Horse Racing and Betting News

'Extraordinary' Constitution Hill to pursue career on Flat

Constitution Hill, with jockey Nico de Boinville, during the Unibet Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Racing Festival. — Constitution Hill amassed almost £900,000 in prize money before three falls last year [Getty Images]

Constitution Hill will pursue “the next chapter” in Flat racing after being ruled out of this year’s Champion Hurdle and any further races over jumps.

Having won the prestigious race in 2023, one of National Hunt racing’s biggest names had been lined up for another bid for success on 10 March at the Cheltenham Festival.

But following three falls in the nine-year-old’s last four races, Constitution Hill will now focus on the Flat after a debut victory in the Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell.

In a statement on X, trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley said it “was a sad day” and the decision followed “a lot of time soul searching”.

But Henderson added: “He leaves the jumping world sound [and] happy and ready for the next chapter.

“It has been a staggering journey so far and Michael has had to endure some dark days, but of course enjoyed the enormous highs and thrills of an extraordinary horse.”

Having triumphed in his first 10 races under jockey Nico de Boinville, Constitution Hill’s falls – including at Aintree and Cheltenham – had left Henderson mulling over his future.

The successful switch to Flat at Southwell last Friday showed his potential.

Starting 6-4 favourite and with five-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle, the move paid off as he took to the front well before the line and held firm to win by nine-and-a-half lengths from Square Necker and Gambino.

Henderson said: “He showed on Friday night that he has another career in front of him that could possibly take us all to new playing fields.

“It was a terrific night for both him, us, and I believe British Horse Racing and we are very aware of the public perception and the possible consequences of running over hurdles and feel it is not fair to ask him and Nico to do it again.

“Cheltenham have kindly invited Constitution Hill to parade on Champion Hurdle day to give all his National Hunt supporters the opportunity to say goodbye.”

Latest horse racing results

Ramon Vazquez Unanimously Voted Jockey Of The Week After Oaklawn Milestone

Jockey Ramon A. Vazquez had a memorable racing week at his winter home track of Oaklawn Park. On Monday, he posted five wins on the holiday card and on Friday, he won his 500th Oaklawn race to become just the 11th rider to reach that number of local wins. His total of 13 wins for the week vaulted him to the top of the Oaklawn jockey standings.

The panel of racing experts unanimously voted Vazquez Jockey of the Week for Feb. 16-Feb. 22.

The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

On Monday, the Presidents’ Day holiday card, Vazquez made the most of his 10 mounts on the day.

He started collecting wins with the first race for trainer Norm Casse. He won the fourth race for Mike Maker and the fifth for Ernie Witt II. Vazquez won the seventh race for F. Dewaine Loy and scored his fifth win in the 10th race for Peter Miller. The five wins on a single card equaled a local career high.

“It’s so difficult to win one,” Vazquez said to Oaklawn publicity. “I was thinking I had really good horses that day, but I never think I am going to win five.”

Racing resumed on Thursday and Vaquez posted a win in the fourth race for Peter Miller and the sixth race for Kelly Bainum.

Going into Friday’s card, Vazquez’s local wins stood at 498. He reached 499 in the third race for Kelly Bainum and collected local win 500 piloting Cur Non for trainer Boyd Caster in the sixth race.

He won two more races on Saturday, the first race for trainer Rob Atras and the fifth race for Rodolphe Brisset. He finished the week with two more wins on Sunday, race five for trainer Sean Willliams and race six for trainer Carlos Santamaria.

Vazquez, 42, a native of Puerto Rico, has been riding regularly at Oaklawn since 2012. He currently leads the Oaklawn jockey standings with 32 wins one more than Cristian Torres. He has never won the leading rider title at Oaklawn but has regularly finished in the top five. He has collected titles at Los Alamitos, Prairie Meadows, Lone Star, Remington Park and Santa Anita.

Vazquez will be riding at Oaklawn Thursday and Friday before travelling to Aqueduct to ride Saturday in the Stymie Stakes with Komorebino Omoide for Rob Atras and Dirty Rich in the Gotham Stakes (G3) for Peter Miller. The Gotham awards the top five finishers Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Alex Achard who won the John Battaglia Memorial, Francisco Arrieta with two stakes wins at Oaklawn, Florent Geroux with a stakes win at Santa Anita, Juan Hernandez who won a stakes races at Santa Anita and Sheldon Russell with two stakes wins at Laurel.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Why Constitution Hill is skipping Cheltenham Festival to focus on Flat racing

Constitution Hill jumps a fence during the 2023 Champion Hurdle — Constitution Hill, pictured winning the 2023 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, will not contest this year’s race – Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Constitution Hill has run his last race over hurdles after Nicky Henderson announced that he will not risk running the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner over obstacles again.

Five days after Constitution Hill’s stunning debut on the Flat, trainer Henderson said that for the greater good of the horse and racing he will focus on Flat racing for the rest of the nine-year-old’s career.

ALL CLASS! ⚫️⚪️

CONSTITUTION HILL strikes in the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes IN STYLE!@oismurphy @sevenbarrows @Southwell_Races pic.twitter.com/bKKndP9qzJ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2026

After making the decision along with owner Michael Buckley, Henderson will not confirm Constitution Hill for the Champion Hurdle, a race for which he was as short as 7-4 favourite on Wednesday morning and which takes place a week on Tuesday, on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

In a statement on X, he said: “Michael Buckley and I have not surprisingly spent a lot of time soul-searching and thinking over Constitution Hill’s future and have sadly concluded that he will not be running in the Unibet Champion Hurdle the week after next.

“This is a sad day for a lot of us, particularly the National Hunt fraternity, that would have liked to see Constitution Hill try to regain his crown and sad for all here especially [jockey] Nico de Boinville, who has spent so much time trying to iron out our jumping issues.

“However, he leaves the jumping world sound and happy and ready for the next chapter. It has been a staggering journey so far and Michael has had to endure some dark days, but of course he enjoyed the enormous highs and thrills of an extraordinary horse.”

Stunning debut made decision a no-brainer

Constitution Hill’s successful race at Southwell last week will have done a couple of things for Nicky Henderson.

It opened the door wide to the horse having a belated Flat career while reinforcing to the trainer – as he lay awake at night and grappled with the dilemma of whether to retire him from hurdles – how beloved this horse is by the racing public.

I have no doubts that Constitution Hill’s full potential as a hurdler, with just the one Champion Hurdle triumph, was not quite realised through happenstance and the apparent mental block he developed about jumping over the last 12 months, having been one of the most deadly accurate hurdlers around.

Constitution Hill racing at Southwell — Constitution Hill won on his Flat debut at Southwell last week – Mike Egerton/PA

But it is not called jump racing for nothing and a horse’s ability to get from one side of an obstacle to the other quickly and efficiently is, perhaps, even more crucial in a Champion Hurdle than it is a Grand National.

His hurdling record stands at 14 runs, 10 wins, three falls and one submission, at Punchestown last spring, when he was clearly feeling the effects of two heavy falls in the previous six weeks.

Of course jumping’s loss is Flat racing’s gain and, on the basis of his 9½-length win at Southwell last Friday night, for this summer he will remain the sport’s biggest draw at whichever racecourse, in Britain or abroad, he pitches up.

The New Lion is now the 15-8 favourite for the Champion Hurdle in his absence with the three mares Brighterdaysahead (11-4), Lossiemouth (3-1) and the reigning champion Golden Ace (9-2) all on his heels.

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Showing Up For OTTBs: $35,000 In Prize Money Donated By Thoroughbred Stakeholders

Spurred by the encouragement of Sergio de Sousa from Hidden Brook Farm and Carrie Brogden from Machmer Hall, a group of 17 Thoroughbred industry stakeholders have pledged to donate a total of $35,000 in prize money for a series of TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Classics at the Kentucky Horse Shows and Split Rock Jumping Tour in 2026. The 20 TAKE2 Classics, offering $1,750 in prize money each, will be held at 10 horse shows at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, between May and September.

The TAKE2 Classics sponsors are:

De Sousa, in addition to serving as managing partner at Hidden Brook, has competed in the TAKE2 Jumpers since 2022. He recognized the need to incentivize members of the Hunter/Jumper community to compete on Thoroughbreds, and to provide retired racehorses with an avenue for the transition to a second career.

“The TAKE2 League is the perfect next step for adoption and retraining programs for Thoroughbreds around the country,” he said. “It allows horses and riders to compete at high-level venues, giving continuation to their development. Hopefully, some will move up from TAKE2; if not, it is a great level of competition for amateur riders like me.”

He added, “Hidden Brook Farm, my family, and I have always supported aftercare programs. There are so much life and ability left in the Thoroughbreds after their racing careers, and we need to support them.”

Created in 2012 by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program offers prize money and year-end awards for League members competing in Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions at more than 500 horse shows across the country. The $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter & Jumper Finals have been held in Lexington each year since 2019. Since its inception, TAKE2 has distributed more than $1.25 million in awards and prize money. The organization has been a Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) grantee since 2016.

Brogden, who sits on the TCA Board and started the Machmer Hall breeding, racing, and sales company in 2001, wants to see the demand for Thoroughbreds grow to what it once was.

“I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation for the outstanding leadership demonstrated by Andy Belfiore in organizing these classes and passionately advocating for the TAKE2 initiative,” Brogden said. “She is an invaluable asset to our second-career athletes and the broader community we serve.

“I aspire to see demand for Thoroughbreds return to the robust levels experienced during the breed’s peak in the 1970s and 1980s and with this kind of leadership and support, I truly believe it is possible. These sponsored classes are a huge step in the right direction!”

TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore conveyed her gratitude for the support of the industry, as well as the horse shows who will offer the Classics.

“It’s heartening to see the commitment to the horses by the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry,” Belfiore said. “Aftercare and the smooth transition to second careers are causes we can all unite behind, and the Classic sponsors are staunch supporters.

“We also appreciate the willingness of Kentucky Horse Shows and Split Rock Jumping Tour to provide Thoroughbreds with a platform to showcase just how talented they are as hunters and jumpers.”

Hugh Kincannon, managing partner of Kentucky Horse Shows since 1991, remarked, “When provided the opportunity, Thoroughbreds excel as hunters and jumpers, and we are thrilled to be able to give them the chance to shine. What better place to put a spotlight on the Thoroughbred than the heart of the Bluegrass State?”

Split Rock Kentucky National, which has been the home to the TAKE2 Finals since 2023, will hold the event once again Sept. 20, 2026. President and Founder Derek Braun remarked, “SRJT is honored to once again host the TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals. The program is an integral part of the Lexington, KY, community, and it is only fitting that a Thoroughbred Final of this caliber be held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Our intentions are to make these feature Finals in 2026 bigger and better than ever!”

Click here for the Kentucky Horse Shows and SRJT horse show schedules for 2026.

What motivated the sponsors to get involved?

Adrienne Camire: There is a shared responsibility among everyone involved in the Thoroughbred industry to provide for horses when their racing days are over. Aftercare comes in many different forms, including a wide variety of second careers. As an owner dedicated to life beyond the racetrack, I am thrilled to support TAKE2’s efforts to shine a spotlight on these great athletes’ abilities within the hunter/jumper community.

Andrew Cary, Cary Bloodstock: Second careers for retired racehorses are an absolute necessity and should be supported by all Thoroughbred racing and breeding organizations. Not only is it the right thing to do for the horse, it also creates added demand for Thoroughbreds in addition to what they can do on the racetrack. The vast majority of racehorses are still young by overall horse standards when their best racing days are behind them. They deserve the opportunity to excel in other disciplines and have happy, meaningful, and healthy lives.

Julie Davies: My passion for aftercare is driven by my love for horses that goes far beyond sales and racing. These horses power an industry, and we owe them safe transitions, second careers, and lasting respect long after racing ends. Talent doesn’t end when one chapter closes. What they carry forward – heart, work ethic, and try – should be recognized, valued, and redirected toward a new purpose.

Eaton Sales: Eaton Sales proudly supports aftercare and believe it is our responsibility to honor and protect the horses who make this industry possible.

ELiTE Sales: At ELiTE, we recognize that our responsibility to the Thoroughbred extends far beyond the sales ring. Supporting meaningful second-career opportunities is one of the most important ways we can give back to the breed and the industry that sustains us. Programs such as TAKE2, Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP), and the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) create structured, visible pathways for Thoroughbreds to thrive after the track, showcasing the versatility, athleticism, intelligence, and work ethic that make them exceptional athletes. By supporting these programs, we help ensure that every Thoroughbred has the opportunity to transition into a purposeful and successful second career.

Tami Bobo, First Finds: Supporting these programs is crucial for our horses’ welfare and for accountability in horse racing. With the economic sustainability attained by increasing the value of OTTBs in sport horse markets, we create demand for retired racehorses and public trust. It isn’t just about finding homes, it’s about creating a structured pathway so retired racehorses can excel in second careers (eventing, jumping, dressage, trail, therapy work) after they leave the racetrack.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: At Hagyard, we’re strong proponents of aftercare. Our team often sees horses from the time that they’re born (or even before), through their career on the track, and beyond. We are passionate about caring for these horses at each stage of their life and want to help ensure they have a soft landing after they leave the racetrack. Programs like the RRP, TIP and TAKE2 are instrumental in highlighting the versatility of the Thoroughbred and incentivizing ownership.

Valerie Mastromonaco: My love for Thoroughbreds has never been limited to the racing. We have a responsibility as breeders and owners before, during, and long after their time on the track to ensure these horses receive the care and opportunities they deserve.

Byron Nimocks: When I became involved in the Thoroughbred industry five years ago, I was concerned about the post racing lives that my horses would have. With many bad outcomes chronicled in the press I promised myself not to allow that to happen to my horses. Thanks to Andy and the work of TAKE2 the future of retired racehorses is much improved. I am a proud supporter!

Scott Morrison, Notch Hill Farm: We owe it to our horses to give them a useful second career and a good home after they’re finished racing or training. Thoroughbreds are incredibly versatile, athletic, and honest. This makes them suitable for many different types of disciplines.

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital: Rood & Riddle supports many organizations that encourage second careers for Thoroughbreds.

Peter O’Callaghan, Woods Edge Farm: As breeders it is our responsibility to do all we can to support our horses when they leave the track.

Click here for more information on the sponsors.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Horse Care section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Derby Bubble Presented By Kentucky-Breds: The Best To Never Do It

The Kentucky Derby prep schedule is in full swing, which means it’s time for detailed looks at the horses that could fill the starting gate with Andrew Champagne of The Saratogian’s Pink Sheet. Or, in this case, notable horses that have filled the starting gates of Derbies past.

Check back with the Paulick Report regularly for updated rankings that include news, notes, and opinions on the 3-year-olds that figure to take center stage.

Last week, we mentioned we’ve got some new things in store for the Derby Bubble this year. This week, we’ll roll out the first variant. This is partially because last weekend’s lone prep, the Battaglia at Turfway Park, didn’t really shake anything up. It’s also partially because…well, because my friend had a fun idea.

Darin Zoccali of TwinSpires asked Twitter about the best horses of semi-recent vintage that ran in the Kentucky Derby, but did not win it. Here, I’ll give my personal rankings for that category, based on a few criteria. Obviously, a horse’s overall body of work matters, but so do the horses they ran against and the general “chaos” factor of that year’s Derby. If a horse had the ability to win and somewhat inexplicably didn’t, they will generally rank higher than a horse that ran well but finished second or third behind another champion-caliber 3-year-old that day.

We’ll include horses from the last 40 years, from 1986 onward, and I’m limiting myself to one Derby runner per renewal. This impacts a few horses, which I’ll summarize in each part of the list where it’s relevant. This criteria I’ve outlined will lead to rankings some of you may disagree with, but that’s okay. I welcome disagreement, and hey, if you think I’m pandering for interaction and you give me interaction, don’t I win? (Side note: Some people never learned this lesson, and it shows.)

Anyway, on with the list. We’ll break the list up into separate tiers which help group relevant horses together, and we’ll go from #15 to #1, starting with…

Kentucky-bred horses will receive additional analysis into their breeders, broodmares, and auction histories. Pedigree notes are written by Joe Nevills.

Tier #1: Victims Of The Hype Machine

Courtesy Stockwell Thoroughbreds, Australia

#15: Arazi (1992)

Arazi looked like Pegasus reincarnated in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, when he made Bertrando look like he was standing in place going around the far turn. It’s easy to see why he came back to the U.S. for the 1992 Kentucky Derby, where he was sent off an overwhelming 4/5 favorite.

However, Arazi didn’t run to the billing. He did make another spectacular move on the turn, but unlike six months earlier, he flattened out, only finishing eighth behind 16-1 shot Lil E. Tee. Arazi would come back to the States one final time for that year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, but he was thumped by the horse that would turn out to be the best of his year’s crop, Hall of Famer Lure.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Arazi was bred in Kentucky by Ralph Wilson, Jr., out of the French Group 3-placed Blushing Groom mare Danseur Fabuleux, a Wilson homebred whose eight winners from nine foals to race also includes English Group 1 winner Noverre and stakes-placed Fortrose. Arazi sold as a weanling for $350,000 at the 1989 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, consigned by Bruce Hundley.

#14: Empire Maker (2003)

Some may see this as a bit low. Empire Maker had a world of hype from the moment he was born, being a product of top sire Unbridled and blue hen broodmare Toussaud. He romped in the 2003 G1 Florida Derby, topped Funny Cide in the G1 Wood Memorial, and was favored in the Derby, where he ran third behind Funny Cide and stablemate Peace Rules.

Empire Maker turned the tables on Funny Cide five weeks later in the Belmont and, in the eyes of many, validated his level of talent. However, he ran just once more, falling short in the G2 Jim Dandy. He could have won the Derby, sure, but it’s not like his resume is a towering one, so on this list, he just misses the top 10.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Empire Maker was a Kentucky homebred for Juddmonte Farms, out of the Grade 1-winning El Gran Senor mare Toussaud, the 2002 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and fellow Juddmonte homebred who also had Grade 1 winners Chester House, Chiseling, and Honest Lady, as well as Grade 2 winner Decarchy.

Tier #2: Ran Into A Better Horse/Better Horses

#13: Journalism (2025)

Sometimes, a really good horse is born the same year as a buzzsaw. This was the case with Journalism, who chased Sovereignty home in the 2025 Derby. He’d add the Preakness two weeks later before falling to Sovereignty again in the Belmont.

Journalism won three Grade 1’s last season, also adding a win in the G2 San Felipe, a second in the G1 Pacific Classic, and a fourth-place finish in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s recently returned to the work tab ahead of a 2026 campaign, and at least one more rematch with last season’s Horse of the Year could be on the docket.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Journalism was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., and he is the first foal out of the Grade 2-winning Uncle Mo mare Mopotism, who the breeder secured for $1.05 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Journalism was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent.

#12: Gun Runner (2016)

Gun Runner led into the stretch of the 2016 Derby, but was reeled in by both Nyquist and Exaggerator. He’d ultimately outlast both of those horses, however, when he won Horse of the Year honors following an exceptional 2017 campaign.

The problem is, he wasn’t considered one of the favorites on the first Saturday in May. He was good, but he wasn’t the horse he’d be a few years later, and he ran up against a then-undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and a multiple Grade 1 winner that would annex the Preakness two weeks later. Gun Runner losing wasn’t a head-scratcher. He just wasn’t the best version of himself yet.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Gun Runner was bred in Kentucky by Besilu Stables, out of the Grade 2-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant, whose five winners from six foals to race also includes Grade 3 winner Pretty Ana and stakes-placed Ottinho. Besilu Stables purchased Quiet Giant for $3 million out of the Edward P. Evans dispersal, handled by Lane’s End, at the 2011 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

#11: War Chant (2000)

The 2000 Kentucky Derby featured a loaded field. Fusaichi Pegasus was a popular winner that day, but the field included a number of horses that could have made this list. Runner-up Aptitude also ran second in the Belmont and won multiple Grade 1 races as a 4-year-old. More Than Ready, who ran fourth, won the G1 King’s Bishop and became one of America’s most productive sires. Eighth-place finisher Captain Steve would pocket more than $6.8 million in career earnings.

However, I’m going with War Chant here. He hadn’t run a bad race before the Kentucky Derby, but he didn’t bring his form with him from California and wound up finishing ninth. He got a break before being brought back to the races by Neil Drysdale, who opted to run him on turf. He didn’t disappoint, winning the G2 Oak Tree Mile and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile before being retired to stud. I wish we’d gotten to see him run as a 4-year-old, as I think he could’ve been a force on both turf and dirt. Alas…

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: War Chant was a Kentucky homebred for Marjorie and Irving Cowan, out of the champion Kris S. mare Hollywood Wildcat; a blue hen producer and fellow Cowan homebred who was also responsible for English Group 2 winner Ivan Denisovich, Grade 3-placed stakes winners Double Cat and Ministers Wild Cat, Irish Group 3-placed Shintoh, and stakes-placed Bold Warrior.

Tier #3: Things Got Weird

#10: Pioneerof the Nile (2009)

The 2009 Kentucky Derby was one of the wettest on record, and Pioneerof the Nile, who came into the event off of four straight wins in California for trainer Bob Baffert, was among the favorites. Of the betting choices, he was the only runner who fired that day, and he did indeed prevail in a pitched battle with Musket Man. However, that battle with Musket Man was for second, more than six lengths behind runaway winner Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel, who expertly rated his 50-1 shot and saved every possible inch of ground.

Pioneerof the Nile raced once more, finishing ninth in the Preakness before being retired to stud. His most notable offspring is, of course, 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile was a Kentucky homebred for Zayat Stables, out of the stakes-winning Lord At War mare Star of Goshen, who is also responsible for Grade 2-placed Forefathers. The Zayat operation purchased Star of Goshen privately after she was offered with Pioneerof the Nile in-utero at the 2005 Keeneland November sale, and Zayat Stables bought back Pioneerof the Nile for $290,000 when he went through the ring at the 2007 Keeneland September sale.

Tier #4: Good At Three, Better Later

#9: Skip Away (1996)

Skip Away fits a similar profile as Gun Runner in that he was a very good 3-year-old who achieved his true greatness as an older horse. He finished a non-threatening 12th in the 1996 Derby, which was won by Grindstone (who ran down Cavonnier in one of the most thrilling finishes in the race’s history). He was 7-1 that day, so he was seen as a contender, but he wasn’t the towering force he’d eventually become.

That reckoning, however, came soon after. A fast finish to his 3-year-old season included runner-up finishes in the Preakness and Belmont, plus three Grade 1 wins in the back half of the year, and that was enough for the first of his four Eclipse Awards. He’d end his career with 18 wins (10 of the Grade 1 variety), including a tour de force in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He finished his career with more than $9.6 million in earnings and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

#8: Curlin (2007)

Honestly, it’s a coin flip between Curlin and Skip Away here, and I flip-flopped these horses on this list multiple times. Curlin got off to a late start, but he proved best of one of the top 3-year-old crops of the last 20 years. After finishing third behind Street Sense and Hard Spun in the 2007 Derby, he got his nose down over Street Sense in the Preakness before finishing second to Rags to Riches in the Belmont.

Curlin’s true legacy, though, came later. Wins in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic earned him 2007’s Horse of the Year trophy, and he added a second one in 2008 following four Grade 1 victories. He retired with well over $10 million in earnings, and he’s been one of the best sires on the market for nearly two decades.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Curlin was bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm, out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Sheriff’s Deputy, a Fares Farm homebred who had four winners from six foals to race. Curlin sold to Kenny McPeek, agent, for $57,000 out of the Eaton Sales consignment at the 2005 Keeneland September sale.

Tier #5: Could Have Won…Maybe

#7: Easy Goer (1989)

One may expect Easy Goer to be even higher on this list. He finished a fast-closing second behind Sunday Silence, who he’d do battle with three more times in 1989. Their war in the Preakness is the stuff of legend. Easy Goer then trounced Sunday Silence in the Belmont before coming up short in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Based on talent, and based on a horse’s ability on his best day, Easy Goer ranks highly. The problem is…he just wasn’t better than Sunday Silence. Objectively, I can’t say he should’ve won the Derby. He was the second-best horse in his crop, and if you don’t like me saying that, don’t argue with me. Argue with the scoreboard that says “3-1.”

Easy Goer was great. He’s a Hall of Famer. Sunday Silence was greater, and for the purposes of this list, that hurts him.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Easy Goer was a Kentucky homebred for Ogden Phipps, out of the Grade 1-winning Buckpasser mare Relaxing, the 1989 Broodmare of the Year and fellow homebred for the Phipps operation, whose runners of note also include Grade 1 winners Cadillacing and Easy Now, and stakes-placed Comfy.

#6: Essential Quality (2021)

We head to 2021 for this one. Essential Quality was aiming to become just the third horse in history to win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby, and he ran well on the first Saturday in May. However, he crossed the wire fourth before being placed third following the disqualification of initial winner Medina Spirit. He made significant contact with Rock Your World leaving the starting gate and was wide into the first turn, and while it’s tough to say that trip definitively cost him the race, a clean run that gives him smooth sailing into the stretch may well have made for a different outcome.

Essential Quality went on to win the Belmont, the Jim Dandy, and the G1 Travers before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He earned his division’s Eclipse Award for the second consecutive year before being shuttled off to stud, where he’s off to a fast start. He was definitively the most-accomplished horse of his crop, and that’s enough to put him just outside the top five.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Essential Quality is a Kentucky homebred for Godolphin, out of the Grade 3-placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality, a fellow Godolphin homebred who is also the dam of stakes winner Famed. Delightful Quality is a half-sister to champion Folklore.

#5: Point Given (2001)

Point Given was a popular answer to Darin’s initial question, and for good reason. After finishing fifth in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, he reeled off four straight Grade 1 wins in the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, and Travers. In fact, the Derby was the only time he finished worse than second in 13 lifetime tries.

However, while he ranks highly on this list, I can’t, in good conscience, say he should have won the Run for the Roses, and that caps his ceiling. Monarchos ran a monstrous race that afternoon, circling the field and winning going away in the second-fastest time in Derby history (trailing only Secretariat). Point Given thumped him in the final two legs of the Triple Crown, but on that day, I simply think Monarchos put forth a freaky performance where he probably wasn’t losing.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Point Given was a Kentucky homebred for The Thoroughbred Corp., out of the stakes-winning Turkoman mare Turko’s Turn, the 2001 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year whose produce also included Grade 2-placed Live for Now, and stakes-placed Deher’s Turn and Point Gained. The Thoroughbred Corp. acquired Turko’s Turn as a broodmare for $130,000 at the 1996 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Tier #6: Probably Should Have Won

#4: Risen Star (1988)

The 1988 Kentucky Derby featured several highly-accomplished runners. Winning Colors went wire-to-wire. Multiple Grade 1 winner Forty Niner had to settle for second. Risen Star, however, may have been best that day, as he was well, well behind turning for home and uncorked a huge run to be third.

Runaway wins in the Preakness and Belmont solidified his status as the best horse of his crop. Unfortunately, he was injured during the final leg of the Triple Crown, and he never got to carry on to the rest of the calendar’s premier races. He’s one of the Triple Crown’s great “what if…” stories, and for my money, he doesn’t get anywhere near the attention he should for being as talented as he was. If he’s in the same area code as Winning Colors turning for home, I think we’re looking at a different result.

Kentucky-Bred Pedigree: Risen Star was bred in Kentucky by Arthur Hancock and L. J. Peters, out of the Grade 3-winning His Majesty mare Ribbon, who is also the dam of Italian stakes winner Silk Braid, Grade/Group 3-placed Premier Partner and Ribbonwood, and French stakes-placed Woven Silk. Hancock and Peters purchased Ribbon for $2 million at the 1985 Keeneland November Sale.

Hancock’s Stone Farm consigned Risen Star at the 1986 Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sale, where he sold to Harold McKenzie for $210,000. After being bought back by the breeders, the colt then sold to owner/trainer Louie Roussell for $300,000 at the following year’s Fasig-Tipton Florida Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

#3: Afleet Alex (2005)

We head to the podium with a question that still puzzles me: How did Afleet Alex not win the 2005 Kentucky Derby?

Afleet Alex came with his run that day beneath Jeremy Rose, and for an instant in mid-stretch, it looked like his kick may be the winning one. However, he wound up third, being beaten a length by 50-1 shot Giacomo and a half-length by 70-1 bomb Closing Argument. How wild was this race? Consider this: Afleet Alex was the only horse below 21-1 in the top six.

He and Rose earned horse racing immortality two weeks later in the Preakness, when horse and rider regrouped after clipping heels and won the Black-Eyed Susans. Three weeks later, Afleet Alex won the Belmont convincingly, solidifying his status as the best horse of his crop. He never raced again and enjoyed a productive stallion career before passing away earlier this month.

#2: Forever Young (2024)

A few months ago, Forever Young would’ve been significantly lower on this list. However, a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a second straight score in the G1 Saudi Cup have pushed this Japanese horse to another level.

He was highly-touted prior to the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and he absolutely ran well enough to win. He was third that day behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone in a three-horse photo, and given the contact Sierra Leone made throughout the stretch, he probably should’ve gotten the money that day. He’s since proved himself as one of the best horses in training, and we may very well see him attempt a Breeders’ Cup repeat later this year at Keeneland.

(As a note, the 2024 Derby featured a few others that could have made this list. Both Sierra Leone and Fierceness could’ve cracked the top 15, but they were casualties of the “limit of one Derby non-winner per year” rule.)

Tier #7: What The Heck Happened Here?

#1: Holy Bull (1994)

I tweeted this as my response to Darin’s question, and I can’t go anywhere else. At his best, Holy Bull was an absolute monster. Following his misfire in the 1994 Kentucky Derby, he reeled off six consecutive wins (four in Grade 1 company) before suffering a career-ending injury in the G1 Donn Handicap (which was won by Cigar in what turned out to be a “passing of the torch” of sorts).

He was dominant before the Derby, he was dominant after the Derby, and his 12th-place finish in the Derby remains puzzling. On pure ability, he’s one of the best horses we’ve seen over the last 40 years, and if the Holy Bull we saw many times shows up that afternoon at Churchill Downs, there’s no doubt in my mind he wins. For some reason, that didn’t happen, and that’s why he tops this list.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Bloodlines Presented By Walmac Farm: Labwah And The Mists Of Time

Striding away through the stretch, Labwah (by Charlatan) won the Group 3 UAE Oaks by 7 ½ lengths from Yuno (Rock Your World), both sires whose first crops are now three. Victory made Labwah the first group stakes winner for her sire, who had previously been represented by listed stakes winner Hammond (Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream) and the restricted stakes winner Miss Curlin (Louisiana Champions Day Lassie).

Bred in Kentucky by Calvin Crain, Labwah is the sixth winner and second stakes winner for her dam, War Tigress (War Chant). By the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner War Chant (Danzig), War Tigress won on debut at Kentucky Downs as a 2-year-old and finished her juvenile campaign of three victories from four starts with success in the Caressing Handicap at Churchill Downs. The filly raced the mile on turf in 1:38.83.

Subsequently, War Tigress ran third in the Lady Canterbury Stakes at four, then was second in the Jersey Lilly at Sam Houston as a 5-year-old. Overall, the filly did not deliver on the promises of her first season of racing.

At stud, War Tigress has had four winners to earn more than $100,000, with Labwah the most recent of these. The mare’s best previous racer was War Heroine (Lonhro), who won four of her six starts, earning $240,945. After winning on debut at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, War Heroine won three times in her second season of racing, including the listed Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita and the G2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar, who proved her final start.

Both of War Heroine’s stakes victories were on turf.

A March 11 foal, Labwah went to the 2025 OBS April sale, where she worked a quarter-mile in :21, showing a stride length of slightly more than 24 feet and earning a good BreezeFig of 66.

From the first crop by the highly regarded Speightstown stallion Charlatan, Labwah looked better in her work as she leveled off through the stretch and put herself into a proper rhythm and extension. She appeared to have good fitness at OBS and actually improved in stride cadence as she went farther into her work.

A filly with an appealing walk, Labwah strikes me as one who might well do even better on turf, just like her dam and broodmare sire, War Chant.

War Chant was a star from the start. A son of leading sire Danzig and champion filly Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.), War Chant won on debut at two, then won four of his six starts at three. The rangy bay was eminently suited to racing a mile and won at that distance three times at stakes level. He was successful in the G2 San Rafael and G2 Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile, then capped his career with a tremendous success in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Trainer Neil Drysdale brought the colt into splendid form for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. In the race, War Chant was nearly last after a quarter-mile, was still ninth at the stretch call, but came on so strongly through the last part of the race that he won by a neck in time of 1:34.67.

After that, breeders clamored for his services, and he went off to stud, where he had a demure tenure as a sire that was defined by its acrophobia. War Chant’s best racer was probably Chamberlain Bridge, who won the G2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2010.

War Tigress came from her sire’s fifth crop of foals, and she raced for her breeder, Ann Lorenson Lynch. After a solid racing career that included a good stakes victory at two, War Tigress was consigned to the Keeneland November sale in 2011 as a broodmare prospect, and she sold to Thomas Conway for $80,000.

Conway bred the mare’s early foals and then had a reduction in 2020, when he sold War Tigress at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. Barren to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, the mare went through the ring for $28,000, with Calvin Crain the buyer.

By that point in her career, War Tigress had already produced War Heroine, as well as Washington Tesoro (Curlin), whom Conway had sold for $550,000 as a yearling and who earned nearly $300,000 while racing in Japan.

Labwah is the ninth foal from her dam. A further curiosity about the UAE Oaks winner is that she traces in the female line to one of the oldest families in American breeding.

While many dam lines were imported to the States in the last hundred years, a century is hardly warming up this family. Labwah’s 10th dam Dusica (Waygood) was foal in 1929 and was out of a half-sister to Stimulus (Ultimus), who was a major winner at two, when he was the victor in the Pimlico Futurity and second in the Futurity Stakes at Belmont. Later, Stimulus became an important sire at Claiborne Farm.

Labwah’s 15th dam was Katie Mattingly (John Morgan), who was born in 1867, and the 20th dam was Katy Anne (Ogle’s Oscar), who was a foal of 1824. Indeed, this family line stretches back into the 17th century, and there we find Labwah’s 25th dam, who comes down to us with the label of the Gallant Mare (Gallant), a foal of 1787.

Many mares of this era were not officially named (and there wasn’t a Jockey Club to record the name, anyway, at that time), and they are known by the name of their sire. The next three mares in Labwah’s lineage are all of this description: True Whig Mare (Fitzhugh’s True Whig), 1781; Jack of Diamonds Mare (Jack of Diamonds) 1765; and Monkey Mare (Monkey), who was foaled in approximately 1755.

The latter is the first American-born critter in the line of mares leading to this year’s winner of the UAE Oaks. The Monkey Mare was bred from two English imports: Monkey (Lonsdale Bay Arabian), who won his two starts in England, including an 800-guinea sweepstakes at Newmarket, and Miss Bell (Ancaster Starling), a foal of 1750 who was reported to have been imported as a 4- or 5-year-old.

Both of the Monkey Mare’s parents were reported as imports to Virginia, then later sent to North Carolina, where Monkey proved a good stallion in early American breeding. The third edition of the American Stud Book notes that Miss Bell produced the Monkey Mare as her first foal but does not give a specific year.

This line is described as American Family A15 and was distinguished by numerous racehorses and winners of races run in heats up to four miles for the next century. Then, as racing began to change into the sport we know today, the line adapted to different training approaches and racing distances.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Redknapp's Gold Cup dream sparked by late grandmother

The JukeBox Man (R) has already won the prestigious King George VI Chase, which Harry Redknapp (L) said was ‘beyond my wildest dreams’ (Darren Staples)

English football icon Harry Redknapp told AFP that his late grandmother, the inspiration for his love of horse racing, “wouldn’t believe” he had a horse that is “running in the (Cheltenham) Gold Cup”.

Redknapp owns The Jukebox Man, who is vying for favouritism for the race that is regarded as the blue riband of jumps racing and the climax to the Cheltenham Festival on March 13.

“It would be a dream wouldn’t it,” said Redknapp of winning it.

“I love my racing. Football, obviously, has been my life but yeah, the Gold Cup would be really special.”

The Ben Pauling-trained star has already won the prestigious King George VI Chase, last December, which Redknapp said was “beyond my wildest dreams”.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth manager’s love of the ‘Sport of Kings’ was sparked by his “nan” Maggie Brown in the 1950’s.

Redknapp, who guided Portsmouth to 2008 FA Cup glory, said nevertheless she would never have imagined it leading to her grandson mixing with the elite of jumps racing.

“You know she had 10 kids; lived in the East End of London; survived, like them all, through the war,” Redknapp said after watching The Jukebox Man gallop at Pauling’s stables near Cheltenham on Monday.

“She wouldn’t believe that I was hobnobbing with all these people and owning a horse that’s running in the Gold Cup.”

Redknapp, who was linked with becoming England manager in 2012, said that Brown had run bets for a bookmaker — Cyril the paperboy — which was illegal at the time.

“She was great she was,” said Redknapp.

“She loved a bet, that was her life having a little bet, taking the bets off the old girls in the street.

“Then Cyril the paperboy, he was 60-odd and he was still called the paperboy, would come round.

“Trilby hat, suit, shirt and tie, shoes polished, had a little whoop whoop ‘Star and Evening Standard, Star and Evening Standard’, and my nan would drop the bets in.”

– ‘I lost him’ –

Brown, though, did not let Redknapp sit around kicking his heels.

“My nan would come over to dinner and she would get me to pick out three horses,” said Redknapp.

“I couldn’t read or write but I’m picking three horses out of the paper for her.

“There was no science behind picking horses in those days.”

However, Brown was not always the one who landed a winner for the family.

Redknapp’s mum worked in a cake factory and had landed 100/1 chance Foinavon in the sweep for the 1967 Grand National.

He came home clear having avoided a mass pile-up at the 23rd of the 30 fences — which is now named after him.

The roars of delight probably shook the very foundations of the family home.

Redknapp, who turns 79 on March 2, has been an owner since he was managing Bournemouth in the mid 1980’s, and whilst there have been many good days, he has known bad days too.

“I had a lovely horse with Alan King called Bygones In Brid,” said Redknapp.

“He comes to the first hurdle, the sun was so bright he’d run straight into it, went down and never got up.

“That was it, I lost him.

“So yeah, it’s good days, bad days in this game, isn’t it?”

Redknapp sees similarities between being a football manager and a horse trainer.

“Most important? Good staff, getting the best out of them, looking after them, make them feel they’re all doing a good job,” he said.

“I think that’s what he (Pauling) does, they’ve all been with him a long time and they all seem to enjoy working in the environment.”

His biggest regret is never having had a horse trained by former England international Mick Channon, who enjoyed a lot of success on the flat.

That did not stop them enjoying a memorable day at Salisbury racecourse, with legendary hellraiser and Northern Irish footballing legend George Best.

“George was playing at Bournemouth,” said Redknapp.

“We ended up having a day out with Bally (1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball) and Channon and we all ended up in a pub round the corner at about nine o’clock at night, after an afternoon meeting.

“Don’t ask me how we got home!”

pi/bc

Multiple Stakes Winner Neom Beach Tops Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale

The 2026 February Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with gross sales of $5,881,500 for 189 horses sold. The sale opened Thursday, Feb. 19. Offerings included horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, broodmares – including mares with foals at foot –stallion prospects, ‘short’ yearlings, and a two-year-old in training.

Neom Beach (hip 1), a multiple stakes winning daughter of Omaha Beach, sold for $300,000 to Amy Moore to top the sale. The five-year-old mare was consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Jeffrey Bloom, agent. A winner at two, three, and four, Neom Beach won last year’s Ouija Board Distaff Stakes on dirt and the Wasted Tears Stakes on turf. Earner of more than $745,000 to date, Neom Beach entered the sale off a three-length win in allowance company in her last start.

“Fasig-Tipton has mastered the art of blending their legacy bloodstock sales expertise with their proven innovative digital platform,” said Jeffrey Bloom, who consigned the sale topper. “Bringing buyers and sellers across the world together with such amazing efficiency opens up endless opportunities. I am a huge fan.”

Rounding out the top five prices of the sale were:

Miss Tapirado (hip 37), sold for $260,000 to Four Quarters Corp., NW Bloodstock, agent, from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent (Dispersal of Repossessed Horses). A winning daughter of Tapit and Grade 2 winner/multiple Grade 1 placed My Conquestadory, Miss Tapirado has produced a two-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, which has not started, and has a yearling colt by Echo Town. She was offered not mated.
Gun Party (hip 31), sold for $200,000 to KDE Equine from the consignment of Steve Asmussen, agent. Offered as a horse of racing age, the 5-year-old son of Curlin out of Grade 1 winner Carina Mia recorded two 90+ Beyer speed figures last year at Churchill Downs and Saratoga. Gun Party has earned more than $315,000 to date.
Misinformation (hip 36), sold for $180,000 to Lobo Farm from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for DJ Stable Graduate. A 3-year-old colt by Essential Quality, Misinformation was twice a winner last year at two and was just a nose shy of victory in allowance company at Oaklawn on Feb. 7. He has been on the board in five of seven career starts with two wins and earnings of more than $120,000.
Loupit (hip 241), sold for $170,000 to Emmanuel de Seroux from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent (Dispersal of Repossessed Horses). Offered as a broodmare prospect, Loupit is Tapit half-sister to graded stakes winner/G1 placed Madame Stripes (ARG).
Paynterbynumbers (hip 3), sold for $160,000 to Ken Copenhaver from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent (Dispersal of Repossessed Horses). A winning daughter of Paynter herself, her first foal is multiple stakes winning juvenile of last year Counting Stars (Honor A. P.), who is entered in this Sunday’s Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. Paynterbynumbers has a yearling filly by Epicenter and was offered not mated.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the results of this sale, which surpassed $5.8 million in gross,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Bidding was strong from start to finish, reflecting the depth and diversity of both our offerings and our buyer base. With more than 1,200 registered bidders and an 80 percent clearance rate, the market is clearly healthy and active—horses are getting sold.

“We’re especially encouraged to see new participants joining us each sale, and we’re incredibly appreciative of the continued support from our buyers and sellers,” Aaron continued. “Also telling was that 85 percent of the horses that brought $100,000 or more were sold by traditional consignors, so it’s exciting to see how comfortable they are selling high end stock on our digital platform.”

Full results are available online.

The next digital sale is the March Digital Sale, to be held March 19 through March 24. Entries close March 9.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Breeders' Cup Forum: NYRA And The New CAW Guardrails

During a December panel discussion at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program’s Global Symposium on Racing, New York Racing Association president and CEO David O’Rourke said NYRA was – to paraphrase from Star Trek – going to boldly go where no track has gone before when it comes to dealing with computer-assisted wagering.

NYRA has set the pace on this vexing issue starting in 2019, when it restricted the Pick 6 and Late Pick 5 to retail customers only. In July 2021, NYRA was the first racing organization to put in place a timing restriction on CAW win bets, cutting them off at two minutes to post (2:59 actually). That has significantly reduced the last-second odds shifts that frustrate horseplayers.

Now, NYRA has cut off the CAWs on all of its other wagering pools at one minute to post (1:59 actually, plus the time it takes for the horses to load into the starting gate). The policy went into effect Feb. 6, was suspended for one day on Feb. 7, then resumed on Feb. 11 going forward.

The CAWs can, like any advanced player, wager into pools at a rate of up to six bets per second, but that’s nowhere near the capacity they played at before, programmatically sending in thousands of combinations in the final seconds.

No other tracks have taken this issue on to the extent that NYRA has, with only a few incorporating win bet restrictions. It’s been crickets from the rest of the racing industry since O’Rourke announced these most recent guardrails in December.

O’Rourke responded to a series of questions emailed to him by Paulick Report publisher Ray Paulick.

What led to the decision for NYRA to cut off computer-assisted wagering at one minute (actually 1:59) to post?

David O’Rourke: In 2021, NYRA became the first racing organization in the United States to establish a timing restriction for CAW play specific to the win pool. The measure has successfully eliminated dramatic late odds fluctuations and provided relevant data used to inform NYRA’s pursuit of a new approach to the management of its wagering pools. The policy governing NYRA’s win pool has become a model followed by racetracks outside of New York.

The goal with this comprehensive new policy is to reduce late-stage odds volatility to improve the wagering experience for our customers. Our win pool timing restriction gives us confidence that these measures will do that.

Modernizing pari-mutuel wagering in light of rapidly evolving technology is critical to the future of the sport, and this new measure is the next phase in our efforts to achieve that goal.

When you made the original decision in 2021 to cut off CAW win bets AT 2 MTP (which remains in effect today), what was the impact on their play in the win pool and overall?

It had an immediate and lasting impact. With some exceptions, CAW players do not wager into the win pool and now represent a small percentage of the overall win pool handle. I’d encourage folks to take a look at Marshall Gramm’s analysis of this, which reflects our success in all but eliminating late odds drops in the win pool.

(Editor’s note: Marshall Gramm, a horseplayer and professor of economics at Rhodes College, provided the following information at the 2025 Global Symposium on Racing: Gramm said his research shows that the betting favorite changes in the final bet cycle before a race starts in one of five races on average. At NYRA, Gramm said, it’s one in 25 races. He also tracks what he calls “major odds droppers” – horses that increased their share of the win pool by 50 percent in the last cycle. Gramm said the NYRA meet at Saratoga has had one major odds dropper in two years and only 14 overall at NYRA meets, while Keeneland had 130, Churchill Downs 378, and Gulfstream Park 684.)

Have you heard directly from any of the CAW players since you announced the new policy in December? If so, what did they say?

NYRA communicates policy changes like these to the CAW platforms to ensure full compliance.

You mentioned looking at the data once these changes are made. What specifically would you like to look at and how would it be used to guide future policy decisions?

These measures are aimed at increasing the stability of odds and probable payoffs late in the wagering cycle. The recently implemented policy is another phase in this effort, but it is not the end point. We will adjust and make additional changes once we have the benefit of a sizable set of data to review and understand.

Cycle times were mentioned as an ongoing problem. What will it take to improve that, and does it hurt matters that we have three tote companies in the U.S.?

NYRA’s television odds are among the most frequently updated in the industry publishing 10-second win odds updates beginning at five minutes to post and five-second win odds updates at one minute to post.

Despite our progress on the television side, we’d like to see continued improvement across the country.

What specific services do Curtis Linnell and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) provide to NYRA and other tracks

The TPRB is an organization founded to maintain the integrity of pari-mutuel wagering, and they are an important resource. The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau assists NYRA in conducting standard regulatory oversight and background checks

The TRPB is working with the NYRA team to monitor compliance with the new CAW guardrails and is providing some tools to assist in that monitoring. We are also working with Curtis Linnell and his team to develop a metric that will measure late-stage odds volatility. It’s something that we look forward to utilizing to further refine our policies.

What tools does NYRA use to monitor/enforce the restrictions?

NYRA actively monitors all CAW activity. CAW players are not anonymous. As a result, we are able to monitor and confirm their compliance with our policies. Again, this has proven effective in the win pool and we do not anticipate any issues monitoring activity.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tradition Persists, Oversight Lags: Imported Thoroughbreds Race in Guyana’s Wild West

In the near-dark on the evening of Aug. 18, 2025, fireworks were set off just after American-bred Dataman crossed the finish line first in the $100,000 Guyana Cup. A year earlier, the son of Tapit won stakes races at Laurel Park and Monmouth Park before selling at auction for $160,000 and being exported to the South American country.

The pyrotechnics, and the horse and race that helped set them off, underscored the symptoms of Guyana’s horse racing industry as one in global-scale regulatory flux.

Horse racing in Guyana received international attention last year when a young jockey was killed during the premier racing event. Kishawn Perreira, 19, sustained fatal injuries after falling from his mount one race prior to the Guyana Cup.

Eyewitnesses told stabroeknews.com that conditions were hazardous: wet, unsatisfactory track conditions and delays that led to races being run in near-darkness.

Dataman’s win in the Guyana Cup was also not without controversy, reported Stabroek News. The 2024 titleist Olympic Kremlin was entered in the race, but a starting gate malfunction caused the horse to lose his rider and prevented him from getting a fair shot.

Regulation Stalled By Politics?

Stabroek News reporter Michelangelo Jacobus opined that the young jockey’s death should have caused a renewed push for regulatory oversight of the sport. The Guyanese government approved the Guyana Horse Racing Authority in May 2025, creating a body mandated to oversee, regulate, and enforce standards in horse racing. Yet, as of this writing, no board members have been appointed to oversee the authority, so racing remains unregulated.

Recent political upheaval in the country, including the fall 2025 elections, may have prevented the parliament from tackling the task of appointing members to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

Stabroek News’ Jacobus told the Paulick Report that he has not been able to get any official timeline from the government on when that might happen.

Until then, the country’s racing remains unregulated.

History, Tradition, & Dataman

Thoroughbred racing in Guyana has a history dating back to the 1940s, when a three-country circuit operated between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. At that time, the adopted rules for all three jurisdictions were the United Kingdom Jockey Club rules.

Recognized racing stopped in Guyana in the 1960s, when the major racetrack, D’urban Park, was closed down. However, other entities continued to promote unsanctioned racing in the country, carrying on the sport’s rich cultural tradition.

Today, there are four racetracks in Guyana, and racing events are hosted by promoters who rent the facilities on race days. The largest of the promoters is Nazrudeen Mohamed Jr. (no relation to the opposition leader), whose Jumbo Jet Events hosts the Guyana Cup.

Mohamed also owns many of the horses that race at his events, including last year’s Guyana Cup winner Dataman. The homebred for the global Wertheimer et Frere operation and former Graham Motion trainee sold to Mohamed via U.S.-based agent Clarity Thoroughbreds for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Horses of Racing Age sale in 2025.

The median price at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July racing age sale was $95,000. Once a horse surpasses their reserve, the previous owner loses control of who becomes the new owner at the fall of the hammer, and at that price Dataman wasn’t attracting lower-market domestic or international bidders — groups that often raise welfare concerns about a horse’s destination.

Dataman has won all three of his starts in Guyana for his new connections..

“He’s fully acclimated now,” Mohamed told the Paulick Report. “He’s doing great.”

The 6-year-old gelding won his most recent race, the Feb. 9 Banks Classic, despite missing several days of training in the lead-up, according to Kaieteur News Online. Mohamed detailed that the issue was an inflamed splint, but the trainer told Kaieteur News that the horse was “sound” and “was checked before and after the race, and the most important thing is that everyone came home safe.”

With more international horses now being imported into Guyana from the U.S., Brazil, Trinidad, and Suriname, Jumbo Jet Racing has implemented a four-race qualifying series for horses to earn their way into the Guyana Cup.

“The way the tracks are set up, only 12 horses can run in a race,” Mohamed told the Paulick Report. “So we had to find a way to limit the entries.”

Today’s Concerns & Next Steps

The current status of racing includes a class committee that helps classify horses to create competitive races and move them up or down based on race performance. Jumbo Jet-promoted races require horses to have a veterinary exam upon arrival at the track for racing, and a steward also oversees the day’s racing to help adjudicate instances of jockey fouls or photo finishes.

However, no drug-testing program is currently in place, no medication rules are enforced, injury and fatality reporting relies on individual event organizers (and is thus unreliable), and racetrack conditions are left to the facility owners. There is also no reliable tracking system or planning for post-racing careers once horses are no longer competitive.

Horse sales are often done by handshake, and of the approximately 150 imported Thoroughbreds in the country, at least 55 lack the documentation required to leave and race in other countries.

Guyana also breeds its own racehorses. Promoters do host races exclusively for those horses, but since there is no approved studbook in the country, those Guyana-breds “Thoroughbreds” are not eligible for registration anywhere else in the world.

These issues are among the reasons Mohamed first reached out to Loregnard in 2023 for help establishing international racing standards in the country. Mohamed has been a licensed owner in the U.S. and hopes to raise the profile of racing in Guyana so the horses there can compete on an international stage.

“Right now, we are doing this for the love of the sport,” Mohamed told the Paulick Report. “It’s not a business yet, but we hope that after the board is put together, we will have better control of the sport. We have a lot of international recognition here in Guyana, and a lot of people who want to come race here, but everyone’s just waiting on the board to be put into place.”

For his part, Loregnard has draft rules and regulations written and ready to be examined, approved, and implemented as soon as the board is appointed, following best practices he learned via more than 30 years with the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority and learning experiences with the Association of Racing Commissioners International and Racing Officials Accreditation Program. He has approached drug-testing companies and is ready to secure a contract as soon as the board implements those rules.

Loregnard also expressed interest in working with aftercare groups from around the world to create better pathways for these horses in Guyana, including a National Stud-type program to formalize training procedures for those who work with the horses.

Despite all the plans he has in place, Loregnard is aware that bringing Guyanese racing up to international standards won’t be an easy task.

“There is a mentality there that will be hard to overcome,” Loregnard told the Paulick Report. “I know we’re going to get a lot of opposition. But I think there is a unique opportunity in starting from scratch, in that we can follow all the best practices and really do things the right way.”

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Parx Adds Racing On Thursday, March 5

After the extreme winter weather forced the cancellation of three consecutive race days this week at Parx, it was announced today that the track would be adding an additional Thursday race date to the schedule. There will be live racing held on Thursday, March 5.

“Winter racing in the Northeast can be a challenge and this year has been particularly so,” said Parx COO Joe Wilson. “We are appreciative of the quick approval on this date from the Commission and we look forward to working with the PTHA and our racing office to continue to find ways to make up for the racing we have lost this winter.”

Next week, the track will operate a four-day racing schedule with live racing Monday through Thursday. The first post time will be 12:05 p.m.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Greenwich Village Could Be First U.S.-Trained Epsom Derby Starter In 33 Years

The 2026 Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs could see a first US-trained runner in over 30 years with Greenwich Village among 88 entries revealed today for the premier Classic.

A son of Quality Road, the Bob Baffert-trained Greenwich Village has won three of his four starts to date and was last seen out when successful in the mile Pasadena Stakes on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday (Feb. 22).

Tom Ryan, of joint-owners SF Racing, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Jockey Club for extending an invitation to the Betfred Derby for Greenwich Village. It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise for all of us, and something we don’t take lightly. It’s a very intriguing opportunity, and we’ll be giving it serious thought as we map out his path from the winter into the spring.

“We’ve loved seeing how he’s progressed, stretching out from six and a half furlongs to a mile on the turf, and he keeps finding and finishing through adversity, which is what you want to see from a developing 3-year-old.

“He’s a big, powerful colt — and he’s bred to keep moving forward as distances increase. The Derby distance is the great unknown.

“We will be guided by Bob Baffert when it comes to making a decision. When we originally purchased him, we had the Kentucky Derby in mind. It would be quite a pivot if he ended up in Epsom Downs.”

The most recent challenger from the United States was the Michael Dickinson-trained Wolf Prince, eighth to Commander In Chief at 40-1 in 1993.

The 88 entries also include two entries from Japan – Akkan (Takeshi Okumura) and Choreo Sequence (Yuta Sato).

The 2026 Betfred Derby, the 247th running, takes place at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 6, with a record total prize fund of £2 million.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

151st Preakness Stakes Attendance Limited To 4,800 At Laurel Park

The Daily Racing Form reports that attendance will be limited to 4,800 at the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes when the race is hosted at Laurel Park on May 16.

The attendance cap is due to renovations at Laurel as the track prepares for a transition to a year-round training center, DRF reports. The Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel in 2026 due to the reconstruction of Pimlico Racecourse; the second leg of the Triple Crown is expected to return to its Baltimore, Md., home in 2027.

The 4,800 tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and will be sold as two-day packages with the G2 Black Eyed Susan card on Friday, May 15. One thousand general admission tickets will be available for $246 each; the remaining tickets include entry to temporary facilities, luxury suites, and the grandstand simulcast area, according to DRF.

“We are committed to providing Preakness 151 guests with a thoughtfully planned experience and will make investments into the event that takes into consideration Laurel Park’s footprint, capacity, and available amenities,” 1/ST said in a response to DRF.

Read more at drf.com.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Undefeated Bella Ballerina Leads 89 Kentucky Oaks Nominees

Godolphin’s undefeated Bella Ballerina leads a list of 89 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) set for Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.

The 89 fillies were made eligible to compete in the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks through a $200 early nomination payment that closed Wednesday, Feb. 18. A $1,500 late nomination deadline is available through Wednesday, April 8.

Bella Ballerina stamped herself as one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Oaks when she won the Feb. 14 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds. Prior to that start, the Brendan Walsh trainee won the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Other stakes-winning nominees include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora; Oak Leaf (G2) winner Explora; Forward Gal (G3) winner On Time Girl; Pocahontas (G3) winner Taken by the Wind; Las Virgenes (Listed) winner Meaning and Suncoast (Listed) winner Zany.

Like the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Longines Kentucky Oaks has been held annually since 1875. For the first time in 2026, the Kentucky Oaks will be held in primetime on NBC during an 8 p.m. ET broadcast. The race highlights a day-long celebration at Churchill Downs featuring world-class racing, fashion, food and a focus on women’s health and community initiatives.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll: Silent Tactic Looks To Continue Good Form At Oaklawn

The NTRA Top 3-Year-Old poll is largely unchanged after last weekend’s racing, but three members of the sophomore poll look to improve their position via graded scores this weekend.

No. 5 Silent Tactic will make his third start of the year in the $1 million Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. Made the 9-2 third choice for the G2 Rebel, Silent Tactic was second in the Smarty Jones Stakes in January at Oaklawn. The Mark Casse trainee took the G3 Southwest Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths on Feb. 6.

The son of Tacitus competes for John Oxley. Silent Tactic cost $500,000 at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training.

Litmus Test, ranked ninth in the poll for trainer Bob Baffert, is the 7-2 second choice in the G2 Rebel. The son of Nyquist makes his first start of the new year in the G2 Rebel and was last seen winning the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity by 1 ¼ lengths.

An $875,000 yearling purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Litmus Test is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

No. 10 Napoleon Solo makes his 3-year-old debut in the G2 Fountain of Youth. It’s his first start since a tearaway victory in last October’s G1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. The undefeated son of Liam’s Map has been working steadily at Palm Meadows Training Center for trainer Chad Summers.

Owned by Gold Square, Napoleon Solo drew post 7 of 11 for the G2 Fountain of Youth.

G2 Risen Star winner Paladin continues to lead the 3-year-old poll. The Chad Brown trainee is expected to make his next start in the G1 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Other horses receiving votes: Commandment (52), Chip Honcho (44), Bella Ballerina (21), Canaletto (17), Intrepido (16), Great White (13), Boyd (12), Solitude Dude (11), Chief Wallabee (8), Taken By The Wind (7), Blackout Time (6), Reagan’s Honor (6), Strategic Risk (6), Zany (6), So Happy (5), Obliteration (5), Cannoneer (4), On Time Girl (3), Talk To Me Jimmy (3), Fulleffort (3), Bravaro (2), Pavlovian (2), Prom Queen (1), Potente (1), Ted Noffey (1), Obligation (1).

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty sits atop the Top Thoroughbred poll for owner/breeder Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott.

The Top Thoroughbred poll saw no major changes from last weekend’s racing. There are no expected starts by any member of the top 10 this weekend.

Other horses receiving votes: Knightsbridge (40), Baeza (32), Splendora (32), Hit Show (29), Reef Runner (21), Full Serrano (10), Westwood (9), Bentornato (7), She Feels Pretty (6), Formidable Man (6), Destino D’Oro (6), Goal Oriented (6), Bishops Bay (5), Shisospicy (5), Lagynos (3), Magnitude (3), Cornucopian (3), Grand Job (2), Patch Adams (1), Notable Speech (1), Deterministic (1), Antiquarian (1).

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Delta Downs: Vicente Del Cid Runs Away With Leading Rider Title At Thoroughbred Meet

The 2025-26 Thoroughbred season at Delta Downs wrapped up on Saturday and the leading horsemen awards were handed out during the 11-race program. Jockey Vicente Del Cid won his third overall riding title and his first since the 2023-24 season; Allen Landy captured his second consecutive leading trainer title; and Endzone Athletics, Inc (Karl Broberg and Matt Johanson) won their 14th leading owner crown during the 76-day meeting.

Del Cid was on a tear all season long, winning 129 races from 449 mounts (29% wins), which was 76 wins better than second-place rider Joel Dominguez, who finished with 53 trips to the winner’s circle. Even more impressive, Del Cid set a new single-season record with total mount earnings of $3,109,245. He is the first jockey to exceed $3 million in mount earnings since the track opened in 1973.

The Guatemala native’s first career win came at Delta Downs on Oct. 21, 2021, and he finished second in the voting for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2022. In addition, Del Cid also won the title of leading jockey at Boyd Gaming’s Evangeline Downs in 2022 and 2023

Following Del Cid in the jockey standings this season were Joel Dominguez (53 wins), Jansen Melancon (52), Tim Thornton (50), Elio Barrera (32), Thomas Pompell (31), Carlos Perez (30), Kevin Roman (29), Juan Vargas (29), and Julio Ramirez, Jr. (18).

Allen Landry won his title by saddling 40 winners from 194 starters, which equaled a win percentage of 26%. His horses finished in the money (top three) 59% of the time. Landry’s barn also garnered the most mount earnings this season with a mark of $1,278,535.

Rounding out the list of leading trainers for the Delta Downs meeting were Juan Larrosa (43), Jonathan Wong (33), Sam Breaux (31), Brett Brinkman (29), Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez (27), Juan Munoz Cano (19), Isai Gonzalez (18), Ronnie Averett (17), and Chasey Deville Pomier (17).

End Zone Athletics, Inc. saw 21 of their runners make it to the winner’s circle from 96 starts. That equaled a success rate of 22%. End Zone’s barn earned a total of $362,940, which ranked third behind Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC (Michele Rodriguez) who led all owners with $524,635, and Norman Stables, LLC (Robert A. Norman) who ranked second with $505,135.

Rounding out the top owners in terms of wins were Elite Thoroughbred Racing LLC (Michele Rodriguez) (15), Juan Munoz Cano (14), LJ Racing Stables LLC (Juan Larrosa) (12), Norman Stables, LLC (Robert A. Norman) (11), Eric Ramaekers (11), Isai V. Gonzalez (10), Sandy Badeaux (9), Jason Lovern and Pamela Belk Lovern (8), and Les Blake (8).

Delta Downs now looks forward to its upcoming American Quarter Horse season, which gets underway on April 24 and runs through July 18. The 46-day meeting will feature live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night with first post time set for 6:15 pm Central Time.

For more information about the Delta Downs Quarter Horse season, including specific race days, go to the track’s website at www.deltadowns.com/race. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and X.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants and chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Beyond Expectations: The Buffalo Stable And Loveaboveandbeyond

When Marvin and Deb Buffalo claimed Loveaboveandbeyond for $5,500 at Assiniboia Downs in July 2024, they believed there was more to the mare than her form suggested. She had raced in Phoenix, Ariz., and shown herself to be somewhat competitive. “She had some really nice races early on in her career, so we knew she could definitely run,” they said. Watching her train in the mornings, they noticed she was tough to manage and always wanted to run off. For some, that might have been a concern, but for the Buffalos, it was an opportunity.

Those in the sport know that galloping racehorses is a craft, and one Marvin takes pride in. Deb explains, “Galloping is a skill that Marvin is very good at. So we felt perhaps once in our barn, maybe Marvin could get her to settle down.” What followed has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Now affectionately known as “Sticky,” Loveaboveandbeyond has won 11 of her first 14 starts since the claim, finishing no worse than second in 13 of them. She swept all six of her starts last winter at Turf Paradise to become the meet’s leading horse by wins, then shipped north for the Buffalo stable’s first full Alberta season and continued her winning ways, capturing the win in three of four starts. Back in Arizona for the 2025/2026 winter racing season, she has already added a second and two victories to her résumé.

“She’s an absolute beast,” they say. “She loves mints and she loves to run… period. We’re only there to tend to her needs!” Sticky has far outperformed what they initially hoped for. “She’s gone above and beyond what we ever dreamed she would. We are so thankful for her and what she’s done for us.”

For Marvin and Deb, horse racing is not just a profession but a lifestyle. Both grew up in racetrack families, and their operation reflects that foundation. They intentionally keep a small barn, one they can manage themselves. Marvin gallops every horse, and Deb ensures everything else runs smoothly. Their shedrow is quiet, organized, and professional, built on experience and daily attention to detail.

The 2025 season marked a major turning point. After more than 25 years of racing in Manitoba, the Buffalos made the decision to relocate their racing operations to Alberta full-time. It was not a decision made lightly. They had shipped in to race during fall meets in previous years and always felt welcome, appreciating how the racetrack was operated. Still, moving on from the province where they had spent more than two decades racing was a significant step.

“We were looking for a long-term move. It was a big decision for us as we had raced in Manitoba for over 25 years. But it’s turned into a decision we are very pleased with.”

Some longtime owners stayed with them through the transition, and new Alberta owners have since joined the stable. The Buffalos have also backed up their commitment with investment in Alberta racing. They participated in the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta’s Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP), funded by Horse Racing Alberta, to support claiming horses, and added a yearling to their barn from the 2025 CTHS Alberta Yearling Sale.

“We feel if we are going to race in Alberta, we should have some Alberta-breds.”

Beyond purchasing, they are investing in breeding. Their stakes-winning mare Spitten Kitten was bred to Highfield Stock Farm’s Tapiture and is currently in Alberta, due to foal in March. “To say we’re excited about this is an understatement.”

For a barn that builds much of its roster through claiming, Alberta’s incentive structure plays a meaningful role. “The incentives were, and continue to be, very important to us. We claim a good part of our stable each year so having the incentives is very beneficial.”

The Buffalos have already claimed three horses this winter, along with a yearling filly purchased at the 2025 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Sale. They hope to claim a few more before heading north, carefully building for the season ahead.

Each win carries weight in a humble, hands-on operation. When asked if they had a favourite victory from 2025, Deb answered thoughtfully: “Each win for us is always very special, as we put everything we have into each of our horses. However, when a 2-year-old wins, it’s extra special.”

That made the first-out victory of Run As One particularly meaningful. Purchased for $3,500 at the 2024 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Fall Mixed Sale, she was started under saddle by Marvin himself and rewarded the barn with a maiden special weight win in her debut at Century Mile.

As for Sticky, the challenge now is finding the right level as her conditions change. Most trainers would agree that it is a good problem to have. From a $5,500 claim to a consistent performer across two jurisdictions, her journey reflects what can happen when opportunity meets experience.

As the Buffalos look ahead to another Alberta race season, their commitment feels firmly rooted. “We’re really looking forward to returning this year, and to our racing future in Alberta.”

Spring training returns to Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in March, with live racing beginning Saturday, May 2, 2026. For more information on Horse Racing Alberta-funded programs for Thoroughbreds, visit the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society of Alberta (https://cthsalta.com) or the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta (https://hbpaalberta.ca).

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stakes Schedule: Horseshoe Indianapolis Pushes Indiana Derby Back One Week

More than $4.95 million is slated to be distributed for 47 premier Thoroughbred races during the upcoming 123-day season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Racing begins Tuesday, April 7, kicking off the schedule with the $55,000 Brian Elmore and the $55,000 Merrill C. Roberts Handicaps.

The Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the G3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks highlight the premier racing schedule. Slated for Saturday, July 11, the afternoon racing program will feature eight elite races with purses topping $1.1 million.

“We have moved our Indiana Derby back one week this year, since its traditional place landed on July 4 this year,” noted Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “Our Indiana Derby has become a popular destination each July, and we wanted to ensure racing fans could enjoy the event. We had a record crowd and handle during last year’s Derby with more than 5,000 in attendance and handle that exceeded $9 million, a new track record. We are already working on this year’s event and plan to expand seating options trackside in addition to elevating our indoor clubhouse experience.”

In addition to Indiana Derby Day, Horseshoe Indianapolis will host the seventh annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 24, featuring the state’s top Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The afternoon program will include six Thoroughbred premier races followed by six Quarter Horse stakes with purses exceeding $1.1 million.

“Our Indiana Champions Day has become an exciting afternoon of racing and gives us a chance to place the spotlight on our locally owned and bred horses,” added Halstrom. “We work closely with our horsemen’s organizations and Breed Development to showcase this day, which is a culmination of our state-bred programs during the year. It is a great way to cap off our racing season and celebrate the success of horses who represent our state’s racing and breeding programs.”

Indiana’s richest day of turf racing has been modified. The $150,000 Cleopatra (BT) will now be the featured event on Wednesday, May 13, during Caesars Day. It will be joined by two new handicaps, the $55,000 Onesmoothoperator and the $55,000 Corningstone, named after the two richest Indiana-breds in state history.

In all, the Thoroughbred schedule includes two graded stakes, five black type races, and two listed events. Out of 47 total races on the premier schedule, 38 are reserved for Indiana-bred or sired horses to showcase the state’s rich and incentive-based breeding program.

For a full list of 2026 premier races for Horseshoe Indianapolis, go to the Website at www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing.

The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse returns Tuesday, April 7. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Catalog Now Online For 2026 Texas 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale At Lone Star Park

A catalog of 68 horses is now available for the 2026 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The auction, which is operated by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, is set for Wednesday, April 1, starting at 10 a.m. Central, and the under tack show is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at 8 a.m. Central. Both will be held at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie.

As usual, the auction and under tack show will be streamed online, and online bidding will be available. The TTA is using a new online bidding system this year and interested bidders should plan to register in advance.

“It takes a bit of time to process credit references,” said Tracy Sheffield, executive director of the TTA. “By registering in advance, those interested in bidding online will be able to bid up to their approved credit limit without any delays. Online bidding registration can be done on the TTA Sales website.”

“We have a great selection of both regional and national stallions represented,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “There are 57 different stallions in the catalogue with some promising young sires along with many proven sires.

“We already have several supplements in the works and will be accepting additional horses for a limited time, so I expect the catalogue to grow,” he added.

The catalog presents a strong mix from around the region, with 18 Texas-breds, 17 Louisiana-breds, 10 Oklahoma-breds and two Arkansas-breds, plus 21 Kentucky-breds.

The catalog and online bidding information are available at www.ttasales.com. The catalogue is also available on the Equineline Sales Catalog App for iPad.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Pennsylvania-Bred 2026 Stakes Schedule Features $1.7 Million In Purses

This year’s Pennsylvania-bred stakes schedule will offer $1.7 million in purses across 20 stakes races. All three of Pennsylvania’s racetracks will host stakes.

Kicking off on April 22nd, Parx Racing will feature three Pennsylvania-bred stakes, including the $75,000 Wait for It Stakes for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-sired runners, which was carried over from December 2025. Contested over six furlongs, the Wait for It is restricted to Pennsylvania-Breds sired by registered Pennsylvania stallions. Also featured on the Wednesday card are the $100,000 Unique Bella Stakes for fillies and mares and $100,000 Page McKenney Handicap, both over six furlongs for ages three and up.

Similar to last year, Penn National will feature all turf stakes events. The first pair of turf stakes will be held on the Penn Mile card on May 29. Both contested over 1 1/16 miles, the Lyphard Stakes for filles and mares and Alphabet Soup Handicap will both feature purses of $75,000.

On Aug. 14, Penn National will host their second pair of Pennsylvania-bred turf stakes, with the $75,000 Crowd Pleaser for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles and the $75,000 Marshall Jenney for ages three and up at five furlongs.

Presque Isle Downs will feature three Pennsylvania-bred stakes on their schedule, starting with the $75,000 Malvern Rose Stakes on June 22. The Malvern Rose is for 3-year-old fillies over 6 ½ furlongs, and previous winners include eventual graded stakes winners Caravel and Roses for Debra.

The $75,000 Princess of Sylmar Stakes for three and up fillies and mares will be contested over a mile and 70 yards on Aug. 17, while the $75,000 Power By Far Stakes over 6 ½ furlongs will be featured on the Presque Isle Masters undercard on Sept. 18.

Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races, a card that exclusively features Pennsylvania-Breds, will return to a Saturday date in 2026. Taking place July 18, the card will feature four $100,000 stakes. Contested around one turn, the Banjo Picker will take place over six furlongs while fillies & mares compete at seven furlongs. Two-turn contests include the Storm Cat for ages four and up, and the newly added Lil E. Tee Stakes for 3-year-olds only, both at a mile and 70 yards.

Parx’s Labor Day card on Sept. 7 will feature two stakes for Pennsylvania-sired, Pennsylvania-breds. Both at $75,000 the Prince Lucky and Imply Stakes are both restricted to 3-year-olds over seven furlongs, with the Imply open to fillies.

Also available for Pennsylania-sired runners at Parx are the Jump Start and Disco Chick. Slated for Tuesday, Nov. 10 the distances will again cover seven furlongs, while this time open to runners aged three and up.

Wrapping up the Pennsylvania-Bred stakes schedule on Thanksgiving Eve, 2-year-olds will get their time to shine. The $100,000 Shamrock Rose for fillies will take place over six furlongs while the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery covers seven furlongs.

For the complete Pennsylvania-bred stakes schedule, click here.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Stunning debut made decision a no-brainer

Tier #1: Victims Of The Hype Machine

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Tier #4: Good At Three, Better Later

Tier #5: Could Have Won…Maybe

Tier #6: Probably Should Have Won

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