Shared Content Archive

The head vet at Flemington Equine Clinic in Australia denied supplying embattled trainer Sam Kavanagh with cobalt at a Tuesday hearing, according to Racing and Sports. Kavanagh, one of a handful of Australian trainers wrapped up in the cobalt scandal, has been stood down from training since last month, and bottles of an injectable liquid Kavanagh said he bought from the clinic labeled as “vitamin complex' are at the center of an inquiry.  Samantha Potter, an employee of the Flemington Equine Clinic, gave evidence that she sent the bottles to...

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is headed back to England after his U.S. Triple Crown exploits and will get a rest at trainer Mike de Kock's Newmarket yard.  “Mubtaahij is somewhere between Amsterdam and our stables [in] Newmarket, UK, now,” Mike de Kock said Wednesday morning. “We'll give him a break now, six weeks or so. He's had a tough campaign and thoroughly deserves a period of rest.”  An eye-catching eight-length winner of the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 28, Mubtaahij finished eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby...

Following his completion of the Triple Crown in the GI Belmont S. Saturday, Zayat Stable's American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) has taken over the top spot on the most recent Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released Thursday. His current rating is 128--three points above Hong Kong's Royal Ascot-bound Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), GI Santa Anita H. hero Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}), and Saturday's G1 Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Able Friend and Shared belief were tied on top of the last Longines Rankings, released May 14. At that time, before winning...

A record $7.5 million will be offered over the course of five days of racing during this year's all-turf meeting at Kentucky Downs. Racing will begin Sept. 5 and continues Sept. 10, 12, 16 and 19. The marquee event of the meet is the $600,000 GIII Kentucky Turf Cup Sept. 12, one of a dozen added-money events and a potential steppingstone to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf the following month. Overnight races will offer $120,000 for maiden special weight races and up to $130,000 for allowance heats. "This will be...

by Bill Finley, special to ESPN.com When the PETA scandal involving Steve Asmussen blew up last year I was among those leading the charge to keep the trainer out of the Hall of Fame. The story was an explosive one and an ugly one and it involved undertones of animal cruelty. The ballots had been sent out before the story broke and I thought that under the circumstances his Hall of Fame eligibility needed to be put on hold so that everyone could take a deep breath and let the...

By T.D. Thornton  Twelve Thoroughbreds have lost their lives because of catastrophic injuries suffered during racing (11) or training (1) at Aqueduct since the inner dirt track opened Dec. 3.  The New York Racing Association, horsemen, regulators, and the public all want answers--fast. Trouble is, quick solutions to complex epidemiological problems are rarely possible.  Over the past several days, TDN spoke with two veterinarians whose efforts are likely to figure prominently in whether horses stay safe at NYRA racetracks: New York State Gaming Commission equine medical director Scott Palmer, and...

Mary Scollay, DVM  Rick Arthur, DVM  Lynn Hovda, DVM  The Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) recently announced it has given approval to a Model regulatory policy that would establish rules on compounded drugs in horse racing. We support the RCI's position on compounded drugs. The intent of the proposed Model Rule is to provide racing commissions with the authority to act, rather than their relying on other relevant federal or state agencies for enforcement. If the language appears imprecise to some veterinarians, it is because federal or state law...

The opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in Lexington got off to a slow start, posting declines when it came to both gross and average.  In total, 131 horses sold for $3,968,400, an average of $30,293 and a median of $17,000. The RNA rate, from 33 horses not sold, was 20.1%.  Compared to last year, gross declined 11.3% and the average decreased 17.4%. The median, however, was up 6.3%. In 2014, the first day of the sale saw 122 horses sell for $4,475,100, good for an average of...

Last year's GI Beverly D. S. winner Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) galloped 6 1/2 furlongs at Newmarket on the weekend and is expected to prepare for the G1 Dubai Turf--formerly called the Dubai Duty Free-- on the Mar. 28 Dubai World Cup card with a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford City.  "Euro Charline did her first bit of serious work at the weekend and everything went fine,” said trainer Marco Botti.  “She always works well and showed the same attitude she showed last year. She could have a racecourse gallop or two...

The opening session of the Goffs February Sale featuring short yearlings yesterday posted gains across the board. With just three more horses offered than 12 months ago and 14 more sold, the gross rose by €760,200 to €2,474,900 for 148 sold. The buyback rate dropped six points from last year to 20.8%, while the average rose 29.8% to €16,610. The median was up 29% to €10,000.  The highest price of the day was €145,000, paid by Ronald Rauscher of Equine Associates for lot 188, a filly by Shamardal. Consigned by Abbeville...

By Christie DeBernardis  Originally purchased as a pinhooking prospect, Harmonic (Congrats) looks to validate his owners' decision to race him themselves in Saturday's GIII El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate.  Consigned by John Phillips' Darby Dan Farm on behalf of his breeder Mike Abraham at the 2013 Keeneland January sale, Harmonic was purchased by Darby Dan on behalf of a partnership for $87,000 with the intention of reselling him at Keeneland September. However, when the colt RNA'd for $70,000 at the September sale, the partnership, which includes Phillips, Darby Dan General...

'TDN Rising Star' Khozan (Distorted Humor) underwent surgery Monday morning at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington to remove a fracture of his right hind sesamoid, Al Shaqab U.S. Racing Manager Bradley Weisbord reported. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed the surgery and told the Al Shaqab team that he was optimistic that the $1-million FTFMAR 2-year-old purchase could return to the same form which saw him win his first two career starts over the winter at Gulfstream Park.  "A large part of his suspensory remains attached, and Dr. Bramlage gave us...