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Dance Some Mo at Trackside Training Center training for Saturday's Claiming Crown Jewel for trainer Tom Van Berg. Jennie Rees photo The Breeders’ Cup is over for another year. The fireworks of $5 million broodmares and $2.2 million weanlings sold at auction have concluded. Now it’s time for the real world for the [...]
Time for Trouble, outside, winning the 2023 Claiming Crown Iron Horse. Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation If it’s time for the Claiming Crown, it’s Time for Trouble. Or so it seems. The Claiming Crown will be staged at Churchill Downs for the third time in four years on Nov. 15. Entries will be [...]
The October 2025 issue of BloodHorse magazine features an article about the history, future and importance of the Claiming Crown, which will be renewed for the 26th time on November 15 at Churchill Downs. To read the full article by Alicia Hughes, CLICK HERE.
The interactive, electronic version of The Horsemen’s Journal’s Fall 2025 issue is now available online. It is an enhanced version of the printed magazine, which is currently being mailed. To view it, click here. Features in the issue include: ‘You Always Knew He Was Around’ Bernie Flint still involved in racing as an owner after [...]
By Eric Hamelback, National HBPA CEO The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) recently issued a press release addressing “Equine Sudden Death Syndrome.” Unfortunately, the statement raised more questions than answers. It cited no peer-reviewed published research (studies), offered no scientific references, and provided no direct link to the alleged research behind their claims, even [...]
Casse Training Center in Ocala. Penelope Miller/OBS photo The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI) is gearing up for Florida’s 2026 legislative session, whether that involves a renewed fight to again defeat decoupling, a reimagined circuit in the Sunshine State, pushing for industry-backed legislation that strengthens the existing racing and breeding structure or a combination [...]
Trainer Michael Dini at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO The achievement was not met with any sort of celebration or fanfare, mainly because that isn’t trainer and Tampa Bay Downs HBPA President Mike Dini’s way – and because he keeps himself immersed in his day-to-day responsibilities. But when [...]
Horsemen: The 2025 Claiming Crown is set for November 15 at Churchill Downs with eight races totaling $1.1 million in purses for all levels of horses on both dirt and turf. The minimum purse is $100,000 with the Claiming Crown Jewel offering a $200,000 purse. The fee is only $250 to request eligibility per horse [...]
Garry Simms Sr. in 2011 with Flashy Lassie, his first graded-stakes winner in the Grade 3 Debutante. Courtesy the Louisville Courier-Journal. Former racehorse trainer Garry Simms Sr. went 15 rounds, toe-to-toe, with the blood cancer multiple myeloma after being told in 2010 that he had mere weeks to live. It took a sucker [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a decision to grant, vacate, and remand (GVR) Nat’l Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Ass’n, et al. v. Horseracing Integrity and Safety Auth., Inc., et al. back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, directing the lower court to reconsider the challenge to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) [...]