Have Horse, Will Travel
Our quarterly guide to upcoming international fixtures, bonus schemes, and travel incentives across Great Britain, Ireland, France, Morocco, the US, Bahrain and Hong Kong
Claiming to Fame in France
What do Group 1 winners Tiger Tanaka (Marcel Boussac 2020), Mille et Mille (Prix du Cadran 2015), Gemix (Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil 2013 & 2014) and Gentoo (Prix Royal-Oak 2010) all have in common? Like the most famous of the rags-to-riches stories in French racing folklore, 1992 Prix du Jockey-Club hero Polytain, these champions were all snapped up by their future Group 1 winning connections via the claiming ranks.
Often stigmatized by the upper end of racing’s echelons, the claiming system in France continues to form a significant part of the calendar, serving the twofold purpose of an accessible race programme and an alternative market place.
Finding Light In Libya
Following one of the darkest chapters of her life, former trainer and now writer, Clare Cannon, travelled to Libya expecting only to reconnect with horses she had helped send there. Instead, she discovered a nation rich in history, hospitality and ambition, where a thriving Thoroughbred industry and remarkable generosity offered a renewed sense of hope, purpose and optimism for the future, against every expectation.
Good Ground How is Climate Change affecting the preparation of European racing surfaces?
Most will recognise the impact that Climate Change is having on their everyday lives but how is Climate Change impacting on the horse racing industry, notably in the preparation of European racing surfaces? It is clear that times are changing, and racecourse officials and trainers are having to adapt.
Five of racing's most experienced figures share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the global industry.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, John Messara, owner breeder of Arrowfield Stud and a major figure in Australian racing, French-based Group 1 winning trainer Nicolas Clement, Italian Valfredo Valiani, a former trainer turned bloodstock agent; and Damon Thayer, former Kentucky state senator and racing industry consultant, offer candid assessments of issues affecting the sport of racing. While each individual speaks from their own standpoint, the views provide food for thought for the industry on a global level.
THE USE OF ‘AI’ IN HANDICAP RACES
Artificial intelligence is steadily finding its place within the horse racing world, with its ability to process vast datasets and identify patterns invisible to the human eye. Could these same technologies extend into one of the sport's most nuanced and debated areas: handicap ratings?