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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 (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority has issued to Churchill Downs Incorporated four notices for non-payment of its 2025 fees related to federal regulatory oversight of its Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, Ellis Park and Presque Isle Downs racetracks.

The matter will go before a panel of three HISA board members–Joe De Francis, Bill Thomason, and Terri Mazur–on March 11.

This is separate from pending litigation between the two parties for Churchill Downs's refusal to pay HISA's assessed fees for 2023 and 2024.

These are the years HISA's assessment model was calculated through a formula based on racing starts and purses. Last year, HISA started using a new assessment formula based on projected number of starts only.

In its litigation with HISA, Churchill Downs challenges the legality of the original assessment formula, and instead contends it owes the federal body an amount based solely on starts. Churchill Downs submitted payments to HISA for 2023 and 2024 using their own formula, leaving an alleged unpaid deficit of around $1.7 million.

The corporation has so far paid nothing for 2025, according to the notices the HISA Authority issued to Churchill Downs on Feb. 18.

The amounts that HISA seeks from Churchill Downs for its unpaid 2025 assessments are based on the original formula (calculated using starts and purses) for Turfway Park, Elis Park and Presque Isle Downs. For Churchill Downs, the HISA Authority has used a number based purely on starts.

The amounts (including accrued interest) HISA requests for each track are as follows: Churchill Downs, $2.5 million; Turfway Park, $1.49 million; Presque Isle Downs, $761k; and Ellis Park, $465k.

According to the notices, the HISA Authority asks the board panel to require Churchill Downs to pay these amounts within ten days of the board's order.

If not, Churchill Downs would be prohibited from conducting horseracing under HISA's federal regulatory oversight, meaning it wouldn't be allowed to simulcast its races outside of the state (if indeed it carried on with its operations).

See more on the story here.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 02/17/2026
Licensee: Bruno Tessore, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 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 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Tom S, who finished second at Laurel Park on 10/19/25.

Dates: 02/16/2026
Licensee: Anna Meah, trainer
Penalty:7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 17, 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 Gabapentin–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Showers, who won at Churchill Downs on 11/6/25.

Dates: 02/11/2026
Licensee: Darien Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance).
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Jimmy's Kid on 1/3/26.

Pending ADMC Violations
02/16/2026, Eric Reed, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sexarito on 1/17/26.

02/16/2026, Dallas Stewart, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Tramadol–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Have Faith on 11/20/25.

2/16/2026, Linda Rice, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methylprednisolone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sweet Rhythm, who is reported by Equibase to have been euthanized after sustaining a severe injury to her left front leg mid-race in the fifth at Aqueduct on 11/8/25.

02/13/2026, Jose Puentes, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Whisky My God on 1/14/26.

02/13/2026, William E. Merch, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Protest, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/14/26.

02/13/2026, Angela Maria Aquinano, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Golf Drama, who won at Los Alamitos on 1/11/26.

02/13/2026, Benjamin Feliciano, Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Plenty on Tap, who finished second at Laurel Park on 1/10/26.

Crop Violations
Aqueduct
Sahin Civaci – violation date February 16; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Mahoning Valley
Rocco Bowen – violation date February 14; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Oaklawn Park
Francisco Arrieta – violation date February 15; $250 fine, one-day suspension
David Cabrera – violation date February 14; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Emmanuel Esquivel – violation date February 14; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Rafael Bejerano – violation date February 13; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Santa Anita
Kyle Frey – violation date February 14; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Turf Paradise
Cerapio Figueroa – violation date February 12; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Turfway Park
Jose Ramos Gutierrez – violation date February 13; $500 fine, two-day suspension

The post Weekly Rulings: Feb. 12-18; Churchill Faces HISA Panel Hearing For Non-Payment Of 2025 Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It was a big weekend for trainer Brendan Walsh, whose Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) was a game winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. A half-sister to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), the 2023 GI Kentucky Oaks winner, who was also trained by Walsh, the trainer is hoping to pull off what would be a unique daily double–winning the Oaks twice within four years with half-siblings.

To discuss the Rachel Alexandra win, his take on Bella Ballerina and what he has planned on the way to the Oaks, Walsh joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

It was not an easy victory for Bella Ballerina, who was passed in the stretch by Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution), but battled back in deep stretch to win by a half-length under Tyler Gaffalione.

“I thought it was a very game performance,” Walsh said. “When she was coming down the stretch, it looked like she was beaten. I thought to myself, 'You know, she's run well. We've got what we needed to get out of it. She'll improve a ton the next time she starts back up again.' I thought, 'Well, OK, we'll take that.' But yes, it was just a game performance on her part. It's the first time she's ever been headed.”

The similarities between Pretty Mischievous and Bella Ballerina go beyond the fact that they are half-sisters, as both won the Rachel Alexandra. Bella Ballerina will start next in the March 21 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Pretty Mischievous was second in that race before going on to win the Kentucky Oaks.

“(Bella Ballerina) was a little trickier when she was a baby,” Walsh said. “She had her own ideas about certain things. But all credit goes to the team. They got her straightened out. We worked on her last year. She was just a little bit of a play girl at the time. She'd try and get up to a few little tricks, but nothing horrible.”

Walsh liked what he saw Saturday.

“Tyler came in and he worked her a bunch of times last year and more this year,” he said. “He got to know her. She behaved very well on Saturday. She behaved very well before the race. She behaved very well in the race, and I think that had a lot to do with Tyler. There are a lot of similarities between the two horses. (Bella Ballerina) is getting stronger and, physically, she looks more like Pretty Mischievous did at this point. The good ones, they all have that class, and she seems to have an abundance of it. She's got a very good mind, and I think that's going to be super important going forward.”

 

Walsh has come a long way from the young man who began his career with the powerful Godolphin team galloping horses.

“It's unbelievable,” he said. “It's like the stuff you dream of. I spent years in Dubai and around all those good horses that they had at Al Quoz. Did I ever think I was going to actually be in a position where I would be training for them? Absolutely not. It is a dream come true. It's unbelievable to have access to that standard of a horse every year and to get to work with these horses and these people. They're just the most fantastic people to work with. You wake up in the morning and you pinch yourself. Believe me, I'm under no illusions. It's a privileged position and it's great to be there.”

Walsh also spoke of his mentor in the U.S., trainer Eddie Kenneally. Walsh served as his assistant before going out on his own in 2012.

“Learning to train in the U.S., it was a huge adjustment,” he said. “It's a completely different ball game. You're dealing with a different type of horse. Dubai was very turf-orientated. That was one thing with Eddie. I really got to learn how to get down to the nitty gritty of it with him. Even when riding horses, dirt horses are different than grass horses. Turf horses have this turn of foot, and when you work them you see that they have a serious turn of foot. Dirt horses tend to be more constant. They cruise along, cruise along, cruise along. It's just completely different, and that's just to name a couple of things. There are thousands of other different angles when you start training over here. Eddie taught me so much. He's a fantastic trainer.”

The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was Grande (Curlin), who earned a 105 Beyer figure when winning a Feb. 14 allowance race at Gulfstream. It was his first start since he finished second in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the fast sire Nashville.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley, and Zoe Cadman discussed the solid performance from Forever Young (Jpn) (Reel Steel {Jpn}) in the $20 million Saudi Cup and the terrific rail-skimming ride he got from jockey Ryusei Sakai. The team also discussed the wins in Saudi Arabia by the American-based sprinters Imagination (Into Mischief) and Reef Runner (The Big Beast). Recapping the rest of the weekend's action, the win by Paladin (Gun Runner) in the Risen Star Stakes was given high marks by the panel.

Click here to listen to the podcast or click here to watch.

The post Brendan Walsh Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

First post time on Fridays at Del Mar this summer will be 2 p.m. PT, two hours earlier than the day's 4 p.m. start time in recent years, and in line with first post times the rest of the week. In announcing the change Wednesday, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club said it was made to provide fans, horsemen and women, and industry partners with a streamlined schedule.

Del Mar's 2026 summer meet begins July 17 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Closing weekend–Sept. 5 through 7–will be the only deviation from the 2 p.m. post time, with races kicking off at 1:30 p.m. each day.

The post Earlier Friday Post Times at Del Mar this Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 167th running of the King's Plate will be held Aug. 15 at Woodbine Racetrack, Woodbine Entertainment announced Wednesday. The first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the King's Plate is North America's oldest continuously run stakes race and will carry a purse of $1 million this year.

Tickets for the King's Plate will go on sale Mar. 6. More event information, including ticket types, will be available at KingsPlate.com the week tickets go on sale.

The post King’s Plate Set for August 15 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Belmont Park membership program, a new hospitality offering, will be available to fans when the new Belmont Park opens later this year, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. Created to provide guests with an elevated race day experience, the membership combines the traditional ambience of box seats with a variety of benefits and amenities, including access to The Overlook, complimentary food and beverage options, preferred parking, priority entrances and personalized concierge services.

Located on Belmont's second floor, The Overlook is a year-round dining and social space providing expansive sightlines of the finish line and paddock area, and a centralized bar with lounge seating.

Belmont Park membership is included with the purchase of annual reserved box seating, which are available in various sizes and locations to accommodate parties of four or more.

For additional information on the currently available inventory of Belmont Park hospitality options, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/.

The post NYRA Launches Belmont Park Membership Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

This week's rankings are topped by the fastest Beyer for any female thus far in 2026.

5) PASSAGE EAST, LRL, 2-14, Barbara Fritchie S., 7f, VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure: 92
(f, 4, Audible–Salten Sapity, by Congrats)
O-Larry Rabold; B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky); T-Hugh McMahon; J-Sheldon Russell.
Trainer Hugh McMahon has won 1,227 races, but few could have given him more excitement than Passage East's gritty nostril victory after a spirited battle against odds-on favorite Takethemoneyhoney. McMahon claimed the filly for $30k out of her second lifetime start, and after a trio of runner-up maiden finishes, she now has taken eight of nine, with this being her first stakes score. The $20,000 Fasig-Tipton May 2yo wants to win.

4) MAJESTIC OOPS, OP, 2-13, American Beauty S., 6f, VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure: 92
(m, 6, Majestic Harbor–Miss Oops, by Olmodavor)
O-Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable and Sheila Regan; B-William and Sandy Dory, and Gary and Janet Kropp (Ca); T-Dan Ward. J-Francisco Arrieta.
Her GI Breeders' Cup Distaff start may have been overly ambitious, but coming back to start 2026 in an ungraded stakes was taking an edge. Returning to the scene of her first stakes score last April, she completely dominated a decent Oaklawn field and the Grade I-placed mare has more lucrative purses squarely in her sights, whether sprinting or going a little farther.

3) EXPENSIVE QUEEN, FG, 2-14, Albert M. Stall Memorial S., 1 1/16mT, VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure: 93
(m, 5, Lope de Vega {Ire}–Witches Brew {Ire}, by Duke of Marmalade {Ire})
O-Farfellow Farms; B-Fermoir (Ire); T-Brendan Walsh; J-Luis Saez.
She didn't set the world on fire in England, so it's unclear how expensive the pricetag was when Paris, Ky.-based Farfellow Farms bought her from previous owner Jaber Abdullah, but whatever they paid, she's worth more now. The Irish-bred mare is now three-for-four in the U.S. and her decisive win in the Stall Memorial was her first in a stakes. Her only loss on these shores was a fourth in the GI Gamely last May, followed by “issues” that kept her sidelined for almost eight months and from which she has clearly recovered nicely.

2) NIC'S STYLE, GP-10, 2-15, Alw, 6 1/2f, VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure: 98 (2nd)
(m, 6, Uncaptured–Sense When, by Street Sense)
O-Rousseau Racing; B-D'Oyen Thoroughbreds (Fl); T-Bill Mott; J-John Velazquez.
The mare Mott once referred to as a “win machine” after seven victories in her first eight starts came into this race off a surprising three-race losing streak perhaps foreshadowed by slightly declining figures. But even though she couldn't quite match strides with the brilliant performance of Eclatant (below), she bounced back to match her career-best Beyer.

1) ECLATANT, GP-10, 2-15, Alw, 6 1/2f, VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure: 104
(f, 4, Into Mischief–Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy)
O/B-Stonestreet Stables/Thoroughbred Holdings (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Javier Castellano.
Eclatant has been a curious case. Sure, she became a Grade III winner in the Forward Gal a year ago, but even so, her afternoons never lived up to her mornings–until now. Cox picked a nice allowance spot for her comeback from 8+ months on the bench, and she erupted with a 104 Beyer that marked a 23-point figure top. Whether this becomes her new normal is a legitimate question, but perhaps that latent talent has been unlocked.

The post Five Fleet Fillies of the Week: Feb. 9-15 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Randy Winick, trainer of the 1993 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Brocco, died Feb. 15 at age 76. He trained many stakes winners throughout his career, including grade 1 winners Dontstop Themusic, Country Queen, Mitterand, and Spence Bay.

2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Blue Prize died the evening of Feb. 15 from complications of colic following a troubled foaling, according to Paulick Report. She was 13.

The Cincinnati Trophy Stakes will run at Turfway Park on Feb. 20. The field of 11 is headlined by recent Turfway Park winners, Map of the Moon and Dame Laura.

Bill Recio supervised the breaking and training of multiple grade 1 winners, including multiple champion Songbird. Recio and his wife, Lynn, operated Lynnwood Stable near Ocala, Fla.

Inspired by the strong performance of purse sources, Fair Grounds announces the addition of two race dates to the 2025-26 meet. The additional days will be Monday, March 9, and Monday, March 16.

A classy sprinter since he burst on the racing scene as a juvenile, 6-year-old Damon's Mound pursues a seventh stakes victory in his 19th-career race in the Feb. 21 Gulfstream Park Sprint.

All horses will be required to have a veterinary statement stating they are suitable to perform in the under-tack show. Any entries without an affirming statement will be scratched from the sale.

Street Beast and Fulleffort, the 1-2 finishers of the Leonatus Stakes, will need to fight off some out-of-town shippers as Turfway Park joins the Road to the Kentucky Derby Feb. 21 in the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.

The program, established in 2024, aims to provide 25 externships to vet students with a focus on networking opportunities in equine veterinary medicine and establishing a mechanism to identify, recruit, and retain young veterinarians.

In this week's Maiden Watch, Trouble Calling, a Dialed In half brother to grade 1 winner Troubleshooting, draws off to a 6 1/4-length with to earn his first career victory Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.

Caitlin Courtney has been named the new director of sales at Denali Stud after 11 years working with St George Sales and Brookstone Farm.

A University of Kentucky study suggests the use of ertugliflozin keeps a horse's blood sugar and insulin levels down after a corticosteroid joint injection. With insulin tied to laminitis, this discovery could provide safer care for at-risk horses.

For the fifth straight year, the European Pattern Committee has reduced the number of black-type races, which chair Jason Morris says, "reflects the collective responsibility that the EPC member countries share towards enforcing quality control."