Industry News

Sensor and stride technologies being used in horse racing were discussed during the second installment in the 2026 OwnerView webinar series held Apr. 7. Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, moderated the panel with guests Fabienne De Geer, representing Sleip; Ben Bernhard, representing Stable Analytics; and Dr. David Lambert, representing StrideSAFE. The webinar began with general questions about each technology. De Geer explained that Sleip is based on gait analysis, and that Sleip has different types of users beyond racing. "Veteriniarians are the biggest users, but we have two versions...

The PDF of The American Racing Manual, containing historical data on racing through the end of 2025, is now available through The Jockey Club Fact Book. The 2113-page document, featuring reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) on its cover page, covers horse racing from A to Z. It begins with a recap of the 2025 Eclipse Award winners and their past performances and concludes with a comprehensive listing of broodmare sires that were represented by at least one winning Thoroughbred in the United States or Canada in 2025....

Jodie Hiesinger has been named the first recipient of the Jockey Club of Canada's Outstanding Western Canadian Backstretch Worker, a Thoroughbred award that partners with the long-standing Outstanding Groom Awards given to a groom working in Ontario. The award is sponsored by HBPA Alberta, Horse Racing Alberta, and CTHS Alberta. "It was kind of a surprise," said Hiesinger, 34, who works for Alberta trainer Rod Cone. "I knew Rod had nominated me, but I didn't really think anything about it. I love what I do. It's not really a job...

Churchill Downs Racetrack has announced a multi-year partnership with CAFE Appliances to help fans create the ultimate home-watch parties for the Kentucky Derby. CAFE and Churchill Downs have also partnered with Caroline Chambers, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, to curate a 'Kentucky Derby At-home' menu. Also joining the team are content creators like recipe and drink creator Miguel Buencamino, and hospitality expert Xandy Sutherland Nickel. "We want viewers around the globe to be able to experience the spirit of the Kentucky Derby beyond the race itself, and food...

America's Best Racing, the fan-development platform and national marketing initiative funded by The Jockey Club, will host its 11th annual Pre-Preakness Party May 14 at Laurel Park. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation have been named as the event's primary charitable beneficiaries. TAA will present a silent auction featuring premium racing memorabilia and collectibles. "Every ticket sold and every dollar raised at the Pre-Preakness Party makes a direct difference in the lives of off-the-track-Thoroughbreds," said Georganne Hale, senior vice president of Racing Development of The...

The non-profit equine adoption program Second Stride, based in Prospect, Kentucky, is conducting a series of three fundraisers with Kentucky Derby themes designed to support retired Thoroughbred racehorses as they transition to second careers beyond the track. "Derby season is when the world falls in love with the Thoroughbred," said Second Stride founder Kim Smith. "What many people don't see is what comes next for these horses. As more horses enter aftercare and require longer, more individualized support, our work--and the community's role in it--has never been more important. These...

Edited Press Release Officials from The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have announced today that Vendor Fair applications for the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, are now open. The Vendor Fair will run throughout the competition from Oct. 7-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The Vendor Fair will return to Jay Trump Drive, overlooking the Stonelea Arena in the Hunter/Jumper Complex, in the middle of the action at the Thoroughbred Makeover. After a successful debut of the 10-discipline Makeover Championship format in...

The Jockey Club of Canada plans to honor Chief Steward Doug Anderson with a Special Sovereign Award during the 51st annual awards ceremony on Thursday, Apr. 23, the organization said in a release early Friday. Selected unanimously by the Jockey Club of Canada's stewards, the award recognizes a particular achievement within a given year. The release said that Anderson's career reflects an unwavering dedication to racing, breeding and aftercare.

Edited Press Release Gulfstream Park's Royal Palm Meet will offer substantial increases in overnight purses as well as bonuses in open stakes and Florida-bred races and stakes as part of a $6-million Florida-Bred Incentive Fund (FBIF). Overall, the Royal Palm Meet, which runs through Aug. 30, will offer total stakes purses of $2.9 million plus an additional $575,000 ($25,000 per race) to any Florida-bred finishing in the top five in 23 summer stakes. The percentage of purse money for those top five Florida-breds will be 50%-30%-11%-6%-3%. On the heels of...

FanDuel TV, NYRA, Keeneland and Santa Anita will team up with Hall of Fame jockeys along with some of the top active riders in the country and other prominent racing personalities on Saturday, Apr. 18th for the eighth annual telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), FDTV said in a Wednesday press release. Presented by Lane's End, the event will be broadcast on both FanDuel TV and America's Day at the Races on the FOX Sports family of networks, as well as streamed on TVG.com. Fans...

The Jockey Club of America's Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines, awarded prizes based on 2025 performances, the organization said via a press release on Wednesday. The program recognizes Thoroughbreds accumulating the most points at all horse shows and covers a wide variety of disciplines and experience levels. Last year, 615 Thoroughbreds from 44 states and six provinces competed in more than 13,000 classes, divisions, and events. Division awards were calculated in 16 categories as well as 99 discipline divisions and nine junior...

Edited Press Release With the expected retirement of current executive director Cricket Goodall in 2027, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) is preemptively looking for her successor. The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) seeks an accomplished Executive Director to lead one of the nation's most respected Thoroughbred industry organizations. Since 1929, MHBA has served as the principal advocate for Maryland's Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry and a steward of the state's rich equine heritage. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as chief executive of MHBA and...