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A stellar line-up featuring established greats and riders in scintillating form will contest the 2022 LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.

This LONGINES IJC will also be the first time that the two leading female jockeys in the world ride on the same card – Australia's Jamie Kah who makes her debut, while Great Britain's Hollie Doyle returns for a third time.

Kah, 26, is the most successful female jockey in Australian racing history with eight Group 1 wins and over 1,100 wins overall. In 2020/21, the record-breaking Kah became the first jockey to ride 100 winners in a single Victorian metropolitan racing season, eclipsing the previous record held by Brett Prebble.

Doyle, 26, has been in tremendous form this year and returns to Hong Kong after finishing joint-second in the 2021 LONGINES IJC. Across 2022, she formed a strong alliance with Nashwa and has since added a pair of Group 1 wins aboard the crack filly.

James McDonald has already compiled a record worthy of discussion as an all-time great and he's continued to excel this year with over 14 Group 1 wins, including a recent G1 W.S Cox Plate (2040m) triumph with Anamoe. This will be his seventh appearance in the LONGINES IJC having previously finished second twice and third once. McDonald currently leads the race for the 2022 LONGINES World's Best Jockey Award.

The exciting line-up also includes two previous winners of the world's most coveted jockey challenge crown – LONGINES IJC – in Zac Purton and Ryan Moore.

Purton will chase a record a fourth LONGINES IJC crown having won the event in 2017, 2020 and 2021. He is a five-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey and currently leads this season's local standings with 40 wins (as of 12 November).

Moore is no stranger to the LONGINES IJC, winning the event twice and this year he will ready for his 16th appearance. Last year's LONGINES World's Best Jockey recipient, Moore will have another opportunity to add further gloss to an already incredible record in the saddle at Happy Valley next month.

Tom Marquand will join the contest for the third time as one of world racing's most rapidly ascending stars. Marquand's second taste of the LONGINES IJC saw him finish joint-second with one victory aboard Awesome Treasure.

Australian talent Jye McNeil will make his LONGINES IJC debut. The 27-year-old rider made his name when partnering Twilight Payment to win the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Through last season, McNeil was also crowned Melbourne Champion Jockey as the leading rider on Victorian metropolitan racecourses. He also claimed the Scobie Breasley Medal for riding excellence in the Australian state.

Mickael Barzalona, representing France, will make his fifth LONGINES IJC appearance this year after finishing joint second with Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand and James McDonald in 2021. Through 2022, the Frenchman added a trio of Group 1s to his record.

Yuga Kawada will be hoping it's a third-time lucky as he makes his third LONGINES IJC appearance. Kawada is a five-time JRA Award winner for the jockey with the highest winning percentage in Japan. His career highlights include a G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) success with Japan's globetrotting sensation – Loves Only You.

The final three spots on the 12-rider roster for the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship will go to the leading homegrown rider and the highest-ranked riders in the Hong Kong championship standings at the cut-off date, which follows the race meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.

The LONGINES IJC is the most prestigious jockey challenge in the world and the most lucrative for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$6.942 million in prize money. Meanwhile, a total prize fund of HK$800,000 in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$500,000 and second and third HK$200,000 and HK$100,000 respectively.

Mr Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Racing, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship are the flagship events of Hong Kong racing recognised globally for their outstanding quality. They are symbols of Hong Kong's world-class racing and represent the city's most prestigious international event.

“This year's LONGINES IJC has all the ingredients to provide another memorable edition. We have a fantastic line-up of accomplished riders, many of whom are in career-best form, including Ryan Moore and James McDonald. Added to that is the excitement both Jamie Kah and Hollie Doyle will bring.

“We are delighted to have assembled an outstanding cast of riders and we are looking forward to a great night of sport set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic racecourses in the world,” Mr Harding said.

In addition, trainers will again have an added incentive to target their horses at LONGINES IJC races this year thanks to a bonus scheme which will pay HK$200,000, HK$100,000 and HK$50,000 respectively to the three handlers who achieve the highest number of points across the four races, using the same scale as employed for the jockeys.

The four-race competition works on a points-based system with 12 points for the win, six points for second place and four points to third. The ranking of each jockey will be determined by the total number of points earned over all four races and the LONGINES IJC champion will be the jockey with the highest accumulated points.

In the case of a dead-heat for any of the first three placings, points will be added and then divided by the number of horses involved. In the LONGINES IJC, substitute jockeys are eligible for points and if a countback is required it will go back to fourth place. Homegrown jockeys with 2lb or 3lb claims are eligible for selection for the LONGINES IJC but there will be no claiming allowance in the four LONGINES IJC races. Apprentice jockeys do not qualify for selection.

This year's edition will again feature the process successfully employed in recent years of allocating rides with a model designed to make the contest competitive and to reduce the risk of individual riders being dealt a particularly strong or weak hand.

The minimum riding weight for LONGINES IJC races is 118lb. If there are more than 12 entries for a race, the Club's Handicapping Department will use their discretion to give preference to horses who have shown reasonable recent form. This will form the basis for a process in which each rider will be allocated four rides based on an estimated average of each horse's chance as supplied by the Club's Jockey Challenge odds-compiling team.

The odds-compiling team will assess the credentials of every runner in advance and, without knowing who will ride each horse, will submit their final assessments once the barrier draw is made on the morning of Monday, 5 December.

List of invited jockeys for 2022 LONGINES IJC

Zac Purton Hong Kong Champion Jockey

2017, 2020 and 2021 LONGINES IJC winner. Five-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey (2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 & 2021/22). Brisbane Champion Jockey (2003 – when still an apprentice).

Jamie Kah Australia

Three-time South Australia Champion Jockey (2012/13, 2016/17 & 2017/18). Melbourne Champion Jockey (2020/21).

Jye McNeil Australia

Melbourne Champion Jockey (2021/22). Scobie Breasley Medal (2021/22).

Ryan Moore Britain

Two-time winner of both the LONGINES IJC (2009 & 2010) and LONGINES World's Best Jockey Award (2014, 2016 & 2021). Three-time British Flat Racing Champion Jockey (2006, 2008 & 2009).

Tom Marquand Britain

British Champion Apprentice (2015).

Hollie Doyle Britain

Set a new record for most wins by a female jockey in a British calendar year in 2021.

Mickael Barzalona France

Teenage winner of the G1 Derby at Epsom in 2011 and has since enhanced his reputation, notably riding for Andre Fabre and Godolphin. French Flat Racing Champion Jockey (2021)

Yuga Kawada Japan

2019 World All-Star Jockeys champion. One of nine jockeys in JRA history to have won all five classic races.

James McDonald New Zealand

Six-time Sydney Champion Jockey (2013/14, 2015/16, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 & 2021/22). Two-time New Zealand Champion Jockey (2008/09 & 2010/11). Second in 2011 & 2021 IJC and third in 2014.

The post Leading Female Riders Hollie Doyle, Jamie Kah Take On Hong Kong’s International Jockeys’ Championship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Kent Desormeaux will return to the saddle at Del Mar this Friday, reports the Daily Racing Form, named on his first two mounts since Jan. 23. Desormeaux recently completed a voluntary rehabilitation program.

“I'm appreciative and thankful to be able to return,” Desormeaux told DRF. “This difference is my other previous occasions were court-ordered rehabs. This time, I did it on my own. This time, I want to be healthy. This time, I want it.”

Desormeaux, 53, has been absent from racing since a January domestic abuse arrest in Louisiana. His license has been suspended since March, when he failed to appear at at California Horse Racing Board hearing with stewards on a disorderly conduct charge that took place at an RV park on the grounds of Del Mar racetrack last Nov. 23.

The latter has been resolved via a 60-day suspension, served Aug. 8 through Oct. 6. In addition, that ruling also states the Hall of Fame rider and three-time Eclipse Award winner “shall sign a testing agreement with the California Horse Racing Board while licensed in California and is ordered to be evaluated by the Winners Foundation and shall abide by the recommendations of that organization. Failure to do so may result in a suspension of his license.”

Desormeaux has admitted to alcohol problems in the past and the two incidents that led to the disorderly conduct complaints reportedly involved alcohol. The first incident, which occurred in 2020, led to a 15-day suspension and his ejection from Del Mar property.

The owners of Santa Anita excluded Desormeaux from its premises following his January arrest; Desormeaux has met with 1/ST officials and his status at Santa Anita for the winter meet remains pending.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post ‘This Time, I Did It On My Own’: Kent Desormeaux Back In The Saddle At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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OwnerView announced Tuesday that 2022 New Owner of the Year, sponsored by 1/ST RACING, was a dead heat between Richard Dawson and Pat Kearney.

Dawson races under the name Red TR Racing, which campaigns Rich Strike, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Dawson began racing his first Thoroughbred in 2019, and he and trainer Eric Reed claimed Rich Strike in a $30,000 maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs in September 2021. Dawson has only five horses in his stable, and Rich Strike and a horse named Common Bond are his only horses in training.

“I can't believe my luck in acquiring Rich Strike and achieving so much in such a short time in the sport,” Dawson said. “I can't thank my trainer, Eric Reed, and all of our connections, including Rich Strikes' jockey, Sonny Leon, enough. I am honored and humbled to receive this award.”

Kearney entered the Thoroughbred industry in 2021 and was rewarded with a black-type winner in Kathleen O. His first Thoroughbred purchase, Kathleen O. was bought for $275,000 at the April 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale by trainer Shug McGaughey. Kathleen O. races under Kearney's Winngate Stables and has won four of her five starts, including two graded stakes. Winngate's other runner, Cloudy, has won three of his last four starts.

“I have been a racing fan for years and thought I was imposing on my friend Shug when I asked him help me get into racing, but I'm so glad I did it,” Kearney said. “Purchasing Kathleen O. was an amazing decision, and I am thrilled to be named as a new owner of the year.”

The New Owner of the Year Award has been previously presented to MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Charles and Susan Chu, LNJ Foxwoods, Sol Kumin, and Boat Racing.

The 2022 Thoroughbred Owner Conference series was hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and Stonestreet Farm. There is no registration fee for the live or recorded virtual conference series, but registration is required. Registration information is available at ownerview.com/event/conference or by contacting Gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

The post Richard Dawson, Pat Kearney Named 2022 New Owners Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Backside Learning Center (BLC) – an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources in a safe, welcoming environment for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families – will hold its largest annual fundraiser, “The 16^th Annual Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races”, on Friday, Nov. 18, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The event will be emceed by famous local personalities Bill Menish and Kevin Harned.

This is a sold-out event. However, the BLC is hosting an online, silent auction consisting of many unique horse racing, and other hard to find items including a Kentucky Oaks box for 6, a speakeasy tasting tour at Evan Williams bourbon for 20, a morning on the backstretch with Jockey Ferrin Peterson, top-shelf bourbon packages and much more. In addition, The BLC will conduct a “Derby Week Suite for 40” raffle drawing including food and drink (a $7,500 value.)

The BLC plans to host several Facebook Lives at the event to present their transformative work with equine workers and families. They will also recognize members of the community who have demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication to the BLC's mission.

The major sponsors for the Benefit for the Backside include Rocket Ship Racing, LLC and Clarendon Flavors.

“This event is a great and fun opportunity to gather those who believe in our mission, and who want to support those who play such a vital role in the success of the horse racing industry,” said executive director Sherry Stanley. “The Backside is such a vibrant and diverse community right in the heart of the city that most people never think about. We serve the hundreds of workers and their children who are members of our community and who will soon be our next generation of leaders.”

To participate in the online silent auction, purchase a Derby Week Suite for 40 raffle ticket, donate and more, visit: www.benefitforthebackside.com

The post Online Auction Coincides With Nov. 18 Backside Learning Center Fundraiser At Churchill Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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