thoroughbreds

Despite having started just once before, Fondly (Upstart--Lifetime Memory, by Istan) once again put it all together to claim the Virginia Oaks, and her 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. A stylish first-out winner at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 14 when she graduated by four lengths over a maiden field going seven panels, her connections decided to take a chance in the newest point races toward American's premier contests for 3-year-olds, and she did not disappoint. Up in the leading flight early, she contested the pace briefly...

After running a lengthy March 2 opinion piece by Noah Shachtman that questioned why so much money from slot machines, casinos and other subsidies was being to paid to what Shachtman describes as a dying industry in horse racing, the New York Times let its readers have their say. Saturday's edition included five letters to the editor, all from people reacting to a piece entitled "Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?" Five letters were published, including one from NTRA CEO Tom Rooney...

Sporting an afterburner that would make any jet jock high-five over the need for speed, Verifire (Authentic--Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) went Mach 1 with his hair on fire en route to a successful unveiling at Colonial Downs. The score gave trainer Brad Cox his second 'TDN Rising Star' on Saturday afternoon. Initially sold for $260,000 during Keeneland September, Verifire was taken home by John Stewart of Resolute Racing for a cool $1 million at last year's OBS March Sale. Sent to Cox, the chestnut drilled at Payson Park in...

Making the journey from his Payson base in South Florida, Lion of Justice (Into Mischief--Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d'Oro) did not mind the new digs one iota as he graduated on debut over the blazing main strip at Colonial Downs on Saturday. Owned by St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing, West Point and C J Stable, the colt represented the pride well and took home a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort. Bred by Clearsky Farms, the $1.1 million Keeneland September purchase was slammed at the windows to the tune...

As a result of the severe storms which moved through the area, and are still making their way through large parts of the country, high winds and corresponding electrical issues have forced Fair Grounds to cancel live racing Saturday. The nine-race card had six main track and three turf contests scheduled for the day, but power loss in the area forced the track to abandon the card. Live racing is scheduled to resume Sunday with a first post of 12:45 p.m. CT.

The Jana Domino Thoroughbred Foundation (JDTF)'s annual hay drive has kicked off to provide funds for New York-based off-track Thoroughbred organizations, the group announced Friday afternoon. In addition to the drive, the JDTF is offering challenge grants to help horse care facilities raise their profile as well as funding hay purchases. Anyone interested in participating via donation, or any New York-based charitable organization that wishes to apply for a Hay Drive matching gift, can contact Carl Domino at cjdomino@gmail.com. "Hay is the number one need for all equine rescue centers...

9th-Gulfstream, $77,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-9, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.59, ft, 7 1/2 lengths. PRAETOR (c, 3, Into Mischief--Curlin's Approval {MGSW, $654,725}, by Curlin) ran a well-beaten third on debut in the mud at the Spa last August, but he was able to graduate by a neck over the highly-regarded GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) at the Big A Sept. 27. Given time after a minor injury, the bay returned to work at Chad Brown's Payson base in late January. Slammed at the windows for his...

PENN Entertainment's Zia Park Racetrack is seeking applications for a track superintendent and official starter for its 2025 fall season, the organization said in a press release on Friday. The position's duties include managing the track maintenance team, oversight of all equipment, maintaining compliance with HISA and New Mexico Racing Commission rules and regulations, and ensuring a safe racing surface for all equine and human participants. The role of the starter includes the recruitment and managing of assistant starters, starting of all races, gate schooling for horses and oversight of...

Churchill Downs has scheduled 50 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $26,175,000--a $525,000 increase--for its 2025 Spring Meet, which covers 43 race dates between April 26-June 29, the track said in a Friday press release. The American Turf for 3-year-olds, annually staged on the Kentucky Derby undercard, had its purse raised to $1 million after the American Graded Stakes Committee elevated the 1 1/16-mile grass race to Grade I status. The American Turf is one of four Spring Meet stakes that received purse hikes for 2025 and one of seven...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a job fair on Wednesday, Mar. 19 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET to support the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, the track said via an early morning Friday release. The job fair will be held in the 1863 Club at the Spa. Attendees should enter through the Wright Street entrance (Gate 8) with parking available in the 1863 Club lot. Festival positions include mutuel clerks, cashiers, merchandise clerks, customer service representatives, white caps, security guards,...

A federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed a first amended complaint stemming from a lawsuit initiated one year ago in which the New Mexico Horsemen's Association (NMHA) sued SunRay Park, Albuquerque Downs and Ruidoso Downs for injunctive relief and damages over alleged violations of the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). "In sum, NMHA fails to state plausible claims for relief under the IHA's consent provisions," stated the Mar. 5 opinion and order out of the United States District Court for New Mexico. "NMHA has not established itself as the relevant...

Dual Eclipse winning trainer Brad Cox is drawing up intended targets for Flood Zone's (Frosted) next start after the colt took home the GIII Gotham Stakes at the Big A last weekend. The trainer said that possibilities include the Mar. 29 running of the GI Florida Derby and also two races scheduled for Apr. 5--the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct and the GII UAE Derby at Meydan. Flood Zone stablemate and GI Florida Derby contender Tappan Street (Into Mischief) continues to tune up at Payson Park. Most recently, the...