Wandering Eyes

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are excited about the future with regally-bred colt King’s English after he broke through for his maiden win in impressive fashion at Te Aroha on Wednesday. A son of Snitzel, King’s English is out of dual Group One winner English, who also placed on four occasions at elite-level, including a runner-up performance in the Golden Slipper (1200m). He was purchased at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Te Akau principal David Ellis for A$700,000 and made a good impression at the trials as a juvenile, winning and finishing runner-up in his two heats. He placed in two this season before making his debut at Taupo in September where he finished third over 1200m before returning to the same track a month later to post the same result over 1100m. Punters took note and backed him into $1.60 favouritism for Wednesday’s Diprose Miller Maiden 1150, and he duly delivered. Jockey Craig Grylls was positive out of the gates, sending King’s English forward from his wide alley in search of the lead, but I’ll Be Home Soon punched up on the inside to maintain his advantage on the rail. The pair went head-to-head and opened up several lengths on the rest of the field. They held that advantage heading into the home straight, and while I’ll Be Home Soon began to tire, King’s English continued his forward momentum and kicked clear to win by 5-3/4 lengths. Co-trainer Sam Bergerson was pleased with the dominant performance. “He was electric,” he said. “We thought they had gone pretty hard early, and obviously the other leader weakened off, but he kept going right through the line and he is just going from strength-to-strength this horse. “A bit of time between runs he was feeling very well and it was good to see him put in a performance like that. “He is putting on a bit of weight and he is certainly going the right way as we head into some nice races potentially for him. “It’s an exciting time for the ownership group and hopefully he can go on with it.” Grylls was just as impressed with the colt’s performance, and he believes King’s English has a bright future in-store. “He was impressive,” Grylls said. “It was pretty easy. He travelled really nice and had a very nice kick on him today. He definitely franked that form today (of his first two runs) and he is going to be one that goes on with it too. “He’s a really well-bred colt, is a good mover and a nice horse in general.” View the full article

Twelve months since the start of a frustrating run of Group One seconds in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m), Te Awamutu mare La Crique is ready to go one better in next week’s Trentham feature. That close second was the first in a frustrating and almost unbelievable sequence of runner-up placings at Group One level. All five starts since last December have been at racing’s highest level and every one of them has produced the same result. The most recent was her half-length second to Waitak in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa in late September, and on Wednesday at Te Aroha the benefit of the time she has been allowed since was clear to see. In a solo gallop between races, La Crique was timed to run 1000m in 1:00.91s and the last 600m in 35.14s. Minutes earlier fellow top-class mare Legarto had recorded 1:03.44s in an 1100m black-type trial, with the final 600m in 32.55s. “That was just right, not too much pressure and it should bring her on nicely,” said Katrina Alexander, who trains La Crique with her husband Simon. “The time she’s had to herself was good for her, she’s carrying good condition and I would go so far as to say that she’s finally matured.” Even with all those placings, which can be added to by another two Group One seconds in the 2022 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the 2023 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), the now seven-year-old has still won nine of her 23 starts, headed by the 2022 Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and 2024 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) for stakes of more than $2 million. La Crique was ridden at Te Aroha by Masa Hashizume, who will be in the saddle for the first time on raceday at Trentham next week. “Masa has been coming down regularly to ride trackwork for us, which is something we really appreciate,” Alexander said.. “He’s been very obliging and we’re pleased to see how well he’s getting on with the mare, so we’re looking forward to getting them together on raceday.” View the full article

Shaune Ritchie caught up with Gareth to discuss what winning the Jericho means to him as he looks to do it again this Sunday with Tempest Moon. LISTEN HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/shaune-ritchie-on-giddy-up-26-11-25/id1542139858?i=1000738433825 View the full article

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is hoping for some significant rain ahead of the Zipping Classic at Caulfield. The rain that fell at acceptance time on Wednesday for the Caulfield meeting was music to the ears of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable. The Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) on Saturday is the contest the Price and Kent Jnr stable have picked out for Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking). The problem is the stayer has a terrible record on dry ground and is far better performed when there is some give. The track was posted in the good category when acceptances were declared on Wednesday morning, just as a heavy rain band descended on Melbourne. There is some rain forecast for the remainder of the week, but how much effect that will have on the Caulfield track remains to be seen. “He hasn’t won for a while and he’s had something like 20 starts on good ground, for no result,” Price said. “He needs to get his toe in. It’s a $750,000 race and he did run in a $1 million race three starts ago, so I’ll probably send him around because he’s in good order.” Hezashocka collected $45,000 when he finished last in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield last month before finding the firm track against him in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 29. At his most recent outing on his preferred soft ground, Hezashocka found the trip too far when a fading sixth in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week. Hezashocka’s last victory came on a soft track in Brisbane in June last year. A field of 14 stayers is set to contest the Zipping Classic on Saturday, named after the horse that won the race on four consecutive occasions at Sandown from 2007 through to 2010. Among Hezashocka’s rivals on Saturday include Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines), Alenquer (Adlerflug), Brayden Star (Twilight Son), Star Vega (Lope de Vega) and She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High). Price said if Hezashocka runs well on Saturday then the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on December 13 could come under consideration. The trainer has noted the Pakenham surface had been retaining moisture in recent meetings. “It has been a wet track and racing like a heavy track, so that would suit him,” Price said. “But by the time he gets to it, it might firm up a bit.” View the full article

Ken and Bev Kelsos’ millionaire duo of Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) are well on target for further major assignments as the feature summer racing period looms. An easy trial win at Te Aroha on Wednesday has confirmed that Legarto is ready to resume her career in the Gr. 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday week. The six-year-old, already credited with stake-earnings of more than $2 million, has been off the scene since finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa in late September. That race was to be followed by the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on October 18, however, Legarto was withdrawn due to a niggling hoof problem resulting from constant wet spring ground. It has since been a game of patience for connections, however, she has turned the corner with an exhibition gallop at Tauranga last week, further good trackwork and a trial hit-out to now be ready to race again. In Wednesday’s 1100m black-type trial ahead of the Te Aroha race meeting, Legarto set a leisurely pace from fellow Group One winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and was under no pressure from rider Vinnie Colgan to score by 3-1/2 lengths. “That was good to see, more like her old self, and she was in no hurry to pull up,” Ken Kelso said. “She had a hood on for the first time today and I’m pretty sure it will stay on when she races. “We have the option of the TAB Mile at Trentham or the Cal Isuzu (Gr.2, 1600m) a week later at Te Rapa, but at this stage she’ll be heading to Trentham. “The obvious attraction is it’s a Group One and the trip away on top will be a better platform ahead of the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m), which is her Christmas target.” Legarto’s bold trial forced a rejig of the futures market for the TAB Mile, from $4.50 equal favourite with La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) to now be the outright favourite at $4. Legarto will be bidding for her first win since a fresh-up victory last February in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata. The Kelso stable’s other millionaire earner, Alabama Lass, has also received the green light for summer features after making good progress since her return from a two-race Melbourne spring campaign. Having won at Flemington on a hit-and-run mission in her final three-year-old appearance last autumn, Alabama Lass returned to Melbourne in September for a fresh-up second in the Gr. 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), followed by a sub-par performance in the Gr. 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m). “That really had us scratching our heads, so once we got her home and back in work we decided to run a battery of tests to see if we could identify any sort of a problem,” Kelso said. “The vet report has come back all clear, her scopes and everything are good, so we can start making plans. “It looks as though she’ll go into the Railway first-up, so now it’s a matter of working back from the Karaka Millions meeting in late January, probably with trial earlier in the month and maybe an exhibition gallop somewhere. “She’s up to three-quarter-pace at home and has really furnished and bulked up.” Alabama Lass is the $4 equal favourite for the Gr. 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) alongside star three-year-old filly Well Written (Written Tycoon). Under the race’s set weight and penalty conditions, she will carry 54 kilos, and Kelso has already had tentative discussions with Melbourne lightweight jockey Craig Williams. “Craig knows her well from her Melbourne races and he’s keen to stick with her, so we’ll keep in touch,” he said. View the full article

With a last-to-first rally, Kentucky shipper Brotha Keny wore down his fatigued 3-year-old rivals to post a half-length victory in the $300,000 Zia Park Derby on Land of Enchantment Day, Nov. 25, at Zia Park in eastern New Mexico.View the full article

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray took out the 2023 edition of the A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool with Nassak Diamond (Roc de Cambes), and on Sunday they will be seeking to usurp their former stable runner in the marathon feature with Tempest Moon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). Ritchie is in Australia with the daughter of Turn Me Loose, who like Nassak Diamond, carries the familiar silks of owner The Oaks Stud. The Cambridge trainer is excited to be back in Warrnambool and said the city gets in behind the race that honours past servicemen. “It is a fantastic week here,” Ritchie said. “They have the light infantry go through town and when Nassak Diamond won, Colm, Rick (Williams, The Oaks Stud general manager) and I all got a kick out of it because they play the last post, there are 8,000 people on course and nobody says a word, it is eery. They really show a lot of respect to their returned serviceman, as do we. “It is a unique race being three miles and when Nassak Diamond won it two years ago I wasn’t sure if there was another lap to go or not. “It is nice to come over here with a New Zealand-trained horse again and have another go.” The five-year-old mare has won just one of her 13 starts to date, but Ritchie believes she will lap up the marathon distance and has taken heart from her last two runs, where she was fourth at Taupo over 2600m before finishing runner-up to I’m A Dirty Rascal (NZ) (Galileo) in the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton. “She profiles as the right style of horse, she wanted to go another lap again after the winning post at Riccarton and at Taupo in her last couple of starts,” Ritchie said. While confident in his charge, Ritchie believes Nassak Diamond is the horse to beat in the race, having won over two miles earlier this month. “You are taking on a great deal of jumping style horses over here, but the one to beat might be The Oaks Stud’s other horse, Nassak Diamond, who is with Michelle and Paddy Payne now,” he said. “Either way, if The Oaks Stud win the race, we will be having a drink on a Sunday night.” A day prior back in New Zealand, the stable will welcome the return of another stayer, Group Two winner Mahrajaan (Kitten’s Joy) in the Gr.3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. The winner of the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) was set to contest last year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but those dreams were dashed after he was withdrawn on veterinary advice, and he wasn’t sighted publicly until a 1100m trial at Ellerslie last month where he finished third behind Group One winner Provence. Ritchie said the son of Kitten’s Joy has thrived during his hiatus from racing and he was rapt with his resuming trial. “It has been a long road back,” he said. “He now looks like an open sprinter, he has put natural muscle on. We have given him a lot of required time, most of it partly because he can’t handle wet ground.” Ritchie doesn’t expect his charge to be competitive over a mile this weekend but said it will help him progress towards some staying targets in the coming months. “I am looking forward to him getting back to the racetrack, but I will expect him to be uncompetitive in those first couple of runs that he has as he works up over those further distances,” Ritchie said. “He holds a nomination for the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), which he would need everything to go 100 percent right on fitness levels, but his main goal will be the Auckland Cup to try and do what he did last year.” Mahrajaan will be met on Saturday by stablemate Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel), who will be second-up after running fifth over 1400m at Tauranga earlier this month. “He had his first run a couple of weeks ago and he is working towards those summer cups,” Ritchie said. “Nereus is a lovely horse. He has won a couple of Cups for us and this is just a stepping stone. I am sure we will get him to 2000m in a race like the Awapuni Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2100m), which he has won before. “He didn’t really run the two miles out in the Wellington Cup, so we have stayed away from that extreme distance. Over 2000 to 2400m he will find his niche area right through the summer and autumn.” View the full article

Sarah Sharp Farish was deeply devoted to her family and to many causes she held dear, including preserving and enhancing the Gasparilla Island community on Florida's Gulf Coast and her family's Gasparilla Inn located there.View the full article

Ted Noffey, the presumptive champion 2-year-old male of 2024 after a 4-for-4 campaign that culminated with a victory in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, will take things "very easy" this month, trainer Todd Pletcher said.View the full article

PUBLISHER, CD-2nd, 11/20, 6 1/2f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-84 (2nd) (c, 3, American Pharoah–Indian Pride, by Proud Citizen) O-Gus King and the Estate of Brereton Jones. B-Brereton Jones (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Irad Ortiz Jr. This spring he was perhaps America's best-known maiden, finishing second in the GI Arkansas Derby to earn a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby starting gate. Nearly seven months later, he's still a maiden. Last week he was an odds-on runner-up in his return to maiden company, and now has been second, third or fourth in eight of his 11 starts–four of them in stakes races. CLAIRITA, CD-8th, 11/21, 1 1/16m (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-85 (f, 3, Gun Runner–Here Music, by Dehere) O-Rigney Racing. B-Lee and Cheryl Mauberret (Ky). T-Phil Bauer. J-Gabriel Saez. A decent enough third in her debut on dirt, she was entered for the turf–but perhaps Mother Nature did her a favor. On a very sloppy track she clearly handled well, she was head-and-head with two rivals at the 1/4 pole before splashing her final quarter in :24.65 and opening up by 12 lengths at the wire. CRISIS MANAGER, CD-2nd, 11/20, 6 1/2f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-88 (g, 3, Liam's Map–Wilburnmoney, by Wilburn) O-Highlander Training Center. B-The Elkstone Group (Md). T-Tom Amoss. J-Jose Ortiz. Highlander Training Center northeast of Dallas is known for its prowess in preparing young horses for others, but also has won 22 races in its own colors this year. Highlander owner Larry Hirsch signed the $190k yearling ticket for this 3-year-old, who has improved since his return from a seven-month break and took these wire-to-wire in the mud. THOUGHT CONTROL, GP-6th, 11/21, 5 1/2f Beyer Speed Figure-91 (c, 3, Gun Runner–In It for the Gold, by Speightstown) O-e5 Racing Thoroughbreds. B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Micah Husbands. Coming off the bench, both Thought Control and runner-up Viking Sun showed substantial–and improbable–improvement over their debuts. And they didn't look that visually impressive over Gulfstream's Tapeta. But the clock told a different tale: the 1:03.51 final time was nearly a full second faster than a 5 1/2-furlong race also on Tapeta a half-hour earlier for older fillies and mares who consistently run Beyers in the mid-70s. MAXIMUM BOURBON, CD-7th, 11/23, 6f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-94 (g, 3, Maximum Security–Unbridled Reward, by Warrior's Reward) O-Bourbon Lane Stable and Seidman Stables. B-Nicholas Lotz and Mr. and Mrs. Troy Reed (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Tyler Gaffalione. The 3-year-old finally made an appearance in late November after 18 published breezes, and made it count with a front-running 7 1/2-length romp. The $90k yearling buy earned $37,868 from the purse and was claimed for $50k, so while the original partnership didn't recoup its investment, at least it got a thrill. You can look for him at Fair Grounds; Joe Sharp trains him now. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made: Nov. 17-23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GISW and nationally ranked fourth-crop sire Collected (City Zip) will highlight Rancho San Miguel's 2025 Open House & Stallion Show to be held Saturday, December 6. The free event will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with all regional Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and enthusiasts invited to attend. Collected recently arrived at the San Luis Obispo County farm from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, which is partnering with Rancho San Miguel and prominent California breeder/owner Marsha Naify to stand the 12-year-old son of City Zip for a $7,500 fee in 2026. From his first four crops to race, the 2017 GI Pacific Classic Stakes winner has sired 20 stakes winners, including seven graded stakes winners, with cumulative progeny earnings of more than $18 million. He enters the California stallion ranks with 2025 progeny earnings of $6.4 million to date. Also making his Rancho San Miguel debut is GISW and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Eight Rings (Empire Maker), whose first foals will be 2-year-olds in 2026. Promising young stallions Bolden, Brickyard Ride and The Street Fighter and veteran sires Cyclotron, Editorial, Mo Forza, Niagara Falls, Northern Causeway, Sir Prancealot (Ire) and Uptown Rythem also will be paraded. Participants will be treated to a catered lunch, as well as opportunities for giveaways, door prizes and stallion season raffles. The farm also will offer several horses of mixed age for inspection and sale, including broodmares, weanlings and yearlings. “This year, we are especially proud and excited to open our doors to members of the California breeding and racing community,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “We plan on having some old-fashioned holiday fun while showcasing our diverse group of stallions and sharing our enthusiasm for the future of our state's industry at this crucial point in time.” Reservations for the event are being accepted at (805) 467-3847 and teri.ransanmig@gmail.com. The post Collected Highlights Upcoming Rancho San Miguel Open House And Stallion Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kretz Racing's Cabo Spirit will try to secure the third grade 2 win of his career and his fifth graded stakes score overall when he faces an expected eight other rivals in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) Nov. 29 at Del Mar.View the full article

News last week about the loss of this year's GIII Bob Hope Stakes after receiving just three entrants–all from the Bob Baffert stable–wasn't exactly a shock. But is it a canary in the coal mine concerning the health of California's horse inventory? Not on its own. It is, however, one among a flock of important indicators. Growing attention has been spent on the implications from the consolidation of top bloodstock between fewer and fewer stables, with many observing how a greater distribution of horses among more stables would help the trainers, the sport's ledgers, and in many ways the horses themselves. Expanding upon this idea, economists would agree how one major indicator of a healthy racing marketplace is a good cross-section of trainers–spanning the large, medium and small barns–all thriving in a way that makes the entire product competitive and appealing to the bettor. As we approach the last month of 2025, enough time has passed since the closure of Pleasanton this March–and with it a racing circuit in the North of the state–to gauge the health of a key section of California's racing product, which is those trainers from the North. How important are they to California? “A horse in the North, and horsemen in the North, [are] as valuable as any horse or horseman in the South, regardless of the price tag,” said president of The Stronach Group's 1/ST business, Aidan Butler, at a California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting a year ago, arguing how a system that didn't involve direct competition would be in the best long-term interests of the state's racing. Using a California Thoroughbred Trainers' (CTT) evaluation of the fate of these former Northern-based stables since the closure of Pleasanton, as well as earnings and starts statistics available on Equibase, however, three main trends materialize indicating these stables have really struggled to find their footing under this system. A significant number of barns have currently left the state (12 in total). Another notable number of trainers have called it quits altogether (22). For the barns that have maintained a footprint in the state, the overall impression has been one of shrinkage–an average 50% decline in both earnings and starts, with only a few weeks left in the year to make up the deficit. Concurrently, this one-time infusion of horses south has proven a plus for the bottom half of the state. Last month, there were 269 more horses in SoCal than the corresponding month last year. Field sizes have understandably ticked up, including at the current Del Mar meet. But it's the state's SoCal barns which appear to have primarily benefited from this consolidation. Racing at Del Mar | Horsephotos Overall Numbers The TDN asked California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) to analyze the impact of the new California single circuit on trainers who were formerly based in Northern California. According to the CTT's analysis, there were 61 Northern California horsemen and women who were stabled at Pleasanton at some point during their final meet up until the facility closed to stabling in March. Of these: 13 trainers immediately retired or disbanded their stable entirely. Of the 27 trainers who relocated their entire string to Southern California, nearly all of them downsized. Four of these trainers subsequently closed down. During Emerald Downs' 2025 meet, three trainers split their stables between Santa Anita and the Washington track (and some of these horses returned to Southern California when the meet ended in September). 17 former NorCal trainers sent their entire string to Emerald Downs. When that meet ended, 11 of these 17 trainers moved their horses to Turf Paradise, while one trainer took their string to San Luis Rey in California. Five of these 17 trainers subsequently disbanded their strings entirely. There was one trainer who initially left 10 horses at Santa Anita and sent 40 horses to Texas. In June, however, that trainer took the 10 Santa Anita horses to Lone Star Park. When asked about the short and long-term implications from these numbers, CTT executive director Alan Balch said it is “especially difficult” to forecast the future. Santa Anita recently announced increased purses in selected categories to $70,000 for MSW and 1X Allowance for the upcoming Classic Meet, 50% of which are for Cal-breds. The Cal-bred maiden bonus will be increased from $10,000 to $12,500. “Santa Anita has just announced purse increases, which is positive. On the other hand, purses remain much higher elsewhere,” said Balch. “Perhaps the biggest and most critical unknown is this coming year's California population of two-year-olds, given the declining national foal crop, and particularly California's.” The Numbers Behind the Numbers Aidan Molinaro is the son of former Northern California-based trainer Kent Molinaro. He wore several hats at last year's Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton, including paddock host, handicapper and marketing officer. This past summer, Molinaro worked on the Wyoming racing circuit as a clocker and morning-line maker. He has a Master's degree in communications from St. Mary's College of California. Given his long roots in the north of the state, Molinaro was curious how the loss of a Northern racing circuit had impacted those horsemen and women he had grown up around. Using statistics available on Equibase, Molinaro sat down and compared the fates of 41 trainers based at Pleasanton last winter. Using earnings and starts data for these 41 stables, Molinaro found what he describes as a landscape of “massive earning declines, premature retirement, stable closures, and a restructuring of nearly every Northern California operation.” Mirroring Molinaro's approach, the TDN examined all the former NorCal stables that have kept a presence in California (as per the CTT's analysis), 27 trainers in total. This comprises all trainers that relocated their entire barns to Southern California; those trainers that split their stables between SoCal and Emerald Downs; and the one trainer who took his string to Emerald Downs but returned to SoCal when the Washington track closed for the year. Using Equibase, the TDN found the following trends (with the caveat there's still more than a month left of racing in Southern California): The average earnings of these 27 stables have dropped just over 50% this year over last. Last year, the average stable earning among these trainers was $558k. This year it's around $261k. The average number of starts these stables have made has also dropped around 50% this year over last–from an average 165 starts in 2024 to 81 so far this year. Taking into account potential earnings during the last few weeks of the year, 12 of these 27 trainers are on track to see both their annual starts and annual earnings drop over 50% comparing 2025 to 2024 figures. In terms of earnings, trainer Andy Mathis has arguably done the best of the larger barns, earning so far this year $874,896, a slight uptick over his total of $843,998 last year. SoCal-based trainer Bob Baffert | Horsephotos Horse Inventory Though the number of statewide race days this year is expected to be 155 as compared to 298 last year (a 48% decline), California's daytime Thoroughbred handle is down only 3% through October, which included one day of the Breeders' Cup (as per a report at the most recent California Horse Racing Board meeting). Using a comparative cross-section of trainers, however, the rewards of this consolidated system appear to have largely benefited those primarily Southern-based trainers. The TDN used Equibase to look at the top 20 trainers from Del Mar's 2024 summer meet (not including Eric Kruljac in this analysis, as he retired early in 2025, nor Todd Fincher, as he's primarily based elsewhere). Among these top 20 SoCal stables, there was just an 8% decrease in individual stable earnings–from an average of $4.09 million last year, to an average $3.77 million this year (with weeks left to run). We also see an average decrease in the number of starts among these 20 trainers of just 11% (from 319 last year to 282 this year). Looking at overall horse inventory numbers, it strongly appears that some of the horses formerly under the auspices of Northern-based trainers have been recirculated among their Southern-based compatriots. Referring to figures provided via a monthly analysis from Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), Balch said that horse numbers in California have understandably declined this year over last, given the loss of a racing calendar in the North. When looking at horse population totals on a month-by-month basis this year over last, the declines have shown ebbs and flows rather than proving uniform, Balch said, pointing to fluctuations from “younger horses arriving” and “trainers replacing older stock.” The smallest decline was a fall of 13% in January (comparing 2024 to 2025). Pleasanton didn't close its doors to Thoroughbreds until the end of March this year. August constituted the largest population drop of 24%. In the last available monthly totals, there were 2544 horses in Southern California in October, said Balch. This constitutes a drop of 17% in California as a whole from the corresponding month in 2024, when there were 2275 horses in Southern California and 778 in the North. Asked what he'd like to see come from his analysis, Molinaro said in the short term at least, fair racing dates should be granted next year to Ferndale and Fresno, to capture the horses from the Oregon fair circuit and from Emerald Downs respectively. “The California racing industry can return to statewide racing by integrating these two race meets, which have historically been very successful,” Molinaro wrote in an email. “I believe they will continue to be, if given the opportunity to race by the state of California's industry leaders and most important stakeholders,” he added. “Hopefully these raw numbers and facts will serve as a stark call to action.” The post By The Numbers: NorCal Barns Hit Hard From Consolidation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to a Group 1 trio. 16.30 Newcastle, £6,300, Nov, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Watership Down Stud's hitherto unraced FANCIULLA DEL WEST (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}) is kin to six black-type performers headed by Group 1 winners Awelmarduk (Ire) (Almutawakel {GB}), Jakkalberry (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}) and Crackerjack King (Ire) (Shamardal). The Ed Walker trainee is opposed by 15 in this low-key debut. The post Half-Sister To Group 1 Trio Set For Newcastle Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sarah Sharp Farish, the wife of Lane's End Farm owner Will Farish, passed away Monday, November 24, 2025 at home in Boca Grande, Florida. She was 83 years old. The following obituary was sent to the TDN Tuesday by the Farish family. “Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Sarah was the daughter of Mary and Bayard Sharp. In 1961, she married the love of her life, Will Farish, owner of Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky and former U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James. She is survived by her husband, her son Bill Farish (Kelley), daughters Mary Farish Johnston (Dennis) and Laura Farish Chadwick (John). Beloved daughter Hillary Farish Stratton preceded her mother in death. Sarah is also survived by 17 grandchildren and their spouses: Hunter Farish Johnston (Emily), Sarah Sharp Malloy (William), Maggie Miller Johnston, Ande Farish Day (Lincoln), Sammy Farish Rosenstein (Ross), Lulu Farish Pohanka (Jason), William S. Farish, III, Daisy Miller Farish, Robert Wood Farish, Coco Sharp Farish, Stormy Stokes Farish, Lilly Chadwick Poulson (Hundley) , Isabella Sharp Chadwick, Stanford Clark Stratton, Bayard Farish Stratton, Wilson Sharp Stratton and Jack Miller Stratton. Sarah was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren. Sarah brought her quiet elegance to every setting, from her family home at Kentucky's Lane's End Farm to the sparkling Court of St. James in London, England to her family's beloved Gasparilla Inn on Florida's Gulf Coast. Her life with Will Farish over their 63 years of marriage was marked by many adventures, from the weekends of quail hunting at the Lazy F Ranch to the thrills of Thoroughbred horse racing to serving their country in the diplomatic corps. In every facet of her life, she embodied strength, dignity and charm. Sarah was deeply devoted to her family and to the many causes that she held dear. She grew up spending time in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, where her father owned the historic Gasparilla Inn. She shared her father's love of the Inn and the Island community. For the past 22 years, she dedicated herself to preserving and enhancing that wonderful island and Inn property. She was a strong supporter of the Boca Grande Health Clinic, the Island School and the Boca Grande Preschool as well as many other organizations and island businesses. When Sarah took to something, she went all in. Among her many passions were golf (she was a multi-time club champion at the Idle Hour Country Club and the Gulfstream Golf Club), bird shooting, pottery, photography, gardening and flower arranging. She also cherished the companionship of many dogs over the years, including Max, Rosie, Charlie, Cotton, Slipper and Katie. Sarah Sharp Farish leaves an enduring legacy for her children and grandchildren, all of whom revere the extraordinary life that she lived. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Gasparilla Inn Employee Care Fund for the Relief Effort in Jamaica, PO Box 1088 Boca Grande, FL 33921. A special thank you for the extraordinary efforts of Dr. Bret Kueber and the health clinic staff, and to the home care team of Debbie, Logan, Nettie, Nicolette, Francine and Livette.” The post Sarah Sharp Farish, Wife Of Will Farish, Dies At 83 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article