A huge prize boost for the 150th Kentucky Derby, the JRA awards plus an equine tragedy at Belmont Park are included in our weekly round-up of international racing news
Kentucky Derby purse upped to $5m
USA: The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4 will be the richest ever run with a prize fund of $5 million.
This $2m increase from last year’s $3m is the headline figure in a stakes schedule for the Churchill Spring Meet offering 50 stakes with total purses of $25.6m – a 25% increase on 2023. The 43-date Spring Meet [April 27-June 30] features seven G1 events, all of which will be worth at least $1m. More here
Equinox named Japanese Horse of the Year
Japan: To nobody’s immense surprise, world #1 Equinoxretained his title as the Japan Racing Association’s Horse of the Year for the second year in a row when the annual JRA Awards were revealed on Tuesday [Jan 9].
Retired to Shadai after his emphatic Japan Cup triumph, the six-time G1 winner received 293 out of 295 votes to win Japanese racing’s highest accolade. Fillies’ triple crown winner Liberty Island got the other two. More here
Godolphin’s Lemon Pop beat Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro with a 166-126 verdict to earn the Dirt Horse Award. The six-year-old is Saudi Cup-bound, with Meydan on his radar thereafter. More here
Two horses killed after Belmont collision
USA: In a tragic accident at Belmont Park on Monday morning [Jan 8], two horses died as a result of injuries sustained when they collided on the training track. Nashua Stakes winner Where’s Chris and multiple winner Constitutionlawyer were the horses involved in the incident. More here
G1 winner Two Emmys was also euthanised after breaking his leg during training at Fair Grounds on Sunday morning [Jan 7] following an incident that trainer Hugh Robertson claimed was “totally avoidable” in an interview with the Daily Racing Form. Two Emmys won the final running of the Arlington Million in Chicago, when it was renamed the Mr D. Stakes in 2021. More here
Pegasus latest: Master Of The Seas stays in Dubai
USA: Potential headline act Master Of The Seas has been withdrawn from consideration for the Pegasus World Cup Turf. It is understood the Breeders’ Cup Mile winner is headed for the Dubai Turf on World Cup night at Meydan.
Veteran turfer Therapist will also miss the $1m contest on Jan 27, with Jerry The Nipper and Missed The Cut called up from the reserve list to fill the holes. More here
Dynamic One, winner of the Suburban in 2022, has been added to the list of invitees to the main event, the $3m Pegasus World Cup, following the withdrawal of Subsanador. More here
US bloodstock figures survive plane crash in Australia
Australia: A group of well-known figures in the US racing and bloodstock world were lucky to survive a plane crash in northern Queensland in Australia on Monday [Jan 8].
Trainer Phil Bauer, bloodstock agent John Moynihan and his wife Helena, and owner-breeders Richard and Tammy Rigney plus daughter Madison were among ten people on a flight that came down near the beach resort of Lizard Island. In a miraculous escape, only minor injuries were reported. More here
Betfred extend and expand Epsom Derby sponsorship
GB: Bookmakers Betfred have extended their sponsorship deal to back Britain’s richest race, the Derby, set to be run at Epsom this year on Saturday, June 1.
Having last year signed a three-year deal to sponsor the £1.6m Classic, Betfred will extend their backing by another 12 months until 2026. They have also expanded their coverage to full naming rights over both days of the Derby Festival, at which they will back six races. More here
The Jockey Club also announced that total prize-money across its 15 racecourses – which also include Cheltenham, Aintree, Newmarket and Sandown – will exceed £60m for the first time in 2024. A total of £60.1m will be offered over 334 fixtures. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Eclipse Awards [Jan 25] finalists announced More here
USA: Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Joe Cantey dies, aged 82 More here
South Africa: Charles Dickens earns BC spot in King’s Plate More here
Australia: Imperatriz aiming for Lightning Stakes [Feb 17] return More here
Australia: Magic Millions – Ellis splashes cash for Avantage’s first foal More here
UAE: Breeders’ Cup third Starlust heads Euros at Meydan More here
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