Horse racing has a long and storied history in the Illinois, where it has enthralled the sporting public since the 1830s. But times have changed in recent decades, and not for the better.
American Pharoah has bucked trends at every turn of his racing and breeding careers and has proven worth the risk. The long-awaited Triple Crown hero prevailed atop an outstanding freshman sire class of 2019, ranking among North America's leading overall juvenile sires.
Regally bred Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, an influential stallion who is the grandsire of Triple Crown winner and leading freshman sire American Pharoah, has died at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Perennial leading sire Tapit led all North American stallions with 13 graded stakes winners in 2019. He is already off to a strong start toward defending his title in 2020, siring three stakes winners, two of those graded stakes winners at Fair Grounds, last Saturday.
Representatives for Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program, which aims to increase the quality and value of Ontario-bred racehorses, say they are “extremely pleased” with the results of two incentive programs designed to bring mares and foals to the province.
Daily Racing Form's annual special edition takes an in-depth look at the past year's leading stallions standing in Kentucky, the epicenter of the North American bloodstock market, as well as surrounding states in the Midwest region.
Four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder delivered her third foal this week, and in a vote of major confidence for one of its young stallions, owner Spendthrift Farm said she will stay home for this season's mating.
Grade 1 winner Boisterous, who has been standing in California, is moving back East, where he spent the majority of his racing career. Boisterous is moving to Diamond B Farm in Mohrsville, Pa., for 2020.
Preakness Stakes winner and sire Shackleford has been exported to continue his stud career in Korea.
Al Shaab Stud, the largest Thoroughbred breeding operation in war-torn Libya, was raided on Saturday, with the farm's stallions and in-foal broodmares being stolen.
