-
1 week ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
When lawmakers passed the New York State budget Thursday, the package included a gift for horseplayers. Starting Sept. 1, New York will join Kentucky and Washington as the only racing states to break payoffs to the penny. However, the bill allows for nickel breakage on on-track wagers, provided all breakage proceeds are dedicated to aftercare funding. It was not immediately clear which tracks would adopt the penny breakage and which would chose the nickel-breakage package. Both NYRA and Gov.
-
1 week ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
It was hardly a surprise when Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott announced Tuesday that GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) would not be running in the GI Preaknes Stakes. and would instead point for the GI Belmont Stakes. No matter how prestigious the race is, no matter how special the Triple Crown has historically been, the modern-day trainer cringes at the thought of running their horses back in two weeks. They just don't want to do it.
-
1 week ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
According to the South African website sahracing.com, Junior Alvarado is facing a fine for excessive use of the whip in the GI Kentucky Derby, which he won aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Under HISA rules, jockeys can use the crop no more than six times. The website reports that Alvarado used his whip at least seven times, including once after Sovereignty took a clear lead at the sixteenth pole.
-
1 week ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
In an effort to find out why 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) ran so poorly in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne S. Friday at Churchill Downs, trainer Kenny McPeek sent her to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Thorpedo Anna finished seventh and last. Coming into the race she had never been worse than second. According to McPeek, Bramlage could not find anything wrong with the 4-year-old filly.
-
1 week ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
Yes, Bill Mott was loyal to Junior Alvarado, letting him ride Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Kentucky Derby after he missed the main prep in the GI Florida Derby. Alvarado fractured his shoulder blade in a Mar. 23 spill at Gulfstream and was sent to the sidelines. Manny Franco filled in for the Florida Derby and rode a fine race, guiding Sovereignty to a second-place finish. That opened the door to a number of possibilities.
-
2 weeks ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
It was on the first Saturday in May, 2024 that Mystik Dan (Goldencents) ran the race of his life to win the GI Kentucky Derby by a nose over Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). One year and four starts later, he hasn't won again, but will hope to end the losing streak on the anniversary of his greatest triumph. On Saturday, Mystik Dan will take on seven others in the Lake Ouachita S. at Oaklawn Park. It will be his first start since he was beaten 20 3/4 lengths in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan.
-
2 weeks ago | 
tucson.com | Bill Finley
It is too bad, in a way, that Schaffner Press is not planning a party to celebrate its 25th year in the book business. With authors, translators, freelance designers and on-call artists scattered all over the world, it would be quite the bash. Instead, Tim Schaffner will celebrate his own way: by pouring himself a coffee, climbing the stairs to the office above his Tucson home, and thinking about books. Every day. All year long.
-
3 weeks ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with Woodbine after it conducted an investigation into a rash of equine fatalities in the fall of 2024. Woodbine did not contest the AGCO findings. Between Oct. 28 and Dec. 15, 19 horses sustained injuries while racing and training over Woodbine's synthetic surface. Ten of those horses had to be euthanized. Two horses died on Nov. 9 and the remainder of that day's card was cancelled.
-
3 weeks ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
There is a problem and John Stewart of Resolute Racing wants to be part of the solution. His goal is for the industry to find a way to give every horse that comes off the racetrack a second home. He knows that won't be cheap, which is why he will spend part of his Derby week hosting his Poker For Ponies tournament. His goal is to raise $500,000 that will be divided up among 50 aftercare organizations. The event will take place on Thursday, May 1 at the Omni Hotel in Louisville.
-
3 weeks ago | 
thoroughbreddailynews.com | Bill Finley
It was a very good week for the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI), the group leading the fight to kill bills in the Florida legislature that would allow for decoupling at Gulfstream Park, which would mean the track could continue to offer casino gaming without the requisite that it must hold live thoroughbred racing. The matter had come to the attention of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who attended the OBS April sale on Thursday and made it clear where he stands on the issue.
