Horse Racing

In the week leading up to the Saudi Cup meeting, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert lamented to anyone who would listen about just how taxing those final 100 meters at King Abdulaziz Racecourse can be on the equine athletes. And he's certainly got the right to take that position, given that the likes of Mucho Gusto and Charlatan couldn't quite see it out in the G1 Saudi Cup, while Havnameltdown was just tagged after a long stretch duel in the G3 Saudi Derby a few years back. Pinehurst did...

Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah's Al Haram (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), unbeaten and untouched in three tries entering Saturday's $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby, came with a barnstorming run through the final 200 meters and raced over the top of a pair of raiding rivals to score by a widening 1 1/4 lengths over 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Obliteration (Violence) and hot favorite Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief). The victory was worth 30 points to the winner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, though he was not among the...

After watching a bill she filed last July to restore a gambler's right to deduct 100% of losses from gambling winnings languish without consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada on Thursday initiated a discharge petition in an attempt to bypass committee action and force it to a vote before the full Congress. "My FAIR BET Act has been sitting in @WaysMeansCmte for eight months, despite commitments from @HouseGOP to restore the full gambling loss deduction," Titus wrote Feb. 12 in a posting...

The Jockey Club published its 2026 Industry Impact Report Friday, which includes a consolidated statement of income for 2025 listing total investment in industry initiatives as $6.3-million, with nearly $1.7-million going to Thoroughbred aftercare, the organization said in a press release on Friday. Located at the back of the document, last year's income statement itemizes industry initiatives and investment, which includes funding America's Best Racing ($2.164 million), aftercare ($1.67 million) and industry support ($2.5 million) for a total of $6.3 million. Since 2010, The Jockey Club says it has re-invested...

At 78 years of age, Dana Halvorson is looking to move out of Washington State and live permanently at his farm in Ocala, Florida. He leaves behind a decades-long, storied career in the bloodstock world in Washington. He also leaves behind a state breeding industry in free-fall. Between 2005 and 2025, the number of mares bred dropped 94%, from 1214 to 70. Only two major farms remain in the whole state. "The West Coast has just taken a beating," said Halvorson, president of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association...

2nd-FG, $65k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 1:30 p.m. ET A $185,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, TROMBONE (Maclean's Music) breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat and was knocked down to owner Kaleem Shah for $850,000 at last year's OBS April Sale. The April foal's winning dam Apologize (Lemon Drop Kid) is a half- or full-sister to four others to salute, including MGSW Aurelia's Belle (Lemon Drop Kid) and SW Dripping Gold (Lemon Drop Kid). This is the high-class female family of Althea, Twining, Atelier, Aldiza, et al....

Looking to be named the belle of the maiden ball after a Gulfstream dance, Prom Queen (Quality Road--Miss Bling Bling, by Tapit) garnered the right number of votes to wear a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', crown on Thursday afternoon. A runner-up on debut as the well-regarded favorite going a mile in Hallandale Jan. 23, the 3-year-old was ready to try out her two turn moves as the 80 cents on the dollar favorite here. In the mix from the bell, Prom Queen was fighting for position from third...

EASY DECISION (c, 3, Charlatan--All Laced Up, by Bernardini) was unveiled as the 9-5 choice here. The chalk initially took on longshot pacesetter Lord King (King for a Day), but was reigned in to stalk up the backstretch. Taking aim at the leader and Complex Charlie (Complexity) around the far turn and into the lane, the 3-year-old was forced to tip to an outside lane. The bay became uncorked, struck the front with a furlong left and graduated by 6 1/4 lengths. Complex Charlie was the runner-up. A $120,000 buy...

IGNITER (c, 3, Volatile--Malibu Prayer {GISW, $618,026}, by Malibu Moon), after being featured in TDN's Second Chances series, broke his maiden by a length during the Belmont At The Big A meet in late September. The homebred was off for two months, then was entered in the GII Remsen Stakes at the Big A Dec. 6 where he posted a sixth-place finish behind GII Risen Star Stakes entrant Paladin (Gun Runner) and recent Sam F. Davis Stake hero Renegade (Into Mischief). Well-backed at a shade over even-money here, the colt...

Jockey and veterinarian Ferrin Peterson has launched her latest "The Boundless Podcast," and her guest is Dr. Kayce Anderson, who is the daughter of WinStar Farm co-founder Bill Casner. Anderson is the executive director of the charity "For the Good." In her bio on the organization's website, she is described as "a humanitarian, ecologist, mom, explorer, and student." The For the Good website describes the charity's work as follows: "We work in a region of Kenya that has been labeled as 'not wanting education.' Our experience shows us the opposite:...

Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury, whose career spanned eight decades and included 52 training titles combined at Pimlico and Laurel, has passed away. He was 92 and died Tuesday at his home. "He's one of a kind, said one of his twin sons, Taylor Leatherbury. "There's never been a man more appropriately named than my father." Born in Shady Side, Maryland, Leatherbury was raised on a farm where his father had horses. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in business administration, Leatherbury went to work...

Sunday Racing's Mitilini (Jpn) (f, 3, Tapit--Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute) came with a sustained run from from far back to graduate in her first try going two turns on the dirt in Saturday's opening race over 1700 meters at Kokura Racecourse. Once second from two tries going 1400 meters on turf to begin her career, the Feb. 24 foal never landed a blow when trying the dirt for the first time going that same distance Nov. 16. Despite being ridden for a bit of early speed from a double-digit...