There was no unanimity on reactions to the April 2 announcement by Keeneland that the iconic Lexington track would replace its synthetic Polytrack surface with a state-of-the-art dirt track later this year.
Briana Mott, owner of Fashion at the Races, has been named director of client relations by Team Valor International President Barry Irwin.
Team Valor International announced March 20 that 3-year-old colt Mexikoma is no longer being aimed at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and is now pointed toward the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Megan McLeod Jones has been promoted to vice president of Team Valor International and will be groomed to eventually take charge of the business.
Team Valor colt has missed several days of training, but still could make Derby prep.
A Giant's Causeway filly shared the top price paid during the first day of the 2014 Cape Premier yearling sale that ended with an aggregate of 45,975,000 rands (US$4,200,510).
Ray Paulick, publisher of The Paulick Report, was presented with this year's Stan Bergstein Writing Award by Team Valor International Dec. 11 during the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing and Gaming.
Team Valor International said its recent private purchase Mexikoma, who rallied well to finish a close-up sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 2, is headed to Florida to prepare for his 3-year-old season.
A Medaglia d'Oro colt out of the stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Crystal Current brought $875,000 during the first night of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale Aug. 5. The colt was consigned by Bluewater Sales.
A filly from the last crop of Indian Charlie was sold for $600,000 to become the first horse over the half-million-dollar mark during the early portion of the first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.
Animal Kingdom continues his preparations for Royal Ascot. Also comments from his connections, including trainer Graham Motion. Watch Video
A press conference with the connections of Animal Kingdom. Hear from Graham Motion, Barry Irwin, and John Messara. Learn why they chose to go with jockey John Velazquez. Watch Video
In less than a week, 5-year-old Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and the Dubai World Cup (gr. I), will start in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot.
Graham Motion, Barry Irwin, John Velazquez, Veterinarian Luis Castro, and John Messara of Arrowfield Stud explain Animal Kingdom. The team discusses what makes a champion horse and answer why they are racing at Ascot. watch video
Arrowfield Stud and Team Valor's Animal Kingdom worked five furlongs in 1:02 in Lambourn, England, June 5 on "The Long," an uphill Polytrack gallop, in preparation for the June 18 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot.
Presented with a new setting and a much different assignment, Team Valor International, Arrowfield Stud, and Darley's Animal Kingdom answered impressively May 29 in a key workout over the straightaway at Ascot.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, cleared by France Galop to resume his career, has been named to ride Team Valor International's group II winner First Cornerstone in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Fr-I) at Chantilly June 2.
John Velazquez will ride his Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom when the recent Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) hero makes his career finale at the mid-June Royal Ascot meeting in England.
The April 20 Coolmore Lexington (gr. III) offers 20 points and a potential place in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starting gate, but not all contenders in the last-minute prep will aim for the first Saturday in May.
Howe Great, the 2012 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) victor whose last win came in the July 21 Jersey Derby at Monmouth, took a strong Keeneland allowance race April 6 in which 2011 Woodbine Mile winner Turallure ran sixth.
Animal Kingdom is an international hero. read blog
Comments from the connections of Animal Kingdom, after his victory in the Dubai World Cup. Watch Video
Team Valor International's Crop Report, third in his United States debut in February, found the Polytrack at Turfway Park to his liking with a last-to-first victory in the $75,000 Team Valor Rushaway Stakes March 23.
Team Valor International's Went the Day Well, winner of the 2012 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) and fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will undergo a tie-back operation in Versailles, Ky.
Went the Day Well was a surprise non-factor at 1-2 odds at Aqueduct Racetrack March 3 when he apparently struggled to get his air in his first start since the 2012 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
A sponsorship from Team Valor International will allow Turfway Park to restore the Rushaway Stakes to its Sprial Stakes (gr. III) undercard.
A majority interest in the breeding rights of champion Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been acquired by John Messara's Australia-based Arrowfield Stud.
The $25,000 prize intended for three New York Times writers will instead benefit drug testing programs. The newspaper's editorial ethics policy prohibits the writers from accepting the award.
Grade I winner Summer Soiree wrapped up her racing career by passing the $500,000 earnings plateau and adding to her grade I credentials with a third-place finish in the Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) Nov. 25.
South African sale executive Robin Bruss introduces his growing market to the world. read blog
Animal Kingdom is expected to return in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3, Team Valor International announced Oct. 2.
Team Valor International has established a new partnership that will designate a portion of the race earnings from the juvenile filly Tuttipaesi to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure charity.
Some of racing's most notable owners pledged to race 2-year-olds of 2012 without furosemide and adjunct bleeder medications, TOBA announced July 19.
Spiral Stakes winner is sidelined with bone bruising likely suffered in Preakness.
The Jockey Club isn't opposed to federal regulation of medication and penalties in horse racing but it would prefer Congress not tinker with the Interstate Horse Racing Act, an organization official said July 12.
A cross-section of horse racing stakeholders will testify before a U.S. Senate committee looking into drugs in racing July 12 in Washington, D.C.
Animal Kingdom, winner of last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), resumed galloping on June 21 at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
Michelle Whitaker Hemingway, 28, formerly an assistant trainer in South Africa, has been hired by Team Valor International.
Steve Haskin talks to Team Valor's Barry Irwin about Went the Day Well's Derby, and his prospects for the Preakness. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video
Bodemeister, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been made the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 19 and will break from post 7.
Only a dozen owners have won multiple Kentucky Derbys, and this year three owners have a chance to join that most exclusive club.
Team Valor International shoots for second consecutive Kentucky Derby win, this year with Went the Day Well.
Barry Irwin comments on Kentucky Derby 137 and Went the Day Well who is set to run in Derby 138. watch video
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Dullahan should have no problem racing on dirt in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Dale Romans said April 17.
Graham Motion is back on the Derby trail with recent maiden winner Went the Day Well, who will race next in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. II) March 24.
Animal Kingdom underwent a nuclear scan March 13 at Palm Beach Equine Medical Center, which revealed the start of a stress fracture in his hind end. The injury will not require surgery.
Two days after 3-year-old male champion Animal Kingdom breezed five furlongs on the turf at Palm Meadows Training Center, his trip to the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 31 has been scrapped.
Howe Great, a turf horse for now, held off Dullahan by one length to win the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) as the 3-5 favorite on the Gulfstream Park lawn March 11.
Synthetic experience key to decisions to ship to Dubai read blog
Champion Animal Kingdom, who had originally been scheduled to make his 2012 debut in the Feb. 25 Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT), will now run instead in a turf allowance race at Gulfstream Park Feb. 18.
