thoroughbreds

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 NAJJA THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS, INC. By 2036, I envision a Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry that has emerged stronger and more sustainable after confronting--and resolving--many of the structural challenges we face today. While the continued retraction of operating racetracks is likely unavoidable over the next decade, the remaining venues will be more strategically aligned with year-round...

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2026, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 17 and 18. The committee reviewed 942 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 410 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2025, and Listed status to 211 races. Eleven Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and 10 new Grade II races were named;...

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. BILL CASNER, CO-FOUNDER OF WINSTAR FARM What I am so optimistic about with horse racing right now is that young people are returning. Griffin Johnson has something like 2.5 million followers. When he went into the Derby, he had 1.2 million or something followers. He loves racing. He's got a vision of where it's going to go. He will bring, and he...

The Jockey Club of America has released the list of mares in the 2026 Mare Incentive Program, which waives registration fees for certain 2027 foals of mares that meet the criteria, the organization said on Friday. The list of mares in the 2025 pilot program was searched more than 3,100 times and 228 mares were bred as part of the program. "We were pleased to see how many searches were performed and how many mares were brought back into production," said James L. Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club....

WatchandWager.com has renewed agreements with Monarch Content Management Group and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to accept wagers on their racetracks in 2026, according to a press release from the betting outfit on Thursday. The renewals with Monarch allow WatchandWager players to place bets at 19 racetracks, including Gulfstream and Santa Anita, while the NYRA deal gives those horseplayers access to 17 racetracks, which includes Saratoga. WatchandWager has obtained renewals of all of its state-by-state ADW licenses for 2026. Among those individual licenses are California, Colorado, Kentucky, New York...

The Keeneland Library once again has fielded an ambitious and educationally-minded schedule to start 2026 which includes tours, the Starting Gate Storytime program and its Library Lecture Series, the repository said in a press release on Thursday. The library continues to offer free year-round exhibit tours and a host of other programs geared towards all facets of the Thoroughbred industry's past and present. The popular lecture series includes authors who conducted research at the facility. Tickets are now available for these winter events: 21: Gary O'Dell, Reinventing the American Thoroughbred;...

7th-FG, $56K, OC50k/n2x, 3yo/up, 6f, 4:45 p.m. ET. In last year's Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, BUILT (Hard Spun) went gate to wire and won by 6 3/4 lengths for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. After running through the rest of the Louisiana series, the colt bypassed the Derby and opted for the GII Pat Day Mile, finishing well-beaten. Now ready to return to the races in New Orleans he will have the services of Jareth Loveberry. Initially an $82,000 Keeneland September grad, Eclipse acquired Built for $260,000 at the 2024...

The topic of the diminishing North American Thoroughbred foal crop (estimated 17,000 for 2026) came up several times during last week's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson. This is often referred to as our industry's "horse shortage" problem. I try to avoid that term in my reporting unless I am directly quoting someone who says it. Instead, the sport has long been dealing with an "owner shortage." Breeders stand ready and willing to start producing more racehorses if only more...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday due to a winter storm impacting the New York City area, the track said in an early morning press release on Sunday. The message said that South Ozone Park remains under a winter weather advisory with forecasts calling for continued snow, low wind chill values and high winds. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcasting, and online wagering is available via NYRABets.com. Live racing will resume following the holiday break on Friday, Dec. 26...

Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony reached 300 career wins at Oaklawn Park when favored Brunia (Tekton) broke her maiden in the 10th and final race on Friday's 2025-2026 opening day card, a press release from the track said on Saturday. Brunia, an Arkansas homebred for Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, is trained by Lindsay Schultz. Anthony, 86, reached 299 career Oaklawn victories last March when 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Quietside (Malibu Moon) captured the GII Fantasy Stakes. The Fantasy was also Anthony's record 40th career Oaklawn stakes victory. The late...

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming has moved Saturday's full Synthetic Championships program to Sunday, Dec. 21, due to extreme cold temperatures and accumulating snow forecasted for the Florence area, a press release from the track on Saturday morning said. The National Weather Service is calling for 3-7 inches of snow throughout the day and evening, with temperatures expected to fall into the single digits and wind chill values approaching minus 9 degrees overnight. The Sunday, Dec. 21 program will feature the complete $1-million Synthetic Championships, including the $250,000 Prairie Bayou,...

Echo Town (by Speightstown), the winner of the GI H. Allen Jerkens, was purchased by Tyree Wolesensky and has relocated to her Leadem Farm in Arkansas for the 2026 breeding season, according to a release from Vinery Sales on Friday. Brokered by Vinery's Jay Goodwin, Echo Town has arrived in Arkansas and is ready for inspection. He will stand the 2026 season for $3,500. "Just really excited for Arkansas breeders to have a Grade I-winning sprinter with that pedigree, who has already proven the ability to sire precocious graded stakes...