Blood-Horse

Million-dollar earning Gigante, named 2025 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year, headlines a slate of award winners whose connections will receive hardware for their efforts March 14 at Colonial Downs.

The reformatted Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Dubai Feb. 20 but without Six Speed, the colt making the most noise this season at Meydan Racecourse, leaving the race wide open.

The Maryland Million announced Feb. 18 two new Maryland Million Races running March 22, each offering $10,000 in bonuses for Maryland Million-eligible horses.

The top seller, Dante Nonantais (Lot 355) set to continue his career in Australia after going the way of Narvick, Terry Henderson's OTI, and Melbourne Cup (G1)-winning trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

Bred by owner/breeder Deborah Hancock, the flashy chestnut colt is out of the Tale of the Cat winner Miss Tattle Tale.

Samuel Marin's total of 13 wins for the week included a stakes race victory.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has called a March 11 board panel hearing to address what it says is Churchill Downs Incorporated's refusal to pay millions of dollars of required assessments from four of its tracks.

The King's Plate Stakes is North America's oldest continuously run stakes race and is contested for a purse of CA$1 million.

The change moves Friday racing from its previous 4 p.m. PT start to 2 p.m. PT, creating a consistent post time throughout the week and providing fans, horsemen and women, and industry partners with a streamlined schedule.

Western Australia's premier yearling auction returns to the Swan Valley this week, with 358 lots cataloged for the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, which gets underway Feb. 19.

Racing from Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park will be shown on "America's Day at the Races", while the John Battaglia Stakes will be shown on FanDuel TV.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Industry Renaissance Awards will be presented during a March 22 luncheon at Laurel Park.

Grade 1 winner Lovesick Blues was named 2025 champion California-bred older horse and sprinter and is a finalist for California-bred Horse of the Year, which will be announced March 2 at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner.

The membership program is a new hospitality offering available to fans when the new Belmont Park opens later this year.

Following their eye-catching wins Feb. 14, Saudi Cup (G1) winner Forever Young and Risen Star Stakes (G2) winner Paladin moved up the leaderboard in their respective National Thoroughbred Racing Association rankings.

Randy Winick, trainer of the 1993 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Brocco, died Feb. 15 at age 76. He trained many stakes winners throughout his career, including grade 1 winners Dontstop Themusic, Country Queen, Mitterand, and Spence Bay.

2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Blue Prize died the evening of Feb. 15 from complications of colic following a troubled foaling, according to Paulick Report. She was 13.

The Cincinnati Trophy Stakes will run at Turfway Park on Feb. 20. The field of 11 is headlined by recent Turfway Park winners, Map of the Moon and Dame Laura.

Bill Recio supervised the breaking and training of multiple grade 1 winners, including multiple champion Songbird. Recio and his wife, Lynn, operated Lynnwood Stable near Ocala, Fla.

Inspired by the strong performance of purse sources, Fair Grounds announces the addition of two race dates to the 2025-26 meet. The additional days will be Monday, March 9, and Monday, March 16.