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

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

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

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

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