Keeneland Library Lecture Series To Include Four Events During Winter/Spring 2024

Keeneland Library's popular Lecture Series returns in winter/spring 2024 with four ticketed events that celebrate recently published works about Thoroughbred racing whose authors conducted research at Keeneland Library. For event details and to purchase tickets, please visit Keeneland.com/library.

During programs planned from January through May, the following authors will discuss their books, with each presentation followed by a reception and book signing:

  • Jan. 24 – Kim Wickens, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse.
  • Feb. 21 – Fred M. Kray, Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age.
  • March 7 – John Paul Miller, False Riches.
  • May 9 – Avalyn Hunter, The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies.

“The authors in this lineup cover varied and engrossing territory,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “From a chronicle of legendary racehorse and sire Lexington to a gripping account of superstar Alydar, and from a novel of race track intrigue to a comprehensive history of the Kentucky Oaks, this series is sure to please our fans of racing and newcomers alike.”

Released in July, Wickens' Lexington has become a national bestseller and earned a nomination by the publisher for a Pulitzer Prize in the historical nonfiction category.

“I love Keeneland Library not only for the wealth of information housed there, but because this award-winning library opens its doors and knowledge to everyone, whether a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, unpublished author, sportswriter, historian or fan who just wants to find out a little more about that horse, jockey or trainer,” Wickens said. “Keeneland Library is a special place and one that is dear to me. I spent many weeks there in this home away from home leafing page by page through some of the oldest sports periodicals in existence. Only because of Keeneland Library was I able to piece together Lexington's history.”

Hunter's The Kentucky Oaks, set to release next spring, traces the evolution of the classic through the stories of the men, women and fillies who made the race a symbol for women's growing participation in the sport.

“I'm delighted to be part of the Keeneland Library Lecture Series,” Hunter said. “The Library is a treasure to any researcher interested in the history of the Thoroughbred and has been generous with its help on research issues. I'm glad to have the opportunity to share some of what I have learned about the history of the Kentucky Oaks and to contribute to the Library's unique place in the Thoroughbred community.”

All programs will be held at Keeneland Library from 6:30-8:30 p.m. ET.

Partial proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Keeneland Library Foundation, which supports the Library's preservation, education and outreach mission and funds projects to expand access to its collections.

Founded in 1939, Keeneland Library is one of the world's largest repositories of information related to Thoroughbred racing, housing nearly 30,000 books, more than 1 million photographic negatives and prints, and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles about all aspects of the equine industry. At the globally renowned public research institution, Library staff has assisted thousands of journalists, writers, academics, historians, racing fans and others with research.

The Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the Library, enter Keeneland at Gate 1 (Man o' War Blvd.) on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.

For more information, visit Keeneland.com/library.

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FanDuel Joins John Deere, Keeneland, The Jockey Club As Presenting Sponsors Of 53rd Eclipse Awards

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has announced that FanDuel will be joining John Deere, Keeneland, and The Jockey Club as presenting sponsors of the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards, honoring Thoroughbred racing's champions of 2023, which will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024, at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida.

“We are extremely grateful to our newest presenting sponsor FanDuel in joining John Deere, Keeneland, and The Jockey Club to partner with the NTRA in presenting the Eclipse Awards to the whole of the thoroughbred racing industry,” said Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA. “Together with our other many supportive partners, we are excited to bring the Eclipse Awards back to the Breakers Palm Beach for the second consecutive year to celebrate another exhilarating year of racing.”

FanDuel will also broadcast live the Eclipse Awards ceremony on January 25.

In addition to the presenting sponsors, many other organizations have pledged their support and are serving as official partners of the event. Official Partners for the event include 1/ST, Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs Incorporated, Daily Racing Form, Dean Dorton Equine, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Hallway Feeds, Monmouth Park, New York Racing Association, Oaklawn Park, Palm Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room, Racetrack Television Network, Rood and Riddle, Spendthrift, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier mobile gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across sports betting, iGaming, horse racing, advance-deposit wagering and daily fantasy sports. In addition, FanDuel Group operates FanDuel TV, its broadly distributed linear cable television network and FanDuel TV+, its leading direct-to-consumer OTT platform. FanDuel Group has a presence across all 50 states with approximately 17 million customers and 25 retail locations. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment plc, (LSE: FLTR) the world's largest sports betting and gaming operator with a portfolio of globally recognized brands.

John Deere is the Official Equipment Supplier of agricultural, turf, and construction equipment to the NTRA and Breeders' Cup, and the proud Tractor Supplier of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology, and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction — those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich, and build upon the land to meet the world's increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. For additional information and savings, contact Equine Benefits at 866-678-4289.

Since its founding in 1936, Keeneland has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. Keeneland plays a prominent role in both breeding and racing, serving as the world's largest Thoroughbred auction house and conducting world-class racing twice annually during its Spring and Fall Meets. In furtherance of its mission, Keeneland reinvests its earnings in the form of higher purses and support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions focused on education, research, the arts, and health and human services throughout the Central Kentucky community.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club (www.jockeyclub.com), directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans, and farms.

Information about the Eclipse Awards, including host hotels, can be found at https://www.ntra.com/eclipse-awards/. Hotel room blocks will be closing in the coming weeks, so please secure your accommodation soon. Should you have any questions please reach out to Michele Ravencraft at mravencraft@ntra.com.

About The Eclipse Awards

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. The Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Eclipse Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

About The Breakers Palm Beach

Originally built in 1896, The Breakers remains one of America's legendary resort destinations. Renowned for its seaside glamour and world-class service, the 538-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach. With unapologetic luxury, Resort amenities feature a private beach, four oceanfront pools, five whirlpool spas, 25 luxury beach bungalows and a variety of watersports; a new luxury spa; indoor-outdoor Ocean Fitness center; 36 holes of championship golf, including the Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones® Course; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; a Family Entertainment Center; an array of on-site boutiques; and nine acclaimed restaurants, with settings ranging from casual beachfront to stylishly sophisticated.

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Jockey Of The Week: Assael Espinoza Leads All North American Riders With 10 Wins

Assael Espinoza put an exclamation point on Golden Gate's closing week posting 10 winners including a stakes race and a five-win day on Saturday. Espinoza's 10 wins led all North American jockeys. The panel of racing experts voted Espinoza Jockey of the Week for December 4 through December 10.

The honor recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Espinoza began the race week on Friday with three wins from eight mounts. Riding for trainer Steve Sherman, Espinoza won the second race with Sir Greyson. His second win came in the third race for trainer Reid France aboard Roses R Blue and his third winner was race eight for trainer Matthew Troy aboard Beaudacious.

With a mount in every race on Saturday's card, Espinoza won five races starting with the second aboard Gonna Getcha Good for trainer Jack Steiner. Riding again for Steiner, Espinoza won the fourth race with Auspicious Style. Back-to-back wins came in race six for trainer Steven Specht with Mother's Prayer and race seven riding Imperial Hornet for Leonard Powell. Espinoza finished the day in race 10 with Roister for trainer Ruby Thomas.

Espinoza continued his winning ways on closing day Sunday with eight mounts on the 10-race card. He started the day with a win in the first race aboard Thirsty Thursday for Reid France. Espinoza saved his biggest win for the day's feature race, the Miss America Stakes riding Signorina Merisi (GB) for Manuel Badilla. Espinoza has been Signorina Merisi's rider in all nine of her starts in the United States. Signornia Merisi closed from fourth in the field of nine fillies and mares to win over race favorite Anthonys Cleopatra by a length in 1:44.11 for the 1 1/16 miles main track event.

Espinoza will celebrate his 24th birthday on December 30 and is the nephew of Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza. The Arcadia, California native scored his first career victory at Santa Anita in February 2018. He moved his tack to Northern California in 2021. He won his second Golden Gate riding title for the 2022-2023 Winter/Spring meet; he finished atop the standings during the 2022 Summer Meet. He won his first graded stakes race November 27, 2021 with Freeport Joe in the G3 Berkeley Handicap for trainer Gloria Haley.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Juan J. Hernandez who won the G2 Starlet, Chris Landeros with a stakes win at Oaklawn Park, Julien Leparoux who also won a stakes race at Oaklawn Park where he is riding for the first time, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins at Gulfstream Park.

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Forever Young Another Potential Star For Yahagi

Real Steel (Jpn) gave the theretofore relatively unknown Yoshito Yahagi a first victory on foreign soil when taking out the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2016. There has been a stack of overseas success since then–including Real Steel's full-sister Loves Only You (Jpn) in America and Hong Kong–and Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) stands an excellent chance to add to the colorful conditioner's record following a smashing victory in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, 20 miles south of Central Tokyo.

Drawn widest in a field of 12, the firming 11-10 favorite on the back of his victory in the Listed JBC Nisai Yushun at northern Mombetsu Nov. 3 broke a bit to his right, but was done no damage, as he quickly zoomed up to press the pace of longshot Oscar Brain (Jpn) (Danon Legend {Jpn}. Second choice Aigle Noir (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) chased the pair from out wide in third. The two market leaders made moves in unison entering the second turn, and Aigle Noir appeared to stick his nose in front nearing the straight, but Forever Young counterpunched inside and careered away in the final furlong to score convincingly. The win was worth 20 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The Yahagi-trained Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) was an intended runner in last year's Run for the Roses, having competed in the G3 Saudi Derby the G2 UAE Derby, where he was behind last year's Zen-Nippon winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). A physically below-par Continuar was withdrawn from the Derby in the days leading up to the race. Forever Young could chart a similar course, but Yahagi said that the owner is also keen on the new NAR Dirt Triple Crown, consisting of the Haneda Hai (1800m) in April, the Toyko Derby (2000m) in June and the Japan Dirt Derby (2000m), which moves from July to October.

Fujita has made a big splash at home and abroad, paying sometimes-lofty sums for yearlings and 2-year-olds at public auction. Fujita, the founder of Japanese digital advertising company CyberAgent Inc, splashed out ¥517.1 million ($4.7 million) for a then-juvenile colt by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Premier Steps (Ire) (Foostepsinthesand {GB}) at the Chiba 2YO Sale in 2021. Dobune is a two-time listed winner and Group 2-placed in Japan this season with earnings north of ¥156 million.

More recently, Fujita and Yahagi have been represented by Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe winner Sottsass (Fr) who topped the 2022 Arqana August Sale on a bid of €2.1 million. The chestnut colt is two-from-two in his young career, including a last-out victory in Group 3 company, and heads to the G1 Hopeful S. (2000mT) in two weeks' time.

Forever Young connections | Horsephotos

In 2021, Fujita paid a sales-topping $750,000 for the Practical Joke filly Clos de Mesnil at OBS March and from the same sale, he acquired Jasper Krone (Frosted), a $90,000 purchase who won twice at group level this term before traveling to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and last weekend's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Jean Gros (More Than Ready), bought out of the 2021 OBS March Sale for $265,000, gave Fujita his first winner at group level in 2022.

Forever Young is one of three winners from four to race out of Forever Darling, whose marquee success came in the GII Santa Ynez S. in 2016. Second dam Darling My Darling was twice Grade I-placed at two in the colors of Debby Oxley and later won the Raven Run S. and Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland before producing 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), whose 'TDN Rising Star' son Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was part of a thrilling finish in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2. Shug McGaughey trained third dam Roamin Rachel to a victory in the GI Ballerina H. in 1994, and she was sold to Japanese interests for $750,000 in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November Sale before producing Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), Japan's Horse of the Year and winner of the G1 Japan Cup in 2004.

Forever Darling is also the dam of a yearling filly by Kizuna–like Real Steel a son of Deep Impact–and her foal of 2023 is a filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn).

 

 

 

Wednesday, Kawasaki, Japan
ZEN-NIPPON NISAI YUSHUN (Jpn-G1)-Listed, ¥71,400,000, Kawasaki, 12-13, 2yo, 1600m, 1:43.50, yl.
1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Real Steel (Jpn)
1st Dam: Forever Darling, by Congrats
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
(¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥42,000,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, ¥82,200,000.
2–Aigle Noir (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Bricks and Mortar–Ultima Blood (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥14,700,000.
3–Saint Honore (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Epicharis (Jpn)–Lingus Uno (Jpn), by South Vigorous. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-La Mere Inc; B-Matsuura Bokujo; ¥8,400,000.
Margins: 7, 2HF, 1. Odds: 1.10, 1.60, 104.30. Click for the goracing.jp chart.

 

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