Wandering Eyes

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, December 16, 2023 First Race 11:38am AEST Visit Dabble The Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes headlines Saturday’s massive 10-race card at Eagle Farm, which will be hosting its third meeting in eight days. Rain is forecast on Friday and Saturday, but with warm weather also expected, the track should not start any worse than a Soft 5. The rail will move from the +7m position to the +2m position for the entire circuit, while racing is set to commence at 11:38am AEST. Grand Prix Stakes Tip: Felix The Scat Last start, this three-year-old colt ground away in the final 200m to finish third over 2000m at Doomben on December 2. Going into the Grand Prix Stakes fourth-up over slightly further should be ideal for the son of Mendelssohn. From barrier one, Ryan Maloney should be able to lob in the box seat, follow the leaders and wait for a gap to appear before letting down with a strong finishing burst. Grand Prix Stakes Race 7 – #1 Felix The Scat (1) 3yo Colt | T: Tony Gollan | J: Ryan Maloney (57kg) +240 with Dabble Gold Edition Plate Tip: Cifrado Cifrado kicked off his three-year-old preparation with two races against the older horses, finishing fourth in an Open Handicap and second-last in the Listed Keith Noud Quality. This Rex Lipp-trained gelding won two Group 2 races as a two-year-old — the Champagne Classic and BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes — and now drops back to his own age group while getting in well at the weights. Damien Thornton knows Cifrado well and will give him every chance to run over them from the back of the field. Gold Edition Plate Race 8 – #1 Cifrado (12) 3yo Gelding | T: Rex Lipp | J: Damien Thornton (57kg) +1400 with Picklebet Lough Neagh Stakes Tip: Far Too Easy Far Too Easy was last seen finishing third in The Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 14, when the David McColm-trained galloper ran home from the back of the field to finish just over two lengths behind Front Page. James Orman will continue his strong affiliation with this son of All Too Hard, who has found a very winnable race to begin his summer campaign. From barrier five, Orman should be able to settle midfield off the rails and make his run around the home turn. Lough Neagh Stakes Race 9 – #4 Far Too Easy (5) 5yo Gelding | T: David McColm | J: James Orman (53.5kg) +110 with Neds Best Bet at Eagle Farm: Liquor The Tony Gollan-trained Liquor comes into this Benchmark 70 races off a close fifth-place finish at Doomben over 1100m on November 25. This four-year-old mare has won twice from five starts this preparation, with one of those victories coming at this track and trip. Bailey Wheeler will have his first ride on this daughter of Spirit Of Boom, and with the aid of his 2kg claim, we expect Liquor to lead and prove very hard to run down over 1000m. Best Bet Race 1 – #5 Liquor (5) 4yo Mare | T: Tony Gollan | J: Bailey Wheeler (a2) (60.5kg) +150 with Betfair Next Best at Eagle Farm: Fumiko On her debut for her new stable, Fumiko recorded an eye-catching second at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m on November 24. The four-year-old mare will have taken a lot of benefit from her fresh start and should be ready to win second-up at the Eagle Farm 1200m. With a good amount of speed expected, Ryan Maloney will settle near the rear of the field from barrier five and take Fumiko to the outside of runners to let down with her blistering turn of foot. Next Best Race 4 – #9 Fumiko (5) 5yo Mare | T: Tony Gollan | J: Ryan Maloney (56kg) +360 with Boombet Saturday quaddie tips for Eagle Farm races Eagle Farm quadrella selections Saturday, December 16, 2023 1-3-4 1-3-4-9-10 1-4-9 2-3-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

Dragon Star delivers for Pierre Ng and Karis Teetan. Extending an extraordinary start to the season, Pierre Ng maintained his lead in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when the second-season trainer struck with a winner for the 12th consecutive meeting. Leading the championship after 27 meetings with 32 victories – 10 clear of Danny Shum (22) – Ng has saddled 20 winners from the past 12 fixtures as he delivers on a pre-season pledge to eclipse his debut season haul of 41 winners. “We don’t think of the number of winners, we just keep our head down and keep going and we try to get as many winners as we can,” Ng said. “We haven’t set any targets, we just want to achieve, win races for the owners, get prize money for the stable and get more support for the future. “That’s how the game is and that’s how we’re going to play it.” Dragon Star, given a flawless front-running ride by Karis Teetan in the Class 4 Lam Tin Handicap (1650m), became Ng’s latest winner as four-time Hong Kong champion trainer Caspar Fownes celebrated a double crowned by veteran Explosive Witness’ drought-breaking victory in the Class 3 Choi Wan Handicap (1000m) for James McDonald. Both Teetan and McDonald slotted doubles as Zac Purton continued to lead the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 39 wins – 13 ahead of Teetan (26) – after the Australian’s triumph on Benno Yung’s Tourbillon Prince in the Class 3 Kowloon Bay Handicap (1650m). Famed as the ‘King of the Valley’ with a record 582 wins at the city circuit, Fownes has 19 wins overall for the campaign, but few of those successes have provided Fownes with as much as satisfaction as Explosive Witness, who won for the first time since his Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) victory on 1 January, 2021. “He’s a nine-year-old but he’s raced extremely well all season. Every run he’s given us a great effort and he’s certainly one horse who’s deserved to get that win. We worked hard to get him there, we worked hard to maintain his fitness and present the horse in good form, so he was well deserving of that victory,” Fownes said. Super Contented gave Fownes the first leg of his brace after prevailing in a tight finish to the Class 5 Sau Mau Ping Handicap (1650m) under Keagan De Melo, who has posted 10 wins for the campaign, with six of those victories coming at the Valley. McDonald closed the meeting with victory aboard Copartner Ambition in the Class 3 Jordan Valley Handicap (1200m) for Danny Shum – only three days after he and Shum teamed to land the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) with Romantic Warrior. Brazen Beau three-year-old provided Frankie Lor with his first winner since 11 November and ended a 55-run of outs for the 2021/22 champion trainer with an authoritative win in the second section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick. “He’s still a little bit green but he won the race well. He finished well and I hope he can be a really good horse,” Lor said. Samarkand made it two wins in a row with success in the Class 4 Ngau Chi Wan Handicap (1800m) for David Hayes and Jerry Chau. Carrying 127lb, the Mongolian Khan gelding again show his liking for Happy Valley with another brave performance. “He’s acclimatised now and I have a feeling he’s that style of horse who really likes the Valley and can keep going through the classes because he’s got tactical speed and that makes it easier,” Hayes said. “We’ll race him around here and probably keep him to a mile. He can go 1800 (metres) but he’s more impressive at the mile.” Cody Mo and Luke Ferraris combined with Togepi, narrow winner of the first section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap (1200m) after Douglas Whyte’s patience with Double Show was rewarded when the Showcasing gelding snared the Class 5 Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1000m) under Teetan. Rated 25 after 25 winless starts across three seasons, the five-year-old finished stoutly for breakthrough success. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday. View the full article

By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s best pacer is set to head to Australia for the first time and he could be taking some heavyweight mates with him. Akuta has had a change of plans and will be set for the Ballarat (January 20) and Hunter Cups (February 3) in Victoria after stopping in at Alexandra Park in Auckland for the $60,000 Franklin Cup on December 31. “We looked at the programmes and there isn’t a great deal for him here in January and February and he can make a lot more money in Australia,” says co-trainer Mark Purdon. “At this stage he is booked to fly to Melbourne on January 10 and that would give us the option of the Shepparton Cup a few days later. “But that one isn’t confirmed. The main focus for him will be the Ballarat Cup leading into the Hunter Cup.” That sets up a possible shot at revenge over NSW pacer Swayzee, who beat Akuta in last month’s IRT New Zealand Cup, the rigours of that race leaving Akuta vulnerable as he was beaten three days later by stablemate Self Assured in the NZ Free-For-All. Before that he has dominated the New Zealand spring and the Australian trip will be his first there as Mark Purdon has barely raced a horse in Australia since the border re-opening after Covid. That will change in a big way with exciting three-year-old Don’t Stop Dreaming to join Akuta on the plane to Melbourne and Oscar Bonavena still a chance of heading to Melton for the two-race Great Southern Star, also on February 3. “Don’t Stop Dreaming is definitely going and he has a couple of Free-For-Alls he can race in and then the Bonanza on Hunter Cup night,” says Purdon. “If he won that it would qualify him for the Chariots Of Fire (March 2) in Sydney and he would go on that.” The Chariots is also on the agenda for Don’t Stop Dreaming’s arch rival and conqueror in last Sunday’s New Zealand Derby, Merlin. Purdon says that would raise the possibility of Akuta also heading to Sydney for the A$1million Miracle Mile on March 9 but no decision will be made on that until after the Hunter Cup. If Akuta, Swayzee and Leap To Fame all make it to the Hunter Cup to take on the local Victorian stars it would be a dream result for Harness Racing Victoria as harness fans have seen little true Trans Tasman competition since Covid, as this Saturday’s Kiwi-less Inter Dominion Finals highlight. A decision on whether New Zealand’s trotter of the moment Oscar Bonavena joins his stablemates in Victoria won’t be made until mid January as Purdon and son Nathan don’t want the Dominion winner away from home for too long. “He is in such a good space I wouldn’t want him over there for a month or anything because I’d hate to undo all our work. “But if he is sound and happy in January he could pop over for the Dullard Cup on January 27 and then the Great Southern Star the following week. “But that decision won’t be made for a while. For now, he will go to Invercargill next week.” Any sort of consistent high-level Trans Tasman competition would be a blessing for the industry at the moment as the code is so parochial and the biggest names clashing in both Melbourne and Sydney would create a totally different dynamic to the two major carnivals, one that has been missing for much of the last five years. Meanwhile, Purdon says the immediate future of unbeaten filly Millwood Nike will be cleared next Monday after she will have a scan to access the tendon injury that saw her withdrawn from last Sunday’s NZ Oaks. View the full article

Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) will have several disadvantages to contend with in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, but trainer Vicki Prendergast hopes the score can be evened out with Opie Bosson on board. A winner of seven races, and more than $311,000 in stakes, Our Alley Cat sits on top of the book in the feature sprint with 59kg, her closest rivals being Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) and Jodelin Gal (NZ) (Swiss Ace), five kilograms adrift, and the rest of the 14-horse field on the minimum. The seven-year-old mare earned her 99 rating with classy, and often bridesmaid-status performances through the group sprints in past seasons, which she rectified with a deserved black-type victory in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings in October. Typically among the quickest out of the gates, Our Alley Cat was uncharacteristically slow away last-start in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe, and was unable to take up her usual on-speed position in the running, finishing an eventual sixth behind Campionessa (NZ) (Contribtuer). “She just missed the kick at Pukekohe. She was supposed to load last but that didn’t happen, and she’s pretty naughty in the gates so apparently when the gates opened she was playing up. She’s no good getting back like that,” Prendergast said. “She’s been fine since then and she’s in really good order for Saturday, we’re really happy with her.” Our Alley Cat will also contend with a wide draw in 12 at Te Rapa, Prendergast’s decision to start her mare fairly reliant on having the expertise of Bosson in the saddle. “I reckon Opie takes about five kilos off and she has to be a chance when he gets on her. I’m not sure I’d start her with anyone else, but having him on, I think it’s worth giving her a go,” she said. Although identifying the mare’s pet distance as 1400m, Prendergast is debating a start in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year’s Day at Pukekohe over the mile features through the summer. “I haven’t really decided on the Railway, I’ve kept her nomination in because I think she’s better over 1200m than she is over a mile, so we’re still thinking on that one.” View the full article

Golden Gate Fields, which track owner 1/ST Racing is closing in mid-2024, will operate with sharply reduced purses when it opens for its winter/spring meet Dec. 26.View the full article

The two richest races in North America this week take place Dec. 16 when Aqueduct Racetrack hosts a pair of $500,000 divisions of the New York Stallion Series for juveniles at seven furlongs. View the full article

Santa Anita's popular Paddock Captain, John Shear passed away Tuesday from natural causes at age 102 in a rehabilitation facility in Arcadia, according to a statement from the Shear family that was shared via a racetrack press release. Beloved by the many fans with whom he came in contact, as well as by his fellow employees, jockeys and horsemen, Shear opted to retire at age 100 in 2021. That same year he was honored by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters with the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing. “John will be deeply missed by countless life-long friends here at Santa Anita,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager. “We were honored to have him as part of the Santa Anita family for more than 60 years of dedicated service and we'll never forget him.” Born Jan. 17, 1921 in England, Shear was raised in an orphanage from age four to 14. At four feet, 11 inches, Shear, who sustained a shoulder injury while serving in an anti-aircraft unit during World War II, originally aspired to be a jockey and following the war, he emigrated to Vancouver, B.C., from where he came to Santa Anita as an exercise boy in 1954. Shear, who was an assistant trainer when he first began working in Santa Anita's parking lot in 1961, led an amazing life and remained fit thanks to a good diet and a consistent exercise regimen. He earned national acclaim at age 90, when on March 12, 2011, he saved a 5-year-old girl from catastrophic injury when he shielded her from a loose horse that bolted out of Santa Anita's Seabiscuit Walking Ring. John Shear is survived by his wife, Diane and their son, Michael Shear, who said that at some point in the near future, the family would have a private ceremony in honor of his father. The post Santa Anita Paddock Captain John Shear Passes At 102 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Oliver Kite will have to take the good with the bad when combining with a quality book of drives at Winton on Thursday. Kite won’t be lacking horsepower when he links up with six chances, headed by the highly talented Tact McLeod. But being handed a series of tough barrier draws means nothing is likely to come easy for the junior driver. Kite will have to negotiate a path from barrier 1 on the second row for Tact McLeod, who returns to racing in race 10 after an explosive first campaign earlier this year. After impressing in his recent trials, there seems little doubt the horse will be a big winning threat if he can get into clear air. “I am definitely excited to be driving him; I have driven him a few times at the trials, and he feels like a really nice horse,” Kite said. “He has got an awkward draw, but hopefully, he can get off at some stage and get a run.” “He won his maiden in 2.54 (for 2400m), so he is a pretty classy horse and he should be a good chance if he gets a bit of luck.” Kite also links up with Rakamurph in race 9 on Thursday. The Nathan Williamson-trained pacer looks a solid each-way threat in a handy field of three-year-olds. “He has trained on well since his first-up run; he has taken a lot of improvement from it. “He is a nice horse and he has tactical speed, so he should be an each-way chance.” Kite combines with his regular drive Durrant in race 5, who has also drawn barrier 1 on the second row. “With any sort of luck, he should be hitting the line strongly.” “He will definitely need the luck to come his way, but if it does, he’s a good each-way chance.” Bill Bootit looks another handy hope for Kite on Thursday. “He is a pretty honest trotter; he’s been going handy without getting a lot of luck.” “There are a couple of smart ones in there, but he looks a handy place chance.” Kite’s book is rounded out by Kensi and Tact Ronin. Kensi took on smart types in her last start at Addington, while Tact Ronin returns from a spell after trialling well. View the full article

Minutes after a $40,000 claimer named Jack A Rose (Midshipman) broke down in an April 3 race at Parx Racing, part owner Lisa Novak got a call and was told she had two choices, have the gelding euthanized or go through with an expensive and complex surgery that may or may not save his life. She didn't see it that way. There was only one choice. She would do whatever it took to save Jack A Rose's life. “I have so much love for him,” Novak said. “You can't just throw a life away.” Not everyone would have seen it that way. It was the tenth race at Parx that day, a $40,000 claimer for the type of horses who come and go without hardly anyone noticing. Trained by Michael Stidham, Jack A Rose had won two of eight career starts and earned $87,430. He would never be a stallion, be a star or make a lot of money, but Novak didn't care. She instructed the veterinary team at Parx to send Jack A Rose to Dr. Patty Hogan's clinic, where he would undergo a surgical procedure known as arthrodesis. An arthrodesis is where surgeons artificially fuse the joints through the use of ancillary devices like plates and screws. “This horse is just so sweet, kind and intelligent,” Novak said. “I had to do this for him.” The injury occurred in the left hind leg. “You hear the common term breakdown injury all the time, on the newscasts and TV shows.” said Hogan, who would perform the surgery on Jack A Rose. “They are very serious injuries that happen to the ankle. It's when the horses lose the integrity of the function of the ankle whether by breaking a sesamoid or suspensory. These surgeries are difficult and they are expensive. It has a lot of complications associated with it. It's a huge investment.” Jack A Rose on his day of admission | Hogan Equine Performing an arthrodesis on a horse is not uncommon. Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) underwent the surgery after she broke down prior to the Breeders' Cup and so did Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) before he was also injured while preparing for the Breeders' Cup. Echo Zulu survived; Geaux Rocket Ride did not. For those horses, the surgery made economic sense. Both had tremendous residual value and were worth far more than the cost of the surgery. No matter what happened with his surgery, Jack A Rose would never race again and could not even be ridden. He would be a pasture pet, one with no economic value. “The people who owned this horse are working class people who bred and loved this horse,” Hogan said. “He was a modest race horse but they didn't feel like bailing on him. They wanted to fix him even if that meant he was just going to live somewhere for the rest of his life. He has no economic value whatsoever. What they did, that kind of got to us. It was really touching that they took this to the extremes they did as responsible horse owners. Euthanasia was an absolutely reasonable choice for this kind of injury.” And there were no guarantees that he would survive the surgery. “There a lot of problems with this surgery,” Hogan said. “They are prone to laminitis in the other leg. They get infections because of all the metal. There's a lot of stress and a lot of tissue trauma. It's a big undertaking. Even if you have a horse that is insured many insurance companies consider the surgery an extreme measure and they won't honor the insurance policy.” Jack A Rose fused ankle | Hogan Equine Hogan normally gives a horse a break of a few days between the time they are injured and when she operates. Novak could have changed her mind, something a lot of people might have done when they started to add up the numbers. The cost of the operation plus the payments for the time the horse is laid up and recovering would come out to about $25,000. Novak grew up in Chicago and followed racing since she was very young. The first horse she fell in love with was Timely Writer, who had to be euthanized after breaking down in the GI 1982 Jockey Club Gold Cup. She said she was always haunted by his death and that it was never far from her mind when she had to start making decisions about Jack A Rose. Then there was the finances. “I am a supervisor at a carwash here in Chicagoland,” Novak explained. “I've made $61,000 so far this year and my take home pay has been about $48,000. No, I really didn't have the money to do this. I've been through hard times financially before. I had to do it.” She said she used credit cards to make the payments. Jack A Rose was operated on April 18 and everything went according to plan. “We removed all the cartilage of his joint and put it back in perfect alignment with screws and wiring and a plate and let bone heal to bone so it becomes one single unit of bone that's very functionable,” Hogan explained. “It no longer bends but horses who have had this surgery can get around fine.” Jack A Rose in the paddock running | Dr. Patricia Hogan Hogan said that she and her entire team rallied around the horse. “This was a completely heart-warming story,” Hogan said. “We do this surgery for horses, but it's always for ones that are worth a ton of money. To do one for a horse who is a 5-year-old gelding was just amazing. Our whole crew, we were heavily invested in this horse. He's a wonderful horse. Just a amazing animal. To know how much these people cared about him was special. It was very satisfying to have been able to do a good job for them. Horse racing get bashed so much. I like to get these stories out there to educate people and show them there are plenty of people out there who really love their horses.” Unable to have a second career, Jack A Rose is among the newest arrivals at Old Friends. Novak is hoping to visit him in January. “I love animals,” she said. “If I could save every horse I would.” The post A Loving Owner Takes A Chance, Spares No Expense To Save A Claimer’s Life appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Hui made a shrewd buy at the 2022 November Horses of Racing Age Sale at Keeneland when he bought Value Engineering from the ELiTE consignment for $35,000. The gelding seeks a second straight victory in the Dec. 16 H. Allen Jerkens Handicap.View the full article

Tuesday's session featured Walk In The Park (Ire) as the sire of the top three lots at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale, and Wednesday's trade reflected much the same story, with that aforementioned sire responsible for two of the three top lots. However, it was No Risk At All (Fr)'s lot 605 that stole the show, when Glenvale Stud made a winning bid of €120,000 to top the session. Out of the Kayf Tara (GB) mare Hidden Harmony (Ire), the colt, the only one by his sire in the catalogue, entered the ring midway through the session. Consigned by Galbertstown Stables, the bay is a grandson of Shirley Casper (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), who won a Grade 2 NH Flat race, and was third in the G1 Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race, as well as taking the G3 EBF Mares Novice Final Hurdle. The colt is from the family of G1 Irish Grand National H. Chase winner Thunder And Roses (Ire), a full-sister to his second dam. Colts by Walk In The Park brought €88,000 and €82,000 from Tally-Ho Stud and Redpender Stud, respectively. Lot 543, part of the Yellowford & Drumlin consignment, is from the same female line as Grade 1-winning hurdlers Best Mate (Ire) (Un Desperado {Fr}) and Cornish Rebel (Ire) (Un Desperado {Fr}). The third highest price was lot 557, who was consigned by Ballintry Stud. He is the first foal out of listed hurdle winner Getaway Gorgeous (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}), who was second in the G2 Island H. Hurdle. Of the 208 horses offered, 121 sold (58%). The gross was €2,139,600. Both the average and median showed improvement from fewer sold from those lots sent through the ring than last year, with the average up 8% to €17,683. The median rose by 14% to €12,000. Thursday's session will see foals, broodmares, and breeding prospects go under the hammer from 10 a.m. local time. The post Sire Polarisation Continues At Goffs December appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Both Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Park got approval Wednesday from the West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) to reduce live racing dates in 2024 compared to recent seasons. The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) chapters at both tracks supported the diminished schedules based on available purse funds and projected horse populations. Right now the placeholders are 158 dates for Charles Town and 121 for Mountaineer. But the exact number of programs will ultimately be contingent on the outcome of several overlapping federal lawsuits that have to do with the legality of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). In July of 2022, the states of West Virginia and Louisiana won a preliminary injunction that has kept the HISA rules from being implemented in those two states until their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HISA gets decided in full. Then in September of 2023, the judge handling that case ordered it to be “administratively terminated” until the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made a ruling in a separate (but related) suit in which the National HBPA is also alleging that HISA is unconstitutional. Oral arguments in the HBPA vs. HISA case were heard Oct. 4 but no Fifth Circuit decision has been issued yet. WVRC executive director Joe Moore explained during the Dec. 13 meeting that if HISA were to be deemed legal nationwide and/or the court's injunction barring implementation in West Virginia got lifted, both tracks would need to recalculate how much purse money was available and how many racing dates those funds could cover. That's because Charles Town and Mountaineer would be subject to HISA assessments for safety oversight and drug testing services that they currently don't pay because of the injunction that grants them an exception. According to HISA's 2024 budget, West Virginia's assessment for next year is $4,448,269 (Charles Town $3,281,367; Mountaineer $1,166,902). Moore said that “if HISA were to become effective in West Virginia, I suspect Charles Town and the horsemen would consider reducing their race days by a number to ensure that there were purse monies available after the [HISA] assessments were calculated for them.” Charles Town's director of racing, Charlie McIntosh, concurred. “If HISA were to come back into effect, we'd have to sit down and evaluate” funding options, McIntosh said. Mountaineer gate | Coady Photography No representative from Mountaineer spoke on the track's behalf during the meeting. The two tracks handled their dates reduction requests differently. Charles Town asked for and received 158 dates but left the door open to come back to the commission for a further reduction request if necessary. Mountaineer took the opposite approach, asking for and receiving the commission's approval for two dates contingencies so the track wouldn't have to come back a second time to request another trim if HISA gets legalized in the state. So the WVRC approved 121 dates for Mountaineer, with Moore explaining that “if feasible and [if West Virginia continues to] remain exempt from HISA, their number of live race days would increase to 128.” Moore said Mountaineer's season would run Apr. 28-Dec. 4 under the first contingency, with the meet extending through Dec. 11 if the second plan got utilized. Charles Town's 2024 schedule, according to the track's website, will consist of four- and three-date weeks nearly year-round, with breaks Aug. 25-Sept. 11 and Dec. 15-31. Charles Town's 158 dates for 2024 continues a downward trend. The track was awarded 164 dates in 2023 and 179 in 2022. Unless Mountaineer ends up running the bumped-up 128 dates, its 121-date allotment also represents a decrease, from 124 dates in 2023 and 130 dates in 2022. (All dates cited above are based on dates as originally assigned by the commission, and do not reflect any in-season program losses that might have occurred because of weather cancellations.) Even in years when the costs of HISA assessments have not been in play, the awarding of race dates in West Virginia has been a somewhat confusing several-step process. A state statute requires Charles Town to apply for 220 programs every year, and Mountaineer is required to apply for 210 dates. But those quotas haven't been reached for quite some time. What has ended up happening in recent seasons is that after the initial approvals of those mandated 220 and 210 dates every November by the WVRC, both venues have subsequently come back before the commission to ask for reductions that reflect what each track and its HBPA representatives think is a workable schedule. The dates reduction votes were unanimous Dec. 13, with WVRC chairman Ken Lowe Jr. and commissioner J.B. Akers voting in the affirmative, while commissioner Tony Figaretti was listed as being absent from the meeting because of a travel conflict. The post West Virginia Trims Dates For ’24, Exact Schedules Hinge On Outcome of HISA Legality appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2023 Wanamaker's December Sale catalogue is now available online with bidding open at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 21, the first listing complete that day at 5:00 p.m. ET and subsequent listings to close in three-minute increments, the company said in a release Wednesday. With weanlings, yearlings, horses of racing age, open broodmares and broodmares in-foal all catalogued this month, top first-crop stallions of 2023 will also be represented. Yearlings by Mitole, Maximus Mischief and Vino Rosso are included. Highlights of the catalogue: A yearling filly by Mitole (Hip 6). Mitole is the leading first-crop sire by earnings and co-leader by winners. A yearling filly by Vino Rosso (Hip 3), out of SW Awesome Alexandra. A yearling filly by Maximus Mischief comes from the family of MGSW Candy Man Rocket (Hip 4). In-person inspections may be scheduled by contacting sellers with the information provided in the catalogue. The post Wanamaker’s December Sale Catalogue Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky State Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, (R-Georgetown), a staunch supporter of horse racing in the Bluegrass, will not seek re-election for the 17th Senate District and allow his term to expire in December 2024, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus said in a release early Wednesday afternoon. “I have decided not to seek re-election to the state Senate in 2024,” Senator Thayer said. “The end of my current term next year will mark 22 years in the Senate and 12 as Majority Floor Leader. After conversations with my adult children, close friends and colleagues, I have concluded this is the right decision.” Thayer is the longest-serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader in Kentucky history. The 17th Senate District, which includes Grant and Scott Counties and portions of Fayette and Kenton Counties, is within what has become known as Kentucky's Golden Triangle. As a leading voice for Thoroughbred racing, Thayer has championed the passage of historical horse racing and last year successfully co-led the fight to dissolve penny breakage, which has already returned millions of dollars back to horseplayers. The post Staunch Horse Racing Supporter Damon Thayer Will Not Seek State Re-election appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With more than 700 users registered to bid and buyers in 27 states plus another three countries, the Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with 186 horses sold for $3,167,000 across a catalogue, which was the largest ever offered on the platform to-date, the auction company said in a release Wednesday. The online sale featured broodmares, horses of racing age, broodmare prospects, yearlings, weanlings and a stallion share in and lifetime breeding right to first-crop sire Flameaway (Scat Daddy). Breeze Easy (GB) (Hip 310), a 4-year-old race filly, topped the sale when she went for $180,000 to Glenn Burrows from the consignment of St George Sales, agent. Fresh off an allowance win Friday at the Fair Grounds, Breeze Easy is a GSP daughter of Bated Breath (GB) and has earned just shy of $200,000 racing in England, Ireland and the United States. Out of the stakes winning Royal Academy mare Polar Circle, Breeze Easy is a half-sister to Group 2 placed and group stakes winner Artic Sound. KBS went to $150,000 to secure the sale's second highest-priced offering, Googol Joke (Hip 32), a two-year-old son of Practical Joke consigned by Greenfield Farms, agent. A maiden winner last time out at the Fair Grounds, Googol Joke came into the sale with one win and one third from two career starts and earnings of $35,978. Rounding out the top three prices of the sale was Sherif Ali (Hip 12), a two-year-old colt by American Pharoah, sold for $115,000 to Jonathan Green from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Sherif Ali broke his maiden on debut at Woodbine in October and came into the sale off a good second in allowance company over the same track and distance shortly after bidding opened on Thursday. The colt has a record of one win and one second from two lifetime starts and earnings of $29,628. “This was a 'slam dunk' to close out the year. I'm very happy with the results,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The number of entries, registered bidders, and gross all exceeded previous records for our digital sales. We got the stallion share and lifetime breeding right done. We did in a week online what normally takes sales companies, stud farms, and buyers 60 days. I'm very proud of that and proud of our team at Fasig-Tipton.” Commented first-time Digital seller Paul Manganaro, seller of Por Que No (Hip 309), in-foal to Constitution: “The flexibility and ease of the process was great, and my mare never had to leave her stall on the farm. I am still amazed that it took only five short days from the time I called Fasig to the time my mare sold. I see the many benefits that digital sales can have for both sellers and buyers and I will make sure digital sales are part of my plan going forward.” The next Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale will be the February Digital Sale, which opens for bidding on Thursday, Feb. 15, and closes on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Nominations are now being accepted. The post Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale ‘A Slam Dunk’ After Largest Offering Ever appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Forever Young, a colt with Kentucky Derby-minded connections, jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with a seven-length victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 13.View the full article

Jonny Turner’s selections for Winton. Race Jonny Turner Racing Journalist Race 1 4.03pm 4 Major Envy 8 Northview Sweet 7 Cock A Hoop 3 Ledger’s Maid Race 2 4.30pm 4 Sonny Jim 5 Joeking 3 Burning Love 2 Boss Jo Race 3 4.56pm 5 Ultimate Weapon 11 Captain Meister 4 Pounamu 3 Vinchetto Race 4 5.22pm 5 Miraculous 6 Tycoon Banner 2 Wehavtime 1 Munroe’s Mate Race 5 5.47pm 3 Superfast 7 Livy Desma 4 Fireforefiddle 8 Franco Huntington Race 6 6.12pm 7 Ruby Roe 8 Flying Ellie 5 Remission 1 Mallory Maguire Race 7 6.37pm 13 Hidden Talent 4 Hot Saucy Betty 8 Sally Lindenny 12 Imperial Man Race 8 7.02pm 5 Itoje 13 Forever Arden 11 Bowlem Over 2 Lou’s Deal Race 9 7.27pm 8 Da Vinci 2 Carrera Sunset 9 Micaitlen Denario 7 Rakamurph Race 10 7.52pm 9 Tact McLeod 7 Robyns Playboy 4 Bizzie Lou 12 Brookies Player View the full article

An updated version of the Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy was published by the British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday. The Strategy, covering a four-year period, seeks to protect and promote the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in the sport. These objectives are supported by a comprehensive action plan, which includes: Enhanced safeguarding and human welfare education for industry leaders, employers and employees, with specific training around sexual abuse and misconduct Refining reporting mechanisms, simplifying the existing referral processes and ensuring appropriate support for those reporting allegations Improving how we manage concerns, so that cases are dealt with effectively, in a sensitive, timely manner and in accordance with regulatory best practice Creating a network of 'Respect in Racing champions' – role models who can help influence, inform, support and provide confidential advice to others An industry-wide awareness campaign to improve understanding of what sexual misconduct is, why it is unacceptable and what to do if it occurs Using the latest data and research most effectively to identify, better understand and respond to emerging risks and trends. This includes further research to explore the lived experience of people working in British racing. BHA Chair, Joe Saumarez Smith, said, “British horseracing is dependent on the hard work and dedication of the people who ensure our sport can take place throughout the year. Everyone involved in our industry should feel safe, supported and confident in the knowledge that they will always be treated with dignity and respect. “On behalf of British racing, I apologise unreservedly to anyone who has experienced harm and behaviour that is unacceptable. I also want to thank those who have shared their stories and provided powerful personal testimony. We are sorry and we will work determinedly to put this right. “There is no place in British racing for sexual misconduct, bullying or any form of discrimination or conduct that makes people feel inferior, inadequate or excluded. We must always maintain the highest standards, no matter our role or responsibility, and strive to build a universal culture of respect. “There is much more to do, and the updated Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy–which has the unanimous support of the BHA Board and racing's leadership–is another important milestone in this journey”. For more information, please visit the BHA's website. The post UK Safeguarding And Human Welfare Strategy Updated By BHA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HISA has launched MedEnt, an app designed to give veterinarians a streamlined process for entering treatments into the HISA portal on mobile devices, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The app reinforces HISA's commitment to working with veterinarians and other stakeholders to improve HISA's processes as well as its focus on leveraging technology to advance equine health. Attending veterinarians can use the app on their smartphones or tablets to access the list of horses under their care, add treatment reports and update protocols. In cases where they are giving the same set of treatments to several horses, they can create a shortcut for those treatments rather than creating a new entry for each individual horse, thus reducing the amount of time they spend on data entry. Veterinarians may use the app even when offline, as it automatically will upload the new entries to the HISA portal the next time users have cellular or internet connectivity. “Serving as an equine veterinarian is an incredibly demanding job,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We aim to make their difficult jobs easier through the launch of this application, which is the latest in a series of steps undertaken by HISA to use technological solutions to promote the health and wellbeing of our equine athletes. This streamlined process, which allows veterinarians to submit multiple treatment reports with ease even while on the go, means that veterinarians have more time for the hands-on care of horses.” While the use of the new app is not mandatory, HISA's goal is to provide user-friendly technology for veterinarians across the country. Key features of the app include: The ability to create treatment reports and add information such as time, date and supporting photos, videos or documents, for any horse, including those not on the user's horses list. The ability to configure treatment protocols to speed up record entry. A convenient widget containing information about the user's horses and recent treatment reports. The option to use the app online or offline; data captured while offline automatically syncs when reconnected to the internet. The mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Users can access the tutorial video or PDF guide to learn more about the app and how to use it. The post HISA Launches App To Streamline Equine Treatment Report Entry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rundown of this week’s horse racing coverage on TV and radio from America's Best Racing.View the full article

Forever Young, a colt with Kentucky Derby-minded connections, jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby" with a seven-length victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 13.View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Imaboutago in Florida. Debut Winner For Calyx In Florida Wesley Ward sent out Imaboutago (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) to a debut victory at Gulfstream Park for e Five Racing Thoroughbred on Friday (video). Bred by Ennistown Stud, the juvenile filly is out of Newtown Pippin (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and brought €12,000 as a Goffs November weanling from Rockview Stables, before making 105,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling on the bid of BBA Ireland. She was the joint-fifth highest price during that book at Park Paddocks. The half-sister to the stakes-placed Felix Natalis (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) has a weanling half-brother by Cotai Glory (GB). His granddam, Vista Bella (GB) (Diktat {GB}), won the Listed Masaka S., and ran third in the G1 1000 Guineas. All four of the Coolmore Stud resident's American runners–all fillies–have won. Calyx's best in that locale are the GIII Jimmy Durante S. heroine Zona Verde (Ire), and the dual listed-placed Angiolleta (Ire), who are both incidentally out of Dark Angel (Ire) mares. His quartet of winning U.S. fillies is completed by Ever So Sweet (Ire). 2YO IMABOUTAGO breaks her maiden in fine style @GulfstreamPark for trainer Wesley Ward. #GoffsNovember graduate sold by @TheCastlebridge to Rockview Stables #GoffsGrad pic.twitter.com/jLKfaK02Ep — Goffs (@Goffs1866) December 9, 2023 Repeat Winner: Cheyenne Stable's Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) returned to the winner's circle in the Wait A While S. at Gulfstream Park for trainer Christophe Clement (video) recently. #7 OZARA ($3.80) waited for room and got it under Irad Ortiz, Jr. to get thru and win the Wait A While Stakes at Gulfstream Park,. Congrats to all the connections, including trainer Christophe Clement and owners Cheyenne Stable. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/gOukSba2Wh — TVG (@TVG) December 9, 2023 The post Making Waves: Another Juvenile Filly Winner For Calyx In The States appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland Library's Lecture Series returns in winter/spring 2024 with four ticketed events that celebrate recently published works about Thoroughbred racing whose authors conducted research at Keeneland Library, the repository said in a release Wednesday. During programs planned from January through May, the following authors will discuss their books, with each presentation followed by a reception and book signing: 24 – Kim Wickens, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse. 21 – Fred M. Kray, Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age. March 7 – John Paul Miller, False Riches. May 9 – Avalyn Hunter, The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies. “The authors in this lineup cover varied and engrossing territory,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “From a chronicle of legendary racehorse and sire Lexington to a gripping account of superstar Alydar, and from a novel of race track intrigue to a comprehensive history of the Kentucky Oaks, this series is sure to please our fans of racing and newcomers alike.” Click here for tickets. The post Tickets On Sale For Keeneland Library’s 2024 Winter/Spring Lecture Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Real Steel (Jpn) gave the theretofore relatively unknown Yoshito Yahagi a first victory on foreign soil when taking out the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2016. There has been a stack of overseas success since then–including Real Steel's full-sister Loves Only You (Jpn) in America and Hong Kong–and Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) stands an excellent chance to add to the colorful conditioner's record following a smashing victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, 20 miles south of Central Tokyo. Drawn widest in a field of 12, the firming 11-10 favorite on the back of his victory in the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at northern Mombetsu Nov. 3 broke a bit to his right, but was done no damage, as he quickly zoomed up to press the pace of longshot Oscar Brain (Jpn) (Danon Legend {Jpn}. Second choice Aigle Noir (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) chased the pair from out wide in third. The two market leaders made moves in unison entering the second turn, and Aigle Noir appeared to stick his nose in front nearing the straight, but Forever Young counterpunched inside and careered away in the final furlong to score convincingly. The win was worth 20 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Yahagi-trained Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) was an intended runner in last year's Run for the Roses, having competed in the G3 Saudi Derby the G2 UAE Derby, where he was behind last year's Zen-Nippon winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). A physically below-par Continuar was withdrawn from the Derby in the days leading up to the race. Forever Young could chart a similar course, but Yahagi said that the owner is also keen on the new NAR Dirt Triple Crown, consisting of the Haneda Hai (1800m) in April, the Toyko Derby (2000m) in June and the Japan Dirt Derby (2000m), which moves from July to October. Fujita has made a big splash at home and abroad, paying sometimes-lofty sums for yearlings and 2-year-olds at public auction. Fujita, the founder of Japanese digital advertising company CyberAgent Inc, splashed out ¥517.1 million ($4.7 million) for a then-juvenile colt by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Premier Steps (Ire) (Foostepsinthesand {GB}) at the Chiba 2YO Sale in 2021. Dobune is a two-time listed winner and Group 2-placed in Japan this season with earnings north of ¥156 million. More recently, Fujita and Yahagi have been represented by Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe winner Sottsass (Fr) who topped the 2022 Arqana August Sale on a bid of €2.1 million. The chestnut colt is two-from-two in his young career, including a last-out victory in Group 3 company, and heads to the G1 Hopeful S. (2000mT) in two weeks' time. In 2021, Fujita paid a sales-topping $750,000 for the Practical Joke filly Clos de Mesnil at OBS March and from the same sale, he acquired Jasper Krone (Frosted), a $90,000 purchase who won twice at group level this term before traveling to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and last weekend's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Jean Gros (More Than Ready), bought out of the 2021 OBS March Sale for $265,000, gave Fujita his first winner at group level in 2022. Forever Young is one of three winners from four to race out of Forever Darling, whose marquee success came in the GII Santa Ynez S. in 2016. Second dam Darling My Darling was twice Grade I-placed at two in the colors of Debby Oxley and later won the Raven Run S. and Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland before producing 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was part of a thrilling finish in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2. Shug McGaughey trained third dam Roamin Rachel to a victory in the GI Ballerina H. in 1994, and she was sold to Japanese interests for $750,000 in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November Sale before producing Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), Japan's Horse of the Year and winner of the G1 Japan Cup in 2004. Forever Darling is also the dam of a yearling filly by Kizuna–like Real Steel a son of Deep Impact–and her foal of 2023 is a filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn). やりました！！嬉し〜！ 【全日本2歳優駿】フォーエバーヤングが無傷3連勝で2歳ダート王　藤田晋オーナーはG1初制覇 | 競馬ニュース – https://t.co/9KspeMenvw https://t.co/IIeLC9Omo0 — 藤田晋 (@susumu_fujita) December 13, 2023 Wednesday, Kawasaki, Japan ZEN-NIPPON NISAI YUSHUN (Jpn-G1)-Listed, ¥71,400,000, Kawasaki, 12-13, 2yo, 1600m, 1:43.50, yl. 1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Real Steel (Jpn) 1st Dam: Forever Darling, by Congrats 2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister 3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining (¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥42,000,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥82,200,000. 2–Aigle Noir (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Bricks and Mortar–Ultima Blood (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥14,700,000. 3–Saint Honore (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Epicharis (Jpn)–Lingus Uno (Jpn), by South Vigorous. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-La Mere Inc; B-Matsuura Bokujo; ¥8,400,000. Margins: 7, 2HF, 1. Odds: 1.10, 1.60, 104.30. Click for the goracing.jp chart. The post Forever Young Another Potential Star For Yahagi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Prolific trainer puts run of 55 losers behind him at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, citing health issues for his quiet patchView the full article