Breeders’ Cup issued a reminder that Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline to nominate foals born in 2024 to the Breeders’ Cup program at the one-time nomination fee of $400. Source
Month: July 2024
Istabraq, Three-Time Champion Hurdle Hero, Dies at 32
Istabraq is one of only five horses to have won the Champion Hurdle three times. He had 14 grade 1 successes and won 23 of his 29 outings over flights. He retired in 2002. Source
Saratoga Jockey Karaoke Returns July 28
The 12th Annual Riders Up! jockey karaoke contest, benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, returns to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This one-of-a-kind event will take place July 28 at Vapor Night Club. Source
The Chosen Vron Goes for Second Bing Crosby Win
The Chosen Vron, a California-bred Horse of the Year and winner of 13 out of his 14 last races, will try for a second consecutive victory in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. Source
Kentucky Downs Plans to Hike Stakes Purses Further
Kentucky Downs plans to increase purses for nine of its 18 stakes by a total of $3.7 million from what was originally announced, pending regulatory approval, including the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) bumped from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. Source
Baby Yoda Aims for Stars in Saratoga’s Vanderbilt
Nearly half of Baby Yoda’s wins and earnings have come at Saratoga, and he seeks his second graded stakes victory, and first grade 1 in the July 27 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1). Source
Kentucky Downs Requests Purse Increases for Stakes
Kentucky Downs plans to increase purses for nine of its 18 stakes by a total of $3.7 million from what was originally announced, pending regulatory approval, including the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) bumped from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. Source
Share in Complexity to be Offered at F-T Saratoga Sale
Complexity is the current leading first-crop sire and leading general sire of 2-year-olds. These include Mo Plex, winner of the Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga, as well as Mensa, winner of the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. Source
BCBC Diaries: Episode 5
PTF is back with a new episode of BCBC Diaries where we kick off by congratulating the 10 (!) Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge qualifiers to come out of Monmouth Park’s wildly successful Haskell Stakes qualifier. Then he previews upcoming BCBC qualifying action including this weekend’s Del Mar Handicapping Challenge. One of the Monmouth qualifiers was our very own Tyler Hoffman! Tyler joins PTF to talk about his strategy going in to the contest and to tell us how it all played out in real time. Then Matt Bernier of NBC and TVG/Fanduel joins to share his favorite Breeders’ Cup memory and to speculate about Next’s chances in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Source
Iconic racehorse Istabraq dies at the home of owner JP McManus aged 32 after legendary career which peaked with four consecutive wins at Cheltenham
The pinnacle of his achievements were four consecutive wins at Cheltenham, starting with the 1997 Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle before three spectacular victories in the Champion Hurdle.Source