Ciaron Maher again proved himself an exceptional trainer of juveniles when exciting colt Unit Five, a son of Widden Stud sire Supido, claimed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic Jan. 17 at the Gold Coast.
Photographs posted to social media Jan. 17 and confirmed on-site by longtime Southern California reporter Kevin Modesti appeared to show law enforcement officials removing Santa Anita Park's newly installed "Racing On Demand" gaming terminals.
Noel Michaels is a handicapper and tournament-play pioneer, who also writes a weekly "Weekend Winners" blog for America's Best Racing with a focus on key stakes races at marquee tracks.
Start the Ride wore down Sammy Davis in the stretch to capture the $175,500 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.
A tsunami of litigation has flowed from the creation of so-called prediction markets that compete with horse racing for gambling dollars. Dozens of court cases are tasked with deciding exactly what those markets are and how they should be regulated.
Via Sistina, Yulong's multiple group 1-winning champion, has been retired and will return to the United Kingdom to be covered by Darley's leading stallion Dubawi.
England completed their flawless Autumn international run with a hard-fought 27-23 win against Argentina.
Compare and contrast the fields for the Juddmonte International and Yorkshire Oaks at York's Ebor Festival this week and you will see what a curious position British racing is at the highest level.
DOMINIC KING: British racing has taken the astonishing decision to go on strike with all four meetings set to be staged on September 10 being cancelled.
Horse racing is in mourning following the death of iconic trainer Bill Turner at the age of 78 on Thursday. The unfortunate incident involved a colt he had been reportedly riding at his Dorset yard.
Three horses, including the Grade One winning Kalif Du Berlais, die after sustaining injuries in separate incidents during Kempton Park's Lanzarote Hurdle card.
Ian Balding, the legendary trainer of the 1971 Derby winner Mill Reef, dies at the age of 87.
Cheltenham Racecourse welcomes more than 44,000 spectators as its New Year's Day fixture sells out for the first time.
Teenage jockey Billy Loughnane breaks the record for the most wins in a calendar year in the 21st Century.
Her Majesty shares her own experience of assault in a discussion with John and Amy Hunt about violence against women.
Affordale Fury's strong finish delivers a first Grade One winner for County Down owner Philip Polly in a thrilling Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Lossiemouth takes the final Grade One win of the year, holding off 2024 winner Brighterdaysahead in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Trainer Gordon Elliott takes two Grade One wins on the second day of racing at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival as jockey Sam Ewing takes secures victories in two of the major races of the day.
Sean Bowen delivers a home victory aboard Haiti Couleurs to win the 2025 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Harry Redknapp's The Jukebox Man rallies at the last to clinch a thrilling victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.
Ciaron Maher again proved himself an exceptional trainer of juveniles when exciting colt Unit Five, a son of Widden Stud sire Supido, claimed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic Jan. 17 at the Gold Coast.
Photographs posted to social media Jan. 17 and confirmed on-site by longtime Southern California reporter Kevin Modesti appeared to show law enforcement officials removing Santa Anita Park's newly installed "Racing On Demand" gaming terminals.
Noel Michaels is a handicapper and tournament-play pioneer, who also writes a weekly "Weekend Winners" blog for America's Best Racing with a focus on key stakes races at marquee tracks.
Start the Ride wore down Sammy Davis in the stretch to capture the $175,500 California Chrome Cal Cup Derby Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.
A tsunami of litigation has flowed from the creation of so-called prediction markets that compete with horse racing for gambling dollars. Dozens of court cases are tasked with deciding exactly what those markets are and how they should be regulated.
Via Sistina, Yulong's multiple group 1-winning champion, has been retired and will return to the United Kingdom to be covered by Darley's leading stallion Dubawi.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux's two lightly raced 3-year-old colts, Golden Tempo and Mesquite, finish 1-2 in the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
The connections of Accelerize signed him up for a lot of firsts Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds Race Course and the lightly raced son of Omaha Beach proved up to task, posting a neck victory in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Stakes (G3) for older horses.
The new Maryland Jockey Club hosts the "Laurel Park February First Chance, Last Chance Handicapping Challenge," a one-day hybrid on-site or online handicapping contest taking place Feb. 14 at Laurel Park or through Xpressbet and TVG/4NJBETS.
Sir Alex Ferguson's horse Kalif Du Berlais, who is part-owned by the Manchester United legend, died at Kempton on Saturday.
The father of Clare Balding, Derby-winning trainer Ian Balding, has passed away, it has been confirmed.
DAILY EXPRESS racing ace Melissa Jones has been crowned the best newspaper tipster in the country.
A home owned by a racing star was engulfed in flames, with two people hospitalised after the blaze left the property a total loss.
Picks for Newbury, Leopardstown, Doncaster and Kelso on Monday, December 29
Selections for the four ITV races from Chepstow and five from Kempton on Saturday, December 27
Jockey Paul Kavanagh sadly died in a car accident on Christmas Eve and fellow jockeys wore black armbands on Friday.
Picks for the live races on ITV including the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park
A teenage jockey tragically died after falling from his horse.
Selections for the seven ITV races on Saturday, January 17
England completed their flawless Autumn international run with a hard-fought 27-23 win against Argentina.
Compare and contrast the fields for the Juddmonte International and Yorkshire Oaks at York's Ebor Festival this week and you will see what a curious position British racing is at the highest level.
DOMINIC KING: British racing has taken the astonishing decision to go on strike with all four meetings set to be staged on September 10 being cancelled.
Horse racing is in mourning following the death of iconic trainer Bill Turner at the age of 78 on Thursday. The unfortunate incident involved a colt he had been reportedly riding at his Dorset yard.
The 78-year-old suffered a fractured skull after an accident involving a colt he had been riding at his Dorset yard, according to Sky Sports.
DOMINIC KING: Loughnane is known as 'Billy The Kid' and he rides with a gunslinger's cool. He is only 19 and this represented a colossal moment in his career.
We've all been there as punters.
Top jockey Noel Callow is under investigation after a racially‑charged video filmed in Darwin surfaced online
The horse, named Qirat and ridden by Richard Kingscote, caused a huge shock on Wednesday at one of the most prestigious events in the global racing calendar.
The incoming chairman of the British Horseracing Authority was named last November with a view to taking up the role on June 2.
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 2025 and remember those people and horses that we lost.
On opening day for Santa Anita, Ambaya won the Americans Oaks (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over Cliffs and Will Then. Also on the card, Hiding in Honduras won the Mathis Mile (G2) and Cabo Spirit won the San Gabriel Stakes (G2). Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Also on opening day for Santa Anita, favorite Goal Oriented won the Malibu Stakes (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths over Midland Money and Speedy Wilson. Also on the card, Usha won the La Brea Stakes (G1) and Nysos won the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2). Get the results, chart, and photos here.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, favorite Romantic Warrior won the Longines Hong Kong Cup for the fourth year in a row, over Bellagio Opera with Quisisana third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
French trained Sosie rallied past Giavellotto to win the Longines Hong Kong Vase with Goliath third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Local hero Voyage Bubble won his second straight Hong Kong Mile by 1/2 a length over Soul Rush with Red Lion third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Heavy favorite Ka Ying Rising repeated in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint gate-to-wire over Raging Blizzard with Fast Network third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Photos and comments from Thursday morning at Sha Tin Racecourse, including several scenic photos.
Irish jockey Ryan Moore won the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday evening in Hong Kong, while Hugh Bowman and William Buick tied for second place. Get the results and photos here.
Entries closed and post positions were drawn on Thursday for the 2025 Longines Hong Kong International Races to be held on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. Get the entries and posts for all four races here.
Two days after first being quietly unveiled at Santa Anita, the Racing on Demand slot machine-style parimutuel games-with distinct similarities to Historic Horse Racing-were removed from the track by Department of Justice law enforcement officers Saturday afternoon in a pubic operation that saw DOJ personnel wheel the machines out the back of the Santa Anita grandstand on gurneys during racing.
Given the apparent abruptness of the law enforcement operation, little information was shared publicly about who and what precipitated the action.
But reached briefly Sunday morning, Los Angeles Turf Club senior vice-president Scott Daruty explained that the state Attorney General's office, under Rob Bonta, gave the order. This, after the AG's office had apparently received fore-warning about the machines nearly a year ago before they were made operational.
“There was no court order. There was no court action. There was no seizure warrant. This was an action of the...
Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable's Accelerize (c, 4, Omaha Beach–Motion Emotion, by Take Charge Indy) tackled a seasoned field in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds in just his fourth career start and prevailed in a hard-fought stretch battle. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his stakes debut.
Just a Touch (Justify), the 3-5 favorite after returning from six months on the sidelines and multiple Grade I placings, hopped awkwardly out of the Louisiana gate. Meanwhile, Accelerize had left the stalls sharply and went straight to the lead as MGSP Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), making his first start since an off-the-board finish in the...
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Struck By Her in Arcadia.
Mehmas Filly Finds Her Way
Struck By Her delivered in her American debut and third overall start for trainer Philip D'Amato on January 11 (video). Owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Ross Helman, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, the filly is by Mehmas.
Bred by Ringfort Stud, the daughter of Struck By The Moon (Fastnet Rock) sold for €10,000 out of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale to John O'Neill from the consignment of Ringfort Stud. She raced in Ireland for John Martin O'Neill and trainer Andrew Slattery. The third winner for her dam, Struck By Her has a juvenile half-sister by Cotai Glory and a yearling filly by...
The team at Tally-Ho Stud has welcomed the arrival of two foals from the first crop of the G1 Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel, including a half-sister to the multiple Group 3 winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Spycatcher (Vadamos).
The filly is joined on the ground by a colt out of the Bernardini mare Hairpin, a half-sister to the G1 Dewhurst Stakes scorer Intense Focus. Hairpin has already produced four winners, including the Listed Martin Molony Stakes hero Dadoozdart (Dawn Approach).
Hairpin's latest foal is described as “a strong, quality colt”, while the filly out of Damask (Red Clubs) – who is herself a half-sister to the G1 Criterium International winner Zafisio (Efisio) – is said to be “another quality representative”.
King Of Steel, who also filled the runner-up...
Yulong's champion racemare Via Sistina has been retired from racing and is set to return to the UK in the coming weeks in preparation for a visit to Dubawi.
Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud, Via Sistina was initially trained by Joe Tuite after being bought by Stephen and Becky Hillen for just 5,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. When Tuite retired from the training ranks in August 2022, having saddled Via Sistina to win two of her first six starts, she was transferred to the care of George Boughey, with whom she progressed rapidly through the ranks.
As a five-year-old, the daughter of Fastnet Rock followed a six-length romp in Newmarket's G2 Dahlia Stakes with a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, before going on to finish placed at the top level on three other occasions that season, including when runner-up to King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
It was at the end of 2023 that Via...
Two days after first being quietly unveiled at Santa Anita, the Racing on Demand slot machine-style parimutuel games—with distinct similarities to Historic Horse Racing—were removed from the track by Department of Justice law enforcement officers Saturday afternoon.
In videos shared with the TDN, law enforcement officers are seen wheeling the machines out the back of the Santa Anita grandstand on gurneys.
There have been 26 machines in total operating in the grandstand pavilion since Thursday. They offered $1 bets and required gamblers to select the first three finishers of three random six-horse previously-run races.
The ultimate purpose of the machines was to provide a much-needed additional source of income for Santa Anita's purses, which have struggled to compete with other states where purse accounts are juiced by supplemental revenue sources like HHR machines.
The question had been whether the machines were legal or not without explicit approval...
Golden Tempo (c, 3, Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in a last-to-first debut victory sprinting at Fair Grounds Dec. 20, ran by them all once again to stay perfect with a 3/4-length victory in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, good for 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Mesquite (Union Rags) rounded out the Cherie DeVaux-trained exacta. Longshot Carson Street (Street Sense), forwardly placed throughout, held on for third.
The 5-2 favorite raced toward the rear through fractions of :23.72 and :47.11. The Phipps Stable...
The California girl came east and started her 2026 season with a strong effort as Medoro (Honor Code) ran down her rivals late to win the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Twice placed at the Grade I-level as a 3-year-old two seasons back, she spent her entire '25 campaign at Del Mar. The daughter of Honor Code started that year with a win in the Osunitas Stakes in mid-July, and it proved to be her only time in the winner's enclosure in four tries. That being said, she still produced good efforts to get up for a piece of the trifecta in the GII John C. Mabee and GIII Goldikova Stakes before taking another swing at elite company last out Nov. 30 in the GI Matriarch Stakes. Pulled and checked early in that running, she managed to get up for sixth against a salty field with experience at the highest levels domestically and abroad.
Hammered at the windows for this '26 season start, Medoro went off at even-money while racing on Lasix for the...
Taken by the Wind (Rock Your World), still undefeated in three starts for trainer Ken McPeek, cemented her place in the top three on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Saturday, gutting out a gate-to-wire win in the Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Making her first start since a triumphant win in the Road to the Oaks opener in last year's GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept, 13, the daughter from the first crop of Spendthrift Farm stallion Rock Your World began her career going a sloppy seven furlongs at Saratoga in maiden optional claiming company Aug. 21. She then earned 10 points towards a start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill and picked up another 20 points Saturday, currently good for co-third on the leaderboard.
Drawn towards the outside in this six-horse field, Taken by the Wind took immediate advantage of the lack of pace and strolled right to the front,...
Journalism (Curlin), last year's GI Preakness S., GI Santa Anita Derby and GI NYRA Bets Haskell S. winner, is back home at Santa Anita after receiving a winter break at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida. He jogged on the main track for the first time Saturday morning.
“It seemed like the ship went fine–he's full of himself,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Happy he's back.”
McCarthy added, “He'll start galloping here in a few days get back in his routine.”
Under consideration as a major goal for Journalism the first half of the season is the GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga, which is usually run in June.
“We'll see how it goes here over the next couple of months. But yeah, that's certainly something to think about,” McCarthy said.
Journalism was voted a finalist as North America's outstanding 3-year-old-male of 2025.
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