Winner disqualified after breaking new whip rules
A jockey becomes the first winner to be disqualified for excessive use of the whip under British racing's new rules.
Author: News
LeRoy Neiman’s ‘Secretariat’ Leads 11th Sporting Art Auction At $146,875
The Sporting Art Auction, a collaboration between Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington and Keeneland, celebrated its 11th edition with gross sales of $2,826,671, headlined by the sale of LeRoy Neiman's iconic Secretariat, a signed oil on board dated '73, for $146,875.
Held recently in Keeneland's Sales Pavilion, the globally prominent auction attracted 112 buyers from four countries who participated in person and remotely.
Eighty-eight percent of the 213 works representing fine Sporting Art, American paintings and sculpture by renowned artists, were sold.
“We were blown away by the interest we received from buyers both new and old at this year's auction,” said Catherine Ladd Kenneally of Cross Gate Gallery. “A shocking amount of works went well beyond our highest estimates, which is a testament to the growing interest collectors and buyers have in sporting art. We were fortunate enough to host our auction at Keeneland after an exceptional season of racing and sales, which undoubtedly inspired more fans to become owners of equine art themselves.”
Among the auction's highlights were eight original works by regional favorite Henry Faulkner. His By Gratz Park, an homage to downtown Lexington's popular neighborhood, and Still Life with Flowers, both signed oil on board pieces, fetched $90,475 and $47,000, respectively.
Neiman's sale-topping Secretariat was one of an impressive grouping of works offered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Big Red's Triple Crown campaign. Two other works honoring the racing legend were among the auction's top prices. A bronze titled Secretariat, signed and inscribed by the sculptor, Edwin Bogucki, brought $82,250 while Richard Stone Reeves' Secretariat, an oil on canvas signed and inscribed by the renowned equine artist, fetched $76,375.
Other notable works included Pheasant Country, an oil on canvas signed, dated 1944 and titled verso by artist Aiden Lassell Ripley, sold for $76,375; Summer, a signed oil on canvas by Andre Pater, brought $70,500; and Flightline, a signed oil on canvas by Charles Church, sold for $55,225.
Keeneland's portion of the auction proceeds continues its mission to benefit non-profit initiatives.
“The Sporting Art Auction is a highlight of our fall season at Keeneland, and we are thrilled with the support it receives from sporting art enthusiasts and the community,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “It's a wonderful way to combine fun and philanthropy in support of our mission.”
For more information, please visit thesportingartauction.com.
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‘It Broke Me, But It Made Me Stronger’: Saffie Joseph Ready To Move Beyond Adversity Of 2023
Saffie Joseph Jr. had good reason to celebrate when he successfully defended his Championship Meet training title over Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher last season. The 36-year-old Barbados native, however, was denied the chance to savor those back-to-back titles at Gulfstream Park's prestigious winter session.
Following the sudden deaths of two horses in competition at Churchill Downs less than a month later, Joseph was suspended by the Louisville, Ky. track May 4. Joseph-trained Lord Miles, the Wood Memorial (G2) winner, was not allowed to run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) two days later.
Joseph was subsequently reinstated by Churchill Downs following a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission investigation that found no conclusive causes for the deaths of the Ken Ramsey-owned horses.
“It broke me,” Joseph said of the emotional toll of dealing with the tragic deaths of two horses and Churchill Downs' subsequent action against him, “but it made me stronger, if anything. I give all the credit to our team and all the owners who have supported me.”
Although C2 Racing Stable LLC continued to support Joseph, their 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio was moved to trainer Richard Dutrow in New York. White Abarrio went on to win the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.
Joseph prefers to look to the future rather than dwell on the past while gearing up for his quest for a Championship Meet three-peat that gets underway Friday.
“I just want to get better – that's always my goal,” Joseph said. “This year we've had a lot of adversity, and everyone stuck together. It taught me all about life.”
Stable stars Skippylongstocking and O'Connor are being pointed to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27.
“They're going to the Pegasus, and I think we have a good shot to win. If everything breaks right, I think we have two strong contenders,” Joseph said.
Skippylongstocking, a multiple graded-stakes winner, is coming off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. O'Connor returned to winning form in his most recent start in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland.
“O'Connor, it was good to see him finally have a good race. I always thought a lot of him. He was impressive in his debut and then he disappointed in the Harlan's Holiday and ran bad in last year's Pegasus,” Joseph said. “It gave him confidence. It gave us confidence. He's probably going to run in the [Dec. 30] Harlan's Holiday (G3) before the Pegasus.”
Joseph hopes to get off to a fast start with a stakes victory on opening weekend, when he is scheduled to saddle undefeated R Harper Rose for a start in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile final of the fillies division of the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.
Joseph prevailed over Pletcher in the win column, 47-41, last season to defend the first Championship Meet title that he won over the Hall of Famer, 58-46, during the 2021-2022 season. Following a second-place finish for the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, during which Pletcher won his 18th consecutive title at the prestigious winter meet, Joseph has won eighth consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park, including the recently concluded Sunshine Meet title in which he tied Victor Barboza Jr.
Joseph had early success in Barbados, where he became the youngest trainer to sweep the country's Triple Crown with Areutalkintome in 2009 at the age of 22. He ventured to South Florida two years later with lofty goals that have driven his success.
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Del Mar’s 2024 Summer Meet Will Begin July 20; Later Start Due To San Diego County Fair Extension
Del Mar will open its 2024 summer meeting – the 85th at the iconic seaside oval – on Saturday, July 20.
The slightly-later-than-usual start to the season was keyed by the fact that the San Diego Country Fair will conduct its popular gathering a bit past its usual finale on July 4, going forward instead to Sunday, July 7.
Del Mar will need the extra time from July 8 onward to prepare its racing surfaces and stable area for the start of the meet and to ensure its safety protocols are all in place.
The summer meet will provide eight weeks of racing and conclude on Sunday, September 8.
Further, Del Mar also has finalized its fall racing dates which will be highlighted by the 41st edition of the Breeders' Cup, the third time the championship event has come to the shore.
Opening Day of the 11th Bing Crosby Season will be on Thursday, October 31. Then that Friday and Saturday – November 1 and 2 – will showcase the 14 Breeders' Cup races with $31 million in purses and awards.
In total the fall meet will operate for five weeks and conclude on Sunday, December 1.
Del Mar's allocation of the 2024 Southern California racing calendar was approved this past August by the California Horse Racing Board.
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