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The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved a new three-year racing contract Jan. 15 between Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association.

Beginning Feb. 5, the New York Racing Association will require computer-assisted wagering activity to cease at one minute to post in all wagering pools not previously subject to high-speed wagering restrictions.

The New York Racing Association announces revisions to the stakes schedule and a plan for additional race days to account for weather-related cancellations at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Owner Joe Moore is spearheading the formation of the Wisconsin Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association with the goal of establishing a breeding program in the Badger State.

Two Kentucky horsewomen will soon test their equestrian skills in one of the most remote and demanding races in the world while using the experience to raise funds for off-track Thoroughbreds.

The Road, presented by Gainesway and WinStar Farm

Grade 1-winning millionaire Gun Pilot, a Three Chimneys homebred, has been represented by his first reported foal, bred by Tommy Wente's St. Simon Place near Lexington. The bay colt is out of the winning mare Just Life.

The winning Florida-bred 3-year-old filly Ifyousaidso (Cajun Breeze) topped the 2026 OBSOnline January Sale for 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age when she sold to Dare to Dream Stable Management LLC for $110,000 Friday. Consigned as hip 402 by breeder Shadybrook Farm, Ifyousaidso is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Cajun Casanova and stakes-placed Full Disclosure. On the board in all four lifetime starts, Ifyousaidso is a winner on both dirt and turf. She last worked Jan. 29, going three furlongs in :36 3/5 at Gulfstream Park.

Overall, the OBSOnline January sale grossed $297,400 with 14 horses sold and two RNAs. The 14 to sell averaged $21,243 with a median of $13,000.

The second-highest priced horse to sell was the sophomore colt Bruno (Independence Hall), who was purchased by Rising Sun Racing Stables for $40,000. Jose Munoz consigned him as hip 412. The half- brother to MSP Heldish (Great Notion) breezed a half mile in :47 1/5 during the optional under-tack show.

The top 2-year-old of the sale was a bay Collected filly out of MGISW Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow). Consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales as hip 403, the half-sister to GSW Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) sold for $22,000 to E-Class Racing.

 

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Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park.

The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2.

Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24.

He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“Everything to us indicates that (two turns) should be to his advantage,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he's got the pedigree to do it, so we're excited about stretching him out.”

Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' in the nightcap on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs last out Nov. 29. Owned in partnership by St. Elias Stable and breeder Stonestreet Stables, the $1.75- million Keeneland September graduate delivered a 7 1/4-length maiden tally at second asking going seven furlongs that day, good for a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Brad Cox trains.

Pin Oak Stud's rail-drawn Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) makes his first start since delivering a smart, last-to-first victory in the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 26.

“We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here,” trainer Riley Mott said. “He hasn't missed a beat.”

Buetane (Tiz the Law), runner-up in last summer's GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. and the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 10, has been scratched in favor of next Friday's postponed GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

Gulfstream's 12-race program will feature five stakes races for 3-year-olds, including the GIII Forward Gal S., a seven-furlong prep for the Kentucky Oaks (20-10-6-4-2).

'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' On Time Girl (Not This Time), last seen powering home first in the Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for her sophomore debut. Her Cox-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) made it two-for-two in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa Dec. 6.

Last term's GIII Adirondack S. winner Mythical (St Patrick's Day) concluded her juvenile campaign with a pair of wins in the Florida Sire Susan's Girl S. Oct. 18 and FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. Nov. 29, respectively. The latter was her first attempt around two turns.

Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII San Pasqual S. and GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita; and the GIII Tampa Bay S. and GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

The post Pletcher ‘Excited About Stretching Out’ Nearly in the Holy Bull appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) approved a new three-year racing contract between Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (IA HBPA) and the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association (IQHRA).

The approved agreement establishes the framework for a 76-day mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet at Prairie Meadows, continuing a collaborative partnership among all three organizations. Under the terms of the agreement, the annual racing season will begin on Kentucky Derby Day and conclude on the final weekend of September. The mixed-meet format allows for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to be showcased throughout the season, supporting a diverse group of participants and fans.

“This three-year agreement is an important step forward for Prairie Meadows and Iowa racing,” said Brian Ohorilko, president and CEO of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. “We're excited to continue working with the IA HBPA and the IQHRA to provide consistency, strengthen our racing program and build on the momentum of our mixed meet over the next three seasons.”

IA HBPA President Dave McShane added, “We are very pleased to move forward under this three-year contract and appreciate the dedication shown by Prairie Meadows and the IQHRA to finalize a contract. This agreement provides consistency for our horsemen and allows everyone involved to focus on delivering a strong 76-day mixed meet that benefits the racing industry in Iowa. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Prairie Meadows and our Quarter Horse partners to build on the success of this meet.”

The post IRGC Approves Three-Year Contract for Prairie Meadows Mixed Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After announcing in December at the Global Symposium on Racing in Tuscon, Arizona that it would be taking steps to limit Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW play) within the coming months, NYRA announced Friday that the new rules will go into effect on Feb. 5.

Calling the measures new “guardrails,” NYRA revealed at the Arizona symposium that all CAW play will eventually cease at one minute to post in all pools. CAW players can still bet after the one-minute time limit, but they will be restricted to six bets or fewer during that time frame. According to the NYRA press release, “CAW activity is defined by NYRA and its peer tracks according to the speed of wager execution. NYRA considers wagering to be CAW activity when that speed exceeds six bets per second.”

NYRA, which has taken steps in the past to prevent large, last-second drops in the odds in the win pools, said this is another step that will benefit the retail horseplayer.

“As such, NYRA will institute a comprehensive approach to the management of CAW activity for the benefit of horseplayers.” the statement read.

“This policy reflects the importance of modernizing pari-mutuel wagering to address the technology-driven evolution of high-speed wagering,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “Reducing odds volatility will increase pricing transparency and improve the wagering experience for horseplayers in New York and across the country.”

O'Rourke signaled his intent to work on the CAW problem when he spoke in Arizona.

“What I'm saying here is we draw a line now, we start measuring what's going on within that period of time, and then we start looking at other things,” he said at the time.

NYRA owns a 20 percent stake in the Elite Turf Club, which includes some of the largest CAW players in the world as its customers. (The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita and Gulfstream, owns the other 80 percent). But that has not kept NYRA from taking steps to protect the everyday players, many of whom are believed to be disappearing because they cannot compete against the many advantages given to the CAW players.

Since 2021, CAW teams have been prohibited from placing batch bets in the win pool within two minutes of the race start. That has dramatically cut down on the phenomenon of the odds of horses plummeting in the win pool after the start of the race. The current win-pool policy will remain in effect. CAW players have also been completely banned from the Late Pick Five and the Pick Six. NYRA also eliminated jackpot provisions in their Pick 6. As the carryovers build up in jackpot-style wagers, CAW teams often make huge bets into the pools and were often able to take home the bulk of a pool that built up as regular horseplayers were making losing bets that led to the large carryovers.

The post NYRA Ready to Implement New Restrictions on CAW Play appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With the maintenance team scheduled for an annual track refresh Feb. 7-8, there will be no live racing at Los Alamitos Race Course on either day, the track announced via release.

The maintenance project will begin following the conclusion of morning training Wednesday, Feb. 4. To provide the Los Alamitos staff with enough time to complete the comprehensive refresh of the one-mile dirt oval, the track will be closed for training Feb. 5-9. Training will resume Tuesday, Feb. 10, and live racing will return Saturday, Feb. 14.

The annual procedure is an integral component of Los Alamitos' ongoing efforts to maintain the highest safety standards for both horses and riders. The project will be conducted under the guidance of Dennis Moore. For the 2026 racing season, Los Alamitos has further strengthened its Inclement Weather Policy and Track Maintenance Program. To ensure maximum protection of the surface during wet-weather conditions, the track will no longer open for morning joggers when the surface has been sealed and Los Alamitos is racing on that night.

While live night racing is paused, Los Alamitos will remain open for daytime simulcasting. Please note there will be no night simulcasting from Feb. 6-8.

The post Los Alamitos to Conduct Annual Track Refresh, No Live Racing February 7-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Frigid weather across the country claimed its latest program as Laurel Park was forced to abandon the remainder of their Friday card after the first race as well as postpone the Saturday and Sunday cards.

Saturday's ten-race program, highlighted by the Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Xtra Heat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, has been moved to Wednesday, Feb. 4. Sunday's nine-race program has been moved to Thursday, Feb. 5.

Laurel Park will run a Wednesday through Sunday schedule next week. The first post time is 12:00 pm ET. The track and the Maryland Jockey Club OTB network remain open for simulcast wagering.

The post Laurel Cancels Remainder of Friday Program Due to Frigid Temperatures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has released revisions to the stakes schedule as well as a plan for additional race days to account for the weather-related cancellations at Aqueduct, the group announced via press release.

In addition to NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB), will request approval from the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) to conduct four additional days of live racing Wednesday, Feb. 11, Thursday, Feb. 19, Thursday, Feb. 26 and Thursday, Mar. 5.  An additional card for Feb. 4, which was previously approved by the NYSGC, was drawn this past Thursday with live racing set to resume at the Big A on Wednesday, Feb. 3 with a 1:10 p.m. Eastern first post.

The four stakes initially slated for Saturday, Jan. 31 will be brought back Friday, Feb. 6. These include the Withers Stakes, a 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifier; the Toboggan; the Ruthless; and the Ladies Stakes. The card will also include the previously rescheduled Interborough Stakes. Entries for the Feb. 6 program will be taken Saturday, Jan. 31.

Overnight races carded for Jan. 31 will come back as extras for Feb. 6 and beyond, while races carded for Feb. 1 will be brought back as extras for the proposed makeup day of Feb. 11. Races in the existing Condition Book will be used for live racing scheduled from Feb. 12-15.

NYRA will provide an updated Condition Book to cover the period of Feb. 19 through Sunday, Mar. 8. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcast operations Friday through Sunday.

The post NYRA Releases Revised Stakes Schedule, Proposed Added Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will conduct its annual Stallion Season Auction from Wednesday, February 4, through Friday, February 6, on a custom NYTB auction website powered by online platform Click Bid.

The annual auction raises funds that allow NYTB to carry out its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders.

The auction has routinely attracted donated seasons from leading farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, including McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, IronHorse Stallions, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Lane’s End, Darley America, Darby Dan Farm, and additional farms.

“Proceeds from our annual Stallion Season Auction are critical in supporting NYTB’s work on behalf of New York breeders and the broader New York-bred program,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson. “The auction features a wide range of stallions standing in New York, Kentucky, and other leading breeding regions, giving breeders flexibility and choice when planning their matings.”

Those interested in donating a season are encouraged to contact NYTB at info@nytbreeders.org or 518-587-0777.

Participants must register prior to bidding. All bids are subject to the auction’s rules and conditions, and each season’s specific conditions will be posted. Click here to register for the NYTB Stallion Season Auction.

To view the current list of stallions, please visit here. Please note that additional stallions may be entered through the start of the NYTB auction on February 4.

New York-bred program stakeholders receive more than $60 million annually, distributed through purse money, breeding incentives, and awards for New York-breds eligible to compete in more than 600 New York-bred races run on the New York Racing Association circuit and at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

 

 

The post NYTB Stallion Season Auction Returns Feb. 4–6; Listing Preview Now Open appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Winner of the 2024 GI Churchill Downs Stakes and now a young stallion at Three Chimneys, Gun Pilot (Gun Runner–Bush Pilot, by Smart Strike) was recently represented by his first foal, a colt. Bred by Tommy Wente's St. Simon Place in Lexington, the bay colt is out of the winning mare Just Life (Honor Code), a half-sister to GSP Electability (Quality Road) from the extended family of GISW and sire Lion Heart.

“He's a big colt with a lot of bone,” said Wente of the new arrival. “The first thing that struck me was how much he looked like his sire–big and strong. I bred four mares to him last year, and when they come out looking like this, you've got to go back.”

A millionaire and Three Chimneys homebred, Gun Pilot won five races and placed in another five, including the GI Forego Stakes. He will stand the 2026 season at Three Chimneys for $12,500.

“Gun Pilot is very much like Gun Runner–scopey, strong, and a great mover but with a bit more size and substance than his sire,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “Progeny by sons of Gun Runner have been in high demand, and with Gun Pilot entering his second year at stud, he represents a great opportunity for breeders to access this highly sought-after sire line.”

The post First Foal is a Colt for Grade I Winner Gun Pilot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With drastic winter weather–arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)-continuing to plague much of the country, NYRA has cancelled live racing Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Racing has not been held at Aqueduct since Jan. 23. The 24th, 28th, and 29th were all originally carded but had to be cancelled due to the frigid temperatures.

NYRA is working with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) to schedule and apply for added race days. NYRA will also release a new schedule for stakes races impacted by the weather cancellations, as well as a modified condition book.

Aqueduct will be open for simulcasting both Saturday and Sunday.

The post Weather Woes Continue as Aqueduct Weekend Racing Cancelled appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The final session of New Zealand Bloodstock's 100th National Yearling Sale was held at Karaka Jan. 29, highlighted by a strong first edition of the Karaka Summer Sale.

The 7,000-square-foot facility is located just outside the entrance to the backstretch area at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It will provide space for numerous events for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing participants.

Coolmore will break new ground by having its first horses trained in Japan this year, after Sue Magnier was granted an owner's license by the Japan Racing Association.