Blood-Horse

Natural Rise toyed with the opposition in the June 11 Tokyo Derby at Oi Racecourse before winning with ease and moving within one win of sweeping Japan's Dirt Triple Crown.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced June 11 that bluegrass music and award-winning Dan Tyminski Band will perform live at the TOBA National Awards Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington.

The International Conference for the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Jockeys will take place Dec. 11-12 in Hong Kong.

The star of her division last fall, 2-year-old champion filly Immersive is finally set to make her 3-year-old debut June 14 at Churchill Downs in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes.

United States trainer Wesley Ward will not saddle any runners at Royal Ascot for the first time since 2012 after pulling plans at the last minute to send over a juvenile team headed by the unbeaten Outfielder.

The Equine Veterinary Journal's new collection on racehorse safety, sponsored by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, provides free access to science-based, data-driven research. 

Snitzel, Australia's four-time champion stallion, sire of 23 group 1 winners and 160 stakes winners to date, was euthanized June 11 at age 22 owing to age-related issues, chiefly a deterioration in the liver.

BetMakers Technology Group is pleased to announce a new partnership with Total Performance Data (TPD), delivering dynamic, in-the-run horse racing odds to operators via BetMakers' industry-leading technology platforms.

Following the first loss of her career, trainer Brad Cox is uncertain where Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer will start next.

Carl Spackler impressed in his gallop under Jamie Spencer, with the 5-year-old set to make his debut for Australian handler Ciaron Maher in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1).

After months of speculation, James Cummings, one of Australia's best trainers, confirmed June 11 that he will join the Hong Kong training ranks next year.

Velazquez won a total of six stakes including three designated grade 1 and one grade 3 for a total of nine wins for the week. The panel of racing experts voted the Hall of Famer Jockey of the Week for June 2-8.

The National Thoroughbred League is getting involved in the resurgence of trading cards as it recently unveiled its first set made by Leaf, which will be released this fall.

Maiden Watch: Week of June 2-June 8

The Blue Sapphire crew sent out Hip 45, a filly by Combatant who worked a quarter mile in :20 4/5, the fastest time at the distance on the day at the first session of the OBS June Sale under tack show June 10.

Porter on Pedigrees

In a breakthrough demonstration of its predictive power, StrideSAFE—a wearable sensor used on all horses racing in Kentucky—identified a high risk of injury in a stakes-level Thoroughbred.

William Haggas has suffered a major blow to his Royal Ascot plans after Economics was ruled out of the meeting after pulling a muscle.

Affinity Interactive, the parent company of Daily Racing Form, announced the successful sale of its advance-deposit wagering platform, DRF Bets, to 1/ST Technology.

Sovereignty rocketed to the No. 1 spot on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll released June 10, following his dominating win in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1).