Horse Racing

Mansetti Gives Ulwellings Emotional First Plate Victory

Etobicoke, Ontario--Heart stopping. Those are often the words used to describe the thrill of winning a horse race. After Mansetti (Collected) crossed the finish line first in Saturday' s King's Plate Stakes at Woodbine, Al and Bill Ulwelling and their team erupted into a frenzied celebration as a steady string of well-wishers passed by their box to congratulate the Minnesota-based owners on their first King's Plate win. And then, the unexpected. As the team made their way over to the winner's circle in the Woodbine infield, 72-year-old Bill Ulwelling collapsed...

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She Feels Pretty Ventures North to Take the E.P. Taylor, Claims Breeders' Cup 'WAYI'

Etobicoke, Ontario--Crossing the border into the Great White North boasting a resume laced with a trio of Grade I victories, She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) annexed her fourth at the highest level when winning taking a nail-biting renewal of the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. Heavily fancied by the crowd at 2-5 come post time, the chestnut broke evenly under John Velazquez to place herself in a forward position as Godolphin representative, Diamond...

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Not This Time Colt It's Our Time Spectacular on Saratoga 'Rising Star' Debut

Just like pulling a picture card with an '11' showing in blackjack, Double Down Horse Racing's It's Our Time (c, 2, Not This Time--Shea D Summer, by Summer Front) made the perfect start to his career in the seventh race from Saratoga on Saturday, taking over from the hot 3-4 favorite Hero Declared (Maclean's Music) at the head of the lane before rocketing home to graduate by an eye-watering 17 3/4 lengths as a 5-1 chance. For his efforts, he becomes a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star', the sixth for his...

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Sunday's Racing Insights: Don't Fret Quality Road, Guitarist Set To Open On Saratoga Stage

6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 4:06 p.m. ET. Amo Racing went to $900,000 to acquire GUITARIST (Quality Road) at last year's Keeneland September Sale. Sent to trainer Chad Brown, the colt is out of GISP Bernina Star (Harlan's Holiday), who was a $1.2-million buy for Don Alberto at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale while Sheza Shining Star (Curlin) was in-utero. Guitarist's dam is a half-sister to GSW National Flag (Speightstown) and SW Perfect Flight (Uncle Mo). Under the first-time starter's third dam we find GISW & MGISP Eddington (Unbridled)....

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Tennessee Belle wins at Saratoga
Yaupon Filly Tennessee Belle Sails Home To 'TDN Rising Star' Honors

A good two-horse battle on the tote ended up being a one-horse affair on the Saratoga main track, as Boyd Racing's second-time starter Tennessee Belle (f, 2, Yaupon--Belle Gallantey, by After Market) put away her well-backed chief market rival Nonna Teresa (Gun Runner) approaching the stretch and powered through the lane to graduate by 7 1/4 lengths Saturday afternoon. At one point separated by just $3,000 on the board, the $75,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $160,000 Fasig-Tipton February yearling was ultimately sent off as the 1.05-1 favorite clear of 2-1...

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NYRA Rolls Out BAQ, Big A Fall Meet Stakes Schedules For A Combined $15 Million

The New York Racing Association has rolled out its 2025 stakes schedules for the 32-day Belmont  At The Big A  fall meet (BAQ) and the 27-day fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack which sport a combined purse structure in excess of $15-million, according to a pair of press releases on Saturday from the organization. Due to the ongoing construction of the new Belmont Park, the BAQ fall meet will once again be conducted in Ozone Park and will run from Thursday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 2. The meet will offer a...

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First Japanese-Foaled Runner Out Of Midnight Bisou Debuts at Niigata

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, August 16, 2025 2nd-CKO, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT YUTO THE INNOCENT (c, 2, Yaupon--Keira, by Unusual Heat), a $42,000 Keeneland September yearling, fetched $110,000 at this year's OBS March sale after breezing a furlong...

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Queen Looks For King's Plate Glory

ETOBICOKE, ONTARIO -- There are those that will often lament the things that are wrong with horse racing. However, a stroll around Woodbine's ever-expanding facilities go a long way in dispensing with some of those notions. The opening of the Great Canadian Casino-Resort has ushered in a next-level racetrack experience offering rooms with panoramic views of Woodbine's expansive E. P. Taylor racecourse while proving all the services and amenities that one might expect at a modern casino hotel. If one enjoys racing and a myriad of gaming products with a...

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Pathbreaking International Bloodstock Agent Michael Motion Passes Away At 95

Renowned international bloodstock agent Michael G. Motion, who was an innovator in his field, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at his home in Middleburg, Virginia Aug. 14, 2025. He was 95. Although he grew up involved in pony club and foxhunting in England, Motion's interests initially were in cattle and farming. He attended the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester before migrating to Canada where took a job working with pedigreed livestock. The position led him to a two-year stint in South America running a receiving center...

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Turf Paradise Progressing With Off-Season Projects Ahead of Nov. 10 Opening

Now inside the three-month mark until the start of the upcoming 102-date meet, management at Turf Paradise is checking off projects on its list of off-season improvements prior to the arrival of horses in October for the Nov. 10-May 2 season. Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia said at Thursday's Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting that Sept. 16 is the target date for the beginning of the annual main-track renovation. "It may take anywhere from 10 days to two weeks because we take all the old dirt off and then...

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Keeneland Supplements Pair To September Yearling Sale Book 1

Keeneland has supplemented a filly by Tapit and a colt by Uncle Mo to Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale Sept. 8-9, the company said via a Thursday release. Opening day of the auction, which begins at 1 p.m. ET will include: Hip 183, a daughter of Tapit who is from the family of current sire Life Is Good, MGISW Diamondrella (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, she is out of She'samericanmade (American Pharoah). Supplemented to the second day is: Hip 374, a colt by...

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Neil Pessin Lands Assistant Trainer Position With Michelle Nihei Barn

Neil Pessin, who abruptly left the training business in mid-May, has landed a new position as an assistant to trainer Michelle Nihei on the Kentucky circuit, the conditioner confirmed Thursday. The conditioner of Grade I winner Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), Pessin saddled his final runner at Keeneland at the end of April and took some time to sell off some of his tack and other gear. But Pessin admits that sitting idly by isn't something he does especially well, and he ultimately accepted an offer from Nihei to oversee a...

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