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Equine Aftercare Feeling Financial Impact After Event Cancellations

Equine aftercare nonprofits are poised to take a hit financially from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though horses in their care have been adopted out in record numbers. A plethora of fundraising events for aftercare organizations have been moved online or cancelled completely as health mandates have limited the number of people who can gather.

Multiple Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited organizations have had to cancel events and their staff are concerned about how they will make up for the lost revenue. In addition, many donors are also experiencing financial constraints and may be reluctant to give at the levels they previously have. Organizations that offer grants to equine aftercare entities are also feeling the pinch of limited donations, reports Blood-Horse.

Second Stride, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred rehoming organization, was unable to host their annual pre-Derby party in the spring and they have opted to not hold the in-person party in September, either, as safety protocols keep shifting. The organization now plans to host a virtual event around the Derby that offers a handicapping panel and an online auction.

Win Place Home, a California-based nonprofit, cancelled their spring event, which typically brings in about one-quarter of their yearly revenue. To make up for some of the lost revenue, Win Place Home will offer a week-long silent auction with videos featuring adoptable horses and special guests.

The amount of money nonprofits raise through fundraisers and events is part of what dictates the number of horses each organization can assist. With donations down, organizations may not be able to help as many horses. Surprisingly, aftercare organizations across the country have experienced adoption booms during the pandemic, and not in horses with unlimited second-career potential. Family horses, trail horses and those with limiting injuries were also adopted out in droves.

Interestingly, there has not been an uptick in the number of horses being retired from racing—yet. Though it's unclear what the future holds for equine aftercare, it will hopefully include more donations.

Mogul Swoops For Gordon Triumph

Off the board in three starts since claiming last term’s G2 Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown, Coolmore’s Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was one of the main closers when sixth in last month’s G1 Epsom Derby and stepped back up to the plate to gain compensation in Thursday’s G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. at Goodwood. Steadied off the clear leader in fourth after an alert getaway, the 9-2 chance was coaxed forward once leaving the three-furlong marker behind and swooped late under a power drive to provide a third success for Aidan O’Brien in this renowned stepping stone to elite-level glory. The April-foaled bay’s late surge carried him 3/4-of-a-length beyond Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) with the same margin back to the game pacesetter Subjectivity (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in third. “These horses are in good form, he was tough there and Aidan always said he’d be just right for his third run,” said winning rider Ryan Moore, whose win left Frankie Dettori behind on four as he moved to within one of Sir Gordon Richards and Willie Carson’s joint-record haul of six in the contest. “We’ve always thought a lot of him and I’m very happy with what he’s done today. He’s still a bit babyish and can only progress further,” the rider added.

“We always thought that Mogul was going to take two runs and we were hoping to get that into him before the Derby, but obviously the Derby was only his second run and this was his third today,” explained Aidan O’Brien, who saddled Yellowstone (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) to win this in 2007 and Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2015. “We said this race would suit him, we’re delighted with him and think there is more to come. We were thinking of going to the [Sept. 13 G1] Grand Prix de Paris [at ParisLongchamp] with him next, maybe, and that was the plan if everything went well today. We always thought he was a lovely horse and a horse that was going to suit the Derby, but we thought it would take a couple of runs to get him there. When you look at him he’s built like a miler. He’s a big, strong, powerful horse and carries a lot of muscle and weight so he was always going to take racing to get him tuned up. We weren’t really sure about this horse at a mile-and-a-half, but he toughed it out and it looks like he got it today.”

Fitri Hay’s homebred Golden Gates H. winner Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was a never-threatening 10th in the G1 Epsom Derby and bounced back from that disappointment with a career-best effort here. “We are very, very pleased with the horse,” said trainer Oliver Cole. “I would have to see the race again, but [rider] David Probert thought Mogul came up and he went again. Ryan has obviously ridden a peach and we are very happy to know that we have a very good horse. The advantage we had today was that there weren’t many runners so there wasn’t much hustle and bustle. He could relax and enjoy it without being cramped, which played to his advantage. Maybe the [G2 Great] Voltigeur [at York] next, although it might come a little bit quick.” Bjorn Nielsen’s G1 Epsom Derby fifth English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) went off for this retrieval mission as the 5-4 favourite, but was the first to come under pressure in the straight before staying on without troubling the leaders to finish fourth. “He came off the bridle too early and he was staying on at the end,” said Frankie Dettori. “We are toying with the idea of the [G1] St Leger [at Doncaster].”

Mogul, who was the second-highest priced transaction at Tattersalls’ 2018 October Book 1 yearling sale when knocked down to M V Magnier for 3.4-million guineas, is one of six winners out of Listed Pontefract Castle S. second Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), herself half to G1SW sires Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}). He is thus a full-brother to G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Juddmonte International hero Japan (GB), GSW G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 German Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture (GB), G3 International S. victor Sir Isaac Newton (GB) and a yearling filly. From a family also featuring G1 Prix d’Ispahan-winning sire Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg), Mogul is also a half to MGSP Listed Ipswich Cup winner Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and to the unraced dam of Listed Height of Fashion S. runner-up Shaherezada (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
JOHN PEARCE RACING GORDON S.-G3, £75,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:34.89, gd.
1–MOGUL (GB), 127, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shastye (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr)
3rd Dam: Haglette, by Hagley
(3,400,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £42,533. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 7-3-1-0, $198,290. *Full to Japan (GB), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-Fr, G1SW-Eng, GSW-Ire, $2,021,465; Full to Secret Gesture (GB), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ger, GISP-US, $746,427; Full to Sir Isaac Newton (GB), GSW-Ire, SW-Eng, GSP-Aus, $405,120; 1/2 to Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}), SW & MGSP-Aus, $472,335. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Highland Chief (Ire), 127, c, 3, Gleneagles (Ire)–Pink Symphony (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Paul Cole. £16,125.
3–Subjectivist (GB), 127, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Reckoning (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (62,000gns Ylg ’18 TAOCT). O-Dr J. Walker; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £8,070.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 22.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: English King (Fr), Khalifa Sat (Ire), Al Aasy (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Grayson-JC, Indiana Grand Launch ‘Grayson Grass Challenge’

The “Grayson Grass Challenge,” a five-week handicapping contest benefitting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and sponsored by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, kicks off the week of Aug. 10. Participants will submit selections on two specified turf races each week at Indiana Grand through the week of Sept. 7. Each contestant will be given a $500 bankroll provided by Indiana Grand, of which $100 can be wagered each week. The bankroll can be used for win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers. At the end of the five weeks, all remaining bankroll plus winnings from the contestants will go to Grayson.

“Our sport is not possible without healthy horses, and Grayson funds research projects that facilitate wellness among all horses, including racehorses,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing for Indiana Grand. “I wish our expert handicappers the best of luck in their efforts to raise money for such an important cause.”

The field for the Grayson Grass Challenge will consist of four individuals: Nick Luck, international racing broadcaster; Gabe Prewitt, analyst for Scioto Downs and Pompano Park; Ellis Starr, national racing analyst for Equibase; and Daniel Tordjman, America’s Best Racing handicapper and manager of Partnerships & Sponsorships.

Indiana Grand will also participate with an entry of rotating picks from Nancy Holthus, paddock analyst; Rachel McLaughlin, racing analyst and production manager; and track announcer Bill Downes.
For more information, visit www.grayson-jockeyclub.org.

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Mehmas’s Supremacy Lives Up To the Title In the Richmond

With an impressive listed winner already in the bag in Method (Ire), Tally Ho Stud’s Mehmas (Ire) put more distance between himself and his fellow first-season sires on Thursday as the aptly-named Supremacy (Ire) registered a similarly commanding four-length success in Goodwood’s G2 Qatar Richmond S. Off the mark in dynamic fashion in a six-furlong Windsor maiden July 6, the 11-2 shot was placed quickly at the head of affairs by Adam Kirby and found generously in the final furlong to draw away from the 13-8 favourite Yazaman (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with Lauded (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) a neck away in third. “He’s quite tall and scopey with a long stride and he can quicken,” Kirby commented. “He ran through the line, so it was a very smart performance. Coming into the race, I really liked him and his maiden win was very good. He is all speed, very, very quick. It almost feels as though you have it easy on him–he has an exceptional cruising speed. I didn’t go out there with all guns blazing and the intention of grabbing the rail, it has just kind of happened at that way and as most people would know on a baby if you have got the rail, it can just help.”

This looked a decent renewal, with two TDN Rising Stars Qaader (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Admiral Nelson (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in attendance as well as the G2 July S. runner-up Yazaman, but Supremacy had matters in hand passing the furlong pole. Clive Cox, who took this race 12 months ago with Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) and also has the G2 Coventry S. winner Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), said, “Its fabulous we have two top-class horses and you pinch yourself when things go as well as they have done. He was impressive and one of the comments that Adam made coming back down the chute was he is one for next year too. He’s got a wonderful mind and he won in a very fast time at Windsor, so this was soon enough. In a perfect world, I would have liked another week or two but he has done that so well and has taken a big step forward.”

Another inspired purchase by Clive Cox at £65,000 at the 2019 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, Supremacy looked a long way from being this type of animal when a well-beaten sixth on his racecourse bow at Windsor June 16. That was four days before Nando Parrado took his own leap forward from an unplaced effort on debut at the Royal meeting and it is clear that the Cox juveniles are needing their first outings badly in 2020. He had made a huge jump to Windsor and another here to promise more sprinting heydays for this trainer-jockey combination.

The dam Triggers Broom (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) is a half-sister to Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), who brought Cox and Kirby to prominence at this meeting in 2009 when taking the G2 Vintage S. Also third in the G1 Dewhurst S. and G1 Prix Jean Prat before joining John Moore, he went on to win two renewals of the G1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong. Xtension’s half-sister Beatrix Potter (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) went on to produce Cox’s best yet in the G1 July Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and also last year’s G2 Mill Reef S. winner Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}). Another of his half-siblings A Huge Dream (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) was listed-placed and was later responsible for Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who captured the Listed Polonia S. and Listed Lansdown S. The dam’s yearling colt is by Cotai Glory (GB).

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR RICHMOND S.-G2, £50,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.13, gd.
1–SUPREMACY (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Triggers Broom (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Great Joy (Ire), by Grand Lodge
3rd Dam: Cheese Soup, by Spectacular Bid
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£65,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-J Goddard; B-Kangyu International Racing (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $42,012. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Yazaman (Ire), 126, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Online Alexander (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (185,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Mountarmstrong Stud. (IRE); T-William Haggas. £10,750.
3–Lauded (GB), 126, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Thatsallimsaying (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). (24,000gns Wlg ’18 TATFOA; €46,000 Ylg ’19 TIRSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing & Manor House Racing; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Tom Dascombe. £5,380.
Margins: 4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 5.50, 1.63, 10.00.
Also Ran: Admiral Nelson (GB), Qaader (Ire), Gussy Mac (Ire), Talbot (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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