Fri, 07/16/2004 - 00:00

Grey Memo comeback bid quickly ends

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Grey Memo, who won stakes in California and Dubai, has been retired for the second time this year after failing to show enthusiasm for racing during a recent comeback.

In February, Grey Memo was sent to owner Pat Thompson's farm to be retired, but returned to racing for two starts during the current Hollywood Park meeting. In his most recent race, Grey Memo finished last of five in an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on turf July 5. He was sent back to Thompson's Ridgeley Farm in Hemet, Calif., earlier this month.

Fri, 07/16/2004 - 00:00

Summit a showcase for state breeders

Last week's Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course was a success for the Florida breeding industry. Five of the six stakes winners had a Florida connection.

The quarter-mile $50,000 Rocket Man Stakes was won by Pembroke Hall, a 7-year-old gelding by Pembroke-Eurostar, by Explosive Bid.

Fri, 07/16/2004 - 00:00

Breeders anticipate bonanza from slots

To say that slots will be a boon to Thoroughbred breeders in Pennsylvania could be a classic understatement.

The Pennsylvania Breeding Fund is expected to triple - to more than $25 million annually - as the slots operations come to maturity, according to Mark McDermott, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's executive secretary.

The result will be an unprecedented bonanza for people who breed horses and stand stallions in the state.

Wed, 07/14/2004 - 00:00

Bank contends old mare too valuable to give away

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Bonnie's Poker, the 22-year-old dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, is the subject of a hearing in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 23 that could decide whether her owner is allowed to pension her.

Wed, 07/14/2004 - 00:00

Giant's Causeway bears following

LAS VEGAS - Along with Fusaichi Pegasus, the most recognizable name among this year's group of freshman sires is Giant's Causeway, who increased his value and reputation when he finished a neck shy to Tiznow in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic to end his brilliant career.

Tue, 07/13/2004 - 00:00

Danzig calls it quits

Dell Hancock
Danzig, a lookalike son of the great stallion maker Northern Dancer, was himself a successful sire of sires.His sons at stud included Danehill, Chief's Crown, and Langfuhr.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Danzig, one of North America's most successful and influential sires in the last two decades, has been pensioned from stud duty at Claiborne Farm at age 27.

The historic nursery in Paris, Ky. - where Danzig stood his entire career, siring 181 stakes winners and 21 champions - made the announcement Tuesday, saying Danzig's advancing age had affected his fertility and made it more difficult for him to mount and dismount mares.

"He's just a step slower than he was," said Claiborne spokesman Bernie Sams, "and there was no sense in going on with him."

Tue, 07/13/2004 - 00:00

Ten Most Wanted to stud

Ten Most Wanted, winner of the 2003 Travers, has been retired to stand at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky.

A 4-year-old Deputy Commander colt, Ten Most Wanted will stand as the property of Gainesway, JMJ Racing's Dennis Narlinger, and J. Paul Reddam. Narlinger and Gainesway have purchased a majority interest in the colt's breeding rights in a deal brokered by bloodstock agents Lincoln Collins and Bruno de Berdt. His fee will be announced at a later date, according to a release issued by Gainesway.

Tue, 07/13/2004 - 00:00

Japanese have record sale

Aided by Fusao Sekiguchi's extravagant bidding, the Japan Racing Horse Association's July foal sale achieved a world-record top price of $4.5 million and a sale-record gross of more than $71 million by its close Tuesday.

Mon, 07/12/2004 - 00:00

Colt sells for record $4.5M

Flamboyant Japanese entrepreneur Fusao Sekiguchi kicked off the Japan Racing Horse Association's July foal sale in spectacular style Monday on Hokkaido, paying a world-record $4.5 million for a colt by Sunday Silence's son Dance in the Dark.

The price broke the previous foal auction record of $4.4 million, which Satish Sanan paid at England's 1997 Tattersalls November sale for the Caerleon colt Padua's Pride.

Sat, 07/10/2004 - 00:00

Familiar sires in Japan sale

The Japan Racing Horse Association's July foal sale will take place on the island of Hokkaido on July 12-13, and some of the sellers and pedigrees will look familiar to Americans.

The catalog of 310 horses includes seven lots from Darley Japan, part of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum's global breeding empire. Those include a King's Best filly from the family of Irish Oaks winner Alydaress; a Lujain colt out of Group 1-placed Katakana; and a Fantastic Light filly from the family of Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes winner White Star Line.