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.
Bob Kieckhefer
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Arrogate Last to First in Dubai World Cup
Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate broke last, but rallied easily to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
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Mind Your Biscuits Rises to Occasion in Golden Shaheen
Mind Your Biscuits, a New York-bred son of Posse and winner of last year's Malibu Stakes (G1), broke through in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan. The win was a first for trainer Chad Summers.
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Thunder Snow Gets Up in UAE Derby
Thunder Snow, only days after being made a late nominee to the U.S. Triple Crown series, justified the investment with a hard-fought victory March 25 in the UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan Racecourse.
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Strong U.S. Contingent in Golden Shaheen
Mind Your Biscuits, Stallwalkin' Dude and St. Joe Bay will carry the U.S. banner in the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) dirt sprint, which pays $1.2 million to the winner.
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UAE Derby Features Japan's Kentucky Derby Qualifier
The UAE Derby features a Japanese runner already qualified for a spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in the form of Epicharis. Another, Adirato, could earn a spot with a victory March 25 at Meydan.
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Rapper Dragon First to Sweep Hong Kong Classic Series
The gelded son of Street Boss makes history with an emphatic win in the March 19 BMW Hong Kong Derby.
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Winx Rolls to 16th Straight Victory
Winx, Australia's reigning super mare, had no trouble with the heavy turf against six overmatched opponents in the March 18 China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (G1) and rolled to her 16th straight win by more than seven lengths.
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Hussonet Gelding Sets Hong Kong Sale Record
The 3-year-old Hussonet gelding out of champion Almah sold to Peter Lau for HK$10.5 million.
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Winx Back in Action at Rosehill Gardens
It's one big race after another, after another March 18 at Rosehill Gardens outside Sydney but the main focus will be on--who else?--Winx.
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Rapper Dragon's Biggest Challenge to Come in HK Derby
Son of Street Boss looking to be first to sweep Hong Kong's Classic Series but faces one of the deepest fields ever in the Hong Kong Derby.
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Moreira Wins Eight in Hong Kong
Jockey João Moreira, known as "Magic Man" to Hong Kong bettors, scored eight wins on the March 5 card at Sha Tin Racecourse, bettering the local record by two.
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Lani to Return in Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3
Locals and early arrivals audition the evening of March 4 at Meydan for the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
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Illinois Board Approves $500K for Purses
The Illinois Racing Board Feb. 28 conditionally approved transferring $500,000 of its "surplus" operating funds to bolster purses at the state's three remaining tracks.
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John Moore Sweeps Hong Kong G1s
Trainer John Moore saddled the winners in both group 1 events Feb. 26 at Sha Tin and, rubbing salt into his opponents' wounds, took the top three placings in one of them.
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Winx Soars to Fifteenth Straight Win
Winx, a 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry, sailed to a two-length victory in the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) at Royal Randwick.
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Hong Kong Stars to Battle on Sunday at Sha Tin
A pair of top-level races Sunday at Sha Tin will showcase some of Hong Kong's proven stars, including two former Horse of the Year honorees.
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Epicharis Earns Japan's Kentucky Derby Bid
Epicharis, a grandson of Sunday Silence, earned a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with a victory in Sunday's Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.
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Japanese Runners Vie for Kentucky Derby Spot
Fifteen 3-year-olds, including one owned by Sheikh Mohammed, are set for the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse, which carries a qualifying opportunity to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
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Arlington Cuts, Reduces Stakes Purses
Move will put more money into overnight purses
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Illinois Board Ponders Plan to Pump $500K Into Purses
The Illinois Racing Board on Jan. 24 discussed a proposal to put $500,000 in expected surplus funds into the state's purse accounts.
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Maurice Rolls to Victory in Hong Kong Cup
Japanese superstar Maurice (JPN) rolled to a dramatic, stretch-running victory Dec. 11 in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (HK-I), capping a day that saw Japan and Hong Kong sweep the honors on the Sha Tin Racecourse turf.
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Pure Sensation a Non-Runner for HK Sprint
Pure Sensation, the only American entry in the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong International Races, returned to the Sha Tin all-weather track for a light jog Dec. 10 but was declared a non-runner for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I).
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Able Friend Out to Regain Hong Kong Glory
Able Friend tries to overcome a frustrating series of misfortunes to return to glory in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-I).
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Pure Sensation Questionable for HK Sprint
Pure Sensation, the only American entry in the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong International Races, is a questionable starter due to problems with both his left hind leg and left fore foot, local stewards said Dec. 9.
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Top Global Runners Vie in Hong Kong Races
The Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Dec. 11 feature intriguing matchups of defending champions including reigning Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Highland Reel.
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Bowman Wins Hong Kong Jockey Championship
Australian Hugh Bowman won Wednesday night's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong as the sole American contestant, Florent Geroux, finished off the board.
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Kitasan Black Leads Local Sweep in Japan Cup
Kitasan Black led from the first jump and was never challenged in a dominating victory Nov. 27 in the 36th running of the Japan Cup in association with Longines at Tokyo Racecourse.
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Mont Saint Legame in Kentucky Derby Picture
Mont Saint Legame tracked the pace in the Nov. 26 Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, went by outside the leader in mid-straight, and claimed a 1 1/4-length victory, becoming the leading Japanese contender for the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
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Snow, Rain in Lead Up to Japan Cup
A freak snowstorm on Thursday, Nov. 24 and the prospect of weekend rain could produce off going for the 36th running of the Japan Cup (Jpn-I) Sunday, Nov. 27 at Tokyo Racecourse.
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Three Overseas Entries Eye Japan Cup
Erupt, winner of the Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT), and German-breds Iquitos and Nightflower -- all Group I or Grade I winners this season -- are the only foreign accepters for this year's Japan Cup (Jpn-I).
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U.S.-Based Geroux Set for HK Jockey Challenge
Eight top riders from around the globe will take on local champ Joao"Magic Man" Moreira and three others in this year's Longines International Jockeys Championship at iconic Happy Valley.
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China Horse Club Mares Will Support US Wing
Jumping heavily into both the Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland November sales, the China Horse Club has spent more than $9 million in a matter of days on mares to support their interests in U.S. stallions.
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Team Block relocating Fort Prado to Indiana
Team Block's multiple graded stakes-winning stallion Fort Prado is being relocated from Buck Pond Farm near Versailles, Ky., to Swifty Farms in Indiana to take advantage of Indiana's breeding incentives, Chris Block said Sept. 27.
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Amid Gloomy Forecast, Illinois Sets Dates
The Illinois Racing Board Sept. 27 approved a coordinated racing schedule for 2017 after hearing gloomy predictions about the industry's future absent an infusion of alternative revenue.
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China Horse Club Stages Mongolia Race Meet
The China Horse Club staged four competitive races Aug. 22 at Yiqi Race Course in Ordos, Inner Monoglia, in China, and event founder Teo Ah King described the day as "the fulfillment we have promised our members."
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China Horse Club Hosting Live Races
Four Mongolian races Aug. 21 will showcase horses the club has purchased worldwide and promote Thoroughbred racing.
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China Group to Build Caribbean Resort, Track
An affiliate of the China Horse Club has signed an agreement with the government of Saint Lucia to develop a $2.6 billion resort and lifestyle complex on the Caribbean island, including a racetrack.
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Arlington, Hawthorne Reach Dates Agreement
The two remaining Chicago-area tracks, for the second straight year, have submitted coordinated dates requests for the coming year to the Illinois Racing Board.
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Maurice, Chautauqua Victorious in Hong Kong
Japanese miler Maurice and Australian sprint star Chautauqua took top honors at Sha Tin Racecourse May 1 in a rare shutout for the local team in two group I events in Hong Kong.
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Arlington, Illinois THA Ink Two-Year Contract
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Arlington International Racecourse April 29 signed a two-year contract that ensures Arlington's race meet will begin as scheduled May 6.
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Mongolian Saturday in Tough at Sha Tin
Mongolian Saturday, winner of the 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT), drew the 2 post in a tough international field for Sunday's Chairman's Sprint Prize (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse In Hong Kong.
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Judge Denies Horsemen's Request Against Arlington
A federal judge April 21 denied a request by the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to block Arlington from signing a representation contract with the rival Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation.
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Illinois THA Sues, Alleges Contract Interference
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association April 18 sued Arlington, the Illinois Racing Board, and a rival horsemen's group in an effort to block recognition of the organization as the bargaining agent for the summer meet at Arlington.
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IRB Passes Rules Amid Industry Turmoil
The Illinois Racing Board Jan. 26, over the objection of horsemen and breeders, advanced a request by the state's three remaining tracks for more flexibility in carding races.
