Horse Racing archive

TRAINER Donald McCain believes Peddlers Cross is as good as he has ever been as he aims to get his career back on track in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Winner of the 2010 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park and unbeaten in his first seven starts under Rules, Peddlers Cross went down on his sword when suffering his first defeat at the hands of Hurricane Fly in the 2011 Champion Hurdle.

However, little has gone right with the eight-year-old since then.

A bright start to his novice chase season ended disappointingly, and having planned to send him back over hurdles at the start of the current campaign, various training problems kept him off the track until he finished second in a “jumpers’ bumper” at Kempton in late January.

He got back to winning ways in solid, if unspectacular, style in a conditions hurdle at Musselburgh and although even McCain was slightly downbeat immediately afterwards, consultation with stable jockey Jason Maguire left him far happier.

“Everyone has an opinion about him,” said McCain.

“I’d sooner have him in the yard than not, he’s my superstar.

“We’ve had niggly little problems, but nothing worth talking about, he’s in great nick and his work has not changed.

“He had a run round Kempton, enjoyed it and came on for it.

“It is a trait of his that he doesn’t do a lot in front, but he’s a very smart horse.and his work is very special.”

Read more: Wales Online www-walesonline-co-uk/sports/racing-news/2013/02/27/horse-racing-donald-mccain-keeps-faith-in-peddlers-cross-91466-32886661/#ixzz2M5TA2a4O

Calvin Borel, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, and Chris Antley, who died of a drug overdose in 2000, were among the finalists announced for election to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. The other finalists are jockeys Garrett Gomez, Craig Perret and Alex Solis; the trainer Gary Jones; the champion filly Ashado; the star sprinter Housebuster; the former horse of the year Invasor; and the grass-racing star Lure.



www-nytimes-com/2013/02/28/sports/horse-racing-hall-of-fame-finalists-html?_r=0

Alan King has pinpointed Godsmejudge as one of his best hopes for success at this month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Barbury Castle trainer expects to have only “10 or 11” runners at a meeting he has enjoyed great success at in the past.

After just losing out in a pulsating battle for the Classic Chase at Warwick, Godsmejudge returned to the same course to win a novice event and is being aimed at the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

“He’ll get the four-mile trip well, although he wouldn’t want it to dry up too much,” King said. “I think he’d have to be one of my best chances of the week.”

McVicar and King Of Dudes are likely to represent the yard in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle rather than L’Unique, while the smart Smad Place has another crack at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

“I’ve been pleased with him,” King added. “I had him in at Fontwell on Sunday but I thought it was a bit close, but he worked very well this morning.”

Former Festival winner Bensalem has been ruled out for the season and last year’s top-class juvenile Grumeti will also miss Cheltenham but not the whole season. “He’s fine – he’s not going to be ready for Cheltenham but he’ll probably go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle,” said King, whose other runners include Walkon (Byrne Group Plate) and Kumbeshwar (Grand Annual).

Meawnhile, Harry Fry admits it is “doubtful” last weekend’s Racing Plus Chase hero Opening Batsman will be at the Festival.

The seven-year-old has gone up eight pounds in the weights after winning one of the most prestigious staying handicap chases of the season at Kempton, a hike his trainer believes is a “fair rise”.

Opening Batsman holds four entries at Prestbury Park but, if he is to make the trip, he will contest either the JLT Specialty Chase or the shorter Byrne Group Plate. Fry is not prepared to ask his charge to carry a huge burden in either the Kim Muir or the Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap Chase. He said: “It’s a fair rise and no decision has been made about whether he’ll go to Cheltenham or not. We’ll let the horse tell us, see how he is and then make a decision next week. The owners are still on cloud nine after last Saturday, so we haven’t had a proper discussion about it yet.

“We were delighted with him last weekend and, whether we want to throw him into another really competitive handicap in the space of three weeks, I’m not sure. It’s probably doubtful at this stage, but we’ll see.

“The main thing is he has come out of Kempton in good form and there is always Aintree and Punchestown later on.

“If he is to go to Cheltenham, he definitely won’t be running in the novice handicap or the Kim Muir. He’d have to carry 12st 6lb and 12st 1lb [respectively] in those races and he won’t be doing that.”

SELECTIONS

Newbury

1.50 Oscan

2.20 Italian Master (nap)

2.55 Silver Roque

3.30 Shuil Royale

4.00 Bladoun

4.35 Reginaldinho

5.10 Woodland Wal

Doncaster

2.10 Mecox Bay

2.45 Lets Get Serious

3.20 Grimley Girl

3.50 Brave Spartacus

4.25 Life And Soul

5.00 White Diamond

5.30 Favorite Girl.

Lingfield

2.00 Cyflymder

2.30 Alezanna

3.05 Mirth

3.40 Danziger

4.15 Skytrain

4.50 Chokidar

5.20 Zhuba

Wolverhampton

5.40 Sommersturm

6.10 Modern Lady

6.40 Hannahs Turn

7.10 Ifan

7.40 Bert The Alert

8.10 Scribe

8.40 Angelena Ballerina

The Western Montana Turf Club has written off horse racing at the 2013 Western Montana Fair and will shoot for a revival next year, even as the ax hangs over the racetrack at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.

The turf club “will not be participating in our Montana horse racing industry this year, and are relinquishing our 2013 August dates. We are, however, already moving forward to the 2014 race dates,” Toni Hinton said Wednesday in a note to Tom Tucker, executive director of the Montana Board of Horse Racing.

Meanwhile, the state racing industry got a shot in the arm when Cascade County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to partner with the Great Falls Turf Club to bring racing back to Great Falls after a one-year hiatus.

The Montana Board of Horse Racing meets by conference call Saturday and set a Thursday deadline for tracks to solidify their racing dates.

Miles City’s three-day meet in May was the only one held in the state in 2012 after funding from the racing board dried up.

Tucker said Thursday that Billings remains on the fence for 2013 but has submitted a tentative budget and requested dates for up to eight days of racing in August and September.

Great Falls is looking at four days – July 20, 26, 27 and 28. Kalispell, which traditionally hosted the other major race meet in the state during the Northwest Montana Fair, has reportedly withdrawn its dates for 2013.

Steve Earle, Missoula County’s fairgrounds director, told county commissioners this week that he has scheduled motocross racing for the racetrack on afternoons during the coming fair.

Hinton, who helped found the Western Montana Turf Club in 1999, hailed the news from Great Falls. She said the two turf clubs have worked together in support of each other for the past year. Missoula club members plan to travel to Great Falls to help with the race meet in July.

“We’re really thrilled that they’ve got their dates this year, and I certainly hope that our county takes a different look at it,” Hinton said. “I’m anxious to see how they do.”

Missoula County hasn’t held its traditional six-day race meet at the fair since 2006. A private company headed by Eric Spector of California produced two days of racing in 2010.

Hinton said the Missoula turf club held out hope of holding a truncated meet this August, even after a fairgrounds advisory committee voted last month to recommend that the future footprint of the fairgrounds not include a race track.

County commissioners haven’t taken up the question formally, but they’ve shown little inclination to keep racing afloat. Michele Landquist is on the advisory committee and strongly favored the board’s recommendation.

At a State of the Community event last Thursday, Commissioner Jean Curtiss defended doing away with the race track.

“We have 47 acres and over half that acreage is encumbered by a racetrack that you wouldn’t want to run your horse on because it’s in crappy shape, and all the facilities that go with it,” Curtiss said.

“It’s a tough Band-Aid to rip off,” she added. “We understand the passion behind the people, but this is a problem nationwide that small racetracks, unless you have a gambling facility attached, are closing. It’s a challenge that we have to face but it wouldn’t be responsible not to improve our assets that belong to all of you.”

The big name going into Saturday's Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct was Todd Pletcher trainee Overanalyze, one of many talented 3-year-olds in a deep stable. But with a late closing kick, the undefeated Vyjack won the Kentucky Derby prep, and established himself on the points leader board for entry to the big race.

Vyjack earned 50 points for his win in the Gotham, which ties him for second in the point standings. Overanalyze placed fifth in his first race since November, earning him no points. Overanalyze was 10th on the points board going into Saturday. Only 20 horses may enter the Kentucky Derby.

AQUEDUCT:

Things couldn't have gone much worse for Summer Applause in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes on Jan. 26. The 4-year-old mare's saddle slipped and jockey Miguel Mena lost his irons. Summer Applause finished last in the field of six.

Summer Applause was transferred to trainer Chad Brown following the race. She had been under the care of Bret Calhoun, who is currently second in the Fair Grounds trainers standings, since her stakes debut last year.

Under Calhoun, Summer Applause finished second in the Silverbulletday, won the Rachel Alexandra and placed in the Fair Grounds Oaks before going on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Oaks. She returned at Aqueduct on Saturday as the favorite, and easily won the Grade II Top Flight Handicap for Brown and jockey John Velazquez. Summer Applause settled midpack until asked to go entering the stretch, where she quickly overtook the leader. Valzquez hit her once with the crop before finishing the race in a hand ride, winning by more than two lengths.

SANTA ANITA:

The much-hyped Big 'Cap turned out to be an easy win for Bob Baffert's Game on Dude. The 6-year-old gelding romped home by a record 7 3/4 lengths under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in Saturday's Grade I Santa Anita Handicap.

It was hailed as the first ever showdown between two Big Cap winners in the race's history. Game on Dude won in 2011, Ron the Greek (who got his start at the Fair Grounds), won last year's running.

Smith sent Game on Dude straight to the front, where he stayed before putting daylight between himself and the pack down the stretch. Ron the Greek turned out to be a non-factor, finishing fourth as Game On Dude cantered home.

Game on Dude now joins John Henry, Milwaukee Brew and Lava Man as a two-time Big 'Cap winner. The Santa Anita Handicap was his third straight stakes win after finishing seventh in last fall's Breeders' Cup Classic.


OAKLAWN PARK:

Win No. 5000 continues to be the elusive one for Louisiana native Calvin Borel, who has been sitting at the 4,999 mark since late December. Borel came to the Fair Grounds on Dec. 28 to ride 2-year-old Malibu High, a promising colt trained by his brother Cecil Borel.

Malibu High won a six-furlong allowance that night for the Borel brothers before going on to finish fifth in the Grade III Lecomte on Jan. 19 under Mark Guidry. Calvin Borel was unable to ride the colt due to a wrist fracture.

Borel was back on the same horse (now 3-years-old) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday looking for a win in the Gazebo Stakes. Malibu High finished third after a late drive in the homestretch.

Borel has three mounts at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, including two for his brother.

Race favourite Denzaro won the biggest race of the year, the Pakistan Derby 2013 yesterday, at the Lahore Race Course.

Denzaro, ridden by Amir Pervez, won the coveted prize of half a million rupees for its owner Gul Zareen Khan at the oldest and the most prestigious horse racing event in the country.

The Pakistan Derby main race takes place with four-year-old colts that run the 2400metre course. Earlier, it was reported that many horse owners had withdrew from the main race due to the presence of Denzaro, Rakse Hawa and Hidden Pearl’s and their winning record.

While Denzaro impressed the spectators, Rakse Hawa with rider A Raza secured the second place, whereas Hidden Pearl ridden by Mohammad Hanif clinched third.

Meanwhile, 12 races were held on the Derby Day with John Cena winning the first one outrunning 11 other horses in the 1,000m race.

There won’t be horse racing again this year at the Northwest Montana Fair.

Citing insurmountable financial challenges, the Kalispell All Breed Turf Club, which had applied for five days of horse racing this summer, opted to turn back its days to the Montana Board of Horse Racing.

The time frame to organize funding was short, Turf Club spokesman Ron Thibert said. Because Flathead County decided several years ago not to fund horse racing, organizers must round up private sponsors to pay for the event.

“It’s a sad deal,” said Thibert, a longtime horse-racing supporter. “I’m still trying to get the county commissioners on board. Racing is a benefit to the community, especially the agriculture community.”

Without financial support from the county and less money available from the state, it just doesn’t pencil out for Kalispell, he said.

Thibert and another Turf Club member, Kim Mower, attended the state Board of Horse Racing meeting in Helena on Saturday, but found the local club would have had to go head to head with the Yellowstone Horse Racing Alliance in Billings for race days.

“We put in for five days, two during the fair and three for later,” Thibert said. “But Billings had requested two days during the time we wanted to having racing. We figured Billings would dominate.”

In the end, though, Yellowstone Horse Racing also pulled back its request for eight days, saying the alliance had hoped for more state funding for the proposed race venue, according to state Board of Horse Racing Executive Secretary Tom Tucker.

The Western Montana Turf Club had applied for three days of horse racing during the Western Montana Fair in Missoula, but due to a conflict of events was forced to pull its application and set its sites on 2014 instead.

That leaves Montana with just two race line-ups this year — three days of racing during the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale in May and four days in July during the Montana State Fair in Great Falls.

The Great Falls Turf Club, which has been on a horse-racing hiatus for the last two years, trimmed its application from six to four days to better concentrate its efforts at the state fair, Tucker said.

Board of Horse Racing Chairman Dale Mahlum said having two race venues this year is encouraging. Last year Miles City was the only venue for three days of racing.

“This is the first step in bringing the industry back,” Mahlum said. “We were hoping for 15-plus days of racing but we have seven. That is more than double last year and we are on budget.”

Mahlum said the state needs to continue to improve its sources of revenue and raise its financial support for the tracks across Montana.

Flathead County gave up horse racing at the fair in 2006, citing a loss of $10,000 per day of racing. The decision followed similar actions by other counties that could no longer afford to subsidize the popular sport.

The Turf Club was able to get enough private support to hold races at the Northwest Montana Fair in 2010 and 2011. But last year money available through the state board dried up and local races once again were scrapped.

Horse racing historically has been a big drawing card for the Northwest Montana Fair. When racing returned in 2010, the fair had a 56 percent increase in attendance, and horse racing got the credit for bringing in an additional 5,000 people on each race day.

County Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell said the Northwest Montana Fair will continue to feature the popular Indian relay races at this year’s fair in August.

TOP jockey Robert Thornton will miss next week's Cheltenham Festival after breaking his right arm in a heavy fall at Southwell on Monday.

The 34-year-old rider has revealed that he also suffered spinal damage following the fall from Our Phylli Vera in the 2m handicap hurdle but is hopeful this will not require surgery, although he will know more when he sees a specialist next week.

As well as hitting the turf with considerable force, Thornton was thrown in front of Lilac Belle, bringing that horse and jockey Killian Moore down, although the injuries were thought to be superficial at the time.

However, x-rays on Tuesday revealed injuries that will rule him out of the Cheltenham Festival, and probably the remainder of the season.

The jockey tweeted on Wednesday morning: "Few tests yesterday, not great news looks like I'll be missing the rest of the season!" He later added: "I am absolutely gutted."

Thornton, whose mounts next week would have included Walkon in the Byrne Group Handicap Chase, broke the same arm in a fall at Hereford in December 2011 and was out of action for just over two months.

The latest injury is also a blow for trainer Alan King who, despite being able to call on the services of Wayne Hutchinson, is likely to be doubly-represented in several races at the festival.

Quoted on his website, King said: "We'll get by as we are lucky to have Wayne, but I really feel for Choc."

Gemma Tutty, who suffered a crushed vertebra in a fall at Newcastle on Tuesday, has revealed she may need surgery.

Tweeting from Newcastle hospital on Wednesday morning, she said: "Just been told may need spinal surgery."



Broken arm rules Thornton out of Cheltenham Festival | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

This month marks the six-year anniversary of an ultimately unsuccessful but highly imaginative and astonishingly intricate attempt to rig races at Happy Valley Racecourse. If you presented this stunning plan as a work of fiction you’d be written off as being either unrealistic or on highly effective hallucinogens.

Just hours before a March 2007 meeting, officials discovered something startling buried in the turf at the 1,200m starting point: a remote-controlled device of a dozen foot-long launching tubes, set to line up with each of the runners and designed to shoot tiny darts filled with tranquilliser into the bellies of selected horses as they stood in the barriers before a race.

Under the cover of darkness, what can only be assumed was a team – they were never caught – snuck on to the course proper and fitted out the complex air-compressed system, then carefully hid their work under grass-coloured tape.

Even with elaborate plans like this famous effort, is it fair that racing has long been considered the bad egg of sports? Embarrassing events like Happy Valley’s underground piping ploy certainly don’t help in matters of public image. Outsiders already perceive racing as a mysterious, shadowy world of subterfuge where criminals lurk around every corner and where preordained results are revealed to insiders at a price.

Being a sport based entirely around betting, the game admittedly attracts its share of shady characters looking for an edge and can end up a financial outlet for a crime group’s ill-gotten gains as they launder their cash in the lucrative betting pools.

But racing hardly stands alone in the sporting landscape when it comes to being a bastion of criminal activity and at least the sport of kings took responsibility long ago for the fact it profits from gambling. Unlike other sports, it takes proactive measures to best ensure the integrity of results and not just heavy penalties for those caught after the fact.

Racing’s participants are held to account for their performances and even human error is punished, as racing’s referees – the stewards – try to sniff out any untoward tactics. Maybe this is why the baddies have to get so imaginative and racing folklore is full of schemes so cunning that on the scam scale they would be worthy of a place alongside any espionage carried out by a Cold War spy. It seems a bit backward but there is an art to getting a horse beat – you can’t just pay it not to try and jockeys are constantly under the microscope.

Sports all around the world are slowly fessing up to the fact they too are riddled with underworld activity and on-field outcomes are being orchestrated by organised crime groups.

In some cases the sports are out-sourcing and even looking to racing for help as they attempt to clean up the mess left when players and officials are “got at”. They don’t have the specialist know-how to even begin to limit the match-fixing and it seems like they’ve only just admitted it is going on.

You don’t need anything as complex as a hidden poison dart shooter (I haven’t ruled out that this is what is wrong with the dismal football team I support), when you can just simply pay a goalkeeper to have a bad day, a star basketballer to miss a few free throws or a top-order batsman to get out at a certain stage of a cricket match.

It’s why some hardcore horseplayers will tell you they won’t bet on any athlete that can talk and greyhound gamblers probably take that stance a bit too far by betting on a sport where humans don’t even step on to the field of play.

Despite the shenanigans of the fence jumpers through the ages, racing in most first world jurisdictions at least is probably cleaner than the last Twenty20 cricket match you watched.

It’s just that the race-fixers have been at it longer than the shifty operators in other sports and have had to try a lot harder because of the rules and vigilant officials. Racing has always attempted to shine a light on the darker forces at play; one day the rest of the sports world will have to do the same and they might not like what they see.


Horse racing not alone when it comes to dirty tactics | South China Morning Post

The future of Ontario's horse racing will be made clearer as an announcement has been scheduled for Friday.

A release from the Premier's Office stated that "an announcement on the future of the horse racing industry in Ontario" is set for a media-only press conference at Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ont.

According to unconfirmed reports from yourhamiltonbiz-com, the Premier will "instruct the OLG to integrate horse racing back into the modernization strategy" and also announce that four tracks - Grand River, Western Fair, Clinton Raceway and Hanover - have completed transitional funding agreements.

Trot Insider will be providing live updates from the press conference, starting at 12 noon.

A statement from OHRIA issued late Thursday night reiterated that the press conference is "an invited media-only event" and is not open to the public.

"Please do not disrupt or attempt to attend this important press conference, as doing so is not in the best interests of our industry," said OHRIA's Sue Leslie.


UPDATE: Wynne To Make Horse Racing Announcement Friday | Standardbred Canada

Cox Plate winner Ocean Park erased memories of an ordinary run at Otaki by putting arch-rival Veyron in his place in the $200,000 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie Saturday.

Ocean Park, who now heads to Dubai for an international race at the end of the month, looked out of sorts in the Haunui Classic a couple of weeks ago, but he was more than up for it today, as trainer Gary Hennessy suggested he would be.

"I was confident a long way out from home," said jockey Leith Innes, who was having his first ride on the galloper.

They raced well back but Innes set him alight 600m out and they were really travelling at the home turn.

Veyron tried to kick on the champ but Ocean Park always had his measure.

Ocean Park took his earnings to $3.7 million.

Better Thsn Never ran home solidly for a well-beaten third.

Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening (Bosson) gave her foes, including Bounding, a galloping lesson in the $200,000 Gr1 Diamond Stakes.

She cruised along in front and Bounding was at full stretch to get anywhere near her over the final 200m.

"She's just a pleasure," said trainer Stephen Marsh, who now has his first Gr1 winner flying solo.
Marsh said he would now consider an Aussie campaign in the autumn.

Nigel Tiley was a fine jockey and not a bad conditioner of horses as well.

He prepared Rich Unhitched to win Saturday after a 20-month break due to feet problems. Even so his confidence was sky high going into the race.

"They way he worked during the week I thought he was unbeatable," said Tiley."He's a big horse and hasn't fully matured yet."

Jockey Mark Du Plessis said of the galloper, who stands 16 hands. "He's probably one of the biggest horses I've ridden for a while, but he's got no end of ability."

Second-placed Cartell was also returning from a long break.

Of the lesser races, So Wotif produced great fighting qualities to win, justifying trainer Richard Collett's bullish prediction.

Peter McKay's painstaking efforts to get Joey Massino back in the winner's circle paid off.

The winner of $300,000 had too much gas for favourite Historian to score his sixth win over the mile from nine attempts.

Joey Massino broke down almost two years ago but McKay was so fond of him he never lost hope of returning him to the racetrack one day. Trainer Graeme Sanders has bad news for rivals of Skysoblue.

The 5yo mare made it four wins from her past five starts Saturday and Sanders says she is still a year away from reaching her peak.

She was ridden by Phillip Turner, pinching-hitting for younger brother Dylan.

Harness driver-cum-thoroughbred trainer Todd Mitchell and One Pink Diamond also completed a carnival double.

At Wingatui, ageless El Chico scored his 16th win at his 80th start, compensating trainer Mike Pitman, who suffered a narrow defeat with Berenice in the $50,000 Bloodstock 3yo.

In Melbourne, former Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker scored his biggest win since moving to Australia three years ago when Twilight Royale surged to victory in the Gr2 Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington.

Three-year-old Super Cool won the $1 million Australian Cup.


Ocean Park is back - Horseracing - Sportal New Zealand

MONBEG DUDE, the Welsh National winner whose owners include the former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, is to try for an even bigger prize after he was committed to running in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Saturday. Although he is a 66-1 chance with the sponsor, the likelihood of soft going and a small field has swayed his connections - who also include Tindall's Gloucester teammate James Simpson-Daniel and Nicky Robinson of Wasps - towards the festival's ultimate prize, which another Welsh National winner, Synchronised, captured last year.

Trainer Michael Scudamore said: "Looking at the race and speaking to the owners today [Saturday] the Gold Cup is now first choice, especially as it looks like being soft and one or two others might still go elsewhere.

"We can take a bit of hope from Synchronised's victory last year, although we're not quite in that league, but he doesn't owe us anything. Paul Carberry can ride him again and will have him out the back again and hopefully he can stay on and pick up some prize-money towards the end.

"Mary Bromiley has been down [working on his jumping] and we have done the things she has advised and the way he worked this morning he seems in the best form we have had him. I'm not saying that is good enough to trouble the first few in the betting but we certainly couldn't be happier with where he is.

"He has come on a bit since Haydock. We know he will stay the trip and handle the ground so two things are in his favour but it will be a huge step up in class on what he's achieved."



Scudamore hands Monbeg Dude ultimate challenge | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

Jezki has been the leading Irish player in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle act since he showed that impressive turn of foot to easily land the Paddy Power Future Champions Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. However, soft ground tempers enthusiasm a little. He has won on soft ground but, such is the potency of his turn of foot, it might just be blunted by testing conditions. By contrast, soft ground is in Un Atout's favour - it is all he has ever encountered in public - and it should bring Champagne Fever's undoubted stamina into play.

It is interesting that Willie Mullins has elected to allow the Deloitte Hurdle winner take his chance in the curtain-raiser instead of running him in the Albert Bartlett on Friday, which appeared to be the plan until a couple of days ago. It is even more interesting that Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride him in front of Dodging Bullets. The Irish team should expose any flaws in My Tent Or Yours. It is a strong raiding party.

Hand on heart, it is difficult to see Arvika Ligeonniere beating Simonsig in the Arkle. The soft ground will be in his favour, he handles it well and he stays two and a half miles, but he will probably be taken on for the lead by Overturn, and possibly by Baily Green, and that is not ideal. Also, he has shown a tendency in the past to jump to his right, which is a worry.

White Star Line is not without a chance in the JLT Handicap Chase, he chased Hunt Ball home in the Pulteney Land Investments Chase at last year's Festival, and he is 3lb lower now than he was then. He didn't shape at all badly either on his latest run behind Home Farm at Fairyhouse two weeks ago, and this race has probably been his target for a while. He is interesting, but it is a hot race.

Hurricane Fly looked very short when he was trading at 6/4 and 13/8 in the Champion Hurdle ante post markets, but now he has been eased to 9/4 - slightly bigger on the exchanges - and there is every chance that the easy ground will help him. He is the correct favourite for the race, and he is on his way out to his correct price now. It would be fantastic to see him regain his crown.

Bostons Angel is interesting in the Cross-Country Chase, having his second run over the course, after running well to finish second to compatriot Outlaw Pete in December on his debut. His rating of 145 is 7lb lower than the rating he was awarded after he won the RSA Chase in 2011, and his enthusiasm seems to have been re-kindled by hunting and taking part in these cross-country races.

That said, Arabella Boy is solid. He beat Bostons Angel at Punchestown in November, and he was travelling well when he unseated his rider in that cross-country race at Cheltenham in December. Since then, he ran out an impressive winner over the banks course at Punchestown last month, and he is trained by cross-country master Enda Bolger, who has trained four of the last eight winners of this race, and will be ridden by Nina Carberry, who has ridden three of the last six.

Quevega should win the Mares' Hurdle - she always does - and Carlito Brigante looks well-handicapped on a mark of 137 in the Rewards4Racing Chase, given that he raced off a mark of 155 in last year's Coral Cup. His win in the 2011 Coral Cup (off a 2lb higher mark than today's) proved that he could handle the track and Cheltenham Festival conditions, and he is sure to have been trained for this race from a while ago. It is just a pity for Gordon Elliott's horse that the rains have not relented. All his best form is on good ground.



Hurricane Fly the right price | Sporting Life - Horse Racing News | Live Racing Results, Racecards, Live Betting Shows

Horse racing took a significant step toward adopting tough uniform rules nationwide Tuesday when eight states agreed to operate their racetracks under one set of rules that will severely restrict the administration of medication.

The states across the Mid-Atlantic region, including New York, winnowed what has long been an unruly list of medications to just 24 that will be allowed to treat illness and injury in racehorses. Those will be subject to strict limitations and the laboratories conducting drug tests must be accredited under standards created by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, which conducts medication and drug-testing research for the industry.

“We want state of the art labs testing the same way for the same things,” said Alan M. Foreman, the chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “You can’t find any other sport that allows just 24 drugs. We’ve been in the cross hairs, for good reason, and this is an initiative that no horsemen’s group — or anyone else — can find a reason not to get behind. It will do good things for the safety and welfare of the horse and the riders.”

This latest push comes as racing has publicly wrestled with a drug culture that its officials concede is diminishing the sport. Congressional hearings have been held, and federal legislation proposed to take over the sport.

A New York Times investigation identified the nation’s most dangerous racetracks, showed how a pervasive drug culture put horses and riders at risk and found that 24 horses a week die at America’s racetracks, a rate greater than in countries where drug use is severely restricted.

“This is indeed a historic moment for racing and long overdue,” said Duncan Patterson, the chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which represents regulators. “It demonstrates that the racing industry has the means and wherewithal to join together to protect the integrity of our sport and the welfare of our horses.”

Regulators in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Massachusetts have agreed to put the rules into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

New York racing authorities had already enacted a series of rules — among the most aggressive in the nation — to restrict the use of legal drugs on horses and require trainers to disclose what treatments their horses have received.

The changes came after a task force appointed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo concluded that permissive drug rules had led to a spike in horse deaths at last year’s Aqueduct meet. More than half of the 21 racehorses that died there might have been saved had racing authorities monitored their health and the liberal use of prescription drugs intended to keep them racing for purses inflated with money from the track’s adjacent casino.

Since the rules restricting the use of corticosteroids and requiring documentation of when and how a horse was treated have gone into effect, 10 horses have died this meet at Aqueduct.

“This is a tremendous step forward as we strive to implement the reformed regulations that this industry desperately needs,” said James L. Gagliano, the president and chief operating officer of the Jockey Club.

Alex Waldrop, the president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said the agreement created a “blueprint” that his organization “will do everything in its power to ensure its implementation.”

Some 18 racetracks operate within a 200-mile radius in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, making it one of the largest concentrations of racing in the nation. New York racing authorities and horsemen have said the state’s harsher rules have caused a decline in field sizes this winter at Aqueduct because out-of-state competitors do not want to ship in.

By this time next year, the field will be leveled in these eight states and, horse racing officials hope, across the nation if states like Kentucky and California sign on.

“It is a very good start,” said Barry Irwin, managing partner of Team Valor International, which races top horses and breeds them all over the world. “They deserve a lot of credit. It isn’t the answer, but it is an important step in the right direction.”




www-nytimes-com/2013/03/13/sports/eight-states-approve-horse-racing-medication-standard-html?_r=0

MEDINAS roared to victory in the Coral Cup on Day Two at Cheltenham. The pre-race favourite Pendra faded towards the end, and though Master of the Sea rallied hard, Medinas, a former winner took the honours.

Medinas was carrying 8lbs extra weight but that didn't seem to show as he surged to the winning post.

Winning trainer Alan King said: "It was amazing. I felt the handicapper had him but he keeps coming back for more. "He's an incredibly tough horse. It's been a difficult season for my staff but they have stuck in. Now look at the enjoyment on their faces."

Meistar Eckhart, the 14-1 horse came second with the 20-1 backed horse Fiveforthree ended up third.

It provided a one-two for trainer King.



Medinas storms to victory in the Coral Cup | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express

Ontario should scrap its "empire-building" plans for more casinos and online gambling and focus instead on bolstering the horse-racing industry, the Progressive Conservatives said Thursday.

They wouldn't reinstate the slots-at-racetracks program that brought in $345-million a year if they formed the next government, the Tories said.

But race operators, who are still reeling from the Liberals' decision to cancel the program, should be able to buy existing slot operations at "fair market value."

It could save an industry that employs about 60,000 people, the party said in its so-called "white paper" on rural and agricultural affairs.

Shelving the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s plans for online gambling and building 29 new casinos in places like Toronto won't cost the province new revenue or new jobs, Opposition Leader Tim Hudak argued.

The province still needs a "pro-jobs agenda" that will re-ignite the economy and draw investment in the face of a $12-billion deficit, but more gambling is not the solution, he said.

"I think in fact closing down racetrack slots across this province is going to compound that problem by tossing 65,000 people out of work," Hudak said.

He also slammed the province's plans to set up online betting by the end of the year, which the governing Liberals say will bring in much-needed money.

It's a waste of taxpayers' dollars, Hudak said.

"I just think that what the Wynne government is doing is not a jobs plan, it's a tax plan," he said. "And I think it's an effort to increase taxes that will result in about 65,000 job losses across our province."

Gambling should be handed over to private operators, with the government acting as a regulator only, he said.

But that would also eliminate a large source of revenue for the province, said New Democrat Taras Natyshak.

Hudak is talking out of both sides of his mouth, he said.

"In one breath, he says he wants to stop the government from ramming casinos into communities that don't want them," said Natyshak, whose party opposes the OLG's casino expansion plans.

"But on the other hand, he's promising to privatize all gaming and gambling and let the Donald Trumps of the world decide where to build casinos."

The Liberals are advocating "privatization by stealth," allowing private operators to run all OLG facilities and finance the corporation's expansion over the next few years.

Currently, only four facilities -- Casino Rama, Caesars Windsor, Niagara Fallsview and Great Blue Heron charity casino -- are privately run.

As for his plan for slots, all the Tories would be doing is ensuring the viability of a racetrack, Nayshak said. It does nothing for the horse-racing side.

But the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association praised the Tories' proposal.

"Horse racing needs to play a prominent role in any gaming strategy in order for our industry to survive and to continue playing an important economic role as it does in rural Ontario," president Sue Leslie said in a statement.

Last week, the Liberals announced the sector would be integrated into a provincial gambling strategy with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to find new revenue streams.

Premier Kathleen Wynne said they'd reached "transition funding" agreements with six racetracks, and is negotiating with eight others.

The gambling proposals are among a number of ideas the Tories are floating in a series of so-called white papers. But it's not official party policy.

The paper proposes to wind down the feed-in-tariff program for wind and solar energy projects and give part of the gas tax to all rural municipalities.

The Tories are also floating a two per cent biodiesel mandate for all diesel sold in the province, a new regional food terminal and an increase in the amount of Ontario-grown food bought by the broader public sector.

Read more: Hudak wants more focus on horse-racing industry, less on casinos | CTV Kitchener News

The amateur rider fractured two vertebrae in his neck during a fall at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 37-year-old was riding Galaxy Rock for trainer Jonjo O'Neill in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on Wednesday when the pair fell at the first fence.

An air ambulance landed at the racecourse to treat the injured rider and he was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where he has been undergoing treatment after being put into the coma.

He underwent surgery on Friday morning and Turf Club senior medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick has now confirmed: "The surgery was successful and he's still in an induced coma."

AP McCoy, who has been champion jockey 17 times told the BBC: "It's a dangerous sport and it's a sight you see that unfortunately crops up.

"We're very lucky we have excellent medical care. We just hope he's going to be OK."

McNamara is a leading Irish amateur rider who has won four races at the Cheltenham Festival in his career.


Horse Racing - McNamara has successful surgery but remains in coma - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

SPRINTER SACRE hogged the attention on Saturday as Nicky Henderson showed off his impressive Champion Chase winner but Dessie Hughes was equally keen to talk up Our Conor after he produced the other performance of the meeting in the Triumph Hurdle. Our Conor was quite brilliant as he took apart the field in the JCB Truimph Hurdle, cantering to the front before the penultimate flight and bursting clear to win by 15 lengths.

Hughes labelled the performance "unbelievable" on Saturday and feels he is in a strong position to target a third Stan James Champion Hurdle in 2014 - a race he won twice with Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005.

Hughes said: "It was unbelievable to see Bryan [Cooper] looking behind him so far out, it was like something you'd see in a maiden hurdle. I would actually have preferred if he had a bit more cover but it just happened that he was settled in second.

"He has come out of the race great and, being only four, should be getting better. He has great attributes in that he loves racing and his temperament is excellent."

Owned by the Man About Town Syndicate, Our Conor is pressing dual Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly for favouritism at around 5-1 for next year's Champion Hurdle on the back of his win at this year's festival.

Asked if Our Conor, who is set to have his final start of the campaign at Punchestown next month, looks the horse to beat next year, Hughes said: "He probably is, yes."


Hughes Conor the leading contender for Champion Hurdle | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

MONBEG DUDE is unlikely to run again this season after he was pulled up in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Michael Scudamore’s Welsh National hero, owned by rugby star Nicky Robinson and Mike Tindall, struggled to keep up from an early stage before eventually being taken out of the race by jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

Scudamore said: “He seems OK. He has a minor cut on his leg, but nothing of any significance.

“I don’t think he realised horses could go that fast until he ran the other day. Those top horses certainly have two or three gears he doesn’t.

“I think we’ll be sticking to staying handicaps from now on.

“We’ll see how he is over the next week or two, but that may be it for the season – I would say that’s more than likely.

“The only real option for him is Ayr (Scottish National) but it is normally good ground or faster for that, so our horse will probably have a holiday.

“We’ll look towards next season and hopefully having another crack at the Welsh National.

“Whatever happens now he’s been a star for us this season and doesn’t owe anybody anything.”

Meanwhile, The Giant Bolster could next month run at either Aintree or Punchestown following another superb effort in the Gold Cup.

A surprise runner-up behind Synchronised a year ago, the eight-year-old proved that was no fluke by finishing fourth on Friday.

Trainer David Bridgwater said: “He seems fine, no worries at all. The plan would be for him to run again, providing he’s OK and the ground is right.

“He could go to Liverpool or Punchestown, We’ll just see what the ground is like.”

Read more: Wales Online www-walesonline-co-uk/sports/sports-news-round-up/2013/03/18/horse-racing-monbeg-dude-set-for-spring-break-91466-33008706/#ixzz2NsBzT9JT

ROGER VARIAN has outlined plans to campaign Blue Square Bet Winter Derby winner Farraaj abroad during the upcoming Flat season. The four-year-old, who broke Lingfield's track record in Saturday's race, finished placed at the 2011 Breeders' Cup and in last year's Italian 2,000 Guineas.

Quoted on his website, the trainer said: "He is a four-year-old gelding and we know he travels well having been to the Breeders' Cup and to Italy and run with credit on both occasions. There are no targets yet but there are some good prizes to be won overseas later in the season.

"He is not straightforward physically so we shall give him plenty of time to get over this effort and freshen him up before he runs again."

Reflecting on Farraaj's Winter Derby success, Varian added: "It is always satisfying when a plan comes together and this had been his target since his win over course and distance in November.

"He showed a great attitude to win, although he is pretty lazy, so I would never expect him to win far. They went a good pace which helps him as he stays the mile and a quarter very well."