March, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tickets To Colonial Downs Meet Go On Sale Monday

Live racing returns to Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County, Va., in July, August and September with premium tickets going on sale Monday, March 15. General admission and parking are free. The best Thoroughbred horses and trainers from around the country will run every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for seven weeks from July 19 through Sept. 1. Post time each day will be 1:45 pm. Premium tickets and full racing schedule are available at www.colonialdowns.com.

Colonial Downs offers a family friendly atmosphere for everyone, casual dining in the Jockey Club and upscale Turf Club dining, private suites for larger parties, outdoor clubhouse boxes, reserved grandstand seating and a hospitality tent trackside with concession fare open to everyone.

Other race meet highlights include:

· Approximately $500,000 in daily purses and over $2.75 million in total stakes, including a robust Virginia bred and certified schedule during the meet will attract the best horses and jockeys from around the country to compete on the renowned Secretariat turf course, and second largest dirt track in North America.

· July 19 – 21 – opening week kicks off with over $400,000 in VA bred and restricted stakes races.

· Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 – closing week offering over $1.2 million in stakes races highlighted by the Virginia Derby® and Virginia Oaks® premier races on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

“As we enter our third year of racing, Colonial Downs looks forward to once again hosting top horses and horsemen from across the country with daily purses offered amongst the highest during the summer months,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs Group. “The past year of the pandemic has been so challenging for everyone, we can't wait to see our wonderful fans and supporters safely enjoying the excitement of live horse racing.”

John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Colonial Downs Group added: “I think we are all ready to put some fun back in our lives. With a variety of ticketing and dining options as well as free general admission, Colonial Downs makes for an entertaining afternoon and evening out for everyone.”

The post Tickets To Colonial Downs Meet Go On Sale Monday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saudi Cup Winner Mishriff Tops World’s Best Racehorse Rankings; Life Is Good Highest-Rated 3-Year-Old

In his first start of the year, Mishriff (IRE) [122] won the Saudi Cup, and the Great Britain-based 4-year-colt leads the first edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021 as a result.

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings Leading Horses click here for complete rankings
Rank	Horse	Rating	Trained
1	MISHRIFF (IRE)	122	GB
2	NATURE STRIP (AUS)	121	AUS
3	CHARLATAN (USA)	120	USA
3	EXULTANT (IRE)	120	HK
3	GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS)	120	HK
6	KNICKS GO (USA)	119	USA
6	LIFE IS GOOD (USA)	119	USA
6	RAINBOW BRIDGE (SAF)	119	SAF

Mishriff posted a one length victory in the Saudi Cup over Charlatan [120], who was also making his first start of 2021. Last year, Mishriff's biggest score came when he won the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) in France.

Australia's Nature Strip (AUS) [121] is the second highest rated horse in the first edition of the rankings for 2021 after his half-length win in the Black Caviar Lightning (G1) in February, which served as the multiple Group 1 winner's first start of the season.

In co-third, along with Charlatan, are Hong Kong-based runners Exultant [120] and Golden Sixty (AUS) [120]. Golden Sixty, who has now won 13 races in a row, took the Stewards' Cup (G1) in January over Southern Legend [118] and Ka Ying Star [117], and he beat Furore [117] and Exultant in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) in February. Exultant came into that race having finished second in the Centenary Vase (G3) while carrying 133lbs.

Three horses sit in the co-sixth position as well. America's Knicks Go [119], who finished fourth in the Saudi Cup, started his 2021 campaign with a 2 ¾-length victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), while undefeated Life Is Good [119] is the highest rated 3-year-old thus far after winning the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by eight lengths.

In South Africa, Rainbow Bridge [119] added to his list of accomplishments by taking the Cape Town Met presented by Cape Racing (G1) in January by 1 ¾ lengths.

The post Saudi Cup Winner Mishriff Tops World’s Best Racehorse Rankings; Life Is Good Highest-Rated 3-Year-Old appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flashback: Velazquez, Romans Win 2005 Dubai World Cup With Roses In May

The Dubai World Cup meeting celebrates its historic 25th anniversary on March 27, with six Group 1 races and three Group 2s, including one of the world's premier races, the $12 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.

Over the next three weeks, the Dubai Racing Club will pay tribute to each of the previous Dubai World Cup winners. Today, we rewind to 2005 when Roses In May won the Dubai World Cup.

The increase in quality at the second Dubai International Racing Carnival (now the Dubai World Cup Carnival) was no more evident than in the 10th running of the Dubai World Cup. Jack Sullivan (Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, Burj Nahaar), Yard-Arm (Al Fahidi Fort), and Chiquitin (Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3) had all progressed through the Carnival ranks to the Dubai World Cup. Meeting them was the usual strong contingent from America including the previous year's UAE Derby winner Lundy's Liability and Roses In May, whose only defeat during 2004 had come when second to Ghostzapper in the Breeders Cup Classic.

Dynever had proven to be one of America's leading race horses but would represent Saudi Arabia on World Cup night having being purchased by local interests after finishing second to King's Boy in the King's Cup over 3,400m (about 2 1/8 miles). King's Boy had returned for the third time while the Japanese presence was made up of the high-class dirt performer Adjudi Mitsuo.

It was Roses In May however that impressed all on his arrival and his work leading into the event justified favoritism. The starring, dominating role played by Roses In May belied what appeared, on paper, an evenly matched field. The almost black horse was allowed to settle in fifth place by his jockey John Velazquez, the horse enjoying the early speed set by Yard-Arm, Chiquitin and Elmustanser. Shortly before the home turn, Velazquez decided to take the race to his opponents and Roses In May launched his bid. Whilst clear turning for home, the 600m (three furlong) straight would not be something the horse was used to after the tight turning American tracks. The question was, would he hold on?

Chocktaw Nation was the first to issue a challenge, but Roses In May defied it and the long Nad Al Sheba straight proved a benefit rather than a hindrance as he asserted his superiority with every stride. Dynever came from near last to make up good ground to be second, however he was never a match for Roses In May, whose official margin was three lengths. Chocktaw Nation held on gamely for third while Jack Sullivan ran the race of his life in finishing fourth, just ahead of Congrats and Adjudi Mitsuo.

After the race, Roses In May's trainer – Dale Romans – described his confidence going into the event and explained the tactics of Velazquez in going earlier than usual: “I thought the only way we could get beaten was if we had some bad luck, I wanted to take the race to them, I knew he had the stamina and that no one else could catch him.”

Roses In May's retirement was announced shortly after his return to America, going on to assume stallion duties in Japan in 2006.

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Study: Bronc Horses Can Become Accustomed To The Rodeo Environment

A new study — the first to deal with the welfare of bucking horses used in rodeos — shows that horses used for bronc riding in rodeos can become accustomed to the high-pressure performance. Drs. Christy Goldhawk, Temple Grandin and Ed Pajora found that experienced horses used at the Calgary Stampede had fewer reactive behaviors during loading and holding in the chute before they performed. Horses with increased rodeo experience were also less likely to balk during loading.

The three-year study used 116 horses involved in saddle bronc, novice saddle bronc, bareback and novice bareback events. The research team observed the horses in holding areas behind the chutes, where they found a low frequency of adverse behaviors in rodeo horses. They note that this may be because the horses have been habituated to the rodeo, meaning they understand the sequence of the event.

The places where the horses exhibited discomfort can easily be modified to make them more comfortable, the research team said. For example, when the horses appeared uneasy when spectators were above them, the research team recommended that a tent be placed over the holding area to shield the horses from view.

Read the study here.