Horse Racing

A newly created $25,000 Thoroughbred Hunter Derby will make its debut at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show in Virginia in early June and replace the recent Upperville Thoroughbred Hunter Classic, the planners of the event said via a press release on their website Dec. 31. The Derby will take place Tuesday, June 2 and reflects a growing, industry-wide effort to expand opportunities for Thoroughbreds at recognized horse shows. In recent years, trainers, owners and Thoroughbred advocates have worked to elevate the visibility and competitiveness of the breed in hunter...

Following the cancellation of racing on Wednesday and Thursday, Santa Anita has added a special makeup card for this upcoming Thursday, Jan. 8, according to a press release from the track on Friday. Entries will be taken on Saturday. The program will include both the GIII Robert J. Frankel Stakes for fillies & mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the Eddie Logan Stakes at one mile on turf for what are now newly-turned 3-year-olds. Both races had been scheduled for Wednesday. The remaining races from the canceled cards...

While prefacing his remarks by saying that "nothing is set in stone," Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey told the TDN that the main pre-GI Kentucky Derby goal for presumptive 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) will likely be the GI Curlin Florida Derby to be run at Gulfstream Park Mar. 28. Spendthrift's other top prospect, Further Ado (Gun Runner), is likely headed to the GI Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 4. Ted Noffey is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is based in the winter at Palm Beach Downs...

Colonial Downs racing secretary Dan Bork has released the condition book for the 2026 three-day spring meeting which runs from Thursday, Mar. 12 through Saturday, Mar. 14, the track said via a release on Friday. The meet is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks Mar. 14, which are points races on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" and "Road to the Kentucky Oaks," respectively. Click here for access.

Godolphin LLC, who campaigned 13 North American graded stakes winners during 2025, including dual classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), set a single-season record in earnings as the leading owner for the fifth consecutive year, and Irad Ortiz, Jr., established a single-season record as the leading jockey by earnings according to final year-end statistics released by Equibase Company on Friday. Godolphin--with 104 North American wins from 448 starts--amassed record earnings of $22,395,556, surpassing their previous mark of $20.2 million set in 2024. When including earnings from the Dubai and Saudi Cup...

As another Santa Anita Opening Day is in the books, it's with a heavy heart that I write to the TDN about the extraordinary life and times of Vic Carlson. Vic died a couple days ago peacefully with his wife Seira and family by his side, but the legacy he leaves in Thoroughbred racing is far reaching. As a reminder, Vic reached the pinnacle of the racing game when a little $15,000 horse named Musket Man ran third in the 2009 GI Kentucky Derby. More on that in a minute....

Waymark (Liam's Map) made his debut a winning one as he ran to his 3-2 odds here. At the bell as a blitz for the top spot ensued, the colt watched from the outside up the backstretch. The 2-year-old flexed his muscles with a four-wide move around the far turn and picked up fellow 'Insight' runner High Camp (Instagrand). Blazing down the lane, Waymark aimed for the wire and scored, but High Camp put in a game effort with some late speed of his own. Autobahn (Nyquist), another 'Insight' horse,...

Peter Alafonginis, owner, Northern Tier Farm I foresee only approximately five major tracks open in the USA and a few smaller one-mile tracks for the second-tier horse. They will have, dirt, grass and synthetic surfaces at each of the major venues. And their lesser counterparts will hopefully have a combination of surfaces as well. Steeplechase venues will grow in number and quality, incorporating a country-club environment with clubhouse and parimutuel betting. These facilities will combine other aspects of the Thoroughbreds' life after racing. Equitation, shows, hunt events, even polo on...

Counting Stars (Honor A. P.) opened her account at first asking with a four-length success at Churchill Sept. 25, but could not repeat the dose at short odds when a distant fifth in the Oct. 24 Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland. The bay bounced back in no uncertain terms with a four-length tally in the Astral Spa Stakes here just 13 days back, but was a warm item to handle the quick turnaround and added real estate. Ridden for a bit of speed from her wide draw, Counting Stars was trapped...

Montador (Nyquist) shot to the front with about a furlong to travel and powered home to defeat stablemate Juris Doctor (Constitution) for a first black-type success in Saturday's age-restricted Woodchopper Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Taken back off the early gallop, Montador raced two deep and with cover down the backstretch. Pulled out into the three path leaving the three-eighths, the homebred went on the attack three off the inside with a furlong to travel and quickly put the race to bed. Juris Doctor traveled into the race looking very...

Sent off as the 29-10 third choice in a field of five debuting over the one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon, Class President (Uncle Mo) saved his best for the final furlong and kicked home a decisive winner, heading up a WinStar and Uncle Mo 1-2 finish. Off without incident from the two hole, the bay colt secured the perfect spot at the fence from third as second choice Prize Pick (Tiz the Law) cut out the running while flanked by the debuting Easterly (Uncle Mo)--also representing WinStar,...

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Ewing (Knicks Go), perfect in two starts but unraced since taking out the GII Saratoga Special Stakes Aug. 2, arrived on the Oaklawn Park backstretch Monday, Dec. 22 after being based in Central Florida with trainer Mark Casse. According to Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse's Oaklawn string, the $37,000 Keeneland September buyback turned $585,000 OBS April breezer is scheduled to work in Hot Springs Dec. 28 in advance of his return to action, which could come in a sprint allowance in January, Arthur said....