Wandering Eyes

Horse racing has a PR problem. Tina Bond has a possible solution. “It's to create a new narrative and to help elevate the sport,” said Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and the mastermind behind The Heart of Horse Racing, a new campaign–one undergoing something of a soft launch–to cultivate new followers to the game by sharing the stories of those already in it. In the campaign's own words, “our mission is to win over the hearts and minds of a new generation of fans while nurturing the passion of our existing community.” In Bond's own words, “there's just so much opportunity for us to share our stories, we're just not very good at it,” said Bond, highlighting the fractured nature of the sport. “We're not like the NFL or baseball or soccer that's centralized. You have all these different tracks and all these individual trainers are individual businesses. This is a [unified] movement, and I think it's desperately needed.” The campaign has begun with a three-minute video containing name-brands like Jena Antonucci, Todd Pletcher and Frankie Dettori discussing just what it is about horse racing that makes their roles less of a job and more of a vocation. The video has already played on The New York Racing Association's (NYRA) America's Day at the Races. “I think this is a good time to launch it prior to the Breeders' Cup. Maybe it'll get some traction at that kind of level,” Bond said, of the timing of the campaign's roll-out. “We started it in New York but it's going to go across the country, because it impacts the entire Thoroughbred industry.” The firm Bond hired to manage the campaign–the New York-based FINN Partners–has something like 10 hours of footage recorded this summer at Saratoga, she said, mainly interviews with trainers, jockeys, owners and others in the industry. “All of these things will be ready to go, whether it's on YouTube channel or through social media, but I think there'll be a lot more video content. I think the video is important–that's what people gravitate to,” she said. Where does the project go from here? The answer lies with the industry itself, said Bond. “We need to get people to support it,” she said. “There's a lot of work that we can do to reach people that we've never reached before.” NYTHA has already thrown its money and weight behind the project, she said. Fasig-Tipton and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) have also voiced interest in the venture, she added. Starting gate | Sarah Andrew “We don't yet have a big budget to go on the national level,” Bond said. “We have to build ambassadors for this and get sponsors.” Bond has talked partnering with the figures behind the recently-launched Light Up Racing, its mission statement to educate stakeholders in how to best manage difficult conversations with those from outside of the sport. Safety Runs First is another relatively new program focused on equine welfare. “This is the hook,” said Bond, of the role The Heart of Horse Racing can play in conjunction with those other two twin programs. “This will hook people in.” Interestingly, Bond doesn't believe public attitudes towards the sport are as intractable as many stakeholders suspect–nor as bleak. According to research conducted for the campaign, only 1.3 % of horse racing media coverage is negative. Some 62% of people asked had favorable perceptions of the sport, while only 10% held a negative one. As for some of the obstacles to cultivating and growing a new audience, only 21% of those asked believed the sport is family friendly and inclusive, more than one-quarter harbored horse welfare concerns, while 42% of potential fans identified not knowing how to access the sport as the biggest barrier to participation. Ultimately, 40% said they were “most interested” in experiencing the racetrack for themselves. “I think we often miss that selling point,” Bond said, of the way the sport is too often marketed as a game of gambling, rather than one geared around the horse. “But the horses have a short career, usually, at the top level. That's why you've got to make the jockeys a focal point, and their love for the horses. And you make the trainers a focal point, and their love for the horses. Then you have the owners,” said Bond. “I don't know exactly what we need to do to launch this and take the industry to the next level, but we need to reinvent ourselves,” said Bond. “As Jena [Antonucci] says, this is not your grandpa's sport. This is not your dad's sport. This is our sport. So, we have to do this now or we're going to miss the boat-we can't get any more obsolete.” Anyone looking to partner with The Heart of Horse Racing can contact Bond directly: theheartofhorseracing24@gmail.com The post Heart Of Horse Racing Seeks To Tell A Different Story appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A divided board of directors of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is embroiled in an internal dispute that has spilled over into a state court lawsuit.View the full article

Since joining the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association board about 10 years ago, Tina Bond has stressed the need for more marketing and public relations initiatives to present positive messages about the sport. Now she has launched one.View the full article

The form of Emily Upjohn's recent third in the Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp Sept. 15 could not have worked out any better, as she was preceded by the subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) one-two Bluestocking and Aventure.View the full article

With so many roads now leading to Del Mar, traffic may feel pretty slow just now. But we should make a virtue of that, in that our preoccupation with the elite program tends to deny due attention to those achieving their success a tier or so below the very top. After all, such people have typically required no less skill, endeavor and patience, often denied the very highest rewards only through lacking similar parity in resources. Take the breeder of GIII Ontario Derby winner Dresden Row (Lord Nelson), whose emergence among Canada's leading sophomores is underpinned by a pedigree as interesting as it was inexpensively contrived. His dam Elle Special cost Richard Reed just $1,200 when culled by Calumet Farm at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. That would have seemed a ridiculous price when she stood in the Fair Grounds winner's circle after her debut in a turf sprint in 2010. For the ability she had revealed made plenty of sense: she was by Giant's Causeway out of an unraced Seeking the Gold half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre (Nureyev). Unfortunately Elle Special did not consolidate. In fact, she ended up running under a tag at Mountaineer, albeit she'd won a couple of minor races in the meantime. Calumet was able to buy her for $20,000 on retirement, and she made the most of such chances as she had there: her first foal, by Eye of the Leopard, managed a couple of wins in Mexico; and her second, a son of Raison d'Etat, won at Keeneland and Churchill before being beaten barely a length in his solitary try in graded company. Elle Special's next registered foal, in 2017, did better yet. A son of Oxbow sold for just $6,000 as a yearling, he remained unraced when Reed bought his dam but subsequently emerged as Hopeful Treasure to win the GIII Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. Now the fact is that Reed and Tiffany Zammit have finite resources at TCR Ranch. They graze only a handful of mares on 100 acres, 20 minutes south-west of Keeneland, yet have bred a bunch of stakes horses over the years. The expertise required to do so was demonstrated in finding this mare, but sadly yielded scant reward. First they received just $11,000 for Elle Special's short yearling by Lord Nelson, that luckless sire having just succumbed to his final health crisis, at the 2022 January Sale. And then real disaster struck, a few weeks later, when they lost the mare and her last foal together. Dresden Row is therefore the bequest of two tragic parents in Elle Special and Lord Nelson. He elevated his value to $70,000 when pinhooked to True North Stables at OBS last year; and has really thrived for Lorne Richards, winning five of his last six including the GIII Durham Cup against his elders and now Saturday's big race. Super Chow | Sarah Andrew His talent rewards quite a gamble in the choice of Lord Nelson for Elle Special, both being out of Seeking the Gold mares. But a similarly concentrated formula has produced another of Lord Nelson's principal talents, Super Chow, a triple graded stakes winner this year. Not only is his damsire Warrior's Reward is out of Seeking the Gold mare; Super Chow's granddam is actually full sister to Lord Nelson's, both by Southern Halo out of Argentinian blue hen Miss Peggy (Arg). Anyhow the net result, for Dresden Row, is wonderful quality through the third generation: besides Seeking the Gold twice, the other gentlemen in the equation are Storm Cat and A.P. Indy; while the four ladies are the aristocrat Preach (another representative for Seeking the Gold's sire Mr Prospector); Argentinian champion Miss Linda (Arg) (Southern Halo); matriarch Mariah's Storm (Rahy); and Peintre Bleue (Alydar), whose champion son Peintre Celebre was only the icing on a sumptuous Wildenstein cake. Herself winner of the GII Long Island Handicap, she produced a further series of black-type performers and/or producers, the most recent being granddaughter Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a Group 2 winner in France this year. That this is no accident can be judged from TCR Ranch offerings at the imminent Keeneland sale. Smarthalf (Smart Strike), already responsible for graded stakes performer Clayton (Bodemeister), is out of an A.P. Indy half-sister to champion juvenile filly Halfbridled (Unbridled). Offered as Hip 2445 in foal to Maclean's Music, she'll be followed into the ring by her Goldencents colt. And look out for Hip 1795, a son of highflying McKinzie out of another Calumet cast-off, Dram Girl (English Channel). This mare, out of Grade I winner Notable Career (Avenue of Flags), was found at the same sale as Elle Special and nearly as cheaply. She was carrying a son of Big Blue Kitten who has gone on to black-type success, a rare distinction for his sire. So while a cruel fate has denied Dresden Row's breeders the chance to capitalize on his dam, perhaps the acuity they showed in taking her from Calumet will instead pay off with this parallel project. CLEVER AND NOT SO COSTLY No surprise to see Emery (More Than Ready) continuing to thrive, the GII Raven Run Stakes winner having laid down her foundations at Nursery Place. Her ongoing success will remind prospectors to check out that exemplary farm's weanling consignment back at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was found by the Stonestreet team for $235,000 three years ago. Emery | Coady Media It was obvious that they were delighted with her progress when they returned in 2022 to pick up her dam Athena (Street Sense) for only $130,000, with an Improbable filly on board. Athena had carried the silks of Emery's breeder Mary Grum through a 7-for-27 track career featuring three stakes wins on dirt between six and eight furlongs. That made her much the best of the otherwise modest winners out of an unraced Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) half-sister to Peeping Tom. Winner of the GI Carter Handicap, and twice placed in the GI Met Mile while banking over $1.4 million, Peeping Tom was ingeniously named as a son of Eagle Eyed out of the Nasty and Bold mare Artful Pleasure. Herself graded stakes-placed, Artful Pleasure was among several talented performers and/or producers out of Clever But Costly (Clever Trick): her siblings included GI Futurity Stakes winner Traitor (Cryptoclearance); GII Pennsylvania Derby winner Sun King (Charismatic); four-time graded stakes scorer Ocean Drive (Belong To Me); and the unraced dam of two multiple graded stakes winners. That's a major family to have fallen rather fallow for a generation, but the embers have been stoked now and Stonestreet will doubtless ensure that More Than Ready's growing (and global) legacy as a broodmare sire will someday be enhanced by Emery. Already this month his daughters have produced elite winners Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). In the meantime Emery's emergence has consoled the purchasers of Athena's previous foal, a Candy Ride (Arg) filly, for $210,000 at the 2021 September Sale. She never made the racetrack, but now finds herself a radiant broodmare prospect in returning to Keeneland as Hip 1094, in foal to Up to the Mark. DAMSIRE DOUBLES UP IN DOWAGER More Than Ready's big month as a broodmare sire last weekend prompted a similar posthumous push by Giant's Causeway. As already noted, one of his daughters produced Dresden Row-and next day two others sent out fillies to share a photo for the GIII Dowager Stakes. (For good measure, the third home was by his son Not This Time.) Chop Chop (Outside) and Forever After All (Inside) | Coady Media Julia Tuttle, who's out of a sister to Candy Ride (Arg), has already produced Tom's d'Etat by Smart Strike, and her daughter Forever After All (Connect) is similarly thriving with maturity. She took nine attempts to break her maiden but here failed by just a nose against millionaire Chop Chop (City of Light). The winner is out of Grand Sofia, an unraced half-sister to GI Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip (Jump Start) who failed to meet her reserve at $875,000 carrying a Flightline colt at Fasig-Tipton last November. We'll have to see how ambitious connections of Chop Chop prove when she appears in the same ring; while her 3-year-old half-sister by Omaha Beach, Sweet Miss Maggie, sells at Keeneland [Hip 1635]. City of Light, incidentally, had been indebted to yet another daughter of Giant's Causeway for a further turf winner, Fearless Soldier, at Santa Anita only the previous day. More important, perhaps, was an impressive debut last Thursday by Uncle Jim, on the same Keeneland dirt that saw another City of Light juvenile, Filoso, claim a Grade I podium earlier this month. Valuable fresh blood, then, to back up Mentee–who somewhat emulated his boom-bust brother Fierceness when bouncing back from his GI Hopeful eclipse with a graded stakes success at Belmont earlier this month. He switched surfaces there and these glimpses of chlorophyll are intriguing in City of Light, whose granddam was half-sister to Cacoethes (by Alydar, yet memorably ran Nashwan to a neck at Ascot in 1989). And of course his sire Quality Road is by the versatile Elusive Quality out of a Strawberry Road mare. Elite European programs take note. The post Breeding Digest: Dresden Breeders Show A Special Eye appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A dispute between Classic-winning owner Steve Parkin and his former racing and bloodstock advisor Joe Foley over the ownership of Sands Of Mali continued in the High Court on Tuesday. Parkin and Foley, the owner of Ballyhane Stud, where Sands Of Mali is based, severed ties back in March. At the time, the Clipper Logistics boss Parkin moved stallions Space Traveller and Asymmetric from Ballyhane Stud to Starfield Stud. The court was told on Tuesday that Sands Of Mali, who sits third in the first-season sires' championship with 18 wins in Britain and Ireland, has an estimated value of €2.4 million. Parkin and a UK-registered company, Clipper BCS LLP, says that he bought Sands Of Mali for £270,000 [€323,000] in August 2020. He disputes the claim made by Foley that the horse is owned 50-50 and say that the horse is being unlawfully and wrongly held at Ballyhane Stud. The case, which was brought before the High Court last week, returned before Mr Justice Oisín Quinn on Tuesday where Robert Beatty SC, acting on behalf of Parkin, said the matter could be adjourned for the defendants to file affidavits and for the plaintiffs to file any replying affidavits. Remy Farrell SC, acting on behalf of Foley, said an unfortunate aspect to the case was that much of the detail in the plaintiffs' claims ended up being reported “but our affidavits contradict much of what is said”. The case was adjourned and is likely to be heard next month. The post High Court Dispute Between Parkin And Foley Adjourned Until Next Month appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Top racemare Nashwa has been retired after a successful global career that yielded three group 1 wins and close to £1.7 million in prize money just a few days before her younger brother Nebras bids to keep the family name in lights at Doncaster. View the full article

The form of Emily Upjohn's most recent third in the Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp Sept. 15 could not have worked out any better as she was preceded by the subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) one-two Bluestocking and Aventure.View the full article

While many of the top two-turn dirt horses in the country await running at Del Mar in either the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) or the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), others pursue another graded stakes opportunity in the Oct. 26 Fayette (G2) at Keeneland.View the full article

William Haggas was still reeling on Tuesday from the defeat of Economics (GB) in Saturday's G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot, with the trainer confessing of his stable star that he “couldn't see him being beaten” in his bid for a fifth win from as many starts this season. The son of Night Of Thunder (Ire), who went into the race having made the breakthrough at the top level in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on his previous outing, was reported to have bled from the nose after finishing only sixth of the 11 runners at Ascot, but Haggas was keen not to make any excuses when speaking to Sky Sports Racing at Yarmouth on Tuesday. “I think he's fine,” said the Newmarket trainer. “He's a bit battered and bruised but we all are. I know it sounds bizarre, but I couldn't see him being beaten. I thought he wouldn't mind the ground, I thought he'd get the trip and gallop on well, so I can't make any excuses. He didn't win and we'll have to regroup. “It didn't happen, but he's still a good horse in our opinion. With all that went wrong on Saturday, he still wasn't beaten very far. Hopefully, with a good winter off, he'll be back next year to prove it. “I don't know what happened,” he added in response to a question about the prognosis for Economics, who also bled from the nose when winning the G2 Dante Stakes at York in May. “We'll have to go to work on him and sort it out–we'll be taking every precaution.” Sprint Races Off The Table for Kinross in 2025 The Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was another headline act who failed to trouble the judge at Ascot on Saturday, ultimately finishing seventh of the 20 runners when bidding to repeat his 2022 victory in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, having been sent off the 7-2 favourite. The seven-year-old was still beaten less than four lengths, but his connections are now considering a different plan of attack for when he returns to the track in 2025, with the six-furlong trip of Saturday's race thought to be a bare minimum for him at this stage of his career. “We were pleased with his run,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan. “Six furlongs is just probably too sharp for him now and maybe next year we'll stretch him out to a mile. Like always, we'll take each race as it comes, but he's fine after the race and he can have a good holiday. You'll probably see him start off somewhere in June next year. “We're at the stage of his career where every race is a bonus. He's got the enthusiasm for it for sure, but he hasn't got the legs for that six furlongs any more and that was the problem on Saturday. He wasn't distressed afterwards and was happy, so all is good.” The post “I Couldn’t See Him Being Beaten” – Haggas Still in Shock after Economics Defeat appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There is now a 15-day training rule required to participate in French races which will go into effect on Nov. 12. In accordance with Article 111 of the Rules of Racing (Entrainement d'un cheval entrainé hors de France du Code des Courses au Galop), any horse trained outside of France and entered in a public race in France must be duly declared by its trainer via the France Galop website (Site Pro) at least 15 days before the race the horse will be entered. From now on, if a horse is not declared via the France Galop website at least 15 days prior to the race, the entry will be invalidated. It is possible to view what date a horse is authorized to race from by selecting the “my training list” section of the France Galop website. The post French Declaration Rules Amended For International Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Impressive Eyrefield Stakes winner Sigh No More (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will head to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, according to Johne Murphy, the former Munster Rugby player who heads Stride Racing. Sigh No More provided Stride Racing with its greatest day on a racetrack at Leopardstown on Saturday when landing a 40-1 knockout punch to her rivals in that Group 3 contest. Owned in partnership with Bronsan Racing, the Joseph O'Brien-trained juvenile has now amassed over €125,000 including bonuses for her connections, and will undoubtedly garner plenty of attention at the sales. “The plan is for her to go to the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls where she will sell on the Monday evening,” Murphy said. “We are a trading syndicate and have been doing that for four or five years. “In our first year, we had a horse called Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and he was something of a flagbearer for our trading syndicate. When we started syndicating horses in 2017/18, it was concentrated more on the fun aspect of having horses in training.” He added, “We started at a very low level, just five or six of us, and one of our first horses, Tuamhain (GB) (Mayson {GB}), won three times. We also had a double at the Galway festival one year with a horse called Linger (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), so that was all under the banner of Rugby And Racing. But we predominantly place ourselves in the commercial side of the market now.” It's fair to say that Stride has come a long way in a short space of time. The ownership group has never had more than 10 horses in training, the majority of which have been based with O'Brien, and Sigh No More is the classiest runner that has carried those recognisable brown and pink silks to victory. “It's incredible, really,” Murphy expanded, “because we've never really kept a horse as good as this. After they win, they are usually sold and sometimes for luck these things happen.” He added, “Personally, I think the market has underestimated her all along. She won very impressively at Galway but maybe people were cribbing the ground on the day and that maybe the race just fell apart and she was left to pick up the pieces. “But that form has worked out very well with the third Right And True (Ire) (Arizona {Ire}) going on to win a Listed race. We had a couple of phone calls after Galway but it never materialised into a hardened offer. She's just so tough and genuine, and loves racing, so it allowed us to continue on with her. She's grossed over €125,000 between prize-money and IRE incentives before she sets foot in the ring so it has all been for luck.” There was a certain amount of luck involved in Sigh No More racing for Stride and Bronsan Racing in the first place. Originally bought by Paddy Twomey for €60,000, she was returned to the vendor Barronstown Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale last year. It was at that point where Murphy says current connections spied an opportunity to race the well-bred sister to black-type performers Neptune Rock (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Unreasonable (Ire) (No Nay Never). He explained, “She just got spun on the day for whatever reason. We very much act in that space, with horses who qualify for auction races. We followed her into the ring and €50,000 is where we valued her. She made more than that but obviously got spun. We decided to take a chance and, with her pedigree, Joseph trained a lot of the family and we felt that it was a pretty secure bet. We forgive some things that people at a higher level of the market probably wouldn't but pedigree is very important to us and, once it's there on the page, there is always going to be some level of residual there.” Murphy enjoyed a long and distinguished rugby career, earning 99 caps for Leicester and a further 93 appearances for Munster. A sportsman to the very core, his endeavours in racing have kept his competitive spirit alive in retirement and, frankly, filled the void that comes with hanging up the boots. “One hundred per cent,” the Kildare native said when asked if racing has been a helpful outlet in retirement. “I grew up going racing and my father had plenty of good ones when I was younger so I was bitten by the bug pretty early. When I retired, the first horse we syndicated was purely to keep in contact with some fellow players. “But I'd be of the opinion that one hundred per cent of the opportunities that you don't take never materialise into anything, good or bad, so when I was given an opportunity to push on and grow the syndicate, my personality would lend itself towards taking those chances. If it works out, brilliant, and if not, at least you tried. Given my background in professional support, you have to back yourself and thankfully it's materialised and we've had a bit of luck but then again we've great people behind us backing the model and backing what we do.” The post Former Munster Player Living The Dream With Sales-Bound Group 3 Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A total of 28 yearlings have been supplemented to the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale on Nov. 5-7. Catalogued as lots 791-819, they will be offered on Thursday, the final session of the sale. Thirteen yearlings are eligible for next year's Goffs Two Million Series which offers a guaranteed prize fund of €2,000,000 in the Goffs €1 Million Bonus Race Series which will see 20 bonuses of €50,000 paid to qualified winners of a series of 2-year-old maidens in Ireland and the UK as well as Europe's richest 2-year-old race, the Goffs Million. There is also one lot eligible from the supplementary lots for Harry's Half Million, lot 800, a colt by Twilight Son (GB). Some of the lots joining the sale are: a Starman (GB) (lot 796) colt who is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Loterie (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}); lot 815, a Dandy Man (Ire) full-sister to the winner and stakes-placed Countess Rosina (Ire), and a Cotai Glory (GB) colt (lot 811) out of a half-sister to Group 1-placed and multiple stakes winner Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale catalogue was also released on Tuesday. Set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 beginning at 11 a.m., that sale features 121 horses-in-training, followed by 2 1/2 days of yearlings. Some of the horses-in-training lots of note include Curragh handicap winner Masoun (Fr) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) (lot 65), the 90-rated Ridhaz (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 64), Down Royal winner Future Cutlet (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}) (lot 52), and Kodiac (GB)'s Do Si So (Ire) (lot 62), who won at Naas at second asking recently. Among the National Hunt lots are Thecompanysergeant (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) (lot 93), fourth in the G1 Gold Cup at Fairyhouse; and The Dancing Tree (Ire) (Pillar Coral {GB}) (lot 97), a six-length bumper winner. The post Almost 30 Yearlings Supplemented To Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale, Autumn HIT Catalogue Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As the countdown to the 41st Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Nov. 1-2 from Del Mar begins, FanDuel TV will have comprehensive coverage of the event.View the full article

After a successful spring at Aqueduct Racetrack, multiple graded stakes winner Messier is back in action at the New York oval Oct. 26 as he faces seven competitors going a one-turn mile in the $250,000 Forty Niner Stakes (G3).View the full article

As preparations continue for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll saw no change in the Top 10.View the full article

A deep field of 3-year-olds, led by favored Trikari, is set to take their shot at the $600,000 Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 26.View the full article

Olly Murphy's prolific hurdler Bowling Buddy (Ire) (Ask {GB}) topped Tuesday's Goffs October HIT and Yearling Sale at Doncaster when selling to Adam Nicol for £58,000. Offered as lot 146, he gained his third consecutive success from only four starts under Rules when winning a novice hurdle at Wetherby last week. Other notable lots included the five-year-old Highly Recommended (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}), who was consigned by Mel Rowley's Poplar Cottage Stables as lot 149 following his victory in a novice hurdle at Ludlow. He sold to Mary Lewis for £38,000, while the Jamie Railton Sales Agency offered Cossack Chach (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) (lot 129), a four-year-old who shed his maiden tag over fences at Sligo earlier this month. He was bought by Jerry McGrath Bloodstock and Gold Star Promotions for £36,000. The highest-priced yearling to be sold was lot 209, a Zoustar (Aus) filly from Yapham Manor Stud who went the way of Jason Kelly Bloodstock for £22,000. From a bigger catalogue than in 2023 the clearance rate dropped by 5% to 65%, with 88 lots being sold for a total of £737,500 (+23%) and at an average of £8,381 (+6%). The median was £4,000 (-20%). Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, “Today's sale acted as an outlet for trainers and yearling vendors to trade stock at all levels of the market and, whilst we are satisfied with the level of trade, we are aware that we need to do something to encourage more vendors to sell a greater number of horses at this sale. “The October Sale provides a convenient and timely option for those looking to disperse stock and Doncaster never fails to deliver a diverse and busy buying bench, especially when we are given the horses. “We would like to thank those that supported today's sale and we look forward to returning to Doncaster at the end of next week to offer an outstanding catalogue of NH foals, yearlings and breeding stock in our British NH Breeders Showcase.” The post Bowling Buddy Tops Doncaster October HIT and Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Now in its second year, the Polytrack Challenge, sponsored by Martin Collins, will continue during the French all-weather season, but with a couple of rule modifications, France Galop announced on Tuesday. The two race categories remain unchanged, the sprint/mile division and the intermediate/Classic division will each offer the €40,000 to the winners at the end of the season, with the finals at Cagnes-sur-Mer. The points scale will be as follows for the Prix Irish River (Nov. 3), Prix Luthier (Dec. 4), Prix Lyphard (Nov. 26) and Prix Arcangues (Dec. 19): first (50 points), second (30), third (15), fourth (10) and fifth (5). For the Prix Saonois (Feb. 16) and Grand Prix de la Riviera Cote d'Azur (Jan. 25), the point scale will change to 70 points for first, 40 points for second, 20 for third, 15 for fourth and 10 for fifth. There is also a new rule that will apply to win the bonus: the horse who finished first or second in either division needs to have run in at least two “Challenge” races including the final for the owner to get the bonus. If this condition is not met, the bonus which should have gone to his/her owner will not be awarded to the horse and instead go to the next horses's owner who meets this condition. For more information on the rule changes, please visit the France Galop website. The post Rule Changes For France Galop’s PolyTrack Challenge Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The “Heroes Day” program at Caymanas Park on the island of Jamaica had to be called off after the second race Oct. 21 when hooligan racegoers reacted violently to a controversial stewards' disqualification of an odds-on winner by upending garbage bins, hurling debris at horses and jockeys on the track and in the winner's circle, and blocking the tunnel between the paddock and the track. “After an initial announcement that the third event was abandoned, the day's meet was officially called off by the stewards, citing safety concerns,” the Jamaican news service The Loop reported. The social media account of CVM-TV in Jamaica posted a series of videos of Monday's disturbance here. The Jamaica Racing Commission's general manager, Richard Longmore, told CVM-TV, “It's rather unfortunate that this occurred on a 'Heroes Day' race meet. The public was not very much in agreement [with the stewards' decision]. Some of our punters did not see where there was anything for the disqualification which led to the series of events that occurred… Eventually we saw the need, with the racing promoter, due to the safety and concerns in terms of what was happening, to abandon. “One of the things we have noticed and what is a concern to us is that the betting public is very much a part of the fabric of our racing industry and we want to ensure that at all times our decisions are in alignment with international best practices. It is for that reason, we will be looking into the matter,” Longmore said. The post Hooligans Hurl Debris At Horses And Jockeys; Races Abandoned After DQ At Jamaica’s Caymanas Park appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Harris Auerbach, a long-time Thoroughbred industry stakeholder who campaigned California's all-time leading sire Unusual Heat, is rolling out a new breeding and sales operation called HorsePAUER Enterprises, the owner of PAUER Consulting said in a release Tuesday. HorsePAUER will operate as a subsidiary of Auerbach's main company and offerings include stakeholder development, breeding stock portfolio management and bloodstock/matings consultations. Auerbach launched PAUER Consulting earlier this year which brought together a wide-array of services under the umbrella of strategy and special projects expertise. PAUER's clients include major universities, charitable organizations and other sport-related enterprises. According to Auerbach, HorsePAUER will be onsite for Keeneland November and Fasig-Tipton's 'Night of the Stars' Breeding Stock Sale. The post Auerbach Launches Bloodstock Consultancy HorsePAUER appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The new Auctav January Mixed Sale, catering to the Flat racing market, was announced by the sales company on Tuesday. It will be held at Haras de Bois Roussel, also the site for the company's summer sales, from Jan. 27-30. The sale will be open to foals, yearlings, broodmares, stallion shares, and horses-in-training, all bred for the Flat. “The January mixed sale will be held from January 27 to 30,” said Arnaud Angéliaume, general director of Auctav. “The Auctav January Mixed Sale was created to meet demands we've been hearing from the field. Auctav has always aimed to position itself as business facilitators by offering tailor-made sales. We have the flexibility to quickly adapt to real-world needs rather than imposing a rigid schedule on sellers. “It will truly be a catalogue filled with uncut gems, and like the jewelry business, the prices will reflect the potential for great deals.” Haras de Bois Roussel will also host the Auctav Flat Yearling Sale from Sept. 8-11 in the coming year. Angeliaume added, “Auctav has matured, and it is time to offer the French market a fresh commercial proposition.” Entries for the new sale are now open and will close on Dec. 1. For more information, please visit the Auctav website. The post Inaugural Auctav January Mixed Flat Sale Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A varied catalogue of 123 yearlings, foals, and mares has been catalogued for the Nov. 14 Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale. Some of the yearling highlights will be a Starman (GB) colt who is a half-brother to Grade I winner Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) (lot 905); while lot 900 is a Gleneagles (Ire) colt who is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}); lot 920 is an Aclaim (Ire) (lot 920) colt out of a daughter to Group 1 winner Pipalong (Ire) (Pips Pride {GB}); and there is also a colt by Raven's Pass (lot 927) out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). There are foals by a wide variety of sires, with lot 958, a King Of Change (GB) filly out of Group 3 winner Gothic Dance (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) set to sell; lot 997, a Supremacy (Ire) colt out of Group 2-placed Cochabamba (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}); and a Shaman (Ire) colt (lot 1000) out of a daughter of Group 3 winner Dazzling Park (Ire) (Warning). Of the eight mares set to sell, lot 1003, Dark Reckoning (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), a winner of the G3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes, will sell in foal to Coulsty (Ire). The sale will begin at 11 a.m. All yearling purchases are eligible for the €250,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival in 2025. The post Starman Half To Obviously One Of The Sapphire Catalogue Stars appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Turnover on World Pool bet types across the 12 races from Randwick, Caulfield and Ascot on Saturday reached a record high for a single day's racing, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Tuesday. A total of HK$424.1m (around £48m) was staked from over 28 countries, eclipsing the previous record of HK$385.2m (£38m) set when 12 races from the Queensland and Epsom Derby meetings took place under the World Pool banner earlier this year. Ascot's six races on QIPCO British Champions Day generated HK$200m (£19.75m) of the HK$424.1m. Turnover for the same fixture in 2023 was HK$202.7m (£20.1m), representing a very small decrease. Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, Wagering Products at the HKJC, said, “Saturday's action certainly got the pulse racing. The big-field Group 1 contests from Randwick, Caulfield and Ascot lined up a perfect day of action for punters across the globe and we're delighted to see turnover hit a new record high. “It was only World Pool's second ever three-fixture composite card and it was hugely encouraging that the action from Australia and the UK really caught the attention of our global customers, showing the extent of interest in top-class racing across the globe.” Last week, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced that World Pool contributions to UK and Irish racecourses had surpassed £50 million, while Billy Loughnane went into Saturday's action at Ascot with a healthy lead in the the inaugural UK and Ireland World Pool Jockeys' Championship. Loughnane ended the day still clear at the top of the leaderboard and chose the Christy Lambe Foundation as his recipient of the £50,000 charity donation. The post British Champions Day Contributes to New Record World Pool Turnover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Seven of the 11 directors of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA) filed a legal response Monday that denied sweeping allegations of corruption and cronyism that were made last month by the PTHA's current president and another board member. Facing a petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that seeks to use a state business corporations law to remove those seven directors from the PTHA board, the respondents stated in their Oct. 21 filing that the petition should be denied “because it is both legally and factually deficient.” Back on Sept. 6, PTHA president Bob Hutt and board of directors member John Julia, both elected in 2022, initiated legal action to try to correct what they alleged was years of mismanagement “by self-interested Directors with conflicting goals who conducted themselves without regard for their fiduciary obligations to PTHA and to the member Horsemen that it dutybound to represent.” Among the allegations were charges of obstruction to corruption investigations and more than a million dollars of “illicit and disguised ghost consulting payments” and “lame duck” contract awards that were purportedly authorized by and at times reportedly made to the PTHA's past president and the organization's current executive director. The petition alleged that those board members failed to carry out duties they were elected to perform on behalf of the 2,500 owners, breeders and trainers that the PTHA represents at Parx. The directors that Hutt and Julia want removed are Jeffrey Matty, Jr. (who also is under contract to work as the PTHA's executive director), Kathleen DeMasi (the PTHA's vice-president), Charles Asensio, Jack Armstrong, Scott Lake, Robert Reid, Jr., and John Servis. Those seven directors led off their Oct. 21 legal response by alleging that Hutt and Julia have failed to comply with a requirement in the law they are trying to use to remove the directors that relates to judicial supervision of corporate action. “More importantly,” the respondents continued, “the Petition is riddled with falsehoods that can (and will) be easily disproven.” The legal response continued: “Although [the petition] rails against the alleged misdeeds of Mr. Hutt's predecessor as President of the Association [Salvatore DeBunda, who had served four consecutive three-year terms as president and a total of nine terms on the board of directors before Hutt won the presidency via election], it fails to allege any material ongoing conduct that substantiates the severe relief that the Petition seeks. Of the little that is alleged in the Petition that is actually purportedly 'ongoing,' the allegations are vague, conclusory and have no basis in fact or reality.” Hutt and Julia's petition stated that the seven so-called legacy directors “have created a voting block that, notwithstanding the fiduciary obligations each Director owes to PTHA, routinely vote to ignore, condone, and conceal past misconduct, perpetuate ongoing misconduct, and prevent PTHA, under the leadership of [Hutt], from taking timely and effective action to enforce its rights and recoup its losses.” The allegations made by Hutt and Julia do not constitute a criminal complaint, nor are the petitioners attempting to use the court filing to recover any purportedly misspent money. But the aggregate amount of money that Hutt and Julia allege is linked to purported malfeasance reaches beyond seven figures, and it is possible that as the civil case proceeds, it could generate interest from law enforcement that might result in separate criminal charges. The post Facing Corruption Allegations, PTHA Directors Say Charges ‘Have No Basis In Fact Or Reality’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article