Today's Edition

Veteran trainer Luca Cumani has announced he will bring his illustrious training career to an end later this year. The legendary trainer has decided to call it a day after 43 years at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket. His countless big-race winners include two G1 Epsom Derby heroes in Kahyasi (Ire) (Ile de Bourbon) (1988) and High-Rise (Ire) (High Estate {Ire}) (1998). Cumani told Press Association Sport, "I wouldn't say it's something I've been thinking about for a long time, but I've come to realise the time is right. I've...

DEAUVILLE, France—The European yearling sales season started here in Normandy and, after a bumper fortnight at Tattersalls, many of the members of the merry band of sales folk have packed up their bags and rolled back in to Deauville. The Arqana August Sale is all glamour and glitz. Come October there's a more workmanlike feel to proceedings but there are still plenty of potentially top-class horses to be found, as the roll call of recent winning October graduates shows. The treble Grade I winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was unearthed...

LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton October Fall Yearlings Sale will attempt to build on its record-setting 2017 renewal when it opens for a four-day run at the company's Newtown Paddocks Monday in Lexington. A total of 1,464 yearlings have been catalogued for the auction, with bidding scheduled to begin daily at 10 a.m. through Thursday. A broad cross-section of shoppers were out at the sales barn on a chilly, but sun-dappled day in Lexington Sunday. "We've had good steady traffic here at the barns the last two days," said Gainesway's...

Rick Violette Jr., who achieved success on the racetrack as a trainer and off the track as a tireless and influential advocate for horsemen and backstretch workers, died Sunday after a lengthy illness. He was 65 and passed away at his home in Delray, Florida. To racing fans, Violette was known as a steady and long-time presence among the New York training colony. He began training in 1977 in his native New England. In 1983, he opened his own stable in New York and would go on to train major...

Baden-Baden hosted the G3 Ittlingen Preis der Winterkonigin on Sunday and it was the unbeaten Whispering Angel (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) who wore the crown after upstaging stablemate Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) for a Markus Klug one-two. Off the mark at the first attempt when making all by 10 lengths at Hannover Sept. 16, Gestut Park Wiedingen's homebred was held up in rear this time with Martin Seidl keen to restrain the tractable bay. Creeping into contention approaching the final turn, the 18-5 second favourite veered left inside the...

Fran Berry was not exactly the typical Irish rider setting off for pastures new when his path took him to Britain in 2016. Hardly some wide-eyed teenager with his possessions in a handkerchief attempting to catch a break away from the competitive domestic circuit, he was a jockey with an international following and a regular position in the top four throughout this century. There was an itch which needed scratching, which explains why he decided to uproot his wife Laura and toddler son Jordan from Kildare for a fresh start...

GI Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) breezed a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 (3/44) at Churchill Downs with regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons. Working in company with Dazzling Gem (Misremembered) (1:01.40), the leading sophomore filly clicked off splits of :12.80, :24.60, :36.40 and :48.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40. "It was a fantastic breeze," trainer Brad Cox said. "We got a little bit of rain overnight so the track was a little slow but she worked fantastic over it. She started a few lengths...

Growing up the son of a successful racehorse owner has its perks. Days hanging around the backstretch, getting to know and experience the animals up close, seeing firsthand the fast-paced roller coaster that is a racing life. But also attached to the deal is the heft of living in your father's shadow within the game, particularly if you happen to share his name. Jimmy Riccio, Jr., beginning with a push from dad, taking off from one chance encounter and soaring via a lot of elbow grease and teamwork, has achieved...

It was seven lengths 12 months ago and while the winning margin was slightly less on Saturday, the manner of the performance from Anthony Oppenheimer's Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was practically identical as he dominated the feature G1 Qipco Champion S. for a second time. Finally granted the rainfall he craves at the beginning of the week, racing's most vivid reminder of the unparalleled racing prowess of his sire strode to the line in a relative victory lap with Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) struggling six lengths behind...

If toughness is transmitted genetically, Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) had it all from the beginning with his rock-hard sire combining with the gallant ill-fated Vionnet (Street Sense) and the results of that ensemble was in evidence on Saturday in the culmination of Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Made to labour on ground that blunts his greatest weapon, Qatar Racing's redoubtable grey who had carried all before him since early July showed the other side of his character as he toughed out a fourth straight win in a prestige event....

W.S. Farish's homebred Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), a strong second after stumbling at the start in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 6, returned to the worktab Friday, breezing four furlongs in :48.90 seconds on Belmont Park's main track as he prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs. "I thought he worked excellent. It was kind of more than I hoped for," trainer Shug McGaughey said. "He ran off easy and finished up well, galloped out great and seemed to come back good. It...

A bet's a bet, and I'm calling on Mattress Mack to pay off. During my recent TDN podcast with Jim McIngvale I got him to agree to a friendly wager. McIngvale is a huge Houston Astros fan and there is no bigger Red Sox fan than myself. With the American League Championship Series tied at 1-1 at the time, I offered to have my picture taken and printed in the TDN wearing an Astros jersey if Houston won the the ALCS. He asked that it be the jersey of Alex...