racing

The 2020-2022 Godolphin Flying Start trainees were tasked to use their knowledge and creativity to come up with proposals for a new look U.S. Graded Stakes Program for 3-year-olds. These four round table discussions were published in TDN on May 15, 17, 19, and 21. The trainees were given the opportunity to respond to the feedback/questions they received from TDN readers. 3-Year-Old Turf Races - Angus Robertson, Brigitte Murphy, Tom Murphy (Click here) Feedback: As you talked about maiden races running on the turf at Belmont for $90,000, I wonder...

As there is currently an increased rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the UK, British racing leaders have agreed with the UK Government to impose more stringent racemeeting restrictions beginning on Jan. 1, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. Under the new restrictions, no owners will be permitted to attend Tier 4 race meetings and essential staff only are allowed at meetings in Tier 4 areas. In addition, no owners living in Tier 4 will be permitted to attend race meetings in Tiers 1-3. These restrictions also apply to...

Keeneland has submitted a request to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Race Dates Committee for a five-day summer meet, to be held Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12. Under the current safety protocols, the summer meet would be held without spectators. The summer dates accommodate a portion of the 16-day spring meet that Keeneland was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Keeneland also will share return to racing protocols with Gov. Andy Beshear's office and local health officials for their approval. To ensure the safety of staff,...

Brice Blanc is rested, swabbed, needled and raring to go. "It'll be good to get back to work," said the jockey, who's scheduled to ride Friday at Santa Anita before a grandstand empty of spectators--the track's first day of live racing since March 22. To get the green-light to ride, Blanc underwent a blood test Wednesday to see whether he carries antibodies showing that he's already been exposed to Covid-19. He was also given a nasal swab to see if he's currently infectious. "It wasn't that bad," said Blanc, of...

In a first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Bill Carstanjen, the chief executive officer of Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), said he was "more than cautiously optimistic" that the Sep. 5 GI Kentucky Derby will proceed as rescheduled, ideally with spectators allowed to attend by adhering to whatever form of COVID-19 social distancing is appropriate at that time. As part of a broader scope of fiscal progress reports, Carstanjen also gave updates on construction projects at the gaming firm's two Thoroughbred racetrack properties in Kentucky, where work is both ongoing and...

Golden Gate Fields has cancelled racing for the rest of the week after repairs from a gas leak in the area surrounding the track damaged the facility's hot water system. In addition to affecting food and beverage at the track, the issue impacts backstretch workers and the track is installing portable hot water showers for them during the repair process. "There is no concern of a gas leak at Golden Gate Fields," said David Duggan, Vice President & General Manager, Golden Gate Fields. "Unfortunately, there was a leak in the...

The Empire 6, a jackpot-style multi-race wager replacing the traditional Pick 6, will be launched at Saratoga by The New York Racing Association, Inc. Featuring a $0.20 bet minimum and 20% takeout, the Empire 6 will be added to the wagering menu beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 and continue through the remainder of the 2019 meet at the Spa. If one unique ticket exists, then 100% of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place...

Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), one-two across the line in the GII Penn Mile S. June 1, lock horns again in Friday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Moon Colony turns back to a mile after setting a pressured pace and tiring to ninth in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles July 6. "I think the cut back to a mile will be good for him," trainer Mark Casse said. "He's already well proven at a mile,...

In the week that Japan lost Deep Impact (Jpn), there was a piece of consolation as the country's Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) swooped late to cause an upset in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Seemingly shy of her best so far this season, Toji Morita's 5-year-old who had captured the 2017 Shuka Sho was 20-1 taking on the Classic generation but had an ideal pace scenario settled towards the rear as the free-running Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) tanked along in front under Frankie Dettori. That rival looked to...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Imperial Hint (Imperialism) put on a show for the Saratoga faithful to capture back-to-back renewals of Saturday's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. in track-record time. The 'little rocket,' off at odds of 5-1, was placed in a perfect spot in a tracking third by Javier Castellano as the rail-drawn Mitole (Eskendereya)--off as the imposing 1-2 favorite riding a seven-race winning streak headed by a sensational score in the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H.-slugged it out with the speedy Strike Power (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :21.77....

Arc runner-up and MG1SW Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}-Holy Moon {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) was euthanized after developing complications following colic surgery on Monday, Racing Post reported. The chestnut, who carried the same Sunderland Holdings silks as her sire to victory in both the G1 Darley Irish Oaks and the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, was only four. She underwent colic surgery in early July. "The reason for colic surgery on Sea Of Class in the first place was to remove an abdominal mass sitting between the spleen...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has introduced a multi-part initiative to protect the health and welfare of the racehorse and help ensure the long-term viability of the racing industry in the United States. The central component of the AAEP's Prescription for Racing Reform is the association's commitment to identifying non-race day treatment alternatives for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). The AAEP Racing Committee developed the Prescription for Racing Reform, a 10-point plan designed to both protect the health of racing's equine athletes and strengthen the integrity of the sport. Key...