Florida

This year's Breeders' Cup had a touch of deja vu all over again thanks to a series of veterinary scratches in the lead up to the event, some of which didn't exactly sit well with connections. The one that perhaps garnered the most attention is Californian flag-bearer The Chosen Vron's (Vronsky) removal from the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on official veterinary advice. The horse's connections initially disputed the scratch, arguing he was 100% sound. It later transpired The Chosen Vron had a small ankle problem that necessitated a few months...

After a two-year hiatus which included a television stint for NYRA and FOX, Rajiv Maragh is set to get back into race riding Sunday at Gulfstream Park with two mounts on a 10-race program, the track announced via presser Saturday. The winner of 1939 races is named on Gabagool (Ransom the Moon) in race five and Supers Lucky Lady (Superestrella) in race 10, and himself admits that the 2,000-win milestone was a motivating factor in his return along with the birth of his second child, daughter Lilah, who made her...

The Ocala Breeders' Sales company (OBS) will launch their new digital platform, OBSOnline, with a new auction for horses who failed to meet their reserve or were withdrawn from the 2024 October Yearling sale due to the threat of Hurricane Milton, the company announced via presser Friday. Set to begin Oct. 24 and closing Oct. 30, entries for the timed online auction will close Oct. 18 and those who choose to participate will not have to pay any entry fee. There will also be reduced commissions with consignors being given...

The Gulfstream-based Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (FTHA) awarded 16 college scholarships to children of qualified Florida-licensed backstretch employees and trainers Tuesday, the organization announced. To date, the FTHA, which aims to "foster, promote and improve business conditions in the racing industry", has given more than $400,000 in scholarships through the Kent Stirling Scholarship Program. "This is a fitting tribute to Kent, who devoted his life to our industry and to its people," said FTHA President Joe Orseno. "He was diligent in his efforts on behalf of the owners and trainers,...

GSW/MGISP Breaking Lucky (Lookin At Lucky) was euthanized Saturday, Aug. 3 due to complications from colic at the age of 12 according to a release by Blue Star Racing who stood the stallion in Louisiana. Through a five-year stallion career in both Florida and Louisiana, he was the leading second crop sire by winners in Louisiana and the southwest region. "Our entire family is heartbroken," said Blue Star Racing's Dex Comardelle. "Lucky was such a loved member of our family and local community. We are still trying to process that...

Florida-based stallion Win Win Win (by Hat Trick {Jpn}) could not have kicked his second career off any better, earning a first winner and first 'TDN Rising Star' Thursday as Nooni (Win Win Win--Unanimity, by Union Rags) lived up her billing in a winning debut at Santa Anita. After blitzing a quarter-mile in :20.1 at OBS March, Nooni caught the eye of Zedan Racing Stables and trainer Bob Baffert who went to a sales-topping $1,800,000 to secure the filly from her sire's first crop. Hammered down to 1-5 in the...

Officials at the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have announced the results of the Board of Directors election, which were finalized Mar. 14. Elections are held annually, and the term of all Directors is three years. The Board is elected by the Association members via secret ballot. A Board of no fewer than 11 and no more than 15 Directors supervises the FTHA and each year, five positions are filled on a rotating basis. For 2024, Incumbent Owner/Directors Chester Bishop, Jonathan Green, and Teresa Palmer were re-elected.  Incumbent Trainer/Director Ron Spatz...

A tax package that will extend racing and breeding incentives in the state of the Florida, was approved Friday by Florida Legislature according to a release by the FTBOA. HB 7073, which was initially enacted in 2023, continues to provide state funding for HISA along with $20m in purses and/facility improvements split between Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. It also gives $5m to the FTBOA for use as racing and breeding promotions and an additional $2.5m for Florida-bred racing incentives. In total, HB 7073 gives a boost of over...

Verifying (Justify--Diva Delite, by Repent), winner of the GIII Indiana Derby and a half-brother to Eclipse winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for an introductory fee of $10,000 in 2024. Trained by Brad Cox after selling for $775,000 as a KEESEP yearling, Verifying began his career at two with a win in his first asking at Saratoga before placing in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont at the Big A in his second start. In addition to winning the Indiana Derby, he placed...

Many of you may have seen that last week a bill was introduced in Congress to repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, better known as HISA. I want to set the record straight as to what this legislation does or doesn't do, assure you that the bill isn't going anywhere in Congress, and stands no chance of becoming law. First things first-it's important to remember that any member of Congress can introduce a bill. They write the language, file the bill, and voila it's been introduced. Just in the...

Mattingly (Bucchero) gave his young sire a second juvenile stakes winner in 2023 and his third black-type winner overall with a good-looking victory in Saturday's Hollywood Beach S. over the Gulfstream synthetic surface. Purchased for $70,000 out of this year's OBS March Sale with the objective of sending him over to Royal Ascot--where his sire was a strong fifth to Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the 2018 G1 King's Stand S.--Mattingly debuted in the May 13 Royal Palm Juvenile S., finishing runner-up to No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never),...

Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into state law the self-described "strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country." Under the new statute--the bulk of which goes into effect on July 1--business owners with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the immigration status of new hires, and be subjected to enforceable penalties for employing undocumented workers, as well as stricter penalties for sending undocumented workers across state lines to work in Florida, among other provisions. When enforced, the new stringent laws are highly likely to impact everyone...