BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

OBS March Sale Has 362 Juveniles Cataloged

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 362 horses for its March select sale of 2-year-olds in training. The number is down 26.1% from last year's total of 490.

Southeast Regional: Junior Class

Longtime trainer Junior Serna keeps sending out winners

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Calder Returns Derby, Oaks to 2012 Schedule

Calder Casino & Race Course has released a stakes schedule for 2012 that includes the return of the Calder Derby and Oaks after a one-year absence from the calendar.

Voters OK Slots at Florida Barrel Racing Site

Voters in Gadsden County, Fla., Jan. 31 approved a ballot issue that authorizes a casino with slot machines at Gretna Racing, the Gretna facility that completed the first pari-mutuel barrel racing meet in Florida.

Jockeys' Guild Seeks Contracts With Tracks

On the heels of signing a contract with Churchill Downs Inc. that ended a protracted stalemate, the Jockeys' Guild is preparing to launch an initiative to get other tracks to enter into agreements with the organization.

Martin, Parker, Hicks Honored by Guild

The Jockeys' Guild, meeting in south Florida for its annual assembly, on Jan. 30 presented awards to Jacky Martin, Deshawn Parker, and Dave Hicks.

Benny the Bull to Return to Florida

Two-time champion sprinter Benny the Bull, who was scheduled to stand in 2012 at Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington, will stand instead at Vinery Florida near Summerfield, Fla.

Public Training Division Plans at Cloverleaf

Woodford Thoroughbreds has launched a public training division at CloverLeaf Farms II, its sister farm located in Reddick, Fla.

Mucho Macho Man Too Tough in Millions Classic

Triple Crown veteran Mucho Macho Man proved too strong for six fellow Florida-breds in the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park.

Ruler On Ice Still Targeting Feb. 11 Donn

Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last year, could resurface Feb. 11 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Grade I Winner Discreetly Mine's First Foal

The first reported foal by grade I winner Discreetly Mine is a filly born Jan. 14 at Marion Hills Farm near Ocala, Fla.

Florida Millions Classic Could Be Just That

The $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic may lack numbers, but it doesn't lack talent and the potential to be an excellent betting race Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Animal Kingdom Works Toward 2012 Debut

Animal Kingdom, the champion 3-year-old male of 2011, continued to progress toward his 2012 debut by breezing five furlongs on turf in a quick :59 4/5 Jan. 25 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.

Awesome Feather Going for Ninth Straight Win

Stronach Stable's Awesome Feather, the 2010 champion 2-year-old filly, will be center stage as she takes on five rivals in Saturday's $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff.

Cool Coal Man's First Foal is a Colt

The first reported foal by Robert LaPenta's grade II winner Cool Coal Man is a colt born Jan. 20 in Ocala, Fla.

OBS Winter Mixed Sale Enjoys Big Increases

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale kept the momentum going in the North American Thoroughbred auction business, which rebounded in 2011.

Hard Spun Progeny Sell Big at OBS Auction

The offspring of Hard Spun were popular among buyers Jan. 17 as the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale began its two-day run in Florida with a consignor preferred session and a new horses of racing age section.

Awesome Maria Preparing for 2012 Campaign

Awesome Maria, who hasn't competed since winning the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) last June, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 Jan. 16 at Palm Meadows in Florida.

Red Roy Sizzles in OBS Under Tack Show

Red Roy, an unraced 3-year-old filly, turned in the fastest three-furlong work of the day Jan. 16 during the under tack show for the new horses of racing age section of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale.

National HBPA Hires Legislative Affairs Team

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has hired a Washington, D.C.-based firm to handle its legislative affairs given the organization is no longer a member of the NTRA.

Furosemide 'Myths' Discussed at Convention

Panelists gathered for a Jan. 14 National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association forum said there is no scientific evidence supporting a ban on the use of furosemide on race day.

Case Made for High-Volume Betting Services

Horsemen hashed out the issue of high-volume bettors and rebates Jan. 13, and in the process got a fairly detailed look at their impact on pari-mutuel Thoroughbred racing in the United States.

Gulfstream Park to Host 2013 Eclipse Ceremony

The Eclipse Awards ceremony for 2013 will move to Gulfstream Park in Florida under a new sponsorship involving The Stronach Group, which owns the racetrack.

General Quarters to Stand at Stonewall Farm

General Quarters, a two-time grade I winner, will enter stud at Stonewall Farm Ocala (Marc Haisfield, managing member) near Ocala, Fla.

Furosemide Among National HBPA Topics

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will tackle several issues, including governmental affairs, high volume pari-mutuel bettors, and use of furosemide on race day during its convention Jan. 12-16.

Racing, Gaming on Florida Legislative Agenda

The Florida legislature began a two-month session Jan. 10 with a big part of its focus on a gaming bill that could lead to the first all-games casinos in the state along with other changes that would impact racing.

Jockeys' Guild Assembly Planned for Florida

This year's Jockeys' Guild Assembly will be held in Hollywood Beach, Fla., Jan. 30-31, the organization announced Jan. 10.

Get Rich Quick to Coco Ranch in Florida

Graded stakes-placed Get Rich Quick will enter stud this year at Guillermo Morales' Coco Ranch near Anthony, Fla.

Arson Squad Retired Due to Injury

Trainer Rick Dutrow reported Arson Squad, who suffered an injury before completing a workout at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31, would most likely make a full recovery, however the gelding has been retired from racing.

Gulfstream Park Cancels Quarter Horse Race

Gulfstream Park on the night of Dec. 30 canceled a Quarter Horse race that it had scheduled for Dec. 31.

Johnson Named Stallion Manager at CloverLeaf

Longtime Ocala horseman Will Johnson has been tabbed as the new stallion manager at John Sykes' CloverLeaf Farms II.

Double Diamond to Offer Stallion Show

Donald Dizney's Double Diamond Farm will conduct a stallion show and open house Saturday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m.-noon.

Gulfstream Amends Schedule, to Race Jan. 2

As a result of the success of its Dec. 26 race card, Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino has received permission from regulators to change its schedule and have live racing Jan. 2

Gulfstream Park Derby Likely for Casual Trick

Trainer Nick Zito said the inaugural Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1 is under consideration for Casual Trick, a son of Bernardini who broke his maiden impressively in his second career start.

Repent Returns to CloverLeaf

Repent, who began his stallion career at John Sykes' CloverLeaf Farms II near Reddick, Fla., will stand in 2012 at CloverLeaf, where he will join his newly retired son, Crown of Thorns, at stud.

Gulfstream Park Handle Beating Projections

Gulfstream Park reported average daily all-sources pari-mutuel handle of about $6.6 million during its first 10 race days in December, surpassing management's expectations for its first December racing in several decades.

OBS Winter Mixed Sale Has 530 Horses

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 530 horses for its 2012 winter mixed sale. The number is up 1.5% from the 2011 total of 522.

Algorithms Impresses, Points to Holy Bull

Starlight Racing's 2-year-old colt Algorithms ran his record to two-for-two with an impressive victory at Gulfstream Park Dec. 16.

State Court Rejects Appeal Over Barrel Racing

A state court in Tallahassee, Fla., on Dec. 13 denied a request by two Florida Quarter Horse associations to shut down the pari-mutuel barrel racing meet Gretna Racing has been holding at its facility since Dec. 1.

Calder Sees Rise In Handle

After its seven-month racing season, Calder Casino & Race Course enjoyed increased market share despite bad weather that limited turf races.

Gulfstream Hopes New Schedule, Changes Work

The highly anticipated revised schedule in southeast Florida racing will arrive Dec. 3 when Gulfstream Park begins an 87-day meet that will extend through April 8, 2012.

Groups Seeking to Halt Florida 'Race' Meet

Two Florida Quarter Horse Associations late in the day Nov. 30 asked a state court in Tallahassee to issue an emergency motion for a stay that would prevent the scheduled Dec. 1 start of pari-mutuel barrel racing.

Senada, Cheetah Square Off in La Prevoyante

Senada and Cheetah, the respective first- and third-place finishers in the Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 23, will again square off in the $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Winchester Tries for Another Graded Score

While lightly raced this year, four-time grade I winner Winchester has by far the most decorated career heading into the Nov. 26 W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) at Calder Casino & Race Course.

Florida DPMW: No Hearing on Barrel Racing

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering dismissed a request for an administrative hearing on questions of the legality of Gretna Racing LLC's Quarter Horse license, which it plans to use for pari-mutuel barrel racing.

Florida Still Waiting on Barrel Racing Rules

As Gretna Racing heads toward its Dec. 1 opening of Florida's first pari-mutuel barrel racing meet, issues including the wagering format and a Quarter Horse industry group's administrative challenge.

Grade I Winner Vineyard Haven to Journeyman

Vineyard Haven, a three-time grade I winner and the leading 2-year-old of his generation, has been retired from racing and will stand in 2012 at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud near Ocala, Fla

Sprint Champ Big Drama to Stand at Stonewall

Harold Queen's homebred champion sprinter Big Drama will enter stud in 2012 for $10,000 at Stonewall Farm near Ocala, Fla.

Grade II Winner Backtalk to Vinery Forida

GoldMark Farm's Backtalk, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Smarty Jones, has been retired from racing and will stand the upcoming breeding season at Tom Simon's Vinery Florida near Summerfield, Fla.

'Turbo' Powers Florida Millions Day at Calder

P and G Stables and Off The Hook Racing's Turbo Compressor, one of four 3-year-olds in the six-horse field, took the lead from the start and cruised to victory in the $150,000 Carl G. Rose Classic on Florida Millions Day.