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Starspangledbanner Colt Tops Final Session Of Tattersalls October Book 2

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale came to a close with a further five lots selling for 300,000 guineas (US$409,890) or more as demand for quality yearlings continued unabated. In total there were 19 lots that sold for 300,000 guineas (US$409,890) or more and 48 that sold for 200,000 guineas (US$273,269) or more, both records for this fixture.

The top lot on the final day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was the Starspangledbanner colt out of the Cadeaux Genereux mare Violet's Gift, who was knocked down to Stroud Coleman's Anthony Stroud for 360,000 guineas (US$492,005).

The half-brother to the listed-placed Kodiak West was consigned to the sale by James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud.

“We felt he was a very special horse all the way along, he has been special always, and we love Starspangledbanner,” said Hanly. “I just want to thank Helen and Frisk [Jones] who do the daily hard work for minding this horse so well.

“This is a family we have had for ever, we bred every single horse on the page. They are all very fast horses so hopefully this one will continue and will add to the family. It is lovely to be able to show horses such as this, it is a pleasure to be around them. Please god he is a good runner.”

The progeny of first season sire and 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill have been in great demand this week and his daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Pussycat Lips was the most sought after, realizing 340,000 guineas (US$464,779) to the bid of Simon Crisford.

“She is a lovely filly, very racy and athletic, and she showed herself off well,” said Crisford. “MV Magnier really loved her, she will be for a Coolmore partnership.”

The Grade 3 placed Pussycat Lips has produced four winners from her four runners, including the Group/Listed placed pair Special Purpose and Roulston Scar.

The filly was bred and consigned by Croom House Stud, whose principal Denis Brosnan commented: “It was a wonderful sale and we are thrilled with the price, and we're happy that she's been bought by MV Magnier and will be going to Simon & Ed Crisford.”

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“At the conclusion of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week we expressed our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to a yearling sale which, although conducted amidst a backdrop of global turmoil, performed with remarkable resilience. The message at the conclusion of Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale is very similar. We are enormously grateful to every single participant over the past three days, not only for their individual contributions to a sale which has held up remarkably well under the circumstances, but for working with us every step of the way in our efforts to stage the sale in as safe an environment as possible. The COVID pandemic continues to wreak havoc in all walks of life and to have conducted nine sales here at Park Paddocks since the last week of June is a mighty achievement by all concerned and could not have happened without a huge collective effort.

“Newmarket is very much the hub of the European racing and breeding industries and the last few weeks have demonstrated that, despite all the obstacles, business has been able to continue, albeit at lower levels than in recent years. Newmarket has an extraordinary and unique infrastructure and never more has this been apparent than at Books 1 and 2 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sales.

“Book 2 has without doubt benefitted from the momentum established at Book 1 and similar to last week, the buyers have consistently remarked on the quality of the stock being offered. As ever the consignors from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany have presented us with a catalogue of genuine quality and the buyers have demonstrated that, even in these challenging times, there is a global appetite for quality bloodstock and the sport of horse racing. Participation from throughout the Gulf region continues to be hugely influential and the sustained involvement from American, Australian and Hong Kong interests has also been notable alongside determined domestic involvement. Tomorrow we move on to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale which is another Tattersalls yearling sale that consistently attracts buyers at all levels of the market and we will conclude the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday with Book 4.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.

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Funds Granted For Follow-Up Study On Catastrophic Racehorse Injuries

Catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses is a top concern for the industry and for its fans. That sentiment is shared by researchers at the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, who are working to learn more about changes happening at the cellular level that might indicate an injury is present before it becomes career- or life-ending.

According to Allen Page, staff scientist and veterinarian at UK's Gluck Equine Research Center, a recently completed study submitted for review shows it is possible to identify several early markers for horses at risk of catastrophic injury, possibly allowing for intervention before those injuries happen.

In this initial study, Page and his colleagues analyzed blood samples from more than 1,000 Thoroughbred racehorses. The samples, collected by participating racing jurisdictions from across the country, have come from both catastrophically injured and non-injured horses in a quest to better understand if there are any red flags in horses that suffer a catastrophic injury.

Previous research showed that many catastrophic injuries occur in limbs with underlying and pre-existing damage, leading to the theory that these injuries occur when damage accumulation exceeds the healing capacity of the affected bones over time. As a result, researchers think it is likely there may be markers of this damage that can be detected prior to an injury.

The identification of protein biomarkers for these types of injuries has been explored in previous research with limited success. As a result, the group opted to focus on quantifying messenger RNA gene transcripts or markers, knowing that the results would likely be much more sensitive than measuring proteins.

“We are definitely encouraged by our findings in the initial study. Out of the 21 markers we measured, three of them show real promise as being able to predict injury,” Page said. “Since the ultimate hope is to develop a screening tool that can be used pre-race to identify horses at increased risk for injury, we anticipate adding multiple other markers with our new study that is just getting started.”

As part of their new study, Page and his colleagues plan to utilize RNA-sequencing, a relatively new technology, to expand their search to the approximately 22,000 protein-coding genes horses have. This will dramatically increase the likelihood that they will be able to identify additional markers for horses at risk of injury. They plan to do this by using the large number of samples that have already been collected, further leveraging their initial study and decreasing the amount of time it will take to complete their new study.

The new study has been funded by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Equine Drug Research Council, which also funded the three-year initial study.

“A lot of the credit for these projects goes to the KHRC and the Equine Drug Research Council. Their willingness to fund our projects is really a testament to their interest in supporting innovative and novel ideas geared towards improving the safety and well-being of horses and riders,” Page said.

“I am pleased that the EDRC is able to continue to provide support for this important study and that Dr. Page is able to continue his work on finding ways to protect our equine athletes,” said David Horohov, chair of the UK Department of Veterinary Science.

Joining Page in the research from UK's Gluck Center are Horohov, Emma Adam, assistant professor, research and industry liaison, James MacLeod, John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight chair, and Ted Kalbfleisch, associate professor.

Del Mar’s First Condition Book Now Available; Purses Increased 10%

Del Mar has announced the release of its first condition book for the upcoming Bing Crosby Season at the San Diego County, Calif., track, an eight-day book that will cover the first half of the 15-day session, which runs for Saturday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 29.

This is the seaside track's seventh fall season, annually a short-but-sweet run that has become the foremost late-year meeting in the country.

“Our fall meet has just gotten better and better as we've gone along,” said Del Mar's racing secretary David Jerkens. “We're again putting the emphasis on the two things that have worked very well for us in the recent past — turf racing and 2-year-olds. This first book will get our horsemen through the initial three weekends, then we'll be out with a 7-day one that will take us to the finish.”

The condition book is now available on-line at www.dmtc.com/horsemen/condition-book. Hard copies also are being distributed at racing centers throughout California.

The track will offer 16 stakes worth $2,250,000 during the stand, with nine of them run on its Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Additionally, its overnight purses – already among the highest in the nation – will rise by 10% across the board this fall making a good thing even better for its horsemen.

Among its stakes offerings are nine graded events, topped by the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds on Saturday, Nov. 28 and the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes for older fillies and mares on Sunday, Nov. 29. Both are run on turf.

Further, there will be six stakes for juvenile runners, including a pair of graded grass miles.

The stakes lineup with its turf emphasis has drawn a stellar sprinkling of top-line horses from across the country previously and more of the same is expected in 2020.

Racing will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday to open the session, then Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the following three weeks. It will finish with a four-day week kicked off by the Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving holiday.

First post will be 12:30 PT daily with the exception of Thanksgiving Day when there will be an early 11 a.m. post.

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Laurel Reopens to Public on Limited Basis

The Maryland Jockey Club has been the green light by state and county officials to reopen Laurel Park to the public on a limited basis beginning with the Thursday, Oct. 15 program. The move stems from gaining approval from Anne Arundel County, where Laurel Park is located, in addition to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s revised executive order issued Sept. 28, which allows up to 250 spectators at state racetracks. Laurel Park opened its calendar year-ending fall meet Oct. 8, five days after the conclusion of the six-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course.

The 250 persons allowed in the executive order are in addition to owners and other licensed personnel that have been granted access in order to conduct live racing. Post time for Thursday’s eight-race program at Laurel is 12:40 p.m.

Owners, patrons and employees will be granted entry through Laurel’s grandstand entrance after having their temperature screened with a thermal camera. The horsemen’s entrance adjacent to the historic paddock will only be staffed on live race days beginning at 8 a.m. for authorized personnel only. Facial coverings and proper social distancing are required for all persons and will be strictly enforced. Physical barriers have been installed where personal interaction is necessary, and increased disinfection and sanitization of common areas will be in place. Laurel’s simulcast room will be at 50% capacity.

While remaining dark Mondays and Tuesdays, Laurel will be open for simulcasting on Wednesdays as well as live racing Thursday through Sunday in October and November. The first-floor grandstand concession area will operate from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on those days, with the second-floor grandstand sports book bar open Friday through Sunday. Laurel’s first-floor clubhouse, currently being used to accommodate jockeys and valets, will remain closed to the public.

The post Laurel Reopens to Public on Limited Basis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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