Wandering Eyes

White Robe Lodge have announced a slight fee increase for exciting young sire Ghibellines, who will stand for a fee of $6,000+GST for the forthcoming breeding season. The Group Two-winning son of Shamardal has made a promising start to his stud career, with two winners and a stakes performer from just seven runners to date and has been represented by a host of promising horses at the trials. Ghibellines’ first winner was the John and Karen Parsons-trained gelding El Gladiador, while trainer ... View the full article

Hanafi disqualified one year View the full article

Clements looking to gauge trio of 4YOs this Friday View the full article

Chris and Tina Barlow believe in second chances and aren’t afraid to think out of the box when it comes to giving their horses another shot at success. Case in point is Man of Honour (Postponed (USA) - Big Soiree) who won the inaugural New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Ready Teddy Trophy at the recent Matamata Two-Day Event for best performed thoroughbred. Bred and owned by the Barlows, he was unplaced in two starts as a five-year-old. Instead of moving him on they sent him to ... View the full article

Chilean champion Santona has died. The 25-year-old mare was euthanized at Park Equine Hospital at Woodford on May 5 due to complications from colic. View the full article

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka May Sale is set to offer 240 of the country’s best mixed bloodstock on Friday 17 May and in a first-time event for the Sale, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Racing RT Hon Winston Peters will open the Sale at 9.45am.“We are very pleased that Racing Minister Winston Peters will be opening the Sale for us,” commented NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.“To have him address participants of the thoroughbred industry after his anno... View the full article

Dennis Drazin announced during Monmouth Park's season-opening press conference that Maximum Security, the first horse stripped of a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory due to a racetrack foul, would be targeting Monmouth's TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1). View the full article

Murray Rojas was sentenced May 6 to 27 months in federal prison after the former trainer was found guilty of misbranding drugs and illegally administering race day medication to horses in 2013. View the full article

The more tape that Gary West watches, the more and more convinced he becomes that there was no reason to strip a victory from his homebred Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). View the full article

4.50 Gowran Park, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 7fT TIME TUNNEL (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) missed her intended debut over an extended mile at Naas last month when upset in the stalls and Dermot Weld will hope for better fortune here. Khalid Abdullah’s March-foaled bay is a daughter of the G1 Falmouth S. heroine Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar), herself a half-sister to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud heroine Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) whose son Tempus (GB) (Kingman {GB}) scored on Tuesday night. 6.55 Gowran Park, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT ANYA YLINA (IRE) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is another intriguing debutante on this card for Dermot Weld’s Rosewell House, being out of a half-sister to the G2 Lennox S.-winning sire Es Que Love (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}). Moyglare Stud Farm’s homebred meets a real blueblood in Magic Fountain (War Front), Ballydoyle’s daughter of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who was only 10th as favourite for a Leopardstown maiden last month. The post Observations: May 8, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pat Smullen’s decision to retire from race riding may not have come as a surprise but it has come as a blow. Many fans of the multiple champion jockey will share mixed emotions at the news: on the one hand, utter relief that his recovery from serious illness continues positively and on the other, disappointment that we have been robbed of seeing a man of his unquestionable ability competing on racecourses around the world. Try to look up a photograph of Smullen and you will most likely find him adorned in the colours of some of the world’s leading owner-breeders: Moyglare Stud, Juddmonte, HH The Aga Khan, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Yes, these are all patrons of Dermot Weld’s Rosewell House–the place that must have felt like a second home to Smullen for two decades–but the fact that he remained in one of Irish racing’s most coveted positions for so long says as much for his loyalty and dependability as it does about his skill in the saddle. A no-nonsense jockey who was doubtless as feared by his colleagues on the track as he was revered off it, Smullen’s inscrutability in his race-riding days has turned to refreshing candour since he was forced to stand down from doing that which he loved best just over a year ago. Plenty of us, faced with such grim news, would wish to turn away from prying questions. Probably he did too on many occasions, but his and his wife Frances’s desire to ensure that their children were protected from idle gossip and speculation by arming interested parties with detail and fact has been just one admirable aspect of Smullen’s strategy of dealing with his illness. His frankness in adversity will have been inspirational to many in similar situations. He has spoken of how his supreme fitness as a jockey helped in what we so commonly refer to in these situations as the ‘battle’. It will of course have helped but a jockey’s job is far from being solely about strength and fitness. It’s about having the mental robustness to hold one’s nerve in the heat of a race; to deprive oneself of sustenance; to be able to cope with the pressure of satisfying the expectations of owners and trainers, and, in these increasingly angry times, being able to rise above the bile of the keyboard warriors on social media. That’s a battle of a different kind, but the mental strength required in this regard will also have gone a long way in helping him in his days as a patient to continue to put one foot in front of the other. Smullen has ridden plenty of tough, top-class horses over the years: Vinnie Roe and Famous Name spring to mind for their extraordinary longevity as much as any other attribute, but if his recent personal triumph over adversity could be summed up by the name of any of his former equine partners it is Refuse To Bend. As he expressed so well himself in his accompanying column, his health and his family must come first. When given the superb opportunity to become Dermot Weld’s stable jockey all those years ago, he seized the opportunity with both hands. Now, the wheel of fortune has swung back in his favour and this second chance is for something so much more precious: life. We are privileged to have welcomed Pat Smullen as a columnist to the TDN earlier this season and his invaluable insight on a weekly basis will continue to be a key element of our editorial coverage of the European racing scene. Along with so many people around the racing world, some of whom are included below, all of the members of the TDN team extend our best wishes for success in his next chapter. Racing Figures Pay Tribute to Pat Smullen “Pat, thank you for the decades of loyalty to Moyglare Stud; thank you for all your victories, your iron will, your unique talent and your friendship.” – Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, owner, Moyglare Stud. “Pat is a great pal, other than during his grumpy moments, an occasional partner in crime, the proudest husband and dad, and an irreplaceable source of information about the generations of Moyglare-bred runners he partnered in these last few decades. Irresistible Jewel and her daughter Princess Highway winning the Ribblesdale, a decade apart, in such similar style, were highlights. He excelled at Ascot, always a plan, game face on, and some memorable days the result with the aforementioned duo, In Time’s Eye, Forgotten Rules, Sapphire, and then his stunning ride on Free Eagle. However, my personal favourite will always be Dress To Thrill’s Matriarch at Hollywood Park. Just sublime. And to TDN readers I’d like to say that Pat has amazing insight and a great brain, so read his words and think on them, as there is a vast amount of good sense and expert judgement behind them.” – Fiona Craig, breeding advisor for Moyglare Stud. “Our association goes back to when Pat was riding for John Oxx. He’s an absolutely fantastic, world-class jockey. He always gave us great feedback on the horses, which we feed off. Information for us is key and we always got the best information from Pat. He’s had a tough time recently and I’m just delighted to see that he is hopefully out the other end of it now. I think he’s very comfortable in the advice that he’s been given and I wish him very well.” – Pat Downes, manager of HH The Aga Khan’s Irish Studs. “The easiest way to describe Pat is world class; as a jockey and more importantly as a man. He has a great affinity with horses but also an understanding that racing is essentially about the people involved in it. Covert Love winning and Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera, along with an Ayr Gold cup for my mother, are among my personal memories. So many people will have their own special memories of an amazing career. The determination and willpower he has shown in the last year are a testament his character. My best wishes go to Pat, Frances and their family for the future.” – Mark McStay, co-owner/breeder of Covert Love “Pat’s first ride for me was on Short Squeeze in a big handicap at York and it was absolutely masterful: he just put him on the line in the last stride. Then he started to ride Covert Love and Gifted Master and whenever it was possible he became my go-to jockey and we had some fantastic success together. The Irish Oaks was a highlight but perhaps even more so the Prix de l’Opera. I think it was one of the best rides any horse has ever been given.” – Hugo Palmer, trainer “Happy Retirement to @patjsmullen, one of my greatest rivals in the saddle. He turned up everyday with his A game. He still has a lot to offer our industry. A great family man and a true inspiration to show the power of a positive attitude.” – Johnny Murtagh on Twitter “Courage, grace, all class, Pat Smullen is a true hero and role model. Sad for him that he’s had to retire, but he leaves a lot of people with very happy memories of his time in the saddle and I wish him a long and happy retirement, but an active one in the sport.” – Lisa-Jane Graffard on Twitter “Congrats on an amazing career @patjsmullen. Multiple champion jockey… but you’ve proved more than ever in the last year what a champion you really are.” – AP McCoy on Twitter “Unbelievable sportsman, an even better human. Privileged to have ridden with one of the greats but proud to say he’s a true friend.” – Chris Hayes on Twitter “It’s a bittersweet day to hear my friend @patjsmullen has announced his retirement. I remember the days he started with my father, Tom, a young lad whose talent would only be surpassed by his determination and focus. He is an example to us all, not just young riders.” – Tony Lacy on Twitter “I was very lucky to have ridden against and learnt from one of the best in the weigh-room. A man you could always ask for advice and would gladly give you it. Happy retirement @patjsmullen.” Gary Halpin on Twitter The post A Rare Talent appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In a new twist on the fast-evolving concept of racehorse partnerships, breeders who own a War Dancer (War Front) yearling can “contribute” their horse to an ownership collective in exchange for a $25,000 equity share in a racing partnership that is expected to be comprised of 10 to 15 War Dancer offspring that will hit the track starting in 2020. Known as the War Dancer Racing Partnership, this unique arrangement is believed to be the first of its kind to allow breeders who put up yearling equine assets to share in revenue streams that will be generated by on-track earnings of all the horses in the stable. It’s the latest out-of-the-box idea from Robin Malatino, who founded Sugar Plum Farm in New York after making her mark as the chief executive of Saratoga Beverage Group. Years ago, Malatino got that firm’s chief product, Saratoga Water, to stand out in a highly competitive sector by changing the packaging to a distinctive blue bottle that remains easily identifiable today. “Most people are scratching their heads saying, ‘Huh? We’ve never seen this before,'” Malatino told TDN with a laugh. “But a few people have called us and said, ‘This is great!’ The process is almost like if you’re going to nominate for a sale. You have to have x-rays, a video, and everything else. But we don’t care as much about the mother’s pedigree to get into the partnership. We’re looking for athletes.” All yearlings sired by War Dancer are eligible to be nominated for free. Breeders can nominate their yearling(s) from Apr. 1-May 31, 2019. Malatino said a panel of advisors comprised of trainers, breakers of young horses, and veterinarians will select the partnership’s yearlings based on athleticism and conformation. “Every horse that qualifies gets in,” Malatino said, estimating that the partnership will include 10 to 15 offspring from War Dancer’s current yearling crop of about 90. “This way, we guarantee breeders that [their horse] will get to the racetrack, primarily if they’re New York-breds, which ensures them a chance at breeders’ awards,” Malatino said. “The cool part about is every horse that breeders contribute is valued at $25,000. That’s a number that we picked because we know that’s pretty much what the breeder has into it at that point.” Malatino used a round number of 10 yearlings to explain the math behind the profit-sharing: If 10 breeders each put up a horse valued at $25,000 each, that’s $250,000 in equine equity. Other partners–including Malatino–will contribute $750,000 in capital to buy into the partnership. Each individual breeder would thus own a $25,000 stake in the partnership (or 2.5%, based on a $1 million model). The capital contributors would collectively own the other 75%. Malatino said that $1 million will be enough money to cover training costs to get those 10 horses to the track through the middle of their 3-year-old years. “So the breeder gets no bills,” she added. Horses will begin their initial training in Ocala, Florida. Malatino said she anticipates most of the trainees will eventually race in New York. A partnership website will host training updates and videos, as well as communication from trainers. There will also be an investment platform for individuals to buy into the partnership at relatively smaller amounts, like $500 or $1,000. As the horses span their career arcs, purse earnings will accrue and will be offset by ongoing training costs. There will be a per-share distribution after the last horse in the partnership is sold or retires. “So what do you get as a breeder?” Malatino asked rhetorically. “Knowing that your horse is going to be trained well by one of the top trainers in New York, where you’re eligible for breeders’ awards. You’ve also diversified your investment, because we all know that even to the best of horses, things happen. And the third thing is, you’re going to have fun. Because we’re going to put the group together in such a way where [everybody collectively] gets to design silks, pick names, and all the enjoyable, social things like that.” Breeders will be notified by June 30 if their War Dancer yearling has been selected. The transfer of ownership will be complete by Sep. 30. If a breeder wants to enter an accepted yearling in a sale before the Sep. 30 transfer, they may do so. If the horse sells at auction, there will be no penalty for dropping out of the partnership. If the horse does not sell, it will remain eligible for the partnership. War Dancer stands in Saratoga as part of the Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions roster at Irish Hill Century Farm. With earnings of $1,068,927, War Dancer was a ‘TDN Rising Star’ who won or placed in nine graded stakes, including a victory in the 2013 GII Virginia Derby. He covered 200 mares in his first two years at stud, of which 100 were stakes performers/producers. His fee is $7,500 LFSN. As the president War Dancer, LLC, Malatino said she committed early on to an unorthodox marketing plan to attract both quality and quantity mares. Offbeat social media marketing campaigns to promote War Dancer include “Breeding With The Stars” and “Most Eligible Stud” themes. “There was a word I heard bouncing around in this industry a few years ago, and I did not truly know what it meant–the word ‘support,'” Malatino said. “In this business, ‘support’ takes on a whole new meaning. So I said we’re going to take it to a whole new level. We’re going to support breeders, and we’re going to support [our stallion] at a level that most people don’t do. We’re either going to do this right, or we’re not going to do it. “This way, at the end of the day, if War Dancer is his father’s son and produces greatness like War Front has, this will be an easy conversation, and everyone will think, ‘Oh, they were so smart,'” Malatino said. “But the truth is, if it doesn’t happen and the genetics don’t work, I’ll know we did everything possible. And knowing that makes you feel really good about what you’re doing.” The post New Partnership Offers Diversification at Yearling Level appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-Wolverhampton, £5,800, Mdn, 5-7, 3yo/up, 8f 142y (AWT), 1:50.85, st. TEMPUS (GB) (c, 3, Kingman {GB}–Passage of Time {GB} {G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Eng, GISP-US, $651,668}, by Dansili {GB}), who was second in a decent Nottingham maiden in October, started as the 4-6 favourite and quickly gained the early lead against the rail. Shaking off pace pressure from the top of the straight, the bay strode out with purpose to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Bardo Contiguo (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). “He’s ran very green still, but has a lack of experience,” jockey Jason Watson said. “He has plenty of ability and there is plenty more to come I’d say. He’s a lovely big stamp of a horse with a very good presence about him and did it very easily tonight. We like our horses to come on as the year goes on and this is only the start of it.” The winner is the latest progeny out of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud heroine Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was also third in the G1 Nassau S., G1 Prix Vermeille and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. That makes him a half-brother to Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who started out with this stable and won three pattern races including the G2 Joel S. before transferring to Chad Brown and finishing runner-up in the GI Manhattan S. and GI Fourstardave H., MGSW & G1SP-Eng, MGISP-US, $830,948. Her 2-year-old colt Natchez Trace (GB) is by Kingman’s sire Invincible Spirit (Ire), who is also the sire of her yearling colt. Time Test took Royal Ascot’s G3 Tercentenary S. in 2015 and it would be no surprise if Tempus is aimed at that prize, now restored to its prior title as the Hampton Court. Passage of Time’s full-brother Father Time (GB) enjoyed his finest hour at the 2009 Royal meeting when registering a four-length success in the G2 King Edward VII S., while her half-sister Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar) captured the meeting’s Listed Sandringham H. before going on to glory in the G1 Falmouth S. Other family members to feature prominently at Royal Ascot are Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) who just missed out on G1 Prince of Wales’s S. glory and was third in the G1 St James’s Palace S. and last year’s G3 Hampton Court S. third Crossed Baton (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, £5,677. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Roger Charlton. The post Passage of Time’s Kingman Colt Off the Mark At Wolverhampton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After Monday’s denial of appeal by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), the co-owner of the disqualified GI Kentucky Derby winner said a lawsuit is the imminent next step in trying to reverse the decision by the Churchill Downs stewards to strip Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) of the official victory and relegate the horse to 17th place. Gary West, who co-owns Maximum Security with his wife, Mary, told the Associated Press he was not surprised the KHRC denied the appeal the same day it was filed. The commission responded that it has no process in place to handle the appeal of stewards’ in-race disqualifications. But the act of having filed the formal appeal could at least serve as a mechanism to potentially show a judge that the Wests attempted to resolve the case at the state agency level before forging ahead with legal action. “Based on everything that has happened so far, I’m not surprised,” West told the AP. “We’ll file suit in whatever the appropriate court is. I don’t know the answer to that, but the lawyers that I have retained will know what the appropriate venue is.” The post West Says Derby Lawsuit in Pipeline appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A drastic increase in purses, bolstered by the introduction of sports betting and state subsidies, welcomes horsemen back to the Jersey Shore for Monmouth’s 61-day meet that got underway Saturday. The track will also house an array of new trainers as officials celebrated the re-opening of the Oceanport oval in a press event Tuesday. A stakes schedule featuring 64 races, including 12 graded and 15 new to the calendar, worth $7.1 million awaits racing fans at the 74th summer stand at Monmouth. The meet centerpiece, the $1-million TVG.com Haskell Invitational, will be held July 20, moving to Saturday from its usual Sunday slot. The other Grade I at the meet, the United Nations S., will take place June 22. Purse money is expected to average $500,000 daily, compared to last year’s average of around $325,000 for a 52-day meet which distributed approximately $4.3 million for stakes. On the backstretch, GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer John Servis will return to Monmouth for 2019 after a lengthy absence. The veteran conditioner, Parx-based since starting his career in 1984, will have a string of 30 horses at Monmouth, the first time since the early 1990s that he’s had a significant presence at the track. “The purse structure was very appealing to me,” Servis said. “I like the stakes schedule, too. It fits a lot of the horses I have. I’ve always enjoyed being at Monmouth Park. You’ll see me there a lot more. I’ll be back and forth between Parx and Monmouth a couple of times a week.” In addition, Todd Pletcher has requested 54 stalls following a one-year hiatus from the track. Among trainers calling Monmouth home for the first time this meet are Kelsey Danner, Jorge Duarte, Jeff Englehart, Raymond Handal, Michelle Nihei and Christopher Seale. The top five trainers from last year’s meet–Jorge Navarro, Jason Servis, Kelly Breen, Chad Brown and Patrick McBurney–are all back. The leading jockeys from the past three seasons–Jose Ferrer (2018), Nik Juarez (2017) and Paco Lopez (2016)–all return, along with top riders Antonio Gallardo and Trevor McCarthy, who won the Cliff Hanger S. with Hawkish (Artie Schiller) on the opening-day card. Newcomer Reylu Gutierrez will be part of the riding mix as well. The addition of sports betting to Monmouth at the William Hill Race & Sports Book was the biggest story of last year’s meet, and the facility has added self-service betting kiosks for players. Five new events have also been added to Monmouth’s popular promotions schedule. The post Increased Purse Money, New Stakes to Highlight Monmouth Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Day 2 of the Chester meeting sees the Ormonde Stakes take centre stage where St Leger winner Kew Gardens will be very difficult to beat. The under card consists of a competitive looking Dee Stakes and it promises to be a good days racing. Gateley Handicap Copper Knight was ultra-consistent last season and proved that […] The post Chester Preview – Thursday appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Though he works for Taylor Made, Val Henson is not a name widely known in horse racing. That’s because his job at the farm is Director of Maintenance and Special Projects, which means handling issues like overseeing fence repair and barn maintenance. Nothing he does involves working with the horses. But being around horse people led Henson to decide to dabble in racing, albeit on a small scale. He and a partner, Mark Hartig, started by involving themselves in a pinhooking venture. They made some money off of that, and rolled the dice again when deciding to buy a share in the stallion Alternation. He needed a mare so he bought an unraced 3-year-old named Havisham (Bernardini) for $5,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale and bred her to Alternation. The mating resulted in a dark bay or brown filly named Serengeti Empress, the winner of the 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks. “Man, did she run like crazy Friday,” Henson said. “It was incredible to be at the Oaks and be in the winner’s circle. I still can’t believe that it happened. To get into the Oaks and win the Oaks, the odds of that are astronomical.” Henson said he’s not the one who deserves the credit, and neither does Hartig. “He knows less about racing than I do,” he said. Henson was talked into getting involved in racing by Jacob West, who at the time worked at Taylor Made and was engaged to Henson’s daughter. West, who is now the vice president of bloodstock for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, told his future father-in-law that he thought he should try buying a horse or two. “He got me involved with that colt that we pinhooked,” Henson said. “We sold that colt and did well and I told him that if we made some money I’d be interested in taking that money and reinvesting it in something else.” West told Henson that shares were available in Alternation, who stands at Pin Oak Stud, and that he thought the stallion, whose stud fee is $10,000, was “a real bargain.” “I thought Alternation was a really good stallion prospect and that he was a good value,” West said. “It was a good way for them to dip their toe in the water,” Henson and Hartig agreed and then sent West to find them a mare. But why Havisham, a Darley homebred who never made it to the races? “Jacob has a pretty good eye for picking out horses and we needed a broodmare,” Henson said. “He thought this mare, at the price we paid, was a great deal.” Serengeti Empress was put into the 2016 Keeneland November sale as a weanling and sold for just $25,000. She showed up the next year at Keeneland September and was bought as a yearling by Joel Politi for $70,000. Though Henson no longer owned the filly, he was enjoying the ride. Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress won two stakes as a juvenile, including a 19 1/2-length romp in the GII Pocahontas S. in September. She finished seventh in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and then kicked off her 3-year-old campaign with a win the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds. After that win, Henson bought his tickets for Oaks Day and couldn’t wait to see the horse he bred run in the Oaks. But it almost didn’t happen. Serengeti Empress bled in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and lost by 50 lengths. There were no guarantees that Amoss was going to get her right in time for the Oaks, but he did. She went wire to wire, winning by 1 3/4 lengths. As big an accomplishment as it is to breed a Kentucky Oaks winner, the victory did little to enhance Henson’s bank account. They not only sold Serengeti Empress for $25,000, but let Havisham go at the same sale for $12,000. Any sleepless nights over the decision to sell the weanling and the mare, both of whom are now very valuable? “I think about that a lot,” Henson said. “You have go on the advice of those who really know what they are doing, and that’s not us. We followed Jake’s advice in the beginning and look what he did for us. On any decision we ever make when it comes to racing, I will do what he says. That’s how much faith I have in him. We weren’t looking to make it big in any way. It was more a hobby type of thing. Would I love to have the filly and the mare and the full sister to Serengeti Empress she was carrying when we sold her? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about the money. That’s silly. Who wouldn’t want to still own those horses? But I certainly have enjoyed the ride, being able to be part of the whole process and getting the breeders’ awards.” Henson has no plans to get into breeding on a major scale, but he has caught the bug and is ready to try again. Henson and Hartig bought a 25% interest in a mare named Popstar (Medaglia d’Oro), who just delivered a foal by Midshipman, and they still have the share in Alternation. “I’ll be active in November to find them another mare to breed to Alternation,” West said. “We’ll try to catch lightning in a bottle again.” Can they pull it off again? Probably not. But Val Henson bred a Kentucky Oaks winner in his very first try. There may be no topping that. The post He’s Bred Exactly One Horse, And It Won the Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Oh dear! When it comes to writing a column, I find it much easier if I admire the subject horse’s performance, but that’s not going to be the case today. As far as I could see, Country House was beaten fair and square by Maximum Security–who crossed the line nearly two lengths clear–in Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby. Over the years I have seen many different interpretations of justice on the racecourse, including disqualifications in several European classics under a variety of jurisdictions and I have come to the conclusion that the current system in Britain is the best. It has been said that the equity of the result, in inquiries into interference, is dealt with separately in Britain from the disciplining of jockeys for breaching of the rules on improper riding. So British stewards would have asked whether Luis Saez’s riding had been dangerous, reckless, careless, improper or accidental. I would have considered Maximum Security’s maneuver away from the rails to be accidental, in view of all the noise and commotion which greets the Kentucky Derby runners as they sweep into the stretch. Coincidentally, several of the disqualifications in European classics have involved horses carrying the colors of Prince Khalid Abdullah. The first came in the 1980 2,000 Guineas, in which the unbeaten Nureyev crossed the line a neck in front of Known Fact, with Posse a further three-quarters of a length back in third. The problem was that Nureyev had nearly put Posse on the floor when asked to barge his way through. After deliberating for more than three-quarters of an hour, the stewards decided that the interference was not accidental and that Nureyev’s rider had been reckless. Nureyev therefore had to be placed last. The 2006 French 1,000 Guineas, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, fell to Juddmonte’s Price Tag, who was later to win the GI Matriarch S. at Hollywood Park. Although Price Tag won by a length and a half, she had hung to her right as she challenged and had squeezed up two of her rivals. With the system in France then being similar to the American rules, Price Tag was demoted to third. Four years later Special Duty contested the 1,000 Guineas and then the French equivalent, with both races ending in controversy. In the Newmarket classic Special Duty was carried right as Jacqueline Quest veered off a true line and the stewards had little option but to reverse the placings in view of the fact that the pair were separated by only a nose at the line. Jacqueline Quest’s rider received a three-day ban for careless riding after he switched his whip to his left hand, even though his filly was edging right. Special Duty was also awarded the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches even though she suffered no interference. She was beaten a head by Liliside in a race where the first six flashed across the line separated by only heads and necks. Liliside was deemed to have caused interference to three of the other runners and was moved back to sixth. Whatever your views on the Kentucky Derby result, the race once again underlined to dominance of the Mr. Prospector male line. Maximum Security’s sire New Year’s Day is a great-grandson of Mr. Prospector, by Street Cry (Ire), who also sired the 2007 winner Street Sense. Country House, on the other hand, is by Mr. Prospector’s grandson Lookin At Lucky, a Preakness-winning son of Smart Strike. Curlin, another of Smart Strike’s sons, also won the Preakness and has sired winners of the Belmont and the Preakness, but Country House is this branch’s first Derby winner. Another thing that Maximum Security and Country House have in common is that both were just short of their actual third birthday when they raced at Churchill Downs. The disqualified winner was born May 14 and Country House May 8. The third home–Noble Mission (GB)’s son Code of Honor–was born even later, on May 23. The fact that the first three across the line came from the four May foals in the 19-runner field probably didn’t surprise anyone in the U.S., where the climate seems to help offset any disadvantage suffered by late foals. Compare that to the 2,000 Guineas, where only two of the 19 runners were born after Apr. 1. Country House represents another upturn in the fortunes of the appropriately named Lookin At Lucky, whose fee in the last two years has stood at $17,500–exactly half of his original fee in 2011. Accelerate had become Lookin At Lucky’s first northern-hemisphere Grade I winner when he landed last year’s Santa Anita H. and then clinched the Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Male by adding a further four Grade I victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Wow Cat, one of the numerous Grade I winners sired by Lookin At Lucky while on transfer to Chile, also got into the act in winning the GI Beldame S. over a mile and an eighth on dirt. Country House also seems to stay well by American standards even though his dam Quake Lake did her winning in all-weather sprints as a 4-year-old and his third dam Ayanka gained all eight of her wins in dirt sprints. Ayanka’s sire Jade Hunter won the GI Gulfstream Park H. over a mile and a quarter and Country House’s second dam Shooting Party is by Sky Classic, another stallion with a degree of stamina. A son of Nijinsky, Sky Classic gained both of his major successes–in the Rothmans International and the Turf Classic–over a mile and a half. Shooting Party inherited a measure of his stamina, performing well in three races over a mile and an eighth, most notably finishing second in the GI Garden City Breeders’ Cup H. Shooting Party, like her daughter Quake Lake, has also done well with Lookin At Lucky. Their son Breaking Lucky won the Prince of Wales S., one of the legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, and performed well in some American Grade Is over a mile and an eighth, once being beaten only three heads in the Woodward S. Country House’s broodmare sire War Chant seemed to have all the makings of a first-rate stallion when this son of the great Danzig retired to Three Chimneys Farm at a fee of $75,000 in 2001. A winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, War Chant was out of the champion filly Hollywood Wildcat, winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The fact that War Chant’s fee was to dwindle to a tenth of its original level tells us that his promise went largely unfulfilled. However, disappointing stallions such as War Chant, who start their careers at substantial fees, often prove more effective as broodmare sires, thanks to the strength of their mates’ pedigrees. Country House is the second Grade I winner for War Chant’s daughters, following the high-class European 2-year-old Shalaa. Kitten’s Roar, War Heroine, Csaba and Tammy the Torpedo are among their other graded winners. The post Pedigree Insights: Country House appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Although an official date has not been set, Indiana Horse Racing Commission Executive Director, Mike Smith, has announced plans to retire. Smith will assist Commission members with their search for his replacement and ensure a smooth transition occurs once a replacement is named. “Deciding to retire has not been an easy decision to make, especially when working in an industry which I have grown so passionate about. However, I’m looking forward to spending time with family and focusing on my existing business ventures,” noted Smith on his impending retirement. The post Indiana Racing Commission Executive Director Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star‘ and GI Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky) has been declared a non-runner in the GI Preakness S. May 18 as he appears on the verge of getting sick. Daily Racing Form was first to break the story. Trainer Bill Mott told DRF that while the colt’s appetite remains good and while he does not have any fever, “he’s coughing” and “he’s acting like he’s going to get sick.” DRF also reported that Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), placed second in the Run for the Roses, would skip the second leg of the Triple Crown and with the GI Belmont S. having already been ruled out, that the GIII Dwyer S. would be next for the diminutive chestnut colt. Fellow ‘Rising Star‘ Improbable (City Zip), who crossed the line fifth, but was placed fourth in the Derby, was confirmed a Preakness starter Monday, with Mike Smith to ride. Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), first home, but placed 17th in the Derby, has already been ruled out of the Preakness by owner Gary West, who is attempting to appeal the Derby disqualification. This story will be updated. The post Report: Country House Out of Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), who won the G1 Moyglare Stud S. last season, has been ruled out of the May 26 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas with a hamstring injury, www.irishracing.com reported on Tuesday. Only 14th of 15 in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on May 5, the John Oxx trainee did not display any discomfort after the Newmarket feature and no abnormalities were found after a post-race veterinary examination. “We were scratching our heads over her performance, but she damaged a hamstring muscle,” Oxx told www.irishracing.com of the G2 Debutante S. and G3 Silver Flash S. victress. “We believe it happened early on in the race, possibly leaving the stalls. She will require a few weeks off work which will mean she will miss the Irish 1000 Guineas and it is touch and go whether she will make Royal Ascot. There is no shortcut with this type of injury but the good news is that she should make a full recovery.” The post Skitter Scatter Ruled Out of Irish 1000 Guineas With Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maximum Security, who finished first in last Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) but was disqualified, has arrived at trainer Jason Servis' barn at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. View the full article

Christa Marrillia has been named Keeneland’s Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer and Marc Therrien has been named Managing Director of Keeneland Hospitality. “Our world-class marketing efforts and the hospitality we extend to our guests are critical to the success of our core business,” said Keeneland President and CEO, Bill Thomason. “These programs have thrived under Christa and Marc’s leadership, and we are delighted to welcome their fresh perspective and insight to the executive leadership team.” Marrillia, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, joined Keeneland in 2003 and has worked on elevating the Keeneland brand through digital channels, strategic partnerships and grassroots efforts. She also serves on the VisitLEX Tourism Commission, board of directors for LexArts, Downtown Lexington Partnership advisory board, and is a member and past president of the Bluegrass Hospitality Association. “It has been an honor and a privilege to promote this amazing brand for the past 16 years,” Marrillia said. “I look forward to serving in this new role and am grateful to our incredibly talented marketing and communications teams. This promotion is a testament to our collective success.” Therrien joined Keeneland Hospitality as Executive Chef in 2016. He played an instrumental role in developing the new Keeneland Crafted Events, which include the popular Paddock Dinner Series and Sunday Brunches at Keene Place. In addition to his role at Keeneland, Therrien serves on the board of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “The success of Keeneland Hospitality is critical to our core business and most especially the delivery of a world-class experience to our guests,” said Therrien. “I’m honored to join the leadership team and look forward to expanding our programs and further contributing to the Keeneland mission.” The post Marrillia and Therrien Named to Keeneland Executive Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We have given you £1,000,000, now it’s your job to keep it! In the RaceBets Million Put your racing knowledge to the test for your chance to win up to £1,000,000 by answering 20 questions. All you have to do to enter is have staked £25 in your whole time at RaceBets. Whats more, you […] The post Can you win a million with the RaceBets Million appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and Galileo (Ire) are a combination that all bar the betting public fear even more than usual during Chester’s May meeting, which is no surprise given that the focus during the track’s one high-profile meeting is turning to the upcoming Derby and Oaks. Racing on the “Roodeye” is particularly intense, with its tight round oval placing extra emphasis on the draw and the jockeys’ tactical nous. Good horses win around here too, with the likes of Henbit, Shergar (Ire), Old Vic (GB), Soldier of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), Light Shift (Kingmambo), Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) just a few to navigate around the Roman walls above which it is also possible to get one of racing’s finest free vantage points from the pavement. Where the Galileo-O’Brien-Moore perfect storm is most keenly felt is in the G3 MBNA Chester Vase, in which the trainer holds the record with eight winners and the rider is foremost in his profession with seven. They include six by Coolmore’s equine oligarch, including the subsequent blue riband hero Ruler of the World (Ire) in 2013 and the ongoing pattern of familiarity extends to Wednesday’s renewal as his full-brother Norway (Ire) takes up the mantle. Successful in the 10-furlong Listed Zetland S. at Newmarket before running fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud also at that trip in October, he is joined by recent maiden winners Gentile Bellini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The latter, who has been hauled from Urban Sea’s bottomless well of Classic talent, looked tailor-made for this place when earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status with a rare panache on his debut at Tipperary 13 days ago and has the seal of approval from racing’s foremost understudy Donnacha O’Brien. Charlie Fellowes is hoping that King Ottokar (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) can offer some resistance to that trio after winning the 10-furlong Newbury conditions event Apr. 12 that three individual Classic winners have emerged from in recent times. “He was very impressive last time,” his trainer said. “I hope they get some rain overnight, which I think they will. I don’t think stepping up to the mile and a half will be a problem and I think he will handle Chester well as he’s a very well-balanced horse with a high cruising speed. The only thing that will get him beaten is if he’s not good enough and we need to know if we’re thinking about going to Epsom.” In last year’s Listed Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks, O’Brien was first and second with Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he needs one more to equal Barry Hills’s record of seven wins. Magic Wand’s relation Secret Thoughts (War Front) is charged with that responsibility and she steps up four furlongs after a latest fifth in Leopardstown’s G3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 6. She encounters Waverley Racing’s unbeaten Listed Silver Tankard S. winner Manuela De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a pair from the John Gosden stable including Emirates Park’s Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who took a two-runner 10-furlong Chelmsford handicap by 14 lengths Apr. 18. The post May-Day! appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article