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.
Cavalor Trainer of the Quarter - Joseph O’Brien
Joseph O’Brien has enjoyed remarkable contrasting successes so far this year, his hurdler Home By The Sea winning the Gr.1 Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March, the filly Thundering On landing the Gp.1 Oaks at Epsom, followed by five winners at Royal Ascot to see O’Brien challenging his father Aidan for the meeting’s coveted Leading Trainer award. At time of going to press the Irish Derby has yet to be run, but there is a strong chance James J Braddock has capped a month to remember for the Carriganóg team.
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FRANCIS-HENRI GRAFFARD -A FULL MEASURE OF SUCCESS
"Hasn't everyone seen and heard enough of me recently?" After a headline season which saw him set a new record for the number of Group 1 winners in a year by a French handler and a first title in the national trainers' championship, the 48-year-old is aware that the name "Graffard" has been among the most cited in the racing press over the past 12 months.
CAVALOR Trainer of the Quarter - Simon & Ed Crisford
In May 2020 Ed and his father Simon Crisford became the first trainers in Britain to be granted a joint licence. Now, thanks to an excellent winter in Dubai culminating with a win in the Gp.2 Dubai Gold Cup, they become our first joint Trainers of the Quarter.
Their six runners on Dubai World Cup night earned €3.4m (£2.97m), doubling their British earnings gained in a highly successful 2025 campaign.
Do horses in training need regular deworming?
With wormer resistance increasing and no new products expected soon, targeted parasite control is now essential for all horses.
This approach combines risk assessment, diagnostic testing, and paddock management to reduce infection levels and ensure only those horses that need treatment are wormed. This article outlines practical strategies for sustainable worm control in horses in training.
Trainers surviving at the grassroots
As costs escalate in all spheres and prize money lags far off the pace, many trainers are finding times extremely tough. We spoke to three professionals—Jedd O’Keeffe (Britain), David Marnane (Ireland), and Didier Prod’homme (France)—to discuss how they have adapted their businesses to the current economic climate.
VETERINARY: WEARABLES ON THE RACECOURSE
Harnessing Tech to Enhance Equine Safety and Performance.
In May 2025, Britain became the first horseracing jurisdiction to permit the use of equine heart monitors on the racecourse as part of a pilot scheme to test technology under race conditions.
IMPROVING THE RACECOURSE EXPERIENCE
The appeal of sporting events now extends beyond competition. Audiences have evolved, expecting experiences that combine sport with atmosphere, engagement, and involvement. This shift has prompted organisers to create more immersive environments. Racecourses are no exception. As Laurent Dupont, Commercial and Marketing Director of France Galop, notes, "we cannot propose only horses nowadays... people, when they buy a ticket, want more, they want to be surprised and have a wonderful day". To stay relevant, racecourses must modernise their offerings and craft experiences that are dynamic, intriguing, and aligned with contemporary audiences.
REVIEW OF ROARING AND POSSIBLE NEW SURGICAL PROCEDURE
Roaring in horses is not just a loud, rasping noise made during exercise; it is a disorder of the upper airway that restricts airflow and can limit performance in large breeds such as Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and warmbloods.
Ontario Veterinary College Associate Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Taralyn McCarrel, is seeking to develop a surgical procedure that could revolutionise treatment following tie-back surgery, offering new hope for affected horses.
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?