Blood-Horse

The New York Racing Association plans to run 196 racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course, and the new Belmont Park in 2026. 

Thoroughbreds are hitting the track early as Will Rogers Downs kicks off spring racing season on Jan. 12. The earlier start , nearly two months ahead of last year's March 3 opening, will conclude on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2.

The 2026 live racing schedule at Parx Racing has been released and features 149 days of live racing throughout the year, highlighted by the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 19.

Letters to the editor for the Dec. 18 issue of BloodHorse Daily

Spendthrift Farm's Tamara has been disqualified from her Oct. 4 win in the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park after a drug test by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit indicated the presence of the muscle relaxant methocarbamol.

The Texas Stallion Stakes Series now has a pathway to nominate 2-year-olds.

Defending race winner Major Dude and fellow millionaires Wolfie's Dynaghost and Chasing the Crown lead a stacked group of 10 older horses in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G3T) Dec. 20 at Gulfstream Park.

Two well-related mares stole the show during the Inglis Digital December (Late) Online Sale that closed Dec. 17, selling for AU$140,000 each in the final sale of 2025 for the auction company.

A highly respected team of equine veterinarians is set to serve the 2025-26 racing season at Santa Anita Park starting Dec. 26 with opening day of the Classic Meet.

Oaklawn's 2025 Thoroughbred racing season opened emphatically, with strong attendance, record wagering, and memorable on-track milestones highlighting an exceptional opening weekend.

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 17 the stakes schedule for the 2026 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will include 20 stakes races worth more than $3.1 million in total purses.

Taylor Made Stallions' new State-Bred Initiative Program supports regional breeders outside Kentucky by providing complimentary seasons to approved mares.

Pyromancer remained undefeated after three starts and seized the lead in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 17 at Kawasaki Racecourse.

Racing Australia has accepted the move by the Asian Racing Federation to seize control of the Australian black-type pattern, a step that will lead to its Asian Pattern Committee deciding on upgrades and downgrades before the start of next season.

Saudi Arabia's newest group 1 race has received a huge prize money boost with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announcing Dec. 17 that the 2026 Neom Turf Cup (G1T) will be staged for $3 million, an increase of 50%.

Veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry achieved the milestone 2,000th win of his 20-year riding career Dec. 12 and then won the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes Dec. 13. A panel of racing experts voted him Jockey of the week for Dec. 8-14.

Silent Cal's effect on the breed has been almost negligible, but he now plays a significant part in the pedigree of a horse who appears a very promising classic prospect for 2026 in Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Litmus Test.

While a final adjudication is yet to come, a hearing officer on Dec. 15 determined that HISA had demonstrated good cause to move forward with a provisional suspension of trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who is accused of endangering horses.

The Dec. 20 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds features a talented cast of eight juveniles, led by Liberty National.

A 1/50th share in the Aga Khan Studs' leading young sire Zarak topped the Arqana Online December Sale Dec. 16 when selling for 740,000 euros to an anonymous buyer based in Britain. The auction also saw shares in Mehmas and Palace Pier change hands.