Wandering Eyes

Chad Brown said he is targeting the Feb. 17 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds for Sierra Leone's 2024 debut and then will use either the April 6 Blue Grass (G1) or Wood Memorial (G2) as a final prep for the May 4 first leg of the Triple Crown. View the full article

The 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in the classic's history, with its purse raised from $3 million to $5 million. The increase was announced Jan. 10 by Churchill Downs.View the full article

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale continued into its second half Wednesday in Lexington with a session which, while significantly smaller, produced results largely in line with its 2023 counterpart. For the session, 196 horses sold for a gross of $4,352,900. The average of $22,209 was down 2.54% from last year's corresponding session, while the median of $10,000 was up 25%. From 316 catalogued horses, 242 horses were offered and 46 failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 19.01%. During the third session of the 2023 auction, 246 horses sold for $5,605,700. The session average was $22,787 and the median was $8,000. The buy-back rate was 17.45%. Marvelous Time (Distorted Humor), who sold just minutes into Wednesday's session, brought the day's top price when selling for $220,000 to Centofanti Thoroughbreds, as agent for Brittlyn Stables. The session topper was one of 17 sold for $1,103,000 during what has become an annual offering of mares from Godolphin, making Sheikh Mohammed's operation the day's leading consignor. A filly from the first crop of Yaupon brought the top price for a short yearling Wednesday when selling for $150,000 to Crestwood Farm. Through three of four sessions, 626 horses have grossed $35,949,600 and the average of $57,427 is just 0.79% off the 2023 figure. The median of $22,000 is down 18.52%. “I'm more than happy with the market,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “I think there was a bit of doom and gloom from some people coming in that it was going to be tough going, but in fairness, it was pretty good. If you had the right foal and it vetted clean and everything, you got a lot of money for it. They sold very well. Overall, it was better than expected, I would say.” A horse awaits a turn in the ring | Keeneland Consignors agreed quality offerings continued to be in demand at Keeneland this week. “Horses with quality are still fairly easy to sell,” said Brian Graves of Gainesway, which consigned the $1.6-million sale-topping Prank (Into Mischief) during Monday's first session of the auction. “And then anything that even hints at not being every bit of that is correcting. Anything that is not 100% quality or top shelf, it looks like it's correcting.” Graves said he has also observed less activity than normal in the back ring. “It seems like there is not a lot of back ring participants, so if you didn't have it done at the barn, you weren't going to get any help,” he said. “There weren't a ton of people standing around here just buying horses out of the back ring for anything significant.” On the other side of the ledger, Graves has been active as a buyer in the pinhooking sphere where he admitted he was vying for that very quality, while also casting a wary eye on potential market conditions next fall. “We focus on quality [when we buy],” Graves said. “That's what we focus on. It's a battle to get your hands on that and once you've gotten your hands on that, you have to worry a little bit wondering if these other signs that we are seeing are a hint of what is coming down the road.” Meg Levy, whose Bluewater Sales sold the $650,000 Kaling (Practical Joke) Monday, said demand for quality lots significantly helped to drive up prices for those offerings. “I feel like quality will out,” Levy said. “The buyers are willing to pay more for the perceived commercial quality, particularly in the yearlings, I have noticed. We had Kaling sell very well here, which we were pleased about. But it just seems like everybody is willing to pay up to a third more for what they perceive to be the right stuff. And the middle market is still suffering. It's very difficult.” Levy speculated that some of the weakening in the foal market might be traced back to the vet reports. “There is kind of a gap selling some of these yearlings where we are using the vet reports as a marketing tool to help the buyers,” she said. “But honestly, so many of them don't understand reports and they don't use a veterinarian, so that ends up hurting things.” The Keeneland January sale concludes Thursday with a session beginning at 10 a.m. Sikura, Dorman Team Up for Star Act The Keeneland January sale got its third seven-figure horse when Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's John Sikura and Determined Stud's Matt Dorman partnered up to purchase Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}) (hip 144) for $1.2 million. The 13-year-old mare, dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify), was originally led out unsold at $950,000 during the auction's first session Monday. Star Act | Keeneland “She is a class mare,” Dorman said Wednesday. “She's a Grade I producer. She has a phenomenal horse who is three-for-three and primed for next year. John Sikura has always been a great business partner. It just worked out as a good opportunity.” Dorman said the mare, who is in foal to Life Is Good and was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale on behalf of George Krikorian, was on his radar Monday, but after Prank (Into Mischief) sold for $1.6 million earlier in the session, he assumed Star Act would be out of his price range. “When I saw the horse go for $1.6 million, I thought she would be too much,” Dorman said. “I work with David Ingordo now. So Dave and I had a long conversation about the broodmare band and what we are doing. And after [Star Act] RNA'd, we decided that the horse made sense at this number. So we reached out to John and Donato [Lanni]. And we called back and forth and it evolved into John and I buying the horse. Donato and the owner have a long-standing relationship with John and respect John, so it worked out well.” @JessMartiniTDN Marvelous Time Makes Trip Worthwhile for Centofanti Bloodstock agent Raffaele Centofanti made the trip up from Ocala to find a specific mare for Evelyn Benoit's Brittlyn Stable and, mission accomplished, he was heading back south having purchased Marvelous Time (Distorted Humor) (hip 845) for $220,000 early in Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland January sale. Bred and consigned by Godolphin, the 4-year-old is a daughter of Grade I-placed Folk (Quiet American). “We were looking for that Quiet American line,” Centofanti said of the mare's appeal. “They are hard to find. You can't find them usually that young–she's only four. It's such a great female line. To get her that young and with that broodmare sire, she checked all the boxes basically. She had everything physically, as well. She is 16.2, with a classy look and a great walk. She looks like a Distorted Humor, but she had the size. She had everything I liked physically.” Marvelous Time | Keeneland Marvelous Time made just one racetrack appearance, winning her debut at Presque Isle Downs in 2022 for trainer Mike Stidham. The bay mare is a half-sister to graded-placed Captivating Lass (A.P. Indy), who produced Grade I winner Atone (Into Mischief). She sold Wednesday in foal to Mystic Guide. “I probably appraised her at a little less than that, but when I came and saw her, I thought we needed around $200,000 to buy her,” Centofanti said. “I think she was worth that.” Marvelous Time will remain in Kentucky to foal and then will head south to Brittlyn Stable's Louisiana base to visit either Star Guitar or Clearly Now. “We are debating where we will go with her,” Centofanti said. “We are trying to bring some quality back to Star and Clearly Now. We've been doing it the last two years and we've got some nice babies coming up.” Centofanti said the plan has been to upgrade the Brittlyn broodmare band as mares get older and are rotated out. The results are showing up on the race track and in the sales ring. “We've been selling the last three years,” he said. “We sold a couple of Star Guitars for six figures at Keeneland that went on to win big races–one won in Dubai a couple of weeks ago out of Charged Cotton (Dehere). And we have a Not This Time we will sell in September and she is beautiful.” The Brittlyn-bred Manama Gold (Star Guitar), a Louisiana-bred out of Charged Cotton, sold for $100,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale and resold for $200,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale. The filly broke her maiden stylishly at Meydan Dec. 22 for Fawzi Abdulla Nass. “We've been rotating between Kentucky and Louisiana sires,” Centofanti said. “[Benoit] loves racing and she loves Louisiana. And this way we can continue and we've had success doing that. Our horses are running and doing well.” Marvelous Time was the only horse Centofanti bid on at Keeneland and he was ready to head back south. “I have to go to Ocala,” he said. “I have a bunch of horses for her that we are breaking. So I've got to get back there.” @JessMartiniTDN Yaupon Yearling to Crestwood Farm Not long into the third session of the Keeneland January sale, Crestwood Farm and Robert Keck went to $150,000 for hip 926, a filly from the first crop of Yaupon. “She had an amazing body, great bones and a standout pedigree for this session,” said Keck. “She'll be resold in September.” Hip 926 | Keeneland Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon has seen his yearlings sell well this week, all five sold going for over six figures, led by a $190,000 colt (hip 82) who sold Monday to Clarmont Bloodstock Club. “Hopefully that sire is as hot as people are predicting,” Keck continued. “I knew that [Yaupons were selling well], but looked at her as an objective buyer. People don't pay enough attention sometimes to where a horse comes from and I liked that she was raised by Clarkland Farm, they raise a great horse.” Bred and consigned by Clarkland Farm, the filly is a daughter of MSW Tiz Imaginary (Tizway), who was purchased by the farm for $180,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November sale. This is the family of champion 2-year-old filly Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her champion daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). @SGrimmTDN The post Keeneland January Sale Stays Steady on Day Three appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The longtime assistant to Juan Andres Rodriguez in his native Venezuela and the U.S., scores with his 12th starter since going on his own.View the full article

From Nov. 28 through Dec. 31, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance collected over $200,000 in donations from its 2023 Holiday Giving Campaign to raise funds to support thousands of Thoroughbreds at 86 TAA-accredited organizations, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The Holiday Giving Campaign highlighted a different match sponsor each day, offering single-day sponsorships ranging from $500 to $10,000. 2023 Match Sponsors included: Mike Rogers, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Yvonne Schwabe, National HBPA, Denali Stud, Siena Farm, Donna Barton Brothers, Jack Damico, West Point Thoroughbreds, Rick Schosberg, Simon Bray, Dan & Denny Piazza and Matt & Amy Webber, Ramiro Restrepo, Dr. Bonnie Comerford, Three Diamonds Farm, Kurtis Coady & Megan Devine, Donato Lanni, Chad Brown, Springhouse Farm, Bloom Racing Stable, StarLadies Racing, The Honorable Earle I. Mack, Jen Roytz & Dr. Stuart Brown, St. Elias Stables, David Anderson, Matthew DeSantis, and Bob & Jill Baffert. “Your support during our campaign has been truly incredible,” said TAA's Emily Dresen. “Thank you for joining us in championing the well-being of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Your generosity is making a huge difference in their lives, and we are immensely grateful for your kindness and dedication.” The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Thanks Supporters Of The Holiday Giving Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-GP, $91k, AOC, 3yo, f, 7f, post time 2:39 p.m. ET LESLIE'S ROSE (Into Mischief) cost Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm $1.15 million at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale, and despite going off at a somewhat lukewarm 9-2 facing five others at Aqueduct Nov. 19, graduated by better than nine lengths over 6 1/2 furlongs en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The St. Patrick's Day foal is out of a daughter of SW & MGSP Wildwood Flower (Langfuhr), the dam of GI Florida Derby-winning 'Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex) and of GSW/GISW My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), whose 'Rising Star' son Annapolis (War Front) is the newest addition to the stallion roster at Claiborne Farm. TJCIS PPs 2YO LESLIE'S ROSE, daughter of @spendthriftfarm stallion Into Mischief, breaks her maiden impressively in the opener under @iradortiz for @PletcherRacing! pic.twitter.com/Za48fzph7m — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 19, 2023 5th-GP, $89k, Msw, 3yo, f, 5fT, post time: 2:09 p.m. ET St Elias Stable elected to take home its homebred PRETTY LIAM (Liam's Map) when bidding on her stalled out at $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sal. That looks to have been a shrewd call, as the filly's year-older half-sister Danse Macabre (Army Mule) proved to be arguably the best turf sprinter of her generation in 2023, with victories in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. over this course and the Glen Cove S. in New York. Dam Sylphide (Blame) is a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Cambodia (War Front) and the third dam includes South African champion Overarching (Arch) and GISW Abscond (Blame). Justified Strategy (Justify) is a daughter of GISW Cry and Catch Me (Street Cry {Ire}), also the dam of Sovereign Award winner Souper Escape (Medaglia d'Oro) and a half-sister to Group 1-winning European champion Certify (Elusive Quality). Dixie Mischief (Into Mischief) is a John Oxley homebred half-sister to last year's Ontario Damsel S. winner Forever Dixie (Quality Road) and her Grade III-winning dam Dixie Strike (Dixie Union) is a half-sister to champion Inglorious (Henny Hughes), who beat the boys in the 2011 Queen's Plate. TJCIS PPs The post ‘Rising Star’ Leslie’s Rose Returns at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among the key rulings from the last seven days, the prohibition of intra-articular injections seven days prior to timed workouts continues to catch people out, with a further two trainers each issued $3,000 fines this past week for violations of this rule. This brings the total rulings related to pre-workout intra-articular injection violations to 25 since HISA's anti-doping and medication control (ADMC) program went into effect last May. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 12/23/2023 Licensee: Thomas Morley, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314-Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method-on the horse, missy Greer. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222-Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Date: 10/30/2023 Licensee: Robert Fiesman, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Little Four, who was euthanized after breaking down in a race at Mahoning Valley on 10,30/23, according to Equibase. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312-Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 11/21/2023 Licensee: David Meridyth, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a written reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Omeprazole-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Wild Firewater, who won at Zia Park on 11/21/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312-Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 10/06/2023 Licensee: Luis Mendez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: For the presence of Methocarbamol-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Big Celebration, who finished third at Santa Anita on 10/6/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312-Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 12/08/2023 Licensee: Victor Barboza, trainer Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314-Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method-on the horse, Long Range Toddy. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222-Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout. Pending ADMC Violations Date: 09/13/2023 Licensee: Daniel Robles Penalty: Provisional suspension Alleged violation: Banned substance possession Explainer: This is a possible violation of Rule 3214 (a)-Possession of a Banned Substance, Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). Date: 12/12/2023 Licensee: Alfredo Velazquez, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Lucky Flush, who finished ninth at Parx Racing on 12/12/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312-Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Date: 11/21/2023 Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Clenbuterol-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Fast Heart. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212-Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Date: 12/08/2023 Licensee: Bernard Dunham, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged Violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221-Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)-on Shanghai Superfly, who finished fourth at Penn National on 12/8/2023. This is also a possible violation of Rule 3313-Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period. Date: 12/01/2023 Licensee: Jesus Romero, trainer Penalty: Pending Alleged violation: Medication violation Explainer: For the presence of Diclofenac-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Hang Tight, who won at Aqueduct on 12/1/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312-Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List). Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Santa Anita Hector Berrios – violation date Jan 5; $414 fine, one-day suspension, one strike over the limit Tyler Baze – violation date Jan 6; $250 fine, one-day suspension, one strike over the limit The post Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings, Jan. 2-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in the classic's history, with its purse raised from $3 million to $5 million. The increase was announced Jan. 10 by Churchill Downs.View the full article

International runners bring intrigue to the sixth session of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.View the full article

Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Cambridge tonight. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Tim Williams couldn’t have been better dressed for his 800th driving win in New Zealand with Aardie B Miki at Winton on Wednesday. Williams weaved a path for the three-year-old to be able to sprint best to seal the milestone victory in the colours of his employer Stonewall Stud. Delighted to score his 800th victory, the reinsman couldn’t think of better colours to notch his milestone victory in. “It’s a big thrill, obviously great to get these colours on they’re a big part of what I do these days,” Williams said. “It couldn’t have come in a better set of colours.” The Cantabrian was also thrilled to notch the victory while on a working holiday in Southland with his partner Aimee Edmonds and their two sons Max and Levi. “It is really cool – we have obviously been down for the last week or 10 days and we’ve been well looked after and they’ve really enjoyed the trip,” Williams said. Williams’ career began with the Robert Dunn stable in Canterbury before the talented reinsman stopped off in Southland to work for trainer Wayne Adams, ahead of his tenure at the powerful All Stars barn. Though Williams didn’t spend as long in the south as he has with other Canterbury trainers, he was quick to acknowledge the impact of his southern stint on his career. “A big thanks to everyone along the way – I couldn’t have done it without every single one of them.” It wasn’t long after Williams left Southland that he drove the first of what would go on to be 18 Group One victories that make up his 800-win tally. The latest of those came in the Stonewall Stud colours with another talented filly in Aardiebytheseaside in the New Zealand Oaks. Whether Aardie B Miki can reach those heights is yet to be seen, but she does have plenty of improvement in her as she is yet to fully switch onto the racing game. “She is getting better all the time; she is a little bit green,” Williams said. “Obviously in front early, she was having a good look at everything.” “I think this trip will be the making of her, and she will get a bit of ringcraft under her.” “Hopefully when she comes back later in the season for the (Southland) Oaks, she will put her hand up again.” As well as his 800 victories in New Zealand, Williams has won eight races in Australia, including the Group One Victoria Oaks with Piccadilly Princess in 2016. View the full article

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the North American International Cataloguing Standards Committee (NAICSC) will increase the minimum Race Quality Scores (RQS) for non-Listed black-type races in SITA catalogues due to the gradual growth in the ratio of those races to the total number of races run, the organization said via a release by The Jockey Club News Service. The RQS is a composite number compiled by using speed figures for the first four finishers in each race over three years. Four speed figures are used to compile the RQS and are provided by Bloodstock Research Information Systems (BRIS), Daily Racing Form (Beyer), Equibase and Thoro-Graph. The non-Listed black-type races are divided into six age/sex categories for the purpose of determining black type using the RQS. They are 2-year-old males, 2-year-old females, 3-year-old males, 3-year-old females, 3/up males, and 3/up females. Each age/sex category has a minimum RQS that must be achieved for a stakes race to be awarded the black type designation. The current minimum and revised RQS for each age/sex category is listed below: Age/Sex Min. RQS Revised RQS (2025) 2-year-old males 35.0 36.8 2-year-old females 29.0 30.5 3-year-old males 54.0 56.7 3-year-old females 45.3 47.6 3/up males 63.7 66.9 3/up females 55.8 58.6 Click here for additional information. The post Quality Control Requirements For North American Non-Listed Black-Type Races Will Increase In 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

International runners bring intrigue to the sixth session of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.View the full article

Roberts Communications Network, LLC (RCN) has acquired OGN Racing, LLC, and OGN Racing–Canada ULC, which will greatly expand the network's racing information kiosk business and bring innovation to the industry, the distributor said in a Wednesday release. OGN Racing has more than 100 program printing kiosks deployed across the United States and Canada, which RCN intends to replace with its state-of-the-art newly designed kiosk featuring added functionality and enhancements. “We see a great opportunity to significantly improve this aspect of the racing industry,” said RCN President & CEO Todd Roberts. “We intend to offer race and sports wagering information, including racing past performance information from Equibase and the Daily Racing Form, supplemented by video replays where requested.” The flexible kiosk solutions that this acquisition allows RCN to offer will take the risk out of printing programs for the venue and enhance the flow of information to the consumer. RCN intends to replace all current OGN equipment in the field with its newly designed kiosks as soon as possible. In addition, the network will make the digital display of all information available to those consumers preferring to view it on smartphones, tablets and PCs. The post Roberts Communications Network Acquires OGN Racing Kiosk Business appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Blowen had no money, no farm, no horses and no backers. But he did have an idea. He wanted to open a farm that would be a sanctuary for some of the sport's biggest names who were either gelded or no longer being used as sires or broodmares. Somehow moving mountains, he pulled it off and his Old Friends Farm became home to hundreds of Thoroughbreds and a popular tourist attraction. But now he has decided to retire, 20 years after he opened Old Friends, and turn the reins over to John Nicholson. On this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Blowen discussed why he is retiring and some of his fondest memories from a job he instantly loved. “When you get a certain age and you can see the finish line, you know,” Blowen said. “It's like you're turning for home and you go, 'Oh, there's a finish line.' So you better figure out what's going to be happening or what you can do to make everything a little better. And so I started looking for somebody a couple of years ago to take over, and I could never find the right person. Then I ran into John Nicholson. And I would probably still be doing this if I hadn't run into John, because John was the perfect person. I thought, 'boy, oh boy, if he'll do this, it would be great'. People who know John know that he ran Kentucky Horse Park for a long time. He loves the horses.” His favorite horse? Silver Charm. “It's hard for me to explain it in one way, because it's hard to explain why you fall in love with somebody,” Blowen said. “No matter who or what you fall in love with your life is going to change. When Sandy Hatfield called me in November of 2015 and said, how would you like an old gray stallion at your farm, I freaked out. The only problem was I couldn't tell anybody. They're supposed to keep it a secret. And then I did keep it a secret, which is probably the only secret I ever kept in my life. But I kept that one. And when he got here on Dec. 1, 2015 that was the greatest day of my life. I didn't even know him, because the first time I ever laid eyes on him in person is when he got off the trailer on that day, but I know I was totally enthralled.' Though retiring, Blowen plans to spend plenty of time at Old Friends. “You'll have to drag me out of here,” he said. “I told my wife, when I die, the house where we live in, we have a great house here, and the back backyard is one of the two places where we have cemeteries. I told my wife, when I die, get me cremated, throw my ashes out the back. Just don't put my lifetime earnings on the side. This week's look at a Coolmore sire focused on Jack Christopher (Munnings). He won three Grade I races and was five-for-five around one turn. He was such a special specimen that Zoe Cadman never forgot her impressions of him when she saw him at Saratoga before he ever raced, noting that he was so perfectly put together that she knew he would be a star. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Elite Power, WinStar Farm, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ 1/ST Racing, the KTA & KTOB, West Point Thoroughbreds and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Cadman and Bill Finley expressed their gratitude for having earned an Eclipse Award in the Multi-Media category. Our interview with Wade Jost was selected as the winner. Jost is the father of Carson Jost, who, like Cody Dorman, suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Jost, a classmate of Terry Finley at West Point, went in with his syndicate on Carson's Run–named in his son's honor. All agreed that it was Jost who made the podcast so memorable and the team decided it will gift the Eclipse Award trophy to the family. The team also touched on the big shakeup in Maryland, where a new entity, the Maryland Thoroughbred Operating Authority, which will be similar to NYRA, is set to take over the operation of Maryland tracks and, finally, will rebuild Pimlico. That will also mean that the GI Preakness S. will be run at Laurel in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The group also examined the 2024 economic indicators for racing, which included a 3.7% decline in total handle and a small decrease in purses. The post Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The landmark 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million.View the full article

The 150th GI Kentucky Derby scheduled for Saturday, May 4 will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) said in a release Wednesday. The $2 million increase to the race highlights a record-setting, 50-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $25.6 million for Churchill Downs' 2024 Spring Meet, which will be run over 43 dates from April 27-June 30/ The Derby purse structure was the subject of a Chris McGrath TDN interview with John Sikura, where he questioned the $3 million purse. The cause was later taken up by Mike Repole. Prize money for the stakes schedule increased 25% or $5.1 million from last year's $20.5 million lineup which is due to historical horse racing. Prior to the debut of historical horse racing at CDI's Derby City Gaming in September 2018, that year's Spring Meet featured 32 stakes races worth $8.8 million. There are now 18 additional Spring Meet stakes, and prize money for horsemen in those events has grown 190% or by $16.8 million. “These record purse increases are a symbol of the health of horse racing in Kentucky,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Churchill Downs Incorporated's over $1 billion investment into live and historical horse racing in Kentucky over the last five years has meaningfully strengthened the entire Kentucky Derby Week and year-round racing program. It's important to acknowledge the state legislature for its commitment to working closely with private enterprise in a truly collaborative partnership to support the continued growth of Kentucky's signature industry.” Thirty-eight of the 2024 Spring Meet stakes races received significant purse hikes, including $250,000 boosts to each of the following: the $1.5 million GI Kentucky Oaks; $1 million GI La Troienne S.; $1 million GI Churchill Downs S.; $1 million GI Derby City Distaff; and $750,000 GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Each of the track's seven Grade I events, including the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. and Stephen Foster S., feature a minimum $1 million purse. With a record $5 million in prize money now guaranteed for the Kentucky Derby, the winner will receive the event's highly sought-after gold trophy, a $3.1 million payday and possibly millions more as a stallion after retirement from racing. Also, $1 million will be awarded to the runner-up, $500,000 to third, $250,000 to fourth and $150,000 to fifth. Previously, the Kentucky Derby purse had been worth $3 million since 2019, and was $2 million from 2005-18 and $1 million from 1996-2004. “It is truly gratifying to view the steady growth of the Churchill Downs racing product and the entire Kentucky horse racing and breeding industry, which bettors around the world have embraced,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “Through the purses generated by the racing association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, Kentucky horsemen and horsewomen are reaping the benefits of Churchill Downs Incorporated's historic investment as we celebrate this year's milestone 150th Kentucky Derby.” Pretty Mischievous | Horsephotos At $1.5 million, the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks–the Derby's sister race staged one day prior on Friday, May 3–remains the nation's most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. It had been worth $1.25 million since 2019, and was $1 million from 2011-18 and $500,000 from 1996-2010. All told, there will be a record 22 stakes races cumulatively worth $17.5 million staged over Kentucky Derby Week (April 27-May 7), including nine stakes totaling $10.8 million on Derby Day and seven totaling $5.3 million on Oaks Day. Four races on Kentucky Derby Week will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run in some of Europe's most prestigious races. The winner of the Old Forester Turf Classic will receive a berth to either the one-mile G1 Queen Anne S. or the 1 1/4-mile G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in mid-June. Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day program, the winner of the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint will receive an entry to the G1 King's Charles III S. (formerly known as the King's Stand), also staged at Royal Ascot. Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf and GII Edgewood S. can receive their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Betfred Derby while the winner of the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day will receive the same benefits for the Betfred Oaks. The first condition book of scheduled races is being finalized by Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and is expected to be published in late January. More than $57 million in total prize money is expected to be offered during this year's Spring Meet (pending Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund final approval). Purses for maiden races will be $120,000 while allowance races will range from $127,000 to $141,000. Spring Meet stall applications are due Friday, Mar. 1. Following its annual closure for wintertime renovations, the Churchill Downs stable area will reopen Tuesday, Mar. 19. The first day of training on the main dirt track will be Friday, Mar. 22. For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs Incorporated's nearby Trackside Louisville, which accommodates more than 500 horses, has remained open year-round for wintertime stabling and training for racing at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky. The post Kentucky Derby Purse Raised By Churchill Downs To Record $5 Million, 50-Race Stakes Schedule Cumulatively Worth $25.6 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The landmark 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4, will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million.View the full article

Luis Yamil Marcano, who spent most of 2023 riding at Belterra Park, before returning to his native Puerto Rico in October to ride at Camarero, died Sunday night from injuries he sustained from a motorcycle accident. He was 19. The news was first reported on Camarero's Facebook page, which posted the following: “Camarero Racecourse regrets the sudden death of rider Luis Yamil Marcano. Luis graduated from the Agustín Mercado Reverón Equestrian Vocational School in 2022 staying active since then in races at Camarero Racecourse and several racecourses in the United States. Our deepest condolences to all his family and friends. May he rest in peace!” According to reports, Marcano was traveling on a white 2009 Honda CRF-450 motorcycle which was hit by a Ford F-150 vehicle. That driver of that vehicle fled the scene. Sources close to Marcano said he was planning to return to the U.S. to ride at Tampa Bay Downs. He made his debut Jan. 1, 2023 and won on his second career mount. He raced 382 times and rode 52 winners. He also was active at Thistledown, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Ellis Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Mahoning Valley and Turfway Park. The post Apprentice Jockey Luis Marcano Dies In Motorcycle Accident In Puerto Rico appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) unanimously elected to their board Shannon Cobb to serve as chair and Rob Tribbett to serve as vice chair, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The pair will replace Case Clay and David Ingordo, who will both continue their service on the KEEP Board. Cobb, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Red Mile Racing and Gaming, and Tribbett, Vice President of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association in Lexington, Kentucky, and General Manager of Watercress Farm in Paris, Kentucky, bring a wealth of experience to KEEP's strategic direction. “It's an honor to be entrusted with the position of Chairman at KEEP,” said Cobb. “I am eager to collaborate with our Board of Directors and the entire equine community to drive further growth and prosperity for Kentucky's vibrant equine industry. I am committed to upholding KEEP's mission and ensuring its success.” Will Glasscock, KEEP's executive director said, “The appointments of Shannon Cobb as Chairman and Rob Tribbett to these roles reinforce KEEP's commitment to fostering industry expertise and leadership within our board. Their combined experience and dedication will undoubtedly steer us toward continued success in promoting and advancing Kentucky's thriving equine economy.” Click here for more information about KEEP. The post Cobb And Tribbett Elected To KEEP’s Board Of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

England's Jockey Club plans to provide greater transparency over its business performance as British racing's largest commercial operator revealed it will offer more than $76.2 million in purses across its 15 racecourses for the first time this year.View the full article

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington has urged British racing not to rush to "snap judgements" on Premier and Sunday evening racing after both initiatives were met with mixed reactions.View the full article

Since the publication of Patrick Cooper's letter suggesting that the Irish Derby should be shortened in distance we have had a predictably mixed response in correspondence on the subject. You can find Cooper's letter in full here. In essence, it highlights the fortunes of two Frankel colts, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner and Arc runner-up Westover and the Dewhurst and 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean, both of whom raced for Juddmonte. The latter is now a Juddmonte stallion at Banstead Manor Stud, while Westover is about to embark on his first season for the Yushun Stallion Company in Japan. It is worth pointing out that another son of Frankel, the Derby and King George winner Adayar, plus his fellow King George winner Hukum, have both also been exported to Japan. This lack of a Flat stud berth in Europe is not a problem solely affecting Irish Derby winners, though admittedly the last three winners prior to Auguste Rodin are all now at Coolmore's National Hunt division, along with another King George winner, Pyledriver. In the cases of Westover, Adayar and Hukum, however, there are also extenuating circumstances, up to a point. It is easy to understand that neither Darley nor Juddmonte want to retire two new sons of Frankel to their stallion units for the forthcoming season. Juddmonte, after all, has the goose who lays the golden eggs, Frankel himself, while Darley has Cracksman, who has recently been joined by Triple Time. Like Chaldean, the latter is a Group 1-winning miler and therefore, in the current climate, deemed to be an easier sell to breeders. It is a depressing fact, but I can see that it makes business sense. Hukum is of course a son of Sea The Stars and, had his full-brother Baaeed not retired to Shadwell's roster the year before him, then it is hard to imagine that homebred Hukum would have joined Adayar on the plane to Darley Japan, despite the retirement of Mostahdaf – yet another Frankel – this year. Cooper ended his letter with the plea: “Shorten the Irish Derby.” He is not alone in considering this the best option. John Hammond, trainer of one of the best Irish Derby winners of the modern era in Montjeu, agrees with him, and said, “I was always in favour of the Prix du Jockey Club being reduced to 2,100m, even though it wasn't unanimously popular at the time.” The difference then though was that the shortening of the Jockey Club coincided with the extending of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, which is also only open to three-year-olds and has been run over 2,400m since 2005 (having also been run at up to 3,100m in its history, and at 2,000m from 1987 until the most recent change). Hammond added of the Prix du Jockey Club, “It was silly having two 2,400m Derbys so close to each other while the only 2,000m Group 1 for three-year-olds only was the Lupin which was effectively a Derby trial and frequently a weak race. The Jockey Club is a better race now and I would imagine the average field size has increased too. Everyone has a crack now, the milers, mile-and-a-quarter horses and mile-and-a-half horses. Last year a champion 2,400m horse won and a top miler was second.” Ireland has no such option to alternate between Group 1 races for three-year-olds. If the Irish Derby is shortened the only Group 1 race beyond 10 furlongs and available to three-year-old colts would be the Irish St Leger in September, which is also open to older horses. How can Ireland pride itself on being the cradle of the Thoroughbred if this becomes the case? Hammond is not the only supporter of Cooper's argument. Charlie Murless also got in touch to say, “I hate to say it because I grew up on the Curragh, and all my life Irish Derby Day was a very special day and a very special race. Sadly no longer, for a number of reasons (a large number!) in addition to Patrick's excellent breeding rationale. The distance must be changed.” We can count Hammond as Irish-assimilated despite being English-born and a long-term resident of France because he spent many of his formative years in Ireland. Cooper and Murless, too, have longstanding ties to the race and feel that it must be shortened. Is that the answer though? I do not believe so, but then I live on the other side of the Irish Sea. Another Brit, Gerard West, contacted us with a strongly-worded email. “This would be catastrophic for Irish and European racing,” he said. “The very foundations of our racing are based on our variety of race distances, something that has attracted breeders from all over the world. Breeders are no longer breeding to race, they're breeding for the yearling and foal sales ring. Stallion masters are recruiting colts for that purpose too. “For some years now come Derby time it's not a matter of who's going to win but more a matter of who's going to stay. We not only need staying types for the Flat but National Hunt too.” We all have a metaphorical hill on which we would die, and mine is that if it ever comes to pass that the Derby is shortened from a mile and a half I would find it hard to continue my association with racing, notwithstanding the fact that it was a mile race for its first four runnings. Of course Derby Day is now nothing like Frith's great painting of the 1850s depicting all manner of human life on the Epsom Downs. The painter described in his autobiography his first visit to Epsom in 1856: “My first Derby had no interest for me as a race, but as giving me the opportunity of studying life and character it is ever to be gratefully remembered. Gambling-tents and thimble-rigging, prick in the garter and the three-card trick, had not then been stopped by the police.” Whether or not we are to be grateful that the police are now more preoccupied with animal rights protesters is a moot point, but Derby Day was always a great occasion for all walks of society. It is less so now, but in England the day and the race still feel special. Is that the same in Ireland? I have been at the Curragh for the Irish Derby too infrequently to know, though Alamshar's downing of Dalakhani is a race that will stay with me for as long as I retain my memory. But that was two decades ago, and straight after some truly special years of the race being won by Montjeu, Sinndar, Galileo, and High Chaparral. If Irish Derby Day no longer feels special, surely it is the occasion that needs work as much as the race itself. The recent switching of days and times can't have helped it to retain its identity and importance for racegoers. Since Montjeu's time the resurgence of Ballydoyle in the Aidan O'Brien years has also occurred. The trainer won his first Irish Derby in 1997 with Desert King and has claimed another 14 victories since then. Has this domination aided the race's demise, or without the support of Coolmore would it have dwindled further? It is worth noting that between 1980 and 2000, the race was won by 14 non-Irish trained horses from 11 different stables. This century, that number has been reduced to four: Hurricane Run (trained in France), and Jack Hobbs, Hurricane Lane and Westover (from Britain). A reduction in overseas challengers is certainly an issue, but then there are not too many stables beyond Ballydoyle which regularly field a runner in the Derby at Epsom either. There are implications beyond Ireland for the race being shortened, including what effect it may have on the Eclipse, which last year was run six days after the Irish Derby. Admittedly, in 2023, both races were won by colts from Ballydoyle who would have been kept apart anyway. In Westover's year, he would surely have won the Irish Derby had it been over 10 furlongs, but would that have increased his commercial appeal enough to have pushed Chaldean aside? I don't believe so. We are venturing towards a situation of the tail wagging the dog. We need a balance in our breeding because we need sprinters, we need milers, we need middle-distance horses and we need stayers. That is the beauty and the allure of racing in Europe: the variety, underpinned by Classic bloodlines in order to achieve the pinnacle of producing that rare horse who has the class and turn of foot to race over a mile and a half at the top level. Don't think for a moment that that's a slow horse. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy that if we stop standing and using Derby winners and their like at stud, then sooner or later we won't be able to breed horses to run over that range of distances. In fact, it is easy to envisage the day when horses can barely stay the mile of the Guineas. Good luck then trying to sell our racing product overseas. Why would they want to buy the same horses they can breed at home? The two best horses in the world last year, Equinox (Jpn) and Ace Impact (Ire), both won major Group 1 races over 10 furlongs, but it hurt neither of their careers to win over a mile and a half. In fact, the Japan Cup and the Arc were respectively their crowning glories. Ireland has a long way to go to return its once-special race to its halcyon days but it should try, whether through a different approach to race programming for budding middle-distance colts, breeder incentives, or a significant bonus connected to the Irish Derby for horses who have won a Classic elsewhere. But whatever else happens, do not shorten the Irish Derby. The post Dear Patrick: With Respect, I Disagree appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Animal Welfare and Horseracing Integrity Conference of the Association of Racing Commissioners International Inc. (ARCI), which brings together all the senior regulatory personnel in North America and the Caribbean, has opened registration for the annual event to be held in Columbus, Ohio Mar. 6-8, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The 2024 Conference is being held immediately prior to the annual meeting of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) and offers a unique opportunity to interact with the leaders of US Standardbred Racing on the final day where existing approaches to policymaking, anti-doping, and equine health will be reexamined. Regulatory Members of the ARCI will update Model Rules and Drug Classification documents and elect at-large members of the association's board of directors at the annual business meeting. Click here for more information on registration and here for the event itinerary. The post 2024 ARCI Annual Meeting and Conference Registration Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Top driver Josh Dickie is loving being home and he hopes his successful return steps up a level at Cambridge tonight. Dickie returned to New Zealand officially two weeks ago and has driven four winners already for new bosses Stonewall Stud. He returns to his “first” home track of Cambridge tonight and picks up the drive on last-start Greenlane Cup winner Resolve in the $40,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Cambridge Flying Stakes, a mobile 2200m in which she is one of only two genuine open class trotters. Resolve has moved from usual southern trainer Paul Nairn to Dickie’s father John so Josh gets the drive tonight from regular reinsman and good mate Bob Butt. Resolve defended her Greenlane Cup title at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve but only just over All Cashed Up, who is drawn inside her tonight. “All Cashed Up is very quick and I think he got a bit close last start whereas Resolve is more of a stayer,” says Dickie. “But I think Resolve didn’t really enjoy the track that night either. It was obviously very wet and she wears pads under her shoes so I think a dry track will suit her better.” The pair are clearly better performed than their rivals so their early luck could play a crucial role in the outcome, with the Nicky Chilcott-trained Sacred Mountain the other obvious chance as the mobile 2200m should suit. Dickie says he loves being back driving in New Zealand, which he says suits his style and is enjoying being on competitive horses regularly after a quieter time on the track when living in Victoria. “We have bought a couple of horses back with us too, one of them a really promising trotter who is already racing that we still have shares in so we are looking forward to getting some new owners into it,” he told HRNZ. “I am loving being back and being around family and my mates and things are very competitive.” Dickie says with the Stonewall Stud team overseen by Steve Telfer having a good start to 2024 he thinks that can continue tonight with Iron Brigade (R2, No.6). “He is a smart three-year-old and ready to go. He ran second at the workouts last week and I think he is in the right maiden race.” Tonight’s meeting is a mini gem on the northern harness calendar with not only the Group 3 Trot but the $25,000 Waikato Summer Handicap, featuring Bad Medicine and Montana D J, and a big, strong qualifier for the North Island Regional Trotters Champs that is likely to see backmarker Con Grazia Love start a warm favourite. View the full article