Starting today, a new weekly TRC industry digest every Friday - a round-up of international racing news from the past seven days.
All’s good with Gun Runner
North America: It has been confirmed that But For Money and Untapped are both in foal to 2017 U.S Horse of the Year Gun Runner. They are the first two mares bred to the fully booked Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup champion in his first season at Three Chimneys Farm.
A “delighted” Grant Williamson, director of stallion seasons at Three Chimneys, said the son of Candy Ride had adapted to his new life as a sire “with the [same] kind of class he has always shown throughout his career”.
The huge financial impact of the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup
North America: The Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar last fall generated $96.8 million in direct and indirect economic benefits for San Diego County, according to a recent economic impact study by Sports Management Research Institute (SMRI). The results are the highest recorded for any Breeders’ Cup event.
The benefits included: $57.8 million in visitor spending; $27.2 million in track improvement investments for Del Mar racetrack, including both labor and material costs; $1.3 million in staff and sponsor spending; $5.3 million secured in state and local tax revenues and $8.9 million secured in federal tax revenues. This positive economic impact is equivalent to the creation of an additional 736 full-time jobs. It was the first time the 2017 Breeders’ Cup had been held at Del Mar.
Gosden to train four-million-guinea filly
Europe: It has been confirmed that two-time British champion John Gosden will train Godolphin’s record-breaking filly Gloam. The daughter of Galileo and 2013 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Dank was acquired for 4 million guineas during the closing session of Tattersalls’ October Yearling Sale last year, making her the highest-priced yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2017.
The purchase of the foal marked the end of a perceived 12-year feud between Godolphin and Coolmore that had seen both organisations rarely purchase progeny of one another's stallions.
Gosden, currently world-ranked #4, is no stranger to the offspring of the world’s number one stallion, having trained, among others, Galileo’s dual G1-winning son Nathaniel, sire of Enable.
Gulfstream increases prize money for March
North America: Gulfstream Park will increase its overnight purses by ten percent between March 7 and the end of its championship meet on April 1. Bill Badgett, the general manager, revealed that that the Florida track was able to provide the rise due to its “championship meet handle being up [by] approximately nine percent".
Chester planning major revamp
Europe: Chester Racecourse has unveiled plans for a potential £100 million redevelopment, which will include two new modernised grandstands and a revamping of the track's main entrance.
The proposed improvements to Britain's oldest racecourse have been on display at a public exhibition at the course this week before planning applications are submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in April.
More backing from the training ranks for integrity act
North America: The Water Hay Oats Alliance has released a letter – signed by 64 current and retired trainers – endorsing that the Horseracing Integrity Act be introduced in the U.S.
The planned bill will establish a non-governmental, non-profit agency to oversee medication policy called the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority (HADA), which would fall under the umbrella of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
A key component of the Act would be the outlawing of race-day medication, putting the U.S. in alignment with international standards in the sport.
Jose Ferrer: an example to us all
North America: Jose Ferrer has been announced as the 2018 recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The honour, which was named for the former rider of Seabiscuit following his early death from a racing accident, is awarded to the North American jockey who demonstrates the high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.
The 53-year old will receive his trophy – which is voted for by his peers – in a winner’s circle ceremony this spring at Santa Anita.
Jockey Club’s major Wi-Fi project is complete
Europe: Jockey Club Racecourses has just completed the largest multi-site installation of free public Wi-Fi in Europe. The facility is now live across all public areas at all 15 of its racecourses across Britain.
The Wi-Fi also provides use for the Jockey Club’s own business services and for its partners, such as access control, point of sale functionality and the Britbet pool-betting service launching in July.
The Jockey Club’s racecourses are: Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Newmarket July Course, Newmarket Rowley Mile, Nottingham, Sandown Park, Warwick and Wincanton.