Wandering Eyes

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a 1.2 million euro Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Dubawi). 17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT SILVER PEAK (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the second-highest-priced colt at Arqana Deauville August when selling to Godolphin for €1.25million and Charlie Appleby deems it time to unveil him at a track that he favours for his better types. Out of a half to Kingman's triple group 1-winning Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and sire Persian King (Ire), he encounters Juddmonte's fellow newcomer Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a John and Thady Gosden-trained half-brother to the stable's dual group winner Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who broke his maiden here two years ago. HOW THEY FARED 14.58 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT Repole Stable's 280,000gns Craven Breeze-Up acquisition Benny The Waiter (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), a half-brother to this term's G2 King Edward VII Stakes runner-up and Wednesday's G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes nominee Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), was without cover throughout this heavy-ground debut and ran on in the closing stages to finish sixth. 18.30 Wolverhampton, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, f, 7f 36y (AWT) Enclosure (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), the daughter of the G1 Matron Stakes heroine Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and half-sister to the G1 Falmouth Stakes and G1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), never threatened and finished sixth. The post Wednesday’s Observations: Dubawi’s 1.25M Arqana August Graduate Debuts at Sandown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

What happens in the Aug. 21 Juddmonte International (G1) could well define City of Troy in the minds of many. A victory will elevate him and further diminish his defeat in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and underwhelming success in the Eclipse (G1).View the full article

The top four finishers of the Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last month meet again, along with runners from Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, and Bill Mott View the full article

Recent graduates of the sale include: Big City Lights, a multiple stakes winner of more than $416,000 and winner of the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3), as well as Bus Buzz, Crazy Hot, Last Call London and Lite Ranchin Kid, among others. View the full article

Forty-five days after the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declared that the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) is unconstitutional because its enforcement provisions violate the private non-delegation doctrine, both the HISA Authority and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) petitioned for a rarely granted “en banc” procedure that asks for a rehearing before all 17 of that court's judges instead of just the panel of three that issued the July 5 opinion. The HISA Authority's Aug. 19 filing asked for the rehearing based on three main points: 1) The panel's decision “explicitly creates a circuit split” with the Sixth Circuit federal appeals court, which in 2023 opined that HISA is constitutional; 2) The panel's “facial constitutional ruling is wrong” and was based on hypothetical actions that the HISA Authority has never invoked upon any covered person, and 3) The Fifth Circuit's unconstitutionality decision “would dismantle a federal regulatory regime that two Congresses and [presidential] administrations have embraced.” The 3 1/2-year-old underlying lawsuit that led to the Fifth Circuit's opinion was spearheaded by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and 12 of its affiliates. On Tuesday, Eric Hamelback, the chief executive officer of the NHBPA, told TDN that he didn't believe the en banc petition would prove fruitful for the defendants. “This extends the stand-down by a short additional period, nothing more,” Hamelback wrote in an email. “We remain confident in the panel's unanimous opinion and its comprehensive reasoning.” The HBPA plaintiffs have years of judicial precedent on their side to back up the unlikelihood that the Fifth Circuit will grant the en banc hearing. That means the petition could end up being just a legal formality to exhaust every procedural option at the appeals court level before the HISA Authority and the FTC ask the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the division of opinions between the Fifth and Sixth circuits. A United States Court of Appeals (USCA) explanatory page about how en banc requests work stated that the granting of that type of rehearing is “rare” at the federal level. “The Federal Circuit grants few petitions for rehearing each year,” the USCA explanation stated. “These petitions for rehearing are rarely successful because they typically fail to articulate sufficient grounds upon which to grant them.” The Fifth Circuit's most recently published annual report gives statistics about its recent history of handling en banc hearing requests. In each of the last six years (2018-23) the Fifth Circuit has heard between 5,700 and 7,400 appeals each year. The number of en banc rehearings it granted during that time frame ranged between four and 10 per year. In the most recent court year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023), the Fifth Circuit started the judicial calendar with 35 en banc requests pending from the previous year. It then took in 203 new en banc petitions over the course of the judicial year. At the end of the term, only nine rehearings before the full panel of judges were granted. In a separate case initiated by different plaintiffs, on Mar. 3, 2023, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that a change of language in the HISA law at the end of 2022 was sufficient to alleviate any concerns over constitutionality. Back in April 2023, when the states of Oklahoma, West Virginia and Louisiana petitioned the Sixth Circuit for an en banc rehearing after that panel upheld HISA's constitutionality, none of the 28 judges on that circuit even requested a vote on the suggestion for a rehearing. Those plaintiffs then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case, but that request, too, got shot down. But it's important to note that at the time the Supreme Court opted not to take up the Sixth Circuit petition (June 24, 2024), the Fifth Circuit had yet to issue its unconstitutionality ruling. So if the HISA Authority and the FTC fail in their bid to get the en banc rehearing, the Supreme Court might be more inclined to hear the case considering there is now a conflict between two federal appeals courts on the issue of HISA. When the Fifth Circuit issued its July 5, 2024, opinion, it disagreed with the district court on only the enforcement aspect of HISA. “We agree with nearly all of the district court's well-crafted opinion,” the Fifth Circuit opinion stated. “Specifically, we agree that the FTC's new rulemaking oversight means the agency is no longer bound by the Authority's policy choices. In other words, the [2022 Congressional] amendment solved the non-delegation problem with the Authority's rulemaking power… “We disagree with the district court in one important respect, however,” the Fifth Circuit opinion continued. “HISA's enforcement provisions violate the private non-delegation doctrine. The statute empowers the Authority to investigate, issue subpoenas, conduct searches, levy fines, and seek injunctions–all without the FTC's say-so. That is forbidden by the Constitution. We therefore DECLARE that HISA's enforcement provisions are facially unconstitutional on that ground. In doing so, we part ways with our esteemed colleagues on the Sixth Circuit.” The HISA Authority's en banc petition on Monday framed its argument like this: “This proceeding involves a question of exceptional importance for at least three reasons. First, as the panel acknowledged, its conclusion that HISA's enforcement provisions violate the private-non-delegation doctrine conflicts directly with the considered decision of a unanimous Sixth Circuit. “Second, the panel's facial constitutional ruling–resting entirely on '[s]uppos[itions]' and 'hypothetical[s]–conflicts with recent Supreme Court precedents… “Third, in Plaintiffs' own words, this proceeding concerns the constitutionality of a federal law raising 'important matters of law and policy,' with significance extending 'beyond just the immediate parties.'” The HISA Authority's en banc petition continued: “All agree on the high stakes.” The Authority's petition further stated that the Fifth Circuit's unconstitutionality opinion “endangers horses, jockeys, and the industry that cherishes them.” It also underscored that “HISA's implementation over the last two-plus years–governing over 100,000 industry participants (horses and people)–has already yielded 'significant improvement'” while alleging that “the panel decision threatens to reverse that progress and disrupt over two years of reforms to which virtually the entire industry has now adjusted.” The Authority's en banc petition stated that the record on this facial challenge “lacks any evidence of specific enforcement activity against Plaintiffs' members” and alleged that the Fifth Circuit “relied heavily on HISA provisions that have never been invoked against anyone.” According to the petition, “The Authority has not, for example, filed a single 'suit to enjoin violations' or issued a single 'subpoena.'” The post HISA Authority, FTC, Want ‘En Banc’ Hearing to Reconsider Fifth Circuit Unconstitutional Opinion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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One of the first indicators as to how strong the middle tiers of the European yearling market will be this autumn was provided at the V2 session of the August Sale at Arqana where a Starspangledbanner (Aus) filly led the way at €115,000 when sold to Arthur Hoyeau. The filly was consigned by Charles Brière's Fairway Consignment and was one of only two yearlings to break the six-figure barrier, the other being a Siyouni (Fr) filly that was sold to Nicolas de Watrigant on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing for €100,000. Tuesday's top lot was bred by Tony Parker at his Haras de Quétiéville. She is out of a sister to the former basketball player's French 1,000 Guineas heroine Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). A 79% clearance rate, which was down 6% on this corresponding sale last year, followed on from the 6% drop in the August Sale. The average fell by 14% and the aggregate by 19% to €4.523 million. The median was also down by €3,000 to €27,000. Brière had strong representation in both sales and described trade as “patchy”. He also revealed that the breeze-up buyers, who accounted for just four of the horses sold at the August Sale, were not as active this year which ultimately proved bad for business. “I'm delighted with that price for the Starspangledbanner,” Brière said. “Obviously she is by the right sire and we sold the sister here last year for €105,000. The high end of the market, I wouldn't say that it is easy, but it's strong. The lower end of things was much more difficult and I think we have been missing a lot of breeze-up buyers here over the past few days. That makes a bit of a difference. French trainers are usually a little bit more active at V2 than at August Sale, which we saw today, but the breeze-up people buy quite a lot of horses between €50,000 and €100,000 and you could see that they weren't here this year.” He added, “It wasn't easy for the breeze-up handlers this year. You know, if they don't sell their horses, they need to be more careful going forward. There are more sales coming and this is only the first one so we will see how the next few weeks go but I think it's definitely gone very selective. I think it will be more difficult at the lower end this year. Last year, we saw a bit of a drop in Britain and Ireland but we were actually okay in France. Everywhere is the same. Look, it's not dramatic-I think the clearance rate was up to 79% when I last checked-and we still need to be positive. The sales have been so strong for the last few years, maybe we have to be realistic in this industry to what is going on in the world.” All told, Fairway sold nine of the 11 yearlings offered at an average of €37,556. The outfit sold five of the six yearlings offered at the August Sale for an average of €108,000. Brière, who has spent time working with Coolmore, Castlebridge and even Peter O'Callaghan in Kentucky, says that he remains positive about the health of the market at every level in France. “It can be very hard to decide what you are going to do next. Do you buy higher quality horses for the top end which seems to be as strong as ever? Then if you are a breeder, you need to decide whether you go to the big stallions who obviously cost a lot of money. I only have 10 mares on the farm and I do a lot less pinhooking nowadays than I did before. I've started to buy a few more mares for myself and my clients.” He added, “There are lots of positives. The French premiums mean that, if you don't sell, at least you still have a chance of getting a bit of money back on the racetrack. The other good news is that there seem to be some nice sires coming through. The progeny of Armor (GB) and Victor Ludorum (GB) seemed to sell well here this week so there are positives as well.” First Galiway For Emmet Mullins The secret has long been out that the dominant National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins is a big fan of Galiway (GB). Not only has Galiway proved to be a source of top-notch talent on the Flat, with Sealiway (Fr), Sunway (Fr) and even Mullins's high-class Vauban (Fr), but many of his stock have done well over jumps. Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins, a nephew of the champion handler, went to €80,000 to secure his first ever Galiway. The colt was offered by Haras de la Cauviniere and was reported by Mullins to have been purchased with a Flat career in mind first and foremost. He said, “I thought he was one of the nicest horses here today-a nice stamp of a horse with a good pedigree. He could be a dual-purpose type and the sire is doing well. It's a good cross with Galiway and Kendargent (Fr), as we saw with Gala Marceau (Fr).” Mullins added, “I haven't had a Galiway before so it's nice to land one. He should make up into a nice backend two-year-old and that will all stand to him if he does end up going jumping further down the line. But we'll give him every chance on the Flat first.” Dream Debut For Hestia Sebastian Defontaine of Hestia Farm spoke of the heightened importance to his debut draft of yearlings at Arqana on the eve of the sale. He and his wife Camille are expecting their first child together in November meaning good results in the ring would be timely. The couple couldn't have dreamed of a better start when their Armor (GB) colt that was picked up for just €13,000 in December was knocked down to Al Shaqab Racing for €55,000 while their €10,000 Goken filly sold to Federico Barberini for €15,000. Armor proved himself a fast and precocious two-year-old for Al Shaqab, winning the Molecomb Stakes and finishing third in the Middle Park before retiring to stud at Haras de Bouquetot. His first crop seems to have been well-received by the market this week, with six yearlings selling for an average of €47,000. Commenting on his excellent pinhook with the progeny of Armor, Defontaine said, “Very happy. We bought the Armor with some friends and everything went well so everybody is happy. The horse looked great and I am very happy that he will stay in France because I really want to see him run. It's a great result for us but, not even the money, getting a bit of success can only be a help for business.” Menuisier Adds 85k Armor Filly To His Shopping List David Menuisier set out on assembling a bunch of early two-year-olds for next season when snapping up a half-sister to his Golden Mile winner Toimy Son by Armor. Conscious that he can sometimes be pigeon-holed as an exceptional trainer of only stayers, Menuisier is keen to attract some sharper, quicker horses to his stable and the Armor filly is from a family he knows well. He said, “I bought Toimy Son at the Arqana Sale a couple of years ago and he needed a bit of time to adapt to England. He has turned a corner this year and won the Golden Mile at Goodwood the other day. This half-sister to him seems to be a quality filly and is precocious. That is what I am looking for because I have a tag on my face that says I only train stayers!” He added, “I am trying to have a few sharper types to tackle the early two-year-old races next year. I think she is exactly in that range. She has been bought by pretty much the same partnership who own Toimy Son. It's a nice group of friends and we get on really well so it's a pleasure.” Talking points Armor may not have been on many people's radar heading into the sale but his stock was bought by some shrewd judges here on Monday and he could well be something of a surprise package. At just €5,000, Armor might be a decent source of speed for breeders who can't afford access to the Scat Daddy line. The French-based trainers didn't appear to be too active at August which may have been one of the reasons why trade was down, but the domestic handlers supported V2 quite strongly. Jean-Claude Rouget, who recently announced that he was joining forces with Jerome Reynier next year, was the busiest trainer. In fact, Rouget was listed as the buyer of five yearlings for €222,000 which made him the strongest buyer at the sale. The Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster and the Somerville Sale at Tattersalls should provide a proper insight into the strength of the market later this month. It will also be interesting to track whether the strong US buying bench that was so notable during the August Sale will continue on to the Book 1 and the Orby. John Stewart could be an important player. Through Resolute Racing, Stewart spent just shy of €2 million on three yearlings. He could prove to play a leading role at the top yearling sale markets in Britain and Ireland. Buy of the day There may not have been a huge representation from the breeze-up fraternity but Glending Stables got up and running for the new season with lot 370 and the €48,000 that Roderic Kavanagh forked out through agents Peter and Ross Doyle made a lot of sense. A daughter of a listed-placed Pivotal mare, who has already produced two winners, including the black-type performer Bakhchisaray is sure to have been on many buyers' lists given how well Sioux Nation has done on the track and in the ring. A late May foal, the Sioux Nation filly will need to thrive in order to be ready in time for the breeze-ups, but she couldn't have gone to a better nursery with Glending's roll of honour headed by the brilliant dual Group 1 winner Vandeek. Quite a leggy filly, who looks as though she could blossom over the coming months, it wouldn't be any surprise to see Kavanagh and his team turn their €48,000 outlay into six figures at the Tattersalls Ireland breeze-up sale next year. If they got a dream run, who knows, she could even be the type to come back to Arqana for the breeze-up sale in May. She looks well bought. The post Starspangledbanner Filly Tops V2 At 115k As Key Figures Dip At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's the surprises that keep us interested in pedigrees, and that applies as much to people as to horses. Cogburn, who recently sprinted to a world record in the GI Jaipur Stakes, is out of a mare by Saintly Look. Saintly Who? A son of Saint Ballado, and winner of the GIII Lecomte Stakes in 2003, Saintly Look covered a couple of small books in Indiana, in 2008 and 2009, and was then sold for $17,500 at the Keeneland November Sale. Cogburn's dam In a Jif was among nine named foals in his second crop. Eventually resurfacing at another farm in the state, Saintly Look seems to have had three named foals in 2014, another eight in 2015, and then disappeared from production altogether. “Saintly Look!” exclaimed Sally Lockhart's husband Jimmie when she brought the mare home. “Saintly Look doesn't belong in our broodmare band!” “I didn't know who the hell Saintly Look was,” admits Sally, looking back. “I'd love to tell you that we'd spent days researching In a Jif, but it wouldn't be true. I just saw this pretty mare walking up through the chute and when I looked at the catalogue page, she was in foal to Not This Time. And at the time, I just had an infatuation with that horse.” At the start of the year, indeed, she had been proud that their Ballyrankin Farm had been the very first to deliver a foal by Not This Time. And now that his second crop was imminent, she was stretching to sweep up unwanted seasons at a bargain rate. “But that's how we've made our money,” she explains. “That's been our livelihood, breeding nice-looking mares to cheaper horses. We can't afford expensive mares, so we try and buy ones that might have nice foals. That's the only way we can do it–and one of ours had the highest-priced Known Agenda last year, another the highest Modernist.” It so happened that this pretty mare was being sold through James Keogh, with whom the Lockharts have a relationship going back over 20 years. “In fact, I think it's fair to say that if James hadn't helped me out with boarders, we wouldn't even have the farm now,” Sally acknowledges. They know him as few others. They even know a scruffy, sweating Keogh, who toils towards the immaculate presentation both of his horses and his own wardrobe, on sales day. And they know the horseman so respected that a couple of years ago, he judged at the Dublin Horse Show. And there he was, watching this mare on the rostrum, scowling. “James had a horrible face on him while she was up there,” Sally says with a chuckle. “So I walked up and said, 'What's wrong with her? Why isn't she making anything?' And he said, 'There's nothing wrong with her. I don't know why she's not bringing more.'” So Sally just went right ahead and bought the mare for $26,000. After all, In a Jif had won seven of 18 starts, including a sprint stakes on the Turfway synthetic. Even before she had the docket in her hands, however, Sally was already worrying about what Jimmie was going to say. “I thought, I'm going to be in so much trouble,” she recalls. “So I signed in some fake name. And I wasn't even at the vanning desk before Jimmie called me. And he was like, 'What the hell!? Did you just buy a mare?' And I looked around to see who had ratted me out.” “Nobody,” confirms Jimmie. “I just recognized the fake name.” Of course he did. Because if you think Cogburn's dam has a surprising sire, then how about the woman who found her? For when Sally signed the docket in the name of Bellary Bay Bloodstock, she was borrowing the title of a novel by her father John Brennan. Never heard of him, maybe? A bit like Saintly Look? Except he's on many a bookshelf, especially back in Europe, under the nom de plume of John Welcome. Besides his occasional collaborations with Dick Francis, he wrote old-school thrillers, plus biographies of Fred Archer and, in the classic Neck Or Nothing, Sceptre's trainer Robert Sievier. “He was a lawyer in Wexford, but always wrote books on the side,” Sally explains. “And he dedicated the one called Bellary Bay to me. It was about World War I in Kerry, where he had a house. He always wrote under a pseudonym because he thought that if anybody knew who was writing these books, he couldn't be a very good attorney. So he wanted to stay under the radar.” But it was an incidental benefit of her upbringing by this remarkable man that ultimately determined the course of Sally's life. “We always had animals at home,” she says. “I mean, we had 40 acres, and always had hunt horses, event horses, cattle, chickens. My sisters and I, we all rode growing up: Pony Club, hunting, all that sort of stuff.” Their own place was called Hermitage and, by the time Sally was naming a Kentucky farm, that name was already taken! But one of her favorite Pony Club events as a child was held at a place called Ballyrankin, and it is the old Irish road-sign that hangs on their gate today. There was a long and winding road to be followed first, of course. And probably things would never have played out the way they did but for the eventing fall in which the 18-year-old Sally injured her back. Told that she couldn't ride for six months, she went to muck stalls at Coolmore for a breeding season–and liked it so much that she returned the following year. “I would have stayed riding event horses in Ireland, if I hadn't hurt my back,” she says. “But when Coolmore sent me over here, I just never went home. Life was good, I was making a bit of money, it was all a lark.” For many years she worked in the office at Brookdale, right through the days of Deputy Minister, Silver Deputy and Forest Wildcat. In the meantime, she met Jimmie, who was running one of the broodmare barns at Airdrie. Later he spent three years at Ballindaggin Farm for John Williams, and also did a stint at Stonereath. But around the turn of the century, the Lockharts decided they had enough experience to start a place of their own. They leased a couple of other sites, before settling where they are now on the Georgetown Road. “We own bits and pieces of 20 mares, and we're a commercial breeder,” Jimmie sums up. “Our plan is to have early foals that are strong and mature for November. That's our big sale.” Keeneland November was duly on the agenda for the Not This Time foal delivered by In a Jif. And albeit Sally's own attempt to remain incognito had entirely failed with her husband, they maintained the “fiction” when the mare duly foaled the following March, registering the breeder as Bellary Bloodstock. “I was so nervous until she had a colt,” Sally confesses. “But then I thought, 'Thank God, I'm off the hook.' That was just lucky, of course. But he was a really straightforward, easy keeper. And the mare the same: pleasant, sensible. I wish we could tell you we saw a champion coming. But there was nothing fancy about him. “It's like Old Tom Cooper used to say. He was a friend of my father, and took me under his wing when I first came over here. 'Sally,' he told me. 'You just need to look them in the eye. That's really all you need to do, figure out what's going on in their head.' Stands to reason, doesn't it?” Naturally selling through Keogh, the colt brought $52,000 from Clarmont Bloodstock before a topsy-turvy pinhook cycle. Ultimately, he ended up racing for a partnership of Clark Brewster with Corinne and William Heiligbrodt, who sent him into training with Steve Asmussen. As a juvenile, Cogburn impressed in a Churchill maiden just a couple of days before In a Jif's next foal, a Classic Empire filly, surfaced deep in the September sale and made $110,000. She, too, won a Churchill maiden the following June–by which time Cogburn had just finished second on his graded stakes debut. “And Taylor Made came knocking on the door,” Sally says. “I mean, she was empty, and we weren't going to be able to afford to breed her back to Not This Time. So we agreed to a private sale.” Obviously the price would be higher still, now that Cogburn has proved a revelation for the switch to turf. But the Lockharts' business is one that demands pragmatism, and a hunch won't always pay off the way it did with Not This Time. “We have sometimes fallen victim to fashion,” Jimmie says. “Sometimes it can come back and bite you when you're in the wrong year. Stallions used to get two or three years, but now it's almost down to one cycle. Things have become very, very fashion-driven.” Their three principal clients have usefully contrasting agendas: one joins them in selling weanlings at the November sale; another breeds strictly to race; another operates in between. On the whole, however, the Lockharts find that the same treatment benefits all young stock the same. “Except that the clients who breed to race don't believe in corrective surgeries,” Jimmie notes. “Their horses are not manipulated. Other than that, we raise them all pretty much the same–they're wintered the same, housed the same–until the sale horses, at the appropriate time, go into their prep. The breeding to race, of course, gives you the luxury of breeding to whatever horse you want. But that's a long game, and an expensive one.” The Lockharts believe sufficiently in their groundwork to have done well buying back fillies raised at Ballyrankin, off the racetrack, to breed. But they will also keep monitoring lesser fillies, to reserve them a home if in any way uncomfortable with where they have ended up. The compassion remains, then, however tough the environment can sometimes be. Sally was one of the first women to join the Irish diaspora in the Bluegrass. “The business was definitely male dominated in those days, though I'm not sure I ever really noticed,” she says. “I mean, it still is, or when you stop and think about. Maybe it was harder, as an employer, to get staff that respect you in this line of business. But I think that just takes time.” Certainly she felt no sentimental disappointment when both their children embarked on different careers. It's a tough vocation, after all, especially in the foaling season when Sally and Jimmie take alternate nights on call. “We foal out 50 to 60 every year,” Sally says. “I do enjoy that side. Obviously there's the tough ones that go wrong, and those wear on you. But those mares are my friends, and that's how I treat them. They work hard for you in that foaling barn. But I think the magic lasts longer for me than for Jimmie!” “I won't lie,” he concurs. “It's magical in January, but come May, it's torture. I'm ready for it to be over.” Both, however, share the sense of fulfilment when horses graduate from their program to excel on the track. “We've had plenty of good racehorses come off the farm before this one,” notes Jimmie. “Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) won a Grade I, and ran at the Breeders' Cup twice, and we'd raised her for Paul and Karen Eggert. Turnerloose (Nyquist) won the [GII] Rachel Alexandra. And years ago, we had Square Eddie (Smart Strike) that won the [GI] Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and ran second at the Breeders' Cup.” The latter offered the Lockharts early reassurance that they knew what they were about, but will always particularly linger in Sally's memory as he kicked her in the head as a yearling. But even after cashing out the mare, nothing exceeds the pride the couple can justifiably take in having raised the four-legged lightning bolt who has already earned a place at WinStar on retirement. “He's some kind of fast, isn't he?” says Sally. “Who would ever have thought? Maybe we won't ever get another Cogburn in our lifetime. But it was the right thing to do, to sell the mare at the time we did. And to have been riding on those coattails, it's nice.” And while she has found herself a long way from “the tang of turf smoke that hung all about their homesteads great or small”–as her father wrote of nostalgia for the old country–then here, also, is exactly what he described in Bellary Bay: “good country for horse-rearers, too, with its rich pastures set on limestone.” Home and away have transposed, by this stage, but the endeavor and the rewards remain the same. “We're all just trying to make a living of it,” Sally says with a shrug. “It's long days, sometimes long nights. But that's just the way it is. It's a way of life.” “And it's great when you feel you've accomplished something,” adds Jimmie. “Even if part of it was by luck. Because if you don't believe in yourself, believe that you can make a difference, you're in the wrong line of work. So, yes, something like this does give you a sense of pride.” The post Cogburn’s Dam a Welcome Surprise to Lockharts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024-25 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park, the winter home of the top horses, horsemen, and jockeys in the world, will play host to a total of 66 stakes races—30 graded—totaling $15.025 million.View the full article

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course announced Aug. 20 Hugh Drexler as its new director of racing and Candy Wetzel as assistant director of racing.View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Odin Londono has been suspended for 18 months and fined $12,500 as a result of his trainee Private Drive testing positive for Diisopropylamine, a banned substance, when winning at Mahoning Valley Feb. 14 this year. The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) classifies Diisopropylamine as a vasodilator, which is a substance that dilates the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely through them. Diisopropylamine is also found in several everyday items like tobacco and beauty products, and hand sanitizer. Veteran trainer Nancy Summers has been suspended 45 days and fined $1,000 due to what an internal adjudication panel describes as “many instances of miscommunication” between Summers and HIWU investigators about the whereabouts of her truck. In short, on Jan. 17 HIWU investigators conducted a search of Summers's Sunland Park barn, at the end of which, they asked to search her personal vehicle. Summer told them her vehicle was not there, the panel writes. Later that day, however, the investigators saw Summers drive away from the barn in a white pick-up truck–what led to the crossed lines of communication. It eventually transpired that Summers's driver and handyman Jeff Hawkins had taken the truck to Home Depot to purchase materials for Summers during the time of the barn search, before later dropping the truck off, according to the adjudication panel. “Based on the information provided to this panel, it is fair to determine that Ms. Summers bears no significant fault or negligence and that her overall testimonies, evidence, character references, and previous history as a Thoroughbred trainer are significant indicators that she was not attempting to be intentionally deceitful to HIWU investigators,” the panel writes. Indeed, the panel notes that Summers “had previously never been sanctioned for a medication violation or a possession of prohibited substance violation.” The panel added, however, faults Summers for “failing to provide complete information” to investigators. “Specifically, Ms. Summers should have been more forthcoming regarding Mr. Hawkin's significant involvement when asked about the whereabouts of her truck on March 20th 2024.” NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 08/19/2024 Licensee: Lynn Rarick, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 20, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Calzone, who won at Canterbury Downs on 7/4/23. Date: 08/16/2024 Licensee: Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Camphor— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Brother Showtyme on 7/18/24. Date: 08/16/2024 Licensee: Dan Ward, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Kobla Mas on 7/4/24. Date: 08/15/2024 Licensee: Ralph D'Alessandro, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Production Credit, who won at Finger Lakes on 6/12/24. Date: 08/15/2024 Licensee: Billy Christian, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Treated as 1 violation with Olivian under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Abraaj Mirage, who won at Emerald Downs on 6/28/24, and in a sample taken from Olivian, who won at Emerald Downs on 6/9/24. Date: 08/15/2024 Licensee: Shawna Christian, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Rhodium Runner, who won at Emerald Downs on 6/2/24. Date: 08/14/2024 Licensee: Nancy Summers, trainer Penalty: 45-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 15, 2024; a fine of $1,000. Final decision by Internal Adjudication Panel. Explainer: Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules. Date: 08/14/2024 Licensee: Odin Londono, trainer Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 10, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $12,500. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Private Drive, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/14/24. Pending ADMC Violations 08/20/2024, Richard Sillaman, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Levisa on 7/21/24. 08/20/2024, Luis Duco, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—Class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Dulce Ambicion on 7/16/24. 08/19/2024, John Shirreffs, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Oxycodone and Omeprazole—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Momad on 7/15/24. 08/15/2024, Gerald Butler, trainer: Provisional suspension for the possession of a banned substance; Two acts of retaliation and threats/intimidation. Violations of Crop Rule One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race. Hawthorne Alex Centeno – violation date August 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension Horseshoe Indianapolis Joseph Romero – violation date August 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension Santa Rosa Santos Rivera – violation date August 16; $250 fine and one-day suspension Saratoga Joe Bealmear – violation date August 16; $500 fine and one-day suspension The post Weekly Rulings: August 15-21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

York's G1 Juddmonte International was designed to bring the very best to the famous Knavesmire venue and it has achieved that on Wednesday with City Of Troy (Justify) ready to rock and roll over the flat, fair mile-and-a-quarter. Due to a variety of factors beyond his control, Michael Tabor's 'Frankel' has probably yet to show his true material, with slow ground on Future Champions Day and in the Eclipse blunting his speed and heavy traffic on the contours at Epsom curtailing his impressive stride. There is a feeling that this combination of fast summer ground, extended 10-furlong trip and even terrain will serve as the key conditions for him to showcase the brilliance that John Magnier talked about having seen so often at Rosegreen but not yet fully on the track as he reflected on the colt's anti-climactic display at Sandown. It is worth reiterating his remarks here again. “The year is long and we'd just like to see him really run on his ground,” the Coolmore supremo stated. “What Aidan and Ballydoyle think about him and see in the morning is just incredible and we want people to see it, so hopefully it'll happen before the end of the year. I've been there watching him work and seen the times he does without being asked. We'll see what the next day brings.” Ryan Moore is giving all the right signals ahead of Wednesday. “Several have chances but, in terms of group 1 ability, I can't help feeling that the main players all have some sort of questions to answer and need to come up to City Of Troy's level,” he said. “It's a competitive renewal, but my horse sets a high bar that the rest have to try to reach.” Aidan O'Brien added, “What he has been doing has just been on raw ability,” he said. “We thought he was still green in the Derby and then we went to Sandown and we were happy there was plenty of time between Sandown and York to tweak a few things. The weather looks like it means the ground should be better than Sandown and York has a nice, long home straight that we hope will suit him given his stride.” Not So Friendly Rivalry… Whatever City Of Troy brings to the table in terms of class and aura, the Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) remains a formidable rival given how strongly he was moving along at Epsom entering the closing stages. The Irish Derby proved that a stiff mile-and-a-half test is not what he needs and he looks an ideal type for this race. Jockey Robert Havlin is of that opinion. “If you stopped both Derbys at the two-furlong marker, he's probably the only one still on the bridle so you would have to think that dropping back will help,” he said. “It looks like being the race of the season, so I'm really looking forward to it. I'd like to hope that he can reverse form. He's a really strong traveller with a very high cruising speed and he goes up through the gears on the bridle. I think the slick track and strong pace at York will play to his strengths and a big field is no problem, as he's not lazy. If a gap appears he's one that can instantaneously fill it, because he travels so well.” Can Calandagan? The Aga Khan and Francis-Henri Graffard have enjoyed a banner year up to now and given that Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is a six-length winner of Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII Stakes there is no reason for him not to be here. That was over a fiercely-run stiff mile-and-a-half, however, and this trip on this track on this ground will demand more earlier speed which he may or may not possess in the requisite quantity. His G3 Prix Noailles and G3 Prix Hocquart wins over this kind of distance came on testing ground, so we will find out a lot more about him here. “He's ready for the next level and we'll see where we stand,” Graffard said. “The opposition is very strong, but I think York will suit him as it's a big, galloping track with a long straight compared to somewhere like Deauville.” Best Of The Elders… Ralph Beckett has dared again with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), as he did at Ascot in the King George where he was rewarded his faith in spades. Back over the course and distance of her G2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes win in May, she adds depth to the contest as does the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes runner-up Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). Trainer Jerome Reynier has the Arc in mind for the latter and said, “It is going to be a very strong test. Obviously, he ran a really good race at Royal Ascot and he showed he was able to deal with the fast ground at the highest level. We are going to wait at the back for some pace and hopefully we will be finishing as fast as the other day. He looks amazing and he's been training very well. We are really looking forward to seeing him again in England and his final target will be the Arc in early October and we thought this was the perfect race to use as a trial.” Shadwell's dual G2 York Stakes winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is three-from-four at this track, while Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) has the class to win a race of this nature and if he can improve off his latest G1 Sussex Stakes second will be in the reckoning. “It was a massive run at Goodwood, where he was second to a Guineas winner and an exceptional horse and everyone was in agreement afterwards that the step up to a mile and a quarter would help him and was the next logical step,” jockey Tom Marquand said. Strong Voltigeur Boosts Opening Fixture… While the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes is always a key pointer to the St Leger, the 12-furlong contest can sometimes suffer in the shadow of the card's feature race but this year is a very different proposition. In any other year, the Irish Derby winner would be expected to appear in the Juddmonte International but with Ballydoyle already running their best there Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is in the group 2 with a penalty. Fast ground will serve as a new test for him here and Aidan O'Brien, who also saddles the G2 Queen's Vase winner and G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), needs to confirm his stacked Leger pack. “There are lots of places he can go after it,” he said. “Obviously there's the Leger at a mile and six, he could go up to two miles or having won the Irish Derby, he could always go back to a mile and four. This race might help us decide where he goes.” Heading the opposition to the Ballydoyle duo is Mohammed Jaber's King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), runner-up to Alflaila in a tactical renewal of the York Stakes last time. “He's done the donkey work in what I was told was the slowest run 10-furlong race at York ever, which was never going to suit him being a potential 12-furlong horse up against speedy 10-furlong horses,” trainer Harry Charlton said. “I thought he ran well and more than anything it gave us confidence that 12 furlongs would be within his compass because he was deeply relaxed, lobbing along in front when the others were keen,” he added. “It will be interesting how we get on as we are going in potentially against some stayers and he's the one coming up in trip. He might be the one with the speed and they will want to go a nice tempo, which he likes.” Holding Court… Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes could hardly be more intriguing, with Ballydoyle and Godolphin's impressive debut-winning TDN Rising Stars Ruling Court (Justify) and The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) out to prove their credentials. Ruling Court showed abundant pace at the close of his Sandown maiden and he could have a speed edge over The Lion In Winter with the latter potentially more of a middle-distance prospect. “We were obviously delighted with Ruling Court on his first start at Sandown and he has definitely come on for the run,” Appleby said. “We always felt that a nice, galloping track like York would suit and we go there with a horse who looked very exciting on his debut.” Aidan O'Brien has The Lion In Winter's next target already set in his mind. “He created a nice impression on his debut, it was a nice performance,” he said. “He is just ready to start again and we thought the experience of York would do him good. The track should suit him. We've got the Goffs Million possibly in our minds for him and the timing of this race and the experience he should pick up should help with that in mind.” Interestingly, the Gredleys' Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) will offer perspective having run third in the G2 Superlative Stakes won by the Appleby stable star Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while Amo Racing's impressive Redcar novice scorer Diablo Rojo (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}) and Robert Barnett's Our Terms (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who took Ascot's Crocker Bulteel Maiden, are other key players in a deep contest. The post ‘My Horse Sets a High Bar’: Moore Confident as City Of Troy Sits Big York Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby send out the two solid favorites in a field of six for the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Eight distaffers will contest Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after two of the 10 overnight contenders were withdrawn before Tuesday morning's declaration stage. Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's G1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is set to renew rivalry with Curragh runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That Aidan O'Brien representative will be accompanied by stablemate and Irish Oaks 13th Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The latter had earlier accounted for the reopposing Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, where You Got To Me ran fourth. John and Thady Gosden are double-handed in the £500,000 feature and will rely on Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion). The former makes her first visit to the Knavesmire since trouncing four rivals in the 2022 G3 Musidora Stakes while Queen Of The Pride comes back off a three-length victory in last month's G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. The line-up is completed by Hughie Morrison trainee Mistral Star (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's dual stakes-winning Sea Theme (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), from the William Haggas stable. The post Irish Oaks Heroine You Got To Me Among Eight Declared for Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Wednesday at Saratoga: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Saratoga 2, $90k, 2yo, (S), 6f, 1:44 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief), FTMMAY, 260,000, :10 C-Sequel Bloodstock, agent; B-Scherer/Radcliffe/Lady Sheila Saratoga 6, $90k, 2yo, f, (S), 1 1/16mT, 4:00 p.m. ET Grace and Grit (Munnings), OBSAPR, 350,000, :10 C-Niall Brennan Stables, agt; B-John Kimmel, agt. Nedlaw Stables The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 21, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The newest intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees have begun their two-year training programme at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in Ireland. The class of 2024-2026 consists of trainees from America, Britain, France, Ireland and the Czech Republic and they will undergo training across the racing and bloodstock industry in Australia, America, Dubai and the UK. Godolphin Flying Start executive director Clodagh Kavanagh said,“We welcomed our 22nd Godolphin Flying Start class to Kildangan Stud last week. They are an enthusiastic group who are determined to forge careers in the thoroughbred industry. Their engagement and work ethic will stand to them as they progress through the Irish phase and beyond.” The 2024-2026 trainees are: Antoine Rozan, France Gabrielle Nebout, France Megan Bulbulia, Ireland Ivanna Dempsey, Ireland Rachael Doody, Ireland Tereza Pavlů, Czech Republic Adam Holland, UK Matthew Daubeney, UK Caroline Bunch, USA Matthew Browne, Ireland Grace Hamilton, USA Luke Kevin, Ireland The post Latest Godolphin Flying Start Course Underway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Hugh Drexler has been appointed to the position of Director of Racing while Candy Wetzel will serve as Assistant Director of Racing at Mahoning Valley, the track announced Tuesday. Drexler will begin his duties Sept. 2, pending normal regulatory approvals. Drexler formerly served as the Racing Secretary at Thistledown in 2020/2021. The University of Arizona Racetrack Industry graduate has most recently been general manager of the North Dakota Horse Park where he has overseen racing, gaming and facilities for that organization. Drexler is a Level III accredited ROAP graduate and previously worked for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. “I'm excited to rejoin the Ohio Thoroughbred racing circuit and look forward to strengthening Mahoning Valley's position as a premier racing and entertainment destination,” said Drexler. Ohio native Wetzel, a member of the HGMVRC team since its opening in 2014 while working as a manager in the racing pari-mutuels area, most recently was a part of the team to implement sports wagering at the facility. Wetzel, a ROAP accredited racing official, hails from a family has been involved in Thoroughbred racing in Ohio for many years. “I am appreciative of this wonderful opportunity and look forward to my new role and being able to contribute to the continuing success of horse racing at Mahoning Valley,” said Wetzel. Robert Swedinovich, General Manager for HGMVRC, added, “We are glad to welcome both Hugh and Candy into our racing leadership positions. Both bring their own unique experiences and a passion for horse racing which should benefit HGMVRC and Ohio racing going forward.” The post Drexler, Wetzel Named to Mahoning Valley Racing Positions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was said to be a source of “great disappointment” to the BHA's Flat Pattern Committee that its partners in Europe could not unanimously agree on an upgrade to the G2 Sky Bet City of York Stakes back in February. Had the application been approved by the European Pattern Committee (EPC), it would have seen the the race become the only Group 1 to be run over seven furlongs in Britain. This was no hit-and-hope attempt by York to attain that status, rather the culmination of a 12-year-plan, in conjunction with the BHA and EPC, which has seen the City of York Stakes rise from a £50,000 Listed race in 2012 to its current Group 2 status and prize-money pot of £500,000. “That was the genesis of where we are today, from the examination of the European summer programme and the need for a seven-furlong Group 1 before the [Prix de la] Foret in the autumn,” says York's chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby. “That was felt to be a race-planning need and the City of York at the Ebor Festival was identified to be the right slot for that race. It has taken a dozen years of investment and support and sequential upgrades, and at every stage the race has justified its upgrade based on ratings. “We were thrilled this time last year when the City of York met its parameters for upgrade from Group 2 to Group 1 in that its three-year average was above 115, and in 2023 its rating was above 115, which are the two parameters to get upgraded. “That is very difficult to achieve when you are a Group 2 because a lot of the top horses won't run because it's a Group 2. It feels like we've chased the end of the rainbow and found it.” In the last three years, the City of York has been won by Godolphin's Space Blues (Ire), who beat Highfield Princess (Fr) in 2021 before going on to win the G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 Breeders' Cup Mile in the ensuing three months. Kinross (GB), who is also a dual Group 1 winner, has won the race in the following two years, with the race achieving a rating of 115.5 in 2022 and 2023. Kinross is currently second-favourite for this year's City of York Stakes, with his runner-up last year, the subsequent G1 Lockinge Stakes winner Audience (GB), having been installed as favourite ahead of declarations on Thursday morning. “We hoped that that was enough, having reached those two difficult parameters, and that we might have been upgraded for this year, but that wasn't to be,” says Derby. “But we are very determined to continue this journey and hope that the logic of the seven-furlong Group 1 race in Europe in the summer remains. We were delighted to see the strength of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in Deauville several weeks ago and that absolutely shows that the two races can co-exist happily and successfully, fulfilling different race-planning needs.” While the team at York awaits this year's race in the hope of another strong ratings performance, it can look forward to three Group 1 races this week amid a programme of 28 races across the four days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival worth a record £6.85 million in prize-money. The one which will undoubtedly draw the greatest attention is Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, featuring a field of 13 which includes the first and second home in the Derby, City Of Troy and Ambiente Friendly (Ire), along with the top mare Bluestocking (GB), French raiders Calandagan (Fr) and Zarakem (Fr), and Japanese St Leger winner Durezza (Jpn). Derby says, “It's the richest race that we have ever staged at £1.25 million and we are hugely appreciative of the support of Juddmonte and of York Race Committee. We think it's the largest field since it was inaugurated in 1972 as a race. To get such a high-quality field which pulls together so many strands – whether it is the three-year-olds taking on the older horses, or the fillies taking on the colts, or the international formlines – it's everything we want our flagship race to be really.” He continues, “We are thrilled and honoured that Durezza has come. We were very impressed when he won the Kikuka Sho last autumn. He arrived at the racecourse [on Monday] and has already been out on the track this morning. We're also delighted that Christophe Lemaire is coming to ride him. He's one of the world's best jockeys and it fulfils one of our long-term strategies to get a top-class Japanese horse to run. We had Zenno Rob Roy in 2005, and he was just touched off in the Juddmonte International, and then Cheval Grand in 2019. “I've spent a lot of time in Japan with Nick Smith and Ed Arkell as a joint strategy with Ascot and Goodwood, and Naohiro Goda has been a great friend and ally in this. The race will be live on the Green Channel in Japan on Wednesday evening and race fans in Japan will be able to bet on the race. “We're also thrilled to have the two French runners as well as, from Ireland, City Of Troy, who was such an impressive two-year-old and Derby winner.” The post ‘It Feels Like We’ve Chased the End of the Rainbow and Found It’: William Derby on City of York Upgrade Bid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Highlighted by the Jan. 25 $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 25 and the Mar. 29 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park will launch its 2024-2025 Championship Meet Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and run through Mar. 30, 2025. The meet will play host to a total of 66 stakes races–30 graded–totaling $15.025 million. Opening weekend begins with 2-year-old turf stakes Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 29, and the $600,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes Saturday, Nov. 30. Pegasus World Cup Day will offer eight stakes races–seven graded plus two overnight handicaps–totaling $5.55 million. Along with the World Cup and World Cup Turf, the day will also feature the $500,000 GII Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational, $200,000 GII Inside Information for fillies and mares, the $200,000 GIII W.L. McKnight for 4-year-olds and up and $150,000 GIII La Prevoyante for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares, both at 1 ½ miles on the turf, and the $150,000 GIII Fred Hooper for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track. The Curlin Florida Derby highlights 10 stakes totaling $2.5 million–five graded–including the $250,000 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, two 1 1/2-mile turf events in the $200,000 GII Pan American for older horses and $150,000 GIII Orchid for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 GIII Ghostzapper for 4-year-olds and up on the main track. On Feb. 1, the $250,000 GIII Holy Bull is the featured event of a five stakes program that includes three other graded races–the $150,000 GIII Forward Gal on the main track, $150,000 GIII Kitten's Joy and $150,000 GIII Sweetest Chant on turf, both contested on the turf. The final preps for the Curlin Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks is Mar. 1. The nine stakes program–eight graded–is led by the $400,000 GII Fountain of Youth and $200,000 GII Davona Dale. For more information on Gulfstream's 2024-25 championship schedule, click here. The post Gulfstream Releases 2024-25 Championship Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The day after the sudden passing of philanthropist John Hendrickson, the racing community he had helped so much was mourning his passing. Hendrickson, who married Marylou Whitney in 1997, became the racing manager for Marylou Whitney Stables in addition to serving as president and chief operating officer of Whitney Industries. Hendrickson continued the racing stable after Whitney died in 2019 at the age of 93, campaigning graded stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Super Quick under the Marylou Whitney Stables banner. Hendrickson led numerous initiatives that enhanced Saratoga's National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including spearheading a $20-million capital campaign to develop a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame and introduce an innovative and immersive signature film experience, as well as numerous renovated and reimagined galleries. Hendrickson, who was elected chairman of the Museum on Aug. 10, 2017, helped in the beautification projects to the Museum's Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Courtyard and recently the Beautiful Pleasure East Garden Courtyard. After serving as a New York Racing Association board member, Hendrickson took on a special adviser role through an appointment by then New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo from 2012 through 2016. For the New York racing community, Hendrickson and Whitney created the Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation Program in 2008, organizing free events and services for backstretch workers. After Whitney's death, Hendrickson continued to support backstretch appreciation dinners, English as a Second Language classes, and entertainment, among other initiatives. As a tribute to his late wife, Hendrickson funded the construction of a new backstretch clinic, which opened in 2023 and provides on-site healthcare services at Saratoga Race Course. The clinic, which is operated by Saratoga Hospital in partnership with the Backstretch Employee Service Team, provides an improved experience for those receiving primary and emergency healthcare services at the track through doctors and medical professionals from Saratoga Hospital. He also contributed funding toward the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy Center at Belmont Park in 2023. Also among those benefitting from Hendrickson's generosity are the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Hospital, and the National Museum of Dance. In 2015, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city, Hendrickson and Whitney commissioned a life-size bronze of Native Dancer and gifted it to the city to celebrate the milestone. Two years earlier, Hendrickson was instrumental in the planning of the city-wide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the inaugural 1863 Saratoga race meeting. Tributes from the industry: Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President and CEO “The New York Racing Association mourns the sudden passing of John Hendrickson, longtime husband to Mrs. Marylou Whitney. John was a highly respected civic leader in the Saratoga community who played an important role as Board Chair of the National Museum of Racing, and as an instrumental member of the committee that orchestrated the 150th anniversary of horse racing at Saratoga. John was a devoted philanthropist in support of the Saratoga backstretch community and, most recently, played a pivotal role in the construction of the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic. His contributions to horse racing and to Saratoga will long be remembered.” Cate Masterson, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Director “John Hendrickson was a visionary leader who had a tremendous passion for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Saratoga Springs community, and racing in general. He was truly one of a kind and this loss is immeasurable. The entire Museum board and staff is deeply saddened by his passing. Our hearts are with his family and his numerous friends. We all loved him very much.” Chaplain Humberto Chavez We know that friendship is a gift from God. We cherish the blessing of that gift and are grateful to God for allowing us to cross paths and be introduced to our most cherished friends. John Hendrickson was that blessing to us, both on a deeply personal level and for what he meant to the Chaplaincy and to the backstretch community. We are shocked and saddened as we try to come to terms with his sudden passing yesterday, at the age of 59. John and his late wife Marylou Whitney were powerful advocates for the backstretch and they stood behind their commitment by providing resources in support of the work of the Chaplaincy and others. In 2018, John and Marylou stepped up to join the original group of founding partners of the NY Chaplaincy Center, our new headquarters at Belmont Park. After Marylou passed in 2019, John took the lead by continuing a program started by he and Marylou that brought joy to the entire backstretch community of Saratoga, the Backstretch Appreciation Program. He devoted long hours, and encouraged his friends to join in making this program the best in the country, with components that include learning English, hosting soccer tournaments, and providing a large food spread to feed hundreds on Sundays. John was an original Sustaining Member of the Chaplaincy–a group dedicated to long-term support of our organization. Demonstrating exceptional generosity, John not only committed to supporting the program, but also chose to expedite his pledge, donating the entire amount immediately rather than over several years. Just last week, John attended the Chaplaincy's annual brunch, where he witnessed the presentation of the Marylou Whitney Award to honoree Len Green for his dedication to the backstretch community. The event held special significance as Mr. Green was joined by one of his former students, who is also the granddaughter of Marylou Whitney. It was profoundly meaningful for us that John was present at the brunch, and even more touching for him to hear the audience's heartfelt tributes to Marylou's dedication to the backstretch community. John's exemplary support has left a lasting impact on our organization and the Thoroughbred racing industry, and his generosity and commitment to the backstretch community will be remembered with great respect. The entirety of the backstretch will mourn his loss. We invite you to join with us as we pray for John's family, for each other, for the backstretch, and for the vast network of people and organizations who were impacted by his life and love. Thank you, John. We love you. The post Passing of John Hendrickson: Tributes from the Industry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Australian Group 1-winning sprinter Marabi (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) is set to be offered in the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on August 27. The seven-year-old mare is in foal to Zoustar (Aus) and is expected to foal in early September. Marabi, who is being consigned by Vinery Stud as agent for Greenwich Stud, is a half-sister to G1 Victoria Oaks winner Aristia (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and is a daughter of the G2 Sunline Stakes winner Nakaaya (Aus) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Earlier this year, Aristia's first foal, who is also by Zoustar, sold for A$725,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. “To be able to offer Marabi as part of the catalogue for the Virtual Sale next Tuesday is a privilege,” said Barry Bowditch, managing director of Magic Millions. “She showed from her first start she was a very special racehorse. She strung together seven outstanding wins in succession, culminating in a brilliant victory in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.” “Marabi is bred by an extraordinary breeder in Greg Perry – in addition to Marabi, he's responsible for Group 1 winners Artorius, Atlantic Jewel and Commanding Jewel.” He added, “Marabi must rank as one of the finest young pregnant mares being offered anywhere in the world in 2024.” The post Top Sprinter Mare Marabi in Magic Millions Virtual Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere” is a classic lyric synonymous with the relentless spirit of New York City. It encapsulates the belief that conquering the city's challenges equips one to overcome any obstacle. A testament to the city's allure and its reputation as a place where dreams are made or broken, the line places the ultimate test of one's mettle squarely on the shoulders of the Big Apple. This spirit not only exemplifies Adelphi Racing Club's managing partner Matt Cutair, but also the enthusiasm members of this partnership hold in their hearts. Matt Cutair founded Adelphi Racing Club along with friends and original partners Jordan Zotts and Brian Hahn. “I grew up in Maryland so that meant following the Triple Crown/Preakness as a kid,” said Cutair. “I didn't have any family in the business or who even went to the racetrack on a regular basis. I got a job in New York City at 19 years old. Being in a new city and not knowing anyone, I found myself frequenting The Playwright Irish Pub and OTB in Midtown on occasion. By the time I was 21 years old I had developed a real passion for horse racing and wanted to own a racehorse or at least part of one and bought into Sovereign Stables who was a popular syndicator back then.” Adelphi partner Jeff Hayes found his way to Adelphi after a run with Sovereign as well. “Matt and I were part of another partnership many years ago (Sovereign Stable) but didn't know each other personally,” said Hayes. “A mutual friend, Rich Cristiano, had heard about Matt starting Adelphi and made the introductions. Matt and I met for a drink at Gulfstream, and I loved what I heard about the group and philosophy.” Cutair found success in the media business and became an executive with Westwood One and Pandora before co-founding Audio HQ. The digital audio advertisement and sales services company became highly successful, and as any good horse owner understands, when you are offered a good price for something, you take it. Cutair did, and approximately seven years ago sold Audio HQ and found himself financially secure and retired at just 40 years old. “I needed a pseudo-retirement project to keep myself engaged, so I formed Adelphi in 2019 and claimed a few horses,” said Cutair. “Of course, that is when the pandemic hit, and the tracks were closed to fans and owners. My previous experience with partnerships always felt more like an investment and I didn't feel like I actually owned the horses. I wanted to own horses with people I enjoyed. The joy comes from sharing experiences with like-minded people who are deeply involved like you. A true partnership–an adelphi,” he says, referring to the Greek word for brothers. “Thus, the beginning of Adelphi Racing Club.” One of the ways Cutair and Adelphi work to make the experience more of an actual partnership experience versus just a syndication opportunity lies in their commitment to diversification. Their list of trainers associated with Adelphi is extensive. Trainers like Christophe Clement, Ray Handal, Tom Morley, Robert Falcone Jr., Arnaud Delacour, John Terranova and Dave Duggan make up the current roster. “We have a diverse set of trainers simply because each one provides a distinct experience for our partners. The more experiences we provide, the more our partners learn about what they like about working with certain trainers and in some cases, what they don't like,” explained Cutair. “I have been involved in partnerships in a small way before meeting Matt,” said partner Thomas Palkovich. “I never had much success along the way but really enjoyed the sport. Adelphi changed all of that. The opportunities they put forth are of the highest quality, the success has been amazing, and I have invested in a number of horses. Matt also brings to the table something that is very important to me: transparency. The information he provides is second to none, and everyone's opinion matters. Matt is a great businessman and has surrounded himself with trainers and staff that help Adelphi become so successful.” Adelphi Racing Club is New York-circuit centric and has been heavily involved in the New York-bred program including recent New York Derby winner Pandagate. “Pandagate is just getting started,” said Cutair. “He won his New York-bred maiden special weight debut by nine as a two-year-old and then won the Gander by five-plus lengths in his three-year-old debut. We sent him to Dubai for the $1-million G2 UAE Derby where he finished third to Forever Young. After the New York Derby score, we are targeting The Albany at Saratoga in late August,” proudly states Cutair. Partner Bruce Steminsky said he has been very happy with his experience with Adelphi. “I bought my first horse with Adelphi in 2021,” he said. “Because I know very little about horses, I went with the portfolio approach, buying into multiple horses but with smaller ownership percentages. Twenty-five plus horses later–don't tell my wife–here we are. One of those horses, Pandagate, just gave us a tremendous thrill by winning the New York Derby at Finger Lakes. He's an awesome horse and gave such a gutsy performance. We are all so proud of him.” Adelphi also campaigned the New York-bred Funny How from 2022-2024. “Funny How won five races in a row, including three allowance races and the Broadway Stakes and she was second in a Grade III after that,” said Cutair. “Unfortunately, she bled in her subsequent race and was never the same. Her five-race run culminating in the open-length Broadway win was special. She's since been retired and bred to Constitution.” Being New York-centric also has its financial advantages, according to Cutair and thus half of Adelphi Racing Club's stable are New York-breds. “The purse levels are rising for New York-breds and you can still buy them for a reasonable price,” he said. “There are fewer horses to compete against and the bonuses for competing in open races is another incentive we like.” Partner Steminsky said he appreciated that aspect of the partnership. “Another important reason for me in choosing Adelphi is almost all of the horses race on the NYRA circuit,” he said. “I did not want to just own a racehorse. I wanted to see the horses in person and spend time with them. I love seeing the horses in their stalls and getting to know them and their unique personalities. The first time I came to the track in the morning and saw one of my horses work out, I was speechless. The first time in the Saratoga paddock seeing my horse saddled brought a tear to my eye. It's incredible seeing them develop and flourish right before your eyes.” The recent addition of New York-based bloodstock and jockey agent Joe Migliore as head of racing and partnership operations was designed to help manage the growth Adelphi has been experiencing and was an important move for Cutair. “From three horses in 2020 to over 30 active horses today and the offering of annual claiming partnerships, we needed support with day-to-day operations and on the partner side of things,” he explained. Adelphi Racing Club currently has 110 partners and Cutair maintains a one-third ownership percentage in each horse. The Club will purchase yearlings, two-year-olds-in-training, or make a private purchase and then offer that horse to current and prospective partners. “We are extremely transparent in every transaction that we execute,” Cutair said. “I personally take some additional risk by fronting the purchase price, but we typically will sell out quickly. The minimum investment is right around $5,000 and that includes a quarter's worth of estimated expenses,” outlined Cutair. “We like to have partners buy in for at least three to five percent of the horse so they have owner access and the perks NYRA offers. There is a markup of 15 to 20 percent and a disposition commission of five percent of the net gain on any horses we ultimately sell for a profit. We also retain five percent of purses won to cover administration and hospitality for the partnership. All other costs are a straight pass-thru and we make sure everyone knows exactly what things cost and why.” Partner Jeff Hayes said he appreciates the transparency. “Matt seeks input from the partners,” said Hayes. “We all get a vote. He's the managing partner, so he has to make the final decision, but I honestly believe he takes everyone's input to heart, and it shapes the way the club operates at both the horse level and partnership overall. Matt used the word club in the name deliberately. It really is a family and the partners all get along incredibly well. It's a great group to be a part of and is exactly what I was looking for in a partnership.” The post Partnerships: Adelphi Racing Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dollars & Sense with Frank AngstView the full article

On the back of Warmonger’s star win in the G1 Queensland Derby, Inglewood Stud is close to putting up the ‘book full’ sign for its exciting young stallion War Decree. “We’re limiting his book to 120 this season and he’s pretty close to that now, we’ve had a lot of bookings in the last few days. We’ll take another 5 or 6 on farm bookings then close him off,” said Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley. “He’s an exceptionally fertile horse with a great libido, but with our season starting a few weeks later down here and the scale of the farm we felt 120 was a good amount. “It’s fantastic for the horse and all those that have supported him, he’s a neat natured horse to stand at stud and he throws a fantastic type, so we’re very excited about how his career is tracking.” War Decree is standing the 2024 season at $7,000 +gst (LFG). View the full article

The Board of Racing Victoria (RV) announced on Tuesday the appointment of Aaron Morrison as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Mr Morrison has been Interim CEO since the start of May 2024, having been elevated from his positions as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr Morrison also serves on several racing industry boards including media companies Racing.com, and RSN 927. Prior to joining RV in 2017, Mr Morrison had built an extensive and successful career across the entertainment, hospitality and gaming sectors. He was CEO of the Sand Hill Road Group and held senior executive positions with Crown Resorts Ltd and SkyCity Entertainment Group, including General Manager of Adelaide Casino. Mr Morrison was selected from a field of local and international candidates following a recruitment process conducted by executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. RV Chairman Tim Eddy said: “The Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Aaron Morrison as the CEO of Racing Victoria. “We had a talented field of candidates from which to select and we were fortunate to have a strong internal one who presented a high benchmark from which to compare. “During his time at RV, Aaron has established an intimate knowledge of the breadth and complexity of the industry and demonstrated an ability to build strong relationships with staff, stakeholders and Government. “He boasts an extensive corporate background and has a deep understanding of the economics of racing and wagering, the importance of stakeholder engagement, and a genuine passion for the sport. “Aaron has further demonstrated his capabilities throughout his period as Interim CEO and we’re confident that we have a highly capable person to lead the industry through a key period in its future.” Mr Morrison said, “I’m incredibly excited and honoured to be appointed CEO of Racing Victoria. I want to thank the Board who have shown great faith in me, and our dedicated team and all our stakeholders for their trust and confidence. I look forward to working together with all to continue to grow Victorian racing. “As an owner of multiple horses and a keen punter, I have developed a great love for the sport, an admiration for its equine athletes and respect for those who work tirelessly to put on the show each day. “Victorian racing is a leader, whether through the quality of our racing, the strength of our engagement and wagering, or the heritage of our Clubs and events, and it’s from this strong base that we need to continue to evolve and improve. “I also recognise the challenges ahead and the need for necessary change to position us for long-term success and sustainability. “An immediate priority will be to review the structure, resources and operations of the Racing Victoria Group, including our media businesses, to drive greater alignment and ensure we’re leveraging our assets to maximum benefit. “We need to ensure that we have the right structures and capabilities in place to achieve our goal of maximising returns to participants and those who invest in the sport, and this will also include a review of key roles across the group. “Our future success also requires us to work better together as an industry, and I will seek to drive greater engagement and collaboration through new industry focused forums, to ensure that we leverage the collective experience and ideas from across our sport. “With my detailed knowledge of Victorian racing and its ecosystem, I am in a fortunate position where I can hit the ground running and with another Spring Racing Carnival just around the corner it’s an exciting time for all.” Horse racing news View the full article

Horsham will host a meeting on Monday, August 26. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) advised that the meeting scheduled at Mildura on Monday, August 26, has been transferred to Horsham. Mildura was inspected on Tuesday afternoon, with the decision made that the track would benefit from a short break after recent racing with the best course of action to transfer the eight-race card to Horsham. The Mildura Racing Club will now utilise the break from racing to perform some remedial work on the track ahead of their next meeting on Saturday, September 7. Nominations for the meeting close on Wednesday, August 21 at 12pm, with acceptances to be declared by Friday, August 23 at 9am. Horse racing news View the full article