Tag: Shared News

New Trackside Venue at Canterbury Won’t Have Betting, Will Eliminate 6.5 furlongs Races

A proposed entertainment complex to be built outside the first turn at Canterbury Park will feature a “high-end” restaurant, a music venue, and an outdoor bar and patio with a games area and fire pit, according to plans filed with the Shakopee, Minnesota, planning commission.

The two facilities on the 15-acre site, to be known as “Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar” and “Stables,” will be right up against the outer rail with an up-close view of the action when Canterbury's season runs between May and September.

But despite the desirable location and the name choices that are evocative of gaming and horses, neither facility will be wired into the track's pari-mutuel system, and customers won't have direct access to tellers or self-service terminals so they can bet on the races.

“We're not anticipating any gaming,” Jason Haugen, Canterbury's vice president of real estate, told the Shakopee Planning Commission at a Jan. 4 meeting, at which board members specifically asked whether there would be wagering the proposed site.

“There's no betting,” Haugen said.

The planning commission did raise a concern that people might use cell phones while at Boardwalk or Stables to place wagers on the races through an advance-deposit wagering platform.

But after briefly discussing the difficulty of establishing geo-fencing to prohibit such wireless access, board members agreed there was no simple way to “legislate” against mobile betting.

The planning commission ended up voting 5-0 to advance the overall proposal to the city council.

Over time, according to the documents submitted to the commission, development in that area is expected to include other entertainment and recreational venues, such as more restaurants, a hotel, pickleball courts, or a bowling alley. Boardwalk and Stables are just the first phase.

After the meeting, TDN asked Jeff Maday, Canterbury's media relations manager, to explain the reasoning behind not having wagering at such a prime trackside location. He replied that it has to do with a developer taking over control of that parcel of land.

“Minnesota law does not allow wagering on Canterbury races outside the confines of the two racetracks,” Maday wrote. “Because the land will be sold to a third-party developer, it is necessary to remove the parcel from the Class A license. We are currently looking at potential solutions as we do believe this is a great fit in our development plan and will be a gathering place for race fans.”

A map of the track overlaid with the proposed development shows that the parcel will take over a portion of the dirt chute where Canterbury's sprints start, and this will eliminate the track's ability to run 6 ½-furlong races.

“Provided our request to remove the property from the Class A license is approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission, and we expect it will be, then there will no longer be races at 6.5 furlongs in 2024,” Maday wrote.

Maday confirmed that the starting point for six-furlong races will be unaffected, and that the track “likely will run more of those.”

According to a count provided by Maday, Canterbury ran 45 races at 6 1/2 furlongs in 2023, compared to 74 at six furlongs.

The post New Trackside Venue at Canterbury Won’t Have Betting, Will Eliminate 6.5 furlongs Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘Rising Star’ Leslie’s Rose Returns at Gulfstream

6th-GP, $91k, AOC, 3yo, f, 7f, post time 2:39 p.m. ET
LESLIE'S ROSE (Into Mischief) cost Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm $1.15 million at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale, and despite going off at a somewhat lukewarm 9-2 facing five others at Aqueduct Nov. 19, graduated by better than nine lengths over 6 1/2 furlongs en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The St. Patrick's Day foal is out of a daughter of SW & MGSP Wildwood Flower (Langfuhr), the dam of GI Florida Derby-winning 'Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex) and of GSW/GISW My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), whose 'Rising Star' son Annapolis (War Front) is the newest addition to the stallion roster at Claiborne Farm. TJCIS PPs

 

 

 

5th-GP, $89k, Msw, 3yo, f, 5fT, post time: 2:09 p.m. ET
St Elias Stable elected to take home its homebred PRETTY LIAM (Liam's Map) when bidding on her stalled out at $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sal. That looks to have been a shrewd call, as the filly's year-older half-sister Danse Macabre (Army Mule) proved to be arguably the best turf sprinter of her generation in 2023, with victories in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. over this course and the Glen Cove S. in New York. Dam Sylphide (Blame) is a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Cambodia (War Front) and the third dam includes South African champion Overarching (Arch) and GISW Abscond (Blame). Justified Strategy (Justify) is a daughter of GISW Cry and Catch Me (Street Cry {Ire}), also the dam of Sovereign Award winner Souper Escape (Medaglia d'Oro) and a half-sister to Group 1-winning European champion Certify (Elusive Quality). Dixie Mischief (Into Mischief) is a John Oxley homebred half-sister to last year's Ontario Damsel S. winner Forever Dixie (Quality Road) and her Grade III-winning dam Dixie Strike (Dixie Union) is a half-sister to champion Inglorious (Henny Hughes), who beat the boys in the 2011 Queen's Plate. TJCIS PPs

The post ‘Rising Star’ Leslie’s Rose Returns at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

Michael Blowen had no money, no farm, no horses and no backers. But he did have an idea. He wanted to open a farm that would be a sanctuary for some of the sport's biggest names who were either gelded or no longer being used as sires or broodmares. Somehow moving mountains, he pulled it off and his Old Friends Farm became home to hundreds of Thoroughbreds and a popular tourist attraction.

But now he has decided to retire, 20 years after he opened Old Friends, and turn the reins over to John Nicholson. On this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Blowen discussed why he is retiring and some of his fondest memories from a job he instantly loved.

“When you get a certain age and you can see the finish line, you know,” Blowen said. “It's like you're turning for home and you go, 'Oh, there's a finish line.' So you better figure out what's going to be happening or what you can do to make everything a little better. And so I started looking for somebody a couple of years ago to take over, and I could never find the right person. Then I ran into John Nicholson. And I would probably still be doing this if I hadn't run into John, because John was the perfect person. I thought, 'boy, oh boy, if he'll do this, it would be great'. People who know John know that he ran Kentucky Horse Park for a long time. He loves the horses.”

His favorite horse? Silver Charm.

“It's hard for me to explain it in one way, because it's hard to explain why you fall in love with somebody,” Blowen said. “No matter who or what you fall in love with your life is going to change. When Sandy Hatfield called me in November of 2015 and said, how would you like an old gray stallion at your farm, I freaked out. The only problem was I couldn't tell anybody. They're supposed to keep it a secret. And then I did keep it a secret, which is probably the only secret I ever kept in my life. But I kept that one. And when he got here on Dec. 1, 2015 that was the greatest day of my life. I didn't even know him, because the first time I ever laid eyes on him in person is when he got off the trailer on that day, but I know I was totally enthralled.'

Though retiring, Blowen plans to spend plenty of time at Old Friends.

“You'll have to drag me out of here,” he said. “I told my wife, when I die, the house where we live in, we have a great house here, and the back backyard is one of the two places where we have cemeteries. I told my wife, when I die, get me cremated, throw my ashes out the back. Just don't put my lifetime earnings on the side.

This week's look at a Coolmore sire focused on Jack Christopher (Munnings). He won three Grade I races and was five-for-five around one turn. He was such a special specimen that Zoe Cadman never forgot her impressions of him when she saw him at Saratoga before he ever raced, noting that he was so perfectly put together that she knew he would be a star.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Elite Power, WinStar Farm, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ 1/ST Racing, the Green Group, West Point Thoroughbreds and XBTV.com, the team of Randy Moss, Cadman and Bill Finley expressed their gratitude for having earned an Eclipse Award in the Multi-Media category. Our interview with Wade Jost was selected as the winner. Jost is the father of Carson Jost, who, like Cody Dorman, suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Jost, a classmate of Terry Finley at West Point, went in with his syndicate on Carson's Run–named in his son's honor. All agreed that it was Jost who made the podcast so memorable and the team decided it will gift the Eclipse Award trophy to the family.

The team also touched on the big shakeup in Maryland, where a new entity, the Maryland Thoroughbred Operating Authority, which will be similar to NYRA, is set to take over the operation of Maryland tracks and, finally, will rebuild Pimlico. That will also mean that the GI Preakness S. will be run at Laurel in 2025, 2026 and 2027. The group also examined the 2024 economic indicators for racing, which included a 3.7% decline in total handle and a small decrease in purses.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post Michael Blowen Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift: Hinkle Farms

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Hinkle Farms co-owner Tom Hinkle. “In determining the matings for our mares, it is a total team effort by my brother Henry, my daughter Anne Archer and me,” said Hinkle. “We work hard to arrive at the best possible mating, at least in our opinions.”

SEEKING GABRIELLE (17,  Forestry – Seeking Regina, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Gun Runner       

Seeking Gabrielle is the dam of Nyquist. She is a very special mare for us. She produces really attractive foals and they have sold well as yearlings. She just turned 17 and is in great condition, but with her advancing age we really want fillies. She has a newly turned two-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, making her a full-sister to Nyquist. We retained her to race and as a futurebroodmare. Her newly turned yearling is a filly by Curlin and we are considering keeping her too.

Seeking Gabrielle is currently pregnant to Constitution and is believed to be carrying a filly. In 2024 we will breed her to Gun Runner. Obviously he is one of the premier sires in the world. If we are fortunate enough to get a filly, we would hope to keep her. If she produces a colt, then we could have a sensational yearling sale prospect.

 

INDIAN BAY (13, Indian Charlie – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to First Samurai

Indian Bay is a filly we bred–having bred and raced her dam Buy the Barrel. Due to an injury as a weanling, we were unable to sell or race Indian Bay. However, she has been a wonderful producer for us, being the dam of Shivaji, a graded stakes winner in Japan, and Tarabi, a stakes winner who is Grade I placed. Both are by First Samurai.

She is currently pregnant to Life Is Good. Indian Bay produces lovely foals. We have decided to breed her to First Samurai in 2024. While First Samurai is not viewed as a top-tier commercial stallion, he is a very solid stallion who gets runners and the cross has obviously worked well with Indian Bay. We hope to get a filly and keep her, but if we get a colt we believe he will be an attractive sales prospect because of the affinity Indian Bay has shown for First Samurai.

More Than Looks as a yearling at 2021 Keeneland September Sale | Joe DiOrio

LADIES' PRIVILEGE (10, Harlan's Holiday – Vanquished, by Empire Maker) to be bred to Flightline

We purchased Ladies' Privilege in November of 2019 carrying her first foal by More Than Ready. That foal is More Than Looks, a Grade III winner who ran third in the GII Hall of Fame S. last year. He ran an excellent race in the Breeders' Cup Mile, beaten only two lengths by Master of the Seas (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}). He is trained by Cherie DeVaux and his connections are really excited about his prospects for 2024.

Her newly turned 3-year-old is a colt by Uncle Mo and her just-turned 2-year-old is a $525,000 American Pharoah filly. Her 2023 yearling is a colt by Gun Runner and she is pregnant to Upstart. She will be bred to Flightline in 2024. We think it is a great cross and based on the foals Ladies' Privilege has produced, we are hopeful that the resulting foal will be an excellent physical.

STAVE (9, Ghostzapper – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to Forte

We bred and raced Stave. She was the last filly produced from Buy the Barrel, who we also bred and raced. Stave was a stakes placed winner of $285,000. Her first foal is Spirit's Mischief, a $350,000 colt by Into Mischief. He is with Wesley Ward and won as a 2-year-old last fall. He is a fast colt.

Stave had no foal in 2022, but she has a 2023 colt by Constitution who we will sell at Keeneland in September. She is currently pregnant to Not This Time and is booked to Forte for 2024. Having previously been bred to three very well-established and proven stallions, we felt like this would be a good time to breed Stave to a younger stallion. Forte is super attractive, was a seriously good racehorse, and his offspring will be sought after when they hit the sales ring.

REMEMBERED (14, Sky Mesa – Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo) to be bred to Not This Time

Remembered is the dam of Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), a multiple Grade I stakes winner.  She is also the dam of Radio Days, a multiple graded stakes placed, winning filly by Gun Runner.

Remembered is pregnant to Jackie's Warrior and is booked to Not This Time for 2024. Not This Time has certainly proven himself to be a top-level sire and being a Grade I stakes producer, Remembered deserves to be bred to a top stallion. We believe the cross is excellent and provides a real opportunity to produce a good racehorse who is physically attractive.

WIN THE WAR (9, War Front – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Good Magic

Win the War's $700,000 Into Mischief colt | EquiSport Photo

Win the War is a beautiful mare and is a stakes winner. We purchased her in 2020 when she was pregnant to Curlin. Unfortunately that filly, now named Jane Addams, did not race but will be bred to Practical Joke in 2024. Win the War's second foal was a $700,000 Into Mischief colt sold in September last year. Her 2023 foal is a colt by Quality Road and she is pregnant to Flightline for 2024.

Win the War will be bred to Good Magic in 2024. Good Magic has certainly proved himself capable of siring top-level racehorses. We think this is a great physical mating and believe he will add stamina to a speedy pedigree.

WEXX (7, Declaration of War – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Elite Power

We bred and raced Wexx and she is the last daughter of My Rachel, who was a wonderful producer for us. My Rachel is now retired. Wexx was a stakes-placed winner. Her first foal, a colt, was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling last year. She has a gorgeous 2023 Liam's Map filly and is pregnant to Justify for 2024.

In 2024 she will be bred to Elite Power. Elite Power was exceptionally talented and is a beautiful physical. We are delighted to have the opportunity to breed to him.

ORBOLUTION (9, Orb – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Omaha Beach

Orbolution is a filly we bred and sold as a yearling to StarLadies Racing. She was a 2-year-old stakes winner at Saratoga. Upon retirement, we purchased her from Starlight. Her first foal is a colt by Curlin who sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland in 2022. He has not yet started. She produced a Nyquist colt in 2022 and an Into Mischief filly in 2023. She is currently pregnant to City of Light.

She will be bred to Omaha Beach, who certainly got off to a great start with his 2-year-olds in 2023. The female family has a real affinity with War Front and we are very excited to breed her to a War Front son.

NEW BOSS (6, Street Boss – Denali Dreamscape, by Corinthian) to be bred to Constitution

New Boss is a stakes-winning filly we bred and sold to Barry and Carol Conrad. Her dam, Denali Dreamscape, had gotten off to a great start as a broodmare for us, having produced two stakes horses from her first three foals to race. Unfortunately, Denali Dreamscape died in 2022. Upon New Boss's retirement, we were fortunate enough to be able to buy her from Mr. and Mrs. Conrad.

New Boss will be bred to Constitution in 2024. He is certainly a well-established and proven stallion. His 2-year-old crop of 2023 had an exceptional year. Breeding New Boss to a stallion the quality of Constitution gives her a real opportunity to jump start her broodmare career.

WHOA NESSIE (9, Square Eddie – Electric Daze, by Gilded Time) to be bred to Nyquist   

Whoa Nessie is an interesting mare who we purchased in November of 2022 in foal to Union Rags. Her sire Square Eddie, by Smart Strike, has proven to be an extremely useful stallion in California. Electric Daze is also the dam of Edwina E (Square Eddie), making Whoa Nessie a full sister to Edwina E. Edwina E has produced two stakes winners–Slow Down Andy, a Grade I winner of $1,276,600–and Team Merchants. Both are by Nyquist.

We purchased Whoa Nessie specifically to breed to Nyquist and she is currently pregnant to him. She is being bred back to Nyquist in 2024. Nyquist had a great 2024 and has proven himself as a quality stallion capable of siring top-level performers. The cross is a proven one and we are excited about the prospects.

MADAME DU LAC (19,  Lemon Drop Kid – Geisha Girl {GB},by Nashwan) to be bred to Oscar Performance

Madame Du Lac is an older mare but she has been a wonderful mare for us, being the dam of multiple Grade I stakes winner Divisidero, who is by Kitten's Joy. Divisidero's first crop of 2-year-olds raced in 2023 and, despite only having limited numbers, they performed well.

We are breeding Madame Du Lac to Oscar Performance in 2024. Oscar Performance's first crop has just turned four and he has proven himself to be a very capable stallion, having produced stakes winners on both dirt and turf. The cross has worked well in the past and we hope the mating will result in a filly as we will be very tempted to keep and race her, but if we get a colt he should be a nice sales prospect.

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