising horses from the same crop can build on his momentum. “He has had quite a few three-year-old runners and we always thought his best would be in the autumn, so it is always really nice to get spring horses,” he said. “He has never covered big books of mares, but he has had good quality books of mares. He has got a good chance. “He has had quite a few placegetters lately that have been a bit unlucky so hopefully they turn into winners now.” That next win could come at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day where his promising daughter Fly Zenno (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) will line-up in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). Bred by Stewart and his wife Karen, Fly Zenno was offered through White Robe Lodge’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by Conor and Sarah Fahy, under their Kawa Park banner, for $30,000. She showed promise when runner-up over a mile at Ellerslie earlier this month and Stewart said she will be ideally suited to the step-up to 2000m on Thursday. “She is bred to get a trip. She is from a lovely family,” Stewart said of the half-sister to stakes winner New York Minute. “I know they have always thought that she could be an Oaks type of filly, so it would be good to head that way. 2000m should suit her really well.” White Robe Lodge will head to Karaka next month with two yearlings in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 2 Sale, including 579, an Ancient Spirit colt out of stakes winner Ortem Fire, a half-sister to Group Three winner Inferno, the dam of Smokin’ Romans. View the full article

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are hoping a couple of their runners can bounce back from subpar showings at Ellerslie on Boxing Day when they return to the Auckland track on New Year’s Day. Six-year-old gelding Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘N Pop) has been a model of consistency for most of his preparation, posting a series of fourth placings, including in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), before securing black-type when third in last month’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). Injury ruled him out of the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) earlier this month, but he resumed in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day where he beat just the one runner home in the nine-horse field. His trainers have been pleased with the way he has come through the race and they are looking forward to getting him back to handicap conditions on Thursday in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m), where he will carry 53kg. “He had a little bit of an issue, a slight muscle twinge, before the Waikato Cup so he missed a bit of work,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “It (Zabeel Classic) was a very strange run race. If you took into account he finished just under three-lengths away from El Vencedor and Waitak, it wasn’t too bad under weight-for-age conditions. “I wasn’t totally disappointed in his run. He has been at the beach after the race and he had an easy bit of work yesterday (Monday) and he seems nice and bright. “I expect him to improve and obviously under handicap conditions he is a lot better.” Aftermath has drawn barrier 10 and will be ridden by Joe Doyle. “Joe can just see how he jumps and get him across,” Clotworthy said. “He did relax the other day, even off that slow pace, which I was pleased with. He can get in a habit of going quite fierce. Hopefully he can get him into a nice rhythm.” Stablemate Pulsatilla (NZ) (Redwood) will also be looking to bounce back to form when she contests the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). The three-year-old daughter of Redwood won the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) impressively last month before disappointing when seventh in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. The filly has been mixing her form, and Clotworthy is hoping the step up to 2000m can help her return to her winning ways. “She was a touch disappointing in the Eight Carat,” he said. “She looked like she was going to come into the race and then she battled on a bit. She may just be looking for the 2000m already.” On the undercard, the stable will also be represented by Espadas (Ace High) in the TAB 1200 and Jack Crabb (NZ) (Redwood) in the Horizon by SkyCity 1600. “It was disappointing on Boxing Day having to late scratch (Espadas) after pulling his shoe off. He is a big, strong horse and a good galloper. He has drawn the outside (13), but he will still start and we are happy with him. He is a good animal on his day. “Jack Crabb has drawn a nice barrier (1) and has blinkers on for the first time. His work was good the other morning, it is a good stake and he will take his place, he is there to win.” Meanwhile, Clotworthy said he and his fellow $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot holder syndicate members are still in search of their representative ahead of the March feature. “We are still looking,” he said. “We haven’t secured anything yet but we have got a couple of irons in the fire, so we will just see what happens over this next week of racing. There is still a bit of time, so we are not in a panic yet. “The first year was great and it has been a great experience and all of our crew have really enjoyed it. It is just trying to find the right horse.” View the full article

Everyone at Kurow will be breathing a sigh of relief, done and dusted, bet that happens more often than night.

The Mot nearly broke 2 million, according to HRNZ, knocks off Westport in 2020 for the record, and Cambridge last week was up a long way but the fields did have great depth for once, but it still comes down to per race so figures could be a bit sqewd.

So rain does not affect large town/city tracks then?

Maybe be nothing but have noted that the top TA horses, seem to put in a blinder of a race every so often, against top horses What You Wish For - Taupo Cup Qali Al Farrasha - Thoroughbred Breeders Quintessa - Proisir Plate

Something doesn't quite add up though. The sectionals and margins don't match up. Just a gut feel and the gut is suffering at this time of year.

I happened to have a couple of beers purely by chance with Royden Bergerson after a friends horse recently won a Grp 2 trained by Te Akau. I asked him why didn't Sam go into partnership with him and Royden replied that he told Sam that if he wanted to learn as much as he could in NZ then he was best to sign up at Te Akau. Not many people realise that Te Akau Stud/Stable employ 120+ people.

That last 600m sounds slower than it looked! 2:02.5 is a good time on that track. If you look at the sectionals he just kept winding up over the last 800m with the last 200m being the fastest.

After spending time in his native Canada, Gas Me Up won in his first attempt down Santa Anita Park's hillside course to capture the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T).View the full article

How broad is that brush? The industry tends to over react to some things and goes over and above the Court system. In my opinion that doesn't achieve anything except raising the bar higher than applies to society as a whole and creates unnecessary exposure and focus. At the end of the day that focus defeats the intent of having higher penalties. Australian racing relates better to its population because well they don't pretend to be any better than the rest of society.

I am surprised Kurow lasted this long... Rain on a NZ country track spells abandoned 50% of the time

Thats a good insight in to TA. Looks like a great beginning for those wanting a start? Well done.

We need leaders with integrity and morals. 'We' meaning trainers, owners, employees and punters. Cull those who bring this industry into disrepute. Let them train but thats it, no senior roles or board membership. Simple.

In the days leading up to and after Christmas, parties on both sides of the pending class-action lawsuit involving computer-assisted wagering (CAW) have sparred in federal court over whether allegations that the nation's biggest racetracks have conspired with “insider” high-volume bettors to rig pari-mutuel pools at the expense of average horseplayers constitute valid claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The defendants in the lawsuit-which include The Stronach Group (TSG), Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), the New York Racing Association (NYRA), AmTote International, United Tote and Elite Turf Club-have yet to submit legal responses to the litigation. But those entities all filed letters with the court Dec. 19 that, taken together, described their CAW and rebating practices as neither “unfair” nor “fraudulent,” while purporting that plaintiff Ryan Dickey is using “hyperbole” and “rhetoric” to generate “headline-grabbing” attention designed to mislabel “common, lawful practices” as wrongdoing. The defendants stated that they intend to lodge motions for dismissal in United States District Court (Eastern District of New York), alerting the judge to the fact that they believe Dickey's RICO claims are unfounded and should not be allowed to move forward. Although the case aspires to be a class-action lawsuit (which would open it up to a theoretically unlimited number of aggrieved, small-scale bettors) it has yet to be certified as such in court, so Dickey stands as the lone David-versus-Goliath plaintiff at this point. Dickey, a Colorado resident who stated in his complaint that he routinely wagered about $100 weekly for 15 or 20 years before quitting horseplaying about 18 months ago over what he descried as frustration over the “manipulation of the betting pools,” fired back with his own correspondence to the judge Dec. 29. Dickey, via his attorney, responded to each of the letters submitted by the defendants 10 days ago, and his correspondence to the judge asserted that since the tracks and bet-taking companies “maintain meticulous, auditor-ready records, there is no question that Plaintiff can not only conceptualize their injuries but quantify them with precision.” The controversy around CAW play has intensified and drawn growing criticism over the past several years. Two examples published in TDN in just the past week are here and here. As TDN's Dan Ross reported when the lawsuit was first filed Oct. 24, complaints about CAW play typically surround the predatory edge those privileged players allegedly wield over smaller-scale “retail” customers thanks to their use of sophisticated technologies that allow them to precisely read the markets and to place massive bets across many pools in the final seconds of betting, as well as the attractive rates and rebates offered to them that are unavailable to the average horseplayer. Although it's not surprising that a federal lawsuit eventually got initiated over the CAW and rebating, the RICO charges stand out. RICO is a sweeping 1970 federal statute initially designed to combat the Mafia. But RICO has long since lost its “organized crime” stigma, evolving over the decades into a civil litigation component more often asserted by purported victims of white-collar crime. Dickey's lawsuit alleged that as a result of the CAW “scheme,” betting pools are not being operated in lawful pari-mutuel fashion, and have thus become illegal gambling schemes. “And the 'odds' presented to the average bettor at the time a bet is placed are false as a result of the manipulation of the bettors' pool,” the lawsuit stated. Furthermore, “Because of the unfair advantages provided to members of the Insider Betting Group, they receive an inordinate share of the pools, taking profits that should rightfully should have been the property of Class Members,” the lawsuit stated. The Dec. 19 letters from the defendants essentially told the judge not to buy that line of reasoning. Jointly, TSG, AmTote and Elite Turf Club (described as “The Stronach defendants”) wrote that, “At bottom, the Complaint bemoans decades-old technology to attempt to allege a racketeering conspiracy to commit fraud where none exists-and in a licensed market tightly regulated on federal and state levels, including by the federal Interstate Horseracing Act… “Plaintiff should not be able to smear the Stronach Defendants with a headline-grabbing, facially futile RICO suit,” the joint letter continued. “Plaintiff takes issue with technologies and betting practices that, he feels, unfairly advantage a small set of bettors who leverage data and technology to place a high volume of bets on these platforms,” the Stronach defendants' letter continued. “Trouble is, the conduct Plaintiff criticizes is nothing beyond variations on common, lawful practices, and on the very technology enabling Plaintiff and other bettors to remotely wager on races, enjoying some of the same advantages he complains high rollers receive,” the joint letter stated. “CAW lets users apply computer analytics to horse racing, just as high-frequency traders do in stock and bond trading and just as some gamblers do in sports betting. To the extent those analytics advantage CAW players, there is nothing unfair or fraudulent. CAW bettors access the same data as other bettors; they simply crunch it differently,” the joint letter stated. “The rebates, too, are unremarkable. They are nothing beyond an incentive, like a free room at a Vegas casino or a frequent flyer's first-class upgrade, designed to keep high rollers' business and support the racing ecosystem,” the joint letter stated. “Stripped of its hyperbole, the Complaint does not allege insider betting, bet rigging, or any other unfairness or fraud,” the Stronach defendants summed up. “Rather, it alleges that frequent, high-dollar bettors use technology to improve their gameplay, and that tracks offer incentives to their best customers. That is no criminal conspiracy, let alone a RICO enterprise spanning a huge share of the Thoroughbred racing industry….” CDI and United Tote responded together, continuing on the Stronach defendants' riff: “Plaintiff's Complaint acknowledges a basic fact of pari-mutuel wagering: odds change. That is the system-every new bet alters the pool and shifts the odds,” CDI and United Tote wrote. “Yet Plaintiff insists that this ordinary feature becomes a RICO violation when bettors using 'CAW' place late bets,” CDI and United Tote wrote. “But even if CAW wagers have the potential to move odds more than do wagers placed without CAW, that does not make the posted odds 'false,' much less a predicate act under RICO,” CDI and United Tote wrote. “No amount of rhetoric can transform a basic feature of wagering into racketeering. Plaintiff's claims should be dismissed,” CDI and United Tote wrote. NYRA told the judge that, “Not only does Plaintiff fail to allege predicate acts constituting 'racketeering activity,' Plaintiff also fails to allege NYRA's involvement in any pattern of such activity or the existence of or NYRA's participation in the operation or management of any RICO enterprise.” Dickey's Dec. 29 responses took on all three of the above-referenced missives. “The central theme of Stronach's letter asserts-wrongly-that [Dickey] bemoans advances in wagering technology. But Plaintiff takes no issue with technological progress; what Plaintiff challenges is Stronach's deliberate use of that technology to confer unfair, concealed advantages on a privileged subset of bettors and to divert money away from ordinary players.” “This case has nothing to do with resisting innovation. It concerns the weaponization of technology to siphon value from the Class and funnel it to members of Stronach-run Elite Turf Club, which, in turn, generate additional revenues for Stronach. Stronach pays lip service to the proposition that bettors are the 'financial foundation' of horse racing but participates in looting Class members to benefit their CAW customers… “That the scheme has harmed Class members is beyond dispute. Stronach itself admits, in a filing with its California regulator, that allowing its CAW players to wager into the pools at California racetracks increases the effective takeout borne by retail bettors by 2.50%,” Dickey wrote. “Stronach's own conduct further confirms this harm: its partial restrictions on CAW play-such as Santa Anita Park's ban on CAW wagers placed within two minutes of post time in the win pool-reflect an acknowledgment that CAW participation distorts the pools to the detriment of ordinary bettors,” Dickey wrote. “The Complaint is explicit about the injury Plaintiff suffered,” Dickey's correspondence stated. “[Smaller bettors'] wagers are devalued. “The resulting shift in odds and corresponding financial loss is directly traceable to the scheme described in the Complaint-facts Defendants do not contest,” Dickey wrote. “NYRA's effort to minimize its conduct also fails as a matter of standing and jurisdiction. Plaintiff alleges direct, concrete economic injury arising from NYRA's own participation in a scheme that manipulated wagering pools at NYRA racetracks to confer concealed advantages on CAW partners. The Complaint is full of detailed allegations regarding NYRA's participation in the scheme and the injuries thereby caused to Plaintiff and the Class,” Dickey wrote. “These allegations further establish that NYRA was an active participant in a RICO enterprise-working in concert with CAW platforms, other racetrack and betting pool operators and totalizer companies to manipulate pari-mutuel wagering pools through coordinated conduct that diverted money from Class members to NYRA's CAW partners.” Dickey wrote. “NYRA urges dismissal of Plaintiff's state law claims, while not offering a shred of authority or analysis for any of these wished-for propositions,” Dickey wrote. “Churchill's passing reference to arguments it elected not to brief should be disregarded, and it should not be permitted to engage in an ongoing, nonstop effort to seek dismissal through a rolling series of piecemeal motions,” Dickey wrote The post Two Sides Spar in CAW Lawsuit: Is It ‘Weaponization of Technology’ or ‘Smear’ Campaign Against Top Tracks? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TA always name the strappers in write ups on winning horses

please explain?

Awapuni trainer Ashley Meadows is hoping to get the new year off to the best possible start when he heads to Ellerslie on Thursday with his in-form gelding The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress). The six-year-old son of Shamexpress hasn’t put a foot wrong so far this preparation, winning first-up in September before finishing runner-up behind Hi Yo Sass Bomb in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham a month later, and he went one better last start when returning to the Upper Hutt track to take out the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m). “That was a huge run last time,” Meadows said. “This prep he has improved so much. He started off in an open handicap and then went to Group Threes and he just keeps stepping up.” Meadows has been pleased with The Scunner’s progress since his last-start heroics earlier this month and he is looking forward to testing him at a right-handed track for the first time in Thursday’s Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). “He is looking smart, I think I have got him pretty spot on,” Meadows said. “It is his first time going right-handed, but I don’t think it will be a problem, I think barrier 11 might be the bigger issue.” Despite his barrier concerns, Meadows is expecting a strong showing from his charge, particularly if the forecast rain continues. “I am expecting him to run well. It is a long way to travel, so you do want them spot on,” he said. “If it rained up there it would probably help us.” The Scunner will carry equal topweight of 56.5kg, with jockey Kelly Myers retaining the ride. TAB bookmakers rate The Scunner a $26 winning chance in a market headed by She’s A Dealer at $2.80. Following Thursday, Meadows is looking forward to returning to The Scunner’s favoured track of Trentham later next month to contest the Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m). “He is in the Thorndon, that has always been the main target,” he said. View the full article

Kelvin Tyler celebrated a quartet of winners on his home track 12 months ago and he will have numbers on his side for another successful New Year’s Day meeting. The Riverton trainer will be strongly represented throughout the card, including King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale), Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) and Go Lotte (NZ) (Telperion) in the main event, the Pankhurst Sawmilling/Waiau Valley Shearing Handicap (1600m). “I would really like to see King Of The Castle bounce back to what he can do, he looks really well,” Tyler said. “At the weights, he comes into it best (55.5kg) and Master Marko has got a bit (60kg) and Go Lotte (53kg) probably isn’t racing as good as she should be.” The nine-year-old produced an encouraging effort last time out when fourth in the Tapanui Cup (1335m) and the step up in distance on Thursday will be more to his liking. “He is looking for more ground now, it’s taken him a bit to get over that fall he had at Riccarton, but I can’t fault him now and the rest is up to him,” Tyler said. Master Marko has been racing consistently and is expected to give another good sight while Go Lotte will need to improve significantly after a string of under par efforts. Tyler will also have three representatives in the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m) and the Riverton Racing Club Memorial (1200m). In the former, he nominated Indie Ardie (NZ) (Ardrossan) as his best chance and a fresh Go Thea (NZ) (Tivaci) as the pick of his trio in the latter event. “Indie Ardie is going great races at the moment without a lot of luck, she should be a very good chance,” Tyler said. “I’ve also got a few three-year-olds in, but most of them are inexperienced so my best would be Go Thea. She’s resuming and has got a bit of form behind her.” The Tivaci filly hasn’t raced since she finished runner-up at Gore last September. One of Tyler’s four winners at the fixture a year ago was Freddie Time (NZ) (Time Test), who will continue his successful North Island sojourn at Trentham on Saturday when he runs in the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Ltd Marton Cup (2200m). He was a winner over ground two runs back at Otaki before he produced a sterling effort to finish a close runner-up in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m). “He couldn’t have got much closer, it only looked like half a nose he was beaten but that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Tyler said. “I’ve been talking with Howie and Lorraine (Mathews) and they said he came through that race very well and they’re doing a great job with him. “He should be another good chance and we’re just taking it race by race. He’s only a four-year-old so as soon as he looks like he needs a wee break then we’ll give him one.” View the full article

With plenty of big races over the next few days, Michael takes a deep dive into New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day action, catches up with Lance O’Sullivan, Tony Pike, Cran Dalgety and Ellerslie Track Manager Jason Fullford. Guerin Report – S2 Ep. 17 – NYE and NYD Preview View the full article

On the Dec. 29 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Louie Rabaut, Sean Collins, and Steve Kornacki unveil who they are voting for in each Eclipse Award category.View the full article