Cal-breds

The catalogue for Fasig-Tipton's September Yearling Sale at Pomona was made available last week, and in Mike Machowsky's telling, it constitutes the best book of yearlings he's been involved with since picking up the mantel of Fasig-Tipton's California representative. "It's a pretty big diverse type of catalogue," he said, highlighting representation from strong Kentucky sires like Nashville, Maxfield and Hard Spun. "We've never had an Uncle Mo in here--we have an Uncle Mo filly," he said, of a filly out of the stakes-winning Tomlin. "We've just got a lot of...

Despite the rough seas the great ocean liner of the California breeding industry has navigated these past few years, it remains integral to the nation's Thoroughbred industry, with the second most foals born and mares bred of any state behind Kentucky. More importantly, it still has much to offer breeders and owners. "I think us and New York are two of the best programs for incentives between owners, breeder and stallion awards," said Mike Machowsky, Fasig-Tipton's California representative. "I've always harped that the Cal-bred program is one of the best,...

Fasig-Tipton, in partnership with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA), will offer a $500,000 bonus tied to this year's California Fall Yearlings Sale, the auction company said via a Thursday press release. The bonus will be awarded to the first sale graduate that wins a Grade I race in the United States at age 2 or 3 and applies only to horses offered in this year's auction. Horses both sold, or reserve not met (RNA), will qualify. Should a sales graduate win a top-level race, the bonus will be divided...

In an effort to stimulate the California breeding industry, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) unveiled several new breeding incentive programs Monday, highlighted by the 'Flagship Foal Incentive Program.' With the CTBA awarding $1,000 for each foal registered as a Cal-bred, the Flagship Foal Incentive Program begins with foals of 2027 at a cap of 25 foals per breeder. Payments will be made upon the CTBA receiving a Cal-bred application and the registration papers from the Jockey Club, due Dec. 31 of the foal's yearling year. In addition, the CTBA...

California-breds have long been the backbone of California racing. Since 2014, they've represented between 45% and 50% of all starters at Thoroughbred race meets in the state. Over half of all horses currently stabled in Southern California tracks are understood to be Cal-breds. A shrinking foal crop in the state, however, means that racing secretaries will have to rely on fewer of them than is currently the case over the next few years. Modeling performed for the TDN suggests there will be a combined 290 fewer Cal-bred runners competing in California...

Don Valpredo is to Cal-breds what tungsten is to steel. "I absolutely love the training industry and the breeding industry here," said Vapredo, 85, over the phone from Bakersfield. "In fact, I'm sitting here today with the Stallion Register on my lap, trying to find the right mix for my broodmares." When Valpredo hasn't been producing Cal-breds--along with John Harris, he's responsible for 1994 California Horse of the Year, Soviet Problem--he's sought to popularize them through multiple warmed seats on multiple industry boards over multiple decades. They even named a...

Two weeks after an initial company announcement on the closure of Golden Gate Fields at the end of the year, The Stronach Group (TSG) issued details Friday on their plans for consolidating racing operations at its Southern California racing and training facilities, Santa Anita and San Luis Rey Downs. The plan--shared via Zoom during a press briefing lasting about 30 minutes--appeared large on big-ticket promises though short on specifics in other key areas, including the broader industry impacts from the closure of Golden Gate Fields. The following details were divulged...

The fourth annual Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale returns to the Fairplex Sales Pavilion in Pomona Tuesday. Bidding for the single session gets underway at 11 a.m. PST, which is 2 p.m. EST. The catalogue is comprised of 279 yearlings, which will sell first, and 55 horses of racing age. The majority of the horses are California-breds, but there are several yearlings by Kentucky-breds sired by the likes of Mineshaft, Outwork, Coal Front, Tapwrit, West Coast, Tiznow, Frosted, etc. "We have a very strong group...