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    • The six-month Winter/Spring meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, closed Sunday, June 15, with 'encouraging' gains in handle, field size and on-track attendance, according to a release from the track. With over 6,800 horses having raced during the meet and more than 375,000 training sessions on the main and synthetic tracks having taken place, track officials report a safety mark of 99.98%, cementing its status as the safest track in North America among those with a comparable volume of racing and training. “This year was a transitional one for the California racing community and it was a success by every measure,” said Nate Newby, SVP and General Manager of Santa Anita Park. “We are thankful for the continued support of the owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, the horsemen and women who provide outstanding care for the horses; for the horseplayers who back our product; and for our staff for putting on a great show. Horses based at Santa Anita, including Journalism, Raging Torrent and Kopion, won major races around the country, underlining the excellence we experience every day. “Between the Eaton fire and the ongoing recovery, 2025 has been a challenging year for our neighbors and many of our own Santa Anita family, but we hope 'The Great RIP' has provided some sense of continuity.” The season kicked off on Dec. 26, 2024, with the third-largest opening-day handle in track history and all-sources handle over the course of the Classic Meet (Dec. 26-Apr. 6) and the just-concluded Hollywood Meet (Apr. 18-June 15) nearly eclipsed three-quarters of a billion dollars ($745.9 million). Total handle on Santa Anita races alone increased 10% from the previous year. The gains in handle were attributable to some extent to a 5% increase in field size, due in part to the consolidation of California racing into a single circuit. Many races restricted to those horses that were relocated from the Northern California circuit were written by the racing office, allowing those horses to compete against each other during the season. The Pick Six wager resulted in no fewer than 17 carryovers over the course of the season, more than double the number in 2023-2045 and turf racing was also seen to have increased in popularity, with handle on the Santa Anita Pick Three leaping by 31%. On-track attendance (541,592) was ahead by 4% fueled by the largest opening-day crowd in eight years and the largest audience to witness Santa Anita Derby Day in person in seven years. “We have witnessed increases in every key category, including 70 additional races and improvements in field sizes, which could only happen through the move to a single circuit,” said Bill Nader, President of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). “This has helped drive handle increases and reverse the downward trend in overnight purses to restore our foundation and bring renewed life to California racing. We will now carry this momentum into the second half of the year as racing moves to Los Alamitos and then the much anticipated Del Mar summer.” The addition of horses from Northern California pushed the Santa Anita stable area to its capacity of 2,000 horses, a population increase of more than 10% over last year, making the safety improvements even more remarkable, according to the release. “More than 5,000 pre-work examinations were performed by Santa Anita Park veterinarians since Sept. 1 of last year,” said Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST Racing. “It is impossible to overestimate the importance this played in collaborating with owners, trainers and private veterinarians to provide additional opportunities for intervention for the best interest of the horse and providing a model for the rest of the country.” Live racing will return to Santa Anita Park on Friday, Sept. 26 for the five-week Autumn meet. Seven Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races will highlight the first two weeks of the season. The post Despite ‘Transitional’ Season, Santa Anita Reports Gains In Handle, Field Size, Attendance; Safety Record Sparkles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, the final major juvenile auction of the season, gets underway Tuesday in Central Florida, with bidding scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The auction, held in recent years over three days, will be held over two days this year with a catalogue of 851 2-year-olds. “I think there are some horses who breezed very nicely and have a little bit of pedigree here and then you have your usual range of horses who don't have as much pedigree that performed. I think the horses are going to be well bought,”  consignor Nick Sallusto of Thorostock said of expectations for the two-day auction. “I think that this sale is a very good buyers' sale.” After setting sale records in 2022, the June sale figures ticked down slightly in 2023 and 2024, but Sallusto said the auction has developed a dedicated buying bench. “I think there has almost become a unique group of buyers that come to this sale because they feel like they can buy a nice horse at a different price point, a little less than the sales average all year long,” he said. With just weeks until the yearling sales season begins, the June sale also has some motivated sellers. “I think sellers look at it as, whether the horse is worth more or not, most of the horses here are in some sort of pinhook package, so if the group has been profitable, than the sellers just tend to let those horses move along at whatever the market values them at,” Sallusto said. “We are getting ready to go back and start buying in a few weeks, so every single dollar counts, it sort of helps push the next year along. “So the buyers need to fill their orders to race and the sellers certainly have a need to move some inventory, even if it is not at the price point that we had hoped it to be.” The 2-year-olds in training sales this spring opened with a record $3-million sale topper at the OBS March sale and, with a record number of seven-figure offerings, the company's April sale produced its highest-ever average. The strength of the market continued in Timonium in May when the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale produced sales record gross, average, and median despite facing an uphill battle with the weather. Consignor Robbie Harris looks for the strength of those previous sales to bolster the competition at the June sale. “I am hoping there are some guys who got shut out,” Harris said. “The 2-year-old sales have been up, as far as average and all of that goes. So I am hoping for some guys who haven't gotten their orders filled and they are looking to try to find something.” Harris is also expecting to see some familiar trends. “It's the same old story,” he said. “What the market perceives as the good ones seem to find a home. I am hoping for some good luck.” While 24 juveniles worked a furlong in :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack preview of the June sale, a colt by Nyquist (hip 634) earned the show's bullet with a :9 3/5 work for Wavertree Stables. A colt by Beau Liam (hip 829) claimed the week's quarter-mile bullet when covering the distance in :20 1/5 for Omar Ramirez Bloodstock. A pair of fillies from Tom McCrocklin's consignment brought matching $400,000 bids to top the 2024 June Sale. Stakes-winning Silent Law (Tiz the Law) was second in this year's GII Santa Anita Oaks. In all, 606 horses sold at last year's June sale for a gross of $22,045,800. The sale average was $36,379 and the median was $20,000. The post ‘A Very Good Buyers’ Sale’: OBS June Brings Curtain Down on Juvenile Sales Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • Tuesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 14:30, QUEEN ANNE STAKES-G1, £793,625, 4yo/up, 8fT Field: Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never), Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Sardinian Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). TDN Verdict: This could be a case of take the Lockinge form and throw it in the air to see where it lands, or take it literally and go with the same outcome with Lead Artist living up to his title ahead of Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech. A convincing argument can be made for all four top-class colts, which is the beauty of this keenly-anticipated opener, an example of what can happen when Classic winners are left in training at four. Perhaps Rosallion, for all that he was so good in the St James's Palace last year, is the one most vulnerable as this is sure to be a demanding stamina test over the straight track but you'd be brave to bet against a colt so talented. While only Carl Spackler is here to provide true international flavour, he is some horse with which to come to war with the Europeans and is a welcome presence. [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:40, KING CHARLES III STAKES-G1, £725,750, 3yo/up, 5fT Field: American Affair (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}), Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Kerdos (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), Manaccan (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus]), Twilight Calls (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}), Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Balmoral Lady (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Frost At Dawn (Frosted), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Monteille (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), No Half Measures (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Prime Art (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Estepona (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Tropical Storm (GB) (Eqtidaar {Ire}), West Acre (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: He may have taken a while to get to the top, but this could be the time for Night Raider who has done his most impressive stuff on the all-weather which is always key at this meeting. With due respect to Asfoora, Believing and Regional, there is a distinct feeling that this division needs a boost and Karl Burke's colt could be it. Mgheera is one to keep on the right side of, with a switch to Ed Walker having coincided with a surge in form. [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 16:20, ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES-G1, £650,000, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT Field: Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), First Wave (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Ruling Court (Justify), Windlord (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). TDN Verdict: A real humdinger this year, the “fourth Guineas” rests between Field Of Gold, Ruling Court and Henri Matisse with the former currently favoured at odds-on. That is based on the assumption that he was definitely the best colt at Newmarket and while Ruling Court has had a far-from-ideal Derby preparation, he might come back and surprise the grey's followers. One thing is for sure, Colin Keane and William Buick won't be wanting to see Henri Matisse looming in behind with two to race with the finishing kick he has exhibited, but is this stiff track his bag? Maybe not. Sit back, relax and enjoy, this is one for the purists and it'll be so glaringly obvious afterwards of course… [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:05, COVENTRY STAKES-G2, £175,000, 2yo, 6fT Field: American Gulf (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Andab (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Ballistic Missile (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Bone Marra (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Bourbon Blues (GB) (Space Blues {Ire}), Coppull (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Gavoo (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Kolkata Knight (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Military Code (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Postmodern (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Raakeb (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Rock On Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Shaatir (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tajeg (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Tricky Tel (GB) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}), Underwriter (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Warsaw (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Possibly the most painful absence felt this week is that of Albert Einstein, but there are still 21 precocious talents to stir the blood and get the early 2,000 Guineas market moving. Power Blue makes big appeal as an already battle-hardened colt with key form behind that Ballydoyle dynamo and his first-season sire is by Dubawi who just about reigns at this meeting after several years of success. He may not win this, but watch out for Warsaw as the season progresses as he has the pedigree of all pedigrees in the current racing world. If he wins, he's serious Guineas material, which is also true of Postmodern with his relations far from sprinters. [Tom Frary]. Tuesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 17:35, WOLFERTON STAKES-Listed, £120,000, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT Field: Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Liberty Lane (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Phantom Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}), Ecureuil Secret (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Haunted Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Torito (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Doha (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: As wide-open as it gets, the penalty structure may compromise some but not Shadwell's Enfjaar who keeps promising to make into a good horse. Shockingly, last year's Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly is 14-1 for this after some abject displays but if he is in the right frame of mind this could be his for the taking, while Meydaan looks one who is peaking at a trip that could prove his optimum. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 16:20, PRINCE OF WALES' STAKES-G1, £1,057,500, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT Field: Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle's bruiser Los Angeles proved what a hardnut he really is when taking a Tattersalls Gold Cup that was set up like a war of attrition and there is something about this that has the air of inevitability. Anmaat could have had a say if the track had been hit by one of those thunderstorms that can happen at this time of year, but will surely play second fiddle again on this type of ground. As likeable as Map Of Stars and Ombudsman are, they have something to find with the favourite while See The Fire is so effective on York's flat terrain it is not easy to make a case for her outbattling the big colts in this. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:05, QUEEN'S VASE STAKES-G2, £265,000, 3yo, 14f 34yT Field: Al Wasl Storm (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), Asmarani (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Devil's Advocate (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Furthur (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Hallelujah U (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Scandinavia (Justify), Shackleton (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Spinning Wheel (GB) (Postponed {Ire}), Titanium Emperor (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Too Soon (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Potential Irish domination here, with Ballydoyle represented by two different types and probably expecting most from Shackleton, while Paddy Twomey saddles the unexposed Listed Yeats Stakes winner Carmers. Francis-Henri Graffard sends across Asmarani, who is up markedly in trip having run into Rafale Design in the G3 Prix Hocquart. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:40, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES-G2, £225,000, 4yo/up, 7f 213yT Field: Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion), Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Start Of Day (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: The way Cinderella's Dream went through the G2 Dahlia Stakes last month, we could be talking about a special filly and this looks hers for the taking. Fallen Angel is an obvious threat, but the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Moyglare winner has a bit to prove with cheekpieces fitted for the first time, while One Look comes into it after chasing home Porta Fortuna in The Curragh's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes last month. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 14:30, QUEEN MARY STAKES-G2, £150,000, 2yo, f, 5fT Field: America (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Caitlin G (GB) (Bangkok {Ire}), Cardiff By The Sea (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Come On Eibhlin (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Eskimo Pie (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Eternal Solace (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), Flowerhead (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Guernsey Lady (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), Harry's Girl (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Justice Twice (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Lennilu (Leinster), Love Olivia (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Miss Yechance (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Paris Carver (Bolt D'Oro), Revival Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), Secret Hideaway (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Shine On Me (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Social Exclusion (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Society Kiss (GB) (A'Ali {Ire}), Solana Rose (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Spicy Marg (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Staya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never), Viamarie (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Zelaina (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Wathnan's TDN Rising Star Zelaina took the same Nottingham maiden as last year's winner Leovanni, so connections are hoping that lightning strikes twice. As it rarely does at this meeting, the race is more open than the betting suggests with the likes of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes winner Lennilu, Ballydoyle's high-class maiden True Love and Ralph Beckett's course-and-distance winner Society Kiss all poised. Special mention must also be made of Revival Power, the full-sister to Winter Power who probably wasn't expected to make such an impressive debut at Thirsk and would be an emotional winner for the Easterbys. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 18:10, WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES-Listed, £110,000, 2yo, 5fT Field: Ardisia (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Azizam (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Beach Partee (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Better And Better (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Call Me By My Name (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Dickensian (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), First Approach (Ire) (No Nay Never), Gaga Mate (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Gorey Gold (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Havana Hurricane (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), Jan Steen (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Kamakameleon (GB) (Kameko), Kansas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Logi Bear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Nuevo Slovo (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), Old Is Gold (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Rogue Legend (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Rogue Supremacy (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Shaman Champion (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Sovereign Spell (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Tough Critic (Caravaggio), Utmost Respect (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Wyle Cop (Omaha Beach), Oasis Diamond (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). TDN Verdict: Dual winner Rogue Legend will be more streetwise than most, but there is a chance that St Mark's Basilica's first winner Rogue Supremacy is a smart one. He looked the part at Wetherby on debut, while the Keeneland winner Tough Critic and Hamilton scorer Azizam are other unknown quantities at potentially inflated odds. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Guineas-Winning Trio Clash In St James’s Palace Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
    • This is becoming circular. I think the two main protagonists both have valid points.  No one is deriding the efforts, business savvy, dedication and astute judgement that underscores the huge successes that the appointed committee collectively has had.  But ( as the saying goes) there but for the Grace of God....and so on. It remains to be seen whether any actually comprehend the handicapping, date structure and race programming issues that have been highlighted for a decade or more and have been firmly ignored. If increasing betting revenue and building a healthy industry for the future ( once the Entain largesse finishes) is the focus of the group, then these issues must be dealt with.  Probably only Chris Waller could comprehend the utter idiocy of throwing yet more money at the top end and strangling the small players even more. Breeders have pushed their own barrow too long to the detriment of the overall industry and also allowing the distortion of the Pattern.  Something that should be pivotal to the thinking of any breeder. Hopefully my fears are unfounded and a New Beginning is upon us.  
    • I'm not the one wriggling.  You are the one that hasn't posted any evidence to support your assertion.
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