Wandering Eyes

The 2024 California-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting March 3 at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia, Calif.View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. In this week's rulings, trainer Peter Miller has been suspended 15 days and fined $2,500 after his trainee Forgiving Spirit tested positive for Tramadol after finishing third at Del Mar Aug. 10 last year. The suspension began on Feb. 7. Tramadol is Class B controlled medication under HISA. It's used as a pain reliever. This was Miller's second resolved Class B controlled medication violation since the advent of HISA's anti-doping and medication control program. Miller has a prior Acepromazine case resolved in September of 2023. Acepromazine-a sedative widely used across U.S. backstretches-is a Class B controlled substance under HISA. Miller has a separate pending Acepromazine violation after his trainee Enjoy it Strait allegedly tested positive for the substance after finishing tenth at Del Mar on Nov. 9 last year. According to HISA's penalty program, because of the penalty points Miller has accumulated, he could be facing a maximum 120-day period of ineligibility and fine of $5,000 for that case. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 02/11/2025 Licensee: Donna Kutt, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Bivol, who finished fifth at Tampa Bay on 12/29/24. Date: 02/11/2025 Licensee: Glenroy Brown, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Tammy's Toy, who won at Mahoning Valley on 12/23/24. Date: 02/07/2025 Licensee: Darlene Green, trainer Penalty: A written Reprimand; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Lookin at Justice, who finished sixth at Horseshoe Indianapolis on 10/10/24. Date: 02/06/2025 Licensee: Christine Hicklin, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500 per violation, for a total fine of $2,000; imposition of 1 Penalty Point per violation, for a total of 4 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: According to the case resolution, HIWU investigators found the following controlled medication substances-Equate ibuprofen tablets containing an unknown liquid, Acepromazine Maleate, Sulfadiazine/Trimethoprim, and Regu-mate/Altrenogest-when they conducted a search of Hicklin's stable areas and vehicle at Prairie Meadows. The possession of these substances is in violation of state law, according to the resolution. Date: 02/06/2025 Licensee: Peter Miller, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 7, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Forgiving Spirit, who finished third at Del Mar on 8/10/24. Violations of Crop Rule Mahoning Valley Roberto Perez – violation date Feb 6; $250 fine, no other info available Santa Anita Park Manuel Americano – violation date Feb 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension Welfin Orantes – violation date Feb 8; $500 fine, one-day suspension Sunland Park Miguel Fuentes – violation date Feb 6; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings – Feb. 6 -12 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”) and its prohibited substance enforcement unit, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (“HIWU”), are to be commended for withdrawing the TCO2 charges against numerous trainers with respect to a rash of positives in Pennsylvania, which, by inference, they allege are caused by so-called “milkshaking.” “Milkshaking” is the practice of pumping baking soda into a horse's stomach, which is believed to prevent or slow lactic acid buildup in horses and allow them to run faster and for longer periods. The numerous positives coming out of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory seemed to make little sense, as more and more Pennsylvania horsemen were being charged, yet very few positives for the same violation were found elsewhere, nor had there been a TCO2 violation in Pennsylvania for several years before the recent rash of alleged violations. While the problem with the Pennsylvania lab is apparently resolved, little attention has been given to the “elephant in the room”–the outrageously unfair rule that governs TCO2 testing. While virtually all equine drug testing has procedures in place for split sample testing after a positive test result, with the second sample going to a different lab, no such procedures exist for TCO2 testing. Under HISA rule 5430(l), TCO2 testing may be conducted not only post-race but also pre-race. Horsemen have to pay the cost of obtaining a so-called duplicate test. Horsemen may only request the duplicate sample prior to the taking of the official sample. This means horsemen cannot wait to ascertain whether the official sample yields a result higher than the permitted threshold or whether their horse won, hit the board, or earned a substantial purse before making the request. Not only do horsemen have to pay for a second sample before they know if it is necessary, the sample they are paying to obtain will not show whether the problem lies with the sample or with the lab conducting the testing because the duplicate sample is transmitted to the same lab as the official sample. While HISA may argue that this rule makes sense because of the degradation of a TCO2 sample within a few days and that TCO2 test results can take weeks to be received, the rule is simply unfair and, in my opinion will not withstand due process analysis. Why not change the rule to provide for two samples to be taken every time a sample is collected? Why not provide that horsemen pay for the second test only when there is a positive result? Why not provide that the duplicate sample be forwarded to different laboratories for analysis? Why not arrange for 48-hour test results? Another issue is that not all higher-than-permitted carbon dioxide results are caused by milkshaking. Lasix, medications, supplements, dehydration, illness, feed, the environment, the horse's physiology and other random factors may cause a high result. While TCO2 testing is necessary, the rule change is required to ensure the fairness that split-sample testing provides for the testing of other prohibited substances. Amendments to the rules should be undertaken in short order by HISA and the Federal Trade Commission before more honest and decent horsemen have their lives disrupted, get their names blasted over the internet being labeled as crooks, lose purse money, lose owners and incur unnecessary suspensions and counsel fees. –Richard J. Hackerman, P.C. is an attorney based in Baltimore, Maryland. The post Letter To The Editor: The Elephant In The Room, Total Carbon Dioxide Testing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Good Cheer, one of three undefeated graded stakes-winning 3-year-old fillies from the Brad Cox barn, is set to make her season bow in the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds.View the full article

It sometimes seems that not a weekend goes by where Brad Cox isn't making news and visiting the winner's circle somewhere after winning another important race. That was the case last weekend as Cox won the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs with John Hancock (Constitution). This coming weekend he'll send out one of his top threats for the GI Kentucky Oaks when the filly Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) makes her 2025 debut in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds. To talk about past successes and what's ahead for his stable, Cox was this week's Gainesway Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. Cox hasn't decided where John Hancock, who has made just two career starts, will run next, but he said he'll have just one more race before the Derby. “I think all the preps at the end of March and the beginning of April are in play,” he said. “Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida Derby, the Wood Memorial, all those races. He came out of the race in good order and I'm happy with what we saw from him the day after. I want to give the horse an opportunity to regroup a little bit and take one big swing at a 100-point race.” He also has the lightly raced Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who is coming off a second-place finish in the GIII Holy Bull S. “I think he's going to go next in the Florida Derby,” Cox said. “It's a race that offers 100 points to the winner. He picked up eight points in the Holy Bull, so we'll give him one big swing. Obviously this Derby trail, it's tough to go through the grind of it. It's not just about getting in the Derby. You want to have something left if you are able to get to the Derby. He's had two runs there at Gulfstream and will have one more run if all goes well. I hope that would propel him forward.” Good Cheer is undefeated in four starts, but the Rachel Alexandra will not be in easy spot. The competition includes GII Demoiselle S. runner-up Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) and Silverbulletday S. winner Simply Joking (Practical Joke). “I really love how she's doing,” Cox said. “I know it's typical trainer talk, but she is training well. We've had her down at Payson Park training her. She gets through that track very well. I think if you can get through that track and you're working well, galloping out well, you can normally take your show on the road. This is our first season there and we've had some success out of there. So I'm hoping she can show up as a three-year-old just like she did as a two-year-old. It's not a big field, but I think it's a very good group of three-year-old fillies. And a lot of people know that this path through New Orleans is a very good path toward having success in the Kentucky Oaks. So I'm excited about getting her started on Saturday.” In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, we went over the many reasons there are breed to WinStar stallion Independence Hall. The fastest horse of the week was Colloquial (Vekoma), who earned a 106 Beyer when winning a maiden race at Aqueduct. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association,https://pabred.com/https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, the KTOB, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley dissected the ultra-impressive performance by Colloquial and discussed his future. Is he a Kentucky Derby horse or will he prove to be best suited to sprint races? The team also discussed the future of Tampa Bay Downs, which has now been included in the on-going decoupling efforts in Florida, and gave their picks for the upcoming GII Risen Star S. and the Rachel Alexandra. The post Brad Cox Joins The TDN Writer’s Room Podcast Presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horseplay, an exhibit showcasing over 50 rare and antique board games focused on horseracing, will be displayed at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket beginning on Apr. 4. The games are on loan to the NHM from a private collection, and the exhibition is thought to be the largest display of horseracing-themed board games ever opened to the public. The games on display range from a wooden box with a hand crank dating from 1880, to a madcap drinking game where nobody can visit the loo before a 'pee break' card is drawn. Others include antique playing cards, a board game endorsed by a Hollywood legend and another invented by a famous composer. Visitors follow a Grand National-themed racetrack through the exhibition, rolling a giant dice to proceed, and pausing at interactive stations named after the jumps at Aintree. Along the way, people can view antique and contemporary games, and have a go at playing on replicas. Tickets for the NHM are £15, with children under 16 free of charge. the NHM is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To buy tickets and find out more about the Horseplay exhibit, please visit the NHM website. The post Horseracing Board Game Exhibit To Begin At NHM In April appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland will open ticket sales for its 2025 spring meet, to be held April 4-25, on Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. ET. A variety of ticket options for dining, grandstand reserved seating, and general admission will be available. View the full article

Juddmonte homebred Laurel River, co-winner of the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse award last month, will miss an intended start in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Feb. 22.View the full article

With an economic impact of more than $3.2 billion to the state, the importance of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County, and Florida as a whole, cannot be overstated. Any action that threatens the viability of our racing and breeding operations is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, Inc. (OBS) is proud to be the leading seller of two-year-olds in training in the world and while the sales attract a broad group of domestic and international buyers, it is critical that OBS along with the Florida horsemen and breeders have a stable environment in our own backyard. OBS is a center of commerce for the Thoroughbred marketplace in Florida and often relied upon to generate income to help sustain training and breeding operations. Therefore, we have been steadfast in our opposition to decoupling. It is important to understand that the bill for decoupling is in the initial stages and has a long way to get to the finish line. Simply put, decoupling will allow a Thoroughbred racetrack to operate a stand-alone slot and card casino by removing the statutory requirement to conduct racing and fund purses and breeder awards for the horsemen that helped them qualify for the gaming license and supply the horses for the races. The push for decoupling by 1/ST Racing is disturbing, selfish and unfounded. 1/ST Racing should be applauded for their significant investment in racing, but it is counterintuitive that a company with “Racing” in their name would want to do anything that would harm racing in Florida and throughout the country. Make no mistake, if this bill passes, the impact WILL harm racing and will not be limited to Florida, the ripple effects will be nationwide, and the message will be deafening. It is our hope and belief that decoupling of Thoroughbred racing will not become a reality in Florida. The problem is that the existence of the bill itself has created obvious concern, uncertainties throughout the industry and has likely impacted breeding decisions. This is not an isolated Florida issue; it is a national issue and opposition to the bill includes leaders from throughout the country that actually compete with Florida in attracting horsemen and breeders to race and breed in their state. This bill creates a disincentive to race. The legislators have consistently and historically recognized the importance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Florida by creating a statutory framework that protects and promotes the Thoroughbred industry. The current effort to pass decoupling is ill founded and will favor one company while inflicting wide reaching damage to a signature industry of Florida and more importantly the livelihood of the thousands of people that rely upon the stability of the Thoroughbred industry. In 2021, the legislators once again recognized the profound impact of the Thoroughbred industry to the state and specifically excluded Thoroughbred racing from being decoupled and retained other protective measures to maintain racing days. In fact, when slot machines were initially approved in 2005, statutory language for Thoroughbred permitholders were unique compared to the other pari-mutuel permitholders. Since day one with the support of horsemen, breeders, and the Thoroughbred tracks (including Gulfstream Park and Calder), there has been a statutory requirement for an agreement for purses and breeders' awards to be in place before a slot license could be issued to a Thoroughbred permitholder. Since the inception of slots, Jai Alai, Greyhound, and Standardbred permitholders have never been required to share slots revenue or have an agreement with the underlying participants. The requirements for Quarter Horse permitholders were ineffective due to loopholes in the statute. Owners, breeders, trainers, and all horsemen have options when considering where to race and breed. Hence, it is vital that Florida continues to support Thoroughbred racing and breeding and not force businesses and jobs to flee Florida to more welcoming states. Having a vibrant horse industry in Florida that is competitive with other states protects an established, signature industry that not only provides a tremendous economic impact but promotes and preserves greenspace. While it is certainly the prerogative of the owners of Gulfstream Park to walk away from racing and develop or sell their property, they do not and should not have the right to walk away with parting gifts of standalone slots and cards from the backs of the horsemen and breeders that are their partners and were critical in obtaining these privileges. Decoupling will send the wrong message. Now is the time to do the right thing; step up, withdraw the bill as well as the notion of decoupling before it creates any more damage. The post OBS Open Letter To The Industry On Florida Decoupling Legislation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of two dozen point-to-pointers have been catalogued for the Feb. 21 Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale, which begins at 1 p.m. It is the first sale of 4-year-old point-to-pointers of the year and features a quartet of debut winners. Hitintheheadlines (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) won by 14 lengths at Tallow, while Taurus Bay (Ire) (Poet's Word {Ire}) landed a Comea point-to-point. Kanzler (Fr) (Tai Chi {Ger}) scored at Kirkistown by seven lengths, and the final debut winner is Lion Rose Sivola (Fr) (Victory Song {Ire}). To view the catalogue, or to make an entry, please visit the Tattersalls Cheltenham website. The post Initial Entries Released For Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

I read with interest and a certain amount of confusion, Sue Finley's TDN article about the woes of Kentucky stallion studs. On the one hand, everyone is agreed that it is difficult to fill stallion books, and on the other, the idea of any book being full has long been consigned to the history books. When I worked at Ashford in the mid-90s, Woodman topped the active sires list ('96 or '97) and the size of his book caused scandalized conversation in some quarters. One breeder even told me it was impossible to cover so many mares and that we simply had to be cheating and using AI (no, the other one). I politely replied that were simply using hard work and long hours. The 148-odd mares he covered that season seems positively quaint by today's standards! To read this morning that Hard Spun is considered a failure at 95 bookings (so far) is shocking and of course a result of unlimited books and the over-commercialization of breeding. Which, according to the article, everyone now, finally, admits is a problem. And yet, nobody seems to want to look at the obvious fix and hit the necessary reset to bring it about. If ever there was a moment to limit stallion book numbers, it is surely now? Ideally, there would be one limit for proven sires and an even lower one for the unproven. We all seem to have forgotten that good sires tend to make it regardless of their book sizes! With book limits in place, the resulting trickledown effect would see capable underused sires getting their fair share. Book limits would also force many people in breeding solely for commercial reasons to re-evaluate their reasons for being in the game and either change their priorities or stop breeding. This process might be a painful one for some, but it would lead to a change in mentality, an end to the current tail-wags-dog situation with regard to sales/commercial value and racing spectacle, and most importantly, it would end the current fashion for calling horses a product (several times in this article alone) and treating them as financial commodities. If we were able to do all that, then we wouldn't need slick marketing to gloss over problems and convince the general public to go racing or new fans to become owner/breeders because the public would feel and see the change and thus regard horse racing once more as the sport of kings. Here's hoping meaningful change will one day happen for the sake of our wonderful sport. All the best, Eric Eric Ward grew up in Ireland and spent nearly 30 years in stud farming all over the world including a decade with Coolmore. He managed studs in Ireland, China and Turkey. Now based in Gaillac, France he assists his winemaker wife, writes novels and is also a volunteer fire-fighter/first responder. The post Letter To the Editor: Here’s Hoping For Meaningful Change appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland will open ticket sales for its 2025 Spring Meet, to be held Apr. 4-25, on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. ET, according to a press release from the track on Wednesday. A variety of options for Dining, Grandstand reserved seating and General Admission will be available. All tickets must be purchased in advance via Keeneland's Official Online Ticket Office. The 15-day Spring Meet features racing Wednesdays through Sundays with a daily first post of 1 p.m. ET, except closing day, Friday, Apr. 25, when the first race is 12:30 p.m. ET. There will be no racing on Sunday, Apr. 20, in observance of the Easter holiday. Ticket pricing for General Admission and Grandstand reserved seating for the Spring Meet are: General Admission: Wednesday/Thursday tickets are $7; Friday/Saturday/Sunday tickets are $10; opening Saturday tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are free. General Admission Spring Meet Season Passes: $50. Passes are pre-sold until April 3. Grandstand Reserved Seats: Wednesday/Thursday seats are $15; Friday/Saturday/Sunday seats are $25; opening Saturday seats are $30. Price includes General Admission. The post Keeneland Tickets For Spring Meet On Sale Feb. 18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer gets the chocolates with Daily Trophy, Charming Steed and Capital Delight at Sha Tin on Wednesday night.View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled live racing Feb. 12 due to the winter storm that impacted the area Feb. 11 into the early morning hours Wednesday.View the full article

Reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat won the Sam F. Davis Stakes aboard John Hancock Feb. 8, then flew to Santa Anita Park Feb. 9 where he won the Sweet Life Stakes aboard Casalu.View the full article

Juddmonte Farms's Laurel River (Into Mischief) has been removed from consideration for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup on Feb. 22 after picking up a minor injury that will require 'two weeks' rest', according to a tweet from racing personality Nick Luck, who was first to report the news. “Just a knock apparently, but it prevented him from getting in a critical workout before traveling,” Juddmonte USA's General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said in a text message. “Will wait for the Dubai World Cup.” Trained by Bhupat Seemar, the homebred 7-year-old demolished a field including defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and 2024 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in last year's World Cup, for which he was recently recognized as the world's joint top-rated runner in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Put away for the season with an eye on the Saudi Cup and a title defense at Meydan in April, Laurel River returned to action in the G3 Firebreak Stakes on the Fashion Friday program Jan. 24. Aggressive in the run beneath his regular rider Tadhg O'Shea, Laurel River carried what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage into the final 400 meters, but he began to feel the pinch, shortened stride and was nabbed on the wire by King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}). Seemar told the Dubai Racing Club: “He had a small setback in training and missed his intended workout for the Saudi Cup. We will keep him in Dubai and aim him at the Dubai World Cup.” Laurel River began his career under the care of Bob Baffert, winning four of seven starts, including the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes in 2022. The would-be favorite for that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he was taken out in the days leading up to the race and was transferred to Seemar. After faltering in a Group 3 sprint over 1200 meters on his local debut last winter, the bay bounced back in no uncertain terms in the G3 Burj Nahaar, a course-and-distance prep for the G2 Godolphin Mile. Connections elected to take their shot in the World Cup instead and the results were sensational, as he had 8 1/2 lengths on Ushba Tesoro on the wire. A full field of 14 is still expected for the 1800-meter contest. With Laurel River's defection, Wootton'sun (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is eligible to draw in from the reserves. He is also entered for the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000 meters. The post Laurel River Ruled Out of Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the 2025 breeding season upon us, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Susan Anderson is involved in every aspect of the industry as an owner, breeder, and trainer. She runs Point Of View Farm in Ohio, where she bred 'TDN Rising Star' GSW Jonathan's Way (Vekoma), who currently sits in eighth on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' leaderboard with 15 points. Anderson shares her 2025 mating plans, including for her newest additions to her broodmare band–a homebred stakes winner and the half-sister to Jonathan's Way. Female Drama (18, Indian Charlie-Newhall Road, by Dixieland Band) to be bred to Twirling Candy. Female Drama is currently in foal to Nashville and is going to Twirling Candy this year. I decided she deserves a proven stallion and Twirling Candy fits that bill. She nicks well with him and I love him as a sire. Windsail (14, Grand Appointment–Windcat, by Iroquois Park) to be bred to Kingsbarns. Windsail is going to Kingsbarns. I loved him immediately when I saw him. He fits Windsail physically as she is a big mare and he is average in height but very fast looking with a great shoulder and nice hip. She is the dam of SW Windy Lu Who (Justin Phillip), MSP Angel's Sassy (Cinco Charlie), and SP Maleah (Mitole). Her 2024 filly is by Drain the Clock and Windsail currently in foal to Two Phil's. Bode's Rose (6, Bodemeister–Female Drama, by Indian Charlie) to be bred to Vekoma. She is a maiden mare and a half-sister to Jonathan's Way, which is the reason for my choice, as well as MSP Startdfromdabottom (Kantharos). I believe she fits Vekoma physically as well. Angel's Sassy (7, Cinco Charlie–Windsail, by Grand Appointment) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro. Angel's Sassy is a young, unproven stakes-placed mare. Her first foal is a yearling colt by Jimmy Creed. She is in foal to Drain the Clock and is booked to Bolt d'Oro. He is a great value at $15,000 this year. Angel's Sassy is an A+ Nick with him. Windy Lu Who (8, Justin Phillip–Windsail, by Grand Appointment) to be bred to Arabian Lion. Windy Lu Who is a stakes winning mare by Justin Phillip. She was my first stakes winner as the breeder and has earnings over $300,000. She is booked to Arabian Lion. He is a second-year sire and she nicks very well with him. The post 2025 Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift Farm: Susan Anderson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sands Of Mali (Fr) will remain at Ballyhane Stud after an injunction application by Steve Parkin to have the stallion removed from the care of his former advisor Joe Foley was turned down by the High Court in Ireland. The injunction hearing, which took place in Dublin on January 23, outlined the disputed ownership of Sands Of Mali, with Parkin claiming to have bought the son of Panis outright while Foley, owner of Ballyhane, countered that Parkin had taken a 50 per cent share of the horse with him. Foley's claim to shared ownership of the stallion was backed up by affadavits from Sands Of Mali's former trainer Richard Fahey and bloodstock agent Federico Barberini, who was formerly employed by Parkin. The latter had made payment to Sands Of Mali's former owner The Cool Silk Partnership but in court Foley stated that his share in the stallion was credited against boarding and training fees due for Parkin-owned horses residing at Ballyhane Stud. This is disputed by Parkin, who claims that there was a profit-sharing agreement for Sands Of Mali but no partnership. Delivering his judgement, Mr Justice Nolan determined that Sands Of Mali should remain at Ballyhane Stud on the proviso that he is examined by a vet at least once every six weeks and that monthly accounts pertaining to the stallion are made available to Parkin. Parkin had claimed that there were welfare issues in regard to Sands Of Mali remaining at Ballyhane but this was refuted in the judge's determination which stated that “There was no evidence that the stallion is subject to any detrimental environmental issue or that his health is in any way affected by it remaining there”. Reacting to the judgement, which comes as the covering season gets properly underway, Foley said, “I'm obviously happy that this judgement vindicates my position but am equally pleased that it provides certainty for Sands Of Mali and to the many breeders who want to use him this season. “The uncertainty surrounding his future caused by this court action was unsettling but, despite this, he's on track to cover a full book of mares and I'd like to put on record my thanks to our many clients for their support. Sands Of Mali looks to have a lot of talent as a stallion and he should have a bright future ahead for both of us.” In reference to the court proceedings, he added, “It's obviously a shame that it came to this but recent events notwithstanding, Steve and I had a great 20 years working together. We enjoyed some brilliant successes during that time and I'm proud of the role that I played in that success, culminating with two Group 1 winners bred from his farm in 2024 out of mares I'd bought for him as yearlings. It's important to reflect that Steve was a big investor in the industry and supported a lot of smaller trainers and breeders over the years and I wish him and his family every success into the future. “However, it's time to concentrate all my efforts now on Ballyhane and I'm pleased to report that our new recruit, Sakheer, has gone down very well with breeders and has a strong first book of mares to cover, so along with Sands Of Mali, we're delighted to have two exciting young stallions here and my family and I can't thank our friends and clients enough for their support during the past year.” Sands Of Mali at Ballyhane Stud Sands Of Mali was initially bought as a yearling by Con Marnane for €20,000 at Osarus and later fetched £75,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-up Sale when selected by Matt Coleman for The Cool Silk Partnership. His racing career spanned five wins from 18 starts across four seasons, with victory over Harry Angel (Ire) in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint of 2018 representing the peak of his success for the Fahey stable. Bought for stud duties in August 2020 for £225,000, Sands Of Mali started covering mares at Ballyhane Stud in 2021 and was one of the leading first-season sires in Europe last year with 21 two-year-old winners. In 2023, Parkin launched his own stallion operation at Dullingham Park just outside Newmarket and moved his stallion Soldier's Call (GB) from Ballyhane Stud to stand alongside the newly purchased Shaquille (GB) in England for the 2024 covering season. In March 2024, following a breakdown in the longstanding business relationship and friendship between Parkin and Foley, Parkin removed Space Traveller (GB) and Asymmetric (Ire) from Ballyhane to stand at Starfield Stud in Ireland. Sands Of Mali remained with Foley, who had previously been racing manager and advisor for Parkin's racing operation conducted under the name of his company Clipper Logistics, which he sold in May 2022. Parkin and Foley filed legal proceedings against each other in the Irish High Court last July. In 2024, Parkin enjoyed victory in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas with Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). The filly was bred by him at his Branton Court Stud in Yorkshire and was sold last summer, along with a number of other horses, to Wathnan Racing. Parkin also bred last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). Steve Parkin has been approached for comment by TDN and this story will be updated when a statement is received. The post Judge Rules Sands Of Mali Will Stay at Ballyhane Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ryan Moore, Declan McDonogh, Richard Kingscote, Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand have been granted jockeys' licences to ride in Hong Kong over the next few months. Doyle and Marquand have both ridden winners in Hong Kong in recent seasons and will be available to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday 16 February and Happy Valley next Wednesday, 19 February. Moore is set to be in attendance for meetings at Happy Valley (26 February and 5 March) as well as at Sha Tin (2 March) for Hong Kong Classic Cup race day. Kingscote and McDonogh are both set to make their debuts in Hong Kong and will be in the territory for the longest periods, with Kingscote granted a six-week licence beginning next Wednesday (19 February) at Happy Valley, while McDonagh is free to ride from next Sunday's Sha Tin (23 February) meeting up until 2 April. Regular Hong Kong riders Zac Purton, Vincent Ho, Keith Yeung and Angus Chung were all injured in an incident at Sha Tin last Sunday and have been ruled out of riding at the upcoming meetings. Latest updates suggest Yeung could return in two to three weeks, while Purton and Chung both sustained fractures and it is thought they will be out for four to six weeks. Vincent Ho sustained a head injury and has been discharged from intensive care but it is not yet known how long the leading local rider will be out for. The post Moore, Marquand And Doyle Among Five European Riders Set For Hong Kong Stint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William Pike.(Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Champion Western Australian jockey William Pike is set to make his highly anticipated return to the saddle this Saturday at Flemington, marking the end of a frustrating injury layoff. The 38-year-old, has been sidelined since December 7 after fracturing his wrist in an e-scooter accident. Pike’s return ride will be aboard fellow WA galloper Aztec Ruler in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) for trainer Stefan Vahala. “The wrist is feeling pretty good,” Pike told Racing WA. “Fitness probably isn’t quite where it should be, but it will be okay for the one ride.” Aztec Ruler, a proven talent over the 1400m distance, has shown mixed form in Melbourne. He put in a bold first-up performance when running second in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington but failed to fire when finishing unplaced in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown. “He’s picked up, looks better, is working better, but you still don’t know what you are going to get,” Pike said. “He had to be picked up off the floor and the team have done a very good job in doing it.” A tough task awaits Aztec Ruler, as he has drawn the outside barrier (11) in the field of 11 runners, with top horse racing betting sites having him marked as a $7.50 chance. However, a win in The Elms Handicap would secure the horse a spot in the lucrative Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m), a significant incentive for connections. Having missed out on the winning ride aboard Western Empire in the $1.5 million Gold Rush due to his injury, Pike is determined to make up for lost time. His return to Flemington on Saturday could be the first step in reclaiming his dominance in the saddle. Horse racing news View the full article

Star Englishman, Richard Kingscote, Declan McDonogh and James Orman join Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle in answering the Jockey Club’s call.View the full article

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk One of the country’s top drivers Sarah O’Reilly has been dealt some more bad news. Out of action since a trackwork accident at Ashburton Raceway last July, the Mid Canterbury-based driver has been told this week that she requires an operation on her arm and will be months away from resuming race day driving. “I got the result from the CT scan and it has not healed properly and they are going to put a plate into the arm,” O’Reilly says. It had been hoped that the arm will ultimately mend itself and that she’d be back driving by the end of last year. “There is still a gap in the fracture,” says O’Reilly, “the movement in the arm is ok it’s just when I will try and put weight on it.” Now she’s awaiting a date for surgery at Christchurch Hospital. “They say that it will take three months after that before it’s back to normal.” It’s just the latest “pretty annoying” blow for the 24-year-old. “I’m bored,” she admits. In July 2024 O’Reilly broke the arm and suffered a broken cheekbone and jaw after a horse “jumped” into her cart. At the time she had recorded 32 wins in her first year as an open driver after being a star in the junior ranks. She won the junior drivers’ premiership in 2022 and 2023 and was the Junior Drivers Championship winner four times in five years between 2019 and 2023. For someone used to chasing the drives, especially all around the South Island, it’s clearly been a frustrating time. “I try to keep busy but really there’s not a lot to do.” View the full article

Timaru Harness Racing Club president Gary Moir has got April 2 circled on his calendar – and he can’t wait. “It’s going to be a bit of history isn’t it?,” he says. The reason for his excitement is that it’s been agreed that the club will hold its first meeting on the grass track usually reserved for the gallopers at Phar Lap Raceway. Records show there hasn’t been grass track racing at Timaru since the original track was turned into an all-weather (grit) one in the late 1960s. “It’s something different,” says Moir, “we have seen how popular grass track racing is around the country and we have been keen to give it a go.” After many discussions with Harness Racing New Zealand and other parties the midweek April 2 date was sealed and Moir is confident the gallops track will cope with the sulkies just fine. “The pylons will be set out three metres and the gallops don’t race there till June so we will be all good.” “Historically weather wise it is also one of the better times of the year and anyway we had 40 mils of rain the other day and you would have known – the surface was perfect.” Eight races have been programmed for the Wednesday meeting. “We are hopeful there will still be some good grass trackers wanting to race in April,” says Moir, “the likes of the Dunns and Hopes and others.” “It’s what they call an “industry day” but we think it will get some good support.” View the full article

Sales graduates starring at the HRNZ awards, Harrison Orange’s slender lead in the Revell Douglas series and an eye-catching quinella all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Sales graduates win big With the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales getting underway at Karaka this Saturday it’s timely to note that Sales graduates claimed eight trophies during Saturday night’s NZB Standardbred-sponsored 2024 Harness Racing Awards at Addington. They were : Merlin – 4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding and Pacer of the Year Marketplace – 2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding Republican Party – 5YO and Older Pacing Entire/Gelding Bet N Win 4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding Meant To Be – 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding Chase A Dream – 3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding Mantra Blue – 4YO Pacing Mare Saturday’s sales in Auckland will be followed three days later in Christchurch next Tuesday, February 18. To see the catalogue click here Transport, entry and hospitality at The Mot Harness Racing New Zealand and Next Gen have arranged a special bus service for visitors attending the NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sales to get to and from Sunday’s Banks Peninsula Trotting Club meeting at Motukarara. The Christchurch pick ups are at : 10:20 AM – Commodore Hotel 10:35 AM – Chateau on the Park 10:40 AM – Depart for Motukarara Raceway Return Trip: 5:45 PM – Depart Motukarara, returning to Chateau on the Park and Commodore Hotel All bus passengers will get free entry to the course and are invited to join HRNZ and Next Gen in our marquee on the hill for an afternoon of great racing, networking, and hospitality. Seats are limited to 45 passengers and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your place, email cameron@hrnz.co.nz today. Changes to feature race calendar A small number of changes have been made to the Feature Race Calendar at Addington. All changes have been approved by HRNZ and The Metropolitan Trotting Club. The Canterbury Breeders Stakes was scheduled on April 19, 2025 and will now be held on May 2, 2025 while the Heather Williams Memorial moves from May 2 to May 23 and the About Now Mares Trot is brought forward, from May 23 to May 2. Grey 1-2 at Methven Everyone loves a grey and what a sight it was at Methven on Sunday when Dem Bones Dem Bones and Silverlinings produced the quinella in the John Morrison, Ken McRae and Dave McHugh Trot. The pair were one-two throughout with the Ben Hope trained and driven Dem Bones Dem Bones getting the better of the pace-making Silverlinings via the passing lane. Trained by Don Burrows, Silverlinings was driven by Sam Thornley, with the all-grey quinella paying $56.10. Orange leading Revell Douglas Series After four of seven heats, Harrison Orange has the narrowest of leads in the 2025 Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series. The latest heat was held at Methven on Sunday, with Olivia Thornley winning with Francent. She is now on 17 points, fifth equal with Taitlyn Hanara. Orange has 34 points, Crystal Hackett is next on 33 while 2022 Revell Douglas winner Alicia Harrison is on 26. This is the fourth year of the series which is run in memory of the late Revell Douglas who tragically lost his life in an incident at Karioitahi Beach in 2021. The next heat will be held at Motukarara this Sunday. Beside Me turns heads with Addington win The numbers don’t lie when it comes to Beside Me’s eye-catching win at Addington last Friday night. With Next Gen driver Carter Dalgety in the bike, the Downbytheseaside filly was eight lengths off the leaders turning for home in the Barron Bloodstock Class of 2025 Fillies and Mobile Pace only to roar past with ease to win by more than two lengths. Her last 800 was 53.91 with the last 400 at 26.4. It was her second win in just three starts and she looks a filly of enormous potential for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety. Kiwis to be honoured in USA There will be a strong Kiwi flavour to the latest inductees into the US Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Ex-pat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder was announced last year and it’s now been confirmed that Kiwi-bred champion pacing mare Shartin N will join him. Bred by Grant Crabbe at Prebbleton, just outside Christchurch, in 2019 Shartin N became the first horse bred outside North America to be named Horse of the Year in the USA. With a best of 1:46.8 Shartin N was the fastest pacing mate in history. She won 46 races and $2.6m in stakes. The official Hall of Fame function will be held in New York in July. And pacing sensation Twin B Joe Fresh, who is part owned by Ryder and champion driver Dexter Dunn, has been named Older Pacing Mare of the Year in Standardbred Canada’s annual O’Brien awards. She won 11 from 12 in 2024 including nine in a row. Her best time was 1:47.6 at The Meadowlands. Latest from Sires Stakes The NZ Sires Stakes wants feedback on topics relating to the sport. There’s a questionnaire in their latest newsletter. To find out more click here View the full article