Wandering Eyes

As part of a comprehensive updates of its rules, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved an update that specifically will allow trainers with a medication positive to provide rebuttal during hearings. View the full article

FAIRYHOUSE, Ireland–The first frost of the year chilled the air at Tattersalls Ireland over the weekend, but consignors and hopeful buyers kept warm over a chilly few days by viewing a catalogue which had received the most subscriptions in the September Yearling Sale’s history. As the sale’s graduates hit higher notes, so too do the turnover and the pedigrees of the individuals catalogued, which was demonstrated early on Tuesday. Lot 11 from the Castlebridge Consignment attracted plenty of attention on pedigree, being a three-parts brother to G1 Dubai World Cup hero Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the first-crop son of Night of Thunder (Ire) clearly matched on physical, as he drew a winning bid of €180,000 from Anthony Stroud. It is a family Stroud and his client, Godolphin, know well, having raced the colt’s dual Group 1-winning sire, and having bred and raced his champion grandsire Dubawi (Ire). Stroud said, “He is a nice example of the sire; a well-balanced, easy-moving horse.” Despite the larger catalogue, trade on day one was tepid. Though 23% more horses were offered than last year, the opening day’s turnover dropped by 8% to €5,171,000, with decreases in average of 13% (€25,224) and median of 17% (€20,000). Larger catalogues rarely maintain the same strength and depth, and this was likely a factor in the dropping figures, while the often-cited selective market was mentioned several times, as was the lighter pockets of breeze-up consignors. The Italians are often aggressive shoppers at this sale, but their activity on day one was noticeably light. In 2017, Italian buyers signed for 15 lots in the opening session, while on Tuesday, they accounted for just eight lots sold. Alduino Botti is a regular buyer at Tattersalls Ireland and spent €127,000 on one day last year, compared to just €30,000 on Tuesday. American investment and ownership continue to grow in Ireland, however, and Eamon Reilly of BBA Ireland bought two lots on Tuesday for Bobs Edwards’s e5 Racing. Reilly was the underbidder of the day’s top lot, and he was somewhat consoled when successful in buying lot 193, a popular son of Kodiac (GB) for €100,000. Pinhooked by consignors Lynn Lodge Stud as a €60,000 foal, the March-born colt is out of a half-sister to G1 Metropolitan H. winner Opinion (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), from the extended family of G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Priory Belle (Ire) (Priolo) and champion 2-year-old filly Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). Reilly said, “He looks a nice, sharp 2-year-old type and comes from a good Ballylinch family. His trainer, and that of the filly, is yet undecided.” Reilly had struck early for lot 3, a half-sister to Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), had who achieved a stakes placing on her first U.S. start since the catalogue was printed. Bred and sold by Tally-Ho Stud for €48,000, the yearling daughter of the ill-fated Society Rock (Ire) may eventually be destined for a career Stateside, given that she comes from the family of Grade I winner Almanaar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Brave Raj (Rajab). The rise of Showcasing (GB) is not unlike that of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, his one-time fee of £4,500 rising to £35,000 this season. His Ballyphilip Stud-bred son, Venture (Ire), topped the 2017 edition of this sale and this week, Whitsbury Stud were rewarded for sending their homebred filly (lot 188) out of Vitta’s Touch (Touch Gold). Offered by Castledillon Stud, the half-sister to two Italian stakes performers was knocked down to Dermot Farrington at €85,000 and the agent afterwards confirmed that the bay filly was destined for the Manton base of his father-in-law, Martyn Meade. Tuesday saw pinhookers experience mixed fortunes, but one consignor who had cause for celebration was Castlehyde Stud, whose War Command colt (lot 216) improved from a €38,000 foal to an €80,000 yearling. Bought by Stroud Coleman and Jonjo O’Neill, he is one of just three consigned this week by Coolmore’s dual-purpose stallion farm in Fermoy, County Cork, which welcomed a new manager at the end of last year in John Kennedy. Earlier known for his work with Yeomanstown Stud, Kennedy was part of the Castlehyde team who began a new pinhooking venture for the farm last winter and he explained, “We began a new pinhooking initiative last year to support our young stallions and it was great to see this colt return a strong sales price for his promising sire.” One of the most exciting first-season sires of 2019 is Golden Horn (GB), who had just one filly catalogued this week (lot 115). Tom Dascombe bought her on spec, with bloodstock agent Ed Sackville keen to express that the €78,000 filly was for sale. “She is a lovely filly with size and scope, by an exciting young stallion and outstanding racehorse. She comes from a top female family which was kept current last weekend with Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy)’s Group 1 win.” The filly’s family is, indeed, a model of consistency, her dam Simonetta (Ire) (Lil’s Boy) placed at listed level, while the second dam won both the G3 Athasi S. and G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial. Other notable names to feature on the black-type heavy page include G1 Dewhurst S. victor Intense Focus; champion 3-year-old Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Gran Criterium winner Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). Curragh trainer Michael O’Callaghan attracted attention for his high-profile breeze-up buys earlier in the year, and the former 2-year-old consignor signed for six yearlings on the opening day costing a total €244,000. His purchases ranged from a €5,000 colt (lot 105) from the first crop of sprint shuttler Brazen Beau (Aus), to a €78,000 colt from Croom House Stud (lot 184). The latter’s sire, Power (GB), never returned to Ireland from his shuttle to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, where his dam’s half-brother, Steinbeck (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), won the G1 Windsor Park Horlicks Plate. G1 Adelaide Cup victor Water Boatman (Ire) (Main Reef {GB}) features further down the page, along with top-class filly Nannina (GB) (Medicean {GB}). Many were curious to see if burnt fingers of breeze-up consignors would stay lowered this sale season, but John Cullinan of Horse Park Stud, who buys and sells with Roger Marley of Church Farm, seemed to be keeping the faith as he spent €110,000 within the first 20 lots of the sale. His first significant purchase was lot 17, one of just two yearlings by Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) offered this week, bred by China Horse Club out of G2 Queen Mary S. second Once Chance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {IRE}). The bay colt cost Cullinan €70,000 and on the subject of his spend, he said, “We are being more discerning in what we buy this year and though we will probably buy fewer numbers, we will maintain the quality we’ve always bought. This colt’s dam was very fast and though he’s on the small side, he’s by the most promising first-season sire. I hope he’s as fast as he looks.” Quality certainly runs in the colt’s family, the third dam having produced multiple Group/Grade 1 winner Spinning World (Nureyev), as well as the dam of Irish champion 2-year-old colt Pathfork. Cullinan and Marley have offered many talented performers at the breeze-up sales, including this year’s Group 3 winner Comedy (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), whom they bought for €21,000 as a yearling. Trained by Karl Burke, she raced for a partnership of Barbara Keller, Alastair Donald and David Redvers and the latter is hoping his luck with her sire continues, after the Qatar Racing manager parted with €78,000 for lot 251 from Deerpark Stud. The late April foal is a half-sister to two winners, out of the listed-placed mare Aunt Nicola (GB) (Reel Buddy), herself a half-sister to stakes winner Electric Feel (GB) (Firebreak {GB}). The second session of the September Yearling Sale begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. View the full article

The supplemental catalog to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2018 October Yearling Sale is now available on the company’s website at www.obssales.com. Twenty-three yearlings have been supplemented to the Selected Yearling Sale as Hips 191-213. Ten yearlings have been supplemented to the Open Yearling Sale, cataloged as Hips 778-787. There are now 213 yearlings cataloged for the Selected Yearling Sale. Scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9, it will begin at 12:00 noon. There are now 487 yearlings cataloged in the Open Yearling Sale, set for Wednesday, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 11. Both Open sessions will begin at 12:00 noon. View the full article

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will host a morning/afternoon “Transatlantic Pick 4” Sunday, Oct. 7, linking two Group 1 races from ParisLongchamp Racecourse with a pair of Grade I stakes from Belmont Park. In addition, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the G1 Prix de l’Opera from Longchamp will both be televised live in a 90-minute Fox Sports (FS2) show that starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. The GI Flower Bowl S. and GI Frizette S. will be the Belmont races (order within the Pick 4 to be determined). Tony Allevato, NYRA’s executive broadcast producer and the president of NYRA Bets, told TDN via phone Tuesday that he believes this is the first time a United States pari-mutuel entity will combine domestic with international races in a single wager. “This is the first time that I’m aware of that two international jurisdictions will tie together to produce one bet,” Allevato said. “The world’s getting smaller from a racing standpoint, and that means it’s become a lot easier for U.S. fans to follow international racing. NYRA wants to be a part of that, and to help the sport grow.” Allevato said the Transatlantic Pick 4 will be available to any North American simulcast outlet or advance-deposit wagering company that wants to take it. The minimum bet will be 50 cents. The takeout is 24%. “The big challenge is getting the word out to our customers that the bet is available,” Allevato said. “It goes off very early on the West Coast–6:30 in the morning is when the FS2 show starts out there, and the Arc goes off a half hour after that. But we’re really going to push it on social media and on all of our platforms to get the word out there.” Could this internationally linked wager be the start of a trend at NYRA? “Everything we do at NYRA, we always get together after the fact and look at data and results,” Allevato said. “Success isn’t always determined by the amount of money that’s bet, especially early on. Sometimes things take awhile to get going. So the short answer is yes, we’d like to do more of this–the idea of taking the best races, wherever they are, and putting them into one bet. “I think we could see a day down the road when we could see a transatlantic pick 5, and maybe even someday a transatlantic pick 6,” Allevato continued. “I think fans want it, and as long as we give them the right data to bet international races so that they can be confident and have a strong opinion, then I think they’re going to respond.” View the full article

John Quinn believes Signora Cabello is the best 2-year-old filly he has ever trained and has his sights set on her turning the tables with Darley Prix Morny (G1) conqueror Pretty Pollyanna in Saturday's Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1). View the full article

The Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, will return to Lexington Ky, at the Kentucky Horse Park on Oct. 4-7. The event features approximately 500 recently retired Thoroughbreds competing in 10 different non-racing disciplines. Spectators on-site and those watching via livestream can vote via text for the overall winner among the 10 discipline champions, and that horse with the most votes will be crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred. “Entries for this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover are up over last year’s record numbers by nearly 40%, making this the largest retraining competition for ex-racehorses in history,” said Retired Racehorse Project executive director Jen Roytz. “Lexington is the epicenter of all things Thoroughbred in North America, and it’s only natural that running concurrently with the world-class racing at Keeneland this October will be an elite competition for horses in their careers after racing. If you’re involved with Thoroughbreds, Lexington is the place to be next weekend.” View the full article

The New York Racing Association, Inc. and NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Breast Health Center will continue their partnership to promote breast cancer awareness and encourage early detection with a special ticket package for ‘September Super Saturday’ Sept. 29 at Belmont Park. This is the fourth consecutive year that the two organizations have joined together to raise funding and awareness for the work of NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Breast Health Center. NYRA will be offering a special, all-inclusive ticket featuring clubhouse admission, a post parade program, track-view preferred seating and a complimentary Belmont Park umbrella on Super Saturday’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup card. The ticket price is $50 per person, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Breast Health Center at NYU Winthrop Hospital. “The New York Racing Association is once again proud to partner with NYU Winthrop Hospital, and their renowned Breast Health Center, to highlight breast cancer awareness throughout September Super Saturday at Belmont Park,” said Lynn LaRocca, NYRA Senior VP and Chief Experience Officer. “Fans who purchase this enhanced ticket package will be contributing crucial dollars directly to the fight against breast cancer as we approach National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” View the full article

Classic-placed ‘TDN Rising Star’ Irish War Cry (Curlin–Irish Sovereign, by Polish Numbers) has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md., for the 2019 season. The Isabelle de Tomaso homebred, a three-time graded winner and runner-up in the 2017 GI Belmont S., retires with a record of 13-5-2-0 and earnings of $1,257,060. The breeding rights to the New Jersey-bred were sold to a group including Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura, Glen Hill Farm’s Craig Bernick, SF Bloodstock, Colts Neck Stables, the China Horse Club, Bobby Flay, Sol Kumin and Vincent Viola prior to last year’s GI Kentucky Derby. “Irish War Cry is by leading sire Curlin, won the [GII] Holy Bull, [GII] Wood Memorial and [GIII] Pimlico Special and was second in the Belmont, earning more than $1 million,” said John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, home to two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. “It was always the intent of our partners to stand Irish War Cry in Kentucky. With the addition of champion Good Magic (Champion Good Magic Retired to Hill ‘n’ Dale) and the strong track record of making stallions at Northview, we decided this was the ideal situation for Irish War Cry. They pursued the horse aggressively and made a great pitch for the horse. His credentials as a top class racehorse and great physical specimen make him a standout in the vibrant Maryland market.” Irish War Cry is one of six winners from as many starters for the Polish Numbers mare Irish Sovereign. Irish War Cry is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Irish Strait (English Channel) and the stakes-placed Irish Politics (Political Force). “Irish War Cry is such a gorgeous and talented horse,” trainer Graham Motion. “I have not had a horse since Animal Kingdom who has shown the kind of raw ability that he has. Unlucky not to win a Grade I, he came so close in the Belmont S., but did win the Wood Memorial, which previously had been a Grade I. I look forward to training his offspring.” View the full article

Young trainer Jonathan Thomas has enjoyed a breakout year in 2018, spearheaded by the rousing success of his versatile 3-year-old colt Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), who won the GI Belmont Derby on grass and the GI Travers S. on dirt in consecutive starts. With the Aug. 25 Travers representing his most recent start, Catholic Boy is being trained up to a tilt in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs Nov. 3., where he is expected to take on the likes of formidable older foes such as Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) and Diversify (Bellamy Road). The sophomore posted his first workout back since the Travers Sunday, breezing four furlongs at Belmont Park in :50.88, and Thomas sat down with the TDN the following day to discuss his outlook. TDN: The Travers was obviously a huge effort. How well did he recover from the race? JT: The 10 days following the Travers, we used just for a little R&R. So he got plenty of grazing time and got out in his round pen. We were really just trying to use it to regroup. We thought he came out of it well, but it’s a good opportunity to give him kind of a mini-break. TDN: Looking forward, what is the plan for Catholic Boy? What went into the decision to forego a prep race and train the horse directly up to the Classic in early November? JT: Right off the bat, we had kind of contemplated the Super Saturday week at Belmont, which included the GIII Hill Prince S. and the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, but after letting the dust settle and going back through his past performances and what’s worked really well for him, we felt that the best option was to just train him up to the [GI Breeders’ Cup Classic]. He’s run two of his lifetime best numbers off of a 63-day break and a 70-day break, and going into the Classic, it’s a 70-day break. Lord knows he’s fit and he has a tremendous amount of seasoning under his belt, so we felt the best thing to do for him was just to let him regroup for a few weeks. He actually had his first work back Sunday and that went really well–it gives us plenty of time to bring him there and hopefully in peak condition. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Jonathan Thomas Talks Catholic Boy","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/291747829.sd.mp4?s=e6c6b526db01e42bb4cd8dc46009654aae0ff5ec&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/286919669.sd.mp4?s=251e66bbec0e9305d8f83368178472e5c7c41e5e&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} TDN: Saratoga winners have had considerable success in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in recent years. Did that play a role at all in your decision? JT: He’s had plenty of seasoning and racing experience, so we thought we’d kind of take a path that has worked particularly well. It worked for Arrogate, it worked for American Pharaoh, and then last year, to a similar extent, it worked for Gun Runner. You know, they all had their last races at Saratoga and then trained up to the Classic. I’m a huge fan of Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen, and I love what they did with those particular horses, and we’re certainly trying to replicate that. TDN: You probably get asked this question every day, but at this stage in his career, do you think Catholic Boy is better on dirt or turf? JT: We’re in a unique position where he’s at the top of the game on both surfaces. I mean, if you’re a numbers person, he runs faster races on the dirt, but that’s normally how it goes, numerically. The dirt races tend to get faster figures. And visually, you could make a case that he’s been maybe a little bit more impressive as far as polishing off his races on the dirt. His GI Belmont Derby and GIII Pennine Ridge S. [wins] were dramatic, and I think they had a particular flair in that respect. But right now, I think we’d probably have to give to the nod that he’s probably a little bit better on the dirt. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Irish War Cry has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md., for the 2019 season, the farm announced Sept. 25. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Irish War Cry has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md., for the 2019 season, the farm announced Sept. 25. A stud fee will be announced at a later date. View the full article

Many a horseplayer was left licking his wounds when 1-2 shot Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) was disqualified and placed second for interfering with Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) during the stretch run of the $1-million GI Cotillion S. at Parx Racing Saturday. But did the Pennsylvania Racing Commission and the Parx stewards follow the state’s own “General Rules of Racing,” and should the two horses have been coupled, meaning the disqualification would not have mattered–at least to the bettors? Many racing states have done away with entries entirely in an effort to increase field size, and the ones that haven’t normally do not couple horses in stakes races. Pennsylvania has been a holdout. Pennsylvania’s rules of racing, Chapter 163.95, states: “When starters in a race include two or more horses owned by the same person, they shall be coupled as an entry, with no exceptions.” The rule was written in 1999 and the TDN was unable to find any updated versions. In an era where many horses are owned by multiple individuals or partnerships, it has become increasingly difficult to piece together a complete list of who owns what horses and how much of the horse do they own. However, in the case of Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, it is no secret that prominent owner Sol Kumin owns a portion of both horses. If indeed there are “no exceptions” when it comes to common ownership, then Midnight Bisou and Monomoy Girl should have run as an entry, which would have made the disqualification of no consequence to anyone who bet on either filly. According to Jockey Club records, Monomoy Girl is owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables LLC, the Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables. Midnight Bisou is owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC. Kumin, who races under several different stable names, is the principal owner of Monomoy Stables and Madaket Stables. Kumin appeared in the winner’s circle afterward and had his picture taken with the rest of the owners of Midnight Bisou. Near the sixteenth pole, Monomoy Girl drifted in under Florent Geroux and took away Midnight Bisou’s path. That caused Mike Smith, aboard Midnight Bisou to have to briefly take up and alter course. The stewards did not hold an inquiry, but Smith claimed foul. If there is a reason that the horses were legally permitted to race as uncoupled interests, the TDN was not able to get any answers out of racing officials in Pennsylvania. When reached yesterday at Parx, steward John Gerweck told the TDN he was under orders from the state’s Bureau of Thoroughbred Horse Racing to not speak to the media, not just about the Cotillion, but about anything. The Bureau’s director, Tom Chuckas, did not return a phone call or respond to an email message. View the full article

Members of the Monmouth Park jockey colony and other local racing personalities participated in a charity basketball game against the Shining Stars Ambassadors basketball team Monday night to benefit the special needs community. The game, which was held at the Maple Place School in Oceanport, New Jersey, resulted in a narrow 64-62 victory by the Shining Stars, a special needs basketball team that travels throughout the Garden State to raise awareness for their cause. Among those in attendance were Monmouth Park’s six-time leading trainer Jorge Navarro, Monmouth Park track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, record 13-time leading rider “Jersey Joe” Bravo, Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jose Ortiz, 2018 Monmouth Park leading rider Jose Ferrer and jockey agent Jimmy Riccio. Profits from the event went to the Shining Stars Network, which is designed to create opportunities in performing arts and sports. View the full article

Following details released at its AGM in July, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) has renewed calls for a racehorse owners’ premium scheme to reward British-bred horses, a step it feels is urgently required to halt the decline in the number of small breeders. The TBA revealed the findings of its second Economic Impact Study (EIS) in four years at a meeting in London on Tuesday. Among the results to have struck a warning note with the association is the fact that 66% of breeders surveyed in 2017 were found to be operating at a loss. That figure is up from 45% in 2013 and since that time 353 British breeders (8%) have left the industry. Notably, there has been a 5% drop in the small-breeder sector, which refers to breeders with one or two mares and accounts for a third of the foal crop. Despite this reduction, the number of broodmares in the country has increased by around 500 to 9,000—in particular the number of Flat mares, which has risen by 8% to 6,866—meaning that the foal crop has also increased, from 4,420 per annum to 4,778 during that time. The authors of the study, undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers, pointed to a £427 million contribution to the British economy from Thoroughbred breeding, which is responsible for more than 19,000 jobs, and noted, “To safeguard the British Thoroughbred breeding industry and ensure its future sustainability, direct intervention is required to increase the financial returns to breeding. Without it, the current level of supply will not be maintained; Britain will not be able to sustain its racing calendar, and the finances of all racing industry participants will be severely impacted.” The TBA has promised several proposals to address this issue over the coming months and has reiterated the need for a GB-bred scheme which will build on the existing Plus 10 scheme on the Flat and the National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme (MOPS) but which will be “wholly focused on British-based criteria”. A statement released on Tuesday read, “The major element of the proposal is a scale of bonuses for nominated foals out of British-based mares, graduated according to whether they are visiting British-based or overseas stallions. Around 850 races for two- and three-year-olds and a further 150 fillies-only races on the Flat and about 1,900 jump races will carry bonuses, and it is envisaged that substantially higher prizes will be offered than at present. “The TBA believes there is an urgency about the need for action, and that timing is crucial if the breeding industry is to remain robust and future-proof, especially as the EIS notes that ‘Brexit presents a disruptive challenge’.” Under the current Tripartite Agreement between Britain, Ireland and France, there are more than 27,000 free horse movements between these three countries each year and both the TBA and BHA have made representations to the government of the importance of upholding this agreement after Britain leaves the EU, as currently planned, in March 2019. With the Tattersalls October Sale set to start in just under a fortnight, the report’s findings will be unsettling for those vendors selling in the later part of the sale. To illustrate the polarisation between large and small breeding operations, the TBA highlighted the fact that the average filly sold during Book 1 of the October Sale made an estimated profit of £118,000, but those sold at Book 3 returned on average an estimated loss of £23,500. Read the full TBA Economic Impact Study View the full article

South African rookie Grant van Niekerk may have taken all before him during his first month in Hong Kong but the co-leader of the jockeys’ championship is yet to notch a win at Happy Valley. While the 27-year-old has only had nine rides at the inner-city venue, he says he has quickly learned some of the nuances that come with riding at the tight and undulating track. Fresh off a Sha Tin double on Sunday, Van Niekerk is quickly building a name for himself, grabbing rides for some of the... View the full article

Rival trainers have all but declared they could be running for second place behind a John Size juggernaut on Wednesday night with the master trainer bringing his strongest team yet to the races this season. The 10-time champion trainer will saddle up promising three-year-old Country Star in the second section of the Class Four Nam Fung Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley after a troubled debut three weeks ago where he ran into a number of horses. The son of Starcraft has since trialled behind... View the full article

Berry takes last, Domeyer and Team Australia win PGI Jockeys Challenge View the full article

Springboks leap to the lead thanks to Domeyer View the full article

Mister Yeoh and McEvoy spring Aussies to the top View the full article

Havlin earns first Star prize at PGI Jockeys Challenge View the full article

Bowman has world at his feet, but always has time for a jockeys challenge View the full article

Horses' body weights September 25 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings September 25 View the full article

Horses' test results September 25 View the full article

Kranji ready to catch England's passing star Hayley Turner View the full article