California

As part of a mandate that flows from the governor on down to the commissioners he has appointed to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), the "lens of equity" may soon be focused squarely on the state's jockey colony. Fear not, California riders: This initiative means the owners of male horses that you pilot to victory in certain graded stakes might soon be compelled to award you a one-time breeding right if that winner goes on to become a stallion. That's a practice that was once a "gentleman's agreement" type...

With just 26 named foals in his first crop, 'TDN Rising Star' Straight Fire (Dominus - Tricky Indy, by A.P. Indy) is reeling off some impressive statistics as his young stock are making waves in California. Last year, the son of Dominus based at Legacy Ranch produced 10 winners from 13 runners with his first crop of 2-year-olds. So far in 2022, he has had six winners from 10 runners including dual stakes winner Straight Up G and also a pair of sophomores that swept the California-bred stakes on the...

Taylor Made has occasionally partnered with other farms in stallion ventures, most notably with WinStar on Speightstown and Tiznow. However, they are dipping their toes into the California stallion market for the first time with Grade I winner Mo Forza (Uncle Mo--Inflamed, by Unusual Heat) in partnership with Tom and Nancy Clark's Rancho San Miguel. The millionaire turf star--whose name roughly means "strength" in Italian--was retired for 2022 to the 210-acre farm in San Miguel, a sleepy and small Spanish mission town in the famed Paso Robles wine region of...

The first mare bred to Grade I winner Mo Forza (Uncle Mo), Alice Bamford's two-time winner Californiasunshine (Lucky Pulpit), has checked in foal on a single cover. Mo Forza, who entered stud this year at Rancho San Miguel in the Golden State, won no fewer than seven graded races in the course of his career, including the 2019 GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. "Mo Forza has handled the transition to his breeding career with class and vigor, just like he sailed through his racing career," said Rancho San Miguel...

With Friday's weather forecast calling for a 90% chance of rain in Arcadia, Santa Anita Park, in consultation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the CHRB, will shift Friday's eight-race program to Monday, Mar. 7 with first post time at 12:30 p.m. Accordingly, there will be no re-draw, with Monday's program now scheduled as an exact replica of what had been planned for Friday.

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 02/25/2022 Licensee: Desiderio Orantes, groom Penalty: Suspension Violation: Failure to appear for hearing on disorderly conduct and animal welfare charges Explainer: Groom Desiderio Orantes, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of...

Billy Koch was unanimously elected board president of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a non-profit organization that provides funding for retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred horses. Koch is founder and managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing. "Retirement of our horses is an absolute priority," said Koch. "These amazing animals are the sole reason any of us are in this game and they deserve every ounce of our support once their racing careers are over. This responsibility falls on owners, trainers, jockeys, players, ADW providers, and our racetrack partners. Organizations...

Kevin and Kim Nish of KMN Racing are looking forward to a big weekend of racing in California with not one, but two homebreds entered in stakes races at Santa Anita. On Saturday, What In Blazes (Straight Fire), a blaze-faced 3-year-old colt will make his third career start in the GII San Vicente S. After running a close second on debut, the colt was last seen defeating a field of maiden juveniles by nearly six lengths last July at Del Mar. "What in Blazes was brought up by Jerry Hollendorfer,"...

Third-crop sire Gem Heist (Street Cry {Ire}--Careless Jewel, by Tapit) has been relocated to stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California for the 2022 breeding season. His fee is $2,500, live foal guarantee. The 10-year-old stallion previously stood at a private farm in Bakersfield, California as the property of the late horseman Bob Grayson, Sr. Grayson purchased Gem Heist for $100,000 from Eddie Woods' consignment at the 2014 Barretts March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training. Gem Heist experienced a career-ending injury while preparing for his debut, and...

The concept of the super trainer is by no means a new phenomenon in horse racing, but the huge stables run by super trainers have undoubtedly changed the landscape of the sport in many ways, from the backside to the racing entries. Are super trainers bad for the sport?  Are there any benefits for an owner in using a "smaller" trainer? We asked these questions and more to a few trainers who may not be considered super trainers in terms of their stall numbers, but they have made the most...

Officials at Santa Anita Park have made the proactive decision to cancel the program scheduled for this Thursday, Dec. 30, given a weather forecast that calls for additional significant rainfall in and around the track. The two turf races scheduled for Sunday's opening day card--the GI American Oaks and GII Santa Anita Mathis Brothers Mile S. and GIII San Gabriel S.--were transferred to the main track owing to the underfoot conditions. Racing will continue Friday, Dec. 31. The three turf stakes scheduled for Friday have been pushed back to the...

   In this TDN series, we curry lessons and wise counsel from veteran Californian figures who, like gold nuggets panned from the Tuolomne River in the High Sierras, have unearthed career riches on arguably the toughest circuit in the States.    The series started with John Shirreffs and continues here with Art Sherman, son of a barber who would go on to train, for a period, the richest horse in history. Last month, Sherman announced his retirement. His last runner is expected this weekend. The golf cart plunges out of...