The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
New backer for the Epsom Derby
Europe: The Jockey Club in Britain agreed a multi-year commercial partnership with Cazoo, which sees the online car retailer become the new headline sponsor of Epsom’s Derby Festival , which takes place this year on June 4-5.
The agreement includes the naming rights for eight races across the two-day meeting, including two Classics – the Cazoo Oaks and Cazoo Derby.
Cazoo replaces Investec, which sponsored the meeting between 2009 and 2020. The financial service provider was set to sponsor British racing’s blue-riband race until 2026 but decided last July to pull out.
New Jockey Club CEO Nevin Truesdale said. “Cazoo is a highly ambitious and successful growth brand that matches our ambitions for the future of the world’s most famous flat race.
“You cannot overstate the importance of the Cazoo Derby to our sport globally and it’s vital we work with a partner passionate about bringing that to life. I’m delighted to welcome the Cazoo team to the Jockey Club and horseracing as a sport."
Legal battle over 140-covers ruling
North America: The U.S. Jockey Club has asked that litigation filed by three top Kentucky-based horse farms - Spendthrift Stallions, Ashford Stud, and Three Chimneys - to prevent implementation of a stallion cap rule be dismissed.
In a federal court filing, the regulator contends that it can legally limit the number of mares a stallion can cover to 140 in a season, beginning with stallions foaled last year. Furthermore, it believes that the farms’ complaint is speculative.
The defendants’ 31-page memorandum argues, “Any injury to plaintiffs’ alleged future lost stud fees as a result of the stallion cap is entirely speculative and not ‘certainly impending’.
“The farms have not and cannot point to a single yearling, weanling or foal that they own or intend to purchase and predict with any accuracy that that horse will become such a popular stallion that, absent the stallion cap, it could have drawn upwards of 140 covers.”
Death of ‘phenomenal talent’ Todd Kabel
North America: Todd Kabel, one of Canada’s most successful riders with 3,306 career wins has passed away at the age of 55.
The two-time Queen's Plate-winning jockey received the Sovereign Award for champion jockey in Canada in 1992 and 1995, and in four years running from 2003 to 2006. His major wins include a pair of Queen’s Plates, with Regal Discovery in 1995 and with Scatter The Gold in 2000, and a 2004 Atto Mile score with Soaring Free.
“He was just a phenomenal talent,” Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson told the Toronto Sun. “He had such a great sense of pace, he could time it. He was light on a horse. He had light hands, he moved in unison with the horse, he was just a real talent as a jockey and that's a special thing.”
Nicholas Godfrey tells the Todd Kabel story on TRC on Monday.
Bourbon tribute
North America: Maker’s Mark’s annual release of a commemorative bourbon bottle will pay tribute to Isaac Burns Murphy, a Hall of Fame jockey who was successful in the late 1800s, and the only jockey to have won the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Clark Handicap in the same year (1884).
In partnership with Keeneland, the alcohol brand will produce three distinct bottles, each with its own label featuring the work of artists Sandra Oppegard, Andre Pater or Tyler Robertson.
“Keeneland has long championed the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden and its celebration of the significant contributions African Americans have made to racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “It is especially gratifying to know that our longstanding collaboration with Maker’s Mark will benefit LexArts and ensure this important aspect of history will be preserved for our community and future generations.”
To make a financial contribution to the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, visit https://bgcf.givingfuel.com/immag.
Elsewhere in racing …
North America: The Deputy, winner of the Santa Anita Derby in 2000, has been rescued from a Texas kill pen. More here
Oceania: 14-time G1 winner Melody Belle has been cleared to run in the G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill in Australia on Saturday, her first attempt at a mile and a half. More here
North America: Grade 1 winner Unbridled Forever has died after foaling complications. More here
Europe: Stage Presence, the dam of Star of Seville, has died at the age of 23. More here
North America: Michael Weiss has been named the new general manager at Arizona Downs. More here
Europe: Jockeys Frankie Dettori and Hollie Doyle have joined new British team event the Racing League. More here
North America: The expanded Black Heritage in Racing exhibition has opened at Kentucky Derby Museum. More here