Horse Racing
2nd-Belmont The Big A, $75,000, (S), Msw, 9-13, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.72, fm, 1 1/2 lengths. GRACE AND GRIT (f, 2, Munnings--Sheriffa {MSW, $469,984}, by Posse) made $160,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Sale and breezed a furlong in :10 flat before hammering for $350,000 at the OBS April Sale. An easy-in-the-market 49-10 from a 5-2 morning line, the chestnut was ridden forward by Kendrick Carmouche and settled just off the speed before striding into the lead with about five-eighths of a mile to travel. Going along...
Horseman and known storyteller in Kentucky's horse racing community, Neil Huffman has died at the age of 87, according to a release from Churchill Downs on Friday. Huffman's deep love for horses and contributions to the Thoroughbred racing industry spanned more than 50 years, as he leaves behind a legacy of hard work and will be remembered for his warm personality. With an uncle who was a clocker at Churchill Downs, his early education in horse racing led him to co-manage the Skylight Training Center alongside his late brother, William...
A 25% fractional interest in the undefeated stakes-winning juvenile filly Kilwin (Twirling Candy), winner of the Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8, will be sold at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2, the sales company said in a release on Friday morning. Kilwin, owned by BBN Racing and trained by Rusty Arnold, is scheduled to make her next start in the GI John Deere Breeders'...
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro--Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor), a three-time Horse of the Year and 10-times Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, has officially been retired from racing, owner Stanley Chan announced Friday at the Sha Tin stables of the gelding's trainer Francis Lui. "Golden Sixty has been more than just a racehorse to me and my family; he has been a companion, a friend, and a true champion," said Chan. "Watching him compete has been one of the greatest joys of my life. "I want to thank everyone who...
I read with interest the TDN article about Jorge Duarte, which is the latest in a pattern of stories about trainers (George Weaver, Rusty Arnold, etc.) with positive tests that have seemingly come from contamination. Glen Hill Farm has been racing and breeding horses since 1967. We are an American-based operation but have been building in Europe and Australia for the last decade. Having served on many industry boards, I always understood the goal for medication reform was for American racing to first have uniformity between states and then hopefully...
In most barns, after winning a $500,000 handicap at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 1 the 7-year-old gelding Goliad (War Front) would have gone to the sidelines, the trainer not daring to run him back in less than six weeks or so. Not Goliad. Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella brought him back in six days. With so much money available at Kentucky Downs, a number of trainers ignored conventional wisdom and gave their horses two starts at the seven-day meet. That meant layoffs of no more than 13 days, with...
A dedicated horsewoman who ran Ridgefield Farm in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Dani L. Parrish passed away Aug. 29. She was 68 years old. Born in Denver, Colorado, Parrish was one of seven who grew up going to racetracks and her love of horses drew her to enter the business which spanned over 40 years. She and her partner, trainer Robert "Boston Bob" Pincins, built their business from the ground up at Ridgefield. Mainly racing in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, the pair developed young horses and Parrish was integral to farm's success...
Given by the Maryland Million Ltd. Board of Directors, nominations for the 2024 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award are due by Oct. 1, the organization said in a Thursday release. Potential nominees should embody characteristics that are valuable, but often go unrewarded. Nominees that are not selected for the award on Maryland Millions Day will be considered in the future without further need for submission. Publicist Joe Kelly was involved from the introduction of the concept in 1985 until his death in 2012. Recent recipients include: Brenda Herzog, Fran Burns...
Stan Bowker, a longtime management executive who also served as a steward at several racetracks, passed away Sept. 10 in Clearwater, Florida after a long illness. After 17 1/2 years at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Nebraska where he rose to become the director of racing, Bowker made stops at Canterbury Downs and Will Rogers Downs. He was also a senior steward at Colonial Downs and spent 11 years as a judge at Oaklawn Park, Indiana Grand, and as recently as 2021, at Canterbury Park. Bowker established a consulting company to assist...
On June 26, trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr was informed that a horse he trained named Happy Cat (Kitten's Joy) had tested positive for methamphetamine following a May 22nd race at Delaware Park. Duarte was indeed concerned, but he insisted he had done nothing wrong, that cooler heads would prevail and that he would not be penalized. Three-and-a-half months later, he has already started serving what could be a lengthy suspension. The problem is that when there is a drug positive, Duarte says the position of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare...
Bellavinino (Get Stormy), a juvenile who recently finished second in a stakes race at Kentucky Downs, will be offered in the Inglis Digital USA September Sale which is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 25, according to a press release from the sales company on Thursday. The daughter of Get Stormy closed to finish as the runner-up in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes Sept. 8. Two starts earlier, Bellavinino won on debut by 3 1/4 lengths over the Gulfstream Park turf. Owned by C2 Racing Stable and trained by Saffie Joseph...
After his racing career is complete this year, Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), the winner of the GI Champagne Stakes at two and the runner-up in the GI Preakness Stakes, will stand at Darby Dan for 2025, the farm said via a press release on Thursday. A stud fee for the 'TDN Rising Star' and future stallion will be named before the year is out and plans are being finalized syndicate him. Peter Bradley, bloodstock advisor for owner Rodeo Creek Racing, brokered the deal to stand the son of Good Magic...