Blood-Horse

Letters to the Editor for BH Daily, Dec. 11, 2025

Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale closed Dec. 10 with gross sales of $10,607,900 for 421 horses sold. The sale gross is believed to establish a record for an online Thoroughbred auction held worldwide.

With the North American Thoroughbred foal crop continuing to contract, numerous panelists speaking Dec. 10 at the Global Symposium on Racing pointed to regional, multi-state cooperation to help stabilize breeding in states with faltering numbers.

Louisiana superstar Touchuponastar will look for his fourth consecutive win in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes Dec. 13 at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots.

Seeking to ease its financial burden on the Thoroughbred industry, HISA aims to shift half of its income collection away from assessments and toward outside revenue streams by 2030. By 2035, HISA plans to be budget-neutral.

The FTBOA announced Dec. 10 that it will waive most registration fees for Florida-bred and Florida-sired foals of 2026. This offer is available exclusively to FTBOA regular members whose names appear as the official breeder of record.

Equibase Company announced Dec. 10 the launch of a pilot program, Pocket PPs, to provide complimentary digital past performances in a simplified, 4” x 9” format.

Ryan Moore returned from rehabbing a broken leg to compete in the Longines Hong Kong International Jockeys' Championship and won it in the final race of the series.

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit alleges that Tamara tested positive for the controlled medication methocarbamol after her victory in the Oct. 4 Chilingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, a finding that jeopardizes that stakes win.

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.

Taylor Made Sales Agency announced Dec. 10 that Tom Hamm, who previously served in a leadership role as the company's farm manager, will be returning to Taylor Made. His new role will be as a Thoroughbred adviser, with a focus on digital sales.

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.

Porter on Pedigrees

Sergei Prokofiev will stand at Anderson Farms in Ontario, where he was bred. The son of Scat Daddy was 2024's leading freshman sire in Great Britain and Ireland.

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.

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.

The Racecourse Association, in Great Britain, confirms that Alex Eade will become its new CEO. In addition, Sir Philip Davies will join the RCA Board as a non-executive director.

Nearly 350 acres of Virginia farmland where legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat frolicked as a colt are now protected forever by a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy.

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.

Through four days of trade, Arqana reported that 666 horses changed hands at a clearance of 77%, down from 82% 12 months ago. The aggregate dropped 13 points to €47,187,300, while the average dipped 16% to €70,850.