Wandering Eyes

Elsdon Park was in the thick of the black-type action at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, with a winning double for the Matamata nursery. De Armas set the ball rolling with her stunning strike in the Listed Couties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Ardalio carried farm principal Lib Petagna’s colours to victory in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m). Both are by Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan, with Petagna enjoying a racing share in the stakes-winning son of Redoute’s Choice and has remained in the ownership group of the stallion. “We love him, he leaves a really good sort and we’ve done exceptionally well. Last year, we averaged about $120,000 from all our Ardrossans,” Elsdon General Manager Kerrie Cox said. “We supported him with some really nice mares and have been rewarded with not only good sales results, but horses that can really run.” Ardrossan was prepared for his domestic racing career by Stephen Marsh, and the Cambridge trainer is also the guiding hand behind the quality four-year-old Ardalio. She has now won half of her eight starts, with three at Group Three level, having previously landed the Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Ardalio is out of the Written Tycoon mare Bridgewater who was purchased for A$300,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Petagna’s behalf by agent Bruce Perry. “She’s got a Sword Of State colt at foot and he’s beautiful, tall and strong, and she’s got a yearling Per Incanto colt going to Sydney Easter,” Cox said. “I would say he’s in the top two of all the yearlings we have, he’s a magnificent looking horse and the mare has gone back to Per Incanto this year.” Bridgewater is out of a half-sister to the Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) winner Index Linked and to the dam of the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) winner Leicester, also Group placed in Hong Kong as Helene Leadingstar. “Ardalio isn’t an easy mare and has her quirks, but everyone seems to have worked her out now and she runs well fresh,” Cox said. “She’s coming home to the farm today (Monday) and will have a week out, the less human interaction the better for her and she likes to do her own thing. “Potentially, she could run fresh-up in the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m), that’s the plan at this point.” Ardalio’s juvenile brother and stablemate Raymond is also showing a good measure of the family ability. “He’s coming back here as well after trialling nicely last week, Stephen really rates him so we thought we’d give him a break now and bring him back for some later two-year-old races,” Cox said. Meanwhile, De Armas was purchased from Elsdon’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale draft by trainer and part-owner Johno Benner for $16,000. She was bred by Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner and is out of the Rip Van Winkle mare Regal Winks. De Armas was a debut winner on a heavy track at Otaki in September and her latest victory on top of the ground at Pukekohe has seen her elevated to $3.50 favouritism for the Karaka Millions 2YO Classic (1200m). “We bought the mare in foal to Ardrossan and the hope was that she would have a colt that we could sell at the Ready to Run or trade later, sometimes those fillies can be tougher to trade,” Cox said. “De Armas was a magnificent looking filly, we liked her all the way along, but when you’ve got a lot of horses around, they can’t all stay.” View the full article

The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) plays a vital role in safeguarding fairness and public confidence in New Zealand’s racing industry and we’re offering a unique opportunity to begin your career in racing integrity through our trainee steward positions. Stipendiary Stewards are at the heart of racing integrity — overseeing race days and ensuring every race is run safely, fairly and in line with the Rules of Racing. It’s a dynamic, hands-on role where every day brings something different. The position covers responsibilities across both thoroughbred and harness racing, with a particular focus on one code based on preference and experience. What you’ll do Be an active member of the stewarding team at race meetings across the region. Review and analyse races to ensure they are conducted fairly and in compliance with the Rules of Racing. Support wagering integrity processes through collaboration with betting analysts, including the assessment of race form and the analysis of race performance. Conduct inquiries and support decision-making where rules are breached or concerns arise. Engage with trainers, riders and officials to ensure racing is conducted safely and in line with regulatory requirements. Complete a range of non-race day work including stable, venue and track inspections and oversee trials, workouts and jump-outs. Undertake routine welfare checks, working alongside veterinarians and trainers to help ensure high standards of animal welfare are maintained. Assist with the delivery of our prohibited substance management program, including supporting the sampling process and assisting investigations as required. Who You Are You’re confident, fair-minded and able to make good decisions under pressure. You value integrity, animal welfare and fair competition. You have an interest in racing and ideally an interest in horse husbandry and/or wagering. You’re keen to learn and build your skills as you grow in the role. You work well in a team and communicate clearly with a wide range of people. You stay calm in challenging situations and can manage conflict professionally. You’re analytical, curious and able to interpret information objectively. You’re adaptable and comfortable working varied hours when required. You’ll benefit from full training and close mentoring from experienced Stewards, helping you build the capabilities needed for a successful career in racing integrity. Location The role will be based in the Waikato / Auckland region. This is a permanent fulltime role (40 hours per week). You will work to a roster, which will include evenings and weekends, based on when races are scheduled. Who we are The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) is a statutory body established under section 42 of the Racing Industry Act 2020, with a clear mandate to uphold integrity, animal welfare and professionalism across New Zealand’s racing industry. Our purpose — safe racing, fair racing and public confidence — guides our work across an industry that generates nearly 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs and contributes about $1.9 billion to New Zealand’s GDP annually. Why Join Us This is your opportunity to be part of the team that protects one of New Zealand’s most iconic and widely-supported sports — a sport deeply embedded in our culture. You’ll gain unique insight into racing operations and develop specialist skills that place you at the heart of racing. As a Stipendiary Steward, you’ll build strong capabilities in regulation, analysis and decision-making while playing a direct role in maintaining the integrity and reputation of New Zealand racing. This role offers far more than day-to-day duties — it’s a career grounded in purpose, continuous learning and challenge. The RIB provides a clear pathway for progression, ongoing development and the chance to make a meaningful difference to the sport and its participants. You’ll be part of a values-driven organisation committed to ensuring New Zealand racing is conducted safely, fairly, and with integrity. How to Apply If this sounds like your next step, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a short cover letter telling us why you’re interested in a career as a Stipendiary Steward to adele.holden@rib.org.nz. Click here for a copy of the Position Description. The post Stipendiary Steward Roles Available – Waikato / Auckland region appeared first on Racing Integrity Board. View the full article

It took every inch of the 1 3/8 miles, but Mrs. Astor got up in time to successfully defend her title in the $100,000 Red Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar Nov. 23.View the full article

8th-Del Mar, $61,500, Msw, 11-23, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.75, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. NIMAH (f, 2, Gun Runner–E. T. Indy, by A.P. Indy) went right to the front on this debut and led the pack through an opening quarter in :22.49 and four furlongs in :45.07. Clearing her inside rivals and challenged by Miss Watermelon (Cairo Prince) at the three-eighths pole, she was called on for more at the head of the lane to keep that rival at bay by 1 3/4 lengths. The victress is a half-sister to course record-setter My Indy (English Channel), SP, $221,804 and two other winners. Nimah, a $550,000 purchase last year at the FTSAUG sale, is the most recent to the races for E.T. Indy, who has since produced a yearling colt by Oxbow. The mare went to Elite Power for 2026. This is the immediate female family of Grade I winner Fantastic Look (Green Dancer), herself dam of GISW Designed for Luck (Rahy). Sales history: $550,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert. NIMAH ($3.40) held off Miss Watermelon in R8 at @DelMarRacing with @JJHernandezS19 in the irons. The daughter of @Three_Chimneys Gun Runner is trained by Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/i6aA5BhGSK — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 24, 2025 The post Gun Runner’s Nimah Graduates at First-Asking Against Del Mar Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Gulfstream Park's Sunshine Meet concluded Nov. 23 with Saffie Joseph Jr. earning his 14th consecutive track title as leading trainer while Edgard Zayas secured his 10th riding title.View the full article

Flavien Prat swept both stakes on the day when he guided favored Fast Market to victory in the rescheduled $175,000 Pebbles Stakes (G3T) Nov. 23 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on Boxing Day with a pair of their runners following their winning double at Pukekohe on Saturday. Progressive mare Sista Sugar opened the stable’s account on Saturday when taking out the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier (1400m) in the hands of jockey Masa Hashizume, improving on her first-up runner-up effort over 1200m at Ellerslie last month. “She got a beautiful trip. She is only small but she tries hard,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “She has matured a bit more as a four-year-old and she seems to be coming along nicely and racing with better manners.” The victory sealed her berth into the $110,000 Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) on Boxing Day, and Clotworthy is keen to pursue the riches on offer. “She will probably head towards that Stella Artois Final on Boxing Day,” he said. “She may have one run in-between, we are just working it out.” Stablemate Billy Blinx is also destined to head to the same meeting to contest the $125,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) following his victory in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (1600m) on Saturday. “He looks like quite a progressive horse. He has always shown us a lot, but he just hasn’t been mature enough,” Clotworthy said. The Byerley Park trainer rated the son of Shocking alongside his subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Willydoit in their formative years, and he is pleased the now four-year-old is starting to show that ability on raceday. “He was alongside Willydoit as a younger horse and I rated him with that horse in his work, so it’s nice to see him do it on the track,” he said. “We think that (Stayers’ Final) is where we will head with him. We will just see how he comes through the next couple of days and then make a plan.” Clotworthy was also pleased with Aftermath’s placing in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) on Saturday behind Final Return, which continued his solid run of form. The six-year-old gelding ran fourth in both the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) prior to Saturday’s run, and Clotworthy was rapt to finally attain black-type with the son of Rock ‘N’ Pop. “It was a good run,” he said. “He didn’t get the most economical trip, he jumped and got caught wide a bit but still hit the line nicely, so I was pleased with him.” Further Group targets await Aftermath over summer and Clotworthy is weighing up between a couple of options in the coming weeks. “We might look at the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m), we will decide on what to do in the next couple of days,” he said. “He might even have a bit of a freshen-up and look at something like the Rich Hill Mile (Gr.2, 1600m). We will play it by ear.” View the full article

“Champions Day” was a fitting moniker for a day that celebrated everything great about New Zealand racing – and the first meeting of New Zealand’s richest-ever raceday takes the spotlight in the 2025 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual. Headlined by New Zealand’s richest-ever race, the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), Champions Day featured a line-up of New Zealand’s most iconic races, the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), the Gr.1. Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). Like every major carnival through the racing calendar, Champions Day gets an in-depth review in the 2025 Racing Annual, the 52nd installment of this beloved almanac. Champions in every field are honoured along with fallen heroes from past days, among those a moving tribute to New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Michael Moroney, written by Dennis Ryan. A thoughtful, comprehensive commentary of the state of New Zealand racing and the changes that took place through the season leads into celebrating New Zealand’s latest Racing Hall of Fame inductees, reviews of the sales and breeding seasons, the jumps racing season and a broad statistical overview of the Group races. Edited for the fifth straight year by respected turf writer Aidan Rodley for Gold Plated Publishing, the 2025 Racing Annual features stunning photography, chiefly from Peter Rubery’s team at Race Images, superbly brought to life through the skill of design expert Ken Emery of Eye Design Creative Solutions. The 2025 Annual owes much to the support of Te Akau Racing, Cambridge Stud, New Zealand Bloodstock, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing and to the journalistic work of the team at LOVERACING.NZ News Desk. “We’re delighted with the way the 2025 Annual has come together,” Rodley said. “Champions Day was such a colourful, vibrant occasion, an amazing success story for New Zealand racing, so it’s fabulous to celebrate that as a focal point of this year’s Annual. “The beauty of the Annual is we’re able to honour racing’s highest achievers as a reference for future years – and this year we’re able to honour champion trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, champion jockey Craig Grylls, celebrate the life of Michael Moroney among other notable identities who died through the season, as well as lauding some of the greats of our sport with the Hall of Fame inductions of the likes of David Ellis, Imperatriz and Savabeel.” The 2025 New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual retails for $50 and is available for purchase at supporting bookstores or online at racingannual.co.nz. View the full article

Opting for Cambridge apprentice Sienna Brown as Spencer’s rider at Wanganui on Saturday wasn’t a difficult decision for the talented gelding’s connections. Brown was already familiar with Spencer from his time with Waverley trainer Erin Hocquard, having ridden him twice for a win and a third placing earlier in the season. Topweight of 62kg for the Manawatu ITM 1340m meant an apprentice claim was again called for the Derryn gelding in his first start for new trainers Peter and Shaun McKay. Brown’s four-kilo claim reduced Spencer’s impost to a still clear topweight, but it was sufficient for him to race to the lead at the top of the straight and win with his ears pricked by three-quarters of a length over the favourite Bedtime Story. Brown’s employer Chris Wood also trains for Spencer’s Taranaki owner-breeders Aidan and Kieran Schumacher, their best horse currently with him being last-start Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) placegetter Canheroc. Brown’s parents Tony and Nikki owned her career-first winner, the Hanna Orting-trained Hadid, who she rode to an all-the-way win at Tauranga in March. Adding further depth to her racing background, her late grandfather Barry Brown was a part-owner of the renowned iron horse Sir Slick, the winner of six Group One races amongst 22 wins during the mid to late-2000s. “I’m too young to remember Sir Slick when he was racing, but I’ve heard lots of stories about him and there’s heaps of photos of him at home winning all those races,” 19-year-old Brown said. “Mum and Dad also have a video when they put the camera on me after one of his wins and I was crying – I would have been two or three and with all the excitement it must have been too much for me. “Slick must have been such a good horse – imagine riding one like him?” Brown, who has now ridden seven winners from limited opportunities, including five of her 59 raceday mounts this season, is more than happy to settle for the likes of Spencer, who she understandably rates the best she has been associated with. “He’s such a cool horse, he literally knows his job,” she said. “He chills when he jumps out of the gates and then when you get to the 800 he just goes and does his own thing. “I went across to Matamata to ride him on Thursday morning and the way he felt I knew he was going to be hard to beat. “I’m really happy with how my career has been going; my new boss Chris Wood has been a big help. I just need to get braver ringing up for rides, but I’m sure that will come.” Meanwhile, plans for Spencer may include the Gr. 1 TAB Mufhasa Mile (1600m) at Trentham on December 7, the same day as his originally intended target, the Gr. 3 Spring Sprint (1400m). “It was good to see him perform so well on top of the ground after all his earlier wins had been on soft or heavy tracks,” Peter McKay said. “We’re still leaning towards the Spring Sprint, which he won when it was at Te Rapa last season, but we’d also be keen to see how strong the Group One mile might be. “He was rated 100 before winning on Saturday and I’ll have to talk to the handicapper about where he might have ended up, but he’s pushed himself up there and we might just have to look at weight-for-age racing.” View the full article

New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising continued his dominance on Sunday when defending his crown in the Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin. Fresh off returning back to Hong Kong following his heroics in last month’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, he wowed his local fans once again when running out an effortless 2-3/4 length victor and extended his unbeaten streak to 15. Jockey Zac Purton was pleased with his charge’s effort and said it was another confidence-boosting victory heading into next month’s Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). “He just looks better all the time. He’s mentally getting better. It’s hard to say that he’s improving or that he’s going to get better, but he’s certainly enjoying what he’s doing and handling it really well,” Purton said. “It was good to see him win like that today without having to go to the bottom of him, so it’s a nice confidence-boosting win as he comes back. I’ve never seen him look so good. We were hoping he was going to do that, and it’s good for him to back up what we were thinking. “Mid-race, Beauty Waves was probably just half a step too slow, I know we’ve run nearly a track record time, but he (Ka Ying Rising) was on his tippy toes behind him wanting to go quicker. That’s the beauty with this horse, the faster they go, the better he is. “I got to the stage where I had to let him roll into it because otherwise it was going to be detrimental to him.” Trainer David Hayes continues to be amazed by Ka Ying Rising and said Sunday’s effort was one of the best he has seen from the son of Shamexpress. “To the eye, I thought it was probably one of his best wins,” he said. “That was as easy as I’ve seen him do it – maybe in this race last year, but I thought it was probably better than this one last year when he (Purton) did the kiss cam. “Zac agreed with me. He thought he gave him probably the best feel in the last 15 (races), so that’s a great sign. He just showed us that he’s right on song. He raced at the heaviest Hong Kong weight (525kg) he’s ever been today, which suggests he’s getting bigger, stronger, better. “It’s just a dream come true to have a horse like this, and I really want to thank my team that travelled him overseas and didn’t miss a beat with him and brought him back in better condition than he left. “He’ll be set for The Everest now again and, of course, we’ve got the big international race in three weeks which is his short-term grand final, so it’s all very exciting.” Bred by Marton trainer Fraser Auret, and his wife Erin, under their Grandmoral Lodge banner, Ka Ying Rising was initially trained by the well-respected horseman for whom he won a jumpout at Levin. Following that performance, he was purchased by Linday Park and won a trial in Australia before joining David Hayes’ Hong Kong barn where he has won 16 of his 18 starts, including five at elite-level. View the full article

10th-Churchill Downs, $123,035, Msw, 11-23, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.34, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. MOB (c, 2, Gun Runner–Onslaught, by Street Sense), a $560,000 Keeneland September purchase for Flying Dutchmen last year, signaled his race readiness with 10 straight works since September at Churchill for trainer Brian Lynch. Facing a well-bred field which included a full-brother to MGISW Patch Adams (Into Mischief), Mob proved best on the day with a frontrunning score. Second choice at 5-1, the bay colt rushed to the front with Mumdoggie (Tiz the Law) glued to his flank. He threw down fractions of :22.16 and :45.30 as Mumdoggie continued to pressure from the outside. Mob put that one away in the stretch, drove clear, and held sway by 1 1/2 lengths as Boss Dylan (Liam's Map), who had completely missed the break and was last early, passed everyone else with an Arazi-like move on the turn and came flying late only to run out of room. Mob's dam is a full-sister to 2015 GI Las Virgenes Stakes winner Callback (Street Sense), while his third dam–a half to GISW Girolamo (A.P. Indy)–produced three graded winners, including 2010 GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon). Onslaught, Mob's unraced dam, has a yearling Not This Time filly who was a $325,000 RNA at Keeneland September. The mare's weanling is a colt by Munnings, while she was bred back to Constitution. Sales History: $560,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. Mob is a debut winner is in the @churchilldowns finale for trainer @blynchracing with @luissaezpty aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/rdrXDHuaSm — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 23, 2025 The post Gun Runner’s Mob Wins First Out at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saffie Joseph, Jr. earned his 14th consecutive trainer's title at Gulfstream Park when the track's Sunshine Meet concluded Sunday. Joseph recorded 30 wins at the meet. Jose D'Angelo was second in the trainer standings with 26 wins. “It never gets old,” Joseph said of the title. “Actually, like a month ago, we were down six or seven. I looked at it and said, 'We'll give it a go and see if it can work out.' The horses got in form, and it worked out. All the credit goes to the horses. All praise to God and the workers and the owners who give me the horses. I'm a small part of it.” Edgard Zayas was the meet's leading rider with 44 victories, earning his third Sunshine Meet title in five years and his 10th title overall at the Florida track. Miguel Vasquez was two behind Zayas. “It feels great. It's been a great year,” Zayas said. “We've been getting a lot of support from all the trainers, owners, my agent and family. It's nice to get it done again, especially right before the Championship Meet. It's a really important meet and it's nice to have that momentum.” Arindel was leading owner in money won while JC Racing Stable led all owners with eight wins. Gulfstream resumes racing Thursday with the opening day card of its Championship Meet. The meet will be highlighted by Pegasus World Cup Day Jan. 24 and the 75th running of the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 28. The post Joseph, Zayas Earn Gulfstream Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fast Market (f, 3, Volatile–Betty Draper, by Street Cry {Ire}) came flying late to win the GIII Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct Sunday. The bay filly took nine tries to break her maiden over the Aqueduct lawn in September, but came right back to just miss in graded company when runner-up in the Oct. 18 GII Sands Points Stakes. Sent off at 3-2 in the Pebbles, Fast Market settled near the back of a tightly bunched pack as Love You Anyway (Tapit) took the field through moderate fractions. Fast Market bullied her way between rivals while four wide at the top of the lane and was forced to pause briefly as the pacesetter drifted out at midstretch, but once she saw daylight, the favorite closed powerfully to win going away by two lengths. The time for the 1 1/16 miles over the lawn was 1:43.22. Lifetime Record: 11-2-3-1. O-Hit the Bid Racing Stable. B-Breed First LLC (Ky). T-John Terranova. Flavien Prat gets his fourth win today as FAST MARKET gets her first stakes win in the Grade 3 Pebbles Stakes for @JohnTerranova1. That concludes turf racing for 2025! pic.twitter.com/t1DLOej1z8 — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 23, 2025 The post Volatile’s Fast Market Makes the Grade in Pebbles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Can racing withstand the addition of yet another existential threat to the ever-expanding list of practices deemed harmful to our sport's health? Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive officer of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, warned last week that the rising wave of prediction markets should be met with a greater sense of urgency and should be getting more scrutiny from racetrack operators and regulators. “I'm growing more and more concerned about the prediction market companies, such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and others that are now offering bets on sports and, I believe, their intention is to do it on horse racing in the future,” Drazin said during the Nov. 19 New Jersey Racing Commission meeting. Prediction markets are similar to betting exchanges–even though those who operate them tend go to great lengths to get people to believe that users aren't technically “gambling” when they choose a side, stake money, have their proposition matched by an opposing, anonymous user, and then see their accounts either credited or debited based on the outcome of that event. Users trade contracts like they might on a commodities exchange, winning or losing money on the outcomes of games, races, sports league championships, elections and other yes/no types of propositions that they strike directly with other users instead of wagering against the house (like with sportsbooks) or against other bettors (like in a pari-mutuel market). The appeal for prediction market users is lower takeout or vigorish (instead, a small “trading fee” that might be as low as .5 to 2% gets extracted), and, as part of that equation, the prospect of more generous odds and being able to bet against an entity by backing it to lose. But at the same time, under current models, prediction markets aren't operating with explicit permission or broad licensing deals from any United States racing entities, meaning they aren't regulated at the state level (like racing and sports betting) and don't feed back revenue to the Thoroughbred industry to pay for purses. The Betfair exchange has for years accepted trades on American horse racing, and a quick Google search over the weekend for “horse racing prediction markets” turned up a London-based site called Smarkets that was offering buying and selling on every U.S. track running Nov. 22. Both Betfair and Smarkets prohibit U.S.-based users from opening accounts, but both sites (as well as a number of other offshore exchanges) are seeking ways to legally operate in America. “New Jersey has laws on sports betting and on racing,” said Drazin, an attorney who in 2018 successfully represented co-plaintiff New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in a longshot legal odyssey to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, paving the way for legalized sports betting. “And these companies are operating under the [federal] Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). They're not paying any taxes. There's no integrity regulation. And it's invading sports betting revenue that we currently receive.” As CFTC-licensed entities, sites like Kalshi and Polymarket can offer event contracts in all 50 states. Although Kalshi has yet to put up markets for horse racing, Polymarket had a volume of $1.2 million on its market for the 2025 GI Kentucky Derby. “One of these companies had a meeting with me,” Drazin said. “And the first slide they showed me was [the 2026 GI] Haskell [Stakes] coming up. And they want to offer a wager, 'Will the favorite win, yes or no?' And they don't believe they have to pay a host fee. They don't believe they have to compensate the tracks at all. “I believe, to the contrary, that this is controlled by the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). And I certainly will be in court if they try and offer a [Haskell] wager,” Drazin said. Earlier this year, the NBA, NFL and MLB (which each have official partnerships with sportsbooks) expressed written concerns to the CFTC about potential integrity issues regarding prediction markets. But not every sports league is intent on fighting the newcomers. On Oct. 22, the NHL announced multi-year licensing deals with Kalshi and Polymarket that will allow the companies to use the league's data and logos, similar to the league's contracts with its partnering sportsbooks. According to ESPN, the American Gaming Association (AGA), a casino trade group, characterized the NHL's actions as “deeply concerning” and described Kalshi and Polymarket as “backdoor gambling schemes masquerading as 'financial products.'” Drazin continued: “Without getting political, I think there are certain individuals, like Donald Trump Jr., that's on salary with Kalshi and an investor in Polymarket. And [President Trump] is making an appointment to the CFTC which will support this agenda… “But most of the action so far has been by the sports betting regulators,” Drazin said. “The New Jersey [Division of Gaming Enforcement] tried to stop them and they were unsuccessful. That's on appeal to the Third Circuit. Nevada tried to stop them. There was an injunction issued, and [on Nov. 16] Nevada's judge, hearing this issue, said he may reverse that injunction… “The California tribes filed an action. The Massachusetts attorney general filed a state court action. Maryland filed an action, [and] although they were successful in getting an injunction, then they made a deal, [that until] the Supreme Court decides it, they're going to let this continue… “The companies are getting very, very aggressive,” Drazin said. “There's been more and more going on as the days unroll. So now FanDuel and DraftKings have entered [the prediction] market. As a result of that, the AGA has asked them to leave, because they won't tolerate someone who's offering these wagers. “Nevada took away [FanDuel's] license. There are some states that are saying, 'If you enter the [prediction] market, you're not suitable to hold a license [for regulated sports betting] in our state,” Drazin said. “Some suggest that you need state laws that prevent [prediction market companies] from operating in your state [and] to give regulators the ability to criminalize it,” Drazin said. “But I'm not going to venture to say what New Jersey should do on that. I'll evaluate the issue. I think our attorney general is front-and-center in handling this. “But on the racing front, no one seems to sense the danger yet, because they say, 'We'll wait until it happens, and then we'll deal with it.'” Drazin said. “I think you have to be proactive with these things. I don't think you can wait until it happens, and then run to court,” Drazin said. “Ultimately, I think this is going to the United States Supreme Court. So it will [likely be decided] three or four years from now,” Drazin said. “But I'm firing a warning to everybody, not only in New Jersey, but in all the other states, that this is an issue that we're going to have to deal with or we're going to lose revenue,” Drazin said. The post The Week in Review: Drazin on Prediction Markets as Threat to Racing: ‘No One Seems to Sense the Danger Yet’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jantar Mantar confirmed his place atop the ranks of Japanese milers with a facile win in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 23 at Kyoto Racecourse.View the full article