Wandering Eyes

My first trip to a Thoroughbred racetrack came in the summer of 1961 at Ellis Park. At the time, I was 16, closing in on 17, and Kelso was four, closing in on the second of five consecutive Horse of the Year titles. Kelso never raced anywhere near Ellis, but his enduring class was such that he ranked among the sporting world's most recognizable heroes of the day. The New York Yankees' pinstriped pair of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, in their pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record, may have been the only sports stars of 1961 to capture more headlines and enthusiastic fans than Kelso. Those were the days. These are not the days. Between then and now, Thoroughbred racing in the United States has experienced a wild ride of seemingly boundless expansion, followed by a mid-numbing and continuing contraction. What follows here is an effort by this now-80-year-old to understand what in the world happened. The short answer is that horse racing's popularity has been decimated by withering competition for fans, broadcast and streaming revenue, and betting dollars in the sports, entertainment, and gambling markets. This has sent the Thoroughbred sport into a prolonged, painful process of right-sizing, in search of a point where the supply of racing product on the market finds some equilibrium with the demand for it. Amid this contraction, horse racing has become more dependent than ever on favorable treatment by state governments. In states where racing has found favor, the sport stands good chances of doing well. In other states, it does not. The following observations are heavily influenced by events during the 1980s and '90s, when I served 20 years' time endeavoring to make sense of the economics of racing and breeding. I labored through those two decades in various writing and editing tasks at The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Record, and Thoroughbred Times. Only one of those three publications survives today, which is about par for the Thoroughbred industry as a whole. Any quest to understand the larger picture must acknowledge the raw numbers of racing's great rise and fall. In Kelso's second championship season, a total of 40,744 individual Thoroughbred races were contested at racetracks across the U,S. Over the next 26 years, the annual total of races nearly doubled, reaching 80,382 in 1987. Then began a 37-year descent of more than 60 percent from the peak, down to 30,852 races in 2024. The decline in horse racing's share of the sports gambling market has been just as striking. In 1961, racing, with its government-granted monopoly, commanded substantially all of legal betting in the U.S. outside of Nevada. Sixty-three years later, 2024's total of pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in the U.S. was $11.3 billion. That amounts to less than eight percent of the year's all-sports handle of $150 billion. In today's vastly-changed competitive environment, sports stars like LeBron and Caitlin need only first names to gather nationwide recognition. Taylor Swift's football-playing boyfriend generates more screen time, clicks, and searches than Thorpedo Anna, Thoroughbred racing's esteemed 4-year-old queen. Paths to the present have been many and varied, but here are six Defining Developments at the top of the list. Some recount past steps to the industry's current state. Others offer glimmers of hope that dawn is not far away. Defining Development #1: Sports Gone Wild In 1961, the National Football League included 14 teams, and the upstart American Football League fielded eight in its second season. The two leagues were six years away from the first Super Bowl. Now the long-merged NFL has 32 teams, many competing in fan-friendly indoor and outdoor stadiums in cities from sea to shining sea. The Super Bowl has become the biggest sporting event on the continent, far surpassing all other contenders in ratings, revenue, and public interest. Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League all have grown along similar lines. MLB expanded from 18 teams in 1961 to 32 today; the NBA from nine to 30; and the NHL from the Original Six to 32. The NBA experience is particularly instructive. In the spring of 1961, the Boston Celtics wrapped up their third of eight straight championships. The Celtic dynasty played out in gritty, old Boston Garden, which seldom sold out during the regular season, and where, it was said, fans in upper-level seats wore boots and brought cudgels to slug rats marauding underfoot. The NBA now welcomes fans into flashy arenas everywhere. The league also has built an international following that is a marketer's dream. Further, the WNBA, after years of base-building, is riding a wave of expansion in girls' and women's sports. The women's pro league is poised to expand from 12 teams in 2024 to 13 in 2025, 15 in 2026, and an intended 16 by 2028 Elsewhere on the current scene, old-line professional golf and tennis maintain considerable fan bases and television contracts. Forever-aspiring soccer is edging closer to major North American numbers. Then there are NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, Rodeo, PBR, MMA, UFC, WWE, Monster Trucks, and Marathons, all carving out their own niche. Boxing is alone among the major sports of the mid-20th century to have declined as much, or even more, than horse racing. This avalanche of competition from pro leagues does not account for college sports, where teams engender passionate state and local followings. And where NCAA football and basketball command billion-dollar contracts from broadcast and streaming networks. Overall, there is this inescapable fact. Fans, who might once have favored horse racing, now given such an enormous volume of choices, have elected to attend, support, bet on, cheer, jeer, and live and die with competitors in many other sports. Defining Development #2–Gambling: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once Horse racing's monopoly on legal gambling was initially broken by a trickle of state lotteries, followed by a flotilla of riverboats, and a flood of full-fledged casinos. More recently, with gambling legalized on games in nearly every team and individual sport, bettors can seek payoffs either on-line or in a wide variety of gambling emporia, which are often newer and brighter than aging racetracks. First nose under racing's monopolistic tent was the New Hampshire state lottery, established in 1964. The lottery's founders initially sought to mollify wary horse racing interests by basing winning tickets on the outcome of a rich new race at Rockingham Park. That became the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Classic, a 1 ¼-mile race for three-year-olds. The Hall of Fame trifecta of Dr. Fager, John Nerud, and Braulio Baeza captured the 1967 N.H Classic, which carried a total purse of $265,900, higher than any of the year's Triple Crown races. The N.H. Sweepstakes Classic was abandoned long before Rockingham Park closed permanently in 2011. Over the decades, state-sponsored lotteries have proliferated, and are now joined by multi-state options Powerball and Mega Millions, with potential for life-altering payoffs. Few have any connection to horse racing. Other milestones in the expansion of legal gambling included casinos at Atlantic City, which opened in 1978; Native American tribal casinos, which began to gain serious traction in the 1980s; and riverboats, which debuted in Iowa waters in 1991. Riverboats have come ashore as land-based casinos. Native American gambling facilities have spread to 29 states and range from bingo halls to casinos, even including outlets in travel plazas and convenience stores. A total of 48 states (excepting only Hawaii and Utah) now have some form of legal gambling. Along the way, it was hoped that, at racinos, simulcast parlors, and sports books, horse racing would convert casino players and all-sports bettors into dedicated racing punters. In fact, the greater movement has been in the opposite direction. More players have chosen to try their luck in gambling enterprises apart from horse racing. Horsephotos Defining Development #3–Bad Seeds The early years of horse racing's great expansion contained seeds of its later contraction. The expansion was spurred not as much by a populace clamoring for more of the sport, as it was by states needing more tax revenue and horsemen wanting year-round, local circuits. Prior to the expansion, much of the country's best racing was conducted in the South in winter months and in the North in warmer seasons. The move to year-round racing has left tracks to contend with the elements when it is too cold for comfort in the North and too hot in the South. That is not a formula for success in a hyper-competitive sports market. All too often, winter racing at northern tracks bears a greater resemblance to government-sponsored jobs programs than to venues where fans enjoy themselves and make a bet. You know it is not good when you hear track managers talk, in frank honesty, about the pressure to “grind it out” on a never-ending local racing circuit Year-round racing at a single racetrack also fosters sometimes insurmountable challenges, even for the best track superintendents, in maintaining consistent surfaces and meeting safety standards. It imposes severe limits on any long-hoped-for expansion of grass-course racing. In these circumstances, it is nearly impossible to name a racetrack prospering in a major city that has a full menu of other professional sports. By contrast, four upper-level tracks that have done well in recent years–Saratoga, Keeneland, Oaklawn, and Del Mar–share different characteristics. They are all located in markets with limited competition from other professional sports. Each has a defined racing season, with an enthusiastic beginning and an end that leaves fans wanting more. All, except Del Mar, have generous purse structures supported by other forms of wagering. Keeneland competes for three weeks when the forsythia is blooming in the spring, and another three when leaves are turning red, yellow, and orange in the fall. Its two racing seasons, thankfully so, are boxed in by well-established dates at other tracks on the Kentucky circuit. By contrast, Saratoga, Oaklawn, and Del Mar all must deal with pressures to extend their seasons. Creeping expansionism at successful tracks can generate needed revenue for desperate industry stakeholders, but it also raises a now-familiar question: How much racing is too much for an individual market? Hard experience at over-extended tracks around the country should strike warning gongs, even for the most successful ventures in the current market. Saratoga | Sarah Andrew Defining Development #4–Mistakes Were Made It is not difficult to conclude that many of racing's leaders failed to recognize that the competitive environment was changing and would never be the same, and to understand that the quantity of the racing product was outrunning quality. Through it all, too many racing officials, breeders' associations, and their publications appeared to believe that the sport could still prosper by rekindling past glories, ignoring unfavorable trends, and unfailingly emphasizing the positive. In so doing, they missed an important difference between marketing and public relations. The former is about designing a product that meets public interest. The latter, absent fundamental change, traffics in porcine lipstick. Of course, these conclusions are easy to reach now, and come with the benefit of hindsight. In truth, it was always going to be difficult for racing to compete with waves of expansion by competitors in other sports with stronger connections to contemporary culture. Still, there were decisions that could have been made differently. One early mistake that played out over the decades was a reluctance to push racing onto television screens, thus missing a chance to build new fans and deepen the support of existing patrons. Another mistake was the New York Racing Association's unsuccessful effort to scuttle off-track betting in the 1970s, thus ceding control of a new way of selling pari-mutuel tickets to an outside organization that had little allegiance to live racing. Then came a pair of dumb and dumber mistakes in the 1990s. One was opposition by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to legislation that would have permitted casinos in Illinois. Instead of advocating for control of casinos by racing interests, TOBA aimed to defeat casino proposals outright in this one state and establish a pattern for defeating them everywhere. The effort to bat down casinos in Illinois was successful in the short term, but a moment in history was lost. Eventually, the state approved free-standing casinos, setting off a series of twists and turns that ultimately contributed to the loss of Arlington Park. Something similar happened in California, also in the 1990s, when horsemen's organizations in the state battled a proposal by Hollywood Park co-owner and CEO R.D. Hubbard to establish a card club on racetrack property. The free-wheeling Dee Hubbard, who could have prospered in the Wild West of old, offered to dedicate a slice of card club revenue to racing purses. Horsemen were bent on defeating his entire plan. Eventually, Hubbard managed to open the club without horsemen's approval, and with scant contribution to racing. The card club then evolved into a casino. At the same time, Native American tribes were building connections in the state Capitol and gaining approval to expand their own casinos. Again, as in Illinois, an opportunity for racetracks to control their own destiny was lost. Downstream were the closures of Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields, and maybe Santa Anita. Overall, events such as these offer evidence that horse racing's leaders too often missed one of the clearest lessons from the history of life on Earth. Which is: Adapt or Die. Tomorrow: Real Estate Realities David L. Heckerman was born and raised in the rural Southwestern Indiana town of Cynthiana (population 500) and graduated from DePauw University in 1966. He now lives in retirement in Evansville, near his hometown. He occasionally ventures to the Ellis Park simulcast center, where, at 80, he may have recently passed the average age of fellow improvers of the breed there. He may be reached at davidheckerman@twc.com. The post Why We Are Where We Are, Part I: How We Got Here appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1/ST CONTENT, a provider of content for North American horse racing, has broadened its international footprint by partnering with America Simulcast, a leading LATAM distributor, the company announced Tuesday. Sportbet, a major operator in the Ecuador space, is already under contract to integrate exclusive data and signals (broadcast and video streaming) from the partnership's content package. This deal has begun with commingling bets into the US pools via Sportbet's retail outlets, before adding fixed-odds betting and online channels in the coming weeks, scaling activity which provides an immediate validation of this forward-thinking America Simulcast collaboration. Overarchingly, this strategic agreement also grants America Simulcast the rights to distribute signals from all 1/ST CONTENT-participating racetracks in the United States and Canada, alongside Latin America and South America. The collective aim is to bring the thrill and engagement of North American horse racing to a broader audience in LATAM, fostering a new era of sports entertainment in a patchwork-quilt landscape of many previously under-served racing fans. “1/ST CONTENT is delighted to establish a strategic relationship with America Simulcast to broaden the international reach of North American racing across LATAM,” said 1/ST CONTENT Senior Vice President Simon Fraser. “Thoroughbred racing already enjoys a storied heritage and strong following across countries like Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Peru, which have produced some high-class thoroughbreds, trainers and, above all, jockeys who have regularly plied their trade in the States as well.” Javier Pereira, CEO of America Simulcast added: “Our collaboration with 1/ST CONTENT marks a momentous occasion for racing enthusiasts in LATAM. We are excited to be the exclusive distributor of the signals from all racetracks in the United States and Canada, delivering top-notch content to our viewers. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide premium sports entertainment, and we look forward to a successful journey with 1/ST CONTENT.” The post 1/ST CONTENT Reaches Deal With America Simulcast, Expanding Coverage Across Latin And South America appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Northern Farm has snapped up multiple Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is reported to be in foal to the unbeaten Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline. Emily Upjohn was famously sourced by Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for just 60,000gns at the Book 2 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn won five of her 16 starts and won over £1.2 million in prize-money. Emily Upjohn's career-highlight came when winning the G1 Champions Fillies and Mares at Ascot on British Champions Day in 2022, while she was also successful at the highest level when landing the Coronation Cup at Epsom in 2023. Confirming that the six-year-old mare had been sold to the powerhouse Japanese breeding operation, part-owner Jon Shack told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, “It was always understood that I was in for Emily Upjohn's racing career. The breeding side of things is very intricate and complicated and it occupies a huge number of years ahead and I'm now officially a pensioner. My Dad is quite elderly and we just decided that the racing side was of more interest to us.” He continued, “But I had my best time ever involved with the Lloyd Webbers and Simon Marsh [Watership Down Stud]. In reality, the best partners anyone could wish for in the world and together we went on an amazing adventure throughout the world. I have a large photo of her and every day I look at her and think, 'what a magnificent, beautiful animal she was.' “I wish her new owners well. For commercial reasons, everyone was in agreement that there was an opportunity for Emily Upjohn to continue her next career in Kentucky or Japan. Everyone was in agreement on that.” Emily Upjohn was last seen finishing down the field in the Breeders' Cup Turf, after which it is understood she paid a visit to Flightline at Lane's End Stud. Confirming that news, Shack concluded, “Yes, that's what I have heard, that she is in foal to Flightline. She was covered in February.” The post Japanese Powerhouse Operation Northern Farm Snaps Up Emily Upjohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) was one of several shippers who arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning from Fair Grounds. “We thought he'd run a better race in the Louisiana Derby with the extra distance and he took the step forwarded he needed,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “He has a great mind to him. I think he ran a solid race but there is more in him.” CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's John Hancock (Constitution), who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds to trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22. He was joined by Godolphin's likely GI Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro). Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Built (Hard Spun), who finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds Monday to trainer Wayne Catalano's Barn 14. Also making the trip to Kentucky, Terry Stephens' Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), the Louisiana Derby runner-up, arrived at Turfway Park Sunday night and will complete most of his Kentucky Derby preparations at the Florence, Ky. racetrack, according to trainer Ethan West. “Between the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, I could tell in his training that he took a step forward,” said West. “Galloping him at Turfway before the Louisiana Derby, you could tell he put on weight and was more powerful in his stride. I think he probably got a little tired late in the Louisiana Derby but there's a lot of room to build off that performance in the next five weeks. As soon as I got back to the barn Saturday night, he was in the feed tub and cooling out great. This being my first starter in the Kentucky Derby, I've read a lot of interviews from people like Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, who have had success in the Derby. They all seem to have the same idea of keeping routines the same leading up to the Derby. So, we're going to try our best to do just that.” Chunk of Gold would mark Stephens' second starter in the Kentucky Derby. He previously co-owned O Besos (Orb), who finished fourth in Kentucky Derby 147. “This is actually my first horse for Terry,” West said. “He had horses with my brother, Aaron West, and that's how the connection between us was made. Terry owns a steel company in Russell Springs, Ky. It's a really small town but my brother and I spent several years there at a training center.” Chunk of Gold is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 26, just prior to the 11 a.m. deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders must be on the grounds. The post Fair Grounds Shippers, Led By Tiztastic And Good Cheer, Arrive in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars FOREVER FOLKS - R6 (5) Proven dirt galloper looks well placed to deliver the goods Jay Rooney CHILL KAKA - R3 (5) Stormed home for second last start and looks suited up in trip Trackwork Spy LUCKY TOUCH - R8 (14) Gets his chance for a breakthrough win off a light weight Phillip Woo CHEER FOR SOUTH - R4 (10) Can go one better after seconds in two of his past three C&D runs Shannon (Vincent Wong) MONTA FRUTTA - R7 (1) Drops into Class Four and looks ready to produce his best tonight Racing Post Online SOLID SHALAA - R5 (2) Looks to have trialled well for this run and can go well fresh Tom Wood RISING FORCE - R7 (3) Has trialed well for his debut and looks to get a sweet run from the gateView the full article

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is expanding its equine anti-doping programme to include testing for evidence of gene doping, following extensive research into detection methods. In a significant move to protect the integrity of British racing and the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses, the testing will be incorporated immediately into the BHA's routine raceday and out of competition sampling processes. Gene doping includes the use of genetic or cellular manipulation of the horse's DNA, either directly via gene editing techniques or by the addition of genetic material into the cell by gene transfer, in an attempt to enhance athletic performance or aid recovery following exercise. Prohibited under the Rules of Racing, gene doping is widely recognised across international jurisdictions as an emerging risk to racehorse welfare, the fairness of competition on the racecourse and the future of the thoroughbred breed. To combat this evolving threat, the BHA has invested nearly £2 million into ground-breaking scientific research at the LGC laboratory in Fordham to improve the detection and monitoring of gene doping. Following the establishment of a specialist team at LGC in 2019 and with BHA support and input from Centre for Racehorse Studies, researchers at LGC have developed and refined the technological capabilities to identify where gene doping may have occurred. The BHA's Acting Chief Executive Officer, Brant Dunshea, said, “Testing for gene doping is a significant step forward for British racing and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of our horses, protecting the thoroughbred breed and integrity of our competition. “While there are international examples of the use of genetic manipulation in other equestrian activities, there is no evidence to suggest that this is taking place in Britain or across any other international racing jurisdictions. However, scientific and technological advancements mean that genetic manipulation poses a very real risk to horseracing and the essence of the thoroughbred breed. “It's essential that we are proactive in this space, and through investing in this cutting-edge research we now have the technological capabilities to detect and deter any attempts to exploit nefarious techniques that could give horses an unfair advantage. “We will continue to work with the LGC laboratory, our international partners through the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and the wider scientific community to expand our knowledge and analytical capabilities and stay ahead of any new integrity and welfare threats.” The post New Gene Testing To Enhance BHA Anti-Doping Programme appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ciaron Maher admits his eyes will be firmly fixed on the sectionals during Saturday’s Group One Australian Cup when Craig Newitt will again be out to secure victory aboard Trelawney Stud bred Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). A clash with fellow front-runner Deny Knowledge sets up for a genuinely run 2000-metre contest as Maher’s mare seeks redemption after finishing second to Cascadian in the same race last year. “They have a similar running style, but Jenni does seem that little more tractable and with each prep she’s got that little bit softer, if you could say that about her,” Maher said of racing against Deny Knowledge. “Tactically it will be interesting again. “It’s often underrated how tough it is to get them fractions spot on. “I thought Froggy (Newitt) did it perfectly the other day and Dec (Bates) he just did it time and time again. “Half a second is a lot and getting those even, smooth sectionals and first half right and unleashing her is underrated, it takes a bit of doing.” While much of Maher’s attention might be focused on the front of the field, he has the horses on the second and third line of betting as well, including imported galloper Middle Earth, who won the Australian Cup Prelude at his Aussie debut. Maher said the work of the dual UK Stakes winner on Monday suggests he has remained sharp enough for the 2000m second-up. “He has only improved after a long time off,” Maher said. “I think the horse is furnishing, he was quite young and immature when he came over. “He will need to be at his best with a stronger field.” Light Infantry Man might be the stable’s third-best chance according to the market, but Maher says the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes winner shouldn’t be taken lightly. “I have been rapt with him all prep, I was rapt with him going into the All-Star Mile and I loved the way he’s come out of it and I know he loves Flemington,” he said. Maher will also saddle up Berkshire Breeze in the Roy Higgins, while Duke de Sessa heads to Sydney for his target race of the campaign, the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes. View the full article

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Britney Wong celebrates victory atop Natural High with David Hall. Photo: HKJC Apprentice Britney Wong is relishing the competition riding in Hong Kong and the season’s leading jockey on Sha Tin’s dirt course is aiming to extend her buffer with eight rides at tomorrow night’s (Wednesday, March 26) nine-race all-dirt programme. Indentured to trainer David Hall, Wong has an unmatched seven wins on the dirt this term ahead of Luke Ferraris (five wins), Matthew Chadwick (four) and Vincent Ho (four). The 25-year-old is the first female apprentice to ride in Hong Kong since Kei Chiong. Wong is a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School. After completing overseas training in Australia and New Zealand, she returned to Hong Kong, where she has ridden 12 winners from 135 rides in the city’s intense racing cauldron. “As a 10-pound claimer, I am very happy with the results that I have so far and all of the opportunities I have been given – I really appreciate it,” Wong said. The affable Wong partners four last-start winners at Sha Tin: Patch Of Watch, Shanghai Style, Natural High and Ariel. Hong Kong racing is a steep learning curve for young jockeys, but Wong feels it sparks motivation and continually pushes her to new highs. “In Hong Kong if you give an inch, they will take an inch. One decision can ruin your race, so it’s a big step up,” Wong said. “Working in a high-pressure environment will hopefully develop me faster. The main thing is to not try and take on too much pressure but see it as a learning process.” Natural High was a first win for Wong in tandem with Hall. The duo teams up with the Power gelding in the second section of the Class 4 Kestrel Handicap (1200m). “I won’t say it was surprising but it was a breakthrough for him. It was his first win on the dirt and it was the first win for me with my boss. It means a lot and hopefully we’ll keep the ball rolling tomorrow night,” Wong said. “It’s really special.” Natural High goes from barrier 11 of 12 in the sprint contest worth HK$1.17 million. “He pulled up really well. He’s feeling nice and fresh now. I galloped him the other day. He’s sort of a horse who knows what to do and he knows how much he needs to put in, so he’s a smart horse and he won’t put any extra into it unless you make him. “I think that’s how he stays fresh. Last time when he won, the morning before when I rode him, he actually had a little bit of attitude in him and I can feel it again this time. I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Wong said. With her 10lb claim in use, Natural High carries 124lb, while Ariel is expected to carry a featherweight 109lb from gate seven under Wong for trainer David Hayes. “He (Ariel) goes for the same speed for a long period of time, so again, we will try to jump and be positive and see where we land. Also, it’s not necessary that he needs to lead. He can be lovely sitting off the leader or anywhere close to the lead. He’s a pretty genuine horse to ride,” Wong said. Wong also pairs with Speedy Fortune, Flying Silver, Fun N Glory and Sing Dragon. Horse racing news View the full article

Dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) will shuttle to Arrowfield Stud in Australia from Cheveley Park Stud in England later this year. Arrowfield's Chairman John Messara said, “He's a great-looking, unbeaten Champion two-year-old by a brilliant young stallion [Havana Grey (GB)]-that all makes Vandeek an attractive prospect for us, especially in light of the Australian market's enthusiasm for stallions like Too Darn (GB) Hot and Wootton Bassett (GB), with top-class European two-year-old sprint form.” Vandeek has been described by his jockey James Doyle as “a pure ball of speed”. A graduate from the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, he was sourced by KHK Racing, for whom he went unbeaten as a juvenile with wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes. He was trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. The post Dual Group 1 Winner Vandeek Will Shuttle To Arrowfield Stud This Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cambridge Raceway is welcoming a return to Thursday racing, saying it’s “excited” about the move. Last week the Entain and Harness Racing New Zealand management teams were involved in a strategy and review meeting in Auckland, with the “Look North” strategy a key part of their discussions. The strategy was launched as part of the “Future Starts Now” last year and is focused on reinvigorating racing in the north, particularly at Cambridge and Alexandra Park. Entain’s own wagering figures show that punters across the country are supporting Look North. Nationally, wagering is up 6% and active punters are up 17%. Last week’s review agreed that a move from Tuesday to Thursday racing was the best thing for Cambridge. The first of the Thursday meetings will be on May 15. That change has been ratified by the TAB NZ Dates Committee. “All parties are looking at ways to improve and while the review showed that Tuesdays at Cambridge have been a qualified success and achieved a lot of objectives it was decided that Thursday is a better fit,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele. “It is a better time slot for the club, licence-holders generally, for Entain and Trackside as well as for punters here and in Australia through Sky 2. The export turnover on Cambridge Tuesdays has been excellent and can grow further” It’s also envisaged that the Thursday coverage on Trackside will promote Friday Night Lights too. “We are confident racing at Cambridge on a Thursday won’t compromise Friday racing at Alexandra Park,” says Steele, “in fact they will complement each other.” “We’re fully supportive of the move from Tuesday to Thursday for the WBOP (Waikato – Bay of Plenty) meetings,” says Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive Dave Branch, “especially from a catering and sponsorship perspective it makes a lot of sense.” “We are genuinely excited about the shift and where things are headed. Tuesday racing has been a success, but this move will further enhance that.” The Raceway has a massive week or so ahead of it. It hosts Waikato Flying Miles night this Friday featuring the likes of Merlin and Oscar Bonavena ahead of its Night of Champions on Friday, April 4 when the best of Australasia’s pacing and trotting talent will battle it out in the $1m Race by betcha and the $600,000 TAB Trot. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Harness racing history will be made just after 5.18pm at Ashburton Raceway on Wednesday. That’s when the dual gaited veteran Take After Me will line up in his 400th start in the Matt Smith Construction Trot. He’ll be the first standardbred ever in this country to reach that mark. “When you think that he started as a three-year-old in Invercargill and he’s still going as a 14-year-old,” says Kaiapoi-based trainer Fred Scott, “he’s been a great horse to us.” He bred and races the horse with his wife Jan. Take After Me’s first race was a second at Ascot Park in March 2024. The son of Holmes Hanover has had 124 starts as pacer for four wins and 17 wins and 275 starts as a trotter, earning just over $300,000. Alexy with 347 starts and Danke with 300 are the only standardbreds in this country to have gone anywhere near Take After Me’s record. His durability and longevity have been incredible though Scott believes the end of his racing days is not far away, and potentially Wednesday could be his last race. “He’s as sound as a bell and working good but in his last two races he’s dropped the bit and not picked up like he used to.” “Age catches up with us all and maybe it is with him too.” “I’ve always said he’ll tell us when he’s had enough.” Along the way there have been many highlights and some very sad moments too. Fred took over the training of Take After Me as his son and regular trainer Glenn battled cancer. He died in 2021. A week later Take After Me won at Methven. At the time Fred and Jan described it as “so special”. As a pacer Take After Me was good enough to compete in the 4YO Emerald at the 2015 Harness Jewels and was second to Johnny Eyre in the 2016 Reefton Cup while as a trotter Fred Scott is particularly proud that his horse finished second to one of the very best in Oscar Bonavena at Ashburton in 2019. “He was not one of the top-liners but he should get a medal for consistency,” says Scott. Now in their 70s, the Scotts have already some enquiries about Take After Me’s life in retirement. “We will give him to a good home and he can go trekking and the like,” says Fred, “when that time comes we will miss him.” To see the field for Take After Me’s 400th start click here View the full article

With seven wins at an impressive strike rate of 17.5 per cent, apprentice bids to continue her affinity with all-weather track at midweek meeting.View the full article

Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill took centre stage in Sydney, while Moonee Valley’s William Reid Stakes Day also featured last Saturday. With a heavy on-speed bias witnessed at both tracks, we have focused on runners that performed well in the inferior parts of the track and will appreciate more even conditions next start. You can add these horses to a blackbook with your chosen online bookmaker and receive notifications before they run. Moonee Valley Track rating: Good 4 (down to Soft 6 after R6) Rail position: True entire circuit Race 3: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:12.16 Horse to follow: Pivot City (2nd) Since being gelded in between preparations, Pivot City has returned as a proper racehorse for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stable, recording a win and a runner-up finish in two starts. The son of Not A Single Doubt was one of very few horses that run on from the back of the field and down the middle of the track to figure in the finish. Even though he wasn’t able to win, Pivot City rattled off the fastest last 800m (46.52s), 600m (35.00s), 400m (23.65s), and 200m (11.93s) sections of the entire meeting. When to bet: If Pivot City maintains his form, Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr can enter him in a similar grade of race on a bigger track, and he will prove extremely hard to beat next start. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Moonee-Valley-Race-3-BM78-Handicap-22032025-Elouyou-Scott-Cameron-Fred-Kersley.mp4 Rosehill Track rating: Good 4 Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 3: Group 3 N E Manion Cup (2400m) | Time: 2:28.64 Horse to follow: Cleveland (4th) Cleveland returned from a 24-week spell to kick off his Sydney Cup campaign, and the Kris Lees-trained gelding couldn’t have been more impressive. The son of Camelot weaved his way through the pack, and once he got into clear air, he ran through the line as strong as any of his rivals to finish fourth. After being in Australia for two years, it seems as though Cleveland has acclimatised to Aussie conditions and is ready to show his best this time in. When to bet: It is expected that Cleveland will go straight to the Group 1 Sydney Cup second-up after such a strong performance. Top horse racing bookmakers have him marked as a +5000 chance in the 3200m classic. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rosehill-2025-Group-3-N-E-Manion-Cup-22032025-Alalcance-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-Tim-Clark.mp4 Race 6: Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) | Time: 2:03.25 Horse to follow: Plymouth (4th) Plymouth backed up his strong performance in the Group 1 Australian Guineas with an unlucky fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas last Saturday. The Glen Thompson-trained gelding raced over 2000m for the first in the Rosehill Guineas, and after being held up behind the slowing leaders, he was very strong through the line. The son of The Autumn Sun ran straight past the top three before pulling away from them quickly 100m past the winning post, indicating that a rise in trip will suit. When to bet: Plymouth is expected to be a major player in the Australian Derby at Randwick on April 5, and at +1000 with Dabble, he looks like a great each-way bet in the 2400m contest. https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rosehill-2025-Group-1-Rosehill-Guineas-22032025-Broadsiding-James-Cummings-James-McDonald.mp4 Top horse racing sites for blackbook features Horse racing tips View the full article

Mervyn, Super Maxi and Ocean’s Fifteen. Photo: Supplied Racegoers at Grandstand Cup Day at Ascot enjoyed a special celebration of retired racehorses, with Racing WA’s Off the Track WA program taking centre stage. In collaboration with Perth Racing, the event showcased the versatility and achievements of retired racehorses, highlighting their transition into new careers beyond the track. Attendees had the opportunity to meet former racehorses, learn about their post-racing journeys and take part in a range of family-friendly activities. Racing WA Animal Welfare Operations Manager Kay Fuller said the event was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the success of retired racehorses and the impact of Racing WA’s rehoming initiatives. “Off the Track WA is dedicated to ensuring racehorses have fulfilling lives beyond racing, and it was wonderful to partner with Perth Racing to celebrate them at Grandstand Cup Day,” Kay said. “Seeing the public engage so enthusiastically with the horses was fantastic. Many people don’t often get the chance to interact with horses up close, and this event provided a unique opportunity to appreciate their adaptability and gentle nature.” Perth Racing CEO, James Oldring, said the event reinforced the club’s commitment to equine welfare and promoting life after racing. “We were proud to dedicate Grandstand Cup Day to celebrating the incredible lives of retired racehorses and the important role Off the Track WA plays in their transition to new careers,” James said. “It was great to see the wider community embrace the opportunity to learn more about equine welfare beyond the track.” The Off the Track WA team was on hand throughout the day, providing insights into their rehoming programs and connecting with attendees keen to learn more about the next chapter for these remarkable horses. Horse racing news View the full article

Group One winner Aegon has been retired. Photo: Trish Dunell Group One winner Aegon took trainer and part-owner Andrew Forsman on a whirlwind ride over the last five years, but that journey has come to an end with the announcement of his retirement on Tuesday. “It has been an awesome journey, and he has given us a lot of thrills,” Forsman said. “We felt that he got to that point that he was holding his own in good company but just lacked that dash that he used to have. “We felt that we were running out of suitable options for him, and it was nice to see him perform in his last race (third in the Group 2 Japan Trophy, 1600m) as well as he did and be able to be retired a sound and happy horse.” Bred by Waikato Stud, the son of their ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls was offered through their 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Forsman for $150,000. The Zame Partnership had tasted success with Forsman when racing Group One winner Jon Snow, and they were quick to join the Cambridge trainer in the ownership of Aegon, who carried their silks throughout his 33-race career. Aegon made the perfect start to his career when winning on debut over 1300m at Taupo as a three-year-old, which commenced a five-race winning sequence, including the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), and Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m). While he would only go on to add the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) to his record, he would add a number of high-profile placings to his name, including the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m). His talent was also recognised on the international stage, attracting an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to compete in the 2023 edition of the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin, where he finished fifth behind Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty. “That (Hong Kong) was amazing,” Forsman said. “His form had been a little bit mixed before going over and we knew Golden Sixty was going to be in the race, but Greg Carpenter from the Hong Kong Jockey Club was strong in convincing us to take him up and have a go. “I am glad we did now because it was such a great experience, the owners had a great time, and he was able to run a very credible race at the same time. It was a brilliant experience for myself and the owners. It is awesome when a horse like that can take you on that sort of journey.” Forsman said Aegon’s golden run as a three-year-old was also a massive thrill, particularly his victory in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. “Winning the Karaka Million was a big highlight,” he said. “We had bought him at the Karaka sales a couple of years beforehand knowing that you could go there with a strong chance of winning a $1 million race. “We had a good horse in Amarelinha to beat on the night and it was a little bit of a match race, and to see them pair off and for us to get the bob in on the line was a huge thrill. I think that was the most special moment, although there were a lot of them. “To see the way he won first-up in Sydney in the Hobartville was also a massive thrill.” Aegon will now retire to former strapper Hanna Orting’s property in Pukekohe where Forsman said he will be well taken care of. “Hanna Orting, who spent three or four years looking after him and also went to Hong Kong with him, will take care of him,” Forsman said. “She is now training in her own right and she has got a bit of land up there (in Pukekohe), so she is able to take care of him.” Aegon won six and placed in five of his 33 career starts and accrued more than $2 million in prizemoney. Horse racing news View the full article

Ken Kelso joined Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate to discuss how Alabama Lass is tracking ahead of heading across the Tasman to race at Flemington on Saturday. The exciting Alabama Lass will be at Flemington on Saturday – Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate – Omny.fm View the full article

There’s growing frustration within the thoroughbred racing industry surrounding the sport’s infrastructure, with the abandonment of Taupo’s trials on Tuesday the latest in a long series of raceday and trial cancellations. It comes just two days after the abandonment of Tauherenikau’s Sunday race meeting following a slip in the opening race of the card, adding to the growing track woes in the Central Districts, with both Hastings and Awapuni currently out of commission due to track renovations. “I think we are starting to get to a point where we have got a bit of a crisis with our infrastructure,” New Zealand Trainers’ Association President Shaun Clotworthy said. “The Central Districts have been under pressure for quite a while now, so we feel for them. In the northern area, with Ellerslie and Te Aroha coming back on board it has been a big relief to trainers up this way, but we still need to address these problems properly. “We probably need to look at a complete review of our processes and get someone in to have a different look at it from a different angle because it’s not working at the moment. “The cost is huge to the industry and especially to the owners, who are getting really sick of it, and trainers, who have to reorganise staff and pay different people and juggle things around, so it comes at a personal cost to them as well. “Owners are frustrated. It is not cheap to race horses and they aren’t looking to have any extra costs added on. “On the bright side, I think Ellerslie are going to take two trial dates next week on Tuesday and Thursday, so that is some relief, but that doesn’t alter the fact that horses have been carted to Taupo today for no result.” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief operating officer Darin Balcombe said the latest string of abandonments is frustrating for the industry, with a number of provincial tracks feeling the pressure of extra racedays, with a number of metropolitan tracks currently out of commission while renovations are taking place. “We completely feel for the industry stakeholders that have been to these meetings that have been called off,” Balcombe said. “It is a terrible situation, and it is a big drain on the industry. “The tracks are struggling with the weight of racing on them at the moment and that is causing issues. “It is putting pressure on a number of our provincial tracks that generally are set-up to run three to four racedays a season and are being asked now to run seven or eight, and the stress is showing on those tracks. “We need to ensure that we are getting these tracks up to speed as early as possible to make sure it doesn’t carry on. “It makes it very difficult to be an owner when these things are happening, so we have got to get it right and we are working hard to get it right.” Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North is currently one of those metropolitan tracks undergoing renovations but is set to resume racing on their turf track next month. “It is very important that we get Awapuni back on speed, which is scheduled for the 25th of April, so I am looking forward to that,” Balcombe said. “We won’t be pushing Awapuni, so it will probably only run two or three meetings before we put it aside for winter and get it back because it is going to be an important venue next spring.” With Hastings racecourse also out of commission, and Trentham set to undergo renovations in the near future, Balcombe said New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have partnered with several provincial clubs to ensure they have the means to handle additional race meetings year-round. “We are making sure every track undergoes a full renovation period,” Balcombe said. “Knowing that Hastings and Trentham were going to be out in the short-term, we did put irrigation in at Waverley and Hawera to ensure those tracks can be used because previously without the irrigation they were only available through the winter months. “We are also looking at the possibility of having an irrigation system at Woodville just to allow that track to cover off as well because we are going to have Hastings out for a little period and on the back of that a decision has got to be made on Trentham and what needs to be done there with the track and facilities.” Balcombe said meeting abandonments will always be a part of racing due to severe weather, particularly over the winter months, but acknowledged the number of abandonments of late is unacceptable. “We are always going to have weather abandonments, there is no way you can get around the extreme weather, but we need to stop these track abandonments when the weather has been like it has been. The tracks need to be in a fit state,” he said. View the full article

Group One winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) took trainer and part-owner Andrew Forsman on a whirlwind ride over the last five years, but that journey has come to an end with the announcement of his retirement on Tuesday. “It has been an awesome journey and he has given us a lot of thrills,” Forsman said. “We felt that he got to that point that he was holding his own in good company but just lacked that dash that he used to have. “We felt that we were running out of suitable options for him, and it was nice to see him perform in his last race (third in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy, 1600m) as well as he did and be able to be retired a sound and happy horse.” Bred by Waikato Stud, the son of their ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls was offered through their 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Forsman for $150,000. The Zame Partnership had tasted success with Forsman when racing Group One winner Jon Snow, and they were quick to join the Cambridge trainer in the ownership of Aegon, who carried their silks throughout his 33-race career. Aegon made the perfect start to his career when winning on debut over 1300m at Taupo as a three-year-old, which commenced a five-race winning sequence, including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m). While he would only go on to add the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) to his record, he would add a number of high-profile placings to his name, including the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m). His talent was also recognised on the international stage, attracting an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to compete in the 2023 edition of the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin, where he finished fifth behind Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty. “That (Hong Kong) was amazing,” Forsman said. “His form had been a little bit mixed before going over and we knew Golden Sixty was going to be in the race, but Greg Carpenter from the Hong Kong Jockey Club was strong in convincing us to take him up and have a go. “I am glad we did now because it was such a great experience, the owners had a great time, and he was able to run a very credible race at the same time. It was a brilliant experience for myself and the owners. It is awesome when a horse like that can take you on that sort of journey.” Forsman said Aegon’s golden run as a three-year-old was also a massive thrill, particularly his victory in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. “Winning the Karaka Million was a big highlight,” he said. “We had bought him at the Karaka sales a couple of years beforehand knowing that you could go there with a strong chance of winning a $1 million race. “We had a good horse in Amarelinha to beat on the night and it was a little bit of a match race, and to see them pair off and for us to get the bob in on the line was a huge thrill. I think that was the most special moment, although there were a lot of them. “To see the way he won first-up in Sydney in the Hobartville was also a massive thrill.” Aegon will now retire to former strapper Hanna Orting’s property in Pukekohe where Forsman said he will be well taken care of. “Hanna Orting, who spent three or four years looking after him and also went to Hong Kong with him, will take care of him,” Forsman said. “She is now training in her own right and she has got a bit of land up there (in Pukekohe), so she is able to take care of him.” Aegon won six and placed in five of his 33 career starts and accrued more than $2 million in prizemoney. View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Wednesday, March 26, 2025 First Race 6:45pm HKT (9:45pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin for back-to-back meetings, with the all-weather circuit set to host a stacked nine-part program under lights on Wednesday evening. The rail is in the true position, and with pristine conditions forecast on Monday and Tuesday, it should be a terrific night of racing for all participants. All the action is scheduled to get underway at 6:45pm HKT. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Meepmeep The John Size-trained Meepmeep is winless heading into start 12 but appears to get the ideal setup for success dropping back into Class 5 company for the first time. The son of Not A Single Doubt was savaging the line last start despite being crowded for room when trying to chase down Shanghai Style on March 2. An extra 150m to pick-up his rivals should suit, and with barrier five allowing Andrea Atzeni to slot in the one-one throughout, Meepmeep won’t get a better opportunity to shirk the maiden tag. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Meepmeep (5) 5yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Andrea Atzeni (61kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: Hinokami Kagura Hinokami Kagura is another well-placed galloper in Class 5 company after performing consistently in Class 4. The Deep Field gelding has had excuses in his last couple of starts; however, he appears primed to bounce back as Harry Bentley gets legged aboard from barrier two. He only needs to stay out of trouble turning for home, and Hinokami Kagura should be this classy for this lot, justifying the short price with BlondeBet. Best Bet Race 4 – #2 Hinokami Kagura (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris So | J: Harry Bentley (61kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: Von Baer Von Baer finally showed something last start at Happy Valley on March 12, hitting the line well behind Tactical Command on March 12. The son of No Nay Never was doing his best work late after settling towards the rear of the field, suggesting that a step-up to the 1650m should be ideal. It’s only his second attempt in Class 4 company, and although he must lug 60kg to victory in his first run on the all-weather surface, Von Baer should get his chance at a juicy each-way price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Von Baer (5) 4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Ben Thompson (60kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections March 26, 2025 2-3-7-9-10 1-2-3-5-6-10 4-7-10-12-13-14 1-5-10 Horse racing tips View the full article

What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, March 26, 2025 First Race 2:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing will return to Sandown for another mid-week meeting on Wednesday afternoon, when the Melbourne Racing Club hosts a competitive eight-race card. Although the track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, with no rain forecast in the lead-up, a perfect Good 4 surface is expected throughout the day. The rail will be in its true position for the entire circuit, with racing scheduled to kick off at 2:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Sandown: King Zephyr King Zephyr stepped up into metropolitan company for the first time on March 5, and he handled it with ease, claiming a dominant 2.3-length victory. The Grahame Begg-trained gelding has won both starts this preparation, proving too strong for his rivals in both victories over 1200m and 1300m, respectively. If Jordan Childs can settle worse than midfield off the fence, King Zephyr should have no worries in defeating his rivals once again. Best Bet Race 8 – #5 King Zephyr (5) 4yo Gelding | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (61kg) Next Best at Sandown: Stage ‘N’ Screen Stage ‘N’ Screen received very little luck at Moonee Valley first-up, when the Mark Walker-trained filly was held up behind runners in the straight before flashing home to finish third. The daughter of Ace High was clearly the best horse in the race, and with more luck, she would have won. Stage ‘N’ Screen has the best form in this contest, and if Logan Bates can keep her out of trouble, she will bounce back with a deserving victory. Next Best Race 6 – #1 Stage ‘N’ Screen (5) 3yo Filly | T: Mark Walker | J: Logan Bates (a3) (61.5kg) Best Value at Sandown: Donebravo Chief Stipe Harrison and Craig Williams will combine with Donebravo for the second straight start when the two-year-old gelding returns to the Sandown 1000m. On debut, the son of Strasbourg settled outside the leader and did a lot wrong during the run before being run over late to finish in fifth place. With that experience under his belt, Donebravo can make the best use of his ace barrier and attempt to lead throughout at a massive price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 1 – #4 Donebravo (1) 2yo Gelding | T: Chief Stipe Harrison | J: Craig Williams (58kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown Sandown quadrella selections Wednesday, March 25, 2025 1-2-5-7 1-5-6 1-2-3-6-7-10-13-14 5-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

What Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Wednesday, March 26, 2025 First Race 1:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Randwick on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program lined up on the Kensington circuit. The rail moves out +4m the entire way around, with light rainfall forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to be no worse than a Soft 5 on race-day morning. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 1:45pm local time. Best Bet at Kensington: Grand Prairie Grand Prairie produced a slashing effort on debut at this course on March 13 and should appreciate the extra 100m to chase down his rivals. He finished off best of the beaten brigade on that occasion and easily could’ve won with more luck, held up for a run when trying to navigate the rails run under Tyler Schiller. The pair draw barrier six to hold a spot near the one-one this time around, and provided the breaks fall his way, Grand Prairie should be fighting out the finish at a good price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Bet Race 1 – #2 Grand Prairie (6) 2yo Colt | T: Peter Snowden | J: Tyler Schiller (57.5kg) Next Best at Kensington: Campaldino Campaldino was always going to find the 1400m too sharp at Randwick on March 13; however, the son of Ghibellines outran market expectations to finish second behind Mawjood. Stepping out to 1800m second-up should be a massive bonus for the lightly raced four-year-old, and with Tim Clark hopping back aboard, punters can expect a positive steer from gate two. He’ll be leading them a long way out, and provided he can tick over a soft sectional in the middle stages, they’ll have a hard time reeling in Campaldino. Next Best Race 4 – #6 Campaldino (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (56.5kg) Best Value at Kensington: Althoff Althoff returns after a 21-week spell and appears to be flying heading into this first-up assignment after undergoing a gelding operation in his time away from racing. The son of Written Tycoon caught the eye in his lone barrier trial at Warwick Farm on March 3, surging through the wire under minor urging by Tommy Berry. It’s James McDonald booking the ride under race-day conditions, and with the three-year-old set to get every chance from stall two, expect Althoff to be right in this at a good price with Dabble. Best Value Race 6 – #6 Althoff (2) 3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (58kg) Wednesday quaddie tips for Kensington Kensington quadrella selections March 26, 2025 2-4-6-7-8 2-4-6-8 3-5-6-7-10 1-4-6-7-8-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip (Quaddie Link from Boombet needed^) Horse racing tips View the full article

Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) There’s growing frustration within the thoroughbred racing industry surrounding the sport’s infrastructure, with the abandonment of Taupo’s trials on Tuesday the latest in a long series of raceday and trial cancellations. It comes just two days after the abandonment of Tauherenikau’s Sunday race meeting following a slip in the opening race of the card, adding to the growing track woes in the Central Districts, with both Hastings and Awapuni currently out of commission due to track renovations. “I think we are starting to get to a point where we have got a bit of a crisis with our infrastructure,” New Zealand Trainers’ Association President Shaun Clotworthy said. “The Central Districts have been under pressure for quite a while now, so we feel for them. In the northern area, with Ellerslie and Te Aroha coming back on board, it has been a big relief to trainers up this way, but we still need to address these problems properly. “We probably need to look at a complete review of our processes and get someone in to have a different look at it from a different angle because it’s not working at the moment. “The cost is huge to the industry and especially to the owners, who are getting really sick of it, and trainers, who have to reorganise staff and pay different people and juggle things around, so it comes at a personal cost to them as well. “Owners are frustrated. It is not cheap to race horses, and they aren’t looking for any extra costs added on. “On the bright side, I think Ellerslie are going to take two trial dates next week on Tuesday and Thursday, so that is some relief, but that doesn’t alter the fact that horses have been carted to Taupo today for no result.” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief operating officer Darin Balcombe said the latest string of abandonments is frustrating for the industry, with a number of provincial tracks feeling the pressure of extra racedays, with a number of metropolitan tracks currently out of commission while renovations are taking place. “We completely feel for the industry stakeholders that have been to these meetings that have been called off,” Balcombe said. “It is a terrible situation, and it is a big drain on the industry. “The tracks are struggling with the weight of racing on them at the moment and that is causing issues. “It is putting pressure on a number of our provincial tracks that generally are set-up to run three to four racedays a season and are being asked now to run seven or eight, and the stress is showing on those tracks. “We need to ensure that we are getting these tracks up to speed as early as possible to make sure it doesn’t carry on. “It makes it very difficult to be an owner when these things are happening, so we have got to get it right and we are working hard to get it right.” Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North is currently one of those metropolitan tracks undergoing renovations but is set to resume racing on their turf track next month. “It is very important that we get Awapuni back on speed, which is scheduled for the 25th of April, so I am looking forward to that,” Balcombe said. “We won’t be pushing Awapuni, so it will probably only run two or three meetings before we put it aside for winter and get it back because it is going to be an important venue next spring.” With Hastings racecourse also out of commission, and Trentham set to undergo renovations in the near future, Balcombe said New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have partnered with several provincial clubs to ensure they have the means to handle additional race meetings year-round. “We are making sure every track undergoes a full renovation period,” Balcombe said. “Knowing that Hastings and Trentham were going to be out in the short-term, we did put irrigation in at Waverley and Hawera to ensure those tracks can be used because previously without the irrigation they were only available through the winter months. “We are also looking at the possibility of having an irrigation system at Woodville just to allow that track to cover off as well because we are going to have Hastings out for a little period and on the back of that a decision has got to be made on Trentham and what needs to be done there with the track and facilities.” Balcombe said meeting abandonments will always be a part of racing due to severe weather, particularly over the winter months, but acknowledged the number of abandonments of late is unacceptable. “We are always going to have weather abandonments, there is no way you can get around the extreme weather, but we need to stop these track abandonments when the weather has been like it has been. The tracks need to be in a fit state,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Group Two-winning mare Marotiri Molly. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group Two-winning mare Marotiri Molly was in full flight at the Foxton trials on Tuesday as she readies for further black-type assignments. From the early stages of her career, Marotiri Molly gained a reputation for running her rivals off their feet at the trials, and this occasion was no different. Lining up over 850m, she jumped on even terms but swiftly broke the line to lead, continuing to extend that margin as she cruised to the line to win the heat by seven lengths with her regular rider Kate Hercock in the saddle. The trial was the Per Incanto mare’s first appearance since finishing a close-up fifth in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January, which rounded off a stellar campaign where she won four races. That haul included the Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), which followed a serious showing to place behind La Crique in the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). “She was pretty fresh today, and that’s the way she trials; she just likes to jump and get on with it,” her trainer Matt Dixon said. “Kate was really happy; she thought she felt tremendous, and she would benefit from today, which is why we were there. She’s looking forward to getting back on her raceday. “She had a month off after the Thorndon and had a good freshen-up; she packed in plenty of condition. I was pleased with her; it was just to bring her on for the listed race at Otaki on the 12th of April; that’s where we’ll kick off.” Marotiri Molly struck consecutive Good4 surfaces throughout her summer campaign, but Dixon isn’t concerned about the likelihood of a softer track at Otaki or later at Arawa Park, where she will likely start in the Group 3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) on May 10. “She probably prefers the sting out of the track; she has won on a really heavy track, but I won’t be running her over the winter on bottomless tracks,” he said. “After Otaki, she’ll most likely go up to Rotorua for Group Three a month later, those are our targets at this stage. We’ll reassess from there, but she’ll have a break when the tracks get really wet and go again in the spring.” Horse racing news View the full article

Vegas Queen winning the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham last Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Family runs deep and fast for Northland couple Dirk and Nicci Oberholster, who are enjoying a magical run with their small broodmare band. The Totara Park Stud principals are breeding from three closely related mares from the family of superstar Winx, with half-sisters Miss Vegas and Miss Bluebell combining at the weekend for a memorable winning double. Carlton House’s unraced daughter Miss Vega was firstly to the fore at Trentham as the dam of Vegas Queen, who produced a tenacious performance to land the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Trained by Kenny Rae, the Proisir three-year-old made all the running under rider Wiremu Pinn and was gallant in the run home to keep her rivals at bay. Miss Bluebell’s son Gringotts chimed in later when the Ciaron Maher representative took his earnings beyond A$3.6 million with victory in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. It was a maiden top-flight victory for the son of Per Incanto, who was sold through Archer Park’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 Book 1 Yearling Sale to Kasa Bloodstock for $100,000. He was then reoffered through Kilmore Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft later that year but failed to meet his $450,000 reserve, but was subsequently sold privately after winning a trial at Waipa for Simon and Katrina Alexander. Vegas Queen was retained and is raced with good friends Matt and Mandy Brown under their Ngapuke Racing banner and The Magpies, numbering Nicci Oberholster’s son Kurt Benney and mates. “Mandy used to train for my dad many, many years ago, and they had a great relationship,” she said. “Vegas Queen races in her colours, and they came up for the weekend, and it was fabulous. It was Mandy who suggested she run in the Guineas, it hadn’t been on anybody else’s radar, to be fair. “Kurt is my youngest son and plays for the Kamo Rugby Club, The Magpies, and they had a little betting syndicate, and he’s involved with five of his mates. “They just wanted to have a bit of fun and drink a bit of beer, they’re very good at both those things.” Vegas Queen has now won twice from nine appearances, but it hasn’t been all plain sailing. “Kenny and her strapper who rides her, Sera-Lee Knight, have done a fabulous job with her because she’s not an easy filly and quite tough,” Oberholster said. Vegas Queen is the first foal of Miss Vegas, with the second a Proisir gelding who sold for $160,000 to Riversley Park through the Highline Thoroughbreds draft at Karaka. He subsequently made $650,000 when reoffered at the Ready to Run Sale, and the dam also has a yearling colt by Proisir and is in foal to Noverre. Gringotts’ dam Miss Bluebell, an unraced daughter of Savabeel, has a colt at foot by Satono Aladdin, who is likely to be sold at Karaka. “We sent her all the way down to Per Incanto, but she came home empty,” Nicci Oberholster said. “We’d love a filly out of the mare; that’s why we sent her to Per Incanto to hopefully get a sister to Gringotts that we could keep. “We’re having discussions again, but for mine it would be hard not to send her back again.” The third member of the breeding trio is Shocking mare Vegas Strip, a four-time winning half-sister to Miss Vegas and Miss Bluebell who had a filly foal by Noverre last season. Horse racing news View the full article