Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced
Horse racing superstars Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, who dominated thoroughbred racing, were the only horses receiving votes for Horse of the Year, however, there were 3 finalists in each of the other 16 Eclipse Award categories.
Eclipse Award winners will be announced on January 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Either Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta will become the first female to win the Horse of the Year honor since Azeri in 2002. They are virtual locks to win divisional championships.
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Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame to Induct 5
By GREG MELIKOV
Five new honorees will be inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame on Saturday at Retama Park.
The new members are racing legends Harold V. Goodman and Jeff Carr, plus three horses. In addition, former Texas Sen. O. H. “Ike” Carr of Dallas will receive the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award.
Goodman, a prominent horse owner and breeder, was 1994 Texas Breeder of the Year. His Two Altazano, one of the few Texas-bred fillies to win a Grade 1, captured four graded thoroughbred stakes 15 years ago.
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Atomic Rain Sold To Godolphin; Start In 2009 Haskell Invitational Uncertain
Atomic Rain, who won the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 11 for George and Lori Hall as his prep for the 2009 Haskell Invitational, has been sold to Godolphin and his status as one of the Haskell entries in the August 2 race is now uncertain.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin racing manager, said in a statement, “We have purchased Atomic Rain to race in Dubai this winter, but we will make a decision shortly with regard to his more immediate future.”
Kelly Breen, who had trained Atomic Rain since purchasing the Smart Strike colt at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale for $125,000, said the colt was being shipped to New York Wednesday and the deal would be finalized today.
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Injury to 2009 Kentucky Derby Favorite I Want Revenge Prompts Lawsuit
IEAH Stables accuses David Lanzman of fraud, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty for failing to let his ownership partners know about 2009 Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge‘s right front ankle injury and various efforts to treat it.
Inflammation was detected in the ankle hours before the Kentucky Derby and Lanzman decided to pull him from the race. He was the first morning-line favorite to scratch on Kentucky Derby day in at least 60 years.
Lanzman’s attorney, Michael Meuser, said Lanzman wasn’t hiding anything from his co-owners and that he was as surprised as anybody when the injury was discovered on Kentucky Derby morning.
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Kentucky Oaks Winner Rachel Alexandra Probable For The Preakness Stakes Field
Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra has been sold to Stonestreet Stables, opening the possibility for the filly superstar to run in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.
Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson announced the sale on Wednesday. The purchase from Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer comes less than a week after Rachel Alexandra posted a record 20-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks, the female counterpart of the Kentucky Derby.
Morrison said after the Kentucky Oaks he had no plans to enter Rachel Alexandra into either of the remaining Triple Crown races. He would have to pay a $100,000 supplement to put Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness.
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Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro Memorial Set For April 26 at Churchill Downs
2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro will be honored at Churchill Downs, the site of his greatest triumph, on April 26, a week before this year’s Run for the Roses.
Churchill Downs said Thursday a bronze statue honoring Barbaro’s spectacular 6 1/2 -length victory in the Kentucky Derby will be unveiled on April 26.
The announcement comes on the second anniversary of Barbaro’s death and 2 days before full brother Nicanor is to make his horse racing debut at Gulfstream Park.
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Curlin To Be Retired To Stud In 2009
2007 Horse of the Year Curlin will be retired to stud in 2009. Majority owner Jess Jackson said in a statement issued Sunday that he’ll consider offers from farms in Kentucky before deciding where Curlin will stand at stud.
Until his future home is selected, race horse owner Jess Jackson said Curlin will remain in training for a possible horse race later this year, “If an appropriate venue and purse are offered, we would consider one more race in 2008 for Curlin,” Jess Jackson said.
The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike, Curlin, has a career record of 11-2-2 in 16 starts and is the first North American race horse to earn more than $10-million.
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Concern Nacca Brings Top Bid In Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Tuesday Sale
Concern Nacca, in foal to 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, brought a top bid of $450,000 Tuesday during Keeneland‘s November Breeding Stock Sale.
The 8-year-old daughter of Concern and half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Hystericalady, Concern Nacca was purchased Tuesday by Tasuku Tsuji and consigned by Niknar Farm, agent.
Keeneland sold 232 horses for the day for $5,395,500, down 34.2% from the corresponding session in 2007 when 268 horses brought $8,200,300. The average was down 24% from $30,598 to $23,256.
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Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Raven’s Pass Retired To Stud
2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass has been retired from horse racing at Sheikh Mohammed’s Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The 3-year-old son of Elusive Quality, Raven’s Pass will stand at €40,000, roughly $51,000.
“Raven’s Pass will stand at Kildangan, but I’m sure we’ll be encouraging mares from Kentucky to County Kildare,” said Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock advisor John Ferguson. “A horse with genuine global appeal, he’ll give top breeders the opportunity to sell his offspring either in Europe or the USA.”
Raven’s Pass was trained by John Gosden for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley and the sheikh’s wife, Princess Haya of Jordan. Raven’s Pass won or placed in 11 of 12 races earning $3,658,556 in his horse racing career. In his most recent start, he set a track-record time of 1:59.27 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.
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Sealed Bid For Minority Interest Of Race Horse Curlin Failed
A sale by sealed bid for the 20% minority interest in reigning Horse of the Year Curlin failed to produce an acceptable offer.
A state judge had ordered the minority share of Curlin be sold to help satisfy a $42 million judgment against the horse’s minority owners, William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham. Prospective buyers had until Wednesday to submit the bid.
The 80% majority interest held by winemaker Jess Jackson isn’t affected by the sale. Kevin McGee, vice president of Stonestreet Stables, which owns the 80% majority of the race horse Curlin, said Jess Jackson will wait to see what happens in a private sale.
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