Thorpedo Anna voted Horse of the Year in the US while Laurel RIver and City Of Troy top lists elsewhere – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Eclipse Awards: Thorpedo Anna named Horse of the Year
USA: Thorpedo Anna was named Horse of the Year for 2024 at the 54th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Thursday night [Jan 24].
Having won six of her seven races last term, she joins Rachel Alexandra (2009) as the only three-year-old fillies to win the highest accolade in US racing. Trained by Ken McPeek for a partnership, Thorpedo Anna accrued 193 of 208 votes cast in the ballot, with Sierra Leone (10), who was voted champion 3YO male, and Fierceness (5) the only other horses to receive any support.
It was a good night for Godolphin, who scooped a pair of equine awards with Rebel’s Romance (champion turf male) and Immersive (2YO filly) and were named champion owner and breeder for the fourth straight year.
Sierra Leone’s rider Flavien Prat, who topped the jockeys’ prize-money list, was named champion jockey for the first time, with Erik Asmussen – son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve – landing the apprentice version. Chad Brown won his fifth trainers’ title. More here
Senor Buscador out of Pegasus and retired
USA: Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador has been retired after failing to please connections during preparation for an intended start int he Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday [Jan 25].
The seven-year-old son of Mineshaft was runner-up to National Treasure 12 months ago in the Gulfstream feature but connections were unhappy with how he exited a recent workout. He will now go to stud, though no deal has yet been announced. More here
In the absence of Senor Buscador, the biggest names in the Pegasus are Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero White Abarrio. Morning-line favorite, however, is Cigar Mile winner Locked. four-time G1 winner Nations Pride heads the Pegasus Turf. More here
• Goodwood extends Gulfstream Park link to include Pegasus races More here
Double celebration for Juddmonte at world rankings ceremony
GB: The Juddmonte operation had two reasons to celebrate at the 2024 Longines World Racing Awards lunch in London on Tuesday [Jan 21] when the Juddmonte International was named the world’s best horse race and their Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River shared top spot on the racehorse rankings with City Of Troy.
Laurel River, who makes his seasonal debut in G3 company at Meydan on Friday, was given a rating of 128 by the IFHA’s handicapping team, who were unable to split his Dubai romp and City Of Troy’s front-running victory in the York highlight. It is the first time since 2019 that there has been a tie. More here
City Of Troy’s jockey Ryan Moore told the assembled guests that the Coolmore colt’s performance in the York highlight was “probably the best performance that I’ve ever been involved with on a racecourse”. More here
Shadow Of Light is Europe’s champion two-year-old for 2024 – plus some names to note in 2025
Leading two-year-old on the European Classifications was dual G1 winner Shadow Of Light, who is set to go straight to the 2,000 Guineas. More here
British Midsummer Bonus: new scheme links major G1s
GB: Three leading racecourses have clubbed together to announce the ‘British Midsummer Bonus’ – available to connections of horses trained outside Europe who are targeting flagship G1 contests at Ascot, York and Goodwood.
Up to £1 million in bonuses will be available for sending horses to both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot) and the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Goodwood). Appearance money is also on offer if the winner or placed horses from either race stays on for the Juddmonte International at York.
Full details of the British Midsummer Bonus
“The thinking behind the Midsummer Bonus is that the opening races are, effectively, the same week, and this presents an opportunity to promote the whole week and all its international options as one entity,” said Nick Smith, Ascot director of racing and public affairs. “We are offering full equine travel costs, stabling and such like within the bonus scheme, along with business class flights and hotels for connections, very much as is expected at major international meetings around the world these days.” More here
Keeneland boosts Blue Grass purse to $1.25m
USA: As part of a record $9.4 million in stakes purses for the Spring Meet, Keeneland has increased prize-money for the Blue Grass Stakes to an all-time high of $1.25m.
The Toyota-sponsored Kentucky Derby prep on April 5 joins the Coolmore Turf Mile at the Fall Meet as the joint-richest races ever run at the famous Lexington venue outside the Breeders’ Cup.
The G1 Blue Grass – won last year by subsequent Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Sierra Leone – is one of no fewer than ten stakes across the opening three days at the Spring Meet, which hosts 15 days’ racing from April 4-25. More here
Lisa Allpress breaks leg in three places
New Zealand: Four-time champion jockey Lisa Allpress faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking her leg in three places in a freak accident at Trentham on Saturday [Jan 18].
Allpress, 49, had only recently resumed her record-breaking career as a veteran of 1,956 NZ victories, following a broken vertebra in a fall last year at Riccarton Park. She sustained her latest injury when her mount Hickory Jack landed on her after rearing up and unshipping the rider ahead of the fourth race on the card at Trentham. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
UAE: World #1 Romantic Warrior heads Jebel Hatta More here
Hong Kong: Zac Purton breaks all-time win record More here
USA: Death of veteran racing historian Edward Bowen, aged 82 More here
USA: Paco Lopez reinstated on conditional basis after whip furore More here
South Africa: King’s Plate winner One Stripe set for Breeders’ Cup Mile More here
Qatar: Rebel’s Romance among 69 entries for HH Amir Trophy More here
GB: Winning hurdles debut for German Derby winner Palladium More here
GB: Tattersalls stallion parade and Retraining of Racehorses showcase to feature at February Sale More here
Japan: Changes to JRA racing schedule More here
• Read previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires