Bet to win.
Ascot 1.30 Kandoo Kid – win bet.
Chepstow 3.30 Operation Manna – win bet.
Kempton 7.45 Noble Order – win bet.
Month: November 2022
’23 Legislative Push Is On for New $455M Belmont Park
The 2023 push to secure bond funding for a new Belmont Park officially kicked off on a gray, chilly November morning with a press conference at the out-of-session New York State Capitol in Albany on Thursday. The unveiling of the legislative agenda for next year was hosted by the “We Are NY Horse Racing” coalition of small businesses, labor unions, non-profits, and trade associations.
While the scope of the years-in-the-planning project was largely framed in general terms as being able to bring state-wide economic benefits at no cost to taxpayers, several details did emerge about the ongoing attempt to modernize Belmont while closing Aqueduct Racetrack so that all downstate Thoroughbred racing eventually gets consolidated at one facility that is more functional and aesthetically pleasing than the other two outdated tracks.
The first bit of news is that the cost of the Belmont overhaul has risen slightly since a similar bond bill failed to gain support in the state legislature when the 2022 session expired in June.
Jeffrey Cannizzo, the senior director of government affairs at the New York Racing Association (NYRA), said a new Belmont would require “roughly $455 million” in state-backed bonds.
That's up 1.1% from the $450 million NYRA had sought via the bill earlier this year. But considering that inflation in the United States has rocketed upward at a 7.7% rate over the past year, that cost revision seems marginal.
“Belmont Park would be taken down, starting from scratch. So we're talking a completely new grandstand and clubhouse, right sized for a modern-age racecourse,” Cannizzo said.
Cannizzo also explained that “the clubhouse will be the last part of these efforts” and that the new, streamlined version of the facility would fit within a “similar footprint.”
Alluding to the work that's already being undertaken to build infield tunnels and possibly add a synthetic racing surface inside Belmont's cavernous infield, Cannizzo described the project as being built from the “inside out” if the state grants NYRA the bonds, which would then be paid back by NYRA through its share of video lottery terminal (VLT) revenue.
“Here's the vision: No taxpayer dollars are on the line. A state asset dramatically improves, and a world-class venue side by side with UBS arena,” Cannizzo said, referencing the recently-opened neighboring home of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders that, like the track, sits atop state-owned land.
“The VLT revenue comes that directly to NYRA, it's specifically earmarked for capital projects just like this,” Cannizzo said.
But because that revenue doesn't flow to NYRA in one huge $455-million chunk, It needs help from the state in fronting the money. The bonds would also likely offer a more attractive, lower rate than if NYRA sought a loan elsewhere.
The press conference was geared to a non-racing audience, and by having representatives speak from the Business Council of New York State and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, it was clear that a primary goal of We Are NY Horse Racing is to get across the message that a rebuilt Belmont will generate trickle-down benefits extending far beyond just the Thoroughbred industry and the local economy on Long Island.
Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., warned that, “Without a strong horse racing ecosystem in New York, breeders can decide to move across state lines.”
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Henry Beeby Hails “Sensational” November Foal Sale At Goffs
The Havana Grey (GB) train is showing no sign of slowing down and, after a booming debut season at stud that saw his fee at Whitsbury Manor Stud bumped up to £18,500, he supplied the sales-topping filly on the final day of what Henry Beeby described as a “sensational” November Foal Sale at Goffs.
That €68,000 filly (lot 962) was signed for by renowned judge Paul McCartan of Ballyphillip Stud, best known for breeding speedballs Harry Angel (Ire) and Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and was consigned by Olive O'Connor Bloodstock.
McCartan said, “She was a beautiful filly out of a Showcasing (GB) mare and there are plenty of 2-year-old winners in the pedigree. I've been very impressed by Havana Grey. I really liked his foals from his first crop as well.”
He added, “I thought there were some lovely foals here this year but they were hard bought. We didn't get all that we wanted. There was great trade here but I am happy with what we have bought.”
It was the younger sires who came up trumps on Thursday where 176 of the 235 foals were sold which equates to a 75% clearance rate in a week where the overall turnover rose 16% to €29,561,000.
The strong figures didn't stop there. The average rose 15% to €40,110 while the median climbed 9% to €24,000. All told, 737 of the 917 lots offered were sold, translating to a 80% clearance rate.
Goffs chief Henry Beeby said, “Sensational. That is the only description of the amazing trade this week headed by an especially vibrant day of sustained demand at the top of the market yesterday.
“As ever we extend our sincere thanks to every vendor as we know we are nothing without their wonderful horses and we are so grateful for the huge support from so many vendors who choose the Irish National Foal Sale for their best foals. That allows us to credibly promote the sale as featuring the cream of the Irish foal crop which drives every serious buyer of foals to Kildare Paddocks.”
He added, “Indeed, we have welcomed a huge group of purchasers headed, of course, by the mighty Irish pinhookers who have been taken on by bidders from the UK and across Europe. They were joined by several significant end-users, not least from Japan, who bought to race all of which led to a trade of strength, depth and vibrancy from start to finish.
“As was very clear at an excellent renewal of the Orby Sale, quality is what is selling best and that was illustrated by the strongest clearance rate of 85% coming on Wednesday and we look forward to offering many of those top foals at the Orby next year following so many great pinhooking successes here in September.
“The unique Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme makes that option especially appealing as does the depth and diversity of our international buying bench this year. In fact the only real complaint from several overseas buyers at Orby this year was that we ran out of top tier yearlings so that is the target next year. We now turn our attention to our two-day Breeding Stock catalogue which continues to be so well supported by leading breeders and enjoys such a superb record with its graduates' progeny at the highest level.”
Along with the sales-topping Havana Grey, a filly by the Ballyhane-based Soldier's Call (lot 869) sold similarly well at €65,000 from Monanny Farm to Bitzen Bloodstock while the Aga Khan's emerging force Zarak (Fr) enjoyed a good afternoon when lot 843 was knocked down to Fort Middle Stud for €60,000.
That filly, consigned by Browne Brothers Bloodstock, was just the second by the sire to go through the ring at Goffs; the other (lot 283) sold earlier in the week for €52,000 to Guy Pariente Holding from Baroda Stud.
Not only did Far Above (Ire) win the prize for the best promoted stallion on the sales ground at Goffs this week, with shareholder Jack Cantillon and Starfield Stud boss Micheal Orlandi hard to miss in their yellow jackets, but he also posted some solid results in the ring.
The best of which was lot 834, a colt who sold from the Cantillon's family-run operation, Tinnakill House, to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for €48,000.
Brown is an advisor for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, whose familiar yellow silks were carried by Far Above to Group 3 success on the racetrack, and the leading bloodstock agent revealed how connections were keen to support the horse at stud.
Brown said, “He is a smashing colt by Far Above, who Sheikh Rashid raced, and is from a family we know well; out of a sister to Perfect Power (Ire). Sheikh Rashid said to me when I was coming over here to let him know that, if I saw a nice Far Above to let him know, which I did. I saw him last night and was keen to have a go. I want to support the stallion as he gave us a lot of pleasure. He was a very good horse, very fast, and we wanted to buy this lad to race. We'll go on to Newmarket and see if we can buy a couple more.”
The post Henry Beeby Hails “Sensational” November Foal Sale At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Havana Grey Breeding Right Tops Tattersalls Online
A breeding right in leading first-season sire Havana Grey (GB) (lot 57) brought 115,000gns from Badgers Bloodstock to top the Tattersalls Online November Sale on Thursday. Offered on behalf of a partnership, the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion's breeding right proved popular. The grey has already sired 13 group/listed performers, and his top-priced yearling went for 325,000gns this season. His stud fee has risen to £18,500 for 2023.
Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock said, “Havana Grey is a very exciting young stallion who continues to exceed expectations. He is the sire of 13 stakes performers from 83 runners which is remarkable; 16% stakes performing 2-year-olds to runners off a stallion fee of £8,000. Whitsbury Manor Stud have been very conservative with their pricing this year, standing at £18,500 and I predict that in a couple of years he will look remarkably cheap.”
Listed winner Willesee (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (lot 34) was the second dearest lot of the day at 90,000gns. Sent through the ring by Jessica Harrington's Commonstown Stables, the 3-year-old filly went to Mountarmstrong Stud. Her second dam is G3 Prix d'Aumale heroine Helleborine (GB) (Observatory), the dam of G2 Coventry S. winner and sire Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Rounding out the top three was lot 43, Consensus De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), from Roger Varian's Carlburg Stables consignment. Armando Duarte shelled out 24,000gns for the winner, who hails from the family of Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill).
Breeding rights in Harry Angel (Ire) (lot 56) and Territories (Ire) (lot 54) went for 18,000gns and 17,500gns, respectively, to Bearstone Stud and Sophie Buckley's Culworth Grounds Farm.
Overall, 38 lots changed hands for a gross of 446,500gns and a clearance rate of 67%. The average was 11,750gns and the median was 5,500gns.
The post Havana Grey Breeding Right Tops Tattersalls Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
