A Trio of Sire Firsts
Freshman sires Espoir City and Lethal Force get their first winners, while second-crop sire Bated Breath gets his first black-type stakes winner.
International
International Thoroughbred horse racing previews, recaps, video, sales and breeding
Grizzel Edges Enstone in Selene Stakes
In her fourth start in North America, Merriebelle Stable and Anna Doyle's Grizzel earned her first graded stakes victory when she edged favorite Enstone in the final furlong of the $125,000 Selene Stakes (G3).
La Coronel Prepares for Royal Ascot Run
Trainer Mark Casse looks to invade and score at Royal Ascot again this year with John Oxley's multiple graded stakes winner La Coronel in the one-mile Coronation Stakes (G1).
Soul Stirring Frankel's First Classic Winner
Soul Stirring solidified her place among the top fillies in Japan after taking the grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) for 3-year-old fillies May 21 at Hanshin Race Course while also giving her sire his first classic winner.
Ribchester Bests Galileo Gold in Lockinge
Godolphin's 4-year-old mile specialist Ribchester returned to the home base of trainer Richard Fahey, who unleashed the son of Iffraaj for his European campaign in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury May 20.
Sense Of Occasion Rallies to Win Doomben Cup
Sense Of Occasion flew home to take the grade 1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup, run clockwise at over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), in thrilling style at Doomben May 20.
Belinda Stronach's Keynote Concludes Pan Am Conference
The Stronach Group's Belinda Stronach delivered an insightful closing keynote speech during the second Pan American Conference, which ran May 18-19 in Washington, D.C.
Marketing, Integrity Key to Day 2 of Pan Am Conference
Issues of ownership, marketing, and integrity were the strong suits in the second day of the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference was sponsored by the Latin American Racing Channel and The Jockey Club.
Addictive Aims to Regroup in Selene
LNJ Foxwoods bought the filly for $825,000 as a 2-year-old.
International Racing Highlights Pan Am Conference
A trainer's panel discussing international travel and racing challenges highlighted day one of the second Pan American Conference May 18 in Washington, D.C.
Course Change for Hit It a Bomb, Shuttling to Argentina
Son of War Front will stand at perennial leading Argentine breeder Haras Firmamento
International Aftercare Conference Off and Running
Focused on the movement's traction and steps for further success, day one of the two-day International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) was well attended.
Second Pan American Conference Kicks Off May 18
The second Pan American Conference, bringing together industry insiders from North and South America, will have a session-packed two-day run May 18-19 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
Breeding to Race: A Survival Plan
Longtime New Zealand owner/breeder Peter Neilson discusses breeding to race as an effective cost-recovery strategy in a polarized commercial market and offers a short list of valuable stallion prospects to consider.
Lady Aurelia Gets Back to Work at Keeneland
Ward sent out six contenders for half-mile works over the firm turf course at Lexington in preparation for Royal Ascot next month.
Montjeu Gets 125th Black-Type Winner
Top international sire Montjeu got his 125th black-type stakes winner May 14 when Irish-bred Red Cardinal won a two-mile group stakes at Hoppegarten in Germany.
Brametot Takes French Two Thousand Guineas
Days before the Abu Dhabi Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1), Al Shaqab Racing purchased a half interest in Brametot, who won the one-mile Prix de Fontainebleau at Chantilly in April.
Precieuse Becomes First Classic Winner for Tamayuz
Brendan and Anne-Marie Hayes' Knocktoran Stud bred and own Precieuse. By Shadwell's group 1-winning stallion Tamayuz (Nayef), Precieuse is a fourth-generation product of the Knocktoran program.
Street Sense Colt Major Pinhook Score at Arqana
A Street Sense colt purchased at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale for $15,000 lit up the bid board during the May 12 Arqana breeze up sale in France, selling for a sale record €1.4 million (US$1,521,660).
Epsom Jaunt Could be Next for Daddys Lil Darling
Ken McPeek said May 11 he is looking to send Daddys Lil Darling to the June 2 Investec Oaks (G1) at Epsom Downs.
World's Best Racehorse Rankings: Always Dreaming Sixth
After his impressive victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Always Dreaming is the biggest mover in the third edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, drawing a rating of 122.
Enable First Black-Type Winner for Nathaniel
The Juddmonte Farms homebred won the May 10 Cheshire Oaks at England's Chester Racecourse.
First Winner for Declaration of War
Irish-bred Declarationoflove won at Royal Windsor May 8 in his third start.
Winter Hands Stablemates Defeat in One Thousand Guineas
While the singers were different, the song remained the same for the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) as Galileo offspring again dominated the main event over the Rowley Mile course May 7 at Newmarket.
Hong Kong Races Marred by Tragedy
A group 1 double-header May 7 at Sha Tin was marred by the fatal breakdown of Rapper Dragon, the brightest star on the local horizon.
Two Thousand Guineas Falls to Churchill
There seems to be little doubt that Galileo has a stranglehold on the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) as a sire. His latest victor is the Coolmore/Ballydoyle star Churchill who took the May 6 running by a length as the 6-4 favorite.
China Horse Club Grabs Signature Win in Kentucky Oaks
China Horse Club bloodstock manager Michael Wallace predicts Abel Tasman's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) victory May 5 at Churchill Downs would make waves in China.
Trainer Fairlie Notches 1,000th Career Win
Trainer Scott Fairlie recorded his 1,000th career win May 5 when the 5-year-old mare Aunt Sue raced to victory in a seven-furlong claiming race at Woodbine.
Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale Surges
Robust trade at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training sale saw turnover surge into record territory for the third consecutive time at Tattersalls in 2017.
Trainer Moore Aims to Add to Champions Mile Success
Sha Tin hosts a group 1 doubleheader May 7 and, while the races are largely intramural affairs, the paucity of international competition doesn't lessen the interest.
Racecourse Media Group, Turf TV Generate $110 Million
The 34 British racecourses affiliated to Racecourse Media Group (RMG) will receive £85.5million ($110.3 million) in media rights payments in 2016, a 6% increase on 2015.
Japan Horse Heading for Belmont, Churchill to Try Again
Churchill Downs Inc. officials say they'll try again next year to get a Japanese horse in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1)—with hopes to add to the international draw and revenues of its signature event.
Kiriaki Takes First Breeders' Cup Challenge Race
The Argentina-bred winner of the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) has earned a place in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) starting gate.
Cloth of Stars Leads Big Day for Godolphin
The winner's enclosure at Saint Cloud belonged to Godolphin May 1, as colts owned by Sheikh Mohammed's racing enterprise won all three stakes races on the Parisian racetrack's Monday card.
Thunder Snow Enters Quarantine at Churchill Downs
Godolphin Racing's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) contender Thunder Snow arrived April 30 at Churchill Downs, and is expected to clear a 42-hour USDA-mandated quarantine in time to train the morning of May 2.
Japan's Neorealism Lands Hong Kong's QEII
Neorealism jumped to the lead with a dramatic move halfway through the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin April 30 and held off the top two local contestants for a narrow win.
Kitasan Black Dominates in Tenno Sho
Kitasan Black, reigning Japanese Horse of the Year, dominated a tough field in the Tenno Sho Spring (G1) at Kyoto April 30, chasing down the runaway leader and sweeping to a 1 1/4-length victory.
Thunder Snow Confirmed for Kentucky Derby
Thunder Snow, winner of the March 25 UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan Racecourse, has been confirmed to start in the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Godolphin Racing announced April 29.
Cunco Defeats Five-Horse Field in Classic Trial
With little more than a month before the June 3 Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom, Sandown Park Racecourse staged its first flat group races April 28. Heading the card was the group 3 bet365 Classic Trial for 3-year-olds going about 1 1/4 miles.
Japanese Horse of the Year Headlines Tenno Sho
Japan's reigning Horse of the Year, Kitasan Black, will tackle a tough field April 30 in the Tenno Sho Spring (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse.
Pletcher Considering Royal Ascot for American Patriot
Todd Pletcher told officials at Ascot Racecourse that he is seriously considering the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot for American Patriot. The straight mile contest on turf is scheduled for June 20.
Past Three Winners Return for Hong Kong's QE II
The past three winners of the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) all will be looking for a repeat April 30 at Sha Tin against contenders from Japan, France, and Australia, and another pair from their own ranks.
Nichols Canyon Connections Pointing for Iroquois Bonus
The $500,000 bonus offered in the TVV Capital Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge is expected to be on the line at this year's Calvin Houghland Irorquois Hurdle Stakes May 13.
Southern Ring Speeds to Whimsical Victory
Sam-Son Farm's homebred Southern Ring, back home at Woodbine after a winter at Tampa Bay Downs, dug in to win the $125,000 Whimsical Stakes (G3) April 23 and spoiled the seasonal debut of 2016 Canadian Horse of the Year Caren.
Call To Mind Delivers Late Birthday Gift to The Queen
From the breadth of the Queen’s smile in the winner’s enclosure following the race, she didn't care that the Call To Mind gift was a day tardy.
Flagship Stallion Cape Cross Dies
Cape Cross, a foundation sire of Godolphin and Darley's global breeding operation, has been euthanized due to the complications of old age. He was 23.
Caren to Make Seasonal Debut in Whimsical
Robert Marzilli's Caren, recently honored as Canada's Horse of the Year, will make her return to the races in the $125,000 Whimsical Stakes (G3) at Woodbine April 23.
European Champion Dabirsim Gets First Winner
All This Time won in her first start April 17 by four lengths at Lion d'Angers.
Al Ain Takes First Leg of Japan's Triple Crown
Sent off as the favorite, Fan Dii Na was unable to maintain the lead she briefly gained while Al Ain prevailed by a neck over Persian Knight in the 2,000 meter (almost 1 1/4-mile) event at Nakayama Racecourse April 16.
Sovereign Awards: Caren, Casse, Adena Lead the Night
The Jockey Club of Canada announced its 42nd Annual Sovereign Award winners April 14 at The Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, led by Canadian Horse of the Year Caren.
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