Grade I winner Cupid (Tapit) will stand the 2024 breeding season at Atlanta Hall in Monkton, Maryland, the farm announced on Monday. The 10-year-old, who previously stood at Ashford Stud in Versailles, KY, since 2018, will be Atlanta Hall's first stallion.
“This transfer from Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky to our prestigious and historic facility marks an exciting new chapter for both Cupid and Atlanta Hall Farm,” Garrett Murray, stallion manager and owner of Atlanta Hall, said. “We are honored to welcome Cupid to our esteemed stallion roster, and we look forward to working with breeders to bring his exceptional genetics to the next generation of champions.”
Trained by Bob Baffert, Cupid won the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita, GII Rebel S., GII West Virginia Derby and GII Indiana Derby and amassed a career line of 13-6-1-0, $1,701,873. The third-crop stallion has been represented by seven stakes winners and four graded stakes winners overall and is the sire of this year's GI Summer S. winner Carson's Run, and GIII West Virginia Governor's S. winner Duke of Love.
Cupid will stand his initial season in the Mid-Atlantic region for a fee of $8,000, S&N.
Winter Storm Elliott is expected to bring gusty winds, arctic cold and threats of flash freezing to the Mid-Atlantic over the weekend. To prepare, the Maryland Jockey Club has postponed its Dec. 26 Christmastide Stakes Day program.
“Due to the weather conditions expected throughout the weekend, we decided to cancel our Monday program early and accommodate our fans as well as the horsemen and horsewomen who will be participating in this exceptional day of racing,” said Mike Rogers, Acting President of the Maryland Jockey Club.
The entire 11-race slate will shift to Friday, Dec. 30 with a post time of 11:25 a.m. Live racing is scheduled to resume Thursday, Dec. 29 with the 48-day fall meet finale set for Saturday, Dec. 31.
Featuring six $100,000 stakes, the Christmastide program includes, the Heft S. for 2-year-olds and Gin Talking S. for 2-year-old fillies at seven panels, each; 6 1/2-furlong Willa On the Move S. and 1 1/8 Carousel S. for older fillies and mares; and six furlong Dave's Friend S. and Robert T. Manfuso S. going 1 1/16 for 3-year-olds and up.
Madeline Rowland's journey to becoming a jockey reached the next level last Sunday when she scored her first win on the NYRA circuit over the Aqueduct main track.
Still just a teenager and already over the million-dollar mark in earnings, Rowland knew early on that her future was in horses.
“I always grew up around horses,” she said. “My dad trained steeplechase horses before he passed and my mom galloped for a little bit and helped my dad train. When I was 12 or 13, I started pony racing and then I started working for Lizzie Merryman when I was 15 or 16. And ever since then, [I knew] I was going to be jockey.”
Now based around the Mid-Atlantic after a hugely successful winter at Tampa Bay Downs, Rowland enjoys the hustle of riding multiple tracks in the same week.
“After doing pretty good in Tampa [Bay Downs], and coming to ride in the Mid-Atlantic, I definitely had goals and things I had to work for,” said Rowland. “It's awesome though because there's so many tracks around here that you can ride from one hour to six hours away. It's tough here,” she admits. “It was a little hard to get going but I am happy with how it's going now. I've been riding with really great people that have helped me a lot and I've gotten really good opportunities.”
Through the learning process of being an apprentice jockey, Rowland cops to being her own biggest critic. When asked what the hardest part of the journey had been thus far, she said, “Being honest, beating myself up. I really want to do a good job. I do see improvement in my riding but I think because I care so much about the horses, I make it that much harder on myself.”
As fort he most enjoyable part, Rowland said, “Working with the horses and getting paid to do something I would probably do for free! I absolutely love the horses. Winning a race is always the best feeling, especially meaningful wins like the other day [for trainer Michael Dini]. Mike has helped me out so much, [it] was absolutely amazing to win a race in New York.”
Now a finalist in the Newcomer division for the Oct. 14 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, Rowland looks to have a big month ahead.
“It's so awesome. Horses have always been such a huge part of my life,” she said. “I don't know where I'd be without them. They have taught me so much about work ethic, discipline, and really how to care of these animals and put them before ourselves. That's what you have to do in this business. And it means so much to be nominated for an award like this to show horsemanship. It's not just about winning races–it's about caring for these amazing animals who are trying so hard for us.”
With a weekend of rides coming up at the Meadowlands, seven entries over both days, Rowland shares the hopes of many of us along the Mid-Atlantic after a week of less-than-ideal weather.
“I just hope we run [on the turf],” she laughed. “We've had so much rain this week. We'll see how it goes. The horses are all in good spots so I'm hopeful [for my chances].”
And once the action slows down up north, Rowland looks forward to returning to her south Florida roots.
“That track [Tampa Bay Downs] will always be my favorite just because I've done so well there. I love their turf and the people there. There's very kind people that want to help you, and the racing is really good and competitive. I'll drive back to down to Tampa [Bay Downs] in the beginning of November for the meet there that starts at the end of the month.”
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse shared his thoughts on this year's new clenbuterol restrictions with the Thoroughbred Daily News on Tuesday. First, he said he was pleased with the new policies implemented at Woodbine this year, and lauded the Mid-Atlantic region, Oaklawn, and Gulfstream Park for adding restrictions for 2021.
“As a result, we have seen almost none of the nonsensical form reversals that had haunted us in the past at Woodbine in 2020,” Casse told the TDN.
Still, there are several major racing jurisdictions that have yet to change their policies, Casse lamented.
“My question is, what is taking Kentucky and Louisiana so long to get on board?” he said. “I am very disappointed that we ran the recent Breeders' Cup series at Keeneland with the same Clenbuterol rules that have failed us in the past. In life and horse racing, there are not many things I am certain of, but one thing I am positive about is the need for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to be passed by the Senate. Because only when we have national uniformity of medication rules will inequities of this patchwork quilt that has plagued the sport be solved.”
