Cindy Murphy’s retirement, a transatlantic initiative and a ground-breaking female at the JRA feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Cindy Murphy retires after more than 2,000 wins
USA: Veteran jockey Cindy Murphy, one of the most successful female riders in US racing history, has retired.
Murphy, 61, previously rode as Cindy Noll. She reached the 2,000-winner landmark in July when she won the G3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows on Crypto Mo.
Murphy, who had her final mounts at Remington Park in Oklahoma City in October, finishes with a career total of 2,005 Thoroughbred wins. “After I hit the 2,000, I wasn’t going to quit cold turkey,” Murphy said, speaking to the Daily Racing Form. “I wanted to finish the rest of the Prairie Meadows meet. The very last race of the meet, I won, so that was kind of a cool thing.” More here
Kentucky Derby races linked to Epsom Classics and Royal Ascot
GB/USA: A new transatlantic initiative means four races at Churchill Downs over Kentucky Derby weekend will be linked to major events at Epsom and Royal Ascot via automatic entries and travel incentives.
The winner of the G2 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby card will receive a ‘wild card’ entry to the Derby at Epsom, while the Edgewood Stakes is similarly linked to the Oaks. The G1 Turf Classic is linked to either the Queen Anne or Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, where a place in the King Charles III Stakes (King’s Stand) is up for grabs to the winner of the Turf Sprint on Derby day.
Under the partnership, runners from Royal Ascot will also receive a wild card for the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs (operated by Churchill Downs), while the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket is now linked to the Beverly D. More here
History made with first female trainer at JRA
Japan: Kyoko Maekawa (right) is set to make history by becoming the first female trainer ever to train on the Japan Racing Association circuit after passing the JRA’s trainer’s licence exam.
Maekawa, 46, has been an assistant trainer for nearly 20 years and is the first woman to be certified by the JRA.
“I am so happy and thankful to those who supported me to reach this point,” she said, speaking to Daily Sports. “There is a big problem with staff shortage at the moment and hopefully more girls will join the racing industry.” More here
Speightstown euthanised at 25
USA: Leading sire Speightstown, champion US sprinter when he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park, has been put down due to foot issues. The Taylor Made-WinStar stallion was 25.
“Speightstown was a foundational sire for WinStar and helped stamp our legacy as a sire-making farm,” said WinStar president Elliott Walden. More here
Dido Harding to lead Jockey Club
GB: Baroness Dido Harding will become the new senior steward of the Jockey Club when current incumbent Sandy Dudgeon steps down in July 2024. Grand National-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen joins the board of stewards from Jan 1; both appointments were confirmed on Monday [Dec 11].
Harding, 56, is a well-known public figure in the UK, chiefly via a controversial stint at the helm of the much-criticised Covid track-and-trace system in England during the pandemic. A former amateur jockey with 25 career victories, she has been a Jockey Club member since 2004. More here
New president at France Galop
France: Guillaume de Saint-Seine was elected for a four-year term to succeed Edouard de Rothschild as the new president of France Galop, French racing’s governing body, on Tuesday [Dec 12].
Paris-based Saint-Seine, 62, has been involved in the sport as an owner-breeder for nearly 35 years. A member of France Galop’s committee since 2015, he has spent most of his working life in the financial services sector in Paris and London. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
Japan: Forever Young scores on ‘Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby’ More here
Ireland: Death of leading bloodstock figure Jonathan Irwin, aged 82 More here
GB: Mass brawl at home of Grand National More here
GB: BHA vows to tackle bullying and sexual misconduct More here
USA: Golden Gate purses slashed by 25% More here
New Zealand: Dual G1 winner Prowess retired with foot issue More here
Argentina: Nine-month ban for top trainer Carlos D Etchechoury More here
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