Wandering Eyes

Prebbleton horsewoman Samantha Wynne will head south to Wingatui on Saturday where she will be trying to claim the lion’s share of the $200,000 prizemoney on offer in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) with Turf War (NZ) (War Decree). A dual license holder, Wynne both trains and rides the four-year-old gelding, with the pair securing their place in Saturday’s rich feature when victorious in the ODT Southern Mile Qualifying Race (1600m) at Riccarton last Friday. Wynne is looking forward to chasing the southern riches this weekend and said it is great South Island trainers have the big carrot of the final to chase over summer. “It’s very exciting for the owners. We didn’t think we would get a chance like this so it will be good to give it a crack,” Wynne said. “It is great to be racing for that kind of money in the South Island, especially further south, the South Island deserves it. “He went into last week’s race with a month between runs, so hopefully he naturally takes improvement from that. The back-up is going to be the question, but he seems to have pulled up great – so far so good.” Turf War has drawn gate 13 for Saturday’s contest, but Wynne said it may not be as bad as it looks. “At first, I wasn’t that impressed (by the draw) but it will be the second-to-last race of the day and he has great gate speed, so I am not too worried about the draw.” The Irish expat has been a familiar face in the jockeys’ room over the last decade, but is now enjoying extending her role in racing to the training ranks where she has posted seven wins over the last three seasons. “I have got nine in work at the moment and I truly enjoy it,” she said. “Having no family here, and having all day to yourself, it is not that nice, so the horses fill a big void and I love it.” Wynne said she tries to not feel the pressure of both training and riding Turf War and takes plenty of confidence in the hard work she has put into the horse. “I know I leave no stone unturned at home, so I have every confidence going out on them,” she said. Wynne has a full book of rides at Wingatui on Saturday and is particularly looking forward to partnering with the Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained Warning Signal (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m). “She is a lovely type of filly,” Wynne said. “I rode her in a trial way back and I really liked her then. I am delighted to throw my leg back over. She has great experience and has already won a couple of races, so we just need a little bit of luck.” View the full article

The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will attempt to make it back-to-back wins for the Kiwis in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. The three-year-old feature was won last year by the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), and trainer Michael Moroney is keen for the NZ suffix to feature prominently in this year’s result. Formerly in the care of Moroney’s New Zealand training partner Pam Gerard, where he raced as Pendragon, the son of U S Navy Flag had won three and placed in one of his seven starts in his homeland, including the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. He capped his New Zealand career with a runner-up performance behind Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in last month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), and Moroney is hoping his New Zealand form stands up across the Tasman. The Flemington trainer has been pleased with the way his charge has progressed since his jumpout at Werribee last week and is looking forward to him making his Australian debut this weekend. “He’s progressed well. We made the decision to get him over here earlier rather than later and give him a chance to settle in, so he’s been here around three weeks now and he’s settled into the environment really well,” Moroney said. “The jumpout was just what we planned for him, it’s worked out perfect. He did a little bit on Saturday, just by himself quietly, then he had a hit-out with Run Harry Run this morning. It was a decent hit-out, the strongest work they’ll do, and they both worked together lovely.” Moroney is hoping The Pendragon’s impeccable starting manners will be a big assist on Saturday. “He just flies the gates, probably as quick as I’ve seen for a while,” he said. “He puts himself on the speed and he keeps going, he’s a horse that can race up in the first three and he’s pretty tough. “It’s a Group One race, it’s never easy, it’s just hard to measure up the New Zealand form, but I’m pretty sure it’s pretty strong, so it’s going to make for a very interesting race.” The winner of Saturday’s contest will secure a golden ticket for the A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 16. “If they happen to win and get a nomination for it, we will be running, we’ll be taking our chance,” Moroney said. View the full article

Promising stayer Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) will have his second look at Ellerslie on Saturday before he returns to the Auckland track seven days later for the biggest test of his career, the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). The five-year-old gelding has been in fine form, winning three of his last eight starts, including the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day and the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at the same track on New Year’s Day. The son of Sweynesse was then freshened before running sixth in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month. Trainers Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley were pleased with his fresh-up performance and believe Saturday’s Vertical Logistics Nathans Memorial (2200m) will top him off nicely for his two-mile assignment. “It was a really good run (in the Avondale Cup),” Cooksley said. “He hadn’t raced in about seven weeks, and he only got beaten by two lengths when he came to the end of it a little bit towards the end. “He needs another run, so he will go around Saturday and he should be spot on for the Cup. Hopefully he is not too far away on Saturday, he has got a fair bit of weight (60kg) for him.” While Trust In You hasn’t been tested over further than 2400m, Cooksley doesn’t believe the 3200m of the Auckland Cup will be a concern for his charge. “I don’t think it will be, but you never know until you run it,” he said. “The way he races, he is quite a relaxed horse, he should go well in that.” Cooksley is also looking forward to lining up evergreen galloper Gino Severini (Fastnet Rock) in the inaugural running of the $350,000 Rangitoto Classic (1500m), an innovation race open to horses in the care of trainers outside of the top 10 in prizemoney as at 30 November, 2023. The 10-year-old gelding has been unplaced in his three starts since winning the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) last November, but Cooksley said he has shown plenty of improvement since his last run at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. “It is good prizemoney and it is great to have a runner in the race,” Cooksley said. “He has improved a lot from his last run, he had a little bit of a break, and he is very well. He has got a nice draw (2) so he should be there somewhere.” Stakes assignments could await Gino Severini following the weekend if he returns to form. “There are a couple of weight-for-age races for him, but we will just see how he comes through this one,” Cooksley said. The Byerley Park barn will also be represented by last start winner Son Of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock) in the SkyCity Horizon 1600. “A mile should suit him and he has a nice draw (6), so he should be there somewhere,” Cooksley said. View the full article

Six years after being bought for just $8,500 from New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale, Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) has retired with more than $330,000 in prize-money to her name and is being sold as a valuable broodmare proposition in the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com. Live Drama’s high-class career spanned six seasons, winning on debut as a juvenile in May of 2019 and placing at Group Three level as a seven-year-old in November. She had a total of 35 starts for nine wins, 12 placings and $332,340 in stakes for her big group of owners. Her best wins came in the Group Three South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and Listed Great Easter Handicap (1400m), while her eight black-type placings included the Group Three Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) and Stewards’ Stakes (1200m). “She’s been a great mare and I’m really proud of what she’s achieved on the track,” trainer and part-owner Lance Robinson said. “She’s been late-scratched at the gates the last two times we’ve taken her to the races, so we just felt that she might be showing us that she’s had enough of being a racehorse. She’s been so good to us, so the syndicate decided that the best thing to do by the horse was to bring an end to that stage of her career. “She’s done a fantastic job for us and far exceeded what we were expecting when we bought her for $8,500 as a yearling.” While her most prestigious win came over 1600 metres, Robinson was particularly struck by Live Drama’s performances in the South Island’s biggest sprints. “Probably the thing that stood out to me was those performances in the big sprints at Riccarton,” he said. “She ran second in two of them (2021 Stewards’ Stakes and 2021 Pegasus Stakes), just narrowly beaten both times, and then she was fifth in the Stewards’ in November – a huge performance carrying 57.5kg and being badly buffeted all the way. I thought that was probably one of the best performances of her career. “For her to run such big races in those major sprints, while also being a Group Three winner over 1600 metres, it just shows how versatile she was.” Live Drama is by White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines, who has proven to be a prolific source of racetrack success with 81 winners including six at stakes level. That list is headed by the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) hero Smokin’ Romans (NZ), along with Live Drama and the well-performed Palmetto (NZ) and Markus Aurelius (NZ). The dam of Live Drama is the three-race winner Sheeza Drama (NZ) (Pure Theatre), whose four foals to race have all been winners. She is a half-sister to the stakes-performed Stage Whisper (Rubiton), while another half-sister is the dam of stakes winner Cherry Creek (NZ) (Monashee Mountain) and granddam of Group Three winner Coulee (NZ) (Gallant Guru). More than a dozen Australian stakes winners feature further down the pedigree page. “I have no doubt that she’ll make a lovely broodmare for someone,” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to following her career and seeing how she goes. “The syndicate that raced her, none of them are really breeders, so we thought it was fairest for the owners and best for the horse if we sold her as a broodmare. That will give her every opportunity, which is what she really deserves. “We just hope a good stud or breeder buys her now and gives her those opportunities, and I have no doubt that she’ll do a fantastic job for them, like she did for us.” Live Drama headlines the latest gavelhouse.com fortnightly auction, which is now open for bidding with the first lot closing from 7pm (NZT) on Monday. View the full article

A memorable week for Wexford Stables has the potential to get even better at Ellerslie. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will have two runners in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) after securing a slot for $700,000 in next year’s inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Tuesday’s auction at Karaka. “Andrew and I and brother Paul went into it together and we thought from a marketing point of view it gives our owners an opportunity that not every other stable is going to get,” O’Sullivan said. “That was the price we thought the slots would go for so it’s pretty exciting.” Meanwhile, Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos) and Monday Melody (Snitzel) will chase Classic honours on Saturday for O’Sullivan and Scott, who are already enjoying a fine season with 41 winners on the board to sit equal third in the premiership. While the outstanding filly Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) dominates the Derby market, Wexford are confident their colts will do the stable proud. “Gate four for Mosinvader will help his chances and the other horse should get in somewhere from 11,” O’Sullivan said. “They are both very well and while it is hard to see the filly getting beaten, the mile and a-half can change the ball game. “The best thing for us is if they run it at pace, if they crawl around then I think the filly will brain them. If it is run at a decent clip, it gives the chance to take the sprint out of her. “It does look as if she will be too good and it wouldn’t surprise us if she won by five or six, and if they do canter around she will.” Vadamos’ son Mosinvader has impressed since stepping up in trip and finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) before he made ground to run fifth in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). “He’s progressed well with his fitness, education and confidence and certainly gone the right way since the Avondale Guineas,” Scott said. “He gives every indication in his racing and his work that he will stay well. “We couldn’t be happier with our two charges, they are healthy and sound and have coped well with the preps. They are going in as good as they can possibly be.” Mosinvader is out of the High Chaparral mare Devil’s Melody (NZ), whose dam is a half-sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Vapour Trail (NZ) (Jetball) while stablemate Monday Melody also has plenty of stamina in his pedigree. “He is from a very tough, rugged New Zealand family that gives us confidence he will also stay the strip,” Scott said. Monday Melody was sixth in the Waikato Guineas and finished midfield in the Avondale Guineas after racing wide throughout with no cover. “He lacked luck and he stayed on well considering the tough run he had. He actually ran the quickest last 200m so he was very game,” Scott said. Monday Melody is the first foal of the Frankel mare Flora De Mariposa, a daughter of the Gr.2 Counties Cup (2200m) winner Jeu De Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky) and the second dam Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized) won the Gr.1 Brisbane Cup (3200m) and the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m). The Prized mare also produced the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Nom Du Jeu. “The further he goes the better we think he will be. He’s a Snitzel bred to run 2000m and further and he’s looked like that all the way through,” O’Sullivan said. View the full article

Learning To Fly fought on hard to claim the Widden Stakes. The Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) for the three-year-old fillies is the second of two mouthwatering Group 1 clashes at Randwick this Saturday. The $750,000 contest has drawn a quality field of 13 runners, headed by the Annabel Neasham-trained Learning To Fly. After a sensational runner-up performance in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago, she is set to jump from barrier six as a +230 favourite with online bookmakers. The Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi won the Light Fingers and has opened on the second line of betting at +550 along with Tiz Invincible, who didn’t have much luck in the same race on resumption. Makerena (+550) comes through a different form-line after taking on the boys in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) and finishing runner-up. Having won the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) last preparation, Tropical Squall (+900) is set to resume for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn, while the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman camp has sent Roll On High (+1400) to Sydney for the first time. Another notable returner in this event comes from the Godolphin stable as Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Zardozi (+2200) gets set to kick off her autumn campaign. The Surround Stakes is race eight on the Randwick ticket and is scheduled to get underway at 4:35pm local time. Surround Stakes 2024 field 1. Tropical Squall (2) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 56kg F: x0213 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Prized Icon Dam: Squalls +750 +170 2. Zardozi (10) T: James Cummings J: Tom Marquand W: 56kg F: x1217 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: Chanderi (GB) +1500 +320 3. Kimochi (7) T: Gary Portelli J: Jason Collett W: 56kg F: 1×232 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Brave Smash (JPN) Dam: Summer Fun +550 +130 4. Learning To Fly (6) T: Annabel Neasham J: Chad Schofield W: 56kg F: 2xF11 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Justify (USA) Dam: Ennis Hill +250 -153.85 5. Tiz Invincible (5) T: Ciaron Maher J: James McDonald W: 56kg F: 6×961 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: I Am Invincible Dam: Amuletum (GB) +380 -105.26 6. Kristilli (8) T: Annabel Neasham J: Zac Lloyd W: 56kg F: 34×80 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Hellbent Dam: Sognani +1500 +320 7. Tutta La Vita (3) T: Chris Waller J: Tyler Schiller W: 56kg F: x4376 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Negotiate +2500 +500 8. Makarena (13) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Tim Clark W: 56kg F: 2×112 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Filly Sire: Snitzel Dam: Wecansay Mak +700 +160 9. Autumn Ballet (4) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Regan Bayliss W: 56kg F: 8×881 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Grisi +5000 +1000 10. Roll On High (11) T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman J: Billy Egan W: 56kg F: x1122 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Shamus Award Dam: All Highs On Me +1100 +250 11. Arctic Glamour (9) T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 56kg F: 7×561 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Frosted (USA) Dam: Fartoo Flashy +1500 +320 12. Steffi Magnetica (1) T: Bjorn Baker J: Tommy Berry W: 56kg F: 4321x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: All Too Hard Dam: Mid Summer Music +2500 +500 13. Kind Words (12) T: Kris Lees J: Sam Clipperton W: 56kg F: 9×210 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Gracious Grey +10000 +1900 Horse racing news View the full article

Fangirl was breathtaking when claiming the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. (Photo: Racing NSW) The Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) has attracted a quality 10-horse field to Randwick on Saturday, with the Chris Waller-trained Fangirl searching for back-to-back wins after dominating her rivals in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) first-up. The daughter of Sebring was runner-up in this event last year and appears primed to go one better, with online bookmakers installing her as a -142.86 favourite. Jockey James McDonald will be looking to claim his fourth consecutive win in the race, having steered home Verry Elleegant in 2021 and 2022 before saluting aboard Anamoe last year. Fangirl will meet a similar field of contenders as she did first-up, with six of her rivals attempting to turn the tables after suffering defeat in the Apollo Stakes. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Just Fine brings a differing form-line, resuming after his debut Australian campaign culminated with victory in The Metropolitan (2400m). The European import has been well-found in the market, as online betting sites have marked the son of Sea The Stars as the second-favourite at +500. You can get double-figure odds for every other runner engaged on Saturday, with Lindermann (+1000) and Atishu (+2500) offering big odds for the Chris Waller barn. Godolphin have gained the services of Tom Marquand as he returns to Australia, hopping Cascadian (+1500) for the first time and rounds out the key market hopefuls. The Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes is set to get underway at 4pm AEDT and headlines a massive 10-race program at Randwick on Saturday. Verry Elleegant Stakes 2024 field Odds correct @ 12:30pm AEDT on 28/2. 1. Think It Over (3) T: Kerry Parker J: Nash Rawiller W: 59kg F: 3×613 Age: 8YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Personal Service +750 +110 2. Cascadian (9) T: James Cummings J: Tom Marquand W: 59kg F: 9x7x3 Age: 9YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Approach (IRE) Dam: Falls of Lora (IRE) +1500 +200 3. Arapaho (8) T: Bjorn Baker J: Zac Lloyd W: 59kg F: 7x0x4 Age: 7YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE) Dam: Alzubra (GB) +5000 +600 4. Buckaroo (1) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 59kg F: 5×572 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +750 +110 5. Just Fine (2) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Regan Bayliss W: 59kg F: x0111 Age: 6YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Bint Almatar (USA) +500 -142.86 6. Navajo Peak (3) T: David Payne J: Jason Collett W: 59kg F: 4×081 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Territories (IRE) Dam: Ship Rock +5000 +600 7. Lindermann (5) T: Chris Waller J: Tim Clark W: 59kg F: 6×884 Age: 4YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Lonhro Dam: Self Esteem +1000 +140 8. Athabascan (6) T: John O’Shea J: Tyler Schiller W: 59kg F: x2781 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Almanzor (FR) Dam: Alzubra (GB) +20000 +2300 9. Fangirl (10) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: 1×471 Age: 5YO Color: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sebring Dam: Little Surfer Girl -166.67 -833.33 10. Atishu (7) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 57kg F: 8×120 Age: 6YO Color: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) +2500 +320 Horse racing news View the full article

David Hayes has tweaked his runner’s gear this weekend. Star Mac will look a little different when he lines up in Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin. Trainer David Hayes has elected to apply blinkers to the four-year-old son of Heroic Valour, who sizzled in the headgear from last-to-first under jockey Karis Teetan in a 1200m barrier trial on the dirt last Thursday (February 22) at Sha Tin. “He’ll race in blinkers for the first time. He dropped the bit between the 800 and 600 metre marks in the Hong Kong Classic Mile – I’d just love him to be travelling nicely into the straight,” Hayes said. The 69-rater has raced five times for three placings in Hong Kong. The powerful closer rattled into third place behind Helios Express in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m). “The key with the blinkers is that he’s not too keen in them. It might just help him travel a bit better mid-race,” Hayes said. “He came out of his last run really well. I think the trial confirmed that – his trial last Thursday was very encouraging.” Star Mac clocked the fastest final 400m sectional time in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, stopping the watch at 23.17s under Teetan. “I thought he was the best closer in the Classic Mile and he showed at set weights that we can mix it with them. We don’t have to worry about him being a little bit out of the handicap, I think that’s only a short-term problem,” Hayes said. “The Classic Mile and the start before were both very good runs – crashing the line and learning, he’s still learning and he’s a lightly raced horse.” Karis Teetan won the Hong Kong Classic Cup – the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – in 2015 aboard Thunder Fantasy. “Karis had a lot of options, so we made a deal. The deal was that if Karis rode him in the Classic Mile that he would stick with him right through to the Derby. It was a pretty good call by Karis to add that caveat to get him on – I think he’s pulled the right rein,” Hayes said. “He’s a young stayer in the making and we’re looking forward to the weekend.” Star Mac has worn cheek pieces the last two starts. Helios Express, Ensued, Helene Feeling, Chill Chibi, Ka Ying Generation, Speed Dragon, Chancheng Glory, Simply Maverick, Elliptical, Unbelievable, Beauty Crescent, Fallon and California Voce are entered to run in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. Awesome Fluke, Noble Pursuit, Silver King and Lean Hero are reserves one to four for the contest, respectively. The three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series concludes with the HK$26 million 147th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 24 March at Sha Tin. Teetan won the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2022 with Romantic Warrior, while Hayes tasted success in the race with filly Elegant Fashion in 2003. Horse racing news View the full article

Riff Rocket has opened as the clear favourite for the Group 1 Australian Guineas on Saturday afternoon. (Photo: George Sal/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Australian Guineas will headline a 10-race card at Flemington on Saturday, with 17 runners — including one emergency — accepting for the feature three-year-old event. The top six runners from the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes have chosen to push onto the Guineas, with most of them expected to peak in their target race of the campaign. Another three are coming through the Group 2 Autumn Stakes, where Snow Patrol (+1300), Southport Tycoon (+1100) and Zipaway (+1800) made up the trifecta. The top three in racebook order sit on the first few lines of betting with online bookmakers, with CS Hayes Stakes winner Riff Rocket opening as a +170 favourite. After returning to the racetrack with a dominant performance at Flemington, the Chris Waller runner is expected to improve as he steps up in distance. King Colorado (+550) was sent around as the favourite in the CS Hayes after he finished second in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes first-up, but the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper couldn’t stay with Riff Rocket in the final 200m. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy stable has accepted with Veight (+650) for his third start of the preparation, coming off a strong win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes and an impressive fourth-place finish in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. Two three-year-olds have been sent over from New Zealand to take on some of Australia’s best, with The Pendragon (+2500) and Quintessa (+1600) making the trip across the ditch. Apulia (+2500) and Sunsets (+4000) will be the only runners who go into the Guineas first-up, having run second and third, respectively, in last year’s VRC Derby last start. The 2024 Australian Guineas will be race eight on the Flemington program and is scheduled to jump at 4:15pm AEDT. Australian Guineas 2024 final field Odds as of 11:50am AEDT 28/2/24 1. Riff Rocket (9) T: Chris Waller J: Craig Williams W: 57kg F: 1×121 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: American Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +170 -222.22 2. Veight (6) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Damian Lane W: 57kg F: 41×52 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Grunt (NZ) Dam: Neena Rock +650 +160 3. King Colorado (12) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 57kg F: 26×04 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: More Aspen +550 +130 4. Apulia (15) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Luke Currie W: 57kg F: x2148 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Fiorente (IRE) Dam: Giannarelli +2500 +500 5. Zipaway (10) T: Neville Parnham J: Steven Parnham W: 57kg F: 3×314 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Boutique +1800 +400 6. Cap Ferrat (2) T: Chris Waller J: Joshua Parr W: 57kg F: 6×237 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: C’est Beau La Vie +2200 +500 7. The Pendragon (14) T: Michael Moroney J: Jordan Childs W: 57kg F: 21110 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: U S Navy Flag (USA) Dam: Kerre (IRE) +2500 +500 8. Run Harry Run (16) T: Michael Moroney J: Daniel Stackhouse W: 57kg F: 9×111 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Maybe Markle +10000 +1900 9. Sunsets (13) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: John Allen W: 57kg F: x3142 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Waterloo Sunset +4000 +800 10. Verdad (3) T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock J: Joe McNeil W: 57kg F: 3×526 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Justify (USA) Dam: Whistle Baby +1800 +400 11. Snow Patrol (7) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Blake Shinn W: 57kg F: 1×431 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Contributer (IRE) Dam: O’Rocker +1300 +300 12. Southport Tycoon (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jamie Kah W: 57kg F: 22×92 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Colt Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Ready To Rule (USA) +1100 +250 13. Otago (5) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Ben Melham W: 57kg F: 4×11 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Steel Stilettos +1600 +360 14. Hey Fat Cat (1) T: Robbie Laing J: Ethan Brown W: 57kg F: 55411 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Keep de Rose (NZ) +2500 +500 15. Quintessa (8) T: Mark Walker J: Michael Dee W: 55kg F: 4122x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Shamus Award Dam: Chaquinta (NZ) +1600 +360 16. Vieste (17) T: Benjamin Smith J: Brock Ryan W: 55kg F: 3×809 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Blazing Dragon +20000 +3400 17 (1E). Mah Ali (11) T: Benjamin Smith J: Fred Kersley W: 55kg F: 2×966 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: More Than Ready (USA) Dam: Demanding Miss +20000 +2900 Horse racing news View the full article

Dual Champion Elite Power (Curlin–Broadway's Alibi, by Vindication), a new stallion of 2024, has had the first mare he covered checked in foal, according to an announcement from Juddmonte late Tuesday. The mare, Candy Strike (Candy Ride {Arg}), is a 4-year-old out of GSW & MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike), who is a half-sister to GISWs Tara's Tango (Unbridled Song) and Visionaire (Grand Slam). Elite Power, a two-time winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, is standing his first season at Juddmonte Farms near Lexington, where his 2024 fee is $50,000. The post First Mare Checked in Foal to Elite Power appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse Racing on Wednesday, February 28 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and provided free quaddie tips for the meetings at Launceston, Rosehill, Sandown & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday Horse Racing Tips – February 28, 2024 Launceston Racing Tips Rosehill Racing Tips Sandown Racing Tips Happy Valley Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For February 28, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $26.19 odds return: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 Launceston – Race 6 #1 Bello Beau Rosehill – Race 6 #4 Lovero Sandown – Race 3 #2 Et Tu Brute | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on February 28, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

There were plenty of fireworks in the Karaka sales ring on Tuesday evening at the inaugural NZB Kiwi slot auction, with all nine lots up for grabs far exceeding their $450,000 reserve. The initial $3.5 million prizemoney on offer in next year’s NZB Kiwi (1500m), with a $1 million bonus up for grabs, was enticing for prospective New Zealand and international buyers alike. Group One darling Seachange was the first “hero” racehorse through the ring, representing slot one for The NZB Kiwi, and bidding was spirited from the get-go, with an opening bid of $600,000 which soon exceeded $700,000, and was finally knocked down to the $725,000 bid of Singapore businessman John Chew. The next four lots had a distinct New Zealand flavour, with slot two going to the $675,000 bid of Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing, slot three knocked down to Wexford Stables for $700,000, well-known owner and industry supporter Daniel Nakhle made sure he was in the mix when securing slot four for $675,000, while Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis ensured his ‘King of Karaka’ title wasn’t lost when his $675,000 bid bought slot five. Te Akau Racing director Karyn Fenton-Ellis was rapt her husband was able to secure a slot, but said it was unnerving going into the auction not knowing what to expect. “We had spoken to numerous people that we knew were registered, as the New Zealand industry is quite a compact industry, and no one knew what to expect,” she said. “When we come to the Karaka yearling sales, we have a game plan and know exactly what to expect. David Ellis never gets nervous and we know exactly what we want to do, he has bought some very expensive yearlings here. We sort of had a game plan, but it had to be a bit flexible. “We talked about this (NZB Kiwi) and we said given Te Akau Racing’s success with (trainers) Sam (Bergerson) and Mark (Walker), and the whole team, we were taking a slot home for our owners.” Te Akau Racing are hoping to have a number of contenders for what will be the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, and Fenton-Ellis said they already have a transparent system in place to identify their contender. “We have got a very good process that we have already decided on because we may have a number of contenders,” Fenton-Ellis said. “We will be very transparent with an independent third-party involved so that every owner and every horse in the Te Akau stable know they are equally considered and it will be a judgment made on merit.” Australian businessman Ozzie Kheir has been a strong supporter of the New Zealand thoroughbred industry, sourcing many of his racehorses from this side of the Tasman, and he ensured there would be a trans-Tasman element to the NZB Kiwi when he secured slot six for $700,000. Entain New Zealand took Kiwi punters on a whirlwind ride when securing a slot in last year’s A$20 million The Everest (1200m) and their representative I Wish I Win just came up shy when runner-up to Think About It. They are hoping to replicate that excitement on home soil after securing slot seven for $700,000. Chief Executive Cameron Rodger had been the underbidder on a number of previous lots, so was delighted to finally come out on top with just a couple of lots to go. “I was nervous,” Rodger said post sale. “They were opening and going higher and faster than we ever dreamed of. We had to revise the strategy there. I had the CFO (chief financial officer) next to me so we had to make a few emergency budget increases, but we got there, so we are pretty happy. “There were a great number of bidders early on from a different range. We didn’t want to be last, so that was the strategy, but the market found its price really well, so I think everyone will be pretty happy with how it turned out.” Rodger said the process of filling their slot had already started. “We have had a look at who didn’t get one and we are probably going to start conversations as we speak and that is the beauty of a slot race, it gets you engaged and talking starts right from the dot,” he said. “Hopefully we can have a few on our radar soon.” Rodger was pleased with how the slot race has been received and he said that has been reinforced by the heavy level of interest in the evening’s auction. “I think the action you saw today is a vote of confidence in the industry about where things are and where things are going,” he said. “That is important to us and we believe in the path that everyone is on at the moment, so bring on 2025, we can’t wait.” Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping eight is his new lucky number after paying $675,000 for the slot, while Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay were intent on securing the final slot of the night, and went to $700,000 to fulfil that. “At the end of the day it is $3.5 million in prizemoney, plus a $1 million bonus. New Zealand has never seen anything like this before,” Brendan Lindsay said. “Jo and I have to be a part of it and we were always going to buy lot nine. We decided that we were going to buy lot nine no matter what happened – last in, first out. We would have gone a bit higher. We made our mind up that we were going to buy the last lot.” After the dust settled, the nine slots sold for an aggregate of $6,225,000 million, with an average price of $691,667, and a median of $700,000. The remaining five slots for the NZB Kiwi have been allocated to Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Waikato Thoroughbred, RACE, and the Canterbury Jockey Club, with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing holding the final slot for promotional purposes. NZTR Chief Executive Bruce Sharrock was rapt with the outcome of Tuesday’s auction. “Tonight exceeded all expectations and sets a new standard for the New Zealand racing industry,” he said. “The best part was how excited our participants and stakeholders are, and it sets us up extremely well for the future.” NZTR Chairman Cameron George echoed those sentiments and said it was great to see international interest in the concept. “It’s an outstanding result for the industry and we are really proud of the fact that people around the world were participating,” he said. “We are looking forward to the next 12 months and how we can make this race the great event we can have in New Zealand racing.” New Zealand Bloodstock has been instrumental in the launch of the NZB Kiwi and managing director Andrew Seabrook couldn’t have been happier with Tuesday’s outcome. “It’s the first time that a slot race has been auctioned anywhere in the world. Everyone went into the unknown and what unfolded was quite incredible,” he said. “It’s great to see global participation and there is an amazing buzz here at Karaka.” The NZB Kiwi Slot Auction Results Average: $691,667 Aggregate: $6,225,000 Median: $700,000 Slot 1: John Chew – $725,000 Slot 2: Kerri Spence Bloodstock/Clotworthy Racing – $675,000 Slot 3: Wexford Stables – $700,000 Slot 4: Daniel Nakhle – $675,000 Slot 5: Te Akau Racing – $675,000 Slot 6: Ozzie Kheir – $700,000 Slot 7: Entain New Zealand – $700,000 Slot 8: Andrew Forsman – $675,000 Slot 9: Cambridge Stud – $700,000 View the full article

What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Thursday, February 22, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Pakenham Racecourse is gearing up for a thrilling eight-race lineup this Thursday night, featuring the much-anticipated final of the Pakenham Future Stars series. With clear skies on the forecast, the track is expected to remain in Good 4 condition throughout the evening. The rail will be 4m out for the entire circuit, and the racing is scheduled to commence at 5:45pm local time. Pakenham Future Stars Final: Barby’s Doll This three-year-old filly broke her maiden in dominant fashion two starts back, before catching the eye when running home strongly at Caulfield on February 3 behind Diamond Decorator and Lost. The runner-up in the race has since come out and won, and with an economical run in transit expected from barrier six, the race sets up nicely for this Fighting Sun filly. Damian Lane will need a touch of luck when turning for home, but armed with a strong finish, Barby’s Doll looks the goods in Thursday’s $300,000 feature. Pakenham Future Stars Final Race 7 – #9 Barby’s Doll (6) 3yo Filly | T: Jerome Hunter | J: Damian Lane (55kg) +650 with Playup Best Bet at Pakenham: North Channel North Channel beat all bar The Negotiator in a driving finish on his return at the Pakenham 1400m on February 15, with all signs suggesting he would be primed to go one better wherever he went to next. He draws out in barrier 10, which should suit him perfectly considering he likes to run on from the rear of the field. With a few of the outsiders set to take up the running at a genuine clip, it looks perfectly set up for North Channel to blouse his rivals late. Best Bet Race 8 – #2 North Channel (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Craig Williams (61kg) +270 with Neds Next Best at Pakenham: Modown The Charlotte Littlefield-trained Modown has not been seen since a poor showing in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on December 2, yet he brings the best form lines into this race. He finished second behind Schwarz in the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) on November 11, and his maiden win the start prior suggests he is an above-average galloper. Craig Williams will have the three-year-old settled midfield with cover, and as long as he can sprint sharply with 60.5kg on his back, Modown looks a great play in the Pakenham opener. Next Best Race 1 – #1 Modown (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Craig Williams (60.5kg) +210 with Picklebet Thursday quaddie tips for Pakenham Pakenham quadrella selections Thursday, February 29, 2024 3-6-9-10 2-4-9-10 1-2-3-9 2-12 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

On Wednesday, February 28, various horse racing bookmakers have unveiled their racing promotions, featuring a range of enticing bonus back offers for horse racing enthusiasts. The top Australian racing promotions for February 28, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Rosehill All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Rosehill this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Launceston Races 1-4 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $50 Back a runner in races 1-4 at Launceston this Wednesday and if it runs 2nd or 3rd get up to $50 in Bonus Cash. Fixed Win bets only. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd Get your stake back in bonus bets. Limits apply. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Happy Valley All Races – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Launceston All Races – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings on Trifectas by 10% with new Daily Trifecta Boosts. Thoroughbreds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd R-13 at Sandown & Rosehill Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotional limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au has meticulously assessed the premier horse racing bookmakers in Australia, revealing exclusive bonus promotions and specials tailored for thoroughbred enthusiasts on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. These horse racing promotions are a regular feature, exemplifying the unwavering commitment of Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers. If one bookmaker happens to lack a promotion on a given day, rest assured that another is stepping up with enticing offers within the realm of gallops. For your daily dose of the most lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses, HorseBetting.com.au stands as the ultimate destination. Maximise the value of your punting endeavours with bookie bonuses boasting the most competitive horse racing odds for every race. It’s crucial to emphasise that these thoroughbred racing promotions are exclusively designed for existing customers. To access these special promotions and claim the bookmaker’s offers, log in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For those seeking races and horses to leverage their horse betting bookmaker bonus bets, HorseBetting provides a valuable resource with its daily free racing tips. Stay well-informed, adopt strategic approaches, and enhance your overall horse racing experience by capitalising on these exclusive promotions. Horse racing promotions View the full article

The $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) has drawn a field of 10 runners, including the lightly raced and aptly named Turf King, who has yet to be off the board in four starts.View the full article

Main Event and Kingmax, a head apart when 1-2 in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 30, square off again at Gulfstream over an additional quarter-mile March 2 in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T).View the full article

Revenue from historical horse racing gaming, responsible for soaring purses in Kentucky and profits for track operators, swelled in December figures announced during a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting Feb. 27.View the full article

Edited Press Release The first pool to wager on the 149th GI Preakness S., middle jewel of the Triple Crown, begins Thursday, Feb. 29 and will close just hours after three major prep races are contested Saturday in Florida, California, and New York. When pools open at noon Thursday, 12 weeks before Preakness 149 at Pimlico Race Course, Baoma Corp.'s undefeated Nysos (Nyquist) will be the 4-1 favorite with the pari-mutuel field of “all other 3-year-olds” the 6-1 second choice. The first Preakness 149 future wager will close after Saturday's runnings of the $400,000 GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park, the $400,000 GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita Park, and the $300,000 GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct. There are 40 betting interests in the Preakness 149 future wager, with the 40th betting interest being the pari-mutuel field, or “all other 3-year-olds.” The Preakness 149 future wager has a $2 minimum and 18% takeout. The first pool closes at 8 p.m. Saturday evening. The second pool opens Friday, Apr. 26 and closes Saturday, May 4 at 6 p.m. The Preakness Future Wager was unanimously approved by the Maryland Racing Commission. Similar to that of future wagers for the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks, bettors are not refunded if their selection does not run in the Preakness, which is limited to a maximum of 14 starters. The post Preakness 149 Future Wager Begins Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cheyenne Sables' multiple stakes winner Ozara (IRE) and Repole Stable's grade 3 winner Life's an Audible look to square off again in the $200,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park March 2.View the full article

Nearly three years after the actual race, the industry now recognizes the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) as official and Mandaloun, who crossed the wire second, as the race winner following the disqualification of Medina Spirit.View the full article

by Brian Malloy The initial public forum for Light Up Racing at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington Monday night kicked off the most encouraging effort I've seen in my 44 years in horse racing. Vicky Leonard, the Kiwi PR pro who spearheaded a similar effort in Australia after a spate of tragic accidents in the Melbourne Cup, cogently outlined this grass roots campaign to a packed house and was greeted with thunderous applause. I taught the capstone course in public relations for several years at the University of Kentucky with a systems approach stressing internal publics are just as important as external publics and PR is not simply spin, it is an agent for positive change. Light Up Racing is an exemplar. In meetings like the ones being held in Lexington, through seminars planned in person and on-line, and through the resources provided by the excellent website up and running at lightupracing.com, the people who make our industry run can seize the day and transform tragedy into transcendence to build a sustainable sport that demonstrates daily our love for the horse. Monday's meeting was standing room only with a broad spectrum of grizzled industry insiders and enthusiastic young up-and-comers ready to be the change our sport needs. Thank you Price Bell and Jason Litt for your efforts to get this off the ground. I can't wait for the Mar. 5 meeting at Keeneland so we can get started. Brian Malloy, who is the former managing editor of Thoroughbred Times and ran the Lexington, Ky., office of Shandwick, Intl., then the world's largest PR firm, is now a Thoroughbred breeder in Central Kentucky. The post Letter to the Editor: Agent for Positive Change appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, will be installing a new stable gate entryway after the current season ends in March to try and avoid a repeat of the havoc caused on the night of Feb. 1 when a loose Thoroughbred escaped from the backstretch and ran onto nearby Interstate 71/75 before being captured without serious harm. Barbara Borden, the chief state steward presiding at Turfway, detailed the incident during Tuesday's Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) meeting. “The horse got loose in the barn area, unfortunately ran through the stable gate, and actually ran over a person who was trying to catch him as he was leaving the barn area,” Borden said. “And he wound up on [the interstate] going north. So he was thankfully caught, without much ado or injury to himself or any humans, about six, seven miles up the road.” Videos posted on social media by motorists, plus police body camera footage, showed the horse-whose identity was not revealed in news reports or by the KHRC-running up the interstate in the dark. WCPO-TV out of nearby Cincinnati, Ohio, had reported drivers “dutifully turned on their hazard lights and slowed down” and that police from the city of Erlanger “tried to help by boxing in the horse with their cruisers.” State police shut down the highway around 10:15 p.m., according to published news reports. “At one point, the horse ran full gallop southbound in the northbound lanes into the rear of [a] police cruiser, causing damage to his trunk,” stated a police incident report quoted by WCPO. The TV station further reported that the horse fell down after striking the car, “only to get back up and continue making a break for it.” Police body camera footage with a time stamp of 10:22 p.m. showed the horse standing calmly while shanked in the hands of a caretaker who was trying to soothe him on the side of the interstate. “We were talking to Florence police, and we alerted them that the horse was loose,” Borden said. “I called one of our outriders and said, 'Hook your trailer up and get out there,' and he did. He was the one who actually brought the horse back. We got very lucky that no person or horse was injured.” One officer could be heard saying on the police footage, “This is nuts, man. That's a first. Definitely a first.” Actually, it wasn't. On Mar. 2, 2013, a first-time starter named Joseph the Catfish ducked out, unseated his rider, and leapt Turfway's outer rail. He ran down Houston Road through a retail district before being captured in an attempt to run south onto the same highway. Chip Bach, Turfway's general manager, told commissioners at the Feb. 27 meeting that the track's stable gate had been damaged in an unrelated incident prior to the horse escape. The rebuilt version, Bach said, will include a safety arm with flashing LED lights that can be lowered at the press of a button if a security staffer hears the “loose horse” siren going off on in the stable area. “The plan is to work on it as soon as we get past this meet,” Bach said. The post Turfway to Rebuild Stable Gate in Aftermath of Horse Escape onto Highway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

One day before the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Gulfstream Park stages a first-level allowance optional claiming race March 1 that could potentially advance 3-year-olds toward the March 30 Florida Derby (G1) there.View the full article

Triple Crown winner Justify, Horse of the Year Gun Runner, and jockey Joel Rosario, who ranks fourth all-time in Breeders' Cup wins, are new finalists on the National Museum of Racing's 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot announced Feb. 27.View the full article

T.D. Thornton's report on racetrack closures in California (TDN, 12/6/23) and Dan Ross's piece on Pat Cummings's research into Computer Assisted Wagering in California (TDN 2/13/24) are frightening for all tracks not supported by casinos/slots. Santa Anita and Del Mar are high-profile tracks in trouble, but they are not alone. The problem? Host tracks are now receiving very little for their racing content. Remember Napster, when a lot of people were stealing songs and nobody knew what to do about it? I'm not Steve Jobs, who saved the music industry from Napster, but I'm going to tell you how to save Santa Anita and Del Mar and the rest of our tracks. When you understand how we came to this situation, you will see how easy it is to fix it. I started working for the Thoroughbred Record in 1972. Then, the revenue from wagers was split 50/50 between the two “partners” in racing: half for the track and half for the racehorse owners' purse account. Each received about 8% of the on-track wager. It was a simple business isolated to the track location. Off-track wagering across state lines was legalized with the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA) in 1978. Although Congress has protected dairy farmers since 1946 with a “price floor” on milk, there was no price floor put into the IHA to protect the host tracks. A huge mistake! After the IHA became law, Tommy Roberts, who pioneered simulcasting, negotiated a deal between Vegas sports books and some thirty tracks. Tommy told me Vegas said they could pay 10% of the wager to the host tracks. But, Vegas' actual offer was 2%. The tracks caved and accepted 2%, which meant the host track and purse account would only get 1% each and the bet takers in Vegas kept up to 15% of the wager. It was a very bad, upside-down deal. The Vegas deal of 2% became the effective off-track distribution rate for every off-track bet taker, not just receiving tracks. As OTB's expanded off-track wagering locations, they cut into host track attendance, thus high-profit on-track wagering and concessions revenue dropped. Host track admissions and parking revenue vanished. Today off-track is more than 90% of all handle and host tracks and their purse accounts are suffering. With the 2% rate in place, the major tracks were preyed upon by receiving tracks. NYRA, Keeneland and Hollywood Park all tried to increase the off-track rate for their races, but the hundred smaller tracks colluded to keep the rate as low as possible because they benefitted as bet takers on the major tracks' races. That was not the intent of the IHA. The godsend of off-track wagering has now turned on racing and is devouring it. In the early days, most off-track bets were being made at receiving tracks and the money stayed in the sport. That ship sailed with computers and mobile phones. Today ADW's and robots are taking the most bets. What they pay the host tracks is so low they have enough margin to give up to 10% to whales. The money is bleeding out of host tracks and purses. The first step for any business in trouble: Stop the bleeding. Breeding, raising and racing Thoroughbreds is an agricultural business and sport. Over the years, Congress has responded with every possible advantage. To stop the bleeding, Congress can establish a “price floor,” a minimum rate that off-track bet takers must pay host tracks. When Congress moved to save dairy farmers, lobbyists for the milk processors preying on them said the free market should set prices. But, the majority in Congress said “Sorry, we like milk and we are going to protect those who produce it.” There are many in Congress who like and care deeply about the Thoroughbred industry too. Can we fix it? Yes, if Stuart Janney will commit to a “price floor” being put into the IHA, our tracks, purses and thousands of jobs in the industry will be saved. It is that simple. Stuart Janney, chairman of The Jockey Club, personally committed to reduce the threat cheating has on the integrity of our sport. He worked with bi-partisan help from Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) to pass the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). You need someone who has been successful with Congress to get back in harness and repeat the process. Congress is the fastest way to save California tracks and all other racing states that do not have casino/slots support. As Mr. Janney related in working to pass HISA, you cannot do it state by state, or track by track. It has to be done at the federal level. Today, the “partnership” between tracks and racehorse owners is far from simple and far from fair. Tracks have created subsidiaries outside the partnership with racehorse owners to take bets on other tracks' races and exploit the high profit margin. As a result, the percentage of off-track wagers going to purses drops every year. Purses fuel foal crops and ours have dropped from 50,000 to 17,000. Nobody wants track closures to return us to the days of Man o' War with a foal crop of 1,680. The IHA puts people with feet of clay in position to approve multi-million dollar off-track bet taking deals. Dan Ross's piece told of death threats and extreme pressure on these individuals. To reduce the threats and the grip bet-takers have on the integrity of the wager, we need a “price floor” to protect the people giving IHA approval. The price floor will become the non-negotiable base rate for most approvals. I don't expect tracks with wagering subsidiaries to support a price floor being put into the IHA any more than we expected all trainers and horsemen to support HISA. I don't expect those receiving rebates now to support a price floor anymore than those who got free music with Napster wanted to switch to iTunes. Most times, leaders have to step up and piss off some people to do what is right for the sport. I believe a price floor on off-track wagers will allow host tracks to refocus on live racing that people want to see and they will be able to sell their product at a good price in the off-track market, something they cannot do today. There's nothing magic about taking bets. Lotteries pay gas stations a 5% fee for punching in the customers' numbers and taking their wager. A price floor in the IHA is the first step for host tracks to change off-track wagering from a “buyers' market” to a “sellers' market,” where those producing the racing content drive down the costs of bet taking. Is it more important for us to save Santa Anita, Del Mar and other tracks, or to let the money from their racing content go to Fan Duel and Draft Kings? What is the fair rate for a price floor? I believe it is 10%, meaning 5% of the off-track wager goes to the host track and 5% to the racehorse owners' purse account. Blended with on-track handle and imported handle, the host track and purses could exceed 15% of the total wagered on their races. With a flat rate of 10%, mandated by federal law taking precedence, the states will not be able to pass laws to get a competitive advantage in the off-track market. We've had enough of that. (NJ passed a law prohibiting their receiving tracks from paying more than 3% to a host track.) Each host track would still have the freedom to negotiate a higher rate than the price floor for their racing content. That's how you stop the bleeding and allow Thoroughbred racing to be turned around. I doubt most of you give much thought to track business and off-track wagering revenue. But, in the changing world of Thoroughbred racing, that's make or break for our sport. Take the time to learn how who gets what from racing impacts the breeding shed. And right now, for Santa Anita, Del Mar and the life you love, contact Stuart Janney at The Jockey Club and voice your support for a price floor of 10% to host tracks on all off-track wagers be put into the IHA. Quickly. The post Letter to the Editor: First, Stop the Bleeding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article