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Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok has been elected as the new president of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, the organization's chairman Terry Finley announced Thursday. Celebrating its 40th year of service to the New York backstretch community, the Chaplaincy was previously headed by Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, who will remain as a board member.

“It is hard to adequately convey the countless ways Ramon Dominguez helps our organization thrive and we are thrilled that he has agreed to stay involved as a member of our board of directors,” Finley said. “We wish him all the best in his new venture as the Executive Director of the Jockey's Guild Education Foundation.”

Borisenok, who has previously been serving on the board of directors as vice president, is a longtime Thoroughbred owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist recognized for her leadership and advocacy for women across the Capital Region. She is dedicated to fostering independence and improving quality of life through education, mentorship, women's leadership, and the arts.

She is the founder of Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization that supports female racing enthusiasts with emphasis on the Thoroughbred, education and philanthropy, and co-founder of Old Tavern Farm, a New York Thoroughbred breeding farm focused on the sale of elite racehorses. Her success in racing includes a partnership victory in the 2021 Cicada Stakes, along with competitive placings in both flat track and steeplechase racing.

“Michelle Borisenok has a deep understanding of our mission and an unparalleled dedication to improving the quality of life for the backstretch community,” Finley said.

Also announced, board member Kathy Theroux-Reynolds, a Barnard College graduate with careers in medical science and education, will succeed Michelle as vice president of the board. Theroux-Reynolds comes from a horse racing family dating back to the 1930s, with her father, Ralph Theroux Sr., spending more than 70 years as a jockey agent and her brother, Ralph Theroux Jr., continuing in the sport as a jockey agent, placing judge, and steward.

“In addition to the board leadership changes, we are delighted to announce, as we look toward our future of continued excellence, two new board members, David Donk and Brad Ghaster,” said Executive Director and Lead Chaplain Humberto Chavez.

David Donk has been an active trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit for more than 40 years. He worked as an assistant for legendary trainer Woody Stephens before going out on his own. He has won more than 850 races, and numerous stakes races, including the Arlington Million Stakes with Awad and the Moet Champagne Stakes with Ordway. He has served several terms on the board of directors of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and currently holds the title of vice president. He has also served on the board of trustees for the New York Backstretch Pension Fund for the past nine years. David and his wife Fay were honored for their dedication to the NY Chaplaincy in 2015 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Brad Ghaster is actively involved with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, where he serves as a Region 1 Ambassador alongside his wife, Kirsten Ghaster. Together, they help serve the Turf Paradise racing community in Phoenix with Chaplain John Schumaker and Amy Schumaker. Brad has also served as Chaplain for Racers For Christ for many years. He and Kirsten also maintain a passion for OTTB war horses to see them live out their best lives off the track.

In addition to his racetrack activities, Brad is the owner of Ghaster Painting & Coatings, a Phoenix-based commercial and industrial painting company he founded in 1975. He continues to provide leadership and oversight for the company's operations, bringing decades of experience in the industry.

Longtime board member, the Honorable John Andrew Kay, is transitioning from the Board of Directors to the Chaplaincy's Honorary Board.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy ministers to the needs of the backstretch community at the NYRA racetracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) as well as surrounding farms through a wide variety of programs. They include enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities and non-denominational religious services.

The post Michelle Borisenok Named New President Of New York Race Track Chaplaincy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Eleven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, headed by late trainers Christophe Clement and John A. Shirreffs, plus racehorse Kona Gold. Additionally, Kentucky-bred Gulch, Virginia-bred Mongo and the late trainer David A. Whiteley were chosen in the Historic Review Category; and the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, Dr. Robert Copelan, Seth W. Hancock, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. and the late Joseph E. Widener were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee.

Clement, Shirreffs and Kona Gold were chosen on the majority of ballots submitted (50 percent plus one vote is required for election). A total of 143 voters (92.8 percent) participated from the 154 eligible to cast ballots. In the Historic Review and Pillars of the Turf categories, 75 percent approval from the respective committees is required for election.

The 2026 Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined at 10:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 7, at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event will be aired live on the Museum website. It is open to the public and free to attend. Renowned broadcaster Charlsie Cantey will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Christophe Clement (1965-2025), a native of Paris, France, won 2,576 races with purse earnings of $184,127,449 million (12th all time) in a career that spanned from 1991 through 2025. He trained three-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti, winner of four straight Grade 1s on the turf in 2009, as well as 2014 GI Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, who also won consecutive runnings of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015. Clement won 286 graded stakes and trained 22 horses who earned $1 million or more. His Grade I wins included multiple editions of the Diana Handicap (2003, 2015), Manhattan Handicap (2001, 2009, 2010), Man o' War (2009, 2010), Turf Mile (2010, 2011) and Sword Dancer (1999, 2011, 2021, 2022, 2024), which was renamed the Christophe Clement Turf.

The late John Shirreffs | Sarah Andrew

John A. Shirreffs (1945-2026) was a native of Leavenworth, Kan., who trained the winners of 596 races, including 113 graded events, with purse earnings of $58,581,916–nine horses earned more than $1 million. Although he had a few starters as early as 1978, Shirreffs did not train full time until 1994. He won the GI Kentucky Derby in 2005 with 50-1 longshot Giacomo and later became the conditioner of one of racing's all-time greats, Hall of Fame member Zenyatta. In 2009, Shirreffs also won the Ladies' Classic with Life Is Sweet, becoming the first trainer to win both Classics in the same year.

A bay gelding bred in Kentucky by Carlos Perez, Kona Gold (Java Gold–Double Sunrise, by Slew o' Gold) won the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter in 2000. That year, he set the Churchill Downs track record of 1:07.77 for six furlongs in winning the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Campaigned by Bruce Headley (who also served as his trainer), Irwin and Andrew Molasky, Michael Singh, et al, Kona Gold raced from 1998 through 2003 with a record of 14-7-2 from 30 starts, earned $2,293,384 and won a total of 10 graded stakes. Kona Gold, who was ridden in all 14 of his victories by Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis.

A bay colt bred in Kentucky by Peter Brant, Gulch (Mr. Prospector–Jameela, by Rambunctious) competed from 1986 through 1988 and posted a record of 13-8-3 from 32 starts with earnings of $3,095,521. Overall, Gulch won 11 graded stakes, including seven Grade Is. Campaigned by Brant and trained by Hall of Famers LeRoy Jolley (1986 through 1987) and D. Wayne Lukas (1988), Gulch won the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter in 1988.

A chestnut colt bred in Virginia by Marion duPont Scott, Mongo (Royal Charger–Accra, by Annapolis) raced from 1961 through 1964 with a record of 22-10-4 from 46 starts and earnings of $820,766. Trained by Frank Bonsal for duPont Scott, Mongo was voted Champion Male Turf Horse in 1963. He won a total of 16 stakes races.

David A. Whiteley (1944-2017) won 454 races with purse earnings of $11,837,823 in a career that spanned from 1970 through 1995. The Easton, Md., native won 45 graded stakes in his career and 62 total blacktype races. Whiteley trained Eclipse Award winners Revidere (Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, 1976), Hall of Famer Waya (Champion Older Female, 1979), and Just a Game (Champion Female Turf Horse, 1980). He won the 1979 Belmont Stakes with Coastal, denying the Triple Crown hopes of Hall of Famer Spectacular Bid. Whiteley was the son of Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whiteley, Jr.

Juddmonte colors carried home by Arrogate in the Travers Stakes | Sarah Andrew

Prince Khalid bin Abdullah (1937-2021) was a native of Saudi Arabia who established Juddmonte Farms, which he developed into one of the world's most accomplished breeding and racing operations. Juddmonte's success in both breeding and ownership under Abdullah's ownership was recognized with five Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Breeder (1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009) and four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Owner (1992, 2003, 2016, 2017).

Abdullah's Juddmonte horses won more than 500 stakes races worldwide, including 118 Grade/Group 1 victories (102 of which were with homebreds). In Europe, Abdullah's Juddmonte runners won 21 Cartier Racing Awards, including Horse of the Year honors for Enable, Frankel, and Kingman. Carrying the Juddmonte colors stateside were the likes of Enable, Empire Maker, Expert Eye, Flute and Arrogate, just to name a few.

Dr. Robert Copelan, a native of Cincinnati, is a pioneer in the field of equine surgery and was one of the 11 founding members who established the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in 1954. Copelan served as its president in 1973 and continued to participate on multiple AAEP committees throughout the years.

Seth W. Hancock, a native of Lexington, Ky., followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and took over the reins of historic Claiborne Farm in 1972 at the age of 23, following the death of his father, Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock, Jr., who in turn had taken over in the 1940s from his father, Arthur B. Hancock. Hancock added his own chapters to his family's knack for acquiring future stars, including Danzig, Mr. Prospector and Unbridled. Homebreds Pulpit and Forty Niner joined the elite rosters standing at Claiborne during Hancock's tenure.

In Hancock's 40-plus years running the farm, he guided the operation through significant changes in the sport and in the industry. One was the creation of the Breeders' Cup in 1984. Seth Hancock gave the program an important endorsement by signing up Claiborne to provide income from stallion seasons, a key source of Breeders' Cup funding. Claiborne homebred Lure, a Hall of Famer, was twice a Breeders' Cup winner for the farm.

G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. was born in Cleveland into a family with strong ties to Thoroughbred racing and breeding. Humphrey raises his Thoroughbreds on the fringe of the famed Bluegrass region at his 1,000-acre Shawnee Farm near Harrodsburg, Ky., 30 miles southwest of Lexington. Humphrey's racing stable has traditionally focused on fillies that have been channeled back to his breeding operation. Top runners for his stable have included Grade I winners Centre Court, Clear Mandate and Personal Diary, as well as multiple graded stakes winners Frivolous, Rey de Cafe, and Communique.

One of the sport's most dedicated leaders, Humphrey has served racing with distinction in various capacities, including more than 20 years on the board of Churchill Downs, including a stint as chairman. He has also been a director of the Keeneland Association, served four terms as a steward of The Jockey Club, and held several senior positions with the Breeders' Cup, among others.

Mongo with groom at Hialeah Park in 1964 | Jim Raftery Turfotos

Joseph E. Widener (1871-1943) was the second son of transportation and real estate magnate Peter A. B. Widener. In 1901, at the age of 30, Widener made a significant commitment to compete both in flat and jump racing.

Following the death of August Belmont II in 1924, Widener purchased Belmont's stallion Fair Play (leading sire in 1927 for the third time) for his Elmendorf Farm breeding operation. As part of the dispersal of the Belmont estate, Widener also acquired majority control of Belmont Park and became president of the Westchester Racing Association.

In 1929, Widener purchased controlling interest in Hialeah Park and began immediate upgrades. As part of his effort to maintain clean sport, Widener also introduced the first saliva test in America at Hialeah. Under Widener's leadership, Hialeah became one of the most popular and important racetracks in the world.

To view more information on all the inductees, click here.

The post Much Missed Trainers Clement And Shirreffs Head 2026 Hall Of Fame Class appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Relatively new Thoroughbred owner Joe Moore shares the positive elements he has seen in his short time in the Thoroughbred industry.

Eye on the World, with BH correspondent and world traveler Bob Kieckhefer, aims to look at international racing from an American perspective and, along the way, perhaps grow some interest in racing overseas.

Prominent North American sire Curlin will stop covering mares for the remainder of the 2026 breeding season because of a low fertility issue recently discovered.

Trainer Dan Ward has worked for two Hall of Fame trainers. A third is just around the corner after Ward said he's been tapped by Southern California-based Bob Baffert to oversee the Hall of Fame trainer's new division at Churchill Downs.

In its first quarter business results report April 22, Churchill Downs Inc. reported a record-breaking first three months of 2026 in a trio of key metrics.

Anthony Stroud came out on top after a bidding war for Lot 197, a colt by Tally-Ho's Mehmas, becoming the second-highest-priced juvenile in the sale's history.

Per Incanto will stand for an elevated service fee of NZ$75,000 at Little Avondale Stud in 2026, with the NZ$15,000 increase on last year's figure reflective of his remarkable record both on the racetrack and in the sales ring.

Keeneland announced April 22 that Radar Lock—a 3-year-old son of Dialed In who was second to the highly regarded Final Story in a maiden special weight race April 19—has been supplemented to the April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Track media updates on Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders.

Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Renegade is the 10-1 morning-line favorite in the Preakness Stakes Future Win Wager, which runs April 24-May 2.

Boasting probably the best horse in the country in Autumn Glow and crack 3-year-old Autumn Boy among his five group 1 winners, The Autumn Sun will stand for a carefully chosen AU$137,500.

With Keeneland closing its meet April 24, the focus of Kentucky racing pivots roughly 70 miles west to Churchill Downs, where the Louisville track launches its spring meet with its traditional last-Saturday-in-April opening.

In a deep cast of fillies and mares, Grand Slam Smile headlines the $100,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) April 25 at Santa Anita Park.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy announced that Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, who has been serving on the board of directors as vice president, has been elected president of the organization.

Ace Stud will sponsor this year's TBA Flat Breeders' Awards, an evening to celebrate British-bred success from the 2025 season. The Newmarket operation stands dual group 1 winner Shaquille, whose first yearlings will be offered later this year.

Meet the Jockeys of the 2026 Kentucky Derby: A mix of accomplished veterans and talented first timers.

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is rightfully known as the most exciting two minutes in sports; once the Churchill Downs starting gate springs open anything can (and often does) happen.

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., posted a graded stakes race victory Friday in the Doubledogdare (G2T), and proceeded to win his second graded stakes race of the week in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).