The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Tapit fee down as Gainesway cut prices
North America: Like many of its competitors, Gainesway has issued conservative fees for 2021, including a reduced price of $185,000 for its three-time champion sire Tapit, down from $200,000 this year.
“It has always been Gainesway’s goal to provide breeders with quality and value,” said CEO Antony Beck. “The current economic climate that breeders are facing makes this more important than ever.”
Beck was nonetheless excited about a “new era at Gainesway” with a stallion roster that he believes “offers a diverse group of established stallions and exciting young studs”.
New resident and four-time G1 winner McKinzie will enter stud in 2021 for $30,000. Beck believes that the son of Street Sense marks a “new chapter in the Gainesway stallions” and is a great “prospect to bring to Gainesway to complement our champion sire Tapit”.
“We have a stallion for every breeder,” said Sean Tugel, Gainesway’s director of stallion sales and recruitment. “Tapit has solidified himself as a generational stallion who is going to leave a lasting legacy with his sons and daughters.”
Baffert acts after positive tests
North America: After a run of positive tests for medication violations recently, Bob Baffert is taking steps to “do better”, including hiring outside oversight.
The two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer said in a statement he was “very aware” of the incidents involving his horses and the impact that has had on his family, the sport and himself. “Given what has transpired this year, I intend to do everything possible to ensure I receive no further medication complaints,” he said.
Baffert has hired veterinarian Dr Michael Hore, of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, to ensure the wellbeing of his horses and rule compliance. Hore is licensed in four states and Europe, but not in California, where Baffert’s stable is based.
“We can always do better and that is my goal,” Baffert said. “I want to raise the bar and set the standard for equine safety and rule compliance going forward.
“I humbly vow to do everything within my power to do better. I want my legacy to be one of making every effort to do right by the horse and the sport.”
Tragedy at the Melbourne Cup
Europe: Last year’s Epsom Derby winner, Anthony Van Dyck, was euthanized after breaking down entering the home straight in the Melbourne Cup, for which he had been one of the favourites, at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday. Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria’s executive general manager, confirmed that “he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury”.
The son of Galileo sustained a fractured fetlock in the ‘race that stops a nation’, which was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment, a second winner of the great race for the Irishman.
O’Brien’s father, Aidan, who trained Anthony Van Dyck throughout his career and was also responsible for Tuesday’s runner-up, the 3-year-old Tiger Moth, paid tribute to Anthony Van Dyck, describing him as “incredibly tough and genuine”.
The master of Ballydoyle said, “He was a very kind, sound, lovely-natured horse. It was very sad to see that happen. It was just very unfortunate. He was a good Derby winner who we’ll have fond memories of.”
In his previous race, Anthony Van Dyck got the better of champion stayer Stradivarius in the G2 Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp in September.
Woodbine issues optimistic report
Europe: Woodbine Entertainment released its 2019-20 Woodbine Corporate Responsibility Report, which focuses on the company’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, philanthropy, industry leadership, property development and sustaining the horse racing industry.
The report, Breaking New Ground, highlights contributions to three broad areas that encapsulate Woodbine’s charitable initiatives, including Supporting Community Health, For the Love of Horses, and Our Footprint.
Additionally, it provides an update on the status of key endeavours such as industry leadership, optimal land development, world-class racing, people and culture, and more.
“While this year has been extremely difficult for so many, including those in horseracing, we have been highly focused on strengthening our foundation to prepare us for a future of prosperity across the industry,” said CEO Jim Lawson. “Through this preparation, and despite the ongoing uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, we are optimistic about our future, based on the quality of our racing, strength of our brand and efficient management of our operation.”
Belmont handle boost
North America: The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has confirmed that this year’s Belmont Park fall meet generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, which is a 33.6 per cent increase over its 2019 fall meet.
The all-sources handle of $267,942,961 was down just 2.5 percent compared with 2019, although the 2020 iteration ran ten fewer days.
A total of 267 races were run during the fall meet, with 148 on the main track and 118 on grass. Average field size over those 267 races was 7.88, an 8.7 percent increase over 2019. Twenty four races were taken off the turf due to bad weather.
Elsewhere in racing …
Europe: Arqana’s Autumn Sale is to take place outdoors and to be restricted to professionals. More here. More here
North America: The Jockey Club has created three new scholarships supporting diversity in racing. More here
Europe: G2 winner Shaman is to stand at Yeomanstown in Ireland. More here