Blood-Horse

After beating Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup (G1), Forever Young enters the April 5 Dubai World Cup (G1) looking around for another challenger.

Undefeated in three starts around one turn, Eclatant aims to solidify her place among the best of the 3-year-old filly sprint division in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 6.

Stonestreet Stables' Emery looks to extend to three her unbeaten streak at Keeneland as she will face familiar foes and talented older mares in the $650,000 Madison Stakes (G1) April 5.

The world-record setting son of Not This Time will stand for a fee of AU$27,500 when he shuttles to Widden Stud for the first time later this year. He currently stands at Winstar Farm near Versailles, Ky. for US$30,000.

Three major Kentucky Derby (G1) preps are this weekend. Don't miss a race with this handy schedule of programs on radio and TV compiled by America's Best Racing.

The non-profit Manitoba Jockey Club, operators of Assiniboia Downs, announced the addition of five new members to the board of directors, bringing the total to 11.

The season kicked off Dec. 26, 2024, with the largest non-weekend or holiday opening day crowd in 34 years. To date, Santa Anita has hosted more than 293,000 visitors during the Classic Meet, a gain of more than 8% over last year.

While Forever Young is the talk of the Dubai World Cup media briefings April 2, out on the track it was the Noburu Takagi-trained pair of Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro that drew admiring glances after going through their pre-World Cup paces. 

In July, Sharon O'Regan will become CEO of Weatherbys Limited—succeeding Russell Ferris, who is moving on to become the Managing Director of Racecourse Media Group.

Jose Ortiz won three stakes races, including sweeping the track’s feature races, the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Fantasy (G2) on March 29 and the Hot Springs Stakes on March 30. The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week.

The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced that it has authorized expenditures of $2,693,312 to fund 16 new projects and 10 continuing projects at 17 universities, as well as two career development awards.

Just in case he wasn't already front-of-mind with racing fans worldwide, Japan's Forever Young stirred souls in the Saudi Cup (G1), prevailing over Romantic Warrior (IRE) in one of the greatest stretch duels in international dirt racing history.

The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour preserved his unblemished record in Sydney group 1 races when he added the April 2 Tancred Stakes (G1) to his back-to-back 2023 triumphs in the Ranvet Stakes (G1) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).

Maiden Watch: Week of March 24-30

An amended Florida Senate bill 408 passed the state's Regulated Industries Committee April 1 despite nearly two hours of testimony from those opposed to the legislation that would decouple Thoroughbred racing from gaming in the state.

During an April 1 meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation's Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee meeting, a Kentucky Downs advertising budget double the size it received in 2024 was approved for $974,000.

Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Flood Zone will aim to take a circuitous route to this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) when he starts in the $1 million UAE Derby (G2) March 5 at Meydan in his final start ahead of the United States classics.

Calling all Thoroughbred owners and racing enthusiasts. The Backside Learning Center is hosting its Derby Handicapping Social at Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville, Ky. April 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET.

After winning the Florida Derby (G1) last week with the Brad Cox-trained Tappan Street, owners WinStar Farm and CHC have an opportunity at another top-level stakes victory April 5 when River Thames competes in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

Lexington is forecast to experience rain showers and thunderstorms April 2-6, putting a damper on Keeneland's highly anticipated opening weekend. What that means for a race like the $600,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3T) is to be determined.