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Otago Daily Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Talent galore slated for Southern Surge
The Southern Surge is set to unleash all sorts of equine talent in Southland. The new series was designed to heat up what has traditionally been a quieter harness racing scene in the South with $440,000 in stakes. Early indications suggest it will do just that. Nathan Williamson's barn has been quiet through the winter months, but the lure of lucrative stakes is set to change that. Williamson has a powerful squad of at least seven he will aim at the Southern Surge, which starts on Sunday at Winton. After impressing in her debut victory at Addington last month, She's Crunchy has been freshened with a view to attacking the series. Williamson will also aim Always Dreaming, Rise Up N Dance, Passchendaele and Always Dreaming in the Southern Surge pacing heats. Black Pat, Clotilde Wainwright and Aroha Kenny make up Williamson's trotting team. Kirstin Green lined up a big team of horses through winter, producing excellent results, including a treble at the recent Winter Rewards Day at Winton. The trainer plans to line many of her recent starters up in the Southern Surge Series, including Bobbies Rock. Similarly, Brett Gray will line up many of the good number of horses he has started in recent weeks in the Southern Surge. But the trainer also has fresh stock to arrive on the scene, including Tycoon Banner and Party Up Denario. Two serious 3-year-old trotters are also among the talent set to step out in the Southern Surge series. To The Moon And Back stamped his class in three huge efforts in maiden grade before jogging to a Gold Chip Final win in his last start at Ascot Park earlier this month. Brad Williamson is targeting the Southern Series after giving the trotter a brief freshener. Phil Williamson will be adding depth to the Southern Surge heats with his rising star Tarragindi. The trotter showed he was up with New Zealand's best 2-year-old trotter Meant To Be late last year, before being put aside. Tarragindi has looked to return a more refined product, in his first and second in two winter starts at Addington. Williamson has a powerful lineup set to make their mark on the Southern Surge, including Missile, Harriet's Moment, Our Pinnochio, Have A Little Faith, Torquay Street, What's The Whisper and Rangitata. Quality pacing mare Nutcracker heads Craig Ferguson's prospective Southern Surge team. The trainer plans to aim Bubble Me and possibly Saucy Delight at the series. Matthew Williamson expects to start a sizeable team in the Southern Surge heats, with Majic N The Port looking capable of a maiden win at short notice following his unlucky last-start outing at Winton. Racing this Sunday is expected to start at noon and entry is free. The day will feature several heats of the Southern Surge Series sponsored by Diamond Creek Farm/SBSR, with another round the following Sunday at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill and the finals at Gore on August 24. — Allied Media
Japan Forward
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
Racehorse Manure: The Secret Ingredient for Umami-Packed Button Mushrooms
このページを 日本語 で読む It wasn't until the 1960s that button mushrooms (also known as the cultivated mushroom or Agaricus bisporus ) became widely recognized in Japan. In 1962, just two years before the first Tokyo Olympics, Japan was undergoing its "Income Doubling Plan," a national initiative aimed at achieving Western-level living standards and full employment. That year's hit song, "Itsudemo Yume Wo" ("Always Dreaming") by Yukio Hashi, captured the hopeful mood of the era, as people worked tirelessly toward a better future. In October of the same year, four young men with unusual hairstyles and slim suits debuted in London with their song "Love Me Do." They were The Beatles. Their signature inward-curving bangs, later known as the "mushroom cut," quickly captivated young audiences around the world. Within two years, they had become global icons and symbols of cultural change. Around this time, button mushrooms began to attract attention in Japan. But when the Tokyo Olympics arrived in 1964 and the country welcomed international guests, it became clear that Japan produced very little of one of the world's most commonly eaten mushrooms. This realization prompted action. If button mushrooms were essential to Western dining tables, why not grow them in Japan too? One of the first to take on the challenge was Yoshio Sugasawara, from what is now Katori City in Chiba Prefecture. Inspired by Dutch cultivation techniques, he began growing button mushrooms as a secondary crop alongside rice, laying the foundation for Japan's mushroom industry. Sugasawara is the president of Yoshimoto Mushroom, a company founded in 1980. Out of the company's 88 production plants, 30 are located in Miho Village, Ibaraki Prefecture. Because of this concentration, Ibaraki ranks third in Japan for mushroom production value. Brown button mushroom pasta, served at a restaurant in Tokyo. (Courtesy of JA Ibaraki Prefecture Central Association) The foundation for growing mushrooms is a medium called "bai-chi" (培地), which consists of two layers. The bottom layer is made from horse manure mixed with straw, known as "bakyuhi." The Japan Racing Association's Miho Training Center houses over 2,000 racehorses. The manure produced there creates high-quality material essential for growing excellent mushrooms. This manure is sterilized and cultured for over a month. Then, it's covered with peat moss, a natural organic soil conditioner, which helps the mushroom mycelium grow. When the dark peat moss becomes fully covered with white mycelium and mushrooms begin to sprout, the crop is ready for harvest. Trainer Toru Kurita walks alongside Titleholder, ridden by Kazuo Yokoyama at Miho Training Center in Ibaraki Prefecture on June 16, 2022. (©Sankei) Japan's mushroom industry hasn't always had an easy path. Fresh mushrooms gained renewed attention during the 1970 Osaka Expo and benefited from the rising popularity of Western-style cuisine and family restaurants. However, sales peaked in 1975. After that, the widespread use of combine harvesters for rice made it harder to gather the straw needed for mushroom cultivation. Between the 1980s and early 2000s, fresh mushrooms nearly disappeared from the Japanese market. Instead, canned salted mushrooms from China became common but were mostly used as decorative garnishes rather than tasty ingredients. Despite these challenges, efforts to promote the rich flavor of fresh mushrooms have continued. They've appeared in salads, ajillo (garlic oil dishes), tempura, sake-steamed dishes, ramen, and even miso soup. Their savory umami taste has gradually won over more fans. Still, average annual consumption in Japan remains just 32 grams per person — roughly two mushrooms. Yet button mushrooms hold great potential in Japanese cuisine, adding a boost of umami to everyday dishes. Author: Shigeru Hagiya, Agricultural Policy Advisor, JA Ibaraki Prefecture Central Association このページを 日本語 で読む
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Derby 2025: Grande scratched from race, reducing field to 19 horses
A second horse has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a day and a half before the 2025 race. Grande was scratched due to a foot bruise, owner Mike Repole announced Friday. The horse was slated to start in the ninth post and was at 20-1 odds before being pulled from the race. All horses that were on the outside of Grande will now move in one gate on Saturday. For trainer Todd Pletcher, Grande's scratch will end his record streak of 21 consecutive Derbies. His horses have twice won the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver finishing first in 2010 and Always Dreaming winning in 2017. John Velazquez was to have been Grande's jockey. "Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow's Kentucky Derby," Repole posted on X on Friday. "He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving," he continued. "To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean." However, despite the clean diagnostics and improvement during the week, Kentucky state veterinarians decided to scratch Grande. Repole's team was "shocked" and "confused" by the ruling, he said. "The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning," Repole added. "Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics. We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today." This will be the third time Repole has had a horse scratched from the Derby. Uncle Mo was pulled from the race in 2011 due to a gastrointestinal infection. And in 2023, Forte was scratched on the morning of the event because of a bruised right foot. Repole has never had a horse win the Derby in eight tries. Grande joins Rodriguez as scratches from Saturday's race. Trained by Bob Baffert and opening as a 12-1 favorite, Rodriguez was scratched on Thursday because of a foot bruise. The field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is now down to 19 horses.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Derby 2025: Grande scratched from race, reducing field to 19 horses
A second horse has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a day and a half before the 2025 race. Grande was scratched due to a foot bruise, owner Mike Repole announced Friday. The horse was slated to start in the ninth post and was at 20-1 odds before being pulled from the race. All horses that were on the outside of Grande will now move in one gate on Saturday. For trainer Todd Pletcher, Grande's scratch will end his record streak of 21 consecutive Derbies. His horses have twice won the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver finishing first in 2010 and Always Dreaming winning in 2017. John Velazquez was to have been Grande's jockey. "Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow's Kentucky Derby," Repole posted on X on Friday. "He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving," he continued. "To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean." However, despite the clean diagnostics and improvement during the week, Kentucky state veterinarians decided to scratch Grande. Repole's team was "shocked" and "confused" by the ruling, he said. "The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning," Repole added. "Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics. We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today." This will be the third time Repole has had a horse scratched from the Derby. Uncle Mo was pulled from the race in 2011 due to a gastrointestinal infection. And in 2023, Forte was scratched on the morning of the event because of a bruised right foot. Repole has never had a horse win the Derby in eight tries. Grande joins Rodriguez as scratches from Saturday's race. Trained by Bob Baffert and opening as a 12-1 favorite, Rodriguez was scratched on Thursday because of a foot bruise. The field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is now down to 19 horses.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Grande trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Grande trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse Show Caption Hide Caption Watch 2025 Kentucky Derby contender Grande work at Churchill Downs 2025 Kentucky Derby contender Grande works at Churchill Downs on April 27, 2025. Trainer is Todd Pletcher. Career is three starts for 2-1-0. Grande will enter the Kentucky Derby off a second-place finish in the Wood Memorial on April 5 Grande trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017) Grande is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September. The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Grande will enter the Kentucky Derby off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct. He currently ranks 16th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 50. Color: Dark Bay. Bred in: Kentucky. Sire: Curlin. Dam: Journey Home, by War Front. Price tag: $300,000 at 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Owner: Repole Stable (Mike Repole). He's 0 for 8 in the Derby, best finish coming with Mo Donegal (fifth) in 2022. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He's 2 for 65 in the Derby, winning with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). No trainer has entered more horses in the Derby than Pletcher. Jockey: John Velazquez. He's 3 for 26 in the Derby, winning with Animal Kingdom (2011), Always Dreaming (2017) and Authentic (2020). Record: 2-1-0 in three starts. Career earnings: $228,200. Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 50 (No. 16). Last race: Second in Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct, 3 ½ lengths behind Rodriguez. Running style: Stalker. Notes: Grande did not race as a 2-year-old and won two starts at Gulfstream Park before his runner-up finish in the Wood Memorial. … Grande will try to become the fifth horse to win the Kentucky Derby after just three career starts, joining Regret (1915), Big Brown (2008), Justify (2018) and Mage (2023). … Repole, Pletcher and Velazquez teamed on the favorite in last year's Derby with Fierceness, who faded to 15th after battling near the lead early. What they're saying: 'I thought he ran super,' Pletcher said after the Wood. 'He didn't break real well. He got shuffled around a little bit going into the first turn. (Jockey Dylan Davis) said he kind of had to check off heels, which forced him to go really wide. He advanced nicely down the backside while out in the middle of the track. He still got hung out pretty wide on the far turn and I think compared to the ground saved that the winner had, it was a very creditable effort.' Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032. The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms. You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock. Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. More horse racing: Here's how Journalism, likely Kentucky Derby favorite, got his name from a former editor
