Blood-Horse

Israr will bid to go one better in the Middle East when lining up in the $2.5 million HH The Amir Trophy Feb. 17, the Thoroughbred highlight of the Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan racecourse in Qatar.

Oaklawn Park will add two additional race days—April 7 and May 5—to its 2023-24 meet. The two added race days will provide more racing opportunities after winter cancellations due to inclement weather.

Mr Brightside showed he could be on the way to earning champion status with a spine-tingling fifth elite-level success in the Feb. 10 Orr Stakes (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse.

Nancy Kelly, who helped raise millions of dollars for equine research and for individuals in need throughout the Thoroughbred industry over the course of a 32-year career at The Jockey Club, died Feb. 9 in Garden City Park, N.Y.

Trainer Wesley Ward's lawsuit against owner/breeder Ken Ramsey is settled, and a trial set to start on Feb. 19 will not take place. Ken Ramsey said Ward was "made whole" by the settlement.

The colt born Jan. 30 is the first foal out of the Practical Joke mare Marital Joy.

Female jockey Forest Boyce scored the 1,000th victory of her career when she guided Determined Driver home first in the seventh race at Laurel Park Feb. 9.

The well-regarded 3-year-old maiden Victory Avenue, beaten as the favorite in his debut last month, returned to the work tab Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

Sibila Spain, a group 2-winning daughter of Frankel who sold to Jill Lamb for €2,000,000 (US$2,152,517) at Arqana's Vente d'Elevage in December, is set to return to Dubawi for the 2024 breeding season.

Maymun, a dazzling debut winner going six furlongs here Jan. 20 for trainer Bob Baffert, returns Feb. 11 and stretches out to a mile in a first-level allowance heat.

The Race Track Chaplaincy of America will host its annual golf tournament April 16 with the goal of increasing awareness and raising funds for the ministry.

Shadwell might have undergone a rationalization in numbers in recent years, but its broodmare band still contains significant strength in depth.

Two barns at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course are under quarantine for confirmed cases of strangles, with one barn at the Youngstown, Ohio, track nearing the end of its quarantine, according to a track executive.

The Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announces a $1,500 foal incentive paid to a breeder of an Oregon foal born in 2024 and 2025 and starting bonuses paid to owners of Oregon-bred horses starting at Grants Pass.

Godolphin continued its mastery of the Meydan Racecourse turf on the 10th night of the World Cup Carnival Feb. 9, winning two of the three races on the surface, including the two features.

In partnership with author Jennifer Kelly, "Born to Rein" documentary co-producers Jody Lamp and Melody Dobson announce a statewide Nebraska National Legacy Authors Tour to celebrate and commemorate the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1).

The ARC and Japan Racing Association announced Feb. 9 that the 2024 Asian Racing Conference will be conducted Aug. 27-Sept. 1, in Sapporo, Japan.

A passion for winning horse races brought Danny Caldwell and country music superstar Toby Keith together. That passion will keep them together for the time being in spirit.

Highly talented sprinter Lofty Strike, the son of Snitzel who was narrowly denied in some of Melbourne's signature group 1s, will stand at Victoria's Swettenham Stud in 2024.

New York Thoroughbred Breeders is pleased to announce the nominees for the New York-bred divisional champions of 2023.