In the Thoroughbred realm, an active stallion returning to the racetrack is far outside the norm. However, the practice is becoming more common within the Standardbred breed, as columnist Brett Sturman describes in Harness Racing Update.
In his column, Sturman discussed a pair of active Standardbred stallions who have made their return to racing in recent months: Racing Hill, a 10-year-old who came back to the track after a seven-year absence; and Stag Party, the 2018 O'Brien Award winner as harness racing's champion 2-year-old male of 2018, who recently raced at the Meadowlands as a 7-year-old, coming back from a three-year layoff.
Horses as great as the mighty Bulldog Hanover have come back to the track after completing a season at stud in recent years, suggesting Racing Hill and Stag Party might tip closer to the rule than the exception.
While fertility issues are often a factor in a stallion's return to training, regardless of the breed, Sturman said economics can also play a part, noting that breeder interest in Stag Party had slowed to a trickle while he waits for his first runners to hit the track en masse. In the meantime, breeders had flocked to newer stallions with the goal of appealing to a commercial market ever-hungry for the newest thing.
“If horses can safely and ethically transition back into their first career as a racehorse and race somewhat relative to their former capabilities adjusted for age, then why not,” Sturman wrote in his column. “If anything, it continues to speak to the durability and resilience of the Standardbred breed.”
You could tell by the toteboard that the local horses were not very strong in the Hong Kong Vase (G1) going 2,400 meters at Sha Tin in the first of the Longines Hong Kong International Races last month. The first four betting interests were from overseas and they ran first, second, third and fifth. But that would be it as the local team was just getting ready.
In the Sprint (G1), Lucky Sweynesse was the odds-on favorite but a poor start saw him in traffic trouble. Second choice in the wagering, Wellington, was far behind in the early going and was still in seventh place turning for home. With a modest pace of 46.32 seconds for the first 800 meters, it didn't look like the race would set up for a horse coming from behind.
Sight Success was running the race of his life and still had the lead with 150 meters to run but Ryan Moore had Wellington in a fierce drive that could not be denied. With a last 400 meters run in 22.04 seconds, Wellington drove to a convincing victory and showed no signs of slowing down at the age of six. Sight Success held on for second by a half-length over last year's winner Sky Field. The final time was only 1:08.76 and was an indication that the turf course had some give in it.
Next up was the eagerly anticipated Mile (G1) which featured the duel between two-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, winner of a record 22 races in Hong Kong, and the ultra-talented California Spangle, who he beat last time out in the Jockey Club Mile (G2) in November.
California Spangle holds off two-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile
Like last month, Zac Purton was able to take the early lead easily and set a dawdling pace. Looking like he was trying to go gate to wire, Purton got a surprise going into the turn when stablemate Beauty Joy rushed up to take the lead. Purton let him go and tipped out to his outside nearing the top of the stretch.
Vincent Ho had Golden Sixty perched about three lengths off the lead. The pace picked up some around the turn and the first 1,200 meters were covered in 1:10.06. Purton was the first to move and he went by Beauty Joy without any visible effort. The sectional times tell the story as Golden Sixty ran his seventh 100 meters in 10.99 seconds but California Spangle countered with an 11.11.
Ho was all out aboard Golden Sixty but you could see that he was not going to get there. Golden Sixty ran his eighth and final 100 meters in 11.99 seconds but once again could not make up enough ground as California Spangle ran 12.12. The final tally showed California Spangle in front by a neck as he earned his first Group 1 stakes win. Golden Sixty suffered nothing in defeat and is still running big races at the age of seven.
Pace makes the race and California Spangle has it in abundance and it will be interesting to see if Francis Lui changes Golden Sixty's tactics next time out. But he will know where to find his new rival and threat to his local supremacy.
Finally, the Cup (G1) was next and Romantic Warrior was made the odds-on favorite. Despite some strong challenges from Japan, he romped by over 4 ½ lengths in an audacious display that raises the question: Who is the best horse racing in Hong Kong?
The winner of nine of 10 starts, he has progressed from a debut winner at Happy Valley 14 months ago to being a dual Group 1 stakes winner that does not seem to have any weakness. The field he vanquished had talent and depth and he made them look common.
Now, here is where it gets real interesting. It is very possible that California Spangle, Golden Sixty, and Romantic Warrior will all return in the Stewards' Cup (G1) at 1,600 meters on Jan. 29. Right now, Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior are rated 130 while California Spangle is at 129.
Going a mile, you would think that California Spangle's natural speed would be hard to beat but could he withstand not one but two challenges in the homestretch? Tactically, does Vincent Ho want to make the first move and then risk using his mount's energy and not be able to hold off Romantic Warrior? If both horses hesitate, Purton will have an insurmountable lead on California Spangle.
The tactical possibilities are endless and we can only count the days to Jan. 29 to see how it turns out.
Undefeated Flightline captivated not only a United States horse racing audience but also the global racing fanbase as evidenced by Queen Elizabeth II’s to call one of his owners, Lane’s End’s Bill Farish, the day after he won the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes by 19 ¼ lengths.
Dates for the 2023 live racing season at Delaware Park were approved by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission on Tuesday.
The 86th live racing season will feature 85 days of racing beginning on Wednesday, May 24, and concluding on Saturday, Oct. 28. Live racing will be conducted on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the exception of Friday on the following days – May 26, July 28, Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25, and Oct. 27.
The $500,000, Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 8 highlights the stake schedule worth $2.25 million. All graded and listed stake races will be run Lasix free in 2023. For the first time in the history of the filly and mare summer classic, the 86th renewal will be contested at the distance of 1 3/16 miles. The race has been run at the traditional 1 1/4-mile distance every year since 1951, with the exception of 2020 when the race was run at 1 1/8 miles because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 1951, the race was run at 1 1/16 miles.
“It has become increasingly more difficult to consistently attract the top contenders in the filly and mare division with the race at a mile and a quarter, but we also want to be respectful of the distance aspect of the tradition as much as possible,” said Director of Racing Jerome “Jed” Doro. “We are hoping a sixteenth of a mile less will encourage more of the top contenders in the division to come while still keeping the race attractive to those who want a little more ground.”
The $150,000 Battery Park and the $100,000 Dashing Beauty will also be run as part of the Delaware Handicap card.
The $300,000, Grade 3 Delaware Oaks will be run on Saturday, July 1, along with the $250,000, Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial and the $100,000 Alapocas Stakes.
The 31st Owners Day Showcase showcasing the best of the best in Delaware racing is slated for Saturday, Sept. 9. The day will feature the $100,000 George Rosenberger Memorial and the $100,000 DTHA Governors Day, which are both restricted to horses who have started at Delaware Park in 2023 (stakes races excluded), as well as the Robert W. Camac Memorial and the Rich Glazier Turf Classic.
The $100,000 Small Wonder and the $100,000 First State, restricted to Delaware-bred or certified 2-year-olds, will be run on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The $100,000 Tax Free Shopping Distaff and the $100,000 New Castle, restricted to Delaware-bred or certified older horses, will be run on Thursday, Sept. 28.
