Caesars, NTRA Extend Deal for NHC in Las Vegas(3/13/2026)-The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Caesars Entertainment today announced a new multi-year agreement extension that will keep Horseshoe Las Vegas as the host venue for the National Horseplayers Championship.
Officials Report Increased Attendance at Cheltenham(3/13/2026)-Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender’s confident prediction that crowds would be up at this year’s festival was borne out after another big turnout on Gold Cup day March 13.
Mullins-Trained Gaelic Warrior Wins Cheltenham Gold Cup(3/13/2026)-Gaelic Warrior crowned another extraordinary week of Cotswolds success for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend by filleting his Gold Cup rivals to the tune of 8 lengths courtesy of a thoroughly superior demonstration of sheer class.
Zousain Colt Tops Magic Millions March Sale(3/13/2026)-A colt by Widden Stud resident Zousain looks bound for Hong Kong after topping the second and final day of trade at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale when knocked down to Campton Racing and Stable 23 for AU$250,000.
Corniche Rises to the Top at OBS March Sale(3/13/2026)-Ashford Stud’s freshman sire Corniche tops his sire class’s standings at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale with a $650,000 average. Nyquist and Into Mischief lead the overall standings with seven-figure averages.
Decoupling Legislation in Florida Again Fails(3/13/2026)-A legislative proposal in Florida that would have allowed casinos approved for operation through a corresponding Thoroughbred racing license to drop that racing license while continuing casino operations has failed.
SAFE Act Needed to Save Thoroughbreds Once and For All(3/13/2026)-In this week’s On Racing: The most important SAFE Act—currently in the hopper at the House of Representatives—was introduced more than a decade ago. It stands for Save America’s Forgotten Equines.
Well-Related Gun Runner Filly Kicks Off at Hanshin(3/13/2026)-In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourse: 5th-HSN, ¥11,280,000…
Built Lowers Track Record at Fair Grounds on Return to Main Track(3/13/2026)-BUILT (c, 4, Hard Spun–Sea Garden, by Curlin) twice hit the board last season on Louisiana’s Road to the Kentucky Derby, second and third in the GIII Lecomte Stakes and GII Risen Star Stakes, respectively, before missing the money in two subsequent starts. Sent to the shelf in early May after disappointing in the GII…
‘I’m Extremely High on the Summer He’s Gonna Have’ – Highly Regarded Golden Tornado Gearing Up for Return(3/13/2026)-Golden Tornado (McKinzie), sidelined since delivering a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ performance on debut at Saratoga last summer, is on the comeback trail. He’s posted a pair of breezes for trainer Danny Gargan at Palm Meadows this winter, including a three-furlong move in :37.50 (24/43) Mar. 7. “He’s a really nice horse, really…
Black-Type Analysis: First Look Aims To Go One Better In Exbury(3/13/2026)-Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France, post time: 17:00, PRIX EXBURY-G3, €73,200, 4yo/up, 10fT Field: First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Azimpour (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), C’Est Vrai (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}), South Bay (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). TDN Analysis: Last year’s runner-up First Look…
Derby Points On The Line Saturday At Colonial Downs(3/13/2026)-Less than 48 hours after Colonial Downs was coated in three inches of fresh snow, Saturday’s Virginia Derby, the last 50-point prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will have competitors and visitors alike dreaming of warmer things to come on the first Saturday in May. Now in its second year, the newly-repositioned…
“Extraordinary” Gaelic Warrior Wins Cheltenham Gold Cup Marred by Loss of Envoi Allen(3/13/2026)-Rich Ricci, an owner synonymous with Cheltenham Festival success for the best part of two decades, finally has his hands on the prize that he coveted above all others after Gaelic Warrior (Maxios) produced a coming-of-age performance under Paul Townend to win Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The race had a tragic postscript, however, when…
Florida Decoupling Stalled As Legislature’s Regular Session Closes(3/13/2026)-The Florida Legislature’s 2026 regular session concluded with decoupling legislation again failing to reach Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk, according to a press release from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association on Friday. HB881 passed the House but companion bill SB1564 never received a hearing in the Senate. A special session is expected to finalize…
Racing In Dubai Halted As Nearby Strike Triggers Alert(3/13/2026)-Iranian attacks continued on Friday in Dubai, with nearby activity forcing officials at Meydan Racecourse to put a temporary hold on racing during the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival. The day’s opening event, a Group 3 contest on the turf for the Purebred Arabians, went off as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. local time…
Breeders’ Cup Breakthrough: George Weaver Driven by Quiet Confidence(3/13/2026)-There is a no-frills air to George Weaver, evident in everything from his worn-in boots to the strictly utilitarian office in his Palm Beach Downs barn. Weaver has little interest in shouting his success from the rooftops. He’d rather let the horses do the talking. “I feel like your horses should do the advertising for…
Omaha Beach’s Crossingthechannel Sails Home to Best Colonial Allowance Foes(3/13/2026)-CROSSINGTHECHANNEL (c, 3, Omaha Beach–In the Navy Now {SW, $253,020}, by Midshipman) proved himself a tough customer last year as a juvenile, finishing second Nov. 8 at Laurel Park behind eventual Turfway Prevue Stakes winner Hometown Bound (Mitole). He resurfaced Dec. 13 at Aqueduct and ran a strong second behind next-out GIII Gotham Stakes hero…
Debut Winner Nity Galeste Highlights Arqana Online March Catalogue(3/13/2026)-The catalogue for the Arqana Online March Sale set for 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, is now available. Leading the three-strong group is debut winner Nity Galeste (City Light) (lot 1), who took a 1900-metre race at Chantilly. Related to top-tier winners Potri Pe (Potrillazo) and Mukhalif (Caerleon), he is joined by Nippon Go…
Ortiz, Jr. To Miss Mounts In Virginia Oaks and Virginia Derby(3/13/2026)-Injured in a spill Thursday at Gulfstream, Irad Ortiz Jr., will not ride through Sunday, reports his agent Steve Rushing. Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form was the first to report that Ortiz would be out through the remainder of the weekend. “He’s just really body sore,” Rushing told the TDN via text. “He’s…
NTRA, Caesars Reach Long-Term Agreement on NHC Host Hotel(3/13/2026)-The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Caesars Entertainment have entered into a multi-year agreement that will keep the Horseshoe Las Vegas as the host venue for the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) through 2029. The dates for the upcoming NHC are: Mar. 5-7, 2027; Mar. 3-5, 2028; and Mar. 9-11, 2029. “We are thrilled to…
Letter to the Editor: The Industry Needs to Unite(3/13/2026)-Our existing industry “members,” for lack of a better encompassing term, need to come together and agree on a unifying mission statement. This could happen around The Jockey Club Chairman Everett Dobson’s “big table”. Why not a mission statement similar to the Breeders’ Cup for our industry, like this: “To provide safe, healthy, fair, and…
Saturday’s Racing Insights: Final Story Headlines Gulfstream Maiden(3/13/2026)-7th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 3:52 p.m. ET. Gary and Mary West homebred Final Story (Candy Ride {Arg}) has posted four bullet workouts, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 (1/28) Mar. 7, at Brad Cox’s Payson Park base ahead of this debut run. Final Story’s dam Book Review (Giant’s Causeway) carried the couple’s hot pink-and-black…
Well-Related Gun Runner Filly Kicks Off at Hanshin (3/13/2026) - In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourse: 5th-HSN, ¥11,280,000…
Derby Points On The Line Saturday At Colonial Downs (3/13/2026) - Less than 48 hours after Colonial Downs was coated in three inches of fresh snow, Saturday’s Virginia Derby, the last 50-point prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will have competitors and visitors alike dreaming of warmer things to come on the first Saturday in May. Now in its second year, the newly-repositioned…
Breeders’ Cup Breakthrough: George Weaver Driven by Quiet Confidence (3/13/2026) - There is a no-frills air to George Weaver, evident in everything from his worn-in boots to the strictly utilitarian office in his Palm Beach Downs barn. Weaver has little interest in shouting his success from the rooftops. He’d rather let the horses do the talking. “I feel like your horses should do the advertising for…