Wandering Eyes

When the TDN staff decided to make Patch Adams (Into Mischief) and Chasten (Into Mischief) 'TDN Rising Stars' after their maiden wins Saturday at Churchill Downs history was made by trainer Brad Cox. Never before has a trainer had two Rising Stars on the same day. Both were obvious choices. Patch Adams ran away from his competition to win by 10 lengths. Chasten, a winner by 1 ½ lengths, wasn't quite as impressive, but that she is half-sister to 2023 Older Filly & Mare Champion Idiomatic (Curlin) obviously swayed the TDN team. A horse is made a TDN Rising Star when he or she wins one of their first few starts, and is impressive enough that the TDN staff believes the horse will go on to be as graded stakes winner. Does that mean that Patch Adams and Chasten are both destined to become stars? Not necessarily. Basing a horses future off what is usually no more than one or two starts, is not easy. There are plenty of horses like Arrogate (Unbridled's Song). He lost in his first start and then ran in, and won, a pair of allowance races. He didn't have his coming out party until winning the 2016 GI Travers S. in his fifth lifetime start. Then there are horses like Pastor T (Into Mischief), who never ran again after breaking his maiden in his debut for Bob Baffert. I am not among the group that selects Rising Stars. But my colleagues continue to do a good job finding the stars of tomorrow. I did a complete review of every North American-based horse that received a Rising Star in 2023. Here is what I found: (*) There were 52 North American-based Rising Stars in 2023. Twenty of the 52 have so far won a graded stakes race in their career. An even more impressive stat: 12 horse became Grade I winners. If you include non-graded stakes, 26 Rising Stars have won stakes races. (*) Not too many future stars escaped the team. Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}): Sierra Leone (Gun Runner); Fierceness (City of Light); Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna); and Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) were among the top horses tabbed. (*) Soon to be named Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna was the best Rising Star of 2023. The worst? Squire Creek (Uncle Mo) was last seen running in a $32,000 claimer at Aqueduct. Hey, nobody is perfect. (*) To the surprise of no one, Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) led all sires in 2023 when it comes to producing Rising Stars. He had five. Tapit (Pulpit), Gun Runner (Candy Ride (ARG) and Quality Road (Elusive Quality) were next with three each. (*) Surprise, surprise, the super trainers dominated. Todd Pletcher led all trainers with eight Rising Stars. Brad Cox and Bob Baffert were next with six each. The Cigar Mile Comes Up Strong After a few years in a row where the Cigar Mile field came up very light, it's good to see the race, which will be run Saturday at Aqueduct, rebound. In what should be a terrific betting race, 11 will go to the post in what is the last race that matters on the 2024 New York racing calendar. The pick here is 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner). The winner of last year's GI Breeders' Futurity, he was sidelined for nearly a year after finishing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He came back and romped in an Oct. 19 race at Aqueduct going seven furlongs, which should set him up perfectly for the $500,000 race. But don't rule out the Jersey-bred sensation Book 'em Danno, who had a tough trip when third in the GIII Perryville S. at Keeneland. For him, this will be a prep for the GI Saudi Cup. Guessing Games With Takeouts Why is the takeout information for each track so hard to find? Asking people to bet when they don't know what the takeout is would be like your local supermarket not telling you the price of eggs. You'll just have to guess. This is an easy problem to fix, and maybe HISA can help in the effort. There should be a website readily available to fans that lists all the takeouts on all the bets at every track. The Daily Racing Form and Equibase should also publish the takeout rates in their paper and programs. Price conscious fans should gravitate to the tracks that give them best deal, but no one is out there making that information readily available. The post Week In Review: Cox Unveils a Pair of ‘TDN Rising Stars’ on Same Day; Will They Live Up to the Hype? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are four horse racing meetings set for Australia on Tuesday, December 3. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Taree. Tuesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – December 3, 2024 Taree Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on December 3, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! Join BlondeBet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH? full terms. 3 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Recommended! Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 4 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble You Better Believe It Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Bet365 Signup Code GETON 5 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 6 Next Gen Racing Betting pickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Explore an array of exciting racing promotions from top horse racing bookmakers on Tuesday, December 3. Enhance your betting experience with enticing bonus back offers, designed to add extra thrill to your wagers. Discover these top-tier promotions to maximize your betting potential today. The top Australian racing promotions for December 3, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to pickleBet to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Best Tote and Starting Price Guarantees a dividend equal to the highest of the official win dividend paid by the three Australian TAB pools or the official starting price. Maximum stake: $2,000. 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for December 3, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

The group winner Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) (lot 1466) was the first filly or mare to make seven figures during the opening session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, when selling to Yulong signing as Willingham for 1,800,000gns online on Monday. Consigned by Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland, the G3 Park Stakes and Listed Bluebell Stakes heroine has also placed another two times at group level in her career. Will Walden was the underbidder on Monday, while Yuesheng Zhang's operation was bidding as Willingham both in person and online. Out of Wild Mix (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) herself a half-sister to Exceed And Excel (Aus) stakes winners Double Or Bubble (Ire) and Mix And Mingle (Ire), Caught U Looking counts G2 King Edward VII Stakes hero High Accolade (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})) as a relative. The 3-year-old was bred by Kelly Equine Services, and was originally a €27,000 Goffs Autumn yearling when purchased by Peter Nolan and Noel Meade. “I'd say she did it herself because she behaved impeccably there for the past three days,” said Tally-Ho's Tony O'Callaghan. “We think there's a good bit of potential–there's more to come. That's why she made it. Credit to Peter Nolan, Peter Kelly and Noel Meade. She'd 12 vets and was very popular.” Yulong purchased Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for 2,700,000gns out of the 2023 edition of this sale. She is now a multiple top-level winner in Australia. Alastair Pim giving a masterclass in auctioneering yet again!! Caught U Looking sells for 1.8million gns. The G3 winner is by Harzand and was consigned by Tally-Ho Stud who owned her in partnership with Peter Kelly.#tattsdecember pic.twitter.com/490zIPGTBP — TDN (@theTDN) December 2, 2024 The post Caught U Looking Could Be The Next Via Sistina After Selling for 1.8m to Willingham At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Shadwell Stable's Muhimma, a dominant winner through two career starts, steps into stakes company for the first time Dec. 7 as she faces nine competitors in the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.View the full article

Del Mar concluded its 11th Bing Crosby fall race meet Dec. 1 with gains in all-sources handle and field size for the 14-day meeting.View the full article

The Holiday Moneigh Auction, hosted by ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption and After the Finish Line's, has kicked off and will continue through Sunday, Dec. 8 at 6p PT/9p ET. To bid, visit www.ebay.com/str/rerunthoroughbred. A total of 19 original Moneighs painted by stallions, pony horses and a broodmare are up for bid. This includes Tom's d'Etat, Annapolis, Harley, Groupie Doll, Nyquist, Flightline, Curlin, Promises Fulfilled, War Front, Rip, Tapit, Mystic Guide, Good Magic, Audible, Honor Code, McKinzie, Charlatan, Maxfield and Little Mike. Moneighs are abstract artwork created by Thoroughbreds using their lips, muzzle, hoof, and/or whiskers. Moneigh is a registered trademark of ReRun, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit that rehabilitates and retrains Off Track Thoroughbreds for adoption in New York. The original art by premier stallions and broodmares in Kentucky are auctioned or sold to benefit both organizations. “This new collaboration between charities means proceeds will help more Off Track Thoroughbreds in need. The Moneighs are back with a fresh new look and exciting new stallion, broodmare and pony horse artists for racing fans”, said Lisa Molloy, Executive Director of ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption. “Racing fans can bid on their favorite Thoroughbreds they once followed on the racetrack. Moneighs are a way to connect with the legends of horse racing,” said Dawn Mellen, President of After the Finish Line. To learn about our upcoming auctions and prints, follow Moneighs for ReRun on Facebook and eBay store, www.ebay.com/str/rerunthoroughbred. The post Holiday Moneigh Auction Runs Through Dec. 8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The annual Toys for Tots donation drive at Aqueduct Racetrack will return Thursday, Dec. 5 and continue through Saturday, Dec. 7. Founded in 1947, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation collects and distributes new, unwrapped toys to local children in need each holiday season. Fans can access donation boxes at Aqueduct, located at the Turf and Field entrance and the Clubhouse lobby by the escalator. “This partnership means more children and families throughout New York City and across Long Island will experience a joyful holiday season,” said Robert Hines, NYRA Manager of Community Affairs. “NYRA extends our thanks to the Marine Corps Reserve for their efforts, and to all those who support Toys for Tots.” In addition to the New York Racing Association, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation is supported by generous contributions from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and thoroughbred owner Harold Lerner. “NYTHA salutes the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation for all they do to support children in our communities,” said NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond. “New York's horsemen and women take pride in giving generously each and every year to ensure that children everywhere can enjoy the holidays.” For additional information about the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, or to donate today, visit www.toysfortots.org. The post Toys For Tots Donation Drive to Be Held Dec. 5-7 at Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the past two weeks, we have been telling you how some of racing's biggest names fell in love with the sport. Now it's our turn. Here are some of the stories behind the bylines you see every day in the TDN. Chris McGrath We all know how pedigrees can confound us. We spend more than we can afford on the best page we can, and end up trying to salvage something in a maiden claimer. And then the horse you put an immediate line through, when you first go through a catalogue, ends up winning a Grade I. Hang on, this series is titled “How I Fell Out Of Love With Racing”–right? The point is that there was nothing in my page to concern those raising me that I might be remotely vulnerable to a sport they would have viewed, had they ever given it a moment's attention, as fraught with moral and financial peril. A largely suburban upbringing in England had instead put me on an impeccably conventional path, one that I would actually follow through to university and the law degree that my parents fondly imagined would lead to an uneventfully lucrative career. By the time I obliged them by at least jumping through those preliminary hoops, however, the terrible seduction had begun. Sire and dam had first started scratching their heads, and going back through their own scrupulously unsporting pedigrees, when I became precociously obsessed, from the age of nine, with cricket–something equally baffling, no doubt, to any American reader. In those days, incredible as it will seem to young people, Britons had a choice of just three television stations. And one of those would broadcast every minute of every home Test Match. (Yes, those games scheduled over five days with zero guarantee of either side winning…) International cricket nowadays lurks behind a subscription paywall, and there are lessons for every sport in its resulting struggles to reach and inspire younger viewers. Back then, however, this tremendous shop window would only be open in the summer, and an idle English schoolboy in search of televised sport during the winter had to make do with a modest quota of soccer plus a few curiosities like snooker. (Quite a challenge, in an era when color television remained a luxury: one commentator famously said: “For those of you watching in black-and-white, the pink is next to the green….” Actually that wasn't as stupid as it sounds, but we're digressing enough already.) One of the sports that duly profited from great exposure in the early 1980s was horseracing. And I distinctly recall being vexed whenever some other sport was interrupted to show the 2.30 from Haydock. Gradually, however, I fell prey to a fateful combination of those adolescent trademarks, indolence and intrigue–especially, to start with, during the jumps season. Who were these eccentric characters in tweed coats, presenters and interviewees alike? And who, above all, were these astounding creatures whose bravery and beauty so obsessed them? Now I can't deny it: the glamor was certainly heightened by the fact that people appeared to be winning and losing giddy sums on how fast these semi-controllable animals managed to negotiate a series of obstacles. At a time of life when an evolving personality is anxious to decide what kind of image to project in life, gambling became a useful source of additional loucheness, an exotic variation on the three customary routes to disreputability: girls, cigarettes and ale. For the record, I never took to smoking; and I soon figured out, if rather too slowly, that I would need to discover a more reliable option than betting to salvage at least some portion of the comfortable income I was now determined to renounce, together with a career in law. (The girls and the ale, I stand by.) But the comical fact of the matter is that when See You Then won the second of his three Champion Hurdles, in 1986, I dared my first ever £5 wager; and that 12 months later, faithful to the same horse in the same race, I risked no less than £200. But it was watching that same 1986 Cheltenham Festival that I reached the single moment–indeed a single, fleeting image–that definitively hooked me on racing. I don't recall having any financial skin in the game for the Gold Cup, the steeplechase that crowns the meeting. But the narrative of the race, in both the build-up and its actual denouement, was unforgettably centered on the charismatic Irish mare, Dawn Run. She had been champion hurdler but remained inexperienced over fences, and her jumping was under such scrutiny that there had been a controversial change of jockey. Watching the grainy footage again today, you still can't see how she won. Through most of the final stages, having dropped out after an attacking ride, she looks irretrievably beaten. But then the enigmatic Wayward Lad started to hang in front, and Dawn Run kept up the gamest of gallops up the hill to pull it out of the fire. As she passed the post, the director took what for me became a life-changing decision, cutting to the crowd in front of the stands. That shot lasted barely a couple of seconds. In that fleeting moment, however, you saw a trilby hat flung so high into the air that it disappeared from the frame–and it never returned into view, because we were then taken instantly back to the horses pulling up. it gave a literally limitless quality to the joy consuming all those people. In that single, exuberant gesture, I sensed how this game could enliven and exalt the lives, however humdrum, of anyone prepared to yield to its mysteries. Thirty-eight years on, that trilby is still to come back down to earth. The post How I Got Hooked On Racing: Chris McGrath appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dale Romans has been elected as the new president of the Kentucky HBPA, following the long tenure of fellow trainer Rick Hiles. Romans was voted president by the newly seated Kentucky HBPA board. The longest continuously serving board member, Romans has been on the HBPA board for most of his training career that began in 1986, with much of that as a vice president. Trainers' representative John Hancock and owners' representative Travis Foley are the new vice presidents, taking over for Romans and the late Frank Jones Jr. New Kentucky HBPA board members joining Hancock and Hiles as trainer representatives are Phil Bauer, Jordan Blair and Bret Calhoun, with Bill Morey an alternate board member. Newcomer Casey Klein joins Travis Foley and existing owner board members Buff Bradley and Mark Bacon, with a fifth owner representative to be named at the start of the year. “My goal, starting immediately, is to build on the foundation Rick Hiles and the previous Kentucky HBPA boards established,” said Romans. “I've got a bunch of ideas, but the first thing I'm going to do is listen to the horsemen. After a lot of hard work in conjunction with our racetracks and lawmakers, Kentucky is now the No. 1 racing circuit in America and the gold standard. That's not the end point but an ongoing challenge to find new ways to improve and grow to benefit racehorse owners and trainers, which in turn benefits the entire industry.” Alex Foley, the Kentucky HBPA's Executive Director, said the horsemen's organization is most appreciative of Hiles' “unwavering service and leadership. His tenure spanned years of significant change in the industry, during which he worked tirelessly to support Kentucky's racing community. “Rick has been an exceptional leader and advocate for horsemen, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication to our industry,” Alex Foley continued. “We're excited to welcome Dale Romans as our new president. His experience and passion for the sport will be invaluable as we navigate the future.” The post Dale Romans Elected As New Kentucky HBPA President appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horseplayers have a shot at big prizes and prestige in the Turfway Park Handicapping Championship, set for Dec. 14 on TwinSpires.com.View the full article

This year's Breeders' Cup had a touch of deja vu all over again thanks to a series of veterinary scratches in the lead up to the event, some of which didn't exactly sit well with connections. The one that perhaps garnered the most attention is Californian flag-bearer The Chosen Vron's (Vronsky) removal from the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on official veterinary advice. The horse's connections initially disputed the scratch, arguing he was 100% sound. It later transpired The Chosen Vron had a small ankle problem that necessitated a few months rest. The narrative surrounding The Chosen Vron's scratch was hardly an anomaly. As veterinary scrutiny of horses has increased in recent years, so too has concern amongst the individuals charged with overseeing the everyday health and welfare of the horse that their expert viewpoints and perspectives are being superseded by those with limited understanding of a particular galloper's peculiar way of going. Where heads butt, tempers fray. An anecdotal reading of events can be skewed one way or another. And so, what do the hard numbers tell us? Are scratched horses at a higher risk of facing extended periods of time off, for example? How long do they usually take to get back to the races? How many simply never race again? In summary, the available numbers show that scratched horses are notably more likely to face extended periods of time off than non-scratched horses. They typically take longer to get back on the work tab and to the races. A significant number simply never make it back. Indeed, in one dataset from the past five years, between one-quarter and approaching one-third of the scratched horses studied never made it back to race. In a comparable group of supposedly sound horses, this rate of attrition was in the low single digits. That said, the numbers show room for improvement to ensure sound and healthy horses aren't unnecessarily snagged in this safety net. They also identify a tantalizing window to screen horses with brewing problems early enough so that race-day lameness scratches become as low as possible. National Overview Since the advent of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (HISA) drug and medication control program, the racing fatality rate has headed noticeably downwards. In the second quarter of this year, for example, there were 0.76 fatalities per 1000 starts in jurisdictions that fall under the federal program's jurisdiction–a number nearly half the national average last year. As to what's primarily driving this downward trend, concrete answers are difficult to come by. Is it the tightened medication rules? Is it improving track maintenance protocols? Is it the post-entry screening protocols? Or is it increased veterinary scrutiny, with all HISA jurisdictions required to administer pre-race exams the morning of a race (something not always done at certain tracks)? Is it a combination of factors in equal parts? HISA doesn't maintain nationwide data about the time it takes for horses to return to the work-tab and races after a lameness scratch, as the agency doesn't always receive granular information as to the reasons behind each scratch. But it's currently working on a fix. In the meantime, regional datasets that tell similar tales make for fascinating reading. Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park Dionne Benson, 1/ST Racing's chief veterinary officer, has compiled five years of vet scratch data (spanning May 2019 to June 2024) for both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. Using the Equine Injury Database (EID), Benson zeroed in on horses that were scratched for unsoundness during a pre-race exam on the morning of the race, or for the same problem during the afternoon immediately before the race went off. She discarded all other reasons for a scratch like a spiked temperature or for rearing over in the gates. For every horse scratched, Benson randomly selected a horse that made a start in the intended race as a means of comparison. We'll call them the “cohort” group. In other words, a cohort of purportedly sound horses. In short, the scratched horses were significantly more likely never to race or work again than the supposedly sounder cohort group. Of those that did compete again, they also took much longer to get back to the races. When asked about the seemingly anomalous statistic out of Gulfstream Park–where 5% of the cohort group never raced again, while 8% never worked again–Benson explained that in Florida, the horses will often race back instead of working again. Churchill Downs Incorporated Will Farmer, Churchill Downs equine medical director, used the EID to screen scratched horses at CDI tracks in an identical fashion to Benson–in other words, he looked only for horses that were scratched for lameness the day of the race. As at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, Farmer's numbers show that a significant number of scratched horses never race or work again. They also take much longer than is typically the case to race again and to return to the work tab (using Benson's cohort group as a useful comparison). The State of Kentucky George Mundy is the interim equine medical director of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Like others, he was mighty curious about what race-day scratches can tell us, and so, ran his own numbers. In one intriguing set of numbers, Mundy used data from HISA's “RegVet-Unsound” designation, which was introduced nationwide in July 2022. His analysis comprises an unnamed Kentucky track and Emerald Downs in Washington State. According to Mundy's statistical breakdown, the lameness veterinary scratches that show the quickest race return-rate are (in order of best to worst) the post parade scratch, then the morning exam, followed by the voided claim (where the claim is voided for lameness), and finally the after-race lameness exam. This sequence mirrors the 2022 findings out of Washington State. Looking once again at the unnamed Kentucky track in 2023 and 2024, 33% and 60% of the horses whose claims were voided for lameness didn't return to race within six months. In Washington State in 2022, 69% of the voided claim horses did not race within six months. It should be noted, however, that the overall numbers of voided claim horses were not large–seven and ten in Kentucky, and 16 in Washington State. Florida Mary Scollay was equine medical director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission when she ran ten years worth of vet scratch data out of Florida–Calder and Gulfstream Park to be exact, between 2000 and 2010. Like the others, Scollay looked specifically at horses scratched solely for lameness in the pre-race exam, the post parade or at the gate. As a means of comparison with the scratched horses, Scollay randomly selected two horses from each race the scratched horses intended to start in. We'll call them once again the cohort group. And once again, a significantly higher number of scratched horses never made it back to the races compared to the cohort group. For those that did race again, the scratched group also took far longer than the cohort group to return to competition. New York Racing Association Which bring us to 2018, with numbers that former NYRA steward Jennifer Durenberger ran. Once again, they comprise horses scratched for lameness on the day of the race. The information is broken into morning and afternoon scratches. It appears to match Mundy's findings in that horses scratched on a morning tend to find a slightly tougher route back to the races than horses scratched of an afternoon. Of the 125 morning scratches during that period, 18% never ran again. Of those that did compete again, 10% were either vanned off or returned lame when they next ran, while 34% had a six month or more layoff. The average return-to-race time was 89 days. Of the 51 afternoon scratches during that period, 16% never ran again. Of those that did compete again, 9% were either vanned off or returned lame when they next ran, while 33% had a six month or more layoff. The average return-to-race time was 94 days. The post In Numbers: Scratched Horses Significantly More Likely To Need Extended Rest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Recently pensioned stallion Acclamation (GB) died over the weekend, Rathbarry Stud posted on X. The son of Royal Applause (GB) was 25. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Acclamation this weekend,” the stud said on X. “He leaves behind a legacy as a true legend of the Irish stallion ranks. He will be deeply missed by all at Rathbarry Stud but never forgotten.” The sire of successful stallions Dark Angel (Ire) and Mehmas (Ire) was a Group 2 winner himself. At stud, he has sired 68 stakes winners (32 group winners). Of his seven Group 1 winners, his best are current Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior (Ire) and Makarova (GB), who won the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye this autumn. His daughters are credited with 38 stakes winners (19 group) led by Group 1 winners Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The post ‘A True Legend’–Rathbarry’s Acclamation Dies At 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Two-time Eclipse champion sprinter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) will be covered by MGISW Seize the Grey (Arrogate) this upcoming breeding season. The announcement was made by Resolute Racing's John Stewart on the social media site X Sunday evening. Goodnight Olive, who won her final start in 2023 in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, sold to Resolute for $6,000,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars sale shortly after. She was bred to Not This Time for her first cover due early next year. Seize the Grey retired to Gainesway last month with wins in the GI Preakness Stakes and the GI Pennsylvania Derby for MyRacehorse and trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He will stand his inaugural season at stud for a fee of $30,000. Responding to comments on the announcement, Stewart noted that he wanted to get access to the late Arrogate and that “Seize the Grey will be more valuable as a stallion. We need more Arrogate in our pedigrees.” He also noted that, while Into Mischief was a popular choice, “I am a big believer in the data for breeding and [Seize the Grey] stacks up strong for her.” The post Goodnight Olive To Visit Preakness Winner Seize The Grey For 2025 Cover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Michael Shiffman has been appointed Senior Vice President and Executive Producer for FanDuel TV, the company announced Monday. In this role, Shiffman will report to President of Sports Mike Raffensperger and be responsible for leading the creative and operational direction of FanDuel TV's sports and racing programming, overseeing all aspects of production and content strategy, and ensuring the delivery of innovative and engaging content for a diverse audience of sports and horse racing fans. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to FanDuel,” said FanDuel's President of Sports Mike Raffensperger. “Throughout his career, he has led countless high-profile productions for the industry's most distinguished shows, programming and live events. His invaluable experience and keen expertise were the perfect fit to maintain FanDuel TV's continued growth and elevate the network's opportunities as a leading player in sports betting media.” Shiffman joins FanDuel from ESPN, where he served as Senior Vice President of Production and was responsible for orchestrating the editorial vision, planning, and budget for a variety of live-game and studio productions. In addition, he directed multi-channel strategies to ensure the planning and creation of engaging content across platforms to maximize audience results and oversaw ESPN's digital content. During his 24-year career at ESPN, Shiffman regularly led marquee studio shows including SportsCenter, College GameDay Basketball, NFL Primetime, NBA Countdown, and The Jump and oversaw productions around marquee live events such as the NBA Finals, WNBA Finals, NCAA Women's National Championship Game, the NBA bubble in Orlando, NBA and WNBA Drafts. A four-time Sports Emmy Award-winning producer, Shiffman earned a degree in broadcast journalism at Miami (Ohio) University. He is a passionate New York sports fan with allegiances to the Knicks, Giants and Mets, but most of all, appreciates any team or athlete whose accomplishments make great content that resonates with fans. The post Michael Shiffman Named Senior VP And Executive Producer For FanDuel TV appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the second year in a row, jockey Juan Hernandez has won both the summer and fall riding titles at Del Mar. However, unlike past title runs, he had to rally from behind late in the season to win the Bing Crosby Season title with 21 wins. Hernandez trailed both Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli through much of the fall. But he got hot in the second-to-last week, winning five races and grabbing the lead. He then secured the title with another eight victories in the final week including five on closing day. “I'm very grateful to everybody,” said Hernandez. “I want to thank the owners, the trainers and the grooms. My agent (Craig O'Bryan), he's the one who picks the right horses. I just enjoy riding my horses. I try to do my best in every race. This is for my family here and in Mexico. I'm just excited and looking forward to the next meet.” Hernandez now has won six jockey titles at Del Mar. Rispoli finished with 15 wins while Fresu had 14. Trainer Mark Glatt notched his first Del Mar trainer's title this meet by winning 14 races, five better than runner-up and defending champion Phil D'Amato. Glatt ran horses in 32 races, about half of what D'Amato came with, and posted a 44% win rate. Glatt's title at Del Mar follows his first ever training title at Santa Anita at last year's Autumn meet. Augustin Stables won the owner's title with five wins. Hronis Racing and Nick Alexander were next with four. Godolphin, by way of their success in the Breeders' Cup, won the earnings title with over $4.5 million. The post Hernandez Continues Atop Del Mar Riding Standings, Glatt Top Trainer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2022 Foal Crop” closed as the 9-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and recent debut winner Barnes (Into Mischief), from the barn of six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, was the 13-1 second choice. Other horses who attracted interest from bettors include: GI Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) (15-1); GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (16-1); GIII Street Sense winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (19-1); GI Hopeful and GI Champagne winner Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) (21-1); GI Del Mar Futurity winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Gaming (Game Winner) (21-1); and recent 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) (22-1). Total handle for the Nov. 28-Dec. 1 KDFW pool–the second of six scheduled wagering pools in advance of the Kentucky Derby–was $289,340 ($230,825 in the Win pool and $58,515 in Exactas), a 39.9% increase from last year's $206,800 ($163,037 in the Win pool and $43,763 in Exactas). This year's early Derby betting menu also included the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager. “All Other Sires” at 9-2 and Into Mischief at 5-1 attracted the most attention from bettors. Total betting on the Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager was $48,890 ($35,080 in the Win pool and $13,810 in the Exactas), off 53% from last year's $104,112 ($77,417 in the Win pool and $26,695 in the Exactas). However, the KDFW Pool 2 and Sire Future Wager combined to handle $338,230, up 8.8% from last year's $310,912. Upcoming Future Wager dates are set for Jan. 17-19 (Pool 3); Feb. 14-16 (Pool 4); March 14-16 (Pool 5) and April 3-5 (Pool 6). Pool 5 will include the Longines Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. The post ‘All Others’ 9-5 Favorite, Newcomer Barnes 13-1 At Conclusion Of Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER View the full article

Sprinters Stakes winner heads group of internationals at Sha Tin trackwork on Monday morning.View the full article

What Taree Races Where Manning Valley Race Club – Racecourse Dr, Taree NSW 2430 When Tuesday, December 3, 2024 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Dabble Manning Valley Race Club is the destination for country racing in NSW on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive seven-part program set for decision. The rail moves out +2m the entire circuit, and with the surface rated a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances along with predicted rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, punters can expect that rating to hold true on race-day morning. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 1:50pm local time. Best Bet at Taree: Etude Etude was well-supported with horse racing bookmakers debuting at Muswellbrook on June 17, justifying the short price to score by a length before being sent to paddock. The Kris Lees-trained filly won a recent barrier trial at Hawkesbury on November 14 to prepare for this first-up assignment, and with Christian Reith likely to dictate terms from barrier two, punters can expect Etude to take this race by the scruff of the neck and remain undefeated. Best Bet Race 5 – #7 Etude (2) 3yo Filly | T: Kris Lees | J: Christian Reith (55.5kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Taree: Calido Magic The Karen Owen-trained Calido Magic caught the eye first-up at Port Macquarie November 14, sustaining a tough three-wide run to get within a length of Mizella. She’ll strip fitter for that effort after returning from a 119-day spell, and with Madeline Owen likely to lob into a handier position from stall six, Calido Magic can make amends with even luck second-up. Next Best Race 4 – #2 Calido Magic (6) 3yo Gelding | T: Karen Owen | J: Madeline Owen (58.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Taree: Ostracised Ostracised represents terrific each-way value with Picklebet as he gets set to peak fourth-up in the campaign. The son of Divine Prophet has been taking steady improvement with every start this preparation, with the six-year-old finding the minor money in back-to-back starts. The 1258m at Taree looks ideal, and with the sting out of the ground no issue for Ostracised, punters can expect this guy to be flashing home to finish best at a big price. Best Value Race 2 – #1 Ostracised (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Donna Grisedale | J: Siena Grima (a2kg) (63kg) Bet with Picklebet Tuesday quaddie tips for Taree Taree quadrella selections December 3, 2024 2-3 2-7 2-3-4-5-7 1-3-5-6-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Rider joins forces with Caspar Fownes as he partners Jumbo Legend in the third leg of the HK$1.5 million contest.View the full article

One Australian star is confident after being assigned quality mounts, while another plays down his claims in prestigious contest.View the full article

Sarah Devcich was full of pride witnessing a filly she bred and part-owns in Hitabell win last Saturday’s Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui. At her fourth raceday start, Hitabell was due a change in fortune after a luckless run at Ellerslie behind Costae, and jockey Courtney Barnes took luck out of the equation in the feature, leading from the outset to score over race-favourite Celestial Wonder. Devcich, who owns and operates Henley Park alongside her husband Marc, was delighted with the result, praising the efforts of Hitabell’s trainer Stephen Marsh. “It was very exciting, she’s such a lovely filly and is almost a part of the family,” she said. “She’s very electric out of the gates and Courtney rode her amazingly well, getting her to the front and it all played out perfectly, when the horses came up to attack, she went again. I was very proud. “To see her do what she did on Saturday, it was just amazing, and full credit to Stephen and the Marsh Racing team. They picked this race out for her, they decided to aim for the three-year-old races up here instead of going south for the (Gr.1 New Zealand 1000) Guineas, and it’s paid off.” Devcich had offered Hitabell on the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Dylan Johnson Bloodstock and Marsh for $9,500, while remaining in the ownership herself. “I wanted to keep some of her, but I had a few horses racing in work, so it was nice to put it out there and have a couple of friends race her with us, and then another client of Marsh Racing,” she said. “We’ve got to know these people and it’s been a fun journey, a few of them are from the South Island as well. “She’s really easy, very intelligent and always wants to please. We gave her a yearling prep even though we didn’t sell her at the sales, we had her as a friend for another filly we took to Australia. The breakers loved her and the Marsh stable have loved her all the way through, I think she’s one of the favourites in there. “She’s come here to the paddock here for a week and as soon as she got off the float, she knew where she was and was very relaxed. “I’m just rapt with her, she’s come a long way in a short time and she’s so professional, she’s like an older-minded horse in a young body. Hopefully, she can continue. “All going well, we hope to get her to the Eight Carat (Gr.2, 1600m) next.” Devcich had purchased Hitabell’s dam Anahita in-foal to the filly for $1,000 through gavelhouse.com, with the resulting offspring impressing the pair enough to return to Cambridge Stud’s resident sire the following season. “I purchased her off gavelhouse in foal, Embellish was a nice stallion that we really liked and we sent the mare back to him because we really liked the style he’d left in this filly (Hitabell),” she said. “He had just gone to stud and my husband was working at Cambridge Stud at the time, so we thought it was a good option for her. “The Stravinsky mare (Anahita) was from a family that we had raced previously and we didn’t have much of the family left, so when she came up for sale, she was a good option. “We retained her next foal but then Marsh Racing purchased her from us as well. At this stage we don’t have a share in her, but that might change.” Anahita has since passed away, and her remaining progeny, a two-year-old full-sister to Hitabell, is named Annie Bling. While enjoying the spoils of owning a stakes-winning filly, the Devcich’s have a busy couple of months ahead, preparing nine yearlings for the 2025 Karaka Yearling Sales, kicking off on January 26. Of their draft, Devcich is particularly excited about Lot 156, a filly by Hello Youmzain, and Lot 209, a Contributer colt closely related to Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Lion’s Roar. “We have a lovely Hello Youmzain filly that is very forward, she looks like she’ll get up early and run,” Devcich said. “We have a really nice Contributer colt who has pleased us from day one, he loves his work and is a great type from a good family. “The whole draft is really nice, but those two are my pick at this stage.” View the full article

A new face will launch her New Zealand riding career this week, with apprentice Nichola Yuen set to ride at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Ellerslie. The 24-year-old recently arrived in New Zealand to further her experience with the long-term aim of gaining a licence in Hong Kong. Yuen is under the wing of former champion jockey Leith Innes, who last year took over the reins at the New Zealand Equine Academy. The Skill NZ NZQA Level 2 course runs out of Byerley Park in Kingseat while the Level 3 and Apprentice Jockey Academy, powered by Entain, operates out of the satellite campus in Cambridge. Yuen’s trial rides on Tuesday will include outings for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Kylie Hoskin and Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley. “At this stage, it looks like she might have a couple of raceday rides on Saturday at Ellerslie, all going well,” Innes said. “She’s already getting quite good support for the short time she’s been here, and she can ride at 51.5kg.” Yuen moved from Hong Kong to South Australia in 2021 and was attached to the stable of Gary Searle, who trains with wife Nichole and daughter Brittany Callanan. “She has got her New Zealand licence and can claim 2kg, she’s ridden 61 winners in South Australia and had about 700 rides there,” Innes said. “I will be looking after her and she’s got a three-month licence to ride here with the option of a further three-month renewal after that. “All going well, she’ll then hopefully get a licence to ride in Hong Kong, to get a licence there is a pretty big feat.” Yuen arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of last week and has settled in well. “She is currently based at Byerley Park and doing work for Grant Cooksley, Barbara Kennedy, Kylie Hoskin and Donna Logan,” Innes said. “She’ll be there for the next few weeks and then we’ll maybe put her out in the Cambridge or Matamata areas.” Innes will act as Yuen’s agent during her New Zealand tenure, and he can be contacted on 021 798 881. View the full article

Riverton trainer Ebony Turner kicked off summer in perfect fashion when scoring her first quinella at Cromwell on Sunday. Turner was quietly confident heading into the Property Brokers – Ray Kean Rating 65 (2030m) with her two contenders, Caffeinated and Three Ninety, although punters didn’t share her enthusiasm, with her representatives paying $36 and $17.60 on the tote respectively. Three Ninety jumped well and was taken straight to the lead by jockey Yogesh Atchamah before quickly handing up to Sunset Express, while Caffeinated was caught three wide for the first half of the journey, finally making the front at the 1000m mark. Reelrose headed Caffeinated at the 800m, but the Riverton mare recaptured the lead when turning for home and quickly kicked clear by a couple of lengths. Lily Of The Valley looked to be her only worry until Atchamah was able to get Three Ninety into the clear and she was able to close late to get within 2-1/2 lengths of her stablemate, with 1-1/2 lengths back to Lily Of The Valley in third. Turner was duly rapt with the result. “I was so thrilled, it was amazing,” she said. “Off Caffeinated’s track work I was pretty confident that she would be hard to beat. My only question mark were her races leading into yesterday, which were pretty disappointing. “When Three Ninety got in off the ballot I was saying to my partner that if anyone was a threat to her (Caffeinated) it would be Three Ninety off her run on Friday, where she got held up, couldn’t get clear air and was storming down the outside.” While she was confident heading into the race, Turner admitted to being concerned when Caffeinated was caught three-wide, but she knew her staying prowess would hold her in good stead. “I was pretty nervous when I saw Caffeinated three-wide down the straight,” she said. “But the more ground we get her over, the better we are going to see from her, so I thought if she technically ended up going 2100m because she had that wide trip, I didn’t think it was going to knock her around. “With Three Ninety, Yogesh settled her beautifully and all I wanted was for him to get her in clear air early because she is just such an unlucky horse. It was good to see him ride her really nicely. “It’s awesome to get the treats on the feature day.” Sunday’s result capped an enjoyable weekend away for Turner, who was able to enjoy some downtime in the holiday destination. “On Saturday we went up to Lake Tekapo, which was really cool. We had a nice wee holiday between successes,” she said. Turner is now looking forward to racing over the summer months, and is particularly excited about the prospects of Caffeinated and Monte Civetta. “I am really looking forward to Caffeinated on those Good tracks, I think she is going to be really fun this summer,” she said. “Another one I am really looking forward to is Monte Civetta, I reckon she is going to be a lot of fun over those 2400m-2600m trips. I am excited for the summer with those two.” View the full article