Wandering Eyes

Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) made his first public appearance of the season when winning his 1100m trial at Te Rapa on Tuesday. The Danny Walker and Arron Tata-trained gelding jumped away well to sit outside leader Boss ‘N’ Highheels. He found the lead comfortably under his own steam when entering the straight and ran out an effortless two-length victor over Lachie. Walker was pleased with what he saw ahead of his spring preparation. “He had a nice gallop,” he said. “He is looking good, he is good in the coat, and he has trialled well, so we can’t be any happier than that.” The five-year-old son of Zacinto has been back in work for the last couple of months following an Australian hit-and-run mission in April where he finished last in the A$5 million Quokka at (1200m) Ascot. Walker said he took no ill-effects from the trip and he is looking forward to the season ahead with his stable star, which will likely kick-off next month. “He will probably go to Rotorua on the 12th of October for the Sweynesse Stakes (Gr.3, 1215m),” he said. “We will play it by ear and see how he comes through Rotorua and make a plan after that. There’s not a lot around really until Christmas time.” Bred and raced by Daniel Nakhle, Crocetti has won nine and placed in three of his 15 starts to date, including victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Railway (1200m), and has accrued more than $1.4 million in prizemoney. View the full article

Michael was at Te Aroha for the last day of the jumps season to chat with various stakeholders about the discipline, less than a year after it was in serious doubt. Plus the first Mickey G update for season two and a look ahead to the week’s racing. Guerin Report – S2 Ep.4 Jumps Review View the full article

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will head to Phar Lap Raceway with a strong team on Wednesday, including a trio who have some feature New Zealand Cup Week targets on the line. Ocean Light (NZ) (Ocean Park) holds a nomination for the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and will take his first step towards the two-mile feature in the Hospitality NZ – SC Branch 1600. The five-year-old gelding will be fresh-up after a six-week break and his trainers are hoping he can continue his good run of form, having won three and placed in three of his last six starts. “We were going to race him a couple of weeks ago but decided not to run him on a real heavy track first-up,” Michael Pitman said. “The track should be really nice at Timaru, it should come back to a (Good)4 or (Soft)5. We are really happy with him, he is coming up well. “His main aim is Cup Week. He is nominated for the New Zealand Cup, but whether he gets to that race or the Metropolitan (Listed, 2600m), we will just see how he goes in his next two to three starts.” He will be joined in his race by stablemate Epee Beel (Epaulette), who is on a path towards the Gr.3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m) on the middle day of New Zealand Cup Week. “She got mucked up when they dropped the last two or three races at Ashburton (in July) and we pressed onto the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and we probably shouldn’t have,” Pitman said. “Her last run (fifth over 1580m at Riccarton) was really good. “This looks a nice race for her. She has got a bit of weight (59kg) to carry, but she has got it because she has won a couple of stakes races. “At this stage she is heading to the mile (TAB Racing Club Mile). She will be better suited to that than the 1400m that’s for sure.” Stablemate Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) will also contest the mile on Wednesday, with the hope of also contesting the New Zealand Cup in November. “He is a firm tracker,” Pitman said. “I think he went something like 15 starts without striking a firm track last prep, it’s very hard to find a firm track for him these days. Let’s hope we have a dry summer.” The father-and-son team will head to Timaru with half-a-dozen other runners and they are particularly upbeat about the chances of stable newcomer Enchanted Delight (NZ) (Ferrando) in the Loveracing.nz 1200. The four-year-old Ferrando mare previously had two starts for former trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and she made her way south on the recommendation of breeder Graeme Rogerson, who has retained a share in the mare. “We have got an interesting maiden that is having her first start for us called Enchanted Delight,” Pitman said. “Graeme Rogerson has stayed in for a share. He recommended her to me and we have had plenty of horses off Rogie over the years. “She is a nice mare, but whether 1200m might be a bit sharp for her or not. We haven’t trialled her, but her work has been good. Brett Murray rides her and we think she is a chance.” Looking ahead to the weekend, the stable will have strong representation at their home meeting, including Proserve (NZ) (Proisir) in the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m). “We have got a super team in on Saturday,” Pitman said. “Proserve is in the 2000m. He went well the other day and just got beaten. I thought he was going to win it at the top of the straight but he found one better. “He holds a New Zealand Cup nomination and we might test him over 3000m in that Jericho Cup race.” Pitman is also upbeat about the chances of stakes winner Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) hopeful Student Of War (So You Think), who will contest the three-year-old 1400m event. “Mystic Park went huge the other day (when fourth over 1200m),” Pitman said. “He was left in front, no fault of Sam Weatherley’s, but he still fought on really well and he has improved since then. “We have got to make a decision in the next couple of starts whether we go to the TAB Mile, which I am preferring to at the moment, or freshen him up for the Stewards (Listed, 1200m, which he won last year). “We bought Student of War out of the Inglis Sale in Sydney after he had a couple of trials. He is a three-year-old by So You Think and he is nominated for the Guineas. He is a lovely horse.” View the full article

So far 2025 has been a 50-50 year for the 5-year-old mare Randomized. View the full article

Winner of this race a year ago, Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show faces a competitive group in the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Sept. 27 as he plots a course to return to the Middle East.View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment has received approval from the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario to move the Oct. 9 live race card to Oct. 13, the date of Canada's Thanksgiving.View the full article

Arctic Beast (Yaupon) became the day's second new stakes winner for his first-crop sire (by Uncle Mo) with a dominating display in the Aspirant Stakes, winning in a time nearly two seconds quicker than the fillies went in the Lady Finger Stakes about 30 minutes earlier. Off at 1-5 having graduated with a lofty 82 Beyer Speed Figure at Saratoga Aug. 15, the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Mixed Sale weanling turned $275,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred yearling was put right into play from the outside stall and pressed the early pace through an opening quarter in :22.31 over the rain-affected going. Outmoved into the stretch by the front-running Diamond Child (Weekend Hideaway), Arctic Beast leveled off beautifully when asked and shot away to score as much the best. The win gave trainer Mike Maker and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. a sweep of the day's open juvenile contests. A fourth black-type winner overall after Yaupon de Replay took out the Listed Blenheim Stakes on debut at Fairyhouse in Ireland, Arctic Beast is the lone winner for his dam, a close relative of the dual stakes-winning Freudie Anne (Freud). He is the last listed produce for Frostie Anne. Click for the Equibase.com chart. ASPIRANT S., $104,338, Finger Lakes, 9-22, (S), 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.13, sy. 1–ARCTIC BEAST, 121, c, 2, by Yaupon 1st Dam: Frostie Anne (MSW, $584,443), by Frost Giant 2nd Dam: Lake Toccet, by Toccet 3rd Dam: Lake Honey, by Meadowlake 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($120,000 Wlg '23 FTNMIX; $275,000 Ylg '24 SARAUG). O-Paradise Farms Corp, JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables & Jennifer Rice; B-Rockridge Stud LLC & Saratoga Glen Farm & Beal's Racing Stable LLC (NY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Ricardo Santana Jr. $62,603. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $112,103. *Fourth stakes winner for freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). 2–Diamond Child, 121, c, 2, Weekend Hideaway–Boss Barney's Babe, by Street Boss. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Irish Hill Century Farm; B-Irish Century Hill Farm & Morgan O'Brien (NY); T-Melanie Giddings. $20,868. 3–Party in the Army, 121, c, 2, Army Mule–Party Like Grandma, by Desert Party. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flower City Racing LLC, Christopher J Meyer & Rich Spiesman (NY); T-Jeremiah C Englehart. $10,434. Margins: 7 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.22, 22.07, 2.75. Also Ran: Hey Pal, Chioke, The Last Delivery, High Yield Hunk, Takahama, A Bit Raggity. Scratched: Instant Success. The post Arctic Beast Gives Yaupon International Stakes Double In Aspirant 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 Tuesday, September 23. 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 September 23, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Top 4 Betting! Bet and win up to 4th place! Eligible customers only Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Bet Boost | Tuesday Thoroughbred Meetings Get a bet boost on thoroughbred races around Australia on Tuesday. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% winnings in cash Max Payout $2000. Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds win bets on Australian thoroughbred races only. Excludes boosted, multi, live and bonus bets. PlayUp T&Cs apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply. Eligible Customers Only. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo Daily Exotic Boosts Boost your exotics by up to 20%. Available on Exactas, Quinellas, Trifectas & First Fours. Excludes Quaddies. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector | If Your Horse Drifts, You Get The Bigger Price Only available on Australian Horse Racing Fixed Price Win bets placed from 8am AET the day of the race. Eligible customers. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo Copycash – Get Copied. Get Paid. Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets. Eligible Customers Only. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo Uni Bundle Bundle 2 or more runners in the same race and if any of them win, you win! Fixed odds only. Min 4 runners. Available on all AU, NZ & HK thoroughbred and AU harness & greyhounds. Check your vault for eligibility. Login to Unibet 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 September 23, 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

By Michael Guerin The boys are back in town on Friday night but they had better feel like a fight. Because both Marketplace and Republican Party face mammoth tasks in their Addington comeback races. The two sons of Bettor’s Delight are both special in their own way: Republican Party the equine little engine who could while Marketplace might be pacing’s next big thing. To deserve that title he is going to need to clean up most of the elite three-year-old races in the second half of the season, which is exactly what he did in the first half. The first step down that path is the $25,000 Wai Eyre Farm Lazarus Stakes this Friday and being preferential draw he will start from the outside of the front line over the 1980m. He only has six rivals but three of them are Bettors Anvil, Got The Chocolates and Rubira so tactics and tempo are going to be crucial. In case you missed the first half of the season here is a refresher course: Marketplace is the best. He is also beatable when driven conservatively and especially fresh up. Make of that what you will. Republican Party faces an even bigger challenge in the $22,500 Commodore Hotel Pace, in which he starts off a 20m handicap. No argument with that after he won three Group 1 races from December to May and you could even make the case after their form of the last 12 months Don’t Stop Dreaming is unlucky to be sharing that 20m backmark with Republican Party. In reality they might both be in trouble as the front line horses led by We Walk By Faith won’t be waiting for them and the 10m markers Alta Meteor and Mo’unga both went like they had been shot out of a cannon last start. Earlier in the night unbeaten filly Duchess Maria returns in the Sundon Trot while a different Duchess, last name Megxit, headlines a fine group of girls in the Woodlands Stud Spring Sprint Series. Alexandra Park will play second fiddle to Addington but still have two strong TAB Metro Series Finals, with the trotter’s $35,000 mobile looking the more interesting contest. To see the Auckland fields click here To see the Addington fields click here View the full article

On the Sept. 22 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Brad Cox recaps Disco Time and Immersive's weekend victories and previews First Mission's run in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) and Hit Show in the Lukas Classic (G2) Sept. 27.View the full article

Baoma Corp.'s 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) breezed a half-mile in :48 flat (10/32) Monday morning at Santa Anita, his first move since being scratched from an expected appearance in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. According to a text from trainer Bob Baffert to TDN's Sue Finley, the colt's Breeders' Cup target remains a bit up in the air. “He breezed today, pointing to [Dirt] Mile,” he texted. “I could change my mind between now and then. The [Dirt] Mile probably more realistic right now. Was hoping to make the Classic.” He added that the Sprint could also still be in play. The 4-year-old returned from a 15-month absence to dead-heat for second behind 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in a high-class renewal of the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3, returned to California and romped to a 5 1/2-length victory in the GIII Triple Bend Stakes four weeks later. With the Pacific Classic in mind, Nysos was the 1-10 favorite for the GII San Diego Handicap on July 26, but was scratched with a hind foot bruise on the morning of the Del Mar centerpiece, which was also set to include 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) and GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes hero Journalism (Curlin). Fierceness proved a decisive 3 1/4-length winner. In the immediate aftermath of the scratching, Baffert indicated that Nysos would be rerouted for the GI Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, but the colt was ultimately not nominated. The nine-furlong Goodwood, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the Classic, was to be drawn Monday. Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Nysos worked 4 Furlongs in 48.00 on September 22nd, 2025, for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/MWpgY3ajXD — 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) September 22, 2025 The post Nysos Returns To Worktab, Breeders’ Cup Remains The Goal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Editor's Note: the tables mentioned in the piece below have all been inserted into the article individually in alphabetical order. Please see those for reference. As an Englishman, I can assure my friends in the Bluegrass that America does not have a monopoly on political division. But in this rancorous age it is a comfort, either side of the water, that a mutual love of the horse can keep people not just talking, but outright friendly, who might otherwise only be yelling at each other. It is not too often that our parochial, obsessive community can offer a template for the wider world, but we can cheerfully attest that finding a passion in common is a great help in resisting demonisation. That being so, even those in our community most dismayed by the general tenor of the current administration will gratefully acknowledge its contribution to the unprecedented buoyancy of the bloodstock market. True, they may feel rather more comfortable with a single, specific boon-namely, that lavish tax break on depreciation-than with a broader sense that this is only one of many opportunities for the rich to become richer. But even liberals can be hard-headed when it comes to business. The cold fact is that our industry depends on investment by the affluent and, one way or another, that is exactly what has driven the world's biggest yearling auction to record levels over the past two weeks. Sure, there are other factors. For instance, albeit too unevenly to be healthy for the sport nationally, there are several circuits where purses now dignify a middle-market investment with the possibility of viability on the racetrack. That feels particularly important when so many people are breeding for the sales ring, rather than the winner's circle, however baffling the notion that these might somehow be competing objectives. It's notable that the volume of yearlings being sold is higher than a decade ago, even as the foal crop has been going the other way. And a higher proportion than ever is being sired by unproven sires, most of whom we know will fail. But in a market like this, a lot of people will be too busy counting their winnings to heed such old-school anxieties. After all, this really does seem to be one of those rare cases where the overflow from the top of the market can filter downwards. The Keeneland September Sale famously covers all bases. But we can fill out the picture further by combining its trade with that already reported by Fasig-Tipton during the summer, between the July Sale in Lexington and the Select and New York Sales at Saratoga. Those auctions had already shown the way the wind was blowing, and the cumulative numbers are simply dazing. So far this year, as Table A shows, the aggregate cost of American yearlings through the ring has rocketed past $650 million, from $528.6 million at this point in 2024. The precise gain of $122,866,900, year on year, works out at an astonishing 23.2 percent. (If you include post-sale transactions, moreover, the overall market has soared from $546,881,000 to $673,337,400.) The average ring transaction last year had achieved a strong advance, from $152,774 and $153,282 in 2022 and 2023, to $164,570. This time round, the American yearling has typically cost you $190,711, an increase of 15.9 percent. It was at the apex, naturally, that the most lurid gains were posted. Take the number of seven-figure hips, as measured in Table B. In this respect, the Select Sale at Saratoga had maintained its recent pressure on Book 1 at Keeneland in quite spectacular fashion, tipping $100 million for the first time. Having mustered between only two and five “million-dollar babies” between 2016 and 2021, this auction had averaged a dozen across the three staged between 2022 and 2024. This year, there were 25! How on earth could Keeneland respond to that? After all, they had posted 36 millionaires last year, up from 30 in the previous two editions. Well, this time they have processed no fewer than 56. These, moreover, were claimed by 34 unique buyers-another record, and an obviously encouraging one. (The 120 prospectors who spent $1 million or more were up from 96 in 2024.) True, such frantic demand at the top end can be a symptom of a market polarisation. In 2018, which proved to be the height of the pre-Covid market, 32 seven-figure yearlings collectively made $42,375,000, accounting for 8.9 percent of yearling trade up to this point of the calendar. Over the last three years, equivalent sales represented 11.2, 11.3 and then 12.8 percent of trade. But the astounding total of 81 this time round, valued at $119,275,000, weighs in at 18.3 percent of the overall market. And, yes, all these giddy headlines will be fairly cheerless reading for the many vendors who found themselves left holding the baby, as will happen eternally wherever bloodstock is sold. But the core indices at Keeneland sustained wholesome gains on what had already been a vibrant market a year previously: averages marching up by double-digit percentages across all 12 sessions; and the median doing the same on all bar the final day. But the buyback rate, at 22.3 percent, managed only a marginal improvement on 22.7 percent last year-compared with 20.2 percent in the previous edition. While there were doubtless some who became a little overexcited, in setting their reserves, a renewed pragmatism evidently contributed to post-sale transactions exceeding $20 million. A Changing of the Guard Having divided the top six lots at Saratoga equally with the incumbent champion, Gun Runner made a quite astounding statement in topping each of the first four sessions at Keeneland. Even as the indefatigable Into Mischief strolls towards his seventh consecutive title, there is no mistaking a conspicuous market momentum towards two younger stallions, the other being Not This Time, whose upgraded mares are only now cycling through. Between Saratoga and Keeneland, the younger guns had 17 seven-figure sales apiece, ahead of the champion on 10. Ageism is a familiar, self-fulfilling vice of the market and its exponents must beware a horse as freakish in libido and fertility as in every other respect. But while Into Mischief's blend of quality and quantity should maintain his clear lead in the general sires' table, Not This Time and Gun Runner are laying down a marker in their contest for second. They have 17 and 16 stakes winners apiece this year, respectively from 265 and 252 starters, compared with 19 for Into Mischief from 411. Two marvelous veterans, Tapit and Curlin, have this year been joined by their respective sons Constitution and Good Magic with four million-dollar babies apiece; while at Keeneland the venerable Ghostzapper seized the opportunity he had been presented by the peerless Nursery Place team by selling his half-brother to Ruling Court for $1.2 million. The latter's sire meanwhile appears to be too sensational a success in Europe for his own good, albeit a filly at Keeneland fell only one bid short of adding another seven-figure sale to his $1.4 million colt at Saratoga. If it were only practicable, I suspect that some of Justify's yearlings could be profitably “pinhooked” as soon as Tattersalls next month! As it is, the obvious solution is for European programs to import these curiously undervalued animals themselves. Between Saratoga and Keeneland, the millionaires' row reads like this: Gun Runner and Not This Time, 17; Flightline and Into Mischief, 10; Constitution, Curlin, Good Magic and Tapit, 4; Life Is Good, Nyquist and Uncle Mo, 2; Bolt d'Oro, Ghostzapper, Jackie's Warrior, Justify and Mandaloun, 1. Corniche Catching the Eye Having entertained mares commensurate with his fee, Flightline is demonstrably being backed to replicate the sensational talent he showed (albeit only for a few minutes in total) on the track. Like any other rookie, however, he will start with a clean slate once those babies get to the gate. No point rehearsing yet again the perils and paradoxes created by the commercial market's obsession with fresh blood. For now, let's just have a look at the winners and losers in what-too often-proves their only meaningful examination: whether or not they can make a fast buck for a breeder. Table C admittedly contains one or two deeply contentious columns. There's limited value, for instance, in citing how a sire's yearling median stands up to conception fee, when you must pay the same to board a mare and foal, and to prep a yearling, regardless of whether you have paid $200,000 for Flightline or $7,500 for one of the less glamorous names. On that basis, the cheaper stallions jolly well better be achieving a higher multiple! But you can factor all that in. For the little it may be worth, we've also noted the percentage difference between weanling and yearling averages, as a potential steer on the kind of physical progress that a pinhooker might look for. Again, there are obvious caveats. Taking a median from just eight (extremely lucrative) weanlings is hardly an adequate baseline for Life Is Good, whose yearlings are doing all they should at market. Conversely, a sire who sent some disappointing weanlings to market last fall can achieve a major percentage improvement without beginning to pay off the keep and sales prep. All that said, I think you can legitimately glimpse one or two nuggets of promise. Corniche, in particular, deserves some attention after achieving a pretty stellar median of $150,000. His weanlings had hit a median of $80,000, so his yearlings have been building nicely from what was already a solid base. These are encouraging returns for a horse standing this year at just $15,000, half his opening fee. He also found a home for no fewer than 55 of 62 yearlings offered. That's another slippery index, in that RNAs sometimes reflect the high opinion of breeders, whereas some sires process a higher percentage because people can't get the stock off their hands quick enough. But his yields suggest that Corniche simply had plenty of people eager to meet the expectations of vendors. His family has some pretty left-field seeding, and the horses he beat in a brief career subsequently obtained limited resonance on his behalf. But we've seen all that before, with successful stallions, and it will be interesting to see whether these straws in the wind lead to anything more meaningful once Corniche starts to send his first troops into battle next year. The post Breathtaking Yearling Market Soars 23% appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Very few debutantes are capable of winning a Listed contest against established peers, but that's exactly what the Joseph O'Brien-trained Yaupon De Replay (Yaupon) achieved on Monday evening in Fairyhouse's Ballyhane Blenheim Stakes. Sent off at 20-1 for the six-furlong feature, the daughter of Spendthrift Farm's exciting first-crop sire was able to overcome any greenness under Chris Hayes and swamp her rivals a furlong out en route to a neck success from Chicago Call (Oasis Dream). “We liked what we saw at home, but you are never sure starting off in that company, it can be tough,” the winning trainer said. “I said to Chris to educate her early and have her finishing off and she showed a big kick late on, you'd have to be very impressed with her.” “I'd say they went a nice gallop and that helped her to relax but still it's always hard to win from anywhere behind mid-field here, especially on debut. She's a nice filly. We felt like she was working like it was worth a shot and we thought that she'd learn a lot in the race.” “She's an exciting filly for the future. After today you can look at things like the Breeders' Cup, she's an American-bred filly and she's fast. She has a lot of options.” Yaupon De Replay was knocked down to Carriganog for $150,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2yo Sale. A Listed winner ON DEBUT Despite some strong form on show, Yaupon De Replay wins the €45,000 Blenheim Stakes on her first racecourse start. She MUST be very smart @simon_munir | @JosephOBrien2 | @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/l5BHxCnvgZ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 22, 2025 The post Breeders’ Cup On The Cards For Debut Stakes Winner Yaupon De Replay appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“I think this filly's cheating on me.” Well, if that was the opinion of a Hall of Fame trainer, who could argue? Least of all a woman, in the male-dominated Bluegrass of the mid-1970s. But Headley Bell remembers that when Frank Whiteley Jr. sent Nicosia (Gallant Romeo) home to Mill Ridge, his late mother Alice Chandler was not ready to give up. After all, this was a daughter of Nicoma (Nashua), whose previous foal had just won a Grade I; and Alice's husband, Dr. John Chandler, suggested that maybe the filly had simply been bleeding. “This was before anybody really thought about stuff like that,” Bell recalls now. “So they give her some time, and then mom brings her out and starts training the filly herself. Takes her to Chicago, where I end up being her groom, my senior year at Vanderbilt. And we win the Sheridan, and the Matron, and mom is suddenly the first woman to own, breed and train a $100,000 stakes winner.” That maintained what became an unblemished record for the mare: five foals, five stakes winners. Sadly, Nicoma died of strangles after being sold to Tom Gentry to be bred to Northern Dancer. But her name would live on. Not just because of those foals, albeit they achieved a literal longevity: Nicosia herself lived to 34, while a half-brother won 18 of 122 (!) starts. First and foremost, Nicoma's name was preserved through the advisory service founded by a young man entering an old business at a time of bewildering change. Bell had been learning the ropes under Jim Brady at Elmendorf when one of his mother's hardboot friends was outflanked on a stallion deal. Instead of just complaining about upstart competition, they urged Bell to set up Nicoma Bloodstock in 1979 so that the old school might at least know what was happening around them. “I don't want to do that kind of thing,” Bell protested. “It's like being a car salesman.” “Well, do it differently.” Nicosia wins the Sheridan Handicap for trainer Alice H. Chandler | courtesy of Mill Ridge Farm Eventually Bell would also take over management of Mill Ridge itself, and over the years there has inevitably been some crossover. But the margin that persisted can be judged from the fact that the farm's recent celebration of a 41st Grade I winner since 2000 reaches a still more remarkable 54 when combined with Nicoma. Obviously both had many others before then, too, not least the two Arc winners (Trempolino in 1987, Suave Dancer in 1991) that helped to put Nicoma on the map. But it feels apt that the Mill Ridge landmark was brought up by a horse–Test Score (Lookin At Lucky) in the GI Belmont Derby–homebred by the Amerman family, longstanding clients of both the farm and Nicoma. “It's been a long time, though,” Bell notes. “I mean, you're talking about 40 years. It has been, and remains, an evolution. But that was my directive: do it differently. And that's what we have tried to do.” He's the first to stress his debt, from the outset, to clients and collaborators. Certainly he owed much, in establishing Nicoma, to the mentorship of Bill O'Neill and Ray Barnes; and he always had a sounding board, around the home hearth, in his mother and stepfather. But while Sir Ivor would always remain the foundation stone, for the farm itself, another dimension of the Alice Chandler legacy is less obvious. “So many great women were naturally attracted to mom, wanted to be a part of her story,” Bell remarks. “Maggie Carver was probably first. Shirley Taylor. Nancy Dillman. Tolie Otto, with us 40 years. Lynn Schiff. And of course Jerry Amerman. It has been a great thread of Mill Ridge, if you look back, and truly all because of mom. “And then of course John Chandler was a great partner in the whole process. From his time in Britain he knew all the people around the Arabs: Tom Jones, Robert Acton, James Delahooke, Guy Harwood. They needed a presence here, and knew they could trust us. Then George Harris and I became very good friends. So I ended up with this incredible mix of demand and supply. In those days, remember, stallion access was a big thing. Seasons might be $1 million, no guarantee.” Headley Bell | Keeneland It feels very different today, with some books nearing 300, but back then restricted access would lock in mare quality. True, the whole environment was already changing. And Bell is proud, looking back at the explosion of commercialism, to have brought together the likes of Ted Bassett, D.G. Van Clief, William S. Farish and Buddy Bishop in laying down a code of ethics for agents and consultants. “You still had the old hardboots around, guys like Henry White, and mom was a founder member of the KTA,” Bell recalls. “But there were all those commercial people coming through, and then huge issues like CEM, all sorts of ups and downs. It certainly wasn't a straight line. It went up and up, and then crashed. And all the collateral the banks were holding turned into nothing, because suddenly there wasn't a market. There had to be a real reboot.” Fortunately Bell had never abandoned his first vocation, as horseman. So whatever boom-or-bust cycles might dictate the commercial environment, he could always be grateful for a breed-to-race core: early on with Peter Goulandris and Paul de Moussac, in Europe, right through to programs such as that operated by the Amermans today. “So that was really the foundation play,” Bell explains. “Not just that other side, of commercial revenue, but to be able to assist with the horse side. Sharpen Up was a blue-collar horse, and we ended up breeding Trempolino right out of the box. And then I'd managed to associate with Lillie Webb at Xalapa, and we bred Suave Dancer right afterwards.” As already mentioned, controlled access itself guaranteed quality. As such, it feels unsurprising that Bell should have become so absorbed by the cultivation of families. “I had never previously been very academic but when I got into this business, I became a real student,” he says. “A student of pedigree. I started noticing all these different things, like Diesis with Roberto. So I started tracking it, keeping records.” And–again something that has changed–there remained few short cuts for a diligent researcher. Much of it was done longhand, albeit Bell eagerly subscribed to some of the pioneering tools, from cumbersome almanacs to primitive software. “It was certainly all developing,” he reflects. “But part of being a student was to realize that just because a horse was by a particular sire, it wouldn't necessarily be emphasizing that particular line. So you try to recognize the clues, whether color, size, distance, ability. And then we started tracking trends, how stallions ebb and flow, and trying to catch them in those cycles. Putting all these different things together was a real process of evolution.” With their ubiquity eroding such edge as “nicks” may ever have offered, Bell found himself delving deeper into mare produce records, and all the ancillary variables. “There are so many links in the chain,” he says. “Where a horse is raised, how it's managed, its early training. And, with pedigrees, I'm always looking at the entire blend. I love to see Nureyev wherever I can get it, or even Hyperion–and maybe try to double it up. Basically it's about putting the ingredients in the stew and making it the best it can be. Oscar Performance | Sarah Andrew “The commercial drivers weren't quite as extreme as now. But I was always a value player. Dynaformer, for instance: here was a $5,000 rogue, outperforming, moving mares up. It was about going out there and being willing, trying not to compromise. Because that way you found not just the Dynaformers but also the Into Mischiefs, the Tapits. We played those until they became too expensive. But when a window closes, you pull out and look for the next one. Because they're out there. Obviously it helped that most of my people weren't commercial breeders. They can use a horse on the bubble. I sent 10 mares to Arrogate when he was $50,000. He was still, then, whatever he was going to be a couple of years before.” Mill Ridge's return to the stallion game has itself proved exemplary in that respect. Oscar Performance, now wildly oversubscribed, was down to 63 mares in his fourth season–and that included plenty of “home” support. “Just think about that, pushing him up that hill,” Bell says. “Sometimes that contrarian way of thinking can work out in a market. Well, maybe not contrarian. But we've always tried to find value. Here was a proper racehorse, but a turf horse. And we managed to beat the system. And that's healthy for our industry, that it doesn't always have to be one type.” The whole ride with Oscar, from foaling to covering shed, has been all the more fulfilling because of the mutual trust and respect between the Amerman family and their counselor Bob Feld, on the one hand, and Bell and his son Price, livewire General Manager at Mill Ridge since 2020, on the other. “That's why the farm's 41st Grade I means so much,” Bell emphasizes. “Because it was Test Score. To work with people like these, with Jerry Amerman who's so intuitive, is a true privilege. She was a champion dog breeder, she understands animals. The success they've had, with a 10-mare program, is incredible. So none of this is ever about me. This was their moment. Every single thing we achieve is because we work as a team.” That said, Test Score is a Mill Ridge graduate and the mating did have Nicoma fingerprinting. “I mean, we could only use Lookin At Lucky because the Amermans want to breed runners,” Bell acknowledges. “The mare, Joy of Learning (Kitten's Joy), is out of Mrs. Amerman's favorite, Miss Chapin (Royal Academy), who was very talented but not sound, won her only start. And Joy of Learning was actually offset in her knee, only won an off-the-turf maiden. Jerry Amerman | Keeneland “Lookin At Lucky was a horse who just outkicked his coverage. Obviously with these very large books nowadays, statistically you really need to look at relative performance. I had always been a huge Smart Strike fan, all our clients had shares in him. And then, being out of a Belong To Me mare, that gave me some Danzig. It's becoming harder to get that. Anyway the result was a value but proven stallion, who just wasn't ever given a true chance.” This is not an industrial operation. Bell reckons to advise on no more than 75 matings every spring. Yet since the turn of the century there have been three Horses of the Year, three GI Kentucky Derby winners, 13 at the Breeders' Cup. There are no definitive rules, of course: one of those Horses of the Year, Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway), was just about the only yearling George Strawbridge sold in the 30 years Bell worked with him. “But I can't say it enough, it's all been about the people you're working with,” Bell reiterates. “Just quality people, all the way through. But while we're only ever a piece of it, things have happened more often than they should. We've been truly blessed, and often with sires–Animal Kingdom, Point of Entry–that haven't done too much otherwise. It's about navigating a way through, rather than just depending on some nick that everybody thinks they know. “Our role is to fulfill dreams. Just think of that, what a thing to be able to say. But that is the truth of it. And we've done it a lot. It is extraordinary–especially, as our visitors remind us every day, to be able to do this out here and working with our son. So all of it's a gift, and we celebrate it every day.” The post Mill Ridge Landmark Only Half The Story For Nicoma, Farm Celebrates 41st Grade I Winner Since 2000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

8th-IND, $43.5k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, post time: 5:47 p.m. ET HEN PARTY (Into Mischief) is the headline act in this turf dash for Godolphin and trainer Eoin Harty. The May foal is set to become the latest starter for Fair Maiden (Street Boss), who graduated by better than 14 lengths at second asking and was third in the GI Natalma Stakes in 2019 before upsetting the GI La Brea Stakes the following season. The bay filly is the year-younger half-sister to First Resort (Uncle Mo), himself a first-out winner sprinting through the Ellis slop and last seen taking last year's GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths in November 2024. Hen Party, who has trained well over the Turfway synthetic ahead of this first go, will be ridden by Martin Garcia. TJCIS PPs The post Tuesday Insights: Well-Related Into Mischief Colt Gets Going at Indy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale will be held Tuesday at Fairplex in Pomona, with bidding scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PT. A total of 266 yearlings have been catalogued for the one-session auction. “It's been strong,” Fasig-Tipton's California representative Mike Machowsky said of activity around the sales barns ahead of Tuesday's sale. “There were quite a few people out here looking yesterday. And they are starting out again today. Interest is always strong for these Cal-breds.” The catalogue, made up predominantly of California-breds, includes yearlings by Army Mule, Authentic, Clubhouse Ride, Corniche, Cyberknife, Drain the Clock, Early Voting, Good Magic, Grazen, Hard Spun, Justify, Knicks Go, Liam's Map, Maxfield, Maximus Mischief, McKinzie, Nashville, Olympiad, Omaha Beach, Oscar Performance, Practical Joke, Sir Prancelot (Ire), Stay Thirsty, Tiz the Law, and Vekoma. “We have a good, balanced catalogue with a little bit of everything,” Machowsky said. “We have some productive stallions in the catalogue, both California sires and Kentucky-sired Cal-breds that are eligible for the state's breeding program.” California Fall sale graduates who have won stakes races this year include graded stakes winner Big City Lights (Mr. Big), Old Pal (Grazen), Pushiness (Kantharos), and Santa Barbarian (Bodexpress). Barton Thoroughbreds will offer a half-sister by Bodexpress (hip 255) to recent Daisycutter Handicap winner Pushiness, who sold for $115,000 at the 2022 California Fall Yearling sale. “If you enjoy racing Cal-breds or race in California, this is the only market that gives you the chance to look at a number of Cal-breds,” Machowsky said. The post Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale to be Held Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There's never a good time for a spill, but the one Sunday at Churchill Downs that landed Brian Hernandez Jr. in the intensive care unit at the University of Louisville Hospital could not have come at a worse time. Hernandez sustained seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a liver laceration that was treated by a minor surgical procedure. The doctors have told Hernandez he should expect to be out six to eight weeks. That means he will not be able to ride Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in Saturday's GII Lukas Classic at Churchill or Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the Oct. 5 GI Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Both horses are trained by Kenny McPeek. When reached Monday by text, McPeek said he had not yet decided who would take over for Hernandez. A possible substitute could be his brother, Colby Hernandez “I am sore, of course,” Hernandez said Monday when reached at the hospital. “I'm just laying in the hospital bed now. They did a little small surgery on my liver last night, but we still have the seven broken ribs. They're going to do a surgery on the ribs [Tuesday] and, hopefully, that will be something that will get me going in the right direction. The doctors are saying between six and eight weeks. We'll know more here in the next few days after we do the surgery on the ribs. That's when we'll have a whole lot better idea of when we can get back.” With just five weeks to go before the Breeders' Cup, it appears that Hernandez will not be able to ride in that event either. Hernandez was aboard Sgt. Garcia (Audible) in the maiden race for $30,000 claimers when the horse injured one of his front legs near the 5/16th pole and threw Hernandez to track. Sgt. Garcia was euthanized. “Any time you're dealing with a profession where an ambulance follows you around the track proves the point that it's a pretty dangerous job,” Hernandez said. “Riding-wise you know that going into it, so you have to keep that in the back of your mind. At the same time yesterday sitting there in the back of the ambulance, at one point you're saying I don't ever want to ever do this again. The next second, you're thinking 'When can I come back? I have all these good horses to ride.' You start preparing to get back out there and you try to miss as few days as possible.” The post Brian Hernandez Jr Out Six to Eight Weeks After Churchill Spill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Three more wildcards have been added to the Arqana Arc Sale, bringing the total number catalogued for the October 4 auction to 40. The newcomers are led by Zakharova (lot 32), the winner of the Listed Prix Joubert on her most recent start for Francois Belmont trained filly The three-year-old daughter of Zelzal was also was also placed in the Prix de Thiberville and Prix Caravelle. Relaxx, who is also three and a daughter of City Light, will be offered as lot 40. Third in the G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon over the weekend, the Carlos and Yann Lerner trainer also won the Listed Prix Bagatelle earlier this season and hails from the family of Never On Sunday. The trio is completed by the thrice-raced Romanised juvenile Dorado (lot 59), who was recently third for trainer Alicja Karkosa and is a half-brother to GIII Florida Oaks winner Outburst (Outstrip). The post Trio of Wildcards Added to Arc Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It should never be underestimated the magical journey that just one horse can bring a person on and owner-breeder John Farrell is a good example of exactly that. Taking the advice of his wife – which is always a wise thing to do – , Farrell purchased an unraced filly by Derby winner Alamshar before putting her into training with Joanna Morgan back in 2008. That was 16 years ago now and the filly in question, Snap Alam, won five races before producing a host of winners that carried the Snap prefix. The latest of which, Snapretend (Make Believe), won at Punchestown last week. That was quite a timely boost given her half-sister by Ghaiyyath [lot 119] sells at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday at 10am. She represents an exciting new chapter for Farrell, who will also offer a Sioux Nation filly [215] from the Snap Alam family. Both horses are being consigned by Moyfinn Stud. “Basically, I bought a yearling filly by Alamshar on my wife's advice back in 2008 and now here we are,” Farrell sums up his success story. “I am entirely blessed to do it. The name Snap comes from my family – Shane, Niamh, Aisling, Paul and Patricia. We try to keep that with all of the horses we name.” He added, “Joanna Morgan, who lives just across the river from us here in County Meath, took her on to race and she won five times. Pat Smullen, lord have mercy on him, won twice on Snap Alam while Declan McDonogh also won twice on her. The fifth win was ridden by none other than Joseph O'Brien and that's how we came to use him as our trainer. Snapraeterea (Buratino) and Snapraeceps (Canford Cliffs) were rated above 100 while Joseph also got Snapius (Buratino) and Pedisnap (Footstepsinthesand) to win races and achieve a decent level. They are all sons and daughters of Snap Alam so you could say it has grown organically.” Farrell is quick to pour cold water on attributing his success down to anything other than luck. Luck and the fact they are trained by O'Brien. He commented, “A lot of our success is down to the great trainer – I think he is the common trend. It's been fantastic to be associated with Joseph. He really is brilliant. I'm very lucky that I was born and bred on a farm and we have the space for the horses. We have plenty of room and can do a lot of the work ourselves. It started off through Patricia, who is a school teacher by trade but came from a farming background and always had riding horses down through the years. I probably was reluctantly dragged into it and then the children started riding so it grew from there. When you put the hours in yourself, you gradually build up your confidence. We started off small with half-breds and now we're involved in the Flat. What's really brilliant about this breeding game is the great people we have met along the way. It's been a joy and we're learning as we go along.” O'Brien is not the only common trend here. Farrell's philosophy on breeding is an interesting one given he doesn't get sucked into fashion and, ultimately, is ruled by his pocket when it comes to deciding on mating plans for his mares. “I do a bit of research and I take advice from people but I usually pull the trigger myself. I make my decision from a judgment and a financial point of view. I try to get the balance right between speed and stamina and I just think I have been very, very lucky. There has been a lot of luck involved. But it's a constant debate I would be having with myself, weighing up which stallions might suit the mares best and getting that balance between stamina and speed. It's a bit of an art in itself.” He added, “We were extremely lucky with Buratino for example. And he was an unfashionable stallion. Likewise Canford Cliffs. He didn't turn out to be a fantastic stallion but we were extremely lucky with him as well. I just try to do as much research as I can.” That being said, Farrell has fashion on his side at Tattersalls Ireland this week. Young stallion Ghaiyyath appears to be all the rage thanks to the exploits of Opera Ballo, Mandanaba and more in Europe, while Irish import The Padre looked genuinely exciting when landing a Grade 2 on debut for Phil D'Amato at Del Mar. Then there is Sioux Nation, who speaks for himself, and Farrell says both of his fillies are good models by their respective stallions. He said, “We have a lovely Ghaiyyath filly – and she actually is lovely – out of Pedisnap, who I mentioned won twice for Joseph and is a daughter of Snap Alam. I chose Ghaiyyath because I absolutely loved him as a racehorse and please God she goes down well. She has a lovely temperament. Then we have a Sioux Nation filly out of Snapollentia and I think she is a very nice model with a great temperament, also. Paul Giles of Moyfinn Stud, who does a brilliant job, is consigning them for us so it will be something different to look forward to for us this week. I suppose this is something we'd like to expand on. You'd love to be in a position to keep them all but it would be nice to have the whole thing paying its way a little bit. We've been extremely lucky on the track but, I genuinely think that our luck is down to the fact we became associated with Joseph. That's not blowing smoke. But this is a very expensive game so it would be great if we could wash our face to a certain degree.” He added, “But to be honest, we don't rely on getting a touch at all. You nearly have to operate on the assumption that you will not get a touch. Any of those kinds of things are a bonus. You just can't rely on getting a big payday in this game because, as soon as you start relying on that, that's when a horse will get injured on you or something bad will happen. That's a big reason why we like to work within our means and cut our cloth to measure. But are going to Fairyhouse with a degree of confidence because we have two nice models by nice sires and out of two good mares as well. So, please God it goes well. Nothing can replace the thrill you have on the track but selling is necessary because you need to replenish the vessels.” None of this would have been possible without Snap Alam. Farrell reports the 18-year-old darling of the farm to be in rude health and is already dreaming about what could be in store for his blue hen when it comes to covering time next year. He reported, “Snap Alam has a very sweet Ten Sovereigns filly foal at foot. Ten Sovereigns has gone off the radar a little bit but Snapraeceps bred a lovely colt by Ten Sovereigns. He [Snapaurum] actually won on debut at Dundalk and we got him sold to Hong Kong so we have had a lot of luck with the sire. We didn't cover her this year because it went a bit late but, all going well, we'll cover her with something cheap like Wootton Bassett next year!” He concluded, “On a serious note, I will be open to a load of suggestions on that. At the start of every year, it's a blank canvas and you can really dream. I have to say I was impressed by Delacroix at Leopardstown and he could be interesting if he goes to stud because he would be one who has that nice blend of speed and stamina. We will try to put a bit of speed into her and hopefully we won't lose too much stamina. It's nice to dream about it for now.” The journey continues. The post Owner-Breeder Farrell Looking Forward To ‘Something Different’ At Tattersalls Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eight races with purses and awards totaling more than $1.5 million will be offered as part of the undercard of Breeders' Cup championship weekend at Del Mar Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, the Breeders' Cup and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced Monday. Five undercard races will be contested as part of the Oct. 31 Future Stars Friday program, highlighted by the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on turf, and the $200,000 Listed Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf. Also on the Friday card are two stakes races for California-breds on the main track: the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile, both at seven furlongs. There will be three undercard races on the Championships Saturday program Nov. 1, anchored by the $300,000 GIII Goldikova Stakes Presented by Yaamava' for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at one mile on the turf. As is the case with the 14 World Championships races, all eight undercard races will be conducted free of medication. Final race order and post times for both Friday and Saturday programs will be announced Oct. 22. Nominations for all undercard stakes close Oct. 23 with the Del Mar racing office. The post Lucrative Races on Breeders’ Cup Undercard appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was injured Sept. 21 when he was dislodged from his mount in the third race at Churchill Downs.View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has released a list of panelists for its upcoming Pedigree and Conformation Clinic, which will be held in Lexington at Fasig-Tipton Oct. 20. The topics and speakers at the clinic include: Pedigrees/Conformation/Horse Selection, presented by Jacob West (Claiborne Farm/Bloodstock Agent); Purchasing at Public Auction, presented by Jeffrey Bloom (Bloom Racing Stable); The Role of an Auction House and the Auction Process, presented by Anna Seitz Ciannello (Fasig-Tipton); Yearling Prep for the Sales, presented by Francis Vanlangendonck (Summerfield Sales Agency); Equine Nutrition, presented by Anthony Koch (Hallway Feeds); The Role of the Veterinarian at Public Auctions, presented by Dr. Jeff Berk; Genetics and Nicking, presented by Byron Rogers (Stable Analytics LLC); and Equineline and Pedigree Resources, presented by Tim Leith (The Jockey Club). The clinic is open to the public, with a special discount for TOBA members. Registration is available online until Oct. 16 at: toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics. Questions about TOBA's clinics and seminars may be directed to Brooke Purcell at brooke@toba.org or (859) 899-8480. The post Panelists Announced for TOBA Clinic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Jockey Club's Free Lifetime Starts for Thoroughbred breeders, which provides a complimentary race record for Thoroughbreds that is updated after each domestic or international start, has been expanded to include all registered racehorses, as well as younger horses that are registered, but have not reached the track. The service was launched earlier this year and more than 8,500 horses are now enrolled, representing approximately 2,250 unique breeders. Breeders may subscribe to this service during the registration application process. Breeders of Thoroughbreds already registered, including those currently racing, can enroll by completing the Breeder Race Records Request available at registry.jockeyclub.com. The service for breeders to receive free Lifetime Starts in Past Performance Format was developed by TJC Innovations, in conjunction with The Jockey Club Registry. The post The Jockey Club Extends Free Lifetime Starts for Breeders appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

We are very good at depressing ourselves in the racing industry, aren't we? Threats of the betting tax going up and the foal crop going down are currently on the doom loop of news, and they are of course reasons to be concerned. But my daily coping strategy has always been to look for reasons to be cheerful and I am, therefore, naturally happy to say that there are still plenty of those to be found in this sport, or business, or whatever we want to call it. Let's go with sport, because sport sounds much more fun than business, and racing is, after all, supposed to be fun. In my work life I go to a lot of the top race meetings – the obvious crowd-pullers with the best horses on show – and it remains an absolute privilege to have a ringside seat on those days. My home life, in a small stable, takes me to many of England's less prestigious tracks, but it is these venues that provide the most cause for optimism. It is here that you will find the racing tragics, and I mean that as a compliment. The people who rarely miss a meeting at their local track, who cheer the course specialists with gusto, and perhaps enjoy a drink, a few bets, and a proper day out in the fresh air – they are what racing is all about. From the top to the bottom of the country the stalwarts are out in force from Hexham (if you haven't been, make sure this stunning Northumberland track goes to the top of your racing bucket list) to Brighton (similarly, a must-visit). And let's not forget those five Scottish gems of Perth, Kelso, Ayr, Hamilton and Musselburgh. In the last fortnight I've been fortunate to return to my home track of Windsor followed by Yarmouth and then Pontefract, and each of these meetings, admittedly blessed by autumn sunshine, boasted an enthusiastic and engaged turnout of people simply enjoying themselves. No concerts, no punch-ups, just a bunch of nice middle-of-the-road races to enjoy. It remains a source of bewilderment that a growing number of the national newspapers in Britain, which not so long ago each boasted several dedicated racing correspondents, now largely ignore the country's second-largest spectator sport. The perceived power of the click-through has a lot of answer for, and these figures overlook the fact that many racing fans are of the generation of people who still buy a newspaper and would love a bit of news on their favourite sport, along with the day's race cards. And, yes, we have to attract the next generation of racegoers, who take their news in different formats, but get out onto the racecourses around the country and you will find plenty of the younger crowd. For the midweek meetings, however, it would be folly to overlook the importance of pensioners, with perhaps some spare money in their pocket instead of TikTok on their phones. Enjoying the view at Hexham | Emma Berry Last Saturday and Sunday, Newmarket staged the Henry Cecil Open Weekend – one of a range of events around the country, including the popular Lambourn and Middleham open days, aimed at giving a behind-the-scenes look at the sport for its fans. On Sunday morning, 25 of the town's stables were open from 9am to 12.30, following exhibition canters on Warren Hill from a host of the Newmarket's better-known equine residents, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Royal Ascot-winning trio of Ombudsman, Trawlerman and Field Of Gold. William and Maureen Haggas opened their Somerville Lodge yard for the first time and pulled out all the stops in giving their visitors a memorable day out, with the chance to view stable stars such as Dubai Honour, Economics and Hamish at close quarters. Over at Sefton Lodge, Richard Spencer and Phil Cunningham were rightly showing off their trophies for the Ayr Gold Cup and Silver Cup as Run Boy Run and Candy made their way home after their epic triumphs in Scotland. On the Severals in the afternoon, Kevin Philippart de Foy kept up his good strike rate for his new boss Kia Joorabchian by winning the Amo Racing-sponsored celebrity showjumping competition. So delighted was he with his clear round that the trainer temporarily adopted the more flamboyant nature of his compatriot Christophe Soumillon by throwing his whip into the crowd. Our yard, Beverley House Stables, which was once home to the 1903 Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and 1946 2,000 Guineas winner Happy Knight, has no such stars these days. The top-rated of our 16 horses in training has a mark of 76, and there are people that argue that there is no place for the 50- or 60-rated handicappers at a time when prize-money is thinly stretched. I beg to differ. Well, of course I would, but hear me out. All morning long, we had a steady stream of visitors, some coming from or going to William Haggas's stable, but others who made a point of saying that they had come especially to see my husband, John. He is not alone among a range of trainers who will give freely of their time, both at the races and at home, to talk to people who share a passion for racing and do their bit to promote the sport. To say that racing is John's whole life is not an overstatement. He rarely leaves the yard, other than to go to the races, and every winner, every horse, counts. What was so uplifting about Sunday morning was that it was clear that we are not the only ones – apart from the horses' owners – who care about the residents of our small stable. Our homebred multiple winner Dereham appears to have a growing cult following. He's rated 57, but in his mind he's Frankel, and there's something about the English that makes them appreciate an underdog battler every bit as much as a champion. Perhaps that's why in racing you can be a John Gosden, a statesmanlike trainer for some of the wealthiest owners in the world, or a John Berry, more of an everyman, and still have your supporters. This is indeed a sport, perhaps like no other, in which it is important to be able to walk with kings while not losing the common touch. Fortunately, we have the horses and the people who can fulfil both needs. Long may that continue. The post Op/Ed: Some Reasons Still To Be Cheerful appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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