Wandering Eyes

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker is back at Saratoga Race Course to defend his title in the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 27. View the full article

From falling into a sinkhole to racecourse success in the space of 12 days—that is the remarkable story of 6-year-old Mr Changue in Canada. View the full article

Hudson River Farms’ Winston C (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has talent, but he appeared to be in deep water Thursday in Saratoga Race Course’s $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase S. After all, the 5-year-old had begun the year as a maiden over fences, and he was lining up against 11 formidable contenders, including two horses making their first starts in the U.S. In his favor, and a positive in the eyes of Saratoga bettors, was his trainer, Racing Hall of Fame member Jonathan Sheppard. The renowned horseman, now 78, had had his streak of 47 years with at least one Saratoga victory end in 2015, but the bettors know that he can strike at any time. And strike he did, with a horse coming into his own and a young jockey, Thomas Garner, who helped Winston C to overcome early difficulties. With a steady move down Saratoga’s backstretch, Winston C drew into contention entering the final turn, grabbed the lead early in the stretch, and won by a widening 3 1/2 lengths. Foxtrot NH Racing Partnership’s Vosne Romanee (GB) (Arakan), making his first run in the U.S., kept pace with Winston C into midstretch and finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Harold A. Via Jr.’s longshot Hinterland (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}). Riverdee Stable’s Gibralfaro (Ire) (Dakakhani {Ire}) finished fourth, another 4 1/2 lengths farther back. All three are trained by Jack Fisher. Winston C represented a hometown win for Hudson River Farms, which is owned by Edward Swyer, an Albany developer and longtime steeplechase owner. Mostly, though, it was a tribute to Sheppard’s master touch. Justifiably pegged at 6–1 on the morning line, Winston C went off as the $3.35-to-1 second betting pick, a few dollars behind Irvin S. Naylor’s newcomer Bedrock (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who also was $3.35-to-1 and tired to finish sixth after contending at the top of the lane. In his American debut, Winston C had finished a good third in the Iroquois Steeplechase’s Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle for novices May 11, so he still had novice conditions and could have gone in Wednesday’s $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes, which Garner won aboard Redicean (GB) (Medicean {GB}) for trainer Leslie Young. But Sheppard decided to go for the brass ring and double the purse. “He ran well in his last start at Iroquois in Tennessee, and I thought he was well enough to come back and enter here, and he showed it today,” Sheppard said. Indeed, Winston C closed with a rush in the Nashville race after leaving himself with too much to do. Garner, who rode him in the Marcellus Frost, planned to be in midfield for the Smithwick. But Winston C broke slowly and wasn’t jumping well as Naylor’s Sempre Medici (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) set a vigorous pace on the front end. Garner took his mount back and let him settle. “I just wanted to get him in rhythm and make sure he was doing his job properly, so I put a pull on him,” Garner said. “I got his confidence going and got him back jumping.” Bedrock, ridden by Sean McDermott, made the first move on the final run down Saratoga’s backstretch, followed by Vosne Romanee and then Winston C. Sempre Medici led over the last fence and ran on into the final turn before beginning to tire. Winston C and Vosne Romanee began to separate themselves from the rest of the field in midstretch, with Winston C leading by a length at the furlong pole and Vosne Romanee up by two lengths over Bedrock. Through the final 200 yards, Winston C proved to have the superior speed, much to trainer Sheppard’s delight. “I’m not going to say I expected that flat run from him, but I hoped for it. He’s a little quicker than the average European steeplechase type,” he said. Winston C ran the Smithwick’s 2 1/16 miles in 3:45.99 on a firm turf course before a deluge soaked the track and forced the cancellation of the program after the fourth race. Thursday, Saratoga A. P. SMITHWICK MEMORIAL STEEPLECHASE S., (NB) $150,000, Saratoga, 7-25, 4yo/up, 2 1/16mT, 3:45.99, fm. 1–WINSTON C (IRE), 144, g, 5, Rip Van Winkle (Ire)– Pitrizza (Ire), by Machiavellian. (80,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; 55,000gns Ylg ’15 TAOCT; 30,000gns 4yo ’18 TATFEB). O-Hudson River Farms; B-Patrick F. Kelly (IRE); T-Jonathan E. Sheppard; J-Thomas Garner. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 19-6-1-6, $187,893. *1/2 to Snow Watch (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), SW-Ire, Vilasol (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), GSP-Ire. 2–Vosne Romanee (GB), 150, g, 8, Arakan–Vento Del Oreno (Fr), by Lando (Ger). (800gns Ylg ’12 TATFEB; £4,500 Ylg ’12 DONNOV). O-Foxtrot NH Racing Partnership; B-Mrs L. M. G. Walsh (GB); T-Jack O. Fisher. $27,000. 3–Hinterland (Fr), 142, g, 11, Poliglote (GB)–Queen Place (Fr), by Diamond Prospect. O-Harold A. Via, Jr.; B-Eric Aubree & Christian Bresson (FR); T-Jack O. Fisher. $15,000. Margins: 3HF, 3/4, 4HF. Odds: 3.35, 5.50, 33.25. Also Ran: Gibralfaro (Ire), All the Way Jose, Bedrock (GB), No Wunder (GB), Sempre Medici (Fr), Peppay Le Pugh (Ire), Belisarius (Ire), Modem (GB), Show Court (Ire). Scratched: Portrade (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Winston C Prevails in A. P. Smithwick appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a half-sister to Magnificent Song (Unbridled’s Song). 1.50 Ascot, Novice, £10,400, 2yo, f, 7fT QUEEN DAENERYS (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) was a $500,000 Keeneland September graduate who is a half-sister to four stakes performers headed by the GI Gardeny City Breeders’ Cup S. heroine Magnificent Song (Unbridled’s Song). Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s February-foaled bay is saddled by Roger Varian meets some choice bluebloods including Qatar Racing’s newcomer Stars in the Sky (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a William Haggas-trained €525,000gns Goffs Orby daughter of the G3 Fred Darling S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Maureen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The post Observations: July 26, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

From all appearances, Hudson River Farms' Winston C richly deserved his 6-to-1 morning-line odds for Thursday's $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Oklahoma native John Ray James, who raced and stood grade 2 winner Dramedy, died July 17. He was 75. View the full article

For La Force to secure what has proven an elusive grade 1 win in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes July 28 at Del Mar, she'll have to defeat a familiar foe in Paradise Woods and other talented runners. View the full article

Saturday sees Enable take her second step towards her Arc defence when she contests the King George. Ripp Orf looks the pick in the International Stakes, while Get Knotted bids to win the race named after him at York. I think Golden Apollo looks the one in the Dash and Regal Reality will take all […] The post Weekend Preview – Enable Eyes King George Glory appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Gamine (Into Mischief), who sold to Michael Lund Petersen for an auction-record $1.8 million at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale two months ago, continued to train forwardly in Southern California for Bob Baffert. The filly turned in a bullet five-furlong work at Del Mar Thursday, covering the distance from the gate in 1:00.00 (1/48). “She is training like a good one,” Baffert reported. “She’s very classy and has a great mind.” Gamine, out of stakes placed Peggy Jane (Kafwain), worked the co-bullet furlong of :10 flat before Petersen made his record-setting bid at the Midlantic sale. She was consigned to the sale by Bobby Dodd and had been purchased by Brad Grady’s Grand Oaks for $220,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. “She’ll probably make a start in August,” Baffert said when asked about the filly’s expected debut. Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, on behalf of Stonestreet, will offer Gamine’s yearling half-brother by Speightstown (hip 81) at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The post Del Mar Bullet for Midlantic Topper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York Racing Association cancelled the remainder of Thursday’s card at Saratoga–seven races in total–after the day’s fourth race due to severe thunderstorms. The unexpected precipitation rolled in as the horses were approaching the gate for the fourth, a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight event on turf, which was run in a driving rainstorm and won wire-to-wire by Tide of the Sea (English Channel). Initially, the remainder of the day’s grass events were moved to the main track, but following a lengthy delay due to track maintenance as horses were in the paddock for the fifth race, officials decided to cancel the rest of the card. “Due to adverse track conditions caused by extremely heavy rainfall, live racing was cancelled in the best interests of the safety of our equine athletes and horsemen,” NYRA said in a statement. The last cancellation due to rainfall at Saratoga came on GI Whitney S. day last August, when the final two races on the card were cancelled. Live racing resumes Friday at the Spa with a 10-race card, highlighted by the Curlin S. First post is 1 p.m. The post Saratoga Cancels Thursday Card After Four Races Due to Thunderstorms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some two months after finishing heads apart in the Triple Bend Stakes (G2), that race's winner, Air Strike, and runner-up, Cistron, will meet again in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 27 at Del Mar. View the full article

Trainers are often creatures of habit and it is safe to assume that whatever Aidan O’Brien runs in Leopardstown’s G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. is one of his top prospects. Where the likes of Gleneagles (Ire), Churchill (Ire) and Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) led so the stable’s new hope Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) followed on Thursday as he surged to a five-length verdict in the important staging post. Showing a smart burst to get out of a pocket and win a seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh June 27, the 2-5 favourite followed stablemate Toronto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and when sent past approaching the final furlong stretched clear for an emphatic success. “He’s a very exciting colt and this has been a nice race over the years, so hopefully it bodes well for the future,” Ryan Moore commented. “He did it very impressively and hopefully he’ll go on from there. He travelled very comfortably and showed a good turn of foot to put the race to bed very quickly. He was strong through the line and his last furlong was his most impressive.” Armory, who was third on debut behind Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire})–withdrawn from this rematch due to a temperature by Ger Lyons–in a June 13 course-and-distance maiden, was becoming the 13th winner for Aidan O’Brien who said, “You’d be delighted with him and we’ll go for the [G2] Futurity [S. at The Curragh Aug. 23] with him. He’s progressing lovely, he came forward lovely from his first to his second and you’d have to be very happy with him. He looks like a mile would be his trip horse as a three-year-old. You never know, he could stay further, but he’s not short of pace.” The post Galileo’s Armory Takes the Tyros appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mitole, it's all about doing what he does best in his last few races before next season beginning the new phase of his life as a stallion. View the full article

With TDN Rising Star Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) sleepwalking through Thursday’s G3 Jockey Club of Turkey Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown, Ballydoyle’s Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was alert and sprightly in contrast to register an impressive 11th success in the race for Aidan O’Brien. Runner-up to that Jessie Harrington trainee at The Curragh June 27, the chestnut had shown an aptitude for hard graft by breaking her maiden over this course and distance from the subsequent G3 Anglesey S. third Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) July 11. Sent to the front soon after the stalls’ opening by front-running supremo Seamie Heffernan, the 8-1 shot never looked back en route to a 3 1/4-length dismissal of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Unforgetable (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}). Two more from Ballydoyle, So Wonderful (War Front) and the 2-1 favourite Precious Moments (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), were third and fourth in another O’Brien father-son whitewash while Windracer started sluggishly in last and stayed there throughout. The post Galileo’s Love Makes All In the Silver Flash appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The inaugural Sept. 15 The Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland at The Curragh features 10 jockeys that have amassed 75 flat and jump champion titles between them, Pat Smullen announced. Held on the second day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, the race sees four jump jockeys (Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy, Paul Carberry and Charlie Swan) and six flat riders (Pat Smullen, Johnny Murtagh, Richard Hughes, Joseph O’Brien, Kieren Fallon and Ted Durcan) recruited by Smullen, square off going a mile immediately after the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger. All funds raised from the unique race, and other weekend fund-raising activities will be donated to Cancer Trials Ireland, who performs research and conducts pancreatic cancer trials. “To have Ruby and AP riding against each other one more time will be exciting, and when you see Charlie and Paul there too, we really have what many consider four of the greatest Jumps riders of all time,” said Pat Smullen. ” And we have signed up five brilliant Flat champions–Kieren is a hugely popular figure with racegoers here, Johnny, Richard, Joseph and Ted were world-class jockeys with whom I was lucky to share the weigh room. “All of us want to make this a competitive race worth watching and so we will be sourcing horses over the next few weeks. Already we’ve had trainers and owners offering their support and that will be very important because, as well as this being about creating an exciting event over Longines Irish Champions Weekend, my priority is also about raising money for Cancer Trials Ireland, the leading Irish cancer research trials organisation.” The post Stellar Cast for Pat Smullen Champions Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Extreme heat in Britain, and across Europe, presented challenges to Thursday’s racing fixtures, with Southwell eventually making the decision to abandon the last two races of its jumps card. Meetings at Sandown, Yarmouth, Newbury and Doncaster on the flat went off as planned and without a hitch. Southwell had already moved the start of the card forward to 11:25 a.m., with a scheduled completion of 2:30 p.m. in an effort to dodge the hottest part of the day, but acting clerk of the course Charlie Moore said that after 1:30 p.m. the decision to abandon was unanimous. “The last temperature reading we took, which was at the end of race five, was 34.6C and it had effectively gone up a degree a race,” Moore said. “There was no-one eager to go on in the conditions. “We had six vets here, four of our own and two of the British Horseracing Authority, and we were all aware it was getting hotter and it was decided to hold an inquiry into the situation. At that inquiry there was no-one voting against the facts.” Sandown’s Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper pointed out that jumps racing is dealing with more challenging circumstances. “We are not racing beyond a mile-six–Southwell started at two miles and it has very different demands on the horse,” he said. “In terms of our situation here, it wasn’t raised [bringing the meeting forward] as a Flat race meeting as a necessary scenario.” Midway through the day, Cooper said, “We have four veterinary surgeons on duty and a lot of experts of handling the Thoroughbred racehorse in terms of what you might call extreme temperature. They seem comfortable with arrangements in place and how horses are handling things. No concerns have been raised by any professional partner–no trainer, no jockey and none of the experienced veterinary team.” “For all racing, the key thing seems to be having access to cold water as soon as you can in terms of the post-race handling of the horses,” he added. “We have enhanced volumes and accessibility to water. We’ve also got mobile water on vehicles of our own and if there is an incident anywhere, we can get water to the horse.” Trainer Mark Johnston, who is also a veterinarian, had runners at Sandown on Thursday and he said, “We take more precautions than most on a normally hot day. We put these wet sheets on them and we’ve always done that. “We take precautions when we are travelling, which would be far more of a concern to me than on a racecourse. We give them a bit extra water and make sure we throw plenty of water over them.” Frankie Dettori said, “It is the highest temperature I’ve ever ridden in England without a doubt.” “It’s hot,” he added. “We can cope with this though, it is the poor horses that have to run.” “It is hard for us and hard for the horses, but it is one of those things,” said jockey Andrea Atzeni. “I’m lucky I don’t have to waste, but there are jockeys in there that have to be careful with their weight. It is probably not ideal, but we have to get on with it. “Everything that has been put in place to cope with it seems to be fine. We are still racing as hard as we would normally be, with the difference just it being warmer than usual.” The post Heat Challenges British Fixtures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Niarchos Family’s homebred Free Solo (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) was a staying-on third over seven furlongs at Naas in his only prior start July 6 and powered to TDN Rising Stardom upped to one mile in the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden–a race which includes Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) on the honour roll–at Leopardstown on Thursday evening. The 4-1 chance was sharpest into stride from the outside stall and seized immediate control of this return. Scrubbed along off the home turn, he was driven clear approaching the final eighth and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to score by an impressive five lengths from Cabot Hills (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who chinned stablemate Yankee Stadium (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a short head on the line for second. Free Solo, half to a colt foal by Le Havre (Ire), is the first foal produced by a daughter of MG1SW European champion Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}). The homebred chestnut’s unraced dam’s siblings include MGSW G1 Racing Post Trophy second Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Prix du Gros-Chene-winning sire Planet Five (Storm Cat), GIII Modesty H. victress Faufiler (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Beresford S. runner-up Mount Everest (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 2nd-Leopardstown, €17,500, Mdn, 7-25, 2yo, 8fT, 1:44.23, gd. FREE SOLO (IRE), c, 2, by Showcasing (GB) 1st Dam: Amuser (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Six Perfections (Fr), by Celtic Swing (GB) 3rd Dam: Yogya, by Riverman Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, €12,150. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Showcasing’s Free Solo Claims TDN Rising Stardom at Leopardstown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just eight months after retired jockey Rosie Napravnik first initiated talks with both New Vocations and the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (LAHBPA) about creating better aftercare options for retired Thoroughbreds from the state’s four tracks, a satellite facility of the nation’s largest racehorse adoption charity is up and running and has already adopted out five horses while currently housing 10 others awaiting new homes. That’s a pretty quick turnaround from concept to reality. And to underscore how interconnected the lives of racetrackers and racehorses are when it comes to aftercare, Napravnik told TDN she is grateful to see that a durable gelding she rode to back-to-back stakes wins in 2012 and 2013 is currently the star of the barn at Equi-Best Equestrian Center in Covington, where New Vocations has been basing its Louisiana operations since March. Heavy On Themister (Lion Tamer), now 11, was a three-time Louisiana-bred stakes winner over a 68-race career that ended with 15 victories and $725,350 in earnings when he was retired by owner Coby Michael Landry one year ago this week. “He was really cool to ride, very classy,” Napravnik said of the gelding, with whom she partnered to win the Louisiana Champions Day Classic S. at Fair Grounds and the Louisiana-Bred Premier Night Championship S. at Delta Downs prior to her own retirement from the saddle in 2014. “He has the right build, a desirable personality, the soundness, and the brain–just what everybody is looking for in a second-career sport horse,” Napravnik said. “I really loved that horse, and I was so pleased to find out that he would be going through the New Vocations program.” (View Heavy On Themister’s adoption page here.) Anna Ford, the Thoroughbred program director for New Vocations, added that “he’s a nice, classy, what we call ‘war horse.’ The people that donated him really wanted to make sure he got into the right place for his retirement. The amazing thing is, with all his starts and everything he’s done, we only had to give him just a little bit of time off. We did some chiropractic adjustments, just minor things, and he’s one of the sounder horses in our program. “He wants to have a job,” Ford continued. “He just loves interaction with people. The last couple weeks, Equi-Best had a pony camp, so the barn was full of little girls. He just took it all in, and loved the attention–ate it all up. We’ve promoted him as being able to do some jumping, or he could do some dressage or be a trail horse. It’s all about finding that right person who is going to appreciate him for who he is, and partner with him for his next stage of life.” Ford said New Vocations was not specifically looking to open an adoption facility in Louisiana when Napravnik first pitched the idea last autumn. “Although our goal is always continuing to expand and increase our capacity, our next facility was not necessarily going to be in Louisiana,” Ford said. “But we recognize that where there’s a need, we try to help out. So we spent a good four months hashing through funding and location details, and it just came together so well that we knew we just had to open a facility in Louisiana. But it all started with Rosie, because she let us know that there’s a really great need down there, and we go where we’re needed if we can find the right connections, the right facility, and the funding to do it.” Napravnik said that her career switch from being a jockey to an assistant for her husband, trainer Joe Sharp, gave her a different perspective on the adoption needs that are specific to Louisiana. The couple’s home is in Kentucky, but Sharp’s horses are stabled at Fair Grounds for the duration of the track’s five-month winter meet. “I became a little bit more aware of how many horses have issues that might make them not competitive as racehorses, but that don’t prevent them from doing something in a second career,” Napravnik said. “Aftercare has taken such big steps in the last five to seven years that it just became so much more in my face, especially in Louisiana. The horsemen have just been begging for alternatives and outlets for these horses, and I think they’re starting to appreciate having a unique program like New Vocations down there. “There are so few organizations like New Vocations in that area,” Napravnik continued. “There are a lot in Kentucky and on the East Coast, but not down in the southern states. With some of the exploiting of horses that were ending up at livestock auctions in Louisiana and Texas, it just came to a point where it was a big problem, and it was a no-brainer to partner with New Vocations. I’ve always known that I would be involved with an aftercare organization in some way, and with this all the pieces just fell together.” The Covington facility is the eighth New Vocations stable to open since the non-profit racehorse adoption program was founded in 1992 (six cater to Thoroughbreds and two to Standardbreds). Its five other Thoroughbred facilities in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have rehabilitated, retrained, and rehomed nearly 7,000 horses over the better part of three decades, with almost 500 retirees served by the program each year. About 90% of horses are able to be rehomed as “riding sound,” Ford said, most within 60 days of being retrained. All of the New Vocations locations are accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which means the facilities have been determined to have met or exceeded requirements in the areas of operations, education, horse care management, and adoption policies and protocols. Ford said when New Vocations branches out into new states, the preference is to work with a pre-existing facility, like Equi-Best in Covington, which provides not only stabling but oversight by two trainers. “Currently, we have 10 horses there and we’ve already adopted out five others,” Ford said. “Although 10 doesn’t sound like a very big number, our goal is adoption. We want to get the horses rehabbed and adopted into homes so we can take in more horses. Long-term, we would like to have 20 [stalls], and that probably will mean branching out of that facility and utilizing two facilities. Our goal in the next 12 months is to have 40 or 50 horses adopted [out of Louisiana].” New Vocations partners with The Right Horse Initiative, which is a collective of industry professionals and equine welfare advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. “The Right Horse is giving us a grant for $100,000 to help us run the Louisiana facility for the first two years,” Ford said. “We have also received donations from owners Barry and Joni Butzow, Bradley Grady, Andrea Pollack, and trainers Carl Moore and Bret Calhoun.” The post New Vocations Louisiana Aftercare Initiative Hits Full Stride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (ITBA) Management and Development Workshops, delivered by Gateway Consulting, will be held in counties Meath and Tipperary during August. Each three-day workshop, which costs €100 per person, will begin in Co. Tipperary on Tuesday, Aug. 6 and for Co. Meath, Wednesday, Aug. 7, before continuing on subsequent Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Geared towards people working in the Irish Thoroughbred industry, topics covered in the workshops include: developing a business plan, management and leadership, succession planning, financial planning, cost control/measuring profitability/cash flow, marketing, and promotion and communication skills. “We are delighted to be partnering with both Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) Meath and Tipperary on this educational initiative and we would like to thank both LEOs for supporting and co-funding these workshops,” said ITBA’s Kerry Ryan. “We look forward to establishing and nurturing a good work relationship [with] the LEO networks, which has 31 dedicated teams across the country.” The post ITBA Management Development Programme Workshops Scheduled for August appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival programme, worth $12.74 million, was announced by the Dubai Racing Club on Thursday. Meydan plays host over the 10-week carnival which begins Jan. 2 and lasts until Feb. 27 on Thursdays and Saturdays, before the Mar. 7 Super Saturday card. Super Saturday features seven course and distance preps for the $35-million Dubai World Cup night at the end of the month. The newly upgraded $250,000 G2 Singspiel S., formerly a Group 3, has received a purse boost and will be contested on Jan. 9. There are also six $175,000 turf handicaps which have been upgraded to listed status (base rating of 95) that will act as feeder races: Jan. 2 Dubai Racing Club Classic (2410mT) Jan. 2 Meydan Challenge (1400mT) Jan. 16 Zabeel Turf (2000mT) Jan. 23 Dubai Dash (1000mT) Jan. 30 Meydan Cup (2810mT) Feb. 6 Dubai Sprint (1200mT) Click here to view the entire programme. The post 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival Programme Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland will be the title sponsor of the 13th Annual Bluegrass International Cup, a polo match and dinner benefitting the Fayette Alliance Foundation and the UK Markey Cancer Foundation Friday, Sept. 6, at historic Mt. Brilliant Farm near Lexington, the company announced Thursday. “Keeneland is delighted to become the title sponsor of the Bluegrass International Cup, which is three days before the start of our world renowned September Yearling Sale,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “This exciting event will enhance the experience of our sales clients while they are in Lexington and allow us to support two entities that are tremendously important to the unique fabric of our area. Keeneland’s connection to the Bluegrass International Cup is a perfect fit.” Since 2007, the Bluegrass International Cup has featured high-goal polo, food and live music in support of key Lexington nonprofits. The event has raised more than $1 million for the Fayette Alliance Foundation and the UK Markey Cancer Foundation. The night before the Bluegrass International Cup, Evening in the Gardens, will feature gourmet food and signature cocktails. Table sponsorships may be secured by contacting info@fayettealliance.com. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.fayettealliance.com. The post Keeneland to Sponsor Bluegrass International Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has partnered with Old Smoke Clothing Company to create off-track Thoroughbred-themed T-shirts. Four different designs are available, each one creatively showcasing OTTBs or the TAA brand. The T-shirts retail for $32 each, which includes a small kickback to the TAA, and are now available for purchase on OldSmokeClothing.com/TAA. “The TAA is thrilled to partner with Old Smoke. We love the products that they have created, and we thought this would be a great opportunity to highlight off-track Thoroughbreds and aftercare in a fun way,” TAA marketing manager Erin Shea said. “We are beyond excited to partner with TAA and be able to provide our part to support the aftercare of these great animals that define our sport. It is our hope that these fresh new designs through this partnership can help raise more awareness of this amazing organization,” Old Smoke co-founder Kurt Rossner said. The post TAA Partners With Old Smoke to Offer OTTB-Themed T-Shirts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Downs is moving the starting time for its first race to 12:15 p.m. Central, up from 1:25 p.m. in recent years. This year’s meet runs Aug. 31 and Sept. 5, 7, 8 and 12 over the all-grass track on the Tennessee border. “It just makes sense for a variety of reasons,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ senior vice president and general manager. “We have become one of America’s premier racing products. Knowing that, we want to make our races as convenient as possible to the most horseplayers possible. Our opening day overlaps closing weekend at Saratoga and Del Mar. The earlier post time lets us start early with Saratoga and also get more races in before Del Mar begins. Also, since so many of our horses, horsemen and a significant number of our guests come in from Louisville, Lexington, and the East Coast time zone, the earlier start allows them to get home at a reasonable time.” The post Kentucky Downs Moves Post Times Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Last out G1 St James’s Palace S. winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented for next Wednesday’s G1 Sussex S. at Glorious Goodwood at a cost of £70,000, taking the purse for the one-mile contest to £1,059,250. Circus Maximus could be joined by a pair of Aidan O’Brien stablemates: the Group 2-winning filly I Can Fly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and listed winner Never No More (Ire) (No Nay Never). Circus Maximus is set to face some formidable competition from the Classic generation, with Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) the current favourite and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) also still engaged. The older brigade could include the last two winners of the G1 Queen Anne S., Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) and Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), as well as this year’s G1 Prix d’Ispahan winner Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The post Circus Maximus Supplemented For Sussex appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura and Sapporo Racecourses and featuring the first Japanese starter for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah: Saturday, July 27, 2019 5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1500mT CLEPAT (f, 2, American Pharoah–Intelyhente, by Smart Strike), a $310K Keeneland September purchase last fall, becomes the first Japanese starter for the Horse of the Year and Triple Crown hero. A half-sister to SP Count Alexander (Scat Daddy) and to recent Prairie Meadows maiden winner Mr. Ankeny (Into Mischief), the April foal is out of a full-sister to MGSW Bel Air Beauty, the dam of Sovereign Award winner Stacked Deck (First Samurai) and GSP Valentino Beauty (Vindication). American Pharoah’s six winners to date include G3 Prix du Bois victor Maven. B-William Duignan & Tranquility Investments Limited (KY) 6th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT PINGXIANG (c, 2, Speightstown–Beauty and Light, by Unbridled’s Song), a $300K in utero purchase at KEENOV in 2016, was knocked down for $100K at last year’s KEESEP sale and is out of an unraced half-sister to MGSP Snowboarder (Raven’s Pass). The colt’s third dam, La Comete (Holy Bull), is a half-sister to GISW Icon Project (Empire Maker) and is, of course, the dam of Speightstown’s top stallion son Munnings and his MSW & MGSP full-sister Munnings Sister. Beauty In Light was resold for $260K in foal to Honor Code this year at KEEJAN and has since produced a filly. B-Dream With Me Stables Inc (KY). Sunday, July 28, 2019 6th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($123k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m FULLEREN (JPN) (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Dust and Diamonds, by Vindication) is a full-sister to Much Better, a $600K KEENOV weanling who was stakes placed at two and has placed in graded stakes both short and long this season. The filly’s dam, a dual graded-stakes winning sprinter and runner-up to Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band) in the 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, followed Much Better into the ring at KEENOV and was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for an even $1 million. Dust and Diamonds is the dam of a yearling colt by Deep Impact (Jpn) and a colt foal by Heart’s Cry (Jpn). B-Northern Farm SEREIN (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Tiz Miz Sue, by Tiznow), a $500K KEESEP acquisition, is the latest foal from the 2013 GI Ogden Phipps H. winner, whose 2016 produce, Tatweej (Tapit), was hammered down for $2.5 million at KEESEP in 2017. The filly’s graded-stakes winning second dam Sue’s Good News (Woodman) is also the dam of Bulletin (City Zip), winner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last November. Third dam Montera (Easy Goer) produced MSW & MGSP Easyfromthegitgo (Dehere). B-CresRan LLC (KY) The post Notable US-Bred/Sired Runners in Japan: July 27 & 28, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article