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Long-time racing journalist and historian Edward Bowen passed away Monday, Jan. 20 at his home in Versailles, Kentucky at the age of 82, according to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Bowen was the Blood-Horse Editor-In-Chief from 1987-1992. He was hired at Grayson in 1994, and spent 24 years as the president of the foundation, during a career in racing and journalism which spanned over 60 years.

“Ed's passing is a huge loss in so many ways,” said Jim Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “His encyclopedic knowledge of the history and traditions of the sport was unequaled—and often served as a resource for many of us who needed to be guided by the past.”

“His enthusiastic leadership at Grayson on behalf of research and the health of the Thoroughbred led to some of the most important initiatives in the history of the breed. Finally, Ed was a peerless ambassador for the sport, always searching for the bright side of stories, and in doing so he was a true gentleman. On behalf of my colleagues at The Jockey Club and our related organizations, we grieve for his wife, Ruthie, his children, and his many friends.”

At his retirement from Grayson in 2018, fellow staffers presented Bowen with a tribute book which tells the story of a life spent in service to the industry.

“I had always admired Ed's reverence for racing, racing people and the horses long before we worked together at Grayson,” said Grayson's Chairman of the Board, Dell Hancock, at the time. “Ed has done a tremendous job for the foundation because of this and his affable disposition.”

Bowen grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, attended the University of Florida, and transferred to the University of Kentucky in 1963 to start his career at The Blood-Horse while still in school. From 1968-1970, he served as the editor of The Canadian Horse before returning to The Blood-Horse as its managing editor.

Bowen wrote 22 books on racing. He held multiple jobs in the industry, had his work published in multiple countries, and won multiple awards, including the Eclipse Award in 1972 for outstanding writing in the magazine division. A Kentucky Colonel and a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America, he was a trustee of the National Museum of Racing, and served over 35 years as chairman of its Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. He was also chairman of its Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor Selection. Bowen was named the Thoroughbred Club of America's Honor Guest in 2022.

Dr. Larry Bramlage, a member of Grayson's board of directors, praised the progress that was made at the foundation under Bowen's steerage.

“During Ed's tenure as president of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, the foundation progressed from a somewhat disorganized `also ran' equine research funder to the premier equine research foundation,” said Bramlage at Bowen's retirement in 2018. “The Foundation is now the generally recognized leader for research funding for the horse and other species. The selection of research and documentation of results serves as the model other organizations now use as a guide to their own credibility. His tenure as president was the touchstone for where the Foundation has come.”

“The horse and the industry lost a great advocate,” said Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation President Jamie Haydon. “Ed will be missed by us at Grayson and all of the research and veterinarian community.”

He is survived by his wife, Ruthie; his son, George; two daughters, Jennifer and Tracy; and two granddaughters.

An announcement regarding arrangements had not been made as of this writing.

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In conjunction with this Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup, 1/ST Racing is partnering with an international horse racing media rights firm to launch a free-to-play contest that will offer a VIP trip for two to the 2025 GI California Crown at Santa Anita Park in September, including flights, accommodations and raceday hospitality.

The contest, called Crown Jewels Racing (website here) is linked to a larger series of international races distributed by HBA Media in England, and the Pegasus contest is the first in a larger series of “league” Crown Jewels games that features a grand prize of a VIP trip for two to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2026.

“HBA is a company in the UK that is basically a global distribution for horse racing,” Peter Rotondo, the senior vice president of racing and wagering for 1/ST, told TDN. “They have deals with all the major race meets around the world, and they distribute their content.”

Although NBC and Peacock will exclusively broadcast and stream the Jan. 25 Pegasus here in the United States, HBA will be carrying the event on other platforms around the globe.

Rotondo said that's an advantageous global opportunity, because it allows 1/ST (and other participating U.S. racing entities that host later races in the series) to arrange for major Thoroughbred events to get broad publicity and coverage outside of America.

“Really, their entire focus is horse racing media rights, which, in this day and age, it's great that someone is that invested in it,” Rotondo said.

“What makes it unique is the idea that they actually have all of these race meets as partners–the Pegasus World Cup, Cheltenham, the [GI] Belmont, the [GI] Preakness, the [GI Kentucky] Derby, the Breeders' Cup. In horse racing, it's usually so difficult for everyone to work together, and [it's noteworthy] that this company has come on over the years and acquired the rights to all of these major races and now works as one entity that networks have to talk to to get all of these races on the air,” Rotondo said.

“That is such a smart advantage, because on the world stage, usually you have to talk to so many different entities [to get international broadcast or streaming deals done]. But now HBA is the entity that brought all of these race meets together, not only on television, but with a fun, free-to-play game that they've launched, and it all kicks off with the Pegasus,” Rotondo said.

“HBA is bringing over [ITV Racing and Channel 10 presenter] Francesca Cumani to host the Pegasus show,” Rotondo said. “They basically use the NBC broadcast as the 'host' broadcast, but she does features in and around Miami and Gulfstream to bring the lifestyle and the [flavor of the] event to a global audience. So you can't see this broadcast in the U.S., but [viewers in other countries] will be able to see it all over the world.”

Although the broadcast won't be shown in America, U.S. residents can, however, play the Crown Jewels game, Rotondo confirmed.

In recent years, HBA has represented the rights races from the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, Singapore, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa and Hong Kong.

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Graded stakes winner Simplification (Not This Time–Simply Confection, by Candy Ride {Arg}) was represented by his first foal when Calidad (Quality Road) produced a colt Jan. 17. The foal is owned by First Finds Farm and Brittany Updike.

“Simplification is a good-looking, classy stallion. His first foal is exactly what we expected–strong, healthy, good bone, and great conformation,” said Pleasant Acres Stallions' director of stallion services Christine Jones. “What a brilliant way to start his career as a stallion. We expect big things for his future.”

Simplification won the 2022 GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes and was third in that year's GI Curlin Florida Derby. He stands at Pleasant Acres for $6,500.

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Multiple stakes winner Lost Ark (Violence–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) will begin his stud career next month at Sherry McLean's Northern Dawn Stables in Ontario. The 5-year-old stallion will stand for C$4,000, live foal.

Lost Ark won the 2022 Sapling Stakes and 2023 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes while racing for Harrell Ventures and trainer Todd Pletcher. He was also third in the 2023 GIII Saranac Stakes. On the board in six of 11 starts, Lost Ark won four times and earned $542,100.

Out of stakes-winner Marion Ravenwood, Lost Ark is a half-brother to champion Nest (Curlin), as well as to Grade I winner Idol (Curlin).

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With the season's signature GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes leading the way with an all-time high purse of $1.25 million, the stakes schedule for Keeneland's Spring Meet will be worth a record $9.4 million. The Blue Grass is one of 16 races on the 19-race stakes schedule to have purse increases for 2025. With an increase of $150,000, the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes is now worth $750,000, and an increase of $200,000 will make the GIII Transylvania Stakes a $600,000 race.

Contributing to the purses for the total of 19 stakes to be run during the 15-day Spring Meet is $2.25 million available from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.

“Keeneland's Spring Meet is the destination of many of Thoroughbred racing's biggest names,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “The racing world converges here because they know this is where the best jockeys, trainers and horses will be and they want to compete at the highest level. We are excited to continue to grow our racing program and eager to welcome horsemen and fans from around the world for Keeneland this spring.”

The 101st Toyota Blue Grass will be held Apr. 5 and the 88th Central Bank Ashland–the year's first Grade I event for fillies–will be run on the track's opening day, Apr. 4.

Both races are worth 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively, with the winners of each stakes earning 100 qualifying points to the respective Classic. The early nomination deadline for the two races is Feb. 15. Late nominations are due Mar. 19.

Joining the Ashland on the season's first day are two other stakes for 3-year-olds: the Transylvania and the Lafayette Stakes, which was upgraded to a listed race for 2025.

The Blue Grasss highlights five stakes on the Saturday card, which also includes the $650,000 GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes; the $500,000 GII Appalachian Stakes, the $400,000 GII Valvoline Global Shakertown Stakes; and the $350,000 GIII Commonwealth Stakes.

Keeneland raised the purse of the Appalachian by $100,000 and added $50,000 each to the value of the Madison, the Shakertown and the Commonwealth.

Stakes action for 3-year-olds will continue Sunday of opening weekend with the $400,000 GII MiddleGround Capital Beaumont Stakes and the $300,000 Listed Palisades Stakes.

The Palisades purse has increased $50,000.

Keeneland's Spring Meet will be held from Apr. 4 through 25.

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Due to the threat of a nearby wildfire Tuesday, the horses stabled at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, San Diego County, were evacuated and sent elsewhere, largely to Del Mar racetrack.

By Tuesday afternoon, the nearby Lilac Fire had burned through 80 acres and was 30% contained, according to Cal Fire.

“We are still at the same level 2 evacuation warning status so we will continue to monitor the situation and the wind,” Santa Anita general manager Nate Newby wrote in a text Tuesday afternoon, adding that he hoped the “wind stays away.”

In the morning as the first batch of San Luis Rey's roughly 275 horses were being evacuated, Newby estimated the fire was roughly three to four miles away from the training center, which is owned by The Stronach Group.

Del Mar is currently in the middle of its off season. Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president of racing and industry relations, said Tuesday morning he hoped the training track would be ready for use within 48 hours.

 

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is working with @santaanitapark to evacuate the San Luis Rey training center.

For large animal evacuation public shelter information please visit https://t.co/Bh9f6jljxT or call the County Department of Animal Services at (619) 236 2341. pic.twitter.com/RTfueNAWH4

— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) January 21, 2025

Though the main track is currently sealed, Robbins said they are also in the process of opening the surface up for training. However, it wouldn't be ready for use before the training track, he said.

“That's a greater process than getting the training track ready, with equipment and personnel and everything else,” said Robbins.

“Hopefully the fire will be contained so that in a few days they can all go back. But we're preparing for the worst,” said Robbins, in the morning. “They're just rolling in right now.”

Newby wrote that by 3pm PT Tuesday afternoon, all the horses had been evacuated from the training center.

“It's been very organized,” said Robbins by Tuesday afternoon, of the evacuation. “Everything has gone as good as could be expected.”

In December of 2017, a wildfire ripped through the San Luis Rey training center. Forty-six horses died, and multiple barns were severely damaged.

The latest threat to the training facility follows on the heels of some of the worst fires to have devastated Los Angeles.

They include the Palisades Fire, on the west side of the city, and the Eaton Fire focused on the northeastern suburb of Altadena, a community in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills where many of Santa Anita's racetrack community live. Together, they have burned through some 38,000 acres.

Those who have lost their homes in the fires include several from the Santa Anita racetrack community.

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Frigid temperatures and snowy conditions continued to cause cancellations this week, with both Parx and Mahoning Valley abandoning live racing Tuesday. It was the second day in a row both tracks were forced to cancel races as they joined Oaklawn Park in abandoning Monday cards.

Turfway Park has moved its Wednesday racing card to Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. ET first post due to extreme cold temperatures. The program will not be redrawn and will run in its entirety on Sunday. Racing at the Kentucky track is scheduled to resume Thursday with a first post of 5:55 p.m.

In Louisiana, Delta Downs has canceled its Wednesday card and Fair Grounds postponed its Thursday card until next Monday.

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John Velazquez and Mike Smith were elected co-chairmen of The Jockeys' Guild when the organization hosted its annual assembly virtually Jan. 14. Javier Castellano, Julien Leparoux and James Flores were elected co-vice chairmen, Tyler Gaffalione as secretary and Julien Leparoux as treasurer. In addition, Joe Bravo, Drayden Van Dyke, James Graham and Rodney Prescott will serve on the Board of Directors.

Senate members for the guild in 2025-2026 are:

Eastern region: Joe Bravo, Kendrick Carmouche, Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori, Reylu Gutierrez, Flavien Prat, Sheldon Russell, Drayden Van Dyke and John Velazquez

Central region: Keith Asmussen, Alex Birzer, Stuart Elliott, Julio Felix, Tyler Gaffalione, James Graham, Julien Leparoux, Jareth Loveberry and Rodney Prescott.

Western region: William Antongeorgi, Jesus Ayala (QH), Jose Figueroa, James Flores (QH) Antonio Fresu, Kyle Frey, Juan J. Hernandez, Ricky Ramirez (QH) and Mike Smith.

Also during the virtual meeting, Onrise CEO Kim Quigley discussed the joint effort between the Jockeys' Guild and HISA, in conjunction with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, to offer jockeys access to free mental health services with the on-line platform Onrise. The program is available to riders who are either covered persons with HISA or Guild members riding in non-HISA states, qualified retired jockeys and the permanently disabled.

Dan Waits, Executive Director of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, gave an update on the programs offered by the Chaplaincy at racetracks around the country. Legislative updates were presented by the Guild's lobbyists in California, New York and Kentucky and Gerald Hall, founder and chairman of SportsMEDIA Technology, and Kyle McDoniel of Equibase led a discussion about SMT and how it could be used in horseracing.

Also during the meeting, a review of the jockey's retirement plan was presented and legal updates were discussed by Mindy Coleman, Jockeys' Guild in-house legal counsel.

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Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) breezed an easy five-eighths of a mile in 1:03 1/5 Monday morning at the Fair Grounds as he continues towards his seasonal comebacker in the GII Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15.

“Mother Nature has dealt us a few different tracks (conditions-wise) the last couple of days so I was happy with the work,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “I wasn't too concerned about the final time. The gallop out was very good. We are still pointing to the Risen Star as our starting point this year.”

Named a 'Rising Star' off a 4 1/4-length debut success at Saratoga last August, the $290,000 Keeneland September yearling validated the decision with a front-running, 2 3/4-length score in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Sept. 14. A mostly even seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1, the Ohio-bred most recently ran home nicely to round out the exacta underneath Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30.

In the Risen Star, Jonathan's Way is likely to face another Godolphin runner, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), who will make his first start since stumbling very badly at the start of the Juvenile and finishing ninth as the 9-5 favorite.

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Jerome Hoban has stepped down from both chairmanship of the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) and the board itself, according to a short resignation letter to CARF executive director Larry Swartzlander, dated last Thursday.

In response, the CARF board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to elect a new chairman, according to an email Swartzlander subsequently sent to CARF members.

“With Jerome's resignation there will also be a board position open. This will not be addressed at the Tuesday meeting,” the email states. “The Tuesday Meeting will also discuss the vice chair position.”

The resignation of Hoban, who is CEO of the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton, has come at a critical moment for Northern California's summer fair circuit, and by extension, for California's broader racing and breeding industry.

In the middle of December, the CARF board voted unanimously to rescind a proposed Golden State Racing (GSR) meet spanning the first half of this year, due to much lower than anticipated revenues generated from the GSR meet that ran at Pleasanton between October and December. The purse overpayment at the end of the meet was around $800,000.

Thoroughbreds are currently stabled at Pleasanton and being shipped south, as part of a stabling and training agreement with the industry's Southern California interests to provide Northern Californian-based horsemen and women opportunities to run at Santa Anita.

However, that agreement currently guarantees stabling at the facility only until Mar. 25.

CARF and the Alameda County Fair have “the sole and exclusive right to extend” the agreement to June 10 “by providing written notice no later than Feb. 25, provided there are 500 or more horses stabled at Pleasanton at that time,” according to a statement issued bt Santa Anita on behalf of the Southern California stabling and vanning committee earlier this month.

If the agreement isn't extended, that could throw a major wrench into the viability of Northern California's fair circuit, the dates for which have yet to be formally issued.

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Zedan Racing's Barnes (Into Mischief), perfect in his two career trips to the post, and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) each returned to the worktab at the 'Great Race Place' Monday morning. They were joined by their Grade III-winning stablemate Getaway Car (Curlin).

Barnes, who defeated recent GIII Lecomte Stakes third Innovator (Authentic) by a head on Churchill debut Nov. 27 , worked a half-mile in :48.60 (16/69), his first breeze since romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 4. Barnes closed as the 6-1 favorites among the individual betting interests in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) that closed this past weekend.

Rodriguez, a well-beaten second behind future San Vicente runner-up Romanesque (Practical Joke) on Del Mar debut in late November, drilled a group of maidens by seven lengths going a mile on the San Vicente undercard, for which he received a revised Beyer of 101. The $485,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase covered his half-mile in :47.60 (3/69) in the company of GIII Best Pal Stakes hero and GI American Pharoah Stakes second Getaway Car, who was assigned the same time.

Here are the closing odds for other Santa Anita-based 3-year-olds who were part of the individual betting interests in the KDFW: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), 17-1; Journalism (Curlin), 20-1; Rodriguez, 22-1; Gaming (Game Winner), 47-1; San Saba (Justify), 44-1; Madaket Road (Quality Road), 47-1; 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner), 76-1; Romanesque, 79-1; Varney (Vekoma), 80-1; Getaway Car, 83-1.

Gaming is entered for Saturday's GII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Citizen Bull is scheduled to make his 3-year-old bow in the GII Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1. Journalism has not breezed since winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December.

Also working at Santa Anita on Monday was GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award finalist Straight No Chaser (Speighster), who fired a bullet five furlongs in :59.20 (1/38) in preparation for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 22.

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1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announced an initiative that will see a reciprocal partnership between 1/ST-owned racecourses in North America and Goodwood Racecourse in the United Kingdom.

Americanrevolution won the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at 3, and finished second in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at 4. He was named New York-bred champion 3-year-old male and the state's Horse of The Year.

Running on the grass of the Santa Anita Park for the second time in three starts, Toupie made it look easy in capturing the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 19.

Cavalieri remained unbeaten in three starts when she prevailed in the La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, Jan. 19 for owner Speedway Stables and trainer Bob Baffert.

White Abarrio, who won Gulfstream Park's richest race for 3-year-olds in capturing the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) in 2022, takes aim at an even more lucrative prize there when he competes Jan. 25 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1).

Tampa Bay Downs will conduct six stakes races on the first two Saturdays in February, with track officials hopeful of attracting a number of top horses in training.

Impressive maiden winner Patch Adams faces off with grade 1 winner and Eclipse finalist Gaming on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Jan. 25.

Integration will return to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) field for a second straight year after a disappointing fifth-place finish as the favorite in 2024.

Lambert spoke at Gluck Equine Research Center Jan. 19, as part of the Cauthen Seminar Series, in Lexington. He released new studies on horses who suffered hind limb and carpal fractures.