TDN Q and A

This past year was a good one for the Breeders' Cup. Returning to Keeneland for the first time since the pandemic year of 2020, the event generated a global wagering total of $189.1 million, which set a record, 3.4% higher than the previous mark. The Breeders' Cup also produced big numbers when it came to the total economic impact for Keeneland, Lexington and the surrounding community. It was announced Friday that a survey conducted by University of Louisville Economics Professor Thomas E. Lambert, Ph.D., showed that the Breeders' Cup was...

Editor's note: Boyd Browning is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fasig-Tipton Corporation. We don't know much more about him because steadfastly refuses to let Chris McGrath do a profile on him, but we suspect he's a Lexington native.  Best Fasig graduate this year who wasn't Flightline? It's a three-way tie between Cyberknife, Jack Christopher and Taiba. What are you proudest of in your career? To be part of an amazing team at Fasig-Tipton. Horse you were proudest to sell? I'll Get Along, the dam of Smarty Jones....

Since issuing a cheat sheet to help guide industry participants through the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) on July 1, the TDN has been fielding unanswered questions that industry participants have about the process to register, and about the anticipated playing field within a few weeks, forwarding them to HISA for response. The first two batches of reader questions, alongside HISA's responses, can be found here and here. The latest batch of answers is below. Some of the questions have been edited for brevity and clarity....

Draft rules for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) were unveiled Thursday morning, broad details of which can be read here. As expected, these draft rules aren't full and comprehensive, and are subject to revision. Nevertheless, as currently written, they signify a fundamental revision to the way the industry is policed, including a markedly more stringent approach to medication violations. To discuss these rules, the TDN sat down Wednesday afternoon with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart and Dr. Tessa Muir, head of the agency's equine program....

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and their perspective on the sales over the next few weeks. Today, Alex Elliott answers our questions. TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? AE: Group 2 winner New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is a horse that has quickly become both one of my favourite and best purchases. He was bought at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale for €35,000 and was the...

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and their perspective on the sales over the next few weeks. Today, Will Douglass answers our questions. TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? WD: I bought two fillies with Al Wasmiyah Stud called Traisha (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Dhabyah (GB) (Australia {GB}). Traisha has been listed and Group 3-placed and holds an entry in the G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares S....

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and their perspective on the sales over the next few weeks. Today, Eddie Linehan answers our questions. TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? EL: [G1 Matron S. winner] Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) was the best I've ever signed for. She was late on the third day of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and was a standout yearling that day. Johnny Murtagh...

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and their perspective on the sales for the next few weeks. Today, Oliver St Lawrence answers our questions. TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? OSL: Buying Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) for £75,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Sale in 2018 has proven fortuitous. She has earned over £330,000 from her six runs to date, winning half of them, including the G2 Rockfel...

With the yearling sales now in full swing TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and gets their perspective on the sales for the next few weeks. Nicolas de Watrigant answers our questions today. TDN:  What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? NDW: From the 2014 Arqana August sale, Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was definitely one of the very best horses I have purchased. Winning both the Prix Rothschild G1 at Deauville and the G1 Coronation S. during Royal...