Feed aggregator

CEO Bill Carstanjen of Churchill Downs Inc. will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the Racing & Gaming Conference at Saratoga, which will take place from Aug. 11-13, the organizers said in a Wednesday press release.

The conference will feature 12 panel discussions concerning industry issues. Attendees will also enjoy a reception at the Adelphi Hotel, a networking happy hour, and a day at the races at Saratoga Race Course.

“It's a privilege to join this year's Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga and contribute to the conversation around racing and gaming,” said Carstanjen. “I welcome the opportunity to be part of a dialogue that brings together so many leaders who care deeply about the future of these industries.”

Click here to view the conference agenda.

The post CDI’s Bill Carstanjen Named Keynote For Spa Racing and Gaming Conference appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

FanDuel TV will provide on-site coverage of the entire Del Mar meet, which begins Friday. Opening weekend coverage will feature jockey Joe Talamo's return to the oceanside oval–this time from behind the broadcast desk. Talamo won 364 races at Del Mar and enjoyed a banner season in 2012 when his 12 stakes wins tied him for third all-time for a single summer season. He also won three consecutive editions of the GII Del Mar Mile from 2011-2013.

“Del Mar has always been a special place for me as a rider and now working for FanDuel,” said Talamo. “It's our marquee summer race meet that everyone looks forward to and the vibe there is truly something I wish every horse racing fan could get to experience. Even though I won't be riding there this meet, I'm beyond excited to be there with FanDuel and get to see all the owners, trainers, jockeys, and fans that I've been around for most of my 18-year career.”

Opening day Friday will also mark a transition in the announcer's booth as Larry Collmus, another member of the FanDuel TV broadcast team, takes over from longtime announcer Trevor Denman, who retired earlier this year. FanDuel TV will offer fans a special feature reflecting on Denman's career and looking ahead to the new voice of Del Mar.

FanDuel TV's other experts on-site at Del Mar for opening weekend include Todd Schrupp, Scott Hazelton, Christina Blacker, Matt Bernier, and Simon Bray who will provide exclusive interviews, insights and handicapping selections.

“We are looking forward to another summer where the surf meets the turf,” said FanDuel TV's General Manager of Racing Andrew Moore. “This is one of the most prestigious and anticipated meets of the year and we are looking forward to bringing fans and horseplayers close to the action with full coverage every day.”

The post FanDuel’s Meet-Long Del Mar Coverage Includes Return of Joe Talamo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 16th annual jockeys-versus-horsemen charity basketball game, which benefits the programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, as well as the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, will be played Aug. 6 at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center beginning at 7 p.m.

The jockey team will once again be coached by Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. Assisting him on the sidelines this year will be Taaj Ridley, the head of player development and assistant coach for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League.

The horsemen's team will be coached for the first time by trainer Kenny McPeek and retired New York-based trainer Rick Schosberg. They will succeed Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin, who coached the team over the past 15 years.

This year's special guest player will be former Syracuse University star Ryan Blackwell, who is now the assistant men's basketball coach for Siena College.

Mitch Levites of the New York Racing Association TV department will once again serve as the announcer and provide commentary for the game.

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center is located at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Admission to the game is free.

For information on sponsorship opportunities for the game, visit the New York Chaplaincy website at www.rtcany.org.

The post Saratoga Jockeys Versus Horsemen Charity Basketball Game to be Held Aug. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

To strengthen industry support and impact, Breeders' Cup Limited will donate all royalties from merchandise purchases to Breeders' Cup Charities, as well as host an Annual Day of Giving July 23.

The official outreach program of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Breeders' Cup Charities will lend support to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America in 2025. These charities highlight five key pillars for the organization: Thoroughbred aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, equine research, and other impactful community initiatives.

“This enhancement is just the beginning of a renewed commitment to generate meaningful, sustainable funding for critical causes within our industry,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Through Breeders' Cup Charities and with the support of our partners, fans, and community, we can create positive, lasting change that benefits our sport for generations to come.”

Donors can visit Breederscup.com/charities to make contributions on the July 23 Annual Day of Giving, scheduled for exactly 100 days before the Breeders' Cup. Ken Freirich, a co-owner of GISW Sandman (Tapit), will kick off the day by matching up to $100,000 for donations raised.

“I am excited to continue the partnership with Breeders Cup and thrilled that they are expanding their philanthropic commitment to a diverse array of deserving organizations through Breeders' Cup Charities,” said Freirich. “It is critical that we recognize and support the real 'rock stars' of the industry: the grooms, hot walkers, jockeys, trainers, and everyone who takes care of these amazing equine athletes both during and after their racing careers, as well as the research organizations that help the industry continue to improve and evolve. I hope that my match donation will ignite a philanthropic spark across the world to support these wonderfully important charities.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Expands Charities Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

TDN Social Media Manager Sara Gordon appears on this week's Next-Gen Thoroughbred podcast, available now on Spotify by clicking here, or on Apple podcasts by clicking here.

Next-Gen Thoroughbred is hosted by Tanner Reisman and Timothy Schmidt, and looks to promote young leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and allow them to share their stories of how they got involved in the business in order to inspire the next generation of Thoroughbred workers.

On the episode, called Capturing the Soul of the Sport, Gordon talks about how she got involved with racing, how she made it her profession, and her switch from her home state of Maryland to living in Lexington working for the TDN. Gordon covers important topics like transparency, content selection, and talks about her process of curating content daily across the TDN's multiple platforms.

The post TDN Social Media Manager Sara Gordon on Next-Gen Thoroughbred Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

America's Best Racing takes a look at the field of six that seeks to move forward in the 3-year-old filly division.

Christina Bossinakis, senior editor for the Thoroughbred Daily News and a prominent TV racing personality, has been named the winner of the 2025 Bill Handleman Award, Monmouth Park announced July 15.

The Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale birthed a dancing star July 15 as the first foals by Equinox sold for a combined ¥3,565,000,000 (US$23,937,874, ¥1=US$0.006708) during a record-smashing renewal of the sale.

This week's racing on radio, TV, and streaming schedule compiled by America's Best Racing.

Trainer Phil Serpe is contesting constitutionality of HISA in federal district court.

The top 10 of the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll remains virtually unchanged. But the big mover is Far Bridge, who shot into the No. 10 spot after not getting votes a week ago.

After becoming his first graded stakes and grade 1 winner last fall, Scottish Lassie will aim to give trainer and co-owner Jorge Abreu another milestone of his first graded winner at Saratoga July 19 in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

Mystery surrounds the buyer of the Equinox colt out of Midnight Bisou, who sold for ¥580,000,000 (US$3,890,804 ¥1=US$0.006708) in front of a rapt audience during the foal session of the JRHA Select Sale July 15.

After a short pause in Thoroughbred racing in California after Los Alamitos Race Course concluded its summer afternoon meet July 6, racing returns to the Golden State July 18 when Del Mar opens for its 86th summer season.

Six semifinalists for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected by a panel of judges, representing excellence in Thoroughbred sports literature published in 2024.

On July 15, GoffsGo, a new online platform, will feature the well-related, exciting young producer Ceistiu, in foal to Mehmas, with more entries to be released in the coming days.

After a dominant gate-to-wire win in the Delaware Oaks (G3) last month, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' president and founder Aron Wellman told the BloodHorse Monday podcast that Fondly is targeting the Monmouth Oaks (G3) at Monmouth Park July 26.

On the July 14 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Aron Wellman discusses Journalism's entry in the Haskell Stakes (G1), track announcer Matt Dinerman talks about calling the race, and Patrick Brown previews The Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga.

Tom Lacy, a former jockey, trainer, and the breeder of 2022 July Stakes winner (G2) and young Tally-Ho Stud sire Persian Force, has died at the age of 89, following a brief illness.

The latest attempt to take the racing message to the wider public will see racehorses take center stage in the very heart of Paris, with France Galop taking over part of the Place de la Concorde for the 'Horses in the City' festival.