Wandering Eyes

By Adam Hamilton The Kiwi flavour really ramps up at Menangle on Saturday night. Millionaire pacer Merlin, who races at Its Merlin in Australia, launches his quest to win the Miracle Mile in the Ultra Air free-for-all over 2300m (12.18am). Crucially, the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained star has drawn perfectly in gate one, with Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo drawn next door in barrier two. Purdon and Phelan stable their horses with the Fitzpatrick clan and Gavin Fitzpatrick will take the reins on Its Merlin this week. Its Merlin hasn’t raced his second to Republican Party in the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve. The winner has subsequently franked the form with close-up and terrific third to Swayzee and Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup. Don’t Stop Dreaming has come out of finishing seventh in the Auckland Cup to run second to Leap To Fame in the Cranbourne Cup and brilliantly win the Terang Cup last Saturday night. Its Merlin should have enough gate speed to hold his rivals at the start, making him clearly the horse to beat on Saturday night. The five-year-old will then back-up a week later in what will be two star-studded Miracle Mile qualifiers at Menangle. Its Merlin had three runs in a Menangle campaign this time last year for a second in the Paleface Adios Sprint, fifth in the Chariots Of Fire and then a strong win in the Light Horse FFA, which is essentially a Miracle Mile consolation. Star Kiwi trotter Oscar Bonavena also opens his Sydney campaign on Saturday night in a 1609m free-for-all. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained veteran will start from an outside draw (gate nine), but looks classes above his rivals. Oscar Bonavena ran below his best in the Great Southern Star final, but bounced back superbly for a breathtaking Bruce Skeggs Trotters’ Cup win at Cranbourne last Saturday week. His major Sydney aim is the $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Trotters’ Mile on March 8. He’ll be driven by Greg Sugars just months after Oscar Bonavena defeated his now retired superstar Just Believe in the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Free For All at Addington. “It’s strange how things work out, but I’m thrilled to get the drive,” Sugars says. The Kiwi flavour extends to the last of the Chariots Of Fire qualifiers where We Walk By Faith has drawn well in gate two, where he needs a top four finish to make the Chariots field itself. Already the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Better Knuckle Up is in the Chariots, just doing enough when fourth in last Saturday night’s Hondo Grattan. We Walk By Faith finished just behind Better Knuckle Up in fifth spot last week. Top Victorian trainer Emma Stewart, who already has Miki To Success, Bay Of Biscay and War Dan Buddy in the Chariots, has another three runners – Kingman (gate one), Stormryder (five) and Some American (six) – through the Hondo Grattan. Kingman looks the one to beat this week and nothing went right in the Hondo Grattan and he now gets Luke McCarthy back aboard. View the full article

The new Home Energy Grant, funded by the John Pearce Foundation, was launched by Racing Welfare on Wednesday. The initiative offers crucial financial assistance to both current and retired individuals within the sector, helping them cope with the rising costs of home energy. The Home Energy Grant offers £300 to eligible households, specifically those living on or below the Minimum Income Standards, as defined by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This support is aimed at individuals and families who are most vulnerable, ensuring they can meet the essential energy needs of their homes during these challenging times. Lucy Miller, regional welfare manager at Racing Welfare, said, “National Energy Action highlighted that, as of January, approximately 6.1 million UK households are struggling with fuel poverty, spending over 10% of their income on energy costs. The rising energy prices have added significant strain for many within the racing community. This grant provides a much-needed lifeline to help alleviate the financial burden for those who have dedicated their lives to the racing industry, whether they are still working or enjoying their retirement. We are immensely grateful to the John Pearce Foundation for their generous funding, which has made this initiative possible.” For more information on the programme and to apply, please visit the Racing Welfare website. Applications are open until Apr. 18. The post Home Energy Grant Launched By Racing Welfare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Owner Al Gold knows that you can't win if you don't play, and the New Jersey native has not one, but two cracks at a nice payday on Saturday's Saudi Cup undercard at King Abdulaziz Racecourse here in Riyadh. Gold, who did not make the trip over to Saudi Arabia, but will be watching from the comfort of his winter home in Florida, campaigns Cyclone State (McKinzie) in partnership with George Messina and Michael Lee, as the $70,000 Keeneland September yearling looks to extend his current winning streak to four in the G3 Saudi Derby, the first of six group races on a program featuring an eye-watering $34 million in prize money. A few races later on the card, Howard Wolowitz (Munnings) will carry the owner's colors in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint. Gold paid $240,000 for Howard Wolowitz from the consignment of Clarkland Farm at the 2022 Keeneland January Sale. “Chad Summers picked out this horse, the Munnings, and liked him very much,” Gold said. “We look at the physical first, the page second. We watched the walk. The walk was great. Everything about the horse, we liked. The poise, the way he walked through everything. We were fortunate enough to get him.” Howard Wolowitz | Neville Hopwood/Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Three months after acquiring the Munnings colt, Gold celebrated one of his most memorable victories as an owner when Cyberknife (Gun Runner) struck from close range in the GI Arkansas Derby, and in a backwards sort of way, that colt played a role in the naming of his new purchase. “Well, actually, what happened was I was going to the Arkansas Derby with and my wife and another couple, and the plane started shaking and making all kinds of noise,” he began, “and we had to go back and never made it there, so I named this horse Cabin Pressure originally, at that time and that moment. He really wasn't doing much in his training and then I was watching 'Big Bang Theory', I said, 'Let's change the name to Howard Wolowitz,' so we changed the name, and he got a lot better all of a sudden.” Howard Wolowitz didn't do much running in a six-furlong maiden on the dirt to begin his career and soon found himself in the barn of Jose D'Angelo, who insisted that what Gold had on his hands was a horse crying out for a surface switch. After graduating by a wide margin over the Gulfstream Tapeta track last June, Howard Wolowitz was a troubled fourth in the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga in August, then validated 3-1 favoritism in the GI Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Howard Wolowitz also didn't have much luck in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, finishing three lengths' ninth. American Grade 1 winner Howard Wolowitz leading the international horses to the track in Riyadh on Wednesday morning. ⁦@TheSaudiCup⁩ pic.twitter.com/mVCJYNlvcd — Adrian Beaumont (@AdrianBeaumont) February 19, 2025 “He's really not a five-furlong horse,” Gold suggested. “Those were very tough horses. He went wide on the turn, checked back to last, so you can't make a ground at Del Mar from being last at the top of the lane. That he only lost by three lengths was a testament to the horse's talent.” Howard Wolowitz bounced back in no uncertain terms with a towering victory in the Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway Park when last seen Dec. 14. Emisael Jaramillo, in the irons last time, rides the colt on Saturday. Cyclone State | Coglianese Iowa-bred Cyclone State has punched well above his weight and carries a record of 3-1-0 from four starts at a mile–all around one turn–heading into Saturday's Saudi Derby. “There's a lot of tough horses here in America, and we hear the track [in Saudi Arabia] can be a little speed-favoring,” Gold said of Cyclone State, who is trained by Summers. “He's going to be out there winging, and we hope he's good enough to handle those.” Beaten in the dying strides of a one-mile maiden at Aqueduct by future GII Remsen Stakes runner-up Aviator Gui (Uncle Mo) back in September, Cyclone State broke through Nov. 3 and added a Dec. 6 allowance at odds-on. Clear by as many as eight lengths entering the final furlong of the Jerome, the bay easily held sway to punch his ticket to Saturday's Saudi Derby. Luis Rivera, Jr., in the irons for Cyclone State's last three wins, comes in from New York to ride. Gold said that neither horse has as-yet been invited to the Dubai World Cup meeting on Apr. 5, but that both would be considered for their respective races if offered the opportunity. In the meantime, Howard Wolowitz and Cyclone State will be looking to uphold the 'Gold' standard in the Saudi desert. CYCLONE STATE went out for an easy gallop this Wednesday morning for trainer @horsesummers under exercise rider Jesus Mangual. Following this, the colt showed nice behavior during gate schooling. CYCLONE STATE realizó vuelta y media de galope esta mañana del Miércoles para el… pic.twitter.com/AY9hJiL791 — Agentes305 (@agentes305) February 19, 2025 The post Gold Hoping For Double Dose of Saudi Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Herb Oster served as executive director since January 2024.View the full article

The Rebel Stakes along with other races from Oaklawn, Aqueduct, and Tampa Bay Downs airs on "America's Day at the Races." Oaklawn coverage will also be available on FanDuel TV.View the full article

For the second consecutive year, Fasig-Tipton will sponsor a best turned-out prize of SAR 10,000 (US$2,666) for the world's richest race, the group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.View the full article

For the fourth consecutive week, 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull has maintained his top spot in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old Poll Feb. 19.View the full article

Brendan Walsh trainees Somethinabouther and Salt depart from the balmy south Florida weather in search of Kentucky Oaks points in the Feb. 21 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park.View the full article

Del Mar is planning across-the-board increases to its overnight purse schedule from its top allowance offerings all the way down to the maiden-claiming ranks for its upcoming summer racing season that kicks off Friday, July 18.View the full article

The nominees for 2024 New York-bred divisional championships were announced Wednesday by New York Thoroughbred Breeders. The nominees are: 2yo Male: Bold Fortune (Central Banker), Jack and Jim (Slumber {GB}), Mi Bago (Vekoma), Mo Plex (Complexity), Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief); 2yo Filly: Accelerating (Mitole), Scythian (Tiz the Law), Shoot It True (Munnings), Stone Smuggler (Honest Mischief), With the Angels (Omaha Beach); 3yo Male: Antonio of Venice (Laoban), Doc Sullivan (Solomini), Pandagate (Arrogate), Tapalo (Tapiture), The Big Torpedo (Big Brown); 3yo Filly: Kinza (Carpe Diem), Landed (Omaha Beach), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), Roanan Goddess (Leofric), Sweet Brown Sugar (Collected); Older Dirt Male: Bank Frenzy (Central Banker), Light Man (Central Banker), Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy), Mama's Gold (Bolt d'Oro), Rotknee (Runhappy); Older Dirt Female: Kant Hurry Love (Kantharos), Silver Skillet (Liam's Map), Sterling Silver (Cupid), Stonewall Star (Flatter), Venti Valentine (Firing Line); Turf Male: Dakota Gold (Freud), Dancing Buck (War Dancer), Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}), Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), Works for Me (Daddy Long Legs); Turf Female: Caldwell Luvs Gold (Goldencents), Loon Cry (More Than Ready), Moonage Daydream (Candy Ride {Arg}), Scythian, Silver Skillet; Male Sprinter: Dancing Buck, Light Man, Rotknee, Senbei, Tapalo; Female Sprinter: Kant Hurry Love, Loon Cry, My Mane Squeeze, Sterling Silver, Tricky Temper (Into Mischief). A panel of New York Turf writers, broadcasters, handicappers, racing analysts and photographers will vote to decide the winners of each division and the 2024 New York-bred Horse of the Year. The divisional champions, New York-bred Horse of the Year, a special lifetime achievement award and other honors will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund from 6:30-9 p.m. May 19 at Sacred Saratoga on the property of GMP Farm Equine Rehabilitation and Therapy in Schuylerville. The awards ceremony includes a cocktail hour, silent auction and plated dinner. The post 2024 New York-Bred Divisional Champion Nominees Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), a Group 1 winner at the back end of 2024 in the Tokyo Daishoten and third in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic, will jump from the widest alley in barrier 14 for Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Post positions were drawn Wednesday evening at the racecourse. Also victorious in a thrilling renewal of the G3 Saudi Derby 12 months ago, the 4-year-old colt will once again have the services of Ryusei Sakai for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who said: “I prefer the outside to the inside,” after selecting the outside gate. Katie McDonald (ex Mallyon) was assigned the somewhat inenviable task of pulling the post position for Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and by all accounts, she performed well after electing the three hole. Her husband James McDonald rides the last-out G1 Jebel Hatta hero for trainer Danny Shum. American representative Rattle N Roll (Connect) will begin his Saudi Cup bid from barrier eight with Joel Rosario calling the shots for trainer Ken McPeek. The 6-year-old earned his Saudi Cup ticket courtesy of a victory in the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup a month back. Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), a latest third to Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) when trying dirt for the first time in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan last month, has gate 12. Mickael Barzalona has the mount for Jerome Reynier. Walk of Stars, representing Dubai World Cup-winning conditioner Bhupat Seemar, has the six with Tadhg O'Shea up. At the outset of the draw ceremony, Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was officially recognized as the winner of the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup in 2020. Last year, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia officially disqualified first-past-the-post Maximum Security owing to the conviction of trainer Jason Servis for his use of prohibited substances in many of his horses. Saturday, King Abdulaziz Racecourse (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia SAUDI CUP-G1, $20,000,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 1800m SC (PP), HORSE (SIRE), JOCKEY, TRAINER 1 (10), Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), Aldaham, Aldaihani 2 (11), Defunded (Dialed In), Fresu, Meshref 3 (13), El Kodigo (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}), Calvente, Meshref 4 (12), Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), Barzalona, Reynier 5 (14), Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Sakai, Yahagi 6 (2), Intense For Me (Arg) (Fortify), Ospina, Meshref 7 (9), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior), Miura, Sasaki 8 (7), Rattle N Roll (Connect), Rosario, McPeek 9 (3), Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), McDonald, Shum 10 (1), Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), Sugawara, Takagi 11 (8), Wait To Excel (GB) (Postponed), Alfouraidi, Aldaihani 12 (6), Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), O'Shea, Seemar 13 (4), Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Kawada, Takagi 14 (5), Wootton'sun (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ferreira, Al Kahtani The post Forever Young Outside, Romantic Warrior Inside for Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Quadruple Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) sired his first reported foal on Wednesday morning. The bay filly, out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Amalna (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), was born at Ecurie des Monceaux. The dam is a half-sister to 2024 G3 Prix Vanteaux heroine Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). Their dam, Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), is a half-sister to four group winners led by G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). “She is a very well-balanced filly with a lot of class and presence,” said Monceaux's Henri Bozo. “We are very happy.” Paddington, a son of Siyouni (Fr), was also born and raised at Monceaux. A resident of Coolmore Stud in Ireland, the bay bred 145 mares last year. His 2025 fee is €25,000. The post First Reported Foal For Paddington Is A Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Del Mar will offer across-the-board purse increases when the oceanside oval opens for its 2025 season July 18. During its eight-week summer meet, Del Mar will present approximately 300 races with overnight purses projected to be $15.7 million–a blended increase of 8% over 2024 purses. The track will offer 38 stakes races valued at $7,825,000. With the overnight purse increases, the majority of the track's owners and trainers will be able to run in maiden special weight dirt races–both open and Cal-Bred–for purses of $100,000 as the track will again be offering its Maiden Dirt Bonus. The bonus provides a 25% increase to non-winner races at the $62,500 level and above to conditioners with fewer than 100 horses on the Southern California circuit. “We are thrilled to announce our purse increase,” said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Santa Anita is off to a strong start with the new single-circuit structure now in place for California racing and we are looking forward to continuing this positive momentum for our summer meet.” Del Mar officials, noting the results that Santa Anita has had integrating horses from northern California into its racing program, plan to offer similar racing opportunities to those horses at their track's summer stand. Del Mar's “Ship & Win” program will return for its 15th season, with out-of-state qualifying horses who come to race locally offered a $5,000 bonus just for starting in a dirt race, while turf horses are given a $4,000 upfront bonus. Those same horses will earn an additional 50% supplement on top of their purse earnings for running first through fifth on the dirt, while eligible turf horses will receive a 40% bonus. “The Del Mar summer racing season is prime time for racing fans, horse owners and everyone in between across the country,” said TOC president Bill Nader. “The increase in overnight purses builds on the momentum we established early this year and is another clear indication that California racing is moving in the right direction. We look forward to another great summer with perfect weather and the very best of American racing.” The post Del Mar Increases Purses for 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fasig-Tipton will sponsor a world-record Best Turned-Out prize of SAR10,000 (US$2,666) for the world's richest race, the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Fasig-Tipton, which also sponsored the award in 2024, will also sponsor a Best Turned Out Award during Friday's card at the Riyadh racetrack, making for a total reward of SAR40,000 ($10,665) over 16 races to the winning entrants' grooms. In addition to the grand prize, SAR2,500 ($667) will be awarded in 11 races over the two days. Fasig-Tipton will be represented on site by Anna Seitz, the company's director of client relations, and Michael Adolphson, its Middle East representative, who will judge the contests. “We are delighted to once again team up with Fasig-Tipton to reward the hardest-working people in the racing industry–the stable staff,” said Christopher Bevan, Chief Commercial Officer of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “It is a pleasure to welcome Fasig-Tipton back to King Abdulaziz Racecourse for a second year in a row.” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning added, “The Saudi Cup continues to excel on the global stage and Fasig-Tipton is thrilled and honored to take part in one of the world's great race meetings, especially with so many horsemen in the region having supported Fasig-Tipton. We are thankful to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for, not only being part of our growing relationship with the Middle East, but also for allowing us to reward those who work so hard taking such care of these great athletes.” The post Fasig-Tipton Continues Best Turned Out Sponsorship at Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Early last week, immigration officers descended upon the Frontera Training Center in Sunland Park, New Mexico, an apparent video from which has been shared widely on several social media platforms. The training center is a little over a kilometer from the Mexican border. According to Kim Payne, who works for the Frontera Training Center, the visit constituted officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Border Patrol, and a local police agency. Payne didn't describe the visit as an immigration sweep, but rather a pointed visit for specific individuals. She said she believed it was related to ongoing fuel thefts and property damage at the training center. “We have had some fuel stolen, probably $10,000 worth of diesel. Then they came in and took out our track guy's cameras, took his hydraulic lines,” said Payne. “For about two months, we were calling the police–like three times a day. It was really bad. They were having so many thefts,” she added. Payne said that she believed the agents arrested two individuals at the training center. This mirrors reporting by KTSM, a local news station. In that local news report, two workers at the training center describe being approached and questioned by immigration officials. “They asked if we lived here, we said 'yes.' They asked for documentation and if we were U.S. citizens, and we said 'yes.' And then they wanted us to let them go into our house, that's when we refused,” said one of the workers, a resident at the property and a U.S. citizen, according to KTSM. “Once we refused that, we were surrounded by them. There was a man with firearms walking around the house and stuff, which I think was very unnecessary,” the worker reportedly said. The Trump regime's promised crackdown on illegal immigration has spooked many within the racing industry. At the same time, officials and key trainers downplay fears that the horse racing industry will be a pointed target of immigration officials. According to Payne, the barns within the training center are deemed private property. “I had wanted to go ahead and give them authority to go inside the barns. If they were looking for somebody they wanted, I didn't see a problem with it,” she said. “But the owners had the vote. And the majority of them voted not to let them in, and to make them obtain a warrant,” Payne added. Immigration attorney Will Velie recently told the TDN that while law enforcement officers will sometimes try to use an “Administrative Warrant” to enter a private property, they can only do so if they have a “Judicial Warrant.” “The way you can tell the difference is if it says, 'Department of Homeland Security,' it's an administrative warrant. If it says something like, 'Judicial District of Northern Kentucky, United States Court,' then it's an official judge's warrant,” said Velie. The post New Mexico Training Center Target of Immigration Visit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A halter worn by champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is available in the Bourbon & the Bayou silent auction, run by the non-profit child advocacy organization CASA of Lexington. Bidding on the halter, as well as hundreds of other items, including Kentucky bourbon, vacation packages and gift baskets, is open at https://bandb2025.givesmart.com through 9:45 p.m. Feb. 28. To directly access the bidding page for the halter, visit https://bit.ly/thorpedoanna. CASA of Lexington's annual Bourbon and the Bayou fundraiser raises funds that provide advocacy for hundreds of abused and neglected children in central Kentucky each year. As a follow-up to the fundraiser, a raffle benefitting CASA of Lexington is being held Apr. 30 for 10 high-value prizes, including a halter worn by Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan and a bottle of Kentucky Derby 150: Baccarat Edition Whiskey from Woodford Reserve, of which only 150 were made, signed by Mystik Dan's jockey. Raffle tickets go on sale Apr. 1 at https://bit.ly/kd150raffle. The post Thorpedo Anna Halter Auction to Benefit CASA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Known for failing to settle and swishing his tail early in his career, the Frankie Lor-trained gelding bags his fourth win this term at city circuit.View the full article

Herb Oster will step down from his position as executive director of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen at the end of February, citing recent health issues, according to a release from the organization. He has held the position since January 2024. During his tenure, Oster initiated numerous programs aimed at improving the lives of the backstretch communities at both Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows Training Center. “The organization extends its best wishes to Herb for his future endeavors and health,” the FTH release said. “His contributions to the Thoroughbred racing community will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.” The FTH will establish a search committee to find a suitable replacement for Oster. The post Oster Steps Down as FTH Executive Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From February 2024 to February 2025, Jockeys and Jeans raised a one-year record of $453,760 to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The 10th annual Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser for PDJF at Gulfstream Park Jan. 11 raised $292,000, while the Jockeys and Jeans January 2024 Stallion Season Sale raised a record of $94,560, and the recently concluded Quarter Horse Season Sale, operated by committee member and Quarter Horse jockey legend, G.R. Carter, raised an additional $67,200. “The Gulfstream Park event was a total group effort and our committee worked at least a thousand hours organizing and producing the event,” said interim president Dr. Eddie Donnally. “To be a part of this group's efforts is one of my life's most meaningful milestones.” The Jan. 11 fundraiser at Gulfstream Park was attended by 300 fans and included 17 Hall of Fame Jockeys and two legendary jockeys who honored 11 disabled former riders. The event also honored three recently deceased Hall of Fame Jockeys, Walter Blum, John Rotz, and Robert “Bobby” Ussery. Their loved ones received plaques commemorating their lives and accomplishments. FanDuel analyst Mike Joyce accepted the Person of the Year Award and Craig Bandoroff took home the Uphill Push Award. The Jockeys and Jeans Ambassador, who lost the use of his right arm in a spill at Garden State Park Racetrack in December 1974, is a highly successful Kentucky breeder and sales consignor. Bandoroff and fellow ambassador Brian Elmore, along with committee member and Canterbury Park CEO Randy Sampson, were responsible for significant donations. Elmore is a consultant for the Indiana HBPA, which donated $25,000. Caesars Entertainment and successful horse owner Mike Pegram each donated $25,000. There was also an anonymous donation of $60,000. “I want everyone who purchased event sponsorships or donated, as well as the Hall of Fame Jockeys who flew from all parts of the country to attend and Gulfstream Park management, to know there is proof they made a difference,” Donnally said. “Shortly before the event, PDJF increased the monthly stipend from $1,000 to $1,500 for some 60 jockeys who suffered career-ending injuries. Jockeys and Jeans would like to give everyone whose donations made this possible, and our latest event and overall fundraising successful, a thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Jockeys and Jeans has raised $3.85 million on behalf of PDJF since its founding in late 2014. The post Jockeys and Jeans Raises Record Funds for PDJF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — There is almost no rainfall on an annual basis in the Saudi capital, but there was a flood of equine activity almost as soon as the clock struck seven on a cool Wednesday morning at King Abdulaziz. That is because a good many of the international raiders for Saturday's Saudi Cup meeting took to the main track almost as one, causing a real stir–in one case, a bit of a scare. The Noboru Takagi-trained Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) (inside) and Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) to his outer came barreling into the final 300 meters of some fast work ahead of the Saudi Cup, but there was plenty of action up ahead of them, including a horse traveling much more slowly down at the fence. A warning scream from one of the riders caused a bit of a dust-up, not least to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was minding his own farther to the outside, but began tossing his head with all that was happening inside of him. No harm, no foul, though, as there were happily no serious repercussions. A scary moment happened this morning as USHBA TESORO and WILSON TESORO while breezing in the final stretch, encounter in their way with a couple of other horses easy galloping… thankfully all went well and all horses ended their work as planned. Un susto ocurrió esta mañana… pic.twitter.com/MzGUUddiKn — Agentes305 (@agentes305) February 19, 2025 Saudi Cup market leader Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) capped off his big-race preparations with a strong blowout through the lane, his alternating red-and-white polos moving rhythmically. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is expected in town on Thursday. Ten Happy Rose (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), a cracking fourth at 58-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, also made a good impression as she gets ready for Saturday's G2 1351 Turf Sprint. Other Japanese gallopers to have caught the eye included the lightly raced Group 3 winner Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom, G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint) and Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}, Turf Sprint). To digress for just a second, King Abdulaziz Racecourse is marvelous, a patch of technicolor in the middle of the vast desert. The dirt track is rich brown in color and yields nearly no noise as the horses bounce across it. The turf course at KAA is still in its relative infancy and looks in tremendous shape ahead of the weekend. Incredibly light and soft dirt – no wonder why turf horses fare well on it. I'm certainly beginning to believe that it might be among the best dirt surfaces in the world.#SaudiCup | @TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/mG7p5oqdEk — Suleiman Altaf (@SuleimanAltaf) February 19, 2025 Aidan's Army, so often a feature of the world's richest meetings, is missing this time around, but Ballydoyle is represented by 2023 G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000 meters). Ironically, not far behind him going clockwise on the stands'-side rail was Apples and Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (every 6-month old infant will be cheering this one on), son Joseph's listed-winning and Group 1-placed 3-year-old who goes in the G3 Saudi Derby. Trend-setting Japanese conditioner Hideyuki Mori was seen making a bee-line up the steps of the grandstand to watch the fleet-footed Jasper Krone (Frosted, Dirt Sprint) and Shin Forever (Complexity) go through their paces. The latter is pulling a 'Romantic Warrior' as he tries the dirt for the first time in the Derby. America's sole Saudi Cup hope, Rattle N Roll (Connect), went the wrong way around the track for a lap and looks well having won the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) a few weeks back. Former local star rider Jose Verenzuela can be counted among those who were taken by the effort of 6-year-old. Look for a more detailed piece with trainer Ken McPeek in Friday's edition. Welcome to @KennyMcPeek who was trackside to see Rattle N Roll enjoy the sunrise at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Good luck on Saturday!#TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/thOZ0OEa9j — The Saudi Cup (@TheSaudiCup) February 19, 2025 The post Saudi Cup Trackwork: Forever Young, ‘Tesoros’ Let Their Hair Down appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Kimberly Butt can scarcely believe what happened at this week’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale in Christchurch. In a bit over two hours she signed off on three yearlings for a combined price tag of $350,000. “It was something you only dream of, it was incredible, a real pinch yourself moment,” says Butt And it all revolves around big spending Australian Joshua Davine and his N40 Racing. He was in direct contact from Sydney at the time. “Kim was getting a bit nervous on the phone and I was giving her reassurance and saying ‘bid more one, go again!’,” says Davine. “Josh has been a friend and an owner of ours for a long time now, we met him through mutual friends a few years ago.” “The Next Gen concept came out and he was keen to amongst it,” says Butt, “he’s the owner and I’m the trainer.” Davine has interests in around 15 horses in this country and many more across the Tasman. “I would say that Next Gen meant I spent double what I was going to spend anyway,” Davine says. Released late last year, Next Gen is Harness Racing New Zealand’s new ownership model which aims to make racing more attractive to young people and to promote emerging horses and trainers. Thanks to partners TAB NZ and NZB Standardbred, the scheme will go for three years, at the very least. To be eligible you have to buy a horse at the yearling sales and then fit one of the following three criteria 1. Buy a Next Gen-eligible yearling (there were 70 at the sales) 2. Buy any yearling at the sales and have it trained by a non-Group 1 winning trainer 3. Buy any yearling and have an ownership group that includes 30 per cent of people aged under 40 For those horses that are Next Gen eligible there will be $600,000 in bonuses for them in their 2YO seasons. “Next Gen was a big push for him to go to the Yearling sales and that’s when I came in – not being a Group 1 winning trainer,” says Butt, “and all horses were eligible for it for me and it all snowballed into what happened yesterday.” When the NZB catalogue came out Davine came up with his “list”‘ and Butt did the same along with fiancé and fellow trainer-driver Jonny Cox. “Jonny and I then went and cross referenced what we liked and what Josh liked and we narrowed it down.” “By the time the sales rolled around we had a handful that we liked and all three were on that list.” The three they ended up with were : Lot 261, a brother to Group 1 winner and 2023 NZ Cup runner-up Akuta – $130,000 Lot 302, a Captaintreacherous – Cullens Bet colt – $80,000 Lot 319, a Captaintreacherous – Elusive Chick filly – $140,000 “I was really happy ,” says Davine, “especially the brother to Akuta. He was cheaper than he could have been.” There were 17 Next Gen sires represented at the sales, with 45 of their yearlings sold over the two days. The top Next Gen yearling was a Face Time Bourbon – Dance Craze colt that sold for $240,000. In total four went for over $100,000. “Next Gen has been very successful and you can tell it impacted on the two days at both Karaka and Christchurch,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden. “It takes a bit to get your head around but once you explain it people love the concept and that showed with the response.” “There were a lot of people talking about it.” As for Butt she has two of the new yearlings at their Leeston property already with the third to arrive in the next week or so. “You can’t make a set plan with horses but we will put a lot of time and effort to get these ones up as quickly as they allow us to and with Next Gen there is a push to get them up and going as 2YOs.” For Butt this is a huge break in her training career and one she is hugely grateful for. “The amount of support and congratulations I’ve had is incredible.” The NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale – “a great week for harness racing” A record-breaking NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale has concluded with the two day total surpassing $13m. “It was a great week for harness racing, our expectations have far been exceeded,” says NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray. After opening at Karaka on Saturday the sales moved to Christchurch yesterday, with 233 yearlings selling at an average of $56,298, more than $9000 or 17 per cent up on last year. “Buyers were incredibly active, including the Australians, Canadians, and of course the Kiwis.” says Bray. Industry heavyweights Stonewall Stud led the way on both days. They spent nearly $2m on 18 yearlings. In Auckland the $360,000 they spent on two Captaintreacherous colts, out of champion mares Adore Me and Bettor Twist, eclipsed the previous NZB Yearling record of $340,000 set last year. The top lot in Christchurch was the $270,000 Cran Dalgety (Kentuckiana Lodge) paid for a Bettor’s Delight – Imagine Me colt. “He just looks so much like Krug, a replica, if he’s as fast we don’t know,” says Dalgety. Krug was a multiple Group 1 winner and former NZ Derby winner for Dalgety. “I paid overs for him but I’m hoping I’ll say he was cheap in 12 months.” Dalgety also bought a full brother to his current stable star, Auckland and Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party for $150,000. “I walk away from here excited.” “We’ve been able to lift all the metrics on a lesser number of horses so that’s got to be a positive sign of how our buyers see the market and it’s pleasing that our breeders have been rewarded,” says Bray. For Pat Driscoll of powerhouse Victorian breeders Yabby Dam farms, it was the first time he’d sold his yearlings at the sales. Included in his offerings was a Bird Parker – Nieta colt, bought by Stonewall Stud for $180,000 . “It’s probably gone better than I thought, hats off to NZB and Harness Racing New Zealand.” Current Breeders of the Year Todd and Fleur Anderson of Taffy Limited agreed. They bred the top Christchurch lot sold to Kentuckiana and also a half brother to New Zealand Pacer of the Year Merlin for $160,000. “There are a lot of things happening in the industry that’s made a bigger crowd here and more money to go around,” says Todd Anderson. Total sales over the two days was $13.1m – that is over $1m more than last year. “It just shows you the positivity of our industry,” says Bray. View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand is inviting feedback from clubs and kindred bodies on the first draft of the 2025/26 Dates Calendar. The calendar features a proposed total of 300 meetings, an increase of 11 over the current season, with the upper South Island getting nine new meetings and the North Island two more. The additional dates are not funded at this time. The Code Funding negotiations are underway. The number of meetings in the southern area remains unchanged, though Southern Harness will host 33 Sunday meetings, 13 more than at present. Addington will also see some big changes. There will be eight new lower grade midweek meetings on a Wednesday, the Rangiora meeting on the Friday before Cup Week will become a permanent Addington meeting as part of a re-shaping of Cup week, and the two premier meetings in late November and early December are to be replaced with one new premier meeting on the Friday after Show Day. The programme on that day will include The Christian Cullen 4YO Pace, and the Pacing and Trotting New Zealand Oaks and Derby. The four Group 1 2YO Aces programmed on the first Friday of December at Addington will not be held, with the $400,000 of funding re-allocated. HRNZ is conducting a review of racing in the lower North Island including the distribution of meetings. In part this was triggered by two events the first being weak turnovers this year and also NZTR’s request to race the Wellington Cup premier meeting on the last Saturday of January, traditionally Hawera’s weekend. Trackside cannot service both venues over three days. As already announced Auckland’s Anniversary Day meeting in January will be held on the grass at Taupo, with HRNZ seeking more upper North Island grass track meetings. Submissions should be directed to Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden – matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz For more information click here To see the Draft Calendar click here View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor View the full article

Team Teal goes past $5000, Orange and House lead the premierships, and a job vacancy at Addington all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Team Teal’s big fund-raiser Harness Racing New Zealand’s annual Team Teal fund-raiser has just topped $5000, with the promise of a lot more to come. The campaign started on February 1 and will go through to March 16 with money raised every time a female driver in this country wins a race. That money comes from HRNZ, individual clubs and the drivers’ individual sponsors. So far there have been 22 wins with Sheree Tomlinson leading the way with five, Sam Ottley on four and Crystal Hackett on three. On March 14 a major fund-raiser will be held at Addington Raceway. The evening, starting at 5pm, will include dinner and drinks, raffles and other entertainment as well as the final of the Frocks at the Trots competition. Heats have been held around the country with the best dressed heading to Christchurch. The first prize is a flights and accommodation package to Australia. In the past Team Teal has raised upwards of $50,000 a year with all proceeds going to ovarian cancer research. For more information contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz To see more on Team Teal’s big fund-raiser click here Orange and House to the fore It’s the Orange and House show at the top of the 2025 drivers’ and trainers’ premierships. Michael House is the leading trainer with 27 wins from 158 starts while the country’s leading driver Blair Orange has exactly the same stats – 27 wins from 58 starts. Wilson House is second on 21 and leads the junior drivers’ premiership from Harrison Orange on 17. Series too close to call With just two heats left, the Revell Douglas Memorial Series for the junior drivers is going to go to the wire. Harrison Orange leads after five heats on 34 points with Wilson House and Crystal Hackett next on 33 points. House, who won the series last year, climbed up the leaderboard after winning the fifth heat at Motukarara last Sunday with the Andrew Stuart-trained Farewell Spit. The series will conclude with two more heats at Cromwell this weekend. Keayang puts on an exhibition Fans were given an insight into what it’s like to drive a champ at Terang in Victoria on Saturday night. Unbeaten filly Keayang Zahara was driven by Antti Ruokonen in an exhibition appearance between races. Ruokonen, the travelling foreman for Keayang Zahara’s trainers Marg and Paddy Lee, wore a Go Pro and was mic’d up for the occasion. Newly crowned as the NZ 3YO Trotting Filly of the Year after impressive winning all three of her appearances on this side of the Tasman she has won 14 from 14 overall. Volstead book full and closed Keayang Zahara’s sire Volstead, who also produced the likes of Empire City and Freya, was named joint winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stallion of the Year at the HRNZ awards, along with Majestic Son. In North America such has been the demand for Volstead that his book is now full and closed for 2025. Volstead, an internationally successful son of Cantab Hall out of the Yankee Glide mare Madame Volo, won numerous European stakes races, before entering stud duty at Dublin Valley Farms in Ohio in 2020. Volstead is available to Australasian breeders for a fee of $10,000+GST via frozen semen. Southern trotters goes three straight South Australia seems to be agreeing with Tweedledee. The nine-year-old was a 10-race winner for Southland trainer Lyndon Bond before heading across the Tasman in 2023. He has won seven across in Australia, including four for Andy Gath in Victoria, and over the weekend racked up his third win in a row at Globe Derby in South Australia, taking out the Fred Jones Trotting Cup. Club News : Addington Commencing Monday, March 3 the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has a short-term contract available for an experienced Grounds Person / Track Assistant to join their team for approximately eight weeks to cover the recovery of a team member from surgery. Hours will vary due to race meetings but will be no less than 30 per week. There is a possibility that the contract could extend beyond the initial eight weeks. For further information and a Position Description please contact John Denton, Racing and Property Manager john.denton@addington.co.nz. Club News : Otago and Southland The Otago and Southland Harness racing awards for the 2024 season will be held on Saturday, March 1. The Otago awards will be held at the Loan and Merc in Oamaru (contact Bev Williamson : ardgowan.lodge@xtra.co.nz) while the Southland event is at the Waikiwi Rugby Club in Invercargill. For more information contact Gail Paisley : gail.alan@outlook.co.nz Club News : Wyndham The Wyndham Harness Racing Club return to Cromwell this week when they host two harness race meetings at Cromwell Racecourse. The first is a Tradies Day on Friday, February 21 from 2.48pm. The twilight event is perfect for tradies, allowing for an early finish on a Friday afternoon to come out to the course and enjoy a day of grass track harness racing. The second meeting follows two days later on Sunday February 23 from 12 noon. This meeting is more tailored to family groups with a day of racing with entertainment for the kids including free mini jeep rides, bouncy castles, and extra activities such as sack races, a lolly scramble and more. It is an ideal day to relax as a family with a picnic and gazebo or a blanket and enjoy a day of racing with plenty for the kids to do. Admission on both days will be free. There is no licensed area on course at these meetings. View the full article

The 2025 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday shapes up as a fascinating contest, with the appearance of the mighty Mr Brightside headlining a quality field. Punters have flocked to back the reigning champion, and he is a pronounced short-priced favourite to defend his title in this $750,000 Group 1 feature. Mr Brightside’s credentials are […] The post Mr Brightside Heads Futurity Stakes 2025 Field & Betting appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article