The death of Germany's greatest racemare, a Belmont Stakes switch for 2024 and plans to close one of Sydney's top tracks feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Arc winner Danedream put down in Japan
Japan: Reports have emerged that five-time G1 winner Danedream, five-length winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a three-year-old in 2011, died in August. She was 15.
Probably the greatest mare in the the history of German racing, the daughter of Lomitas also won the King George at Ascot in 2012 plus back-to-back editions of Germany’s most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Trained by Peter Schiergen and mainly ridden by Andrasch Starke, Danedream was the first German Arc winner for 36 years. Having produced eight foals, she was humanely destroyed at Shadai Farm owing to laminitis. More here
Belmont Stakes switched to Saratoga for 2024
USA: Next year’s Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga over a reduced distance of a mile and a quarter with an increased purse of $2m amid the $1.3bn reconstruction project at Belmont Park.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul broke the news with a press release on Wednesday [Dec 6] that confirmed the ‘Test of the Champion’ will be run on Saturday June 8 as the highlight of a four-day Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga featuring 23 stakes and purses totalling $9.7m.
"As part of the exciting modernization of Belmont Park, Saratoga now adds to its storied history by hosting the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown," Hochul said. More here
Bombshell plans to close Rosehill in A$5bn Sydney deal
Australia: Proposals to close Rosehill Gardens – home of the Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race – came to light this week.
The NSW Government plans to shut down the Sydney track to be replaced by 25,000 homes, a school and metro station as part of its multi-billion-dollar ‘Metro West’ redevelopment.
The Australian Turf Club (ATC), who will likely receive in excess of A$5bn ($3.27bn/£2.6bn) for the deal – a windfall earmarked for massive redevelopment elsewhere in the Sydney racing community. “The ATC sees this as a chance to secure the future of racing in NSW,” claimed NSW premier Chris Minns. More here
Frankie Dettori is a celebrity … get him out of here!
GB: Before moving his tack to ride in southern California over the winter, Frankie Dettori has been taking part in the hit UK prime-time TV show, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
However, racing’s most famous face could not translate his winning habit to the Australian jungle as he was the first person voted out by the British public.
Dettori, 52, was one of a number of celebrities forced to live without creature comforts – but with plenty of creatures – for the duration of his two weeks in the camp. He featured alongside an array of soap opera actors and social media influencers – plus Britney Spears’s sister Jamie Lynn, former champion boxer Tony Bellew and Brexit politician Nigel Farage. More here
HK superstar Golden Sixty handed outside post in treble bid
Hong Kong: Former world #1 Golden Sixty has drawn the widest gate in a field of 14 as he bids to complete a treble by reclaiming his crown in the HK Mile on Sunday [Dec 10].
The eight-year-old will be making his seasonal debut in the Sha Tin contest under regular partner Vincent Ho. “Of course, it’s not an ideal draw and it makes things difficult for Vincent,” said trainer Frances Lui. “It’s going to be difficult.” More here
Breeders’ Cup third Shahryar, winner of the Japanese Derby two years ago, will miss the HK Vase after Hong Kong vets identified an irregular heartbeat. More here
Royal Ascot prize-money increased to record £10m
GB: Next year’s Royal Ascot will be worth a record £10m, while overall prize-money at Britain’s most prestigious racecourse will top £17.5m in 2024.
The latter figure represents a year-on-year increase of 3.9% on 2023 values (not including Qipco British Champions Day, which is ‘industry-owned’).
No race at Royal Ascot [June 18-22] will be worth less than £110,000 (up from £100,000) and all G1 events will be worth a minimum of £650,000 (up from £600,000). More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Judge orders Justify DQ from 2018 Santa Anita Derby More here
USA: Keeneland catalogues 1,401 horses to 2024 January Horses of All Ages Sale More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup North American stallion nomination deadline closes Dec 15 More here
GB: G1-winning mare Teona tops Tattersalls ‘Sceptre Sessions’ at 4.5m gns More here
GB: Death of former G1-winning trainer Neville Callaghan, aged 77 More here
Japan: Godolphin dirt star Lemon Pop claims Champions Cup More here
UAE: Nine-race card on Day 3 of Dubai Carnival at Meydan More here
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