Thoroughbred Daily News

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Hector Soler, who worked as the head starter at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course between 2020 and 2025, have entered into a settlement agreement in which NYRA will pay Soler two separate sums, one which the parties agreed to keep confidential in exchange for Soler dropping an “unlawful discrimination and retaliation” lawsuit he initiated last year in the wake of being fired by NYRA.

The “stipulation of final order and dismissal” was posted Mar. 27 on the docket for the case in United States District Court, Eastern District of New York.

Soler's Apr. 15, 2025, complaint had summed up his case this way:

“A dedicated and decorated employee, Mr. Soler worked for 25 years at NYRA as the first ever Hispanic and Puerto Rican Head Starter in the history of NYRA. Mr. Soler worked tirelessly to establish himself and advance in an industry historically and predominantly managed by white men. Despite attaining a reputation as one of the preeminent starters in New York horse racing, Mr. Soler faced unlawful discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.

“In addition to unlawful discrimination and retaliation, Mr. Soler was misclassified as an exempt employee who was ineligible for overtime, when in fact, his duties were manual in nature and he routinely worked over 40 hours in a given work week.

“Further, NYRA retaliated against Mr. Soler when it terminated his employment contract 'without cause' and then defamed his good character and allowed those who worked for NYRA to leak confidential information about Mr. Soler to the press, casting doubt on his character and the nature of this termination,” Soler's complaint stated.

NYRA, in its June 9, 2025, answer to the complaint, had denied all of the allegations, asked the court to dismiss the suit, and requested reimbursement of its legal fees from Soler.

The case eventually went to mediation.

Soler's lawsuit explained he was first employed by NYRA in 2001 after working on the backstretch since age 16 as a hotwalker and groom. He took on various jobs with NYRA before landing a spot as an assistant on the gate crew.

Over the decades, Soler worked his way up on the starting crew-he led Triple Crown winner Justify into the gate for the 2018 GI Belmont Stakes-and when he was named as head starter in 2020, his lawsuit stated that his salary was $150,000.

Despite working hands-on with horses during morning training and afternoon races, Soler's lawsuit stated that as the head starter, he was classified as “exempt,” purportedly for “being hired to perform administrative and managerial duties.”

Soler's lawsuit stated that he injured his knee while on the job at Saratoga on Aug. 4, 2024. Soler claimed that NYRA asked him to continue working despite the injury, and that he agreed to finish out the meet after getting medical attention and being prescribed painkillers. Soler subsequently took protected worker's compensation leave to undergo a complete meniscus repair transplant.

While on leave, Soler's lawsuit claimed that on Dec. 8, 2024, he received a negative performance review from the very same supervisor who had asked him to keep working through the Saratoga meet despite his injury.

“This negative performance review was riddled with fabrications and was pretext for NYRA's unlawful retaliation,” the lawsuit stated. “In all his years working for NYRA, plaintiff had never received a negative performance review prior to this incident.”

Soler returned to his starting duties on Jan. 26, 2025. His lawsuit stated he was fired “without cause” on Mar. 2, 2025.

“In the process of unlawfully terminating [Soler], defendant [NYRA] and its agents negligently or intentionally created false rumors that plaintiff engaged in conduct that warranted his dismissal,” the lawsuit stated.

The settlement was recorded on the docket in two phases. One document outlined a $5,000 payment from NYRA to Soler specific to his Fair Labor Stands Act (FLSA) claims. A separate settlement agreement that will remain confidential covers Soler's other claims.

In labor-related lawsuits involving FLSA claims, it is not unusual for settlements to be structured in this fashion, because FLSA claims are held to a higher level of scrutiny in the federal court system, and those settlements are generally made public.

In cases where the parties also reach a a separate, confidential settlement to address other claims outside of the scope of FLSA, those non-public settlements can be for a much higher dollar amount.

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Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was third in his unveiling at Churchill Downs last June. The colt took a six-month break then returned to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', when he won by 7 1/4 lengths in Louisville Nov. 29. In his lone start this year, the bay finished a well-beaten fourth in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes.

The Triple Crown nominee at 60 cents on the dollar here fired out of the blocks to lead up the backstretch. Though tracked by Lincoln's Law (Liam's Map) around the far turn, the chalk had plenty in the tank and he sprinted away to clear the condition under a hand ride by 9 1/4 lengths.

“We kind of were scratching our heads after the Holy Bull. Obviously, there were some hot fractions that day and he just didn't go on,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We backed off on him a little bit and wanted to target one-turn races moving forward. I didn't feel like there was any rush with him. The ownership group is patient. We didn't stop on him, we just kind of backed off of him a little bit looking for something around one turn, either seven-eighths or a one-turn mile. This race was in the book, it went, and we're glad it did. We were happy to be part of it and he ran big.”

The winner is a half-brother to Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), GSW & MGISP-USA, G1SP-KSA, $3,647,970, Girvin (Tale of Ekati), GISW, $1,624,392, Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby), GSW, $395,650, and Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John), GSW, $497,660.

A half-sister to the dam of GISW Brightwork (Outwork) and the dam of Canadian stakes winner As Catch Can (Mo Town), unraced Catch the Moon foaled a colt by Not This Time Feb. 5.

CANNONEER, c, 3, Into Mischief–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon. Sales History: $1,750,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $135,675. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

What a dominant display! #4 CANNONEER won Race 7 at @GulfstreamPark under @zayas_edgardo for @bradcoxracing. The son of @spendthriftfarm Into Mischief is now two for four lifetime. pic.twitter.com/q1rkSBjvrL

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 27, 2026

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Among a list of 25 nominations in the Sports Emmy Award category, NBC Universal has landed three for NBC Sports' presentation of Kentucky Derby 151, the organization announced via press release.

The three categories are Outstanding Live Sports Special: Non-Championship Event; Outstanding Sports Camera Work: Short Form; and Outstanding Sports Writing: Short Form. It was the third consecutive year that the network has garnered more than 10 nominations and it marks the eighth time in the past 16 years that an NBC Sports' horse racing presentation has been nominated for a Sports Emmy in the competitive Outstanding Live Sports Special category.

The Kentucky Derby show was previously nominated in 2022, 2020 and 2019, while their Belmont Stakes coverage earned the nods in 2018, 2015 and 2014. Winners will be announced Tuesday, May 26 by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The 151st Kentucky Derby coverage was overseen by Lindsay Schanzer, Supervising Producer, NBC Sports & Olympics.

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Looking every bit the 3-2 morning-line favorite for the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, Renegade (Into Mischief) strode out of paddock schooling with top marks shortly before noon on Thursday. The colt had that, 'Take the test, don't let the test take you' sort of look.

Renegade's trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Hot Springs track's signature race five times, but it hasn't been since 2018 when Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) took the prize. Of course, that hero was campaigned by Robert and Lawana Low, who happen to co-own Renegade with Mike Repole.

The 3-year-old has an intriguing past performance arc after being disqualified in his second career race during the Belmont At The Big A meet in mid-October when Paladin (Gun Runner) was elevated to the top of the podium. His rival took the GII Remsen Stakes in early December, but Renegade was the runner-up. Last seen winning by 3 3/4 lengths the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the Pletcher trainee comes to Arkansas ready for treasure.

“That's when we really started to get excited [after the Sam F. Davis],” co-owner Robert Low said. “I have to give Todd credit. He kind of picked him out and said the way he trains, the way he behaves, the way he's bred, I guess, everything about him Todd liked as a Derby prospect from earlier on. The Sam Davis is when he said, 'Yeah, we're going to the Arkansas Derby.'”

The field Renegade is up against here doesn't plan to backdown from a fight.

Rebel Finish: Silent Tactic outside of Class President | Coady Media

Silent Tactic (Tacitus) has never finished out of the top two spots over five career races and has danced every dance of the Arkansas series. The Mark Casse trainee was masterful coming from off the pace in the GIII Southwest Stakes in early February and just missed catching another Pletcher runner, Class President (Uncle Mo), in the GII Rebel Stakes Mar. 1. True to form, we could hear from him late in the Arkansas Derby.

Also exiting the Rebel are Litmus Test (Nyquist) and Blackout Time (Not This Time). The former is a Bob Baffert trainee who faded to third after setting the pace in the Rebel. The colt stayed put in Hot Springs instead of making the trip back to California.

“I didn't want to bring him all the way back here and then go back again,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He's a lighter made kind of horse and so I thought the best chance would have been for him to stay there and acclimate a little bit to that track. He's going to have to move up. He's got to move up. He's got to run better than he did last time. His best chance to win was to stay there.”

As for Kenny McPeek trainee Blackout Time, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', probably needed a race under his belt after being away from the races for five months. The 3-year-old was last seen finishing second to champion Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. After running fourth in the Rebel, one would expect Blackout Time's screws to be much tighter.

Rounding out the field are several entries with stakes experience. Redland Rebels (Uncle Chuck), Bricklin (Nyquist) and Exosome (Candy Ride {Arg}) have all tried graded company, while Taptastic (Tapit) broke his maiden at first asking as the 80 cents on the dollar favorite for trainer Steve Asmussen at Oaklawn Mar. 8.

Salty Crowd Assembled For Oaklawn Mile

The prequel to the main event on Saturday's card is the GIII Oaklawn Mile. Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) ships in from California for trainer John Sadler. The 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner began his 2026 with a third-place finish in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 24.

East Avenue schooling in the infield at Oaklawn on Thursday | Coady Media

Standing in his way is 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) who is set for his 4-year-old bow. The Godolphin homebred trained Brendan Walsh was the runner-up in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby a year ago.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends Neoequos (Neolithic) on his first trip to Hot Springs. The 4-year-old tried the grass for the first time in the Sunshine Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 17 and won by two lengths against his fellow Florida-breds.

“We gave him a break and we brought him back on the grass,” trainer Saffie Joseph said. “It was his first time on the grass and we always wanted to try it. He ran on it well. After that, we were deciding if we go back grass or change it up a little bit. We were going to go to Tampa, the Challenger, and he had cellulitis in a hind leg and missed a couple of days, so here we are for the Oaklawn Mile.”

Horses with experience over the local strip include, Will Take It (Tapit), Gun Party (Curlin), Coal Battle (Coal Front), Nu What's New (Munnings) and Awesome Aaron (Practical Joke).

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Timeless Victory (By My Standards) will be trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.'s final starter in Saturday's GI Florida Derby as the Florida horseman closes up shop after over 40 years at the track, it was announced via press release Friday.

A second generation horseman, and one of the most successful horsemen in Florida racing history, Plesa will call it a career after the Kentucky Derby prep race concludes. His final starter in the Saturday feature will look to send his conditioner off in a big way, and despite being a longshot, is going the right direction to pull the shocker. His 20-1 morning-line outsider is entering the contest off a strong allowance victory on the stretch-out to the 1 1/8-miles.

“He's a longshot in the race,” said Plesa, who enjoys a 28 percent strike rate during the 2025-26 Championship meet. “His last race I thought was an impressive race. He's coming into the [Florida Derby] 110 percent and he's running at a distance he likes.”

Ahead of Saturday's Florida Derby, Plesa currently sits at 2,528 wins. In addition to Timeless Victory, he was also the trainer of [Grade I at the time] Woodward Stakes hero Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron)–who won the 2013 Holy Bull and ran second in the Florida Derby–and several other multiple graded stakes winners.

“I've had a great life in this business. My wife [Laurie Plesa] is from a racing family. Her father was a jockey, and so was mine. They rode together. Happenstance brings us together, and we get married,” said Plesa, whose wife owns Timeless Victory with longtime partners Leon Ellman and Glassman Racing LLC.

“The highs far outweigh the lows. You have to have a thick skin in this business whether you're a trainer or whatever you do in this business, but it's been a great ride.”

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FanDuel TV, the television channel known for bringing horse racing into American homes since 1999, will be phased out over the next 20 months. The news, initially reported by the Paulick Report, was announced via a company-wide meeting Friday.

The report indicates that the channel will honor its current broadcasting commitments through this year's Triple Crown, including the Keeneland Spring Meet, but will then cut 60% of its workforce in June. Remaining employees will kept on until November of this year.

According to the meeting, FanDuel CEO Amy Howe told workers that “continuation of the network did not align with the company's long-term strategy.”

FanDuel TV, which began as the Television Games Network (TVG) in 1999, will continue to broadcast racing through the end of 2027 without any in-studio production with Andrew Moore, FanDuel's general manager of racing, telling the Paulick Report, “We will also fulfill any track production commitments we have through 2027. Importantly, even without in-studio production, FanDuel TV will continue to broadcast live racing from our track partners.”

This story will be updated.

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Seven GI Kentucky Derby winners in the last 20 years–including last year's winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief)–have used the GI Curlin Florida Derby as a launching pad to success on the first Saturday in May.

Could we see another one emerge from Saturday's loaded renewal at Gulfstream Park?

Chief Wallabee (Constitution) will look to punch his ticket to the big dance following a too-good-to-lose second to Commandment (Into Mischief) in a heart-stopping renewal of the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28.

The Michael and Katherine Ball homebred was making just his second career start and first try around two turns that day after producing a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance on debut going seven furlongs Jan. 10. He is the 2-1 program favorite.

His sire Constitution won the 2014 Curlin Florida Derby and is also responsible for the race's 2020 winner Tiz the Law.

“This horse has only had two races total,” said Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who saddled Sovereignty to a runner-up finish in last year's Curlin Florida Derby. “So, I think it's a big ask. And I realize that. It's a huge ask. I think he's very talented, and he's a nice horse. He'd have to overcome history.”

Wathnan Racing's Commandment was also making his first attempt around two turns in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth, his third straight victory. He previously romped in Gulfstream's Mucho Macho Man S. going a one-turn mile Jan. 3. Flavien Prat replaces jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who will instead ride Renegade (Into Mischief) in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Commandment's all-conquering sire Into Mischief has produced a pair of Curlin Florida Derby winners–Tappan Street in 2025 and Audible in 2018. Commandment's broodmare sire Orb brought home the roses after a popular win in the 2013 Curlin Florida Derby.

“Obviously, he passed his first two-turn test with flying colors,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I guess the question is, new pilot, but I feel like we're in good hands. We'll see what happens.”

Nearly (Not This Time) also enters riding a three-race winning streak. The Centennial Farms colorbearer was a visually impressive 5 3/4-length winner while making his two-turn debut in the GIII Holy Bull S. Jan. 31. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher seeks a record-extending ninth Curlin Florida Derby victory.

“His races have been super,” Pletcher said. “As expected, this will be the most difficult race he's been in, but at the same time, he's handled everything at Gulfstream the way we hoped. He handled the stretch out and is certainly training like you'd like to see one coming into a race like this.”

The expected field of eight–longshot Redland Rebels (Uncle Chuck) will scratch in favor of the Arkansas Derby–also includes The Puma (Essential Quality), a good-looking come-from-behind winner of the GIII ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7.

Good for 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Curlin Florida Derby will close out a stacked 14-race program with 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.675 million.

She Be Smooth (Lexitonian), a jaw-dropping winner of the local GII Davona Dale S. Feb. 28, will meet 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Prom Queen (Quality Road) in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks on the undercard. The Gulfstream Oaks offers a total of 200 qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) for the GI Kentucky Oaks.

The card also includes the GIII Ghostzapper S., GIII Orchid S. and GIII Pan American S.

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Purse levels will be raised by nearly 14 percent blended across all categories during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and throughout the summer meet at Saratoga Racecourse, it was announced by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) on Thursday.

Purses for open maiden special weights will increase by 15%, from $100,000 to $115,000. In addition, first-level allowance events will be offered for $120,000 and second-level allowance races will be offered for $125,000.

NYRA will increase purses for the maiden allowance auction category to $90,000, a 12.5% increase.

Initially launched by NYRA in 2019, maiden allowance auction races are restricted to horses that either sold or RNA'd for $65,000 or less at their most recent public auction.

Last summer, Napoleon Solo, a $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated in a Spa maiden auction allowance en route to a win in the GI Champagne at Belmont.

Benefitting New York-bred racing, beginning with the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and continuing through the summer meet, maiden special weights will be run for $100,000, first-level allowance races for $105,000 and second-level allowance races for $110,000. In addition, New York-bred two-year-old maiden special weight races will be run for $115,000.

The 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at Saratoga June 3, through Sunday, June 7. Highlighted by the 158th edition of GI Belmont Stakes June 6, the Festival will offer 25 stakes races worth $11.075 million in purses including 10 Grade I races among 18 graded stakes.

The Saratoga summer meet will open Friday, July 3, and continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. Highlighted by the GI DraftKings Travers on Aug. 29 and the GI Whitney on Aug. 8, the 46-day summer meet will offer 20 Grade 1 races among 73 stakes worth over $23.575 million in total purses.

The first 2026 Saratoga condition book will be released in June.

For additional information on overnight purse increases, please visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/.

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Though his best form in America is over a mile, Wathnan Racing's Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) has successfully negotiated a step up in trip in his last couple of appearances in the desert and 6-year-old gelding has well and truly earned his chance at Saturday's $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup going the 2000 meters, his first try at the trip.

One of just 837 horses foaled in Louisiana in 2020, Tumbarumba is a four-time stakes winner going eight furlongs, half of those since his acquisition by Wathnan in the summer of 2024, including last year's GIII Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Fourth to G1 Saudi Cup runner-up Nysos (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last November, he joined the yard of Hamad Al Jehani in Dubai late last year and has taken a step forward when tried over a bit further of late.

A runner-up effort to Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 1900-meter G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Jan. 23 resulted in a trip to Riyadh and he was beaten less than five lengths into third behind Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the $20-million contest Feb. 14.

In his 14 runs in the Wathnan colors, he has amassed earnings of over $2.7 million

“I give credit to Hamad Al Jehani and to [American-based trainer] Brian Lynch,” said Case Clay, the U.S. racing and bloodstock manager for Wathnan, shortly after touching down in Dubai on Wednesday. “This will be the longest he's gone, but Hamad has said he's taken a step forward since the Saudi Cup and he's tighter and that's encouraging to hear.”

Over the last few years, Wathnan has sought out horses of racing age with upside for private purchase, and Clay is thrilled with the success the operation has had with that approach thus far.

“It's been great, Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) falls into the same category,” he said of the World Cup's defending champion. “The remit is to try and buy horses that can potentially win races the Amir would be proud of. Thankfully Hit Show did it last year and hopefully one of these two can do it, but it's been nice to see them progress. If [Tumbarumba] is in a position towards the end where he can fight–whether he wins or not–he fights.”

Having contested the Dirt Mile in each of the last two seasons, Tumbarumba–a $30,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase by Lynch in 2021–has created something of a good problem for his connections in that he has stamped himself as a possible Breeders' Cup Classic-caliber runner.

To that end, Clay isn't allowing himself to put the cart before the horse.

“Hopefully he has those options,” said Clay, who added that Tumbarumba will return to Lynch's care later this season. “The older-horse division in America will be very tough this year, so it's about trying to pick our spots and hopefully get them there on the big days. It's a long ways from here and we'll just enjoy Saturday night.”

In addition to the two World Cup runners, Wathnan is represented on the undercard by Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf, Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint and by Generous Tipper (Street Sense), Hypnus (Into Mischief) and David of Athens (Nyquist) in the G2 Godolphin Mile.

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The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) will host its upcoming Thoroughbred Breeding Clinic on May 29-30. With only 40 spots available, the two-day clinic, sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, provides participants with access to leading industry professionals and breeding operations.

Attendees will gain in-depth knowledge of breeding practices, including mating decisions, stallion selection, broodmare management, foaling, and early foal development, while experiencing real-world applications at top Central Kentucky equine operations.

Designed for both newcomers and experienced participants, the clinic combines classroom-style learning with behind-the-scenes farm visits, creating a comprehensive and engaging educational environment.

In addition to its educational components, the clinic offers an inclusive experience with transportation to farm locations, breakfast and lunch each day, and a cocktail hour sponsored by Hallway Feeds, allowing participants to network and build industry connections.

Due to the limited capacity, early registration is strongly encouraged.

For more information or to register, click here.

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Former Southern California jockey and “King of the Bullring” Francisco “Paco” Mena died last week in Rosarito, Mexico where family members said he had been living. He was 78.

Mena's brother, former jockey Guillermo Mena, said his older sibling retired to Mexico and had been staying with family before recently getting his own beachside residence in Rosarito.

“He just recently decided he wanted to live on his own. He got a nice little place by the ocean in Rosarito,” Mena said.

Born in 1947 in Jalisco, Mexico, Mena started riding in Southern California in the mid-1970s. He soon established himself as the “King of the Bullring” at Pomona where he was once the all-time winningest jockey. Mena's leading mounts included Grade I winners First Albert and Landcaper, and California-bred graded stakes winner Double Discount and Scherando.

Perhaps most notably, Mena was also the regular rider of Telly's Pop, a popular colt in the 1970s who was owned in partnership by actor Telly Savalas and producer/director Howard Koch.

By Bold Ruler's son Bold Combatant, Telly's Pop was bred by Mel Stute, who then sold the colt to Savalas and Koch for $6,000. With Stute staying on as trainer and Mena riding, Telly's Pop in 1975 won the Del Mar Futurity, Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita and California Juvenile Stakes at Bay Meadows. As a 3-year-old, Telly's Pop won the California Derby at Golden Gate.     Favored in that season's Santa Anita Derby, he finished fifth. Telly's Pop was retired the following season with a record of 17: 6-1-2 and $353,995 in earnings.

According to Equibase statistics, Mena won 931 races and more than $1.3 million in purse earnings.

“My brother was just a true gentleman,” Mena said. “He was well-liked and respected by his fellow riders. He was one of those guys who would give you the coat off his back if you needed it.”

Funeral services for Mena will be held this Sunday in Rosarito starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Guadalupan Missionaries of the Most Holy Sacrament Parish.

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It's a busy time for NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney as there are some important issues facing horse racing that are being addressed in the nation's capital. Most notably, is the provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill that allows gamblers to deduct only 90 percent of their losses from their winnings. If nothing is done to change that, it will likely have a serious impact on the sport and drive many big bettors out of the game.

Bills have been introduced that would allow gamblers to again write off 100 percent of their losses. One is the FAIR BET Act and the other is the WAGER Act. Rooney is the chief lobbyist for the racing industry in Washington, D.C. and is doing his best to get one bill or the other passed. To talk about the latest on the bills and his efforts to rescind what all gamblers consider an unfair tax, Rooney joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

Rooney admitted that with so much else going on in Washington these days, it's hard to get lawmakers to focus in what is a low-priority issue.

“The WAGER Act and the FAIR BET Act have been a priority for our office,” he said. “We have gone up and down the halls of Congress to explain to a lot of members what the issue is. I don't think it's unfair to them. They did not know that it was in the Big Beautiful Bill. Sometimes there is an effort to find dollars, to find money somewhere in an effort to show that this bill is being paid for in some way. It is most likely a staffer on one of the committees saw this as a means to get money for the Big Beautiful Bill, and what better way to do this than target people who are engaged in a gambling activity? So, the short-sightedness of this is that you probably are looking at about a billion dollars in pay. But what's going to end up happening is that gamblers are probably going to end up taking their business elsewhere or greatly reduce their activity. So, the unintended consequence of this effort to gain revenue by the government is that they're probably going to end up losing even more because the people who bet at that level aren't going to continue to bet at that level or they're going to go somewhere else. So you're really going to lose more.”

Rooney doubted that a stand-alone bill would ever progress through the system and get passed. He believes the best way to get one of the acts passed it to make it part of a bigger, comprehensive bill.

“Sometimes, when you're kind of below the radar like this, if there is a bill, one that must pass and something that is going to get to the President's desk, we can attach either the FAIR Bet Act or the WAGER Act onto it, whether it be a continuing resolution, whether it be a debt limit vote, or whether it be some kind of a bigger bill where people are putting different ornaments on the Christmas tree. They always like to avoid those, but it does happen.”

Gamblers are incredulous that they may be subject to a situation where they may have to pay taxes on their gambling activity when they did not make any profits. While that seems completely unfair, Rooney said there are some elements in the House and Senate that simply don't like gambling.

“There are members of Congress and the Senate who believe that gambling is a sin, and their whole mantra about politics is piety. They believe that this is a tax essentially on sin.”

Another major issue for racing is the effort to get the Save America's Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE Act) passed. It calls for outlawing horses from being shipped to Mexico and Canada for the purpose of slaughter. If passed, it undoubtedly would make it harder for “killer” buyers to cash in on sending horses to a slaughterhouse. The bill has been in limbo for years, and Rooney said the biggest impediment to its passage is resistance from lawmakers representing western states where cattlemen have a big influence.

“It's a hot button issue, especially when it comes to Western Republicans who, in a way, look at horses as livestock in the way that they would look at cattle or pork,” he said. “For them to agree that there's a difference for equines is not easy. They feel like it's a slippery slope to beef cattle. And so, they have been hard and fast and opposed to the SAFE Act because they don't want the next shoe to drop and for that to be beef.”

The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was the Louisiana-bred sensation Touchuponastar (Star Guitar), who earned a 106 Beyer when winning the GII New Orleans Classic for the second straight year while setting a Fair Grounds track record.  The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the sire Two Phil's.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley, and Zoe Cadman reviewed last week's major preps for the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks and previewed the big races set to be run on a weekend that will be topped by the GI Florida Derby and the GI Arkansas Derby. They also took a look at the impending and improbable comeback of 63-year-old jockey Pat Valenzuela.

Click here to watch the Writers' Room and here to listen to the podcast.

The post Tom Rooney Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Roger Attfield, 86, a member of both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, is retiring from training after a 54-year career, although he plans to remain involved in the sport as an owner, breeder and consultant.

The news was announced via press release Mar. 25 by Woodbine Racetrack.

Attfield enjoyed much of his success on the Ontario circuit, where he won the Sovereign for Outstanding Canadian Trainer eight times and conditioned six Canadian Horses of the Year and three Canadian Triple Crown winners. He also trained during winters in Florida.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to retire from training,” Attfield said in a prepared statement. “Having hung my first shingle up when only 17, as a rider and trainer of horses, I feel that 69 years later is a pretty good number of innings.

“All of my life I have always been a hands-on trainer and now at 86 I can no longer ride out on my pony with sets, and [am] unable to safely inspect them in stalls,” Attfield said. “Both of these things always helped me understand my horses' needs, mentally and physically, to get the very best from them. No longer being able to perform these duties properly, it's time to say 'Hasta la vista!'”

After training 2,038 winners in an 11,648-start career that earned $112,119,392 in purses since 1972, Attfield ran only one entrant at Gulfstream Park this winter.

That mare, Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready), finished eleventh in the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes.

Ready for Shirl is a 5-year-old daughter of Perfect Shirl, Attfield's only Breeders' Cup winner, who was victorious in the 2011 GI Filly and Mare Turf.

When Ready for Shirl ran third last Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes Mar. 21, she was trained by Dallas Stewart. Both Perfect Shirl and Ready for Shirl are homebreds who race for the stable of Charles Fipke, who until recently had been one of Attfield's longstanding clients.

“This winter I only brought seven horses to Florida,” Attfield said in his statement. “A month ago, after having a small disagreement over when and where to run them, I decided to send them all to one of his other trainers.

“They were all very nice horses,” Attfield said. “I will miss them, but wish only the very best of luck to all. Throughout the years I have trained for so many great owners [to] whom I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“My intention is to continue owning and breeding, also consulting and buying,” Attfield said. “As a director of our local HBPA, I will also continue to fight for everything that will help our industry.”

Born in Newbury, England, Attfield earned a degree in agriculture, specializing in farm management, before beginning his career with horses as a steeplechase rider and as an international show jumper.

 Roger Attfield at Woodbine/ Michael Burns

He moved to Canada in 1970 and took his first training job with Gateway Farms.

In 1976, Attfield developed the colt Norcliffe into the first of his eight King's Plate winners and his first Canadian Horse of the Year.

According to his Canadian Hall of Fame biography, Attfield's career soared after he took charge of Bud Willmot's powerful stable of Kinghaven Farms in 1985.

He won his second Plate in 1987 with Market Control and then earned $1 million bonuses for Kinghaven when With Approval and Izvestia won back-to-back Triple Crowns in 1989 and 1990.

Peteski, owned by Earle I. Mack, swept the Canadian Triple Crown races in 1993 for Attfield.

In all, Attfield racked up eight Plate wins, tying him for most by a trainer.

His other Canadian Horse of the Year champions were Play The King, With Approval, Izvestia, Peteski and Alywow.

When Attfield was 60 years old in 1999, he was selected for the Canadian Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

In America, Attfield was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2012.

He recorded his 2000th career victory at Woodbine in July 2022.

In a release from Woodbine on Wednesday, CEO Michael Copeland said, “The impact Roger Attfield made on Woodbine and Canadian racing as a whole is immeasurable. His achievements speak for themselves, but it is the respect he earned from owners, peers, and fans that truly defines his legacy.”

Copeland added, “Roger's horsemanship and dedication set a standard that will endure for years to come. He has been a cornerstone of our racing community, and we are proud to have been part of his journey.”

The post Attfield Retires from Training at 86; Plans to Remain Active in Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Brad Cox always seems to be loaded when it comes to top 3-year-old fillies, and he's got another good one in Life of Joy (Gun Runner), who pulled off an impressive victory in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. With the GII Fantasy Stakes and the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks on tap this week, the picture for the GI Kentucky Oaks should become all the more clear.

So, here goes, your latest Top 10:

1) ZANY (American Pharoah–Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) O-Repole Stable; B-D.J. Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 yrl '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $221,500. Last Start: Won Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30.
She's been No. 1 since the start of this poll and retains that position. Who would have ever thought that the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs would prove to be one of the key races on the road to the Kentucky Oaks? But that looks to be the case. Not only was the race won by Zany, but the runner-up, Life of Joy, came out of the Tampa race to post a decisive victory in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Zany has been in a holding pattern since the Feb. 7 Suncoast, and she ran erratically in the stretch that day. But count on Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher to have a better, more focused filly when she returns in the GI Ashland Stakes Apr. 3 at Keeneland.

2) LIFE OF JOY (Gun Runner–Jordan's Leo, by Malibu Moon) O-Will Stroud, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm & For the People Racing Stable LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Brad H Cox. Sales history: $375,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-1-0, $420,620. Last Start: Won Mar. 21 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 122.
It was impossible not to like Life of Joy's performance in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Facing a stellar group of rivals, she was a much-improved filly and won decisively. Her winning margin was 3 3/4 lengths. It was her first win since the Oct. 26 Rags to Riches Stakes, but Cox is a master when it comes to getting horses to peak on the biggest days. That means that we may not have seen the best of this filly yet. Flavien Prat also rides GIII Honeybee Stakes winner Explora. He may be faced with a difficult decision.

Life of Joy | Hodges Photography

3) EXPLORA (Blame–Collections Choice, by Bernardini) O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Mesingw Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $22,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '25 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 7-4-3-0, $1,053,000. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Won Mar. 1 GIII Honeybee Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 95.
It just goes to show you that Bob Baffert and his owners don't have to spend seven-figures to find a good horse. Explora was bought for a reasonable $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training sale. And he found a runner. She's never been worse than first or second in her seven-race career and is a two-time graded stakes winner. She didn't blow the field away in the GIII Honeybee Stakes, but she redeemed herself after losing at 4-5 in the Las Virgenes Stakes. The news broke Wednesday that she will scratch from Friday's GII Fantasy Stakes and head straight to the GI Kentucky Oaks.

4) SHE BE SMOOTH (Lexitonian–Seattle Smooth, by Quiet American) O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $162,320. Last Start: Won the Feb. 28 GII Davona Dale Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50.
On paper, She Be Smooth certainly looks like the one to beat in Saturday's GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. (She's also ridden by Prat!). Nonetheless, it will be an important test for her as it will be her first try around two turns, and her breeding suggests that she may not want to go this far. But the Pletcher-trained filly has improved with each start and looked terrific when winning the one-mile GII Davona Dale Stakes. It is hard to imagine that she went off at 9-2 when making her debut on Jan. 23 in a Gulfstream maiden. Her workout pattern has been slow and steady–slow four-furlong breezes every time out.

5) MEANING (Gun Runner–Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) O-Bridlewood Farm & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners;
B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Michael McCarthy. Sales history: $440,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $187,000. Last Start: Won Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 26.
The Michael McCarthy-trained filly holds down the fifth spot for another week. Her claim to fame is that she beat Explora in the Las Virgenes, but she did have a perfect trip that day. With Explora taking the Arkansas route to the Kentucky Oaks, Meaning should be the horse to beat when she emerges in the GII Santa Anita Oaks Apr. 4. Was she just lucky to win the Las Virgenes, or is she that good? The Santa Anita Oaks should answer that question.

6) BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-1-0, $561,525. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Second Mar. 21 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 110.
It was not a great Fair Grounds Oaks for the previously unbeaten Bella Ballerina. As the even-money favorite, she was a well-beaten second behind Life of Joy and had no apparent excuse. TDN podcaster and NBC Sports racing maven Randy Moss has pointed out that her half-sister, Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), was also second in the Fair Grounds Oaks before coming back to win the Kentucky Oaks. Both come from the Brendan Walsh barn. So, was Walsh saving something in reserve for the Oaks? It's something to consider.

7) COUNTING STARS (Honor A.P.–Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter) O-West Point Thoroughbreds; B-HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud (KY); T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $13,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP, 6-3-1-0, $372,606. Last Start: Second Mar. 1 GIII Honeybee Stakes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25.
Counting Stars, who goes postward in Friday's GII Fantasy Stakes, made a good run at Explora in the stretch of the GIII Honeybee, but fell short by three-quarters of a length. She was dismissed at 11-1 that day after a terrible effort in the Martha Washington, but she rebounded and showed the promise she displayed when she was an easy winner of the Year's End Stakes. She also ran poorly in the Myrtlewood Stakes, so she's a bit unreliable. But it looks like trainer Mark Casse has her back on track. That said, she needs to improve Friday at Oaklawn to be considered a major Oaks contender.

Prom Queen | Lauren King

8) PROM QUEEN (Quality Road–Miss Bling Bling, by Tapit) O-Gary and Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables. Inc. (Ky); T-Brad H Cox. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $55,080. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Won Feb. 12 MSW at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0.
More Brad Cox. After coming up short in her maiden try, she romped in a Feb. 12 maiden special weight at Gulfstream going 1 1/16 miles, winning by eight lengths. Her Beyer figure was an 83. She'll be taking a big step up in class when competing in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, and she'll be facing a formidable foe in She Be Smooth. But the homebred by Quality Road obviously has a lot of potential. The question is whether or not she is ready for Saturday's assignment.

9) STICKER SHOCK (Uncle Mo–Smokey's Love, by Forestry) O-Gary and Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (Ky); T-Brad H Cox. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $154,613. Last Start: WON Feb. 26 ALW at Oaklawn Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0.
Still more Brad Cox. Like stablemate Prom Queen, she still has a lot to prove. She's two-for-three and is coming off a win in an Oaklawn allowance, where she earned an 87 Beyer. She goes next in the Fantasy, and a win there would raise her stock considerably. Like Prom Queen, she is also a homebred from the Gary and Mary West stable, so it will be a big couple of days for the Wests.

10) BOTTLE OF ROUGE (Vino Rosso–Blues Corner, by Bluegrass Cat) O-Natalie J Baffert; B-Kathie Maybee (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $60,000 wnlg '23 KEENOV; $100,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $577,000. Last Start: Won Mar. 14 Virginia Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 57.50.
Another one trained by Bob Baffert, and there's a point to be made here. This Oaks field is not shaping up as a race for the so-called “little guy.” Trainers Baffert, Pletcher, Cox, Casse, McCarthy, and Walsh train the entire list. Baffert, Pletcher, and Casse are already in the Hall of Fame. Cox is a shoo-in to make it someday. McCarthy and Walsh are established stars. Now, back to Bottle of Rouge. She may not be a star, but Baffert has managed her perfectly. By taking the off-the-beaten-path route to the Oaks with wins in the Sunland Park Oaks and the Virginia Oaks, she has garnered more than enough points to make it into the field for the Kentucky Oaks. Baffert has also managed to compile career earnings of $577,000 with a filly who happens to be owned by his wife, Jill. He'll no doubt have to find another jockey, as this is still another one who was ridden by Flavien Prat in her last start.

The post The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 for March 25: Life of Joy is for Real, and a Big Weekend Ahead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's Explora (Blame), winner of Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee Stakes on Mar. 1, will miss her intended engagement in Friday's GII Fantasy Stakes at that venue after spiking a temperature, according to Horse Racing Nation.

“She spiked a temperature from the trip and we had to treat her with antibiotics,” Bob Baffert told HRN. “She'll go straight the [Kentucky] Oaks.”

Named a TDN Rising Star following a victory at Del Mar last summer, she was second in the GI Del Mar Debutante before rebounding to win the GII Oak Leaf at Santa Anita. She concluded her juvenile season with a close-up second behind Super Corredora in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31.

This season, the newly-turned sophomore ran off to an impressive 5 1/4-length winner in the seven-furlong Santa Ynez at Santa Anita before settling for second behind Meaning in the one-mile Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 8.

The post Explora to Miss Fantasy After Spiking Temperature appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

His name is Immortal Wink (Gimmeawink) and after a career that spanned nine years and 142 races, most of them in Puerto Rico, he was done. He was 10 and had suffered through the kind of wear and tear that is typical with horses who run so often, last so long and wind up at the bottom tier of the sport. He would never go on to a second career, at least one that is typical for a retired Thoroughbred. He just wouldn't be able to do it.

But there were people who didn't believe that meant he was expendable. In 2016, he was purchased for $1,000 by the founders of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), was retired, and was given to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). He was given a job, to help improve the lives of the female inmates at the Lowell Correctional Institute in Ocala, Florida. It's a job he does well.

“I just fell in love with him,” said Rachel Gehrke, an inmate who cared for the horse she came to call “Wink” for about 18 months. “I felt it was really therapeutic. I was going through a lot when I was in Lowell and I was going through a lot before that. I wasn't able to talk to people and I wasn't able to fix things. It was so bad. Knowing that I was going to see my baby every day lifted me up. He would wait for me at the gate every morning. Getting to care for him, that got me through my time there.”

Rachel Gehrke with a horse | courtesy of TRF

Gehrke, who was released in 2021, is now living in Ohio, is engaged and is working toward getting her degree to become a veterinary technician.

Maggie Sweet is the executive director of the TRF, and while she is thrilled that the industry has made so many strides when it comes to taking horses off the track and retraining them for second careers, she doesn't want the Immortal Winks of the world to be forgotten. She'll tell you that not only do they, too, deserve a dignified retirement, but that they can work wonders in programs like the TRF's Second Chances Program. In Second Chances, inmates are paired with retired Thoroughbreds. They can learn important skills they can put to use once released from prison. But, more importantly, through the bonds they develop with the horses, they almost always seem to become better people.

“Our point is that we want to bring to the attention of the racing industry that a lot of the focus is on the retrain, re-home model,” Sweet said. “I think that is ideally what we should be aspiring to. But I think that it's important to note that not every horse can be retrained and re-homed, and that we still have the same responsibility to that horse. We have established that even if a horse can't go onto a second or third athletic career, there are other things the horse can do that are as important, possibly more important.”

Her other point is that old-timers like Immortal Wink, who is 20, were retired before the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) was formed and therefore weren't able to benefit from the funding the TAA now spreads across dozens of aftercare organizations.

“It's also really important to note that there is this big group of horses, which we have started calling the 'legacy herd,' who are still around from the time when the TAA didn't exist,” she said. “They came around when there was no formalized funding source for aftercare. The racing industry has this obligation to retroactively take care of these horses because if we don't, we're shooting ourselves in the foot, and they're the ones who are the most at risk.”

Wink with Shelley Blodgett in Ocala | courtesy of the CTA

It was Shelley Blodgett who got this whole thing started. She became the co-founder of CTA, but this was before that organization existed.

“Shelley was a racing fan and had been following Immortal Wink because he was an older horse who had made so many starts,” said Kelly Stobie, the CTA's other co-founder. “She reached out to me to ask if I could help get him retired. We went through the whole process of getting him retired. I was able to convince the owner to do so. We wound up having to pay $1,000 for him. We couldn't have gotten him retired without doing that. Then Shelley reached out to the TRF and they were willing to take him into their program. I am sure he had a lot of wear and tear from racing. He just wasn't going to be able to become a riding horse. With the TRF, horses are used mainly to teach the inmates. He was such a sweetheart, such a lovely boy. I have a beautiful picture with him before he left. With his having had a lot of racing and a lot wear and tear, we thought he'd be better off in a sanctuary companion home.  The TRF offered to take him. He's been amazing. He's been educating these women for so many years now. They are lucky to have him, and he's lucky to have the TRF.”

It didn't take the TRF long to learn that Immortal Wink had some spunk.

“He's a little bay gelding, and he is a feisty little thing,” said TRF Director of Equine Programming Chelsea O'Reilly. “So, despite his size, he is out in what they call D-Field with the other sassy geldings, and he's the smallest one out there. So they might assume that he is just going to be meek and quiet, but he is so full of personality, even at his elderly age now. They always think that he's going to be super quiet and he's not. He's out in the sassy gelding field with horses half his age.”

Gehrke was a quick convert.

Immortal Wink | courtesy of TRF

“I trusted that horse more than I trusted anything in my life,” she said. “Period.  He was such a good boy. I had never been around horses until I got into the program, but I am an animal lover by nature. I had just never been around a large animal like that. It was a new experience. I thought it could  be fun, that it could be cool. I thought, 'Let's try this.' It changed my thoughts on pretty much everything. You start to understand how their brain works. Horses display their emotions more than most people do. They'll give you a sign. They're just easy to read. These horses are so amazing. I love that horse.”

It's not just one horse and one inmate. Hundreds of women have gone through the Second Chances Program at Lowell, which was started in 2000, and have worked with dozens of horses. For many of the inmates, the connections they form with the horses are personal, meaningful, uplifting and something that had been missing in their lives. To Sweet, the message is clear: there are a lot of horses who come off the racetrack who are less than perfect, old, tired, a little beat up. That doesn't mean that they can't be put to good use or that the industry should ignore their situations.

“This horse was pulled from Puerto Rico, where he was a true iron horse, a war horse,” she said. “Then he was able to have this amazing effect on the mental health of these women who are incarcerated at Lowell Correctional. This particular horse, Immortal Wink, has touched a lot of lives.”

The post Beaten Up By The Racing Wars, Immortal Wink Still Found A Second Career Changing Lives appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 03/24/2026
Licensee: Joe Toye, 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. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Roll Dem Bones, who finished fifth at Turf Paradise on 2/4/26.

Dates: 03/24/2026
Licensee: Michael E. Ferraro, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on March 25, 2026; 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 2 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Keigs, who won at Finger Lakes on 10/28/25.

Dates: 03/24/2026
Licensee: Desiree Blankenhorn
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on September 24, 2025; a fine of $25,000. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Violation for the alleged possession of a banned substance (Niflumic acid) on an event dated 5/29/25. There are currently no further details publicly available on the HIWU website.

Dates: 03/23/2026
Licensee: Daniel Damen, 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.
Explainer: Medication violation of Rule 3313, concerning the “Use or Attempted Use” of Camphor–a class C controlled substance–on Tony B “during the Race Period” on 12/31/25.

Dates: 03/23/2026
Licensee: Carla Gaines, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Diclofenac–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Royal Rumor on 2/8/26.

Dates: 03/23/2026
Licensee: Manuel Badilla, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Coolwind on 2/4/26.

Dates: 03/23/2026
Licensee: Eric R. Reed, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sexarito on 1/17/26.

Dates: 03/23/2026
Licensee: Guillermo Flores, trainer
Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on March 24, 2026; a fine of $12,500.
Explainer: Ruling for the possession of the banned substance Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP); Adenosine Monophosphate for an event dated 9/18/25. There are currently no further details publicly available on the HIWU website.

Dates: 03/20/2026
Licensee: Danny Gargan, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Wine Money on 2/4/26.

Dates: 03/20/2026
Licensee: Isaiah L. Ortiz, 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 Ketoprofen–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Riding By on 2/4/26.

Dates: 03/18/2026
Licensee: Steven W. Martin, 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. Internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Soul Sacrifice, who won at Remington Park on 12/20/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
03/23/2026, Daniel H. Dennison, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Furosemide (Lasix)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Garavani, who won at Turf Paradise on 1/28/26.
03/20/2026, Ivan Calderon, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Angel Wings, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valley on 2/9/26.
03/20/2026, Phil D'Amato, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Vow to Resiliency on 1/22/26.
03/19/2026, Justin J. Nixon, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Klum on 2/25/26.
03/19/2026, Ray Handal, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Ez Roll, who finished second at Aqueduct on 1/23/26.
03/17/2026, Isidro Castro, trainer: Pending alleged violation of Rule 3214(a), for the possession of the banned substances Glaucine and Testosterone for an event dated 8/19/25.

Crop Violations
Santa Anita
Vicente Del Cid–violation date March 20; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly National Rulings: Mar. 19-25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has reached an agreement with Churchill Downs regarding the track's unpaid HISA dues, according to an order posted on HISA's website Tuesday.

No specific details of the agreement were made public Tuesday other than that the case has been stayed “until notification from the parties that the conditions of the agreement have been satisfied,” according to a joint motion dated March 24, and signed by Charles Scheeler, chair of HISA's board of directors.

In that motion, it is also written that “[t]he parties have reached an agreement to resolve these four enforcement actions. . . [and] jointly move for the Board to stay the March 16, 2026, decision of the Board panel and related appeal proceedings until the conditions of the agreement have been satisfied. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions of the agreement, the parties will jointly move for the Board to dismiss these four enforcement actions.”

“We have no further comment beyond what is in the Board order,” said HISA spokesperson, Mackenzie Kirker-Head.

TDN reached out to Churchill Downs and were told that they could not comment further at the time.

The news is the latest update in a weeks-long battle between the entities dating back to February 18 when HISA served Churchill Downs “four notices for non-payment of its 2025 fees related to federal regulatory oversight of its Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, Ellis Park and Presque Isle Downs racetracks.”

The unpaid dues, which were listed in excess of $2.4-million, were to be paid within “10 days of any order by the HISA board that results from the just-scheduled Mar. 11 hearing.”

If left unpaid, according the Feb. 18 notice of hearing, “for each day the payment is late, Churchill [will] be prohibited from conducting any Covered Horserace, to be applied immediately on the next scheduled race day(s) at Churchill.”

Churchill Downs issued a strong rebuttal of the allegations via a statement Feb. 20 which included in part, “While we do not comment on pending legal proceedings, we will not accept HISA's mischaracterization of our actions. The Authority's recent escalation reflects a troubling pattern of overreach that is harmful to the industry and inconsistent with the collaborative approach necessary to strengthen the sport.”

The ongoing battle continued into March with HISA threatening to revoke the track's simulcasting signal due to continued unpaid balances.

The post HISA, Churchill Downs Reach Agreement On Unpaid Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Promising allowance winner Maximum Bourbon (Maximum Security) topped the 2026 March Digital Sale which closed Tuesday evening with gross sales of $4,430,500 for 142 horses sold. The sale, which opened Thursday, March 19, included horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, broodmares–including mares with foals at foot–2-year-olds in training, 'short' yearlings, and a fractional interest in graded stakes winner Just Beat the Odds (Munnings).

Maximum Bourbon (hip 5) sold for $400,000 to Agave Racing Stable to top the sale. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the 4-year-old gelding. A three-time winner in five starts, Maximum Bourbon boasts four 90+ Beyers in his campaign to date, including a career-best 103 Beyer finishing second in allowance company at Fair Grounds on March 13. He has earned $124,824 to date.

“We are absolutely delighted to add a horse with this kind of potential to our stable,” said Mark Martinez of Agave Racing. “While Maximum Bourbon is lightly raced, he's certainly not light on talent and his impressive wins on dirt while yielding the kind of Beyer and Ragozin numbers he's posted certainly gives us optimism to believe he can compete with the upper echelon dirt sprinters in the country. The partnership of Agave Racing, Evan Trommer and Rockin Robin Racing will ship him to Phil D'Amato and his team at Oaklawn Park to begin his campaign for the new connections. Maximum Bourbon will be pointed to either the $500,000 GIII Count Fleet on April 11th or the $200,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes three weeks later.”

Added Martinez, “I can't say enough good things about the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform and the opportunity it gives to both buyers and sellers. I've found myself being more seller than buyer in the past, but today I'm happy to be on this side of the transaction.”

Fee (Into Mischief) (hip 191), carrying her first foal by Mindframe, sold for $310,000 to Frankfort Park Farm from the consignment of Wasabi Ventures Sales, agent. A half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' Englishman (Maxfield), Fee was added to the sale late Friday after that colt's 7 1/2-length romp in allowance company at Fair Grounds on Thursday.

“The Fasig-Tipton Digital platform is transforming the industry,” said consignor TK Kuegler of Wasabi Ventures. “It is allowing buyers and sellers to work in a fast paced marketplace. The Fasig-Tipton staff was amazing. We contacted them and they helped us move quickly to add Fee as a supplement. Anyone not selling on the platform is missing out.”

Rounding out the top five offerings were:

Ms. Bucchero (hip 7), a multiple stakes winner, sold for $230,000 to Deputy from the consignment of Evergreen Equine, agent for the Morici Bankruptcy Estate Dispersal. The daughter of Bucchero was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect. A three-time stakes winner, Ms. Bucchero has earned $462,025 to date.

Libero (hip 2), a 3-year-old daughter of Justify, sold for $180,000 to Competitive Casual Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Heartwood Farm, agent. Offered as a racing/broodmare prospect, Libero was placed in her debut in February.

A fractional interest (33%) in graded stakes winner Just Beat the Odds (hip 23) sold for $150,000 to OG from the consignment of Highgate Sales, agent. Winner of the GIII Elite Power Stakes in December, Just Beat the Odds was just second in his most recent outing in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia. The son of Munnings has earned $745,495 to date.

“The sale delivered a strong performance, achieving an 84% clearance rate and generating $4.4 million in gross sales–further reinforcing the continued strength and resilience of the digital racehorse market,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “If it's better for the horse it's better for the buyer and seller. Attention now turns to Maximum Bourbon, who will be an exciting horse to follow in the coming year.”

Of the broodmare offerings, Aaron added, “Broodmares were equally well received, posting a high clearance rate and demonstrating sustained demand across the segment. Notably, Fee commanded a top price of $310,000 for broodmares, reflecting buyers' confidence in quality offerings with current and relevant updates. The sale continues to provide an efficient marketplace that delivers both value to buyers and immediate liquidity for sellers.”

“The broodmare-with-foal-at-foot segment also delivered impressive results and continues to show strong upward momentum,” Aaron continued. “With 9 of 11 offerings sold, this category achieved prices of up to $50,000, $48,000, and $46,000, underscoring its growing appeal and suggesting continued expansion in future sales.”

Full results are available online.

The next digital sale is the April Digital Sale, to be held April 16 through April 21. Entries close April 8.

The post Maximum Bourbon Tops Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The TDN is proud to announce the launch of its latest podcast, TDN Business Hour. Hosted by Najja Thompson, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, the show serves as a resource for owners, breeders and other industry stakeholders by examining the fiscal and operational complexities of the racing world. Each month, the podcast dives into a different economic issue or business trend affecting the industry's bottom line.

In its debut episode, TDN Business Hour explores the international macroeconomic factors currently shaping the market, from the ripple effects of global unrest and inflation to how international trade policies like tariffs and bonus depreciation, are impacting stakeholders.

This month's featured guests include:

• Mark Taylor (President and CEO of Taylor Made Farm): Taylor discusses how Medallion Racing has adjusted its international purchasing strategies and shares feedback from international pinhookers ahead of this year's yearling sales season. He also offers advice on how breeders and buyers can capitalize on the current economic climate.
• Marshall Gramm (Economics Professor, Accomplished Horseplayer and Co-Founder of Ten Strike Racing): Gramm offers an economic perspective on how current international events affect the industry. Gramm also highlights domestic concerns regarding long-term investment, including the affordability of HISA and the shrinking foal crop.

• Anthony Trimarchi (Managing Director for J.P. Morgan Private Bank): Trimarchi provides expert insight on how diversification and tax efficiency can protect and benefit stakeholders amidst global uncertainty.

• Case Clay (Bloodstock Agent and Racing Manager for Wathnan Racing): Clay discusses Wathnan Racing's decision to send Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) to defend his title in this weekend's G1 Dubai World Cup and the logistics of sending the Brad Cox trainee to the Middle East amid regional conflict. Known for his success purchasing horses internationally, Clay discusses how tariffs have shifted his buying approach.

Watch or listen to the TDN Business Hour below. The podcast can also be found on TDN's Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen here: 

Watch here:

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