Latest news with #ThoroughbredRacing
Forbes
5 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Baffert Continues To Cultivate Talent At Del Mar
How does a coach continuously produce winners? Is it luck, hard work, talent levels in the ranks, execution of the gameplan, or a combination of the previously listed? Most familiar with competition understand it is usually some of all of the above. For one Thoroughbred trainer it has been all of the aforementioned plus a great garden spot that has been excellent for cultivating young horses. Bob Baffert has long been considered one of the best in the Thoroughbred racing game. Rightfully so we must add as he has had more horses cross the finish line first in the world's most famous race (7), the Kentucky Derby, trained more Preakness winners than anyone (8), has three wins in the Belmont Stakes, and has conditioned nineteen Breeders' Cup race winners. For good measure, 'Big Race Bob' also has more Grade 1 race wins (the highest level of competition) than any trainer in the game. How has this Arizona native remained at the pinnacle of the sport since beginning his Thoroughbred conditioning career in 1991? It all begins with developing his younger talent where the surf meets the turf down at old Del Mar. Nestled just north of San Diego, this piece of Thoroughbred racing heaven has been a prime location for the Baffert barn over the years. 'There are lots of things that make Del Mar a great place for our young horses', says Baffert, who has conditioned two Triple Crown winners (American Pharoah 2015, Justify 2018). 'The weather is always good and there is very little rain which is very important. You don't miss training time and that can be a big key in development. The track is always in great shape, the atmosphere is good, and it's just a great environment to be in.' Success has been synonymous with this Hall of Fame conditioner at the Seaside Oval as he has far more Stakes wins (177) at Del Mar than any other trainer. Among those are an incredible nineteen wins in the Del Mar Futurity and eleven in the Best Pal Stakes, two of the biggest races for two-year-old males at the track founded by Bing Crosby in 1937. 'Our program puts a lot of emphasis on developing young horses', says Baffert. 'We believe in doing it the right way. Some come around quicker than others. Each horse has to be handled a little differently because like any athlete, some develop quicker mentally and physically than others. Being patient is very important with all of them. Authentic is a good example of a horse we didn't run at Del Mar in the summer of his two-year-old year because he just was not ready. At three he won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic.' Developing young talent with works and races at Del Mar every summer has long been a staple of his team's success throughout the last three plus decades. Even though he is the man with the lineup card and pencil, Baffert points to other components as mainstays for his team's success. 'I am very fortunate to have clients that want to run in and win stakes races', says Baffert. 'They give me the freedom to pick the horses we purchase and buying the right horses is where it all begins. Our goal is always to run in the biggest races across the entire country and go in with a real chance to win. Having great people around me and backing me is most important. And it also is fantastic to get those young horses going at a great place like Del Mar.' The Bob Baffert barn will send two runners to post in the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Saturday, August 9. St. Petersburg will break from gate 3 and Desert Gate breaks from the 5 hole in the six furlong race over the Del Mar dirt.
The Australian
01-08-2025
- Climate
- The Australian
Scone, Narrandera races called off, weather threatens more meetings
Thoroughbred racing in New South Wales for the next 72 hours is at the mercy of the weather gods. Thursday's meetings at Scone and Narrandera were abandoned due to heavy rainfall in the districts while a host of meetings on Friday and over the weekend are also under a cloud. Friday's racing is scheduled for Kembla Grange where the track was rated a heavy (9) on Thursday morning with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting up to 28mm of rain in the area over the next 24 hours. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Right now as things stand the meeting is OK but we are probably going to need a bit of luck in the next 24 hours and beyond,' Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said. The Coffs Harbour meeting, headlined by the $150,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) which carries Big Dance eligibility, is also set down for Friday and possibly is the safest meeting in the state over the next three days. The Mid-North Coast track was rated a soft (6) on Thursday morning with less than 10mm of rail expected during the remainder of Thursday and Friday. • J-Mac in touching distance of Moore's all-time mark Saturday's three TAB meetings at Rosehill, Newcastle and Tuncurry are all needing some luck with heavy rain predicted along the coast over the next three days. Rosehill was rated a heavy (8) at 8am on Thursday, with rain continuing to fall, and the forecast leading into the meeting is for up to 25mm on Friday and between 8mm and 35mm on Saturday. 'We'll go out and inspect the track on Friday afternoon at around 2pm,' Moxon said. 'A few of the forecasters are predicting varying amounts of rain so it's going to be a case of 'watch this space'. 'We'll inspect again on Saturday morning and hopefully we have a bit of luck with the weather.' Newcastle and Tuncurry are separated by 163km and the forecast for the southern part of the Mid-North Coast isn't as favourable as it is a further 247km north at Coffs Harbour. Newcastle copped 30mm in the 24 hours prior to 7.45am on Thursday and was rated a heavy (10) with Thursday's total rainfall predicted to be up to 25mm with a further 35mm on Friday and 50mm on Saturday possible. At Tuncurry the track was rated a heavy (8) and similar numbers are being predicted in the next 72 hours. • Schiller gets green light for early spring return 'Things are not looking as good at Newcastle and Tuncurry but we'll continue to monitor the situation and weight up what our options are going forward,' Moxon said. Sunday's Wyong meeting is also in doubt with the Central Coast track expecting similar falls to Newcastle with a further 20mm possible on Sunday. The track was put out a soft (7) on Thursday. The Forbes Cup meeting is also scheduled for Sunday and the track was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday morning. The Central West town has a much more favourable weather outlook over the next few days with only 7mm of rain forecast over the next four days. Read related topics: Weather Horse Racing Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini aims for immediate returns with his Godolphin purchase Hanau at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Horse Racing Racing Victoria has a luxury of time and potential to make right decisions on its multimillion dollar Oaklands Park dream field.
News.com.au
31-07-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
NSW racing in the hands of weather gods as Scone, Narrandera called off
Thoroughbred racing in New South Wales for the next 72 hours is at the mercy of the weather gods. Thursday's meetings at Scone and Narrandera were abandoned due to heavy rainfall in the districts while a host of meetings on Friday and over the weekend are also under a cloud. Friday's racing is scheduled for Kembla Grange where the track was rated a heavy (9) on Thursday morning with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting up to 28mm of rain in the area over the next 24 hours. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Right now as things stand the meeting is OK but we are probably going to need a bit of luck in the next 24 hours and beyond,' Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said. The Coffs Harbour meeting, headlined by the $150,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) which carries Big Dance eligibility, is also set down for Friday and possibly is the safest meeting in the state over the next three days. The Mid-North Coast track was rated a soft (6) on Thursday morning with less than 10mm of rail expected during the remainder of Thursday and Friday. Scone: Following a track inspection I and gallop the track has been deemed unsuitable to race and the meeting has been postponed @sconeraceclub — Racing NSW Stewards (@RNSWStewards) July 30, 2025 • Saturday's three TAB meetings at Rosehill, Newcastle and Tuncurry are all needing some luck with heavy rain predicted along the coast over the next three days. Rosehill was rated a heavy (8) at 8am on Thursday, with rain continuing to fall, and the forecast leading into the meeting is for up to 25mm on Friday and between 8mm and 35mm on Saturday. 'We'll go out and inspect the track on Friday afternoon at around 2pm,' Moxon said. 'A few of the forecasters are predicting varying amounts of rain so it's going to be a case of 'watch this space'. 'We'll inspect again on Saturday morning and hopefully we have a bit of luck with the weather.' Newcastle and Tuncurry are separated by 163km and the forecast for the southern part of the Mid-North Coast isn't as favourable as it is a further 247km north at Coffs Harbour. Newcastle copped 30mm in the 24 hours prior to 7.45am on Thursday and was rated a heavy (10) with Thursday's total rainfall predicted to be up to 25mm with a further 35mm on Friday and 50mm on Saturday possible. At Tuncurry the track was rated a heavy (8) and similar numbers are being predicted in the next 72 hours. NSW Race Meetings â€' Current Status (due to wet weather with several race meetings in doubt depending on timing and extent of rainfall): — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 30, 2025 'Things are not looking as good at Newcastle and Tuncurry but we'll continue to monitor the situation and weight up what our options are going forward,' Moxon said. Sunday's Wyong meeting is also in doubt with the Central Coast track expecting similar falls to Newcastle with a further 20mm possible on Sunday. The track was put out a soft (7) on Thursday. The Forbes Cup meeting is also scheduled for Sunday and the track was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday morning. The Central West town has a much more favourable weather outlook over the next few days with only 7mm of rain forecast over the next four days.
Forbes
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Barocio Listens To Lovesick Blues And Wins The Bing Crosby Stakes
Trainer Librado Barocio has a moment with Lovesick Blues after their victory in the Grade I $400,000 ... More Bing Crosby Stakes Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. Benoit Photo Never underscore the importance of the player-coach relationship. Communication is always a key, but the important thing is that both are driving on a two-way street. Yes, the final decision should always belong to the person with the line-up card, however input from the one in the trenches should never be discounted. With that in mind, there is one Thoroughbred trainer that is ecstatic since one of his stable stars bent his ear. Librado Barocio is becoming a fixture on the California Thoroughbred racing scene. Having been in and out of the sport since taking out his training license in 1998, this Richmond, California native has enjoyed success primarily with California-bred horses running in the older division races. Having picked up his first graded stakes wins just last year, Barocio has enjoyed increased success since the calendar turned to 2025. As a student of the game, this conditioner that doubles as a film maker saw an opportunity with one of his hot horses and decided to take a swing in the grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 26. Lovesick Blues is a seven-year-old son of Grazen that has become increasingly better with age. Always a hard-running horse, his forty career starts had yielded only eight wins but twenty six finishes in the top three. His last five starts had come on turf and that left many wondering why this veteran gladiator was willing to face the fastball that is a grade 1, Breeders' Cup win and you're in, six-furlong drive over the Del Mar dirt. Once the nine runners loaded and the gates opened, everyone else knew in just over one minute and eight seconds what Barocio had already heard in the days leading up to the race. 'He had been telling me he wanted to go back to the dirt', says Barocio. 'All his training said he was ready and deserved this kind of opportunity. He always runs hard and just has a heart of gold. His works were crying out for a start in a race like this and I am glad I listened.' Mia Familia 's Lovesick Blues a jockey Geovanni Franco win the Grade I $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes ... More Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. Benoit Photo Breaking alertly, Lovesick Blues rolled up the backstretch rating off a very solid early pace (21.78 opening quarter mile, 44.48 half mile). As the runners turned for home, the front-running Hejazi spurted clear. Getting the cue from his regular rider, Geovanni Franco, this California-bred swung outside and began an all-out assault on the front-runners. Moving with tremendous momentum, Lovesick Blues broke some hearts as he rolled past Hejazi inside the final furlong and won by a widening 1 ¾ lengths. 'This horse truly has been a blessing for our barn', says Barocio, who earned his first grade 1 victory as a trainer. 'He is proven on the grass and dirt. His versatility is amazing and he can win being out front or closing in as he did here. The Grazen offsprings seem to get better with age and he absolutely has improved as he has gotten older.' Crossing the finish line at odds of 18-1, this seven-year-old gelding shook up the world in more ways than one. Yes, he rewarded his backers with a nice return, but also sent his conditioner into deep thought as now he has his first grade 1 winner and a spot for his ever Breeders' Cup starter in the 2025 Sprint, which will be run at Del Mar on November 1. 'We are likely to run him one more time before the Breeders' Cup', says Barocio. 'I will consult with a few veterans of the game before deciding exactly what our path will be. I listened to what my horse was telling me and I will continue to listen and look for wisdom as we prepare for the World Championships of Thoroughbred racing. Wow, t
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Talented jockey with 46 wins dies aged just 18 after devastating dirt bike crash
A 'naturally gifted' young jockey has passed away from injuries sustained in a crash involving the dirt bike he was riding and a car. Ngakau Halley, aged 18, was in his third year as an apprentice in New Zealand and had claimed 18 race victories this season, bringing his career total to 46. The collision occurred at an intersection in Whitoria, where Halley's dirt bike was involved in a serious accident with another vehicle, according to Waikato Police. "Sadly, the rider of the dirtbike received critical injuries and was transported to hospital where they later died," their statement read. "Two young people in the car were transported to hospital with moderate injuries. The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing." Authorities later confirmed Halley as the deceased. "It's tragic, words just can't describe it. I was talking with him on Monday and then this happens," New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Northern Riding Master Noel Harris told LoveRacingNZ. "He was very polite and he was a very talented boy. You knew straight away when you saw him on a horse that he was a natural. From where he was brought up, they just jump on a horse and you are part of it." Halley began riding horses at a young age but originally aspired to play professional rugby league. He played as hooker for his local team and represented his district. His path shifted when he started doing trackwork, eventually beginning an apprenticeship under trainer Debbie Sweeney. "He was a natural talent, and that is just what you want," Harris added. "It's tragic, he was a lovely boy." Among numerous tributes, leading Australia-based jockey Blake Shinn commented: "Such a devastating tragedy. "Sending strength and sympathy to the family, friends and all in the NZ Racing community." A fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover funeral expenses.
