The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Battle brewing over rule to cap stallion books
North America: A trio of Kentucky breeding farms - Spendthrift, Ashford and Three Chimneys - have filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court against the Jockey Club, which is implementing a new rule that limits Thoroughbred stallions born in 2020 and later to 140 foals each year.
Under the new rules, enacted in May, there would be no cap on the books of stallions born in 2019 or before, but those born after will have a limited economic value enforced upon them. This, according to the suit, will drive up stud fees and see more mares sent to less commercially desirable stallions.
Only Thoroughbreds registered by the Jockey Club are permitted to enter pari-mutuel races in Kentucky and other racing states.
B Wayne Hughes, of Spendthrift Farm, called the rule a “blatant abuse of power that is bad law, bad science and bad business” that was devised by a “handful of individuals from a private club in New York”, which will “negatively impact the future of Thoroughbred racing and breeding both in Kentucky and the whole country”.
The suit alleges that the Jockey Club’s limit on foal registrations was passed by the stewards with no vote by the general membership.
The arbiters of U.S. racing, on the other hand, claim the decision was made on a finding from a 2011 study published in the scientific journal Animal Genetics, which showed an increase in inbreeding in Thoroughbreds between 1996 and 2006. During this period, it found that the number of stallions covering 100 or more mares went from 14 to 128.
Pletcher and Pharoah up for the Hall of Fame
North America: Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and trainer Todd Pletcher head ten finalists for this year’s National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.
The standout pair, in their first year of eligibility, are joined by racehorses Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, Kona Gold and Rags To Riches, and trainers Christophe Clement and Doug O'Neill; and jockey Corey Nakatani.
All the finalists were required to receive support from two-thirds of the 15-member Nominating Committee to qualify for the ballot. The voting results will be announced on May 5.
Cautious welcome for British Covid ‘roadmap’
Europe: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson released his ‘roadmap’ to ease coronavirus restrictions on Monday, which was greeted favourably by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on behalf of “British racing and all those who work in our industry”.
A BHA statement did, however, caution that while this is a “very positive sign” for industry stakeholders, the continued “absence of spectators from our big events is continuing to put a strain on racing’s revenues”.
It continued: “The whole sport has worked hard to abide by our race-day protocols to allow racing to continue behind closed doors and support the many livelihoods that depend on our industry. British racing’s classification as an elite sport made this possible.
“We have already introduced additional measures to reduce the risks of transmission of the virus and have further options under consideration.”
Arlington is up for sale
North America: Arlington Park has been put up for sale, with owners Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) pitching the 93-year-old oval track and all 326 suburban acres it sits on as a “a unique redevelopment opportunity”.
In its statement on Tuesday, CDI officials indicated that scheduled racing at Arlington from April 30 through September 25 will go ahead. But they made no commitment beyond that.
Bill Carstanjen, CDI’s chief executive, expects to “see robust interest in the site and look forward to working with potential buyers”, adding that it is an “ideal location in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, together with direct access to downtown Chicago”.
While Carstanjen said that CDI remains “very committed to pursuing the relocation of Arlington’s racing license to another community” in Illinois, the Chicago Sun Times writes that it is “not how the process works in the state” and that “tracks apply for specific racing dates with the Illinois Racing Board, not a moveable license. Members of that governor-appointed state board have slammed the company’s past threats to move”.
Captain Tom the racehorse comes into his own
Oceania: Captain Sir Tom Moore, the British Second World War veteran who raised more than 33 million for health service workers on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19, continues to make a mark even after his death aged 100 earlier this month.
On Thursday, it was the New Zealand racehorse named after him who was grabbing the headlines. Captain Tom, a 3-year-old gelding, was a comfortable length-and-a-half winner under jockey Andrew Calder in a maiden contest at Pukekohe.
The son of Showcasing had previously been first past the post at Te Rapa earlier in the month but was relegated from first to third after causing interference over the concluding stages.
The race was notable for another reason too – it was local trainer Richard Collett’s 100th win on his home.
And it may not be the last we’ve heard of Captain Tom the racehorse. “He is learning and he has got a lot of ability,” said Collett. “Things are starting to fall into place. He is going to be competing for black-type at some stage but it is just a matter of when he is ready to do it.”
New studio ‘taking TV racing to next level’ for viewers
Europe: A new, high-end virtual studio has been unveiled by British broadcasters Racing TV, who claim it is “destined to take horseracing TV coverage to the next level” and is helping the station to “revolutionise how viewers enjoy the sport”.
Viewers can see the new studio in action today (February 26), starting with Mark Your Card, and followed by racing from Exeter, Warwick and Dundalk Stadium, plus The Friday Club at 5.30pm. The studio was first used for the British Horseracing Authority’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday.
Racing TV, which broadcasts racing from 35 British and 26 Irish racecourses, says the over-riding objective of the new studio is to take viewers as close to the racecourse action as possible without physically being there. The new studio will work as a hub by bringing in all of Racing TV’s race-day feeds, with reporters at every course, creating a ‘watch together’ racing community experience.
Elsewhere in racing …
North America: The Jockey Club has announced that the 2021 edition of its Fact Book is available in the resources section of its website at jockeyclub.com.
Europe: Norton Grove Stud resident and July Cup hero Pastoral Pursuits has died aged 20. More here
Europe: The Jockey Club in Britain has announced the appointment of Helene Sharrock as its Chief People Officer. More here