Thoroughbred Daily News

GISW and nationally ranked fourth-crop sire Collected (City Zip) will highlight Rancho San Miguel's 2025 Open House & Stallion Show to be held Saturday, December 6. The free event will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with all regional Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and enthusiasts invited to attend.

Collected recently arrived at the San Luis Obispo County farm from Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, which is partnering with Rancho San Miguel and prominent California breeder/owner Marsha Naify to stand the 12-year-old son of City Zip for a $7,500 fee in 2026.

From his first four crops to race, the 2017 GI Pacific Classic Stakes winner has sired 20 stakes winners, including seven graded stakes winners, with cumulative progeny earnings of more than $18 million. He enters the California stallion ranks with 2025 progeny earnings of $6.4 million to date.

Also making his Rancho San Miguel debut is GISW and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Eight Rings (Empire Maker), whose first foals will be 2-year-olds in 2026.

Promising young stallions Bolden, Brickyard Ride and The Street Fighter and veteran sires Cyclotron, Editorial, Mo Forza, Niagara Falls, Northern Causeway, Sir Prancealot (Ire) and Uptown Rythem also will be paraded.

Participants will be treated to a catered lunch, as well as opportunities for giveaways, door prizes and stallion season raffles. The farm also will offer several horses of mixed age for inspection and sale, including broodmares, weanlings and yearlings.

“This year, we are especially proud and excited to open our doors to members of the California breeding and racing community,” said Rancho San Miguel owner Tom Clark. “We plan on having some old-fashioned holiday fun while showcasing our diverse group of stallions and sharing our enthusiasm for the future of our state's industry at this crucial point in time.”

Reservations for the event are being accepted at (805) 467-3847 and teri.ransanmig@gmail.com.

The post Collected Highlights Upcoming Rancho San Miguel Open House And Stallion Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

News last week about the loss of this year's GIII Bob Hope Stakes after receiving just three entrants–all from the Bob Baffert stable–wasn't exactly a shock. But is it a canary in the coal mine concerning the health of California's horse inventory?

Not on its own. It is, however, one among a flock of important indicators.

Growing attention has been spent on the implications from the consolidation of top bloodstock between fewer and fewer stables, with many observing how a greater distribution of horses among more stables would help the trainers, the sport's ledgers, and in many ways the horses themselves.

Expanding upon this idea, economists would agree how one major indicator of a healthy racing marketplace is a good cross-section of trainers–spanning the large, medium and small barns–all thriving in a way that makes the entire product competitive and appealing to the bettor.

As we approach the last month of 2025, enough time has passed since the closure of Pleasanton this March–and with it a racing circuit in the North of the state–to gauge the health of a key section of California's racing product, which is those trainers from the North. How important are they to California?

“A horse in the North, and horsemen in the North, [are] as valuable as any horse or horseman in the South, regardless of the price tag,” said president of The Stronach Group's 1/ST business, Aidan Butler, at a California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting a year ago, arguing how a system that didn't involve direct competition would be in the best long-term interests of the state's racing.

Using a California Thoroughbred Trainers' (CTT) evaluation of the fate of these former Northern-based stables since the closure of Pleasanton, as well as earnings and starts statistics available on Equibase, however, three main trends materialize indicating these stables have really struggled to find their footing under this system.

A significant number of barns have currently left the state (12 in total). Another notable number of trainers have called it quits altogether (22).

For the barns that have maintained a footprint in the state, the overall impression has been one of shrinkage–an average 50% decline in both earnings and starts, with only a few weeks left in the year to make up the deficit.

Concurrently, this one-time infusion of horses south has proven a plus for the bottom half of the state. Last month, there were 269 more horses in SoCal than the corresponding month last year. Field sizes have understandably ticked up, including at the current Del Mar meet. But it's the state's SoCal barns which appear to have primarily benefited from this consolidation.

Racing at Del Mar | Horsephotos

The TDN asked California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) to analyze the impact of the new California single circuit on trainers who were formerly based in Northern California.

According to the CTT's analysis, there were 61 Northern California horsemen and women who were stabled at Pleasanton at some point during their final meet up until the facility closed to stabling in March. Of these:

• 13 trainers immediately retired or disbanded their stable entirely.
• Of the 27 trainers who relocated their entire string to Southern California, nearly all of them downsized. Four of these trainers subsequently closed down.
• During Emerald Downs' 2025 meet, three trainers split their stables between Santa Anita and the Washington track (and some of these horses returned to Southern California when the meet ended in September).
• 17 former NorCal trainers sent their entire string to Emerald Downs. When that meet ended, 11 of these 17 trainers moved their horses to Turf Paradise, while one trainer took their string to San Luis Rey in California. Five of these 17 trainers subsequently disbanded their strings entirely.
• There was one trainer who initially left 10 horses at Santa Anita and sent 40 horses to Texas. In June, however, that trainer took the 10 Santa Anita horses to Lone Star Park.

When asked about the short and long-term implications from these numbers, CTT executive director Alan Balch said it is “especially difficult” to forecast the future.

Santa Anita recently announced increased purses in selected categories to $70,000 for MSW and 1X Allowance for the upcoming Classic Meet, 50% of which are for Cal-breds. The Cal-bred maiden bonus will be increased from $10,000 to $12,500.

“Santa Anita has just announced purse increases, which is positive. On the other hand, purses remain much higher elsewhere,” said Balch. “Perhaps the biggest and most critical unknown is this coming year's California population of two-year-olds, given the declining national foal crop, and particularly California's.”

Aidan Molinaro is the son of former Northern California-based trainer Kent Molinaro. He wore several hats at last year's Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton, including paddock host, handicapper and marketing officer.

This past summer, Molinaro worked on the Wyoming racing circuit as a clocker and morning-line maker. He has a Master's degree in communications from St. Mary's College of California.

Given his long roots in the north of the state, Molinaro was curious how the loss of a Northern racing circuit had impacted those horsemen and women he had grown up around.

Using statistics available on Equibase, Molinaro sat down and compared the fates of 41 trainers based at Pleasanton last winter.

Using earnings and starts data for these 41 stables, Molinaro found what he describes as a landscape of “massive earning declines, premature retirement, stable closures, and a restructuring of nearly every Northern California operation.”

Mirroring Molinaro's approach, the TDN examined all the former NorCal stables that have kept a presence in California (as per the CTT's analysis), 27 trainers in total.

This comprises all trainers that relocated their entire barns to Southern California; those trainers that split their stables between SoCal and Emerald Downs; and the one trainer who took his string to Emerald Downs but returned to SoCal when the Washington track closed for the year.

Using Equibase, the TDN found the following trends (with the caveat there's still more than a month left of racing in Southern California):

• The average earnings of these 27 stables have dropped just over 50% this year over last. Last year, the average stable earning among these trainers was $558k. This year it's around $261k.
• The average number of starts these stables have made has also dropped around 50% this year over last–from an average 165 starts in 2024 to 81 so far this year.
• Taking into account potential earnings during the last few weeks of the year, 12 of these 27 trainers are on track to see both their annual starts and annual earnings drop over 50% comparing 2025 to 2024 figures.

In terms of earnings, trainer Andy Mathis has arguably done the best of the larger barns, earning so far this year $874,896, a slight uptick over his total of $843,998 last year.

SoCal-based trainer Bob Baffert | Horsephotos

Though the number of statewide race days this year is expected to be 155 as compared to 298 last year (a 48% decline), California's daytime Thoroughbred handle is down only 3% through October, which included one day of the Breeders' Cup (as per a report at the most recent California Horse Racing Board meeting).

Using a comparative cross-section of trainers, however, the rewards of this consolidated system appear to have largely benefited those primarily Southern-based trainers.

The TDN used Equibase to look at the top 20 trainers from Del Mar's 2024 summer meet (not including Eric Kruljac in this analysis, as he retired early in 2025, nor Todd Fincher, as he's primarily based elsewhere).

Among these top 20 SoCal stables, there was just an 8% decrease in individual stable earnings–from an average of $4.09 million last year, to an average $3.77 million this year (with weeks left to run).

We also see an average decrease in the number of starts among these 20 trainers of just 11% (from 319 last year to 282 this year).

Looking at overall horse inventory numbers, it strongly appears that some of the horses formerly under the auspices of Northern-based trainers have been recirculated among their Southern-based compatriots.

Referring to figures provided via a monthly analysis from Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), Balch said that horse numbers in California have understandably declined this year over last, given the loss of a racing calendar in the North.

When looking at horse population totals on a month-by-month basis this year over last, the declines have shown ebbs and flows rather than proving uniform, Balch said, pointing to fluctuations from “younger horses arriving” and “trainers replacing older stock.”

The smallest decline was a fall of 13% in January (comparing 2024 to 2025). Pleasanton didn't close its doors to Thoroughbreds until the end of March this year. August constituted the largest population drop of 24%.

In the last available monthly totals, there were 2544 horses in Southern California in October, said Balch. This constitutes a drop of 17% in California as a whole from the corresponding month in 2024, when there were 2275 horses in Southern California and 778 in the North.

Asked what he'd like to see come from his analysis, Molinaro said in the short term at least, fair racing dates should be granted next year to Ferndale and Fresno, to capture the horses from the Oregon fair circuit and from Emerald Downs respectively.

“The California racing industry can return to statewide racing by integrating these two race meets, which have historically been very successful,” Molinaro wrote in an email.

“I believe they will continue to be, if given the opportunity to race by the state of California's industry leaders and most important stakeholders,” he added. “Hopefully these raw numbers and facts will serve as a stark call to action.”

The post By The Numbers: NorCal Barns Hit Hard From Consolidation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sarah Sharp Farish, the wife of Lane's End Farm owner Will Farish, passed away Monday, November 24, 2025 at home in Boca Grande, Florida. She was 83 years old.

“Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Sarah was the daughter of Mary and Bayard Sharp. In 1961, she married  the love of her life, Will Farish, owner of Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky and former U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James. She is survived by her husband, her son Bill Farish (Kelley), daughters Mary Farish Johnston (Dennis) and Laura Farish Chadwick (John).  Beloved daughter Hillary Farish Stratton preceded her mother in death. Sarah is also survived by 17 grandchildren and their spouses: Hunter Farish Johnston (Emily), Sarah Sharp Malloy (William), Maggie Miller Johnston, Ande Farish Day (Lincoln), Sammy Farish Rosenstein (Ross), Lulu Farish Pohanka (Jason), William S. Farish, III, Daisy Miller Farish, Robert Wood Farish, Coco Sharp Farish, Stormy Stokes Farish, Lilly Chadwick Poulson (Hundley) , Isabella Sharp Chadwick, Stanford Clark Stratton, Bayard Farish Stratton, Wilson Sharp Stratton and Jack Miller Stratton. Sarah was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren.

Sarah brought her quiet elegance to every setting, from her family home at Kentucky's Lane's End Farm to the sparkling Court of St. James in London, England to her family's beloved Gasparilla Inn on Florida's Gulf Coast. Her life with Will Farish over their 63 years of marriage was marked by many adventures, from the weekends of quail hunting at the Lazy F Ranch to the thrills of Thoroughbred horse racing to serving their country in the diplomatic corps. In every facet of her life, she embodied strength, dignity and charm.

Sarah was deeply devoted to her family and to the many causes that she held dear. She grew up spending time in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, where her father owned the historic Gasparilla Inn. She shared her father's love of the Inn and the Island community. For the past 22 years, she dedicated herself to preserving and enhancing that wonderful island and Inn property. She was a strong supporter of the Boca Grande Health Clinic, the Island School and the Boca Grande Preschool as well as many other organizations and island businesses.

When Sarah took to something, she went all in.  Among her many passions were golf (she was a multi-time club champion at the Idle Hour Country Club and the Gulfstream Golf Club), bird shooting, pottery, photography, gardening and flower arranging.  She also cherished the companionship of many dogs over the years, including Max, Rosie, Charlie, Cotton, Slipper and Katie.

Sarah Sharp Farish leaves an enduring legacy for her children and grandchildren, all of whom revere the extraordinary life that she lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Gasparilla Inn Employee Care Fund for the Relief Effort in Jamaica, PO Box 1088 Boca Grande, FL  33921. A special thank you for the extraordinary efforts of Dr. Bret Kueber and the health clinic staff, and to the home care team of Debbie, Logan, Nettie, Nicolette, Francine and Livette.”

The post Sarah Sharp Farish, Wife Of Will Farish, Dies At 83 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Despite a successful career in which he won 1,871 races, jockey Trevor McCarthy announced his retirement in April. He admitted that he was “miserable” and that the many problems that come with being a jockey, especially one who is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, had caused him serious mental health problems. In November, it was announced that McCarthy had taken on a new job as HISA's Jockey Wellness Consultant.

To talk about his battles, his new job, his current state of mind and why he walked away from the sport when he did, McCarthy joined the team on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

McCarthy said that he had been searching for answers as to what he should do and how he could conquer his demons. He believes divine intervention led him to retire.

“I had some serious red flags for a while,” he said. “For me, it was just a perfect storm so far as the last few years, considering what I was dealing with mentally and physically with my body. I'm not a very religious guy, but I was raised Catholic and I was in a hotel room at Colonial and I prayed to God to show me some really strong signs whether I should continue riding or not.”

He said that a number of individuals, including a racetrack chaplain and friends, contacted him and said they were worried about him. McCarthy had not publicly revealed his problems and, to the outside world, seemed to be content with his life and career. McCarthy saw these interactions as a sign that God was speaking to him through the people who were showing concern for him and told him he needed help and that maybe he would be much happier if he stopped riding.

He had this to say about his decision: “Once I decided to retire I never felt so calm. I never felt so right about a decision in my entire life.”

He admitted that his height was an issue, that making weight was much more difficult for him than it was for shorter jockeys.

“There were so many things that added up,” McCarthy said. “Maybe if I was five-foot tall, it might have been a little bit easier. There were also the injuries that I had and the wear and tear on my body and the lack of nutrition that I was giving it. Being 5-9 and having to get down 115 pounds, weight was always a struggle.”

McCarthy, whose wife, Katie Davis, is a jockey, is now working for both HISA and a real estate firm. Some seven months after he hung up his tack he said that he has found the peace of mind that he had been missing for so long.

He is enthusiastic about his job with HISA and hopes that by doing that and telling his own story he can help other jockeys who may be struggling with mental health issues.

“What we have been working on is building resources for jockeys that improves wellness for them,” McCarthy said. “We have teamed up with Onrise (an organization that provides mental health care and support to teams, clubs, leagues and players' associations at the elite youth, college and professional levels). Through Onrise, we have developed  therapy and psychiatric programs. We have also tied in with a nutritionist, which we did just a few weeks ago. Starting on Jan. 1, we're going to have a career counselor, as well, for jockeys.”

The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was Full Screen (Big Screen), who earned a 100 Beyer figure when winning an allowance race at Aqueduct for trainer Brad Cox. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the stallion Life is Good.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the KTOB, PHBA, 1/ST TV and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman discussed the surprising announcement that James Carville, an institution within the Democratic Party, had endorsed Dale Romans's run for the U.S. Senate and the stories of the sport's two hottest jockeys, Flavien Prat and Paco Lopez. In the final segment, Moss, Cadman and Finley handicapped the major races to be run this weekend at Churchill Downs and at Del Mar, which will host the GI Hollywood Derby.

Click to watch the podcast or here to listen.

The post Trevor McCarthy 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.

Parx will begin installing a new turf course in March with the goal of racing on it by late summer 2026.

There has been no grass racing at Parx since September 2024.

In August of that season the course was closed after a catastrophic equine injury during a stakes resulted in a euthanization, triggering a safety review by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

The track was cleared to reopen by HISA within several weeks, with Parx agreeing to put new protocols and maintenance procedures in place.

But another grass-race injury and euthanization on the GI Pennsylvania Derby undercard Sept. 21, 2024, resulted in a second shutdown, and the course was closed for the rest of the '24 season.

As TDN's Bill Finley reported at that time, “video showed that there were numerous holes in the turf course and that the grass itself looked like something you might see in a vacant lot.”

Attempts to get the course usable for '25 didn't work out, and the Parx turf has not hosted a race for the last 14 months.

Joe Wilson, the chief operating officer at Parx, said during Tuesday's Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission (PHRC) meeting that “the goal is to be back on that turf when we come back from our break in the middle of summer.”

Parx has yet to publish its '26 calendar, but a similar seasonal break in '25 spanned July 25-Aug. 17.

“We're taking [the existing course] away and putting a new one in. This sod will come from Tuckahoe [Turf Farms in Hammonton, New Jersey], which is one of the leading suppliers of sod to both racetracks and sports fields in general.”

Wilson was asked by a commissioner about the feasibility of installing a Tapeta track at Parx.

“It gets talked about,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, you're looking, at my racetrack, to put a Tapeta track in, you're looking at pretty close to probably $10 million, which, as we know, is a significant investment. Certainly, we'll continue to look at that, but that cost has to come down.”

Wilson's comments came before the PHRC voted unanimously Nov. 25 to grant Thoroughbred racing dates for '26 that mirror the same number of dates the commission awarded in '25.

There will be 150 dates at Parx, 105 at Penn National, and 76 at Presque Isle Downs.

“We continue to race 150 days a year at pretty much the same purse levels, which is really tough to do these days,” said Wilson.

Scott Lishia, the director and racing and sportsbook for Penn National, said that rather than starting racing in early January and having breaks in late January, early April and early October like this year, Penn National in '26 won't start racing until late February, with two-date weeks until mid-March, after which three-date weeks will largely be the norm through Labor Day.

“Then we're going to take a five- or six-week break off, come back in October with those three days a week again, finishing up the day before Thanksgiving,” Lishia said.

The post Parx To Install New Turf Course; PA Keeps ’26 Racing Dates Level appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There has been much discussion in the press recently about the ongoing negotiations on the 2026 racing calendar in New York. In truth, we are closer than reports would suggest on reaching an agreement. Currently, there are four days for the Winter meet, four days for the Saratoga meet, and two days at the Spring meet that are in dispute.

We are advocating strongly to retain these dates because we believe that a robust year-round racing calendar is vital to the long-term health of New York's Thoroughbred industry.

Year-round racing sustains the breeding industry, it supports thousands of jobs at the tracks, the breeding farms, and all the ancillary businesses that depend on our industry to survive. It is essential to our year-round horsemen and women – owners and trainers and backstretch workers alike – who have built their lives in New York State, buying homes, raising families, and becoming valued members of their communities.

Racing dates at the NYRA tracks already have been cut by 15% in the last seven years and, as history will show us, once you lose those dates, you do not get them back. But has cutting dates really been a successful strategy? It's just not working. We are still seeing a decline in field size, because we have not done a good job of attracting new owners and trainers to race in New York. Our horses head to Oaklawn and Kentucky, where purses are higher and the cost of doing business is lower. Offering ever fewer racing days is not going to reverse that trend.

NYTHA has several proposals on the table that we hope will be given due consideration.

One is a Developer Program modeled on the initiative currently enjoying success in Maryland. This program would reward a horse's “Developer” – the owner that makes the investment to breed or buy the horse and then bring it to the races – with a bonus for starting the horse's career in New York and keeping it here. We have ideas for decreasing the cost of doing business in New York. We have suggested finding ways to make our product more attractive to horse players on days when revenue is down, with lowered takeout or other incentives.

Maybe these proposals will work, maybe they will not. But you can't keep doing what you have been doing – cutting dates – and expect different results.

We are in a transition year in New York. We have not raised purses in five years, because the horsemen and the racetrack agreed that revenue would be challenged during the Belmont redevelopment, and we wanted to be able to sustain our program and our purses during the construction of the new Belmont Park. We are optimistic that the new Belmont will revitalize New York racing, and we have been assured that having a winter meet on the synthetic track will bring new trainers to New York and we will see the results in increased revenue. We need to give these historic changes the best opportunity to work, not by further contraction, but by finding ways to grow our business and support our year-round horsemen and women.

Tina Bond is the President of the NYTHA.

The post Letter To The Editor: New York Racing Needs A Robust Year-Round Calendar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Amplify Horse Racing, the national organization connecting youth to the Thoroughbred industry, closed out its 2025 season  of outreach with a busy week in November.

Amplify began the week by welcoming over 75 students and 4-H leaders from 11 different states participating in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup to a Thoroughbred Industry Discovery Day at Keeneland. Students heard from industry professionals about racehorse training and equine safety, explored the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, and joined a lunchtime career activity that connected them directly with mentors and employers in the industry.

Amplify then presented its signature Mentorship Program at the National Farmers Union Women's Conference, highlighting the importance of mentorship in connecting young people with agricultural education and industry careers. And it hosted five mentees from across the country for an immersive day of learning in Kentucky, made possible through the support of Glen Hill Farm. Their day included touring the Keeneland sales grounds and learning how to evaluate horses alongside industry professionals, visiting Godolphin's Jonabell Farm, and touring the Keeneland Library before concluding with Amplify's annual end-of-year student networking event.

Amplify conducted a field trip to Godolphin's Gainsborough Farm for 40 students from the Walden School in Louisville, and capped off the week by exhibiting at the Fayette County Public Schools Career Expo at Tates Creek High School.

“Our goal has always been to meet youth where they are, in their schools, communities, and online, and show them that there's a place for them in this industry,” said Annise Montplaisir, Amplify's Executive Director and Co-Founder. “This type of transformative programming doesn't happen without the collaboration and generosity of industry partners and donors. The financial support we receive directly fuels our ability to reach youth who might otherwise never discover this incredible industry. As we look toward 2026, we invite everyone who believes in the future of horse racing to join us in this mission.”

In 2026, Amplify plans to build on the success of this year's programs with the debut of a new high school curriculum. Aligned with the National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALOs), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards, the curriculum will provide teachers with ready-to-use lessons and hands-on activities that bring the world of Thoroughbred racing to the classroom.

To make a tax-deductible contribution in support of Amplify's mission, visit amplifyhorseracing.org/donate.

The post Busy November Completes Impactful Year for Amplify appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Multiple Grade I winner Patch Adams is now available for inspection at WinStar Farm, the farm announced Tuesday. The son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief developed into one of the nation's premier sprinters this year in his sophomore season, scoring consecutive Grade I victories at Saratoga, winning both the Woody Stephens S. and the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. for trainer Brad Cox.

“Patch Adams arrived at the stallion barn on Saturday and is settling in nicely,” said Liam O'Rourke, director of bloodstock services for WinStar. “We had the opportunity to show him to his shareholders on Monday morning. It was encouraging to receive a ton of positive feedback from a highly accomplished group of horsemen. We look forward to showing him to more breeders in the coming weeks.”

All told, Patch Adams won four of seven lifetime starts, going three-for-three at seven furlongs, and earning $772,585. A third-generation WinStar homebred, Patch Adams hails from one of the top families cultivated at WinStar. His dam is stakes winner Well Humored, and he is from the family of Grade I winners Well Armed, Cyberknife, Played Hard, and American Patriot.

To schedule an inspection, contact Liam O'Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Ben Hanley at 859-873-1717, or visit www.WinStarFarm.com.

The post Patch Adams Now Available for Inspection at WinStar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

More than 17 years after Thoroughbred racing shut down in Kansas, the sport will be revived in the Sunflower state in October 2026. It was all made possible when the Kansas legislature and Governor Laura Kelly passed a statute that will allow for 1,000 Historical Horse Racing machines in the state.

Three-percent of the gross revenue from the machines will be devoted to racing. It is estimated that the state's race horse development fund, which will allocate money to purses, will receive about $15 million from the machines. The state's breeding fund will pull in $3 million. The racing will be conducted at Eureka Downs, which is in Eureka, Kansas, and has not held Thoroughbred racing since 2008. That was the same year that the Woodlands Racetrack, which was in Kansas City, Kansas, shut down.

Initially, there will be 44 annual days of racing in the state.

“We are ecstatic about this development, but this has been hard,” said Peach Madl, the executive director of the Kansas Thoroughbred Association. “We have been fighting to have racing again for so many years. We know we will have to find more owners and breeders and lay the foundation so that they will raise Kansas foals again. We only have a short time to start.”

According to The Jockey Club, only four mares were bred in the state in 2023.

The machines will not be at Eureka Downs but at a gaming facility named Gilley's in Park City, Kansas. Gilley's is on the site of the old Wichita Greyhound Park and was purchased by Phil Ruffin and his family. Ruffin is well-known for his extensive business ventures in the state, including pioneering self-serve gas stations and developing hotels and gaming facilities.

“How did we get approval for the HHR machines? It has to be the persistence of the Ruffin family and that we were aiming to get HRR machines this time,” Madl said. “The HHR machines made it where Kansas, which is a total ag state, could have horse racing again. It's ridiculous that we've gone this long without horse racing. This is a state with a lot of horse people and farmers. This took persistence and a lot of money to get the HHR machines approved.”

Madl said there is the potential for more dates to be added in the future.

“Since the track is being renovated now, Eureka Downs didn't want to ask for any more dates than that for now,” she said.

While, on the surface, it might seem that a track in a state where so few horses have been bred in recent years, Eureka Downs might struggle to fill fields. Madl predicted that Eureka will not have a major problem putting together racing cards.

“We are fortunate to be smack in the middle of a circuit that most of the trainers run at,” she said. “That's Remington, Prairie Meadows and the tracks in Nebraska. We plan not to interfere with their races. There will be a pocket for us. We can be that place that fits in with what is currently going on.”

Madl said that when it comes to racing, Kansas has a lot going for it.

“We have nothing but open pasture ground here,” she said. “We have the room, we have the agriculture needs. We think there is room for racing to grow in the Midwest.”

Though there is not a rich history of racing in Kansas, the state's Thoroughbred industry does have a claim to fame. Kansas-bred Lawrin won the 1938 Kentucky Derby and was the first ever Derby winner for Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro and Hall of Fame trainer Ben Jones.

The post Racing To Return To Kansas In 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Four stakes written for juveniles–two each for males and females–will be featured during the upcoming six-day winter meeting at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California.

Live racing will take place Friday through Sunday on consecutive weekends between Dec. 5 and 7 and Dec. 12 and 14. The first of the added-money events is the $200,000 GII Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and a mile and a sixteenth to be run Saturday, Dec. 6. Its male counterpart, the $200,000 GII Los Alamitos Futurity will be contested on Saturday, Dec. 13 also at 8 1/2 furlongs.

A pair of Cal-bred restricted races are also planned–the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for the fillies runs Sunday, Dec. 7, while the closing-day feature is the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes on Dec. 14. Each race is run over a mile.

The wagering menu includes a pair of $1 Pick 4's on races 2-5 and the final four races along with a $2 Pick Six as well as the Players' Pick 5–a 50-cent minimum bet with a reduced takeout rate of 14% rate–on the first five races.

The Pick Six will have the standard 70-30 split with 70% of the pool going to those tickets with six winners with the remaining 30% going to tickets with five of six winners.

There will also be a handicapping contest Saturday, Dec. 13 and the Los Alamitos Racing Association will offer a cash prize and a pair of berths in the 2026 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Cost to enter is $500. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining $400 going towards a live money wagering card.

The post Juvenile Stakes Highlight Los Alamitos Winter Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It's been a long time coming for Jacob West. Watching 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Mindframe make it to the famed stallion barn at Claiborne Farm and settle into the stall once home to the likes of Bold Ruler, Secretariat, Easy Goer and Unbridled marks a full-circle moment years in the making.

One year after West joined Claiborne as their Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager, the farm announced this summer that Mindframe would soon be headed to Claiborne. Weeks later, West was at Churchill Downs celebrating as the son of Constitution secured a third consecutive graded stakes win, defeating champion Sierra Leone in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes.

The connection between the two stretches beyond that. As part of the selection team for owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola, West had a hand in purchasing Mindframe as a yearling and he has followed the Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables-campaigned colt every step of the way.

Over the past few weeks, West has split his time between the breeding stock sales and Claiborne's stallion division, where breeders have been stopping in to get a look at the farm's newest recruit. Adding a second Grade I winner to the roster in Johannes, the first son of Nyquist to stand in Kentucky, has made the stretch even more exciting.

In addition to those two newcomers, Claiborne has several other young stallions preparing to enter new phases of their stud careers next year. Prince of Monaco ($30,000) and Bright Future ($10,000) will both see their first foals in 2026 while Annapolis ($12,500) will be represented by his first crop of yearlings.

Out of a stakes-winning Street Sense mare, Mindframe was in the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale when West and team first got a look at him. West said it was the colt's striking physical that led to his $600,000 purchase.

“He was one of those horses that ranked near the top of our list,” recalled West. “The depth of family was an added bonus to just how good looking he was. Now he's basically a bigger version of what he was back then. He's a big horse, standing at 16.3 hands. He moves like a cat. He's correct, has good bone and a big, strong hip and shoulder. It all translated into having really fluid mechanics on the racetrack. He covered so much ground when he would stride out.”

Johannes | Sara Gordon

Bred in Maryland by prominent Mid-Atlantic owner Larry Johnson, Mindframe's sophomore season was highlighted by a 13 3/4-length debut win, which earned him Rising Star honors, and runner-up finishes in the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes. His breeder passed away early this year, just before the colt's breakout performance in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes.

“Larry had been in the business for a long time,” said West. “People had a lot of respect for him and his operation.”

Mindframe displayed his versatility while collecting back-to-back Grade I wins. In the seven-furlong GI Churchill Downs Stakes, the Todd Pletcher trainee bested a field that included future Breeders' Cup champion Nysos (Nyquist) and Grade I winners Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and Mullikin (Violence). Next out in the mile-and-an-eighth Stephen Foster, he earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in defeating Eclipse Award winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), GI Kentucky Derby victor Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}).

“He was so versatile and he had such a high cruising speed,” said West. “To win at seven furlongs and at nine furlongs against some of the best horses of his generation just shows how good he was.”

Mindframe made two more career starts this year at four. After an ill-fated break in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, where he lost jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. following a chain-reaction incident, he finished fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. He retired with earnings of $2.05 million.

West predicted that Mindframe's speed and versatility on the racetrack will translate into his career at stud.

“If you go back and analyze the history of Claiborne Farm, horses that were fast and could carry their speed over a route of ground have been successful here,” he explained. “This horse is no different. He's going to fall right in line with getting some incredible mares here on the farm. We have an incredible syndicate group that will back him in the likes of Repole Stable and St. Elias. They're going to be heavily invested in supporting him. The great thing about Mike and Vinnie and their operation is that they support them in the shed, in the sales ring and on the racetrack. They follow through with their stallions.”

West added that Mindframe's credentials are further bolstered by the success of his sire. Constitution is currently a top-five general sire in North America. Mindframe is set to become his third son in Kentucky. First-crop sire Independence Hall, who stands at WinStar alongside his sire, has produced several stakes performers from his first crop while Ashford Stud's Tiz the Law ranks third among second-crop sires in North America.

Johannes was hard to miss as a stallion prospect last year as he reeled off five graded stakes wins in eight months, dominating the turf division in California.

“A son of Nyquist from a very good family and a homebred for his owners, he was a horse that we had kind of kept an eye on,” explained West. “Serious negotiations started this spring and we were lucky that we got him. He was an incredible racehorse.”

Bred and raced by Joe and Debby McCloskey and trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes developed into Nyquist's highest-earning son over the course of his four-year career.

After breaking his maiden by nine lengths going six furlongs as a 2-year-old, the following year he collected wins in the Baffle Stakes and Pasadena Stakes. He took his game to the next level at four, securing five graded stakes victories highlighted by the GI Shoemaker Mile Stakes. The only slight blemish on an otherwise perfect season was his second-place finish to More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

“To do what he did that year was truly remarkable,” said West. “[Jockey] Umberto Rispoli said coming into the Breeders' Cup that the horse gave him a certain feel when he was on his back with the way he ran and his style. He didn't care who he was running against. He showed up every time.”

Johannes made three starts this year at five, including a second straight win in the GII City of Hope Mile Stakes.

“His best race would probably have to be the Shoemaker Mile, winning the way he did,” West noted. “But the City of Hope this year was also impressive with the way he was able to sit off the pace and when they turned for home, if you watch him coming down the lane, it was basically just in a gallop.”

A half-brother to two other stakes performers, Johannes heads to stud on the heels of another standout year for his sire. Nyquist, the sire of four Grade I winners in 2025, will stand for $175,000 next season at Darley's Jonabell Farm.

“Being the first son of Nyquist to stand in Kentucky is very interesting,” said West. “Nyquist has such a strong following and, quite frankly, is a horse that some people might not be able to get to. So when you can get to his highest-earning son here, we feel like people will love that.”

Johannes will be part of Claiborne's new incentive program “Breed Twice, Breed for Life,” in which owners who breed two mares to the stallion in his first two breeding seasons, produce two live foals and pay two stud fees will be eligible for a lifetime breeding right.

“As a racehorse he was the real deal,” said West. “$10,000 is value for a horse like him with his race record, sire, family and his looks. We're very excited to have him here and offer him to breeders.”

The post Mindframe and Johannes: The Two New Faces at Claiborne Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy–Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister), only the third filly in history to win the GI Belmont Stakes, died due to infirmities of old age, Coolmore announced Monday. Owned by Coolmore's Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Rags to Riches etched her name into the annals of American racing history when she outbattled Curlin in a dramatic stretch duel to take the final leg of the Triple Crown in 2007, becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the race.

Rags to Riches, purchased for $1.9 million at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also won the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Las Virgenes Stakes and was named champion 3-year-old filly of 2007.

“Rags to Riches was a truly talented racehorse, and it's been a privilege to be around a horse of her calibre,” said Coolmore's Dermot Ryan. “Her achievements left a lasting impression on all of us, and she brought great pride to her ownership. I would like to thank Bob Davis and his team, who have cared for her with exceptional dedication for over a decade.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher also paid tribute to his former pupil on Monday.

“She was extra special. She was my first Classic winner and to do it in a race like the Belmont against colts, in a quality field with horses like Curlin and Hard Spun in there, it was a remarkable race,” the conditioner said. “It kind of encapsulated everything that's exciting about horse racing. She stumbled at the start and was able to overcome that and the stretch-long duel with Curlin–it looked like she was going to win, it looked like he was going to come back. It was every emotion you could have during the running of a race. [When she it hit the wire first] it was probably the most excited I've ever been after a race. It's still to this day, I think, the most exciting race that we've been a part of.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “She was a terrific filly to train on the racetrack. She was very professional, very straightforward. She was a very good mover, beautiful to watch gallop. That's part of why she was successful in the Belmont, because she was such a great galloper. But she was totally different around the barn. She was very territorial and she was very aggressive. She was not a house pet.”

Rags to Riches has a 2-year-old filly by Munnings and a yearling colt by Uncle Mo.

The post Belmont Stakes-Winning Filly Rags to Riches Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Lauren Biddle has been named Director of Marketing and Education at Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Biddle, most recently Executive Director of the Public Media Business Association, will lead TOBA's efforts to amplify its mission, deepen member engagement, and highlight the rich heritage of the Thoroughbred industry.

Biddle has also served as Executive Director of the Paris-Bourbon County Chamber of Commerce where she spearheaded the development of the Legends of Bourbon County Thoroughbred Fund–a 501c3 nonprofit organization aimed at promoting the Bourbon County Thoroughbred industry through tourism initiatives such as public art exhibits, festivals, and 5k races on local horse farms.

“Growing up in Central Kentucky, I've seen firsthand how the history and passion of this region shape the Thoroughbred industry,” Biddle said. “I am honored to step into this position with TOBA, where I can help tell the stories of the breeders, the owners, and the people behind the horses. My goal is to bridge tradition and innovation–through education, marketing, and community–to strengthen TOBA's impact across the industry.”

The post Lauren Biddle Named TOBA Director of Marketing and Education appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) has been made the 6-1 individual morning-line favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Thursday at noon and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. “All Others Foaled in 2023” is the pool's overall 9-5 favorite. Brant (Gun Runner), third in the Breeders' Cup juvenile, is 10-1, and Further Ado (Gun Runner), expected to go postward in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Saturday, is 20-1.

Running concurrently with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager where fans can wager on sires of Derby prospects. Ted Noffey's sire Into Mischief was made the 4-1 morning-line favorite. Not This Time is 6-1 in the pool and Gun Runner is 8-1. All other sires is also 8-1.

To view complete fields for both pools, click here.

The post Ted Noffey Individual Favorite for Derby Future Pool 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Raíces: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, a new bilingual showcase and education initiative that highlights 100 trailblazing Latino men and women whose contributions have shaped Thoroughbred racing and breeding from the late 1800s to today, has opened at the Keeneland Library. The free exhibit is presented in English with an accompanying Spanish audio guide.

“Raíces showcases the longstanding roles and achievements of industry professionals across the Americas: jockeys, grooms, exercise riders, owners, breeders, caretakers, veterinarians and beyond,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “The title reflects both the roots these men and women planted in the sport and the legacies they continue to build. It was essential to us to present stories that have been under-told or never shared–and to do so with the depth, accuracy and cultural context they deserve. The exhibit was made possible thanks to a deeply collaborative, multinational team of writers, translators, photographers and advisers. Their collective perspectives enhanced a thoughtful representation of these histories.”

Gabi Kuenzli, who acted as Research and Development Co-Curator of Raíces, said, “The exhibit offers an interpretation of what so many people see every day on the track, but might not fully understand: the prevalence and importance of Latino protagonists at all levels of the sport. Seeing themselves represented has brought immense pride to the many industry workers who have already visited.”

Keeneland Library will host an open house Dec. 4 from 6-8 p.m. with welcome remarks at 6:30 p.m. The free event does not require a ticket, but guests are asked to RSVP by Dec. 1 to LibraryPT1@keeneland.com.

Raíces can be seen at the Library during its regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Library will offer customized exhibit tours and education programs designed for school and university groups, general public audiences through collaborations with community partners and industry stakeholders. To schedule an exhibit experience, email rferraro@keeneland.com or call 859-288-4223.

The post Keeneland Library Exhibit Celebrates Latino Contributions to Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

The post Joseph, Zayas Earn Gulfstream Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

The post The Week in Review: Drazin on Prediction Markets as Threat to Racing: ‘No One Seems to Sense the Danger Yet’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

The post Nevada Beach Back to Winning Ways with Workman-like Effort in Native Diver appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.”

The post Team Book’Em Danno Mulling Plans For 2026, Dubai Golden Shaheen A Possibility appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

The post Breeders Bonus $350k To Be Awarded During Churchill’s Stars Of Tomorrow II appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.