Australia
Ardmore Lodge trainer Nick Bishara is thankful to own a share in top mare Verry Elleegant and readily admits the New Zealand-bred daughter of Zed has extended the life of his business on more than one occasion. The multiple Group One winner commenced her career in New Zealand under
Breeding
Arrowfield Stud, one of the most high profile thoroughbred breeding farms in Australia, has withdrawn its catalogued horses from the Easter Yearling Sale. The Inglis Easter sale is one of the biggest thoroughbred auctions in the country and traditionally attracts cashed-up international and local buyers vying for the cream
Australia
The Queensland winter racing carnival has been scrapped as the state moves to racing in five separate regions. The winter carnivals in all three codes, thoroughbreds, harness and greyhounds, have been abandoned for the first time in a century. The carnivals will be replaced with standard metropolitan race programming with
New Zealand
NZTR have released a document outlining regulations for husbandry and stabling of thoroughbreds while New Zealand is in Covid-19 response alert level 4. The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed that training centres, training stables, agistment properties and stud farms where horses are in containment are businesses that may register
International
Leading racing commentator Mark McNamara has handled the transition to one of the world’s most watched racing jurisdictions with aplomb. The Australian racecaller, who until August of last year spent more than a decade plying his trade in New Zealand, recently made the move to Hong Kong, where racing
Breeding
Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Joanna Hickman have announced the appointment of Gareth Downey to the role of General Manager. Gareth joined the stud in mid-2018 as their breeding consultant, principally a role focussed on the management of the stud’s standing stallions, US Navy Flag, Zacinto and Savile
Breeding
New Zealand Bloodstock has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Karaka May Sale. Given the government’s announcement on Monday that the country is to go into lock-down due to the COVID-19 virus, New Zealand Bloodstock has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Karaka
Video
Trackside's Greg O'Connor talks to Hong Kong based race caller Mark McNamara on life in Hong Kong amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and his call of the Gr.1 Hong Kong Derby on Sunday.
New Zealand
Te Akau Racing, one of New Zealand’s largest racing operations, has elected to turnout nearly its entire racing team as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The Matamata-based operation will only continue with a skeleton staff to handle their younger stock, while the majority of their
New Zealand
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bernard Saundry has cautioned all participants in racing to adhere to stringent government protocols in response to the spread of Covid-19 for both the good of the industry and the health and well-being of the nation. “For just the second time in
New Zealand
Members of the NZTBA and industry participants, The Government has declared a State of Emergency and that the country’s Covid-19 response alert level will raise to Level 4 at 11.59pm, 25 March. The Government stated that this level will last for at least four weeks. The past
Australia
Group One performer Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) has run her last race with a tendon injury ending her racetrack career after finishing fifth in Saturday’s Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m). The John Sargent-trained mare won six of her 30 starts including the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) in 2017,