Staunch Horse Racing Supporter Damon Thayer Will Not Seek State Re-election

Kentucky State Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, (R-Georgetown), a staunch supporter of horse racing in the Bluegrass, will not seek re-election for the 17th Senate District and allow his term to expire in December 2024, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus said in a release early Wednesday afternoon.

“I have decided not to seek re-election to the state Senate in 2024,” Senator Thayer said. “The end of my current term next year will mark 22 years in the Senate and 12 as Majority Floor Leader. After conversations with my adult children, close friends and colleagues, I have concluded this is the right decision.”

Thayer is the longest-serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader in Kentucky history. The 17th Senate District, which includes Grant and Scott Counties and portions of Fayette and Kenton Counties, is within what has become known as Kentucky's Golden Triangle.

As a leading voice for Thoroughbred racing, Thayer has championed the passage of historical horse racing and last year successfully co-led the fight to dissolve penny breakage, which has already returned millions of dollars back to horseplayers.

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Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale ‘A Slam Dunk’ After Largest Offering Ever

With more than 700 users registered to bid and buyers in 27 states plus another three countries, the Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Sale closed Tuesday evening with 186 horses sold for $3,167,000 across a catalogue, which was the largest ever offered on the platform to-date, the auction company said in a release Wednesday.

The online sale featured broodmares, horses of racing age, broodmare prospects, yearlings, weanlings and a stallion share in and lifetime breeding right to first-crop sire Flameaway (Scat Daddy).

Breeze Easy (GB) (Hip 310), a 4-year-old race filly, topped the sale when she went for $180,000 to Glenn Burrows from the consignment of St George Sales, agent. Fresh off an allowance win Friday at the Fair Grounds, Breeze Easy is a GSP daughter of Bated Breath (GB) and has earned just shy of $200,000 racing in England, Ireland and the United States. Out of the stakes winning Royal Academy mare Polar Circle, Breeze Easy is a half-sister to Group 2 placed and group stakes winner Artic Sound.

KBS went to $150,000 to secure the sale's second highest-priced offering, Googol Joke (Hip 32), a two-year-old son of Practical Joke consigned by Greenfield Farms, agent. A maiden winner last time out at the Fair Grounds, Googol Joke came into the sale with one win and one third from two career starts and earnings of $35,978.

Rounding out the top three prices of the sale was Sherif Ali (Hip 12), a two-year-old colt by American Pharoah, sold for $115,000 to Jonathan Green from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Sherif Ali broke his maiden on debut at Woodbine in October and came into the sale off a good second in allowance company over the same track and distance shortly after bidding opened on Thursday. The colt has a record of one win and one second from two lifetime starts and earnings of $29,628.

“This was a 'slam dunk' to close out the year. I'm very happy with the results,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The number of entries, registered bidders, and gross all exceeded previous records for our digital sales. We got the stallion share and lifetime breeding right done. We did in a week online what normally takes sales companies, stud farms, and buyers 60 days. I'm very proud of that and proud of our team at Fasig-Tipton.”

Commented first-time Digital seller Paul Manganaro, seller of Por Que No (Hip 309), in-foal to Constitution: “The flexibility and ease of the process was great, and my mare never had to leave her stall on the farm. I am still amazed that it took only five short days from the time I called Fasig to the time my mare sold. I see the many benefits that digital sales can have for both sellers and buyers and I will make sure digital sales are part of my plan going forward.”

The next Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale will be the February Digital Sale, which opens for bidding on Thursday, Feb. 15, and closes on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Nominations are now being accepted.

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Tickets On Sale For Keeneland Library’s 2024 Winter/Spring Lecture Series

Keeneland Library's Lecture Series returns in winter/spring 2024 with four ticketed events that celebrate recently published works about Thoroughbred racing whose authors conducted research at Keeneland Library, the repository said in a release Wednesday.

During programs planned from January through May, the following authors will discuss their books, with each presentation followed by a reception and book signing:

  • 24 – Kim Wickens, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse.
  • 21 – Fred M. Kray, Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age.
  • March 7 – John Paul Miller, False Riches.
  • May 9 – Avalyn Hunter, The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies.

“The authors in this lineup cover varied and engrossing territory,” Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro said. “From a chronicle of legendary racehorse and sire Lexington to a gripping account of superstar Alydar, and from a novel of race track intrigue to a comprehensive history of the Kentucky Oaks, this series is sure to please our fans of racing and newcomers alike.”

Click here for tickets.

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What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Cody’s Wish

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

“Cody's Wish was definitely one of my racing highlights of 2023.”
–Susan Anderson, Trainer

“There was no shortage of amazing horse racing memories in 2023. But one story that transcends racing is the incredible journey Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman (and his family) took us on. Beyond inspiring and heartwarming, it showed us in vivid color the genuine beauty of the magical connection between horses and humans. The Breeders Cup victory of Cody's Wish and celebration of Cody and his family is truly the feel good moment of the year.”
–Jeff Bloom, Bloom Racing Stable and TAA President

“There are several moments and races to choose from, but if I had to pick one, it would be the story of Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman, which was already incredible leading to the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The excitement and anticipation was huge and the way the race unfolded all the way to the end was absolutely breathtaking!”
–Ramon Dominguez, retired Hall of Fame jockey

Cody Dorman with Cody's Wish | Kelly Dorman

“Cody's Wish showed his resolve and determination to win the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a narrow margin and to remember his namesake, Cody, who brought us all together this year to root him on.”
–John Dooley, track announcer

“My favorite moment was Cody's Wish giving everything he had to win one last time for his namesake, Cody Dorman. Cody is a special, gifted horse who understood and fulfilled his mission, one that transcends racing.”
–Deirdre Duke, racing fan

“Cody's Wish and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. With a lot of talk throughout the year about what is wrong with the sport, the last eighth of a mile was a reminder of what makes horse racing so uniquely special.”
–Amy Zimmerman, Executive Producer, Santa Anita Park

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