Charles Fipke

Nearly three years ago, the Johnny Velazquez-ridden Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) produced a performance in the $2-million GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar resounding enough to catapult her toward Champion Older Dirt Female honors at the subsequent Eclipse Awards. The sweet taste of victory had been somewhat soured for owner Charles Fipke, however, due to a prior California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) stewards double jockey fee ruling which required him to pay Joel Rosario $100,000 as a result of the victory. In the race entries, Rosario had been named...

Chuck Fipke's Lady Speightspeare, named a 'TDN Rising Star' for an impressive frontrunning debut victory, backed that distinction up with a gusty success in Sunday's GI Natalma S. at Woodbine, punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in the "Win and You're In" event. Unveiled as a 22-5 chance going seven furlongs over this course Aug. 22, the chestnut dictated terms and drew away down the lane to a 3 3/4-length graduation, with the runner-up also finishing six clear of the remainder. Drilling a sharp five-furlong...

'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) is no longer being pointed to the GI Kentucky Derby after developing a cough Saturday. "Unfortunately, Shirl's Speight has come up with a minor cough today and he will not be going to the Kentucky Derby," owner/breeder Fipke Stable tweeted. "His health is our number one concern, and we'll look forward to his next race." "He's coughing and full of mucus so we've had to put him on antibiotics," trainer Roger Attfield said. "I've had four or five of them [get sick] these last...

Well-bred Shirl's Speight turned in one of the more impressive debuts of 2020 when he demolished nine rivals in front-running fashion over seven grassy furlongs here July 4, and the 'TDN Rising Star' handled two turns and Tapeta just as well Saturday to make the grade in Woodbine's GIII Marine S. Away well from the outside seven post, the favorite was content to sit second locked on to frontrunner Untitled (Khozan)'s right hip through splits of :24.59 and :48.68. He was asked for more by Rafael Hernandez heading into the...

Charles Fipke's homebred Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}--Seeking the Title, by Seeking the Gold), winner of the 2017 GI Clark H., has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury last month. Although stud plans have not yet been announced, Fipke said he plans to support the 7-year-old stallion. "He's at my farm in Paris, Kentucky, where he was born, and is recuperating nicely under the eye of farm manager Elke Krohn," Fipke said Monday. "He's a lovely horse, a Grade l winner who was genuine on the...

Shirl's Speight (Speightstown)'s dam Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}) may have rallied from far back when she upended the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf at 27-1, but Shirl's Speight showed off impressive speed from the first jump Saturday at Woodbine to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. Sporting a mostly unassuming worktab over the local Tapeta, the Chuck Fipke homebred quickly assumed command and doled out splits of :23.02 and :45.38 while traveling well within himself. Rafael Hernandez still hadn't moved a muscle on the 3-1 shot as they...

Canada's version of the Eclipse Awards, the Sovereign Awards is set to be held during a virtual ceremony Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The ceremony will be streamed live at www.woodbine.com and HPItv Canada. A digital program will be available for download at the Jockey Club of Canada website. The Sovereign Awards, which recognize the nation's best across 12 equine and five human categories, was originally slated for Apr. 16, but officials were forced to postpone the program due to the coronavirus pandemic. Media Sovereign Awards in the...

Charles Fipke's announcement that he is waiving all fees on the stallions he owns for the remainder of the 2020 breeding season has been well received by breeders. Darby Dan Farm, where Fipke stands three horses, reports that since Fipke announced his plan Monday about 50 people have called and have signed up their mares to breed to Fipke stallions. Fipke's roster at Darby Dan consists of Bee Jersey, Tale of Ekati and Tale of Verve. Bee Jersey and Tale of Ekati had been standing for $5,000 and the stud...

Owner/breeder Chuck Fipke has waived 2020 stud fees on his seven stallions in an effort to support small breeders in the midst of the global pandemic. "What can I say? Small breeders will especially be affected by the economic conditions, and they are the backbone of this industry," Fipke said in statement released via Twitter through his consultant Sid Fernando Monday. "None of my stallions stand for more than $5,000, and they are primarily supported by small breeders. Because I own my stallions outright and don't have shareholder responsibilities, I...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PHAROAH HALF TO MOR SPIRIT DEBUTS AT GP 1st-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:45p.m. Charles Fipke homebred IMA PHAROAH (American Pharoah) makes his career bow in this test for Todd Pletcher. Out of MSW & GSP Im a Dixie Girl (Dixie Union), the dark bay is a half to MGISW millionaire Mor Spirit (Eskendereya). Fipke purchased Im a Dixie Girl for $475,000 at the 2016 FTKNOV Sale with this colt in utero. TJCIS PPs

The first foal for Darby Dan stallion Bee Jersey (Jersey Town--Bees, by Rahy) is a filly out of Ice Tales (Tale of Ekati) foaled Jan. 31 at Clearbrook Farm in Paris, KY. She was bred by Charles Fipke, who raced both the sire and dam. "She's a beautiful, long-legged filly," said Clearbrook Farm's Bill Anderson. "She's well-balanced and we're very happy with her." Bee Jersey began his career under the tutelage of Doug Watson in Dubai, where he was second to future dual G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow...

The Jockey Club of Canada announced the finalists for the 2019 Sovereign Awards, which honors Canada's champions and recognizing their achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding. The winners of the 12 horse categories and the five human categories will be announced at the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony Thursday, Apr. 16 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario. Finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced during the ceremony. Charles E. Fipke will be awarded the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit and Harvey Warner will be presented with...