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Emblem Road Makes Successful Return in Riyadh

Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz's Emblem Road (Quality Road), who caused one of the biggest upsets of the 2022 racing season anywhere in the world when defeating an international field in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, took a major step towards a defense of that title with a convincing four-length success in a $25,289 allowance going the one-turn 1600 meters at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh Friday.

Drawn gate four and asked to carry 62kg (136 pounds), the mount of Alexis Moreno was clearly last into stride and was guided into the clear inside the opening quarter-mile, then proceeded to improve his position into midfield passing the halfway point. Some six or seven wide into the bend, the 5-year-old caught the eye approaching the 600-meter marker as he began to wind up with a menacing run nearing the straight. Racing on his left lead, Emblem Road struck to the lead with about a furlong to travel and was pushed out under mild hands-and-heels encouragement to score by four lengths (see below).

A perennial leading local jockey, Moreno guided Emblem Road to three consecutive scores in 2021 and 2022, including the $213,000 Prince Faisal Cup, a local Saudi Cup prep, this time last year. When Moreno elected to retain the mount on King's Cup hero Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) for the Saudi Cup, that opened the door for Wigberto Ramos to take over aboard Emblem Road and the duo came storming down the center of the track to best Country Grammer (Tonalist) by a half-length, with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) third. Making Miracles was fourth.

Emblem Road, $230,000 Keeneland September yearling and $80,000 OBS June breezer, was winning for the eighth time from 11 starts overall. He was last seen in France last July when he finished fifth of sixth as the somewhat surprising favorite in the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, his only start on the turf to date.

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Santa Anita Cancels Saturday Card

With a 100% probability of rain for this coming Saturday, officials at Santa Anita Park have announced the cancellation of the day's eight-race program. Following discussions with the California Thoroughbred Trainers, Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Horse Racing Board, the races originally scheduled for Saturday will be offered as extras for Sunday, Monday (holiday racing) and Friday, Jan. 20. The GIII La Canada S. is currently listed as an extra for Sunday. Friday, Jan. 20 was meant to be a dark day given Monday's MLK-day program.

“With the significant rain that we've experienced within the past week and with what is currently predicted for Saturday, we wanted to let our fans and horsemen know well in advance that we'll reschedule these races” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager. “Although we've got wet weather in the forecast this weekend, it looks like we're going to be turning the corner and we look forward to sunny skies later next week.”

Although live racing has been cancelled this Saturday, Santa Anita will open for simulcast wagering beginning at 10 a.m.

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TAA Official Charity of Eclipse Awards

In-person attendees of the Eclipse Awards will have the opportunity to donate to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and learn more about its mission through on-screen displays of TAA's messaging at the Eclipse Awards, to be held Jan. 26 at The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida. The TAA is the official charity partner of the event.

“As we convene to recognize the most accomplished horses and humans of 2022, the NTRA is proud to recognize the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as the Official Charity of the 52nd Eclipse Awards,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “The work of the TAA is vital to the longevity of our sport, and we hope everyone dependent on these magnificent creatures for their livelihood and enjoyment will join us in honoring them during this time of reflection and beyond.”

In conjunction with NTRA, Lilly Pulitzer will host a “Sip, Shop, and Support” event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with 10% of the proceeds to benefit the TAA. In addition to the free beverages provided by Lilly Pulitzer, the TAA will be raffling off a hand-painted Lilly Pulitzer purse. Raffle tickets are $20 with 100% of proceeds benefitting the nationwide aftercare nonprofit. Raffle tickets can be purchased during the in-store event in Palm Beach on Worth Avenue.

In addition to the in-person festivities, the TAA will kick off its second annual Off to the Races online auction Thursday, Jan. 26 consisting of VIP experience packages on major race days in 2023 and 2024. The online auction will remain open for 8 days, with more details to be announced by the TAA in the coming weeks.

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Privman To Receive Special Eclipse Award

Jay Privman, who retired from the Daily Racing Form in late 2022 after a career spanning six decades, will be presented with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence at the 52nd Eclipse Award ceremonies to be held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, Jan. 26.

“This is quite humbling and most appreciated, as it has been bestowed by my peers and those I covered,” Privman said. “I get very emotional seeing whose names have also won a Special Award, like the greatest rider I ever saw, Laffit Pincay, Jr., and the great racing journalist Charles Hatton. The number 30 is used in print journalism to signify the end of a story, so I find it incredibly moving to be the 30th recipient of the Special Award at the close of my career.”

Privman's storied career as a reporter began when working part-time as a college student for the Los Angeles Daily News and he covered his first race in 1980–the GI Malibu S. won by future Hall of Famer Spectacular Bid. He assumed a full-time role with the publication from 1981-1991, then became the West Coast editor for The Racing Times (1991-1992) and a West Coast correspondent for the New York Times from 1992-1998. From 1983-1998, he was also a correspondent for The Thoroughbred Record and Thoroughbred Times.

Privman joined DRF in 1998 as national correspondent and taking over the 'Derby Doings' column launched several years earlier by his mentor, the late Joe Hirsch. Privman joined Hirsch on the National Museum of Racing Roll of Honor in 2021 and retired last September, a short time after covering Flightline's historic victory in the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar, the first track he ever attended. He and his wife, Anne Warner, reside in nearby Carlsbad.

Privman covered each running of the Kentucky Derby from 1982 through 2019 (missing 2020 and 2021 because of covid and surgery for bladder cancer, respectively) before returning for the 2022 Triple Crown. He was also on hand for every Breeders' Cup from the inaugural in 1984 through 2021 (missing 2020 because of the pandemic).

Privman is actively involved in many charitable endeavors, and as a key member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, has provided invaluable guidance on matters affecting his colleagues and the sport.

In addition to his distinguished career in turf writing, Privman also covered horse racing on television for CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and NBCSN. Privman also was the longtime co-host of the radio show Thoroughbred Los Angeles on KLAA-AM 830.

“For over three decades, Jay Privman has been the gold standard of professionalism and objectivity in news reporting,” said Steven Crist, former Editor-in-Chief at The Racing Times and former CEO and Publisher of Daily Racing Form. “He is widely respected by both his readers and his fellow journalists throughout the sport, and his exemplary coverage will be missed.”

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