Finders Key: From Far Back in the Pack to the Lead in ‘War Horse’

The movie, nominated Tuesday for an Oscar for best picture, used almost 300 horses for one battle scene. The best acting was by Finders Key, who also appeared in “Seabiscuit.”

More Than 20 Horses Killed in New Jersey Barn Fire

The horses died when a predawn fire engulfed the barn they were stabled in, the New Jersey State Police said.

Neville Bardos, Horse Who Survived Fire, Honored

Neville Bardos, the horse who survived a barn fire last May, was named the international Horse of the Year for 2011 by the United States Equestrian Federation.

Horse Is a Fire Survivor and a Possible Olympian

Neville Bardos, a 12-year-old horse who competes in eventing, has managed a competitive comeback from severe injuries sustained in a fire.

The Substance of a Winner

Those who knew Able One knew he would kick up a gear — if his legs would let him, his heart would carry him.

Campaign Gains to Make Central Park Carriage Rides Horseless

Animal rights advocates in New York are strengthening their push to ban the attraction, while carriage owners say they are being harassed.

Orville Davis, a Musician and Cowboy — Character Study

Orville Davis, a cowboy and musician, first came to New York on vacation but stayed for the music work.

Spotted Horses in Cave Art Weren’t Just a Figment, DNA Shows

DNA addresses the question of whether the cave artists of ancient France were realists or abstractionists.

Breeders’ Cup Classic: Bypassing Obvious Stars for One From Overseas

Havre de Grace should be in contention until the wire, but an international star could have the final say in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Breeders’ Cup: Union Rags’s Owner Trusts Instincts and Has Favorite

Phyllis Wyeth sold Union Rags last year, but her instincts told her to buy him back, no matter the cost. The horse has already paid for himself and is a favorite to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The Cost of a Horse

A letter writer says getting rid of a horse is an expensive proposition.

Bloomberg Rejects Calls to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said the carriage industry was a part of the city’s heritage and beloved by tourists, and there was no reason to shut it down.

Horse Slaughter, Stopped in U.S., Moves Across Borders

A new government study raises questions about whether horses have been helped by a federal policy that led to the closure of slaughterhouses for horses.

Rapid Redux Seeks 17th Straight Victory

If Rapid Redux, who was claimed for $6,500 last October, wins his 17th consecutive race Friday, he will be three away from breaking Zenyatta’s record of 19 straight.

For a Few Weeks, Saugerties, N.Y., Becomes Horse Country

More than 3,000 horses and 2,200 competitive equestrians descend on Saugerties, N.Y., every summer, and the influx of cash has played a part in transforming the village.

Vijay Mallya, Usha Stud get a Smashing Indian Oaks

By Maj. Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.) Dr. Vijay Mallya and Usha Stud ended their draught of “classics” — neither had won even one of the sixteen, including the regional versions, since the start of the winter season in November — with the filly Smashing (Holy Roman Emperor – Exquisite by Galileo) winning the Zoom Indian Oaks, Gr.1, in [...]

Compile ‘official’ US sire lists by domestic earnings only

re several posts below this on sire list discrepancies The Blood-Horse editorial director Eric Mitchell explained his publication’s stance on compiling sire lists in a column recently (a link to it is available in the post below this one). The magazine uses NH earnings worldwide (or from as many countries as The Jockey Club Information [...]

More on sire lists and the Scat Daddy vs Hard Spun issue

For more on the controversial sire lists published annually in US publications, see below. In yesterday’s issue of Thoroughbred Times TODAY, I wrote the following column calling for “official” sire lists from The Jockey Club. Click here to read it. The Blood-Horse editor, Eric Mitchell, addressed the same issue yesterday from the vantage point of [...]

Scat Daddy versus Hard Spun for the freshman sire title

Sid Fernando via ENicks More at Thoroughbred Times TODAY tonight (Wed edition) Horse Race: Scat Daddy vs Hard Spun storify.com The race between Ashford’s Scat Daddy and Darley’s Hard Spun for champion freshman sire went down to the last day of 2011 and a thousand (or so) dollars. Below are some conversations about the race, real time [...]

Cape Premier Sale in January seeks to build on success

By Thomas J. Thornbury (Associate Director of Sales, Keeneland)  The results of the 2011 inaugural Cape Premier Sale were so rewarding that all the breeders in South Africa took notice. The idea is simple: create a select sale of the very best yearlings gathered from farms throughout South Africa. Market them in the fresh, exciting setting [...]

Pronto Pronto, son of Major Impact, won Indian Guineas

By Major Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.) Handled brilliantly by Richard Hughes — a chance ride for him since the declared jockey Y.S. Srinath was indisposed — Pronto Pronto (Major Impact - Sandslash), having his first run in five months, lifted the Casino Royale Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1, by half a length from Picasso with Cardinal three-parts of a [...]

Alma Mater swoops from last to first in Indian 1000 Guineas

By Major Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.) Laying last at the half-way stage of the Indian 1000 Guineas, Gr.1, Sunday, jockey B. Prakash on Alma Mater (Royal Kingdom – La Pieta) improved spectacularly — travelling widest of all — to be in the hailing distance of the leaders at the 400-meter marker and then rode a power-packed finish to [...]

Professor Sugarcane Hancock: Intellectual, racing fan, dude

More than a year ago, I visited the Northampton fairgrounds and documented what was left of the racetrack, grandstand, and barn area. Click here to read the post and see the photos. For me, it was akin to an archeological expedition because I’d been to the races at Northampton in the 1980s and still vividly [...]

Overdose returns to winning international Group form today

The star-crossed Hungarian racehorse Overdose, last seen finishing fourth in the five-furlong Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes June 14 at Ascot, reappeared today in Italy at the Capannelle to win the Group 3 Premio CEF Aloisi over 1200 meters (about six furlongs) for his first win in international Group company since winning the same race [...]

Razeen’s unique feat: Son of Northern Dancer dominates day

By Major Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.) Sunday, Razeen’s daughter Hills and Stars won the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby, Gr.1, in a new track record time. That was his only winner of the day when 11 races were run. Six of the other winners—Yuville (by Placerville), Sharaarat (by the new Danehill sire Ace), Attila, Capriole, Lake Winnipeg and Circus Ring (all by Usha Stud [...]