Wandering Eyes

El Vencedor is on target for next month’s Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) following his pleasing trial victory at Matamata on Tuesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Top-flight winner El Vencedor is in a happy place as he prepares to double his tally at the elite level. Last season’s Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) victor enjoyed a spin around Matamata on Tuesday, romping home by six lengths in the hands of Rory Hutchings in a 1200m open trial. “He had a lovely day out, he galloped beautifully and pulled up great,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’ll be at Ellerslie on February 1 for an open 1500m and then on to the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Group 1, 2000m). “He’s right back where we want him, he’s well and a very happy horse.” El Vencedor won the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) in the spring but then tailed the field home in the Group 1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) before finishing a gallant third behind Snazzytavi and La Crique in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m). “He missed the jump at Trentham, did a bit of work and the track was a bit off, but it was a below par effort before he bounced back at Ellerslie,” Marsh said. “It was basically catch me if you can and even Rory said the mares would have to be good to beat him, as it ended up they were good enough, but I still thought he was terrific.” Stablemate and last-start Group 2 Rich Hil Mile (1600m) winner Bourbon Empress also stretched her legs at the trials and finished runner-up over 1000m ahead of her next test in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. “She’s a mare that keeps on improving and everything we do with her, she just keeps on getting better and better,” Marsh said. Meanwhile, Nest Egg has mixed his form in the lead-up to Saturday’s Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and hopes of a turnaround in fortunes have been boosted by the booking of Warren Kennedy. “Not a lot has gone right, but Warren seems to be the man that has always got on well with him,” Marsh said. “The horse’s work has been great, he went out to the beach on Monday and he’s well and happy. The track should be good, so he gets his chance to get back into form, but it has been a very in and out campaign.” Also in action at Trentham will be the promising filly Bellarista in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and last-start winner Sinhaman. “Bellarista hasn’t put a foot wrong and it’s an even field, she had her final piece of work this (Wednesday) morning and she’s hard to fault,” Marsh said. “Sinhaman just loves getting over a bit of ground and he’s a nice, progressive horse.” Marsh also has a big team engaged at Te Rapa on Thursday and believed Penman, runner-up in his only two starts, as one of his best chances when he steps out in the Waikato Draught Maiden (1400m). “He’s going really well and he’s just going to need a bit of luck from the draw (11),” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

Via Sistina. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Via Sistina is the star attraction for Chris Waller’s stable at Thursday’s barrier trials, with the champion trainer set to showcase seven elite-level contenders at Warwick Farm. The seven-year-old mare, who last raced when claiming the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9, will trial in the second heat of the morning over 900 metres against five stablemates. Waller is preparing Via Sistina for a shot at a seventh Group 1 win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April, where she will be looking to improve on last year’s second-place finish behind Pride Of Jenni. Joining Via Sistina in the second heat are Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix, making his first appearance for Waller, along with Birdman, Declichy Boulevard, Lady Shenandoah, and Manzoice. In the opening heat over 900 metres, Group 1-winning trio Atishu, Private Life, and Switzerland will go head-to-head. Meanwhile, three-time Group 1 winner Fangirl features in the third heat, where she will face stablemates Francesco Guardi, Gatsby’s, Kinesiology, and Valiant King. Horse racing news View the full article

Angel Capital. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Clinton McDonald has set his sights on lucrative sprint races for Angel Capital during the colt’s three-year-old autumn campaign. Last seen finishing sixth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October, Angel Capital returned to action with a jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday, where he finished midfield. A second jump-out is scheduled for January 27, after which McDonald will decide on his first-up target, with the Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8 being the likely option. “We’re thinking of keeping him to sprint trips at this stage,” McDonald told RSN. “We could go to the Rubiton over 1100 (metres), and depending on how he goes, we could go to the $1 million Inglis 3YO down the straight (at Flemington). “If he won the Rubiton really well, then we could look at races like the Oakleigh Plate or the Newmarket Handicap. “It will all depend on how well he’s going, and which rein we will pull with him.” Unbeaten when fresh, Angel Capital impressed with a debut win at Cranbourne in April and followed up with a Listed victory in the McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September. “I think a high-speed sprint trip, and if he can get the right run and a drag into a race, he could be lethal over the last 400 metres,” McDonald added. “He’s a powerful colt and he has come back stronger. We feel he’s a Group 1 horse, but we have to place him right to get that result.” Horse racing news View the full article

Westbury Stud will offer sizeable Book 1 and 2 drafts at Karaka later this month, showcasing their own stallion roster and with variety added by choice offerings of leading Australian-based sires. The Gerry Harvey-owned operation is always strongly represented at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and the 2025 consignment will continue that trend with quality and quantity. “There’ll be a few withdrawals, as there always are, but we’ll end up with 70-odd or more so it’s a big draft and a lot of work that goes into it,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said. “There are any number of quality horses there and a mixture of our own stallions and some from Australia, which always brings a lot of interest and flavour to the draft.” Lot 51 is sure to be hugely popular as a daughter of I Am Invincible’s multiple Group One-winning sprinter Home Affairs. “She is one who will attract an enormous amount of interest off the back of what they sold for in Australia,” Warwick said. “Home Affairs had a A$3.2 million yearling and a number of other extremely high-priced youngsters at Magic Millions and our one is a really nice type. “She will absolutely run, there’s no doubt about that and is out of a More Than Ready mare so it’s good Australian two-year-old form and looks like a Karaka Millions horse in waiting.” Her dam Kylie’s Fame was successful on four occasions up to 1400m and is a half-sister to the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) and Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) winner Madeenaty. “Another Australian flavoured one Is Lot 21, the Ole Kirk filly out of Isabella Of Aragon,” Warwick said. “I think Ole Kirk had a 100 percent clearance at the Magic Millions and sold up to A$700,000 so he’s hit the ground running and has had five runners for two stakes winners already in his first crop in Australia.” The filly’s dam is by Swiss Ace and from the family of the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Royal Descent. “There’s also a Tarzino colt who is a half-brother to Hypnos and is a particularly nice horse,” Warwick said. Lot 229 is out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare Quality Dream and her son Hypnos won the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), was successful twice at Group Three level and finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m). “There’s a very good Reliable Man colt, Lot 389, and he’s a half-brother to two black type horses,” Warwick said. The colt’s dam is the Mossman mare Villa De Madrid, who has produced Press Link and Vamos Raffa-Perfect Maryknoll (HK). In the Book 2 draft, Lot 1060 is a colt by El Roca out of the winning Swiss Ace mare Gagliardi who enjoyed a major pedigree update when three-quarter brother Navigator finished third in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m). “Lesley and I bred Navigator and we’ve still got 10 percent of him so we’re enjoying the ride,” Warwick said. Navigator had won four of his previous 12 starts before placing in the feature weight-for-age sprint at Trentham. “There’s also a very nice El Roca filly out of Petrachor, a handy race mare for Pam Gerard who won five and this is her first foal,” Warwick said. “She’s bred on the El Roca-Redwood cross so very much a homebred in every respect.” To be offered as Lot 770, her pedigree page also features the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Sofia Rosa. View the full article

Buenos Noches. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Dual Group 1 placegetter Buenos Noches has transferred to Ciaron Maher’s stable ahead of his autumn campaign. Previously trained by Matthew Smith, who bought the talented five-year-old entire for $40,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Buenos Noches was last seen finishing in the placings in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on September 14. “He’s at our beach property working there, which is a different environment to where he was,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told Racing.com. “Given he’s an entire and where he has been trained most of his career, we thought as a training base, that might have been a point of difference. “Naturally, given his stature, you are looking at a race like the Galaxy and the TJ (Smith Stakes). “He is still a proper chance to make a stallion, so that’s our number one aim. “He is a nice acquisition, and we are thankful to the ownership group.” Horse racing news View the full article

Members of The Race for Education (RFE) elected Kevin O'Keeffe as Board Chairman and Bill Casner as Vice-Chairman at the organization's recent board meeting. The board also includes original members Gay Bredin and David Ingordo, as well as new board member Pete Aiello, one of the RFE's first scholarship recipients and the current announcer at Gulfstream. “It is an honor to serve as Chair of The Race for Education, which has awarded over $7.5 million in scholarships and educational programs since its inception in 2000,” said O'Keeffe, a Thoroughbred owner, breeder, and attorney based in Baltimore, as well as a RFE board member since 2012. “Recipients have pursued careers across the racing industry, including roles as trainers, veterinarians, bloodstock agents, and racetrack managers. Supporting students as they achieve their dreams while shaping the future of the horse racing industry is truly special. The board is committed to reinvigorating fundraising efforts and expanding scholarship opportunities for the next generation.” In 2017, the RFE board and staff decided to wind down operations, with scholarships subsequently managed by the KEEP Foundation and an expectation to distribute remaining funds until depletion. However, the organization has since been revitalized by donors, including a 2024 bequest of $500,000 from the estate of Robert Reeves. RFE Co-Founder and former President Elisabeth Jensen will lead new fundraising efforts, while Communications Coordinator Brittany Bell will oversee the scholarship application and award process. In 2025, The Race for Education will award $85,000 in scholarships and grants, including two new opportunities: the Bob Reeves Memorial Scholarship, open to an Ohio student pursuing studies in equine, animal science, or agriculture, or whose families work in the equine industry, and the Dual-Credit Scholarship for high school students enrolled in dual-credit equine programs. Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available soon. The post Kevin O’Keeffe Named Chairman of Reinvigorated Race for Education appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, January 15. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for January 15, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Randwick All Races Same Race Multi | 3+ Leg Bonus Back Place a 3+ leg Same Race Multi bet on any race at Sunshine Coast this Sunday and if 1 leg of your multi fails, get up to $50 back in Bonus Cash. Market available from approximately 8:30am local track time on race day. Neds T&C’s Apply Login to Neds to Claim Promo Geelong R1-3 | Run 2nd or 3rd Bonus Back up to $25 Run 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-3 at Geelong on Wednesday and receive a bonus back up to $25. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo 25% Boosted Winnings – Randwick-Kensington Get 25% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Fixed win only. First bet only. Cash bet only. Max Bonus $250. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Wednesday Bonus Back 2nd or 3rd in R1-3 at Randwick-Kensington & Geelong Auto-applied in Bet Slip. Limits apply. Min 6 runners. Fixed odds only. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Bet and win up to 4th place. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any race. Any runner. Any odds. Get a bonus back if your multi loses. Check your Vault for eligibility Login to UniBet to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for January 15, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) worked four furlongs in :50.60 (40/53) for trainer Chad Brown at Payson Park Jan. 12, his second workout of the year. He is being aimed at the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 22, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. “He's coming along,” Brown told DRF. “We're trying to get him to the Saudi race. He'll pick it up a little more next week. He's had two works now, he's ready to do something a little more serious next week.” An Eclipse Award finalist in the 3-year-old male division, Sierra Leone's sophomore season also included wins in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and GII Risen Star Stakes; a painful second in the GI Kentucky Derby; and third-place finishes in the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Draftkings Travers Stakes. The $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling is campaigned in partnership by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith. 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), meanwhile, exited his sixth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, his first career defeat, with “a tiny flake in his ankle,” per DRF. The Flanagan Racing colorbearer began his career with three straight victories, including the GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Champagne Stakes. “We decided to take it out after the Breeders' Cup and gamble we could still make the Triple Crown,” Brown told DRF. “Although it wasn't bad, it looked new out of the Breeders' Cup. I didn't want to have to deal with it in the summer time in case it did bother him so we took it out.” Brown added that Chancer McPatrick could return to the worktab by the end of the month and potentially target the GIII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 8. The post Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Sierra Leone Gearing Up for Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Midwest was hit hard by winter weather during the week of Jan. 6-12, and racetracks that were impacted are beginning to adjust their schedules to make up for lost cards.View the full article

Oaklawn Park, like much of the country impacted by recent winter weather, will add Thursday, Jan. 30 to the current racing calendar in an effort to recoup lost days of live racing. In a release from the track, officials at Oaklawn said the added day was in collaboration with the HBPA and additional days may be added later in the meet. Racing at Oaklawn was cancelled for most of Dec. 28 and for the entire weekend of Jan. 10-12 due to weather. Live racing in Hot Springs is slated to continue Friday, Jan. 17. The post Oaklawn to Add Jan. 30 to Race Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 6-Jan. 12View the full article

Famed equestrian and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Jenkins was honored by the Maryland racing community Jan. 14 in a memorial service at Laurel Park.View the full article

Edited Press Release Famed equestrian and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Jenkins was honored by the Maryland racing community Tuesday in a memorial service at Laurel Park. Jenkins, a beloved horseman, died Dec. 5 at age 80. “He taught me a lot on how to ride,” said jockey Richard Monterrey. “Monterrey, you're riding too low, too high. Monterrey, put your hands down, relax, let the horse stride. He was very aware of everything that was happening. I called him Mr. Jenkins at first, and then I changed it to Papa Jenkins. I had a daughter that went to the barn a couple of times, and she fell in love with this loving man and started calling him Papa Jenkins.” Born in Middleburg, Va., Jenkins retired from the American show ring as the sport's winningest rider and was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1999. Known as the “Red Rider” for the shocks of red hair that showed from beneath his helmet, Jenkins competed on 10 winning Nations Cups teams between 1973 and 1987 and earned two silver medals in the 1987 Pan American Games as a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team. Jenkins notched over 70 grand prix victories, 30 aboard the legendary Idle Dice. He was named the American Grandprix Association's Rider of the Year and received the AHSA Horseman of the Year award in 1987. “I was a youngster growing up in the horse show world when he was in his heyday,” reminisced Cricket Goodall, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Breeders' Association and Maryland Million, Ltd. “He was a rockstar to us. A lot of little girls were in love with Rodney Jenkins. We owe him a gratitude. Thoroughbred horses were king when he was showing them. Rodney showed how adaptable they were and how much you could do with a Thoroughbred.” Jenkins began training Thoroughbreds in 1991, gradually transitioning from steeplechasers to flat horses. “Rodney always said that he wanted to stop showing at the pinnacle of his career,” said longtime assistant Eveline Kjelstrup. “He didn't want to be one of those older show jumpers that hang on. When he said the jumps started looking a little big to him, we switched to steeplechase horses.” Jenkins captured the 2002 Laurel summer meet title, was named outstanding trainer by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in 2003, and finished in the top 100 nationally in wins three times. “He loved being at the racetrack,” Kjelstrup said, “When we got to Pimlico, he really enjoyed how welcoming everybody was. He loved hanging out with Dickie Small. They were both sitting on the ponies at the wire and watching the horses go around.” Jenkins conditioned some of Maryland's most popular performers. Phlash Phelps won back-to-back editions of the Maryland Million Turf. Millionaire Cordmaker scored 14 of 39 starts, including the Grade 3 General George Stakes in 2022. Both Phlash Phelps and Cordmaker were owned by Mrs. Ellen Charles's Hillwood Stables, one of Jenkins's longtime clients. “Rodney was my first trainer,” said Charles. “We had a wonderful journey together and such great success. Over the years, because of Rodney, he built a wonderful stable for me.” Jenkins was particularly proud of Cordmaker. “He's a good, good horse, and he tries hard,” he told Daily Racing Form after Cordmaker won the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes in 2021. “He has these mannerisms where he gets very good when something competes with him. I usually wait until three or four weeks out before I ask him for any speed. I jog him, I gallop out, and knock-on wood, he's never taken a lame step.” Running Tide, Bandbox, Golden Years, and Shimmering Aspen were among the stakes winners trained by Jenkins, who recorded 941 wins from 4,654 starts with lifetime purse earnings of $24,846,222. His best season came in 2007, winning 74 races for earnings of $1,815,029. Jenkins suffered from deteriorating health and quietly retired earlier this year. His final winner was Lilly Lightning, who prevailed in a claiming race at Laurel on April 19. “I thought he was a great ambassador for the sport,” longtime friend and fellow trainer Curtis Beale Payne told Daily Racing Form last month. “Kind-hearted. I go back to the show-horse days with him. He had always owned racehorses throughout the years, even when he was showing. He'd leave the Upperville Horse Show and go over to Charles Town to watch a horse run at the end of a long day. One of Rodney's big things is feel things, anticipate, communicate with your horse, don't boss it.” Phoebe Hayes, Director of Horsemen's Relations for The Maryland Jockey Club, remembered Jenkins as a consummate horseman. “I saw him get on horses with floppy legs and doing all kinds of crazy things. No whip, no spurs; he'd have that horse tucked up within half an hour. He worked on balance and smoothness with the horses.” Jenkins didn't mind giving his horses long breaks when they needed them. “That's the way I train,” he said. “If a horse gives you a lot of effort, you give him something back.” The post Maryland Racing Community Honors the Late Rodney Jenkins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Colonial Downs' new spring meeting March 13-15 is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks, which for the first time are points races on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" and "Road to the Kentucky Oaks".View the full article

Tickets to the 54th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards–presented by John Deere, Keeneland, The Jockey Club and the NTRA–are sold out, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) announced Tuesday. The event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23 at The Breakers Palm Beach and will be hosted by Britney Eurton and Lindsay Czarniak, with Caton Bredar serving as the announcer throughout the awards ceremony. The Eclipse Awards will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV and Racetrack Television Network (RTN), and streamed world-wide on multiple outlets, including NTRA.com, americasbestracing.net, bloodhorse.com, DRF.com, equibase.com, Thoroughbreddailynews.com, and NTRA's YouTube channel. FanDuel TV will broadcast the Keeneland Red Carpet Show beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast of the awards show will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and will culminate with the announcement of the 2024 Horse of the Year. The post Tickets for Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Sold Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of seven supplementary entries have been received for the Goffs January Sale at Doncaster, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 21. They include the seven-year-old Peaky Boy (Ire), who will be offered by trainer Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows as lot 44. The son of Kayf Tara (GB) has made a promising start to his chasing career with a debut victory at Cheltenham in November, before finishing third at the same course the following month. The catalogue is available to view online, with entries set to remain open up to the time of the sale. To make a supplementary entry, click here. The post Peaky Boy Heads Seven Supplementary Entries for Goffs January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

New research has pinpointed genes associated with a disease seen as a major contributor to poor performance in Thoroughbred racehorses, University College Dublin (UCD) announced on Tuesday. Hailed as a breakthrough in combatting the equine performance-limiting disorder Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN)–often referred to as laryngeal hemiplegia or 'roaring'–the discovery will enable the development of a genetic test to identify horses with a three-times higher risk of developing the disease. It currently affects up to 18% of horses by acting on the muscles in their upper airways, resulting in reduced airflow and increased work of breathing during exercise. Working with a world-leading Thoroughbred racehorse training yard, and with funding from Research Ireland, researchers at UCD and Equinome examined more than 200 horses-in-training. They utilised gold-standard methodologies for diagnosing RLN, including a combined approach of resting and overground exercising upper airway endoscopy, as well as laryngeal ultrasounds. Using DNA technologies, they found a set of genetic markers associated with the disease. “Accurately diagnosing disease using gold-standard methodologies is one of the most important factors in a genetic study,” said project lead Lisa Katz, UCD Professor in Equine Internal Medicine. “Following years of intensive veterinary examination of the horses, it is extremely rewarding to see our research come to fruition. “Understanding the genetic risk of your horse for roaring can help with early intervention and management. This might include monitoring highly predisposed horses more closely and considering surgical interventions at an earlier stage to improve treatment success.” The new findings have been published in the peer-reviewed Equine Veterinary Journal. The post Scientists Identify Genes Associated with ‘Roaring’ Horse Disorder appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The condition book for Colonial Downs' three-day spring meeting which runs from Thursday, Mar. 13 through Saturday, Mar. 15 is available (click here). The meet is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks on Mar. 15, which for the first time are points races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” respectively. The Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks have been moved to the dirt track and repositioned to March to serve as prep races for the Derby and Oaks. The Virginia Derby will be run at 1-1/8 miles and the Virginia Oaks will be contested at 1-1/16 miles. Each race offers 50 points to its winner while the next four finishers will receive 25, 15, 10 and 5 points on a sliding scale toward the appropriate race. Additional Virginia-restricted races include a pair of overnight handicaps–the $150,000 Stellar Wind, a six-furlong dash for older fillies and mares and the $150,000 Boston, a seven-furlong race for older horses-headlining the Friday, Mar. 14 card. Maiden Special Weight races will go for $75,000 for open runners and $93,750 for Virginia-restricted horses. A first-level allowance race carries an $80,000 purse and the complimentary Virginia-restricted event is worth $100,000. Nominations for the Virginia Derby, Virginia Oaks and the two overnight handicaps close Wednesday, Feb. 26. Entries for the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks will be taken at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Mar. 8. The post Colonial Downs Spring Meet Condition Book Released: Virginia Derby, Oaks Moved appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There could be a surprise Japanese-trained runner at this year's Cheltenham Festival after All The World (Jpn) appeared among 16 entries for the feature contest on the opening day of the meeting, the £450,000 G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle. Trained by Kazuya Nakatake, the eight-year-old All The World is a three-time winner over jumps in the Far East and his most recent start resulted in a creditable third-place finish in the Tokyo High-Jump, one of the most prestigious races run over obstacles in Japan. A three-time winner on the Flat as well, he is certainly bred to excel in that sphere as a son of Kizuna (Jpn), who was recently crowned champion sire of Japan for the first time in his career, and the Dansili (GB) mare Epic Love (Ire), who won the G3 Prix Vanteaux and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary when trained in France by Pascal Bary. Bred in Ireland by Round Hill Stud, Epic Love is also the dam of the G1 Hopeful Stakes winner and sire Danon The Kid (Jpn). All The World's potential rivals in the Champion Hurdle include the last two winners of the race, headed by the unbeaten 2023 hero Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}), who was ruled out of last year's renewal won by State Man (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) due to ill health. The high-class mares Brighterdaysahead (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) and Lossiemouth (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) also featured in the entries for the Grade 1 which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 11. The post Japanese Contender Features Among 16 Champion Hurdle Entries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barnes has been tabbed as the 10-1 individual betting favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager as it begins a three-day run Jan. 17 and offers fans another chance to bet on the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) ahead of May 3.View the full article

SeatGeek announced two new, multi-year partnerships with Breeders' Cup and Del Mar, making SeatGeek the Official Ticketing Partner of the premier horse racing championships and one of the country's most iconic racetracks.View the full article

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who won last year's Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna, brings three of his finest fillies. Gowells Delight broke her maiden at Fair Grounds the day after Christmas. View the full article

A total of 22 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale, which takes place after racing at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday, January 25. The full catalogue is available to view here. The five-year-old Starzand (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}), consigned by James Doyle's Baltimore House Stables, features among a selection of exciting point-to-point graduates, following his 25-length success in a four-year-old maiden at Dromahane last month, while the catalogue also includes a quartet of four-year-olds who have already won under Rules. They are headed by Colm Ryan's Karate Kid (Ire) (Spanish Moon), who had runners from the yards of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott behind him when winning a bumper at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. Previous graduates of the sale include last month's Welsh Grand National winner Val Dancer (Ire) (Valirann {Fr}), who was purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock for £60,000 back in 2022. Further entries for the 2025 edition will be taken from this weekend's point-to-points, which are due to take place in Ireland at Tinahely, Ballindenisk, Aghabulloghe and Turtulla, and in Britain at Larkhill, Revesby Park and Friars Haugh. The post Initial Entries Out for the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When someone as measured and experienced in his professional role as Des Leadon describes a situation as “the most potent threat to this industry there's ever been” then it is wise not to brush these words aside as hyperbole. The European Commission (EC), under the auspices of its Farm to Fork Strategy, has in the past few years been reviewing animal welfare legislation within the European Union (EU). As part of this work the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was instructed to deliver an independent report on the welfare of horses during transport, which, since its publication in September 2022, has raised significant concerns within the thoroughbred breeding sector. While racehorses and sport horses travelling to the races and competitions have been given a derogation within the proposed rule changes pertaining to journey time, veterinary inspections en route and recovery times at “control posts”, no such exemption has been granted for breeding stock and thoroughbreds travelling to auction houses. Leadon, a breeder himself through his Swordlestown Little operation with his wife Dr Mariann Klay, is the veterinary advisor to the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and chairman of the veterinary advisory committees of both the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) and International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF). It is in his European role which he, along with EFTBA chairman Joe Hernon and the heads of other related associations, has become embroiled in lengthy discussion with the European Commission in an attempt to seek a similar derogation for breeding stock. Like racehorses, broodmares come under the “high health status” category, being part of a highly regulated and professional sector of the horse world, but so far attempts to have them excluded from the proposals have not been successful. Leadon acknowledges the importance of such welfare legislation for a vast swathe of the EU's animal population. “Of course this is very well-intended and admirable because they're seeking to improve the wellbeing of 1.6 billion animals that are transported and, against that background, of course the thoroughbred breeding industry is infinitesimally small,” he says. Distinction between registered and unregistered horses dropped What has proved problematic for the breeding sector is that within its report the EFSA has refused to draw a distinction between horses registered with a studbook and unregistered horses, as has previously been the case. Currently, registered horses are exempt from transport regulations when transported for “competition, races, cultural events or breeding”. However, the ESFA concludes that “as no scientific evidence can be found to document different effects of transport on the welfare of horses depending on their status as registered, in this scientific opinion, they are treated as one”. An agreed derogation for racehorses and sport horses means that they will continue to be treated separately, but within the proposed legislation, breeding stock will not. Ireland is one of 27 EU member states, with only a limited number of those having a thoroughbred breeding industry of significant size, including France and Germany. The United Kingdom famously withdrew from EU membership following the contentious Brexit referendum of 2016, which has already brought about increased veterinary oversight and expense in the movement of horses between Britain and its EU neighbours. Despite now being out of the EU, Britain and Northern Ireland would still be affected by the proposed legislation changes during the natural course of the breeding season, when mares move to and from different countries to visit stallions. [The proposed legislation is] focusing on multiple journeys for animals other than those that we deal with, and again, you have to come back to the starting point, and this is well intended for a large population of animals. But we are caught in the crossfire – Des Leadon The current transport welfare legislation was adopted 20 years ago, and the recommendations among a raft of proposed changes stemming from the EFSA report pertain to space allowances for horses in transit by road, ferry and air, mandatory veterinary checks prior to departure, on arrival, and, for journeys of more than eight hours, at ports or inspection points. The latter would involve the unloading of horses at these centres where they would have to remain for seven days for monitoring before resuming their onward journey. It is this point in particular, which would also mean that horses have to remain on sales premises for a full seven days after arrival, that would play havoc with the transporting of breeding and sales stock, and indeed the sales scene as we know it. Furthermore, it is proposed that in-foal broodmares should not be allowed to travel beyond eight months of pregnancy. Kirsten Rausing, chair of the ITBF and honorary president of the EFTBA, shares the concerns of Leadon. She says, “If implemented in the current proposed form, obviously this would be catastrophic for the thoroughbred breeding industry. It will affect all countries, not only the EU, but countries throughout Europe, including non-EU members, and those further afield. It will also affect thoroughbred auctioneers.” This proposed legislation has now left the European Commission to be considered by the European Parliament and European Council, the two bodies which together are responsible for adopting European legislation. Leadon says, “We've had repeated exchanges in correspondence and meetings to point out the real difficulties here, that this impacts on sales, on transfer of mares to foaling units from private farms that don't have the capacity to deal with foaling. And then, we can't then cover a mare at foal heat or at 28 days.” Des Leadon and Mariann Klay at the sales | Peter Mooney He continues, “Then there is the system of mandatory official veterinary checks, which the EU doesn't have the resource to do and wouldn't be appropriate. That, particularly with compulsory unloading at all border crossings, would actually create a welfare problem, not solve one. “That's why it's disappointing that the welfare groups are not in favour of a derogation. They're in favour of rule change. And the veterinary organisations in Europe are again not in favour of a derogation, which makes life very difficult for us because we have to argue against that background.” Regulation versus derogation Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare (WHW), says that while that organisation is not in favour of any derogations for the revised equine transport regulations, WHW also does not agree with some of the proposals put forward, such as compulsory unloading at border crossings and seven-day detentions. “Derogation is not the way out, actually it's getting a piece of regulation that is going to do what it seeks to do without having this massive impact,” he says. “We recognise that a seven-day residency would have a drastic impact on the breeding sector for no benefit. It actually could be argued [that it would have] a negative impact on equine health and welfare. To a great extent, transport for [broodmares] is done in exactly the same conditions as for the races, therefore it is illogical and discriminatory that the breeding sector shouldn't be included – Dr Paull Khan “Because we don't agree with derogations overall, we do not support an additional derogation. But what we do support is absolutely working together, and obviously now [the legislation has] gone through the commission and is out to parliament and to the council, we've certainly got this year to work together, to lobby together, to ensure that what comes in with that regulation protects on a basic level equine health and welfare, but actually allows the industry to flourish at the same time. We believe that that is eminently possible, because the bona fide breeders and the wider thoroughbred industry are doing that already. We absolutely accept that.” He adds, “We are far more likely to have an impact if we work together to create that regulation, which does protect equine health and welfare, but also allows the breeding industry, in this example, to continue to operate.” Dr Paull Khan, secretary-general of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation, is also, along with Owers, on the board of the European Horse Network. He too has been engaged in the ongoing discussions in Brussels. “The focus has been on the farming sector and the transport of animals for slaughter, so it has been more difficult to get across the specific requirements of our sector,” Khan says. “We have been working with the commission for pushing three years now, and the message all along has been that we won't lose the current derogations, which we need to keep the whole show on the road, and they have taken that on board in that we have extensive derogations within the proposals, but they are related purely to travel for racing purposes and exhibitions. “We have asked that they extend those to include breeding and sales travel, one reason being that by and large, and to a great extent, transport for those is done in exactly the same conditions as for the races, therefore it is illogical and discriminatory that the breeding sector shouldn't be included. But also we pointed to a number of requirements within the proposals, which if the derogations weren't extended to breeding and sales, and we didn't have any other changes made, would be pretty disastrous.” He adds, “It is possible that if agreement can't be reached between [the European] parliament and council then it would return in a process called trialogue, in which the commission would then get involved again. But the focus of our attention for the next few months will be parliamentarians and the council, and what we want is to get that derogation extended to sales and to breeding.” Breeding world united In France, where the racing world extends beyond the thoroughbred sector to AQPS, trotters and Anglo-Arabs, both France Galop and the Federation des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA) have been actively involved in lobbying the European Commission in tandem with the EFTBA. Pierric Rouxel, who oversees international matters on the French TBA committee, says, “We are all working on the same problem, first through the EFTBA, and we have been to Brussels together to try to convince the commissioners, but there are a lot of different influences around the subject. “To start with, I would say that the idea to change the original rules was good because it was to stop the shipping of animals in poor health on long sea journeys to be slaughtered. This had to be stopped. But at the very beginning of it they excluded the racehorses and sport horses but very surprisingly they didn't exclude breeding stock, which is a nonsense considering the quality of the transport from one country to another for broodmares.” Pierric Rouxel | Scoop Dyga He continues, “Most surprisingly the equine vets will not help us in this situation, and so far the situation is not good because the first step was for it to go to the European Commission and [the legislation] has already gone to the European Parliament. There are experts working within the commission, who, when we saw them, agreed that it was a mistake that breeding stock had not been excluded from these new rules, but now it is in the hands of the parliament and that makes things much more difficult.” Those difficulties in France could include a potential restructuring of the rules pertaining to premiums for those horses by stallions outside France which can be assimilated for eligibility for French owners' and breeders' premiums provided their dams are not out of the country for more than 180 days. Artificial breeding methods a threat Leadon's concerns extend to a reference within briefing notes for EU parliamentarians which pertain to the establishment of a fund which would facilitate the transition from transporting breeding stock to shipping female embryos. In negotiations to date the thoroughbred breeders have worked alongside the sport horse world and the International Horse Sports Confederation, which is an umbrella organisation for the governing bodies of all equine sports, including the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is currently president of the confederation. An alliance with other equine sports could also prove to be problematic, however, in that artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer are permitted within sport horse breeding but only natural coverings are accepted for horses to be registered in the thoroughbred sector, which has stood firmly against AI. “You know the catastrophic consequences that would have for the thoroughbred industry against a declining stallion base and an increase in inbreeding coefficient,” Leadon says. “So these are very real anxieties, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that we've had great focus on welfare and social licence and other threats to the industry, but this is the most potent threat to this industry there's ever been. And it's imminent.” He adds, “It's important to lobby not only through the EFTBA, but for each of the member associations of the EFTBA to lobby their own national government. We've been very active in seeking statements, and we have letters of support for what we're doing from all of the European auction houses. “[The proposed legislation is] focusing on multiple journeys for animals other than those that we deal with, and again, you have to come back to the starting point, and this is well intended for a large population of animals. But we are caught in the crossfire.” The World Horse Welfare view expanded There is evident disappointment among those currently lobbying for a derogation within the proposed legislation for the thoroughbred breeding sector that they have not been backed by World Horse Welfare. Here, chief executive Roly Owers and director of communications and public affairs Jessica Stark set out the reasoning behind the charity's stance. Owers says, “We are not singling out the breeding industry; it is the fact that we don't believe any equine should have derogations. There are a number of reasons for that, but the primary one is that we know that derogations are increasingly seen as loopholes and actually what you have in the proposed regulation is the barmy situation where slaughter horses are almost better protected in legislation than a wide proportion of other horses, and the derogations go pretty wide, as is currently proposed, to make them pretty much unenforceable. “We feel that the basic legislation and regulation should be in place that covers all horses, of which we absolutely recognise a significant proportion of racehorses and sport horses would far exceed. We are not saying that all transport is a problem, because it is not, and a lot of transport we know and fully accept is done to a good standard. With that, we absolutely recognise that horses that are being transported to a good standard, should be able to do so with the minimum of friction. Having a seamless system for transport of horses that are being done for bona fide reasons and under good conditions, is what we equally support. Because as it's currently proposed, breeding animals would not have a derogation, it would have a seismic impact on the sector – Roly Owers “The second point is that we absolutely recognise that within the current proposals a lot of what's in there does nothing to protect equine health and welfare, and because as it's currently proposed, breeding animals would not have a derogation, it would have a seismic impact on the sector. “So, I think there's a lot of agreement on issues, like veterinary supervision of loading and unloading, around residency requirements, around temperature regulation on vehicles. “Our number one call is to work for a regulation which provides that basic standard of protecting equine health and welfare, and removes other requirements that do nothing of the sort. There is certainly, through the European Horse Network and our discussions with the sector, a real focus on what is going to be a good piece of regulation that's effective. “The third principle point is that, in an age when sport and racing and indeed all use of horses and involvement of horses is coming under greater scrutiny, we think it's completely counterintuitive for this sport to be seeking derogations from basic regulation. They should actually be welcoming basic regulation and showing how they considerably actually exceed it.” Jessica Stark takes the view that enhanced electronic traceability for horses is the way forward. She says, “This EU regulation will be shaping how we transport horses for the next 20 years so it's important to be forward-looking. “But it's really an opportunity, we think, for [the equine] sport [sector] to get those systems in place with real-time individual equine traceability. Because this problem will not go away. The fact is that horses are being moved for a variety of purposes, and we don't want to open the floodgates more to bad practices which are unfortunately still quite prevalent. “We can see this being feasible if they have individual traceability, if they have an electronic system to make sure that the horse they said is transported is actually going here, stopping here, arrived at its destination and that was all verifiable and they could share that with the authorities. Because we want that frictionless travel for legitimate high-health, high-welfare movements. We want the sports to flourish. It's just that right now in the situation we have, that isn't the case, and even just these wider derogations for all sport horses, we think, would make the situation worse.” In regard to seven-day stopovers for horses following a journey and compulsory unloading at ports and crossings, Stark adds: “We don't agree with that. We're very in line with the [thoroughbred breeding] sector. We don't support those suggestions. We don't think they would help welfare, we don't think they're practicable.” The post EU Transport Rule Proposals Pose ‘Potent Threat’ to Breeding Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Kentucky Horse Council, a charity that works to support Kentucky's equine community through education, leadership and equine rescue and welfare initiatives, has elected new directors and officers to the Board of Directors, including Jen Roytz, co-owner of Brownstead Farm and co-founder of Topline Communications who was elected to serve as President. Additionally, Annie Cornett, owner of Momentum Creative Group, was elected to serve as Vice President. Both are serving their first term. Amy Parker, Manager of Technical Services and Equine Nutritionist at McCauley Bros. Inc., was re-elected as Treasurer and Stephanie Keeley, co-Owner of Double S Horsemanship and Second Wind Farm, and Assistant Professor of Equine at Asbury University, was re-elected as Secretary. Also elected to the KHC Board of Directors: Shannon Blandford, co-owner of Wanderlust Acres LLC Megan Carr, MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association licensed dressage judge, Kentucky Three-day Event Vet Box Chief Steward, volunteer Elias Delbridge, Director of Animal Control for the Boyle County Fiscal Court and farrier Liz Douglas, owner of MEND.HORSE Equine Therapy Christopher Klein, North American legal counsel, compliance officer and board secretary for a biomedical and medical device manufacturing company and is a co-owner of an equine business focused on sporthorse development and lease programs Erin Woodall, managing partner at Grit Equine and co-owner of 1681 Equestrian Sally Lockhart, owner/manager of Ballyrankin Stud For the complete list of the Kentucky Horse Council Board of Directors, visit kentuckyhorse.org. The post Roytz, Cornett Among Kentucky Horse Council Board Appointees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article