1/ST Racing
There are moments in every great industry where legacy is forged not in silence, but through bold, decisive action. As we approach the 2025 Keeneland September Sale, this is one of those moments. In last week's Thoroughbred Daily News, two pieces struck a deep and unsettling chord: the Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance's open letter titled "When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?" (Aug. 25), and Pat Cummings's "Aftercare Not Meeting The Need" (Aug. 28). As an industry of excellence, prestige, and tradition, these letters were hard to read--not because they're...
Mike Renfro caught 28 touchdowns during his eleven seasons in the NFL playing for the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Cowboys. Like most athletes, even after all these years, he misses those Sunday afternoons, the camaraderie with his teammates and the thrill of competition. But what would fill the void when he walked off the field for the last time in 1988? To Renfro, that's a very easy question to answer. He discovered horse racing. Thirty-seven years later, Renfro is part of the CJ Thoroughbreds ownership group, which has its...
Effective this weekend, 1/ST RACING will discontinue selling the simulcast signal from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park to Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico to address increasing concerns regarding horse welfare and safety at that racetrack, it was announced Thursday evening. This announcement comes in agreement with the horsemen's groups in Florida and California after other measures in recent years have failed to substantially bolster the care for racehorses in Puerto Rico, particularly when horses are no longer racing. "Exporting our signal to Hipódromo Camarero represents millions of dollars of...
After this past spring's failed attempt to get a controversial bill passed in the Florida legislature that would have stripped a 40-days-minimum live racing requirement from its casino licensure, the owners of Gulfstream Park have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), alleging that the 2021 statute that allowed all classes of pari-mutuel licensees except Thoroughbreds to "decouple" from live racing as a condition of operating slot machines is an "unconstitutional special law and violates the equal protection clause of the Florida Constitution." Daniel Wallach, a Florida-based...
Like so many others, Acacia Clement's favorite meet is Saratoga. As part of the Saratoga broadcast team and the wife of trainer Miguel Clement, she has to work long hours and juggle a hectic schedule. Preparation is something she takes seriously. But Saratoga also means great racing in a beautiful and historic location, a lively nightlife and so much more. There's a lot to like about this place. Appearing on the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland as the Gainesway Guest of the Week, Clement said what she loves...
Following the news of his passing, tributes to legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas poured in from across the industry Sunday. "A four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, today we lost one of the great champions of Churchill Downs and one of the most significant figures in Thoroughbred racing over the last 50 years. We will miss his humor, his wisdom and his unmatched capacity to thrill the fans with the performances of his horses on our sport's biggest days." Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated "D. Wayne Lukas was...
The Ed Brown Society and 1/ST are now in the fourth year of their partnership and during that time, five Ed Brown Scholars (undergraduates) and three Ed Brown Fellows (post-graduates), have completed spring internships, 1/ST said via a Thursday press release. The Spring 2025 cohort included Ed Brown Fellow Joshua "JC" Berry and Ed Brown Scholar Chris Morales--both Louisville, Kentucky natives with limited prior exposure to the Thoroughbred industry. The experience allowed Berry and Morales to see firsthand how various departments at Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Pimlico operated. The pair...
The Camino Real Turf Course at Santa Anita Park is currently undergoing its annual renovation after regular use during the Classic and Hollywood Meets, according to a press release from the track on Thursday. Superintendent Jesse Martinez and his team stripped the existing course in its entirety and new sod is on the way, which is composed of Bandera Bermuda hybrid grass. The entire project, which usually takes from three to four weeks, is scheduled to be completed by next Friday, July 4. During Santa Anita's Classic and Hollywood Meets,...
1/ST Racing is looking at a lot of scenarios concerning the future of Gulfstream. There's decoupling, selling the property and building a casino. It's anybody's guess what 1/ST will eventually do with Gulfstream but to think that it will still be open for racing 10 years from now seems overly optimistic. Then again... It may be a small thing but Gulfstream announced on Friday that it will soon launch a state-of-the-art high resolution digital starting gate board. Gulfstream has partnered with BSV Digital to replace the static signage at the...
AmWager is offering zero percent takeout on the GI Preakness Stakes, according to the advanced deposit wagering company on Friday. All AmWager customers who opt in and bet the Preakness Win pool will receive a total payout for their successful wagers which is calculated with zero takeout. For instance, when Seize the Grey (Arrogate) won the 2024 edition of the of the big race and paid $21.60 for a $2 bet, the same wager would pay $26.35 this year. Once the Preakness race is made official, AmWager customers will receive...
Partnering once again with Equine MediRecord (EMR) and Business Infusions (BI), 1/ST will utilize their services to digitize equine welfare protocols for Preakness 150 and will have EMR representatives on site to ease the learning process, it was revealed in a press release from the group Monday afternoon. The added measure aims to enhance the equine health and safety protocols that will be in place for the contest May 17. The platform allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be collected digitally and securely stored, and will...
Griffin Johnson may not be well known within horse racing circles, but that doesn't mean he can't help the sport. For decades, racing has been fighting a losing battle when it comes to attracting a younger audience. That's where Johnson comes in. He is a social media influencer who has 9.7 million followers on TikTok and 2.6 million on Instagram. He's also a horse owner. Johnson is part of the West Point Thoroughbreds group that owns GI Arkansas Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby contender Sandman (Tapit). He'll be at...