Wandering Eyes

Early scratching June 28 View the full article

The Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) at Hastings on Saturday has attracted a strong line-up and local training partners Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal are hoping they can breakthrough with two previous placegetters. Shinko King gelding No Change finished runner-up in last year’s edition of the race, while stablemate Ooee recorded the same result in 2016. The pair will line-up against 12 other contenders, which include dual Group One winner and last-start Awapuni Hurdles (2900m... View the full article

When trainer Josie Carroll looks back on her 35-year career in Thoroughbred racing, she can’t believe all that she has accomplished. She made history in 2006 when she saddled Plate winner Edenwold (Southern Halo) to victory, becoming the first woman trainer to accomplish that feat. She added to that in 2011 when she recorded her second win, this time with the filly Inglorious (Hennessy). She will be looking to record her third victory in this year’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack June 29 with one of two starters – Avie’s Flatter (Flatter), last year’s champion 2-year-old male horse in Canada, and He’s a Macho Man (Mucho Macho Man). Carroll’s tenacity to pursue a career in the sport is quite fascinating. Her father was a builder of subdivisions and she was raised by a close friend of her mother’s after her mother died of breast cancer when Josie was only 1 1/2 years old. “It’s a convoluted story,” Carroll said. “She was just very close to my mother. As she was going through (her cancer battle) and my father was running a company, her close friend was looking after me and then ended up raising me. I remained close to my mother and the rest of my family, but the mom that raised me was (a family friend). She was just this wonderful, independent, confident woman. That point of confidence is what she gave me. She was supportive of everything I did.” Carroll recalled that at age nine or 10 she started following Thoroughbred racing through newspaper coverage. She began handicapping races by looking at the entries and picking names of horses. “It always intrigued me,” she said. “I was just fascinated. There was something about these Thoroughbred horses that once you get exposed to them, you’re hooked. All I can say is this was my destiny. I was meant to do this because as long as I can remember I was fascinated with racing. I went through the typical stuff with riding lessons. I was interested in horses in general, but I had this specific passion for racing. I still have piles of scrapbooks of every picture of stakes-winning horses. Every weekend I’d cut those photos out of the newspapers. For me it was all horses.” No one within her family had an interest or career in horse racing. To further her career in horses, she enrolled in a two-year equine program at a college near Woodbine. Part of the program included a field placement that she says “kind of got me into this world.” She worked for veterinarian Dr. Darryl Bonder, participating in surgeries. It wasn’t her specific goal to become a trainer at that time. “I just happened to have a passion for horses,” she said. “I just wanted to be at the track. I wanted to be around these horses.” Her first experience working daily with horses came as a groom for trainer John Tammaro, who was conditioning for Kinghaven Farms and had a reputation for claiming horses and developing them into stakes winners. He taught her how to take care of the cheap horses as much as the good ones. “You have to be exposed to a lot of horses,” she said. “If you are really ambitious in this business you need to work for people who have some numbers because the more opportunities you have to see the things that go right and go wrong, the more you are going to learn.” He gave her the opportunity to become his assistant trainer. She worked helping to train horses in Ocala and stayed in the U.S. for a few years. When she returned home for her sister’s wedding and decided to take a month’s vacation, she needed her “horse fix” and walked hots for trainer Mike Doyle, Canada’s trainer of the year in 1984 and a conditioner of multiple Canadian champions. Doyle was impressed with Carroll’s skills and offered her a job as assistant trainer. In 1993, Doyle ran Wild Gale (Wild Again) in the U.S. Triple Crown and the colt placed third in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S. Carroll was at the Derby and recalled the experience of escorting the horse on to the track and the magnitude of it all, especially hearing My Old Kentucky Home. “It sort of brought tears to my eyes,” she said. She wasn’t caught up in the criticisms by some media members who thought Doyle had no business running the colt in the race. “I was living the moment,” she said. “I don’t think I even thought of ‘do we have a chance, don’t we have a chance.’ I was just excited to be there with a live horse.” The following year, Doyle was hired by Frank Stronach to be his racing manager and Carroll’s training career began. Doyle recommended to many of his clients, including Stronach, to give their horses to Carroll. “I just really believe everything happens for a reason and a purpose,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of great experiences here, but my pure moment in racing came when Edenwold won the Plate.” A Canadian champion at two, Edenwold was not expected to win the Plate because there were doubts by some pundits he could be competitive at a mile and a quarter. He was a 16-1 long shot. “As he came back past the crowd [after winning], you heard that wave of applause and that was just about appreciation for that horse in that moment and I never forgot that,” she said. “It was a very moving moment to show that appreciation for this horse you had the privilege of training. That was a big moment. I always had confidence in that horse to [win at a mile and one quarter]. He did whatever you asked him to do. He was just one of those honest, honest horses that give you everything he had. “I thought he was going to run really, really well that day. It never crossed my mind he wouldn’t get a mile and a quarter.” It was a historical moment becoming the first woman to train a Plate winner, but she didn’t think of it in terms of gender. “I appreciate that fact – that that’s a historic fact – but I always just wanted to be a good horse trainer, not a good woman horse trainer,” she said. “I think that’s what all of us feel. You don’t want to feel like you’re in a competition with other women in the sport. You’re in competition with every trainer out there to get the best horses you can and do the best you can. That’s just the way I always felt and the way I was raised to believe you can do whatever you wanted. “It was a great moment [to win the Plate]. It was a dream of mine; a dream accomplished.” Carroll remembered the victory by Inglorious, the Woodbine Oaks winner that was the lone filly in the field of 17, for how she remained calm and collected on what was a blistering hot day. “A lot of the horses were getting hot and agitated, but this filly had a great mind on her,” Carroll said. “Finally she got fed up with being in [the walking ring] and she suddenly put her head down and started to eat the grass. We had to pull her head up and it was just at that moment I said this filly is going to run lights-out this day. She is taking all this so in stride where every other horse is getting agitated.” In August, Carroll will make history again becoming the first female Thoroughbred trainer to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. She has often said she considers herself a trainer who happens to be a woman rather than a woman trainer. But the reality is she became a full-time trainer in 1994 at a time when there were few woman trainers at Woodbine and, by extension, throughout North America. That has certainly changed at Woodbine, where there are many woman trainers, many of them in the top 15 in terms of wins and/or earnings. “I don’t recall being treated as a woman trainer up here,” she said. “I think to be successful training horses, [first of all] you have to get results. It’s a competitive sport and owners want results and I don’t think they are gender-biased up here. I think maybe it took longer for women in the United States to get the opportunity than we did in Canada. I think we were more forward earlier on. “I like to think that anybody that comes to work here that wants to do something in the future I’m always there to help. I got a lot of help myself coming up from the people I worked for. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for some of the great trainers I worked for.” Carroll has accomplished more than she ever dreamed starting out in the business. “I think I set smaller goals and every time you reach one, you found new goals,” she said. “Winning the Queen’s Plate would have been one of the first goals. It’s something you grew up watching, and once you did that, you want more.” Her biggest accomplishment may have been the unusual way she became a horse person. The post Josie Carroll is “A Good Horse Trainer, Not a Good Woman Horse Trainer’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Breeders’ Cup ended months of uncertainty when announcing Thursday that the 2019 event will be run at Santa Anita, as had been originally planned. The announcement included a statement, which read: “Foremost among the core values of the Breeders’ Cup are the safety and integrity of the competition and we hold ourselves, our host sites and our competitors, to the highest standards of both. It is clear that meaningful and effective reforms and best practices have been implemented in recent months at Santa Anita through the collective efforts of The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, and the California Horse Racing Board,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup. “We fully embrace those reforms and will devote our time and energy in the coming months to further advance those efforts. We look forward to showing the world the best in Thoroughbred racing at one of its finest venues.” Whether or not the Breeders’ Cup should leave Santa Anita and be held at an alternate track became an increasingly thorny issue not just for the Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita, but for the entire sport when the number of equine fatalities began to pile up at the recently concluded meet. Thirty horses had to be euthanized at the meet, which put the inherent dangers of the sport under a microscope and caused a media firestorm and harsh criticism from animal rights groups. While concrete answers as to why the number of fatalities spiked at the meet have yet to be reached, some horsemen argued that there was something wrong with the racing surface. There was widespread speculation within the industry that should the Breeders’ Cup decide to take the event away from Santa Anita, it would be moved to Churchill Downs. But while Churchill might have seemed a logical alternative because of its history of handling big events such as the Breeders’ Cup itself and the GI Kentucky Derby, holding the races there also involved obvious risks, as recent news reports indicated Churchill might have safety problems of its own. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Churchill Downs lost 43 Thoroughbreds to racing injuries between 2016 and this March. That amounts to 2.42 per 1,000-start average, about 50% higher than the national average during the same three-year span. The decision was made at a regularly scheduled meeting in Lexington of the Breeders’ Cup Board. The Board consists of 14 members and, according to the press release, it reached a unanimous decision. During the troubled Santa Anita meet that ended June 23, management instituted several measures in an attempt to make racing safer at the Arcadia oval. Many involved putting together a team of veterinarians who were assigned the task of examining every horse as closely as possible before they were allowed to race or work out. They also took a tougher stand on trainers, going so far as to ban Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer after a horse he trained named American Currency became the fourth under his care to die at the meet. Fred Hertrich, the chairman of the Breeders’ Cup board, made it clear that the entire board was impressed by the steps Santa Anita had taken to make the sport as safe as possible and that that weighed into its decision. “As far as what the Breeders’ Cup board decided, we were very impressed by what The Stronach Group has done as far as how hard it has worked to address the problems that it faced and everything it has done to combat them,” Hertrich said. “Kudos to The Stronach Group for taking a lead when it comes to everything that has to do with safety issues involving this sport. I hope what they are doing is viewed as a template for the rest of the sport as we move forward to make the sport as safe as possible for the horses and jockeys. I am just so happy that the industry is now looking at these issues and saying, ‘You know what, we have to do a better job than we have been doing.’ This is not just about the Breeders’ Cup. This entire industry is starting to say we need to look at what is going on and get a handle on things.” Belinda Stronach, the chairman and president of The Stronach Group, addressed the board before it voted. Following the Breeders’ Cup’s announcement, she issued a statement thanking the board. “Thank you to the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors for their support today in reaffirming their commitment to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita this November,” she said. “Santa Anita and The Stronach Group remain steadfast in our commitment to put the health and safety of the horses and riders above all else and we are pleased that the Breeders’ Cup Board recognized and shares in that goal. We also thank our state’s industry stakeholders, including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the California Horse Racing Board, along with the hard-working men and women who work directly with the horses, and those employees who take care of our customers, for embracing the reforms that have been put in place this winter at Santa Anita as we collectively work towards making California racing the safest and best in the world.” Even PETA, the animal rights group that at times has harshly criticized Santa Anita and horse racing in general, applauded the Breeders’ Cup’s decision to keep the event at its original location. “Who could possibly have thought that it was a good idea to move the Breeders’ Cup from a track that is trying to stop the carnage to one with an even more shameful record of fatalities?,” PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement. “The Breeders’ Cup board made the right decision. Now, it should disallow trainers with multiple medication violations from all races.” Keeneland also weighed in, issuing a statement from its president and CEO Bill Thomason applauding the Breeders’ Cup’s decision. “Keeneland fully supports the decision of the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors to keep the 2019 World Championships at Santa Anita,” Thomason said. “We know it was not undertaken lightly, and required extensive thought and discussion by all parties involved. Given the continued reforms implemented by The Stronach Group for the safety of horses and jockeys, Santa Anita has positioned itself to be an appropriate host site for this year’s World Championships. The Breeders’ Cup has the best interest of our equine and human athletes at the heart of every decision it makes, and this one is no exception.” The NTRA and Del Mar also issued statements supporting the Breeders’ Cup’s decision. Fravel said the focus needs to be on doing everything possible to make sure there are no problems at this year’s Breeders’ Cup and he expressed confidence that the Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita teams will do whatever it takes to have a safe two days of racing. “I am not sitting around every day worrying about the what ifs or what might happen,” he said. “We will focus on making sure it is safe. We believe it is safe now, but I think the protocols and the veterinary scrutiny that horses who come to the Breeders’ Cup are under is as good, if not better, than anywhere in the world. We will have 14 regulatory veterinarians on site a week before, looking at horses throughout the week. We will have out-of-competition testing throughout the summer. There will be no stone unturned in order to make sure things go well. I am going to have faith in that. Obviously, during the races, as I do every year, I will be watching very carefully and hoping for the best, but I am not going to dwell on anything other than seeing that we do everything we can to make sure everything works.” Fravel added that with the decision of whether or not to keep the event at Santa Anita behind the Breeders’ Cup team, he is looking forward to “getting to work.” “There have been a lot of moving parts over the last four or five months, some trauma and some great progress being made,” he said. “So now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and work with Santa Anita to move this forward. Whenever you are operating under a little bit of uncertainty, that makes things hard. So now we have a clear path and clear sailing and our goal is to put on the best event that we can.” The post Breeders’ Cup Board Votes To Keep 2019 Event at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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A pair of French-based gallopers, each exiting efforts in Group 1 company, are set to travel over to the U.S. in the coming days ahead of next week’s GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and GI Belmont Derby Invitational. Trainer Pascal Bary confirmed that Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is an intended runner in the Oaks, the first leg of the newly minted Turf Triple Tiara, July 6. Owned by Gerard Augustin-Normand, Olendon, a €65,000 graduate of the 2017 Arqana V.2 Yearling Sale, the chestnut filly won her maiden at second asking at Deauville last July 4 and earned her first black-type victory in the Listed Prix Finlande at ParisLongchamp Apr. 28. Dispatched at 49-1 in the G1 Coolmore Prix Saint Alary at ParisLongchamp May 26, she settled near the back of the pace and stayed on nicely to finish second to the well-regarded odds-on favorite Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). John Velazquez has the call in the Oaks. Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), sixth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), has joined the Chad Brown barn and is listed as a possible starter in the Belmont Derby. The colt, runner-up in the G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp in April, was purchased by BSW Bloodstock’s Brad Weisbord on behalf of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables prior to the French Derby. “Right now, we’re pointing for the Belmont Derby,” Weisbord said. “He breezed last weekend for Chad. [Hall of Fame jockey] John Velazquez worked him and will have the mount if he ends up running. He is going to breeze again on the turf and Chad will make the final decision on whether or not he does run.” Rockemperor, a €50,000 Arqana August Yearling and €12,000 Arqana May breezer, is a two-time winner from his seven career appearances, having graduated at first asking at the seaside Hyeres Racecourse in extreme southern France last September before annexing a Feb. 23 allowance over the all-weather track at Cagnes-sur-Mer. The post French Runners Aiming For Belmont Oaks, Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Steve Landers Racing’s Josie (Race Day–Spirited Away, by Awesome Again), the 4-5 favorite, became the second winner for her freshman sire with a confident wire-to-wire tally in the first race at Churchill Downs Thursday evening. The gray filly sprinted to the early lead along the rail and tugged her way through an opening quarter in :21.56. She was 2 1/2 lengths in front after a half in :45.01 and strode home an easy three-length victress. She’s All Wolfe (Magna Graduate) closed late for second and Weekend Fun (More Than Ready) was third. Josie was second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magic Dance (More Than Ready) as the 3-5 favorite in her five-furlong debut at Churchill Downs June 7. A half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Prospective (Malibu Moon), Josie was a $170,000 OBS March graduate this year and sold for $80,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $76,000. O-Steve Landers Racing LLC. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (Ky). T-Brad Cox. The post Race Day Filly Scores at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It might not yet be time for fans of Pimlico Race Course to celebrate. But for the first time in a long time, there's a possibility that the light at the end of Old Hilltop's tunnel is not that of an oncoming train. View the full article

Caribou Club, Synchrony, and Holy Helena are some of the favored feature runners in the undercard races on the Queen's Plate card at Woodbine June 29 in a trio of turf battles. View the full article

3.15 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT ROYAL DORNOCH (IRE) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is a half-brother to the G2 German 1000 Guineas and GII New York S. winner Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) who cost 240,000gns as a Tattersalls December yearling. One of two for Ballydoyle, the April-foaled bay is joined by the likely favourite Masteroffoxhounds (War Front), a relative of Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who shaped with distinct promise when third on debut at Leopardstown last month. The post June 28 Observations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ralph and Lauren Evans’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Diversify will take up residence at Old Friends Equine, the renowned Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. Trained throughout his career by the late Rick Violette, Jr., New York-bred Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2018 GI Whitney S. in his trademark front-running fashion. Turned over to Jonathan Thomas following Violette’s passing last October, Diversify was training towards a 6-year-old campaign and was nearing a return to action when he suffered a suspensory injury and was retired. “Michael Blowen and Mr. Evans got together and the decision was made for him to go to Old Friends and live out his life in the spotlight,” said Thomas. “It’s a tremendous facility and Mr. Blowen has done incredible things with allowing fans to have access to these star horses. I think it’s also really good for the horses. Diversify is a horse that loves attention and being acknowledged. This is the beginning of a new story for him.” Old Friends already has a presence in New York and Blowen said he is looking at opening a second facility in the state. “If we can get the money together, I would like to name the location after Rick Violette the way we named the farm in Greenfield Center at Cabin Creek after Bobby Frankel,” said Blowen. “Rick and I used to talk about aftercare all the time and he was an avid supporter of looking after horses when they were done racing. It would be an honor to name the new place after him. We already have King Kreesa, Lubash and Kharafa and, of course, Commentator. We have all these great New York-breds and it will be so great to show them off.” The post Diversify Joins Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After a meeting of and discussion with its Board of Directors June 27 in Lexington, Breeders' Cup affirmed by unanimous decision its commitment to conduct the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Nov. 1-2. 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 Fukushima and Hakodate Racecourses, where three members of the fairer sex look to make their mark: Saturday, June 29, 2019 3rd-FUK, ¥9,550,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200mT PARIS TESORO (f, 3, Declaration of War–Patricias Prospect, by A.P. Indy) has run with credit in her three trips to the post to date, including a strong runner-up effort from a high draw over this course and distance when last spotted Apr. 6 (video, gate 15). Produced by a full-sister to top sire Malibu Moon who cost $1.3 million as a FTSAUG yearling in 2006, the $25,000 KEENOV weanling and €80,000 ARQAUG yearling is a half-sister to SP Tweeting (Uncle Mo) and was RNAd in utero for $60,000 at KEENOV in 2015. B-A Bayle, C Bigheart, S Gross et al (KY) Sunday, June 30, 2019 6th-HAK, ¥9,550,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000mT MARECHIARE (f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–K. D.’s Shady Lady, by Maria’s Mon), a debut third to future Group 3 winner Val d’Isere (Jpn) Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last November, lost her way a bit in three subsequent appearances, but exits a much-improved second-place effort at this venue two weeks back. A half-sister to GISW Lady of Fifty (After Market) and SWs Lady Fifty Two (Kodiak Kowboy) and Forestry Steel (Forestry), the bay was a $150K KEESEP buyback turned $300K OBSMAR juvenile. B-Dixiana Farms LLC 10th-HAK, ¥28,600,000 ($265k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m MAKE HAPPY (f, 3, Square Eddie–Silar Rules, by Ten Most Wanted), a full-sister to GISW Ralis and to MSW & MGSP B Squared, impressed in winning her first two career starts, including the ‘Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby’ Cattleya Sho Nov. 24 (see below, gate 14). A $650K FTFMAR graduate, the California-bred counts GSW Morning Meadow (Meadowlake) as her second dam. B-Reddam Racing LLC (CA) The post Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: June 29 & 30, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will remain at Santa Anita as scheduled, Breeders’ Cup announced Thursday. The release read as follows: After a meeting of and discussion with its Board of Directors today in Lexington, Ky., Breeders’ Cup Limited affirmed by unanimous decision its commitment to conduct the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on November 1-2. This will mark the 10th time the event will be held at Santa Anita, the most of any host venue over the 36-year history of the Breeders’ Cup. “Foremost among the core values of the Breeders’ Cup are the safety and integrity of the competition and we hold ourselves, our host sites and our competitors, to the highest standards of both. It is clear that meaningful and effective reforms and best practices have been implemented in recent months at Santa Anita through the collective efforts of The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, and the California Horse Racing Board,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup. “We fully embrace those reforms and will devote our time and energy in the coming months to further advance those efforts. We look forward to showing the world the best in Thoroughbred racing at one of its finest venues.” The post 2019 Breeders’ Cup to Remain at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Buyers again had to dig deep at the second and final day of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale and similar to the opening session it was a French bred 3-year-old who topped the day and indeed the whole sale when knocked down to Ronnie O’Leary for €220,000. O’Leary had been active at the upper end on Wednesday and he had to see off stiff competition to land the son of Martaline (Fr), offered by Mark Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables as lot 271. “I had to have him,” O’Leary said afterwards. “He is my pick of the sale and I couldn’t let him go. He’s got the walk, the looks, you couldn’t knock him.” French breds continued to be in vogue as Tom Malone slugged it out to acquire lot 334, a Blue Bresil (Fr) gelding from Johnny Collins’s Brown Island Stables for €200,000. The horse is set to join trainer Paul Nicholls and the successful vendor said, “I bought him privately as a foal and he was always a great mover and a lovely type. The pedigree has had a good update as his half-brother has done well, and he has proved that the mare can get runners. We came here thinking he was our biggest hit but I didn’t think he’d go for that much.” At the close of business 337 of the 410 offered lots sold for a clearance rate of 82%. The two day aggregate amounted to €17,068,500 while the average and median came in at €50,648 and €42,000 respectively. The leading purchasers of the sale were the Doyle brothers’ Monbeg Stables who acquired a staggering 32 horses for a total of €1.66m. The post Successful Derby Sale Concludes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The tumultuous winter/spring meet at Santa Anita ended this past Sunday, but the racing action moves to Los Alamitos this Saturday and with it, the eagle eyes of the industry and those beyond. “We’re more concerned because of the spotlight that we have on us,” admitted Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “The spotlight is probably heightened by the fact that we have not banned Jerry Hollendorfer.” Hall of Fame trainer Hollendorfer was told to remove his horses from Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields–two The Stronach Group (TSG)-owned facilities–after the Hollendorfer-trained American Currency (Exchange Rate) was fatally injured during training at Santa Anita Saturday morning. This was the fourth Hollendorfer-trained equine fatality during the meet. Los Alamitos accepted roughly 50 of his horses formerly stabled at Santa Anita, said Liebau. Nevertheless, in light of the intense public scrutiny that Santa Anita faced as a result of a spike in equine fatalities, perhaps the apex issue facing Los Alamitos concerns safety protocols to reduce the risk of catastrophic injury during its short summer Thoroughbred meet that runs June 29 through July 14. California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) fatality statistics don’t offer an apples-to-apples comparison between Santa Anita and Los Alamitos because the Los Alamitos figures include Quarter Horse fatalities. Using what numbers are available, however, the average fatality rate on the dirt at Santa Anita over the past three fiscal years is 2.7 per 1000 starts. This figure is 2.5 for Los Alamitos. Jockey Club figures show the national average over the same period on dirt is 1.7. Liebau pointed to a number of welfare measures the track already has or will institute, including some that have recently been adopted state-wide, like the restrictions concerning corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, as well as increased out-of-competition testing. The five-person panel of veterinarians and stewards that began reviewing medical, training and race records of entered horses during the last two weeks of Santa Anita will continue its role at Los Alamitos, said Liebau. The panel was put together earlier this month in response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for greater veterinary oversight of horses. The panel “reviews the entries and determines whether the track should accept the entry for that horse,” Liebau said. Santa Anita increased the presence of regulatory veterinarians to watch morning training, and Liebau said that an extra veterinarian will “probably” be brought in during the morning at Los Alamitos to perform a similar role. Santa Anita adopted another layer of scrutiny, requiring trainers to alert the racing office 48 hours before workouts, giving the track an opportunity to review the horse’s record and conduct a physical examination, if necessary. When asked if Los Alamitos would mirror that program, Liebau said it’s not up to the racetrack to “second-guess” the trainers. “We are not requiring trainers to get permission to work horses because first, I’m not too sure that system works,” he said. “I guess I have a great deal of trust in our trainers, and as I said, I think our trainers and everybody concerned with horses have their best interest at heart.” A large portion of horses running at Los Alamitos will ship in from Santa Anita. According to Santa Anita racing secretary, Steve Lym, the facility will continue with the same training safety protocols while Los Alamitos conducts its summer meet. This includes the 48-hour work request, and two extra veterinarians monitoring training of a morning. “We still have heightened monitoring. The outriders are watching, the clockers are watching,” Lym added. The track will close its doors to horses stabled at the facility on July 15, in anticipation of the Del Mar summer meet. With Santa Anita recently restricted to three-day racing weeks as a result of a depleted horse inventory, another concern facing Los Alamitos executives is field size. “I am concerned about our ability to fill races,” admitted Liebau, adding that the threat of small cards drove the decision to race Saturday and Sunday opening weekend, rather than the typical four-day race week. “We were scheduled to open Thursday and Friday, and I decided that we would forego those two days,” he said. “I’m holding my breath that we’ll be able to fill [races]. But when you have Santa Anita going three days a week and having some difficulties, there’s trepidation, no question about that.” According to Mike Marten, CHRB public information officer, the five-person panel overseeing entries at Los Alamitos will be comprised of safety steward Jon White, steward Grant Baker, regulatory veterinarian Tim Grande, CHRB equine medical director Rick Arthur, and chief steward Darrel McHargue. Marten added that McHargue is unavailable for the first two days of racing, so a panel of four will review the entries opening weekend. Arthur explained to the TDN how the panel operates, including the sorts of information available. “We have a lot. We have examination records, we have vet’s list history,” he said. “Any information that we have in our possession, we utilize.” In some instances, the panel has contacted trainers for additional information. “Nobody’s turned us down that we’ve called,” he added. The panel, he said, is looking for “certain criteria” that might indicate potentially at-risk horses, including those making “suspicious” drops, and horses that miss workouts or have unusual work patterns. “Different issues cause different concerns,” he added. For example, un-started maidens age four and older, as well as horses that have been off for over a year, are required to work for a regulatory veterinarian before they can race. “We eliminated several of those horses from Santa Anita, but we didn’t see any of them today,” said Arthur, about the first day of entries at Los Alamitos. “So, people are getting the word on those sorts of criteria.” When asked if the panel will exert extra scrutiny on certain trainers, Arthur replied that different trainers have different work patterns. “What we know about trainers and how they manage horses is a big part of what we do,” he added. “We know the horses. We know everybody. We even pay attention to jock’ changes.” The system works “by consensus,” said Arthur. “If any one person on the panel insists that a horse be removed or not be allowed to enter, that horse will not be allowed to enter,” he added. What’s more, “it’s a pretty tedious task,” said Arthur, about the review process. It took the panel over three hours to scrutinize the entries for the first day of racing at Los Alamitos, he said. “It takes a lot of work,” Arthur added. “Hopefully we’ll be able to figure out a way to make it more streamlined.” While safety concerns will understandably take precedence at Los Alamitos this weekend, hovering in the background is the issue of Hollendorfer, one of California’s most prolific and successful trainers over many decades. At the top of the Los Alamitos day Thoroughbred racing homepage, the track’s owner and chairman, Edward Allred, has left a statement saying that “We do not feel he should be a scapegoat for a problem which derives from a number of factors.” “He hasn’t been suspended by any regulatory authority,” said Liebau, further explaining the track’s decision to offer Hollendorfer stalls, which includes factoring in the “totality” of his record. “You don’t fix a problem by banning a trainer,” Liebau added. “This is a slippery slope that you’re on when a track for all practical purposes takes a person’s livelihood away.” The post Racing And The Hot Seat Switches to Los Alamitos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is offering an opportunity for individuals or groups to contribute to equine research in honor of beloved horses through its Tribute to Horses Program. When contributing to Grayson, one can elect to make a donation in honor of a living horse or in memory of a deceased horse. These horses and the donor will be featured on Grayson’s Tributes page. Currently, Grayson is promoting the Stonestreet Giving Challenge, through which horse lovers are encouraged to make donations in honor of Rachel Alexandra. They can also participate in an online auction to benefit Grayson that features items including a signed Robert Clark print of Rachel Alexandra, a Rachel Alexandra halter, and goggles signed by Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra’s regular rider. “Horses have such positive impacts on our lives, and what better way to give back to the horses that have touched us than by supporting equine research in their name?” said Dell Hancock, chairman of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “We hope that our Tribute to Horses Program inspires generosity among those whose lives have been made better by a specific horse or horses.” More information about the Tribute to Horses Program can be found here. More information about the charity auction for the Stonestreet Giving Challenge is available at this link. The post Grayson-Jockey Club Introduces Tribute to Horses Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arqana’s Summer Sale, which begins next Tuesday July 2 and runs for two days has received another four wildcards. Among them is lot 390, Famous Wolf (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a stakes-winning 3-year-old colt trained by Andre Fabre who was last seen finishing fourth in the G3 Prix de Guiche. Jean-Claude Rouget will offer lot 400 Wakool (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). This 3-year-old colt has been placed on each of his three starts. The Summer Sale is broken into different sections with around 50 2-year-olds catalogued first, followed by 138 national hunt store horses. On Wednesday trade revolves around fillies, broodmares and horses-in-training. Those breezing will be doing so from 1p.m. on Monday with the sale commencing each day at 11a.m. The post Four More Wildcards For Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Curragh witnesses the first major clash of the generations on Friday, as Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) meets the year-older Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. The former, who was denied late on when second in the May 31 G1 Epsom Oaks, gives the impression she has yet to show her true worth and this drop back to the 10-furlong trip over which she captured the Listed Salsabil S. at Navan Apr. 28 should suit. Joined by last year’s G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and the multiple group 1-placed Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Galileo {Ire}) and the May 6 G3 Athasi S. scorer Happen (War Front), she spearheads a strong Ballydoyle challenge. “Pink Dogwood is in good form and everything has gone well since Epsom with her. I couldn’t be happier at the moment,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “It was her first time over a mile and a half at Epsom and she quickened very well, but she just got caught close home. Whether it was greenness or the trip we’re not sure, but we’re very happy with her. She usually travels well and can quicken.” ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Wild Illusion was four-lengths second to Magic Wand in the Ribblesdale last June, but left that form behind over this trip when taking Goodwood’s G1 Nassau S. in August and the G1 Prix de l’Opera at ParisLongchamp in October. Her return sixth in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan back at the latter venue May 26 was disappointing, but Charlie Appleby is undeterred as she reverts to her own sex. “I was pleased with her first run of the season and her first run against the colts at Longchamp,” he said. “She was coming back to nine furlongs for that race as well and that race has really brought her forward. Preparations for the Curragh have gone well and for me, she is back to her ideal trip as a stiff 10 furlongs at the Curragh will really suit her really well.” Saif Ali’s Worth Waiting (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) comes here off a win on her seasonal bow in the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket May 5, but she needs to improve on that form. “This race has been the plan for her all year and hopefully they get some decent ground,” trainer David Lanigan commented. “We were a bit suspect about her getting a mile and a half last year and Ted Durcan, who has ridden her in all her work, has always said she’s a mile-and-a-quarter filly. She showed plenty of toe at Newmarket and we’ve been pleased with her since.” Also on the Curragh card is the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, where last year’s G1 Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) moves back up in trip after a spell over 10 furlongs which included a second in the G1 Mackinnon S. at Flemington in November. Running over the same track and trip over which he was second in the G1 Irish St Leger here in September, Lloyd Williams’ 4-year-old encounters a trio from Ballydoyle including the May 17 G2 Yorkshire Cup runner-up Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who stages a quick return having been sixth in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last Thursday. The G2 Airlie Stud S. for juvenile fillies over six furlongs sees Susan Magnier’s A New Dawn (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) back up two days after winning her maiden at Naas against the Niarchos Family’s May 24 course-and-distance maiden scorer Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). “She showed a really likeable attitude to win first time out and she has progressed nicely since then,” commented Alan Cooper, racing manager to Albigna’s owner-breeders. “We missed the entry for the race by a day, the entries closed just before she ran so we had to supplement her–hopefully it proves worthwhile. Jessica [Harrington]’s record speaks for itself, she did brilliantly for us last year with Alpha Centauri and knows what it takes.” Godolphin’s Listed First Flier S. scorer Ickworth (Ire) (Shamardal) who reared in the stalls and was left at the start of the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot last Wednesday. “It didn’t go to plan at Ascot for Ickworth,” trainer Willie McCreery said. “As the stalls opened she was down on her hunkers, it’s unfortunate but it can happen. The ground had gone against her anyway, she wants quick ground, so there was no harm done.” The post All Eyes On The Pretty Polly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

11th-CD, $95K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 5:58 p.m. Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ CONFESSING (Scat Daddy), who topped last year’s OBS March sale at $875,000 after working a furlong in :9 4/5, was a well-beaten fifth over a sloppy Churchill surface in her 1 1/16-mile off-turf debut June 8. The half-sister to graded stakes winner Sharp Sensation (Sharp Humor), who tries the turf in this second start for trainer Steve Asmussen, had originally been targeted for a European campaign with trainer Ed Vaughan. “She was in Europe training, but wasn’t showing the zip that we thought she should,” explained Phoenix’s Tom Ludt. “We gave her a little time and thought the quicker early pace and Lasix would help her, so we gave her to Steve. She is going well and we hope to get her maiden win Friday.” TJCIS PPs Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency The post Friday’s Racing Insights: Scat Daddy Filly On Turf for Phoenix appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was a buzz surrounding Stonestreet Stables’ newcomer Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) ahead of Thursday’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and the 11-4 second favourite did not disappoint by making virtually all and denying Ballydoyle’s 11-10 favourite Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a neck. Sent to the fore by Shane Foley after the initial stages, having broken from a high number, the €240,000 Goffs Orby purchase who represents the Jessie Harrington stable had to work hard to see off her experienced rival but showed tenacity to come out on top. The Niarchos Family’s newcomer Innervisions (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was 5 1/2 lengths back in third in a maiden that is certain to work out well. “She’s a fine big filly and has been really pleasing us at home,” Foley said of Windracer, who had won a barrier trial at Naas. “She had never come off the bridle at home and done everything so easily, so this was the first time she had to. I was drawn 15 and I wanted to be positive and although it was not ideal being in front she is straightforward. I’d say the first two are smart fillies–they picked up right the way to the line. If she gets a slight bit of ease in the ground, she’ll be better again.” Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. The post Showcasing Filly a New Rising Star At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The annual jockeys versus horsemen charity basketball game, which benefits programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, will be played Thursday, Aug. 1 at the YMCA in Saratoga. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. The jockeys’ team is coached by Angel Cordero, Jr., each year and trainers Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin coach the horsemen. NYRA’s Mitch Levites will serve as the announcer. In addition, the event will feature several raffles and promotional merchandise for sale. “Every year this game enables fans to see some of their favorite jockeys and trainers in a fun and relaxed atmosphere,” said Humberto Chavez, the New York chaplain. “Besides all the fun the fans and players have, we are raising money for a great cause.” The post Jockeys Vs. Horsemen Basketball Game to be Held Aug. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Caribou Club, Synchrony, and Holy Helena are some of the favored feature runners in the undercard races on the Queen's Plate card at Woodbine June 29 in a trio of turf battles View the full article

Everyone in racing understands that adding the Triple Crown trophy to your collection is about the most difficult thing that one can accomplish in this sport. But that’s no longer the case. One can easily be yours. All you need is an eBay account and the willingness to part with $500,000. The 1978 Triple Crown trophy given to the late trainer Laz Barrera after Affirmed swept the series is currently available on eBay where the seller is asking for $500,000 or ‘best offer.” It’s also been featured on the television show Pawn Stars and was the subject of a TMZ report in 2015. The seller is a company called Memory Lane Inc. “It’s such an exciting piece of memorabilia within our industry and within the horse racing industry,” said Memory Lane owner Dan Wulkan. “Nothing like this has ever come to market before. So why not be part of the lineage of a Triple Crown winner, something that has only happened 13 times in history.” How the trophy got from Laz Barrera, who died in 1991, to Pawn Stars to eBay remains a mystery. Wulkan probably knows some of the answers, but there’s only so much that he’s willing to divulge. He said the story begins when Barrera’s family decided to sell the trophy because it needed help paying medical bills. “The family sold it years ago because they needed money,” he said. “I don’t want to get too personal with that because I know it’s a sensitive subject. They needed the money. They sold it. Thank God they had this item that allowed them to raise the money for their medical bills. If they didn’t, they would have been in real trouble.” But who did they sell it to and who now owns the trophy? Wulkan said that his company does not actually own the trophy but is selling it on behalf of a client. He declined to name the person Memory Lane is representing. According to a TMZ report written in 2015, the trophy was owned by a “famed sports collector” named Timothy Robins (not the actor) who was looking to sell the trophy for $1 million. It was listed briefly on the website of Heritage Auctions in 2018 and was offered for $225,000 with a reserve price set at $125,000, which was not met. The trophy appeared in the public eye once again earlier this year when it was featured on a episode of the popular reality show Pawn Stars. Someone identified only as “Patrick” showed up at the Las Vegas pawn shop and asks for $500,000 for the trophy. Pawn Stars employee Corey Johnson calls in none other than Wulkan to help him appraise the value of the trophy and Wulkan reaches the same figure as Patrick, $500,000. There is an some attempt at reaching a price somewhere in the middle, but Johnson’s best offer is $225,000. Patrick never budges from his $500,000 asking price and no deal is made. Who is “Patrick” and is he actually Robins or just an actor? How did Wulkan go from someone brought in to advise a potential buyer of the trophy but now is representing the seller? Reality shows can be scripted. How much of what went on within that pawn shop was realistic or something thrown together to make for an interesting five minutes of television? Again, Wulkan is reluctant to reveal much, if any, information. “It went from the family to a couple of different people, and it’s an iconic piece of memorabilia,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything to be gained from knowing names, where the seller lives or how they got it.” Wulkan’s company sells a wide variety of sports memorabilia, much of it very valuable. He said that even with an item as rare as a Triple Crown trophy and something that has never, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, been put up for sale, he has learned to come up with what he believes is a fair price. “I think you get a gut feeling,” he said. “There’s no formula out there to say, for example, it’s got three corners and a bottom and it’s so many inches, therefore it’s worth $50,000. There may be no formula out there to appraise something like this, but it is very easy to appraise those types of things. I’ve been doing this since I was about 10 years old and we’ve dealt with trophies and cards and signed contracts, whether it’s in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, boxing or non-sports memorabilia. I have dealt with everything under the sun.” Will anyone meet the $500,000 asking price or come anywhere close to it? That remains to be seen. Wulkan said many of the people acting as potential buyers make unrealistically low offers or chide him that the trophy’s owner will not simply donate it to a museum. “It’s easy for someone to say you should donate it,” Wulkan said. “That’s like saying that the people who live in the house where Honus Wagner grew up should donate it so that it can be turned into a landmark, then just move out and get nothing. No one would do that. You already live in that home and that’s where your bed is.” While Wulkan is adamant that the trophy’s owner will not just give it away, he does agree with those who believe its final landing spot should be a place like the Kentucky Derby Museum or the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. “I think what I’d love to talk to my client about is a scenario where an individual comes forward and they want to donate it to a museum,” he said. “I think he’d be willing to listen if an offer came in from someone who had that in mind, even if it wasn’t for $500,000. It would still have to sell for something substantial enough so he could recoup his investment to earmark it into other collectibles. I think if the public really wants that trophy to go to a museum then someone or a group of people should come together and buy it and donate it so it’s somewhere where everyone can see it.” In the meantime, the 1978 Triple Crown trophy can be seen on cyberspace, with a for sale sign hanging over it. It is a racing treasure still looking to find a home. The post The Latest Landing Spot For Racing’s Most Cherished Trophy: eBay appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The upwardly mobile Bellewstown Racecourse is the latest Irish track to sign off on a significant capital development project. As the Meath track prepares for its annual summer festival next week – which is now a four-day meeting – plans have been announced to invest over half a million Euros in developing permanent stabling facilities. Up to now the Bellewstown committee has had to rent temporary stabling facilities for runners but soon after next week’s festival is put to bed work is to begin on building 110 permanent stables. The track is benefitting from a contribution of €221,000 through the HRI Racecourse Capital Development scheme and commenting on the plans Kevin Coleman, Bellewstown racecourse manager, said, “The management, chairman and committee of Bellewstown Races are delighted with the news and wish to thank Horse Racing Ireland for their help, support and guidance through a very detailed application process. Bellewstown is a small rural track and this development is very positive for us going forward. The new stable blocks will ensure the best of facilities for horses, stable staff and officials.” HRI Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh, added, “The board of Horse Racing Ireland is delighted to approve capital development grand aid to Bellewstown and this announcement is timely as it comes just ahead of the racecourse’s four-day July summer festival. To date over €21.7 million has been provided in grant aid to 22 racecourses around the country, supporting over 100 different projects aimed at improving customer and industry facilities. Critically, each approved project provides construction work and secures local employment, further emphasising the vital role of racecourses and the wider racing and breeding industries as contributors to the local economy.” The post New Stable Block For Bellewstown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nearly two months after winning the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs, Rookie Salsa will return to the Louisville track for the $125,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) June 29, the first graded stakes of the season for juveniles. View the full article