By Joe Nevills

It can often take years for breeders to discern which broodmare pedigrees and physicals work best with a stallion to produce elite runners. Judging by the returns in 2021, Tommy Wente of St. Simon Place needed just a fraction of the time to crack the code with Connect.

Thu, 04/28/2022

By Jim Mulvihill

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act is forging on to implementation despite persistent legal challenges and logistical hurdles. The first phase of federal oversight of horse racing will go into effect July 1, when jurisdictions are expected to comply with new Racetrack Safety Program standards drafted by the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (commonly shortened to “the Authority”). The rules and standards that make up the Racetrack Safety Program were approved in March by the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the Authority.

Thu, 04/28/2022

By Joe Nevills

The Lane’s End stallion complex comprises several buildings, but its foundation sits under a patch of grass and ivy on its outskirts.

A half-circle of hedges to the southeast of the stallion barns conceals the farm’s graveyard; a finely manicured resting place for champions, and the ancestors of champions, that resided at Lane’s End and contributed to the farm’s ascent into one of North America’s leading Thoroughbred operations.

Thu, 04/28/2022

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Once called ‘the glue that holds everything together’ by stallion manager Peter Sheehan, Lane’s End’s Alys Emson currently works in a client management role but has done a little bit of everything during her 23 years at the farm.

Thu, 04/28/2022

By JIM MULVIHILL

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) was passed in December, proponents heralded the dawning of a new day for the American Thoroughbred industry. Nearly a year later, optimism still abounds but is tempered by growing concerns that the “new day” could be delayed by months or years.

Mon, 11/01/2021

By JIM MULVIHILL

In the last 21 years, Lee & Susan Searing’s CRK Stable—named for children Christina, Richard, and Katherine—has won well over 200 races for more than $15 million in earnings. CRK’s graded/group stakes winners include such talented runners as Our New Recruit, Kobe’s Back, Kettle Corn, Switch, and Candy Boy. Their best runner to date, though, has been the brilliant Honor A.P.

Mon, 11/01/2021

By JOE NEVILLS

A growing spotlight has been given to the use of whips in races, as tracks and state racing commissions have grappled with their use as encouragement versus the growing negative public perception toward their use.

Mon, 11/01/2021

By AMANDA DUCKWORTH

It is an unfortunate truth that when it comes to finding trouble, horses excel at it. Luckily for horse owners, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has dedicated itself to equine research for more than 80 years and disperses nearly $1 million annually in grants.

Understanding its history—do you know who Grayson was?—and its mission of helping all breeds of horses is important for the future wellbeing of equines everywhere.

Mon, 11/01/2021

By MICHELE MACDONALD

When Peter Sheehan arrived in Kentucky from his native Ireland in 2008, he was planning to work for a year at Lane’s End before departing to explore other parts of the world and the Thoroughbred business, having targeted a stint in Australia as a primary goal.

Yet more than a dozen years later, Sheehan has completely changed course. He no longer thinks of moving on, and instead is seizing the chance for moving up—in a big way—at Lane’s End.

Mon, 11/01/2021

By AMANDA DUCKWORTH

Among the many highlights of Keeneland’s Spring Meet this year was the number zero, as there were no racing incidents at the track. It was a celebratory moment for Keeneland’s Vice President of Equine Safety Dr. Stuart Brown and his team.

Mon, 11/01/2021