Christophe Clement

Eleven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, headed by late trainers Christophe Clement and John A. Shirreffs, plus racehorse Kona Gold. Additionally, Kentucky-bred Gulch, Virginia-bred Mongo and the late trainer David A. Whiteley were chosen in the Historic Review Category; and the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, Dr. Robert Copelan, Seth W. Hancock, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. and the late Joseph E. Widener were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. Clement, Shirreffs and Kona Gold were chosen on the...

The late trainers Christophe Clement and John Shirreffs, as well as GI Belmont Stakes-winning filly Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) are among 13 finalists who will appear on this year's ballot for inclusion in the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Clement, who passed away last spring, trained Eclipse champion Gio Ponti, as well as Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist. Shirreffs, who passed away earlier this month, trained four-time champion Zenyatta, as well as GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. The two trainers are joined on the ballot by Ken McPeek,...

Charlotte Clement de Bona has been appointed The Jockey Club's chief strategy and transformation officer, the organization announced Thursday. In her new role, Clement de Bona will oversee enterprise strategy, digital and operational growth, and cross-functional initiatives. "The sport is evolving, and so must we," said The Jockey Club chair Everett Dobson. "Charlotte's role is an important step as the industry continues to seek growth and modernization opportunities. Charlotte's track record of delivering meaningful transformations, particularly in dynamic and complex environments, in addition to her unparalleled knowledge of racing, makes...

What were the most popular stories in the TDN in 2025? What resonated most with our readers? Here again is our annual review of the stories you liked the most and the ones that received the most views: 1) Alvarado Faces Penalties for Overuse of Whip in the Derby, by Bill Finley. 258,371 Views. Winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was the highlight of jockey Junior Alvarado's career. But the story included a bad footnote as Alvarado faced penalties from HISA for overuse of the whip. Under...

A few hours after winning this year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes with World Beater (Oscar Performance), Riley Mott was home with his family eating takeout pizza. He shared a beer with his father, Bill, and was in bed by 9 p.m. The celebration was quiet, almost ordinary, but the milestone was anything but. Less than three years after going out on his own, Mott, age 33, had claimed his first Grade I win at the track that he had once called his playground and the town where he had...

The right-hand man to Christophe Clement for nearly three decades, assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul will be presented with the inaugural D. Wayne Lukas award, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) announced Saturday. Created this year and to be given annually, the D. Wayne Lukas Award is presented to a New York-based assistant trainer who demonstrates qualities that the late Hall of Famer himself exemplified--dedication, a strong work ethic, and a high commitment to excellence. In addition to a trophy, the winner will receive a $10,000 award. The presentation will...

Miguel Clement has many memories of the conversations he had with his father about Deterministic (Liam's Map). In Christophe's book, a good horse could perform well across different surfaces and distances, and he always believed Deterministic fit that description. Over the past two years, Deterministic has proven him right, checking both those boxes for the Clement racing stable and serving as a steady presence through a poignant period of change following Christophe's passing in May. "My dad and I both loved him from the get-go and he has been a...

A week on from the blockbuster Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, more records fell at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Monday when the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale concluded with highwater marks for gross, average and a record-tying median. During two sessions, 199 New York-bred yearlings sold for a $23,870,000. The average was $119,950--up 15.1% from a year ago, while the median remained constant at $85,000. With 55 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 21.7%. It was 26.3% a year ago. "This sale hit the quinella," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning...

The GI Sword Dancer Stakes, won by El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) Saturday at Saratoga, will be run next year under a new name in honor of late trainer Christophe Clement, who passed away in May. The Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event will be contested in 2026 as the GI Christophe Clement Turf, as announced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Saturday just prior to the 2025 running. Clement won the race a record five times, including in 2024 with 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English...

Valerie Clement has arguably seen more horses in her lifetime than many of the younger bloodstock agents working this year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. For the past 40 years, she has stood alongside her husband Christophe as he has inspected horses at countless sales, farms and racetracks around the world. Following her husband's passing in May, it would have been understandable if Clement had chosen to step away from the game, but to her that was never an option. In addition to running a thriving stable, Christophe was also involved...

The Christophe Clement stable was among the top barns in New York for over 30 years. Everything changed when Clement died of a rare form of cancer May 25. It was a tough time for his son, Miguel, who took over as the head trainer for the stable. But he has done a remarkable job as the Clement stable has not missed a beat. As of Aug. 6, Miguel Clement's record is 26-for-115 and he has won eight stakes races, four of them graded, two of them Grade I's. To...

Trainer Miguel Clement joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to recap his GI Fourstardave win with Deterministic. He also opens up about taking over the Clement stable from his father and talks about how American trainers are judged by their number of wins rather than their overall resume.