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Tiz the Law, ranked third on the first-crop sire list in 2024, saw strong results during the third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, getting the top-priced yearling colt and filly at $160,000 and $110,000, respectively.

With two seconds and a third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) since 2018, trainer Chad Brown has high standards for his top 3-year-olds.

A year after the idea died during state government budget talks, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing to invest state funds in a Thoroughbred safety initiative adjacent to Belmont Park.

One of Tampa Bay Downs' most popular promotions, the "Live It Up Challenge" online handicapping contest, begins Jan. 18 and runs through March 8, the date of the 45th running of the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

Stud TNT's dominating maiden winner Running Away tackles black-type company for the first time in the $125,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen's 5-year-old millionaire Newgrange has been elevated to the main field on the final invitation list for the $3.015 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced the dates of their annual Off to the Races online benefit auction featuring VIP racing experience packages with all proceeds going to support accredited aftercare.

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Poster, last-out winner of the Dec. 7 Remsen Stakes (G2), will look to double up on stakes wins in New York when he returns for the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 1.

With five runners from four different countries, the Jan. 17 Cape Verdi Stakes (G2T), the feature on the nine-race Dubai Racing Carnival card, is a truly international affair.

Stakes winners Greavette, Connie Swingle, and Accomodate Eva have also been added to the sale that runs Feb. 3-4. Also included in the supplements are short yearlings by Corniche, Hard Spun, Practical Joke, Street Sense, Violence, and War of Will.

White Abarrio (Race Day), a three-time Grade I winner for C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano, put in his final breeze Thursday morning for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

In company with regular workmate Silver Moonlight (Liam's Map), White Abarrio went four furlongs in :48.34 seconds over Gulfstream's main track, ranking eighth of 27 horses (video). It was his second work of 2025 following a bullet half-mile move in :47.81 Jan. 9.

“He worked well,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “I thought it was a very good work. He did a lot last week so we kept him in hand this time, just a little off the horse inside and he finished up well. We never really let him out today. We were very happy with it.”

Silver Moonlight is a 4-year-old filly also owned by C2's Mark and Clint Cornett that has strung together three consecutive wins starting with a maiden triumph Oct. 20 and a Dec. 27 starter allowance in her most recent start.

“He's been working Silver Moonlight since before he came back for his allowance race,” Joseph said. “He's done well doing it and she's won three in a row doing it, so we're just keeping things the same. It's perfect.

“We're nine days out and in horse racing that's a lot of time, but we're quite happy,” Joseph said. “Hopefully we can win a Pegasus.”

The trainer's other Pegasus candidate, MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), is scheduled to put in his final work Friday morning at Palm Meadows.

 

Ferocious Has Bark and Bite For New Season

JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA's Ferocious (Flatter), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after his debut and was twice Grade I-placed last year, continues to work forwardly at Gulfstream Park for his highly anticipated sophomore debut.

The dark bay went :48.15 seconds over four panels on Gulfstream's main track Thursday–the fifth-fastest of 27 horses. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano was up for the breeze, which was the colt's second since running fifth in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in early November.

“The horse is doing good,” assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said. “He started about four [or] five weeks ago galloping and getting ready to roll again. He looks good. Everybody was happy with him.”

Purchased for $1.3 million as a 2-year-old in training at OBS March, Ferocious was a popular 7 3/4-length winner of his unveiling at Saratoga Aug. 3. That effort scored him a 'Rising Star' merit badge. Over the same surface, the juvenile was the runner-up to Eclipse Award finalist Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Hopeful Stakes Sept. 2.

Prior to his run in the Breeders' Cup, Ferocious was second as the favorite after being fractious at the gate and encountering some early trouble in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 5 to East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), who was ninth in the Juvenile.

Ferocious' season opener has yet to be decided, but the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 is a possibility.

“We're not really sure if we're going to make the race on February first,” said Delgado Jr. “It will all depend on a breeze that is scheduled for next Thursday. If we are happy with what we see we will decide then, but we are not in a rush with him.

“We are of the opinion that we need maybe two or three weeks more, but he did so good today that he might make it,” he said. “It will all depend on how he breezes back. He did pretty nice today.”

Unlike Thursday, Ferocious will have a workmate for next week's scheduled breeze.

“Today he was going solo,” the assistant trainer said. “We want to see him in company next week and we'll take it from there. He's a nice horse. You can recognize him on the track. His stride and he way he goes, few horses do that.”

The post White Abarrio Put In Final Pegasus Drill; ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ferocious Preps For Sophomore Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Leading Horse of the Year candidate Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has an early 2025 racing schedule that could include two races at Oaklawn or a trip to Dubai, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday afternoon via a press release from the Hot Springs track.

Thorpedo Anna's conditioner said the filly–nicknamed the 'Grizzly Bear' last season–is under consideration for the GII Azeri Stakes Mar. 8 and the GI Apple Blossom Handicap April 12. The Azeri is Oaklawn's final major prep for the Apple Blossom. McPeek said Thorpedo Anna might take on males again–like she did when she was the runner-up in the GI DK Travers Stakes Aug. 24–in the G1 Dubai World Cup Apr. 5.

Thorpedo Anna resumed training earlier this month in Florida in advance of her 4-year-old debut.

“We're not going to rule out her making the Azeri,” McPeek said. “She's such a natural athlete and she's bouncing out of her skin already. It's not going to take long to get her ready. And if I thought she was ready, I would probably prep her somewhere in the South, between Gulfstream and Fair Grounds, and bring her in for the Azeri. And that would give her a race under her belt before what would be either the World Cup or the Apple Blossom, although I would tell you we'd probably lean strongly to the Apple Blossom.”

The newly-minted 4-year-old hasn't started since she captured the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 2, which marked her first race against older horses and capped a remarkable 2024 campaign.

Thorpedo Anna returned to the track Jan. 6 at Gulfstream Park, where she was reunited with retired two-time Oaklawn riding champion Robby Albarado, who regularly galloped her last year in Hot Springs. McPeek, Oaklawn's leading trainer so far this season, said Thorpedo Anna is approaching her first breeze of 2025.

“You could have walked her off the farm and worked her half a mile and she would have said, 'Sure, no problem,'” McPeek said. “She's just a natural athlete. We're going to give her a couple, three weeks of nice gallops. Robby Albarado gets on her every day. We'll let her run the lane this weekend a little bit at Gulfstream. We're just, right now, taking it a step at a time.”

Albarado, who was galloping horses for McPeek earlier this season at Oaklawn, is also getting on 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) at Gulfstream Park in advance of a possible start in its GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25.

The Grizzly's first day back at work @GulfstreamPark.

Trainer of the year finalist @KennyMcPeek on hand with an update…#ThorpedoAnna pic.twitter.com/qHV4OqUfI9

— Thorpedo Anna (@Thorpedo_Anna) January 6, 2025

The post ‘Grizzly’ Not Hibernating As McPeek Weighs Options For Thoropedo Anna appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A total of 206 horses of all ages have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale, which can be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding has begun and will close on Tuesday, Jan. 21 beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Among the offerings are 70 horses of racing age and racing prospects, in addition to broodmares, broodmare prospects and newly turned yearlings. Among the covering sires represented are Authentic, Complexity, Epicenter, Girvin, Omaha Beach, Tiz the Law, Uncle Mo, and Vekoma.

The January Digital Sale will also feature a no-guarantee season to GI Kentucky Derby winner and leading sire Nyquist, who was the sire of no fewer than four indivudual Grade I winners in 2024, including the undefeated likely 2-year-old filly champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Immersive.

“This inaugural January Digital Sale features turnkey opportunities for breeders, owners, and trainers, including a large group of horses of racing age and an exciting no-guarantee season to champion-siring Nyquist,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “We experienced remarkable growth in our digital platform in 2024, and we're looking forward to building further on that momentum and enthusiasm in 2025.”

Offerings are located in Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and British Columbia (Canada).

The post Bidding Open For Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale, 206 Horses Catalogued appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Edited Press Release

Keeneland Library is now presenting the exhibit Of Turf and Stone: Keeneland Through the Ages to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Keeneland Association, which established the race track and became a leader in the Thoroughbred industry.

Showcasing photographs and memorabilia tracing the development of Keeneland's grounds, architecture, facilities and innovative industry firsts, the exhibit features photographs curated from Keeneland Library collections and Turf photographers who document today's race meets and events to highlight Keeneland's evolution from 1935 to today.

“Racing has had a home in Lexington since the settlement's founding,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “Keeneland factors into roughly 90 years of the city's rich Thoroughbred industry history dating from the late 1700s, and we are pleased to present this exhibit to coincide with 250LEX celebrations of Lexington's 250th anniversary in 2025.”

Developed by Keeneland Library Project Curator Sarah Cantor, Of Turf and Stone: Keeneland Through the Ages explores both the constants and transformations from its founding to today. Keeneland is continuing to build for generations to come as evidenced by the current construction of a three-level Paddock Building set to be completed this fall.

The exhibit, which runs through mid-August, is free and open to the public.

The post Keeneland Library Explores Evolution of Track In New Exhibit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Gulfstream Park's likely end as a Thoroughbred facility (TDN Jan. 16) makes clear that our industry as presently structured is simply no longer viable.

In a relatively short time, major tracks have closed in New England, Northern California, Illinois and many other formerly vibrant racing venues. Racing is on life support in Southern California, Florida, Delaware, Pennsylvania, etc. and exists almost everywhere else only with the support of non-racing revenues from slots, casinos and state supplements. Instead of embracing innovative ideas to make the sport more attractive to a new generation of racing fans and owners, the focus continues to be on protecting those non-racing revenues. An industry where 80-90% of purse money comes from slots instead of wagering on the core product is simply not viable in the long run.

Unless major changes are made in our present non-existent business model, within a few years racing in the US will be limited to Kentucky, Maryland, New York and a few outlier tracks running a few months a year. We as an industry need to get our heads out of the sand and get to work!

H. Robb Levinsky is the founder of the New Jersey-based Kenwood Racing LLC

The post Letter To The Editor: H. Robb Levinsky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 951, a filly by Tiz the Law bred by 3C Stables, sold for $110,000 during Wednesday’s final session of the Keeneland January sale. Photo courtesy of Mulholland Springs.

A short yearling filly by two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year and classic winner Tiz the Law sold for $110,000 to lead all New York-breds in the final session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale Wednesday in Lexington.

Dixiana Farm purchased Hip 951, who is out of the winning Empire Maker mare Assured. Bred by 3C Stables LLC and consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent, the filly is a half-sister to stakes winner and $262,893-earner Offaly Cool, winner Spunforfun and placed runners Sebastianthe First and Lets Fight.

The daughter of Tiz the Law, winner of the 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, finished a strong run for short yearlings bred in the Empire State at the January sale. Five sold for $110,000 or more over the three days, including four during Monday’s opening session.

Keeneland reported sales on 40 of the 48 New York-bred yearlings offered for a total of $1,896,000, an average price of $47,400 and median of $32,500. Those sales helped contribute to what Keeneland officials called a sale marked by “steady trade that produced solid results and signaled continued demand for quality individuals and confidence in the yearling market.”

The breeder-consignor tandem of 3C Stables and Mulholland Springs also sold the second highest-priced yearling during the final session – Hip 942, a filly from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Golden Pal that brought $90,000 from Rag’s Bloodstock.

The filly is the third foal out of the winning Declaration of War mare Andarta, who is the dam of the New York-bred winning 4-year-old Mendelssohn filly Sinead and a 2-year-old New York-bred colt by Justify.

The final session also featured the most expensive New York-bred broodmare or broodmare prospect – Hip 1020, the stakes-placed Dufresne who sold for $72,000.

Offered in foal to Gunite by Glendalough at Dromoland, agent, the 6-year-old Uncaptured mare was purchased by Mulholland Springs LLC. Bred by Newtownanner Stud Farm and out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Rapids, Dufresne won two of 20 starts with four thirds and earned $185,483. She placed in three stakes during her career, including against open company in the 2021 Woodbine Care Stakes.

Overall, 51 of the 70 New York-breds through the ring sold for $2,226,500, an average price of $43,657 and median of $30,000.

The post Tiz the Law filly hits six-figure mark to close January sale appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

The Stronach Group (TSG) has told Florida industry stakeholders they can guarantee racing at Gulfstream Park only through 2028 if a proposed bill to decouple Thoroughbred horseracing from casino licenses passes the state legislature.

In a closed-door meeting with the Florida horsemen and women Wednesday morning—a recording of which was obtained by TDN—Keith Brackpool, a former TSG executive now reportedly working in an advisory capacity for the company, also warned that “if there's no decoupling, then there's no guarantee of when we will continue to race,” according to the recording.

The stance has caused trepidation throughout the industry that Gulfstream's days are numbered.

“We can close down whenever we want to,” Brackpool also warned at a different point in the recording.

Several times throughout the recording, Brackpool discussed how the legislation was needed to help attract investors for redevelopment opportunities at the property, like a new casino and hotel.

Brackpool also repeatedly emphasized the real estate value of the Gulfstream Park property, which is believed to be in the region of 245 acres (about 140 acres of which is reportedly used for horse racing purposes).

“There are no racetracks in highly coveted developed urban areas,” Brackpool said at one point on the recording, discussing the long-term future for the racetrack.

“You're looking at land here worth several million dollars an acre. And the reality is, nobody can continue to race on land that is worth several million dollars an acre without appropriate redevelopment, at the very least, surrounding the horseracing property,” said Brackpool.

Earlier this month, 1/ST Racing and Gaming—which sits under TSG corporate umbrella—issued a statement saying it had the support of the state's horsemen's group for the “decoupling” legislation. The law as it stands right now requires Gulfstream Park to run live racing to operate its casino. In this current deal, the horsemen and women are guaranteed a slice of casino revenues for purses.

At one point during the meeting, one of the attendees asks the crowd (made up of trainers, owners and breeders) how many of them support House Bill 105. According to the recording, there was no show of support for the decoupling legislation.

According to the recording, Brackpool said that he sat down with the horsemen's organization in August and “guaranteed in writing” the following details if the decoupling legislation passes:

• That TSG would continue to pay the current share of revenues from the casino into the purse account.
• That TSG would pick up “a large part” of the state horsemen and women's workers' comp premiums.
• “And we agreed to donate a significant amount of handle to the aftercare program,” said Brackpool.

The annual slice of casino revenues to purses is reportedly around $6.2 million. The additional monies that TSG offered (including workers comp and aftercare support) would increase the amount to $7.5 annually.

Brackpool did not specify for how long those written guarantees were for, according to the recording, though he did repeatedly mention how any successful passage of the decoupling legislation would only guarantee racing at the facility through 2028.

According to the recording, when pressed about the future of the facility after 2028 (even if the legislation passed), Brackpool posited that for horseracing in the state to survive, racing operations might have to switch from Gulfstream Park to a different venue.

“Should the track move to another urban location? Should we move to a more remote location near a breeding facility? Those are the things we need to consider at this stage,” said Brackpool, according to the recording.

At times, Brackpool's responses appeared to lead to some confusion. While the decoupling legislation has been framed as a means to entice investors for a new casino, Brackpool also downplayed the potential revenues from such a new casino.

“What I am saying to you is that the 140, 150 acres that is used by racing in this vein, is worth so much more than any income from the casino,” Brackpool said, according to recording.

“If we did not decouple, then we would look at development opportunities that did not include a casino,” Brackpool said. “The casino is no easy money,” Brackpool added, warning of the possible advent of iGaming. He also raised the possibility of residential redevelopment.

A little later in the recording, Brackpool was pressed about some of the company's ventures in other states like Maryland, which has seen, among other things, ownership of Pimlico Race Course transferred from TSG to the state and the establishment of a year-round training facility for Maryland's horsemen and women operated by an industry run non-profit.

In response, Brackpool mused about Gulfstream Park, “this may well be a case where private ownership of a horseracing facility doesn't make any sense,” he says on the recording.

Since TSG issued its statement on Jan. 7 saying that it had the support of the state's horsemen's organization for the bill, the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association came out against the legislation. And those present at Wednesday's meeting also appeared opposed to such a move.

“Let me just tell you right now, if you all focus on the casino as being the issue that's going to force this family to continue to race, that will be one of the mistakes that in 20 years from now everybody will be talking about,” said Brackpool when pressed about the proposed casino, according to the recording.

Trainer Dale Romans replied: “In three years they'll be talking about it, it sounds like to me.”

The post Brackpool to Florida Stakeholders: `There Are No Racetracks in Highly Coveted Developed Urban Areas’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm

Lexington, Ky – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its three-day run Wednesday in Lexington with figures largely in line with its four-day 2024 edition. Through three days, 685 head grossed $33,444,900 for an average of $48,825 and a median of $22,000. The average increased 6% and the median rose 47% from last year's four-day sale when 831 horses grossed $38,330,300 for an average of $46,126 and a median of $15,000. The buy-back rate was 26.34% this year compared to 22.84% a year ago.

“I think it was a good sale,” said Keeneland's Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “I think we have to look at it in the context of the different format. So if you look at the through-the-ring numbers from last year's four days to this year's three days, we had a much higher median. It was just $22,000 from $15,000, but significant, showing the lower end of the market had some substance to it. The RNA rate was a tick up. The average was up a tick. We offered about 14% fewer horses and we are down 14% on gross. So really things were in step with last year.”

Post-sale transactions saw 38 horses sell for an additional gross of $1,681,000, bringing the total auction gross to $35,125,900 for an average of $48,584. In 2024, 33 post-sale transactions sold for $2,289,000 for a total gross of $40,619,300 and an average of $47,013.

That steadiness of the market is a positive for the industry, according to Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy.

“What is encouraging is that there is nothing overheating or depressed,” Lacy said “It's very steady and consistent. The sellers, for the most part, have been very happy with the way the market has been. It's fair. It's very fair. And you can't ask for more than that. Consistency is the key. Increases are great, but consistency is very important.”

Hip 1301, Lil Drummer Girl | Keeneland

Lil Drummer Girl (Street Sense), a 3-year-old unraced broodmare or racing prospect (hip 1301), brought the top price of Wednesday's session when selling for $200,000 to Iapetus Racing. Consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of River Bend Farm, the filly is out of Beat the Drums (Smart Strike) and is a half-sister to graded winner Dynamic One (Union Rags).

“[The market] was solid for the catalogue that was here,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. “Quality maiden mares are very difficult to buy. We had a lot of clients that were shopping for those. There was a mare that just brought $200,000 and we followed her up. We thought maybe she was going to bring half of that. Then we thought maybe she was going to be 75% of that. And then she ended up bringing $200,000.”

Taylor continued, “As far as the mares are, you see the shrinking foal crop. And one of the reasons you're seeing the shrinking foal crop is the carrying costs and the upkeep of these mares that are under $75,000, it's not making sense [financially] for a lot of people. So there's this flight to quality. And even in our own customer base, we're having customers that used to buy those kind of mares. Now, instead of buying a mare for $100,000, they'd rather partner with some people and buy a leg of a mare for $100,000 and buy a $400,000 mare. I think the carrying costs are really what's keeping the market a little depressed at those lower levels.”

Hip 951 in the ring | Keeneland

Short yearlings by Tiz the Law topped the third session of the January sale, with a colt by the Coolmore stallion (hip 912)  consigned by Hunter Valley Farm bringing a final bid of $160,000 from Najd Stud and a filly by the GI Belmont Stakes winner (hip 951) consigned by Mulholland Springs selling for $110,000 to Dixiana Farm.

Najd Stud, the breeding and racing operation of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz, purchased 17 head at the three-day sale for a gross of $696,000 and an average of $40,941. The Saudi operation, fourth leading buyer at the auction, led a deep bench of international buyers who worked through snow, ice and frigid temperatures to participate in the sale.

“There were a lot of international buyers,” Lacy said. “More so from Europe than we've seen or expected, and great participation from the Middle East, and Australia. There was activity from Japan. There was great, broad-based support, which is great. The weather didn't stop anybody. It obviously adds a little extra challenge, but it didn't stop anyone from being here. I want to thank our crew and consignors and agents who went out there and worked the sale because it was a little challenging leading up to it just to get the place ready. We are just really proud of the crew that got the grounds ready and the consignors and agents that got here.”

Through three days, 360 short yearlings sold at this year's January sale for an average of $44,055 and a median of $25,000. A colt by Tapit was the auction's top-priced yearling when selling for $400,000.

During the 2024 January sale, 382 short yearlings sold through the ring for an average of $38,866 and a median of $12,000. An additional 22 were post-sale transactions, bringing the average to $37,774. Three yearlings sold for $400,000.

There were 48 six-figure yearlings in this year's sale, compared to 42 in 2024.

Keeneland's Cormac Breathnach and Tony Lacy Wednesday | Keeneland

“I think the single biggest positive was the yearling market was really tough to buy in,” Breathnach said. “There are a lot of reasons to feel good about the yearling market for next year based on what we saw here. That plays into the international participation because we hear from people from other countries who are interested in diversifying into pinhooking and different opportunities in the U.S. because the market has been solid and the racing product and purses are good. It all feels like it has positive momentum. And there are always ways to find value in the market. It's a very large market here and they like that.”

Both consignors and buyers continued to remark on familiar themes in the January market.

“It's the same trend as usual,” said Gabriel Duignan of Paramount Sales. “The ones they are on are selling good, but the bottom end is sticky. It's a January sale and it's probably what I expected. It's not easy to buy and it's not easy to sell. If you follow one up that you really like, there is a lot of competition. If you are trying to sell one that isn't hitting, it's tough going and you better be realistic. I think that's where we are.”

Asked for his impression of the market at Keeneland this week, bloodstock agent David Ingordo said, “We weren't shopping that hard, but we always look. I thought anything that was perceived to be quality brought a good price, so I don't think it's a lack of interest. Short yearlings were tough to buy. There was a lot of interest in those. The mares, it wasn't the deepest catalogue we've ever had in January, so what was good brought prime plus and broodmare prospects that you could breed to what you wanted, or if she was in foal to a nice horse, it brought good money. I just think this was a good sale to move some horses along.”

The post ‘Consistency Is Key:’ Keeneland January Sale Produces Steady Results appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Eoin Harty's world is chock full right now. For starters, his home is situated in the midst of one of the worst wildfires in California history, but somehow it has survived the nightmarish ordeal.

Then, there is his role as the president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, a position he has held since 2019. What that means is he is at the forefront of trying to turn around the declining fortunes of racing in the state, which he admits is no easy task.

The good news is that he has two serious candidates for the GI Kentucky Derby in GII Kentucky Club Stakes winner First Resort (Uncle Mo) and GII Remsen Stakes winner Poster (Munnings). The former was given top billing in T.D. Thornton's first edition of his Derby Top Ten rankings.

Harty was this week's guest on the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

Concerning the wildfires, Harty knows that he has been very fortunate. Several homes in his neighborhood have been destroyed, while his has so far been left unscathed.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” he said. “My house survived. A lot of my neighbors didn't. It's been a very traumatic time. I don't want to feel selfish. It's been hard on me and my family. When you think about the people, the thousands of families that have been just completely upended, I know they have it so much worse.”

Looters have also been a problem in neighborhoods ravaged by the fires. Taking matters into his own hands, Harty has stood outside his house brandishing a baseball bat.

“I was there every night and patrolling the neighborhood with my little baseball bat,” he said.

Like so many others, he is concerned about the future of racing in California. Unlike most tracks, Santa Anita, Del Mar and Los Alamitos do not receive any revenue from slot machines or other casino games. That has meant that their purses have fallen way behind those in Kentucky, New York and Arkansas. The situation has made it difficult to keep California-based owners from seeking greener pastures, and it's very hard to attract new owners to the sport.

“Well, I think I'd be a fool and a liar if I said I wasn't very, very concerned about the future of California racing,” he said. “I think everybody involved in racing globally should be concerned about what's going to happen in California. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be. Obviously, we need to increase purse money in order to attract more horses. Because of the purses they offer in Kentucky and in New York, in California we're seeing a drain on an already draining gene pool. I hope there are people a lot smarter than me working on these issues here in California. But it's something that needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed very, very promptly.”

As for Harty's two legitimate Derby candidates, both are owned by the mighty Godolphin stable. Poster and First Resort have been based in Kentucky, where winter weather has made training difficult and it has been tough for the conditioner to map a schedule for the pair.

Plans for Poster could include a start in the Listed Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 1, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Still, it is early and Harty has plenty of time to get them ready for early May. For now, he reports that First Resort is his best prospect.

“Poster, he's a really, really beautiful, big, strong colt,” Harty said. “He's got the ability to go with that. But he never struck me as talented as First Resort. But in every race, he's improved and he's impressed me. He's going to have distance limitations. He's a bit busier in the mind than First Resort, but it doesn't seem to affect him. He's very manageable that way.”

In our weekly breeding spotlight section, we zero in on one of the latest editions to WinStar stallion roster in Cogburn, who is entering his first year at stud.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, and XBTV.com, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss discussed the alarming trainer trend where so many are getting out of the business.

Also up for discussion was the story out of Florida concerning the potential decouple of racing and gaming at Gulfstream Park. Moss gave an in-depth analysis that explained the situation. He said he did not think it would spell the end of racing at the South Florida track.

Finally, are you ready to bet the Derby this soon? The team went over the Las Vegas winterbook odds and agreed that recent maiden winner Rodriguez (Authentic), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort, might be the play at 25-1.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post Eoin Harty Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will hold their annual 'Off to the Races' online benefit auction featuring VIP racing experience packages beginning Thursday Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. ET and closing Friday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET, the aftercare organization said in a Wednesday press release.

With the proceeds going directly to accredited aftercare, the online event provides a chance for the public to bid on 19 VIP racing experience packages. The auction items grant access to major race days at tracks across North America in 2025 and 2026. Each package features an exclusive itinerary of horse racing-related activities.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our 2025 VIP Auction, where fans can bid on exclusive experiences at some of the most iconic racetracks in North America,” said TAA's Director of Funding & Events Emily Dresen. “Not only does this provide a unique opportunity to celebrate the sport of horse racing, but every dollar raised goes directly to supporting the aftercare of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.”

Click here to view the auction packages.

The post TAA’s ‘Off To The Races’ Online Benefit Auction Opens Jan. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.