Wed, 10/20/2004 - 00:00

Rookie sires well represented in BC

LAS VEGAS - Big things were expected from Fusaichi Pegasus and Giant's Causeway, the two glamour sires among this year's freshman stallions, and they are showing the same quality as young stallions as they did on the racetrack. Fusaichi Pegasus is the sire of two colts who were pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Giant's Causeway has a filly pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies.

Tue, 10/19/2004 - 00:00

Sales panel talks reform

Members of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Sales Industry Task Force met Tuesday afternoon in Lexington, Ky., to discuss several potential reforms to the commercial bloodstock industry.

Mon, 10/18/2004 - 00:00

Tattersalls declines 'sobering'

The Tattersalls October yearling sale in Newmarket, England, changed formats in 2004, combining the catalogs for the Tattersalls Houghton and two-part October yearling sales. But the change

didn't help the bottom line. The revamped yearling auction - now known as October 1 and October 2 - posted substantial declines from the three sales' returns last year.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Distinctive Pro pensioned

Distinctive Pro, a leading New York sire for more than a decade, has been pensioned at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, N.Y.

Dan Hayden, Sugar Maple's farm manager, said Distinctive Pro, a 25-year-old son of Mr. Prospector, was suffering from arthritis in his stifles, which made covering mares difficult.

Distinctive Pro sired 43 stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Quick Mischief, who won the 1990 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park. His progeny have generated $35.2 million in earnings.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Incitatus truly deserved a better fate

TORONTO - The legacy of Barbadian hero-turned-Canadian stakes star Incitatus will live on through his handful of foals born the last two springs, but the manner in which the 11-year-old stallion died last month has left a black mark on the industry.

A multiple Grade 2 stakes winner of 19 races and $698,000, Incitatus collapsed of an apparent heart attack after running in an optional claiming race at Hastings on Sept. 25, his first race in almost two years.

Incitatus had stood two seasons at stud in British Columbia before being returned to training this summer.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Breeders take floor in ethics debate

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Sales Industry Task Force will meet Oct. 19 at Keeneland, and task force chairman Cot Campbell is expecting some debate as the panel's three subcommittees make their presentations to the full body.

The task force will hear reports from subcommittees on dual agency, veterinary practices relating to sales horses, and full disclosure at auctions.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Looks like boom time for Yes It's True

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes meant a lot for the unbeaten 2-year-old colt Proud Accolade, but it means even more for his sire, the high-class sprinter and now leading freshman sire Yes It's True. Proud Accolade handled the best Eastern 2-year-olds in the Champagne Stakes, defeating the previously unbeaten Afleet Alex by a half-length and running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

'Grocer' among Showcase notables

ELMONT, N.Y. - New York Showcase Day has evolved into a permanent fixture on the New York Racing Association stakes calendar.

On Saturday, Showcase Day will celebrate its 11th anniversary at Belmont Park, with seven stakes, worth a total of $1 million, for New York-breds - the $250,000 Empire Classic, $150,000 Mohawk, $150,000 Ticonderoga, $125,000 Hudson, $125,000 Iroquois, $100,000 Sleepy Hollow, and $100,000 Maid of the Mist.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Banner year for weanlings at Ocala sale

Tom Ventura, general manager of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, was, as they say on the Street, bullish in advance of the company's annual fall mixed sale, Oct. 11 through 14. He thought all the signs were in place to produce a strong sale, and so they proved to be.

"Our August yearling sale was strong, the Keeneland fall yearling sales were strong, and I felt that this would carry over to our fall mixed sale," said Ventura.

While all categories reflected a healthy market, the weanlings were especially prized.

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 00:00

Three stallions win twice on Million Day

The 19th annual Maryland Million Day, Oct. 9 at Pimlico, was a blend of old guard and new.

The first of the 12 races brought nostalgia, as Drum Roll Please, a 4-year-old son of 1983 Preakness winner Deputed Testamony, cruised to a three-length victory in the Sprint Starter Handicap. The first stakes winner for his owner, Richard Shannon, Drum Roll Please recorded the 11th Maryland Million win for the 24-year-old Deputed Testamony, giving the recently pensioned Bonita Farm stallion sole possession of second place on the Maryland Million's leading sire rankings.