SAUDI CUP: Lisa Allpress becomes first female jockey to win a competitive race in Saudi Arabia
Lisa Allpress became the first female jockey to win a race under rules in Saudi Arabia when she took the opening leg of the international jockeys' challenge Feb. 28 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on Matmon, a locally trained horse owned by King Abdullah. The New Zealand-based jockey was one of seven women, including […]
SAUDI CUP: Jockey Mike Smith wins two – says it’s the best dirt track he has ever ridden on
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith emerged victorious in the stc International Jockeys Challenge on Friday as history was made on Kingdom Day at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack. While Smith’s two wins from four rounds of the competition, which featured 14 invited riders from around the globe, saw him out on his own in front, Lisa […]
A closer look at the 14 runners in the US$20 million Saudi Cup
A field of 14 is officially set for the world’s richest horse race, with America’s Maximum Security the anticipated favourite in tomorrow’s US$20-million Saudi Cup. Post positions for the nine-furlong feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse were drawn Wednesday, and the assigned gates look like no hindrance to the fancied contingent that includes McKinzie, Mucho Gusto, […]
All set for first US20 million Saudi Cup
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia this week hosts the world’s richest horse race, with US$20 million in cash prizes on offer in the latest international sports extravaganza designed to boost its battered global image. The ultra-conservative kingdom has in recent years invested heavily in sporting events, in a soft power push designed to […]
US RACING: Legendary racehorse, sire A.P. Indy dies at 31
A.P. Indy, the 1992 Horse of the Year often referred to as a "breed-shaping" sire, died Friday at Lane's End Farm. He was 31. The son of Seattle Slew was pensioned from stud duties in 2011, 11 years after entering racing's Hall of Fame, while suffering from age-related testicular degeneration. A.P. Indy was otherwise well and […]
US RACING: New York Racing Association (NYRA) establishes Safety and Integrity Team
The New York Racing Association announced Thursday that longtime employees Juan Dominguez and Tim Kelly will serve new roles as NYRA safety stewards as part of a four-person Safety and Integrity Team dedicated to enhancing existing safety protocols at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Dominguez and Kelly will complement a unit that […]
UK RACING: Stronger penalties for misuse of whip in new five-year racing strategy
An ambitious and innovative five-year plan drawn up by the Horse Welfare Board with "respect for the horse" at the heart of it has received a broad welcome from racing's often divided interests. In what is being described as a pivotal moment for racing, the 130-page document, released Feb. 20 and titled "A Life Well […]
Horse dies on training track at Santa Anita, 6th since December
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — A horse died on the training track at Santa Anita last weekend, the sixth death at the track since late December. A 6-year-old gelding named Double Touch and trained by John Sadler suffered what was described as a "sudden death" on Saturday, according to an incident report on the track's website. […]
US RACING: New twist in lawsuit against owner of American Pharoah
MGG Investment Group, which last month filed a lawsuit against Zayat Stables and its Triple Crown-winning owner, Ahmed Zayat, has amended its complaint to include prominent industry names. According to the filing, made Tuesday and published Wednesday by Paulick Report, organizations such as Hill ’n’ Dale and LNJ Foxwoods were aware, or should have been […]
US$20 million Saudi Cup dominated by American entries
Officials of the US$20- million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest horse race to be run on February 29, on Wednesday morning (February 5), listed an international field of 11 consisting mostly of American runners. Champion three-year-old Maximum Security will be joined by a pair of Bob Baffert trainees, McKinzie and the recent Pegasus World Cup […]