Blood-Horse

Interest in Lane's End sire More Than Looks initially put the Kentucky farm and Yulong Investments together in the stallion business. Yulong then raced Raging Torrent and Carl Spackler and sent both to start their stud careers at Lane's End.

Her 3-year-old debut may have been delayed a week by rain, but that did not stop Explora from proving a legitimate contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) as she played with her rivals Jan. 10 in the $98,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last spring, Legion Racing's Drexel Hill kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with a triumph in the $100,000 Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 10.

In a four-horse blanket finish, Khaya Stables' homebred The Real Prince prevailed by a nose over Questioning Jan. 10 to win the King's Plate (G1) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in South Africa.

Jockey Gregg McCarron, who won more than 2,400 races in a 24-year career and who steered his younger brother, Chris McCarron, to a Hall of Fame career as a rider, died on his 96-acre farm near Mt. Airy, Md., Jan. 8. He was 77.

The mission to open racing up to a neurodiverse audience will move to a new continent this spring when Dubai stages an autism-friendly race day.

WinStar Farm's pensioned sire Distorted Humor, a champion freshman sire, champion general sire, and champion broodmare sire who continues to influence the breed, was euthanized Jan. 10 due to the infirmities of old age. He was 33.

Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures' Queen Maxima is set to make her 5-year-old debut in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 11, where she will face eight rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong event over Santa Anita Park's downhill turf course.

Jockey Gregg McCarron, who won more than 2,400 races in a 24-year career and who steered his younger brother, Chris McCarron, to a Hall of Fame career as a rider, died on his 96-acre farm near Mt. Airy, Md., Jan. 8. He was 77.

Buyers are likely to target the progeny by first-crop yearling sires of 2026. Heading the class by their 2025 weanling average is Darley Stallions' Cody's Wish, who was represented by 14 sold that averaged $281,071.

Newly turned 3-year-old colt Express Kid, offered in a one-horse flash sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital, sold for $800,000 to Brad Kleven. A son of Bodexpress, Express Kid was offered as a horse of racing age by Paramount Sales, agent. 

The catalog for the Goffs February Sale is now online and features a diverse blend of 2-year-olds, horses in training, and stores as well as short yearlings and breeding stock.

The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California unanimously voted to appoint owner John G. Sikura to fill the vacant seat of Nick Alexander, subject to full board ratification at the upcoming Jan. 30 meeting.

Making his 13th start of the year and 100th of his career, the 11-year-old gelding Surprsinglyperfect has been named the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association's 2025 National Claiming Horse of the Year.

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 350 entries for the main catalog of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, to be held Feb. 9 in Lexington. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. ET.

Pleasant Acres Stallions announced Jan. 9 the arrival of Mr Fisk's first reported foal, a healthy filly out of New York-bred Brass Cat, a daughter of Bluegrass Cat. The filly arrived at 3:25 a.m. ET Friday morning for breeder Martine Britell.  

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority says the proposed changes to its Enforcement Rules (Rule Series 8000) officially have been approved by the Federal Trade Commission. These changes will take effect Jan. 19, 2026.

Highly respected Maryland horseman and manager for 40 years of historic Worthington Farms in Glyndon, Md., Kevin R. Kellar died Dec. 24. He was 71 years old.  

Owner Steve De'Lemos paid a tearful tribute to Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) winner Live In The Dream, who died this week. He and his wife Jolene were with the sprinter as his life ended at Donnington Grove Equine Vets Newbury.

This free edition of Racing Post's Good Morning Bloodstock catches up with Europe's oldest active sire.