breeders

Just finished reading the top picks for the juvenile sires (Who Will be the Leading Freshman Sire of 2026? and More Predictions), and rubbing more than two nickels together over calling Essential Quality as top second-crop sire and having clients with mares already under that horse, I thought I would take a crack at the 2023 sires. Top Pick: Life Is Good ($60,000, WinStar) The classic Into Mischief-over-Distorted Humor has proven to be a winner and that nick will unabashedly continue to produce runners. The horse was fast, and his...

With the first major 2-year-old sale, OBS March, now in the books, and the next round, the OBS April sale, right around the corner, it's time for some predictions. We asked the experts who their pick is for leading freshman sire and also asked them for a "sleeper pick," or a stallion that will perform beyond expectations. Here's what they had to say: STEVE VENOSA Top Pick: Jackie's Warrior (Spendthrift Farm, $25,000) Training them this year, I think the obvious two horses are Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock. They...

A $350,000 bonus will be awarded to breeders of record for horses competing Friday, Mar. 27 at Turfway Park, in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky HBPA, the track announced Monday morning. Breeders will compete for $35,000 in bonuses across each of the 10 races that night. The winner of each race could earn up to $21,000 if the horse is a registered Kentucky-bred. Payments will be based on a purse-style distribution: 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3%...

The list of former breeders, owners, trainers, stallion farms and other connections participating in the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Makeover Champions, an initiative to encourage more public support of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing via the Thoroughbred Makeover, was unveiled Wednesday morning. Makeover Champions have pledged to share updates about their former connected horses that are participating in next week's Thoroughbred Makeover, the largest and most lucrative retraining competition in North America for recently-retired racehorses and former broodmares. Additionally, many participating Champions will attend the event in person to connect...

When Andrew Schwarz and his sister Wendy Schwarz-Gilder decided to turn their longstanding enthusiasm for the Turf into a deeper commitment, in 2017, the option that best matched their outlook was a modest breeding program. If that meant taking their time, patiently building each page, so be it. All they knew was that they wanted to work with others of a similar disposition: people who gave time to each other, and to their horses. Schwarz, after all, is a real estate developer in New Orleans. "And in real estate, five...

The new Officers and Board Members for the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) were appointed at its most recent meeting. Rob Tribbett of Watercress Farm will move from Vice President to become President, Scott Mallory has been named Vice President and Lakota Gibson will serve as Treasurer. Outgoing President Walker Hancock of Claiborne Farm will continue to serve the organization as Past President. The Board consists of 15 members: eight from the Top 20 consignors and seven from other consignors and commercial breeders. Each year a portion of the...

WinStar Farm will host open houses at the farm beginning Nov. 6 and running through Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the farm's complex on Paynes Mill Road in Versailles. No appointment is necessary to inspect the WinStar stallions for 2025, headed up by Constitution and Life Is Good, in addition to two of WinStar's newest stallions, Heartland (Justify) and Timberlake (Into Mischief). Heartland, a 'TDN Rising Star', is a son of Justify and a half-brother to Classic Empire. Heartland flashed his brilliance in a head-turning career...

Breeders' Cup Limited issued a reminder that Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the final deadline to nominate foals born in 2024 to the Breeders' Cup program at the one-time nomination fee of $400.00, the program said via a press release Wednesday. The weanling nomination entitles each foal with lifetime eligibility to the Breeders' Cup World Championships and its racing programs. All foals sired by a fully-nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth at the...

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. will host its annual general membership meeting and educational seminar Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The event, which features a free dinner and cocktail hour for attendees, will run from 5-8 p.m. This year's seminar topic will focus on equine financial management. Attendees will learn about stallion syndication deals, evaluations, and farm business management. The seminar, sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, will feature Mark Toothaker, stallion sales manager for Spendthrift Farm, Len...

by Keely Mckitterick/TTR AusNZ Friday's inquiry into the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse evolved into a battleground where financial realities, governance controversies, and deeply personal accusations clashed in a high-stakes showdown. At the center of this unfolding drama is Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, who launched explosive allegations that "wealthy breeders" are orchestrating a campaign to undermine him. During the second inquiry on Friday, Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW, made a series of explosive allegations about "wealthy breeders" engaging in a deliberate campaign to discredit him and Racing...

Scott Sander joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss an exciting new venture in the works. He is the Hollywood producer of a romantic comedy called Breeders that will be set in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will have a nearly $6,000,000 stakes schedule this year the LTBA announced Tuesday. Offered over 67 stakes races, of which 33 will offer a purse of over $100,000, the purses are part of a continuing program to support accredited Louisiana-breds along with incentives for breeders and stallion owners. "We are proud to offer a dynamic stakes program that provides a year-round schedule for Accredited Louisiana breds," said LTBA secretary-treasurer Roger Heitzmann III. "Our owners and trainers have found this to be a tremendous benefit, and...