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Funding for a pair of research studies has been announced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s Exercise-Associated Sudden Death (EASD) Working Group.

The group was formed in October of 2023 to advance research initiatives and collaborate with industry leaders on the critical issue of exercise-associated sudden death.

The Working Group is made up of veterinarians and equine researchers focused on the scientific understanding and prevention of sudden, unexpected fatalities occurring during or closely following exercise in Thoroughbred racehorses.

“The EASD Working Group is working diligently to address the incidence of sudden deaths, which continue to account for a significant portion of racing fatalities. This ongoing challenge requires increased attention, which is exactly why HISA exists. We are optimistic that this group's research will enhance our understanding and help inform policy changes that will reduce sudden fatalities and safeguard our horses,” said HISA CEO, Lisa Lazarus.

The Group is sponsoring two groundbreaking studies, one of which seeks to identify biomarkers that could be used to identify horses at high risk of EASD, while the other focuses on a comprehensive monitoring program using wearable technology. Both are aimed at developing practical screening tools and reducing EASD occurrences.

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, is working on a multi-omics approach to prediction of EASD in Thoroughbred racehorses by identifying biomarker differences between healthy Thoroughbred racehorses and those that succumb to EASD.

The lab's long-term goal is to develop a non-invasive screening test to identify horses at increased risk of EASD. These horses can then be monitored closely, and recommendations can be made for when they are safe to train and race with the goal of reducing the frequency of EASD. Additionally, if there are horses that are considered at high risk of EASD but never have issues, it will be possible to look for protective measures to which those horses may be exposed.

Racing authorities and racetracks are currently being recruited to collect samples from horses that have succumbed to EASD and healthy controls.

Dr. Cris Navas of New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Durward-Akhurst of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Minnesota, have begun an Exercise-Associated Sudden Death monitoring pilot program.

Collaborating trainers are asked to place the Arioneo Equimetre wearable devices on each horse during training weekly for four-to-six months. For each of the training sessions, ECG, heart rate, stride characteristics (rate, length, symmetry [for trot] and regularity), speed, distance, duration and the relationships and progression of these variables are measured. Enrollment is free and the data is kept confidential between researchers, trainers and the veterinary team of each trainer.

In the first eight weeks of the study, they have recruited 193 Thoroughbred racehorses across racetracks in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland and Minnesota, and 493 training sessions have been recorded so far. They are planning to record 250 horses for the initial phase of the study, giving approximately 4,000 training sessions for analysis.

These research projects are ongoing. The initial pilot studies are expected to be completed by December 2025. If data collection and analysis are proven to be feasible in the North American racetrack setting, the goal is to enroll a large enough number of racehorses to allow the identification of risk factors for EASD. If accurate risk factors are identified, these will used to implement prevention programs to reduce the frequency of EASD.

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Hawthorne Race Course and three of the track's key racing executives on Nov. 18 asked a federal judge to dismiss the main claims in a lawsuit brought by a former association veterinarian who recently worked the Chicago-area track's Thoroughbred meets. In a Sept. 12, 2024, legal complaint, Dr. Christine Tuma had alleged that her efforts to scratch over 80 lame or injured Thoroughbreds during 2022-23 were met with a purported conspiracy among track employees, other veterinarians, and state regulators to overturn her actions so unsound horses could be entered to fill short-field races.

Tuma also claimed in United States District Court (Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division) that when she reported this alleged conspiracy to state and federal regulators, she was fired “in retaliation for blowing the whistle on the illegal activities.”

Tuma's is using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to try and collect damages. RICO is a sweeping 1970 federal statute initially designed to combat the Mafia. But RICO has long since lost its “organized crime” stigma, evolving over the decades into a civil litigation component more often asserted by purported victims of white-collar crime.

Tuma's lawsuit stated that because of the alleged conspiracy, she has “suffered loss of income, benefits, career opportunities, humiliation, and emotional distress.” She is seeking judgment against the defendants “for actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, treble damages, attorney's fees and costs, and any other relief deemed proper by this Court.”

Hawthorne management had denied the allegations to TDN when the litigation was first initiated two months ago. On Monday, the track, plus employees Jim Miller (director of racing), John Walsh (assistant general manager) and Dave White (racing secretary), made their first legal written response to the accusations.

“This is an employment dispute between an employer and one of its former employees,” stated a memorandum of law filed by those defendants along with their request to dismiss the RICO claims.

“Plaintiff, a former veterinarian who was laid off in July of 2023 as part of a companywide reduction, contends that she 'was terminated in retaliation for her protected activities of disclosing the activities of the “Enterprise” and to ensure that Dr. Tuma could not make any further disclosures regarding the scheme to the federal regulators,'” the Hawthorne defendants' filing continued.

“Recognizing that her termination, a single, discrete event, could never evidence the type of continuous and ongoing criminal activity necessary to allege a RICO claim, Plaintiff tries to shoehorn her termination into the alleged gambling scheme, which she claims has been ongoing since March of 2022. This argument fails for many reasons,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated.

“First, Plaintiff lacks RICO standing, because the injury she alleges was not directly caused by the claimed RICO violation,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated.

“Second, even if Plaintiff could meet this standard, which she cannot, her allegations fall well short of alleging conduct of an enterprise or a pattern of racketing,” the Hawthorne defendants stated.

“Third, Plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient allegations that a conspiracy exists between the Defendants and that the Defendants knowingly agreed to perform services which facilitated the activities of the enterprise,” the Hawthorne defendants stated.

Also named in the lawsuit as defendants are the Illinois Racing Board (IRB); Dawn Folker-Calderon, the IRB's chief state vet; two state stewards, Thomas Kelley and John Eddy, plus Beth Beuchler, a vet employed by Hawthorne. The IRB and its employees filed notice Nov. 15 indicating an intent to seek dismissal. Beuchler was not among the Hawthorne-employed defendants that made the Monday filings along with the track itself; she will be represented by separate counsel.

The former association vet's lawsuit stated that, “It was during the fall meeting in 2022 that Dr. Tuma uncovered the full extent of the illegal running of sick and lame horses. On or around the same time, Dr. Tuma uncovered and began investigating alterations of the medical records of these horses.”

Tuma's complaint stated that, “The entry of these horses into regulated Illinois races was not only a means for the RICO Defendants to induce wagers on horses that were not legally qualified to run, but in numerous instances, the certification of an additional horse in a race allowed the Enterprise to run races that did not meet the legally mandated minimum number of entries required to run a wagered race under Illinois law.”

Over the course of 48 pages, Tuma's complaint detailed how her assessments of horses as “scratch lame” had allegedly been tampered with by Calderon and Beuchler and changed to “racing sound,” the indication that the horse was fit to run, or to the less-severe “scratch sick” designation that is supposed to indicate temporary illness.

When Tuma expressed her concerns about the scratch process to Calderon, she was allegedly told, “This is how it's always done.”

Tuma's lawsuit stated that owners and trainers began to complain about her high number of scratch assessments, including one horseman who allegedly “caused a horse to lurch menacingly at her, threatening grave bodily harm.” Another time, the suit contended, a groom “physically battered her.”

The suit stated that when Tuma reported these alleged incidents of abuse to track officials and the stewards, “only a nominal fine was levied against the perpetrators.”

When Tuma began making a series of complaints to the stewards about the “misclassification of horses as sick from lame,” she was informed by Calderon “that she had been stripped of her authority to scratch horses,” and that a new protocol requiring Beuchler to check her assessments would be in place, the suit stated.

On March 20, 2023, Tuma's suit stated that she “delivered a comprehensive whistleblower letter” to the IRB and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

The suit continued: “On or around the date Dr. Tuma submitted her comprehensive complaint to the IRB, Miller, who had theretofore never called Dr. Tuma directly on her cell phone, called her a minimum of six times to intimidate her about her lame scratches and to ensure that the maximum number of horses were run.”

Some 3 1/2 months later, the suit stated, just two days before HISA personnel were scheduled to visit Hawthorne for an inspection, “Dr. Tuma met with Walsh via Zoom on July 11, 2023, and was informed that she had been terminated based on the pretext that her termination was a cost-cutting measure.”

In their Monday response, the Hawthorne filing stated that if Tuma's RICO claims fail as the defendants allege they should, then the rest of the lawsuit should also legally unravel.

That's because, the Hawthorne defendants stated, “the Court must also dismiss Plaintiff's Illinois civil conspiracy claim and Count VIII.”

And if “Plaintiff's federal claims are dismissed, the Court should decline to exercise jurisdiction over the state law claims against the Hawthorne Defendants,” the Hawthorne filing stated.

The Hawthorne defendants stated that despite the accusations of illegality outlined in Tuma's complaint, she never documented any attempts to contact law enforcement agencies to report the alleged criminal activity.

“Rather, Plaintiff asserts that she made complaints to HISA and the IRB,” the Hawthorne defendants stated. “Neither HISA nor IRB are law enforcement agencies. As a result, Plaintiff has failed to allege any complaint or claim that was made to a law enforcement officer as a required element to maintain a RICO claim.”

The Hawthorne defendants further argued that Tuma lacks RICO standing because “she was not a target or a victim” of the alleged conspiracy.

“According to Plaintiff's own allegations, the only persons who were the alleged victims of the scheme are the individuals who placed the wager on a particular horse and the owners of the injured horses,” the Hawthorne defendants' filing stated.

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Horseshoe Indianapolis concluded its 124-day season Nov. 14 with a record total domestic handle of $282 million. The new mark eclipses the previous record of $279 million set in 2023.

“Once again, we are very proud of our racing program this season and it is the result of a strong team effort between our staff, horsemen, and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission,” said Horseshoe Indianapolis Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. “Everyone contributed to our success this season, which is clearly shown in our wagering results. We genuinely appreciate the support of all fans across the world in watching and wagering on our races. It's very gratifying to see such positive results for the hard work we all put in throughout the season.”

Final wagering tallies for the Indiana track will be available later in the year. The current tally of $282 million does not include international numbers, which track officials expect to push the total around the $320-million mark. Average total handle per race was $236,886, showing a 1.60% increase over 2023.

More than $8.1 million was wagered on the track's signature GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Indiana Oaks day card July 5, establishing a new track record for a single card handle in Indiana history.

“Indiana Derby Day continues to grow each year and has definitely captured the attention of the racing world the first Saturday in July,” Halstrom said. “We have a tremendous crowd on track, in addition to the multitude of locations taking our racing signal throughout the world. Our staff and horsemen put on a great show that day.”

In all, 13 days during the year topped $3 million in handle.

A total of 1,191 races were conducted at the track in 2024. Of that tally, 971 Thoroughbred races were held in 2024, compared to 983 in 2023. The average number of starters per race was 7.9. Ten fewer races were held on the turf in 2024 compared to 2023, showing the effect weather played on several racing days throughout the year.

Randy Klopp earned his third training title in the past four years at the track, while Alberto Burgos won his first jockey title. John Haran was awarded top owner of the meet. Oscar Villarreal was the top apprentice rider, securing the 10th annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice title. The top horse of the meet was Cupid's Runaway, winner in seven of his eight starts through the course of the meet. The Cupid gelding was ridden by Burgos for Klopp and owner Reese Ranch.

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Longtime horsemen Tom Hamm and Bobby Langley have launched Top Tier Thoroughbred Management, which will provide a variety of bloodstock and racing management services to its clients, from private and auction purchases, to mating and conformation analysis.

Hamm, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, has over three decades of hands-on Thoroughbred experience, starting on the racetrack as an assistant trainer for his brother, Tim Hamm, in the mid-1990s. He later transitioned to the bloodstock realm, where he rose to become general farm manager at Taylor Made Farm and general manager of breeding operations at Woodford Thoroughbreds. He most recently worked at Three Chimneys Farm, joining the company as director of stallion nominations and later becoming chief commercial officer and overseeing Three Chimneys Racing Stable.

“Over the past 30 years, I have gained extensive knowledge of the Thoroughbred Industry, and what it takes to be successful in this business,” Hamm said. “I'm at a point in my career where I feel like it's time to go out on my own and utilize the experience and knowledge that I have gained over the years. I am looking forward to the opportunity and challenges of starting my own business with Top Tier Thoroughbred Management.”

Langley, a Louisville native, is an experienced blacksmith, spending 40 plus years working with some of the most notable and top Thoroughbred farms in the industry. He started in the industry working under the legendary Joe Taylor. Among some of the high-profile horses under his care were Hall of Famers American Pharoah, California Chrome, Curlin, and Justify. He has been instrumental in conformation evaluation and corrective farrier services for many top Thoroughbred farms throughout Central Kentucky.

Both Hamm and Langley will be based in Kentucky.

To learn more about Top Tier Thoroughbred Management, visit https://toptierthoroughbreds.com/.

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The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is seeking auction items from the Thoroughbred industry, as well as businesses around Saratoga Springs ahead of its third annual “Countdown to the Triple Crown” fundraising event, scheduled for Feb. 1. Businesses who donate an item, experience, or gift card will be  promoted leading up to the event through the museum's social media channels and through database distribution. The museum will also provide contributing businesses with two complimentary tickets to the event.

Guests can attend the event in person at the museum from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or bid on special packages online. The early-bird event at the museum will feature beer, wine, soda, light refreshments, and entertainment. Cost to attend the event is $20 for museum members and $35 for non-members.

To purchase tickets, click here or call (518) 584-0400.

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Stuart S. Janney, III, will step down from his position as chair of The Jockey Club, effective August 2025, the organization announced Tuesday morning. On Janney's recommendation, the board of stewards has chosen Everett Dobson to be his successor. The leadership transition will commence over the coming months, and Janney will remain on the board of stewards through his term, which will end in August 2026.

Janney, a prominent Thoroughbred owner and breeder for several decades, was elected vice chair of The Jockey Club in 2010 and became chair in 2015. During his tenure, The Jockey Club expanded its commercial businesses and used those proceeds to make substantial investments in support of the sport. Janney was awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit earlier this year. He is chairman emeritus of Bessemer Trust.

“I consider it a privilege to be associated with the accomplishments The Jockey Club has achieved over the past several years, including our many initiatives to sustain and grow the sport, and of course the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act,” Janney said. “These accomplishments, and so many more, are because everyone at The Jockey Club puts the horse first, and I'm proud to be a member and to have served as chair.”

A longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Dobson is the owner of Candy Meadows Farm, a broodmare farm located in Lexington and he races under Cheyenne Stables. He is on his second term as a steward of The Jockey Club. He serves on the executive committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and is immediate past chairman of the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Dobson serves as a member of the Breeders' Cup, in addition to being a trustee of the Keeneland Association. A native and resident of Oklahoma, Dobson is the executive chairman of Dobson Fiber, a telecommunications company based in Oklahoma City. He is also an investor in the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team and serves on its board of directors.

“I am honored to follow Stuart as chair of The Jockey Club,” Dobson said. “I will continue to ensure that The Jockey Club remains true to its mission of being dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing.”

The other stewards of The Jockey Club are Barbara Banke, Louis A. Cella, William S. Farish Jr. (vice chair), Gary Fenton, Terry Finley, Ian D. Highet (treasurer), William M. Lear (secretary), David O'Farrell, R. Alex Rankin, and Vincent Viola.

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Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, who was named to the board of directors of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy in December, has been elected vice president of the organization, filling the vacancy left by the late Nancy C. Kelly, who passed away in February. The announcement was made by Terry Finley, the chairman of the chaplaincy.

“Michelle is always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for members of the backstretch community and we know she will do a great job in this new role,” said Finley.

A Thoroughbred owner entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Saratoga Springs area, Borisenok operates Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization which aims to empower women, foster a sense of camaraderie, and give back to the community through a combination of racing, education and philanthropy. The stable won the 2021 Cicada Stakes with Just Read It.

Since 2016, Borisenok has also co-owned the Thoroughbred breeding farm Old Tavern Farm with her husband, Walt Borisenok.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy (www.rtcany.org) ministers to the needs of the backstretch community at the New York Racing Association racetracks, as well as surrounding farms through a wide variety of programs. They include enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational

opportunities, and non-denominational religious services.

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Longtime track superintendent Juan Meza will be retained by Woodbine Entertainment as a Racing Surfaces Consultant, the track said on Monday.

Meza served as the track superintendent at Golden Gate Fields for over two decades up until the track ceased operations this past June.

Like Woodbine, Golden Gate Fields held racing on a Tapeta (all-weather) racing surface, installing the synthetic track in 2007.

Meza's brings an extensive knowledge in Tapeta to Woodbine and has worked closely alongside the surface manufacturer (Tapeta Footings).

“The safety and well-being of both our equine athletes and human participants is our top priority,” said Bill Ford, Executive Vice President of Racing, Woodbine Entertainment. “We are pleased to have Mr. Meza available to assist in our ongoing efforts and commitment to maintain the highest safety standards. We will continue to work closely with the HBPA and AGCO to ensure the safest possible conditions for all involved.”

Meza will work in coordination with Ryan Stafford, Director of Racing Surfaces, to maintain the safe condition of the Tapeta surface and support the Racing Surfaces team.

Following a pair of horse deaths on the Nov. 9 program, Woodbine officials were forced to cancel the last two races, including the GIII Autumn Stakes, which was postponed to this past weekend. As a precautionary measure, the live card scheduled for the following afternoon was canceled. Discussions and evaluations took place during the week and the track was given the go-ahead to resume racing Nov. 14 and it continued through the weekend. In a separate incident deemed unrelated to track conditions, a horse was eased during the Saturday finale at Woodbine and was ultimately euthanized.

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Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), whose career was highlighted by a win in this year's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, will join the stallion ranks in 2025, but, first the owners plan to race him twice more before he heads to stud. He is slated to run in the Dec. 7 GII Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct and then the Jan. 25 GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream before beginning his stallion career.

The story was first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

“The horse is training really well,” breeder and majority owner Joey Peacock said. “We thought he ran a creditable race in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He beat nine very talented horses. He just couldn't catch the other four. The Beyer figures came back pretty nice, at a 103 for him. He's been training really well and these races are coming up pretty fast. We thought it would be worthwhile to give him the opportunity to keep going forward and get in a couple more nice races. Things can always change with a horse. If we wake up one morning and say this doesn't feel right then we won't push things. We never have with him. This is the same path he took last year. He ran in the Breeders' Cup and then the Cigar and then the Pegasus. He just seemed to be getting better at this time of year. The horse is doing great. We'd just like to give him two more chances to go out and run in two big races.”

Wins in the Cigar Mile and Pegasus will not mean that Senor Buscador will remain in training.

“He's going to be seven and although he was fairly lightly raced for a 7-year-old because he missed so much of his 3- and 4-year-old years,” Peacock said. “I just feel that after Pegasus there's not anything immediately in front of us other than going to the Middle East again. To do that again would be asking too much of the horse at this stage in his career.”

Peacock said he has not yet reached an agreement with a stud farm, but believes he is getting close.

“We've already started buying mares for him,” Peacock said. “We're excited about his next career and looking forward to seeing what his babies can do for us. I think we're getting pretty close and are in discussions with some farms but nothing we can announce at this point.”

During the recently concluded Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, an entity called Senor Buscador Mares purchased eight horses for $477,000, with a top price of $95,000.

Senor Buscador, who is trained by Todd Fincher, has been a modern day Silky Sullivan. He has no early speed, usually drops back several lengths behind the leaders and then makes a run. Sometimes it got him to wire first and sometimes it did not.

“This horse has taken us all over the U.S. and then halfway around the world to compete on the world stage with the best horses on the planet,” Peacock said. “It doesn't get any better than that. It's been a phenomenal ride. He's the type of horse who always put a solid effort in. His running style is a heart attack for the owners. But it's a lot of fun to watch when it works. It's always thrilling, it's always dramatic, it's always fun. But we know he makes things hard for himself because of his running style.”

To this point in his career, Senor Buscador sports a record of 7-2-3 from 22 starts and earnings of $12,941,427. His other graded wins came in the GII San Diego H. and the GIII Ack Ack S. He was also third in this year's G1 Dubai World Cup.

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Dual-surface Grade I winner War of Will (War Front–Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells), the sire of 14 individual winners from his first crop to the races in 2024, will stand the 2025 breeding season for $20,000 LFSN, officials at Claiborne Farm announced Monday.

Victorious in the GI Preakness Stakes on the dirt and the GI Maker's Mark Mile on the grass, War of Will is the second-leading freshman sire by turf winner and earnings and has been represented to date by three stakes horses She's Got Will, My Emmy and Garden of War.

War of Will is the sire of seven juveniles that sold in excess of $100,000 during this season's breeze-up sales, including a colt out of Sunday Sonnet (Any Given Saturday) that was hammered down for $400,000 at OBS April. Members of his second crop include a daughter of Star Silver (Aldebaran) who was purchased by Ken McPeek for $230,000 at Fasig-Tipton October.

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Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks (More Than Ready–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday), who most recently stormed home from the back of the field to win the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End in 2025. He will command an introductory fee of $15,000, live foal, stands and nurses terms.

Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, More Than Looks was acquired by Victory Racing Partners for $135,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and was turned over to trainer Cherie DeVaux. A maiden winner in his first start going long over the Gulfstream synthetic surface at his second career appearance in March 2023, More Than Looks was the impressive winner of the GIII Manila Stakes in his black-type debut that July and, following a third to 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GIII Hall of Fame Stakes, rolled home in the Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs. Dealt a miserable draw for the 2023 Breeders' Cup Mile, the dark bay came with a flying finish to miss by two lengths in a bunched finish.

More Than Looks made his 4-year-old debut against Carl Spackler in the GI Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga, racing freely off the layoff before charging home into second. A troubled runner-up to his arch-rival in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Oct. 5, More Than Looks got his revenge at Del Mar Nov. 2, jumping out of the ground in the final furlong to take it by three-parts of a length while posting a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He's an eye-catching horse that showed elite ability from day one,” said DeVaux. “His explosive turn of foot and competitive nature led to consistency at the highest level, and ultimately resulted in him becoming a Breeders' Cup champion.”

The most recent of his much-missed sire's 27 international Grade I/Group 1 winners, More Than Looks is out of a stakes-winning full-sister to three-time graded winner Takeover Target who was purchased by Hinkle Farms for $575,000 at Keeneland November in 2019 with More Than Looks in utero. The Grade I-winning dirt distaffer Critical Eye (Dynaformer) appears under the third dam.

More Than Looks is now available for inspection at Lane's End. Contact Chris Knehr (cknehr@lanesend.com) or Jill McCully (jillmac@lanesend.com) to set up an appointment or for additional information.

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Tourist (Tiznow–Unbridled Melody, by Unbridled's Song), upset winner of the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, has been sold to Fazli Yurdabak and will continue his stallion career at Izmit Stallion Complex in Turkey in 2025. The deal was brokered by Bowling Bloodstock's Matt Bowling and Murat Sancal.

Also victorious in the GI Fourstardave Handicap, the 13-year-old entered stud at his part-owner's WinStar Farm in 2018, accounting for nine stakes winners from his five American crops of racing age, including GIII Valedictory Stakes winner Wentru. He is also the sire of Chilean Group 3 hero El Mentalista (Chi).

Tourist relocated to Rockridge Stud in Hudson, New York, for the 2023 breeding season.

Tourist will do a period of quarantine at Sancal Racing at Elmendorf Farm in Lexington prior to his export.

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When graded stakes winner Wit (Practical Joke–Numero d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro) went through the ring at 2024 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale, Andrew Cary, the bloodstock advisor for Keith and Ginger Myers' Coteau Grove Farm in Sunset, Louisiana, knew he wanted the horse, but not as a racing prospect. Cary's client and partner Whispering Oaks Farm in Carencro, Louisiana, saw the 'TDN Rising Star' as a perfect fit for the Louisiana breeding program. For the purchase price of just $100,000 they brought home a horse they believe will fit in nicely in the Pelican State, which is one of the sport's healthiest regional markets.

“They decided to sell him in April,” Cary said. “It was good timing for us because it was too late for the breeding season and we weren't looking to run him. The timing was a bit odd. Maybe they were hoping that a South American farm would buy him. There was some interest there, but luckily for us, he kind of fell into our laps and we were very happy to get him.”

Cary is always on the lookout for quality stallion prospects that are a good fit in Louisiana. Coteau Grove also owns No Parole (Violence) in partnership with Whispering Oaks, which stands the team's stallions. No Parole was a nice coup for the partnership as he is a rare Grade I winner to stand in Louisiana. No Parole won the 2020 GI Woody Stephens Stakes.

In Wit they saw another horse with an impressive record on the track. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he won the GIII Sanford Stakes by eight lengths at Saratoga before finishing second in the GI Hopeful Stakes. Subsequent to winning the GIII Bay Shore Stakes on the dirt in the spring of 2022, Wit made a successful transition to the turf, winning the Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga, finishing runner-up in the GII Hall of Fame Stakes and GIII Bryan Station Stakes and a close third in the GI Hollywood Derby.

“We have a high-quality broodmare band and we thought it was the right time to invest in a new stallion,” Cary said. “Not only would that give our mares a good option in the state, but also one that we have ownership in and can develop the horse. We already own No Parole in partnership with Whispering Oaks, so this is the same partnership. We just thought he was a very high-caliber horse with Grade I talent and a big profile that was a prominent 2-year-old. It's pretty rare to get that kind of horse here. When we saw the opportunity in April to do it, we took a shot. It made a lot of sense.”

Cary has high hopes for Wit, in part because he and his partners will provide him with a quality broodmare band.

“We've been pretty active,” Cary said. “We bought eight mares at Keeneland in November and we also moved quite a few mares that were based in Kentucky. They're now going to be foaled in Louisiana. He will have an incredible group of mares. A nice bunch of stakes mares, young mares, ones with quality pedigrees. He's going to get every shot.”

Wit will–from Coteau Grove broodmare band alone–be bred to 30 mares. Cary said he envisions that Wit will be bred to about 60 mares in his first year at stud.

Louisiana may not be Kentucky, but it is among the best regional breeding markets in the business. Stars on the racetrack this year include 18-time stakes winner Free Like a Girl (El Deal), who has made over $2 million, and Touchuponastar (Star Guitar), whose nine career stakes wins include four victories against open company. Louisiana-bred Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) finished fourth in this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, having won the GIII Fred Hooper S. at Gulfstream Park. They are always finding ways of beefing up the state's racing and breeding programs.

“There is a new governor in office, Jeff Landry, and he is pro-racing and pro-breeding,” Cary said. “He understands that you have to have incentives for people to breed and race in the state. Our breeders awards are very competitive with the best states in the country. Not just for stakes horses, but for allowance horses, maidens, even claimers. It definitely helps when it comes to rewarding breeders on the back end for all the investment they've put in. Purses are going the right way, going up every year and, hopefully, they will continue to so for years to come.

“Wit is a big beautiful horse,” Cary added “He was the highest-priced Practical Joke yearling of his year. (He sold for $575,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale). He has a nice female family, won first time out at Belmont, then won the Sanford and was second in the Hopeful to Gunite (Gun Runner). He was a very high-level horse and we're thrilled to get a chance to stand a horse like that right off the track.”

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Edited Press Release

David Ingordo, David Sykes and Jonathan Coyles have been added to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Standing Committee, HISA said in Monday release.

A horse owner and bloodstock agent, Ingordo currently heads up Ingordo Bloodstock LLC and manages the Belladonna Racing Partnership among other equine-related roles. Sykes is an Australian-based veterinary consultant with strong ties to international racing and currently serves as the head of anti-doping for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and consults for Racing Victoria on the Melbourne Cup Carnival equine welfare initiatives. He has also held senior roles in equine health with the British Horseracing Authority and Emirates Racing Authority. Coyles is vice-president of drug, health and safety programs for Major League Baseball, overseeing the league's drug prevention and treatment programs.

“These new members bring vital expertise and perspectives to the ADMC Standing Committee, strengthening our efforts to promote transparency, safety and fair competition within horseracing,” said Charles Scheeler, Chair of the ADMC Standing Committee.

As HISA welcomes these new members, the organization also expresses gratitude to Dr. Lynn Hovda, Barry Irwin and Kathleen Stroia, who are stepping down from the committee at the end of their terms and after years of dedicated service.

“We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Lynn Hovda, Barry Irwin and Kathleen Stroia for their contributions to the ADMC Standing Committee,” said Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA. “Their commitment and insights have been instrumental in shaping the early years of the ADMC Program, and their legacy will have a lasting impact on the integrity and welfare of our sport.”

The ADMC Standing Committee is required by federal law to be composed of four independent members and three industry representatives. The committee plays a key role in advising and assisting HISA with the establishment of comprehensive rules and protocols for its ADMC Program, including the Prohibited Substances List, laboratory testing standards, in-competition and out-of-competition testing programs, and ADMC research and educational initiatives. The daily operations of the ADMC Program are managed by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), a subsidiary of Drug Free Sport International, which works to ensure horseracing is conducted in accordance with the ADMC Program and that the welfare of horses is always prioritized when it comes to the implementation of medication rules.

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All post-race test samples taken from contenders in the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have been cleared by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the Breeders' Cup announced Monday and purse distribution has begun accordingly.

2024 marked the second year the Breeders' Cup World Championships were run under the full jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA), including the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which took effect in May of 2023 and is implemented and enforced by HIWU.

As was the case under Breeders' Cup's anti-doping and medication control rules that were in place before HISA's ADMC Program was implemented, medication is prohibited within 48 hours of the 14 Championship races and the undercard. All potential Breeders' Cup competitors were also subject to out-of-competition testing for banned substances leading up to the event.

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Applications for The Jockey Club's paid internship program for college students and recent college graduates and its five academic scholarships opened Monday.

The eight-week internship program in Lexington, KY will accommodate up to three interns and is now available in the summer or fall based on the intern's preference. Interns will gain exposure to all companies and departments within the organization, and they will have the opportunity to spend additional time in areas that they find to be of particular interest.

The Jockey Club scholarships will apply to the 2025-2026 academic year and are as follows:

The Jockey Club Scholarship ($15,000; $7,500 per semester) is for those enrolled full time as an undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university in academic pursuit of majors for future employment in the equine industry. Open to any equine breed or discipline; preference will be given to candidates with the expressed desire to secure employment in the Thoroughbred industry.

The Jockey Club Advancement of Women in Racing Scholarship ($20,000; $10,000 per semester) is open to women pursuing a career in the equine industry who are enrolled full time as an undergraduate student at a college or university. Open to any equine breed or discipline; preference will be given to candidates with the expressed desire to secure employment in the Thoroughbred industry.

The Jockey Club Vision Scholarship ($20,000; $10,000 per semester) is open to students from a minority racial or ethnic group who are pursuing a career in the equine industry. Applicants must be enrolled full time as an undergraduate student at a college or university. Open to any equine breed or discipline; preference will be given to candidates with the expressed desire to secure employment in the Thoroughbred industry.

The Jockey Club Nancy C. Kelly Benevolence Scholarship ($15,000; $7,500 per semester) is a need-based award for members of the Thoroughbred racing industry who have experienced financial hardship to enable attendance at a full-time program at a college, university, or trade program. Applicants are not required to be pursuing a career in the equine or Thoroughbred industries.

The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship ($6,000; $3,000 per semester) is open to students enrolled in the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). Goodman was a resident of Tucson, a longtime member of The Jockey Club, and one of three founders of the RTIP.

Applications for all five scholarships are open through January 3, 2025. Click here for more information and links to applications for the scholarships. The recipients of each scholarship will be announced in the spring of 2025 in advance of the initial distribution of funds for the fall 2025 semester

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The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will award $4.14m in grants to a total of 83 accredited aftercare organizations for 2024, the TAA announced Monday.

This financial support is designed to assist organizations in delivering exceptional care and rehabilitation services for retired racehorses. Since its inception in 2012, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has seen significant growth, expanding from 23 to 83 accredited organizations and increasing its annual grants from $1 million to $4.14 million. In total, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has awarded over $36.04 million in grants–allocated specifically for equine care. These accredited organizations have successfully retrained, retired, and rehomed approximately 18,500 Thoroughbreds across 175 facilities.

“Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is thrilled to announce grant awards to our 83 accredited organizations this year,” said TAA's Director of Accreditation & Grants Janice Towles. “The funding we provide is essential for these organizations to continue their incredible work and protection for retired Thoroughbred racehorses as they transition into second careers. We are extremely proud of each organization's commitment and diligence in supporting these horses, ensuring they receive the best possible futures beyond the racetrack.”

TAA Operations Consultant Stacie Clark-Rogers added: “Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is grateful to continue increasing the total grant amount each year to support accredited aftercare organizations. With a new record of over $4 million in grants awarded this year for the first time, it underscores our commitment to long-term equine welfare. We extend our sincere gratitude to the donors who go above and beyond the minimum giving levels. These generous contributions have made it possible to meet our annual funding targets, helping even more retired Thoroughbreds find the safe, fulfilling futures they deserve. As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to receive support so we can maintain and expand these efforts, ensuring that we can help even more horses in need.”

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Author and renowned horseman Arthur B. Hancock III will lead off the Keeneland Library's Winter/Spring lecture series with an evening of reading Dec. 12. Held monthly at the Keeneland Library, the series benefits the Keeneland Library Foundation. The full lineup includes:

Dec. 12–Arthur B. Hancock III, author of Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption, in conversation with Turf writer Lenny Shulman

Jan. 22–Eliza McGraw, who wrote Astride: Horses, Women, and a Partnership That Shaped America

Feb. 19–Stacy A. Cordery, author of Becoming Elizabeth Arden

March 19–Jessica K. Whitehead, who wrote The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects

“On the heels of memorable Library Lecture Series evenings with Josh Pons and Tom Hammond, we are pleased to announce an exciting lineup for winter and early spring,” said Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro. “From a fourth-generation horseman's memoir and a curator's recentering of Kentucky Derby narratives to two renowned historians showcasing women who bucked the industry status quo, these upcoming events promise lively, important discussions and, as always, good company.”

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Churchill Downs Racetrack unveiled a painting by artist Tyler Robertson as the 2025 'Official Art of the Kentucky Derby', the company announced Monday. Louisville-based artist Robertson is known for his dynamic sporting art, bold colors and palette knife techniques to incorporate classical aesthetics and symbolism that add depth and narrative to his expressive style.

Robertson's artwork for the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve celebrates the iconic image of horses running into the first turn with the historic Churchill Downs clubhouse and famous Twin Spires in the background.

A former Louisville elementary school teacher for nearly 20 years, Robertson is inspired by contemporary, modern and stylized art. Previously, he was an officially licensed artist for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, and he recently exhibited “A Hero's Journey: a contemporary study of jockeys” in London. His love for horse racing developed while attending the University of Louisville in 2001.

Robertson will be at Churchill Downs Friday, Nov. 29 to sign prints of his artwork. The artist signing will take place in the Churchill Downs Store, located just inside the Paddock Gate, between 2-4 p.m.

“We are thrilled to showcase Tyler's talent as this year's artist,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships Casey Ramage. “His artwork celebrates the iconic spectacle of the Kentucky Derby through his vibrant, visual style and brings a fresh perspective that fans will cherish for generation to come.”

Roberston's 'Official Art of the Kentucky Derby' will be featured on the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks official racing programs and a variety of merchandise.

“I'm incredibly honored to be named the official artist for 151st running of the Kentucky Derby and join the legacy of artists who've captured this iconic event,” said Robertson. “As a sporting artist focused on Thoroughbreds, this is a thrilling opportunity to share my style and celebrate the power and elegance of these athletes on such a prestigious stage.”

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During the finale of a 12-race card at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, Flawless Ruler (Honor Code) was eased at the top of the lane during a $15,000 claimer going a mile and a sixteenth over the all-weather course, was vanned off, and after an examination by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)-licensed veterinarians at the barn, the 5-year-old gelding was humanely euthanized, the track said via a press release late Saturday.

Following a thorough investigation of the incident, the veterinarians concluded that the injury was unlikely to be a result of track conditions. With the concurrence of the AGCO and communication with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Jockeys' Guild, it was decided that training will proceed as scheduled on Sunday morning.

Following safety concerns with track conditions last weekend after three breakdowns–one during training on Saturday and two on the card that same day–which led to the cancellation of two races on Saturday and the entire Sunday schedule, Woodbine and its Tapeta consultants worked to improve the track conditions and return the surface to its optimal condition for safe training and racing.

Following the approval of the AGCO, Woodbine resumed racing on Thursday which continued on Friday and into Saturday.

Owned by Bruno Schickedanz and trained by Norman McKnight, Flawless Ruler raced 20 times prior to Saturday's start and was claimed from CamHaven Farms and trainer Steve Flint for $15,000 at Woodbine Sept. 29. The horse's jockey, Keveh Nicholls, was unharmed during the incident.

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