A year after eventual Preakness (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver kicked off her year in the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, finishing a close fifth behind victorious Two Sixty, another set of 3-year-old fillies compete in the $125,000 event Jan. 16.
Category Archives: Horse Racing
Zampaladus Bridges Gap With Urban Equestrian Academy
The Urban Equestrian Academy is based in the countryside on the outskirts of Leicester, and it helps to bridge the gap between these two realities, connecting inner-city children to the world of horses.
Fasig-Tipton Releases February Winter Mixed Catalog
The Feb. 8-9 sale has 580 horses entered in the main catalog. Daily sessions begin at 10 a.m.
Rispoli, Van Dyke Suspended for Riding Crop Violations
Stewards at Santa Anita Park have issued three-day suspensions over the past week to jockeys Umberto Rispoli and Drayden Van Dyke for riding crop infractions. The suspensions follow fines levied for earlier violations.
Eclipse Awards Finalists to be Announced on TVG Jan. 16
The NTRA, NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form announced today that TVG will televise live the announcement of the finalists for the 2020 Eclipse Awards this Saturday, Jan. 16 at noon ET/9 a.m. PT.
TOC, TVG, California Tracks Announce Purse Supplements
Thoroughbred Owners of California, Del Mar, The Stronach Group’s 1/ST Racing, and TVG announced Jan. 13 a program that will bolster California Thoroughbred purses by up to $15 million in 2021-22.
Godolphin Flying Start Applications Due Feb. 8
The portal opened a month early to allow potential applicants more time to put together their applications in a process that has been made more streamlined than ever before.
Coolmore Breaks Seven-Figure Barrier for Son of Kingman
A colt born in the UK to Southern Hemisphere time by super European sire Kingman provided the benchmark on another extraordinary day of trade Jan. 13 when selling for AU$1.8 million (US$1,399,304) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Swiss Skydiver, Charlatan Among 2021 Saudi Cup Entries
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has unveiled a massive list of entries, including many of the world’s top horses, for the second edition of the Saudi Cup meeting Feb. 19-20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Turned Aside, Country Grammer Set to Sell at Keeneland
Offered as part of the complete dispersal of the estate of Paul Pompa Jr., Turned Aside and Country Grammer are both graded stakes-winning sons of classic winners with race records that strongly suggest the potential for more success on the track.
69-Year-Old Kato Honored as Jockey of the Week
At age 69, jockey Akifumi Kato is not only winning races but also honors. The rider, who has posted at least one win for 50 consecutive years, earned jockey-of-the-week honors from Jan. 4-10 in recognition from the Jockeys’ Guild.
Blewitt to Join West Point Thoroughbreds
Long-time racing broadcaster and industry veteran Jason Blewitt will join West Point Thoroughbreds in February as a partner account representative.
UKGC crackdown an “invasion of personal liberty,” per letter to MPs
The U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) is continuously scrutinizing how gambling in the country is operating and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. It is assisting with a review of the U.K. Gambling Act and wants former addicts to help shape its policies, some of which are not finding a lot of support with the gambling industry. While change of any kind is always going to cause friction, some believe that the updated gambling laws proposed could lead to losses of over $82 million for the British horseracing industry. As a result, a letter was just sent to Parliament leaders from an unidentified source, urging them to take a closer look at the proposed changes before it’s too late. The author, or authors, of the letter assert that the updated Gambling Act is a “significant invasion on person liberty.”
The UKGC has been hard at work to reform what it views as somewhat dated gambling laws in the country that don’t correctly reflect the current social environment. As a result, more control is expected to be placed on the horseracing industry, as well as on media rights income, which would cause a ripple effect that would bring greater losses, according to the letter’s author(s). The lawmakers are requested to put pressure on the commission to reconsider its changes and to ensure that they in keeping with what the government expects with the revamped Gambling Act.
The letter also asserts that online casino gambling and race gambling should not be lumped together under one set of regulatory protocols. It argues that there is more skill involved in race betting and that it isn’t as prone to lead to gambling addiction or other problems, and that history of horseracing in the country has produced a gambling product that is “fair [and] safe” and which has “stood the test of time.”
If those arguments don’t convince Parliamentary figures to take action, perhaps a plea to individual rights will. The letter adds, “The Gambling Commission’s proposed action would be disproportionate to the small number of people who suffer harm from betting on racing, as well as being a very significant invasion on personal liberty in the free society in which we live. At a time when racing and the British economy are trying to recover from Covid-19, a rushed intervention like this would also significantly set back recovery.”
UKGC crackdown an “invasion of personal liberty,” per letter to MPs
The U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) is continuously scrutinizing how gambling in the country is operating and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. It is assisting with a review of the U.K. Gambling Act and wants former addicts to help shape its policies, some of which are not finding a lot of support with the gambling industry. While change of any kind is always going to cause friction, some believe that the updated gambling laws proposed could lead to losses of over $82 million for the British horseracing industry. As a result, a letter was just sent to Parliament leaders from an unidentified source, urging them to take a closer look at the proposed changes before it’s too late. The author, or authors, of the letter assert that the updated Gambling Act is a “significant invasion on person liberty.”
The UKGC has been hard at work to reform what it views as somewhat dated gambling laws in the country that don’t correctly reflect the current social environment. As a result, more control is expected to be placed on the horseracing industry, as well as on media rights income, which would cause a ripple effect that would bring greater losses, according to the letter’s author(s). The lawmakers are requested to put pressure on the commission to reconsider its changes and to ensure that they in keeping with what the government expects with the revamped Gambling Act.
The letter also asserts that online casino gambling and race gambling should not be lumped together under one set of regulatory protocols. It argues that there is more skill involved in race betting and that it isn’t as prone to lead to gambling addiction or other problems, and that history of horseracing in the country has produced a gambling product that is “fair [and] safe” and which has “stood the test of time.”
If those arguments don’t convince Parliamentary figures to take action, perhaps a plea to individual rights will. The letter adds, “The Gambling Commission’s proposed action would be disproportionate to the small number of people who suffer harm from betting on racing, as well as being a very significant invasion on personal liberty in the free society in which we live. At a time when racing and the British economy are trying to recover from Covid-19, a rushed intervention like this would also significantly set back recovery.”
Keeneland January Day 2 Soars on Back of Dispersals
The Jan. 12 second session of Book 1 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale was certainly one for the books. Bolstered by the addition of several farm dispersals, the atmosphere on the grounds was one of frenzied activity.
White Birch Strikes Early for $925,000 Regal Glory
Mare’s dam Mary’s Follies also sold for six figures Jan. 12
Appeals Court Affirms Ruling Against Former Trainer
A United States Appeals court has affirmed the conviction and sentence of a district court that found former trainer Murray Rojas guilty of misbranding drugs and illegally administering race day medication to horses in 2013.
Five Mares Who Made Abdullah a Top-Class Breeder
Juddmonte’s most brilliant broodmares include Rockfest, Sookera, and Slightly Dangerous.
$1.9M Snitzel Colt Tops Magic Millions Yearling Sale
A stunning appetite to be involved in the Australian racing industry was witnessed on the Gold Coast Jan. 12, as buyers defied outside influences at the opening session of the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Mr. Misunderstood Retired
Mr. Misunderstood, a four-time graded stakes winner with earnings of $967,926 for trainer Brad Cox, has been retired, owner Staton Flurry said Jan. 12.