Wandering Eyes

Trainer Murray Rojas spent nearly a decade fighting equine drug misbranding charges stemming from a years-long federal investigation of horsemen and veterinarians at Penn National Race Course. While other similarly indicted co-defendants opted for plea-bargain deals, Rojas maintained her innocence even through an ordeal that she said “wrecked” her career. In 2021 she took her case all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where her perseverance resulted in the overturning of a 27-month prison sentence and the vacating of all charges against her. Rojas has since regained her previously revoked licensure to train Thoroughbreds in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and Arizona. On Tuesday, she wanted to add Kentucky to the list of states where she can legally ply her trade. But after facing an intense round of questioning and testimony via videoconference by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC)'s license review committee, Rojas instead ended up withdrawing her request for a Kentucky training license. Rojas made that decision after the chair of that committee, Gregory Harbut, told her after the board emerged from closed-session deliberations that if she didn't choose to withdraw her license request, the committee's vote would “almost certainly result in the denial of this application.” Rojas didn't participate in the Dec. 4 hearing accompanied by an attorney. But she did understand the legal ramifications that were explained to her–namely, that if the KHRGC put a license denial on her record, it would jeopardize Rojas's ability to continue training in other states that had already granted her licenses. “I don't want a denial on my record,” Rojas said. But, Rojas added, “I would like to reapply with my lawyer next to me to do this. Because, obviously, I didn't answer right, and I'm not really sure why you would prove me guilty when I'm not guilty of anything.” Earlier in Tuesday's hearing, Rojas had expressed frustration at the license review board's line of questioning, which had included numerous repetitive queries, such as, “Why do you think you are here today?” “Tell us why you're here.” “What brings us to this process?” (The occasional poor quality of the livestream audio and the wide-angle placement of the camera in a conference room made it difficult for TDN to ascertain at times exactly which KHRGC license review committee members were speaking. Beyond chair Harbut, the other members on Tuesday were Paul Brooker, Michael Dudgeon, Jamie Eads and Shannon Garner). At one point, Rojas was admonished by a committee member, “It's important that you answer the questions that we ask truthfully.” Rojas was also reminded several times that, “This is not a criminal procedure, so you don't have to worry about double jeopardy.” But, Rojas said, that's exactly how she felt, stating to the committee with exasperation, “You're trying to convict me again.” In July 2017, Rojas was found guilty on 14 of 21 counts of misbranding prescription drugs, charges that were brought against her as part of a Federal Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged equine drug administration at Penn National. She was found not guilty on seven counts of wire fraud. As the Paulick Report wrote in a 2022 chronology of her case, “Rojas was accused of having veterinarians administer medications to horses within 24 hours of a race in violation of state regulations. Veterinarians who testified in the case say they also falsified dates of the treatments in records submitted to regulators. The practice, according to testimony given during the trial, was widespread at Penn National.” Sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, Rojas initially lost on appeal. But Rojas petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case, where, according to the Paulick Report, her legal team argued that “the trial judge and appellate court erred in their definition of misbranding in both jury instructions and in the appeal. Specifically, they said, the judge failed to instruct the jury properly on the distinction between 'administering' drugs and 'dispensing' them and that the government failed to prove that Rojas 'dispensed' the drugs to her horses.” At the Dec. 4, 2024 hearing for her Kentucky license, Rojas told committee members, “I don't really know what to say other than all my charges were dropped by the Supreme Court. They overturned the federal government on all the charges [and] I've raced [as a licensed trainer since 2023 in other states] without a problem.” Rojas told the committee members that the conviction “totally wrecked my career. It wrecked my business. It broke me, obviously, paying lawyer's fees. I had the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association backing me. They paid half my fees, because it was such a fake charge. I had the Cato Institute backing me with the Supreme Court. I've been backed by great people that know that I am innocent, so I feel like I shouldn't have to fight for this anymore.” One license review committee member reminded Rojas that that her co-defendants had either all pleaded guilty or were proven guilty at trials. “I'd like you to tell us what you did. It's a pretty serious deal,” the committee member said. “It was really a serious deal in my life,” Rojas agreed. “I spent nine years fighting for my rights. I didn't take a 'deal.' All the other trainers took a guilty plea. I did not. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not going to say I did anything wrong, because I didn't. What I was convicted on was misbranding, which was a completely false charge [because I was following the advice of] a veterinarian. I've used no illegal drugs, at all, ever.” “Then why did they convict you?” asked a committee member. “They convicted me because they didn't understand the charges,” Rojas responded. “Misbranding is such a far-fetched idea that [the jury] had no idea what it meant. It was a 14-day trial,” Rojas continued. “The jurors were falling asleep. The judge fell asleep. It was a crazy trial.” During Tuesday's hearing, two other individuals were also seeking to be relicensed by the KHRGC after various sanctions had been imposed against them. The committee took testimony for nearly an hour total to cover all three cases, then deliberated in private for about 45 minutes before returning to a public session to vote on the applications. Only in Rojas's case did the board suggest the withdrawal of the application. The KHRGC committee voted unanimously to approve licenses for Cody Axmaker and Troy Wismer. In 2022, Monmouth Park stewards had penalized Axmaker with a two-year suspension and a $5,000 fine after one of his horses died from an accidental overdose of clenbuterol from an apparently mislabeled container. Wismer, according to testimony at the hearing and from online Kentucky court records, had been convicted this past May of seven felony charges (strangulation, assault, domestic violence, violation of a protective order, burglary, robbery and evading police) stemming from his role in a 2023 altercation at Churchill Downs on GI Kentucky Derby Day and a series of related violent incidents that spilled over to the home of his ex-wife. Wismer told the KHRGC on Tuesday that he had pleaded guilty to the charges on the advice of his attorney so he could enter a court-approved diversion program that spared him most of the jail time. His relicensing was made conditional upon drug and alcohol screenings. Within minutes of the adjournment of the license review committee hearing, the KHRGC removed the two public-session videos of Tuesday's proceedings from the organization's YouTube channel. The post Trainer Rojas, Cleared of Drug Charges by U.S. Supreme Court, Can’t Overcome Licensing Hurdle in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Winning has been a hallmark of Brittany Russell's training career. Since she opened her Maryland-based stable in 2018, she has been winning at a highly impressive 25% clip. But it's been Post Time who has taken her career to the next level. View the full article

The past week has been good to Mid Canterbury trainers Lynn and Justin Smith. On Saturday the Rakaia-based combo had a double with Beyond The Horizon and Lookslikeatrixter at Motukarara to bring up their 100th training success together and then yesterday they added to their total when Glance broke maidens with a four length win at Addington. “She always worked like she’d win a race but she hasn’t raced like that on race day until today,” Justin Smith told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. It was her 12th start since debuting at Akaroa in March. “She’s been a long work in progress and been in work a long time.” Glance started safely in the Book “Under The Mistletoe” at Addington 13 Dec Trot, and settled three back the fence with favourite Bluey setting the pace. Smith then manouevred the five-year-old out at the 400. Bluey broke in the run home giving Glance a charmed run to the line. She paid $15 for the win. Bred and raced by the Smiths, Glance (Creatine) is the seventh of eight foals from their top race mare Some Direction. She won 25 from 167 starts and over $300K. Her other progeny to have been race winners are Kingdom Come (4), Look Ahead (1), Some Time (5), Take Notice (2) and Lookalike Lobell (1). “Her foals have been a bit different. She (Some Direction) was good from day one but the foals have taken a lot of work.” Some Direction (Sundon – Look) was the first winner the mother-son combo had as a training partnership. It was in Ashburton in 2004. After yesterday’s win they now have 101 wins, with Lynn also having 45 on her own account (1976-2004). View the full article

Darwin jockey Wayne Davis endured mixed fortunes on his return from injury at Fannie Bay last Friday. Having made a welcome return from injury, Darwin jockey Wayne Davis is hoping for a smoother and more successful day in the saddle come Friday. Sidelined since May with a serious back injury, the popular 53-year-old made his first appearance back at a wet and muddy Fannie Bay last Friday, and it certainly proved eventful. After three rides where he finished unplaced, Davis was aboard the Phil Cole-trained Awesome Lad in the last race when the eight-year-old gelding started bucking and took no further competitive part in the event. “I was thinking that it was unlikely I was going to have a crash landing,” Davis said. “Awesome Lad is sensitive, he got ticklish and got a bit of a shock with the surface water. “It was just one of those things, he’s an experienced horse and I couldn’t see him doing it again.” Davis has four rides for Cole on Friday — Proklisi, Moorestown, Miss Polly and Fly Nice — as he strives for that first win since March 22, when he partnered Proklisi. Form suggests that Proklisi, Moorestown and Miss Polly are in the mix. After riding at Darwin’s ANZAC Day meeting, Davis fell from his mount during trackwork on May 4. The horse bucked and turned sharply to its right before dislodging Davis. Landing on his back, Davis was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital by ambulance. “Early days, I did wonder how the body would recover after fracturing my T11 vertebrae and five ribs,” Davis said. “The vertebrae has recovered extremely well, I’m feeling great. “There was also a lot of physiotherapy, I just needed time to heal. “I have been focussing on the fitness in the gym as well. “It also allowed the spine to recover as opposed to pushing it beyond its means.” Understandably, Davis was excited to make his comeback. He returned to trackwork some time ago before getting approval to return to race riding on November 21. “If anything, it was a relief,” he said. “I love what I do, especially when it’s your passion and your life. “It was great to get the eye back in and clean the pipes out, so to speak. “It would be good to get a win on Friday — get a score on the board.” Before the mishap in May, Davis was involved in a three-horse fall during the 2021 Darwin Cup Carnival and was dislodged during trackwork in late 2022 when a plover struck his horse. Another fall could draw the curtain on Davis’ career, which started 37 years ago in Victoria. “It’s like driving a car to the supermarket, you don’t premeditate something going wrong,” he said. “If you do, you shouldn’t be driving or riding. “If you start having thoughts like that, you’re second-guessing yourself and you’re not giving 100 per cent. “The aim is to be positive, not negative.” Horse racing news View the full article

The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation License Review Committee unanimously voted to grant Kentucky racing licenses to Cody Axmaker and Troy Wismer, who have troubled histories in the sport as owners and trainers.View the full article

Just Steel, who sustained a right front leg fracture in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, has rejoined the barn of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in advance of the 2024-25 Oaklawn Park meet that begins Dec. 6.View the full article

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who won his seventh GI Preakness Stakes in 2024 with recently retired new Gainesway stallion Seize the Grey (Arrogate), has two of his other highly regarded 2024 stakes performers training at Oaklawn Park for a return to the races. BC Stables, LLC and Henry Schmueckle's Just Steel (Justify), winner of the 2023 Ed Brown Stakes and runner-up in Oaklawn's 2024 GI Arkansans Derby, GIII Southwest Stakes, and Smarty Jones Stakes, emerged from a fifth-place finish in the Preakness with a right-front leg fracture and subsequently required surgery. Lukas told Oaklawn publicity this week that the sophomore returned to training about 60 days ago, but has yet to have a timed work. “He actually looks terrific,” Lukas said. “The time off and everything filled him out. He grew. He's 17 hands. Now, he's a man among the rest of these. I'm pretty optimistic that he's going to have a big year.” Lukas indicated there isn't a specific timetable or target for Just Steel. “We'll just let him dictate it as we go along. He hasn't had a work yet, so we'll go from there.” Another prominent Lukas runner of 2024 was Lemon Muffin (Collected), who broke her maiden last February at 28-1 in Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee Stakes. The Aaron Sones, Julie Gilbert, and Harrison M. Sones runner was last seen finishing second in a Churchill allowance Nov. 13. She'd finished off the board in a number of races since her Honeybee win. “She's doing good,” Lukas said. “Her last race was more like her. We'll probably stay in our [allowance] conditions with her one more race, at least, before we move up.” The Oaklawn meet begins Friday, Dec. 6. The post Just Steel Among Lukas Runners Training at Oaklawn, Nearing Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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Mickael Barzalona celebrates victory at Happy Valley. Mickael Barzalona bookended a dominant performance in the International Jockeys Championship (IJC) with victories in the first and last legs of the four-race challenge to become the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 & 2006). Barzalona got off the the perfect start when dropping top weight Sergeant Pepper’s head on the line to land the 1st Leg, depriving William Buick in the final stride to kick off with a maximum 12 points, run over 1000m. Thirty minutes later the 33-year-old might have made almost certain of claiming the lion’s share of the HK$1 million prize fund when charging to the front aboard Forever Glorious in the 2nd Leg over 1650m. But James McDonald showed all the quality expected from a rider who will be crowned the World’s Best Jockey for a second time here on Friday night, driving Douglas Whyte-trained Prince Alex to score by a head, with Colin Keane closing fastest of all to claim third on Sure Joyful in the 3rd Leg over 1650m. Neither Barzalona nor McDonald was able to add to their tally in leg three where it was Hollie Doyle’s turn to shine as Soleil Fighter held off the cavalry in yet another tight finish. Going to post for the final leg, four other jockeys were in with a chance of at least matching Barzalona’s score of 18 points, with Karis Teetan and Buick both hoping for a maximum haul and for none of other race winners to add to their tallies. But Barzalona put the matter beyond doubt as Pierre Ng-trained Aurora Lady drew steadily clear of his rivals and the Happy Valley faithful were able to cheer their new IJC champion before he hit the line in the 4th Leg over 1200m. Reflecting on how he had been able to gain priceless early momentum with Sergeant Pepper and Forever Glorious, Barzalona said: “It was very important to get points on the board quickly and I also felt I’d scored well with horses that were perhaps not among my better chances of the evening. It just all unfolded perfectly.” While Aurora Lady had plenty of support at odds of $6 heading into the last, Barzalona was left with the task of negotiating a path from out in stall 12. “Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady’s chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn’t work out,” said Barzalona. “He’s been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide he told me to try and get forward as long as they didn’t go mad early on. “I trusted my horse and he didn’t let me down.” Barzalona is yet to taste victory in any of the four Hong Kong International Races but he will arrive at Sha Tin on Sunday with the wind in his sails ahead of his ride aboard Marquisat in the HK$24 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), and hopeful he can improve on a second placed effort in the 2020 Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on outsider Jolly Banner. When told that he had joined his illustrious compatriots Peslier and Lemaire on the IJC honours board, Barzalona said: “It’s a hyper-competitive jockeys challenge and when you see the major names up there on the roll of honour, I’m delighted to have mine alongside.” McDonald and Doyle shared second place overall, with neither able to add to their 12-point wins, while Keane and Vincent Ho were the only other jockeys to register two scoring efforts across the four legs. Reflecting on his narrow success aboard Prince Alex for Douglas Whyte after the 2nd leg, McDonald said: “It was nice to get one home and do it for Dougie as well. It was a tough effort from the horse who is in career-best form, and it was nice to capitalise.” McDonald’s mount in the final leg, Chateauneuf went off the $3 favourite but after getting a nice draft into the race was unable to go with Aurora Lady. Doyle also knew her fate early in the decider as Goko Win required rousting from an early stage and beat only one rival home. But it was clear from the moment the jockeys were introduced during the opening ceremony that she has become a major fan favourite at the Valley among the visiting stars, and her hard-fought victory on Soleil Fighter for David Hayes was a popular one. “I think David gave me my first winner in the IJC so it’s nice to get him another one,” said Doyle. “The horse was very tough; he does need things to fall right but they did.” Pierre Ng took home the HK$300,000 bonus for leading trainer, a third placing with Aestheticism in leg three making the difference over the other heat winners, Me Tsui, Whyte and Hayes. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday with the HK$126 million Hong Kong International Races. Horse racing news View the full article

Chancheng Glory carries the flag for Iowa breeding in the Hong Kong Mile (G1).View the full article

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has increased the purses of 10 Aqueduct winter meet stakes by $25,000 as the 49-day schedule features a total of 20 either black-type or graded races worth $3.1 million, the track said in a press release on Wednesday. The meet, which opens Wednesday, Jan. 1 and continues through Sunday, Mar. 30, includes $25,000 purse increases for the Busanda, Ruthless, Damon Runyon (NYB), East View (NYB), Say Florida Sandy (NYB), Broadway (NYB), Correction, Gander (NYB), Maddie May (NYB) and the Jimmy Winkfield will be offered with a purse of $125,000. A trio of races previously offered at the 2024 winter meet–the Haynesfield (NYB), Excelsior, and Biogio's Rose (NYB)–will be run during the 2025 Aqueduct spring meet. The Franklin Square (NYB), Rego Park (NYB), and Cicada, which were previously held during the winter meet, will not be run in 2025. With the exception of Opening Week, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday from the week of Jan. 9 through the week of Feb. 27. Aqueduct will host a Presidents' Day card on Monday, Feb. 17. The winter meet will offer three-day race weeks Friday through Sunday throughout the month of March. The post NYRA Increases 10 Big A Winter Meet Stakes Purses By $25,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Although finding a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner among the victors in the Remsen Stakes (G2) may send you back to 1994, lately the 1 1/8-mile stakes has produced more than its fair share of top-level 3-year-olds.View the full article

The New York Racing Association revealed the stakes schedule for the 49-day winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will feature 20 stakes worth $3.1 million in total purses.View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is proud to announce a multiyear partnership with the Ed Brown Society to assist young people of color pursue careers in the Thoroughbred racing industry.View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has formed a multi-year partnership with the Ed Brown Society to assist young people of color pursue careers in the racing industry, the NTRA said via a Wednesday release. “The NTRA is thrilled to partner with the Ed Brown Society to help encourage diversity in the Thoroughbred racing industry,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “We look forward to mentoring the Ed Brown Scholars as they get their start in this amazing industry.” Together with NTRA and its other partners, the Ed Brown Society works to provide exposures, experiences, resources and professional development to talented and focused young people of color who wish to pursue careers in the industry. “We are delighted to embark upon this work with the NTRA,” said L. Clark Williams, President of the Ed Brown Society. “This partnership will undoubtedly afford Ed Brown Scholars and Fellows with remarkable opportunities to gain invaluable industry exposure, by assisting with the critical and wide-ranging initiatives of the NTRA.” The post NTRA Partners With Ed Brown Society To Promote Future Employee Diversity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 12/03/2024 Licensee: Jesus Esquivel, trainer Penalty: For both cases, Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Sassy Walker and Abitibi during the race period. No further information for these violations is currently publicly available. Date: 11/26/2024 Licensee: Angel Quiroz, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Beautiful Astray during the race period. No further information on this violation is currently publicly available. Date: 11/21/2024 Licensee: Eduardo Rodriguez, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Problematica, who won at Fanduel Sportsbook and Horseracing on 10/17/24. Pending ADMC Violations 12/03/2024, Eduardo Caramori, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Odorico on 10/29/24. 12/03/2024, Danny Morales, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Big Event on 10/25/24. 12/03/2024, Shane Meyers, trainer: Pending Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Andy Cant during the race period. 12/03/2024, Christophe Clement, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Gal in a Rush, who finished third in the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters S. on 9/20/24. 12/03/2024, David Baker, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Mars Magic, who won at Ferndale on 9/7/24. 12/03/2024, Thomas Pierce Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance except in certain circumstances–in a sample taken from Angel's Shadows, who won at Albuquerque on 9/2/24. 12/02/2024, Timothy Tompkins, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Detomidine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Sweet Carol James on 10/29/24. 12/02/2024, Librado Barocio, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Canani on 10/27/24. 12/02/2024, Francisco Rodriguez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Wrong Direction, who was third at Pleasanton on 10/19/24. 11/27/2024, Jorge Maravilla, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone and Methocarbamol–both controlled substances (Class C)–in a sample taken from Duplication on 10/27/24. 11/27/2024, Alfredo Marquez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from My Kathryn Rose, who won at Santa Anita on 10/19/24. 11/26/2024, Roderick Rodriguez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Bernardo's Legacy, who won at Gulfstream Park on 10/26/24. 11/22/2024, Moshe Mark, owner: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Chocolate Shake on 10/17/24. 11/21/2024, Juan Aguirre, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Future Flay, who finished sixth at Mahoning Valley on 10/19/24. Violations of Crop Rule The HISA rulings website is currently experiencing technical difficulties, a possible fix for which could come by mid-December, according to a HISA spokesperson. The post Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings, Nov. 21-Dec. 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

HISA provisionally suspended Paco Lopez from all racing activities under HISA's jurisdiction, effective immediately, after the jockey was captured on video striking his mount National Law in the neck area after the fifth race at Parx Racing Dec. 3.View the full article

On the back of a victory aboard Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Coolmore and trainer Andre Fabre in the G1 Investec Epsom Derby in 2011, a then 20-year-old Mickael Barzalona took up a short-term contract to ride in Hong Kong, bringing up a single winner from 42 rides. Now all of 33 years of age, the Frenchman experienced the other end of the spectrum to take out the valuable Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) before a packed house at Happy Valley Racecourse, book-ending the four-race competition with victories en route to amassing 30 points and easily outdistancing 11 other top riders from all over the world. A 30-1 chance pre-post for the IJC, Barzalona was off to the perfect start in the first leg over the 1000 metres, driving fellow roughie Sergeant Pepper (Aus) (I Am Invicible {Aus}) to a victory that was anything but 'lonely,' as Lean Master (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), the mount of William Buick, and Parents' Love (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), ridden by defending champion Vincent Ho, chimed in late on. In so doing, Barzalona scooped the 12 points for finishing first (video). Barzalona was alloted the mount on Forever Glorious (GB) (Archipenko), who was off at 20-1 in the second leg going 1650 metres, and he looked well on his way to all but sewing up the IJC when he swept in from approaching the final furlong. He was joined shortly thereafter by James McDonald and Prince Alex (Aus) (Animal Kingdom)–a 6-year-old full-brother to US Grade I winner Oleksandra (Aus)–but went down to a battling defeat when the dust had settled (video). Colin Keane and Sure Joyful (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) got home well for third. Hollie Doyle rarely leaves empty-handed on IJC night, having finished a joint-third on her maiden appearance in 2020 and a dead-heat second the following season. Her first-ever victory in the IJC came courtesy of trainer David Hayes on a hot favourite in 2020, and the Lindsay Park maestro was responsible for getting her into the thick of things on Wednesday. Assigned the mount on $6.30 (5.30-1) gamble Soleil Fighter ( GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Doyle was able to settle the 4-year-old on the back of the speed, peeled out and proved narrowly best over Silo (Aus) (National Defense {GB}, Karis Teetan) and Aestheticism (NZ) (Derryn {Aus}), Zac Purton) (video). Five of the 12 IJC contestants were in with a winning chance heading into the final leg at 1200 metres. Barzalona's mount, Aurora Lady (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) was the third choice at just below 6-1, but had a potentially tricky draw to deal with in 12 for trainer Pierre Ng. Away alertly and ridden positively, the bay raced three wide and without the benefit of cover in the first third of the field and put the race away in the straight, comfortably holding Kyrus Dragon (Aus) (Safeguard {Aus}, Keane) and Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What's The Story {NZ}, Ho) (video). McDonald and Doyle were unable to add to their 12 points and shared runner-up honours. “Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady's chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn't work out,” said Barzalona. “He's been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide he told me to try and get forward as long as they didn't go mad early on. I trusted my horse and he didn't let me down. “It's a hyper-competitive jockeys challenge and when you see the major names up there on the roll of honour, I'm delighted to have mine alongside,” Barzalona said. Barzalona, who takes home the HK$600,000 first prize, becomes the fourth Frenchman to take out the IJC, joining Olivier Peslier (1998, 2006), Christophe Soumillon (2004, tie with Yutaka Take) and Christophe Lemaire (2012, tie with Ryan Moore and John Murtagh). Barzalona has the call for Fabre aboard Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. It will be his final Group 1 ride for Godolphin before he takes up a role as first jockey for the French-trained horses of the Aga Khan Studs in 2025. Smashing night! @LONGINES | #IJC | #HKIR pic.twitter.com/xzVIpPMKKA — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 4, 2024 The post Barzalona Strikes For France In Longines IJC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — The Wednesday of the December Mares Sale may have become a quieter session than was once the case but there are still plenty of enticing broodmare prospects, not least from the Godolphin draft. It provided five of the day's top ten lots, including the session-topper Bridestones (Ire), a listed-placed filly by Teofilo (Ire) out of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer). The four-year-old was selected by agent Alex Elliott, who assisted the Amo Racing team in the purchase of the overall sale-topper, the 4.8 million gns You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and it was the former part-owner of the Irish Oaks winner, Anthony Ramsden's Valmont, in the chair to buy Bridestones. Elliott, was aided in the bidding by Ramsden's nephew Charlie Spencer, the son of former champion jockey Jamie. “She will go back to Whatton Manor [Stud] to be looked after by the Players,” Elliott said. “Teofilo is a very good broodmare sire and he works very well with Lope De Vega, one of Anthony's favourite stallions.” Elliott also signed for Instinction (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), a five-year-old half-sister to the G3 Prix Eclipse winner Eddie's Boy (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), sold from Houghton Bloodstock at 120,000gns. The dual juvenile winner was in foal for the second time to Havana Grey's stud-mate Sergei Prokofiev and is from the strong black-type family of Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge). “She made a lot sense – it's that old Lordship Stud family, a very fast family,” he said Elliott. “She is perfect for Havana Grey and, if we can take a good-looking Sergei out of her, that will go a good way to paying us back for today. She is for myself and a few others.” In keeping with the earlier days of the sale, figures were up year-on-year during this third and penultimate session – notably an improvement in the clearance rate from 79% to 86%. That brought about an uplift in aggregate to 4,6i8,000gns (+25%), while the average was up by 29% at 24,962gns and the median improved to 16,000gns (+14%). With one smaller session still to come on Thursday morning, the December Mares Sale is already in record territory. Turnover from the first three days stands at 83,455,000gns, surpassing the bumper year of 2022. Sands Of Mali Still a Friend to Cool Silk Team Ellaria Sand (GB) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), winner of the Listed Radley Stakes for Ollie Sangster and owner-breeder The Cool Silk Partnership, was the standout in-training purchase of the day. The two-year-old was bought for 200,000gns by Sam Haggas and will remain with Sangster's team of horses at Manton. She is one of two stakes winners from the first crop of Ballyhane-based Sands Of Mali, along with the Royal Ascot winner Ain't Nobody (Ire). The stallion also raced for Cool Silk and is now the sire of G2 Lowther Stakes runner-up Time For Sandals (Ire) among 19 winners. Matt Coleman, advisor to the Cool Silk Partnership, said, “When Sands Of Mali was going to stud, I bought her dam Ellaria to join a band of broodmares to support the stallion. Ellaria Sand was born and reared at Culworth Grounds and went into training and, fair dues to Peter, Karin and Chris Swann of Cool Silk, they back their own homebreds and put them all in training. It is great to see them get such a great price for her.” He added, “It is a big feather in the cap of the Cool Silk team for a homebred to have won a listed race, and then to sell her for 200,000gns. They raced the stallion and bred this filly so it is a great achievement, hopefully she will go on – Cool Silk has still got the mare and has a full-sister to race.” That's Easy For You To Say 'Barry Lynch for Ballylinch' was the tongue-twisting buying partnership of the day, with the agent stepping in to sign for the G3 Pinnacle Stakes winner Miss Marjurie (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) for the powerhouse Irish stud at 140,000gns. Now 14 and in foal to Darley freshman Triple Time (Ire), the mare, offered by Baroda Stud, is from the family of Group 1 winners Soviet Song (Ire), Marsha (Ire) and Ribbons (GB). Her two-year-old Smoken (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who was unnamed when the catalogue was published, provided a major update for her page when winning the Listed Montrose Stakes at Newmarket in early November. Lynch said, “Marju mares are very hard to come by, she is in foal to an interesting stallion, and she is a horse who can be mated very easily. It is quite exciting, we are delighted and she is for Ballylinch Stud. could be one for Look De Vega.” Buy of the Day John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud, breeder of 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) and Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up and Jersey Stakes winner Haatem (Ire), picked up what could in time look to be a bargain in lot 1896, Frolova (GB). The unraced mare was bought for 10,000gns from Cheveley Park Stud and is by their emerging broodmare sire Dutch Art (GB). Admittedly, she has not has a straightforward run at stud just yet as she has been barren in two of her five seasons and is yet to produce a winner. There are grounds for hope, however, as she has a yearling filly Korbut (GB), by Study Of Man (Ire), to race for her and was offered in foal to Ulysses (Ire). Frolova is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess (GB), who now stands alongside his sire Zodiac (GB) at Tally-Ho Stud and her second dam is the great Russian Rhythm. The post Valmont Reinvest After Lucrative Sale of You Got To Me appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Lordship Stud's hitherto untested homebred Bowmark (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Bound Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) lined up as a 5-1 chance for division two of Wednesday evening's Unibet More Boosts In More Races EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton and came home with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after unleashing a display of raw power in the one-mile heat. The March-foaled bay raced in the front rank early and was steadied to track the leaders in a handy fourth after the initial exchanges. Readied for his bid soon after turning for home, he quickened in style to hit the front just inside the quarter-mile marker and engaged overdrive inside the final furlong to easily outclass Oursin (GB) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths. Very nice from Bowmark Doubles for team Gosden & @KShoemark pic.twitter.com/CuF6GOE1aG — Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 4, 2024 The post Kingman’s Bowmark Powers to TDN Rising Stardom at Kempton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A 16-strong catalogue for the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale, which will be held after racing on Dec. 13, is now available. Featuring a boutique group of point-to-pointers and horses-in-training, the sale will remain open to supplementary entries through Dec. 9. G2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Chase winner Potters Charm (Ire) is an alumni of the 2023 edition of the sale, while other graduates include Grade 1 winners Shishkin (Ire), Sir Gerhard (Ire) and Fayonagh (Ire). Some of the select offerings for the 2024 edition are as follows: Heron In The Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}), who is a half-sister to a listed bumper winner, Grade 3 hurdle winner and multiple Grade 1 performer in Glory And Fortune (Ire) (Fame And Glory {GB}); Walk In The Park's winning duo of Delta Blues Belle (Ire) and Frankie John (Ire) who are both from Grade 1 families; and point-to-point winner Sinchi Roca (Ire) (Getaway {Ire}). The post Tattersalls Cheltenham December Catalogue Unveiled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Professional Jockeys Association said its female members experience "inadequate safeguarding and discriminatory facilities" after only 12 of Britain's racecourses met the original deadline for providing minimum-standard weighing room facilities.View the full article

Classic sire and Group 1 winner Aclaim (Ire) has moved to Batsford Stud where he will stand for £3,000, the stud posted on X. The sire of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) retired to The National Stud in 2018, and spent 2023-2024 at Manton Park. The son of Acclamation (GB) is joined by fellow new resident and Classic winner Kew Gardens (Ire), whose first foals will be 3-year-olds next year, at that price. He was previously under the Coolmore banner at Castle Hyde Stud from 2021-2024. Also at £3,000 is Passing Glance (GB), the sire of Grade 1 winners Strong Leader (GB) and Dashel Drasher (GB). The roster is rounded out by Invincible Spirit (Ire)'s Swiss Spirit (GB) at £1,000. The post Aclaim, Kew Gardens On The Move To Batsford Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The British racing industry, in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), is using data spanning 14 years to identify and help reduce risk in the sport, via the Racing Risk Models (RRM), the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Welfare Board (HWB) announced on Wednesday. Work on the RRM began in 2018 and its development and implementation has been one of the core recommendations of the HWB's 2020 strategy, A Life Well Lived. Academic researchers from the RVC have since been analysing data collected for each race start in Britain, including horse details, racing history, trainer, jockey and racecourse information, combined with details of any adverse outcomes sustained during the race. Potential risk factors identified by the model span five categories–horse, race, course, trainer and jockey. Experts at the RVC apply multivariable statistical modelling to the data to identify areas of increased risk, and the strength of association. This then allows for predictive models to potentially identify how injury and fatality rates might be affected by any individual factors. In 2023, the model was expanded to include Flat racing data, alongside the 400,000 jump records already analysed as part of the project. As new data emerges and future race starts are analysed, the Royal Veterinary College and Equine Safety Group (ESG) will continue to explore risk factors, their associations and potential recommendations for the future. Led by the BHA, the ESG is made up of experts from across British racing including owners, trainers, jockeys, racecourses, veterinary and safety advisors and internal data analysts. James Given, director of equine regulation, safety and welfare at the BHA and member of the Horse Welfare Board, said, “The Royal Veterinary College Epidemiological Team have academic expertise and independence that delivers scientifically rigorous evidence that enables recommendations and actions to be based on indisputable data. “Reduction of risk and injury is one of the core pillars of our welfare strategy and informed, evidence-based decision making is integral to this.” The post Racing Risk Models Being Used to Improve Outcomes for Racehorses in Britain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article