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With only Friday's closing day program remaining, Jaime Rodriguez and Jamie Ness will respectively finish as leading jockey and trainer during Laurel Park's calendar year-opening winter meet.

Trainer Dermot Weld is preparing to unleash sophomore Tarawa and last year's Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) captress Homeless Songs for their 2023 debuts.

The board of trustees of the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation is pleased to announce Cory Moelis has joined the TERF board.

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association will host a Tesio Talk and continental breakfast in the International Room at Laurel Park on Federico Tesio Stakes day, April 15.

There are offerings located throughout the United States, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Jerry O'Dwyer's current stable star, Sibelius—winner of Gulfstream Park's Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) Dec. 31—pulled off a thrilling upset of defending champion Switzerland in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 25 at Meydan Racecourse.

Sentell "Sonny" Taylor Jr. built a career of nearly six decades as a racing official and ambassador for the sport. "What I've especially enjoyed the most is all the different kinds of amazing people I've met and encountered in racing," he said.

Industry veteran Robert Clay does not yet dream of being on the Road to the Kentucky Derby despite knowing a colt he bred will be in the Florida Derby (G1) starting gate.

Tickets for the 40th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 3 and 4 at iconic Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will go on sale Thursday, May 4.

A rundown of television and radio coverage of horse racing for the week as compiled by America's Best Racing.

One of many goals set by president and owner Kevin Preston was bringing back the track's marquee race, the Super Derby.

The 2023 live racing season at Prairie Meadows begins on May 12 with Thoroughbreds. There will be 20 days of Thoroughbred-only racing through June 17. The 60-day mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule will take place June 18-September 30.

The overseas-based Modern Games, who became North America's champion turf male last year after successful excursions to win the Woodbine Mile (G1T) and Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland, will soon be in pursuit of more North American glory.

With standout California turfer Quattroelle absent, Harris Farms' homebred Closing Remarks rates a huge chance from off the pace in the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 1 going a mile on turf at Santa Anita Park.

Just four days ago on a blustery afternoon at Turfway Park, the Sagan family watched as their first homebred, Two Phil's, soared down the stretch to capture the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), thus solidifying a spot in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Dale Romans speaks with Tom Pedulla of America's Best Racing.

Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Kentucky homebred Law Professor drops down from graded company for the April 1 Excelsior Stakes, a $125,000 contest at 1 1/8 miles for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Churchill Downs has partnered with 2X Game Changers and their Future Healers got Zoo Buddies and Planet Savers programs as part of the first 502'sDay celebration. Participants of 2X Game Changers programs, along with Executive Director Christopher 2X, will visit the Churchill Downs stable area Friday, Mar. 31 at 10:30 a.m. for tours followed by a meeting with Dr. Will Farmer, Churchill Downs Equine Medical Director.

502'sDay was created as a nod to Louisville's area code and to celebrate what makes Kentucky Derby Week special: the local community. 2X Game Changers is a nonprofit organization that promotes early childhood education, parental involvement, mentoring, and community involvement to positively transform the lives of children and young people, end violence long term, and make communities safer in the Louisville area.

The new Planet Savers program encourages youth and family development through animal and land conservation activities and waste and recycling advocacy efforts. The Future Healers got Zoo Buddies program engages kids in a curriculum focused on health and sciences by teaching them nutrition, animal care and behaviors, and how to improve their mental health.

Additionally, as part of the partnership, Churchill Downs is funding the opportunity for members of 2X Game Changers to visit Second Stride's Expansion at Chorleywood Farm in Prospect, Kentucky to interact with retired thoroughbreds.

Churchill Downs will also fund a trip to some of Lexington's most historic horse farms on Apr. 10. On 502'sDay, Churchill Downs will honor our 2x Game Changers throughout the day.

More information about the 2X Game Changers platforms can be found online at www.2XGameChangers.org.

The post Churchill Partners with 2X Game Changers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Santa Anita's main track was closed Thursday morning and the training track was limited to only joggers following yet another rainstorm that hit the area this week. Track officials said just over an inch of rain fell on Santa Anita during this latest series of storms, which began Tuesday. Wednesday morning, prior to the heaviest of the rainfall, both the main track and training track were open to gallopers and joggers. There have been no timed workouts at Santa Anita since Tuesday.

On Friday, an eight-race card is scheduled for Santa Anita which includes three turf races. Jason Egan, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary, said on Thursday he expects the card to be a go.

“The weather is supposed to clear out [Thursday], that's why we kept the main track closed to preserve it for racing on Friday,” Egan said. “I think we're going to be in good shape. We also should at least have gallopers and joggers on the main track tomorrow.”

As for the status of Friday's three turf races, Egan said he is hopeful they will remain on the grass.

“We want to wait to see how the rest of today goes weather-wise and then we'll make a determination,” he added.

Following this latest storm, Santa Anita has received more than 34 inches of rain since the start of the Classic Meet on Dec. 26. It's resulted in eight cards to be canceled, though four of those have already been made up. An additional makeup date is scheduled for Friday, Apr. 21.

The post Rain Limits Training at Santa Anita Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Heading into Friday's closing day winter meet card, Jaime Rodriguez and Jamie Ness appear poised to top the jockey and trainer divisions for Laurel Park's concluding Winter Meet.

Rodriguez, 32, holds an 11-win advantage over five-pound apprentice Jeiron Barbosa in the rider standings, 58-47, with eight races remaining. Rodriguez is named in four races Friday, while Barbosa is named in six. It will be the first riding title in Maryland for Rodriguez, who also leads with $1.9 million in purse earnings from 209 mounts. He led the Delaware Park standings in 2021 and 2022, averaging 124 wins.

Ness, 48, leads Brittany Russell in wins, 34-28, heading into closing day where Ness has horses entered in two races (Russell has three entered). With $1.219 million in purse earnings, Ness ranks second to Russell ($1.236 million). It will be the sixth Maryland training title for Ness and first since Pimlico Race Course's 2019 spring meet. Others have come at Pimlico in spring of 2012 and 2015 and Laurel Park fall 2011 and 2012.

Ness is coming off a 2022 season where his horses earned a career-best $10.3 million in purses to go along with 326 wins, the fourth time he has topped the 300 mark including a personal best 395 in 2012. He ranked third in North America in wins in 2022 and 2021 (311) and fifth in 2020 (224). Ness earned his 3,900th career win with Time to Cruise March 22 at Parx, where he has dominated the trainer standings since 2020.

Laurel will open its 21-day spring meet Apr. 1 and race Thursday-Sunday through May 7 with the exception of Easter Sunday Apr. 9. Spring post time will be 12:40 p.m. with a special 12:10 p.m. post time on Kentucky Derby Day, May 6.

The post Rodriguez, Ness Earn Laurel Winter Meet Titles, Spring Meet Begins Apr. 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.