Wandering Eyes

With just over three weeks to the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale, to be held Saturday, May 11, officials at Arqana have announced the addition of eight wild-card entries into the single-session auction. The newest additions to the catalog include: • Lot 50, a Mocklershill-consigned son of boom sire No Nay Never from the family of MG1SP Arch Swing (Arch) and whose fourth dam Pattern Step (Nureyev) won the GI Hollywood Oaks; • Lot 100, a son of Shamardal from the SW Jira (GB) (Medicean {GB}), a granddaughter of 4x G1SW Time Charter consigned by Star Bloodstock; • Lot 139, a Street Sense colt out of MGISP Model (Giant’s Causeway) from Grove Stud; • Lot 161, a Super Saver half-sister to GSW & ‘TDN Rising Star’ Polar River (Congrats) on account of Tally Ho Stud; • Lot 162, a colt from the family of US GISP Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay {Ire}) by the successful Medaglia d’Oro stallion Violence and consigned by Gaybrook Lodge Stud; • Lot 163, another from Grove Stud, a son of New Approach (Ire) from the female family of dual G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}; • Lot 164, a Showcasing (GB) filly from Willie Browne’s operation whose second dam Frizzante (GB) (Efisio {GB}) won the G1 Darley July Cup; • Lot 165, a Kodiac (GB) colt from the G1 Fillies’ Mile runner-up Lady Darshaan (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) whose produce include SW Let’s Go (Street Cry {Ire}) and the progressive 3-year-old colt Global Spectrum (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}); consigned by Church Farm & Horse Park Stud Horses cataloged for the sale will breeze Friday, May 10, at 12pm with the sale set to begin at 1pm Saturday. For further information, visit www.arqana.com. View the full article

Mick and Wendy Ruis of Ruis Racing have purchased the Woodford County farm formerly owned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Kirkpatrick & Co. announced April 18. View the full article

The farm formerly known as Woodford Thoroughbreds just outside of Lexington, Ky. has been sold to Mick and Wendy Ruis of Ruis Racing, LLC, according to a press release from brokers Biederman Real Estate and Kirkpatrick & Co. Woodford announced last summer that it would be closing its Kentucky farm and consolidating operations at its Ocala, Fla. farm effective Jan. 1 of this year. “This particular farm was beautiful, productive, well-designed, and is in a great location.” said listing broker Tom Biederman. “My clients love Kentucky,” said Kirkpatrick & Company Associate Cathy Davis, who represented Mr. & Mrs. Ruis. “They know it is the place for their breeding and racing operations. This farm was everything they had hoped for, and more.” The property measures 305+ acres of Woodford County land. Equine improvements included five barns with more than 90 stalls, 11 miles of plank fencing encompassing ten fields and 27 paddocks. Immediate neighbors include Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud, Diamond A, Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm, and Pin Oak Stud. View the full article

Churchill Downs Incorporated has announced a series of significant initiatives to improve safety protocols and procedures as the track prepares to host the 145th running of the GI Kentucky Derby May 4. Churchill also signed on to a nationwide initiative to phase out race-day medication Thursday. The initiatives include investing $8 million “to build a state-of-the-art Equine Medical Center, Quarantine Facility and related capital improvements on the backside of Churchill Downs Race Track,” according to a press release from the company. The Equine Medical Center is slated to open in March 2020 and will be used for every-day equine therapeutic purposes as well as immediate and advanced onsite care in the event of injury. The track will also have a temporary Equine Medical Center in place for this year’s Derby and will hire an Equine Medical Director to oversee safety and care at all CDI properties. Churchill says it will additionally work with other industry leaders to immediately form and fund a new organization dedicating to developing and sharing best practices and research in racing. An executive leader and initial membership for the national Office of Racing Integrity will be announced in the coming weeks. Whip reform will also be addressed, as Churchill announced that, “Once Kentucky regulators update the applicable regulations, we will immediately adopt the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) model rules that govern the use of the low-impact riding crop worldwide.” The release went on to announce that Churchill will expand camera surveillance across its backside operations, including the installment of 24-hour cameras in every barn, stall and common area. CDI will also “advocate immediately with applicable regulatory authorities for increased withdrawal times for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cortico-steroids so that horses can be more adequately evaluated during pre-race veterinary examinations” and is committing $100,000 of additional financial support to fund scientific research projects geared toward improving the safety and welfare of racehorses, “particularly with respect [to] improving treatment options for joint and leg injuries.” “All of us in the industry care deeply about the safety and well-being of race horses, and we know how much they mean to the people who love and care for them,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “As the host of the Kentucky Derby and a key leader in the racing industry, Churchill Downs has a heightened responsibility to implement the world’s best practices for caring for racehorses at our facilities. We also have a responsibility to educate and advocate so that others do so as well. Over the last several years, the landscape for animal welfare and safety practices has changed for the better, and we will continue to embrace this progress and move forward with advancements to improve the health and welfare of our equine as well as human athletes. Our leadership and commitment to these important issues will never waver.” View the full article

Grade 1 winner Discreet Lover will make his first start in more than five months April 20 when he kicks off his 2019 campaign by facing nine rivals at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in the $1 million Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2). View the full article

Grade 1 winner Discreet Lover will make his first start in more than five months April 20 when he kicks off his 2019 campaign by facing 10 rivals at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in the $1 million Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2). View the full article

It’s All Weather Championships Final Day at Lingfield on Friday and the ITV racing team brings us most of the action on a day to look forward to. It’s been building up to this for many of these all-weather performers all winter and this is the equivalent of the Derby for most of these horses. […] The post Friday Preview – Lingfield All Weather Finals Day appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running Fukushima, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the seasonal debut of a Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB): Saturday, April 20, 2019 4th-TOK, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m MAQUIS (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Live Well Lived, by Tiznow) was a $350K Keeneland September acquisition a handful of months after his half-brother American Patriot (War Front) took out the GI Maker’s 46 Mile up the hill at the racetrack. Also a half to SW Well Humored (Distorted Humor) and to MGSP Muqtaser (Distorted Humor), the bay is out of a winning full-sister to G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed and a half to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor). Maquis is twice placed from five runs, including a course-and-distance second last November (video, gate 10). B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY) 11th-FKS, Fukushima Himba S.-G3, ¥72m ($644k), 4/up, f/m, 9fT RANDONNEE (f, 4, Blame–Loure, by A.P. Indy) is one of a half-dozen winners from as many to race for her sire in Japan, having annexed three of her 10 starts, including a listed success over this trip last April (see below, gate 11). A respectable sixth and not beaten far behind Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in last year’s G1 Shuka Sho, the granddaughter of French G3 winner Loving Pride (Quiet American) also has a pair of Group 3 placings to her credit and gets leading rider Keita Tosaki for this try. B-Winchester Farm (KY) Sunday, April 21, 2019 6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($123k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m CAFE CROWN (c, 3, Mineshaft–Two Trail Sioux, by Indian Charlie) was smashed at the windows to be off as the 1-5 chalk on his debut over this track and trip Jan. 27 and the $300K OBS April breezer made no mistakes, running up the score to the tune of 10 very impressive lengths (see below, gate 12). The bay colt is the most accomplished foal for his dam, winner of the GII Fleur de Lis H. and third in the GI Personal Ensign H. in 2005, who was sold for $30K with this foal in utero at KEEJAN in 2016. B-Jason Litt, Litt Family Horse Trust & Alex Solis II (KY) 11th-KYO, Yomiuri Milers’ Cup-G2, ¥113m ($1.01m), 4/up, 1mT MOZU ASCOT (h, 5, Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy) gets his season started and looks to improve on his close runner-up effort a year ago. Subsequently victorious in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (video, gate 10), the $275K KEESEP buyback was a troubled 13th in the G1 Mile Championship and was last seen finishing seventh to the world’s top-rated racehorse Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. A half to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Kareena (Medaglia d’Oro), Mozu Ascot is out of a half-sister to the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). B-Summer Wind Farm (KY) View the full article

2nd-Newmarket, £8,000, Novice, 4-18, 2yo, 5fT, 1:01.40, g/f. WELL OF WISDOM (GB) (c, 2, Oasis Dream {GB}–Alessandria {GB}, by Sunday Silence), from the family of G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire Lycius (Mr. Prospector) and MGISP sire Akabir (Riverman), chased the leaders in sixth after an alert getaway in this debut. Gaining ground when nudged along after halfway, the 5-1 chance went fourth entering the final furlong and quickened smartly under rousting on the climb to the line to edge out fellow Godolphin nominee Electrical Storm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a half length in the dying strides. “William [Buick] told me he was just rolling around a little bit early doors, but he came home strong and at the end of the day his pedigree suggests he wants a bit further,” explained Charlie Appleby. “Stepping up to six [furlongs] will be the most logical way forward and he will want another run before we look at Royal Ascot. The [June 18 G2] Coventry would be the obvious race there.” He becomes the fifth scorer produced by a winning daughter of MG1SP G3 Prix de Cabourg victress Tereshkova (Mr. Prospector) and the homebred bay is a half-brother to last month’s G1 Ranvet S. and G1 H E Tancred S. hero Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), MGSW G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris placegetter Saint Baudolino (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), MGSP Listed Prix de Suresnes victor Army Bulletin (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,749. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. View the full article

A coalition of leading U.S. racetracks and racing organizations have announced a landmark initiative, phasing out the use of Furosemide (Lasix) beginning in January 2020 and eliminating the use of Lasix in black-type races held at their racetracks beginning the following year. The coalition includes all tracks owned and operated by Churchill Downs Inc., the New York Racing Association and The Stronach Group as well as Del Mar, Keeneland, Lone Star Park, Remington Park, Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred), Oaklawn Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Taken together, those tracks account for 86% of stakes races assigned listed or graded status in the United States. Breeders’ Cup Ltd., the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), the American Graded Stakes Committee of TOBA and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) have also pledged their support to the initiative. From Jan. 1, 2020, no 2-year-old will be permitted to be treated with Lasix within 24 hours of a race. The same restriction would be applied to horses entered for any stakes races at coalition tracks beginning in 2021, including the races comprising the Triple Crown. Racetrack executives have expressed their unanimous support for the undertaking. “This is a progressive and unified approach to the subject of race day medication, achieving consistency with international standards for young horses and those that form the foundations of our breeding stock,” said David O’Rourke, president and chief executive officer of NYRA. “This is a huge moment that signals a collective move to evolve this legacy sport,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “While there is still more work to be done, these reforms are a good start. This industry coalition has taken an important step forward toward a uniform policy and we are committed to focusing our attention and resources on how to make further improvements that directly prioritize equine health and safety. We applaud our industry partners and we look forward to continued collaboration.” Added Bill Carstanjen, chief executive officer of CDI: “Over the past several years, we have met with numerous stakeholders to drive action on many of our sport’s central issues. This is a significant and meaningful step to further harmonize American racing with international standards. We will continue to work with other stakeholders, including our horsemen and regulatory agencies, to fully implement this and other important reforms.” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said, “This new program is an essential step as we look toward the long-term sustainability of U.S.-breds on the national and international stages. Protecting the integrity of our sport is core to our mission and is our collective responsibility to the industry. Individual tracks participating in the coalition include: Aqueduct, Arlington International Racecourse, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, Keeneland, Laurel Park, Lone Star Park and Remington Park, Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred), Oaklawn Park, Pimlico, Presque Isle Downs, Saratoga Race Course and Tampa Bay Downs. Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park will continue to run under the previously announced limitations to race-day medication. This story will be updated. View the full article

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Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.The following retirements are notified: Best Sense (Me Tsui Yu-sak) – Hong Kong Jockey ClubAfter a couple of poor runs and a serious threat from a prominent Hong Kong identity, this brings to a close one of the more unusual Hong Kong racing stories of recent times.There is nothing particularly notable about Best Sense, the racehorse.He won three races in Australia… View the full article

Utopia Life was powerless to the might of the stewards at his last start and faces another brute force in the Class Three Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin on Monday.The three-year-old was front and centre during Silvestre de Sousa’s eventful final day last month, with the Brazilian jockey charged with careless riding and Utopia Life relegated from first to fourth after De Sousa veered across in front of the Caspar Fownes-trained Seven Heavens.Seven Heavens was promoted to third, Goko to… View the full article

Champion South African jockey Aldo Domeyer will call Sha Tin home with the 32-year-old signing on for the rest of the season with the Jockey Club. Domeyer will come to Hong Kong looking to fill the sizeable hole left by the departure of Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa last month, who returned home to Britain to fulfil a retainer for King Power Racing. Since de Sousa’s departure, champion jockeys Zac Purton and Joao Moreira have accounted for more than a third of all winners, saluting in 22 of… View the full article

Three-year-old filly Avantage is being sent for a spell following two good performances in Sydney and will likely be sent back across the Tasman in spring. The Jamie Richards-trained filly won the Gr.3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in her first run back from a break and stuck on well for third in the Gr.2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) last weekend at Randwick. “We gave serious consideration to backing her up in Sydney on Saturday,” Richards said. “We also thought ab... View the full article

New Zealand-bred galloper Order Again will aim to add another stakes victory to his tally when he contests the Listed Tails Stakes (1615m) at Doomben on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding is coming off an impressive win over 1500m at Eagle Farm and has been marked as an early $3.60 favourite for the race by TAB bookmakers. Trainer Brian Smith plans to use Saturday’s contest as a stepping stone to the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) for Order Again, with the A$300,000 contest set to be run at the sa... View the full article

Nigel Tiley has no expectation that he can repeat his Gr.2 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) win of last year, despite having twice the hand in Saturday's Ellerslie feature. Tiley won the race from his home base of Pukekohe last year with Megablast, taking advantage of heavy10 conditions during a period when the Ellerslie track was undergoing renovation work. Talented All Too Hard four-year-old Demonetization joins Megablast in Saturday's contest, set to be run on a dead4 surface at worst with no ra... View the full article

The Graham and Michael Eade-trained Orepuki Lad has taken out two southern cups this season and the Riverton galloper is being set to add another to the mantle when he contests his home cup on Saturday. The son of Raise The Flag has won four of his 14 starts, including the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) and Graham Eade said it would be a great thrill to take out the Listed Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton Cup (2147m) this weekend. “It would be great to win our ho... View the full article

Sacred Sham makes Kranji debut after bleeding setback View the full article

Easy Does It as Gray’s promising four-year-old returns View the full article

West Point Thoroughbreds' Kanthaka kicked off his 4-year-old season with two on-the-board finishes in graded stakes company, and he'll attempt to return to the winner's circle in the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes (G2) April 20 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

When news broke on social media late Monday night that more than 25 yearlings bred by her family’s Richard Barton Enterprises were located at Kaufman Kill Pen near Forney, Tx., Kate Barton of Barton Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Ca., was horrified. The yearlings had all been sold in different groups at various times to Randy Leighton from Running Horse LLC of Stevinson, Ca. “We were beyond shocked and overwhelmed,” said Barton. “Sickened. We immediately started addressing it. It was so hard with it being in [a different state]; who to believe and who not to. We came to the conclusion that the best option was just to pay the price that they were asking: $850 a yearling. We paid that directly via credit card.” There were 26 Barton-bred yearlings at the lot. One had already sold through online postings. The ransom for the remaining 25 totaled $21,250. Barton does not know how the 25 yearlings came to be at the kill pen. She said on social media Leighton has failed to take any responsibility for the situation. Barton said there is rumored to be a bad strain of strangles at the facility, so the yearlings will be quarantined for at least a month at the Barton family’s ranch near Duchesne, Utah, and evaluated thoroughly by veterinarians. Arranging for transport for that many horses on short notice has been a challenge, said Barton. The first truck is scheduled to arrive at the kill pen Thursday morning to load the horses and will make the 20-hour trip bringing them to Utah. “We are going to evaluate each one on an individual basis,” said Barton. “It’s hard with them being in Texas right now and not being able to put eyes on them. Re-homing or adoption is a possibility; we also may keep some ourselves. I think we just need time to evaluate what is best for the horses.” When asked what made her rescue such a large number of yearlings that she no longer owned, Barton said the family wanted to step up to show responsibility for the horses they’d bred. “These horses weren’t ours anymore, but we wanted to take responsibility,” said Barton. “I think this is a valuable lesson in checking that buyers are thoroughly well-established with the intentions to do what is best for the horse and give them a good home. Also, it’s important for people to know that if something doesn’t work out with those horses you sell that you’re willing to take the horse back. We would rather find a solution than have something like this happen.” View the full article

Grade 1 winner Discreet Lover will make his first start in more than five months April 20 when he kicks off his 2019 campaign by facing 10 rivals at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in the $1 million Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2). View the full article

Alwaysmining has reeled off five consecutive victories, the past four in stakes, heading into the $125,000 Xpressbet Federico Tesio Stakes April 20 at Laurel Park. View the full article

Trainer William E. Morey is scheduled to appear before the Santa Anita stewards May 2 after a March 29 incident in which an assistant trainer allegedly administered a substance containing an alkalinizing agent to two horses entered that day. View the full article