Blood-Horse

Winning the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) has become old hat for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who notched his 10th win in the 1 1/8-mile race for 2-year-old fillies when Zany overwhelmed her competition with an 8 1/2-length win Dec. 6 at Aqueduct.

Hastings Park announced Dec. 5 that it would cease conducting Thoroughbred racing, ending more than 130 years of racing at the British Columbia venue.

Oaklawn Park kicks off its 2025-26 racing season Dec. 12 with the $150,000 Advent Stakes, the opening marker of a record 62 stakes worth more than a total of $18.3 million this winter and upcoming spring at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Young and old meet on the dirt Dec. 7 at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan's Champions Cup.

For many in the business, the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale that begins Dec. 6 will be the last hurrah of a long year on the road. Thousands of lots have been sold across the globe in recent months. 

Horses that win a California-bred first-level allowance race will enjoy expanded opportunities beginning with the Classic Meet at Santa Anita. A new policy now permits two wins on the same surface at two separate distance categories.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh rides his 2,000th winner Dec. 5 in piloting Lazio to win the third race at Gulfstream Park.

Between Del Mar and Santa Anita Park’s meets, jockey Antonio Fresu is riding in the United Arab Emirates, giving him the chance to ride Dec. 6 in the 33rd UAE President Cup for Arabians and the HH The President Cup for Thoroughbreds.

Due to an ongoing interruption of water service,  the Dec. 5 racing card at Fair Grounds is canceled. The water main break in the neighborhood of the track is being addressed.

A deep field of runners, including group 1 winner Danyah, contests the Thoroughbred edition of the HH The President Cup at Abu Dhabi Turf Club Dec. 6.

Tiffany Case, dam of top-ranked 3-year-old filly Nitrogen, will be offered in foal to Not This Time at the 2026 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale to be held Jan. 12.

Travis White has been working alongside Ben Taylor at Taylor Made Stallions for 18 years. Taylor will assume a new role as chairman of the board for the family-owned and -operated farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

HISA releases its Third Quarter Metrics Report for 2025. The figures show a high level of equine safety: 99.9% of Thoroughbred racehorse starts did not result in a fatality within 72 hours of racing due to race-related injuries.

Woodbine cancelled the remainder of its Dec. 4 live racing card following the first race due to cold weather.

Klaravich Stable's Fully Subscribed comes into the race off a win in the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack at the same distance as the Comely Stakes (G3). Her competition includes grade 2 winners Kappa Kappa and Quietside.

Remington Park will honor a group of five inductees into its Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame Dec. 5.

With the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup on the horizon, the 33rd UAE President Cup Dec. 6 is a glimpse at Abu Dhabi Turf Club's growth on the international scene.

The Grant and Alana Williams stable are confident they'll go into the Dec. 6 Northerly Stakes (G1) with two undeniably strong chances in Western Empire and Watch Me Rock, as well as longshot Hemlock Stone.

Mike Doyle, a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer, has died, according to a release from Woodbine.

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 690 entries for its December Digital Sale, featuring graded stakes winners Wild Bout Hilary and Liberal Arts. The catalog includes 150-plus horses of racing age, 320-plus broodmares, 60-plus weanlings, and 50 yearlings.