Harry Burgoyne Scott Jr., owner of Shandon Farm near Lexington, Ky., died Sept. 16 at the age of 87.
Scott was a third-generation horseman, beginning with his grandfather Daniel W. Scott, who owned 1925 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Son of John.
Foals by stallions who are nominated to the New York Stallion Stakes Series will be automatically eligible for all races in the series without an individual nomination fee beginning with the foal crop of 2015, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., announced on Monday. Under the current system, a nomination fee must be paid for both stallion and foal.
Take Charge Lady was among the most remarkable racemares of her generation, scoring three Grade 1 victories in as many seasons of racing while bankrolling more than $2.48 million. And nearly a decade after last setting foot on the racetrack, she continues to make headlines in the Thoroughbred industry.
During his highly successful and admirable racing career, Bertrando twice came into deep stretch on the lead in a Breeders’ Cup race only to be beaten by a foreign-trained horse. It is all but forgotten that it was Bertrando who finished second in Arazi’s brilliant Breeders’ Cup Juvenile tour-de-force in 1991, and two years later, Arcangues paid the highest price in Breeders’ Cup history when his late surge deprived Bertrando of victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Jockey Club projects another year of declining foal crops, but at a much slower rate than in previous years. According to the breed organization’s annual Live Foal Report, released Friday, 22,001 foals of 2013 have been reported to The Jockey Club as of Sept. 9. That marks a 2.2 percent decrease from the 22,500 reports received last year by this time, marking the smallest decrease since 2007.
The organization estimates that the number of live foals reported so far is approximately 90 percent complete. Ultimately, the 2013 registered foal crop is projected to reach 23,000.
Expanded incentive programs for owners and breeders of Maryland-breds will go into effect in the state beginning with the start of the Laurel Park fall meet on Sept. 19.
The program will be rolled out and expanded over a three-year period, beginning next week, where breeders will receive a 30 percent bonus payout for Maryland-bred horses that finish in the top three of any race at a Maryland racetrack, and a 10 percent stallion bonus. The owner bonus awards will continue with the current program of 17.5 percent to the winner through the remainder of the year.
Hessonite, a two-time New York-bred champion and winner of nine stakes in a 22-race career, has been retired from racing, trainer David Donk said Wednesday.
Donk said while Hessonite is sound, she hasn’t completely recovered from her summer campaign that included two races 17 days apart in early-to-mid July when the weather was hot. Donk also noted that Hessonite is cataloged for the Night of Stars Sale at Fasig-Tipton on Nov. 4, a sale from which she was withdrawn last year to race at 5.
Sky Conqueror, Canada’s champion turf male in 2006, was represented by his first winner on Sept. 7 when Regal Conqueror won a maiden special weight at Woodbine.
Making her career debut, the 2-year-old Ontario-bred chestnut filly rolled to a 7 1/2-length score in the six furlong race, finishing in 1:10.31 on Woodbine’s Polytrack and earning a 71 Beyer Speed Figure. She is campaigned by her breeder, William Sorokolit, and is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Classic Stamp, by Regal Classic.
