Wandering Eyes

Minister for Racing Winston Peters has confirmed the reappointment of Neville Harris QSO as Chairperson of the Racing Integrity Board (RIB). Mr Harris has been reappointed for a further three-year term, beginning on 10 October 2025 and expiring on 9 October 2028. Alongside Board members David Howman CNZM, Dr Patricia Pearce, Aaron Lloyd and Brent Williams who remain on the RIB Board within their current terms. The post Neville Harris reappointed as RIB Chairperson appeared first on Racing Integrity Board. View the full article

Check out the great racing offers available from horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, September 3. Enjoy bonus back deals and other promotions to boost your betting experience. Explore these specials from top online bookmakers and get more value from your bets. Top Australian racing promotions for September 3, 2025, include: Today’s horse racing promotions Warwick Farm Races 1-6 | Bet Back Run 2nd or 3rd Activate your Bet Back Tool in your Betslip on Races 1-6 at Warwick Farm this Wednesday and if your runner comes 2nd or 3rd, get up $50 back as Bonus Cash. Bet Back Tool is only available to use on the day of race, on Fixed Win bets, and on races with 5 or more runners. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Sandown All Races | Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Sandown this Wednesday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings! – Sandown Hillside Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in bet slip. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Eligible customers only Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Eligible Customers Only. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Sandown & Warwick Farm R1-3 | Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd Available from 12:00AM AEST. Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotional limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet to Claim Promo Copycash – Get Copied. Get Paid. Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets. Eligible Customers Only. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo 10% Winnings Boost! – Belmont, Ipswich & Warwick Farm Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in betslip. Cash bets only. Max bonus $100. Eligible customers only Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Bet Boost | Wednesday Thoroughbred Meetings Get a bet boost on thoroughbred races around Australia on Wednesday. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Daily Exotic Boosts Boost your exotics by up to 20%. Available on Exactas, Quinellas, Trifectas & First Fours. Excludes Quaddies. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% winnings in cash Max Payout $2000. Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds win bets on Australian thoroughbred races only. Excludes boosted, multi, live and bonus bets. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector | If Your Horse Drifts, You Get The Bigger Price Only available on Australian Horse Racing Fixed Price Win bets placed from 8am AET the day of the race. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au find these racing offers? HorseBetting.com.au reviews Australia’s top horse racing bookmakers to share the best thoroughbred promotions for September 3, 2025. Bookmakers are always competing, so if one doesn’t have a deal, another usually does. Rely on HorseBetting.com.au for daily racing bonuses and betting specials. Get better value with competitive odds and offers for existing customers. Just log in to your betting account to see what’s available. For extra help picking winners and using your bonuses wisely, check out our daily free racing tips. View all horse racing promotions View the full article

TIME TO WIN, SAR, 9-1, 1 mile, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-87 (2nd) (c, 3, by Not This Time–Nagamble, by Flatter) O-Spendthrift Farm, William Lawrence, Big Easy Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson. B-Fred Hertrich III. T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat. Time to Win went into serious training late in 2024 as a 2-year-old then needed six months at the beginning of this year, but looked good finishing second to Only in America (below) as a debut favorite. He's a half-brother to Juju's Map, the GI Alciabiades winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up, by Taylor Made's Not This Time, and was sold by the Taylor Made Sales Agency. MR. A.P., DMR, 8-31, 6 furlongs, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-88 (2nd) (r, 2, by American Pharoah–Trenchtown Cat, by Discreet Cat) O-Holly and David Wilson. B-Pollock Farms. T-Vladimir Cerin. J-Hector Berrios. On behalf of the Wilsons–who campaigned Grade I winners Early Pioneer and Designed for Luck–Cerin claimed him for $150,000 a month earlier, and while he didn't win, he gained stature in a gutsy losing effort. At Gulfstream, his dam won the Sanibel Island on turf and was second in the GII Princess Rooney. He is a Taylor Made Sales Agency graduate. MONTADOR, KD, 8-28, 1 mile, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-89 (c, 3, by Nyquist-Lady Montdore, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Godolphin. T-Michael Stidham. J-Brian Hernandez Jr. His DQ from a win a month earlier at Colonial may have been a blessing–he then scored decisively at Kentucky Downs for a 143% higher purse. Without looking, you could correctly predict his Godolphin pedigree is solid. His dam won the GII Glens Falls, and her Grade I-winning dam, Hystericalady, earned $2.3 million before she was snapped up by Godolphin for $3 million. KRISTOFFERSON, DMR, 8-31, 6 furlongs, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-90 (c, 2, by Nyquist-Impasse, by Quality Road) O-SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. B-Candy Meadows (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez. This $1.15-million Keeneland September yearling didn't get away too cleanly, yet was quickly on the pace (where Baffert 2-year-old firsters generally can be found) and outgamed a tough Mr. A.P. to the wire in an outstanding 1:08.83 as Baffert continued his dominance of the Del Mar maiden ranks. ONLY IN AMERICA, SAR, 9-1, 1 mile, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-93 (c, 3, by Constitution-American Doll, by Tiznow) O-Robert and Lowana Low. B-Woods Edge Farm (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. J-Kendrick Carmouche. Back in April, the $700k yearling buy stumbled and tossed his rider at the gate at 8-5 odds at Gulfstream Park and was taken back to the barn in an equine ambulance as a precaution. Three months later, he reappeared on the work tab with Pletcher's back-up string at Monmouth, then was vanned to Saratoga for this wide-trip closing day score that gave Pletcher a tie with Chad Brown for the training title. The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made, from Aug. 25-Sept. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Management at Kentucky Downs plans to review the performance of its new timing system after errors were detected in the times for the graded stakes on its Aug. 30 card.View the full article

The 51st annual Global Symposium on Racing, hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, will include a panel titled “Strength in Numbers: Innovative Approaches to Boosting U.S. Thoroughbred Breeding” to address the ongoing issue of declines to the foal crop. The session will bring together leaders from racing and breeding to discuss ideas to reinvigorate regional Thoroughbred breeding programs. Panelists will highlight successful models ranging from innovative incentive programs to targeted policy reforms, with an emphasis on collaborative, multi-state efforts. Featured panelists include, Paul Ryneveld, Director, Horse Racing Alberta & Co-Founder, 10Acres Solutions (Moderator); Harris Auerbach, Managing Partner, Auerbach Racing; Jamie Haydon, Deputy Executive Director, The Jockey Club; Diana McClure, Board Member, Virginia Thoroughbred Association; Mike Tanner, Executive Vice President & CEO, United States Trotting Association; and Ismael Trejo, Executive Director, New Mexico Racing Commission. The symposium runs from Dec. 8-10 and features a full slate of panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. Registration is now open, with discounted rates available for early sign-ups. For event details, visit www.RacingSymposium.com. The post Global Symposium on Racing Panel to Focus on Foal Crop Declines appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a Godolphin newcomer. 19.00 Kempton, £11,000, Mdn, 2yo, 7f (AWT) Godolphin's €650,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase DEVON ISLAND (Practical Joke), from the family of G1 Middle Park and G1 Dewhurst runner-up Green Perfume (Naevus), encounters 11 rivals in this debut for the Charlie Appleby stable. They include Juddmonte's Andrew Balding trainee Item (Frankel {GB}), who is a homebred son of GI Natalma Stakes heroine Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The post Expensive Kentucky-Bred Breezer Set for Kempton Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

7th-Parx Racing, $50,820, Msw, 9-2, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:07.31, ft, 6 1/4 lengths. FLOYNESS (f, 2, Silver State–Getupbabygetup, by First Defence), sent off at 2-1 for this unveiling, pressed longshot Mariah's Big Girl (Rowayton) through an opening quarter in :23.02. Overtaking that rival nearing the quarter pole, Floyness ran clear to score by an eye-catching 6 1/4-length winner over Savor It (Vino Rosso). The filly is the third winner for her freshman sire (by Hard Spun). Getupbabygetup, who sold for $24,000 in foal to Army Mule at Keeneland last November, dropped a filly by the Hill 'n Dale stallion this season and was bred back to Jack Christopher. Sales history: $57,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '25 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Smart Angle LLP; B-River Oak Farm LLC (KY); T-Michael V. Pino. The post Silver State’s Floyness Impresses in Career Debut at Parx appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Sept. 2 Melbourne Cup (G1) nomination stage saw 120 runners confirmed for the two-mile feature on Nov. 4, with a total of 101 local and 19 international horses nominated for the 165th running of the AUS$10 million contest.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Aug. 25-31View the full article

Santa Anita Park's 16-day Autumn Meet begins Sept. 26 with a new wager, the $1 Sunset Pick Six. The Sunset Pick Six will comprise the final three races from both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park on days that both tracks are running. View the full article

Following a breakthrough win on dirt in the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, BBN Racing's Kilwin switches back to turf Sept. 6 in the $2 million Music City Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.View the full article

Three horses with an affinity for the undulating, sweeping grass course at Kentucky Downs—local stakes winners Goliad, Brilliant Berti, and Lagynos—square off in a competitive, 13-horse renewal of the Sept. 6 Mint Millions Invitational (G3T).View the full article

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario concludes its review of a race August 4 at Fort Erie, finding no wrongdoing from anyone involved.View the full article

This year's renewal of the G2 Mill Reef Stakes will be run in honour of the late Geoff Lewis, whose association with the great Mill Reef was the highlight of the Welshman's hugely successful career in the saddle. Lewis, who died last month at the age of 89, partnered Mill Reef to win 12 of his 14 career starts, notably landing the Derby, Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in an outstanding three-year-old campaign in 1971. He later embarked on a training career after retiring from the saddle in 1979. From a relatively small stable in Epsom he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, whose victories included the July Cup and Duke Of York Stakes. The Mill Reef Stakes, which was first run at Newbury Racecourse in 1972, takes place this year on Saturday, September 20. Following last week's scratching stage, 35 two-year-olds remain in contention for the six-furlong contest, which will be run as the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (In honour of Geoff Lewis). Another possible runner is the Jim Boyle-trained Into The Sky, who looked a colt of significant potential when recently making a winning debut at Newbury. The son of Starman doesn't feature among the 35 juveniles currently entered in the Mill Reef, but Boyle reported on Tuesday that a supplementary entry is on the cards at a cost of £6,250. “The most likely race for him now would be the Mill Reef at Newbury,” said the trainer. “He's come out of his race grand, we're very happy with him. Visually, it was extremely impressive and that was backed up by the time. “You couldn't fail to be pleased with that. We're just looking forward to his next run and hoping he can back it up. We've never had a two-year-old of the sort of quality that we'd be looking to go to the Mill Reef with any degree of expectation.” The post Mill Reef Stakes to be Run in Honour of Geoff Lewis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The slimmed-down Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale resulted in meaty rises in the median and average on a day when Jenny Norris, consignor of Windsor Castle Stakes winner Havana Hurricane at this sale 12 months, backed up those exploits by sending out a Havana Grey filly [lot 39] to command joint top-lot status at 160,000gns to Rabbah Bloodstock. Norris Bloodstock shared the spoils with Guy O'Callaghan's Grangemore Stud, who sold a Dark Angel colt [65] out of Listed-winning speedster Measure Of Magic to Highflyer's Anthony Bromley on behalf of owner Phil Cunningham. That buying team followed on from last week's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale spending spree to also end this sale as the leading buyer. Havana Hurricane was sourced by Bromley on behalf of Eve Johnson Houghton for just 9,000gns last year. Success breeds success in this game and Norris is a good example of that old saying given her Havana Grey filly – bred by Lord Margadale – proved one of the Somerville show-stoppers on Tuesday. “We did not expect her to make quite that much,” Norris beamed. “But we had targeted this sale to be a standout. The pedigree is strong enough to go later, but the pedigree has done so well here that we'd keep that trend going. It's a good start to the Tattersalls season for us – let's hope she goes on to become a Royal Ascot winner!” Norris added, “She has been extremely busy and we have had plenty of vets, which gives you confidence. It is lovely for Lord Margadale. He was not going to give her away and has had the whole family and it is close to his heart. But I said we could be brave as she has been very popular. We sold Francisco's Piece as a foal here and Windstormblack at this sale. It is a lovely family.” The Havana Grey filly is out of a winning Sakhee's Secret mare Josefa Goya, who as Norris alluded to, is a producer of two black-type performers. It was Jono Mills who signed for the filly on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock. He commented, “She is a very nice horse by a very exciting stallion and is reared by a great farm and is near the pick of the fillies today. She is a balanced, attractive horse and we are hopeful she will be a proper two-year-old.” As for the sale on the whole, it followed on from the momentum built up at Doncaster last week, with the new one-day format getting a resounding thumbs up from buyers and vendors alike. The proof is in the eating given the average climbed 21% to 34,254gns and the median by 14% to 25,000. The average was up a massive 11% to 90% while the 7,878,500gns was a little over 1 million gns down on last year, that ended up being a massive result given the catalogue was slimmed back by 43% [194 horses]. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “This is the fifth year of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, and it has proved to be a record-breaking edition, with a joint record top price, a record number of six-figure lots, a new benchmark for the average, and a clearance rate of 90%. “The sale has quickly established itself as an important fixture in the European yearling sales calendar, and there has been plenty of positive feedback from consignors regarding the high level of inspections over the past couple of days.” He added, “With racecourse successes such as Royal Ascot winner Havana Hurricane, purchased for just 9,000gns last year, and Group 3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit two of 41 Group or Listed performers since 2023 – it is no surprise that the sale has produced such strong results. Combined with the prize-money increases for both the Somerville and October Auction Stakes, each of which will be run for a minimum of £200,000 in 2026, it is clear that the Somerville Yearling Sale continues to go from strength to strength. “We made a conscious decision this year to reduce the number of lots in the catalogue, shortening the sale from two days to one, a move that has been met with numerous positive comments. We now look forward to Books 1 – 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and to showcasing the cream of the European yearling crop.” Cunningham: 'If They Keep Winning, We'll Keep Buying' Phil Cunningham may be having his best-ever season on a racecourse in terms of prize-money [over £554,000] earned and, keen not to rest on his laurels, the owner took his overall spend at the yearling sales in Britain this year to nearly £2 million by spending 677,000gns on seven lots on Tuesday. That outlay was headed by the 160,000gns Dark Angel colt sourced from Grangemore Stud while the buying team, which is headed by Bromley, also swooped for the only colt by Too Darn Hot in the sale at 135,000gns. Other noteworthy additions included a Mehmas colt out of Listed-winning Kodiac mare Atomic Lady from Tally-Ho Stud at 100,000gns. Speaking after signing for the joint sale-topping Dark Angel colt, Cunningham said, “The mum was very fast and I think he's going to be early – I think it's one of the earliest foaling dates [January 3] I've seen. Richard picked him and the optimistic trainer tells me he's probably going to be our first runner next season. So let's wait and see if he's right.” He added, “We bought eight at Doncaster. We bought some expensive horses and we tend to come to Doncaster and then on to this sale here. We are looking for the more precocious types to crack on with and it seems to be going well. If they keep winning, we'll keep buying.” Aguiar Goes Big On Perfect Power Colt Robson Aguiar ought to know what a good son of Perfect Power should look like given he was involved in the breezing of the triple Group 1 winner along with Tally-Ho Stud. In fact, Aguiar also played a hand in the breezing of Perfect Power's sire Ardad, who also passed through the breeze-up system under the Tally-Ho tutelage, and Aguiar said that lot 118, who he sourced from Barton Stud for 105,000gns, had all of the right attributes to make it as a racehorse and even labelled him as his pick of the sale. Rodrigo Goncalves, bidding on behalf of Aguiar, who was sitting the trainers' course in Ireland, held off Jono Mills on the Perfect Power colt. Speaking from home, Aguiar said, “I bought him for the track. I like this horse a lot. I broke in and breezed his grandad [Ardad] and I breezed his dad [Perfect Power] as well. He is very athletic and very racy. Hopefully he will do well. I was at Tattersalls all day on Saturday. I saw all of the horses and then I came back on Sunday. The only horse that I really wanted today was him.” The Perfect Power colt was bred by the Rogues Gallery, best known for owning top-class racehorses rather than breeding them. He is out of Rogue Missile (Dandy Man), who carried the red and white colours of the syndicate to win twice for Tom Clover. The Perfect Power colt is her first produce and was consigned by Barton Stud. That outfit's chief Tom Blain commented, “He's the first horse we've sold for Rogues Gallery, although Tony [Elliott, syndicate founder] has had mares with us for a couple of years. This is a first foal out of Rogue Missile, who Tom Clover always thought was a very nice filly. He's a very good first foal with a very good walk. He got a place in Book 2 but we thought we'd bring him here and stand out a bit. It was the right call because we ended up with Robson and Jono Mills from Rabbah on the horse. It's a really good result. Some of the owners are here and it's given them a great buzz. It's a thrill for us too but I'm just delighted for them.” Talking points One of the most expensive horses of the sale was bought to go breezing, with Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud going to 145,000gns to secure a Starman colt from Tally-Ho Stud. Whitehead said that a return to Park Paddocks for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale could be in the mix for the colt out of Pooky (Twilight Son), herself a daughter of Listed winner Firenze (Efisio), who is the dam of smart sprinter Harry's Bar. Not many breeze-up handlers can boast out-bidding Amo boss Kia Joorabchian but Whitehead was intent on adding lot 97 to his roster for the upcoming breeze-up season. Whitehead said, “The stallion is flying and this is a nice horse. I'll probably bring him back here [for the Craven] if the wheels stay on the wagon. Hopefully he'll be lucky. The market seems to be strong here today.” Less than a week after spending £110,000 on a colt by Persian Force at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, Amo Racing continued its support for the young stallion by going to 90,000gns to secure a filly by the Group 2 scorer from Tally-Ho Stud. It was Alex Elliott who did the bidding on behalf of Amo boss and football agent Kia Joorabchian who, with the earlier closing time [7pm] to the transfer window on Monday, was able to make it to the Somerville Sale in plenty of time. He said, “She is a very good-looking filly and a bit of a standout for the whole team today – everyone put her up to Kia independently. Kia got here in good time after the transfer window closed late last night. I was a bit worried he wouldn't, especially as she was in early.” On the progeny of Persian Force on the whole, Elliott added, “Listen, he is producing very nice, hardy-looking horses. He is by Mehmas and Mehmas was obviously a top two-year-old. Persian Force was also a top two-year-old and I think he's going to be very attractive to, not only trainers, but many people within the breeze-up community. It's all been very positive so far.” There's something rather uplifting about seeing a belter by a less-fashionable sire like Mattmu making 55,000gns. There were a few examples of good-looking horses by unheralded stallions making their money at Donny and, in the case of lot 130 here on Tuesday, the Mattmu colt consigned by Marley Girls Bloodstock, he clearly didn't go unnoticed. None other than Anthony Bromley, bidding on behalf of Eve Johnson Houghton, landed the precocious-looking colt. Of course, it would be a disservice to the horse to say that he didn't boast a bit of book given he is out of a winning Kingman mare who is the dam of recent Listed winner Anaisa (Ardad), and he was bred by that filly's trainer, Tim Easterby. Nevertheless, there would be plenty of people who wouldn't pull out a son of Mattmu, who stands for just £2,000 at Norton Grove Stud. More fool them. Palace Pier has enjoyed an outstanding second half to the season headlined by A Bit Of Spirit's gritty Group 3 Solario Stakes success and the Group 2 Lowther Stakes victory for Royal Fixation. Other notable recent winners include the Stonehenge Stakes scorer Morris Dancer, and Ted Durcan is clearly taking note of Palace Pier's prowess given he went to 135,000gns to secure a filly from Plantation Stud by the outstanding miler. Durcan said, “She looks nice and racy and is for an existing client. I genuinely think that any nice horse is making its money. It was a strong market last week and it's a strong market today. The nice horses are not being missed. It's a healthy market overall.” Nat Barnett has had a lot of success in France but lot 128, a Dark Angel filly sourced from Yeomanstown Stud for 120,000gns, will be going into training with Karl Burke. She was bought alongside owner Will Sangwin. Barnett said, “We have had all of our horses so far together in France and we've had a lot of luck out there. Will is based up in Yorkshire and was keen to have a horse over here. I had a two-year-old with Karl last year called Antonin Dvorak. He was the only yearling for our syndicate and he won a couple and then sold very well [for 220,000gns at the Autumn horses-in-training sale] here. That prompted the decision to go back to Karl here. Obviously this filly has a very strong page and looks a lovely, precocious type. Hopefully she's one that'll crack on early next year.” While the usual suspects dominated at the top end, young Oli Rix, who is due to set up as a trainer in Newmarket before the end of this year, signed for his first ever yearling alongside bloodstock agent Charlie Dee. Lot 6, a Profitable filly consigned by Kildaragh Stud, was bought on spec by the 31-year-old, who boasts a glittering CV having spent time working with some of the best trainers in the business. Rix explained, “This is the first ever yearling I bought and she was sourced with the help of my friend Charlie Dee. I have done my time with a fair few trainers. I started with Andrew Balding, spent three years with Hughie Morrison and a year with Chris Waller in Australia. I also spent a year with Hugo Palmer and am in my fourth year now with Roger Varian. I am setting up in Newmarket and will be doing my best to drum up a bit of interest. The filly today was bought on spec and we plan on buying a few horses-in-training as well. We bought one at the July Sale but I am hoping we can acquire a few more.” It really was a day when youth came to the fore as Jake Campbell, who has spent time with Tally-Ho and Monceaux, made his debut appearance as a consignor under the banner of Lanark Bloodstock a memorable one when selling a Blue Point filly to James Tate on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock for 130,000gns. Campbell, who also works closely with Alex Elliott, said, “This is the first horse I have consigned. She belongs to a client, Richard Frayne, who is a great supporter, and it was one of my very first mating plans. We used Blue Point in year four. He was easier to use in that year and it has paid off.” Golden Touch Ger Kennedy of Sherbourne Lodge gets famously shy whenever a microphone is waved in front of his face but, when you turn €3,000 into 50,000gns – that's nearly €70,000 – words come a little more easily. The man they call 'Pockets' left Park Paddocks with his trousers laden with cash after lot 84, an Almanzor colt sourced the previous December at Arqana, sold to Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of Andrew Balding. “A bit of luck and a little bit of feeding,” Kennedy quipped after securing one of the biggest pinhooking profits of the sale. “He was always a lovely horse and it just happened. Beautiful horse with a really good action. If you have a nice horse, you'll sell them in this market. And you can't beat selling in sterling, either!” He added on the overall health of the yearling market, “There has been a really good and solid trade here today. The trade in Doncaster was brilliant as well and it is great to see. If you have the horse, the money is there, which is good. You can't blame people for not wanting to buy a bad horse in the current climate. But the nice horses are making plenty of money and the market is strong. We have three for the Orby, 10 for Book 1, seven for Book 2 and four for Book 3, so we're only starting. But you'd have to say it's been a very positive start to the yearling sale season. And going back to a one-day sale here has definitely been a help. People don't need all this hanging around at sales.” Thought for the Day The catalogues for the Premier Yearling Sale and the Somerville Yearling Sale were numerically down on previous years but the figures were up. Safe to say that less is in fact more The post Another Show-Stopping Performance From Norris At Slimmed-Down Somerville Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After winning last year's edition, Whisper Hill Farm homebred Grand Sonata is back to defend his title in the $2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes (G2T) Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs.View the full article

Jockey Tim Thornton, trainer Allen Landry, and owner Elite Thoroughbred Racing take home titles at Evangeline Downs.View the full article

After running 1-2 in the Mahony Stakes (G3) last month, Spiced Up and Governor Sam stretch out to 6 1/2 furlongs in America's lone grade 1 turf sprint restricted to 3-year-olds: the $2 million Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6.View the full article

It would be fair to say that Monday night's annual general meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) was not a laugh a minute, but, as TBA chairman Philip Newton outlined, there is not much cause for levity in British racing and breeding these days. Rising costs, stagnant or falling prize-money in the lower tiers, and continued declines in the British (and global) foal crop were all cited as areas of concern, while Newton, who has been instrumental in the development of Project Pace, which seeks to make a Premier League-style package out of a select number of Britain's best racing fixtures, also spoke of the potential of this venture. To date, Project Pace has received a Levy Board grant of £232,500 to develop a strategy that Newton hopes will deliver “transformational funding”. He promised to provide greater details of these plans after imminent consultation with key rights holders. The TBA also released details of its new Equine Welfare Levy, which will mean a mandatory extra charge to breeders of £60 per foal registered from 2026, replacing the old voluntary levy. “The breeding industry, and as a follow-on, the racing industry, is facing change that it hasn't seen before, and which threatens its very existence,” Newton warned in his address to around 50 TBA members in attendance at the Jockey Club Rooms. “I see it very much as my, and the TBA's, responsibility to ensure that the industry – that's the full racing industry – understands the treacherous waters it is steering towards, and the consequences of not changing course.” Newton is plainly dismayed that prior warnings have gone unheeded by those in charge of racing and the fixture list. “To deal with a problem, in the first instance, you have to acknowledge that there is a problem, and I'm disappointed to say that parts of the industry are in denial about the serious problems the breeding industry is facing,” he added. This is not the first time that Newton has painted a stark picture regarding the drop in the foal crop, which, according to statistics released by the TBA, has dropped by 15 per cent since 2022. Early indications from covering numbers in 2025 suggest a drop of around 13 per cent, which would result in around 3,500 foals in 2026. Newton continued, “That's a 25 per cent loss in five years. It's even more damaging than you might think, because in the 2022 economic impact study, we charged PwC to model the foal crop out, and with the financial circumstances and economic influences that were prevalent at the time, they concluded that a number of 3,500 would be reached by 2051. We have now consolidated 25 years into five. “And if that pace is continued, it will see catastrophic failure for the industry. With current investment in short supply, prize-money, and economic circumstances demanding, breeders in the commercial market are finding it almost impossible to make ends meet. Three out of four yearlings sold in 2024 failed to recover cost.” Newton pointed to rising costs linked to changes in inheritance tax and National Insurance as being among those to have affected breeders. But in an earlier presentation, deputy chair Kate Sigsworth had set out a TBA-imposed extra cost to breeders for next year, when the foal levy, which was previously an optional £12.50 each to the TBA and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) when foals are registered, will become mandatory and increase to £60 per foal. The new Equine Welfare Levy will again be divided between the TBA and RoR, with the TBA retaining £35 per foal for “continuation of vital work around traceability, genetic diversity, veterinary research, equine infectious disease control and prevention and in supporting breeders to achieve best practice in relation to the health and wellbeing of thoroughbreds under their management”. The remaining £25 will go to the RoR. In recently announced contributions from across the industry, the RoR now also receives £6 per lot sold at all British sales companies on top of a mandatory levy of £3 from vendors and purchasers for every horse sold; £270 per fixture from all of Britain's 59 racecourses; and £100 per member each year from the Federation of Bloodstock Agents. This is on top of a percentage of prize-money won by owners, trainers and jockeys. Sigsworth said, “The new welfare levy will mean the TBA is guaranteed a fixed amount to help underpin and facilitate a broad range of vital workstreams, including equine infectious disease control and prevention, biosecurity and border controls, traceability and genetic diversity; as well as providing funding for aftercare activity via RoR, as part of an industry-wide approach to support their three-year strategy and providing education initiatives and safety net provision for any horses who may at some stage require the charity's services. “The TBA absolutely recognises and thanks all those breeders who already play a crucial role in the rehoming of their own thoroughbreds following their racing careers (for breeding or otherwise), often for life, or by supporting with their transition to the broader equestrian sector, but many thoroughbreds are still sold at public auction or privately and at some stage may find themselves requiring the expertise of RoR.” It will indeed be interesting to see the response to what effectively increases the cost of registering a foal by up to 62 per cent, bearing in mind that the previous levy of £25 was voluntary rather than compulsory. Commercial breeders will also be contributing through the sales levy outlined above, and owner-breeders already donate their share of prize-money. The TBA has not been immune to the exodus of senior people that has affected a number of racing's organisations, with chief executive Claire Sheppard having officially stepped down at the AGM. Newton paid handsome tribute to Sheppard's eight years in the role. He said, “I've been unbelievably lucky in my life, in that every time I've been given a job, I've had somebody that makes me look good, and Claire has made me look good. I can't tell you the hours that she's put in, the dedication that she's given this industry.” In her own address, Sheppard had earlier spoken of the “brutal press coverage” aimed at some of the leadership figures in racing. If it has indeed been brutal then it is certainly a reflection of the general frustration and concern felt by many of racing's participants as they witness a revolving door of CEOs while the troubles faced by the sport remain a major threat. With the delayed arrival on Monday of Lord Allen in his new role as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, perhaps all this is about to change. We can but hope. But, given Sheppard's comments, it was surprising to learn moments later that her successor Naomi Mellor, whose appointment was announced in June, was not present at the AGM to meet breeders owing to a “longstanding personal commitment”. It was an inauspicious start to Mellor's tenure, particularly on a night when the chairman had spoken in such stark terms of the potentially dire future faced by those attempting to stay afloat in the business. The post Industry ‘In Denial’: Plain Speaking From Philip Newton as TBA Introduces £60 Mandatory Foal Levy For 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tim Thornton led the standings from start to finish to win his fourth riding title at Evangeline Downs when the Louisiana track concluded its 73-night season Monday. He finished the season with 96 victories from 385 mounts. Thornton also led the jockey colony in purse earnings with his mounts collecting $2,035,840. Allen Landry fended off a late stretch bid by Sam Breaux to win the trainer race by one victory–38 to 37, while Michele Rodriguez's Elite Thoroughbred Racing made it a three-peat in the owner standings. The operation had 21 wins from 115 starts at the meet. Live racing returns to Evangeline Downs with the start of the American Quarter Horse meet Oct. 1. The post Thornton, Landry, Elite Thoroughbred Racing Earn Evangeline Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Applications are now being accepted for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Next Generation Advisory Group. Members serve staggered terms of 18 to 36 months. As the group's initial 18-month terms conclude, HISA is beginning the process of rotating members off to welcome new voices and ideas into the group. HISA is seeking applicants in the early to mid-stages of their professional careers who bring a wide range of experience in Thoroughbred horse racing and who engage with HISA's rules. Advisory Group members are expected to join monthly meetings with HISA leadership to provide feedback on HISA's rules and processes. Candidates interested in joining the Advisory Group for membership beginning in October or April should submit an application to NextGen@HISAus.org outlining their interest and qualifications by Sept. 19. The post HISA Seeks Applications for Next Generation Advisory Group appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty stakes races worth $3.15 million will highlight the 12th Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar beginning on Thursday, Oct. 30, and running through to Sunday, Nov. 30.View the full article

TOBA will honor national award winners at its 40th anniversary awards dinner Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in Lexington.View the full article

220 yearlings have been catalogued to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings sale, the company announced Tuesday. The sale will be held Tuesday, September 30 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland beginning at 11 am. “Yearlings from the Midlantic region are well raised and that translates to results on the racetrack,” said Paget Bennett, Midlantic Director of Sales. “With 55 stakes wins or placings throughout the country so far this year, Midlantic Fall continues to produce quality racehorses that can take you to the winners circle on a national or regional level.” The front cover of this year's catalogue features Maryland-bred Horse of the Year Post Time (Frosted), a multiple graded stakes winner of $1.3 million; GSW/GISP Crazy Mason (Coal Front); GSW Our Shot (Kantharos); and Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic), a multiple graded stakes winning millionaire that sold for $1,000,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale this past fall. The catalogue's back cover lists an additional 11 recent stakes winning graduates, including Romeo (Honor A.P.) and Trendsetter (Modernist), stakes winning 2-year-olds of this year. National sires represented include Candy Ride (Arg), City of Light, Complexity, Corniche, Cyberknife, Drain the Clock, Early Voting, Epicenter, Good Magic, Hard Spun, Jack Christopher, Liam's Map, Mandaloun, Maxfield, Maximus Mischief, McKinzie, Midshipman, Nyquist, Olympiad, Practical Joke, Street Sense, Tiz the Law, Upstart, Vekoma, and Yaupon. There is also strong representation from leading Midlantic sires, including the region's current top-5 sires Great Notion, Cloud Computing, Golden Lad, Uncle Lino, and Enticed. Midlantic Fall offers yearlings from a wide variety of state-bred programs. Those represented this year are Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The catalogue may now be viewed online, and will also be available in the equineline catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available later this week. Fasig-Tipton will accept supplemental entries to the sale up until sale time. The post 220 Yearlings Catalogued For Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twenty stakes races worth $3.15 million, including the GI Hollywood Derby and the GI Matriarch Stakes, will highlight the 12th Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar which begins Thursday, Oct. 30 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30. All told there will be 16 days of racing during the meet, including two days of Breeders' Cup races Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1. All told there will be 11 Graded races presented through the month as well as 12 stakes held on the turf course. There also will be four Cal-bred stakes on the agenda. The Let It Ride Stakes kicks off the action Oct. 30 and four stakes races feature on closing day led by the Matriarch. Racing throughout the Bing Crosby Season will have a first post daily of 12:30 p.m. The two Breeders' Cup days will go at 11:35 a.m. (Friday) and 10.05 a.m. (Saturday). The post Breeders’ Cup Highlights Del Mar’s Upcoming Bing Crosby Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article