Blood-Horse

W Heart Bond, a 4-year-old filly challenging older and more experienced males, prevailed by a desperate nose in the Champions Cup (G1) Dec. 7 on the Chukyo Racecourse dirt.

Cosmic Crusader broke a top-level drought for West Australian breeding legend Bob Peters and became a long-awaited third Australian elite-level winner for his sire Maurice in taking the Northerly Stakes (G1) at Ascot Dec. 6.

Hot-button issues such as decoupling and computer-assisted wagering will be in focus when the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program hosts the 2025 Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 8-10.

Consequent, the second choice behind Bob Baffert-trained Nimah, defeated Cashed by a length in the Starlet Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile race at Los Alamitos Race Course for 2-year-old fillies.

Karl Burke has pulled quite a few rabbits out of the hat down the years. However, turning a 12,000-guinea yearling into a €2.6 million filly in training surely rates a personal best, even by his lofty standards. 

Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto made a bold move aboard Hammerhead with 5 furlongs to go in the 1 1/2-mile Valedictory Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Woodbine and it paid off with a length victory over his rallying stablemate Jokestar.

The new owners of Bishops Bay received a quick dividend on their recent purchase in the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2). In a few months' time, they'll find out if they struck gold.

On Dec. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack, the promising juvenile Paladin took a major step toward fulfilling his connections' Kentucky Derby (G1) dreams by defeating Renegade and Balboa in the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2).

Wathnan Racing’s Dark Trooper made a remarkable run from last to score in the final strides of the AED 1 million HH The President Cup at Abu Dhabi Turf Club Dec. 6.

Nearly eight months of racing inactivity proved no obstacle for Just Beat the Odds, who fired fresh to defeat Acoustic Ave and three other rivals in the $242,500 Elite Power Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Winning the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) has become old hat for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who notched his 10th win in the 1 1/8-mile race for 2-year-old fillies when Zany overwhelmed her competition with an 8 1/2-length win Dec. 6 at Aqueduct.

Hastings Park announced Dec. 5 that it would cease conducting Thoroughbred racing, ending more than 130 years of racing at the British Columbia venue.

Oaklawn Park kicks off its 2025-26 racing season Dec. 12 with the $150,000 Advent Stakes, the opening marker of a record 62 stakes worth more than a total of $18.3 million this winter and upcoming spring at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Young and old meet on the dirt Dec. 7 at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan's Champions Cup.

For many in the business, the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale that begins Dec. 6 will be the last hurrah of a long year on the road. Thousands of lots have been sold across the globe in recent months. 

Horses that win a California-bred first-level allowance race will enjoy expanded opportunities beginning with the Classic Meet at Santa Anita. A new policy now permits two wins on the same surface at two separate distance categories.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh rides his 2,000th winner Dec. 5 in piloting Lazio to win the third race at Gulfstream Park.

Between Del Mar and Santa Anita Park’s meets, jockey Antonio Fresu is riding in the United Arab Emirates, giving him the chance to ride Dec. 6 in the 33rd UAE President Cup for Arabians and the HH The President Cup for Thoroughbreds.

Due to an ongoing interruption of water service,  the Dec. 5 racing card at Fair Grounds is canceled. The water main break in the neighborhood of the track is being addressed.

A deep field of runners, including group 1 winner Danyah, contests the Thoroughbred edition of the HH The President Cup at Abu Dhabi Turf Club Dec. 6.