Wandering Eyes

What was worth noting from all over the country for the week ending 21/11/2024 Seaclusion (4m Sweet Lou – Classy Beach) Tr. G Rogerson Pukekohe (14/11/24) Stepped to the front and set terms over two rivals, sprinted a sharp 400m to keep Invisible (trail) at bay Last 800m in 59.8, 400m in 27.0. Freshened since disappointing last start late October, a race won co-incidentally by Invisible although she did beat the Purdon/Phelan runner the start prior. Neither horse extended in the run home on a sharp sprint home, overall time not quick. Debbie Lincoln (2f Lather Up – Yasmine Bromac) Tr. R Green Soon in front and always going well, only the trailer Beaudiene Hustler could keep up last 400m, strong effort to win MR:2:02.3, 800m in 59.4, 400m in 29.3. Two useful race day efforts against her own sex back in April, the last at Group 2 level and looking to build upon that start to her career, a progressive type that should be a natural improver. Lewey Maguire (4g Sweet Lou – Miranda Maguire) Tr. S & A Telfer Trailed third of 4, able to work onto the back of Leo Lincoln who had improved to sit parked 800m out, solid finish wide out to run the latter to a narrow margin. MR:2:07.6, 800m in 59.9, 400m in 27.5. Now in the northern arm of the Stonewall stable after winning three in the south and establishing a handy race record. Deserves respect when he lines up next. Tyron’s Connoisseur (2f Art Major – Tyron’s Che Bella) Tr. R & J Dunn Gate speed to lead, sprinted sharply 400m out, just did enough to hold out the Green trained The Rascal MR:2:03.0, 800m in 59.0, 400m in 27.9. Hasn’t flattered in eight 2YO starts to date including a couple of unplaced efforts in Group company but nothing beats experience and might be ready to show her true worth. The Rascal, a recent qualifier in early November, got very close after going roughly at the 500m and losing the back of the winner, recovered strongly to just miss and is one to paste away for the future. Levi (3g What The Hill – Fear Factor) Tr. S Wigg Off 30m, giving three rivals a start, got to third with early breaker then trailed after another breaker lost its chance midrace, out to attack 600m, not extended to come clear by 6L at the line. MR:2:12.5, 800m in 64.5, 400m in 31.2. Not short on ability and held in some regard by his connections. Just the one win but with his best manners that record can be improved upon for sure. Chicago Sky (2f Bettor’s Delight – Chicago Blues) Tr K & F Price Winton (14/11/24) Got to trail in five-horse 2YO heat, asked for an effort at the top of the straight and responded, getting the better of the pace making Moon Light Terror in the final 100m MR:2:00.4, 800m in 57.7, 400m in 29.0. Full sister to Chicago Bull (40 wins + $1.8M) and a recent qualifier in early September, whatever she can produce on the track is only going to add to her considerable residual value for her owner/breeders. Always B Paulie (3g Always B Miki – Bubba Ho Tep) Tr. C Ferguson Worked to the front from wide draw soon after the start, rallied strongly at business end when Sporty Charlie (trail) threatened to use the passing lane. MR:2:02.3, 800m in 55.9, 400m in 27.7. Qualified all the way back in early May but as yet unraced, got a mention in this forum last week so race day debut keenly anticipated. In context, Sporty Charlie has won four races but couldn’t get past. ‘Paulie’ won’t be a maiden for long. Nutcracker (5m Bettor’s Delight – Rockin Cullen) Tr. C Ferguson Led out over Nek Time and Miraculous, still there last turn, kept up determined run to hold out Miraculous who put plenty of dash into his finish from three deep last 400m. MR:2:04.0, 800m in 56.1, 400m in 27.0. The Ferguson trained mare has won the six races and freshened since finding the likes of Tact McLeod too strong earlier in the season. Finding suitable races might be a challenge at this stage of her career but any F&M races in the deep south would hold some appeal. Nek Time right there at the finish on a sharp sprint home. Meg’s Boy (3c Always B Miki – Meglea) Tr. R Swain Wyndham (16/11/24) Settled third of 5 but before long elected to pop out and lead 1600m out, cleared out from 600m, far too good, out by 8L at the line. MR:2:05.7, 800m in 55.9, 400m in 28.1. Not yet qualified but with the official margin 8L here over his four rivals, getting his race ticket would seem a formality. Dam won five and although she has left six winners, nothing in her own class to date. This could be about to change. Beach Day (4m Sunshine Beach – Cool Delight) Tr G Hunter Got to trail out of the gate, able to use passing lane to zip through for comfortable win over four rivals. MR:2:05.5, 800m in 57.5, 400m in 28.2. Has won the four races from just 13 starts and a last start winner back in late June, coming to hand nicely for a new campaign and not to be underestimated wherever she goes in the coming weeks It’s A Pleasure (3f Downbytheseaside – Simple Pleasure) Tr. G Hunter Led out before taking a trail after 400m, back to third of 4 when Cock A Hoop improved to lead 600m out, challenged final turn, did enough to just nudge the latter who fought determinedly when headed. Last 800m in 57.3, 400m in 28.9. Showed plenty of promise in her first campaign, placing twice from only three starts, just missing her maiden win last start back in May. Should be improved again this time in and won’t need too many races to snare that first win judging by this workout. Cock A Hoop, a long term maiden (18 starts),put in an improved effort. Kowhai Star (2f Always B Miki – Green Fingers) Tr. M Jones Ashburton (19/11/24) Gate speed to lead out, always going well, too good for four rivals. MR:1:56.4, 800m in 55.2, 400m in 27.2. The Ashburton track is known to be fast but this was nearly 9 secs under the required qualifying time over the short course of 1700m, calling the effort impressive would be an under-statement. Cuban Chrome (3rd=) & Swift Major (3rd=) also qualified and caught the eye running on late on a very fast last 800m. Kowhai Sunburst (2f Creatine – Kowahi Sunrise) Tr. M Jones Left in front when stablemate Ali Son (only rival) off stride soon after start, clear throughout, bold display to qualify with this ‘solo’ effort. MR:2:03.7, 800m in 60.8, 400m in 30.2. Same owners, same trainer as above and the same result! Only the one rival but 12L a fair margin in the end and 6 secs under qualifying time. Newbiemains Arden (4m Bettor’s Delight – Tosca Hanover) Tr. G Payne Led out before taking a trail behind Nasana, popped out 1700m to take back control, sprinted strongly 400m, kept going strongly to just do enough at the line. Last 800m in 57.8, 400m in 27.5. Only had the one start back in June but expected to be much improved this time in. 2YO filly and stablemate Nasana got very close along passing lane, has already qualified way back in March but as yet unraced, nice one to follow. Jukebox Gypsy (3f Rock N Roll Heaven – Gypsy’s Choice) Tr. G O’Reilly Led out over two rivals, still there final turn, not pushed to hold on albeit narrowly. Last 800m in 56.1, 400m in 26.7. Did ok in first campaign winning once from nine starts against some handy types, last start late June, first foal of a dam that won five so can be expected to get better with time. Action Major (trail) & Seacracka (3 deep) both ran on purposefully to be close up Shepherd’s Delight (4g Sky Major – Delightful) Tr. I Court Stepped brilliantly to lead clearly early stages, still had control 400m, kept going strongly to keep his rivals at bay Last 800m in 55.9, 400m in 27.1. Has won the three races + $37k from 21 starts, this effort suggested he would be more than capable of adding to that handy record. My Ten Guitars raced back in midfield, dragged up into 1×1 last 600m, solid finish to be a closing second, nice trial. To see previous Trails reports click here View the full article

Last start Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday. In the hands of Lisa Allpress, who made a welcome return to the trials following an injury in August, Town Cryer led up the field in her usual fashion and wasn’t pressured to the line, finishing a narrow second to Vanish. “She did exactly what we thought she’d do, she likes to do her own thing and Lisa said she travelled very keenly to the line,” trainer Roydon Bergerson said. “It was a tick over as there has been a long time between runs for her, from her last start at Wellington to the Group One in a few weeks’ time. We thought we would take her there for a good gallop on the grass, I’m very happy with her and she’s pulled up super.” The daughter of Tavistock placed at the top level behind subsequent dual Australian Group Two winner Belclare in March, and she will be back to go one better on the 7th of December. “She doesn’t take a lot of work once she’s up and racing, but it’s quite a long way when you’re going six weeks into a Group One, and it’s looking to be a top-class field, as you would expect,” Bergerson said. “We try to keep her fresh, we haven’t got a grass (track) to gallop on at Awapuni at the moment so we’ve got to utilise a grass when we can get one. “She’ll probably go to Wanganui on Cup Day (November 30) for one more gallop there in between races, and she should be cherry ripe for Wellington.” Bergerson’s exciting juvenile prospect Too Sweet also had a hit-out at Foxton, putting an extending and sizeable margin on her less-experienced rivals in an 850m heat. The filly by Satono Aladdin won on debut at Trentham on October 27, and she may earn herself a Group Two opportunity with a forward showing at the TAB Mufhasa Classic meeting. “She did exactly what we’d expected as well, she’s got race day form and I thought she’d run away from that more, but the time she’s run and the ease in which she’s done so were pretty impressive,” Bergerson said. “I think she ran nearly a second faster than the open handicappers so that was a good gallop, Lisa said she was just cruising at the line. “Onwards and upwards for her, we’re hoping to get to Wellington on the 7th of December, and then after that, we’ll have a look at the Eclipse (Gr.2, 1200m) at Ellerslie, if she ran well enough and if she pulls up okay. “Then, hopefully on to the big dance ($1 million Karaka Millions 2YO, 1200m).” View the full article

Bill Thurlow couldn’t have hoped for a better week at the New Zealand Cup carnival and is optimistic a more senior member of the team can add a northern feature to the stable’s tally this Saturday. The Waverley trainer collected a brace of wins, a runner-up finish and a treasured Group One placing at Riccarton and is now focused on No Compromise’s tilt at the Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m). Successful in the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m) during his tenure with Chris Waller, the eight-year-old son of Pins hasn’t won since his return home but has performed with distinction up to the highest level. He was runner-up in Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), third in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and most recently was also third in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. “Hopefully, there is a bit of moisture around, he needs a bit of dig in the ground,” Thurlow said. Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North “He had a soft trial at Foxton on Tuesday, we gave him a nice hit-out on a track that had give in it. “We were rapt with him, he went around on the bridle and did what was asked of him, so he’ll go north in really good order and we’re looking forward to it. I’m sure he’ll race well.” Ryan Elliot was aboard last time out and will again partner No Compromise, whose longer-term target is likely to be the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Thurlow was delighted with his Riccarton results with The Entertainer winning on the first and last days, Crunchie Boy finished runner-up and Movin Out ran a gallant third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “It was great, the horses really went well and it’s always nice when you travel for them to perform and we thought we took the right horses and it all worked out,” he said. “They all travelled back well and are in the paddock and we’ll plan what we do with them. “The two older horses will bounce through well and the younger filly might just take a bit longer, it’s a big trip for the first time.” Movin Out was at long odds in just her third career start and was coming off a maiden victory at Otaki, but there was confidence in her Classic prospects. “It was a massive step up and we were underdogs, but we wouldn’t have taken her down there if we didn’t think she was up to it,” Thurlow said. “We knew she was good, she has a lot of ability and she just lacked a bit of ringcraft. “She never came up early enough in the spring to get another race or two into her, it wasn’t fitness but just lacking a bit of experience went against her.” Thurlow is confident the daughter of Staphanos can progress further as she is stepped up in ground on her return next year. “She has got at least 2000m stamped all over her, she is just so relaxed with a beautiful stride and gets into a good rhythm and is probably a real Oaks filly,” he said. View the full article

Florida-based owner/trainer Paul Valery has been suspended by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit until May 14, 2030, for a series of infractions involving his horses and controlled and banned medications, including steroids. View the full article

Group One-performing sprinter Express Yourself. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4. The six-year-old mare had four starts at Caulfield for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, placing in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) in August and Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on Caulfield Cup Day. She has returned to part-owner Nikki Hurdle’s Awapuni stable in Palmerston North, and while pleased with her stakes results, Hurdle said her mare didn’t settle into the urban training environment in Australia and is pleased to get her home in a paddock. “She did well (in Australia). The fact that she ran third on Caulfield Cup Day was awesome,” Hurdle said. “I probably underestimated how she would react to the different environment, and they are worlds apart. At my place she has a paddock, and I have only got two horses, whereas it is a huge establishment at Price-Kent Racing. “Your horse is a thinking animal, and I know what makes her tick. He (Price) did try different things for me, but at the end of the day she was still in that very urban setting. I just don’t think it suited her, so the fact she ran those placings was pleasing, and it showed her heart. “We weren’t disappointed in her, I just don’t think we saw the best of her, and that is why I brought her home. We went over several times and I could just see that she wasn’t the horse she is here. They looked after her superbly I just don’t think their regime suited her that much.” Hurdle gave the daughter of Shamexpress a freshen-up on her return to New Zealand and gave Express Yourself her first public hit-out ahead of summer racing at the Foxton trials on Tuesday where she won her 850m heat. While pleased with the win, Hurdle wasn’t overly enamoured with the trial and is hoping her mare returns to her form of old before January’s Group One target, which she was runner-up in earlier this year behind Mercurial. “She came back in nice order and we gave her a couple of weeks off and we are just starting a build-up hopefully towards the Telegraph,” Hurdle said. “I was happy with her trial, but I wasn’t excited. She is not quite there yet, and I don’t know whether she will bounce back, but we have got a bit of time.” Express Yourself’s next target will likely be next Thursday’s Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki, and Hurdle is hoping that brings her on for her summer campaign as she is eager to go one better in the Telegraph in January. “It is a bit of unfinished business when you are beaten a nostril (in the Telegraph),” Hurdle said. “I do think it will be a lot tougher this year, it is going to be a big race with the prizemoney ($550,000), change of date, and sprint series (Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series). “We will head towards it (Telegraph) and see how she is going. I will nominate her next week for the Levin Stakes, and we will just take it one step at a time.” Hurdle is unsure of what targets lie beyond the Telegraph, with the Manawatu horsewoman loathe to return to Ellerslie following Express Yourself’s subpar showing in January’s Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m). “She is quite a hard horse to place now,” Hurdle said. “She is not a horse I really want to travel, she didn’t seem to travel that well to Auckland that time, so opportunities for her aren’t great. “I wouldn’t say no (to the sprint series), but it is not a high priority. I am really worried about taking her back to Ellerslie, she just absolutely hated that track. “I would look at the 1400m (Group 1 BCD Group Sprint) at Te Rapa, it is a beautiful track and our way around of going, which takes a few of the doubts out.” View the full article

Race 1 THE GRAND TOUR IN CHRISTCHURCH PREMIER 1000m KINDRED SPIRIT (J Fawcett) – Co-trainer Mr. M Pitman reported to Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of the mare, and it is the stables intention to trial KINDRED SPIRIT at the Ashburton RC on Tuesday 26 November. The post Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park, Wednesday 13 November 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Bill Thurlow couldn’t have hoped for a better week at the New Zealand Cup carnival and is optimistic a more senior member of the team can add a northern feature to the stable’s tally this Saturday. The Waverley trainer collected a brace of wins, a runner-up finish and a treasured Group One placing at Riccarton and is now focused on No Compromise’s tilt at the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m). Successful in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) during his tenure with Chris Waller, the eight-year-old son of Pins hasn’t won since his return home but has performed with distinction up to the highest level. He was runner-up in Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m), third in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and most recently was also third in the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. “Hopefully, there is a bit of moisture around, he needs a bit of dig in the ground,” Thurlow said. “He had a soft trial at Foxton on Tuesday, we gave him a nice hit-out on a track that had give in it. “We were rapt with him, he went around on the bridle and did what was asked of him, so he’ll go north in really good order and we’re looking forward to it. I’m sure he’ll race well.” Ryan Elliot was aboard last time out and will again partner No Compromise, whose longer-term target is likely to be the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Thurlow was delighted with his Riccarton results with The Entertainer winning on the first and last days, Crunchie Boy finished runner-up and Movin Out ran a gallant third in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “It was great, the horses really went well and it’s always nice when you travel for them to perform and we thought we took the right horses and it all worked out,” he said. “They all travelled back well and are in the paddock and we’ll plan what we do with them. “The two older horses will bounce through well and the younger filly might just take a bit longer, it’s a big trip for the first time.” Movin Out was at long odds in just her third career start and was coming off a maiden victory at Otaki, but there was confidence in her Classic prospects. “It was a massive step up and we were underdogs, but we wouldn’t have taken her down there if we didn’t think she was up to it,” Thurlow said. “We knew she was good, she has a lot of ability and she just lacked a bit of ringcraft. “She never came up early enough in the spring to get another race or two into her, it wasn’t fitness but just lacking a bit of experience went against her.” Thurlow is confident the daughter of Staphanos can progress further as she is stepped up in ground on her return next year. “She has got at least 2000m stamped all over her, she is just so relaxed with a beautiful stride and gets into a good rhythm and is probably a real Oaks filly,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Town Cryer winning the Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) in October. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Last start Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Group 1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday. In the hands of Lisa Allpress, who made a welcome return to the trials following an injury in August, Town Cryer led up the field in her usual fashion and wasn’t pressured to the line, finishing a narrow second to Vanish. “She did exactly what we thought she’d do, she likes to do her own thing and Lisa said she travelled very keenly to the line,” trainer Roydon Bergerson said. “It was a tick over as there has been a long time between runs for her, from her last start at Wellington to the Group One in a few weeks’ time. We thought we would take her there for a good gallop on the grass, I’m very happy with her and she’s pulled up super.” The daughter of Tavistock placed at the top level behind subsequent dual Australian Group Two winner Belclare in March, and she will be back to go one better on the 7th of December. “She doesn’t take a lot of work once she’s up and racing, but it’s quite a long way when you’re going six weeks into a Group One, and it’s looking to be a top-class field, as you would expect,” Bergerson said. “We try to keep her fresh, we haven’t got a grass (track) to gallop on at Awapuni at the moment so we’ve got to utilise a grass when we can get one. “She’ll probably go to Wanganui on Cup Day (November 30) for one more gallop there in between races, and she should be cherry ripe for Wellington.” Bergerson’s exciting juvenile prospect Too Sweet also had a hit-out at Foxton, putting an extending and sizeable margin on her less-experienced rivals in an 850m heat. The filly by Satono Aladdin won on debut at Trentham on October 27, and she may earn herself a Group Two opportunity with a forward showing at the TAB Mufhasa Classic meeting. “She did exactly what we’d expected as well, she’s got race day form and I thought she’d run away from that more, but the time she’s run and the ease in which she’s done so were pretty impressive,” Bergerson said. “I think she ran nearly a second faster than the open handicappers so that was a good gallop, Lisa said she was just cruising at the line. “Onwards and upwards for her, we’re hoping to get to Wellington on the 7th of December, and then after that, we’ll have a look at the Eclipse (Gr.2, 1200m) at Ellerslie, if she ran well enough and if she pulls up okay. “Then, hopefully on to the big dance ($1 million Karaka Millions 2YO, 1200m).” Horse racing news View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Nov. 12-Nov. 17View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Champions Dream (Justify–Dancinginherdreams, by Tapit), winner of the 2022 GIII Nashua Stakes, has been retired and will his stand his first season at stud at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida in 2025. He will stand for a fee of $5,000. “It's always a great day when a talented and well-bred stallion arrives at Pleasant Acres Stallions. When a graded-stakes winning, 'TDN Rising Star,' son of Justify arrives, you can imagine our excitement,” said Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services at Pleasant Acres Stallions. “Champions Dream has an exceptional pedigree with a lot of black-type on his dam side. We are confident he will be a great addition for Florida breeders commercially and at the racetrack.” Champions Dream, a $25,000 KEESEP yearling turned $425,000 OBSMAR breezer, was campaigned by Rosedown Racing Stables LLC. His dam Dancinginherdreams was a fellow 'Rising Star' and captured the 2010 GII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. “From the very start, Champions Dream was a special horse. He broke his maiden at first asking in Saratoga and moved forward from there. His last race was another indication of his true ability, determination, and excellent physique. He is intelligent and his demeanor is easy-going,” said Rafael Weiss, Rosedown Racing. “We plan to breed a number of our better mares to him and are purchasing several more for him. We are convinced his brilliant early speed and pedigree are a great fit for Florida.” The post Champions Dream Retired to Pleasant Acres Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pa Doyle could not have said it any better than he did. It was at this sale 12 months ago that, when asked to sum up trade, the Galbertstown boss coined the phrase, “those pinhookers are as brave as lions.” That sentence had as much relevance a year ago as it did on Tuesday when Paul McCartan, Michael Fitzpartick, Barry Mahon and Philip Stauffenberg–absolute titans of their profession–fought it out for some of the best foals on offer at Goffs. It was McCartan, the master breeder and pinhooker who has nurtured the careers of Battash (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire) and Kodi Bear (Ire) to name but a few, who accounted for the most expensive foal through the ring on Tuesday, the Hunting Hill Stud-drafted Sioux Nation filly that went his way at €185,000. But in order to secure that filly, McCartan had to think outside the box–just as he had done 24 hours previously when he took to bidding online to land a Cotai Glory (GB) colt for €88,000. This time, McCartan enlisted the help of top agent Matt Houldsworth–who auctioneer Michael Ryan amusingly pronounced 'Huddlesworth' when dropping his hammer–to see off the attention of Tally-Ho Stud as determined underbidders. The Ballyphilip Stud man commented afterwards, “She's a gorgeous filly. We saw her three or four times and she was better every time we saw her. We love Sioux Nation and we think the best is yet to come. She has a proper pedigree and I said if she wasn't making money as a pinhook we have the option of keeping her for breeding because her pedigree is fantastic and it is so hard to get those pedigrees now.” The Sioux Nation filly is out of Mount Nelson (GB) mare Jolie Chanson (Fr), who Hunting Hill Stud picked up for just 3,500gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018. She has since gone on to produce Listed winner Majestic Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and the Group 2-placed Rousing Encore (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). McCartan continued, “Buyers are hot on Sioux Nation—and with justification—and he has done very well with fillies. I like him and we have been using him. We sold a yearling by him and this year we have a mare in foal to him and we will continue to use him.” Hanshen Tham is in agreement with McCartan on the sire and backed up his opinion to the tune of €130,000. The Malaysian native who lives in London is perhaps best known for owning the classy Listed winner Thornbrook (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) but enjoyed a huge pinhooking profit earlier this year when a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt that he sourced here for €210,000 rocked into 500,000gns at Book 1 in Newmarket. Tham was reinvesting some of those pinhooking profits on Tuesday and said that the Sioux Nation colt, who is out of a sister to Prince Of Lir (Ire) and was consigned by Ballinafad Stud, would have stacked up favourably with some of the Wednesday foals. “Quality animal,” Tham said. “A very good mover and I thought he stood up well to even the Wednesday foals. The sire is getting there and he's done it the hard way so far. He deserves to be getting the praise that he is getting. He is a very good stallion. They are just racehorses and do it on the track.” Reflecting on the pinhook of the Night Of Thunder that got him off the ground, Tham added, “It was risky but luckily it paid off. It has provided me with a bit more confidence to go again this week and we're just trying to buy the nice foals at prices that we think make sense. We had only two pinhooks last year and I'd like to buy between three and five this year. This is the first foal I have bought this year-it's been hard to buy.” Tham's assessment that it has been hard to buy is representative in the figures. After an extremely strong start on Monday where all of the key figures were on the rise bar the clearance rate, the numbers took another jump on Tuesday, notably the 7% rise in turnover to €8,200,500. The average was up 16% to €42,271 while the median climbed 17% to €35,000. The clearance rate was a healthy 80%. “We're over the moon. We'll be coming back with our nice foals to Goffs, because they can get the result.” Hunting Hill Stud's Sioux Nation filly summons €185,000 from @BallyphilipStud at #GoffsNovember. pic.twitter.com/1Fhq6ST5le — Goffs (@Goffs1866) November 19, 2024 Barry Mahon: 'It's Been Crazy – The Market Is Very Strong' When it comes to pinhooking, Barry Mahon needs no introduction. Signing under Goodwill Bloodstock, he sourced a Blue Point (Ire) colt for €175,000 from Oaklawn Stud. Out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Aaraamm, who is a sister to the Group 2-placed Saamidd (GB), the Blue Point colt will be offered for resale. Mahon explained, “Blue Point is a very good stallion and is responsible for what is probably as good a three-year-old colt there is around this year in Rosallion (Ire). It's great that Rosallion stays in training next year as well. This horse was bred by very good breeders in the McStays. He's a nice horse and he will be coming back for resale.” On the market, Mahon added, “It's been crazy.The market is very strong but the yearling sales were very good–it was good here at the Orby, it was very good at Newmarket and Keeneland in September and November was strong. There is a lot of positivity and a lot of new people buying horses. There is a good feeling around, which is important.” The sale exceeded all expectations for Oaklawn Stud and the outfit's Killian McStay commented, “Delighted to get a homebred away for such an incredible sum. He was very popular since he got here and I don't think we've ever seen such footfall or had as many shows as we did. Our ceiling was absolutely shattered. It looks like it's going up another level again this year.” “Our ceiling was absolutely shattered, he went beyond that.”@OaklawnStud received an “incredible sum” of €175,000 from Goodwill Bloodstock for their Blue Point colt (Lot 295). pic.twitter.com/72J5yykZfn — Goffs (@Goffs1866) November 19, 2024 Back Of The Net For Begley With Hello Youmzain Colt Stan Begley, grandson of the late Stan Cosgrove, enjoyed a memorable evening when selling a Hello Youmzain (Fr) colt for €120,000 to Corduff Stud [who signed under Blandford Bloodstock]. Consigned by the Irish National Stud, where Begley is based full-time, the Hello Youmzain represented a shrewd piece of business for the youngster who bought the dam Madhulika (Fr) carrying the colt for just €31,000 at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. “I am absolutely over the moon,” Begley said. “We bought the mare for 31 grand last year in France. Hello Youmzain kicked off then-it was brilliant. He went down very well with everyone.” He added, “The mare was a bit of value, she was in foal to Hello Youmzain, and she was the dam of Madeline who was a Listed winner and placed in a Group 1. She was a lovely mare and the sire clicked. She is in foal to Calyx (GB). “It's great. All week we had all the right people on him, so we kind of knew we were doing well. We just have two mares, but sure we might go pinhooking a few there now!” Hello Youmzain, who Haras d'Etreham bumped from a €22,500 covering fee to €40,000 for 2025, has enjoyed 24 winners from 41 runners in Europe and is well on his way to being crowned champion first-season sire in his native France. Talking Points There were 11 six-figure lots through the ring on Tuesday. Things are hotting up nicely ahead of the much-anticipated Wednesday session, where some of the best-bred foals in the sale will be offered under the hammer. Philip Stauffenberg was responsible for one of those six-figure lots on Tuesday–a €115,000 Starman (GB) colt from Ridge Manor Stud. In fact, Stauffenberg has been quite busy across both days, and signed for four foals to the tune of €235,000. How early is too early to start judging a stallion's progeny? It's hard to know how much can be gleaned at this stage but certainly the Minzaal (Ire) foals seem to be finding themselves on many peoples' lists. Of the 19 offered, 17 have sold at an average of €35,324–including two for €80,000. But the early plaudits must go to Blackbeard. The Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner's foals averaged more than any other debut-season sire did this week. Blackbeard also achieved what no other newbie managed by netting a six-figure sale. Step forward lot 471, the Stanley Lodge-drafted colt out of Group 2 winner Pollyana (Ire) (Whipper), who was knocked down to TOHA for €155,000. Blackbeard has averaged €46,091 for 11 foals sold. In terms of this year's crop of first-season sires championship, the cool thing to say is that it has been an open year and no stallion has bopped his head above the parapet. Notching a Group 1 winner with your first crop would qualify as bopping your head above the parapet and Kameko, who achieved exactly that with New Century (GB), is clearly being given the respect he deserves. After a yearling colt of his sold for 1 million gns at Book 2, top pinhooker Michael Fitzpatrick went to €180,000 to secure the Hollyhill Stud-drafted filly by the stallion deep into the Tuesday session. Tweenhills boss David Redvers was on hand to see the filly out of the late Lady O'Reilly's Group 3-placed Roseraie (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) create such a frenzy in the ring. He commented, “She was a beautiful filly and it seems she was on all the best judges' lists.It is a wonderful legacy for the lovely Lady O'Reilly's operation and it a great stamp of approval for a hugely exciting young stallion.” Hayes Celebrates A Different Kind Of Winner With Mehmas Filly Top jockey Chris Hayes sidestepped a trip to India to ride for the winter in favour of seeing his homebred Mehmas filly sell at Goffs this week and that decision was vindicated when she made €150,000 to Alex Butler. Consigned by Boherguy Stud, the Mehmas filly is out of Shahaada (Ire), who Hayes partnered to finish third in the Listed McCalmont Stakes at Gowran Park a couple of years ago. Hayes commented, “That was very exciting-it was a different kick to riding a winner! I was pretty confident in her, Rachel [Hayes's wife] did most of the prep. I just turned up and Clare [Manning, Boherguy Stud] did a great job in getting her sold. We are obviously over the moon and [she is] gone to a good home which is even better.” He added, “She made more than we thought. We were too busy staring in on the filly to see who the underbidder was. I am known for silly celebrations, and all I was short of was doing that. The dam was in Kevin's [Prendergast] and was owned by Sheikh Hamdan. He passed away and Sheikha Hissa took over, and I spoke to Angus Gold, bought the mare privately, and we kept her in training. I put her in foal to Starman, she improved from 73 to 95 and we got her black-type. We have a Starman filly now and enough money to put her in training now. Shahaada is in foal to Mehmas again. “The O'Callaghans have been very good supporters of us from our first foal. They have good stallions, and when they have been good to us, why not support them? Roger kindly offered Mehmas. We like the Starman and decided to keep her, so we are looking forward to putting her in training. She is being broken at the moment and I will sit on her in a fortnight.” Buy of the Day Sarah Dempsey has enjoyed a marvellous year on the pinhooking front under the banner of Tincoon Stables. Her breakout year was highlighted by a €18,000 Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) colt who she sourced for just €200 as a foal. The chips were put back on the table on Tuesday when the County Wexford-based operator went to €33,000 to secure a fast-looking filly by Calyx (GB) and it's hard to say that Dempsey didn't sniff out a bit of value in what has been a bustling market. Consigned by Joe Hernan`s Castletown Stud, the Calyx filly is a half-sister to Mission Command (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), already a dual winner for trainer George Scott and Bahraini-based owners Victorious Racing. It's hardly beyond the realms of possibility that Mission Command–who is already rated 87–can take another step forward next year, which would obviously be a boost. One of 71 foals by a thoroughly respectable stallion, lot 470 wouldn't look out of place in Orby 1 next year on pedigree and might prove another pinhooking profit for the upwardly mobile Dempsey. Thought for the Day Talk of some vendors having 170 or more shows at Goffs this week got me thinking. As a man who dabbles in the odd foal to yearling and yearling to breezer, it remains pretty amusing that, the closer you get to the racetrack, the less people there are to buy the end product. Vendors at the yearling sales would average significantly less shows than at the foal sales and that number is even fewer at the breeze-up sales. Food for thought perhaps. The post Sioux-per Day For Nation As McCartan Bags “Gorgeous Filly” By The Sire At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. Pat Day: I had no connection to horse racing when I was growing up. I wanted to be a bull rider. When I went to the rodeos, people would ask me did I ever think of becoming a jockey? I'm 4-11, weighed 100 pounds soaking wet. I was an adrenaline junkie and had no fear riding bulls. These people must have seen something in me that led them to believe I could be a jockey and be successful or maybe they recognized I had no ability whatsoever in the rodeo arena and so they were trying to get me out of there before I got seriously injured. I had heard of the Kentucky Derby, but I had never watched it on TV. I had heard of Bill Shoemaker and Eddie Arcaro. That was the extent of my knowledge of horse racing. Through an acquaintance, I got a job on Thoroughbred farm in January of 1973. I told the people at the farm that I wanted to be a jockey and they said, `here is what you have to do: be at the farm for two-three years, learn the job from the ground up and at the end of that period of time we'll send you to a trainer at the racetrack. You will continue to hone your skills, you'll watch the races, study the films. Do that, they said, and within a year I'd be ready to ride.' I didn't last a month. I enjoyed getting on the horses but I didn't care for the menial farm labor. I left. I wasn't going to do this for two, three years. When I left the farm, I had every intention of going back to being a bull rider. Race horses were non-existent to me. I decided to go to Las Vegas over the winter to spend some time with friends. I was going to do whatever I could to feed myself and then when the rodeo season started in early summer, I was going to pursue that. I went to Vegas and couldn't find a job. Back then they had a racetrack in Henderson called Las Vegas Downs. I don't believe they ever had any recognized racing there. But there were people using it for a winter training track and they were desperate to have someone gallop their horses. I went out there and met a fellow named Steve Talbot. He had three horses. He told me that I could gallop his horses for $2 a head. So I did that for a couple of months and I enjoyed that. Steve happened to be the clerk of scales on the fair circuit in Arizona. So when it came time for him to leave Las Vegas and go to Arizona, he asked me to come with him. He told me he'd introduce me to some people and help me get started. Even at that point, I wasn't really hooked. So I made my way to Southern Arizona. The fair circuit, they ran two weekends at each town and then moved on to the next town. So when I got there Steve introduced me to some people and I got on a few horses. After the fairs, they moved to Prescott for summer. I went there with them. I was introduced to a fellow named Karl Pew and he had 30 head of horses. I think he gave me $50 a week to gallop horses for him. Karl was a rodeo hand. He had been a professional team roper before he became a horse trainer. We had a lot in common and hit it right off. Now, you couldn't drive me away from the barn. By mid-summer, I told Karl I want to ride. I was galloping horses, I was working horses, taking horses to the gate. I wanted to get in there. He told me I could ride a few horses for him. On July 29, 1973 I won my first race. That's when I was hooked. I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted to ride every race. I wanted to win every race. Terry Finley: Like a lot of other people, I went to the races with my dad. I grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania and we went to Liberty Bell, Keystone, Delaware Park, Garden City, Atlantic City and sometimes to the trotters. I remember going to Delaware Park in the afternoon and then heading down the road to watch the trotters at Brandywine at night. Terry Finley | Sarah Andrew Then I started working on a farm while in my teens in Colts Neck, New Jersey. After that I started working on the racetrack when I was 15. That was, obviously, before I enrolled at West Point. When in the Army, every once in a while I would think about getting into racing. I lived in Germany and I knew I wasn't going to stay in the Army. Ironically, every time I went to the Frankfurt Airport there was a big old racetrack right outside the airport. Just seeing that track got me thinking, 'wouldn't it cool to get back in the horse business?' But I think what really got me hooked was the Affirmed-Alydar rivalry. I was at the Affirmed-Alydar Derby and Preakness, but not at the Belmont. That was such a great time for racing back then. Racing was at such a zenith back then. Then you had the Steve Cauthen phenomenon. Back then, in 1978 with Affirmed-Alydar and Cauthen, I knew what I wanted. I just had to figure out how to make a go of it in racing. To share your own story of how you got hooked on racing, email suefinley@thetdn.com. The post How I Got Hooked on Racing: Pat Day, and Terry Finley appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are six horse racing meetings set for Australia on Wednesday, November 20. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Canterbury, Caulfield Heath & Happy Valley (HK). Wednesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – November 20, 2024 Canterbury Racing Tips Caulfield Heath Racing Tips Happy Valley (HK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top horse racing bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on November 20, 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 prepared to lose 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

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Edited Press Release Funding for a pair of research studies has been announced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s Exercise-Associated Sudden Death (EASD) Working Group. The group was formed in October of 2023 to advance research initiatives and collaborate with industry leaders on the critical issue of exercise-associated sudden death. The Working Group is made up of veterinarians and equine researchers focused on the scientific understanding and prevention of sudden, unexpected fatalities occurring during or closely following exercise in Thoroughbred racehorses. “The EASD Working Group is working diligently to address the incidence of sudden deaths, which continue to account for a significant portion of racing fatalities. This ongoing challenge requires increased attention, which is exactly why HISA exists. We are optimistic that this group's research will enhance our understanding and help inform policy changes that will reduce sudden fatalities and safeguard our horses,” said HISA CEO, Lisa Lazarus. The Group is sponsoring two groundbreaking studies, one of which seeks to identify biomarkers that could be used to identify horses at high risk of EASD, while the other focuses on a comprehensive monitoring program using wearable technology. Both are aimed at developing practical screening tools and reducing EASD occurrences. Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, is working on a multi-omics approach to prediction of EASD in Thoroughbred racehorses by identifying biomarker differences between healthy Thoroughbred racehorses and those that succumb to EASD. The lab's long-term goal is to develop a non-invasive screening test to identify horses at increased risk of EASD. These horses can then be monitored closely, and recommendations can be made for when they are safe to train and race with the goal of reducing the frequency of EASD. Additionally, if there are horses that are considered at high risk of EASD but never have issues, it will be possible to look for protective measures to which those horses may be exposed. Racing authorities and racetracks are currently being recruited to collect samples from horses that have succumbed to EASD and healthy controls. Dr. Cris Navas of New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, have begun an Exercise-Associated Sudden Death monitoring pilot program. Collaborating trainers are asked to place the Arioneo Equimetre wearable devices on each horse during training weekly for four-to-six months. For each of the training sessions, ECG, heart rate, stride characteristics (rate, length, symmetry [for trot] and regularity), speed, distance, duration and the relationships and progression of these variables are measured. Enrollment is free and the data is kept confidential between researchers, trainers and the veterinary team of each trainer. In the first eight weeks of the study, they have recruited 193 Thoroughbred racehorses across racetracks in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland and Minnesota, and 493 training sessions have been recorded so far. They are planning to record 250 horses for the initial phase of the study, giving approximately 4,000 training sessions for analysis. These research projects are ongoing. The initial pilot studies are expected to be completed by December 2025. If data collection and analysis are proven to be feasible in the North American racetrack setting, the goal is to enroll a large enough number of racehorses to allow the identification of risk factors for EASD. If accurate risk factors are identified, these will used to implement prevention programs to reduce the frequency of EASD. The post HISA Exercise-Associated Sudden Death Working Group to Sponsor Pair of Research Studies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horseshoe Indianapolis completed its 22nd season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Nov. 14 with record numbers. A total of 124 days were held, with six dedicated to all Quarter Horse racing.View the full article

Henri Pouret has been named as the next chairman of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and he will begin his duties on June 1, 2025. An election was held at the EMHF's executive council meeting in Morocco last week to determine Brian Kavanagh's successor. Kavanagh has served in the role since the inception of the EMHF in 2010. Pouret is currently the chief operating officer and deputy chief executive officer of France Galop. He is also the vice-chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Pouret said, “I am honoured and very thankful to the Executive Council for placing its trust and confidence in me to fulfil the role of EMHF chair to succeed Brian who did a tremendous job. I am a great enthusiast of European and Mediterranean racing in all its diversity. Europe is a leader in many aspects of horseracing, especially regarding the quality control of black-type races and integrity, based on cross border competition. I am really hopeful for the years to come in this region and will be fully dedicated to this new role in collaboration with the members' racing authorities and the invaluable experience of secretary-general Dr. Paull Khan.” Kavanagh, “I am delighted that Henri will succeed me as chairman of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation. He has excellent experience and knowledge of racing throughout the region and will do a great job. For me it has been a privilege to serve as chairman of the EMHF which plays an important role in linking the smaller and larger racing countries and representing a single voice for racing authorities throughout Europe and the broader Mediterranean area.” The post Henri Pouret To Be Next EMHF Chair appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hawthorne Race Course and three of the track's key racing executives on Nov. 18 asked a federal judge to dismiss the main claims in a lawsuit brought by a former association veterinarian who recently worked the Chicago-area track's Thoroughbred meets. In a Sept. 12, 2024, legal complaint, Dr. Christine Tuma had alleged that her efforts to scratch over 80 lame or injured Thoroughbreds during 2022-23 were met with a purported conspiracy among track employees, other veterinarians, and state regulators to overturn her actions so unsound horses could be entered to fill short-field races. Tuma also claimed in United States District Court (Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division) that when she reported this alleged conspiracy to state and federal regulators, she was fired “in retaliation for blowing the whistle on the illegal activities.” Tuma's is using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to try and collect damages. RICO is a sweeping 1970 federal statute initially designed to combat the Mafia. But RICO has long since lost its “organized crime” stigma, evolving over the decades into a civil litigation component more often asserted by purported victims of white-collar crime. Tuma's lawsuit stated that because of the alleged conspiracy, she has “suffered loss of income, benefits, career opportunities, humiliation, and emotional distress.” She is seeking judgment against the defendants “for actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, treble damages, attorney's fees and costs, and any other relief deemed proper by this Court.” Hawthorne management had denied the allegations to TDN when the litigation was first initiated two months ago. On Monday, the track, plus employees Jim Miller (director of racing), John Walsh (assistant general manager) and Dave White (racing secretary), made their first legal written response to the accusations. “This is an employment dispute between an employer and one of its former employees,” stated a memorandum of law filed by those defendants along with their request to dismiss the RICO claims. “Plaintiff, a former veterinarian who was laid off in July of 2023 as part of a companywide reduction, contends that she 'was terminated in retaliation for her protected activities of disclosing the activities of the “Enterprise” and to ensure that Dr. Tuma could not make any further disclosures regarding the scheme to the federal regulators,'” the Hawthorne defendants' filing continued. “Recognizing that her termination, a single, discrete event, could never evidence the type of continuous and ongoing criminal activity necessary to allege a RICO claim, Plaintiff tries to shoehorn her termination into the alleged gambling scheme, which she claims has been ongoing since March of 2022. This argument fails for many reasons,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated. “First, Plaintiff lacks RICO standing, because the injury she alleges was not directly caused by the claimed RICO violation,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated. “Second, even if Plaintiff could meet this standard, which she cannot, her allegations fall well short of alleging conduct of an enterprise or a pattern of racketing,” the Hawthorne defendants stated. “Third, Plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient allegations that a conspiracy exists between the Defendants and that the Defendants knowingly agreed to perform services which facilitated the activities of the enterprise,” the Hawthorne defendants stated. Also named in the lawsuit as defendants are the Illinois Racing Board (IRB); Dawn Folker-Calderon, the IRB's chief state vet; two state stewards, Thomas Kelley and John Eddy, plus Beth Beuchler, a vet employed by Hawthorne. The IRB and its employees filed notice Nov. 15 indicating an intent to seek dismissal. Beuchler was not among the Hawthorne-employed defendants that made the Monday filings along with the track itself; she will be represented by separate counsel. The former association vet's lawsuit stated that, “It was during the fall meeting in 2022 that Dr. Tuma uncovered the full extent of the illegal running of sick and lame horses. On or around the same time, Dr. Tuma uncovered and began investigating alterations of the medical records of these horses.” Tuma's complaint stated that, “The entry of these horses into regulated Illinois races was not only a means for the RICO Defendants to induce wagers on horses that were not legally qualified to run, but in numerous instances, the certification of an additional horse in a race allowed the Enterprise to run races that did not meet the legally mandated minimum number of entries required to run a wagered race under Illinois law.” Over the course of 48 pages, Tuma's complaint detailed how her assessments of horses as “scratch lame” had allegedly been tampered with by Calderon and Beuchler and changed to “racing sound,” the indication that the horse was fit to run, or to the less-severe “scratch sick” designation that is supposed to indicate temporary illness. When Tuma expressed her concerns about the scratch process to Calderon, she was allegedly told, “This is how it's always done.” Tuma's lawsuit stated that owners and trainers began to complain about her high number of scratch assessments, including one horseman who allegedly “caused a horse to lurch menacingly at her, threatening grave bodily harm.” Another time, the suit contended, a groom “physically battered her.” The suit stated that when Tuma reported these alleged incidents of abuse to track officials and the stewards, “only a nominal fine was levied against the perpetrators.” When Tuma began making a series of complaints to the stewards about the “misclassification of horses as sick from lame,” she was informed by Calderon “that she had been stripped of her authority to scratch horses,” and that a new protocol requiring Beuchler to check her assessments would be in place, the suit stated. On March 20, 2023, Tuma's suit stated that she “delivered a comprehensive whistleblower letter” to the IRB and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). The suit continued: “On or around the date Dr. Tuma submitted her comprehensive complaint to the IRB, Miller, who had theretofore never called Dr. Tuma directly on her cell phone, called her a minimum of six times to intimidate her about her lame scratches and to ensure that the maximum number of horses were run.” Some 3 1/2 months later, the suit stated, just two days before HISA personnel were scheduled to visit Hawthorne for an inspection, “Dr. Tuma met with Walsh via Zoom on July 11, 2023, and was informed that she had been terminated based on the pretext that her termination was a cost-cutting measure.” In their Monday response, the Hawthorne filing stated that if Tuma's RICO claims fail as the defendants allege they should, then the rest of the lawsuit should also legally unravel. That's because, the Hawthorne defendants stated, “the Court must also dismiss Plaintiff's Illinois civil conspiracy claim and Count VIII.” And if “Plaintiff's federal claims are dismissed, the Court should decline to exercise jurisdiction over the state law claims against the Hawthorne Defendants,” the Hawthorne filing stated. The Hawthorne defendants stated that despite the accusations of illegality outlined in Tuma's complaint, she never documented any attempts to contact law enforcement agencies to report the alleged criminal activity. “Rather, Plaintiff asserts that she made complaints to HISA and the IRB,” the Hawthorne defendants stated. “Neither HISA nor IRB are law enforcement agencies. As a result, Plaintiff has failed to allege any complaint or claim that was made to a law enforcement officer as a required element to maintain a RICO claim.” The Hawthorne defendants further argued that Tuma lacks RICO standing because “she was not a target or a victim” of the alleged conspiracy. “According to Plaintiff's own allegations, the only persons who were the alleged victims of the scheme are the individuals who placed the wager on a particular horse and the owners of the injured horses,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated. The post Hawthorne Seeks Dismissal of Fired Vet’s Whistleblower Suit That Alleges Conspiracy to Race Unsound Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Favoritism in most graded stakes races for 3-year-olds and up typically goes to the established runner. That makes the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs an exception.View the full article

The days of running strictly against their own age group are numbered for the 2021 crop and the Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23 will likely be the final opportunity for it's nine runners.View the full article

Bearstone Stud has kept the fees for its three stallions at the same price as in 2024, with Dream Ahead at £6,500, Belardo (Ire) at £5,500 and Washington DC (Ire) at £3,500. “We feel our stallions offer exceptional value in a challenging marketing, none more so than Belardo, who is the highest-ranked sire standing in Europe under £15,000 by the number of European winners in 2024,” said Bearstone Stud owner Terry Holdcroft. “Further afield US Grade I winner Gold Phoenix added more US black-type to his form, and Fiach McHugh (aka Red Lion) was placed in two valuable Group 1 races in Hong Kong. He was one of 10 new stakes horses for Belardo this year.” He added, “Proven Group 1 sire of speed Dream Ahead has sired 65 stakes horses worldwide and is ranked alongside leading sprint sires No Nay Never, Dark Angel and Kodiac for the number of Group 1-winning sprinters produced since 2019. “Lastly, our young sire Washington DC also showed his ability to produce tough and durable sprinters like himself, led by Washington Heights kicking off a successful season this year for him with victory in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes.” The post Bearstone Fees Unchanged in ‘Challenging Market’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

During the second session of the Arqana Autumn Sale, a yearling son of Doctor Dino (Fr) (lot 577) brought €130,000 to top the day's trade in a private sale to Joffret Huet of JH Bloodstock for Ecurie Papot. Tuesday's session featured 55 2-year-old stores, and 67 NH yearlings. Consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie, the bay is out of the listed winner and Grade 3-placed Aterisk (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}). This is the extended family of Listed Prix Vulcain winner Abajo (Ire) (Sillery), and Grade 2 winner Astonville (Fr) (Top Ville {Ire}). Also popular at €90,000, a Doctor Dino filly (lot 603) caught the eye of BLM Bloodstock from the Fairway Consignment. She is a half-sister to G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) on the Flat and Grade 2 victor Matfog (Ire) (Style Vendome {Fr}) over jumps. Top NH sire Martaline (GB) is under the second dam, as is G1 Prix du Cadran winner Reefscape (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), and multiple group winner and sire Coastal Path (GB). “I've bought her for Haras du Berlais, said Bertrand Le Metayer. “She's a filly that ticks all the boxes–she is good looking, athletic, and well-bred. She's just the type of filly that we are looking for–we're very happy.” A pair of colts by Saint Des Saints (Fr) each brought €75,000, with lot 616 going to Thomas Maudet from the Haras de la Tuilerie draft. The half-brother to G1 Triumph Hurdle hero Farclas (Fr) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) was joined at that price by lot 618b. The latter, sold by Haras de Clairefontaine, was knocked down to Guy Petit and is a full-brother to the Grade 3-winning filly La Boetie (Fr). Topping the stores was AQPS Messire Corton (Fr) (Cokoriko {Fr}) (lot 541), who brought €62,000 from Tom Malone from Haras de la Tuilerie. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and AQPS Black Corton (Fr) (Laverock {Ire}). A total of 122 lots visited the ring on Tuesday, with 87 marked as sold (71.3%) for a gross of €2,001,500 (-8.6%). The average decreased to €23,006 (-10.7%) and the median dropped to €15,000 (-25%). The third session of the Autumn Sale will continue at 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The post Doctor Dino Colt Leads Arqana Autumn Session On Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horseshoe Indianapolis concluded its 124-day season Nov. 14 with a record total domestic handle of $282 million. The new mark eclipses the previous record of $279 million set in 2023. “Once again, we are very proud of our racing program this season and it is the result of a strong team effort between our staff, horsemen, and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission,” said Horseshoe Indianapolis Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. “Everyone contributed to our success this season, which is clearly shown in our wagering results. We genuinely appreciate the support of all fans across the world in watching and wagering on our races. It's very gratifying to see such positive results for the hard work we all put in throughout the season.” Final wagering tallies for the Indiana track will be available later in the year. The current tally of $282 million does not include international numbers, which track officials expect to push the total around the $320-million mark. Average total handle per race was $236,886, showing a 1.60% increase over 2023. More than $8.1 million was wagered on the track's signature GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Indiana Oaks day card July 5, establishing a new track record for a single card handle in Indiana history. “Indiana Derby Day continues to grow each year and has definitely captured the attention of the racing world the first Saturday in July,” Halstrom said. “We have a tremendous crowd on track, in addition to the multitude of locations taking our racing signal throughout the world. Our staff and horsemen put on a great show that day.” In all, 13 days during the year topped $3 million in handle. A total of 1,191 races were conducted at the track in 2024. Of that tally, 971 Thoroughbred races were held in 2024, compared to 983 in 2023. The average number of starters per race was 7.9. Ten fewer races were held on the turf in 2024 compared to 2023, showing the effect weather played on several racing days throughout the year. Randy Klopp earned his third training title in the past four years at the track, while Alberto Burgos won his first jockey title. John Haran was awarded top owner of the meet. Oscar Villarreal was the top apprentice rider, securing the 10th annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice title. The top horse of the meet was Cupid's Runaway, winner in seven of his eight starts through the course of the meet. The Cupid gelding was ridden by Burgos for Klopp and owner Reese Ranch. The post Horseshoe Indianapolis Concludes Record Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Longtime horsemen Tom Hamm and Bobby Langley have launched Top Tier Thoroughbred Management, which will provide a variety of bloodstock and racing management services to its clients, from private and auction purchases, to mating and conformation analysis. Hamm, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, has over three decades of hands-on Thoroughbred experience, starting on the racetrack as an assistant trainer for his brother, Tim Hamm, in the mid-1990s. He later transitioned to the bloodstock realm, where he rose to become general farm manager at Taylor Made Farm and general manager of breeding operations at Woodford Thoroughbreds. He most recently worked at Three Chimneys Farm, joining the company as director of stallion nominations and later becoming chief commercial officer and overseeing Three Chimneys Racing Stable. “Over the past 30 years, I have gained extensive knowledge of the Thoroughbred Industry, and what it takes to be successful in this business,” Hamm said. “I'm at a point in my career where I feel like it's time to go out on my own and utilize the experience and knowledge that I have gained over the years. I am looking forward to the opportunity and challenges of starting my own business with Top Tier Thoroughbred Management.” Langley, a Louisville native, is an experienced blacksmith, spending 40 plus years working with some of the most notable and top Thoroughbred farms in the industry. He started in the industry working under the legendary Joe Taylor. Among some of the high-profile horses under his care were Hall of Famers American Pharoah, California Chrome, Curlin, and Justify. He has been instrumental in conformation evaluation and corrective farrier services for many top Thoroughbred farms throughout Central Kentucky. Both Hamm and Langley will be based in Kentucky. To learn more about Top Tier Thoroughbred Management, visit https://toptierthoroughbreds.com/. The post Hamm, Langley Launch Top Tier Thoroughbred Management appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is seeking auction items from the Thoroughbred industry, as well as businesses around Saratoga Springs ahead of its third annual “Countdown to the Triple Crown” fundraising event, scheduled for Feb. 1. Businesses who donate an item, experience, or gift card will be promoted leading up to the event through the museum's social media channels and through database distribution. The museum will also provide contributing businesses with two complimentary tickets to the event. Guests can attend the event in person at the museum from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or bid on special packages online. The early-bird event at the museum will feature beer, wine, soda, light refreshments, and entertainment. Cost to attend the event is $20 for museum members and $35 for non-members. To purchase tickets, click here or call (518) 584-0400. The post Museum Seeks Auction Items for Countdown to Triple Crown Fundraiser appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article