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THOROUGHBRED TIMES The Weekly Newsmagazine of Thoroughbred Racing
Volume 24, Number 7
www.thoroughbredtimes.com
$4.95
February 16, 2008
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Fast Lane Farish’s operation stands North America’s leading sires
Photo by Z
STUD FARMS
Western Spotlight 33 Midwest Spotlight 38
PYRO POWERS TO RISEN STAR S. VICTORY ■ FARMS’ LATE-NIGHT GUARDIANS
Breeders’ Cup to stay at Santa Anita in 2009 For the first time, event will be at the same site for consecutive years by Jeff Lowe
T
HE rapid evolution of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will continue when the Oak Tree Racing Association hosts consecutive editions of the event at Santa Anita Park in 2008 and ’09. The Breeders’ Cup never has been conducted at the same site two years in a row. The Breeders’ Cup Ltd. board of directors awarded the 2009 edition to Oak Tree on February 7, a little
less than ten months after confirming Oak Tree as the host of the ’08 Breeders’ Cup. Santa Anita previously was the site for the Breeders’ Cup in 1986, 1993, and 2003. Churchill Downs, the most frequent Breeders’ Cup venue, also was a candidate for 2009. The Breeders’ Cup would have been eligible for a tax exemption for returning to Louisville within three years, but that measure will expire. Greg Avioli, chief executive officer of Breeders’ Cup Ltd., described
Oak Tree’s merits as a host for the event, but he declined to comment on the proposal from Churchill, which was the site for the World Championships in 2006. “We have a policy of not discussing the negotiations with any other track, so rather than say why we didn’t go somewhere, if you look at what we’re trying to do with the Breeders’ Cup, Santa Anita just had all the factors,” Avioli said. “It can handle the big
crowd, it doesn’t require an immense amount of retrofitting or temporary seating, it has the good weather, and it’s in that fantastic market. “The biggest advantage is that Los Angeles is the second-largest media market in the country, and with that they also bring the fact that it is the entertainment capital of the world,” Avioli continued. “For an organization that is really trying to jump-start the
awareness and popularity of our championships, those attributes are very important to us. You have the opportunity to play on a big stage and get a lot of notice and attention.” Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown), a Kentucky state senator and former Breeders’ Cup official, said he does not expect the tax break at Churchill to be restored. Julie Koenig-Loignon, Churchill’s vice president of communications, continued on page 12
NEWS
5 minutes with … Antony Beck 20
Thyroid issues in spotlight 31
Eddington U N B R I D L E D – FA S H I O N S TA R ,
BY CHIEF’S CROWN
Among the Leading 1st Crop Weanling Sires by
Median, Average, & Profitability 12/28/07 TBH MarketWatch
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G1 SW of $1.2 Million by UNBRIDLED NEVER Off the Board in 17 Starts $20,000 Live Foal
ARCH • DURING • EASING ALONG EDDINGTON • FIRST SAMURAI • FLATTER HORSE CHESTNUT • OUT OF PLACE • POLITICAL FORCE PULPIT • SEEKING THE GOLD • STRONG HOPE • WAR FRONT
Post Office Box 150 Paris, Kentucky 40362-0150 Tel.(859) 233-4252 Fax 987-0008 claibornefarm.com
SEASON INQUIRIES TO BERNIE SAMS
Undefeated CACTUS RIDGE appears poised for a breakout year:
TWO 2008 STAKES COLTS
Pat Lang
including WEBN Stakes winner BIG GLEN earner of a 5 Rag #
THREE TRIPLE CROWN NOMINEES 139 MARES BRED IN 2007 following 100+ mares bred in 2005 and 2006
On the Verge of Something BIG HENNESSY - DOUBLE PARK, by LYCIUS $8,500 live foal, due November 15
John T.L. Jones, III, Managing Director 3395 Paris Pike, Lexington, KY, USA 40511 • 859.299.0473 • walmac@walmac.com
Eaton’s Gift accelerated well clear in the stretch despite setting a testing pace to post a 3½-length victory in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park… Eaton’s Gift spurted to a four-length advantage in early stretch and crossed the wire in 1:15.63 on a track rated as fast to stamp himself a contender on the Triple Crown trail.
EATON’S GIFT lands the Swale Stakes (G2) for Dale Romans and Zayat Stables.
Thoroughbred Times Today, February 3, 2008.
• ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD •
STALLIONS FOR 2008 • CHAPEL ROYAL • DEHERE • FUSAICHI PEGASUS • GIANT’S CAUSEWAY • GRAND SLAM • JOHANNESBURG • LION HEART • • POWERSCOURT • SCAT DADDY • TALE OF THE CAT • THUNDER GULCH • VAN NISTELROOY •
Johannesburg’s second crop also includes Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten G3 winner & 2,000 Guineas prospect JUPITER PLUVIUS.
PLUVIUS… has the makings of a G1 “horseJUPITER for next year if maintaining his rate of improvement ”
RACING POST, 10/29/07.
World Champion 2YO by HENNESSY. Sire of 10 SW’s from his first crop including Grade 1 winner at 2 & 3 years SCAT DADDY.
• ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD •
$65,000
• ASHFORD • ASHFORD • ASHFORD •
FEE:
Ashford Stud, P.O. Box 823, Versailles, Kentucky 40383, U.S.A. Contact: Aisling Duignan, Dermot Ryan, Charlie O’Connor or Andre Lynch Tel: 859-873-7088. Fax: 859-879-5756. E-mail: info@coolmore.com Web Site: www.coolmore.com