Wandering Eyes

By Michael Guerin If Alexandra Park races true to recent form for tonight’s $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes there may be less winning chances in the Group 1 than it appears at first glance. Because while the race is the strongest of the three-year-old pacing fillies season so far the girls covering the least ground should hold a huge advantage. Tonight’s meeting caps a golden six weeks for northern harness racing but the most obvious trend has been the biggest race winners almost always coming from on the marker pegs. It was the case in all five Groups 1 here two weeks ago and two of the three held at Alexandra Park last week. It was also the case when Arcee Phoenix won the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge last month with the most jarring exception to the marker pegs domination being Leap To Fame in the $1million Race by Betcha, but he is an exception to a lot of rules. The reasons for the popular pegs are well known: the times being recorded these days are so fast horses coming wide often face having to break national records just to keep up. That trend looks set to continue in tonight’s 2200m mobile Sires’ Stakes and if it does it gives an enormous advantage to Beside Me (R8, No.3) and most likely General Jen (No.2). Beside Me looks the likely leader and driver Carter Dalgety says if he gets there he won’t be handing the lead away. “She got a little too excited for her own good in the Oaks last start but that was 2700m whereas being 2200m this week I can let her roll more,” says Dalgety. Beside Me was beaten in that Oaks by Arafura, who is in tonight’s race but faces a second line draw so it could be her stablemate General Jen who emerges as the main danger to the favourite. General Jen was allowed to miss the earlier northern three-year-old features by co-trainer Hayden Cullen and she looks a fresh and happy horse when she bolted away with her Alexandra Park debut against older pacers last Friday. If she can use her gate speed to cross to the markers and trail Beside Me she could try the same sit-and-snipe tactics Arafura did two weeks ago. “I have no doubts Arafura is the best of our fillies but she may not be the best chance this week,” says Cullen. “I can see General Jen getting the better run, hopefully on the back of Beside Me, and she really impressed me how she won up here last Friday. “Arafura is tougher but if she has to race in the running line it becomes a lot harder for her.” One horse who could be on the markers but not the best version of them is Southland filly Captains Mistress. She looks the real deal but faces being three or even four deep on the markers and if so could need an intense war up front to open gaps for her to chase down tired legs later. Her trainer-driver Nathan Williamson also brings his one-start, one-win juvenile trotter Duchess Maria (R4, No.2) north for the $50,000 IRT Young Gun Final in which she will have to handle the right-handed track to down Redpark Warrior. Tonight’s other major trot the $120,000 IRT Trotters Championship should probably see Meant To Be continued on his winning march but the reduction in distance from 2700m last start to 2200m mobile tonight gives him less time to overcome his unruly start point. HOW TO TACKLE ALEX PARK 1: Roy Kent (R1, No.2): Has gate speed to stay handy and drops out of elite three-year-old race. TAB giving boosted $5 price under “Box Seat Boost”. 2: Bravehearthighlander (R2, No.3): Not the most trustworthy but strong win last start and the favourite Tu Tangata very short for a horse who doesn’t win often. 3: Tytate (R5, No.2): Comes up against some smart youngsters but many of then drawn poorly so looks a great place bet to bolster the TAB account. 4: Meant To Be (R6, No.10): Second line draw means you getting $1.75 but when he gets rolling hard to see him not getting the front. 5: Hillbilly (R9, No.8): Sat parked in Northern Derby last start and before that two big seconds off handicaps. Value each way option. View the full article

Tappan Street (Into Mischief), forced to miss the GI Kentucky Derby after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg, will have 60 days off before returning to light training, per co-owner WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed surgery on the GI Curlin Florida Derby winner on Apr. 27, a day after his five-furlong breeze in :59.60 (8/33) at Churchill Downs. The $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling is campaigned in partnership by WinStar Farm, CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing. He is trained by Brad Cox. “He is doing well and is being a great patient,” Walden said. “(The surgery was) very straightforward. He shouldn't know that he had surgery after this.” He added, “Probably puts him back somewhere in the fall. We'll look towards the bigger races next spring. Puts him on that timeline.” Tappan Street defeated Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) by 1 1/4 lengths while making his third career start in the Florida Derby Mar. 29. He won his debut going seven furlongs Dec. 28, then was second after leading in the stretch in the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 1, his first start around two turns. All three of Tappan Street's career starts were at Gulfstream Park. Tappan Street, pictured in his stall at WinStar Farm, “doing well and a great patient,” per Elliott Walden | courtesy Elliott Walden “The weekend brought mixed feelings,” Walden said with a slight laugh. “We would've loved a rematch with Sovereignty, having beat him the first time. He's one of the top 3-year-olds in the class. I'm not saying that we would've beat him, but it felt like he would've been right there with him. And yet on the other hand, the glass half full says that Tappan Street's form is extremely good, so we're excited about his future.” Bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm, Tappan Street was produced by the graded-placed Distorted Humor mare Virginia Key, a half-sister to GISW Grace Adler (Curlin) and GSW & MGISP Pyrenees (Into Mischief). This is also the extended female family of GI Whitney H. winner Bullsbay (Tiznow). Tappan Street is bred on the same Into Mischief x Distorted Humor cross as last year's champion 2-year-old colt Citizen Bull as well as MGISWs Life Is Good and Practical Joke. The post Sixty Days Off for Tappan Street, a ‘Great Patient’ Following Surgery for Condylar Fracture appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The stewards at Charles Town Races on Wednesday issued a ruling that will not impose penalties against the licensure of trainer Curtis Bass after deeming that a “trace level” of a cocaine metabolite detected in a $5,000 claiming mare who won Apr. 10 was the result of “inadvertent exposure” to that drug. It's the second time in eight months that the Charles Town stewards have made that type of determination on a cocaine positive, disqualifying the winning horse but not penalizing the trainer. Although West Virginia's Thoroughbred medication testing and enforcement is not currently subject to oversight by the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) because of a preliminary injunction that is in effect while a lawsuit against HISA plays out in federal court, the May 7 ruling is similar to how HIWU dropped pursuit of two cocaine metabolite positives in 2023 when appropriate testing specifications for cocaine metabolites in blood were not fully standardized. Under HISA and HIWU rules, benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite of the human street drug cocaine, is a “banned” substance that is never to be present in any covered horse at any time. As per West Virginia's rules, benzoylecgonine is a Class 1 drug, carrying a Category A penalty (the most severe classifications), for which no acceptable threshold concentration has been established by the West Virginia Racing Commission. After benzoylecgonine was detected in Crafty Windsor Cat (Windsor Castle)'s blood subsequent to the 6-year-old mare's 4 1/2-length wiring in a 4 1/2-furlong sprint Apr. 10, Bass waived his right to a hearing and elected not to test a split sample. The ruling described that although the Charles Town stewards concluded “that while Mr. Bass is responsible for the positive in Crafty Windsor Cat [and] the presence of the drug has been established to have been in the horse during the ninth race on Apr. 10, 2025, there are mitigating factors which cause the Stewards to impose no penalty against Mr. Bass' permit in this matter… “Mr. Bass' past record as a permit holder is good in that he has never had a medication violation in any jurisdiction since his first license in 2018. “The amount of benzoylecgonine found in the horse is a trace level which lends credibility to the probability that the horse was inadvertently exposed to the drug in some manner. “Based upon an evaluation of the evidence, the Stewards conclude that the positive is attributable to inadvertent exposure. “There is no reason to believe that Mr. Bass knew of or caused the drug to be administered to the horse… Hollywood Casino sign | Coady Photography “Weighing and balancing these factors, the Board of Stewards find that while Mr. Bass is held responsible for the positive in this case, the Stewards shall impose no penalty against Mr. Bass' permit. “Therefore, the standard penalty for a first offense Class A medication violation (one-year suspension/$10,000.00 fine) is not imposed in this matter. In addition, the Stewards do not impose the 6 Multiple Medication Violation points that would typically be imposed,” the ruling stated Bass, 62, has an 0-for-17 training record this year. Tamera Bass, the mare's owner, was ordered to forfeit the winning purse, and the order of finish was revised by disqualifying Crafty Windsor Cat to last. In September 2024, the Charles Town stewards utilized nearly verbatim language in a ruling adjudicating the cocaine case of a horse trained by Justin Nixon. Back in November 2023, HIWU issued a press release that stated, “Recently, Covered Horses trained by Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks tested positive for [the cocaine metabolite] in blood. While controls in urine for [benzoylecgonine] have long been established, no corresponding testing specifications existed for blood. “These circumstances prompted HIWU to lift each trainer's Provisional Suspension and review scientific literature to determine appropriate testing specifications for blood such that it would correspond to existing controls in urine…. As a result of this investigation, HIWU concluded that the levels of [cocaine metabolite] detected in the blood samples for Hendriks' and Brion's horses will not be pursued as Adverse Analytical Findings,” the release stated. All four cocaine positives (the two under HIWU's jurisdiction in 2023 and the two in West Virginia in 2024 and 2025) involved detections via blood samples, although the Charles Town stewards' ruling from 2024 noted that urine testing was also utilized in Nixon's case. The post Another ‘Trace’ Cocaine Positive In A Charles Town Winner Deemed ‘Inadvertent Exposure’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (Dubawi). 2.55 Ascot, Mdn, £15,000, 3yo, f, 9f212yT SPIRITED STYLE (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of two newcomers for Godolphin in this fascinating affair and the Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of Dubawi's triple Group 1 heroine Wild Illusion is slated as the early favourite. The other for the Boys In Blue is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Good Old Days (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a full-sister to Nations Pride who has collected four at the highest level, while Clarehaven also have Shadwell's similarly-unraced El Budoor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the first foal out of Redoute's Choice's multiple Group 2 winner Enbihaar. Throw in Chasemore Farm's homebred Little Dorrit (GB) (Camelot {GB}), a Roger Varian-trained half-sister to Kingman's high-class sprinter Noble Style, and you have one of the nicest fillies' maidens staged so far in 2025. The post Sea The Stars Filly Debuts At Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What a ride. What a feeling. What an unbelievable journey to play a part in Florida's racing legacy. I couldn't be more proud of Bridlewood graduates finishing 1-2 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby–and another in the top 10 with East Avenue. Now that I've had a moment to reflect, I can say with certainty: this finish wasn't luck. It was a testament to Florida's standing as a hub for racing excellence. Florida, and particularly Ocala, has long been a cradle for champions. With abundant sunshine, ideal soil, mineral-rich spring water, and an unmatched concentration of top-tier trainers and horsemen, Central Florida offers the perfect environment to develop elite Thoroughbreds. These conditions–combined with generations of expertise–form a recipe for success that's as consistent as it is extraordinary. Bridlewood Farm has worked hard to become a nationally premier destination for schooling and training the best young horses each fall. This year's Derby results endorse that effort. Sovereignty and East Avenue are Kentucky horses from Godolphin–a global racing empire–that came to Bridlewood for one reason: the global industry knows Florida produces results. I could not be more proud of our farm trainer, Meda Murphy, and her team for producing great results for our clients each and every year. This year, 13 of the 19 Kentucky Derby contenders had Florida ties–whether trained, raced, or raised here. Florida's nationally competitive racetracks, renowned competition such as the Florida Derby, and robust infrastructure built by multigenerational family farms make this possible. Thanks to this foundation, Florida's Thoroughbred industry contributes $3.24 billion to the state's economy annually, including over $180 million of commerce through the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company alone. For me, Florida has always represented my American Dream. As General Manager of Bridlewood Farm, I've built a life here doing what I love–and long have planned for the day my son Blaine will continue the legacy. But our story is just one of many. Florida's strength lies in its community of horsemen and women, farms big and small, all contributing to a shared future. The key to continued success? Work hard and double down on what makes Florida Thoroughbreds great. With the right resources and support, tomorrow's national champions will forever emerge from the Sunshine State. –George Isaacs is the General Manager of Bridlewood Farm The post Letter To Editor: Florida Produces Results appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While a lot of press has been given to Into Mischief and Medaglia d'Oro this week–and rightfully so, as one got his third GI Kentucky Derby winner and the other his third GI Kentucky Oaks winner–another exceptional sire once again proved why he's been at the top of the sire lists for years. You may even have missed his big weekend, as War Front didn't sire one of Saturday's headline winners. However, of the 11 graded races contested across the nation on Derby Day, three of his sons did. Three of 11: that's a remarkable 27% of the graded races on one of the premier days of the sport. Of course, eye-popping statistics are a matter of course for the 23-year-old War Front, who has stood his whole career at Claiborne Farm, where he was also born and raised. “Statistically speaking, he's still at the top of every list by percentages,” said Walker Hancock, president of Claiborne. “His results have spoken for themselves. In the era of big books, I don't know that those numbers will be eclipsed.” War Front has fewer foals, and thus starters, than any of the other North American stallions among the top 10 on the Active Lifetime Sires List–as many as 600 fewer starters than some!–and yet his quality tops the charts. When examining his percentage of black-type winners, graded winners, and Grade I winners to starters, War Front tops in each category, often by significant margins. Consider this: War Front leads with 13.95% black-type winners (a leading 23.88% by black-type horses); War Front leads with graded winners at 8.27% (a leading 16.67% by graded stakes horses); War Front leads with 2.96% Grade I winners (second with 6.03% by Grade I performers). Those sort of numbers harken back to the very best sires of yesteryear. “On all fronts, he's amazing,” said Hancock. “He started out the hard way, came in here at $12,500 and we even had to drop his stud fee down to $10,000 and beg people to breed to him. His third crop, I think it was, he had very few mares. That was the bottom for him and then he just shot into the stratosphere. “He's an international super sire, with winners all over the country and on so many continents, and now he's turned into a spectacular sire of sires. It's really cool to see his legacy being carried forward with his sons.” Kopion wins under the Twin Spires | John Gallagher/Coady Media On Saturday, War Front's son Omaha Beach sired uber-impressive GI Derby City Distaff Stakes winner Kopion, who not only got the highest Beyer Speed Figure of the weekend with a 109, but also set the highest Beyer of the year so far (110) when winning the GII Santa Monica Stakes in February. Omaha Beach is the nation's current leading third-crop sire and closed out 2024 as the nation's leading second-crop sire. The son of War Front, who stands at Spendthrift, has had a good month: in addition to Kopion, his daughter On Command won Sunday's License Fee Stakes at the Big A, son Normandy Coast won Keeneland's Palisades Stakes, and daughter Kehoe Beach was third in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes. Also on Saturday, War Front's Summer Front sired GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes winner Simply in Front, while his son The Factor, who stands at Lane's End, sired GII Charles Whittingham Stakes winner Atitlan. Claiborne also stands two War Front sons: War of Will and Annapolis. The former, an American Classic winner, has his first sophomores this year, led by graded winner Will Then. The latter, winner of the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes in 2022, has his first foals on the ground now. “We couldn't be where we are without the clients that we have,” said Hancock. “Joe Allen is one of them and gave us an opportunity to stand War Front and carry on the Danzig legacy here at Claiborne. We have to think It's been a huge success for all involved. It's been a great thrill for us to see how it's kind of played out with him being born and raised here. “Now he's got a couple of sons that are here; like War Front, Annapolis was also born and raised here, and is carrying on his legacy. I really think Annapolis has had some tremendous foals and with the support he's gotten from some great breeders, he's going to have every chance and opportunity to extend that War Front legacy here at the farm.” War of Will and Annapolis, as well as the aforementioned Omaha Beach, are three of the 25 Grade I winners for War Front. Only four active stallions in the U.S. have 25 or more Grade I winners; War Front has gotten his with the fewest foals. Only Tapit has more than 25; there's a three-way tie for second between Curlin, Medaglia d'Oro, and War Front. War Front's 76 runners to win or place in a Grade I race comprise 8.98% of his named foals. Despite all the wonderful stallions out there, only one (Gun Runner) can exceed this percentage in the Grade I win/place category and it's by a very slim margin. Annapolis | Sarah Andrew War Front has had such an outsized success overseas there may be somewhat of a perception he's primarily a turf sire. Hancock is quick to point out it's a perception that isn't necessarily true. The bay particularly made a stir during the 2019 Triple Crown season when War of Will won the GI Preakness Stakes two weeks after GI Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach scratched with an entrapped epiglottis as the morning-line favorite the week of the Derby. “A lot of his early success and what made him a great sire early on was his dirt performers,” said Hancock. “That's what kind of put him on the map, then Coolmore got involved and took a lot of them over to Europe, where he had even more success on the turf. But he actually started out as a dirt sire. He has a Classic winner on the dirt, as well as many Classic winners and champions on the turf.” A Joseph Allen homebred, War Front's own race career took place solely on the main track with Beyers up to 114. His seven stakes wins or placings include a victory in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and runner-up finishes in the GI Vosburgh Stakes and GI Forego Stakes. Hancock compared the bay to his own spectacular sire, Danzig. That three-time leading sire also stood at Claiborne. “Danzig certainly was a tremendous talent on the racetrack. He only made three starts, but War Front puts a lot of durability in his offspring. He won the Grade II that later became a Grade I, so he's not a Grade I winner, but he's certainly made up for that with his offspring that have won Grade Is.” Syndicated into 40 shares upon retirement, War Front stood his first year in 2007. By the time his first crop of 3-year-olds had run, his $12,500 initial fee had shot up to $60,000. Two years later, he was at $150,000. Eventually, he spent several years at $250,000. A horse cannot sustain that type of fee without results. War Front had results. In addition to those 25 Grade I winners, he is responsible for 70 graded winners and 118 black-type winners. Some stallions have more, but none have those numbers from just 846 starters. War Front's percentage of career winners at 74.7%, by the way, also tops the top 10 active sires. No one would have believed it five years ago when he still commanded a $250,000 fee, but War Front is advertised at $75,000 for 2025. “Everyone gravitates to freshman sires, but that's the way our market is right now, the commerciality of it,” said Hancock. “It is frustrating when you have a horse like him that people are all going to the freshman sires. Here War Front stands, one of the greatest sires of the 2010s, I'd say. But the astute breeders are certainly taking advantage of it and are being rewarded.” While only a select few War Front yearlings make the sales ring these days, his yearling average topped out at $743,293 in 2018 when 22 were sold. His career yearling average is at $345,967. Twenty-nine of his yearlings have sold for more than $1 million in the ring, while four sold for more than $2 million. “His sale statistics were phenomenal there for a stretch,” said Hancock. “He's in the twilight of his career now, not as commercial as he once was and that's to be expected, but he still produces high-quality individuals. If you're a breed-to race-person, you'd have to consider War Front as an option, even in his older age.” Hancock said War Front is hale and hearty at 23. “He's doing great this year. He's doing just as good this year as the last few years. At this rate, we'll hopefully be able to keep going with him! But certainly we'll take one year at a time and do what's right by him. By looking at him, you would have no idea he's 23. He looks about 16 or 17. We've really managed his book throughout his career. I don't think he's ever bred more than 120 mares, so we have limited him a bit, but I think it's paid off for everyone who has bred to him and had a successful horse by him.” War Front with Claiborne's late Joe Peel | Sarah Andrew Humorously, as the elder statesman of the farm, War Front has also taken on a new role as ambassador as he greets Horse Country tour guests. It amuses Hancock. “He's certainly a fan favorite, a very well-behaved stallion. He loves his peppermints. He'll stick his tongue out at you and really interact well with the tour groups. He's really good about standing up and letting everyone take a picture with him. He just sort of looks at the camera and knows that he's something special. He's really transitioned well into being the rock of the tour for us.” War Front's grandsire, Northern Dancer, wasn't known for his size. Hancock said War Front isn't a big horse, either. “He's not very imposing. He's only 15.2, 15.3, but if you breed a middle-sized to big mare to him, you don't have to worry about size limitations. He's kind of a longer horse, kind of built downhill, kind of reminds you of a turf sprinter the way he's built. He's a gorgeous horse, really dark complected, has a pretty blaze, a nice foretop. He's just a very, very cool horse. “He's more of a middle-distance, sprinter horse but he can get a mile-and-a-half horse. He's not necessarily limited by distance, but probably does favor more toward sprint and middle distance with his offspring.” War Front and Hard Spun over at Darley remain the last major sires by Danzig, who died in 2006. Both continue to churn out tough and talented runners. Full of standout days in his career, War Front had another one just two months ago when he sired the winners of the GII Buena Vista Stakes (Liguria) and the GIII Canadian Turf Stakes (Fort Washington) on the same day a son (Lancaster Bomber) sired the winner of the GIII The Very One Stakes (Beach Bomb {SAf}). War Front bred 62 mares last year and will serve about the same this year. Hancock said it's helped the horse that he works with a variety of broodmare sire lines. “We've had a lot of luck with Blame and Arch mares, Coolmore had a lot of success with the Galileo (Ire) cross. A.P. Indy sire lines have been good to him, so have Medaglia d'Oro, El Prado (Ire). He really doesn't have any limitations in who you can breed him to.” Much has been written about Claiborne's long history of standing top sires and its longer influence in the sport, with generations of Hancocks nurturing the farm's legacy. Celt, more than 100 years ago, clinched the 1921 leading sire title to become Claiborne's first year-end stallion topper. There have been many since, including four-time leading sire Sir Gallahad III and five-time leader Nasrullah, as well as Bold Ruler, whose eight titles are a modern-day record. Where does War Front fit into such a legacy? “I think you'd have to put (two-time leading sire) Mr. Prospector right at the top,” said Hancock. “But War Front will certainly have his spot in the main cemetery here by the office. He's been unbelievable for us. We're so thankful we've had to opportunity to stand him. My dad might say something different, but for me, he's the best sire I've been around since I've been here. He's been tremendous for the farm.” The post Saturday Sires: War Front appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday, Chester, post time: 14:35, IRE-INCENTIVE, IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH HUXLEY STAKES-G2, £130,000, 4yo/up, 10f 70yT Field: Bolster (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Liberty Lane (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). TDN Verdict: With no entries, Aidan O'Brien cannot complete the clean sweep of Chester's black-type races which gives others a chance after a week of renewed domination of this fixture by Ballydoyle. Even without his principal stable involved, Ryan Moore could still complete the unprecedented feat of winning all five with the Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane, but he has to go some to get to the level of The Foxes. None of the King Power stalwart's rivals would have a prayer of finishing fourth in a G1 Hong Kong Cup, so this is his to lose especially after a career-best latest when second in the H H The Amir Trophy. [Tom Frary]. Friday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 13:43, PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €80,000, 3yo, 10 1/2fT Field: Midak (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), Aidan's Phone (Fr) (Prince Gibraltar {Fr}), Piquoiseau (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Dioptase (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Sosie's half-brother Uther sets the standard in this G1 Prix du Jockey Club trial, having beaten the subsequent Listed Prix de Suresnes scorer Nitoi in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Noailles last month. The Aga Khan's Studs' Midak is the unknown quantity, while Aidan's Phone has another go at Uther after beating him in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Francois Mathet in March and finishing sixth behind him in the Noailles. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Prix Greffulhe A Done Deal For Uther? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland and Stable Recovery, a groundbreaking peer-driven program that offers recovering addicts the opportunity to learn the skills needed to find meaningful employment in the Thoroughbred industry, are teaming to launch a dedicated Maintenance Cohort at Keeneland Aug. 1, according to a Thursday press release from the track. The Maintenance Cohort will be a specialized extension of the existing 90-day Taylor Made School of Horsemanship focusing on practical skills, job readiness and character development through hard work and accountability. Keeneland will be the first race track nationally to provide on-site housing and full-time employment for the eight men participating in the new initiative who will work with Keeneland's Maintenance team to gain the hands-on experience necessary to contribute to the track's operation. “Keeneland is excited to support the life-changing work being done by Stable Recovery,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Stable Recovery and Keeneland share a commitment to social responsibility and to bettering the quality of life in our community. Together, we can create a legacy that transforms lives and strengthens our equine industry.” The Stable Recovery program works with the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship to provide an environment where men live, work and recover together, attending 12-step meetings, additional support groups and horsemanship skill groups led by top professionals in the industry. Life skills such as accountability, structure, discipline and responsibility are taught as are employable skills aimed at providing these men with the opportunities for a second chance. In addition to trade skills, the Maintenance Cohort curriculum will include hands-on horsemanship and stable management training; track maintenance and safety procedures; equine care and veterinary basics; and professional development focused on the unique demands of Keeneland. “We are deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to align with an institution as iconic and respected as Keeneland,” Stable Recovery CEO Christian Countzler said. “This collaboration is a powerful statement about the value of redemption, the healing bond between horses and humans and the shared belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Keeneland's support gives our men not only purpose and employment, but dignity and hope. We couldn't ask for a better partner in this mission.” More than 100 individuals have graduated from the Stable Recovery program, which along with founder Frank Taylor, was honored with a Special Eclipse Award in January. The post Keeneland And Stable Recovery Launch First-Ever Maintenance Cohort appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During a panel discussion May 8 of the ongoing Association of Racing Commissioners International annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., five racing investigators spotlighted successful investigations and encouraged coordination across jurisdictions.View the full article

Consigned by Paramount Sales, Regaled (Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher)–a 4-year-old filly who recently finished second by a neck in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park Apr. 12–will be offered in the Inglis Digital USA May Sale, which is scheduled for Friday, May 23 through Wednesday, May 28, according a press release from the online auction company. Bred by Chris Baccari and owned by Brittnee Caballero, Regaled is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro). “We are thrilled to represent longtime horseman Samuel G. Davis with this talented filly,” said Paddy Campion of Paramount Sales. “Regaled has a clear and exciting campaign for the summer as well as tremendous potential as a broodmare prospect. With that huge update from Drexel Hill, plus being from the Tapit sire line, she represents an excellent addition to any top operation.” Herself a three-time winner, Regaled was third in the GIII Delaware Oaks. The dark bay is being pointed by Davis to the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico. “Regaled is the perfect combination of racing form and a current pedigree.” said Inglis Digital USA's Sr. Director of Sales and Recruitment Kyle Wilson. “The greatest part about this filly is there is still so much more to offer. 2025 looks like a big year for Regaled and the rest of her family.” Regaled will breeze at Laurel at 7:30 a.m. ET on Friday, May 9, weather permitting. Entries close for the Inglis Digital USA May Sale on Monday, May 19 and the catalogue will be released Friday, May 23. The post Half-Sister To Drexel Hill Offered During Inglis Digital USA May Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby victor Sovereignty (Into Mischief) arrived early Thursday morning at Saratoga Race Course to begin his preparations for the GI Belmont Stakes June 7. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for owner/breeder Godolphin, the bay shipped from Churchill Downs and arrived around 7:30 a.m. ET to the barn of the veteran conditioner, along with recent Churchill runners 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit) and Resilience (Into Mischief). “He came off the van like a tiger,” said Mott. “He's had good energy for a horse that just ran a race like that.” Mott added he will “see how he acts once he settles down” and decide from there what his exercise routine will be at the Spa. It was reported on Tuesday that Sovereignty would skip the GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 17 and target the Belmont Stakes–held at Mott's home base where he stables his top horses from April through November each year. “We feel pretty comfortable here and know our way around here, so that's a good thing,” Mott said. The @KentuckyDerby champ is in town! Sovereignty arrived at Saratoga early this morning to kick off preparations for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by @NYRABets on June 7th! pic.twitter.com/TZe2FpRLhA — Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) May 8, 2025 The post Derby Victor Sovereignty ‘Off The Van Like A Tiger’ At The Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET A $425,000 purchase on behalf of Repole Stable at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, NUMBERED (Nyquist) makes a somewhat belated first trip to the races this afternoon. The April foal is the fourth starter out of former Fox Hill Farm 'TDN Rising Star' Cassatt (Tapit), whose seven victories from 14 appearances included the 2014 GIII Monmouth Oaks. Purchased by Elevage Bloodstock for $2.5 million at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale in foal to Curlin, Cassatt is a maternal granddaughter of MSW & GSP Justenuffheart (Broad Brush), a half-sister to perennial leading turf sire Kitten's Joy (El Prado {Ire}) and GISW Precious Kitten (Catienus) and herself the dam of champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), whose offspring include GSW Dreamologist (Tapit) and Thorpedo Anna's late sire Fast Anna (Medaglia d'Oro). Justenuffheart also produced MGSW Lewis Michael (Rahy) and MGSW and GI Breeders' Cup Mile third Justenuffhumor (Distorted Humor). Cassatt was sold to Filipino interests for $50,000 in foal to Maclean's Music at Keeneland November last fall. TJCIS PPs 6th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 5fT, post time: 3:18 p.m. ET TEXAS QUEEN (Munnings) cost Mansfield Racing $335,000 at Keeneland September in 2023 and is out of a half-sister to three other winners, including 2016 GIII Sanford Stakes Bitumen (Mineshaft) and SW & GSP Meshell (Elusive Quality), who was a $380,000 in utero purchase at KEENOV in 2011. The Gone West line has also worked extremely well with third dam Kobla (Strawberry Road {Aus}), a full-sister to champion Ajina and more notably the dam of the outstanding track-record setting four-time Grade I winner and leading sire Quality Road (Elusive Quality). TJCIS PPs The post Friday Insights: Well-Bred Nyquist Filly Debuts For Repole appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For 21 years, trainer Todd Pletcher helped build television ratings for the Kentucky Derby (G1) by bringing dozens of top contenders to the classic. In last week's 151st edition, Pletcher helped the ratings in a completely different role. View the full article

Following their 1-2 finish in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs May 3, Sovereignty and Journalism have joined the leaderboard in the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings released May 8.View the full article

New York lawmakers and the governor have agreed on a package of measures to give racetracks millions of dollars in tax breaks, steer funding to a new advanced equine imaging research program, and end an antiquated payout system for horseplayers.View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty arrived early morning May 8 at Saratoga Race Course to begin his preparations for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) June 7.View the full article

A perfect 2-for-2 to start his career, Bob Baffert-trained Goal Oriented has joined the expected field for the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17.View the full article

During a panel discussion May 8 of the ongoing Association of Racing Commissions International annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., five racing investigators spotlighted successful investigations and encouraged coordination across jurisdictions.View the full article

Bob Baffert notified Pimlico Race Course officials Thursday of his intention to enter undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), as well as GII Wood Memorial Stakes hero Rodriguez (Authentic) in the GI Preakness Stakes. Goal Oriented debuted at Santa Anita Apr. 6 with an off-the-pace 3 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight event, which earned him a 'Rising Star' badge. The 3-year-old cleared an optional claimer in front-running fashion on the Derby undercard. A $425,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, Goal Oriented is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC's, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, who also campaign 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez. The Wood winner galloped at Churchill Downs Thursday morning. Baffert, who is seeking to break his own record of eight Preakness victories, has said Rodriguez will work this weekend and ship to Pimlico Monday. The Hall of Fame trainer said decisions on other horses he might bring for Preakness Week stakes will be made after those horses work. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Goal Oriented Points To Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Deauville, FRANCE-The breeze-up circus rolls onto Arqana this week and, following the breeze on Thursday, where 162 of some of the best-bred horses in Europe were put through their paces, a number of key industry stakeholders weighed in on what might come to fruition this week. From market predictions, to revealing their highs and lows of the breeze-up season thus far, heavyweights Roger O'Callaghan, Roderic Kavanagh, Tessa Greatrex, Valfredo Valiani and Matt Coleman have answered some of the key questions ahead of what promises to be another blockbuster sale on Saturday. Has the breeze-up season met your expectations so far? Tessa Greatrex: Yes. I was slightly apprehensive about trying to repeat the success of last year, which was my first year shopping at the breeze-ups, but it has worked out really well so far. I have put a bit of pressure on myself to find some nice horses at prices I can afford but it's so far so good. I buy mainly on behalf of my husband, Warren [Greatrex, trainer], as well as Jim and Claire Bryce. Yankee Dude is probably the best horse that we have bought from the breeze-ups last year while Orchard, who came out of this sale last year, won last week. With the way National Hunt racing has developed, I think it's good for trainers to diversify, and buying these horses at the breeze-ups helps Warren's yard run all year round. Roger O'Callaghan: Yes. The results of the breeze-ups are speaking for themselves. I suppose you would have been a bit anxious about [Donald] Trump before the breeze-ups started but the results have been too good and buyers want the good horses. Even the middle market has been good. The market has been very fair. Matt Coleman: Maybe not quite, simply because the yearling sales were so strong last year, there hasn't been quite the same strength-in-depth at the breeze-ups compared to previous years. There have obviously been some outstanding horses at the sales this year but I felt it lacked some strength in depth purely because the yearling sales were so strong. I'd say we have the deepest bunch of horses at Arqana compared to any other sale this year. I'm sure there will be some serious horses to come out of it. Roderic Kavanagh: We've had some good results but I have been reminded this year more so than ever that it has become ultra-selective and, if you don't have the right product, you won't get paid. The top 25 per cent has become incredibly strong. It's just more selective than ever. But on the whole, it's been incredible. Valfredo Valiani: The market has been quite good but there are good opportunities to buy nice horses at the middle tier level and I have bought quite a few so far. I think the breeze-up handlers are doing better and better every year and Ruling Court winning the 2,000 Guineas was not a surprise to me. Let's not forget that it is not the first time that this has happened. Anthony Stroud also bought Native Trail. So he has bought two Guineas winners and, as I said, the breeze-up handlers are doing a very good job and they need to be commended for the job that they have been doing. I am actually suggesting more and more of my clients to buy horses at the breeze-ups now. What has been the biggest surprise of the year so far? Greatrex: Coming from a National Hunt background, when horses are making millions, it's always a bit of a shock. I have to say, I was delighted to see Goffs break their own record when the Mehmas colt sold to Godolphin for a million pounds. That was a great result and I think it's important for the bloodstock business that there's competition [between the sales houses]. O'Callaghan: Johnny and Danielle Hurley's Kodi Bear making half a million at Donny. That's class. Like, that's the beauty of this game. It was a bit like a couple of boys in our yard, they bought a Coulsty filly for three grand and they ended up getting 120 grand at the Guineas Sale last week. In what other game can that happen? No other business is like ours. It's amazing. Coleman: The prices that the top horses made at Doncaster and at the Craven. I didn't expect that. There are three very big buyers between Amo Racing, Wathnan Racing and Godolphin and when they clash, that's what can happen. Kavanagh: The price [£320,000] our Too Darn Hot filly fetched at Doncaster. She was expensive by the kilogram but what was there was lovely! Valiani: A lot of people go strictly on times and, as a result, some horses probably make too much money. There have been some horses where I could never have predicted they would make what they did. Personally, I am not as obsessed with times as other people. Of course, it can be important, but it is not the most important thing for me. And the biggest disappointment? Greatrex: Not being able to attract more owners to invest at the breeze-ups off the back of our success last year. The harder you look, the more likely you are to find a bargain. I'm a great believer that horses find you a bit in this game. And another thing I love about this business is building relationships with vendors and taking their word on a horse. You build up a bit of trust together. I just wish more people would get involved in buying at the breeze-up sales because I think there is value there. O'Callaghan: Nothing to do with the breeze-ups, but Big Evs getting kicked in the Willy! He missed a couple of weeks of the breeding season as a result but he's back fine again now. Coleman: There are a couple of horses I think about and wonder if I should have been stronger on them but you won't know that until they hit the track. I probably wish I bought a few more horses so far but hopefully I'll be able to buy a few this week. Kavanagh: Probably last week at the Guineas Sale because it's always been a very lucky sale for me but we didn't quite hit the mark this year. Valiani: Nothing has disappointed me too much for me to remember. I have been lucky enough not to have been disappointed this year. What did you learn this year? Greatrex: That you have to focus on the whole package without getting transfixed on times or stallions. You have to keep your eyes open when trying to source value. I must say, I have been brilliantly guided by Ant [Anthony Bromley], whose success speaks for itself. O'Callaghan: That you never know where the good horse will come out of. The beauty of the breeze-ups is that the good horses can come out of any sale and, from a vendor's point of view, if you rock up with a nice horse you will be well-rewarded. Sometimes you can lose sight of that fact. I mean, we all want to go to Keeneland or Book 1 at Tattersalls. But you can buy a nice horse anywhere and get a few quid if they are good enough. Sometimes you can forget that. Coleman: That if a vendor has a good-looking horse by the right stallion and it happens to breeze well, they will get an awful lot of money. I also learned that the bottom of the market is becoming trickier and trickier. Trainers are short on owners and short on orders. The headline horses make for good reading but the bottom of the market is becoming tougher. The rising costs and poor prize-money are leaving trainers on their heels a little bit in terms of buying too many horses on spec. Kavanagh: Plenty. I probably left some of my horses a little bit short this year. Maybe I was too confident that they were in a good spot but, in hindsight, they were probably a little bit underdone. This game is gone so professional that you need to have them ready and mine probably could have been fitter. Valiani: I try to learn as much as I can every day because this is a game where, if you think you know it all, you are finished. I usually watch the breeze with friends and I always try to discuss with them what I saw and try to understand what they saw. Anthony Stroud is a good friend and I love listening to his views on horses. Points of view can be so different with racehorses. It's fascinating. It's like I may like blonde women but you may prefer redheads or brunettes. We all have our own preferences and it is the exact same with horses. Do you think another blockbuster sale is on the cards at Arqana this week? Greatrex: There seems to be plenty of people here and there is a good vibe so why not? There seems to be a lot of nice horses here as well so it wouldn't surprise me if the momentum continues. O'Callaghan: I hope so. But on a serious note, why wouldn't it? The standard is very good and the results mean the people need to stand up and take note. Coleman: I think it will be very strong at the top again but I'm not sure what the middle market will be like as it doesn't seem overly busy thus far but I am sure a lot of the English and Irish trainers will arrive on Friday. This sale last year was extremely strong but the bottom third was skinny. I know that Arqana has made a big effort to get more normal buyers to the sale so we'll see what comes of that. Kavanagh: Yes, it has to be. The top end will be electric. Valiani: I think it will be. The only thing I will say is that the standard of horse that was here last year was exceptional. I haven't seen all of the horses in the sale yet but I think last year set a very high standard. And on a personal level, what would deem this week a success for you? Greatrex: Filling orders and finding future winners. O'Callaghan: Sell all my horses. Empty head collars. I get more anxious about how they run when they hit the track over the next couple of weeks compared to selling them in the ring. You just want them to go on and be good racehorses. Coleman: Buy horses that win good races. Kavanagh: I wanted to hit a million between my five horses but I don't know if I will do that. I'll happily take having a good week and getting them all sold. Valiani: It's quite an expensive sale and I work for a lot of foreign clients. There is very little space for Italians here but I do other business. Last year I bought two horses here. One has won and the other was placed first time out. If I could do similar business this week, I would be very happy. Can you nominate one horse from the breeze-ups worth looking out for when it hits the track? Greatrex: I bought a Lope Y Fernandez filly at the Guineas Sale last week and, while I slightly blew my budget, I loved her and I wasn't going to be beaten. I think she's exciting. O'Callaghan: We sold a Starman colt at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. He's gone into training with Richard Fahey and I'd say he's one to follow. I think they named him Tactical Formation. Coleman: I bid on a Ubettabelieveit colt that Anthony [Stroud] ended up buying for £300,000 at Doncaster. He is a very nice horse who looks quick and tough. He should make up into a very fast two-year-old. Kavanagh: The Havana Grey filly that Nick Bell bought off me at the Craven. Let's just say Nick is a very good negotiator! I'd be hopeful about her now. Valiani: I bought a very nice Kodiac colt from Tally-Ho Stud at the Guineas Sale last week. He has gone to Italy and I think he's a lovely horse who came from an excellent consignor in Tally-Ho. The post ‘The Top Will Be Electric’ – Big Dogs Of The Bloodstock World Weigh In On Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Journalism (Curlin), a game runner-up in last Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, remains a candidate for the GI Preakness Stakes May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, the colt's connections confirmed on Thursday. Sent off at as the 7-2 favorite in the Derby, Journalism is owned by the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC., Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism remains at Churchill Downs. The barn reported that the colt has come out of the race well. Journalism returned to the track Wednesday and was sent out for his daily exercise Thursday morning. “We're not going to rush into any determination right now. We're going to keep the Preakness in play,” said Aron Wellman, Eclipse's president and CEO. “It's an important American Classic that, whether there's a Triple Crown on the line or not, holds with it an extreme amount of prestige. We're going to monitor Journalism to the best of our ability and then make the best decision for the horse at the end of the day. But we're not saying we're in and we're certainly not shutting the door.” Journalism jogged a mile at Churchill Downs Thursday morning. The post ‘Preakness in Play’ For Derby Runner-Up Journalism appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Destructive, a three-time winner, topped the Tattersalls Online May Sale which concluded on Thursday. Sold as lot 21, the 4-year-old son of More Than Ready made 76,000gns on the bid of Deva Racing Dubai from the draft of Fitzroy House. “We are delighted to have purchased Destructive online today,” said Deva Racing's Ryan Tongue of the gelding, who had finished fourth in the Listed Al Bastakiya at Meydan this winter. “He won three of his last four starts and is on a mark of 97, which is perfect for a Dubai campaign. He will head to dual champion trainer Bhupat Seemar who does an excellent job with these types. He stays a mile and could be a future [G2] Godolphin Mile horse. I love that he already has experience in Dubai where he ran very well at three. There will be lots of options for him over there.” G3 Horris Hill Stakes hero Orne (Acclamation) was purchased by Northgate Lodge Stud for 50,000gns. Part of the Clarehaven Stables consignment, the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes second went through the ring as lot 52. Also sold for 50,000gns was lot 82, Thereyare (Jet Away), to Dan Astbury and Stockton Hall. The Churchland Stables-consigned point-to-pointer has been placed in one run at Ballysteen and is from the same family as Group 3 winner and sire Big Bad Bob. Overall, 58 lots sold (65%) from 89 offered for a gross of 576,100gns. The average was 9,610gns and the median was 5,000gns. A total of five lots made 30,000gns or more. The post More Than Ready’s Destructive Tops Tattersalls Online May Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Spend a morning on the gallops with Ralph Beckett and you could end up with more than just the natural shot in the arm that comes with observing racehorses at close quarters in the English springtime. Barns full of bluebloods. Well, that's a given now, particularly on the back of a pretty spectacular 2024. Sunshine is not always a given, but on this fine morning it has been turned to full beam, lighting up the rolling turf which envelopes this haven on the edge of Salisbury Plain. Bluestocking, last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, has stepped out of that verdant spotlight but behind her remains the Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me, Breeders' Cup winner Starlust, and that old warrior Kinross, with the durability of a steeplechaser and the speed to mix it at the best Flat tracks around the world. Behind these generals come the troops whose metier is yet to be established. Their progress up the ranks will depend on the keen oversight of the man charged with their education. At Kimpton Down, every day is a school day, and not just for the horses. In the 15 years since Beckett and his wife Izzy bought the property from the family of Toby Balding and moved from Whitsbury, the trainer has set about learning the ways in which he can best adapt the turf and woodchip gallops at his disposal for the honing of young Thoroughbreds. Even unwitting journalists are given a lesson in agronomy while waiting for third lot to appear over the brow. Beckett doesn't just provide education for others. His searching mind spurs him on, when time allows, to pay visits to colleagues in the training ranks to see what nuggets he can extract from them. “I try to spend a morning in Newmarket with a trainer every year. I'm always fascinated by what other people do,” he says. In February he had a mini-tour of Ireland, visiting Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins, Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger. “Henry is a very good pal of mine, from my time with Arthur Moore, so that was terrific,” Beckett continues. “And I really enjoyed going to Closutton and then Coolmore, and to Jim Bolger's as well. If people want to come and spend a morning here, I'm always open to seeing people, because you always pick up something from somebody somewhere, don't you?” When the initial entries for the Derby were published in February, Beckett had 12 colts entered. That has been revised to six after the initial scratchings on May 6, and he has 10 fillies remaining in the Oaks, in which he last year saddled four runners. These are not Ballydoyle-like quantities but, still, this represents a significant amount of firepower to be aiming towards Epsom in a bid to add the Derby to his victories in the Oaks (twice), Irish Derby, Irish Oaks and St Leger. Early-closing races can allow owners to dream awhile, but with each confirmation stage there is an expensive decision to be made, and a judgement by the trainer as to the degree of latent talent harboured within each horse. “Often you'll come into the start of the year with a mile two-year-old maiden winner with the right pedigree, in that he or she looks like he or she will stay primarily. And as long as their work is up to scratch in a broad sense, I'll make a decision on whether I think they'll handle it psychologically,” Beckett explains. “Whether they'll manage for me to run them in a trial first up and then go on from there. And if we don't think they're going to cope with that for whatever reason, then we go a different route. And often, of course, as you are cranking horses up, bits can fall off as well. And so that decision can be taken out of your hands. “For example, there's a couple of three-year-old fillies, That's Amore, by New Bay, won a Newbury maiden, and Revoir, by Study of Man, who won a Nottingham maiden at the back end. Both of them I have no problem about running in the trials. They'll both cope with it and then if we have to cut our cloth a different way in the coming months, that's fine.” Experience, too, provides its own form of education. “There'll be others that over the years, and you're looking back, you've run something in a trial and it ran okay,” he continues. “And then you've run in the Oaks because you thought it'd cope, and it didn't, because it couldn't go around Epsom. So the heavy-topped ones or the heavy-shouldered ones I'm less inclined to roll the dice with than I would've been previously.” Revoir, bred by Julian Richmond-Watson at Lawn Stud, is from the family which gave the trainer his first Oaks winner, Look Here, back in 2008. That filly's half-sister Look So has also provided the stable with the G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Scope and is the granddam of Revoir, who still races for her breeder, the former TBA chairman and long-time supporter of Beckett. “We always majored in middle-distance or staying fillies, and part of that was thanks to Look Here,” Beckett says. “For me, I enjoy training Starlust and Kinross as much as I enjoyed training Talent and Simple Verse. But it's terrific, if I've become known for training that type. It's not a perception that I necessarily sought. It is one we ended up with. “But I'm delighted that people want to send that type of horse to us. Because the more you do it with that type of horse, the more straightforward it becomes, perhaps. And presumably for some owners there's a comfort in knowing that we have plenty of that type.” Arc winner Bluestocking faces the cameras | Scoop Dyga For some years, Beckett, in partnership with bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, ran a race-to-sell investment syndicate The Lucra Partnership. Runners included the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner New Mandate, but the expansion in numbers in his stable has brought this to a pause. “We have wound Lucra up for the time being, but we'll do it again,” he says. “It wasn't for lack of interested parties. It was just more just the way the yard's gone in the last couple of years – we probably had around 120 horses at that time. “But we really enjoyed doing it, because there was a goal there, and it didn't matter whether the horse had run twice or 10 times, it was a case of getting it to the point where we could then take an offer for the horse. I really enjoyed doing it and Alex is very good at buying that type of horse. We had 10 partners in that particular outfit who absolutely had a great time doing it. We had plenty of action on the racecourse and it was a big part of why we're training the number of horses we are now, there's no doubt about that. And I'm grateful for that.” Kimpton Down and a back-up yard at Lambourn, where Beckett first started training, house around 200 horses in training. In tandem with success for the owner with a more commercial imperative, the trainer's results for owner-breeders have also spurred this growth, including last year's Arc victory for Juddmonte's Bluestocking among five Group/Grade 1 victories for the stable in 2024. The year-round international and all-weather racing programme has changed the way that modern-day Flat yards operate, but Beckett did at least find pause to reflect on a year that culminated in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint victory of Starlust at Del Mar, some 16 years after Muhannak had become his first winner at the meeting. It was recently announced that the son of Zoustar will take up stud duties in Australia after running in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan celebrate victory in Del Mar | Racingfotos “During the winter we don't run very many horses from the beginning of December on purpose, and I think during the winter I was able to look back and enjoy it,” Beckett says. “My family enjoyed it as well, and I'm really pleased about that. That, for me, was the bit I remember most about it, in that they were there and were part of it.” Happy with his lot, he is not, however, shortsighted when it comes to the general state of the racing industry. Forthright in his views on how British racing, and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in particular, could do better, Beckett has served his time as president of the National Trainers' Federation (NTF), often speaking up in support of his colleagues. “We've lost 17% of trainers since 2010,” he says. “It's always been tough at the bottom, we know that, but there has to be a mid-range. There seems to be a loss of the people training between 40 and 80 horses. There were plenty of people who were making a good fist of it and coming up with good horses from time to time. Part of the reason the sport works is because a good horse can come out of anywhere. And once that stops, we lose some of our identity. And we've lost enough of it already, frankly.” He continues, “I'm incredibly fortunate. I'm very aware of that. When I started as president of the NTF, I felt that I wasn't going to sit on the fence. I was going to say exactly what I thought all of the time and then when I finished doing it, I'd know that I'd done my best for everybody, not just for the bit that suited me. “I thought that was really important, that Ollie Pears in North Yorkshire and Rebecca Menzies and the guys down in the West Country, nobody could say, 'Well, he was just looking after himself.' William Haggas, Mark Johnston and John Gosden before me, who are all still involved, they all took that view as well. They did their best for everybody and I admired them for it.” The BHA remains in a state of flux, with acting chief executive Brant Dunshea having replaced Julie Harrington, who left in December 2024, and David Jones installed as interim independent chair following the death of Joe Saumarez Smith in February. Lord Allen of Kensington will become the new BHA chair from June 1. Beckett says that he would like to see more radical changes. “The political side of it, I find that the problem is that everything comes from the top, and it does in any organisation. But the fact is that the people at the top don't know what they're doing, and because they don't know what they're doing, the last thing they're going to do is actually appoint somebody who does know what they're doing because then they get shown up even more. “And it's got to the point now where John Ferguson is doing his best on the BHA board, but he's been shouting in a gale for two or three years, and Luca Cumani for three years before that. Both men have been worn down by it and I don't blame them. “The BHA executive came up with an idea of cutting 300 races from the programme about three years ago and Julie Harrington and Joe Saumarez Smith, who I trained for, torpedoed their own executive's initiative. And at that point, the BHA, under the current arrangement, was effectively finished, because how can you ask your own executive to do something and then throw it under a bus because, in Julie's words, 'it was so divisive'? It was only divisive because the racecourses didn't want it.” Beckett continues. “I'm not optimistic until the board changes. It must change. And once we stop being run by [Arena Racing Company CEO] Martin Cruddace, then I'll start being optimistic about it. “My own view is that the Jockey Club needs to leave the RCA [Racecourse Association] and go and stand next to the BHA. Now, I'm not confident about both these things happening, but one of them could. The Jockey Club could have it in them to go and back the BHA, and that's what they should be doing.” Despite his impassioned views, Beckett maintains that there is just one thing that drives him on, a quarter of a century after he first set out his stall as a trainer. “Nice horses,” he says. “I'd love to train another Epsom Classic winner – that goes without saying. It would perhaps be my primary objective because I haven't had one for 12 years. So I would dearly love to find another one, but having good horses is really my only objective. Finding them is the hard part.” The post Ralph Beckett’s School of Life appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding on the Fasig-Tipton Digital May Sale, which includes a catalogue of 127 entries, is now open and will close Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m. “This is a very strong and diverse catalogue, with exciting offerings in a variety of categories,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “We have nearly 50 horses of racing age from the sport's leading stables, including a stakes winner and graded stakes performers. Also on offer are the continuance of a major stable's reduction, a dispersal, quality breeding stock, 2-year-olds in training, yearlings, and a close relation to last weekend's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.” Offerings in the online auction include horses of racing age from DJ Stable, Godolphin, R.S. Evans, Runnymede Farm, SF Racing, et al, Stonestreet Stables, Three Chimneys Farm, Wathnan Racing, Winchell Thoroughbreds, and WinStar Farm, as well as the continued reduction of Merriebelle Stable and the dispersal of the late Ralph Kinder. Also included in the auction are 2-year-olds in training by Charlatan, Girvin, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Practical Joke, and Yaupon, and yearlings by Golden Pal, Good Magic, Oscar Performance, and Yaupon. Others on offer include: There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge) (hip 17), winner of the 2022 GI Hollywood Gold Cup and this year's GIII San Marcos Stakes, who is selling as a stallion prospect; Piedra Preciosa (Maxfield), a 2-year-old filly who won her May 3 debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis; Ifurhappynuknowit (hip 30), a 9-year-old full-sister to the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), in foal to Elite Power and selling with her 2025 Vino Rosso colt; and Lionel (hip 122), a 3-year-old colt who won his debut by 9 1/2 lengths May 4 at Laurel Park. The entire catalogue can be viewed here. The post Bidding Open on Fasig-Tipton Digital May Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dave Rodman, announcer at Maryland's racetracks since 1991, has been named recipient of a Special Award of Merit for his contributions and positive impact on the racing industry. Rodman will be presented with the award at the May 15 Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. A native of New Orleans, Rodman worked as a deejay at various radio stations before calling his first race at Jefferson Downs in 1981. He moved to Louisiana Downs in 1985 before becoming the track announcer for the Maryland Jockey Club, calling races at Pimlico, Laurel Park, Timonium and Colonial Downs. “It's a great honor to receive this Award of Merit and to be part of the great tradition of Maryland racing for 35 years, including the 150th Preakness,” Rodman said. “I appreciate the support of Maryland racing fans who come to the track on a regular basis. They love the game as much as I do.” Past recipients of the Special Award of Merit include Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and King Leatherbury, Hall of Fame jockeys Jerry Bailey and Ramon Dominguez, Jim McKay, Chick Lang, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and Beyond The Wire. The post Dave Rodman Honored with Award of Merit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article