Get the facts about your family tree from Genes Reunited, and dependant on your level of interest you can obtain either our Standard or Premier package. For full details, click the link below:
Nicky Henderson on doping charge.
In a suprise announcement, the BHA have today indicated top national hunt trainer Nicky Henderson is to be charged over a positive test for a banned substance discovered both in the urine and blood tests taken from Moonlit Path after her run in the Turf TV Mares Novices Hurdle at Huntingdon on 19 February 2009.
It is understood Henderson is to face several charges of breaches of the Rules of Racing at a hearing currently planned for June 2009.
Metal Soldier first winner for Coolmore sire.
When John Quinn's Metal Soldier ran out a clear winner of today's 3.45 pm Maiden at Chester, he gave Coolmore sire Antonius Pius his first winner in Britain or Ireland. However, based on the effective way he ran away from his rivals, it will not be long before Metal Soldier adds to this initial tally.
Richard Hills continues in rich vein.
Having landed a Classic and the Chester Gold Cup in the last few days, jockey Richard Hills continued in his rich vein of form as he handed the punters some welcome relief when giving favourite Fareer an excellent ride in today's 3.15 pm seven and a half furlong handicap at Chester.
As the runners came to the false running rail in the home straight, Ryan Moore took it up on Resort, but she found very little, and Fareer and Tartan Gunner came sweeping down the outside to grab the first two positions, while Foundation Room made up late ground to snatch third place.
Fareer appeared to be idling in front, and there could be a lot more to come from Ed Dunlop's colt.
Master of the Horse put to the Sword.
With race fitness from a run in France, Golden Sword, the supposed outsider of the two Ballydoyle horses in today's Chester vase, made all, and defeated his stable mate, and race favourite, Master of the Horse.
While Colm O'Donoghue dictated the whole race from the front on Golden Sword, many punters may suggest Johnnie Murtagh gave Master of the Horse far too much to do in the closing stages. But what is far more likely, Master of the Horse needs to be held up for a late run, and on the day, his lack of race fitness meant he was not able to peg back his stable mate, and second place was the best position he could obtain today.
Nonetheless, Golden Sword's win represented the second twenty five to one victory in the first three races on today's Chester card, and many punters were already hoping for a change of fortune.
Microscopic victory for Doctor in Huxley Stakes.
The Walter Swinburn trained Staying On nearly spoiled the come back party for Doctor Fremantle in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes. Under young jockey Adam Kirby, he had always dictated the pace along with Godolphin's representative Yarrab, and after the latter horse faded at the top of the home run, the first two in the market, Doctor Fremantle and Expresso Star came to challenge the leader. As Ryan Moore edged into the lead on the favourite in the final furlong, it seemed Doctor Fremantle would prevail in clever style, but Staying On did exactly what his name suggests, and he came back at Doctor Fremantle, causing an anxious wait on the result of the photograph for the many punters who had supported the even money favourite. But unlike the first race, Ryan Moore had got the favourites head in front where it mattered - on the finishing line.
Third placed Expresso Star was also close at hand at the finish , and he ran a promising race in his first step up to Group company.
Free Agent out of Dee Stakes.
The Queen's Free Agent, who was last seen winning the Chesham Stakes in 2008, will miss tomorrow's Dee Stakes at Chester. While the blacksmith was putting his racing plates on for the Group 3 contest, connections noticed the colt had a bruised foot, and the decision was immediately taken to scratch tomorrow's entry.
A spokesman for Her Majesty has indicated the injury is not serious, and the three year old may run in next week's Dante Stakes at York, or he may go to Goodwood on 20 May.
Moore overweight could have cost the punters.
In the first race of Day 2 of the Chester May Festival, jockey Ryan Moore could not get down to the prescribed weight on the Queen's Kingdom of Fife in the Velocity handicap, and his two pounds of overweight could well have floored a massive gamble on the favourite.
After always being up with the pace, three timecourse winner Cheshire Prince took it up at the top of the home straight, and although Ryan Moore came with a withering run on the outside, he just failed to get up in the shadow of the post, and many punters were quick to point to the two pounds of overweight which they feel had caused the failure of a giant gamble on the first race favourite.
Although Mark Brisbane's Cheshire Prince was completing a fourth victory at the Rooddee, he was completely unfancied, coming home first at odds of twenty five to one, while Kingdom of Fife had been heavily supported into eleven to four from five to one.
Moore's mood got worse when he obtained a one day ban from racing for over-use of the whip during the latter stages of today's race. The ban will see him sidelined on 21 May 2009.
Irish Derby winner returns to action in Ormonde Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien's 2008 Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire is due to confront seven rivals when making his seasonal debut in tomorrow's Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Amongst his opponents will be John Porter victor Enroller, Andrew Balding's ever improving Buccellati, and fresh from his national hunt efforts, top class hurdler Numide.
Also tomorrow, Ballydoyle's Drum Beat will put his Classic pretentions on the line in the Dee Stakes. He has alreadyhad a run, when finishing a promising second to Redwood in the Fielden Stakes at Newmarket, and a win by Drum Beat tomorrow could pay major compliments to Dante entry Redwood and to stable mate Fame and Glory, the latter having held sway when the pair met at Saint Cloud at the back end of last season.
Redwood to test Derby credentials in Dante.
Originally scheduled to run in the Dee Stakes at Chester, connections of Fielden Stakes winner Redwood have decided to test his credentials as a possible Derby entrant by switching him to the Dante Stakes at next week's top class meeting at York.
According to trainer Barry Hills, "We will get a clearer picture of his abilities against some tough opposition in next week's Dante Stakes, and if he puts in a good performance, I understand connections are prepared to supplement him for the Epsom Derby".
Even Chester notice a drop.
Located in an affluent area of the North West, if any racecourse would hope to weather the current recession without too much trouble, it would be Chester, but even Chester have confirmed their first day crowds were down to 16,577 for the first day of the May Festival Meeting - a drop of around eight per cent on the 2008 figure.
Bearing in mind, officials at Chester have embraced new technology, including promotions on Face Book, Twitter and U Tube, as they attempt to attract younger race-goers to their meetings, then the first day figure is a prime example of the uphill struggle which currently faces the racing industry as it tries to encourage crowds to attend horseracing during the current recession.
Deloitte more confident of a Great Leighs deal.
Deloitte, the administrators of Great Leighs racecourse in Essex, have announced they have a potential buyer for the racecourse. It is understood the potential deal has curried favour with both the major creditor, RBS Nat West, and former owners Essex Showgrounds Limited. it is hoped a final deal can be achieved within the next two weeks, as this would put it within the deadline to secure fixtures for the 2010 season.
However, the big proviso would be securing a buyer who would be acceptable to the BHA for the purposes of granting a racing license. The course has not staged any racing since 16 January of this year, and it would seem extremely unlikely any fixtures could be secured for the remainder of 2009, so the potential new owners would have to put up a strong case to secure a full fixture list for next year.
Race against time for Leocorno.
Sir Michael Stoute's Leocorno is as low as nine to one in many markets for the Epsom Oaks, and the original plan was to give her a classic trial in next week's Musidora Stakes at York, but the filly is now recovering from a foot injury which precludes her participation at York.
The trainer now admits it will be a race against time to get her fit for Epsom, and in all likelyhood, she will have to go straight to the Oaks without a preparation race.
African Rose likely for July Cup.
Doncaster Sprint Cup winner African Rose is amongst sixty nnine entrants for this year's Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket. Trained by Criquette Head-maarek, the filly will almost certainly have to see off opposition from nine different countries if she is to be victorious again in Britain. Her most notable opponent could well be from the stable of Criqueete's brother Freddie Head, who has entered last year's winner, and top rated european sprinter, Marchand D'or.
This year's entry is three in excess of last year's sixty six figure, and at present includes runners from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong, and America.
Racing UK do not deny fall-back plan.
When queried by the Racing Post, Racing UK have not denied they may have a fall-back plan for broadcasting if the troubled Setanta satellite broadcaster should collapse.
However, it is not clear from information coming out of Racing UK as to whether they would set up their own broadcast channel, or go in with another provider suchas Sky or Virgin.
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s:
==================================
Archives:
News Stories prior to July 2008
Return to text based index page
