Wandering Eyes

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, trainer Angel Sanchez Pinero has been banned a combined eight years and fined a total $90,000 (as well as arbitration costs) for a series of medication violations stemming from 2024 onwards. These penalties come in the wake of a two-year suspension and $10,000 fine Sanchez-Pinero received last November after his trainee Gone Boy tested positive for the bronchodilator Albuterol (Salbutamol) after winning at Aqueduct on April 19. Albuterol is a banned substance. These latest suite of rulings are for officially working a horse while it was provisionally suspended; for out-of-competition and post-race positives for bronchodilator Formoterol (Aformoterol), a banned substance; for a vets' list medication violation for the presence of Boldenone, a banned substance; and for the possession of and attempted use of Prasterone, a banned anabolic substance. Sanchez Pinero argued his side before an arbitrator in each of these cases. According to Equibase, Sanchez-Pinero has been training on and off since 2003. He has 37 wins to his name and over $1.1 million in earnings. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 01/14/2026 Licensee: Mathew Philip Sims, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Le Bien Le Mal, who finished fifth at Turfway Park on 12/4/25. Dates: 01/14/2026 Licensee: Marcus Vitali, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on January 15, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Yankee Dollar, who finished second in the Illini Princess Handicap at Hawthorne on 6/15/25. Dates: 01/14/2026 Licensee: Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer Penalty: 1-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2034; Disqualification of results of Covered Horse's Timed and Reported Workout on 05/01/25 and 05/17/25; a fine of $5,000; payment of 50% of arbitration costs. Explainer: For the breach of rule 3230(b)(2), “Causing a Covered Horse to Violate its Provisional Suspension.” The horse in question is four-year-old filly, Laguardia. HIWU provisionally suspended the then Sanchez-Pinero trained Laguardia after the filly had tested positive for bronchodilator Formoterol (Aformoterol)—a banned substance—after finishing second at Parx Racing on March 26. HIWU officially posted this notice on June 11. Laguardia has since then started six times at Mountaineer, a track that being in West Virginia falls outside of HISA's jurisdiction. When asked last July about the nature of Sanchez-Pinero's alleged breach of rule 3230(b)(2) with Laguardia, a HIWU spokesperson wrote that “Sanchez-Pinero oversaw a breeze by Laguardia while she was Provisionally Suspended. A Covered Horse cannot complete a Timed and Reported Workout (i.e., breeze) while Provisionally Suspended.” Dates: 01/14/2026 Licensee: Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2032; 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on March 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $25,000; payment of 50% of arbitration costs. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of bronchodilator Formoterol (Aformoterol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Laguardia, who finished second at Parx Racing on 3/26/25. Dates: 01/12/2026 Licensee: Maria Pinzon, trainer Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on January 13, 2026; a fine of $25,000. Explainer: Medication violation for the possession of Isoxuprine—a banned substance—for an event dated 4/4/25. Dates: 01/12/2026 Licensee: Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer Penalty: Combined 5-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2027; Period of Ineligibility for Covered Horses; a combined fine of $60,000; payment of arbitration costs, for the combined violations. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Boldenone—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Magical Jaime on 8/5/24; For possession of Prasterone—a banned anabolic substance—for an event dated 12/5/24; And for the use or attempted use of a banned substance (Prasterone) on Magical Jaime during the race period, dated 12/5/24. Pending ADMC Violations 01/13/2026, Michael Lerman, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Vibing on 12/10/25. 01/09/2026, Ryan Kenney, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Smooching, who won at Turf Paradise on 12/8/25. 01/08/2026, Austin Gustafson, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Faustin on 12/9/25. Violations of Crop Rule Aqueduct Trevor Wayne Simpson – violation date January 11; $250 fine, one-day suspension Gulfstream Park Renzo Rojas – violation date January 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension Mahoning Valley Jason Simpson – violation date January 13; No details Ricardo Bailey – violation date January 12; No details Santa Anita Park Umberto Rispoli – violation date January 12; $500 fine, two-day suspension Sunland Park Ricardo Jaime – violation date January 11; $500 fine, two-day suspension Tampa Bay Downs Siegmar Golibrzuch – violation date January 15; $250 fine, no other details Wesley Gene Ho – violation date January 14; $250 fine, one-day suspension Turf Paradise Glenn Corbett – violation date January 12; $500 fine, two-day suspension The post National Rulings January 8-15; Trainer Sanchez-Pinero Banned Additional 8 Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Patrons arriving for Thursday's races at Santa Anita were met by something new, gaming terminals called Racing On Demand. Racing On Demand terminals, like HHR machines, are a form of pari-mutuel wagering on previously run races. The Paulick Report was first with the story. The publication reported that 26 machines were operating on Thursday and they were on the ground floor of the grandstand in an area formerly known as the Horse Wizard Lounge. At the deadline for this story, the TDN had reached out to two members of The Stronach Group team seeking more information, but had not heard back from either. The story will be updated as more details come in. If the Racing On Demand machines prove to be a hit, they could help solve what has been a huge problem for the California racing industry and Santa Anita in particular. California is the last major racing state that does not receive alternative revenue from casinos, slot machines, HHR machines, or government subsidies to prop up purses. The result has been that purses at the California tracks have fallen well short of those offered in places like Kentucky, Arkansas, and New York. This has affected field sizes at the Southern California tracks and has led some top trainers to set up divisions in Kentucky, where the purses have soared thanks to HHR machines. There may still be questions that need to be answered regarding their legality. Under the state's current laws, Native American tribes hold a legal monopoly on casino-style gaming, specifically slot machines. The TDN reached out via email to the Indian Gaming Association for a comment, and, at the deadline for this story, was awaiting a reply. Paulick wrote that the machines will offer a “specific bet type approved by the California Horse Racing Board in 2024.” The publication also wrote that California racing officials are of the belief that the Racing On Demand machines are legal under existing regulations. Sources told the Paulick Report that the Racing on Demand terminals are more advanced than a typical self-betting device but have fewer “bells and whistles” than the Historical Horse Racing machines in use in Kentucky and other states. According to the Paulick Report, Racing On Demand wagering has been in development for nearly 18 months, and the Stronach Group, the owners of Santa Anita, have received legal analysis from the gaming and regulatory division of the O'Melveny & Myers law firm and have had discussions with regulatory officials that gave Santa Anita management the confidence to unveil the machines at this time. California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office was furnished the legal opinion well in advance, and the CHRB has been notified that Racing On Demand has been launched. The post Machines Similar to HHR Terminals Debuted Thursday at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After the Finish Line's eighth charity auction of Breeders' Cup caps begins this Sunday, Jan. 18 and runs for one week. The auction's sponsor, the Georgia B. Ridder Foundation, honors Mrs. Ridder, who owned and raced Alphabet Soup, the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Proceeds will help care for, rehabilitate, retrain, rehome and/or retire off-track Thoroughbreds. A total of 114 caps representing runners from the 2025 World Championships are included in the auction, including Forever Young (Jpn), Ted Noffey and Shisospicy. “This auction brings aftercare, and horse racing fans together in a unique way,” said Dawn Mellen, President and Founder of After the Finish Line. “Fans can bid on the official hats of their favorite racehorses to benefit Thoroughbreds no longer racing. This helps raise awareness about the importance of aftercare for racing fans. We are excited to help build the bridge between racing and aftercare with this auction.” The post After the Finish Line’s Charity Auction of Breeders’ Cup Caps Begins Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Canadian champion Dresden Row (Lord Nelson) is among the 248 entries for Fasig-Tipton's January Digital Sale with bidding now running through Tuesday, Jan. 20, beginning at 2 p.m. ET., the auction company said via a press release on Thursday. “The January Digital Sale catalogue features a diverse range of offerings, including nearly 130 broodmares or broodmare prospects available just ahead of the breeding season,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “Also catalogued are nearly 80 horses of racing age, including a graded stakes winning champion and several recently stakes placed three-year-old fillies. Following a tremendously successful 2025–highlighted by more than $50 million in gross sales–we're excited to build on that momentum with another productive year serving buyers and sellers on Fasig Digital.” Featured offerings include: Dresden Row (hip 1): Champion 3-year-old colt in Canada in 2024, Dresden Row is a multiple graded stakes winner, including a victory in the GIII Autumn Cup Stakes at Woodbine last time out. Consigned as a horse of racing age by Jeffrey Bloom, agent; Folk Song (Mor Spirit) (hip 3): 3-year-old filly was a 3 3/4-length winner on debut at two and most recently became stakes placed in the Gowell Stakes at Turfway Park Jan. 1. She is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by White Pine Thoroughbreds; Jacksmybrother (Mo Town) (hip 9): A half-sister to current sire Jack Christopher, this young broodmare is carrying her second foal by Vekoma, the leading first- and second-crop sire of his generation. Consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent; Alisal (Uncle Mo) (hip 22): A multiple winning 3-year-old, she was stakes placed in her most recent start at Remington Dec. 20. Offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by Warrendale Sales, agent; B Thedonald (Girvin) (hip 25): 3-year-old colt just missed second in maiden special weight company on his debut Jan. 3. Consigned as a horse of racing age by Derby Bloodstock, agent; Blazing Brat (Beau Liam) (hip 26): Stakes placed daughter of one of the hottest sires from last year. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; No guarantee stallion season to sire of sires Street Sense (hip 36). A portion of the season's sale proceeds will be donated to Stable Recovery; Mares in foal to Arcangelo, Blame, City of Light, Drain the Clock, Elite Power, Kingsbarns, Mage, Prince of Monaco, Seize the Grey, Taiba and Tiz the Law; 2-year-olds in-training and yearlings. Click here, to access the catalogue, create an account or register to bid for the January Digital Sale. The post Canadian Champion Dresden Row Among 248 Catalogued For Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin Dance Till Dawn gets the last chance to add the icing to her career cake at Blenheim this weekend. The seven-year-old mare is preparing for her final weekend of racing before being retired to stud, in foal to Downbytheseaside. She is the third mum-to-be from the Dunns’ Diamond Racing team to finish racing this month, following on from Follow Your Dream and I Dream Of Jeannie. Dance Till Dawn has had a superb career for Team Dunn, having won 12 of her 88 starts and earned over $300,000 in stakes. “She has done a wonderful job and held her form for a really long time,” says driver John Dunn. “But this is her last weekend and she will get two cracks at winning.” Dance Till Dawn is a newcomer to the circuit and trying to continue the Dunn’s domination of the feature pacing races after It’s Tough won them both days at Nelson last weekend. “He has gone into the paddock so our next decision with him is whether we give him a long spell now or a shorter one and set him for the Country Cups Final.” With Its Tough out of the way it does make it easier for Dance Till Dawn to overcome her 20m handicap today but Dunn says it can still be a big ask. “When they are off that sort of handicap it often depends how the race is run. “Clearly she is good enough to win coming off a good second a Motukarara last start in a stronger field but if they step and run off the front the one I am driving Bryce’s Meddle will also be hard to catch.” “He went two good races at Westport and has three wins on the grass.” As tends to be the case with our grass track Cups, or in today’s case the Cup Prelude (6.20pm), the field is even and with the grass tracks being so flat it can make coming wide difficult. Earlier in the meeting John Dunn says two trotters from the stable can win, although one of them can be extremely hard to predict. “We have Rock Lobster (R5, No.15) off 10m and she has been going good races so she has to be a good each way chance. “And we have Tyron’s Strapping Lad in Race 8 and he would win on his best form but he is a really hard horse to follow. “He won so well last start and has a lot of ability but some times his concentration wanders. “He might grow out of that and string a few wins together but at the moment he still has that mental immaturity.” To see today’s Marlborough fields click here View the full article

Robert Clark, a 66-year-old equine artist from Paris, Ky., was named the Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Sweepstakes winner by The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), according to an organization release on Thursday. Clark's name was randomly selected from the pool of entries. Clark, whose work includes the book “A Brush with Greatness”, and his wife, Susan, will be guests of the NTRA and Resolute Racing at the 55th Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards on Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida. The pair also will be guests of Resolute at the Pegasus World Cup on January 24 at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino. As part of the promotion, Resolute Racing and the NTRA encouraged fans to enter either themselves or someone they feel would enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime weekend experience. The post Equine Artist Robert Clark Wins Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Sweepstakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

by Tom Baddock/TTR AusNZ Bidders came thick and fast for the offspring of Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Frankel, and Wootton Bassett on Day 3 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where the sale's total tally of million dollar yearlings rose to 12. A Snitzel three-quarter-sister to Anders set the tone for a high-octane day, which saw another four yearlings reach seven figures heading into the final day of Book 1 selling. At A Glance Four yearlings made seven figures on Day 3, led by lot 504 who sold for A$1.6 million to Hermitage from the Arrowfield Stud draft. The Snitzel filly is a full-sister to this season's Listed Gosford Guineas winner Caffe Florian, and a half-sister to Anders and Listed winner Ostraka. Four yearlings at this benchmark figure was up from two on Day 3 in 2025, bringing the total for the sale in 2026 to 12, one less than at the same time in 2025. The average price of A$281,043 is above the 2025 average at the same point, which was A$277,351. The median at A$200,000 is the same as last year at the corresponding stage. The current gross is A$146,142,500 at the close of play on Day 3 with 520 lots sold so far. The clearance rate is currently at a healthy 85.39%, which is well above last year's 79.66% at the end of Day 3. James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership with Tony Fung Colts leads the buying bench by gross expenditure, having signed for seven yearlings outright for a total gross of A$5,475,000 thus far. Tom Magnier remains the leading buyer by average with four purchased for an average of A$1,175,000. Arrowfield Stud leads the leading vendor standings with 35 lots so far sold for A$11.57 million at an average of A$330,571, while in second is Segenhoe Stud, who have sold 22 lots for A$10.3 million at an average of A$468,182. Milburn Creek remains on top by average (two or more sold) with six yearlings sold for an average of A$616,667. With four lots in the top 10 for Day 3, Arrowfield Stud's deceased four-time Champion Sire Snitzel sits at the top of the sire standings by gross with A$15.97 million for his 21 yearlings at an impressive average of A$760,476, while in second is I Am Invincible with 24 sold for an average of A$608,750 and a gross of A$14.61 million. Extreme Choice leads the sire tables by average (two or more sold) with his eight lots sold averaging A$822,500. Anamoe is the leading first season sire with 20 yearlings sold at an average of A$425,000 and a gross of A$8.51 million. Lot 504 – Snitzel x Madame Andree (War Emblem), filly – A$1,600,000 Hermitage Thoroughbreds went to their absolute limit to secure lot 504 for A$1.6 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, emerging successful after intense competition for their standout filly of the catalogue. Offered by Arrowfield Stud, the chestnut filly is by Champion Sire Snitzel and out of the outstanding producer Madame Andree (War Emblem), one of the most proven broodmares represented at the sale. The purchase was heavily influenced by Hermitage's success with star Snitzel filly Lady Shenandoah, with manager Shannon Clarke making no secret of the similarities that drew them back to the same sire-line and physical type. “There was a lot of competition. She was our top pick for the sale,” Clarke said. “Obviously we've had a lot of luck with a Snitzel filly recently and that's probably guided us into this filly today.” Clarke admitted the bidding pushed them right to their ceiling. “That was our limit. That was where we were going to sit and my heart was pounding at that point and I'm happy that we were able to secure her,” he said. “We have a lot of luck with Arrowfield-bred horses, sold horses. It's a great partnership that we have and long may it continue.” Physically, Clarke believes the parallels with Lady Shenandoah are hard to ignore. “They're both very athletic fillies. They just have an athletic physique, they showed that early on at their parades,” he said. “Nice leg on them, good movers and we're just chuffed to get her.” Madame Andree has built an exceptional record as a producer, already responsible for Group 3-winning sire Anders, stakes winner Ostraka (Pariah), and recent Listed Gosford Guineas winner Caffe Florian (Snitzel). She has also produced the dam of Group 3 winner Skyhook (Written Tycoon). The mare has a filly at foot by Snitzel and was served by The Autumn Sun last spring. Lot 680 – Snitzel x Play That Song (Showcasing), colt – A$1,200,000 James Harron Bloodstock, in partnership with Tony Fung's Colt Partnership, continued a strong Magic Millions campaign by securing lot 680 for A$1.2 million, marking Harron's 10th purchase of the sale across various partnerships. Offered by Newgate Farm, the bay or brown colt is by Snitzel and out of sharp Group 2-winning filly Play That Song (Showcasing), a mare renowned for her speed and precocity. The purchase also added further weight to Snitzel's impact on the sale, with the colt becoming the sire's fifth seven-figure lot sold during the week. “They're not making any more Snitzels,” Harron said. “He's a really good, strong, purposeful colt, lovely medium size, his mother was a good, sharp 2-year-old, so he profiled up really nicely.” Harron was full of praise for the quality of Snitzels on offer and the confidence drawn from buying from Newgate Farm. “I thought it was just an incredible line-up of Snitzels, to be honest. I was really pleasantly surprised that there were so many nice ones here,” he said. “We've been able to pick up three now, so we're really happy with how they've averaged out for us across the three days so far. “Every weekend he's in the headlines as a stallion, so it's a great loss to the industry that he's not with us anymore, but it's brilliant that we've still got the opportunity to pick up these beautiful colts.” Play That Song was a standout juvenile in New Zealand, capturing Group 2 honours and was named the country's leading 2-year-old filly in the 2019-20 season. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner It's A Wild Night (Vanbrugh), and the family continues to deliver at stakes level, including recent Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes winner Grinzinger Belle (Shamexpress). Reflecting on the week, Harron said the depth of quality and consistency across the catalogue had underpinned their buying confidence. “It's been great. Once we got through inspections and went through the shortlist, we were really pleasantly surprised with how many we had on the list and how deep that catalogue was,” he said. “The horses vetted out really well and handled the sale super, so that gave us the confidence to go in and invest in them alongside our partners. We're very happy with how it's gone so far, with one day to go.” Lot 545 – Frankel x Miss Alacrity (Munnings), colt – A$1,100,000 James Harron Bloodstock, in partnership with Tony Fung, added a colt bred on an intriguing blend of elite international class and American speed when securing lot 545 for A$1.1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by Newgate Farm, the bay colt is by Juddmonte's super sire Frankel and out of Miss Alacrity (Munnings), a stakes-winning juvenile over 1000 metres in the United States. Harron highlighted the influence of the dam's precocity and speed, noting the colt's athleticism and the depth of quality on the page. “He is from a fast American mare who made her name as a 2-year-old. He was very impressive,” Harron said. “From a family that includes one of the top leading stallions in America and we were really pleased to see that speed come through the dam side. It is going to be interesting to see what sort of horse he shapes into, but he's a beautiful athlete.” Miss Alacrity hails from a deep and accomplished American female family that includes exciting stallion Nyquist. Her dam Just Jenda (Menifee) was an eight-time winner, including victories at Group 2 and Group 3 level, and proved her versatility by scoring from 1200 metres to 1700 metres. The pedigree is rich in black type and speed. Further strengthening the page, damsire Munnings has established himself as a highly effective broodmare sire, responsible for eight stakes winners from just over 200 runners, complementing his record as the sire of 88 individual stakes winners, including six at Group 1 level. This is the first foal of Miss Alacrity, with her second foal a colt at foot by Shinzo. Lot 455 – I Am Invincible x Lankan Star (Nicconi), filly – A$1,000,000 A filly bred to be fast and forward was the clear focus for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, when they secured lot 455 for A$1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by Segenhoe Stud, the bay filly is by champion sire I Am Invincible and out of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Lankan Star (Nicconi), a mare renowned for her precocity and speed. Few buyers are better credentialled to target elite 2-year-old prospects than Waterhouse and Bott, with Waterhouse being the trainer of a record eight G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winners. The filly's physical presence and early profile made her a natural fit for the stable's proven juvenile program. “She's a beauty. A lovely way to start the day and has put a pep in our step,” Bott said. “We're delighted to secure her where we wanted to be and where we wanted to land. We probably didn't have too much more after that. “A real quality filly. She's one to get excited for the way she handled the sale and she profiles up really well with her breeding and pedigree.” Lankan Star was a sharp and precocious performer herself, and Bott was quick to highlight the parallels between mare and filly. “The mare was fast and precocious in her own right so hopefully her daughter can do the same,” he said. “That's what we came to target and she well and truly stood out physically. The farm did an immaculate job presenting her.” The filly is the second foal of Lankan Star and hails from a strong international female family that has interestingly consistently produced performers capable of getting over ground, adding further depth to the pedigree. Lankan Star was purchased for A$600,000 by Allam Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Chairman's Sale while in foal to Russian Revolution, with that resulting filly now an unnamed 2-year-old. The mare also has a filly at foot by I Am Invincible and was served by G1 Cox Plate champion Anamoe last spring. Lot 593 – I Am Invincible x Mumbai Rock (Fastnet Rock), filly – A$950,000 Ciaron Maher Bloodstock continued a dominant Magic Millions campaign by securing lot 593 for A$950,000, marking the stable's 30th purchase of the sale and drawing them level with their top-priced buy alongside lot 35. Offered by Coolmore Stud on behalf of Morning Rise Stud, the bay filly is by Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible and out of Mumbai Rock (Fastnet Rock), from one of the deepest and most proven female families in the catalogue. Maher's bloodstock manager Will Bourne was quick to point to both the filly's physical presence and the proven nature of the pedigree. “She's an imposing type, a big strong Vinnie filly, who Ciaron's had a lot of luck with, like Loving Gaby,” Bourne said. “She's a horse who's got plenty of residual, so you're not completely gambling your money per se. Hopefully she can justify the price tag but at the end of the day she's still worth a fair bit of money if she's unraced, so a little bit of protection there.” Bourne also highlighted the commercial confidence behind the purchase. “She's (Mumbai Rock) been a very proven broodmare and (this filly is by) a proven sire, so I'm hoping it's a proven purchase,” he said. The filly is bred on a cross that has already delivered at stakes level, being a full-sister to Japanese stakes-winning filly Jazz Etude (I Am Invincible) and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mumbai Muse (Zoustar), formerly trained by Michael Freedman. She is also a full-sister to stakes-placed Mumbai Jewel (I Am Invincible), further underlining the success of the mating. Adding further depth and residual appeal, the second dam Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot) was a Group 1 winner of the Saratoga Spinaway Stakes, anchoring the pedigree with elite international black type. Mumbai Rock was not served in 2024, but visited Widden's champion sire Zoustar last spring. The post Hermitage Goes To The Limit To Secure A$1.6m Snitzel Filly At Magics appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations for the 10th edition of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ITIEA) opened at Kildangan Stud on Wednesday. Sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and the Racing Post, the awards recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of the women and men in the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry and offer €60,000 in prize money across 10 award categories for the winners and their workplace colleagues. Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award. Nominations are open until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 13 and must be completed online at the ITIEA website. In addition to a Newcomer Award, there are five ITIEAs, an Administration Award and an Ancillary Services Award. All winners are then eligible for the Irish Racing Excellence Award, which will be announced at the awards ceremony. The Racecourse Award winner, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, will also be revealed on the awards night. The Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony will take place in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday, June 2. Jimmy Hyland, CEO, Godolphin Ireland, said, “On behalf of the Godolphin team it is a pleasure to say how proud we are to sponsor these awards for the 10th year. Through our involvement in breeding and racing internationally, we fully appreciate the value and quality of our industry's employees. We are glad to support an initiative which showcases the high level of talent in the sector in Ireland.” The post Irish TIEA Nominations Launched At Kildangan Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Fernando Laffon Lomba has been appointed the commercial and bloodstock director for Haras d'Etreham. His mission will be to strengthen relationships with owners, breeders, and partners, support the commercial activity of the stallions, and actively contribute to the stud farm's development. Previously, he worked in the bloodstock and nominations department at Lane's End Farm in America, and is currently in Australia at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “We are delighted to welcome Fernando to the Etreham team. His expertise, network, and dynamism perfectly align with our values and ambitions,” said Nicolas de Chambure. “His arrival marks a new stage in the development of our organization, allowing us to embark on new projects. Franck Champion remains head of the National Hunt division.” Added Laffon Lomba, “I am very happy and honored to join Haras d'Etreham alongside Nicolas de Chambure and his team. Etreham is not only a leading name in French breeding, but also a major player internationally, thanks to the quality of its partnerships and its comprehensive vision of the industry. This stud farm has a long history of excellence, to which I am particularly attached because of the historical and familial link between my family, through my great-grandfather Alec Head, and that of Roland de Chambure. “Back from Australia, I am delighted to meet the breeders, support them in their breeding decisions, and actively contribute to the development of the bloodstock and partnerships, both in France and internationally.” The post Fernando Laffon Lomba Appointed Etreham Commercial And Bloodstock Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Shamardal's Soft Cover, in foal to Champion First-Season Sire Starman, is one of 307 lots in the Tattersalls February Sale catalogue. The sale, slated for Thursday, February 5 through Friday, February 6, will also feature the Tattersalls British EBF Stallion Parade & RoR Showcase at 11 a.m. Consisting of 106 fillies and mares in/out of training, 16 broodmares, 161 colts and geldings in/out of training, 15 yearlings and nine two-year-olds, the two-day sale will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. on Friday. Besides Soft Cover (lot 24), who is a granddaughter of champion Superstar Leo (College Chapel), the catalogue features Brazilian Group 1 winner Namasse (T. H. Approval) (lot 18) in foal to Cracksman on Southern Hemisphere time; Joyful Act (Frankel) (lot 94), a daughter of dual Classic winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer); Monoceros (Dubawi) (lot 110), a son of G1 Oaks second Shirocco Star (Shirocco); dual St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov's half-brother Naval Command (Lope De Vega) (lot 105); Leonetto (Frankel) (lot 78), a half-brother to Group 1 winner Lady Bowthorpe (Nathaniel); the group-placed Excellent Believe (Make Believe) (lot 266); listed winner Mount Athos (Dark Angel) (lot 278); and last-out winner Wilhelmina (New Bay) (lot 260), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Poptronic (Nathaniel). The Tattersalls British EBF Stallion Parade will showcase 11 British-based stallions: Bradsell, Diego Velazquez, El Caballo, Eldar Eldarov, Electrolyte, Isaac Shelby, Mostahdaf, Royal Scotsman, Stradivarius, Subjectivist and Vandeek. the RoR Showcase will again celebrate the versatility and adaptability of retired racehorses as they transition into successful second careers with eight retrained racehorses parading in the Sale Ring to open the morning at 11am. The RoR Showcase will be followed by the Tattersalls British EBF Stallion Parade at 11:30am and key industry organisations including Racing Welfare, the National Stud, TB-Ed and RoR will also have exhibition displays in the Lower Sale Ring Bar with hospitality provided by Tattersalls until 1 p.m. Tattersalls managing director Matthew Prior said, “The Tattersalls February Sale has an outstanding record of international success as a source of horses in training and broodmares, consistently producing Group and Listed winning graduates across Europe, the Gulf, the USA and in Australia. Los Angeles's brilliant win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup was the latest domestic success at the highest level for the sale, following two European Classic victories in 2024. His dam Frequential was purchased from Godolphin and illustrates the enduring appeal of the consignments from many of the world's leading owner-breeders, which continue to make the Tattersalls February Sale such a consistently popular fixture. “The hallmark of Europe's premier midwinter sale is its quality, and diversity and as ever the catalogue features a combination of horses in training, breeding stock and young stock, which look certain to appeal to a broad range of domestic and international buyers.” The post ‘Enduring Appeal’ As Tattersalls February Catalogue Unveiled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5–POWERED BY FAMILY, FG 4, 1-10, 1m 70 yards (video) Beyer Speed Figure–84 (f, 3, Quality Road–Icon Project, by Empire Maker) O/B-St Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Jose Ortiz Fast starts are not her thing, but the way she rolled from last to first and made up 14 lengths to win going away in her second appearance, Powered By Family stamped herself as a filly to watch. Her dam Icon Project has been mostly forgotten but here's a reminder: she ended her racing career in 2009 with a 13 1/4-length romp in the off-turf New York Stakes (106 Beyer) in June at Belmont, and a 13 1/2-length win in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (114 Beyer) in August. 3-(tie)–THE PUMA, GP 4, 1-10, 7f (video) Beyer Speed Figure–85 (finished 2nd) (c, 3, Essential Quality–Eve of War, by Declaration of War) O-OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing. B-Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado; J-Javier Castellano. Sent away a 2-1 favorite in his debut here, he got away a bit sluggishly then ran through the field to take command at the quarter pole only to be outfinished by Chief Wallabee while 9 1/4 lengths clear of the others. Three years ago, Gustavo Delgado unveiled Mage in a Jan. 28 Gulfstream maiden at seven furlongs and 3 1/2 months later won the Kentucky Derby. 3-(tie)–KOKOSAN, SA 6, 1-9, 1mT (video) Beyer Speed Figure–85 (c, 4, Unified–Coldwater, by Hold Me Back) O/B-Janavar Thoroughbreds (KY); T-John Sadler; J-Armando Ayuso He had been running well enough in defeat that Sadler entered him in the Hollywood Derby–and he ran respectably despite 52-1 odds to be fifth and beaten three lengths. Back in maiden company, he dominated by 5 1/4 lengths and appears to be on the improve for owner-breeder Greg Bardakjian. 2–THUNDEROUSLY, GP 8, 1-10, 1 1/16m (video) Beyer Speed Figure–87 (c, 3, Gun Runner–Princess Warrior, by Midshipman) O-Wathnan Racing; B-Evan Trommer Jr, CDM Bloodstock & Crocket Farm (KY); T-Bill Mott; J-Junior Alvarado At the top of the list are two first-timers unleashed Saturday at Gulfstream by Mott that created buzz. Thunderously not only was dominant in running clear by five lengths through the short stretch, he professionally took dirt along the inside to get there. Mott said he trains like a two-turn horse, thus that's where he got started. His dam won the GII Mrs. Revere Stakes and was significantly better on grass. 1–CHIEF WALLABEE, GP 4, 1-10, 7f (video) Beyer Speed Figure–88 (TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard) (c, 3, Constitution–A La Lucie, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Michael & Katherine Ball (KY); T-Bill Mott; J-Junior Alvarado Just like Thunderously four races later, Chief Wallabee handled his racing debut like he'd done it a dozen times already. And it should be noted that Mott isn't known for his prowess with first-timers. It isn't unprecedented for a Mott runner to win on debut, but before Saturday it had happened with only 7 of his last 133 starters–and one of those was Sovereignty, who lost his first two starts before taking the Street Sense Stakes as a maiden. The post Five Fastest Maidens – Jan. 5 – 11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races canceled its card Jan. 15 due to wind chills in the single digits. Track and state racing officials met Jan. 15 with members of the jockey colony and decided to cancel racing for human and equine safety.View the full article

5th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 5fT, 2:20 p.m. ET A $325,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale, ALQAB (Charlatan) gets her career under way for Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. A Jan. 24 foal, the chestnut is a half-sister to Turnerloose (Nyquist), a stakes winner and Grade II-placed on the grass at two who made a successful transition to the main track when taking out the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes the following winter. Alqab is also kin to Fend (Street Sense), whose son Kentucky Outlaw (Outwork) was victorious in last year's Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. The filly's second dam was the Pletcher-conditioned Game Face (Menifee), winner of the 2009 GI Princess Rooney Stakes. Black Cherry (Liam's Map) is the latest runner out of the GIII Tempted Stakes heroine Summer Raven (Summer Squall), whose five winners included MGSW/MGISP Lewis Bay (Bernardini) and Grade III scorers Misconnect (Unbridled's Song) and Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song). The bay fetched $200,000 at Keeneland September in 2024. Copacabana (Not This Time) also has license to turf, as she is out of a half-sister to GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic hero Arklow (Arch) and dual graded winner Maraud (Blame). Bought back on a bid of $70,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton October Sale, the Apr. 8 produce fetched $285,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale (gallop). The post Friday Insights: Charlatan Firster Tops Gulfstream Turf Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With a long a storied history in sales in Australia, Inglis, which has hosted online auctions in Australia for almost a decade, branched into the U.S market when acquiring the majority share in the Thoroughbred auction platform Wanamaker's in the spring of 2024. Re-branded as Inglis Digital USA, the company's co-founder Liza Hendricks stayed on as Chief Executive Officer while Kyle Wilson and Kelly Brophey joined the team. Initially appointed as the senior director of sales and recruitment, Wilson was promoted to the position of CEO in late 2025. Addressing the appointment of Wilson and the continuing expansion of the Inglis Digital USA platform, Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster offered, “Horse racing and breeding is more global than ever thanks to evolving technology and broad-minded industry participants who have the capacity to think, invest and play outside their own backyard. Our digital business in Australia services every continent offering global bloodlines twice a month to a savvy local and international market, we are now seeing that same evolution developing with our USA business; now led by former Keeneland executive Kyle Wilson who was recently promoted to CEO.” Webster continued, “Noting the increasing importance of technology, Inglis acquired its own tech dev company Ardex Technology more than five years ago which gives us a unique advantage to share our innovations with almost all thoroughbred industry participants around the world, including trainers, breeders, veterinarians, transporters, farriers, bloodstock agents, syndicators and of course small and largescale traditional and or digital auction houses.” “The next stage of our evolution is extending our Ardex developed services to the USA and the relaunch of ID USA on our latest platform in the coming months is an important for our growth in the US market.” Following Wilson's recent appointment, TDN sat down with the company's newest CEO to discuss plans for Inglis Digital USA under its new leadership. TDN: Can you tell us little about your recent appointment to CEO and some of the new responsibilities that come with that? Kyle Wilson: I was originally brought on as the Senior Director of Sales & Recruitment to work with Liza Hendriks and build what was formerly Wanamakers into Inglis Digital USA. In that role I was strictly focused on bringing in horses to sell and people to sell to. As CEO I have a much broader day to day. On top of continuing to build our reach domestically and globally I also have to be on top of all the other things that make a business run from scheduling ads to making sure our insurance is up to date. It's been a change but I'm finding it very fulfilling. TDN: As the new CEO, is there anything that you would like to tackle initially in 2026? KW: In 2026 we have a number of goals. Specific to our monthly sales we want to continue to grow our entries and gross. We're working with our team in Australia to develop a new website as we continue to offer our customers the best product we can. In a broader sense we are always looking to grow the Inglis brand. TDN: What do you think was Inglis Digital USA's biggest achievement in 2025? Anything that you think can be augmented or further developed in the new year? KW: The obvious answer is our last sale hitting a record for a sale topper in $550,000 for Brotha Kenny which the whole team was delighted with. When speaking about success we cannot forget Regaled's incredible performance in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). She was an astute purchase by Legion Bloodstock for $300,000 in our May 2025 Sale. We also capitalized on our international reach by selling horses to a number of countries including the UAE and Australia. What I've been really proud of is all the feedback I've received from customers regarding the personal touch they get by working with us. We try and be as hands on as possible and as we continue to grow we don't plan on forgetting the importance of that. TDN: Did you encounter any obstacles over the past season that you didn't anticipate? What was the solution? KW: The main obstacle isn't Inglis Digital USA specific and that's just the slow nature of an industry to adapt to the digital market. We've made huge strides in the last couple of years and I think the growth in this sector is only just beginning. Other than that I think the “obstacle” that threw me for a loop the most is when our announcer, Naomi, came up sick a couple days before our December Sale! Luckily our Founder and former CEO Liza Hendriks stepped up to fill in. TDN: Do you still meet some resistance from those unwilling attempt a digital sale? How do you try to convert them using real life success stories? KW: Certainly! Digital sales represent a big change in the industry. I can understand some hesitance towards something that is a departure from what people are used to. During my time at Keeneland there were a number of people against internet and phone bidding. Now it's a major part of all in person auctions. What we're trying to do is create an outlet where buyers and sellers can do business in the most convenient and flexible way possible. We only take a commission on a sale which is different than the other major outlets. We operate on 0% RNA commission. What we've seen is that for certain horses it just makes more sense to leave them in their stalls and sell them from home. As for converting people we just let the successes speak for us and grow from there. TDN: What is the process used to locate perspective candidates for your sales KW: In a broad sense it's all about exposure. One way to locate candidates is have a good sale. It's the best advertising possible. We also use the tried and true method of finding something you like and picking up the phone. Once you get someone to have a good experience then the better chance they'll come back. One horse sold in one sale could turn into five in the next. We also have a good relationship with consignors and work closely with them to create opportunities for their clients to make some money whenever possible. While the other major companies in the U.S. sell horses using both digital and in-person sales, Inglis sells horses primarily on an online platform. Do you think that's an advantage or a disadvantage? I don't consider it a disadvantage but we always try to make sure our new customers know how important the Inglis brand is in the global market. The company has been in existence since 1867. They have been selling horses digitally since 2017. Inglis is a major international auction house with a number of different commercial arms that all compliment one another. Digital sales is shrinking the world in a good way by providing opportunities for individuals who may not have had them before. Introducing a global brand like Inglis to North America can only be a good thing. As far as strictly selling online, I don't see that as a disadvantage. We certainly haven't been around as long as the other auction houses in North America but not having to worry about an in person sale makes us as flexible as possible. We can do what someone wants whenever they want and I believe that is the best way to maximize a horse's liquidity at the right time. We target horses to sell on our platform, not a specific sale at a specific time. TDN: What do you think is at the foundation of a successful online sale? KW: I think there are three very important things. One of course is the horses on offer. It's necessary to have something with buzz around it to bring eyes to the sale. The next is momentum. The current sale can always drive business to the next sale so keeping things moving and fresh is very important. Lastly it's loyalty and support which I do think are byproducts of the first two but no business is built solely by the people working there. We have had our success because great horsemen and horsewomen supported us and we'll never forget that. We make customer service the most important part of our business. Inglis Digital USA prides itself on our ability to have a one on one relationship with the seller and the buyer to make the process as smooth and rewarding as possible. In the bigger scheme of things, the digital market is a relatively new one. What do you think about its progression, overall, thus far? Being tied to Inglis I've had the fortune of seeing how things progressed in Australia. Inglis is a good 8-10 years ahead of us in the digital market and selling a serious amount of horses every month. Inglis has two sales a month with anywhere from 250 to 400 horses per sale. The North American market is larger in terms of the number of horses so the sky is the limit over here. TDN: Where do you see the digital platforms and market heading in the next five years? 10 years? KW: I think the platforms are going to continue to get more advanced and the buyers/sellers are going to become more likely to participate. As horses bought out of digital sales continue to perform well on the track and in breeding programs it's going to be hard to ignore. Digital sales will never replace certain in person sales but it makes the sales process a lot more approachable for a sector of the business that normally wouldn't travel to a sale. TDN: What is the vision for Inglis Digital USA in 2026? What about your own goals for your first full season as CEO? KW: I do have some ideas but I'm keeping those close to my chest for the time being! We can't keep doing the same things every year and expect different results so there are some new concepts we're working on we can hopefully see come to fruition this year. I'd like us to continue to grow. I'd like to sell more horses for more money…if that's too simple I apologize but that's the name of the game. It's very important to continue to add new customers, but equally as important to retain current ones so that will be a focus for the team in 2026. I'd like to add some staff as well. Just because selling online is flexible and easy there is still a ton of work that goes on behind the scenes in a very short period of time. Addressing the appointment of Wilson and the continuing expansion of the Inglis Digital USA platform, Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster offered, “Horse racing and breeding is more global than ever thanks to evolving technology and broad-minded industry participants who have the capacity to think, invest and play outside their own backyard. Our digital business in Australia services every continent offering global bloodlines twice a month to a savvy local and international market, we are now seeing that same evolution developing with our USA business; now led by former Keeneland executive Kyle Wilson who was recently promoted to CEO.” Webster continued, “Noting the increasing importance of technology, Inglis acquired its own tech dev company Ardex Technology more than five years ago which gives us a unique advantage to share our innovations with almost all thoroughbred industry participants around the world, including trainers, breeders, veterinarians, transporters, farriers, bloodstock agents, syndicators and of course small and largescale traditional and or digital auction houses.” “The next stage of our evolution is extending our Ardex developed services to the USA and the relaunch of ID USA on our latest platform in the coming months is an important for our growth in the US market.” The post TDN Q and A with Inglis Digital USA’s New CEO Kyle Wilson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

If recent history is anything to go by, Thursday's crowd at Cagnes-sur-Mer could have been looking at a future Group 1 winner as Frankish prevailed in what is becoming a storied maiden. Three years after the Prix Ace Impact was won its former guise by the illustrious colt after which it is now named, the 10-furlong test on the sand which has seen two other subsequent top-level winners come to the fore produced another highly promising newcomer. Unsurprisingly, the Wertheimers' son of Lope De Vega and their 1,000 Guineas heroine Miss France (Dansili) was sent off the 3-1 second favourite behind the Rouget colt Armano (Waldgeist), who as a half-brother to Ace Impact himself and the 2024 winner of this race in Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) was always going to be popular. In the event, the more stoutly-bred Waltraut Spanner homebred was never able to get into the race in any meaningful sense while the Yann Barberot-trained Frankish travelled with menace restrained under cover in third under Hugo Journiac. While the 19-10 market-leader Armano could only stay on into fifth, the winner overhauled Jean-Claude Seroul's Cosmic Boy (De Treville) approaching the furlong pole and on to a convincing two-length success. Frankish has big boots to fill now, with last year's Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard (Le Havre) having become the third straight Prix Ace Impact to register a victory at the highest level. A horse to follow? The well-bred Frankish (Lope De Vega x Miss France) lands the Ace Impact Stakes on debut… pic.twitter.com/7UhCsgoSKg — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 15, 2026 The post Wertheimer Blueblood Frankish Wins Key Cagnes Pointer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Troubled but talented mare Tarvue (NZ) (Tarzino) will chase successive Flemington victories when she lines up in the staying event on the card this Saturday. The John Sadler-trained daughter of Tarzino is on the quick back-up after she saluted at headquarters last weekend. “She’s had lots of feet problems which have really interrupted her career so far,” Sadler said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the best of her until possibly last Saturday where we saw a glimpse of what we’ve been hoping for.” Sadler gave credit to renowned farrier John Bunting for the work that he’s done in assisting Tarvue with her feet issues. Saturday’s 2520m contest will prove to be a decisive race for Tarvue’s preparation, as a tilt at the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March could be on the cards for her, depending on how she handles the rise in distance this weekend. “Of course, the query is the 1800m to the 2500m, but she would have been better at 2000m last week,” Sadler said. “I don’t think the 2500m is going to be a worry.” Luke Cartwright will retain the ride on Tarvue on Saturday. Tarvue was bred by Rosemont Stud and is by Westbury Stud’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Tarzino, who has quickly made his name as a sire of classic horses – such as Derby winners Jungle Magnate and Willydoit and Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess. The dam of Tarvue is the Japanese-bred Admire Moon mare Vamoose, a half-sister to the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Admire Rakti. Mapperley Stud offered Tarvue in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Vue International Pty Ltd bought her for $25,000. Tarvue’s 16-start career has produced four wins, two placings and A$168,800 in stakes. View the full article

An expanded Hong Kong 10s tournament and midweek racing at Happy Valley are among the changes being made to this year’s sevens week in the city, as the landmark tournament celebrates its 50th birthday in April. For the first time, a partnership between Hong Kong China Rugby, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Hong Kong Football Club will bring an element of cohesion to what is traditionally the biggest week in the city’s sporting calendar. Rugby and racing will work in tandem through the week, with...View the full article

The one small chink in Ka Ying Rising’s armour seems to be a thing of the past as the world’s best sprinter once again impressed his trainer David Hayes in a barrier trial on Thursday ahead of the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m). The apple of Hayes’ eye is going for a 17th straight win at Sha Tin on January 25, and he rocketed out of the gates under Zac Purton on Sha Tin’s dirt surface, easing away from his rivals to win by three and three-quarter lengths. He clocked a time of 1:10.36,...View the full article

Bidding to equal Silent Witness’ long-standing record for the most consecutive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) swept to an imperious barrier trial victory at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 15 January) ahead of his tilt at history on 25 January. Preparing to chase a 17th straight victory when he contests the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin next week, Ka Ying Rising cruised over 1200m on Sha Tin’s dirt course under Zac Purton, clocking 1m 10.36s, and beating stablemate Romantic Son by three-and-three-quarter lengths with Galax Patch third, while Helios Express was a sedate sixth. The six-time Group 1 winner pleased trainer David Hayes as he vies to match the towering winning streak of Silent Witness, who was unbeaten in 17 starts from December, 2002 to April, 2005, when he was toppled by Tony Cruz stablemate Bullish Luck in the Champions Mile (1600m) by a short head. “Ka Ying Rising was very good. That was probably the fastest I’ve seen him jump out of the gates,” Hayes said. “His gate speed was incredible and then he was happy to just cruise along and won as you would expect. “Zac said he had a healthy blow afterwards and that’s why he trials because he needs a tune-up before his race. He’ll have a bit of striding work next week and next Wednesday (21 January) he’ll do a bit of work and then he’ll be ready to go. “He’s giving the impression he’s not going backwards. It’s hard to say he’s better than the performances he’s been giving recently but he looks like he’s right on song for the 25th (of January).” Since losing twice by narrow margins to Wunderbar as a three-year-old, Ka Ying Rising has soared to dizzying heights in 16 subsequent starts since February, 2024 – annexing six Group 1s, including the world’s richest sprint race, the G1 The Everest (1200m), twice breaking Sha Tin’s 1200m record and rising from 69 in the ratings to 138 as Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse. Acclaimed as Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year for his unbeaten eight-win 2024/25 season, Ka Ying Rising returns to competition next week for the first time since surging to victory in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 14 December. If successful in the three-race Hong Kong Speed Series’ opening leg, the Centenary Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising would then have the chance to take outright ownership of the record for the most successive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). View the full article

Stakes targets are in the offing for in-form gelding Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) if he continues his purple patch of form in Saturday’s Hope & Sons/Adam’s Plumbing Open 1400 at Wingatui. The consistent six-year-old was runner-up first-up in his stable debut for trainer Jospeh Waldron at Riccarton in October before going one better at the Christchurch track a month later. He then stepped up to Open company for the first time at Wingatui on Boxing Day where he was victorious in his 1200m contest. Waldron has been pleased with the gelding’s progression since that run and is confident of a similar showing at his home track this weekend where he will jump from barrier three with apprentice jockey Triston Moodley in the saddle. “He should get a perfect run from that draw,” Waldron said. “Triston knows him well after his last run, so there won’t be many instructions, he knows how to get the job done. “He has been in great form since his last start, so there is no reason why he can’t win again. “It was great to see him take that step up and win in Open company, it shows he is well and truly up to that level. “He has got a better record at 1400m than he does at 1200m, so I am really looking forward to seeing him at that trip.” While contemplating sending Brave Spirit to the paddock for a spell, Waldron said he may be tempted to contest next month’s Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m) if he performs up to expectations this weekend. “He is up in the ratings now so if he did happen to win, or be competitive, and comes through the run well, he could possibly go to the Hazlett,” he said. “At the same time, he has done a good job for us this time around so we could put him away and wait again. We will take it one run at a time and be grateful that he has already done what he has done.” Waldron is also looking forward to stablemate Mawkeb making her New Zealand debut in the Cargill Contracting And Wae 65 1200. The daughter of Deep Field came into his care while he was in Australia and following a good spell she will make her first appearance for the stable this weekend. “She is a long time between runs,” Waldron said. “We got her just before we left Australia. She has a fair bit of wear and tear, so she needed a good break, which we gave her, and she has had a slow, easy build-up and is doing everything right. “She is a very good wet-tracker, so any kind of rain that we get between now and the weekend will be of real benefit for her. “She is more of a 1400m to a miler type horse, so as long as she is hitting the line it will be a pass mark. She is going in without a jump-out and almost 12 months between runs, so she will well and truly improve from the run. “She is classy and she looks well placed back in 65 grade, but there are certainly no expectations.” Waldron will also be represented by Group Three performer Let Fly (NZ) (Raise The Flag) in the Skevingtons Waikouaiti Cup (2200m). “She was okay in a very oddly run race last time,” Waldron said. “It looks like we should get a better run from the good draw (2). “Up in open company is not really ideal and Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) is a good horse, so he will be hard to beat, even with the weight (61kg). It is a pretty even bunch around him so we are looking forward to hopefully seeing a bit more from her this time.” View the full article

Stephen Marsh will be chasing a third victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and is confident he has the firepower on reasonable ground to go close. The Cambridge trainer’s hopes of retaining the Harcourts-sponsored crown rest with Queen Zou (Zoustar) after reclaiming the title last year with Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) following the stable’s 2017 win with Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). Queen Zou earned top honours on New Year’s Day in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie with 53kg and the Zoustar mare will carry the same weight again with Matt Cartwright retaining the mount. However, a continuation of her form will likely rest with a factor outside of Marsh’s control. “It’s a very even sort of field and if she got the right track conditions then I think she will race extremely well,” Marsh said. “I just hope the weather bomb doesn’t hit, she’s got a little bit of form on rain-affected ground. “She goes into the race very well off the back of a Group Two win and has gone forward since then. She’s had a good solid prep and might deserve a light let-up after this.” Stablemate In Your Dreams (NZ) (Per Incanto) was an encouraging debut third at Rotorua and will face a steep rise in class in the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). “I really rate her and think she’s a filly going places, she’s in against some nice horses but she’s well above average and the big mile at Trentham, if it’s a good track, will suit her,” Marsh said. Miss Fladgate (Russian Revolution) will take on a small line-up in the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Sprint (1100m) and is expected to give another strong account of herself. “She’s a mare in good form and I reckon the straight will suit her,” he said. The Russian Revolution mare has made progress this preparation with a brace of wins and a last-start third at Ellerslie on Boxing Day from her last four appearances to back her claims. At Pukekohe Park on Sunday, Marsh has tipped a turnaround from Roctave (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in the trackside,co.nz (2200m). He was an impressive winner at Te Rapa two runs back before an unplaced effort at Ellerslie. “I think Roctave can bounce back to form, he went a bit hard last time out and nothing went right for him,” he said. Meanwhile, smart debut winner Lunaman’s (NZ) performance in the Myracehorse 3YO (1600m) will give the stable a pointer toward his immediate future. “He’s eligible for The (NZB) Kiwi ($4 million, 1500m) and he’s in the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) so this race will tell a bit of a story as to where we head with him,” Marsh said. He returned home earlier this week from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where on Monday he purchased a Stay Inside filly, signing the ticket at A$200,000 with Dylan Johnson Bloodstock. “She’s by a Golden Slipper winner out of a stakes-winning More Than Ready mare so she’s got very good credentials, we only looked at fillies and those with a bit of pedigree and speed,” Marsh said. The youngster also boasts the presence of Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner True Jewels on her pedigree page. View the full article

A nail may have scuppered her early summer targets, but Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) is back on track and thriving ahead of her resuming run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The seven-year-old daughter of Complacent was in red-hot form over spring, winning the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) in October. Trainer and part-owner Kim Reid then set her sights towards elite-level targets, eyeing the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last month, but a stray nail thwarted those plans. “She had a nail go into her foot the week prior to the Mufhasa, so that put us on the backburner for a little bit,” Reid said. “She had a couple of weeks out with that, so it was a bit of a rollercoaster ride.” Hi Yo Sass Bomb has made pleasing progress and impressed in an exhibition gallop at her home track of New Plymouth a couple of weeks ago, giving Reid the confidence to press on towards the Thorndon Mile. “We had a gallop between races at New Plymouth a few weeks ago. Chris (Dell) rode her there and was really happy with how she went,” she said. Reid gave her mare a strong hit-out at home on Sunday and feared she may have overtaxed her less than a week out from her resuming run, but she said Hi Yo Sass Bomb has bounced through the run and is thriving ahead of Saturday. “We travelled down to Wanganui to gallop between races on Saturday, but we thought the track was a bit firm and we didn’t want to risk it,” Reid said. “We galloped at New Plymouth on Sunday and I thought I might have flattened her, it was a pretty hard gallop, but she has been bouncing around this week, so I think she is right there.” Reid is aware of the task ahead of her this weekend, but she has faith her mare is up to the challenge, and TAB bookmakers agree, installing her a $7 third favourite behind Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ($3) and last-start Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) winner Queen Zou (Zoustar) ($5.50). “I feel like she is flying,” Reid said. “I know it is a big ask heading straight back into a big one after such a big spell out, but she is pretty tough. I am expecting a nice run on Saturday.” Reid has circled next month’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa as Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s next major target and felt the Thorndon Mile was the perfect lead-in race, with her mare set to carry just 53kg. “We are heading to the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) as our next target, so we were looking for a race to get there,” she said. “We could go out in an open handicap carrying top weight, but 53kg is quite nice.” View the full article

James McDonald has been booked to ride Beauty Bolt in next month’s Classic Mile as the world’s best jockey prepares for another shot at history with champion galloper Romantic Warrior. Beauty Bolt’s owners, the Kwok family, swooped on McDonald after eight-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton opted to ride Sagacious Life in the first leg of the four-year-old series. One of seven rides under consideration by Purton, the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Bolt has finished in the first four in all seven local...View the full article

As it did in 2025, a Florida House of Representatives bill seeking to decouple racing and gaming licenses for Thoroughbred operators unsurprisingly passed its first committee.View the full article

A decision over a 2026 fair meet race-date proposal before the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) was punted unanimously to a single-discussion meeting in February (the date yet to be decided) after last-minute reshuffling of the chairs behind the scenes led to an at-times contentious meeting Wednesday. The original proposal outlined 19 race weeks this summer between three different fair tracks: six racing weeks at Tehama District Fair, six racing weeks at Alameda County Fair, and seven racing weeks at Humboldt County Fair. The meeting agenda packet included either a signed live race agreement or a memorandum of understanding between the three fair associations and Bernal Park Racing Management Company (BPRMC), headed by long-time owner-breeder George Schmitt. However, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) weighed into the matter Tuesday, issuing a letter to Schmitt saying they could not approve the proposal. “After a thorough review, we have determined that the current statutory framework does not provide authority for CDFA to approve the proposed structure. Food and Agriculture Code §4058 envisions entities formed by fairs or similar public organizations, and existing provisions do not contemplate private entities leasing racetrack facilities for the purpose of conducting live horse racing meetings. Additionally, related statutes impose restrictions that would prevent implementation of the proposal as submitted,” the letter states. This prompted representatives of BPRMC and the fairs to scramble together a revised proposal for the board to decide upon, shrinking their originally allotted dates down to a four-week window each. The new set of proposed dates would see the following: Tehama District Fair, Red Bluff: April 29 – May 26, 9 Racing Days Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton: June 17 – July 14, 12 Racing Days Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale: August 5 – September 1, 12 Racing Days Moving forward, it's the individual fair associations that will be the licensees applying for the race dates and submitting the race-meet applications, rather than Bernal Park doing so–something that was made unclear in the proposal. These developments were so last minute, CHRB staff hadn't had time to make the CDFA letter nor the revised fair race-dates schedule publicly available online beforehand. These eleventh-hour maneuvers also irked CHRB staff, voiced in no uncertain fashion by CHRB executive director Scott Chaney, who also vented his frustration at what he described as ongoing legal and financial question marks over the organizational structure of the proposed race meets. “Staff is tired. We have not had the opportunity to evaluate this brand new proposal. Frankly, the last one was sent less than 24 hours from when we were going to notice this meeting. In retrospect, I think agendizing the item in my view was a mistake. So, I just need to let the board know that staff cannot recommend considering a date allocation today simply because we have had not even close to adequate time to evaluate this proposal,” said Chaney. CHRB chairman Greg Ferraro agreed with a separate suggestion to put onto the calendar a February meeting to discuss this item alone, with a view to giving the fairs time to get their race-meet applications in (if indeed the board approves their race-date proposals). The next scheduled CHRB meeting was not until March. The typical race-meet application deadline is 90 days before the meet starts, though waivers have been granted in the past. Ferraro, however, was similarly exasperated by the behind-the-scenes scrambling just before Wednesday's meeting, and he gave the fair associations and the Bernal Park representatives a stern warning to get their proposals in order before February's meeting. “I would tell the three counties, get your paperwork together. Get your plan together. Get your finances together. Make everything very clear. We're going to check on the legality [of the proposals], because I'm not convinced we're not violating some kind of law,” Ferraro said. Proponents of a renewed racing program in the North argue it's needed to better support a NorCal breeding industry, as well as to provide better opportunities to keep and lure back horses to the state. A recent TDN analysis of the fate of former NorCal horsemen and women since the closure of Pleasanton for Thoroughbred stabling in March found that a significant number of barns had either left the state or called it quits altogether. The overall impression among barns that maintained a footprint in the state was one of an average 50% decline in both earnings and starts. On the flip side, proponents of the current consolidated program argue this existing system is needed to shore up the fragile California racing industry as a whole. Any overlapping calendar in the North, they say, would siphon off and dilute valuable resources (both equine and financial) needed to maintain recent upticks in things like purses and field size in the South. In terms of potential last revenues for the South, several speakers described as the “elephant in the room” the proposal to give the fairs “host-fee” status on 12 of their proposed race dates, four dates at each track. If the race dates are approved and the Northern fairs are granted host-fee status on those days, that could prove a significant loss to Southern California racing entities at a time when they're already struggling with purses that can't compete with other jurisdictions whose purses are heavily juiced by purse supplements. David Elliott, CEO of Bernal Park Racing, argued that Southern California would still retain the bulk of the host-fee race dates, and that the allotment of host fees to Northern California fair dates was needed to give stakeholders there a financial shot in the arm. “Southern California will still be the recipient of host fees for 40 weeks,” said Elliott. “We're just asking for 12 [days] and allowing us the opportunity to create some racing opportunities for owners that can't compete anymore and those folks that have left the state as well.” Sarah Andrew While the matter of who the race-meet licensees will be has been resolved, there still appear to be key funding and organizational discrepancies that need to be rectified before February's CHRB meeting. Benjamin Dickens, counsel for Bernal Park Racing, attempted to quell fears among board members about the financial aspect of the proposal (especially in light of the CDFA's letter). While Bernal Park Racing–a key funding mechanism for the proposed race meets–is not a nonprofit, “it will operate in such a fashion,” said Dickens. “Any profits that are realized by Bernal Park will be flowed back to the licensee counties and any losses will be absorbed by Bernal Park,” he added. Bernal Park has also apparently already invested $104,217 in track improvements to the Tehama County track to bring it up to par with state and federal safety requirements. Tehama County hasn't hosted an official race meet for decades. Chaney, however, maintained that there remains several key legal question marks hanging over the live race agreements or the MOUs between the fair associations and Bernal Park Racing, which appear to describe a profit-sharing mechanism between the relevant parties. “I think my attorneys probably want another look at the two operating agreements that you seem to have with the fairs plus the MOU with Alameda County Fair because there's lots of holes in them,” said Chaney. “I've thought of 10 questions that I'm sure the attorneys want to ask between now and next time that the board wants to consider dates.” As he wrapped up the agenda it–which ran for over 80 minutes, many of them characterized by pointed frustrations on both sides–Ferraro warned the NorCal stakeholders of the import of their request at a time when the future of the state racing industry has arguably never been shakier. “I hope you understand that failure is not an option. If you fail, you could bring the whole of California racing to an end,” Ferraro said. “We can't afford failure. It has to be successful.” The post CHRB Punts to February 2026 NorCal Fair Dates Decision appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article