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Mucho Gusto Returns in San Antonio
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Heartwood to Rancho San Miguel
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By Chief Stipe · Posted
It amuses me how many in the industry talk doom and gloom about Book 2 EVERY year. "Bloodbath", "absolute carnage", "poor breeders not covering costs" and so on and so on. I've been hearing those comments from the days of the Book 3 Festival Sale. Although I always thought callong it a Festival was a misnomer. The fact is this years Book 2 statistics are no different than the average for the last 5 years. Sure costs have increased with inflation therefore in real terms returns are down but this year isn't any different to many before it. The difference this year is that the average is down and the clearance rate is up. Those metricd were influenced by Wesrburys decision to put their lots on the market with no reserve. Every year there are excellent bargains in Book 2 for those who are good judges and have an eye. Chris Rutten and Paul Moroney spring to mind. Sure some went very cheaply but most of them went to good stables. Generally horses sell cheaply because of being by an unfashionable stallion, a poor pedigree or having conformation faults. If you don't produce what the market wants then don't expect the market to buy it. Look on the bright side 742 yearlings sold for $86m at a 79% clearance rate. Deals are still being done. Given the state of the economy there is still hope for the naysayers. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
A Letter To The Industry from Damon Thayer The Florida State Legislature is facing a crossroads similar to what we in Kentucky's General Assembly faced in early 2021. At stake, as it was in Kentucky, is the future of the labor-intensive horseracing and breeding industry in that state. With strong support from horsemen whose livelihoods were at risk, Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation that allowed the racing industry to invest in itself by protecting tracks' ability to conduct and benefit from another parimutuel product known as historical horse racing (HHR). Today, Kentucky has the strongest racing circuit in America, with tracks creating hundreds of new jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment. By contrast, passage of Florida's HB 105 would permit Gulfstream Park to sever the legislatively mandated connection between its gaming license and conducting live horse racing. Gulfstream's ownership, which wants to build a casino and hotel on the property, says that's the only way the historic track will survive for three more years, but unlikely beyond that. But past performances tell another story: it would end horse racing in south Florida and cripple the state's important Thoroughbred breeding industry. When the Kentucky industry was threatened by a judicial action (a state Supreme Court deciding HHR was unconstitutional after 10 years of favorable legal opinions), it required a legislative remedy. Now racing in Florida is threatened by a desire to change a long-standing legislative remedy designed to help the horse industry to compete with the state's full-blown casinos (currently standing at eight). Racing is heavily regulated and continues to thrive in states where the industry has a strong relationship with the legislature, where the industry can tell its story and the legislature can make vital decisions about its future and health. Now is the time for everyone who cares about live horse racing and breeding in Florida–and that should include not just the Sunshine State but every other racing jurisdiction–to band together and tell Tallahassee the Florida Thoroughbred industry's story. According to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association statistics, thoroughbreds alone account for: $3.24-billion annual economic impact 87,600 thoroughbreds in the state 33,500 jobs While I'm proud of the strength of Kentucky racing and breeding, I also know that it's important that the industry is strong in other states. It's all part of the North American ecosystem. If the Florida legislature doesn't care about that, lawmakers should care about protecting the tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of acres of green space within its borders. The Florida legislature can't force Gulfstream Park to continue live horse racing. But lawmakers shouldn't make it easy to abandon such a vital agri-business, job-creator and tourism attraction. It's important to remember that Gulfstream Park would never have gotten its gaming license in the first place if not for conducting live horse racing. Pompano Park is the cautionary tale for Florida lawmakers. Once the Standardbred industry's premier winter track, Pompano closed three years ago, one year after decoupling legislation was passed for harness racing. Breeding horses is a long-term investment. The foals of 2026 resulting from mares that will be bred starting this month won't reach the racetrack until at least 2028, the last year for which Gulfstream Park says it will guarantee live racing if the decoupling legislation is approved. (And if not approved, Gulfstream Park's consultant Keith Brackpool has said the track almost assuredly will close much sooner.) Just the threat of Gulfstream Park closing in the next few years will take a toll. Uncertainty in the marketplace creates added risk and therefore less investment in any industry, especially those where the payoff is several years away. Not to diminish the importance of Tampa Bay Downs–a true gem itself with its 4 1/2-month winter racing season and one of my favorite tracks–but there would now be far less incentive to have a mare foal in Florida. A year from now, how many of those mares will be shipped out to give birth in Kentucky, New York, Louisiana or Pennsylvania–pick a state–to take advantage of those states' viable breeders incentives? HB 105 would devastate Ocala. Marion County's 75,000 horses account for the largest single-county equine population in the United States. Of those, 34,000 are Thoroughbreds. One in five of Marion County's jobs–or 28,500 total employment–involve the horse industry, according to the FTBOA. It's not just Florida-bred horses and broodmares that are vital to the Florida industry's health. Thousands of young horses are sent there from all over the country to get their earliest training on Florida farms and training centers. Horsemen from all over the East Coast and Midwest reside at least four months over the winter to train and race in Florida, spending millions of dollars in lodging, food, sales tax and horse feed, bedding and supplies. Just like Kentucky, Florida is an exporter of Thoroughbreds. One example: the Ocala Breeders Sales, among the pre-eminent sellers of 2-year-olds in the world, sold a total 4,147 horses (all ages), fetching a total of $180 million in 2024. It's the job of government to create an environment where industries can thrive. HB 105 would do just the opposite. There's a way for world-class horse racing to co-exist with a large casino and hotel without sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs, hundreds of thousands of acres of green space and an important tourism magnet. Florida's legislature should vote for its horse-racing industry by not passing HB 105. Damon Thayer recently stepped down after 22 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, the last 12 as Senate Majority Floor Leader. He has served in numerous capacities in track management, marketing and publicity, work that continues with his Thayer Communications and Consulting marketing company. Thayer is a partner in racehorses through C.J. Thoroughbreds, including horses racing at Gulfstream Park. The post As Did Kentucky, Florida Legislature Should Bet On Live Racing 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
It was announced in a joint statement on Monday that representatives of the Thoroughbred Group and the Racecourse Association (RCA) have undertaken a commitment to work together to pursue the signing of an industry-wide commercial partnership structure. These partnerships would see a commercial link formed between participants and racecourses to share the revenue that is generated by the sport. This is agreed to be a critical requirement if the industry is to reward owners and provide racegoers and bettors with competitive and engaging racing. In turn, it is hoped that this will improve the experience and returns for those who invest in the sport, as well as the outlook for the businesses and individuals that depend on it to earn their living. It was reported that work remains to get the first of these agreements in place but that significant progress has already been made between the Thoroughbred Group, the RCA and racecourses in recent months. This has included the sharing of financial statements in order to facilitate the drafting of proposals, for ongoing discussion, that will enable all racecourses to be evaluated equitably relative to each other, regardless of their business model, with the intent of encouraging greater investment in-prize money. Charlie Boss, interim CEO of the Jockey Club, said, “We continue to work closely with the Thoroughbred Group and share their vision for a constructive, transparent and collaborative relationship between racecourses and participants, which we believe is vital for British racing's future. “For some years now we have been meeting with industry groups and individuals to explain our financial performance and how money flows back through the sport. We welcome collaboration with the RCA and the Thoroughbred Group as the formally recognised bodies representing racecourses and participants on the commercial partnerships structure.” Paul Johnson, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), added, “With participants' businesses coming under increasing financial pressure, the foal crop down and a number of owners leaving the sport, we recognise that there is a critical, and urgent, need for change. “We believe that commercial partnerships between racecourses and participants must be the first step in enabling differing stakeholder groups to function collectively to safeguard the future of British racing. A great deal of progress has already been made between the RCA, racecourses and the Thoroughbred Group and this commitment underlines the desire to put in place an agreement that can benefit the sport as a whole.” The post Thoroughbred Group and RCA to Collaborate on Commercial Partnership Goal 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
The 2022 GII Demoiselle Stakes victress 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin) has been retired and will be bred to leading sire Into Mischief, according to a tweet by Stonestreet on X. A full-sister to two-time champion MGISW Malathaat, also a 'Rising Star' for owner Shadwell Stable, Julia Shining claimed her own black-type at the elite level when she ran third in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in 2023 at Keeneland. Her last start was a second-place effort Jan. 11 at Aqueduct in the Listed Ladies Stakes. Julia Shining and her sister continued a remarkable line of 'TDN Rising Stars' for the family, as their dam GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) was also a recipient of the moniker as were her half-siblings MGSW Dream Pauline (Tapit) and MSW Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro). Second dam Dream Rush (Wild Rush) was a multiple Grade I winner and twice placed at the highest level as well. “Welcome home, Julia Shining!” read the X statement. “This graded stakes winning daughter of champion Curlin and the remarkable MGSW Dreaming of Julia is officially joining our broodmare band! She will be bred to Into Mischief.” The post Graded Winner Julia Shining Retired to Stonestreet, to Visit Into Mischief 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
Nominations for every Arqana sale will be made solely through the MyARQANA+ platform from today, with all vendors invited to create an account. Existing MyARQANA accounts will not be automatically transferred to the new platform. Designed to simplify the entire process for vendors, the new MyARQANA+ platform is designed to offer an optimised and seamless process for the management of horses entered at Arqana's sales. Intended initially for vendors, the tool manages every stage of the process, from nominating a horse to going under the hammer. Every breeder, consignor or owner can use it to: Nominate their horses Check their pedigrees and make corrections Submit health documents Access various documents useful for the sales (such as the letter to vendors) Put conformation photos and videos directly online following entry Sign purchase confirmation forms A hotline has been set up until the close of nominations on Friday, March 7 to help people get to grips with using the tool if necessary. The post MyARQANA+ Launched for Vendors Nominating their Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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