The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Santa Anita now ‘one of America’s safest tracks’
North America: A year on from an annus horribilis that saw 36 equine fatalities and the early closure of the winter-spring meet, Santa Anita Park has just completed its autumn meet without a single fatality, either in racing or training,
A total of 1,106 horses raced on both the dirt and turf tracks on 16 racedays, as well as a further 51,200 horses taking part in training sessions, including 3,771 timed workouts over the main track and 487 over the training track. The figures make the Californian track one of the safest in America.
COO Aidan Butler admitted they “focused the lens” on safety and that it had “taken a lot of work to get on the straight and narrow”.
The Englishman believes this year’s success came about due to a collegiate effort from top to bottom, but he reserved special praise for the veterinary team, led by Dr Dionne Benson. “No one was a fan of what she was doing but it’s started to work, and the track guys have proved dirt isn’t awful, and I’m so glad.”
Melbourne Cup Carnival: Owners not allowed
Oceania: The Victorian government has confirmed owners and connections will not be allowed into Flemington Racecourse for the 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival, which runs from Saturday (October 31) through November 7 and includes the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday (November 3).
The Victoria Racing Club had previously announced fans would not be permitted to attend the flagship spring races, with only the minimum number of people required to put on the event.
Last week, the government backflipped on a decision to allow 500 owners to attend the Cox Plate after the proposal was slammed by a public that has been locked down for three months.
“The judgement we’ve made, certainly informed by the [Cox Plate] reaction of the community, is that it wouldn’t conform with community expectations for there to be a thousand or more people ... next week,” said Martin Pakula, Victoria’s racing minister.
Oisin hits 1,000
Europe: British champion jockey Oisin Murphy rode his 1,000th domestic winner when guiding home the 4/1 shot Perfect Sign at Southwell on Tuesday evening.
“I ride for great people and it’s really nice to ride my 1,000th winner in Britain in these colours for Qatar Racing and Sheikh Fahad [who retain Murphy],” said the 25-year old. “When you start out as an apprentice, you hope you can get a licence and then ride a winner and so on.
“Hopefully I can ride 1,000 more in the future. I ride good horses all over the world and I’m very privileged to do that.”
Murphy, currently #27 in the TRC Global Rankings, leads this year’s championship by nine – from William Buick.
Among his career highlights are 11 British G1 victories, including three with Roaring Lion and the 2000 Guineas with Kameko earlier this year. Trainer Andrew Balding, a longtime supporter of Murphy, has trained 225 of his winners.
Murphy is still waiting to hear the results of the B-sample for a failed drugs test, which could see him suspended for six months.
11 listed for BC Classic
North America: The Breeders’ Cup has released the pre-entries for the 14 World Championship races scheduled for November 6-7 at Keeneland.
The $6 million G1 Breeders' Cup Classic has 11 entries, including five winners of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races. The Bob Baffert trio Authentic, Improbable and Maximum Security and Belmont and Travers winner Tiz The Law head the early markets.
To view all pre-entered horses, visit: https://breederscup.com/contenders
Wichita tragedy
Oceania: Newmarket 2000 Guineas runner-up Wichita has been “humanely euthanised” following an injury in Australia earlier this month, according to a Racing Victoria statement.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt injured his right hind leg during track work at Werribee, near Melbourne, on October 14 and required surgery. The operation had been a success, but the 3-year-old sustained a further injury to the same leg while rehabilitating.
His final outing came in the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster in September, which he won under Frankie Dettori.
Higher Power for Darby Dan
North America: Darby Dan Farm has confirmed that its 2021 roster will include G1-winner and millionaire Higher Power, who stallion director Ryan Norton describes as “all class”.
The son of Medaglia d'Oro will retire to the Lexington farm at the conclusion of his racing career and stand in partnership with Matt Bowling Bloodstock.
His 2021 fee will be $10,000 for nominations done prior to the Breeders' Cup, where the John Sadler-trained horse is expected to contest the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.
“He showed his talent and his impressive turn of foot in winning the Pacific Classic [in 2019] in the manner that he did," said Norton. "He descends from an outstanding Pin Oak family, has a stallion’s pedigree, and physically he is a superb individual.”
Without Parole to stand in Britain
Europe: 2018 St James’s Palace Stakes winner Without Parole has been retired and will return to the UK to commence duties at Newsells Park Stud for the 2021 season.
The son of Frankel, bred by John and Tanya Gunther, was unbeaten in his first four starts under John Gosden, culminating in his victory at Royal Ascot.
A subsequent switch to Chad Brown in the U.S. saw Without Parole place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Shadwell Turf Mile and Shoemaker Mile.
Newsells Park Stud, General Manager Julian Dollar said, “We’re delighted to be standing Without Parole at Newsells Park. It’s no secret that we, like virtually every other global stallion operation, chased this horse hard after his impressive win at Royal Ascot and it’s fitting he should now retire to the stud where he was born and raised.”
Elsewhere in racing …
North America: Bob Baffert, who has faced a number of positive post-race drugs tests on his horses recently, has been hit by another. The horse involved is Merneith and the race an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar in July. More here
Europe: Elaine Carson, wife of legendary British jockey Willie Carson, has died of cancer. She was 65. More here
North America: Gunnevera, who was placed in a Breeders’ Cup Classic, a Pegasus World Cup and a Dubai World, is to stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida. More here
Europe: English King, who started second favourite for the Epsom Derby, finishing fifth, will continue his career in Australia after changing hands for 925,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale on Wednesday. More here
North America: The Breeders’ Cup has partnered with Marker’s Mark on a commemorative bottle to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. More here
Europe: Ladbrokes has been unveiled as the new sponsor of Down Royal’s November Festival of Racing in a three-year partnership. More here