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Forced to miss important fall fixtures in Ireland, France, England and America owing to a stress fracture in his femur discovered in late August, Ryan Moore made a winning return to the saddle at Lingfield Dec. 3 and on Wednesday evening, won two of the four legs–employing dramatically different tactics–to take out the Longines International Jockeys' Championship for a record-equaling third time at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island. Other dual IJC winners include perennial leading Hong Kong rider Zac Purton, the legendary Douglas Whyte and Frankie Dettori. Finishing a joint-second on 12 points, each having ridden one winner, were England's William Buick and the now locally based Hugh Bowman. It was the Norwegian-born Buick who struck in the first leg contested over the 1000-metre minimum trip around the city circuit, as he settled $89 (79-10) chance Bunta Baby (Cable Bay), trained by Manfred Man, well back in the field of 12 behind a hot tempo, picked off runners one-by-one in the final furlong and a half and shoved his mount past Beauty Thunder (Night of Thunder, Purton) in the dying strides (video). “It's my first winner at Happy Valley, so I'm very happy to have achieved it,” Buick said. “He was coming off the back of a good run last time and was one of my better chances on the night so it's great to get it done.” Moore, who dead-heated for his first IJC in 2009 before successfully defending his title 12 months on, had the ride on the piping hot $18 (4-5) favourite Corleone (Dundeel), whose trainer Caspar Fownes had already registered a race-to-race double with the visiting Joao Moreira in the first two races on the program. The expected controlling speed from barrier two, Moore kicked the 5-year-old gelding straight into the lead and took his rivals along at a very comfortable pace through the middle stages of the 1650-metre contest. Carrying second top weight of 134 pounds, Moore nursed his mount along into the final stages and was there for the taking, but Corleone just held off Ace War (Phoenix of Spain) and Rachel King by a short head (video). Bowman is best known for his affiliation with the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) from his time in Australia, but has become a consistent fixture while permanently based in Hong Kong over the last three seasons. Himself a winner of the 2016 IJC, the 45-year-old was aboard the $39 (29-10) pick Silvery Breeze (Dundeel) for British ex-pat trainer David Eustace in the third leg of the series, also over the extended mile. Taken back to near the tail, Silvery Breeze was felt for 400 metres out, ran to daylight about five off the inside with time ticking away and surged past his chief market rival Flying Fortress (Shamexpress) and Purton in yet another desperate finish (video). With three different riders saluting in the first three legs and with the other pointsgetters lurking, the IJC was very much an unfinished story entering the final leg over the metric six furlongs, with Moore, Buick, Bowman and Purton all on 12 points. Allotted the appropriately named Triumphant More (Star Turn) for trainer Frankie Lor, Moore had no choice but to go back from gate 10 and save the Australian-bred galloper for a finish. Still with the bulk of the field to navigate turning into the straight, the veteran reinsman conjured up a flying finish out of $236 (22-1) roughie to lead on the post and secure the IJC. American Classic-winning jockey Umberto Rispoli, who spent nine seasons in Hong Kong and was making his IJC debut, settled for second aboard Tourbillon Golfer (Cosmic Force) for Ricky Yiu (video). Moore had been fighting the leg issue since around the time of the Irish Derby and went for a scan at the back end of August, which revealed the fracture. That ruled him out of meetings such as Irish Champions weekend, the Arc, British Champions Day and the Breeders' Cup, but he was back to his brilliant best beneath the Wednesday night lights at 'the Valley.' He took home a checque for HK$600,000 (£57,816) for his work. “I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it,” said Moore. “It's fortunate I had two very good rides today and it worked out nicely for me. I'm just thankful to be coming back here and I had the luck tonight.” The post ‘More’ Moore In Longines International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat notched three graded stakes wins over the weekend at Aqueduct Racetrack, including the Remsen Stakes (G2), the Cigar Mile (G2), and Comely (G3) Stakes. He was voted Jockey of the Week Dec. 1-7. View the full article

Caspar Fownes has made a renewed push for Joao Moreira to be brought back to Hong Kong after the pair combined for a running double to open Wednesday night’s card at Happy Valley. Fownes, who finished the night with a treble, had hoped to bring Moreira back as his stable jockey in October, but the Jockey Club knocked back the Brazilian, declaring the roster was full. “It’s up to the club and they’ll now have to answer the question [as to why Moreira was knocked back],” said Fownes after watching...View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s launch of the HISA Equine Recovery Foundation (HERF), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing critical assistance for Thoroughbred racehorses sustaining a career-ending injury during racing, is set to begin operations in early 2026, according to an organization release on Wednesday. HERF's mission: Support racehorses—with injuries sustained during races that historically have a positive prognosis for recovery—by ensuring immediate access to quality veterinary treatment and rehabilitation in order to facilitate a successful aftercare placement. Enhance access to diagnostic imaging services and tools by expanding racetrack resources to prevent injuries. Timely intervention can save lives and improve outcomes for injured horses, so HERF is designed to fill a specific gap by funding veterinary care—including surgeries with historically high success rates—and comprehensive rehabilitation for qualifying horses, with each case accompanied by a long-term care plan to ensure ongoing well-being. The voluntary program, entered into at the sole discretion of the owner, will play a vital role in expanding knowledge around injury prevention to further protect the welfare of racehorses. HERF is also designed to remove some burden from the aftercare system by rehabilitating the horse and ensuring it is recovered before it enters aftercare. “We are thrilled that this foundation has been formed to provide horses with the chance to recover from career-ending injuries. There are situations where costs and other considerations make it difficult for owners to pursue surgical interventions that can prevent unnecessary euthanasia,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “HERF will help fill that gap and will explore diagnostic tools and advanced testing to help horsemen identify at-risk horses sooner.” A critical part of HERF's mission will be to fund the retirement of horses whose lives are saved through medical intervention provided by HERF. HERF will work closely with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). “HERF's primary objectives are logical extensions of HISA's core mission to improve and enhance equine health, safety and welfare,” said HISA Board member and HERF Chair Joe De Francis. “In order to maintain its social contract and continue business operations, the racing industry must take all reasonable steps to minimize racing-related equine fatalities, and the creation of HERF is a positive step towards that objective.” A pilot program will launch in early 2026 in the Mid-Atlantic, supported by an initial donation of $100,000 by Joe De Francis and Katherine Wilkins De Francis. Additional funds will be raised by HERF's independent Board of Directors and distributed on a defined, case-by-case basis. All funds allocated to HERF will be raised exclusively from sources external to HISA and will be entirely separate from HISA's operating budget. Additional racetracks will be onboarded in the second quarter of 2026. HERF's Board of Directors will consist of: Joe De Francis (HISA Board member and HERF Chair) Craig Bandoroff (owner of Denali Stud) Andrew Beyer (Founder, Beyer Speed Figures) Katherine Wilkins De Francis (Animal welfare activist and former racing executive) Terry Finley (Founder, West Point Thoroughbreds) David Ingordo (Bloodstock agent and manager Belladonna Racing) Griffin Johnson (Influencer and racehorse owner) Ron Moquett (Thoroughbred trainer) David O'Rourke (CEO, New York Racing Association) Dr. Sue Stover (Veterinarian, University of California, Davis; Chair of HISA's Racetrack Safety Committee) In addition to the Board of Directors, HERF will have an Advisory Council that will advise HERF on its protocols. The Advisory Council will consist of individuals with specific expertise in veterinary medicine and aftercare. Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Medical Officer of 1/ST Racing, will serve as Chair and Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President of 1/ST Racing, will serve as Vice Chair–bringing expertise from the programs established by 1/ST Racing in California, Florida and Maryland. HISA Communications Director Mandy Minger has been named Executive Director of HERF. For more information about HERF, please contact mandy.minger@hisaus.org. The post HISA Equine Recovery Foundation to Launch in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ryan Moore joined a trio of champion jockeys with a record-equalling third Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) victory courtesy of a brilliant double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Only a week after making his return from a fractured femur, the British superstar bagged his first IJC in 15 years after lifting Corleone and Triumphant More to exciting triumphs. Moore, who won the prestigious contest in 2009 and 2010, now shares the IJC record with Zac Purton, Douglas Whyte and...View the full article

In one of his first public appearances since becoming chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in September, Lord Allen admitted that there is no “single silver bullet” to ease the significant challenges facing the sport. In a question-and-answer session with broadcaster Lydia Hislop following the 254th Gimcrack Dinner at York racecourse, Lord Allen, whose appointment to the BHA was announced in November 2024, spoke of his desire for the BHA to be a “world-leading authority”. Addressing a gathering of around 200 guests on Tuesday evening, he said, “I used that time to go out and meet a lot of people, whether it was stable staff, jockeys, trainers, owners, whatever. And therefore, although I've only been in the job probably just two and a half months, I think I've listened a lot, because I think we do need to have change. I met 120 people face to face before I joined and what they all said is they were incredibly passionate about the sport.” Retention and welfare of horses, increasing the number of people betting on racing and attending race meetings, telling racing's stories, and the pooling of race day data are all items high on Lord Allen's strategy for change and improvement in British racing, as is the need to boost the sport's coffers. “The truth is we need more money. Collectively, whether it's prize-money, whether it's investment in the sport, we need more money,” he said. None of this comes as news to anyone who has been involved in the sport for a while, as almost all of the guests at the Gimcrack Dinner have been. Reaction from various trainers at the event ranged from calling for exactly the kind of collaborative approach Lord Allen seeks to one of quiet despair that this has all been said before with little subsequent change to the status quo. Change does seem to be afoot, however, in that Lord Allen is adamant that the BHA board must be populated by independent members not tied to a particular sector of the industry. “Change needs to happen at the top,” he said. “And one of the issues I looked at over that 12-month period was why weren't we making the changes? And that was because we had well-intentioned people who were on the board, but they were representing a particular part of the organisation – you're there to represent owners, you're there to represent the licenced personnel, you're there to represent racecourses. And sometimes what happened in that process is that we got to lowest common denominator decision-making.” While admitting that he would not be creating a “brand-new strategy”, Lord Allen presented an overview of areas which need attention. “I do have five Cs,” he said, referring to racing's need to convene, collaborate, coordinate, commercialise and communicate. “I think we could do a lot more if we were much, much more collaborative. The other thing I don't think we do well is communicate. We don't explain our sport to the punters. The thing that surprised me was the C that I found missing was the consumer – the people who pay our wages, who come and turn up and support us. We don't spend enough time thinking about what they want. I come from a consumer and commercial background. We need to do that much, much more. “And then also communicate with government. I think we've had a good start. When I got involved, I thought the [potential rise in] racing tax had a 10 to 20% chance of being avoided. But what really impressed me was literally my first day, being in Westminster and seeing the whole sector stand shoulder to shoulder. And that's what you need to do to influence government.” He continued, “That was a start but it's only the beginning. We need to have a three-year strategic relationship with government that says 'this is what we're going to do'. The other thing we need to do is we need to have a much better relationship with the bookmakers. They are our principal funders.” The BHA's stance during its 'Axe the Tax' campaign in the lead-up to the Budget on November 26 has angered the bookmaking sector which faces hikes in gaming tax that it claims will have a knock-on financial impact for racing. “It's often easy to find differences, but what we're trying to do is find more common cause,” Lord Allen said. “The other thing I think where we are aligned with bookmakers is the black economy. And what I mean by that is the £80 billion globally that goes offshore, that's unregulated. The Treasury gets no money out of it. We get nothing out of it. And I think we can build common cause on that.” Hislop questioned Lord Allen's comments about the potential to become more commercial, given that the BHA has little to sell. “We don't have the assets,” he admitted in response. “We have 200 fixtures out of 1,500 fixtures. I think there's a number of things that we can do in terms of packaging those assets, packaging those rights. And that's why I want a range of people joining our board that have a range of skills. And one of them would be somebody who actually understands rights and rights management. And somebody who would be what I'd call a digital native who actually understands what TikTok is and speaks to a different generation. I also would like somebody who has financial commercial capabilities. I also want somebody to join the board who actually understands the bookmakers' models, which are all different, to actually help us. How do we collectively create more revenue in working in partnership?” This, among others, is a question that will remain unanswered for now, and Hislop, in closing the 25-minute session, pressed the need for those answers to be forthcoming. She said, “I think everyone in the room probably feels that with so many challenges facing the sport, that there is a huge sense of urgency in terms of moving forward, so we look forward to those actions.” The post ‘Change Needs to Happen at the Top’: BHA Chair Lord Allen Addresses Gimcrack Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Turfway Park Synthetic Championships consist of four $250,000 races, two 6-furlong events and two at a mile, all on Turfway's Tapeta surface Dec. 13.View the full article

Tom Hamm, who previously served in a leadership role as the Taylor Made Sales Agency's farm manager, will be returning to Taylor Made. His new role will be as a Thoroughbred Advisor, with an emphasis on the growing Digital Sales marketplace. “Tom has remained close with our team since his successful tenure as our Farm Manager several years ago,” said Mark Taylor, President and CEO of Taylor Made. “We believe the time is right to bring in a new Team Member to add more focus on Digital Sales. Our approach brings great value and a higher net return to our customers through our aggressive promotion of Digital Sales horses. Based on our long-time relationship with Tom, we know he will make us even stronger, as we continue to innovate and deliver exceptional service to our customers.” Tom Hamm added, “I'm excited for the opportunity to plug my existing clients into the resources of Taylor Made and for joining a Team that I have always respected and worked well with.” The post Tom Hamm to Rejoin Taylor Made as Thoroughbred Advisor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beginning next month, the New York Racing Association plans to throttle computer-assisted wagering at one minute until post, limiting these high-volume teams to the same six bets per second ceiling that applies to retail customers.View the full article

This week on the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland, get ready for a special Best of 2025 episode. Throughout the year, people from all corners of the industry joined us on the show as the Gainesway Guest of the Week to provide candid conversations and insights. In this episode, we roll out the highlight reel of the most compelling interviews of 2025, bringing back the voices and moments that defined the season. This week listeners will hear from: Griffin Johnson: The popular social media star and entrepreneur discusses his surprising involvement in Thoroughbred ownership and his unique approach to the sport ahead of Sandman (Tapit)'s bid in the GI Kentucky Derby. Junior Alvarado: Following his win aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Belmont Stakes, the Eclipse Award-winning jockey provides candid insight into his biggest wins and the challenges of competing at the highest level. Terry Bradshaw: The legendary NFL Hall of Famer and sports commentator shares his passion for racing, his experience as an owner, and his views on the current state of the game. Tribute to D. Wayne Lukas: A moving collection of testimonials featuring multiple industry figures like Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin and Jerry Bailey paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The TDN Writers' Room is also sponsored by the PHBA, the KTOB, 1/ST TV and West Point Thoroughbreds. Click here for the audio-only version of the show or watch below: The post TDN Writers’ Room: Best of 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Unless you have been to the races with family from a young age I think a day at the races as a form of entertainment can be a foreign idea. Social event usually means going as a group, and generally consuming alcohol. Clubs really must be responsible hosts and ensure food is available. This is where the race day packages are a good idea. I think all of these packages should include food. If they are sold a fair way out it gives the customer time to budget for drink, food and betting. I think all race day packages should include betting element of some kind ... punters club, easy bets, or betting vouchers. I think a host or racing personality should be assigned to each group to explain racing jargon and bet types. A lot about racing is confusing. You won't get repeat custom without a good experience.

In-form miler Gringotts has history against him in The Ingham. Already needing to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win the $2 million The Ingham, favourite Gringotts will now have to do it from the outside barrier. The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old has come up with gate 24 in the capacity field of 20 plus four emergencies, adding a fresh layer of difficulty to his task of lumping topweight of 61kg, eight kilos over the minimum. The last horse to successfully carry a comparable impost was Monton, who won the 2011 renewal with 58kg. Despite the draw, Gringotts remains a $3.80 top pick and has been unstoppable carting similar weights at his past two starts when he has captured the Big Dance and The Gong, both over a mile. His presence is regarded as a blessing and a curse by connections of rival runner and defending The Ingham (1600m) titleholder, Robusto. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding carried 59.5kg when seventh in the Festival Stakes (1500m) last start but with Gringotts so high in the handicaps, Robusto drops to 54kg on Saturday. “The best part about him (Gringott’s) being there is he’s pushing the weights down a little bit,” Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton said. “I think weight pulled Robusto up a bit the other day. “He was a little bit flat, but he was going from 1300 to 1500 and now he is going from 1500 to 1600, and he’s third-up. “He is ready to run a peak.” Robusto won last year’s The Ingham from barrier four and has gate six on Saturday, while stablemate Amor Victorious has drawn three. However, the latter’s chances could hinge on track conditions as his best form is on ground rated a soft 5 and better, and rain and storms have been forecast for Sydney during the backend of the week. Amor Victorious finished unplaced on a heavy surface in The Gong and Hilton felt it brought him undone. “He doesn’t like a really heavy track. He gets through it softish, but it just got too heavy for him the other day,” he said. “He took good benefit out of it, he’s had the two runs now and we are still really pleased with him. Back on a drier surface he could definitely measure up.” View the full article

Here To Shock is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes – who provide the only three runners backing up from the inaugural edition of the $1 million slot race. They will also saddle up last year’s runner-up Arkansaw Kid and 2024 fifth placegetter Roll On High, who is also owned by Slade Bloodstock and was previously trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The presence of Private Eye casts a huge shadow over the event and he is $2.25 favourite with Sportsbet. Slade quipped the best chance of Private Eye’s rivals beating him would involve his float breaking down. Here To Shock hadn’t been over-taxed in terms of starts and that had led to him racing at his peak later in life. From the moment Here To Shock began racing he showed talent, but he was his own worst enemy according to Slade, as he didn’t want to settle in his race. After he started his career with Brent Stanley, he was transferred to Lindsay Park and Slade said it was Ben Hayes’ intuition which helped turn his career around. “He was also maturing but Ben suggested earmuffs and that played a big role in settling him down,” Slade said. Slade pointed out that Here To Shock netted $2 million prizemoney as a seven-year-old gelding last season. Here To Shock became his syndication group’s third Group 1 winner when he was successful in the Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in February this year. “In ability, he’s behind the other pair of Group 1 winners Alinghi and Moment Of Change, but he’s a bit unique; they didn’t win $2 million in a season,” he said. “The key to him is that he’s a fairly lightly raced for an eight-year-old having only had 42 starts whereas most horses that age have had a lot more. We’ve never really had any dramas with him.” Here To Shock started his 2025 spring campaign with a first-up third to Private Eye in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield but he had three unplaced runs before he led throughout to win the Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at his latest start. Here To Shock also competed against Private Eye in the Moonga Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield two starts ago, finishing sixth behind him. Slade said Here To Shock’s form is better than it looks as ratings-wise he is running up to his best, but he is carrying more weight. “If you look at his times and ratings he ran up to his usual mark, but he was in races he couldn’t win with the weight he was carrying,” he said. “He was in form but he also didn’t look good in the coat; he was one of those horses which didn’t come up in the spring. I looked at him at Lindsay Park the other day and his coat is magnificent and I think he’s coming into his own.” Slade pointed out that Here To Shock will again have to carry a kilogram more weight than Private Eye, making his task harder. “Private Eye had a year in the wilderness and we had a great year so we’re paying the price for that,” he said. “How are we going to beat him? I’m not sure. He might get caught in traffic. “Last time against him we didn’t lead, which even his jockey Mick Dee said was the wrong thing to do. The other day Mark (Zahra) summed the race up the other day and used the catch-me-if-you-can tactics. Here To Shock can take a sit these days, but he is also capable of setting a fast rolling tempo, which could be the case with Daniel Stackhouse riding him on Saturday. Stackhouse rode Here To Shock in last year’s The Supernova, when he sat second behind the front-runner Buffalo River in the run and then defied the challenge of his stablemate Arkansaw Kid in the closing stages of the race. Here To Shock will follow the same path to New Zealand for the Waikato Sprint (1400m), which will be run at Te Rapa on February 7. Here To Shock has Cavallo Park Stud’s slot in The Supernova, while Roll On High has Yulong’s. View the full article

Remember the focus on the whip rules when first applying to amateur riders whereby they cannot take their hands off the reins when slapping them on the shoulder.

And they are being bred here yet, NZ greyhounds are being desexed before being passed on. Some of them would have a bit of age on them when they perform that surgery too.

It's great, isn't it. Politicians vote on closing an industry down without a thought of any consequences. I wouldn't know who is doing the work. I think there are still some in denial and hoping it won't happen.

I think the rehoming places are already quite full, not sure if some dogs are still going to America as pets, and wondered if anyone had any idea about how many are finding new homes at the moment. The Christmas Parades would have been a likely place to offload some, I would have thought. Showcase what sort of pets they make, hand out pamphlets and spend time chatting to potential buyers. Not quite the puppy in a basket as a Christmas present but, still a novel gift. Santa's Little Helper made it into a few storylines with Bart Simpson. Surely the ideal would be to have the greyhound adoption facilities empty when the racing stops. These places can't be expecting to stay open much after industry ceases. There must be a date when any remaining greyhounds are put to sleep.

9am this morning.

Year Stake No of starters 2018 100k 8 2019 100k 13 2020 100k 14 2021 110k 12 2022 140k 7 2023 175k 8 2024 175k 8 2025 175k 7

Yep and the fav is the standout. The Grp 3 Open Sprint is a better betting race.

Often a very competitive race, only 7 staters this year.

I recently donated some historical photos to a Club! From the last meeting I went to! I posted (gave away) some photos of that Day! 60,000+ views...

??? lol, did a big stable forget to nom? when was it meant to close?

Christophe Lemaire has identified Embroidery as his best chance of tasting a first Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) success since his win aboard Pride in the 2006 Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m). One of the leading hopes in a jam-packed Group One Hong Kong Mile, three-year-old filly Embroidery is coming off a stunning year that featured victories in two of the three legs of the Japanese Triple Tiara – the Group One Oka Sho (1,600m) and Group One Shuka Sho (2,000m). “Embroidery is...View the full article

@JJ Flash you didn't start that Topic because YOU had a thought it was because someone PM'd you as stated in your firsr post. Do you have any original thoughts at all?