The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Retirement for Cheveley Park giant Pivotal
Europe: Cheveley Park Stud has retired its renowned 28-year-old sire Pivotal, who will see out the rest of his years at the Newmarket farm.
Bred and raced by Cheveley Park, the son of Polar Falcon (in fact the result of his very first covering) was trained by Sir Mark Prescott. His racing career was restricted to six starts between October 1995 and August 1996, but he established himself as one of the leading sprinters in Europe, winning the King’s Stand Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes.
He retiredto stud in 1997 for an initial fee of £6,000, and was a leading British-based first-season sire and sired his first British G1 winner in Kyllachy. He is the sire of 32 individual G1 winners, with seven of his sons becoming G1 winners themselves. He was Britain and Ireland’s champion broodmare sire as recently as 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park’s managing director, wished a “well-deserved and happy retirement” to the horse that “truly put Cheveley Park Stud on the map” and gave owners the late David Thompson and his wife and Patricia their first G1 winner.
The recently pensioned Pivotal is currently #28 in the TRC Global Sire Rankings and sits in 20th position in the turf-only rankings.
Embryo transplant probe
Oceania: It has been widely reported thatRacing Victoria stewards are investigating claims of embryo transplantation at Melbourne-based Ultra Thoroughbreds operation, which is owned by the multi-millionaire boss of car-servicing franchise UltraTune, Sean Buckley.
It is suspected that at least two foals may have been born this season through this process – a filly out of Miss Andretti and a colt out of Strikeline. Both were sired by Ultra Thoroughbreds stallion Addictive Nature in late 2019.
Buckley told The Age he will co-operate with any investigation. “I have a completely clear conscience,” he added.
Embryo transplantation is forbidden in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and the value of any horse found to have been artificially bred becomes obsolete.
The Australian Stud Book, which guides Thoroughbred breeding in the region, says it has not received any paperwork regarding the foals. However, Racing Victoria has received photos of the embryos and foals in recent days from a disgruntled former employee, which has triggered its investigation.
Keeneland’s new vice president
North America: Keeneland has announced that Gatewood Bell will join the historic Kentucky track as vice president of Racing later this month, filling a vacancy from Bob Elliston’s resignation in December.
The Lexington native becomes the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland as a director, following his father, Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, and grandfather, the late John A Bell, founder of Jonabell Farm.
Last October, Bell, who in 2011 founded Cromwell Bloodstock, was named to Keeneland’s board of directors as an advisory member, a position he will relinquish upon his employment. He is also a member of the Jockey Club and previously served on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and as the U.S. representative for Goffs Sales of Ireland.
“Gatewood brings a unique set of skills and experiences encompassing aspects of both the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “The range of Gatewood’s talents and his network of relationships with owners and trainers are well suited to help Keeneland navigate the future landscape of racing.”
$14.3m boost for Kentucky breeders
North America: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has awarded $14.3 million to its qualified breeders through the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Incentive Fund. The fund requires owners to board mares in Kentucky from the time of breeding until the birth of the foal. Incentive payments are based on the foal’s eventual winnings on the racetrack.
Since its inception in 2006, the KHRC has given more than $184 million to Kentucky breeders for winning eligible races across the globe. The incentive fund helps ensure the strength and growth of the horse industry in Kentucky. Last year, nearly 3,500 races were won by a Kentucky-bred receiving a breeder award.
“On top of being part of our history, the industry supports many Kentucky families today and will continue to draw new visitors to the state in the future,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Thanks to Kentucky breeders and a strong racing circuit enhanced by historical horse racing, Kentucky remains a leader in breeding with more stallions than any other state, representing 42 percent of the foal crop in North America.”
Tickets on sale for Tampa Bay Derby day
North America: Tickets for Tampa Bay Downs Festival Day 41 presented by Lambholm South will go on sale on March 6, although the general admission attendance will be capped at 2,500.
Tickets are $15 plus a $2.55 service fee, which includes a commemorative cap. Five stakes races will be contested on March 6, headed by the 41st running of the G2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-olds at 8½ furlongs on the main track.
Tickets can be found on the track’s website, www.tampabaydowns.com.
Gulfstream 2-year-olds sale ‘loaded’
North America: A total of 184 entries have been catalogued for Fasig-Tipton’s Gulfstream Sale, a selected sale of 2-year-olds in training to be held March 31.
The sale, which takes place in the walking ring at Gulfstream Park, will begin at 2pm ET, while the under-tack show will be held March 29, beginning at 9am.
“We are excited to be returning to Gulfstream Park in March to conduct the nation’s premier 2-year-olds in training sale,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “The Gulfstream sale annually provides an unrivaled concentration of quality, and this year’s catalogue is loaded.”
To view the catalogue, click here
Elsewhere in racing …
Europe: A daughter of Frankel, Princess Isla, has topped Day 2 of the Arqana February trade. More here
North America: Editorial, a son of War Front, has returned to the U.S. to stand at Anchor & Hope, after being stranded in Peru during 2020 because of Covid. More here
North America: EquiLottery and Team USA have agreed a partnership to develop state lottery games based on the results of Olympic Games competition. More here
Europe: Chester Racecourse has unveiled plans to welcome racegoers by May. More here