A timeline for the Belmont Park redevelopment program, a Preakness purse boost and a no-go for Constitution Hill feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Belmont Park plans released
USA: A timeline schedule was published this week for the Belmont Park redevelopment programme with the storied venue set to reopen for business in 2026.
Artist’s renderings of how the new Belmont will look were also released. “The new Belmont Park will be a thoroughly modern racing and entertainment facility that will take its place on the global stage among iconic venues like Ascot, Longchamp, and The Curragh,” said NYRA chairman Marc Holliday said in a press release.
With ambitions to host the Breeders’ Cup in 2026, the revamped Belmont will have a capacity of 50,000. The track’s signature event, the Belmont Stakes, is to be run at Saratoga in 2024 and 2025. More here
Preakness worth $2m as part of new series
USA: This year’s Preakness Stakes will be worth a total of $2m as part of a G1 revamp from 1/ST Racing, who have also announced a $5m bonus series linking three of showpiece races.
The Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita, formerly known as the Goodwood, is rebranded as the California Crown and becomes the $1m second leg of a series also featuring the 149th Preakness and the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January 2025.
Similarly, a $2.5m bonus is on offer to connections of any horse winning three designated turf races. They are the G3 Dinner Party at Pimlico – purse raised to $500,000 as part of a reinvigorated Maryland programme – plus the G2 California Crown John Henry Turf at Santa Anita and the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf. A total of $25m is potentially on offer in prize-money and bonuses across the three meets. More here
Exceed And Excel retired from stud duties
Australia: Darley has announced the retirement of leading global stallion Exceed And Excel after a 20-year career at stud.
Champion Australian sire in 2012-13, the dual G1-winning son of Danehill has sired more than 200 individual stakes winners; he is the only Australian-bred sire in history to achieve the feat. A hugely successful shuttle stallion, he is responsible for three G1 winners in Europe, including last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner Mawj.
“He was one of the first reverse shuttle stallions – we shuttled him to England and Ireland,” said Darley Australia’s head of stallions, Alastair Pulford, speaking to ANZ Bloodstock News. “His influence has been outstanding in both hemispheres.” More here
Constitution Hill misses Cheltenham
GB: Trainer Nicky Henderson has admitted defeat in his race against time to get unbeaten superstar hurdler Constitution Hill back to full fitness ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
The four-day jump racing jamboree begins on Tuesday [March 12] with a seven-race card featuring the Unibet Champion Hurdle. However, last year’s winner Constitution Hill will not defend his crown after unsatisfactory blood tests following a disappointing workout last week at Kempton.
In his absence, the 2023 runner-up State Man will start favourite for omnipotent Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who has a multitude of leading chances over the four days. More here
Imperatriz out to emulate Black Caviar at Flemington
Australia:World #3 Imperatriz will have to emulate the great Black Caviar’s weight-carrying achievement if she is to maintain her G1-win spree in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday [March 9].
Black Caviar, who retired undefeated after 25 starts, won the time-honoured six-furlong event under 58kg (9st2lb) in 2011 – the same topweight that Imperatriz is set to carry against 12 rivals as she bids for her seventh consecutive victory and her tenth G1 win overall. More here
Royal Ascot possible Espiona misses the Newmarket in favour of the G1 Canterbury at Randwick on Saturday. More here
Isle Of Jura heads King’s Cup in Bahrain
Bahrain: Isle Of Jura bids to cap a memorable season in Bahrain on Friday [March 8] when he lines up for the King’s Cup at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club. The George Scott-trained four-year-old has won three of his four starts in Bahrain, including the prestigious Crown Prince’s Cup and the HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup.
Regular rider Callum Shepherd takes the reins again as the Victorious Racing gelding bids for a hat-trick of major races in the space of five weeks. “Isle Of Jura is the best middle-distance horse I’ve ridden and he’s got the potential to improve still further,” said the jockey.
Opposition includes last year’s winner Passion And Glory, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, plus two more Godolphin runners in the Charlie Appleby-trained pair Dhahabi and King Of Conquest. Lucander represents George Baker while the home team is led by Goemon and in-form Sovereign Spirit. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Death of colorful track announcer Larry Lederman at 67 More here
GB: Guineas entries headed by City Of Troy More here
GB: 36-day whip ban for jockey Marco Ghiani More here
GB: Great British Racing CEO Rod Street steps down More here
Japan: Eskendereya dies at stud aged 17 More here
New Zealand: Record sixth NZ Derby for Roger James with impressive Orchestral More here
Hong Kong: Golden Sixty on way back More here
Hong Kong: Japanese G1 target for sprint star Victor The Winner More here
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