Forums

Ballyhane Stud and the Irish European Breeders Fund (Irish EBF) announced the seventh renewal of their sponsorship of the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, the richest race staged at Naas Racecourse. The race will be run on Bank Holiday Monday, August 3. The €200,000 median auction contest has established itself as a popular and highly competitive fixture on the Irish racing calendar since its inauguration in 2020. Last year's renewal was won by the Ger Lyons-trained Howd'yadoit, further highlighting the race's strong appeal to leading owners, trainers and breeders. In addition to renewing their support, Ballyhane Stud have announced the introduction of a Breeders' Raffle, an exciting new incentive for 2026. Two breeders of two-year-olds entered at the initial entry stage on March 4 will be randomly selected to receive a free nomination to one of Ballyhane's stallions, Magnum Force or Sakheer. The nominations will be usable during the current breeding season. Ballyhane's Joe Foley said, “The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has been a tremendously exciting race to sponsor and we're delighted to continue our support for 2026. Introducing a breeders' raffle this year is something we are particularly pleased about, as it offers a tangible reward for breeders this season while adding another layer of interest at the early entry stage.” Nessa Joyce, Irish EBF manager, added, “The continued partnership between Irish EBF and Ballyhane Stud reflects a shared commitment to supporting connections at every level of the sport. The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has established itself as an important race for EBF-eligible two-year-olds whose sire has achieved a median auction price of €75,000 or less. The welcome addition of the breeders' raffle further enhances the race's value and appeal.” The post Irish EBF and Ballyhane Stud Renews Sponsorship as Breeders’ Raffle Launched appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ka Ying Rising has been crowned Timeform's 2025 horse of the year. David Hayes' sprinting superstar became Timeform's highest-rated horse in training when achieving a rating of 135 for a facile victory on his return to action this season in the Chief Executive's Cup, where he gave multiple Group race-winning sprinters significant amounts of weight. The son of Shamexpress also received a second award, being named Timeform's Champion Sprinter. Following his reappearance in September he went on to land the global sprint showpiece, The Everest, at Randwick in October before returning to Sha Tin to defend his Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint crown at the Hong Kong International Races.  On receiving the award at Sha Tin, David Hayes said, “It's been a perfect season for Ka Ying Rising. He keeps stepping up and improving, he just absorbs so much pressure so easily and puts the race away – he's a freak.  “He has a massive stride and how fast he can go just takes other horses out of their comfort zone mid-race, it just blows them out and then he is able to extend away like no other horse I've ever trained.  “He's the best I've ever trained. I'm a massive Black Caviar fan, she's an out and out champion and the best I've ever seen – for me, he is comparable to her and that's incredible to have a horse capable of that.”  Calandagan was named Timeform's Champion Middle Distance performer following a standout campaign, where he was beaten only twice before notching four consecutive Group 1 victories across France, England and Japan. Francis Graffard's son of Gleneagles finished the season with a Timeform rating of 133, achieved with his win in the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes, before becoming the first European-trained winner of the Japan Cup since 2005. Graffard said, “Calandagan has really blossomed mentally and physically after we decided to stay at home for the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in June. The partnership between Mickael (Barzalona) and the horse is working very well now, he has a lot of confidence in him and he's an incredible horse. He's very smart and well balanced, everything comes very easy for him.  “The Japan Cup was a special day. We were the only foreign horse in the race, and he delivered an incredible performance. He broke the track record, beating a very good Japanese horse after a long journey – I don't think I will live that again! He is a champion and he never lets us down.” Meanwhile, Field Of Gold was crowned champion miler, Minnie Hauk landed the prize for champion filly and mare and Trawlerman was the top stayer. The post Ka Ying Rising named Horse Of The Year at Timeform Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

any idea of the entrance  money and the catering profits?

The wording is beautiful, isn't it.  From mid-January ... How is the disparity between stake money and on-course turnovers for the two clubs explained away?

Sally McKay Nikki Blatch Robert Dennis Terry Kennedy

Do you think this announcement might have slightly upset @Reefton? Meeting News Waverley 28 January Stakes to $25,000 The Waverley twilight meeting on Wednesday 28 January will run for stakes of $25,000 for all eight races. This brings it in line with all twilight Wednesdays from mid-January through to the end of March. So the ONLY Wednesday meeting this year that didn't get twilight funding was ??? And to make matters worse, Reefton on a weekday with industry funding did oncourse turnover of $132k. The following Sunday, ATR (feature meeting at Ellerslie qith 460k stakes) just managed 100k.

Self-interest rules always.

the government passed legislation that created the legal process for the tab to enter into the agreement with entain.  . The nz government never put any money in when the entain deal occured. the nz government provided a support package/bail out for  the nz tab/racing industry board around 2020 to the tune of around $70m because the tab had been so poorly run.It was around covid time,but nothing to do with covid.That was a one off to keep the racing industry here afloat. nz government do not fund nz racing anually. never have. once harness have spent their share of the entain money,they have to rely on wagering to cover their stakes. as 've i mentioned previously,fortunately thats not just wagering on nz harness,if it was things would look very dire,but it still appears hrnz are happily  spending,without  understanding of exactly how much income they will be funded by entain. Entain don't even know,they're also guessing until they have had a year of the geo blocking.  as to victoria. victorian harness overspent. So the victorian government came to an agreement where they said,we'll wipe your debt to us,but we're taking your asset worth over 100m, the spare land they around melton. tabcorp has a longer term guaranteed funding agreement with wictorian harness. Nz only has 2 more years guaranteed funding.  i've worked for a giovernment department and understand what gamma was saying. They get funded x amount of money each year,then when they get near the end of that finacial year the departments look at what they were allocated and if they haven't spent it all theygo on a bit of a spending spree as that way they can say to the govt,this is waht we spent last year so you need to fund us at least the same this year.Thats totally irrelevant to nz racing as its not governmant funded

The TAB got bailed out by the government after the Covid BS and now Entain with the $900m and it will nit be happening again! The fact that they have not invested the money wisely is very disappointing and  going to be a kick in the guts for harness racing in my humble opinion.