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The policing of riding is awful and that's why there is no improvement. Sit a few more on their butts for a decent amount of time, the reducing bank account will soon improve their outlook.  But the ability of stipes to read races is  poor and that may also mean some riders are penalized unfairly.  A can of worms. Not a new situation though.  A former apprentice of mine, a leading rider here, went to Sydney when his apprenticeship  ended and started riding work for Gai. Got a ride, drew wide and ended up in behind the leader.  He was very proud of his effort, until he got back and was told firmly ' you're not in the Sth Island of NZ now,  boy' .....he got six weeks for taking another's line.   Probably tightened a few as well.

After missing out on his few opportunities to run the dirt marathon distances in 2025, Next is back in training with Chief Stipe Cowans at Turfway Park as they assess a potential final season in 2026.View the full article

Unraced since the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), trainer Chief Stipe Cowans provides an update on star marathoner Next as he gears up at Turfway Park for a potential final season in 2026.View the full article

You wonder why people don't like having a punt down South. The course was presented in great order. The weather played its part, the crowd turned up, so why was the Riding of such a low standard?  A total of 6 riders were given suspensions: 5 National Days and 1 rider got 6 National Days. One charge I believe should have been upgraded to Dangerous Riding and that was Kauri, I had an investment in Blue Goddess and was given a nice run until Kauri decided that he had been 3 wide long enough and pulled the left handlebar down and wiped Blue Goddess out ,she dipped with the jockey almost being dislodged, this was shit that i did years ago and like i was handed with the applicable rule. Now this horse was wiped out of the race, so the owner has float and training fees to get the horse to the races.The punters who made it a favourite had thrown their money down the drain.Punters can only take so much rubbish. Now this 5 National Day suspension is rubbish.Kauri gets 5 National Days included Gore,Ashburton and Taupo,i don't believe he would be going to 2, maybe 3 meetings, so should he not advise what Trainers he was going to ride for and get supporting evidence that this fact and if incorrect charge the Trainer and Jockey, just seems a rort to me and look at the SI based jockeys and they fall into this bullshit as well.It is window dressing at best, attempting to show strength, but in fact it is WEAKNESS,being shown by both the Stewards and the RIU and if that what the rule says, change the rule to show real strength and Integrity. Now on a positive note, a rider who I believe is underrated, Corey Campbell, was on Trackside Radio and went through his rides and he labeled Our Approval as his best, even though after the Blue Goddess debacle, i was not going back to Southland to punt when you have Aussie underway, but as he is a rider i rate i backed it along with 3 punting mates got plenty, and he rode it like a professonial and gave it the PERFECT run.    

The Turfway Park Synthetic Championships consist of four $250,000 races, two 6-furlong events and two at a mile, all on Turfway's Tapeta surface Dec. 21.View the full article

In the eighth and final race Dec. 12 at Fair Grounds, veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry scored the 2,000th win of his career, guiding the front-running Island Cabana to victory for trainer Justin Jeansonne.View the full article

Tappan Street, last seen in action while upsetting Sovereignty in the $1.02 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29, has been entered to return in a mile allowance optional claimer Dec. 19 at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

Nobody wants to be late to the party. That statement applies to just about every aspect in business and is especially pertinent with a view towards breeding.  Everyone would love to send mares to Mehmas and Starman but, the reality of the situation is that many breeders' mating plans are dictated just as much by their pockets as it is by their head. The trick is cottoning on to the next Mehmas and the next Starman before they go north – and that can be easier said than done.  Luckily for you, we've canvassed the opinions of some of the sharpest minds in the bloodstock game to glean which young and underappreciated stallions are worth keeping onside for 2026 and beyond.  Eddie Linehan, breeze-up handler and pinhooker at Lackendarra Stables We bought a few foals by first-season sires and a few proven ones as well this year. Of the proven, we bought a nice Awtaad colt foal – he's definitely a sire to keep on the right side of and the best is to yet come I'd imagine. I was impressed with the Minzaals and bought one and liked a few Blackbeards as well. We gave a good throw for one of them to breeze and he's been going nicely so far so I'll go with him to follow for next year as a sire.  We bought a good few first-season foals and I liked the Dragon Symbols as a type – they look precocious and strong. Shaquille was really stamping his stock as well and we bought one of those. We liked a good few by him so we'll see how that goes. Martin Buick, bloodstock agent Modern Games did very well for the amount of foals by him that hit the market. The lads at Ballinacurra Stud sold a very nice Modern Games colt for €225,000 at Goffs. I saw that they said the stallion could be the next Night Of Thunder and, if they are right, he's got a very bright future! Chaldean is the obvious one and I think Triple Time made a good impression also.  The way the Minzaals sold, there will be high expectations behind him. His profile would suggest that they will be up and running early. Naval Crown has a chance. He's by Dubawi and, every son of Dubawi who goes to stud, you've got to take note. Persian Force could exceed expectations. Robson Aguiar was very strong on the horse; whether the ones that he bought go breezing or go into training with him, they could be very interesting.  I always end up with Churchills and Awtaads on my list. Okay, I guess Awtaad is more commercial after what happened in California [Ethical Diamond winning the Breeders' Cup Turf] but they were two very good racehorses who I don't think get the credit they deserve. And what about Golden Horn? It's old fashioned, but I absolutely love Trawlerman (Golden Horn) and I love the Gold Cup horses. What's wrong with breeding a stayer? Maybe breeding stayers won't pay the bills but, if you want a racehorse, they are pretty damn cool. So, at £10,000, Golden Horn has to be value. Dermot Cantillon, breeder at Tinnakill House Stud I sold a lot of foals this year so, from my own point of view, I thought the Chaldeans sold unbelievably well. We had an absolute cracker by him and he did the business in the ring so I'd have to describe myself as a fan. Look it, he's a Frankel with speed and all of the judges are very hot on them so I am not going to go against the grain. We had a very nice and racy Ace Impact who we sold at Goffs and he's a stallion that, if he clicks, he could be anything. He's an undefeated champion and is one to watch out for.  It's amazing how well the Minzaals sold and it will be interesting to see how they get on. I mean, they nearly sold better than the Baaeeds, but Baaeed was some racehorse. If we see Baaeed come along with some nice backend two-year-olds next year, he could be the next coming. I'd be a big fan.  I used to love sending mares to Shamardal and Invincible Spirit. Now, I think Derrinstown Stud are offering great value at €8,500 for Awtaad. Ghaiyyath at €20,000 also looks value to me. It's the pinhookers who dictate what happens for the rest of us and they were very hot on Ghaiyyath so I think he has a great chance.  I actually went to Tattersalls in the hope of buying a mare in foal to Vandeek but I failed. He was a very good racehorse and it will be interesting to see what his foals are like. He's one for further down the line.  Adam Potts, BBA Ireland bloodstock agent  Adam Potts: “King Of Change continues to fly under the radar and upgrades his mares.” | Tattersalls Unoriginal but the Minzaals delivered on physique and he's got the profile to work. I also kept landing on the State Of Rests. They're nice. I'll be fascinated to see who puts their head above the parapet in the USA – it looks one of the strongest classes of first-season sires on record.  Shaquille threw a type. They look fast and they've plenty of depth. Mostahdaf also got some really nice foals. King Of Change continues to fly under the radar and upgrades his mares. He's had four stakes winners from less than 40 lifetime runners and is deserving of more support. I think he's just a very good stallion and he was a genuine top-class racehorse after all.  Ghislain Bozo, Meridian International bloodstock agent A lot of people are talking about Chaldean and Shaquille and they have made a very strong start with their first foals. In France, Ace Impact is an important stallion. Besides the fact that he is important, I think his foals were well-received. I buy more yearlings than I do foals and I have to say I liked the Baaeed yearlings a lot. He was an exceptional racehorse and hopefully his progeny can represent him well on the racetrack. I think that they will.  Eddie O'Leary, breeder, pinhooker and breeze-up handler at Lynn Lodge Stud Chaldean, Good Guess and probably Dragon Symbol were the three most consistent of the first-crop foal sires. I was very lucky that I bought a nice Dragon Symbol colt at Goffs because I was thinking we'd all be fighting over the new Whitsbury stallion at Tattersalls, which is exactly what happened.  On the yearlings, Minzaal is the easy answer but they sold so well, he will need to have a very big year on the track, otherwise he could be in trouble. The last horse who sold as well as he did in his first season was Muhaarar. I hope Minzaal works – because we've plenty by him – but we've seen it time and time again with stallions struggling to keep up with the hype. They sold extremely well so he needs to deliver.  It wouldn't surprise me if Naval Crown worked. He was a very good racehorse and his stock is Dubawish, which I like. Naval Crown might not be as sexy as Minzaal but I think he could work. I also have a horse at home and he'd go through a brick wall for you. He's by Blackbeard so, purely on the basis of him, I'm going to say Blackbeard has a chance. Now, I only have one by him, but this fella is a legend. He's the type of lad you'd want to go for a pint with! And then, the secret is out about the under-the-radar stallion; his name is Starman. For me, there are five breakout stallions; Wootton Bassett, Sands Of Mali, Starman, Havana Grey and Mehmas. When you think of all the champion racehorses that have retired to stud, it's funny that those five stallions are the ones the industry seems to be latching onto. Where are all the champions?  We need to try and find the next Starman now. Where he will come from, I couldn't tell you. Having said that, there are three stallions, Saxon Warrior, Kodi Bear and Calyx, who have their best crops still to run for them and I am expecting them to go boom. Okay, poor Calyx is dead now, but any one of those three stallions could come up with a very good racehorse given their best crops are coming down the line. Luke Barry, breeder and pinhooker at Manister House Stud Luke Barry: says breeders should keep the faith with Pinatubo | Tattersalls We bought a Good Guess, we bought a Shaquille and we bought a Modern Games, but we underbid a Little Big Bear, so I am going to say Little Big Bear! It would be sod's law, wouldn't it? With the yearlings, I'm going to have to go with Minzaal. I believe in the hype. We sold three beautiful fillies by him and I expect him to do well next year. Okay, he is overbet but his stock had hip, movement and depth. When you have those three things, you have a chance. At the end of the day, he only stood for €15,000 in his debut season so he's not that obvious. He's only overbet because he's doing it himself. Another thing about Minzaal, he trained on. He got hurt but came back to win a Group 1 and I think that matters for a lot.  Under-the-radar stallion? I'm going to go with Pinatubo. I sold a beaut-if-ul yearling by him and, when it came down to it, everyone wanted to buy him. I'm not the only person who believes in Pinatubo. His stock has great strength to them and there is no reason why they won't keep training on. He got so many two-year-old winners – fillies and colts – at the back end of the year, I just think it's going to start to come good for him. James Horton, trainer and pinhooker James Horton: the trainer was involved in the pinhooking of Group 1 winner Power Blue | Tattersalls I'd be a big fan of Palace Pier. He's probably the first stallion who springs to mind as being value. We did well with him last year and I have a nice yearling coming through the ranks by him for next year. Now, they were harder to buy this year than they were last year. I think he is a stallion who is going places and it's funny because he wasn't given an obvious chance around this time 12 months ago. I think Space Blues is a stallion who is deserving of more respect for what he has achieved as well. If you take Starman away, who's next best? Probably Space Blues. He's had a Group 1 winner and plenty of other nice winners – I actually had a nice first-time out winner by him the other day, too. I also have a nice yearling by him that seems to go well as well. If you were betting on the second-season sires' championship, you might have a strong bet on Space Blues without Starman. He definitely deserves more credit.  Of the first-season sires with runners next year, I like the idea of Persian Force. I tried to buy a couple of yearlings by him but couldn't. I think he has a chance. He's going to be very well-supported and is standing at the right stud in Tally-Ho. He's also got the right man in Kia Joorabchian behind him so he's got to have every chance. I'm not going to enjoy saying this, but the Dragon Symbols were quite nice! I saw some very nice foals by him and they made plenty of money. The Shaquilles were lovely and, if I was going to buy a first-season sire this year, he would have been the one. However, I couldn't afford any of them. But in general, the foals were very hard to buy this year. Especially at the end we pinhook at, we were having to look at more established sires who had perhaps gone a little cold in the hope that they came back into fashion because what people were paying for first-season or even second-season foals was extraordinary.  I mean, the Persian Force and Minzaal foals made fortunes. I ended up buying an A'Ali filly who is exactly the type you'd love to bring back to Donny. If she goes the way I think she'll go, she will look like a fast filly that the breeze-up boys – and even trainers – will want. A'Ali has had his winners and is solid – he produces horses that run. We also bought a Kameko colt for pinhooking. Whether we're right or wrong, only time will tell.  Roderic Kavanagh, breeder and breeze-up consignor at Kildaragh Stud and Glending Stables  Roderic Kavanagh: says he was impressed by the Shaquille foals | Tattersalls It's hard not to be taken by the physical specimens that Shaquille is getting and they obviously sold accordingly. But sometimes in this game you have to believe your eyes and we'll be using him.  In terms of first-season sires, Blackbeard has a leading chance with numbers and quality of mares that he has covered. A little bit off centre, but a couple of the breeze-up horses that I have been impressed with so far are by Naval Crown. I've liked their attitude and they seem to grow a hand under tack. I've used him every year here on our doorstep [at Kildangan Stud] and I hope he can be something of a surprise package.  To describe Without Parole as an under-the-radar stallion is probably under-selling him a little given he came up with a high-class colt like Zavateri but he's a sire that continues to look a good influence without quite capturing the imagination of many. Edmond Ryan, breeder, pinhooker and consignor at Weir View Stud We bought a few by first-season sires this year; a Dragon Symbol, an Erevann and a Chaldean. The Dragon Symbols were very good individuals with plenty of hip and were all great movers. The Chaldeans had loads of quality and were all athletic types. Erevann seems to be stamping his stock and they're all impressive individuals. Of the other first-season sires, I thought the few Paddingtons I saw were striking individuals and it looks like he'll be an exciting prospect. First-crop yearlings, I thought the Blackbeards were impressive types and were great movers, so hopefully he will be able to hit the same heights in the shed as he did on the racecourse.  Nancy Sexton, bloodstock journalist and breeding advisor Nancy Sexton: “It has made for really boring dinners because you can't slag off any stallions!” | Tattersalls Where do you begin? They were all good. It has made for really boring dinners because you can't slag off any stallions! The foal sales were very top heavy with first-season sires. The Shaquille foals were consistently nice. The Chaldeans are lovely – easy moving and well balanced with depth and quality. From what I hear a lot of people are going to use him next year off the back of these foals. The Good Guess foals have all got lovely tops, the Native Trail and Triple Time foals are also nice.  Stradivarius may surprise a few people as his yearlings were very athletic and well balanced. Derek Veitch had one out of a Kodiac mare who looked quite forward. The Minzaals looked smart and straightforward, and quite forward, and a lot of them are going breezing so we will know his fate quite early on. The Mostahdaf foals have a bit of quality – they're like him, he's stamped them. Charlie Vigors, pinhooker and consignor at Hillwood Stud Charlie Vigors: says that smaller breeders have a lack of solid options | Tattersalls We are lucky to have a Chaldean, a couple by Modern Games and a Shaquille in the fields at home that we like a lot so it was pleasing to see their stock being so well received. Harry and Oliver [sons] bought a smart filly by Naval Crown and we bought a Native Trail colt in Goffs so any of them will do. There will be a high level of expectation surrounding the progeny of Blackbeard and Minzaal so it will be interesting to see if they deliver. We had two lovely Perfect Power colts and had a fairytale result with the one that Harry and Oliver pinhooked with Hannah Wall. If they were representative of his crop then he would have a very good chance of succeeding. Sergei Prokofiev would have been my pick of value sires but, the export of the likes of him, Cotai Glory, Ten Sovereigns, Territories and more is a worrying trend as it leaves the smaller breeders limited options of proven but capable stallions. Tom Brickley, pinhooker, breeder and breeze-up consignor at Ard Erin Stud Shaquille rose to the top of the list of first-season sires of foals. We liked them a lot and we were delighted to get one by him. The three sons of Frankel – Mostahdaf, Triple Time and Chaldean – were also very nice and we managed to get a Chaldean and a Mostahdaf. We actually tried hard to buy a Triple Time as well so we nearly got the treble up! But definitely, Shaquille was the main one. There's one more there that not many people will mention but we bred a very nice filly by El Caballo this year and, while he's going to have to do it the hard way, he could be an interesting prospect.  Of the stallions with their first runners next year, Minzaal was very good to us this year as we sold two very nice yearlings by him. We loved the stock by them as foals and they seemed to develop into very nice yearlings – straightforward, good-bodied and good-moving horses with very good temperaments. You'd have to give him a very big chance.  Under the radar, I am a big fan of Ghaiyyath. I'm actually a very big believer in him. I bought a foal by him and hope to send him a mare in the new year as well. Awtaad is proven but we feel he still represents very good value. He got very good numbers last year so he may even be a stallion who takes off again and he has a very good chance. The post Who Are The Young And Underappreciated Sires To Watch Out For In 2026? Bloodstock Judges Have Their Say appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

i'm sure everyone who watched it ,whether it be owners.trainers,drivers, punters and officials ,all would have had the same awful feeling watching williamson fall from his sulky.  Its not like if you watch or pass a car accident ,where you can soon enough  detach yourself from feelings of concern and relatabilty. Seeing a harness  driver go through what williamson and his family is going through somehow seems more relateable,mostly because you  sort of know the people concerned,even if  your relationship is just  through the tv screen. But everyone who follows harness racing closely ,across the whole spectrum of people who do,will have williamsons well being in their thoughts. As to how it happened. Without knowing the exact damage the sulky suffered,it seems on the face of it reasonable to assume, that what happened was consistent with some catasthropic failure in the structure of  what holds the sulky seat in place. and i think its reasonable to point out that when that occurs,because of the design of modern harness racing carts,the consequences will be so much worse than they were,had the racecart been an older design. These days if you walk around a racetrack or you look at the racecarts for sale on the internet,you ill see the modern day seat for the driver is positioned,extending beyond the solid framework of the racecart. In other words, it sticks out the back with nothing underneath,held on by i assume strong welding. Theres a  difference between the race carts most trainers use these days and what some of the more old school trainers and those smaller trainers who have had their carts for years use. look at them and i'm sure you would conclude,the older style racecarts,when it comes to the position of the seat, are built placing safety of much greater importance than the modern racecart.  The modern racecarts are simply built with the focus more on speed. Thats always been my opinion anyway. And thats how it plays out on the very rare occasions like what happened on friday. The older style racecarts seat is positioned directly over the solid framework of the back of the sulky structure,so if their was a breakdown in the seat structure,or the seat comes off,or moves due to not quite being tightened enough when put on,the driver had the large structure underneath the seat to sit on,albeit uncomfortably,should something happen. And of just as great an importance,theolder style races is designed so the weight of the driver is distributed over a surface where he or she is far less likely to lose their balance in a way that will lead to a fall from the cart. with the modern carts the bulk of the drivers body weight is weight is above nothing but the seat structure and if ,in the unlikely event the structure or welding hold it in place crumbles,its virtually impossible for any driver to hang on as they simply are sitting above thin air,and they have to tumble onto the track.  thats what it appeared to happen,it wasn't anything williamson did ,nor was there anything he could do when it happened. also,the footrests where the drivers position their feet for balance are far more substantial in an older type designed cart than a modern one,again leading to greater stability for the driver  for their feet,should something go wrong and the older style carts also have straps attached to the main framework of the cart as a back up should welding fail. anyway,thats just the way the modern racecart is built.Obviously it shouldn't fail  ,but when it does,the helpless driver can't do anything about it and would be totally unaware of what was going to happen and it happens so quickly. as to the trackside not showing what happened. It may just be me,but i think it doesn't help by them not doing that. Everyone ,including his family,would have been trying to wrap their heads around what had just happened and would have better understood things had they got to see it again,but instead trackside just left everyone wondering. To me,that just makes things worse for those wathcing.. i know they have mentioned williamson being worried about the knocks to his head, but the rest of his body would have suffered badly as well. from such a fall As i said earlier,i know we are all hoping he heals andrecovers quickly.