Blood-Horse

"Bring on Via Sistina and the Cox Plate" was the bold call from trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Blake Shinn after Antino broke a 9-year-old course record with a slashing triumph in May 24 Doomben Cup (G1) in Australia.

In its second year at the Spa while Belmont Park is rebuilt, the Belmont Stakes (G1) will be contested at the 1 1/4-mile distance, making it more attractive to breeders and stud farms than the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes. 

Hong Kong's group 1 season wraps up May 25 with the Champions & Chater Cup (G1), featuring two Hong Kong Derby winners and one international raider.

The likes of last year's winner White Birch, Los Angeles, and Kalpana are likely to take on Ghostwriter in the May 25 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh, but trainer Clive Cox believes his 4-year-old will be lining up in tip-top condition.

After speaking with jockeys Umberto Rispoli and Flavien Prat via telephone May 23 and reviewing the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1), Maryland stewards elected not to sanction either jockey for their rides that resulted in bumping in early stretch.

Mid-Atlantic-based trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon will face a pair of suspensions that total 60 days after admitting a recent TCO2 rule violation.

The catalog is now online for the Inglis Digital USA May Sale, featuring a diverse slate of 30 offerings, including fillies closely related to both parts of this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) exacta.

Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez, who missed the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) due to a lingering foot bruise, is "ready for a trip to Saratoga" to contest the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), according to co-owner Tom Ryan.

Records tumbled at Fairyhouse May 23 when Yeomanstown Stud's Night of Thunder colt became the most expensive breeze-up horse ever sold in Ireland at €580,000 (US$658,271, €1=US$1.05).

While not among the largest players in terms of scale, it will come as little surprise that Amarina Farm has a formidable presence at this year's Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, with a quality draft set to be offered May 25 at the Gold Coast.

Records tumbled at Fairyhouse May 23 when Yeomanstown Stud's Night of Thunder colt became the most expensive breeze-up horse ever sold in Ireland at €580,000 (US$658,271, €1=US$1.05).

For Crystal Conning, her two professional worlds will collide May 26 when the Monmouth Park paddock analyst rides Like a Saltshaker in the second race at the Jersey Shore track in between in-house television appearances.

Embroidery and Arma Veloce, first and second in the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1), could be off on a nice rivalry when they meet again May 25 in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) at Tokyo Racecourse.

BloodHorse secures three honors from American Horse Publications in its 2025 Equine Media Awards.

The New York Racing Association announced post times for the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced May 23 that the 40th anniversary edition of the TOBA National Awards Dinner will be Saturday, Sept. 6, at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington. 

Umberto Rispoli won his first American classic, May 17, guiding Journalism to win in a roughly contested Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel in the Triple Crown, and was named Jockey of the Week by the Jockeys' Guild for May 12 through May 18.

The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation will host its annual Fashionable Fillies Luncheon in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., at Saratoga National Golf Club on Monday, August 4, 2025.

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan Farm

In the days leading up to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, there was some hand-wringing from all involved. But when the sale wrapped up, it proved better than anyone could have imagined.