Latest Headlines - BloodHorse.com https://www.bloodhorse.com/ Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry en-US (c) 2024 BloodHorse LLC https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275695/northern-california-horsemen-feeling-wave-of-emotions Northern California Horsemen Feeling Wave of Emotions The initial announcement of the closure of Golden Gate Fields left industry stakeholders to question what their next steps would be. The roller coaster of emotions comes to a head March 21 as the CHRB allocates the remainder of 2024 racing dates. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275691/sierra-leone-sits-atop-derby-future-wager-pool-5 Sierra Leone Sits Atop Derby Future Wager Pool 5 Sierra Leone, winner of the Risen Star Stakes (G2), closed as the 7-1 favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, with champion 2-year-old Fierceness the 9-1 second betting choice. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275672/on-safety-side-hisas-uniform-standards-critical On Safety Side, HISA's Uniform Standards Critical Since taking oversight of the sport's safety in 2022, HISA has not pulled a long list of new rules from the clouds, but its ability to ensure uniform adoption of often already field-tested safety initiatives has made all the difference. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275677/deterministic-may-hit-work-tab-next-week-at-payson-park Deterministic May Hit Work Tab Next Week at Payson Park "He's doing well. He's with us here at the moment at Payson. We're toying with the idea of working him the middle of next week," assistant trainer Miguel Clement said. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275676/newgate-leads-santa-anita-trio-departing-for-dubai Newgate Leads Santa Anita Trio Departing for Dubai Newgate and Hopkins for trainer Bob Baffert and Two Rivers Over for trainer Doug O'Neill are all scheduled to depart Santa Anita Park the night of March 17 for a trip to Dubai. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275675/maryland-trainer-howard-passes-away-at-age-45 Maryland Trainer Howard Passes Away at Age 45 Pimlico-based trainer David Howard passed away the evening of March 15 after suffering a heart attack. He was 45. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275656/full-field-to-chase-derby-points-in-jeff-ruby-steaks Full Field to Chase Derby Points in Jeff Ruby Steaks The March 23 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Turfway Park all-weather course offers enough "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points to ensure the winner, and maybe the runner-up, a spot in the big race and there's no shortage of takers for that offer. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275670/strong-quality-beatbox-set-for-rubber-match-in-muniz Strong Quality, Beatbox Set for Rubber Match in Muniz The rivalry that has been brewing at Fair Grounds will see round 3 before the close of the meet as Strong Quality and Beatbox look to emerge as king of the Louisiana turf in the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) March 23. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275671/despite-rain-curragh-fit-to-race-as-season-nears Despite Rain, Curragh 'Fit to Race' as Season Nears The Curragh is fit for racing for its opening day of the Irish Flat season March 18, but officials will be hoping no more rain arrives than is forecast to allow the meeting to go ahead. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275673/quartet-of-baffert-trainees-work-at-santa-anita Quartet of Baffert Trainees Work at Santa Anita Muth, who has been off since winning the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) by 2 3/4 lengths Jan. 6, drilled six furlongs in 1:12.00. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275669/champion-improbable-euthanized-after-suffering-ataxia Champion Improbable Euthanized After Suffering Ataxia WinStar Farm stallion Improbable, champion older male of 2020, was euthanized March 16 at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington after suffering from ataxia behind, the farm announced March 17. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275653/the-chosen-vron-notches-16th-career-win-in-san-carlos The Chosen Vron Notches 16th Career Win in San Carlos In a sport where many top equines leave racing early while in peak form for rewarding breeding opportunities, fans and trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac can still celebrate The Chosen Vron, the 6-year-old gelding and 16-time win machine. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275654/tarifa-carries-godolphin-torch-in-fair-grounds-oaks Tarifa Carries Godolphin Torch in Fair Grounds Oaks Following the same path set forth by Pretty Mischievous a year ago, Godolphin's Tarifa will use the March 23 $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) to prepare for a date with lilies on the first Friday in May. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275651/jaxon-traveler-edges-tejano-twist-in-whitmore-thriller Jaxon Traveler Edges Tejano Twist in Whitmore Thriller March 16 was Hall of Fame Day at Oaklawn Park. Fans in attendance to celebrate some of the best in the sport's history were treated to a thriller in the $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) as Jaxon Traveler defeated Tejano Twist by a nose. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275649/money-supply-could-pad-coffers-in-new-orleans-classic Money Supply Could Pad Coffers in New Orleans Classic Money Supply—riding a five-race win streak, capped by taking the $247,500 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) Feb. 17—goes for his largest payday against nine rivals in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) March 23. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275648/maher-brimming-with-pride-as-jenni-stars-at-caulfield Maher Brimming With Pride as 'Jenni' Stars at Caulfield Pride Of Jenni stamped herself one of the finest front-runners seen in Australia in modern times by streaking away to leave Mr Brightside in her wake in the AU$3.75 million All-Star Mile (G1) at Caulfield March 16. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275646/top-weighted-zougotcha-triumphs-in-coolmore-classic Top-Weighted Zougotcha Triumphs in Coolmore Classic Champion jockey James McDonald labeled trainer Chris Waller "a genius" and believes Zougotcha has proven herself a historically elite mare in carrying top weight to a courageous victory in the AU$1 million Coolmore Classic (G1) at Rosehill March 16. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275647/fair-grounds-cancels-march-17-card-heavy-rain-expected Fair Grounds Cancels March 17 Card, Heavy Rain Expected Due to heavy rain expected in New Orleans March 17, Fair Grounds cancels racing Sunday. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275642/pletcher-takes-aim-at-louisiana-derby-with-three-colts Pletcher Takes Aim at Louisiana Derby With Three Colts Pletcher, a five-time Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and two-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, has entered three colts—Antiquarian, Agate Road, and Triple Espresso—in the March 23 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275645/ky-senator-thayer-backs-state-funding-for-aftercare KY Senator Thayer Backs State Funding for Aftercare Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer supports amending Kentucky legislation that would up commit up to a quarter-million dollars a year to support nationally accredited aftercare organizations in the state. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275641/winstar-farm-acquires-half-interest-in-my-mane-squeeze WinStar Farm Acquires Half Interest in My Mane Squeeze WinStar Farm has acquired a half interest in three-time stakes winner My Mane Squeeze. A homebred for William "Buck" Butler, the 3-year-old daughter of Audible is targeting the upcoming Gazelle Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275639/moore-to-ride-justify-colt-in-golden-slipper Moore to Ride Justify Colt in Golden Slipper Ryan Moore will ride raging Golden Slipper (G1) favorite Storm Boy in the March 23 AU$5 million race at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. The star jockey will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins in the crucial stallion-making contest. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275637/fair-grounds-turfway-to-offer-stakes-pick-5-march-23 Fair Grounds, Turfway to Offer Stakes Pick 5 March 23 Fair Grounds and Turfway Park will team up March 23 to offer bettors a special $1 Pick 5. The Pick 5 features an all-stakes sequence led by the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) and $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275636/prize-money-boosted-in-races-across-south-australia Prize Money Boosted in Races Across South Australia Race purses in South Australia will receive a 15% hike across the board, including in the state's four group 1s, with the welcoming of a new seven-year sponsorship. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/275635/carf-proposes-continued-norcal-racing-at-pleasanton CARF Proposes Continued NorCal Racing at Pleasanton A California Association of Racing Fairs proposal calls for a continuation of racing in Northern California this fall at Pleasanton for a 26-day meet, according to documents submitted before a pivotal California Horse Racing Board meeting March 21.