Wandering Eyes

Newmarket, UK—He’s travelled halfway around the world to come home. Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}), as a representative of Australia’s powerful Hayes-Dabernig stable, was one of the stars of Royal Ascot’s international press morning on Thursday, but in fact the 7-year-old is back where it all began, on Newmarket Heath. This is where he was trained to win his first two races for William Haggas and is less than a mile from where he was conceived, at Stanley House Stud, where his sire Notnowcato once occupied the same stable as his own father Inchinor (GB) and the great Hyperion (GB) before him. With Notnowcato having subsequently been sold to stand in Ireland as a jumps sire, his speedy son is something of an outlier when it comes to the progeny he left in Britain, though it didn’t appear that way in the beginning. Redkirk Warrior’s first two victories, and in fact his only two starts in England, both came over 10 furlongs in his 3-year-old season, and he continued at that trip in his next two outings after being sold to race in Hong Kong for Jenny Tam Yuk Ching. By 2016, he had moved again, to Lindsay Park in Australia and to the care of the training triumvirate of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. “He has a high cruising speed and he can kick off a high cruising speed. In his early days when we were training him up the hill he was running times that sprinters run and we thought we’d try him fresh first up. He was ridden poorly but he finished well for second,” recalled Ben Hayes. “Then next prep we trained him as a sprinter and we ran him in the Newmarket [Handicap] and he won like a very good horse, so we’ve kept him to sprinting ever since.” That breakthough Group 1 victory down Flemington’s straight six furlongs has since been augmented by success in the G1 Lightning S. over five and a repeat win in the Newmarket back in March. The Lightning is now named after Black Caviar, who won the race ahead of her assault on Ascot and the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. back in 2012. In his attempt to emulate this feat, Redkirk Warrior has been assigned the same stable at Newmarket’s Abington Place which the great mare inhabited during her stay in the town. As he exercised around his old stomping ground of Bury Hill on Thursday morning, on his toes to begin with but relaxing into a long loping saunter for home after a gentle six-furlong canter on the Polytrack, Redkirk Warrior appeared to have taken his latest round of world travels in his stride. He will have Frankie Dettori in the saddle at Ascot. “He’s an old professional. He’s eating well and looks great so we’re happy,” said Hayes, whose father David previously sent out Nicconi (Aus) to finish fourth in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Ascot in 2010, as well as Criterion (Aus), who achieved the same placing in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. five years later. He added, “There are plenty of good sprinters in Australia and to have one of the very best is a real privilege. We love trying to win Group 1 races overseas on the world stage so we were delighted to have the opportunity to travel with this horse. His best performances have been on top of the ground so with the weather set to stay dry we’ve opted for the Diamond Jubilee [on Saturday]. We’ve raced Merchant Navy (Aus) before and it’s not often you can come over here with a familiar formline. Harry Angel (Ire) is a different prospect. He’s clearly a very good sprinter but it’s hard to judge that against the Australian form. If our horse runs to the best of his form then he definitely has a very good chance.” Strong American Challenge Wesley Ward has opted to base his team at Paul Cole’s Whatcombe stable in Oxfordshire, but Redkirk Warrior has two American challengers for company in Newmarket. When a Japanese-bred horse is gifted the name Yoshida (JPN) then one would assume he’s pretty special and the 4-year-old son of Shadai Farm’s Heart’s Cry (JPN) has indeed already won at the highest level on the turf in America since being entrusted to the care of Bill Mott. Yoshida doesn’t just carry a portentous name, he also runs for the syndicate of owners behind Justify (Scat Daddy), namely Winstar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Bloodstock, and Sol Kumin’s Head Of Plains Partners. The team may justifiably still be nursing sore heads after Saturday’s Triple Crown celebrations and the party will roll on into Tuesday’s G1 Queen Anne S., which two years ago was won by American raider Tepin (Bernstein). “We were here last year with Long On Value so we got the lie of the land and we learned that you need to bring over a really good horse. We told ourselves that if we had a horse of the talent level to compete here we’d come back,” said Riley Mott, in Newmarket on his father’s behalf to oversee the final preparations for Yoshida, who had an easy canter over a mile on the Polytrack surface of the Al Bahathri gallop. “He’ll have a light piece of work here in the next few days just to open up his lungs and keep him on course for the race but whatever the conditions may be on Tuesday I think we have a horse who will adapt very well. He’s arguably in the top two or three turf horses back home. Mr Ward and Mr Casse have both had success on turf over here and that gave us the confidence to come.” Out earliest of all on Thursday for a sedate stretch on the short half-mile of Newmarket’s Town Canter was Bucchero (Kantharos), who will be flying the flag for college teacher-turned-trainer Tim Glyshaw in Tuesday’s G1 King’s Stand S. “No sheikhs or billionaires need apply,” reads the strapline on the homepage of the website of his owner Ironhorse Racing Stable and, indeed, victory for the 6-year-old entire at Royal Ascot would certainly be a great fillip for the smaller ownership groups around the world. Bought by a partnership headed by Harlan Malter for $43,000 as a juvenile, Bucchero has subsequently netted his five owners in the region of $780,000 and has brought them on a transatlantic journey few would have expected when Malter was ringing around trying to find partners to take a share in the bonny chestnut colt who was fourth in last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. “As an owner getting into the game as just a true ran of horseracing, getting to the Breeders’ Cup for an American is really high on the list and I don’t think most owners even think about getting to Royal Ascot, but for this to come up as an option is really special,” said Malter. Glyshaw, who is based predominantly at Churchill Downs, takes extra pride in the fact both he and the horse he trains were born and raised in Indiana, which in equine terms would be several rungs beneath their new Kentucky home. “It’s kind of a dream,” said the softly spoken 49-year-old. “If he shows up and runs his race I think we’re right there. We’re just very proud of our horse that we’re here. I think he’ll like the straight. There are some questions: we’re running without Lasix but that’s never been a problem for him. He didn’t turn a hair [when racing on Kentucky Derby day] at Churchill Downs so the crowd shouldn’t be a problem for him.” Appleby Marches On To Ascot Charlie Appleby joined the international press conference in the Jockey Club Rooms to issue an update on some of his runners for Royal Ascot and, asked if winning the Derby had changed his life, he replied, “Not in my household. I’ve had to get back to all the daily chores with the children and the ponies and the dogs.” Dog-walkers and babysitters will hopefully be on hand next week to allow the Godolphin trainer to turn his attention to the five days of the Royal Meeting for which his representatives include recent Oaks runner-up Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will be dropping back in trip for the G2 Ribblesdale S. “Will Illusion lost nothing in defeat in the Oaks and has come out of the race well. The winner was just a better filly and she was drawing away from us at the end, but we were drawing away from the third so I don’t think it was a case that she didn’t stay,” said the trainer. Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy) played his part in a memorable Dubai World Cup meeting for Appleby when winning the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic but was disappointing on his first start back in Britain this term when fifth behind Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Investec Coronation Cup. “He’s becoming more versatile as he gets older and has coped with quick ground as well as soft ground,” said Appleby of the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. contender. “He can get himself a bit worked up but he’s come out of [Epsom] well. We’re dropping back in trip again and the plan is to be positive.” Another to be taking a step back in distance is Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), who was withdrawn at the start ahead of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint and has something to prove after a below-par effort in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong. “Dropping back to five [furlongs] is within his compass I feel,” Appleby offered. “Things didn’t go to plan in Hong Kong but he’s had a nice break since then and he put a serious piece of work in on Saturday. He’s showing all the right signs.” The other big sprint hope in the trainer’s camp is last Saturday’s G3 John O’Gaunt S. winner D’Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who drops down to six furlongs for the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Appleby added, “I’ve felt for the last six or eight months now that he could be a sprinter. He broke the track record over seven at Meydan. I was delighted with his run when fourth behind Jungle Cat and then he was second to The Tin Man (GB), which was a very positive run. The way he travelled in the John O’Gaunt Stakes he showed a bit of class. They’re going to go hard in the Diamond Jubilee and he could well be running on late.” View the full article

Making his debut at Evangeline Downs, Norman Stables' Victory Trip went gate-to-wire June 13 to represent Guilt Trip's first winner from the stallion's first starter. View the full article

Logan has high hopes on juvenile pair View the full article

St Patrick's Day, a full brother to Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah, will make his European debut in the June 14 Ballycorus Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown in Ireland. View the full article

OCALA, Fl – With a colt from the final crop of Scat Daddy leading the way, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age got off to a strong start Wednesday in Central Florida. In all, 171 horses sold Wednesday for a gross of $6,460,500. The average of $37,781 was up 15% from last year’s opening session, while the median rose 17.6% to $20,000. Twelve horses sold for $100,000 or more during the session, compared to 17 during last year’s opener to a two-day June sale. “It was a good start to the sale,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “I thought it was a good day and a lot of horses changed hands. The average was up and the median was up. It is a little tough to compare the sales because we had a longer session last year–we catalogued 374 for the first day last year versus 300–so it’s a little hard to go day to day. But all in all, we were in good shape. And, while it’s hard to make that apples-to-apple comparisons between the sales, you’d rather see it this way than the other way.” The buy-back rate was 21.6%. It was 22.9% at the close of business a year ago, but improved to 16.7% with the inclusion of post-sale transactions. In the first session of the 2017 June sale, 221 horses sold for $7,260,000. The average was $32,851 and the median was $17,000. Carlo Vaccarezza went to $650,000 to secure the session topper, a colt by Scat Daddy (hip 211) who was consigned by Top Line Sales on behalf of breeder Don Ming. The session topper was one of three to better last year’s top price of $320,000. “I think it says that a good horse can sell here and sell well,” Wojciechowski said. “We try to let people know that the idea is, if a horse needs time, you give them time and when they round into form here in June, there is still plenty of money here to buy those types of horses.” The OBS June sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. Scat Daddy Colt to Vaccarezza Just four days removed from Justify (Scat Daddy)’s historic Triple Crown sweep in the GI Belmont S., a colt by the late sire (hip 211) lit up the board at OBS when selling for $650,000 to Carlo Vaccarezza. “I came down just to buy this horse,” Vaccarezza said. “I saw him and I loved him and Jimbo Gladwell told me he was doing really well. Scat Daddy is the flavor of the week and this is the last crop for Scat Daddy, so I figured we would just take a chance.” Vaccarezza acknowledged Justify’s exploits might have helped push the colt’s price northward. “It was probably $100,000 up from where it was supposed to go just because of Justify,” he said. “But I got lucky once with Little Mike and we’ll try to repeat that again.” Vaccarezza’s homebred Little Mike (Spanish Steps) won the 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and GI Arlington Million and earned over $3.5 million during his racing career. Asked if their was a ‘little’ in this colt’s future name, Vaccarezza said, “I don’t know. We’ll see. Maybe we’ll call him Little Daddy–no we can’t call him Little Daddy because I have a Little Daddy, but we’ll call him some ‘Little.'” Hip 211 is out of Satulah (Gone West), a daughter of graded stakes winner War Thief (Lord at War {Arg}) and a half-sister to graded stakes winner Boss Lafitte (Dynaformer). He was consigned by Top Line Sales on behalf of breeder Don Ming, who bought him back at $385,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. “We always liked him and we always had high expectations for him,” said the breeder’s son, Jacob Ming, who is also a member of the Top Line sales team. “We wanted $400,000 for him in September, but we thought we would be ok to take him home and take him to a 2-year-old sale and let him perform. We knew he was a good horse.” The March foal has only gotten better since last fall, according to Ming. “He is still looks like the same horse, but he’s matured a lot more,” Ming said. “It took him to June to grow up to his physical. He was a big horse and he needed more time to mature. Coming to this late sale really helped him.” The juvenile worked a furlong in a co-fastest :9 4/5 last week. “I was there when we breezed him,” Ming said. “I brought him up on the pony and it was exciting. It was something special. But I knew he was that fast the whole time. That’s why we brought him here. He’s an awesome horse and it’s good to see him go to a good home so we can see what he can do.” Of the colt’s final price tag, Ming added, “We were thinking up to $450,000–$500,000, if we were lucky. But $650,000 was a plus, so we couldn’t be more happy with that.” Cairo Prince Filly to Chus Susan and Charles Chu, who campaigned sprint champion and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Drefong (Gio Ponti), acquired a filly from the first crop of graded stakes winner Cairo Prince for $375,000 during Wednesday’s first session of the OBS June sale. The juvenile worked the fastest quarter-mile (:20 2/5) during last week’s under-tack preview and was consigned by Andro and Tracey Price’s Price Thoroughbreds. “That was right in the ballpark,” Andro Price said of the filly’s final price. “We had a lot of positive interest in the filly and she presented herself well. We are very happy today. I have to thank my team who helped me here with this filly and my partners who were patient with me and with her and gave her the time to get her here. And of course, my wife who rode her so well in the breeze show.” Out of Motel Lass (Bates Motel), the May 29 foal (hip 61) is a half-sister to stakes winners Stormin’ Lyon (Storm Boot) and Quick Flip (Speightstown). “You can’t find much wrong with her,” Price said. “She’s a lovely filly who is still growing. We targeted this sale with her because she is a late foal and we thought we’d give her the time. I think she is going to finish off to be a beautiful, fantastic 3-year-old and I think we’ll be hearing good things from her.” Price Thoroughbreds purchased the filly for $130,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale. After last Thursday’s breeze, Price admitted that was above his usual target price for a yearling. But after Wednesday’s sale, the consignor agreed that it would likely be more of the same at this fall’s yearling sales. “I don’t think we have any other choice, but to do that [spend more],” he said. “The market really wants these upper-end horses and that’s what we are going to have to do.” Uncle Mo Colt Heads West A colt by Uncle Mo, who turned in the fastest three-furlong work of :32 2/5 during last week’s under-tack show, brought a final bid of $370,000 from bloodstock agent Marette Farrell during Wednesday’s first session of the OBS June Sale and will head west to the California barn of trainer Peter Eurton. Farrell was bidding on behalf of Exline-Border Racing LLC of Ryan Exline and Justin Border. The partnership was co-owner of champion Champagne Room (Broken Vow) and multiple graded stakes winner Giant Expectations (Frost Giant). “We thought his mechanics were phenomenal,” Farrell said of the juvenile. “He’s a big, two-turn horse. We knew he wasn’t perfect in front, but we thought that Peter Eurton is such a good horseman and a trainer who really zones in on his horses every day, so we thought it was a good fit.” Farrell said the colt’s workout time was not as important as how the work was accomplished. She credited Tescha Von Bluecher with flagging the colt’s impressive gallop-out. “It wasn’t so much about the time, but it was that he is such a big horse and the time opened our eyes to the fact that he did it so easily,” she said. “More importantly for us was the gallop out–he floated around the turn. And he had no oxygen debt after he finished, so obviously he’s got a huge heart capacity. Tescha Von Bluecher always sits back there all the time and she really liked his gallop out.” The bay colt (hip 41) is out of Mississippi Queen (Artie Schiller), a half-sister to Grade I winner Asi Siempre (El Prado {Ire}). He was purchased in utero for $360,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale by Blandford Stud and was bred by Paget Bloodstock. He was consigned to the OBS sale by Gayle Woods. The colt was offset in a knee and Woods admitted that conformation flaw affected his final price Wednesday. “The reserve was $299,000 and they carried on a little bit past there,” Woods said. “I think he is worth more than that, but he was discounted because of the knee. But he’s a special, special horse. He has so much class and he never puts a foot wrong. He’s a giant, I’ve called him my gentle giant all year.” Sam Elliott Busy for St Lucia Turf Club Sam Elliott, formerly director of racing at Parx and now chief executive officer at the Saint Lucia Turf Club, kept up a frenetic pace of buying Wednesday in Ocala as he attempts to increase the Thoroughbred population on the Carribean island ahead of its track opening in February. Flanked by the China Horse Club’s Michael Wallace and Mick Flanagan, Elliott signed the ticket on 16 juveniles for a total of $136,500 and an average of $8,531. “We’ve gotten a nice mix of colts and fillies,” Elliott said. “I have Michael Wallace and Mick Flanagan with me–it’s more their job to pick out who they like. We are looking for durablity and obviously we have to keep the cost factor down. We’re going to turn them out now and then we are going to ship them to St. Lucia by plane. So it’s not just the cost of getting them, but getting them there as well.” Elliott said the horses will ship to St. Lucia in the fall and the new track is expected to open in early 2019. “The plan is to have these horses down there at the end of September,” he said. “So we are going to turn them out for the rest of June and July. They are going to be out for a while. Then we will put them back in training. Opening day of the new track is Feb. 10. Hopefully they will all be ready to go then.” While the Royal St. Lucia Turf Club currently owns all of the June acquisitions, the group hopes to attract local owners. “The idea is to sell them down there,” Elliott said. “Even though there is no racing down there, there is an equine culture. There are quite a few horses down there and I’ve spoken to people already who have interest in purchasing horses. One of our jobs will be to identify them and maybe we’ll put partnerships together down there. And then figure it out from there. It’s a work in progress. Racing is new there, but there is an awful lot of racing around us–Martinique, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. So hopefully out of that group, we’ll put something together. The plan is not to hold on to them, but to sell them.” View the full article

The Stronach Group (TSG)’s Golden Gate Fields property could potentially close down due to a dispute over simulcast operation funding in Northern California, according to a report published in the Blood-Horse. According to the report, TSG COO Tim Ritvo said that the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has threatened to revoke Golden Gate’s operational license if they do not remain involved with a regional simulcast network that requires funding from the track. In response, Ritvo said the track could cease operations if the CHRB did not change its stance. “Please be advised there will be an urgent meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow by the paddock for all horsemen at Golden Gate Fields with regard to the future of Golden Gate Fields,” a tweet from the Golden Gate Press account read Wednesday afternoon. That meeting, according to the Blood-Horse report, will involve a discussion between horsemen and track management over the simulcast issue. Ritvo told Blood-Horse that the current simulcasting arrangement through NOTWINC (Northern California Off-Track Wagering Inc.) essentially requires Golden Gate to fund off-track betting facilities in the region. View the full article

St Patrick's Day, a full brother to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, will make his European debut in the June 14 Ballycorus Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown in Ireland. View the full article

Having settled for second place twice in as many outs over the Louisville oval, the daughter of Curlin returns to Churchill Downs June 16 for the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2), and will vie once more for a spot in the winner's circle. View the full article

Tim Ritvo, The Stronach Group's chief operating officer, said June 13 that closing Golden Gate Fields could be a possibility if changes are not made to a complicated simulcast issue in Northern California. View the full article

Officials at the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) have announced changes and additions to the organizations Board of Directors. Doug Cauthen, who has previously served on KEEP’s executive committee, has been named new Chairman of the Board of Directors. A founding member of KEEP, Cauthen will be joined in leadership of the Board of Directors by Ken Jackson, who will be Vice Chair. Jackson, a partner of Kentuckiana Farms and Lexington Horse Sales, also serves on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. “I am excited about the new additions and changes to KEEP’s Board of Directors,” said Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP executive vice president. “KEEP’s influence grew leaps and bounds under Corey Johnsen’s tenure as Chairman and we will continue to build on that success with Doug Cauthen and Ken Jackson’s leadership.” Johnsen, the immediate past-Chairman of the Board of Directors, will serve as Chairman of KEEP’s legislative committee, which also advises KEEP’s advocacy and policy goals. Also added to the Board were: Town & Country Farms’ Kiki Courtelis; bloodstock agent David Ingordo; Dan Real, regional president of Caesar’s Entertainment; Coolmore America’s Adrian Wallace. View the full article

Chad Brown, Javier Castellano, and Michael Dubb took top honors in the 2018 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Championship for best overall performance by a trainer, jockey and owner, respectively, during the three-day event at Belmont Park. View the full article

With emergency regulations to govern sports betting put in place by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and license approval granted by the New Jersey Racing Commission Wednesday, Monmouth Park will open its doors to accept its long-anticipated first sports wagers Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. The Oceanport racetrack, which was at the forefront of a push to legalize sports betting outside of Nevada, will become the first location in New Jersey to accept sports wagers after the Supreme Court struck down a federal law barring wagering on team sports May 14. Wagers at casinos in Atlantic City are expected to begin shortly thereafter. Although Delaware beat New Jersey to the punch in becoming the first state to begin accepting sports bets under the new law after legislation became entangled in a web of politics in the Garden State, Dennis Drazin said Thursday still marks a monumental occasion for Monmouth Park. The track, which has struggled to maintain its viability in recent years as competing racetracks in surrounding states have channeled into alternative gaming revenue, is seemingly positioned to parlay profits from sports wagering into higher purses and more dates for horsemen. “We are thankful to all those who will make this Thursday a day long remembered,” Drazin said. “Even more so, [we are] looking forward to sports fans from all over converging on Monmouth Park to partake in sports betting, which was overwhelming approved by Garden State voters nearly seven years ago.” The stage was finally set Monday after New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy ended a prolonged delay and signed a bill authorizing licensed racetracks and casinos to begin conducting sports betting. In the intervening time, an additional step was taken when the Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a series of regulations Tuesday. In an interesting twist, the regulations stipulated that sports betting pools could be operated at the sites of “former racetracks” in addition to licensed racetracks and casinos. The term “former racetrack” was defined as any place where a horse racing meet was held within 15 years prior, meaning the shuttered Atlantic City Race Course would be eligible for a license. Atlantic City hosted live racing for 68 consecutive years from 1946 to 2014 before being permanently closed by its owners, Greenwood Racing. While there had been speculation that the shopping plaza situated on the site of the former Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill–which closed in 2001–would be eligible, the language of this week’s regulations would apparently exclude it from consideration. Regulations were also put in place for online sports wagering, although no platform will be approved prior to mid-July. View the full article

Javier Castellano, Chad Brown and Michael Dubb landed top honors for performances by a jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, during last week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Championship. The competition began with the first race last Thursday, June 7 continued through the Belmont Day finale and awarded points on a 5-3-2-1 basis. Castellano registered five wins from 26 mounts over the three days and his mounts amassed $1.2 million in purses to earn him the Eddie Arcaro award. Castellano road The Queen’s Call To Mind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to victory in Friday’s GII Belmont Gold Cup, was also aboard Lewis Bay (Bernardini) in winning the GIII Bed O’Roses S. and finished second atop Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) in the GI Belmont S. Brown earned the ‘Sunny Jim’ Fitzsimmons Award for outstanding trainer, also going five-for-26, with six runner-up efforts and a pair of thirds. The weekend was highlighted by the victory of A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the GI Just A Game S. He also saddled Gronkowski in the Belmont. Dubb won with four of his nine runners accumulated double the points of his nearest competitor. View the full article

Halters worn by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, his paternal grandsire Empire Maker, California Chrome and Tiznow are among the racing-related items in an online auction set to raise money for Central Kentucky Ridin g for Hope, a program based at the Kentucky Horse Park that offers equine-assisted activities and therapies to people of all ages. The online auction is part of the ‘Night of the Stars’ to be held Saturday, June 23, at the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center at Keeneland. To bid online, click here. “As CKRH’s annual gala fundraiser, Night of the Stars gives us the opportunity to showcase our program and the healing power of horses,” CKRH Executive Director Pat Kline said. “The online auction enables people who aren’t able to attend Night of the Stars to obtain unique items and support CKRH. We thank members of the Thoroughbred industry in Central Kentucky for their year-round support of CKRH and their special contributions to our auction.” Farms that donated halters include Adena Springs, Claiborne Farm, Coolmore, Gainesway Farm, Godolphin, Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, Juddmonte Farms, Taylor Made Farm, Three Chimneys Farm and WinStar Farm. Other silent auction items include a one-way Tex Sutton flight, a visit to Stonestreet Farm to see Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, a box for six at Keeneland and a tour of Darley; and two first-floor clubhouse box seats to this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Nov. 2 and 3. View the full article

Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify, fresh off his victory in the June 9 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), will return to his home base at Santa Anita Park June 17, with an estimated time of arrival at 1 p.m. PDT. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday’s Insights features a daugther of the MGSW Best Terms (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 1.20 Newbury, Cond, £7,400, 2yo, 6 1/2fT DAAFR (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is one of a clutch of fascinating newcomers in this race won 12 months ago by Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum’s €350,000 Goffs Orby purchase is out of a half-sister to the brilliant stayer Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and other stakes performers including Asperity (War Chant), who captured the 2007 G3 Prix Paul de Moussac for the John Gosden stable responsible for this colt. There are several interesting types in the line-up including John Connolly and Odile Griffith’s Azets (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), an Amanda Perrett-trained 300,000gns TATOCT son of the MSW Nashmiah (Ire) (Elusive City), Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited’s Neverland Rock (GB) (No Nay Never), a Richard Hannon-trained €480,000 ARAUG graduate whose dam is a half to the G1SW sire Havana Gold (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and another from that stable in the filly Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a daughter of the G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Lowther S. winner Best Terms (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) who carries the historic Barnett silks. 2.30 Yarmouth, Mdn, £5,900, 2yo, f, 6f 3yT ASSEMBLY OF TRUTH (IRE) (Shamardal) debuts in the Godolphin silks for Charlie Appleby and is a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Flame of Gibraltar (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who was herself a €900,000 Goffs Million graduate from Pat O’Kelly’s Kilcarn Stud dynasty of Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). In another intriguing affair, she meets a homebred of significance from Trevor Harris’s Lordship Stud in Swiss Air (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a William Haggas-trained half-sister to four classy sprinters including the young sire Swiss Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). View the full article

There have been many storylines associated with Justify’s recent Triple Crown accomplishment. What a job John Gunther and his daughter and partner Tanya have done in recent years with a broodmare band of modest size. And what a stallion Scat Daddy has shown us to be, and what a loss his premature death represents to all of us. And there’s Bob Baffert, being Bob Baffert, compressing a maiden to Triple Crown campaign into five or six months time. And what a inspiration Mike Smith has been to all of us balding and silver-haired 50 plus-year-old folks, in the manner he has maintained his health and his fitness to compete at the highest level as an athlete, as good as the most talented of young riders. And even Justify’s dam “showed off” a little more by following him with another major stakes winner during the course of the Triple Crown. And i have to call out my precious Ghostzapper, as not just Justify’s broodmare sire, but a budding sensation as a young broodmare sire, his numbers are really good. It was interesting to me to see Pimlico and Churchill Downs put on such a great show, with “bursting at the seams” crowds, while under such horrible weather conditions. It was as if the people there on both days were oblivious to the rain. Another incredible aspect of this Triple Crown is that I don’t remember observing a top racehorse in my lifetime that has showed such calm, having not one reason to do so, based on his void of experience. Do you ever remember Justify turning a hair? And another Triple Crown storyline for me in this 2018, was men at the forefront of the drama, living out their “larger than life” personas on national television; Kenny Troutt and Mike Smith bold as lions and gentle as lambs, declaring their genuine gratitude to the God they serve, and believe in, Jesus The Christ. But I have another storyline to share. It is one of a little bespectacled 10 year old boy growing up on a small horse farm in Midway, Kentucky with a Racing Form in his hand. I was five years his older brother, and I don’t think I could read the Form nearly as well. I was the brother that loved the farm, and this boy had his mind and his heart set on the racetrack from my earliest memory of discussing potential vocations or lifestyle. How he grew so fond of it at such a young age, I just don’t know. Our father would take us to Ellis, Latonia, Keeneland, Churchill, and River Downs when we had a filly run. So I guess this young boy was a quick study, and didn’t take long to know what he wanted to do. And as the Lord would have it, coupled with an insatiable work ethic, this kid would grow up and become a very fine horse trainer. Brereton Jones told me one day after Elliott won the Belmont with Victory Gallop that he would be in the Racing Hall of Fame one day, that he was that good a horse trainer–and I had no doubt. Let’s fast forward to 2018. You have probably figured out by now that I am the older brother who is so very proud of his younger brother. May I share with you why? Behind the scenes of the previously discussed Triple Crown won by this great horse Justify, ridden by that great aforementioned rider, owned by that powerhouse owner group, trained by the man with the most famous silver hair of all time, and bred by the remarkable father/daughter Gunther team, lies that little bespectacled boy who loved the racetrack at that young age. On the more prominent national TV shots of the Triple Crown races, and their winner’s circle footage, one would not see Elliott. You could maybe find him if you were trying, on the back row of the winner’s circle. But I looked. Many times. And it was hard. I had surgery on Oaks day, and consequently was unable to attend any of the Triple Crown races. But when I did pick him up, and observe him, he most often was looking at Kenny, his boss, smiling at the good pleasure and excitement that he was enjoying. He was so happy for him. Yess Elliott gets his share of interviews, being such a key player in such a key operation internationally, but I was so proud to observe him this spring, through this epic journey of Justify, comfortable on the back row, modest, and understated. One wouldn’t know that he and his wonderfully talented bloodstock man, David Hanley had not only picked out Justify (along with China Horse Club’s Michael Wallace and SF Bloodstock’s Tom Ryan), but also purchased arguably 2018’s second best 3-year-old in Audible. And then there is the overall success of WinStar. Yes, they are led, at least on the ground, by my little brother, along with the obvious astute oversight of Kenny, his boss. There have been times when I have had a difficult time wrapping my mind around the scope of WinStar, much less the success of WinStar. I think most of us in the industry admire Elliott. But i just had to articulate my feelings of pride for the job he has done, and the man that little boy has become. A man who relies not on his own strength to get through each day’s challenges, but that of the same God, the same Savior, the same Christ, that Kenny Troutt and Mike Smith called out in gratitude throughout this remarkable Triple Crown journey of 2018, and that horse, not with just bottomless talent, but with the impeccably unusual mind and maturity: Justify. No doubt, my mother and father would have been proud too. View the full article

Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify, fresh off his victory in the June 9 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), will return to his home base at Santa Anita Park June 17, with an estimated time of arrival at 1 p.m. PT. View the full article

The handicap ranks still have some sorting to do. To that end, the June 16 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) can bring a leading adversary to the forefront as a field of nine will try their collective hand in the 1 1/8-mile test. View the full article

Pat Cummings has been named the executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, a non-profit orgnization recently founded to “create an active forum for the exchange and curation of ideas designed to improve the prospects of the Thoroughbred industry and its stakeholders.” “It is great to welcome Pat as the Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation,” said Craig Bernick, TIF founder and board member. “Pat brings a wealth of both domestic and international experience to the table. He is a great communicator, curious by nature and an optimist at heart. He has been a lifelong fan of horse racing, a longtime gambler, and an owner through various syndicates.” Cummings, 37, joins the TIF after three years as the Executive Manager, Public Affairs (Racing) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, during which time he helped introduce an increasingly worldwide audience to the Hong Kong racing product while overseeing the strategy and delivery of racing communications, media management and new media development. Prior to that, Cummings was for four years the director of racing information for Trakus and seven years with the investment firm Vanguard before that. “Pat is clearly passionate about horse racing, understands its many international aspects, what has and has not worked both here and abroad,” Bernick added. “We see Pat as an ideal person to spearhead TIF’s goal of improving horse racing for owners, gamblers and fans. We are fortunate that he will lead the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation from the start.” Cummings will be based in Lexington, Kentucky, when he takes up his position late this summer. “It is incredibly exciting to be returning home to launch the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation,” said Cummings. “Horse owners and gamblers are the foundation of racing and our focus will be on issues that can improve the economics of the sport for these two primary constituencies. The trickle-down impact thereafter is obvious. TIF will curate new, and surely some old ideas, and we will advocate for change to benefit those making the most significant financial investments in the sport while working with racing’s existing decision-makers. I am looking forward to working with our accomplished board and to begin tackling the many challenges ahead. He continued, “I enjoyed three wonderful years in Hong Kong working in a world-class environment. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is an all-encompassing organization with a great team, a shining example of what is possible in this industry, and to have been a part of that was a priceless experience.” View the full article

Woodbine has been forced to cancel its evening live Thoroughbred racing program June 13 because of a power outage. View the full article

Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify, fresh off victory in the June 9 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), will return to his home base at Santa Anita Park June 17, with an estimated time of arrival at 1 p.m. PT. View the full article

Group 1 winner Lancaster Bomber (War Front) will miss an intended engagement in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot next week due to injury. The bay ran third behind stablemate Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Lockinge S. earlier this spring, but won his first top-flight race last time in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 27. Trainer Aidan O’Brien was contemplating supplementing his charge for the Prince of Wales’s S. at the Royal meeting, but speaking on www.attheraces.com during a stable tour said, “I don’t think he’ll make it to Royal Ascot. He is going through a niggly problem with a foot at the moment, so it’s likely to he won’t be ready enough to run there.” O’Brien also confirmed high-class 3-year-old fillies Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will not be in action at the summer showpiece fixture in Berkshire next week. View the full article

A colt from the final crop of Scat Daddy sold for $650,000 to Carlo Vaccarezza during Wednesday’s first session of the OBS June sale.The juvenile, who worked a furlong last week in a co-fastest :9 4/5, was consigned by Top Line Sales on behalf of breeder Don Ming. He is out of Satulah (Gone West), a daughter of graded stakes winner War Thief (Lord at War {Arg}) and a half to graded stakes winner Boss Lafitte (Dynaformer). He RNA’d for $385,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale. View the full article

So, it’s time to retire your racehorse… What comes next? You are likely aware of a variety of options and services available to you as a horse owner, but which path ensures that your horse will be equipped with the proper safeguards to ensure he ends up with the best chance at a happy life over the next 20+ years? You dread the prospect of receiving a phone call or Facebook message saying that the horse you once owned is at risk in a kill pen, and you want to take every measure to avoid that situation. A good place to start is the local HBPA or owner’s organization to see what programs may exist and are funded through the track and horsemen’s group (Take the Lead, Turning for Home for example). Alternatively, go directly to one of the non-profit organizations dedicated to Thoroughbred racehorse aftercare. Most are accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), giving you assurance that the facilities are inspected regularly and the governance and management have been vetted by the TAA. Most likely, you will be asked to make a donation. See the list of accredited organizations here. But such placement is not always available. Many horses need time off before retraining or are not sound enough to be re-trained for a second career as a riding horse. The placement spots for pasture-sound only horses are limited at least until the demand for Thoroughbreds in equine-assisted therapeutic placements increases. So, what options exist for horses that need time off, rehabilitation or are only ever going to be pasture-sound? First, it is worth a try to retire your horse in a TAA-accredited or otherwise reliable non-profit. You will most likely be required to make a larger donation than if the horse was sound for retraining. But, you can be confident that the horse is enjoying retirement and you can check on him regularly and continue to support him. “When trying to retire a horse that needs a sanctuary or non-riding home, the TAA recommends reaching out to a TAA-accredited organization in your area that is a noted sanctuary or rehab. Placing a horse in a sanctuary home may take some time,” said Erin Shea of the TAA. “Many equine sanctuaries have large, aging herds, so patience and clear communication of your horse’s needs are key to re-homing your horse if this is your situation. Also, just because a horse cannot be a competitive athlete does not mean that they cannot have a new career and are bound for sanctuary life. For example, TAA-accredited organizations Saratoga War Horse, Equine Rescue of Aiken, Life Horse at Breezy Hill, and Square Peg, among others, all focus on equine-human therapy along with sanctuary for horses.” The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Program which maintains pasture-sound horses at prison-based farms where the horses have a meaningful second career rehabilitating incarcerated men and women is a great option. A second alternative is retirement boarding. The cost will be between approximately $200 and $500 per month, not including trimming (which averages $40 every 8 weeks) and vet care (vaccinations and teeth floating run an average of $350 per year). Retirement boarding farms now exist all over the U.S. Once again, you have control over the horse’s well being. One good example is Historic Long Branch in Virginia. As a third option, you could choose–as a number of owners do–to sell or give away your horse. No one wants their horse to end up in the kill pan, and most tracks have a policy which states that any horse owner or trainer found to have directly or indirectly sold a horse that ends up in the kill pen will have their stalls permanently revoked. This could happen unknowingly if you are not careful about vetting out the buyer or recipient. Here are some tips to help ensure your horse’s safety: 1) Use a signed agreement like this one provided by CANTER USA to the trainers who chose to list horses for sale on its website. 2) Consider a ‘first right of refusal’ requiring the buyer to agree that they will not give away or sell the horse without first asking if you want it back. 3) Consider a clause that allows for you to check on the horse. 4) Obtain a copy of the buyer’s driver’s license. 5) Include language that they will never put the horse in a livestock auction or sell it to slaughter buyers. 6) Have the agreement notarized. 7) Require a professional reference from a veterinarian. Ask of the vet when they last visited the farm or saw the animals of the person. Obtain the veterinarian’s license number. 8) Sell the horse as “Retired from Racing” and execute the forms provided by The Jockey Club. “Thoroughbreds are more in demand as riding horses and than ever in the past 30 or so years, thanks in large part to incentive programs like TIP and TAKE2, as well as the work of Retired Racehorse Project,” says Nancy Koch, Executive Director of CANTER, USA. “But owners and trainers must use due diligence in their transactions. It is extremely important to get references and check on the horse, or have someone check on the horse a week or so after it leaves to be sure it is adjusting and the people are who they represented themselves to be.” Being part of a syndicate adds a few issues for owners seeking to secure a second career or retirement for a racehorse. Regina Schneller, whose partnership has horses with Eddie Coletti has her name and address attached to all of the partnership horses’ papers in the event that the horse gets claimed and is owned by someone else at the time of retirement. “To find homes, the first thing that our partnership does is ask if any partners are interested in giving the horse a home, next is to contact Turning For Home. If the horse has problems, then I make take the horse or board it at a retirement farm. I then ask the other partners to chip in on the board/donation, explained Schneller. “One horse recently needed a period of time for to be turned out before training so he went to CANTER and I paid for his care until he was ready to be adopted.” An expert on aftercare, Diana Pikulski is the former National Director of Major Gifts, Planned Giving and Endowment Development at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and served with the TRF for its first 35 years since inception. View the full article