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Racing club's $750k punt that's still paying out 17 years on “It is a big outlay, and a risk, because it is too expensive to insure against a loss, so if we slipped on a banana skin, it could be catastrophic." Logan Savory Dec 10, 2025 Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew says its annual Christmas at the Races meeting costs the club $750,000 to put on. That’s a number not for the faint-hearted, let alone a small sporting club with limited resources. “It is a big outlay, and a risk, because it is too expensive to insure against a loss, so if we slipped on a banana skin, it could be catastrophic,” Bellew says. “We haven’t had an abandonment at Ascot Park for over five years, and I don’t want to tempt fate. “I have so much confidence in our track manager and his protocols.” Get more from Logan Savory in the Substack app Available for iOS and Android Get the app Year after year, for 17 years, the public has continued to turn up in big numbers and remains the Southland Racing Club’s “hay-making day”, in terms of the money it brings in. Bellew says on a good day, Christmas at the Races provides about a $120,000 in profit for the club, with the majority of that coming from the hospitality offerings, rather than punting. “I would say that 40% of the people there have their backs to the track. They are there catching up with friends and family. “We expect that and understand that. We don’t expect to convert 100% of them into race participants.” That $120,000 or so profit that is made from the Christmas at the Races meeting is vital in helping prop up the club for the rest of the season. It is used to help fund a portion of the club’s stake money at other meetings. That it is important for the health of the southern thoroughbred industry, Bellew says. Southland Racing Club president says profits from Christmas at the Races help boost the club’s stake money for the rest of the season. There are 3500 pre-booked tickets for this Saturday’s Christmas at the Races meeting, including those in close to 100 marquees. “It just never gets old… I would have thought it would work its way through its shelf life, but we keep working away at it, and it manifests in front of you each year.” “It’s been 17 years, and it keeps staying at capacity.” Why does Bellew believe Invercargill’s Christmas at the Races has held onto its appeal for so long? “It’s the colour and the pageantry. I think it’s the glamour… I watch people walk onto the course, and they have put in a huge effort. “It is the best-dressed public event in Southland… We are talking glitz and glamour.” Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew believes it’s the glamour attached to Christmas at the Races which is why the event has remained popular for 17 years. The event doesn’t just provide the racing industry with a handy financial boost; it is also an economic winner for the city as a whole. Last year, only Stag Day surpassed Christmas at the Races, as far as an ILT trading day. “We’d have to inject seven figures into the economy, because you’ve got to buy a dress, then you get your makeup done, and your hair done, and fake tans, and of course the boys follow and buy a shirt and a tie,” Bellew says. Race 1 on Saturday is scheduled for 12.40pm, which is the first of nine races. The last race of the day is scheduled to jump at 5.20pm.

Who says it never rains in Southern California? Well, for any music trivia buffs in the audience, it was the little-known Albert Hammond who sang those lyrics, but those living in and around metropolitan Los Angeles will confirm that the precipitation came with a vengeance this Christmas week, flooding parts of Interstate 5 and causing power outages and even the (very) odd threat of tornadoes. Nearly two inches of rainfall was recorded at Los Angeles International Airport, breaking a 54-year-old mark, while nearly four inches fell upon Woodland Hills and 2.91 inches in East Pasadena. So far. While the streets of Pasadena will have dried out ahead of next week's Tournament of Roses Parade, it's a bit more unclear what the underfoot conditions may be like a bit farther to the east at Santa Anita in Arcadia, which plays host to its booming opening day program, wisely pushed back by a couple of days to Dec. 28. Bob Baffert has five chances for a record-breaking seventh victory in the GI Malibu Stakes, a race he won for the first time with The Factor in 2011. At $3.2 million, Barnes (Into Mischief) was the second-dearest offering at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale (to the $4-million Curlin–Beholder colt) and he is likely to go favored in what has become a stallion-making heat. Winner of this the GII San Vicente Stakes over this course and seven-furlong distance at second asking, the bay was a sound third in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes in August at Saratoga and most recently plundered Keeneland's GIII Perryville Stakes Oct. 18 when he was somehow not favored. Barnes has stablemates either side of him Sunday afternoon. Cornucopian (Into Mischief) was accorded 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard status for a smashing debut score at Oaklawn last February, but was only fourth in the GI Arkansas Derby after getting used up on a suicidal pace and was a very disappointing runner-up in a one-mile Aqueduct allowance when last seen Apr. 27. The $1.1-million Keeneland September grad gets the blinkers off and he and Barnes both drilled six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 on Dec. 20. 'Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), twice Grade I-placed going two turns, Madaket Road (Quality Road), second in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes at this specialist trip, and the first-time blinkered and progressive Midland Money (Maclean's Music) round out the Baffert challenge. California-based 3-year-old fillies have more or less dominated the GI La Brea Stakes, with only Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) and Fair Maiden (Street Boss) launching successful raids in 2015 and 2020, respectively. The George Weaver-trained Five G (Vekoma) has a fair shot at backing up that every-five-year pattern as she returns to the races for the first time since wiring the GIII Gulfstream Park Oaks back at the end of March. The Gatsas Stable runner has trained nicely at Palm Beach Downs and got a feel for the local strip with an easy four furlongs in :49 flat on Dec. 19. Irad Ortiz, Jr. is in to ride. Baffert saddles three in the La Brea in search of a 10th victory dating back to Arches of Gold in 1992, but none of the trio is close to a lock. New York-bred Usha (Tiz the Law) was very good at Del Mar this summer, winning her maiden by better than 11 lengths before adding a 5 1/4-length allowance, but she faded tamely to be seventh in the GII Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 18. Silent Law (Tiz the Law) set the pace before yielding to Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes Oct. 4, while Brilliantly (Uncle Mo) spots her rivals a world of experience. On the evidence of her European form for Donnacha O'Brien, Atsila (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}) is strictly the one to beat in the GI American Oaks to close the card–providing, that is–that it remains on the rain-softened turf course. All the bay filly's experience has come in 2025, as she beat the boys to open her account at first asking before besting her peers in the G3 Athasi Stakes at The Curragh in May. She overcame a bit of a slow start to finish third as a 25-1 chance in the G1 Matron Stakes going a mile around Leopardstown Sept. 13 and was a latest sixth in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket Oct. 4. An intended runner in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she was one of several vet scratches and is now based in the U.S. with Richard Baltas. She is back with her own age group for the first time since a seventh in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May. German listed winner and Group 2-placed Namaron (Ger) (Amaron {GB}) adds blinkers and gets Flavien Prat back in the boot for Sunday's GII Mathis Mile, a race that has also attracted Let It Ride Stakes winner and GI Hollywood Derby fourth Tempus Volat (Not This Time). 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Nysos (Nyquist) and his GI Awesome Again Stakes-winning stable companion Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) look set to dominate the GII Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes in what might be a springboard to valuable Middle East targets, while a wide-open field of 11 is set to load the gate for the GII San Gabriel Stakes. The post Santa Anita Opening Day Always Worth The Wait appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three from Augustin Stables will vie in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

White Abarrio (Race Day), listed as the even-money favorite in Saturday's GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream, will be scratched, reports co-owner Mark Cornett. Cornett said that the ownership team and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. have decided instead to train the veteran up to the Jan. 24 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational. White Abarrio was an easy winner of the 2024 Pegasus. “We don't want to run in the Mr. Prospector anymore because we have come up with a plan for him,” Cornett said. “The main goal has been the Pegasus. Depending on how he runs there, we will point him to a 7-year-old campaign and the (March 28 G1) Dubai World Cup. That will be the next goal after the Pegasus. “The goal wasn't necessarily about winning the Mr. Prospector. It was about setting him up for the Pegasus. But after further discussion we're just going to train him up to the Pegasus. We threw him into this race pretty much because they entered seven days out here. We wanted to take a look and see if we wanted to run him in the race like we did last year. “Since we're going to keep him in training for a 7-year-old campaign, we'll go right into the Pegasus with him, so he'll be nice and fresh for the rest of his campaign. This race wasn't going to do anything for us. Saffie and I went over things pretty extensively about any concerns we might have about his fitness level since he'll be off a long time between races. This horse seems to relish the time off in between races, so that's not even a concern.” This will make two straight races in which White Abarrio has been withdrawn. He was on the track and headed to the gate for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when a veterinarian deemed that there was something wrong and had him scratched. The owners have said all along that White Abarrio was not having any problems at all that day. “There's no problem now and there wasn't any problem that day,” Cornett said. “We had to breeze him five-eighths. That was one of the requirements the CHRB had after they put him on the vet's list. We breezed him five-eighths basically as quickly as we could. That got him off the vet's list right away. He has never showed us any signs of any problem. We're still very flustered by what happened.” The post White Abarrio To Be Scratched From Mr. Prospector appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Is 600 as they say a good crowd ? I actually thought some of the racing presented on trackside yesterday rather average, Otaki was a damp squib,with poor fields Wingatui was okish, Westport is being hampered a little with small fields, Ellerslie was ok. Or maybe getting older it' just don't spin my wheels these days lol. It seems aussie meetings are mostly run of the mill meetings, guess they work on the theory that being holidays the public turnout would be good, and probably is, but the big dates are better away from holiday time when people are more focused, this is the silly season.

By Jonny Turner The southern harness racing scene could be even more important to Stonewall Stud after the MLT Gore Cup on Saturday (4.24pm). Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer go into the Gore Christmas Trots meeting as equal record holders for the most wins in a New Zealand harness racing season with Roy and Barry Purdon (1993-94). The Stonewall Stud trainers have two chances to make the record their own and bag their 169th win of the year when Double Jeopardy and Slots start in the MLT Gore Cup. The Telfer team have racked up plenty of wins in Southland this season – including their last three victories as they equalled the long-standing record of the Purdons on Invercargill Cup Day. Punters are backing the stable to make history on Saturday with Double Jeopardy and Slots the first and second favourites for the MLT Gore Cup respectively. With more racing under his belt and plenty of experience in country cups, the Stonewall camp feel the market has it right with Double Jeopardy rated the top pick. “Double Jeopardy is pretty experienced in this grade now and he has the racing under his belt,” the stable’s number one reinsman Tim Williams said. “His run in the Geraldine Cup was good behind The Lazarus Effect, and we have tried to be patient with him since then because this looks like quite a suitable race for him.” Getting a handicap advantage over his main rivals, including his stablemate, looks to be the key to Double Jeopardy’s chances. It’s an advantage the pacer is a good chance of maintaining early in the Gore Cup with his excellent standing start manners. “He is generally pretty safe, not always the fastest, but fingers crossed he can get away nicely on Saturday.” “If he does, I am sure he will go a pretty good race.” While Slots may not have as much standing start experience as his stablemate, there is no doubting the pacer has the game to run a big race in the Gore Cup. Slots missed away in his last standing-start run at the end of his last campaign, but placed in his prior two runs from behind the tapes in handy line-ups. “He’s just had the one trial coming into this and you can’t beat race fitness.” “But he seems well and the team have been happy with him.” “He showed last time that he is up to this kind of company, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he went a nice race.” Blair Orange will link up with Slots on Saturday. Williams will also drive Party Up Denario and Stylish Lustre, who both look each-way threats on the Gore card. To see the market for the Gore Cup click here View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, December 27, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m AMERICAN CALL (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Evening Call, by Tapit) is the second foal to the races for his dam, a $385,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale and a half-sister to seven winners, including Constellation (Bellamy Road), who upset the 2016 GI La Brea Stakes at odds of 12-1 for LNJ Foxwoods and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The cross of American Pharoah over Tapit mares is responsible for 11 winners from 16 starters, including Grade I scorer Harvey's Lil Goil. American Pharoah, who stands the 2026 season in Japan, has accounted for no fewer than 60 winners in the nation. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Racing; T-Koshiro Take The post American Pharoah Colt Debuts For Sunday Racing at Hanshin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A once great raceday... ‘Glamping’ at the races: taking in on-track action great cure for Christmas excess By John Lewis Parker Hood, 3, of Ashburton, and Honey the dog enjoy some time in the sun together at the Boxing Day Races at Wingatui yesterday. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN Christmas dinner leftovers, a bit of sunshine and some horse racing — what better way to recover from a festive hangover? Zara Hood came all the way from Ashburton with her family to spend the Christmas break with her extended family in Mosgiel. But rather than just stay at her parents’ house, they all decided to go "glamping" in a holiday bus in the Wingatui Raceway carpark, so they could all go to the Boxing Day Races and still enjoy all the comforts of home. Some of the 600 racegoers who travelled to Wingatui yesterday. "There could be worse ways to recover from Christmas Day," she said. "I didn’t have a hangover — I learned that lesson a long time ago — but there may be one or two people in our family nursing a sore head today. "And I suspect a few more hangovers tomorrow." Joe Gordon, of Mosgiel, and Steph Davids, of Christchurch, work out the form of the horses for the next race. She said the on-track action was a great way to take people’s minds off their bloated bellies and aching heads. In between grazing on Christmas leftovers, she had been ducking back and forth to place bets on the horses. "I’ve learnt a lot off my husband about horse racing," she said. "His parents actually had a few racehorses that they’ve done pretty well with up in Ashburton. Enjoying the action are (from left) Luka Mitchell, 9, cousin Hazelle Verburg, 8, Scott Verburg and Julie McKenzie, all of Mosgiel. "I haven’t had any wins yet but if I do, it will probably go towards a nice midyear holiday. "Anything to contribute to that would be great," she said. The Hood family were among about 600 people who revelled in the action of the last racing event of the year at Wingatui.

The Hopeful Stakes (G1T) has been a reliable springboard to glory for Japan's 2-year-olds and usually has a favorite or two set to move ahead, but not this year.View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 12/23/2025 Licensee: Jesus Nunez, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 24, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Crazy About You, who won at Los Alamitos on 9/27/25. Dates: 12/23/2025 Licensee: Amelia Green, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Devilish Grin, who won at Belmont at the Big A on 10/4/25. Dates: 12/22/2025 Licensee: Howard Brown Jr., trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 23, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from She Can Scat, who won at Parx Racing on 11/3/25. Dates: 12/22/2025 Licensee: Mario Serey Jr., trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from P J's Song, who finished second at Laurel Park on 11/07/25. Dates: 12/19/2025 Licensee: Michelle Nevin, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Meg's Foxy Grey on 11/7/25. Dates: 12/18/2025 Licensee: Sergio Barrio-Baray, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Bendettijoe on 10/29/25. Pending ADMC Violations 12/23/2025, Blaine Wright, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)—a class B controlled substance—in samples taken from Mr. Executive, who won at Emerald Downs on 8/16/25; from Si That Tiger, who finished second in the Muckleshoot Derby Presented by 1/ST Bet Stakes at Emerald Downs on 8/17/25; and from Clovisconnection, who finished second in the Longacres Mile S. Presented by 1/ST Bet Stakes at Emerald Downs on 8/17/25. 12/22/2025, Randy Lee Morse, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Allequin Summer, who finished sixth at Keeneland on 10/15/25. 12/19/2025, Hugo Andrade, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Outkissed, who finished sixth at Mahoning Valley on 11/11/25. Violations of Crop Rule Mahoning Valley: Jose Augustin Bracho – violation date December 19; $250 fine, one-day suspension Elijah Greenidge – violation date December 19; $500 fine, one-day suspension Oaklawn Park: Serafin Carmona – violation date December 20; $250 fine, one-day suspension Turf Paradise: Glenn Corbett – violation date December 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post National Rulings, Dec. 18-Dec. 26, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Ewing (Knicks Go), perfect in two starts but unraced since taking out the GII Saratoga Special Stakes Aug. 2, arrived on the Oaklawn Park backstretch Monday, Dec. 22 after being based in Central Florida with trainer Mark Casse. According to Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse's Oaklawn string, the $37,000 Keeneland September buyback turned $585,000 OBS April breezer is scheduled to work in Hot Springs Dec. 28 in advance of his return to action, which could come in a sprint allowance in January, Arthur said. “Going to do a half-mile seven days out, just to get over the surface a little and see how he does,” Arthur said Friday morning. “[Casse] said he's been training great. He looks great.” Racing in partnership by D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich, Ewing galloped away from his rivals to graduate by a dozen lengths on Saratoga debut July 5, earning 'Rising Star' status. Sent off at odds of 17-10 while attempting to negotiate the hike into stakes company last time, the gray made all the running and went on to account for fellow 'Rising Star' Obliteration (Violence) by a length. Ewing would have been well-backed for the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 4, but returned from a workout 'not at 100%' and missed that contest as well as the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The post Ewing Ships Into Oaklawn Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:48 p.m. ET. A $525,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling, EASTERLY (Uncle Mo) goes out for WinStar, CHC and First Go Racing. The Brad Cox trainee's extended female family includes Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Delightful Mary (Limehouse), MGSW Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris) and Japanese multiple Group 1 stakes placed Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Bred by WinStar and campaigned by Easterly's ownership group, Class President was sent to Todd Pletcher–who of course trained the colt's sire. TJCIS PPS 1st-FG, $55K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:45 p.m. ET. Noble Affair (Vekoma) is unveiled for Wathnan Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen. As a weanling, the colt went for $75,000 at Keeneland November before selling for $275,000 through the same ring the following September. A $600,000 OBS April grad this past spring, Noble Affair is out of a dam who is half-sister to SW Indian Burn (Indian Charlie)–the mare who produced $1.25-million Spendthrift acquisition at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale, Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map). TJCIS PPS 7th-OP, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:22 p.m. ET. A pair of Gun Runner fillies head to the Hot Springs post. During Keeneland September, My Gun's Loaded was taken home by Douglas Scharbauer for $650,000, while Izzy's Gunna Run–out of MGSW Isabella Sings (Eskendereya)–was hammered down for $635,000. Steve Asmussen trains the former and Phil D'Amato the latter. Also from that same sale is $525,000 buy Charted Destiny (Liam's Map). Owned by Greenwell, the Tom Amoss trainee is the second foal for La Burnett (Beranrdini), whose half-sisters include GI Humana Distaff victress Taris (Flatter), who is responsible for GSW King Fury (Curlin), and SW Theatre Star (War Front), herself the dam of MGSW Ocean Club (Curlin). TJCIS PPS 9th-TAM, $55K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:40 p.m. ET. Pin Oak Stud purchased Canadian graded stakes placed Diamond Sparkles (War Front) for $500,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale while Rejuvenator (Quality Road) was in utero. Trained by Graham Motion, the homebred's second dam is Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and her third dam is Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)–both were Irish Group 1 winners. TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: Pair Of Colts By The Late Uncle Mo Carry The Torch At Gulfstream Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds' Counting Stars hopes to up her win count as the 2-year-old filly leads the field of nine in the $150,000 Year's End Stakes at Oaklawn Park Dec. 27.View the full article

As Japan's racing establishment ups the image of dirt racing, 3-year-olds Natural Rise and Narukami renew a rivalry in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) Dec. 29 at Oi Racecourse.View the full article

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com I write my feelings reluctantly. I feel like Jerry McGuire when he called out his profession/world/sport. Where do I see this great game in 2036? Where do I begin? We have failed collectively to police ourselves and the wonderful horses we are entrusted to take care of. Yes, there are many good horsemen and horse women in this industry. They work hard seven days a week, 365 days a year to take care of these beautiful animals. In many cases they are the most well taken care of athletes in the world. No matter what high-end or low-end racetrack you are at. But because of the failure of our industry to police itself, we have failed the horses. Standards for a trainer's license are way below the standard than when I took my test. That is one simple fix. But there are so many more. The world has changed. No one wants to work seven days a week. When I started, this wasn't a job with options to work four or five days. This was your life!!! It wasn't work. It was your love! For most of us in this industry, that's still the feeling. But with HISA and every step you take as a trainer, you feel like it could be your last in this industry. HISA is good for some things, but horrible for most. Anytime you get Federal Government involved in anything, it gets REALLY messed up (holding back the real word I want to use). Our foal crop is down by almost 50% from 10-15 years ago. There is no incentive for the average breeder to breed anymore. The bigger- name breeders will continue to breed, but the little ones are dropping away. We as an industry do nothing to promote, educate or bring young fans to our sport. There is so much more we could do. Breakfast on the apron during training hours. Backside tours. Handicapping seminars. Meet the jockeys, trainers, grooms, owners. These are all things to make people see what we do day to day. Educate a young fan. I remember going to Canterbury Park for the Claiming Crown. Nat Wess and Randy Samson asked me to do a 'meet the trainers' event. I couldn't believe how many people showed up and asked questions. I specifically remembering saying, 'you guys have no idea how lucky you are because Canterbury does everything they can to support racing.' That's where our sport should be. This will be my Jerry McGuire moment… If we don't end the breeze show at these baby sales, we won't be around in 2036 other than short meets at Del Mar, Saratoga, Gulfstream. I have been saying it for the last 10 years. The breeze show chops these babies up. Horses that could be good, productive competitors aren't making it to the races because of the breeze show. It should be an under-tack gallop show. Yes, I am guilty of buying from these sales. But I've done it out of necessity to keep my owners happy and my business going. Mike Repole is the only big owner that has gotten it right in the last year. He started buying only the babies that galloped. We need to change this industry. It starts with youth. The younger generation learning our sport and loving it. The 2-year-old babies having a chance to make it to the races without being drilled to bring exorbitant amounts of money at the sale. I've done nothing else in my life other than racing. I've loved every minute of it. My worst day in this business, and believe me there have been plenty, is better than most people's best days in their career. I want this game to go on for hundreds of years. But if we don't take some steps to change it, 2036 won't exist for horse racing.” The post Racing in 2036: Scott Lake, trainer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Regaleira, the only filly in the field, seeks an unprecedented repeat win in the Arima Kinen (G1) Dec. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse.View the full article

In romping in three of five starts, Knightsbridge has hinted at the promise of becoming a future stakes winner. The future could be now Dec. 27 at Gulfstream Park in the $150,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3). View the full article

Interstatelovesong (Bolt d'Oro) was a game runner-up on debut to New York-bred Britain (Quality Road) over the local course Nov. 20. Bet down to 48 cents on the dollar here, the favorite fired from the rail gate and soon established a modest lead up the backstretch. The filly though was in firm control around the far turn and the homebred scampered down the lane to graduate by five lengths over Pulling Threads (Practical Joke). The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling colt by Game Winner. A 2024 Keeneland November buy for $47,000 while carrying a colt by Taiba, Gentle Humor was bred to Galilean for next term. Interstatelovesong's second dam is MGSW Be Gentle (Tale of the Cat). 1st-Aqueduct, $85,000, Msw, 12-26, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19.87, ft, 5 lengths. INTERSTATELOVESONG, f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Gentle Humor, by Distorted Humor Sales History: $90,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $63,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O/B-Titletown Racing Stables (Paul Farr) (KY); T-Thomas Morley. INTERSTATELOVESONG ($2.96) wins the Aqueduct opener, breaking her maiden with @RSantana_Jr in the irons for @morley_racing and owner Titletown Racing Stables. Another winner by @SpendthriftFarm stallion Bolt D'oro. Bet Aqueduct with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/0T8XCoKbNV pic.twitter.com/IpoqZzajRJ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 26, 2025 The post Bolt d’Oro Filly Interstatelovesong Graduates With Panache At Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Motorious, winner of the 2024 Joe Hernandez Stakes, will try to add a second victory in the race Dec. 29 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

The Hopeful Stakes (G1) has been a reliable springboard to glory for Japan's 2-year-olds and usually has a favorite or two set to move ahead, but not this year.View the full article

Jay Rooney AURIO - R2 (2) Just missed when storming home last start and can break through here Owen Goulding ALLCASH - R9 (13) Luckless when on the follow-up bid last start but can get the gaps this time Trackwork Spy SUPER STRONG KID - R8 (4) Looks suited back to the straight 1,000m and has drawn ideally Phillip Woo TOP PEAK - R6 (9) Comes off a nice second over this trip and can go one better Shannon (Vincent Wong) SALON S - R1 (2) Talented youngster showed a good turn of foot to win...View the full article

Kris Lees is happy to take a when however and whenever it comes and Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) timing it well to win a second Gr.3 Summer Cup (2000m) to land a racecard double was just the Boxing Day fare he wanted. A consistent performer but with a dearth of victories in 2025, the six-year-old gelding notched his first win since taking out the Listed Scone Cup (2000m) in May after winning the 2000-metre Summer Cup last year. “It has been frustrating this preparation,” Lees said. “He is more than capable on his day but he got the right pressure up front and Dylan (Gibbons) bided his time to get the runs when they appeared. Good win. “He’s a backmarker and you’ll have bad luck which happens in big races.” With 56-kilos on his back, Tavi Time ($4.80) denied Estadio Mestalla ($4.80) with a 61-kilo impost by 1¼-lengths with the latter notching his third-straight second placings following the The Gong (1600m) and The Ingham (1600m) over the past five weeks. “He’s got that electric turn-of-foot and I did say to Kris that he can be lethargic early,” Dylan Gibbons said. “He shot through and put a lengths on them but then wanted to reverse park and come back three-lengths. He’s a bit tricky but on his day he can be electric.” By the outstanding late sire Tavistock, Tavi Time is out of Group One winning Johar mare Guiseppina, who won the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) for Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie. Bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud, Tavi Time was initially sold as a yearling for $60,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Sale to Kiltannon Stables. He was later re-offered at the Sydney Ready To Race Sale where he was purchased by part-owner Adrian Pazman for $130,000. View the full article

Stakes targets are in the offing for consistent gelding Maldini after he scored the biggest win of his career when taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. From his ace barrier, Maldini settled three-back on the rail for apprentice jockey Sam McNab and the pair enjoyed an economical trip throughout. Turning for home, much of the field elected to search for better footing towards the middle of the track, but McNab continued to hug the rail, which proved a decisive move, with Maldini quickly finding the lead, and he was able to build on his momentum, eventually running out a 2-1/2 length victor over He’s Classic. Trainer Tony Pike has been in search of a win in the race for many years and he was delighted to tick it off the list on Friday. “It is a race I have been trying to win for a while, we have got a few placings but never actually won it, so it was great to get that result today,” he said. “He deserves this, he is not a big horse, and he has been really consistent right through this preparation. He just needs things to go his way with his size. “He was given an absolute peach (of a ride) by Sam today, he never left the fence, and he has won really well. “He is not an easy horse to ride, he can go quite keen. All the gaps opened up on the fence and he didn’t go too early either. It was a very patient ride and he is riding extremely well. “I am rapt for the owners, they have been really patient with the horse, he has been frustrating and he hasn’t won out of turn. It was a great race for him to win today.” Pike is now eyeing potential stakes targets with Maldini, with a likely return to Ellerslie next week to tackle black-type company for the first time in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day. “He is in career best form,” Pike said. “He has been up a very long time but just whether we keep him going this preparation we will wait and see. Probably off a win like that we will have to look at a City of Auckland Cup (Queen Elizabeth).” Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, Maldini is by their resident stallion Tarzino and out of Testa Rossa mare Cristallo Rosso, a daughter of Group One winner Crystal Palace and a half-sister to Group One performer Palacio De Crista. Offered through Westbury Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft, he was purchased by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for $55,000, and he has gone on to win four of his 30 starts, and more than $167,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

An imperious performance by Rise Companions to waltz away with the prestigious Stella Artois 1500m Championship Final (1500m) has pundits questioning just where his ceiling could be. The statuesque five-year-old son of Capitalist was gunning for his third win in succession with victory in the final event on an action-packed Boxing Day card at Ellerslie and didn’t disappoint as he romped clear to win by nearly three lengths in the hands of Masa Hashizume. Those who supported the Simon and Katrina Alexander-prepared runner had some cause for concern when Rise Companions settled with only a handful of runners behind him early in the piece. Hashizume didn’t share those concerns as he knew what he had underneath him and when he made his move on the former Hong Kong galloper he simply cruised past runners at the 200m to hit the front and ease to the line well clear of Sista Sugar and the late-finishing Sinhaman. Hashizume admitted he never had a moment of concern despite being more than a dozen lengths from the leaders with 600m to run. “He is just improving every time and he is just unreal,” Hashizume said. “While he got back I didn’t want him to get too keen and I knew there was good pace in the race, so we decided to see what he has got and he showed he has got plenty. I think he could be anything. “I didn’t push him in the last 50m and he didn’t even blow after he pulled up.” Katrina Alexander was also struggling to describe the performance. “You don’t want to give a field like that a head start, but I just don’t know what this horse is capable of,” she said. “We do know the further he goes the better he will go, but it is interesting to see what he is going to develop into. “We thought we would get this one out of the way and go home and plan where we go from here. He might get a bit of a break as he is still learning and it would be nice to reward him with a break and then look at something later on. “I don’t think the Hong Kong life suited him, so it is nice to see him develop his personality more than anything. Masa comes and gallops him so it is nice to see how they are developing together.” A A$110,000 yearling purchase in Australia, the now four-year-old entered the care of Hong Kong trainer Danny Shum, but didn’t race in the competitive racing jurisdiction, having been withdrawn from his debut race after sustaining a tendon injury, and subsequently headed to New Zealand where he joined the Alexander barn. He has now won three of his five starts and more than $110,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

It was a case of mission accomplished for Australian trainer Gavin Bedggood at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The Cranbourne horseman had previously competed at the Auckland track as a jumps jockey a decade ago and he eyed a return across the Tasman this week with his well-bred Group Three winner Kingswood (Roaring Lion). With a view towards securing his future stud career, Bedggood was in search of an all-important elite-level victory, and he felt the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) presented as the perfect opportunity. Prior to the race, Bedggood gave jockey Rory Hutchings instructions to be on pace, however, Kingswood was slow away and Bedggood thought the race was over from the start. However, Hutchings was able to work his charge off the fence down the back straight, and off a sedate pace he quickly launched Kingswood three-wide to loop the field and serve it up to his rivals. Hutchings caught his competitors off guard and quickly created a two-length buffer, which he continued to extend. Several of his more favoured rivals rallied late, but Hutchings’ masterful move proved the telling of the race, and Kingswood scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Jaarffi, with a further long neck back to Legarto in third. Hutchings admitted to being in a spot of bother when their race plan was scuppered at the start, but his improvised plan B more than made up for it. “We didn’t begin that well,” he said. “It wasn’t in our plan book to be where we were. They just kept getting slower and slower up the hill and I thought we were not going to be able to peg back horses like El Vencedor and Legarto that were a lot closer to the speed running at three-quarter pace mid-stage. “When I went, I made sure I went really quick. I had a lap full of horse when I did it and I knew I caught them napping. He went from 0 to 100 in one stride and he sustained that all the way to the winning post. That is a trait of a very good horse.” The victory was a sentimental one for Hutchings, who had won his first elite-level victory in the race 11 years ago aboard the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Soriano, and fate led to his ride in this year’s edition. “A couple of weeks ago I didn’t have a ride in this race,” he said. “Through Johny Allen’s suspension I was able to pick up this horse. It’s funny how this game works.” Bedggood was rapt with Hutchings’ race-winning tactics, with the trainer admitting he had thought it was game over shortly after the start. “100m after the start I thought we were cast,” he said. “We weren’t where we wanted to be, they didn’t go quick. Watching the race unfold I was working out how I was going to explain this, we were going to look like mugs. “Fair play to Rory, what a ride. It was a ballsy ride to take off like he did. I just said the horse needed to be in a spot where he needs to build his revs. He is not a sit and sprint horse, and it was well executed. “He had to do something because where he was, riding for luck wasn’t an option. It wasn’t going to suit the horse the way the race was panning out. Full credit to him, it was the difference between winning and getting beaten.” The victory also vindicated Bedggood’s decision to campaign in New Zealand, and he said he came under plenty of scrutiny in the lead-up to the race. “Listening to the radio and watching the TV, there were plenty of knockers,” he said. “I am a realist, he is not top echelon in Melbourne, but he is a bloody good B-grader and I think on his day in Melbourne he would be competitive in an Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m). It is good to be vindicated, and it makes the decision worthwhile coming over.” Kingswood will now remain in New Zealand where Bedggood is keen to tackle further Group One targets, and he is hoping Friday’s performance has grabbed the attention of New Zealand stud masters. “He can have a week in the paddock and can probably hang around for the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) and Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m) now I think,” he said. View the full article