Wandering Eyes

Wathnan Racing's Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), who annexed the 2023 G2 Queen Mary Stakes for George Weaver, returned to the scene of her greatest triumph with a decisive victory in Wednesday's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Her 1 3/4-length tally provided the Gosden stable with a record-extending sixth win in the one-mile contest. Crimson Advocate had previously broken through for a second stakes win in Goodwood's Listed Conqueror Stakes last month, her third outing for John and Thady Gosden since joining from the Weaver stable, and the four-year-old landed a monster gamble here after opening the day at long odds. The well-backed 11-2 chance broke alertly from the gates and was reined back by James McDonald to race in rear after the initial exchanges. Placed in snooze mode for the most part, she was the last of seven to come off the bridle when stirred into action soon after passing the two pole and thundered home down the outside to collar last year's winner and stablemate Running Lion (Roaring Lion) with 100 yards remaining en route to a clear-cut success. Godolphin's Grade I-winning 5-4 favourite Cinderella's Dream (Shamardal) outbobbed the rallying 2024 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) by a head for the runner-up spot as Running Lion's bold frontrunning effort petered out in the dying embers. LAST TO FIRST! CRIMSON ADVOCATE WINS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/CsUjPX3JUP — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 The post Wathnan Racing’s Crimson Advocate Swoops Late for Duke Of Cambridge Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Roel Dill has been appointed the new Chief Financial Officer by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, according to an organization release Wednesday. Additionally, Ann Hall has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Lynn Wright has been pegged as the Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer. Dill formerly served as Qualcomm's Senior Director, Finance of Qualcomm's Technology Licensing business unit and Ventures and Treasury groups. Prior to Qualcomm, he was a Senior Manager at KPMG, where he worked on DMTC's audit team. His full DMTC title, as of June 1, is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Del Mar's Mike Ernst, who has filled that role for the past 33 years, has been named Executive Vice President, Finance. Hall, who has served in multiple capacities since joining DMTC in its accounting department in 1994, was the track's Senior Vice President for Operations and Administration. Her new role will see her take on the additional responsibilities of all general day-to-day operations of the seaside racing facility that first opened in 1937. Wright, a long-tenured staff member, has overseen DMTC's accounting team for more than a dozen years. She joined Del Mar in 1990, initially as Director of Financial Reporting and Planning. Subsequently, she was elevated to the role of Controller and Vice President. She now oversees the track's accounting, payroll and financial planning functions. The post Del Mar Names Dill New CFO, Promotes Hall and Wright appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The panel of racing experts tied in the voting for Jockey of the Week June 9 through June 15, honoring both Paco Lopez, a 12-time winner this past week, and Umberto Rispoli, a 10-time winner, for their accomplishments.View the full article

Providing owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael with the ultimate thrill on Wednesday, Carmers put another feather in Wootton Bassett's cap by breaking the track record in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase. Becoming the first to dip under three minutes for the 14-furlong trip here, the unbeaten Paddy Twomey-trained Listed Yeats Stakes winner recorded a 3/4-of-a-length success from Furthur (Waldgeist), with a head back to Rahiebb (Frankel) in third. It was Twomey's first runner at the Royal meeting. A FIRST #ROYALASCOT WINNER FOR PADDY TWOMEY AS CARMERS TAKES THE QUEEN'S VASE! pic.twitter.com/3QImI2FjWz — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 The post Wootton Bassett’s Carmers Breaks The Track Record In The Queen’s Vase appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore's twice-raced maiden True Love (No Nay Never) went down fighting when runner-up to G2 Coventry-winning stablemate Gstaad in the second of two starts last month and, hammered down to clear favourite for Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary Stakes, duly delivered a first renewal for Aidan O'Brien. She also restored family honour in the five-furlong dash and eclipsed her sister Truly Enchanting's 13th last year. The race was marred by the fatal injury to the Richard Hannon-trained Harry's Girl (Harry Angel). True Love broke swiftly from stall 25 of 25 and headed the stands' side group in an overall eighth as TDN Rising Star Zelaina (Mehmas) blazed a trail down the centre of the track. Making eyecatching headway into contention once leaving the quarter-mile pole behind, Ryan Moore galvanised his mount into seizing control passing the furlong marker and she kept on powerfully under a continued drive to hit the line with a 1 1/4-length advantage from Amo Racing's 100-1 outsider Flowerhead (Starman). Patrick Biancone trainee Lennilu (Leinster) made a dent for her freshman sire, and the Stateside team, and finished a half-length back on the better end of a three-way photo verdict for third. The well-backed 9-4 chance had previously forced Lady Iman into pulling out all the stops, when runner-up to that subsequent G3 Naas Fillies Sprint winner, in the Curragh's Listed First Flier Stakes on debut. AIDAN O'BRIEN AND RYAN MOORE AGAIN! TRUE LOVE WINS THE QUEEN MARY STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/aBniVaoKpQ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 The post True Love Complements Gstaad With First Queen Mary Triumph for Aidan O’Brien appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Blue Grass Farms Charities, Inc. (BGFC) received a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) in the amount of $2,755 to purchase 125 backpacks for their Back-to-School Backpack program for the 2025 school year, the organization announced Wednesday. Throughout Fayette, Bourbon, Scott, Clark, Woodford, and Jessamine counties, 1,300 backpacks will be distributed to area farm and track employees this year. BGFC's mission is to provide health and human services to those who work in the Central Kentucky Thoroughbred industry. In total, HOKC awarded $2.5 million in grants supporting 333 non-profits, impacting more than 4 million Kentuckians. “2024/2025 was a challenging year for fulfilling Grant Requests, with $5 million in total requests,” said Commanding General Gary Boschert. “We were able to distribute $2.5 million through the Good Works Program that each of you generously supports. Every dollar you contribute to the Good Works Program goes out to nonprofits in the Commonwealth. Together we helped support more than 4 million people this year.” The post Blue Grass Farms Charities Among Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Grant Recipients appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2025 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place in the Cape Cross Centre at Kildangan Stud on the afternoon of Friday, June 13. Invited guests included the parents of the graduating class, as well as Godolphin management and University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School representatives who have supported the Flying Start trainees throughout their two years on the programme. The 2025 graduates comprised trainees from five countries, including Daisy Fenwick (USA), Sam Baker (IRE), Jake Swinburn (UK), Johnny Marsh (UK), Gerard Donworth (IRE), Harrison Everett (AUS), Anna Cahill (IRE), George Connolly (IRE), Mitchell Whelan (NZ), Harper McVey (USA) Sean Cooper (IRE) and Claire Wilson (USA). The diploma for the top trainee was presented to George Connolly, who achieved the highest grade among the 2025 graduating group, attaining a Distinction award. Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin UK and Dubai and trustee of Godolphin Flying Start, said, “On behalf of the global Godolphin team, I congratulate this graduating class and wish them success and encouragement for their futures in the Thoroughbred industry.” The next opportunity to apply for Godolphin Flying Start is December 2025. For more information about the course, click here. The post George Connolly Leads Godolphin Flying Start Class of 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 29-day Santa Anita Hollywood Meet wrapped up June 15 with Antonio Fresu winning the jockey’s title, Phil D’Amato as top trainer, and Nick Alexander as leading owner. View the full article

Last year's G3 Derby-Trial winner Augustus will be offered as a wildcard during the Arqana Summer Sale, which takes place between Monday, June 30 and Thursday, July 3. The full catalogue is available to view here. The son of Soldier Hollow will be consigned by trainer Waldemar Hickst, having finished third behind the top-class Goliath (Adlerflug) when making his most recent appearance in the G3 La Coupe at ParisLongchamp earlier this month. A Listed-winning juvenile, he followed his Derby-Trial success last year with a third-place finish in the G1 Deutsches Derby won by Palladium (Gleneagles). Augustus is one of five new wildcards added to the catalogue for the Summer Sale, along with four unexposed prospects to go to war with over jumps. That quintet will go under the hammer during the horses-in-training section of the sale, which falls on Wednesday, July 2. The post Group Winner Augustus Added to Arqana Summer Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday's Royal Ascot confirmations have been made and the clash between the Aga Khan Studs star Zarigana (Siyouni) and Shadwell's exciting Falakeyah (New Bay) in the G1 Coronation Stakes is the highlight of the card. The former, who was awarded the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last month, will attempt to establish herself at the top of the fillies' pecking order in this mile category with fellow TDN Rising Star Falakeyah dangerously unexposed coming back in trip after her scintillating win in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes. Others of note among the 11 contenders include the 1,000 Guineas runner-up Flight (Siyouni) and another Listed winner stepping into the heat of Group 1 battle in Kon Tiki (Night Of Thunder). In the fixture's other Group 1 contest, 22 sprinters take part in the Commonwealth Cup with Godolphin's G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) the key protagonist dropping back to six having been third in the 2,000 Guineas. Juddmonte hold a strong hand, with the G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Babouche (Kodiac) lining up alongside the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up and fellow TDN Rising Star Jonquil (Lope De Vega), while Ballydoyle's duo include the G1 Prix Morny winner Whistlejacket (No Nay Never). There are 11 set to feature in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes, where the unbeaten Ralph Beckett-trained Listed Cocked Hat Stakes scorer Amiloc (Postponed) occupies favouritism over Ballydoyle's Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master (Camelot). Of the 17 2-year-old fillies confirmed for the opening G3 Albany Stakes, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's daughter of first-season sire Starman, the Carlisle winner Venetian Sun is the market-leader at present in an open renewal. The post Zarigana and Falakeyah In Line For Coronation Battle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There will be a Hong Kong flavour to Thursday’s Group One Ascot Gold Cup (3,991m) at Royal Ascot but local owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui will no doubt be realistic about the chances of Wonder Legend in a race packed with crack stayers. Trained by James Ferguson with Daniel Muscutt to take the ride, Wonder Legend brings winning form into the race but finds himself on the fifth line of betting in overseas fixed-odds markets at around $34. Leading the way is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Illinois at $2.75,...View the full article

Growing up watching her mum in the saddle lit a fire in Ashlee Strawbridge to become a jockey, and at Cambridge on Wednesday she realised a dream when riding home her first winner. That win came aboard the locally-trained Cheap Sav, and Strawbridge showed the maturity of a more seasoned rider when biding her time at the rear of the field in the Saddlery Warehouse 1300 before unleashing her charge out wide to run over the top of her rivals to score by a long neck over Oban. Indentured to Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney, Strawbridge was delighted to score her first victory in her home region, with the occasion enhanced by having her mother and employer trackside to celebrate. “That was awesome,” Strawbridge said. “Mum was here and I could hear them all cheering when I trotted back in, so that was awesome to have them all here supporting me.” Trainer Tarissa Macdonald was just as rapt for the 19-year-old apprentice, and believes she has a bright future instore. “We have been watching Ashlee since the start of her riding career. Michelle is a good friend of mine and I am so happy for her,” Macdonald said. “She rode her a treat. Hopefully she won’t forget me and be loyal because she is going places, she is doing a really good job. I am happy for her.” While she grew up riding and helping out in racing stables, a career in the saddle wasn’t assured for Strawbridge, who elected to commence tertiary education before electing to pursue her dream vocation. “My mum, Michelle Hopkins, was a jockey, so I have pretty much been riding horses from the moment I could walk,” she said. “I started riding for Debbie (Sweeney) around high school. I went down to Christchurch and rode for Ross Beckett when I went down for university, but uni wasn’t for me, so I found out more about doing an apprenticeship and moved back home and got started with Debbie. “Mum works for Debbie as well, it’s an awesome work environment, it’s like one big family.” Strawbridge had come close to victory in several of her 30-odd starts before Wednesday’s breakthrough win, and she said she is relieved to finally be on the board. “I have had a few placings now, so it is good to finally get the monkey off the back,” she said. With her first win now on the board, Strawbridge has a hunger for more and is hoping to add to her tally at Tauranga on Saturday. “What A Charma is running this weekend at Tauranga and I think he will be a nice horse going through the grades over winter,” she said. “He went very close last start, so if we can do the same thing in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) that would be good. “I am also riding Blackpink Jennie and Digger. Blackpink Jennie is a nice mare who has got a good draw (5) and will get through the wet ground well, and Digger is an honest horse who always tries hard, and he should be right there till the end.” View the full article

After Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) returned his best season as a racehorse as a seven-year-old gelding, owner and syndicate manager Rob Slade is banking on him continuing that upward trajectory. “He’s getting better with age. He’s very lightly raced for a seven-year-old gelding as he has had only 37 starts and most horses his age would be in the 55-to-60-starts bracket,” Slade said of Here To Shock, who has won 13 races and $2.8 million in prizemoney. Here To Shock is back in work and being aimed first-up at the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. “That’s a suitable race for him. He loves 1400m at Caulfield, where he has two wins, including the Group 3 Victoria Handicap and two seconds,” Slade said. In the 2024-25 racing season, Here To Shock had seven starts for four wins and two seconds and he secured his first G1 win when he took out the BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in February. In the lead-up to that win, Here To Shock won the inaugural The Supernova at Pakenham over 1400m. After New Zealand, his trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes brought Here To Shock back to Australia to finish second in the G1 Canterbury Stakes over 1300m at Randwick behind Royal Patronage. That was also a significant performance as it was the first time he had been placed at the highest level in Australia. “We’ve never had a real issue with him. He’s very sound, so we think he’s a horse that still races effectively when he’s eight and nine years old,” he said, with the recent results in G1 races convincing connections that’s the level of race they will aim him at during spring. Meanwhile the ownership group has also voted to move rising five-year-old mare Roll On High to Lindsay Park from Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s stables. “They wanted to try Roll On High in a new environment. They had nothing against Moody, but just wanted to change it up,” he said. Roll On High has been spelling since she finished sixth in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, where she didn’t have a lot of galloping room, and she will resume work this week with the plan to run her at Flemington at their Makybe Diva Stakes meeting on September 13. Here To Shock was purchased by Rob Slade from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). View the full article

Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo) has continued the winning form of OTI Racing with victory in a race at Sandown, hours after the colours were worn to success at Royal Ascot. Docklands gave OTI Racing one of their biggest victories when successful in the opening race of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, the Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile course on Tuesday night (Australian time). Knobelas won over a similar trip in the OTI Racing colours, taking out the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday. Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Knobelas, the $2.35 favourite, raced to a 3-¼ length win under Jordan Childs from All Business with Colour Our Word two lengths away third. Knobelas may not reach the same Group 1 heights as Docklands, but there was plenty of merit in the victory, her second from three career starts. “It was very similar to last time,” Kent Jnr said of Wednesday’s win. “She got her own way in front and if you’ve got the tactical speed and you take it up and no one wants to take you on, you deserve that. “She’s got a very good turn of foot. She sustained a solid gallop all-the-way when being up in grade, so that was quite impressive. “She’s won by a big margin again and I know there is still a heap to come with her. “It’s exciting.” Kent Jnr said immaturity had stopped Knobelas from making her debut earlier, but added it was likely Knobelas would continue to race through the winter months. “She’s a very sweet filly, very sound, does everything right,” Kent Jnr said. “I just love her change up gear and that’s going to win you more races than not. “I don’t think she needs to go further than the mile at the moment, so we’ll place her through winter and see if she can win again. “The owners have been very patient, so if she is not training off and while she’s a three-year-old filly, Saturday class beckons.” Kent Jnr said the Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington on July 5 could be a potential next target. Knobelas was previously trained in New Zealand by Simon and Katrina Alexander and was sold following a trial win at Te Awamutu. View the full article

A month after his barnstorming stakes victory at Ellerslie, smart juvenile Do You Just (NZ) (So You Think) has been sold and will continue his racing career in Hong Kong. The son of So You Think showed promise through his two-year-old season, but it wasn’t until the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) in mid-May that he showed his true colours, leading up and spacing his rivals by 6-½ lengths. That performance came as little surprise for co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan, who shared in the ownership of Do You Just with Waikato Stud, his daughter Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle, and her husband Tom Doyle. “The only surprise about his stakes win was that he hadn’t produced that kind of performance before then,” O’Sullivan said. “We certainly thought he was up to it. “As we went, we found out a bit about him, and the reason why he hadn’t been was because he’d never raced right-handed before that. He trialled particularly well right-handed, and the first start he had right-handed, he did that.” When purchased for $250,000 out of Carlaw Park’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, connections had hoped Do You Just would race on as a colt, but after being gelded, selling him became an inevitability. “He was purchased as a colt, but once he had to be gelded, he was no real value to Waikato Stud, as they would generally race fillies or colts,” O’Sullivan said. “I also raced 20 percent of the horse myself. “When we sell a horse out of the stable, the one thing we hope is that they turn out really well, so the owners will come back in the future. “It is the way racing is, some people choose to keep them, but this horse was purchased for $250,000 at the sales, and he paid his way and sold for a profit. “Hopefully, we can repeat the same sort of exercise in the future and the horse can remain a colt, but he just wasn’t going to make a racehorse as a colt. “We hope he can go up to Hong Kong and turn into a top horse for his new connections.” View the full article

Lisa Latta will hold a strong hand in Friday’s two-year-old feature at Otaki, with Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) tipped as her top seed. The Awapuni trainer will have able back-up in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) with Brutiful Lass and Platinum Pantheon also in contention. Platinum Diamond has earned top billing from the stable after the highly encouraging start the daughter of Hello Youmzain has made to her career. The filly made late ground to run fourth at her Hawera debut in early May and then produced an irresistible finish from the back of the field at Wanganui to defeat Country Salon, again a race rival. “I’d have to go with the last-start winner, she was really good and ran home well and has gone in the right direction since,” Latta said. She is unsure of Platinum Diamond’s future after the Castletown and whether she would be in the running for the upcoming Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m). “We’ll just get through this run first and then make up our minds,” Latta said. “It will be her third start and she’ll need a break at some stage, she was a late foal and she looks a nice three-year-old prospect.” Brutiful Lass finished runner-up on debut at Tauherenikau earlier this year and returned from a break to run third at Hawera before the Brutal filly ran out of luck behind Platinum Diamond. “I’m really happy with her and she didn’t have all favours at Wanganui where a gap got quite tight on her,” Latta said. “She certainly isn’t the worst for a maidener as it doesn’t look an overly strong field.” The third member of the trio is Hanseatic’s son Platinum Pantheon, who made two appearances during the summer for a first-up fourth at Tauherenikau and then unplaced at Wanganui. “He had a jump-out at Levin and went really well, he ran second and just got beaten,” Latta said. “He looks well and it’s just whether he handles the track, being an Australian-bred horse.” Latta has several other runners on Friday and also liked the chances of Benefactor in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1600m) and Good Craic in the Vets on Riverbank Maiden (1200m). “Benefactor was good at Wanganui last Saturday and will be backing up and Good Craic has been knocking on the door,” she said. Contributer mare Benefactor was a last-start third in open handicap company while Per Incanto four-year-old Good Craic has posted four runner-up finishes from her last five outings. View the full article

Custom-made packages are now available for those wanting to follow the World Driving Championship (WDC25) around New Zealand this November. This will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the prestigious event on its own. Ten drivers from around the world, including our own Blair Orange, will compete at the following venues: • Kaikoura – November 2 & 3 • Cambridge – November 5 • Addington – November 7 • Winton – November 9 • IRT New Zealand Cup Day at Addington – Tuesday, November 11 There has already been strong interest in the Championship, both locally and internationally. Harness Racing New Zealand, in conjunction with travel agents Holland Clarke & Beaton, are offering fully organised tours, covering part or all of the Championship. Packages will be tailor-made to individual requirements. You can attend as many race meetings as you like, and we can organise as much of the travel and logistics — including flights, transfers, and accommodation — as required. Prices will vary depending on the package. Those taking part will also enjoy exclusive access to the WDC area on race days, as well as entry to official functions and events. The offer is open to both New Zealanders and international visitors. We encourage everyone interested in following the Championship to express their interest as soon as possible, as places are limited. All enquiries should be directed to wdc25@hrnz.co.nz For more information on the Championship, visit wdc25.nz View the full article

Bet N Win settles into Aussie Multiple Group 1 winner Bet N Win will race in Sydney this Saturday night, ahead of his Inter Dominion campaign in Queensland. The Rowe Cup winner was on a flight from New Zealand, along with Pinseeker and Betterthancash, earlier in the week. The two pacers will front up in race 1 at Menangle at 7.17 pm on Saturday while Bet N Win will contest the Ainsworth – AGTSlots.com Trotters Mobile at 10.36pm. Bet N Win is currently a $5 fourth favourite for the Inter Dominion Trotting Final at Albion Park on July 19, behind Oscar Bonavena ($3), Arcee Phoenix ($4.50), and Callmethebreeze ($4.50). Vale Murray Matthews Harness Racing New Zealand would like to send its condolences to the family of Murray Matthews, who died earlier this week. A trainer, owner and breeder Matthews was 74. He owned or co-owned more than 20 horses over the years – many of them had football-related names including Bergkamp (2 wins), Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Rykaard. Another of them Japie Stam was his last winner as a trainer in 2006. His first was Esprit Turbo in Auckland in 1997. He trained 10 winners overall. He also raced Gladys Greenland, who had two wins from Jeremy Young’s northern stables before being transferred to Steven Reid in Rangiora. A celebration of Murray Matthews’ life will be held on July 12. Fletcher hits 50 When Paris Prince won at Addington on Friday the 13th it marked a special milestone for veteran trainer Fred Fletcher. It was his 50th success with the progeny of Royal Aspirations, a horse he trained in 17 of his 18 career victories (the other one was with Sam Smolenski). Paris Prince has been in regal form of late winning four of his last seven starts and 10 overall from 61 starts. Royal Aspirations’ stock have had 85 wins in total, with Fletcher also having wins with the likes of Royal Del (13 wins), Sunny Louis (8) and Royal Pride (6). Royal Aspirations stands at Phoebe Stud with a $2500 service fee. Telfers extend lead Team Telfer has now shot out to a six win lead in the trainers’ premiership. Steve and Amanda Telfer and Stonewall Stud have now produced 78 wins in 2025, to be six ahead of Michael House, the newly-crowned New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship winner. The Telfers have had 14 winners in June including Captains Secret who landed a $40,000 win bet at Alexandra Park last Friday. Blair Orange is the country’s leading driver with 90 wins, with the Telfers’ top southern driver Tim Williams second on 59. Wilson House, with 57 wins, is 17 wins ahead in the junior drivers championship with Crystal Hackett and Harrison Orange second equal on 40 wins. Star mare wins again The brilliant Twin B Joe Fresh has won her second straight Roses Are Red feature for the mares at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Canada, winning in 1:48.8 by more than three lengths. The star mare has strong Kiwi connections through trainer Chris Ryder and driver Dexter Dunn, who are also co-owners. She has now won 32 races and earned close to $US3m. Also on the programme Louprint produced a stakes and track record of 1:47.2 to win the 42nd edition of the $1m North American Cup. The race for the three-year-old pacers produced a stirring finish with Dunn fourth with Captain Optimsitic. It was Louprint’s 12th win in 15 starts. Six finalists in Industry Excellence Awards Harness Racing will be represented by six finalists at the 2025 Entain Industry Excellence Awards in Auckland later this month. They are Samantha Ottley and Crystal Hackett (National Racing Woman), Zachary Butcher (Equine Licence Holder Excellence), Nathan Purdon (Leadership Excellence), David Branch (Administration and Innovation Excellence) and Shannon Armour (Care and Welfare Excellence). The awards are open to anyone under 40 and the winner of each category – and the supreme Entain Excellence Award winner – will be announced at an awards night at Tote On Ascot at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, June 29. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall supreme winner receives an extra $5,000 and a $5,000 educational package. Flights and accommodation are supplied for each of the category finalists. Countdown to weanling sale The NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale is just over a week away. Held in conjunction with the National Thoroughbred sale for the first time, the standardbred sale which includes three yearlings will start on June 26 at Karaka at 2.30 pm. Around 90 standardbreds will go under the hammer. A total of 19 horses will be Next Gen eligible. To see the catalogue click here Auction closes tonight The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7pm tonight (Wednesday) Among the 10 lots is Bad Habits who has won three races from 17 starts for trainer Regan Todd. The Lazarus four-year-old is, according to his advertisement, “due for a change of scenery and is ready to go straight away for new owners”. At last look he had met his reserve, with bidding at $7,000. Kiwi Harness Heavyweights at Royal Ascot Legendary trainer Barry Purdon and prominent owner Richard Cole (IRT) have been spotted trackside at Royal Ascot this week. Great to see New Zealand harness racing faces enjoying one of the world’s most iconic racing events. View the full article

Docklands handed Harry Eustace his first Group One success and star three-year-old Field Of Gold lit up the turf on a bumper day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Eustace celebrated the biggest moment of his career with his brother David, who has made a strong impression in his first season as a handler in Hong Kong, after Docklands prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m). Starting a $14 chance, Docklands settled in the back half of the field. Despite Australian...View the full article

Aptly-named homebred Country Salon will be out to continue Gavin Sharrock’s golden run with his juveniles this season when he tackles Friday’s Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The two-year-old son of Darci Brahma holds great sentimental value to Sharrock, with the Taranaki horseman naming Country Salon and his dam after his daughter. “My daughter and I raced (his dam) Uniquebotique together,” Sharrock said. “She has got a little hair salon on her farm called Unique Boutique and that’s how that mare got her name. She is out in the country, so I called him Country Salon.” Country Salon has had three starts to date, running fifth on debut before winning at Trentham over 1200m on a Heavy10 track last month and was runner-up last start at Wanganui over the same distance. Sharrock has been pleased with the progression of his gelding and believes he is capable of adding a maiden stakes victory to his record on Friday. “I am really rapt with him,” Sharrock said. “We should have run first and second last start, but my other horse (Spandeedo) carted him off the corner. “He has drawn reasonable (4). It is a winnable race, it is not that strong of a field.” A spell beckons Country Salon after Friday’s assignment, with Sharrock already setting his sights on further black-type targets next season. “After Saturday he will probably go for a break and then I will get him ready for the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m).” He will likely be met in the Wanganui feature by stablemate Daylight Robbery, who has just returned to Sharrock’s barn from a spell after a pleasing juvenile campaign that netted a win and two placings from five starts, and he earned himself a place in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) before running fourth in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). Sharrock said there is very little between the pair, and meeting in the Wanganui Guineas may reveal the better horse. “Daylight Robbery came in on the 8th of May, he had two months off, and he will be getting ready for the Wanganui Guineas as well,” Sharrock said. “If he goes well there, we might head to Christchurch with him (for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 1600m). “I would rate Daylight Robbery in the top seven two-year-olds in the country at the moment. I haven’t tested Country Salon yet. He has won really well on a $40,000 Saturday against winners, he is a very smart galloper and he is nicely put together. “Until they meet, I don’t know which one is the better of the two.” Sharrock also has plenty of time for fellow juvenile Spandeedo, who has won one and placed in two of his three starts to date, with a tilt at next month’s Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki in the balance. “Spandeedo will go to Hawera on the 12th (of July), and he might have a go at the Ryder if he happened to win there,” Sharrock said. Back at Otaki on Friday, Sharrock will also line-up three-year-old gelding Vibration in the Foxton New World Handicap (1200m). “He has his little quirks but is a very capable horse,” Sharrock said. “On his last start I would expect him to go a really good race.” Meanwhile, Sharrock was pleased to see Soldier Boy back to winning form at Te Rapa last Saturday, and said stakes targets are now in the crosshairs for the five-win gelding. “The old fella has been good to me,” Sharrock said. “A lot of people don’t realise, but I lost a lot of time with him last year. He had a really bad knock to his fetlock and he had puss coming out of the joint, and I was battling it the whole time. He was still running places, but he was never 100 percent. He went out for a good break and he has come back really good this time. “He is having a freshen-up this week and he will more than likely have a tilt at the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) and if he happened to go well there, we might take him down to Christchurch for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m).” View the full article

The 29-day Santa Anita Hollywood Meet wrapped up Sunday with Antonio Fresu winning the jockey's title, Phil D'Amato as top trainer and Nick Alexander as leading owner. For Fresu, this was his first jockey's title at Santa Anita. The 33-year-old native of Italy has been riding in the U.S., specifically the Southern California circuit, since April 2023. Fresu ended the Hollywood Meet with 34 wins from 152 mounts (22%) to finish four wins clear of runner-up Juan Hernandez. Fresu also had five stakes wins to lead all jockeys. At last year's Hollywood Meet, Fresu came up just one win short of Hernandez in the race for leading jockey. Fresu's stakes wins came with Seismic Beauty in the GII Santa Margarita for trainer Bob Baffert, Richi in the GII Santa Maria for Baffert, Motorious in the GIII Daytona for D'Amato, Public Assembly in the GIII Royal Heroine for D'Amato and Freedom's Not Free in the Cinema Stakes for trainer Mark Glatt. Fresu also led all jockeys with $1,794,786 in purse earnings. For D'Amato, this was his seventh trainer's title at Santa Anita. He won 27 races from 113 starters (24%) to finish seven wins clear of runner-up John Sadler. D'Amato also led all trainers with $1,573,678 in purse earnings and tied Baffert for most stakes wins with five. D'Amato's top assistants are Rudy Cruz and Euriel Mejia. The barn's five stakes wins came with King of Gosford in the GI Shoemaker Mile, Motorious in the GIII Daytona, Public Assembly in the GIII Royal Heroine, Jungle Peace in the GIII Senorita and Super Shine in the Desert Stormer. Alexander has been one of California's leading owners and breeders for decades. His runners at the Hollywood Meet won 11 races from 25 starts, a 44% success rate. The post Fresu Wins Santa Anita Jockey’s Title at Hollywood Meet; D’Amato Tops Trainers, Alexander Leads Owners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the span of seven months nearly a decade ago, Maria Borell went from the ecstasy of training a Breeders' Cup winner with just her 30th lifetime starter to making national headlines for being a no-show in the face of animal cruelty charges after authorities rescued 43 neglected and undernourished horses from dire stabling conditions at a Kentucky farm leased by her father. On Tuesday, Borell was stymied in her attempt to regain a Thoroughbred training license in her home state. Borell, now 42, had been hopeful she would be able to regain her licensure. In July 2023, her charges from 2016 all got dismissed in Mercer County District Court, and in September 2024, Borell was licensed as a trainer in California. But on June 17, 2025, after hearing testimony from Borell while her attorney, Karen Murphy, watched via videoconference, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC)'s license review committee went into closed session to debate the matter. When the committee reconvened in open session, its chairman, Greg Harbut, informed Borell that if she didn't choose to withdraw her license request, the committee's vote would “almost certainly result in denial of this application.” Murphy, who has ample experience handling licensure hearings for trainers, immediately withdrew the application on Borell's behalf. The attorney was aware that a denial on her record might jeopardize Borell's ability to continue training in other states and would likely cause bureaucratic difficulties for a future pursuit of licensure in Kentucky. “Maria is heartbroken,” Murphy told TDN in a phone interview after Tuesday's hearing. “We withdrew [the application], which means we do not have to face the rabbit hole of a denial, where we'd have to go through all sorts of appeals and exhaustion of administrative remedy, and focus on what it is that we're missing, because I don't know what we're missing. “It's very disappointing for reasons that are both human and legal. On the legal side-and I kind of wanted to speak on it [at the hearing], but I wasn't allowed to-Maria spent a substantial amount of time to achieve what she achieved, which was a dismissal with prejudice of all the charges, and an expungement from the record. “An expungement means that the court has treated the matter as if it never happened, and it has directed the court, if anybody was to ask, to not reveal anything about the matter. And the individual, who the charges were brought against, is also notified that they don't have to reveal [the expunged charges]. That is a legal principle that is applied everywhere in the United States of America, and it [doesn't exclude] racing.” Murphy continued: “She's passed the trainer's test. She has a license in California. She's able to participate there. So there's ample precedent. For Kentucky not to take the same principled position-there is no legal impediment to her licensure-there's something else that's going on. And I don't know what it is, other than the fact that we all know what happened, but the court and the law has said to Kentucky the point of expungement is to relieve a person of a perpetual black mark once the court has decided there's no merit to the case. “That's what the court decided, and [the license review committee] was provided with those documents. So that's a very challenging situation to be in, and we'll meet the challenge. But we're extremely disappointed in the fact that they failed to meet their obligation to respect the law,” Murphy said. Murphy told TDN to expect that Borell would be back before the KHRGC's license review committee at a future date. Chronology of the Case… At this time 10 years ago, Borell had never trained a Thoroughbred winner from 22 lifetime starts. Then she took over as the conditioner of Runhappy, who blossomed into a graded stakes-winning sprinter and eventual Eclipse Award-winning champion. But 24 hours after Runhappy won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on Oct. 31, 2015, Borell was fired, and she sued client Gallery Racing Stables, LLC, (owners James and Linda McIngvale) for breach of contract and defamation. Over the winter of 2015-16, Borell relocated to Florida, but a training stint with Drawing Away Stable was also short-lived, ending in a May 2016 dismissal from that job. In May 2016, an investigative article titled “The Shocking Untold Story of Maria Borell” was published on (but has since been removed from) the website US Racing. It alleged that Borell had been involved in a series of incidents involving questionable equine care, damage to and neglect of properties she has leased, and personal financial difficulties. After reading that article and a follow-up that specifically referenced alleged neglect at a farm near Harrodsburg leased by Charles “Chuck” Borell, the Mercer County Sheriff began investigating. When the sheriff's investigators found underfed, underwatered, and confined horses with open sores, untrimmed feet, and no one seemingly present to care for them, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDOA) stepped in to rehome the horses and provide them with veterinary care. Deeming that the horses there had been abandoned by Chuck and Maria Borell, Class A misdemeanor charges and arrest warrants were issued for the father-and-daughter tandem. Chuck Borell was arrested on July 29, 2016, while Maria Borell remained at large. Chuck Borell entered an “Alford plea” (a plea of guilty without making an admission of guilt) in Mercer County District Court on Sept. 29, 2016, that spared him from going to jail. He was to serve two years of probation in return for relinquishing any ownership interest he had in the 43 horses that had since been moved to 14 different farms. Maria Borell was technically considered a fugitive from justice. But KDOA officials told TDN back in 2016 that the department did not have the resources to extradite her if she was apprehended out of state. From 2022 to today… After six years, in June 2022, Maria Borell turned herself in to Kentucky authorities. In an effort to address the charges and clear her name, she initially pleaded not guilty. Prior to the case going to trial, a different attorney for Maria Borell negotiated a plea deal in July 2023 that centered on the contention that the charges against her would be difficult to prove given that the affected horses were not under her immediate care at the time. Maria Borell ended up paying her $7,500 bail bond (plus an additional $2,500 that had been held in escrow) to Thoroughbred Charities of America, which had laid out as much as $13,000 toward caring for the horses. Separately, Murphy said she recently negotiated a settlement for Maria Borell's outstanding debt with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, a deal that is predicated on her client obtaining a license to train horses and being able to bring in income to pay the money. At her June 17, 2025, KHRGC license review hearing, Maria Borell gave her side of the story about what happened during the time she was out of public view with animal cruelty charges pending. “I know it's been a long time since I've been licensed to train here, and it's been a long road, and I learned a lot of lessons in the past nine years,” Maria Borell said. “Obviously, you know, what happened with my dad's farm was not my fault, but I did not handle it properly. I wish I came back and helped,” Maria Borell said. “I've had a lot of time to think, and know how to do things right the second time around, you know. I have continued to work with horses the whole time. I have my own personal horses. I am a vet assistant, at times, in busy seasons for my horse vet. And I'd really like another chance,” Maria Borell said. “I consider Kentucky home, and I'd love the opportunity to be back here and prove myself and not screw up this time in any way, shape or form,” Maria Borell said. Maria Borell said that she did, at one time, have control over the Harrodsburg farm leased by her father. But in the aftermath of her firing by the owners of Runhappy, she had jumped at a chance to make a fresh start by training in Florida. “I let my ego get the best of me, and I said, 'Well, screw this. I'm going to move. I can do this again. I don't need Runhappy.' And I turned everything [at the farm] over to my dad and I moved to Florida,” Maria Borell said. “And then seven months later, my dad had a new farm out in Clark County, and everything had gone horrible,” Maria Borell said. “At the time, I was suing Mr. McIngvale for my winnings at the Breeders' Cup and other races, and my attorney at the time told me, 'Don't come back [to Kentucky]. It's going to make you look bad. You're not responsible for that farm. You won't have any chance to win this money. Don't come back,'” Maria Borell said. “And that was my biggest mistake. It made me look guilty. I should have helped. I should have stepped up. And that is my biggest regret of all, is not coming back to help when it was clearly needed,” Maria Borell said. Maria Borell said that in California, “They licensed me immediately, no stipulations.” But last autumn, she explained, she had to go through a separate hearing with management at Santa Anita Park, which had denied her access to the track. Santa Anita management eventually granted her access, and she was assigned stalls at Los Alamitos Race Course. But by that time, the owner who had promised to send her horses to train came down with health issues, and eventually decided to keep his stock in Kentucky. Because of that, Maria Borell still hasn't officially saddled a horse in a race since May 11, 2016, at Gulfstream Park. Maria Borell said at Tuesday's hearing that she believes she has support from the Thoroughbred community to be allowed to train again. She specifically referenced trainer Kenny McPeek phoning a KHRGC license review committee member to vouch for her, and also mentioned a support letter submitted with her application from trainer Gary Contessa. “As far as people actually at the track, in the industry, I do seem to have actual support, honestly,” Maria Borell said. “And I would love a second chance. I won't let you guys down. I swear, I will not screw up a second chance,” Maria Borell said. But on Tuesday, committee members did not allow Maria Borell that opportunity. Besides Harbut, the other KHRGC license review committee members who discussed her application in closed session were Paul Brooker, Michael Dudgeon, Jamie Eads and George Haydon. The post Trainer Maria Borell Withdraws Kentucky Application appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first of three daytime Thoroughbred meets this year at Los Alamitos will begin Friday, June 20, for a nine-day Los Angeles County Fair season continuing through Sunday, July 6.View the full article

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, condensed to two days this year, opened with a day of steady trade Tuesday in Central Florida. A colt by Yaupon, consigned by Julie Davies, brought the session's top price when selling for $300,000 to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The session topper was one of six to sell for $200,000 or more on the day, matching the figure from the opening day of last year's three-day auction. “Good solid day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “It felt like horses were moving and changing hands and there was good depth of buyers. Given the strength of the market coming in, we were hopeful and we're looking forward to tomorrow.” During Tuesday's session, 221 horses grossed $9,718,500 for an average of $43,975 and a median of $26,000. From 430 catalogued head, 298 horses were offered with 76 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 25.5%. At last year's opening session, 212 head sold for $8,004,000 for an average of $37,755 and a median of $20,000. The cumulative sale average in 2024 was $36,379 and the median was $20,000. The OBS June sale concludes with a final session Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. Yaupon Colt Takes Early Lead at June Sale Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. signed the ticket at a session-topping $300,000 to acquire a colt by Yaupon (hip 104) during Tuesday's first session of the OBS June sale Tuesday. “I bought him for myself,” Joseph said. “If I like them, I buy them and then I worry about selling them afterwards.” The juvenile, consigned by Julie Davies, had worked a furlong in :9 4/5 at the OBS March sale, but had to be withdrawn from that auction with a P1 chip. He came back to work a matching :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack preview. “I saw him in March,” Joseph said. “He worked fast in March and he came back and duplicated it. For me, if he could duplicate that time, that means he is pretty legit. He's a good-looking horse out of an Into Mischief horse, so we hope for the best.” The juvenile, who was purchased by Davies, her boyfriend Chalino, and Tami Bobo for $85,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, is out of After the Party (Into Mischief). The mare is a daughter of stakes winner Defy Gravity (Bandini), who is a half-sister to Grade I winner Callback. “That is pricey for the June sale,” Joseph admitted of the colt's price tag. “Normally, it's a sale to get bargains. But there were plenty of people on him and we are happy to get him.” Redirected Gun Runner Colt Rewards Roberts Veteran horseman Rusty Roberts had high hopes when he brought a colt by Gun Runner (hip 399) to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale last month, but the auction's weather-plagued under-tack preview meant the juvenile could only gallop over the Timonium track and he subsequently RNA'd for $195,000. The colt was then supplemented to the OBS June sale where he worked a furlong in :10 flat last week and sold Tuesday for $220,000 to Salli Foushee. “We had a really nice Blame filly [in the Midlantic sale] who breezed the first day and sold extremely well for us,” Roberts said Tuesday in Ocala. “And then we thought [hip 399] was one of our best horses in the sale, but the racetrack didn't play to our favor. We decided to bring him down here and it worked out very well for us.” Roberts had purchased the colt, out of graded winner Volcat (After Market), for $140,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. The juvenile was consigned by Clovis Crane in Maryland and by Top Line Sales Tuesday. Asked if the gallop-versus-breeze made a difference in the sales result, Roberts said, “Absolutely. This horse has so much talent, he just needed a place to display it. That's all we were looking for. A place for him to display his natural talent.” Roberts agreed the colt's $220,000 price tag was just the sort of result he had been hoping for last month. “That's exactly what we were looking for in Maryland,” he said. “We would have liked to do it down there, but circumstances didn't work out in our favor. So we brought him here and he displayed himself and he had beautiful gallop out. He presented himself well, he vetted perfect. He stayed sound. Clovis did an exceptional job getting him ready.” Now several weeks removed from the Midlantic show's session of untimed gallops, Roberts was asked to assess the importance of the under-tack previews. “I am very glad that my Blame filly (hip 64) worked when she did,” Roberts said. “Because I don't think we would have sold her for $350,000 had we not gotten to display her natural talent, with her beautiful stride and her long gallop out. I think it's imperative that a horse does get to display that. That's what we do when we prepare horses for 2-year-olds in training sales. We condition those horses and we prepare them to display their talent–or lack of talent. And so when we have a horse with talent, we get rewarded for it. I think it's essential that we continue be able to do that.” Other supplements to the June sale who RNA'd at the Midlantic sale included a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 410) consigned by Tom McCrocklin who sold for $250,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management after working a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 last week. The juvenile had RNA'd for $145,000 after working a furlong in :10 4/5 over a sloppy sealed surface in Timonium last month. A colt by Charlatan (hip 421), consigned by Wavertree Stables, sold for $240,000 to JPM Bloodstock after working a furlong in :10 flat last week. The dark bay had RNA'd for $190,000 after a :10 3/5 work in Timonium. 'The Right Moment': Tiz The Law Colt Goes Swoosh For Navas Asked how he was able to acquire a colt by Tiz the Law (hip 174) for just $4,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale, consignor Jonathan Navas said it was “the right time, the right moment.” The colt returned dividends for the partners Tuesday in Ocala when selling for $160,000 to D J Stable. Hip 174 is out of Blake's Magic (Bernstein), a half-sister to Canadian champion Mobil (Langfuhr). He worked a furlong at last week's under-tack preview in :10 flat. Hip 174, a colt by Tiz the Law , goes to D J Stable | OBS “He's always been a very calm, very classy horse,” Navas said. “That's one of the things that got into my mind when I first saw him. He's always been good, always moving forward. A very calm horse and a nice horse to be around.” Of Tuesday's result, Navas said, “You never know. Sometimes you spend more money and you don't make enough money. Some of them make money and some of them don't. We are just very blessed. “I am happy that good people and good horseman have this horse, so he's going to have the best chance to shine.” Navas, a former jockey in Venezuela, has been consigning under the Navas Equine banner since 2020. At the 2023 OBS April sale, the consignment sold a colt by Justify for $400,000. He had been purchased the previous September at Keeneland for $50,000. “My partner and owner [on the colt] is Georgie Gonzalez from Puerto Rico,” Navas said. “We do about 20 [pinhooks] total. We are having a good season. It takes a lot of work, a lot of effort, but we are doing what we like. We just care about the horses so much.” The post ‘Good Solid Day’: $300,000 Colt by Yaupon Tops OBS June Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A dispute that had threatened the upcoming meet at the Fair Grounds has been resolved, which means the meet will be held as scheduled, from Nov. 22 to Mar. 23. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the Fair Grounds, was threatening to close the track after the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in March that the statute that legalized Historical Horse Racing Machines at the OTBs run by Fair Grounds was not legal and that the machines could not continue to operate without voter approval. CDI officials previously said that shutting down the HHR machines would mean the elimination of 46% of its off-track betting parlor revenue. CDI also said it would also be hurt by state laws this year expanding poker machines at truck stops and bars. Citing those problems, CDI threatened to surrender its racing license. An agreement between horsemen and CDI was reached on Monday that will allow the meet to proceed. However, it was not immediately clear as to what ended the impasse. The Blood-Horse was first with the story. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the horsemen to continue racing at Fair Grounds Race Course following productive conversations with Governor Landry and Senator Henry,” said CDI spokesperson Tonya Abeln. “We remain committed to collaboration with stakeholders in pursuit of positive outcomes for the horse racing industry in Louisiana and look forward to continuing to move forward–our focus is firmly on the future.” Abeln acknowledged that progress was made after “productive conversations” with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry. “I understand they worked everything out in a meeting yesterday,” said owner-breeder Michelle Rodriguez, who is on the Board on the Louisiana HBPA. “I have been told that they have agreed to start the meet in late November and then end it March, which is similar to what we had this year. The dates will be discussed at an emergency meeting of the Racing Commission. They came to the table. One of the representatives from Churchill Downs was at Evangeline Downs the other night and that's how I found out about the meeting. It's not set in stone yet, but we feel now that since the impasse has been broken we should be in good shape. All is good. We are all very happy.” The agreement will not be official until after all sides come together for a June 24 emergency meeting of the Louisiana Racing Commission. However, it appears to be a formality as all sides appear to now be on the same page. One factor that may have caused CDI to strike a more conciliatory tone was action taken last week by the New Orleans City Council and state lawmakers to ensure that the property could not be developed for other uses. The City Council created an interim zoning district to ensure the property remains a racetrack. Meanwhile, state lawmakers passed legislation to designate the Fair Grounds as a historic site, requiring legislative approval for major changes such as pulling the plug on horse racing. Benard Chatters, the president of the Louisiana HBPA told the Blood-Horse “We're gonna take a slight decrease in purses, but we'll be creative to try to make some things happen … I think we'll be running for close to the same thing we ran for last year.” The post Agreement Reached, Fair Grounds Will Hold 2025-26 Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article