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I remember saying this a long time ago on here that once the UK customer risk framework arrived on our shores then there would be more restrictions and complete bans from some bet types.

The stakes schedule for the 2026 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack will include 20 stakes races worth more than $3.1 million in total purses, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday. The 2026 Aqueduct winter meet will open Wednesday, Jan. 1 and continue through Sunday, Mar. 30. The winter meet will offer 45 live race days in total. The centerpiece of the winter meet stakes calendar is the Saturday, Feb. 28 card offering four stakes, led by the one-mile Grade III, $300,000 Gotham, providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Gotham Day card also includes the Listed one-mile $200,000 Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. The full 2026 calendar of live race dates at NYRA is subject to New York State Gaming Commission approval, which remains pending. Click here for the complete winter meet stakes schedule. The post Gotham Anchors Stakes Schedule for 2026 Aqueduct Winter Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Super Corredora (Gun Runner), a front-running, upset winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, will launch her sophomore campaign in the GIII Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 1, according to trainer John Sadler. She returned to the worktab with a three-furlong bullet in :34.60 (1/9) in Arcadia Dec. 12. “She had her little vacation and she's doing really well,” Sadler said. “She had her first work Friday. Right now, the plan calls for her to go in the Las Virgenes and have one more prep, whether it's the (GII) Santa Anita Oaks (Apr. 4) or whatever, then the (GI) Kentucky Oaks (May 1).” Sadler continued, “She stayed with the string here at Santa Anita and took her little time off really well. I think she can step forward at three, she's got that kind of talent. We're excited for next year. She'll probably work a half (mile) this weekend, then progress towards February.” Super Corredora cleared her eight rivals beneath an aggressive ride from Hector Berrios, set a fast pace and made every pole a winning one at odds of 8-1 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Oct. 31, good for an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. It was 3/4 of a length back to favored GII Oak Leaf S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) in second. Fellow 'Rising Star' Percy's Bar (Upstart), disqualified from first and placed second for causing interference in the GI Darley Alcibiades S., was third. Super Corredora is our @NetJets #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Champ! pic.twitter.com/D2qslRv3nQ — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2025 Super Corredora was previously a runaway maiden winner at third asking–her first try around two turns–going a mile at Santa Anita Oct. 11. The bay sprinted in her first two tries at Del Mar, finishing fifth July 19 and second Aug. 9, respectively. The 55th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards will be held on Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach. “We're excited, we think she earned it,” Sadler said of potential championship honors. “She's undefeated around two turns. We think the best is still in her future.” Super Corredora, a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Spartan Equine Racing, Robert C. Gardiner and Michael W. Olszewski. One of three Breeders' Cup winners for leading young sire Gun Runner, Super Corredora was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. She was produced by Super Simple (Super Saver), a winning homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds and a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of MGISW Gunite (Gun Runner). Super Simple brought $2.3 million from Summer Wind Equine in foal to Gunite at last month's Keeneland November sale. The post Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Heroine Super Corredora Back to Work, Targeting Las Virgenes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing Australia has accepted the move by the Asian Racing Federation to seize control of the Australian black type pattern, a step that will lead to its Asian Pattern Committee deciding on upgrades and downgrades before the start of next season.View the full article

Pyromancer remained undefeated after three starts and seized the lead in the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby" with a victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 17 at Kawasaki Racecourse.View the full article

Instagrand (Into Mischief–Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron), second on the Second-Crop Sire by winners list with 86, has been added to Taylor Made Stallions' “State-Bred Initiative Program,” according to the farm's release on Wednesday. The program, created to support and incentivize regional markets, allows breeders to send approved mares to a stallion at a set stud fee, which will be waived as a complimentary no-guarantee once the resulting foal is reported as being born outside of Kentucky and supporting documentation for state-bred registration is submitted. Instagrand joins Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), Dr. Schivel (Violence), Idol (Curlin), and Tacitus (Tapit) in the “State-Bred Initiative Program.” Campaigned by OXO Equine, Instagrand wired his foes in the 2018 GII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar by 10 1/4 lengths in just his second lifetime start. Undefeated at two for trainer Chad Brown, Instagrand was named a TDN Rising Star, sponsored by Hagyard after debuting a 10-length maiden special weight winner, blazing five furlongs in :56 flat and stopping the clock just .32 of a second off the Los Alamitos track record. A $1.2 million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale topper, Instagrand followed up his impressive juvenile season by placing in a pair of key Kentucky Derby preps at three. He placed in the GIII Gotham Stakes and set the pace in the GI Santa Anita Derby in his two-turn debut, finishing just behind GISW Roadster (Quality Road) and defending Champion 2-Year-Old Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). With two crops of racing age, Instagrand is the sire of 12 black-type horses, including stakes winners Sturgeon Moon, winner of the Audubon Oaks and third in the GIII Indiana Oaks; Superwolf, a two-time stakes winner in 2025; SW Kay Cup and 2-year-old stakes winners Sweet Montreal and Gangster Flash. He is also represented by the graded stakes-placed runners Ourdaydreaminggirl, third in the GI Cotillion Stakes and in the GIII Comely Stakes; Gateskeeper, runner-up in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes and 2-year-old Vost, third in the GIII Iroquois Stakes. “The reception of the new program has been incredibly positive and the addition of Instagrand is a very unique opportunity for regional breeders across the country,” said Travis White of Taylor Made Stallions. “Considering his success as a dirt sprint sire so far with horses like Superwolf, Gangster Flash, and Sturgeon Moon, he should work well with regional markets and add another option for breeders to choose from. He will provide significantly more value to the “State-Bred Initiative Program” with his sire line and progeny success in the dirt sprint division.” For more information on Taylor Made's “State-Bred Initiative Program,” or to submit a mare for consideration, contact Brock Martin or Travis White at Taylor Made Stallions at (859) 885-3345. Space in the program is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis with approval. The post Instagrand Added to Taylor Made’s “State-Bred Initiative Program” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We're sliding down the scale slightly for this second part of our look at the sires standing across Europe to those with an advertised fee of £15,000 to £50,000 (approximately €17,000 to €57,000). And how can we not start with the champion sire of 2024, Dark Angel? At €45,000, his fee is the lowest it has been for a decade, and of course the years are marching on, but if there is one thing we have learnt about Dark Angel in his 18 seasons at Yeomanstown Stud it is that he can not only get you a fast and early one but also a durable galloper, as his nine-year-old son Khaadem showed again this year with a Grade II strike at Keeneland and a podium finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. It would be good to see one of the younger sons of Dark Angel pick up their father's mantle, and in this particular group is one of his stars of 2024, the top-class miler Charyn, an exciting recruit to the French stallion ranks in 2025 who remains at his same fee of €35,000 at Sumbe. He covered 177 mares in the spring, making him the busiest Flat stallion in France. In the same intake as Charyn was Auguste Rodin, a son of Deep Impact who owns a first-rate pedigree and has six Group/Grade 1 victories to his credit from a mile to a mile and a half. His starting fee of €30,000 has been trimmed to €27,500 which really should put him in the calculations of many, and particularly for owner-breeders. The Deep Impact line does not always produce the most physically imposing animals and until we see the first foals of Auguste Rodin it is hard to gauge how his offspring might be received at the sales, but we are in the business of breeding racehorses and if you're using unproven stallions, pedigree and performance are all you have to go on. He fulfils both those criteria. Over in Japan, where Deep Impact ruled the roost for many a year, his son Kizuna is about to be crowned champion sire for the second year running, having also been champion first-season sire in 2019. It has been a big year for the family of Vandeek as not only has the dual Group 1-winning son of Havana Grey covered a first book of 161 mares, but his half-brother Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) became the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. Plenty of credit is owed to their dam Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel) and breeder Kelly Thomas, who, along with many, will be hoping to see Vandeek succeed at stud. He'll have had the backing of a decent number of Cheveley Park Stud mares and remains at a reasonable fee of £15,000 in 2026. We didn't see a huge amount of Look De Vega on the track but during his five starts he was a decent winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and turned plenty of heads with his good looks when he retired to Ballylinch Stud for 2025. You can make up your own mind as to whether or not there is such a thing as a 'stallion-making race' but it is hard to argue with a Jockey Club roll call which includes, since the turn of the century, Shamardal, Le Havre, Lope De Vega, New Bay and Study Of Man. Look De Vega joins a list of more recent winners at stud – Mishriff, St Mark's Basilica, Vadeni, Ace Impact and Camille Pissarro – all yet to have runners bar St Mark's Basilica, whose first-crop juveniles included six black-type performers led by G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Diamond Necklace. A terrific start. And it is heartening to see the stallion who was a champion at both two and three remain at €40,000 for a second season, having spent his first two seasons covering at €65,000. Five per cent black-type winners to runners for St Mark's Basilica is the only metric which places him ahead of the champion first-season sire for 2025, Starman, whose 40 individual winners to date include four group winners, led by G1 Prix Morny heroine Venetian Sun. The imposing Starman has truly lived up to his name and has been given a fee hike commensurate with his offspring's impressive results this year, jumping to €40,000 from two years at €10,000, having opened at €17,500. Congratulations to those breeders shrewd enough to use him in 2024 and 2025, and bad luck to those who haven't managed to book a mare for 2026 as Tally-Ho's trusty social media feed duly informed us on Tuesday that his book is now full. It will be fascinating to see which of these young sires really starts to step up next year and one who we will be keeping especially close tabs on is Palace Pier, whose three group winners among eight stakes performers from his first crop represented a highly promising start. Palace Pier was himself unbeaten at two in two novice races and was then really in his pomp at three and four. If his runners follow suit – and there is no reason not to expect to see plenty more from them in 2026 – then he could be in for an exciting time. Having stood at £55,000 at the outset, he has been held at £32,000 for 2026 when he could feasibly have been put back up in price after a decent start. Before we get onto the new entries for 2026 and stallions yet to have runners, there are a number of properly proven sires who are worthy of a mention here, just as they have been in years gone by. Frankel's contemporary Nathaniel tops that list, and he has not only proved his worth as a sire of classy middle-distance performers but also as an increasingly useful broodmare sire. He has lacked a star performer this year and a drop back to £17,500 perhaps reflects that, but Nathaniel, whose fee has remained between £15,000 and £25,000 throughout his 13 seasons at Newsells Park Stud, has simply always been great value. It has been an eventful year for Sands Of Mali both on and off the track. He has jumped up two brackets here when it comes to price following his sale to Yeomanstown Stud, with his fee having increased more than fourfold to €22,500. On paper, he has always been an interesting member of the European stallion ranks: by the unheralded Panis, he is out of an Indian Rocket mare, but even if those names aren't instantly recognisable, some familiarity is found through paternal grandsire Miswaki, and it never hurts to have doses of Mr. Prospector and Indian Ridge in a pedigree, as he does. He measures up physically as well, as Sands Of Mali is a fine individual who was of course a durable Group 1-winning sprinter. He has been given a solid start at Ballyhane Stud and the team at Yeomanstown will doubtless do everything in their power to ensure that he has more group winners to add to the names of Time For Sandals and Copacabana Sands. A ratio of 4.76 per cent black-type performers to runners puts him in the top eight active stallions in Britain and Ireland for 2025. Much was expected of Gleneagles when he retired to stud in 2016. Not only was he a Group 1 winner at two and a dual Classic winner, but he is from a family that frequently churns out classy runners and he bears a striking resemblance to his own vaunted sire Galileo. Well, things didn't go his way straightaway, and that is reflected in the fact that his 2026 fee of €20,000 is a third of his starting fee, but he has steadily compiled a decent record with top offspring across a range of distances. Of course the standout is Calandagan, Cartier Horse of the Year and sensational winner of the Japan Cup. He'll be back for more next year and it would be no surprise to see Ace Impact's half-brother Arrow Eagle step up another gear. He's been a slower burner but could make an impression in the top staying contests of 2026 after winning the G1 Prix Royal-Oak. Study Of Man is already riding the crest of a wave created by his consistent rate of stakes performers from his relatively small early crops, and that could become a tidal wave as the level of support he has been given has increased, resulting in his first two three-figure books of 123 (2024) and 140 (2025). Inevitably his fee has also risen, from £25,000 to £35,000, but it will be a surprise if the support tails off in 2026, especially on the back of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, at which 18 of his weanlings sold for an average of 71,056gns, conceived while the Lanwades sire was standing at £12,500. Sioux Nation has continued to build momentum in his dependable way and was only narrowly denied becoming a Classic sire when his daughter Shes Perfect lost the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the stewards' room after a dramatic tussle with Zarigana. He has a Guineas contender for 2026, too, in Victorious Forever's G2 Rockfel Stakes winner Zanthos, who cost a hefty €1 million at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale. At €37,500, Sioux Nation is facing into his most expensive stud season to date, up from €30,000. Yearlings incoming Among the group of stallions to be embarking on their third covering season is Chaldean, whose drop in fee at Banstead Manor Stud from £25,000 to £20,000 will undoubtedly have been snapped up by breeders, especially after the reception given to his first foals. His 29 sold returned an average of 107,793gns. Yes, that's only the sale ring and not the racecourse, and his all-important test will come in 2027 and beyond, but opinion counts for an awful lot in this business, and sustained support from some decent mares will give him every chance to succeed. Top miler Modern Games (£27,500) and Arc winner Ace Impact (€30,000) have also been trimmed in price this year, but the most significant drop over the last two seasons has been for Paddington, who is now €20,000 after initially being advertised at €55,000 and then €25,000 for 2025. After a delayed start in 2024, when he covered 70 mares, his book increased to 145 in 2025. A year ahead of them is another Arc winner, Torquator Tasso, who has been priced consistently at €20,000 at Gestut Auenquelle throughout his fledgling stud career to date. The first yearlings of the son of Adlerflug were given a warm reception at the BBAG Sale in September, where a range of international buyers signed for his progeny, leading to an average of €50,231 for 13 sold. Another three sold at Tattersalls for an average of 60,000gns. Class of 2026 A significantly larger general intake of stallions for the year ahead compared to 2025 includes the Group 1 winners Rosallion (£40,000, Dalham Hall Stud), Delacroix (€40,000, Coolmore), Camille Pissarro (€30,000, Coolmore), Henri Matisse (€20,000, Coolmore), Maranoa Charlie (€20,000, Tally-Ho Stud), Diego Velazquez (£17,500, National Stud) and Shadow Of Light (€17,500, Kildangan Stud), who are respectively by the big-name stallions Blue Point, Dubawi, Wootton Bassett, Frankel and Lope De Vega. It's a strong group. We know that they are unlikely all to succeed but trying to work out which of them have the best chances will keep tongues wagging over the next few sales seasons. Value Sires Podium GOLD Study Of Man (£35,000, Lanwades) His most expensive year yet but keep the faith and expect more to come. SILVER Palace Pier (£32,000, Dalham Hall Stud) His promising two-year-olds should develop into exciting three-year-olds. BRONZE Sands Of Mali (€22,500, Yeomanstown Stud) From a low start it's a big leap in price but he's a Group 1 sire now and can build on that. If you missed Part I of our Value Sires series you can find it here. The post Value Sires 2026 Part II: The Mid-Tier appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Don't worry there will be facial recognition or something of the sort on the way to spoil it all.

John Size threw out the warning signal that his usual midseason surge was kicking into high gear when he grabbed his first two winners at Happy Valley for the campaign on Wednesday evening. It is a case of better late than never for the 13-time champion trainer, who got off the mark at the Valley this season at the 64th attempt when Amazing Kid shattered his maiden at his eighth start. It was a well-earned success in the third section of the Class Four Albatross Handicap (1,200m), with the...View the full article

Veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry achieved the milestone 2,000th win of his 20-year riding career Dec. 12 and then won the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes Dec. 13. A panel of racing experts voted him Jockey of the week for Dec. 8-14.View the full article

Saudi Arabia's newest group 1 race has received a huge prize money boost with The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announcing Dec. 17 that the 2026 Neom Turf Cup (G1T) will be staged for $3 million—an increase of 50%.View the full article

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has announced that the purse for the Howden Neom Turf Cup, which has recently been upgraded to Group 1 status, has been doubled to $3m for 2026. The 2,100m invitational race will be the first Group 1 to be staged on turf in Saudi Arabia and takes place on the Saudi Cup card on Saturday, February 14. The meeting has been further enhanced by a 50 per cent increase in prize-money for the 1,800m Listed Tuwaiq Cup, which will now be run for $1m. Entries for the dirt contest close on Monday, February 2. Previous winners of the Howden Neom Turf Cup include Shadwell's subsequent dual Group l winner Mostahdaf, while last year the race was won by Japanese contender Shin Emperor. The post Howden Neom Turf Cup Doubles in Value to $3m appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amid an ongoing lengthy hiatus of meetings of the Australian Pattern Committee, the Asian Pattern Committee has taken the unprecedented “temporary measure” of seizing control of the decision-making progress regarding black-type races in the country. A statement released by the Asian Racing Federation on Wednesday read, “The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) advises that, given the exceptional circumstances that exist, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) will, for the time being, make decisions regarding the status of all black type races in Australia. “This means that the APC will now be responsible for making status change decisions (including upgrades and downgrades) for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia. These decisions will be reported to the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which will subsequently report any significant decisions to the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), prior to publication in the International Cataloguing Standards Book. IRPAC and SITA have been informed of the ARF's decision. “The APC will commence its decision-making for black type races in Australia so that any status changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season.” No formal meeting of the Australian Pattern Committee has taken place for seven years but despite this lack of oversight of Australia's black-type programme, and following the controversial adoption of Australian black-type guidelines by the Racing Australia board, 17 races in New South Wales were given upgrades in October 2024. These upgrades – which included the upgrading The Everest and the All Star Mile to Group 1 level – were not recognised by the Asian Pattern Committee, the coordinating panel for the region in the same way thatBritain's Flat Pattern Committee is governed by the ground rules of the European Pattern Committee. Arion, the southern hemisphere-based provider of pedigree information, also refused to recognise the changes in race status, meaning that they are not reflected on catalogue pages or in stallion pedigree records. The ARF statement continued, “This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black-type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18. While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken. “The action to be undertaken by the APC, under the ARF's authority, is intended only as a temporary measure. The ARF's strong preference is that, as a Part I country, Australia establishes a functioning black-type quality control system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules in the near future, and for the above arrangements to end. However, absent such resolution, the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take.” Australia has for now avoided the threat made during a meeting of the APC in Hong Kong last Friday of being downgraded to a Part II country within the Blue Book of the International Cataloguing Standards. Its fellow Part I countries include Britain, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and the USA. In August, Racing Australia proposed a vote on new black-type guidelines which would involve the status of races being determined merely on “benchmark ratings” but without the oversight of a formal Pattern Committee. This suggestion was described at the time by Hamish Esplin, president of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW, as “nothing short of a complete bastardisation of the Pattern as it has worked in Australia for over 50 years”. He added, “The Pattern is fundamental; it has existed as long as black type has. What the pattern requires is considered thought and subjective analysis, to ensure racing is structured in a way that each part relates to the other. Without that balance, black type risks becoming cannibalised, uneven, or distorted.” The post Asian Pattern Committee Takes Control of Australia’s Black-Type Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Exciting four-year-old Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo) was one of the stories of the spring, progressing from relative obscurity to Group One company in a matter of months. Originally prepared in Ashburton in New Zealand’s South Island, the son of Belardo came from modest beginnings. Sold as a weanling for just $3100 via gavelhouse.com to trainer Emma Wyatt, Zambardo, who raced as Our Martian in New Zealand, was a trial winner and twice placed at Ashburton before he was identified by astute bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo and traded to the stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “He looked like a scruffy weanling when he got down here,” Wyatt recalled. “It was in the winter and he wasn’t much to look at to be fair, but I just liked his breeding, which was what caught my eye.” Zambardo as a weanling Photo: supplied Out of the winning Zabeel mare Zambezi, who in turn is out of triple Group One winner Tall Poppy, Zambardo is a half-brother to Group Two placed stayer Zambezi Warrior. “Time was his friend, and he grew out at my parent’s place,” Wyatt said. “When he had his first proper prep, I thought he was one of the nicest horses I’ve ever sat on. But he was also a real smart arse. When we were getting him ready for the trials he would still try to drop his head and pig root.” Zambardo had just the one trial which he won, but he was still wayward and Wyatt admitted she was hoping to educate him further before his raceday debut. “The trials kept getting cancelled at the time, so we sent him to the races and used it like a trial, and he ran third in both starts before his sale.” Purchased by a syndicate headed by prominent owner Carl Holt, the gelding was re-named Zambardo and joined the Price-Kent stable where he made an inauspicious start. “We bought him, he came across here and no joke, he went in the wind right away and was untrainable,” Kent Jnr told Radio TAB. “The owners were a bit upset about whether we did our due diligence, which we did. But throats are degenerative issues. They get worse over time, and it came out of nowhere. “Because of the lack of oxygen getting into his lungs, he was very hot-tempered. He was untrainable. He used to go sideways. “We did a tie-forward operation, which is probably the lesser of the two main throat ops, and it’s been amazing. He’s a different horse. He can breathe properly, he is super-relaxed, professional, easy to train and clearly the throat is working.” Runner-up on Australian debut in August, Zambardo progressed from a maiden victory on the Pakenham synthetic to win a further three races in succession before stepping steeply in grade to beat all bar Via Sistina in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Flemington carnival. Zambardo netted connections a whopping $540,000 in prize money for that second-placing but has leapt from a 78 rater to 104. “I don’t think is too bad,” Kent Jnr said. “Some people were thinking we might go higher than that because he split Via Sistina (125) and Tom Kitten (114), but they don’t normally punish you too much when you go in off those low ratings. “The track was very heavy which was an unknown, other than we’ve trained a few Belardos now and they all love it. And as Mick says, ‘Kiwis, they’re born in it’.” Kent Jnr drew some parallels with versatile Group One gallopers Mr Brightside and I’m Thunderstruck, who similarly came from modest beginnings in New Zealand. “It’s a remarkable country. I think they have a foal crop of around 2700 and they’ve got a lot of good horses in Australia at the moment,” he said. “Horses like Jimmysstar, Gringotts, Ceowulf and Antino, plus of course Ka Ying Rising, it’s phenomenal really.” Zambardo is still in the spelling paddock, but his trainers are delighted with the way he has continued to furnish. “He had six runs in his first racing campaign with us, culminating in a very heavy track gutsy performance and Group One second to Via Sistina,” Kent Jnr said. “It took a lot out of him and when planning a program for him, the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) appeared an obvious option. “But I think that race comes around a little too quickly, so doing the right thing by the horse, if he had a normal six to eight week spell, that probably lands him in a Sydney-Queensland campaign. “Depending on how he comes up and what level we want to target, races like the Doomben Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Q22 could suit. “It could be a lovely way to give him the break he deserves but also launch his spring carnival off the back of that, but that is all still to be determined.” Despite the heavy track placing, Kent Jnr is confident Zambardo is a good level horse but he is keen to see him replicate that performance. “He was just winning races so easily, getting to the front and pricking his ears and clocking off,” he said. “Credit to Mick, it was his idea to throw him in the deep end and give him something to properly chase down and gee he was tough. “We didn’t get to the outside of the track like we wanted to and often they just give up but he just kept sticking on. “Possibly a nice handicap might be in his grasp but he has probably got to go and do it again to prove he is a genuine weight-for-age horse, but who is to say he can’t. “We just know how much improvement there is in the horse and he has been going the right way in the spelling paddock. Even Phill Cataldo, who found him, wouldn’t recognise him.” View the full article

The Asian Pattern Committee (APC) has moved to take ownership of the decision-making over the status of black type races in Australia. Coming under the umbrella of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), the APC has declared it has assumed responsibility from Racing Australia for any decisions on the upgrading or downgrading of all Group and Listed races in Australian due to dissatisfaction with the current system. The country’s national racing body, Racing Australia has been dogged by infighting amongst the principal racing authorities about the Pattern and its organisation for several seasons. “The APC will commence its decision-making for black type races in Australia so that any status changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season,” the ARF said in a statement. “This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australian since as far back as 2017/18. “While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken.” The ARF stated this was expected to be a temporary measure taken only until Australia could put in place a black type quality control system that was “in accordance with the APC Ground Rules”. It went on to say that if no resolution was forthcoming “the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take”. The ARF is a regional body made up of 28 national racing authorities and racing related organisations from Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East and has formal links to the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. View the full article

Hearing from other punters now that 5hey are not getting on the bets that they are wanting. The TAB Bookies put up the odds but are not prepared to allow punters on for very much, unless you are a known losing punter or Out The Gate presenters, TAB Entain need to come out and explain why they are not prepared to take wagering at reasonable levels?

No idea, but it would seem the only way ahead. A deal to purchase the site in question conditional on a sale of Waipa

That smallish group of rednecks make a lot of noise but nothing of any substance, call their bluff and they will quietly slip away Fast fading violets covered up in leaves; And mid-May's eldest child, The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine, The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves. John Keats

It is still gambling and can lead on to more serious gambling

The single biggest source of funding for NZ harness racing is wagering. Hence why they try to keep the Brodies of this world away from taking away too much profit. Also why they need optimal field sizes of 10 or more to keep the funding going and not decreasing.

harness racing clubs aren't generating much revenue profit. It's a fading sport. as in less participants and less betting as you guys have All accurately noted here at BOAY quite often. yes I know Methven does well and returns a profit and has saved funds. excellent for them. I'm staggered the Australian turf Club went into administration as Sydney Racing is still hugely Popular . Betting is big but the betting agencies and the government get that money. the overheads are Huge. track maintenance , security staff , etc. it's a financial nightmare. Some good news is HRV who were $66 million in debt have been backed out by a sale of land. Harness Victoria obviously allocating the funds much more Poorly than HRNZ ever did , had dug a big hole so have sold off a large parcel of land for $100,000,000 to the state government. the additional $44,000,000 will 'Prop up ' there Solvency issues until about the end of 2027. So it's not unlike NZ in a lot of regards. Trying to keep a sport going that has Very low Revenue , compared to the overheads needed to operate it. (Seymour is currently bailing out South Australia himself) and already bailed out Queensland in the past. Revenue is POOR , as you guys often points out. Because it's a POOR betting sport. there's no doubt that even galloping punters are not very keen on it. I went to ALBION Park 2 weeks ago to congratulate some of the guys on their recent NZ exploits and had a bet on a mates horse that was racing on the day as well . It showed on screen there was $500 in the pool when they went out on the track 10 minutes to go 😅🤣 The horse was showing $8 and $3 . so I put $10 ew at the one betting window On-course that was open lol . It Immeadiately dropped to $5 and $2.30 place. ran 3rd. I just laughed how little anyone bets on them, for small bets to drop the divvie' like that . think the trifecta pools are always a little better . Brodster would be hopeless with his place bets lol ? NZ will wind up just like this too. small pools. It's inevitable in a twilight sport sorry to say old chap . and poor numbers participating now. blame HRNZ all you like. They still trying to put races on for All so I admire that effort. even attracted Australian interest the past 3 years now as do a BETTER Job than what we can in Aus. (good effort by some Brissy bloke to re-vitalise the Interdominion for 3 years though bless him 😉😎 )

I have no idea.

Yes, lotto limits are online, i only play a few lines each week so doesnt bother me….. You make a good point, if Betcha / TAB were doing their job, anyone having a bad run for a few months should at least be contacted, i know nobody that has been contacted, they are a fraud. Remember Steel Balls, TAB knew he had issues, rumours were well around town and everyone knew he was credit betting…. FFS when the shit really hit the fan he was at a VIP TAB sporting event…. couldnt give a shit as just wanted turnover…. but wow, did the TAB run for cover after it all come out. Only met the guy twice years ago, but always thought he was treated badly by the TAB. Was a guy in Christchurch that was involved in the travel industry which also had issues, have many others. Need to do more, young kids have already been used to playing online games, with some you can buy products to advance…. next thing these guys get to 18yo, start betting on sports… hooked bigtime.

But you cant compare lotto, majority spend only on the Weds & Sat, so 2 lotto draws. Compare that with hundreds of races each day 24/7, from any desperate track in the world, who cares where.

But hang on….. I am sure you will remember…. but one of the main points to stop NZ punters betting overseas, was overseas operators where not looking after NZ problem gamblers habits…. what a load of shit. As i have said, Aus operators always sent a monthly statement showing win/loss…. Betcha & TAB never do this, have to look at statement which only shows all bets, deposits & withdrawals…. not a win / loss statement. Since Entain has been onboard, we are bombarded with TV advertising targeting new punters…. its a disgrace.