Wandering Eyes

Login to PlayUp to view latest promotions! View promos! PlayUp.com.au is a trusted Australian bookmaker, and they are rolling out strong offers for Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday, March 1. PlayUp has consistently provided unique promotions for major race days, and Saturday is no different. This year, PlayUp is offering up to $25 cash back on races 1–5 at Flemington and Randwick. While there are restrictions—such as this offer not being used in conjunction with others—it’s a great way to extend your bankroll on one of Australia’s biggest Autumn Carnival race days. The Horsebetting.com.au team regularly bets at PlayUp, and their odds for Saturday are expected to be competitive. If you’re looking for strong value on runners, PlayUp’s odds often compare favourably against top horse racing bookmakers. Saturday promotions at PlayUp.com.au for March 1 PlayUp is offering the following promotions on March 1, 2025: Flemington & Randwick Races 1-5 | Run 2nd or 3rd Back Back up to $25 Place a Fixed Price Win bet on Races 1-5 at Flemington or Randwick and if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd, get your stake back in bonus up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo What betting markets will PlayUp offer on Saturday? PlayUp may not have as many exotic markets as larger bookies like Neds, but they remain a solid option, particularly with their strong odds. PlayUp bet types available on Saturday include: Same race multis Win/Place Quinella Exacta Trifecta First Four Quaddie Early Quaddie PlayUp’s coverage will also include a range of stats on runners throughout the day, including betting fluctuations, speed maps, and speed glance insights. Does PlayUp.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? PlayUp does not offer free bets for new customers, as Australian laws prohibit such new account incentives. Horse racing promotions View the full article

NEXT GEN RACING BETTING Picklebet Australia is offering a stack of promotions, plus very competitive betting markets. Top Four Betting. Extra Place. Every Race Picklebet.com is making waves in the Australian horse racing scene, and they’re set to deliver standout promotions for Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday, March 1. Picklebet has consistently provided unique promotions for major race days, and Saturday is no exception. This weekend, Picklebet is offering “25% Boosted Winnings” on all races at Flemington and Randwick. Enjoy a 25% boost on your winnings, paid in bonus cash. This offer applies to your first bet only in each race, with cash bets and fixed wins eligible. The maximum bonus you can receive is $250. Additionally, Picklebet will feature their signature Top Four Betting, available on every race at any time. This allows punters to bet on a horse finishing fourth instead of third, which could be particularly valuable on a highly competitive Saturday. Saturday racing promotions at Picklebet.com Picklebet is offering the following promotions throughout Saturday: 25% Winnings Boost! – Flemington & Randwick Get DOUBLE WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH. Applies to Win, Place & Top 2/3/4 markets (excludes SRM). First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in bet slip. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $50. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting! Bet & win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Picklebet offer on Saturday? Picklebet provides a comprehensive range of betting markets, including their unique fourth-place betting feature, which is available at every horse racing meeting. Their odds are also highly competitive across all major race days. Picklebet bet types available for Saturday include: Top Four Betting Same race multis Win/Place Quinella Exacta Trifecta First Four Picklebet’s Saturday horse racing coverage will also feature detailed statistics on the runners, including betting fluctuations, speed maps, and race insights. Does Picklebet.com.au have a free bet offer for new customers? Picklebet does not offer free bets for new customers, as these types of new account incentives are banned under Australian law. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Dabble.com.au is Australia’s social betting app, and they’re rolling out key promotions for Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday, March 1. With the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), and Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) featuring some of the best horses in the country, getting the best odds and shopping around is essential. Dabble’s promotions for the big day at Flemington and Randwick include their “Copy Any Bet” feature, where if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd in Flemington Race 1 or Race 2, you’ll receive cash back up to $25. Another highlight is their COPYCASH offer, where users get paid $0.10 every time someone uses the Copy Bet function to replicate any of their bets on the Dabble app. Dabble is a mobile-only, Australian-owned bookmaker that has quickly gained traction among punters looking for a more interactive betting experience. Dabble racing promotions for Saturday, March 1, 2025 Dabble.com.au is giving customers the following on Saturday: Flemington Race 1 & 2 – Copy Any Bet AND If Your Horse Runs 2nd OR 3rd – Real Cash Back Up To $25 Valid on the FIRST Win Bet you copy, in each race. Max refund of $25 for your first copied bet only. Eligible customers only. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo What betting markets will Dabble offer on Saturday? Dabble offers a solid range of betting markets on major race days, and Saturday at Flemington and Randwick is no exception. Dabble bet types available on Saturday include: Same race multis Win/Place Trifecta Quinella Exacta First Four Quaddies Does Dabble have a free bet offer for new customers? While Dabble has several Saturday promotions, they are unable to offer free bets to new customers due to Australian laws prohibiting new account incentives. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Login to view all Unibet offers! New customers only. 18+. Located in UK. Min bet 2/5 or more. Each leg of multi must be over 2/5 for bet to qualify. 3x wagering requirement before withdrawing.Full terms View offers! Unibet is rolling out some strong promotions ahead of Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday, March 1. Unibet’s standout promotion includes a Bonus Back offer if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-4 at Randwick, Flemington, and Ascot, giving punters extra security on their early bets. Another key offer is a special price of $7 for Spring Lee and Amelia’s Jewel both to win. This market features Spring Lee (#6) in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (Race 3) and Amelia’s Jewel (#1) in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (Race 6) at Randwick. Unibet is also offering Best Tote Exotics across all races at Flemington and Randwick, ensuring punters get the best tote price in Australia for all exotic bets, including quaddies, quinellas, trifectas, exactas, and first fours. Unibet Saturday horse racing promotions – March 1, 2025 Unibet.com.au Saturday promotions for March 1, 2025, include: $7.00 – Spring Lee (#6) & Amelia’s Jewel (#1) both to win Randwick R3 & R6 Saturday Price Push Double. Price subject to change. Limits apply. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in R1-4 at 3 Metro Meetings Randwick, Flemington & Ascot. Available from 12:00am AEDT Saturday. Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotion limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Unibet offer on Saturday? While Unibet may not offer as many bet types as some other top Australian bookmakers, they remain a strong choice with competitive odds. For this year’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), and Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), Unibet is providing an extensive range of betting options, covering both exotic and standard bet types. One of their standout markets is Head-to-Head betting, where two horses from the **Australian Guineas** or another feature race are matched against each other. Unibet has also expanded its offering with same-race multis, along with bundle bets and quaddies. Unibet bet types available on Saturday include: Win/Place Same race multis Trifecta Quinella Exacta First Four Quaddie H2H Bundle Bet Does Unibet have a free bet offer for new customers? Unibet does not offer free bets for new customers due to Australian laws prohibiting new account incentives. You can learn more about free bets in Australia in our detailed guide. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Login to Boombet Australia to view latest Melbourne Cup promotions! Visit Boombet Boombet.com.au is rolling out exciting promotions for Australian Guineas Day at Flemington and Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday, March 1. Boombet’s standout promotion for the day includes bet insurance, where you receive a select number of Race Returns, which can be applied at the bet slip. If your runner finishes second or third instead of winning, Boombet will credit your account with bonus bets, up to $50 of your initial stake. Boombet’s promotions also include their “Boost Til You Boom” feature, which allows you to get enhanced odds on any runner. If your selection doesn’t win, you can use your boost again. These promotions make Boombet a strong option for one of Australia’s biggest autumn race days. Boombet Saturday promotions – March 1, 2025 Boombet promotions for Saturday, March 1, 2025, include the following: Boost ‘Til You Boom Get your racing boost back if you don’t win. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo What betting markets will Boombet offer on Australian Guineas Day? Boombet has become a strong competitor in the Australian racing market, offering a wide range of betting options. While they may not have as many exotic bet types as some other bookmakers, Boombet covers all standard markets with a solid selection of exotics. They will also have a quaddie available on the last four races at Flemington. Notable bet types not available include the daily double and early quaddie. Boombet bet types available on Australian Guineas Day include: Win/Place Trifecta Quinella Exacta First Four Quaddie Does Boombet have a free bet offer for new customers? Boombet, in accordance with Australian laws, does not offer free bets for new customers. New account incentives are banned, but existing members may receive exclusive promotions via email after signing up. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Saturday, March 1. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for March 1, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Flemington & Randwick R1-4 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bet Back Activate your Bet Back Tool in your Betslip on Races 1-4 at Flemington & Randwick this Saturday and if your runner comes 2nd or 3rd, get up $50 back as Bonus Cash. Bet Back Tool is only available to use on the day of race, on Fixed Win bets, and on races with 5 or more runners. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Flemington & Randwick Races 1-5 | Run 2nd or 3rd Back Back up to $25 Place a Fixed Price Win bet on Races 1-5 at Flemington or Randwick and if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd, get your stake back in bonus up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo 25% Winnings Boost! – Flemington & Randwick Get DOUBLE WINNINGS paid in BONUS CASH. Applies to Win, Place & Top 2/3/4 markets (excludes SRM). First eligible bet per race. Must apply Promotion in bet slip. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $50. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Flemington Race 1 & 2 – Copy Any Bet AND If Your Horse Runs 2nd OR 3rd – Real Cash Back Up To $25 Valid on the FIRST Win Bet you copy, in each race. Max refund of $25 for your first copied bet only. Eligible customers only. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Saturday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in R1-4 at 3 Metro Meetings Randwick, Flemington & Ascot. Available from 12:00am AEDT Saturday. Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Promotion limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Punters Toolbox! Supersized Saturday helps you Bet it Out with neds! Get MORE Price Boosts, MORE Bet Backs, MORE Fluc Ups, MORE Back Ups & MORE Extra Nudge tools! Available to use on ANY races of your choice Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Verry Elleegant Stakes (Randwick Race 8) – 2nd to 4th $50 Bonus Back BONUS CASH BACK FOR 2ND to 4TH- Up To $50 BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo $7.00 – Spring Lee (#6) & Amelia’s Jewel (#1) both to win Randwick R3 & R6 Saturday Price Push Double. Price subject to change. Limits apply. Eligible customers only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting! Bet & win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Boost ‘Til You Boom Get your racing boost back if you don’t win. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for March 1, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. More horse racing promotions View the full article

Multiple grade-1 placed Ferocious is off the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with a muscle tear injury possibly sustained during the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Flood Zone (c, 3, Frosted–Curls for Girls, by Curlin) is heading straight into the deep end. Purchased privately by Wathnan Racing and transferred to Brad Cox following a flashy maiden win versus Florida-breds going 6 1/2 furlongs at second asking at Gulfstream Park Jan. 4, the bay will stretch to a one-turn mile for Saturday's GIII Gotham Stakes at the Big A. The Gotham, co-headlined by unbeaten New York-breds 'TDN Rising Star' Sand Devil (Violence) and Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief), offers 105 points (50-25-15-10-5) on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. Flood Zone has posted three workouts at Cox's Payson Park base since changing hands, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 2/5 (2/5) Feb. 21. He is listed at a generous 12-1 on David Aragona's morning line. “Purchased him privately and he's been with Brad for a little while now and he's been working well,” said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. “Fingers crossed for the Gotham.” Flood Zone, with @LuguJr, wins race 8, two victories today for trainer @VictorEBarboza. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/3YkoaK4DDh — Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) January 4, 2025 After briefly looking defeated as they straightened, Flood Zone battled back gamely in the stretch to put away the favorite and powered home impressively from there to graduate by 5 1/4 lengths, good for an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He was previously a close second following a wide trip on debut Dec. 7. Flood Zone's winning dam is a half-sister to GSW Sue's Good (Woodman), dam of GI Ogden Phipps H. heroine Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin (City Zip); and MSW & MGSP Easyfromthegitgo (Dehere). The $45,000 OBS June graduate (:21 3/5) was previously campaigned in partnership by Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione, Guy Mancini and Veb Racing Stable Corp, and trained by Victor Barboza, Jr. “He's out of a Curlin mare, time will tell, but he looks like he'll stretch out,” Clay said. “The Gotham was the next logical step going a mile.” Clay added, “We're always looking for prospects, and, in America, Wathnan Racing is focusing on dirt racing.” Launched in October 2022, Wathnan Racing is the nom-de-course of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Wathnan Racing will also be well-represented by Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap and Immensitude (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the GIII The Very One S. on the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth undercard at Gulfstream. Hit Show has won a trio of graded stakes for Wathnan Racing and Cox since a private purchase last summer and heads to the Big 'Cap following a win in the GIII Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 18. Immensitude, a close second in the GIII Waya S. and third in the GIII Long Island S. last fall, kicks off her 5-year-old campaign for Bill Mott. Case Clay | Keeneland “Big weekend, all tough races,” Clay said. “Our main focus in America is to try do well on dirt, and two turns, especially.” The sidelined Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) has certainly done just that for the Al Thani family's global operation, led by a heart-stopping win in the inaugural GI California Crown S. at Santa Anita last September. Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (2023 G1 Gold Cup) and Kind of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) (2024 G1 British Champions Sprint) have both carried Wathnan's colors to Group 1 victories at Ascot, respectively. “That was a great win for Wathnan Racing in the California Crown,” Clay said. “He came up with an ankle before the Breeders' Cup and he still needs some more time. Try and get him healed up, but it could take a while. Maybe in the fall we'll get him geared up again. He's a bit older, but the focus is to race him if we can.” The post Purchased Privately by Wathnan Racing, Gotham Up Next for Sharp Maiden Winner Flood Zone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer David Hayes has been enjoying a strong season with his runners, and on the back of a trio of Group 1 victories courtesy of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), is aiming to add the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres with either Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}) or Hong Kong debuter and G1 South African Derby-placed Mondial (SAf) (Flower Alley). The former is the most experience runner in the field with 17 Hong Kong starts, good for five wins. Already a winner over 1000m, 1200m, and 1400m, the gelding has yet to score at the distance of the Classic Cup, but Hayes, who won this with Resfa (Arg) (Fitzcarraldo {Arg}) in 1999, is unperturbed. Rubylot ran sixth in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. “He's going well, he really is going well. He's trialled well between runs and he's crying out for 1800 metres,” Hayes said. “He finished well last start and I think he's going to run well.” The first, second, and third from the Hong Kong Classic Mile run back, in the diminutive My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Divano (Aus) (Brave Smash {Jpn}), and beaten favourite Packing Hermod (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}). The latter has won four times in Hong Kong. Of My Wish, trainer Mark Newnham said, “I've been really pleased with him. He's come through the Classic Mile in good shape, held his condition well. He's been able to follow the same programme that he has had pretty much all season with the month between runs with an easy trial in between. He'll have one gallop later in the week, so the preparation is the same as it has been the whole way through and he's in good form.” The post Rubylot To Sparkle For Hayes In Hong Kong Classic Cup? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Racing Rewards Easter Showcase will return to Addington Raceway for a fourth time in 2025. Terms and conditions for the Showcase have been approved by Harness Racing New Zealand with five $30,000 races confirmed for Saturday, April 19. The series will be for 4Y0 and older horses, rated 57 and below on January 1,2025 with three races for the pacers (capacity field of 14) and two for the trotters (capacity field of 16). To qualify for the “finals” horses have to have had a minimum of five starts between January 1 and April 13. Within the qualification period each horse gets a “Racing Rewards Score”. It is the total of the number of wins (x 1) multiplied by the number of seconds (x 0.5), the number of thirds (x 0.33) and the number of fourths (x 0.25). The top 42 ranked pacers nominated will be selected for three races (each with 14 starters) while there will be two trotting races with maximum fields of 16. The series started in 2022 as the RATTO series and has evolved into the Easter Showcase. Such has been its success that when Amarla won her race in 2023 co-trainer Kendra Gill described it as “like winning the New Zealand Cup.” Last year there were six races. The winners were : Pacing – Judgement Bay, Raging Whitebait, Dalton Shard and Flyaway Trotting – Who’s Queen and Fiery Bandito To see the Terms and Conditions click here View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It could be racing’s perfect marriage. Dunstan Horse Feeds has just secured the eighth and final slot for the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 4 – and all they need is a horse. And Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer reckons in Not As Promised he has the horse for the big race – and all he needs is a slot. So could be a deal be done? Not so fast, says Dunstan’s founder/director Dave Smith. “We have a couple on our radar,” says Smith, “without giving anything away.” “Now this has been put together we will work on what we decide to do.” Dunstan has been involved in the Night of Champions before. They had Mach Shard in the $1m The Race last year, with Kango and Pembrook Playboy (scratched) before that. Dunstan will also have the naming rights for the Group 2 Dunstan Horse Feeds Trotters Flying Mile a week before the TAB Trot at Cambridge on Friday, March 28. “Dunstan is a wonderful supporter of the industry and it’s great to have them on board again and as part of our key event,” says Cambridge Raceway’s Chief Executive Dave Branch. While Smith is open minded about his trotter of choice for the big race, Dwyer is confident his star five-year-old is up to the job. “He’s a serious horse who’s on the up,” Dwyer told Australian harness racing pundit Paul Campbell, “I think the distance (2200 metres) would suit him and if we got in we’d give it a shake.” Not As Promised did not race from November 2023 to January this year because of injury but has come back with a roar, winning five of seven starts at Albion Park in Brisbane. He’s raced in this country once before, with a fourth behind Sunnys Sister in the 2023 Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington. Overall he’s won 14 from 23 starts Smith meanwhile says they are no rush to confirm their runner as he prepares to take on the likes of Oscar Bonavena, Muscle Mountain, Bet N Win and The Locomotive. “We believe the winner is still out there,” he says. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety has been here before. This time last year in fact with a filly who has so many similarities to his new rave pacer Beside Me. The three-year-old is causing heads to turn every time she steps on the track, the latest when she thrashed older opponents by five lengths at Addington on Friday night courtesy of a 56-second last 800m in the Breckon Farms Thanks Buyers Mobile Pace. A big, strong daughter of Downbytheseaside and former outstanding filly Dream About Me, Beside Me is bred to be good and is. How good we will find out in April when she heads north for fillies features culminating in the Pascoes Northern Oaks on April 25. Dalgety, wife Chrissie and son and driver Carter has been in this exact position last year when All You Need Is Me stormed through the grades and won the Oaks at Alexandra Park, only to get ill and struggle to recapture that form this season. Just like All You Need Is Me, Beside Me is owned by Charles Joseph Ltd, a company set up for members of the late great man’s family to race some of the breed. So the two fillies have plenty in common but Dalgety says one big difference. “All You Need Is Me is a good mare and was a very good filly but she had a few issues which horses can get racing at the highest level whereas I don’t think we will see those with this filly. “She has yet to win an Oaks like the other filly has but she is bigger and stronger and I am sure she will handle whatever we throw at her.” That is a decent warning shot for trainers of other good three-year-old as Beside Me looks to have real x-factor and if she handles the right-handed Alexandra Park she is the one to beat in the Oaks, for which she is now the $2.20 futures favourite. She was one of two winners on the night for the Dalgetys and while Captain Commodore’s only came in a maiden race, the style in which he sat parked to win easily suggests he will be winning again soon. The highlight of the night at Addington was the return of Bet N Win in the $40,000 Lamb And Hayward Classic and he didn’t disappoint. He was driven conservatively early by Bob Butt as his connections had suggested he would be but he had a lot harder run over the last lap yet was still too good. “The fact he was able to beat One Over All, who has been one of the form trotters so far this year, is very heartening for us heading forward,” says co-trainer David White. Bet N Win will return for the Fred Shaw NZ Trotting Champs in two weeks and then head north to be aimed at the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4. The feature pace was taken out by the under-rated Dalton Shard who grabbed Bazooka late in a race set up for the swoopers after a hot early tempo that saw surprise favourite Beach Ball drop out after leading. The race was so upside down the open class horses paced their last 400m in an incredibly slow 30.2 seconds. Group 3 win for American Muscle at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin American Muscle may have got the career highlight win to cap a great summer for her family on Friday night but she is anything but finished on the track. That is the assessment from co-trainer Michelle Wallis after she and husband Bernie Hackett continued a great last six months in Alexandra Park’s big money trots when the six-year-old held out stablemate Faith In Manchester in the $40,000 Fisken And Sons Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes. While American Muscle already had time-related black type and a Group 3 placing to her name she is now a Group 3 winner among her 10 career victories, which counts for something at future yearling sales. Especially when your dam is the newly-crowned Trotting Broodmare of the Year in Liberty City, also the dam of Empire City and Atlantic City, two of our best young trotting fillies in recent years. But while American Muscle’s manners and ability have guaranteed her a broodmare career for her owners and breeders Peter and Janet Argus, she will remain a racehorse. “She really deserved that tonight,” said Wallis. “But I don’t think they will be making any plans to retire her. “I’d say they will keep racing her as long as she is racing well.” While the win continued a hot streak for the Wallis/Hackett stable in these type of races the punter’s favourite Belle Neige finished near last. “She came back in with a very elevated heart rate so something clearly wasn’t right with her,” said Wallis. The stable won the trot before too with Hillbilly Blues, who made up for an early gallop when favourite last week to trot faultlessly for former trainer Tony Herlihy. Hillbilly Blues trotted his last 800m in 57.9 seconds to suggest he is way better than this grade. “He was actually bought and trained by Tony but he thought he’d be better off being beach trained so sent him out to us,” said Wallis. Away from their twin trotting wins it was two Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained three-year-old pacers who scored the other most impressive wins of the night. Without You started the ball rolling in the first race when she beat her older rivals by six lengths pacing 2:40 for the 2200m, suggesting she could be a force in the Northern Oaks in two months. Later her stablemate Rubira was stunning coming from last at the 400m to win the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion Mobile Pace, storming past of likes of Ohoka Connor and Greased Lightnin, with the second placed Colonel Lincoln all but denying the winner as he flew home with him. The same punters who would have been abusing Purdon 400m earlier were calling him a genius after the win. “He has always been a good horse but that was a big win tonight considering the opposition,” said Purdon. Rubira will have the Harness Million in three weeks and the Northern Derby a month after, both in the considerable shadow of Marketplace. Other winners on Friday night saw Romeo Foxtrot keep winning for red hot junior driver Harrison Orange while Carrera Hombre left maidens like a three-year-old with a decent future for trainer Brian And Gareth Hughes. View the full article

There are 14 horse racing meetings set for Australia on Saturday, March 1. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Randwick, Flemington, Eagle Farm, Ascot & Alice Springs. Saturday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – March 1, 2025 Randwick Racing Tips Flemington Racing Tips Eagle Farm Racing Tips Ascot Racing Tips Alice Springs 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 March 1, 2025 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

Trainer Mark Casse said an extra sixteenth of a mile should help the grade 2-placed son of Tapit.View the full article

It's not at all unusual for the New York Times to publish anti-horse racing pieces, something it has done dozens of times. But in Friday's edition, the Times held nothing back in what was arguably its most negative story yet. In a scathing 4,600 guest essay written by Noah Shachtam entitled “Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?,” the author's main conclusion is that governments should not be propping up a dying business in horse racing, whether that is through revenues from casinos or loans, like the one made to the New York Racing Association to rebuild Belmont Park, or through direct subsidies paid to the New Jersey and Maryland purse accounts. According to a short bio of the author that runs above the story, Shachtman is a contributing editor at Wired, who previously served as the editor in chief of Rolling Stone and The Daily Beast. Shachtman realizes that there was a time when the relationship between state governments and racing worked in favor of both. Call it racing's glory days, when racing was, outside of Las Vegas, the only gambling game in town. The tracks were granted licenses to run and, in return, they generated millions in tax revenues for the states. As racing's popularity has declined and it has found it hard to compete with casinos, lotteries, sports betting and other legal forms of wagering, the relationship between the tracks and states has taken a 180 degree turn. Shachtman writes that tracks no longer support government but it is government that supports the tracks. He cites the many arguments the racing industry uses to justify its existence, but isn't sympathetic. “Every dollar they get to skip in taxes is one that, at least in theory, has to be made up elsewhere,” he writes. “The sport belongs to us. It's time to think about whether we actually want it.” Shortly after the story appeared on the Times' website, Light Up Racing, an advocacy group formed to combat negative media coverage of the sport posted its response on its website under the subject line, “Racing deserves better than this–here's how we respond.” “A new New York Times article on horse racing has been published, and unfortunately, it follows a familiar pattern: misleading claims, outdated narratives, and a failure to acknowledge the industry's real progress. They frame the industry as reliant on subsidies while overlooking the hundreds of millions it contributes in tax revenue. They call racing a dying sport but ignore the record Kentucky Derby audience and the $2-billion invested in track infrastructure. They question safety standards, even though racehorse fatalities have dropped 27% since HISA's implementation, marking the safest period in modern racing. Misinformation spreads when it goes unchallenged. That's where this community comes in.” The 4,600 words gives the writer plenty of opportunity to run through the laundry list of topics racing's critics use to demand that the sport be banned or have its alternative forms of revenue taken away. The sport still has serious problem, but, particularly when it comes to breakdowns, the game is headed in the right direction. Shachtman doesn't seem impressed. He notes that other sports get subsidies, but says there is a distinction: “Those other sports don't routinely kill their athletes. The antiracing advocacy organization Horseracing Wrongs has shown that 11,000 horses have been put to death at American racetracks since 2014.” The writer focuses in on the story of New York Thunder (Nyquist), who broke down while well on his way to victory in the 2023 GI. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga. Instead, he broke down and fell in a heap a few yards from the wire. It was one of the ugliest breakdowns anyone had seen at the racetrack. Shachtman writes: “veterinary records reviewed by the Times and a pair of post-mortem reviews later conducted by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission revealed more than a few clues (so far as why the horse broke down). And already that year, New York Thunder had been scratched–withdrawn from a race–four times, at least two of which were for medical concerns. The race New York Thunder was running had a $500,000 purse. As the financial rewards of racing get bigger, so do the incentives to keep running the animals. But breeding practices that favor speed over durability have caused successive generations to grow genetically homogeneous and vulnerable to injury. These days, multiple veterinarians tell me, nearly every thoroughbred is running wounded.” The author does note that the breakdown numbers have dropped sharply since the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has have taken over and are responsible for such things as track safety, drug testing, and veterinarian checks meant to keep unsound horses off of the racetrack. But this development is covered in one sentence. The 11,000 figure he uses from Horseracing Wrongs includes Quarter Horse races, and the writer fails to make the distinction. He writes that Bob Baffert was banned from Churchill Downs for “doping,” a word the Times loves to use every time it covers the Baffert saga. Baffert was not charged with doping but for failing to follow the guidelines when it came to a therapeutic medication, betamethasone. There is a big difference. There's also no mention that revenue from slot machines at the New York racetracks is not used solely to prop up racing, The casino at Aqueduct, Resorts World NYC (RWNYC), is New York State's largest taxpayer and generated more than $4-billion in revenue supporting the state's public education fund since the casino first opened its doors in 2011. Should a full casino license be awarded this year to RWNYC, New York State would see an immediate $500-million financial windfall from the initial casino license fee alone, and hundreds of millions of additional dollars in new, direct annual revenue. One area in which the Times might have gotten right is when Shachtman talks about the working and living condition for the backstretch workers, who are mostly paid minimum wage and work long hours. Thanks to the generosity of prominent horsemen like Michael Dubb and groups like the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America, progress is being made. But more needs to be done. But, like so many other things that are positives when it comes to racing, the Times conveniently ignored that fact. The author sees this as a black-and-white issue, with no room for the discussion of what's going right and, yes, what racing could do better. No. The only solution is to pull whatever plugs are keeping the sport going. “Few things are more inspiring than seeing a horse run, and the feelings that these animals evoke in humans can border on the mystic,” Shachtam writes. “But that's neither an economic nor a policy rationale for spending billions on an unpopular sport. So why do it? Why keep propping up a pastime that, despite many attempted overhauls, can't keep its fans and takes such a heavy toll on its athletes and workers? Our state and local governments struggle to pay teachers what they're worth, to build affordable housing, to put enough firefighters on a rig. “With sports betting exploding across the United States, it makes less sense than ever for the public to be coddling this sport like some sort of delicate foundling. “The obvious solution here is also the simplest: Just stop. Let the sport stand on its own and dwindle to whatever size its fan base supports.” Like so many other anti-racing stories that have appeared in the New York Times, that's the only side of the story their readers will hear. The post In a Lengthy Guest Essay, the New York Times Advocates Ending Subsidies to Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the calendar turns to March, Derby fever kicks into high gear with no fewer than six races awarding points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks respectively this weekend. Saturday features the return of the undefeated GII San Vincente Stakes winner Barnes (Into Mischief) for trainer Bob Baffert as one of a six-horse field in the GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. The $3.2m FTSAUG grad lines up with a pair of well-regarded stablemates in Mellencamp (Constitution) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic), both of whom are still seeking their first stakes wins. Taking money into the teeth of the Baffert trio is the GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Journalism (Curlin) who makes his 3-year-old debut Saturday for trainer Michael McCarthy. The San Felipe awards 50 Derby points to the winner, essentially guaranteeing a spot in the gate especially for those already with points accrued (Journalism and Rodriguez each have 10, Mellencamp has 1). Gulfstream's 50-point Derby prep, the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, also has several contenders looking to pad their current Derby points. GIII Holy Bull Stakes winner Burnham Square (Liam's Map) sits ninth on the points list with 20 for Ian Wilkes while Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) brings 10 points in from his win in the GIII Street Sense Stakes in his last start Oct. 27. “He's been working great,” jockey Edgard Zayas said of his mount Burnham Square. “He's just getting better and better through racing. His last work was five furlongs, he worked really good and his gallop-out was amazing. The best part of his works is always his gallop-out. It looks like he has a really long stride and he just keeps on going.” Both of them will have to tackle the undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) who makes his stakes debut Saturday as one of two entries for trainer Todd Pletcher (the other being rail-drawn Gate to Wire {Munnings}). Florida-bred Neoequos (Neolithic) will look to likely set the pace as the sole entry for Saffie Joseph, Jr. who always merits a second look at his home track. River Thames | Lauren King The GIII Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct is the third of the 50 point Derby races Saturday and welcomes a pair of undefeated New York-breds who line up side by side in Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief) for Brad Cox and 'TDN Rising Star' Sand Devil (Violence) for Linda Rice. Chad Brown brings up Juddmonte homebred Garamond (Uncle Mo) from Tampa for his stakes debut in just his second start while Cox's second entry, Flood Zone (Frosted) is a newcomer to his barn after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream for Victor Barboza Jr. Jan. 4. The Road to the Kentucky Oaks also makes a stop at each of the above mentioned tracks over the weekend with Gulfstream hosting the GII Davona Dale Stakes Saturday. Saffie Joseph brings GSW The Queens M G (Thousand Words) here off a third in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes going a furlong shorter Feb. 1. She'll have to tackle Tracy Farmer homebred La Cara (Street Sense), the impressive winner of the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Feb. 8 for Mark Casse who also took last year's GIII Pocahontas Stakes. “The Davona Dale comes back pretty quick for us, but I'm trying to set her up and getting her ready for the Ashland and hopefully the Kentucky Oaks,” Casse said of La Cara. “She's already in South Florida, so we'll just stay at home.” Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) ran a game second to 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma in the GII Demoiselle Stakes last out in her first try on the main track and steps in here for her 3-year-old debut for Chad Brown. Offering Oaks points in New York, the listed Busher Stakes welcomes rail-drawn Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map) who ran third in the aforementioned Demoiselle Stakes and Juddmonte homebred Ramify (Munnings) who cuts back to the mile off a fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda Stakes Jan. 18 for Chad Brown. Brad Cox's Sharp Smile (Practical Joke) ran third in the Busanda after breaking her maiden over course and distance Nov. 21 and draws outside Saturday. Whitworth Beckman takes the blinkers off Silverbulletday Stakes third Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) who also cuts back from a pair of 1 mile and 70 yd races. Santa Anita put their Oaks prep as the Sunday feature with the GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes with Bob Baffert wielding a three-strong hand again in the six-horse field led by a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Cipriani (Bernardini) and Maysam (Game Winner) the latter of whom comes in off just two weeks rest after disappointing as the favorite in the Sunland Park Oaks Feb. 16. Rounding out the trio, Howin (Gun Runner) is still seeking her first stakes win after running fourth in the Santa Ynez Stakes Jan. 5. Of the non-Baffert runners, Just as Fancy (Volatile) ran third of three runners in the GIII Las Virgenes Stakes for Michael McCarthy while Supa Speed (Justify) makes her dirt debut for John Sadler. Maysam | Benoit The older horses features in the two Grade I races held Saturday topped by the GI Santa Anita Handicap at the classic 1 1/4-mile distance. Last year's GII Cigar Handicap winner 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) ships out from Florida for Todd Pletcher having recently run second to White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25. He draws outside a Baffert pair in Mirahmadi (Into Mischief) and New King (Into Mischief). Also shipping out is Brad Cox's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) who last rallied to take the GIII Louisiana Stakes over a sloppy Fair Grounds track Jan. 18. War horse Express Train (Union Rags), who won this race in 2022 and now returns as an 8-year-old for John Shirreffs, draws inside off a game second to Katonah (Klimt) in the GII San Pasqual last time out Jan. 25. One race earlier, the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile hosts Mi Hermano Ramon (Creative Cause) who returns to Santa Anita off a fourth in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational for Mark Glatt. Trainer Dan Blacker, who took last weekend's G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint with Eclipse champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster), brings in the ultra-consistent El Potente (Temple City) off back to back wins over the course and distance. Neat (Constitution) is making his 4-year-old debut Saturday for Rob Atras just outside of Formidable Man (City of Light) who will race without blinkers for Michael McCarthy off a win two back in the GI Hollywood Derby. Also going one mile on the turf, Santa Anita's GII Buena Vista Stakes sees Tirupati (Mitole) line up inside of Uncorked (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) who makes his 2025 debut for Phillip D'Amato. Rashmi (Oscar Performance) took the GII Megahertz Stakes last time out Feb. 1 for Jonathan Thomas and Alpha Bella (Justify) looks to go one better after finishing runner up in her last three graded stakes starts for John Sadler. Gulfstream hosts much of the weekend's action with eight graded stakes races Saturday including the aforementioned Fountain of Youth and Davona Dale. Other main-track features include the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile along with Encino (Nyquist) and 6-year-old Steal Sunshine (Constitution) who exits a sixth at long odds in the Pegasus World Cup last out. “When he won the Battaglia, we were keen to see what he would do in the Lexington,” said Godolphin's Michael Banahan of Encino. “It was a nice field, and he won it well, and we were on the verge of getting into the Derby when he came up with that little injury and we had to give him the rest of the year off. It's good to have him back. I think he's got plenty of talent but we're not too sure what his ceiling is.” Mindframe | Coglianese On the turf, the GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes opens the graded action with Sweetest Chant Stakes winner Vixen (Vekoma) tackling Godolphin homebred Civetta (Into Mischief). The GIII Canadian Turf Stakes sees Irish Aces (Mshawish) line up opposite Fort Washington (War Front) and Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro). The GIII The Very One Stakes hosts the distance runners going 1 3/8 miles and the GIII Honey Fox Stakes closes out the turf action with another one-mile feature. The post March Madness: Derby Preps Highlight Busy Race Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Smarty Jones, the Pennsylvania-bred horse that captured the hearts of sports and horse fans across the world during his historic race for the Triple Crown in 2004, is the subject of a new documentary, "Ride of a Lifetime: The Smarty Jones Story."View the full article

Book'em Danno has been named the New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year.View the full article

A lawsuit naming jockey Luan Machado as a defendant claims his inaction caused a Kentucky racehorse to finish second instead of winning an allowance race last November at Churchill Downs.View the full article

The March 2 Hong Kong Classic Cup, middle leg of the Hong Kong Derby series, is a step up in distance for progressive 4-year-olds.View the full article

1st-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 11:30 p.m. ET. LA NEIGE (Frosted) makes her first start for Connie and Richard Snyder. The Riley Mott trainee is out of unraced French Passport (Elusive Quality) who was acquired by Cover Springs for $200,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. The first-time starter counts as a half-sister GI Alabama and GI Ogden Phipps heroine Randomized (Nyquist). French Passport is a herself a half-sister to MGSW Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz), GSW & sire Overdriven (Tale of the Cat), and the dam of MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) and MSW Sir Alfred James (Munnings). Also making the barrier is the Walmac bred Mazayaat (Bernardini). Owned by KAS–who made her the second topper when they went to $650,000 during last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale–the filly is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her unraced dam is a half-sister to foundational sire Tapit (Pulpit). TJCIS PPS 2nd-AQU, $80K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:11 p.m. ET. Ranging up to Long Island, Vow of Secrecy (Game Winner) will take to the track for Alpha Delta Stables. Trained by Linda Rice, the homebred's unraced dam is a half-sister to current sire Elite Power (Curlin) and her extended female family includes MGSW Golden Lad (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPS 6th-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 2:02 p.m. ET. Back in Hallandale, Stone Farm homebred Litigation (Twirling Candy) is set to be unveiled under the care of trainer Brian Lynch. Under his third dam we find MGSW E Dubai (Mr. Prospector) and GISW No Matter What (Nureyev), the dam of European champion 2-year-old filly Rainbow View (Dynaformer). Chillax (Bernardini) carries Godolphin's blue as he represents the shedrow of Bill Mott. The colt's second dam, MGISW Composure (Touch of Gold), produced GSW Penwith (Bernardini). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday’s Insights: MGISW Randomized’s Half-Sister Leads ‘Organized’ Unveiling At Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (PHRA) has partnered with Delaware Valley University to live stream the program's 2025 foaling season Mar. 1 through Apr. 7 via 'foal cams' centered on the University's three expectant broodmares, the association announced Friday. Offering a 24/4 live video, free of charge, via their website, the streams will feature an uninterrupted look at the three Thoroughbred and Standardbred mares as they prepare for the arrival of their foals. The university's Equine Science and Management students will work with full-time faculty and a stable manager to receive hands-on experience in day-to-day procedures of managing the facility as well as being able to actively assist with foaling and breeding procedures. In addition to the live stream, the PHRA will provide information on breeding basics, videos, interactive polls, and gender reveals. Live updates will be shared on the PHRA's social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram. For more information on the broodmares as well as accessing the video, please click here. The post PHRA Partners with Delaware Valley University to Live Stream 2025 Foaling Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wildcard Crystal Lightning (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) (lot 41) topped the ThoroughBid February Sale at £36,000. Sold to TS Equine, the mare was consigned by William Twiston Davies. She is out of an unraced half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Guitar Pete (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Topping the Racehorse Ownership Club dispersal was the Dandy Man (Ire) gelding Last Outlaw (Ire), who sold to Apollo Horses for £16,500. The gelding (lot 6) is a full-brother to Royal Ascot listed winner and G1 Nunthorpe Stakes third Extortionist (Ire). He will move from Michael Wigham to Michael Keady. Apollo Horses' Daniel Tuckwell said, “We were looking for a horse that we could potentially improve through the turf campaign and target something towards the end of the season, possibly on the Ayr Gold Cup card, and we felt he was the standout lot of the sale. At Apollo Horses, we've got owners who are based up in Ayr, so while it's a long way off, that's the idea. “He's won over five furlongs and the cadence data suggests he'll benefit from running over seven furlongs or a stiff six, while his action tells us he probably like a bit of cut in the ground. He's lightly-raced, his form stacks up pretty well and we think Michael Keady can improve him. Michael started up in December and enjoyed his first win, which was actually also his first ever runner, with an Apollo Horses runner called Currumbin. It's a forward-thinking operation with a hunger to do well.” Of the 38 lots offered, 22 sold (58%) for a gross of £141,600. The average was £6,436 and the median was £3,500. For the full sale results, please visit the ThoroughBid website. James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said, “Dispersals always attract plenty of interest and the 14 lots offered by the Racehorse Ownership Club certainly contributed to a busy session of bidding. Apollo Horses came out on top to secure Last Outlaw, who looks like the pick of the horses from the dispersal, and we look forward to following his Flat campaign for new trainer Michael Keady. “Away from the dispersal, we're really pleased to have sold a nice horse of Robcour and Gordon Elliott's again, this time to Jerry McGrath in the shape of the lightly-raced Paul Collins (Ire) (Pillar Coral {GB}) (lot 15) [for £14,000], while sales were also made for the likes of Ben Pauling and Gavin Cromwell. A clearance rate of 58% is pretty strong in the current climate and we look forward to our next sale, which is on Mar. 27.” The post ThoroughBid February Sale Topped By Shirocco Mare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Besting a field of over 5,500 competitors over a 12-month period, Brett Wiener has claimed the 2024 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he wins the 26th NTRA NHC Mar. 14-16 at Horseshoe Las Vegas, it was announced via press release Friday. Wiener kicked off 2024 with an induction in the NHC Hall of Fame and later won online and ontrack contests during the '24 tour season to amass 25,160 tour points. Gregory Lewis finished second in the Tour standings with 24,793 points while David Brownfield finished third in 24,540 points. Lewis and Brownfield shared the Tour lead for most of the season before being overtaken by Wiener. A full list of the NHC Leaderboard positions may be found here. The NHC Tour is a year-long bonus series awarding $345,000 in cash prize money and 75 qualifying berths to the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship. Membership in the NHC Tour is mandatory in order for top finishers of sanctioned NHC qualifying events to be eligible to compete in the NHC Finals in Las Vegas. Membership in the NHC Tour is open to adults 21 years of age or older and requires a one-time, annual membership fee of $50. The NHC Tour membership must be in place prior to the start of any given qualifying tournament in order for one to qualify for the NHC Finals at that qualifying tournament. For more information or to sign up for the NHC Tour, please visit the NTRA website. The post Brett Wiener Captures 2024 NHC Tour, Eligible for Bonus at 26th NHC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A raft of measures to further enhance the owner value proposition as applications for the 2025 Horse Ballot open next Monday were announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) on Friday. Current prize-money, including bonuses, are at record highs at an estimated HK$1.73 billion (€213,999,329) across the 2024/25 racing season. The HKJC will introduce in the 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season an extension to the current PP (Previously Raced Horse) Bonus scheme, whereby a horse with a rating higher than or equal to 70 at the time of import is eligible for a HK$1.5-million bonus when they record a first Class 3 win within their first two years of racing–enhancing eligibility for owners to maximise returns with previously raced imports. The extension to the initiative will be available to all horses currently racing in Hong Kong that received an import rating of 70 or higher. The two-year period of opportunity will commence from their date of import into Hong Kong. Since the current format was introduced for the 2022/23 racing season, 115 horses have earned a Class 3 PP Bonus, totalling HK$149.5 million in returns for owners. Including the PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) Bonus, ISG (International Sale Griffin) Bonus, Class 2 PP Bonus and Top-Up Bonuses, HK$221 million has been paid to owners due to wins by 177 horses. Additionally, with immediate effect there will be a new cap of seven (up from four) syndicates any one member can join and a new cap of seven horses (up from five) owners can own at any one time. Basic monthly livery fees remain capped at HK$30,000. In addition to this during the first four months after the arrival of a new horse, basic monthly livery fees are reduced to HK$25,000. The sustained freeze on livery, first four months reduction, and export grant top-up will represent a HK$140 million investment made by the Club. Implemented during the 2023/2024 to assist owners exporting their horses after retirement from racing in Hong Kong, current payments of HK$50,000 from the HKJC will continue in addition to the HK$100,000 existing travel subsidy. The HKJC's RESTART programme will also assist owners in handling the aftercare of their horses post-racing careers. The HKJC also continues to boost the world-class training facilities at Sha Tin and Conghua. Key application dates are as follows for permits (120 PP & 340 PPG): Applications open on Monday, Mar. 3. Applications close on Monday, Apr. 14. Ballot announced on Thursday, June 5. Andrew Harding, executive director, racing, HKJC, said, “The investment that owners make in sourcing high-quality horses from around the world to support Hong Kong's horse racing is a vital pillar of the Club's success, and it is essential that we continue to find means by which we can assist owners and ensure that they have an excellent ownership experience.” For more information on the new enhancements, please visit the HKJC website. The post Ownership Benefits Enhanced By HKJC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article