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Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) has released its 2026-2028 Business Plan, outlining a clear and strategic roadmap to strengthen, modernize and grow Alberta's horse racing and breeding industry over the next three years, the organization said in a release late on Friday. Through four strategic areas the HRA plan will zero in on enhancing equine welfare and the safety of racing participants, modernizing regulation, strengthening stakeholder relationships and generating long-term economic stability. “Our focus is on ensuring Alberta's horse racing industry remains competitive, responsible and positioned for the future,” said Chair of the Board Diana McQueen. “This plan reflects our commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders while maintaining strong governance and transparency for Albertans.” Click here to view the plan. The post Horse Racing Alberta Unveils Roadmap To Strengthen The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising seeks a Hong Kong record 18th straight win when he races in the Feb. 22 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse.View the full article

He faced pressure right from the jump, but Knock It Off (Vekoma) found plenty in the stretch to claim 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors in his second lifetime victory at Fair Grounds. Unveiled at this venue against local maidens Jan. 17, the Steve Asmussen trainee set similarly brisk fractions while facing pressure from a rival, and kicked on to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:09.47 for six panels. Trouble Calling (Dialed In), defeated in that race, returned Feb. 14 over this same track and trip to break his maiden by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:09.18, earning a 91 Beyer in the process. On the strength of his running lines, the betting public hammered Knock It Off to overwhelming 1-20 favoritism here and it was second verse, same as the first: the son of Vekoma stepped out to control the pace as Silver Talisman (Silver State) pushed him along through an opening fraction of :21.71 and four panels through the turn in :44.65. The pair distanced themselves from the field as they swung for home and Knock It Off put some space between himself and his longtime shadow. Kept honest in the final furlong, the victor came home 2 3/4 lengths best as Silver Talisman valiantly held on for a clear second. Knock It Off is his sire's seventh 'Rising Star'. The winner is the last registered offspring for Bodie's Flight (Bodemeister), and is thus far her only runner to get a picture taken. The mare, who hails from the female line which produced SW Smartyfly (Smart Strike) and nine other black-type horses, has no breeding on record since 2024.   6th-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 2-20, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.61, ft, 2 3/4 lengths. KNOCK IT OFF, c, 3, by Vekoma                 1st Dam: Bodie's Flight, by Bodemeister                 2nd Dam: Striking Flight, by Smart Strike                 3rd Dam: Scarlet Butterfly, by Theatrical (Ire) Sales history: $18,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM (IN); T-Steven M. Asmussen. The post Vekoma’s Knock It Off Starts Fast and Keeps Going to Claim ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain, post time: 14:00, MIDNITE WINTER DERBY STAKES-G3, £100,000, 4yo/up, 10f 1y Field: Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Military Academy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). TDN Analysis: Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, Chancellor sets the standard after registering a stakes breakthrough in Southwell's Listed Tandridge Stakes two weeks ago. The Gosden stable has annexed this four times since 2019 and is also represented by Nebras, who heads postward returning off a Listed Quebec Stakes win over course and distance at the end of December. Dangers include Cambridgeshire hero Boiling Point and November's Listed Fleur de Lys victrix Sky Safari. Last year's runner-up Military Academy completes the line-up. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, FEBRUARY STAKES-G1, ¥290,980,000, 4yo/up, 1600m Field: Omega Guiness (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), Happy Man (Jpn) (Danon Legend), Brian Sense (Jpn) (Hokko Tarumae {Jpn}), Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), W Heart Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Lord Couronne (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Sunrise Hawk (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), Costa Nova (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Natural Rise (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Saimon Xanadu (Jpn) (Asia Express). TDN Analysis: The only runner in the field carrying less than 128 pounds, G1 Champions Cup heroine W Heart Bond aims for another top-level title at Tokyo. Just off the mare was Wilson Tesoro in the Champions Cup and he is one of 16 in the field. Jockey Rachel King became the first female rider to win a JRA Group 1 Flat race aboard Costa Nova in this race last year. For this edition, King is on multiple group winner Sakura Toujours, while Christophe Lemaire has the call on Costa Nova. Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 16:35, QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, 4yo/up, 1400m Field: Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), Sunlight Power (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), Copartner Prance (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}), Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto {Aus}), Packing Hermod (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). TDN Analysis: This race starts and stops at Ka Ying Rising. The reigning The Everest hero would break Silent Witness's record of 17 consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse if he prevails on Sunday. Trainer David Hayes called his charge “bigger, stronger, and better than last year” and his nine rivals have it all to do. John Size's Helios Express ran second to Ka Ying Rising last out in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January, while the re-opposing Raging Blizzard was fourth that day. Sunday, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, post time: 15:32, PRIX DE LA CALIFORNIE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 7 1/2f (AWT) Field: Go Man (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Afandy (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Seeway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Centauri (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Kenzel (Ire) (Zelzal {Fr}), Like Lindy (Midshipman), Viva La Skids (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Baklawa (Fr) (Stunning Spirit {GB}). TDN Analysis: Richard Chotard trainee Go Man comes back off a career high in November's Listed Criterium du Languedoc and is burdened with a two-kilo penalty in this sophomore bow. He encounters two Wertheimer homebreds from the Christophe Ferland stable, namely Listed Prix Saraca third Kenzel and dual winner Centauri. Gousserie Racing's G3 Prix Miesque third Baklawa is the only other contender with black type, while Afandy is two-from-two and Viva La Skids is three-from-four. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Winter Derby Chancellor’s Stomping Ground? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) attracted a bumper crowd for his Flat debut at Friday evening's Southwell fixture and sent supporters home contented after witnessing the nine-year-old romp to an impressive 9 1/2-length tally in the 12-furlong SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes. Bounding along within range of the pace through halfway, the 6-4 favourite was accompanied by raucous cheers when surging forward on the bridle in the home straight and lengthened clear in imperious fashion to easily overpower Square Necker (Zarak) by daylight. “He felt like a machine at home,” said Oisin Murphy. “There wasn't a lot of strength in depth in that race and if he was to continue on the Flat he'd have tougher assignments, but the feel was exactly the same. For a big horse that has been jumping, he has a lot of speed and he's a joy to ride. Everything went to plan and it's great he's got such a reception. I wanted to get in amongst them and give him an idea of what a Flat race was like because obviously his next assignment, if he runs on the Flat, it would probably be in a black-type race.” Holding fire on committing to a campaign on the level, winning trainer Nicky Henderson added, “That was amazing and to come and do that was unreal. He has enjoyed it, I think Oisin did and we did in the end. I thought we'd nearly be making the running, but Oisin seemed happy to sit there. It was just extraordinary, he came through a gap and quickened up so well. Oisin did say he has a career [on the Flat], but we should have sorted this out about four years ago. We'd be travelling around the world! There's been a few tears over the last year or so, so it's nice to be back with positive vibes. We've got lots to look forward to, but he's not a summer Flat horse and there's all sorts of options, including the Champion Hurdle.” Constitution Hill won his first 10 outings over jumps, with the 2023 Champion Hurdle one of eight victories at Grade 1 level, but hit the buffers with a trio of falls and one fifth-place finish last year. He is the first of seven foals and one of two winners from as many runners out of the dual scorer Queen Of The Stage (King's Theatre). His fourth dam Deep Adventure (Deep Run) is an unraced half-sister to 1973 Arkle winner Denys Adventure (Saint Denys). The March-foaled bay is a full-brother to three-year-old and two-year-old fillies and kin to a yearling filly by Golden Horn.     7th-Southwell, £40,000, Nov, 2-20, 4yo/up, 12f 14y (AWT), 2:34.47, st. CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) (g, 9, Blue Bresil {Fr}–Queen Of The Stage {Ire}, by King's Theatre {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $29,083. O-Michael Buckley; B-Mrs S A Noott; T-Nicky Henderson. *€16,500 Wlg '17 TIRNNH; £120,000 4yo '21 GOFP2P. The post Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill Routs Rivals On Flat Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article