Wandering Eyes

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2025, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 16 and 17. The committee reviewed 957 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 415 of them, 14 fewer than were graded in 2024, and listed status to 210 races. Four graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and three new Grade II races were named; nine new Grade III races were identified. Twelve new Listed races and one new Listed-Restricted race were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type (NLBT) status. Thirty-three graded races were downgraded; one Grade I, 10 Grade II and 22 Grade III races were demoted. Twenty-one listed races were downgraded to NLBT status. One race was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I status for 2025: the American Turf S. at Churchill Downs. Additionally, one race was downgraded from Grade I to Grade II status for 2025: the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga. Three races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2025: the Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. at Belmont at Aqueduct, Chicago S. at Churchill Downs, and Sycamore S. at Keeneland. For a complete listing of all graded and listed stakes for the 2025 season, click here. The post TOBA Releases U.S. Graded, Listed Stakes for 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 2 ROTHLEY MAIDEN 1300m SOL DE OTONO (L Allpress) – Co-trainer Ms. L Zydenbos advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of SOL DE OTONO, and it is his intention to carry on with the mare’s current preparation. The post Manawatu Racing Club @ Trentham, Sunday 15 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Race 8 TAB MUFHASA CLASSIC (G1) 1600m EL VENCEDOR (J Doyle) – Stable representative Mr. R Mildon reported to Stewards, that on Monday 9 December, EL VENCEDOR, underwent a veterinary examination which included blood tests with no abnormalities being detected. R. Mildon further advised it is the stables intention to look to nominate EL VENCEDOR for the Otaki-Maori RC meeting on Thursday 26 December. TOWN CRYER (L Currie) – Trainer Mr. R Bergerson reported to Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of TOWN CRYER, and it is his intention to carry on with the mare’s current preparation. R. Bergerson further advised it is his intention to nominate TOWN CRYER for the Manawatu RC meeting on Saturday 21 December. The post Wellington Racing Club @ Trentham, Saturday 7 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Having dealt with the rookies separately, we now start our quest for value among those stallions already at stud. We'll be going through the pyramid by price band, and today kick off at the level most accessible to breeders on a budget. But do not be deceived that we must be scraping the barrel here. If anything, candidly, there are more horses standing at four figures that one could trust–above all, for a breed-to-race program–than among far more expensive newcomers featured in the first instalment. Whether one could also recommend them to a struggling commercial breeder is another story. But let's not forget that Into Mischief himself once spent a couple of seasons marooned on $7,500. Stallions in this category broadly fall into opposite ends of the age spectrum. On the one hand, there are those that remain unproven, but whose books and fees are porous as everyone moves on to the next bunch of rookies. On the other, we find a few ageing stallions that have contrived a modest niche in the Bluegrass by a quiet accomplishment that will prove far beyond most new sires. When you're operating tight margins, admittedly, these underrated types are seldom practical options. However low the fees, resources are required to see through a longer-term play against the nervous fads of the commercial market. But it is possible to turn these to your advantage. Take highflying Oscar Performance as a template. He has been fully subscribed for the past two years. But those who stuck with him “on the bubble,” when cut to $12,500 for his third year, have just been able to offer yearlings from a crop of just 45 live foals–and were rewarded with an average yield of $145,894, up from $57,474 the year these foals were conceived. In other words, the time to double down is precisely when everyone else is getting cold feet. Mystic Guide | Sarah Andrew This fall, the market gave a cold reception to the first weanlings of several sires that will now find it very hard to gather support in 2025. But the reality is that they remain 18 months away from any meaningful test. 'TDN Rising Star' MYSTIC GUIDE actually achieved an excellent average–touching $60,000, off a $15,000 conception fee–from 11 weanlings sold, and no fewer than 154 mares had returned to him in the spring. Yet his fee has been consecutively trimmed to $12,500 and now $7,500. Anyone know if he can sire runners yet? How much tougher, than, for others whose tentative toe into the market made fewer ripples. Yet some of these retain every right to replicate their racetrack prowess–and a couple, in particular, offer a ton of pedigree and talent at an unchanged $7,500. GREATEST HONOUR, a grandson of Better Than Honour, never quite lived up to his brilliant emergence but has the usual Spendthrift pipeline behind him with 312 mares across his first two books. And HIGHLY MOTIVATED, whose page has been illuminated by two Grade I-winning siblings since his retirement, has received over 200 visitors and actually landed a six-figure score with one weanling. My faith in both these horses is undiminished, and now is the time for people who talk about catching an unproven sire while still affordable to show that they really mean it. As for those sires that just made their debut at the yearling sales, we can't deny that KNOWN AGENDA found it tough going. A lot of breeders are in flight: his debut book of 166 mares slumped to 47 for his third year and his fee has duly followed to $5,000. By the same token, however, nobody yet knows whether they can actually run and he will have a lot of juveniles trying to find out next year. He's still a GI Florida Derby winner out of a Grade I scorer, whose Curlin curve of improvement was arrested in its tracks. Independence Hall | Louise Reinagel BEAU LIAM made a much brighter start in the ring, processing 72 yearlings at $52,758 off a conception fee of just $6,000, including home runs of $270,000, $220,000 and $200,000. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a brilliantly fast horse, the quickest 6f maiden winner in Churchill's history on debut and author of 106 and 107 Beyers on his next two starts before derailing when second on his graded stakes bow. With numbers behind him, and a strong page to boot, he could easily get involved in the freshman title race next year. The kind of breeders who flock to a first-year speedball of this type have meanwhile largely moved on, and Beau Liam will have a couple of smaller books coming through. As we've said, however, that's exactly the kind of scenario where a bold and imaginative breeder will most want to get involved. Another to have made a positive sales debut is INDEPENDENCE HALL, whose first yearlings averaged $64,185 (including a $350,000 colt) off a conception fee of $10,000–which has nonetheless now been clipped to $7,500. He covered 347 mares in his first two seasons before suffering the usual witless dip to 76 this year. That represents a significant footprint for an unbeaten juvenile (101 Beyer in the GIII Nashua Stakes) who held his form to wire the GII Fayette field at four, backed up by a very solid pedigree. And what about the preceding intake, whose first juveniles have actually reached the starting gate? Some of these have laid down perfectly respectable markers but find themselves with their backs to the wall. TOM'S D'ETAT didn't even contest a graded stakes until he was six but ended up winning two Grade IIs and a Grade I. Was anyone expecting him to be champion freshman? As it is, 15 winners from 41 starters actually represents a superior strike rate to McKinzie! Yet he will be trading at just $5,000 in 2025, down from an opening $17,500. And studmate GLOBAL CAMPAIGN, who garnered a 'TDN Rising Star' badge and matured at four to finish his career with a Grade I win and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, is clipped to $7,500 from $12,500 despite producing a couple of precocious stakes winners already. Global Campaign | Sarah Andrew As noted above, conversely some proven stalwarts also become so neglected that they too drift down to this level. 'TDN Rising Star' THE FACTOR, JIMMY CREED and 'TDN Rising Star' FIRST SAMURAI are very accomplished stallions to be available at four-figure fees, and likewise the wonderful veteran SKY MESA. He doesn't get too many girlfriends these days, but there can't be many more affordable ways of proving a mare than with a $7,500 sire of 79 stakes winners. Sky Mesa stands in the top 15 of active stallions by lifetime earnings, and his first three dams offer you Storm Cat, Affirmed and Round Table. As the advertisers used to say: “Hurry while stocks last!” As ever, you know best what stamp and style will complement your own mare. Here, however, are three that look value to this subjective eye. VALUE PODIUM Bronze: DIVISIDERO Kitten's Joy–Madame du Lac, by Lemon Drop Kid Airdrie Stud, $5,000 Divisidero | EquiSport This horse breaks my heart. His profile was so uncommercially “worthy”–a graded stakes winner five years running–that he has been confined to 25 starters from 38 named foals across two crops. But 11 are winners, two at stakes level, and his average earnings per named foal (four black-type performers include one at Grade II level) outrank every Kentucky sire in his intake, his closest pursuer being its top gun Omaha Beach. It's not hard to explain why that should be. Divisidero is a dual Grade I winner (also beaten under a length in the Breeders' Cup Mile) whose family is just about the best in the book, featuring none other than Cosmah as fifth dam. He posted 13 triple-digit Beyers, including a track record at Belmont, and displayed all the teak and acceleration that you could seek for an expanding U.S. turf calendar. While Divisidero might appeal most obviously to a breed-to-race program, he has actually registered a series of six-figure sales. (By the standards of his sire, he was himself a knockout as a $250,000 yearling deep in the September Sale.) Everything is in place except the volume, but that gives far-sighted breeders a princely horse at a pauper's fee. Silver: CROSS TRAFFIC Unbridled's Song–Stop Traffic, by Cure the Blues Spendthrift Farm, $7,500 Cross Traffic | Sarah Andrew We've charted the giddy ups and downs of this 'TDN Rising Star' for quite a while now and there's no reason to stop just because he's had so little ammunition over the past year or so. As newly-crowned champion freshman, in 2019 Cross Traffic received 188 mares at $25,000, up from 60 at $7,500 the previous year. The resulting crop included Grade I winner Defining Purpose, a moral Grade I winner in the tragic Maple Leaf Mel, and lately Neecie Marie. But the latter is Cross Traffic's only graded stakes winner of 2024. This dearth of action is explained by a 2020 book that shrank, preposterously given his trade the previous year, to 28 live foals. Some reinforcements are on the horizon, however: his last two books rallied into the 80s, and he can always hope for headliners among his maturing stock on the model of five-campaign millionaire Ny Traffic. If his stud career is ever to stabilize, it is plainly not going to be in the elite tier, but Cross Traffic has delivered whenever he has been given the opportunity. Gold: LOGGINS Ghostzapper–Beyond Blame, by Blame Hill 'n' Dale, $7,500 The 'TDN Rising Star' was my pick of the rookies last year and I see no reason to defect after he covered 137 mares in his first book. I had a similar feeling about Not This Time, when he started out, and they do have a striking amount in common. Both ran the subsequent champion juvenile to a neck in what sadly proved to be their final start. Both also had the tougher trip in those races, Loggins having been exposed to a hot pace in the GI Breeders' Futurity before rallying bravely as Forte picked up the pieces (and jostled him in the process). That was a wild effort for a horse who can have learned little from his debut romp. Loggins is out of a graded stakes winner whose own dam is a half-sister to two others; and the next dam was a multiple graded stakes-placed half-sister to Street Boss and the dam of Jack Christopher. As our bronze pick demonstrates, ideally we'd prefer greater evidence of resilience. But you can't have everything at this fee, which is one-sixth of that commanded by his Futurity rival, and this horse evinced unmistakable Grade I caliber and has gone to a farm that excels with these brief meteors. In an era of such steep fees, Loggins is priced with remarkable generosity. Value Sires–New Sires: The Breeders Speak George Adams, Housatonic Bloodstock To my mind, “value” with respect to stallions almost has to be about their ability to get you a runner. Worrying about commercial considerations should not be the focus, especially for a fee under $10,000. With that in mind and given the predominantly commercial nature of the Kentucky stallion market, I was excited to be allowed to identify some regional stallions in this price bracket. There are some that really do offer exceptional value to breeders in those markets. Blofeld | Sarah Andrew GOLD: Blofeld (Quality Road–Storm Minstrel, by Storm Cat), Murmur Farm, $5,000. My gold medal choice would be Blofeld, who stands at Mrs. Murray's Murmur Farm in Maryland for an advertised fee of $5,000. The sire of 94 foals of racing age (oldest runners now 5), 67 of those foals have run, and 56 of them are winners (84%). Eight of them are black-type winners (12%), and eight more are black-type placed (for 24% black-type horses to runners). Although he doesn't yet have a graded winner, Blofeld does have a couple of graded-placed runners and four open company black-type winners. His average earnings per starter sits at $101,710, and his highest earner has just over $400,000 in the bank–meaning the average is not skewed by a single outlier, as further witnessed by his median earnings per runner of $76,535. With at least 55 yearlings about to turn two for 2025, and given that he's been the most popular stallion in the region for three years running, Blofeld's future looks very bright. SILVER: Honest Mischief (Into Mischief–Honest Lady, by Seattle Slew), Sequel New York, $7,500. For the silver medal, I'd nominate Honest Mischief at Sequel New York. Although he has just one crop of racing age, and while folks might have expected him to have gotten a bit earlier start, Honest Mischief is now up to eleven first crop winners, none of those below the maiden special weight level. He has a pair of black-type winners to his credit, with Stone Smuggler and Sacrosanct having achieved state-bred stakes doubles on two separate weekends so far–most recently on Dec. 14 at Aqueduct when each scored in a $500,000 division of the New York Stallion Series–Honest Mischief had three of the four fillies make up the superfecta in Stone Smuggler's race. He also brings a touch of commerciality to the table, with 19 of his first-crop of 2-year-olds having averaged over $94,000, following on from a first-crop yearling average of over $40,000. With this kind of start to his stallion career, Honest Mischief looks poised to battle Bucchero (by Kantharos)–whose stud fee just prices him out of this bracket, making my job here easier–at the top of the New York sire ranks for a long time. BRONZE: Beren (Weigelea–Silmaril, by Diamond), WynOaks, $3,500. Finally, one of the stalwarts of the Pennsylvania sire ranks who I'd have included here until pretty recently, as he's now a bit long in the tooth, is Weigelia. Very much his father's son, Beren retires to stud alongside Weigelia at WynOaks for the 2025 breeding season. He will get my bronze medal on the basis of his $3,500 stud fee, which includes special consideration to PA-foaling mares. Campaigned from two through six, Beren won 12 of 35 starts and earned just under a million dollars. Seven of his wins were in black-type events, from six to eight and a half furlongs. In this day and age when a racehorse's durability is constantly questioned, Beren had it in spades and came by it honestly. He has every right to pass it along at the same farm that's already done this before. Tommy Wente (left) with Ken McPeek | courtesy of Tommy Wente Tommy Wente, St. Simon Place GOLD: Mo Town (Uncle Mo–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini), Coolmore Ashford Stud, $5,000. Mo Town at $5,000 is hands down my gold medal value stallion in this bracket. I really think that he's way underrated for what he's got on the track. His percentage of stakes horses is impressive, and he has six black-type winners. I don't know why he's not getting more love. SILVER: Echo Town (Speightstown–Letgomyecho, by Menifee), Coolmore Ashford Stud, $5,000. Breed to race, you can't go wrong with Echo Town at $5,000. He has lots of winners already with his first-crop and stakes horses too, although nothing graded yet. I can only see them getting better at three. BRONZE: Global Campaign (Curlin–Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy), WinStar Farm, $7,500. Global Campaign has made a solid start with 15 winners. He's by Curlin so they are doing enough with more to come. They will mature and get better with age, and $7,500 looks like good value to me. Independence Hall (by Constitution) is my bubble horse. He's got a big shot to make, and I'm kinda all-in on that horse. At $7,500, for what we sold, how can you not make money at that fee. He's great value with his first 2-year-olds running next year. The post Kentucky Value Sires For 2025, Part 2: Stallions Under $10K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stakes-winning conditioner Kent Sweezey is stabled at Oaklawn Park for the first time since he started training. View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Thursday, December 19. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for December 19, 2024, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Blonde Boosts Elevate Your Prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Same Race Multi – Select 2-4 runners in the same race to get bigger odds Available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Availability dependent on field size. Neds T&C’s Apply. Login to Neds to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to pickleBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for December 19, 2024. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

As the year winds down, now is a relatively quiet time for horse racing. But there was nothing quiet about 2024, another year when there was no shortage of bad news and plenty of controversy thanks to the nasty battle between pro and anti-HISA Forces. The TDN seeks to be fair in its news coverage and makes no attempt to accentuate the negative stories. The problem is that the numbers say the readers prefer to read the “bad stuff.” What stories resonated most with TDN readers? Here are the top 10 most widely read stories of 2024 and the number of views they received: 1) SCOTUS Grants Stay of Fifth Circuit Unconstitutionality Mandate, by T.D. Thornton (110,804 views) There were so many fights and so many lawsuits that it was easy to get lost when it came to trying to figure out what was happening with HISA. Would it survive or would the courts declare it to be unconstitutional? An important development covering that very issue occurred in late October. The Supreme Court granted a stay sought by HISA that prevented the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Fifth circuit from issuing a mandate stemming from the Fifth Circuit opinion that HISA's enforcement mechanism is unconstitutional. The key was that by granting the stay, the Supreme Court signaled that it did not want the lower courts ruling on HISA until the Supreme Court has either taken on the case or decided not to accept it. 2) Still Sidelined After Run-In with Gulfstream Geese, Sutherland Fears She'll Never Ride Again , by Bill Finley (71,587 views) A freak accident that occurred on May 6, 2023 at Gulfstream left Chantal Sutherland with such serious injuries that she worried she would never ride again. After the race was over her mount was spooked by a flock of geese, and slingshotted her out of the saddle. The result was that she broke the humerus bone completely off from her shoulder. She has yet to return to riding but says she won't sidelined much longer. 3) The World's Oldest Thoroughbred? We Think We Have Found Him, by Bill Finley (53,403 views) In March, Bill Finley covered the story of New Years Eve (Night Conqueror) who was still health and spry despite big 38 years old. Owner Julie Izzo did a lot of research and could not find an older living Thoroughbred. We concluded that it was New Years Eve. 4) Blue-Collar Hero Tyler's Tribe Dies Following Workout Wednesday at Oaklawn; Trainer Temporarily Banned, by Bill Finley (48,957 views) It started out as a great story. Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) was an Iowa-bred 2-year-old who could fly. He won his first five starts by a combined 59 3/4 lengths and would go on to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, where he bled and was eased. Nothing went right ever again and in May he died following a four-furlong workout at Oaklawn Park. Tyler's Tribe's trainer Tim Martin was temporarily banned by Oaklawn. 5) Farewell to a Stallion Thoroughly Deserving of Acclaim, by Emma Berry (48,795 views) European editor Emma Berry tells the story of sire Acclamation (GB), who died late in the year at the age of 25. His death occurred just a few weeks after he had been officially retired. 6) Kentucky Trailer Accident Kills Three Thoroughbreds, by T.D. Thornton (42,450 views) An overnight trailer crash on the Bluegrass Parkway in Nelson County, Kentucky hospitalized the driver and killed three horses from the barn of trainer Eddie Kenneally who were being transported from Oaklawn Park to Keeneland. 7) Just Steel Exits Preakness with Injury, To Head to Rood and Riddle, by Christina Bossinakis (42,367 Views) Christina Bossinakes reported on the condition of GI Preakness S. starter Just Steel (Justify). He exited the race with a condylar fracture of the right front leg and had surgery performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage. Just Steel has since recovered and has rejoined the Wayne Lukas stable at Oaklawn Park. 8) White Abarrio Sent Back to Joseph, by Bill Finley (38,068 views) After a disappointing showing in the GI Metropolitan H. at Saratoga, the owners of White Abarrio (Race Day) decided to send last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner back to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Joseph was his original trainer before the owners sent him to be trained by Rick Dutrow. Because Joseph had had two horse die (neither one from Musculoskeletal injuries) in the days leading up to the Derby it wasn't immediately clear whether or not Joseph would be allowed to run White Abarrio in the GI Metropolitan Handicap. So the owners gave the horse to Dutrow only go back to Joseph. 9) Owners of Horses Killed, Injured in Bluegrass Pkwy Accident Sue Van Company, Driver for $3 Million, by T.D. Thornton (36,019 views) The owners of seven Thoroughbreds killed or injured in a Mar. 25, 2024, accident on the Bluegrass Parkway when a trailer driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and careened off the road while en route from Fair Grounds to Keeneland are suing the equine transport company and the driver in federal court, seeking “not less than” $3 million in compensatory damages and a separate amount in punitive damages that the plaintiffs want decided at a trial. 10) Jayarebe Dies Following Breeders' Cup Turf, by Bill Finley (34,796 views) European shipper Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) died following the running of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The 3-year-old finished the race, but collapsed during the gallop out. According to a statement put out by the Breeders' Cup, Jayarebe suffered what appears to have been a cardiac event. The post The Most-Read TDN Stories of 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 4 STRAIGHT FLUSH PLUMBING 1600m ZIGGY KHAN (L Allpress) – Stable representative Mr. S O’Malley advised Stewards, the stable was satisfied with the post-race condition of ZIGGY KHAN, and it is the stables intention to carry on with the mare’s current preparation. Race 8 WAIRARAPA MUSIC IN THE COUNTRY 10-12 JANUARY 2025 2200m SONGWRITER (M Hashizume) – Trainer Mr. F Auret reported to Stewards, he was satisfied with the post-race condition of the gelding, however, SONGWRITER has now been sent for a spell. The post Wairarapa Racing Club @ Tauherenikau, Wednesday 11 December 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

The TDN Writers' Room team was feeling festive as we closed out 2024 with a special year-end episode. Presented as always by Keeneland and hosted by Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman and Randy Moss, this week's show features a variety of write-in questions from viewers and some other questions for our hosts ranging from light-hearted topics that gave the trio the opportunity to reminisce on their many years in racing to a few more thought-provoking subjects regarding the current state of racing and what they are most looking forward to seeing on the racetrack in 2025. We kicked off the episode by asking each host to look back and tell us about the moment that got them hooked on the sport. Born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Moss had an easy answer. “When you drove past Oaklawn Park back in the day, and we're talking late '60s, I was a little kid sitting in the backseat of my parents' car and it used to be a little like Saratoga in that there were stables on the opposite side of Central Avenue and so the crossing guards would stop the traffic as horses crossed the street,” Moss recalled. “So I would sit there in the backseat and I would see these beautiful horses in front of me and the exercise riders on their backs. That's one of my earliest memories was watching that and it snowballed from there.” Cadman, who hails from Somerset, England, is a lifelong equestrian who happened upon the racing world almost by accident. “During schooltime, we got the chance to do a work experience,” she said on the show. “The closest racing yard to me was Philip Hobbs, so me and my friend Rosie both applied. I had a pony who was pretty quick so I thought, 'Oh, I'm going to go to a racing yard. This is going to be so cool.' I rode out for Philip Hobbs for a week and got run off with a couple of times. His gallops go uphill and they stop at a road that went downhill. I went all the way down the road on one of these jumper horses. And I got hooked.” As for Finley, his was a story that many people in our industry share where family members introduced him to the sport. “Both my father and my brother, who's 10 years older than me, were big racing fans,” Finley recalled. “When I was six, my brother had his driver's license. There are stories of him babysitting me where he didn't tell our parents what we were going to do and, living in Cleveland, we went to Northfield Park. He would babysit me at the trotter track there.” Later in the show, write-in questions from viewers ranged from topics like why final scratches and changes are not posted to online resources until a few hours before the first post, what more should major industry organizations be doing to move the sport forward, and why it seems that workouts in the East are labeled “B” for breezing when workouts in the West are labeled “H” for handily. The team wrapped up the episode by reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead to 2025. Which newly turned 3-year-olds are they most looking forward to watching develop next year? Answers ranged from Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who broke his maiden for Bill Mott in the GIII Street Sense Stakes on Oct. 27, and of course East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner who stumbled at the break in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile but should have a promising future ahead. The TDN Writers' Room is also presented by WinStar Farm, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, West Point Thoroughbreds and XBTV.com. The Writers' Room team looks forward to returning in 2025. To listen to this week's show as an audio podcast, click here. The post TDN Writers’ Room: A Special Holiday Edition appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Racehorse owner John Dance has been charged with nine criminal offences in “one of the most serious and largest frauds ever investigated” by the UK's financial regulator. Dance is accused by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of transferring more than £64 million from client accounts of a wealth management firm to fund his “lavish lifestyle” and business interests between 2014 and 2023. The 50-year-old was principal partner at WealthTek LLP, formerly known as Vertus Asset Management LLP, a prominent sponsor within racing. He also owned the multiple Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) and previously co-owned Bravemansgame (Fr), the runner-up in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said, “This is one of the most serious and largest frauds we have ever investigated. “We allege that over a period of many years Mr Dance diverted millions of client funds for his own benefit, telling lies and forging documents to cover his tracks. “We know this has been a worrying time for people who had their investments caught up in WealthTek and we have tried to keep everyone updated as best we can, given the criminal nature of the offences under investigation. “We're pleased that clients are now seeing their assets returned.” Approximately 84% of affected clients are expected to be fully compensated, according to the FCA, while Dance has been released on bail to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Friday, January 3. He faces three counts of fraud by abuse of position, three counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of converting or transferring criminal property. The post Laurens Owner John Dance Charged with Nine Criminal Offences appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three stakes wins against fellow Oklahoma-breds and a second in her only open company attempt, earned Miss Code West (Code West) the Horse of the Meeting honor at Remington Park for a second consecutive season. The 3-year-old filly received the most votes in the contentious category following the 2024 race meeting. Miss Code West joins Remington Park's all-time winningest horse, Welder, as the only two horses to win Horse of the Meeting more than once here. Out of Inca Miss (Kipling), Miss Code West is owned by Jeffry and Julie Puryear of Denton, Texas, and is trained by Kevin Scholl, who had only six stalls at Remington Park this season. Floyd Wethey, Jr., is the pilot for Miss Code West. Miss Code West, a also won Champion status in two other categories–3-year-old Female and Oklahoma-bred. Miss Code West won three stakes races this meet, including the Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Handicap on Sept. 6, the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Handicap on Oct. 18 and the Useeit Stakes on Dec. 13. Her only loss this meet was in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, an open-company affair, when she finished second to Alpine Princess. Other 2024 divisional champions: – Coal Battle (Coal Front) – Champion 2-year-old Male – Glee (Honor A.P.) – Ch. 2-year-old Female – Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) – Ch. 3-year-old Male – CW Prize (Code West) – Ch. Older Male – Doudoudouwanadance (Magna Graduate) – Ch. Older Female and Ch. Turf Performer – Jaxon Traveler (Munnings) – Ch. Sprinter – Clay's Black Opal (Not This Time) – Ch. Claimer The post Miss Code West Earns Another Horse of the Meeting Award at Remington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In honor of Laffit Pincay Jr.'s legacy, Santa Anita has renamed its long-standing San Antonio Stakes the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes. The Grade II test will be contested on Thursday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita' s 90th anniversary season. Pincay will join fellow Hall of Fame jockeys Bill Shoemaker and Eddie Delahoussaye with a Santa Anita stakes race named in their honor. “It really means a lot,” Pincay said. “I remember when Shoemaker and Delahoussaye had a stakes named for them and I thought that was very special. Now I get the chance to have one in my name.” Pincay won the San Antonio Stakes five times, including his first victory came in 1968 aboard Rising Market for trainer Ted Saladin. Pincay will be in attendance to witness the first-ever running of his namesake race on opening day. He will also present the winning trophy. In addition, Pincay will host an autograph session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Kingsbury Fountain. The first 1,200 fans in will be able to meet the living legend and receive a free autographed Laffit Pincay Jr. print. “I'll be there with my family,” Pincay said. “I usually don't miss the first day of racing, it's very important for me to be there. It's going to be a great day. I'm anxious to be there.” The post New Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes Kicks off Santa Anita Opening Day Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of United States Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2025, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 16-17.View the full article

Cindy McDonald, Senior Vice President at KeyBank, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). McDonald is armed with a background in finance, strategic planning, and community engagement. “I am honored to join the TRF Board of Directors. I look forward to leveraging my 30 years of nonprofit experience to help drive the mission forward and support the extraordinary work TRF does for retired ,” said McDonald. As Senior Vice President at KeyBank, McDonald has an background in developing innovative financial strategies and fostering community partnerships. Her commitment to equine welfare and philanthropy supports TRF's dedication to improving the lives of retired Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. “We are thrilled to welcome Cindy McDonald to our board,” said Patrick Mackay, Chairman of the TRF Board of Directors. “Her expertise in finance and her deep commitment to giving back to the community will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to provide a secure future for the horses in our care. We are excited to have her perspective and leadership as we move forward.” The post Cindy McDonald Joins TRF Board of Directors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS) has catalogued 316 horses for its January Winter Mixed Sale to be held Jan. 28 and the OBSOnline January 2025 Sale is scheduled to begin Jan. 23, according to the auction company's Wednesday press release. The mixed single-session auction will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET. and features newly turned yearlings, broodmares, and broodmare prospects. Among the first-crop stallions represented with yearlings in the catalogue are OBS graduates Colonel Liam and Corniche, Early Voting, Epicenter, Golden Pal, Greatest Honour, Magic On Tap, Mandaloun, Mind Control, Mystic Guide, Mo Donegal, Nashville, Olympiad, Pinehurst, Roadster, and Speaker's Corner. The catalogue also offers yearlings and mares in foal to first-crop sires. Supplemental entries are being accepted until Jan. 16. Click here for complete information on registration and internet bidding. The OBSOnline January 2025 Sale–a timed auction for horses of racing age and 2-year-olds in-training–will be held in conjunction with the live January Winter Mixed Sale. Click here for more information. OBSOnline January 2025 Sale Dates Entries close-Jan. 14. Optional Under Tack-Jan. 17. Bidding Begins-Jan. 23, noon ET. Bidding Closes-Jan. 30, noon ET. The post OBS Catalogues 316 For 2025 January Winter Mixed Sale, OBSOnline Sale Also Scheduled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Looking for top picks for Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup Day? The Invercargill Harness Racing Club has you covered. Check out the comprehensive tipping guide for Southland’s biggest day of harness racing on Friday. Punters and harness racing fans will be spoilt for choice with 12 races, including the Group 3 Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes and the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup. Race 1 – Mc Knight and Brown Mobile Pace (2.55pm) A small but select field to kick a big day off with a tactical battle sure to play out. Always Dreaming brings the best credentials to the race and he drops in class after chasing NZ’s best 2YO Marketplace at Addington last start. With little value in backing the favourite, It’s Electrifying looks a strong each way option. He’s improving with every run in the South Island and he’s got the best draw of the leading chances. La Concha built nicely to a handy last-start victory at Addington and is a logical include, as is Here’s Johnny who is a must in Trifecta or First4 bets. Selections: Always Dreaming (6), Its Electrifying (4), Here’s Johny (1), La Concha (5) Suggested bet: Its Electrifying (4) – Each Way Race 2 – Craig Heyrick at Harcourts Real Estate Mobile Pace (3.34pm) Today’s second event sees a big field full of legitimate winning chances do battle. Ebury Street is set to start a deserved favourite on the back of a strong Oamaru win and good overall form. With another short-priced favourite, punters might be tempted to take one of two each way options in Haley Robyn and Lily’s A Star. Only tough draws are against this in-form pair. Haley Robyn has run two excellent races but must contend with barrier 8. Lily’s A Star has barrier 16, which will be no easy task, but she’s as talented as any horse here. Airwaves is another facing a tough draw, but his last start was good and he’s good enough to win. Selections: Ebury Street (6), Haley Robyn (8), Lily’s A Star (16), Airwaves (12) Suggested bet: Haley Robyn (8) or Lily’s A Star (16) Race 3 – Shaw Building Ltd Mobile Pace (4.08pm) Punters looking for a safe option should look no further than the very consistent Durrant. The six-year-old keeps fronting up and running solid races and another is expected today. Magnetic Beckers has faced tougher races than this and barrier five looks a workable draw for a horse of his ability. Robyns Playboy looks a nice value option from a sweet draw in barrier 2, consider him each way. Netherton Franco disappointed in her last start at Ascot Park but expect more from her today. Tabasco is another genuine winning hope in a wide-open event. Selections: Durrant (10), Magnetic Beckers (5), Robyns Playboy (2), Tabasco (11), Suggested bet: Magnetic Beckers (5) or Durrant (10) – Each way Race 4 – Sheet Metalcraft Ltd Handicap Trot (4.40pm) Race 4 sees a big field of evenly matched trotters do battle. Master Class is a talented and very reliable type who should give his backers a good run for their money. His recent second placings at Addington have been good and this looks a suitable race for him. Mixed Faith is a gritty type who won’t shirk a stern task and can offer some nice value. Emily is in a great patch of form and looks another solid each way option for punters. Though she comes in off a disappointing last-start effort, her prior form was good in strong races. The Present Maker is a talented type who will get plenty of support and has to be considered, too. Selections: Master Class (9), Mixed Faith (13), Emily (11), KD Royalty (12) Suggested bet: Master Class (9) – Each way Race 5 – Quantum Print Mobile Pace (5.07pm) Tricky draws for many of the leading chances set up yet another even race. Jay Ar Mac has shown promise in his short career and he’s produced nice recent trials, suggesting he is ready to run a big race. His last start third at Ascot Park was great and he’s a winning threat even from barrier 12. Shuffle Up is another with a tricky draw, he just needs a few breaks from barrier 9 to threaten. Cracker Opie has a nightmare alley in barrier 15 but he’s well up to winning, even from that tricky alley. From barrier 13, It’s A Pleasure is another genuine hope. Of those well placed in nice barriers, Shergar looks to have winning claims following his handy recent trials. Selections: Jayar Mac (12), Shuffle Up (9), Cracker Opie (15), Shergar (2) Suggested bet: Jayar Mac (12) – Each way Race 6 – SBSR Sires’ Stakes Southern Solstice – 5.41pm The 1700m distance of today’s three-year-old colts and geldings feature looks a key ingredient. Being handy to the pace will be essential over the sprint trip and Secret Agent Man looks well poised from barrier 5. He’s produced nice trials building up for his return today and was a classy winner of his only start on this track. Magician has faced better fields but it is a big ask to win from barrier 8, still he can’t be dismissed. Sodoyahavtime produced an excellent recent trial ahead of his return and he’s drawn to be right in the mix. Always B Elvis can’t be knocked after winning two from two, but his draw in barrier 9 looks no picnic. Selections: Secret Agent Man (5), Sodoyahavtime (4), Magician (8), Always B Elvis (9) Suggested bet: Secret Agent Man (5) – Win Race 7 – Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes (Group 3) – 6.21pm Muscle Mountain is a certified star and he’s expected to show exactly that in the feature trot. Though 30m is a decent handicap to face around the tight Ascot Park circuit, he’s a clear top pick and his class should make him very hard to beat. The favourite’s stablemate Midnight Dash is very honest, he’s well handicapped and he should be suited to this track. Consider him each way. Mystic Max is a proven top-level performer who also looks to be starting from a workable handicap. He’s a major player. From the front line, Rata can give the backmarkers something to catch. Hidden Talent and Styrax are both very capable types, but they can make mistakes. If they can bring their manners, they can both feature. Selections: Muscle Mountain (12), Midnight Dash (10), Mystic Max (9), Rata (3) Suggested bet: Muscle Mountain (12) and Midnight Dash (10) Race 8 – Canada Stakes 3YO Fillies Mobile pace – 7.00pm Ruby Roe hasn’t had much go her way in the best company at Addington recently, but with any luck on her side today she should prove hard to beat. She just needs to be within striking distance, expect her to be storming home. Louies Girl is another who has taken on very strong company recently, despite drawing poorly she’s a genuine threat. Melody Banner gets the best draw among the leading chances and with her best effort, she can win. Molly Belwin is another who should be storming home late, if she’s close enough on the turn she’s a threat. Consider First Light next. Selections: Ruby Roe (7), Louies Girl (8), Melody Banner (4), Molly Belwin (12) Suggested bet: Ruby Roe (7) – Win Race 9 – Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (Group 1) – 7.25pm What a contest we have in the feature, you can back any of the top threats in the race knowing you’ll be on a very talented type. Mo’unga looked in the zone in his warm up win at Addington last week and prior to that he was huge in his sixth in the New Zealand Cup. If he steps away as quickly as he can, he should make up his handicap quickly and take plenty of stopping. Republican Party loves a staying test, as seen in his big third in the New Zealand Cup. He is the most proven horse at this level in this race. Up-and-comer Rakero Rocket has speed to burn and with a clean getaway he’s a strong winning threat. Mr consistent Charlie Brown is a must-have for any Trifecta, First4 and combo bets. Also consider Pinseeker who is sure to be running on late. Selections: Mo’unga (10), Republican Party (11), Rakero Rocket (5), Charlie Brown (9) Suggested bet: Republican Party (11) – Win Race 10 – Forklifts NZ Ltd 2YO Fillies Mobile pace – 7.57pm As a Group 1 winner and a seriously speedy filly, Captains Mistress is clearly the horse to beat. Barrier 8 looks the only negative factor for the favourite, but with her sizzling speed, she can overcome her wide draw and win. Joyride looks to be building nicely with every run in her short career, she has few draw favours either but she’s got strong claims. Selsey Anne has shown quality in her short career and gets the advantage of drawing inside the two favourites. Spicey Crunch is another classy type facing a tricky draw, but she’s right up to featuring with any luck. Chicago Sky and Just Like Jagger look value options for Trifectas and First4s. Selections: Captains Mistress (8), Joyride(AUS) (7), Selsey Anne (6), Spicey Crunch (12) Suggested bet: Captains Mistress (8) – Win Race 11 – Diamond Creek Farm/ SBSR Robin Dundeee Crown – 8.24pm Those looking for a good thing on Group 1 Invercargill Cup Day, won’t find much better than Lakelsa. After competing in strong company recently, the mare produced a stunning victory with a flat tyre in her last start victory at Addington. Punters biggest question looks to be who will fill the combo bets around the favourite. Snap Shot is drawn inside the Lakelsa and is sure to have her right within her sights. Seacracka is a big chance of filling a placing, her only query is her tricky second-row draw. Flying Bird can run a cheeky race while Insarchatwist can also be considered. Selections: Lakelsa (7), Snap Shot (6), Seacracka (9), Flying Bird (11) Suggested bet: Lakelsa (7), Snap Shot (6), Seacracka (9) – Trifecta Race 12 – Ron McEwan Memorial Mobile Pace – (8.51pm) Tough draws for the key contenders make today’s finale a wide-open affair. Miraculous is the best-credentialled horse but faces a big ask from barrier 14. With any luck, he still rates the horse to beat. Aint No Angel draws nicely in barrier 1 and looks capable of running a nice race at good odds. South Seas Rock loves this track and is sure to be put in the race and given his chance. Beach Day is a talented mare, fit and ready to win today even from her wide draw. Always B There and Judaque are both in great form and can also be considered. Selections: Miraculous (14), Aint No Angel (1), South Seas Rock (13), Beach Day (7) Suggested bet: Miraculous (14) – Each way McClymont’s dual hopes for Group victory at Ascot Park By Jonny Turner There’s more to Gay McClymont keeping her outstanding run of form going when Styrax and Rata head to Group 1 Ascot Park Invercargill Cup Day on Friday. With a wave of Canterbury raiders attacking the feature races on the south’s big day, McClymont holds some of the biggest hopes of a Southland victory. Rata and Styrax head to the Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Trot with one mission in mind, taking advantage of their front-line draws and running their rivals ragged in from the front line. Styrax did exactly that in her outstanding win at Winton last weekend, never giving anything else a look in and never looking like getting run down. This time in, the mare has shown when she’s hot she’s hot. And she’s shown her trainer similar traits in her temperament around her barn. “I had a bit of a laugh when that other horse went up and tried to take the lead off her, she almost had a look of disdain on her face.” Styrax is on an eight-day backup following her Winton win, but it’s not something McClymont is worried about at all. “She ties up if she has days off, she is a funny old thing,” the trainer said. “She can have one day off but that is about it.” “I lost most of the season last season with it, we could never get the right pattern with her.” “And we could never really get to the bottom of exactly what the issue was.” “She seems to thrive on the racing, she is coming from her recent runs and she barely even blows.” “Even the swabbing stewards notice, she barely looks like she’s had a race.” “So backing up won’t worry her.” Both with big, powerful motors, so far Rata has the edge in being the more reliable of the two McClymont trained trotters. Styrax has galloped away in two of her three latest standing starts, but one of those errors came after a false start. Rata hasn’t missed a beat recently, stringing together outstanding form before brilliantly winning the Group Two Grand Duchess Mares Trot at Addington, last month. The big sister of the trotting duo comes into Ascot Park in a contrasting situation, being freshened since her last start win. McClymont just hopes Rata isn’t too fresh. “She has had a freshen up since Addington, they both worked at Gore today (Tuesday) and they worked quite well.” “They’ll have a couple of quieter days now.” “Rata is usually the sensible one, but because she is fresh she can throw her head about and you just hope she will be able to step away.” “But to be fair, she is generally reasonably safe.” If McClymont can do Southland proud on one of its biggest days, it will continue a run of form this spring the trainer is already describing as unbelievable. “It has been a wee bit unbelievable, you don’t get your hopes up because you win a few but you lose a lot.” “It has been pretty special.” “I have always loved both of them, though sometimes Styrax can be hard to love with her personality.” “But they have always shown a lot of ability and it has been good they have been able to show it.” Jonny Cox reunites with Styrax on Friday with Brad Williamson to continue his association with Styrax. 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Mt. Brilliant Family Foundation has signed on for the third consecutive year as the presenting sponsor for the Thoroughbred Charities of America's (TCA) upcoming 35th Annual Stallion Season Auction to be held Wednesday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 12, the organization said via a Wednesday press release. The largest fundraiser for the TCA opens with an online auction beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Jan. 8 and continues through 4:00 p.m. ET. on Friday, Jan. 10. The online auction will offer over 200 seasons to stallions standing in 13 states and Canada. The majority of the seasons will sell during the online auction however several seasons including Arabian Knight, Constitution, Not This Time, National Treasure, Cogburn, Timberlake, Vekoma, and more will be sold in the live auction on Sunday, Jan. 12 at Harper Hall in Lexington, Kentucky. Tickets are available here. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on the select seasons by attending the live auction in-person, or they may email ehalliwell@tca.org to register to bid online or by telephone. A silent auction will also be offered. All non-season items will be available via online bidding. In addition to Mt. Brilliant, other TCA Stallion Season Auction sponsors include Equine Athlete Veterinary Services, Rocket Ship Racing, Peoples Bank, Coolmore America, Ocala Breeders' Sales, Equine Medical Associates, Bourbon Lane Stable Retirement Fund, Top Line Sales, Equine Medical of Ocala, Julie Davies, Pick View LLC, Paul Sharp Stables, Niall Brennan Stables, Brookdale Sales, Ocala Stud, Scanlon Training and Sales, Ballyrankin Stud, L.V. Harkness, Thoroughbred Daily News, Paulick Report, BloodHorse and Daily Racing Form. The post Mt. Brilliant To Return As Presenting Sponsor For TCA Stallion Season Auction Jan. 8-12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tim Layden, Ed Schuyler, Jr., and the late Edwin Pope have been selected to the National Museum of Racing's Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor, the repository for racing's history said in a press release on Wednesday morning. The honor roll was established in 2010 to recognize individuals whose careers have been dedicated to, or substantially involved in, writing about Thoroughbred racing (non-fiction), and who distinguished themselves as journalists. Layden is a four-time Eclipse Award winner and the 2015 recipient of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing from the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). He won his first Eclipse in 1987 in the newspaper writing category and has since won Eclipses for feature/commentary in 2018, 2022, and 2023. Schuyler covered primarily horse racing and boxing for The Associated Press from 1960 until his retirement in 2002. He was the NTWAB selection for the 1996 Walter Haight Award. Pope (1928-2017) won three Eclipse Awards for newspaper writing (1976, 1982, 1986) during his journalism career–each of those awards was earned while covering racing for the Miami Herald, where he began working in 1956. Recent selections to the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor include: Walter Haight (2021), Jack Mann (2021), Jay Privman (2021), Heywood Hale Broun (2022), Bert Morgan (2022), Damon Runyon (2022), Dick Jerardi (2023), Paul Moran, and John L. Hervey. The post Layden, Schuyler, Pope Added To Joe Hirsch Media Roll Of Honor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Veteran rider Stewart Elliott closed out the Remington Park Thoroughbred meet Dec. 13 on a high note with three stakes wins and a second consecutive leading rider title.View the full article

Dear Santa, As the clock ticks down on another year we can hopefully all agree that we have much to be grateful for. Racing in many ways seems to have recovered its footing from our headline fatality troubles and we just learned the fatality rate at HISA tracks continues to decline. Who can argue that we are not making progress and moving in the right and needed direction in making racing safer? I do have two requests for you, Santa. First, I would love to learn from the NHBPA an answer to this question: what is it you really want in your fight over HISA? I'd love to believe it's all about the constitutionality of it all. It sounds good (to them, I guess) but let's be serious. Few if any of us are Rhodes Scholars or constitutional experts. We just have a very hard time believing this is what it's all about for you. So please tell us what is it you want from the rest of us when it comes to HISA? Because most of us just don't know. Second, dear Santa, is please put the powers to be in a room and let them try to hammer out their differences. Stop the insanity. Do we really want to put our fate in the hands of the Supreme Court? Do we really want to turn the clock backwards and threaten our right to exist? I'm exaggerating, you say? If I want to take my grandchildren to the circus I'll have to go to Europe!. Let's do it as a gift to the industry that they claim to so dearly love. If you can please deliver this gift under the horse racing industry tree, well then maybe there really is a Santa Claus! Merry Christmas, A concerned elderly elf, Craig Bandoroff P.S. Okay, so while I'm at it here is one more. Let's let everyone realize the importance of supporting aftercare. Our opponents really do care what happens to our horses. Thanks, Santa. Now get back to work! The post Letter To The Editor: A Christmas Wish For Our Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Young South African continues his strong season, while Vincent Ho is taken to hospital after a fall.View the full article

American owner Susan 'Pearly' Fallon, who lit up the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a 700,000gns purchase of a Frankel (GB) filly out of Archangel Gabriel (Arch), is looking forward to seeing her colours graced on a British racecourse for the first time at Wolverhampton on Friday. Fallon, who is based in America and works in the private aviation business, will be represented by the Ed Bethell-trained A War Eagle (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in an extended mile maiden with Aidan Keeley set to ride. Just like the 700,000gns Frankel filly, A War Eagle was purchased by bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington. He was sourced at last year's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for €75,000 from Aughamore Stud and he forms part of a growing squad of exclusively British- or Irish-based horses for the owner. Fallon said, “I was a competitive equestrian growing up so I have been involved with horses all of my life. But I am relatively new to the racing world–a little over a year now. I've always loved racing. Every single one of our horses are based in Ireland and England. The reason for that is because I love the people over there and I love the style of racing in Europe as well. I also feel very strongly about the treatment of the horses and, as a whole, I really love the experiences I have had in Britain and Ireland.” She added, “We have A War Eagle making his debut on Friday with Ed Bethell and my Sioux Nation colt went to William Haggas on Tuesday. His name is King's English and I am absolutely in love with him. I have a Time Test (GB) filly that is also going to Ed, a Starman (GB), who we haven't decided where she will go, and an Australia (GB) colt who goes to Jessica Harrington. There is also a Zoustar (Aus) colt, whose name is Caviar Cowboy, and he will go to James Fanshawe. I have gotten to know all of my trainers personally and I cannot say enough nice things about them all. I feel very fortunate to be working with them all.” Fallon jokes that she's dealing with “jets in the air and jets on the racetrack.” However, with three broodmares on the farm at Felley Priory Stud, it's safe to say Fallon is adopting a patient approach to her endeavours in the sport. She explained, “I have been in private aviation for quite a while and I enjoy that very much. I have a very entrepreneurial spirit and had a dermatological skin care company for over 15 years. My father flew for fun and I started my pilot's licence years and years ago so aviation has been my career path more recently in life. We work with a lot of interesting people. I love people in general so it is a perfect fit for me. Racing has lots of colourful characters as well.” Fallon continued, “I'm interested in all aspects of the sport. We have three mares and are expecting our first foals in the spring. One of the mares is in foal to Chaldean (GB), who we are very excited about. But from the smell of the tack room to the lights of the race track, I love every single aspect of the sport. The mares are based at Felley Priory Stud, which is where Amanda Skiffington, who is our bloodstock agent, is based.” On linking up with Skiffington, she added, “Nicholas Varney is a long-time friend. Amanda had purchased A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) for Nicholas, so he decided to put me in connection with Amanda. It's just been a match made in heaven. We've had a lot of fun together and she is so talented. She has a true gift and I have learned so much from her already. It's been a quick year of getting started and we have about 12 horses now.” A hugely successful businesswoman, Fallon has some lofty ambitions for her growing string and has surrounded herself with the best in the business in order to inch herself ever closer to her dream of one day winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She said, “We're being strategic. I have very big goals and I want to make sure we are doing things the right way. Malcolm Bastard does all of our pre-training and, as I said, we have some brilliant trainers working with us. Personally, I love a trip horse and we are very patient. I know that a lot of people love to see action at two but we are happy to wait. A lot of the horses we bought are mile-plus horses and we're prepared to wait for them.” Fallon added, “I'm going to be honest, I don't have any specific goals for the horses that we have at the moment. With A War Eagle, who is just about to make his first start, we will just see and let him tell us where he fits in. But I do have a big goal. And a lot of people laugh when I tell them this, but it is my dream to win the Arc. I get it, I would laugh, too, if somebody said it. However, if it can be done by somebody like me, I will do it. And if I don't, I will die trying.” The post Big-Spending American Owner Looks Forward To First Runner In Britain On Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Mynott woke up to a pleasing result from her hospital bed on Wednesday afternoon, with Electron(NZ) (Turn Me Loose) taking out the Stella Artois 1500 Qualifying Race (1600m) at Ruakaka. The Cambridge horsewoman was having thumb surgery whilst her Turn Me Loose mare travelled to the far north, aiming to bounce back into the winner’s circle after fading from a tough three-wide trip at Ellerslie last start. In a compact six-horse field, jockey Joe Doyle allowed Electron to stride forward on to the lead and the race was entirely in his control, stealing cheap sectionals down the back straight before kicking hard on the home corner. Race favourite Bella Luce had tracked the mare throughout and was on even terms temporarily, but Electron had plenty left to give in the finish and found the line strongly to score by 1-1/2 lengths, with Girls Light Up back in third. After watching the replay back, Mynott was delighted with the run, particularly after missing a number of starts in the Central Districts of late. “I missed the race as I was having thumb surgery, so I woke up to the result,” she said. “It’s the same thumb I’ve had a couple of surgeries on, they’ve fused it this time so hopefully that’s the end of it. “I’ve just watched the race back and Joe got away with it cheaply in front and she looked like she still had a bit left at the line. “At the end of the day, I just put a line through that run at Ellerslie, she had a little freshen-up and has been working really well. I’ve been nominating her for races and they haven’t really been suitable, she went down to Taranaki and it turned into a Heavy 10 so I late-scratched, then we scratched from the wide draw at Tauherenikau. “We’ve been waiting for the right race and circumstances, and it was worth the wait today.” Mynott purchased Electron for $1,000 via gavelhouse.com just over a year ago and had intended to get her in foal this season, but after being served, the scan came back negative. “She’s hasn’t got the best wind in the world, I think that may hinder her eventually when she steps up the levels a bit more,” Mynott said. “But the way she relaxed and ran on today, she might actually carry on, because she unfortunately scanned negative. “When I bought her, I loved her type, I had a horse that I pre-trained for another trainer that ended up winning a few races and I thought they were quite similar. She was quite tricky at the start, but she’s a really sweet and kind mare and she tries very hard, which I think goes a long way.” Bred by Ben Kwok, Electron is out of an unraced Shamardal mare Chemistry, and she has earned her trainer just shy of $30,000 in stakes with two victories and a placing from eight starts. View the full article

David and Emma-Lee Browne are hoping to continue to make their presence felt on Australian shores during autumn, as exciting three-year-olds Scary(NZ) (Shocking) and Statuario look to build on their spring momentum. The Browne stable has gone from strength to strength since relocating from New Zealand to Pakenham, with the husband-and-wife training team hoping that a run of second placings during the spring will graduate to winners in the coming months. “(I’m) incredibly proud of how the team is going, we just obviously like being bridesmaid quite a lot!” said Emma-Lee Browne. “But when you’re coming second during the carnival, for a very small team, we were super proud of them.” Group 1 Victoria Derby runner-up Scary is back in work following a spell at home since the Flemington contest. “We were incredibly proud of him. I think the whole family lost their voices!” she said. “He’s a lovely horse. He’s got an amazing nature, as a colt. “He was supposed to have about five or six weeks off, but probably like the lad he is, he went out and enjoyed his holiday immensely and we sort of looked at him one day and thought ‘Oh, you better come back in’! “He’s a lovely horse to work with because he’s easy to deal with, he enjoys the job.” Browne already has routes in mind for the son of Shocking. “His rating has gone up very highly … you want to make the most of the three-year-old year in that respect, also with him being a colt,” she said. “I think we’re sort of looking at probably starting him off in the C.S. Hayes, it’s probably going to be a bit sharp for him, first-up. But then we’re sort of going to have to go the three-year-old route and hopefully be up in Sydney.” The stable will look to plot a different path for son of D’argento Statuario as he heads towards his three-year-old autumn campaign. “It would be nice to split them up,” Browne said. “I think the Autumn Stakes is a week before. He’s probably a little sharper (than Scary), so we’ll probably be able to keep him a little shorter.” Like Scary, the grey gelding only made his racecourse debut in August, quickly building through the grades to a runner-up finish in the Listed Batman Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. “We kept saying to the owner, ‘We don’t think he’s quite ready yet’ and then he kept stepping up,” she said. “It’s been so nice watching him develop during the spell. “He’s back in now and he’s grown up a lot, I think he’s got a big future.” View the full article

Progressive staying mare Kattegat(NZ) (Redwood) is expected to return to top form at Otaki on Thursday. The daughter of Redwood has been patiently handled and another major reward beckons the Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer-trained six-year-old in the Wheelhouse Sports Bar Horowhenua Christmas Cup (2100m). Kattegat was an Ellerslie winner two runs back before she was a beaten favourite at Trentham, where she finished midfield from the ace draw, but there is confidence in the camp that she can turn her form around. “Barrier one doesn’t really work for her and tends to let herself down when she gets back on the rail among other horses,” Schofer said. “She’s a lot better on the outside and coming wide with a clear run, nothing went her way and we would expect her to bounce back on Thursday. “She came through Trentham really well and we think this is a winnable race for her.” Kattegat’s staying talent was to have been showcased on a bigger stage last month before an untimely mishap in the lead into the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) “She got to Riccarton and unfortunately kicked the box the night she arrived so that was disappointing,” Schofer said. The stable has given thought to a start in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) but have had a rethink. “The idea was to go there, but she has been to Trentham three times and hasn’t really performed in any of them,” Schofer said. “We’ll probably look to get her back up to Ellerslie for a staying race at some stage, but there’s nothing really set in concrete. “There is a Rating 75 on Auckland Cup Day and that is something we might look at for her if she doesn’t get too high in the points.” A three-time winner from 14 starts, Kattegat will be partnered by Jonathan Riddell who will also be on stablemate Grahams Pride(NZ) (Savabeel) in the Riverside Construction Maiden (1600m) while Kate Hercock will ride Linara in the Paint It Couloursmart Maiden (1400m). “They have both got good draws so we would be expecting them to be putting on good shows,” Schofer said. Savabeel gelding Grahams Pride has placed twice in three outings and will be making a fresh start and Lonhro four-year-old Linara is also in good touch. “Grahams Pride trialled up really well, whether the mile finds him out first-up I don’t know but we still expect him to run really well,” Schofer said. “Linara was a really good second last time out at Otaki where he was probably run off his feet a little bit over 1200m so the 1400 looks ideal for him.” View the full article