flat racing

Charlie Appleby has two strong hands to play in the upcoming 2000 Guineas and one of them, the European champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB), enjoys a surprise if welcome prep in Wednesday's G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket. It's the age-old question, can the one who was at the apex the previous year maintain his dominion after the winter sojourn? It is necessary to go back to the mid-nineties and the likes of Alhaarth (Ire) (Unfuwain) and Xaar (GB) (Zafonic) to recall reigning champions taking in this...

Over 12,000 people passed through the gates of SNAI San Siro Racetrack in Italy over the weekend, as the citizens of Milan celebrated the opening of the Flat season. The course played host to over 4,000 guests on Saturday and more than 8,000 plus on Sunday. Both the Listed Premio Natale de Roma and the Listed Premio Ciro Massimo were held on Sunday and were won by Vis A Vis (Ity) (Mujahid) and Flag's Up (Ire) (War Command), respectively. During the two-day stand, the course held many free initiatives for...

Key French racing industry stakeholders under both codes, trotting and the Thoroughbred industry attended a forum at ParisLongchamp on Mar. 15. The goal of the forum, organised by the French racing school, the AFASEC, in association with the governing bodies, France Galop and LeTROT and supported by Together for Racing International, was to unite the key stakeholders to share a day rich in reflection, exchange, and solutions in response to the stud and stable staff crisis within the French racing industry. Nearly 70 participants took part including, industry professionals; trainers,...

Naas Racecourse announced a partnership with ARKequine, a feed and supplements business that will subsidise the Groom's Canteen and will also support both national hunt and flat racing at the oval in 2022. ARKequine is slated to subsidise the Grooms Canteen during 18 of 20 race meetings during the upcoming season. Racing resumes at Naas with its upcoming Jump Fixture, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 30. "It is important to acknowledge all those involved in getting a horse to the track and, whilst we appreciate products like ours play a key...

The prizemoney investment plans for the Arena Racing Company's Programme Book One 2022, which runs from January through April, were confirmed on Thursday. These initiatives are part of ARC's £21.7 million 2022 prizemoney investment plan. The All-Weather Championships will be held at Newcastle for the first time, as previously announced, and Flat racing will return to Southwell with a new Tapeta surface. The £40,000 Coral Winter Oaks Trial will be held at that course on Dec. 7. There will also be Flat Class 5 and 6 bonuses to the winning...

The national rollout of race sectional timing at all premium Flat and National Hunt racecourses in France began this month, France Galop and its partner McLloyd announced on Monday. The McLloyd system will be implemented at all French national meetings beginning in February and is the first country to offer such broad coverage. The technology was tested in 2019 at ParisLongchamp, Chantilly, Deauville and more recently in Auteuil. Lyon-La-Soie and Marseille-Vivaux were added to the timing network on Jan. 14 and 15, respectively. Cagnes-sur-Mer joined the fold on Jan. 18....

Al Shaqab Racing's Haras de Bouquetot featured heavily among the top lots on the fourth and final day of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville. Both the topper and next dearest lot were mares in foal to Bouquetot residents, and the co-highest-priced foal of the day was also by one of their growing roster of stallions Lot 784, the Frankel (GB) mare Bursa (GB) in foal to G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero Al Wukair (Fr) from the Bouquetot draft proper, commanded a session-topping €38,000 from Haras du Quesnay....

There will be 14 additional fixtures added to the UK racing calendar following approval by the Board of the British Horseracing Authority. The proposal was submitted by the Racecourse Association (RCA) which has the full support of the Horsemen's Group (HB). The fixtures have been added to shore up racecourse finances, as well as generate a positive return for the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB). The 14 fixtures are as follows: Flat Fixtures: 15/11/20 Southwell - Afternoon 22/11/20 Wolverhampton - Afternoon 23/11/20 Chelmsford City - Floodlit 24/11/20 Lingfield Park -...

All flat races will return to 48-hour declarations from Wednesday, June 24, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Wednesday. Declarations to run on June 24 must be made by 10 a.m. on June 22. For jumps racing, 48-hour declarations have also been put in place beginning on Wednesday, July 1, so declarations must be made by June 29. Due to the coronavirus, declarations had previously been required 72 hours before a race. The BHA's statement read in part, "This change is only possible due to the support of trainers and...

Trainer Rebecca Menzies is hoping one-eyed filly Rainbow Applause (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) can pick up some prize money for NHS charities when the Flat season eventually gets under way. The County Durham-based handler ran a competition on social media earlier this month to name a 2-year-old daughter of Camacho out of Dubai Sea (Street Sense), drawing more than 1000 entries. The filly was named Rainbow Applause, with any prize-money she earns and any profits made by her owners, the Rainbow Applause NHS Charity Racing Club, to be donated to charities...

The ITBA Next Generation 10-to-Follow Competition, sponsored by Racing Post Bloodstock, was announced by ITBA Next Generation on Wednesday. To enter, contestants pick their top five Flat and top five National Hunt horses to follow in 2020, with prizes on tap including 1 year free Ultimate Membership to the Racing Post (£349). The competition starts on Feb. 14, but entries cam be made after the beginning of the competition through the month of February. Only one entry is allowed per person, with free entry for ITBA Next Generation members. Results...

Southwell will host an all-female card on International Women's Day, Mar. 8. The eight races, held in conjunction with the sport's Diversity in Racing Steering Group, the British Horseracing Authority, Women in Racing and Great British Racing, will be split evenly between Flat and National Hunt racing. "It's great that Southwell are celebrating International Women's Day with an all-female racecard," said Southwell native and jockey Hayley Turner, who became the second female jockey to ride a Royal Ascot winner last year. We ride against and at the same level as...