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Dollars & Sense with Frank Angst

While it long has been known that many gray horses eventually turn white to the eye with age, scientists recently discovered a genetic explanation behind this color transformation.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has announced a special collaboration with Stable Recovery for the upcoming John Hall Memorial Golf Tournament. A Constitution halter, donated by WinStar Farm, will be shared with Stable Recovery and auctioned at the event to raise funds to support their mission.

Originally intended for the TRF's Stallions for Second Chances Halter Auction, the halter has become a symbol of the relationship between the organizations.

“We felt that sharing this halter with Stable Recovery would be a meaningful way to honor the close ties we've built and to mark the beginning of an impactful partnership,” said Maggie Sweet, Executive Director of the TRF.

The third annual John Hall Memorial Golf tournament, presented by Heider Family Stables, is being held on Monday, Oct. 14 at Thoroughbred Golf Club in Nicholasville, KY. All proceeds, including those from the silent auction, will go to help Stable Recovery.

The Lexington-based Stable Recovery, Inc. provides individuals in early recovery from substance abuse the opportunity to live in a sober and supportive environment while training to become horsemen.

The post Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Partners with Stable Recovery for Special Auction appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Graded stakes winner Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile–Magical World, by Distorted Humor), winner of the 2024 GIII Fair Grounds S. and a half-brother to MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper), has been retired from racing. The 6-year-old will be offered as a stallion prospect at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Consigned by Lane's End as Hip 3083, the dual-surface winner will be available for pre-sale inspection in Barn 6. He enters the auction ring Nov.  12.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and originally sold for $2.1 million as a Keeneland September yearling, Beatbox won six of 20 career starts and earned $427,248. He was campaigned by owners Jeff Ganje and Rob Comestro.

“Beatbox is the type of horse you love to train,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “He was solid and consistent in his races, and a joy around the barn.”

Ganje added, “Beatbox had a little setback in training, so our team collectively felt it was time to retire him We believe he is an outstanding and well-rounded stallion prospect, and we are excited to point him toward this next stage of his progression.”

The post Graded Stakes Winner Beatbox Retired, Entered in Keeneland November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Tony Cissell has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and General Manager at Three Chimneys, the farm announced Tuesday. Cissell, who has managed the likes Crescent Farm, Calumet Farm and WinStar Farm, has been at Three Chimneys running the Big Sink division for the last five years.

“I've known Tony for over a decade and have always admired his high level of horsemanship and his excellent people skills,” said Chairman and Three Chimneys owner Goncalo Torrealba. “He has done an outstanding job running our yearling division for five years, and has the proven background to take on the added operational responsibilities across the entire farm. He is supported by a tremendous divisional manager team, and I look forward to the future because I am confident they will continue to produce Grade I winners.”

Cissell stated “It is an honor to accept this position at Three Chimneys, and I am grateful to the Torrealba family, my co-workers, and our clients for all of their support in this transition. I have had many great jobs and a lot of experience at all levels, starting with my first job working for Lee Eaton who was a pioneer at consigning and preparing future racehorses.  I have learned something from every job I've had, and I look forward to taking on the operational reins at Three Chimneys. It is an exciting time to be at Three Chimneys, particularly with the rise of Gun Runner and the outstanding broodmare band to support him and our other stallions. The team at Three Chimneys is outstanding, and I am excited to work with them to get Grade I results.”

Previous COO Chris Baker is resigning from his position after more than a decade at Three Chimneys.

Baker stated, “First and foremost, I want to thank the Torrealba Family for all the outstanding opportunities they have given me over the past 11 years. From Champions and Classic winners like Gun Runner, Wonder Wheel and Early Voting to Grade I winners like Carina Mia, Guarana, Volatile and Gun Pilot, it has been my privilege to work alongside such a great family, great team, and great horses operating at the highest level of our sport. The passion, guidance, resources and trust bestowed on the Three Chimneys team by Goncalo and his siblings has provided all of us the chance to do meaningful things–the connection to Gun Runner being the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“I am at a career stage where I want to use my skills, knowledge and experience in a different way,” Baker continued. “As a result, I've made the hard decision to step away from an everyday role as COO to start my own venture as an advisor where I will help people reach their goals in all facets of the industry. Under Tony's leadership, I anticipate continued if not greater success at the highest level for Three Chimneys. I am equally optimistic for the future of Baker Thoroughbred Advisory, working with clients to reach their Grade I goals in breeding, racing and sales.”

The post Cissell Promoted To Chief Operating Officer At Three Chimneys, Baker Launches Thoroughbred Advisory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Champion, dual classic winner and former leading New York sire Big Brown arrived at Old Friends for retirement last week. Susie Raisher Photo.

Champion, dual classic winner and pensioned former leading New York sire Big Brown arrived at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, last week for his retirement.

The 19-year-old son of Boundary arrived at the Thoroughbred retirement operation Friday courtesy of Andy Cohen, managing partner of the Big Brown syndicate. Big Brown, who most recently stood at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions in Stillwater, becomes the fifth Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner to retire to Old Friends. He joins Silver Charm, War Emblem, Charismatic and I’ll Have Another.

“We are excited beyond measure to welcome Big Brown as an honored member of the Old Friends family,” said John Nicholson, president and chief executive officer of Old Friends. “We are deeply grateful to Andy Cohen and all of Big Brown’s connections for choosing to share this great horse with racing fans everywhere. I know his legions of fans will love having the chance to visit him throughout the year. Big Brown will be an awesome ambassador, not only for Old Friends, but for the sport of Thoroughbred Racing.”

Campaigned by a partnership that included Cohen, IEAH Stables and the late Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown won seven of eight starts including the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He also won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational and Grade 1 Florida Derby for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. He retired in late 2008 with earnings of $3,614,500 and earned the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old male.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago when we would visit Big Brown in the middle of the night and just hang out with him,” Cohen said. “He was like a puppy and especially loved it when the young children would come over to pet him. As sweet as he was, when he got on the racetrack he knew it was time to go to work. I remember after his race at Gulfstream Park, Kent Desormeaux said ‘he is the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden and the rest is history.’

“After visiting Old Friends and getting to know John Nicholson and Michael Blowen, I couldn’t be more comfortable knowing Big Brown will get the love and care he deserves at Old Friends where the horse is the boss.”

Big Brown settles in at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Old Friends.

Big Brown started his stallion career in 2009 at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky. He stood there, along with Southern Hemisphere seasons in Australia from 2010 to 2014, until 2015. Cohen’s Sunrise Stables and Gary Tolchin’s Golden Goose Enterprises obtained a majority interest in Big Brown in 2015 and announced he would relocate to New York for the 2015 season.

Big Brown started his New York stud career at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains before relocating to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views for the 2018 season.

Big Brown topped the New York general sire list with more than $2.7 million in progeny earnings in 2020. He finished second on the same list – with more than $3.2 million in progeny earnings – in 2021 and ranked among the top 10 stallions in the Empire State until he was pensioned in 2024.

Big Brown currently ranks seventh on the New York sire list, with progeny earnings of more than $1 million, including $246,900 earned by the late stakes winner The Big Torpedo. Big Brown also sired Grade 1 winner and $1,987,505-earner Dortmund, Grade 2 winners Somelikeithotbrown, Kiss to Remember and Coach Inge and Grade 3 winners Send It In, Nancy, Darwin, Dawnie Perfect and Big Wildcat. He’s the sire of 13 crops, including 19 current 2-year-olds and 18 yearlings, 30 blacktype winners and the earners of more than $37.4 million.

Old Friends will host “Big Brown’s Barn Bash” Friday, October 18. The event will feature fun activities and a chance to meet Big Brown. Additional information will be provided soon.

The post Big Brown retired to Old Friends in Kentucky appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

The groom of the Nearctic Stakes (G2) winner and of the best turned-out horse in each stakes race Oct. 5 will receive a TAA gift bag sponsored by local owner and breeder Josham Farms (Ted Burnett). ​

The $600,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1), offering the winner a spot in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, features a rematch of the top finishers in Saratoga's Spinaway Stakes (G1).

Kentucky Derby (G1) third-place finisher Forever Young will prep for his return to America in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in the Japan Dirt Classic Oct. 2 at Oi Racecourse.

Jockey Wesley Ho picked up his 1,000th win Sept. 29 while rallying from the back of the pack aboard Bigdaddysboy in the sixth race at Laurel Park.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has established a Veterinary Advisory Committee that will be made up of regulatory and private practice racetrack veterinarians from around the nation.

In response to the requests of industry stakeholders, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium's Scientific Advisory Committee has developed a withdrawal guidance for two substances, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and pentosan polysulfate (Zycosan).

Keeneland's 2024 Fall Meet will stand out in track history for being the most lucrative racing season with 22 stakes worth a record $9.85 million.

Keeneland will catalog 13 broodmares and two broodmare prospects for the dispersal of Stuart S. Janney III. The horses will be consigned by Claiborne Farm.

The awards will be presented in 17 categories and will be televised live on FanDuel TV, Racetrack Television Network, and streamed on multiple outlets. Tickets go on sale Nov. 18.

Big Brown is the fifth Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to be retired to Old Friends. Old Friends will be hosting Big Brown's Barn Bash Oct. 18. There will be a lot of fun activities and a chance to meet the guest of honor, Big Brown.

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale catalog contains 70 graded stakes winners or producers, 24 of which are grade 1. Some of the broodmare prospects include Red Carpet Ready, Power Squeeze, Leave No Trace, War Like Goddess, and Adare Manor.

The youngest of six children born to Brutus Junius Clay and Agnes McEvoy Clay, Catesby Clay took over running the farm from his grandfather in the 1950s. During this time, Catesby Clay emphasized breeding, building from a small broodmare band. 

Hot on the heels of their victory with Hit Show in the Sept. 28 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs, jockey Florent Geroux and trainer Brad Cox carried their momentum all the way to Remington Park, sweeping both of the track's featured events.

Lane's End Farm's freshman stallion Honor A. P. was represented by his first stakes winner Sept. 29 as Glee won the $50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes at Remington Park.