BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Turf Title Goes to Jetsetter Cape Blanco

Cape Blanco won the champion male turf title by making three transatlantic trips to America and winning not only three grade I stakes, but three of the most prestigious turf stakes in America.

Goffs Ends 5-Day Selling Run With Big Gains

The series of November sales conducted by Goffs ended a five-day run in Ireland Nov. 19 with increases for the combined figures of 42% in gross, 31% in average price, and 25% in median price from a year ago.

Sea The Stars Weanlings Top Goffs Auction

Members of the first crop of 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea The Stars made a big splash at the Goffs November foal sale, which ended its three-day run Nov. 17 in Ireland.

Exceed and Excel Colt Shines at Goffs

An Exceed and Excel colt topped the second session of the Goffs November foal sale, bringing €90,000 ($122,201 in U.S. funds). Julie Wood purchased the chestnut weanling from Oghill House Stud Nov. 16 in Ireland.

Goffs Foal Sale Kicks Off With Big Gains

The Goffs November foal sale got off to a roaring start in Ireland Nov. 15. The number sold and gross during the opening session were up 47% and 121.7% from a year ago.

Dream Ahead Retired to Ballylinch

Dream Ahead, who beat Goldikova in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) Oct. 2 in what was his final start, has been retired for stallion duty in 2012 at Ballylinch Stud near Thomastown, Ireland.

Median Grows at Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland

The Goffs Orby yearling sale ended its three-session run Sept. 29 in Ireland with a 3.4% increase from a year ago in its median price, a gross that remained about the same, and an increased clearance rate.

New Approach Filly Leads Way at Goffs

Three horses brought prices of 300,000 euros ($406,722 in U.S. funds) or more during the second session of the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland Sept. 28. All three were fillies.

Montjeu Colt Shines as Goffs Orby Sale Opens

A Montjeu colt, which brought 300,000 euros ($403,893 in U.S. funds), was the most expensive horse sold Sept. 27 during the opening session of the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland.

Irish Stallion Marju Pensioned

Marju, an English group I winner and a prominent Irish stallion, has been pensioned at Derrinstown Stud in Ireland because of advanced age.

So You Think Impressive in Irish Champion

The Aidan O'Brien-trained So You Think beats five rivals going 10 furlongs at Leopardstown in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes Ire-I).

Tattersalls Ireland Sept. Sale Has 542 Horses

Tattersalls Ireland has cataloged 542 horses for its September yearling sale. The auction will be held Sept. 20 and 21 near Ratoath in County Meath.

Irish Stallion King's Theatre Dies

Irish stallion King's Theatre, who finished third on the 2010/2011 English/Irish jumps sires' list, was euthanized following colic surgery performed June 13.

Irish Derby Interview - Colm O'Donoghue

Simon Burgess talks with Colm O'Donoghue, jockey for Treasure Beach who won the Irish Derby on June 26.

Watch Video

Montjeu Sires 100th Stakes Winner

Irish stallion Montjeu became the first son of the great Irish stallion Sadler's Wells to reach the 100 mark by number of stakes winners when his 3-year-old son Pour Moi won the Prix Greffulhe (Fr-II) May 7.

Sadler's Wells Dies

The leading international sire died of natural causes at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Irish Horseman Sean Collins Dies

Sean Collins, founder and president of the Irish Equine Centre, died March 5 of a brain hemorrhage.

European Champion Old Vic Dies

Old Vic, England's 1989 Horse of the Year who went on to become a prominent National Hunt stallion, was euthanized Feb. 21 from complications from colic at Sunnyhill Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Irish Industry Declines Continued in 2010

While most of the key economic indicators within the Irish racing industry fell in 2010, the annual report from Horse Racing Ireland shows favorable trends within racecourse attendance and bloodstock sales.

Invincible Spirit Sets NA/European Record

Irish stallion Invincible Spirit closed out 2010 with a record but it was a record for the number of 2-year-old winners in a single year for a stallion standing in either North America or Europe.

Iffraaj Sets European Sire Record

Irish stallion Iffraaj set a European freshman sire record of 36 2-year-old winners when his son Dixlesio won Nov. 21 at Madrid in Spain.

Goffs Breeding Stock Sale Suffers Setbacks

The Goffs November breeding stock sale ended its two-day run Nov. 20 in Ireland with decreases in gross, average price, and median price from the previous year.

Blas Ceoil Leads the Way at Goffs

Blas Ceoil, who is in foal to 2009 Horse of the Year Sea The Stars, topped the opening session of the Goffs November breeding stock sale, bringing 300,000 euros ($407,946 in U.S. funds) Nov. 19 in Ireland.

Average, Median Rise at Goffs From Last Year

The Goffs November foal sale ended its three-day run in Ireland Nov. 18 with a gross of €10,134,900 ($13,687,600 in U.S. funds) for the 399 horses that were sold.

Ferguson Strikes Again as Orby Sale Ends

He purchases a Dubawi colt that tops Part 2 of the auction in Ireland.

Galileo, Teofilo Offspring Top Goffs Opener

The filly and colt each bring 300,000 euros ($404,034 in U.S. funds) during the Ireland-based yearling auction.

Business Improves at Tattersalls Ireland Sale

The Tattersalls Ireland September yearling sale posted increases of 6.8% in the number of horses sold and 10.6% in gross revenue from a year ago during its two-day run, which ended Sept. 22.

Moyglare's Haefner Could Add to Legacy

On the eve of his 100th birthday on Sept. 13, Moyglare Stud's Walter Haefner will have two horses running at The Curragh with chances to add to his long list of group I winners.

BC Has Deal for British, Irish Wagering

At The Races and SIS won the exclusive right to license betting operations in Great Britain and Ireland for pari-mutuel wagering on the Nov. 5-6 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Keeping Our Place in the World

Keeneland has successfully developed the September sale into the largest international marketplace for Thoroughbred yearlings. But will the sale continue offering the kinds of horses European buyers want?

Read Blog

Tattersalls Restructures Breeze Up Calendar

The England-based company will expand Craven sale and replace the Guineas auction with a new sale in Ireland.

Ivan Denisovich Sires First Winner

Ivan Denisovich, an English group II winner and a grade I stakes performer in the United States, was represented by his initial winner when his son Premier Clarets won May 20 at Haydock in England.

Irish Horseman Liam Cashman Dies

Liam Cashman, owner of Rathbarry Stud in Ireland and breeder of leading filly Finsceal Beo, has died.

Holy Roman Emperor Sires First Winner

First-crop stallion Holy Roman Emperor, a French champion and Irish group I winner, sired his first winner when his son High Award won the first race for 2-year-olds in England and Ireland this year.

Goffs Sale Posts Across-the-Board Increases

Gross rises 14% while average price increases 11.1% in Ireland.

Daylami to Coolagown in Ireland

Daylami, a Cartier Horse of the Year and winner of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), has been relocated to stand at Coolagown Stud in Co. Cork, Ireland.

Group Stakes in Ireland to See Purse Cuts

Horse Racing Ireland has announced a series of budget cuts, including a reduction in purses for 2010 of 10.2%, from 53.1 million euros to 47.7 million euros.

Goffs November Sale Average Falls 27.6%

Fourpenny Lane, a 4-year-old stakes-winning daughter of Efisio, brought the top price of 100,000 euros ($148,700 in U.S. funds) as the Goffs November breeding stock sale ended its two-day run in Ireland Nov. 22. She was the most expensive horse sold during the entire auction.

Bon Nuit Leads Way at Goffs Sale in Ireland

Bon Nuit, a stakes-winning daughter of Night Shift, topped the opening session of the Goffs November breeding stock sale, bringing 230,000 euros ($342,339 in U.S. funds) Nov. 21 in Ireland. Clive Gardner purchased the 7-year-old bay mare from Ballincurrig House Stud.

Average Increases at Goffs Foal Sale

The Goffs November foal sale, which ended its four-day run in Ireland, posted increases of 5% in gross revenue, 11.1% in average price, and 30% in median price.

Median Rises 12.5% at Goffs Auction

There was lively trade at the Goffs horses in training sale, with the median price increasing 12.5% from last year Nov. 16 in Ireland. The clearance rate was 74.5%.

Art Connoisseur to Irish National Stud

Group I-winning sprinter Art Connoisseur has been retired from racing to stand at the Irish National Stud.

Saratoga Sale Topper Wins in Debut in Ireland

Fighting Brave, who brought the sale-topping price of $2 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, made his career debut a winning one at Dundalk in Ireland Oct. 4.

Goffs Orby Sale Ends on Positive Note

Goffs Orby Sale for vendors and purchasers alike drew to a close this evening with a strong third day's trade that saw an increase in average price of 27% over the corresponding day last year.

Median Price Increases at Goffs Orby Sale

Part one of the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland ended Sept. 30 in Ireland with an 11.1% increase in median price from 2008 and a 6.7% loss in average price. This year, there were two sessions in part one of the auction -- down from three last year -- and the sale's gross dropped 31.5%, in part because fewer horses were offered and sold.

Giant's Causeway Filly Tops Goffs Opener

A Giant's Causeway filly, the second foal out of 2005 Boylesports Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Saoire, was the star of Goffs Orby yearling sale's opening session in Ireland Sept. 29. She commanded the highest price of 475,000 euros ($695,124 in U.S funds) from bloodstock agent Hugo Merry, who was acting on behalf of Dr. Jim Hay.

Chace, Finley Buying at Goffs Orby Sale

New Jersey bloodstock agent Buzz Chace was a new buyer at the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland on the opening day of the auction Sept. 29. Acting on behalf of longtime client West Point Thoroughbreds, he purchased a Holy Roman Emperor colt for 140,000 euros ($204,879 in U.S. funds)from Camas Park Stud and an Ad Valorem colt for 50,000 euros ($73,171)from Ashtown House Stud.

Leroidesanimaux's First Winner

Champion Leroidesanimaux was represented by his first winner when his son Marfach won July 6 at seven furlongs at Roscommon in Ireland.

Rock Hard Ten's Debut Winner Takes Ire Stakes

Rock Hard Ten, the multiple grade I-winning son of Kris S., got his inital winner and first stakes winner June 26 when Long Lashes won the Ballygallon Stud Stakes for juvenile fillies at the Curragh in Ireland.

Bonus Scheme Will Reward Yearling Buyers

Sellers of yearlings in Britain and Ireland are working to put together a bonus fund worth £2-million (approximately $3,269,400 in U.S. funds) for the connections of nominated horses that win maiden races next year for 2-year-olds. Each bonus will be worth £10,000 ($16,347), and it is hoped that up to 200 races will be supported. Some of the bonus money also will be made available to 3-year-olds.