Wandering Eyes

All Thrusters on in Saas Fee Stakes View the full article

Syahir rides first winner for new master View the full article

A 'different rider' has taken over: Ford View the full article

Horses' body weights November 9 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 9 View the full article

Mauritius apprentice jockey Brandon Louis to ride at Kranji for three months View the full article

Early scratching November 9 View the full article

Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro–Globe Trot, by A. P. Indy), a two-time Grade I winner as a juvenile, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty in 2019 at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky. The $630,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase will stand for a fee of $25,000 S&N. “We felt like the best thing is, it was time to move on to his next career,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “There was certainly discussion of the GI Clark H. at Churchill and GI Pegasus World Cup. That would have been the ideal scenario. But we felt like it was best to make sure Bolt d’Oro was in good shape and ready to start career No. 2.” Campaigned by Mick and Wendy Ruis, Bolt d’Oro captured the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI FrontRunner S. in visually impressive fashion and was also third with a troubled trip in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. He was placed first via disqualification in a thrilling renewal of this term’s GII San Felipe S. and was also runner-up to subsequent Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) in the GI Santa Anita Derby. “Bolt d’Oro is a big, scopey horse, and if you look at him, you would think two-turn horse. You wouldn’t necessarily think precocious 2-year-old,” Toffey said. “Yet that’s exactly what he was–a very precocious 2-year-old and very talented. I think when you see one that is kind of going against the bias, that speaks volumes about how talented a horse he is. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Bolt d’Oro is a half-brother to Sonic Mule (Distorted Humor), MSW & MGSP, $264,190. View the full article

Flashback (Tapit–Rhumb Line, by Mr. Greeley), the sire of seven winners from his first crop including Grade I-placed Boujie Girl and Grade III-placed Tripwire, has been relocated to Glenn Brok’s Diamond B Farm for the 2019 breeding season. He will stand for a fee of $3,500 live foal with special consideration to mares foaling in Pennsylvania. “We are very excited about Flashback coming to Diamond B. He has active 2-year-olds and they are doing well,” commented Brok. “We have so much respect for Gary and Mary West and are happy they have chosen to enter the lucrative Pennsylvania breeding market. The state-bred program has a lot to offer breeders, and Flashback will enhance their choices when it comes time to book their mares.” Winner of the GII Robert B. Lewis S. at second asking, Flashback was second in the GII San Felipe S. and GI Santa Anita Derby and was favored in six of his seven career trips to the post. A $260,000 purchase by the Wests at the 2010 Keeneland November sale, Flashback is a full-brother to dual Grade I winner Zazu, to SW Corinthian’s Jewel (Corinthian) and GSP Art Princess (Officer). View the full article

When Alta Bambina captured the third race at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 7, Carlos David hardly had a difficult time finding the winner's circle to celebrate his first victory as a trainer. View the full article

The first thing that you notice about Worldly Slew, now known as Sonny, is how his ears are always forward. He stands placidly as the therapeutic riding instructor, Cathy Lamando, the student, 6-year-old Nero, and a volunteer prepare for the riding lesson. As part of his session at Nipper Knolls Equine Center, Nero is helping to get Sonny ready. Hence, the frequent starts and stops, and readjustments in the tack. Nero just seems to enjoy the attention. Lamando is a board-certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist as well as a certified PATH International registered riding instructor. She and her husband David started Nipper Knolls Equine Center to merge Cathy’s passion of helping others as a physical therapist with her love of horses. “About eight years ago we were in the market for a bomb-proof therapy pony,” explained David. “Then we got a call from Easy Street Animal Rescue that an extremely underweight Thoroughbred needed a place to recuperate from a bad situation. So, we agreed to help out. That was how we acquired Sonny. He turned out to be the perfect horse for our program.” Worldly Slew, a New York-bred by Slew the Knight raced from age two to 10. He started 104 times earning $104,000. He was slow to break his maiden but what he lacked in speed, he made up in resilience. In 1997, as a 5-year-old, he ran 28 times (an average of every 13 days) and hit the board 12 times. At ages seven and eight, he ran 14 times each year. Sonny retired at 10 while still sound and became a riding horse. He lived with one companion horse. When his friend died, Sonny was leased to a riding stable. Apparently unable to compete with his herd-mates for food and no special accommodations forthcoming, his condition deteriorated. His former owner went to visit him and found him emaciated. She turned to Easy Street for help. That was when Nipper Knolls stepped in as a foster placement and Sonny found his new calling in life. “He arrived extremely under weight and it was months before we could put a rider on him,” recalls Lamando. “I rode him first and he was lovely at a walk, trot and canter. So, Cathy began the training to desensitize him, but he had no issues with anything. He has been perfect and extraordinarily kind from the beginning.” Nipper Knolls Equine Center, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation was founded to provide equine-assisted activities to children who otherwise would never know the enjoyment and benefits of riding and working with horses. Many of the children they serve have special considerations associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, C.P., Down Syndrome, Delayed Development and Sensory Processing Disorder that prevent them from participating in group activities or sports. Nero suffers from severe ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Conduct Disorder. His condition affects his ability to learn as well as interact with his family and other children. His grandmother, who brings him every Sunday, says his time with Sonny has changed his life. “Nero was unkind to our pets and generally hard to control,” explained his grandmother. “He is in his second year of coming to ride weekly and the improvement in all aspects of his behavior is remarkable. He is much kinder and more tolerant. He likes cats and dogs and is generally calm, especially after his riding lesson.” Nero walked and occasionally trotted in his lesson. He guided Sonny through obstacles and performed tasks such as putting a ring on a cone which is on top of a barrel. Sonny went through the 30-minute class flawlessly responding to the subtlest of cues. What does it take to keep Sonny happy and healthy? These days he has a 65-pound weight limit to carry, eats three meals a day with alfalfa for lunch and has his own volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Valerie Castora of Heart-Wing Veterinary Services. She specializes in veterinary chiropractic and acupuncture for horses. His lessons are primarily walk with occasional trotting. “Sonny’s happiness and well-being are paramount to us and to Easy Street which still technically owns him,” added Lamando. “We watch him carefully and follow Dr. Castora’s recommendations to the letter. He has given so much to us and everyone in his life, he deserves the best.” For more information about Nipper Knolls Equine Center, contact nipperknolls@yahoo.com or call 518-642-2252. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable database of Thoroughbred horses available for adoption. View the full article

Clarity, consistency in the adjudication of North American racing is possible with a switch to the Category 1 philosophy. View the full article

This week, champion sprinter Runhappy’s first foals went through the ring at Keeneland, with eight weanlings selling for an average of $191,250 through Book 2. What onlookers might not have noticed was that the man showing them in the ring was none other than Cordell Anderson, Runhappy’s groom during his racing career. Anderson, who handles horses in the ring for Keeneland, made sure that he was on the end of the shank for hip 193, the first Runhappy foal through the ring this week. TDN: This was a special week for you. Tell us why. CA: Well, Runhappy’s babies, or I should say my grandchildren, are now going through the sales ring. They’re lovely; such fine, magnificent animals. They’re great. TDN: Tell us about the first time you saw one, was it here at the sale? CA: Yeah, it was right here on the sales grounds. I went and saw number 193. I went down to the barn to look at him and he was great. TDN: And then we saw that you got to handle him when he went in the ring. What was that like? CA: Yes, I could not let that pass me by. The very first Runhappy; I had to get my hands on him. It was great. Good feeling. When he first walked in, he was great. And then I guess, like all the horses in the sales ring, the speaker above their head can make them get a little flighty. It’s just that it’s a different place and got so many people in there and noise. But they’re great. He was great. TDN: Physically, what was Runhappy like, and how does he compare to his foals? CA: He’s a very nice, very calm horse to deal with. He was just great. Just everything that a groom wanted with a horse. Good mind, sleeps, and doesn’t give you any trouble. He would go off and do his work and then eat grass when he was through. He was a very good doer. And body-wise, he’s excellent, physically, mentally. Great. TDN: Did he pass that temperament onto his onto his sons and daughters? CA: I think so. You know how babies are. But, yeah eventually they’ll mellow out and I think everybody is going to be happy both in the sales ring and I think with their running style. They should get out of the starting gate running. TDN: Do you ever go out to Claiborne to see Runhappy now? CA: Oh, yeah. He loves seeing me. I usually go with apples and peppermints. Once I said, `I’m going to see if he really knows who I am and I’m going to keep these things away so he won’t see them.’ So, I walked on up and he was way up in the corner and I said, ‘Happy!’ He looks. I said, ‘Happy!’ And here he comes, bombing down to the gate. And I said, ‘Oh yeah, he didn’t forget.’ It was great. That made me feel good. It’s not just the apples. View the full article

Breeders' Cup completed an extensive out-of-competition pre- and post-race testing program at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs, Nov. 2-3, which included the testing of 289 horses. View the full article

NBC Sports will expand its horse racing programming in 2019, including a collaboration with Churchill Downs on a new magazine-style series and the addition of a pair of crucial prep races. View the full article

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC the green light to conduct at least four days of live Thoroughbred racing in 2019 at Suffolk Downs. View the full article

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC the green light to conduct at least four days of live Thoroughbred racing in 2019 at Suffolk Downs. View the full article

Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been assigned a rating of 130 for his six-length score in the G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot last month, bringing him equal with four-time G1 Cox Plate winner Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the top spot on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. American Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) remains second at 128 for his lone start in 2018, a win in the GI Pegasus World Cup, while G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Prince of Wales’s S. winner Poet’s Word (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and champion 3-year-old-elect Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) are joint fourth at 127. Three horses are tied for sixth at 126: last weekend’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky), recent G2 Sha Tin Trophy winner Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) and G2 Hardwicke S. winner Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). View the full article

NBC Sports Group and Ascot Racecourse have come to an agreement to extend NBC’s exclusive U.S. media rights deal for Royal Ascot a further six years. NBC began broadcasting the Royal Meeting to its American audience two years ago. “For the past two years, we have introduced an American audience to the pageantry and incredible racing that Royal Ascot has to offer,” said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Royal Ascot and delighting horse racing fans nationwide for years to come.” “The American runners we have seen at the Royal Meeting have added a new dimension to our historic meet, and NBC Sports has played a significant part in telling the global racing story to the U.S. audience,” said Nick Smith, director of racing at Ascot. “With star names from Royal Ascot–American horses like Tepin, Bucchero and Yoshida, plus numerous Europeans–running at the Breeders’ Cup in the fall each year, NBC Sports is the place to see the world’s best.” View the full article

Godolphin’s winning 4-year-old colt Zeelander (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 101) was the headline act at the Tattersalls Ascot November Sale on Thursday, the brother to two stakes winners bringing £52,000 from agent Federico Barberini. Nostrovia (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) (lot 103), a 75-rated 2-year-old filly, will return to the yard of trainer Richard Spencer but this time under the ownership of Rebel Racing after Spencer and Phil Cunningham picked her up for £22,000. In total, 113 horses-in-training were traded on Thursday for an aggregate of £434,650. While the average dropped 16% from last year to £3,846, the clearance rate climbed 10% to 77%. The median was £2,000. View the full article

Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has 14 first-crop 2-year-old winners and two black-type winners, leads the Lanwades Stud roster for 2019 at a fee of £15,000, the same fee at which he has stood the past four years. Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), whose first foals were born this year, stands for £10,000. He is the first son of the multiple champion U.S. turf sire to stand in Europe. The roster is rounded out by Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) at £7,000. View the full article

NBC Sports will expand its horse racing programming in 2019, including a collaboration with Churchill Downs on a new magazine-style series and the addition of a pair of crucial prep races. View the full article

No Nay Never (Scat Daddy), Europe’s leading first-season sire, will have his fee quadrupled next season at Coolmore, jumping to €100,000 from €25,000. The G2 Coventry S. and G1 Prix Morny winner started out at a fee of €20,000 in 2015. He dipped to €17,500 for the subsequent two seasons, but was bumped back up to €25,000 this year after his first yearlings were very well received by the market last fall. Those rosy predicaments translated to success on the track this year: No Nay Never is Europe’s leading first-crop sire by earnings (over $1.3-million), winners (27), wins (38), black-type winners (6), black-type horses (13), group winners (two) and group horses (five). His leading earner is the G1 Middle Park S. winner Ten Sovereigns (Ire)*. No Nay Never now stands for the highest advertised fee of Coolmore’s 29 Irish-based stallions-Galileo (Ire)‘s fee once again is private. Coolmore will introduce five new stallions in Ireland this year: Group 2-winning juvenile Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (€7,500), Australian champion 3-year-old sprinter and Royal Ascot winner Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (€20,000), G1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) (€30,000), G2 Norfolk S. and G1 Phoenix S. winner Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) (€12,500) and triple Group 1-winning sprinter U S Navy Flag (War Front) (€25,000). U S Navy Flag, Saxon Warrior and Merchant Navy will stand at the farm’s headquarters in Co. Tipperary, and Coolmore’s Director of Sales David O’Loughlin said, “Coolmore have long been associated with standing top-class 2-year-olds and Classic 3-year-olds, but the new additions for 2019 see the introduction of some really quality speed.” “War Front’s son U S Navy Flag was last year’s European champion 2-year-old and was a runaway winner of the July Cup when dropped back to six furlongs. Merchant Navy won Group 1 races over six furlongs both in Australia and at Royal Ascot and is the fastest son of his champion sire Fastnet Rock. Saxon Warrior is the best son of Deep Impact to stand in Europe to date. He bested Roaring Lion in the G1 Racing Post Trophy to remain unbeaten at two and displayed a devastating turn of foot to win the Guineas. All three are by top sires and all three also have exceptionally strong pedigrees on the female side.” Gustav Klimt and Sioux Nation will join the roster at Castlehyde, and that stud’s manager John Kennedy said, “The 2018 racing season was a fantastic one for Castlehyde. Our stallions Champs Elysees and Holy Roman Emperor sired three Classic winners between them while Ruler of the World sired the G1 Fillies Mile winner from his first 2-year-old crop. Amongst the many high-class horses foaled here were Irish Derby winner Latrobe and Prince of Wales’s S. and King George winner Poet’s Word. We are thrilled to have two very exciting horses coming for 2019. There is every reason to believe that Scat Daddy’s Norfolk and Phoenix S. winner Sioux Nation could be the next No Nay Never, while Gustav Klimt was a very high-class 2-year-old, is the highest-rated son of Galileo over six furlongs and comes from the family of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac.” *All figures for No Nay Never as of 11/8/2018. View the full article

As the result of his powerful performance in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1), Cracksman has equaled Winx in the ninth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2018. View the full article

Robert P. Levy, known universally as Bob and a widely-respected figure in the world of Thoroughbred racing, sports, philanthropy and civic affairs passed away peacefully Nov. 7, close to his home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was 87 years of age. Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years Rochelle (Cissie), his five children, Kathryn, Wendy, Robert Jr., Angela and Michael and 12 grandchildren. Two of his children continue Bob’s long association with the Thoroughbred industry. His son Michael is the president of Thoroughbred insurance specialist Muirfield Insurance and Michael’s wife, Meg, operates Bluewater Sales in Lexington, Ky. Bob’s youngest daughter Angela is the wife of Anthony Beck of Gainesway Farm, also in Lexington. Levy owned and bred Thoroughbreds all his adult life. In 1985, he purchased from Lane’s End Farm a bay colt by Sporting Life and named him Bet Twice. Racing for Cisely Stable and Levy and trained by his life-long friend Warren (Jimmy) Croll, Bet Twice was one of the best 3-year-old colts of 1987, winning the G1 Belmont Stakes by 14 lengths over his arch-rival Alysheba. Bet Twice retired to stud at Lane’s End and spent his last years pensioned at Muirfield East, at that time the Levy family’s farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland. Another auction purchase was Eclipse Champion Sprinter of 1997 Smoke Glacken, who stood his entire stallion career at Gainesway Farm. For his tireless support and generosity, Levy was named Man of the Year by the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, a charitable foundation providing sport and recreational opportunities for inner-city children. He was president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association in 1989 and 1990 and was appointed to President Reagan’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports. Levy was active in the direction of Fasig-Tipton, as a shareholder and member of its board of directors, from 1988 to 2008. The highlight of Bob Levy’s achievements on the racetrack came with Housebuster, which he co-owned with his close friend and business associate James (Jim) Murphy. Foaled at the Clarkland Farm of Fred Mitchell in Kentucky, bred by Levy’s mother Blanche and Murphy Stable and trained principally by Jimmy Croll, Housebuster was Eclipse Champion Sprinter in both 1990 and 1991. Bob Levy was on hand in 2013 at Saratoga, when Housebuster was inducted in the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. “We’ve had a few good horses, Bet Twice won the Belmont and Closed Door won some stakes, but Housebuster’s the only one in the Hall of Fame and I’m thrilled. That’s as high as you can get. You don’t realize until afterwards how hard it is to do.” Details of funeral services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Thoroughbred Charities of America (www.tac.org – (859) 276-4989), P O Box 910668, Lexington, KY40591-0668 View the full article