May, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hong Kong International Races Receive Substantial Boost

Prize money for the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) will be worth a record HK$118 million in 2023 and will again host the world's richest Group 1 turf races over 1200m, 1600m and 2000m, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Monday.

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup received a 5.9% increase to HK$36 million, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) has been boosted by 8.3% to HK$26 million, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) will grow by 6.7% to HK$32 million and the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) received a 9.1% bump to HK$24 million.

Additionally, each of the city's 12 Group 1 races will rise by a minimum of HK$1 million for a combined HK$20 million as part of an overall prize money increase of 10%. Hong Kong's record prize money and incentive structure now stretches to an estimated HK$1.73 billion across the 2023/24 season. The world's richest Group 1 turf race over 1400m–the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup–offers HK$13 million in prize money, while the Club has also raised purses on Group 2 and Group 3 races to HK$5.35 million and HK$4.2 million, hikes of 7.0% and 7.7%, respectively.

Including substantial increases to the PP and PPG bonus scheme, Hong Kong's domestic racing prize money pool will increase by 8% alone next season – with an additional HK$94 million on offer – to HK$1.38 billion.

“The Longines Hong Kong International Races continue to be widely recognised as the 'Turf World Championships' and the HK$118 million total prize money on offer next season also underscores the Club's commitment to attracting and rewarding the world's best horses and their connections,” Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said. “With growing competition around the world, it is crucial that Hong Kong's two international race days-Longines Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day–continue to be destinations of choice for owners, trainers and jockeys from around the world.”

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Do Horses Care About the Color Of Their Feed? University Of Minnesota Study Says Yes

Oat color has no effect on oat quality, but the variety of hues can range from white or yellow to tan or even black. Historically, oats in horse feed are white, which is what feed companies assumed horse owners would like. Because of this, white-hulled oats are the most-commonly planted for use in equine feed, reports EQUUS magazine.

University of Minnesota researchers have discovered that horses have opinions about the color of their grain. To test whether the horses had a color preference, scientists used six adult horses that had not been fed oats before. The horses were repeatedly offered white or yellow oats from identical feed tubs.

For the first trial, the scientists watched the horses eat ½-pound of oats of each color and recorded their choice every 15 seconds until all of the oats were consumed. That trial was repeated 20 times on non-consecutive days.

In the second trial, the horses were offered several pounds of oats of each color in separate feed tubs and allowed to eat for five minutes. The horses couldn't consume all of the oats in this timeframe; what was left was removed and weighed. The same test was repeated 24 times on non-consecutive days.

Results from the first trial indicated that the horses had no oat color preference; they ate all of the oats they were given. In the second trial, however, horses ate more yellow oats than white oats, suggesting they preferred the yellow oats.

The research team notes that equine vision does allow for differentiation between the colors yellow and white. They also say that other factors, like smell, could influence horse's preference for yellow oats.

The scientists also surveyed 801 horse owners regarding oat-color preference and found there was no color preference. It was reported that the owners were more concerned with cleanliness, reporting that color and weight were least important. The team concludes that other market forces are at work to encourage the idea that white oats are preferred.

Preakness: Mage ‘Feeling Good,’ Baffert-Trained National Treasure ‘Probable’ For Middle Jewel

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage has shown all the right signs following his thrilling victory in Saturday's first leg of the Triple Crown and will run in the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) at historic Pimlico Race Course May 20 as long as everything continues to go well.

OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH's Derby hero walked around the barn shedrow at Churchill Downs Monday morning, two days after the chestnut colt won the Kentucky Derby by a length over Two Phil's.

The Good Magic colt is expected to jog around the racetrack on Tuesday morning shortly after the Churchill Downs track opens at 5:30 a.m. ET.

“He ate up everything, his feed, he's feeling good,” Delgado Jr. said.

Mage finished a close second in Gulfstream Park's Curlin Florida Derby (G1) in his third career start, five weeks before taking the 149th Kentucky Derby.

“It's amazing. We're still digesting it,” Delgado Jr. said. “I'm still playing text messages from two days ago. It's a very good feeling.”

Rivelli: Two Phil's 'Back at Home Chilling'

Trainer Larry Rivelli said via text Monday afternoon that Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil's has exited his strong performance Saturday in the first leg of the Triple Crown in good order.

“He's back home and chilling,” reported Rivelli from his home base at Hawthorne Park.

A firm decision has yet to me made a Preakness start.

Baffert: National Treasure 'Probable' for Preakness

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Monday morning that he had not finalized his plans, but that National Treasure could be considered as a probable starter in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

National Treasure, most recently fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8, is co-owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan. He broke his maiden in his first career start and prior to the Santa Anita Derby he finished second in the American Pharaoh (G1), third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and third in the Sham Stakes (G3).

Baffert is tied with 19th century horseman and Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden for the Preakness record by a trainer with seven wins. He pulled even with Walden in 2018 with eventual Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert's first Preakness runner was in 1996 when Kentucky Derby runner-up Cavonnier was fourth.

Desormeaux Has 'More Respect' for Confidence Game Than Ever

Trainer Keith Desormeaux said a decision will be made by Sunday whether to run Confidence Game in 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 20. Desormeaux won the 2016 running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown with Kentucky Derby runner-up Exaggerator.

With jockey James Graham aboard, Confidence Game finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby in his first start since winning Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes (G2) 10 weeks earlier.

“He's tired, as to be expected,” Desormeaux said Monday morning at Churchill Downs. “He'll go back to the track tomorrow or Wednesday. We'll see how he does walking this afternoon. If he's showing some energy, we'll train tomorrow. If not, we'll wait until Wednesday. We'll make a decision by Sunday whether we're going to Baltimore or not. He'll tell us.

“His race in the Derby wasn't bad. I've got more respect for him now than ever, because he was close to a very fast pace. He was in hand. He looked like he was comfortable. But it was just a little too fast and that compromised his finish,” Desormeaux added. “It's that simple. This is no fault of James, (but) if we're three or four lengths back – one more second, in other words – we have horse to finish and the whole outcome could be totally different. I don't blame James because I'm the one who trained him, and we were putting speed in his works. We were aggressive in his works, so that's my fault. I had him a little too keen, and that's why he didn't finish.

“But guess what? He went too fast and he still pushed to the wire…. He kept trying. He's such a good horse.”

Preakness Notes:

Kentucky Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher Disarm and Oaklawn Park's Bath House Row Stakes winner Red Route One, both trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for owner Ron Winchell, had a standard walk day Monday morning at Churchill Downs. Red Route One, who gets a fees-paid spot in the Preakness by virtue of winning the Oaklawn stakes, had worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.20 on Sunday. Asmussen said no decision has been made whether to run one or both horses in the Preakness.

Godolphin's First Mission, winner of Keeneland's Stonestreet Lexington (G3) in his last start April 15, jogged at Churchill Downs Monday morning in preparation for the Preakness while resuming training following a five-eighths of a mile workout in 59.80 seconds May 6.

“First Mission is amazing, he looks very good,” said Jorje Abrego, assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “He's ready. He'll gallop (Tuesday).”

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Kentucky Derby Winner Mage Among Those Pointing Towards Preakness

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) has shown all the right signs following his victory in Saturday's race and will run in the GI Preakness S. May 20 as long as everything continues to go well. The colt is expected to jog around the racetrack Tuesday morning.

“He ate up everything, his feed, he's feeling good,” Delgado Jr. said.

Forte (Violence), the scratched morning-line favorite from the Derby, galloped at Churchill Downs Monday morning in an apparent preparation towards an anticipated run in the Preakness S., but a statement from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission seems to have left those plans in jeopardy. The release said that after a state vet scratch like Forte's, a horse has a mandatory 14-day period when he cannot race, after which he must work for a state regulatory vet and pass a blood test.

Trainer Larry Rivelli said via text Monday afternoon that GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) has exited his strong performance Saturday in the first leg of the Triple Crown in good order.

“He's back home and chilling,” reported Rivelli from his home base at Hawthorne Park.

A firm decision has yet to be made regarding a Preakness start.

Another pair yet to make a final call on the Preakness is National Treasure (Quality Road) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and 10th-place Derby finisher Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Godolphin's First Mission (Street Sense), winner of Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. in his last start April 15, jogged at Churchill Downs Monday morning also in preparation for the Preakness while resuming training following a five-eighths of a mile workout in 59.80 seconds May 6.

“First Mission is amazing, he looks very good,” said Jorje Abrego, assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “He's ready. He'll gallop (Tuesday).”

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