Blood-Horse

In this monthly BH interview, Karen M. Johnson profiles young racing personalities.

The 2024 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association's Florida Sire Stakes series comes to a close Nov. 30 at Gulfstream Park with a pair of $300,000, 1 1/16-mile races for juveniles that attracted high-quality favorites. 

One of the favorites for this spring's Golden Slipper Stakes (G1), group 3 winner King Kirk, died in a swimming pool accident following a fourth placing in a Randwick trial.

With winter fast approaching, Old Friends announces its HayRaiser fundraiser campaign to help raise funds to support their herd of over 270 horses.

Connections of Goliath have renewed the call for geldings to be permitted to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) after confirming that the talented 4-year-old will not run again before an ambitious international campaign next year.

During the 49-day Classic Meet, Santa Anita will provide eligible shippers with a guaranteed $4,000 bonus for their first start (first-time starters excluded) plus an additional purse bonus.

Fans will have their second of six opportunities to bet on the Kentucky Derby (G1) Nov. 28-Dec.1. Besides the 38 individual interests, Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager lists All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2022 as the 4-5 favorite.

Valentine Candy became racing's newest millionaire with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes Nov. 25 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

The six-day season will begin Dec. 6 and continue through Dec. 15. . Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday both weeks, post time will be at 12:30 p.m.

A decile analysis of the Keeneland November weanling market shows how much many sellers were willing to hang onto their highest-quality stock and take their chances at the 2025 yearling sales.

Bidding on the December Digital Sale, originally scheduled for Dec. 5-10, will now take place from Dec. 5-11. Bidding will close over two days Dec. 10-11.

The Maryland farm's top sire, Great Notion, is already booked full for 2025. Also at the top of the roster at $5,000 are second-year sire Endorsed and Engage, who will have his first 2-year-old runners next year.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Camille Pissarro recently won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1).

Arqana will launch a program that offers breeders the chance of having 50% of the covering fee financed by the Deauville auction house up until the offspring is sold.

Four weeks removed from a disappointing effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, Rigney Racing's Jonathan's Way is back home and ready to run in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 30.

Having won three of the six Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep races so far, trainer Brad Cox brings a pair of undefeated fillies, Good Cheer and Eclatant, to the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 30.

The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) announces today that the 2024 Big Sport of Turfdom award will be presented to trainer Ken McPeek. The annual award recognizes a person or group of people who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing.

The Wyoming Gaming Commission has approved Wyoming's first mile-long horse racing track for 16 live race dates in 2025, as well as simulcasting and related activities.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas' willingness to ship his horses paid off Nov. 24 as Mrs. Astor worked out a perfect trip to win the $100,000 Red Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.

Edwin Gonzalez claimed his first riding title at Gulfstream Park Nov. 24, prevailing over defending champion Edgard Zayas by one win on closing day of the Sunshine Meet.