-
Available Subscriptions
Dog Chat
522 topics in this forum
-
- 0 replies
- 169 views
-
- 7 replies
- 737 views
-
- 0 replies
- 408 views
-
- 0 replies
- 361 views
-
- 2 replies
- 903 views
-
- 2 replies
- 639 views
-
- 15 replies
- 2.2k views
-
- 0 replies
- 554 views
-
- 0 replies
- 575 views
-
- 0 replies
- 601 views
-
- 1 reply
- 864 views
-
- 105 replies
- 14k views
-
- 59 replies
- 8k views
-
- 1 reply
- 1k views
-
- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
-
- 19 replies
- 2.1k views
-
- 13 replies
- 1.5k views
-
- 14 replies
- 2k views
-
- 2 replies
- 1k views
-
- 41 replies
- 3.2k views
-
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
-
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
-
- 7 replies
- 1.5k views
-
- 29 replies
- 2.9k views
-
- 4 replies
- 906 views
Announcements
-
Posts
-
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Haras d'Etreham has announced the fees for its roster of seven Flat stallions, which is led by Hello Youmzain at €25,000, down from €40,000 last year. The line-up is bolstered by the introduction of Lope De Vega's Group 2-winning son Beauvatier, one of four new stallions announced in France to date for 2026, who will stand his first season at €7,000. Classic winners Persian King and Metropolitan are advertised at €15,000 and €12,000 respectively, while City Light, Onesto and Victor Ludorum are all priced at €10,000. “We are proud to present a diverse and complementary group of stallions, combining top-level performance with outstanding pedigrees,” said Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure. “These horses offer breeders exceptional opportunities for their breeding plans in 2026.” The post Beauvatier Joins Etreham Roster at €7,000; Hello Youmzain Now €25,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Bleary-eyed buyers might well have thought the ever-expanding sale season had finally gotten the better of them when they saw a spotted pony racing star by Zarak being offered under the hammer at Osarus on Friday. However, fear not, had you contemplated checking yourself into the nearest clinic, because you haven't gone completely cuckoo. The filly in question goes by the name of Judith Leyster and, according to Georges Rimaud, who spent 25 years at the helm of the French division of the Aga Khan Studs, the six-year-old resembled something closer to a circus pony rather than a racehorse when she was born. That hasn't stopped her stringing a host of wins together on the pony racing circuit, giving credence to that old saying, 'an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding'. The six-year-old is out of an unnamed Irish-bred that Rimaud says looks similar to an Appaloosa. That mare was one of the first that Zarak, now the sire of multiple Group 1 and Classic winners, covered at Haras de Bonneval upon the completion of his racing career in 2018. Judith Leyster was gifted by the Aga Khan Studs to the Poneys au Galop and she will be sold in order to raise funds on behalf of the association. She has become something of a sensation, too. Not least for the fact that she is by Zarak, who has become one of the most important stallions France has to offer, but she is borderline unbeatable as a pony racer. On top of all that, she is pretty easy to spot, given her striking white body and brown spots. Rimaud recalled, “This is a pony out of a nurse mare we had on the farm. In Ireland, they call them batty mares, or you can call them nurse mares or foster mothers. We used to keep a few of them on the farm to get the younger stallions used to covering mares. We tried Zarak on these batty mares and, while I can't remember exactly, this could well have been the first ever mare that he covered. So be it, he got her in foal, and as the regulations state in France, you need to declare who the stallion is for the passport, health papers and the rest. Zarak didn't even have a book of mares at this point so little did we know what was going to come next.” He added, “The dam, Janny, was one of these mares that we got from the hills or God knows where! If I remember correctly, she, like most of the foster mares, was multi-coloured – she looked like an Appaloosa. I don't even know if she had papers. There is nothing more random than this!” The Osarus sales description states that multiple winner Judith Leyster will be sold only to a good home. She is also reported to be trained around cross-country courses and the proceeds of her sale will be reinvested within the Poneys au Galop organisation. Rimaud, who retired from his role within the Aga Khan Studs last year, said he found the whole story rather amusing but stated his pleasure at seeing one of the gifted ponies thriving away from her birth place at Haras de Bonneval. He said, “Ponies race against other ponies and I think they are categorised by their size. Maybe this filly has a bit of speed because of her stallion but she seems to have done well. I understand that she may have done other things besides racing. All of these foals from the foster mares, we tend to give them away to a good home, and it's great to see them thriving. We raise them quite well, as one should do, and they are actually all hand-reared until we feel that they are ready to be sent out. I can remember giving a couple of them away for pony racing and Judith Leyster was obviously one of those. She is making the news now because she is speedier than the rest of the other ponies!” Rimaud added, “I think it's funny more so than anything else and hopefully she might make a bit of money. I can assure you, she did not look like a racehorse when she was born – she looked more like a circus pony!” The post ‘Nothing More Random Than This!’ – Pony Racing Star By Zarak To Sell At Osarus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Qatar Racing's 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko will stand for a reduced fee of £15,000 at Tweenhills Farm and Stud next year, with the G1 Sussex Stakes winner Lightning Spear joining him on the roster at £3,000 (from £5,000). In 2025, Kameko covered 136 mares at a fee of £20,000, having been represented by 14 winners from his first crop of juvenile runners in Europe in 2024, including the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Wimbledon Hawkeye and Qatar Racing homebred New Century, who was successful in the GI Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. This year, Wimbledon Hawkeye gained a second Pattern-race victory when winning the GII Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes, while other notable performers for the son of Kitten's Joy have included American Gal, a Listed winner and runner-up in the G3 Valiant Stakes, and G3 Sirenia Stakes scorer Five Ways, one of seven individual winners from his second crop of juveniles in Europe. The post Promising Young Sire Kameko to Stand for £15,000 at Tweenhills in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
For some who breed and race Thoroughbreds, the decreasing foal crop is regarded as a bellwether for a business in decline. Yet, a clear-eyed look that goes beyond numbers–and the efforts to turn them around–offers an important reminder: North American Thoroughbred breeding and racing still has real strengths. But to ensure its future we need strategic, collective action to strengthen the sport and keep it vibrant for generations to come. Industry collaboration is the only path to revitalizing Thoroughbred production. Understanding the Foal Crop Decline In 1950, arguably the sport's heyday, the North American foal crop was 9,095. In the succeeding years it rose steadily, hitting its peak in 1986 at 51,296. Then things changed. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 took away many tax breaks that spurred investment in breeding. More recently, the 2008-2009 recession exacerbated the situation as credit markets that serviced the Thoroughbred industry dried up. By 2008, the foal crop was 35,274, and it steadily declined by 50% over the next 17 years, a time which saw a massive increase in casino gaming across North America as well as the legalization of sports betting in most states. The projected 2024 annual North American foal crop is 17,300, down 14.5% since 2020, but as noted, it hasn't been sudden. Smaller foal crops and tougher economic times have led to fewer tracks, fewer race dates, and smaller fields, creating the largest impact in the once thriving regional breeding and racing markets. Regional racetracks and sales companies that depend upon the lifeblood of local horses have been forced to dramatically scale back or shutter altogether. Without a thriving network of regional markets as independent ecosystems for locally produced horses, demand for racehorses is further depressed. A Global Challenge Recently compiled data by the International Stud Book Committee covering 2015-2024 from Thoroughbred-producing countries show double-digit declines in foal crops across several nations, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, and Uruguay. Turning to Britain and Ireland, according to a recent analysis by The Racing Post: “Another worrying decrease in the foal crop has been confirmed as the number of live foals registered with the General Stud Book in Britain and Ireland took its most significant year-on-year dip for a decade and a half.” These figures underscore that the challenges and pressures facing Thoroughbred production are global, not confined to any one country or region. One Mission, Two Jobs The Jockey Club's mission is keeper of The American Stud Book; as such, its first job is to ensure the integrity of the breed through horse registration, accurate pedigree and racing data collection, and reliable reporting on trends. It also works to make the sport stronger. Over the past 30 years, The Jockey Club has developed several for-profit companies serving various aspects of the industry. Profits from these businesses have enabled it to invest more than $100 million back into the industry, supporting 100+ initiatives including horse and rider safety and welfare, promotion and marketing, aftercare, and research. Recently, The Jockey Club backed three initiatives directed at growing the foal crop. First is the Mare Incentive Program, which waives registration fees for foals from specific mares that had not been bred recently. This program provides a resource for stallion managers to find these mares, and waiving registration fees provides a financial incentive to bring the mares back into production. Already, 205 such mares appear on the 2025 Reports of Mares Bred–a promising start. Second was the result of a concerted, year-long effort to make 100% bonus depreciation for horse purchases permanent, enabling owners to write off a horse's full cost in the year of purchase from investment income, making investing in new bloodstock more attractive. Working with National Thoroughbred Racing Association President Tom Rooney and others, the industry lobbied in Washington, D.C., to give breeders a concrete reason to invest again. The third program is the Breeder Organization Workshop, co-hosted by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, to be held next week in Louisville, Kentucky, to encourage state and provincial breeder associations to consider creative measures to increase Thoroughbred horse production across North America, including combining regions to make state-bred races more attractive. The Road Ahead Even with these initiatives, the horse racing industry continues to face real challenges, including tax policy shifts, economic ups and downs, and new tastes among fans. Fixing them will take teamwork from everyone–breeders, owners, tracks, and government–but we can do it together just like we did on 100% bonus depreciation. There are at least three critical areas on which to focus: Tax Policies and Industry Lobbying: recognizing that government is our partner. Advocate for tax policies that encourage breeding investment and wagering. The 100% bonus depreciation proves that smart tax policy drives real results. Push for permanent favorable treatment and leverage the impact that Thoroughbred breeding and racing have on jobs and ancillary businesses. There is a bill before Congress focusing on enhancing tax policy in support of ownership and another to aid in the deductibility of wager losses. Commonsense changes like these should be championed by all members of the Thoroughbred ecosystem. Grow the Fan Base. Expand national marketing and branding efforts, such as America's Best Racing, to grow the fan base, promote the on-track experience, and increase wagering. Leverage the best of the sport, the Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup, and the race meets that draw the largest crowds, to create more opportunities for the broadcast and streaming of racing content and further lean into social media and the power of influencers. We can't stand pat while other sports leagues, entertainment, and sports betting grow. Strengthen Safety, Welfare, and Integrity Standards. Organizations such as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program protect horses and the sport's reputation, and while they continue to evolve, they are working and making a difference. Public confidence drives long-term growth, and these organizations serve as pillars for that growth. A Shared Responsibility for the Future The decline in the Thoroughbred foal crop is not the result of a single factor. It reflects a complex interplay of tax policy shifts, economic crises, industry consolidation, emerging competitors, and changing consumer behavior. These are challenges faced by many industries–and they are not insurmountable. The Jockey Club remains committed to being part of the solution. Through rigorous data collection, it provides the insights needed for informed decision-making. Through strategic investments, it works to expand the sport's economic base and fan engagement. And through collaboration, it seeks to unite stakeholders around a shared vision for the future. –Everett R. Dobson is the Chairman of The Jockey Club of America. The post Open Letter: The Declining Foal Crop And The Road Ahead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
No Nay Never heads the Coolmore roster for 2026 at €100,000, while the G1 Coral-Eclipse and G1 Irish Champion Stakes winner Delacroix, a son of Dubawi and champion racemare Tepin, has been introduced at €40,000. Only the late Wootton Bassett has sired more individual Group-winning juveniles in Europe this year than No Nay Never, whose standout two-year-olds have included the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine True Love and the G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin. The G1 City Of York Stakes scorer Never So Brave was another notable performer for the son of Scat Daddy, who stood for €125,000 in 2025. Delacroix, who was also beaten just a nose in the G1 Futurity Trophy as a juvenile, is one of three new additions to the Coolmore stallion ranks, along with two multiple Group 1-winning sons of Wootton Bassett in Camille Pissarro and Henri Matisse, who have been introduced at €30,000 and €20,000, respectively. Henri Matisse had stable-mate Camille Pissarro back in third when lowering the track record at ParisLongchamp with his success in this year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains, having previously made the breakthrough at the top level when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The six-time winner is out of the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse, whose other star progeny include the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Prix Jean Prat scorer Tenebrism. Similarly, Camille Pissarro is a sibling to a Group 1 winner in the Commonwealth Cup hero Golden Horde. He registered his first top-level victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at two and later followed his third-place finish in the Poulains with a Classic victory of his own in the Prix du Jockey Club. “Obviously, it was a major blow to lose Wootton Bassett the month before last, but we're extremely fortunate to have his sons, Camille Pissarro and Henri Matisse, retiring for the coming season,” said David O'Loughlin, Coolmore's director of sales. “These are his only two sons to have won Group 1 races at both two and three years, and both boast exceptional pedigrees and physiques to match their classic-winning prowess. “Also new for 2026 is Delacroix, arguably the best-looking son of Dubawi ever to retire to stud and a fantastic racehorse out of a brilliant racemare.” The significant movers include Starspangledbanner, who will command a career-high fee of €60,000 (from €45,000 in 2025), having been represented by a pair of leading two-year-olds in recent months, namely the dual Group 1-winning filly Precise and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Gstaad. Sioux Nation will also stand for an increased fee of €37,500 (from €30,000), while Australia is back up to €15,000 (from €10,000) after supplying this year's Derby winner Lambourn and Coronation Stakes heroine Cercene, among others. Like Starspangledbanner, Europe's champion sire of 2024, Camelot, will command a fee of €60,000 (from €75,000), along with the European champion two-year-old and Derby winner City Of Troy, who stood for €75,000 when debuting at Coolmore Stud this season. Other notable adjustments include small decreases for City Of Troy's fellow newcomers in 2025, namely dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin, who is down to €27,500 from €30,000, and Henry Longfellow, who will stand for €12,500 (from €15,000). Meanwhile, St Mark's Basilica, who is responsible for 17 individual two-year-old winners from his first European crop in 2025, including the Prix Marcel Boussac scorer Diamond Necklace, remains at €40,000. O'Loughlin added, “We have been very mindful of the market in setting our fees, ensuring our roster continues to offer outstanding quality, choice and value with stallions to suit every mare and breeder.” The post No Nay Never Leads Coolmore’s 2026 Roster at €100,000, Delacroix Introduced at €40,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
-
-
Topics
-
