Mon, 09/28/2015 - 17:41

Take Charge Brandi retired

Barbara D. Livingston
Owner Willis Horton is deciding whether to breed Take Charge Brandi or sell her at Keeneland November.

Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, has been retired from racing and will reside at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky., until the decision is made to keep her to breed or offer her at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

The 3-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway finished her on-track career with five wins in 11 starts and earnings of $1,692,126. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas for owner Willis Horton.

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 16:23

Sparkman: Potential fulfilled

Barbara D. Livingston
I'm a Chatterbox wins the Cotillion Stakes by two lengths Saturday at Parx Racing.

A widely quoted proverb says a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Knowledge in depth, on the other hand, can be very profitable in the long run.

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 16:11

First-year infertility insurance crucial for stallions

Barbara Livingston
Cigar, shown winning the 1996 Woodward Stakes, was voted Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996 and earned just under $10 million for his career.

The pedigree, performance, and hype that follow a first-year stallion into the breeding shed mean little if he is unable to get mares in foal.

On average, roughly 4 1/2 to five out of every 100 potential new stallions are deemed infertile or subfertile in their debut seasons due to a natural defect.

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 11:30

Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana catalogs 220 yearlings for sale

Horses from the first crops of Astrology, Caleb’s Posse, Star Guitar, and The Factor highlight the Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana yearling auction, to be held Tuesday at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe. There are 220 yearlings catalogued to the sale, which starts at 11 a.m. Central.

The book also includes offerings by such stalwarts as Songandaprayer and Valid Expectations as well as younger faces like Eskendereya, General Quarters, Into Mischief, Line of David, Paddy O’Prado, Street Boss, and Temple City.

Thu, 09/24/2015 - 16:12

Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana cataloges 214 for sale

The Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana has cataloged 214 horses to its open yearling and mixed sale Oct. 25, the auction house announced Thursday. The sale will be held in Opelousas.

The catalog comprised of weanlings, yearlings, and broodmares includes offspring of such young stallions as Apriority, Bind, Calibrachoa, Drosselmeyer, I Want Revenge, Ice Box, Itsmyluckyday, Line of David, Majesticperfection, Redding Colliery, Sidney's Candy, and Uncle Mo. It is the largest catalog for the auction, which was introduced in 2013.

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 17:19

Cigar Street to Sandringham Farm in Kentucky for 2016

Grade 3 winner Cigar Street has been purchased by Thomas J. Young and will make his debut at stud in 2016 at Young’s Sandringham Farm in Georgetown, Ky.

The 6-year-old son of Street Sense won five of nine career starts for earnings of $283,908, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 Skip Away Stakes and the non-graded Homecoming Classic Stakes. He has not raced since the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Cigar Street was trained by Bill Mott for owners Jake Ballis and Rashard Lewis.

Mon, 09/21/2015 - 11:26

Sheikh Mohammed’s oldest son dies at 33

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who campaigned top-level horses as Zabeel Racing International, died of a heart attack Saturday. He was 33.

Sheikh Rashid was the eldest son of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a prominent international racing figure who campaigns horses under the Godolphin and Darley banners. On Saturday, the homebred Frosted carried Godolphin’s colors to win the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.

Sun, 09/20/2015 - 17:17

Vale of York sold to stand in France

Vale of York, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has been sold to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club to stand at Haras des Faunes in Arveyres, France for the 2016 breeding season.

The 8-year-old son of Invincible Spirit previously stood at Kildangan Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland. He has sired two crops of racing age, led by Italian Group 3 winner Fontanelice, French Group 3-placed Pleasemetoo, and Irish stakes-placed Galway Bay.

Fri, 09/18/2015 - 16:30

Simon: Don't need more studies to know truth about Lasix

Here we go again. Another study on the effects of Lasix will be undertaken. No, make that two more studies.

This time, the studies, to be conducted separately by Dr. Warwick Bayly at Washington State University and Dr. Heather Knych at the University of California-Davis, will follow up on preliminary work suggesting that the benefits of furosemide (Lasix) administered 24 hours prior to exercise may be equal to, and in some cases better than, furosemide administered at four hours pre-exercise. In other words, the studies will try to determine if Lasix is needed on race day.

Fri, 09/18/2015 - 15:33

Kentucky farm Pauls Mill listed for sale

Pauls Mill, a Versailles, Ky., stallion, boarding, and sales consignment operation is listed for sale with an $8.5-million asking price.

The 265-acre property is owned by Ben and Elaine Walden, who purchased the land in 2007 and converted it into a dedicated Thoroughbred operation. It is being listed by Justice Real Estate.