Wandering Eyes

The Lambourn Open Day, a fixture in the racing calendar for more than three decades, returns in 2026, celebrating Lambourn's role at the heart of the sport whilst raising vital funds for charity. On the morning of Good Friday, April 3, over 20 of Lambourn's Flat and National Hunt trainers will open their doors to the public, offering a rare chance to step inside some of the country's most famous yards. Leading names such as Nicky Henderson, Archie Watson, Clive Cox, Ed Walker, Jamie Osborne, Jamie Snowden and Richard Hughes will be among those welcoming visitors, with Nick Scholfield also set to open his yard for the first time. Following the morning yard visits, the focus switches to the main showground for a full afternoon programme designed to appeal to all ages. Racing legend John Francome has been appointed a Patron of Lambourn Open Day for 2026 and will be in attendance on the day, taking part in the afternoon events. Highlights for 2026 include Celebrity Show Jumping, the ever-popular Shetland Grand National, Schooling with Top Jockeys and the Windsor Clive International Parade of Equine Heroes, alongside a range of additional displays, trade stands and family entertainment. The Outside Chance Beer Tent will be open from midday in the afternoon events field. All profits from the day go towards supporting Lambourn, with the majority donated to the Lambourn Valley Housing Trust, which works for the welfare of Lambourn stable staff, alongside contributions to other local facilities and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which provides critical emergency support to the area. Mark Smyly, chairman of Lambourn Open Day, said, “Lambourn Open Day is always a special occasion for the sport and for everyone connected to the area. It gives racing fans the chance to see how these yards work on a daily basis, meet the horses and the people behind them, and enjoy a brilliant day out. With top-class yards open in the morning and a packed afternoon programme, there really is something for everyone, of all ages.” Tickets for Lambourn Open Day are on sale now, with full event information available on the website. The post ‘A Special Occasion for the Sport’ – Lambourn Open Day Returns in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Lindsay Park stable is confident the Blue Diamond Stakes aspirations of two-year-old Eurocanto (Per Incanto) are back on track. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained two-year-old was sent back to the trials after being withdrawn from the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on January 24. Eurocanto played up in the gates that day and was scratched at the barriers. The colt required a veterinary clearance to be cleared to race again after the vets on race day deemed Eurocanto lame in the near foreleg, while stewards ordered the two-year-old to trial their satisfaction in a jump-out. That jump-out occurred last Friday at Flemington with Eurocanto finishing second in an 800m heat behind the Don’t Hope Do. J D Hayes said the stable was relieved to see their Blue Diamond hope back at the races with the two-year-old down to run at Caulfield on Saturday in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m). Hayes said in an ideal world Eurocanto would be heading into Victoria’s premier two-year-old race, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21, at his third run for the campaign. But Hayes said the stable was buoyed by the way Eurocanto performed last Friday. “He trialled really well against the older horses, and he’ll be taking his place,” Hayes said. “He’s back on track and I thought it was a good trial. “He passed with flying colours, and he was on his best behaviour and hopefully he stays that way.” Eurocanto has raced just once previously winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) at Flemington last October. In preparation for what was hoped to be his first-up outing on January 24, Eurocanto had two jump-outs, finishing third at Flemington on January 2 before scoring at Werribee on January 16. “I don’t think he will be lacking anything for fitness on Saturday,” Hayes said. Eurocanto will be the sole starter in the colts and gelding’s division of the Prelude for Lindsay Park with the stable accepting with Jacaranda, Medicinal and Portinari in the fillies’ division. Jacaranda has also been accepted with in the Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday with all three fillies looking to join both Eurocanto and Torture in the Blue Diamond on February 21. View the full article

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Knobelas will tackle 2000m for the first time when she contests the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The four-year-old daughter of Belardo is back campaigning in her country of birth and was unlucky not to have snared more of the $1 million prizemoney on offer when third in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie just under a fortnight ago. On that occasion Knobelas finished third to Tuxedo and Hinekaha, the latter whom she meets again on Saturday. “We think we probably should have won,” Kent Jnr said. “We spoke pre-race about the Ellerslie track. It’s a tight corner, if you have to cut the corner and then come out that’s a good thing but she was already on the outside so I didn’t see the reason why we had to go back inside looking for runs. “She got held up, got out late and she was good to the line, so I’m sure she’s class-wise up to these gallopers on Saturday. “She’s a very progressive mare but the big unknown is 2000m, but this is certainly a good chance to find out. “We’re very hopeful she does get the 2000m, but you never know until you try it. She’s certainly had the right preparation and she’ll be fifth-up on Saturday. “We’ve got a good jockey in Daniel Stackhouse and a good barrier (two). Daniel’s a prolific winner over here, he’s looking for his first Group One, and it’d be nice if we could supply him with that.” Knobelas is a $3.60 second favourite behind fellow Australian raider Kingswood ($2.50), who won the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day. Kent Jnr said it is a short turnaround from the Aotearoa Classic to the Herbie Dyke, but Knobelas has prepared well. “She’s staying at Lance Noble’s place at the Cambridge Stud facility at Karaka,” he said. “I’ve not seen a better facility in my time worldwide, it’s outstanding, we’re very lucky and she’s thrived there. In fact she’s eaten better there than she has back here at home at Cranbourne, she’s done so well, so we’re very fortunate. “She’s had the racing required to get out to 2000m and she’s not a robust mare, you don’t want to be shoving too many hard gallops into her and she’s naturally athletic. “She goes in to Saturday in 100 percent order and we are very happy with her.” Kent Jnr said he and training partner Mick Price were yet to plan beyond Saturday for Knobelas, who races in the colours of OTI Racing, with the Australian syndicators having a growing presence in New Zealand. “We are taking it run by run and she’s pencilled in for a flight back home on Wednesday, but I suppose if things went really well or you got desperately close there is that option to go back to a mile for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) or there is the Bonecrusher (Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes, 2000m) in four weeks,” Kent Jnr said. “We haven’t discussed it honestly. It’s run by run with her and hopefully we’ve got a good problem on our hands on Saturday afternoon.” View the full article

Porter on PedigreesView the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1View the full article

A yearling colt by G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago topped the one-day Tattersalls Ireland Winter Flat and National Hunt Stale at Fairyhouse on Tuesday. Sold as lot 72 from Monroe Stables, the bay son of Regal Empress (Presenting) brought €42,000 from Gerry Aherne bidding on behalf of his family's Prospect Stables. A half-brother to Grade 2 hurdle winner Kazansky (Milan) who was runner-up in a Grade 1 on Monday, the colt is also a half-brother to the multiple graded-placed hurdler Knockanard Lady (Fame and Glory). His dam is a half- or full-brother to six black-type horses, four of the stakes winners led by Grade 1 scorers Wrath Of Titans (Oscar) and Thunder And Roses (Presenting). “He will be re-offered as a three-year-old, I really loved him; he has a great pedigree, and he is by a stallion who we think is going to be very exciting,” said Aherne. “Hopefully, when we resell, the pedigree will have done a bit more again, and the stallion will have done what we are expecting him to do.” “He comes from good breeders, we have bought out of the pedigree before and it is a family that just keeps on giving. This colt was due to be sold at the November National Hunt Sale, but was injured at the last minute and had to be withdrawn – we saw him and liked him then.” Second on the buyers' sheet was lot 25, a son of Jeu St Eloi out of the dual winner Innisfree Beauty (Yeats), who went to Adam Potts of BBA Ireland for €36,000. The dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 chase winner Galvin (Gold Well), and the colt was sold by Galbertstown Stables, the sale's leading consignor. Said Potts, “I am not too sure what his plan will be, but if he were to be reoffered as a store at the Derby Sale, I am sure he would stack up very well. “I saw all the colts this morning, and he was the one who stood out for me; I thought he was one of the nicest models – he has plenty of size and is light on his feet. “He has a good pedigree being out of a half-sister to Galvin and by Jeu St Eloi, who is producing the goods, and he is the first by the sire that I have bought.” The day's highest priced filly was a chestnut by Nirvana Du Berlais and christened Luna Of Glain (lot 97). She caught the eye of Timmy Hillman for €30,000 from the draft of Galbertstown. The dam won twice over hurdles and is a half-sister to the G3 Swinton Hurdle winner Joe Jo Star (Piccolo), as well as Group 3 hero Venturi (Danehill Dancer). “She is by a top stallion, has a pedigree with a bit of class and she is a good sort,” said Hillman after purchase. A total of 67 lots sold from 146 offered (46%) for a gross of €727,800. The average was €10,863 (+2%) and the median was €6,500 (-13%). Tattersalls Ireland's CEO Simon Kerins said, “The sales calendar got underway today with the Winter Flat & National Hunt Sale. Trade was selective as was evident with the clearance rate, however there was good demand for particular types. It was pleasing to see some Eastern European presence, purchasing at least six lots, however it would be remiss to say it wasn't challenging at a certain level of the market. “Attention now turns to inspections for the Derby Sale, with our aim to assemble the strongest possible catalogue in June. The Tattersalls Ireland bloodstock team look forward to meeting store vendors over the coming weeks.” The post Santiago Yearling Colt Tops The Tattersalls Ireland Winter Flat And NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

El Vencedor has been given the green light to defend his title in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The reigning Horse of the Year, who completed a Group One weight-for-age hat-trick last autumn, has won just one of his seven starts this season and serious doubts about his future were raised when he faded badly to finish eighth in last Saturday’s Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. At the time his trainer Stephen Marsh said that El Vencedor would back up in the Herbie Dyke Stakes only if he was “120 percent” happy with him, and on Wednesday morning he reported that after extensive tests and other observations, he will take his place. “We went over him with every possible test and we can find absolutely nothing wrong with him; his blood and heart and everything else are fine,” Marsh said. “He went out to the beach at Raglan this morning and just enjoyed himself, he looks bright and well and to be frank we can’t find any reason why he shouldn’t run. “Opie (Bosson) said he was just too laid back on Saturday, so we’ve decided to take the ear muffs off and see if that makes a difference. Wiremu (Pinn) has ridden him a lot, so we’ll go back to the tried and true there. “If there was any doubt about his soundness we wouldn’t be running, but if he was to run poorly again we would probably pull stumps and even consider retiring him. “He’s been a wonderful horse who owes us nothing, so we’ll see what happens at Te Rapa and take it from there.” Marsh will be double-handed in Saturday’s second weight-for-age feature, the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), with the highest rated horse in his stable, Provence, and three-race winner Tardelli. “Provence had to run at Ellerslie to get to Te Rapa and the way the race was run she had no chance, but she’s very well,” he said. “A mile is her pet distance and we’re targeting the Otaki Classic and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes with her, but at 1400 with good tempo I could still see her running into it. “George Rooke will stay with her and Jonathan Riddell is on Tardelli. He’s only lightly raced and he was great over 1200 with that fourth in the Railway. “He’ll love the step up in distance and he’s a big strong colt, so the weight-for-age conditions shouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage.” At Tauranga on Thursday, Marsh will have a keen eye on his resuming three-year-old Magic Carpet, the winner of the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas in October and lining up in Rating 75 1400m company off the back off a trial placing at Pukekohe. The Satono Aladdin colt holds a nomination for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby, but Marsh rates him a better prospect for the NZB Kiwi on the same Champions Day card at Ellerslie in a month’s time. “I would have preferred to run him in his own age-group but they scrapped the three-year-old race at Tauranga. If he runs well we’ll definitely look at the Kiwi with him.” Marsh, runner-up to the powerful Te Akau stable in the last six seasons and currently a closest ever 13 wins behind the Mark Walker/Sam Bergerson partnership with 56 wins versus 69, reports that his headline act Well Written is making all the right moves in the countdown to the NZB Kiwi. “She’s perfect,” he said succinctly. “Matt (Cartwright) came in a cantered her around this morning and everything is good with her. “She looks a picture and is getting that freshness back in her legs. We won’t have to do too much with her, maybe a trip to Ellerslie on the 21st (of February) for a breeze around, so we’re in a good place with her.” Well Written, who extended her unbeaten sequence to five with a facile win in the Listed Karaka Millions 3YO 12 days ago, remains the $1.20 favourite for the $4 million slot race on March 7. View the full article

International representation included 37 horses from Japan, led by Godolphin's Pyromancer. Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher led all trainers with 31 nominees, followed by Bob Baffert (23), Chad Brown (22), Brad Cox (21), and Daisuke Takayanagi (14).View the full article

As expected, House Bill 881, which aims to decouple Thoroughbred racing and gaming licenses in Florida, passed its second committee Feb. 3 when the Commerce Committee voted for it to proceed.View the full article

Potente, a $2.4 million yearling purchase, breaks his maiden on debut Jan. 31 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

Charles Sniffen, who got his training license in 1968 and for the past 20 years has been assistant trainer for Ferris Allen, has been selected as the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Backstretch Worker of the Year for 2025.View the full article

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Committee approves Keeneland's request for $6 million to $6.25 million in Kentucky-breds funds.View the full article

Turfway Park will shift its Feb. 4-5 live racing cards to afternoon programs with a 1 p.m. ET first post in response to single-digit wind chills expected during the evening hours.View the full article

As expected, House Bill 881—which aims to decouple Thoroughbred racing and gaming licenses in Florida—passed its second committee Feb. 3 when the Commerce Committee voted it to proceed.View the full article

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.View the full article