Wandering Eyes

Canterbury reinsman Ben Hope capped off his junior drivers career in style with Homebush Lad winning the Reefton cup and creating harness racing history on December 30th. He joins the open driver ranks from today and will be looking to begin that part of his career well with a decent book of drives at Rangiora. Hope wrapped up his junior career with 223 wins and over $2.8 million in stakes, including four Group One’s behind superstar trotter Muscle Mountain for parents Greg & Nina Hope. “The junior career has been great. Driving over 200 winners just shows how much support I’ve had, especially from mum and dad (Greg & Nina Hope) and the likes of a few others. It was cool to finish on a high winning a country cup race at Reefton, while Muscle Mountain has given me 27 wins including the four Group Ones, so I owe a lot to him.” Hope has a book of four drives today, including training Refine which will be driven by Mia Holbrough. In race 3 Sweet Lou debutant Wishful Thinking ($12.00FF) for Greg & Nina Hope will be looking for an educational run, and will be one to follow going forward. “She’s pretty green. Hopefully she does things right and is running on, but she will benefit from the run.” Race 5 Crazy N Love ($21.00FF) for Greg & Nina Hope will be driven by Mia Holbrough will look to make amends on her last start error. “She got it wrong last start, but she likes Rangiora. If she does everything right she’s a first four player.” Race 7 Refine ($3.60FF) has her second start for Ben Hope with Holbrough also taking the drive. “She went well last time, she has gate speed. Hopefully she can stay handy and she’ll have options from there.” Hope takes an outside drive in race 8 for Mark Smolenski in Sophia Bromac ($9.00FF). “She’s not the worst. A good second last start. If we can drive her pretty she should be there at the finish.” Hope will drive Torvi ($6.00FF) for Greg & Nina Hope in race 9, after a last start error, Hope is confident of a better showing today. “It was probably my fault last start. Disregard that and she should be a top four player.” Rounding out Hope’s chances in race 10 is Jack Tar ($8.00FF). The now 9 year old Tintin In America gelding has been competitive in recent starts, and Hope says there is no reason why he won’t be again today. “It was a good tough run at Motokurara. 2600m suits him. He probably needs a bit of luck to go his way but he’s another top four chance.” Race one gets underway at 1:07pm. View the full article

Start your New Year’s Day with a gallop into thrilling horse racing promotions! On this day of fresh starts, saddle up for a multitude of exhilarating offers from top-tier bookmakers, giving your betting experience an extra kick on January 1st. Check out these top Australian racing promotions for January 1, 2024: Start the Year with Winning Horse Racing Promotions 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 BRAND NEW – Daily Trifecta Boosts Boost your winnings by 10% on Trifectas with Unibet’s new trifecta boost. Check Vault for eligibility. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo JMAC RIDES AT SHA TIN Guaranteed best odds on all James McDonald Ridden Hong Kong Runners. Eligible clients only. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo TOP 4 BETTING Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Uncover the Secret Behind Horsebetting.com.au’s Bonus Offers HorseBetting.com.au diligently scours through Australia’s leading horse racing bookmakers to unearth exclusive bonuses for January 1, 2024. These ongoing promotions showcase the dedication of top bookmakers. In the world of horse racing bets, when one bookie isn’t in the spotlight, another trots forward. Rely on HorseBetting.com.au as your guide to daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Boost your winning potential with competitive odds and exclusive promotions tailored for loyal customers. Access these offers easily by logging into each bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to make the most of your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Cheers to a winning start to the New Year! More horse racing promotions View the full article

What Taree Races Where Manning Valley Race Club – Racecourse Dr, Taree NSW 2430 When Tuesday, January 2, 2023 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Taree on Tuesday afternoon, with a quickfire seven-race program set for decision. The rail sits in the true position the entire circuit for the meeting, and with some scattered showers predicted in the lead-up, we anticipate the surface to be rated a Soft 6 for race-day. The opening race is set to get underway at 1:50pm AEDT. Taree Best Bet: Jonny Be Swift Jonny Be Swift picked up a soft win first-up at Queanbeyan on December 20 and should appreciate taking a significant step-up in trip. The son of So You Think proved classy enough over 1460m on resumption; however, he seems like a genuine staying type moving forward as the three-year-old muscled through the Heavy track conditions. Gregory Hickman elects to send his galloper to the 2000m second-up, and with the booking of Aaron Bullock showing plenty of intent, we expect Jonny Be Swift to go close to chalking up back-to-back victories. Best Bet Race 1 – #4 Jonny Be Swift (5) 3yo Gelding | T: Gregory Hickman | J: Aaron Bullock (58kg) +180 with Neds Next Best At Taree: Shigeru Shigeru returns after almost a whole year off the scene on Tuesday afternoon, and despite his lengthy absence, he appears to be ready for a first-up tilt. The four-year-old gelding brings some quality maiden form from last season, finding minor money on four occasions before being tipped out to the paddock. His trials have been solid to the eye, and with this contest seemingly his best opportunity to break his maiden, we’re confident Shigeru can only run well here. Next Best Race 4 – #1 Shigeru (4) 4yo Gelding | T: Jason Deamer | J: Aaron Bullock (59.5kg) +300 with Dabble Best Value At Taree: Freya’s Moment Freya’s Moment warrants an each-way ticket in the second event of the program, as she makes her race-day debut on the back of a strong jump-out victory. The daughter of Nostradamus went on to score by 1.1 lengths at Kempsey on December 18, travelling beautifully under Luke Rolls to secure victory while racing under her own steam. She maps well from barrier five on Tuesday, and although she may lack some fitness, we’re willing to take the risk at the price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 2 – #8 Freya’s Moment (5) 3yo Filly | T: Glen Hodge | J: Luke Rolls (56.5kg) +700 with PlayUp Taree Tuesday quaddie tips – 2/1/2024 Taree quadrella selections Tuesday, January 2, 2024 1-2-6-8 1-6 3 3-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Horse Racing on Monday, January 1 will feature 10 meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Flemington, Canterbury, Ascot, Toowoomba & Sha Tin (HK). Monday Racing Tips – January 1, 2024 Flemington Racing Tips Canterbury Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Toowoomba Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) 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 January 1, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

8th-Oaklawn, $140,000, Alw (NW2L)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 12-31, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.63, ft, 4 lengths. CARBONE (c, 2, Mitole–Treasure in Heaven, by Street Sense) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following a front-running eight-length debut romp going six furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 19. Stretching out to a mile for this second start, the 3-5 favorite sprinted right out to the early lead and was unchallenged while loping along through fractions of :23.40 and :47.76. He was let loose approaching the stretch and bound clear to score by four lengths. Lightline (City of Light) was second. Treasure in Heaven produced a colt by Instagrand in 2022, who sold to Larry Best for $250,000 as a weanling at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, and a filly by Yaupon in 2023. She was bred back to Yaupon. The mare is a daughter of Heiligbrodt homebred Richwoman (Successsful Appeal), who won the 2006 GIII Debutante S. The winner's third dam, another Heiligbrodt homebred, is two-time stakes winner Richbabe (Richman). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $153,000. O/B-William & Corinne Heiligbrodt (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. #8 CARBONE ($3.40) takes them wire to wire in R8 at @OaklawnRacing. The 2YO colt by Mitole (@spendthriftfarm) is two for two for trainer Steve Asmussen and @RSantana_Jr. There are two races remaining at Oaklawn today. Watch on @FanDuelTV and wager with the @FDSportsbook. pic.twitter.com/TsHqTimoRK — TVG (@TVG) December 31, 2023 The post Mitole ‘Rising Star’ Makes it Two in a Row at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Brittany Russell's meteoric career trajectory reached an historic height Sunday at Laurel Park when the 34-year-old, in just her fourth full season, became the first female to lead the annual trainer standings in Maryland.View the full article

6th-Oaklawn, $115,000, Msw, 12-31, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.52, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. TIME FOR TRUTH (c, 2, Omaha Beach–Shape Shifter, by Lookin At Lucky) debuted as a 4-1 shot here and got down to business from the bell as he fanned three-wide up the backstretch. The bay colt briefly took over the lead around the far turn until he was joined at the quarter pole by Mr Fillip (Mitole). As the pair entered the lane, they separated themselves from the rest of the field, but it was the Ron Moquett trainee who won by 1 3/4 lengths. A half-sister to GSP Strongconstitution (Constitution), the winner's dam visited Independence Hall for 2024. Time for Truth is the 24th winner for his first-crop sire (War Front). Sales History: $47,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Harry T. Rosenblum; B-Dominique Damico (KY); T-Ron Moquett. #11 TIME FOR TRUTH ($10.40) debuts a winner in R6 at @OaklawnRacing for trainer @RonMoquett and jockey @sambitoperu. This 2YO colt is sired by @spendthriftfarm's Omaha Beach. pic.twitter.com/UMxubfNzBN — TVG (@TVG) December 31, 2023 The post Son Of Omaha Beach Gives His First-Crop Sire Another Winner At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Oaklawn, $115,000, Msw, 12-31, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.96, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. IMPERIAL GUN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Take a Memo, by Empire Maker) made an emboldened move through traffic from the back of the pack to wind up fourth when debuted over course at a mile Dec. 9. Away cleaner for his second start, the 4-1 shot sat off the pace only briefly around the first turn before cruising up under his own power to hit the front as the half went in :47.83. Easily the best into the lane, Imperial Gun increased his advantage when driven out to a 5 3/4-length victory over Linebacker (Bolt d'Oro). Out of a daughter of GSW/MGISP Memorette, Imperial Gun has a yearling half-sister by Bolt d'Oro and a weanling half-brother by Justify. His dam is pregnant to Nashville for 2024. Sales History: $375,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $74,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud; B-Adrian Regan & Fergus Galvin (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. #2 Imperial Gun wins easy in R5 to break his maiden under @jrosariojockey for trainer Steve Asmussen! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/axeD5XdsT3 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) December 31, 2023 The post Imperial Gun Hits The Mark In Second Start At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GSW Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo–Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song), whose first foals are yearlings of 2024, was humanely euthanized Dec. 22 according to Brent Fernung, owner of Journeyman Stud in Florida. The 6-year-old stallion was standing at Journeyman at the time of his death. Uncle Chuck was determined to be suffering from untreatable lymphoma. “We're devastated by this loss,” said Fernung. “He was a beautiful horse, and his first crop of foals are carbon copies of him. Beyond that, Uncle Chuck had a great demeanor and was a pleasure to work around. He will be missed.” Uncle Chuck, a half-brother to Hill 'n' Dale sire Maclean's Music (Distorted Humor), as well as to GSWs Kentuckian (Tiznow) and Electric Forest (Curlin), won two of his three career starts, including the GIII Los Alamitos Derby. He joined the Journeyman roster for the 2022 season and has a first crop of 75 reported live foals. He was the property of a syndicate at the time of his death. The post Florida Stallion Uncle Chuck Euthanized appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dog Penalties EPIC CHARM | Christchurch 27 December; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. GOLDSTAR PENN | Christchurch 29 December; failed to pursue the lure (2nd offence); stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. General Race 12 at Auckland GRC on 31 December was declared a no-race due to the lids not opening at the prescribed time. The post 25-31 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Driver Penalties A Cameron | Westport 26 December; use of whip; suspended 30 December – 1 January inclusive. S Thornley | Westport 26 December; contacted track marker; fined $100. M Purvis | Westport 26 December; use of whip; fined $300. R Close | Westport 28 December; careless driving; suspended 2-6 January inclusive. B Borcoskie | Westport 28 December; breach of push out rule; suspended 8-14 January inclusive. P Nairn | Westport 28 December; failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures; suspended 31 December – 21 January inclusive. S Thornley | Westport 28 December; failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures; suspended 30 December – 7 January inclusive. N Delany | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 December; use of whip; suspended 5-26 January inclusive. R Harrison | Banks Peninsula 29 December; careless driving; suspended 8-16 January inclusive. K Cameron | Reefton 30 December; contacted track markers; fined $100. Trainer Penalties M Purvis | Westport 26 December; failed to affix bandage so as not to come adrift; fined $100. B Gray | Gore 27 December; incorrect gear; fined $100. J Douglas | Gore 27 December; incorrect gear; fined $100. R Austin | Banks Peninsula 29 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. B Hope | Reefton 30 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties TRAIL BOSS | Gore 27 December; late scratching after breaking twice in score-ups; must complete mobile start trial. MOUTON CADET | Westport 28 December; broke in running; must complete trial. AR GEE RULZ | Westport 28 December; broke in running; must complete trial. THE FINISHER | Banks Peninsula 29 December; broke in running; must complete trial. SOLEMN SON | Reefton 30 December; bucked in early stages; must complete standing start trial. TOM BRADY | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. CORZIN HAVICK | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. KINK | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. WEBS REACTOR | Reefton 30 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. D J ROCK | Auckland 31 December; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. Protests MAINBOCHER | Banks Peninsula 29 December; lapped on; relegated from 4th to 5th. FLYAWAY | Banks Peninsula 29 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. GOD OF THUNDER | Reefton 30 December; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. RAPID RESPONSE | Reefton 30 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 25-31 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A Cameron | Westport 26 December; use of whip; suspended 30 December – 1 January inclusive. S Thornley | Westport 26 December; contacted track marker; fined $100. M Purvis | Westport 26 December; use of whip; fined $300. R Close | Westport 28 December; careless driving; suspended 2-6 January inclusive. B Borcoskie | Westport 28 December; breach of push out rule; suspended 8-14 January inclusive. P Nairn | Westport 28 December; failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures; suspended 31 December – 21 January inclusive. S Thornley | Westport 28 December; failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures; suspended 30 December – 7 January inclusive. N Delany | Waikato Bay of Plenty 29 December; use of whip; suspended 5-26 January inclusive. R Harrison | Banks Peninsula 29 December; careless driving; suspended 8-16 January inclusive. K Cameron | Reefton 30 December; contacted track markers; fined $100. Trainer Penalties M Purvis | Westport 26 December; failed to affix bandage so as not to come adrift; fined $100. B Gray | Gore 27 December; incorrect gear; fined $100. J Douglas | Gore 27 December; incorrect gear; fined $100. R Austin | Banks Peninsula 29 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. B Hope | Reefton 30 December; failed to affix gear so as not to come adrift; fined $100. Horse Penalties TRAIL BOSS | Gore 27 December; late scratching after breaking twice in score-ups; must complete mobile start trial. MOUTON CADET | Westport 28 December; broke in running; must complete trial. AR GEE RULZ | Westport 28 December; broke in running; must complete trial. THE FINISHER | Banks Peninsula 29 December; broke in running; must complete trial. SOLEMN SON | Reefton 30 December; bucked in early stages; must complete standing start trial. TOM BRADY | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. CORZIN HAVICK | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. KINK | Reefton 30 December; broke in running; must complete trial. WEBS REACTOR | Reefton 30 December; unsatisfactory performance; must complete trial. D J ROCK | Auckland 31 December; atrial fibrillation; veterinary clearance including ECG required and must complete trial. Protests MAINBOCHER | Banks Peninsula 29 December; lapped on; relegated from 4th to 5th. FLYAWAY | Banks Peninsula 29 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. GOD OF THUNDER | Reefton 30 December; unsatisfactory manners prior to start; declared a non-runner. RAPID RESPONSE | Reefton 30 December; denied a fair start; declared a non-runner. The post 25-31 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Apprentice jockey Joseph Bealmear earned the first win of his career when guiding We Miss Arlington to victory in the second race at Oaklawn Park Saturday. We Miss Arlington was the 11th career mount for Bealmear, according to Equibase, and came almost 44 years after his father, retired jockey Ben Bealmear, recorded his first career victory at Oaklawn. The 19-year-old, who rode his first race Nov. 30 at Turfway Park, celebrated his first victory by pumping his right arm twice after crossing the finish line. “I just couldn't contain it,” Bealmear said Sunday morning. “I just let it out. A lot of people asked me if I was nervous. But honestly, from the post parade, to the gate, to the finish line, that's the most confident I've ever been in a race. I think the horse felt that. I felt it and it all just worked out great.” Bealmear grew up near Lexington and said he's been around horses his entire life. Bealmear's father won 66 races as a jockey in 1979-1982 and his mother, Laura, saddled 50 winners as a trainer during her career (2007-2020), according to Equibase. Before becoming a jockey, Joseph Bealmear said he regularly galloped horses for trainer Wesley Ward. Bealmear began laying the groundwork for his riding career approximately 18 months ago when he met retired jockey Robby Albarado, Oaklawn's leading rider in 1996 and 1997. Albarado, who won more than 5,000 career races, is an exercise rider at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek and is also Bealmear's agent. “Hopefully, everything goes well here and kind of piggyback on to Kentucky,” Albarado said. “That's the hope. I think he's going to be that kind of rider.” The post Bealmear Wins First Career Race at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rider Penalties R Elliot | Auckland 26 December; failed to make weight; fined $350. T Newman | Auckland 26 December; medical clearance required (subsequently received on 30 December). R Hurdle | Otaki-Maori 26 December; eased pace; suspended 6-12 January inclusive. L Douglas | Otaki-Maori 26 December; careless riding; suspended 30 December – 3 January inclusive. K Chowdhoory | Kurow 30 December; careless riding; suspended 7-12 January inclusive. R Beeharry | Kurow 30 December; medical clearance required. Trainer Penalties P Harris | Otago 26 December; late rider declaration; fined $50. B & R Foote | Rotorua 28 December; late rider declaration; fined $50. L Stewart | South Canterbury 28 December; late rider declarations; fined $100. Horse Penalties LINCOLN LADY | Auckland 26 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. TOKYO TYCOON | Auckland 26 December; lame; veterinary clearance required. ARCTIC GLOW | Otago 26 December; late scratching after failing to load; must complete trial. LADY MAK | Rotorua 28 December; thumps; veterinary clearance required. CHAPINTEEL | South Canterbury 28 December; refused to leave barriers; must complete trial. JABELLA | South Canterbury 28 December; respiratory condition; veterinary clearance required. IT’S THE VIBE | Kurow 30 December; bucked in running; must complete trial. MUMBO JUMBO | Kurow 30 December; cardiac arrhythmia; veterinary clearance required. General The Taranaki RI meeting scheduled for 29 December was abandoned due to weather and track conditions. The post 25-31 December 2023 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Trainer Linda Rice secured a record 165th training win on the New York Racing Association circuit for 2023 when George's Vice posted a gate-to-wire score in Race 2 Dec. 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Owner Mike Repole has pledged to match donations to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance up to $100,000 throughout the month of January. “Every Thoroughbred athlete deserves an enjoyable and quality retirement. I am honored to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and their mission of accredited aftercare,” said Repole. “I encourage others to join me in making a charitable donation during the month when Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthdays. Let us all raise awareness and do our part in ensuring these athletes receive the best, well-deserved protection as they transition beyond the finish line. It is our responsibility, and we all owe it to these amazing loving Thoroughbred athletes.” To help spread awareness of the matching campaign for the month, TAA and Repole Stable encourage anyone with a registered Thoroughbred–whether still racing, bred to race, or retired–to contribute to the campaign, capture the celebratory moment with a photo of their Thoroughbred, and use the hashtag #TbredBDAY2024 to post to social media. “Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is deeply grateful for Mike Repole's extraordinary $100,000 pledge. His commitment sets the tone for all of us to rally together and make an even greater impact. Join us in honoring his generosity by contributing what you can to support our retired Thoroughbred racehorses,” said TAA director of funding and events Emily Dresen, Director of Funding and Events. Contributions can be made by check, text, or online donation. To donate online visit: thoroughbredaftercare.org/donate To donate by text message: text DONATE to 56651 To donate by check: mail with attention to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at 821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, TAA has granted more than $31.9 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 86 aftercare organizations comprised of approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. The post Repole Pledges Matching TAA Donation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After 365 days and a pool of 45,308 starters, two horses with 10 victories each will share the honor of North America's winningest Thoroughbred in 2023 after the filly Divine Fashion (Divining Rod) uncorked a 9 1/4-length romp at Mahoning Valley Dec. 30 to tie the Midwest-based gelding Fayette Warrior (Exchange Rate), who has been resting at a farm since October after securing his continent-topping spot. One other gelding who was on the cusp of winning 10 times, Uncaptured Storm (Uncaptured), had been the morning-line favorite for the first race at Laurel Dec. 31, but he failed to draw in off the also-eligible list. Divine Fashion, a 4-year-old who won all her other races in 2023 at Charles Town, and Uncaptured Storm, a 3-year-old who won at Laurel, Timonium and Charles Town, are stablemates, both owned by Richard Burnsworth and trained by Anthony Farrior. The 7-year-old Fayette Warrior is owned and trained by Troy Bethke, whose son, Scott Bethke, rode the gelding to wins at Energy Downs (three times), Fonner Park, Sweetwater County Fair, and Wyoming Downs (twice each), plus Columbus. Troy Bethke told TDN last week that Fayette Warrior is a “spunky, cocky little guy” who likes to train and race, and the gelding is currently being freshened at Bethke's home in Minnesota in preparation for a 2024 campaign. Divine Fashion and Uncaptured Storm are also expected to remain in training for Farrior. “They're just sound horses and you can keep them running,” Farrior said in a Dec. 29 interview. Between 2012 and 2022, the North American year-end leaderboard was topped by horses who won between eight (in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign) and 14 times. For perspective, only 48 Thoroughbreds in 2023 (one-tenth of one percent of all horses who started at least once) managed seven wins or more. The post With Final-Weekend Blowout, Two Horses Tie for Winningest Horse in 2023 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Linda Rice saddled her 165th winner of 2023 to set the record for most victories in a year on the New York Racing Association circuit Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack. “It's a tough number to get to. I think about how we're starting over at one tomorrow,” said Rice, with a laugh. “It's just been an incredible year. I'm really excited and I just hope we can do something that will compare going forward. That's a high bar to set.” With George's Vice's win in Sunday's second race, Rice eclipsed the previous single-season record of 164 set by trainer David Jacobsen in 2013. During 2023, the 59-year-old earned leading trainer honors at the winter [37 wins] and spring [17 wins] meets at the Big A; the Belmont Park spring/summer meet [34 wins]; and tied with Chad Brown [35 wins] to register her second title at the Saratoga Race Course summer meet. She has also secured the title at the Aqueduct fall meet, which concluded Sunday, with the record-setting victory on closing day marking her 20th win at the meet. Rice saddled 11 stakes winners on the NYRA circuit during 2023. Among that group was Pioneering Spirit, who was haltered for $40,000 in March for owner A. Bianco Holding Limited and went on to win the Bernard Baruch S. and Knickerbocker S., and Mommasgottarun–taken for $50,000 last December for owner Ronald P. Stewart–who won the GIII Distaff H. “We claimed Pioneering Spirit in March in a maiden $40,000, and for him to win the Bernard Baruch, win the Knickerbocker, run in Grade Is, that was exciting,” Rice said. “Mommasgottarun we claimed in December. She won a Grade III, wins a couple of allowance races for some new clients. That was really exciting.” Rice saddled her first winner, Contraboss, in 1987 at Garden State Park and now boasts a career record of 12,879-2409-1989-1829 for purse earnings in excess of $104 million, according to stats provided by Equibase. The post Rice Sets NYRA Single-Season Win Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-Tampa Bay Downs, $32,000, Msw, 12-31, 2yo, f, 1m 40y, 1:42.46, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. WHOCOULDASKFORMO (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Midnight Belle, by Bernardini), third in her seven-furlong Aqueduct debut Dec. 1, ran to her 1-5 favoritism after shipping south to Tampa and picking up the added distance. Racing behind most of the field through a mild half in :49.17, she began to pick up the bridle with a rally into the far turn and swept to the front past Princess Aleska (Lord Nelson). The class of the field to the wire, Whocouldaskformo opened up a 6 1/2-length winning margin. Out of a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner and $3.8m broodmare purchase Unrivaled Belle, herself the dam of dual champion Unique Bella (Tapit), the winner's dam is also a half to the dams of this year's GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence) and GISP Sir Sahib (For Larned). Midnight Belle reported a McKinzie filly this year before visiting Violence for the spring. Sales History: $450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $29,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. The post Uncle Mo’s Whocouldaskformo Graduates In Style At Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-FG, $52K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 4:15 p.m. Starting the New Year off in Louisiana, WHO'S TICKET (Quality Road) is a daughter of champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi, a mare who has changed hands for sums of $6m, $3.2m and most recently in 2021 when Three Chimneys Farm went to $1.15m for her. Who's Ticket, herself a $450,000 weanling, is a half to SW Courvoisier (Tapit). Take Charge Brandi has seen her branch of the family tree grow more fruitful recently with the success of her half-brother, freshman sire Omaha Beach (War Front), at stud. And of course, third dam Take Charge Lady needs no introduction as the dam of champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW and sire Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and GISW As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). Her daughter also produced MGSW/GISP Charge It (Tapit) Juddmonte homebred Impel (Quality Road) debuts for trainer Brad Cox. The filly is the first foal out of stakes-winning Your Love (Flatter) who was purchased by Juddmonte for $480,000 out of the 2019 KEENOV sale. Your Love is a full-sister to GSW/GISP Economic Model and a half to MSW Jimmy Simms (Lost Soldier), GSW/GISP Happy American (Runhappy) and GSW/GISP Well Monied (Maria's Mon). Tipsy Tammy (Arrogate), a $600,000 KEESEP yearling for Rigney Racing, is a half to MSW Doc Boy (Into Mischief) along with three other winners from as many to race. Second dam Perfect Sting, 2000's champion grass mare, also produced GSW Smart Sting (Smart Strike). TJCIS PPS 4th-SA, $65K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 4:32 p.m. Out west, a pair of Baffert colts look to improve on their 2023 starts led by Imagination (Into Mischief). The $1.05m yearling has raced twice at Del Mar through the fall, just missing by a neck most recently over the same distance Dec. 2. The colt is a half to MSW Exulting (Tapit) and a full-brother to GSW/GISP Occult. Also looking to improve for Baffert is Cornell (Into Mischief), a $675,000 yearling who stretches out to the mile off a non-factoring ninth on debut at Del Mar Nov. 25. John Sadler brings back Indispensable (Constitution) who ran second to 'TDN Rising Star' Coach Prime (Quality Road) last out at Del Mar Nov. 10 in his third start since bringing $825,000 at KEESEP last year. The only debut runner in the field, Leading (Uncle Mo) is a Repole Stable homebred out of SW/GISP Savings Account. The dam, purchased by Repole for $800,000 in 2018 from FTKNOV, has already produced a winner from her first foal. TJCIS PPS The post Monday Insights: New 3-Year-Olds Look To Graduate On New Year’s Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The remaining days in 2023 dwindled to a few last week, a welcome development considering the year that it was. Yes, there was some good news. Arcangelo (Arrogate) winning the GI Belmont S. for trainer Jena Antonucci was as good a story as we've seen in some time. The saga of Cody's Wish (Curlin) continued to tug at our heartstrings. The sales continue to post huge numbers. Purses have soared in Kentucky and at Oaklawn, with maidens running for pots in excess of $100,000. But for every good story there seemed to be 10 bad ones. With the animal rights community and some portions of the media putting unrelenting pressure on the sport, there's never a good time to go through a rash of breakdowns, but for it to happen surrounding the running of the GI Kentucky Derby was bad timing at its worst. There were 12 deaths at Churchill Downs crammed into just a few weeks and it got so bad that racetrack management decided to pull the plug on the remainder of the meet and move everything to Ellis Park. Then Saratoga happened. When New York Thunder (Nyquist) broke down strides before the wire in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. the number of horse fatalities at the meet had soared to 12. It was a horrible sight to behold for a national television audience and the 48,292 in attendance. And it was a ghastly reminder of what happened three weeks earlier to Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in the GI Test S. She, too, broke down right before the wire in a spill that was as ugly as it gets. The Breeders' Cup was not immune to tragedy. Though no one was seriously injured on the day of the races, Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and broke down and had to be euthanized and Practical Move (Practical Joke) suffered an apparent heart attack and died, both while training for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The fatalities obviously caught the attention of 60 Minutes, which, in November, aired a story that focused on the breakdowns and the sport's doping problems while casting a brutally negative light on the sport. Then we learned that we will get more of the same sometime in 2024. In December, FX, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, announced that there would be an upcoming documentary, “The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses,” which it said would examine “systemic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have shaken horse racing to its core.” When it comes to the economics of the sport, there was more troubling news. Through November, handle was down nearly $500 million on the year or 4.39%. That means we are on our way to seeing the steepest declines in handle, outside of the COVID year of 2020, since 2011. Does that have anything to do with the computer-assisted wagering (CAW) players? Probably. They have tilted the pari-mutuel pools to a point where the regular horseplayer is getting killed and getting out. In July, 1/ST Racing announced that Golden Gate Fields would be shutting down for good at the end of the year, throwing the Northern California circuit into chaos. The track got a reprieve, but a brief one. It is now scheduled to cease operations on June 11. That's when it will join Arlington Park, Calder, Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows and others that couldn't make it to the finish line. Some wonder whether Santa Anita, which sits on property that is estimated to be worth $1 billion, will someday join them. Racing can't afford to have another year like this. Things need to change. While there are no magic bullets, here are what I believe are some practical and common sense solutions to some of the problems. The sport needs to fully embrace StrideSAFE. StrideSAFE is a biometric sensor mechanism that slips into the saddle cloth to detect minute changes in a horses' gait at high speed. Those changes can, and often do, signal that a horse is in the early stages of having a problem that could lead to a fatal injury. The technology has been around since 2011 and, while it has been experimented with here and there, it remains largely absent from the backstretch of America's racetracks. Why? There's no doubt that widespread employment of StrideSAFE will cut down on the number of horses that break down and there's no excuse for the sport to continue to drag its feet when it comes to embracing the concept. The CAW factor is a major issue that's not going to go way, no matter what harm it might be doing to the overall health of the sport. It has become an unmanageable runaway train, with these players betting so much money that no track is going to turn away their business. But some guardrails would help. More tracks need to do what NYRA has done. They have effectively closed the CAW players out of the win pool by no longer allowing them to place bets at the very last second. They have also been excluded from NYRA's Late Pick 5 and the Cross Country Pick 5. The betting product also needs to be better and more geared toward the booming market that is made up of sports bettors. The sport has not been nearly aggressive enough when it comes to getting the on-line sports betting websites to start accepting bets on racing. To date, the only one that has been signed up is FanDuel. That also means adopting fixed odds wagers, which are what the sports bettors know. Only Monmouth Park has gone down this road and two years after is was implemented in New Jersey the concept is limping along. No other tracks or states have tried fixed odds betting and, in New Jersey, only the second-level tracks are available to the fixed odds bettors. The takeout remains too high. With betting on a horse race often involving a rake of around 20%, the game is always going to have a tough time competing with other forms of gambling, where the effective takeout rate is lower. We're seeing some progress in this area, with a number of tracks lowering the takeout on horizontal wagers like the Pick Four and Pick Five. In 2023, Hawthorne took a major step in the right direction by lowering its takeout on win, place and show wagers to 12%. But we need a lot more of the same. With so much of purse money now coming from alternative sources like slot machines, there's no reason why tracks in places like New York and Kentucky can't at least experiment with reduced takeout rates. Fix the Triple Crown. It needs it. The GI Preakness S. is no longer coveted by the sport's major trainers and has become a weak link in the Triple Crown. Everyone wants to run in the Derby and then they scramble, some pointing for the GI Belmont S., some ready to put their horses on the shelf until the big summer races. The 2022 Derby winner, Rich Strike (Keen Ice) passed on the Preakness and, this year, Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was the only horse to go in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The result is that the Preakness is less important than it has ever been and that only weakens the Triple Crown as a whole. When 1/ST floated the idea of running the Preakness four weeks after the Derby, NYRA reacted by announcing that it had no intention of moving the date of the Belmont. Yes, a Belmont run five weeks after the Derby works well for NYRA, but it needs to put its self interests aside and do what's best for the sport and shift the Belmont to late June or early July. While we're at it, the purses for the Triple Crown races are too small. In this day and age, the $1.5-million purse for the Preakness is not going to motivate anyone to run. These are supposed to be the most important races in the sport and their purses should reflect as much. For all three races, the purses should be raised immediately to $3 million with the goal of eventually making them $5-million races. These are things that can be done. Let's not let another year go by in which the sport embraces the status quo while the outlook for its future continues to get worse. The year 2024 is upon us, let it be the year where the sport takes much needed steps in the right direction. The post The Week in Review: In 2024, the Sport Needs to Do Better appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com It was an exciting year at the Horse Park in 2023 at the Hall of Champions. It was a bit sad during the summer that we lost two great Thoroughbreds in Hall of Famer Point Given and dual Classic-winning Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, but we were recently able to add two Breeders' Cup winners in Roy H–a two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and two-time Eclipse Award winner–and Accelerate, one of the more exciting horses of the last 10 years, a five-time Grade I winner who won almost $7 million. They were added at the park here in December and are settling in, getting ready for 2024. Rob Willis is Supervisor at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Rob Willis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Luan Machado, trainer Brad Cox and owner Dixiana Farms were leaders in their respective divisions at Turfway Park's 20-day Holiday Meet which concluded Saturday night. Machado had 21 wins from 98 mounts (21%) to earn his third leading rider title at Florence, Kentucky oval. His previous titles came at the 2019 Winter/Spring Meet and 2018 Holiday Meet. Machado was followed in the standings by apprentice rider Axel Concepcion who had 19 wins. The Holiday Meet was Cox's second leading trainer title at Turfway. His barn, which is represented locally by assistant Tessa Walden, started 20 horses, won seven races and banked earnings of $356,046. Prior to racing on New Year's Eve, Cox led all North American trainers in earnings for 2023 with $30,775,698. Dixiana Farms tied for the leading owner title with Thirstyacres Racing, Gerald Brooks and Carl Hess Jr., PTK LLC and Blanca Salazar, but led the group with $89,343 in earnings. Turfway Park's winter/spring meet opens Wednesday and continues through Mar. 30. The post Machado, Cox Take Turfway Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Part five of BloodHorse's inaugural year-end survey.View the full article

Monday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article