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Furious Fifth Session Boosts Keeneland Prices

The Keeneland September sale experienced what pinhooker Hoby Kight described as a "feeding frenzy" during its fifth session Sept. 15 in Lexington.

Awesome Again Colt Goes for $1.35 Million

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs went to $1.35 million to buy an Awesome Again-Legs Lawlor colt (Hip No. 957) from Greenwood Lodge Farm as the second seven-figure offering during the Keeneland yearling sale's fifth session.

Awesome Again Recovering From Colic Surgery

Awesome Again, the leading active sire of Breeders' Cup winners, is recuperating from colic surgery performed the morning of Sept. 13 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington.

CTHS Sale Average Jumps 11%

A strong second select session at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's yearling sale of Canadian-bred youngsters at Woodbine helped spur an 11% jump in average price from 2010.

Santa Anita to Host 2012 Breeders' Cup

As expected, Breeders' Cup Aug. 10 announced that Santa Anita Park in California will serve as the 2012 host site of the two-day World Championships.

TRF Benefit Raises About $500,000 for Cause

Organizers of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation gala held Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., said the event raised about $500,000 through ticket sales and an auction of stallion seasons and travel packages.

Bourbon Bay Makes Splash in Cougar

Bourbon Bay, who swept Santa Anita's distance turf races last season, showed his prowess on Polytrack, setting a track record while winning the Cougar II (gr. III) at Del Mar July 29.

Golden Gate Cutting Back to Three-Day Week

Golden Gate Fields will be the first Thoroughbred track in California to race a three-day week when it reopens next month for its fall meet.

Florida Salix Plan Called 'Terrible Mistake'

Gulfstream Park has not set a timetable for possible future contact with Florida racing regulators on chairman Frank Stronach's goal of phasing out use of legal race-day medications such as the anti-bleeding drug Salix.

R Betty Graybull Retired

R Betty Graybull, a four-time stakes winner who placed in three other stakes, has been retired from racing.

Don Cavallo Rolls in Dominion Day

Stronach Stables' homebred Don Cavallo took the lead with a half-mile to go and rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory in the 10-furlong Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) July 1 at Woodbine.

Stronach Group Takes Over Racing Properties

The Stronach Group has officially acquired the racing and gaming assets of MI Developments, a company once headed by Frank Stronach.

Morris Leaving NTRA for MI Developments

Joe Morris is leaving the NTRA a second time to become MI Developments' vice president of operations and sales.

Stronach to Receive Award from TRF

Adena Springs Farm owner Frank Stronach has been selected to receive the inaugural Earle I. Mack Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Champion Award.

Sam-Son Dominates Hall of Fame Voting

The late Tammy Samuel-Balaz, who took charge of Sam-Son Farm following the death of her father, Ernie Samuel, in 2000, has joined her dad in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Fame.

Broodmare of the Year Primal Force Dies at 24

Primal Force, the 2000 Broodmare of the Year and foundation mare for Frank Stronach's Adena Springs, died on the morning April 17 as a result of complications during foaling at the Paris, Ky. farm.

MID Shareholders OK Deal With Stronach

Shareholders of MI Developments voted March 29 to end the company's "dual class share" structure and turn its racing-related holdings over to chairman Frank Stronach.

MID Reports Loss in Advance of Key Meeting

MI Developments reported its racing and gaming business lost $76.68 million in 2010, with a loss of $47.29 million for the fourth quarter of last year, the company reported March 10.

Gulfstream Interested in Casino Hotel

The Florida legislature began its annual session March 8, with a bill that would authorize up to five Las Vegas-style casino hotels topping its list of issues that would impact the state's Thoroughbred industry.

Avioli Leaves Post as Breeders' Cup President

Breeders' Cup president and chief executive officer Greg Avioli has resigned to take a new position with a racing and gaming company, Breeders' Cup announced March 4.

And They're Off: Spring Training 2011

Lenny and Steve discuss the new trend of prep races, the Fountain of Youth, Carry Back, Life At Ten, Frank Stronach and drugs.

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Fla. Dates: Still Plenty of Questions

Analysis: Gulfstream/Calder resolution opens door for more questions regarding the future of racing in South Florida.

South Florida Dates Altered; Overlap Avoided

Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course have selected schedules that will have Gulfstream rather than Calder holding races through most of December 2011, with no overlap of dates.

Gulfstream Announces Plan to Race Year-Round

Gulfstream Park went on the offensive in its dispute with Calder Casino & Race Course Feb. 24 when it said it plans to race year-round during the 12 months beginning July 1.

Gulfstream to Start After-Care Program

Frank Stronach announced Feb. 17 the formation of the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program.

Stronach Wants Meeting With Maryland Horsemen

MI Developments chairman Frank Stronach has offered to meet with Maryland horsemen in the wake of a Maryland Racing Commission meeting at which MID and partner Penn National Gaming Inc. were criticized.

Awesome Feather Walking Under Tack

Awesome Feather, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2010, might return to training before the end of the month, the Daily Racing Form reported Feb. 7.

Stronach's Control of Magna Tracks Approved

A majority of shareholders in MI Developments have agreed to support the transfer of the company's racetracks to Frank Stronach in exchange for the company chairman to relinquish his voting control over MID.

Adena Springs Continues Breeder Dominence

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm was rewarded with its seventh Eclipse Award when they were announced Jan. 17, with horses bred by the farm earning more than $13.3 million last year.

Awesome Feather Sidelined With Tendon 'Issue'

Awesome Feather, the undefeated winner of the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), is presently out of training with no set timetable for her to return to competition.

Adena Top Breeder Eighth Straight Year

Adena Springs finished 2010 as the leading individual breeder in North America with earnings of $13,369,852.

Plenty of Changes for Gulfstream Meet

Gulfstream Park will open its 2011 racing meet Jan. 5 with a new Sunday date for the Florida Derby (gr. I), other changes in its stakes schedule, and new multi-race bets highlighted by a 10-cent only Pick 6.

Gulfstream Applies for December Dates

In a move that sets up a possible battle with Calder Casino & Race Course over racing dates, Gulfstream Park has told the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering that it plans to hold racing in December 2011.

Gulfstream Plans Later Start on Some Fridays

Gulfstream Park is considering a 3 p.m. first post time for the last six Fridays of its 2011 racing season, according to the track's president and general manager.

Chaos, Mistrust in Maryland as Clock Ticks

A horsemen's representative acknowledged Dec. 21 there's still a little more than a week to get a racing schedule in place in Maryland for 2011, but he said chances are slim if the situation isn't resolved before Christmas.

Report: Stronach to Give Up MID Real Estate

The Reuters News Service is reporting that owner-breeder Frank Stronach is working out a deal in which he would relinquish control of his real estate company in exchange for some of its racetrack assets.

No Maryland Dates Deal as Deadline Nears

The co-owner of Maryland's race tracks is trying to secure a deal that would provide 140 days of live racing in 2011.

Gulfstream Making Betting More Affordable

Gulfstream Park on Dec. 16 announced its 2011 wagering menu that will include its first Pick 5, with a 50-cent minimum bet, and a major reduction of its Pick 6 minimum bet from $2 to 10 cents.

Stronach Seeks 'Common Ground' in Maryland

The head of the company that co-owns Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park said Dec. 2 that he will try to break the impasse threatening the future of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) when he travels to Maryland next week.

Positives Seen as November Auction Concludes

Though overall figures were down for the Keeneland November breeding stock sale that ended Nov. 20, the results were encouragingly good considering ongoing weakness in the horse industry and the economy at large.

Stronach Replaces Mills as MID CEO

Prominent Thoroughbred breeder-owner Frank Stronach has taken over as chief executive officer of MI Developments, the racetrack operating company of which he is already chairman.

CHRB Grants Waivers to MI Developments

MI Developments received two waivers from the California Horse Racing Board Nov. 9 allowing it to move forward with the operation of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and complete its new dirt track at Santa Anita.

Minor Makes Cash Offer on All MID Assets

Halsey Minor has made an offer to buy all MI Developments assets for $300 million to $320 million.

Awesome Again to Stand for $50,000

Awesome Again, who stands at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs near Paris, Ky., will stand for the same $50,000 fee in 2011 that he stood for in 2010.

Brown to Train Awesome Feather

Adena Springs, owned by Frank Stronach, has chosen Chad Brown as the new trainer of Awesome Feather, the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner it bought for $2.3 million.

Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sale Average Down

Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Awesome Feather is the Kentucky auction's top seller, bringing $2.3 million.

Awesome Feather Sells for $2.3 Million at F-T

Two days after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), undefeated Awesome Feather sold for $2.3 million Nov. 7, early during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November select mixed sale in Lexington.

Influx of Stallions to Adena Springs North

Frank Stronach has added considerable strength to his Canadian stallion roster. Headlining the group is English champion North Light, the only Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner standing in North America.

McMahons in NY to Stand Adena Stallions

Joe and Anne McMahon will stand five Adena Springs' stallions in 2011 at their McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds near Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Santa Anita Starts Surface Replacement

Removal of Santa Anita's synthetic surface began Oct. 11 as the first step in replacing it with a dirt surface. Track officials are close to deciding the mix of materials to be used as the surface material.