Latest news with #RaceForTheCrown
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton ‘excited' about potential world series, but HKJC not keen to play host
Zac Purton hopes the potential formation of a global competition for elite jockeys will bring the sport in front of a new audience and drive the industry forward, however the Hong Kong Jockey Club has confirmed it does not intend to host a leg of the proposed 'world series'. The most successful jockey Hong Kong has seen, Purton is in line to be one of the stars of the global competition, which could also feature the likes of James McDonald, Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Yutaka Take. Hong Kong-based Vincent Ho Chak-yiu is also on the list alongside Irad Ortiz Jnr, Joao Moreira, William Buick, Christophe Lemaire, Mickael Barzalona and Flavien Prat. Devised by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and ex-Entain Australia deputy chief Lachlan Fitt, the series could have events in the United States, the Middle East, Asia and the United Kingdom, but it's unlikely to be seen in Hong Kong. 'The club is aware of the proposal. It is not our intention to participate as a host of a race meeting,' the Jockey Club said in a statement. It's been touted the series will have a prize pool of US$15 million and jockeys will operate their own franchises as team principals. Whether Purton gets the all-clear to take part as a jockey remains to be seen, but he is excited by the concept nonetheless. 'To be honest, it's probably hit the press a bit sooner than we'd have liked,' said Purton. 'Everything is still in its infancy but it's very exciting – it's a strong list of jockeys from all corners of the world. 'We're going to need the support of the jockey clubs and we'll need to find some sponsors. Ultimately, we're hoping we can help grow and drive the industry while bringing in a new audience. 'For me personally, it's going to be up to the Hong Kong Jockey Club as to whether I can ride in it or not. At the end of the day, I'm contracted to them and whatever decision they come to I'll accept. 'If I can't ride in it, I can still be team principal in it and that puts me in a position where I can choose another jockey to compete. 'I think racing has done a pretty poor job in many respects about promoting the sport and getting a new, younger audience into it. 'I think it will be exciting to be able to be like Formula One and LIV Golf, and take teams around the globe to new locations and build the brand. 'There's still a lot of water to flow under the bridge and some things to iron out, but we're all passionate about it and excited to try and drive it forward and make it happen. I think it's good for the sport but time will tell.' Racing has hit the mainstream again in recent weeks with the new Netflix show Race For The Crown, which is centred around some of the participants of last year's US Triple Crown, proving very popular. Irad Ortiz Jnr, who is touted for the new jockey series, features in the Netflix documentary and Purton thinks something similar could work in Hong Kong. 'I've always thought Hong Kong would be a great place to do a series because we have a set amount of jockeys, trainers, horses and tracks – plus we all live next to the track,' said Purton. 'It would be so easy to get a lot of content, but it hasn't happened until now with this new racing series on Netflix. We'd be able to take some cameras around with us and create a series for TV as we went. 'I know all the jockeys from Asia, Australia and the UK, but I'm not familiar with US racing at all really so it'll be good to meet and get to know Irad. 'It would be good to see all the personalities over there and they've just had the Netflix series come out and I found that really interesting.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dettori excited by plan for global jockeys' league
Frankie Dettori says he is "super excited" by plans to launch a global jockeys' league for flat racing next year which could potentially see him race in the UK again. The 54-year-old is among 12 riders poised to take part in the venture, which will see them compete for points under their own individual team branding. The league is set be held across 10 events at some of the most prestigious racecourses around the world. Dettori, a mainstay of the British and European flat racing scene for 37 years but who is now based in the United States, has been signed up to take part along with British riders Ryan Moore and William Buick. "It's a project they have been working on for a few months and I am super excited," said Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 winners during his career. "It will appeal to a worldwide audience - especially after the 'Race For The Crown' Netflix series - and I can't wait to get started." James McDonald, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire are also among the other elite riders to have joined up. Mickael Barzalona, Yutaka Take, Irad Ortiz Jr, Flavien Prat, Zac Purton and Vincent Ho have also been slated to take part. The league has been co-founded by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and Lachlan Fitt, previously chief financial officer at betting group Entain Australia. Fitt said the league will seek to "compliment the existing global racing calendar" and they will be aiming for league events to be held "in close proximity to the major racing carnivals across the world". "It is still early days in our conversations with potential host venues and we are a number of months away from finalising plans in relation to what a launch season could look like. "We're hopeful there will be a number of opportunities for the league to be racing in the UK in the first 12 months." Dettori stopped riding in the UK in 2023 but has continued his career in the USA. In March the Italian filed for bankruptcy in the UK having been unable to reach agreement with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs over a long-running case of tax avoidance. Latest horse racing results
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Dettori excited by plan for global jockeys' league
Frankie Dettori says he is "super excited" by plans to launch a global jockeys' league for flat racing next year which could potentially see him race in the UK again. The 54-year-old is among 12 riders poised to take part in the venture, which will see them compete for points under their own individual team league is set be held across 10 events at some of the most prestigious racecourses around the a mainstay of the British and European flat racing scene for 37 years but who is now based in the United States, has been signed up to take part along with British riders Ryan Moore and William Buick."It's a project they have been working on for a few months and I am super excited," said Dettori, who has ridden more than 3,300 winners during his career."It will appeal to a worldwide audience - especially after the 'Race For The Crown' Netflix series - and I can't wait to get started."James McDonald, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire are also among the other elite riders to have joined Barzalona, Yutaka Take, Irad Ortiz Jr, Flavien Prat, Zac Purton and Vincent Ho have also been slated to take league has been co-founded by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and Lachlan Fitt, previously chief financial officer at betting group Entain said the league will seek to "compliment the existing global racing calendar" and they will be aiming for league events to be held "in close proximity to the major racing carnivals across the world"."It is still early days in our conversations with potential host venues and we are a number of months away from finalising plans in relation to what a launch season could look like."We're hopeful there will be a number of opportunities for the league to be racing in the UK in the first 12 months."Dettori stopped riding in the UK in 2023 but has continued his career in the USA. In March the Italian filed for bankruptcy in the UK having been unable to reach agreement with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs over a long-running case of tax avoidance.
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Dettori and Moore among superstar signings for new jockeys' league
Dettori told the PA news agency: 'It's a project they have been working on for a few months and I am super excited. 'It will appeal to a worldwide audience – especially after the Race For The Crown Netflix series – and I can't wait to get started.' The project is co-founded by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and Lachlan Fitt, who served as chief financial officer of Entain Australia from 2018 until earlier this year, with organisers believing it will bring a fresh audience to the sport. James McDonald, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire are among the other elite riders to have signed up for a venture that will see the 12 jockeys compete for points under their own individual team branding in up to 10 events at some of the sport's most prestigious racecourses around the world. Fitt said: 'We have watched the success of other sports take the power of their athletes and build them into global icons, with the outcome being a whole new generation of fans that now feel a deeper human connection with the athletes. 'The concept we have developed with our foundation jockeys is designed around following a similar model to other sports and we're delighted that the world's best jockeys have come together to drive this change in the way our sport is marketed to the next generation fan.' It is understood the jockeys will also own equity in their own team and be shareholders in the league, with organisers of the franchise seeking to secure commercial partners with the aim of securing a total prize fund of $15 million within two years. Fitt added: 'One of the guiding principles we have developed with our foundation jockeys is to ensure this league compliments the existing global racing calendar and with that principle in mind, we will be looking to align the timing of our league events to be in close proximity to the major racing carnivals across the world. 'It is still early days in our conversations with potential host venues and we are a number of months away from finalising plans in relation to what a launch season could look like. 'We're hopeful there will be a number of opportunities for the league to be racing in the UK in the first 12 months.' Mickael Barzalona, Yutaka Take, Irad Ortiz Jr, Flavien Prat, Zac Purton and Hong Kong superstar Vincent Ho are other names in the frame to take part. Ho said: 'We have been talking about this for months and I would love to be involved and competing against the best jockeys from around the globe. Of course we all know each other, but it's great to compete together and especially around the world at some of the best racetracks. 'Hopefully by doing this we can promote our sport even better than we do now. NBA has the All-Star in America and hopefully this will be a similar thing for horse racing but will be all around the world and hopefully it will have a big impact. 'Personally it's great to ride at different racetracks around the world which all require a different racing style, but for horse racing in general, I can only see this as a benefit as it will hopefully attract people and show that this is a really international sport. 'We have 12 jockeys from around the world – Europe, America, Asia and Australia. So it's a big thing and it's great that people will get to learn about racing personalities from around the globe. 'It's going to be fun and of course racing can be an individual sport at times. But hopefully this can attract different sponsors and investors around the world to horse racing, which is very important for the future I think.'
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Billionaire star of ‘Race For The Crown' has Kentucky Derby dream dashed again
Mike Repole's challenger Grande was scratched by vets on Friday, the same fate which befell previous big hopes Forte and Uncle Mo just before the big race The billionaire star of hit Netflix documentary 'Race For The Crown' has seen his Kentucky Derby dream dashed again - on the day before the race. Mike Repole, one of the biggest investors in the sport, has been trying to land 'the Run for the Roses' since he first entered horse racing more than 20 years ago. The New Yorker's Repole Stable has won over 1,100 races of more than $40 million including many of the biggest races in the US. Yet in the Kentucky Derby he is 0-for-8, even when he has had the favourite for the historic race. His best horses Uncle Mo, Forte and Fierceness, all trained by Todd Pletcher, were each champion two-year-olds as winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. But Uncle Mo was ruled out by illness during Kentucky Derby week and Forte was scratched by vets just hours before the race. 'Race For The Crown' follows Repole, who made his fortune after selling his drinks brands to Coca Cola, at the 2023 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita where Fierceness triumphs in the Juvenile to cement his Kentucky Derby credentials. The colt got to the starting gate but ran the worst race of his career, finishing 15th of 20 having gone off the 16-5 favourite. Repole was back at Churchill Downs this week with a less vaunted candidate in Grande, but he too will now miss the big race. Breaking the news to his followers on X, Repole said: 'Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow's Kentucky Derby. 'He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving. 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. He has been training and looking great on the track all week. 'The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning. 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.' The Kentucky Derby lost another runner on Thursday when the Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez, who defeated Grande in his previous race, was ruled out. The reserve Baeza has replaced him. Repole went on: 'With the race being tomorrow, and Baeza already having drawn into the race, we are also shocked and confused why this decision was made now. We were given no real explanation why Grande was scratched 36 hours before the race. 'We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing Thoroughbreds. That is, and should always be the priority. 'With all the diagnostics we have taken, the great vets we use, and the experience of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we are baffled and confused by what criteria vets are using to determine who scratches, who doesn't and when…especially when every diagnostic tells us the horse is safe and sound. 'I love racing…'
