February, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Daddy Joe’ Celebration Week at Taylor Made

Taylor Made Farm, which grew from a small family farm begun in 1976 to a global leader in the industry today, is celebrating the anniversary of the 100th birthday of family patriarch Joe Taylor, known as “Daddy Joe.” Taylor was born on Feb. 23, 1924 and passed away in 2003.

In celebration of the milestone, Taylor Made has introduced the first annual Taylor Made Servant Leader Awards. Winners, who are nominated by their peers, will win a $1,000 cash prize and a charity donation. Winners will be announced Friday with more information available here.

Among the other celebrations marking the event will be a special video to be released Friday.

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Upcoming Lexington Events Hosted by Light Up Racing

Light Up Racing, the initiative launched late last year, will host two community events in Lexington in the next two weeks. The events are “designed to empower and educate individuals within the Thoroughbred industry on the power of positive communication and the role of social change in shaping the future of horse racing. These events aim to introduce participants to the tools and knowledge to advocate for the sport effectively, engage in meaningful conversations, and transform perceptions within their networks and beyond,” according to the announcement by the organization Wednesday.

The first event, titled “How to Talk to Your Friends About Horse Racing,” will be held Monday, Feb. 26 at Fasig-Tipton. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. following cocktails at 5 p.m. Light Up Racing invites participants to “join us for an enlightening evening where we delve into the science of social change and explore six critical concepts that can help reshape the public's perception of horse racing. Learn why you are instrumental in this change and how to navigate and answer difficult questions about the sport with confidence and insight.”

The second event is named “Transforming Negative Opinions into Positive Messaging” and will be held Tuesday, Mar. 5 at Keeneland. The format will be similar to the first with cocktails at 5 p.m. preceding the presentation at 6 p.m. According to Light Up Racing, “this event focuses on turning challenges into opportunities through strategic communication and social media engagement. Discover how to become a powerful ambassador for horse racing, building a community of advocates and leveraging grassroots networks to respond effectively in times of crisis.”

Light Up Racing encourages both veterans of and newcomers to the industry to participate, as the events offer a unique opportunity to “come together, learn, and contribute to a positive shift in how horse racing is perceived and discussed.”

Contact hello@lightupracing.com for more information.

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Defunded Owner Hopes to Reward Horse’s Fans

In Saturday's $20-million Saudi Cup, two-time Grade I winner Defunded (Dialed In) will be running for more than his owner, Dr. Muhaideb Al Muhaideb's HDB Racing. Should the horse win the Saudi Cup, the owner will give away 2 million Saudi Riyals to fans who follow him on the X site @muhadb1. Two million Riyals is worth US$533,000. The money will be divided among four winners.

If Defunded doesn't win but a Saudi-based horse does, Dr. Muhaideb will give away two Lexus SUV to his followers. If a horse without a Saudi connection wins, the prize will be one Lexus.

Muhaideb has 59,500 followers on X.

“Dr. Muhaideb is overwhelmed with excitement to be competing in the richest race in the world with his first horse as an owner,” said Muhaideb's stable manager Khalid Mishref. “He feels extremely honored to be representing Saudi Arabia on this world stage. Because of this he feels compelled to share this experience with the Saudi people and all racing fans around the world. From this, the idea of having a group of prizes to be drawn from engaging on social media was born. Horse racing is deeply ingrained in the culture of the Saudi people and we feel the future of horse racing is bound to benefit from the rapid development of Saudi racing with the help of the Saudi government, Prince Bandar and his esteemed team at the Jockey Club.”

In late December it was announced that Defunded, who is a gelding, had been privately acquired from owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman by HDB Racing. Defunded left the U.S. on Dec. 17.

“Last year, Dr. Muhaideb Al Muhaideb entrusted me with the task of possibly securing a horse to compete in the 2024 Saudi Cup,” Mishref said. “With the assistance of Frankie O'Connor of Kildare Stud we managed to purchase Defunded for this mission.”

Defunded has not started since finishing second in the GI Awesome Again S. on Sept. 30 at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. He won the Awesome Again in 2022 and picked up another Grade I win in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup in May. He has career earnings of $1,666,600.

Luis Saez will have the mount for the race.

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Maryland Thoroughbred Industry Renaissance Award Finalists Announced

The winners of the seventh annual Renaissance Awards, hosted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, will be announced each morning at 10:00 a.m. on Maryland Thoroughbred social media platforms beginning Feb. 26 and continuing through Saturday, Mar. 2.

Awards will be given for the top Maryland owner, trainer, jockey, dirt horses, turf horses, claimer, Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder and champion Maryland-breds of 2023. Special awards will be presented to Pimlico and Laurel Park Backstretch Employees of the Year.

The announcement schedule is as follows:

Monday, Feb. 26 – Maryland-bred Champion 2-year-olds (male, female) and 3-year-olds (male, female)

Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Maryland-bred Champion Older Male, Older Female, Turf Runner and Sprinter

Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Stallion of the Year, Breeder of the Year

Thursday, Feb. 29 – Maryland Jockey of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Owner of the Year

Friday, Mar. 1 – Maryland Dirt Male, Dirt Female, Turf Male, Turf Female and Claimer

Saturday, Mar. 2 – Special recognition of Pimlico and Laurel Backstretch Employees of the Year

To view the finalists and winners, follow on social media:

Facebook: Facebook.com/MarylandTB

Instagram: @marylandtb

Twitter/X: @marylandtb

The following are finalists (listed alphabetically) in the award categories:

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male: Catahoula Moon (bred by Angela Coombs, owned by Super C Racing Inc.), Circle P (bred by Marathon Farms, Inc., owned by DeSales 85 LLC), Fulmineo (bred by Country Life Farm and Starr of Quality LLC, owned by Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier)

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly: Kissedbyanangel (bred by Super C Racing Inc, owned by Joanne Shankle), Miss Harriett (bred by David Baxter, owned by Narrow Leaf Farm), Sheilahs Warcloud (bred by Dr. Megan Kerford DVM & Justin Nixon, owned by Justin Nixon)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male: Coffeewithchris (bred by Thomas J. Rooney, owned by John E. Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos, Anthony Geruso), Post Time (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC), Seven's Eleven (bred and owned by The Cottonwood Stable LLC)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly: Bosserati (bred and owned by Joel Politi), Liquidator (bred by Country Life Farm/Stone LLC, owned Not the 1 Stable Inc.), Talk to the Judge (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, owned by Waldorf Racing Stables LLC)

Maryland-bred champion older male: Alwaysinahurry (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Quin Bowman, & Rebecca Davis, owned by Mopo Racing), Double Crown (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman & Rebecca Davis, owned by Built Wright Stables LLC), Eastern Bay (bred by Nancy Lee Farms, owned by Built Wright Stables LLC)

Maryland-bred champion older female: Award Wanted (bred by Dr. Alexandro Rubim Dias, owned by No Guts No Glory Farm & Erica Upton), Intrepid Daydream (bred and owned by Paul L. Fowler Jr.), Spun Glass (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson)

Maryland-bred champion turf runner: Bosserati (bred and owned by Joel Politi), Wet My Beak (bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC, owned by Thelma & Louise Stable LLC), Wicked Prankster (bred by Country Life Farm & Broken Trust Fund LLC, owned by Samuel G. Davis)

Maryland-bred champion sprinter: Intrepid Daydream (bred and owned by Paul L. Fowler Jr.), Post Time (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC), Seven's Eleven (bred and owned by The Cottonwood Stable LLC)

Owner of the Year: Mens Grille Racing, Michael Scheffres, The Elkstone Group LLC

Trainer of the Year: Kieron Magee, Brittany Russell, Mike Trombetta

Jockey of the Year: Jaime Rodriguez, Sheldon Russell, Jevian Toledo

Breeder of the Year: Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Country Life Farm, Jagger Inc., Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, The Elkstone Group LLC

Broodmare of the Year: Chrusciki, Otherwise Perfect, Touring Hong Kong

Stallion of the Year: Blofeld, Golden Lad, Great Notion

Maryland Male Dirt Horse of the Year: Double Crown, Factor It In, Seven's Eleven

Maryland Female Dirt Horse of the Year: Fille d'Esprit, Hybrid Eclipse, Intrepid Daydream

Maryland Male Turf Horse of the Year: Nagirroc, Wicked Prankster, Witty

Maryland Female Turf Horse of the Year: Bosserati, Canadian Ginger, Shasta Star

Maryland Claimer of the Year: Brother Conway, Classier, Uncaptured Storm

Pimlico Backstretch Employee of the Year: Damon Gladden

Laurel Park Backstretch Employee of the Year: Jenile Tapscott

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