Florida

Officials at the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have announced the results of the Board of Directors election, which were finalized Mar. 14. Elections are held annually, and the term of all Directors is three years. The Board is elected by the Association members via secret ballot. A Board of no fewer than 11 and no more than 15 Directors supervises the FTHA and each year, five positions are filled on a rotating basis. For 2024, Incumbent Owner/Directors Chester Bishop, Jonathan Green, and Teresa Palmer were re-elected.  Incumbent Trainer/Director Ron Spatz...

A tax package that will extend racing and breeding incentives in the state of the Florida, was approved Friday by Florida Legislature according to a release by the FTBOA. HB 7073, which was initially enacted in 2023, continues to provide state funding for HISA along with $20m in purses and/facility improvements split between Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. It also gives $5m to the FTBOA for use as racing and breeding promotions and an additional $2.5m for Florida-bred racing incentives. In total, HB 7073 gives a boost of over...

Verifying (Justify--Diva Delite, by Repent), winner of the GIII Indiana Derby and a half-brother to Eclipse winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for an introductory fee of $10,000 in 2024. Trained by Brad Cox after selling for $775,000 as a KEESEP yearling, Verifying began his career at two with a win in his first asking at Saratoga before placing in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont at the Big A in his second start. In addition to winning the Indiana Derby, he placed...

Many of you may have seen that last week a bill was introduced in Congress to repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, better known as HISA. I want to set the record straight as to what this legislation does or doesn't do, assure you that the bill isn't going anywhere in Congress, and stands no chance of becoming law. First things first-it's important to remember that any member of Congress can introduce a bill. They write the language, file the bill, and voila it's been introduced. Just in the...

Mattingly (Bucchero) gave his young sire a second juvenile stakes winner in 2023 and his third black-type winner overall with a good-looking victory in Saturday's Hollywood Beach S. over the Gulfstream synthetic surface. Purchased for $70,000 out of this year's OBS March Sale with the objective of sending him over to Royal Ascot--where his sire was a strong fifth to Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the 2018 G1 King's Stand S.--Mattingly debuted in the May 13 Royal Palm Juvenile S., finishing runner-up to No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never),...

Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into state law the self-described "strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country." Under the new statute--the bulk of which goes into effect on July 1--business owners with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the immigration status of new hires, and be subjected to enforceable penalties for employing undocumented workers, as well as stricter penalties for sending undocumented workers across state lines to work in Florida, among other provisions. When enforced, the new stringent laws are highly likely to impact everyone...

Gulfstream Park cancelled live racing Thursday and Friday due to a series of storms that trained over the area Wednesday--resulting in record rainfall throughout the area along with flooded roads. More rain is expected in the area on the cancelled days. Racing is scheduled to resume Saturday with a first post of 12:40 pm.

Gulfstream Park confirmed Sunday a case of EHV on grounds in Barn 21. "On Jan. 21, Gulfstream Park identified a horse who was displaying signs of EHV," the track said in a statement. "That horse was immediately transferred to Rood & Riddle Veterinary Hospital in Wellington and the affected barn, barn 21 was placed in immediate quarantine. Testing was expedited through the Frederick Diagnostic Laboratory in Maryland which confirmed a positive EHV. Barn 21 remains in strict lockdown as per GSP protocols. One of the horses in quarantine was set...

A total of seven candidates have been nominated for the upcoming 2023 FTHA Election, to be held Mar. 15, 2023. Nominations were submitted during the FTHA's annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner at Gulfstream Jan. 7. The seven candidates are: OWNERS Gerardo Amado Tom Cannell David Geofroy Jeffrey Siskin TRAINERS Patrick Biancone Jorge Delgado David Fawkes The Florida THA is supervised and managed by a Board between 11 to 15 Directors. Six seats are reserved for Owner/Directors, and six seats are reserved for Trainer/Directors. Three Directors may be either...

Angel Penna, Jr. will be remembered Saturday during an 11:30 a.m. memorial service in the winner's circle at Gulfstream Park. Penna, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Angel Penna Sr., will be honored on the same day Gulfstream plays host to the Via Borghese, a race named after one of Penna's many graded-stakes winners. The winning trophy will be presented by his late father's wife, Elinor, and his widow, Ruth.

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Insights features a half to MG1SW Farhh. 1.30 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT MAJESTIC PRIDE (GB) (Shamardal) is the 10th foal out of the dual Group 1 winner Gonbarda (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) who has served Godolphin so well by producing Pivotal's G1 Champion S. and G1 Lockinge S....

GSW & MGISP Breaking Lucky (Lookin At Lucky--Shooting Party, by Sky Classic) has returned to Blue Star Racing in Louisiana for the 2023 breeding season. After beginning his stallion career at Blue Star Racing, he moved to Florida for the 2021 and 2022 breeding seasons. "After many breeder's requests, we're excited to bring Breaking Lucky back to the bayou state," said Dex Comardelle of Blue Star Racing. "It's no secret Louisiana is one of the most lucrative breeding programs in the country, and with the recent passage of sports betting...