Wandering Eyes

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

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) was surprisingly not supplemented to the G1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp on May 12 for which she would have been the likely favourite, Jour de Galop reported on Tuesday. Instead, 14 fillies stood their ground at the latest confirmation stage, with the His Highness the Aga Khan homebred, who won an Apr. 4 Saint-Cloud maiden in taking style before a ParisLongchamp conditions race Apr. 22, failing to please in a racecourse gallop. Trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has opted to skip the one-mile Classic with the daughter of the SW Siyenica (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}). The post Siyarafina Not Supplemented to French 1000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pat Smullen, the nine-time Irish champion jockey, has announced his retirement from race riding. Smullen, 41, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018 and has subsequently been undergoing treatment. While his recovery from illness continues to be positive, he has decided, on medical advice, to call time on his career in the saddle. Writing in his weekly TDN column, he said, “I have had a frank discussion with my doctors and I gave them the full details of the way of life of a jockey, and what I’d have to go through to get back to full fitness, to get back to the weight that I need to be, and to compete at the level I want to compete at. They advised me that I should not compromise my immune system in any way. So, taking that into account, the right thing for me to do is to call it a day. “I’ve been very fortunate through my career to meet some great people and to ride some very good horses. I have a lot of cherished memories of a great career, and I’m very thankful for that. Now it’s the second chapter of my life. I think everyone has gathered by now that horses are everything in my life. I know nothing else and I’m determined that I’ll still work within the industry and, hopefully, I can be of some benefit.” Read Pat Smullen’s column here in full, in which he reflects on his successful career as a multiple Classic-winning jockey and acknowledges the people and horses who helped his rise to the top of the sport. The post Pat Smullen Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

TDN’s weekly columnist, the nine-time Irish champion jockey Pat Smullen, reflects on his career in the saddle as he makes an important announcement. I am using this week’s column to let everyone know that I have made the decision to retire. I have had a frank discussion with my doctors and I gave them the full details of the way of life of a jockey, and what I’d have to go through to get back to full fitness, to get back to the weight that I need to be, and to compete at the level I want to compete at. They advised me that I should not compromise my immune system in any way. So, taking that into account, the right thing for me to do is to call it a day. I’m sure everyone will understand that while it’s sad and difficult for me, it’s not as difficult as I thought it might be because I see the bigger picture. My health has to come first now, and I can’t compromise that. It was always going to be a hard road to get back to race riding, and there was nobody more aware of that than myself. But, when you’re faced with what I was faced with over the last 14 months, you come to realise what’s most important in life, and I’m very fortunate that I’m in a position, hopefully, to live a full and healthy life from here onwards. I’m so grateful to be in that position now. Race riding was everything to me through my life and, obviously, it was always in the back of my mind that I’d make a return, but I made the promise to myself at the beginning that if everything went well health-wise, that if I wasn’t able to get back to the level that I was at when I stopped, I wouldn’t come back at all. I don’t want to make a huge deal of it but it’s been a tough year and it has taken its toll on my body. I had two surgeries and when I recovered from that I had to then face another round of chemotherapy treatment. It was tough going but it has all been worthwhile and thankfully it has gone very well. Whatever has gone in the past in my career, and I like to think I achieved a little bit, this was the biggest achievement of all, getting through this, and I definitely now see life from a different perspective. I can never be thankful enough to the medical people who have given me a second chance at life. I’ve been very fortunate through my career to meet some great people and to ride some very good horses. I have a lot of cherished memories of a great career, and I’m very thankful for that. Now it’s the second chapter of my life. I think everyone has gathered by now that horses are everything in my life. I know nothing else and I’m determined that I’ll still work within the industry and, hopefully, I can be of some benefit. So many people to thank I wouldn’t have got through this without my wife Frances being by my side. She’s an amazing woman and we’ve had great days together on the track as well. Our best day as a family was when she won the 1000 Guineas with Saoire (GB) and I won the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Grey Swallow (Ire) on the same day for Dermot Weld. She was a great rider herself and an exceptionally good trainer, and she gave it up to support me in my career and to raise our family. You can’t ask for more from one person than what she has given me. I have to thank my parents who allowed me to go on and pursue my dream by letting me leave school at 15, and my agent Kevin O’Ryan, who is also my brother-in-law. We’ve had a great relationship and he helped me to be champion jockey on nine occasions. I am also hugely appreciative of the sponsorship of Malih Al Basti through his Al Basti Equiworld. Along with my friends and my family, I also want to thank the people that I don’t even know who have got in touch with me over the last couple of months. The support I’ve had from the wider public has been overwhelming. I’d like to think that I treated people with respect throughout my career and I think that all came back to me in a time of need. I served my apprenticeship with Tom Lacy only two miles away from where I’m living now. His family were so supportive, they took me in and treated me like one of their own. They gave me an opportunity to ride and one of the achievements that I’m most proud of was being champion apprentice two years running while I with Tom. That was something very special. Joanna Morgan also gave me a great opportunity by introducing me to racehorses and she played a big part as well. As things were starting to go very well, I got the opportunity to ride as second jockey for John Oxx when Johnny Murtagh was there, and that just brought me to another level. He introduced me to big owners and better-class horses. As we all know, John Oxx is a gentleman of the sport and they were two very good years of my career working for him. While I was riding for John, I also got the opportunity to ride good horses for Tommy Stack, who was very supportive at that time as well. They were all influential people who gave me an opportunity which I’d like to think I took with both hands. When Michael Kinane moved to Ballydoyle, Dermot Weld was looking for a stable jockey and, thankfully, he took a chance on me. His main owner at the time, who is still there, was Moyglare Stud. I have to thank Stan Cosgrove, who was the manager of Moyglare at the time, for being supportive of taking on a young rider that was inexperienced and give him an opportunity and obviously that was backed up by Mr Haefner. Eva Bucher Haefner took over the running of Moyglare Stud from her father and both she and Fiona Craig have continued to be a great support, never more so than over the last 14 months, for which I am greatly appreciative. We all know that these jobs don’t come around too often and there was an element of being in the right place at the right time for me, but those people took a chance on me, and gave me that opportunity to ride at the highest level and I’ll never be able to thank them enough. I’m sure I frustrated Dermot for the first couple of years, trying to filly Mick Kinane’s boots was never going to be an easy task. I made mistakes but, thankfully, we got through that and we had a very fruitful partnership for the next 15 years after that. It’s the stuff of dreams to get the opportunity to ride for the likes of Dermot Weld and while I’ve had the last year out and have been thinking about things, I have realised how fortunate I was that those people let me live out my dream of being a top jockey. I feel my biggest achievement was the fact that I was able to hold down the job with Dermot for the amount of years that I did. That’s something I’m very proud of. I’d like to think I was consistent throughout my career. I might not have done anything brilliant, but I think I was consistent, the whole way through. I think that’s very important in a stable jockey’s job, and that’s what I loved being, the stable jockey. It’s All About The Horses I’m not prepared to stop riding horses, and I want to get my body back in shape to be able to ride out in the mornings, and hopefully that will happen in the very near future. As a rider I always loved the mornings. I loved getting the feel of a good horse and I think my feedback in the mornings was pretty good as well. I’m looking forward to getting back to riding work. It will give me that buzz that I need. That’s what strengthens me, the excitement of getting back on a horse and the sooner that happens, the better. I’ve been fortunate to have ridden so many good horses over the years. Vinne Roe (Ire) came along early in my career at a time when I needed a good horse. He just cemented the relationship with Dermot and allowed me to prove I was able to ride a horse at the highest level. He came back year after year in the St Leger and we ran second in the Melbourne Cup to Makybe Diva, and fourth in the Melbourne Cup as well. To win five Classics on one horse is just something quite special. He’s the one horse I have a real soft spot for and always will have. Dress to Thrill (Ire) is probably the most unfortunate horse that I’ve ever ridden in that she won the Matriarch and the Sun Chariot, and the following year those races were upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1, so she should have been a three-time Group 1 winner. She was an amazing filly and she showed that when she beat Golden Apples (Ire) and Banks Hill (GB) in the GI Matriarch in Hollywood Park. That was a great day. Another very important filly in my life was Covert Love (Ire). The first time I saw her was in the paddock before she won the Irish Oaks and I am very grateful to Mark McStay, her co-breeder, for asking me to ride her. I was very fortunate to ride a lot of good horses for Moyglare, such as Refuse To Bend (Ire), and also Sheikh Hamdan and Juddmonte, and then His Highness the Aga Khan came on board. The best day of my career was winning the Epsom Derby on Harzand (Ire). That was just a huge, huge day for me. I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but it is a childhood dream to win the Epsom Derby if you want to be a Flat jockey. To achieve that, and at a time in my career where I actually appreciated it and took it all in on the day, was fantastic. He was a great horse, and to end my career after winning an Epsom Derby, I think it’s a fulfilled career. While nothing will replace race riding for me, it’s time to move on. It’s the right thing for me, it’s the right thing for my family and, most importantly, it’s the right thing for my health. I’ve been very fortunate, I’m content with the decision and I’m looking forward to being able to contribute and give something back to the industry in some shape or form. The post The Pat Smullen Column: The Time Has Come To Retire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has denied a request from Maximum Security’s owner Gary West to appeal the stewards’ disqualification of his horse from the Kentucky Derby, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal and other published reports. On Monday, West said that he would appeal the dq, and his Lexington-based attorney Barry Stilz filed a letter with the KHRC later that day, citing `arbitrary and capricious acts’ by the stewards. John Forgy, general counsel for the KHRC, responded to Stilz Monday night rejecting that appeal, citing KHRC regulations which state that stewards’ findings are final and not subject to an appeal. “The stewards unanimously disqualified Maximum Security following two objections lodged immediately after the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby and after a thorough review of the race replay. That determination is not subject to an appeal,” read the letter. “As a condition of licensure and for the privilege of participating in horse racing, every licensee agrees to abide by the Commission’s rules and regulations, including the rules and regulations outlined above. Your clients agreed “to abide by all applicable rules and regulations.”” The post KHRC Denies West Appeal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Star trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen says he does not want to put any “extra pressure” on his team to publicly chase his first trainers’ championship, saying it comes down to the horses.The second-year trainer sits just seven wins behind his former boss John Size with 53 victories but enjoys the same 15 per cent strike rate and very similar prize money earnings.Lor will get his chance to make significant inroads into Size’s title hopes on Wednesday night with a rare all-weather track meeting… View the full article

Resolute jockey Alberto Sanna has declared he will return from injury by the end of this month as he looks to finish a tough season on a high note.Sanna has been on the sidelines for five weeks with a fractured ankle after an innocuous incident while taking the David Ferraris-trained Young Glory to the starting gates which required surgery to pin the bones back together.“I was around the back taking the horse to the barrier and he saw the rowers in the river and just went the other way, so I… View the full article

Hunterville farmers Christopher and Susanna Grace have experienced plenty of success as owners in Australia, with Group One-winning mare Shillelagh leading the charge, and they are hoping Beefeater can carry their green and yellow colours to glory across the Tasman in the coming months. The ever-consistent six-year-old arrived in Queensland on Friday and trainer Roydon Bergerson said he has settled in well ahead of his first Australian assignment on Saturday, the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600... View the full article

Progressive Kiwi stayer Felaar is likely to back-up at Caulfield this week after a nightmare first taste of Australian racing when suffering severe interference on several occasions when trailing the field home in the Brew Handicap (2600m), won by Steel Prince, at Flemington last week. Ridden by Brett Prebble, Felaar finished 35-lengths behind the winner in a race marred by the breakdown of Belgravia at the top of the home straight. “He got into a nice spot but it got a little bit tight... View the full article

Clarton Super gears up for second shot at Kranji Mile View the full article

Multiple Group One-winning mare Melody Belle is back in work in preparation for a busy spring campaign. The four-year-old daughter of Commands is likely to be named New Zealand Horse of the Year after her five Group One victories this season and the darling of the New Zealand turf is being set to better that mark next season. The Jamie Richards-trained runner took out the first two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival last year and will target all three legs next season after proving she ca... View the full article

The morning after the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Bill Mott noted the high expectations to run the winner back in the Preakness Stakes (G1). View the full article

Richard Fahey has set The Everest in Australia as a potential long-range target for his smart sprinter Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis). The 4-year-old ended last season with victory in the G1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, and reappeared with a sixth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on World Cup night in March. He now looks likely to return in the G2 Duke of York S. next week, ground permitting, before heading to Royal Ascot. Fahey told attheraces.com, “I was a little disappointed with his reappearance effort in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan where he didn’t finish the race well, but he was taking on hardened professionals and it was a big ask. However, that should have put him right for the season and he has been going very well at home since. We will be looking at York for him and if he didn’t go there then we would go straight for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He wouldn’t want it too firm and long term we are talking about the possibility of him going to Australia in October for The Everest.” The post Sands Of Mali Camp Considering Everest, Duke of York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O’Brien is targeting Guineas doubles for both Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) following their victories at Newmarket over the weekend. Magna Grecia ran out an impressive winner of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Saturday–providing his trainer with a 10th victory in the colts’ Classic. The following afternoon Hermosa played a starring role in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and while O’Brien initially suggested the G1 Investec Oaks at Epsom could be on her agenda, he is now leaning towards sticking at a mile in the Irish 1000 Guineas later this month. Speaking at The Curragh on Monday, O’Brien said, “I was delighted with Magna Grecia and the plan is to come back here [for the Irish 2000 Guineas]. I initially thought about the Oaks for Hermosa, but it’s possible that she could come back here too for the Irish 1000 Guineas.” A trip to Royal Ascot is on the cards for ‘TDN Rising Star’ and G1SW Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) after his fifth-placed finish behind Magna Grecia over the Rowley Mile. O’Brien added, “Ten Sovereigns was on the side with no pace and Ryan [Moore] had to be more forward than he would have liked as he knew the other side was ahead of him. He still ran a very good race and the plan is to go back in trip with him, probably for the [G1] Commonwealth Cup [at Royal Ascot].” Also pointing to the Commonwealth is 1000 Guineas bridesmaid Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). “She ran an absolute cracker and I couldn’t be prouder of her,” said trainer Sheila Lavery, who trains for her niece Joanne, to Racing Post. “She travelled beautifully through the race and the plan now is to drop her back to six furlongs and have a go at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. She won’t run again before then I don’t think and we will go straight there. She has loads of speed, so a stiff six furlongs at Ascot should really suit her.” The post Guineas Winners Target Irish Counterparts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This week’s TDN Triple Crown feature examines the GI Kentucky Derby runners according to official finish position. The focus is on raw trip notes–not the merits of whether a disqualification should or should not have been called. Interesting bloodstock note: Homebreds crossed the wire 1-2-3-4. 1) COUNTRY HOUSE (c, Lookin At Lucky—Quake Lake, by War Chant) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Mrs. J. V. Shields, Jr., E. J. M. McFadden, Jr. & LNJ Foxwoods. B-J. V. Shields, Jr. (KY). T-William I. Mott. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-2-2-1, $2,120,175. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Country House ran second and was elevated to the Derby win via DQ. This May 8 Lookin At Lucky foal impressed with his poise. He was seemingly unfazed by post 18, the crowd, the slop, and negotiating his way through the pack while largely avoiding early-race trouble. He broke alertly, and after brushing mildly with Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) through the first furlong, Country House settled in about eighth for the backstretch run while four paths off the rail. He was not boxed in and had ample space on either side for most of the back straight, but jockey Flavien Prat made a crucial decision to dive between two rivals before a gap closed at the entry to the far bend. This deft move enabled Country House to get clear sailing while clicking into another gear, and he emerged onto the turn four wide and outside of the leaders while continuing to pick up steam. He was not significantly affected by Maximum Security (New Year’s Day)’s path-shifting turning for home, but Prat did have to rouse Country House to stay straight and focused while the colt wandered a bit through the lane with his head cocked outward. He was clearly the best of the main body of the field but was not striding clear with the same late-race purpose that Maximum Security delivered. 2) CODE OF HONOR (c, Noble Mission {GB}—Reunited, by Dixie Union) O/B-W. S. Farish (KY). T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 6-2-2-1, $1,078,820. Leading up to the Derby, I referenced that Code of Honor “needs to outrun his reputation of being an opportunist who capitalizes only under favorable circumstances.” In the Derby, this light-bodied Noble Mission (GB) homebred was presented with the absolute gift of a clear rail run when Maximum Security vacated his inside spot turning for home, and Code of Honor did fight through for a short lead just as the field crested the quarter pole. But the leaders almost immediately re-engaged him, and Code of Honor boxed on valiantly despite looking overmatched in the final run to the wire while crossing it third. I can’t say I truly believe Code of Honor would have blasted on through at the rail on his own power without that commodious opening, but he does deserve credit for sitting in the two path for most of the backstretch run, taking slop in the face and waiting patiently for jockey John Velazquez to give him his cue to quicken. “It was like ‘Open Sesame!’ Velazquez said after the Derby. “I was like ‘Wow, this never happens.’ I thought I was going to win it.” 3) TACITUS (c, Tapit—Close Hatches, by First Defence) O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 5-3-0-1, $953,000. The knock against Tacitus entering the Derby was that he was light on Grade I seasoning and had never faced A-list sophomores. His sustained run wasn’t good enough to win last Saturday, but don’t doubt for an instant that this large-framed Tapit homebred for Juddmonte didn’t get meaningful schooling out of his fourth-place try (elevated to third via DQ). Tacitus broke a stutter-step slow, was guided inward, had to be taken off heels when the pack tightened, carried his head high while getting pelted with slop, then settled by the time the field crossed the finish wire the first time. Reserved at the tail of the main pack in 16th, jockey Jose Ortiz commenced to picking off some of the stragglers but seemed choosy about committing to a decisive dash through closing gaps. He roused Tacitus three-eights out, and the colt responded despite cocking his head to the infield for a few strides. Ortiz again seemed to hesitate when debating and inside or an outside commitment at the top of the lane, then the straight was upon them with Tacitus spun out in the six path. He chugged on with determination and was able to grind down everyone but the top three while not minding the distance. “In the Belmont, he will be much better running 1 1/2 miles,” Ortiz said post-race. 4) IMPROBABLE (c, City Zip—Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & Starlight Racing. B-St. George Farm LLC & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-3-2-0, $769,520. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable’s Derby was not a rousing success, nor was it a dud. He never truly looked comfortable, neither position-wise nor footing-wise, and Irad Ortiz Jr. said post-race “My horse didn’t really like the track. I asked him to keep up and he just could not.” Leaving the gate, this $200,000 KEESEP City Zip chestnut had the reins shaken at him for speed then was instead asked to settle; parked in fifth for most of the journey Improbable was hemmed in fairly solidly with few tactical options. He was in position to pounce through the opening created by Maximum Security’s veering out but just didn’t have the punch to commit to that move. “I knew the first quarter of a mile I was toast,” trainer Bob Baffert said of all three of his horses post-race. “The problem is [Improbable] couldn’t get out…I told my riders to stay clean [by leading the pack]. They don’t listen to me.” 5) GAME WINNER (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Gary & Mary West. B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-4-2-0, $1,936,000. The juvenile champ found himself 20 lengths adrift by the time the field splashed through the first turn and he was never truly in it to win it. But ‘TDN Rising Star’ Game Winner was so up against the grain of adversity that you have to discount his Derby performance as an indicator of his true ability. He hesitated at the start and veered inward to that gap between gates, then tried (unsuccessfully) to get settled in next-to-last position. Considering Game Winner had never been farther off the pace than five lengths in his entire career, that gulf must have seemed like a massive chasm to him. Joel Rosario floated the colt seven wide down the back straight—either in search of firmer footing, to avoid kickback, or both—and that wide path still wasn’t enough to avoid trouble, because By My Standards (Goldencents) edged out and bumped him about a half mile from home. Game Winner was 11 wide for the drive and brushed mildly with Tacitus late. I expect him to put in a more solid effort whenever he next resurfaces. 6) MASTER FENCER (c, Just a Way {Jpn}–Sexy Zamurai, by Deputy Minister) O/B-Katsumi Yoshizawa (JPN). T-Koichi Tsunoda. Lifetime Record: SP-Jpn, 7-2-2-0, $234,392. Pretty nice run for a colt who was in way over his head on paper and looked a touch lost at the break before settling in on the rail far behind the field. This son of Just A Way {Jpn) was still last at the quarter pole and didn’t choose the easiest route through traffic near the rail to unwind late, but once he found a seam Master Fencer gave the positive impression that he was really figuring things out. After the wire he galloped out past everyone but Maximum Security. He is reportedly being aimed for the GI Belmont S. 7) WAR OF WILL (c, War Front—Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 9-3-1-1, $501,569. War of Will had the most momentum to win, but he endured the most brutal Derby trip of all, and was lucky not to clip heels and go down in that chaotic run through the far turn. At the start, the dreaded one hole proved to be no problem for this pro breaker, and Tyler Gaffalione nudged War of Will to a contending inside stalking spot by the time the field banked into the first turn. War of Will was a tourqued-up fourth while resisting his rider’s snug hold down the backstretch, but a patient Gaffalione waited until just before the five-sixteenths pole to unleash him for an attack. This move happened almost simultaneously with Maximum Security’s outward drifting, and Gaffalione had to snatch back on War of Will, checking sharply, stopping a potential winning move cold. War of Will persisted with a second bid, endured more tightening between Maximum Security and Country House at the quarter pole, then had most of the starch sapped from him at the eighth pole when Maximum Security again shifted outward to assert his space. This talented colt figures to remain a divisional force, and if the remaining Classics don’t pan out, he always has that stellar turf pedigree to fall back on. 8) PLUS QUE PARFAIT (r, Point of Entry—Belvedera, by Awesome Again) O-Imperial Racing LLC. B-Calloway Racing LLC (KY). T-Brendan Walsh. Sales History: $24,000 RNA Wlg KEENOV ’16; $135,000 Ylg KEESEP ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 8-2-1-2, $1,590,400. This $135,000 KEESEP Point of Entry ridgling had an unhurried and largely uneventful inside midpack trip. For a while on the backstretch, he seemed to be following Country House, but couldn’t match strides with that winner’s early move. Ricardo Santana Jr. then dropped Plus Que Parfait onto the rail for a possible attempt to follow Code of Honor, but that avenue too was quickly sealed off before they could grab it. Shifting out several paths in the home straight, Plus Que Parfait found himself fighting on with the top five approaching the final furlong, but he had no true oomph to propel a winning bid. Now from 11 attempts, the G2 UAE Derby winner has still never finished better than sixth in the Kentucky Derby. 9) WIN WIN WIN (c, Hat Trick {Jpn}-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones) O-Live Oak Plantation. B-Live Oak Stud (FL). T-Michael Trombetta. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 7-3-2-1, $367,300. Win Win Win was parked third-last for most of his journey, but when it came time to fire at the top of the lane he had neither the spark nor the room to do it, with a solid line of going-nowhere horses in front of him. This Hat Trick (Jpn)-sired homebred did get clear to launch a mild bid between the quarter and eighth poles, but that brief turn of foot through the upper stretch wasn’t enough to vault him into serious contention. Jockey Julien Pimentel offered a “didn’t handle the track” assessment. 10) CUTTING HUMOR (c, First Samurai—Pun, by Pulpit) O-Starlight Racing. B-Dell Hancock & Bernie Sams (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $400,000 Ylg ’17 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-2-2-1, $516,967. Cutting Humor tracked the action midpack and toward the outside, and this $400,000 FTSAUG First Samurai colt looked like he might make things interesting with a six-wide move into the far turn. He chipped away at the leaders’ margins and was 10 wide into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid. 11) BY MY STANDARDS (c, Goldencents—A Jealous Woman, by Muqtarib) O-Allied Racing Stable, LLC. B-Don Ladd (KY). T-William Bret Calhoun. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-2-2-1, $653,710. By My Standards was squeezed back leaving post three and spent the first furlong of the Derby trying to pick a spot to settle. He ranged up three wide into the turn while well back then accepted an outer slot for his backstretch trek. About a half mile out he bumped with Game Winner, but when that rival and nearby Tacitus both shot off, By My Standards was left in their wake while being scrubbed on by his rider. 12) VEKOMA (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Mona de Momma, by Speightstown) O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables. B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY). T-George Weaver. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-3-0-1, $788,850. This compact $135,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt broke alertly (true to form), then opted for a four-wide outer position through the turn and onto the backstretch. But he seemed intimidated when Country House bulled on by for his winning run and as other closers started to kick into high gear Vekoma didn’t have it in him to take up the chase. “At least he came back in one piece,” trainer George Weaver said post-race. “He might have gotten into a little trouble on the turn, but he was starting to back up anyway at that point.” 13) BODEXPRESS (c, Bodemeister–Pied a Terre, by City Zip) O-Top Racing, LLC, Global Thoroughbred & GDS Racing Stable. B-Martha Jane Mulholland (KY). T-Gustavo Delgado. Sales History: $45,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $37,000 RNA 2yo ’18 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 6-0-3-0, $208,700. Considering he was a maiden in against winners breaking from the outermost post, this Bodemeister colt showed some grit by pressing the pace and holding a good close-up position against far more seasoned horses. His dramatic checking out of the far-turn scrum happened while he was already on the backpedal though, so it’s not like the actions of the disqualified leader cost him a placing. Don’t know if he’ll win his next start against maidens, but I guarantee he’ll be overbet in such a spot with the Derby running line leaping out of his past performances. 14) TAX (g, Arch–Toll, by Giant’s Causeway) O-R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing Stable. B-Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider (KY). T-Danny Gargan. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-2-2-1, $326,300. Tax broke alertly and claimed a near-front rail position, but by the first turn he was steadily passed by nearly half the pack. He held his inside spot well though, and as the field tightened up he was only about five lengths off the lead. When roused for run 3 1/2 furlongs out, this Arch gelding had no go to give. “My horse was bothered by the splash in his face,” said jockey Junior Alvarado. “He was not happy about that. He kept trying but he was focused on the mud being kicked in his face.” 15) ROADSTER (c, Quality Road—Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Stone Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-0-1, $706,200. This $525,000 KEESEP Quality Road ‘TDN Rising Star’ never mounted a stout challenge while well behind the field. “I am disappointed to be honest,” said jockey Florent Geroux. “He broke all right but never traveled down the stretch the first time. He started picking up horses down the backside, but when I hit the half-mile pole, I was just out of horse. I am not sure if he didn’t like the track but it felt like he never ran.” 16) LONG RANGE TODDY (c, Take Charge Indy–Pleasant Song, by Unbridled’s Song) O/B-Willis Horton Racing, LLC (KY). T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: GSW, 9-4-1-1, $854,459. Long Range Toddy was in the hunt for the lead early on in the Derby, which is not a shocker given that he has consistently been a good gate-breaker, but it did go against jockey Jon Court’s stated pre-race strategy of wanting to back off the pace. This Take Charge Indy homebred forced the fractions while sitting just off the flank of leader Maximum Security, and while he did take back sharply as part of the ripple-effect crowding just prior to the five-sixteenths pole, it’s debatable whether the incident was a true momentum-stopper or if Long Range Toddy had already given all he could by the time that incident occurred. This figures to be a very useful colt with a little class relief. 17) MAXIMUM SECURITY (c, New Year’s Day–Lil Indy, by Anasheed) O/B-Gary & Mary West (KY). T-Jason Servis. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-0, $649,400. Obscured by the controversial DQ debate is the fact that this previously undefeated overachiever ran a very admirable wire-to-wire winning race. This son of New Year’s Day gamely established himself at the head of affairs, led under legit pressure, and swatted away challengers off the turn despite (or you might argue “because of”) his shifting outward two or three paths while at the 2 1/2 furlong pole. Jockey Luis Saez said the crowd noise spooked “Max” but that the colt responded when refocused, digging in to put away not just one, but three separate stretch bids from onrushing rivals. He first clawed back the lead from Code of Honor, then shifted out slightly to impose himself on War of Will at the eighth pole, and still had enough left in reserve over 10 furlongs to repulse the stamina-centric Country House, all the while extending his winning margin to 1 3/4 lengths. The stewards relegated Maximum Security to 17th, placing him behind Long Range Toddy, for causing chain-reaction interference on the turn. 18) SPINOFF (c, Hard Spun–Zaftig, by Gone West) O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 5-2-0-0. Spinoff was a pace presence while five wide into the first turn and down the backstretch run, but he never flashed signs of wanting to be more aggressively involved. “Spinoff just hated the track,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He didn’t really want any part of it. I had a hint about that earlier in the week when he galloped on the ‘off’ and showed us he didn’t care for it. When Manny [Franco] went to riding him, he just backed right out of there.” 19) GRAY MAGICIAN (c, Graydar–Burg Berg, by Johannesburg) O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable. B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY). T-Peter Miller. Lifetime Record: GSP-UAE, 9-1-3-2, $584,140. “He seemed to handle the track well but I just ran out of horse,” said jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Added trainer Peter Miller: “The horse bled a two out of five and we are going to give him a little break and bring him back in 30 or 45 days.” The post The TDN Derby Wrap 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. Tuesday’s Insights features a granddaughter of G1SW Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). 8.30 Wolverhampton, Mdn, £5,800, 3yo/up, 8f 142y (AWT) TEMPUS (GB) (Kingman {GB}) makes his seasonal bow for Khalid Abdullah and Roger Charlton with one promising debut run behind him having been second in a decent Nottingham maiden in October. A son of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and therefore a half-brother to the stable’s classy Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was later runner-up in the GI Manhattan S. and GI Fourstardave H. Under Chad Brown, he meets some notably-bred newcomers. They include Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Abr Al Hudood (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a Hugo Palmer-trained daughter of the South African Classic winner Amanee (Aus) (Pivotal {GB}) and Sheikha Al Jalila Racing’s Nonchalance (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a John Gosden-trained granddaughter of the stable’s G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and therefore connected to Nathaniel (Ire). The post Observations for May 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Department of Homeland Security will begin accepting petitions for 30,000 additional H-2B visas restricted to returning workers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 on May 8, according to a release from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The supplemental H-2B visas are available only to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years (FY 2016, 2017, or 2018), and availability is restricted by prioritizing only those businesses who would suffer irreparable harm without the additional workers. “We applaud the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor for this joint rule making available an additional 30,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for Fiscal Year 2019,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “Even though these supplemental H-2B visas are available only to returning workers and there is an irreparable harm limitation, many Thoroughbred trainers will no doubt qualify for these visas because of the labor shortage that is now the norm on racetrack backstretches.” Waldrop further added, “We urge Congress to pass legislation to permanently and significantly expand the number of H-2B visas made available on an annual basis.” Details on eligibility and filing requirements are available at www.USCIS.gov. The post DHS to Accept Visa Petitions Beginning May 8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the third straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering a total of $150,000 in bonus money to trainers that accumulate the most points during stakes and non-stakes races over Preakness weekend at legendary Pimlico Race Course. View the full article