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Bella Ballerina is making her final start before the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the March 21 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

‘I’m not here to hold the bridle’ – A year in, Kiwi racing boss Ballesty on his plans for New Zealand’s thoroughbred industryhttps://bitofayarn.com After 12 months in the role, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief executive Matt Ballesty is attempting to reposition the national industry for long-term sustainability. By Warwick Barr  ●  Racing Industry  ●  March 19, 2026     Matt Ballesty (right) describes the changes required in New Zealand racing as more revolution than evolution. (Photo: Christine Cornege) Matt Ballesty knew when he took the job as chief executive of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing that the role would demand change rather than caretaking. “It’s never a dull moment,” Ballesty says of his first 12 months in the position, reflecting on a career that has taken him from Sydney to Macau and Canada before crossing the Tasman. The Sydney-born executive, a self-described casino guy who now leads New Zealand’s national thoroughbred body, says he arrived with a mandate to reshape an industry that has spent much of the past decade confronting declining infrastructure, fractured stakeholder confidence, and the lingering shadow of reform reports demanding change. “I’m not here to hold the bridle and make sure everything’s OK (as it is),” Ballesty says.https://bitofayarn.com “I’m here, with the board’s direction and support, to make significant changes and test the status quo and make the bold decisions that need to be made. “But we’ve got to build trust, we’ve got to earn respect (but) it would be good for the industry to now give this team a chance to add some professionalism and quality to the decisions that are made.” The scale of that challenge is evident across almost every part of the New Zealand racing ecosystem, from racetrack infrastructure to wagering economics, ownership engagement and the delicate balance between tradition and financial sustainability. Ballesty describes the moment not as a gradual adjustment but as something more fundamental. Asked if it is a revolution or evolution, Ballesty is adamant: “I would say revolution. “We’re in a year of transformation, and me coming into the role wasn’t going to be about just keeping the status quo going. “I was brought in for change and agitation to move us in a direction that’s not the same as what it’s been. “We need to make sure that the investment that has been made into New Zealand sets us up for the years ahead.” Yet before any transformation can take hold, the industry must rebuild confidence after years of debate about its direction. “I think confidence and positivity all need to be rowing in the same direction,” Ballesty says. “People can see change and support change and look to the future, not to the past.” Like most executives, Ballesty will never be able to please everyone. There are divided opinions within the New Zealand industry about the regulator’s ongoing performance and its vision for the future. Adding a layer of uncertainty and a sense of urgency to the landscape is a crucial milestone in Entain’s 25-year deal to operate the New Zealand TAB. Under the terms of the arrangement, including the ongoing profit share, Entain has guaranteed to provide TAB NZ with $NZ1 billion in funding for the first five years. That is due to expire in 2028.  That year is widely seen inside New Zealand racing as the first real stress test of the Entain partnership, because it marks the point when the guaranteed funding safety net disappears. Those guarantees allowed racing administrators to increase prize money, launch new events such as the NZB Kiwi, and invest in marketing and infrastructure, confident that the funding floor was locked in regardless of betting performance. Once the deal moves past 2028, however, returns will depend far more directly on wagering growth, meaning industry income will fluctuate with betting turnover, product strength and Entain’s commercial performance. There is some anxiety about what New Zealand racing will look like beyond that point and Ballesty says the messaging about NZTR’s objectives will be key to instilling confidence within the industry.https://bitofayarn.com Communication, he believes, has been – and remains – one of racing’s persistent weaknesses. “One of our biggest challenges is communicating to people and making them feel comfortable that things are happening,” he says. “It’s such a wide and varied group of people. If things do go wrong, which they do in life and business, they seem to need somebody to hang out and I think it’s been us. “But we need to do a better job of just balancing that perception.” Ballesty’s ‘bold’ strategic moves – NZTR executive undergoes major changes Ballesty says that the awareness issue is compounded by the fact that racing’s stakeholders – clubs, trainers, breeders and punters – often interpret discussions about reform as final decisions.https://bitofayarn.com An example he points to is the speculation that NZTR will increase the levy imposed on owners of horses departing the country to boost revenue and support the local racing industry. Opponents of any such plan argue that a significant increase in export fees will make it harder to sell horses to overseas jurisdictions. “An idea is just an idea until it’s not an idea but in our industry it is fact straight away,” Ballesty says. “This (a levy increase) is a great example ‘I’ve heard this, I’ve heard that’. “It’s something that hasn’t even gone to our board. It will be reviewed amongst a whole bunch of other things and we’ll see if it is something we need to address or not.” That environment has forced the organisation to tread carefully in its messaging.https://bitofayarn.com “Sometimes it feels like you can’t say much at all or you’re being misinterpreted,” he says. RATIONALISATION Despite that caution, the most sensitive reform topic remains racetrack rationalisation – a subject that has lingered since the landmark Messara report nearly a decade ago recommended reducing the number of venues across the country. New Zealand currently has around 35 racetracks, down from more than 50 historically, but Ballesty accepts further consolidation is inevitable. “As a broad acknowledgement, there’s just not (enough) money to sustain every racecourse,” he says. “We do need to define what racecourses are – whether they’re a metropolitan racing surface or a provincial feeder or a community engagement venue.” To guide that process, NZTR has launched a detailed infrastructure review designed to shift debate away from sentiment and towards what Ballesty describes as measurable analysis. “We move away from emotion and we move away from people’s opinions and we rely on data and analysis to help lead informed decisions, data-led decisions,” he says. “That’s not to say everything’s to do with data … we’re in a business that has history and that needs to be recognised.” An infrastructure challenge goes beyond simply closing venues; it is also about creating modern racing hubs capable of delivering reliable surfaces, strong wagering outcomes and high-quality race meetings. At present, Ballesty believes New Zealand has only one genuine metropolitan-standard track – Ellerslie. The ambition, however, is to build a broader national network capable of supporting elite racing and attracting international participation. “We’ve got Ellerslie, but we need four Ellerslies to be successful in the longer term,” he says. Plans are already emerging to build that structure.  

The Irish-bred 8-year-old gelding by Belardo has won at least one graded stakes each year in 2022-25.View the full article

A day before a scheduled March 19 federal court hearing over disputed assessment fees issued by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to Churchill Downs Inc., the parties offered sharply differing accounts explaining the financial impasse.View the full article

In an effort to create greater opportunities for Florida-breds, the Florida HBPA will put up $2 million that will go toward both raising purses for Florida-breds and creating new stakes races for horses bred in the Sunshine State. Owners and trainers with Florida-breds will have their first opportunity to collect a portion of the $2 million Apr. 25 when six state-bred stakes races, each worth $100,000, will be offered on the Gulfstream card. The HBPA's decision to promote and fund Florida-bred stakes races comes after the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association  announced what it called the “unfortunate failure” to reach an agreement with Gulfstream Park and the Florida HBPA (FHBPA), which led to the cancellation of the traditional Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) series. The FTBOA shifted its focus to what it called a new $1-million Florida Sire Racing Incentive Program for 2026, which provides financial incentives to owners and breeders of FSS-eligible 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Thanks to the contribution from the Florida HBPA, Florida-bred 2-year-olds will still be able be to compete in lucrative races in the late summer and fall. On Sept. 5, there will be two $150,000 races, one for 2-year-old fillies and the other for 2-year-old colts. On Oct. 3, Florida-bred juveniles will compete in two races, each worth $250,000. Unlike the Florida Sires Stakes series, which were open only to horses who were by Florida-based sires, the HBPA races will be open to all horses considered Florida-breds. There will be 12 HBPA-funded races under this format. In addition, after the current “Championship Meet” is over, purses for Florida-bred maidens will see an increase. Races for 2-year-old Florida-bred maidens will go from $53,000 to $65,000. The purses for maidens that are 3-years-old or older will jump from $43,000 to $65,000. “We're trying to do what we can to make the Florida-breds more prominent,” said Florida HBPA President Tom Cannell. “For the folks with Florida-breds, we want to give them a place to race and to make it worthwhile for them. We hope that will keep some of the folks here rather than having them travel for the summer. Maybe some of the folks from Tampa who generally trek north will have more opportunities to run with us in the summer.” Cannell said the timing was right to get the message out about the increased purses. “We want to get the word out because the first 2-year-old sale is in the books, but we still have the OBS April and OBS June sales coming up,” he said. “There will be great opportunities for people who want to pick up Florida-bred 2-year-olds.” Amid efforts by Gulfstream to have legislation passed that would no longer require it to hold live racing in order to keep its slots operation going, a process known as decoupling, the horsemen and Gulfstream announced in December that a three-year agreement had been reached that guaranteed that racing would continue at the South Florida track through, at least, 2028. “With that new contract in place, we are trying to fill some holes to make it more attractive for people to race in Florida,” Cannell said. Cannell said his group is contemplating other options that would help bolster South Florida racing and purses at Gulfstream. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We're going to do everything we can to upgrade the entire racing program purse-wise. We may not be able to get to the levels they have in Kentucky, but we're going to try to be as competitive as we can for people who want to race in this part of the country.” The post Florida HBPA to Contribute $2 million to Supplement Purses for Florida-breds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lets see a 27 quarter to really fire them up at least. Any horse can put a series of 30sec quarters together. Not fast at all. Are you saying the House team are backing the Robertson Team? 😂

Pin Oak Stud looks for a second Kentucky Derby (G1) horse with Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) entry Chaos Agent. View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Take A Breath in California. Santa Ana Glory For Bated Breath Filly Take A Breath (Bated Breath) dropped her nose on the line to capture the GIII Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 15 (video). Bred by Highgate Stud, the four-year-old filly is raced by Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners. A 135,000gns buy-back out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the Mark Glatt trainee was formerly trained by William Haggas, and she signed off her European career with a victory at Beverley for Deborah James. She is also a full-sister to GII Dance Smartly Stakes heroine Breath Away and GIII Wilshire Stakes victress Simply Breathless. Her half-sister Serious Notions (Advertise) was third in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes. The quartet are out of the winning Nayef mare Darling Grace, herself a daughter of the stakes winner and multiple group-placed Lady Grace (Orpen). Take A Breath is also kin to G1 Falmouth Stakes winner Giofra (Dansili). Juddmonte's Bated Breath, who stands for £5,000 this year, has sired 24 winners from 35 runners (69%) in the U.S. His stakes scorers from runners there number 12 (34%) with five graded winners among them. Wootton Bassett Filly Strikes In New Orleans Bal Mar Equine's Wooten Warrior (Wootton Bassett) dead-heated for first at Fair Grounds on March 14 (video). Bred by the Awhile Syndicate, she is trained by Al Stall, Jr. The €250,000 Arqana August yearling buy, a daughter of Awhile (War Front), was making her fourth lifetime start. Wooten Warrior is the first foal for her dam, who also has a two-year-old filly by St Mark's Basilica who cost €300,000 at the 2025 edition of that sale to Hurworth Bloodstock and a yearling colt by Frankel. Awhile is a full-sister to stakes winner and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas/G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third So Wonderful (War Front). The second and third dams, Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and All Too Beautiful (Sadler's Wells), were each stakes winners who also placed in the G1 Oaks. Coolmore's much-lamented late sire Wootton Bassett has 27 winners from 57 runners (47%) in the States. His eight stakes winners include a trio of Grade I scorers, all three Breeders' Cup winners. Repeat Winners Accent won for the third time in as many starts at Tampa Bay on March 11 (video). The Pinatubo filly is trained by Chad Brown for Jeffrey Drown. Graham Grace Stable's Mary's Lad (Earthlight) won for the second time in six starts when prevailing at Tampa Bay Downs on March 13 (video). Trained by Whit Beckman, the four-year-old gelding came from off the pace to win by a neck. The post Making Waves: Take A Breath Shines In Arcadia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner  After being the toast of the south just six days ago, Matthew Williamson and Brett Gray will be out to add to their success at Gore today. Williamson and Gray combined to produce Miki’s Deal for a stunning win in the Group 2 Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes at Alexandra Park last week. The filly raced three wide and parked for the entirety of the feature event in what was a tenacious effort in her first start in the north. Williamson is hoping for a little more luck in running with his chances at Gore on Thursday after he and Miki’s Deal were handed no favours from their barrier 8 draw last week. “It was a bit ugly, but the filly was outstanding – she dug in and showed how good she is.” “Hopefully, we don’t have to do quite as much work on Thursday, they don’t all have the motor she does.” Williamson and Gray link up with one runner on Thursday in Haley Jaccka, who starts in a heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series. The mare brings a mixture of form to a race she measures up well in. “She’s raced in harder mares races than that so she should be a handy chance if we get any luck from the draw (7),” Williamson said.  Williamson lines up four horses from his own stable on Thursday, including first starter The Dancer. The filly is set to start favourite after impressing in her recent trials. “She is a handy filly with a good future,” Williamson said. “I have been really happy with her trials and if she can handle everything with it being her first start, she should be a nice chance.” Pyramid Rose looks another key chance for the Williamson stable on Thursday. The mare is one-from-one at Gore, having won there in December. “It’s a suitable race for her with the handicaps but manners will be key.” “She can do things wrong like she did last start, but if she does everything right she should be right in it.” Williamson also links up with Always Dreaming for his brother Nathan in Thursday’s Hunter Handicap. After producing excellent form in recent cup races, the pacer looks well placed for another good effort. “He’s in great form and he’s got good manners, Nath has made a few wee changes with him and he should be a good each way chance.” The Gray stable lines up a team of eight at Gore with plenty of each-way chances among them. Havtimewillfly will step up in grade in Thursday’s finale following a powerful last start win at Ascot Park. Williamson looking forward to race-day return  By Jonny Turner It’s just like riding a bike. That is the approach Nathan Williamson is taking to the resumption of his driving career at Gore on Thursday. After passing all of his medical tests with flying colours, Williamson was back at the workouts last week for the first time since his shocking spill at Alexandra Park in December. From the sidelines, it looked like the leading southern trainer-driver had barely been out of the cart. Williamson confirmed that it very much felt that way. “To be honest, it was great just to be out there doing it again.” “Probably the only thing was I wasn’t using my own helmet, which felt a bit different, but as far as everything else went it was pretty much just another day at the workouts.” Williamson has eight drives confirmed for the Wyndham Harness Racing Club’s meeting at Gore on Thursday. The reinsman wasn’t keen on a full book for his return and is happy with what he is calling a manageable number. While there is plenty of chatter among his peers and harness racing fans about his return, including some commentary on how quickly he is making it back from such a serious incident, Williamson himself is taking a low-key approach. “There is a lot of interest in Thursday and it has been pretty humbling all of the messages and support we have had all the way through.” “I have been feeling really good and really, I am just focusing on getting out there and getting back into it without getting too caught up in the build-up.” “All of the medical people I’ve been dealing with have all told me these things affect everyone differently “Things were serious in the beginning, but I am lucky that I haven’t had the issues that many people have to worry about.” “I am hoping that once we get underway on Thursday it will be just another day at the races and I can’t see why it won’t be.” There is a touch of irony about who Williamson rates his best winning chance on Thursday. While he has been sidelined, brother Matthew has taken the reins behind Always Dreaming and the pair will be out to continue their great combination. With race fitness on his side, the pacer looks as good as any winning chance from Williamson’s strong team of six. “He’s been going great and he’s had the racing, whereas most of my ones at Gore are having their first runs back.” “He’s got good manners, he’s going well and he should run a nice race.” Williamson is using the same logic when assessing the best hope among the horses he is driving. “Rise Up N Dance has been in good form and he’s freshened up nicely since his last run at Cromwell.” “We have a nice team in and I expect them to run well, but he is one that’s had racing and should be right there from his good draw.” Williamson takes two outside drives on Thursday, both for the Brett Gray stable. The driver’s last win came in Gray’s colours with Flashpoint at Wingatui on December 7.     View the full article