Constitution Hill worked at Newbury racecourse on Tuesday morning with his exceptionally talented stablemate Sir Gino; this was his first appearance in public for 267 days.
In a shock result, Certain Style and jockey Tyrese Cameron were 22 lengths ahead of the competition when they crossed the finish line in the Apprentice Handicap.
ED CHAMBERLIN: It has been my privilege to be a sports broadcaster for 25 years but I can't recall a more difficult day than Sunday at Cheltenham.
The average and median saw an increase from 2024, with the average up to $48,584, from $47,013, and a 47% increase in the median, up to $22,000 from $15,000. A total of 723 horses sold for $35,125,900.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Tuesday's meetings at Southwell, Fakenham, Carlisle and Lingfield.
Viewers of the Teatime show at 7.15pm were shocked to learn that all three fatal incidents were shown a second time, taking to social media site X to share their disappointment.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Monday's meetings at Plumpton, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Southwell and Exeter.
Abuffalosoldier had produced an incredible display of jumping and galloping in the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase and crossed the line to a hero's ovation.
DOMINIC KING: The emotion was understandable. This was the first winner to come from Martin's County Meath stables since he regained licence at the beginning of November.
Patience is a virtue and it's being seriously tested at the beginning of the jumps season.
Brothers Sean and James Bowen share the spoils at Cheltenham racecourse after a dead heat is recorded between their horses.
A horse which broke free from a Scottish racecourse has been captured on video galloping through a nearby town two miles away.
Olive Nicholls rode winners for her mum and dad in December including her first Ascot victory.
Local jockey Ben Jones guides Ben Pauling-trained Handstands to victory in the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase on Saturday at Ffos Las.
With five runners from four different countries, the Jan. 17 Cape Verdi Stakes (G2T), the feature on the nine-race Dubai Racing Carnival card, is a truly international affair.
The catalog includes nearly 70 horses of racing age or racing prospects, as well as broodmares, broodmare prospects, and short yearlings. Thirty covering sires are represented, including Complexity, Epicenter, Tiz the Law, Uncle Mo, and Vekoma.
JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments' Ferocious, twice grade 1-placed as a 2-year-old, continues to work forwardly at Gulfstream Park for his highly anticipated sophomore debut.
Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Poster, last-out winner of the Dec. 7 Remsen Stakes (G2), will look to double up on stakes wins in New York when he returns for the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 1.
Despite a brief interruption in training due to wildfires in Southern California, Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Straight No Chaser remains on track for a start in the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Feb. 22.
Thorpedo Anna's early 2025 racing schedule could include two races at Oaklawn Park, trainer Kenny McPeek said Jan. 15.
One of Tampa Bay Downs' most popular promotions, the "Live It Up Challenge" online handicapping contest, begins Jan. 18 and runs through March 8, the date of the 45th running of the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Multiple graded stakes winner Chatalas makes her 4-year-old debut and returns to her preferred surface when she starts in the $100,000 La Canada Stakes (G3) Jan. 19 at Santa Anita Park.
Keeneland Library is now presenting the exhibit Of Turf and Stone: Keeneland Through the Ages to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Keeneland Association.
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced the dates of their annual Off to the Races online benefit auction featuring VIP racing experience packages with all proceeds going to support accredited aftercare.
Darren Yates has revealed that he has sold sensational prospect The New Lion.
Nico de Boinville was in bullish form after steering Constitution Hill to victory in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle and his post-race interview was memorable for all the right reasons
Rachael Blackmore will make the trip to Kempton on Boxing Day to ride in the King George VI Chase, rather than staying in Ireland to ride at Leopardstown
Ferny Hollow won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 but has sadly died after falling in a chase at Cork on Sunday
Nicky Henderson has revealed his plans for Constitution Hill ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Patience is a virtue and it's being seriously tested at the beginning of the jumps season.
DOMINIC KING: Paul Nicholls had a glint in his eye and mischief in mind as he took great delight in giving the new definition of 'Fergie Time'.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Saturday's meetings at Uttoxeter, Cheltenham, Newcastle, Wetherby, and Wolverhampton.
DOMINIC KING AT CHELTENHAM: Nico De Boinville has urged critics of the newly launched Jockeys League to look at the bigger picture after marking the competition's opening day in style.
Heading into the final three hurdles, the 10-3 favourite Tommie Beau led the chasing pack and looked on course to secure victory in the 3m 6f 37y steeplechase, after 29 obstacles.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Friday's meetings at Cheltenham, Southwell, Newcastle, and Wolverhampton.
DOMINIC KING: The competition begins on Friday afternoon, on the opening day of Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting, and runs through to Friday, April 4.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Thursday's meetings Taunton, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, and Chelmsford City.
DOMINIC KING: Caldwell Potter, the horse who thrust Sir Alex Ferguson into the record books earlier this year, is close to making his eagerly-awaited return to action.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Wednesday's meetings at Bangor-On-Dee, Lingfield, Ayr and Southwell.
Saturday at Del Mar, longshot Mixto got up to win the Pacific Classic (G1) by a half length over Full Serrano with Reincarnate third. Also on the card, Conclude won the Del Mar Mile (G2), Gold Phoenix three-peated in the Del Mar Handicap (G2), and Motorious repeated the Green Flash Handicap (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Saturday at Del Mar, Raging Torrent held off favorite The Chosen Vron to win the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) by a neck with Big City Lights third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Friday at Woodbine in the rescheduled King's Plate, Caitlinhergrtness beat the boys in the first race in Canada's Triple Crown, by 3/4 of a length over favorite My Boy Prince and Midnight Mascot. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
There were four other stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, the King Edward Stakes (G2) won by Filo Di Arianna, the Bold Venture (G3) won by Patches O'Houlihan, the Catch A Glimpse Stakes won by Shifty, and the Soaring Free Stakes won by Cairo Caper. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Saturday at Del Mar, Iscreamuscream won the Del Mar Oaks (G1) by 1 1/2 lengths over Medoro and Zona Verde with favorite Whiskey Decision finishing sixth. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
As this year ends and we look ahead to the new year, it is time to take a look back at the highs and lows of 2024 and remember those people and horses that we lost.
On opening day for Santa Anita, favorite She Feels Pretty won the Americans Oaks (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths over Kathynmarissa and Medoro. Also on the card, King of Gosford won the Mathis Mile (G2) and Johannes won the San Gabriel Stakes (G2). Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Also on opening day for Santa Anita, favorite Raging Torrent won the Malibu Stakes (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over Stronghold and Imagination. Also on the card, Kopion won the La Brea Stakes (G1) and J B Strikes Back won the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2). Get the results, chart, and photos here.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, favorite Romantic Warrior won his third Longines Hong Kong Cup over Liberty Island with Tastiera third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Longshot Giavellotto rallied to win the Longines Hong Kong Vase over Dubai Honour and favorite Stellenbosch. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
A light work tab Thursday included the return of Grade I winner Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The dark bay, who was last seen winning the 2023 edition of the GI Malibu at Santa Anita, drilled three furlongs on the main track in :36.40 seconds (1/4). It was his first work since Sept. 21.
Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman–the so-called 'Three Amigos'–Speed Boat Beach has four wins over seven starts and $498,000 in earnings. The Baffert trainee was a two-time stakes winner on turf as a 2-year-old before switching to dirt for three starts last year. As a 3-year-old, the colt was second in the GII Santa Anita Sprint and fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita before winning the Malibu by 1 1/2 lengths under Flavien Prat.
Also working on the comeback trail was Kings River Knight (Acclimation), who dominated the California-bred turf division the previous two seasons. Trained...
by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm
Lexington, Ky – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its three-day run Wednesday in Lexington with figures largely in line with its four-day 2024 edition. Through three days, 685 head grossed $33,444,900 for an average of $48,825 and a median of $22,000. The average increased 6% and the median rose 47% from last year's four-day sale when 831 horses grossed $38,330,300 for an average of $46,126 and a median of $15,000. The buy-back rate was 26.34% this year compared to 22.84% a year ago.
“I think it was a good sale,” said Keeneland's Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “I think we have to look at it in the context of the different format. So if you look at the through-the-ring numbers from last year's four days to this year's three days, we had a much higher median. It was just $22,000 from $15,000, but significant, showing the lower end of the market had some substance to it. The...
There are doubtless decisions still to be made and deals to be struck for this year's matings with many breeders taking to the roads since the start of this new year for both the official stallion trails and informal stud visits.
For this last part in our series on value sires for 2025 it is worth restating that value is very much subjective and depends on a number of different factors, including whether the buyer of the nomination is breeding to race or to sell.
This final chapter, for stallions advertised at less than €10,000, covers a broad spectrum of names but let's start with an old favourite, Bated Breath (GB), who is now back where he started in 2013 at £8,000 and just over half his fee of two years ago. Now 18, the Juddmonte homebred is simply a dependable selection: a fast, well-bred horse who has received a reasonably consistent level of support...
Leading Horse of the Year candidate Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has an early 2025 racing schedule that could include two races at Oaklawn or a trip to Dubai, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday afternoon via a press release from the Hot Springs track.
Thorpedo Anna's conditioner said the filly–nicknamed the 'Grizzly Bear' last season–is under consideration for the GII Azeri Stakes Mar. 8 and the GI Apple Blossom Handicap April 12. The Azeri is Oaklawn's final major prep for the Apple Blossom. McPeek said Thorpedo Anna might take on males again–like she did when she was the runner-up in the GI DK Travers Stakes Aug. 24–in the G1 Dubai World Cup Apr. 5.
Thorpedo Anna resumed training earlier this month in Florida in advance of her 4-year-old debut.
“We're not going to rule out her making the Azeri,” McPeek said. “She's such a natural athlete and she's bouncing out of her skin already. It's not going to take long to get her ready. And if I thought...
Godolphin's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) holds pride of place in Friday's AED850,000 G2 Cape Verdi Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors for fillies and mares. The 1600-metre Meydan turf feature will be the first start for the 4-year-old filly since a 12th-place finish in the G1 Prix Jean Prat on July 7. The start prior, she had wound up fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May.
“We are very pleased with Romantic Style heading into her seasonal return and her preparation has gone well,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “This is a starting point ahead of a potential European campaign and, if she runs to the level she showed in the French Guineas, it will make her the one to beat. Hopefully, this can set her up for a good year.”
If the boys in blue don't secure their 12th victory in the race, Goffs €6,000 bargain Easywithme (Ire) (El Kabeir) could take the victory laurels instead. A winner of...
The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) has revealed leadership changes that sees Tanguy Courtois and Kristin Werner joining the Steering Committee.
Courtois is the head of Public Affairs for the Fédération Nationale des Courses Hippiques and Werner is the deputy general counsel and director of industry initiatives for The Jockey Club in the United States. Werner, who has been an active part of the IFAR Conference Committee for several years, is taking the place of Jim Gagliano, the president and COO of The Jockey Club, who has served on the Steering Committee during a long and dedicated tenure.
IFAR chair Dr Eliot Forbes, who is the also the CEO of the Racing Integrity Board in New Zealand, will continue to serve on the Steering Committee, along with Andrew Chesser, the director of business development for The Jockey Club (U.S.) and director of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA); Diana Cooper, director of charities,...
Savabeel (Aus) will join his sire Zabeel (NZ) and grandsire Sir Tristram (Ire) in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. The Waikato Stud-based 23-year-old will be inducted at the 2025 Hall of Fame function in May.
Savabeel completed his 20th season at stud late last year and has sired 988 winners to this day. Of those 148 are stakes winners, 99 of them are Group winners and his 35 Group 1 winners have won a total of 58 races at that level.
“He's ticking over at around a dozen stakes winners per season, so with decent numbers still coming through there's a good chance he can break Zabeel's record for individual stakes winners,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick told racingnews.co.nz.
“However you measure his achievements, Savabeel has done a phenomenal job for us and everyone who has supported him – for the whole breeding industry in fact, it would be fair to say.”
...
Simon Tonge will be the new general manager of Haydock Park Racecourse, The Jockey Club announced on Thursday. He will begin his new role in April of 2025 and succeeds Molly Day, who has left Haydock for a new opportunity in the U.S. Tonge has served as executive director of Bath Racecourse since 2022.
Dickon White, regional director at The Jockey Club, said, “We are delighted to welcome Simon to the team at Haydock Park. His leadership and experience make him the ideal person for this role. April is the perfect time for Simon to join us, as it allows him to settle in just ahead of our busy summer season. We're confident that he will make a significant contribution to the racecourse's ongoing success.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Molly for her dedication and hard work over the years, in her roles at both Haydock Park and Carlisle Racecourses. She has been an integral part of the team, and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.”...
Trainer Pat Flynn, the man responsible for nurturing the talents of Designs On Rome (Ire) in Ireland, paid a glowing tribute to the Hong Kong legend who died at the age of 15 in retirement.
Designs On Rome won close to €6 million in prize-money throughout a glittering career that spanned six seasons. He was bred by Moyglare Stud in Ireland and was picked up for just €10,500 by Flynn at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2011.
“I'll never forget after I bought him, I rang my wife straight away and told her I had bought a champion,” Flynn shared on Thursday. “I called him Designs On Rome because he was by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), and I thought he was so good, that it would be good to call him after the emperor's son, who had designs on taking over the empire. What he did for me and what he went on to achieve in Hong...
Edited Press Release
Keeneland Library is now presenting the exhibit Of Turf and Stone: Keeneland Through the Ages to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Keeneland Association, which established the race track and became a leader in the Thoroughbred industry.
Showcasing photographs and memorabilia tracing the development of Keeneland's grounds, architecture, facilities and innovative industry firsts, the exhibit features photographs curated from Keeneland Library collections and Turf photographers who document today's race meets and events to highlight Keeneland's evolution from 1935 to today.
“Racing has had a home in Lexington since the settlement's founding,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “Keeneland factors into roughly 90 years of the city's rich Thoroughbred industry history dating from the late 1700s, and we are pleased to present this exhibit to coincide with 250LEX celebrations of Lexington's 250th...
