Horse Racing
The newly formed Varese Turf & Sport will become the new concession holder of Varese Racecourse on January 1, 2026, the organisation announced on Tuesday. Varese Turf & Sport released a statement which read in part, "The challenges ahead are many and significant, but we are ready to immediately deploy skills, energy, and investments to launch a concrete and long-lasting renewal path for the racecourse. "Our objective is clear: to relaunch the world of horse racing as both a symbol and a driving force of a broader process of enhancement...
Scandals involving top equestrians have ignited fierce debates about animal welfare at the Olympics. As comparisons to horse racing's more controversial practices emerge, TTR AusNZ's Vicky Leonard discusses how all equestrian sports face mounting pressure to address these issues head-on, requiring strong leadership to ensure robust practices that can uphold public acceptance. It's the grand stage of the Olympics, where the thunderous applause for our elite equine athletes should be deafening, but instead, it's muffled by controversy. The recent removal of revered British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin from the Olympics...
With over 18 years experience in government affairs and stakeholder engagement, Bethany Erb has been appointed to serve as Director of Public Affairs at the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), the organization announced via press release Monday. In the position, Erb will manage HISA's engagement with policymakers and other stakeholders in Washington, D.C. and around the country, which includes representatives from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as well as the various advocacy groups inside and outside of the industry. Erb's prior positions include within the U.S. Department of Agriculture,...
Racing in France and Germany looks set to continue behind closed doors after both countries have been placed in new temporary lockdowns. The rising rates of coronavirus across Europe means that, as of midnight on Thursday, France will return to lockdown conditions seen earlier in 2020, with only essential journeys being permitted and restaurants, bars and most shops closed for all bar essential provisions. However, the country's sports minister Roxana Maracineanu has confirmed that professional sport can continue and that professional athletes are allowed to train and to travel to...
Grants Pass Downs, which took over as the main stop on the Oregon circuit last season after the closure of Portland Meadows, has been awarded a $165,200 safety grant from the Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in advance of the track's newly rescheduled opening date of June 20. The funds will be used to install new chain-link fencing, break-away foam distance markers, sand for racing surfaces, and a telescopic boom for safety mitigation along the homestretch straightaway chute. The immediate availability of funds will allow for completion of those...
G1SW Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}-Miss Bio {Fr}, by River Mist), who won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in 2016, will stand at Haras de la Croix-Sonnet for €2,500 in his first season, Jour de Galop reported. Also a winner of the G2 Prix Foy, G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and G3 Prix la Force, the half-brother to French highweight and Group 1 winner Stormy River (Fr) (Verglas {Ire}) placed in four other Group 1s and retired with a mark of 34-10-4-4 and $966,364 in earnings. Raced in the...