The innovative new Sales Race meeting is in addition to the recent announcement of a new Cape Racing Sales March Premier Sale (Picture: Cape Racing) 

Cape Racing Sales press release

Entries Are Open!

The Cape Racing Festival Sales Day, a high value racemeeting that will offer bumper stakes racing from R6,5 million up to R10 million over the initial three years, and encompass the age spectrum, will dovetail the brand new CRS March Premier Sale, creating a racing and sales festival like no other in South Africa.

The festival will extend the bumper Cape Summer Season Of Champions, creating an eighth festival racemeeting in what is a celebration of close on five months of non-stop high quality horseracing in the fairest Cape in all the world.

The innovative Cape Racing Sales team have again raised the bar in an industry showing exponential growth in the post-covid era. The recent ground-breaking announcement of a March Premier sale to be added to the CRS sales calendar has generated plenty of excitement following the opening of entries for their 2025 premier sales.

Making the announcement earlier this week, Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak explained that, from a CRS perspective, the new festival gives prospective buyers another great reason to buy a CRS graduate.

“Knowing that your purchase will potentially be able to participate in a R3 million race as a juvenile, and then have a R5 million race available every season, is quite something. Having R10 million on offer across four individual races is unlike any sales race incentive structure we have ever seen in South Africa. It creates an exceptional race day to follow what will be a memorable auction the day before,” enthused the racing administrator.

Looking at the three features individually, one notes that all ages and sexes are catered for.

The R5 million CRS Big Cap is the exciting new ‘slot’ race which will headline the Festival race day.

The Big Cap was modelled on the Everest concept introduced in Australia, and the concept has been featured successfully previously in South Africa as the ‘Gold Rush’.

Justin Vermaak explained that the CRS Big Cap will be run as a handicap, with conditions.

“The large spread at the weights will ensure that a vast group of graduates come into the race with a chance. The Gold Rush was a success in general, and it only fell slightly short in that if you were not a slot holder of a top candidate, the race became impossible to win. With The Big Cap offering a more extended spread, it creates a more level playing field, as handicap racing is intended to do. At only R325 000 a slot, it opens up a broader list of potential slot owners, and in keeping with our philosophy of acknowledging a very important sector of the horseracing eco-system, the groom of each runner will receive a payment of R12 500.”

The inaugural running of the R5 million CRS Big Cap in 2025 will be contested over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and is open to all CRS sales graduates.

This will come as good news for the purchasers of the October 2022 CRS Ready To Run Sale graduates, who are eligible for the first running of this headline race, as well as being something of an unexpected big bonus for all CRS buyers at sales in 2023 and 2024 who made their purchases unaware of the bonanza of the R5 million CRS Big Cap!

In the short term, there is also going to be substantially enhanced interest for vendors and buyers at the CRS Breeze Up & 2YO Unbroken Sale to be held at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on 27 October. The graduates of this sale will be potential qualifiers for a run in the R5 million CRS Big Cap as 3yo’s.

The R3 million CRS Slipper will be run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in 2026.

This means that next year’s CRS graduates will run for the highest stake on offer for a juvenile race in South Africa. The CRS Slipper will be open to all graduates of CRS auctions in 2025, not just the January auction, as was the case before.

The R1 million CRS Sprint and R1 million CRS Mile will be run for three-year-olds only. This means that graduates of CRS auctions in 2025 can run for R3 million in the Slipper as juveniles, and then return to take their chance in the CRS Sprint or CRS Mile at three.

“From a Cape Racing perspective, having such a diverse and highly incentivised race day perfectly extends our racing season. We have always felt that our Summer season ends a touch prematurely. This race day enables us to extend the season a few weeks and incorporate the new day into our Festival programme, creating an eighth Festival meeting for the Summer. The races on offer also give another option to the top-level athletes that may be short of options after the WSB Cape Town Met and Splashout Cape Derby meetings,” added Vermaak.

He also pointed out that with these new races available for graduates, and the CRS Juvenile Bonus still in play, there is really no better place to buy a horse than at a Cape Racing Sales auction.

“We look forward to hosting two high-quality sales at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January and March. We have opened entries for both sales simultaneously and will work with vendors to spread the appropriate horses across both sales. The aim of The Summer Sale is to host a high-end boutique auction that is populated with forward and well-grown yearlings. The Premier Sale in March will host a broader and a much larger draft. Initial talks with vendors have been promising, with particular excitement around the format and structure of the sales venue, as we build toward a more permanent solution into the latter part of 2025.”

Plans are advanced to develop an international quality state-of-the-art sales venue on the historic Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse property.

Please visit www.caperacingsales.co.za or call +27 (0) 21 700 1600

Picture: The British-bred Polystome holds the SA record for the most Champion Sire titles

Sarah Whitelaw

South African bred stallions continue to make a big impression on local racetracks. In the 2023-2024 season, four of the top ten stallions on the South African General Sires List were South African bred horses.

South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2023-2024 is the South African bred champion One World, while the Leading Broodmare Sire in South Africa for the past season was the South African bred Cape Guineas winner Captain Al, sire of the aforementioned One World.

The first two on last season’s Leading Sire of Broodmares were the South African bred pair of Captain Al and Jet Master, with another South African bred star, Dynasty, finishing eighth on that premiership.

However, the influence of international bloodlines on South Africa cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Stallions bred in all of Australia, Britain, France, Germany and the United States have all headed the South African General Sires list, while the Italian bred Grand Rapids headed the General Sires List in 1962.

From 1899 to 1999, just two South African bred stallions Dignitary (1934) and Elevation (1984) headed the sires premiership in South Africa, while from 2000 to 2024, a South African bred stallion headed the list on eight occasions.

The most successful sire to have stood in South Africa, in terms of sire championships won and recorded, was Polystome. A British bred son of five times British Champion Sire Polymelus (whose progeny included the dominant Phalaris) , Polystome was Champion Sire on 11 occasions. Another British bred sire to excel in South Africa was Greatorex, who topped the sires standings on ten occasions.

Two stallions who never stood in South Africa but both of whom exerted a considerable influence on the South African stud book were Asterus and Persian Gulf. Bahram’s G1 Coronation Cup winning son Persian Gulf was responsible for champion South African stallions Abadan II (1960) and Persian Wonder (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979), while Asterus’ sons to stand in South Africa including such champion sires as Asbestos (1945, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949) and Kipling (1951).

Eight times Champion Sire in North America Bold Ruler was another responsible for a number of champion sire sons in South Africa namely Jungle Cove (1981, 1982, 1983,1985 and 1986) and Plum Bold (1980), while Northern Dancer was responsible for champion sire and multiple leading broodmare sire Northern Guest (1989), while his son Rakeen sired seven times champion South African sire Jet Master.

It is not only imported stallions that have proved hugely successful in South Africa. A number of imported broodmares have also exerted considerable influence over the South African studbook. Drohsky and Sister Sublime, two of the most influential broodmares of all time in South Africa, were both bred in Britain.

Among the numerous top-class horses descended in female line from Drohsky were Lenin, Sea Cottage, Evening Mist, Dancing Danzig, Distinctly, Diza, Majestic Crown, Senor Santa and Creator.

Sister Sublime, a descendant of the mighty Pretty Polly, produced Cape Mellow Wood Guineas winner and successful sire Savonarola and 12 other winners, with her numerous high-class descendants including champions National Emblem, Roland’s Song and Prairie Oyster, as well as July winner Mazarin.

However, the success enjoyed imported mares in South Africa continues well beyond the likes of Drohsky and Sister Sublime.

In recent times, the Irish bred Mystic Spring has exerted a considerable influence on the South African turf. The daughter of Royal Academy (also sire of South African raced G1 winners Express Way and Eyeofthetiger) produced 11 winners, of which seven were stakes winners. Mystic Spring’s five graded stakes winners included a pair of Equus Champions in Rabiya (Champion 3YO Classic Male in 2005) and Bela-Bela (Champion 3YO Filly of 2015-2016).

Remarkably, Bela-Bela is one of four daughters of Mystic Spring to have produced a graded stakes winner, with Mystic Spring’s graded stakes winning daughters Secret Of Victoria and Spring Lilac both producing at least one G1 winner. The prolific Secret Of Victoria has produced four stakes winners including the G1 Allan Robertson Championship winning own sisters All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out, while Spring Lilac’s four stakes winners include the dual G1 winner Snowdance, dam of 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot.

Last season, horses out of imported mares won all of the G1 SplashOut Cape Derby, G1 Daily News 2000, G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship, G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes, G2 TAB Camellia Stakes, G2 Tabgold Oaks, G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery, G3 World Pool Gold Cup, G3 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap, G3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers, G3 New Turf Carriers Merchants, G3 SplashOut Victress Stakes, G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes, and G3 Flamboyant Stakes.

Broodmare daughters of the mighty Galileo enjoyed particular success last season, with the late Galileo ending the season in tenth place on the Leading Broodmare Sires of South Africa for 2023-2024, despite his daughters represented by just over 50 runners.

Runners out of Galileo mares won all of the G1 SplashOut Cape Derby, G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship, G1 Daily News 2000, G3 Schweppes Politician Stakes, G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes, G2 TAB Camellia Stakes, and Listed Spinawina Slots Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.

Quinault being led in after winning the Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday (Picture: Sporting Life)

Cape Breeders (28th Aug 2024)

Classy sprinter Quinault, a three-part brother to Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd’s top-class sire Querari, put up a fine performance when winning Saturday’s Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket.

The gelding could be set for international competition after notching a second successive Listed win in the Jenningsbet Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket.

Stuart Williams’ four-year-old has now won nine times in his 18-race career and having excelled last season, showing his toughness to follow up his Queensferry Stakes victory earlier this month.

He could step up to both seven furlongs and Group Two level at Doncaster next month. His trainer is keen to take the son of Oasis Dream overseas.

“He’s amazing and I don’t think he liked the ground out there, he’s just tough and tries very hard,” said Williams.“He’s a legend, an absolute star. He’s won here before and on the Rowley Mile as well but I don’t think it makes any difference.”

On future plans, Williams added: “I’ve put him in the Park Stakes at Doncaster but whether we go there or not, I don’t know, I’ll speak to the owner.I would love to travel this horse as he is so laid back and I’m sure he would do well in that scenario. He goes well on any ground and seven furlongs on a turning track would be right up his street.”

Quinault, who reeled off six wins in a row back in 2023 earning praise as the most consistent winning 3yo, is out of the Dansili mare Queimada, a half-sister to Querari, with both Quinault and Querari sired by Oasis Dream.

South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2018-2019, Querari had an excellent season in 2023-2024, with the Maine Chance resident responsible for 8 stakes winners last season.

Querari’s versatility as a sire was seen to good effect last season, with his flagbearers ranging from high-class sprinter I Am Giant to G3 World Pool Gold Cup winner Master Redoute.

Picture: Bourgeoise in the Hollywood Syndicate yellow with purple star colours nearest the camera only just fails in a race at Newbury last year and connections will be hoping she can repeat that performance at Newbury tomorrow (Thursday).

Bourgeoisie, who was a hard-knocking filly for Owen Heffer and Barnane Stud as a two-year-old last year, runs at Newbury tomorrow  (Thursday) and might represent good value after being labelled an “eyecatcher” by a Racing Post analyst in her seasonal reappearance in June.

The Richard Hannon-trained Siyouni filly achieved three successive narrow second place finishes in her last three of four starts as a two-year-old.

She made her comeback in a Novice Stakes event for three-year-old fillies over six furlongs at Windsor on June 3 and after being slow away made headway from the rear against the nearside rail from two furlongs out.

She edged left but kept on well inside the final furlong.

“Eyecatcher”, said the Racing Post comments.

She runs in a Novice handicap over seven furlongs tomorrow (Thursday) and Joe Leavy rides her for the first time.

She has to carry nine stone and eight pounds off an official rating of 83.

Her last start suggested she would enjoy the step up in trip.

However, bookmakers don’t rate her chances and have her at around 20/1.

The race is off at 18H55 SA time in the evening.

The Penang Turf Club is the oldest of the three turf clubs in Malaysia (picture: penangturfclub.com)

Malaysian racing hits SA on Sunday

Danie Toerien

The best kept secret in South African horseracing was confirmed today with 4Racing finally admitting that racing from Malaysia will be added to the broadcasting bouquet as well as the TAB betting spread starting this Sunday, 1 September.

While most South African racing enthusiasts will probably find it an almighty challenge to name just a pair of trainers or jockeys from Malaysia, the good news is that a familiar voice should give us some insight into this wonderful yet unexplored world of racing in Malaysia. But more about that later.

With three tracks – Selangor, Penang, and Perak – offering around eight race meetings per month, Malaysia will more than just fill the hole left by Singapore racing, which is being terminated completely in October this year.

The Singapore Turf Club will halt its operations after the final meeting on 5 October, bringing down the curtain on the sport’s 180-year history in the Lion City, with the land scheduled to be handed back to the government in 2027.

The only reason for the closure of the Kranji-racetrack, is because of the scarcity of land in the city-state of Singapore. Just a fraction of the size of the Kruger National Park, the country of Singapore has to accommodate a population in excess of 5-million people, so the inevitable decision had to be taken around a year ago.

Enter racing from Malaysia.

With 20 registered trainers and 18 licensed jockeys and apprentices, hardly a weekend goes by without at least one race meeting in the country neighbouring Singapore – and on most weekends there are a double-header on the Saturday and Sunday respectively.

But back to the South African connection.

Local lad Devon Pretorius was recently appointed as a race caller in Malaysia, so when bettors hear that distinct Cape Town voice when watching racing from Kuala Lumpur, they will feel right at home.

Son of Neil Pretorius, raceday presenter at Fairview in the Eastern Cape, Devon grew up around horses, visiting the training centre and commonly going to different racecourses in Cape Town.

His real passion for horse racing came in July 2008 in Durban when two horses dead heated in Africa’s biggest race, the Durban July, and the commentary of that race inspired him to take an interest as a commentator.

Not long after finishing high school, he called his first race in 2022 at Fairview.

After a few months calling in Gqeberha, he was appointed as commentator for Cape Racing, calling races at Kenilworth and Durbanville.

Besides being a race commentator, Devon is also a capable race day presenter providing tips as well as in-depth analysis of races, so local bettors here in South Africa will have the benefit of a true ‘Saffer’ when tuning in to Malaysian racing.

As with all international race meetings on which TAB offers betting, the complete race card, previews, betting, as well as other relevant information will be available at www.tab4racing.com.

This Sunday sees a ten-race meeting kick off at Selangor at 07:15, so get up early and catch the worm.

Written In Stone, whose win last time out ended a 1426 day drought,  is tipped to follow up on his win last time with Louis Nhlapo having got the best out of him and staying aboard (JC Photos)

The Vaal straight course meeting tomorrow (Thursday) should see high draws being favoured in all races except for the fourth race over 2000m, which is the only race around the turn.

There are two interesting runners first-timers in the first race. The Mike de Kock-trained Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Fire Away filly Fireburst, who is by Fire Away out of De Kock’s Gr 1 Allan Robertson and Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Rat Burana. That makes this filly a half-sister to the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Maharanee and to the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner Marigold Hotel. A further boost is that she has a high draw of eight in the 1200m race and in form Gavin Lerena is up. The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Lancaster Bomber filly Shadow Of The Moon is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship winner Dyce. The horse to beat on form is Hey Hey Julia , who has some fair form over 1000m and now tries a step up to 1200m. She is by Canford Cliffs out of a Querari maiden who only once ran beyond 1000m, but she is a a half-sister to the Vercingetorix filly Lady Luck, who won over 1400m this week.

In the second race over 1200m One And All enjoyed the step back down to 1160m last time and could be in the shake up here with a repeat of that second place finish. In his earlier sprint he faced Cosmic Speed and was not disgraced with an eight length fifth. He is drawn on the right side. Pursuit Of Fame has become hard knocking since blinkers were fitted and gets a fair opportunity here from a high draw with Gavin Lerena up. Captain Clever was well beaten on debut but finished third to a horse who was subsequently disqualified and is not without a chance if low draws turn out to be not too disadvantageous. Takyourbestshot ran a fair third last time but has a tough number one draw by trends. Solar Sail returns from a layoff and has the standside draw and looks capable of improvement.

In the third race over 1600m Captain Jim has been ultra consistent since headgear has been applied and is distance suited and has a draw towards the right side of six out of ten, so with Lerena up for the Fabian Habib yard he should have a fine chance in this line up. Red Legend has some useful form and is distance suited but the draw of four out of ten might be a bit tricky. Roll Of The Dice is moderate but from a high draw is not without a chance in this line up if producing his best.

In the fourth over 2000m Millahue has talent over middle distances and so was most disappointing on Saturday on the Turffontein Inside track when a 7,65 length eighth of ninth over 1800m. However, he will appreciate the extra 200m and will relish being on a course with a long straight so can do well from pole position, being just 0,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Strewn Sky has run well in all three post maiden runs and is distance suited and has a fair draw of five out of nine with in form Khumalo up, but he is 1,5kg undr sufferance with the best weighted. Thunee Player is proven over this trip and is in good form, but does have to overcome draw eight and is 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Imperial Master is officially the best weighted runner and has been in fine form since blinkers were applied and has a shout from draw three, despite now being a seven-year-old. Flying Bull has his second run after a layoff and if he produces his best he could be a player from a good draw under Gavin Lerena.

In the fifth over 1500m Cartanega is improving and caught the eye with her maiden win when running on well. She has caught the eye before that too and starts off handicapping off an attractive mark of 61 and is drawn on the standside. Calida improved without blinkers last time and could be involved. Risky Business goes for a hattrick but does have to overcome a five point raise. Zoombomber has the form and ability to be a contender. Perini Palace won her maiden well and is drawn on the right side.

In the sixth over 1500m Boom Boom is on the up and off a four point higher mark for her last win is drawn on the right side and has in form S’Manga Khumalo up. Deception Pass is progressive and won easily on the KZN poly last time and from a high draw off a reasonable 78 merit rating can go close. Shinto Shrine should narrowly beat Deception Pass based on their last clash and he has a fair draw of nine. Rock Of Bismantova is in fine form and can’t be ignored. Nordic Rebel is eleven years old but still going strong and should go well for Gavin Lerena again from a high draw.

In the seventh over 1100m Secret Chord is in fine form and should enjoy this trip and has a nice high draw. Nkandla Gold has plenty of speed and ability and should be in the shake up if able to overcome a potentially tricky low draw. Vegas Hi Rise is in good form and is distance suited and has a fair draw. Kashkaval returns from a layoff but is in fine form and over this trip could do well fresh but a low draw is a concern. The Navy Lark has a lot of speed and will be setting the fractions from a high draw, but can she hold on over 100m further than her optimum 1000m trip.

In the eighth over 1100m Wriiten In Stone has always had a lot of ability and showed it last time despite being a nine-year-old so he could follow up under the same rider from a plum high draw. Twice As Wild, Red Carpet Girl and Ashanti Sword have to be considered. For wider Jet Cat from a standside draw could be worth including despite also now being a nine year old.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges on stage at the 40th Asian Racing Conference in Sapporo (Picture: ARC).

Asian Racing Conference: Jockey Club’s World Pool can ‘save racing’, Peter V’Landys says

Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges highlights importance of working together as he lays out biggest challenges facing the industry

by Sam Agarson (South China Morning Post Wednesday, August 28, 2024 1:13 PM)

Racing New South Wales CEO Peter V’Landys said the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) World Pool could “save racing”, as the Asian Racing Conference (ARC) got under way in Sapporo on Wednesday.

Industry fragmentation was presented as one of the biggest issues facing the sport, with the ever-growing World Pool – which combines tote pools from around the globe to ensure increased liquidity for punters – one thing bringing jurisdictions together.

V’Landys said he was a “firm believer in the tote funding the industry more than any other form of wagering” and highlighted the potential of the World Pool’s exotic bets in combating the sustained competition racing turnover is facing from sports wagering.

“I think [the World Pool] has the potential to save world racing because it really highlights the major events in every country, it puts the focus on that event and punters from all around the world can bet on that particular race,” he added.

“I think the big winner for the World Pool is that it will keep jurisdictions who may be finding it tough active around the world and make people viable. The big advantage is liquidity. If there is liquidity and the big punters come into it, it doesn’t really affect the dividends of the smaller punters.”

At a time when betting turnover in places such as Australia and Hong Kong has softened post-pandemic amid global economic challenges, racing’s share of the sports-betting pie continues to shrink – down from 43 per cent in 2020 to 34 per cent in 2023 with a forecast of further decline.

After telling around 800 guests from 40 countries at Tuesday night’s opening ceremony that racing was “at a critical juncture”, HKJC supremo Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges laid bare the industry’s biggest challenges as the conference began on Wednesday.

“Customer behaviour has changed fundamentally and that sets the stage for what I would suggest are the major challenges we have to address,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges, who was re-elected as Asian Racing Federation chairman on the eve of the ARC.

“We are still in the stage where we are not ill. Are we healthy, if you look at the commercial sustainability of the sport? I have some concern.

“What are our focus areas for the briefing here? One aspect is industry fragmentation, the second is social acceptability, the third is the growth of illegal and offshore betting and number four is the longer-term sustainability of the sport, which is at risk due to an ageing customer base.”

Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted the well-publicised divide between New South Wales and Victoria, but said he was optimistic racing could come together as an industry, with V’Landys echoing his thoughts.

“I think Winfried hit the nail on the head. We have competition outside, that’s our competition, yet we seem to fight among ourselves all the time,” V’Landys said.

“If we unite as an industry, we should be taking sports betting on, we should be taking other forms of entertainment on. But what are we focused on? Fighting among ourselves. The sooner we stop doing that and sabotaging ourselves, the better the industry will be.”

Racing’s social licence is continually under fire and Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted the importance of using science and technology to decrease horse breakdown rates, while the aftercare of gallopers was brought into sharp focus by the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses in Sapporo a day earlier.

“We are, in some countries, at a very critical juncture. There are more extreme groups who attack the sport and the key focus which we as a sport have to address and minimise is the catastrophic breakdown of horses and exercised-induced sudden death,” he said.

How racing can properly tell its story to change public perception will be high on the agenda during the ARC, as will engaging younger audiences, innovation in betting, the threat of illegal wagering and integrity.

“We will explore all these challenges in a much more holistic way and I strongly feel we have to embrace change and we have to make quicker progress,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“The focus should be on how we can collaborate more, how we can overcome fragmentation of the industry and how we can have a joint approach to address animal welfare issues and how we work together to become more socially acceptable as a sport.”

Wild Horses In California beneath the distant peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range (Picture: San Francisco Chronicle) 

The Paulick Report

Letter To The Editor: Would Horses Be Better Off In The Wild Than Racing? Stats Say No

Animal rights activists often try to claim horses would be better off free-roaming than domesticated, but experts say otherwise

Letter to the EditorAug 23, 2024

Because of the tragic, and high-profile deaths in two Grade 1 races at Saratoga last summer, our industry is being scrutinized even more. An outside observer might conclude that a horse left in their natural environment in the wild live a long and threat-free life as compared to a Thoroughbred. Research shows that’s not the case.

Just getting to one year of age is a struggle for a horse born in the wild. In a 2019 article presented on the site HorseTalk New Zealand, the author summarized his five-year observation of foal survival rates in NW California. He observed that just 5% of foals born in the wild survive to be a yearling.

Contrast that statistic to the survivability of a Thoroughbred during the first year of their life. I spoke to breeding farm managers and a veterinarian of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital regarding this. They all provided nearly identical percentages, approximately 90% to 95% of Thoroughbred foals live to be yearlings.

In 1983, the peer-reviewed journal Science published an article that underscores the difficulties horses in the wild face for survival. The author (Joel Berger of the Smithsonian) studied wild horse bands in Nevada. Berger studied a horse band that grew from 58 to 129 horses over three years (1979-1982) and noted that 15 or nearly 12% died. They were young too, as seven of the 15 were less than six years old. Even more striking in the article was that a studied band suffered a 50% death rate in the winter of 1977 in Nevada.

On the NYRA circuit, at any given time, they draw off a population of approximately 2,000 horses stabled on the grounds or nearby. NYRA reported, for 2022, just 23 died when racing (from 14,000 starts), yielding a safety rate of 99.83% for their races.

To the previous data, the industry makes every attempt to minimize racing fatalities. Which, when given the large number of total starts made by Thoroughbreds, is much rarer than one would think. Since 2009, the fatality rate has dropped 34%, to the point where, in 2023, the survival rate of a thoroughbred in a race in North America was 99.87%. Amazingly, Santa Anita did not have a single racing fatality on dirt in 2022. The Oklahoma training track in Saratoga reported zero fatalities for all of 2023 from 9,000 timed workouts.

The efforts that have resulted in these marked improvements in racing survivability come via many sources. For example, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research foundation has spent over $40 million since 1940 on projects to improve the health and welfare of horses, especially thoroughbreds.

Also, once a Thoroughbred’s career is over, the industry has a variety of options for them to live out their years. Organizations such as the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, The Bourbon Lane Retirement fund, and the Finger Lakes (NY) Thoroughbred Adoption Program are just a few of the many agencies that aid in retirement.

From the second a Thoroughbred is born, industry professionals are working 24/7/365 to ensure that a foal lives a long and prosperous life. Those who are under the impression that our industry is hazardous to a Thoroughbred’s life, should instead focus their attention on improving the survivability of wild horses.

–John G. Veitch
Owner, breeder, and lifelong fan

The picture gives a clue to the answer