-- Edited Press Release –
Continuing its collaboration to raise funds for important causes, the Breeders’ Cup and Maker's Mark announced that Old Friends Farm, home to some of the most popular retired Thoroughbred racehorses, has been named the official charity beneficiary of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships and will be offering a limited edition, commemorative Zenyatta bottle of Maker's Mark.
The Jockey Club held its seventh Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit at Keeneland on Tuesday, and once again it offered some sound advice for trainers, some good information for owners and breeders, plus statistics on how racing is safer today than ever before, in part due to developments from previous editions of the conference. The one-day conference attracted some 200 people to Lexington, and was simulcast online. The event covered a variety of topics that included safety of racing surfaces, nutrition, racing regulations, medications, biosecurity, and equine health.
The Queen’s Plate is a showcase event for Canada’s Thoroughbred industry, putting a spotlight not only on the best of the country’s home-grown racing product but also its breeding program.
While much of the attention will be focused on Ontario’s contribution to Canada’s Thoroughbred industry over Queen’s Plate weekend, the country has a broad spectrum of programs reaching into the western provinces, each with its own contributions to the national product and challenges to face.
Not This Time, a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map, will make his debut Thursday at Churchill Downs for trainer Dale Romans.
“He’s a horse with a bright future that’s doing things that a Giant’s Causeway 2-year-old isn’t supposed to do this time of the year,” Romans said. “He’s very precocious. He looks like the type that can really win early on. He reminds me of [Grade 1 winner] Brody’s Cause. They’re both very forward and smart horses.”
Former racehorse Blackfoot Mystery and his rider Boyd Martin have been named to the 2015 U.S. Olympic eventing team for the Rio de Janeiro games, the U.S. Equestrian Federation announced last week.
The 12-year-old Out of Place gelding raced three times at Hollywood Park in the summer of 2007, finishing unplaced each time. He later landed at the Thoroughbred Rehab Center in California, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization, and Martin put together a syndicate to purchase the gelding from a former student after he showed early talent in eventing.
After a slow start to his stud career, dual classic winner and champion I’ll Have Another was represented by his first winner Saturday, when Un Autre won a maiden special weight on the Tokyo Racecourse turf.
Un Autre became the fourth winner from six starters out of the Taiki Shuttle mare Taiki Shine by defeating 14 other juveniles in the race at 1,600 meters, or about a mile.
Winning the Kentucky Derby practically guarantees that the victor will have a leg up against his contemporaries when it comes to attracting quality and quantity for his first book at stud.
The Queen’s Plate is more of a mixed bag as a stallion-making race.
The first leg of Canada’s Triple Crown has its share of notable sires – names like the breed-shaping Northern Dancer as well as Awesome Again, With Approval, and Victoria Park. However, the past decade has seen the race’s sire-making power trail off.
Leavem in Malibu
(Malibu Moon–Leaveminthedust, by Danzig)
Leavem in Malibu could be considered a late bloomer since he didn’t make his racing debut until April 16. However, there is something to be said about peaking at the right time, and there are few better opportunities to do so than in the Queen’s Plate.
While his résumé may be light, with only three starts prior to his stakes debut in the Queen’s Plate, the North American classics are not uncharted territory for Leavem in Malibu’s family.
