Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Arrests in France on Doping, Crime Charges

Twenty-three people remained in custody Tuesday night after searches took place in racing stables throughout France, Italy and Spain, according to a report in Wednesday's Jour de Galop, which reported that those held come from “every racing discipline,” who are being investigated for equine doping, organized crime, and association with criminals, the paper reports.

While the JDG listed several of those arrested, none came from the Thoroughbred discipline, but were all National Hunt or trotting trainers.

They said that the investigation has been ongoing for a year, and was launched at the initiative of the Central Service of Racing and Gaming's specialized interregional entity located in Bordeaux. And while it bears a striking resemblance to the Rossi affair just three months ago, the paper says the two are not linked.

Stephane Piallat, the head of the Central Service of Racing and Gaming, told the JDG that the raids were launched in the early morning hours Tuesday. “The operation, which took place Tuesday beginning at 6 a.m., is unprecedented in its scale. It took place in France, Spain and Italy and is the result of a one-year investigation. Several simultaneous raids were launched, with 80 policemen mobilized. There were several searches,” which yielded results, he said.

“Twenty-one people in France are in custody, and two more in Italy and Spain. The investigation centers around racing—trotting and non. It is too early to say if it also involves (other) equestrian sports. Veterinarian, pharmacists, owners, trainer, jockeys and some of their relatives were arrested.”

The JDG reports that jumps trainers David Cottin, Pascal Journiac, Lub Gabeur, and Junior Gulepa, and trotting trainer Yannick Alain Briand are among those detained. Piallat told the JDG that these cases and the arrests made among the Rossi family in their training center in Marseille in December had “nothing to do with one another,” and were the result of two separate sources.

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San Siro Hosts A Successful Start To The Flat Season

Over 12,000 people passed through the gates of SNAI San Siro Racetrack in Italy over the weekend, as the citizens of Milan celebrated the opening of the Flat season. The course played host to over 4,000 guests on Saturday and more than 8,000 plus on Sunday. Both the Listed Premio Natale de Roma and the Listed Premio Ciro Massimo were held on Sunday and were won by Vis A Vis (Ity) (Mujahid) and Flag's Up (Ire) (War Command), respectively. During the two-day stand, the course held many free initiatives for racegoers and their families from the statue of Leonardo's Horse, to the open-air exhibition '100 Years of Emotions', which chronicles the rich history of the racecourse from 1920 to the present day. There was also live music from Trio delle Meraviglie and the soloist Rebecca. Specifically for children, the Lombard Equestrian Centre held the 'Baptism of the Saddle' with ponies, as well as games and shows by A World of Adventures.

“Many of my new ideas came from US racing and from my hometown, Pisa's San Rossore racetrack, where thoroughbred racing has always been an unparalleled passion,” said Lorenzo Stoppini, the new Director of BU Ippodromi at Snaitech. “I want to give most of the credit to our San Siro marketing staff that were able to promote our racing season all over the vibrant city of Milan, with more than 1.3 million people [which has a] great tradition of fashion, design and top sport[ing] events.”

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Sandrine Will Make 3YO Bow in 1000 Guineas

Kirsten Rausing's Group 2 winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) will make her 2022 debut in the 1600-metre G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1. A winner at first asking over the Kempton all-weather in May of 2021, the daughter of Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) followed up with a score in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, prior to capturing the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. back at HQ in July. Second in the G2 Lowther S. at York on Aug. 19, the consistent filly was third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. to end her year on Sept. 25. The Guineas will be her first time going beyond six furlongs.

“She's great,” trainer Andrew Balding told Sky Sports Racing. “She had a lovely winter holiday back at [the owner's] Lanwades Stud and came back in magnificent condition.

“She's really done well over the winter and we're hopeful she might stay a mile. We'll find that out in the Guineas. If she doesn't, she'll be a very smart sprinter, but she's a horse we're really looking forward to this year.”

Sandrine is not the only star of Balding's yard that holds Classic aspirations. G2 Coventry S. victor Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will also head straight to Newmarket, where he will make his 3-year-old bow in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30. Also a winner when making his racecourse bow, Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) would go on to place second in a pair of Group 3s-the Acomb S. at York in August and the Autumn S. back at headquarters on Oct. 9. He will be pointed to a Classic trail first, as will Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who was listed placed in September.

Said Balding of his Classic colts, “Berkshire Shadow won the Coventry S. last year and ran a very good race at Goodwood, giving weight to Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on soft ground which wasn't ideal for us. That horse subsequently won two Group 1s on soft ground so I think that's pretty good form.

“Then, bar a blip in the Gimcrack, I thought he ran a good race from a moderate draw in the Dewhurst and hit the line well. He'll go straight for the Guineas and would have an outside chance.

“Imperial Fighter and Hoo Ya Mal have a similar level of form and are two nice colts. Whether they are up to Classic standard, we'll find out. Hopefully, they will take in a trial and then we'll see where we are.”

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UK Racecourses To Plant Over 700 Trees For Queen’s Green Canopy

British racecourses are doing their part in the Queen's Green Canopy initiative with the goal of planting more than 700 trees by the end of 2022.

The Queen's Green Canopy, which marks her Platinum Jubilee, invites people from across the UK to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. A total of 23 British racecourses have confirmed their participation, with the official tree-planting season taking place between October and March, and then beginning again in October through to the end of the Jubilee year.

Ascot Racecourse and the Crown Estate jointly planted 70 oak trees adjacent to the Royal Procession route along Duke's Lane in Windsor Great Park on Tuesday. Each tree will be dedicated to one of 70 local schools on May 10th, one for each year of Her Majesty's reign.

Her Majesty's Representative and Chairman at Ascot, Sir Francis Brooke, Bt, said of the project and the racing industry's contribution, “It is fantastic that the racing family has come together in such numbers to be part of this very worthwhile initiative. The last of our 70 trees were planted this morning, at a location in Windsor Great Park on the route of the Royal Procession. We are much looking forward to welcoming the schools in May for what will be a very special day.”

The Jockey Club will be planting more than 500 trees this year as part of the project across their 15 racecourses and three training grounds. Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Aintree and Sandown Park are amongst the courses to be planting trees to commemorate the event across The Jockey Club's sites, who have been working with local experts to ensure the trees to be planted are both local and sustainable with the individual climates of each racecourse or location.

The Jockey Club's Chief Executive, Nevin Truesdale said, “We are thrilled to be playing our part in The Queen's Green Canopy initiative to mark the Platinum Jubilee of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.

“We will be planting trees right across our racecourses and training grounds and our teams have been working hard to ensure the projects we are undertaking will enhance their surroundings for years to come.

“In doing so we hope they will reflect the extraordinary and long-lasting contribution The Queen has made to our sport and the country more widely.”

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