Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Owners Barred From French Tracks As Lockdown Begins

France Galop has confirmed that racing will be allowed to continue in the country during the new lockdown which came into force at midnight on Thursday.

The action will return to being staged behind closed doors with only key personnel allowed to attend. The trainer and one member of staff per runner will be permitted but owners and spectators are no longer allowed to be present at race meetings in France. The current restrictions are expected to be in place for at least a month.

A statement released by the sport’s governing body on Friday read, “All race meetings will take place without the public, within a strictly defined framework of racing behind closed doors that includes the application of a set of very rigorous specifications. Only racing professionals who are involved in the race meeting will be admitted to the racecourse.

“Since the beginning of the health crisis, racing industry stakeholders and horseracing organisations have demonstrated their ability and determination to implement all of the sanitary rules with extreme efficiency and thus will be able to reconcile the necessary continuance of the economic activity with the preservation of their health and that of their families and friends in this new period of lockdown.”

The final Group 1 races of the season in France took place at Saint-Cloud and ParisLongchamp over last weekend with limited spectators in attendance. The Flat turf season got off to a delayed start on May 12 following an initial two-month lockdown with no racing in France from mid-March.

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Given Appointed To BHA Welfare Role

James Given will cease training at the end of the year to take up the role of Director of Equine Health and Welfare with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) from January.

Given qualified as a vet in 1990 and was assistant trainer to fellow vet Mark Johnston before starting training in his own right in 1998. Since then his stable has been represented by the G2 Flying Childers S. victrix Wunders Dream (Ire) and fellow group winners Dandino (GB), Trick Or Treat (GB), Summitville (GB), Jessica’s Dream (Ire), Lady Gloria (GB) and Indian Days (GB) as well as the classy stayer Hugs Dancer (GB).

Currently chair of the BHA’s Ethics Committee, he is also a member of the racing industry’s Horse Welfare Board and a trustee of the British Racing School.

Given, who will replace David Sykes in the role, said, “I am delighted to be joining the BHA and welcome the opportunity to strive for ever-improving welfare standards for racehorses. The current standards are world leading, but there is no time to rest on our laurels in a world demanding greater accountability. I look forward to working with colleagues across the industry, to show that racing is a compassionate sport that puts the welfare of horses at the centre of all we do. I know I am joining a team that shares and represents these ideals.”

He added, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a trainer and am eternally grateful to all the people who have helped me along this journey—to the owners, many who have become friends, and the outstanding people who have been part of my team, over many years of hard work. I am also grateful to all the horses, fast and slow, willing and less so, that it has been a privilege and a pleasure to look after.”

The BHA’s chief regulatory office Brant Dunshea commented, “We are extremely excited to welcome James to this role. He brings with him not only extensive clinical experience as a veterinarian, but also first-hand experience of training racehorses at the highest level. He has already been integral to the development of the industry’s welfare strategy through his involvement on the Horse Welfare Board, this will complement the equally important regulatory requirements of the role.

“We are delighted that James will be able to continue the excellent work of David Sykes who has made significant progress in his time at the BHA in modernising the equine health and welfare department and improving the quality of life of our horses. We are grateful to David for everything he has done on behalf of the sport.”

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Seven Horses Die In Lorry Fire

There was a tragic postscript to the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale when a lorry carrying horses from Newmarket to Spain caught fire. Seven of the 10 horses on board lost their lives but no people were injured in the accident.

Dominick Mahony, the Spanish representative for Tattersalls, said on Friday morning, “It is very sad. The horses were on their way to Madrid racecourse and I believe one of the front tyres burst and the lorry caught fire. It was very windy and the wind fanned the flames which spread very quickly. They managed to get four of the horses off the lorry and three of them have survived but one has sadly had to be put down.”

He added, “I have spoken to all of the new owners of the horses involved and they are devastated. It is a dreadful ending to what had been a very good sale and there were 28 to 30 horses on their way to Spain and Portugal from Tattersalls.”

The accident is reported to have taken place in France and two of the horses on board were on their way to join the stable of Spanish champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta.

He said, “We bought two horses at the sale. Mexico City survived and sadly Wise Counsel did not. He was a lovely colt and it is just terribly sad.”

The Group 3-placed juvenile Mexico City (Fr) (No Nay Never) was bought from Ballydoyle, while 4-year-old Wise Counsel, a 96-rated treble winner for Clipper Logistics and Clive Cox was a horse with a strong connection to Spain as a half-brother to Noozhoh Canarias (Spa) (Caradak {Ire}). The latter was runner-up to Karakontie in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when trained in Madrid by Enrique Leon. He now stands on the stallion roster at Yeguada Torreduero.

Among the Spanish buyers at the sale were trainer Oscar Anaya, who purchased seven horses, and agent Alex Mahony of EAM Bloodstock, who signed for six.

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Tarnawa on Song for Breeders’ Cup

MG1SW Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) is in good form heading toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 7. The 4-year-old filly who races in the colours of His Highness The Aga Khan is cross entered in both the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and the GI Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf. Christophe Soumillon has the ride. The chestnut has won all three starts this year beginning in the G3 Give Thanks S. at Cork on Aug. 8. She later added the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille and the Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines, both at ParisLongchamp.

“I’ve been delighted with Tarnawa,” said trainer Dermot Weld. “We purposefully planned an autumn campaign with her. She won the Prix Vermeille very nicely and went back and won the Prix de l’Opera and has progressed from those two Group 1 wins. We’ve kept her on the same training schedule. She’s a very straightforward filly to train. She did a nice bit of sharp work last week and I was very happy with the way she went.

“It’s pretty certain that she’ll go to the Turf. It’s a pretty tight track with a short straight and there will likely be a bigger field in the Filly & Mare race, so the chance of getting a bad draw increases. Christophe Soumillon will definitely ride her. I thought he gave her two perfect rides when she won her two Group 1s and you don’t break a winning combination.”

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