Wandering Eyes

Warren Kennedy winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) aboard Crocetti. Photo: Race Images South Warren Kennedy will welcome a less taxing riding schedule next season after achieving his ambition of securing the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. With one more meeting to come at Tauranga on Wednesday, Kennedy secured the title with 139 winners, 17 at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning just shy of $6 million in 2023/24. “It’s always been my goal and I am so happy to have achieved it,” he said. Kennedy won two premierships and an apprentices’ title in his native South Africa and with the New Zealand crown now to his credit, will take on a less punishing schedule in the new season. “I won’t be taking a prolonged break, just a couple of days here and there through August,” he said. “It’s been pretty taxing and the body is a bit tired and the mind as well, it’s been a hard season. “It’s difficult to compare with South Africa, the racecourses are really close to the airports there, so the travel is pretty easy. “Here, you have to fly and then drive and there are some remote courses, so I’ve spent a lot more time in the car. There won’t be quite as much travel next season, I’ll be more focussed on the carnivals and the Group races.” Kennedy arrived in New Zealand in October 2022, and was shortly after joined by wife Barbara, who now trains at Byerley Park, and daughters Jamie Lee and Ryleigh. “It’s been a great season and I’ve had a lot of help along the way, which you need to achieve the goals,” he said. “A big shout out to everyone and to my family, they are a racing family and know what it takes to win premierships and how demanding it is. “They have been so supportive of me and that’s also one of the reasons why I won’t be travelling as much, I want to spend more time with the people that helped me along the way.” Kennedy singled out two days as his highlights of the 2023/24 term. “Winning seven on New Year’s Day (at Pukekohe) was pretty special and winning the Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) on Crocetti for Daniel (Nakhle) was also very special,” said Kennedy, with the Byerley Park founder having helped facilitate his move from South Africa, alongside former jockey Donovan Mansour. Trained by Danny Walker and Aaron Tata, the Nakhle-bred and raced Crocetti enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign with six wins on the bounce, including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. “He will have his first-up run at Ruakaka, but I’ll be at the winter carnival in Christchurch, so I won’t ride him,” Kennedy said. “I think he will then go straight to the Tarzino Trophy (Group 1, 1400m) and I’ll hook up with him again there. “I trialled him the other day and he’s going fantastic. Toward the end of his term last season, he had grown in height but not in width. “He had got a bit leggy, but he’s filled into his frame and is more confident in his stride and with more purpose, he seems to have improved quite nicely.” Horse racing news View the full article

Mighty Bright will contest the Gartshore Construction (1400m) at Tauranga on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Steven Cole is hoping he can end the season on a bright note when he heads to Tauranga on Wednesday. The Byerley Park trainer will take three runners to the last meeting of the season, including last start winner Mighty Bright, who will contest the Gartshore Construction (1400m). The four-year-old son of Power is rated a $2.35 chance by bookmakers to make it back-to-back wins, and Cole shares their confidence. “He seems to have come through it well and it looks the same quality field, so I am hoping for another nice run,” he said. Cole will also be represented in the Contributer Standing At Mapperley Stud 1400 by Monkhana, who will head into Wednesday in a fresh state after winning at Pukekohe last month. “Monkhana is a nice chance,” Cole said. “She had a little freshen-up after that last run where she was trapped wide. Off her first two runs she would have to be a nice top three chance. She is training well and seems to get through the wet ground well.” Cole will also line-up Wye Valley in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “Stepping up to 2100m for the first time and onto a wet track, which Bailey (Rogerson, apprentice jockey) suggested, hopefully we can see an improved run there,” Cole said. Looking ahead to the weekend, Cole will head north to Ruakaka on Saturday with three runners, including stakes performer Chicago Jack, who will contest the 3YO SW+P 1100m. The son of All Too Hard had five starts as a juvenile, including a last start placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in April, and Cole has been pleased with the way he has returned from his spell. “He is coming up really well and trialled at Avondale the other day under Hamish (McNeil), who was carrying plenty of pudding, and just went around for a run around and has taken plenty of improvement out of it,” Cole said. “I would expect on that quality of field and what he was racing as an early two-year-old, he will be pretty hard to beat.” Cole will also be represented by Matetsi in the Rating 65 2100 and Let It Begin in the Maiden 1200m. “Matetsi little bit disappointing last time (when seventh behind Might Bright), but it was a very heavy track at Pukekohe so Kelly (Myers, jockey) suggested to put him in at Ruakaka where you are going to get a better surface,” Cole said. “Stepping up in distance will help him too, so I am expecting an improved run there. “Let It Begin is going well. She ran some good sectionals last time stepping up to 1400m. She has had a bit of a freshen-up stepping back to 1200m and she should run well.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Warwick Farm Races Where Warwick Farm Racecourse – 2 Hume Hwy, Warwick Farm NSW 2170 When Wednesday, July 31, 2024 First Race 12:15pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Warwick Farm Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set to get underway at 12:15pm local time. The rail is out +5m between the 1000m marker and the winning post, while the remainder is out +3m. The track is rated a Heavy 10 at the time of acceptances, but with sunny skies predicted in the lead-up, punters can expect an upgrade to the Soft range prior to the opening event. Best Bet at Warwick Farm: Qatars Choice Qatars Choice debuts on the back of an eye-catching barrier trial at this course on July 1. The daughter of I Am Invincible was ridden quietly in the jump-out, doing her best work late to score by a head over 814m. Although the 1100m first-up may seem a stretch, barrier four should allow Jason Collett to lob into the one-one and give Qatars Choice every chance in this wide-open maiden contest. Best Bet Race 2 – #11 Qatars Choice (4) 2yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (54kg) +400 with Unibet Next Best at Warwick Farm: Sailor Sailor comes through a hot form race at Randwick on July 13, with two subsequent winners emerging. The six-year-old hit the line well on that occasion, finishing fourth behind the likes of Ha Ha Ha and Space Age in BM78 company. Coming back to this BM72 appears to be ideal placement by the Kris Lees barn, and with the soft draw (4) allowing Benjamin Osmond to take closer order, watch for Sailor to be careering down the centre of the course when the whips are cracking. Next Best Race 6 – #2 Sailor (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Benjamin Osmond (a3kg) (60.5kg) +450 with Bet365 Best Value at Warwick Farm: Theblade Theblade has shown plenty of quality in his three barrier trials to date. He claimed victory in his most recent piece of work at Rosehill on July 23, closing off impressively under minimal riding by star hoop Tommy Berry. He maintains the ride, and with barrier one giving him all the options, Theblade should be figuring in the finish provided the breaks fall his way in the home straight. Best Value Race 3 – #7 Theblade (1) 2yo Colt | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Tommy Berry (56kg) +600 with Neds Warwick Farm quadrella selections Wednesday, July 30, 2024 1-2-6-7 2-5 2-3-10-11 3-4-6-7 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Lady Moana winning at Waverley on Sunday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Recent stable acquisition Lady Moana was swift in putting up a winning performance for Clinton Isdale, breaking her maiden stylishly at Waverley on Sunday. A filly by Ocean Park, Lady Moana was positively out of the gates in the 1200m contest under Leah Hemi, who allowed her to find her feet midfield and one-off the rail. Turning for home, the perfect gap opened for Hemi and Lady Moana started to let down strongly, eventually coming out on top in a tight two-way go to the line with a game Hokitika Bell. Formerly prepared by Ben and Ryan Foote at Cambridge, it was the recommendation of the former to send Lady Moana to the smaller environment of Isdale’s, a decision that has paid dividends for her connections. “It was a good win,” Isdale said. “She came to me from Ben Foote and he had a big opinion of her, but he felt she would suit a smaller stable and convinced the owners to let me train her. “I didn’t really know what to expect really, I hadn’t given her a proper gallop since she arrived three or four weeks ago as I’ve just been swimming her and trying to change a few things up. “I said to Leah just ride her how she jumps, I think her best run prior had been sitting three-deep the trip so she probably appreciated being on the outside of horses. “I’ll give her a week off out in the paddock to get some weight back on her, she’s only a fine little thing. After that, I’ll just look for a nice 65 somewhere.” Isdale will have three representatives at the final meeting of the season on Wednesday at Tauranga, with consistent filly Impressive Belle due a winning turn after a trio of placings since joining his stable. “It looks to map out perfectly and be her race on paper, her last run was very encouraging and she’s done nothing but put her hand up in the three runs she’s had for me,” Isdale said. “She’s a nice, honest horse.” The daughter of Press Statement will contest the Maiden 3YO (1200m), while stablemate Storms Ahead lines up in the Back To Black Maiden 2100. “I thought he could win that last race in the amateurs, but being a three-year-old, I don’t think he handled carrying the big weight,” Isdale said. “He had a horse outside of him annoying him the whole race as well and didn’t allow him to get into a rhythm, but I think we’ll see a different horse on Wednesday.” A four-year-old by Belardo, Stone Of Destiny will start on debut in the Aztech Signs Maiden (1400m) after joining Isdale earlier this month. “I thought I’d put him in as he’ll get a wet track which the Belardo’s seem to love,” he said. “I haven’t taken him for many gallops, just three-quarter pace so it’ll be a learning run for both him and us.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Corporate Race Day Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Wednesday, July 31, 2024 First Race 2:19pm ACST Visit Dabble There are 61 acceptors for the six-event program at Fannie Bay this Wednesday, and the feature race on Day 6 of the Darwin Turf Club’s extravaganza is the $40,000 Dabble Cup (1300m) at 0-76 level. It should be sunny and windy with a top temperature of 33C. The rail will be in the true position, and Fannie Bay will once again be a good dirt surface. DABBLE CUP TIP: SHAKATTAK In a very open race at 0-76 level, Shakattak steps up in grade after posting an impressive win over 1300m in 0-66 company on July 13. Jumping from barrier five, the son of Shalaa found the rails and was happy to share the lead before pinching a break in the home straight to seal victory by two lengths. The four-year-old gelding drops 2.5kg and has also drawn a much better gate. Dabble Cup Race 6 – Shakattak (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Gary Clarke | J: Jarrod Todd (57kg) Bet with Dabble BEST BET AT DARWIN: POLARISING Polarising jumped from a wide gate while lumping 58kg in a 1000m 0-58 race on July 13 and settled at the rear in the 11-horse field leaving the back straight. After Tom Doyle fell from Aplomado with 650m to go, the four-year-old gelding switched to the rails and motored home to seal a spectacular victory in the shadows of the post. Best Bet Race 4 – #1 Polarising (3) 4yo Mare | T: Tom Logan | J: Sonja Logan (58.5kg) Bet with Bet365 NEXT BEST AT DARWIN: IKNOWHATYOUREDOING Iknowwhatyouredoing never figured in his first two Darwin races, blowing the start in both. The son of Husson jumped well on July 13 over 1600m in 0-62 company but was miles off the pace passing the 1200m. However, the Alice Springs four-year-old produced a stunning final 800m, rounding the field before exhibiting remarkable speed in the home straight to win by 3.3 lengths. Next Best Race 1 – #3 Iknowwhatyouredoing (13) 4yo Gelding | T: Kevin Lamprecht | J: Mark Pegus (60kg) Bet with Neds BEST VALUE AT DARWIN: MR HAVE A CHAT Mr Have A Chat was spelled after an impressive first Darwin prep that included a win and two runner-up finishes. The son of I’m All The Talk returned in June when third behind Rising Sphere and Star Magnum over 1100m in 0-76 grade. The six-year-old gelding can recover from a last-start ninth over 1100m in 0-70 company on July 6. Best Value Race 3 – #3 Mr Have A Chat (4) 6yo Gelding | T: Chris Nash | J: Mark Pegus (59.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Darwin quaddie tips – 31/7/2024 Fannie Bay quadrella selections Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1-3-5-6 1-2-3-7 5-9 1-2-3-5-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Trainer and global racing powerhouse confirm globetrotting star will return to Sha Tin for HKIR dayView the full article

With the lucrative Kentucky Downs meeting right around the corner, Kentucky's top turf horses begin preparations with a chance to earn automatic invitations on the second and final preview day at Ellis Park Aug. 4.View the full article

The New York Racing Association will offer a special all-stakes Whitney Weekend All-Turf Pick 5, linking races from Aug. 2-3 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

7th-Ellis, $70,251, Msw, 7-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.97, my, 1 3/4 lengths. MESERO (c, 2, Not This Time–Lemon Liqueur {SP}, by Exchange Rate), a 5-1 shot, was away half a step slowly and raced near the back of the field as favored Snap Call (Volatile) pressed the pace three wide down the backstretch before settling just off the pace on the bend. Mesero began improving his position along the rail as the favorite settled just off the pace in third, but he was still some eight lengths back as the leaders turned for home. Snap Call, who hit the front at the top of the lane, began to dawdle and allowed pace-pressing Trew Violence (Violence) to retake the lead, but it was Mesero making eye-catching progress down the center of the track who flew to the lead in the final strides to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths. Trew Violence had 2 1/2 lengths on Snap Call in third. The victory gave trainer Dale Romans his second straight 2-year-old maiden winner on the Monday card at Ellis Park. Mesero, a $535,000 KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother to Bleecker Street (Quality Road), GISW, $894,700. Lemon Liqueur produced a colt by Quality Road this year and was bred back to Cody's Wish. Click for the Equibase.com chart. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $41,285. O-CJ Thoroughbreds & Delia Nash; B-Delia Nash (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. A slow start out of the gate didn't bother #2 MESERO ($12.58) who comes storming down the center of the track to win on debut in race 7 at Ellis Park. The son of Not This Time was ridden by @coreylanerie and is trained by @Romansracing. pic.twitter.com/WLgSolWbx7 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 29, 2024 The post Not This Time’s Mesero Flies to Debut Win at Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Carl Bowling, a longtime pinhooker in Ocala, Florida, died July 26 at the age of 84. The following is an obituary provided to the TDN by the Bowling family: “Carl Bowling passed away July 26, 2024, resulting from an accident while riding a motorcycle near Hiawassee, GA, where he enjoyed his summers with his family in the North Georgia mountains. Carl was 84 years young, born in 1940 in Black Mountain, NC. He was one of two boys and five girls. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan, as well as his five adult children: Tony and his wife Dawn, Tammi, Mark, Keith, and Delaney. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Carl's love for God and sharing the blessings God has given him was his greatest passion. He was quick to tell others of God's blessings in his life including saving his life after crashing his private plane six years ago. Carl started in the race horse business in 1972 when he and his family started racing Quarter Horses. His racing operation added the name Straightaway Farm and was remarkably successful in the Quarter Horse circuit with notable horses such as Passum Flight, Wranglerette, Go Dicks Girl and many others. In 1977, Carl started the transition into Thoroughbred racing. His Straightaway Farm became known quite extensively through his success with horses such as City Zip, Western Pride, She Says It Best & many others. He was a great horseman with a vision, as well as a businessman with integrity, foresight and the desire to promote the racing industry. Carl was one of the pioneers in the “Pinhooking” of yearlings to 2-year-olds, before it ever gained the moniker of a pinhooker, at his farm in Ocala, Florida. Carl was a respected horseman, known for his knowledge of horses, his foresight promoting the racing industry and his ability to choose top racing prospects. Even more than those accomplishments, Carl was always ready and willing to help others succeed in this tough industry. He was always there to help anyone that asked and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion of the industry As one of the first to provide knowledge to Ocala Breeders Sales Company at its inception, Carl has also served on the Board of Directors there for many years. He retired from the Board following giving up the training aspect of his operation but was still partners with other horsemen, benefiting all involved. Carl was an icon in the industry and will be greatly missed by many. A celebration of Carl's life is scheduled for Thursday, August 1st at 3:00pm at Bevis Funeral Home located at 200 John Knox Rd., Tallahassee, FL. The family requests that anyone that would like to please make a donation to Ocala Farm Ministry, 489 NW 110th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482 or www.ocalafarmministry.org in Carl's memory. The family knows not everyone can make it to the celebration of life so it will be live streamed here.” The post Longtime Ocala Pinhooker Carl Bowling Dies At 84 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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The West Virginia-bred filly Direct the Cat (Redirect), who was profiled in TDN earlier this month after winning six straight races by a combined 58 3/4 lengths, had her year-long, huge-margin win streak stopped Saturday night when she ran second at Charles Town in the $75,000 Sylvia Bishop Memorial S. for state-bred 3-year-old fillies. The 1 3/4-length defeat was administered by the 12-1 upsetter and second choice in the wagering, Overnight Pow Wow (Fiber Sonde). The two gray fillies are both owned and trained by Cyndy McKee, who, along with her late husband, John McKee, bred them both at the couple's Beau Ridge Farm near Charles Town. Prior to the July 27 defeat, the speed-centric Direct the Cat had won open allowance and state-bred stakes at Charles Town by 15 1/4, 6, 7 1/2, 12 1/4, 6 3/4 and 11 lengths dating back to her first victory in start number three on Aug. 10, 2023. On July 4, announcer Paul Espinosa, Jr. had admiringly described Direct the Cat as a “freak” of a racehorse when she won a seven-furlong allowance by about half the length of Charles Town's short, one-furlong stretch, and McKee subsequently told TDN that her filly was being courted by out-of-town racing secretaries to run in graded stakes. On Monday, some 36 hours after the one-two performance by her fillies, McKee told TDN she was “a little bit shocked” at the outcome. “Direct the Cat had a superficial cut on her hind leg where another horse got her in her previous race,” McKee said. Even though that cut had fully healed in time for Saturday's race, McKee explained, its presence had caused her to back off a bit in training for the Bishop Stakes, “and I think I ran a horse that wasn't quite fit. I didn't do as much with her as I should have done.” At the same time, McKee said, she believes she might have been underestimating Overnight Pow Wow, who is now 5-for-7 lifetime. Prior to Saturday's seven-furlong win, Overnight Pow Wow had raced exclusively in 4 1/2- and 6 1/2-furlong sprints, and McKee had kept her out of races where Direct the Cat was entered. “They'd never run together before,” McKee said. “Maybe Pow Wow is the better horse. I don't know. She's always been a bit of a baby. And that's because I babied the hell out of her.” Overnight Pow Wow earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory, while Direct the Cat regressed to 78 after posting Beyers of 89 and 92 in her two previous starts at age three. What's next for both fillies? “Everybody's still calling me about the [Aug. 23 GII Charles Town] Oaks,” McKee said. “But I don't know if I'm going to be even able to get into that race with either one of them” because the conditions include eligibility based on graded stakes earnings. “That's just the way it is. You can't pick your own [eligibility] rules and you can't pick your competitors,” she added with a laugh. McKee said additional state-bred races leading up to the Oct. 12 West Virginia Breeders' Classic series are options. The post Off At 1-10 Odds, West Virginia Filly’s One-Year Win Streak Halted By Uncoupled Stablemate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

He is already one of the great stayers, but Kyprios bids to join an elite roll of honor of multiple Goodwood Cup (G1) winners in the long-distance showpiece July 30.View the full article

by Sara Gordon and Katie Petrunyak How do we guarantee a future for horse racing? Many will offer answers such as increased equine and track safety, improved wagering opportunities, and modernizing and embracing technological advancements. And though those are all extremely important, it will all be for naught if there is no incoming generation to grow the fan base and ultimately, hopefully, join the industry's workforce. That's where Amplify Horse Racing comes in. Founded in 2019 by Annise Montplaisir, now the Executive Director, and Madison Scott, a member of the Board of Directors, Amplify Horse Racing was created with the mission of serving as the youth arm of the Thoroughbred industry by creating pathways for youth and young adults to learn about mentorship and educational opportunities within the industry. Now in its fourth year of operating as a 501(c)(3), Amplify is ready to launch its biggest project yet with a nationwide expansion effort. Founded with a Vision The organization was the brainchild of Montplaisir, inspired by her own pathway into the industry and officially launched during her time on Godolphin Flying Start, a two-year international Thoroughbred industry management and leadership program. “I developed an interest in the Thoroughbred industry when I was around 12, after watching a horse racing movie, and then somebody sent me information about the Godolphin Flying Start program. At that moment I said, 'I'm going to do that program someday,'” said Montplaisir. “It was such a source of inspiration for me, but beyond that I didn't see a lot of other youth educational initiatives to really guide my path [into the industry]. So, it was really important to me to create this national youth program so that when there's another 12-year-old out there that has no idea how to get started or doesn't really have that source of inspiration to keep them motivated, Amplify can be that.” Amplify mentees visit with Godolphin's Gerry Duffy | photo courtesy Amplify Since its inception, Amplify has not only grown its collection of educational resources but also expanded its outreach, highlighted by a mentorship program launched in 2021. Offering two separate sessions of the program in both the spring and fall, Amplify pairs young adults who have an interest in the horse racing industry with experienced industry professionals that work within the field they're interested in. Though geographical location is taken into account, mentorships are not restricted by that. The program is conducive to both virtual meetings and face-to-face meetings, when possible, between mentees and mentors. “To say that we want to bring youth and young adults into the industry is a big project because you're working with a wide variety of age groups and there are a lot of ways to potentially tackle that,” said Montplaisir. “We tried to be really intentional at first in how we could create the best 'big solution' to get us started, which was our mentorship program. That's really targeting high school and college students, giving them an entry point into the Thoroughbred industry by pairing them up with an industry mentor who they can work with.” This past year, Amplify introduced a new travel award that granted four outstanding mentees the opportunity to attend an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience in mid-November in Lexington, Ky. Recipients traveled from Texas, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire to visit eight renowned facilities including Ashford Stud, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “That program is a great prerequisite for those young people to have a better understanding on where they go from here,” noted Montplaisir. Since its inaugural year, Amplify's mentorship program has connected 75 mentees from 25 states or territories with professionals that work within the industry, resulting in dozens of graduates venturing further into the industry to pursue educational opportunities, internships and jobs. After gaining momentum in 2021 and 2022 through a partnership with the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), along with support from major entities and organizations across the industry, Amplify went out on its own in 2023. As a result, the organization was able to hire its first two full-time staff members. While serving as the host for prosperous mentorships that have ultimately created a growing network of young adults passionate about finding a career within the industry, Amplify has partnered with a handful of industry organizations since its inception, including Keeneland. A prominent entity known for its mission to perpetuate the sport of racing through a commitment to fan development and longstanding engagement with the local community, Keeneland has been a supporter and partner of Amplify for the past three years. Coming together to support each other's shared goals, Amplify has been a constant presence at Keeneland's College Scholarship Day and Kids Club Family Day since the partnership began. Along with setting up an interactive booth and serving as a one-stop resource for all questions and inquiries regarding the Thoroughbred industry, Amplify offers behind-the-scenes tours of the paddock and winner's circle. “I think one of the great aspects about Amplify is that it takes away some of the intimidation that some people might feel around the sport, and if people have a passion for the sport and for the horse at a young age, Amplify does a great job of breaking down the barriers so that they really understand what the opportunities are to be involved with the sport,” said Shannon Arvin, Keeneland's President and CEO. “Keeneland's mission since the beginning has been to perpetuate the very best of the sport of horse racing, and we can't be the best at horse racing if we don't have fans. It's critical to share that at a young age. So many people have the experience of being at the track with their parents or their grandparents. I think that those foundations need to be started at a really young age, so they can really develop that sense of awe that so many of us feel with respect to the sport.” And the proof is in the feedback from those who have participated in Amplify's behind-the-scenes experiences at the Lexington track. In a testimonial received by Nicholas, a sophomore at Midway University who joined one of Amplify's tours during College Day at Keeneland at the 2023 spring meet, he wrote: “Yesterday, I visited Keeneland for the first time. I attended hoping to receive a college scholarship. I was wandering around the facility feeling lost. That is, until I had the pleasure of attending one of your organization's tours. As soon as the tour began the feeling of being lost completely vanished. This feeling was replaced by a sense of belonging. I learned a lot during the tour. “Prior to arriving at Midway, I had aspirations of getting involved in the horse realm. However, I have not been able to fulfill this desire of mine. I began to suppose that the possibility of getting involved may be nearly impossible. Yesterday felt like the revival of my interest in the subject.” Outside of the racing industry, Amplify has expanded their outreach efforts by participating in and sponsoring a variety of equine events in Lexington and beyond. From setting up booths with educational activities pertaining to the Thoroughbred industry at Breyerfest or the United States Pony Clubs (USPC) Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park, to hosting tours for out-of-state college groups or presenting at a variety of conferences, the goal remains the same: amplifying education, mentorship, and career opportunities in the Thoroughbred industry for young people. “It's been really important for us to go through and identify events where we can have a big impact for the Thoroughbred industry, creating touch points [along the way],” said Montplaisir. “These are kids who come from across the U.S., many different areas, but might have had very minimal exposure to the Thoroughbred industry.” Amplify mentees visit Ashford Stud | photo courtesy Amplify For Montplaisir, who forged her own way into the Thoroughbred industry and eventually made the move from her hometown of Fargo, North Dakota to the heart of horse country in Lexington, it's the ability to serve as a cohesive and unified 'welcome center' for youth and young adults interested in the industry that drives her to expand all that Amplify has to offer. “I think when you're starting a new organization, it's easy to get pulled in different directions based on a lot of people with lots of great ideas and suggestions on what you should add. So, I knew from the beginning that Amplify was going to be really big and all encompassing,” said Montplaisir. “I think Amplify provides such a proven model for how best to educate and expose youth to our sport,” added Arvin. “It's much more beneficial to have consistent messaging about our sport, and to have consistent ways of exposing young people to our sport, and Amplify does such a good job of providing just that.” A Nationwide Expansion Amplify is now looking toward the future with a vision of expanding nationally. Their first step is to create regional partnerships. With local relationships already established with Keeneland and Churchill Downs, Amplify is looking outward to other tracks and racing jurisdictions nationwide that might want to grow and improve their educational programming. “We are now exploring working with other groups and entities around the country, from those who maybe don't have any sort of educational outreach to those who need help and support working on their outreach,” explained Montplaisir. “As we start to expand into these other regions, it all ties into having that unified messaging on how we're bringing youth into the industry and creating pathways moving forward. Rather than everybody having their own separate programing, Amplify can be a unified voice for education.” Amplify was able to put a few of these initial plans in motion earlier this summer with a pilot program called the Morton Urban Equine Education Program. Carried out in partnership with the Illinois Backstretch Charitable Foundation (IBCF), which is the benevolent arm of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA), Amplify assisted in hosting five high school students at Hawthorne Race Course for a week-long program aimed to introduce youth to all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry. Students participating in the Morton Urban Equine Education Program | photo courtesy Amplify The students' experience ranged from participating in one or two pony rides to never having touched a horse, and none of them had been on the backside of a racetrack before. By the end of the week, the students had all ridden a track pony, visited the test barn, watched a blacksmith shoe a horse and learned about everything from conformation to the gaits of a horse. “At the end of it as the students were reflecting on their favorite parts, the part that was the most meaningful to them was actually getting to feed peppermints to the horses,” Montplaisir shared. “We have this amazing opportunity as the Thoroughbred industry to leverage our tracks and our industry as centers for education to connect people with horses, because a lot of our tracks are in inner-city or highly urban areas where people might never get to see, much less touch, a horse.” Montplaisir is confident that initiatives like the Morton Urban Equine Education Program can be executed throughout the country. Next up on their agenda, Amplify will be on hand at Saratoga for four weeks in August. The organization has had a presence during the race meet there for the past several years, but this year in partnership with the New York Racing Association, they will be expanding their tours of the backside. The initiative will be targeted specifically toward young people interested in the racing industry. With Amplify's vision to implement regional ambassadors, programs like these will be conducted nationally and year-round, rather than having to rely on Montplaisir or other full-time Amplify staff members traveling to events. Local, part-time contractors would be trained and paid by Amplify to conduct tours, visit classrooms and career fairs, and connect educators with industry professionals. Tracks and racing organizations would have a local ambassador they could call upon to help lead educational programming. Students attend a tour of the backside | photo courtesy Amplify Back at their home base in Lexington, Amplify also has plans to roll out a mobile education unit that would travel throughout Kentucky and beyond to events like school presentations, career fairs and college or family days at racetracks. In addition, Amplify has their sights on putting together educational tour and curriculum models that would be prepared for individual racetracks and farms. Designed specifically for student visits, these programs would be adapted for various age groups. Depending on the location, tours would be conducted by one of Amplify's regional ambassadors or Amplify would train an employee of the track or farm. They also plan to offer specialized training to employees of facilities that wish to enhance their educational programming. All of these plans will be rolled out in the coming months as a result of Amplify's upcoming initiative, the Amplify Impact Campaign. The fundraiser will launch in August with the goal of raising $1 million. “Over the past couple years, we've had a chance to pilot a lot of programing and we've reached this pivotal point where we know what works and we also know what we have to do to grow, expand and continue filling our role as the youth arm of the Thoroughbred industry on a national basis,” said Montplaisir. “We're kicking off the Amplify Impact Campaign in order to build a mobile education unit, develop a pretty awesome curriculum and then start implementing regional Amplify Ambassadors who can help us carry out our educational mission and work with our regional partners in a much more meaningful way.” Pat Cummings, the Executive Director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance (NTA), is a member of Amplify's Board of Directors. He said he has chosen to support Amplify since its advent because he wished there had been a similar program in existence when he first got involved in the industry. He also added that due to the diminishing number of regional racetracks, he believes the number of in-person encounters young people will have at a track in the coming years is limited, so there is a crucial need to engage any youth who might be interested. “Amplify is doing a tremendous service for track operators, for farms, for any organization tied to the sport,” said Cummings. “It's something that I think should be embraced by organizational leadership and supported at every possible turn. Horse racing has to build infrastructure for the future and I think you could reasonably argue that over the last 20 years, the infrastructure investment in horse racing has maybe not been what it should. Amplify to me is part of a next generation of infrastructure for horse racing and its workforce.” Many of the young people that Amplify aims to engage are in college and high school, although some are as young as elementary school-aged. Cummings pointed out that the impact of educating this younger generation will not be obvious overnight. “One of those sayings is that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is today,” said Cummings. “Amplify is trying to plant seeds for the sport. I really do believe firmly that every organization across the sport, whether it's the for-profit sector or the nonprofit sector, should be participating in this. We want to plant new trees for the sport and you're not going to see the payoff tomorrow. You're not going to see it next year. You have to do this now and know that it is an investment for way down the line. It might make us feel good today that we're doing it, but the actual payoff is going to come much later down the road.” At this point in its young history, Amplify is just starting to see the impact their early efforts have had on building the next generation of industry participants. They have big ambitions for the future and plenty of room to grow, but the only way they can achieve their goals is through the support of the racing community at large. “My goal is that within the next few years, the entire industry–from small tracks and regional breeding jurisdictions to the largest tracks–would recognize Amplify as the national youth arm for education,” said Montplaisir. “To get there, I would encourage people to consider partnering with Amplify. We're stronger together as a united industry, working together with one goal of bringing young people into the industry. Amplify can help all of these different groups do that together with unified messaging and resources. I think that we're going to be able to achieve that. I have so much hope for the future of the industry. There are so many amazing opportunities for young people if we can come together to have this national education movement.” The post Planting Seeds: Amplify Horse Racing Aims to Blossom Nationally appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ballydoyle's miracle horse Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is back at the scene of one of his finest hours on Tuesday as he descends on the Sussex Downs for another tilt at the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. Denied a follow-up to his memorable 2022 success over Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) due to last year's potentially catastrophic injury, the Moyglare homebred announced his return from the brink and how with another dynamic display to win a second G1 Gold Cup at the Royal meeting last month. It could be argued that whenever the 6-year-old has been at a peak and had his favoured fast ground that he has been untouchable and a sixth group 1 appears to beckon with no obvious up-and-comers here to challenge his hierarchy. “He's a very special horse with a lot more class than most people think,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He does stay, which is unusual, but he'd have no problem being a group horse over a mile and a quarter. As he goes up in distance, he just gets better.” “Those good stayers are very rare. When you go to those distances, very few horses get them really but he has the class and gets the trip as well. Obviously we've been delighted to have him back this year, given what happened to him. Everything has gone smoothly since Ascot, we've been delighted. Hopefully he'll run well again.” Re-opposing from Ascot is the third-placed Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who was fifth and the disappointing Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) who was seventh. Normandie Stud's G3 Henry II Stakes winner Sweet William looks to be John and Thady Gosden's main hope, but they are ready to forgive last year's G2 Queen's Vase winner Gregory his tame effort in the Gold Cup. “Gregory just wasn't right there and he wasn't right after the race,” John Gosden explained. “He'd worked well going into it, but he just didn't fire and that can happen.” Gregory's rider James Doyle added, “I'm sure it was his wellbeing rather than the trip, that was the problem there, but coming back to two miles wouldn't be a negative for him. We are on the comeback trail and he seems in good order.” A Vintage Crew? One of the Goodwood Festival's most appealing races for the Classic-watchers is the seven-furlong G2 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes and Ballydoyle have an intriguing runner in the race this year in The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). From the family of Galileo (Ire), he has missed two engagements since his Gowran Park maiden win in mid-June and has a similar profile to the stable's 2014 winner Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “We've always thought plenty of The Parthenon,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He made his debut in the Marble Hill and ran well enough there and wasn't beaten far, especially given he was really green. He won his maiden the next time, but we were a little bit disappointed with him there to be honest, despite him winning, as we thought he'd win a bit easier than he did. Hopefully he'll run well, as he's a nice colt.” Godolphin's G2 July Stakes third Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), John Wallinger's G2 Coventry Stakes fourth Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}) and Middleham Park Racing's G2 Prix Robert Papin fourth An Outlaw's Grace (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) bring solid pattern-race form to the table, while Fitri Hay's Wolf Of Badenoch (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) gave off intriguing vibes when winning on debut at Doncaster last month. Is the Three-Peat on in the Lennox? Goodwood also stages the G2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, where Marc Chan's Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) bids for a third renewal of the seven-furlong contest coming off a below-par effort in the G1 July Cup. This is Ralph Beckett's veteran's bag and there is little evidence that his level has dropped notably. “We're excited to be going to Goodwood, a track that he loves–he probably should have won the race three times by now,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said. “It would be an amazing achievement for any horse to win three races at Goodwood and I think just due to the fact he's getting older, he probably needs more than one race to get in tune.” Wathnan Racing's English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up in class having won Royal Ascot's Buckingham Palace Stakes with aplomb and the Ed Walker-trained 4-year-old could be one of this division's lurking improvers. “He's in cracking form and has not missed a beat since Ascot, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on,” his handler said. “He's got a lot to make up, as on official ratings he's the lowest-rated in the field and yet he's vying for favouritism, which on the numbers doesn't make a lot of sense. We're very happy with him, we've no worries with the ground and we've got a good draw–I think he'll run his race and I hope he gets a good trip round and then we'll find out how good he is.” The post ‘He’s A Very Special Horse’: O’Brien Hails Kyprios Ahead of Goodwood Return appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Assembling a field of six of the best 3-year-old filly sprinters in the country, the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) will live up to its name when contested at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3.View the full article

All Frank Mirahmadi has ever wanted to do was be at the racetrack, so he is living his best life as the track announcer at Saratoga Race Course. He is also the main man at Santa Anita in California. He has called big names and has called races as big names. One time he called a race using 23 different voices. Oh, and he was once on “The Price is Right.” And he loves pizza. Here is The Saratoga Conversation. TDN: I've heard talk about the sightlines at Saratoga not being the easiest for the announcer. FM: It's certainly true. And the reason for that is this booth is a lot lower than usual. But as with anything, you just have to adapt. So, I think that it has been a very common question. And there are certainly some challenges with the sightlines, but in my profession my job is to figure it out and to report it accurately. There is no excuse for anything in this booth. The job here that the people expect is excellence. TDN: Were you nervous when you got the gig at Saratoga? FM: Sure. I think anyone would be very nervous here. This is storied history. Amazing racetrack. Top-notch racing. So anytime the stage is bigger, the nerves will certainly go up. For sure. TDN: When you are calling a race like the Belmont or the Travers or the Santa Anita Derby, is it more pressure? Or do you treat it just like any other race? FM: There are definitely nerves for bigger races. My first Grade I, I still remember a lot of the details. It was the Tiznow at Louisiana Downs winning the (2000) Super Derby. And that was the first call that was actually on ESPN. I had the earpiece in and the producers were giving instructions to other members of the team as the horses were loading. And there were like two horses left to load. I remember hearing the producers say, 'roll the Commendable piece.' Not to me, but to someone else. I said, ' roll the Commendable piece?' I took that thing out of my ear, and I throw it across the room, because I knew it was just about time to call the race and that they would figure out when to turn the volume up. But I remember specifically that distraction and the nerves. That race went very well for me, but I'm just saying it was something that I definitely remember to this day. TDN: Do you hear the crowd? FM: Oh, certainly. When the Belmont Stakes was happening here and (NYRA/FOX Analyst) Maggie (Wolfendale) put her microphone to let the crowd hear themselves, I knew that was a great moment in my life and in racing because of the history of it being here at Saratoga. I felt emotional because you could hear that crowd and it was such a big moment. TDN: There is a horse running in California named for you. Mirahmadi. He just ran the other day. FM: (laughs) Yeah, he got beat again. TDN: You have called one of his races, right? FM: I called his debut. TDN: When you called that race, did you find yourself watching him more? FM: Of course. I was very excited to see him. He was never a factor in that race. It was over out of the gate. Bob (trainer Baffert who has Mirahmadi) ran Muth that same weekend, and he ran him in a maiden race and he ran Mirahmadi in a stake. If he would have flip-flopped them, Mirahmadi might not still be turning into a professional maiden! TDN: Is it unfair to ask you which place you like better, Santa Anita or here? FM: Santa Anita is my favorite place on earth. It's well-documented. It's not only my favorite racetrack, it's my favorite place. I grew up there. It's home. I wouldn't want to insult the East Coast audience or the national audience by saying that this isn't my favorite, but I don't think anything will ever top Santa Anita for me. TDN: It's important to have fun with your job. FM: It is. I'm not a chart caller. There is an element of entertainment. But there is a line to be drawn, especially at the bigger venues like Santa Anita or Saratoga. TDN: Speaking of that, there was a race you did many years ago. You did 23 voices–impersonations–during a race call. Who are the favorite impersonations that you do? FM: I don't do them in race calls anymore. But, sure, I do them from time to time. Some of my best ones are of people no one would know. TDN: Who are some of the ones people would know. You did (Rodney) Dangerfield, right? FM: Dangerfield is one of my best. Marv Albert is one of my best. Trevor Denman I would say is one of my best. I did a call at Louisiana Downs once, and there was a horse called Di Niro's delight. And I called the race as Dangerfield and Di Niro. De Niro's Delight won at a big price. (Watch Mirahmadi's race-call impressions below) TDN: If you could announce a different sport for a day or two, what would it be? FM: I would say probably baseball. I love baseball, big baseball fan. TDN: Are you a Dodgers guy? FM: I was when I was a little kid. I'm really more of a fan of the game itself. And pitchers in particular, I love great pitching. So, wherever the great pitchers are, I love watching, you know, phenomenal pitchers. I'm more focused on the pitchers in the actual teams. I know it sounds weird. TDN: There are two questions I ask everyone. First, if you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? FM: My late father, George, who was my No. 1 racetrack partner. Rodney Dangerfield. And Tom Petty. That's a very good question. TDN: Here is the other one. If there is a movie made about your life, and you can pick the actor to play you, who are you going with? FM: Who would play me? I would hope it would be someone very good. I would say De Niro. He is my favorite actor, so I would say him. But he would have to alter his appearance. He did that, in the mobster movie (“The Untouchables) and “Raging Bull.” Can't go wrong with him. TDN: OK, you were on the “Price Is Right.” Were you a fan? Mirahmadi on The Price Is Right | Tony Valazzo photo FM: I 've loved “The Price Is Right” since I was a little kid. I always watched it. TDN: When you got the “Frank Mirahmadi, Come On Down,” what was that like? FM: That was a stunning situation. They had said before that to make sure your energy is high; have fun, go wild. They want that. TDN: Did you? FM: I did. I definitely did. I thought I might have gone over the top. TDN: You were wearing red sweats, right? FM: I think the color would be more like brick red, like magenta. White tennis shoes, and a t-shirt. I had gone on a walk that morning with the husband of my girlfriend's girlfriend. So those two went to the show, too. My girlfriend got tickets a long time back and told me we're gonna go. TDN: When you got the call, were you, like, 'Whoa!' FM: I was excited. I was surprised and excited at the same time. TDN: How far back in the audience were you? FM: Second or third to the last row. TDN: You had to do a little running. FM: Oh yeah. High fives the whole way. TDN: And you won a trip to Hawaii. FM: First, I won a dishwasher and that got me on stage. And then I played a game called “Flip Flop” and I want to trip to Hawaii, it was pretty easy. Because to me, there were two choices. It was either $7,900 and something or $9,700 and something. I said 'no way is this trip almost $10,000.' No chance. I know things are getting expensive, but ten grand is a little high 10 grands a lot. So I decided for sure it's $7,900. Then, the choice was between 13 and 31. I'm a Baskin-Robbins guy. So, I mean 31 was a natural choice for me. was a natural choice but when I watched the replay, I realized that that Drew (host Carey) said this is not the price and it was sitting on $7,913. I always thought later that I picked 31 because it was Baskin-Robbins. But in listening back to it, he said, 'This is not the price.' So, it's either going to be at that point is going to be $7,931, $9,713 or $9,731. If the $9,700 was out, there was an easy decision for me to make as to what it was. Fortunately, I was right. TDN: Good time. FM: It was fun. Once you're on there, you certainly want to make sure you win. That makes it so much more fun. You would hate to tell people, 'hey watch me on 'The Price is Right.' I lost!' It was really so much fun. TDN: Now that “The Price is Right” is in your rear-view window, if you could be on another game show, which one you picking? FM: I would say “Wheel of Fortune.” I could be very dangerous on “Wheel of Fortune.” I'm a great speller, I love that game and I'm pretty good at it at home. But it's very different when you're at home versus when you're in the studio. It's very, very loud and everything's different. I tried out for teenage “Card Sharks” when I was a teenager. I won the audition, but I didn't get picked. TDN: You are a pizza aficionado. Your ideal pizza with three toppings. What are they? FM: Zero. Light cheese. No topping whatsoever. All I request is light cheese. I am like a car. But instead of the oil light going on the cheese light is on. I've got to watch the cheese. The bread and the sauce is the top priority and then the cheese. You've got to have good cheese. If the cheese isn't great, it's no good at all. I'm very picky about pizza but that is all I eat. TDN: Best pizza you have ever had. FM: There are two that are very close to each other. Both on the East Coast. One is New Park Pizza, which is about five minutes from Aqueduct in Howard Beach. Insanely good. And Federici's in Freehold in New Jersey. Those are probably the two best. There is a place in New Orleans called Venezia, which I like a lot. And De Lorenzo's in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Ralph's Pizzeria in Nutley, New Jersey is great. TDN: You've been around a few pizza places. FM: I would have to say that New York and New Jersey are the leaders of the pizza division. TDN: Not into Chicago pies? FM: I do like Chicago pizza. I like Gino's East and Lou Malnati's. TDN: You know them all! FM: Of course. I'm not kidding you. That's all I eat. I don't eat meat, chicken or fish. There is another place I should mention, Valentino's in Manhattan Beach in California. That would be very rough if I didn't mention them. TDN: You don't get sick of it? FM: That's what's crazy. TDN: Before anyone gets nervous, you must eat some good stuff too, right? FM: I don't like fancy restaurants. I love fresh fruit. I eat it every day. I usually have melon every morning, I like nuts, cereals, fresh fruit. I am a vegetarian who eats very few vegetables. Some very strange eating habits, but pizza is in a league of its own. TDN: If you could be a superhero for one day, who would it be? FM: Ironman. Loved Ironman as a kid. I have only seen one of the movies. You would think I would have seen all the movies and been fascinated by them. As a kid, the comic book? Loved Ironman. He was my man. TDN: Watch much TV? FM: Very little. Almost no TV shows. I don't even know what's on. I haven't watched TV since I was a kid, watching “Happy Days” and “Welcome Back Kotter.” TDN: What do you like doing in your spare time? FM: That's a great question. I am a pretty boring guy outside of work. That's what I tell people. When I was a kid, I really had no interests other than going to the track. And now I have to be at the track! It's all I ever wanted to do. The post The Saratoga Conversation: Frank Mirahmadi appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Ass Fans celebrated MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin) at a ceremony to honor namesake Cody Dorman with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Godolphin at Jonabell Farm and special guests held July 25. Dorman, who first met Cody's Wish during a visit to Godolphin's Gainsborough Farm in 2018, immediately formed a life-long bond with the horse that lasted until Dorman passed in November 2023, one day after he watched Cody's Wish win a second consecutive GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. “Big Ass Fans was part of two of the biggest days of Cody's life and two of the biggest days in Cody's Wish's career,” said Kelly Dorman, Cody's father. “We'll never forget that.” During Thursday's celebration, Big Ass Fans honored Dorman's memory with a special gift–a commemorative Black Jack fan. The steel framed, six-and-a-half-foot maneuverable fan, presented by Big Ass Fans' Chloe Bates, will ensure Cody's Wish stays cool and comfortable as a stallion at Godolphin's Jonabell Farm. “What an incredible legacy that this family and this horse and this boy have given us,” said Bates. “We hope this gift will honor that legacy and Cody's memory for years to come.” “Every step of this story just gets more magical,” said Jonabaell Stud Farm Manager Danny Mulvihill. “How lucky are all of us here at Godolphin to have been along for this ride? And we've got this big boy behind us here for an exciting next chapter in his career.” Big Ass Fans, also a proud partner of Make-A-Wish Foundation, will continue to honor Cody's legacy by helping fund a future child's wish. “I think Kelly and Leslie Dorman will say that granting wishes and horses were two of Cody's favorite things,” said Faith Hacker, Kentucky Market Director for Make-A-Wish. “We're thrilled to share that, with the help of Big Ass Fans, as part of Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland this October, we will grant the first wish as part of the Cody Dorman Legacy Fund.” The post Big Ass Fans Celebrates The Legacy Of Cody Dorman With Fan Donation To Cody’s Wish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It's not easy to write a column while watching the Olympics, especially as Britain attempts to out-battle France for eventing gold at the Palace of Versailles, but here goes. It was France which had the upper hand at Ascot on Saturday or, correctly speaking, Francis-Henri Graffard, whose return from Chantilly to the Berkshire track with the rampaging Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) should have been eye-popping enough to ensure that his runners are never again sent off at such generous odds in Britain. We can now savour the prospect of once more witnessing Graffard's Riverdance-like jig if Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) can prevail in the Juddmonte International at York. Our friends at Jour de Galop issued, in their Sunday edition, a warning for the week ahead: “Attention Goodwood, impossible is not French.” So before we bill the Sussex Stakes as a battle of the Guineas winners, let's not overlook the G1 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and the excellent overseas record of his fine trainer Jerome Reynier. Reynier, like Graffard and his wife Lisa-Jane, is a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start course, as is Laura Vanska, trainer of the G2 Prix Saint-Alary winner Birthe (Ire) (Study Of Man {Ire}), and French-based Irishman Tim Donworth. Farther afield trainer graduates from that course, which began 21 years ago, include Tom Morley, Dan Blacker, Ben Haslam, Jack Davison, Adrian Bott, Brian McGrath, Philip Antonacci, Will Freedman and Jack Bruce. Graffard was on the inaugural course back in 2003 and he has set the bar pretty high for those following in his wake. He is currently snapping at the heels of Andre Fabre at the top of the French trainers' championship, and it is Fabre with whom the various colours of Germany's Gestut Schlenderhan and the Ullmann family are most readily associated in France, where 2007 Horse of the Year Manduro (Ger) was trained, along with Breeders' Cup Turf and Coronation Cup winner Shirocco (Ger) among others. More recently the G1 Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis (Ger) (Australia {GB}) has flown the flag for Schlenderhan and Fabre, while it was Graffard who gave the owner-breeders their most recent win in the Deutsches Derby with In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}). We were paid a visit in the press room at Ascot on Saturday by the Melbourne Cup which is on a world tour (this must be a great wheeze for those people lucky enough to accompany the cup on its travels). Its presence could have been seen as a tip in itself as Schlenderhan provided the winner of that great race in 2016 when Almandin (Ger) became the third son of Monsun (Ger) to win the Melbourne Cup. Monsun of course raced for Baron Georg von Ullmann, the father of Goliath's owner, Philip. Though he was not a homebred, he played an important role in ensuring that the name of Schlenderhan was revered the world over, along with German breeding in general, during his time spent there at stud. It is hard not to be concerned with the significant decline in the foal crop numbers in Germany, which has seen production come close to being halved over the last two decades. In 2023, only 653 Thoroughbred foals were born in Germany, compared to 9,659 in Ireland, 4,510 in Britain and 5,334 in France. It is worth bearing in mind though that those last three nations have fairly strong National Hunt breeding programmes, and jumping foals are included in that number. Also, some of the larger German breeders will have sent mares abroad to use non-domestic stallions, meaning that some 'German' foals will be born elsewhere. But it is nevertheless an illustration of what the country is up against in fighting to preserve its rich history of Thoroughbred breeding. Every major winner abroad can only serve as a helpful reminder of Germany's might in this regard. Foal crops have been declining the world over, but in Germany it is a particular worry. Future of horse sport depends on us We haven't got far through this column and Britain has already retained the gold medal for eventing – the first gold of the games for the British team, with one of the medallists, Tom McEwen, jumping clear aboard JL Dublin, a horse part-owned by Deirdre Johnston. How far the controversy surrounding the withdrawal from the Olympics and suspension of the decorated British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin has dented the reputation of equestrian sport with the wider public is hard to quantify, but it certainly won't have helped. Racing cannot think that it is separate from this either. In an age when video cameras are on the phone in most people's pocket, it is of extra imperative that horses, both those used for competition and kept as pets, are treated with the utmost respect at all times. That includes ensuring they have dignity in death, too. The latter makes it hard to understand how so many people in racing have been positive in their response to the ITV programme Champions: Full Gallop. The producers of the show proceeded with John 'Shark' Hanlon as the underdog hero of the first episode even after a video surfaced on social media of his Team Hewick-branded horse box towing a dead horse, uncovered, in a trailer through the streets of Ireland. The trainer was not sanctioned by the Irish authorities but Hanlon's appearance in the series broadcast on Friday evenings on mainstream TV is potentially problematic even so. It is not the only awkward aspect of the programme. Also featured in the first episode was Bryony Frost and the top steeplechaser Shishkin (Ire). No mention was made of the fact that Frost has now been effectively driven out of riding in her native country for daring to stand up against the bullying by one of her male weighing-room colleagues. Similarly, the subsequent death of Shishkin following an accident in his box in April was overlooked. Any non-racing fans inspired to Google these stars of the show to find out more about them may be in for a bit of a shock. First Lady of Deauville returns Deauville is now in full summer racing mode and the local heroine Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) returned resplendent to take her second victory in the G1 Prix Rothschild, the race named in honour of the family of her breeder Edouard de Rothschild. The statuesque mare, who spent her formative years overlooking the racecourse at Deauville from her home at Haras de Meautry, is rather a favourite of this column. She climbed even higher in regard after her most recent win lifted this scribe from the bottom of the table of a fiendishly competitive 12-to-follow league which includes some fairly knowledgeable members of the racing and breeding industry. I'm not one of them, sadly, and neither apparently is Timmy Hillman of Tattersalls Ireland/Castledillon fame, who has now been relegated to last place. Just like last year, however, we are all being shown up by one of the offspring of Luke Barry. His 13-year-old son Alex is the reigning champion, but even he looks in danger of being beaten this time around by his 11-year-old sister Freya. They breed them precocious at Manister House, so it would be wise to check out the stud's consignment at Donny in a few weeks. Talks are already under way in a bid to ban nine-year-old Petra Barry from next year's 12-to-follow competition. Back to the star of the show, Mqse De Sevigne, who really is an absolute model of consistency. Having claimed her two Deauville Group 1 wins last summer, she found only Inspiral (GB) too good when leaving France to race for the first time in Britain in the Sun Chariot. We may not see her over this way again, with a repeat attempt at the Prix Jean Romanet on the cards, followed by a swansong in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Whatever happens from now on, the five-year-old has already justified her owner's decision to keep her in training as she is unbeaten in three starts this season and has doubled her tally of wins at the highest level to four. From the Seine to the Touques While the creators of the extraordinary opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics came in for a little stick, it was a particularly good weekend for French racing, which has seen a number of its stakes races plundered by overseas raiders of late. All three European Group 1 races – in England, France and Germany – went to French trainers, with Graffard and Fabre's wins being augmented by the victory of the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich on Sunday. That same day in Deauville all four of the group-race prizes stayed at home. The Lerner family had already won the Prix du Jockey Club with Look De Vega (Fr) this season and now has also landed the G3 Prix de Psyche with Zied Ben M'Rad's homebred Almara (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). For those of us watching the opening ceremony on the BBC we eventually saw Clare Balding in the studio with the Eiffel Tower as her backdrop. While her colleagues Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter were commenting on the procession up the Seine for hours on end, Balding presumably had time to look up the results of her brother's runners on Friday. She would have been pleased to see that Andrew's 1,999th and 2,000th winners in Britain were both bred by her mother Emma and raced in the colours of Kingsclere Racing Club (which were previously made famous by their original owner, Paul Mellon). Emma Balding also provided a double that day for the Derby winner Masar (Ire), sire of the Ascot winner Mount Atlas (GB), and Andrew Balding's 2,000th winner Lady Flora (GB). The pair are both from the same family, which has been within the Balding fold since the 1960s. Most appropriately, Mellon's great Mill Reef features as the broodmare sire of Lady Flora's third dam Island Mill (GB) while the sires of her dam and granddam – Dashing Blade (GB) and Selkirk (GB) – were also trained at Kingsclere by Ian Balding. Classic potential? It's never too early to start thinking about the Derby and two colts are now vying for leading honours at the top of the 2025 ante-post market after impressive debuts in the last ten days. First came The Lion In Winter (Ire), a rare son of Sea The Stars (Ire) at Ballydoyle, who roared pretty loudly on the Curragh in summer to win his maiden easily over seven furlongs. Five days later it was the turn of Arqana Breeze-up Sale topper Ruling Court (Justify) to score a five-and-half-length win at Sandown for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. With a €2.3 million price tag just two months ago he really should be winning like a good thing, but that's not always a guarantee. Another from the Norman Williamson school of breezers, he should eventually bid to join War Of Will and Native Trail (GB) on the list of Classic-winning graduates from Oak Tree Farm. The post Seven Days: France’s Tour de Force appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Putting an indifferent debut effort at The Curragh firmly behind him, Ballydoyle's Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Best In The World {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) made all to take the often-informative seven-furlong maiden on the opening card of the Galway festival and become the stable's latest TDN Rising Star. Only eighth as the 7-4 favourite on Irish Derby day, the half-brother to the brilliant Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was quickly away under Wayne Lordan and placed straight on the front end. Harrassed throughout, the 3-1 joint-second favourite found plenty to assert in the straight and win what looked a warm renewal by 2 1/4 lengths from Admiral Churchill (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), with half a length back to Viking Invasion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in third. The winner is the eighth TDN Rising Star for his sire, with the best so far being stablemates Unquestionable (Fr) and River Tiber (Ire). Nice … Rock Of Cashel (Wootton Bassett) banishes memories of a subdued debut @curraghrace with an all-action success @Galway_Races @coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/4e8mxGZN1W — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 29, 2024 The post Wootton Bassett Half to Snowfall a new TDN Rising Star 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-pedigreed 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 a son of an American stallion from the family of a Canadian champion. 14.23 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT Fabrice Chappet trainee IRONICO (Gift Box) will become the first European runner for his Lane's End Farm-based freshman (by Twirling Candy), whose two prior winners made a breakthrough in Mexico and Puerto Rico. The March-foaled dark bay is a son of GII Nassau Stakes, GII Dance Smartly Stakes and GIII Maple Leaf Stakes placegetter Involuntary (City Zip) and thus kin to Canadian champion and GI Pattinson Summer Stakes third Philip My Dear (Silent Name {Jpn}). The $20,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select July yearling-turned-$160,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales March breezer is opposed by a half-dozen rivals in this debut. The post First European Runner for Freshman Sire Gift Box 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

Always Dreaming (Bodemeister–Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}), the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner, has been purchased to continue his stud career in Oklahoma at River Oaks Farm. He will join resident stallions Revved Up, Caleb's Posse, Wilburn, and Excaper. In a deal brokered by Chad Schumer, Always Dreaming ranks sixth behind Justify, Good Magic, etc. and ahead of Bolt d'Oro, Collected, Mo Town, etc. He previously stood at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. In three crops of racing age, he has sired 83 winners, including last season's GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown, who was a $240,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training and has already earned over $2.9 million in purse money. “Very exciting for Oklahoma breeders to have the opportunity to use such a good-looking Kentucky Derby winner in Always Dreaming,” said Schumer. Among the leading sophomores in 2017, he won the GI Florida Derby before taking the Kentucky Derby. He then went on to run third in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and second in the GII Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes. Earning over $2.4 million at the track, he retired to stand at WinStar as a 4-year-old. Bred by Santa Rosa Partners, Always Dreaming is out of Above Perfection, who won seven of 10 starts, including the GIII Las Flores Handicap. He is also the half brother to Grade II winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), who sold for $1.5 million as a broodmare prospect in 2020. Stud fee is to be determined at a later date. The post Kentucky Derby Winner Always Dreaming to Stand at River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding is now open for the Midsummer Flash Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital. Bidding will close Thursday, Aug. 1, at 3 pm ET. The two offerings are: Hip 1: Emmanuel (More Than Ready): The 5-year-old, a five-time graded stakes winner on turf, also finished third in the GI Blue Grass Stakes on the dirt at three. He is also the current course record holder at Tampa Bay Downs for 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:39.25. Successfully defending his title in last March's GIII Canadian Turf Stakes in March, he was a close-up fourth last time out in the GII United Nations at Monmouth. Out of the Hard Spun mare Hard Cloth, he is consigned by WinStar Farm LLC, agent. Hip 2: 33% ownership interest in Iscreamuscream (): Undefeated in three starts, she broke her maiden at Santa Anita last fall before adding a score at that venue when returning June 13 in optional claiming company. Most recently, she took the GII San Clemente Staks at Del Mar on July 20 going wire-to-wire over the Del Mar turf. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Iscreamuscream is pointing for the GI Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 17. She is out of the graded stakes winning Cozzene mare Silver Screamer and is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. “We are offering unique opportunities to get involved in top-level racehorses during the peak of summer racing,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Emmanuel has been consistently at the top of his division for many years now, and Iscreamuscream is an undefeated graded stakes winning three-year-old filly with unlimited potential.” To view a video preview of the Midsummer Flash Sale by Fasig-Tipton's Jesse Ullery, click here. For more information, visit www.digital.fasigtipton.com. The post GSWs Emmanuel, Iscreamuscream Headline F-T Midsummer Flash Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Millionaire Fulsome (Into Mischief-Flourish, by Distorted Humor) will shuttle to Chile in a deal brokered by Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock and J.P. Sullivan of Sullivan Bloodstock. He will stand the Southern Hemisphere season at Haras Matriarca. The Juddmonte owned and bred colt broke his maiden in his sophomore debut before following up with wins the Oaklawn Stakes, GIII Matt Winn Stakes. Rounding out his campaign with a score in GIII Smarty Jones, he subsequently finished fourth in the GI Pennsylvania Derby. At four, annexed a trio of stakes, including the GIII Oaklawn Mile and GIII West Virginia Governor's Stakes. He rounded out his racing career with a runner-up finish in the GII Hagyard Fayette Stakes before coming home third behind Proxy in the GI Clark. Trained by Brad Cox, Fulsome retired with a record of 17-8-2-2 and earnings of $1,244,553. Fulsome was fully syndicated and stood his first year at Walmac Farm in 2024 at an advertised fee of $7,500. The post Millionaire Fulsome to Shuttle to Chile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article