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Indiana Grand Provides Donation To Kickstart Shelbyville’s ‘Festival Of Lights’

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino recognizes the vast amount of activities either canceled or postponed for the community this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, the company has made a $10,000 donation to Shelby Parks and Recreation to kickstart a new holiday tradition. “Festival of Lights” will soon be coming to Shelbyville's Blue River Memorial Park in cooperation with the City of Shelbyville, who also matched the funds for the light display.

A total of 17 light fixtures will be on display on the inner circle of Blue River Memorial Park beginning with the kick-off of the annual Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. The parade will extend from Walmart to Blue River Memorial Park, featuring the new “Holiday of Lights” near the end of the route. The light display will then be available nightly from 5 until 9:30 p.m. through Christmas Eve. The light display will be free to those driving through, and those wishing to make a donation may do so at the end of the display.

“We are really excited, and the Mayor is really excited too about this donation,” said Karen Martin, Parks Department Director. “Because of COVID-19, people haven't been able to get out and our programs are just now starting up. We've been wanting to do something like this for a long time, we just couldn't get the buy-in to get it started. Hopefully, it will grow each year.”

The donation is part of the ongoing operational plan from Indiana Grand Racing & Casino's Community Outreach program for 2020. The committee was searching for a way to support an event in the community when the “Festival of Lights” concept came into focus.

“It's been a very tough year for a lot of folks, and we wanted to do something special for the community,” said Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager at Indiana Grand. “We believe supporting an event such as the light display will provide the entire area with a new way to celebrate the holiday season. We are always proud to partner with the City of Shelbyville on events such as this one.”

Along with the Parks Department and the City of Shelbyville, the Shelby County Tourism and Visitor's Bureau is also getting involved to enhance the holiday parade and “Festival of Lights” experience.

“It should be a great way to kick off our holiday season here in Shelby County,” added Martin. “We hope those driving through will consider a donation so we can expand and add to the display in the future.”

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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Keeneland Catalogs 3,777 Horses For November Breeding Stock Sale

Keeneland has cataloged 3,777 horses for the 2020 November Breeding Stock Sale, which opens Monday, Nov. 9, two days after Keeneland hosts the Breeders' Cup World Championships for the second time. Buyers will be able to participate in the auction remotely through online and telephone bidding options successfully introduced at the September Yearling Sale, while the new bidding location at the Show Barn next to the Sales Pavilion again will be available to allow for proper social distancing.

Keeneland's COVID-19 protocols for the November Sale will be similar to those used for the September Sale.

For the November Sale, a total of 1,832 broodmares and broodmare prospects, 1,404 weanlings, 531 horses of racing age and 10 stallions have been cataloged. Keeneland will continue to accept supplemental entries for the premier Book 1 and for the horses of racing age segment of the sale.

The November Sale catalog is online on Keeneland.com. Print catalogs will be mailed Oct. 19.

“The November Sale is a globally important source of premium bloodstock, and the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland immediately beforehand will only heighten the excitement surrounding the sale,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “This year's catalog features a number of unique offerings, led by stakes-winning fillies, among them ones scheduled to compete in the Breeders' Cup, and stakes-producing mares in foal to leading sires. Weanlings are another important segment of the November Sale, and we are especially excited to see members of the first crop of foals by undefeated 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Meanwhile, the portion of the sale dedicated to horses of racing age has proven very popular with trainers.”

2020 November Sale schedule

The November Sale will span 10 sessions, two fewer than in 2019. The format is as follows:

Book 1 – Monday, Nov. 9. Session begins at noon ET. A total of 244 horses are cataloged.

All remaining sessions begin at 10 a.m.:

Book 2-6 – Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Horses of racing age highlight sessions on Monday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17. They represent such leading consignors as ELiTE, Lane's End, Paramount Sales, Taylor Made Sales Agency and WinStar Farm.

Keeneland will livestream the entire November Sale at Keeneland.com.

Remote bidding options available

Prospective buyers who attend the November Sale or participate in the auction remotely have a number of ways to prepare. The first step is to register for an account and establish credit within the Keeneland Sales Portal. Keeneland recommends doing so two weeks before the sale.

Remote bidding options at Keeneland sales integrate directly with the live auction experience in real time, just as if a buyer were standing in the Sales Pavilion.

Online bidding: Buyers may watch a real-time video view of the live sale and bid simultaneously from Keeneland's online bidding platform accessible through their accounts in the Keeneland Sales Portal.

Phone bidding: Buyers can use the Keeneland Sales Portal to participate in bidding on horses in the November Sale by phone. Please notify Keeneland at least 24 hours prior to bidding. A Keeneland representative will call back prior to the bidding.

The Keeneland Sales team is available to answer any questions about expanded bidding options and the November Sale. Please contact Director of Sales Accounting Brent Hacker at 859 288-4231 or bhacker@keeneland.com.

Prominent sires represented by weanlings, in-foal broodmares

The November Sale is a vibrant marketplace for weanlings and in-foal broodmares with connections to exciting young stallions and successful established sires. Joining the aforementioned Justify as sires with their first weanlings in this year's catalog are 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, champions Good Magic and West Coast, and Breeders' Cup winners City of Light and Mendelssohn.

A total of 170 sires are represented by weanlings in the catalog, including American Pharoah, Arrogate, Bernardini, Constitution, Curlin, Distorted Humor, Empire Maker, Flatter, Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Kitten's Joy, Lope de Vega (IRE), Malibu Moon, Medaglia d'Oro, Not This Time, Nyquist, Outwork, Pioneerof the Nile, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Speightstown, Tapit, Uncle Mo, Union Rags and War Front.

Broodmares in the catalog are in foal to 187 stallions, among them Always Dreaming, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Bernardini, Candy Ride (ARG), Catholic Boy, City of Light, Constitution, Curlin, Distorted Humor, Ghostzapper, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, Kitten's Joy, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d'Oro, Not This Time, Outwork, Quality Road, Speightstown, Street Sense, Tapit, Uncle Mo, Union Rags and War Front.

Champions Mitole and Vino Rosso and Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach and Yoshida (JPN) are among the stallions represented by their first in-foal mares in the catalog.

Improbable, Shedaresthedevil among successful November Sale graduates

A number of accomplished runners in 2020 were offered at the November Sale as weanlings and horses of racing age.

Leading the runners who were weanlings at the November Sale is Improbable, whose three consecutive Grade 1 wins put him atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll as of Sept. 28. Improbable's Grade 1 string covers the Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney and Awesome Again.

Another standout sold as a weanling at the November Sale is Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil.

Other successful horses in 2020 who were offered as weanlings at the November Sale include additional Grade 1 winners Keeper Ofthe Stars (Gamely) and Serengeti Empress (Ballerina); Grade 2 winners Bast (Santa Ynez), Diamond Oops (Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by Sysco and Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix), Ete Indien (Fountain of Youth), Laura's Light (San Clemente), Mr. Monomoy (Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford), Mutasaabeq (Bourbon), Sleepy Eyes Todd (Charles Town Classic), Speaktomeofsummer (Lake Placid) and United (Charles Whittingham, Eddie Read, John Henry Turf Championship, San Marcos) and Grade 3 winners Chaos Theory (Green Flash), Dean Martini (Ohio Derby), Down On Da Bayou (UAE Oaks Sponsored by Range Rover), Fly On Angel (Charles Town Oaks), Identifier (Hal's Hope), Island Commish (Kitten's Joy), Ms Peintour (Astra), Neptune's Storm (San Francisco Mile), Selflessly (Lake George), Sittin On Go (Iroquois Presented by Ford), Sombeyay (Canadian Turf) and Trophy Chaser (Challenger).

Shedaresthedevil was a 2-year-old with four starts, including a Grade 2 placing, when she returned to the November Sale in 2019 as a horse of racing age. Joining her as Grade 1 winners of 2020 who also were offered as horses of racing age at the auction are Santa Anita Handicap winner Combatant and Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner Starship Jubilee.

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Grade 1-Placed Louisiana Stallion Givemeaninit Dies Of EPM

Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, La., announced Thursday, Oct. 1 the loss of first-year stallion Givemeaminit to EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis).

“Anyone who has been involved in the Thoroughbred breeding business is aware of the heartbreaks that often come with it,” a statement from the farm read. “That became abundantly clear to us here at Clear Creek Stud this morning when we lost first year stallion Givemeaminit to EPM.”

The first son of leading Louisiana stallion Star Guitar to enter stud, Givemeaminit was second in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes as a 2-year-old and fourth in that year's Breeders Cup Juvenile.

As a 3-year-old, he won the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint, was third in the G3 Pat Day Mile and was the Louisiana-bred champion colt or gelding. The Valene Farms LLC runner was trained throughout his career by Dallas Stewart and had career earnings of $428,580.

Givemeaminit stood for an advertised fee of $2,500 during his lone season at stud.

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Pegasus World Cup, Florida Derby Highlight 2019-2020 Championship Meet At Gulfstream Park

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, which has evolved into one of sport's most exciting and prestigious days, and the Florida Derby, producer of an amazing 60 Triple Crown race winners, will highlight Gulfstream Park's 2020-2021 Championship Meet that begins Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Having attracted the world's top horses and horsemen since 1939, Gulfstream's Championship Meet will offer a total of 75 stakes, including 41 graded-stakes, worth $13.06 million in purses.

Entering its fifth year, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series has continued to attract the sport's biggest stars including champions Arrogate, Gun Runner and California Chrome as well as 2019 winner City of Light and international sensations Aerolithe, Kukulkan and Magic Wand. The race has also brought out stars from film, music and fashion including Jennifer Lopez, Post Malone, Snoop Dogg, Olivia Culpo, Usher, Vanessa Hudgens, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell and Bella Thorne.

Pegasus World Cup Day falls on Jan. 23, 2021 and will feature a total of seven stakes, all graded, worth $4.8 million led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the grass.

Gun Runner, Horse of the Year in 2017; 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome; 2016 Longines World's Best Racehorse Arrogate, the champion 3-year-old colt of 2016; and Mexico's undefeated Triple Crown champion Kukulkan are among the prominent horses that have competed in the Pegasus World Cup since its 2017 debut.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf saw its inaugural winner Bricks and Mortar go on to complete an undefeated 2019 season and be named both champion turf male and Horse of the Year. Irish star Magic Wand, a multiple group stakes winner of nearly $5 million in purses, has finished second in both years of the event.

Florida Derby Day will take place March 27, 2021 anchored by the $800,000 Florida Derby (G1), the country's leading classic prep race that has produced 45 starters that have gone on to win 60 Triple Crown events, a list that grew when 2020 winner Tiz the Law captured the Belmont Stakes (G1) in June.

The 1 1/8-mile Derby for 3-year-olds highlights a day of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.95 million in purses. Among the graded events is the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the Derby's 3-year-old filly counterpart, won in 2020 by Swiss Skydiver, who became only the sixth filly in history to capture the Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3.

The Derby is the culmination of a rich and diverse stakes schedule for 3-year-olds during the Championship Meet that kicks off with the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Jan. 2 and continues with the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3) and $100,000 Swale (G3) Jan. 30, $350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Hutcheson (G3) March 6.

Tiz the Law launched his sophomore season in the Holy Bull, a race that has produced a number of Grade 1 winners including Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Always Dreaming (2017) and Barbaro (2016); Florida Derby winners Audible (2018), Dialed In (2011), Friends Lake (2004) and Harlan's Holiday (2002); as well as Grade 1 winners Jackson Bend, Editor's Note and Keen Ice.

Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winners Orb (2013), Thunder Gulch (1995), Spectacular Bid (1979) and Tim Tam (1958) are among dozens of horses that have gone on to further graded success through the history of the Fountain of Youth, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021.

Sophomore fillies also have a lucrative series on dirt to target, anchored by the Gulfstream Park Oaks and preceded by the $100,000 Cash Run Jan. 1, $100,000 Glitter Woman Jan. 2, $100,000 Forward Gal (G3) Jan. 30 and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) Feb. 27.

Gulfstream's 3-year-old turf stakes include the $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3) and $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) Jan. 30, $100,000 Palm Beach (G3) and $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Cutler Bay and $100,000 Sanibel Island March 27.

Among the major events scheduled for Gulfstream's world-class turf course are the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 12, $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3) Jan. 9, $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) Feb. 13, $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) and $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3) Feb. 27, and $200,000 Pan American (G2) and $100,000 Appleton (G3) March 27.

Graded turf stakes for older fillies and mares include the $150,000 Marshua's River (G3) and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 23, $100,000 Suwannee River (G3) Feb. 6, $150,000 Honey Fox (G3) and $150,000 The Very One (G3) Feb. 27, and $100,000 Orchid (G3) March 27.

For the ninth consecutive year, Gulfstream will play host to the $835,000 Claiming Crown on the Championship Meet's opening Saturday, Dec. 5. The Claiming Crown, comprised of nine stakes races featuring the blue-collar horses that are the backbone of the racing industry, is highlighted by the $200,000 Jewel.

Florida-breds will be in the spotlight once again Jan. 16 with the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Day program featuring the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, which has produced such horses as Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man, multiple Grade 1 winner Lava Man and the popular 16-time career winner Best of the Rest.

The Championship Meet stakes schedule can be viewed at: gulfstreampark.com/championship-meet.

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