Wandering Eyes

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be the official aftercare partner of the Pegasus World Cup, set to be held Saturday, January 25 at Gulfstream Park, the TAA announced Tuesday. A named race held both Friday and Saturday for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will continue a 10-year partnership between the Pegasus World Cup, 1/ST Racing and the TAA. On Friday, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present Race 5 while Saturday will feature the GII TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes. Winners of both races will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance blanket and gift bag. Additionally, in recognition of their enduring collaboration, 1/ST RACING will present Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a check donation of $50,000 following the TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Representatives from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance including several Board Members as well as representatives from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's accredited organizations will be present for the check presentation. “We're excited to welcome Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance back as the Official Aftercare Partner of Pegasus World Cup,” said The Stronach Group's Vice President Nicole Walker. “Having Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as part of this event not only enhances our celebration of Florida racing but also stresses the industry's commitment to aftercare and equine welfare.” A representative from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be present to host the winners of the “Off to the Races” VIP Experience online benefit auction. This exciting VIP experience was donated by 1/ST RACING. The winners will enjoy premium dining for four at the Ten Palms Restaurant, access to the winner's circle for Friday's Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance named race, a guided backside tour of Gulfstream Park, and much more. “Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is incredibly grateful to be the Official Aftercare Partner of the Pegasus World Cup once again,” said the TAA's Operations Consultant Stacie Clark Rogers. “We are excited to kick off 2025 with first VIP experience of the year at a fantastic event that helps to raise awareness and support for retired Thoroughbreds, while celebrating the outstanding athletes of the racing world at this prestigious event.” On Saturday, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present Best Turned Out awards, sponsored by Centennial Farm, for all 14 races at Gulfstream Park. The winning groom and horse of each race will be spotlighted by the track announcer on-site, as well as on Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's social media accounts. As a gesture of recognition, the recipient of this award will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance gift bag. The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Named Official Aftercare Partner For Pegasus World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The members elected John Velazquez and Mike Smith as Co-chairmen, Javier Castellano, Julien Leparoux and James Flores as Co-vice chairmen, Tyler Gaffalione as Secretary and Julien Leparoux as Treasurer. View the full article

A Bob Baffert trainee, Imagination comes out of a third in the Malibu against his own age group.View the full article

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled its live racing program for Jan. 22 because of frigid temperatures expected to impact the region. Races from Wednesday's card have been brought back on the overnight as extras for Saturday's card.View the full article

Turfway Park has moved its Wednesday racing card to Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. ET first post due to extreme cold temperatures. The National Weather Service forecast calls for wind chill factors in the single digits throughout the day Wednesday.View the full article

A lot of early buzz surrounded Coolmore's City of Troy, and he certainly lived up to the hype by co-winning the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse AwardView the full article

Dan Preiss had an angle going into the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. The progeny of Arrogate were just heating up, with Secret Oath, Cave Rock and And Tell Me Nolies all having claimed Grade I scores for their late sire already that year, but the market was still hesitant about committing to daughters of Arrogate as producers. Preiss hypothesized that someday soon, that would change. With a limited budget, Preiss landed on Disco Diva, an unraced Juddmonte homebred by Arrogate, and purchased the 2-year-old maiden for KingFisher Farm for just $8,000. This past Saturday, Disco Diva received a flashy pedigree update when her half-brother Disco Time (Not This Time) scored in the GIII Lecomte Stakes. The Brad Cox-trained Juddmonte homebred is now undefeated in three career starts. Meanwhile the promising colt's half-sister is in California at KingFisher Farm carrying a foal by Halladay, a Grade I-winning son of War Front standing in California at Harris Farms with his first crop of juveniles hitting the track this year. The mare also has a newly turned yearling filly by Idol, a young stallion who spent some time at the Santa Ynez Valley farm on layup during his racing career. Preiss said that for now his client Katie Fisher, owner of KingFisher Farm, has no plans of parting with Disco Diva. “After Disco Time broke his maiden she got a few nibblers trying to steal the mare back, so she has gotten some offers but she's shooting them away so far,” explained Preiss. “Hopefully Disco Time goes on to the Derby and then who knows? All bets are off.” Disco Diva marks one of the biggest finds of Preiss's relatively short tenure in racing. It wasn't too long ago that Preiss was busy managing his collection of McDonald's restaurants, but eight years ago, he decided to take the leap and try out his hand as a bloodstock agent. A native of Chicago, Preiss was first introduced to racing as a teenager. “I was a total city boy,” he recalled. “But when I got to high school there was a kid who became one of my best friends and his dad was a harness driver and trainer. My friend and I would get in the carts racing around the track with the horses, and I had no idea what I was doing, but I started to really like the horses. We'd go out to Maywood Park and shovel stalls for a little bit of money on the weekends, get some tips and go make bets. I always said one day I wanted to own a horse.” While he was in college, Preiss got a job working at McDonald's. He worked his way up to management and eventually, bought a couple of his own restaurants. For 20 years, Preiss owned a string of McDonald's restaurants in Nevada. When Preiss decided to re-visit his interest in racing by getting involved in some ownership syndicates, his interest quickly grew into a passion. “I would go to the sales and stay in the background and watch and then I would ask people questions,” Preiss said. “I got to a point where I wanted to do it a little bit more seriously. I would identify people that I know are really good at picking out horses, so I would go up to people like Paul Sharp and say, 'Hey Paul, you mind if I tag along and ask you a bunch of questions?' Everyone I asked was all so gracious and helpful to me.” Disco Time scores in the GIII Lecomte Stakes for Juddmonte | Hodges Photography In 2017, Preiss decided to sell his restaurants and launch a second career in the racing industry. “I decided I wanted to do my own thing,” he explained. “I owned restaurants for over 20 years and got a little burned out on that, but it was great for my family and affords me the luxury of being able to do what I'm doing now. I learned as much as I could about picking out racehorses and now I'm an agent, albeit on the smaller side with less money, but I'm proud of where we've gotten.” Recent successes include Dreamfyre (Flameaway), who earned a pair of Grade III scores in California in 2023, Mugatu (Blofeld) a multiple stakes-placed colt who ran in last year's GI Preakness Stakes and Maximus (Maximus Mischief), a $30,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic purchase who broke his maiden by nearly 10 lengths last October. Most of the time he's working with a small budget, but Preiss said he prides himself on doing the research in order to dig up some value. “That's been my niche all along and I've been introduced by people at sales where they'll say, 'Hey, I want you to meet Dan Preiss, he always comes to a sale and buys a horse for like $10,000 and it goes on to win $100,000.' Afterwards I'll pull them aside and jokingly say, 'Stop introducing me as the guy who buys $10,000 horses. I work on commission!” He continued, “I've kind of developed what I'm looking for based off little pieces from all these people that I would go around and pick their brain. There would be things that they would point out that nobody else pointed out and it would really strike something with me.” It was actually breeder Carrie Brogden's outspoken affinity for Unbridled's Song mares that gave Preiss that idea to hone in on a daughter of Arrogate two years ago. “Arrogate was still a bit chilly and I was thinking about Carrie Brodgen's Unbridled's Song thing where they don't make those anymore, plus with my small budget I can't get an Unbridled's Song, but I know that they're really nice. So I thought, 'Well Arrogate was brilliant on the track and he's from the Unbridled's Song line.'” Disco Diva was one of nine Arrogate mares that sold at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale for a collective average of just under $67,000. At the most recent Keeneland November Sale, 12 Arrogate mares sold to average over $187,000. “It's hard to beat getting something out of a Juddmonte family like that with my budget, so I was super stoked to get her,” Preiss recalled of Disco Diva's purchase. “I've done that same angle buying cheaper mare from these big farms. I'm always looking for those types when shopping with my small budgets. Sometimes you can get a whole lot of pedigree for a little bit of money when something slips through like that.” The post Disco Time’s $8,000 Sister a Well-Bought Purchase for Preiss appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Members of the racing industry from around the world gathered at the historic Savoy Hotel in central London Jan. 21 to honor equine excellence from the 2024 racing season during the Longines World Racing Awards.View the full article

Long-time racing journalist and historian Edward Bowen passed away Monday, Jan. 20 at his home in Versailles, KY at the age of 82 according to a report from the Blood-Horse. The magazine's former Editor-In-Chief from 1987-1992 also spent 24 years as the president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation during a career in racing and journalism which spanned over 60 years. This story will be updated. The post Veteran Journalist Edward Bowen Dies At 82 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The promising young chaser Peaky Boy (Ire) (Kayf Tara {GB}) (lot 44) will continue his racing career with Jonjo and AJ O'Neill after he achieved the top price at Tuesday's Goffs January Sale. Offered by Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows, the seven-year-old was led out of the ring not sold at £195,000, before being purchased privately by O'Neill Racing for an undisclosed, six-figure sum. The horses-in-training session featured a nine-strong draft from Coolmeen Farms, with their five-year-old Johnny's Jury (Ire) (lot 22) proving the most expensive of the day's other lots. A son of Jukebox Jury (Ire) and a half-brother to the multiple Grade 1 hero Appreciate It (Ire) (Jeremy), Johnny's Jury was bought by Tom Malone and Jamie Snowden for £75,000, having finished third on his first start over hurdles at Ffos Las earlier this month. The sale also offered a selection of National Hunt breeding stock and weanlings. The mares were topped by Baroda Stud's Listed winner Misty Whisky (GB) (Stowaway {GB}) (lot 163), who was offered in foal to Golden Horn (GB) and was purchased by Ashfield House for £60,000. The weanling session was headlined by Cobhall Court Stud's Kapgarde (Fr) colt who went through the ring as lot 129, with J.P. McGrath Bloodstock striking the winning bid at £30,000. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “The January Sale opens the European sale circuit each year and it has been incredibly satisfying to start the year with some good prices across all categories today. “The highlights of the horses-in-training section were the dispersals from Oliver Harris and Coolmeen Farm and it was therefore pleasing to see Johnny's Jury realise £75,000. Whilst it was disappointing that Peaky Boy did not sell in the ring, we were delighted to get him sold privately for an undisclosed six-figure, sale topping sum, to O'Neill Racing.” He added, “The trade for the NH Mares and Foals followed trade at similar sales towards the end of last year. Whilst we were hopeful of sustained demand for this category, there is no denying that trade was selective and it was tough for some breeders. Whilst we can all celebrate the high prices, we recognise the challenging nature of the NH market away from the headlines and how tough it can be if you don't have exactly what the market wants.” The post Peaky Boy Tops Goffs January Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In conjunction with this Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup, 1/ST Racing is partnering with an international horse racing media rights firm to launch a free-to-play contest that will offer a VIP trip for two to the 2025 GI California Crown at Santa Anita Park in September, including flights, accommodations and raceday hospitality. The contest, called Crown Jewels Racing (website here) is linked to a larger series of international races distributed by HBA Media in England, and the Pegasus contest is the first in a larger series of “league” Crown Jewels games that features a grand prize of a VIP trip for two to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2026. “HBA is a company in the UK that is basically a global distribution for horse racing,” Peter Rotondo, the senior vice president of racing and wagering for 1/ST, told TDN. “They have deals with all the major race meets around the world, and they distribute their content.” Although NBC and Peacock will exclusively broadcast and stream the Jan. 25 Pegasus here in the United States, HBA will be carrying the event on other platforms around the globe. Rotondo said that's an advantageous global opportunity, because it allows 1/ST (and other participating U.S. racing entities that host later races in the series) to arrange for major Thoroughbred events to get broad publicity and coverage outside of America. “Really, their entire focus is horse racing media rights, which, in this day and age, it's great that someone is that invested in it,” Rotondo said. “What makes it unique is the idea that they actually have all of these race meets as partners–the Pegasus World Cup, Cheltenham, the [GI] Belmont, the [GI] Preakness, the [GI Kentucky] Derby, the Breeders' Cup. In horse racing, it's usually so difficult for everyone to work together, and [it's noteworthy] that this company has come on over the years and acquired the rights to all of these major races and now works as one entity that networks have to talk to to get all of these races on the air,” Rotondo said. “That is such a smart advantage, because on the world stage, usually you have to talk to so many different entities [to get international broadcast or streaming deals done]. But now HBA is the entity that brought all of these race meets together, not only on television, but with a fun, free-to-play game that they've launched, and it all kicks off with the Pegasus,” Rotondo said. “HBA is bringing over [ITV Racing and Channel 10 presenter] Francesca Cumani to host the Pegasus show,” Rotondo said. “They basically use the NBC broadcast as the 'host' broadcast, but she does features in and around Miami and Gulfstream to bring the lifestyle and the [flavor of the] event to a global audience. So you can't see this broadcast in the U.S., but [viewers in other countries] will be able to see it all over the world.” Although the broadcast won't be shown in America, U.S. residents can, however, play the Crown Jewels game, Rotondo confirmed. In recent years, HBA has represented the rights races from the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, Singapore, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa and Hong Kong. The post Pegasus World Cup Kicks Off International Contest with Prizes to Global Racing Events appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations have opened for the 2025 Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Racing Post. The awards recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of the hardworking women and men in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award. Nominations are open until 5pm on Tuesday, February 25 and must be completed online at www.itiea.org. This industry-wide celebration of racing and breeding's workforce sees €62,000 in prize-money available across 10 award categories for the winners and their workplace colleagues. In addition to a Newcomer Award, there are seven Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. All winners are then eligible for the Irish Racing Excellence Award, which will be announced at the awards ceremony. The Racecourse Award winner, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association, will also be revealed on the awards night. The 2025 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony will take place at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday, June 3. HRI chief executive Suzanne Eade said, “The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards is one of my favourite events every year and one that Horse Racing Ireland is very happy to support. The skill, dedication and love for horses that the awards showcase makes me very proud to work in our industry. “I would encourage everyone to nominate their colleagues and friends so we can continue to shine a light on the exceptional people delivering for our industry and sport, and the outstanding contribution they make to Ireland's global reputation for producing, training and caring for thoroughbreds.” The post Nominations Open for Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Graded stakes winner Simplification (Not This Time–Simply Confection, by Candy Ride {Arg}) was represented by his first foal when Calidad (Quality Road) produced a colt Jan. 17. The foal is owned by First Finds Farm and Brittany Updike. “Simplification is a good-looking, classy stallion. His first foal is exactly what we expected–strong, healthy, good bone, and great conformation,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions' director of stallion services Christine Jones. “What a brilliant way to start his career as a stallion. We expect big things for his future.” Simplification won the 2022 GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes and was third in that year's GI Curlin Florida Derby. He stands at Pleasant Acres for $6,500. The post First Foal for Graded Winner Simplification appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Multiple stakes winner Lost Ark (Violence–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) will begin his stud career next month at Sherry McLean's Northern Dawn Stables in Ontario. The 5-year-old stallion will stand for C$4,000, live foal. Lost Ark won the 2022 Sapling Stakes and 2023 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes while racing for Harrell Ventures and trainer Todd Pletcher. He was also third in the 2023 GIII Saranac Stakes. On the board in six of 11 starts, Lost Ark won four times and earned $542,100. Out of stakes-winner Marion Ravenwood, Lost Ark is a half-brother to champion Nest (Curlin), as well as to Grade I winner Idol (Curlin). The post Lost Ark to Ontario’s Northern Dawn Stables appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

With the season's signature GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes leading the way with an all-time high purse of $1.25 million, the stakes schedule for Keeneland's Spring Meet will be worth a record $9.4 million. The Blue Grass is one of 16 races on the 19-race stakes schedule to have purse increases for 2025. With an increase of $150,000, the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes is now worth $750,000, and an increase of $200,000 will make the GIII Transylvania Stakes a $600,000 race. Contributing to the purses for the total of 19 stakes to be run during the 15-day Spring Meet is $2.25 million available from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. “Keeneland's Spring Meet is the destination of many of Thoroughbred racing's biggest names,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “The racing world converges here because they know this is where the best jockeys, trainers and horses will be and they want to compete at the highest level. We are excited to continue to grow our racing program and eager to welcome horsemen and fans from around the world for Keeneland this spring.” The 101st Toyota Blue Grass will be held Apr. 5 and the 88th Central Bank Ashland–the year's first Grade I event for fillies–will be run on the track's opening day, Apr. 4. Both races are worth 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively, with the winners of each stakes earning 100 qualifying points to the respective Classic. The early nomination deadline for the two races is Feb. 15. Late nominations are due Mar. 19. Joining the Ashland on the season's first day are two other stakes for 3-year-olds: the Transylvania and the Lafayette Stakes, which was upgraded to a listed race for 2025. The Blue Grasss highlights five stakes on the Saturday card, which also includes the $650,000 GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes; the $500,000 GII Appalachian Stakes, the $400,000 GII Valvoline Global Shakertown Stakes; and the $350,000 GIII Commonwealth Stakes. Keeneland raised the purse of the Appalachian by $100,000 and added $50,000 each to the value of the Madison, the Shakertown and the Commonwealth. Stakes action for 3-year-olds will continue Sunday of opening weekend with the $400,000 GII MiddleGround Capital Beaumont Stakes and the $300,000 Listed Palisades Stakes. The Palisades purse has increased $50,000. Keeneland's Spring Meet will be held from Apr. 4 through 25. The post Keeneland Spring Meet Stakes to Offer Record $9.4 Million in Purses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Due to the threat of a nearby wildfire, the horses stabled at the San Luis Rey training center are currently being evacuated and sent to Del Mar racetrack. According to Santa Anita general manager, Nate Newby, the training center is in an “Evacuation Warning Level 2- Set” area. “With medium/high winds in the forecast today we started evacuating early this morning,” wrote in a text Tuesday morning. According to Cal Fire, the nearby Lilac Fire has burned through 80 acres and is 10% contained. “Fire is now at 10% containment so they are making progress, but we aren't taking any chances,” Newby wrote. He added that he believes the fire is currently roughly three to four miles away from the training center, which is owned by The Stronach Group. According to Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) CEO and president Bill Nader, 40 of the roughly 275 horses stabled at San Luis Rey have already arrived at Del Mar. Two different van companies are currently evacuating the horses. This story will be updated. The post Horses Being Evacuated From San Luis Rey Training Center Due to Wildfires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) has today been announced as the flagship sponsor of the new National Hunt Academy Hurdle Race Series, which will commence in October 2025 with the aim of encouraging National Hunt horses to enter training earlier. The races will be open to three-year-old horses who have not had any previous run on the Flat or under National Hunt Rules, other than in Academy Hurdle races. Winners of such races will still be qualified to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles in Ireland, guaranteeing these young horses access to a programme that does not require them to be rushed. Other elements of the series to note is that each National Hunt Academy Hurdle run will be considered by the IHRB Handicapper in assessing a horse for a handicap rating; a number of these races will carry IRE Incentive-style vouchers for eligible winning and placed horses; and non-winners will remain eligible to be registered for a Hunter Certificate to run in point-to-points. Joe Foley, Irish EBF chairman, said, “The Irish EBF Academy Hurdle Race Series is a progressive initiative for National Hunt racing and the Irish EBF are delighted to become overall sponsor. “The series will offer an earlier shop window for stallion and mare owners and become a positive catalyst for National Hunt breeding and racing in Ireland. We look forward to the first races in October to see what talent will emerge from the three-year-old ranks.” The post Irish EBF to Sponsor New Academy Hurdle Race Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Frigid temperatures and snowy conditions continued to cause cancellations this week, with both Parx and Mahoning Valley abandoning live racing Tuesday. It was the second day in a row both tracks were forced to cancel races as they joined Oaklawn Park in abandoning Monday cards. Turfway Park has moved its Wednesday racing card to Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. ET first post due to extreme cold temperatures. The program will not be redrawn and will run in its entirety on Sunday. Racing at the Kentucky track is scheduled to resume Thursday with a first post of 5:55 p.m. In Louisiana, Delta Downs has canceled its Wednesday card and Fair Grounds postponed its Thursday card until next Monday. The post Winter Weather Continues to KO Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Britbet Racing LLP, a partnership of 55 British racecourses, has today announced an extended commitment from its racecourse partners for the continued delivery of their oncourse pool betting service. A key element to this commitment from racecourses comes from Britbet renewing a long-term partnership with the UK Tote Group that will deliver liquidity from the majority of its racecourse partners, including all Jockey Club racecourses and the large independent tracks, to the pools hosted by the Tote on racing taking place at these racecourses. The renewed partnership will continue to provide a united approach to growing pool betting in the UK, with racecourses controlling the delivery of an oncourse service and the Tote providing the recognised brand and the off-course services, combining to create a single pool hosted by the Tote. The agreement between Britbet and the Tote will go live in November 2025 and will be in place until at least the end of October 2030, subject to a range of performance measures being met. The new partnership does not include Arena Racing Company (ARC) racecourses. Discussions about pool betting between ARC, Britbet and the UK Tote Group are said to be ongoing. Nigel Roddis, managing director of Britbet, said, “We are delighted to receive the continued backing of our racecourse partners and to use that to continue the relationship with the UK Tote Group. “The delivery of a daily pool betting service ranges from 500+ staff on each day of the Cheltenham Festival, through to meetings where everyone knows each other on a weekday winter evening. To be viable it requires a collective approach, sharing resources and spreading costs as widely as possible. “Britbet is tangible evidence of the benefits that the customer can receive from racecourses acting together. We look forward to continuing to work with the Tote team to deliver further benefits for racegoers as well as providing the core liquidity to help drive the continued expansion of the pools off course.” The post Leading British Racecourses Reach New Long-Term Agreement with UK Tote appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

John Velazquez and Mike Smith were elected co-chairmen of The Jockeys' Guild when the organization hosted its annual assembly virtually Jan. 14. Javier Castellano, Julien Leparoux and James Flores were elected co-vice chairmen, Tyler Gaffalione as secretary and Julien Leparoux as treasurer. In addition, Joe Bravo, Drayden Van Dyke, James Graham and Rodney Prescott will serve on the Board of Directors. Senate members for the guild in 2025-2026 are: Eastern region: Joe Bravo, Kendrick Carmouche, Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori, Reylu Gutierrez, Flavien Prat, Sheldon Russell, Drayden Van Dyke and John Velazquez Central region: Keith Asmussen, Alex Birzer, Stuart Elliott, Julio Felix, Tyler Gaffalione, James Graham, Julien Leparoux, Jareth Loveberry and Rodney Prescott. Western region: William Antongeorgi, Jesus Ayala (QH), Jose Figueroa, James Flores (QH) Antonio Fresu, Kyle Frey, Juan J. Hernandez, Ricky Ramirez (QH) and Mike Smith. Also during the virtual meeting, Onrise CEO Kim Quigley discussed the joint effort between the Jockeys' Guild and HISA, in conjunction with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, to offer jockeys access to free mental health services with the on-line platform Onrise. The program is available to riders who are either covered persons with HISA or Guild members riding in non-HISA states, qualified retired jockeys and the permanently disabled. Dan Waits, Executive Director of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, gave an update on the programs offered by the Chaplaincy at racetracks around the country. Legislative updates were presented by the Guild's lobbyists in California, New York and Kentucky and Gerald Hall, founder and chairman of SportsMEDIA Technology, and Kyle McDoniel of Equibase led a discussion about SMT and how it could be used in horseracing. Also during the meeting, a review of the jockey's retirement plan was presented and legal updates were discussed by Mindy Coleman, Jockeys' Guild in-house legal counsel. The post Officers Elected During Virtual Jockeys’ Guild Assembly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

LONDON, UK — City Of Troy (Justify) and Laurel River (Into Mischief), owned by two of racing's superpowers, Coolmore and Juddmonte, have been jointly crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2024. At a ceremony to mark the Longines Racing Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday it was revealed that they had each gained a rating of 128, marking the first time since 2019 that two horses had shared the top spot in the world rankings. The top-rated performance for City Of Troy came in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, which was the top-rated race of last year, with runner-up Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) being awarded a mark of 125. City Of Troy also won last year's Betfred Derby and G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes. Calandagan was however only the second-top-rated horse in France as his Francis Graffard stable-mate Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was ranked fourth on 126 for his victory in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. With Aidan O'Brien, Christy Grassick and Ryan Moore in London to accept the award for the world's leading turf horse, it was Moore who was handed the microphone first and, while he admitted with a wry grin that he wished he could pass it over to the trainer, he said of City Of Troy, “When he won the Juddmonte it was probably the best performance I've ever been involved with on a racehorse.” Moore added, “There was no end to him. One he got comfortable and once he got building he was relentless.” O'Brien joined the praise of his former stable star. “He'd have had no problem being a Royal Ascot two-year-old … we were just very lucky to have him. “He always had a great stride and he was 16.1 [hh],” he said, before pausing for comic effect to add, “and getting bigger.” The top-rated filly or mare in the world was Via Sistina (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a Group 1 winner on two continents who enjoyed a stellar 2024 in the colours of Yulong Investments. Now trained by Chris Waller, she posted her career-high rating of 127 at the age of six with an eight-length win in the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate. It was Laurel River's record eight-and-a-half length victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup which earned him co-Horse of the Year status and made him the world's best horse on dirt. Now seven, the Juddmonte homebred is trained by Bhupat Seemar and he has been nominated for the G1 Saudi Cup. Douglas Erskine Crum, CEO of Juddmonte Farms, said, “He was one of the last homebred horses that Prince Khalid decided the mating for, so he is particularly important for us.” Seemar added that Laurel River, who has not raced since the Dubai World Cup, is set to run at Meydan on Friday “as a springboard for the Saudi Cup”. In Riyadh the seven-year-old could face Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who was rated co-fifth in the world rankings on 125 along with G1 Japan Cup winner Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), GI Travers Stakes winner Fierceness (City Of Light) and the aforementioned Calandagan. Completing the top ten was Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), whose mark of 124 was achieved when winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Qipco). Just outside that level there was a five-way tie for 11th place between Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}, Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who were all given a rating of 123. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was the top-rated filly in Europe on 122, which was the same mark awarded to Kyrpios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was the top-rated stayer in the world. On a rating of 121, Cogburn (Not This Time), I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) were the co-champion sprinters of 2024, while Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) was the leading sprinter in Europe on 118. Among last year's Classic generation, the 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas winners Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) were each rated 122, while Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was given a mark of 120. Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Oaks heroine Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) were both on 115. In 2024, 273 horses trained in 15 different countries were awarded a rating of 115 or higher. World's Top Races in 2024 The ratings for the world's top 100 Group/Grade 1 races of 2024 were also published on Tuesday in tandem with the Longines World Racing Awards. As mentioned above, the Juddmonte International at York came out on top for the second time, with a 2024 rating of 124.25 earned through the average rating of the first four finishers, City of Troy, Calandagan, Ghostwriter and Bluestocking. Saratoga's Travers Stakes, won by Fierceness, was next on 123.75, followed by Randwick's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (123.00) and Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (122.75). The Japan Cup in association with Longines, Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe were tied on 122.50, while Ireland's top-rated race, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, achieved a rating of 122.25. In the five respective distance categories, the top-rated races were: James Squire T. J. Smith Stakes (121.25, Sprint); Winx Stakes (121.50, Mile); Juddmonte International Stakes (124.25, Intermediate); King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (122.75, Long); and the Gold Cup (118.50, Extended). On 117.50, the Qatar Prix Vermeille (117.50) was the world's highest-rated race for fillies and mares, while the top three-year-old race was the Travers Stakes. A total of 106 races made the list this year owing to a nine-way tie in the rankings for the 98th spot. Of the 11 countries represented, Australia was responsible for 30 of those races, followed by Great Britain (20), Japan (13), France (11), United States (11), Hong Kong SAR, China (8), Germany (4), Ireland (4), United Arab Emirates (3), Saudi Arabia (1), and South Africa (1). The Longines World's Best Jockey Award is decided from the list of top races, with riders notching 12 points for a win, six points for second, and four points for third. Australian-based New Zealander James McDonald won the title 2024, having previously been top jockey in 2022. Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have each won the title on four occasions. The post City Of Troy and Laurel River Share Longines World’s Best Racehorse Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Danny Shum’s superstar is ranked inside the top 10 as Ka Ying Rising shares best sprinter award.View the full article

Sam Agars SIGHT HAPPY - R5 (5) Purton jumps back aboard in-form horse from improved draw Jay Rooney SIGHT HAPPY - R5 (5) Massive run last start and looks well placed with Purton back on Jack Dawling HAPPY FAT CAT - R8 (10) Can build on promising effort last start and dictate proceedings tonight Phillip Woo SIGHT HAPPY - R5 (5) Is in a purple patch of form and looks a major chance from gate two Shannon (Vincent Wong) ROCKET SPADE - R7 (3) Back to his favourite trip and looks hard to beat in this contest Racing Post Online SIGHT HAPPY - R5 (5) Kept on well enough for third last start and can score with Purton aboard Tom Wood BEAUTY ALLIANCE - R4 (1) Put up a good performance from a wide draw last start and can strike hereView the full article

Dual Group 1 winner and leading 2,000 Guineas hope Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been crowned the European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024 with a rating of 120. The Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes winner joins fellow Charlie Appleby-trained colts Pinatubo (Ire) and Native Trail (GB) on the Champion Two-Year-Old roll of honour. “I would imagine he'll go straight into a Guineas,” Appleby said at the European Two-Year-Old Classification Press Conference on Tuesday. “I don't really want to test him over the mile beforehand. Firstly, timing-wise and secondly, I'd rather keep our powder dry and the dream alive going into the Guineas.” He added, “On the evidence of what we saw at the back-end of last season, the way this horse relaxes and his mannerisms, he gives himself the best chance to see out a mile. There'll always be question marks on the back of some of his pedigree, but if you actually dig into it there's enough substance there to say a mile should be within his compass. “I'm very pleased with how he's done physically. He was a strong individual at two, short-coupled, but he's lengthened. As a physical, you'd have a job to knock him. He looks great in his coat and has done all the maturing you'd want to see from two to three at this stage. With a clear run into the Guineas, you'd have a job to knock him in the paddock, that's for sure.” Lake Victoria | Horsephotos Aidan O'Brien's triple Group 1/Grade I winner Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ended the campaign rated just 1lb inferior to Shadow Of Light. Victory in the Moyglare, Cheveley Park and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf saw Lake Victoria create history by becoming the first filly to win three races at the highest level at two and she rightfully ended the campaign as the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. O'Brien said, “We won't be in a rush with her this year-we will take our time with her. Obviously what she did was very unusual. You couldn't really believe that a two-year-old filly could do that–to win three Group 1s over three different distances. She's quick and she got the mile well in America. You'd imagine she's going to be a miler-type and might get a mile-and-a-quarter. But who knows? She's by Frankel and out of Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who was very quick. Very unusual what she did. We haven't seen that before.” He added, “She's big, she's powerful and obviously has a great mind–a great constitution. She was obviously going through her races very easily and doing her work very easily. She travels very well in her races and, when she quickens, she puts her race to bed. A lot of class. That's what she has and it makes her very different.” O'Brien also trained the joint-third horses [rated 118] in the Classification, Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), with the latter winning both his starts before suffering a bruised foot ahead of the Dewhurst-a race he was favourite for-which brought a premature end to his season. The leading juvenile filly in Britain was Godolphin's Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who achieved a rating of 117 following an unbeaten two-year-old campaign that ended with a five-and-a-half-length success in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. On Expanded and The Lion In Winter, O'Brien commented, “We thought the world of Expanded in the spring but ran out of time so he didn't start until late. We always thought he was very good. What we did to him wasn't very fair, to bring him back a week after winning a maiden to go straight into a Dewhurst. He's an unusual horse in that he has speed and we always thought he'd get a mile-plus. We always thought he'd get a Derby trip–he's out of a Galileo mare and has a very easy and relaxed way of going. He's a very exciting horse.” He added, “The Lion In Winter could go to the Guineas but obviously he looks a Derby-type horse. If he doesn't go to the Guineas he'll start in a [Derby] trial. He's not over-big, is a nice-sized type of horse. He looked mature as a two-year-old. Obviously he has a great mind and what he did is very unusual. When he won his maiden, he quickened up very well and when he went to York, I suppose the way he dominated the race and the pace that he showed and the way he quickened and found plenty, it made him look very exciting to everyone.” A total of 42 horses achieved a rating of 110 or more last year. Notably, Wootton Bassett was responsible for 13 two-year-olds who achieved ratings off 100 or higher in Ireland last year. The senior Irish Flat handicapper Gary O'Gorman commented, “That is unusually high. In terms of that Wootton Bassett and Galileo nick, there were two two-year-olds last year in Expanded and another horse I am really keen on, Green Impact (Ire), who won a Group 2 on Irish Champions Weekend. The two mares in question were trained by Aidan O'Brien-both were probably as bad as he has trained and they couldn't win maidens and were rated around the 60s. But both mares are responsible for horses rated 118 and 112 respectively.” The post Dual Group 1 Winner Shadow Of Light Crowned European Champion Two-Year-Old appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The autumn campaign of three-year-old Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) is soon to get underway, with the classic-bound colt set for an important trial in Sydney on Thursday. The son of Written Tycoon is being put on a Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) path, with the colt’s co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr claiming he will present as a much tougher rival this autumn at his second racing campaign. “He did a wonderful job in his first and only preparation to get right the way through to the Group One (Caulfield Guineas),” Kent Jnr said on Tuesday. “He was the least experienced horse in that field and I left that day thinking that he would have the most improvement of any horse from that race. “He then headed north to spell up at Coolmore’s Mt White Farm and he did really well. He’s had an exclusive prep at our Rosehill stable and his campaign will be based around the Randwick Guineas.” Public Attention first came to notice last September with his narrow second placing in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, before a fighting fifth placing in the A$3 million classic won by Private Life. Kent Jnr said it is intended for Public Attention to get to the Randwick Guineas after two lead-in runs. “He’ll trial on Thursday at Warwick Farm and is due to kick off first-up in the Eskimo Prince (Stakes over 1200 metres on February 8),” he said. “He’ll step into the Hobartville (Stakes, 1400m on February 22) second-up and then the Randwick Guineas (March 8) third-up at the mile.” Kent Jnr said Public Attention could also be sporting a different look this autumn. “We are probably going to tinker with some headgear this prep,” he said. “We have worked him in blinkers a couple of times this prep and it seems to have really switched the colt on. “He’s got a lot of natural talent, but he seems to give a bit extra when he gets the blinkers on, so it’s likely you’ll see them on at some stage this prep.” View the full article