The Sunday Racing silks were carried to a famous one-two at Nakayama on Sunday, but not in the order expected as Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) toppled the unbeaten Croix du Nord (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) to claim the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). It was a blistering performance from Museum Mile as he lowered the course record for the 2,000-metre distance at Nakayama in a time of 1:57.00, passing the post with a length and a half to spare over fan favourite Croix du Nord, with another neck back to the fast-finishing Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), the winner of February's G3 Kyodo News Hai. Only Giovanni (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) stood between the market leaders and a clean sweep of the first four places, finishing narrowly ahead of Satono Shining (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who was the second choice of punters after his win in February's G3 Kisaragi Sho. For Croix du Nord, the Japanese champion two-year-old colt of 2024, everything appeared to be going to plan when he surged to the front early in the straight, bidding for a fourth victory from as many starts, having ended his juvenile campaign with a first top-level success in December's Hopeful Stakes. However, he ultimately proved powerless to the challenge of Museum Mile, whose run was timed to perfection by Joao Moreira, the Brazilian-born jockey celebrating his second Classic triumph in as many weeks after that of Embroidery (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}) in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas). Settled in mid-division through the first part of the contest, Museum Mile swung wide turning for home and was never stronger than at the line after being produced to lead inside the final furlong. “When I sat on him this afternoon, I could feel that he's very special,” said Moreira. “He's got a very nice body and temperament. I thought this might be the horse to win. When we were turning for home, we were a bit unbalanced, maybe because the ground was not so smooth, but when I got him on the stretch he just dashed home. When he took the lead with 150 metres to go, he kept running away, showing me that he's got so much ability. It was so nice to ride this horse and I believe he's got plenty more to give.” Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi was winning his first Japanese Classic with a colt who was returning to Nakayama after a fourth-place finish in the G2 Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen over the same course and distance on his most recent outing. Prior to that he'd won two of his four starts as a juvenile, culminating with a runner-up effort in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto. Kyoto was also the scene of his two victories as a two-year-old, after he'd finished third on his debut at Chukyo in August last year. The Sunday Racing team will be hoping Museum Mile can now emulate their Orfevre (Jpn), who was the seventh winner of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2011, before Contrail (Jpn) became the eighth in 2020. The next leg of the Triple Crown, the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), is scheduled to take place at Tokyo on Sunday, June 1.     Pedigree Notes Museum Mile becomes the second individual Group 1 winner for Leontes, who is based at the Breeders Stallion Station in Hokkaido. The Japanese champion two-year-old colt of 2015, before posting one of his best efforts as a three-year-old when finishing fifth in the Satsuki Sho, Leontes is also responsible for last year's G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) winner T O Royal (Jpn). This colt is the first foal out of the Listed Sweet Pea Stakes runner-up Museum Hill (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who, in turn, is out of a half-sister to the G3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap hero King's Trail (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) and the Listed-placed Santa Fe Soleil (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}). His third dam, the winning Northern Taste mare Santa Fe Trail (Jpn), is a half-sister to Shinko Lovely (Caerleon), the one-time champion older mare in Japan.   Sunday, Nakayama, Japan SATSUKI SHO (JAPANESE 2000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥419,920,000, Nakayama, 4-20, 3yo, c/f, 2000mT, 1:57.00 (NTR), fm. 1–MUSEUM MILE (JPN), 123, c, 3, by Leontes (Jpn)       1st Dam: Museum Hill (Jpn) (SP-Jpn, $772,865), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)       2nd Dam: Loretto Chapel (Jpn), by French Deputy       3rd Dam: Santa Fe Trail (Jpn), by Northern Taste 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Daisuke Takayanagi; J-Joao Moreira; ¥227,924,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, ¥282,579,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Croix du Nord (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Rising Cross (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥87,984,000. 3–Masquerade Ball (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Duramente(Jpn)–Mask Off (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥53,992,000. Margins: 1HF, NK, HF. Odds: 10.60, 1.50, 13.70. Also Ran: Giovanni (Jpn), Satono Shining (Jpn), Magic Sands (Jpn), King Squall (Jpn), Alohi Alii (Jpn), Vincentio (Jpn), Kalamatianos (Jpn), Eri King (Jpn), Tjuta (Jpn), Nishino Agent (Jpn), G T Adamant (Jpn), Faust Rasen (Jpn), Fukuno Blue Lake (Jpn), Dragon Boost (Jpn), Piko Chan Black (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Museum Mile Leads Home Sunday Racing One-Two in Satsuki Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Heard from a trainer. Turned out theyd heard wrong yes. Still. Theyd be better of resigning. 5 mths later and nothing done at all - GRNZ still havent tried to get the public on board at all, just raising stakes for trainers. Planning a "legal" challenge against something thats legal for govt to do is beyond stupid and holds no weight at all. Bigger industries have been made illegal in the past.  May aswell just say the industries over amd time for everyone to either move to aus or retire from racing.

There were at least two senior jockeys interviewed after the Awapuni trials and their comments were very complimentary.  As for jockeys being in the best position to comment.  They may well be but very few ever walk a track before riding it and often there assessment is not as accurate as you may think. At best they may have an accurate opinion on how the trqcks feels while riding an individual horse but I cant see how they can have any accuarcy in opinions on how the track got to the condtition it may be in.  For example Kate Hercocks comments about the cause of the  Hawkes Bay Guuneas Day abandonment last September were well off the mark.

Top 3-year-olds Rodriguez and Baeza each had their final local works April 20 at Santa Anita Park prior to shipping to Churchill Downs.View the full article

After a 10-year absence, veteran jockey Martin Garcia is headed back to the Kentucky Derby (G1). He is set to ride Citizen Bull, last year's champion 2-year-old male, for trainer Bob Baffert in the 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs May 3.View the full article

Sounds like sanitised comments are what we are going to get from now on.  That's not really the Kiwi way but, with these rules around commenting as licence holders, and jockeys and trainers wanting to retain a living, that will be the new normal.

The rain will not be welcomed so close to Awapuni's return, certainly a test.

They've been racing at Fairmount Park, which opened its doors for business on Sept. 26, 1925, now for 100 years. For most of those years, the odds have been stacked against the little track in Collinsville, Illinois. Tracks without revenue from casinos and with a poor racing product usually don't last that long. But for all those years, Fairmount kept grinding away. For horsemen and track owners, it was a battle to survive. But survive they did and now Fairmount has a new lease on life and there are reasons to be optimistic about its future. “The horsemen that have remained here and have remained in the business are very strong and very loyal to our program,” said Jim Watkins, the president of the Illinois HBPA. “They've shown a lot of  stick-to-itiveness. They've been resilient and now they have been rewarded.” Year 100 begins Tuesday at Fairmount Park. The first change people will notice is that the name of the track has reverted to Fairmount Park. When owned by FanDuel, it was called FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, a cumbersome and awkward name that no one seemed to like. The name has been changed because FanDuel has sold the track to Accel Entertainment, the largest operator of video gaming terminals in Illinois. They may not have bought the place because they wanted to run a racetrack. They wanted a casino. But, according to Fairmount General Manager Vince Gabbert, Accel is dedicated to improving the racing side of the business and has earmarked $25 million for racetrack-related projects. Accel does not own any other racetracks. “I think they are bullish on racing in the right environment as a way to grow their portfolio,” said Gabbert, who comes from Keeneland, where he was the vice president of strategic initiatives and legislative affairs. Watkins has also been impressed by the Accel team. “The new ownership group is dedicated to, not only improving things when it comes to the casino, but also the horse racing end of the business,” he said. “Without question they care about racing. The leadership, they've been here since Day 1. They came here to evaluate things and left no stone unturned to see what can be improved. Then they ventured from coast to coast looking at other tracks and what they liked about them. They were especially pleased with Oaklawn. They said that they really liked how the gaming and racing are intertwined. In the permanent facility, they're looking to do something that will model Oaklawn Park.” A temporary casino that will be situated in the grandstand is close to opening. Gabbert said that after the meet ends in mid-November, work will begin on a permanent casino. At this meet, purses will remain small, about $100,000 a day. But Gabbert said that once the casino is up and running, purses should gradually reach the $250,000-a-day level. “I'm hoping that we stabilize at 50-60 race days a year,” he said. “I'd love to be at $250,000 a day in purses. We're just a tick above $100,000 now. So in five years, it's very feasible for us to be at $250,000 a day.” A total of $125,000 will be paid out in purses on opening day. One thing they won't have to worry about is the live handle. Fairmount is located about 10 miles from St. Louis. Despite the lower level of racing that it has been offering, Fairmount has always been supported by the local community. “It's really a testament to the community and our fan base,” Gabbert said when asked how Fairmount had survived as long as it has. “One of the things that really amazed me when I made my first trip here last fall was that I came on a Tuesday afternoon and there were probably 4,000 people here. There are some tracks that would kill to have that crowd on a Saturday afternoon. The fact that the fans and the locals were so supportive of this place is one more thing that gave me a real sense of optimism about its future.” Fairmount's new management team could easily sit back and watch the casino money roll in while ignoring racing. More often than not, that's how it works when a gaming company buys a racetrack. Scott Becker, the top trainer at Fairmount, doesn't see that happening. “The new group has come in and is willing to invest to make the product better,” he said. “We couldn't be happier. We need to build some more racing days, but right now we've got a pretty good band-aid on the product.” Gabbert is focused on improving the racing product and the fan experience. Among other things, he said he will look to build a turf course. He wants to put in fixed-odds wagering and to also work with Hawthorne and Canterbury Park to have a three-track circuit. “One of the great things about racing at this level is that it gives you the ability to try some stuff that you might not do at larger tracks,” Gabbert said. “Things I certainly wouldn't have tried or advocated for when I was at Keeneland. I would love to really push fixed odds. Especially in these more-educated and more-fervent markets, that people know they can get 7-1 on Thursday on a horse that will be 2-1 when the gates open is appealing to people. You do some things and if they work, everyone adopts them. If they don't, you scrap it and go to the next thing.” Fairmount will race on Tuesdays and Saturdays and the meet concludes Nov. 16. The highlight of the meet will be the Sept. 19 St. Louis Derby, which has a purse of $250,000. The post One Hundred Years In, the Best May be Yet to Come at Fairmount Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TAB Man, have you actually looked at all the nominees for the club awards, and their credentials? Looks like awards for awards sake. I have to agree re the NZTR CEO.  That position has certainly provided the industry with some "interesting" bods over the years.  An obvious Entain appointment, a hatchet man who is out of his depth even in that role.  Shall we run a book on how many weeks he stays in the job? Do you honestly think your question re Riverton was reasonable?  You seem to live in some deluded world.