The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
David Elsworth calls it a day
Europe: David Elsworth, one of the UK’s finest dual-purpose trainers, has brought the curtain down on a career spanning 50 years, which will remembered mainly for his handling of the great Desert Orchid, one of the most popular racehorses in British racing history.
Elsworth, 82, whose licence was due to be renewed in the New Year, has let it lapse. “I won’t be running any more horses so I suppose I’m retired,” he conceded. “I’ve put it off as long as I can.”
“This isn't a sudden decision and I think everybody has been anticipating it,” the main known as Elzie admitted. “I don't want to make a fuss. I really just want to exit quietly. I don't think it’s a big deal, but I no longer have any horses and I won’t be renewing my licence, so you can now definitely say I’m retiring.”
Elsworth began as an assistant to Ricky Vallance in Wiltshire in the early 1970s. Vallance later lost his training licence and Elsworth took a job as a market trader before setting up as a trainer in his own right. He was British champion jumps trainer in the 1987–88 season.
Desert Orchid, known affectionately by the public as Dessie, was famous for his attacking, front-running style and extreme versatility. He won four King George VI Chases, the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Irish Grand National a year later. Timeform rated him the sixth best jumps horse ever – behind Arkle, Flyingbolt, Sprinter Sacre, Mill House and Kauto Star. His Gold Cup win was voted the best race ever in Britain and Ireland – flat or jumps – by Racing Post readers in the paper’s 2005 series 100 Greatest Races.
Elsworth also trained 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, and 1990 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Barnbrook Again. On the flat, Elsworth trained Persian Punch to win multiple staying races, while his sole classic success came with the 1990 Irish 1000 Guineas with In The Groove.
Horror fall mars Hong Kong races
Far East: An horrific fall in which three top jockeys, including 4-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton, were badly injured, cast a shadow over the lavish Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Aussie Purton, South African Lyle Hewitson and Japan’s Yuichi Fukunaga were taken to hospital after the incident in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint, which happened after outsider Amazing Star came down under 24-year-old Hewitson at the head of the field as the runners cornered for home. Purton, 38, was brought down on favourite Lucky Patch, along with Karis Teetan, 31, aboard Naboo Attack and 45-year-old Fukunaga on Japanese raider Pixie Knight.
Mauritius-born Teetan was unhurt but Amazing Star and Naboo Attack had to be euthanized.
Purton, Hewitson and Fukunaga all suffered what were described as minor injuries and are all now reported to be recovering well. Purton, who had four cracked ribs, is likely to be out of action for 2-4 weeks.
The race was won by local runner Sky Field, a 20/1 shot, one of two Hong Kong scorers in the four international G1s. The other was impressive Mile winner Golden Sixty, who has risen to #4 in the TRC Global Rankings as a result. The other two contests were won by Japanese – Glory Vase in the Vase and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Loves Only You in the richest race, the Cup.
Major prize money boost for Ascot
Europe: Ascot has announced record prize money of £15.64 million in 2022, with increases across the flat and jumps programme.
This represents an increase of nearly £2 million (14.4 percent) on 2019, the last year when planned prize money was distributed before the pandemic.
Royal Ascot will be worth £8,652,500, an increase of £1,322,500, or 18 percent, on 2019. Tuesday’s card, featuring three G1s, becomes the great festival’s first £2 million day.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Platinum (formerly Diamond) Jubilee Stakes will become the first races at Royal Ascot to be run with a total prize fund of £1 million. And no race will be run for less than £100,000.
CEO Guy Henderson said, “We are pleased to be able to announce a return to our pre-pandemic prize money plans as we re-build. While these plans have been unavoidably delayed, today is about looking forward. It is vital we maintain the quality of the British Pattern and the top-end programme generally.”
Fasig-Tipton’s Chilean venture
South America: “Fasig-Tipton is pleased to sponsor a prestigious race like the Chilean Oaks,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr of the auction house’s commercial agreement with Club Hípico de Santiago.
Fasig-Tipton will be the title sponsor of the Clasico Las Oaks, which has been run at the Hipico de Santiago since 1905 and will be part of a 20-race card on Friday (December 17). Y Nada Mas, owned by Stud Haras Don Alberto, is the likely favourite for the 2,000-metre race.
“Our graduates and our customers participate in the top races around the world and we are pleased to be involved with such a quality race,” said Browning.
Eduardo Nunez is off the mark
North America: Pacific Legend’s victory at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday (December 15) was the first for trainer Eduardo Nunez, who retired from riding last year after 34 years in the saddle.
Pacific Legend was the first starter for Nunez on May 22 and the trainer, who notched 2,800 North American victories as a jockey, had sent out 16 starts before his recent success. He currently has a training a stable of three horses at Gulfstream.
“I feel good winning my first race as a trainer after riding so many years,” the 55-year-old said of his achievement in the 6f maiden race for $12,500 claimers. “I’ll keep working hard. Sometimes you get lucky.”
More dates – and more money – at Colonial Downs
North America: Colonial Downs will expand its race dates for the 2022 season after the Virginia Racing Commission allotted it 27 dates, up from this year’s 21.
Expected daily average purses at the New Kent track will rise from $522,000 in 2021 to an extrapolated $600,000 in 2022.
The upcoming 9-week campaign will run from July 11 through September 7, and it will include the G3 Virginia Derby.
The highly successful 2021 meet featured 21 racedays and an average daily betting handle of $2,240,000. A total of $10.4 million in purses was distributed, and the average field size was a healthy 8.36 per race.
Fans pick their favorites
North America:America’s Best Racing has revealed the winners of its third Fan Choice Awards, which has ten wide-ranging categories such as favourite food and favourite jockey and is voted for by the industry digest’s readers.
The most notable winners were:
NBC Sports and TVG analyst Britney Eurton, who claimed her second TV Personality award; Essential Quality, whose win in Belmont Stakes was deemed the favourite race of the year; favourite jockey Joel Rosario, who set a new career-best in earnings in 2021 with more than $32.9 million; and Pimlico’s crab cakes, which won the top prize in the Racetrack Food category.
Click here for a full list of the winners.
Elsewhere In racing …
Middle East: Haskell Stakes winner Hot Rod Charlie, one of 11 nominations for California trainer Doug O’Neill, is among horses from 17 countries who have been invited to take part in the Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets under way on January 13. Another big name on the list is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Cox Plate winner State Of Rest. More here
North America: Bob Baffert has been awarded $109,000 in attorney fees from NYRA. More here
Europe: A judge has found in favour of Tattersalls in a case against trainer Tom George and bloodstock agent Alex Elliott. It involved their purchase of a horse at a sale in 2019 that was later found to have breathing issues. More here
North America: Stonestreet Farms, Jeff Ruby, Churchill Downs Inc and Keeneland are among the latest entities to pledge their support to Kentucky Tornado Relief. More here