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Really? Since when did you join the convent? Or is it something in that Racecourse Hotel rum?

We are assuming they didn't know. I find it hard to believe, even though the Law Society would be one of the better agencies to maintain privacy, that someone in the RIB didn't know. BTW the main issue that undid him with the Law Society wasn't the misconduct itself which was minor but the fact that he didn't have the policy, processes and procedures in place to handle workplace misconduct as required by the Law Society. This point seems to fly past most online commentators. In my opinion that is the reason he probably shouldn't be employed at the RIB. I can't work out why the Office Manager(s) didn't have this covered after 7 years. Everything was all good until the employer/employee relationship broke down then the complaint was made. I've seen that happen in employement cases many many times.

RIB need to front foot this and terminate his employment and admit they were not in possession of all the data to make a correct decision on his employment. Botherway knew dam well he would not get the job if he disclosed this 'incident'. He has been deceptive and that disqualifies him from a role concerning other people's integrity. As I said before the porn is not the issue, as distasteful as it might be to some, who probably watch porn anyway

Listen Chiefy. This guy with his position and supposed intelligence doesn't deserve compassion. He knew exactly what he was doing and is as Freda described him is a "piece of shit" Castration springs to mind as a remedy.

Which gets back to my "gun shy" suggestion. The problems you refer to have been building for decades - hard to fix things quickly when the crisis point is reached. Yes I see the visuals but the RIB probably wouldn't have known as the Law Society are pretty rock solid at keeping someones privacy. Even so I have doubts about the RIB employment vetting policies. We all know about the ex-Police staff that have been employed and their records! As for Botherway he is now entitled to practice as a Lawyer. Let's face it the price he is paying for a minor indiscretion (in the overall scheme of things it IS MINOR) and the vitriol he is getting is way over what he deserves. Calling him a piece of shit @Freda goes beyond the pale. I have some compassion for the situation he is in because I have had personal experience not because I actually did anything wrong but because of a false accusation that bought out all the same type of vitriol and hypocrisy. Thankfully social media wasn't a big thing then and I had some staunch close friends that stood by me and managed the media hawks. Later in life I met people who were destroyed because of minor indiscretions or sometimes just unfounded allegations. If not destroyed completely broken. Yes mostly men Yes there are certain things that in my mind you can't come fully back from nor should you be allowed to. I'm not defending the RIB - I doubt they knew. If I'm defending anyone it is Botherway or at least showing some compassion. Does the indiscretion match the crap he is getting? Hell who would want to hold any licensed position in the racing industry or rather who are the individuals that haven't done something that the sanctimonious moral vultures wouldn't tear you apart for if they knew? Why the hell does racing have to hold some moral high ground? It isn't like that in Australia. Some of their license holders have made major indiscretions and haven't faced the vitriol that they would in NZ. We hang people out to dry based on a rumour talked about in a bar!

Peter and Shaun McKay were contemplating the racing future of seven-year-old gelding Giacomo, but he proved he is still up to the task when defending his crown in the Holster Engineering Lally & Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday. The son of Puccini took up his typical front-running role, but he wasn’t given it all his own way, with My Maebelline Girl serving it up to him down the back straight and wrestling away the lead. That placed Giacomo in the uncustomary position of having something to chase, but chase he did and he recaptured the lead from the 400m and saw off the late challenge of Te Akau pair Crown Princess and Altari to win by three-quarters of a length. “It was really good,” Peter McKay said. “He likes to dictate in front and he didn’t get it all his own way. Yesterday he did do it a little bit differently where he has led for a bit and then taken a sit when My Maebelline Girl went around him and then he has got going again before the corner, which he likes to do. “We were thinking it might be his last season of racing but he has now put his hand up again. “He always seems to come right at this time of the year so hopefully he can pick off another one before he goes out at the end of the season.” Looking ahead to the weekend, the McKay’s will cross the Kaimai Range with just the one runner on Saturday, with Just Call Me Johnny to contest the Snow Williams Bayleys Country 2100 at Tauranga. “He has come through his last start win well and he went home to Milan Park for a week and piled on good condition, which was good,” McKay said. “We decided we would go straight into a 2100m rather than last time where we sent him home for a 10-day spell and he went a mile and then 2100m. I just think he is more of a stayer now. “Things are looking good for Saturday, I just hope the rain stays away.” While the stable is light on numbers this weekend, they will have more representation a week later when they trek south to Trentham. “Both of my stayers, Wolfgang and Santa Catalina, are going to the same race, the St Leger,” McKay said. “I would like to split them but it is a 2500m race, which seems to suit them both. It will be nice to see them competing against each other and hopefully they are fighting out the finish.” Meanwhile, McKay has welcomed Group Three winner Spencer back to the barn. The six-year-old son of Derryn has been spelling since his unplaced runs in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January, and McKay is looking forward to racing him over winter. “He has come back and has put a lot of weight on in the time he was out,” McKay said. “He can pick away over winter, he seems to go alright on a wetter track. “We will look at some of those set weights and penalties or weight-for-age races at the end of the season and start of next season. He is capable of plenty more yet.” View the full article

An elite-level test looms for promising juvenile Seize The Day following his comfortable maiden victory in the AKW Farrier LTD 2YO (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday. Trained locally by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the Te Akau two-year-old was a beaten favourite on debut at Ellerslie last month, placing behind Summer Schemer and subsequent Group One performer State Of Valour. His conditioners were confident of an improved result on Wednesday and the son of I Am Invincible didn’t disappoint, sitting parked throughout and bounding away in the concluding stages under jockey Opie Bosson to win by 2-3/4 lengths. “He felt good,” Bosson said. “He took a while to come back to me and wanted to over-race a fraction, but he travelled beautifully from the 600m. “He’s a lovely big horse, with a massive stride on him, and gives you a nice feeling when he lets go. “He had run through the line well at Ellerslie after getting a bit lost when balancing up, but once he did, he found the line and it was an encouraging run. “He’s gone forward in his work since then and everything pointed to a good run today. I think he’s going to be pretty competitive over 1400m.” Co-trainer Sam Bergerson was pleased with the win and he is now looking forward to heading south with the colt later this month to tackle the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. “He’s a lovely colt and put it all together and showed it out there today,” Bergerson said. “He was probably a little bit keen, which is hopefully not a chink in his armour as we look to step up to 1400m in the Group One at Trentham, but he was really dominant up the straight and it was exciting to see. “He’s always shown us plenty at home, and obviously he went down as a short-priced favourite at Ellerslie, but we were still very happy with the performance and how he went through the line. “It was good to see what he did on the home track and we’re excited to get him down to Trentham in a couple of weeks.” A full-brother to Group Three winner California Zimbol and a half-brother to stakes winners From Within and Cruden Bay, Seize The Day was purchased out of Yarraman Park Stud’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, in partnership with Kia Ora Stud, for A$600,000. View the full article

Not at all. But then I don't know any adult who hasn't seen some. LOL actually it brings to mind some instances in my working career I had to deal with as IT Manager. One case was where the company I worked for was about to have their systems integrated into the Global Parent. I received via DHL several boxes of policy, procedure and systems manuals (an American Company). Being ever the inquisitive student I started working through them - the systems were fascinating as was the phone list of every executive in the company worldwide. I rang a couple of Vice Presidents at the Global Information Systems Headquarters in an effort to get some traction on our NZ integration. Worked a treat as they were genuinely interested in NZ as a country and were often amused when I told them that I looked out of my office in the Head Office at paddocks of sheep! Anyway while getting through these folders I came across the Global policy on internet use. In NZ we had very few policies in place and the internet was still quite novel and only the management had access to it. I was the only one who had access to the logs of who was viewing what. Anyway the Global policies were very strict and the consequences quite high so I thought I better do a check. LOL lo and behold two senior managers were exploring quite a few things they shouldn't have been. My boss was number 2 in the company and was looking at some stuff that was well let's say to the right of soft. I thought I better have a discreet chat with him. Basically I met with him and talked about the policies (no one had read much of these folders - yes all Senior Managers had got a shipment of folders - some were common to all but many were specialist to their roles. I was the only one who had the IT related ones. So I had a meeting, explained the policies and what they meant, then explained the detailed logs that were kept on internet access including all the links to all the websites visited. I sensed a subtle realisation dawning upon my boss. I then said would it be prudent before the integration that I filtered and flushed some of these logs for the purposes of simplying the integration. Yes he said that would be a good idea. I also suggested he might wish to raise the topic at the next executive meeting or would he rather I sent out a memo. He chose the former. LOL I received a formal written warning that year - I averaged about one a year normally for going ahead and doing things that wasn't approved - I worked on the principle of fix it now and ask for forgiveness later. The next annual salary and bonus review was an interesting one and needless to say I argued well my case for an increase.

One day after the latest hearing in a federal Bankruptcy Court in Chicago over Hawthorne's insolvency dealings, a slight equipment delay puts a question mark over the start of training in preparation for a Spring Thoroughbred meet, but there appears to be movement over important simulcast signals going back online. According to Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) President Chris Block, the trucks to haul the dirt surface to the track have been rented, but the loaders needed to move the dirt into the trucks have yet to arrive. “The conversion of [the track] is on hold until all the equipment arrives and then the project can start,” said Block, Wednesday. “We don't know which day that'll happen, but we're hopeful that will happen the next couple days.” If the necessary equipment can be hired and in action by Friday, then the track could be ready for training by next Wednesday, Block speculated. A tentative start date for the meet has been pegged at Sunday, Apr. 19. “That's just a very uncertain timeline, for sure,” said Block. It's also the latest twist in a story that has unfurled since Hawthorne, and its related companies, filed for a Chapter 11 business reorganization at the end of last month. The filing is built around a “debtor in possession” financing mechanism, which is when a debtor “keeps possession and control of its assets while undergoing a reorganization under Chapter 11.” Hawthorne has secured temporary funding of around $16 million from JDI Loans, with a 120-day term limit on these funds. During Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing, Judge Timothy Barnes agreed that Thoroughbred owners and trainers will soon have access to monies in their track bookkeeper accounts (previously frozen), which includes earnings as well as funds submitted in advance of the meet. Block said he was unsure exactly when those accounts will be unfrozen. “We're going to stay on top of it daily,” he said. According to Hawthorne's initial bankruptcy filing, the company's estimated assets are between $50 million and $100 million, while the estimated liabilities are between $100 million and $500 million. The list of creditors who have the 20 largest unsecured claims are led by Fanatics LLC, a digital sports platform licensed in Florida, which has an unsecured claim of $8.75 million, according to the filing. There are several entities that had stopped sending its simulcast signal to Hawthorne because of unpaid bills. This includes The Stronach Group (TSG) owned Monarch Content Management with an unsecured claim of $7.13 million, Casears with a claim of roughly $750k, and Penn National with a claim of slightly more than $491k. During Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing, said Block, it was discussed that these companies could turn their signals back on pending a written agreement with the track that would see a portion of these monies paid back. Indeed, Block added that track management had told him Wednesday that on Thursday and Friday, the simulcast signals for Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Hoosier Park were scheduled to go back online. Hawthorne is also responsible for a significant amount in bounced checks between dozens of individuals from the Harness racing world. More than $1.6 million exists between the bounced checks and existing Thoroughbred accounts, said Block. But coming out of Tuesday's hearing, the funds owed to harness owners and trainers will remain withheld for now. “The ITHA's attorney argued in court today that owners and trainers on both the Thoroughbred and harness sides should be made whole. But the judge accepted an argument, made by creditors, that the court should prioritize Thoroughbred racing with the limited funds available, given the impending start of our meet,” the ITHA wrote in a Tuesday press release. If the necessary track renovations are conducted and a Thoroughbred meet is approved, there remain questions over what that meet might look like. According to Block, there are about 200 Thoroughbreds currently stabled at the track. Other trainers are waiting to potentially ship in. During last year's meet, there were roughly 640 horses stabled at Hawthorne. “And it was tough to maintain it at that,” said Block, about the meet. Does he expect that same number of horses this year, if indeed the meet goes ahead? “To be honest with you, I don't think so,” he said. Since last year's meet, Illinois horsemen and women haven't reinvested in young stock like they used to, he said. “Not to mention all the negative talk around this. It's probably pushed some horsemen the other way. “I'm sure there's some new ones here and there,” he added. “But I can't imagine that number's going to go up anywhere over 650. And from my thinking, it's probably going to be under that.” The next hearing in Hawthorne's bankruptcy proceedings is scheduled for Mar. 17. The post Hawthorne Latest: Slight Track Renovation Equipment Delay, Possible Movement On Simulcast Signals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Are you the President of Porn-Watchers United?

To be honest CS, racing administration has bought on a lot of the opprobrium it gets through the mismanagement of the projects it takes on. Delay in addressing Hastings, problems with the Awapuni track, the development at Alexandra Park that went belly up, even Ellerslie's new track in the early stages, and other issues to do with the allocation of spending and programming You could be well excused for coming to the conclusion that the people in charge are not very competent. I don't know the reasons why these things go wrong, social media is not reliable in giving you an accurate picture Anyway back to Mr Botherway. It's not like the running of racing in NZ has a whole heap of runs on the board, so they need to stop digging holes for themselves. Issuing this guy a trainers license for example may have not been to the liking of some, but he was offered a job as an adjudicator on integrity, which as I have said before is not appropriate because his own integrity is in question Racing admin needs to stop shooting itself in the foot if it wants to be respected by the industry it administers. You can't keep defending a regime that does not help itself, and that is what you are doing

Sorry why is this guy a "piece of shit"? The Law Society don't consider his crime to be as serious as you infer. He was watching porn on his computer in his office of the company he was the sole proprietor of. His staff caught sight of snippets for six years and then complained to the Law Society. Obviously when they had finally decided to leave. He copped the punishment and has served the penalty.

Alleged drug positives. Sorry I'm not privy to the full rum medicated discussions at the Racecourse Hotel. As for employing those with a record of sexual abuse? It can't be this person who is the subject of this Topic as they haven't committed any sexual abuse let alone been convicted of it. I note that the RIB employee referred to in this Topic is now free to practice law with his suspension having been completed. The penalty was very low in severity which is commensurate with the indiscretion. But no let the sanctimonious preach holier than thou... I see the journalist has scored yet another headline with the person in quesion being suspended from rugby referring. I guess there was a real risk that he would look at his laptop during an injury break. No wonder the All Blacks are stuffed!

I wouldnt put money in the pool so that their people can bet irresponsibly in contrast to the TAB’s slogan, Bet Responsibly! If it was their personal money they were spending then they would not be gambling like they do on the show! And yet, others get limited to net what I consider a miserley amount? The hypocrisy is appalling!

The head post isn't my post. In answer to your question - no. I'm surprised you haven't picked up the nuance - well not surprised as you seem to get a bee in your bonnet and gnaw at the bone of trashing racing.

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL – Brisk trade continued from start to finish of the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday in Central Florida and the day concluded with figures well ahead of the auction's 2025 renewal. The session was topped by a filly by Nyquist who sold for $2 million to Boyd Racing from the Wavertree Stables consignment. Through two sessions of the three-day sale, 295 horses have sold for $51,336,500. After two sessions in 2025, 269 horses had grossed $39,588,000. The two-day average stands at $174,022 and the median is $90,000. At the conclusion of the sale a year ago, the average was $152,351 and the median was $70,000. With 94 horses reported not sold at the close of business Wednesday, the two-day buy-back rate is 24.2%. It was 21.8% at the same point in 2025. The session-topping daughter of Nyquist was one of three to sell for seven figures during the session, bringing the total so far at the sale to six–one off the total number to hit that mark a year ago. Two consignors celebrated their first seven-figure sales Wednesday. Jesse Hoppel sold a $1.05-million son of Mo Town and Susan Montanye's SBM Training and Sales sold a $1.85-million son of Into Mischief, while, with the session topper, Wavertree Stables had its second of the auction, both by Nyquist. “The market is very strong. It's a blessing to see all of these people here,” said Tami Bobo, who sold the Into Mischief colt through the SBM consignment. Bobo credited the strong results with the tax bill passed last year which provided buyers with a 100% depreciation bonus and helped lead to record results at the yearling sales last fall. “The Big Beautiful Bill has done nothing but help all of us,” Bobo said. “So that is why the marketplace is where it is and I think it will continue to sustain itself.” The OBS March sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 11 a.m. “She Was a Queen”: Nyquist Filly Steals the Show on Day 2 Maintaining the same spirited clip that was on display on day one, Wednesday's second session's action hit full tilt by the time hip 372, a filly by Nyquist, exited the ring. Highlighting what turned out to be another banner day for consignor Wavertree Stables, the Mar. 26 foal jumped over the seven-figure mark in a flash, and when the dust had settled, Killora/Linton, acting as agent for Boyd Racing, had garnered the filly for $2 million. The filly posted a brisk :9 3/5 eighth of a mile breeze at OBS last week. “She was just an absolute queen the whole week,” said Hannah Jennings, who signed on behalf of Randy and Jenny Boyd. “She was super professional. Obviously, her stride was fantastic on the track and physically she's everything we could want.” Bred by Cannon Thoroughbreds, the Kentucky-bred was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Forest Bloodstock. The bay is the third foal out of Smooth and Savvy (Lucky Pulpit), a half-sister to Grade I winner Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute). “Plans are to be determined on the trainer, but I think a lot of them will be happy to open a stall for her,” she added. Darley stallion Nyquist is also responsible for another pair of Wavertree grads at OBS–Grade I winners Cavalieri, a $900,000 2023 OBS Spring Sale purchase, in addition to Tenma, an $850,000 Spring Sale buy in 2024. “Nyquist is one of our favorites,” said Jennings of the Kentucky Derby winner. “He can get you a really elite horse and Ciaran Dunne sold two Grade I-winning Nyquist fillies out of OBS sales. So hopefully she can be the third.” The highest-priced juvenile through two days of selling at OBS, the filly was the sole purchase for the Boyds. “It's been so tough,” commented Jennings on the day's activity. “We knew we'd need to stretch for her, but we never thought we'd have to stretch that far. But when the horse is the right one, everyone's on them.”–@CBossTDN 'The Gift That Keeps on Giving': Another Nyquist Home Run for Wavertree Ciaran and Amy Dunne's Wavertree Stables was an early believer in Nyquist, thanks to its frequent partnership with Paul Reddam, who campaigned the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby winner. The consignment continued to reap the benefits of that faith this week at OBS, warming up with a colt by the Derby winner (hip 88) who sold for $1.2-million during Tuesday's first session of the March sale and followed by a $2-million filly (hip 372) sold to Boyd Racing Wednesday. The colt had been purchased for $170,000 and the filly for $300,000 at Keeneland last September. “He's put a lot of meals on the table,” Ciaran Dunne said of Nyquist. “We were very lucky in that we were associated with Mr. Reddam and he raced him. So, obviously from the outset we were exposed to a lot of them. And from day one, they were just good horses. So we kind of got a little bit of a leg up on everybody else. For us, he's the gift that keeps on giving.” Ciaran Dunne | OBS/Photos By Z In recent years, Wavertree has sold subsequent Grade I winners Cavalieri ($900,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale) and Tenma ($850,000 at the 2024 OBS April sale), both by Nyquist. Of the filly who brought $2 million Wednesday, Dunne said, “She is by one of the top stallions in the country. She is a beautiful physical. She had an unbelievable work. She vetted clean. If you can't sell her, you need to quit selling.” For Dunne, the moment lacked one thing with daughter Caitlin home in Kentucky where she is due to deliver her first baby in the coming days. “It's a double-edged sword that Caitlin wasn't here to share it with us because she's been here for pretty much all of our big ones in the past,” Dunne said. “But she is at home doing something way more important.” @JessMartiniTDN $1.85-Million Into Mischief Colt to Fletcher Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni capped a busy day at OBS Wednesday when he bid $1.85 million to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 416) on behalf of Frank Fletcher. The juvenile, who worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5, was consigned by S B M Training and Sales and became the first seven-figure sale for Susan Montanye's consignment. “He is by one of the leading sires in our generation,” Lanni said of the colt. “He's a fast horse. [Trainer] Bill Mott is going to get him and Bill really liked him. So he got a pretty good endorsement.” The colt is out of graded-placed Sweet Diane (Will Take Charge) and is a half-brother to stakes winner Miss Martini (Curlin). Tami Bobo purchased the colt for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Hip 416 | OBSVidHorse “He had compressed hocks,” Bobo said when asked how she had acquired a colt by Into Mischief at that price point last fall. “You've heard me say it before. I am a firm believer in how God makes a horse. For me, it wasn't an injury from day one. I've had graded stakes winners in the past and I've never had a problem with it. Once they fused, you are always good to go.” The colt sold out of Book 5 at Keeneland and Bobo said it was thanks to Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff that she became aware of him. “Conrad Bandoroff is a great consignor, he keeps up with his buyers,” Bobo said. “He called me. I was actually in Florida when he told me about the horse. I am never at Keeneland in Book 5, so I was already home. So it was a true blessing. Susan Montanye signed the ticket for me and Susan and [Montanye's husband] Andy, I want to give them props, because they came into the business the hard way. So for her to sell her first million-dollar horse and for us to be able to do that together collectively, it means the world to me.” Of the colt's seven-figure price tag, Bobo said, “I truly thought the horse would bring over $1 million. I really did. The horse has trained like the big horse all year. Susan nicknamed him King Kong early on in the training season. She is diligent in sending us videos, so we really know where we are with our horses. And this horse just continued to show up.” @JessMartiniTDN 'Charlie Wanted Him': $1.05-Million Mo Town Colt to Baoma A colt by Mo Town (hip 299) became the fourth million-dollar juvenile of the OBS March sale when selling to Charlie and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp. for $1.05 million Wednesday in Ocala. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, doing his bidding from the press box alongside the Chus and trainer Bob Baffert, signed the ticket on the colt who was consigned by Hoppel LLC. The juvenile worked a quarter-mile in :20 2/5 during last week's under-tack preview. “He is just a big, beautiful, scopey horse,” Lanni said. “He looks like he will go two turns. He is very sound looking. He worked really good. It was a great time, a great gallop out. And he came back sound and good. The good ones are bringing good money. I thought that was plenty for him. But I am happy to get him.” Baoma Corp's Susan Chu with hip 299 | Jessica Martini The Chus were quickly back at the Hoppel barn to great their newest acquisition. Susan Chu, asked what she liked about the 2-year-old, pointed to her husband. “Charlie wanted this horse,” she said with a laugh. “He is the gentleman in charge. But we totally trust Donato, and of course Bob, and they make the best decision for us.” Among the horses the Chus have purchased out of the OBS sales ring are last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos (Nyquist), who was most recently a game second behind Forever Young (Jpn) in the Feb. 14 G1 Saudi Cup. “We are really so proud of him,” Susan said of Nysos. “He came home last week and he looks excellent.” @JessMartiniTDN 'It Was Unreal': Mo Town Colt a First Million-Dollar Result for Hoppel The usually stoic Jesse Hoppel, from a family which has been selling horses in Ocala for generations, appeared misty eyed after selling his first million-dollar horse Wednesday at OBS. Minutes after Donato Lanni made a $1.05-million bid to acquire a colt by Mo Town on behalf of Baoma Corp., Hoppel said the result, “Exceeded expectations. Period. That was unreal.” The dark bay colt is out of the unraced Reckon (Into Mischief). He was purchased by the Hoppels for $40,000 as a weanling at the 2024 Keeneland November sale. The colt was signed for in the name 'Antigo,' an homage to the birthplace of Don Rice, Hoppel's grandfather, who along with his brother Clyde, were pioneers of the Ocala pinhooking scene. “It would be easier if I just told you what I didn't like about him,” Hoppel said when asked what he had liked about the colt as a weanling. “But it wouldn't be much conversation.” Hoppel recalled discussing the colt with his father, longtime pinhooker Pat, prior to sending him through the ring Wednesday. “I grew up on the sales grounds,” he said. “I have a lot of horses I thought were really good. But me and my dad sat there yesterday and we looked at the horse and he said, 'I don't think I've brought a horse to sale this good before.' And I said, 'I know I haven't, dad.' From my dad, that's a huge compliment.” The seven-figure result capped a profitable few minutes for Hoppel, who also sold a filly by Drain the Clock (hip 284) for $500,000. @JessMartiniTDN Upstart Filly Leads McCrocklin's Bounty on Wednesday Earlier in Wednesday's session, a filly by Upstart realized an $800,000 final bid from agent Marette Farrell bidding on behalf of Mo Speed Racing. Offered as hip 343 by Tom McCrocklin, the Florida-bred filly rounded out the session as the second-highest priced filly of the afternoon. During last Thursday's breeze session, the filly posted a :20 4/5 move for a quarter mile. “That was a great result,” said McCrocklin. “It was not a total surprise once the action started at the barn. She was extremely popular and was vetted a lot. She showed and showed and showed.” Out of Shananies Song (Eltish), the Florida-bred filly was bred by the partnership of McCrocklin and Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg. Offered at Keeneland November in 2024, McCrocklin bought out Von Rosenberg, securing the filly for $60,000. Tom McCrocklin | OBS/Photos By Z “Carolin wanted to sell her as a weanling, so I bought her half and brought the filly back home,” he said. “She was kind of a superior all the way along. She was one of those types, just a nice filly all along.” The 22-year-old mare is already responsible for seven winners and two graded stakes winners, including GII Swale Stakes winner Favorable Outcome (Flatter) and G3 Al Shindagha Sprint victor Mouheeb (Flatter). Stakes winners and graded placed Beguine (Gun Runner) and Bellamentary (Bellamy Road) are also listed among the mare's produce. “There's so much satisfaction in breeding the mare, raising the the baby, preparing and selling them,” said McCrocklin. “It was very gratifying and I am very grateful for Marette Farrell [buying the filly].” McCrocklin, who still retains the mare, indicated she is booked back to Taiba, who stands at Spendthrift Farm. Did McCrocklin know this filly might be a star right from the beginning? “As a foal, she was just a horse, with a plain brown wrapper. But that's typical of the mare,” he explained. “They are not big, imposing horses, but you can see from her produce record that she produces racehorses.” On day two, McCrocklin also sold hip 453, a filly by Twirling Candy. Out of Tizway's stakes-placed Tizanillusion, the March foal recorded a :20 2/5 quarter-mile breeze last week. The Kentucky-bred was purchased for $600,000 by Alistair Roden Bloodstock, acting agent for Mark Breen. Bred by Steve and Denise Smith's Mesingw Farm, the filly RNA'd for $75,000 at Keeneland last September. “She was a homebred of [the Smiths],” said McCrocklin, “She didn't meet her reserve at Keeneland and they were kind enough to send her to me to get her ready.” Offering his thoughts on the filly after her return from the sales last season, McCrocklin explained, “She was a very fast filly. She just got better and better with time. She started out just a horse and just got better and better the whole time. When she got over here, she prepped like a good horse.”–@CBossTDN NOTHING BUT NET Roadster Colt Gives Scott Geiner a Career High Pinhook Score Scott Geiner, who said he generally pinhooks just a small number of horses a year, had his best success to date when he sold a colt from the first crop of Roadster (hip 320) to Lee Ackerley for $425,000 in Ocala Wednesday. The Louisiana trainer had purchased the colt for $62,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. “He was just a nice colt as a yearling,” Geiner said. “He had a pretty walk. I thought maybe this was one I could make a little money with and I wound up making a bunch of money.” The dark bay colt is out of multiple stakes-placed San Antonio Stroll (Stroll) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Damon's Mound (Girvin). From Keeneland, Geiner sent the colt to consignor Omar Ramirez for the winter. “Omar liked him the whole time,” Geiner said. Scott Geiner | Jessica Martini The colt worked a quarter-mile at last week's under-tack preview in :21 flat. “After he worked last week and yesterday and today, he had the right people come look at him,” Geiner said of expectations for the sale Wednesday. “So we thought, $199,000, and I think we put $149,000 in the box.” While the colt exceeded expectations, Geiner had a back-up plan, just in case. “If I didn't get what I wanted for him, I would have raced him, but he worked good and I knew I'd get more money selling than keeping him,” Geiner said. Geiner continued, “I do a couple pinhooks a year. And I've done pretty good, but this is the highest. I pinhooked one a couple of years ago in Texas for $72,000 and got $265,000. Last year in Texas, I bought one for $30,000 and got $135,000.” Asked if this result might convince him to do more pinhooking, Geiner said, “I am kind of picky with what I want to get and I don't want to spend too much in case I've got to keep them.” @JessMartiniTDN The post $2-Million Nyquist Filly Leads Vibrant Trade at OBS March Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jordyn Bublitz Rack’em Up will look to make it two on the bounce when he lines up again today at Manawatu Raceway. The four-year-old son of Betting Line is trained and co-owned by Canterbury horseman Andrew Drake alongside partner Brianna Thomas, and he comes into the assignment off a determined victory earlier in the week. Despite drawing awkwardly in barrier 11 on day one, Rack’em Up proved too tough when driven by Andre Poutama. Forced to work early, Poutama pressed forward around runners to find the lead and once in front the gelding refused to yield, sticking on strongly to score by half a length. The win was the gelding’s third from 13 career starts. Drake admitted the result exceeded expectations. “We didn’t think that he’d win so many, you always hope that they will, but he’s come a long way for a big lanky giraffe, and he’s done a good job. We can’t complain.” Sending the gelding north proved a practical decision, with Drake believing the longer trips and opportunities available could suit. “It was so hard for him in the ratings down here, and I thought he might like the 2500m trip. When I rang Stephen (Doody) and he said he was happy to take care of him, and Andre was happy to drive, it was a no brainer to send him up!” Drake admitted he wasn’t sure the gelding would be able to overcome the unfavourable draw. “I didn’t expect him to win from the draw, but Andre took it in his own hands and it was a great drive.” The victory also carried extra meaning for Drake, who hails from Palmerston North and knows the circuit well. “Any win on that track is really special, that’s for sure.” Rack’em Up backs up today in the Good Luck Dave Rennie Mobile Pace (6.31pm), this time with a much kinder draw in barrier six and with Peter Ferguson taking the reins. Drake is hopeful the big gelding will cope well with the quick turnaround. “He should handle the back-up good, he handled it well when we took him to Nelson.” “The front row draw helps, but you never know, it’s not a bad field. Four of them in there won last start and they’re all going to be feeling big and brave.” “We’ll just have to see what he can do, and see what Fergie can do!” View the full article

Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3), Mythical looks to get back into the winner's circle in the March 14 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Last year the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) approved the establishment of maximum statewide ages at which horses can race–10 years old for winners and five years old for maidens. On Wednesday, the CHRB voted unanimously to tweak that rule, raising the max age for maidens to six, with the stipulation that such horses would be receiving “increased scrutiny” from the state's regulatory veterinarians. Prior to the codification of a maximum age for maidens at the state level, California's three currently active tracks had been operating under “house rules” that set the upper limits at either six (Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Los Alamitos Race Course) or five (Santa Anita Park). This max-age agenda item was originally up for a vote back in January, but the issue was tabled when commissioners at that time asked for more data before making their decisions. Based on feedback from the public and the CHRB's informal polling of trainers, the board's staff came back at the Mar. 11 meeting with a revised recommendation of six years old as the upper limit for maidens. Scott Chaney, the CHRB's executive director, said Wednesday that, “The public comments centered on the fact that, mostly, the maiden restriction was limiting opportunities for owners and breeders in California.” But quantifying a precise number of affected horses was difficult. “Inventory and participants are likely to be very insignificant due to increased costs of training a 6-year-old maiden,” Jeff Blea, the CHRB's equine medical director, told board members prior to the 7-0 vote. “However, there will be some who will be afforded this opportunity if you pass this rule change,” Blea said. Blea told the CHRB that, “I did an informal poll of about 10 Thoroughbred trainers, primarily. And all but one was in unanimous support of allowing 6-year-old maidens to race. “The one who was opposed was opposed because he felt it diluted the racing product at Santa Anita,” Blea said. “Moving it from five to six allows and encourages more rest periods without pressure on owners and trainers to keep these horses in training [and] allows this population to continue safely competing in California rather than leaving the state,” Blea said. Yet Blea acknowledged there's very little age-specific safety data that relates to California's maiden horse population. “There's a lack of scientific data looking at age of maidens and how it corresponds to catastrophic musculoskeletal injury,” Blea said. “There's a lot of data based on race, class, dirt, turf. But not very much scientific data to indicate [trends with maidens] where it's five versus six versus seven. In the literature that I provided in your staff report, it indicates that 6-year-old maidens would be safe to race from a musculoskeletal standpoint.” Back when the CHRB last called upon Blea to address this topic, he described the situation like this at the January meeting: “What's the magic number? Is it five, is it six, is it seven for maidens? Is it nine, is it 10, is it 11 for winners? I've had people tell me we should limit older horses to eight years old. I've had people suggest we limit maidens to four years old. It's a number. When you reach a certain age, you can't drive a car. When you reach a certain age, mandatory retirement. Age is not a disease, but at some point in time, we have to set boundaries and parameters,” Blea said. The post CHRB Ups Max Age Limit For Maidens From Five to Six appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CHELTENHAM, UK — Craig Kieswetter has been a top-class sportsman in his own right but the former England and Somerset cricketer was emphatic in his assessment of what mattered most to him after his family's Il Etait Temps (Jukebox Jury) won the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase. “I'd rather win at Cheltenham than win a World Cup,” said the South African-born Kieswetter, who, with his parents Wayne and Belinda and brother Ross, owns Ridgemont Stud in South Africa's Western Cape as well as Barnane Stud in Ireland. Il Etait Temps, who races for Barnane Stud in partnership with Hollywood Racing, brought up a fifth Grade 1 victory in just two days for Willie Mullins, whose team, after a notably quieter season, is now once again rampaging through Prestbury Park. Already the winner of five Grade 1 races prior to Wednesday – at Aintree, Leopardstown, Punchestown and Sandown – the eight-year-old Il Etait Temps had made three previous appearances at the Cheltenham Festival, including when third in the Arkle Challenge Trophy, but he had made a rare blunder at Ascot in January when falling at the second-last in the Clarence House Chase. “He had probably not the most ideal preparation coming into it but we'll take it,” Kieswetter continued. “He's small but he's mighty, and he's given us a lot of surprises and a lot of joy. We're delighted. “He's not the biggest, as we know, and I think a lot of stuff went in our favour today. The ground was perfect, conditions were perfect, and there were a few errors from a couple of the other horses in the race. We took advantage – nearly didn't – but sometimes there's no remarks in the school column and it's a Grade 1 win for the whole team at Cheltenham.” That Cheltenham success added to a Group 1 win on the level for the Kieswetters with Urban Fox (Foxwedge) in the Pretty Polly Stakes, while they have also enjoyed a Royal Ascot victory courtesy of Candleford (Kingman). He added, “It's great to do it with family and friends and be part of it. This is his fourth attempt at it so it's nice to get over the line. “We've got a massive South African crowd here – a whole group of us – and it's a lot colder than Cape Town, but we are happy to stand in the cold with a result like that.” Paul Townend has been aboard three of Mullins's Grade 1 winners this week, including the Champion Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth, and the trainer was full of praise for his ride on Il Etait Temps, who swept past L'Eau Du Sud (Lord Du Sud) and Quilixios (Maxios) two fences out and won with plenty in hand despite pecking badly on landing over the last. Mullins said, “I thought Paul was very brave on him because he couldn't go the pace they were setting for the first mile. He sat and sat, and coming down the hill we could all see that the further he was going, the better he was going. I nearly had a heart attack at the last fence though, but the horse has come to himself at last.” He added, “It probably took him 24 hours to recover when he came home from Ascot. You have to remember, he was a bit shaken and then he has to get on the ferry, which isn't what you'd do really, but it was what we did, and once he got home he settled into his own routine and he recovered quite quickly. “He was always going to run in this race, but we had to get the old spark back into him. I think Paul said it, he doesn't need the hood anymore, so that was number one, and a few little tweaks at home after that, and we just galloped him a bit differently, a bit like Lossiemouth, and it's worked.” With an embarrassment of equine riches at his disposal, Mullins had also saddled the odds-on favourite for the race, Majborough (Martinborough), whose jumping errors when in pole position saw him fade back through the field to finish seventh. He added, “Majborough was going so well at home, but then when he made that first little error, then the second one. He makes life hard for himself. We will have to wait and see. Hopefully there is a big one in him one day.” Disappointment to Delight for Cobden They say a week is a long time in politics, but sometimes even 40 minutes can be a long time in horseracing. Harry Cobden, down and out after the G1 Turners Novices' Hurdle when favourite No Drama This End failed to fire and was pulled up, was in dreamland in the very next race when making all aboard Kitzbuhel (Cokoriko) in the G1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. The chase fences tend to show Cobden at his finest, and his front-running ride was a masterclass in letting a horse find its rhythm and pop away with the minimal of interference. He had a more-than-able partner of course, as the six-year-old Kitzbuhel came to Cheltenham with two wins under his belt this season, including the G1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day. The only blot on his landscape had been the unseating of Paul Townend when the pair contested the G1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase on Kitzbuhel's most recent previous appearance, and it was that setback which doubtless saw him somewhat overlooked in the market. “I thought No Drama This End was my best chance of the week and I had no luck at all – everywhere I went I got stopped, I was always too far back and could never win from the second hurdle,” said Cobden. “It's funny how 40 minutes changes your life.” He added of Marie Donnelly's Kitzbuhel, “He's braver than I am, this little chap. Thank you to the owners and Willie Mullins for putting me on him. He's a phenomenal horse and I'm delighted to be on board.” Day two started with two 11/1 winners for Mullins. Business as usual, then, bar the starting prices. King Rasko Grey (Galiway), the Goffs Arkle Sale-topper of 2023 at €250,000, took advantage of No Drama This End's lacklustre showing and went toe-to-toe with Act Of Innocence (My Dream Boat) from the turn for home, eventually pulling clear under Paul Townend after the last. Townend came close to making it a quick-fire double when Final Demand (Walk In The Park) chased Kitzbuhel home in the next to give Mullins a one-two in the Brown Advisory. “The price was the most striking thing,” said the trainer after King Rasko Grey's victory for Audrey Turley, whose Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out of attempting a third Gold Cup on Friday and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. “I couldn't believe it. People were asking me for one under the radar. I never dreamt he'd be anything like that. He was one that I thought had a really good chance. You never have a banker, coming to Cheltenham, but he was one I thought would certainly go close. “It's great for the owners after the disappointment of Galopin Des Champs. Paul's sister Jodie, who is leading lady rider in Ireland, is leading him in as well, so it is a great day for them and for the Turleys.” For all that Willie Mullins dominates the Cheltenham Festival, his success is spread around when it comes to his owners. Tuesday's Champion Hurdle went the way of his longtime supporters Rich and Susannah Ricci, and he claimed his second feature race of the week for the aforementioned Kieswetter family. For the Turley and Donnelly families – both successful on Wednesday – he has also trained the dual Gold Cup winners Galopin Des Champs and Al Boum Photo. Kenny Alexander, owner of Tuesday's Arkle winner Kargese, is a more recent but no less significant addition to the Mullins owners' list. Keane a cross-code Grade 1 winner If Willie Mullins can hop over to Del Mar to snatch a Breeders' Cup, then why not have Breeders' Cup-winning jockey Colin Keane on the podium at Cheltenham? The multiple champion Irish Flat jockey proved that he is just as adept at switching codes by winning the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper on his first ride at the Cheltenham Festival. Keane and The Mourne Rambler sprinted almost three lengths clear of a chasing pack led by €710,000 purchase Mets Ta Ceinture (Hunter's Light) in the race run in memory of Cheltenham Festival-winning breeder Sir Johnny Weatherby, who died in December. Colin Keane salutes aboard The Mourne Rambler | Racingfotos Keane, who delivered Noel Meade a first win in the Cheltenham bumper, confided after the race that he had proposed to his long-term girlfriend Kerri Lyons on Sunday and received a positive response. His second major win of the week, then, came at Cheltenham. “It's a very special atmosphere here,” he said. “I've been fortunate enough to have some good days, but this is kind of a bucket-list thing to tick off, to ride here, let alone to ride a winner. “The crowds are a different level to what we're used to. I know Ascot would be busy, but this is some atmosphere here. It was brilliant.” Keane added, “When Noel rang me two weeks ago, it was an easy 'yes' if I could get the [National Hunt] licence sorted.” The Mourne Rambler was the second Grade 1 winner for his sire Well Chosen this week. Now 27, the son of Sadler's Wells stands at Ireland's Kedrah House Stud and was also responsible for Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Old Park Star. It has been a good Cheltenham Festival for descendants of Sadler's Wells so far. His grandsons Camelot and Jukebox Jury – both sons of Montjeu – have been responsible for two winners apiece in Saratoga and Final Orders, and Holloway Queen and Il Etait Temps respectively. Another grandson, Great Pretender, is the sire of Champion Hurdler Lossiemouth as well as Jingko Blue, while yet another, Galiway, sired King Rasko Grey. The post ‘Small and Mighty’: Il Etait Temps Bags Champion Chase Honours appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When Ilkay Kantarmaci's younger brother, Mertkan, announced a hiatus from training in 2024, Ilkay took the reins of a 27-horse stable at Belmont Park, placing him in the leading role of a training career.View the full article

A total of 90 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online March Sale on March 18-19. The sale is headed by the 13-lot Point-to-Point & National Hunt Bumper Session. There are also 62 horses in- and out-of-training, five two-year-olds, three stores, two broodmares, two yearlings, a 1/50th share of Nando Parrado (lot 89) and a breeding right in Invincible Army (lot 90). Some of the highlights are Bon Bon Fizz (Pour Moi) (lot 10), who won a bumper by 15 lengths at Thurles; Aintree Grand National entry Harry Des Ongrais (Crillon) (lot 16), Who's On First (Time Test) (lot 49), a winner of two of his last three starts; five- and six-furlong winner Trouble Man (Profitable) (lot 43); and the three-time listed-placed hurdler Ottizzini (Sea Moon) (lot 30). Among the broodmares is G2 Scottish Champion Hurdle heroine Anna Bunina (Poet's Voice) (lot 88), who was runner-up in the G1 Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle. The post National Hunt Prospects Star As Tattersalls Online March Sale Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When the details of Donald Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” were introduced, there was a welcome surprise for horseplayers as well as all gamblers. It included a provision whereby gamblers could only deduct 90% of their losses from their winnings. For example, if a gambler collected $100,000 in winning bets during a year while also losing $100,000, he or she would have to pay taxes on $10,000, even though no profit was actually made. The new law went into effect on Jan. 1. Unless something changes, when gamblers file their 2026 tax returns next year they will not be allowed to deduct 100% of their losses. Rep. Dina Titus, a Democratic Congresswoman from the gambling mecca of Nevada, sprung to action and introduced the FAIR BET Act, which would restore a gambler's right to deduct 100% of his or her losses from gambling winnings. Titus has called the policy change a “tax increase on Americans who gamble.” She introduced her bill in July, but, despite partisan support, it has yet to pass. In the most recent development, The FAIR BET Act was officially rejected as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the GOP-controlled House Rules Committee. To get the latest on the FAIR BET Act and insights into whether or not it will eventually pass, the TDN reached out to Titus's office with a list of questions. They were answered by her communications director Dick Cooper. TDN: You introduced the Fair Bet Act on July 7, 2025. Can you please bring us up to speed regarding what has happened to the bill since you introduced it and where things currently stand? DC: Since the bill was introduced, we have garnered 24 bipartisan co-sponsors. Representative Titus recently sent a letter to Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith and Ranking Member Richard Neal urging them to take up a legislative fix to restore the gambling loss deduction to 100% at their next markup. She also filed the FAIR BET Act as a discharge petition, to bypass committee inaction and bring the bill directly to the floor for a vote. While taxpayers will first feel the effects of the 90% gambling loss deduction when they file next year, many, in anticipation of potentially onerous tax liabilities, have already begun stopping or scaling back their gambling activity. This fix needs to get done sooner rather than later, and we have a broad coalition of support. The bill has picked up widespread industry support including: the American Gaming Association, MGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, Wynn, the Nevada Resort Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Several outside groups have also expressed their support for the restoration of full deductibility including Americans for Tax Reform, The Tax Foundation, and The American Institute of CPAs. TDN: What now is the best way forward to get the bill passed? DC: The next step is continuing to pursue multiple legislative vehicles–inclusion in a broader tax package, committee action in Ways & Means, or attachment to a must-pass vehicle like appropriations or a CR (Continuing Resolution). There is concern that if you fix this mistake from the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” that will open the floodgates for other members to want to fix other issues they had with the bill which was Trump's landmark piece of legislation. It is for that reason that attaching this provision to a must-pass vehicle remains the most likely option. TDN: Horse racing is a vital industry in Kentucky. Have you received support from your colleagues there? Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr has always been viewed as being very pro-horse racing. Has he weighed in with you regarding your bill? Have any other lawmakers from Kentucky offered their support? DC: Yes, Congresswoman Titus and Congressman Barr are both cosponsors of each other's bills. Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) is also a cosponsor of both bills. TDN: How frustrating is it to you that have been working on this for about six months and your bill still seems to be hanging in limbo? Do you still remain confident that you will eventually find a way to get the FAIR BET Act passed? DC: Of course, it can be frustrating when something that has broad bipartisan support doesn't move as quickly as we would like. Legislative timing, however, is often driven by process and available vehicles, not the merits of the policy. The Congresswoman remains confident that this will ultimately get fixed. The goal is to ensure it is resolved before taxpayers begin feeling the full impact when they file. TDN: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has come out in support of your bill. But has that been enough? Could the horse racing industry be doing more to help your cause? DC: The racing industry has been a strong partner on this issue. The most important thing is education and engagement. Reach out to your members of Congress and explain how this issue affects you personally. Emphasize that this is about fair taxation, not special treatment. Lawmakers respond when they hear directly from constituents that a policy has real-world consequences. Continued engagement from industry stakeholders and bettors themselves is important because lawmakers respond when they hear directly from the people affected. TDN: We have been told by many serious horseplayers that they will be forced to stop betting on the sport if they can no longer deduct 100% of their losses. This could be catastrophic for horse racing. Do you believe the industry is fully cognizant of what this could mean for its overall health? DC: That is a very real concern. It unfairly burdens professional gamblers and casual players alike and will inevitably drive players toward offshore and unregulated markets where consumer protections are nonexistent, thereby undermining responsible gaming efforts nationwide. Recently, the Congresswoman spoke with one of the most accomplished and respected players in the history of professional poker, Erik Seidel, who explained how this tax change will put him in semi-retirement. Conversations like that reinforce why this matters for players and the broader gaming ecosystem. TDN: To all horseplayers, this obviously seems extremely unfair. What do you hear from the elected officials on the other side of the issue regarding their support of these new tax/gambling rules? What, possibly, could be their justification for supporting what seems to be nothing more than an unfair tax on gamblers? DC: In many cases, the issue stems from misunderstanding the policy. Some assume this only affects professional gamblers, but in reality, it impacts casual bettors and everyday players as well. Others are simply just anti-gaming. TDN: When it comes to racing, as well as other forms of gambling, could this force bettors to start doing business with unregulated offshore betting sites. DC: That is certainly a risk. If legal, regulated wagering becomes tax-disadvantaged, bettors will look for alternatives in unregulated offshore markets. That would undermine consumer protections and divert activity away from regulated U.S. operators and jobs. The post The Latest on the FAIR BET Act: A Q & A With Congressional Aide Dick Cooper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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. Among this week's rulings, trainer Angel Sanchez-Pinero has been banned a combined four years and fined a combined $50,000 for two out-of-competition positive tests involving banned substances. Sanchez-Pinero is already serving a combined 10-year ban for a series of medication violations stemming from 2024 onwards. That cumulative ban started on July 24 last year. This additional four-year ban begins Nov. 25, 2035. On Apr. 24 last year, HIWU personnel took out-of-competition hair samples from Miss Hard to Get and Surprise Boss when they were stabled at Westampton Farm in Westampton Township, New Jersey. Subsequent testing detected the presence of Clenbuterol, a banned substance, in the hair sample taken from Miss Hard to Get, and the presence of Albuterol, a banned bronchodilator, in the hair sample taken from Surprise Boss. Though classed a banned substance, Albuterol is permitted only if given as an inhaled bronchodilator, and only if prescribed by a licensed veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-patient-client relationship, according to HISA rules. Similarly, clenbuterol is classified by HISA as a banned substance, but it is permitted for use for a maximum 30 days (within a six-month period) if accompanied with a valid veterinary prescription. Following administration, the horse in question is placed on the vets' list and unable to work or race until it tests clear. According to both written final decisions, these penalties were meted out by HIWU after Sanchez-Pinero had failed to respond to necessary procedural notifications for more than six months, leaving him in “default” in these two latest cases. Elsewhere this week, New Mexico and Texas based veterinarian Dr. Jason Scott has been banned 18-months and fined a total $30,000 (which includes $5,000 in arbitration costs) for possession of banned substances. His suspension began on Feb. 13 last year. Three HIWU investigators searched Scott's truck at Sunland Park on Feb. 13 last year and found two bottles of Pitcher Plant Extract (otherwise known as Sarapin) and two bottles of Adenosine Monophosphate (also known as AMP). Both are prohibited substances under HISA. Last July, Scott filed a federal lawsuit against both HISA and HIWU with a legal question that had yet to be litigated: What happens at a mixed meet where both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses race, and a veterinarian who is a HISA “covered person” is found in possession of medications that are prohibited for use in Thoroughbreds, but the vet claims those substances were solely intended for Quarter Horses, whose regulation is outside of HISA's jurisdiction? Indeed, in response to HIWU's official alleged violation notice, Scott wrote that he had not administered either substance to a “covered horse,” and that he possessed these drugs to treat “non-covered” Quarter Horses. At the arbitration hearing, Scott further elaborated by stating how he “gave Pitcher Plant and AMP to non-Covered Horses as part of a pre-race routine that involved giving Pitcher Plant two days before a race, and AMP one day before a race, as a prophylactic measure to prevent tying up,” according to the final ruling. In Hugh Hackney's (the arbitrator) case analysis, he also finds that Scott “followed the standard practices of the veterinarians in New Mexico at that time, and it was unclear, at best, if the [New Mexico Racing Commission] was following the rules set out for enforcement at HIWU. In fact, the commissioner of the NMRC was somewhat confused about what was covered before the investigation of Dr. Scott's truck.” As part of HIWU's argument, they found several inconsistencies in the billing records he filed pre-hearing to explain the use of these drugs in Quarter Horses in his care, including 47 horses who appeared to have been administered Sarapin and AMP twice on the same day with no apparent justification. These records also allegedly showed Scott had administered Phenylbutazone 17 times (on different dates and two different invoices) to Quarter Horses on the day before a race in violation of state rules. HIWU asserted that “the billing record did not contain any medical impressions, diagnoses, or treatment records, and Dr. Scott did not provide any additional medical records,” according to the final ruling. Scott blamed these inconsistencies on bookkeeping errors by his administrative staff. “The basic facts are not in dispute, but the basis for the selection of Dr. Scott's van by Investigator Bennett remains questionable,” wrote Hackney, before meting out the penalties to Scott with the qualifier that they are “based on everything previously discussed and presented in this matter.” The final ruling can be read here. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 03/10/2026 Licensee: Penny Rone, 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. Explainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Machico Madeira, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/1/26. Dates: 03/10/2026 Licensee: Miguel Penaloza, 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. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Maliblue, who won at Parx Racing on 1/14/26. Dates: 03/10/2026 Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, 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); the following cases are treated as one violation as under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in samples taken from Holy Bullet, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and again 1/18/26; and from Lovesunfair, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and sixth at Sunland Park on 1/19/26. Dates: 03/10/2026 Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, 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 Julia's Promise, who won at Sunland Park on 1/4/26. Dates: 03/09/2026 Licensee: Carlos A. David, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand; 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); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from One Sweet Girl, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/23/25. Dates: 03/09/2026 Licensee: Dr. Jason Scott, veterinarian Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 13, 2025; a fine of $25,000; payment of $5,000 in arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body. Explainer: Possession of Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin) and Adenosine Phosphate (AMP)—both banned substances—for an event dated 2/13/25. Dates: 03/05/2026 Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer Penalty: Combined 4-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2035; 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Horses, beginning on April 24, 2025; a combined fine of $50,000 for the following two cases. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Clenbuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Miss Hard to Get on 4/24/25; and for the presence of Albuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Surprise Boss on 4/24/25. Dates: 03/05/2026 Licensee: William E. March, 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 Protest, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/14/26. Dates: 03/04/2026 Licensee: Craig Lewis, 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 internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Kikuride, who won at Del Mar on 8/31/25. Pending ADMC Violations 03/10/2026, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Roll Dem Bones, who finished fifth at Turf Paradise on 2/4/26. 03/10/2026, Arturo Chavez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from She Mysterious on 12/9/25. 03/09/2026, Carla Gaines, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Diclofenac—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Royal Rumor on 2/8/26. 03/09/2026, Manuel Badilla, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Coolwind on 2/4/26. 03/06/2026, Isaiah L. Ortiz, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Ketoprofen—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Riding By on 2/4/26. 03/06/2026, Danny Gargan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Wine Money on 2/4/26. 03/06/2026, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Misty Boss, who finished second at Laurel Park on 1/23/25. 03/05/2026, Luis Diaz, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Game to Play on 12/27/25. Crop Violations Mahoning Valley Jason Simpson – violation date March 11; $1,500 fine, ten-day suspension Oaklawn Park Assael Espinoza – violation date March 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension Parx Racing Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 9; $500 fine, four-day suspension Sunland Park Keviin Carmona – violation date March 9; $500 fine, three-day suspension Tampa Bay Downs Israel Rodriguez – violation date March 8; $500 fine, two-day suspension Wesley G. Ho – violation date March 7; $500 fine, two-day suspension Turfway Park Orlando Bocachica – violation date March 7; $1,500 fine, nine-day suspension Juan Meza – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 7; $500 fine, one-day suspension Sammy Barnett – violation date March 7; $76 fine, horse disqualified (Barnett struck his mount 15 times), no other information available Juan Gabriel Lagunes – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension. The post National Rulings Mar. 5-11: Sanchez-Pinero Banned Four Years, Vet Scott Banned 18 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rather interesting, Pornhub is the 5th most visited website for January in NZ way more visits than Stuff and The Herald, so based on those figures how many publicly condemning someone accessing it when most likely they are doing same is hypocritical, so regarding the so called RIB, how many others are tuning in. It's more about where you are accessing/watching, more than 90% of visits to the pornhub site is accessed on smartphones, but accessing it on a work computer, that's where the issues, you would have to be a bit shortsighted to access a work computer, there is time and place for everything but passing judgement on some because they access porn, how many pass judgement on others when they are no different. Now I see said lawyer is barred from refereeing rugby this year, is this a rugby union ruling, all of these issues are a bi product of the infiltration the internet has on every access of our lives, it's endemic, it's a different world, it ain't better but the genie is out of the bottle now.