Wandering Eyes

Godolphin, which campaigned 22 North American graded stakes winners, including two Breeders’ Cup winners, set a single-season record in earnings as the leading owner for the fourth consecutive year.View the full article

The New York Racing Association has reached a settlement with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and has dropped out of a federal lawsuit over how the group that oversees the sport's safety and anti-doping efforts bills tracks.View the full article

Grade 3 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) alum Cutting Humor was represented by his first winner Jan. 2 when 3-year-old filly Basile took the opening race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.View the full article

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) reached a settlement of their dispute regarding HISA's fee assessment methodology, according to a Thursday press release from the track. As a result of the settlement, NYRA will withdraw from the litigation pending in the Western District of Kentucky and HISA will withdraw the enforcement action initiated against NYRA Nov. 13, 2024. “HISA's ongoing work and overall mission are critically important to the future of thoroughbred horse racing,” said NYRA President & CEO David O'Rourke. “NYRA is pleased to have reached this agreement, which resolves a narrow financial dispute and allows both parties to move forward in the best interests of the sport.” “From the start, NYRA has been an excellent partner to HISA and it is regretful that this financial issue caused a momentary hiccup in the relationship,” said HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus. “However, we are delighted to move forward and to resume our strong partnership grounded in the principles of horse welfare and sporting integrity.” In a story reported in the TDN Dec. 5, Churchill Downs and NYRA had joined to sue HISA and the Federal Trade Commission in federal court, alleging that both the fee impositions and the attempted enforcement actions for non-payment are “illegal.” Prior to that, the two tracks were scheduled to appear at separate enforcement hearings in front of HISA's board to address disputes over their non-payment of assessment fees that are based partially on purses. The post NYRA And HISA Reach Settlement Agreement Over Fee Assessment Methods appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The G2 Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Phi Advertising is the official feature on Friday's 'Sword Of Honour' raceday at Meydan, with last year's winner San Donato (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) featuring in a nine-strong field as he tries to emulate Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the only previous dual winner of the race in 2015 and 2016. Successful in 2024 when trained by Chief Stipe Watson, the nine-year-old San Donato is now with Michael Costa and shaped with plenty of encouragement on his first start for the stable when filling the runner-up spot in the Listed Business Bay Challenge. “We're really happy with him,” said Costa. “We ran him first up thinking he would be be too short [on fitness], but we wanted to give his coat a wriggle on. He has come on nicely and will keep getting better with the increase in distance. It looks a firmer race than last year, but the horse is a happy horse.” Safety Check's trainer Charlie Appleby is responsible for both Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Noble Dynasty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as he seeks a record-extending seventh win in the race, while Lucia Botti saddles Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), last seen finishing third in the G2 Al Rashidiya. “Royal Dubai looks fantastic after his impressive Group 2 performance,” said Botti. “It's a short break between two very competitive races, but he's honest and ready for the challenge.” Tuz Primed for Dubawi Defence The other Group race on the card is the G3 Dubawi Stakes Sponsored by Binghatti Developers in which Tuz (Oxbow) is another returning champion. His trainer Bhupat Seemar is seeking a third consecutive win in the race, having also struck with Switzerland (Speightstown) in 2023. Tuz returned from over eight months on the sidelines with an emphatic victory in the Listed Garhoud Sprint, beating the reopposing Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by five and three-quarter lengths. “Tuz is one of the fastest horses in the world and is in good form,” Seemar said of last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner. “He's his usual self so all is good with him.” Tuz's rivals include Desperate Hero (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}), who makes his dirt debut for Salem Bin Ghadayer, having won six of his 24 starts when trained in Britain by Jack Channon. “Desperate Hero has had just one gallop since he came,” said Bin Ghadayer. “He performed well on soft and firm ground in Europe and I'm really happy about him. He's a nice horse and he could develop to become one of the good sprinters here. “This weekend's race is just a starting point for him, as it's a tough field with a super champion [Tuz] in there. But he will be a very nice horse, especially over five furlongs.” The post Returning Winners San Donato and Tuz Take Centre Stage at Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 12/23/2024 Licensee: Guillermo Preciado, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Gordy's Boy, who finished third at Pleasanton on 11/1/24. Date: 12/23/2024 Licensee: Eric Reed, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 24, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Lost Bikini, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/13/24. Date: 12/20/2024 Licensee: Matt Hebert, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 21, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Ranch Badge, who won at Remington Park on 9/5/24. Date: 12/20/2024 Licensee: Robert Medina, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 21, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Forge in Fire, who won at Turfway Park on 2/21/24. Date: 12/19/2024 Licensee: Fernando Bahena, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 20, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Paynt by Letters, who won at Fanduel Sportsbook and Horse Racing on 9/10/24. Date: 12/19/2024 Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mouffy, who won the Perfect Sting Stakes at Aqueduct on 7/4/24. Pending ADMC Violations 01/02/2025, Robert Gherardi, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Little Pinch, who finished second at Albuquerque on 10/18/24. 01/02/2025, Darlene Green, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Lookin at Justice, who finished sixth at Horseshoe Indianapolis on 10/10/24. 12/26/2024, Martin Valdez-Cabral Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Sapello Sweetee, who won at Albuquerque on 10/19/24. 12/23/2024, Eric Ramaekers, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hurts So Good, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/19/24. 12/23/2024, Gary Jackson, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Ipratroprium–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Mywifeknowsitall, who won at Gulfstream Park on 10/13/24. 12/20/2024, Juan Munoz Cano, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance permitted in only limited circumstances–in a sample taken from La Bukana, who finished eighth at Churchill Downs on 10/31/24. 12/19/2024, Karen Jacks, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Halmstad on 11/12/24. The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Dec. 19-Jan. 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In search of his first Oaklawn Park victory, trainer Chris Davis starts a promising and lightly raced colt named Mo Quality in the Jan. 4 $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.View the full article

Bet down from a 4-5 morning line to jump at 35 cents on the dollar in a first-level state-bred allowance at Aqueduct Thursday afternoon, Chester Broman's SAND DEVIL (c, 3, Violence–Mineralogist, by Mineshaft) ran up the score through the final furlong and a half en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Having graduated by four solid lengths on six-furlong debut Dec. 8–an effort awarded a field-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure–the homebred drew the inside gate in a field scratched down to five and showed enough speed to hold a spot at the inside through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.90. Jose Lezcano was intent on maintaining that foothold at the fence, and asked Sand Devil to slide up the rail and, though he appeared somewhat reluctant to do so, took the field into the far turn. Smilensaycheese (Solomini), the 2-1 second choice off a third to divisional heavy Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief) in the New York Stallion Series Stakes over seven panels Dec. 14, was poised three wide if the favorite faltered, but no missteps were taken, as Sand Devil quickly opened up on his rivals in upper stretch and won off as miles the best despite being eased right down in the final sixteenth of a mile. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Chester Broman Sr; B-Chester & Mary Broman (NY); T-Linda Rice. NY-bred SAND DEVIL is now 2-for-2 after an impressive win in Race 2 with Jose Lezcano aboard for trainer @LindaRiceRacing. Keep an eye on this one! pic.twitter.com/CIAIF99vSJ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) January 2, 2025 The post Violence Colt Sand Devil Dusts Rivals, Becomes A New ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In just her fifth full year of training, Brittany Russell topped the annual standings in Maryland for the second consecutive season, and jockey Jaime Rodriguez also repeated as the state's leading rider, the Maryland Jockey Club said in a release on Tursday. In 2023, Russell ended Claudio Gonazlez's six-year reign atop the leaderboard by notching 118 victories at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, finishing five ahead of runner-up Jamie Ness. Last year, Russell earned 113 victories at Laurel and Pimlico, 16 more than runner-up Ness. Nationwide, she registered 157 wins, 104 seconds, and 89 thirds from 655 starters for earnings of $7,672,690. Russell ranked eighth in the country in wins and 19th in money won. Russell's stable star was undoubtedly Post Time. Owned by Mrs. Ellen Charles's Hillwood Stable, the 4-year-old won Laurel's GIII General George Stakes, Aqueduct's GII Carter Stakes, and Laurel's Polynesian Stakes. The Frosted colt was never off the board over nine starts in 2024, including runner-up efforts in Saratoga's GI Metropolitan Handicap and Del Mar's GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, and a third-place performance in Saratoga's GI Whitney Stakes. Jaime Rodriguez captured the leading jockey title with 177 victories at Laurel and Pimlico. The top rider won the Laurel Park winter meet by a 50-to-28 margin over Jeiron Barbosa, defeated Torrealba by a 45-to-34 mark in the summer standings, and outlasted Torrealba to take the fall title 52 to 46. Rodriguez led the Preakness meet at Pimlico by collecting 12 wins. The post Russell Repeats As Maryland’s Leading Trainer While Rodriguez Named Top Rider Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This tier of the market, between $20,000 and $29,999, offers particular value through its more established names: horses that have walked the walk sufficiently to clear the basement level, while somehow failing to achieve due commercial prestige. Indeed, our podium is dominated by the two eldest of the eligible stallions, while the only candidates considered for the third step were all in the process of consolidating strong starts. That said, the case for the three young sires at the other end of the spectrum–whose first foals are about to slither into a world of hope–clearly remains 100 percent unaltered from this time last year. Yet those controlling ringside investment have such an infantile attention span that ARABIAN LION has been slashed from $30,000 to $20,000 after welcoming 178 mares in his debut book! You'd have thought that a son of Justify fast enough to clock a 109 Beyer in the GI Woody Stephens would be on pretty solid commercial ground, especially one boasting Personal Ensign as third dam. But his farm is expert in maintaining the pipeline into the “bubble” stage, and any breeders who might resent such immediate depreciation used him knowing exactly how the system works. Actually there's a strong case for saying that the credentials of MAGE have indeed changed since he covered 171 mares last spring, even though nobody has seen one of his foals. That's because of a spectacular boost to his page from brother Dornoch, who's meanwhile starting out at of $40,000. That's quite a premium for the same genes, when you recall the raw talent that puts Mage into a club otherwise comprising only Justify and Apollo. Also unchanged at $25,000 is Up to the Mark, likewise fully subscribed (by the commendably restrained standards of his farm) at 164 mares. It took rare talent to stretch his mile speed for second in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, while his granddam throws dirt sprint speed into the mix as GI Test/GII Prioress winner Capote Belle (Capote). The preceding class includes the author of perhaps the most controversial book of recent times, GOLDEN PAL, whose 293 mares in his debut season felt like quite a pointed gesture so soon after the defeat of the mare cap. But that's the point about a free market: breeders used him with their eyes wide open. They knew that they would have to stand out from catalogue competition, with 216 live foals in the crop, and also that a turf sprinter has finite appeal. But there are plenty of programs out there making the numbers game pay, and certainly those who got their Golden Pals to market as weanlings can have no complaints about a $107,911 average for 34 of 43 sold. His farm has maintained the pipeline by corralling another 209 mares last spring. CYBERKNIFE, similarly, welcomed back 179 mares last spring following a massive first book of 223. Of 171 live foals, 23 weanlings were sold (30 offered) at $79,260. Cyberknife, who broke Spend a Buck's 37-year-old track record in the GI Haskell, takes a second trim to $20,000 (opened at $30,000). Jack Christopher | Sara Gordon JACK CHRISTOPHER, yet another with a monster debut book (247), made a steady start with weanlings conceived at $45,000–33 of 44 processed at $104,727–and he's now right down to $25,000. With 192 live foals in his first crop, and another 168 mares last spring, he's entitled to land running as an unbeaten Grade I winner at two. The only stallion in this bracket launching his first juveniles in 2025, YAUPON, is another sprinter with an eye-watering debut book. In fact, only Gun Runner entertained more than his 242 mares in 2022, and no fewer than 133 yearlings went to market. Of these, 118 found a new home at $169,830 ($140,000) off a $30,000 conception fee, so he's jumped his hoops really slickly. Yaupon duly holds at $25,000, having maintained traffic through second and third books of 202 and 197. All these numbers attest to his physique, and his commercial momentum appears inexorable for one that hasn't yet put a horse anywhere near a starting gate. But then you would have said the same, a year ago, of studmate Authentic–a Horse of the Year whose first yearlings had been endorsed by all the experts for a $286,076 average from 91 of 120 sold. There's no point pretending that things went well on the racetrack, however, as his farm acknowledges in halving his fee to $25,000. Authentic mustered a solitary black-type scorer from a class-high 91 juvenile starters, and his second crop scraped a six-figure average off a $70,000 conception fee. He had himself needed time to get it together, of course, and can absolutely gather momentum with his sophomores. Complexity | Sarah Andrew Conversely COMPLEXITY faced his moment of truth with aplomb, blazing a trail in the freshman table until just running out of soldiers, nonetheless holding out for fourth in sharing class highs of five stakes/two graded stakes winners. He must tough out a bump in the road, with just 42 live foals in his 2024 crop, but already last spring he was back up to 88 mares as breeders noted his flying start. With his second crop of yearlings advancing their yield to $104,750, Complexity's fee has deservedly doubled to $25,000. GAME WINNER made his single stakes success count in no less a race than the GI Del Mar Futurity, which should help to keep him in the game at $20,000. He's joined at that fee by WAR OF WILL, whose GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes winner Will Then can expect plenty of support from this superbly-bred stallion's maturing sophomores. But these younger guns at a crossroads must knuckle down if they are to emulate two Airdrie sires further down the path. GIRVIN is set for big things very soon, just needing to ride out a bump with only 40 live foals in his third crop of juveniles, who entered play in 2024. He still mustered another five stakes winners, taking him up to 13 overall at 8.3 percent of named foals. Of course, the big thing with Girvin is that he transferred to Kentucky after his strong start and has covered 152 and 138 mares over the last two years. Sure enough, 14 of 22 yearlings sold in 2024 averaged $105,835–off a conception fee of just $6,000! That shows what can be done if you breed with belief to “bubble” sires. With his biggest and best books coming on stream, Girvin could soon leave his $25,000 fee well behind. Precisely the same could be said of UPSTART, who has now cleared the dip he endured when subsiding to just 27 live foals in 2020. Thanks to the endeavors of Zandon and others, his last three books comprised 151, 153 and 125 mares. That uptick began to tell at the sales, where Upstart sold 54 of 66 yearlings at $67,564 (from $42,071 in 2023)–again, a bubble sire rewarding those who stuck with him at $10,000. He has been given a generous trim, to $25,000 from $30,000, pending the imminent arrival of his reinforcements. Now is a great time to get involved. VALUE PODIUM Bronze: ARMY MULE Friesan Fire–Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector Hill 'n' Dale, $20,000 Army Mule | Sarah Andrew On a very similar path to Girvin, Army Mule also punched way above weight when launching in a brutally competitive intake. His third crop of juveniles, into play last year, comprises 57 live foals and he has depended on mature horses-such as 5-year-old Grade II winner Federal Judge–for his recent stakes action. But you get a sense of what's brewing from his latest yearlings, 41 of 51 converting a cover fee of $7,500 to an average $75,345. His 13 stakes winners to date, three at graded level, represent 9.1 percent of named foals. The superstars of his class, Justify and Good Magic, are getting theirs at 9.3 and 8.8 percent respectively. Sure enough, Army Mule's book has soared to 199 and 160 mares over the last two years. With a significant renewal of racetrack exposure imminent, he has actually taken a trim from $25,000–but that looks a temporary expedient, until he gets the numbers out there to make himself unmissable. Silver: BLAME Arch–Liable, by Seeking the Gold Claiborne Farm, $25,000 Blame | Sara Gordon By now everyone knows Blame to be a freakishly precocious broodmare sire. But he's value wearing other hats, too. Okay, so he had a tepid year by his standards, with five stakes winners but none at graded level. But that takes him up to 50 overall, at a solid 8 percent of named foals, with 21 graded stakes winners including half a dozen at the elite level. And for a sire at this stage of his career, he's maintaining consistent demand at the sales, his latest yearlings again achieving a yield over $90,000 (47 sold of 54). But yes, it's as a distaff influence that he's looking phenomenal. Obviously he doesn't yet have the footprint of older sires (his daughters sent out 180 starters in 2024, against 874 for the late Giant's Causeway) and duly figured no higher than 34th in the broodmare sire table. But 17 stakes winners arrived at an incredible 9.5 percent of starters, eight at graded level–at least double the ratio of every sire above him. It all stands to reason, like his elite caliber as a runner. The underrated Arch was himself from a noble family, but Blame entwines it with one rooted in the great Special as third dam. For anyone who wouldn't mind retaining a filly, especially, Blame is a no-brainer. Gold: HARD SPUN Danzig–Turkish Tryst, by Turkoman Darley America, $25,000 Down from what already looked a steal at $35,000, despite 140 mares last spring, this fee is just nuts. Here's a top seven active stallion, with a dozen Grade I winners (and 21 Grade I performers) to his name; 89 stakes winners (seven percent of named foals) including 42 at graded level; and four sons at stud in Kentucky. Hard Spun | Darley Hard Spun's career profile is virtually identical to that of Street Sense, who maintains twice this fee; and it's actually only in the percentage of their Grade I winners that another studmate, Nyquist, can justify a giddy separation. Hard Spun gets his stakes/graded stakes winners at a lifetime clip that measures up to Munnings, Twirling Candy or Practical Joke. And while he didn't muster a Grade I headliner in 2024, he maintained clockwork production of 11 stakes winners (three at graded level). Could there be a better way to prove a mare? Above all, like the venerable War Front, Hard Spun compresses our connection to Danzig. He's a time machine. One of just 28 named foals in Danzig's penultimate crop, he taps directly into seams of gold diluted since by all the thousands of mares wasted on launching mediocre stallions. The sire of Hard Spun's third dam was foaled during the Second World War. She was a half-sister to one Darby Dan champion in Chateaugay; her daughter, Hard Spun's granddam by Roberto, was half-sister to another in Little Current. Sure, Hard Spun is now advancing in years–but what he offers is timeless. The post Kentucky Sires For 2025 Part 5: The 20-Somethings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In his first year since being reinstated by Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert has entered three fillies in the Jan. 5 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the first prep race of the year for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) in Southern California.View the full article

Last year's Blue Diamond (G1) winner Hayasugi has died due to complications following foot surgery. View the full article

Last year, Russell earned 113 victories at Laurel and Pimlico, 16 more than runner-up Jamie Ness. She also captured the Timonium training title with eight wins. Kieron Magee placed third with 71 combined scores at Laurel and Pimlico. View the full article

Ten of the most thrilling, memorable, and momentous events from Thoroughbred racing in North America last year have been nominated for the 2024 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year, a distinction determined by fan voting.View the full article

Starting in January and through the month of December, Flavien Prat was focused on putting together a championship year and on opening day at Santa Anita Park, he put an exclamation point on what turned out to be an outstanding record-setting 2024.View the full article

Godolphin, which campaigned 22 North American graded stakes winners, including two Breeders’ Cup winners, set a single-season record in earnings as the leading owner for the fourth consecutive year.View the full article

After a stormy first day of 2025, Newmarket Heath was bathed in frost-speckled sunlight by January 2, but local trainer Rae Guest is now setting his sights on sunlit uplands of a different kind. This he is doing in his usual quiet way, to the extent that his decision to call time on his training career took even some of his longest-standing owners by surprise when he contacted them prior to making an official announcement in December. The prophetic victory, two days after the news broke, of his filly Sunlit Uplands (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}) was no coincidence. “We named her that on purpose,” says Rachel Flynn, the trainer's wife of 26 years, with a laugh. “It was a bit of fun really as we started to think about Rae finishing.” With trainer Jack Jones having bought their Chestnut Tree Stables, Guest and Flynn will remain in situ in their house alongside the yard in the short term. Guest will continue to train a few horses from one of the barns there until his licence expires in May. Now 74, he has certainly not fallen out of love with the game. Indeed, he is reluctant to leave his beloved Newmarket, which has been his home for longer than his 35 years as a trainer, which followed a successful and peripatetic riding career. “I don't want to go anywhere else,” he says. “Rachel would be happy to go to the country somewhere. I wouldn't go anywhere too far away. We are trying to find somewhere to have a house with some paddocks, but that's difficult around here. We'll keep looking.” Horse racing, with all its colourful history, attracts its share of braggarts and bluffers, to whom Guest provides a perfect counterbalance. Simply, it is impossible not to like this man who has made his mark as both a trainer and a jockey, and whose air of almost apologetic reserve has perhaps meant that his contribution has not been fully acknowledged. A childhood interrupted by three years in hospital with serious bronchial issues meant that Guest's formal education was also disturbed. The fact that he had been born into a family with deep racing roots would almost certainly have led him down his current path anyway, but he left school at 15 to be apprenticed to Sir Gordon Richards, where his uncle, Nelson Guest, was one of the stable jockeys, second in line to Scobie Breasley. “My uncle used to ride ride all the work, and then we had work riders who used to come in on a Wednesday and a Saturday, and my dad was one of them. I'd already been there on work experience, which it wasn't called in those days, but I'd been there for my school holidays. Gordon Richards retired after I'd been there two, three years or so, and I'd had a couple of rides for him, finished second at Ascot in an apprentice race, but he didn't used to give apprentices many rides.” A teenage Rae Guest riding at Klampenborg in Denmark As Richards was retiring, Nelson Guest had been offered a job riding and training in Denmark and encouraged his nephew, who was on the brink of switching to become a jump jockey like his dad and another uncle, Joe, to give the Flat another chance in Scandinavia. “He's been my mentor, I suppose they'd say these days, but he was that more than my dad was. Your son's hard to teach, I suppose. It's easier for somebody from the outside, and Nelson used to take me off to the races and riding out with him,” says Guest of his uncle. Rae's grandfather had been stud groom for George Lambton in Newmarket and his three sons all followed him into the business. Rae's late father Charlie also went on to train, and a generation later, Rae's brother Richard followed the same path and won the Grand National in 2001 aboard Red Marauder (GB) before setting up as National Hunt trainer. Rae and Richard's four sisters Jane, Sally, Joanne and Rita have all also been involved in the racing world in different ways. Sally, who was married to Paul Eddery and then Jeremy Noseda, was one of the leading lady amateur riders of the day and a key work rider for Sir Michael Stoute. Jane, now Lady Jane Cecil, became a Group 1-winning trainer when taking over at Warren Place upon the death of her husband, Sir Henry Cecil. Her son James McEwen is now a trainer in India. Indian racing played a key role in the early years of Guest's career, but it was in Scandinavia where he first tasted significant success. He says of his uncle's job offer all those years ago, “I was only 18 and it sounded a good idea. Scandinavia, in those days, had everything, a good way of living. I know it sounds ridiculous now but they had central heating in every house.” Guest's initial frustration at being unable to race-ride in Denmark because of a restriction on the number of jockey licences was short-lived when the unexpected departure of the former champion apprentice Brian Henry meant that Guest was given his licence. The winners soon came his way and they included victory in the Svenskt Kriterium aboard Highlight (Swe) for the Rausing family's Simontorp Stud. Fifth-generation descendants of Sweden's champion two-year-old filly of 1974 are still associated with Guest's yard 50 years later, with Kirsten Rausing having been a loyal and longstanding supporter of the trainer, who speaks of the owner of Lanwades Stud in glowing terms. “We added it up the other week and I rode 17 Classic winners abroad,” says Guest who rode Triple Crown winners in Scandinavia and India, as well as in Holland for his father. “I was asked the other day about whether it was easy to start training. It wasn't easy but I had worked very closely with trainers, because in Scandinavia and India, you're riding weekends, so all week you're working with your trainers. And they all liked your input, and you had to know where things were going and build up the horse's career, if you like.” Such strategising was also a feature of Guest's later association with Luca Cumani on his return to England. When recounting his life in racing, Guest frequently refers to the role fate and luck have played while modestly overlooking his own hard work involved in riding top horses and becoming a multiple Group 1-winning trainer himself. “It was great. I loved it. When you're 74, you're wishing to be 21 again with all those things that you've done,” he says. Fate did intervene as Guest was thinking that he may have made a mistake in attempting to continue his riding career in England. Just as he was considering returning to Denmark, he bumped into an old friend in Newmarket High Street who alerted him to a vacancy at Cumani's Bedford House Stables. “As luck would have it, again, Luca had World Leader, who was a very hard horse to ride. So, I ended up riding him, and I got on well with him,” Guest recalls. “He won some good races, and then he was third in the Leger and then me and Luca got into a good working relationship. I know I didn't ride hundreds of winners, but I rode some great horses. And I rode in Derbys, Oaks, loads of Group 1s, all things that if I'd been riding 30 or 40 winners a year at that time, I wouldn't be getting on those sort of horses.” Those good horses included Tolomeo (Ire), on whom Guest finished third in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Sadler's Wells and Teenoso, and Old Country (GB) when second to Rainbow Quest in the G1 Coronation Cup. Struggles with his weight and the appearance of Ray Cochrane as stable jockey to ride the newly arrived Aga Khan's horses at Cumani's yard prompted Guest to start planning his next move. “They wanted Ray Cochrane, which was fair enough, but I didn't lose out. I rode nearly the most winners in my last season or two anyway. I think 42 was my best season when the champion jockey at the time only rode 100 or so winners. It was two meetings a day, most days,” he says. “I got on well with Ray and we had a good relationship, but then along came a little apprentice called Dettori. I was in my thirties and getting fed up with losing weight. I had a small yard, and I used to take a few horses for Luca and other people so I thought, 'Well I've got 12 horses and I can just enjoy training them.' That's how I started.” Guest with David Probert in the colours of long-term patron Kirsten Rausing | Racingfotos The Group 1 jockey became a Group 1 trainer within months of the switch when Aldbourne (Ire) (Alzao) lined up for the 1,000 Guineas of 1989. “She was a good two-year-old and they kept moving her about. Anyway, she ended up with me in January and she finished third in the English Guineas, second in the Irish Guineas and was our first Listed winner, so she gave us a good start,” he says. “Then we had [four-time group winner] Millyant, all within three years. And then everyone said I trained fillies. But I suppose our four Group 1 wins have all been with fillies.” A rare break in the domination of fillies in Guest's yard came with Mirza (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), but then he was a son of Millyant and, extraordinarily, won the G3 Prix de Petit Couvert twice, just as his mother had done. “Nobody ever seems to pick up on that except me,” Guest notes. “I think it's an amazing statistic. It never got the headlines but I'm not that bothered about headlines.” There were plenty of headlines, however, for My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), the Lord Mathews homebred who landed Guest with his first Group 1 win in the Prix Vermeille and followed up in the next year's G1 Yorkshire Oaks, with Whitewater Affair (GB) and Reams Of Verse among those finishing behind her. Guest also trained her daughter, Moments Of Joy (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), to win the Listed Gladness Stakes. The Mtoto (GB) filly Serious Attitude (Ire) would put his name back in lights in 2008 when winning the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and adding the G3 Summer Stakes to her tally at three before finishing off her career with victory in the GI Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine as a four-year-old. Later that year she was sold to Shadai Farm for $1.85 million at Keeneland. Serious Attitude's progeny in Japan include the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers winner and G1 Tenno Sho runner-up Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). Celebrating Divina Grace's Listed win with his uncle, Nelson Guest, right | Emma Berry Most recently, Divina Grace (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) added her name to the list of Guest's stakes winners when winning the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket in August. The trainer's uncle Nelson, now 92, was there to share in the celebrations with him. With the 60-year anniversary of his starting out as a teenaged apprentice looming, how does Guest view today's racing industry in comparison to that of the 1960s? “I'm not going to say anything bad about racing because I love racing and it has been good to me,” he says simply. “And, I mean, we can all say what we don't like about it, but I think what I like is the way I started off with trainers who took their time and had plans for their horses. Like Luca – every horse had a career path, if possible. Now, I think they just run them because there's a race. “I like the way Ralph Beckett trains, and Andrew Balding. Divina Grace is going to Andrew. And I think they, in the world they're in now, do take their time and bring the horses on more gradually, and hopefully there will be more trainers like that.” He continues, “It's the horses that make it. We wouldn't be talking here now if it wasn't for horses. They're what my life has been about really. There's a story with every horse. It's not always just the best ones either, it could be the one that you just know is trying really hard to give you their best.” Guest plainly has appreciated the horses he has been associated with through the years, and they were fortunate to have ended up in his care. For, like them, he has been trying really hard to give them his best. Job done. The post ‘It’s the Horses That Make It’: Rae Guest Reflects on 60 Years in Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $80,000 Al Riffa Cup and $80,000 Al Dana Cup take centre stage on Friday as the Bahrain Turf Series continues with round two. On the opening day of the Bahrain Turf Series, George Scott saddled two winners and a second in the supporting races on the card. Now, the Newmarket trainer is hoping Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) can repeat his 2024 win in Friday's Al Riffa Cup, round two in the sprint division. “Rocket Rodney helped kick start my career again back in 2022,” said Scott. “He was the first horse His Highness Shaikh Nasser had with me and it is lovely to have the horse back competing in the Bahrain Turf Series. He seemed to like the track last year. He won here and ran very well on other occasions. He also ran some good races in the UK last summer and I think he's handicapped to be really competitive again in Bahrain.” Rocket Rodney is one of 18 runners scheduled to go to post for the Al Riffa Cup, while the Al Dana Cup, the second round in the middle-distance division of the Bahrain Turf Series, has attracted a field of 15. They include the first four horses from the Al Muharraq Cup on the opening day. The first Irish-trained winner in Bahrain when landing that race for Gavin Cromwell, Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) lines up from an 8lb higher mark as she tries to uphold the form with the placed horses, headed by Jack Channon's former Cambridgeshire winner Majestic (Ire) (Conduit {Ire}). The post Rocket Rodney Bids to Repeat 2024 Win as Bahrain Turf Series Continues appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ten events from Thoroughbred racing in North America last year were nominated for the 2024 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year, a distinction determined by fan voting and recognized at the annual Eclipse Awards, according to a press release from the NTRA on Thursday morning. Voting is now open on the NTRA website and via X, where every retweet or use of the official hashtag for the moments as presented on the @NTRA account will be counted as one vote. The FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized during the 54th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Presented by John Deere, Keeneland, and The Jockey Club at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Jan. 23. Fans are permitted to vote for multiple moments, but there is a limit of one vote per moment for each X account. Subsequent votes from an account will be disqualified and the casting of ballots must be received by Jan. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The eligible 2024 moments were selected to demonstrate the various equine and human achievements, as well as human emotions, exhibited throughout the year. The story of Cody's Wish was the recipient last year. Click here to view the entries and to vote. The post Voting Opens For FanDuel-NTRA Moment Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/8m, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET CHOWSER (Constitution), a $200,000 purchase out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, carries the silks of Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables in this trip to the races. A late April foal, the chestnut is a full-brother to 2021 GIII Oklahoma Derby winner and GI Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Warrant and a half to GII Barbara Fritchie Stakes heroine Ms Locust Point (Dialed In), each of whom won their maiden at second asking over six furlongs. The colt's dam Whisper Number (First Samurai), who passed away in 2024, is a half-sister to GSP Speightful Affair (Speightstown), the dam of the popular 11-time stakes winner and Grade III-placed New York-bred Mr Buff (Friend or Foe) and a pair of additional stakes performers. TJCIS PPs The post Friday Insights: Well-Related Constitution Colt Debuts Going Long appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2020 Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) has been retired from racing, part-owner Nick Williams confirmed to Racing.com on Thursday. The son of Galileo (Ire) was a 25-1 shot when providing trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record eighth Derby win, having gained his first career victory in a maiden at the Curragh only seven days earlier. His pillar-to-post success at Epsom, when beating Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) by five and a half lengths, was also achieved in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, causing the Classic to be run behind closed doors for the first time in its history. Serpentine failed to add to his tally in five further starts for O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, before being gelded after his sale to continue his racing career in Australia. He won three races during his time down under, including last year's G3 Neville Selwood Stakes when in the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, having initially been trained by Robert Hickmott. The post Derby Winner Serpentine Retired from Racing in Australia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this monthly BH interview, Karen M. Johnson profiles young racing personalities.View the full article

What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Saturday, January 4, 2025 First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing in Victoria heads down the highway to Geelong on Saturday afternoon, where a bumper 10-race meeting awaits punters. The $300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) and Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) headline the program set to be run on a Good 4, with the rail in its true position throughout. The first on a massive day of racing at Geelong is set to go at 12:20pm AEDT. Coastal Classic Tip: Dashing Dashing was not at his best in the Listed Lord Stakes (1600m) on the Caulfield Heath track, but in a field where he looks likely to lead from the outset, he looks well-placed by Aaron Purcell. The five-year-old gelding will need to be quick out of the barriers, having drawn the widest barrier (7), but with Craig Newitt on board, they should have no issue finding the rail. With key rivals Holymanz and Riot And Rose looking to run on from the rear, if Newitt can pinch a cheap sectional or two, Dashing will prove too hard to run down in the Coastal Classic. Coastal Classic Race 8 – #3 Dashing (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Aaron Purcell | J: Craig Newitt (57.5kg) +320 with Dabble Black Pearl Stakes Tip: Bizot Bizot is a lightly-raced four-year-old mare, and if she is anywhere near her best, she has the capability to finish over the top of her rivals in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes. The Archie Alexander-trained mare flashed home down the heart of the track at Ballarat on December 7 when beaten less than a length in a similar field to what she faces here. With a breakneck speed expected, the race sets up perfectly for Bizot to camp out the back and thunder home late to snare victory. Black Pearl Stakes Race 9 – #13 Bizot (5) 4yo Mare | T: Archie Alexander | J: Daniel Stackhouse (56kg) +500 with Playup Best Bet at Geelong: Don’t Hope Do The Simon Zahra-trained Don’t Hope Do was a dominant BM74 winner at Ballarat on January 7 when finding the lead early and kicking clear to score by 2.3 lengths over 1100m. The four-year-old gelding draws widest in barrier 10, but looks almost certain to land outside of expected leader Philosopher. Jordan Childs should not have to work too hard to find that spot in running, and if Don’t Hope Do can offer a similar kick when asked for the ultimate effort, he will not be for catching. Best Bet Race 5 – #10 Don’t Hope Do (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Simon Zahra | J: Jordan Childs (54.5kg) +240 with Neds Next Best at Geelong: Gallant Prince Gallant Prince has only been run down in the shadows of the winning post at both of his starts this campaign, but strikes a race where he should be able to dictate proceedings throughout. The four-year-old gelding is blessed with plenty of speed out of the barriers, which should negate barrier 12 perfectly. Appentice Jett Stanley hops on board claiming 2kg on Saturday, and with two wins and three placings at the 1400m, Gallant Prince looks set to run his rivals off their feet this time around at $4.40 with Blondebet. Next Best Race 3 – #12 Gallant Prince (12) 4yo Gelding | T: Clayton Douglas | J: Jett Stanley (a2) (56.5kg) +340 with BlondeBet Best Value at Geelong: Chimed Chimed is racing in fine form in recent times, winning three of his last four starts, and looks poised to add to that record in the Geelong opener. The Symon Wilde-trained stayer disposed of his rivals with relative ease at Hamilton needing to lug 60.5kg in a BM64, and as he steps into BM70 company, is set to appreciate the 1kg drop in the weights in tougher company. Will Gordon will look to hold a prominent position from barrier three, and with even luck when building through the gears, Chimed presents great each-way with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 1 – #3 Chimed (3) 6yo Gelding | T: Symon Wilde | J: Will Gordon (59.5kg) +800 with Picklebet Saturday quaddie tips for Geelong Geelong quadrella selections Saturday, January 4, 2025 1-3-4-7-9 1-2-3 7-8-9-13 2-4-10-15 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article