Fri, 10/23/2015 - 11:50

Mereworth Farm renovations to create major rehab, retraining facility

By Jen Roytz

Retired racehorses and equestrians will soon have a new venue to meet their match. As the country’s leading racehorse rehabilitation and adoption program, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption adopts out more than 450 horses annually, but the aftercare organization still cannot keep up with the demand.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 15:39

Gainesway purchases share in Karakontie

Gainesway Farm has purchased an interest in French classic winner Karakontie from the Niarchos family and will stand the colt in Kentucky following his repeat attempt in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The move continues to beef up the roster for the Lexington, Ky., farm, which already stands leading North American sire Tapit and has also repatriated Empire Maker – grandsire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah – to stand for 2016, in partnership with Don Alberto.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 14:35

Conquest Curlinate to Shannondoe Farm in Ontario

Conquest Curlinate, a multiple graded-placed runner, will make his debut at stud in 2016 at Shannondoe Farm in St. Thomas, Ontario for an advertised fee of $5,000 Canadian.

The 3-year old son of Curlin was retired in July after suffering a sesamoid injury while training up to the Queen’s Plate. He finished his on-track career with one win in six career starts for earnings of $188,498, with runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, Grade 3 Illinois Derby, and non-graded Plate Trial Stakes.

Mark Casse trained Conquest Curlinate for owner Conquest Stables.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:41

FTBOA named Ocala Nonprofit of the Year

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association was named the 2015 Nonprofit Business of the Year by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership on Wednesday.

It is the second major award won by FTOBA this year, after being named Association of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives in July.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:38

Summer Front retires to Airdrie

Multiple graded stakes winning millionaire Summer Front has been retired and will begin his stallion career at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky.

Summer Front, a son of leading commercial sire War Front, will stand for a fee of $10,000.

Summer Front’s biggest victory came in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes last year; he also won the Miami Mile and the Cliff Hanger Stakes, both Grade 3 events, in 2013, the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes in 2012. He won three other listed stakes and placed in eight other graded events, including five Grade 1 placings.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:53

Number of reported mares bred holds steady in 2015

The Jockey Club released its North American Report of Mares Bred statistics for the 2015 breeding season, which revealed fewer active stallions and an almost even number or mares bred compared with the same point on the calendar in 2014.

The statistics indicated 34,627 mares were bred in North America during the most recent breeding season, down 0.3 percent from 34,540 in 2014. Active stallions fell 6 percent from 6 percent from 1,547 to 1,449.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 18:56

Cee's Tizzy, sire of Tiznow, dead at 28

Prominent California stallion Cee’s Tizzy, best known for siring Horse of the Year Tiznow, has been euthanized due to the infirmities of old age, Harris Farm reported on Tuesday. The son of Relaunch was 28.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 15:04

Spendthrift Farm acquires breeding rights to Wicked Strong.

Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky. has acquired the breeding rights to Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong, who will be retired at the end of the current racing season to begin at stud in 2016.

Mon, 10/19/2015 - 19:19

Valid Expectations dies at age 22

Valid Expectations, a multiple Grade 3 winner and Texas’ all-time leading sire by earnings, died at age 22.

The son of Valid Appeal had been living as a pensioner from commercial stud duty at Mt. Brilliant Farm in Lexington, Ky. since 2013 after previously residing at Lane’s End Texas. Valid Expectations spent his final years at Mt. Brilliant covering polo mares after owner Greg Goodman bought out partners Bob and Lee Ackerley, Joe Archer, Bob and Janice McNair, and Will Farish.

Mon, 10/19/2015 - 18:06

Pioneerof the Nile's fee more than doubles for 2016

Barbara D. Livingston
Pioneerof the Nile?s ability to transfer his synthetic-track form to dirt is a question that might not be worth the risk at morning-line odds of just 4-1.

Pioneerof the Nile, the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will stand for at least $125,000 in 2016, WinStar Farm of Versailles, Ky., announced on Monday. The amount is more than double the Empire Maker stallion's 2015 advertised fee of $60,000.