Wandering Eyes

“Inside the Winner’s Circle, Presented by Keeneland” is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale who have gone on to achieve success on racing’s biggest stages. Hunter O’Riley (Tiz Wonderful) has now won at the sport’s highest level, in a Grade I race. The veteran gelding, a $120,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September sale, captured the GI United Nations on June 22 at Monmouth. It was his second graded stakes win, his fifth win overall and it raised his career earnings to $620,293. While he should have a lot of racing left in him, those are the types of numbers and accomplishments whereby his career can already be considered a major success. It’s just that his path to the United Nations winner’s circle was one filled with fits and starts and guided by a team that refused to give up on their horse. Hunter O’Riley is owned by Sean Shay and Mike Ryan, who were, along with two others, involved in a pinhooking partnership that bought several prospects at the 2014 Keeneland sale. Ryan is among the best in the business when it comes to pinhooking and his plan was to turn around and sell Hunter O’Riley the next year at a 2 year-old sale and, hopefully, collect a nice return on his original investment. Ryan doesn’t make many mistakes, but in this case he did, at least when it came to the original plan of trying to sell Hunter O’Riley as a 2-year-old. As he would later find out, he wound up with a horse that had no early speed and would do his best running in marathon races on the grass. That’s not exactly the type of horse people are looking for at 2 year-old sales. Hunter O’Riley was entered in a 2-year-old sale and, right away, Ryan knew he was in trouble. “He didn’t have enough speed to do what you need to do at a 2-year-old sale,” Ryan said. “When he breezed, he just wasn’t quick. He breezed in ’11’ and you just can’t sell a horse that goes in ’11.'” Knowing they were looking at a sure loss if they allowed the horse to sell, the partnership started to unravel. Ryan didn’t want to let the horse go, but couldn’t convince everyone that they should give Hunter O’Riley a chance to prove himself on the racetrack. So Ryan bought back his own horse, paying $50,000, effectively buying out the other owners. Only Shay stayed in. Hunter O’Riley wins the UN | Equi-Photo “I have all the confidence in the world in Mike,” Shay said. “He and Niall Brennan (who works closely with Ryan in many aspects of his business) are world-renowned. They are at the top of their game and I am a relative beginner when it comes to the game. Mike knows what he is doing. Everybody I talk to in the industry knows him and no one has a bad thing to say about him. When Mike asked if I wanted to stay in, it was a no-brainer. At $50,000, the price was right.” At the outset, it had appeared that Shay and Ryan had made a good bet. Hunter O’Riley broke his maiden in his third career start before finishing seventh in the GII Remsen in 2015. He didn’t return to the races until the following June and, at first, he didn’t live up to the promise he had shown at two. He seemed to be one of those horses who fell somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to quality. He was too good to be a claimer but not good enough to be a stakes horse, at least a high-level stakes horse. He went 1 for 7 in 2016, the lone win coming in an allowance race at Belmont. It was a case of more of the same in 2017, but, finally, the horse started to show the ability Ryan always believed he had in him. He shined in the summer of 2017, winning the GII Bowling Green and then losing by just 1 1/4 lengths in the GI Sword Dancer at Saratoga when finishing fourth. In his final start in 2017, he finished ninth in the GIII Red Smith, but Ryan, Shay and trainer Jimmy Toner believed that they had a horse that had finally hit his best stride. They were convinced he was going to have a big year in 2018. It did not work out that way. The horse raced just once in 2018, in the GII Elkhorn at Keeneland. Not only did he finish ninth, he strained a ligament in the race and would miss the rest of the year. He entered the United Nations having not won a race in 23 months and off a six-race losing streak. During the streak, he didn’t finish among the top three in any of his races. It was a frustrating time for all involved and Shay and Ryan said it was made even worse by an on-going pattern where their jockeys would not follow instructions. “He doesn’t have any stamina limitations, but he’s not a quick horse,” Ryan said. “We learned he’s one of those horses who walks out of the gate and gallops along behind the field. If you let him do that, just drop your hands on him and let there be a loop in the reins, he’ll just gallop around there and he’ll be 20 lengths behind them. He’ll make a nice run from the five eighths to the wire, but winds up getting beat 3, 4, 5 lengths while still making up 15 lengths on the field.” For the United Nations, Toner and the owners picked jockey Paco Lopez and he was given specific instructions: whatever you have to do, get this horse into the race early. “Paco Lopez was down to ride him and he’s a good gate rider, an aggressive rider,” Ryan said. “This horse needs to be put in the bridle leaving the gate. He needs a couple of little taps on the shoulder to get his attention, get his mind on things. You have to put him in the bridle and make him carry you. Don’t let him drop back 20 lengths and be passive and then expect he’ll make it all up when they’re going three-quarters in 1:16, 1:17. You’re not going to run them down.” Lopez got the message. Though his mount was seventh in the early going of the mile-and-three-eighths turf race, he was never more than four lengths behind the leaders. At the top of the stretch, he was third, just 1 1/2-lengths behind. From there, he got past Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) to win by a neck. “Paco rode him to perfection because he was never more than four lengths off the lead,” Ryan said. “We finally got a jockey to listen to us.” It was a big day for Ryan, who acted as the advisor for Jim Rupp at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale where Rupp purchased Owendale (Into Mischief) for $200,000. Five minutes after the United Nations was completed, Owendale won the GIII Ohio Derby, a $500,000 race. “It was an awfully good afternoon for us,” Ryan said. Finally, there doesn’t appear to be anything standing in the way for the 6 year-old gelding. He is healthy and the team has apparently found the perfect jockey, an aggressive rider who understands you have little to no chance if you drop 15 lengths behind in a marathon grass race, the type of race where the pace is almost always extremely slow. “I’m just so happy that he won, a Grade I at that,” Shay said. “Well go to Saratoga now (for the GII Bowling Green) and, who knows, I think we might have a horse for the (GI) Breeders’ Cup Turf.” Ryan said the GIII Calumet Cup, now worth $1 million, at Kentucky Downs is another target. Ryan knows, and has experienced firsthand with this horse, that things don’t always work out as planned when it comes to race horses. But he also knows that he has a sound horse, that a change in tactics when it comes to his running style appears to have made a major difference and that quality horses who prefer long distance races on the grass are perfectly capable of competing at a top level even when they are 8 or 9 years-old. “Look at what horses like John’s Call and even John Henry did during the latter stages of their careers,” Ryan pointed out. Way back when he bought the horse in 2014 at Keeneland, Ryan believed in Hunter O’Riley, believed that this was a horse with the potential to earn a lot of money, and now his expectations have been met. It just took a while. The post Inside the Winner’s Circle: Hunter O’Riley appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After a recent confidence boosting win in a conditions race at Hamilton, Kevin Ryan’s admirable sprinter Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will bid to go one better than last year’s second in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket two weeks from this Saturday. Angie Bailey’s 7-year-old skipped Royal Ascot on purpose and having operated so effectively on the July course in particular, connections were keen to give Brando the best opportunity of adding another Group 1 to his CV after running so well in the last two editions of the Newmarket feature. “It was always the plan to run Brando in the July Cup so it’s all systems go,” said Adam Ryan, son and assistant to his father Kevin. “We were never going to take him to Royal Ascot – it’s quite hard for these sprinters to be at their best for both Ascot and the July Cup and he’s got such good form at the two Newmarket tracks that it made sense to take him there as a fresh horse. For some reason he enjoys running downhill. We can’t put our finger on it, but he loves both Newmarket courses,” he added. Victory at Newmarket would push Brando’s earnings past the £1-million mark and he has been a remarkable horse for connections, this being his sixth season of competitive action. “Brando’s been placed in the July Cup twice before so if he were to win it this time it would be fantastic for us and would live long in the memory. He’s a total gentleman at home and a bit of a yard favourite. He’s an absolute saint and everyone loves him. He’s got form on all sorts of ground. As he gets older maybe he prefers a bit of juice in the ground but I wouldn’t be worried about fast ground – the main thing with him is to have a truly-run race and you’ll certainly get that at Group 1 level,” Ryan said. The post Next Stop July Cup For Brando appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After experiencing stroke symptoms, Jim McIngvale spent the night in a Houston, Texas hospital, where he streamed about his experience on Facebook Live. McIngvale was taken to the hospital with tingling in his face and arms, and a slight slurring of speech. He spent 23 minutes on Facebook, updating friends and well-wishers about his condition. “Hi, Mattress Mack here,” he said, “and I’m currently at St. Luke’s Hospital-Texas Medical Center, having a tingling in my arm and my leg and my face which indicates a mini-stroke, so I’m here getting checked out. I’ll be here for the next day. I feel fine. A lot of people asked me where I was and I’m here at Texas Medical Center-St. Luke’s Hospital getting checked out to make sure I don’t have any stroke or any heart attack symptoms. I’m getting great treatment here at St. Luke’s. My friend, (Texas heart surgeon) Dr. Bud Frazier got me in in a hurry. My friend who runs the mobile stroke unit that we helped finance many years ago is going to come over and check on me also. I’m in good hands. I will be out of the store for the next 24 hours, as I undergo several MRIs and carotid artery tests. Hopefully everything will be good. I would like to encourage anybody out there who experiences the symptoms–face, arm, speech–to fast get to a doctor and make sure you don’t have a stroke. That’s why I’m here. I’ll be here for the next 24 hours getting all these tests.” Ever the salesman, Mack concluded his stream by encouraging people to come out to Gallery Furniture. “The best way you can cheer me up is to go to Gallery Furniture and buy some of our furniture, as we get ready for our Fourth of July supersale,” he said. This story will be updated. The post Stroke Scare for McIngvale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Francis-Henri Graffard is certainly having a season to remember and things could get even better for the trainer as he begins to plot the next course for his Classic winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The filly came out best in a tight finish to claim the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly and Graffard is giving serious thought to aiming the Samuel De Barros owned filly at the G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Glorious Goodwood Aug 1. “Channel is in very good form and the Nassau S. is a possible target,” Graffard said. “We are keeping all our options open with her at the moment but the options are probably the Nassau or the Prix Jacques Le Marois [at Deauville]. If she continues to be fit and well in the coming weeks, then the Nassau could definitely be an aim. I would love to have a runner at Goodwood. It is a place I like very much and I think the track will suit her,” he added. Graffard has won two of the most important races for 3-year-old fillies in the European calendar this season courtesy of Channel and last week’s G1 Coronation S. winner Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), with the pair having gone through the sales ring for a combined total of €100,000. “Channel was very impressive in the Prix de Diane and it was very special to win that race before Watch Me’s victory at Royal Ascot,” he reflected. In other Goodwood news the track has confirmed it has extended a sponsorship deal with the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) which sees the Qatar name being the principal sponsor of Glorious Goodwood until 2024 at least. The five-day festival has benefitted from lucrative prize-money since the association came about and the extension was agreed on Tuesday following a meeting with Goodwood owner the Duke of Richmond and QREC chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi. The post Graffard Eyeing Nassau For Channel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just 32 and a bloodstock agent for fewer than six years, Josh Stevens is still trying to make a name for himself and still trying to build up his base of clients. It’s been a learning process and not always easy, but along the way he has learned firsthand that the way you make it in this business is by establishing a track record. Buy horses–particularly relatively inexpensive ones–that turn out to be successful, and people will notice. That’s why Stevens will go into yearling sales season as a person to watch. He’s got a few more clients and a few more dollars to spend and, now, a resume highlighted by some rather impressive recent achievements. At the 2017 Keeneland September sale, he bought Mr. Money (Goldencents) for a new client, Chester Thomas’s Allied Racing LLC, for $130,000. A few months later, he plucked By My Standards (Goldencents) out of the OBS April 2018 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for the same client for $150,000. By My Standards has so far won the GII Louisiana Derby, which got him into the field for the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 12th. Mr. Money is among the hottest 3-year-olds in the sport and could show up next in the GI Haskell after winning the GIII Pat Day Mile and the GIII Matt Winn in succession. Not only have they won important races, they have proven that Stevens is not a one-hit wonder or someone who just got lucky when buying Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) for $250,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September Sale for clients Gunpowder Farms. The now 7-year-old has earned $1,484,539 and is a two-time winner of the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic. “Josh has a good eye for a horse and he’s conservative when it comes to spending other people’s money,” Thomas said. “He’ll say, ‘If you don’t get this one that’s okay; we’ll get the next one.’ Josh is trying to buy a horse who is going to develop into an elite, top-notch athlete.” Stevens graduated from Louisville, where he studied in the Equine Industry program. After graduation, he went to work at Margaux Farm, where he served in various roles, and then left to form his own management and consulting firm, J. Stevens Bloodstock. Thanks to a connection he had made with trainer Buff Bradley, Tom Keithley’s Gunpowder Farms was among his first clients and Divisidero was among the first horses he purchased. Stevens said he was proud of the fact that Keithley was new to the business, and he understands how important it is for newcomers to get off to a fast start. Unless they have either unlimited patience and/or unlimited money to spend, a new owner can come and go very quickly if they don’t have any initial success. “I had seen the industry go through the recession, which caused a real need to attract new owners into the business,” he said. “These people need to be successful. The sport actually does get plenty of new owners, but a lot struggle and swiftly leave the business. My idea has always been to cultivate new owners and new owners doesn’t just mean new to the business. That can also be owners who want a fresh start or want to do something different than what they’ve done in the past. Gunpowder was a brand new owner. Basically, within three years they were running in Grade I’s on Derby Day (with Divisidero).” Thomas was also a new owner, at least when it comes to aiming high and being able to spend at the major racing sales. He had owned horses before, but only a few claimers here and there that he owned in partnerships with others. What has impressed Thomas most about Stevens is how he concentrates on finding an athlete and prioritizes that over the horse’s pedigree. “When Josh first gets to a sale, he doesn’t look at the page at all,” Thomas said. “He goes to each barn and marks down the hip number. He looks them over and evaluates the physicals of the horse. Then he makes a short list. He’s looking at everything that he can a day or two ahead of time and he cuts the list down to a certain number of horses. Only then does he look at the pedigree page and I think that’s more so he gets a better understanding of what the horse might cost.” Stevens admits that when he started he had little choice but to downplay a horse’s pedigree. If a horse was by Tapit or Medaglia d’Oro and was checking all the right boxes when it comes to the physicals, his clients were not going to spend the type of money it would take to wind up being the winning bidder. “I never had the money early on to buy the big pedigrees so we had to make our pedigrees,” Stevens said. “My theory is you always want to buy the best horse by a stallion. What you don’t want to do is buy at the bottom when it comes to the very top sires.” So while he will always look for the athlete first and worry about the pedigree second, Stevens is also trying to be among the first to jump on the bandwagon of a sire that might be flying under the radar. It is not a coincidence that Mr. Money and By My Standards are both from the first crop of Goldencents.” “I had really liked Goldencents when he was a race horse and I been on the Into Mischief bandwagon from day one,” Stevens said. “He was a horse that did it the blue-collar way. I thought Goldencents was going to have to do it same the way and it looks like that’s exactly what is going to happen.” Stevens will be put to the test shortly as he says he plans to be active at the July 9 Fasig Tipton July Sale. He said he particularly likes that sale because it is not overly difficult to find a top prospect there for a reasonable amount of money, particularly if you are looking for horses that will win early on in their careers. He also knows that whether it be at The July Sale or any other yearling sale this season, he will need to continue to find horses that go on to prove themselves on the racetrack. He’s still at the point in his career where his reputation is developing and his primary clients are not going to spend $1 million for a horse. “As you grow as a bloodstock agent you are always looking for that one guy who will go after that big horse if you see it,” he said. “I’ve seen plenty of horses over the years at sales that I was sure were going to turn out to be great horses and most of them did. But I didn’t have an owner who could afford that kind of a horse. I know I’m capable of finding a horse in the $150,000 range that can go out there and beat these seven-figure horses. Like any bloodstock agent, I’d love to have a client or two that will spend what it takes to buy a horse high up on the list of sales toppers. I would love the challenges involved with that.” That may take some more time and some more success stories. “What I have to do is keep working and prove myself over and over again that I can do this,” Stevens said. “In time, your work speaks for itself.” The post Bloodstock Agent Stevens has Momentum on his Side appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The recently retired Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) has shot to the head of the rankings for the Cartier Horse of the Year title. The soon to be Darley stallion’s Royal Ascot exploits where he landed a famous G1 King’s Stand S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. double has seen the 5-year-old amass 106 points, a total also aided by Blue Point’s win in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan earlier in the year. However given he can no longer add to his tally Blue Point will do well to maintain his position at the head of the table until the end of the year. The Aidan O’Brien trained pair of fillies Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), both beaten favourites at Ascot, have still time to improve on their 96 and 80 points while Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has 64 points, could also have a say if he continues his rapid ascent to the upper echelons. The post Blue Point Heads Cartier Standings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Five-year-old Bedford has snapped a lengthy absence from the winner's circle with a dominant display on a heavy track at Sandown. The Anthony Freedman-trained Tavistock gelding showed his promise with back-to-back 2000m-wins at Caulfield during the early part of 2018 and was considered a Doomben Cup prospect when he finished a close fourth in a Listed race in Brisbane on heavy ground in April that year. After a winless 2018 spring and two unplaced runs so far this campaign, Bedford dropped back ... View the full article

Cambridge jumps jockey Mathew Gillies has been enjoying a great run of form in recent weeks. On Sunday the 33-year-old notched his first winner as both trainer and jockey when Borninasandpit, who he trains in partnership with Graham Thomas, was successful at Te Aroha. “It was my first ride on a horse I train too so it was really good,” Gillies said. “I’ve been telling other jumps jockeys what to do for the last couple of years but to actually go out and ride it and do it myself was a ... View the full article

Chris Luoni, the driving force behind the establishment of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, is stepping down as Chairman after serving seven years in the post but will continue as a director. “Chris was the catalyst behind establishing the Racing Hall of Fame,” past Chairman and director Gerald Fell said. “I was the first Chairman of the Hall of Fame and between us we drove the development of it. “I retired and Chris took over, and it has just got stronger and stronger.” The biann... View the full article

Vibrato shook off his rivals at Rotorua on Wednesday to score a comfortable victory in the At Cook Contraction 2YO (1230m). The son of Sacred Falls led from the jump under a steady ride from Jonathan Riddell and strode away from his only challenger, Elliot Power, to win by two and a half lengths. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Vibrato was having his second career start, with Forsman saying the conditions at Ellerslie earlier this month did not suit the two-year-old gelding. “He di... View the full article

Central Districts jockey Robert Hannam hasn’t let a delay to his New Zealand racing season hinder him from setting a record tally of stakes wins this term. The likeable hoop spent the early part of this season in India, where he was finishing off a four-month contract, which was halted in 2017 after he sustained a broken ankle after a starting gate incident. He returned to New Zealand in October and wasted no time in getting on the board, recording five stakes wins to date this season, an all-... View the full article

Pencarrow Stud’s decision to bring a broodmare out of retirement has been spectacularly rewarded by the dual black-type winner Sleeping Beauty. The Rip Van Winkle six-year-old mastered the gruelling conditions for a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Ultimate Ford and Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m), having also taken out the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at her previous start. Sleeping Beauty is the tenth and final foal out of the Danehill mare Kailey Princess. “She was quite an old mare ... View the full article

Sacred Croix has Stewards' Cup and Derby in crosshairs View the full article

Dragon steers Nimble into new direction View the full article

... View the full article

The newly approved legislation would allow the CHRB to immediately call an emergency meeting and take action, if it determines the health and safety of horses or riders is at risk, then review the suspension of the license within 10 calendar days. View the full article

The Saratoga Hilton’s 2018 “Breakfast with Santa” raised $8,185 to benefit ACTT Naturally, a local organization dedicated to transitioning retired Thoroughbreds into new careers. “The Saratoga Hilton is committed to supporting organizations doing good work within our local community and the greater Saratoga County,” the hotel’s general manager Thomas Olsen said. “Horse racing is such an integral part of our lifestyle here, and we are truly proud to contribute to the good work ACTT Naturally is doing to rehabilitate and rehome these prized racehorses.” The post Saratoga Hilton Donates More Than $8,000 in Support of Aftercare 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. Wednesday’s Insights features a daughter of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah out of the Group 1 winning Damson (Ire). 5.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) QUEEN OF THE SEA (IRE) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who cost 400,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Sacred Life (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the recent G2 Prix Hocquart third Khagan (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}). In a fascinating encounter, John Gosden saddles Daily Times (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Allan Belshaw’s half-sister to Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who was fourth to TDN Rising Star Visinari (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at Newmarket last month. 6.0 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT HOLY ROMAN EMPRESS (IRE) (American Pharoah) is a Coolmore homebred daughter of the Triple Crown hero and the G1 Phoenix S. winner Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}). Therefore a half-sister to the talented sprinter and sire Requinto (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), the March-foaled bay is joined by another Ballydoyle newcomer in Darkest (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a 325,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase who is a full-sister to the classy Sovereign Debt (Ire). The post Observations: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following the unanimous passing of Senate Bill 469 by California legislature Monday, the California Horse Racing Board can now suspend racing without a 10-day public notice period. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Thirty horses died during racing or training at the recently concluded six-month Santa Anita meeting. Jerry Hollendorfer was banished from the Arcadia racetrack after a fourth of the Hall of Famer’s horses broke down and was euthanized Saturday. The California Horse Racing Board had requested that Santa Anita suspend the final seven days of the meeting earlier this month, but officials of the track denied the request. “We must take action now to protect horses and jockeys, ensuring safety is always paramount in California horse racing,” the bill’s co-sponsor Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) told Los Angeles Times. “Because clearly, there is a problem here, and we can’t sit back and do nothing. I appreciate my colleagues in the Legislature for coming together to pass this important safety measure, and I look forward to Gov. Newsom signing it into law.” The post Bill Unanimously Approved to Grant CHRB Authority to Suspend Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's 4-year-old McKinzie (250 votes) has retained the No. 1 position following the third week of voting in the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings. View the full article

After picking up his second graded stakes score in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) at JACK Thistledown Racino, Rupp Racing's Owendale will step back up to grade 1 company for his next outing. View the full article

An additional enhancement of $2.375 million in funds for the 2019 Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) as part of the $10 million of Horse Improvement Program funds designated for the horse racing industry by the Ontario government was announced by Ontario Racing Tuesday. An enriched TIP will now offer the additional funds through a new rewards program in which a $2,500 bonus will be distributed to the winning owner and breeder of a registered Ontario-bred in an ‘overnight’ race at Woodbine, split evenly. At Fort Erie, $1,250 will be also split evenly between the winning owner and breeder of an overnight race. When coupled with the existing TIP program, there is over $16 million available for Thoroughbred horsepeople through TIP in 2019, including $2 million from the original Enhanced TIP program earmarked for Thoroughbred breeders. “This is an historic day for Ontario’s Thoroughbred owners and breeders,” said John Hayes, Independent Chair, Ontario Racing. “A strong and impactful TIP program is paramount in supporting the horsepeople within our industry. It is equally important to pave the way for new owners and breeders to discover our sport, as well as ensuring the health and welfare of our horses through the equine research program. Ontario Racing continues to work closely with our horsepeople and stakeholders to see horse racing flourish throughout the province.” The post Ontario Racing Announces New $2.375 Million Ontario-Bred Bonus Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Malter hopes to campaign stallion's progeny in the United Kingdom. View the full article

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has entered a multi-year arrangement with San Diego’s foremost casino, Sycuan Casino Resort. The partnership will take effect this year with the opening of Del Mar’s 80th racing season Wednesday, July 17. The pairing will include signage and branding at the racetrack for the Sycuan interests–now the track’s official and exclusive partner–and access to the extensive casino and resort facilities for Del Mar patrons. “We see this as a natural marriage between a natural pair,” said DMTC’s director of sponsorships and digital media Walker McBride. “We believe Sycuan is the ultimate destination in San Diego for those seeking the casino experience and we see ourselves in a similar light when it comes to a premier day at the races.” The post Del Mar Partners with Sycuan, San Diego’s Leading Casino appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Owner Malter hopes to campaign stallion's progeny in the United Kingdom View the full article