Cody Dorman, Shug McGaughey and Zac Purton feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Cody Dorman wins Big Sport of Turfdom Award
USA: Cody Dorman, the 16-year-old at the centre of the most heartwarming story of the Breeders’ Cup, is to be recognised for his part in the enhancement of thoroughbred racing in the US after being chosen to receive the 2022 Big Sport of Turfdom Award.
Born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, Dorman is unable to walk or communicate without the use of a tablet but has followed the Godolphin-owned Cody’s Wish since he met him as an unnamed foal when his family attended Keeneland's Make-A-Wish Day in 2018, becoming the horse’s biggest supporter.
Breeders’ Cup miracle: the tearjerking story of the racehorse and the boy who wished upon a star
Cody’s Wish has never lost a race with Dorman in attendance and he was in the winner’s circle at Keeneland when Cody’s Wish, trained by Bill Mott, captured the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
“Cody has brought to the forefront what it means to be strong and brave in his personal life as well as highlighting the extraordinary interaction that occurs between horses and humans,” said Wendy Davis, president of the Turf Publicists of America who chose the recipient.
Shug McGaughey suspended for acepromazine ‘overage’
USA: Hall Of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has been issued with a 30-day suspension and fined $500 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after one of his horses tested positive for an ‘overage’ of banned ‘Class B’ substance acepromazine, a tranquilizer, after a race in June.
Owing to his a limited number of such violations in a long career dating back to 1978, McGaughey will serve only half the sentence with the rest stayed as long he does not commit another offence in the next 12 months. Tenth on the all-time earnings list, he has incurred only two previous violations.
Britain’s new whip rules to come into force from February
GB: New whip rules which include the threat of disqualification if the riding crop has been used four times or more above the permitted level in all races are to come into force in Britain from February.
The British Horseracing Authority has announced there will be a month-long bedding in period for both of the sport’s codes before they will be properly enforced from February 6 over jumps and March 27 on the Flat. A total of 20 revisions are being introduced including limiting the use of the whip for encouragement in the backhand position.
G1 jockey Noel Callow banned for betting
Australia: Veteran jockey Noel Callow has been suspended from riding for three months, had a further three months stayed for a year, and fined A$4,500 ($3,000) after admitting placing bets on horse racing nine years ago
He staked a total of A$4,000 ($2,700) in 24 bets placed during December 2013 and failed on three occasions to declare his betting accounts to stewards while riding in Victoria. Callow, 47, who has ridden more than 1,500 winners, including five at G1 level, is now based in Queensland and also works as a groundsman at Gold Coast Turf Club.
Purton breaks Happy Valley record
Hong Kong: Zac Purton recorded his 573rd Happy Valley win on Wednesday [Nov 24] to overtake 13-time champion Douglas Whyte for the most victories at the circuit. Adding to the 903 victories he has posted at Sha Tin since moving to Hong Kong in 2007, Purton has 1,477 Hong Kong winners overall, a figure bettered only by Whyte’s 1,813.
Shadai Farm buy Japan Cup runner Grand Glory
Japan: French G1 winner Grand Glory will join Teruya Yoshida’s band of broodmares after her final run in the Japan Cup on Sunday [Nov 27] after the owner of Shadai Farm bought Haras de Hus’s 50 per cent stake in the six-year-old.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: ‘Sober’ Hall of Famer Desormeaux returns to the saddle at Del Mar More here
USA: Former trainer Michael Tannuzzo, ‘best friend’ of Jorge Navarro, jailed for 27 months More here
USA: Secretariat mural unveiled in Paris, Kentucky More here
Australia: Jockey convicted of possessing banned device More here
Australia: 84-year-old trainer records first G1 success More here
Singapore: Turf Club doubles the number of feature races for 2023 More here
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