group races

The number of strikes with the whip a jockey is allowed to use over jumps and on the Flat in France has been reduced from five to four beginning on May 1, France Galop announced on Wednesday. There will be an educational and transitional period from Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 to allow jockeys to acclimate to the new regulations. The sanctions currently in place regarding overuse of the whip will be applied through Apr. 30. The aim is to gradually reduce the use of the whip, and the system...

It is all about the 2-year-olds in Europe on Saturday, with Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. enjoying the prestige bragging rights. A week after celebrating Classic glory, KHK Racing, Roger Varian and David Egan combine again with the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who is a warm order following his six-length Haydock novice rout at the start of the month. "He has looked of good ability throughout the summer," commented Varian, who also has Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Clive Cox may...

Occasionally, a division leader can come from nowhere during the course of a season and Shadwell's unbeaten Baaeed (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) fits that bill as he looks to step closer to the title of king of the milers in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Not seen in public until after Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had run in all three of Europe's 2000 Guineas, the full-brother to the more stamina-infused Hukum (Ire) gave early indication of his innate ability on his debut at Leicester June...

The Curragh offer the perfect warm-up to the weekend with a Friday twilight card featuring a trio of Group 3 races including two Classic pointers for 2022. The first is the Manguard Plus Irish EBF Flame of Tara S. for 2-year-old fillies over a mile, with Flaxman Stables Ireland, Demi O'Byrne & Susan Magnier represented by Albula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bidding to double her tally having won over this trip on debut at Naas Aug. 2. Representing the Joseph O'Brien stable, she encounters a pair of Ballydoyle runners in Kiss...

Jockeys competing in any group or graded race no longer need to self-isolate upon their return to Ireland, the Racing Post reported on Monday. Previously, only jockeys competing at the Grade or Group 1 level were exempt from quarantine. However, jockeys are still required to undergo a trio of COVID-19 tests-prior to traveling and twice once they travel back to Ireland. "It's positive news," said Irish Jockeys Association Secretary Andrew Coonan to Racing Post. "Flat riders travelling abroad will be helped by this but principally at the moment it will...

Jessie Harrington is keen to put some of her most promising juveniles to the test in an intriguing card at Leopardstown on Thursday which features the G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. and G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. In the former, which has played host to the likes of Teofilo (Ire), New Approach (Ire), Rip Van Winkle (Ire) and Churchill (Ire) in recent times, she saddles Alpha Racing 2020's impressive July 1 nine-length course-and-distance maiden winner Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), while Robert Scarborough and Susan Magnier's Oodnadatta...