thoroughbreds

Letter To The Editor: Ercel Ellis and The Decision That Altered My Life

For me personally, what a weird coincidence that earlier this week, TDN published a wonderful essay by its columnist Chris McGrath, who spent time with three of the industry's "elder statesman," among them Ercel Ellis. For it was Ellis who, 40 years ago this coming week, made a decision that altered the course of my life. McGrath obviously had a wonderful time at Lil's Coffee House in Paris, Ky., listening to the yarns spun by Ellis, now 92, renowned veterinarian Bob Copelan (97), and the youngster of the trio, Stone...

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With A Forecast Of Heavy Rain, Santa Anita Cancels Weekend Live Racing

With heavy rain forecast for this weekend, Santa Anita has canceled live racing on Saturday, Mar. 30 and Sunday, Mar. 31, the track said in a Thursday release. According to the National Weather Service, rain is expected to arrive in the area Friday evening and remain throughout the weekend. A makeup card will be added next Thursday, Apr. 4, with entries to be taken this coming Saturday. The racing that day will include both the GIII Wilshire S., which was scheduled for Saturday, and the GIII American S. that was...

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Old Friends Welcomes Airdrie Stud's MGSW McCraken

Airdrie Stud, a longtime supporter of Old Friends, has sent MGSW McCraken (Ghostzapper) to reside at the Thoroughbred retirement farm as of Monday, Mar. 25, the non-profit said via a press release early Wednesday morning. The 10-year-old stallion was donated to the farm courtesy of Airdrie, who has made three prior contributions to the Old Friends roster. "It is already evident to me that this well-mannered multiple stakes winner is going to be a real hit with our many visitors to Old Friends," said John Nicholson, President and CEO of...

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Sunday's Insight: $1.2 Million Gun Runner Colt Makes The Races At Tampa

3rd-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:18 p.m. ET CARTUCHO (Gun Runner) tied for the ninth highest return during the 2022 Keeneland September Sale when selling to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $1.2 million. The debuting bay colt's ownership group includes his breeder Three Chimneys Farm, William H. Lawrence and Walmac Farm. He is trained by Chad Brown. Cartucho is out of GISW Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon). She was a $2 million 2011 Keeneland November purchase for Besilu, who also acquired her dam--SW Grand Prayer (Grand Slam)--at the same sale for...

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2024 Saratoga Meet Offers 71 Stakes Worth $20.75 Million

Highlighted by the 155th GI Travers S. Aug. 24 and the GI Whitney S. Aug. 3, the 40-day Saratoga meet features 19 Grade I races as part of 71 stakes worth $20.75 million in total purses, the New York Racing Association said concerning the release of the schedule on Friday. Following the four-day opening week, which starts on Thursday July 11, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2024 summer meet will conclude on Monday, Sept. 2. Saratoga Live, the...

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Delaware Park And Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Sign Three-Year Contract

On Mar. 19, Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (DTHA) signed a three-year contract, which includes an agreement for year-round stabling and training, the track said in a release Friday morning. The year-round stall application, and related fee schedule, will be released later this summer. Opening day for the upcoming 87th live racing season is May 15 with racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The 75-day meet is scheduled to conclude Oct. 12. "I am pleased to announce this multi-year contract," said Delaware Park Chief Financial Officer Kevin...

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Thursday Insight: Well-Bred Justice Julia Makes 3-Year-Old Debut At Gulfstream

2nd-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1mT, 1:40 p.m. ET. JUSTICE JULIA (Medaglia d'Oro) debuted a well-beaten fifth sprinting six panels at Saratoga last summer behind top two finishers Emery (More Than Ready), also a Stonestreet homebred, and eventual GIII Florida Oaks heroine Waskesiu (American Pharoah). On the work tab since late January at trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base, the 3-year-old is out of broodmare of the year Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), who also produced champion 3-year-old Malathaat (Curlin) and her full-sister GSW Julia Shining. Also entered, but...

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WinStar Farm Stallion Improbable Euthanized

WinStar Farm stallion Improbable (City Zip), the champion older male of 2020 and a 'TDN Rising Star', was euthanized late last night at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington after suffering from ataxia behind, a condition which causes poor voluntary muscle control, the farm said in a release early Sunday. "He was sent to Rood and Riddle yesterday morning to determine the exact cause of the ataxia," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "He was responding well to treatment, but went to lie down...

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Woolford Named Head Of Donor Engagement At The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has appointed Meredith Woolford as the organization's new Director of Donor Engagement, the non-profit said in a release late Friday. She will spearhead initiatives to cultivate and expand relationships with donors and further TRF's mission to provide a lifetime sanctuary for retired racehorses. Woolford brings extensive experience and a passion for non-profit work. Before joining the TRF, she served the Saratoga Hospital Foundation as the manager of institutional advancement and later as its executive director. "I am honored to join The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and contribute...

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NYRA Seeks Partnership With Cornell That Would Enhance Equine Safety

The annual state budget proposed by the New York State Assembly includes an initiative that would establish a new partnership between Cornell University and the New York Racing Association, Inc (NYRA) to enhance equine safety through the use of advanced imaging technology. The budget calls for NYRA to make an initial investment of $2 million to purchase the necessary equipment. The ongoing project will be funded by assessing the most successful out-of-state ADW platforms. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law will be amended by adding a new section 902-a...

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'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness Drills for Florida Derby

Repole Stable's Fierceness (City of Light), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after he broke his maiden at first asking at Saratoga last August, breezed five furlongs Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs in preparation for the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 30 at Gulfstream Park, the track said in a release late Friday afternoon. The 2023 Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion, who finished third in the Feb. 3 GIII Holy Bull S., breezed in company with Spendthrift Farm's Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso). The Todd Pletcher-trained duo was timed in...

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2024 National Horseplayers Championship Official Prize Structure Released, Leaderboard Links Available

With $800,000 and the Horseplayer of the Year Eclipse Award to the winner, the official prize structure of this weekend's 25th National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas was posted in a Friday release by the host of the contest, the NTRA. At the conclusion of the Final Table on Sunday, total cash prizes offered over the three days come to $3,013,550. The top 77 are guaranteed money with that final finisher receiving $10,150. The top five payouts are: First Place--$800,000 Second Place--$250,000 Third Place--$200,000 Fourth Place--$150,000 Fifth Place--$125,000 Along with...

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