Forums

A number of leading National Hunt stallions in Britain will be on show on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January 2026, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and British European Breeders Fund has announced. The new initiative has been created to provide a dedicated platform for UK-based National Hunt stallion owners to showcase their stallions directly to NH breeders or those considering breeding their mares for the first time ahead of the forthcoming breeding season as well as providing a unique opportunity for the wider public to see the daily workings and practices of some of Britain's leading National Hunt stud farms. The weekend will see seven stud farms opening their doors across two regions in the UK, with 26 stallions showcased and enabling attendees to plan visits easily within geographic clusters. On the Saturday, the stallions will be available for viewing at Yorton Stud, Shade Oak Stud, Mickley Stud and Willow Wood Stud. Meanwhile, Chapel Stud, Batsford Stud and Overbury Stud will open doors to the public on Sunday. The weekend is free to attend, but all visitors will be required to pre-register online via the TBA website through a simple sign-up form. Pre-registration will assist participating studs with visitor planning and ensure the best possible experience for attendees. Simon Cox, Chair of the TBA NH committee commented, “The TBA is delighted to be trialling the National Hunt Stallion Open Weekend for the first time with the support of the BEBF. Following discussions with National Hunt stallion owners, taking into account the time of year, and looking at how other jurisdictions promote their stallions, the weekend aims to provide a focused platform to highlight a selection of NH stallions and stud farms. “We hope the event will offer both established breeders and those considering breeding for the first time the opportunity to view a range of stallions, stimulate use of breeding incentives such as the Elite NH Mares' Scheme, and introduce a wider audience to the stud farms involved. We are extremely grateful to all the studs taking part for their support.” The post National Hunt Stallion Open Weekend Announced for January 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rachael Blackmore, who retired from a glittering career in the saddle in May, received the Contribution to the Industry Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards 2025 in Dublin this evening. The most recent three recipients of the prestigious title have been the late owner-breeder HH the Aga Khan, trainer Jessica Harrington and multiple champion owner-breeder JP McManus. “It is hard to think of someone who made such a profound impact on the sport so quickly,” said Suzanne Eade, HRI's Chief Executive Officer, before handing the Tipperary-born former rider Blackmore her trophy. “A total of 33 Grade 1s throughout her stellar career and 18 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, including the pinnacle, the Gold Cup, along with Champion Hurdles and a Champion Chase. Most famous of them all, the Grand National at Aintree. Many of those moments arrived during Covid and helped brighten the mood of the nation. They also caught the imagination as Rachael remains a role model, a true trailblazer.” The Horse of the Year Award resulted in a tie between reigning champion Galopin Des Champs and Ethical Diamond who won the Breeders' Cup Turf as an outsider in California last month. Both horses are stabled with Willie Mullins, capping another extraordinary year for the County Carlow trainer who also triumphed in the National Hunt category. This was the second time that Horse of the Year went to dual winners following the 2015 tie between Faugheen and Don Cossack. On a remarkable night for the Mullins family, Willie's son Patrick, the perennial champion amateur rider, accepted the National Hunt Achievement Award in recognition of his Aintree Grand National victory on Nick Rockett. Ireland's newest champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle from Donegal swept the Flat Award, while trainer Joe Murphy, based in Tipperary, was a popular recipient of the Flat Achievement Award in the wake of Cercene's stirring Group 1 Coronation Stakes victory at Royal Ascot. The Emerging Talent Award went the way of 17-year-old Nicola Burns from County Westmeath who has ridden over 30 winners since first breaking onto the scene just over a year ago.   Tipperary trainer Sam Curling scooped the Point-to-Point Award in acknowledgement of Wonderwall's success in the St James's Place Festival Hunter Chase at Cheltenham, along with his biggest win tally yet at home. In the Racecourse of the Year Award it was Punchestown that lifted the title after a public vote, votes from each of Ireland's 26 racecourses and a select Horse Racing Ireland committee with a focus on sustainability. Finally, on an occasion when his late brother Michael was honoured, amateur jockey Alan O'Sullivan from County Cork picked up the prestigious Ride of the Year Award for they way he partnered Filey Bay to a memorable victory in the Connacht Hotel (QR) Handicap at Galway. A public vote determined this category. The post Rachael Blackmore Honoured At The HRI Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He’d hoped to be back in Hong Kong a little sooner but Joao Moreira is ready to make an impact when he heads to Happy Valley for the first time in over three years on Wednesday night. Denied a position on Hong Kong’s packed riding roster after hoping to return as Caspar Fownes’ stable jockey earlier this season, Moreira will ride in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) for the first time since 2021. Victorious in the competition in 2012, Moreira admitted he wasn’t sure if he...View the full article

It wouldn't matter if you had 33 track experts as there is always someone questioning their credibility.  You go to meetings to sort through some solutions yet come away with more problems beginning with arguments about which experts should be used, and are they actually experts after all.

Maybe more thought needs to go into how the Christmas race day functions are sold.  What are the customers expectations?  And what are the racing club hosts providing?  Unless the clients are really into racing there's a bit of effort required to keep everyone punting and entertained.  I've often given cheap combination bet options for racing newbies.  If they get a $12 return for a $6 bet early in the day they are hooked.

Are you meaning re homing in general or for once racing ceases?

Getting consistent invites to the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) has left Hollie Doyle “pinching herself” and Britain’s top female rider has her sights firmly set on going one better than 12 months ago. Doyle is a fan favourite in Hong Kong after multiple appearances at the IJC and it would be fair to say a win – and taking home the lion’s share of the HK$1 million bonus – would not be coming out of turn. The 10-time Group One-winning jockey made her first appearance at the...View the full article

gee, that ozzy fella???? who works at the pickle factory would have got excited with that result! I recall he was big of nz sires and their ability to throw some nice jumpers!

You prove yourself right, stop saying things and assuming its correct. You provide some backing to the generalisations you spray all over the forum.