Feed aggregator

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, Dr. Larry Rickman Overly has been issued a 23-month suspension and a combined $40,000 fine (including arbitration costs) for the possession of testosterone and isoxsuprine, both banned substances, during a search of his truck at Los Alamitos on July 23 last year, according to the final decision by an arbitral panel.

Overly contended that the jar of isoxsuprine powder and the four injectable vials of testosterone were for other horses in his practice, outside of HISA's jurisdiction. About 66% of the horses he saw and almost 80% of the treatments he performed at Los Alamitos were for non-HISA regulated horses (known as “non-covered” horses), Overly argued.

More specifically, Overly argued that he had the testosterone to treat his veterinary technician's horse, Cosmo, while the jar of isoxsuprine was for a client, to treat her non-covered horse, “Brownie.”

The arbitration panel, however, found that Overly did not have compelling justification for carrying the testosterone and the isoxsuprine in his truck on that date last year.

For one, Overly was scheduled to treat Cosmo with testosterone a week later, on July 30, while his veterinary truck was typically loaded and unloaded/reloaded twice a day, five days a week, the arbitral body found.

As such, “there was no reason Dr. Overly could not have had Testosterone he needed to treat Cosmo loaded after he returned from the Los Alamitos track on the days he was scheduled to see Cosmo,” according to the final decision.

Furthermore, “The veterinary records produced by Dr. Overly did not show a single instance in which he had treated a Non-Covered horse with Isoxsuprine and thus do not establish a compelling justification to prophylactically carry Isoxsuprine for that part of his mixed practice,” according to the final decision.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 08/26/2025
Licensee: Eduardo Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from All About Tonite, on 7/2/25.

Date: 08/26/2025
Licensee: Jesus Nunez, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 27, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Erebus, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 7/6/25.

Date: 08/25/2025
Licensee: Dr. Larry Rickman Overly, veterinarian
Penalty: 23-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 26, 2025; a fine of $25,000; payment of $15,000 towards arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body.
Explainer: Possession of Testosterone and Isoxsuprine–both banned substances–for an event dated 7/23/24.

Date: 08/25/2025
Licensee: Tomas Medina, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled substance on Night Kiss during the race period dated 7/5/25. Night Kiss did not make a start that day.

Date: 08/25/2025
Licensee: Michael LaCesse, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Gimmedamoney, who finished fourth at Finger Lakes on 7/14/25.

Date: 08/25/2025
Licensee: Raymond Paquette, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Michi on 7/13/25.

Date: 08/25/2025
Licensee: Scott Lake, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Texas Air Force, who finished second at Parx Racing on 5/19/25.

Date: 08/22/2025
Licensee: Steve Asmussen, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Jackman on 6/20/25.

Date: 08/21/2025
Licensee: Ruben Siera, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Juan Mo Time, who did not finish a race at Gulfstream Park on 5/16/25.

Date: 08/20/2025
Licensee: Ilias Tapsas, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Modern Midas on 7/7/25.

Pending ADMC Violations

08/27/2025, Hector Palma, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Uncle Evco on 7/30/25.

08/27/2025, Jane D. Cibelli, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Inveigled, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/21/25.

08/25/2025, Helen Alice Beckman, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Pentoxifylline–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Stand Up Charlie, who finished fifth at Belterra Park on 7/17/25.

08/22/2025, Marcus Vitali, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Yankee Dollar, who finished second in the Illini Princess Handicap at Hawthorne on 6/15/25.

08/22/2025, Billy Miller, trainer: Per HIWU, “Rule 3510(b)–Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules; Rule 3510(d)–Refusal/failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the ADMC Program Rules (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation).” The horse in questions is Ranch Badge.

08/21/2025, Eduardo Rodriguez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from All About Tonite, on 7/2/25.

08/21/2025, Elias Lopez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from La Clasica, who did not finish when running at Hawthorne on 6/5/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Del Mar
Ruben Silvera–violation date August 22; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Prairie Meadows
Alberto Pusac–violation date August 22; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly Rulings: August 21-27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Snow Face Princess (Midshipman), Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton August Digital sales topper for Winchell Thoroughbreds, will head to Kentucky Downs, trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed to the TDN Wednesday.

The recent winner of the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17 will stretch out just a bit and target the $1-million Untapable Stakes Sept. 7 going 6 1/2 furlongs for her new connections.

Winchell Thoroughbreds, whose Ron Winchell co-owns the unique track in Franklin, KY, bought the 2-year-old daughter of Crusin Alone (Honor Code) for $775,000 Tuesday. Snow Face Princess, who is undefeated since switching to the grass, already has career earnings of over $140,000 in three starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. The family already has proven form over the Kentucky Downs track as Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro), out of Crusin Alone's half-sister A. P. Sonata (A.P. Indy), set a course record last year in the GII FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes.

“She's a stakes winner on the turf so that made her attractive to us,” said Winchell's racing manager David Fiske. “We've had good luck with a previous Bolton Landing Stakes winner [Winchell homebred Simple Surprise, the dam of MGISW and young sire Gunite].”

And though Winchell Thoroughbreds has previously sold horses through the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform, Snow Face Princess is the group's first digital acquisition.

“I told Steve [Asmussen], I called him yesterday and said we bought that filly and I'm not sure what the next step is now,” Fiske said laughing. “So that's our entry into the digital world.”

And while Snow Face Princess is set for the Untapable, Fiske acknowledged that, should she stay on track through that start, they'd have to take a look at something like the Breeders' Cup in November.

“That's a long way off,” he said. “She's already made three starts and Kentucky Downs would be four with a ship [from Saratoga]. But I think if she ran well, we'd have to take a look at it.”

Ascot Walk To Join Erdenheim Farm Broodmare Band

The top-selling broodmare through the August Digital Sale, Ascot Walk (Daaher), will join the Erdenheim Farm broodmare band on a final bid of $550,000.

The 10-year-old mare has produced three stakes runners from as many foals, leading things off with GSP Regaled (Mohaymen) and following up with Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) who is back on the work tab after suffering a minor injury when running second in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Most recently, her 2-year-old daughter Grazie (Modernist) ran third in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 22 for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Repole Stable.

“She's a proven broodmare,” said Erdenhiem owner Peter McCausland. “And we're looking for a few really good, different broodmares. Physically she's a great individual and we're glad to have her. [The price] was within the range that we were expecting.”

Ascot Walk sold in foal to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish whose first foals hit the ground earlier this year.

“Cody's Wish is unproven,” McCausland said, “but we had someone look at a few of his foals and they're very attractive so that was a minor factor [in the purchase].”

Future mating plans for Ascot Walk, whose youngest foal is a yearling Redesdale filly, are still to be determined.

Erdenheim Farm has been active across the Fasig-Tipton platforms recently, going to $1.475m to acquire a filly by Gun Runner (hip 200) out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) at the Saratoga Sale earlier this month.

The post Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale Topper Heads For Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Wecanonlyimagine heads to victory in last week’s Princess Margaret Stakes at Century Mile in Alberta, Canada. Chris Tian Photo.

While their cohorts were in the spotlight in the Albany, Fleet Indian, Yaddo, West Point and Seeking the Ante last week at Saratoga Race Course, two other New York-breds took the spotlight more than 2,400 miles away in Canada at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta.

New York-breds Wecanonlyimagine and Playful finished 1-2 as the two longest shots in Friday’s $34,866 Princess Margaret Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Wecanonlyimagine, a daughter of Omaha Beach bred by Cypress Creek Equine, improved to 3-for-3 in the 6-furlong stakes. Neville Stephenson rode the 5-1 Wecanonlyimagine to her 5 1/4-length victory over Playful, who earned her stakes-placing after a fifth last time out in the Kindergarten Stakes Aug. 2 at Century Mile.

Owned by her trainer, Jared Brown, and John Ganas, Wecanonlyimagine came into the Princess Margaret off a front-running win in the $36,489 Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She employed similar tactics in the Princess Margaret, vying for the lead early with 2-1 favorite Hiway Fortynine and holding a half-length advantage through the opening quarter-mile in :21.74.

Wecanonlyimagine opened up a 3-length advantage through the half in :44.55 and responded to the challenge of Playful to win in 1:11.11. Playful finished 1 ¼ lengths clear of Hiway Fortune.

Wecanonlyimagine earned $21,567 for her latest victory, boosting her bankroll to $52,532. Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s homebred Playful, now 1-1-1 in four starts for trainer Gonzalo Anderson, boosted her earnings to $22,239.

Brown purchased Wecanonlyimagine for $14,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Consigned by C & S Thoroughbreds, the filly is the fourth foal and third winner out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Swimsuit Issue.

Playful, a daughter of Violence out of the winning Bernardini mare Pleased, was foaled at Jack’s Farm on the Hill in Millbrook. She went through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale but did not meet her reserve on a $39,000 bid.

Two of Pleased’s other foals are New York-breds and winners – three-time winner and $126,703-earner Wanna Winna and the $61,680-earner Mischief Motion.

The post New York-breds 1-2 in Century Mile juvenile stakes appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

71-year-old jockey Perry Ouzts–who just this summer surpassed Russell Baze for the most rides by a jockey in North American racing history–will be honored with the Mr. Fitz Award along with track executive Joe Harper, turf writer Steve Andersen and broadcaster Nick Luck during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 65th Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Del Mar, Calif., the NTWAB announced.

The 2025 NTWAB Awards Dinner, which is the organization's only fundraiser, will be held at The Brigantine Del Mar, overlooking nearby Del Mar Racetrack.

Harper will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing, having served as a track executive at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club since 1978, guiding the Southern California track through a period of significant growth.

Andersen is the recipient of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing. A longtime news correspondent, Anderson joined the Daily Racing Form in 1994.

Luck, one of international horse racing's most respected and recognizable broadcasters, is the recipient of the Jim McKay Award for broadcast excellence. In the United States, Luck has been a vital presence in American horse racing television for nearly two decades, widely recognized for his analysis and interviewing skills on display during NBC's broadcasts of the Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown.

Tickets for the NTWAB Awards Dinner can be purchased at the NTWAB website here. Tickets are $85 for NTWAB members and Breeders' Cup credentialed media and $115 for non-members and guests.

The post NTWAB To Honor Jockey Perry Ouzts And Others At 2025 Awards Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – With a winning virtual bid of $95,000 a Louisiana-bred colt by Red River Farms sire Aurelius Maximus topped the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Summer Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park's Mary Ruyle Thoroughbred Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

During the sale, which included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana-bred yearlings, 181 grossed $2,892,600 for an average of $15,981, a median of $7,500 and 53 were listed as not sold.

With a larger catalogue this year, the gross increased from a year ago when 143 yearlings sold for $2,686,000. Those figures also represented a decrease from 2023 when 175 head sold for $3,240,000.

“We want to thank our consignors who really showed up in force, and the crowd we had on Monday was equally strong as the one today,” said Foster Bridewell, director of horse sales for the TTA. “We had some new faces here this year, which was very gratifying to see. I thought our quality offerings came through well, and the sales topper certainly drew attention all week.”

Mallory Consigns Texas Topper
Bred by Jim Montgomery, Natalie Montgomery & Jay Adcock, the colt that led the TTA Sale (hip 130) initially went to PRP Bloodstock for $50,000 during the 2025 OBS Winter Sale before he RNA'd for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Out of SP Too Much to Bear (Too Much Bling), the bay is one of six foals, four of whom have raced and his dam has a pair of winners, plus she handed this topper a full-brother in the spring. Too Much to Bear is a half-sister to MSW I'm a Bear (Touch Tone).

Scott Mallory, agent, consigned the colt, which was purchased online by Charles Allen.

“They tried this colt in July, but that's kinda a tough sale especially because this is an Aurelius Maximus,” said Mallory. “Not a ton of people know who that is. He's a Louisiana stallion with a $2,000 stud fee, but he throws some beautiful babies. I had two of them in the sale. But that colt had a big walk on him and everybody that saw him, liked him. It's the walk.”

The second highest price at the auction was a filly by Yaupon (hip 188), consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, agent. The Arkansas-bred was purchased at the sale for $87,000 by OCL (Abdul-Keer Okab).

After the yearling sale a mixed session capped the day.

Click here for complete sales results.

The post Aurelius Maximus Colt Leads Texas Yearling Sale As Topper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Recent Bolton Landing Stakes winner and two-for-three 2-year-old filly Snow Face Princess (Midshipman) topped Fasig-Tipton's August Digital Sale Tuesday when selling for $775,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds. The sale closed with 154 horses sold for $4,886,500, averaging $31,730 with a clearance rate of 81%.

Sold as hip 39, Snow Face Princess was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect and was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

Another highlight of the August Digital Sale was the Turning Point Bloodstock-consigned Ascot Walk (Daaher). Selling for $550,000 to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds and offered as hip 1, Ascot Walk is in foal to Cody's Wish. All three of her foals to race are stakes performers, including SW Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

“We are very grateful to the buyers for supporting the sale and the sellers for entrusting us with their horses,” said Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The sale today was fantastic and a great way for us to end the summer digital sales season. The outlook for the fall digital sales is already very strong and we are gearing up for a big October and December. Demand this week was strong from the top of the market all the way down. What a great day for Bill Johnson and his team capitalizing on multiple big updates with their super mare Ascot Walk. Also thankful to Claiborne for consigning the very exciting Snow Face Princess to the sale.”

The August Digital Sale offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, breeding stock, yearlings, and a stallion prospect. Click here to see full results.

Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale will be the October Digital Sale, to be held Oct. 2-7. Entries will close Sept. 22.

The post Saratoga 2YO SW Snow Face Princess Tops Fasig-Tipton’s August Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With eight entered for the 35th renewal of Saturday's GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a stellar matchup is anticipated with GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) set to take on his elders for the first time. Among those he'll face are 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who exited a win in the July 26 GII San Diego Handicap with a five-for-six record, and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), the 2023 Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt and a triple Grade I winner. The 10-furlong Pacific Classic is a 'Win & You're In' race for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at Del Mar.

Del Mar's morning-line maker John Lies installed Nysos as the slight favorite at 8-5 with Journalism just a tick behind him at 9-5. He put East Coast shipper Fierceness at 3-1.

The eight-horse field, with riders and morning-line odds follow:

1). Fierceness, John Velazquez, 3-1

2). Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute), Armando Ayuso, 12-1

3). Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d'Oro), Kazushi Kimura, 20-1

4). Nysos, Flavien Prat, 8-5

5). Indispensable (Constitution), Paco Lopez, 15-1

6). Journalism, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5

7). Lure Him In (Khozan), Edwin Gonzalez, 20-1

8). Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), Edwin Madonado, 20-1

The post position draw for the Pacific Classic was held Tuesday evening at The Brigantine Restaurant near the seaside oval. The Pacific Classic will be run as race 10 Saturday on an 11-race card that also features another four graded races with first post at 1:30 p.m. PT.

The post Journalism Gets Post Six for Pacific Classic, Nysos Slightly Favored in Post Four appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

5 (tie). INTREPIDO, DMR, 8/23, 1 mile R1
Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (VIDEO)
(r, 2, by Maximus Mischief–Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect)
O-Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. B-Sierra Fria Farm. T-Jeff Mullins. J-Hector Berrios.
En route to a 3 1/4-length win in his second start, he jointly set the pace then decisively rebuffed a quarter-pole bid from Spendthrift's odds-on Baffert first timer Provenance (Into Mischief-Monomoy Girl). He may be an overachiever: his three siblings to race have started 42 times with a top Beyer figure of 74.

5 (tie). BIG DOM, SAR, 8/23, 6 furlongs R6
Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (VIDEO)
(c, 2, by McKinzie–Half A.P., by Pulpit)
O-Greenwell Thoroughbreds. B-Merriebelle Stable. T-Tom Amoss. J-Jose Ortiz.
Owner Greg Tramontin (No Parole, Quickick) purchased the former Siena Farm and has renamed his stable to honor his biological father. His association with Amoss continues, and this colt was ready to roll at Saratoga at first asking. Last week Amoss made this list with another 2-year-old colt, It's Our Time, a flashy Saratoga debut winner for Double Down Horse Racing.

4. LADY IVA, ELP, 8/23, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R9
Beyer Speed Figure- 85 (2nd)
(f, 3, by Uncle Mo–Iva, by Scat Daddy)
O-Clarmont Racing and Hidden Brook Farm. B-Bonne Chance Farm. T-Bret Calhoun. J-Edgar Morales.
She may have been a touch unlucky in her debut against Break Even (below). She was pinched back at the break then took an outside route into the stretch as the winner got a rail run. On the other hand, she had every chance to go past in the final 3/16ths and couldn't. But whichever is the truest perspective, Lady Iva's career is definitely off to an encouraging start.

3. DEBT FREE, ELP, 8/23, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R9
Beyer Speed Figure-86
(f, 3, by Not This Time–Break Even, by Country Day)
O/B-Klein Racing (Ky). T-Cherie DeVaux. J-Axel Concepcion.
Break Even was a star for the Klein family stable, winning four stakes including a romp in the Grade II Eight Belles with Beyers along the way of 99, 95, 95 and 94. Her first foal, Debt Free, took a few races to come to hand but her stalking maiden victory at Ellis continues her pattern of steady improvement.

2. WESTWOOD, DMR, 8/24, 1 mile R1
Beyer Speed Figure- 88 (VIDEO)
(g, 3, by Authentic–Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie)
O-CRK Stable. B-Hinkle Farms (Ky). T-John Shirreffs. J-Hector Berrios.
Recall that maiden Westwood was the “other” Searing/ Shirreffs runner in the Santa Anita Derby, outrunning Citizen Bull to the lead as scripted and winding up a well-beaten third behind Journalism and stablemate Baeza. After that, he was fourth in the Affirmed Stakes, and clearly appreciated class relief Sunday at Del Mar, leading all the way for a 3 1/4-length score over favored Penalty Box.

1.TRUTH AND BEAUTY, SAR, 8/21, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) R7
Beyer Speed Figure- 90 (VIDEO)
(f, 4, by Bolt d'Oro–Del Mar May, by Jimmy Creed)
O-November Hill. B-Joel R Politi (Ky). T-Raymond Handal. J-Flavien Prat.
The “truth” here was hardly self-evident. Truth and Beauty had made one previous start at the end of her 3-year-old season and was badly beaten as the 9/5 chalk. Now she returns after 8 1/2 months with a trainer change from Bill Mott to Handal, switches to grass with two recent slow turf breezes, adds blinkers, adds Lasix, adds Prat….and voila…a 4 1/2 length romp in a stakes-caliber figure.

The post Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made – Aug. 18 – 24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thoroughbreds are the very fiber and backbone of the industry and there is no racing or breeding program without them.

Horse racing in the United States had a $36.4-billion impact on the national economy in 2023 and supported nearly 500,000 jobs. Racing and breeding alone contributed an estimated $16 billion in direct value to the economy. Thoroughbreds are bred deliberately, intentionally, and with careful planning. They are “created” with the goal of winning, with the goal of earning, with the goal of making money.

Why are so many Thoroughbreds ending up at feedlots across the country with a price tag and a deadline hanging over their heads? There have been weanlings, 2-year-olds, Thoroughbreds who just raced, injured Thoroughbreds coming off the track, those who have had second careers after racing and others who have been discarded in their teens or older. Many Thoroughbreds at feedlots are senior broodmares, having carried multiple foals over their post-racing lives and producing new life for the industry; some have even been in foal at the time they landed at a feedlot. No specific age group or subset is excluded.

At what point in the life of a Thoroughbred does it earn a safe retirement?

Thoroughbreds end up in feedlots for many reasons. Sometimes, there are whole dispersals into feedlots when an owner passes and the family has no plan, no interest or doesn't know what to do. Sometimes, those in the industry are to blame and sometimes others are responsible.

The industry's response reflects indifference despite the hundreds of Thoroughbreds whose lives are at stake.

When asked for assistance, reactions from those in the industry have included:

“We won't pay the ransom. We will not be blackmailed or support extortion from these horse dealers/killer buyers.”

Or frequently, “The horses don't really ship. The dealers/killer buyers are using emotional blackmail and we're not paying it.”

If ever a horse needed help it is when they are in this predicament. By no means do we advocate for dealers and kill buyers, yet this is their business: buying and selling horses of all breeds, not just Thoroughbreds.

The “who” of responsibility makes those who were ever involved in the lives of these broken souls seek to escape accountability, finger point and deflect, as if somehow they can absolve themselves from guilt. It makes those of us who spend a large portion of our days finding, drawing attention to, networking, raising funds, finding appropriate homes, bailing and caring for these rescued horses (which none of us had the pleasure of breeding, raising, selling, training, racing or retiring) indignant.

Yes, there are some folks in the industry who do love their horses and do right by them. There are some very good connections who do care and even others who have no obligation to help a horse in trouble yet help anyway. Unfortunately, they are the minority and not the majority.

Thoroughbreds deteriorate quickly in the auction/slaughter pipeline, suffering dehydration, injury, bites and kicks, starvation and exposure to diseases with each stop on the brutal auction circuit contributing to their inevitable demise. Footage of the cruelty and abuse at lower-end auctions has been well-documented.

Recently, the 6-year-old gelding Tyler's Sensation lay down in the cool Texas grass and took his last breath just 40 hours after being pulled from a Texas kill pen, sick and emaciated from chronic neglect. Subsequently, multiple stakes winner Magic Vow ended up at a kill pen, emaciated and lame. Both horses went through cheap auctions and then ended up at a feedlot. How about Boston Belle, a beautiful, uninjured, young mare who ended up in a feedlot five days after her last race? The racing industry did not save them or protect them. This is just three examples of the thousands of Thoroughbreds who end up in these situations every year.

One would think that mandatory industry funding and mandated reporting of a Thoroughbred's whereabouts after retirement and rescue would have been set in place by now. Shouldn't this be a priority for the industry that benefits from their sweat and efforts?

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) was formed in 2013 as an aftercare and accreditation program. Many folks are under the assumption that TAA is the cure-all for Thoroughbreds after racing and yes, many horses have retired via TAA-accredited organizations. However, there are only a handful of TAA-accredited organizations that will help Thoroughbreds in the slaughter pipeline. As an entity, TAA does not endorse assisting Thoroughbreds in the slaughter pipeline and has provided no real aid in helping Thoroughbreds in this situation. Shouldn't all Thoroughbreds, especially the most vulnerable and at-risk, be helped as well?

Moreover, the distribution of TAA grants based on their public 990 tax returns clearly shows the bigger organizations are getting the biggest slices of the pie and the smaller organizations are receiving the smallest with no opportunity to grow or expand. Funding for many smaller organizations is grossly insufficient to support the horses they do have.

There aren't enough good organizations to take Thoroughbreds, especially organizations that are willing to take horses who may not be suitable for a second sporting or show career. There simply isn't enough funding for this type of aftercare and no funds for rescue, and by no means are there enough sanctuaries.

As long as the industry ignores the topic of Thoroughbreds who continue to suffer and die in the auction/slaughter pipeline and refuses to step up for the forgotten, the aged or those deemed “useless” this matter will continue to be a black eye on the industry and bruise its image.

As it stands, the general public represents those who do care, those who want change and those who continually step up for the horses truly in need when the industry doesn't. The horses cannot wait for legislation to save them. The lives of horses in the pipeline need immediate assistance. Positive changes could be made but commitment and participation from the industry must be forthcoming.

Thoroughbred aftercare should be for all Thoroughbreds, regardless of where they are, regardless of who they are, regardless of how they are. If sanctuary is needed, let them be in sanctuary. If retraining is in their future, let them have another career. If humane euthanasia is needed, let them pass in peace and with dignity. And most importantly, when they are in trouble and their lives are on the line, for heaven's sake help them!

Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance:

Candice Ensign

Founder, Journey with Equus

Marlene Murray

Co-Founder and President, R.A.C.E. Fund, Inc.

Cindy Morgan-Datrio, Ph.D.

Founder and Director, Thoroughbred Retirement Network of Louisiana

Margaret Ransom

Founder and Executive Director, The Bridge Sanctuary

Christina Sawelsky-Morse 

Thoroughbred Rescue Advocate, The Far Turn–Farm & Sanctuary

Alison Price-Becker

Rescue Advocate

Leah Titerance

Rescue Advocate

The post Open Letter to the Industry: When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Buyers were busy kicking up a dust cloud in the stable yards at the Doncaster complex Aug. 26 as inspections reached a peak ahead of Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, held Aug. 27-28.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will release The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century, a 440-page coffee table book chronicling the rich history of America's iconic racetracks Aug. 30.

After winning the first grade 1 in Kentucky Downs history with Howard Wolowitz last season, trainer Jose D'Angelo is back looking for more success in the lucrative seven-day meet that begins Aug. 28.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll largely remains unchanged following last week's racing action, with Godolphin's Sovereignty maintaining his first-place position following his 10-length romp in the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program announced Aug. 26 the recipients of its two non-competition awards, the T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award, for 2025.

71-year-old riding legend Perry Ouzts will be honored along with track executive Joe Harper, turf writer Steve Andersen, and broadcaster Nick Luck during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 65th Annual Awards Dinner Oct. 29 in Del Mar, Calif.

An overflow field of 12 is ready to contest six furlongs over the Kentucky Downs turf course in the $2 million Kentucky Turf Sprint (G2T) Aug. 30. Unlike last year when Cogburn ran like the clear favorite, this year's edition looks wide open.

BH Interview: Joe Scurto

New York Thoroughbred racing will soon see added betting interests in some races after the New York State Gaming Commission adopted a change to largely eliminate the use of coupled entries.

Far from the quaint countryside track of 15 years ago, Kentucky Downs in Franklin is preparing for its most lucrative and competitive meet yet, one that offers a record $41.7 million in purses over a seven-day period and features 18 stakes races.

On the Aug. 25 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Griffin Johnson discusses his role in marketing the racing industry ahead of Sandman and Curtain Call's starts this weekend. Ted Nicholson previews the Kentucky Downs meet, which begins Aug. 28.