Wandering Eyes

Manawatu’s Josh Herd has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship. The son of leading Central Districts trainer Lisa Latta and former top jockey Bruce Herd was inspired to apply for the scholarship after seeing the success of previous recipients, particularly fellow Palmerston North product Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, alongside Te Akau training partner Mark Walker. “I have seen how successful some of the past recipients have been in the industry and thought it would be a pretty good pathway forward,” Herd said. “I have worked with Te Akau Racing’s Sam Bergerson and know what the scholarship has done for him, and so many others. “Just to be able to go overseas and learn different ways of doing things and explore the opportunities the scholarship can offer is pretty exciting.” The Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship, originally established by the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) and now administered by the Sunline Educational Trust, offers the successful candidate an all-expenses paid, bonded trip of 30 weeks, to experience the operational infrastructure, systems and management of the world’s best in the thoroughbred industry. Growing up, Herd spent a lot of time around the stables learning the everyday care of horses and the general duties of a stable hand. While at university he took on the communications role for Lisa Latta’s stable and is currently back working for his mother where he is taking on more of the programming and planning duties as well. Herd has always aspired to work in the industry, and while studying for a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting, at Otago University, he worked with the yearling team at Haunui Farm. He has also worked for Bhima Thoroughbreds in New South Wales and for Riversley Park in the Waikato. Prior to Herd embarking on the Sunline Scholarship experience, he will have a busy few months working for Bhima Thoroughbreds at Gold Coast’s Magic Millions and the Sydney Classic sales, along with the Karaka sales working for Haunui Farm. The first port of call on his scholarship journey will be Coolmore Stud in Ireland where he will be immersed in all the facets of the stud and gain some exposure to the famous Ballydoyle Stables. From there he will move to the United Kingdom where he will shadow bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, before spending time at Wetherby’s and Goffs. That time is followed by a stint in Hong Kong, a place Herd is eager to visit. “Hong Kong is the toughest racing jurisdiction in the world,” he said. “I am really looking forward to spending time there. “But really I am basically looking forward to getting overseas to meet some pretty amazing people and to broaden my skills.” The last port of call is Australia where he will be working with Vicky Leonard and her Kick Collective team. Herd admits to being quite keen to eventually end up as a trainer and believes then his Bachelor of Commerce degree will be of use. “At least I will be able to do my own accounts,” he quipped. View the full article

Te Akau Racing will be well-represented in each of the four stakes races at Trentham’s LawnMaster Christmas At The Races meeting on Saturday. A pair of exciting juveniles in Cool Aza Rene and Marokopa Falls will kick off stakes proceedings when they meet for the first time in the Gr.2 Happy Hire Wakefiled Challenge Stakes (1100m), and like TAB bookmakers, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are struggling to split the pair. Both fillies are undefeated to date, with Cool Aza Rene winning on debut over 800m at Otaki in October before winning over 1000m at Riccarton last month, while Marokopa Falls was eye-catching when winning over 1000m when on debut at Trentham earlier this month. Off the back of that performance, jockey Craig Grylls has elected to stick with Marokopa Falls, and TAB bookmakers have duly responded, installing her a $2.40 favourite for Saturday ahead of her stablemate at $2.60, with Andrew Carston’s Riccarton raider, Miss Ziggy, on the third line of betting at $6.50. “It was good seeing Marokopa Falls win like that on debut off only one trial where she actually ran last,” Bergerson said. “It was a bit of a throw at the stumps, but she has got a fantastic constitution and a great racing brain. She hasn’t put a foot wrong since her trial, she was very good for Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) that day (debut win) and we gave him the choice and he has elected to ride Marokopa Falls. “She has stayed on at Dad’s (Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni) following the run at Trentham. We didn’t want to bring her all the way back north. Dad has been really happy with her. He took her to Foxton on Tuesday for a quiet gallop and she is ticking all the boxes down there in Palmerston North. “Cool Aza Rene is a gutsy filly who just seems to really thrive on the racing and stable life. She hasn’t put a foot wrong either and we gave her a freshen-up. “We took her to Ashburton to gallop last Tuesday and she had a nice piece of work on Tuesday morning. She will have a quiet day at Dad’s (after arriving on Thursday afternoon) and then onto Trentham. She brings in really good form, we can’t fault her. “They are two very nice chances who are hard to split.” Stakes performer Ocean Mist will be the stable’s sole representative in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m), and Bergerson is expecting a bold showing against her own sex after competing against the boys when third in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki last month. “She just keeps raising the bar,” Bergerson said. “She has surprised us a bit. From her debut run to winning next time and then sneaking some black-type against the boys last time in the Wellington Stakes. “She is back to her own sex now, but she is in very good form. It looks a pretty even race on paper. Hopefully she can get a softer time in front this time, she got to the front last time and another one came around, and she never really got a break. “We will look to be positive again, and if she gets a kinder run in transit, we think she can hopefully figure in the finish and get some more valuable black-type for a really good ladies ownership group.” Seven-year-old stablemate Perfect Scenario has been in a purple patch of form this preparation, which he will be looking to continue when he lines-up in the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The son of Iffraaj has won two and placed in three of his five starts this preparation, including running third in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) in his last two starts. “He’s in grand form. He is in almost career-best form as a seven-year-old, he is absolutely flying,” Bergerson said. “He is an old marvel, I thought he was so game in the very good Group One mile at Trentham. He is another one that has stayed on at Dad’s, we didn’t want to travel him all the way back to Riccarton or back north. “We have kept him very fresh and back to 1400m where he has got a very good record, and Opie (Bosson, jockey) jumps on as well, which is always a massive plus.” Rounding out the stable’s stakes contenders on Saturday will be Cognito in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m). The five-year-old son of So You Think has placed in his last three outings, and Bergerson is hoping he can recapture the form that helped him land the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at the track as a three-year-old. “He is running well without winning,” Bergerson said. “I thought his run in the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m) was very good. He was the widest on the corner and kept finding. “We are still not sure if he is an out-and-out stayer, but this looks a nice race for him. Trentham really suits him, he is a stakes winner there as a three-year-old in the Wellington Guineas. We think the big, long, roomy straight really suits him to wind up. “We will look to be neutral again from the barrier (8) and we are confident he can run a race, he seems really well at home and his work has been very good since Counties. We took him to Te Aroha in-between times for an exhibition gallop and he followed Skew Wiff around and his work was very good.” View the full article

Oaks-bound filly Leica Lucy will have her first taste of Group racing at Trentham on Saturday, taking her place in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Robbie Patterson, who trains Leica Lucy at New Plymouth, identified right from her debut success that the middle-distance of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) would be the perfect fit. The filly showed she has plenty of short-range talent to work with before the $1 million feature in March, going down a head to Wingman over 1400m at Trentham a fortnight ago. “She’s come through that run very well, she never lifts her head out of the feed bin and was the same after she raced,” Patterson said. “She’s going to love a mile, any easing of the track will be in her favour as well and the further she goes, the better I think she’ll be. She’s a lovely horse, she jumps, puts herself into the race and tries hard. We’re up a grade again on Saturday, but I think she’ll be up to the task. “We’ll just keep stepping her up in trip, I don’t want to overtax her going into the Oaks because she’s a very straightforward and clean-winded horse.” The daughter of Derryn is the youngest of Patterson’s stakes representatives at Trentham, with The Underbelly taking on the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), and Puntura and Conor O’Ceirin both engaged in the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m). The Underbelly was a rising star in the staying ranks last term and after returning well in a couple of starts, Patterson has his sights set on the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation And Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) next month for the son of The Bold One. “It was a good run at Wanganui, he’d had quite a bit of time between races after going fresh-up into a mile then missing the race in between,” he said. “Naturally, he just blew out a little bit in the finish, but he’s going to improve from this run again with the Wellington Cup as his main goal. He’ll go a nice race on Saturday, then into the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m), then onto the Cup. “I’m expecting a good run, he may still be a fraction short of his fitness levels, but he can go a bold race.” Patterson was admittedly surprised with the fourth-placed effort of Puntura in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m), a pleasing return to form after a slow start to his preparation. The Vespa gelding has often put his best foot forward at the Upper Hutt track, winning the Manawatu Challenge Stakes last year before going on to win the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). “He surprised me a little bit in the Group One, I thought he may be on his last legs,” Patterson said. “I think the trick is riding him a bit colder, which was hard to do fresh-up over a mile and Mereana (Hudson, jockey) did a fantastic job doing that. It’ll be the same again on Saturday, we’ll try to ride him cold in behind the speed and get over the top of them we hope. “He’s come through the race very well, I can’t fault him. He’s going as well as he could be.” Regular rider Craig Grylls will take the reins about Puntura in the feature, while fellow stable stalwart Conor O’Ceirin has the services of Joe Doyle, fresh off an impressive first-up victory at the course on Mufhasa Classic Day. “He had been working and jumping out nicely, his form tapered right off last prep so I gave him a good break and he’s come back well,” Patterson said. “He looks like he may be better off when he’s really fresh and the two-week back-up may be a bit tricky for him, as well as going up a grade, but he’ll roll forward and be in the race for a fair way I think.” On the undercard, consistent mare Belladonna Lily will step-up in distance in the Japac Homes 1600, with the short back-up from last Sunday being Patterson’s only query. “I don’t normally back her up but she came through the race really well,” he said. “Any rain hanging around will suit her massively, she ran a good race the other day after getting back. She found the line strongly which suggests the mile will suit. “We’ll just ride her cold again and hopefully she turns up.” View the full article

Four has been Buoyant’s favourite number since his return to New Zealand, with the Group Three winner having recorded that placing in all three of his starts this preparation, and owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland is hoping to break that sequence when he heads to Gore on Sunday. The six-year-old son of Dalghar had been hampered by foot issues, however, Kirkland believes he has got on top of those issues now and is confident of a bold showing in the Dynes Transport Tapanui Cup (1335m). “I am very happy with him,” Kirkland said. “We had a few issues earlier on, a few foot issues, but I think we have gotten over them. He is right on target. “They have been good runs, but let’s hope we can change that (string of fourth placed runs) this weekend. He is 100 percent right this time.” Buoyant will benefit from apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper’s two-kilogram claim, adding to the long list of positives for the gelding heading into the weekend. “He will only have 52 kilos on his back, he has drawn nicely, he has won on the track and over the distance, he ticks all of the boxes,” Kirkland said. TAB bookmakers share Kirkland’s confidence, installing him a $2.70 favourite for Sunday’s feature, ahead of Firoden at $6. Two years ago, Buoyant recorded one of his biggest wins when taking out the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, and while that date is no longer home to the sprint feature, Kirkland is eyeing a return to the venue next week before setting his charge for a stakes assignment next month. “We will nominate for Dunedin on Boxing Day and then we will look at the Speight’s Sprint (Listed Timaru Stakes, 1200m) on the 25th of January at Riccarton,” he said. Earlier on the card, Kirkland will line-up stablemate Neptune in the Robert Dennis Racing Share Available (1335m), with a view to returning to the venue to tackle the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) in February. “I am very pleased with him,” Kirkland said of the homebred son of Prince Of Brooklyn. “We are going to get a bit of rain, so that will help. “He drew 12 last time and this time he has drawn five, so he should get a lovely sit. “He has won at the course and over the distance. It is a preview to the Gore Guineas really, that is the big reason why he is going.” View the full article

Canterbury Park's request for a 51-day horse racing season in 2025, running May 24-Sept. 20, was approved Dec. 19 by the Minnesota Racing Commission.View the full article

Equibase, the industry's official database for racing, and Stable Analytics LLC, a technology company developing solutions for horse racing, have formed a strategic partnership aimed at advancing Thoroughbred welfare through cutting-edge wearable technology, the repository for racing stats said in a Thursday press release. The collaboration will focus on the continued development and large-scale implementation of Stable Analytics's biometric sensor, Equigraph, which features a wireless biometric sensor mounted on the girth of the horse. As part of this initiative, Equibase and Stable Analytics will participate in the American Association of Equine Practitioners research study that seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of wearable sensors for early detection of musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbreds. Both companies have been selected to move forward to the next phase, which will include monitoring several hundred 2-year-old Thoroughbreds using Equigraph throughout 2025. For example, trainer Ken McPeek's barn will take part in study. “McPeek Racing is excited to collaborate with Stable Analytics and Equibase,” said McPeek. “Our 2024 yearlings will participate in sensor testing to help provide data that can't be seen with human eye. Our traditional horsemanship and this could make the sport safer.” Click here for more information about how to participate. The post Equibase And Stable Analytics Partner To Transform Thoroughbred Wearable Technology appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In 2024, maintaining a racing stable in California has become a shaky endeavor for license holders both large and small, prolific and select. But for California trainer Mike Puype, this year has been especially fraught. For much of this year, Puype had hanging over his head the threat of a possible four-year ban and $50,000 fine after investigators found Isoxsuprine tablets and Levothyroxine powder–two once relatively common substances in horse racing now banned under HISA–during a routine barn search in April of this year. Last week, an independent arbitrator who presided over a November hearing in the case issued Puype a three-month and 17-day suspension (time served during a prior provisional suspension period) along with a $1,000 fine. For the trainer, the outcome was probably the best he could have hoped for. “I can tell you that it's brutal to know the game you love–a game all you know–can be taken away from you,” said Puype Wednesday morning during the middle of training. The journey to this point raises several key questions about the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) approach to policing the industry. When the charges were first issued, HISA's rules required Puype to be issued a provisional suspension. This meant he was barred from training before he had a chance to argue his case in a formal hearing. HISA has since recommended that provisional suspensions be issued only in limited circumstances, including when the violation “presents a substantial risk to the integrity of racing and/or the welfare of horses,” a move that illustrates HISA's ability and willingness to adapt and evolve. At the same time, HIWU sought maximum penalties against Puype that, if successful, would have effectively ended his career. But how warranted was this? Independent arbitrator Barbara Reeves described Puype's fault in the case as being at the lowest end of the “light” range; this, also, for a trainer who can boast both rare respect amongst his peers and near blemish-free drug record. With nearly 5,500 starts under his belt, Puype has had only two minor medication infractions over the last 18 years. One for a methocarbamol overage, and one overage for stomach ulcer medication omeprazole (otherwise known as GastroGard). As Reeves put it in her final decision, “it is not clear to the Arbitrator what HIWU was attempting to accomplish in the way it prosecuted this matter.” A key practical and philosophical question that arises from the case, therefore, is this: If HIWU's ultimate mission is to catch the cheats who impugn the sport, what responsibility does it also have to protect racing's honest players from injustice? For their part, HIWU stands by its legal approach in the case. But Puype is an under-the-radar type of character, and the near eight-month ordeal has had a profound effect on him, both professionally (he reckons he's lost as much as 30% of his horses during this time), and psychologically. “I'm mad and angry,” he said. “I'm going to absolutely need counselling to find out how to get rid of this anger in my body.” The Case On Apr. 24 this year, four HIWU investigators descended upon Puype's barn at Santa Anita, combed through the barn area and the tack room and unearthed two containers of Isoxsuprine tablets and two containers of Levothyroxine (more commonly known as ThyroL) powder. The Isoxsuprine tablets were found in a blue portable cooler, with expiration dates of 2012 and 2013. Pupye and his two assistants swore that the cooler and the tablets belonged to a former employee who had left in 2022, and that they weren't aware of the cooler's contents. One of Puype's assistants attested that the blue cooler “has been in a corner with boots and other things piled on it for many years and has always remained at Santa Anita,” according to a pre-hearing brief. The Levothyroxine powders were in a locked cabinet, the combination to which it strongly appears was known only by Puype's assistants and not the trainer himself, according to case documents. One canister of Thyro-L dated March 2021 was unopened and unused. The other cannister dated February 2016 was mostly empty. At the time these medications were prescribed, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) deemed them legal for use. The arbitrator determined that both substances were likely prescribed by veterinarian Jeff Blea (now the CHRB equine medical director), who between 2014 and 2019 performed veterinary work for Puype. Blea couldn't prove this as veterinarians are only required to maintain three years of records. Both substances are now on HISA's banned substances list. Thyro-L, used in the treatment of hypothyroidism in horses, has become especially controversial, ever since a CHRB report into the sudden deaths of seven Bob Baffert-trained horses between 2011 and 2013 suggested widespread thyroxine use in the barn could have been a contributing factor. Throughout, Puype insisted that he would never administer expired medications. Nor did HIWU allege that he had. This was always a case of “possession.” Arbitrator Barbara Reeves called Puype out for not properly searching and removing from his barn these banned substances. “There was no indication of any intention or wrongdoing by Mr. Puype, other than the imperfect 'search and purge,'” wrote Reeves, in her final decision. Indeed, before HISA's anti-doping and medication control program went into effect in May of last year, representatives from HISA and HIWU repeatedly warned stakeholders of the consequences of both possessing and administering banned substances. For his part, Puype doesn't dispute the fact that he screwed up, and that he deserved some kind of punishment for not properly giving his barn a thorough sweep. “It's that simple–I deserved a penalty for bad housekeeping,” said Puype. “But I didn't deserve to have my livelihood threatened, of possibly having to sell my house and ruining my financial future.” A few weeks before the formal hearing on Nov. 22, HIWU attempted to settle the case, said Puype, offering him as a compromise a one-year suspension and a fine of $12,500. A week later, they offered him a 10-month ban, he said. Puype declined both through fear of what that would do to his training career. “I turned it down,” said Puype. “I told my lawyer, 'yes, a year is less than four years. But here's the thing. A year is still termination of your business, too. My owners aren't going to stay with my assistant for that long.'” After that, HIWU in their pre-hearing brief sought a possible maximum penalty against Puype, constituting two banned substance possession charges–a maximum two-year ban and $25,000 fine each-placed back-to-back. Puype contends that such consecutive sentencing would have gone against the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) which is applicable in these cases, and against the language in HISA's own rules for first-time offenders. Reeves obviously agreed. In her final decision, she wrote that the four-year ban would have been career ending. In an unusual move, she took pointed aim at HIWU's punitive approach to the trainer, and for their own sloppy legal work. “It is not clear to the Arbitrator what HIWU was attempting to accomplish in the way it prosecuted this matter. Although the facts established nothing more than an imperfect search, HIWU filed its standard “Possession” charges and brief (labelled 'HIWU's Pre- Hearing Brief (Possession)') and negligently failed to remove the name of the prior trainer against whom the brief had been filed ('Trainer Valery,') from the text,” Reeves wrote. Compared to other HIWU-related cases involving the possession of banned substances, however, Puype was lucky. “To date, HIWU has pursued Possession violations for Banned Substances against 20 other Covered Persons, of which 14 involved the Possession of levothyroxine and/or isoxsuprine. Twelve were public before the date of Mr. Puype's search, and the shortest final suspension issued from those cases was 14 months,” HIWU wrote, in response to a list of questions. And so, now the case is essentially closed, what lessons can be gleaned? Moving Forward On the one hand, his case illustrates HISA's ability and willingness to adapt. When HIWU first issued its charges against Puype, the case circumstances meant that a provisional suspension was a formality. Puype then agreed to a provisional hearing, at which an independent arbitrator (different from Reeves) determined that his provisional suspension should not be lifted. In November, however, HISA announced that HIWU should only impose provisional suspensions in very specific circumstances, at which time, most active provisional suspensions were lifted, including Puype's. The Breeders' Cup-winning Puype–a highly respected trainer in California and someone whose case garnered the attention and support of several influential figures–suspects his circumstances helped move this needle on provisional suspensions. “It wasn't just my case–there's a little more,” he said. “But a big part of it was my case.” And he also hopes his case moves the needle in other ways, including when it comes to the extreme financial toll a legal defense against HIWU can take–especially for those small-time trainers lacking the same stable of influential supporters to champion their cause. Puype said that originally, he wasn't going to hire an attorney until he was threatened with a possible four-year ban, and the gravity of his situation set in. Puype declined to say how much he has spent on attorney's fees. Defendants in other cases have said that it can soon grow into the six-figure mark. Furthermore, HIWU sought for Puype to cover their attorney's fees. Though HIWU was ultimately unsuccessful, Puype estimates this alone could have set him back by more than $100,000. HISA offers certain financially strapped trainers pro-bono legal representation. According to HIWU, 15 individuals have to date used this service. “They go for the heavy penalties, the heavy fines,” said Puype. “Many good guys, they have no chance to challenge them.” Puype also urges HIWU's prosecutors to use more discretion and “common sense” in the way they pursue cases. Punishments could better fit the crime, he said. A trainer's broader record should also matter, he urged. “I'm not a guy that lived off cheating. Past records mean everything. And for them to sit and say, 'your past means nothing,' it means everything in this industry,” said Puype. HIWU stands by its approach. “HIWU believes the final decision issued by the arbitrator to be inconsistent with the facts of the case, prior ADMC Program decisions (e.g., Perez), and the language of the ADMC Program Rules themselves,” HIWU wrote, in response to the TDN's request for a statement. “For example, the decision ignores the trainer responsibility rule and the number of substances that were possessed when determining Mr. Puype's sanctions. “That said, the ADMC Program's adjudication system worked as intended, and HIWU respects the outcome reached. Both parties had the opportunity to fully present their case before a neutral arbitrator appointed by a third party who rendered her own independent decision in this matter.” For his part, Puype says he has mixed emotions about HISA. On the one hand, he understands why racing desperately needs a uniform regulator. “I don't disagree with their existence at all– the game needs to be governed,” he said. But he said he has been badly burned by events from the last eight months. “I have other issues to still be dealt with going forward. It's not just a case of 'okay, you're released because the arbitrator says so.' It gets deeper than that. There are a lot of problems that are in my head that I've got to clear,” said Puype, who said he has lost several owners this year. “This gets deeper than the money. You can always overcome money. It's the psyche, the mental [damage], and everything that's happened here to me as a human being. I'm a guy that that shoots from hip. Shoots straight with my owners. I've been that way my whole life,” he said. “I've always lived my life with honesty.” The post “I’m Mad And Angry”: Puype Case Raises Key Points In HIWU Enforcement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Starting the day after its Dec. 26 season opener, Santa Anita Park will drop its lowest-level claiming prices to $8,000 for maidens and $5,000 for other horses. The downward class-level moves, along with the possibility that Southern California's main meet could add additional dates and/or races to its upcoming six-month season that runs through June 15, are part of a negotiated effort to “give more opportunities for horses that have historically raced in Northern California,” according to a license application amendment request by Santa Anita. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) unanimously approved that request by a 4-0 vote Thursday. Those Dec. 19 decisions–which have the backing of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Thoroughbred Trainers–were part of a multiple-stakeholder reaction to deal with Monday's revelation that there will be no NorCal “anchor” track running for the first half of 2025 until the traditional fairs season starts in that region of the state in the summer. On Dec. 16, the California Authority of Racing Fairs board voted unanimously (with one abstention) to rescind a proposed Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton spanning the first half of next year. That CARF vote came on the heels of discussion at the CHRB meeting back on Nov. 21 that the now-concluded autumn Pleasanton meet wasn't living up to the business expectations that had fueled a hope that the former fairs-season-only track might be able to fill the NorCal void that occurred when The Stronach Group (TSG) closed Golden Gate Fields back in June. TSG also owns the financially struggling Santa Anita, which has now taken on the responsibility of trying to create racing opportunities for NorCal horses. Nate Newby, the General Manager at Santa Anita, explained how the new lower-level races came about and would be worked into the daily mix. “In the last three days, we've had a lot of productive meetings with pretty much all stakeholders; racing offices from every group in the state [and the] CTT, and [we've] come up with this,” Newby said. “Lowering the minimums, that was at their recommendation, and we were, of course, on board. And we're ready to provide racing opportunities and do everything we can,” Newby said. Newby noted that although Santa Anita's first condition book for the meet has already been published, “the racing office put out 'extras' [on Wednesday] for the first week, and they'll continue to put them out in advance.” Newby continued: “And then those races will be included starting in Book 2. But they'll be offered on race days starting the day after opening, so Dec. 27 will be the start of the new claiming hierarchy, he said. Pleasanton will remain open as an 850-stall training facility before segueing into its fairs-season dates in the summer. Details are being worked out to provide subsidies for shipping from Pleasanton, which Santa Anita management estimated at $1,000 per round trip. Santa Anita's supporting documentation also included the possibility that three-day racing weeks could expand to four days (and maybe five days on holiday or special-event weeks) if enough horses from NorCal swell the entries. Santa Anita's documentation for the changes stated that each day's racing could consist of “between 7 and 11 races on weekdays and between 8 and 13 races on opening day, weekends, holidays, and closing week.” Thursday's subdued and generally somber monthly CHRB meeting lacked the impassioned (and often hours-long) stakeholder discourse that has hallmarked similar NorCal/SoCal discussions in recent years. In fact, only one industry participant spoke during the public comments session to address Pleasanton's decision (at least for the time being) not to continue after one lackluster two-month meet as the region's anchor track, a situation that TSG's 1/ST Racing first put into motion by closing Golden Gate Fields. Ellen Jackson, a longtime NorCal-based owner and breeder who retired from a three-decade training career in 2023, asked a single, succinct question of the CHRB commissioners. “My observation is [that] the flaw in this whole system is that once the 1/ST [Racing] group gets the Northern California simulcast money, what's to keep them from just withdrawing the training at Pleasanton or the subsidizing of the transportation or the purse structure? I don't see any guarantee for us,” Jackson said. The CHRB's chairman, Gregory Ferraro, DVM, answered in equally concise fashion. “I think your guarantee is the board,” Ferraro asserted, referring to the CHRB itself. “And you're going to have our back?” Jackson queried. “Yeah,” Ferraro replied. “Absolutely,” added commissioner Dennis Alfieri. Ferraro then provided more context. “Listen, I know this is going to be a difficult period of time for this transition. We hope it works. If it doesn't work, we'll adjust it to make it work. And hopefully it's a temporary thing and we can, if things and times get better, we can go back to where we were,” Ferraro said. “But at this point in time, we really have no choice,” Ferraro summed up. The post Santa Anita To Drop Claiming Minimums, Possibly Add Dates, In Response To NorCal Going Dark For Next Six Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The New York State Assembly met Dec. 19 to examine the effectiveness of the state's current system of testing and prevention for equine doping.View the full article

Sandman, a sharp allowance winner Dec. 13 at Oaklawn Park for owners D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables, will be pointed to the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25.View the full article

Tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 21, Albaugh Family Stables' Admiral Dennis made his first local appearance Nov. 30 breezing four furlongs in :49 4/5.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. Friday's Observations features a half-sister to a Classic winner. 17.30 Wolverhampton, Nov, £9,650, 2yo, f, 7f 36y (AWT) Newsells Park Stud's hitherto unraced WARM GLOW (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 St Leger-winning sire Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and to the G3 Prix Penelope-winning dam of multiple Group 1-winning sire Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The James Fanshawe-trained homebred encounters eight rivals in this unveiling. 16.30 Wolverhampton, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, 8f 142y (AWT) Cayton Park Stud homebred KING OF NARNIA (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became upset in the stalls and was a late scratching from his intended debut at Kempton earlier this month. The April-foaled bay is a John and Thady Gosden-conditioned half-brother to four stakes performers headed by multiple Group 1-winning dual South African champion Oh Susanna (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and the dual Group 1-placed Signore Fox (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). He is opposed by a half-dozen in this belated first go. The post Nibling of Waldgeist Set for Wolverhampton Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) has named Tracy Sheffield as the new executive director effective Jan. 1, replacing Mary Ruyle, who will stay on through July to help with the transition, according to a TTA press release on Thursday. The holder of an Animal Science degree from Oregon State University, Sheffield is the founder and managing partner of T&L Veterinary Business Consulting. She has been a TTA member for more than 20 years and is active with the organization's Paddock Foundation, which helps find second careers for retired racehorses. Sheffield will resign her current position as TTA President and be replaced by Vice President Phil Leckinger. “No one can replace Mary, but I'm excited to take on this new position with the TTA,” said Sheffield. “Certainly there are challenges for the Texas racing and breeding industry, but with a strong sales company and solid purses and incentives for Accredited Texas-breds, I think we are well positioned to meet those challenges. All TTA members and Texas horsemen and women owe Mary a debt of gratitude for her work over the years, and I'm thankful she will remain available through July.” Ruyle started with the TTA in 1988 as a bookkeeper and worked her way up, eventually taking the executive director position in 2012. She received the Allen Bogan Memorial Award from the association for her service to the industry, as well as the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. During her time as executive director, she oversaw the TTA's creation of a sales division to handle the annual Texas yearling and 2-year-old sales. Ruyle is the longest tenured employee in the history of the TTA, which was founded in 1955. “I've made so many great friends during my time at the TTA, and I'm going to miss working with the dedicated board of directors and our hard-working members,” said Ruyle. “Tracy has been a great asset to have on the board, and I'm more than confident she will smoothly transition over to executive director.” The post Sheffield Replaces Ruyle As Texas Thoroughbred Association Executive Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Addressing concerns raised by horsewoman Ellen Jackson that Northern California equine interests would be protected as racing consolidates in Southern California at Santa Anita Park, CHRB commissioners pledged their support Dec. 19.View the full article

The one-mile Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) to be held June 29 at Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas in Montevideo, has been designated as an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).View the full article

Harness racing on a Friday doesn’t get much bigger than today, with the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup meeting starting at 2.55pm, followed by 10 $100,000 Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park from 5.16pm. Star stable set to shine in Golden Gait By Michael Guerin The best harness racing stable of the year is set to dominate the code’s newest glamour race night. Tonight’s Alexandra Park meeting sees the first running of the Golden Gait finals, 10 races worth $100,000 each to reward those horses who have graced The Park often enough to be eligible. While it is not the final Alexandra Park meeting of 2024, the Auckland Cup is still to come on New Year’s Eve, tonight’s meeting best symbolises the huge strides harness racing had made this year. And no stable looms larger than the Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan partnership, who have been the undoubted stars of this new harness racing renaissance. They have won plenty of major races including the $1m Race by Grins with Merlin which helped them earn over $3m in domestic stakes, remarkably a domestic record for Hall Of Fame trainer Barry Purdon in his storied career. Purdon has had bigger seasons before if you count his Australian exploits but this year stands above all others at home, even dating back to when he and his late father Roy completely ruled the code. The numbers are stunning: Purdon and Phelan have trained a winner every 3.7 starters including Group 1s with everything from veteran open class pacer Mach Shard to juvenile trotter Meant To Be. Both race tonight and while the stable only has starters in four of the $100,000 races, their horses being too good for the lower grade races, they are favoured to win all four. Their night starts in Race 3, the TAB Golden Gait 2YO Mobile Trot with Meant To Be (R3, No.8), our best two-year-old trotter but one still prone to letting his concentration drift. “He seems to have come back from Christchurch really well so we expect him to race up to his peak,” says Phelan. They may have the most talented horse in the next, the TAB 2YO Mobile Pace, in filly Youretheonethatiwant (R4, No.3) along with I Got Chills and Confederate but the filly can be tricky and awkward at times, something she overcomes with brilliant late surges. Tonight she has barrier 3 under the preferential draw and if she shows gate speed she is the one to beat but her male rivals won’t make it easy on her, with the emerging Chase Me her greatest danger. There should be no such concerns about Duchess Megxit using her draw (3) in the stacked three-year-old pace because while she has been most dazzling when driven with a sit she has reeled off a ballistic 53.8 second last 800m when leading over a sprint trip. “She can do it either way and she is holding her form great, as well all saw last Friday,” says Phelan in reference to her Queen Of Hearts stunner. If the race does get run upside down and suit the swoopers the stable are still the ones to beat with Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah their next two best chances. The race with the most moving parts for the stable is Race 7, the Aged R63-R99 Mobile Pace, in which they have Invisible, shock Taylor Mile/Messenger winner Mach Shard and most importantly Sooner The Bettor. The latter is a super sprinter and finished second to Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile in March so if he can cross to the lead early from barrier 6 he should win. But there is plenty of gate speed on the front line and it is a race that quickly could become more complicated than it looks. Wallis/Hackett have huge team in at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin Michelle Wallis says the Golden Gait series is a winner even before the first race has been run. Wallis and husband Bernie Hackett will have a remarkable 18 starters on the first ever Golden Gait Finals night, where horses who have competed in enough qualifying races at Alexandra Park get to run for $100,000 in every race, regardless of grade. “We love the fact the series rewards horses who turn up at Alexandra Park a lot, which ours do,” said Wallis. “Obviously the stakes are great and I think the fields reflect that, there is some really even racing.” While having 18 horses throughout the night and five in one race, the main aged trot, will mean all hands on deck Wallis says the logistics aren’t as bad as they could be. “Some of our drivers like to use their own carts so we don’t need five of our own for that main race and a few of the horses race in owners’ colours so we don’t have to worry about that as much either,” she says. Pressed for the stable’s best winning chances tonight Wallis says she likes the first race, the TAB Golden Gait Aged R49-R60 Mobile Trot, but says not in the exact same way the bookies do. “Shesgold loves the sprint distances so she will be hard to beat but I really can’t split her and Five O’Clock Gerry. “Gerry might actually have more gate speed and if he can find the front he will be hard to beat,” she says of the $13 chance. The stable has five in the main trot including favourite Faith In Manchester but while she is in great form she comes with a warning. “She is racing really well but I am not convinced she is an ideal mobile mile horse,” says Wallis. “I think there is a fair bit of gate speed around her so I don’t see her leading and that could make it tough. “I think all five of ours can win and the best of them on ability is All Cashed Up. “He has had a few wee hoof issues but we are getting on top of them but that is why Crystal (daughter, driver) chose Iron Love, who she said gave her a really good feel last start.” HOW TO TACKLE GOLDEN GAIT NIGHT 1: Duchess Megxit (R6, No.3): Draw suggests she should lead and be too fast so is your multi anchor. 2: Meant To Be (R3, No.8): Big brute still learning but if he behaves if the other multi anchor. 3: Pantani (R5, No.11): Has been really hit and miss but if he trots throughout his $7 price will be overs. 4: Diamonds Are Forever (R2, No.4): Hasn’t won for a long time but has gate speed and perfect drawn in the beautiful battler’s race. 5: Sans Au Revoir (R10, No.8): No form but has been in far stronger fields and big driver change with Greg Sugars on board. Republican Party “won’t die wondering” in Invercargill Cup By Jonny Turner Republican Party’s cracking third in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup means there is only one way for his team to play today’s Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (7.25pm). The pacer heads south for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in the hope he can follow in the footsteps of his former stablemate Krug who took out the Southland feature in its first running at Group 1 level two years ago. Republican Party returns to a staying distance in Friday’s 2700m event, with driver Carter Dalgety, on the back of two sprints. His previous run over a comparable distance came in his barnstorming New Zealand Cup effort, where he charged home from well off the pace to run a meritorious third. With the five-year-old thriving under the pressure of a quickly run Group 1 over the extreme 3200m trip, the Dalgety camp knows exactly what they want to see in the Invercargill Cup. “I think we would like to see a genuinely run, testing 2700m more than most camps,” Cran Dalgety said. “Everybody saw our horse’s New Zealand Cup run, the sectionals he ran were quite extraordinary and even though they don’t pay out on what splits you run we were thrilled.” “Being a Bettor’s Delight stallion it is logical he would thrive under a good staying test and if things turned that way in Invercargill it would suit us.” “It might be us that has to inject that speed into the race, we will see how things pan out.” “But I think it is safe to say they will know we are there, we won’t die wondering.” Republican Party warmed up for his trip south with a third placing behind race rival Mo’unga over 1980m at Addington last week. While the effort was solid without being flashy, Dalgety expects much more on Friday. “That run was a good hit-out before the big dance this week.” “Being a stallion he was in need of an outing and he has taken a lot of benefit for it.” “And obviously the step up in distance this week is a big plus.” “In terms of his overall health, he’s very bright and we couldn’t really be happier with him.” Republican Party wasn’t the only Invercargill Cup candidate to shine in the New Zealand Cup. Mo’unga produced an excellent sixth in the Addington feature, charging home late after galloping away and putting himself in a hopeless spot. The only sighting of the Regan Todd trained pacer since has been at Addington last week where he looked in the zone beating several of his Invercargill Cup rivals, from a mobile beginning. Mo’unga made a brilliant standing start beginning to win the Kaikoura Cup earlier in the spring and Todd is hopeful his horse can get away similarly at Invercargill. “It doesn’t really matter where he settles, so long as he gets away that is the more important part,” Todd said. Both Republican Party and Mo’unga are the only two Invercargill Cup starters on a handicap, starting from 10m behind the front-markers on Friday. Those front-markers are headed by last start Group 1 winner and rising star Rakero Rebel. Todd aiming for “special” win with Mo’unga By Jonny Turner Regan Todd would love to see a stoic, Southland approach when Mo’unga tackles the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup today. Todd heads back to his home province hoping his incredible spring and summer can continue, having already bagged two Group 1 titles with his star two-year-old Marketplace. “It would be special to be able to come home and win this race,” Todd said. “I saw Krug win when it was first run as a Group 1 and the whole atmosphere on track was incredible.” “There was a great crowd and they clapped the horse as he came back into the birdcage.” “The club and everyone has done a great job with this day and it’s important for the game down here that it’s a success.” “Hopefully there is another great crowd this year and the weather plays ball.” Mo’unga is as flashy and brilliant as any of today’s Invercargill Cup aspirants. While Todd is hopeful his pacer can show his brilliance in winning the race, he’s also hopeful the pacer can take a steady approach, especially early in the event. Mo’unga galloped away in his last standing start in the New Zealand Cup before recovering to run sixth. So, his first mission is to get away cleanly from his 10m Invercargill Cup handicap for driver Robbie Close. “He doesn’t need to go out there and begin like a rocket, if he could get away slowly but safely that would be enough,” Todd said, “it is all about getting it right and I think he can.” Todd is more concerned about what happens after the start of Friday’s feature. From 10m, the tactics used with those horses off the front line will have a big impact on Mo’unga. “It is not going to be easy from the 10m because no matter how well you get away you are going to be at the back of the field.” “You would think one or two of the better front-makers would want to run them along a bit.” “Hopefully that could play into our hands, it will depend on how the race is run, but it definitely won’t be easy.” While Todd can’t control the race tempo or the start of the Invercargill Cup, he couldn’t be happier with the factors within his reach. “The horse is very well, he has actually come on since his win at Addington last week.” “I couldn’t be happier with him really.” Todd also brings Lakelsa south for Invercargill Cup Day to compete in the Diamond Creek Farm/ SBSR Robin Dundee Crown for mares. The trainer has also been thrilled with the horse’s work leading into her trip south. “She has been working super, she’s got a wide draw but she has got gate speed so she should have a few options.” Robbie Close will also link up with Lakelsa. Nathan Williamson has chances galore on Invercargill Cup day By Jonny Turner He’s done it there, now he’s going to try to do it here. Again. With his maiden Group 1 win secured at Addington, Nathan Williamson will attempt to dominate another of Southland’s biggest days in harness racing. With his Group 1 winning filly Captains Mistress heading his powerful line up, punters will be queuing up to put their faith in the trainer in Race 10, the Forklifts NZ Ltd 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace (7.57pm). She is drawn the outside of the front line. “She is very classy and I am sure she could do it the hard way and still win,” Williamson said. “She is at her best if she is able to use her speed and this is her last run of a big campaign before she gets a freshen up.” “Hopefully she can tuck in somewhere at some stage of the race, but either way her class should take her a long way.” Always Dreaming also faces starting from the outside of the gate in Race 1, the McKnight and Brown Mobile Pace for the 2Yo Colts and Geldings (2.55pm). “This is only his fourth run this time in, he had that last start in the Group 1 at Addington and since then he seems to have thrived.” “I have been really happy with his work and with the drop back in grade and the smaller field he should be hard to beat.” Ruby Roe is another royal winning hope for Williamson in Friday’s Canada Stakes. The filly has performed with real merit in recent Group 1 assignments at Addington and she deserves to start a warm favourite. “She’s been going great races in the best company and I have been really pleased with her.” “There are a couple of slight concerns in that she hasn’t performed at Ascot Park before and the 1700m there can be tricky.” “She is obviously going to have to be put in the race at some stage and if she gets a half-decent run I am sure she will go a great race.” The 1700m sprint trip is also a slight concern for Williamson ahead of Secret Agent Man returning in Friday’s SBSR Sires Stakes Southern Solstice. “The 1700m is the only slight query because he isn’t a horse I have pushed early.” “Being that distance, he will need to hold a forward position and more than likely he will be fine.” “He is a nice horse and I have been really happy with him, I think he will be hard to beat.” Miraculous undoubtedly cops the worst draw of the Williamson hopefuls, wearing saddlecloth 14 in the Rob McEwan Memorial Mobile Pace (8.51pm). But his trainer thinks he can overcome it. “The draw obviously makes things tough for him, but he’s a classy horse and if he gets the right sort of run into it he should be right there.” The winning chances don’t stop there for Williamson, with Hidden Talent and Flying Without Wings in the Group 3 Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes, as well as Sweet Sue and Ultimate Weapon also stepping out at Ascot Park. View the full article

Light Up Racing has launched a Spanish translation feature on their website with the intent to make resources even more accessible to the entire horse racing community, the organization said on Thursday in a press release. The Spanish version can be accessed by clicking the flag icon located in the top right corner of the screen on the website. By offering this option, Light Up aims to bridge language barriers across the industry. “At Light Up Racing, we're focused on empowering industry members to confidently engage in tough conversations,” said Vicky Leonard, founder of Kick Collective. “The Spanish translation ensures the Hispanic community has equal access to the resources needed to navigate these discussions and foster a unified, informed voice in horse racing.” “Our hope with Light Up Racing is to empower our industry from a grassroots level,” said Chair of the Light Up Racing Board of Directors Price Bell. The Hispanic community is an active participant at all levels of our industry. We hope by translating our site into Spanish we encourage more participation and a unified voice across our industry. We are proud of what we have accomplished in our first year and look forward to 2025.” Click here to learn more about Light Up Racing. The post Light Up Racing Expands Accessibility With Spanish Website Translation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The one-mile G3 Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera Stakes, to be held June 29 at Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas in Montevideo, has been designated as a 'Win and You're In' automatic qualifier for the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, according to a press release on Thursday from the Breeders' Cup. Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited Dora Delgado said, “Breeders' Cup Limited is pleased to bring our international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series to Uruguay with the addition of the Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera, a qualifying race for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “Winners of designated Breeders' Cup Challenge races receive an automatic berth to the race of their applicable division at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, with entry fees paid and a travel stipend provided,” she said. “We appreciate the many individuals who have collaborated to make this partnership a reality and look forward to celebrating the first Breeders' Cup Challenge winner from Uruguay in June.” The winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20, 2025, to receive the rewards. Stallions standing in Uruguay may participate in the Breeders' Cup International Stallion Nomination program, which conveys automatic nomination to their progeny. “It is with great pleasure and gratitude to the Breeders' Cup authorities that we received the news of having a race of the “Win and You're In” series in 2025, more specifically for the Dirt Mile version,” said CEO of Codere Uruguay Guido Parrella, which owns Maroñas. The post Uruguay Gains Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win And You’re In’ Qualifier For Dirt Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lemon Pop, who recently became the first dual winner of the G1 Champions Cup for over a decade, has been introduced at a fee of ¥5 million (€30,615) for 2025, identifying him as the most expensive stallion on the Darley Japan roster. The six-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, who was crowned the JRA Best Dirt Horse in 2023, will embark on his first season in Hokkaido following his Chukyo swansong which saw him retire as the winner of 13 of his 18 career starts. Trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, he also won last year's G1 February Stakes at Tokyo. Lemon Pop will stand alongside the proven dirt sire Pyro, who will stand for an unchanged fee of ¥4 million (€24,492), and Palace Malice, the sire of this year's G1 NHK Mile Cup hero Jantar Mantar (Jpn). Previously based at Three Chimneys Farm, Palace Malice remains at a fee of ¥3.5 million (€21,430), having been the busiest stallion in Japan this year after relocating to Hokkaido. Adayar (Ire) and Hukum (Ire), both top-class performers over middle-distances in Europe, also kicked off their second careers at Darley Japan this season. Derby hero Adayar will command an unchanged fee of ¥1.8 million (€11,021), while Hukum, who gained his biggest success in the 2023 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, remains at ¥1.2 million (€7,347). Among the notable increases is that earned by Tower Of London (Jpn), who will stand for a fee of ¥2 million (€12,246) in 2025, up from ¥1.5 million this season. The son of Raven's Pass has enjoyed a successful year with his first crop of two-year-old runners, headed by the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes winner Panja Tower (Jpn). Shotaro Kajiya, nominations manager, said, “In addition to Palace Malice, who had the largest number of coverings this year, and Tower Of London, whose first runners gained so much attention, we now have Lemon Pop, who achieved unparalleled success on dirt tracks, joining the stallion roster to make it even stronger than before. “We will continue to strive to support owners and breeders by standing the best stallions from around the world while offering attractive terms. We look forward to your continued generous support.” Darley Japan's full list of fees: Lemon Pop, ¥5 million Pyro, ¥4 million Palace Malice, ¥3.5 million Tower Of London (Jpn), ¥2 million Adayar (Ire), ¥1.8 million Fine Needle (Jpn), ¥1.5 million Thunder Snow (Ire), ¥1.5 million Yoshida (Jpn), ¥1.5 million American Patriot, ¥1.2 million Hukum (Ire), ¥1.2 million Will Take Charge, ¥1.2 million Talismanic (GB), ¥1 million The post Newcomer Lemon Pop Heads Darley Japan Roster at ¥5 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are nine horse racing meetings set for Australia on Friday, December 20. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Canterbury & Gold Coast. Friday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 20, 2024 Canterbury Racing Tips Gold Coast Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 20, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 Next Gen Racing Betting Picklebet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Recommended! 4 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 5 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 6 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

In September of 2022, an Ontario-bred by the name of Patches O'Houlihan kicked off his career at Woodbine, winning a 5 1/2-furlong test by 4 1/2 lengths. Less than two months later, 20-year-old Sofia Vives launched her career as a jockey while recording her first victory aboard Bodacious Miss (Bodemeister), also in a 5 1/2-furlong race at the Etobicoke oval. While over a year removed from joining forces, the son of Reload and the South Carolina native both rode the wave of 2023, capping off their respective seasons with a pair of divisional titles under their belts. For Patches O'Houlihan, a 2023 campaign saw him win six of seven starts, including four stakes headed by the GIII Bold Venture Stakes and GIII Vigil Stakes. Trained by Robert Tiller on behalf of Frank Di Giulio Jr., the homebred ultimately earned the Sovereign Award as Canada's Champion Male Sprinter for his 3-year-old campaign. Also on an ascendent trajectory last year, Vives won 122 races from 764 starts, including 88 victories at her Woodbine base before concluding 2023 with $3,569,901 in earnings. Her performance during her first full year in the saddle was good enough to earn her a Sovereign Award as the Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, also stamping her one of the finalists in that season's Eclipse Awards. While each competitor hardly struggled without the help of the other, it is clear that the duo found something in each other over the course of this past season that has forged a meaningful, not to mention lucrative, connection. “I am so grateful we got the opportunity on him and that I have gotten along with him so well is pretty amazing,” said Vives. Vives and Patches O'Houlihan's intersection point occurred at Woodbine last spring when introduced via Vives's agent at the time, Jordan Miller. Sofia Vives guides Patches O'Houlihan to victory in the 2024 Pink Lloyd Stakes / Michael Burns Photo “In the mornings, it was just a job,” she recalled. “But I learned that he's a completely different horse in the mornings to the afternoons. I was told not to worry about [the morning works] because in the afternoon he will give 110%.” The duo debuted facing Ontario-breds in the six-furlong Pink Lloyd July 28. “On race day, he is a beast,” she affirmed. “He shows up and knows what to do.” Sent off second choice in the Pink Lloyd, named after another champion trained by Tiller, the gelding went to the front and never looked back, rolling home a six-length winner. Having to work harder defending his title in the Aug. 23 Bold Venture, the champion had to dig deep to score by a neck in the 6 1/2-furlong contest. The pair also repeated in the Vigil ahead of an eyebrow raising score in the GII Nearctic over the Woodbine turf Oct. 5. “He kind of took me to the outside rail and drifted pretty noticeably,” she recalled. Despite giving up all that ground, the gelding was able to overcome his transgression, proving he was much the best. “Everyone is scared to run against him and he deserves the respect because he's earned it.” Favored in the Nov. 16 GII Kennedy Road, the team finished second, 3/4 of a length behind by 3-1 second choice Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}), winner of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “We drew an inside post, but he broke a half a millisecond slow,” he said. “I had to kind of rush him to get position.” Despite his latest defeat, Patches O'Houlihan remains likely to garner another title as top Canada's sprinter in 2024. “[Nobals] was just a better horse in the Kennedy Road, but that takes nothing away from Patches,” she said. “He just got a little outdone that day. It took a Breeders' Cup winner to beat him that day. He's still amazing, no matter what.” 'This is what I've always dreamed of doing' In a concerted effort to extend her five-pound weight allowance, Vives registered only four wins from 16 starts in 2022 before pressing the pause button. However, that didn't mean that the rider was about to hang out on the beach working on her tan and sipping Margaritas over the winter. “Last year [2022-23], when I had stopped and got into a gym [in Ocala], the coaches really helped me out–strength wise and to help me gain some weight. I was very motivated to get back to racing,” she explained. She continued, “At the beginning of [2024], I knew I was going to lose the bug but you have to take advantage of all the opportunities that you can get along the way and just go day-by-day with it.” Despite all her success during her title-earning campaign in 2023, there was one thing that had escaped her–win at the black-type level. However, that void didn't take long to fill, courtesy of the Josie Carroll-trained Sabatini (Uncle Mo) in Woodbine's Star Shoot Stakes last April. Vives added eight more races at the stakes level in 2024, including the Woodbine Oaks with Kin's Concerto (Mendelssohn) and the GII Connaught Cup Stakes, courtesy of Cruden Bay (Big Screen). In addition to a quartet of stakes wins with Patches O'Houlihan, she also reconnected with Sabatini last summer to take the GIII Selene. “Even after I lost the bug [in August], I would show up with a smile on my face and be nice and polite,” she said. “The road is never clear up ahead. You don't always know which path to take and you always want to take the right one, but you have to go with your gut feeling.” Vives in an enviable position where she could potentially win another Sovereign Award as the leading Canadian apprentice rider in 2024, largely due to her decision to curtail her 2022 season immediately after recording her fourth win. A total of nine riders have accomplished the repeat, including Kazushi Kimura in 2018-19. With less than a month remaining in 2024, the rider has remained on pace with her 2023 stats, winning 85 races at a 16% clip while amassing over $3.2 million. Principally riding in Canada, she also ventured south of the border to ride in New York and Pennsylvania. She currently ranks fourth overall at Woodbine with 66 wins and over $2.9 million in earnings. “Numbers is not a big thing for me because I don't like to set numbers as goals just because if you don't meet them, you feel very let down,” she explained. “I just want to stay positive and be happy. Also, continue to do right by the horses, owners and trainers. That's a pretty good goal for me.” The 22-year-old has moved her tack to Aqueduct this winter, a move that appears to be the most logical for the young rider looking to branch out at this juncture in her young career. Her fiancee, jockey Keiber Coa, is also stationed in New York. “I'll take it day-by-day and see what doors and opportunities open up and go on from there,” she said. “Maybe I'll get a chance today that will completely change plans for years. I don't know. Right now my brain is a sponge. I want to learn as much as I can from the colony [in New York] and see what happens in the springtime.” She added, “I would like to maintain what I have built and learn as much as I can. I am new to the New York circuit so I'd like to make some new connections here.” Highlighting her incoming connections, Vives recently switched her book to John Panagot, also the agent for New York-based Manny Franco. “I would love to be able to ride in New York, ride at Belmont when that opens up and go to Saratoga in the summer,” she said. “I would love to learn as much as I can from the guys up here. To be able to learn from them is pretty cool.” 'Be an inspiration' Armed with the pedigree to be a rider, her father Lazaro Vives rode along the Midlantic circuit as a jockey before serving a 20-year-stint at Mark Casse's Ocala farm. The horseman currently works for OBS in Ocala, Florida, where Vives grew up. Sofia Vives with her parents Lazaro and Marie | Courtesy Sofia Vives “My dad always told me 'keep your ears and eyes open and your mouth closed,” she said. “You can learn so much from watching and listening. Growing up, whenever I could I would go out to the farm and the track and watch them.” It was at the Hall of Famer's training center where she received much of her early education as a rider. “Once I got going, [Lazaro] was breezing a lot of horses for Mark and breaking babies,” she recalled. “It was actually cool to ride right alongside him and learn all the fundamentals from him. He's amazing on a horse and can get the horse to do whatever he wants them to do.” She added with a laugh, “To be able to see that is both good and bad. It's good because you get to see it close up but it's bad because he makes it look so easy. And it's not easy! He does everything so effortlessly and the horses respond to him so well.” What was one of the most valuable lessons she learned from her father? “He had shown me how to break horses out of the gate and I think my dad is one of the quickest riders out of the gate,” she explained. “The race is often won or lost at the gate, so it's nice to have that background with him.” According to Vives, Casse also played a big part in helping mould her career. “Mark always said that I could ride races if I would finish school. That was my mom [Marie']s rule too,” she conceded. “[Mark] has always been alongside me and has helped me find my footing at the track. He introduced me to Woodbine and gave me a shot.” “Mark and Miss Tina [Casse] are always rooting for me and cheering me on. They have been along the whole journey with me. If I ever have questions, I know I can reach out and they'll pick up right away. They are family to me.” Vives also points to other notable racing figures who influenced her career path. “Growing up, I wanted to be like Johnny Velazquez and Mike Smith,” she said. “Just to ride next to them is an honor.” “I really love watching Johnny ride. He always has himself in a good spot and he always gives the horse the best chance to win. He makes them all look good and he looks good on all of them. That's what I aspire to be like one day.” While following the path and success of the legends of the game, Vives hopes that she too might one day be in the position to make a difference to a young up-and-coming rider. “I believe you should be the person that you would want other people to want to be like as they got older. Be an inspiration. Do right by the animals. Thank God for all your blessings and carry on with the day.” The post Lady and the Champ: Vives Poised for Another Canadian Riding Title in 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The recently concluded Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine saw jockey Sahin Civaci, trainer Mark Casse and owner Bruno Schickedanz take top honors.View the full article

The Texas Thoroughbred Association has announced that Tracy Sheffield will take the executive director position effective January 1, replacing Mary Ruyle, who will remain with the TTA through July to help with the transition. View the full article

Horse Racing Alberta is gearing up for even greater success in 2025 with significant enhancements to its Breed Improvement Programs. The programs are set for an impressive expansion.View the full article

The Charlie Appleby-trained Measured Time (GB) faces eight rivals on the Festive Friday card at Meydan when he attempts to repeat his 2023 success in the AED850,000 G2 Al Rashidiya Sponsored by Emaar. No horse has ever won back-to-back renewals of the Al Rashidiya, but Measured Time is likely to be a warm order as the sole previous Group 1 winner in the line-up. He followed last year's victory in this race with a first Group 1 triumph in the Jebel Hatta and a fourth-place finish in the G1 Dubai Turf, both run over the same course and distance as Friday's race. He later doubled his tally at the top level when beating stable-mate Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga in June. “Measured Time has had a nice break and goes in stronger to this year's Al Rashidiya,” Appleby said of the son of Frankel (GB), who was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes, also at Saratoga, in August. “We're looking forward to him starting his Dubai campaign on Friday.” Among his rivals is Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), a three-time Meydan winner, who returns after a summer campaign in Britain. “He did really well in Dubai last season, improving 15lbs and winning two races,” said trainer Lucie Botti. “He's proved he belongs in this company, but he's had a little break so it's going to be stepping stones to bigger things.” The international contingent is bolstered by Sean (Ger) (Excelebration {Ire}), trained by Jamie Osborne. He was a consistent performer in Dubai last season when finishing fourth in the G2 Zabeel Mile, second in the G3 Dubai Millennium and third in the G2 Singspiel Stakes. “Sean is back again in an attempt to avenge last year's unlucky defeats,” said Osborne. “It's not going to be easy for him but we are hopeful he can have a fruitful Meydan campaign this year. “Measured Time should be in a league of his own and it's likely Sean will tighten up for the run. We are probably all playing for second. This race will tell us whether his next run should be the [G2] Zabeel Mile or the Lord North [Handicap].” US Imports Clash in Maktoum Mile The official feature on the Festive Friday card is the G2 Al Maktoum Mile Sponsored by Emaar, which offers total prize-money of AED1,000,000 and is an early pointer towards the G1 Dubai World Cup and G2 Godolphin Mile. It has attracted a field of six, including Bhupat Seemar's exciting new recruit Artorius (Arrogate). “Artorius won the Curlin Stakes in America but hasn't been here that long, so we're still finding out about him,” said Seemar. “He's by a Grade I winner and out of a Grade I winner [Paulassilverlining] so he's certainly bred for the job.” Another US import who could provide the stiffest opposition to Artorius is the Chief Stipe Watson trainee Clapton (Brethren). Formerly trained by Chad Summers, Clapton finished third in both the G1 Maktoum Challenge and G2 Maktoum Classic last season, before an eleventh-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. “He had a busy schedule for three years,” said Watson. “He's had some time off and he's fresh and well with us. I don't think the drop back in trip is a problem. We're just going to let him run where he's happy.” The post Measured Time the Class Act on Festive Friday Card at Meydan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article