As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com
Crimson Advocate winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in a photo finish. It was a huge moment and accomplishment for my young syndicate.
The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Jake Ballis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
A pair of runners competing during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, will be offered wild card entries for Epsom's 3-year-old Classics contested four weeks later.
The winner of Churchill's $500,000 GII Edgewood S., contested on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3, will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom May 31.
In the colt's division, a runner from the $500,000 GII American Turf S., scheduled for Kentucky Derby Day May 4, will receive an entry and travel incentive to the June 1 Betfred Derby.
The Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse have also coordinated with Churchill to offer wild card entries to a pair of Royal Ascot fixtures. A runner from the $500,000 GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S., also run on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the G1 King Charles III S. (formerly the King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Additionally, a runner from the $1-million GI Old Forester Turf Classic S., contested on Kentucky Derby Day, will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in either the G1 Queen Anne S. June 18 or the G1 Prince of Wales's S., held June 19, both staged during the Royal meeting.
In return for the above incentives for U.S.-based runners, a runner from both the Queen Anne and the Prince of Wales's will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in Colonial Downs' $1-million GI Arlington Million S. over 10 furlongs in mid-August.
Also, a runner from the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket's July Festival July 12 will also receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the $500,000 GI Beverly D S. on the same day as the Colonial Downs Arlington Million.
Winners of the aforementioned races will receive the invite to run in the corresponding races across the Atlantic. However, in the event that the winners aren't able to accept, racecourses may then also invite placed horses. The elimination procedures in these races will remain as they are now.
“A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over,” said Matt Woolston, Assistant Racing and International Racing Director at The Jockey Club. “The Kentucky Derby itself can trace its origin back to Epsom Downs in 1780 when Diomed won the very first Derby and we are proud to reinforce this historic link.
“These historic races already have an international reputation and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”
For more information, click here.
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Churchill Downs on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program where horses competing during GI Kentucky Derby week could receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting.
“This is a really special partnership that will give owners and trainers a great opportunity to run in some of our marquee races during Kentucky Derby week and, in exchange, they could receive entries into some of Europe's most prestigious turf races,” Gary Palmisano Jr., the executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., said via press release.
“This partnership will give owners and trainers based in Europe a good initiative to bring some of their top horses over to experience Kentucky Derby week. Not only is this a great opportunity for connections based in Europe but this will give our owners and trainers here in North America a shot to compete on the international stage,” Palmisano said.
Two races on Kentucky Derby Day will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run at Royal Ascot in mid-June: The winner of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic S. will receive a berth to either the G1 Queen Anne S. or the G1 Prince of Wales's S. Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day program, the winner of the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. will receive an entry to the G1 King Charles S.
“We are very excited to be working with Churchill Downs and the UK Jockey Club on this exciting new initiative,” said Nick Smith, the director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse. “We were very pleased to play our part hosting the Churchill team at Royal Ascot last year, with the Kentucky Derby trophy on display as they built up to this important 150th running of the world's greatest dirt race. We have a rich modern history of American runners at Royal Ascot and their success always adds hugely to the meeting. With NBC covering the event all week, the Saturday on the main network channel, hopefully this new link up of races will add a new dimension to their and ITV's coverage.”
Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf S. and GII Edgewood S. can receive their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Betfred Derby, while the winner of the Edgewood will receive the same benefits for the Betfred Oaks.
“We're delighted to develop these links with races at the Kentucky Derby Meeting in its 150th year,” said Matt Woolston, the assistant racing and international racing director at The Jockey Club. “A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over…These historic races already have an international reputation, and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”
In return for the above incentives for horses on Kentucky Derby weekend, a runner from both the Prince of Wales's S. and Queen Anne S. will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the GI Arlington Million S. in mid-August at Colonial Downs.
In addition, a runner from the G1Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival will also receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the GI Beverly D. S. on the same day as the Arlington Million.
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6th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:34 p.m. ET.
I SEE YOU LOOKIN (City of Light) makes his first start Sunday for trainer Todd Pletcher. The $400,000 Keeneland September Sale grad is a half-sister to MGSP Lady Aces (Constitution), who was purchased for $200,000 at Keeneland November last year by the China Horse Club. Dam Economy of Motion (Pleasantly Perfect) is herself a half to MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags). Digging deeper into this extended female family, we find this debut runner's third dam is a half-sister to MGSW Mr. Greeley (Gone West). TJCIS PPS
8th-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 3:33 p.m. ET.
Hill 'n' Dale homebred and Josie Carroll trainee Royal Ascot (Justify) will look to get her dam off to a winning start as a broodmare. Second dam Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), winner of the G1 Irish Oaks and runner-up in the G1 French Oaks, is a half-sister to Irish Group 1 winner and globetrotting turf specialist Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TJCIS PPS
The post Sunday Insights: Son Of City Of Light Debuts Over Gulfstream Turf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
