Wandering Eyes

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy will honor Debbie and Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds for their continued devotion to the community of stable workers who support Thoroughbred horse racing. View the full article

Runaway Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Newspaperofrecord, who stole the show along with Enable in November at Churchill Downs, is targeting the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot for trainer Chad Brown. View the full article

Santa Anita Park announced to its horsemen Feb. 26 that its main track would be closed for a second day of training Feb. 27 as the surface is evaluated for safety after an increased amount of equine fatalities during its meet that began Dec. 26. View the full article

Early scratching March 1 View the full article

Moor suspended for two days View the full article

Kid gloves still on but Walker hopes to see Elite Power punch through again View the full article

After more than a day-and-a-half of evaluations of the racetrack base and surface to determine a possible cause for the rise in fatalities this winter, Santa Anita has decided to keep the main track closed for training another morning, “in order to give us more time to thoroughly analyze soil data,” said Santa Anita director of publicity, Mike Willman. It will also give Mick Peterson, an expert in racetrack surfaces, time to conduct his own analysis of the track when he arrives Wedneday. The track had been scheduled to re-open Wednesday morning, but trainer Eddie Truman, who sits on the California Thoroughbred Trainers board, said he believes they’ve made the right decision. “If it’s an inconvenience, so what?” he said. “It’s nice that they’re on top of this. Let’s get things right.” The main track closed Monday morning at 9 a.m., after which, track superintendent Andy LaRocco and his crew began to “peel back” about five inches of the track’s pad and cushion to examine the base, and to analyze the surface’s soil consistency and moisture content. Originally, the plan had been to close the main track completely Monday morning, but push back from some of the trainers saw the track opened until the 9 a.m. cut-off. Another horse was catastrophically injured during training hours Monday morning, meaning that 19 horses have been fatally injured since Dec. 26, six on the dirt during racing, five on the turf during racing and another eight during morning training. The overall total is higher than in comparable periods over the last three years. The track at Santa Anita consists of three main layers–the hard base, the pad and the cushion. “I’ll be able to do an inspection of all layers of the track with a ground penetrating radar,” said Peterson. The ground penetrating radar tests the consistency of the dirt surface, to ensure that it has not been compromised by the 11 1/2 inches of rain that have lashed the track this winter. Why is this important? Racetrack consistency is described in this Grayson-Jockey Club Racing Surfaces White Paper as being integral to the “performance and orthopedic health of the horse.” According to Peterson, the work superintendent Andy LaRocco and his crew conducted Monday and Tuesday falls into two main categories. The first will be to conduct a visual inspection of the surface and the base. The second, Peterson said, consists of mixing the surface to evenly distribute the finer particles of silt and clay, which could have washed to the inside of the track, with the larger, coarser particles of sand which he said he believes have remained nearer the outside of the track. As part of a broader maintenance program at Santa Anita, the surface moisture content is routinely monitored, said Peterson, and samples of the track are taken monthly and sent for analysis at a laboratory in Kentucky. The samples are tested to determine the combination of sand, silt and clay in the track. As for how the samples are taken, there are two main protocols. Ordinarily, four samples are taken at the quarter poles. After periods of rain, a much broader set of samples are taken, to better understand the track consistency both near the rail and further out. The first broader set of samples taken of the Santa Anita track since the rains are currently at the laboratory in Kentucky, where they’re undergoing a particle size analysis, and a bulk density measurement, “to make sure [the cushion will] set up on the pad correctly,” said Peterson. The results are expected back Thursday. “What’s funny is the differences between the different tracks,” said Peterson. “But what isn’t different between them is that the safe tracks always seem to be the ones that are consistent.” Nevertheless, it would be wrong to focus attention on the track entirely, for experts describe the variables that weight into any one catastrophic injury as being multi-factorial. Evidence has shown that 85% to 90% of all musculoskeletal-related fatalities have pre-existing pathology at the site of the injury, while certain other risk-factors, like the age of the horse, whether it raced at two, and the distance of the race, can all have a bearing on race-day fatalities. What’s more, racetrack fatalities also include sudden cardiac death, the cause of one training fatality at Santa Anita this winter. All the horses fatally injured at Santa Anita this winter underwent, or will undergo, a standard necropsy. CHRB equine medical director told the TDN Monday that about one-third of the necropsies have been completed, and that the necropsy process can take up to 12 weeks to complete, “depending on the circumstances.” Arthur further explained that “a few” of the catastrophic injuries were “surprising,” in that the fractures were “atypical.” Though Arthur was unwilling to add any further information on those horses with “surprising” fractures, including specific numbers of horses, he said that “in instances of unusual fracture configurations,” he can request “special necropsy examinations” on a case by case basis. “Most fractures occur in fairly predictable locations in fairly predictable configurations,” he said. “We’re interested, also for research purposes, in specific legions, like we see in sesamoid fractures that we think are predisposing injuries not readily amenable to current diagnostic techniques.” Arthur also added that additional “data” could be collected as part of the CHRB’s fatality review program, but that the data would be informational and educational “rather than investigative.” Arthur didn’t say what that data would consist of, but stressed that the fatality review process had started only a year ago, and that they were still working out specifics. “We are still working through the protocols and trying different protocols to get the type of information we need,” Arthur said. “When you talk to trainers about fatalities, there’s a natural defensiveness. There’s an emotional aspect that we want to try to get around, so we’re trying to make it collegial and educational and informative. We’re not trying to accuse anybody of anything.” An ad hoc committee is in the process of being put together, comprising Peterson, Hall of Fame retired jockey Alex Solis, now a CHRB commissioner, P.J. Campo, executive vice president, Racing Division, for The Stronach Group, a Southern California trainer, an active jockey, and an exercise rider. Solis said that he met this morning with Campo to discuss who will fill the remaining slots. But he hopes that the first committee meeting will be held this Thursday, once Peterson has arrived and the other members chosen. Solis said that the specifics are a little hazy at the moment, but he believes that the committee will meet every Thursday, and could continue until the end of the meet. “We’re all just here to help figure out a solution to all of this,” Solis said. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement saying that they had canceled a planned protest at Santa Anita, “following a meeting with track representatives who pledged to take definitive steps, including extending the review of medication records to horses who are in training—and not just before races.” The statement, from PETA President Ingrid Newkirk continued, “Horses who require medication should not be anywhere near a track. PETA believes that there are innumerable problems with horse racing, but, as a bare minimum, all medications should be banned for at least a week before a horse races or trains, which would effectively stop lame horses from being able to run. PETA will continue to meet with Santa Anita officials in the coming days.” View the full article

Peter Redekop’s Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy), impressive winner of the Feb. 16 El Camino Real Derby, is expected to make his next start in the Mar. 24 GIII Sunland Park Derby. “That’s where we are leaning,” trainer Blaine Wright confirmed Tuesday. “Unless something changes drastically, that’s where we’ll go.” Anothertwistafate has now won three straight races over Golden Gate’s synthetic surface, all in front-running fashion. He graduated by four lengths going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 9 and added a five-length one-mile allowance tally Jan. 4. The handsome dark bay made his stakes debut in the nine-furlong El Camino Real Derby and came home a resounding seven-length victor (video). “He was training super all along and we were pleased he put it all together,” Wright said of that effort. “Of course, you don’t go into a $100 grander expecting that, but he answered a lot of questions.” In addition to its $800,000 purse, the Sunland Park Derby offers the winner 50 qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby. But a berth in the Kentucky Derby isn’t the only goal for Anothertwistafate, who earned a spot in the GI Preakness S. starting gate with his El Camino Real Derby win. “Looking at last year, running first or second [at Sunland] should get into the Derby,” Wright said. “So if he runs great there and we get into the Derby, that’s great. But if he doesn’t, we’ll regroup. The timing of the race will be good because it will give us time to get a race at Golden Gate to prep and to possibly go to the Preakness.” The Sunland Park Derby will be Anothertwistafate’s second race over conventional dirt. He was a well-beaten ninth on debut at Santa Anita Nov. 3, but Wright is willing to forgive that lackluster performance. “I’m going to draw a line through that race,” he said. “It was the first race of his life and it was a sprint and he’s not a sprinter. We have to find out how he gets over it. But right now, I’m not worried about it.” View the full article

Champion World Approval (Northern Afleet–Win Approval, by With Approval) has been retired from racing and will return to his birthplace, Live Oak Stud in Florida, where he will live in a paddock beside his dam and siblings, MGSW millionaires Revved Up (Sultry Song) and Za Approval (Ghostzapper). He is also a half-brother to fellow champion turf horse Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son). “How lucky we have been at Live Oak Stud/Plantation to have championed such a winning family,” said owner/breeder Charlotte Weber. “I am proud and privileged to have experienced this Sport of Kings with such outstanding racehorses and shall protect them as we grow older together.” Trained by Mark Casse, the now-7-year-old gelding boasts a record of 27-12-2-4 and earnings of $3,062,363. Winner of the GIII American Derby and GII Saranac S. in 2016, the gray hit the board in a pair of Grade I events early in 2016 before breaking through at the highest level with a victory in Monmouth Park’s GI United Nations S. that summer. Kicking off 2017 with a pair of black-type scores, including the GII Longines Dixie S., World Approval suffered just won loss that season in the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S., but rebounded with strong victories in the GI Fourstardave H., GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. His exceptional season earned him the Eclipse Award for top male turf horse. The Florida-bred opened 2018 with a win in the GIII Tampa Bay S. and made his last racetrack appearance in the GII Wise Dan S. at Churchill Downs in June. View the full article

Equine influenza at a second trainer’s yard at Lamorlaye has been confirmed by France Galop, and the Jour de Galop quotes France Galop’s director of veterinary services Paul-Marie Gadot as saying that two horses have tested positive for the illness in that yard. These two cases follow the news that another yard had been affected by equine influenza first reported Monday in Lamorlaye, near Chantilly and brings the total number of horses with symptoms to five. As was the case Monday, France Galop did not release the name of the trainer, but said, “All the necessary measures to control the infection have been taken in coordination with the trainer and his veterinarian.” The France Galop news release, as it did Monday, again advised trainers that, “Due to the spread of the disease, trainers are reminded of the need to isolate horses with respiratory signs, to quarantine any new arrivals, to carry out tests for the virus by nasopharyngeal swab on horses with symptoms, to minimize movement and to transport only healthy animals after verifying that their temperature is normal, and to be very careful with the movements of horses and people to avoid an extension of the disease.” The Jour de Galop reported that the second cases were confirmed in a yard close to the first. Said Gadot to the JDG, “Since the end of last week, we knew that there was a problem with this trainer, and we didn’t have to wait for the test results to put measures in place. Two horses presented with symptoms (cough, hypothermia) that made us think that flu was possible. In agreement with the trainer, the horses, which were not entered anyway, will only be able to run once we are certain that the virus is no longer present. The horses with the disease are confined to the stable. Those who are not ill will be able to access the tracks at time when they will not meet other horses in training. Regarding the second affected facility, it is located fairly close to the first affected stable. Two horses had fever and a bit of discharge. The measures (in place) are substantially the same as in the first case.” Gadot, who told the JDG that vets had been aware the virus had been circulating in the north of France, Belgium, the Pays-Bas region, and northern Germany in sport horses, said that, “There are several aspects that justify our not communicating the name of the professional concerned. On the one hand, veterinarians are bound by medical secrecy. If their client forbids them to communicate his identity, they must respect his wishes, and France Galop must do the same.” British racing was shut down for six days earlier this month after six equine influenza positives were detected in the yard of National Hunt trainer Donald McCain. Four other positives were later confirmed from the yard of Newmarket trainer Simon Crisford. View the full article

ITV Sport’s Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani were the joint recipients of the Broadcast Sports Presenter of the Year Award at the British Sports Journalism Awards sponsored by Canon, European Professional Club Rugby and the National Lottery on Monday evening. Said one judge, “Francesca and Ed–fresh, fun, knowledgeable and accessible. They’re a classic racing double act whose passion and insight shine through every race meeting.” “Francesca and I love working with each other and I’m very proud of the fact that I think we’re just about the only male-female presenting combination in sport,” Chamberlin told Racing Post. “People ask me why I left premier league football to work in racing, and this is why. It’s brilliant to put racing on a stage like this and we’d like to thank everyone on our own team as well as all of those that make our wonderful sport possible.” Added Cumani, “This is a massive surprise and the first awards ceremony I have been to. I’m so lucky to do something that I love working with such an incredible team of people. At ITV we are a big family, we really enjoy what we do and I think that comes across in our broadcast. We’d like to say a massive thank you to the SJA and the panel of judges and I couldn’t be more thrilled on behalf of us all.” View the full article

Super Steed never made it to the sales ring, but Pressley still launched a grand slam when the colt he co-owns with Steed Jackson captured the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 18 at Oaklawn Park at odds of 62-1. View the full article

Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings has filed a malpractice lawsuit against Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital over the 2017 death of a 12-hour-old foal that was a half-sibling to the 2010 GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. The Blood-Horse first reported news of the Fayette Circuit Court lawsuit in Kentucky Tuesday, noting that a jury trial has been set for July 23. The story included a comment from Rood & Riddle’s attorney, who said veterinarians at the clinic “complied fully with the standard of care, and we believe that the hospital will be exonerated in the lawsuit.” The case involves the mare Supercharger, who, according to the Blood-Horse, had a 2016 foal that died after not being ideally positioned in the womb. Because of this, Supercharger was sent to Rood & Riddle as a precaution to deliver her subsequent Curlin foal in early March 2017. According to the Blood-Horse, “Supercharger went into labor the evening of March 8, 2017. Dr. Bonnie Barr, the lead veterinarian on the case, and Dr. Brett Woodie determined this foal also was awkwardly positioned, and they placed Supercharger under anesthesia in order to perform a controlled vaginal delivery, in which they manually pulled the foal out of the mare.” Citing the lawsuit, the Blood-Horse reported that Barr “observed an indentation at the base of the foal’s rib cage on its left side that she subsequently, after repeated palpations, could no longer detect.” The Blood-Horse wrote that “the foal was moved to the hospital’s intensive care unit, and by 6 a.m. the following morning was showing signs of discomfort. The foal died at approximately 7:30 a.m., and a subsequent necropsy performed at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory revealed six fractured ribs on the foal’s left side as well as acute internal bleeding.” The lawsuit, according to the Blood-Horse story, charges that the foal should have had an ultrasound performed on it instead of relying on manual palpations, and that overnight vet technicians “should have notified Dr. Barr when the foal’s heart and respiration rates both rose dramatically.” View the full article

Live Oak Plantation's homebred World Approval, champion turf male of 2017 and winner of that year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar, has been retired from racing. View the full article

The Apr. 25 Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale will feature a select catalogue of 160 2-year-olds, including lot 17, a Zoffany (Ire) half-brother to GISW Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Breezes will begin at 11 a.m on Apr. 24 at Doncaster Racecourse, with the sale proper beginning at the same time one day later. Other lots of note include lot 9, a colt by Showcasing (GB) out of MGSW Pickle (GB) (Piccolo {GB}) who is already the dam of two listed winners; a daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire) (lot 116) out of Group 3 winner Gothic Dance (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}); and lot 127, a filly by first-season sire standout Kingman (GB) out of a half-sister to GSW Queen’s Best (GB) (King’s Best), already the dam of GISW Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). In 2018, the sale grossed £5,528,000 for 138 lots with an average of £40,058 and a median of £25,500. A son of Kyllachy (GB) topped proceedings at £220,000, one of five lots on the day to make £150,000 or more. “For this year’s catalogue we set ourselves the goal of producing a concise line-up focused on quality,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams. “We have worked hard over the last few months as nominations for this sale were higher than ever but, together with our consignors, we have achieved that goal with a first-class offering. We have been well supported with some lovely 2-year-olds, the sire profile is strong featuring big names from Europe and America and there are some outstanding Thoroughbred families represented. This is a catalogue that holds international appeal and the Goffs UK team and agents will be traveling the world over the coming weeks to promote it to a global audience.” View the full article

The concept of City Racing appears a step closer to reality as organisers hope agreements may be in place by the end of next month to stage fixtures in 2019 and 2020. Peter Phillips, one of the brains behind the innovation to take racing on to the streets of major cities across the world, reports negotiations continue to be encouraging. The intention, with backing from various stakeholders including the Jockey Club, is to lay down a special all-weather surface–which can then be taken up again within 72 hours–to showcase racing to crowds in high-profile city backdrops. It is hoped international broadcast deals will be another element of City Racing. Phillips, the Queen’s grandson, has told the BBC that progress is being made on proposals for fixtures which would each contain six five-furlong Flat races–with venues such as Paris, London, New York and Melbourne among those so far mentioned. “We are now in the process of talking to a number of cities about hosting races later in 2019 and 2020,” he said. “We are hoping to have some of these agreements in place by the end of March. There will be a pedestrian crowd barrier, two or three metres back from the edge of the track and people lined four or five deep, getting up close to these horses running at 30mph. That’s going to create a unique energy and buzz. The surface to be used was trialled at Aintree last November, when it received positive feedback. View the full article

Cash is King and LC Racing’s graded stakes-winning ‘TDN Rising Star’ Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) has been injured and taken off the GI Kentucky Derby trail, Cash is King principal Chuck Zacney confirmed to TDN Tuesday. The previously undefeated Butch Reid trainee was coming off a third-place run as the favorite in the GII Holy Bull S. Feb. 2 at Gulfstream (video). The story was first reported by Blood-Horse. “He was having a workout Sunday morning at around 8 a.m., Jose Ortiz was up and about halfway through, he didn’t feel right and kind of slowed down,” Zacney said. “We discussed it with Butch and brought a vet in. At this point, it’s a soft tissue issue, and we’re taking a couple of days to try to figure things out. We should have a better idea by Monday.” Bought for $340,000 as a 2-year-old in training after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic, Maximus Mischief debuted an 8 1/2-length winner last September at Parx and earned his ‘Rising Star’ badge with a similarly facile allowance score there Oct. 20. He passed the acid test with a front-running success in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 1 at Aqueduct, but flattened out some after chasing a quick pace in the Holy Bull. “We were disappointed in the Holy Bull, but after a couple of days he bounced back to where he was before,” Zacney said. “All the reports I was receiving were good, so I was calling the Holy Bull a mulligan and we were moving forward towards the Derby, but we’re unfortunately in kind of a holding pattern now.” Zacney and Cash is King burst onto the scene in 2005 with GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. hero Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet), who came within a length of the Triple Crown by finishing third in the Derby. Cash is King has been a mid-Atlantic staple since then, but has yet to return to the Run for the Roses. “Thinking back to the Afleet Alex days, he was really our first horse and we didn’t know any better,” Zacney said. “Fast forward 10-15 years and we’re kind of realizing now how difficult it is to get back there.” Fortunately for Zacney, he has something major to look forward to this weekend that will likely soften the blow of Maximus Mischief’s misfortune. Along with Len Green’s D. J. Stable, he owns reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and GI Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies heroine Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), who is set to make her sophomore debut in Saturday’s GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream. The John Servis pupil completed preparations for her return with an easy half-mile breeze in :50.55 (22/31) Sunday at Palm Meadows. “The Greens and I are very, very excited,” he said. “We are getting nothing but positive reports from John and she’s training really well. I’m driving down for the race, then am going to head up to Ocala to watch a couple of our 2-year-olds. We’re very, very lucky to have a filly like that and as excited as I am, I’m thrilled to death for the Greens.” View the full article

G1SW Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) is set to resume in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Mar. 30. Trainer Richard Fahey reports the Group 1-winning speedster to have wintered well so far and he is on course for another six-furlong contest at the top level on his seasonal debut. “The plan is to go to World Cup night in Dubai,” said Fahey. “Everything’s going according to plan. He’s a Group 1-winning sprinter and you can hand-pick the races for them. I think he’s due to go over to Dubai about six or seven days before the race. We’re very pleased with him.” Fahey has always held Sands Of Mali in high regard and the 4-year-old colt justified that opinion when taking the scalp of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October. Sands Of Mali had begun 2018 with victories in a Group 3 at Chantilly and the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock, before having a slight blip in late summer after finishing second in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. View the full article

Trainer Ken McPeek is the latest member of the Thoroughbred industry to join the Water Hay Oats Alliance. McPeek submitted the following statement: “As a horseman who has been fortunate to participate in racing in many countries, I firmly believe we need to bring uniformity to American racing which will meet international standards. The world is getting smaller and we need to be a leader in clean sport and uniformity, not a follower. I’ve had good success winning without Lasix, especially fillies like Daddys Lil Darling, Pure Fun, and Princess Warrior to name a few. I particularly feel strongly that the graded stakes we run in North America should be run without race day medication. Having trained lower quality horses early in my career and continuing to have claiming horses today, I recognize there are horses that need help. However at the upper levels of the sport we should be aware that these horses should be on a level playing field with the rest of the world horse industry. Standards are set for many international jurisdictions and for our graded stakes to adapt would be something I wish to see one day sooner than later. WHOA is working to make that happen through the passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act and I’m in agreement that it is a worthy cause.” View the full article

A year ago, Joe Peacock’s Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper) earned a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby with a win in the GIII Sunland Derby, but a chance at the roses vanished when the homebred colt suffered a hairline fracture to his shin in mid-April. Following surgery and plenty of time to recuperate, Runaway Ghost is back with trainer Todd Fincher and is poised for a big 2019 campaign. He came back from 10 months on the sidelines to win the six-furlong Ft. Bliss S. Feb. 2 and added a 1 1/2-length tally in the 1 1/16-mile Curribot H. at Sunland Sunday (video). “It looks like he came out of the race very well,” Fincher said Tuesday morning. “We will get him back up on his feet, give him a work and start looking for a place to go. We might stay here, but it might be time to venture elsewhere with him. He’s a really nice horse and we’re looking forward to him having a great year.” Fincher’s original plan for Runaway Ghost didn’t include the quick three-week turnaround. “I was dead set on not running him in it [the Curribot], but the horse just kept acting like he had come out of the race so great and he kept training light’s out,” Fincher said. “So I made the decision to go ahead and run him. Even though he was telling me he was going to give me his best effort, I’ve been around long enough to know that when a horse runs that hard off a long layoff, it takes them a while to recover. He ran a great race–probably not his best–but he wasn’t lying to me. He was ready to go again. It’ll be a minimum of five weeks before his next race. That was a little risky, what we did, but I was just listening to the horse.” Fincher trained Runaway Ghost’s dam Rose’s Desert for Peacock and has two of the his siblings in the barn. The mare’s 3-year-old Sheriff Brown (Curlin) looked to be following in his half-brother’s footsteps when finishing second, beaten only a head by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Nitrous (Tapit), in the Jan. 27 Riley Allison Derby. “He was turning out to be a really nice horse, but he also had a little shin issue,” Fincher said of the bay gelding. “His is pretty minor, but it has taken him out of everything. We could press on and end up hurting him, so we’re doing the right thing by that horse, as well. He’s going to have a great future. He’ll come back strong next fall.” Rose’s Desert’s 2-year-old daughter Our Iris Rose (Ghostzapper), a full-sister to Runaway Ghost, turned in a three-furlong work in :38.60 (15/19) at Sunland Park Feb. 22. “We just gave her a work before we turn her out,” Fincher said. “There is nothing wrong with her, we’re just going to let her go home and get out in the pasture and grow up. We’ll give her three months off and then we’ll put her back in training and have her ready to run in the fall.” Asked if he saw any similarities between the siblings, Fincher said, “Ghost and Sheriff Brown have no similarities whatsoever–different builds, different attitudes. Everything is different other than they both have shown a ton of talent. Maybe the sister might be more similar to Runaway Ghost, real quiet and just does whatever you ask her to do and looks more like him.” With Sheriff Brown on the sidelines, Fincher still looks set to have a representative in this year’s Sunland Derby, which will offer a purse of $800,000 and 50 qualifying points into the Kentucky Derby when it is run Mar. 24. He trains Hustle Up (Abstraction) on behalf of Dale F. Taylor Racing, LLC., Bobby McQueen and Suzanne Kirby. The gelding is now a four-time stakes winner after his wire-to-wire victory in Sunday’s Mine That Bird Derby (video). “Hustle Up could go straight into the Sunland Derby if everything goes well,” Fincher said. “I’m guessing the owners would like a ticket to the Kentucky Derby. So we’ll play it by ear on that, but that’s probably the next step for him. He came out of the race health-wise in great shape, but he was a little tired. It took a little out of him. So we’ll evaluate and make that decision with him.” Hustle Up, who gave Fincher his 1,000th career win in the Mine That Bird Derby, has now won eight of 10 starts and lives up to his name with a determined front-running style. “I know he has the talent,” Fincher said. “He just wants to be in front. If we could ever get him to come off the pace about five lengths, you would see a different horse. He ran a very nice race, don’t get me wrong, but he would be even a better horse if you could get him to just relax the first quarter of a mile.” Of the chance to win back-to-back Sunland Derbys, Fincher admitted, “That would be great and [Hustle Up] being a New Mexico-bred, it would be unheard of. We’re going to try him. We know we’ll be up against it, there will be a lot of really nice horses coming, but that’s our next step if everything goes right.” In addition to training Hustle Up, Fincher also co-bred the gelding with Brad King. “I’m always in partnership on mares,” Fincher said. “I’ve had as many as eight or nine. I probably have five now, somewhere in there. ” Fincher said there is plenty of upside to the New Mexico racing and breeding program. “I’m involved in every aspect of horse racing in New Mexico,” he said. “It’s just a great program. It’s very lucrative. They have a lot of incentives to breed in New Mexico. And everything is on a lot lower scale, so financially, it makes a lot of sense. It’s not comparable to Kentucky, obviously, but our breeding program has gotten much advanced in the last 15-20 years. New Mexico has a great breeding program and pretty nice purses all year-round. It makes it all worthwhile financially, which should allow more people to play the game when you have a chance to recoup your money. Everywhere else, it is purely a hobby for the owners and the prestige of it, but more than likely you’re never going to come ahead on the money end, but in New Mexico a lot of people do. So it makes it feasible.” View the full article

In a move to increase the collaboration between the British Horseracing Authority and the racing industry, the composition of the Board of the BHA will be changed, the BHA announced on Tuesday. This follows a review by the Racecourse Association (RCA), the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) and licensed personnel in the industry. Other changes that will be put in place are: The new Board will be comprised of the chairman and chief executive, four independent directors and four directors nominated by the RCA and the Horsemen Further work will be carried out with the members on how the BHA consults the industry on key proposals which affect them This will include ensuring decisions taken by BHA committees allow for views from the industry to be fully represented The BHA and members will review other aspects of the Members Agreement External bodies will be asked to contribute views on their involvement in consultations where this is appropriate David Armstrong, new Chief Executive of the RCA, joined the board in February, Chair of the RCA Maggie Carver and President of the Racehorse Owners Association Nicholas Cooper, will both join in March. The process of appointing a new chair for the BHA Board is ongoing. Both Hamilton Park Racecourse Chief Executive Viven Currie and British Cycling Chief Executive Julie Harrington are leaving the board after serving their terms. “We believe it is essential to develop a more collaborative relationship across the sport while maintaining the BHA’s independence from participants on integrity and regulatory matters,” said BHA Chair Atholl Duncan. “The changes which we’ve agreed with the racecourses and horsemen strike the right balance between industry involvement and maintaining a robust independence in our decision-making. I would like this to signal the start of a new era of better working together across the sport.” View the full article

Full season ticket plans for The Stretch at Saratoga for the 2019 meet will be available starting Thursday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. The Stretch is a private hospitality area in the grandstand at the top of the stretch. Click here for ticket plan options. “The Stretch was tremendously popular in its inaugural season,” said NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca. “Based on the outstanding feedback we received last year and the robust pace of season ticket renewals, we expect this premium hospitality area to be in extremely high demand for the 2019 meet. We encourage fans to act now to secure their spot in The Stretch for the upcoming season.” View the full article

The second edition of the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million (WHSM) returns in 2019, following on the heels of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) securing the £1-million prize in its inaugural year. There are also four additional qualifying races in Dubai, Germany, France and Ireland, respectively, joining the British qualifying quartet: Dubai Gold Cup (Dubai) – Mar. 30* Vintage Crop S. (Navan) – Apr. 28* Longines Sagaro S. (Ascot) – May 1 Boodles Diamond Ormonde S. (Chester) – May 9 Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen (Berlin-Hoppegarten) – May 12* Yorkshire Cup (York) – May 17 Matchbook Henry II S. (Sandown Park) – May 23 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (ParisLongchamp) – May 26* *Indicates new qualifier If a horse wins one of the initial eight qualifiers and then adds the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on June 20, the G2 Qatar Goodwood Cup on July 30, and finally the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup on Aug. 23, its connections will win an additional £1 million. Once again the bonus will be split with 70% going to the owner, and 30% divided equally between the trainer, stable staff, breeder and jockey. View the full article

A total of £10.8 million in prize-money will be offered across 39 fixtures in 2019, Newmarket Racecourses announced on Tuesday. In addition, three pattern races received a prize-money boost: new Group 3s the Zetland S. and the Pride S., both held over 10 furlongs at the Dubai Future Champions Festival, saw their purses increased by £20,000 apiece, while the G3 Bahrain Trophy, slated for opening day of the Moet & Chandon July Festival will boast total prize-money of £175,000. It was run at £150,000 in 2018. The bet365 Trophy, a 14-furlong handicap conducted during the second day of the Moet & Chandon July Festival, will be worth £120,000 with the support of bet365. Full details of the race conditions and Newmarket’s 55 pattern and listed races and four heritage handicaps will be included in the Newmarket Racecourses Pattern & Listed Programme Book, published this week. “We are delighted that the Pride and the Zetland have earned their upgrade to Group 3 status,” said Jockey Club Racecourses East Region Regional Director Amy Starkey. “These upgrades are an endorsement for the make-up of the autumn fixture list and the quality of horses the programme is attracting. The Bahrain Trophy is a valuable stepping stone for potentially top-class stayers and we are pleased to support the industry’s drive to develop an attractive programme for quality staying horses in Britain. We are also delighted to continue our relationship with bet365 by introducing the bet365 Trophy for 2019.” The prize-money changes were unveiled in light of the impending law change regarding FOBTs (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals), which adversely affected the purse money of the 2019 £350,000 Cesarewitch H., up £100,000 compared to 2017’s prize-money. She added, “Last year we embarked on the ambitious plan to make the Cesarewitch worth £1 million, but unfortunately circumstances have changed since we made the announcement in April 2018 and with both the short and longer-term outlook being uncertain, it was deemed neither sensible nor sustainable to stick blindly to the proposed year-on-year increases.” View the full article

When prominent owner Rick Porter started the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization (NTWO) in late February, 2017, his goal was nothing less than to solve every problem that exists in racing when it comes to the health, safety and welfare of the racehorse. That may be a bit naive and, obviously, is something no one can do overnight–even someone with the political clout and financial resources that Porter has. But he has already started to deliver on his promises as the NTWO chose to begin its mission in Louisiana, which had a reputation for doing less than perhaps any other state when it came to keeping Thoroughbreds from going to slaughter or falling into the hands of what his key aid Victoria Keith calls “extortionists.” She is referring to people who set up Facebook pages, post photos of horses and say they will send them to slaughter unless the public pays a ransom a price to keep them from being killed. The price was always much more than the amount the horse would go for at auctions, where their only value was what they could sell for as horse meat. More than two years later, Keith is still focused on Louisiana and says the situation there is now far better than before her arrival. The NTWO did not start operating in Louisiana until July and, according to Keith, it has rescued 118 horses off the track, mainly from Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs. She says she’s saved so many horses that her hay bill alone is $300 a day. It has also worked with the local HBPA in an attempt to get a bill passed where every owner racing in Louisiana would pay a per-start fee that would be given to horse rescue groups. Keith’s investigative work recently helped lead to the arrest of a local horse dealer on animal cruelty charges. “We’ve concentrated on Louisiana for starters because that was one of the worst states,” Porter said. “She’s made big headway in Louisiana with the right people. We have to get to the organizations that have the clout to do something about this. If you can’t, you might as well forget it. I think we’ve made good headway in Louisiana and Louisiana is our test state. I told her, `Don’t go too fast. Get Louisiana down pat and get everything done there that you want to achieve before you touch another state.'” While the racing industry as a whole has made meaningful strides addressing the horse slaughter problem, Louisiana’s reputation was that it was 20 years behind the times. According to Keith, there were only two rescue groups operating in the state and both lacked the needed funding to make any kind of meaningful difference. Kill pens and auctions that sell horses for their meat to dealers could be found throughout the state and racing officials there seemed to either not understand there was a serious problem or not see the need to fix things. The Pelican State was also a hotbed when it came to people using social media to demand that people pay a ransom price for a horse to keep it from going to slaughter. Eventually, that became the favored tool of the so-called `killer buyers’ who realized they could make more money from horse lovers saddened by the plight of these horses than from selling them to the slaughter houses. The problem with this means of “rescuing” horses is that there is no accountability. Where did the horse go after the ransom was paid and were they being properly cared for while still in the hands of the dealers? Keith, whose new title is NTWO President, understood she couldn’t come into foreign territory and start making demands or threats. She says she believes most people in racing care about their horses and that the way to start was to have reasonable discussions with the right people. She started with executives of Boyd Gaming, which owns Evangeline and Delta, and said they vowed their immediate cooperation. They made sure every overnight had a section that told horsemen about Keith and that she was there to find homes for horses that were no longer wanted and Boyd also vowed to take action against any trainer caught selling his or her horses to slaughter. “Boyd has been very supportive,” she said. “I have tried to not go in there heavy handed. I’ve tried to go in there and say, here’s a good alternative to this problem.” Keith then teamed up with a local breeder named Lora Pitre, who helped introduce her to horsemen and offered her farm as a stopover for the horses that were in the process of being adopted. She said it was Pitre who convinced local horsemen from a community that doesn’t always welcome outsiders that Keith was doing something necessary and could be trusted. “She’s a farm owner down there and knows everybody and has apparently been on her own rescuing horses for years and years,” Keith said. “She’s been a huge help because people seem to be very comfortable with her. They would call her and she would make arrangements to pick up the horses. She’s been a huge help.” Keith says the amount of horses that come off the track and wind up in the wrong hands has dropped significantly since she set up shop. “I was told when I was researching the area that most people wanted an alternative, they want somewhere to send their horse,” she said. “They don’t want to squeeze out the last 200 bucks selling them for meat. They just needed to be educated and know that there are alternatives. Most people picked right up on this.” Her biggest frustration continued to be the presence of off-the-track Thoroughbreds showing up on websites that preyed on people who couldn’t bear to see a horse go to slaughter. One of the first people that came on her radar was Dina Alborano, who started a Facebook page called “icareihelp.” She boasted of saving hundreds of horses in Louisiana. Keith had her suspicions about Alborano from the start. For one, she was not registered as a 501 (c) (3) charity and she was working with a man named Hal Parker to care for the horses she rescued. According to Keith, Parker was a former employee of one of the biggest kill buyers in the country, the Stanley Brothers. Keith exposed the operation in a story she wrote for the NTWO’s website as something a lot different that what it purported to be. Louisiana authorities began to get calls about Alborano and Parker after Keith published her story and began to investigate. The local sheriff’s department found that Parker was keeping the horses in barns meant for chickens and many were malnourished. They also said they could not account for the whereabouts of 65 horses that Alborano had claimed to have rescued. On Feb. 19, Parker was arrested on multiple counts of animal cruelty and theft of a horse. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates told reporters that it was Keith’s article that led to the investigation of Alborano and Parker. No charges have been filed against Alborano, but she posted on her website that she is no longer accepting donations or rescuing horses. But there are still others in Louisiana that are involved in the “horse extortion” business. “Dina is just one; there are other people,” said Keith. “There is someone else huge on my radar and has bailed out a lot of horses. The problem with them is there is no accountability, not with the horses, not when it comes to the money they’re taking in. If they say they need to raise $3,000 to save six horses, you have no idea if they raised $3,000, $6,000 or even $20,000. If these people don’t have a 501 (c) (3) and if they’re not accountable for their finances or for their horses, don’t give them money. They prey on the hearts of people who see these horses being threatened and they can’t stand it and want to help save them. Educating people is the key. Demand accountability. Donate your money to any one of the many reputable rescue groups that are out there.” She believes Parker’s arrest will change things. “When things happened like what happened here, where there were charges for animal cruelty, I think that can have a huge impact,” she said. “I’m very glad to see that happened to him. I know a number of people who should be scared right now because they know people are really looking at them and they know they are not doing things the proper way.” Keith knows that there will always be the occasional Thoroughbred that slips through the cracks and winds up at slaughter. But she said by the time she is done in Louisiana, she believes the instances of that happening will be extremely rare. Then it will be time to move on to the next state, the next project. Porter literally believes there is no horse welfare problem that can’t eventually be solved or, at least, be greatly improved upon. Keith believes that, too. Throw any problem you want at them. They’re up for the challenge. View the full article