Wandering Eyes

The 2018 Big Sport of Turfdom award, which recognizes a person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists, will be presented posthumously to John Asher, the late vice president of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs and former president of the TURF Publicists of America, the TPA announced Friday. “The TPA’s tagline is ‘telling great stories since 1951,’ and no one told horse racing’s stories better than John Asher,” said TPA President Rhonda Norby. “The Big Sport of Turfdom award is about honoring a person who promotes the sport in cooperation with the media, and there is no one more deserving for this award than John.” The Big Sport of Turfdom will be presented to John’s wife, Dee, at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program’s annual awards luncheon Dec. 4, emceed by Santa Anita Park track announcer Michael Wrona. The luncheon is part of the 2018 Symposium on Racing & Gaming at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ. View the full article

Each of the two stakes scheduled for the Ocala Training Center Nov. 20 is expected to feature graded stakes winners. View the full article

The One Agency, acting on behalf of an English breeder, went to €240,000 on Arqana Online on Friday to secure a breeding right to Showcasing (GB). The One Agency was one of 19 investors registered on the online platform for the sale. Showcasing, who is the sire of 16 group winners including Group 1 winners Advertise (GB) and Quiet Reflection (GB) and this year’s promising 2-year-old Soldier’s Call (GB), will stand for a career high of £55,000 at Whitsbury Manor Stud in 2019. View the full article

14.25 Cheltenham – Betvictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) The Nicky Henderson team look to have plotted this race out for antepost gamble Rather Be and the market support is understandable when you consider the form line with main danger Mister Whitaker. The Mick Channon trained horse conquered the selection in the Close Brothers Handicap at Cheltenham in March before winning on reappearance at Carlisle, but those successes mean the pair now meet on revised terms with the Henderson horse now 9lb better off. The Seven Barrows team representative is further boosted by his excellent record when fresh and he may take a lot of stopping in this one, but instinct says to stick with the improving horse and all the signs point to Mister Whitaker becoming a serious graded horse this term so he is the selection to prevail once again in this one. Gary Moore sends two decent types in opposition with Benatar and Baron Alco and both arrive in decent form, but the latter would be the main danger to the principals after going close on his reappearance at Chepstow if coming on for that run here. Another one who could go well at a big price is Neil Mulholland’s Shantou Village. The horse ran a cracker in the Kerry National having won at Worcester the time before and he could progress to running a big race in this type of field at some point and looks an each way value play. Paul Nicholls’ Frodon has to carry top weight and it would have to be a huge performance to concede weight all round in this field. MISTER WHITAKER (WIN) Cheltenham 12.40 Quel Destin e/w 13.15 The Worlds End 13.50 Singlefarmpayment e/w 14.25 Mister Whitaker (NAP) 15.00 Weebill 15.30 Serosevsky e/w 16.00 Danse Idol Lingfield 11.55 Ainne 12.25 New King 13.00 Humanitarian 13.35 Goring e/w 14.10 Side Effect 14.45 Big Country e/w 15.15 Intisaab e/w 15.45 Harry Callahan Uttoxeter 12.15 Boychick e/w 12.50 Beakstown 13:25 Fair Exchange e/w 14.00 Tokay Dokey 14.35 Carnspindle e/w 15.05 Tierra Verde 15.40 Helford River Wetherby 12.30 Skidoosh 13.05 Miles to Milan 13.40 Apterix e/w 14.15 Catamaran Du Seuil e/w 14.50 Mountain Hawk 15.20 Golden Jeffrey e/w 15.50 Hawk High Wolverhampton 17.15 Jem Scuttle 17.45 Reeth 18.15 King of Change 18.45 Magic Illusion 19.15 Pretty Eyes e/w 19.45 Star of Bengal 20.15 Three Little Birds e/w 20.45 Caledonia Duchess e/w Punchestown 12.05 Black Noah e/w 12.35 Mall Dini e/w 13.10 Mind’s Eye 13.45 Commander of Fleet 14.20 Stormy Ireland 14.55 Paris Texas e/w 15.25 Soldier at War 15.55 The King of Brega e/w The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Saturday 17th November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The strong trade of the four-day Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Foal Sale earlier this week carried over into the single-session Mare Sale on Friday, returning a record-breaking average of €23,923, up 55% from last year. The median rose 100% to €13,000, while turnover cracked the seven-figure barrier at €1,004,750 (+27%). The top lot of the session was Closutton Stables’s Let’s Dance (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) (lot 1359), who brought a record-breaking €200,000 from Bertrand le Metayer’s BLM Bloodstock. The 6-year-old maiden was a multiple group winner and Group 1-placed for Willie Mullins. Katie Rudd did the bidding on behalf of le Metayer, and she said, “She is going to France. She was a good racemare, has a lovely French pedigree, is by a good sire in Poliglote and is a maiden mare.” Former Republic of Ireland international footballer Kevin Doyle spent €85,000 on Augusta Kate (GB) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 1358), a multiple stakes winner who is also group placed. The 7-year-old is in foal to Champs Elysees (GB). “She is a lovely mare with good form and a great page–we will be selling her progeny,” said Doyle. Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive Officer Matt Mitchell said at the close of a week’s trade, “This week’s sale has witnessed excellent trade with outstanding results throughout the whole week. The yearling section on Sunday witnessed a top price of €42,000 and following on from this, there was the four-day foal sale, where the highest average in the sales history for this section was achieved but more notably, there was consistent demand for the better foals producing an increased aggregate of €11,201,200, a median of €11,500, an average of €17,206 and the best price achieved for a foal since 2015 of €92,000. The strong demand for foals reinforces the strength of the National Hunt market following on from the superb results witnessed at this summer’s May Store Sale and Derby Sale. However, it was worth noting that whilst it is very competitive in the middle and top end of the market there is no appetite for individuals that fall below that level as reflected in the reduction in the clearance rate. “Graduates continue to form the best promotion for this sale and both Native River and Sizing John, the last two years’ Gold Cup winners were both sold at the November NH Sale and reinforce the view that this sale prevails as the leading choice to source National Hunt stock. It was immensely satisfying to see so many UK buyers in addition to our loyal Irish buyers along with some new faces throughout the week. We are delighted for our loyal vendors, who have sent us their best National Hunt stock and have been duly rewarded.” View the full article

Sitting on a sofa in his office at Gainesway, Antony Beck points to twin, framed photographs hanging above his head, one set above the other. “Have a look at these two horses here.” For a moment, you’re not sure that they are actually two different animals. A creamy grey stallion in the same posture, against the same background of indeterminate pasture. Beck acknowledges that the more recent shot was taken to make the point, and duly developed in black and white, but the inherent resemblance is certainly striking. “Mahmoud and Tapit,” Beck explains. “It’s really interesting to see. Until quite recently Mahmoud was the fastest Epsom Derby winner. The grey in Tapit comes from him, five or six generations back-through the mares, through the female family. And Mahmoud stood here on this farm.” Tapit, nowadays, is the most expensive sire in America at $300,000. His rise ensures that Gainesway remains an iconic Bluegrass brand, worthy of a heritage that has trebled in weight under the present ownership through the addition of historic tracts of neighbouring Whitney land. And, while the family will celebrate its 30th anniversary here in February, conversation with Beck very soon discloses a keen sense that his first duty is the humble one of stewardship. His mother, clearly of similar mind, planted 62 different species of oak around the estate, not to mention some of the finest formal gardens in the land. And Beck, in turn, is proving a profoundly civilising influence. Among the old farm buildings, for instance, was a derelict slaughterhouse. Beck has turned it into a wine vault. Blood to claret: a succinct sample of the cosmopolitan cut of a man to confound all condescension from those, on either coast, who do not so much look into the heart of America as down at it. In Beck, they must acknowledge a world citizen. His roots in South Africa, where his father had built up a coal fortune, were transplanted to Kentucky via a London education; specifically, a Westminster education, guaranteed to register far deeper than the superficial legacy of his Anglicised diction, as light and precise as Earl Grey tea poured into bone china. So, yes, it’s a horse farm in Kentucky-but it’s a horse farm where you might glimpse a Henry Moore outside an estate cottage; or where the office walls are adorned not only with these photographs, but with art from across the spectrum-from a rare contemporary portrait of the Godolphin Arabian, to Andy Warhol’s only equine image. And Beck brings a corresponding breadth of perspective even to the narrower horizons of the Turf. Nothing expands that quite like the equine cemetery: Vaguely Noble, Blushing Groom (Fr), Riverman, Lyphard, Irish River (Fr), Cozzene, a Hall of Fame of its own all the way back to distaff legends Regret and La Troienne. “I think the oldest stallion buried on this farm is Peter Pan,” says Beck. “But even including Equipoise, Tom Fool, all these great stallions that have stood here, I really think Tapit’s been the best. Of all of them. Which is quite amazing.” Click here to read the rest of this story in the TDN Weekend. View the full article

In what has been a quiet week it was great to get two winners at my local track Bangor on Wednesday. This weekend will also be unusually quiet for me as I’m just sitting on my hands waiting for the rain as the ground is just too quick for the majority of my runners. It’s not just me who is crying out for rain as the small field sizes indicate! As such I’m just sending one to Wetherby on Saturday followed by one at Cheltenham on Sunday. Saturday LOFGREN (Brian Hughes) wins at CARTMEL 27/8/18Lofgren Track – Wetherby 2.15 Jockey – Will Kennedy I’ve put a line through his run at Kelso a few weeks ago, he was jumped into at the 2nd fence and then again a few fences later. After that he just didn’t want to know and I can’t blame him! Lofgren is one of mine that should enjoy the ground and the trip will be right up his street, I’d say he has a good chance in this. Sunday Gray Day Track – Cheltenham 1:15 Jockey – Lorcan Murtagh It’s always great to have a runner at Cheltenham but my chances of being in the winners’ enclosure today are unlikely. Gray Day has been off for a year so it’s be great for the team and especially the owners to have him running again. He’ll have no problems with the trip and as long as it doesn’t get too quick will also be fine by the ground but I suspect there may be one or two who may prove too good for him. The post Donald McCain Blog appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

The November race meeting at the world renown track that is Cheltenham welcomes three days of stellar racing which kicked off in style, today Friday, November 16th. The ITV racing team bring us four televised races on the seven-race card, on the second day of the November meeting. Starting with the Grade 3 BetVictor.com Handicap Chase set to go to post at 1.50pm. BetVictor.com Handicap Chase The Grade 3 BetVictor.com Handicap Chase is run over three miles and three and a half furlongs the challenge welcomes a field of sixteen runners. With the going set to be good, it will be a race punters and racing fans alike will be eagerly watching. Tom George trained Singlefarmpayment is the ante-post favourite and the eight-year-old set to be ridden by Noel Fehily. The son of Milan’s last outing was also at Cheltenham last April where he finished second in the three miles and two furlongs Weatherite Handicap Chase. Nigel Twiston-Davies stable star Calett Mad will have connections eager to see the son of Axxos put on a good performance. Going off the back of a tough three-mile and two-furlong challenge at the Gloucestershire track last month where the six-year-old finished fourth, he will be one to watch in the betting market. Nigel Twiston-Davies also runs Cogry who is certainly one to keep an eye on. The nine-year-old put on an excellent performance to finish second in a field on sixteen on his last outing when he raced at Cheltenham last month in the three-mile and one-furlong handicap chase. The son of King’s Sire has a lot on experience under his girth and it will be interesting to see how he fairs in this handicap. Others to watch are Anthony Honeyball’s Looking Well and Mark Bradstock’s Coneygree. Selection: Cogry BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase The BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase is the feature of the three days of racing action from the November meeting. Run over a distance of two and a half miles on the old course at the hallowed Cheltenham track, this race brings together battle hardened handicappers with younger, unexposed horses in their second season over fences and the Grade 3 contest is open to horses four years and older. The clash produces a fantastic spectacle and is always one of the keenest betting heats of the season. Recent winners include Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander (2008) and dual Grade 1 winners Al Ferof (2012) and Taquin Du Seuil (2016). All the leading fancies stand their ground – including ante-post favourite Rather Be, from Nicky Henderson’ stable, Mick Channon’s Mister Whitaker and the Neil Mulholland-trained duo Kalondra and Shantou Village. The ante-post favourite Rather Be will be a name to keep a close eye on. The son of Oscar finished second in a Novice Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival back in March to Mister Whitaker who he also goes up against in the entries this year. Mister Whitaker’s last outing was the Cheltenham Festival last spring where he stormed home in the Novice Handicap. It will be interesting how the son of Court Cave fares in the feature of the weekend and we will be keeping a close eye on him. However, the name Frodon is on many racing fans lips. Carrying the top-weight in the race, the Paul Nicholls trained six-year-old is burdened with 11st 12lb and has to give between 9lb and 26lb to his rivals after making a successful seasonal debut in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month. Nicholls also saddles Movewiththetimes and Romain de Senam. Gary Moore’s Baron Alco is another name punters will be keen to keep an eye on. The seven year old is one of two entries for the trainer as he also runs Benatar who is set to be partnered by jockey Jamie Moore. Last year’s winner Splash Of Ginge, Neil Mulholland’s Kalondra and Nicky Richards’ Caspian Caviar Gold Cup winner Guitar Pete are all others to note. Selection: Frodon Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle The old Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle is run over three miles and is the third race ITV Racing are set to televise on day two of the November meeting. The race is open to horses four years and older and is set to make for some interesting sport. Ian Williams trained First Assignment goes in as the ante-post favourite but can he prove himself yet again? The son of Vinnie Roe has an impressive form to date and although the five-year-old may not have as much experience as some of the other entries he will be the main competition to beat. Richard Johnson takes the ride on Olly Murphy’s trained Weebill. The six-year-old son of Schiaparelli is set to take this big step up as his handicap debut and the question arises will he rise to the challenge? His form is seriously consistent and he had an impressive win on his last outing where he stormed home in front in the Novice Hurdle at Ayr. Other names to note are Tom George-trained Boyhood, Harry Cobden-trained Theeaglehaslanded and Sophie Lynch’s Anteros. Selection: Weebill BetVictor Intermediate Handicap Hurdle Fifteen runners go to post in the BetVictor Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. Open to horses three years and older it is set to host an interesting field of runners. Ian Williams-trained Speedo Boy is set to be partnered by Tom O’Brien. The four-year-old is the ante-post favourite with the bookies but will he do all the running? Philip Hobbs’ Westend Story will certainly be one to challenge. Westend Story who is set to be ridden by Richard Johnson has a consistent form to date. Although this is his first reappearce since March he will be one to keep a close eye on, even at each way. He won with ease on his last outing at Hereford and the members of the Mick Fitzgearld Racing Club will be eager to see their son on Westener return to the winners enclosure once again. Others to keep an eye on include Alan King’s Deyrann De Carjac and Colin Tizzard’s Christmas In April is another to consider on the betting market. Selection: Westend Story The post Cheltenham Saturday – Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Talismanic, winner of the 2017 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), has been retired from racing, it was announced Nov. 16. View the full article

Kodiac (GB), who added two new Group 1 winners this year in Best Solution (Ire) and Fairyland (Ire), will stand for a career-high fee of €65,000 at Tally-Ho Stud in 2019. Kodiac has sired three Group 1 winners-the other being Tiggy Wiggy (Ire)-and 23 total group winners. His six new Group 2 or 3 winners in 2018 include G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Hello Youmzain (Fr) and G2 Mill Reef S. winner Kessaar (Ire), who joins his sire on the Tally-Ho roster next year at €8,000. Mehmas (Ire) retired to Tally-Ho in 2017 after winning a pair of Group 2s at two, and his fee for his third season stays at €10,000. He is priced the same as the G1 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold (GB), who entered stud this year. Vadamos (Fr), a son of Monsun who was a Group 1 winner over a mile, has his first foals selling soon and he is down to €7,500. Cotai Glory (GB) is down to €5,000 for his second season. View the full article

Gulfstream Park management has received assurance from the Coolmore racing operation that it will be sending horses to race in both the GI Pegasus World Cup and the inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. Attaching the Coolmore brand to the $7-million turf race is a major plus for Gulfstream Park and it could go a long way towards convincing others that the race is something they should consider. “Coolmore has told us they have at least one horse for each race,” said Tim Ritvo, the COO of The Stronach Group, which operates Gulfstream Park. “They’ve been a great supporter of this series since the beginning. With the type of quality stable they have, this is what they are looking for, these kinds of great races. We’re really appreciative of them and their contributions to the industry; it takes two. Frank and Belinda [Stronach] have contributed to the industry by putting up a race like this and in return we have given participants like Coomore that always support the industry a chance to run for a very big purse. Coolmore is an iconic name in racing and we are really thrilled that they will be participating.” Ritvo said he has received inquiries from other European trainers and owners, but Coolmore is the only one to commit to the race thus far. Coolmore has not told anyone from The Stronach Group which horses it might send for the two races. The Pegasus races will be held on Jan. 26. The dirt race, run at a mile-and-an-eighth, is worth $9-million. The distance of the turf race will be a mile-and-three-sixteenths. The Pegasus World Cup was first run in 2017 with a purse of $12-million. In order to enter, the participants had to pay a $1-million entry fee. The same fee applied when the race was held earlier this year, yet the purse was increased to $16-million. Coolmore bought slots both years. For the 2019 edition, Gulfstream decided to split up the $16-million, creating a grass race worth $7-million while lowering the purse of the dirt race to $9-million. It now costs $500,000 to enter one of the races. At $7-million, the Pegasus World Cup Turf is worth more than any single race run in Europe. When converted to dollars, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is next at roughly $5.65-million. The obstacle Gulfstream faces when it comes to attracting European horses is the timing of the race. Group 1 level flat racing in Europe ends in late October and does not continue until the following spring. The higher class horses are generally given the winter off before gearing up for spring and summer races. “Obviously, we were worried about that,” Ritvo said. “But with our racing schedule there’s nothing we can do about that. We hope to change the culture, but we know that will take time. Maybe, with a race of this magnitude and with the amount of money involved, they can stretch out the calendar over there a little bit. That’s our hope. The first year will be the biggest struggle. But as long as we show consistency and stick with this, in time we hope more people will plan to run in the race. In the beginning you’ll probably see the largest participation in this race from American stables, but as the years go on we are hoping to get worldwide attention and participation.” Gulfstream management is also working on bringing horses from the Southern Hemisphere. “We haven’t heard a lot from people down there yet,” Ritvo said. “We’re hoping the word gets out. The announcement of the turf race came just a few months ago. [Stronach executive] Mike [Rogers] has worked hard on hiring agents in those jurisdictions and letting them know what we have available, so we are hoping to get some horses from the Southern Hemisphere.” Rogers added that he is hoping to attract at least two horses from Japan for the turf race and will be visiting that country next week to try to firm up plans for the potential participants. Gulfstream remains committed to building the Pegasus Day card and Ritvo said a race for fillies and mares could be added as soon as 2020. View the full article

The racing steps up a gear with the opening day of Cheltenham’s November meeting including the return of the Grand National Hero Tiger Roll. Picks From The Paddock are here to hopefully continue their fine form with their best bet of the day and tip for every race! Best Bet Of The Day 18:00 Dundalk A low grade, 5 furlongs sprint is hardly the pinnacle of racing on display today but it’s where we find ourselves locating our bet of the day. Trainer Denis Hogan doesn’t have his horses in blistering form of late but I’m hoping his 5yo Amanaat could change that this evening. A decent run here last time out to finish 5th when hampered sees him return to Dundalk in a lesser race and over a shorter trip. Both of the aforementioned changes should boost his chances and being drawn in stall 2 should also be of benefit. A slight unknown quantity but apprentice jockey Shane Crosse is doing magnificently well to bag 6 winning rides in the past fortnight and could have another this evening. Former course winners Geological, Doonard Prince and Dash D’Or are obvious contenders with the latter aiming to make it three wins on the spin but with 18lbs more weight to carry since winning at Navan two starts back today’s task looks much trickier. AMANAAT (E/W) Cheltenham: 12:40 – Station Master (E/W) 13:15 – Dostal Phil (WIN) 13:50 – Shanahan’s Turn (E/W) 14:25 – Mr Whipped (WIN) 15:00 – Tiger Roll (WIN) 15:35 – Darlac (WIN) Dundalk: 17:30 – Esprit De Lumiere (E/W) 18:00 – Amanaat (E/W)* 18:30 – King’s Vow (E/W) 19:00 – Mokhalad (E/W) 19:30 – Wajaaha (WIN) 20:00 – New Direction (E/W) 20:30 – Tomwontlisten (E/W) 21:00 – Wavepoint (E/W) Lingfield: 12:20 – Harry Beau (E/W) 12:50 – Raheeb (WIN) 13:25 – Sun Hat (WIN) 14:00 – Gaslight (WIN) 14:35 – Heeyaam (WIN) 15:10 – Referee (WIN) 15:45 – Compton Prince (E/W) Newcastle: 12:00 – Remember The Days (WIN) 12:30 – Cousin Oscar (WIN) 13:05 – Kovera (WIN) 13:40 – Brave Spartacus (WIN) 14:15 – Rubytwo (WIN) 14:50 – Dawnieriver (WIN) 15:25 – Wilhelm Vonvenster (WIN) Wolverhampton: 17:15 – Toni’s A Star (E/W) 17:45 – Universal Command (WIN) 18:15 – Fingal’s Cave (E/W) 18:45 – Ghazawaat (WIN) 19:15 – Fightwithme (WIN) 19:45 – Gantier (E/W) 20:15 – So High (WIN) 20:45 – Trolius (WIN) The post Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Friday 16th November appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Against the advice from the Jockeys' Benefit Association of Canada, Woodbine has decided not to cancel the rest of its turf racing for the 2018 season. Turf racing is scheduled to continue through Dec. 2. View the full article

Against the advice from the Jockey's Benefit Association of Canada, Woodbine has decided not to cancel the rest of its turf racing for the 2018 season. View the full article

Star jockey Zac Purton has thrown down the gauntlet to his rival jockeys, warning they will come unstuck if they go out purely to try and disrupt Beauty Generation’s dominant front-running racing pattern. Rated the best mile racehorse in the world, the John Moore-trained six-year-old has taken all before him this season and will line up on Sunday in the Group Two Jockey Club Mile (1,600m). With just three weeks until the Longines Hong Kong Mile, Purton said his horse was “at the... View the full article

Grade 1-placed Code of Honor turned in his first workout since having to miss the Nov. 2 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), breezing three furlongs in :37.23 at Belmont Park Nov. 15. View the full article

Fifteen years after winning one of Japan's major stakes, trainer Doug O'Neill is taking aim at a second victory in the Champions Cup (G1), this time sending Reddam Racing's grade 1 winner Pavel across the Pacific Ocean. View the full article

Augustano bounces back to winning ways View the full article

Knight comes out Tops in tough slog View the full article

Soldado's connections' patience finally rewarded View the full article

Duric kicks clear again at comeback from suspension View the full article

Horses' body weights November 16 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 16 View the full article

Troy See to ride at Mauritius jockeys series; Juglall invited, too View the full article

Early scratching November 16 View the full article