Wandering Eyes

Horse Racing on Tuesday, December 12 will feature four meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Hamilton. Tuesday Racing Tips – December 12, 2023 Hamilton Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For December 12, 2023 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $33.76 odds return: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 Hamilton – Race 5 #2 Ferlazzo Hamilton – Race 7 #5 Light Of Rose Wagga – Race 6 #3 Mischinka Kilcoy – Race 3 #4 Star Chance | Copy this bet straight to your betslip As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 12, 2023 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. More horse racing tips View the full article

What Happy Valley Races Where Happy Valley Racecourse – Wong Nai Chung Rd, Happy Valley, Hong Kong When Wednesday, December 13, 2023 First Race 6:40pm HKT (9:40pm AEDT) Visit Dabble As the Hong Kong International Races come to a close, we look to the bright lights of Happy Valley on Wednesday evening as the city circuit plays host to a competitive nine-race program. The rail is set in the B position for the meeting, and although there is no rain forecast for Wednesday, the predicted strong winds could mean racing with cover will be a major benefit. The opening race is scheduled for 6:40pm local time. Best Bet at Happy Valley: Beato Beato is winless in 10 Hong Kong starts but appears ready for a peak performance on his first look at Happy Valley. The son of Tavistock has finished in the minor placings his last two starts over the 1400m at Sha Tin and on both occasions closed off to suggest the 1650m would be ideal. He has a soft draw in barrier one, and with James McDonald taking the reins, we would be shocked if Beato wasn’t there when the whips were cracking. Best Bet Race 7 – #2 Beato (1) 5yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: James McDonald (60.5kg) Bet with Dabble Next Best at Happy Valley: Beauty Destiny Beauty Destiny’s three race starts have left a lot to be desired. The four-year-old gelding is yet to lose a barrier trial, however, and his latest at this course was terrific when leading all the way to score by a staggering 7.3 lengths. We are holding out hope that he can replicate that effort at the races this week, and with Zac Purton on board from barrier one, Beauty Destiny gets one more chance to make amends. Next Best Race 4 – #8 Beauty Destiny (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Zac Purton (57.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Next Best Again at Happy Valley: Atomic Energy Atomic Energy should get every chance to turn the tables on some key rivals in this 1000m Class 3 sprint. Angus Chung’s 2.5kg claim gets the four-year-old gelding into this event at the featherlight weight of 52kg, meeting the likes of Humble Star 9kg better off. He should gain an economical run in behind the speed, and provided he gets off the rails at a crucial stage, watch for this guy to be flashing down the centre of the course. Next Best Again Race 5 – #6 Atomic Energy (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: Angus Chung (a2.5kg) (54.5kg) Bet with Unibet Happy Valley quaddie tips – 13/12/2023 Hong Kong quadrella selections Wednesday, December 13, 2023 1-4-6-7-11 2-4-8 4-5-7-8-9 1-2-6-8-10-11 More horse racing tips View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Dec.4-10View the full article

HISA has established a program to provide pro bono legal representation to eligible covered persons alleged to have violated rules in HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program.View the full article

Edited Press Release From Horseshoe Indianapolis With the close of racing for the 2023 season at Horseshoe Indianapolis comes a new venture for one individual. Tom Congalosi was the winner of the $30,000 ownership option of an Indiana yearling through Road to Louisville, a contest sponsored by Horseshoe Indianapolis and Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA). Tom is now the owner of a new filly named Highspeed Justice (Harry's Holiday), now in training for the 2024 racing season in Indiana. “Never have I ever dreamed of owning a Thoroughbred horse,” said Cangalosi. “Yet today we own Highspeed Justice, purchased at the yearling auction at Horseshoe Indy in October. Pictures after the auction show an owner with the biggest smile possible. You have to wonder about life and the many little coincidences that occur throughout. What a wonderful opportunity. Tom and his wife, Pat, reside in Georgetown, KY. The retired supply chain manager has followed horse racing for decades and has had friends that have dabbled in ownership, but this is the first time he had crossed over into the sport as a participant. Tom is the second winner of a horse from the Road to Louisville contest, which spanned 16 weeks from mid-January to the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May. Each week, horseplayers were tasked to select horses in a mock $2 Win-Place-Show format with points accumulating toward the final. Jeffrey Hampton was the overall winner of the $1,000 grand prize but did not opt in for the $30,000 horse option. Therefore, Tom, who finished second, was the recipient of $500 as prize money along with the option to purchase an Indiana yearling at the ITOBA Fall Sale in October. That's where Tom took the plunge into horse ownership when the filly Highspeed Justice was sold to him for $6,700. The remaining balance of the option will go into an account to pay for expenses for the filly, who sold as the fifth horse in the sales ring. Prior to the sale, Tom chose Tim Eggleston to train his new acquisition. Highspeed Justice is currently at Eggleston's farm in southern Indiana and began her training regime at the beginning of December. “We started with our Quarter Horse yearlings first and got them broke and then started in on our Thoroughbred yearlings the first of December,” explained Eggleston. “So far, we really like the filly Tom (Congalosi) bought at the sale. She seems very sensible and is getting settled in. I think he got a nice value for the price, and we are excited to see what she can do next summer.” As far as venturing into unknown territory, Tom is adjusting to his new role in racing. The longtime horseplayer has a deep passion for the sport that appears to be expanding with the addition of Highspeed Justice. “Tom (Congalosi) has been great so far,” added Eggleston. “He's really trying to educate himself on being an owner and trying to understand all the things that go on behind the scenes with the filly. He and his wife, Pat, plan to come up to the farm to see her over the winter, so we are excited to have him as part of our team.” Tom and Pat are currently taking care of small details, from licensing to designing their silks, in preparation for the racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2024. “We are excited to be part of ITOBA and joining the many members that have built careers around the horse breeding and racing industry. You're never too old to learn. We look forward to the Spring meet and watching Highspeed Justice win her way to, wait a minute, I'm getting ahead of myself,” Tom laughed. The post Congalosi Prepares For New Venture In Horse Ownership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tom Congalosi was the winner of the $30,000 ownership option of an Indiana yearling through Road to Louisville, a handicapping contest sponsored by Horseshoe Indianapolis and Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA). View the full article

The Goffs December National Hunt sale continued a streak of good economic indicators on the auction calendar with the opening session showing noteworthy increases as the €110,000 price for the top lot (157A, a wildcard entry) was the highest for a NH foal anywhere in 2023. Said lot is a Walk In The Park (Ire) weanling half-brother to Stage Star (Ire) (Fame And Glory {GB}), both out of the classy hurdle mare Sparky May (GB) (Midnight Legend {GB}). He went to Richard Frisby, who had struck earlier for lot 101, a Blue Bresil colt, after a bidding battle despite appearing to bow out at one point. In total, 119 horses sold for a turnover of €1,957,000, up 27 per cent from last season, with an average of €16,446, an increase of eight per cent. The selective market ruled the day, however, as the clearance rate came in at 61 per cent. The post Half-Brother to Stage Star Tops Day 1 of Goffs December NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Adam Hamilton Swayzee has the draw to add the Inter Dominion final to his recent New Zealand Cup romp. Jason Grimson’s latest and best star yet had a big win in the barrier draw with gate three, compared to his half-brother and main danger, Leap To Fame in gate six. It sparked a dramatic change in betting with Swayzee firming from as much as $4.50 pre-draw into $2, while Leap To Fame eased from $1.65 to $2.60. Grimson is trying to become the first trainer in Inter Dominion history to win three successive pacing finals with different horses. He won with Boncel Benjamin on protest at Menangle in 2021 and I Cast No Shadow at Melton last year. Much debate ensued after the draw as to whether Leap To Fame had enough speed to get across Swayzee in the dash to the first turn. That will go a long way to deciding the race. Just as fascinating is the battle for the early lead between Swayzee’s stablemate and the “find” of the series Nerano from gate one and sparkling beginner Turn It Up in two. Whichever wins that battle will sit on Swayzee or Leap To Fame, depending who is first to tackle for the front. Grimson was thrilled with the draws for Swayzee and Nerano. “They’re both about perfect for each of them,” he said. “I wanted one or eight for Nerano and for Swayzee to draw inside Leap To Fame. “I think Nerano’s a chance of holding out Turn It Up early. He’s quick out. Being on the pegs is perfect for him. “I thought he was a place chance before the heats because of his speed, but Cam (Hart) has driven him well and built his confidence through the series.” Grimson isn’t fazed by Swayzee’s defeats in his second and third round heats. “No, not at all. He hasn’t much go right and been terrific through the line both times,” he said. “He’s actually put on weight through the series, so he’ll do some serious work this week and be primed for the final. “If he can be up front and rolling, you’ll see the best of him.” Swayzee won his first 10 starts for Grimson by controlling his races on the speed. Leap To Fame, who will come into gate five if emergency Cantfindabettorman doesn’t gain a start from barrier five, has been plagued by tricky barriers in big races this year. His four defeats in 14 starts have largely been because of draws and/or having to do the work outside the leader. Sit-sprinters like Better Eclipse (gate 11), Spirit Of St Louis (nine) and Speak The Truth (10) will need Leap To Fame and Swayzee to go to war up front now they have all drawn the back row. “We’ve never had him (Better Eclipse) better, but the draw certainly leaves us in the hands of others. There’s a big chance Swayzee and Leap To Fame will really go at each other and if they do, I think we can be a live chance.” While the pacing draw has added intrigue to the final, the draw for the trotting final has seen Just Believe’s dominance become vice-like. The defending champ drew gate four and most expect he will push forward and take the lead from polemarker Mufasa Metro. Chris Alford has no option but to pull the ripcord on Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida from (gate five) outside Just Believe and try to cross him, but Sugars can’t see that happening. “Yes, Chris has probably got to have a crack, but I’m not worried. I’m sure we’ll hold him,” he said. Just Believe has been supreme going through the heats unbeaten as he did last year, but in contrast to last year when he drew wide on the back row, this time he’s drawn the best of the big guns. “He’s better than he’s ever been and the draw has been kind. We’re looking forward to Saturday night,” Sugars said. INTER DOMINION BARRIER DRAWS PACERS: Front row: Nerano, Turn It Up, Swayzee, Future Assured, Cantfindabettorman (emergency), Leap To Fame, Kanena Provlima. Back row: Classie Washington, Spirit Of St Louis, Speak The Truth, Better Eclipse, Petes Said So, Our Money Rocks. TROTTERS: Front row: Mufasa Metro, Funny Face, Majestic Lavros, Just Believe, Queen Elida, Ollivici, Van Sank. Back row: Sir Fahrenheit, Constantinople (emergency), Plymouth Chubb, Thebestbourbon, Adelle, Gus. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features the half-sister to G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 18.00 Southwell, Nov, £6,600, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT) John and Thady Gosden trainee DANIELLE (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is kin to five black-type performers headed by this year's G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Her nine rivals include King Power Racing's fellow newcomer Midnight's Dream (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {Ire}), a half-brother to last term's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye runner-up White Lavender (Ire) (Heeraat {Ire}), from the Roger Varian stable. The post Observations: Half-sister to Courage Mon Ami Set for Southwell Introduction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Carenot (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), a half-sister to the G1 Phoenix S. winner Dick Whittington (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), topped the third day of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville at €72,000. The 10-year-old mare is a dual winner and her first three foals have all also won two races, including the Listed-placed Liberalist (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Offered in foal to Earthlight (Ire) as lot 582 from Haras du Lieu des Champs, Carenot was bought by Whitehorn Bloodstock on behalf of Emir Alkas of Alkas Stud in Turkey. Alkas's previous purchases at Arqana's December Sale include Naan (Ire) for €17,000. From that daughter of Indian Charlie he bred the 2020 G3 Solario S. winner Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}). Leading the weanling division was a colt by Galiway (GB) (lot 604), whose stock continue to prove popular with both Flat and National Hunt buyers. This son of the Group 3-placed Stormyra (Fr) (Stormy River {Ire}) is a half-brother to three winners and was signed for by Peter and Ross Doyle at €51,000 from the draft of JK Thoroughbreds. The colt's four-year-old half-sister Stormania (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) was sold immediately prior to her sibling as lot 603 from Haras de Colleville and, in foal to Galiway, she brought a bid of €35,000. Though the figures from Monday's session are in stark contrast to those witnessed on Saturday, they are largely keeping pace with last year. From a slightly smaller comparative session, the clearance rate dropped by 4% to 75% for 187 of the 250 horses sold on the day. The median remained at €8,500, the average was up by 4% at €12,070, and with 29 fewer horses sold this year, the aggregate dropped 11% to €2,257,000. With one session remaining at Arqana, the overall turnover looks set to follow the downward trend seen in Ireland and Britain so far this season. The post Arqana Session Topper to Alkas Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In his resignation email, Stead praised the efforts of those involved in the sport in California, saying racing in the state "is in good hands."View the full article

Baroness Dido Harding will become the first female senior steward of the British Jockey Club next year after her appointment was confirmed at the organization's winter meeting Dec. 11.View the full article

The catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale is now online at www.obssales.com. The two-day sale is set for Jan. 23 and 24. There are 248 yearlings cataloged by a diverse group of proven and promising sires, as well as mares in foal to an outstanding roster of up-and-coming sires. Supplemental entries are being accepted until Jan. 12. For supplement information and entries, visit JanuaryEntryForms. The sale's first session begins at Jan. 23 at noon with hips numbers one through 122, plus supplements, catalogued in the Consignor Preferred Session. The Horses of Racing Age Session, catalogued as hips 201 through 265, plus supplements, begins immediately following the conclusion of the Preferred Session. The Open Session, with hips 401 through 643, plus supplements, will begin Jan. 24, also at noon. The Under Tack Show for the Horses of Racing Age Section is set for Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. OBS will again offer online bidding during the Winter Mixed Sale. For complete information on registration and online bidding, visit obs-online-bidding. The post OBS Winter Mixed Sale Catalogue Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Mike Berger has travelled south for today’s meeting at Manawatu – and it feels like an ambush. Much to his surprise race 5 is the Happy 70th Birthday Mike Berger Mobile pace. “I didn’t know anything about it,” Berger says, “plus I didn’t want the whole world knowing how old I was!” Berger turned 70 over the weekend. “I asked whose idea it was but haven’t heard a thing as yet,” he laughs. “But it’s pretty cool. I’ve always enjoyed the Manawatu and Palmerston North – the club does a great job” Fittingly Berger will have a live chance in the race, with Lady La Salle rated a big show. She has had two wins and three placings on the course from just eight starts, including a second behind Full Of Desire on November 23. With a career record of three wins from 34 starts, her last win on course was on November 13. “She can be a bit moody but she’s going through a wee purple patch of form at the moment.” Berger has also just brought up another milestone. When Cos I Can won at Alexandra Park last Friday (paying $14.40) Berger brought up his 700th training success, a day before his 70th birthday. His first win was with Supreme Ruler, driven by Tony Herlihy, at Cambridge in 1982 while his highest profile was in 2002. When training in partnership with Warren Rich, they quinellaed the New Zealand Cup with Gracious Knight and Facta Non Verba. These days he trains a team of 11, with seven of them in at Manawatu today. How fitting it will be if Lady La Salle can continue what has already been a big few days. “I would say she’s the best of my chances.” Race 5 The Happy 70th Birthday Mike Berger Mobile Pace is set to go at 5.30pm View the full article

With the Arqana sales closing out our breeding stock sales season, there were some very stark warnings for the industry in Europe. Plenty have highlighted the dire situation at the lower end of the market with a frightening number of mares failing to sell for even the covering fee of the foal inside them. However, it is also far from rosy at the top end of the market for our domestic product. Analysing the 143 mares/fillies that sold for £200,000+ at the three main sales (Goffs November, Tatts December and Arqana), over half will be leaving European shores and travelling to Japan, Australia or America. Obviously this is not an exact science as a number of lots were knocked down to agents or aliases. However, I'm fairly confident to within a 10% error margin with the figures. Australian entities (including all Yulong pseudonyms) signed for the most number of £200k+ lots (35 in total over 24%) and spent over £20.1 million (21%). The Japanese were stronger than ever and bought 17 lots (12%) and spent over £13.3 million (14%). The Americans bought 20 lots (14%) and spent over £9.2 million (10%). English Studs bought 29 lots (20%) for a total of just over £20 million (21%). Were you to take out Juddmonte's two major purchases, Godolphin's sole purchase and Graham Smith Bernal's continued significant support, this would look even more dire with only a little over £11 million spent. Coolmore, as ever, reinvested heavily and helped keep Ireland high up in the list. In total, 23 (16%) of the £200k+ lots look likely to head to Ireland for an outlay of over £24.9 million (26%). French interests bought 17 (12%) lots for £6.1 million (6%) while German studs bought just two. While these figures alone are highly worrying, when comparing them to just ten years ago, you realise that we could be well past the tipping point. Back then over 74% (in comparison to just 49% now) of the 136 fillies/mares that sold at the corresponding sales stayed in Europe. Furthermore, over 32% stayed in England whereas only a tick over 20% will stay in England from this year. Such a rapid trajectory in the wrong direction needs to somehow be halted or we will lose our seat at the top table of the racing world. The BHA and all factions of the racing hierarchy need to put self-interest to one side and work in cohesion to address the issue. Not only will we not be producing enough horses to fill the racing programme, but the quality will continue to slide in comparison to our counterparts in other jurisdictions. Tom Pritchard-Gordon, Badgers Bloodstock The post Letter to the Editor: Heed Stark Sales Warnings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In his resignation email, Stead praised the efforts of those involved in the sport in California, saying racing in the state "is in good hands."View the full article

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has been at the helm of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) since 2007, presiding over a significant expansion of the Asian racing scene. Emmanuel Roussel received an update from the CEO during last weekend's Hong Kong International meeting, with topics including the development of racing at Conghua on the Chinese mainland, and the potential for the HKJC to establish a breeding bases in Europe and Australia to boost its supply of Thoroughbreds. Emmanuel Roussel: The international week is always a great event, so close to the festive season. Are you happy with what was under the Christmas tree for the Club? Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges: It's great that we are back in full swing. Last year, we were open but not yet quite out of our bubble, while what we saw [at the International Jockeys' Championship] with such a tremendous atmosphere, demonstrates that the city's vibrancy is back. The night went extremely well. And for me, one of the highlights was Vincent Ho winning the International Jockeys Championship. His victory meant a lot to Hong Kong people. Despite economic challenges and some geopolitical tensions, Hong Kong can be a centre of growth and excellence. That was a great symbol. Vincent is one of the most professional athletes you can find. During COVID, Amy, our head of the Sports Institute, said that very few athletes showed such dedication in training. And I want to really express my gratitude to Ryan Moore for having helped Vincent to develop into the great athlete he has become. ER: The Club must also share the pride of Hong Kong, since Vincent is a local apprentice… WE-B: This is one of our strengths. We put people and systems in place to develop our community. And we have transferred the same now to Conghua, our mainland training centre. We went from zero to 600 people there. Most had never seen a horse before. And if you go to Conghua today, you can always appreciate their horsemanship. We enabled platforms which allow us, since last month, to issue vocational training licenses in Conghua. We can bring up people from every province to follow vocational training to become jockeys and horse workers. That's quite a breakthrough. ER: What is next at Conghua? WE-B: In April, we will be able to show more. We are still building and will have to complete phase two of our stable expansion with another 450 spaces. We will also have the staff accommodation ready. The topping of the grandstand should be completed in February, too. It is planned to accommodate 10,000 people, as it is supposed to be a boutique racecourse. I have to admit that I'm very excited about it. This is one of the most iconic grandstands I know, built with full design on sustainability. Seventy per cent of the energy will be produced on site. And then we have plans for a wind farm which will be five or six kilometres away, that would allow us complete energetic independence. ER: What about racing at Conghua? WE-B: The first race meeting is planned for April 2026. We have to finish everything by October 2025, and then practice for six months, running simulations. ER: First race in April 2026, and then? WE-B: We will have the first meeting in April, and then that will do for the season. The following season, in 26/27, we will probably conduct one meeting a month in Conghua, from October to April. ER: What is the Club's long-term plan in China? WE-B: This is only a part of our overall strategy for China. We want to contribute to the National Equine Industry Development Programme, which was published in 2020 by the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry of Sport. We now try to outline an equine value chain and this includes breeding, training people, holding auctions and races, and horses going back into breeding. This is a long-term plan that would also include veterinary studies. Equine veterinary science is one of the development areas where one would need further progress. Last week, we met 160 equestrian vets from all over China in Conghua and they are really keen. We want to build a specific one-year training programme for equestrian vets. ER: Will Conghua become the centre of the Club's strategy in China? WE-B: We want to create a sustainable model in Conghua. Around 90 owners from all over China joined our members' clubhouse in Beijing. We will open up another such clubhouse in Shenzen, which will also be cultivating interest in horseracing, including an equestrian interest. In September, we will open an Institute of Philanthropy, through which we will make donations to China. People have to understand we are not only a racing institution, and especially not only a wagering organisation. What I found really fascinating in our surveys and the discussions we have had with potential owners is their will to understand breeding and racing, but rather from a sporting and cultural point of view. It's a little bit like what you find in Japan. ER: How is ownership doing in Hong Kong at the moment? WE-B: We don't have an ownership issue per se. There is a risk of an ageing ownership population you have to build up again. Many owners also lost interest in owning a horse during COVID because they could not go to the track. This has resulted in a higher retirement rate in the last two years. Secondly, owners used to go to the sales a year or two before getting their purchases home, and they have not been able to travel to buy during COVID. Therefore, they couldn't replace the horses they were retiring sooner. The optimal number of horses in training in Hong Kong is 1,280. We have probably at the moment 1,160 horses ready to run, that's 120 short due to these effects. The economic situation will probably delay the recovery. It will probably take a year and a half to two years to build back up to the normal level, and we need this for Conghua. ER: How do you recruit new owners? WE-B: We recruit potential young owners through our racing club. Traditionally, young club members are not allowed to own horses on their own for a while. We have 1,400 racing club members and 200 of those are very keen to become owners. So, we have created a pipeline racing club to allow them to be syndicate owners, and then become partnership owners or individual owners. ER: You also have opened the doors to foreign owners last year… WE-B: Yes, major breeders and owners can now come through our overseas ownership scheme. We have now some prominent owners from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. We must do this carefully, because we want to be sure that they are really committed and we look at a combination of owners and breeders because, in the end, we will venture more into the breeding industry. And if you look at owner-breeders, they usually show longer stamina and they have a greater interest because they can breed horses and showcase their horses. ER: Talking of breeding, are you also looking for breeding ventures in China? WE-B: The Beijing government looks at the industry and sees that we have unique skills that we can share. Beijing understands what a developed equine industry can give. Besides, a lot of the breeding or training would be located in rural areas and would have a great impact on rural economy. It already has in Conghua. The economic impact there is already significant and growing. If you look at related industries, starting with bedding and other supplies, you create supply routes, logistic networks that boost the overall local economic development. ER: Meanwhile, has the ever-growing sales market in Australia created issues to recruit new horses? WE-B: We currently have a significant supply chain issue. Prices have gone through the roof. We bought a lot of horses from Australia, and it gets more and more difficult to buy them because they are owned by syndicates. So we have now a turned-down offer of A$1.7 million for a three-year-old who won one race and a Listed race. I see that if China opens, we will need a bigger supply chain. This is the reason why we are exploring strategic partnerships or maybe even buying ourselves a breeding or racing operation in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere. We need approximately 450 horses every year. If at least a quarter is guaranteed, our supply chain is back on. We will relaunch the Hong Kong International sales and if you look at the quality of horses that will come out of them, you will notice that it's completely different from what we had five years ago. ER: How far into this project are you already? WE-B: We have certain targets. All I can say is that we are beyond the feasibility study. We still have to assess the opportunities. There may be clusters if you buy a couple of operations that you combine, but this would not be run by the Jockey Club, rather by industry experts in this field. ER: Where would you elect to establish a breeding operation in the Northern Hemisphere? WE-B: We would be aiming more for Europe because of our focus on turf races. Australia will always be a key provider of horses but most of them are sprinters. When it comes to a mile and further, it's another story. We have already started to slightly shift our racing programme for it to focus less on short distances. I am not willing to talk about cheap speed but if there isn't enough quality available, we'll go to 1,400m and over. This shift will affect our supply chain, as Europe is a more appropriate provider of such horses. We will not focus on 2,400m horses because it's not appropriate for our climate and our trainers. Our focus will be more on horses to compete on distances from 1,400 to 2,000 metres. ER: Can you provide an update on the World Pool? WE-B: The World Pool keeps expanding and I think that in every continent people now see the benefit of this. I can understand why fixed-odds, especially in Australia, is so successful now: 83% of the win and place bets in Australia are fixed-odds. It is, I think, because of the number of daily meetings there – it is like every minute – and there is not enough liquidity. If you want to have a real bet with such limited pools, you can't. But with the liquidity gathered by World Pool, with the different views of the world from Hong Kong, from Great Britain, from Australia, you offer prices that a fixed-odds betting product cannot match. Suddenly, the bookmakers could not lay off certain things, because the value of the Word Pool product was too high. Customers get a choice. However, I don't see bookmakers as mere competitors. Pari-mutuel gives the highest return to the industry and the industry needs growth. Secondly, there are certain bet types that cannot be operated as fixed-odds bets. They are different products, offering different opportunities. We want to have the best 100 races in the world to be made available in the World Pool. We are working on a new platform and new wagering information protocol, which hopefully could be launched through a first pilot in April or May. We then would have the ability to take exotic bets on quartet, to six up to triple trio, and include wagers from the bookmakers into such pools. Bookmakers could find an interest in connecting with the World Pool, and that could be an option for them. What is important is differentiation. You need to have enough time between races to build up your liquidity. The next development would be more combined meetings. We did this already in France and Germany, and we could look at something like the Everest and the Caulfield Guineas, in Australia. We have done the top races as a separate, highly attractive product, and we could focus on quality to reach that level of differentiation from the intense simulcasting you find in Australia or in England. It's too much. We did a lot of market research, and it comes to this: horse racing cannot be a game of chance. It cannot be only a game of somebody's tips. You must make your own judgment. This research was conducted in Hong Kong, and you would have to do more studies globally but one of the reasons why the World Pool works is that it doesn't promote a game of chance. It is a game alright, but people get satisfaction in working on their own strategies and analysis to pick a winner. If you have a start every two minutes, you can't do that. The post ‘We Have a Significant Supply Chain Issue’: Engelbrecht-Bresges on the Need For More Horses in Hong Kong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A trio of law firms will now be available to provide pro-bono legal representation to eligible recipients under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s newly established program. The program, open to covered persons who fall below a certain income threshold and are alleged to have violated HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, will match recipients with volunteer attorneys who have agreed to provide legal services without any expectation of compensation. The participating lawyers include Howard Jacobs, Jackson Kelly's Equine Group, and Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP. “We are pleased to participate in HISA's Covered Person Pro Bono Program, so that those who truly cannot afford a lawyer can have access to the same depth of experience and zealous representation that we provide to all of our non pro bono clients,” said Howard Jacobs, international sports law attorney specializing in disciplinary cases involving anti-doping and other disputes. “As a result of HISA's Covered Person Pro Bono Program, we hope that no covered person will feel that they simply cannot afford to defend themselves against a potentially life-changing charge.” Jay Ingle, Chair of Jackson Kelly's Equine Group, said, “Jackson Kelly is always glad to help support the industries we serve. We quickly said yes when asked to participate in this program and donate our legal services and expertise, and hope that our contributions will help the sport and the horsemen and women in it.” Craig Robertson, Partner-In-Charge, Lexington Office of Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP, said, “The Wyatt firm is honored to be part of the HISA Covered Person Pro Bono Program to support those in need of legal assistance and to help promote the health and well-being of Thoroughbred racing and the equine industry as a whole.” If the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has alleged that a covered person committed an ADMC Rule Violation, and the covered person has an annual household adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and no significant liquid assets, the covered person will be eligible for free legal services from a volunteer attorney and limited reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the volunteer attorney. “I am incredibly proud to be launching this free legal services initiative, the first of its kind in American sport,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Providing all Covered Persons with the tools to properly defend themselves in these cases is critical to ensuring integrity in our ADMC program adjudication procedures. We don't want the cost of legal services to ever be a barrier to pursuing a rigorous defense. I'm grateful to the reputable law firms and experienced attorneys who have already agreed to participate, and I look forward to expanding their ranks.” The post Lawyers Available for HISA Covered Person Pro Bono Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last year's Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Epicenter is the first stallion that Coolmore's Ashford Stud has stood for Winchell Thoroughbreds and the partnership got off to a blazing start as the son of Not This Time was one of the most popular stallions in Kentucky this year, covering 262 mares in his debut season. Now, Coolmore has teamed up with the same racing and breeding operation to debut another Grade I-winning stallion–this time a homebred son of Winchell's own Gun Runner. Gunite, who claimed the GI Hopeful S. as a juvenile and won at the top level again this year at four in the GI Forego S., will stand for an initial fee of $40,000 in 2024. When Gun Runner was bursting onto the scene as a first-crop sire in 2021, Gunite broke his maiden in June at Churchill Downs on the same card that Gun Runner got his first stakes horse as a sire with another Steve Asmussen trainee Wicked Halo, who placed in the Debuante S. Soon after that, Gunite claimed the GI Hopeful S. the day after future champion Echo Zulu gave Gun Runner his first Grade I score in the Spinaway S. “Durable is the word to describe Gunite,” said Coolmore's Adrian Wallace. “He ran six times in all as a 2-year-old, showing his soundness and fortitude and culminating in a very impressive display beating Wit (Practical Joke), who was a very accomplished horse in his own right, at Saratoga in the Hopeful. I think the thing about him was he had a 'never say die' attitude. He was a highly accomplished, precocious 2-year-old who then traveled around the world at three and later on at four.” Over a three-year career, Gunite placed in all but two of his 21 starts, recording eight stakes victories. The winner of the GII Amsterdam S. and runner-up to eventual studmate Jack Christopher in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at three, Gunite's 4-year-old campaign this year was marked by a rivalry with MGISW Elite Power (Curlin) that spanned from the Middle East to Saratoga to California. Gunite got the better of Elite Power in the GI Forego S.,winning by nearly two lengths, and finished second to the same rival in his final career start in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. “He broke his maiden in June of his 2-year-old year, won the Hopeful, and then competed at a very high level in all three years of his racing career,” said Wallace. “I think in today's environment, a horse that is able to win two Grade I races, place in five more and compete at the highest level not only in the United States but in Saudi Arabia and in Dubai, that shows how sound and durable of a horse he is.” Gunite scores in the GI Forego S. | Sarah Andrew Wallace attributes much of Gunite's speed and toughness to his pedigree. The 4-year-old hails from three generations of stakes winners and his dam, Simple Surprise, is a daughter of Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) who won the Bolton Landing S. for the Winchells and Asmussen in 2015. “I think the main thing when you consider a horse like him is how similar he is in many ways to his sire Gun Runner and how similar he is to both Cowboy Cal and Giant's Causeway himself,” Wallace explained. “He was ultra, ultra tough and the great thing about the Gun Runners is that they are tough, sound horses. When you combine that with two doses of the Iron Horse's blood, you get horses that are going to be built for durability and brilliance.” Wallace added that the new stallion should have all the potential to not only pass on his own brilliance and precocity, but also the two-turn ability shown on both sides of his pedigree. Wallace said that Gunite, who is just over 16'1, is a standout physically as well. “He is a great combination of Gun Runner's and Giant's Causeway's blood,” he explained. “Cowboy Cal was a very elegant racehorse himself and is becoming quite a good broodmare sire from very limited opportunity. Gunite has a lot of leg and is very balanced. Priced at $40,000, as a dual Grade I-winning son of Gun Runner, I think he'll fit a lot of people's bill.” The post Gunite Follows Fellow Winchell Colorbearer to Ashford appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Baroness Dido Harding is to succeed Sandy Dudgeon as Senior Steward of The Jockey Club in July 2024. It has also been announced that Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who is now retired from the saddle, will join The Jockey Club's board of stewards from January 1, 2024. Baroness Harding, 56, a former amateur rider herself and a Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning owner, has been on the board of stewards since the end of 2017, having been appointed a member of The Jockey Club in 2004. She was previously a racecourse committee member at The Jockey Club's Cheltenham Racecourse and a director of Racecourse Holdings Trust, which was later renamed Jockey Club Racecourses. Her business roles have included being chief executive of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc, as well as senior positions at Sainsbury's and Tesco, and until October 2021 she was chair of NHS Improvement and executive chair of NHS Test and Trace. Having been a member of the House of Lords since 2014, Baroness Harding sits on the Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee. She said, “As a lifelong racing enthusiast, it is a huge privilege to be appointed Senior Steward. The Jockey Club holds a unique position to both protect the sport's heritage and tradition and also to innovate to attract and delight racegoers of the future to ensure horseracing can thrive for generations to come.” Nine new members of the Jockey Club were elected at a members' meeting on Monday, December 11. The three new honorary members are HH Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan Al Maktoum, HH Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Gaynor Rupert. They are joined by six ordinary members: Guy Henriques, Sue Lucas, Rishi Persad, Zara Tindall, Michael Wainwright and David Wiggin. The post Baroness Harding Appointed Senior Steward of The Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation has awarded $30,000 to Kentucky equine non-profit organizations though its Seattle Slew Grant Program. With this latest grant round, the KEEP Foundation has provided more than $42,000 in grants to equine organizations across the state in 2023. The KEEP Foundation's Seattle Slew grants are available to Kentucky non-profits providing equine-related educational programs, events and initiatives. The Seattle Slew Grant Program is part of the Foundation's efforts to support education and promote the importance of the equine industry to Kentucky's economy and culture. Recipients of the Seattle Slew Grant awards are: Amplify Horse Racing, HorseSensing, Justin's Place, Life Adventure Center, Kentucky Equine Management Internship and Stable Recovery. Grants of up to $5,000 are available, and new submissions are reviewed quarterly. For more information or to apply for a grant, click here. The post KEEP Awards Seattle Slew Grants to Support Equine Education in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com Easy one. My favorite moment was in February when Lane's End Farm called and said that Flightline was enjoying his new career as a stallion. The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Kosta Hronis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aushorse has released its 2024 Investor's Guide, which pulls together the latest information on the Australian Thoroughbred industry. The guide presents investors with plenty of reasons to participate in the industry, according to Aushorse, including: Australia will host a race worth a million dollars or more every 3.8 days in 2024, while prizemoney across the country has soared 45% in the past five years; the average prizemoney per race in Australia is A$50,800; and in four of the past five years Australia has hosted more of the top-rated Group 1 races than any other jurisdiction. “It's incredible that there are close to 100 races worth a million dollars or more next year, but it's also really important that the average race value has also soared, giving all owners a chance to get a return on their investment,” says Tom Reilly, chief executive of Aushorse. “As we have seen with the recent breeding stock sales in the Northern Hemisphere, the top end of the market is very buoyant and Australia offers those high-end investors a wonderful opportunity. What's more, as anyone who went to a major race meeting during spring would testify, racing is very much part of the Australian way of life.” The guide also delves into sales statistics and reports that the price of the top colts and fillies in Australia is significantly lower than in other yearling markets. “The guide gets a huge amount of cut through, especially with people overseas,” says Aushorse chairman Antony Thompson. “If you're investing in a significant scale in the global bloodstock industry, then the Guide makes clear that you really need to be involved here.” The Investor's Guide, which has been designed to be easily viewed from mobile devices, is available at investorsguide.aushorse.com.au The post Aushorse 2024 Investor’s Guide Showcases Appeal of Australian Thoroughbred Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com My favorite memory of 2023 (other than me bawling my eyes out standing there watching Cody's Wish enter the winner's circle with Cody Dorman waiting for him at Santa Anita, which still makes me cry) was being at Keeneland with Liz Crow to watch our homebred and Liz's purchase Gina Romantica win her second Grade I there at 11-1 odds (I bet her, too!) AND then not 10 minutes later, another one of our homebreds Three Witches won the GIII Princess Rooney, a 'Win and You're In' at Gulfstream Park! I literally could not express the happiness of that day into words, but my unfiltered reaction of pure joy screaming my head off, jumping around like crazy and my not-so-graceful leap into my husband's arms was somehow caught on video and made its way around social media circles. I should have been quite embarrassed but to watch the video again just reminds me why I breed AND LOVE Thoroughbred racehorses! The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Carrie Brogden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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