UK

Italy's major races will see the most significant downgrades among European countries after the European Pattern Committee announced alterations to the 2023 Flat programme Wednesday, as a host of that country's major races are set to be demoted in status. There will be 827 black-type races run in Europe this year, compared to the 852 in 2022, while group races have been cut by 13 to 412 and listed races drop to 415 from 427. One of the most significant changes to the Irish programme comes in the case of...

The 2022-2024 Godolphin Flying Start Class was announced on Tuesday. The 12 trainees for the two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme are from five different countries and will begin the course on Aug. 15, 2022. They will spend time in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai throughout the programme. In addition, the course is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. The dozen trainees are as follows: Annabel Adams, New Zealand Liam Cunningham, New Zealand Sarah Kelly, Ireland Orlaith...

After the decision to avoid the stress of a G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas examination for Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the latest renewal of the Newmarket Classic has become open season for up-and-comers in the miling division. Very few of the 14 left in the race can be safely discounted and with a filly unproven beyond six furlongs at the head of the market, it is fair to say that anything can happen in this one. There were shades of Ravinella (Mr. Prospector) in the way Ballydoyle's number one and 'TDN...

The 2021/22 UK Jumps Champions were crowned during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park on Saturday. Brian Hughes, who became only the fourth NH jockey to ride a double century of winners in a season, was named the UK Champion Jumps Jockey for a second time. His win total sits at 204, 99 ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies in second. Hughes, who won the title in 2019/20 said, "It is something at the start of the season I set out to try and do and it is great that it...

MyRacehorse, a U.S.-based racehorse micro-share ownership operator, is expanding to the UK and Ireland with three 2-year-olds, including a 450,000gns Dubawi (Ire) colt purchased out of the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale. Out of J Wonder (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), he is trained by Andrew Balding. John and Thady Gosden have a $300,000 Keeneland September filly by Mendelssohn for the GI Kentucky Derby/GI Breeders' Cup Classic-winning organisation. The trio is rounded out by a Zoffany (Ire) filly in the yard of Joseph O'Brien. She was purchased for €170,000 at Goffs Orby....

Prince Faisal's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) has recovered in good order from a last-placed finish in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup near the end of February, but will not defend his G1 Dubai Sheema Classic title on Mar. 26. The John and Thady Gosden trainee will instead wait until the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. in July. Also, a winner of the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York in August, the 5-year-old entire was fourth in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. on Oct. 16. Ted Voute,...

The Henry Cecil Open Weekend, held in Newmarket from Sept. 18-19, will allow visitors the chance to see behind the scenes at British horseracing's headquarters and visit 30 training yards. All of the activities raise money for the charities Racing Welfare, Newmarket Pony Academy and a soon to be announced community project. The two-day event is also part of National Racehorse Week, with nationwide initiatives to celebrate the racehorse and showcase the excellent care and attention they receive each day. Some of the weekend's activities include: 2021 Henry Cecil Commentator...

Under the current spectator cap put in place by the UK Government for its Roadmap out of lockdown, the five-day Royal Ascot meeting will be held with just 4,000 spectators each day. Ascot Racecourse is planning for that eventuality, but there is a slim chance that the meeting could be used as a pilot event that would allow up to 10,000 daily spectators at the venue. Step 3 of the Government Roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions is in place until at least June 21. There will be no general admission....

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale is now online. A total of 226 lots will go under the hammer at Park Paddocks for the second consecutive year, as the sale was moved from its traditional Irish venue due to continued COVID-19 restrictions. The breezes will take place at the Rowley Mile at 9 a.m. on June 2, with the sale proper slated for June 3 at 10:30 a.m. John and Thady Gosden and HH Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum celebrated a win in the Lincoln with...

UK jockey Harry Bentley has been granted a Hong Kong Jockey Club licence from Apr. 16 to the end of the 2020/2021 season, the HKJC announced on Monday. The 28-year-old, who has already booted home 1,002 winners since he was apprenticed at the age of 16 to trainer Gary Moore, has accrued 41 group and listed race wins. Bentley was aboard Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) when he won the G1 Darley July Cup and G1 Prix de la Foret both in 2016. His minimum riding weight will be 118 pounds...

Racing in the UK will continue behind closed doors, as new national lockdowns begin at midnight on Jan. 5. Cases of coronavirus are rising in both countries and their respective governments have imposed new COVID restrictions. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited the rising death toll in the past seven days and the new coronavirus variant that is widespread in the UK as the primary reasons for a third lockdown, which is expected to last until mid-February. The BHA confirmed that racing will continue without fans and with only essential...

As there is currently an increased rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the UK, British racing leaders have agreed with the UK Government to impose more stringent racemeeting restrictions beginning on Jan. 1, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. Under the new restrictions, no owners will be permitted to attend Tier 4 race meetings and essential staff only are allowed at meetings in Tier 4 areas. In addition, no owners living in Tier 4 will be permitted to attend race meetings in Tiers 1-3. These restrictions also apply to...