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Updated: 3 days 18 hours ago

Joshua Kerin Joins Inglis Digital USA

Wed, 2025-03-19 13:38

Joshua Kerin has joined the staff at Inglis Digital USA as a sales and recruitment associate. Kerin will focus on helping the auction company recruit horses, with a focus on building and maintaining relationships in the bloodstock sector. He will be based at the company's Lexington office and he will work with Senior Director of Sales and Recruitment Kyle Wilson.

“I'm thrilled to be joining the Inglis Digital USA team,” Kerin said. “Having grown up in Australia, I witnessed firsthand the influence and respect Inglis holds in the sales market. Having been immersed in the U.S. market for the past nine years, I believe I can contribute to strengthening the Inglis reputation and expanding its presence in the United States.”

Kerin began his life with racehorses on the Standardbred side, working on his grandfather's farm. He made the switch to Thoroughbreds at age 13, when he went to work for Cox Plate-winning trainer Colin Little. He also spent time working with trainer Ciaron Maher before moving to the U.S. to continue his education at Colorado State University.

Kerin graduated from CSU with a degree in equine science, with a minor in business management, and he was also a punter on the school's football team. After graduating, Kerin moved to Kentucky to intern at Three Chimneys Farm before taking a full-time job with Hidden Brook Farm in 2021.

In 2023, Kerin moved into a dual role with Vinery Sales and Silver Springs Training Center. He is a member of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club's board of directors.

“Josh brings a wealth of knowledge and years of experience with him to the Inglis Digital USA team,” Wilson said. “We're thrilled to have him on board and ready to get him started working with our existing and future clients.”

The post Joshua Kerin Joins Inglis Digital USA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Preakness Print/Photography Awards Accepting Entries

Wed, 2025-03-19 12:52

Entries are now open for the David F. Woods Memorial Award, presented for the best Preakness story print, television and multimedia from 2024, and the Jerry Frutkoff Photography Award, presented to the photographer of the best Preakness image from 2024.

Recipients of the David F. Woods and Jerry Frutkoff Award will be honored at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. The Alibi Breakfast, which started in the late 1930s, features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, and celebrities to celebrate the Preakness and solicit interesting and humorous race predictions.

Along with the Woods and Frutkoff, the Maryland Jockey Club will also recognize the recipient of the Old Hilltop Award, a tribute to selected media members who have covered Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction, and a Special Award of Merit will be given to one who has made a positive impact on the racing industry.

Entries for the Woods and Frutkoff must be submitted by April 15.

Submissions for the Woods must include an attachment or link of the story with name and date. Submissions for the Frutkoff must include an attachment of the image as well as the media outlet it appeared. Submissions can be sent to david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com or phil.janack@gulfstreampark.com.

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MGSW Spirit Wind Brings $500k In Fasig-Tipton March Digital Post-Sale

Wed, 2025-03-19 12:46

Spirit Wind (Bahamian Squall), a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $730,000, was sold post-RNA for $500,000 to Willingham Stud, Fasig-Tipton announced Wednesday. Spirit Wind was initially not sold on a final bid of $450,000 in Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale.

Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned the 6-year-old mare, whose marquee win came in the GII Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga last summer.

Her $500,000 sale makes Spirit Wind the highest-price horse offered in the March Digital Sale, which concluded Tuesday with gross receipts now in excess of $3,600,000. She led a trio of graded or group stakes-winning fillies or mares offered in the auction, which accounted for the three highest-price horses sold. R Harper Rose (Khozan), winner of the GIII Hurricane Bertie Stakes last year, sold for $400,000 to Australia's Chatsworth Stud and French group stakes winning 2-year-old Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) sold for $320,000 to Franklin Finance, Haras D'Etreham and Madaket Stable.

“Fasig-Tipton Digital is the proven online sales platform to offer high profile breeding and racing stock to a global audience, with graded and group stakes winners now sold to entities operating on three different continents,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales.  “Our success with these graded stakes winners in our March sale comes on the heels of selling champion Soul of an Angel for $2,600,000 earlier this month, a record price for a North American online auction and the second highest price ever achieved digitally worldwide.”

Fasig-Tipton Digital's next scheduled auction is the April Digital Sale, to take place April 3-8.  Entries close this Monday, March 24.

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Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance On Site At Turfway For Jeff Ruby Day

Wed, 2025-03-19 12:35

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be present at Turfway Park for the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Saturday, March 22, the organization announced Wednesday.

Turfway Park will highlight accredited aftercare throughout the event including Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, who will be honored with a named race. Following the conclusion of the race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, which will include a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance blanket and gift bag.

“Turfway Park is excited to welcome back Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for our Jeff Ruby Steaks Day,” said Tyler B. Picklesimer, Director of Racing & Racing Secretary, Turfway Park. “Hosting Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and honoring them with a named race are great opportunities to raise awareness for accredited aftercare.”

“Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is thrilled to be part of Jeff Ruby Steaks Day for another year,” said Emily Dresen, Director of Funding & Events, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance race is a fantastic way to highlight our shared goal, and we are grateful for Turfway Park's continued support in promoting accredited aftercare on such a significant day of racing.”

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Jockey Club Creates New Off-Track Thoroughbred Profile

Wed, 2025-03-19 11:22

The first equineline.com report centered on Thoroughbreds in their second careers, Off-Track Thoroughbred Profile, is now available through the Jockey Club, the organization announced Wednesday.

The report, 9OT, provides information customized to off-track Thoroughbred owners and those shopping for a Thoroughbred. Based on feedback received from off-track Thoroughbred owners, the report contains a bespoke summary of the horse's race record, including comments, owners, and trainers for each race; the last 10 workouts; a list of the horse's siblings; auction history; and, if applicable, the subject mare's produce record.

To encourage the promotion of Thoroughbreds in their second career, this report is shareable through SMS messaging and email and across multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Equineline product 9OT is available for purchase for any registered Thoroughbred at equineline.com.

The report will be available for free to all off-track Thoroughbreds with a T.I.P. number as a benefit to those participating in The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). OTTB Profiles for existing T.I.P. numbers can be accessed through the associated account; new T.I.P. numbers will have access to the associated OTTB Profile in the account 30 days after application.

“Helping Thoroughbreds thrive in a second career and communicating their value and talent outside of the industry should be a priority of everyone in our sport,” said Kristin Werner, deputy general counsel and director of Industry Initiatives, The Jockey Club. “We want the OTTB Profile to be the ultimate information source for equestrians seeking their next Thoroughbred, and we hope owners of the nearly 40,000 Thoroughbreds registered in the T.I.P system will enjoy this information and share it with others.”

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National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame To Hold 2025 Tour Series

Wed, 2025-03-19 11:16

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is partnering with seven regional farms and Rood & Riddle for tours to be held from April through October. The Museum's tour series will kick off Saturday, April 12, at Sugar Plum Farm. Other available tours include Mill Creek Farm (May 10), Greentree Stables (June 14), McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds (July 12), North Country Farm (Aug. 17), Old Tavern Farm (Sept. 13) and Song Hill Thoroughbreds (Oct. 11). Additionally, there will be three opportunities to visit the Saratoga location of Rood & Riddle equine hospital (June 24, July 22, Aug. 26).

Guests will enjoy a 90-minute experience at each location, where a knowledgeable guide will provide a comprehensive look at the day-to-day operations and what makes each place unique. Guests will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with resident thoroughbreds, farm staff, and experts in horse care at Rood & Riddle. Finally, at the close of the tour, guests will have the opportunity to ask their guide any questions they may have about the care and keeping of these beautiful animals and aspects of life on the grounds.

“These tours always sell out and they offer a wonderful educational experience that will truly resonate with race fans and horse lovers,” said Cate Masterson, the Museum's director. “Visiting these beautiful farms and Rood & Riddle are incredible opportunities to learn about the daily life there, the care and routine of the horses, and the chance to meet the people who make these operations so successful and vital to the community and racing.”

All tour purchases include complimentary Museum admission. To book a tour, click here.

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‘Rising Star’ With The Angels Leads New York-Bred Divisional Nominees; Nominations Open For New York Farm Manager Of The Year

Wed, 2025-03-19 11:09

The nominees for the New York-bred divisional championships were announced Wednesday via a press release by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. The list of nominees is as follows:

2-Year-Old Male: Bold Fortune (Central Banker), Jack and Jim (Slumber {GB}), Mi Bago (Vekoma), Mo Plex (Complexity) and Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief).
2-Year-Old Filly: Accelerating (Mitole), Scythian (Tiz the Law), Shoot It True (Munnings), Stone Smuggler (Honest Mischief) and With the Angels (Omaha Beach).
3-Year-Old Male: Antonio of Venice (Laoban), Doc Sullivan (Solomini), Pandagate (Arrogate), Tapalo (Tapiture) and The Big Torpedo (Big Brown).
3-Year-Old Filly: Kinza (Carpe Diem), Landed (Omaha Beach), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), Roanan Goddess (Leofric) and Sweet Brown Sugar (Collected).
Older Dirt Male: Bank Frenzy (Central Banker), Light Man (Central Banker), Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy), Mama's Gold (Bolt d'Oro) and Rotknee (Runhappy).
Older Dirt Female: Kant Hurry Love (Kantharos), Silver Skillet (Liam's Map), Sterling Silver (Cupid), Stonewall Star (Flatter) and Venti Valentine (Firing Line).
Turf Male: Dakota Gold (Freud), Dancing Buck (War Dancer), Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}), Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro) and Works for Me (Daddy Long Legs).
Turf Female: Caldwell Luvs Gold (Goldencents), Loon Cry (More Than Ready), Moonage Daydream (Candy Ride {Arg}), Scythian (Tiz the Law) and Silver Skillet (Liam's Map).
Male Sprinter: Dancing Buck (War Dancer), Light Man (Central Banker), Rotknee (Runhappy), Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Tapalo (Tapiture).
Female Sprinter: Kant Hurry Love (Kantharos), Loon Cry (More Than Ready), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), Sterling Silver (Cupid) and Tricky Temper (Into Mischief).

Nominations are also open for the New York Farm Manager of the Year which will be awarded along with the above-mentioned championships May 19. The New York Farm Manager of the Year Award will be chosen from the nominated candidates and voted by the board of directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. in recognition of an individual in a managerial or supervisory role at a New York Thoroughbred-based farm.

Submit nominations here.

The post ‘Rising Star’ With The Angels Leads New York-Bred Divisional Nominees; Nominations Open For New York Farm Manager Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Churchill Downs Renews Partnership With Ford Ahead Of Kentucky Derby

Wed, 2025-03-19 10:30

Churchill Downs Racetrack has renewed its partnership with Ford as the exclusive automotive partner of the Kentucky Derby through 2029,  the track announced Wednesday. Under the renewed agreement, Ford will be granted exclusivity in the automotive category and an expanded footprint with interactive vehicle displays to promote fan interaction and immersive brand experiences to supplement the excitement of Derby Week and beyond.

As part of the multi-year agreement, Ford will expand its on-site footprint to include the naming of the First Turn Club, a premium hospitality space originally debuted in 2023 overlooking the first turn of the racetrack. The popular location will now officially be called the Ford First Turn Club, offering guests a distinctive race-day experience with prime views and upscale amenities. Additionally, Ford will activate exclusive luxury vehicle displays and brand-new Ford-themed fan experiences at key areas around the track, including the Paddock Plaza and VIP Gate, ensuring high-profile brand visibility to attendees throughout Derby Week.

“Churchill Downs is thrilled to continue building our relationship with Ford Motor Company as an Official Partner of the Kentucky Derby and to expand our collaboration in exciting new ways,” said Casey Ramage, vice president of marketing and partnerships at Churchill Downs Racetrack. “The Kentucky Derby is built on tradition and long-standing partnerships, and Ford's commitment to excellence and innovation aligns perfectly with the spirit of this exceptional event. We look forward to continuing to work together to deliver an unforgettable experience for Derby fans and guests.”

Ford will maintain the existing sponsorship of key Derby and Oaks activations not limited to: branding inclusion on the Kentucky Derby Starting Gate, presenting sponsorship of the Churchill Downs Barn Area, entitlement of a Derby Day race sponsorship, exclusive digital content and year-round vehicle displays at Churchill Downs.

“At Ford our mission is to create tangible impacts on the communities where we work and serve,” said Phil O'Connor, director of global marketing communications–Ford Blue and Model e at Ford Motor Company. “Ford has a deep connection with the Louisville community. Our Louisville-based manufacturing facilities employ roughly 12,000 Kentuckians. Our heritage of capability, passion and innovation make our friends at Churchill Downs Racetrack ideal partners. We're excited for this next chapter in our partnership and honored to continue supporting the bluegrass state.”

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First Mares Reported in Foal to Shirl’s Speight

Tue, 2025-03-18 15:54

Grade I winner Shirl's Speight (Speightstown–Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul {Ire}) has had his first mares checked in foal, Darby Dan Farm announced Tuesday. The 8-year-old stallion won the 2022 GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes, as well as that year's GIII Tampa Bay Stakes and the 2020 GIII Marine Stakes. He was second in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Mile and 2023 GI Woodbine Mile.

Shirl's Speight stands at Darby Dan for $5,000, S&N.

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First Mares Reported in Foal to Mr Fisk and Champions Dream

Tue, 2025-03-18 13:56

The first mares have been reported in foal to multiple graded stakes winner Mr Fisk (Arrogate–Plein Air {Ire}, by Manduro {Ger}) and to graded winner Champions Dream (Justify–Dancinginherdreams, by Tapit). Both stallions are standing their first season at stud at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Florida.

Mr Fisk, who won the 2024 GII Hollywood Gold Cup, as well as last year's GIII Californian Stakes and the 2023 GIII Native Diver Stakes, stands for $8,500, live foal.

Champions Dream, winner of the 2022 GIII Nashua Stakes, stands for $5,000, live foal.

“We're thrilled to announce that both of Florida's only first-year stallions for 2025 have multiple mares confirmed in foal. This early success with Mr Fisk and Champions Dream validates the tremendous interest we've seen from breeders,” said Christine Jones, Director of Stallion Services at Pleasant Acres Stallions. “As the only son of the legendary Arroagate standing in Florida, Mr Fisk offers breeders a unique opportunity to tap into this exceptional bloodline. Similarly, Champions Dream, by Triple Crown winner Justify, has been equally well-received. These early confirmations are exactly what we hoped to see and demonstrate the confidence breeders have placed in these outstanding young stallions.”

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Arqana May’s American Appeal: A Concentrated Quality of Sire Power

Mon, 2025-03-17 14:42

With the entirety of the American two-year-old sales calendar now concentrated in Ocala and Maryland, the Arqana Breeze Up Sale has become an increasingly popular stop for Americans on the spring sales calendar. This year, falling on May 10, it lands between the OBS April sale (April 15-18) and Fasig-Tipton Midlantic (May 19-20), giving buyers ample time to travel back and forth.

The catalogue was released last Thursday, and offers the usual blend of European and American sire power.

“It's a concentrated quality of stallions, many of whom are selected by Irish pinhookers, who are very good judges,” said Hubert Guy of the sale's appeal. “The horses are very well-prepared.”

In this year's catalogue, fully one-quarter of the two-year-olds are by American sires, most of which have been pinhooked from American fall sales. In addition to the usual lineup of European superstar sires like Dubawi (Ire), Wootton Bassett (GB), Too Darn Hot (GB) and exciting newcomes like Hello Youmzain (Fr), there are 46 juveniles by American-based sires. That includes seven by Justify, three by Practical Joke, and two each by Blame, Knicks Go, Maxfield, Medaglia d'Oro, Mitole, Munnings, and Tapit.

American-based sires represented by one offering apiece include American Pharoah, Bolt d'Oro, City of Light, Connect, Constitution, Daredevil, Essental Quality, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Kitten's Joy, Maclean's Music, Maximum Security, McKinzie, More Than Ready, Not This Time, Omaha Beach, Street Boss, Street Sense, Vino Rosso, War Front, and War of Will, who sold at this sale in 2018 and went on to win the 2019 GI Preakness Stakes and the 2020 GI Maker's Mark Mile.

Arqana's CEO Freddy Powell said he felt this year's sale includes a particularly strong crop of juveniles, with some quality pinhooks from America, the numbers of which continue to grow.

“The impression during the inspections was that it was going to be a very good vintage,” said Powell. “The individuals we saw in Ireland, England and France were very pleasing. It seems that on the figures, that impression is confirmed. In 2025, for example, we have 43 yearlings purchased at the yearling sales in the U.S. for an average of $106,000, when the numbers were 41 for $89,000 for 2024, and 29 for $81,000 for 2023. We are blessed to have such a collection of horsemen selecting and buying those yearlings to present on the Deauville turf.”

Unlike in America, while no official times are provided, you're welcome to time the breezes on your own. Several buyers said that felt that the horses' preparation on a more forgiving surface over the winter and spring leads to longer-term soundness than horses prepared in America.

“There are plenty of opportunities for horses that were bought by very good judges, taken over there and which have been trained and prepared for sale on a more forgiving surface that we find here in America,” said Kip Elser.

Justin Casse, who purchased War of Will at the sale in 2018, agreed. “They tend to have a nice, good surface and ground to breeze on that time of year and it's ample amount of time for horses to get ready as far as the situation chronologically in the breeze-up calendar.”

Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty's half-brother by Constitution (pictured here as a yearling) sells as lot 174 | Taylor Made Sales

Powell said that theory about the ground goes on to be proven on the track. “The great bunch of breeze-up two-year-old graduates every year prove their skills, and the longevity on the racecourse of most prove that their system of training on a healthy surface to gradually take them to a sale where there is no official clock is working well and suits most horses.”

Elser has had success at the sale in the past, and said he goes with an open mind.

“We look at everything,” he said, noting that the 193 entered make that possible. “It's a small sale and there are nice horses there. It has been a productive sale for me.”

Elser said that he also appreciated the fact that the sale allowed for a more intellectual approach than relying on the stopwatch alone. “The conditions aren't always the same. The ground and weather aren't always as absolutely consistent like they are here, so there aren't as many absolutes. The conditions and surfaces vary enough that there's a little bit of a puzzle to put together.”

But Americans don't just come to buy American pedigrees.

“We have a some beautiful pedigrees coming from the U.S.,” said Powell, “but also some European stock by sires who tend to do well in the U.S., like Blue Point (Ire), Dubawi, Lope de Vega (Ire), Night Of Thunder (Ire), Siyouni (Fr), Wootton Bassett. There are some very well-bred fillies with proper international pedigrees.”

Of note by American sires:

* Lot 174 is a Constitution half-brother to GIII Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown), purchased for $185,000 at Keeneland September by Blandford Bloodstock.

* Lot 12 is a Vino Rosso half-brother to Instagrand (Into Mischief) who RNAd at Keeneland September and sells here for M.C. Thoroughbreds.

* Lot 49 is an American Pharoah filly whose dam is a full-sister to Group 1 winners Roly Poly and US Navy Flag, and a half to U.S. graded stakes winner Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

* Lot 55 is a Tapit colt whose dam is a full-sister to Mastercraftsman.

* Lot 185 is a Mitole filly who is a half-sister to G2 Norfolk winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Valiant Force, who sold at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for $525,000.

Lot 185 (shown here as a yearling) is a Mitole half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint runner-up Valiant Force | courtesy St. George Sales

In recent years, in addition to War of Will, sales graduates coming back to America have included the GI and multiple graded stakes-winning Rock Emperor (Ire), who sold for €12,000 and went on to win $1.2 million in America; Romagna Mia, a €29,000 purchase who won the GIII Dowager Stakes and was GI-placed in the Beverly D; and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies second Malavath (Ire), who won the GII Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte in France, after being purchased for €139,200 in 2021, when Covid forced the sale to be held in Doncaster.

But as Powell pointed out, the appeal of the sale is the blend of European and American offerings.

“There's no doubt that the American end user is really being forced to consider grass horses more than they ever have,” said West Point Thoroughbreds CEO Terry Finley, who said that “without a doubt” the stable would be represented at the sale.

“In the past, I have had Christophe Clement, David Ingordo, and Kip Elser on the ground for me over there,” he said. “One, it brings a new angle to partners, and look, we're a game of results and it's pretty easy to see the kind of results people have had going to that sale and I'm sure it's going to accelerate. People who are serious and want to really compete at the highest levels over here are going to have to stand up and take notice this year, if they haven't already.”

Many American agents also come representing U.S. and international buyers for markets around the world.

Casse said he would be back this year shopping for clients around the globe, including America, because of the quality of the individuals represented.

“I know it's a focal point for the European breeze-up consignors as far as quality goes in terms of what they bring there,” he said. “It has also been very prosperous for me as a buyer and as a seller.” Casse says he doesn't go over there with a focus on any particular type of individual. “I go over there with a very open mind,” he said. “It has been a lifetime of learning. I never thought War of Will would end up a dirt horse. I'm buying for trainers in France, Ireland, England, and America. I would consider a horse out of that sale for any of the above and as we have learned, the two-year-old sales are about performance and physical, and pedigree is just a part of the formula for deciding how much the horse is going to cost.”

Elser also will be representing an international buying bench. “I like to be in a position to look for a varied group of prospects for a variety of clients,” he said. “I go to the Craven Sale in Newmarket while most people are busy here at OBS March. It's good to be off the beaten path. I'm a little more familiar with the process because I sold at the Craven sale a few years ago.”

There are also those intangibles, Casse said.

“Arqana is one of the gold standards for hospitality for agents attending from abroad. For a long time, they have looked after us very well, and when you go there, you can find an Ascot two-year-old, or you can find an American Triple Crown horse. If you look hard enough, there's something for everyone.”

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Susan Naylor on the New Boundless Podcast Episode

Mon, 2025-03-17 13:43

Susan Naylor (formerly Moulton) is many things; a prominent owner, breeder, and Versailles, Kentucky farm owner, but it's clear that her philanthropic work is what most clearly defines her today.

The owner of the fan-favorite racehorse Manny Wah (Will Take Charge) has endured unimaginable loss in her life, losing both of her children in separate incidents nine years apart. On this week's Boundless podcast with jockey and veterinarian Ferrin Peterson, she talks about channeling her grief into something positive.

Naylor explained how she became exposed to racing as a child. “I'm from San Marcos, Texas,” she told Peterson. “My dad was a cattle rancher, had horses, dabbled with stallions. We raced at the bush tracks in Texas. Cattle supported the horses back then. Horses were a hobby. But I took it very seriously. I loved to ride. My dad fancied himself a cowboy. I rode hunters and jumpers. I galloped and breezed in the morning at Retama, up until I was 45, and we pinhooked.”

But tragedy brought all of that to an end.

“This all came to a crashing halt when we had that car wreck,” she said, of the accident that took her eight-year-old son's life in 2007 when an oncoming car veered into her lane and hit her car head on. “We were in Maui on holiday.”

In his memory, she created the Will Smith Foundation. “Will was a little boy who wanted to do everything for everybody,” she says. “He had the best heart. I learned from him. Our mission statement is to provide positive life experiences for children. Arts, sports, bereavement counseling. It was the drug that healed my heart.”

Moulton faced another tragedy when her older son Charlie died of a fentanyl overdose nine years after Will's accident. She appears on the podcast wearing his shirt.

Boundless is a podcast designed to tell stories of perseverance, personal struggle, and determination.

To watch the podcast on YouTube, click here.

Click here to listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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New York Owner, Breeder Jane Schosberg Passes Away

Mon, 2025-03-17 13:02

Well known in New York's racing and breeding circles, Jane Mindlin Schosberg died peacefully on Mar. 15, surrounded by her family. She was 85 years old.

Jane Schosberg was predeceased by her husband Paul in 2017 and her daughter Jill Stoller in 2021. She is survived by her son Richard and her daughter-in-law Dawn; her sister Katherine Reinleitner; her son-in-law Timothy Stoller; grandsons Travis and Ryan; granddaughter Jenna Stoller Grimshaw and her husband Sean; and two great-grandchildren Bryce and Nora.

She is also survived by Waffles, her beloved Corgi, who now lives with Jane's best friend Donna Klemas in Canada. Rescued from Lexington, KY, Waffles hitched a ride on a Morrisey's horse van to become Jane's constant companion.

Schosberg grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y. and attended Scarsdale High School, where she met Paul Schosberg, her high-school sweetheart. After attending Bennington College and earning a liberal arts degree, Jane married Paul in 1959. Their daughter Jill was born in 1960, their son Richard a year later.

Services will be private. Those wishing to honor Jane's life and legacy are encouraged to donate to the Mayo Clinic, to Take2/Take The Lead, or to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Jane had grown up riding horses, and it was in Virginia that she and family began the racing and breeding operation that continued to her death, and where the Schosberg family bought their first farm.

Jane gave riding lessons at Deerfield Riding Academy in Great Falls, VA, while her daughter Jill became an accomplished show rider and her son Rick, in his words, “mucked out stalls as fast as I could.”

In 1974, the Schosbergs purchased Pine Lane Farm near Katonah when they relocated to New York from Virginia, and Dot in Spot, who became the Schosberg's foundation broodmare, went with them.

Dot in Spot produced four foals, bred in Jane's name, all bred in New York. The best of them, Lotus Delight, was multiple stakes-placed and earned $243,000, retiring in 1988. One of her daughters, Tim's Lady, produced Mellow Roll, who earned more than half a million dollars and was voted New York-bred Champion Two-Year-Old Male in 1997.

Jane also bred Cyanea, the 1982 New York-bred Champion 2-year-old filly, and a winner and a runner-up of the New York Breeders Futurity, Bix in 1982 and Tons in 1977, respectively.

She often visited Kentucky and was a regular at the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton sales, developing strong relationships with Denali Stud, Ashford Stud, and Coolmore America. She had a strong friend network in the Bluegrass, and though she was pretty much a lifelong New Yorker, she was an ardent fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

 

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Data Shows that HISA Tracks are Safer than Those Not Covered by the Authority

Mon, 2025-03-17 12:19

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has released its annual metrics report for 2024, which shows that tracks regulated by HISA are significantly safer than those that are not.

At the 47 racetracks operating under HISA's ADMC Program and Racetrack Safety Program, the combined rate of fatalities was .90 per 1,000 starts. At racetracks that are not covered by HISA, the fatality rate was 1.76 per 1,000 starts, almost double the number for the HISA tracks.

The new was released just days after the Jockey Club released its numbers from its Equine Injury Database, which covers most tracks in the U.S., including HISA and non-HISA tracks. The Jockey Club reported that there were 1.11 fatalities per 1,000 starts last year. The number of fatalities recorded by the Equine Injury Database in 2021 was 1.39. That was the last full year prior to the launch of HISA's Safety Program. That the HISA number is now down to .90 represents a 35% decrease from 2021.

“HISA has made significant progress in advancing its mandate across racetrack safety, technological innovation, uniform medication control and equine welfare,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “HISA pursued these initiatives with input and support from the many racing stakeholders who are the backbone of the sport, and their collective efforts have led to meaningful improvements in our safety metrics. We look forward to continuing to work with the industry to make further inroads.”

For the first time since its inception, HISA also reported what is an estimated number for fatalities that occur during workouts. That figure was .50 deaths per 1,000 workouts.

In a press release released Tuesday, HISA said that combining data from racing and training facilities will prove to be a useful tool.

“While it is too early to establish trends in combined racing- and training-related fatality data, transparency is a critical first step in identifying risk factors and developing targeted safety initiatives,” the release said. “The information collected on training-related fatalities has served to expand the already significant database HISA has built and will be instructive as the organization moves into the next phase of its data-driven efforts—identifying patterns to help racing stakeholders make more informed decisions for their horses and proposing guidance and rules designed to make training safer.”

On a state-by state basis, Indiana, where Horseshoe Indianapolis is the only operating thoroughbred track, came out on top with .26 fatalities per 1,000 starts in 2024. There were only two deaths from 7,601 starts last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Arizona and Turf Paradise fared the worst among HISA tracks with 1.57 fatalities.

Among the reasons why numbers have fallen so sharply is that horses running at HISA tracks must undergo repeated tests from veterinarians, who will order the horse scratched if they are not convinced it is in shape to race. For that reason, many believed that fields sizes have gotten smaller since the HISA vets are scratching so many horses. That didn't turn out to be the case. Before the Racetrack Safety Program was implemented 11.9% of the horses entered were scratched. Since HISA took over, the number has shown only a modest increase, to 12.7%.

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FanDuel TV Launches “The Comeback With Craig Carton”

Mon, 2025-03-17 10:21

FanDuel TV has launched “The Comeback With Craig Carton,” a new show focused on problem gambling recovery hosted by FanDuel's responsible gaming ambassador and FS1's “Breakfast Ball” Craig Carton. Carton sits down with those who have experienced the highs and lows of gambling addiction to amplify their stories, break down the stigma surrounding gambling disorder, raise awareness of support resources for individuals and their families, and show that recovery is possible.

“As someone who has personally navigated the challenges of gambling addiction, I understand the impact it can have on your life and the lives of those you care about,” Craig Carton said. “The road to recovery isn't easy, but I've committed myself to helping others who are facing similar struggles. My mission for this show is to inspire hope, offer support, and remind everyone that the path to regaining control starts with understanding.”

The first episode features former 11-year NBA veteran and recovered problem gambler Randy Livingston in addition to Randy's wife, Anita Ondine Smith

Randy and Anita recently joined FanDuel as responsible gaming ambassadors launching “Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting,” a new resource hub designed to equip parents, guardians and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about the risks associated with gambling and where to go for support.

In addition to highlighting the lived experiences and recovery of those who have dealt with gambling disorder, The Comeback will dive into important topics such as money management, support services, self-exclusion, RG tools and more.

New episodes of The Comeback With Craig Carton will air monthly on Mondays at 10:00 am ET on FanDuel's FAST channel FanDuel TV Extra and stream on FanDuel's YouTube channel. Stay updated on The Comeback With Craig Carton by subscribing to its Substack for its latest interviews, episodes and resources.

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Churchill Downs Hosts Job Fair for Kentucky Derby Week, Spring Meet Positions

Mon, 2025-03-17 10:11

Churchill Downs and its partners Andy Frain Services, Kentucky Derby Museum, Levy and Pritchard Sports & Entertainment Group will host a job fair to recruit for Kentucky Derby Week and the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the First Turn Club.

The job fair will include on-the-spot interviews and hiring for positions during Kentucky Derby Week, which runs from Saturday, Apr. 26, through Saturday, May 3, and the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, which continues through Sunday, June 29.

Available positions include box office, cleaning/janitorial, food & beverage, gate staff, guest services, mutuel tellers, programs, retail sales, security and tour guides.

Attendees should enter Kentucky Derby Drive off Central Avenue and park for free in the Yellow Lot.

For more information and to register, visit www.workchurchilldowns.com.

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Sponsorships Available for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium

Mon, 2025-03-17 09:58

Sponsorships for The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP)'s 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, are currently available. The event takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park on Oct. 8-11.

“Partnering with the Thoroughbred Makeover makes companies more than just a sponsor,” said Megan Garlich, RRP development manager. “Our sponsoring partners join a passionate team of individuals and organizations committed to the advancement of Thoroughbreds in equestrian sport and the development of dedicated trainers who invest in their future. We are grateful to the many sponsors who have supported our mission through this event, and are excited to welcome additional aligned businesses, agencies, and brands to help us to shape the Thoroughbred aftercare landscape for the better.”

Sponsorship packages are available at levels and can be customized with print, digital and event-based advertising and assets. Higher tiers of sponsorship include naming rights to various aspects of the event, including the competition itself as well as health and wellness initiatives plus networking and social events.

The Thoroughbred Makeover draws competitors and spectators from both equestrian and Thoroughbred industries, as well as from all across North America. This year's competition will culminate in a new Championships format, featuring final rounds for the top 10 in each discipline on Saturday throughout the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information about sponsorship, please visit the Sponsorship page on the RRP website, or contact Megan Garlich, development manager, at mgarlich@therrp.org.

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Readers Respond to Negative Racing Coverage in the New York Times

Sat, 2025-03-15 16:15

After running a lengthy March 2 opinion piece by Noah Shachtman that questioned why so much money from slot machines, casinos and other subsidies was being to paid to what Shachtman describes as a dying industry in horse racing, the New York Times let its readers have their say. Saturday's edition included five letters to the editor, all from people reacting to a piece entitled “Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?”

Five letters were published, including one from NTRA CEO Tom Rooney and another from PETA Vice President Kathy Guillermo.

Rooney focused in on the positive economic impact the sport produces for not just racing but for many industries.

“Mr. Shachtman's essay about horse racing gave short shrift to the sport's upside,” Rooney wrote, “including its positive economic impact. Thoroughbred racing in the United States, according to 2023 data collected by the American Horse Council, has an annual economic impact of $37 billion.

It supports 491,000 jobs, thousands of farms and related businesses. Protecting those jobs and reinvesting in racing is no different than measures that states take to support other sports and businesses that are important to local economies and cultures.”

He continues: (Shachtman's) essay also discounted racing's safety record and its popularity. The sport has never been safer, with 2024 producing the lowest rate of fatal injury since the data have been kept. And, while the sport may not have the standing it did in the days of Seabiscuit, when the gates open for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, that event will attract 150,000 attendees and more television viewers than any single game of the World Series, the N.B.A. finals or the Stanley Cup.”

Guillermo thinks the answer is to replace live racing with Historical Horse Racing Machines, completely overlooking the fact that would destroy the industry and, in particular, the breeding industry.

“The racing industry also cons itself into thinking that its biggest issue is its public image, when it actually has a reality problem,” she wrote. “Hundreds of its involuntary athletes suffer gruesome, catastrophic injuries on the track every year, and you can't spin that away.

“There is a solution. Historical horse racing machines–glorified slot machines that allow gamblers to bet on videos from past races from which all identifying information (date, location, names of horses and jockeys) has been removed–generate billions of dollars annually in Kentucky.

“These machines circumvent the enormous expenses that make live horse racing one of the worst business models. They are not only profitable, but racing without live horses also solves the dead horse problem. Even PETA would support this.”

Nicole St. Clair Knobloch of Arlington, Ma, fell into the pro-racing camp.

“Horse racing is a multilevel socioeconomic enterprise that provides jobs at all levels,” she writes. “Shutting down the sport would mean that those jobs, and the livelihood and meaning derived from them, would never be replaced. Racing-related businesses run from conglomerates to individual trainers, grooms and jockeys, who are perpetual free agents, looking for the next great ride.”

She continued: “It's critical that improvements to the animals' welfare are happening; there are many industries where worker treatment needs improvement. But those improvements are made possible by more public opportunity to enjoy the sport, as there surely will be with the rehabbing of storied tracks like Belmont and Pimlico, providing beauty, nature, animals and afternoon fun right on Long Island and in Baltimore.”

Alex Hanson of Geneva, New York, also took exception to the New York Time story.

“Noah Shachtman's essay portrays horse racing as a sport that is corrupt and dependent on government subsidies to survive while exploiting the animals and workers within it,” he wrote. “But it doesn't paint the whole picture. My father has bred standardbred horses for more than 40 years. His love and care for the animals is profound, and his work has taught me so much about building relationships with people across a range of experiences and identities. I did not recognize my father or the people I have encountered in the harness horse industry in Mr. Shachtman's piece. The good aspects of this sport and the good people involved in it deserve to be seen.”

Judith Mazzucco, from Clarksburg, New Jersey focused on the slaughter issue.

“While Noah Shachtman refers to the vast amounts of money involved in the racing industry, the racehorse owners, the investors, the excellent care the racehorses are given, he never addresses the horror that awaits many of these horses at the end of their racing careers,” she wrote. “Racehorses are retired once they have outlived their usefulness as sources of income for their owners. There are some responsible owners who retire their horses to green pastures. Racehorse retirement organizations strive to save many by finding them adoptive homes. Unfortunately, the fate of thousands of these racehorses each year is to be shipped to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. That is the true money trail.”

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Vekoma’s Rolando Keeps it Rolling in the Hutcheson

Sat, 2025-03-15 15:41

Rolando (Vekoma) is on a roll. A sharp, wire-to-wire optional claiming winner sprinting at Gulfstream Mar. 2, he delivered again as the favorite in Saturday's Hutcheson S. Rolando pressed Mucho Macho Man S. winner 'TDN Rising Star' Guns Loaded (Gun Runner) from an outside second and took over on the far turn. He kicked for home in complete control and dug down deep in the stretch to fend off Multiverse (Practical Joke) by a neck.

Rolando becomes the ninth black-type winner for Vekoma. Mixteca, a half-sister to fellow St. George Stables homebred and champion Letruska (Super Saver), had a filly by Charlatan last year and was bred back to Street Sense.

“He's a horse with natural explosive speed,” winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “You always want a horse that goes long, but in this case, we have a horse for one-turn, and I'm happy.”

HUTCHESON S., $102,000, Gulfstream, 3-15, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.57, ft.
1–ROLANDO, 118, c, 3, by Vekoma
            1st Dam: Mixteca, by Tapizar
            2nd Dam: Magic Appeal, by Successful Appeal
            3rd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-St. George Stables, LLC (KY);
T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $61,380. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-1-2, $152,860.
2–Multiverse, 118, g, 3, Practical Joke–String Section, by Candy
Ride (Arg). ($575,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Pin
Oak Stud LLC; B-Highlight Thoroughbreds (Bryan and Peden
Fraley) (KY); T-Riley Mott. $19,800.
3–Joey Muscles, 118, c, 3, Khozan–Smokin Red Hot, by Stormy
Atlantic. O-John Grossi's Racing Corp.; B-John Grossi (FL);
T-Jena M. Antonucci. $11,900.
Margins: NK, 4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.20, 2.80, 14.60.
Also Ran: Tapirs Valor, Guns Loaded, Corta Fuego.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#5 ROLANDO ($4.40) dug in late under @Tyler_Gaff to hold off #6 Multiverse to win the $115,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Fausto Gutierrez.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/5lwR1Bc96g

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 15, 2025

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High Winds, Electrical Issues Force Fair Grounds Cancellation

Sat, 2025-03-15 14:36

As a result of the severe storms which moved through the area, and are still making their way through large parts of the country, high winds and corresponding electrical issues have forced Fair Grounds to cancel live racing Saturday.

The nine-race card had six main track and three turf contests scheduled for the day, but power loss in the area forced the track to abandon the card. Live racing is scheduled to resume Sunday with a first post of 12:45 p.m. CT.

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