Flightline and the Eclipse Awards, Dale Romans and Anamoe feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Eclipse Awards: Flightline named Horse of the Year
USA: The undefeated Flightline, whose three victories in 2022 culminated in victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, was named Horse of the Year at the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday [Jan 26]. The world #1 in the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary Global Rankings received 239 out of a possible 246 first-place votes.
Flightline: ‘A Halley’s Comet of a racehorse’ – Jay Hovdey pays homage to the Horse of the Year
Malathaat, one of the three finalists for Horse of the Year. won the award for champion older dirt female while her trainer Todd Pletcher collected an unprecedented eighth outstanding trainer award, having previously won the honor from 2004-2007, 2010 and 2013-2014.
On an outstanding night for the trainer, Pletcher was also responsible for the champion two-year-old male (Forte) and champion three-year-old filly (Nest).
Irad Ortiz won the award for outstanding jockey for the fourth time in the last five years, while Godolphin netted three awards as leading owner and breeder – plus Modern Games was named champion turf male.
• See the full list of winners
Dale Romans calls on horsemen to work with HISA
USA: Leading trainer Dale Romans has called on horsemen to come together and work out their issues over HISA with the authority rather than resorting to the courts.
In an op-ed published online, Romans said: “What no longer makes sense is how some in the industry pledge to continue to fight HISA in the courts. They should be in the streets, or shedrows, fighting to make HISA better instead. The industry needs to come together now and work with HISA, not against it, to give it a chance to succeed.
“Trainers have legitimate concerns about how the medication rules from HISA will be implemented, and where those increased costs are going to come from. But I also know that horse owners have real concerns about whether the playing field has always been level. HISA will do a lot to address those concerns.”
Anamoe's 2023 campaign to include Royal Ascot
Australia: Last year’s Cox Plate winner Anamoe is to be aimed at Royal Ascot this summer before going to stud. Trainer James Cummings said Godolphin’s seven-time G1 winner will return to action in the Apollo Stakes in February at the start of a campaign likely to climax in a tilt at the G1 Queen Anne Stakes in June.
Japan's Horse of the Year Equinox nominated for Dubai
Japan: Outstanding Arima Kinen winner Equinox has been registered for two races on the Dubai World Cup card, the Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf. It promises to be a busy couple of months in the Middle East for Japan’s stars with leading dirt horse Cafe Pharoah accepting an invitation to the $20m Saudi Cup.
Aspiring jockey Daniel Quintero killed in training accident
USA: Aspriring jockey Daniel Quintero, 19, was killed during training at Tampa Bay Downs racecourse in Florida [Feb 21] when his mount was believed to have bolted the wrong way around the track, colliding with another horse coming in the opposite direction. Jockeys across the US held a minute’s silence in his memory before racing.
Ioritiz Mendizabal becomes only third jockey to ride 3,000 winners
France: Four-time champion jockey Ioritz Menizabel has joined Yves Saint-Martin and Christophe Soumillon by riding 3,000 winners, reaching the landmark at Cagnes Sur Mer.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Doug O’Neill targeting Kentucky Derby points from UAE Derby More here
Canada: Shirl’s Speight to mount historic bid for Japan’s February Stakes More here
GB: Betfair founder Andrew Black bids 350,000gns for share in sire Zarak More here
New Zealand: Melody Belle inducted into hall of fame More here
Australia: Death of David Haines, billionaire owner of Kingston Town, aged 92 More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires