Preakness winner in action at Monmouth as his Kentucky Derby conqueror prepares for Saratoga date – plus cross-contamination DQ for Enable half-sister and Ka Ying Rising's latest accolade
Preakness winner Journalism returns in Haskell
USA: Leading three-year-old Journalism is the star name on this weekend’s US programme as the Preakness Stakes winner faces a rematch with Pimlico runner-up Gosger in the $1m Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday [July 19].
After winning a dramatic edition of the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 17, the son of Curlin was again beaten into second by his Kentucky Derby conqueror Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes.
Odds-on favorite on the morning line, Journalism breaks from gate two under Umberto Rispoli in an eight-runner field, also featuring Goal Oriented, who got a bum when fourth in the Preakness. “I wouldn’t mind a replay of the Preakness,” said Journalism’s trainer Michael McCarthy. “But hopefully everyone gets a little cleaner trip this time.” More here
• USA: Death of Journalism’s dam Mopotism, aged 11 More here
Sovereignty set for Jim Dandy date
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is set to have his Travers Stakes in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26. Last seen winning the Belmont, the Godolphin homebred did a five-furlong workout in 1:02.18 on Saturday [July 12] over the Spa’s Oklahoma dirt training track.
“I think it makes some sense to have a run,” said trainer Bill Mott. “If we didn’t have the Jim Dandy, I suppose he could train into the race but he’s not that heavily-raced this year that he couldn’t stand another race.
“He looks good to me – his works have been good, his gallops have been good, he’s eating good.” More here
• USA: Sierra Leone points to Whitney More here
Gosdens fined over ketamine positives – including Enable half-sister
GB: Leading father-and-son training partnership John & Thady Gosden suffered embarrassment this week when they were fined £3,000 after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance ketamine last summer.
Even worse, one of those horses was Enable’s half-sister Zilfee, whose sole racecourse success in a Kempton maiden in June 2024 under Frankie Dettori is expunged from the record books. Morrophore, the second horse involved, was tested positive after a race at Yarmouth in July 2024.
The British Horseracing Authority’s Disciplinary Panel found the positive tests were a result of cross-contamination via a female member of staff employed between Octiber 2023 and August 2024 who admitted to being a recreational user. More here
Ka Ying Rising is HK Horse of the Year
Hong Kong: Ka Ying Rising, the world’s current #1 racehorse according to Thoroughbred Racehorse Commentary’s Global Rankings, has been named Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year for 2024-25.
The David Hayes-trained four-year-old went unbeaten in eight starts during the HK season, which ended at Happy Valley on Wednesday [July 16]. In doing so, he stretched his winning streak to 12 races, the third-longest in Hong Kong racing history behind Silent Witness (17 races) and Golden Sixty (16).
Ka Ying Rising twice broke the Sha Tin course record for 1,200 metres (6f) last season, beating Sacred Kingdom’s mark that had stood since 2007. Having won the HK Sprint in December, he also became the fifth horse to capture the three-race Hong Kong Speed Series bonus of HK$5m ($630,000/£475,000). A special presentation was held last Friday [July 11] in the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel. More here
• Hong Kong: John Size claims 13th HK trainers’ championship More here
World’s oldest Thoroughbred dies aged 39
USA: New Years Eve, claimed to be was the world’s oldest Thoroughbred, has died – at the age of 39 years and 57 days.
A modest racehorse, he won races at Mountaineer and Atokad Downs in a low-level three-season career between 1989 and 1991.
Since 1993 he had been owned by retired army veteran Julie Izzo, who issued a statement to the Thoroughbred Daily News revealing the horse had died in May in Pennsylvania. “I will forever be grateful for our many years together,” she said. “There will always be a piece of me missing. He wasn't an extraordinary racehorse. But he was extraordinary to me.” More here
Death of Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O’Houlihan
Canada: Patches O’Houlihan, the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, was humanely euthanized last Thursday [July 10] due to complications from a soft-tissue injury following his recent victory at Woodbine in the G2 Highlander.
“It was hoped that he would recover well enough to be retired to pasture,” said owner-breeder Frank Giulio Jr. “However, in the time since then, his prognosis worsened. We consulted with veterinarians and surgeons on an ongoing basis and it was determined surgery was not a viable option for a sustained quality of life.”
Named after the character played by Rip Torn in the movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, the equine Patches O’Houlihan won 13 of 16 career starts for trainer Bob Tiller. The gelding won six graded stakes altogether. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Two-year ban for longserving trainer Phil Serpe over clenbuterol positive More here
USA: 31-day summer stint starts on Friday [July 18] at Del Mar More here
GB: William Buick reaches 2,000-win landmark More here
GB: Ascot racecourse – record turnover and rising profits in 2024 More here
France: Tributes paid to young jump jockey, 23, who died after suffering stroke in the saddle More here
Japan: Breeders’ Cup in the mix for Dubai Turf winner Soul Rush More here
Rankings update: Appleby and Buick dominant as Cinderella goes to the July ball at Newmarket
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