Star HK sprinter’s trainer plays down draw concerns, new track proposals in Florida, Hastings racetrack closes doors – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Ryan Moore on top of the world in HK jockey comp
Hong Kong: World #1 jockey Ryan Moore won the annual Longines International Jockeys’ Challenge in Hong Kong for the third time at Happy Valley on Wednesday night [Dec 10].
Riding at his first high-profile event since returning from a leg injury, the 42-year-old rode a pair of winners in the four-race event to beat 11 of the world’s leading riders in the premier event of its type on the global calendar.
“I'm very fortunate to have been coming back here for so many years and it's a long time since I last won it,” said Moore, who scored on Corleone and Triumphant More. “It's fortunate I had two very good rides today and it worked out nicely for me. I'm just thankful to be coming back here and I had the luck tonight.”
William Buick and Hugh Bowman also rode winners in the series, which is decided on a points basis. More here
Ka Ying Rising drawn one in HK Sprint
Hong Kong: Trainer David Hayes has played down concerns after world champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising drew the inside gate for his title defence against 12 rivals in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday [Dec 14].
“You can get blocked in from barrier one but I don't think he will,” said Hayes at Thursday’s post-position draw ceremony. “That would be the only concern but lately he is so fast out of the gates in his first 100 metres he gets himself in a very comfortable position.”
Ka Ying Rising is rated a 1-20 shot as he bids to extend his winning streak to 16 races in the HK$28m ($3.6m/£2.69m) contest, one of four lavishly endowed races on the annual HKIR card. More here
Former world #1 Romantic Warrior is attempting a historic four-timer in the feature event, the HK$40m Hong Kong Cup. More here
Dettori farewell tour kicks off in Argentina’s biggest race
Argentina: Frankie Dettori’s final farewell tour in South America gets underway on Saturday [Dec 13] when he rides in the storied Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro in Buenos Aires.
The famous jockey, who turns 55 on Monday [Dec 15] partners El Pulque in the historic race, which is often described as the ‘South American Arc’. Dettori is then set to ride in Uruguay and Brazil, where he will bring down the curtain down on a legendary career at Gavea racecourse in Rio in early February.
“For a long time people have been asking me to come ride in South America, but my commitments never allowed it,” he said, speaking to Turf Diario. “I’ve been keeping myself fit as it’s my last chance to perform, and I don’t want to embarrass myself!” More here
New Florida track mooted amid Gulfstream concerns
USA: A new racetrack could be opened in Florida amid concerns over the future of Gulfstream Park and ongoing efforts to decouple its racing and casino licenses.
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) has revealed that it is looking into using a non-profit licence issued more than a decade ago to start racing at a venue in near Ocala in Marion County.
Speaking at the annual University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson on Tuesday [Dec 9], FTBOA chief executive Lonny Powell said: “We’re going to get serious on this permit. It is no longer going to be on ice.” More here
‘Business decision’: No more racing at Hastings in Vancouver
Canada: Horse racing at Hastings racetrack in Vancouver has been discontinued after 133 years. The news was announced in a statement last week by Great Canadian Entertainment Corp., which operates an on-site casino and the racetrack at the British Columbia venue, formerly known as Exhibition Park.
“Unfortunately, this is strictly a business decision based on a lack of economic feasibility to move forward with another season of horse racing at Hastings.” said the company’s regional vice president Wayne Odegard.
The provincial government recently ended subsidies for slot machines, which had funded prize-money at Hastings. More here
• Canada: Death of Hall of Fame trainer Mike Doyle aged 74 More here
‘Billy the Kid’ hits 200-winner mark – and eyes future title
GB: British racing’s boy wonder Billy Loughnane achieved a notable landmark on Monday [Dec 8] when he partnered his 200th winner of 2026 in a race at Lingfield Park.
After riding three-year-old Dandy Khan to win a minor handicap on the all-weather, the 19-year-old known as ‘Billy the Kid’ immediately signalled his ambitions to win the champion jockey title.
“I’ve got some targets next year I want to be ticking off again,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports Racing. “I want some more Group 1s – but whether it’s next year or in years to come, the title is my main goal. I’ve got some stiff competition to pass, but I'll be giving it my best shot.”
Loughnane, who has ridden in a mammoth 1,239 races in 2025 in the UK alone, landed his first G1 on Rebel’s Romance in the Grosser Preis vin Berlin in August. He was second to Oisin Murphy in the official jockeys’ championship, which ran from May 3 to Oct 18. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Cheltenham Festival target for Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly after hurdle win More here
GB: Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation joins Karl Burke More here
GB: Alice Haynes to quit training ranks More here
USA: Keeneland catalogs 1,046 horses for 2026 January Horses of All Ages Sale More here
USA: Fasig-Tipton digital sale grosses record $10.6m More here
Japan: W Heart Bond wins Champions Cup (ex-Japan Cup Dirt) More here
Jamaica: Mouttet Mile win is ‘another achievement’ – Javier Castellano More here
Bahrain: International horses fly in for winter season More here
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