Blood-Horse

Blackout Time, scratched by regulatory veterinarians from the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, remains targeted toward races next year leading to the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, trainer Kenny McPeek said.

In a key addition to the California breeding industry, grade 1 winner and prominent young sire Collected will relocate from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky to stand at Rancho San Miguel in California for the 2026 breeding season.

Disco Time looked like he could be a horse of any kind Nov. 8, prompting a heated pace before drawing away to win the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes in a scintillating performance at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Book 3 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale got off to a strong start Nov. 7 with gains across all metrics—most notably a healthy spike in the median, up 40% to $75,000, compared with $53,500 during last year's corresponding session.

In the second session of Book 3, Nicky Drion Thoroughbreds will offer two weanlings from the first crops of 2023 classic winners Mage and Arcangelo.

Amplify Horse Racing will host its annual end-of-year student networking event, themed this year as "Storyteller Night: Exploring Careers in the Thoroughbred Industry," Nov. 10, from 4-6 p.m. at the Keeneland Library in Lexington.

Jay Goodwin was poised coming into Book 3 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale to bring a colt that represented his confidence in a stallion that holds a special place in his heart—Mage. He did just that when Hip 1090 sold for $310,000.

Chasing the Crown's effectiveness on the Churchill Downs turf could tip the scales in his favor when he battles graded stakes winners Wolfie's Dynaghost, Mercante, Lagynos, Encino, and other foes in the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) Nov. 8.

The Aga Khan Studs have announced the 2026 fees for their roster of stallions in Ireland and France, headed by Sea The Stars, who will stand for a career-high fee of €300,000, up from €250,000.

The Aga Khan Studs have announced the 2026 fees for their roster of stallions in Ireland and France, headed by Sea The Stars, who will stand for a career-high fee of €300,000, up from €250,000.

Juddmonte has announced its 2026 fees for the six-strong Banstead Manor Stud roster, headed by the phenomenal Frankel at an unchanged £350,000 (US$460,960). 

The Graham Motion-trained pair of Beach Bomb and No Show Sammy Jo enter Aqueduct Racetrack's $250,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) as the horses to beat off of notable last-out performances.

Amo Racing's goup 1-winning sprinter Arizona Blaze has been retired from racing and will stand his first season at the Irish National Stud for a fee of €12,500 in 2026.

Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed Nov. 7 that 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan has been officially retired. Fans at Churchill Downs will have one final chance to see the colt Nov. 8 when he parades in the paddock before the fourth race.

Multiple stakes winner and millionaire Bango, the winningest horse in recorded Churchill Downs history with 12 wins under the twin spires, has been retired from racing at age 8, trainer Greg Foley said Nov. 7.

Noted racing journalist and horseman Josh Pons has been named the 19th recipient of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons, for excellence in Thoroughbred racing literature published in 2024.

Under the spotlight at this BUDDS auction is memorabilia linked to King Edward VII, legendary horses, jockeys and a royal mistress, Lillie Langtry.

At the end of the third session, 251 horses had changed hands for gross receipts of $46,167,000, including post-ring sales, up 29% from last year's gross of $35,918,500 during the corresponding session, where 240 horses sold.

A colt by top sire Nyquist claimed honors as the highest-priced weanling of the day when he sold for $600,000 during the second session of Book 2 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 6.

Nyquist, sire of four grade 1 winners in 2025 including Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Nysos, will stand for a fee of $175,000 at Darley's Jonabell Farm in 2026.