Irish trainer Gerard Butler has been banned from racing for five years over doping offences. The 47-year-old admitted to seven charges at a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry after nine horses in his care tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid. Butler had claimed that veterinary surgeons had assured him… Read More »
A British trainer who administered anabolic steroids to horses in his care has been banned for five years. Gerard Butler was handed the punishment on Wednesday following a British Horseracing Authority hearing that considered seven breaches of racing rules. Butler, who is based in Newmarket, admitted to giving four horses… Read More »
Eddie Lynam is pleased with the condition of his two star sprinters Sole Power and Slade Power ahead of the Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday. The Irish handler is in the envious position have having two of the best sprinters in Europe in his care and both have travelled to… Read More »
Star steeplechaser Sprinter Sacre is in doubt for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Trainer Nicky Henderson said Sprinter Sacre, who is unbeaten in 10 starts over fences, returned “unsatisfactory figures” from a tracheal wash. Sprinter Sacre will be tested again on Thursday morning before final declarations are made for… Read More »
Jezki has thrown his hat into the ring for this season’s Champion Hurdle with a solid if unspectacular victory at Fairyhouse. Jessica Harrington’s stable star is one of a host of youngsters looking to topple 17-time Grade One winner Hurricane Fly when he attempts his third Champion Hurdle, with My… Read More »
A bad week turned around in an afternoon for champion British jumps trainer Nicky Henderson with Grade One victories at two different venues. Triolo D’Alene gave Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty their second successive Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury an hour after My Tent Or Yours confirmed he was on… Read More »
Mount Athos is reported to be in fine form as he prepares for another international challenge in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday week. The six-year-old was last seen finishing third behind Fiorente in the Melbourne Cup in early November and recently moved on to Hong Kong… Read More »
Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamed Al Thani’s desire to preside over the “best racing operation in the world” led to his Al Shaqab Racing launching a UK operation on Friday. Leading British turf figure Harry Herbert, the racing manager of the successful Highclere syndicate, has been appointed as a full-time racing… Read More »
Irishman Eddie Lynam has two chances to become the first European trainer to lift the Hong Kong Sprint with Sole Power and Slade Power representing his stable. Sole Power won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot this year but has not yet won over six furlongs (1200m) and finished… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey faces a critical few weeks as the multiple Group One winner continues his fight to fully recover from a fractured pastern and ensuing complications. Aidan O’Brien’s star had to be retired after suffering the leg injury during a routine work-out in July. Just two days after he… Read More »
Godolphin has purchased a majority share in Irish Derby winner Trading Leather, who is to stay with trainer Jim Bolger. The Teofilo colt, who beat Galileo Rock to lift Group One honours at the Curragh in June, also finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas over a mile and was… Read More »
North Yorkshire trainer Malcolm Jefferson is in no rush to decide whether to let Cape Tribulation carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The nine-year-old now heads a 23-strong field for Saturday’s hugely prestigious staying handicap following the anticipated defection of Tidal Bay. Jefferson had considered entering… Read More »
Leading New Zealand breeder Waikato Stud will offer all its yearlings at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka. Five times the leading breeder in New Zealand, Waikato Stud will have 80 horses catalogued for the sale in Auckland in January headed by progeny from their resident Group One sires O’Reilly,… Read More »
Gentildonna has become the first dual winner of the Japan Cup, holding out Denim And Ruby in a tight finish. The Sei Ishizaka-trained mare was ridden on Sunday by English jockey Ryan Moore who took her to a clear lead in the straight and managed to keep her going to… Read More »
Three trainers and a clocker are facing federal fraud and bribery charges over raceday medications and attempts to fix races at Penn National Racecourse in Pennsylvania. The three trainers – Patricia Rogers, Sam Webb, and David Wells – have been charged with administering illegal raceday medications. The clocker, Dan Robertson,… Read More »
Cue Card is now as short as 4-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after passing a distance test as he ran a top-class field into the ground to win the Lancashire Chase at Haydock. Although he failed at his only previous start at three miles (4800m) in last season’s King… Read More »
Unbeaten jumper Annie Power’s ultimate target remains undecided but her reputation has been enhanced with her five-length defeat of Zarkandar in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot. Willie Mullins’ sturdy chestnut mare had been untouchable in seven starts at home and after a long first journey across the Irish Sea, she… Read More »
Connections of Simenon will be satisfied if their charge can claim a share of the $6.31 million prize pot on offer in Sunday’s Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse. The six-year-old was last seen finishing a creditable fourth in the Melbourne Cup earlier this month, beaten just two and a half… Read More »
Irish Oaks winner Chicquita has set a record for a horse sold at auction in Ireland, fetching E6 million ($A8.84 million) at a dispersal sale of Australian Paul Makin’s bloodstock. The Hong Kong-based Makin, who first experienced European racing when his horse Starcraft won Group One races in England and… Read More »
Britain’s champion trainer Richard Hannon is to hand over his licence to his son Richard junior in the new year. Roles will be reversed with the 68-year-old, who has been at the helm for 43 years, to assist his son from January 1. “We thought long and hard as to… Read More »
