Hastings' Weekly Winter Round-Up
Clockers returned to Hastings this week as pre-season training stepped up again ahead of next month's Opening Day.
Back on the Clock
STOP watches returned to Hastings this weekend as timed workouts finally got underway ahead of the new season. The recent wet spell contributed to a somewhat hesitant start to ‘fast’ work, with just 20 horses, all from the powerful barns of Steve Henson and Edgar Mendoza, enjoying a three-furlong spin under the clockers’ unflinching gaze. For those interested in such things at this stage of the year, it was DELTA SUNRISE and NOTHINGBUTSUNSHINE, two daughters of Sungold owned by WIllow Creek Farms, who stopped the clock fastest.
Three for the Notebook
WE’VE been annoying trainers this week by asking them to nominate a horse they’re excited to see in action in 2024. Some of the names they have given us will be familiar to regular followers of Hastings, while some are less exposed horses who should probably go in your notebook.
The first three are below and more will appear in the weeks leading up to the new season.
1. VIVA LA DIVA, 3yo f by SUNGOLD – VINOTERA (FINALITY)
Trainer: Barbara Heads
NOT a surprise that the Heads’ barn is excited to see the return of VIVA LA DIVA to racetrack action. The daughter of Sungold, who is a full-sister to former Century Casino Oaks heroine SANGRIA and last season’s dual Allowance winner VIVA LA VINO, made her racetrack debut in the Sadie Diamond Futurity Stakes, finishing third behind LIZZIE’S RAYNE and EDDIE’S GIRL. The Bennetts’ homebred then made most of the running to break her maiden at the second time of asking before returning to Stakes company to take third place behind BROKE MAGIC and LIZZIE’S RAYNE in the Glen Todd Fantasy Stakes.
Barbara Heads said: “We’re all excited to see VIVA LA DIVA again. She’s progressed physically over the winter after a very promising 2yo campaign.”
2. PETER FLIES, 4yo g by PRIVATE GOLD — IRENE FLIES (ROCKY BAR)
Trainer: Peter Milburn
CLAIMED out of Golden Gate in February, connections are impatient for the arrival of PETER FLIES at Hastings. Unraced as a juvenile, the Washington-bred son of PRIVATE GOLD (Seeking the Gold) has run only seven times in total so far and already has two victories to his name, the most recent coming just last month when leading all the way and justifying long odds-on favouritism to easily land a $12,500 claimer.
Peter Milburn said: “We’re already calling him Peter Pan and we’re can’t wait to see him in action at Hastings.”
3. DAZ LIN FORCE, 3yo f by COUNTERFORCE — DAZ LIN DAWN (POPULAR)
Trainer: Keith Pedersen.
DAZ LIN FORCE is the first foal out of former BC Horse of the Year DAZ LIN DAWN, and trainer Keith Pedersen is keen to see if his charge can confirm the promise shown on her two starts as a juvenile last season. She endured ‘trial by ordeal’ on her racecourse debut, having to cope with the likes of LIZZIE’S RAYNE in the CTHS Sales Stakes back in August. The daughter of leading BC sire COUNTERFORCE appeared just one more time, finishing fifth again, this time behind VIVA LA DIVA in an optional claiming contest, before being put away for the winter.
Keith Pedersen: “Being DAZ LIN DAWN’s first foal makes her a bit special and we’re obviously excited to see how she gets on this year after a couple of solid runs last season.”
Amphitheatre Construction
AS some of you may have noticed, preparatory work for construction of the new PNE amphitheatre has now begun. We have been assured by relevant parties that the HBPA will receive weekly updates as to the progress of any work and, obviously, we will try and ensure that everyone on the backstretch is made aware of construction developments as we receive the information. In addition, Neil Stajkowski has created an information sheet which has been sent to the project engineer at EllisDon, the company charged with building the new facility. All stakeholders on the construction side are well aware of the need to be respectful of the horsemen and horsewomen’s working environment and especially with regard to ensuring that the health and safety of the horses remains paramount. Neil’s information sheet will also be posted around the Hastings’ plant and is included below for your information.
New Stride News
Around Our Region
Slews Tiz Whiz is Washington Horse of the Year Again
Justin Evans’ Milestone
TRAINER Justin Evans reached a notable milestone this week, saddling the 2,500th winner of his career. The magic number was reached on Monday when the six-year-old Into Mischief gelding SUBSIDIZE landed the seventh race under rider Assael Espinoza in some style, coming home almmost 10-lengths clear of his rivals. Evans set a new high bar the following afternoon when sending out CAT ON THE RUN to land a maiden contest at the same venue.
HISA Releases 2023 Equine Fatality Rate
Tracks under HISA’s jurisdiction experienced a lower rate of equine fatalities than those outside HISA’s jurisdiction in 2023
FEBRUARY 27, 2024 (Lexington, KY) – Racetracks under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) experienced 1.23 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in 2023, HISA reported today.
That rate is down from the rate reported by the Jockey Club in its Equine Injury Database (EID) in 2022 (1.25 per 1,000 starts) and is lower than the national rate reported today in the Jockey Club’s 2023 EID (1.32 per 1,000 starts). The methodologies and criteria for reporting HISA’s and the Jockey Club’s rates are identical, with the caveat that the Jockey Club’s 2022 and 2023 rates include data from Thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. currently operating outside of HISA’s jurisdiction. The 2023 EID shows that tracks not under HISA’s jurisdiction have a fatality rate of 1.63 per 1,000 starts, significantly higher than the 1.23 per 1,000 starts at HISA-regulated tracks.
“HISA’s most important goal is driving down equine fatalities,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We undoubtedly have significant work ahead of us, but I am pleased to see the rate is trending in the right direction. The reduction in the rate of equine fatalities at tracks under our jurisdiction demonstrates that setting high standards for racetrack safety and anti-doping and medication control across the country makes Thoroughbred racing safer.”
HISA’s Racetrack Safety program went into effect on July 1, 2022, and its Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program went into effect on May 22, 2023. 2023 marks the first year for which HISA has reported an annual equine fatality rate for tracks under its jurisdiction.
HISA’s regulations and interventions had the most dramatic impact on small and mid-sized tracks in states where safety had been historically underfunded and underregulated.
HISA’s Racetrack Safety regulations require pre-race veterinary exams and other expanded veterinary protocols, ensure equine treatment records follow a horse throughout its racing career, make horses’ full medical and workout histories available to veterinarians around the country, ensure every racetrack is held to the same high standards for facility safety, require racing surface conditions be monitored and reported to HISA regularly, and require claims be voided if a horse dies, is euthanized, or is vanned off the track.
As part of HISA’s commitment to public reporting, the organization will release an inaugural annual report next month that will include a detailed analysis of key metrics for 2023 concerning equine fatalities, registrations, fines assessed, track accreditation and riding crop violations.
Win Win Win filly fastest at March Under Tack finale
HIP# 788, a daughter of Win Win Win consigned by Ocala Stud, sped a quarter in a track equaling :20 1/5 into a headwind which increased as the day continued, posting the fastest time at the distance at the fourth and final session of the Under Tack Show for the 2024 OBS March Sale of Two Year Olds in Training. The bay filly is out of Unanimity, by Union Rags, from the family of grade one stakes winner Discreet Cat.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Sunday, March 10
Sweet Azteca Takes the B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1)
Packed House for First “Light Up Racing” Event
It was standing room only for the inaugural community event in Lexington for Light Up Racing.
Held Monday, Feb. 26 at Fasig-Tipton, the Light Up Racing event drew over 200 industry members who gathered to learn about how Light Up Racing was founded and what it has already accomplished around different parts of the globe, what the organisation aims to achieve in the U.S. going forward, and how individuals can play a role in social change to work toward reshaping the public's perception of horse racing. Spearheaded by Price Bell, Roderick Wachman, Jason Litt and Dr. Jeff Berk, Light Up for Racing was launched late last year.