COVID-19
The Dec. 5-8 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale's catalogue is now online. A total of 841 mares, fillies and foals will go through the ring in early December, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Highlighting the sale are 53 half-sisters to Group 1 winners. Leading the way is G1 Preis Von Europa heroine Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 182), who will start in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland. The filly is consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. Monceaux also offers Anabasis (Ger) (High Chaparral {Ire}) (lot 164)...
French-based jockey Christophe Soumillon has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been stood down from his rides on Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf and GI Breeders' Cup Mile, respectively. Colin Keane will take the ride on Tarnawa, and Pierre-Charles Boudot has been named on Order Of Australia. Soumillon was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday at Keeneland and upon receipt of the positive result on Thursday, another test was performed which also came back positive. Soumillon is now in isolation...
Live racing has been cancelled at Charles Town through Nov. 14 after two jockeys tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the track intends to apply for additional days with the West Virginia Racing Commission. Those days would be Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. Live racing is currently slated to resume Nov. 19.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the National Hunt foals, fillies and broodmares that usually sell at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale will now have their own separate session on Nov. 19, and the catalogue is now available. Selling that day are 161 horses after three days of National Hunt horses-in-training, 2-year-old stores, and NH yearlings on Nov. 16-18. There will also be a 23-lot dispersal of Haras de la Croix Sonnet among the breeding stock. Online bidding will be available at www.arqanaonline.com.
Colin Keane has earned his second Irish Champion Jockey title and a century of winners when he booted home Pretty Boy Floyd (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB]) to win a handicap at The Curragh on Monday. The season is officially over in Ireland at Naas next weekend, but Keane's nearest rival, Shane Foley, is still seven winners behind. Foley was also in action on Monday, but both jockeys will not be present at Naas, because they are riding in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The highlight of Keane's...
The UK phase of the Godolphin Flying Star programme for first-year trainees has begun remotely from Ireland, Godolphin announced on Monday. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the change. This segment will contain bloodstock insurance, racing administration, nominations sales, marketing, HR, racing and veterinary management, as well as an introduction to the legal system. Other changes include the practical experience with yearlings will be undertaken at Kildangan Stud, while the two-week course on exercising racehorses will be completed at the Racing Academy and Centre for Education (RACE) instead of the...
The Belmont Park fall meet generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, a 33.6% increase over the 2019 fall meet, the New York Racing Association announced. Despite running 10 fewer days than in 2019, all-sources handle of $267,942,961 was down just 2.5% compared with 2019. The Belmont Park fall meet has traditionally opened on the Friday following Labor Day. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga Race...
A new 2021 breeding initiative for Norman Court Stud's Sixties Icon (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was announced by the stud on Monday. Priced at £1,000+ VAT payable on or before covering a mare, the sire of 15 black-type winners and three Group 1 winners was £6,000 in 2020. "We realise the coming season is going to be tough for breeders," said Norman Court Stud Manager Keith Evans. "Sixties Icon, who is by Galileo out of Oaks winner, Love Divine (GB) (Diesis {GB}) continues to belt out winners, with a winner to...
Following the UK government's announcement of a nationwide lockdown on Oct. 31, all possible options and dates will be considered for the upcoming Tattersalls December Sales, Tattersalls announced on Monday. The COVID-19 cases in the UK and abroad have been rising, and, as a result, the lockdown will begin on Nov. 5 and last through at least Dec. 2, interfering with the current sales dates. "As has so often been the case this year, we are having to respond to events and decisions entirely outside our control, but we would...
In his first year as President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, 38-year-old Drew Fleming has found himself trying to stage a global event in the midst of a global pandemic. In a socially-distanced phone call with TDN Publisher Sue Finley, he discusses the challenges and the triumphs of Breeders' Cup 2020. SF: You picked a heck of a year for this to be your first Breeders' Cup. DF: Well, this is my first Breeders' Cup as the CEO, but I've been working for the company since 2016. And then...
British racing is continuing despite the upcoming second lockdown this Thursday, and a decision will be made on Monday to determine whether owners can watch their horses race, British Horseracing Authority Nick Rust said on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday. The lockdown begins Nov. 5 and will last for four weeks. Betting shops will be closed during the lockdown as well. "The Government has shown plenty of faith in us, and we can show what an important role racing plays in national life over the next month," said Rust on...
British Prime Minister Borris Johnson announced during a press conference Saturday evening a four-week national shutdown, set to begin Thursday, Nov. 5, as a result of the rising COVID-19 cases in England. While horseracing, and other elite sports will be able to continue behind closed doors, betting shops, which re-opened following the initial lockdown June 15, are scheduled to be among businesses closed later this week. A release issued by the British Horseracing Authority stated: "The horseracing industry has worked hard to maintain the safety of our participants and the...