Feed aggregator

Due to extreme heat conditions in the area, Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa, has moved the July 28 race card to July 31 with a scheduled post time of 6 p.m. CT.

Study shows proposed tax increases on British betting would lead to a £330 million revenue hit to the industry in the first five years, and 2,752 jobs at risk in the first year alone.

Formidable Man has never lost at Del Mar, site of this year's Breeders' Cup, and he added the Eddie Read Stakes in the second weekend of the track's summer meeting.

Boom Boom Bell, a 2-year-old filly, became the first winner for the late grade 1-winning Combatant when she won the first race at Hawthorne Race Course July 27.

The last time Fierceness and Sierra Leone raced against each other it was for all the marbles.

La Mehana may be considered a grizzled veteran at age 6, but her 8 3/4-length domination of the $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 27 indicated she may just be reaching her best.

As much as the fields for the both the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Pacific Classic (G1) came into a sharper focus July 26, the connections of Journalism say it will be "a few more weeks" before plans for the 3-year-old are finalized.

Al Pike, a veteran horseman who was a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor in Texas and on the national scene, passed away July 26 at the age of 70 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Marc Holliday and Bret Jones have been elected as stewards, according to a Jockey Club release Monday. Additionally, William M. Lear Jr. was reelected Secretary.

The remaining stewards are Stuart S. Janney III (chair), Ian D. Highet (treasurer), William S. Farish Jr. (vice chair), Louis A. Cella, Everett Dobson, Gary Fenton, Terry Finley, David O'Farrell, and Vincent Viola.

Holliday, a member of The Jockey Club since 2022, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in December 2021. In his capacity as chairman, Holliday oversees the design and development of the new Belmont Park scheduled to open in 2026. Appointed to the NYRA board in 2014, Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of SL Green Realty Corp, which is New York City's largest owner of office properties. An owner and breeder, Holliday operates Blue Devil Racing Stable.

Jones, a member of The Jockey Club since 2023, is the president of Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky. A 2004 graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee) and an alumnus of the Irish National Stud Breeding Course, he has been an official member of the Airdrie Stud team since 2006. Jones has served on the Breeders' Cup board of directors since 2011 and was recently named to the board of directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. He also sits on the Keeneland Advisory Board as well as the board of trustees for the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Foundation. He formerly served as a commissioner on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2016 to 2020.

 

The post Marc Holliday, Bret Jones Appointed Stewards of The Jockey Club appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Dubbed a 'celly' in hockey parlance–short for the celebration that comes after a goal–the Thoroughbred version takes place in the winner's circle where power plays and fist pumps are also welcome.

For those investors looking to ride the nearest glass elevator by punching the button that reads 'Up and Out', logging on the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform is one way to pursue a creditable Horse of Racing Age on the make.

Fasig-Tipton's July auction, which just wrapped online a week ago, once again offered potential owners the chance to win now and not wait till later. A racing prospect who was the second-highest return during the event is a case in point.

Four-year-old Malarchuk (Nyquist)–named after Clint Malarchuk, the NHL goalie who survived having his carotid artery severed during a game in 1989–was offered by owners Richard Schermerhorn, Jeff Drown and Michael J. Ryan. Trained and consigned by Chad Brown, the colt cleared a pair of optional claimers at Saratoga June 6 and July 12. It was Reddam Racing and ERJ Racing who paired to win the war of clicks by going to $525,000.

The man behind ERJ and doing the bidding online as the seconds ticked down on Malarchuk was professional hockey player & Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson.

He said he has found Fasig-Tipton's platform to be incredibly easy to use. Since his partner Paul Reddam had not delved too much into the format it was Johnson who took the lead when it came to upping the ante.

Nyquist | Sarah Andrew

“It's a great platform Fasig-Tipton has built and what they do is hand bidders everything they need to make informed decisions because it is all there in front of you,” said Johnson. “Paul and I have partnered on some 2-year-olds in the past, but we just did not have much in the way of luck, so when Malarchuk came up we were very interested especially since he is by Nyquist (by Uncle Mo).”

Of course, the NHL has served as an inspiration for Reddam before when he named his GI Kentucky Derby winner after a Detroit 'Hockeytown' star. The colt began his racing career by rattling off eight wins in a row which was capped by the score under the Twin Spires in 2016. Now, Nyquist stands at Darley America.

“Nyquist's ability has translated very well to his offspring,” the NHL defenseman said. “As a sire you are seeing versatile runners have success like Gosger, Randomized and Nysos, so we knew that Malarchuk being on the improve was something we wanted to get in on. His figures are strong and he's from a deep family.”

According to Johnson, Fasig-Tipton's digital platform countdown mirrors the clock in a hockey game with overtime as a prospect. The NHL star added that he is used to the challenges of managing time.

“You have to be ready to shoot out a bid when it gets tight after multiple days of watching,” he said. “I actually entered $510,000, but the increments go up when you are over half a million by $25,000, so Paul was teasing me that I actually owe him $15,000. When Malarchuk wins at Del Mar, I will make sure to pay him back.”

Colorado Avalache's star Erik Johnson hoists the Stanley Cup at Del Mar in 2022 | Benoit

Their purchase has left Chad Brown's base upstate and is already in the capable California hands of new trainer Michael McCarthy. Johnson says that the plan is point to the GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 30 where Malarchuk could potentially meet new stablemate Journalism (Curlin) and also 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos in what is tabbed as a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

Those big names do not phase Johnson one bit.

“In any sport you want to beat the best and it's shaping up to be a great race with Journalism and Nysos potentially being in there,” Johnson said. “It's a privilege to be able to compete against such quality horses. We are excited to see how our new acquisition will stack up.”

Reddam and ERJ won the war of clicks for Malarchuk during the Fasig-Tipton's July Digital Sale and now they are after an even bigger 'celly' with a month to go until the Pacific Classic. A fist pump in that winner's circle would definitely be in order.

The post Power Play: Fasig-Tipton Digital Buy Malarchuk After ‘Celly’ Out West appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

'TDN Rising Star' Dazzle d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) sustained a catastrophic training injury Monday morning, and had to be euthanized, trainer Tom Amoss announced via X.

According to the tweet, the colt received immediate attention and was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital about a mile from Saratoga, but due to the severity of the injury had to be humanely euthanized to prevent further suffering.

The son of Bolt d'Oro earned the nod from the TDN after a sterling debut at Churchill Downs June 29 when he took a field gate to wire and completed his six-furlong journey just .04 slower than Romeo (Honor A.P.) did when he won the Listed Bashford Manor in stakes-record time later on the same card. Dazzle d'Oro had been entered for Saturday's GII Saratoga Special Stakes.

“I want to thank the track staff, the veterinarians, and the hospital staff for the immediate care and attention Dazzle received,” Amoss said in the post. “Everyone in our barn feels a deep loss & our thoughts and prayers are with the owners and all who worked with him.”

The post ‘Rising Star’ Dazzle d’Oro Euthanized after Catastrophic Training Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The husband-and-wife team of Carlos Estrada and Sarah Estrada-Brok have been skillfully developing C & S Thoroughbreds into thriving pinhooking venture over the past eight years. Steadily picking up steam with a each carefully-crafted consignment, the couple makes only their second appearance at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, which will be held in Saratoga Springs Aug. 4-5.

After offering their very first consignment in 2017, they ventured out on their own thereafter, and in their initial season selling 2-year-olds under the Sterling Thoroughbreds banner in 2021, they hit pay dirt with a Brody's Cause colt–a $6,000 yearling purchase–for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale.

The operation's yearling class has also steadily picked up steam over the course of the last five years, highlighted by a yearling colt by Justify out of Mahkama (Bernardini) who went to BBA Ireland for $250,000 at the venue last year. The duo also sold a Charlatan colt out of Brandons Danger (Into Mischief) for the same price following the sale.

“Last year, we had our first consignment in Saratoga, and this year, we are going back with what I think is a better group,” affirmed Carlos Estrada. “I think this group is going to turn out to be very nice.”

Hoping to raise the bar in Saratoga next month, C & S Thoroughbreds will provide a trio of yearlings in its first offering at the select venue. All the yearlings are made up of limited partnerships, that the Estradas also have a stake in.

Offering some intrigue to this maiden voyage is Hip 82, a filly by Cyberknife, who is represented by his first crop of yearlings in 2025. Bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, the New York-bred filly already made the headlines when selling for a sale-topping $230,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Mixed Sale last October. A March 28 foal, the dark bay is a half-sister to GIII Summertime Oaks winner Cash Call (McKinzie) and SW and GSP Strategic Dreams (Archarcharch). Her winning dam D'fashion (D'wildcat) is a half-sister to GSW and GISP Express Tour (Tour d'Or).

Trained by Bob Baffert, CSLR Racing's Cash Call will be making her next start in Saratoga's GI Test Stakes.

“She is fancy,” said Sarah Estrada-Brok. “She is beautiful and correct and keeps improving. She's probably one of the best Cyberknife's we've seen.”

Carlos Estrada added, “She's a lovely filly that anyone would love to have in the barn. She's a forward filly.”

Asked if it was always the plan to bring the New York-bred filly back to sell in Saratoga, Estrada said,  “We bought her with the idea of going back to the [select] sale with her.”

Also on the first day of selling, the consignment is represented by a colt by Olympiad, offered as Hip 41. Winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, Olympiad is also represented by his first crop of yearlings in 2025.

C & S Thoroughbreds offer a half-sister by Cyberknife to GIII Summertime Oaks winner Cash Call (pictured) at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale | BENOIT

An Apr. 11 foal, the Kentucky-bred is out of SP Autonomous (Quality Road), who descends from the family of Grade I winners Monba, Secret Hello and Silent Account, the second dam of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Plum Pretty. Bred by Stoneriggs Farm, the colt was purchased for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky last February.

“He is a very nice colt, very athletic. We went to [the February [sale] saying we needed a Saratoga [caliber] colt, and he was one,” said Estrada.

Selling on the second day, Hip 198, a filly by newcomer Golden Pal, rounds out the Saratoga C & S Thoroughbreds draft.

Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Springs Farm, the $92,000 Keeneland November weanling is the second foal out of the Orb mare Seeking Spirits, a half-sister to Grade III scorer Kirby's Penny (Macho Uno). This represents the extended family of GSW and graded producer Degenerate Gal.

“Like the stallion, she has a lot of substance to her,” Estrada added. “Everyone is loving the Uncle Mo-line stallions like Yaupon and Golden Pal would not be an exception.”

According to Estrada-Brok, the consignors plan to maintain 10-15 yearlings per season and they plan to focus their hands-on operation on quality over quantity.

The couple purchased their farm, an 18-acre tract of land in Georgetown, Kentucky, three years ago.

“It's the perfect size for us, because we try to keep it small,” she said. “We try to get better quality every year. We'd like to stay small so we can focus on them, because it's mostly just us. We want to represent the best horses that we can.”

The consignors sold several yearlings at Fasig-Tipton this past July, and they expect to sell a handful, under the banner of a different consignor, at Keeneland in September. C & S Thoroughbreds will also sell a few at Fasig-Tipton in October.

Asked if the couple might consider expanding the size of their operation in the future, Estrada-Brok replied, “We don't want to get any bigger. Right now, we are happy where we are at. It's manageable. We have three kids. We don't just want to focus on horses, we want to focus on our kids as well. At that number, we can do everything ourselves.”

The post C & S Thoroughbreds Hoping for the Next Catalog Cover Horse in Return to Fasig-Tipton Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Soldier N Diplomat didn’t deliver a debut quite as impressive as his sire, but St. Elias’ Vinnie Viola nonetheless has high hopes for the 2-year-old, who won by a neck at Saratoga Race Course July 26. He will likely head next to graded stakes.

Due to forecasted extreme heat, Prairie Meadows will move July 27's first post from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT and the July 28 race card to July 31 with post time to be determined.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported all was well with Sovereignty following his July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) victory. Mark Casse could consider running Sandman on grass in his next start after finishing last of five Saturday.

Al Pike, a veteran horseman who was a perennial leading 2-year-old consignor in Texas and on the national scene, passed away July 26 at the age of 70 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Old Friends at Cabin Creek announced July 27 the arrival of dual grade 1-winning New York-bred Diversify, who relocates to New York after initially retiring to Old Friends’ Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Ky. upon his retirement from racing in 2019.

Canterbury Park racing officials will delay the start of the July 27 racing program to 6 p.m. CT due to a projected excessive heat index early in the afternoon. The seven-race program was originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Baoma Corp's Nysos ended trainer Bob Baffert's string of bad luck with beaten favorites in the July 26 San Diego Handicap (G2), delivering another scintillating winning performance.

Mia Familia Racing Stable's Lovesick Blues shocked some of the best sprinters on the West Coast and beyond, winning the $402,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 26 at Del Mar.