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The 2009 Dubai World Cup will be held on Saturday, March 28, as per the fixtures released b for the 2008-09 racing season, bythe  Board of Directors for the Emirates Racing Authority.

The world’s richest day’s racing will be the highlight of 46 race meetings this season, hosted by three racing clubs of the United Arab Emirates; the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dubai Racing Club and Jebel Ali Racecourse.

The season will open at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, November 6, the first of 21 fixtures  scheduled to be held there. The first 10 make up the Winter Racing Challenge, before the Dubai International Racing Carnival commences on Thursday, January 15, with the first rounds of the Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge.

The 10 2009 DIRC fixtures will be held on the corresponding weekends to that of last season, and climaxes with the Super Thursday meeting on Thursday, March 5.

Jebel Ali will host the first of their 10 Friday meetings on November 21, while Abu Dhabi stages 15 Sunday fixtures, commencing on November 9.

Curlin moved one step closer to overhauling Racing Hall of Famer Cigar as the all-time leading North American-based earner with a clear win in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin steadily reeled in pacesetter Past the Point in the stretch and edged away to a 1 1/4-length win, which boosted his career earnings past 2004 Racing Hall of Fame inductee Skip Away ($9,616,360) to $9,796,800.

Cigar, who reeled off 16 consecutive victories from 1994 through ’96, tops the list of leading North American-based earners at $9,999,815.

“With all the superstition and the ‘Graveyard of Champions,’ I was glad the horse showed what he is and we won,” said Jess Jackson, Curlin’s owner. “It was very important. Good horses like Man o’ War and Secretariat had problems [at Saratoga]. That’s an honor roll of some of the famous and the greatest. I’m glad he showed he was up to it.”

Trained by Steve Asmussen for Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables, Curlin entered the Woodward off a runner-up finish in his turf debut on July 12 in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The four-year-old Smart Strike colt regained his winning stride in the Woodward, but the 1 1/8-mile race was no cakewalk.

Past the Point challenged multiple graded stakes winner Wanderin Boy for the early lead and set the pace through an opening quarter in :22.89 and a half-mile in :46.20.

Curlin stalked the blistering pace from fourth as the 0.35-to-1 favorite under regular rider Robby Albarado. Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Divine Park, sent off as the 4.60-to-1 second choice in the seven-horse field, was rated in third on the inside of Curlin

Curlin surged into contention with a bold, sweeping move on the far turn and gradually closed in on Past the Point. He overtook that foe inside the eighth pole and powered clear to prevail in 1:49.34.

“He was great! He is a consummate professional now,” Albarado said. “It was great for the people to see Curlin in New York.”

Past the Point held on determinedly in the stretch to finish second at 40.50-to-1 odds. Wanderin Boy finished another 2 1/2 length back in third. Divine Park never fired while finishing sixth.

Curlin, who wrapped up the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year with a win in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Powered by Dodge (G1), improved to ten wins in 14 career starts. Out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Sherriff’s Deputy, Curlin won the Preakness Stakes (G1) last season and finished on the board in each of the three United States classic races.

He won the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29 at Nad al Sheba Racecourse and the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on June 14 at Churchill Downs.

“Aside from the Dubai race and the Breeders’ Cup, this is the most important race we’ve won because of the historic nature of this race and its premier contribution to Curlin’s legacy,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) on September 27 is the next target for Curlin with the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 and Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) on December 7 among the possible future races for Curlin.

“The perfect scenario would be to run in the best races, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders’ Cup, and then go overseas to the Japan Cup,” Jackson said. “But that will be hard to press into a four-week schedule. We’ll wait and see.”

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Churchill Downs has reduced its stakes program by $975,000 for its fall meeting because of declining revenue earned from wagering sources during the spring meeting, the Louisville track announced on Friday.

Churchill Downs will reduce purses in 11 stakes and eliminate a pair of ungraded $100,000 five-furlong turf sprints: the Mariah’s Storm Stakes on November 8 and the Cherokee Run Stakes on November 16.

The track’s 26-day fall meeting is scheduled to open October 26 and run through November 29.
 
According to the track, wagering handle was lost when the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association blocked distribution of Churchill Downs’s simulcast signal to all national advance-deposit wagering sites, including TwinSpires.com., the official ADW site for Churchill Downs Inc.
 
“To offset the amount of lost wagering handle during our spring meet resulting in less money available in the purse account for races, we need to reduce our fall stakes program,” Churchill Downs President Steve Sexton said. “Negotiations with Kentucky horsemen are ongoing and we remain hopeful this impasse can be resolved.”
 
Five races were lowered in value by $100,000: the Ack Ack Handicap (G3) on October 26 from $200,000 to $100,000; the River City Handicap (G3) on November 22 from $200,000 to $100,000; the Falls City Handicap (G2 ) on November 27 from $300,000 to $200,000; and closing day’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and Golden Rod Stakes (G2) from $250,000 to $150,000 each.
 
Four Grade 3 races were cut by $50,000 from $150,000 to $100,000: the Iroquois Stakes and Pocahontas Stakes on November 1; the Commonwealth Turf Stakes on November 9; and the Cardinal Handicap on November 15.
 
Additionally, the Chilukki Stakes (G2) on November 2 was lowered from $200,000 to $150,000, and the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) on November 8 was reduced from $200,000 to $175,000.
 
Overall, the fall meeting now will feature 12 stakes events, all graded, worth a total of $1,925,000.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com 

 Benny the Bull, the nation’s leading sprinter, has been retired after developing an ankle injury.

Michael Iavarone of co-owner IEAH Stables confirmed in an e-mail that a bone chip was found in the Lucky Lionel horse’s right front ankle. Stud plans are pending.

Benny the Bull had won five straight starts dating back to last November, including the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in March and Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) in his most recent start on July 12 at Calder Race Course. He was scheduled to run on Saturday in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The injury was discovered two days after Benny the Bull breezed six furlongs in 1:14.29 on Monday at Aqueduct for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. His defection will leave Tom Fool Handicap (G2) winner Lucky Island (Arg) as the leading contender for the seven-furlong Forego.

IEAH and Andrew Cohen purchased interests in Benny the Bull privately from Greg James last summer after his victory in the Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows. After joining Dutrow’s barn, Benny the Bull finished second in the Forego and fourth in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) before launching his win streak in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park.

Bred in Florida by Tomoka Farms Inc., Benny the Bull won nine of 17 career starts and earned $2,221,630. He is out of the Birdonthewire mare Comet Cat.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com 

Kentucky moved a step closer on Monday to banning steroids in Thoroughbred races conducted in the state.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission unanimously approved a rule that will prohibit Thoroughbreds from racing with anabolic steroids in their system.

The commission approved the rule, largely based on a recommendation made earlier this month by the Kentucky Equine Drug Council, during a meeting at the Fasig-Tipton Co. sales pavilion in Lexington.

“This is a historic change in Kentucky’s signature industry,” said Robert Beck Jr., chairman of the commission. “This action puts the Commonwealth at the forefront nationally in ensuring integrity in racing.”

The Kentucky Equine Drug Council makes recommendations to the racing commission on equine drug regulations. In keeping with the recommendation, the commission will allow the use of boldenone, nandrolone, and testosterone for therapeutic use. Horses who receive these steroids in therapy will be ineligible to race for 60 days and will need to present a clean test report from an approved lab.

“Anabolic steroids should not be present in a horse that is racing,” said Lisa Underwood, the commission’s executive director. “The betting public, the other trainers, and owners should be confident that the race is being run on a level playing field. This rule will go a long way toward eliminating anabolic steroids from the sport.”

The commission made some changes to the council’s recommendation. In terms of penalties, all anabolic steroids were placed in the Class B category. That category calls for a license suspension of up to 60 days for the first offense.

Under the new rules, a person who claims a horse may request that the horse be tested for anabolic steroids at the time the claim form is filed at the track, at the claimant’s cost. The claimant may void the transaction if the test is positive.

The commission clarified steroid rules for trainers who ship horses to the state to race. The trainers can either follow the reporting requirements set for in the regulation, or certify that the horse has not received anabolic steroids in the last 60 days. If the trainer took the horse under his care less than 60 days before a Kentucky race, the trainer must acknowledge and accept responsibility if a positive test result is returned for anabolic steroids.

The rule now will move forward to state government. Governor Steve Beshear supports taking emergency action to enact the ban.

“It is my intent to deem this issue an emergency so that the regulation can go into effect immediately,” Beshear said earlier this month. “Kentucky is the horse capital of the world. We must be a leader in ensuring the health and integrity of horses and of this vitally important industry. A ban on anabolic steroids is an important part of that process.”

The commission said the ban on anabolic steroids would begin immediately upon the effective date of the emergency resolution. There will be a 90-day grace period in terms of penalties, but a positive test in the final 30 days of the grace period will be considered an aggravating factor in any subsequent case involving violation of the drug rule.

Under the rule, a positive finding in the final 30 days of the three-month grace period accompanied by evidence that the steroid was administered in the previous 60 days, shall constitute a violation of the drug rule.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Duke Of Marmalade (dark blue): bravely fought off Phoenix Tower (pink cap) and Derby winner New Approach (green)in a desperate finish to the Group 1  

Duke of Marmalade demonstrated why he is considered to be the best turf horse in the world by landing the International Stakes run at Newmarket from York, his fifth consective Gr.1 race of the season. The year younger Derby winner New Approach (Galileo), perhaps fresh from his lay-off, pulled far too hard in the early stages, the four-year-old son of Danehill, was quietly settled behind his pacemaker Red Rock Canyon (Rock of Gibraltar).

Centennial, a son of young sire Dalakhani, put himself firmly in the picture for the St Leger with a smooth victory in the Gr.2 Great Voltigeur, rescheduled to Goodwood from York. The colt made all the running and scored by a length and a half. He won the Gr.3 Sandown Classic earlier this year, but needs to be supplemented for the final Classic.

Infamous Angel, by first season sire Exceed And Excel, came with a last gasp lunge to take the Gr.2 Lowther Stakes, another York race moved to Newmarket.  The filly will head for the Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes, according to Richard Hannon junior, whose father was  also responsible for the second Penny’s Gift (Tobougg).

Russian Cross (Cape Cross). The three-year-old colt, who is a halfbrother to several Group winners, won by a length and a half for trainer Andre Fabre. The Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage, the third Stakes race at Deauville, was won by the twoyear-old colt Sokar (Slickly).

Five-year-old Stotsfold (Barathea) landed his second Gr.3 race when winning the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. The Pendley Farm-bred gelding just got up to land the feature race of the evening.

Hasanka (Kalanisi). Tungsten Strike (Smart Strike) collected his second consecutive Listed March Stakes over the St Leger trip at Goodwood, while at the other end of the stamina scale, Look Busy (Danetime) won the Listed Beverley Bullet Stakes and Edge Close (Bold Edge) landed the six furlongs Listed Hopeful Stakes. Later in the evening,

Courtesy: European Bloodstock News

Hats off to everyone concerned for saving York’s main feature races, especially this afternoon’ hastily rearranged Gr.1 International Stakes. Billed by many as ‘the race of the year’ before it was abandoned on Tuesday, it has been saved and the main  protagonists will take their chances after all.

It will be a major surprise if the £141,925.00 first prize does not go back to Ireland with Jim Bolger’s Derby winner New Approach (Galileo) set to go head-to-head with the irrepressible, year older, Duke of Marmalade (Danehill) representing the all conquering Aidan O’Brien/Johnny Murtagh combination.

Mouthwatering does not do this prospect justice and the eyes of the racing world will be on

of his races this season – all in Gr.1 company. These include a Royal Ascot victory over today’s ten furlongs trip and wins on fast and soft ground.

New Approach on the other hand chased home O’Brien’s Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo) in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, before his scintillating display at Epsom. Off since after a slight setback, he clearly goes well fresh and should prove a formidable opponent for ‘the Duke’. Ten furlongs and the stiff uphill finish could prove his ideal conditions and he won his maiden on desperate ground last summer so any more rain would certainly not inconvenience his chances.

Duke of Marmalade was favourite on Tuesday but the pair could be hard to split today.

Of the others, Stubbs Art (Hawk Wing) was a place behind New Approach in both

John Gosden’s Pipedreamer (Selkirk) and Henry Cecil’s Phoenix Tower (Chester House) were among Duke of Marmalade’s Royal Ascot victims, while Multidimensional (Danehill). also trained by Cecil, will relish more rain. Rob Roy (Lear Fan) has never lived up to his reputation and this really could turn into a match, unless the ground turns heavy.

Courtesy: European Bloodstock News

RICHARD SHAPIRO 

Horses in the care of John Sadler, the leading trainer at Del Mar, have accounted for 18 of the 38 positive tests since the California Horse Racing Board began testing for anabolic steroids on July 1.

Horses trained by Mike Mitchell, who ranks second in the Del Mar standings, have accounted for ten positive steroid tests, CHRB Executive Director Kirk Breed said on Thursday.

CHRB investigators searched Sadler’s barn on Monday at Del Mar. Breed said, to his knowledge, Mitchell’s barn has not been searched.

Through Wednesday, Sadler had registered 25 wins at Del Mar, 11 more than Mitchell. Sadler has five stakes wins during the meet, including the John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) with Black Mamba (NZ). Mitchell won the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) with Monzante.  

Neither Sadler nor his attorney was immediately available for comment on Thursday. Mitchell declined to comment.

Richard Shapiro, the CHRB’s chairman, reacted strongly to a report on the number of positive tests on Tuesday during a board meeting.

“We mean business,” Shapiro said. “They’re not naïve. It’s shameful that two or three people have taken an abusive approach for personal gain at the expense of the rest of the industry.”

The 38 positives have derived from 418 tests at Hollywood Park and Del Mar since the board began regulating threshold levels for the anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testosterone.

The CHRB sent unofficial notices to the owners and trainers of horses who registered positive tests during July. As of August 1, positive tests have been considered official Class 4 violations. On September 4, they will become Class 3 violations, which are subject to trainer suspensions and purse redistributions.

“The truth is that it’s on somebody’s record for the month of August,” Shapiro said. “The only difference is there’s not a purse redistribution because it’s not a Class 3 until September 4.”

The CHRB said Thursday that horses treated with anabolic steroids in California will be placed on the state veterinarian’s list and ineligible to race for 30 days.

The policy will take effect Friday.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com  

The Association of Racing Commissioners International has reclassified four anabolic steroids from Class 4 to Class 3 status and has designated alpha-cobratoxin and ziconotide as Class 1 drugs with no therapeutic uses in racehorses.

RCI said classifying the anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testosterone as Class 3 substances, would clear the way for state jurisdictions to impose tougher penalties for positive tests, which could include trainer suspensions and purse redistributions.

 “This move is consistent with the fact that the racing commissions believed the existing classification of a positive for these steroids was not sufficiently serious based upon the unanimous opinion of the Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee as well as the majority recommendation of the Veterinary Pharmacology Subcommittee,” RCI President Ed Martin said.

Alpha-cobratoxin is a neurotoxin isolated from the venom of certain cobras that can be used as a nerve block. In 2007, Kentucky stewards suspended veterinarian Rod Stewart for four years and trainer Patrick Biancone for one year related to the discovery of alpha-cobratoxin in Biancone’s barn.

Ziconotide derives from cone snail venom and is used as an N-type calcium channel blocker.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Exercise rider and former jockey Parker Buckley III died on Tuesday morning, one day after being thrown from a horse on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course.

Buckley, 40, was taken to Saratoga Hospital and then flown to Albany Medical Center Hosptial, where a CT scan revealed that he had blood on the brain and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.

The accident occurred sometime between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. EDT on Monday.

“I went down and visited with his family [who are from Fort Walton Beach, Florida]—his mother, sister, and aunt,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

Asmussen said he did not personally witness the accident or know details of exactly what happened.

“I’ve heard all kinds of versions,” he said.

Asmussen hired Buckley in April 2007 and said he had known him since 1987, when they first met at Birmingham Race Course.

“Last winter, he called me from Tampa and said he was going to quit riding,” Asmussen said. “He’s worked for me ever since. I can say without hesitation, he’s a great guy. I never met anybody who didn’t like him.

“He had some pretty good wins during his career. I’m not sure if he won any titles, but I think he was close a couple times.”

The New York Racing Association released no additional information on the accident, other than to issue a statement expressing condolences to Buckley’s family.

“The New York Racing Association was deeply saddened to learn that Parker Buckley passed away this morning,” the statement said. ”Our sympathies go out to his family.”

NYRA Spokesman John Lee said he was unsure of the last time there was a serious accident in Saratoga.

A published report in the Albany Times-Union said the last fatality was on September 19, 1996, when assistant trainer Elizabeth Russello was killed when jogging a horse over the training track.

Buckley spent most of his riding career at upstate New York’s Finger Lakes Race Track where he was involved in an accident on July 20, 2005. He also was hurt at Hoosier Park in 1990.

Buckley rode 947 winners from 7,306 mounts that earned $9,213,807.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com