Wandering Eyes

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A last start sixth behind Marketplace in a Group 1 on IRT New Zealand Cup day reads like good form for Sacetas heading into Ashburton today. The Tom Bagrie-trained three-year-old is fresh up and a $1.70 favourite in Race 5, the Scenic Hotel Mobile Pace (4.40pm). He will be driven by Ricky May. As the highest-rated horse in the field he’s drawn the outside of the front row over the 1700 metre trip. He has won one from 10 so far. “His work has been really good and we thought this is a nice wee race for him,” says Bagrie, “but he does have some quirks.” The “quirks” he refers to have been some erratic behaviour at the trials in February. Twice he refused to play ball in the score up and was pulled up. His manners were much improved in his most recent trial though when he finished fourth behind Kasarani, Crunch Time and Miki B just last Thursday. “That last trial was really good,” says Bagrie, who was in the sulky at Rangiora. “Fingers crossed there won’t be any hiccups coming up to the gate.” “We are hoping for a good run with some good 3YO races coming up.” Sacetas’ last start was in the Sires’ Stakes 2YO Colts and Geldings Final at Addington on Cup day. He was sixth that day with the Group 1 taken out by Marketplace who has gone on to stamp himself as a budding star. Also in the final were the likes of Rubira, Got The Chocolates, and Demon Blue. Bagrie is upbeat about the chances of Hoof It Hagrid who is also fresh up in the Majestic Horse Floats Trot (2.54pm). He’s had just the three starts, winning on debut at Rangiora last year. “He’s still learning his craft but he’s come back stronger and I would say he’s a really good chance.” “At his most recent trial he was third behind Eurostyle and Father Time.” The $4 favourite for the race is the Michael House-trained Koko Kaboom. First race at Ashburton goes at 2.19pm. View the full article

Newbury Racecourse announced on Tuesday the introduction of a £50,000 bonus for any horse who wins a two-year-old race throughout the Flat season at Newbury and subsequently triumphs in the G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes. In the event that a horse achieves this feat in 2025, £40,000 will be paid to the winning owner and £10,000 to the yard where the horse is trained for the stable staff. The European Pattern Committee revealed in February that the Mill Reef was one of two races in Britain at risk of being downgraded in 2026, depending on their performance this year. To increase the appeal of the six-furlong contest, the 2025 edition has also received a prize-money boost of £25,000. It will offer a total prize fund of £125,000 when it takes place on Saturday, September 20. Meanwhile, the G2 Hungerford Stakes will this year be run for £150,000, having also received a £25,000 increase. The seven-furlong race for horses aged three and above will be staged at Newbury on Saturday, August 16. George Hill, clerk of the course at Newbury, said, “We are delighted to be able to increase the total prize-money on offer for both of our Group 2 contests this Flat season by £25,000. This highlights our ongoing commitment to increasing the prize-money on offer to attract the best horses and guarantee competitive and compelling racing action. “With the addition of the new £50,000 Mill Reef bonus initiative this year, we aim to be offering an even more attractive option for connections. We hope that through the introduction of the new bonus, as well as the addition of £25,000 to the total prize fund, connections seek to target the Mill Reef with any exciting two-year-olds that emerge as the season develops.” Trainer Richard Hannon, who won the 2023 running of the Hungerford with Witch Hunter (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), said, “The Hungerford has always been one of the go to races for me. We always have plenty of good milers and some of those are better over seven furlongs. It comes at a great time of the year and I will probably have a lot of entries. The fact it is worth more prize-money is fantastic. “Newbury are obviously making every effort to avoid races being downgraded by putting in prize-money. It will attract more good horses and that's what you want. It is good to see them doing that.” He added, “The idea of the new £50,000 bonus if you win a two-year-old race and the Mill Reef has got to be a massive draw. With the yard getting £10,000 of the bonus if you pull off that double, you'll have the stable staff behind it and the trainers behind it–I think it's a fantastic idea.” The post New £50,000 Bonus and Prize-Money Boost for Newbury’s Mill Reef appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ocala Stud stallion Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}–Seeking the Title, by Seeking the Gold), whose first-crop runners are 3-year-olds this year, died unexpectedly on Feb. 28, of complications from colic. Campaigned by Charles Fipke, the homebred won the 2017 GI Clark H., 2018 GIII Ack Ack S. and the 2019 GII Stephen Foster S. The Kentucky-bred won or placed in eight graded stakes, including runner-up finishes in the $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., while hitting the board in 20-of-32 career starts. Seeking the Soul was by Fipke's Grade I winner and Canadian Champion Perfect Soul out of the graded stakes-winning Seeking the Gold mare Seeking the Title. He hailed from the Phipps family of undefeated champion Personal Ensign, champion Storm Flag Flying, and Grade I-winners My Flag, Miner's Mark, and Traditionally. “The unexpected passing of Seeking the Soul is a tremendous loss,” said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. “He was a remarkable racehorse who had just begun his stallion career. His impact will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and worked with him, including all of us here at Ocala Stud. We extend our condolences to Charles Fipke, who bred him and guided him through an extraordinary racing career.” The post Ocala Stud Stallion Seeking the Soul Dies From Colic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic arrived at Churchill Downs early March 25 from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's Barn 38, where he'll begin his preparations for the Run for the Roses.View the full article

The breeding game's loss could be the racetrack's gain after Amo Racing revealed on Tuesday that Group 1-winning sprinter Bucanero Fuerte has made a return to training with Adrain Murray following an unsuccessful stint at stud. Big things had been expected from Bucanero Fuerte at Tally-Ho Stud, where he had been advertised at an opening fee of €12,500. However, after failing to get a single mare in foal, he is back in full training and connections are quietly hopeful that the hugely-talented son of Wootton Bassett can make the return to the racecourse a seamless one. Confirming the news, Amo Racing's Ryan McElligott said, “Bucanero Fuerte has been withdrawn from stud duties. He has returned to Adrian Murray, who will bring him along with a view to having him ready for a return to the track. He was a top-class racehorse, and if he can get back to that level, there's plenty to look forward to. For now, we'll see what the future holds for him.” Bucanero Fuerte delivered a breakthrough Group 1 success for Amo Racing and Murray when he beat high-class horses like multiple Group 1 scorer Porta Fortuna, Givemethebeatboys and subsequent Breeders' Cup winner Unquestionable in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. He began last season with a bang, too, by accounting for Givemethebeatboys in the G3 Lacken Stakes before running respectable races in Group 1 sprints either side of the Irish Sea. Bucanero Fuerte was retired alongside fellow Group 1 winner King Of Steel–who is reported to be going well at his new job–at Tally-Ho Stud last year. Along with King Of Steel, the Amo Racing stallion roster is completed by Persian Force, whose first foals sold well in 2024, talented stayer Mojo Star and durable sprinter Go Bears Go. The post Guess Who’s Back? Group 1 Winner Bucanero Fuerte Back In Training After Being “Withdrawn From Stud Duties” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sottsass (Fr) had two deeply promising fillies in Saint-Cloud's Prix Kizil Kourgan on Tuesday and despite his Ultrafragola (Ire) starting favourite it was the other daughter Safia (Fr) who emerged best to earn TDN Rising Star status. Carrying the colours of racing and breeding's rising force David Layani, the Fabrice Chappet-trained descendant of Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and Serena's Song (Rahy) travelled easily throughout the mile Classic pointer under Cristian Demuro and readily held White Birch Farm's TDN Rising Star Ultrafragola by two lengths. Riviera Equine, Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick have maintained their interests in the winner, with Layani acquiring a 50% share after her winning debut by four lengths at ParisLongchamp in October. Entered in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, she is the first foal out of the unraced Stay Home (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) who is a daughter of the Listed Prix de Lieurey winner and GIII Noble Damsel Handicap-placed Sefroua (Kingmambo). Also responsible for the G3 Prix Chloe winner Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), Sefroua is a daughter of the G1 Coronation Stakes heroine Sophisticat (Storm Cat) with the next dam being the celebrated champion Serena's Song (Rahy). Stay Home's 2-year-old colt Noble Memory (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) was acquired by Chauvigny Global Equine for €230,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August. Nice performance! Safia (Sottsass x Stay Home) – who has entries in the Prix de Diane and Poule D'essai des Pouliches – makes it two from two for @ChappetRacing at Saint-Cloud… pic.twitter.com/E8u0vMRMKn — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 25, 2025 The post Sottsass To The Fore At Saint-Cloud With Safia A New TDN Rising Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST CONTENT—provider of premium content for North American horse racing and a key division of 1/ST—has broadened its international footprint with the announcement of a partnership with America Simulcast, a leading LATAM distributor.View the full article

Tiztastic finally got his breakthrough victory March 22 in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and was awarded a place among the nation's top sophomores in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old Poll.View the full article

Vargas, 43, came to the United States in 2008 and was unable to find an agent willing to work with him, making it difficult for him to attract quality mounts on his own. He worked as an exercise rider in the morning in his early years in the U.S.View the full article

With the 2025 Florida Derby (G1) approaching, America's Best Racing looks back at some of the race's top winners.View the full article

My first trip to a Thoroughbred racetrack came in the summer of 1961 at Ellis Park. At the time, I was 16, closing in on 17, and Kelso was four, closing in on the second of five consecutive Horse of the Year titles. Kelso never raced anywhere near Ellis, but his enduring class was such that he ranked among the sporting world's most recognizable heroes of the day. The New York Yankees' pinstriped pair of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, in their pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record, may have been the only sports stars of 1961 to capture more headlines and enthusiastic fans than Kelso. Those were the days. These are not the days. Between then and now, Thoroughbred racing in the United States has experienced a wild ride of seemingly boundless expansion, followed by a mid-numbing and continuing contraction. What follows here is an effort by this now-80-year-old to understand what in the world happened. The short answer is that horse racing's popularity has been decimated by withering competition for fans, broadcast and streaming revenue, and betting dollars in the sports, entertainment, and gambling markets. This has sent the Thoroughbred sport into a prolonged, painful process of right-sizing, in search of a point where the supply of racing product on the market finds some equilibrium with the demand for it. Amid this contraction, horse racing has become more dependent than ever on favorable treatment by state governments. In states where racing has found favor, the sport stands good chances of doing well. In other states, it does not. The following observations are heavily influenced by events during the 1980s and '90s, when I served 20 years' time endeavoring to make sense of the economics of racing and breeding. I labored through those two decades in various writing and editing tasks at The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Record, and Thoroughbred Times. Only one of those three publications survives today, which is about par for the Thoroughbred industry as a whole. Any quest to understand the larger picture must acknowledge the raw numbers of racing's great rise and fall. In Kelso's second championship season, a total of 40,744 individual Thoroughbred races were contested at racetracks across the U,S. Over the next 26 years, the annual total of races nearly doubled, reaching 80,382 in 1987. Then began a 37-year descent of more than 60 percent from the peak, down to 30,852 races in 2024. The decline in horse racing's share of the sports gambling market has been just as striking. In 1961, racing, with its government-granted monopoly, commanded substantially all of legal betting in the U.S. outside of Nevada. Sixty-three years later, 2024's total of pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in the U.S. was $11.3 billion. That amounts to less than eight percent of the year's all-sports handle of $150 billion. In today's vastly-changed competitive environment, sports stars like LeBron and Caitlin need only first names to gather nationwide recognition. Taylor Swift's football-playing boyfriend generates more screen time, clicks, and searches than Thorpedo Anna, Thoroughbred racing's esteemed 4-year-old queen. Paths to the present have been many and varied, but here are six Defining Developments at the top of the list. Some recount past steps to the industry's current state. Others offer glimmers of hope that dawn is not far away. Defining Development #1: Sports Gone Wild In 1961, the National Football League included 14 teams, and the upstart American Football League fielded eight in its second season. The two leagues were six years away from the first Super Bowl. Now the long-merged NFL has 32 teams, many competing in fan-friendly indoor and outdoor stadiums in cities from sea to shining sea. The Super Bowl has become the biggest sporting event on the continent, far surpassing all other contenders in ratings, revenue, and public interest. Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League all have grown along similar lines. MLB expanded from 18 teams in 1961 to 32 today; the NBA from nine to 30; and the NHL from the Original Six to 32. The NBA experience is particularly instructive. In the spring of 1961, the Boston Celtics wrapped up their third of eight straight championships. The Celtic dynasty played out in gritty, old Boston Garden, which seldom sold out during the regular season, and where, it was said, fans in upper-level seats wore boots and brought cudgels to slug rats marauding underfoot. The NBA now welcomes fans into flashy arenas everywhere. The league also has built an international following that is a marketer's dream. Further, the WNBA, after years of base-building, is riding a wave of expansion in girls' and women's sports. The women's pro league is poised to expand from 12 teams in 2024 to 13 in 2025, 15 in 2026, and an intended 16 by 2028 Elsewhere on the current scene, old-line professional golf and tennis maintain considerable fan bases and television contracts. Forever-aspiring soccer is edging closer to major North American numbers. Then there are NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, Rodeo, PBR, MMA, UFC, WWE, Monster Trucks, and Marathons, all carving out their own niche. Boxing is alone among the major sports of the mid-20th century to have declined as much, or even more, than horse racing. This avalanche of competition from pro leagues does not account for college sports, where teams engender passionate state and local followings. And where NCAA football and basketball command billion-dollar contracts from broadcast and streaming networks. Overall, there is this inescapable fact. Fans, who might once have favored horse racing, now given such an enormous volume of choices, have elected to attend, support, bet on, cheer, jeer, and live and die with competitors in many other sports. Defining Development #2–Gambling: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once Horse racing's monopoly on legal gambling was initially broken by a trickle of state lotteries, followed by a flotilla of riverboats, and a flood of full-fledged casinos. More recently, with gambling legalized on games in nearly every team and individual sport, bettors can seek payoffs either on-line or in a wide variety of gambling emporia, which are often newer and brighter than aging racetracks. First nose under racing's monopolistic tent was the New Hampshire state lottery, established in 1964. The lottery's founders initially sought to mollify wary horse racing interests by basing winning tickets on the outcome of a rich new race at Rockingham Park. That became the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Classic, a 1 ¼-mile race for three-year-olds. The Hall of Fame trifecta of Dr. Fager, John Nerud, and Braulio Baeza captured the 1967 N.H Classic, which carried a total purse of $265,900, higher than any of the year's Triple Crown races. The N.H. Sweepstakes Classic was abandoned long before Rockingham Park closed permanently in 2011. Over the decades, state-sponsored lotteries have proliferated, and are now joined by multi-state options Powerball and Mega Millions, with potential for life-altering payoffs. Few have any connection to horse racing. Other milestones in the expansion of legal gambling included casinos at Atlantic City, which opened in 1978; Native American tribal casinos, which began to gain serious traction in the 1980s; and riverboats, which debuted in Iowa waters in 1991. Riverboats have come ashore as land-based casinos. Native American gambling facilities have spread to 29 states and range from bingo halls to casinos, even including outlets in travel plazas and convenience stores. A total of 48 states (excepting only Hawaii and Utah) now have some form of legal gambling. Along the way, it was hoped that, at racinos, simulcast parlors, and sports books, horse racing would convert casino players and all-sports bettors into dedicated racing punters. In fact, the greater movement has been in the opposite direction. More players have chosen to try their luck in gambling enterprises apart from horse racing. Horsephotos Defining Development #3–Bad Seeds The early years of horse racing's great expansion contained seeds of its later contraction. The expansion was spurred not as much by a populace clamoring for more of the sport, as it was by states needing more tax revenue and horsemen wanting year-round, local circuits. Prior to the expansion, much of the country's best racing was conducted in the South in winter months and in the North in warmer seasons. The move to year-round racing has left tracks to contend with the elements when it is too cold for comfort in the North and too hot in the South. That is not a formula for success in a hyper-competitive sports market. All too often, winter racing at northern tracks bears a greater resemblance to government-sponsored jobs programs than to venues where fans enjoy themselves and make a bet. You know it is not good when you hear track managers talk, in frank honesty, about the pressure to “grind it out” on a never-ending local racing circuit Year-round racing at a single racetrack also fosters sometimes insurmountable challenges, even for the best track superintendents, in maintaining consistent surfaces and meeting safety standards. It imposes severe limits on any long-hoped-for expansion of grass-course racing. In these circumstances, it is nearly impossible to name a racetrack prospering in a major city that has a full menu of other professional sports. By contrast, four upper-level tracks that have done well in recent years–Saratoga, Keeneland, Oaklawn, and Del Mar–share different characteristics. They are all located in markets with limited competition from other professional sports. Each has a defined racing season, with an enthusiastic beginning and an end that leaves fans wanting more. All, except Del Mar, have generous purse structures supported by other forms of wagering. Keeneland competes for three weeks when the forsythia is blooming in the spring, and another three when leaves are turning red, yellow, and orange in the fall. Its two racing seasons, thankfully so, are boxed in by well-established dates at other tracks on the Kentucky circuit. By contrast, Saratoga, Oaklawn, and Del Mar all must deal with pressures to extend their seasons. Creeping expansionism at successful tracks can generate needed revenue for desperate industry stakeholders, but it also raises a now-familiar question: How much racing is too much for an individual market? Hard experience at over-extended tracks around the country should strike warning gongs, even for the most successful ventures in the current market. Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Defining Development #4–Mistakes Were Made It is not difficult to conclude that many of racing's leaders failed to recognize that the competitive environment was changing and would never be the same, and to understand that the quantity of the racing product was outrunning quality. Through it all, too many racing officials, breeders' associations, and their publications appeared to believe that the sport could still prosper by rekindling past glories, ignoring unfavorable trends, and unfailingly emphasizing the positive. In so doing, they missed an important difference between marketing and public relations. The former is about designing a product that meets public interest. The latter, absent fundamental change, traffics in porcine lipstick. Of course, these conclusions are easy to reach now, and come with the benefit of hindsight. In truth, it was always going to be difficult for racing to compete with waves of expansion by competitors in other sports with stronger connections to contemporary culture. Still, there were decisions that could have been made differently. One early mistake that played out over the decades was a reluctance to push racing onto television screens, thus missing a chance to build new fans and deepen the support of existing patrons. Another mistake was the New York Racing Association's unsuccessful effort to scuttle off-track betting in the 1970s, thus ceding control of a new way of selling pari-mutuel tickets to an outside organization that had little allegiance to live racing. Then came a pair of dumb and dumber mistakes in the 1990s. One was opposition by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to legislation that would have permitted casinos in Illinois. Instead of advocating for control of casinos by racing interests, TOBA aimed to defeat casino proposals outright in this one state and establish a pattern for defeating them everywhere. The effort to bat down casinos in Illinois was successful in the short term, but a moment in history was lost. Eventually, the state approved free-standing casinos, setting off a series of twists and turns that ultimately contributed to the loss of Arlington Park. Something similar happened in California, also in the 1990s, when horsemen's organizations in the state battled a proposal by Hollywood Park co-owner and CEO R.D. Hubbard to establish a card club on racetrack property. The free-wheeling Dee Hubbard, who could have prospered in the Wild West of old, offered to dedicate a slice of card club revenue to racing purses. Horsemen were bent on defeating his entire plan. Eventually, Hubbard managed to open the club without horsemen's approval, and with scant contribution to racing. The card club then evolved into a casino. At the same time, Native American tribes were building connections in the state Capitol and gaining approval to expand their own casinos. Again, as in Illinois, an opportunity for racetracks to control their own destiny was lost. Downstream were the closures of Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields, and maybe Santa Anita. Overall, events such as these offer evidence that horse racing's leaders too often missed one of the clearest lessons from the history of life on Earth. Which is: Adapt or Die. Tomorrow: Real Estate Realities David L. Heckerman was born and raised in the rural Southwestern Indiana town of Cynthiana (population 500) and graduated from DePauw University in 1966. He now lives in retirement in Evansville, near his hometown. He occasionally ventures to the Ellis Park simulcast center, where, at 80, he may have recently passed the average age of fellow improvers of the breed there. He may be reached at davidheckerman@twc.com. The post Why We Are Where We Are, Part I: How We Got Here appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST CONTENT, a provider of content for North American horse racing, has broadened its international footprint by partnering with America Simulcast, a leading LATAM distributor, the company announced Tuesday. Sportbet, a major operator in the Ecuador space, is already under contract to integrate exclusive data and signals (broadcast and video streaming) from the partnership's content package. This deal has begun with commingling bets into the US pools via Sportbet's retail outlets, before adding fixed-odds betting and online channels in the coming weeks, scaling activity which provides an immediate validation of this forward-thinking America Simulcast collaboration. Overarchingly, this strategic agreement also grants America Simulcast the rights to distribute signals from all 1/ST CONTENT-participating racetracks in the United States and Canada, alongside Latin America and South America. The collective aim is to bring the thrill and engagement of North American horse racing to a broader audience in LATAM, fostering a new era of sports entertainment in a patchwork-quilt landscape of many previously under-served racing fans. “1/ST CONTENT is delighted to establish a strategic relationship with America Simulcast to broaden the international reach of North American racing across LATAM,” said 1/ST CONTENT Senior Vice President Simon Fraser. “Thoroughbred racing already enjoys a storied heritage and strong following across countries like Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Peru, which have produced some high-class thoroughbreds, trainers and, above all, jockeys who have regularly plied their trade in the States as well.” Javier Pereira, CEO of America Simulcast added: “Our collaboration with 1/ST CONTENT marks a momentous occasion for racing enthusiasts in LATAM. We are excited to be the exclusive distributor of the signals from all racetracks in the United States and Canada, delivering top-notch content to our viewers. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide premium sports entertainment, and we look forward to a successful journey with 1/ST CONTENT.” The post 1/ST CONTENT Reaches Deal With America Simulcast, Expanding Coverage Across Latin And South America appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Northern Farm has snapped up multiple Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is reported to be in foal to the unbeaten Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline. Emily Upjohn was famously sourced by Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for just 60,000gns at the Book 2 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn won five of her 16 starts and won over £1.2 million in prize-money. Emily Upjohn's career-highlight came when winning the G1 Champions Fillies and Mares at Ascot on British Champions Day in 2022, while she was also successful at the highest level when landing the Coronation Cup at Epsom in 2023. Confirming that the six-year-old mare had been sold to the powerhouse Japanese breeding operation, part-owner Jon Shack told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, “It was always understood that I was in for Emily Upjohn's racing career. The breeding side of things is very intricate and complicated and it occupies a huge number of years ahead and I'm now officially a pensioner. My Dad is quite elderly and we just decided that the racing side was of more interest to us.” He continued, “But I had my best time ever involved with the Lloyd Webbers and Simon Marsh [Watership Down Stud]. In reality, the best partners anyone could wish for in the world and together we went on an amazing adventure throughout the world. I have a large photo of her and every day I look at her and think, 'what a magnificent, beautiful animal she was.' “I wish her new owners well. For commercial reasons, everyone was in agreement that there was an opportunity for Emily Upjohn to continue her next career in Kentucky or Japan. Everyone was in agreement on that.” Emily Upjohn was last seen finishing down the field in the Breeders' Cup Turf, after which it is understood she paid a visit to Flightline at Lane's End Stud. Confirming that news, Shack concluded, “Yes, that's what I have heard, that she is in foal to Flightline. She was covered in February.” The post Japanese Powerhouse Operation Northern Farm Snaps Up Emily Upjohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) was one of several shippers who arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning from Fair Grounds. “We thought he'd run a better race in the Louisiana Derby with the extra distance and he took the step forwarded he needed,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “He has a great mind to him. I think he ran a solid race but there is more in him.” CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's John Hancock (Constitution), who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds to trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22. He was joined by Godolphin's likely GI Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro). Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Built (Hard Spun), who finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds Monday to trainer Wayne Catalano's Barn 14. Also making the trip to Kentucky, Terry Stephens' Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), the Louisiana Derby runner-up, arrived at Turfway Park Sunday night and will complete most of his Kentucky Derby preparations at the Florence, Ky. racetrack, according to trainer Ethan West. “Between the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, I could tell in his training that he took a step forward,” said West. “Galloping him at Turfway before the Louisiana Derby, you could tell he put on weight and was more powerful in his stride. I think he probably got a little tired late in the Louisiana Derby but there's a lot of room to build off that performance in the next five weeks. As soon as I got back to the barn Saturday night, he was in the feed tub and cooling out great. This being my first starter in the Kentucky Derby, I've read a lot of interviews from people like Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, who have had success in the Derby. They all seem to have the same idea of keeping routines the same leading up to the Derby. So, we're going to try our best to do just that.” Chunk of Gold would mark Stephens' second starter in the Kentucky Derby. He previously co-owned O Besos (Orb), who finished fourth in Kentucky Derby 147. “This is actually my first horse for Terry,” West said. “He had horses with my brother, Aaron West, and that's how the connection between us was made. Terry owns a steel company in Russell Springs, Ky. It's a really small town but my brother and I spent several years there at a training center.” Chunk of Gold is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 26, just prior to the 11 a.m. deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders must be on the grounds. The post Fair Grounds Shippers, Led By Tiztastic And Good Cheer, Arrive in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars FOREVER FOLKS - R6 (5) Proven dirt galloper looks well placed to deliver the goods Jay Rooney CHILL KAKA - R3 (5) Stormed home for second last start and looks suited up in trip Trackwork Spy LUCKY TOUCH - R8 (14) Gets his chance for a breakthrough win off a light weight Phillip Woo CHEER FOR SOUTH - R4 (10) Can go one better after seconds in two of his past three C&D runs Shannon (Vincent Wong) MONTA FRUTTA - R7 (1) Drops into Class Four and looks ready to produce his best tonight Racing Post Online SOLID SHALAA - R5 (2) Looks to have trialled well for this run and can go well fresh Tom Wood RISING FORCE - R7 (3) Has trialed well for his debut and looks to get a sweet run from the gateView the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is expanding its equine anti-doping programme to include testing for evidence of gene doping, following extensive research into detection methods. In a significant move to protect the integrity of British racing and the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses, the testing will be incorporated immediately into the BHA's routine raceday and out of competition sampling processes. Gene doping includes the use of genetic or cellular manipulation of the horse's DNA, either directly via gene editing techniques or by the addition of genetic material into the cell by gene transfer, in an attempt to enhance athletic performance or aid recovery following exercise. Prohibited under the Rules of Racing, gene doping is widely recognised across international jurisdictions as an emerging risk to racehorse welfare, the fairness of competition on the racecourse and the future of the thoroughbred breed. To combat this evolving threat, the BHA has invested nearly £2 million into ground-breaking scientific research at the LGC laboratory in Fordham to improve the detection and monitoring of gene doping. Following the establishment of a specialist team at LGC in 2019 and with BHA support and input from Centre for Racehorse Studies, researchers at LGC have developed and refined the technological capabilities to identify where gene doping may have occurred. The BHA's Acting Chief Executive Officer, Brant Dunshea, said, “Testing for gene doping is a significant step forward for British racing and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of our horses, protecting the thoroughbred breed and integrity of our competition. “While there are international examples of the use of genetic manipulation in other equestrian activities, there is no evidence to suggest that this is taking place in Britain or across any other international racing jurisdictions. However, scientific and technological advancements mean that genetic manipulation poses a very real risk to horseracing and the essence of the thoroughbred breed. “It's essential that we are proactive in this space, and through investing in this cutting-edge research we now have the technological capabilities to detect and deter any attempts to exploit nefarious techniques that could give horses an unfair advantage. “We will continue to work with the LGC laboratory, our international partners through the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and the wider scientific community to expand our knowledge and analytical capabilities and stay ahead of any new integrity and welfare threats.” The post New Gene Testing To Enhance BHA Anti-Doping Programme appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ciaron Maher admits his eyes will be firmly fixed on the sectionals during Saturday’s Group One Australian Cup when Craig Newitt will again be out to secure victory aboard Trelawney Stud bred Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). A clash with fellow front-runner Deny Knowledge sets up for a genuinely run 2000-metre contest as Maher’s mare seeks redemption after finishing second to Cascadian in the same race last year. “They have a similar running style, but Jenni does seem that little more tractable and with each prep she’s got that little bit softer, if you could say that about her,” Maher said of racing against Deny Knowledge. “Tactically it will be interesting again. “It’s often underrated how tough it is to get them fractions spot on. “I thought Froggy (Newitt) did it perfectly the other day and Dec (Bates) he just did it time and time again. “Half a second is a lot and getting those even, smooth sectionals and first half right and unleashing her is underrated, it takes a bit of doing.” While much of Maher’s attention might be focused on the front of the field, he has the horses on the second and third line of betting as well, including imported galloper Middle Earth, who won the Australian Cup Prelude at his Aussie debut. Maher said the work of the dual UK Stakes winner on Monday suggests he has remained sharp enough for the 2000m second-up. “He has only improved after a long time off,” Maher said. “I think the horse is furnishing, he was quite young and immature when he came over. “He will need to be at his best with a stronger field.” Light Infantry Man might be the stable’s third-best chance according to the market, but Maher says the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes winner shouldn’t be taken lightly. “I have been rapt with him all prep, I was rapt with him going into the All-Star Mile and I loved the way he’s come out of it and I know he loves Flemington,” he said. Maher will also saddle up Berkshire Breeze in the Roy Higgins, while Duke de Sessa heads to Sydney for his target race of the campaign, the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes. View the full article

There are six horse racing meetings set for Australia on Wednesday, March 26. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Randwick-Kensington, Sandown and Sha Tin (HK). Wednesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 26, 2025 Randwick-Kensington Racing Tips Sandown Racing Tips Sha Tin (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top horse racing bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on March 26, 2025 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! 4 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 5 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Britney Wong celebrates victory atop Natural High with David Hall. Photo: HKJC Apprentice Britney Wong is relishing the competition riding in Hong Kong and the season’s leading jockey on Sha Tin’s dirt course is aiming to extend her buffer with eight rides at tomorrow night’s (Wednesday, March 26) nine-race all-dirt programme. Indentured to trainer David Hall, Wong has an unmatched seven wins on the dirt this term ahead of Luke Ferraris (five wins), Matthew Chadwick (four) and Vincent Ho (four). The 25-year-old is the first female apprentice to ride in Hong Kong since Kei Chiong. Wong is a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School. After completing overseas training in Australia and New Zealand, she returned to Hong Kong, where she has ridden 12 winners from 135 rides in the city’s intense racing cauldron. “As a 10-pound claimer, I am very happy with the results that I have so far and all of the opportunities I have been given – I really appreciate it,” Wong said. The affable Wong partners four last-start winners at Sha Tin: Patch Of Watch, Shanghai Style, Natural High and Ariel. Hong Kong racing is a steep learning curve for young jockeys, but Wong feels it sparks motivation and continually pushes her to new highs. “In Hong Kong if you give an inch, they will take an inch. One decision can ruin your race, so it’s a big step up,” Wong said. “Working in a high-pressure environment will hopefully develop me faster. The main thing is to not try and take on too much pressure but see it as a learning process.” Natural High was a first win for Wong in tandem with Hall. The duo teams up with the Power gelding in the second section of the Class 4 Kestrel Handicap (1200m). “I won’t say it was surprising but it was a breakthrough for him. It was his first win on the dirt and it was the first win for me with my boss. It means a lot and hopefully we’ll keep the ball rolling tomorrow night,” Wong said. “It’s really special.” Natural High goes from barrier 11 of 12 in the sprint contest worth HK$1.17 million. “He pulled up really well. He’s feeling nice and fresh now. I galloped him the other day. He’s sort of a horse who knows what to do and he knows how much he needs to put in, so he’s a smart horse and he won’t put any extra into it unless you make him. “I think that’s how he stays fresh. Last time when he won, the morning before when I rode him, he actually had a little bit of attitude in him and I can feel it again this time. I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Wong said. With her 10lb claim in use, Natural High carries 124lb, while Ariel is expected to carry a featherweight 109lb from gate seven under Wong for trainer David Hayes. “He (Ariel) goes for the same speed for a long period of time, so again, we will try to jump and be positive and see where we land. Also, it’s not necessary that he needs to lead. He can be lovely sitting off the leader or anywhere close to the lead. He’s a pretty genuine horse to ride,” Wong said. Wong also pairs with Speedy Fortune, Flying Silver, Fun N Glory and Sing Dragon. Horse racing news View the full article

Dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) will shuttle to Arrowfield Stud in Australia from Cheveley Park Stud in England later this year. Arrowfield's Chairman John Messara said, “He's a great-looking, unbeaten Champion two-year-old by a brilliant young stallion [Havana Grey (GB)]-that all makes Vandeek an attractive prospect for us, especially in light of the Australian market's enthusiasm for stallions like Too Darn (GB) Hot and Wootton Bassett (GB), with top-class European two-year-old sprint form.” Vandeek has been described by his jockey James Doyle as “a pure ball of speed”. A graduate from the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, he was sourced by KHK Racing, for whom he went unbeaten as a juvenile with wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes. He was trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. The post Dual Group 1 Winner Vandeek Will Shuttle To Arrowfield Stud This Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cambridge Raceway is welcoming a return to Thursday racing, saying it’s “excited” about the move. Last week the Entain and Harness Racing New Zealand management teams were involved in a strategy and review meeting in Auckland, with the “Look North” strategy a key part of their discussions. The strategy was launched as part of the “Future Starts Now” last year and is focused on reinvigorating racing in the north, particularly at Cambridge and Alexandra Park. Entain’s own wagering figures show that punters across the country are supporting Look North. Nationally, wagering is up 6% and active punters are up 17%. Last week’s review agreed that a move from Tuesday to Thursday racing was the best thing for Cambridge. The first of the Thursday meetings will be on May 15. That change has been ratified by the TAB NZ Dates Committee. “All parties are looking at ways to improve and while the review showed that Tuesdays at Cambridge have been a qualified success and achieved a lot of objectives it was decided that Thursday is a better fit,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele. “It is a better time slot for the club, licence-holders generally, for Entain and Trackside as well as for punters here and in Australia through Sky 2. The export turnover on Cambridge Tuesdays has been excellent and can grow further” It’s also envisaged that the Thursday coverage on Trackside will promote Friday Night Lights too. “We are confident racing at Cambridge on a Thursday won’t compromise Friday racing at Alexandra Park,” says Steele, “in fact they will complement each other.” “We’re fully supportive of the move from Tuesday to Thursday for the WBOP (Waikato – Bay of Plenty) meetings,” says Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive Dave Branch, “especially from a catering and sponsorship perspective it makes a lot of sense.” “We are genuinely excited about the shift and where things are headed. Tuesday racing has been a success, but this move will further enhance that.” The Raceway has a massive week or so ahead of it. It hosts Waikato Flying Miles night this Friday featuring the likes of Merlin and Oscar Bonavena ahead of its Night of Champions on Friday, April 4 when the best of Australasia’s pacing and trotting talent will battle it out in the $1m Race by betcha and the $600,000 TAB Trot. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Harness racing history will be made just after 5.18pm at Ashburton Raceway on Wednesday. That’s when the dual gaited veteran Take After Me will line up in his 400th start in the Matt Smith Construction Trot. He’ll be the first standardbred ever in this country to reach that mark. “When you think that he started as a three-year-old in Invercargill and he’s still going as a 14-year-old,” says Kaiapoi-based trainer Fred Scott, “he’s been a great horse to us.” He bred and races the horse with his wife Jan. Take After Me’s first race was a second at Ascot Park in March 2024. The son of Holmes Hanover has had 124 starts as pacer for four wins and 17 wins and 275 starts as a trotter, earning just over $300,000. Alexy with 347 starts and Danke with 300 are the only standardbreds in this country to have gone anywhere near Take After Me’s record. His durability and longevity have been incredible though Scott believes the end of his racing days is not far away, and potentially Wednesday could be his last race. “He’s as sound as a bell and working good but in his last two races he’s dropped the bit and not picked up like he used to.” “Age catches up with us all and maybe it is with him too.” “I’ve always said he’ll tell us when he’s had enough.” Along the way there have been many highlights and some very sad moments too. Fred took over the training of Take After Me as his son and regular trainer Glenn battled cancer. He died in 2021. A week later Take After Me won at Methven. At the time Fred and Jan described it as “so special”. As a pacer Take After Me was good enough to compete in the 4YO Emerald at the 2015 Harness Jewels and was second to Johnny Eyre in the 2016 Reefton Cup while as a trotter Fred Scott is particularly proud that his horse finished second to one of the very best in Oscar Bonavena at Ashburton in 2019. “He was not one of the top-liners but he should get a medal for consistency,” says Scott. Now in their 70s, the Scotts have already some enquiries about Take After Me’s life in retirement. “We will give him to a good home and he can go trekking and the like,” says Fred, “when that time comes we will miss him.” To see the field for Take After Me’s 400th start click here View the full article

With seven wins at an impressive strike rate of 17.5 per cent, apprentice bids to continue her affinity with all-weather track at midweek meeting.View the full article

Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill took centre stage in Sydney, while Moonee Valley’s William Reid Stakes Day also featured last Saturday. With a heavy on-speed bias witnessed at both tracks, we have focused on runners that performed well in the inferior parts of the track and will appreciate more even conditions next start. You can add these horses to a blackbook with your chosen online bookmaker and receive notifications before they run. Moonee Valley Track rating: Good 4 (down to Soft 6 after R6) Rail position: True entire circuit Race 3: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:12.16 Horse to follow: Pivot City (2nd) Since being gelded in between preparations, Pivot City has returned as a proper racehorse for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stable, recording a win and a runner-up finish in two starts. The son of Not A Single Doubt was one of very few horses that run on from the back of the field and down the middle of the track to figure in the finish. Even though he wasn’t able to win, Pivot City rattled off the fastest last 800m (46.52s), 600m (35.00s), 400m (23.65s), and 200m (11.93s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: If Pivot City maintains his form, Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr can enter him in a similar grade of race on a bigger track, and he will prove extremely hard to beat next start. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Moonee-Valley-Race-3-BM78-Handicap-22032025-Elouyou-Scott-Cameron-Fred-Kersley.mp4 Rosehill Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 3: Group 3 N E Manion Cup (2400m) | Time: 2:28.64 Horse to follow: Cleveland (4th) Cleveland returned from a 24-week spell to kick off his Sydney Cup campaign, and the Kris Lees-trained gelding couldn’t have been more impressive. The son of Camelot weaved his way through the pack, and once he got into clear air, he ran through the line as strong as any of his rivals to finish fourth. After being in Australia for two years, it seems as though Cleveland has acclimatised to Aussie conditions and is ready to show his best this time in. When to bet: It is expected that Cleveland will go straight to the Group 1 Sydney Cup second-up after such a strong performance. Top horse racing bookmakers have him marked as a +5000 chance in the 3200m classic. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rosehill-2025-Group-3-N-E-Manion-Cup-22032025-Alalcance-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-Tim-Clark.mp4 Race 6: Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) | Time: 2:03.25 Horse to follow: Plymouth (4th) Plymouth backed up his strong performance in the Group 1 Australian Guineas with an unlucky fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas last Saturday. The Glen Thompson-trained gelding raced over 2000m for the first in the Rosehill Guineas, and after being held up behind the slowing leaders, he was very strong through the line. The son of The Autumn Sun ran straight past the top three before pulling away from them quickly 100m past the winning post, indicating that a rise in trip will suit. When to bet: Plymouth is expected to be a major player in the Australian Derby at Randwick on April 5, and at +1000 with Dabble, he looks like a great each-way bet in the 2400m contest. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rosehill-2025-Group-1-Rosehill-Guineas-22032025-Broadsiding-James-Cummings-James-McDonald.mp4 Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

Mervyn, Super Maxi and Ocean’s Fifteen. Photo: Supplied Racegoers at Grandstand Cup Day at Ascot enjoyed a special celebration of retired racehorses, with Racing WA’s Off the Track WA program taking centre stage. In collaboration with Perth Racing, the event showcased the versatility and achievements of retired racehorses, highlighting their transition into new careers beyond the track. Attendees had the opportunity to meet former racehorses, learn about their post-racing journeys and take part in a range of family-friendly activities. Racing WA Animal Welfare Operations Manager Kay Fuller said the event was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the success of retired racehorses and the impact of Racing WA’s rehoming initiatives. “Off the Track WA is dedicated to ensuring racehorses have fulfilling lives beyond racing, and it was wonderful to partner with Perth Racing to celebrate them at Grandstand Cup Day,” Kay said. “Seeing the public engage so enthusiastically with the horses was fantastic. Many people don’t often get the chance to interact with horses up close, and this event provided a unique opportunity to appreciate their adaptability and gentle nature.” Perth Racing CEO, James Oldring, said the event reinforced the club’s commitment to equine welfare and promoting life after racing. “We were proud to dedicate Grandstand Cup Day to celebrating the incredible lives of retired racehorses and the important role Off the Track WA plays in their transition to new careers,” James said. “It was great to see the wider community embrace the opportunity to learn more about equine welfare beyond the track.” The Off the Track WA team was on hand throughout the day, providing insights into their rehoming programs and connecting with attendees keen to learn more about the next chapter for these remarkable horses. Horse racing news View the full article