Wandering Eyes

Mick Ruis Sr. said he is considering selling the Blackwood Stables training center as well. He bought the training center last October but said now he needs a "bit of a break" from breeding and racing. View the full article

America's Best Racing's Bob Ehalt handicaps the Risen Star Stakes.View the full article

Discover a plethora of enticing racing promotions from horse racing bookmakers on Saturday, February 17. Dive into the excitement with generous bonus back offers for an enhanced betting experience. Explore these free promotions from leading online bookmakers to enhance your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for February 17, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Morphettville All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Morphettville this Saturday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Ellerslie (NZ) All Races – Same Race Multi 3+ Leg Bonus Back If 1 Leg Fails Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Ellerslie (NZ) this Saturday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Market available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&Cs apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Randwick, Flemington & Eagle Farm Races 1-6 Bonus Back 2nd & 3rd Get your stake back in bonus bets. Limits apply. General T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Flemington Race 7 – Either King Colorado, Otago or Riff Rocket Win @ $2.00 All Options Must Start. No Boost, Bonus Bets or Multis. Max Bet $25 Playup T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Place a 4+ leg multi, if one leg fails Bonus Back up to $50 Applies to your first eligible 4+ leg multi each day. Paid in Bonus Cash Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo Flemington & Randwick All Races – 25% Boosted Winnings Paid in Bonus Cash. First Fixed Win Cash Bet. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to PickleBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in R1-4 at 4 Metro Meeting Randwick, Flemington, Eagle Farm & Morphettville. Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotional Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed Odds only. T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Saturday Best Tote Exotics ALL RACES at Randwick & Flemington Includes Quaddies, Quinellas, Exactas, Trifectas & First 4s T&Cs apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously evaluates premier Australian horse racing bookmakers, unveiling exclusive thoroughbred bonus promotions for February 17, 2024. These consistent offers highlight the commitment of top horse racing bookmakers. In the world of horse racing betting, if one bookmaker isn’t running a promotion, another is. HorseBetting.com.au is your ultimate resource for daily lucrative horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Gain value with competitive odds and exclusive promotions for existing customers. Access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For race and horse insights to optimise your bonus bets, rely on HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee downgrades two graded stakes races in Canada—the Bessarabian Stakes and the Royal North Stakes—after holding its annual review of its graded and listed stakes races in the country.View the full article

By Mike Love Broadfield trainers Colin and Julie DeFilippi admit luck could take them a long way with their three charges at Rangiora today. The couple will line up two of those horses in race eight the Robin and Geraldine Rangiora Classic for $30,000, with full brothers Here’s Herbie ($6.50FF, Bob Butt) and Heza Sport ($8.00FF, Samantha Ottley). Heza Sport ran a close second last week to Jimmy James Maguire in the Hororata Cup at Methven, going down by only one length. “He’s been a little bit disappointing, but last week was much better at Methven. “He’s on the improve and he’s come through that run good. “About five or six starts back at Methven he began so good I chased him up a bit and he went out of his gear. Since then he’d been a bit hesitant, but last week was the best he’s begun for a while. Bob (Butt) knows the horse. He’s probably the best chance of the two being race fit and giving the other fella 10m.” Heza Sport is yet to win on the grass surface, but has been no worse than three lengths from the winner in his most recent attempts on the grass. Here’s Herbie will be looking to complete a hat trick of wins fresh up today in the same race. He has not raced since winning the Rangiora Summer Cup on December 17th at this venue, and before that winning the Geraldine Cup on December 9th. “I’m happy with his work. Just the one workout coming into it, which was a wee bit tame. But I was happy with his run. “If anything he could be a run short today not having raced for seven or eight weeks. He has gone good fresh in the past, but that was further down in the grade. “The draw will suit him and hopefully he will be able to poke up the fence for a last crack at them.” Samantha Ottley will take the drive, and begin from the 20m backmark. Other strong chances in the event include the Robert and Jenna Dunn trio Double Time ($6.00FF, Gavin Smith), Dalton Shard ($6.00FF, Korbyn Newman) and Dashing Major ($16.00FF, Tim Williams), while backmarkers Franco Marek ($6.00FF, John Morrison) and Homebush Lad ($9.00FF, Ben Hope) will look to get over them late. The race is due to start at 3:08pm. DeFilippi’s third runner of the day, A Dancin Rocka ($12.00FF, Bob Butt), lines up in race ten the PJL (Power Jointing Limited) pace. DeFilippi is optimistic about the four year old A Rocknroll Dance’s chances given the size of the field and his 10m back mark. “He felt good in the running in his last start, but we got too far back.” “The draw is not going to be good. There is a chance he could get handy. But he’ll have to do a wee bit of work from that draw.” “He’s a good each way chance.” Earlier on in the card the ‘When’ Commemoration Trot will be run. It will be a rare but intriguing sight for the lower grade (R35-R39) trotters to tackle the 1609m stand from the chute. The race commemorates the record setting run of ‘When’, who on March 16 1963 set a new mark of 2.06 for a standing start mile on the grass at Rangiora. In what is a very even field, the current favourite is Illegal Alien ($2.40FF, Tim Williams) for Kaiapoi trainer Kevin James. Punters should note there is a front line limit of 8 for this event. Racing commences from 11:55am. View the full article

On Saturday, February 17, horse racing enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling day with 13 meetings set to unfold across various locations in Australia. Our team of committed racing analysts at horsebetting.com.au has meticulously selected the top bets and crafted quaddie numbers tailored for the upcoming events at Flemington, Randwick, Eagle Farm, Pinjarra & Alice Springs. Saturday Racing Tips – February 17, 2024 Flemington Racing Tips Randwick Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Pinjarra Racing Tips Alice Springs Racing Tips Best Horse Racing Bets For February 17, 2024 Place these horse racing bets in a multi for $468.29 odds return: Saturday, February 17, 2024 Flemington – Race 10 #13 Punch Lane Randwick – Race 9 #7 Redstone Well Eagle Farm – Race 8 #8 Castillian Pinjarra – Race 9 #16 Premium Girl Alice Springs – Race 5 #2 Flying Yishu | Copy this bet straight to your betslip For avid Australian racing fans, numerous promotions await your exploration. Be sure to peruse the offerings from top online bookmakers, as daily promotions can enhance your horse racing experience. If you’re in search of a new bookmaker to elevate your horse racing ventures on February 17, 2024, consult our comprehensive guide to the finest online racing betting sites. We’re committed to keeping you informed and enhancing your horse racing betting journey. More horse racing tips View the full article

The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up further still on Saturday, as the $400,000 GII Risen Star S. is the first of six prep races that will offer the winner 50 points, virtually locking up a berth in the field for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 4. Track Phantom (Quality Road) will look to continue his domination among the local 3-year-olds as he looks to remain unbeaten around two turns in trying to add to his victories in the Dec. 23 Gun Runner S. and a front-running success in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 20. The $500,000 Keeneland September grad is one of two in the race for three-time Risen Star winner Steve Asmussen. “It was great to see him win the race against a talented field, but especially with going as fast as they did early and showing enough quality to still respond,” the Hall of Famer commented. “I think the Lecomte was as easy on him as you could have wanted it to be, with him still getting something out of it.” Joel Rosario will likely get after Track Phantom again from gate 11, but it was Asmussen's other winner on the Lecomte undercard who achieved the faster figure. Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) was trying a route of ground for the first time that afternoon and looked sensational doing it. His final time was 0.46 quicker than the Lecomte while his 94 Beyer was four points superior to Track Phantom en route to earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. “He was ridden much more aggressively (in his maiden win) because he's playing a little catch up on a horse like Track Phantom, but the ability is there,” Asmussen said of the $1.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate. Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) topped the Saratoga Sale on a bid of $2.3 million and came running late to graduate by 1 1/4 lengths at first asking at Aqueduct Nov. 4, also earning the 'Rising Star' designation. When last seen, the dark bay rallied from last to lead into the final furlong of the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2, only to be outbattled to the wire by Dornoch (Good Magic). “He was the only horse that day that made up any ground and that's an important thing to note,” trainer Chad Brown told Bill Finley earlier this week. “He had every chance to win. I was pleased with the effort, though disappointed by the outcome.” Brad Cox has won the Risen Star three times in the last four years, including Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) last winter. Albaugh Family Stables' Catching Freedom (Constitution) flies the flag for the barn after posting a 2 1/2-length victory in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park Jan. 1. “We're going to need to improve off the Smarty Jones,” Cox said. “Physically he looks great. He's had a good bit of time between races, he shipped back here and is moving well, so we'll see if he's up for it.” Rachel Alexandra A Key Oaks Prep The sophomore fillies' counterpart to the Risen Star is named in honor of the romping winner of the 2009 GI Kentucky Oaks and has been an exceptionally productive steppingstone to the first Friday in May. Dating back to 2014, no fewer than four winners of the Rachel Alexandra have gone on to success at Churchill Downs, including 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) last year. Brad Cox saddled Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) to take the 2018 Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Oaks, and the stable relies upon Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) in this spot. Beaten a long way from home when seventh in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. last October, the bay has since won two straight, both around two turns, including a two-length score over West Omaha (Omaha Beach) in the local Untapable S. Dec. 30. The latter flattered the foam with a five-length romp over Perfect Shot (Gun Runner) in the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday S. “She's always been a pretty good workhorse,” Cox said. “That's how she came to us back in the spring. She likes the track here. It's a step up. We'll give her another opportunity at the graded stakes level and hopefully she can get it done.” 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole) lived up to that honor with a dominating victory in the GIII Pocahontas S. last September and a runner-up effort in the Alcibiades, but connections elected to pass the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was never truly a factor when beaten 9 1/2 lengths into third as the heavy favorite in the Oct. 29 Rags To Riches S., but her trainer has not lost faith in her. “We're really excited,” Ken McPeek said. “She's been working super. She's as strong as ever right now. [Assistant trainer] Greg Geier has got her here in good order. She's really a high-level filly, and I'd love to think this is just one stepping stone to getting her to the [Kentucky] Oaks.” With Florent Geroux committed to Alpine Princess, fellow Frenchman Flavien Prat takes over for Cox on the rail-drawn 'Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini). A disappointing second in Churchill allowance company behind next-out SW Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief), the Godophin homebred set the record straight with a solid victory in her two-turn debut on the Lecomte undercard. Stronghold Rates The Marquee In Sunland Derby A little more than two weeks after opting out of what turned out to be a one-horse race in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, Stronghold (Ghostzapper) ships into New Mexico to tackle Sunday's $800,000 GIII Sunland Derby for trainer Phil D'Amato. A second-out maiden winner over Churchill's one-turn mile, the homebred got a good look at the hind end of 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) when a distant second in the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar last November and was forced to settle for second in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in his juvenile finale Dec. 16. Antonio Fresu flies in from California for the ride. Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) has only a maiden win to his credit from five starts, but has acquitted himself well in stakes company, finishing third in the GIII Street Sense S. Oct. 29 before filling the same spot in the Smarty Jones. Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky) won his maiden in a restricted event going a mile on the Street Sense undercard and came away late to best Alotluck (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) by two lengths in the local Riley Allison Derby Jan. 19. It was a large expanse back to Surroundedbyangels (Smiling Tiger) that afternoon. The Sunland Derby is also a Derby points race, with 20 points going to the winner. The post Risen Star Kicks Off Derby Championship Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 3:37 p.m. ET. For a $1-million price tag, Sean Flanagan secured TOP CONOR (Twirling Candy) for his stable at last year's OBS March Sale, which tied the colt for the fourth-highest at the auction and made him his sire's highest-priced 2-year-old in 2023. Previously going for $200,000 during Keeneland September, the Chad Brown trainee is out of GSP Divine Dawn (Divine Park), who International Equities acquired with a filly by Nyquist in-utero for $285,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2017. A full-sister to GSW/MSW Divine Miss Grey, Top Conor's dam is also responsible for 2-year-old filly Augusta Wind (Gun Runner), who Lauren Carlisle signed the ticket for $850,000 at the Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Divine Dawn foaled a full-sister to this first time starter last year. TJCIS PPS 6th-FG, $65K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6F, 3:25 p.m. ET. Whisper Hill and Three Chimneys bred Quality Credit (Quality Road), a filly whose MGISW dam Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) changed hands from the latter to the former for $4.4 million as the second topper at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale while she was in-foal to Tapit. Three Chimneys purchased Quality Credit's younger full-sister for $425,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. TJCIS PPS 7th-FG, $65K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:54 p.m. ET. Along the same Steve Asmussen shedrow as Quality Credit, Stonestreet homebred Mister Lincoln (Constitution) also makes the races. The colt is out of GI Spinaway S. star Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), who produced MSW/GSP Union Jackson (Curlin) and GI La Troienne S. heroine Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). Hot Dixie Chick has her own set of talented half-siblings in GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GII Demoiselle S. winner Positive Spirt (Pioneerof the Nile). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday Insights: A ‘Top’-Priced Son Of Twirling Candy Debuts At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With several of Japan's top dirt runners set to contest the $20 million Saudi Cup a week later, the Feb. 19 February Stakes back home is left with a mixed bag of prospects, surface-switchers, and invaders from the National Association of Racing.View the full article

Gold Square's Instant Coffee, an early contender on the Kentucky Derby (G1) scene last winter before his sixth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2), makes his return to the races in a second-level allowance contest Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

History was made at Meydan Racecourse Feb. 16 when Saffie Osborne became the first female jockey to ride a winner in the course's 14-year history.View the full article

In a case remaining from the state-to-state regulation of controlled medication, trainer Linda Rice has ended her regulatory appeal of a 14-day suspension tied to a phenylbutazone positive from January 2023.View the full article

Californians Eric "Rick" Waller and his wife, Sharon, have experienced thrilling moments since entering racing in the 1990s as owners and breeders, but they've also suffered deep losses, the kind that can't be measured by noses, heads, or lengths. View the full article

Ever in search of new markets to conquer, Jimmy and Martha Gladwell landed on the expanding racing industry in mainland China in 2019 and, after making several trips to the Far East, the couple has hopes the country's importation of American Thoroughbreds will only increase in the coming years and help to build up demand in the middle market of the U.S. breeding industry. “Several years ago, I was reading the Thoroughbred Daily News and it talked about how China had lifted the ban and were going to start importing American horses,” Jimmy Gladwell, patriarch of a family of pioneering Ocala pinhookers, said. “So I had the idea, for me and my family, to make some trips to China and see if we could drum up some business.” On one of his trips to China, Gladwell met Zhiqiang An, president of the Hohhot Equestrian Association. The Gladwells, along with sons Jim and Ray, and their wives Torie and Meagan, and daughter Nellie and her husband Chetley Breeden, began purchasing American-bred yearlings on behalf of An to be exported to China at the 2019 Keeneland September sale. Under the name of the family's Legacy Equine Group, they purchased five head for between $33,000 and $55,000. In 2021, LEG purchased 11 head at the September sale for An's Golden East Horse for prices between $12,000 and $70,000. In 2022, Golden East purchased 11 horses for prices between $12,000 and $72,000. In 2023, An's West Coast Equine purchased 12 yearlings at the September sale from $27,000 to $85,000. “They like colts more than fillies,” Gladwell said of the type of yearlings that are on An's shopping list. “They are usually in the $25,000 to $60,000 or $70,000 price range. And they have gone a little higher on a few horses. Mr. An has a pretty good eye. He likes to look at the horses himself, as well.” Gladwell continued, “He takes them home, breaks them, trains them, gets them prepared and he races them. When he gets home, sometimes he sells some of the horses to other owners. He would like to bring some of those owners with him [to sales in the U.S.] and expand that part of it.” In order to increase interest in buying yearlings in the U.S. to his fellow Chinese owners, An is in the planning stages for a race this summer that will be restricted to American imports. “Mr. An wants to have a race in Hohot in August of this year and it will be restricted to horses who were exported from the U.S., so it will only be horses coming from America,” Gladwell said. “And he's hoping to have some sponsorship. He's talked to Keeneland and he is hoping to have some sponsorship from some of the stallion farms and some of the consignors, everybody who wants to make some contributions because he would like to have it be one of the richer purses they've had in China. And then if you put a bonus on it to where there is a Breeders' Cup-type of an American day at the races, that would be another added incentive for buyers to come. So I think it will generate even more interest in the American horses.” Of conditions for the race, Gladwell speculated, “They are still in the think-tank stage, but it's probably going to be a three-quarter mile race, a sprinter-type race, on dirt and it will probably be fillies and colts competing against each other. My and Martha's goal is that hopefully it will be a minimum of $50,000 U.S. purse that they would come up with. Which would be a very big purse in China at this time. And it could possibly be bigger than that.” With no pari-mutuel wagering, the purse structure on mainland China is limited, but Gladwell has hopes that if that changes in the near future, the demand for exported American horses will expand exponentially. “They have talked about having pari-mutuel wagering on Hainan Island–which is an island on the south of China–building a racetrack and doing it there,” Gladwell said. “It would be similar to Hong Kong and if they did that, it would be such a great outlet for horses. Obviously, Hong Kong has one of the biggest daily handles there is and most of that handle is coming from mainland China. “If that market opens up, then I think you will see a lot of Chinese come to America. They like the speed horses and the few that we have sent–about 50 of them–they have done very well and they are very competitive. I think there is a lot of potential there.” While the purse structure remains low, quarantine and travel costs have tempered Chinese demand for American yearlings. “It's expensive,” Gladwell admitted. “With the quarantine and the travel, it is about $15,000 per horse.” Those expenses could be lessened by buying in bulk with the intention of reselling horses in China, Gladwell said. “At a sale like [Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed], you can buy some nicer individuals,” he said. “We bought one here a minute ago for $20,000 and one for $30,000. So you can buy some nice individuals and I am sure you can take them over and have a sale. And [An]'s actually talked about it–trying to get a plane or two, maybe 100 head and having a sale. I think that could happen in the future. Late in [Keeneland] November, [Keeneland] January, and Fasig-Tipton February, you could pick up 30 or 40 head in that range that really need a home and we need buyers for that would be nice little racehorses over there because pedigree wouldn't make a whole lot of difference. You could take them over and resell them. We've kicked that around a little bit. But we are still letting this thing develop a little.” As aftercare becomes ever more a priority for the industry, Gladwell said there are plenty of outlets in Inner Mongolia for retired racehorses. “They have been working on aftercare on a few different areas,” Gladwell said. “Each of the racetracks have been developing aftercare farms. Mr. An, who is in Inner Mongolia, has been expanding that and developing a new facility for the aftercare and retraining program. He just loves horses and inner Mongolia is a horse-oriented country, it's just incredible. They are still so close to the horse. There is a heavy population of horses in Inner Mongolia and they have a great love for the horses.” Gladwell continued, “Aftercare is so important to us as a family. We make a living with the horses and we want to see them taken care of and see them have a chance to be re-homed. I think that's important. I want our American breeders to know that when they sell a horse and it goes to China, it's going to be well cared for, have a good chance to race, and have a good chance for fillies to be broodmares or the colts to be stallions or hunter/jumpers–they do all types of disciplines.” Gladwell has seen first-hand the other outlets for horses in China. “Chuck and Lauri Givens, they raise a lot of barrel horses and we got over there [to China] for one of the major barrel races,” he said. “And here comes a horse with one of their brands on it. And then we went to one farm that had the national hunter jumper champion, so I had to get on him and ride him in the arena and jump him a little bit–luckily, I didn't fall off. We've had a lot of experiences over there like that. There are a lot of activities for horses over there.” The post Gladwells See Potential in Chinese Market appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The road to the GI Kentucky Derby has been unkind to Todd Pletcher so far this year, but that may be about to change. The Hall of Fame trainer is ready to regroup and will look to win the March 30 GI Florida Derby with Fierceness (City of Light) and the March 2 GII Fountain of Youth with Locked (Gun Runner). Locked, who is the 10-1 favorite beyond the “all others” option in the latest round of the Derby Future Wager, was originally scheduled to make his debut in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. but Pletcher withdrew him from the race after he spiked a temperature and missed a work. Pletcher had Locked back on the work tab Friday morning and said he was pleased with the move. Locked won last year's GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland before finishing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Fierceness, last year's champion 2-year-old male, kicked off his 2024 campaign with a lackluster third-place finish in the Holy Bull S. in which he was beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Afterward, Pletcher said his next race was up in the air, but confirmed Friday that he will go next in the Florida Derby. Fierceness will have his first work since the Holy Bull next week. The post Pletcher Unveils Plans For 3-Year-Old Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Progress towards a new School of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University continues to be made, as the Kentucky House of Representatives passed House Bill 400 Feb. 15, the institution of higher learning said in a release late Thursday. After advancing from the House Agriculture Committee Feb. 7, the bill, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chair Richard Heath, would amend the existing state statute to allow Murray State to offer doctoral degrees required to become licensed in veterinary medicine. A complementary piece of legislation, Senate Bill 189, was introduced by Senator Jason Howell. “We are very grateful for the support of our legislators in working toward the development of a new School of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University,” Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson said. Kentucky is one of more than 20 states without a School of Veterinary Medicine. In the United States, there are only 33 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 86,300 veterinarians in the United States and this occupation is expected to grow by over 19% by 2031. The BLS also reports a total of 122,800 veterinarian technologists/technicians are working today and the field is expected to grow by 20% by 2031. Murray State's Hutson School of Agriculture has the largest estimated pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology enrollment of any university in Kentucky, and is just one of three programs in Kentucky that is fully accredited by the AVMA. The post Kentucky Legislative Bill Supports New School Of Veterinary Medicine At Murray State appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer William Haggas has revealed his stable star Dubai Honour has had a setback and will miss a return trip to Australia next month. The 6-year-old was set for another crack at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick, which he won last year.View the full article

With several of Japan's top dirt runners set to contest the $20 million Saudi Cup a week later, the Feb. 19 February Stakes back home is left with a mixed bag of prospects, surface-switchers and invaders from the National Association of Racing.View the full article

Dean Purdom never lost confidence in his riding ability. He knew he had the skills. What he didn't have were the results. Purdom bounced all over the country, going from track to track until he wore out his welcome and headed to his next stop. The problem? He was trying to do the impossible, find success on the racetrack despite having an addiction to alcohol and cocaine. “I started back in the eighties,” Purdom said. “I had a really promising career. I was the leading apprentice one meet at Pimlico. That's where I got introduced to cocaine. It gradually just took over my life and, therefore, my career. I wasn't available mentally or physically, which you have to be to be able to do the job.” In 1992, he made the decision that would change his life for the better. He entered a treatment program and has now been sober for more than 31 years. Purdom, 65, went back to riding but never could jump start his career. He retired in 1997 with 371 career victories and moved to Ocala where he worked horses at the sales. But what he really wanted to do was to help people. He saw that as a requirement, exactly what he needed to stay on the right path. “For me, helping people is a necessity,” Purdom said. “I have been in recovery a long time and a huge part of that is once you get your act together, to be able to keep it together you need to help others. In recovery, life can get pretty good. And when that happens it's easy to forget how bad things were. So helping new people is important. I've been able to help a lot of people along the way. But they were helping me, too.” He has devoted his life to making a difference. The first stop was a job at Mending Fences, a mental health treatment center in Delray, Florida where equine therapy was part of the program. He might still be there if it weren't for a chance encounter with John Evans, who was running the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's program at a women's prison, the Lowell Correctional Institution. Purdom had met his future wife Niki after she left the Lowell program and when the two were married, Evans walked Niki down the aisle. Evans was looking to retire and saw in Purdom the perfect replacement. Last May he took over from Evans, who had been at Lowell for 17 years. It's been an eye-opening experience. “I had been driving by this prison for years,” Purdom said. “One day I was driving by with Niki. I had seen all these horses out in the field. I told her that the whole thing didn't make any sense to me. Why were they keeping all these old, broken-down pasture ornaments? I didn't understand the economics of that. Most horse people would have had that same attitude. She explained to me their true value and what these horses do for the inmates. These inmates, their self esteem is pretty much in the tank when they get here. They haven't had anything go right for a long time. When they walk into the stall, especially the first time, these horses will greet them. They haven't had something like that in a long time. They end up getting really personal with them. They start gaining some self esteem. They start to get their self respect back as well as confidence. It's all because of the horses.” Having struggled with many of the same problems that led many of the inmates to prison, Purdom was happy to share his story with the women of Lowell. Female inmantes in the TRF program near Ocala | Stephanie Brennan photo “Probably 80, maybe 90 percent of the women who come here have addiction issues,” Purdom said. “They don't have meetings here for them. So I openly talk about my own struggles.” Once he settled in at Lowell, Purdom's goal became teaching the inmates skills they could use to get jobs at the many farms in Ocala. Lowell is the only TRF program where the inmates are allowed to ride the horses. That's how Niki Purdom got started as an exercise rider. With there being a shortage of help in Ocala, Purdom knew that the graduates of his program could easily find job at local farms if taught the right skills. The easiest way to find a job would be for them to learn how to prep weanlings and yearlings for the sales. “The TRF allowed me to bring some yearlings here that were prepping for the sales, so the women got experience handling them,” he said. “That gives them a way to get into the farms. They can get hired and it's something they can do right away because they've been taught and have experience. This is something that can be a huge springboard. I know most of the owners and trainers in this area. I rode for them for 20 years. I can be a liaison so these women have an opportunity the day they get out and there's a job waiting for them. I want the local horsemen to call me and ask if there's anybody getting out.” It's also a way to see to it that the women don't pick right up where they left off before coming to Lowell. “If they go back to where they came from, the likelihood that they will stay out of jail is slim,” Purdom said. “What I want to do here is offer them an option.” The relationship between the horses, the women, and Purdom, is mutually beneficial, and Purdom knows that he's getting as much out of this as anyone. “At this stage of my life, having a purpose is pretty important,” Purdom said. “It's what gets me out of bed every day.” To learn more about the TRF or to donate, visit www.trfinc.org The post Former Jockey Purdom Finds His Calling at TRF Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Find us a Saturday kind of horse. That's what Kerry and Alan Ribble told Kyle Zorn over a two-hour lunch one afternoon in Lexington. The Hot Springs, Arkansas natives had traveled up to Kentucky to meet with Zorn, who was then in the midst of co-founding Legion Bloodstock, and learn what it might take for them to make a step up from the claiming game. Now two years later they have a running joke with Zorn: Well, you didn't have to find us a first Saturday in May kind of horse! Because depending on the outcome of Saturday's GII Risen Star S., the Ribbles might just end up with one of the leading contenders on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Honor Marie (Honor Code) already handed the couple their first graded stakes win in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. last fall, but as the Whit Beckman-trained colt prepares to make his 2024 debut this weekend, the Ribbles' excitement and anticipation for what's ahead has reached an all-time high. Honor Marie team (including Alan and Kerry, second and third from right) celebrates the Grade II win | Coady “We'll start talking about it and we have to stop because we get too worked up and need to do a reality check,” Kerry Ribble said with a laugh. “It's like planning for the best vacation you've ever been on. You don't sleep the night before. You're doing all this planning. It's really hard to put into words.” Horse racing has always been woven into the Ribbles' daily life. They both grew up in Magnolia, Arkansas, where Alan's grandfather owned a barber shop. W. Cal Partee, owner of the 1992 GI Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee, was a regular there and he once named a horse after Alan's grandfather. Meanwhile Kerry's father was an avid handicapper who published a tip sheet called Inside Connection. One of the Kerry and Alan's first dates was spent attending the races at Oaklawn Park and a highlight of their honeymoon was a trip to Louisiana Downs. “We thought that was really cool,” recalled Ribble. “We were young and in college and thought it sounded fun. And it was! But Alan has made up for what some would consider a sort-of meager outing since then.” While Alan built his career in the oil and gas industry, Kerry worked in the education system as a teacher and school counselor. Almost 10 years ago, Alan surprised Kerry with a horse for Christmas. Well, not an actual horse, but he put the plans in motion for them to claim a racehorse with the help of veteran conditioner David Vance. “Our kids were telling us that this was either going to be the greatest thing ever or we were really going to go down in flames,” said Ribble. “We were such rookie horse owners, but David and his family were all so great and patient. We spent a big part of our lives for the past eight years learning from them.” Ribble Farms has amassed over 200 starts since then, with several dozen wins earned through the claiming ranks of Arkansas and beyond. When Vance told the couple that he was planning on retiring in 2023, they weighed their options and decided that they wanted to get involved in racing in a bigger way. That's when they got connected with the Legion Bloodstock team of Kyle Zorn, Travis Durr, Evan Ciennello and Kristian Villante. “I think what was so cool about meeting them was that each of those guys provided something unique to the decision making and buying of the horses,” Ribble explained. “We put our complete trust in Legion because this part of it was so new to us. We had this idea that down the road, if we were going to buy a full horse it might make sense to buy one out of these partnerships.” One of the first yearlings they got involved in early on was a $40,000 Honor Code colt, who they were able to name after their 9-year-old granddaughter. The Ribbles really didn't know much about trainer Whit Beckman, who received Honor Marie after he went through his early training with Durr. Then after the colt won on debut last September going six wide and getting up to win by a head at 13-1 odds, they looked up Beckman's resume and were impressed. The former assistant to Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher was just getting started on his own, opening up his stable in 2021. “When we finally got to meet him it really sealed the deal for us because he's so much like my husband-low-key, even-tempered, and he's so knowledgeable about his business,” Ribble said. Then she added with grin, “They're a nice balance to my high-strung personality.” In his first try going two turns in the Kentucky Jockey Club, Honor Marie earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and gave both his owner and trainer their first graded stakes win. “We were just blown away,” Ribble recalled. “I don't think we had even had an allowance win before that. Every day my husband and I look at each other and ask, 'How did we get here?' This is all new to us and we are just soaking it all in.” It didn't take long for the offers to come flying in on the newly minted Grade II winner. All along the Ribbles had planned on buying out a horse from Legion Bloodstock, and of course they were partial to this colt's name, so they bought Honor Marie outright. They hung up the phone on offers they could hardly believe for the talented bay, but did end up selling a quarter of him to a group that includes Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver and Kenneth and Daniel Fishbein. Their only stipulation was that Honor Marie stayed with Beckman. “With Wit's dedication and the way things are going, I would never want to move him,” Ribble explained. “We liked the idea of supporting someone who was just starting out on their own. It's sort of what Alan did in his business long ago and he still remembers the people who supported him.” The entire crew of the Ribbles, Legion Bloodstock and Whit Beckman has a big weekend ahead. The Ribbles made the trip to New Orleans on Friday and will be heading to the Fair Grounds with a group of friends who have supported them since their early days in the claiming game. In addition to Honor Marie's start in a stacked edition of the Risen Star, the Ribbles are partners in Legion Racing's Drip (Good Magic), who makes his debut for Beckman earlier in the card on Saturday. Beckman will also send out GIII River City S. runner-up Harlan Estate (Kantharos) in the GIII Fair Grounds S. for Graham Grace Stable. This community aspect of their journey in racing is really what has kept the Ribbles coming back. For years they shared a close relationship with Vance and his family before his retirement and now they've found a new team to support and enjoy. “As excited as we are for this weekend and the months ahead, I think really I am just as thrilled for Legion Bloodstock and Whit's team,” Ribble said. “This is life changing for them. They all started out on their own in the last few years and I'm thrilled for all of them.” The post “Like the best vacation you’ve ever been on,” Ribbles soaking in the Derby Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Officials at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club announced in early 2023 that the purse for the country's richest Thoroughbred test, the H.H. The Amir Trophy, would be receiving a boost from an even $1-million to $2.5 million. A strong renewal won by the Hong Kong-based former Ballydoyle galloper Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) helped to ensure that the 2400-metre contest would be accorded Group 3 status for the 2024 running, and the Amir Trophy has accordingly attracted the most competitive field in the history of the race. Shadwell's Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) will take a fair bit of beating for John and Thady Gosden as he ventures to the Middle East for the second time in the space of the last few months. Having claimed the scalp of Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Princess of Wales's S. on Newmarket's July Course last summer, the homebred son of Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {GB}) was sent to Bahrain for the G2 Bahrain International Trophy Nov. 17, running with credit to finish runner-up behind the classy Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and just ahead of Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who re-opposes Saturday. Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is one of three elite-level scorers in the Amir Trophy field, having broken through with a half-length defeat of Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in the Grosser Preis von Berlin last August. A midfield 10th behind Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 1, the chestnut was acquired privately by Wathnan Racing and prepped for this with a fast-finishing defeat of the commonly owned Haunted Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) over 2200 metres Jan. 20. Mickael Barzalona takes the ride for Alban de Mieulle, while Oisin Murphy has the call aboard Haunted Dream. Zeffiro (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is one of three in the race for Japan and has Joao Moreira in the saddle, who partnered the bay to a victory in the G2 Copa Republica Argentina over an extended mile and a half at Tokyo in November. Damian Lane was at the controls when Zeffiro ran Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) to a length in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in December. Yuga Kawada rides dual Group 2 winner Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) and multiple group scorer North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) will have Yasunari Iwata in the irons. Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes the short trip over from Dubai for Charlie Appleby. The 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero was well held by Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic after an interrupted preparation, but he was back to something approaching his best form when taking out the Listed Wild Flower S. over the Kempton all-weather Dec. 13. Godolphin is also represented by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a latest sixth in listed company in Bahrain behind Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a repeat winner at Sakhir on Friday. The final day of the Amir Sword Festival has five Thoroughbred races with a combined $4.2 million and three races for Purebred Arabians. The Amir Trophy, the seventh the program at Al Rayyan Racecourse, jumps at 4.15pm local time (UTC +3). Noted commentator Mark Johnson will provide English race calls. The post Newly Upgraded Amir Trophy Attracts Deepest-Ever Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee downgrades two graded stakes races in Canada - the Bessarabian Stakes and the Royal North Stakes - after holding its annual review of its graded and listed stakes races in the country.View the full article

A 16-strong field sporting several Group 1 horses will fill the stalls at Tokyo on Sunday for the ¥233,160,000 G1 February S. over the metric mile on dirt. The race is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November. One of the leading fancies is Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), winless on turf, but a seven-time scorer on the main track from 1500m to 2100m. The three-time listed winner lines up for his 5-year-old bow off of back-to-back runner-up performances in both the G1 Champions Cup–to G1 Saudi Cup-bound Japanese Champion Dirt Horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) on Dec. 3–and in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten to G1 Dubai World Cup winner and fellow Saudi Cup entrant Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) on Dec. 29. Perched in gate 14-of-16, the entire faces the re-opposing 2022 G1 Hopeful S. winner Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), third in each race, who will be cutting back to a mile for the first time in his career. He leaves from stall four under German Champion Jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. Said Wilson Tesoro's trainer Hitoshi Kotegawa of his charge who has accepted an invite to the Dubai World Cup in March, “His workload's been good with training uphill, and I think he's a horse that can still get better. He looks like a dirt horse and he's really switched on. The stable hasn't had a winner this year, so I'd really like to win this one.” The connections of Dura Erede were similarly bullish, and trainer Manabu Ikezoe said, “He's a powerful horse and I think is suited to dirt. He's refreshed in between races and has kept his condition. We've had him run over a long distance on the woodchip course in training, and this should be good for him in this next race. He should do well against the other strong horses, as he hasn't had any problems with what he's experienced so far, including his races over longer distances.” Several NAR dirt specialists have signed on to lock horns with their JRA counterparts, and Mick Fire (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) posts one of the most intriguing records–seven-for-eight lifetime. He ran eighth last out in the Tokyo Daishoten behind Ushba Tesoro et. al at Oi on Dec. 29 after he fluffed his lines when the gates opened. The Listed Japan Dirt Derby hero will break from stall three. Trainer Kazuo Watanabe said, “He didn't break well in his last race, and that meant that he didn't really run to his best. I think the surface didn't help his chances either. He's a horse with a lot of speed and power, and has already broken two records in his races. He should break better with the start on turf this time, and the lighter dirt surface should be better for him.” The lightly raced Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), although a winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup on this turf course in May, was 14th behind champion Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen a month later and has been missing since. Group 3 winner Red Le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will be competing in his fourth consecutive February S., with his best finish 1 1/2 lengths second to Lemon Pop in last year's edition. He was third in the G3 Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino S. in November, his most recent start. The post Wilson Aims For Group 1 Ring At Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine's GII Bessarabian S. and the GII Royal North S. will be downgraded to Grade III status, The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee said via a press release early Friday. After their annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes slate, the organization added that all three of the top levels will remain at 42 races. The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all Graded, Listed, and potentially Listed races in Canada. Based on this data, they also determined that the Century Mile H., Hamilton S. and Speed to Spare Championship will be upgraded to Listed status. The post Pair Of Woodbine Graded Stakes Downgraded By Canadian Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article