The Darley Flying Start program is one of the most unusual programs in racing, and 2013 marks its 10th anniversary, having produced almost 100 graduates employed in the horse industry internationally. The two-year program combines course instruction, visiting lectures, hands-on experience, and an abundance of networking opportunities to its trainees, and graduates from the program during its early years are beginning to make an impact in a myriad of professions for some of Thoroughbred racing’s most prominent and successful breeding, racing, and sales operations.

Questing, who won consecutive Grade 1 stakes last year en route to being voted champion 3-year-old filly, has been retired by Godolphin. The 4-year-old filly had a minor chip successfully removed from a hind ankle earlier this winter but developed a lingering case of pneumonia while preparing for a return to training.

photo courtesy of DarleyQuiet American

Quiet American, whose 56 stakes winners include sired champions Real Quiet and Hidden Lake, has been pensioned from stud duty by Darley at age 27.

Grade 2 winner and California-bred millionaire Bold Chieftain was represented by his first foal on Feb. 1, a colt born at Sue Greene’s Woodbridge Farm in Oakdale, Calif. The bay colt is out of the winning Cat Dream mare Mistical Dream, a half-sister to Grade 2-placed winner Mysterious Cat and to Mistical Bel, the dam of Grade 1 winner Mistical Plan.

A 10-year-old son of Chief Seattle, Bold Chieftain stands at Ellen Lee Jackson’s Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, Calif., for a fee of $3,000.

Coolmore Stud has purchased an interest in promising 3-year-old Verrazano from owner Let’s Go Stable, adding another talented sophomore to its roster of possible Kentucky Derby contenders.

The international racing and breeding entity operated by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier purchased a half interest in champion juvenile Shanghai Bobby from Starlight Racing days before the Harlan’s Holiday colt captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has announced its 2013 seminar and clinic schedule.

The schedule includes four ownership seminars, a breeding clinic and three pedigree and conformation clinics, all of which feature discussions by industry experts. The goal of the programs is to provide industry participants with the knowledge necessary to improve their likelihood for success in the Thoroughbred business.

Courtesy Juddmonte FarmsFrankel's full brother born at Banstead Manor

A full brother to European Horse of the Year Frankel was foaled on Feb. 2 at Juddmonte Farms' Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England.

New York breeder Suzie O’Cain has been elected to serve on the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s board of directors.

O’Cain and her husband, Dr. C. Lynwood O’Cain, managed Highcliff Farm in Delanson, N.Y., for 23 years, helping to bring the farm to national prominence. Following the death of Highcliff owner Carl Lizza in 2011, the O’Cains successfully transferred the farm’s breeding operations to Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, N.Y. last summer.

Highcliff at Mill Creek will stand Bob and John, Congaree, Cosmonaut, Maybry’s Boy, Smart Bid, and Stonesider for 2013.

An online auction of many of the assets of bankrupt Thoroughbred Times concluded Feb. 1, with items including the publication's trademarks selling for a total of $165,000.

David Bradshaw of Utah was the winning bidder on the publication's numerous trademarks and copyrights, as well as the domain name www.thoroughbredtimes.com, securing the rights for $93,000.

Other high-ticket items included a customer e-mail list, which brought $23,000.

The horsemen’s groups for Michigan’s Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Arabian racing divisions each announced their 2012 champions over the weekend.

The Michigan Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association revealed its divisional winners on its website, while the Great Lakes Quarter Horse Association and the Association of Racing Arabian Breeders (A.R.A.B.) of Michigan handed out its awards on Saturday at a year-end dinner in Wayland, Mich.