racing

What will racing look like in 10 years? We asked some of racing's best and brightest to give us their predictions. Want to submit an answer? Email suefinley@thetdn.com MATT SCULL, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT OF FIRST RODEO RACING The care for the horse comes before all. A greater emphasis is now placed on the competition rather than the business of breeding and sales. The wrinkles in HISA have been ironed out and it has allowed the proper framework for all states/track operators to pull the rope in the same direction, rather than...

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) is in the process of taking initial steps to activate a long-dormant, non-profit, Thoroughbred-specific state racing permit with the goal of building a "modern, new Thoroughbred racing track and entertainment complex" in the Ocala area. Lonny Powell, the FTBOA's chief executive officer, made the disclosure Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. Powell said it was the first time the FTBOA has revealed the initiative outside...

Oaklawn Hot Springs will feature a trio of significant updates to its wagering menu for the upcoming 2025-2026 live racing season, highlighted by two new low-takeout bets and the return of a fan-favorite multi-race wager, the track announced Tuesday. Starting on Opening Day, Oaklawn will launch two new wagers featuring a reduced 15% takeout, one of the lowest rates in North America, to offer greater value to customers. Each race day will conclude with a new "Get Out Pick 3", featuring a $3 base wager covering the final three races...

Edited Press Release The launch of a comprehensive review aimed at updating the veterinarians' list and stewards' list categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026, was announced Monday by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics. Beginning in 2026, HISA will conduct a detailed audit of existing veterinarians' and relevant stewards' list categories across racetracks, state racing commissions and HISA's rules. As part of this process, HISA will...

Hastings Racecourse and Casino, a track located in Vancouver, British Columbia that began racing in 1889, has ceased the conduct of thoroughbred horse racing at the facility with immediate effect, the track announced Friday evening. In a statement posted to social media, the track noted that racing is typically conducted between the months of April and October and as such, there were no horses currently stabled on site. "This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse in the local community and its importance to...

News last week about the loss of this year's GIII Bob Hope Stakes after receiving just three entrants--all from the Bob Baffert stable--wasn't exactly a shock. But is it a canary in the coal mine concerning the health of California's horse inventory? Not on its own. It is, however, one among a flock of important indicators. Growing attention has been spent on the implications from the consolidation of top bloodstock between fewer and fewer stables, with many observing how a greater distribution of horses among more stables would help the...

Parx will begin installing a new turf course in March with the goal of racing on it by late summer 2026. There has been no grass racing at Parx since September 2024. In August of that season the course was closed after a catastrophic equine injury during a stakes resulted in a euthanization, triggering a safety review by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). The track was cleared to reopen by HISA within several weeks, with Parx agreeing to put new protocols and maintenance procedures in place. But another...

There has been much discussion in the press recently about the ongoing negotiations on the 2026 racing calendar in New York. In truth, we are closer than reports would suggest on reaching an agreement. Currently, there are four days for the Winter meet, four days for the Saratoga meet, and two days at the Spring meet that are in dispute. We are advocating strongly to retain these dates because we believe that a robust year-round racing calendar is vital to the long-term health of New York's Thoroughbred industry. Year-round racing...

With more heavy rain in the forecast for southern California, Del Mar has canceled their Friday race card according to a social media post from the track. Additionally, Del Mar has carded an extra race day to be held Monday, Nov. 24. The shift will allow the main track additional time to dry while also enabling the use of the turf course on Sunday and Monday. Friday's cancellation marks the second day in as many weeks as the track also was forced to cancel the Nov. 15 card due to...

The Freakonomics Radio podcast has released a new three-episode series, "The Horse Is Us," which includes coverage of the Keeneland September Sale and several other important industry issues. "Their team was fantastic to work with and spent several days interviewing several industry professionals and Keeneland team members on our grounds," said Keeneland Communications Manager Meredith Daugherty. The first episode is not necessarily Keeneland-centric. It is entitled "The Ultimate Dance Partner." "For most of human history, horsepower made the world go," the introduction reads. "Then came the machines. So why are...

The horses, of course, remain just as reticent about discussing their health as 150 years ago. But their beauty and courage are also unchanged, which has always kept veterinarians willing to persevere in a one-sided consultation. Until recently, anyway. People do change, however-and the fact is that an increasingly urbanized society is no longer producing as many young people with a natural affinity for horses. That's a problem for our whole industry, but a quietly developing crisis for its veterinary sector. And, having lasted as long as it has, the...

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) parceled up a championship freshman campaign with a stalk-and-pounce victory in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, a win that is better than it might appear on paper in the eyes of his trainer Todd Pletcher. "I thought he ran terrific," said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, striking at the Breeders' Cup for the 16th time. "The race unfolded kind of just as we had anticipated it would with [TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard] Brant (Gun...