Congrats

8-year-old Bango (Congrats), Churchill Downs's winningest horse, has been retired, his connections announced on social media Friday. In a video posted to X, trainer Greg Foley said, "Mr. Churchill Downs has blessed Barn 11 in so many ways. Career has been just a testament to what horse racing is all about.  Thanks for everything Bango. Enjoy the next chapter." Retired with career earnings over $1,644,000, Bango raced 42 times, winning or placing in 24 of them. Nearly all of his starts came at Churchill Downs and he became their winningest...

Sponsored by Pedigrees360 They understand how it goes with livestock, of course, and have enjoyed many clusters of high fortune as well. But the loss of Wootton Bassett must still seem a callous twist of fate to a Coolmore team that has also, within the last year, grieved the abrupt death of Uncle Mo, equivalent talisman on their Kentucky roster. True, an unapologetic commitment to volume--extending, in this case, to shuttling a 17-year-old to Australia--means that neither of these sires will be lacking a footprint by which to extend their...

Former WinStar stallion Congrats (A.P. Indy--Praise, by Mr. Prospector) passed away Monday at the age of 25. The news was confirmed by Scott Kintz who heads Six K's Training & Sales at Florida's Woodford Thoroughbreds where the pensioned stallion retired in 2021. A GSW/MGISP son of A.P. Indy, Congrats won the 2005 GII San Pasqual Handicap and earned placings in the GI Santa Anita Handicap and the GI Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap while also finishing fifth behind Roses In May (Devil His Due) in the 2005 G1 Emirates Airline Dubai...

Nakayama newcomers' winner Brown Ratchet (Jpn) became the 35th stakes winner (22nd group) for Shadai Stallion Station resident Kizuna (Jpn) in the G3 Artemis Stakes on Saturday. The 3-1 third choice and half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) broke alertly in a battling second as Mistress (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) led. More than a touch keen, she eventually settled as Kyoei Bonita (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}) kept a close eye on the leader. More relaxed turning for home, Brown Ratchet saved every inch of...

NEWMARKET, UK--Nobody prospecting breeze-up horses here on Thursday will have needed reminding that there is "many a slip twixt cup and lip." For one thing, the perils of the horse trade had been tragically amplified by the shocking accident that had meanwhile claimed the colt who set a sale record at Doncaster the previous week. The highest price recorded in the opening Horses-in-Training session here, meanwhile, actually represented only a quarter of the sum for which the same horse had been knocked down in the same ring last October. Nonetheless...

Seven juveniles have been supplemented to the Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, adding to an already record-setting number of horses cataloged. HIP 187--a filly by Dialed In who is a half to a stakes winner and from the family of MSW Gray Attempt. Consigned by 1880 Bloodstock. HIP 188--a filly by freshman stallion Catholic Boy who is from the family of MGSW Tax, MGSW Yell, and MGIW Elate. Consigned by 1880 Bloodstock. HIP 189--a filly by Tapwrit who is a half to two winners and from the family of GSW...

Hopes were high when Must Be the Money (Paynter) made his first start Wednesday for trainer Paul McGee. The betting public agreed, pushing the bay colt down into the 3-2 favorite's slot as the field loaded into the gate at Churchill Downs. But, when the latches sprung open and the field came away, Must Be the Money was caught flat-footed and quickly found himself in chase mode at the back of the pack. Able to weave his way through the field to be an outside fifth at the top of...

Distorted Humor (Forty Niner--Danzig's Beauty, by Danzig), sire of 2003 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero Funny Cide from his first crop and an additional 17 Grade I/Group 1 winners to date, was pensioned from stud duty by WinStar Farm Monday at the age of 28. WinStar also announced it is pensioning stalwart Congrats (A.P. Indy--Praise, by Mr. Prospector) at the age of 21. "We all owe Distorted Humor a debt of gratitude for all he has done for WinStar Farm, my family, and the many breeders who...