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St Patrick's Day previously stood in Florida. He was reacquired by Summer Wind Farm, where he was born and raised, after Journeyman Stud closed its stallion operation.

Falling foal crops in Britain and Ireland have been identified for the first time by Tattersalls as a major risk factor for the business in the latest sign of growing concern at the ongoing drop off in horses being bred to race.

The Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, which has produced group 1 winners Asfoora and Private Eye, as well as Hong Kong standout Galaxy Patch in recent years, gets underway March 22 with 359 yearlings set to go through the ring.

Fresh off a career-best win over White Abarrio in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking is set to return as the headline act in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park March 21.

The 129th season of racing returns to Fort Erie Race Track this summer, with Thoroughbred action running from May 31 through Oct. 20.

The 12th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will be hosted by Keeneland June 29-30. The event will be sponsored by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and The Jockey Club.

Flavien Prat's dominant five-win performance at Colonial Downs—highlighted by victories in the Virginia Oaks, Royal New Kent, and Sandy Bottom Stakes earned him Jockey of the Week honors for March 9-15.

Bella Ballerina is making her final start before the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the March 21 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

In an effort to create greater opportunities for Florida-breds, the Florida HBPA will put up $2 million that will go toward both raising purses for Florida-breds and creating new stakes races for horses bred in the Sunshine State.

Owners and trainers with Florida-breds will have their first opportunity to collect a portion of the $2 million Apr. 25 when six state-bred stakes races, each worth $100,000, will be offered on the Gulfstream card.

The HBPA's decision to promote and fund Florida-bred stakes races comes after the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association  announced what it called the “unfortunate failure” to reach an agreement with Gulfstream Park and the Florida HBPA (FHBPA), which led to the cancellation of the traditional Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) series. The FTBOA shifted its focus to what it called a new $1-million Florida Sire Racing Incentive Program for 2026, which provides financial incentives to owners and breeders of FSS-eligible 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

Thanks to the contribution from the Florida HBPA, Florida-bred 2-year-olds will still be able be to compete in lucrative races in the late summer and fall. On Sept. 5, there will be two $150,000 races, one for 2-year-old fillies and the other for 2-year-old colts. On Oct. 3, Florida-bred juveniles will compete in two races, each worth $250,000.

Unlike the Florida Sires Stakes series, which were open only to horses who were by Florida-based sires, the HBPA races will be open to all horses considered Florida-breds. There will be 12 HBPA-funded races under this format.

In addition, after the current “Championship Meet” is over, purses for Florida-bred maidens will see an increase. Races for 2-year-old Florida-bred maidens will go from $53,000 to $65,000. The purses for maidens that are 3-years-old or older will jump from $43,000 to $65,000.

“We're trying to do what we can to make the Florida-breds more prominent,” said Florida HBPA President Tom Cannell. “For the folks with Florida-breds, we want to give them a place to race and to make it worthwhile for them. We hope that will keep some of the folks here rather than having them travel for the summer. Maybe some of the folks from Tampa who generally trek north will have more opportunities to run with us in the summer.”

Cannell said the timing was right to get the message out about the increased purses.

“We want to get the word out because the first 2-year-old sale is in the books, but we still have the OBS April and OBS June sales coming up,” he said. “There will be great opportunities for people who want to pick up Florida-bred 2-year-olds.”

Amid efforts by Gulfstream to have legislation passed that would no longer require it to hold live racing in order to keep its slots operation going, a process known as decoupling, the horsemen and Gulfstream announced in December that a three-year agreement had been reached that guaranteed that racing would continue at the South Florida track through, at least, 2028.

“With that new contract in place, we are trying to fill some holes to make it more attractive for people to race in Florida,” Cannell said.

Cannell said his group is contemplating other options that would help bolster South Florida racing and purses at Gulfstream.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We're going to do everything we can to upgrade the entire racing program purse-wise. We may not be able to get to the levels they have in Kentucky, but we're going to try to be as competitive as we can for people who want to race in this part of the country.”

The post Florida HBPA to Contribute $2 million to Supplement Purses for Florida-breds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The catalogue for the inaugural Inglis Digital USA GI Curlin Florida Derby Sale is now online, offering buyers the chance to participate on the Mar. 28 marquee card of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet. Bidding will be open through Mar. 23, with the first lot closing at 3 p.m. ET. Sellers with horses entered on the Florida Derby day card will be able to supplement them into the auction for full or percentage sales.

Among the entries in the Curlin Florida Derby Sale is Lightning Tones (Tonalist), who is being pointed for the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard. The two-time winner of the Sunshine Classic Stakes is consigned by Paramount Sales and is available for inspection out of the barn of owner/trainer Jose Castro at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Also on offer at the digital sale is a 49% stake in allowance winner Ababajoni (Neolithic), who will aim for the Cutler Bay

Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard after going gate-to-wire to win a Gulfstream Park turf allowance Mar. 6. Ababajoni is offered by owner/trainer Rohan Crichton and is available for inspection in Crichton's barn at Gulfstream Park.

Also in the catalogue is Mar. 14 Hutcheson Stakes winner Fulmine (Spun to Run) and Quereme Pass (Arg) (Distinctiv Passion), who was second in the GIII San Simeon Stakes that same day. Fulmine is consigned by owner Starry Night Racing and may be inspected at the Palm Meadows barn of trainer J. Kent Sweezey, while Quereme Pass is offered by trainer Jose D'Angelo, agent, and is available for inspection at Palm Meadows.

Rounding out the racing prospects in the sale is the 3-year-old filly La Chismosa (Win Win Win), who has won three of her past four starts. Offered by owner Paula Capestro Bloodstock, La Chismosa may be inspected at Tampa Bay Downs.

“This boutique sale offers quality with every horse,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “You have the potential opportunity to be an owner on GI Florida Derby day. How special is that?”

All ownership changes for horses entered on the Florida Derby card can be made by race day with the assistance of Gulfstream Park. The horse must stay in the race with the trainer who entered them, but the new owner is free to choose their own trainer afterward. Buyers of horses entered in upcoming races must already have or obtain a valid Florida Racing License prior to the race.

Interested parties must register for an account on the Inglis Digital USA website, www.inglisdigitalusa.com, and request a bidding limit in order to place bids.

The post Bidding Open for Inglis Digital USA Curlin Florida Derby Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A Kentucky Derby prep race could be next for Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), who overcame an impossible trip to win on debut with 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors for Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Mar. 7.

“We're gonna leave California with him,” owner Bill Childs said after reloading at last week's OBS March sale. “There are more opportunities for him outside of California. Bob will still have him. We want to take dead aim on what we're doing being something worthwhile. We're gonna try to target something that won't be easy, but we feel like we have one that fits that plan.”

Nothing went according to plan for Crude Velocity first time out.

Overlooked at odds of 10-1, the bay was off to a slow start from his rail draw and trailed the field of nine shortly after the break in a very deep 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight.

He rushed up and raced under a tight hold beneath Florent Geroux just behind the leaders in sixth through an opening quarter in :22.23. Steadied in traffic, Crude Velocity dropped back sharply and was going the wrong way around the far turn. He wasn't done yet though.

He dialed it back up approaching the quarter pole, was guided out into the clear in the stretch and came storming home in a field-best :30.64 to nail the GII Wood Memorial S.-bound Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) by a neck. Crude Velocity earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

#1 CRUDE VELOCITY ($23.00) and @flothejock ran down Civil Liberty to win R6 at @SantaAnitaPark. This was the maiden win for the three-year-old Beau Liam (@AirdrieStud) colt. Bob Baffert trains. pic.twitter.com/wf1h8n98SZ

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 7, 2026

“That was crazy, wasn't it? Just absolutely wild,” Childs said. “We've always thought he was that kind of horse, but thinking it and knowing it is two different things. We were just thrilled. It was just really something. That was a hell of a race.”

Childs added, “He showed so much talent. We knew going in he was a damn fast horse.”

Hailing from the first crop of Beau Liam, Crude Velocity brought $250,000 from Childs's CSLR Racing Partners after breezing a quarter in :20 1/5 at last year's June 2-Year-Old in Training and Horses of Racing Age sale. He was previously a $12,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling and a $3,000 Fasig-Tipton December Digital graduate.

Crude Velocity was produced by the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Sweetnsour Kitty, just a $2,000 purchase by breeder La Ciega at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February sale.

“He had a little bit of an injury when he was a weanling and it was a question mark as to how much it was gonna effect him,” Childs said.

“We bought him knowing that, but we thought that he was so fast and so good that we were willing to take that risk. It was a little bit of a… It's hard to explain, but it was down in his ankle and happened when he was three months old. Our vet said, 'It's so old, if he can do what he's doing right now, I'd say take the risk.'”

Previously involved in ownership in the 1980s, Childs returned joined by his son Alex to launch CSLR Racing in 2022.

Bill Childs | Photos by Z

The operation has hit the ground running with standouts such as 2025 GI Frizette S. winner Iron Orchard (Authentic) (Editor's Note: Iron Orchard brought $2.5 million from KatieRich Farms at last year's Fasig-Tipton Mid-October Digital sale); 2025 GI Malibu S. runner-up Midland Money (Shancelot); and graded winners Cash Call (McKinzie), Pilot Commander (Justify) and Silent Law (Tiz the Law).

The Ft. Worth, Texas-based businessman and developer spent $1.15 million on a trio of 2-year-old colts, all by freshmen sires, at OBS March.

Teaming up with Jimmy Gladwell, he purchased: Hip 135, a Jackie's Warrior colt bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman for $500,000 (:9 4/5); Hip 748, a colt by Drain the Clock o/o a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue for $350,000 (:20 1/5); and Hip 419, an Olympiad colt o/o a daughter of GISW Game Face for $300,000 (:9 4/5). Baffert will train the Drain the Clock colt. The other two are heading to Danny Gargan.

“Everything we bought we felt like had talent,” Childs said. “Hell, it's always a gamble, you never know, but we liked those and we'll give 'em a shot.”

The post ‘Childs’ Play: Bright Future for Dramatic Debut Winner Crude Velocity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 03/17/2026
Licensee: Pedro Nazario, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on March 18, 2026; 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.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Gonzalo, who won at Laurel Park on 1/9//26.

Dates: 03/13/2026
Licensee: Michael P Vino, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on March 14, 2026; 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.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Samantha's Capo, who finished second at Park Racing on 1/12/26.

Dates: 03/12/2026
Licensee: Nestor Cascallares, 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 Dexamethasone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Kiss Me For Luck, who finished second at Tampa Bay on 1/25/26.

Dates: 03/11/2026
Licensee: Jeff Hudson, 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 Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Go Water, who finished fourth at Zia Park on 12/02/24.

Dates: 03/11/2026
Licensee: Samuel Calvario, 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-all controlled substances (Class C)-in a sample taken from Triple Slipper, who won at Pleasanton on 12/13/24.

Pending ADMC Violations

03/17/2026, Isidro Castro, trainer: Pending violation of Rule 3214 (a), possession of the banned substances Glaucine and Testosterone for an event dated on 8/19/25.

03/16/2026, Melton Wilson, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Trump's Diamonds on 2/11/26.

03/13/2026, Gary Cross, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Gesara on 2/9/26.

03/13/2026, Mario R. Lopez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Unicycle, who won at Tampa Bay on 2/5/26.

03/13/2026, Daniel Damen, trainer: Pending medication violation of Rule 3313, concerning the “Use or Attempted Use” of Camphor-a class C controlled substance-on Tony B “during the Race Period” on 12/31/25.

03/13/2026, Karyn Wittek, trainer: Pending medication violation of Rule 3313, concerning the “Use or Attempted Use” of Camphor-a class C controlled substance-on No Manches “during the Race Period” on 12/20/25.

03/12/2026, Pedro Nazario, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Gonzalo, who won at Laurel Park on 1/9/26.

03/11/2026, Kathleen O'Connell, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Altrenogest-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Louie the Sun King, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 1/1/26.

03/11/2026, Joseph F. Orseno, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Horsepower, who finished second at Turfway Park on 12/21/25.

Crop Violations

Aqueduct
Gokhan Kocakaya – violation date March 13; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Gulfstream Park
Tyler Gaffalione – violation date March 15; $750 fine, three-day suspension
Pietro Moran – violation date March 15; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Mahoning Valley
Laureano Sosa – violation date March 17; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Parx Racing
Noel David Herman – violation date March 13; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Penn National
Carlos E. Lopez – violation date March 13; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Santa Anita
Kent Desormeaux – violation date March 15; $750 fine, three-day suspension

Turfway Park
Orlando Bocachica – violation date March 13; $500 fine, four-day suspension

The post Weekly National Rulings for Mar. 12 -18 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 2026 race dates for four Ontario racetracks–Woodbine Racetrack, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Fort Erie Race Track and Ajax Downs–have been approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), it was announced Wednesday.

The number of racing days per track:

 

Woodbine Racetrack (Thoroughbred) – 128

 

Woodbine Mohawk Park (Standardbred) – 222 (for all of 2026 counting dates already allocated from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31, 2026.

 

Fort Erie Race Track (Thoroughbred) – 34

 

Ajax Downs (Quarter Horse) – 22

 

The new dates begin on Apr. 1, 2026, and extend through Mar. 31, 2027, to line up with the 2026-27 fiscal year.

A group of industry experts comprised of the AGCO, OLG, Ontario Racing, horsepeople groups and racetracks are currently finalizing the 2026 race dates for the province's other 11 tracks: Clinton Raceway, Dresden Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Hiawatha Horse Park, Kawartha Downs, Leamington Raceway, The Raceway at Western Fair District and Rideau Carleton Raceway. Those dates will be released as soon as possible.

Race dates through Mar. 31, 2026, were previously allocated for all 15 Ontario tracks.

The Ontario horse racing industry has long-term funding from the Province of Ontario. The Long-Term Funding Agreement signed in 2019 provides up to $120 million annually to the industry through 2038 via the OLG through Ontario Racing.

The post Race Dates for Four Ontario Tracks Approved by AGCO and OLG appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 12th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will be hosted by Keeneland on Monday, June 29, from 8:30 – 5:00, and Tuesday, June 30, from 8:30 – 12:00, according to a Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation release.

Both days of the event will be free and open to the public in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion and will be livestreamed. Jessica Paquette, track announcer at Parx Racing, will be the emcee.

Topics for the summit include a presentation by Dr. Tim Parkin on the latest statistics from the Equine Injury Database, jockey scale of weights, vet scratches, the racehorse and the balanced hoof, equine surgeries in the developing horses before the racetrack, track surfaces, necropsy and mortality review, aftercare programs, and other issues affecting horse safety.

The session on Tuesday morning will focus on diagnostic equipment and technology being utilized to assist in racing safety. The event will be sponsored by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and The Jockey Club.

The full program and list of speakers will be announced soon.

“This year marks 20 years since the first Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, a fact I am immensely proud of. These events showcase the progress our industry executes each year while also shedding light on areas of safety and welfare where our continued vigilance remains essential,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson and deputy executive director of The Jockey Club. “Keeneland has been and continues to be a great partner for both The Jockey Club and Grayson. We can't thank them enough for hosting this event again in 2026.”

“These summits have consistently provided meaningful value to our industry, and Keeneland is pleased to host once again this year,” said Shannon Arvin, president and CEO of Keeneland. “Advancing the safety and welfare of both our equine and human athletes remains central to our mission, and it is a commitment that we are proud to uphold.”

Previous editions of the summit can be viewed on Grayson's YouTube page and have received nearly 20,000 views.

Among the major accomplishments that have evolved from the previous summits are the Equine Injury Database, the Jockey Injury Database and the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory.

Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

The post Keeneland to Host Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Scratch It and La Ville Lumiere will clash in the Bourbonette Oaks, while Mercante faces challengers in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park.

Chip Honcho gets a stamina test in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) March 21 at Fair Grounds when he battles Emerging Market, Golden Tempo, Universe, and five other 3-year-olds.

Stormy Atlantic sired 112 black-type winners and nine champions from 23 crops of racing age.

The season begins with 18 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from May 2–June 7, along with 2 additional Thoroughbred-only race days, July 10–11, when the Iowa Festival of Racing is scheduled.

Kinnon LaRose, 28, will take over as head trainer of Tom Amoss' racing stable at the beginning of the Keeneland spring meet. LaRose has been an assistant trainer for Amoss for six years. Amoss will remain involved in the stable.

A schedule of this week's racing programs on radio and television, as compiled by America's Best Racing.