Blood-Horse

Perfect Drift, the popular gelding who won or placed in 32 of 50 starts from 2001-08 and earned more than $4.7 million, was euthanized Jan. 4 due to complications from an old paddock injury, according to Dr. Bryan Reed of Stonecrest Farm. He was 25.

Multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control sired his first reported foal Jan. 4 in New York. The bay filly is the first foal out of the winning Freud daughter Gentle Annie.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) runner-up Valiant Force will try the dirt surface for the first time in $100,000 Limestone Stakes Jan. 6 at Gulfstream Park.

Nick Jonsson's two-time group 1 winner, See It Again, leads a 13-horse field in the Jan. 6 King's Plate (G1) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town.

The Zabeel Mile (G2) gets top billing at Meydan Jan. 5 as Godolphin homebred Real World will attempt to win this turf test that has drawn 13 declarations for a second time.

FanDuel TV will televise live the announcement of the finalists in the horse and human categories for the 2023 Eclipse Awards this Saturday, Jan. 6, at 12:00 pm EST. 

Keeneland will begin a new year Jan. 8 with the first of four sessions of the 67th January Horses of All Ages Sale. A total of 1,477 horses have been cataloged for the auction.

The grade 1-winning son of War Front won graded stakes at 2 and 3 on his way to earning more than $1.5 million. He will stand for $12,500.

Trainer Brendan Walsh is considering stakes options for Mucho Macho Man Stakes runner-up First World War and offered updates on Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous and Golden Rod (G2) winner Intricate.

Bob Baffert has won 12 runnings of the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and has two leading 3-year-olds in pursuit of a record-extending 13th when Muth and Pilot Commander face four rivals in the $200,000, seven-furlong race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 6.

Founded in 2022, the NAIAHF honors and recognizes the indigenous sports cultures throughout North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics.

Sam Houston Race Park celebrates the start of its 30th anniversary season Jan. 5. The milestone season will be primarily an on-track and Texas affair due to the ongoing dispute between the Texas Racing Commission and HISA.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has announced the results of the 2023 election for its 15-member Board of Directors.

A year after setting the earnings record, Irad Ortiz Jr. did it again in 2023 with $39,192,585. He led all jockeys in wins, seconds, and thirds. He was also leading rider by earnings for Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Santa Anita Park meets.