Gainesway Farm

Rider Emily Ellingwood straightened Night Beacon (Spun to Run) for her stretch run, then banked the young filly for the gallop out. All the while she allowed her mount--who moved like a western pleasure horse--to feel the ground beneath her during what was becoming a regular workout late in 2023. But it wasn't a nicely-groomed all-weather surface the pair were traveling over. No, the terrain was undulating and severe. Among the flora was fauna which included snakes and coyotes. There's no renovation break amid the rock and earth here. True,...

This season's GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate--Smart Shopping, by Smart Strike) will stand at Gainesway near Lexington after he retires, said officials at Gainesway, who acquired his stallion rights, in a release Wednesday afternoon. "We are excited to add Seize the Grey to our stallion roster, " said Gainesway's general manager Brian Graves. "Arrogate was cut out to be a top sire and we are excited to have one his best sons stand at Gainesway. His speed and good looks should prove to be very popular with...

While Ashford young gun Justify was busy making waves over the pond this weekend, it was Gainesway's time-tested sire royalty who quietly added to his legacy on American shores. No matter how you slice it, one stallion in North America--and only one--leads all active lifetime sires by every major category, be it earnings, black-type winners, graded winners, Grade I winners, and even lifetime starters and winners. Unmatched among living active sires, Tapit hasn't had bigger crops than the other stallions on the list (he ranks third among the top 10...

GISW Olympiad (Speightstown) has his first foal--a filly--who arrived Jan. 18, Gainesway Farm said in a Thursday release. Out of the mare, Sophie Sophie (Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to GISW and millionaire Seattle Smooth (Quiet American), the filly was bred by Dr. Oscar Benavides and born at his Montesacro Farm. "I am very happy with my filly," said Dr. Benavides. "She looks racy and has great conformation as we expected being by Olympiad." Olympiad, a five-time graded stakes winner, posted eight wins in 13 career starts for earnings of $3,027,560...

In a movement spearheaded by Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, a group of 36 prominent horsemen have joined together in support of the fight against antisemitism. The horsemen have pledged a donation of a portion of their  Breeders' Cup earnings to the organization Stand Up to Jewish Hate. "Together, we support the fight against Jewish hate and antisemitism and stand with Israel's mission to eliminate all forms of terrorism," a statement from the group read. "In a united effort, we are committed to donating a portion...

Three-time leading North American sire Tapit will stand for $185,000 S&N on the heels of another strong season for his offspring both on the racetrack and in the sales ring, Gainesway Farm said in a press release Thursday morning in an announcement of its 2024 stallion roster and their advertised stud fees for the next breeding season. Olympiad, a Grade I-winning son of Speightstown, will stand his second season at stud for $35,000. Breeders sent over 200 mares to be part of the 5-year-old's inaugural book. Meanwhile, McKinzie, a four-time...

Antony Beck (Gainesway Farm), Alan Cooper (Niarchos Family/Flaxman Holdings Ltd.) and Bret Jones (Airdrie Stud) were each re-elected to serve a four-year term on the Breeders' Cup Board, the organization said in a release Wednesday afternoon. "We congratulate Antony, Alan and Bret upon their re-election to the Board," said Barbara Banke, Chairman of Breeders' Cup Limited. "We look forward to their continued advice and counsel to the Company in many important initiatives, including critical areas of equine safety and welfare and further enhancing the growth and international impact of the...

1st-Belmont, $87,300, Msw, 6-18, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.74, ft, 3 lengths. WINE ON TAP (f, 2, Tapit--Princess La Quinta {GSW, $178,148}, by Quality Road) debuted here as the even-money co-favorite alongside Looks First (Mor Spirit). Breaking from post four, the gray filly tracked a longshot from second up the backstretch, pulled even with her rival past the quarter pole and went on to graduate by 3 lengths over the late-running Ilikefunsize (Upstart). The winner is her dam's first to make the races, but she does have a 3-year-old half-brother named...

OLYMPIAD (Speightstown), winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has had his first mares scanned in foal, Gainesway Farm announced Friday. He is confirmed in foal to Cheyenne Stables's Navasha (Giant's Causeway), who is from the female family of Grade I winners Fault (Blame) and Juju's Map (Liam's Map). Olympiad stands for $35,000 at Gainesway. Gainesway also announced that GI Woody Stephens S. winner DRAIN THE CLOCK (Maclean's Music) has his first mare in foal as well--Amelia Island (Hook and...

It's not often that a runner-up effort translates into a key selling point for a new stallion, but when that second-place finish comes behind a horse like Flightline, people take notice. Such has been the case for Olympiad (Speightstown - Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), whose career finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic made him a standout in the 2023 class of incoming stallions. Ryan Norton, who joined Gainesway as the farm's new stallion director a few weeks before the Breeders' Cup, explained how Olympiad's performance at Keeneland over...

On the first page of the New Year, Brad Cox bolded his claim in the race for spots on the Kentucky Derby-points leaderboard when his undefeated colt Victory Formation cruised home the easiest of winners in the Smart Jones S. to pick up ten of them, while his stablemate Angel of Empire gave their shared conditioner the exacta. Christened a 'TDN Rising Star' after he stylishly devastated a deep Keeneland maiden field Oct. 21 last year by over four lengths, the good-looking son of Tapwrit showed he had heart to...

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will conduct its annual Stallion Season Auction from Friday, Jan. 27 to Tuesday, Jan. 31 on www.Wanamakers.com. The auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders. Attracting donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, the auction has included McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Darley, WinStar Farm, Darby Dan Farm, and Gainesway Farm....