Blood-Horse

The filly born Jan. 18 is out of the Unbridled's Song daughter Sophie Sophie.

Tom Hammond, whose dynamic career of more than 50 years in broadcasting, television production, and numerous contributions to the Thoroughbred industry, will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence Jan. 25.

Each of 1/ST Racing's venue racetracks will continue to make payments to the Jockeys' Guild to subsidize health and safety benefits, life and accident insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability benefits for qualifying jockeys.

Churchill Downs has recently begun to implement new procedures that it believes will resolve the issues that have haunted its turf course.

The supplemental catalog to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2024 Winter Mixed Sale is now available on the company's website on the sale's main web page.  A total of 46 horses have been supplemented to the sale.

"We are honored that John, Ty, and Andy will join our board," said TOC chairman Gary Fenton. "We are in a period of great transition and their passion, wisdom and institutional knowledge of California horse racing will be of tremendous value."

The $100,000 La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 20 will serve as a 1 1/16-mile battleground for a rematch between 2023 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) 1-2 finishers Midnight Memories and Desert Dawn.

The famed stud north of Perth is about to embark on an era of change with the retirement of founder David Smith. Smith's son Jeremy and his wife Sarah will take over ownership of the operation on March 1.

The 2024 Wanamaker's January Sale catalog is now available for viewing. A wide range of horses are on offer with horses of racing age, open broodmares, in-foal broodmares, and stallion seasons are all cataloged this month.

Gainesway announced Jan. 17 the first reported foal by grade 1-winning sprinter Drain the Clock, a colt born at Machmer Hall Farm in Kentucky.  The colt is out of the mare Egyptian Bride, a half sister to grade 1-placed Generous Tipper.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced the dates of the annual Off to the Races Campaign, an online benefit auction featuring VIP racing experience packages with all proceeds going to support accredited aftercare.

NYRA today unveiled the official logo for the 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1), which will be contested at Saratoga Race Course for the first time in history to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park.

Graded stakes winner Wakanaka has retired from racing according to Barry Irwin of Team Valor International and will take up a new career as a broodmare in Kentucky. Owned in partnership with Gary Barber, Wakanaka earned $914,075 through 23 starts.

Fasig-Tipton will handle the dispersal of breeding stock, yearlings, and horses of racing age owned by Bob Lothenbach at Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale and on Fasig-Tipton Digital. The complete dispersal will be held over the next three weeks.

Equibase announced today the appointment of Scott Little as the company's vice president of racing services. Little will oversee all data collection processes for the company, including GPS technology services, and track and field operations.

Due to harsh winter weather affecting portions of the United States, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Mahoning Valley Race Course, Parx Racing, and Penn National Race Course canceled racing Jan. 17.

The foals, both fillies, were born at Ocala Stud, where the two stallions stand.

Anticipation continues to build toward the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) and fans will have their third of six early betting opportunities Jan. 19-21 for Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The three-day pool features 40 betting options.

Mill Ridge Farm stallion and 2021 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West was represented by his first reported foal Jan. 15 when a colt out of the winning Orb mare Bashful was born at Machmer Hall Farm. 

If any major policy or fiscal changes are to come to Thoroughbred racing or the overall gaming industry in New York, they will have to wait until later in the spring, if at all, in 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signaled Jan. 16.