Successful in the 2022 G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange and 2023 G3 La Coupe, the 4-year-old gelding is trained by Ed and Simon Crisford. Also placed in Sandown's G1 Eclipse, West Wind Blows has had a fruitful campaign Down Under this season, running second in both the G1 Turnbull S. this October and in the G1 Caulfield Cup later that month. He was ninth in his final Australian start, the G1 Champions S. at Flemington on Nov. 11.

The statement from the Department of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare & Biosecurity Policy read, “Upon examination this afternoon, West Wind Blows has an injury to the left fore leg and accordingly has been withdrawn from the Longines Hong Kong Vase on veterinary advice.”

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At 10:32 a.m., 77 minutes before post time for the first race, Striking Melody was listed as a scratch in graphics that appeared in the upper right hand corner of NYRA's television feed. The listing of the scratch appeared for about two seconds before it came off the screen and at no other point during the day was the horse listed as scratched. In addition, the listing of the scratch appeared as track announcer John Imbriale was announcing scratches for the first race. Imbriale never mentioned Striking Melody but did announce that the six horse, Caribbean Breeze (Mendelssohn) was scratched.

But what appeared to be an innocuous mistake was taken seriously by the stewards, who withdrew Striking Melody from the wagering. In addition, with the horse scheduled to run as an entry with Our Rosie Diamonds (Bellamy Road), both horses ran as non-betting interests.

Our Rosie Diamonds finished third and Striking Melody was seventh.

NYRA management said they were frustrated by the decision.

The graphics error appeared for about two seconds, as shown in the clip below.

“At some point, common sense has to come into play,” said a NYRA official who asked not to be named.

NYRA officials estimated that the move by the stewards resulted in a loss of handle between $150,000 and $200,000.

“NYRA would certainly welcome the opportunity to fully review the circumstances of this matter with the Board of Stewards,” said NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna.

Braulio Baeza Jr., the steward representing the New York Gaming Commission, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

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“Sad to report we have to scratch Hit The Road from Breeders' Cup Mile as he has a fever,” Blacker tweeted. “So disappointed for his great group of owners. Unbelievably bad timing and bad luck. We will get him healthy, regroup and point for the next race.”

Winner of the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile and GIII Thunder Road S. earlier this year, Hit the Road was most recently third in the GII City of Hope Mile S. Oct. 2.

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In addition to her Fantasy placing, Ava's Grace was third in last summer's GII Adirondack S. She was 50-1 on the morning line for the Oaks. David Cohen was scheduled to ride.

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“Last night, the horse spiked a fever on us,” Weaver told TVG, “and we needed to treat him with the doctor last night and he just wasn’t fit to go train today. Being this close to a race, he’s not fit to run either so we’re not going to be able to participate.

“The horse had been doing fantastic and it almost felt like it was destiny for him to run in this race and put a crown on this year’s achievements. [I’m] very disappointed but I’m glad that the horse is going to be okay.”

Vekoma has won all three of his 2020 starts–including the July 4 GI Met Mile and the June 6 GI Carter H.–in impressive fashion, notching Beyer Speed Figures of 110 in the Carter and 104 in the Met Mile.

He is scheduled to stand at Spendthrift Farm in 2021. Weaver said the ownership ground would discuss whether Vekoma would make another start before retirement.

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The duo monitored the nine horses for 33.5 hours over 15 days, applying models to learn about the roles of aggression, kinship, proximity, social rank and social networking during mutual grooming.

All nine horses groomed themselves during the study period for nearly 36 minutes. Six of the horses engaged in mutual grooming: two stallions, one colt and three adult mares.

There were 84 recorded mutual grooming sessions, with the average session lasted about 85 seconds and always comprised only two individuals. The grooming was almost completely symmetrical: When one horse started grooming, they almost immediately began receiving grooming as well, on the same part of the body. When one horse stopped grooming, the other did as well. Additionally, horses that spent less time self-grooming spent more time being groomed by another horse.

The scientists concluded that mutual grooming assisted in strengthening familiar relationships and helped with parasite removal. Their findings did not support that mutual grooming assisted with relationship repair. For example, the top-ranked horse never groomed the second-ranked horse, but he did direct aggression toward him.

Read the entire article here.

Read more at HorseTalk.

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