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Randy Boyd to Deliver Keynote Address at 2026 Global Symposium on Racing

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Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee System and co-owner of Boyd Racing, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Global Symposium on Racing, Dec. 7-9 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, according to a University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) release on Wednesday.

Boyd, an entrepreneur, sports owner and racing investor, is the founder of Boyd Racing, which he oversees with wife Jenny.

Boyd founded Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corporation in 1991 before founding Boyd Sports, which owns six Minor League Baseball teams, including the Knoxville Smokies.

Boyd, who has served as president of the University of Tennessee System since 2018, previously served as Tennessee commissioner of economic and community development.

Boyd is founder and chairman of tnAchieves, a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 200,000 students attend community college free of tuition and fees. The Boyds also established the Boyd Foundation in 2018 to support youth education, mental health, the arts and animal welfare.

“Randy Boyd brings a perspective that is particularly valuable to racing right now,” said Robert Hartman, chair of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. “He has built successful businesses, invested in sports and education, and is now investing in and building within Thoroughbred racing. That breadth of experience gives him a unique perspective that can challenge the industry to think differently.”

The Global Symposium on Racing, hosted annually by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, brings together hundreds of leaders from across the horse racing industry for three days of education, networking and discussion about the future of the sport. For registration and additional information, visit www.racingSymposium.com.

The post Randy Boyd to Deliver Keynote Address at 2026 Global Symposium on Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Saratoga Notes, Presented by NYRA Bets: Nitrogen, Sandman Get One More Work In

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On his final day at Saratoga Race Course, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse had a little bit of business before closing out shop for the summer.

Casse leaves Saratoga on Thursday, bound for Kentucky Downs. On a raw, overcast Wednesday morning at the Spa, Casse sent two horses with fall goals out for their final Saratoga workouts.

One of them, Nitrogen (Medgalia d’Oro) has a lofty target as she is set to return to the Breeders’ Cup. The other, Sandman (Tapit), continues on the comeback trail.

Both horses hit the main track just before 9 a.m. although they did not work together. Nitrogen, with Edwin Soto aboard, worked five furlongs in 1:00.46 (2/3) while Sandman and Reynaldo Dumont went the same distance in :59.88 (1/3).

Nitrogen, who departs this weekend for Kentucky, is being pointed to the GII Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 12. Sandman will be headed for Belmont Park after the meet ends on Monday and will be pointed to an allowance race.

This was Nitrogen’s second work since finishing second to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Whitney Stakes on Aug. 8.

“She has been great,” Casse said of last year’s 3-year-old filly champ. “Obviously, from the beginning of the year, our goal has always been the Breeders’ Cup. We are getting closer.”

In all likelihood, Nitrogen will be running against her own gender in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race she finished second in last year. Casse does not think there will be much discussion of putting Nitrogen, owned by D J Stable LLC, in the GI Classic against the boys.

“The older boys are pretty good; they are tough,” Casse said. “I am a Sovereignty believer. I would never say never but we would not have that discussion until after the next race.”

Sandman in his Wednesday work | Sarah Andrew

The popular Sandman hasn’t run since finishing third in the GIII Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on March 28. He hasn’t won a race since the 2025 GI Arkansas Derby. Wednesday was his second work at Saratoga after six works at Casse’s training center in Ocala, Fla.

Owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, the grey has three wins in 14 career starts.

“Today’s breeze was the best I’ve ever seen him,” Casse said. “I hope it tells me he is back to himself. Breezing is one thing and running is another. I want to find a spot where, hopefully, he can win. He doesn’t have a whole lot to prove. He is already a Grade I winner, and he has won $1 million.”

Stat Wise, Cox Has Had Best Saratoga Meet of His Career

Trainer Brad Cox has had himself a summer at Saratoga Race Course. And not just because he won the GI Travers Stakes with ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Leading Change (Gun Runner).

After Wednesday, the 46-year-old from Louisville comes into the final five days of the record 46-day Spa meet with the best numbers he has ever had. Cox has 21 wins, good for third place in the training standings behind Chad Brown (36) and Linda Rice (30).

Before this year, the most wins Cox had ever had during one Saratoga meet was 14. He did that in both 2023 and 2024.

“It’s been a big, big meet,” Cox said at his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “You never really know how it’s going to go up here. I would not say we really target this meet, but we definitely paid more attention to it (this year).”

Brad Cox (left) in the Travers winner’s circle | Tod Marks

Cox won the biggest race of the meet when Leading Change won the  Travers at odds of 10-1. He also saddled Kentucky Belle (Justify) to win the GII Saratoga Oaks and Amberglen (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) to win the GIII Lake George.

He has had plenty of success with his 2-year-olds this summer. He has started 26 youngsters and has seven wins, five seconds and four thirds according to Equibase.

Two of his juveniles have dates in the final weekend. Angel of Kirk (Yaupon), who won her debut on July 11 by 4 3/4 lengths, runs in the GI Spinaway on Saturday. The Good Life (Life Is Good), a 3 1/2 length winner on July 18 when named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’  is targeting the GI Hopeful Stakes on Sunday.

“I thought it was a good maiden,” Cox said of The Good Life, who shipped back to Saratoga this week after working four times at Churchill Downs. “He gave us the confidence early on that he could be a Saratoga horse, and he was.”

Of course, the biggest prize of the meet was the lightly raced Leading Change, who won the Travers in just his third career start. Cox had more established sophomores in fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Further Ado (Gun Runner), winner of the GI Blue Grass and GI Florida Derby champ Commandment (Into Mischief), but it was the rookie in the group that proved to be the star of the summer for Cox.

“I always felt this was the most talented horse of the group,” Cox said. “They are all very good horses.”

Moquett Won’t Apologize for Hymn’s Forego Win

Wednesday was getaway day for trainer Ron Moquett, who packed up his truck and pointed it towards Kentucky. The horse that gave him his one shining moment at Saratoga this summer–Hymn (McKinzie)–was not going to be too far behind.

The 4-year-old Hymn, who has won four of his last five starts since being gelded, gave Moquett his first Saratoga win since 2018 when he won the GI Forego. Moquett’s last Spa win also was in the Forego when Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) did it eight years ago.

Hymn | Sarah Andrew

Hymn’s win by three-quarters of a length brought joy to Moquett and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr and the ownership group of Fleur De Lis Stables, William Sparks and Bret Jones, but it also came after the even-money favorite, Book’em Danno (Bucchero), did not run after being scratched.

“You’ve got to take that into consideration,” Moquett said of the absence of last year’s champion sprinter. “Book’em Danno is the champ until he is not the champ, that’s the way I look at it. I hope Book’em Danno gets back healthy because racing is better when we have those horses around. Get well soon.”

Moquett will not apologize for winning the Forego.

“We planned on running in that race and we did,” he said. “We showed up against everybody who walked through the gates. We were not the favorite (third choice) but it worked out the way we all thought it would.”

After getting his first graded stakes win in the Forego, Hymn could be seen next in the GII Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 2. The Forego was a ‘Win and You’re In’ to the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31; the Phoenix is a ‘Win and You’re In’ to the GI Breeders Cup Sprint the same day.

The post Saratoga Notes, Presented by NYRA Bets: Nitrogen, Sandman Get One More Work In appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Randy Boyd to Deliver Keynote Address at 2026 Global Symposium on Racing

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Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee System and co-owner of Boyd Racing, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Global Symposium on Racing, Dec. 7-9 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, according to a University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) release on Wednesday.

Boyd, an entrepreneur, sports owner and racing investor, is the founder of Boyd Racing, which he oversees with wife Jenny.

Boyd founded Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corporation in 1991 before founding Boyd Sports, which owns six Minor League Baseball teams, including the Knoxville Smokies.

Boyd, who has served as president of the University of Tennessee System since 2018, previously served as Tennessee commissioner of economic and community development.

Boyd is founder and chairman of tnAchieves, a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 200,000 students attend community college free of tuition and fees. The Boyds also established the Boyd Foundation in 2018 to support youth education, mental health, the arts and animal welfare.

“Randy Boyd brings a perspective that is particularly valuable to racing right now,” said Robert Hartman, chair of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. “He has built successful businesses, invested in sports and education, and is now investing in and building within Thoroughbred racing. That breadth of experience gives him a unique perspective that can challenge the industry to think differently.”

The Global Symposium on Racing, hosted annually by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, brings together hundreds of leaders from across the horse racing industry for three days of education, networking and discussion about the future of the sport. For registration and additional information, visit www.racingSymposium.com.

The post Randy Boyd to Deliver Keynote Address at 2026 Global Symposium on Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Saratoga Notes, Presented by NYRA Bets: Nitrogen, Sandman Get One More Work In

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On his final day at Saratoga Race Course, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse had a little bit of business before closing out shop for the summer.

Casse leaves Saratoga on Thursday, bound for Kentucky Downs. On a raw, overcast Wednesday morning at the Spa, Casse sent two horses with fall goals out for their final Saratoga workouts.

One of them, Nitrogen (Medgalia d’Oro) has a lofty target as she is set to return to the Breeders’ Cup. The other, Sandman (Tapit), continues on the comeback trail.

Both horses hit the main track just before 9 a.m. although they did not work together. Nitrogen, with Edwin Soto aboard, worked five furlongs in 1:00.46 (2/3) while Sandman and Reynaldo Dumont went the same distance in :59.88 (1/3).

Nitrogen, who departs this weekend for Kentucky, is being pointed to the GII Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 12. Sandman will be headed for Belmont Park after the meet ends on Monday and will be pointed to an allowance race.

This was Nitrogen’s second work since finishing second to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Whitney Stakes on Aug. 8.

“She has been great,” Casse said of last year’s 3-year-old filly champ. “Obviously, from the beginning of the year, our goal has always been the Breeders’ Cup. We are getting closer.”

In all likelihood, Nitrogen will be running against her own gender in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race she finished second in last year. Casse does not think there will be much discussion of putting Nitrogen, owned by D J Stable LLC, in the GI Classic against the boys.

“The older boys are pretty good; they are tough,” Casse said. “I am a Sovereignty believer. I would never say never but we would not have that discussion until after the next race.”

Sandman in his Wednesday work | Sarah Andrew

The popular Sandman hasn’t run since finishing third in the GIII Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on March 28. He hasn’t won a race since the 2025 GI Arkansas Derby. Wednesday was his second work at Saratoga after six works at Casse’s training center in Ocala, Fla.

Owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, the grey has three wins in 14 career starts.

“Today’s breeze was the best I’ve ever seen him,” Casse said. “I hope it tells me he is back to himself. Breezing is one thing and running is another. I want to find a spot where, hopefully, he can win. He doesn’t have a whole lot to prove. He is already a Grade I winner, and he has won $1 million.”

Stat Wise, Cox Has Had Best Saratoga Meet of His Career

Trainer Brad Cox has had himself a summer at Saratoga Race Course. And not just because he won the GI Travers Stakes with ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Leading Change (Gun Runner).

After Wednesday, the 46-year-old from Louisville comes into the final five days of the record 46-day Spa meet with the best numbers he has ever had. Cox has 21 wins, good for third place in the training standings behind Chad Brown (36) and Linda Rice (30).

Before this year, the most wins Cox had ever had during one Saratoga meet was 14. He did that in both 2023 and 2024.

“It’s been a big, big meet,” Cox said at his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “You never really know how it’s going to go up here. I would not say we really target this meet, but we definitely paid more attention to it (this year).”

Brad Cox (left) in the Travers winner’s circle | Tod Marks

Cox won the biggest race of the meet when Leading Change won the  Travers at odds of 10-1. He also saddled Kentucky Belle (Justify) to win the GII Saratoga Oaks and Amberglen (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) to win the GIII Lake George.

He has had plenty of success with his 2-year-olds this summer. He has started 26 youngsters and has seven wins, five seconds and four thirds according to Equibase.

Two of his juveniles have dates in the final weekend. Angel of Kirk (Yaupon), who won her debut on July 11 by 4 3/4 lengths, runs in the GI Spinaway on Saturday. The Good Life (Life Is Good), a 3 1/2 length winner on July 18 when named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’  is targeting the GI Hopeful Stakes on Sunday.

“I thought it was a good maiden,” Cox said of The Good Life, who shipped back to Saratoga this week after working four times at Churchill Downs. “He gave us the confidence early on that he could be a Saratoga horse, and he was.”

Of course, the biggest prize of the meet was the lightly raced Leading Change, who won the Travers in just his third career start. Cox had more established sophomores in fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Further Ado (Gun Runner), winner of the GI Blue Grass and GI Florida Derby champ Commandment (Into Mischief), but it was the rookie in the group that proved to be the star of the summer for Cox.

“I always felt this was the most talented horse of the group,” Cox said. “They are all very good horses.”

Moquett Won’t Apologize for Hymn’s Forego Win

Wednesday was getaway day for trainer Ron Moquett, who packed up his truck and pointed it towards Kentucky. The horse that gave him his one shining moment at Saratoga this summer–Hymn (McKinzie)–was not going to be too far behind.

The 4-year-old Hymn, who has won four of his last five starts since being gelded, gave Moquett his first Saratoga win since 2018 when he won the GI Forego. Moquett’s last Spa win also was in the Forego when Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) did it eight years ago.

Hymn | Sarah Andrew

Hymn’s win by three-quarters of a length brought joy to Moquett and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr and the ownership group of Fleur De Lis Stables, William Sparks and Bret Jones, but it also came after the even-money favorite, Book’em Danno (Bucchero), did not run after being scratched.

“You’ve got to take that into consideration,” Moquett said of the absence of last year’s champion sprinter. “Book’em Danno is the champ until he is not the champ, that’s the way I look at it. I hope Book’em Danno gets back healthy because racing is better when we have those horses around. Get well soon.”

Moquett will not apologize for winning the Forego.

“We planned on running in that race and we did,” he said. “We showed up against everybody who walked through the gates. We were not the favorite (third choice) but it worked out the way we all thought it would.”

After getting his first graded stakes win in the Forego, Hymn could be seen next in the GII Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 2. The Forego was a ‘Win and You’re In’ to the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31; the Phoenix is a ‘Win and You’re In’ to the GI Breeders Cup Sprint the same day.

The post Saratoga Notes, Presented by NYRA Bets: Nitrogen, Sandman Get One More Work In appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.