Wandering Eyes

A rails-hugging ride by Kavish Chowdhoory paved the way for the visiting Michael and Matthew Pitman stable to quinella the opening event on the second day of the annual Riverton Easter Carnival. The Pitman team picked up two wins on the opening day on Saturday with Tomyturbo (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Charbano (NZ) (Vespa), and enjoyed immediate success again as Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace) improved markedly on his first day fourth by bolting away with the Speights/Ewan Allan Honda Thornbury Handicap (1400m). Chowdhoory had the son of Swiss Ace poised behind the solid speed set up by race favourite Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy) and when that runner lugged off the fence rounding the home bend, Chowdhoory kicked his mount through in a flash. Makabar relished the Heavy 10 conditions as he raced clear to win by more than six lengths at the post, with stablemate Seikrid (NZ) (Sacred Falls) nabbing Emanon on the line to claim the runner-up position. Makabar has proven a real money spinner for the stable, winning six times since moving south from the Team Rogerson stable in 2021. “He went a good race on the first day and I did tell people before the first day I thought he was our best chance across the carnival,” Michael Pitman said “He has a terrific record on wet ground and has been a great horse for the stable since he joined us. “He pulled up well on day one and that showed in the way he went today.” Pitman believes Makabar could join three other stable runners the team have aimed at the rich $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on 13 April at Riccarton. “We intend to run him along with Mystic Park, Charbano and Proserve in the Southern Alps Challenge in a fortnight if he can make the field,” he said. “It is a fantastic concept and if we could get four horses into the inaugural running of the race, we would be pretty chuffed. “You don’t often get to run for money like that so if we could get a share of it then that would be great.” TAB Bookmakers have Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) as the warm $2.50 Fixed Odds favourite for the race which is for horses that have their trainers operating a premises in the South Island from 1 August last year, have been stabled at that premises since 31 December and have run at least twice in the South Island since that date. Bred by Gerry Harvey at Westbury Stud, Makabar was purchased by Graeme Rogerson at Karaka in 2017 for $55,000 and has now won nine of his 75 starts and over $162,000 for his large group of owners. Included in his extended pedigree is the 1998-99 champion Australian sprinter Isca (Rory’s Jester) who won six races including twice at Group One level. View the full article

The visiting Cambridge stable of Ben and son Ryan Foote were to the fore in the opening events at Otaki on Monday where they took out the first two races on the programme. Three-year-old maiden filly Alation (NZ) (Swiss Ace) proved too tough for her rivals in race one, dashing away in the home straight for rider Courtney Barnes despite having done plenty of work outside pacemaker Am I Blue (NZ) (Niagara) in the 1600m contest. Just thirty minutes later her stablemate Enthusiastic (NZ) (War Decree) claimed his maiden victory after setting all the pace in the Harcourts Otaki 3YO (1200m) before holding out the late charge by Tiny Diamond (NZ) (Time Test) to win by just on a length for apprentice rider Triston Moodley. A change in tactics to make use of a good draw made all the difference for Alation who Ben Foote believes has plenty in store for her. “She (Alation) had been getting back and running on late so we put the side winkers on today and asked Courtney to make use of a better draw if she could,” Foote said. “It was a brave effort as she had to do the work outside the pace and the way she closed things off suggests she isn’t going to have trouble with going a little further in the future. “We have always thought she was a potential stayer but as this is just her first prep we will play it on the cautious side and she will tell us how much further she wants to go.” Foote also believes that Enthusiastic has a future over a staying trip once he matures further. “He (Enthusiastic) went good races in strong company in his first campaign, but he needed time to mature. “I think he has a future as a stayer and that’s where we will aim him. “It was a good effort as he hadn’t even had a jumpout before today but Triston said he won with a lot up his sleeve despite being a little green over the last 200m. “We initially thought he might be a Derby horse but that came up too soon so we will take him along quietly and just see how he develops.” Raced by her breeder Gerry Harvey, Alation is by Westbury Stud resident stallion Swiss Ace and comes from an extended family that includes dual Group One winner Atomic Force (Danehill Dancer) who was successful in the 2012 Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie. Purchased by Brewers Bloodstock for $60,000 out of his breeders’ Berkely Stud draft at Karaka in 2022, Enthusiastic is a son of War Decree and Savabeel mare Enthusabelle and is the half-brother to Pipiana (NZ) (Highly Recommended) who was twice stakes placed as a three-year-old. The Foote team were at it again in the fourth race on the card with No Nay Never mare Carrington (NZ) storming home out wide to break her maiden status at her ninth start. View the full article

Rank outsider Lovelock (NZ) (Sacred Falls) turned the formbook upside down when he bolted away with the Riverton Rural Transport Highway Stakes (2147m), the feature flat event at Riverton on Easter Monday. The five-year-old son of Sacred Falls had finished an inglorious last over 1600m on Saturday and punters were prepared to discard his chances two days later, sending him out at odds of $39.20 on the tote in the nine-horse field. A change of tactics from rider Lee Callaway saw the Jim Curran-trained galloper sent straight to the front where he maintained a strong gallop throughout. Challenged by Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj) at the 600m, Lovelock shook off that runner rounding the home bend and with Callaway riding confidently he powered away to win by a healthy six-length margin from the well favoured The Tui Toiler (NZ) (Highly Recommended) ($2.30) and Humbucker ($7.80) who battled on gamely for third. Curran admitted he was left scratching his head after the first day effort but was prepared to give his charge another chance if he could get his own way in front. “He is a moody bugger who sulks when things don’t go his way,” Curran said. “We had planned to go to the front with him on Saturday but over the mile there was just too much pressure on to get there. “I thought the extra distance would help and Lee said he was really confident once they had gone past the post the first time as he was just loving it out in front. “He’s never been tested on a wet track and after Saturday I still didn’t know much but he handled it very well and there could be more in store for him if he can keep going like that.” Despite the $39 dividend Curran stuck to his normal pattern with just a $10 each way bet on the horse. “I never spend much and just had my usual $10 each way,” he said. “You’d probably go broke backing him and after Saturday it was two-minute noodles for dinner although I might lift my sights now. “If he can hold his form then we might take a look at the Wairio Cup on his home track (Ascot Park) in early May.” Out of the Zabeel mare La Zeel (NZ), who won nine races in Australia and was placed in stakes company, Lovelock has now won three of his 17 starts for Curran and his wife Gay. View the full article

Ortiz won twice March 31 on Invigorated in Race 7 and Miss Speedy in Race 9 to finish with 119 winners and top the rider standings for the fifth time in the past six seasons.View the full article

What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Tuesday, April 2, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Victorian horse racing on Tuesday afternoon heads to Geelong Racecourse, where a competitive eight-race meeting awaits punters. With plenty of rain forecast for Monday, and showers forecast for most of Tuesday, punters can expect the meeting to be run on at least a Soft 6-7, with a further downgrade likely. The rail comes out 7m from the 1800m-800m, with it out 10m the remainder of the circuit. Action from Geelong is set to commence at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Geelong – Pure Power Pure Power has been banging down the doors of a maiden win and at the seventh time of asking, he should be clearing maiden ranks. Ciaron Maher’s three-year-old gelding got nosed out at Yarra Valley on March 17, but with seven lengths back to third, it suggests a repeat performance should see him prove too tough at Geelong. Theodore Ladd will look to hold a prominent position from a wide draw, and outside of any bad luck in transit, the 2260m looks right up Pure Power’s alley, and he should have no issue outstaying his rivals. Best Bet Race 4 – #8 Pure Power (11) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Theodore Ladd (59kg) +160 with Dabble Next Best at Geelong – Riproar Returning from a near six-month spell, Andrew Forsman’s Riproar looks to have found the right race to return a winner in. The three-year-old gelding was chasing home the likes of Riff Rocket and Sunsource last campaign in Listed company, so he should appreciate the step back to a BM64 at Geelong. He has a win and minor placing on Soft going in his career, and despite no doubt wanting further than the 1340m he returns at, Riproar’s class should prove the difference against this field. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Riproar (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Andrew Forsman | J: Damian Lane (60kg) +200 with Playup Best Value at Geelong – Dysart Clinton McDonald’s newly-acquired Dysart was hitting the line nicely over 1112m at Geelong on stable debut on March 16, and with the step up to 1240m, he looks a great each-way play with horse racing bookies. The three-year-old gelding is a genuine backmarker, so needs his races run at a genuine clip, which he should get on Tuesday. Unlike most tracks, when the rail comes out as far as it does for this meeting, backmarkers play a key role. Craig Newitt will have the son of Smart Missile in clear air on the home turn, and with a strong turn of foot, Dysart can break maiden ranks at start four. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Dysart (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Clinton McDonald | J: Craig Newitt (59kg) +1000 with Neds Tuesday quaddie tips for Geelong races Geelong quadrella selections Tuesday, April 2, 2024 1-2-4-5-10 1-2-4 1-3-5-9 2-4-5-6-9-11 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Repole Stable's Fierceness was looking good to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher the morning following his record-breaking 13 1/2-length triumph in $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 30.View the full article

The Gulfstream Park Championship Meet ended Sunday with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. defending their respective titles. Ortiz finished the meet with 119 winners, a mark that saw him top the rider's standings for the fifth time in the last six seasons. “It went very good for us,” said Ortiz. “It means a lot to win another title here. They make me feel at home here. The owners, everybody training here, the whole organization– security and the people who work here–they make me feel good. I have great support from the trainers and owners of Florida, and I appreciate it. I'm so happy to win another title here.” Saffie Joseph, Jr. trained 66 winners through the meet, good enough to lead Todd Pletcher in the standings and pick up his third-straight training title. “We're thankful for the opportunities from the owners, the team we have–how hard they work and all the effort they put in–and most importantly to have the horses we have,” said Joseph. “The horses are the biggest piece of the puzzle. The horses make everyone look good.” The post Irad Ortiz, Jr. And Saffie Joseph, Jr. Defend Gulfstream Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Flaming Rabbit and Lyle Hewitson are not for catching. Lyle Hewitson has always been a superb judge of pace and the South African produced a brilliant front-running ride aboard Flaming Rabbit (126lb) to win at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon. Outwitting six rivals aboard the Time Test galloper in a time of 1:35.15s (25.61, 23.88, 22.78, 22.88), Hewitson netted his 27th victory in Hong Kong this term after finding an untroubled lead to prevail over The Golden Scenery (135lb) and 1.5 favourite Mugen (131lb). “In his first season he used to just win a length or two at the start and be able to take control of the race a little bit more, whereas more recently he’s been coming out on terms with them and there’s a little bit more pressure. “Getting to the mile and him jumping like he used to allowed me to control the first two furlongs and then I was gradually able to keep picking up,” Hewitson said. Victory came by a runaway 1.25 lengths. It is Hewitson’s first in tandem with trainer Chief Stipelas Whyte this season, snapping a lengthy run of outs before Sunday. “It’s been a long time between drinks. He’s been one of my main go-to jockeys (20 wins together in 2021/22) and I’ve been a great supporter of his – we have no issues, he’s a friend of mine. It’s just circumstances and Hong Kong being Hong Kong. We just haven’t had the luck. I’m glad the monkey is off both of our backs,” Whyte said. Whyte had hoped Flaming Rabbit, who previously won last July, was able to feature in last month’s Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (1600m) at Al Rayyan. “I had this horse penned in to go to Qatar and his form just wasn’t where it was today. He’s always had it but he’s a colt and he’s just been a little bit awkward to deal with. Suppose we take today’s run, if he had run that race in Qatar, he would have been in the first three,” Whyte said. Whyte labelled the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on June 23 as a potential long-range target for Flaming Rabbit, who won Group 3 races in Germany and Great Britain prior to import. Horse racing news View the full article

Orchestral was given a major scare by another bold move from Nash Rawiller on board Tutta La Vita, but she still stretched her winning streak to the past five of her nine starts, taking the Vinery Stud Stakes.View the full article

Grade 1 winner Gold Phoenix (IRE) returns to the Santa Anita Park turf for his 6-year-old debut against nine competitors in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) going one mile April 4.View the full article

Fantasy Stakes (G2) winner Thorpedo Anna's success is no surprise to breeder Judy Hicks, who made sure to keep a share in the horse after she was sold to Kenny McPeek at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.View the full article

Fresh from her historic second win in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (G1) March 30, Belclare (NZ) will be offered at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.View the full article

To look at him and to watch him, you would never know that New Years Eve (Night Conqueror) is, well, ancient. He's holding his weight and he still manages to run around his paddock when the mood strikes him. “He's doing amazingly well,” said his owner, Julie Izzo. “But he has slowed down a bit.” Of course he has. He's 38. New Years Eve | Sarah Andrew As New Years Eve crept into his mid-thirties Izzo, who resides in Pennsylvania, began to do some research. Was there an older Thoroughbred out there? She has asked around, checked social media and touched base with Daily Racing Form photographer Barbara Livingston, who has looked high and far for an even older horse. As best as Izzo can tell, the horse she calls Axl (Izzo is a big Guns N' Roses fan) is in fact the oldest former race horse in the U.S. “I found some people who claimed they had older horses, but when I asked for their Jockey Club names they disappeared or their horse wasn't a race horse,” Izzo said. “Barbara said that this has been a passion of hers for 25 years and she didn't know of an older horse. One lady said her horse was a day older. I asked what was the horse's Jockey Club name because I wanted to see if her horse and mine had ever been to the same tracks. She also disappeared on me.” New Years Eve was born on March 17, 1986. His career was about as unexceptionable as it gets. He debuted on June 9, 1989 at the Nebraska racetrack Atokad Park. He ran 18 times, won two races and earned the grand total of $3,140. None of which mattered to Izzo, who was looking for a pleasure horse and bought the gelding in 1993 when he was seven. “He was literally my dream come true, Izzo said. “My mother had a horse when I was born and she put me on a horse before I could walk. All I ever wanted was my own horse. I rode in stables during my childhood and teen years. But I was always riding other people's horses. My dream was to have a big bay Thoroughbred. In my brain, it had to be a big bay Thoroughbred. An ad popped up advertising him for sale and I knew, before I even saw him, that I was buying him. OTTBs (off the track thoroughbreds), they have always been my passion. I just love them. I love the fire. I love the power. I wanted a horse that was going to be fun and exciting and one where I wouldn't know what I was getting into every day. He was always that.” New Years Eve at Atokad Park in 1991 | Durham Museum/Bob Dunn Collection Izzo never tried to turn New Years Eve into a show horse. She was happy to just have him around and to be able to ride him whenever she wanted. “He's never been in a show,” she said. “All I ever wanted was to have a horse where I could just go out and have some fun with them. I have done some trail riding and some light dressage with him. He loves to jump. Two years ago, he took off on a dead run in the pasture and decided to jump all the wild rose bushes. He will take himself jumping. He loves to jump.” That Julie Izzo owns what may be the oldest living Thoroughbred in the U.S. probably isn't a coincidence. She also owned a Quarter Horse mare who lived to be 40. She believes the key to a horse having a long life is to keep them out of a stall. New Years Eve and Julie Izzo | Sarah Andrew “Since I bought him, he has almost always been pasture boarded,” she said. “I do not believe in keeping horses in stalls. I think it is a horrible thing to do to them. He was always pretty much out in the pasture as much as possible. If you put them in a box and they are standing still trying to eat that means you're affecting their digestive system and you're affecting respiratory system because they are stuck in a dusty building. It's not good for a horse mentally to be stuck in a box all day.” Then there is his diet. Izzo is careful about what she feeds her horses. “He went from eating a low protein sweet feed and having free access to hay,” she said. “Now, we've converted him over to Sentinel Senior. It's easier for him to digest. Like any horse at his age, he's starting to lose teeth. In fact, we're on the fence about starting to do some major extractions. Up until two or three years ago, he ate dry pellets and had access to all the grass he could eat. Now he gets a mash because his teeth have gotten bad enough where he's not going to be able to keep eating grass. He gets a mash twice a day with alfalfa cubes, Sentinel Senior and a couple of low-carb horse cookies that I throw in there. Plus, we give him on a high quality probiotic. “I did a lot of research about their diets and read all the educational materials Cornell put out and have read books by people who know what they are talking about. People ask me all the time, what do you feed him? I tell them the feed is just one part of it. Obviously, genetics play a big factor and so does keeping him out of a stall.” The only problem of late has been that Axl is alone after having the Quarter Horse mare as his pasture mate for 28 years. New Years Eve | Sarah Andrew “Sometimes I think he is lonely,” Izzo said. But he keeps going, year after year. And while it can't last forever, Izzo continues to marvel at how healthy and spry her horse is. He might have a few more years left in him. From a horse who I special in his own unique way, you never know. The post The World’s Oldest Thoroughbred? We Think We Have Found Him appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sunday's Listed Preis von Dahlwitz at Hoppegarten witnessed the return of last year's G1 Deutsches Derby first and second Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), but with a two-kilo swing in his favour it was the latter who turned the tables to get his 2024 campaign off to a flyer. Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his jaw-dropping debut at Mulheim last April, Mr Hollywood proved that to be no fluke with success in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic and runner-up finishes in Cologne's G2 Union-Rennen and the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden as well as in the domestic Derby. Last of 15 when Fantastic Moon was 11th flying the flag for Germany in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when last sighted, Mr Hollywood was understandably fresh and keen early on the front end in the hands of Andrasch Starke. Looking vulnerable as the patiently-ridden Fantastic Moon threatened to his right in the straight, the 13-10 second favourite gave extra to pull away again and win by 1 1/2 lengths. “I had to go to the front, which wasn't ideal as I'd have liked him to calm down behind another,” Starke said. “He kept at it and even broke away in the end.” Mr Hollywood is the second dam out of the listed-placed dam Margie's Music {Fr} (Hurricane Run {Ire}), whose first was the G3 Derby-Trial runner-up Magical Beat (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Out of Margie's World (Ger) (Spinning World), was also listed-placed and is kin to the G2 Gerling-Preis-placed Margosto (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), she is connected to the GI Spinaway S. runner-up Our Little Margie (Mr. Majestic). Her yearling full-sister to Magical Beat was knocked down to Elliott Bloodstock Services Limited for €220,000 at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. PREIS VON DAHLWITZ-Listed, €25,000, Hoppegarten, 3-31, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:07.12, g/s. 1–MR HOLLYWOOD (IRE), 126, c, 4, Iquitos (Ger)–Margie's Music (Fr) (SP-Ger), by Hurricane Run (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€15,000 Ylg '21 BBASEP). O-H H Sheikh A bin Khalifa Al Thani, Wanja Soren Oberhof und Sebastian Weiss; B-Gestut Ammerland (GER); T-Henk Grewe; J-Andrasch Starke. €15,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Ger, 7-3-3-0, €288,500. *1/2 to Magical Beat (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), GSP-Ger. 2–Fantastic Moon (Ger), 130, c, 4, Sea The Moon (Ger)– Frangipani (Ger), by Jukebox Jury (Ire). (€49,000 Ylg '21 BBASEP). O-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg; B-Liberty Racing 2021 (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €5,000. 3–Lightning Jock (Ire), 123, g, 6, Lawman (Fr)–High Haven (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€10,000 Ylg '19 TIRSEP; €5,000 HRA '21 GOFAUT). O-F Esser; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Frank Fuhrmann. €3,125. Margins: 1HF, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.30, 1.10, 10.00. Also Ran: Merkur (Fr), Quebueno (Ire). Scratched: Mythico (Fr). The post TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood Wins Derby Rematch in Berlin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Strathalbyn trainer Kym Healy and Darwin apprentice Emma Lines are enjoying a highly-successful Alice Springs Cup Carnival at Pioneer Park. They were the leading trainer and jockey at Birdsville last year, and now Kym Healy and apprentice Emma Lines are dominating the Alice Springs Cup Carnival. With three days down and two to go, Strathalbyn’s Healy (7) and Darwin’s Lines (5) lead the way from Dan Morgan (3) and Sonja Logan (3), respectively. Apart from sealing the 1200m weight-for-age at Pioneer Park with Noble Magnate on Saturday, Healy and Lines also had success when four-year-old mare Lotto Fight ($3.30 fav) streeted her rivals by 4.8 lengths over 1400m (0-58) for her third career win. The daughter of War, a narrow second on her NT debut a fortnight ago, led after 1200m before extending her lead turning for home to sink Lisa Whittle’s Prophesier ($6.50) and Mark Pegus’ Nicstar ($21). Logan, Central Australia’s top jockey last season, had wins aboard Canny Impact ($15) over 1600m (0-64) for husband Tom Logan and Lisa Whittle’s Freedom Day ($7.50) over 1100m (0-58). Canny Impact boasted respectable Queensland form, but finished fifth in Darwin (1200m) in February and eighth in Alice Springs (1600m) on March 9. The five-year-old gelding by Real Impact hit the front on Saturday when they jumped and skipped away at the 600m before decimating Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes ($26) and Tayarn Halter’s I’m A Dreamer ($61) by 5.6 lengths. Canny Impact will likely miss next Sunday’s Alice Springs Cup (2000m), with the 2000m (BM76) on Cup Day an inevitable prospect. Having not raced since November, Freedom Day ($7.50), a five-year-old mare by Free Eagle, settled second before hitting the front in the home straight to sink Greg Connor’s stablemates Bold Tropic ($7) and Quanapirri Bay ($9) by 1.3 lengths. Ray Viney’s $2.80 favourite Square Cut (Jessie Philpot) was almost scratched when he refused to enter the barrier before maintaining his excellent Alice Springs record with victory over 1000m (0-70). A five-year-old gelding by Kuroshio, Square Cut (11:4-5-2) was among a host of winners on Saturday that pinged the gates to establish a decent lead. Whittle’s Liberty Blue ($6) – second behind Red Wraith in The Soldier Lightning (1000m) on Wednesday – and Healy’s Real Valentia – third behind Noble Magnate midweek – filled the minor placings. Local Lek Maloney celebrated his second Carnival win when Morgan’s Barocco Bar ($8) left it late over 1400m (0-58). Barocco Bar, a four-year-old gelding by Epaulette, was never far away after sitting four deep in search of the early lead before unwinding over the final 100m to pip Leanne Gillett’s gallant Typically Brazen ($11) by a nose with Healy’s Galaxy Falls ($31) third. The three-year-old event over 1100m (BM66) accommodated three runners, with Petrick’s $13 outsider Prancingintherain (Paul Denton), a gelding by Sir Prancealot, leading throughout on its NT debut to sink Will Savage’s Only The Best ($1.55 fav) and Angela Forster’s Angelique ($2.50). Denton (15) leads the way in the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership from Logan (14.5). Paul Gardner (18) leads the trainers’ premiership from Petrick (14.5). Horse racing news View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, April 1. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these complimentary promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximize your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for April 1, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions 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 Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Appplies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day, paid in bonus cash 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 How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for April 1, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, April 1 will feature six meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Sandown & Warwick Farm. Monday Racing Tips – April 1, 2024 Sandown Racing Tips Warwick Farm Racing Tips 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 April 1, 2024, check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Horse racing tips View the full article

Looking for his first Group 1 tally following a productive second-place effort in the Feb. 11 G2 Kyoto Kinen, Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) got up in time to land Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. A winner in last season's 1800-meter Spring S., he was a well beaten 10th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over 2400 meters. He concluded his 3-year-old season with a victory in Hanshin's G3 Challenge Cup in December. Breaking sharply from the outer stall this time, Bellagio Opera rushed into contention and settled just behind Stunning Rose (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) who led the way. Keeping that front-running rival in his sights through the final two turns, the second betting choice took over before the 200-meter pole and managed to fend off a game Rousham Park by a nose with fast-closing Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) getting up for third. Race favorite Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) hugged the rails in fourth and shifted slightly to the outside after entering the lane to make bid, but the colt was one paced and gradually fell back in the last 200 meters to finish 11th. Jockey-turned-trainer Hiroyuki Uemura, who opened his yard in 2019, celebrated his first JRA Group 1 and fifth graded title while jockey Kazuo Yokoyama registered his third Group 1 title. “I was so disappointed when we lost the Derby that I really wanted to win a Group 1 with this horse. So, I'm really, really happy. Bellagio Opera has very good maneuverability, and I knew that he was in good condition, so I decided to race him toward the front. He's really strong when it comes to a close rally. I'm glad he held off his rivals,” commented jockey Kazuo Yokoyama. Pedigree Notes: The 10th Group 1 winner for Lord Kanaloa, Bellagio Opera is out of Air Routine, a sister to Group 3 winner Air Anthem (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S). and multiple group placed Satono Helios (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). This represents the family of Champion 3-year-old and Japanese Classic winner Air Shakur (Jpn). Sunday, Hanshin, Japan OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥384,800,000, Hanshin, 3-31, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 1:58.20, fm. 1–BELLAGIO OPERA (JPN), 128, c, 4, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) 1st Dam: Air Routine (Jpn), by Harbinger (GB) 2nd Dam: Air Magdalene (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Air Deja Vu (Jpn), by Northern Taste 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shorai Hayashida; B-Shadai Farm; T-Hiroyuki Uemura; J-Kazuo Yokoyama; £203,360,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0. . Werk Nick Rating: A++ Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree 2–Rousham Park (Jpn), 128, h, 5, by Harbinger (GB)–Reinette Groove (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥80,960,000. 3–Rouge Eveil (Jpn), 123, m, 5, Just a Way (Jpn)–Nothing But Dreams (GB), Frankel (GB). O-Tokyo Horse Racing; B-Shadai Farm; ¥50,480,000. Margins: NO, NK, 2; Odds: 2.60, 2.40, 31.80. Also Ran: Stella Veloce (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Catedral (Jpn), Epiphany (Jpn), Tastiera (Jpn), Hayayakko (Jpn), Harper (Jpn), Mikki Gorgeous (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Licancabur (Jpn) Click for the JRA chart & video. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. The post Lord Kanaloa’s Bellagio Opera Ekes Out Osaka Hai Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' and champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light) exited his 13 1/2-length romp in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby in “great” condition according to a social media post by owner Repole Stables. The post, accompanied by a photo of the colt with his winning flowers, reads: “Good morning from Fierceness. He came out of the race great. What a thrilling and epic performance! Happy and healthy Easter to all.” With a leaderboard-topping 136 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Fierceness is bound for Louisville along with owner/breeder Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher. Good Morning from Fierceness. He came out of the race great. What a thrilling and epic performance!!!!! Happy and Healthy Easter to all. pic.twitter.com/3CsfcZlKVd — Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) March 31, 2024 The post Fierceness Comes Out Of Florida Derby In ‘Great’ Shape appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This day 2nd April in horse racing news history From the extensive Horse Betting news archives we present the all the thoroughbred racing action in Australian and overseas racing news in history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in horse racing time. New Zealand horse racing news 12 months ago Caboche relishes extra distance at Bendigo Caboche was a placegetter in last year’s Group 1 Queensland Derby, and a return to that distance paved his way … Read More Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | April 2, 2023 Seven horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips and quaddie selections for free here at … Read More Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Grafton races betting preview & best bets | Monday, 3/4/23 We kick-off the racing week with an eight-race program out of Grafton Racecourse. See all the top racing tips, best … Read More Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Doubles for Todd and Hampson as competition heats up in Alice With the Alice Springs Cup Carnival starting next weekend, a few horses capable of making an impact during April made … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Heresy leads home a Godolphin first four in P J Bell Stakes Heresy has led home a stable first four in the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes, with James Cummings delighted … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Mr Brightside claims the Doncaster Mile The Ben & JD Hayes-trained Mr Brightside has handed the Hayes brothers a maiden Group 1 win as a training … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Nature Strip back to his best in TJ Smith Stakes The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip has claimed a third straight TJ Smith Stakes as he returned to his best form … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Hitotsu claims ATC, VRC Derby double Star colt Hitotsu won his third Group 1 race, with a stunning win in the Australian Derby at Royal Randwick, … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Another One goes one better in Country Championships Final Having finished second in the race last year, the Gary Colvin-trained Another One has gone one better to claim the … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Fireburn adds the Sires’ to winning streak Golden Slipper winner Fireburn has added the second leg of the Sydney two-year-old Triple Crown to her resume, with a … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Gritty win for Nerve Not Verve in Chairman’s Quality Michael Moroney has won his second Chairman’s Quality, with Nerve Not Verve proving too strong in the Group 2 event … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Honeycreeper runs away to win Adrian Knox Honeycreeper has raced away from the field to claim Saturday’s Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in dominant … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Waller, McDonald race away with Carbine Club Stakes Chris Waller & James McDonald have combined once again to take out Saturday’s Carbine Club Stakes in impressive fashion on … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Semillion, Pike dig deep in Kindergarten Stakes The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Semillion has managed to lead throughout the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick to salute as … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Costin delivers on the Big Stage in Muswellbrook Gold Cup The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Regal Stage managed to take out the Muswellbrook Gold Cup on Friday afternoon following … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | April 2, 2022 13 horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips, best odds and quaddie selections for free … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 2 years ago Vincent Ho retains faith in Golden Sixty’s ability to rebound Unmoved by successive defeats aboard Hong Kong’s highest-rated galloper, Vincent Ho is confident Golden Sixty can reprise winning habits in … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Walker looking for fairy tale start It is a case of back to the future as Mark Walker assumes control of Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Regal Lion puts Redcraze Racing in the spotlight As well as giving his retiring co-trainer Murray Baker a shot at an astonishing sixth and final win in the … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Pike quintet head to Avondale It will be a rare occurrence for Tony Pike on Saturday when he heads to Avondale to line-up five runners … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Bjorn Baker quartet primed for today’s Group 1 Australian Derby Ask and you shall receive. In jockey Damian Lane’s case, it took an unfortunate injury to a fellow hoop, star … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Ellsberg under rated in Doncaster Mile according to trainer You can rest assured Ellsberg will not stop trying in the $3 million The Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick today … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Rain no barrier for Tiley trio in Group One feature Trainer Nigel Tiley will take a three-pronged attack into Saturday’s Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Melody Belle passed fit to start at Rosehill Melody Belle will be given the chance to break her Sydney hoodoo after recovering well from a health setback … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Babylon Berlin ready for stern test at Ellerslie Speedy three-year-old Babylon Berlin will line up at Ellerslie for the biggest test of her career when she tackles the … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Karrakatta Plate Race Day | Ascot Tips & Odds | Saturday, 03/04 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the betting preview for the Karrakatta Plate Race Day held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, April 03 … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Former French stayer steps out in Easter Cup at Caulfield One of the most interesting runners at Caulfield is Irish-bred French galloper Amade who makes his Australian debut in the … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Caulfield tips, best bets and quaddie selections | 3/4 What 2021 Easter Cup Race Day Where Caulfield Racecourse – 22 Station St, Caulfield East, VIC, 3145 When Saturday, April … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago 2021 Easter Cup betting tips & form guide | Caulfield | April 3rd Horsebetting’s James Herbert brings you the betting preview for the 2021 Easter Cup held at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, April … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Begood Toya Mother launches campaign at Caulfield After a disappointing spring campaign, Begood Toya Mother makes his return to racing in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Tulloch Stakes tips, best bets and quaddie selections | NSW 4/1 What Group 2 Signace Tulloch Stakes Where Rosehill Gardens When Saturday April 3rd, 2021 Prizemoney $200,000 Distance 2000m Status Group … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago 2021 Emancipation Stakes preview, odds & betting tips | Rosehill Horsebetting’s tipping expert Nicholas Lloyd brings you the betting preview for the 2021 Emancipation Stakes held at Rosehill this Saturday … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago New look Constantinople returns in Easter Cup Arriving in 2019 for a Cups campaign, Constantinople kicks off his latest campaign following a gelding and wind operation in … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Rosehill Gardens racing tips, full card preview & odds | 03/04/21 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the runner-by-runner betting preview for the big Tancred Stakes day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, April 03 … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Hungry Heart can continue winning ways Hungry Heart will be striving to follow in the footsteps of star stablemate Verry Elleegant by winning the Vinery Stud … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Eagle Farm tips, top odds & quaddie | QLD Preview | April 03 Horsebetting.com.au brings you the betting preview for Eagle Farm races held on Saturday, April 03. See all the top tips, … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Oakbank racing tips, best bets & odds | SA Preview 3/4 What Oakbank Races Where Oakbank Racing Club – 46 Oakwood Road, Oakbank, SA, 5243 When Saturday, April 3, 2021 First … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | April 2, 2021 Three horse racing meetings are to be run and won for Good Friday racing around the country. Our racing analysts … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago 2021 Vinery Stud Stakes betting preview & tips | Saturday, 03/04 What Vinery Stud Stakes Where Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142 When Saturday, April 03, 2021 … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Good Friday Race Day | Ascot Tips & Odds | Friday, 02/04 Full preview of Good Friday racing at Ascot for Listed Comrade Stakes, including free tips, best bets and quaddie selections … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Patience paying off for connections of Favreau A more mature Favreau will be out to make an Australian Derby statement via a traditional lead-up to the Group … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago McDonald gives Japanese horse a work-out James McDonald has given Japanese horse Danon Premium a work-out at Canterbury ahead of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Qld jockey banned for quarantine breach Apprentice Zoe White has been disqualified for six months after being found guilty of refusing an order to stand down … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago History beckons as Bobbing chases double A year after winning the Provincial Championships Final, Bobbing will return for a shot at the corresponding title for country-trained … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Coronavirus shuts down Tasmanian racing Tasmania is the first Australian state to shut down racing with thoroughbred, harness and greyhounds all stopped for a month … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Wet track doubt on Standout in TJ Smith Trainer Gerald Ryan has confirmed Standout will only take his place in a sparkling edition of the Group One TJ … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Rain forces date change to Benalla meeting A heavy track with surface water on it and no suitable transfer options has resulted in the Benalla race meeting … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Andrew Noblet returns for Caulfield shot Having relocated from Caulfield to Ballarat, trainer Andrew Noblet is hoping to make his first foray back to his former … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Cummings seeks change of luck in Doncaster The Anthony Cummings-trained Prince Fawaz will bid to enhance the good recent record of three-year-olds when he takes on older … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Beehunter ready for Caulfield challenge Trainer John Sadler has always thought of Beehunter as a potential miler and the three-year-old will get that chance in … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Baker after fifth Australian Derby success Even with the coronavirus forcing him to stay in New Zealand, trainer Murray Baker is set to again make his … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Carif to back-up in Group 2 Chairman’s Quality Co-trainer Peter Snowden believes four-year-old stayer Carif has plenty in his favour going into the Group Two Chairman’s Quality at … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Mishani Rebel to debut for John Wallace The new racing restrictions in Queensland have allowed trainer John Wallace pick up handy two-year=old Mishani Rebel who debuts for … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Dismissal aims for upset in Group 1 Sires’ Trainer Gary Portelli is convinced Dismissal can run a much better race than her odds suggest in the Group One … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Gollan ready to Get Stuck In at Doomben Trainer Tony Gollan will rely on Get Stuck In at Doomben after scratching Silvera with future feature races in mind … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Munce out to continue good run with Papaya Trainer Chris Munce has decided to miss the Capricornia Classic with Papaya and will instead run her at Doomben … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Derby aspirations for former Kiwi Former New Zealand galloper Chuck A Luck will take his next step towards the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago McGillivray on right track for Gold Coast Jockey Matt McGillivray has made the right choice by electing to ride at the Gold Coast where he has 10 … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Doncaster within Sargent’s grasp Randwick trainer John Sargent is poised to make a splash when Brandenburg contests Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m). The … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Group 3 target for Kiwi transfer Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was pleased to get a win on the board with Lib Petagna’s handy staying filly Elisa … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Technology vital in Sydney preparation Technology has been a godsend for Tony Pike in preparing his trio of Sydney runners for their Autumn assignments. Not … Read More Ireland horse racing news 4 years ago Irish jumps season officially over The Irish National Hunt season has officially ended with the news the Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals will not be rescheduled … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 4 years ago Teetan bags three at Sha Tin as ‘closers’ dominate It was a night for late-closers and Mongolian King maintained that trend to the last with a powerful late charge … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Noble Boy cleared to run in Country C’ship Favourite Noble Boy has been cleared to run in the $500,000 Country Championship after concerning his trainer Todd Blowes in … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago David Whimpey to step down as BRC boss The Brisbane Racing Club’s chief executive David Whimpey will step down with the club looking Australia-wide for a replacement … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Japanese horse Kluger draws 4 in Doncaster Japanese horse Kluger will start from barrier four in his bid to win the Doncaster Mile with Tommy Berry to … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Nichols chooses lighter Caulfield option A lighter weight has forced the hands of trainer Shane Nichols in his choice of two race options at Caulfield … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Chapada still favourite for Derby The Mike Moroney-trained Chapada remains favourite for the Australian Derby with stablemate Arrogant drifting after a less than spectacular Randwick … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago 23rd horse dies at Santa Anita A 23rd horse has died at Santa Anita after a racing accident with authorities still unclear as to the cause … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Hay List’s trainer John McNair dies Trainer John McNair, famous for the deeds of super sprinter Hay List, has died after a short illness … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Tasmanian mare to run for in-form trainer Trainer Chief Stipe Harrison hopes to continue the recent success of Tasmanian horses on the mainland when Miss Biddy makes her … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Brisbane plans for Big Mike Handy stayer Big Mike was back in action at the Avondale trials on Tuesday and impressed his trainers ahead of … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Cup hopes in the balance for Cambridge pair Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have two contenders for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in Zacada and … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Queensland close to first apprentice title Queensland hold a slender lead in the battle for their first National Apprentices Challenge title at Sandown … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Pike’s Sacred promise to Lane Tony Pike will be honouring a promise to Golden Slipper-winning jockey Damian Lane at Randwick on Saturday. Lane added the … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Sunlight to face biggest challenge yet Star filly Sunlight will face her biggest challenge yet in TJ Smith Stakes, according to trainer Tony McEvoy … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Alizee outright favourite for Doncaster Alizee is the favourite for the Doncaster Mile after drawing a midfield barrier in the $3 million race at Randwick … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Full field for $3m Doncaster Mile The $3 million Doncaster Mile on the first day of The Championships at Randwick has drawn a full field … Read More USA horse racing news 5 years ago Japan Road concludes with Der Flug winning Fukuryu The final leg of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1)” was run on Sunday at Nakayama. Run at … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Group One winner He’s Our Rokkii retired After winning seven races including the Group One Toorak Handicap, five-year-old He’s Our Rokkii has been retired … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago William Thomas impresses with Sandown win Trainer John Price and Damian Lane both have a high opinion of William Thomas after his return victory over 1000m … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Stakes challenge on cards for Roman Son The Richard Freedman-trained Roman Son could make the step up to black-type racing in the JRA Plate after an impressive … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Chris Waller to increase Qld presence The in-form Chris Waller Gold Coast stable will have more numbers in coming weeks as it prepares for the Queensland … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Vinery setback no issue for Luvaluva Missing the Vinery Stud Stakes should not impact on Australian Oaks contender Luvaluva although she now faces a seven-day back-up … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Holbien ready to tackle Bendigo Guineas Trainer Steve Richards is ready to give Holbien a start in the Listed Bendigo Guineas before concentrating on a spring … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Deanne Taylor lands maiden Melbourne win Much-travelled trainer Deanne Taylor has landed her first Melbourne winner with favourite Silence The Stars successful at Sandown … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Ace High needs helpful draw for Derby Ace High’s trainer David Payne hopes the weather forecast is accurate and the Australian Derby favourite gets a suitable draw … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Unbeaten 3YO’s future unclear Stephen Marsh has tipped a bright future for Not Usual Talent … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago NZ racing news: Hale’s Easter stocks boosted We round up the latest news snippets from the New Zealand Racing Desk … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Colt sends admirers winning message More Wonder’s popularity will have been further boosted by his latest performance at Rotorua … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Hardy stayer appreciates break and rain Fresh legs were the key to The Gordonian producing a career-best last-start performance … Read More United Arab Emirates horse racing news 6 years ago Saeed bin Suroor dominates Dubai World Cup meet Saeed bin Suroor has dominated the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline like no other trainer and won the … Read More Hong Kong horse racing news 6 years ago Rawiller’s Harmony Hero win brings back fond memories Jockey Nash Rawiller took riding honours at Sha Tin’s Easter Monday meeting (2 April) with a treble, but it was … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Big Duke favourite for Sydney Cup Premier Melbourne trainer Darren Weir can make a Group One breakthrough north of the border with Sydney Cup favourite Big … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Winx ready to be crowned Queen at Randwick Winx is physically and mentally prepared for her next assignment in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Grey Lion on target for Easter Cup return Matt Cumani’s first Melbourne Cup runner Grey Lion is progressing nicely in a bid to make his racing return at … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Cylinder Beach form looking good for Cup Cylinder Beach has form around Doncaster winner It’s Somewhat which should make him hard to beat in the Toowoomba Cup … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Harlow Gold to have new rider for Oaks With Regan Bayliss suspended, Mark Zahra will ride leading ATC Oaks contender Harlow Gold in the 2400m race at Randwick … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago More country TAB meetings for Queensland Racing Queensland has increased the number of country area TAB meetings next season … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tommy Berry suspended, fined over whip use Tommy Berry’s two Group One wins on the first day of The Championships have been tempered by a fine and … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Upset puts Diamond Made in Oaks frame Diamond Made looks certain to tackle the ATC Australian Oaks after winning the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Waller’s Winx simply the best in Australia Winx has put the stamp on her fabulous season with victory in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick to seal her … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Waller’s Winx simply the best in Australia Winx has put the stamp on her fabulous season with victory in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick to seal her … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Gr 1 Doncaster Mile: what the jockeys said What the jockeys said after the Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Berisha scores upset Mornington Cup win Berisha has gained a Caulfield Cup start with his last-stride victory over Big Memory in the Mornington Cup … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Chautauqua in last-to-first TJ Smith win Chautauqua has unleased his trademark finish to blow away a quality field in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Winx earns ‘champion’ tag in Mile victory Chris Waller has been moved to call Winx ‘a champion’ after the mare overcame adversity to win the $3 million … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tavago wins another Derby for New Zealand Natalie Young is the first woman to train an ATC Australian Derby winner, preparing Tavago with her partner Trent Busuttin … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Weight no burdern in Casual win at Doomben Casual Choice has made it successive wins after the Tony Gollan-trained sprinter made the most of favourable gate at Doomben … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Fairytale filly Yankee Rose wins Sires’ Two-year-old filly Yankee Rose has won the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, thrilling a group of first time owners … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Ex-Moody runner wins Mornington feature Thermal Current has taken out the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington at his first start for trainer Darren Weir … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Chautauqua in last-to-first TJ Smith win Chautauqua has confirmed his ranking as one of the world’s best sprinters with a come-from-behind win in the TJ Smith … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tarquin finds winning form at Mornington Godolphin galloper Tarquin has relished a drop in grade to take out the Mornington Guineas … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tavago in ATC Australian Derby boilover Outsider Tavago has scored an emphatic win in the ATC Australian Derby, beating Melbourne filly Jameka and Godolphin runner Tally … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Clearly Innocent defies odds in Final win An injury scare and a betting drift have not been enough to stop Clearly Innocent winning at Randwick … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Big day at Mornington for the Dunn family Apprentice Dylan Dunn has outridden his provincial allowance with a winning treble on Mornington Cup day … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tempt Me Not wins Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes James Cummings has trained Tempt Me Not to claim the Group Three PJ Bell Stakes in a win for his … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Yankee Rose wins ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes Yankee Rose has given trainer David Vandyke his first Group One win after an effortless victory in the ATC Sires’ … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Carnival 2YO prospects on show at Doomben Two-year-old Spot The Diff has led home a trio of Brisbane winter carnival hopefuls in winning at Doomben … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Import Libran confirms G1 Sydney Cup start English import Libran has continued his march towards the Group One Sydney Cup with victory in the Chairman’s Handicap … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Laing set to aim higher with Jaws Of Steel Jaws Of Steel may be heading interstate after breaking through for his maiden success in the Mornington Guineas … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Carbine result a pointer to 2017 Doncaster He’s Our Rokkii has won the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes, showing co-trainer David Hayes he can be a top-class … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Two winners in Kindergarten at Randwick Gai and Godolphin share the spoils in the first race at Randwick with Astern and Winx’s little brother El Divino … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Steve Wilson interim chair of RQ Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson has taken over the role as interim chairman of Racing Queensland … Read More View the full article

You need to channel your inner Meat Loaf to put Saturday's trio of points-awarding stakes for the GI Kentucky Derby in perspective. The well-backed winners of the GI Arkansas Derby, GI Florida Derby, and G2 UAE Derby all delivered commanding, speed-centric performances that transformed what has been an underwhelming prep season into a Triple Crown chase suddenly spiked with intrigue. 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) swatted back a surprise mid-race attack to win authoritatively at Oaklawn. Fellow 'Rising Star' and juvenile champ Fierceness (City of Light) administered a 13 1/2-length shellacking at Gulfstream that resounds as the largest winning margin in Florida Derby history. And at Meydan in Dubai, the undefeated Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) ran his record to 5-for-5, fusing impressive quickness with staunch staying power despite giving up substantial ground on a track slanted in favor of rail runners. While it's on to Louisville for the latter two, we've known for months that the corporate powers at Churchill Downs have disinvited Bob Baffert's trainees from their 150th Derby bash, so Muth won't be joining Fierceness and Forever Young in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Thus the reference to the emotional lyrics belted out by his Loafness, the late, larger-than-life 1970s rock balladeer: “Don't be sad–'cause two outta three ain't bad.” There will be no Derby rematch of Fierceness and Muth, the one-two finishers in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Nor will we witness the fascinating hookup of the three most talented tactical speed horses among a projected field of sophomores that, to this point, has been top-heavy with closers and midpack stalkers. So be it. The Derby isn't the only jewel in the Triple Crown. Fierceness and Forever Young are ready for prime time right now. Muth will be fresh, fit and dangerous for the GI Preakness S. in Baltimore or the GI Belmont S. at Saratoga. Perhaps both, if we're lucky. What stood out about Muth's tally in the Arkansas Derby was how economically he doled out his speed when confronted with two disruptive attempts to ratchet up the tempo. Off as the 2.3-1 second choice, Muth broke running under Juan Hernandez, then backed off the action when a 26-1 sacrificial pacemaker slipped up the rail. Hernandez appeared content to settle into a prime stalking spot. But just before the field cornered onto the back straight, Flavien Prat unexpectedly knifed 11-10 favorite Timberlake (Into Mischief) between rivals at the 6 1/2-furlong pole. Hernandez didn't want Timberlake to obtain too big a margin unchallenged, and he quickened Muth for a few strides before sensing he could let Timberlake keep a half-length lead for most of the backstretch run. Then, starting 3 1/2 furlongs out, Muth gradually ramped up the pressure under his own power. Hernandez cut him loose turning for home. This was a move Timberlake simply could not match, and the visual of Muth opening up under a hand ride at the head of the lane while Timberlake was being scrubbed on to eventually hold fourth told the story of the race. Muth held off the persistent 32-1 shot Just Steel (Justify) by two lengths under the wire, and it was another 4 1/2 lengths back to everyone else in a scattered field of also-rans. Fierceness's ransack win in the Florida Derby under jockey John Velazquez was easily the gaudiest performance of the three March 30 stakes. Yet despite the blowout nature of the victory, it was also the most difficult to quantify. With a win-every-other-race record through five starts, Fierceness's crushing of a soft-on-paper field on Saturday reaffirmed his status as an A-list sophomore when he's on his game. But still, controlling a measured cadence without having to repulse any serious bids did nothing for this Todd Pletcher trainee's reputation for not being able to deliver the goods when up against the grain of adversity. At age two, Fierceness won his Saratoga debut by 11 1/4 lengths in the slop, then got drilled by 20 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite in the sloppy GI Champagne S. Bettors let him go at 16-1 in the Breeders' Cup, and he responded with a 6 1/4-length win that appeared more polished. Yet his unveiling at age three was a flat third at 1-5 odds in the slow-paced GIII Holy Bull S., and he needed an over-the-top effort in the Florida Derby simply from a momentum perspective. The Kentucky Derby will now be the put-up-or-shut-up race that tells us what Fierceness is truly made of. Whether you plan to bet on him or against him, the story arc has been written appealingly, purely from an entertainment point of view. If the UAE Derby previously didn't register on your handicapping radar as a pipeline for legit Kentucky Derby contenders, you are forgiven considering the out-of-their league cumulative record of the horses who have attempted that double. Since 2000, 13 winners of the UAE Derby have gone on to compete in the Kentucky Derby. The best finish among them was sixth (accomplished twice), along with two DNF's and a 20th-place try. Forever Young might be the colt with the best potential to flip that script. Sent for speed from a wide draw over 1900 meters on Saturday, he was responsive to cues to quicken from jockey Ryusei Sakai. Parked four wide through the first turn, Forever Young eased back and settled into a nice stride while fifth onto the backstretch while remaining wide to avoid kickback. He stayed in about the four path around the final bend while torqueing into a higher gear, then this Yoshito Yahagi trainee dug in down the home straight with an all-out effort that had him inhaling the pacemaker, drawing away and striding out confidently. The post The Week In Review: Meat Loaf With Side Of Intrigue-Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The way California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) chair Greg Ferraro describes it, the now infamous letter in which 1/ST Racing and Gaming appeared to threaten the sale of Santa Anita should the board grant the North its desired 2024 race dates was “a very big mistake” on their part–one that helped sway the board's unanimous decision to side with interests in the Northern half of the state. “It really put a bad taste in the mouths of board members,” Ferraro said. Beforehand, Ferraro had anticipated punting a decision on the North's race dates to the following meeting, he said, adding how Belinda Stronach, chairwoman, CEO and president of 1/ST, had called him the day before to “lobby” her position. Ultimately, however, “the two things that came out to me [from the meeting] was just how much animosity there is towards The Stronach Group in California,” Ferraro said. “And that the letter was the thing that really killed them.” The granting to the North a 10-week meet–to run at Pleasanton from Oct. 10 to Dec. 15 at the conclusion of this summer's fair meets–heralds quite the dramatic reordering of the operational and political furniture in California racing. “It might be the most momentous decision the board has made in its history,” said Ferraro. But now the dust has settled somewhat on last week's board's decision, what's next? “What we have to do now is get the racetrack operators in one room, sit down with them and say, 'okay look, this is the direction we need to go. You can either go voluntarily or the board will force you.' Remember, we control the dates,” said Ferraro. “Let's sit down and see what we can work out with the calendar for the next year or two, three, to transition to a one circuit,” Ferraro added (more on that single circuit in a bit). When asked to discuss the situation with a 1/ST representative, company spokesperson Tiffani Steer wrote in an email, “Craig Fravel's comments at the CHRB meeting stand.” Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) president and CEO Bill Nader said for him, the key takeaway from the meeting was the concretizing of important details. “We all have something now we can measure–I think that's good for the North and it's good for the South,” said Nader. “Trying to define viability or sustainability is difficult when some of it's based on speculation.” With the vote in, “now [the CARF] have got to go back and address the outstanding points that were raised in the meeting,” said Nader. “We're moving forward, but there's still pieces of the puzzle that need to come together.” Golden Gate | Vassar Photography PLANS FOR PLEASANTON The ambitious plan outlined by the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) for its 26-day, 208-race season at Pleasanton presents stakeholders in the North with a set of logistical and bureaucratic hurdles to overcome between now and then, pending CHRB approval of the track's license application at its Aug. 15 meeting. Upon such approval, the meet is scheduled to run under the auspices of Golden State Racing, a moniker given to differentiate it from CARF's stable of summer fair meets. All told, there will be eight stakes worth a combined $550,000, with some $3.6 million designated for overnight purses. CARF executive director Larry Swartzlander said that these are “not firm numbers yet.” Among some of the undertakings at Pleasanton these next few months is the installation of some 284 additional auxiliary stalls at a projected maximum cost of $1.5 million, said Swartzlander, with the aim of facilitating around 840 horses. There are ongoing negotiations with the operators of the golf course situated within Pleasanton's infield to determine how the two entities will coexist. CARF's plan is for no golfing during racing, to limit public use during training hours, and to allow the First Tee community program–a youth golf program–limited access to the infield. State regulators will likely require a “Notice of Intent” for coverage under an industrial stormwater permit, to be filed before June 2, along with other environmental compliance issues to contend with. When it comes to discretionary spending number crunching, CARF has stated it has $900,000 in cash reserves, access to a line of credit of up to $4 million from Alameda County Fairgrounds, and that it will arrange for further “lending, grants and donations” as the cost of capital requirements become clearer. Swartzlander said that an engineer is scheduled to visit Pleasanton in July to assess the facility for a proposed turf course and to provide a cost estimate. At the board meeting, Swartzlander pinned a rough $7 million price tag to that venture. Currently, once Golden Gate Fields closes its doors on June 9, Santa Rosa will be the only Northern California track with a turf course. According to Ferraro, several key questions surrounding the issues of everyday operations–“who's running the show”–the agreement with the golf course operators, and that of financial viability remain unanswered, despite the additional details offered up by CARF last Thursday. “The horse racing board is preparing them a list of questions that we want answered when they come back in August,” said Ferraro. “Staff is working on them right now.” According to Jerome Hoban, CEO at Alameda County Fairgrounds, the next steps for Pleasanton and CARF concern installing the auxiliary stabling, negotiating a “purse schedule” with the TOC, and developing a licensing agreement “so that it's satisfactory with the CHRB.” “We're also developing a marketing plan for this meet and beyond,” said Hoban, calling their approach “more robust” than that in place at Golden Gate Fields. “This is not a one-meet endeavour. The confidence that has to be given to the horsemen is that we have found them a home for good.” A key obstacle that CARF must negotiate is Pleasanton's lesser name recognition compared to Golden Gate. As an example, the DRF recently reported how the New York Racing Association anticipates a 20% decline in betting revenues due to the temporary closure of Belmont Park and the comparative weakness of the Aqueduct “brand.” It will take time for the simulcasting handle to “pick up on who Golden State Racing is,” admitted Hoban. “I do think we could have a dip in handle because of brand recognition,” he added. “But if there's any team that could turn that around, it's going to be us.” One of the areas that the board zeroed in on for scrutiny were the possible financial costs and logistical hurdles of complying with state environmental regulations. “We're always concerned about environmental compliance, but we're a 265-acre property that is used to dealing with these things. This is not new business to us,” said Hoban. “I think that some of the things that Del Mar, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields have had to deal with, they are in a different situation with their manure management programs, with their proximity to the ocean and the bay. I think our facility is already well ahead of those facilities in regards these topics,” said Hoban. According to owner-breeder Justin Oldfield, part of a working group that drafted CARF's plan, the most pressing thing for all California stakeholders, North and South, is to nail down an outside source of income for purses, which would take a Herculean lift in California's tough political environment. “There are things we haven't explored thoroughly before, like historical horse racing machines,” said Oldfield. But if realizing outside purse revenues “truly is our number one challenge,” that would require a unified industry front, he added. “I don't know of a single person on our horsemen's working group or anywhere else that would disagree with that,” Oldfield said. As for horsemen and women in the North, the mood at Golden Gate Fields since the vote has equated to one big “sigh of relief,” said trainer Blaine Wright. “I think people are really going to do their darndest to make this a go, keep the horses supplied and make this a reality for us,” said Wright. “I've already had some phone calls from [former owners] who haven't been supporting Golden Gate saying that, 'hey, we're planning on claiming a horse or two for you up there, help make a go of it.' And that's awesome.” Del Mar | Horsephotos PURSE CUTS What the CHRB's decision last Thursday doesn't do is remove the tough economics, especially in the South. Multi-million purse deficits are fed by shrinking handle totals–wagering on California racing was down by around 5% in the first two months of 2024. At the heart of these equations are field sizes. During the first 35 days of racing during Santa Anita's current meet (317 races), field sizes averaged out to 7.02 runners. At a comparable stage last year (after 31 days of racing and 282 individual races), the average field size was 7.54 runners. That said, the average field size at a comparable stage in 2022 (after 37 days racing and 328 races) was 6.90. Interestingly, the 25% purse cuts at Golden Gate appear to have helped claw back a substantial amount of the track's $3.1 million purse deficit. According to data reviewed by the TDN, Golden Gate had recouped over $1.2 million of its purse account over-payment by the middle of March. Nader said the next step is to come to a decision about purses for Santa Anita's remaining Spring meet by the beginning of April, in time for the next condition book. A decision about Del Mar's purses will come out “shortly thereafter,” said Nader. “They're anxious to put out their schedule for the summer,” he added. One notable impact from Golden Gate's closure is the schism that has opened up between interests in the North and South. Earlier this year, three Northern TOC members resigned in protest to what they saw as the organization's Southern-centric approach to the problem. These feelings clearly persist. “What's the future of the TOC? I think they've lost some credibility,” said Tom Clark, the owner and manager of Rancho San Miguel, a mainstay of the state's breeding industry. “I think we need to strongly examine how the organization's currently structured, and what their mandate is.” “We're doing all we can to give them comfort that we're here, that we're a resource, and that we accept and hear their views,” said Nader, when asked about the organization's approach to mending bridges. “That doesn't mean we always agree,” said Nader. “But in the end, we have to land on what's best for California going forward. And we can't isolate this to a specific region, whether it's North or South. It's got to be a big-picture outlook of longer-term vision. “And that's why getting actual data to accurately assess the benchmarks CARF put forward in its draft license application could be a good thing in the end,” Nader added. “Northern California is asking for a chance and the TOC is saying any business plan needs to be viable and sustainable. This is where we can find alignment.” However, “if the numbers come out [at Pleasanton's meet] and it's far below expectations or below expectations, you'd need to find a way to pivot to meet the backup model,” Nader said. What would that back-up model look like? “The backup would be to use the different assets in Southern California, meaning Los Alamitos, Santa Anita and Del Mar,” said Nader. While stakeholders have raised questions over the years about 1/ST's financial commitment to its Californian assets–in particular, deferred maintenance at Santa Anita and Golden Gate's backsides–the company has still made and promised several costly investments in recent years. This includes a new Tapeta training track, new turf chute at Santa Anita, and in state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technologies. Earlier this year, 1/ST announced the California Crown at Santa Anita, revamping the card on G1 Awesome Again S. day, in homage to the Pegasus World Cup. With that in mind, how seriously does Nader take Fravel's threat to sell Santa Anita? “The key thing I think was when Fravel said Belinda is still very keen to continue racing there, and she's turned down many offers before,” said Nader. “The one thing you'd say, the transparency of putting the industry on notice, in some regard, that's a good thing,” Nader added. “I'd rather have them say it than not say it and sell it in the middle of the night.” THE BREEDERS Conspicuous in their absence at the last CHRB meeting was a representative from Los Alamitos. When asked if 1/ST's letter had any bearing on his nonattendance, Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau said, “at the board, I think there was a perception that a threat was being made, and I don't think it was well received. Los Alamitos and 'Doc' [Ed] Allred [Los Alamitos owner] perceived of that threat and decided it would not be a party to it.” In recent months as discussions circulated on a consolidated circuit in the South, Liebau has discussed a possible legislative fix to expand the menu of Thoroughbred races offered at Los Alamitos. Currently outside of their scheduled Thoroughbred meets, Los Alamitos is limited to staging Thoroughbred races capped at 4 1/2 furlongs and at a $5,000 claiming price. This proposal had followed the passing of key legislation last September, which means that when Golden Gate Fields no longer operates after June this year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the Northern half of the state will be funneled south when the North doesn't conduct any live racing. The idea of a legislative fix to expand the menu of Thoroughbred races on offer at Los Alamitos has been put on the “back-burner,” said Liebau. But he also stressed how Los Alamitos was never an active advocate but rather a “passive observer” of efforts like the proposed legislation. “Doctor Allred has always said that Los Al would do whatever it can do to improve racing and to accommodate all the different interests. But when you get down to it, Los Al is really something of a bystander. It's happy to help, but certainly doesn't view itself as pushing that legislation,” said Liebau. In discussions with various California stakeholders, the firm stance the CHRB took on Northern dates prompted several breeders holding off on breeding plans until the last moment to press the trigger. “It was very important that we had something positive to announce to basically keep giving people a reason to breed,” said California Thoroughbred Breeders Association president, Chief Stipe Burge, who added that total reports of mares bred won't arrive until the fall. Clark said he was unaware of such a trend. “It's not like people called me up, saying 'oh boy, with the vote last week, I guess I'm going ahead to breed,'” he said. However, “one breeder I know, his mare had just foaled and he had to make a decision. He said, 'Yeah, now I feel a lot better about going ahead and breeding again,'” Clark added. And what of Ferraro's idea for a single circuit in the state? That would look like year-round racing with meets North and South, but no over-lap with one-other, he said. “Long-term, I think it's the only way California racing can survive,” said Ferraro. “We simply don't have enough horses or enough fan support to continue with this two-circuit racing.” When asked about this proposition, Liebau voiced his reservations. “It's very difficult to react to a comment made by the chairman of the board, but I think the time passed on that long ago,” said Liebau. The finances involved with keeping facilities operational in today's economic climate are massive, said Liebau. Indeed, Santa Anita has apparently incurred operating losses of more than $31 million over the last five years. Interestingly, during the latest CHRB meeting, Fravel offered up the company's books for the state regulator to examine. “Frank Stronach always thought you needed to run year-round and every day because it's very difficult to keep a track like Santa Anita going if it's shut down half the year,” said Liebau. As for Pleasanton, Liebau pointed to a couple potential positives. One is that large purses don't necessarily correlate to larger fields. That, “and I suspect the horses in the North have more starts than horses in the South,” Liebau said, adding however that he hasn't crunched those numbers. “The people in the North deserve to be given the chance to succeed or fail,” said Liebau. “But they have a long difficult road ahead of them.” The post Following CHRB Race Dates Decision, What’s Next For California? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The rider who streaked home in the £4.7m Sheema Classic in Dubai at the weekend is also odds-on to win something rather more quaint. The title of champion Flat race jockey was once contested with fierce pride by men who thrashed car engines dashing up and down the land to ride a winner at Redcar or Salisbury. Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery didn't care where it was, provided it landed a blow on their rivals. Sometimes small private planes would lift them over the motorway traffic. But the mission never changed. Champion jockey was a crown worth fighting for. One year Carson expended so much energy to win it that he needed a week in bed to recover. William Buick, who won the Sheema Classic on Rebel's Romance, has been No 1 for the last two seasons and is 8/13 to complete his hat-trick. Oisin Murphy finished in front in the previous three campaigns (2019 to 2021) but now says he will not forego a big international ride for the sake of being champion once again. The truncation of the jockeys' league in 2015 so that it now operates from May 4 to October 19 owed more to politics than stage management. Nobody could pretend the 'narrative' of identifying the top jockey has been strengthened by starting it at the Guineas meeting and calling a halt on Champions' Day. The public isn't exactly on tenterhooks to see whether Buick can hold off Murphy, Rossa Ryan, Silvestre de Sousa and Tom Marquand, who complete the top five in the betting. But behind the UK Flat Jockeys' Championship's struggle for relevance sits a reality we sometimes take for granted: the extraordinary globalisation of the Flat race pilot's trade. In prioritising big races abroad above little ones at Bath or Beverley, Murphy was merely adopting a position now assumed by the world's best cricketers. Test matches no longer anchor their career planning. As England's Kevin Pietersen is fond of saying, cricketers are becoming international freelancers, attached to this or that T20 league, with the Indian Premier League the mothership of salaries. Playing for England or Australia may cease to be the defining honour for players who see themselves as hired guns. Behind the UK Flat Jockeys' Championship's struggle for relevance sits a reality we sometimes take for granted: the extraordinary globalisation of the Flat race pilot's trade In racing, tie-ins with owners and trainers still have a large say in where jockeys go. Buick was riding for Godolphin at Meydan and Ryan Moore was there to accompany Aidan O'Brien's runners. And yet, taking in the sweep of colossally valuable fixtures in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai this winter, it's easy to form a picture of the elite end of racing becoming a game without frontiers. Moore holds the title of Longines World's Best Jockey (he won it too in 2014, 2016 and 2021). We think of him as Coolmore's 'finisher' in the UK and Ireland. But his cv maps out his global reach (not to mention the time spent on planes). Outside Europe he has won the Japan Cup, Melbourne Cup, Hong Kong Vase and races at the Breeders' Cup. He's unlikely to be tortured by the knowledge that he hasn't been the champ in his homeland since 2009. The champion jockey title still resonates. It still offers a measure of greatness in the saddle. Nat Flatman claimed the first 13 titles from 1840 to 1852. Gordon Richards won it 26 times between 1925 and 1953. Names still pop out to induce nostalgia: Joe Mercer's lone win in 1979, or Steve Cauthen's three. Jim Crowley's victory at 38 years old in 2016, 10 years after he switched from jump racing, was a stellar accomplishment. If Buick is anointed again this autumn the completion of his hat-trick will bring him joy. Nobody however could expect him to crave another winners-ridden victory ahead of a revival for Charlie Appleby's yard in this campaign (Rebel's Romance was a promising start). Racing isn't alone in pivoting away from the old markers of excellence. The compulsion in world sport is to follow the money, which can be found in new places, new events. Ask the footballers signing for Saudi Arabian clubs. This isn't just a British and Irish trend. Falling in love with Japanese racing yielded spectacular results for France's Christophe Lemaire. Three times Lemaire has been Japan's No 1 rider, by races won. Numbers though are less of a guarantee of immortality than his partnerships with Almond Eye and Equinox, a conveyance of extraordinary grandeur, and the worldwide horse of the year in 2023. This free flow of human talent to where the best horses and biggest prizes are follows modern norms. If it means we see a less entertaining scrap for autumn wins at Catterick or Ripon then we'll just have to hope the champion buys us a drink from his or her vast international earnings. Racing may sometimes be stuck in a loop of self-doubt, but the growing opulence of the global calendar is one field where decline is not conspicuous. Piggott, Eddery and Carson boarded aeroplanes too, often in Europe, but usually to get them from an afternoon meeting in Britain to an evening one. The post Lure of Global Riches Alters Face of Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Legendary trainer favours the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) over Royal Ascot in bid to emulate Silent WitnessView the full article

Veteran handler scores a double before championship leader strikes back as title fight begins to heat upView the full article