thoroughbreds

Some trivia for you equine enthusiasts out there. Who is the only horse to have two graded stakes named after them? The answer is Bayakoa (Arg). The Ron McAnally trainee who won a pair of GI Breeders' Cup Distaffs has one at Oaklawn, while its counterpart takes place this Friday at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The Grade III event out West pits morning-line favorite and Arizona-bred Desert Dawn (Cupid) versus six others going 1 1/16 miles. The 4-year-old filly trained by Phil D'Amato is loaded with class, even though she has...

Turf Paradise, which only weeks ago seemed either destined to remain dormant and in disrepair or perhaps even ready to face the wrecking ball, appears to be in the midst of orchestrating a remarkable comeback. Track management, horsemen, and regulators all expressed confidence and a renewed sense of optimism during Thursday's Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting that the Phoenix track was on target to hit a Jan. 29 start date for the first commercial-track meet in the state since May. Several stakeholders underscored during the Dec. 14 meeting that a...

The 8th Annual Jockeys and Jeans Great American Stallion Season auction to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) begins with a preview day, Monday, Jan. 8 at 9:00 a.m. EST on Equiring. The sale starts on that same website Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 9:00 a.m. EST and ends Thursday, Jan. 12 at 8:00 p.m. EST, the organization said in a release Thursday. This year nine major Kentucky Thoroughbred breeding farms and individual owners are expected to gift seasons along with donors across nine states. "This season sale is truly...

It's been a remarkable year for trainer Linda Rice, who either won outright or tied for the lead at five straight meets at the NYRA tracks, and it might get even better. She entered the week with 157 wins at the three NYRA courses this year and needs just eight more to break the single-season record held by David Jacobson. Her stable has already amassed $10 million in earnings, a record for her barn, and $4.3 million more than her stable made last year. How has she done it? Those...

With a total of 1,467 entries, Keeneland has supplemented eight horses to the 2024 January Horses of All Ages Sale, which will cover four sessions Jan. 8-11, the organization said in a release Thursday. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, as a broodmare prospect, Dolce Zel (hip 839) concluded her racing career in November at Del Mar by winning the Kathryn Crosby S. The daughter of Zelzal (Fr) was a winner in her native France and in 2022 won or placed in five of six races--all stakes--led by victories in...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com "There were so many, it is hard to narrow it down to just one. I would have to say the one that will stick with me is winning the GII Raven Run with Vahva. There is something magical about racing at Keeneland and to be able to make the walk to the infield with a filly that has meant a lot to me since we purchased...

Three Chimneys Farm's GI Belmont S. hero Palace Malice (Curlin) and WinStar Farm's versatile multiple Grade I winner Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) are bound for 2024 Japanese stud duty, Darley Japan said in a release late Wednesday. On the heels of the announcement that Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will stand at Darley in Japan next year, Palace Malice and Yoshida add even more star power as they accrued four Grade I wins and 10 black-type wins between them. Palace Malice was a...

Santa Anita's popular Paddock Captain, John Shear passed away Tuesday from natural causes at age 102 in a rehabilitation facility in Arcadia, according to a statement from the Shear family that was shared via a racetrack press release. Beloved by the many fans with whom he came in contact, as well as by his fellow employees, jockeys and horsemen, Shear opted to retire at age 100 in 2021. That same year he was honored by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters with the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit...

Minutes after a $40,000 claimer named Jack a Rose (Midshipman) broke down in an Apr. 3 race at Parx Racing, part owner Lisa Novak got a call and was told she had two choices, have the gelding euthanized or go through with an expensive and complex surgery that may or may not save his life. She didn't see it that way. There was only one choice. She would do whatever it took to save Jack a Rose's life. "I have so much love for him," Novak said. "You can't just...

The 2023 Wanamaker's December Sale catalogue is now available online with bidding open at 8:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 21. The first listing completes that day at 5:00 p.m. EST and subsequent listings close in three-minute increments, the company said in a release Wednesday. With weanlings, yearlings, horses of racing age, open broodmares and broodmares in-foal all catalogued this month, top first-crop stallions of 2023 will also be represented. Yearlings by Mitole, Maximus Mischief and Vino Rosso are included. Highlights of the catalogue: A yearling filly by Mitole (Hip...

Kentucky State Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, (R-Georgetown), a staunch supporter of horse racing in the Bluegrass, will not seek re-election for the 17th Senate District and allow his term to expire in December 2024, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus said in a release early Wednesday afternoon. "I have decided not to seek re-election to the state Senate in 2024," Senator Thayer said. "The end of my current term next year will mark 22 years in the Senate and 12 as Majority Floor Leader. After conversations with...

With more than 700 users registered to bid and buyers in 27 states plus another three countries, the Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with 186 horses sold for $3,167,000 across the catalogue, which was the largest ever offered on the platform to date, the auction company said in a release Wednesday. The online sale featured broodmares, horses of racing age, broodmare prospects, yearlings, weanlings and a stallion share in and lifetime breeding right to first-crop sire Flameaway (Scat Daddy). Breeze Easy (GB) (Hip 310), a 4-year-old race filly,...