Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher faces a pending medication violation for the presence of the controlled substance betamethasone in his horse, Vassimo, who won his debut Dec. 14 at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.
The jockey had previously been ruled out of action at the start of the 2024 season after he had suffered a fractured heel after he had been working on the track.
Ten-year-old Rufio was competing in the final race of the Virgin Bet Christmas Jumper Raceday in Musselburgh when he unseated his jockey.
A Queensland jockey has been rushed to hospital after a horse bit off his finger in a bloody accident
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Tuesday's meetings at Southwell, Fontwell and Uttoxeter.
DOMINIC KING: Frankie Dettori has admitted he is embroiled in a mess with HMRC after the courts dismissed his plea for anonymity in a long-running tax avoidance case.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Monday's meetings at Lingfield, Musselburgh, Wolverhampton and Newcastle.
DOMINIC KING: There was barely time to note that Jonbon had moved on to millionaire's row before he was being burdened with the hopes of a nation.
If an inflation adjusted £3billion blackhole doesn't sound the alarm bell to racing's leaders about the future of racing then nothing will.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Saturday's meetings at Sandown, Wetherby, Chepstow, Aintree and Wolverhampton.
Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan remains in intensive care in hospital after a fall at Thurles last week.
Sir Gino, one of the hottest favourites for next month's Cheltenham Festival, is admitted to an equine hospital and ruled out for the season.
ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption and After the Finish Line's Valentine's Moneigh Auction Feb. 16 and ends Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. ET. Proceeds benefit Off Track Thoroughbreds. Several original Moneighs are the last ones we have to offer horse racing fans.
The 2024 California-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting March 3 at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia, Calif.
You'd better believe the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be a hot topic this spring in the Boston Red Sox locker room. Two of their players already have been bitten by the horse racing bug: Walker Buehler and Alex Bregman.
The Inglis Digital USA February Sale closed Feb. 12 with an 80% clearance rate, led by Suga Steve, who rode a three-race winning streak into an $80,000 purchase by Starry Night Racing.
The west coast Florida track north of Tampa said it's proud of its nearly 100-year-old history of racing.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled live racing Feb. 12 due to the winter storm that impacted the area Feb. 11 into the early morning hours Wednesday.
Reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat won the Sam F. Davis Stakes aboard John Hancock Feb. 8, then flew to Santa Anita Park Feb. 9 where he won the Sweet Life Stakes aboard Casalu.
Equibase aims to cast a wide net as it begins to work on a ratings system that will serve as an option for racing secretaries in setting future racing conditions while perhaps providing an alternative to claiming races.
An expanded racing radio and TV schedule from America's Best Racing now includes individual stakes coverage.
Cheltenham Festival fans face a potential Guinness shortage.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw has bought into three thoroughbred horses, who will race out of McPeek Stables.
Nicky Henderson has revealed his plans for Constitution Hill ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Darren Yates has revealed that he has sold sensational prospect The New Lion.
Once an England international, Mick Channon has banked millions after becoming a renowned horse trainer.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Friday's meetings at Sandown, Newcastle, Exeter and Sedgefield.
Three years ago the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) set a deadline of October 2024 for all racecourses to 'meet the current and future needs of jockeys of all ages and genders.
The 44-year-old jockey, who is best known for riding 'wonder from Down Under' Black Caviar to her Diamond Jubilee stakes victory in 2012.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Thursday's meetings at Leicester, Wincanton, Chelmsford City and Market Rasen.
DOMINIC KING: Dan Skelton will attack the King George VI Chase with Grey Dawning after the gelding's outstanding physical condition made the trainer dramatically change his plans.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Wednesday's meetings at Haydock, Ludlow, Kempton and Lingfield.
Talented Australian jockey Cassey Martinan has cheated death following a horrifying fall at Pinjarra in Western Australia. The 25-year-old was hurled to the track and quickly rushed to hospital.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Tuesday's meetings at Newcastle, Lingfield, and Southwell.
Willie Mullins' mare dismantled Teahupoo, winner of the Hatton's Grace for the past two seasons, and so emphatic was her display that her price for the Champion Hurdle was slashed.
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Monday's meetings at Wolverhampton, Plumpton and Ffos Las - where there is due to be a raceday inspection at 7.30am.
Haras d'Etreham boss Nicolas de Chambure said that he jumped at the opportunity to snap up a weanling foal by Australian super sire Extreme Choice (Aus) for €110,000 from JK Thoroughbreds at the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Wednesday.
De Chambure, who spent time in Australia prior to taking the reins at Haras d'Etreham, revealed that he will be playing the long game with the sale-topper who it is hoped will one day join the broodmare band at the leading French stud.
“I thought she was a filly we really needed to see on paper and I liked her physically so I said we'd give it a go,” a delighted de Chambure said on Wednesday evening.
Extreme Choice stands for a whopping A$275,000 at Newgate Stud in Australia. It is well-documented that the brilliant sire of Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside (Aus), Melbourne...
Later this week, breeding sheds across the Lexington region will open their doors to mares, but in the lead-up to the start of the 2025 mating season, there is an underlying feeling of unease in the Bluegrass.
Several farms have already–and quite publicly–announced discounts off their initially posted stud fees, while others are either fighting hard to attract mares, or shopping private deals or fee reductions. The fear among many in town is that in 2025, the industry has reached some sort of tipping point–either due to the economy, a mare shortage, inflation, stud fees, or too many horses being exported abroad–that is leaving stallions dangerously exposed.
But if the reasons attributed to the current situation are somewhat murky, most of the people interviewed for this story agreed on one thing: this is the hardest year farms have ever had in filling their stallion books.
“I have heard the same things being said,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “Certainly, to me...
Our business already includes one John whose namesake signed the Declaration of Independence. (Good day to you, Mr. Penn.) But now we have another, this time on four legs, bidding to confirm that Constitution–if not a founding father–is certainly a patriarch in the making.
Yet if the Sam F. Davis Stakes winner were to carve his “John Hancock” on the GI Kentucky Derby roll of honor, he would only be further magnifying two names whose Churchill achievements are already outsized.
One is that of his dam Scribbling Sarah (Freud), who ended her track career under a $5,000 tag at Finger Lakes but has already produced a Grade I winner. The other belongs to a woman who, albeit no longer directly involved with this mare, must be counted one of our sport's principal overachievers in recent times.
On retirement, Scribbling Sarah was purchased for $7,500 by...
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a sister to Group 1 winner Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
8.0 Chelmsford, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, f, 10f (AWT)
MAGICAL TREASURE (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) debuts for Charlie Appleby in a fascinating contest and takes the eye as a full-sister to the G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Sea Silk Road (Ire) who cost 575,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 offering. She is joined by the yard's experienced fellow Godolphin...
Sabrina Nakasone, a senior and Leslie Batista, a junior, were selected for this year's class have been selected to join Santa Anita as interns through an ongoing partnership with California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), studying in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Equine Studies program. Both are majoring in Animal Science Pre-Veterinary with a minor in Equine Studies at Cal Poly Pomona.
The internship program, which began last year, is designed to provide students with work experience in the Thoroughbred racing industry with a focus on veterinary best practices and racetrack operations. Each student will complete a minimum of 60 hours between now and the internships end on May 10.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Cal Poly Pomona, providing driven Equine Studies students an introduction to the Thoroughbred racing industry and best veterinary practices with Santa Anita's incredible team,” said Jodie Vella-...
Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Red Maids (GB) topped the Tattersalls Online February Sale on Wednesday.
The 5-year-old, sold as lot 134 from the draft of Mark Rimell Racing, went to JS Bloodstock/Moigne Combe Stud for 64,000gns. A winner on turf and the all-weather, the bay is a half-sister to stakes winner and multiple group-placed mare Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Billy Jackson-Stops said, “She has been bought for new breeders, Moigne Combe Stud, who are well known on the polo scene. It's a family we can watch improve and, as an Invincible Spirit mare, she could work well with the Dubawi line which has produced the likes of [2000 Guineas winner] Notable Speech.”
Next on the buyers' sheet was a breeding right in Ardad (Ire) (lot 127), which sold to Childwickbury Stud for 23,000gns. The sire of Perfect Power (Ire), the son of Kodiac (GB) won the G2 Flying Childers Stakes and Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.
Goldie Racing...
Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
In this week's rulings, trainer Peter Miller has been suspended 15 days and fined $2,500 after his trainee Forgiving Spirit tested positive for Tramadol after finishing third at Del Mar Aug. 10 last
year. The suspension began on Feb. 7.
Tramadol is Class B controlled medication under HISA. It's used as a pain reliever. This was Miller's second resolved Class B controlled medication violation since the advent of HISA's
anti-doping and medication control program.
Miller has a prior...
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”) and its prohibited substance enforcement unit, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (“HIWU”), are to be commended for withdrawing the TCO2 charges against numerous trainers with respect to a rash of positives in Pennsylvania, which, by inference, they allege are caused by so-called “milkshaking.” “Milkshaking” is the practice of pumping baking soda into a horse's stomach, which is believed to prevent or slow lactic acid buildup in horses and allow them to run faster and for longer periods. The numerous positives coming out of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory seemed to make little sense, as more and more Pennsylvania horsemen were being charged, yet very few positives for the same violation were found elsewhere, nor had there been a TCO2 violation in Pennsylvania...
Horseplay, an exhibit showcasing over 50 rare and antique board games focused on horseracing, will be displayed at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket beginning on Apr. 4. The games are on loan to the NHM from a private collection, and the exhibition is thought to be the largest display of horseracing-themed board games ever opened to the public. The games on display range from a wooden box with a hand crank dating from 1880, to a madcap drinking game where nobody can visit the loo before a 'pee break' card is drawn. Others include antique playing cards, a board game endorsed by a Hollywood legend and another invented by a famous composer. Visitors follow a Grand National-themed racetrack through the exhibition, rolling a giant dice to proceed, and pausing at interactive stations named after the jumps at Aintree. Along the way, people can view antique and contemporary games, and have a go at playing on replicas.
Tickets for the NHM are £15, with children...
With an economic impact of more than $3.2 billion to the state, the importance of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County, and Florida as a whole, cannot be overstated. Any action that threatens the viability of our racing and breeding operations is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, Inc. (OBS) is proud to be the leading seller of two-year-olds in training in the world and while the sales attract a broad group of domestic and international buyers, it is critical that OBS along with the Florida horsemen and breeders have a stable environment in our own backyard. OBS is a center of commerce for the Thoroughbred marketplace in Florida and often relied upon to generate income to help sustain training and breeding operations. Therefore, we have been steadfast in our opposition to decoupling.
It is important to understand that the bill for decoupling is in the initial stages and has a long way to get to the finish line. Simply put, decoupling will...
