Blood-Horse

Speaking on the Jan. 5 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Godolphin USA director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said the only race definitively on Sovereignty's radar so far this year is the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

On the Jan. 5 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Godolphin USA director of bloodstock Michael Banahan discusses the decision to bring Sovereignty back in 2026 for a 4-year-old campaign.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) winner and promising young sire King of Change will stand for an introductory fee of £8,500 at Tweenhills this season, the stud announced Jan. 5.

The number of race days in the United States fell 5.2% in 2025 and the number of races dropped 4.7% to 29,401, which is the first time races have been below 30,000 since the mid-1950s.

WinStar Farm’s grade 1 winner and North American record-setter Cogburn sired his first reported foal Jan. 4, when a filly out of the Oasis Dream mare Posset was born at Goodwin Farm near Paris, Ky.

Bidding opened Jan. 5 for the “Express Kid Flash Sale,” a one-horse online auction of recent Springboard Mile Stakes winner Express Kid on Fasig-Tipton Digital. Bidding will close Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. ET.

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation to award $7,100 to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame to be used for enhancing education.

Irad Ortiz Jr. may be just 33 but, as he finished atop the North American wins and earnings leaderboard yet again in 2025, he is already solidifying his legacy as one of the all-time great riders.

More than a decade after Robert Marzilli purchased eventual Canadian champion Caren from the Everatts of Shannondoe Farm, the team bred their first stakes winner together when Fire and Wine won the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine Nov. 29.

Trainer Dick Cappellucci saddled his 1,000th career winner Jan. 4 when One Time Mark won the fifth race at Sam Houston Race Park.

Trainer Chad Brown is targeting the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 14 with Remsen Stakes (G2) winner Paladin.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Jan. 4 the finalists for the 2025 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence through the past year in Thoroughbred racing.

Santa Anita Park has canceled live racing Jan. 4 as the final round of strong storms pushes out of Southern California.

Strategic Risk launched a sustained rally into the far turn that would see him seize the lead near the quarter pole, draw clear in early stretch, and cruise to a 4 1/2-length score in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3 at Oaklawn Park.

The new board members for the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association were installed at its most recent meeting. 

Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street, who successfully returned from an eight-month layoff to win Dec. 19 at Gulfstream Park, worked for the first time since that victory Jan. 3 in preparation for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24.

The outcome of the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park suggests the following: Thou shall not underestimate Commandment on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.

In the kickoff of stakes action Jan. 3 at Gulfstream Park, Sister Troienne easily dispatched five other 3-year-old fillies to post a comfortable victory in the $157,500 Ginger Brew Stakes.

For a 3-year-old colt, the first Saturday in January at chilly Aqueduct Racetrack is a lot more than five months removed from the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

The first reported foal of 2026 appeared at 2:30 a.m. New Year's Day, when a filly by grade 1 winner Muth was born at Gainesway Farm in Lexington.