Wandering Eyes

Wingman will contest the Manawatu Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association 3YO (1350m) at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Saturday’s Manawatu Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association 3YO (1350m) is likely to be the final start of the season for Wingman, who is the only horse to have beaten Group 1 star Leica Lucy. The Roydon Bergerson-trained Wingman showed bright promise in the spring with two wins from his first three starts. That included a 1400m three-year-old race at Trentham in early December, where he edged out Leica Lucy by a head. That filly then went on to win five Group races in a row, culminating in last month’s Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Wingman was subsequently unplaced in the Group 2 Levin Classic (1400m) and Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), which bookended a runner-up effort behind Ballon d’Or at Trentham. “The Wellington Guineas was a bit of a hard watch,” Bergerson said. “Nothing really went right for him there. The jockey got off and apologised afterwards. That’s the way it goes in racing sometimes. “I’ve been very happy with the horse since then. We were thinking about taking him up to Auckland for the three-year-old race there on Saturday, which would have been a chance to see how he goes at the mile. But the Wanganui race doesn’t look quite as strong, so we’ll stay closer to home and stick to the 1350m. As long as there’s not too much rain around, he should be a good chance.” The Wanganui track was rated a Soft5 on Friday morning, with morning rain expected to ease to showers in the afternoon. Regardless of Saturday’s result, this is likely to be the final three-year-old appearance for Wingman, who has earned $65,575 for owner-breeder Gerry Harvey in his six-start career to date. “He’ll probably head to the paddock after this,” Bergerson said. “We think a fair bit of the horse. We’ll give him a decent break now and then start thinking about the spring.” Wingman headlines a three-pronged contingent for Bergerson at Wanganui on Saturday. The Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1600m) features the well-bred Our Giulia, who is by Savabeel out of Bergerson’s dual Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) winner Karla Bruni. Our Giulia was a last-start second placegetter at Waverley on March 19, beaten by a nose by Rainbow Delight. “That was a really good run and I thought she’d got up on the line,” Bergerson said. “A bit of sting out of the track never worried her mother, so this mare should be okay too if there’s a bit more rain. “Karla Bruni was a maiden winner at Wanganui herself (in May of 2011), so it would be nice to see her daughter follow in her footsteps.” Vee Vee will step back down in distance for Saturday’s Happy Birthday Big Don Could Surprise (1600m). “He just over-raced in that last-start run over 2040m,” Bergerson said. “Jimmy Chung rode him and he couldn’t really get him to settle. Going back down to the mile and with a senior rider aboard (Craig Grylls), hopefully the horse will relax a bit better this time. We’ll try stepping back up to 2000m again after this.” Horse racing news View the full article

Love Poem will contest the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stephen Marsh believes all the key indicators point to his well-bred three-year-old Love Poem giving her Australian rivals a serious run for their money at Randwick on Saturday. The Cambridge trainer will be trackside for Love Poem’s Australian debut in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) and can only see positives ahead of the opening leg of her two-start offshore campaign. “She’s great, she travelled over on Tuesday and hasn’t turned a hair,” he said. “She’s drawn well, the track should be beautiful, set weights and penalties suits her so we couldn’t be happier. I think she’s right in it.” Love Poem has fashioned the excellent domestic record of two wins and five stakes placings, including a runner-up finish in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) behind top colt Savaglee. The only time she has finished out of the top three was a week later at Riccarton when fourth in the fillies’ classic. She then went for a break and booked her passage across the Tasman when successfully resuming at Tauranga over 1200m earlier this month. Should Love Poem run up to expectations in the hands of Jason Collett, she will make one more appearance before returning to New Zealand. “There’s another race over 1400m (Group 3, James HB Carr Stakes) in two weeks’ time at Randwick and then she’ll definitely come home and have a nice spell and get ready for the spring,” Marsh said. Raced by Wellingtonian Lib Petagna, the Snitzel filly was purchased for A$280,000 from breeder Arrowfield Stud’s draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and leading sire Pierro. Marsh is also confident an all-out attack on the Barfoot & Thompson (1500m) at Ellerslie with Penman, Erin Go Bragh, Bourbon Proof, Sexy And I Moet and Dramatic Lass won’t go unrewarded. He finds it hard to split his three-year-olds, but said barriers would favour Penman (four), Erin Go Bragh (five) and Bourbon Proof (two). “The three boys have all got good draws whereas the girls have got wide gates, we have a lovely hand in the race and it’s probably going to come down to who gets the most luck in the running.” Penman claimed three on the bounce before he lost a shoe when unplaced in The NZB Kiwi (1500m), Erin Go Bragh has won two from three, including an impressive resuming victory, and Bourbon Proof was a multiple stakes placegetter before he was out of the frame in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). Dramatic Miss was a bold last-start third in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), in which Sexy And I Moet made late ground for ninth after drifting well back from an awkward barrier. Horse racing news View the full article

Theoden will contest the Ascot Sports Bar Handicap (2225m) at Ascot Park on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South Winton galloper Theoden holds a strong record at Ascot Park, and trainer Leda Beck is hoping that continues on Sunday, with an eye towards the Riverton Cup (2147m) in a fortnight where the Southern Cups bonus is on the line. The six-year-old son of Proisir sits within range of securing the $50,000 winner-takes-all bonus, with 10 points up for grabs for the winner of the Riverton Cup, and Theoden is just five points in arrears of series leader Lofty’s Gift. Beck will use Sunday’s Ascot Sports Bar Handicap (2225m) as a fitness run for her gelding, and she is hoping he can continue his golden run of form at the venue, with Theoden having had six starts at the Southland track for a win and five placings. Theoden will be joined in Sunday’s race by stablemate Par Tee, who is also an outside chance of securing the Southern Cups bonus at Riverton. “They are going to have a run before they head to Riverton. If they go well that would be great and I am thinking Theoden wants to run in the top two,” Beck said. Beck will head to Ascot Park with four other runners, including debutant Aozora Note in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m), Amalfi Coast in the Northern Sports Bar & TAB Handicap (2225m), Firoden in the Waxy’s Irish Pub Handicap (1600m), and Leisure Dollar in the Our Dad Is Still Funny 10 Years On (1400m). “They have all trialled pretty well,” Beck said. “Aozora Note is a nice three-year-old filly will be a nice horse next year. “With Amalfi Coast, it was a shame there wasn’t a mile, it would have been nice to kick-off over a mile. She is an out-and-out stayer. “Firoden is my daughter’s horse, so he is just going around and any money is a bonus. He has gone down a massive grade and he is more than capable of running in the money. “Leisure Dollar is the one whose raceday manners might let him down a little bit. He is straight fresh with no trials or anything. He can gallop but everything has to go right for him.” Horse racing news View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk He’s harness racing’s hype horse. And now both Marketplace’s mum and sister are up for sale. Gavelhouse Standardbred is currently selling Cullen Who, the dam of the sensational Marketplace, and also his weanling full sister. Cullen Who is Lot 14, the weanling is Lot 1. Adding to Cullen Who’s value is the fact that she is in foal. Cullen Who won five races before starting her broodmare career where she’s had five progeny, all by Bettor’s Delight. Marketplace so far has been the stand out. The 2024 NZ 2YO Colt/Gelding Pacer of the Year and multiple Group 1 winner has won seven of his last eight races and is widely recognized as a future superstar. Cullen Who has also left two black-type performers in nine-race winner Who’s Delight and Who’s Bettor. Cullen Who, the 12-year-old daughter of Christian Cullen, has given her connections including well-known race caller George Simon the ride of a lifetime but they believe now is the right time to sell their stellar mare. “Myself, Tony Barron, Gordon McKenzie and Tony Clark bought her after she won her first race at Forbury Park and then she won about four or five races for us,” Simon told NZB Standardbred. “A couple of the boys said that maybe we should sell Cullen Who (last year). At that stage she was in-foal and we asked around but there were no takers, so we carried on. Just after that Marketplace came out and started winning everything in sight.” His success changed the game. “We got together again and had a bit of a chat about it and we thought if the feeling was that there were a couple in the group that wanted to sell, now is the time to strike on the back of what Marketplace has done, and we thought the best and fairest way to do it was is to put her on Gavelhouse Standardbred and let the market decide.” The ownership group also decided to put up for auction Marketplace’s full sister, a weanling. She is at $62,500 has met her reserve while Cullen Who has not yet met her reserve. She is at $80,000 though the auction only went live last evening. “This is an opportunity to buy into the family with the filly or buy the family jewels, which is the mare in-foal to Bettor’s Delight,” says Simon. The pair are part of a 19 Lot catalogue that closes on Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm. To see the auction click here View the full article

With the new National Bureau starting on Monday, Harness Racing New Zealand would like to advise of a temporary arrangement regarding nominations,driver engagements and scratchings. The protocol will be in place for the next fortnight until a new National Bureau Hotline is established. In the interim, trainers are encouraged to continue using the online system for nominations and driver engagements. “While we acknowledge that some users are experiencing issues with the mobile app, our IT team has confirmed that these issues are not present on the web-based system,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering manager Matthew Peden. “We therefore recommend that anyone encountering problems with the app access My HRNZ via their mobile or desktop browser.” Until such time as the National Bureau Hotline is established, the following individuals can be contacted regarding the meetings listed below: Wairio – April 10 Contact: Jason Broad NZMTC – April 11 Contact: Richard Bromley ATC – April 11 Contact: Kevin Smith Methven – April 13 Contact: Richard Bromley NZMTC – April 15 Contact: Richard Bromley Waikato BOP – April 15 Contact: Kevin Smith Winton – April 17 Contact: Jason Broad ATC – April 17 Contact: Kevin Smith NZMTC – April 19 Contact: Richard Bromley Contact details for Bureau members: Jason Broad – 021 127 2912 Kevin Smith – 027 435 8560 Richard Bromley – 021 888 900 For any wider Bureau-related queries, please contact Cameron Kirkwood – 03 964 1200 The Bureau is a significant step forward in streamlining the nomination, acceptance, and field release process for the sport across the country through a centralised system overseen by HRNZ. Race programmes will also be produced directly by HRNZ as part of this transition. Importantly, the current timelines for nominations and acceptances remain unchanged: Nominations close at 12 noon Acceptances close at 2:00pm Both deadlines fall on the same day. Please also note that all scratchings are to be advised to the relevant Bureau member listed above in the short term. Once the Bureau Hotline is operational, these notifications will be relayed through that system. “We appreciate your patience and support during this transition and will continue to keep you updated as new systems come online,” says Peden. For any further queries contact: matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz View the full article

By Jonny Turner Big brother showed Merlin how it’s done just a day out from $1m The Race by betcha. In slightly quieter surrounds to Friday’s Night Of Champions at Cambridge, Durrant ran to career win number eight at Ascot Park on Thursday for trainer Ross Hope and driver Nathan Williamson in the Final Touch / Clean-Biz Mobile Pace. After facing trickier draws in his recent starts, Durrant made full use of barrier 4 when Williamson found him a perfect trip in the trail, turning around an unlucky last start effort at Winton. “I think he has been going pretty well right the way through, but he hasn’t always had the luck go his way,” Hope said. Both Merlin and Durrant are by Art Major from Imaginary Bet, who was crowned New Zealand’s Pacing Broodmare Of The Year at this year’s national harness racing awards. While Durrant hasn’t competed at the same level as Merlin, he has delivered Hope and his wife Dianne plenty of thrills. “He is a great horse to have around the place, he’s easy to look after.” “He’s done a great job for us, when young Carter Dalgety won on him he liked him.” “He’s just an old gentleman.” There are no surprises around who the Hope camp will be cheering for in the $1m The Race by betcha. “I think Merlin can do it, but it will be hard up against the Aussies who are seasoned with all the hard racing they’ve had,” Hope said. Another of Imaginary Bet’s progeny will be in action in Southland on Friday. Group 1-winning star Captains Mistress, a half-sister to Merlin and Durrant, will take another step back towards the races when trialling at Winton. Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson is targeting a heat of the Sires Stakes Series at Addington next week with New Zealand’s reigning two-year-old pacing filly of the year. Captains Mistress’ full brother Magician hasn’t been sighted since his win at Ascot Park on Group One Invercargill Cup Day. Another of the progeny of Imaginary Bet, the four-year-old has recently been brought back into work by trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety after he suffered a minor injury in Auckland, which derailed a planned northern campaign. View the full article

James McDonald and Wodeton storm home in the Chandon Handicap in race 1 at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, January 18. Photo: Bradley Photos Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton will spearhead a blockbuster day at Randwick for champion jockey Ryan Moore, as the colt prepares to step out in Saturday’s Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m). Trained by Chris Waller, Wodeton will wear winkers once again and is expected to be ridden conservatively from barrier nine. Waller was full of praise for the way the Wootton Bassett colt has bounced out of his Slipper performance, describing him as “thriving” ahead of his first test over 1400 metres. “You don’t have to overtrain them after their grand final,” Waller said. “He’s a colt, he’s a young horse. He has come through the Slipper really well and the 1400 will be no problem.” Wodeton heads Saturday’s market as horse racing bookmakers’ favourite at $2.80. It will be Moore’s first time aboard Wodeton, but the pair headline a strong book of five rides for the visiting UK hoop, who also partners exciting colt Switzerland for Coolmore in the T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) and Desert Hero for William Haggas in the Chairman’s Quality (2600m). The international flavour continues Moore’s long-standing success on Australian shores, with Saturday shaping as a pivotal afternoon for the star jockey across multiple feature races. Horse racing news View the full article

Plymouth ridden by Mark Zahra heading to the barriers before the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Trainer Glen Thompson is optimistic Plymouth can deliver a career-best performance in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick, provided he gets the right run in transit. The son of The Autumn Sun was a strong fourth in the Rosehill Guineas last start, finishing just 1.5 lengths off Broadsiding despite being held up for a run early in the straight. “I thought he ran very well,” Thompson said. “He was a bit unlucky. Mark was of the same opinion that if he’d got out at the top of the straight and got a bit more momentum, he would have made it pretty interesting. “But it is what it is, he got stuck on the fence and ran very well.” Thompson believes the step up to 2400m on Saturday will only enhance Plymouth’s chances. “I think he’ll be better again up to 2400 metres,” he said. “I was up watching him work on Tuesday, and he worked great.” Mark Zahra will once again take the reins aboard Plymouth and will jump from barrier three—a gate the stable is happy with, though Thompson knows luck will still play its part. “We wanted to draw well so he gets some sort of an easy run,” he said. “We drew well last time and he didn’t have much luck, so we need things to go our way. “But with any sort of luck in running, up to 2400 metres, I think he’ll run very well. I think he’s right in the mix.” Plymouth is rated a +1100 chance with horse racing bookmakers in the Group 1 Australian Derby. Horse racing news View the full article

Yulong Investments runner Kimochi winning the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Yulong has announced the appointment of Jun Zhang as its new general manager, following the recent resignation of Vin Cox. In a statement shared to social media, Zhang acknowledged the legacy left by his predecessor and outlined his vision for the future of the operation. “Having seen the positive impact Vin had in his time at Yulong, I am confident we can continue to build on this as we head towards the 2025 breeding season,” Zhang said. “I feel it is important as a company that we keep moving forward, and this week has given us an opportunity to learn and grow. “The positions and duties of our current management staff will remain the same as they continue to drive the company towards further success.” Zhang also expressed gratitude for the ongoing support Yulong has received during a standout year for the operation. “Thank you to all those who have and continue to support us in what has been a phenomenal year for Yulong,” he said. “I am excited to take the reins and lead the team as we seek to develop Mr Zhang’s vision and look forward to meeting you all very soon both at the sales and on the track.” Horse racing news View the full article

Reigning Eclipse champion turf female Moira and three-time North American grade 1 winner Anisette are set to make their seasonal debuts April 5, but they'll do so south of the Equator in the Doncaster Mile (G1) at Randwick Racecourse.View the full article

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Group One winner Pier is set to make his raceday return at Trentham next week after nearly a year away from the track. The five-year-old gelding was a revelation in his three-year-old term, winning three and placing in two of his six starts, including victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). The son of Proisir has been plagued by issues in subsequent years, only having four starts last season, three of those in the spring, before returning to win over 1300m at Te Aroha in his last raceday outing last June. “He has just had a couple of issues, he had a bit of a problem with a knee, but more than anything it’s been immaturity and time is a great healer,” said Darryn Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar. “This time in he has been really good, we gave him plenty of time. He spent a bit of time on the water treadmill at Mark and Shelley Treweeks, and we brought him up quietly and he’s ticking all of the boxes.” Pier made his first public appearance this year when winning his 800m heat at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday, much to the satisfaction of Weatherley. “It was a nice hit-out,” he said. “He has been off the scene for quite some time, so we were looking forward to getting him back out there for a day out. He had a bit of a shake and a sweat before the trial, but then afterwards he walked in like he had been doing it all his all life. “He pulled up really well, he recovered quickly, so hopefully he comes through it okay and then he may look to Trentham for the Listed sprint (City of Napier Sprint, 1200m) next Saturday. “We will just take one step at a time. The first hurdle has been completed, and it will be nice to get to the Hawke’s Bay sprint next Saturday and once we are over that hurdle we will sit down and discuss where we go. Whether we go to Brisbane for the winter or stay around here, it all depends on the horse, he comes first.” Stablemate Vito also pleased when finishing runner-up in his 800m heat. “He is a half to Ess Vee Are and Arby, he is by Vadamos and out of the same mare as the other two,” Weatherley said. “That was his second trial and he has had two seconds at the trials. He is a horse with a bit of family ability, and we will have a lot of fun with him when he gets to the races.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Weatherley will return to Ellerslie on Saturday where he will be represented by two runners. Debut winner Inside Out will be looking to double-up in the Auckland Co-op Taxis 1500, while Perspective will contest the Cloudsoft Accounting 2200. “Inside Out is a beautiful horse and he has come on well since his maiden win,” Weatherley said. “He doesn’t show a lot in his work, but he is a racehorse and I will be expecting another bold showing, I think a bit of him. “Perspective was a bit ordinary last start, but I think the ground was soft enough for him whereas Ellerslie has got quite a nice footing out there, even if we do get rain, and it is a different Soft to what Pukekohe was. His work has been good so we can hopefully get back to the form that he showed at Matamata.” View the full article

Consistent galloper The Good Shepherd will aim to add to his career-best season at Ascot Park on Sunday, starting among the favourites in the Editor’s Cut Sports Bar Handicap (1200m). The Power seven-year-old is nearing the $100,000 mark in the current term, with three wins and a number of placings in good company across the South Island. He is trained by trainer-jockey Lee Callaway, but often the topweight, the gelding has established a successful partnership with rising apprentice Ruvanesh Muniandy, who will be back on board and decreasing his weight to 57kg. A month since his last appearance at Wingatui, The Good Shepherd will turn up in a fresh state having pleased Callaway in the lead-up. “He had a couple of weeks off to freshen him up and he’s been working well, he should be nice and fresh and feeling well for Sunday,” Callaway said. “I think he prefers the better tracks now, but we’ll go here and then head to the open sprint at Riverton over Easter.” The Waikouaiti horseman will have a six-strong representation at the Southland meeting, with last-start winner Pete’s Pride stepping up in class after winning a competitive Rating 65 contest on Otago Classics Day. “He’d been working well and went a great race that day, he had a week off as well after that,” Callaway said. “He should be really competitive.” Callaway has called upon another claimer in Yogesh Atchamah for Pete’s Pride, while senior hoops Rohan Mudhoo and Ashvin Goindasamy take the ride on stablemates Shooting Stride and Empress Suiko in The Ave Sports Bar Maiden (2225m). “They’re pretty evenly matched, Shooting Stride came from back last-start and it was a very good run, he just wanted to do a couple of things wrong,” Callaway said. “The distance should be perfect for him. “Empress Suiko didn’t handle the wet track last-start, I’ve taken the blinkers off and giving her a go over the 2200 this time, she’s bred to go this distance. I would’ve preferred to go in the 1800 but I think she’ll get away with it.” Completing the stable runners will be Mininjagirl (Waikiwi Tavern and The Foundry Restaurant Handicap, 1400m) and Hestikitiboo (Northern TAB and Sports Bar Handicap, 2225m). “I would’ve liked to get another 1200 race in for Mininjagirl, she had a decent go over that last time, but on a better track, I think she’ll go a nice race,” he said. “Hestikitiboo is probably working the best of most of my horses to be honest.” View the full article

Leaders in the United States and Canada have indicated they will honor the existing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement for some goods, including Thoroughbreds. Horses will continue to cross the U.S.-Canada border duty-free.View the full article

Trainer John Toscano Jr. died April 3 in a Long Island, N.Y., hospital, according to Daily Racing Form. He was 80.View the full article

Largy Go (Ire) (Poet's Word {Ire}) (lot 8) caught the eye of O'Neill Racing, and was knocked down for a sale-topping £305,000 at the Goffs Aintree Sale on Thursday. Consigned by Newlands Farm, the bay made a winning start to his career with a stylish victory Loughbrick over three miles on March 29. Gordon Elliott was the leading buyer of the next two lots for £250,000 apiece–first Lemmy Caution (Fr) (Tunis {Pol}) (lot 5) and With Nolimit (Fr) (Bande {Ire]) (lot 21)–for a combined £500,000. He also shelled out another £315,000 for Hernando De Soto (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}) (lot 9) and Sound Judgement (Ire) (Doyen {Ire}) (lot 18) with Aidan O'Ryan. Elliott, who has purchased a pair of Grade 1 winners out of this sale, also shelled out £95,000 for Tip Of The Wings (Ire) (Wings Of Eagles {Fr}) (lot 30). All five had won their debuts. At the close of trade, 28 lots sold of 30 offered (93%) for a gross of £3,571,000. The average rose to £127,536 (+41%) and the median rose 40% to £105,000. A total of 17 horses made six figures or better. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Today has been a wonderful result for this sale and it finished less than £100,000 short of eclipsing the booming sale we enjoyed here in 2022. We knew coming into today that we had a strong catalogue and that was echoed by everyone who saw the horses over the last two days. However, we needed to see that talk transpire into action in the ring and we are thrilled with the results which are befitting a sale and race meeting of the highest stature. “This sale has sold some cracking horses over its eight years, four of which have gone on to win Grade 1 races at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, and the calibre of horses sold tonight bodes well for the future. We would like to extend our thanks to the vendors who supported this sale and we are delighted to have delivered world-class prices for their horses – we can't do it without you. To our buyers, we extend the very best of luck and we hope to see you in the winners' enclosure here at Aintree in the coming years. As ever, we would also like to extend our gratitude to the Aintree Executive who are so supportive of this fantastic event.” The post Poet’s Word Gelding Breaks £300K Mark As Goffs Aintree Sale Concludes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racing industry participants are invited to the latest Speaker Series, a popular event hosted by the Thoroughbred Club of America (TCA) and which will feature HISA's CEO Lisa Lazarus as the guest after a day at the races at Keeneland. Lazarus will give a presentation discussing the first years of HISA and how to navigate the coming years. Scott Hazelton will moderate a panel discussion, which will include Dale Romans, Steve Asmussen, Elliot Walden, Dr. Stuart Brown, and possibly others, including Mark Casse. A question and answer session will follow. The Speaker Series evening will be held Wednesday, Apr. 23 at 5:30 p.m. ET at the TCA facilities on Rice Road in Lexington. The event is open to all active industry participants and it is free. The post Lazarus to be TCA Speaker Series Guest after Keeneland Races Apr. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tenma, with a record of four wins in five starts, is the even-money, morning-line favorite in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) April 5 at Santa Anita Park.View the full article

After seeing her unbeaten streak come to an end in the Honeybee Stakes (G3), last year's Demoiselle Stakes (G2) winner Muhimma will try to return to her winning ways in the rescheduled Ashland Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland.View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and CJ Stables' Statesman has won his last two races and steps up in class for the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

When President Donald Trump announced sweeping updates to the United States' global tariff structure Wednesday evening, there was some good news for the Thoroughbred racing industry, according to an analysis by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society of the fact sheet which accompanied the announcement. Horses eligible under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) will continue to cross the U.S.-Canadian border duty-free, according to the CTHS. As outlined in the fact sheet: “For Canada and Mexico, the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA orders remain in effect, and are unaffected by this order. This means USMCA-compliant goods will continue to see a 0% tariff…” Under the USMCA,Thoroughbred horses (classified under Codes 0101.21.00 for pure-bred breeding animals and 0101.29.00.20 for others used for racing) retain their status as duty-free goods, ensuring uninterrupted cross-border movement vital to the industry. In the CTHS analysis, horses from the U.S. will also be able to travel to Canada without a tariff. “In response, Prime Minister Carney has announced that the Government of Canada will be responding to President Trumps tariff orders by matching the U.S. approach with a 25% tariff on all vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not compliant with USMCA,” said the CTHS in a statement. “There being no reference to any other counter tariffs, this would indicate that Canada, like the U.S., will maintain the status quo as it relates to the USMCA agreement.” The full document is available here. “This is exceptional news for our community,” read a statement from the national board of directors of the CTHS. “The continuation of duty-free transport recognizes the long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship between Canadian and American Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the many industry members, organizations, and government officials in both countries who voiced the importance of this issue. Your dedication and collaboration were instrumental in protecting the interests of our cross-border industry. We also express our deep appreciation to U.S. businesses and officials who engaged with our concerns and understood the economic and cultural significance of our thoroughbred trade.” The CTHS urged those shipping horses across the board to continue to carry appropriate documentation when transporting horses, including proof of foaling location (USA or Canada), and to notify the CTHS if they encounter any issues at the border. The post Some Good Tariff News: Canadian Horses Will Continue to Cross Border Duty Free appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Amid the embattled economics of horse racing, more and more attention has been placed upon Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) players. One such focus has surrounded whether these behemoths of the betting pools are contributing their fair share back to the sport. That's the case certainly in California. Last year, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) became the first regulator of a major racing jurisdiction to really dig down into the issue during a public hearing–one that later led to a published Q&A. The scrutiny that California has received hasn't always sat well with some industry leaders, who say they feel unfairly victimized due to CAW data published by the state unavailable in other jurisdictions–a valid point that paints a damning picture of the way key CAW data (from an industry standpoint) is shielded from view almost universally around the country. On the flip side, a strong argument can be made that because California doesn't enjoy the same purse subsidies enjoyed elsewhere, how it manages its wagering monies–and it's CAW play in particular–is that much more important if horse racing is to stand a chance at economic sustainability in the Golden State. There's way less wriggle room, in other words, to get the formula wrong. Has the scrutiny California received over the past year or so led to actionable change? Yes and no. At Santa Anita, the impacts from a set of rate hikes among CAW players–which includes a slight drop in CAW play–has been met with approval in various quarters, while at Del Mar, a titan of the CAW world still wields a seemingly lop-sided influence on the pools. Marshall Gramm, a professor of economics at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and a professional gambler, said the outsized impact at Del Mar from one Elite Turf Club player (who wagers under the moniker Elite 17) is fiscally risky. “For one player to be so powerful, I think it's a huge concern,” he said. Primer First, however, here's a CAW primer. The debate around CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers thanks to their use of sophisticated technologies that allow them to precisely read the markets and to place massive wagers across nearly all polls in the final seconds of betting, as well as the attractive rates and rebates offered to them which are unavailable to the average punter. When “rates” are mentioned, what is meant are “host fees.” This is a charge wagering outlets pay to track operators for the contractual right to import a simulcast signal. A wagering outlet could be another racetrack, an ADW platform (like FanDuel), or a CAW platform (like Elite Turf Club). Experts say that CAW host fees for the premium tracks typically vary between 6% and 8%. After breeders' premiums and other minor deductions have been removed, host fees are roughly split 50/50 between the track and the purse account in California. Rates, therefore, are vitally important for industry stakeholders to know. The amount CAW players are “rebated” can be broadly calculated with this simple equation: Rebate = Takeout minus host fee (plus any other associated minor fees). The smaller the host fee and the larger the takeout, then the bigger the rebate. Last year, the TDN revealed how in 2023, Elite 17–one of more than a dozen individual Elite Turf Club players–enjoyed a noticeably more favorable rate than those other players that year. Owned by The Stronach Group (TSG) and the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Elite Turf Club is a CAW wagering platform that makes up a significant portion of Del Mar's handle. But the favorable rate that Elite 17 enjoyed gave the betting breakdown of Elite Turf Club's ledgers that year a lop-sided look. Indeed, Elite 17's play constituted nearly 47% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar in 2023, according to data obtained by TDN. This was no small amount of money–Elite 17 wagered some $53 million on the track alone that year. Elite 17's predominance wasn't always so pronounced. As recently as 2021, Elite 17's play had constituted just over 36% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. That year, two players–Elite 17 and Elite 2–reportedly received similarly favorable deals. By the time 2023 rolled around, Elite 2 reportedly declined that deal, which would have necessitated making a “substantial seven-figure up-front payment.” The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), which has the final say over such deals, was critical of the way Del Mar–along with other tracks–had for years offered special rates to some of the sport's biggest CAW players, who are often called the “whales” of the betting pools. “With the benefit of hindsight, it has been the wrong deal for over 10 years and this is why we need a market correction,” wrote the organization's president and CEO, Bill Nader, who only joined the organization in late 2022. Last year, however, little had changed, with Elite 17 still wielding the same lop-sided impact on CAW wagering. According to 2024 data obtained by the TDN, the amount Elite 17 wagered constituted 46% of the overall handle that Elite Turf Club players placed on Del Mar's product–what amounted to $63.4 million of a total $138.1 million (including Breeders' Cup play in the fall). Nader said the rate that Elite 17 paid last year had increased slightly from 2023–in line with a slight rate hike for all CAW players at the track–but that it still remained lower than rates for the other Elite Turf Club players. Is this a healthy dynamic? Handle at the track's flagship summer meet dropped off noticeably last year from the year prior, which the track said was due in part to new restrictions on CAW play. But could the special deal that Elite 17 continued to get also be depressing overall wagering on the track's product among price-sensitive gamblers? Indeed, Elite 2's wagering at Del Mar dropped off by over $32 million between 2021 (when this player reportedly received a favorable rate) and 2023 (when they didn't). Track management did not answer directly. “Del Mar will continue to work with industry stakeholders to maximize handle from all segments of the parimutuel market and help to generate important purse funding that is crucial for California racing due to the lack of supplemental purse funding sources available in other states,” the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club wrote in response to a string of questions sent to the club's president, Josh Rubinstein. “We implemented measures in the last year to reduce late odds fluctuations that were a source of frustration for some players and we plan to continue those efforts,” the DMTC added. Nader said the question was tough to answer definitively. “I'm not sure I can really answer that,” he replied. Gramm, however, contends that Elite 17's predominance at Del Mar is likely to have a negative impact on wagering among both CAW players and the retail side. “I think in some ways it's even worse to have one monolith team,” said Gramm, who said he uses computer technologies to aid his betting (as many retail players do), but does not wager though a CAW platform. “The regular players are struggling as it is. But if you've one team with a separate deal and they're crushing other CAW players as well, I don't think it's a good thing. Not a good thing at all,” he said. Especially when factoring in the rate at which some of these teams are winning. According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, some Elite Turf Club players can win at an average rate in excess of 105% in some pools, even before their rebate is factored in. At this rate, the profit margin would be much better than many investment accounts. In effect, this suggests the effective takeout rate for non-CAW players can be greater than the published rate, reducing the average gambler's opportunity to churn more bets. Santa Anita The landscape appears slightly different at Santa Anita, where all CAW players saw their rates hiked uniformly before the start of the current meet on Dec. 26, said Nader. At the SoCal track, it's now pretty much a “level playing field” for all CAW players, said Nader. “Return to purses has increased considerably,” he said, estimating that increase to around $1 million annually from the CAW rate hike. How has this played out in numbers? Compared to the same first-quarter period in 2023, there have been 4 extra cards this current meet and 67 additional races run (amounting to a nearly 18% increase in races). This includes 70 new races restricted for the northern California inventory. According to the TOC: Total Handle is up 12.4% California ADW and Brick and Mortar is up 15.8% Out of State ADW and Brick and Mortar is up 16.3% CAW is down 1% Average handle on a NorCal restricted race is $643,573, while average handle on a non-restricted race is $836,217. While overall handle has been impacted by cancellations brought on by the wildfires, Nader sees the rate hike–which he said precipitated the slight decrease in CAW play–as having an overall healthy effect on wagering at Santa Anita. “It is refreshing to see the growth from ADW and brick and mortar handle in California and across the country,” Nader added. Scott Daruty, president of TSG's Monarch Content Management and Elite Turf Club, has a dual reading of the numbers. “If you want to raise pricing because you want to bring the percentage of the pool down, then I think this was the exact right move,” said Daruty. This is no moot point. If CAW players become too big a percentage of the pools, their impacts are magnified and they essentially “cannibalize” the markets. In the past, Nader has pinned this tipping point at about 25% of the betting pools. Industry reform advocate Pat Cummings's June 2023 report found that back then, CAW play in California often surpassed that benchmark. In some jurisdictions, they make up over 40% of the pools. According to Daruty (who spoke before last weekend's numbers were in), CAW play has made up around $19.9% of the overall handle during the current Santa Anita meet. However, Daruty said he also believes the rate hike was unnecessary. Even without it, he said, there would have been an increase in both retail play and CAW play anyway by virtue of the improved product at Santa Anita this meet. Indeed, average field size has jumped this year from last by nearly 8%: 7.5 this year versus 6.96 in 2024. “If you're trying to make more money, which is a valid goal–we're in a struggling industry–then raising the price I think is the wrong approach,” he said. Gramm sides with the TOC, in that he sees the numbers out of the current Santa Anita meet as justification for the rate hike. “The market response makes sense,” he said. “If the CAWs are charged more, their handle's going to be down. And if they're a smaller part of the pool–even if you don't necessarily know it–more money's going back to ordinary players, who may be incentivized to bet more.” At the same time, Gramm said more needs to be done to narrow the gap between retail players and the professional teams. Though incremental steps have been taken to curb last minute odds changes in California, more needs to be done to better stop that in all the pools, Gramm said. Perhaps even more importantly, lowered takeout is a tactic that would help all gamblers, but retail players especially, who should be the core focus of track operators, he added. “North of 20% [blended takeout] for recreational players is still too high in the environment we're living in now, where there are tremendous other betting opportunities,” said Gramm. “We're just in a more competitive landscape,” he added. “And so, I think we need to price our recreational players a little more competitively, and I do think they'll respond very favorably to that.” The post Update on CAW in California: Rate Hikes and One Dominant Player appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The weather-delayed Appalachian Stakes (G2T) on April 8 for 3-year-old fillies looks about as competitive as a race can be.View the full article

7th-AQU, $86K, OC80k/C, 4yo/up, 1m, 4:22 p.m. ET. A debut winner by 3 1/2 lengths over the slop at Churchill Downs last summer, STAR OF WONDER (Uncle Mo) earned a 'TDN Rising Star' for the effort. The WinStar homebred then cleared an allowance condition under the Twin Spires in mid-September, and broke through on the main track there in late November when he faced optional claimers for the second time. Back on the tab at Payson Park by Feb. 1, the colt hails from the same Brad Cox shedrow as his multiple Grade I winning older half-sister Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil). TJCIS PPS The half-brother to Shedaresthedevil, #10 Star of Wonder wins impressively on debut in R8 at Churchill Downs under Flavien Prat for trainer @bradcoxracing! @WinStarFarm @SienaFarmKY #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/vwLokuvzmI — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 2, 2024 The post Friday Insights: Star Of Wonder Shoots For 4-Year-Old Debut At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A special Belmont Stakes Racing Festival three-day admission pass is now available at nearly 200 Stewart's Shops throughout the greater Capital Region, the New York Racing Association, Inc. announced in a press release Thursday. The pass includes general admission to Saratoga Race Course for three of the five days of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival: Thursday, June 5, Friday, June 6, and Saturday June 7–Belmont Stakes Day, featuring the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown–for $99. The admission pass, which represents a savings of 15 percent based on individual day pricing, is available exclusively at participating Stewart's Shops, while supplies last. “Stewart's Shops has become synonymous with convenience for local horse racing fans by offering access to NYRA Bets gift cards, Saratoga season passes and Post Parade programs,” said NYRA Vice President, Sales and Hospitality, Kevin Quinn. “Our longstanding partnership with Stewart's Shops has now expanded to include three-day passes for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, providing fans the opportunity to enjoy multiple days of the event at a reduced price.” The post NYRA Partners with Stewart’s Shops to Offer Special Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Admission Pass appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article