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For the fifth straight year, Horseshoe Indianapolis set a new record for all-time highest handle wagered on live racing. The 123-day meet, ending on Nov. 13, concluded with total handle surpassed $287 million in 2025. “We couldn't be prouder of our team and our season for the results we saw this year,” said Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. “We were going up against some pretty big numbers from 2024. Despite running 49 less races this year, we were still able to top last year's figures. Our team continues to find ways to elevate our racing program, and we could not achieve this success without the partnerships with our horsemen's organizations. They play a big part in supporting our mission and goals in creating a quality product.” Horseshoe Indianapolis also saw a reduction in turf races due to adverse weather in 2025. A total of 198 turf races were held compared to 237 in 2024. “We really struggled with weather issues this year,” added Halstrom. “Our turf course has become known as one of the best and that can be attributed directly to our track maintenance crew led by Tony Martinez. Because of them we only lost 39 turf races during the season. If they had not worked hard to keep the course going, we might have lost even more races over the turf.” Overall, Horseshoe Indianapolis brought in $287,801,273 in total handle compared to $282,131,209 in 2024, showing an increase of 2.01%. That figure is expected to surge over the $300-million mark once all international outlets are accounted for and added in by the end of the year. Total handle per race was up with a 6.39% increase of $252,886 compared to $236,886 last season. On track handle saw a slight jump to $4,818,434 compared to $4,724,140, a two percent increase year over year. Horseshoe Indianapolis also recorded a new record for a single day handle as more than $9.163 million was wagered July 5 during the 31st running of the GIII Indiana Derby. The previous record was set during the 2024 Indiana Derby at $8.147 million, showing more than a $1 million increase. The sixth annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 25 also set a record of more than $2.8 million wagered, which was also a new record for that event featuring both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. Of the 123 racing days, six were dedicated to Quarter Horse racing, which also produced a record. More than $1.273 million was wagered on the May 31 Quarter Horse card, marking a new record for a single day card for the sprinters. The second Quarter Horse day also produced a total handle of more than $1 million Saturday, June 29 with more than $1.142 wagered on the day. The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse returns Tuesday, Apr. 7. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing. The post Horseshoe Indianapolis Concludes Record 2025 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Big Evs. 18.40 Kempton, £11,000, Nov, 2yo, 6f (AWT) Jaber Abdullah's MILLION GOLD (GB) (Earthlight {Ire}) is a half-brother to GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and represents the same Michael Appleby yard here. The April-foaled bay is one of five newcomers in a field of 12. The post Half-Brother To Big Evs On Deck For Kempton Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple Group 1 winner Hawk Wing has died from colic in Korea. The brilliant winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes was 26. The son of Woodman claimed the G1 National Stakes at two for Aidan O'Brien and Susan Magnier. At three, he found only stablemates Rock Of Gibraltar and High Chaparral too good in the G1 2000 Guineas and the G1 Derby, respectively. Back in the winner's circle in the G1 Eclipse Stakes, he ran second in both the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and G1 Champion Stakes. At four, he delivered his career-defining victory, running out an 11-length winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. An injury in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes resulted in retirement to Coolmore Stud. He stood there from 2004-2008. From 2009 onward, Hawk Wing was based at KRA Jeju Stud Farm in Korea. A total of 15 of his progeny were stakes winners led by eight group winners. GI American Oaks heroin Cambina and G1 Sydney Cup victor Stand To Gain were his best runners. Hawk Wing was bred by Hill 'N' Dale Farm, and sold for $225,000 during the 1999 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Sent back through the ring during the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale, he brought $300,000 from Par Four Racing Stable. The post Sensational Miler Hawk Wing Succumbs To Colic At 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars CHARITY GAIN - R8 (7) Was impressive first up this season and can deliver the goods here Jay Rooney SILVER SPURS - R5 (2) Racing in top form and should get an easy time in front here Owen Goulding WONDERSTAR - R7 (3) Can use his blistering pace to lead them all the way from a low barrier Phillip Woo ETERNAL FORTUNE - R7 (2) Can salute from a better draw after returning with an eye-catching second Shannon (Vincent Wong) REWARDING BUDDY - R5 (9) Performed well in a recent trial...View the full article

On the Dec. 1 episode of BloodHorse Monday: Louie Rabaut and Frank Angst react to a strong weekend of racing and how it impacts 2026; Abu Dhabi Turf Club racecourse director Dayle Brown discusses The President Cup on Dec. 6.View the full article

I'm sure it also draws a lot of intelligent people to this site, the appeal of robust but intelligent debate......as opposed to, well I'll let you draw your own conclusions there

I'm glad you qualified your statement with 'based on traffic', because that is all it is

True, but things change and being fair to all, one site now stands head and shoulders above the others, at least based on traffic although I must say that this thread has excelled 😂

Your statement: Arguably they struggle to maintain what they're got as is, (quote from above) is the biggest load of codswallop I've ever heard. Firstly they have $1.6 million in the bank and secondly to quote a trainer at the Jump-outs last Thursday, "these have to be the best tie-ups in the North Island except for Ellerslie"

Take out the word "finally" and you are 100% correct. I think that it all started to go wrong when the funding model(s) changed around the time of Garry Chittick's reign as Chairman of the RIB. I am not blaming Garry, simply saying that's about when the funding models started changing and all clubs were forced to live beyond their means. Virtually ever club has had to sell property to survive. Take a look at the housing that now surrounds Ellerslie, Awapuni, Trentham and Riccarton. Then look at the retirement village at Te Rapa, the Hospital at Hastings and oh I forgot, the Hospital and Hotel at Ellerslie. No wonder they now want Avondale and Levin's money. I rest my case!

Never said i didnt like CS….just that he is quick to judge and i am sure that stops a few from posting, needs to be less hostile

I own it and run it still, but unlike a few I quite enjoy the rhetoric on this site. While you may not like CS, he is a very intelligent hombre, and that quite appeals to me

Hey Hesi, are you not involved with the other racing site now?

Last-start winners are few and far between at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, however Douglas Whyte is confident Celestial Hero can lay down a marker for bigger and better things to come in the Class Three Plover Cove Handicap (1,000m). Not seen on the racetrack since a breakthrough Hong Kong victory at start three in July, Celestial Hero underwent knee surgery to remove a bone fragment soon after that success and has been building back to fitness since. Solid enough when running sixth in a...View the full article

While Maxime Guyon would quite obviously love to taste success as early as possible during his short-term Hong Kong stint, the star French jockey understandably already has one eye on next weekend’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). In a race he has already won twice thanks to victories aboard Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023), Guyon partners the impressive Sosie for Andre Fabre in the longest of the four Hong Kong International Races features. “I think I have a chance. Sosie has run...View the full article

Generally moderation will be performed retrospectively, that is posts will only be edited or removed AFTER a complaint or review that shows a clear violation of the following: A law has been breached e.g. defamation, slander, the Harmful Digital Communications Act; A person's family has been abused. We have no problem with robust debate between individuals but a line is crossed when attacks are aimed at or affect people who don't have the opportunity to reply;

On the topic of running G1's on small tracks, Matamata of course running the Windsor Park Plate when HB couldn't

Uh? Try the Premier Anti-racing site for that behaviour. BTW its called debate. If you look at BOAY rules they are pub school rules.

He may have his faults, but I believe this would never happen, as happened on another site, ad nauseum, and what led to the establishment of this and other sites

It was around this time that most of 'our' better 3yr olds were still running in our black type races, then, slowly slowly the better ones started to be targeted by Overseas $$$. The Bayer then for a few years was a race when the top fillies often tried to beat the boys, often involving lots of press leading up to! If the truth be known! the Levin track might have been the smallest ever to run G1 races.. I recall a rider who won the race twice recon one she stole with a front running ride!

Clubs never had any idea about marketing, nor did they have the resource. I have mentioned this before, it is a bit like each individual kiwifruit grower marketing their product, not a hope. Then along came Zespri and everyone had to join so the kiwifruit industry went ahead in leaps and bounds with oodles of resource and professional marketing and administration

Yeah, true…. Funny that the site owner disagrees with the majority of posters on here…. not sure why he does not delete everyone, still post under our names, then comments would agree with everything he says…

Yes, it is all about this entrepreneurial streak that comes along from time to time. It is not really a beast that survives under 'committee rule'. Just look at every fucking council in NZ, or should I say Aotearoa lol. Then again this entrepreneurial thing is not guarantee of success. Classic case being Chris Weaver and how he totally stuffed what was the second best carnival in NZ racing, the 4 days at Ellerslie over BD/NYD. They used to get 10,000 on that infield on Boxing Day, all sorts, with their hydraulic platforms to watch each race. No one died lol Just shows, it is not about a country/city thing, it is all about an inspired vision and the passion to make it happen. An almost total rarity in racing clubs these days. They have done well to get the KM day going and also the NZB Kiwi, but they haven't got the formula right nor it would appear the will to get it right

Talking Otaki, as the Bayer gained in ratings, it then mobilized (sir) Arthur Williams to start spending the $$$ to get Terrace Regency up and running with the goal of G1...

Yes it was innovative of the Club at the time. But that's what happens with Clubs from time to time you have an Executive that goes "What the hell lets give this a go"! It works for a while and then politics creep in - committee members change and the new idea people can't get a look in. I remember on a much smaller scale a similar committee at the Westland Racing Club came up with the Miss Scenicland Stakes. Worked for a while and then the energy left. I still don't understand how for a very small amount of money someone can sponsor a race at a country race meeting in memory of grandad. Clubs now have no idea about marketing and rely on the administrators or ENTAIN to do it for them.