Delaware Park

It's been nearly a year-and-a-half since Chantal Sutherland last rode. Her career was sidelined May 6, 2023 after a freak accident at Gulfstream when she pulled her mount up when the horse was frightened by geese crossing the track. Sutherland was thrown from the saddle and suffered a very serious injury. She snapped the humerus bone right off the shoulder and with her arm hanging grotesquely it was no longer attached to any part of her body. At time, the 48-year old rider grew so despondent that she feared that...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of La Mehana in the GIII Waya Stakes in New York. Al Wukair Mare Takes Waya LSU Stables' La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) broke her American duck in the GIII Waya Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meeting last week (video). Trained by Christophe Clement, the bay was third in both the GIII Orchid Stakes and GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes earlier this...

An owner/trainer and an assistant trainer/groom at Delaware Park on Tuesday both were granted stays of penalties imposed last Friday for alleged neglect of horses their care. Owner/trainer Ney Pessanha, 38, had appeared at a hearing before the Delaware stewards Sept. 17 to respond to allegations of "improper or inhumane treatment of horses" after the stewards "had received complaints from horsemen, outriders, the Safety Steward, private veterinarians, and regulatory veterinarians," according to a Sept. 20 Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) ruling. On the same date, assistant/groom Nilo Pessanha, 44, had...

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit has lifted the suspension assessed to trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. in the wake of one of his horses testing positive for methamphetamine after a race at Delaware Park in May. Duarte is the private trainer for Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables. On June 26, Duarte was informed that a horse he trained named Happy Cat (Kitten's Joy) had tested positive for methamphetamine following a May 22nd race at Delaware Park. On September 5, he was issued a provisional suspension of 60 days. After presenting...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.   NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the HIWU "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 09/12/2024 Licensee: Robert James Gherardi, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vet list medication violation for the presence of Firocoxib--controlled medication (Class C)--in a sample taken from Kell's Kiss on 8/6/24. Date: 09/12/2024 Licensee:...

On June 26, trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr was informed that a horse he trained named Happy Cat (Kitten's Joy) had tested positive for methamphetamine following a May 22nd race at Delaware Park. Duarte was indeed concerned, but he insisted he had done nothing wrong, that cooler heads would prevail and that he would not be penalized. Three-and-a-half months later, he has already started serving what could be a lengthy suspension. The problem is that when there is a drug positive, Duarte says the position of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare...

The Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale, which attracted 830 registered bidders--a record for the platform--concluded Tuesday with 181 horses sold for $3,659,700. The clearance rate was 79% and the average was $25,592. The online auction was topped by Something Wicked (Gun Runner) (hip 5), who sold for $260,000 to HX3 Incorporated from the consignment of Northview Stallion Station, agent. The 3-year-old filly, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, broke her maiden at Delaware Park July 18. "This sale demonstrates that Fasig-Tipton Digital is here for all levels and segments,"...

Delaware Park will start its races an hour earlier Wednesday, while Horseshoe Indianapolis has canceled its live racing card for the day due to forecasted excessive heat at both tracks. Delaware Park's first post time Wednesday will be 11:30 a.m.  Additionally, there will be approximately a half hour in between each race on the eight-race card. According to the National Weather Service, the forecasted heat index will be near 105 degrees for the region Wednesday afternoon. First post at the Delaware oval Friday is expected to return to 12:30 p.m....

On Nov. 9 last year, veteran trainer Steve Klesaris shipped his mare She's Awesome from Delaware Park to Aqueduct to compete in the second race. When she arrived, the receiving barns were full, and so, She's Awesome (Flatter) was sent instead to the track's auxiliary stabling, used as an overflow. The auxiliary barn is adjacent to staff bathrooms, with a lot of foot traffic through it, said Klesaris. It's also used to stable ponies, he added. She's Awesome won that day. But a post-race test came up positive for the...

Delaware Park has cancelled the live racing card scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9 due to the expected impact from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Live racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, Aug. 10. Laurel Park has also decided to cancel its nine-race card Friday. Both tracks are expected to resume racing Saturday, Aug. 10. For more info., click here for Delaware Park and here for Laurel Park.  

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream in the Belmont Oaks.   Slipper Fits For Godolphin Miss Flawless in her first four starts in England and Dubai prior to a seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) handed breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby a victory in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes during the final days of the Belmont at the Big A meeting...

For the second time in the past week, Delaware Park cancelled a live racing card due to the heat and moved the card as drawn to a different day. The latest Delaware Park live racing day to fall victim to excessive heat is the card scheduled for Wednesday, July 10. Acting upon the recommendation of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) veterinarians and stewards, Delaware has moved the entire card to Thursday, July 11, when the temperature should abate somewhat. The heat index in the area, according to the National...