Tag: Top News

U S Navy Flag Filly Romps to Rising Star Honors

Love Reigns (Ire) (f, 2, U S Navy Flag–Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), backed as the 2-1 favorite on debut for Stonestreet Stables and Wesley Ward going 5 1/2 panels over the Keeneland lawn, romped to 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Hustled to the front from her inside draw by Irad Ortiz, Jr, she raced under pressure while traveling nicely through a sharp opening quarter in :22.04. The bay began to let it out a notch rounding the far turn, kicked for home with a 6 1/2-length advantage and kept on motoring down the stretch to an eye-catching 9 3/4-length victory over stablemate Rivka (Ire) (No Nay Never) in 1:02.33.

The half-sister to Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), GISW, $977,227 becomes the third winner for her freshman sire (by War Front). The Coolmore Ireland stallion stands at Castlehyde for €12,500.

Love Reigns is the most recent progeny from her unraced dam Humble And Proud, a half-sister to English SW & MGSP Delsarte (Theatrical {Ire}).

Love Reigns was purchased by Ben McElroy for €160,000, on behalf of Stonestreet, for €160,000 at Goffs Orby.

2nd-Keeneland, $51,276, Msw, 4-29, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.33, fm, 9 3/4 lengths.
LOVE REIGNS (IRE), f, 2, by U S Navy Flag
                1st Dam: Humble And Proud (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
                2nd Dam: Delauncy (GB), by Machiavellian
                3rd Dam: Casey (GB), by Caerleon
Sales history: €160,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $27,156. Click for the Equibase.com chart, VIDEO, sponsored by TVG or free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Patrick Grogan (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward.

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Exercise Rider Callie Witt Dies at Keenland

Callie Witt, 20, an exercise rider for trainer Joe Sharp, died Friday morning following a training accident on the Keeneland training track. The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. when Witt was thrown from a 2-year-old horse.

Alpha Event Medicine, the track's on-site medical team, immediately attended to her life-threatening injuries. Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived at the scene within six minutes and transported Witt to the University of Kentucky Emergency Department, where she was pronounced dead from blunt force injuries.

Keeneland Vice President of Equine Safety Dr. Stuart Brown provided this description of the accident late Friday afternoon: “At approximately 8 a.m., while performing a routine gallop of an unraced 2-year-old filly, the horse shifted her stride causing Callie to be dismounted, landing on the inner synthetic training track material.”

The horse involved in the incident has been evaluated and has demonstrated no signs of unsoundness or injury, reported Dr. Brown.

“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Callie's family, friends and our collective racing community at this difficult time.”

A native of Nebraska, Witt was studying at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and was interviewed in a 2021 TDN feature on her then-participation in the exercise riding portion of the course.

“Since I was a little girl, it's always been my dream to be a jockey,” she said. “My parents' big thing was that I had to have a degree in something to fall back on, so I was really lucky to find this type of program where I can continue my passion for horses, learn how to ride, and still get a degree.”

   Added Sharp: “We are devastated by the loss of Callie as she has grown near and dear to our barn. Callie aspired to be a jockey and was about to graduate from the North American Racing Academy. She had been making great progress toward her goals and had a work ethic that was second to none. She was unique … you don't see many in her generation with that level of grit and determination. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family.”

   Prominent horseman Carlo Vaccarezza has set up a GoFundMe page for Witt that can be accessed here.

 

 

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‘Speedy’ Smithwick Passes Away

Daniel M. Smithwick, Jr., better known as “Speedy,” passed away Apr. 23 in Middleburg, Va. He was 62.

A former amateur steeplechase jockey, Smithwick was the son of Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer D.M. 'Mikey' Smithwick and his wife, fellow steeplechase trainer Dorothy 'Dot' Fred Smithwick. After a successful steeplechasing career of his own in the 1980s, Smithwick deviated from his parents' path and became a flat trainer along with his wife, Eva. Among their most prominent owners was Jack Kent Cooke and among their top graded winners were Ziggy's Act and Zignew.

Smithwick eventually returned to his family's Sunny Bank Farm in Middleburg, where he focused on steeplechasing, foxhunting, and cattle herding.

He is survived by his wife, the former Eva Dahlgren; daughters Kathy Smithwick Swain and Patricia Smithwick; granddaughter Dorothy Adelaide Swain, who was named after his mother; brother Roger; and many close friends.

A memorial service will be held May 16 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs.

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Derby Week Fundraiser Returns for Second Stride

Second Stride, the Louisville-based organization which provides professional rehabilitation, retraining, and placement of retired Thoroughbreds, will hold its 11th annual Derby Week fundraiser Monday, May 2, at 6 p.m. after two years of being sidelined and/or limited by the pandemic. The event will be titled “Champions Night” and will be held at Molly Malone's in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood.

Sponsored by Churchill Downs and Skychai Racing, Champions Night will feature a handicapping session moderated by Byron King of BloodHorse. Panelists include Horse Racing Nation's Ed DeRosa, television talent Megan DeVine, and jockey agent Jake Romans. The traditional kick-off to Derby Week will also have live and silent auctions and raffles and will be emceed by WHAS radio host Dwight Witten with assistance from auctioneer Phil Ammon. The auction, which closes at 9 p.m. May 2, is already open online.

Champions Night is open to the public, with tickets not required. A suggested donation of $20 can be given at the door. For more information, please visit secondstride.org/champions-night-2022.

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