Thoroughbred Daily News

Saffie Joseph, Jr. earned his 14th consecutive trainer's title at Gulfstream Park when the track's Sunshine Meet concluded Sunday. Joseph recorded 30 wins at the meet. Jose D'Angelo was second in the trainer standings with 26 wins.

“It never gets old,” Joseph said of the title. “Actually, like a month ago, we were down six or seven. I looked at it and said, 'We'll give it a go and see if it can work out.' The horses got in form, and it worked out. All the credit goes to the horses. All praise to God and the workers and the owners who give me the horses. I'm a small part of it.”

Edgard Zayas was the meet's leading rider with 44 victories, earning his third Sunshine Meet title in five years and his 10th title overall at the Florida track. Miguel Vasquez was two behind Zayas.

“It feels great. It's been a great year,” Zayas said. “We've been getting a lot of support from all the trainers, owners, my agent and family. It's nice to get it done again, especially right before the Championship Meet. It's a really important meet and it's nice to have that momentum.”

Arindel was leading owner in money won while JC Racing Stable led all owners with eight wins.

Gulfstream resumes racing Thursday with the opening day card of its Championship Meet. The meet will be highlighted by Pegasus World Cup Day Jan. 24 and the 75th running of the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 28.

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Can racing withstand the addition of yet another existential threat to the ever-expanding list of practices deemed harmful to our sport's health?

Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive officer of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, warned last week that the rising wave of prediction markets should be met with a greater sense of urgency and should be getting more scrutiny from racetrack operators and regulators.

“I'm growing more and more concerned about the prediction market companies, such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and others that are now offering bets on sports and, I believe, their intention is to do it on horse racing in the future,” Drazin said during the Nov. 19 New Jersey Racing Commission meeting.

Prediction markets are similar to betting exchanges–even though those who operate them tend go to great lengths to get people to believe that users aren't technically “gambling” when they choose a side, stake money, have their proposition matched by an opposing, anonymous user, and then see their accounts either credited or debited based on the outcome of that event.

Users trade contracts like they might on a commodities exchange, winning or losing money on the outcomes of games, races, sports league championships, elections and other yes/no types of propositions that they strike directly with other users instead of wagering against the house (like with sportsbooks) or against other bettors (like in a pari-mutuel market).

The appeal for prediction market users is lower takeout or vigorish (instead, a small “trading fee” that might be as low as .5 to 2% gets extracted), and, as part of that equation, the prospect of more generous odds and being able to bet against an entity by backing it to lose.

But at the same time, under current models, prediction markets aren't operating with explicit permission or broad licensing deals from any United States racing entities, meaning they aren't regulated at the state level (like racing and sports betting) and don't feed back revenue to the Thoroughbred industry to pay for purses.

The Betfair exchange has for years accepted trades on American horse racing, and a quick Google search over the weekend for “horse racing prediction markets” turned up a London-based site called Smarkets that was offering buying and selling on every U.S. track running Nov. 22.

Both Betfair and Smarkets prohibit U.S.-based users from opening accounts, but both sites (as well as a number of other offshore exchanges) are seeking ways to legally operate in America.

“New Jersey has laws on sports betting and on racing,” said Drazin, an attorney who in 2018 successfully represented co-plaintiff New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in a longshot legal odyssey to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, paving the way for legalized sports betting. “And these companies are operating under the [federal] Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). They're not paying any taxes. There's no integrity regulation. And it's invading sports betting revenue that we currently receive.”

As CFTC-licensed entities, sites like Kalshi and Polymarket can offer event contracts in all 50 states. Although Kalshi has yet to put up markets for horse racing, Polymarket had a volume of $1.2 million on its market for the 2025 GI Kentucky Derby.

“One of these companies had a meeting with me,” Drazin said. “And the first slide they showed me was [the 2026 GI] Haskell [Stakes] coming up. And they want to offer a wager, 'Will the favorite win, yes or no?' And they don't believe they have to pay a host fee. They don't believe they have to compensate the tracks at all.

“I believe, to the contrary, that this is controlled by the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). And I certainly will be in court if they try and offer a [Haskell] wager,” Drazin said.

Earlier this year, the NBA, NFL and MLB (which each have official partnerships with sportsbooks) expressed written concerns to the CFTC about potential integrity issues regarding prediction markets.

But not every sports league is intent on fighting the newcomers.

On Oct. 22, the NHL announced multi-year licensing deals with Kalshi and Polymarket that will allow the companies to use the league's data and logos, similar to the league's contracts with its partnering sportsbooks.

According to ESPN, the American Gaming Association (AGA), a casino trade group, characterized the NHL's actions as “deeply concerning” and described Kalshi and Polymarket as “backdoor gambling schemes masquerading as 'financial products.'”

Drazin continued: “Without getting political, I think there are certain individuals, like Donald Trump Jr., that's on salary with Kalshi and an investor in Polymarket. And [President Trump] is making an appointment to the CFTC which will support this agenda…

“But most of the action so far has been by the sports betting regulators,” Drazin said. “The New Jersey [Division of Gaming Enforcement] tried to stop them and they were unsuccessful. That's on appeal to the Third Circuit. Nevada tried to stop them. There was an injunction issued, and [on Nov. 16] Nevada's judge, hearing this issue, said he may reverse that injunction…

“The California tribes filed an action. The Massachusetts attorney general filed a state court action. Maryland filed an action, [and] although they were successful in getting an injunction, then they made a deal, [that until] the Supreme Court decides it, they're going to let this continue…

“The companies are getting very, very aggressive,” Drazin said. “There's been more and more going on as the days unroll. So now FanDuel and DraftKings have entered [the prediction] market. As a result of that, the AGA has asked them to leave, because they won't tolerate someone who's offering these wagers.

“Nevada took away [FanDuel's] license. There are some states that are saying, 'If you enter the [prediction] market, you're not suitable to hold a license [for regulated sports betting] in our state,” Drazin said.

“Some suggest that you need state laws that prevent [prediction market companies] from operating in your state [and] to give regulators the ability to criminalize it,” Drazin said. “But I'm not going to venture to say what New Jersey should do on that. I'll evaluate the issue. I think our attorney general is front-and-center in handling this.

“But on the racing front, no one seems to sense the danger yet, because they say, 'We'll wait until it happens, and then we'll deal with it.'” Drazin said.

“I think you have to be proactive with these things. I don't think you can wait until it happens, and then run to court,” Drazin said.

“Ultimately, I think this is going to the United States Supreme Court. So it will [likely be decided] three or four years from now,” Drazin said.

“But I'm firing a warning to everybody, not only in New Jersey, but in all the other states, that this is an issue that we're going to have to deal with or we're going to lose revenue,” Drazin said.

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While the GI Breeders' Cup Classic may have turned out to be a jump too high for him, Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) bounced back from that effort with a workman-like victory in the GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar.

Despite only starting his career in mid-April this year, the son of Omaha Beach has cobbled together a respectable 2025 campaign with wins in the Los Alamitos Derby in late June and the 'WAYI' GI Goodwood Stakes two back Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. The lattermost effort guaranteed him a spot in the World Championships earlier this month, and he was 18-1 in that contest as Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) made history for Japan. Nevada Beach was never a factor in seventh.

On the strength of his running lines, and despite facing older horses once again here, the betting public hammered the Bob Baffert-trainee into favoritism to the tune of 1-9 odds by the time the gates opened. He watched it all unfold from third as Westwood (Authentic) stepped out to set the tempo with British Isles (Justify) never far away from him. That pair rolled through six furlongs in 1:11.25 and got a mile in 1:35.92 as Nevada Beach inched closer to them along the far bend. Challenging for the lead as Westwood threw out a white flag, British Isles was less willing to call it quits and the duo locked horns into the final furlong before the eventual winner finally got the best of his challenger. Nevada Beach came home a measured half-length victor over British Isles and it was 2 1/4 back to longtime leader Westwood. Indispensable (Constitution) trailed for the duration in fourth.

“He went easy today, but [compared to] his last race, it's almost like two different horses,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “He broke a step slow. I had to help him get into the rhythm. Around the three-eighths pole, I had to start working on him, because he was getting a little lazy on me. But Bob [Baffert] knows that this horse has talent. I trust Bob, so I started working on [Nevada Beach] and it worked out.”

“He is a big horse, he is a train. He got the job done though. I want to give my thanks to the owners for giving me the confidence. He may want to run a little more distance, he galloped out of the race well.”

It was a battle down the stretch! NEVADA BEACH ($2.20) took home the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) with @JJHernandezS19 in the irons. Bob Baffert trains the son of @spendthriftfarm Omaha Beach. pic.twitter.com/3hzUS1X1On

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 23, 2025

Pedigree Notes:

Nevada Beach is the lone black-type winner, and Grade I horse, for his dam–herself a multiple stakes winner who is a half-sister to an elite level runner. Morrow Cove (Yes It's True) claims a perfect strike rate with her offspring, however, as all five to make it to the races have gotten their picture taken, and four of them on several occasions, including Nevada Beach. Her last registered is a juvenile filly named Queen of Cairo (American Pharoah).

The aforementioned half-sibling to the dam is GI American Oaks victress Decked Out (Street Boss), who also ran second in the GI Del Mar Oaks in her time on the track. This is the immediate female family of GSW Katonah (Klimt) and GSW Odysseus (Malibu Moon).

Saturday, Del Mar
NATIVE DIVER S.-GIII, $98,000, Del Mar, 11-22, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.35, ft.
1–NEVADA BEACH, 122, c, 3, by Omaha Beach
          1st Dam: Morrow Cove (MSW, $182,610), by Yes It's True
          2nd Dam: Once Around, by You and I
          3rd Dam: Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo
($260,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl & Weitman, Paul; B-Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate & Christy Tackett (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $426,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–British Isles, 121, g, 4, Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Slam Dunk Racing, Baltas, Richard & McClanahan, Jerry; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $20,000.
3–Westwood, 118, g, 3, Authentic–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie. ($700,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $12,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 0.10, 16.50, 8.60.
Also Ran: Indispensable. Scratched: Clouseau.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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It's been a long time since anyone has seen the New Jersey-bred star Book'em Danno (Bucchero). He hasn't run since winning the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 23. There were rumblings that he would run in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland, but he sat that one out. He also did not run in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he likely would have been the favorite. Passing on an appearance at the World Championships is something that could cost him some Eclipse Award votes.

The 4-year-old is currently in Ocala and his connections want him to have a break of about two-and-a-half months before returning him to training. They do not yet have any definite plans yet for the 2026 season, but it appears that a trip to Dubai is where he might kick off his campaign.

“We have no definite plans as to where to go,” said Jay Briscione, who heads the Atlantic Six ownership group. “I have had conversations with the people in Saudi Arabia and we have nominated him for two races there, including the [G3] Riyadh Dirt Sprint. There's more of a chance that he will go in the [Mar. 28 running of the G1] Dubai Golden Shaheen.”

Briscione added that if they choose the Golden Shaheen that Book'em Danno would begin the year in a prep for that race–the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal Stakes Feb. 28.

Though Book'em Danno ran second in the 2024 G3 Saudi Derby, Briscione realizes there is nothing easy about going over to the Middle East.

“There is a lot of money out there, but you are rolling the dice,” he said.

He added that the 2026 Breeders' Cup Sprint is something that is definitely on their schedule.

“It's not set in stone, but if he stays together and has the same kind of year we would go, working backwards, the Breeders' Cup, the Phoenix, one of those races at Saratoga and maybe that Keeneland race in the spring [the GIII Commonwealth Stakes]. A lot would depend on whether or not we got to Dubai. It won't be a 10-race campaign. He just runs too hard to do that.”

Book'em Danno won the GI Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga as a 3-year-old in 2024 and two other stakes, but Briscione admits he wasn't expecting the horse to have the kind of year in 2025 that he had before. He started his year off by winning a restricted stakes at Colonial Downs and then finished fourth, beaten just a neck, against a loaded field in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes. He would not lose again this year.

Book'em Danno was sensational at Saratoga, winning three straight graded stakes there: the GIII True North Stakes, the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the Forego.

“What he did at Saratoga, no one will ever do again because it was an unusual year up there with a different schedule, which allowed them to card three graded sprint stakes,” the owner said. “Saratoga is the meet of meets and he ran there for three consecutive months and won a Grade III, a Grade II and a Grade I, all of them pretty matter of factly.”

After he tore apart the competition at Saratoga, most expected that his year-end goal would be the Breeders' Cup. Instead, he more or less disappeared, and neither the owners nor Ryan had much to say about why they took the direction they did.

When asked to clarify why they passed the Breeders' Cup, Briscione was not hesitant to state his reasons. It all began with his race in the Vanderbilt. Briscione is an adherent of the Thoro-Graph sheets and was concerned that the horse had run too fast in the race.

Book'em Danno takes the True North at the Spa | Sarah Andrew

“He ran his career top in the Vanderbilt,” Briscione said. “He ran a negative 4 1/2 on Thoro-Graph in that race. That equated to what Cody's Wish was running. People were telling me you are going to see a regression.”

Based on the numbers, there was a regression, ironically in the Forego, which was his lone Grade I win on the year. This time he ran a minus 1 1/2.

“We did see a regression in the Forego, but he wound up winning it anyway,” Briscione said. “He won a Grade I stakes at not his best. I started looking at these horses that had run huge races and how long it took for them to get back to their best. You look at these things and then you talk to your trainer. Of course you want to run in the Sprint. It's a $2 million race. For us, that is incredible. But they would have been catching him at a point where he most likely would have been tailing off. He did more than enough for us. Why push him?”

Briscione also admitted that the connections had some concerns that Book'em Danno would not get past the veterinarians at the Breeders' Cup.

“The veterinary process at the Breeders' Cup was something that came into play,” he said. “They were looking at these horses a couple of times a day for a couple of weeks beforehand. He's always been sound but he has that funny way of going, If a vet didn't know him and saw that I don't know what they would have done. I think we made the right decision.”

The question now is whether or not Book'em Danno did enough to be named the Eclipse Award winning sprinter? It is between him and Sprint winner Bentornato (Valiant Minister). Book'em Danno voters will no doubt look at his overall body of work this year. Even though he only made two starts this year, Bentornato will be backed by people who will give him extra credit for winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race Book 'em Danno sat out.

“He [Bentornato] ran a great race in the Breeders' Cup,” Briscione said. “He's a horse I've followed for a long time. I think that if the award is for the best sprinter over the course of the year we will win. We were the best sprinter over the course of the year. If people want to say the Breeders' Cup is the definitive race, then I can understand that. He could have run against us in the Forego, but he ran instead in that race at Churchill [the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes]. It's a philosophical question.”

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A $350,000 bonus will be awarded to breeders of record for horses competing during Stars of Tomorrow II Day at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 29, in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky HBPA, the track said via a Friday release.

Breeders will compete for nearly $30,000 in bonuses across each of the 12 races on Stars of Tomorrow II. The winner of each race is eligible for a possible $16,333 for registered Kentucky-bred horses.

Payments will be based on a purse-style distribution: 56% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Sixth through last will receive 1.5%.

The bonus is in addition to the traditional breeder's awards.

Breeders can receive hospitality accommodations at Churchill Downs by calling the Churchill Downs Horsemen's Service Center at (502) 636-4830.

Entries for Stars of Tomorrow II will taken Saturday, Nov. 22.

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Bobby Cline's R.C. Cline Thoroughbred Farm in Ohio, where he now stands three stallions, boards a broodmare band and maintains his role as an active trainer, has acquired Higher Power (by Medaglia d'Oro) from Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, according to a press release from the Ohio operation on Friday.

While standing at Darby Dan, Higher Power has four crops and 211 foals. Out of a 160 foals of racing age and 35 lifetime winners, the stallion claims 67 current 2-year-olds.

As far as Higher Power's racing career is concerned, the John Sadler trainee owned by Hronis Racing captured the GI TVG Pacific Classic and finished third in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic in 2019. The bay will be the only top-level winner standing in Ohio.

“He brings a whole lot of credentials to the state and should help the accredited program a lot,” said Cline, who has operated the farm in Orient, Ohio for 35 years. “He looks like a Medaglia d'Oro colt the way he's built–nice and stocky.

“What I really like about him is that he seems to have a really good mind, good temperament,” he said. “I've got a couple of babies of his that I train, they're pretty sensible and I believe he passes that on.”

Medaglia d'Oro's most successful offspring include the likes of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and dual champion filly Songbird. The recently-retired Darley sire also has on his resume Good Cheer, Nitrogen, Bolt d'Oro, Plum Pretty and Violence, just to name a few.

The female family of the newly-minted Ohio-based sire was a product of Kentucky's Pin Oak breeding program. Higher Power's dam Alternate (Seattle Slew), who passed away in 2022, produced MGSW Alternation (by Distorted Humor)–the sire of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress and MSW Interrupted. Alternate is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and leading Canadian sire, Peaks and Valleys (by Mt. Livermore).

Higher Power's extended dam-side includes champion grass mare Forever Together (Belong to Me), and MGSW sires Mucho Gusto (by Mucho Macho Man) and Broken Vow (by Unbridled).

Cline's new stallion will stand for $2,000 LFSN and inquiries can be made by calling, (614) 877-2236.

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Lyudmila (Gun Runner), a $1-million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Edward Seltzer's Stonebase LLC, won for fun in her Laurel Park unveiling Friday.

After being pinched back at the start, the 5-2 chance raced in fourth through an opening quarter in :22.33, began to launch while three wide at the top of the stretch and kicked on in the lane to graduate by six lengths over favored Juniper's Jubilee (Honor A. P.).

Hailing from a deep Edward Seltzer family, the winner's dam Lucrezia (Into Mischief) is also represented by a yearling colt by Flightline ($575,000 KEENOV purchase by Classic Equine) and a Curlin colt ($320,000 KEENOV purchase by Repole Stable) of this year. She was bred back to City of Light.

Edward and Beverly Seltzer bred Lyudmila in Kentucky.

“For the million dollars, Mr. Seltzer was dissolving a partnership,” winning trainer Justin Nixon explained. “He had to put everything through the Keeneland sale, and he was obviously very keen to get her back because he has lots of the family.”

“I thought she had some talent,” Nixon continued. “It's just nice to see that she lived up to what I thought she could do.”

6th-Laurel, $49,410, Msw, 11-21, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.36, gd, 6 lengths.
LYUDMILA (f, 2, Gun Runner–Lucrezia {MSW & GSP, $219,640}, by Into Mischief) Sales history: $1,000,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $28,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Stonebase LLC; B-Edward & Beverly Seltzer (KY); T-Justin J. Nixon.

Lyudmila ($7), a $1 million dollar yearling by Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys), rallied from off to pace to win her debut by 6 in the sixth @LaurelPark for @jjnixonian.
9-11-6-1 pic.twitter.com/HTfppkK0uZ

— Dan Illman (@DanIllman_MJC) November 21, 2025

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There appears to be something for everyone–pari-mutelly speaking–in Saturday's GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes, the final age-restricted contest on the grass on the Kentucky circuit for 2025.

Donamire Farm's GI Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Troubleshooting led home a top-four sweep for the outstanding Not This Time when last seen in the GIII Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland back on Oct. 25, and he looms the one they'll have to beat at or around his 7-2 morning line. Placed once from three tries on the dirt to begin his career, he has conversely missed the trifecta just a single time in seven starts on the turf. The homebred took out the July 4 Dade Park Dash at Ellis and was just touched off in allowance company in Henderson Aug. 4 ahead of his heroics at Kentucky Downs.

Giocoso (Not This Time) saw off Simulate (Blame) in the GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial in August and led the field into the final furlong of the Sept. 6 Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs before settling for second behind Plensa (Caravaggio). The dark bay exits a troubled third in the Bryan Station.

Montadore (Nyquist) would otherwise be three for four on the grass but for a disqualification in his turf bow in Virginia July 24 and he annexed his lone appearance over the Matt Winn, taking a nine-furlong allowance by two lengths just shy of three weeks ago.

Mansetti (Collected) upset the Aug. 16 King's Plate and just missed in the Sept. 9 Prince of Wales Stakes before finishing runner-up in the GIII Ontario Derby Oct. 18. There is enough turf in his female family to give this a shot, but the flow of the race may not suit.

If seeking out a longer-priced alternative or two, Three Diamonds Farm Anegada (Midshipman) endured a checkered passage when fourth, two lengths adrift in the Secretariat and there were clear issues in the Gun Runner. The gelding bounced back in no uncertain terms in the Oct. 5 Hawthorne Derby, benefitting from a truly run race to score by a half-length.

Outrunner (American Pharoah) hasn't really run a bad race in five starts on the turf, including a runner-up effort in the Tale of the Cat Stakes in June, and was most recently third to Grade I winner World Beater (Oscar Performance) in the GIII Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Sept. 6.

A distant seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Pegram,  Watson and Weitman's Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) looks to have four other rivals over a barrel in Saturday's GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. The open-lengths winner of the Los Alamitos Derby in June and of the GI Goodwood Stakes Sept. 27, the dark bay is the 3-5 morning-line choice ahead of Indispensable (Constitution), fourth in the GI Pacific Classic here in August and a latest third in the GIII Ack Ack Stakes going Churchill's one-turn mile Sept. 27.

The final of the weekend's three graded events is Sunday's rescheduled GIII Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct. Fast Market (Volatile) required no fewer than nine starts to win her maiden, doing so with some authority when reporting home a 2 1/4-length winner going a mile here Sept. 21. Stepped up in class for the GII Sands Point Stakes Oct. 18, the $350,000 OBS June graduate nearly got the job done and she has the benefit of the rail and Flavien Prat this time around.

Twirling Candy was represented by GIII Jockey Club Oaks heroine Fionn just last weekend and has a good chance for a new graded winner in the form of Sweet Treasure. Fifth when first-up for nearly 11 months in Churchill allowance company Sept. 27, she stripped fitter when kicking away to score by two lengths beneath the Twin Spires on Halloween. Florent Geroux will need to work out a trip from an outside draw.

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The fourth annual Holiday Giving Campaign, run for the benefit of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), is set to run the month of December to raise funds, the group announced Friday morning.

Designed to raise awareness for accredited Thoroughbred aftercare and to support those organizations that ensure retired runners enjoy a good quality of life after their first career, the initiative raised $240,000 last year. This year the goal is to continue making a meaningful impact for Thoroughbreds in need and build on prior success.

“We are thrilled to kick off our Holiday Giving Campaign and support the amazing work our 86 accredited organizations do every day,” said Emily Dresen, director of funding and events at the TAA.

“Every gift made during our campaign makes a difference and contributes to our ability to provide safe and dignified transitions for Thoroughbreds when they retire from the track. We are encouraged by the excitement and generosity of our match sponsors and the industry's unified response to taking care of our equine athletes!”

During the campaign, the TAA will unveil new daily match sponsors, including prominent leaders in the horseracing industry. Each sponsor will match all donations up to a set amount for their designated day. Announcements of match sponsors will be shared daily through industry publications as well as Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's website, social media channels, and email list. Campaign updates will be sent to this mailing list along with additional information.

Starting December 1, individuals interested in supporting accredited aftercare through the Holiday Giving Campaign can visit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance website to make a donation, which will be matched by the daily sponsor. Donations of $50 or more will also receive a free 2026 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance calendar, while supplies last.

“Every Thoroughbred deserves a safe and meaningful life beyond the finish line, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance makes that possible through its incredible network of accredited organizations. Their work reflects the deep respect we all share for these athletes who give us so much,” said Terry Finley,

president and founder of West Point Thoroughbreds. “Join us in supporting Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Holiday Giving Campaign–helping every horse transition into a rewarding new chapter is a mission we can all stand behind.”

For more information, to sign up for the newsletter, or to make a donation to the TAA, please go here.

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The Oregon Racing Commission approved 18 fairs-circuit dates at four tracks for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in 2026 during its Thursday meeting.

The Eastern Oregon Livestock Show meet in Union traditionally kicks off the state's summer fairs circuit. It will race June 12-14 in '26.

Grants Pass Downs, in the southern tier of the state, will race June 20, 21, 27, 28 and July 3-5.

Crooked River Roundup in Prineville, which races at night, will race July 15-18.

Tillamook County Fair in coastal Tillamook will race Aug. 5-8.

In 2025, Grants Pass also conducted a separate autumn meeting outside of the fairs circuit. Those possible dates for '26 were not discussed at the Nov. 20 commission meeting.

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With 2025 drawing to a close and the beleaguered Chicago racing community having gone two months since the last public update from Hawthorne Race Course regarding its long-promised but still unbuilt racino, you'd think the focus of Thursday's Illinois Racing Board (IRB) meeting might have involved some sort of formal request to know where Hawthorne stood on the oft-delayed project that the state legalized back in 2019 and is considered imperative for the future of racing in Illinois.

At the IRB's Sept. 18 meeting, Tim Carey, Hawthorne's president and general manager, had referenced in general terms “an issue” that Hawthorne wasn't “able to overcome with our investor,” plus a bridge loan that was coming due in October, and also a search for a new partner to help with getting a racino up and running by 2027.

Fairmount Park, the only other Thoroughbred track in Illinois, opened a temporary gaming area in its grandstand earlier this year and is working on building out the next phase of its racino in time for the start of its 2026 meet.

But Hawthorne's racino has been plagued by setbacks and financial difficulties, and the track's historic grandstand hulks half-demolished from a teardown that began in 2020 for a large-scale reconstruction project that has repeatedly stalled.

Although Hawthorne over the last several years has been praised by horsemen and regulators for being willing to shoulder the burden of a split schedule to accommodate both Thoroughbred and harness racing in greater Chicago after all other tracks vacated the market, Thoroughbreds there have been running for purses that have declined markedly since the 2021 closure of Arlington International Racecourse splintered the circuit.

Considering all that, somewhat surprisingly, the Nov. 20 IRB meeting opened with no public commentary from any stakeholders in the Thoroughbred community. (Anyone who wished to discuss any relevant racing issue had a chance to sign up to speak.)

This included the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA), which at past meetings has been quite vocal about underscoring the dire future for Chicago-area racing in the absence of a racino at Hawthorne.

Two months ago, ITHA president Chris Block had testified before the IRB that, “This upcoming year is absolutely pivotal…. Guys are really struggling to pay the bills. Owners are really struggling to stay in the game. I told this to Tim [Carey]: 'I just hope there's an industry left here to save.'”

On Thursday, it wasn't until the eight commissioners were discussing the routine approval of intertrack wagering licenses for '26 that commissioner Patricia Saccone began to prod Hawthorne about its simulcasting, which has been limited for the past year because of Hawthorne's unsettled financial obligations to signal providers.

“We're in the middle of doing some interim financing as part of our overall project,” Carey said by way of explaining repayment plans aimed at getting signals restored. “The overall [racino] project, I think I committed at the [Sept. 18] dates hearing, that there'd be an announcement, certainly in the fourth quarter. We're still planning on doing that.”

But no other commissioner followed up by asking any specifics about the racino, and an update on it wasn't a formal agenda item.

Back at the July IRB meeting, Saccone had gone on record as asking for exactly that–a standing agenda item that mandated Hawthorne to give monthly updates to the board.

But at the time Saccone made her request four months ago, IRB chairman Daniel Beiser never committed to adding the Hawthorne update as a standing agenda item, despite acknowledging Saccone's request and calling what was going on at Hawthorne an “emergency.”

So on Thursday, Saccone waited until near the end of the meeting to use the “commissioner comments” section of the agenda to once again call on Carey.

In a nearly two-minute preamble that stressed the words “transparency” (three times) and “accountability” (four times), Saccone worked her way toward asking Carey for an update on the Hawthorne racino.

“Your dedication, resilience and commitment is awe-inspiring,” Saccone said. “And you continued racing here in northern Illinois when all the others have left. But today I do have an important question that I think deserves the clarity as well as accountability.”

Carey said, “Sure,” to Saccone's request for a racino update. He then kept his remarks brief.

“We are actively moving forward with our plans. I believe we're in a good position right now. I'm not in a position to make that announcement here today. But we feel that we're in a very, very good position,” Carey said.

“So are you on track for the fourth quarter?” Saccone asked.

“Yes,” Carey said. “Yes, we're on track to make that announcement.”

Neither Saccone nor any other IRB commissioners followed up any further, and Carey offered no other details.

For the better part of the last five years, the IRB's regulatory approach toward looming existential threats has been decidedly hands-off.

As far back as 2021, TDN reported on the stunningly silent “elephant in the room” syndrome that seemed to grip the IRB.

For example, in the first six months of '21 after Churchill Downs, Inc., declared its industry-devastating intention to sell Arlington International Racecourse for “non-horse racing” purposes, the IRB did not undertake any form of action that might have staved off Arlington's closure, and board members largely avoided the topic during public meetings.

Despite the pleas for help by horsemen as Arlington neared its final days, nor did the IRB publicly pursue any endeavor that might have ensured a fair bidding process that could have helped a different operator gain control of Arlington before it got sold and demolished.

Beyond the brief dialogue that Saccone attempted to spark, the Nov. 20, 2025, meeting followed the familiar IRB playbook of not delving too deeply into controversial issues.

Minutes after Saccone's questioning of Carey, Beiser, who has chaired the IRB since April 2020, closed the meeting with a brief bit of holiday commentary that seemed disconnected from the hardships that both Hawthorne and the horsemen are facing.

“Happy Thanksgiving to everyone,” Beiser said. “Great efforts so far this year, and let's hope that [in] 2026, we can build on what we've been doing, especially the spirit of cooperation between all entities regarding healthy, prosperous horse racing in Illinois.”

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Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Copper Wind (Gun Runner—Copper Quest, by Lemon Drop Kid) was overlooked at 9-1 for her career debut at Fair Grounds on Thursday and rewarded her backers when coming from just off the pace to win.

Stalking even-money choice Quick Kiss (Beau Liam) for much of the early running, the Winchell homebred made her move while three wide a furlong from home and proved best on the day while holding the favorite at bay by 1 ¾ lengths at the wire. Ageis (Essential Quality) was 5 1/2 lengths back in third.

The winner's dam Copper Quest, herself a half-sister to GSW Copper Bullet (More Than Ready), is also responsible for a yearling colt by Epicenter. She was bred back to Tapit for 2026.

7th-Fair Grounds, $54,000, Msw, 11-20, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.49, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
COPPER WIND (f, 2, Gun Runner–Copper Quest, by Lemon Drop Kid) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $32,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Appearing to relish the muddy going at Churchill Downs on Thursday, Theodore George (Curlin—Sweet Tapper, by Tapit) came from off the pace to graduate with a confident 2 ¼-length victory over Cant Stop Munnings (Munnings).

Theodore George was seventh in his career debut going 8 1/2 furlongs on the turf here on Nov. 1, was given an 8-1 chance while getting blinkers on for this off-the-turf return. Pinched back at the start, the chestnut settled in a stalking fifth going around the first turn as Bessamay (Oscar Performance) led through an opening quarter mile in :24.66. Still pulling Danny Sheehy along following a modest half in :50.45, the Winchester Place homebred set off after the front runners approaching the quarter pole. Swung out well wide turning for home, he ground his way to the front in the final sixteenth and drew clear to score by 2 1/4 lengths over Cant Stop Munnings.

A daughter of Grade I winner Sweet Talker (Stormin Fever), Sweet Tapper also has an unraced juvenile colt by American Pharoah and a yearling filly by War of Will. She was bred back to Gun Runner.

7th-Churchill Downs, $116,963, Msw, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m (off turf), 1:52.10, my, 2 1/4 lengths.
THEODORE GEORGE (c, 3, Curlin–Sweet Tapper {SW & GSP, $183,231}, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $70,465. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Winchester Place Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy.

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Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.  Among this week's rulings, Antonio Meraz has been banned two years and fined $5,000 after his trainee, First Kitten, tested positive for banned Cobalt Salts after winning at Mahoning Valley on February 12. His suspension began on Nov. 12.

Cobalt is a substance that's naturally present in a horse, generally in very low amounts, as well as in a horse's natural environment, like soil or water. It is also listed as an ingredient in many horse feeds and supplements.

According to the final decision by the arbitral body, on March 12 a HIWU investigator searched Meraz's barn at Hawthorne and found a one-gallon container of the supplement Furlong Gold in his feed and tack room which listed cobalt as an ingredient.

Meraz later testified that he gave all his horses the same feed and supplements every day, which included two other products that contained cobalt: Race Ready (a feed product) and Platinum Performance (a supplement). He also said that, although he read HISA's prohibited substance list at the end of 2023, he was unaware cobalt was a threshold substance on this list.

Experts forwarded by HIWU argued that, even accounting for the three cobalt-containing supplements and feed given the horses, the cobalt concentration detected in First Kitten's sample was more consistent with the administration of a cobalt injection.

Meraz countered that by arguing the intentional injection of Cobalt would have resulted in significantly higher levels of Cobalt in the horse's blood. The detected level was 30.5 nanograms per milliliter. HISA's threshold is 25 nanograms per milliliter. Meraz denied injecting any of his horses with cobalt.

Meraz also questioned the accuracy of the testing performed, arguing that HIWU's case is “based on inaccurate and unreliable test results,” according to the final decision.

Though the arbitral body stated there was no evidence Meraz had injected First Kitten with cobalt, the trainer nevertheless “failed to meet his burden of establishing, by a balance of probabilities, that the source of the AAF in excess of the 25 ng/mL Threshold was the three Cobalt-containing feeds and supplements he identified and provided to First Kitten,” according to the final decision.

“He did not provide any evidence that any of these feeds or supplements contained a higher amount of Cobalt than the amount or quantity of its labeled or listed ingredients. Nor did he submit any evidence that First Kitten has a unique digestive system that metabolizes or excretes Cobalt in feed or supplements in a manner or has an otherwise outlier physiology for a horse, which likely caused the Cobalt concentration of its blood plasma to exceed 25 ng/mL when its blood sample was collected on February 12, 2025,” the arbitral body added.

At the same time, the arbitrator writes that he was “concerned about the fairness and proportionality of his 2-year sanction based on the record evidence,” and that were it not for the way the rules were written, he would have imposed a three-month sentence instead.

“The ADMC Program Rules impose strict liability for a Rule 3212 threshold presence of a banned substance ARDV and require him to prove, by a balance of probabilities, the source of the Cobalt resulting in First Kitten's blood plasma concentration in excess of the 25ng/mL Threshold. This is a substantial burden of proof that is very difficult for a Covered Person whose limited financial resources quality him for pro bono legal representation to satisfy before an Arbitrator may consider their level of fault or negligence for a strict liability ADRV for a prohibited substance above a particular threshold, which is endogenous in horses, in a horse's natural environment (e.g., in soil and water), and an ingredient of feeds and supplements,” the arbitral body writes.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 11/19/2025

Licensee: Lisa Lugovich, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Gregorian Solo, who won at Delaware Park on 10/15/25.

Dates: 11/19/2025

Licensee: Marvin Richards, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Awesome Prince on 10/10/25.

Dates: 11/13/2025 and 11/14/2025

Licensee: Gary Sciacca and Chris Englehart, trainers

Penalty: A written reprimand Admission.

Explainer: Violations for the breach of rule 3510(d), “Refusal or failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the Protocol (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation)” for an event dated 3/7/24. The case resolutions state that the trainers “failed to respond to a Demand for Business Records (“DBR”) personally and properly served by HIWU.” According to a HIWU spokesperson, these records involve “the care, treatment, training or racing of Covered Horses.”

Dates: 11/13/2025

Licensee: Sarah Davidson, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Midnight Lady on 9/30/25.

Dates: 11/13/2025

Licensee: William Robert Bailes, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 14, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methylprednisolone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Goodluckchuck, who won at Timonium on 8/29/25.

Dates: 11/12/2025

Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer

Penalty: A written reprimand. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Pistol Liz Ablazen on 9/26/25.

Dates: 11/12/2025

Licensee: Antonio Meraz, trainer

Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 12, 2025; 6-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on February 12, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $5,000. Final decision of arbitral body.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cobalt Salts—a banned substance—in a sample taken from First Kitten, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/12/25.

Pending ADMC Violations

11/18/2025, Bill McLean, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Mo Town Gal on 10/20/25.

11/18/2025, Jane Cibelli, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Mandalorian on 10/17/25.

11/17/2025, Kelsie Calvo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Tramadol—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Chica Chula, who finished sixth at Mahoning Valley on 10/22/25.

11/14/2025, Fenneka Tracey Bentley, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Tiger Paw, who finished seventh at Laurel Park on 10/12/25.

11/14/2025, Robert Cline, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Pittsburgh, who won at Thistledown on 10/8/25.

11/13/2025, Jamie Ness, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Uncle Irish, who finished second at Laurel Park on 9/13/25.

11/13/2025, Marcelino Salas, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Just an Opinion, who finished sixth at Keeneland on 10/5/25.

Violations of Crop Rule

Churchill Downs

Gavin Ashton – violation date November 14; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension

Tyler Gaffalione – violation date November 13; $500 fine, two-day suspension

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Snap Decision (Hard Spun), champion steeplechase horse of 2024 and the second-leading earner in United States steeplechase history, has been retired by owner Bruton Street-US and trainer Jack Fisher.

Bred in Kentucky by Phipps Stable, the 11-year-old gelding won 17 of 32 starts over hurdles, finished second eight times and was third twice while racing from 2019-2025. Snap Decision earned $1,258,150 over jumps, second only to Hall of Famer McDynamo's $1,310,104 in North American history. The gelding won an Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser of 2024 and was a finalist for the 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 awards. He won five Grade 1 stakes, captured 15 stakes overall and led the National Steeplechase Association annual earnings table in 2024 and 2022.

The retirement decision came this week after a 2025 campaign that included four starts, a win in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap in April and a second in the G1 Iroquois Steeplechase in May. In his final start, he finished fourth in the G1 American Grand National at Far Hills, N.J. Oct. 18.

Snap Decision's 17 North American wins match Lonesome Glory and exceed the totals put up by McDynamo, Good Night Shirt and the others on the top 10 earnings chart.

Prior to becoming a steeplechaser, Snap Decision made 18 starts on the flat for Phipps and trainer Shug McGaughey–winning twice and placing in a Grade III turf stakes. A grandson of champion Personal Ensign, Snap Decision is out of Salute, who also produced Grade I winner Mr Speaker and Grade III winner Vigilantes Way.

His 2024 championship ended a string of nine consecutive Eclipse Awards earned by horses bred in Britain, Ireland or France. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association honored him as its Kentucky-bred steeplechase champion five times.

Snap Decision heads to a potential career as a foxhunter with Fenwick not far from Fisher's base in Maryland.

“The hope is he will just become part of the community of horses we have on the farm,” said co-owner Charlie Fenwick, a former trainer and amateur steeplechase jockey. “He will get ridden regularly and will see the hounds before the end of this hunting season. That's the goal, let him see the hounds, let him see what he thinks and how he wants to behave and hopefully that's a new life for him. If that's not something he wants to do, he'll hack around the farm.”

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After receiving approval by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the post times for live Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine have been moved for Friday Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22.

The first race post time on Friday, Nov. 21 has been moved up from 4:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, and the post time on Saturday, Nov. 22 has been moved up from 1:05 p.m. to 12 p.m. ET.

These adjustments better accommodate extra races to be run following recent weather cancellations. This decision was made in consultation with the HBPA.

Friday's 11-race card will be highlighted by the rescheduled Ashbridges Bay Stakes (Race 5) and Lake Ontario Stakes (Race 6). Saturday's 12-race card features the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes.

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Northview Stallion Station has pensioned Great Notion (Elusive Quality) ahead of the 2026 breeding season.

A top stallion in Maryland, Great Notion, who will turn 26-years-old Jan. 1, sired 55 stakes winners led by MGSW Future Is Now, MGSW Havelock and millionaire GSW Coastal Mission.

On the track, the son of Elusive Quality broke his maiden on debut at Churchill Downs for Silverton Hill and trainer Darrin Miller. Silverton Hill, who purchased Great Notion as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2001 for $82,000, raced him across the country, winning the listed Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn and earning placings in both the GII Amsterdam Stakes and the GI King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga in 2003. He retired to stud with a record of 12-3-4-0 and earnings over $194,000.

“Great Notion has been nothing short of transformational for breeding in Maryland,” said David Wade, General Manager of Northview Stallion Station. “His ability to upgrade mares, his consistency year after year, and the sheer quality of his runners have elevated our entire regional program. Retiring him now is simply doing right by the horse. He's earned every comfort we can give him, and his impact will continue to be felt for generations. There may never be another one like him. He elevated the entire region–breeders, trainers, owners, and the reputation of Maryland racing itself. We're grateful for every foal he gave us.”

Great Notion will remain at Northview Stallion Station for his retirement.

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With more heavy rain in the forecast for southern California, Del Mar has canceled their Friday race card according to a social media post from the track.

Additionally, Del Mar has carded an extra race day to be held Monday, Nov. 24. The shift will allow the main track additional time to dry while also enabling the use of the turf course on Sunday and Monday.

Friday's cancellation marks the second day in as many weeks as the track also was forced to cancel the Nov. 15 card due to weather.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Racing is cancelled Friday, November 21 due to forecasted heavy rain.

A raceday will be added Monday, November 24.

— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 19, 2025

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Kentucky-based artist Grayson Reynolds has designed both the official Mint Julep Glass and “Art of the Kentucky Derby” for the 152nd running of the GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Churchill Downs announced Wednesday.

This year's glass features three horses racing at different strides surrounded by roses as a nod to the garland draped over all Derby winners. The names of every official Kentucky Derby champion–from Aristides in 1875 to Sovereignty in 2025–wraps around the back of the glass.

Reynolds' official Derby 152 artwork showcases five Thoroughbreds charging from the starting gate beneath the Twin Spires, with red roses bursting from the track to demonstrate the emotion and anticipation of the Run for the Roses.

“We are thrilled to showcase Grayson as the first Art of the Kentucky Derby artist to also dsign the official julep glass–two iconic traditions united by her artistry,” said Megan App, Director of Licensing at Churchill Downs Racetrack. “Her work captures the emotion and excitement of The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”

Reynolds's “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” will be featured on the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks official racing programs and a variety of merchandise.

“I'm incredibly honored to be named the first-ever artist to design both the Kentucky Derby art and julep glass,” Reynolds said. “As a native Kentuckian, traditions of the Derby have been part of my story growing up, and I'm excited to share my work with the world.”

Reynolds will be at Churchill Downs Friday, Nov. 28, to sign prints of her artwork. The artist signing will take place in the Churchill Downs Store, located just inside the Paddock Gate, between 2-4 p.m.

The full artwork for the Kentucky Derby mint julep glasses and Art of the Derby prints are available for purchase here.

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The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) will award the 2025 Big Sport of Turfdom award to social media influencer Griffin Johnson, the organization announced Wednesday. The annual award recognizes a person or group who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists.

Johnson entered horse racing in 2024 through America's Best Racing's “A Stake in Stardom” campaign as a partial owner of Grade I winner Sandman (Tapit) with West Point Thoroughbreds. Johnson is also a part-owner of Grade II winner Ewing (Knicks Go).

As an ambassador of the sport, Johnson has used his social media platforms to promote horse racing and has reached more than 200 million people through videos and content, visiting racetracks and providing backstretch access that has generated more than 35 million views.

“In using his platforms and influence, Griffin Johnson has helped grow horse racing by bringing our sport unprecedented exposure,” said TPA President Najja Thompson. “Our membership selected Johnson for this award in recognition of his role as a tremendous ambassador for horse racing and his consistent openness and availability to the media.”

The Big Sport of Turfdom award will be presented in person to Johnson at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's annual awards luncheon Dec. 9. The luncheon is part of the 2025 Symposium on Racing & Gaming at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

“I'm incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Big Sport of Turfdom Award,” said Johnson. “Horse racing has given me a community, a purpose, and a platform to help grow the sport I love. I'm grateful to everyone who's welcomed me into this industry and inspired me to be a small part of its future.”

The Big Sport of Turfdom has been presented annually since 1966. This is the first time Johnson has won the award. Previous winners include jockeys Mike Smith, Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero Jr., Eddie Arcaro and Gary Stevens; trainers Art Sherman, D. Wayne Lukas and Jack Van Berg; and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport, such as Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery, a two-time winner; announcer Tom Durkin, author Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, Turf writer Joe Hirsch and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman.

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