The career trajectory of Unbridled’s Song is in many ways more prototypical of the modern commercial Thoroughbred than that of A.P. Indy, the horse regarded as the ideal modern Thoroughbred.

One of the essential and time-honored aspects of Thoroughbred breeders’ day-to-day operations – security – is, along with the rest of 21st-century business, undergoing a transformation in the digital age.

The images of a night watchman making his solitary rounds among the stallion barns and of veterinarians and foaling attendants working unobtrusively as they assist in an early-morning birth are familiar to breeders, who have traditionally relied on the human element to ensure their horses’ safety and well-being.

While a camera in a foaling barn is nothing new, Mare Stare has upped the ante by allowing the public to witness equine births while also providing a valuable security service to mare owners.

Founded in 2004, Mare Stare is a hosting site in which owners with a camera installed in their barns can make that feed publicly accessible to viewers, who can then alert them when a mare goes into labor.

Patrick Smithwick has been awarded the seventh annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, for his 2012 autobiographical work Flying Change: A Year of Racing and Family and Steeplechasing.

The Castleton Lyons Book Award was created in 2006 by Ryan, the founder of Europe’s Ryanair airline and a lover of horse racing. Although Ryan died in 2007, the contest has been carried on by his son, Shane, current president of Castleton Lyons breeding farm in Lexington, Ky. The award offers a first-place prize of $10,000.

The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program has announced that it will recognize and honor the 17 riders set to compete with registered Thoroughbreds at the prestigious Rolex Kentucky three-day event, to be held April 25-28 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Grade 3 winner Twice the Appeal and multiple Grade 2-placed winner Sway Away have both been retired and will begin their stallion careers at Premier Equine Center in Oakdale, Calif.

Both stallions will stand for free with a private treaty this season, with stud fees for 2014 to be announced at a later date. Breeders must pay all fees associated with the farm.

A half-brother to Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom was foaled April 10 at Shadai Farm on the island of Hokkaido, Japan.

The new colt, by Shadai stallion and Japanese racing legend Deep Impact, is out of the Group 3-winning Acatenango mare Dalicia, who Shadai purchased for 230,000 guineas (about $395,000) at the 2009 Tattersalls December sale.

More than 500 British flat races throughout the year will benefit from a share of a 1-million pound prize money contribution from the British Trustees of the European Breeders’ Fund, Racing Post reports.

Listed stakes races supported by the EBF for 3-year-olds and up will be run with a minimum purse of 40,000 pounds (about $61,250), while listed stakes for 2-year-olds will be run for at least 35,000 pounds ($53,600). The number of listed stakes encompassed by the EBF contributions will increase by 16, bringing the total to 40.

Two more Grade 1 3-year-old prep races were showcased on Saturday, April 6 as contenders continued to rise and fall one month away from the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby.

I'll Call kept it all in the family for his connections on Friday, winning at first asking in a one-mile turf maiden special weight event on Keeneland’s opening day.

The 3-year-old Smart Strike colt is a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Smart Bid and a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Deal Making, both of whom were also trained by Graham Motion. Owner and breeder George Strawbridge, Jr., bred the family's first three dams.