Wandering Eyes

Forced to miss important fall fixtures in Ireland, France, England and America owing to a stress fracture in his femur discovered in late August, Ryan Moore made a winning return to the saddle at Lingfield Dec. 3 and on Wednesday evening, won two of the four legs–employing dramatically different tactics–to take out the Longines International Jockeys' Championship for a record-equaling third time at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island. Other dual IJC winners include perennial leading Hong Kong rider Zac Purton, the legendary Douglas Whyte and Frankie Dettori. Finishing a joint-second on 12 points, each having ridden one winner, were England's William Buick and the now locally based Hugh Bowman. It was the Norwegian-born Buick who struck in the first leg contested over the 1000-metre minimum trip around the city circuit, as he settled $89 (79-10) chance Bunta Baby (Cable Bay), trained by Manfred Man, well back in the field of 12 behind a hot tempo, picked off runners one-by-one in the final furlong and a half and shoved his mount past Beauty Thunder (Night of Thunder, Purton) in the dying strides (video). “It's my first winner at Happy Valley, so I'm very happy to have achieved it,” Buick said. “He was coming off the back of a good run last time and was one of my better chances on the night so it's great to get it done.” Moore, who dead-heated for his first IJC in 2009 before successfully defending his title 12 months on, had the ride on the piping hot $18 (4-5) favourite Corleone (Dundeel), whose trainer Caspar Fownes had already registered a race-to-race double with the visiting Joao Moreira in the first two races on the program. The expected controlling speed from barrier two, Moore kicked the 5-year-old gelding straight into the lead and took his rivals along at a very comfortable pace through the middle stages of the 1650-metre contest. Carrying second top weight of 134 pounds, Moore nursed his mount along into the final stages and was there for the taking, but Corleone just held off Ace War (Phoenix of Spain) and Rachel King by a short head (video). Bowman is best known for his affiliation with the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) from his time in Australia, but has become a consistent fixture while permanently based in Hong Kong over the last three seasons. Himself a winner of the 2016 IJC, the 45-year-old was aboard the $39 (29-10) pick Silvery Breeze (Dundeel) for British ex-pat trainer David Eustace in the third leg of the series, also over the extended mile. Taken back to near the tail, Silvery Breeze was felt for 400 metres out, ran to daylight about five off the inside with time ticking away and surged past his chief market rival Flying Fortress (Shamexpress) and Purton in yet another desperate finish (video). With three different riders saluting in the first three legs and with the other pointsgetters lurking, the IJC was very much an unfinished story entering the final leg over the metric six furlongs, with Moore, Buick, Bowman and Purton all on 12 points. Allotted the appropriately named Triumphant More (Star Turn) for trainer Frankie Lor, Moore had no choice but to go back from gate 10 and save the Australian-bred galloper for a finish. Still with the bulk of the field to navigate turning into the straight, the veteran reinsman conjured up a flying finish out of $236 (22-1) roughie to lead on the post and secure the IJC. American Classic-winning jockey Umberto Rispoli, who spent nine seasons in Hong Kong and was making his IJC debut, settled for second aboard Tourbillon Golfer (Cosmic Force) for Ricky Yiu (video). Moore had been fighting the leg issue since around the time of the Irish Derby and went for a scan at the back end of August, which revealed the fracture. That ruled him out of meetings such as Irish Champions weekend, the Arc, British Champions Day and the Breeders' Cup, but he was back to his brilliant best beneath the Wednesday night lights at 'the Valley.' He took home a checque for HK$600,000 (£57,816) for his work. “I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it,” said Moore. “It's fortunate I had two very good rides today and it worked out nicely for me. I'm just thankful to be coming back here and I had the luck tonight.” The post ‘More’ Moore In Longines International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat notched three graded stakes wins over the weekend at Aqueduct Racetrack, including the Remsen Stakes (G2), the Cigar Mile (G2), and Comely (G3) Stakes. He was voted Jockey of the Week Dec. 1-7. View the full article

Caspar Fownes has made a renewed push for Joao Moreira to be brought back to Hong Kong after the pair combined for a running double to open Wednesday night’s card at Happy Valley. Fownes, who finished the night with a treble, had hoped to bring Moreira back as his stable jockey in October, but the Jockey Club knocked back the Brazilian, declaring the roster was full. “It’s up to the club and they’ll now have to answer the question [as to why Moreira was knocked back],” said Fownes after watching...View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s launch of the HISA Equine Recovery Foundation (HERF), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing critical assistance for Thoroughbred racehorses sustaining a career-ending injury during racing, is set to begin operations in early 2026, according to an organization release on Wednesday. HERF's mission: Support racehorses—with injuries sustained during races that historically have a positive prognosis for recovery—by ensuring immediate access to quality veterinary treatment and rehabilitation in order to facilitate a successful aftercare placement. Enhance access to diagnostic imaging services and tools by expanding racetrack resources to prevent injuries. Timely intervention can save lives and improve outcomes for injured horses, so HERF is designed to fill a specific gap by funding veterinary care—including surgeries with historically high success rates—and comprehensive rehabilitation for qualifying horses, with each case accompanied by a long-term care plan to ensure ongoing well-being. The voluntary program, entered into at the sole discretion of the owner, will play a vital role in expanding knowledge around injury prevention to further protect the welfare of racehorses. HERF is also designed to remove some burden from the aftercare system by rehabilitating the horse and ensuring it is recovered before it enters aftercare. “We are thrilled that this foundation has been formed to provide horses with the chance to recover from career-ending injuries. There are situations where costs and other considerations make it difficult for owners to pursue surgical interventions that can prevent unnecessary euthanasia,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “HERF will help fill that gap and will explore diagnostic tools and advanced testing to help horsemen identify at-risk horses sooner.” A critical part of HERF's mission will be to fund the retirement of horses whose lives are saved through medical intervention provided by HERF. HERF will work closely with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). “HERF's primary objectives are logical extensions of HISA's core mission to improve and enhance equine health, safety and welfare,” said HISA Board member and HERF Chair Joe De Francis. “In order to maintain its social contract and continue business operations, the racing industry must take all reasonable steps to minimize racing-related equine fatalities, and the creation of HERF is a positive step towards that objective.” A pilot program will launch in early 2026 in the Mid-Atlantic, supported by an initial donation of $100,000 by Joe De Francis and Katherine Wilkins De Francis. Additional funds will be raised by HERF's independent Board of Directors and distributed on a defined, case-by-case basis. All funds allocated to HERF will be raised exclusively from sources external to HISA and will be entirely separate from HISA's operating budget. Additional racetracks will be onboarded in the second quarter of 2026. HERF's Board of Directors will consist of: Joe De Francis (HISA Board member and HERF Chair) Craig Bandoroff (owner of Denali Stud) Andrew Beyer (Founder, Beyer Speed Figures) Katherine Wilkins De Francis (Animal welfare activist and former racing executive) Terry Finley (Founder, West Point Thoroughbreds) David Ingordo (Bloodstock agent and manager Belladonna Racing) Griffin Johnson (Influencer and racehorse owner) Ron Moquett (Thoroughbred trainer) David O'Rourke (CEO, New York Racing Association) Dr. Sue Stover (Veterinarian, University of California, Davis; Chair of HISA's Racetrack Safety Committee) In addition to the Board of Directors, HERF will have an Advisory Council that will advise HERF on its protocols. The Advisory Council will consist of individuals with specific expertise in veterinary medicine and aftercare. Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Medical Officer of 1/ST Racing, will serve as Chair and Mike Rogers, Executive Vice President of 1/ST Racing, will serve as Vice Chair–bringing expertise from the programs established by 1/ST Racing in California, Florida and Maryland. HISA Communications Director Mandy Minger has been named Executive Director of HERF. For more information about HERF, please contact mandy.minger@hisaus.org. The post HISA Equine Recovery Foundation to Launch in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ryan Moore joined a trio of champion jockeys with a record-equalling third Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) victory courtesy of a brilliant double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Only a week after making his return from a fractured femur, the British superstar bagged his first IJC in 15 years after lifting Corleone and Triumphant More to exciting triumphs. Moore, who won the prestigious contest in 2009 and 2010, now shares the IJC record with Zac Purton, Douglas Whyte and...View the full article

In one of his first public appearances since becoming chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in September, Lord Allen admitted that there is no “single silver bullet” to ease the significant challenges facing the sport. In a question-and-answer session with broadcaster Lydia Hislop following the 254th Gimcrack Dinner at York racecourse, Lord Allen, whose appointment to the BHA was announced in November 2024, spoke of his desire for the BHA to be a “world-leading authority”. Addressing a gathering of around 200 guests on Tuesday evening, he said, “I used that time to go out and meet a lot of people, whether it was stable staff, jockeys, trainers, owners, whatever. And therefore, although I've only been in the job probably just two and a half months, I think I've listened a lot, because I think we do need to have change. I met 120 people face to face before I joined and what they all said is they were incredibly passionate about the sport.” Retention and welfare of horses, increasing the number of people betting on racing and attending race meetings, telling racing's stories, and the pooling of race day data are all items high on Lord Allen's strategy for change and improvement in British racing, as is the need to boost the sport's coffers. “The truth is we need more money. Collectively, whether it's prize-money, whether it's investment in the sport, we need more money,” he said. None of this comes as news to anyone who has been involved in the sport for a while, as almost all of the guests at the Gimcrack Dinner have been. Reaction from various trainers at the event ranged from calling for exactly the kind of collaborative approach Lord Allen seeks to one of quiet despair that this has all been said before with little subsequent change to the status quo. Change does seem to be afoot, however, in that Lord Allen is adamant that the BHA board must be populated by independent members not tied to a particular sector of the industry. “Change needs to happen at the top,” he said. “And one of the issues I looked at over that 12-month period was why weren't we making the changes? And that was because we had well-intentioned people who were on the board, but they were representing a particular part of the organisation – you're there to represent owners, you're there to represent the licenced personnel, you're there to represent racecourses. And sometimes what happened in that process is that we got to lowest common denominator decision-making.” While admitting that he would not be creating a “brand-new strategy”, Lord Allen presented an overview of areas which need attention. “I do have five Cs,” he said, referring to racing's need to convene, collaborate, coordinate, commercialise and communicate. “I think we could do a lot more if we were much, much more collaborative. The other thing I don't think we do well is communicate. We don't explain our sport to the punters. The thing that surprised me was the C that I found missing was the consumer – the people who pay our wages, who come and turn up and support us. We don't spend enough time thinking about what they want. I come from a consumer and commercial background. We need to do that much, much more. “And then also communicate with government. I think we've had a good start. When I got involved, I thought the [potential rise in] racing tax had a 10 to 20% chance of being avoided. But what really impressed me was literally my first day, being in Westminster and seeing the whole sector stand shoulder to shoulder. And that's what you need to do to influence government.” He continued, “That was a start but it's only the beginning. We need to have a three-year strategic relationship with government that says 'this is what we're going to do'. The other thing we need to do is we need to have a much better relationship with the bookmakers. They are our principal funders.” The BHA's stance during its 'Axe the Tax' campaign in the lead-up to the Budget on November 26 has angered the bookmaking sector which faces hikes in gaming tax that it claims will have a knock-on financial impact for racing. “It's often easy to find differences, but what we're trying to do is find more common cause,” Lord Allen said. “The other thing I think where we are aligned with bookmakers is the black economy. And what I mean by that is the £80 billion globally that goes offshore, that's unregulated. The Treasury gets no money out of it. We get nothing out of it. And I think we can build common cause on that.” Hislop questioned Lord Allen's comments about the potential to become more commercial, given that the BHA has little to sell. “We don't have the assets,” he admitted in response. “We have 200 fixtures out of 1,500 fixtures. I think there's a number of things that we can do in terms of packaging those assets, packaging those rights. And that's why I want a range of people joining our board that have a range of skills. And one of them would be somebody who actually understands rights and rights management. And somebody who would be what I'd call a digital native who actually understands what TikTok is and speaks to a different generation. I also would like somebody who has financial commercial capabilities. I also want somebody to join the board who actually understands the bookmakers' models, which are all different, to actually help us. How do we collectively create more revenue in working in partnership?” This, among others, is a question that will remain unanswered for now, and Hislop, in closing the 25-minute session, pressed the need for those answers to be forthcoming. She said, “I think everyone in the room probably feels that with so many challenges facing the sport, that there is a huge sense of urgency in terms of moving forward, so we look forward to those actions.” The post ‘Change Needs to Happen at the Top’: BHA Chair Lord Allen Addresses Gimcrack Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Turfway Park Synthetic Championships consist of four $250,000 races, two 6-furlong events and two at a mile, all on Turfway's Tapeta surface Dec. 13.View the full article

Tom Hamm, who previously served in a leadership role as the Taylor Made Sales Agency's farm manager, will be returning to Taylor Made. His new role will be as a Thoroughbred Advisor, with an emphasis on the growing Digital Sales marketplace. “Tom has remained close with our team since his successful tenure as our Farm Manager several years ago,” said Mark Taylor, President and CEO of Taylor Made. “We believe the time is right to bring in a new Team Member to add more focus on Digital Sales. Our approach brings great value and a higher net return to our customers through our aggressive promotion of Digital Sales horses. Based on our long-time relationship with Tom, we know he will make us even stronger, as we continue to innovate and deliver exceptional service to our customers.” Tom Hamm added, “I'm excited for the opportunity to plug my existing clients into the resources of Taylor Made and for joining a Team that I have always respected and worked well with.” The post Tom Hamm to Rejoin Taylor Made as Thoroughbred Advisor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Beginning next month, the New York Racing Association plans to throttle computer-assisted wagering at one minute until post, limiting these high-volume teams to the same six bets per second ceiling that applies to retail customers.View the full article

This week on the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland, get ready for a special Best of 2025 episode. Throughout the year, people from all corners of the industry joined us on the show as the Gainesway Guest of the Week to provide candid conversations and insights. In this episode, we roll out the highlight reel of the most compelling interviews of 2025, bringing back the voices and moments that defined the season. This week listeners will hear from: Griffin Johnson: The popular social media star and entrepreneur discusses his surprising involvement in Thoroughbred ownership and his unique approach to the sport ahead of Sandman (Tapit)'s bid in the GI Kentucky Derby. Junior Alvarado: Following his win aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Belmont Stakes, the Eclipse Award-winning jockey provides candid insight into his biggest wins and the challenges of competing at the highest level. Terry Bradshaw: The legendary NFL Hall of Famer and sports commentator shares his passion for racing, his experience as an owner, and his views on the current state of the game. Tribute to D. Wayne Lukas: A moving collection of testimonials featuring multiple industry figures like Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin and Jerry Bailey paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The TDN Writers' Room is also sponsored by the PHBA, the KTOB, 1/ST TV and West Point Thoroughbreds. Click here for the audio-only version of the show or watch below: The post TDN Writers’ Room: Best of 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In-form miler Gringotts has history against him in The Ingham. Already needing to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win the $2 million The Ingham, favourite Gringotts will now have to do it from the outside barrier. The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old has come up with gate 24 in the capacity field of 20 plus four emergencies, adding a fresh layer of difficulty to his task of lumping topweight of 61kg, eight kilos over the minimum. The last horse to successfully carry a comparable impost was Monton, who won the 2011 renewal with 58kg. Despite the draw, Gringotts remains a $3.80 top pick and has been unstoppable carting similar weights at his past two starts when he has captured the Big Dance and The Gong, both over a mile. His presence is regarded as a blessing and a curse by connections of rival runner and defending The Ingham (1600m) titleholder, Robusto. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding carried 59.5kg when seventh in the Festival Stakes (1500m) last start but with Gringotts so high in the handicaps, Robusto drops to 54kg on Saturday. “The best part about him (Gringott’s) being there is he’s pushing the weights down a little bit,” Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton said. “I think weight pulled Robusto up a bit the other day. “He was a little bit flat, but he was going from 1300 to 1500 and now he is going from 1500 to 1600, and he’s third-up. “He is ready to run a peak.” Robusto won last year’s The Ingham from barrier four and has gate six on Saturday, while stablemate Amor Victorious has drawn three. However, the latter’s chances could hinge on track conditions as his best form is on ground rated a soft 5 and better, and rain and storms have been forecast for Sydney during the backend of the week. Amor Victorious finished unplaced on a heavy surface in The Gong and Hilton felt it brought him undone. “He doesn’t like a really heavy track. He gets through it softish, but it just got too heavy for him the other day,” he said. “He took good benefit out of it, he’s had the two runs now and we are still really pleased with him. Back on a drier surface he could definitely measure up.” View the full article

Here To Shock is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes – who provide the only three runners backing up from the inaugural edition of the $1 million slot race. They will also saddle up last year’s runner-up Arkansaw Kid and 2024 fifth placegetter Roll On High, who is also owned by Slade Bloodstock and was previously trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The presence of Private Eye casts a huge shadow over the event and he is $2.25 favourite with Sportsbet. Slade quipped the best chance of Private Eye’s rivals beating him would involve his float breaking down. Here To Shock hadn’t been over-taxed in terms of starts and that had led to him racing at his peak later in life. From the moment Here To Shock began racing he showed talent, but he was his own worst enemy according to Slade, as he didn’t want to settle in his race. After he started his career with Brent Stanley, he was transferred to Lindsay Park and Slade said it was Ben Hayes’ intuition which helped turn his career around. “He was also maturing but Ben suggested earmuffs and that played a big role in settling him down,” Slade said. Slade pointed out that Here To Shock netted $2 million prizemoney as a seven-year-old gelding last season. Here To Shock became his syndication group’s third Group 1 winner when he was successful in the Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in February this year. “In ability, he’s behind the other pair of Group 1 winners Alinghi and Moment Of Change, but he’s a bit unique; they didn’t win $2 million in a season,” he said. “The key to him is that he’s a fairly lightly raced for an eight-year-old having only had 42 starts whereas most horses that age have had a lot more. We’ve never really had any dramas with him.” Here To Shock started his 2025 spring campaign with a first-up third to Private Eye in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield but he had three unplaced runs before he led throughout to win the Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at his latest start. Here To Shock also competed against Private Eye in the Moonga Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield two starts ago, finishing sixth behind him. Slade said Here To Shock’s form is better than it looks as ratings-wise he is running up to his best, but he is carrying more weight. “If you look at his times and ratings he ran up to his usual mark, but he was in races he couldn’t win with the weight he was carrying,” he said. “He was in form but he also didn’t look good in the coat; he was one of those horses which didn’t come up in the spring. I looked at him at Lindsay Park the other day and his coat is magnificent and I think he’s coming into his own.” Slade pointed out that Here To Shock will again have to carry a kilogram more weight than Private Eye, making his task harder. “Private Eye had a year in the wilderness and we had a great year so we’re paying the price for that,” he said. “How are we going to beat him? I’m not sure. He might get caught in traffic. “Last time against him we didn’t lead, which even his jockey Mick Dee said was the wrong thing to do. The other day Mark (Zahra) summed the race up the other day and used the catch-me-if-you-can tactics. Here To Shock can take a sit these days, but he is also capable of setting a fast rolling tempo, which could be the case with Daniel Stackhouse riding him on Saturday. Stackhouse rode Here To Shock in last year’s The Supernova, when he sat second behind the front-runner Buffalo River in the run and then defied the challenge of his stablemate Arkansaw Kid in the closing stages of the race. Here To Shock will follow the same path to New Zealand for the Waikato Sprint (1400m), which will be run at Te Rapa on February 7. Here To Shock has Cavallo Park Stud’s slot in The Supernova, while Roll On High has Yulong’s. View the full article

Christophe Lemaire has identified Embroidery as his best chance of tasting a first Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) success since his win aboard Pride in the 2006 Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m). One of the leading hopes in a jam-packed Group One Hong Kong Mile, three-year-old filly Embroidery is coming off a stunning year that featured victories in two of the three legs of the Japanese Triple Tiara – the Group One Oka Sho (1,600m) and Group One Shuka Sho (2,000m). “Embroidery is...View the full article

Ryan Moore is hoping Satono Reve can put his best foot forward once again and give the “exceptional” Ka Ying Rising something to think about in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Noriyuki Hori-trained star is a Group One winner in his own right, landing the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in March. Either side of that run, he has felt the wrath of world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, finishing third in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint and second in...View the full article

Promising filly Places To Be’s first two cracks at black-type didn’t go to plan, but trainer Kelly Van Dyk is hoping to get her preparation back on track in the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Hello Youmzain was impressive when winning by four lengths on debut at Taupo in September but ran out on the turn when looking ominous in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie in October. She took up her customary front-running role in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) last start but faded late to finish fifth. Van Dyk, who bred and races the filly in partnership with Ben Kwok, and bloodstock agent Bevan Smith, was happy enough with the run and expects to see plenty of improvement when dropping back to 1200m this weekend. “I am really happy with her. She came through her last run really well at Wanganui. I just think she peaked on her run there,” she said. “It was a few weeks between runs since Ellerslie, where we had a bit of a mishap there where she ran off (around the last bend). I just wanted to get her confidence back, back left-handed, and we were happy with her performance. I think back to the 1200m will be ideal on Saturday.” Places To Be has drawn the outside gate in the eight-horse field, but Van Dyk said they don’t intend to deviate from her racing pattern. “Matt Cameron will be riding her and he has been riding her in her trials,” Van Dyk said. “She does like to go forward, but we certainly won’t be going all out for the lead. If there are other horses that want to take her on, they can, we won’t be getting into a war for the front. “She jumps very well out of the gate and naturally she does want to go forward, and that is where she is happiest. We will be leaving it up to Matt, but ideally we won’t be changing tactics too much, but on the other hand, we won’t be fighting for the lead.” Van Dyk has yet to nail down a summer plan for Places To Be, but said depending on how her filly performs this weekend, she could even head to the paddock for a break. “We will see how she goes on Saturday before we make any firm plans. She could go to the paddock after that,” she said. Stablemate Hit ‘n’ Run will head to Tauranga a day prior, where she has also drawn the outside barrier in the Rob Pinny Maiden 1200. While disappointed in the barrier draw, Van Dyk is hoping a few gear changes will help her mare find some form. “We haven’t had a good few days with barrier draws,” she said. “We have made a few key gear changes with her and would like to see a big improvement. “We think we have sorted out her breathing issues in her races where we thought she was holding her breath a little bit. A tongue-tie and noseband go on, so that will be key to her hopefully improving off her poor form to date. “She is a very good trackworker and she certainly worked the house down on Tuesday. We will be expecting her to show us something this time.” Van Dyk is also busy preparing nine yearlings for next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where she is hoping to build on the strong momentum of last month’s Ready to Run Sale, with the highlight being selling a Written Tycoon colt to James Cummings for $775,000. “We are excited to present another yearling draft off the back of a very successful Ready to Run Sale,” she said. “We have got a really nice draft of nine horses. We have got some beautiful fillies in there. We have got a Per Incanto filly (lot 366) that we will sell on behalf of Duncan Fell, who I think is top-class. “We have also got a Satono Aladdin filly (lot 321) that we pinhooked, and she is a very nice filly as well. “We have got some very nice horses, and I think they should be popular.” View the full article

Wexford Stables partners Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have plenty to look forward to this weekend with a mix of proven and fresh talent engaged on the Waikato Cup programme at Te Rapa. After finishing a luckless second in last year’s Gr. 3 SKYCITY Waikato Cup (2400m), Sassy Lass is primed to go one better despite a formline that on the surface might not suggest as much. “Her Counties Cup run this year was actually better than last year, she only got going late and finished less than a length and a half from the winner,” Scott said. “We’re well pleased with her work since and she’s had a better build-up than last year, when she was coming out of a winter campaign. “This time in we’ve been able to space her races as we’ve wanted to and she’s peaking at the right time, so we’ll be looking for a strong effort from her.” The Staphanos mare, who gets into Saturday’s staying feature on the 53kg minimum, will have a change of rider with Masa Hashizume back in the saddle for the first time since last year’s Counties Cup. Checkmate will contest the Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The Okaharau Station colours will also be carried on Saturday by Checkmate, one of three Wexford Stables runners in the Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint (1400m). The talented four-year-old will be resuming from a short break, stablemate Lux Libertas will be having her first start since June, while Smart Love brings an impeccable formline after winning her only three starts this campaign as well as her last start as a three-year-old. “After his run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) we decided spring was coming a bit too soon for Checkmate, so we put him aside and he’s come back looking much better,” Scott said. “He had a lovely trial at Taupo last month, he’s been working well since and he’s there now with a good bit of condition hopefully ready for a big campaign. “Lux Libertas has had the one trial where we didn’t ask her to do a lot and she’s coming into this nice and fresh. She loves Te Rapa and while most of form has been on deeper tracks, we expect that at least to begin with she’ll cope with this better ground. “Smart Love has worked up to this level with some impressive form coming through the grades, so she deserves her chance at a good race. “Her Tuesday work indicated she’s as well as she has been heading into her earlier races and we expect another good run from her.” Smart Love requires one scratching to gain a start in the J Swap Sprint, while she is also an acceptor for the Rating 75 1500m on the Te Rapa undercard. Balancing Wexford’s proven contingent are two juvenile debutants in Saturday’s DJ Bloodstock 2YO, Noverre filly Firebird and Alabama Express filly Dashing Dixie. “We haven’t raced many of our two-year-olds over the past couple of years, but these two fillies have shown us enough to say they should be given the opportunity,” Scott said. “Firebird put in a beautiful trial at Te Awamutu and impresses us as a filly with early speed. “Her mother is a half-sister to (star two-year-old) Ruud Awakening, so we’re thinking the family genetics may have come through to her. “We bought Dashing Dixie to look to race at two and so far she’s lived up to those hopes. She has looked natural and willing in her two trials and going by her training she’s also ready to run well.” The Wexford contingent also includes Tristar, having her first start since finishing fourth in stakes company during the winter and primed to run well in Saturday’s Rating 75 1200m. “She’s a young mare with her share of ability and should sprint well fresh after two lead-up trials,” Scott said. “In the same race I’munstoppable is dropping back in grade and it will be good to see her back left-handed on a track she likes, plus she’ll be helped by a claim with Hayley Hassman engaged.” View the full article

Electron returned to winning form over a mile at Otaki last-start, and owner-trainer Sam Mynott is hoping she can repeat that result at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The five-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose had been struggling to find form this preparation, but Mynott put her first few subpar runs down to the wet spring. “We didn’t get the preparation we wanted with the weather over the spring, and she was probably running in races quite unsuitable for her,” Mynott said. “She finally got a suitable race, and she was fit from those other runs and it was great to see her get back on top.” Mynott has been pleased with the way she has progressed since that win and is hopeful of adding more black-type to her record, with Electron having already placed in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) earlier this year. “She came through that run really well, she seems to love a trip away,” Mynott said. “She is a very good eater, so that is never an issue. She has just ticked over and she should improve off that run last time. “She has got a beautiful draw (4), it is nice to get that for a change. It is quite a small field, so I would say she will probably land somewhere near the front and hopefully she is there in the finish.” Following Saturday, Mynott is looking at a couple of Trentham miles with her charge. “We could follow the same path with the Cuddle Stakes and the Easter, and she does hold a nomination for the Group Two mile (Thorndon) at Trentham,” she said. “There are plenty of options around for her.” Mynott will also be represented at Te Rapa by a fresh Joejoeccini in the Dunstan Horsefeeeds Stayers Championship Qualifier (2200m), while Miss Madridista will need the assistance of a few scratchings to make the final field for the Pathways – The Immigration Specialists 1200. “Joejoeccini went to the paddock for a couple of weeks and had a little freshen-up and he has come back a happier, stronger horse,” Mynott said. “He is going really well and hopefully he puts in a good showing. “It is quite frustrating (with Miss Madridista). She is at an awkward rating (68) that makes it quite hard getting a start somewhere. I am really happy with her, she is going super, and if she does make the field, that one draw should be perfect for her.” A day prior at Tauranga, Linkin Park will tackle the Icon Security 1300, while promising three-year-old Sicarius is set to make his debut in the Commerce Lane Chambers Maiden 1400, however, he could be saved for another day after drawing barrier 11. “Linkin Park is going really well, he is due a win,” Mynott said. “It looks a fair enough field and we have freshened him up a little bit. He ran well at Tauranga last start, so hopefully he can keep his nose in front this time. “Sicarius is a lovely gelding, he has shown enough in his trials. He will probably get up over a bit of ground, maybe up to the mile. He tries really hard and he wants to do it, and that is the main thing. “He has drawn a bit sticky so we will just see what happens and we may save him for another day.” Meanwhile, Mynott will head to Ellerslie on Thursday with Classic Champagne and Adlerian, who will both contest the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m). “I am happy with both of them,” Mynott said. “Classic Champagne will kick back off. I thought her trial at Waipa was super. We expect to see her settling back and running home strong. She has improved a lot since last season. “Adlerian just blew out a bit and needed the run at Taranaki (last start). It is a nice draw (3) for her, so she will probably go forward, and the 1400m should suit tomorrow.” View the full article

Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman are the most popular picks to win Wednesday night’s Longines Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley, but it looks to be a wide-open affair according to the Post’s tipsters and the betting market. Three-time IJC victor Purton and Bowman each got the nod from two of the Post’s tipsters, with the latter sharing $6.5 favouritism with Joao Moreira and the former close behind at $7.5. In what many rate as one of the best IJC line-ups ever...View the full article

The Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) has been hit by another withdrawal, with trainer David Eustace confirming Massive Sovereign will not run in Sunday’s HK$40 million contest after suffering a leg injury. After Japanese raider Lord Del Rey came out of the race with lameness on Tuesday, the scratching of last year’s Hong Kong Derby winner reduces the field for the city’s richest race to just seven runners. The last time the Cup was contested by such a small field was way back in 2007,...View the full article

Beginning next month, the New York Racing Association plans to throttle computer-assisted wagering at one minute until post, limiting these high-volume teams to the same six bets per second ceiling that applies to retail customers.View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) is in the process of taking initial steps to activate a long-dormant, non-profit, Thoroughbred-specific state racing permit with the goal of building a “modern, new Thoroughbred racing track and entertainment complex” in the Ocala area. Lonny Powell, the FTBOA's chief executive officer, made the disclosure Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. Powell said it was the first time the FTBOA has revealed the initiative outside of internal discussions, and that the process is an attempt to have a plan of action in place to answer what have now become almost continuous threats of “decoupling” live racing requirements from gaming privileges at Florida's two remaining Thoroughbred tracks. “I want to talk about one thing that is new, [and it's] the first time I'm going to talk about [it] in public, and it gives hope,” Powell said, acknowledging that the concept of a new track in Marion County, the epicenter of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding sector, is only in its infancy and still has many hurdles to clear. This past spring, three pieces of legislation were active-but did not get passed into law-in the Florida legislature that could have removed the live racing stipulations for Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to operate their respective casino and card room. Decoupling has been a major concern in Florida for the better part of a decade. But it wasn't until this past January when the issue of Gulfstream seeking legislation that could potentially allow it to end Thoroughbred racing become a red-alert threat on the national level. Nearly a year ago, Gulfstream's owner, The Stronach Group (TSG), told Florida's industry stakeholders it could guarantee live racing only through 2028 if the proposed bill did pass the state legislature. And even if that legislation didn't pass, a TSG consultant told horsemen during a closed-door meeting Jan. 15, 2025, “there's no guarantee of when we will continue to race.” Those bills did eventually fail to pass, but in August TSG filed a lawsuit against the Florida Gaming Control Commission, alleging that the 2021 statute that allowed all other classes of pari-mutuel licensees except Thoroughbreds to decouple from live racing as a condition of operating slot machines was an “unconstitutional special law [that] violates the equal protection clause of the Florida Constitution.” With that lawsuit looming and the threat of decoupling again likely to be on the 2026 legislative radar, Powell explained Dec. 9 that it was only last week that a new entity called Ocala Thoroughbred Racing–with Powell as chief executive officer and with the FTBOA's blessing to use the permit-entered into a “mutually exclusive, multi-year agreement [with] a Delaware registered entity [that has] two principals” to try and bring the project to fruition. Powell said those two principals are: 1) Philip Levine, who served as mayor of Miami Beach from 2013 to 2017 and was a candidate in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election. Levine has an executive-level background in hospitality, the cruise boat industry, and in real estate investing. Levine has recently taken an interest in owning pleasure horses of different breeds, Powell said, but has no experience in racing or breeding. 2) John Morgan, a billionaire attorney based in Florida who is best known as the founder of the personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan. Powell said Morgan has an active involvement in various Thoroughbred partnerships based in Kentucky. Powell said it was Levine who first reached out to the FTBOA and then brought Morgan in on the deal. “There were no handlers, no lobbyists, no lawyers, no other industry groups,” Powell said. “This was all because of Philip, and we got three guys to sit down at the table and say, 'How can we move this thing around?' We all bring different skill sets to the table, but we're also very like-minded, and that gives me hope and excitement.” Powell outlined how the FTBOA came to control the permit that it now intends to explore using. “The FTBOA in 2011 got the approval to own, at the time, a Quarter Horse permit that had a very narrow window to convert it to a non-profit Thoroughbred permit,” Powell said. “Shortly after my arrival [to the FTBOA] we got the conversion to the non-profit Thoroughbred permit. It had to be based in Ocala [and had to be] a wholly owned subsidiary by FTBOA. It's not transferable. It's not leasable. We can't sell it. “During '21, the year [Florida] went all the way to the floor vote [that eventually decoupled all pari-mutuel venues except for Thoroughbred tracks], the FTBOA stood by ourselves, [with] no horsemen [involved],” Powell said. “All these extra [racing] permits that weren't active in Florida were being eliminated as part of the new Tribal compact in special session. Ours was the only one of the 12 or 14 [to survive] because it was unique, it was Thoroughbred, it was non-profit.” And, Powell added, “Because it's non-profit, it's not [a vehicle] for somebody that wants to flip it into real estate. [And] we've kept that permit on ice over the years [in case] the racetracks ever asked to drastically reduce their live racing or they tried decoupling.” Although Gulfstream was the most talked-about danger of the decoupling push at the 2025 legislative session, Powell said Tampa Bay Downs is also a very real threat to go dark. “Let's make it official,” Powell said. “It wasn't just Gulfstream. Tampa Bay did a dramatic amendment to the decoupling bill to add themselves to it on the first day of the House hearing. So both of our racetracks-no matter what else anybody says, and I wish it was different-they've all said we're going to decouple, or we want to pursue it.” As a result, Powell said, the FTBOA is “going to get serious about this permit. We're no longer going to have it on ice. We've got a lot of work to do. But it's the only permit allowed by law, because in South Florida, in order to try and replace a racetrack, unless you're at Gulfstream Park with that specific address,” you can't get a new permit. Powell said when first faced with the 2024-25 decoupling crisis, he thought reopening Hialeah Park as a Thoroughbred venue could be the answer. The once-majestic Hialeah, which in 1979 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, last raced Thoroughbreds in 2001. It conducted Quarter Horse meets between 2009 and 2016. After opening a new casino in 2013, Hialeah's ownership phased out Quarter Horse racing. By 2017 it had shifted to conducting bizarre match races between aged ponies to satisfy the state's live racing requirement. Visiting the formerly grand Hialeah at that time, TDN's Bill Finley described the scene as a “freak show” because of its management's “sham” head-to-head competitions between unfit horses as old as 22 that shouldn't have been running for wagering purposes. Powell said that after having his initial thoughts about revitalized Thoroughbred racing there, he soon realized that “Hialeah is [now] a decoupled Quarter Horse track. The owner gets to keep the slots without spending money on racing. What would be the motivation there? I was looking at South Florida racing over a year ago, thinking that was going to be the solution, and you run into things like this. You can't just go move a racetrack and say, 'I'm going to move slots over there.' There's no racing permits. Ours is the only one. But it's based in Marion County. Yet, Powell postulated, there's a silver lining to the prospect of racing in the less densely populated Marion County instead of in the much more expensive-to-build South Florida. “Guess what? That's the horse capital of the world, and we have more [horse] infrastructure there, pound for pound, than almost Lexington [Kentucky]. I mean training centers, barns, horses, proven breeding program,” Powell said. “We have a lot of work to do,” Powell summed up. “But this is a big step for us, and we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think we [saw] a path.” Powell's revelation came during a panel titled Reinventing Racing's Business Model: Lessons from State Battles and Policy Shifts. His remarks were unexpected by some of the other speakers, and the topic of a potential new track in Florida quickly became the focal point of the discussion. Damon Thayer, a former Kentucky state senator who recently retired from his job as the Senate Majority Floor Leader, where he was one of horse racing's staunchest and most important allies, was also a panelist. Thayer is now a senior advisor with Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI), a group that is devoted to stopping decoupling efforts at Gulfstream and ensuring that racing in South Florida remains a vital part of the industry. Reacting to Powell's news, Thayer said the permit was “clearly a valuable commodity” and that a potential new track in the Ocala area was “exciting.” But Thayer also injected a dose of reality into the discussion by asking about funding and bringing up the prospect of dealing with Florida's dense political thicket that surrounds anything that has to do with gambling. “The big question is, how much is it going to cost? Where's the money going to come from?” Thayer asked. “To make anything happen in Florida, it's going to have to be multi-lateral. It can't be unilateral. I mean, you've got to involve the [Gulfstream] HBPA, the Tampa HBPA, Ocala Breeders' Sales Company,” among others, Thayer said. “The other thing is, I want to do everything we can to save racing at Gulfstream Park, or, conversely, save racing in South Florida,” Thayer said. “We are systematically seeing the destruction of racetracks in cities across America, and how in the hell are we going to make future fans [if] we don't have racetracks in America's greatest cities?” Thayer said. Powell jumped back in to underscore that any track in Ocala could be made to work alongside a deal to save racing at Gulfstream. “Our project in no way is designed to preclude an economically viable track in South Florida. The best location would be Gulfstream, for God's sake, if the price could be right,” Powell said. “The question is, just like anything, where is the purse money going to come from?” Thayer repeated, paraphrasing his earlier remarks. “Exactly,” Powell said, agreeing with Thayer but not offering specifics. Thayer then had some news of his own: Within the next two weeks, he said, TRI will be releasing a year-long feasibility study about Florida's racing and breeding industries that could help fill in some financial blanks. At the close of the discussion, Levine, one of the partners in the FTBOA's initiative, identified himself from the audience and offered a few remarks on his involvement. “I know nothing about your industry. I'm learning like crazy. But the one thing I've seen, is-My God!-this industry is definitely made up of different horses. Because you all compete against each other. You don't run together. “I look at this industry and I say if you don't start running together, there will not be an industry in the future,” Levine said. “Everybody has to work together so that this does not become some kind of Jurassic industry, that it moves on to the future. “Now I agree with you senator, it would be fantastic to have a racetrack in Miami,” Levine said. “Hialeah, Gulfstream–it would be wonderful. I agree with you. If you can change the laws, and allow that to happen, that would be fabulous. And I think that's a great piece of the overall puzzle. “But it's a little bit challenging in the state of Florida, knowing the politics,” Levine said. The post In Face Of Decoupling Threats, FTBOA Reveals Initiative To Build New Non-Profit Track In Ocala appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Souper Forces will have his undefeated record tested in the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby being run Dec. 13 at Gulfstream Park. Owner/breeder Charlotte Weber also has homebreds in the Tropical Park Oaks.View the full article

Beginning next month, the New York Racing Association plans to throttle computer-assisted wagering at one minute until post, limiting these high-volume teams to the same six bets per second ceiling that applies to retail customers.View the full article

Twenty years after his father David tasted Longines Hong Kong International Races success with Vengeance Of Rain, Luke Ferraris is dreaming of etching his name onto the honour roll with My Wish. While Vengeance Of Rain won the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), My Wish will tackle this weekend’s Group One Hong Kong Mile after a superb start to the Hong Kong season. “These are the races everyone wants to win and if you win one, it puts your name up there with some of the best,” said Luke...View the full article

Speaking Dec. 9 at the Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson, Ariz., Lonny Powell revealed that a long-held nonprofit license in Ocala could be used to develop a new racetrack to support Florida's beleaguered Thoroughbred industry.View the full article