Horse Racing
Guy Torsilieri, the president of the National Steeplechase Association since 2009, will step down from that role at the next meeting of the Board of Directors on Jan. 17, according to a press release from the NSA. A business owner and chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting, Torsilieri said he will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and will remain active in the affairs of the NSA. "I concluded that, as we embark on a new decade, it was a good point to turn over the...
Consistent and uniform drug policies, rules, and procedures across all racing jurisdictions would be my focal point for what we should aim to achieve in 2020. It's imperative that all of the industry participants who are racing across the country have a clear understanding of what the protocols are, both from a training standpoint and for race day. However, this tends to be quite different depending upon which location a given horse is racing or training at on a certain day. It creates a lot of confusion, potential for mistakes,...
Bob Baffert has two strong chances to win his sixth edition of the GIII Sham S. Saturday with Authentic (Into Mischief) and Azul Coast (Super Saver). A $350,000 KEESEP buy, Authentic graduated at first asking sprinting at Del Mar Nov. 9, earning an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. His stablemate Azul Coast also donned cap and gown at first asking, albeit going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 8. The Richard Baltas-trained Taishan (Twirling Candy) boasts the second highest Beyer in the field, registering an 81 for his...
An evenly matched field is set to line up at Gulfstream Saturday for the GIII Kitten's Joy S., which is running as a graded event for the first time. The morning-line nod went to Isabelle de Tomaso homebred Irish Mias (Sky Mesa). Breaking his maiden at third asking when stretched to two turns for the first time in the Laurel Futurity S. Sept. 21, he was fourth in the Awad S. at Belmont Oct. 26 and second in this venue's one-mile Pulpit S. Nov. 30. Mike Maker saddles a son...
It's no secret that racing had a tough year in 2019. We asked a cross-section of participants what their number one goal is to make racing better in 2020. (Want to participate? Email suefinley@thetdn.com) In my opinion, the number one priority for racing to achieve in 2020 is to come up with some form of stronger leadership from within the sport. Clearly the idea of a commissioner is a pipe dream; to me the next best thing would be an advisory committee which would have the role of counsel for...
Three-year-old filly Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) got Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai World Cup Carnival off to a winning start on Thursday when taking Meydan's card-opening UAE 1000 Guineas Trial, a conditions race over seven furlongs on the dirt, by an eye-catching 1 3/4 lengths. Final Song was the highest-rated filly in the race on a mark of 103 and ran to her form, quickening late to deny a pair of recent impressive Meydan maiden winners in Down On Da Bayou (Super Saver) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rio Angie...
In our last podcast of the year, host Joe Bianca, Jon Green, Bill Finley, and Alan Carasso host Green Group Guest of the Week Peter Brant, who talks about his decision to keep Sistercharlie in training in 2020. The writers also cover the year in review, their favorite races, and the tumultuous events of 2019.
In a wide-ranging discussion that covers the whip, horsemen's groups, USADA and more, Terry Finley stops in to Patty Wolfe's Orlando studios to be the first guest on Thoroughbred People, the TDN's new podcast series. Listen to the stream here or subscribe to our podcast app on Apple podcasts.
"Inside the Winner's Circle, Presented by Keeneland" is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale who have gone on to achieve success on racing's biggest stages. When Covfefe (Into Mischief) arrived at Brad Cox's barn at the Fair Grounds to begin training for her 2019 campaign, the trainer could have circled just about any race on his calendar. He had a talented, fast, well-bred filly and might have entertained thoughts of trying the GI Kentucky Oaks. But what makes Cox one of the fastest rising stars in his...
Pat Keogh, who was CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse since 2011, has been appointed the Chief Executive of The Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds effective immediately, Horse Racing Ireland and Curragh Racecourse Ltd. announced on Monday. Keogh will continue in his Leopardstown role for now, but will begin scaling back his involvement there over the next few months, while the Leopardstown management team will be augmented in the near future. Padraig McManus, Chairman of Curragh Racecourse Ltd. said, "I would like to thank outgoing CEO Derek McGrath and wish him well,...