Europe

TOKYO, Japan -- Under the vast, silent stand of Tokyo racecourse the best horse in the world enjoys a saunter around the turf track which will become his stage for the final act of a tremendous season. Calandagan (Gleneagles) will encounter an altogether different atmosphere on Sunday when that same grandstand will sing with the anticipation of around 100,000 racegoers come to bear witness to one of the world's great horse races.  The passion with which the Japanese fans approach racing means that the Japan Cup is more pilgrimage than...

A trio of Hong Kong heavy hitters are among the 22 Group 1 winners signed on for the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 14. Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) is aiming for his fourth win in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup after winning that event the past three years. Aiming to extend his unbeaten streak to 16 races, Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) targets the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Rounding out the local trio is Hong Kong Triple Crown hero Voyage Bubble (Deep Field)...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of a Breeders' Cup winner. 16.30 Chelmsford City, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Cheveley Park Stud's SO REGAL (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a John and Thady Gosden trainee, is a homebred daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB)...

If Tuesday's opening session of the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls was all about Dragon Symbol, then Wednesday was the day that the young upstart received a sharp warning should he wish to assume the throne as Whitsbury Manor Stud kingpin, with the present incumbent, Havana Grey, taking his turn to play the starring role on a day of fierce trade at Park Paddocks. By the close of play, Havana Grey accounted for five of the day's top 18 lots, headlined by lot 650 from the Whitsbury Manor draft. The...

The Scorpion mare Ledecka (lot 19) topped the ThoroughBid November sale at £30,000 on Wednesday. Placed in two starts in National Hunt Flat races, the five-year-old mare is from the family of G3 Queen's Vase winner Silver Wedge (Silver Hawk). She was offered by Beatbush Farm and picked up by Red Racing.    Pour Les Fillies (Pour Moi) (lot 17) brought £9,500 from Mickey Bowen Racing. A winner of a NH Flat race, a point-to-point and a hurdle race, the Gordon Elliott-consigned seven-year-old is from the same family as Listed...

All seven National Hunt races at Navan Racecourse will be sponsored by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (IEBF) on Sunday, December 14, after the racecourse and the IEBF renewed their partnership. The €145,000 programme features three handicap hurdles, three handicap chases each worth €20,000 and the feature race will be the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Future Champions Flat Race worth €25,000. The full race conditions were published by Horse Racing Ireland in the Irish Racing Calendar on Thursday 13th November with entries closing on Tuesday 9th December. Nessa Joyce,...

Several of Newmarket's notable studs will open their doors to the public during the period of Friday, November 28 through Wednesday, December 3. Breeders will have the opportunity to inspect a large number of Britain's top stallions and several new kids on the block. The studs and their schedules are as follows: Ace Stud will be open from Saturday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., on the hour, every hour: +44 (0) 1638 555059 Darley's Dalham Hall Stud will open its doors from Saturday, November 29-Wednesday,...

Two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna has died at the age of 16. The news was announced by Sunday Racing, who raced the daughter of Deep Impact throughout her 19-start career. Bred by Northern Racing, and trained by Sei Ishizaka, the bay won at two and would go on to become the fourth Triple Tiara winner at three, as well as champion sophomore filly and Horse of the Year. After winning her first G1 Japan Cup in 2012, she ran second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in 2013...

The British Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed on Wednesday that remote betting on British horseracing will be exempt from tax rises and remain at 15%. The British horseracing industry welcomed the news. The British Horseracing Authority said in a statement, "It is welcome that the Chancellor has today rightly recognised the vital importance of racing as a cultural, social and economic asset and acted to help secure the sport's long-term future. "The Chancellor's positive decision recognises the potential damage to our sport, and the jobs supported by it, if the Government...

Over 300 horses from 19 countries have applied for the 2025-26 Dubai Racing Carnival (DRC) at Meydan this season. The 16-week stand kicked off on November 7 and ends on March 28 with the G1 Dubai World Cup card. The multiple group-placed Heart Of Honor (Honor A. P.) was one of the first to arrive for trainer Jamie Osborne. Trainer Niels Petersen has an 11-strong team from Norway, including Norsk Derby winner War Socks (Kameko). Consistent sprinter Ponntos (Power) has returned for trainer Miroslav Nieslanik, and Denmark's Veronika Jandova brought...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to a Group 1 trio. 16.30 Newcastle, £6,300, Nov, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Watership Down Stud's hitherto unraced FANCIULLA DEL WEST (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}) is kin to six black-type performers headed by Group 1 winners Awelmarduk (Ire) (Almutawakel {GB}), Jakkalberry (Ire) (Storming...

NEWMARKET, UK--Improved trade punctuated by a steady stream of notable results for the progeny of Dragon Symbol would be a neat summation of Tuesday's opening session of the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls, with Whitsbury Manor Stud's first-crop sire alone accounting for nearly 25% of the 1,684,200gns that changed hands on the day. That total turnover represented a 23% increase compared to 12 months ago, while the average and the median also painted a much prettier picture as opposed to what was a sluggish start to last year's December Foal...