Horse of the Year elect to race on as fur-year-old, racing mourns leading owner, Aussie star sidelined … all this and more features in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Sovereignty stays in training for four-year-old campaign
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is set to stay in training for a four-year-old in 2026. Godolphin director of bloodstock Michael Banahan confirmed the decision at Gulfstream Park on Saturday [Dec 27] after Knightbridge won a G3 contest for the Dubai team.
NYRA best of 2025: Sovereignty through the binoculars of Frank Mirahmadi
“He’s at Keeneland at the moment, he’s galloping away up there and will probably be back down here at Payson in very early January,” said Banahan. “We don’t have a race picked out.”
Trained by Bill Mott, the son of Into Mischief is regarded as the Horse of the Year elect after adding to his Derby triumph with the Belmont and Travers Stakes during a season in which he won five of his six starts before he spiked a fever that ended his campaign days before the Breeders’ Cup. More here
• USA: Dubai a “possibility” for Journalism More here
Gulfstream deal guarantees racing for three years
USA: A deal has been reached to guarantee racing at Gulfstream Park at least until the end of 2028.
Set against a backdrop of fears over the long-term future of live racing at the high-profile Florida venue, an agreement between track owners 1/ST Racing and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association was announced on Wednesday [Dec 31].
However, while Gulfstream has traditionally hosted about 200 days of racing annually, this new agreement commits only to a “minimum racing schedule” of at least 180 days in 2026, 140 in 2027 and 120 in 2028. More here
Death of leading owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
UAE: Leading owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, a prominent figure in British racing for 30 years, died on Monday [Dec 29] in Dubai. He is believed to have been in his mid-70s.
The Sheikh’s yellow silks with three black spots have long been a familiar sight on the biggest stages, with his best horses including High-Rise, who won the Derby at Epsom in 1998, plus the likes of King George winner Postponed and star miler Rosallion.
A cousin of Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammed and a member of the Dubai ruling family, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid was also the breeder of Darley’s champion sire Dubawi. He also won the Melbourne Cup in 2023 with Without A Fight.
“It’s a big shock,” said Karl Burke, the sheikh’s principal trainer, speaking to the Press Association. “I was only talking to him earlier today and we discussed all the horses he was looking forward to for next season.” More here
Eighth JRA jockeys’ crown for Christophe Lemaire
Japan: Christophe Lemaire has finished on top of the Japan Racing Association’s jockey standings for the eighth time with 140 winners in 2025 for prize-money of ¥3.714bn ($23.7m/£17.6m). Keita Tosaki was second on 132.
Lemaire, 46, is the first overseas rider to reach 2,000 career winners in Japan, where he has hit the century mark in each of the last 11 seasons. More here
Leading JRA trainer for 2025 was Haruki Sugiyama, who captured his second title with a career-best 61 wins including a recent G1 success in the Jopeful Stakes with Lovcen. More here
‘Boy wonder’ Billy Loughnane breaks 21st century record
GB: Billy Loughnane, the 18-year-old ‘Boy Wonder’ of British racing, has established a new 21st century record for wins in a single calendar year.
Loughnane partnered his 222th winner of 2025 on New Year’s Eve at Wolverhampton, thereby eclipsing the mark of 221 set by Kieren Fallon in 2003. He was second to Oisin Murphy in the official jockeys’ championship, which ended on British Champions Day at Ascot in October.
Gordon Richards remains the holder of the outright record for most Flat winners in a year in Britain, having ridden 269 in 1947. More here
Injury setback for Mr Brightside
Australia: Ten-time G1 winner Mr Brightside will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a fetlock injury.
According to a statement issued by the Hayes team at Lindsay Park, the eight-year-old is to undergo minor bone-chip surgery.
“Afterwards he will enjoy a lovely long VIP holiday at Lindsay Park Euroa,” said the statement. “This means he will unfortunately miss the upcoming autumn racing carnival but absolutely all that matters is his wellbeing and we look forward to seeing him back in the spring.” More here
Korean legend Park Tae-jong retires at 60
South Korea: Park Tae-jong, a legendary figure in Korean racing circles, has called time on his career as a jockey at the age of 60.
Known as the ‘Horse Racing President’, Park is a five-time champion whose total of 2,249 victories in a 38-year career is a KRA record.
A retirement ceremony was held at Let’s Run Park in Seoul on Sunday [Dec 28]. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Saudi Cup likely for Nysos after gutsy win More here
USA: G1 winner Tamara retired to Spendthrift after setback More here
USA: Barnes retired to stud at Hill ’n’ Dale More here
USA: 3,000th winner for jockey Orlando Mojica More here
GB: Dewhurst winner Gewan snapped up by new Chinese team More here
Hong Kong: Trainer Frankie Lor reaches 500-win milestone More here
Japan: Tokyo Daishoten – Diktaean is first NAR winner in 20 years More here
New Zealand: Dual G1 winner Le Crique retired from racing More here
Bahrain: ‘Very exciting’ Nesthorn bids to build on impressive debut More here
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