Woodville was like other venues was certainly a gone burger or on the menu to go. Worse still this mess continues to erode the little faith the industry has in NZTR who are looking more and more foolish by the day over their inept planning and incompetence. I don't know anyone in the industry apart from @Chief Stipe who has any faith in them any more. A bunch of newbies who will take a lot of time to come to grips with the industry as well, a lot of time the industry doesn't have.

Halo, an AI-powered equine performance predictor and insurance platform, will launch this autumn. Its insurance capabilities have been developed in conjunction with reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter, and underwriter, Markel. Halo is designed to integrate real-time predictive analytics with embedded, flexible cover to deliver protection that matches the way the industry operates, offering micro-duration policies tailored to owners, syndicates and buyers. Policies include Race-Day Cover, insuring a horse for a single race, from when it leaves the yard until its safe return – or even just from the parade ring to the finishing post. Fall of Hammer Cover is also available, providing instant protection from the moment a yearling is purchased in the sales ring until it arrives securely at its new yard. Underpinning Halo is Hailey, a GPT-based AI agent built exclusively for Halo users. Powered entirely by data, Hailey can provide sales, breedin and race-planning recommendations. Neil Sands, founder of Halo, said, “This is about reinventing equine insurance and ownership for the modern era. Through our work with Guy Carpenter and Markel, we're introducing products that match the way horses are actually bought, sold and raced. “Whether it's protecting a yearling the instant the hammer falls or covering a horse only for the few minutes it's on track, Halo delivers immediate, intelligent cover – and Hailey ensures those decisions are guided by the best data available.” Juliet Redfern, Markel's divisional managing director – equine & livestock, added, “The combination of artificial intelligence and equine insurance has the potential to transform how horses are valued and protected. We are delighted to be supporting Halo as it brings a new dimension of transparency and innovation to the market.” The global equine insurance market is currently estimated at around £450-475 million (€510-540 million) in 2023 and forecast to reach £1.3-1.5 billion (€1.5-1.7 billion) by 2031-33. The platform will launch in the UK and Ireland this autumn, with expansion into Europe, APAC and North America planned for 2026. The post Halo AI and Markel Launch New Platform for Equine Insurance and Performance Prediction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6 races is doing well for Cambridge, buf yes as it stands everyone gets a drive but any scratching and it won't, I imagine if they don't get a drive they must just average out their points. And galah I think Methven havnt lost a day, it's just gone from Friday.

Maybe the real issue is is that Awapuni when it's wet is just simply a wet shitehole, and probably always will be, which means that despite all the hairbrain ideas about closing many tracks down and shifting the load onto supposedly better tracks as in centralisation is just bullshit, maybe Awapuni and Hastings may be fine but just not able to take the workload these knowalls would want, so in theory closing many tracks just ain't practical in reality. Ascot Park in recent times seems to be a lot better than it was in the past, but it only races 7 times a season, there may be the reason,and just imagine how different it might be if Gore and Riverton were moved there,  we need to stop trying to follow everything they do in aussie and realise it's colder and wetter in NZ  mostly so Messaras ideas might work in aus but not really worth a pinch of shit here. How much easier is it for the Harness guys with mostly all weather tracks?

A week out from the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett). The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022. This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented at Flemington, with Royal Supremacy (Make Believe) and Vauban (Galiway) both set to join Al Riffa in the Melbourne Cup line-up, but at this stage it is O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner who is giving his connections most to get excited about. “He was the obvious horse and wasn't hard to find,” Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett said of Al Riffa's purchase, prior to his impressive victory in September's G1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh. “He's a high-quality horse in any era, I think, and for us it was an obvious choice – we were delighted to secure him. We had to give a good few quid for him, but he is certainly a horse you normally can't get your hands on. “Joseph has been delighted with the way he has travelled over. He's accustomed to travelling, but this would be the furthest he's ever had to travel, so you are always a little bit guarded. But I believe he has settled in beautifully and we're really excited. “The [Irish] St Leger win probably cemented our opinion of him, but he was already a highly-credentialled horse. But that brutally-run 2,800-metre race at the Curragh proved that two miles will hold no fears for him around the flat deck at Flemington. “I'd love to get a drop of rain for him, like most horses, but I think, if he turns up on the day in the same vein of form as he did at the Curragh, it's fair to say he will be more than competitive.” O'Brien is also bidding for a third win in the Melbourne Cup after those of Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. Already the youngest trainer to win Australia's most prestigious prize, O'Brien could also surpass Dermot Weld to become Ireland's most successful handler in the marathon event if Al Riffa or stablemate Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock) can deliver next week. “We're really enjoying being in Joseph's yard and his communication has been fantastic,” Lovett said of Australian Bloodstock's association with the County Kilkenny-based trainer. “He's held in the highest esteem by Australians. The amount of trainers who have tried unsuccessfully [to win the Melbourne Cup] and to think that at such a young age he has won it twice, it's fair play to him. “He's got a great record everywhere, but to bring two horses down to Melbourne and win the Cup is incredible really.” Meanwhile, another dual Melbourne Cup winner will be doing the steering on Al Riffa, namely Mark Zahra, who was successful aboard the aforementioned Gold Trip, before repeating the dose the following year courtesy of Without A Fight. Zahra replaces newly-crowned Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa in all but four of his 15 career starts. “We've had a lot of luck with Mark,” Lovett added. “A lot of the owners involved in this horse, he rides their horses and he rides a lot of our horses, so it made sense. “I don't enjoy doing something like this and, obviously, Dylan has got a great affinity with the horse and has ridden him fantastically. But it's a long way to come for one ride, so it just made sense to use Mark. “Going forward, there will hopefully be plenty of opportunities for Dylan to ride for us.” The post Confidence Building in Al Riffa Camp as Melbourne Cup Looms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Johannes (Nyquist–Cuyathy, by Congrats), the winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile as well as five other graded stakes on the turf, will begin his stallion career at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., following a final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, the farm announced Tuesday. The 5-year-old enters this year's Breeders' Cup with nine wins in 15 starts and earnings in excess of $1.2 million. Of those nine wins, eight wins have come in stakes company, and six were against graded stakes competition. A nine-length maiden special weight winner sprinting 6 furlongs in 1:08.47 as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita Park, Johannes then kicked off his sophomore campaign with dominant victories in the Baffle Stakes and the Pasadena Stakes, also at Santa Anita. Johannes, a homebred for Joe and Debby McCloskey, started his four-year-old season with a breakthrough graded victory in the GIII American Stakes at Santa Anita Park, running the mile in 1:32.08. From there, he posted Beyer Speed Figures of 100 or greater in six of his next seven starts, beginning with a victory in the GI Shoemaker Mile, his first Grade I effort. Johannes would go on to win five of six starts that year, adding the GII Eddie Read Stakes, GII City of Hope Mile Stakes, and GII San Gabriel Stakes. His only defeat that season came in the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he was by three-quarters of a length, tying a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Johannes comes into this year's Breeders' Cup Mile having once again secured a “Win and You're In” berth by virtue of his victory in the City of Hope Mile with a 100 Beyer. He has won races at six furlongs in 1:08.47, 6 ½ furlongs in 1:13.07, one mile in 1:32.08, and 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.50. “When I think of Johannes, instant acceleration comes to mind,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains for the McCloskeys. “He is a superior miler that has sprint speed as well as a wicked finishing kick. He moves like a cat and has a fantastic disposition around the barn. He's a trainer's dream.” The Kentucky-bred Johannes is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Congrats mare Cuyathy, who has produced four winners from four foals to race. The McCloskeys bought Cuyathy, their first horse, for $50,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Johannes has given us the journey of a lifetime,” said Joe McCloskey. “He possesses the heart and determination that is rare, and we were so blessed to have watched him grow into a phenomenal racehorse. We will miss seeing him in training, but we can't wait to see how beautiful and fast his babies will be.” Cuyathy's produce also includes the multiple stakes winner Sea Dancer (Mastery) and stakes-placed Sea Runner (Gun Runner), as well as Soaring Angel (Knicks Go), who broke her maiden on debut at Del Mar in July. Cuyathy is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Join in the Dance, as well as the dam of Grade II winner Elm Drive and stakes winner Mother of Dragons. “Johannes is a very talented horse that has been on our radar for a while now,” said Claiborne's President Walker Hancock. “His father Nyquist has proven to be an elite sire, but he doesn't have a son standing in Kentucky yet, which makes Johannes that much more appealing. He is a beautifully made horse with a strong pedigree.  His dam is by Congrats, his second dam is by Devil's Bag and his third dam is by Danzig, so he has Claiborne genetics all throughout his page. The McCloskeys are wonderful people that operate in an old school breed-to-race way that resonates with us. It's a great fit and we couldn't be more excited to debut Johannes alongside Mindframe. I think breeders are going to love what these two new studs have to offer.” The post Grade I Winner Johannes to Stand at Claiborne Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

And now there are eight. Four more trotters and pacers have been announced for the two big Show day slot races at Addington Raceway on Friday, November 14. Habibti Pat (Habibi Inta) and Rogue Hero (Ford Contracting) will join Tarragindi and Meant To Be in the field for the Majestic Horsefloats THE ASCENT while Fate Awaits (Solid Earth Pty Ltd) and Greased Lightnin (Diane Reilly) are the two latest additions to the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY  alongside Got The Chocolates and Marketplace. Habibti Pat is a filly in form having won two of her last three starts and seven overall while Rogue Hero has only had eight starts for three wins for the Ford/Tomlinson team. In THE VELOCITY Fate Awaits and Greased Lightnin give the race its first Australian involvement. Fate Awaits is owned by Kevin Seymour/Solid Earth Pty and trained by Grant Dixon, the same combination that is associated with superstar pacer Leap To Fame. The Always B Miki colt has a lifetime record of nine wins from 23 starts and is a multiple Group 1 winner across the Tasman. Hugely successful Australian owner Diane Reilly has secured Greased Lightnin. It’s her second involvement in the race, after having Renegade in 2024. View the full article

The withdrawal of the two Keayangs has seen a reshuffle in this week’s rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion trot, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The firm favourite in the TAB market Keayang Zahara was withdrawn from the race by her Victorian trainers Margaret and Paddy Lee last week, as was stablemate Keayang Chucky. That has seen their stablemate Jilliby Ballerini go from seventh to sixth, the Greg and Ben Hope-trained Mr Love move up two places to seventh after his third in Monday’s Tactical Landing Ashburton Trotters Sprint and stablemate Midnight Dash improve two places to eighth. Making an even bigger jump up the rankings is Maui. Trained by David McCormick and driven by son Lawrence, the Peak seven-year-old is now 13th, up from 18th last week, following his fifth behind Muscle Mountain and co at Ashburton on Monday. After winning at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday Gus has also jumped up three places to ninth. Third in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, won so impressively by Republican Party on Monday, Akuta has improved two spots in the rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup. Pinseeker finished just behind Akuta and that has seen him now at 12th, up six places. The Team Dunn (Diamond Racing) pair of Dalton Shard and Who’s Delight have both been withdrawn. With Dalton Shard previously ranked at 14 that pushes Vessem into the cut-off for the field at 15th. The final rankings for both the Dominion and the Cup will be done following next Monday’s Kaikoura Cup meeting. To see the latest rankings click here         View the full article

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), in conjunction with the Racing Integrity Board (RIB), has today confirmed that all trials and race meetings at the RACE Awapuni track will cease for the remainder of 2025, as RACE Inc. and NZTR work towards a long-term plan for the sustainability of the track. NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the decision followed extensive efforts to restore the track and careful consideration of its impact on participants.  “NZTR acknowledges that the remediation process for the RACE Awapuni surface has placed a significant strain on our Central Districts participants and the wider industry. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, with horse and rider safety being paramount.” “Our team, the RIB, and the Club, with the support of independent experts and international advisors, have worked tirelessly in recent months, and we share the disappointment felt by many. “Despite these efforts, the surface has not consistently met the standard required to confidently host full race meetings during what is an incredibly busy period for our sport,” Ballesty said. Track consultant Liam O’Keeffe said the decision followed careful assessment of the track during recent trials and gallops. “Following recent trials and gallops at Awapuni, it’s evident that further, more aggressive renovation work is required to bring the surface up to the standard the industry needs. At the same time, we’re progressing a wider investigation into the track’s long-term suitability,” O’Keeffe said. As a result, the trials originally scheduled for Thursday 30 October at RACE Awapuni have been cancelled, with a replacement trial meeting set to be held at Woodville Racecourse on Monday 3 November. Nominations will close at 12 pm on Friday 31 October. NZTR acknowledges there will be date and programming changes as a result of the pause in racing at RACE Awapuni, including a revised racing programme to find new locations for the meetings scheduled for 14 November, 20 December, and 26 December.  View the full article