Wandering Eyes

John Hendrickson, a philanthropist who was the husband of the late Marylou Whitney, died suddenly at a Saratoga hospital Aug. 19, according to the Albany Times-Union Monday. The Albany Times-Union reported that Hendrickson became ill at around midday and later died at the hospital. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Maureen Lewi, longtime friend to Whitney and Hendrickson, was with him in the hospital and confirmed his death to the Times-Union. “I was at the hospital holding his hand,” Lewi told the Times-Union. “I was talking to him, but he wouldn't talk back–he was gone.” Following Whitney's death at 93 in 2019, Hendrickson continued the couple's charitable pursuits, including a $1.2 million contribution to the assist Saratoga's backstretch workers and to build a pavilion on the property. Hendrickson also supported the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, having served as its chairman since 2017. The post Report: John Hendrickson, Husband of Marylou Whitney, Dies at 59 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GISW Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo-Borealis Night, by Astrology), has been retired from racing and will stand at Hill 'n' Dale, according to a farm release Monday. Sold for $250,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale, the Corser Thoroughbreds bred colt brought a sale-topping $2.3 million from Zedan Racing at the OBS Spring Sale the following season. “He showed his brilliance from day one of the 2YO sale where he was a man amongst boys. We knew he was special from the moment we saw him. He has what I love in a horse –beautiful conformation and brilliance,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Earning TDN Rising Star distinction following a 7 1/4-length score going seven furlongs at Keeneland in November, the bay added a victory in the GIII Southwest Stakes the following January. Third in the GI Haskell, he eked out a score over Grade I winner Geaux Rocket Ride in the GI Pacific Classic. He finished fourth in his two latest starts in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and the GII San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July. Following his debut win, trainer Bob Baffert said, “you ride him like you rode Uncle Mo, because I think he is Uncle Mo.” “He was a beast at the sales, that's why he cost so much. He has got to be one of the most talented 2-year-old I've ever had.” Following the announcement of his retirement, Baffert added, “He's just not back to where I had him last year. We need more time which we don't have. I just don't want another Arrogate situation on my hands. This is an exceptionally talented horse.” Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura added, “I was at Keeneland the day that Arabian Knight broke his maiden. He was brilliantly fast, yet effortless in his first start, winning off without being asked. He was the star at the Two Year Old sale making $2.3 million and has the 'it' factor we all look for. He retires with three wins from six starts and earnings of $1,562,275. “As a Grade I-winning son of Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight has the brilliance, physicality and effortless motion that are so important for a sire to possess,” said Sikura. “The first time I saw him in person, Bob Baffert said, 'let me show you the perfect racehorse, his presence and conformation are flawless.'” The post GISW Arabian Knight Retired to Hill ‘n’ Dale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

WinStar's homebred Colonel John won the Travers Stakes (G1) in 2008, as well as the Santa Anita Derby (G1). He retired with earnings of $1,779,012. View the full article

Sheikh Obaid is the second major supporter of Varian's to remove his team of horses from Carlburg Stables this season, following Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian's decision to send his horses elsewhere in May.View the full article

BH Interview: Victor BahnaView the full article

Canadian Hall of Fame jockey and racetrack superintendent Irwin Driedger was awarded the Racetrack Superintendent's Innovator Award during the 2024 Track Superintendent's Field Day. Irwin passed away on May 20, 2023. The award represents accomplishments from the period of 2006 to 2018 when Irwin was the Director of Thoroughbred Racing Surfaces at Woodbine Racetrack. The Racetrack Superintendent's Innovator Award is given to recognize the critical professionals who maintain the racing surfaces for safety and fairness. Previous recipients of the Racetrack Superintendent's Innovator Award includes Joe King, Leif Dickinson and Dennis Moore. The most recent recipient was Roy Smith who also launched the Track Superintendent Field Day in 2001. Irwin began his career as a professional jockey in Manitoba. He was named 1979 Manitoba Athlete of the Year, a record which still stands for the greatest number of wins (214) in one year at Assiniboia Downs. He was also recognized in 1981 as the Sovereign Award winner as Canada's outstanding jockey. Irwin also represented jockeys across Canada as President of the Jockeys' Benefit Association of Canada, from 1990-2006 and 2019-2021. In 2023, Irwin was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in the Jockey Category. A wall of fame will be designated where recipients will be recognized. The innovator award is one part of the formal recognition of the critical role played by racetrack superintendents in industry efforts to protect the safety of the horse and rider. The post Irwin Driedger Earns 2024 Racetrack Superintendent’s Innovator Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Brigette Solomon Tuesday racing returns to Cambridge today and local trainer Arna Donnelly lines up four horses, who all look to be promising chances. “They’re all racing well and look well suited in tonight’s fields” says Donnelly. Donnelly’s first starters for the night are Rough And Ready (5) and Bad Medicine (6) in Race 4, the Garrards Horse And Hound Handicap Pace over 2200 metres. “Rough And Ready’s first up run was good, he ran some nice sectionals and there were some nice horses in the field,” says Donnelly. Rough And Ready spent the early part of the year racing in Australia without success, and since returning to Donnelly’s care has had just the one start at Alexandra Park 10 days ago. On that occasion, he finished fifth and although beaten a few lengths, it was a quality field with the winner being Always A Porsche, and Artisan and Mantra Blue filling the placings. “It’s a nice race for him tonight starting only off 15 metres and he’s won a few at this course and distance before,” says Donnelly, “Wilson House drives him tonight and he’s been driving really well lately.” Meanwhile Bad Medicine brings solid form to the race having won his last start at Cambridge on August 6, and placed third on his prior two outings. The Bettor’s Delight gelding starts the race off a 25 metre handicap. “He’s been racing great but off 25 metres it will be a tough ask for him, especially with a couple in it that can run a bit off the front,” says Donnelly. “Kate Coppins is driving him tonight – it’s her first drive for the stable and he’s a tidy wee drive for her, she’s driven a lot of track work on him so she knows him well.” Next up for the Donnelly stable is Red Rackham in Race 6,the TFS Horse Transport Mobile Pace over 1700 metres. The Vincent gelding has won his last two starts at Cambridge, making easy work of it on both occasions. “It’s a small field again this week and if he can find the lead and dictate terms, I’m hoping he might make it a hat-trick,” says Donnelly. “He’s racing super and has really gained some confidence from his last couple of runs, I think he’s probably my best chance of the night.” Red Rackham starts tonight’s race from barrier three with Zachary Butcher engaged to drive. Donnelly’s final starter for the night is Cracker Rock in Race 7, the Friday Night Steak Night At The Clubhouse Mobile Pace over 2200 metres. The three-year-old gelding went a bold race when fresh up at Cambridge a fortnight ago, when after a good run with cover, he made a strong run home to finish within a nose of the race winner Bad Medicine. He starts tonight’s race from barrier four with Todd Mitchell doing the driving once again. “It was a really good first up run and he’s trained on well since,” says Donnelly, “it’s a small field tonight and given the right run he can hopefully make his presence felt.” Racing action gets underway tonight with Race 1 at 4.43pm. 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 Racecourse.View the full article

The homebred daughter of Midnight Storm broke her maiden at Saratoga Race Course on July 28.View the full article

Today 20th August in horse racing news history From the extensive Horse Betting news archives we present the all the thoroughbred racing action in Australian and overseas racing news in history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in horse racing time. Australia horse racing news 2 hours ago Clinton McDonald charged for prohibited substance in horse Racing Victoria Stewards have charged trainer Clinton McDonald after a prohibited substance was found in his horse, Flying On A … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 1 year ago Crocetti dominates Ruakaka Group 3 Exciting three-year-old Crocetti displayed his classic credentials once again when claiming Group 3 Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Hettinger caps terrific NT campaign with Katherine Cup win It seems as though Victorian trainer Neil Dyer has unearthed another future star in the NT following the comprehensive win … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | August 20, 2023 Seven horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips and quaddie selections for free here at … Read More Australia horse racing news 1 year ago Mr. Brightside goes back-to-back in P.B. Lawrence Ben, Will & JD Hayes and Craig Williams have combined with Mr. Brightside to claim the feature Group 2 P.B … Read More United Kingdom Horse Racing News 1 year ago Haggas Unveils Surprise Melbourne Cup Entry: Desert Hero William Haggas, the Newmarket-based master trainer, captured attention when he confirmed Desert Hero would be nominated for the 2023 Melbourne … Read More Horse Racing Tips 1 year ago Bairnsdale racing tips, quaddie picks & odds | August 21, 2023 Racing heads to Bairnsdale on Monday afternoon for an eight-race program. Check out HorseBetting’s free preview & quaddie tips here … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Bella Nipotina launches late to win Carlyon Stakes Bonny mare Bella Nipotina fought hard in the shadows of the post to add more blacktype to her wrap sheet, … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Anamoe wins 2022 Winx Stakes Anamoe has become just the second horse this century to win a Group 1 at age two, three and four, … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Arapaho & Zapateo give Rachel King Group 3 double at Randwick Rachel King was able to take out both the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) and Group 3 Toy Show Quality … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Showmanship makes it eight from 10 Western Australian galloper Showmanship has taken his record to eight wins from 10 starts after a terrific display in the … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Pakenham racing tips & quaddie numbers | Monday, August 22 What Pakenham Synthetic Races Where Pakenham Racing Club – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Monday, August … Read More Australia horse racing news 2 years ago Dan Morgan to make return at Pioneer Park on Saturday There was a time when Dan Morgan couldn’t wait to have a break from racing as jockey, but now he … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago Belluci Babe ready to put on a show at Randwick Trainer Bjorn Baker is looking forward to stepping out Belluci Babe in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 2 years ago First winner for What’s The Story Novara Park stallion What’s The Story recorded his first victory as a sire when Big Story won his Australian debut … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | August 20, 2022 12 horse racing meetings are scheduled around Australia today. See the top tips, best odds and quaddie selections for free … Read More Horse Racing Tips 2 years ago Alice Springs race-by-race tips & value bets | Saturday 20/8/2022 Alice Springs will host a five-race card on Saturday, August 20. Northern Territory specialist David White brings you his race-by-race … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Punt Drunk: Buckle up, buckaroos – Group 1 racing is back! Punt Drunk takes a look at some of the major news stories in the racing world this week as we … Read More United Kingdom Horse Racing News 3 years ago Snowfall brings up another Group 1 win in Yorkshire Oaks Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combined for another Group 1 victory at York overnight as Snowfall took out the Yorkshire … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Randwick race-by-race preview & best bets | Winx Stakes Day 2021 HorseBetting’s NSW racing analyst brings you his best bets and quaddie selections for the Winx Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Eagle Farm tips, odds & quaddie numbers | August 21, 2021 HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst brings you his best bets and quaddie selections for the Eagle Farm race meeting on Saturday, … Read More Horse Racing Tips 3 years ago Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | August 20, 2021 Horse racing around the country sees three meetings being held around the country on this Friday afternoon. Our racing analysts … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Melbourne Cup hopeful Sherwood Forest set to resume at Cambridge Cambridge trainer Tony Pike’s confidence is growing that Saturday’s meeting on his home track will go ahead. Under the Government’s … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Berdibek salutes for O’Shea in Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury John O’Shea left Hawkesbury a happy trainer on Thursday after claiming victory in the featured Rowley Mile with his grey … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 3 years ago Sharrock trio ready for return to racing Like many trainers in New Zealand, New Plymouth horseman Allan Sharrock has his fingers crossed that the country drops back … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Proisir gelding too good at Sandown Former Kiwi Nikau Spur picked up his fourth career victory when successful at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m in the … Read More Australia horse racing news 3 years ago Sheraco likely for Bonham Former New Zealand mare Bonham could kick-off the Australian leg of her racing career in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Waller lands another Mile with Savacool Jockey Tommy Berry has continued his sensational vein of form, producing Savacool with a barnstorming run to claim the Rowley … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Everest contender poised to trial at Farm Fresh from booking his place in The Everest, Adelaide sprinter Gytrash will be the star attraction at the Warwick Farm … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Thompson’s spring dream team taking shape Trainer John Thompson is assembling a strong team for the Sydney carnival headed by Dreamforce, who will resume in a … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Hickmott’s stars thriving at Mount Macedon Trainer Rob Hickmott has returned to the Mount Macedon property from which he prepared two Melbourne Cup winners for leviathan … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Parr back on course after illness scare Struck down by a rare disorder earlier this year, jockey Josh Parr is thankful to be back to full strength … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Forster weighs up jockey options for filly A rib injury to Taylor Marshall has forced trainer Desleigh Forster to seek a replacement rider for talented filly Eelloh … Read More Horse Racing Tips 4 years ago Free tips & best bets for Doomben – Saturday, 22 August 2020 We are back racing at Doomben on Saturday with nine of the best to be run and won. Check out … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Local assignment for Gore warhorse Evergreen galloper Irish Excuse may be 10 years old but he is showing no signs of slowing down. The No … Read More Horse Racing Tips 4 years ago Randwick racing tips & value bets – Saturday, 22 August 2020 Royal Randwick plays host to nine quality races this Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Winx Stakes and the Group … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Jungle’s wet track edge back at Valley Although ten-year-old sprinter Jungle Edge is yet to win at Moonee Valley, his trainer Mick Bell says a wet track … Read More Horse Racing Tips 4 years ago Free racing tips & value bets for Silver Shadow Stakes 2020 Saturday’s Group 2 Darley Silver Shadow at Randwick sees a number of quality three-year-old fillies resuming as they look to … Read More Australia horse racing news 4 years ago Winter find set to Show up in stakes test Trainer Brad Widdup has a handy band of progressive mares on his books and hopes that two of them can … Read More Horse Racing Tips 4 years ago Winx Stakes 2020 betting tips, odds & form The first Group 1 of the season arrives with the 1400m Winx Stakes kicking off the Spring Carnival at Randwick … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Breakthrough win for Harvey at Taupo Cambridge trainer Glen Harvey sent out his first raceday winner on Wednesday when Bounty proved too strong in the Te … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 4 years ago Tiley works around Covid-19 restrictions When the going gets tough, you can count on the generosity of those involved in the racing industry. That’s what … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Redzel sizzles in Rosehill trial win Redzel has led from start to finish in a 1000m-barrier trial at Rosehill as he steps up his preparation aimed … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Deep Force out to bounce back at Valley Deep Force is set for a step up in class at The Valley in the Listed McKenzie Stakes but connections … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Verry Elleegant ready for Winx Stakes Verry Elleegant has pleased her jockey and trainer ahead of the Winx Stakes after a slight scare when she pulled … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Spirit Of Valor could make Valley return Last year’s Group One Manikato Stakes runner-up Spirit Of Valor could have his first start for his new stable in … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Sheedy to be face of MRC Everest Series The Melbourne Racing Club has announced Kevin Sheedy as the face of the MRC Everest Series this spring … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Thousand Guineas target for unbeaten Meuse Unbeaten filly Meuse is on track to make her season return at The Valley and will be given the chance … Read More Australia horse racing news, New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Duncan chasing immediate success in Australia Hunterville trainer Ken Duncan has stepped into new territory with his fine steeplechaser Shamal set to race at Ballarat on … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 5 years ago Group 1 assignment for Vigor Winner Vigor Winner may not have got the results his connections were looking for in Australia last season, but the trip … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Nakeeta Jane’s racing future in limbo Group One winner Nakeeta Jane has suffered a career-threatening injury during a track gallop … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Eric ready to slide into spring carnival Promising stayer Eric The Eel is ready for a barrier trial as he prepares for a tilt at the Victoria … Read More Australia horse racing news 5 years ago Tofane out to boost rating at Sandown Lightly raced mare Tofane is set to run at Sandown, her first start since running second in the Group Two … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Redzel wins barrier trial at Rosehill Group One-winning sprinter Redzel has won a barrier trial at Rosehill as he prepares for his campaign aimed at a … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Brutal among McKenzie Stakes nominations The Listed McKenzie Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings has attracted 20 nominations including impressive debut winner Brutal … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Dio D’Oro to step up to stakes company Winter star Dio D’Oro will be one of three stakes runners for trainer Gary Portelli at Rosehill … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Damien Oliver wins ninth Scobie Breasley Damien Oliver has won his ninth Scobie Breasley Medal for riding excellence at the annual Victorian Trainer and Jockey awards … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Hey Doc on target for Moonee Valley return Trainer Tony McEvoy believes dual Group One winner Hey Doc has done enough work to make his mark over 1000m … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Divine Unicorn to resume at Caloundra Tattersall’s Cup winner Divine Unicorn will begin his spring campaign in an open handicap at the Sunshine Coast … Read More Australia horse racing news 6 years ago Viddora building up for G1 Moir first-up Viddora has pleased her trainer Lloyd Kennewell in a gallop at Moonee Valley as the mare starts to ramp up … Read More New Zealand horse racing news 6 years ago Classy Kiwi mare sends strong signal on Spring prospects Former top three-year-old filly La Bella Diosa ended an eighteen-month absence from the winner’s enclosure when she produced a devastating … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Winx shows no signs of a hard run A day after her dramatic last-to-first Warwick Stakes victory, Winx has shown no signs of having had a hard run … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Wells lands a third Grand National Steeple Wells has joined Bashboy as the only three-time winner of the Grand National Steeplechase with a thrilling victory at Ballarat … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Two Hats lands last-stride Houlahan win Warrnambool-trained Two Hats has landed a premier hurdle race victory with a last-stride win in the J J Houlahan Hurdle … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Moir Stakes an option for Sold For Song Trainer Kevin Kemp is considering the Group One Moir Stakes as a starting point for Sold For Song’s Melbourne campaign … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago She Will Reign ready for barrier trial Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign will take her first step towards The Everest when she runs in a barrier … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Tatura hosts Lindsay Park spring hopefuls Some big names from the Lindsay Park stable are set to make the trip to Tatura for trials ahead of … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Saint Patrick’s Day returns to work Talented Saint Patrick’s Day is back in trainer Chris Munce’s stables but he won’t be rushed for a spring campaign … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Arrogate beaten again at Del Mar Arrogate, the world’s highest ranked racehorse, has finished second in the Grade One Pacific Classic at Del Mar … Read More Horse Racing News 7 years ago Apprentice Ruby on winning ride In-form apprentice Ruby Ride will seek an extension on her indentures after scoring two wins at Doomben … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Heatherly returns with speedy Valley win Heatherly has won the first of a planned three-race campaign at Moonee Valley by taking out the Carylon Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Christian Reith cops careless riding ban Two careless riding suspensions will keep Christian Reith from riding Le Romain in the Tramway Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Christian Reith cops careless riding ban Two careless riding suspensions will keep Christian Reith from riding Le Romain in the Tramway Stakes … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Royal Rapture scores again in Melbourne Royal Rapture has made it four wins from his past five starts in Melbourne with a convincing victory over 1500m … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Thousands pack Randwick for Winx return Despite being a huge weekend for sport, thousands of punters havflocked to Randwick racecourse to see champion mare Winx win … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Avdulla produces gem of a ride on Pearls Godolphin mare Pearls will head towards the Group Two Golden Pendant after winning the Toy Show Quality at Rosehill … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Ken’s Dream makes step to stakes company Three-year-old Ken’s Dream has taken the step up to stakes company with victory in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at his … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tycoon Tara takes out Toy Show in style FORMER Victorian runner Tycoon Tara made it back-to-back wins for Peter and Paul Snowden in the Toy Show Quality at … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Bold Sniper in 2nd Aust win for the Queen Corey Parish has made the most of limited opportunities to guide the Queen’s horse Bold Sniper to victory at Moonee … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Winx star keeps shining in Warwick Stakes Winx has been untroubled to win the Warwick Stakes on her return while her trainer Chris Waller has watched nervously … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Winx star keeps shining in Warwick Stakes Winx has been untroubled to win the Warwick Stakes on her return while her trainer Chris Waller has watched nervously … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Reward for McGillivray Syd-Bris switch Sydney-based apprentice Matt McGillivray has won on Dream Choice at Eagle Farn, vindicating his decision to divide his time between … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Winx resumes with stellar Warwick Stakes romp WINX was everything we thought it was and more when winning the Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick on Saturday … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Sweet Sherry scored first-up for new yard Connections of Sweet Sherry have bigger plans in store after her first-up win at Moonee Valley for Leon and Troy … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Tycoon Tara wins second Group race Former Victorian mare Tycoon Tara has made it two Group wins from two starts for Sydney trainers Peter and Paul … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Omei Sword dashes away in Silver Shadow Trainer Chris Waller is considering running Omei Sword in the Golden Rose after a convincing win in the Group Two … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Catch A Fire resumes with Valley success Group winner Catch A Fire has made a winning return at Moonee Valley and is set to step back up … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Bootlegging claims Highway Plate win The Norm Gardner-trained Bootlegging has come back from the brink to win a Highway Plate in Sydney … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Divine Prophet adds depth to Hawkes squad Divine Prophet has stamped himself a genuine spring contender with victory in the Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Victoria Racing Club unveils new fashion and entertainment park VICTORIA Racing Club has unveiled a new fashion and entertainment area called “The Park” which will take experiencing the Melbourne … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Quick back-up a key for Bodega Negra win Bodega Negra has ended a long run of outs in beating Revitalise and stablemate Teronado at Eagle Farm … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago El Divino trails well ahead of Run To The Rose THE Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained El Divino had an exhibition trial at Randwick on Saturday and the signs were … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Jumps career on hold for in-form Refectory Schooling over jumps has improved the flat manners of Refectory who has made it back-to-back victories at Moonee Valley … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Super Tycoon continues city winning spree Trainer Greg McFarlane has celebrated an emotional fourth consecutive city win for Super Tycoon … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Cushion Pink an exception to E Farm rule Trainer Robert Heathcote remains an outspoken critic of the Eagle Farm racetrack despite the win of stable runner Cushion Pink … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Paul Hamblin chases another National win With the South Australian and New Zealand Grand National Steeplechases already in the bag, Paul Hamblin is chasing another at … Read More Horse Racing News 8 years ago Quest For More unlikely for Melbourne Trainer Roger Charlton says Lonsdale Cup winner Quest For More is unlikely to return to Australia for another tilt at … Read More Horse Racing News 9 years ago Moody to boycott awards dinner amidst cobalt allegations TOP Victorian trainer Peter Moody is likely to boycott the Victorian Racehorse Awards this Sunday amidst cobalt allegations. Moody’s runner … Read More View the full article

Clinton McDonald after Hayasugi won the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on February 24, 2024 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria Stewards have issued charges against trainer Clinton McDonald for using a banned substance in connection with his horse Flying On A Limb after looking into the matter. The allegation is based on Rule of Racing 240(2), which deals with prohibited substances found in horses participating in races. A blood sample taken from Flying On A Limb before Flemington Race 8 on April 25, 2024, showed the presence of Triamcinolone Acetonide, a corticosteroid commonly used to reduce inflammation in horses. Triamcinolone Acetonide is listed under Prohibited List B by the Australian Rules of Racing is strictly forbidden if found in a horse during a race or trial. McDonald’s case will be brought before the Victorian Racing Tribunal for review, though the date for the hearing has not been set yet. The tribunal’s decision could have consequences for McDonald, depending on their findings and any subsequent measures taken. Horse racing news View the full article

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Gypsy Woman at Del Mar this past weekend. Cotai Glory Filly Comes Good In California Fresh off siring a 'TDN Rising Star' on Sunday, Cotai Glory (GB) is also the sire of Del Mar allowance heroine Gypsy Woman (Ire), who won over a mile later that day for trainer Mark Glatt (video). Raced by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Rancho Temescal, LLC, the 4-year-old filly was making her second start in the U.S. Bred by the Highest Praise Syndicate, the bay brought €68,000 as a Goffs Sportman's yearling from Joe Foley. Gypsy Woman made eight starts in Ireland for Clipper Logistics and Ger Lyons, winning twice, before changing hands after a second in a Gowran handicap in April. The fourth foal out of Highest Praise (GB), she is one of five winners for the daughter of Acclamation (GB), whose best is the Listed Blenheim Stakes hero Megarry (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). Gypsy Woman is from the same family as triple group winner Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who was also runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. Tally-Ho Stud sire Cotai Glory has seven U.S. winners from 11 runners (59%). Of his trio of black-type horses, the son of Exceed And Excel (Aus) counts multiple graded stakes-placed Spirit And Glory (Ire), and listed winner Sunset Glory (Ire) as stakes winners. The view from above is always a treat! Watch trainer Mark Glatt's GYPSY WOMAN (IRE) ($4.20) run down the pacesetter and win the 7th at @DelMarRacing! @Antonio1Fresu is on the reins. Play the bailout daily double: https://t.co/CDoj9VG9iY pic.twitter.com/taN1p4kuKF — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 19, 2024 Repeat Winners Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) won the GI Arlington Million in style at Colonial Downs earlier this month (video). The Charlie Appleby trainee was winning his fourth top-level race, after capturing Group/Grade 1s at Saratoga (in 2022), and in Germany and Canada last year. Another Grade I winner, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), strutted his stuff in the GI Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga (video). Trained by Chad Brown, he has won four American stakes. Making Waves regular Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) added another graded victory to her haul in Del Mar's GII Yellow Ribbon Handicap (video). The three-time Grade I winner is raced by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Leonard Powell. Showcasing (GB)'s Fandom (GB) returned a winner in the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga recently (video). Trained by Brad Cox for Stonestreet Stables, the colt won the Palisades Stakes earlier this year. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman-owned Sunset Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) won her third consecutive race and first stakes in the Listed CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar this month (video). She is trained by Mike McCarthy. Stakes winner Breath Away (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) returned a winner of a Saratoga allowance (video). The Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing and Steven Rocco silksbearer first featured here when taking the Sanibel Island Stakes last spring. The post Making Waves: A Gypsy Life For Me appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At the start of this year's Saratoga meet, jockey Dylan Davis had a goal of beating the 19 wins he came home with last year. With two weeks still left to go before the NYRA circuit heads back downstate, Davis has already accomplished what he set out to do. He has scored 23 wins, including multiple stakes victories and his first Grade I in the U.S., and is currently ranked fourth in a highly competitive Saratoga jockey colony. The 29-year-old has finished in the money in 45% of his 119 starts and his average win payoff of $19.90 is best among the top 15 riders this meet. Those stats are all well and good, but Davis is more excited about the type of horse he is landing here in Saratoga. “It has been incredible,” shared the jockey who graduated just a few miles from the track at Saratoga Springs High School. “I've already had a four-winner day, so that's new. My best was a three-winner day. The quality of horses I've been riding has improved and I'm having a lot of success, so I'm just continuing to ride the train.” Davis inherited a thrill-seeking nature from his father, retired jockey and trainer Robbie Davis. Growing up, the younger Davis fulfilled his innate need for speed through the world of motocross, a type of off-road motorcycle racing. When he turned 16, Davis bumped up to a class that required him to have a bigger, more powerful bike. “I asked Dad for a bigger bike and it's a funny story because he said that it was too dangerous because a bigger bike would mean bigger jumps and more speed,” recalled Davis. “I started laughing because what he did for a living was horse racing.” Instead of purchasing a bike with more horsepower, Robbie Davis suggested that his son consider some literal horsepower. Davis learned the ropes of becoming a jockey by jogging through the back fields of Saratoga behind the annex and having his dad pony him around the track. After graduating from Chris McCarron's North American Racing Academy, Davis earned his first win in 2012 at Suffolk Downs. From the start, Davis's goal was to follow in his father's footsteps and ride the NYRA circuit. It was slow going at first, but over the past few years with the help of agent Mike Migliore, Davis's dedication and talent is starting to show on the big stage. “It's a very prestigious circuit, especially Saratoga,” said Davis. “It took three or four years of a lot of hard work to really build the foundation and build the business to where it is today. It wasn't an overnight thing. You definitely ride waves in racing. You have lulls, but we were able to stick it out, push through and always look on the other side of the fence.” Davis is a year-round presence in New York, where he has competed again his sisters Katie and Jackie and brother-in-law Trevor McCarthy. He earned his first riding title at the 2021-22 winter meet at Aqueduct and scored his 1,000th career victory in May of 2022 at Belmont Park. Against a brilliant backdrop, Davis and Carson's Run score in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes | Sarah Andrew That first Grade I score eluded Davis until 2021, when he ventured out of New York to Woodbine Park and piloted Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to victory in the E.P. Taylor Stakes for Christophe Clement. He scored another Grade I at the same Canada track with the same trainer in 2023 aboard Carson's Run (Cupid) in the Summer Stakes. Carson's Run took Davis to his first Breeders' Cup last year for the Juvenile Turf. While the West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey-campaigned colt finished a disappointing ninth at Santa Anita, he more than made up for it this summer when he handed Davis his first stateside Grade I victory in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes on Aug. 11. “For my first Grade I in the states to be at Saratoga, in my hometown, I can't even put it into words,” said Davis. “It was an incredible feeling and I'm so happy that it all worked out to be in Saratoga.” Davis said that this year, Carson's Run has had a habit of getting himself worked up during races. Davis's key to the win in the Saratoga Derby was helping the 3-year-old relax and then switch on at the right moment. Davis patiently navigated Carson's Run from last to first, angling five wide at the top of the stretch and then edging past Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) before hitting the wire. “I ended up finding myself last in the race but I was very happy with the way he was handling himself and then we just worked a trip out from there saving ground and then tipping out to the outside, which is the position he likes,” explained Davis. “Finding myself on top was an incredible feeling. There were so many emotions with all that hard work I put in and then to finally get there, there was a lot of gratitude and thanks to everybody.” Davis has had plenty of other winning rides at the stakes level this meet, including two victories aboard The Queens M G (Thousands Words). The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained juvenile filly finished last in the Astoria Stakes on Belmont weekend prior to Davis obtaining the mount for the current meet, where the pair has reeled off wins in the Schuylerville Stakes at 44-1 odds and then the GIII Adirondack Stakes. “She was a longshot in the Schuylerville and I was lucky to get on her,” Davis said. “She had run poorly in her previous start after shipping out that week and she just never handled it. There was too much with the crowd and the heat. She was able to stay here afterward and get accustomed to the course. Saffie told me to make sure she gets relaxed and make a nice, steady run down the lane. When you're at the right place at the right time, especially in Saratoga, you can get lucky and pick up a good horse.” Dylan Davis breezes in company with sister Katie Davis over the Oklahoma | Sara Gordon Also this meet, Davis was aboard Pounce (Lookin at Lucky) for her victory in the GIII Lake George Stakes for Mark Casse and Resolute Racing and he rode the Brad Cox-trained, Stonestreet Stables-owned Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to a front-running score in the Mahony Stakes. At odds of 22-1, Davis piloted Parnac (FR) (Zarak {FR}) to a runner-up performance in the GII Glens Falls Stakes. The highly regarded $1.2 million 2-year-old purchase Sandman (Tapit) was among the half-dozen maiden winners Davis has had this meet. As he continues to build a reputation, Davis said he hopes he is recognized for his patient riding and an ability to connect with his mount. “I think my specialty is being able to get a horse to relax and get them to finish well,” he said. “For me personally, I am disregarding what others are doing and riding my own horse, almost like I'm by myself in the race. I get the horse to get comfortable, wherever that is, and then just relax and wait for the stretch run.” On Travers day this coming Saturday, Davis will return to the Grade I level with Shidabhuti (Practical Joke) in the Ballerina Handicap. Earlier this year, he rode the Chad Brown trainee to a win in the Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct. The jockey also has the mount on Full Screen (ON) (Big Screen) in the GI Forego Stakes for Mark Casse. Once the Saratoga meet has concluded, Davis will have his eye on the Breeders' Cup. After racing in his first championship meet last year, he is hopeful that some of the horses that have performed well for him here in Saratoga will make it to Del Mar come November. “That's a long-term goal for me to win at the Breeders' Cup,” he said. “And then another is to just continue to ride well and get those big horses, maybe find a Kentucky Derby mount for next year. But it's been a phenomenal meet so far and the Grade I really tops the charts with Carson's Run. Now that I've done it, I want to look for more and keep continuing on that incline.” The post Hometown Jockey Dylan Davis on a Tear in Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

5th-Ellis, $70,880, Msw, 8-19, 2yo, 1mT, 1:35.17, fm, 1 3/4 lengths. POSTER (c, 2, Munnings–Pin Up, by Tapit), a 5-1 first-time starter for Godolphin, broke with speed from the rail but had company right away from Xavi (Great Notion) to his outside. Pressed through fractions of :22.81 and :47.12, he put that rival away off the turn and stayed away from a closing Turnbuckle (Global Campaign) despite ducking out a bit close to home to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Pin Up, who sold for $130,000 at KEEJAN this year, is a half to MGISW and champion 3-year-old Bernardini (A.P. Indy) and to the dam of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). The winner has a Nyquist half-brother born this year with his dam due back to Maclean's Music. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $41,895. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. On debut #1 POSTER ($13.28) by Munnings had the lead and kept on going in the stretch to win race 5 at Ellis Park. Rafael Bejarano was in the irons for Eoin Harty. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/d432tnt2eq — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 19, 2024 The post Godolphin Homebred Poster Off The Mark Early At Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A rematch that deserves center stage will receive just that when champion Idiomatic faces two-time grade 1 winner Randomized in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Just seven horses have captured the Haskell and Travers, and Dornoch vies to add his name to the list that includes Holding Pattern, Wajima, Wise Times, Forty Niner, Holy Bull, Coronado's Quest, and, most recently, Point Given. View the full article

Although she made history last year with a horse named Arcangelo (Arrogate), trainer Jena Antonucci hardly ever watches replays of the 2023 GI Belmont Stakes or GI Travers Stakes. She'll tell you why. She has a love for the horses, a love for competition, and, oh, she was good enough to seriously consider a career as a professional golfer. Here it is, the TDN's Saratoga Conversation. TDN: You were the master of ceremonies at the annual trivia contest at the Racing Museum last month. Asked all the questions. One of the questions was–and it was a layup–who did you train to win the Belmont and the Travers last year? One team got it wrong. JA: Yes. They did. One team got it wrong. TDN: Did that surprise you a little bit? JA: No. It would be rather narcissist to feel like everybody would know that information, even in racing. If you don't have an interest in those things or details, I could see it getting by. TDN: But they were in a contest at the RACING MUSEUM. You would think they would know the answer was Arcangelo. Do you remember what answer they came up with? JA: I don't, but it definitely wasn't the right answer (smiles). TDN: You must have chuckled inside. Just a little bit. JA: Oh, you have to. You have to have humor and laugh about it. TDN: Speaking of Arcangelo, what did he do for your career? JA: Time will kind of tell on that a little bit more. I think all it did was probably open the windows a little more and pull the shades back to what we have been doing … to have a horse that showed off the talent of this team. There have been some added opportunities and conversations that may not have happened without the success of that horse. We are in the developmental stages of a lot of that and bringing young horses along that we may or may not have had that opportunity with. TDN: It seemed like a lot of women–even little girls–gravitated to that story. That was pretty cool for you, wasn't it? JA: Yes. It has been neat, and it has been a different hat to wear. There have been some fun little stories that I have heard or experiences that I have had. TDN: Any little kids come up to you and say, 'I want to do what you do?' JA: I heard about it happening at the breakfast at the track. Laura (Simiele), who runs that now, said there was a little girl, who was four–if I am telling it right–told her 'when I get older, I am going to be Jena Antonucci.' That's pretty mind-blowing to be honest. Four years old! TDN: The fact that what you have done has reached out to someone that young must make you feel pretty good. JA: You and I have talked about this. I was not raised around the Thoroughbred industry. I was raised in the show horse world. My trainers when I was young were all female. The male dominance does not really exist. I did not grow up with that optic. This industry is still very much male dominated and male driven. If our story and other women's stories in what we are accomplishing allows young girls and young women to see this industry without a gender barrier, then we are doing our job. We are doing what we need to be doing and to grow this industry and grow the sport and make it appealing to more females. TDN: You look at women in this industry: You, Cherie DeVaux, Brittany Russell, Linda Rice … there are plenty of women trainers in the industry and they are doing well. What does that tell you about the way the game has evolved? JA: Change is inevitable. I think we are creating opportunity by proving it out. The biggest difference is men, by default, had the opportunity and women are creating the opportunity and that is probably the biggest difference. Most women are not going to go the bar and have beers with the guys and shoot the poo and generate business in that capacity. Women are creating opportunity in different ways than maybe men have been able to create it. TDN: Do you still see barriers? JA: I don't know if I would use the word barriers. People love to rest on the laurels of statistics. Statistically, we have a lower population of horses that we are training. It's not a fair, genuine way, in my opinion, to compare. How you are going to grow, what opportunity are you going to give people? TDN: Did you ever find any resistance from male trainers when you got into this? JA: I don't know. I don't listen to a lot of that stuff. I definitely had a couple of confrontations with people calling them out on their behavior. But it's a 'them' problem and I don't pay much mind or dwell upon it. If they are talking about you, it's clearly because you are making them uncomfortable. TDN: What is your favorite part about being here in the morning? JA: The horses. Easy. It's more intimate. You have more relationships with the horses and your team. Playing with them in their stalls and watching them and their personalities. You love all their little personalities even the ones you don't love their personalities. You are watching and nurturing and bringing them along and listening for when they are not thriving. The unspoken part of the morning is probably the best part. TDN: Is there one horse you have trained that had a quirkiness about him or her? JA: Doctor J Dub. He went from an eight claimer to a Grade III winner (2016 Turf Monster Stakes at Parx). That was our first graded stakes winner. Watching that horse transform mentally and trust us and trust the process and give us the very best of his ability … He was hard, but he was fun. He knew we got him and respected him. He was fast. Cool horse. He was a New York-bred. He is retired on the farm, and he'll live out his life with us. TDN: It's important for you to do that, isn't it? JA: You have to. He didn't owe us anything. It's how we leave the conversation with any new owner. I think that is the biggest fail. Historically, trainers were afraid to have that conversation first because they didn't want to do anything to deter them from getting in and getting involved. In doing that, we shorted the horse. We have always said that winning is easy, acquiring the horse is easy. We have to talk about the last time they go through that finish wire, what we do after that part. The transition point is the most important part of them leaving this career and going to their next career. TDN: Do you still play golf? JA: I would love to still play golf. I still have my clubs. TDN: When is the last time you played? JA: Too long. Way too long. It's been a couple years, for sure. TDN: You were pretty good, right? JA: Yes. I was a single digit handicap. I played on the amateur side of things and did Futures Tour stuff. I loved it, but I didn't love it. I enjoyed the challenge, I enjoyed that it was all on you and the mind balance with it and the art of the game. How to read courses and how and why things are put in play. It all compelled me, but you don't have the relationship with the animals on the golf course. I have always been a competitor; I have always played sports. I did a lot of competitive shotgun shooting before that. TDN: Wait. What? JA: Competitive shotgun shooting. TDN: What the heck is that? JA: I did Sporting Clays and all that stuff. I don't kind of do anything. If I am going to do it, I am all in. TDN: What other sports did you do? JA: I grew up playing softball, soccer, volleyball … pretty much anything, really. I have always been an athlete. TDN: What was your best sport? JA: As a child, probably softball. TDN: Could you hit the long ball? JA: Yeah. I played catcher, first base, some outfield. Wherever I was needed. TDN: Fierce competitor? JA: Yes. TDN: You don't want to lose at anything. JA: No. TDN: You are playing someone in checkers, you want to win. JA: Why would you not? I competed my entire life. I liked team sports, but I ended up with golf and shooting and showing horses. TDN: Is there the competitiveness with the horses, too? JA: Absolutely. It's our work that is getting them there and then trying to find the best and the placement and figuring out the why and the what. That's what drove me to train–the rehabbing and foaling and raising and sales prepping and doing all that stuff inside the industry. That was probably the vein that drove me to go and take my test and become a trainer. I can do all this stuff and I am good at it. And I can compete? That's interesting. That is very organically how I backed into training horses. TDN: For a while you thought you might make a living playing golf. JA: There was definitely heavy consideration. Obviously, sponsors in that conversation is a little easier in a golf club than it is in Thoroughbred racing. Golf is an extremely transient life, more so than it is in this world. At least with horse racing, if you are up at Saratoga, you are here for an X-block of time. Same with Kentucky and Florida. With golf, you are basically on the road for 30 to 40 weeks a year if you want to be serious at it. That is very difficult to have any kind of life or normalcy. I gave it a serious go for about two years, mostly through Florida because there were so many opportunities. TDN: How many holes-in-one you have? JA: I think we had one. TDN: Most people don't have any. JA: Most people don't have a Belmont win either (smiles). TDN: There are two questions I ask everyone. The first is if there was a movie made about your life and you could pick the actress to play you, who you got? JA: Jennifer Garner. She just gets it. She is rooted and down to earth. TDN: The other question is, if you could have dinner with three people–living or dead–who would they be? JA: Dinner with my grandfather again would be a definite. You always want to have that one more conversation. Probably someone along the lines of a Queen Elizabeth or a Margaret Thatcher. One, because of their leadership through adversity. Being females in positions that they had to eat a lot of poo to navigate things and see the bigger picture to be able to make big decisions and make things happen. There is always a lot to learn from those kind of people. And someone like an Elon Musk, who is very big-minded to navigate life and business and make things that are bigger than themselves, that will impact people for the long haul. TDN: Is there a place on earth that you have not been to that you want to go to? JA: I'm sure there is. Somewhere warm and somewhere quiet and somewhere that has fishing and pretty water. TDN: Sounds like a deserted island. JA: That would be great! TDN: What is your taste in music? JA: All over the place. You name it, it doesn't matter. It depends on my mood. I have a very weird brain that I can hear a song a handful of times and the lyrics stick. I like everything. TDN: You like Bruce Springsteen. JA: I do. TDN: Taylor Swift. JA: I do. Everything. TDN: Last concert you saw live. JA: Pink. Elton John was right before that. TDN: I've asked this to a few people, too. Baseball players have walk-up music. What would be your walk-up song if you were bringing a horse to the races? JA: This goes back to the (2023) Belmont. This would not be a song that I would ever have picked, but whoever put it in for Fox (coverage of the Belmont) did a great job. “The Bones” by Maren Morris. It's the music behind the interview that Maggie (Wolfendale) did with me. The story telling in that song was excellent. TDN: You can't say horse racing and you can't say golf. What is your favorite sport? JA: To watch? Football. To partake in? I don't care. Anything competitive. TDN: Favorite football team. JA: I have shifted over the years between pro and college. Being in north Florida most of the time, I do enjoy the Gators. I am from South Florida, so I always have an eye on the Dolphins. But they break your heart so often that it's hard to be a diehard. (laughs) But I do love their new coach (Mike McDaniel). He is pretty phenomenal. He gets it. TDN: Do you cook? JA: I do. I can cook anything. I enjoy it. Usually when you have teenagers around, you make what they will eat. It's the biggest adaptation in life. TDN: Tell me about your other two 'children.' JA: The dogs? (smiles). They run my life. Lucy is now three and Mando is about a year and a half. TDN: How much joy do they bring you? JA: Tons. It would suck to be up here for an extended period of time without them being here even though they drive me crazy. It's always nice to have that comfort spot when the day has gotten quieter or whatever you are dealing with in the racing world. They don't care. TDN: What is your thought about the filly in the Travers? JA: It's not my decision. It's above my paygrade. TDN: Is it pretty cool to have a filly in the race? JA: I have very opposing opinions on the topic. One, I don't know that there is much of a gain to do it for the filly. Part of my enthusiasm is a little bit tempered by the immense scrutiny that our industry is navigating. I feel we are all trying to make responsible, good decisions to highlight how everything is really going the right way for these horses and how the public feels about us. It's great, it will be fun. She is a tough filly, she is super classy. I don't have any doubt or question about her ability and how good she is. But then I take that step back and say, ok, let's look at the bigger picture. How does this help us as an industry and how does it help us? I'm torn on it. TDN: How often to you watch last year's Belmont or Travers? JA: Rarely. I lived it. The other side is, emotionally, it brings you back to that point in time every single time you watch it. And, obviously, there is a lot that happened in the Belmont and the Travers. I will forever be grateful for it, but I'm very much a person who looks ahead. I will never take it for granted. TDN: Favorite horse racing movie. JA: It wasn't a horse racing movie, but “The Horse Whisperer.” It was a real cool movie because it was about the connection between humans and horses. A well-done movie. TDN: The job you have, there are no days off, very few vacations–I would assume. JA: You could ask a lot of people this. We do six days, we have a walk day. And when I first did that, I felt so guilty. That I should be there, we should be there working every day. That is so unhealthy. TDN: If you have a day all to yourself, what are you doing? JA: A quiet day is lovely and sometimes doing absolutely nothing is doing something. The post The Saratoga Conversation: Jena Antonucci appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–The V2 session of the August Yearling Sale at Arqana brings an entirely different clientele to town. Many new faces-be that trainers, agents and breeze-up handlers-have been spotted sifting through nearly 200 yearlings that will be offered under the hammer here on Tuesday. There are some new faces in the consigning ranks as well. Sebastian Defontaine will offer a filly by Goken (Fr) and a colt by Armor (GB), the first yearlings his Hestia Farm has brought to the market, and the excitement is building towards what the French native hopes to be a profitable sale. “This is my first time consigning yearlings in August,” he said. “We have sold some mares here in December but these are our first pinhooks, so that is exciting. We bought the Armor colt here in December for €13,000. We also bought the Goken here in December for €11,000. “The Armor is a lovely colt and it's the stallion's first crop. We really like the horse–he's very nice and has a great walk. He was very nice as a foal so I was afraid that he may not progress but, actually, all he has done is improved. He looks precocious and could be a horse for the Irish and English buyers and maybe even for the breeze-ups. Goken is a very good stallion here in France and the filly is also an early type. It seems to be what the market wants right now so we're excited to see them here tomorrow.” Consigning under his own banner has always been the objective for Defontaine. After cutting his teeth working for some of the biggest consignors in the business, the Defontaines purchased their own farm in Normandie. Substantial investment has been put into Hestia and now the team are ready to rock. The 36-year-old said, “I worked at Haras du Quesnay for five years before going travelling. I went to Indian Creek in America, where I spent three years, and I also spent a year in Australia. I always wanted to come back to France and, when I did, I spent five years working as a manager at Haras de Montaigu. The dream was to start something on my own so last year my wife Camille and I bought a 60-acre farm in Normandie.” He added, “Everything is brand new. We are re-doing the entire place, which is almost finished. That's exciting and has kept us very busy for the past while. It's a good area, right in the middle of Normandie, so we look forward to building the business. We already have a few clients but would obviously like to grow and get more clients. We have 10 mares on the farm and the plan is to try to grow to 20 mares in time.” A good sale on Tuesday would mean a lot to this burgeoning operation. The couple, who have put horses first their whole lives, are expecting their first baby in November. Now its time for the horses to repay the favour. He concluded, “Camille is pregnant with a baby girl. That's also very exciting and gives us an extra kick to get the farm up and running. We have been living in a very modest place for a long time because we had always been putting the horses first. The horses feed us, so we need to look after them and that is why we put everything back into the farm.The farm is almost finished so it would be nice to have a good sale here on Tuesday.” The post Hestia Farm Bids To Begin First Yearling Offering With A Bang At V2 Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Set to go as the opening event of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, Sept. 14, nominations for the Goffs Champions Sale are now open, the auction house announced via presser on Monday. Offering a boutique selection of high-class Flat and NH prospects, the sale will take place in the winners' enclosure before racing is conducted. The Irish Champions Festival features prize money of €4.5-million with a programme headed by six Group 1 races, including the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes on the Saturday card at Leopardstown, and the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Curragh. “Goffs Champions Sale is small in numbers but high on results, as proven many times over the past decade,” said Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby. “Vendors at Goffs boutique auctions are regularly rewarded with maximum prices for quality horses, as our “right time, right place” format at major race meetings creates a vibrant ready-made marketplace–whether at London, Ascot, Leopardstown, Punchestown, Aintree or Newbury.” Nominations are now being taken and anyone wishing to apply may enter online or by contacting Nick Nugent, Joey Cullen, Tadhg Dooley, or Kevin O'Ryan. The post Nominations for Goffs Champions Sale at Leopardstown Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The connections of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), who was humanely euthanised on Saturday morning after a short battle with laminitis, confirmed the final foal, a Snitzel colt, of the unbeaten mare has also died. “The owners are saddened to advise that Black Caviar's foal, a colt sired by Snitzel, passed away last night,” the statement said on Monday. “He received around-the-clock, world-class veterinary care, but unfortunately could not be saved. The ownership group would like to thank the entire veterinary team who dedicated their time and efforts to caring for Black Caviar and her colt. The ownership group would also like to acknowledge and thank the Australian public and the racing public globally for the many tributes to Black Caviar. She was much loved and admired.” The post Black Caviar’s Final Foal Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Scott Hazelton, a FanDuel TV racing host and reporter, will host the 39th annual Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's National Awards Dinner at Fasig-Tipton Sept. 7. Hazelton has covered horse racing since 2004 and has been part of FanDuel's coverage of the Triple Crown, Dubai World Cup and Royal Ascot. He also works for Keeneland as a pedigree announcer, as well as host for Keeneland's simulcast broadcast. Tickets are available to the public for both the Sept. 6 luncheon honoring state and Canadian breeders of the year at the Thoroughbred Club of America, and the Sept. 7 national awards dinner, with a discounted price for TOBA members. Registration for both events is due by Aug. 22 and available online at www.toba.org/awards. The post Scott Hazelton to Host TOBA National Awards Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features runners with American connections as well as the half-sister to dual Group 1 heroine Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). 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}), who first went through the ring for €72,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling, is a half-brother to this term's G2 King Edward VII Stakes second Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The April-foaled bay, named in honour of owner Mike Repole's father, receives a two-kilogram allowance as the lone debutant in a field of nine and has drawn stall one. “My Dad was born in Nice, France,” Repole tweeted back in May. “He came to the US in his early 20s with no money and didn't speak any English. He was a waiter in New York City for over 45 years, working lunch and dinner six days a week and over 60 hours a week. He turned 84 [in May], Thank you God, and 60 years later he “barely” speaks English now. My Dad's story inspired me to take chances and work my ass off. Maybe I'll name one of these colts after my Dad, Benny the Waiter.” Opposition to the Jerome Reynier nominee includes Imad Al Sagar's once-raced Prix de Crevecouer fourth Burhan (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who fell short of reserve when stalling on 120,000gns at the same Craven fixture. The Andre Fabre-trained homebred is out of a granddaughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Classic Park (GB) (Robellino). Ironico (Gift Box), a close-up debut third for the Fabrice Chappet stable over this course and distance last month, gets a second attempt at becoming the first European scorer for his Lane's End-based freshman sire (by Twirling Candy). 18.30 Wolverhampton, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, 7f 36y (AWT) Cheveley Park Stud homebred ENCLOSURE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is an unraced daughter of G1 Matron Stakes heroine Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and thus a half-sister to G1 Falmouth Stakes and G1 Sun Chariot Stakes victrix Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the multiple stakes-placed Provenance (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). She is, like all three before her were, conditioned by Sir Michael Stoute and encounters nine in this debut. Rivals include the Ollie Sangster-trained debutante Rock Diva (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), who is out of a half-sister to the dual Group 1-placed Nugget (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). The post Repole Stable’s 280k Craven Breezer Benny The Waiter Set for Deauville Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–As of Tuesday morning it's been six days since Adam Potts landed in Deauville, but there's no time to slow down as the newest recruit to the team of bloodstock agents at BBA Ireland. With the Arqana August Sale fast disappearing in the rear-view mirror, attentions now turn to the v.2 Yearling Sale and the catalogue of 189 lots scheduled to go through the ring when bidding gets underway at 11am local time. For Potts the task until then is simple: to get through as many of the lots as is physically possible. It's a painstaking process but all part of the ethos which has served him so well in his career thus far, with no reason to abandon it after he was headhunted for his new position during the breeze-up sales earlier this year. “I think looking at as many horses as possible gives you the best chance to unearth value,” Potts explains. “I always think the more horses you see the more you learn. It's a useful exercise even for next year when these yearlings run at two and you see a horse that has won. You can go back on your notes and find that you've either been vindicated in that you liked it or, if you didn't, you can find out why and try to keep training your eye. “I suppose your eye is an ever-evolving thing and it's a bit like the 10,000-hour rule where they say if you want to master anything, you have to spend 10,000 hours doing it–maybe you have to look at 10,000 horses! It does take time [viewing all of the horses at a sale]. If I go from morning to evening, you can maybe do 150 horses, but you have to keep at it.” At the current rate Potts will surely take no time to reach that 10,000 figure, if he hasn't already, with last month's Irish Oaks third Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) perhaps the standout name among the horses he's sourced to date. It's a transaction Potts remembers fondly, even if the €17,500 foal he bought didn't do much for his own bank account when selling for €24,000 as a yearling. “Purple Lily was a funny one,” says Potts. “Although you haven't been rewarded financially, you've been vindicated in what you bought because the end result was that of a very good filly. I remember after we sold her as a yearling, we sat down and discussed where we went wrong and why we shouldn't have bought her. Two years later we were discussing why she was so great!” One way or another, Potts has certainly shown himself to be a fine judge of a Thoroughbred, with the results of his pinhooking venture with Danny O'Donovan and TDN colleague Brian Sheerin there for all to see. At this year's Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-up Sale, for example, they offered a Sioux Nation filly who realised £300,000, having been picked up a few months earlier for just €45,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Potts was a one-time colleague of Sheerin at the Racing Post, just one step on a journey in racing which has involved a variety of roles and many people to thank along the way. “It's been with plenty of help and support from a lot of different people over the years,” Potts begins when explaining how he came to be in the position he finds himself in today. “I spent three or four years with Ken Condon and he's been brilliant. He's a very composed and measured trainer who was always there to give good advice. Michael Magill of Bellewstown Farm Stud has always been a brilliant help as well, from when I was a bit younger. He brought me around the sales when I probably wasn't so sharp on Flat horses. He really trained my eye and made me look at pedigrees in a totally different way to what I did. “I spent time with other trainers like Emmet Mullins, who was great as well, while my parents [Barry and Suzy] have always been very supportive of me going into bloodstock and making a go of it. They've all been a massive help.” Suzy was there with him at Leopardstown last month when the Kevin Coleman-trained Latin Fever (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), the filly he owned along with O'Donovan and Sheerin, defied odds of 80-1 in making a successful racecourse debut. It's been quite the year for the trio on the pinhooking side of things, but that evening at Leopardstown is clearly uppermost in Potts's mind when asked to reflect on his own personal highlights. “Latin Fever winning at Leopardstown was just a brilliant day,” he sums up. “I'm from Derry which would be a fair trip away from Leopardstown, but growing up I would always have gone to the Irish Champion Stakes and just been in awe of the whole spectacle. “At that time it would have been beyond my wildest dreams to ever have a winner at Leopardstown, so it was just an amazing thrill to win a race there and to be able to enjoy the day with my friends who were in on the horse and my mum who would have driven me to Leopardstown for all those Champion Stakes as a kid. It was great to be able to share that experience with her, too.” Explaining what drew him to the filly in the first place, he adds, “Equiano mightn't have made that many people's lists, but I just saw her on the path and she really caught my eye. She just had a lot of qualities that you'd want in a racehorse and her pedigree is actually very good. She's a half-sister to a stakes winner by Markaz and from a deep American pedigree that has always popped up with a good horse. “I weighed it all up and thought that at a level she'd be well worth chancing. Thankfully, she fell within our budget and the rest is history. Kevin is an excellent trainer and has really made a mark in such a competitive country. Horses are happy in his place and he already had luck with Danny and Brian on other horses-in-training- so it made sense to send her to him when we knew she wasn't getting into any breeze-up sale. It doesn't always go right in this game, but when it does it goes really right and that's the beauty of it. You go through so many hard days to get the euphoric day.” And did that euphoric day at Leopardstown also involve a return trip to the betting ring, after having cheered on a filly who'd traded at three-figure odds before settling on her SP of 80-1? “A few of us had to put manners on the bookmakers!” Potts confirms, before telling a story which suggests one of the owners must have returned home from Dublin that night with a sore shoulder–and no doubt a sore head, too. “They were in the parade ring for the first and Brian hadn't arrived,” he adds. “He had work to finish at home and needed to be persuaded to come, so he got in with his laptop bag just as the jockeys were legged up. He left the track lopsided with the laptop bag weighing him down–it didn't leave his sight that night!” Latin Fever, having been bought for just €27,000 at the same sale where the team picked up the Sioux Nation filly–since named Khaldiya (Ire)–who starred at Doncaster, has since been sold to continue her racing career in America, with the announcement of her sale coming just a few days after Potts himself had been stateside for the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, one of his first big international assignments in his new role with BBA Ireland. “It definitely took a bit of adjusting,” he says of that experience. “They had an outstanding bunch of horses, but the yearlings have different conformation traits that you have to hone in on [compared to in Europe]. I thought the standard of the sale there was incredible and the show they put on was something else. “I worked closely with Michael Donohoe and we came away with a Justify colt. He was bought for $250,000, which by Justify's standards wasn't all that expensive. The sire is obviously exciting, so fingers crossed he can do well.” Potts barely had a chance to get his feet under the table at home before he was on his way out to Deauville, where BBA Ireland signed for three yearlings–by Frankel, Mehmas and Wootton Bassett–for just shy of €800,000 combined. He may be living out of a suitcase of late but don't expect to hear Potts complaining anytime soon, with the chance to travel more said to be just one of the many reasons why the role with BBA Ireland was so attractive to him. “It didn't take much deliberation to take up the job,” he sums up. “It was very appealing to join a great company, one of the biggest in Ireland for so long, and it was a chance to be able to buy more horses, worldwide as well. I wouldn't have travelled much, so it was a great opportunity to go and travel the world. “And I'm really looking forward to working with all the other agents, the likes of Michael Donohoe, Patrick Cooper, Eamon Reilly, John Tyrrell and Adrian Nicoll. All of them have bought some fantastic horses over the years and you'd always have looked twice when they bought something.” After this year similar comments certainly apply to any horses bought by Potts, O'Donovan and Sheerin, especially if it's a King Of Change (GB) filly–the team sold three such juveniles at this year's breeze-up sales for a grand total of over half a million, having sourced them for 67,000gns combined. It was an impressive feat of navigating choppy waters, an unavoidable challenge in the current climate and one Potts has enjoyed ever since he bought his first horse aged 16. “The bloodstock game at the moment is probably becoming a bit all or nothing,” he says of the market. “If you tick all the boxes and jump through all the hoops, you can get extremely well paid, more so than ever before. But if you're not, it's probably more difficult than ever. You just have to adapt to that and try to box clever. “But I've always loved markets, being invested in it and having skin in the game. I've been buying horses since I was 16, so I couldn't see myself ever not being in the game. It's the great challenge to come to a sale and try to unearth value.” The post ‘Unearthing Value Is The Great Challenge’ – Meet BBA Ireland’s New Agent Adam Potts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has removed his horses from leading Newmarket trainer Roger Varian, bringing an end to an association that had lasted nine years. The news comes after Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian also removed his horses–including Group 1 winner King Of Steel–from the Newmarket handler back in May. Varian has trained many high-class horses for Sheikh Obaid, headed by Postponed, who won the Dubai Sheema Classic, Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International back in 2016. Revealing the news, Varian said, “I can confirm that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has ended his support of my stable. The ten horses that he currently had in training with me departed today. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Sheikh Obaid for all the opportunities that he has given me over the last nine years. Together we have had a long and fruitful association, enjoying many wonderful days in Britain – not least at Royal Ascot – and overseas, including seven Group 1s. “Sheikh Obaid is a passionate and committed supporter of racing across the globe and I wish him and his horses all the best in the future.” He added, “It is important for me to add that myself and the team here at Carlburg remain fully focused on continuing our own successful season. Our stable currently houses a top-class miler in Charyn and a British Classic winner in Elmalka, as well as a list of other highly talented horses. We are very grateful to all of our owners and look forward to rewarding their ongoing support over the coming months and years.” The post Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Removes Horses From Trainer Roger Varian appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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