Latest news with #HorseoftheYear
Japan Forward
a day ago
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Equinox Honored as a Racing Legend with Hall of Fame Induction
Equinox won 80% of his career races, including his final six starts. "He has left an indelible mark on Japanese racing history," trainer Tetsuya Kimura said. Equinox, with Christophe Lemaire handling the reins, wins his fifth of six consecutive races to conclude his career in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 29, 2023, at Tokyo Racecourse. (©SANKEI) Equinox has been selected for induction into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame. This news, competing with a smorgasbord of sporting activities in mid-June in Japan and abroad, may be one of those "buried headlines" on a website. Or it may simply be overlooked by the general public. But it's a big deal, a really big deal. Equinox is only the 38th horse to be voted into the JRA Hall of Fame since it was established in 1985. An announcement was made on Monday, June 16. Hundreds of thoroughbreds compete each year in races in Japan, and only about one per year has been picked as a Hall of Famer. The Kitasan Black-sired thoroughbred won eight of his 10 career races (all on grass), including his final six starts, all of which were Grade 1 events. He also had a pair of runner-up finishes. Equinox's outstanding performances captured the attention of the global racing community. And the sport's movers and shakers recognized that he was a transcendent figure, a generational talent. Exhibit A: Equinox was named the World's Best Racehorse for 2023. Further documentation of Equinox's greatness: He was the JRA's Horse of the Year in 2022 and '23. Equinox, piloted by Christophe Lemaire, pulls away for a four-length victory in the Japan Cup on November 26, 2023, at Tokyo Racecourse. (ⒸSANKEI) Equinox completed his storybook career with a riveting four-length victory over Liberty Island in the 43rd Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on November 26, 2023. The brown stallion lived up to lofty expectations throughout his career. Indeed, he was bred for greatness. His racing lineage includes great grandsire Sunday Silence, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1989. And Equinox's father, Kitasan Black, a winner of 12 races in 20 starts, was inducted into the JRA Hall of Fame in 2020. During his impressive run of six consecutive victories in 2022-23, Equinox thrived in his lone overseas excursion, winning the 2,410-meter Dubai Sheema Classic in the United Arab Emirates by 3½ lengths. "Equinox produced a dominant performance of rare quality to stamp his authority on global middle-distance turf racing," read a portion of the May 2023 race recap on the Dubai Racing Club website. "He looks quite simply untouchable." After that race, trainer Tetsuya Kimura stated that Equinox had proven he could excel against elite-level competition. "It was a tough field with some very strong horses, but he's a champion and he was just the best," Kimura told reporters in Dubai. "He got the job done and made it all look so simple. I am very happy with this performance." Equinox, steered by Christophe Lemaire, secures victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 29, 2023, at Tokyo Racecourse. (ⒸSANKEI) French jockey Christophe Lemaire rode the Kitasan Black progeny in each of his 10 races. Reacting to the news of Equinox being elected into the JRA Hall of Fame ― he received votes on 90.5% of the ballots cast by horse racing journalists ― Lemaire tweeted, "So proud of him." Kimura was also delighted that Equinox earned enshrinement. "I believe the fact that he was selected at this moment, so soon after winning his final race, the G1 Japan Cup, is proof that he has left an indelible mark on Japanese racing history," Kimura said, according to Daily Sports . The superstar racehorse's success will serve as inspiration for the trainer moving forward, he said. Consider it a lasting tribute to Equinox's amazing career. "I will devote myself to applying the experience gained from training Equinox to his offspring and other young horses, to bring even more joy to racing fans," Kimura said. The 2025 Hall of Famer now resides at Shadai Stallion Station in Abira, Hokkaido Prefecture. Masashi Yonemoto, CEO of Silk Racing Co Ltd, has high expectations for Equinox's offspring as racehorses. "Though his racing career lasted just over two years, Equinox's overwhelming performances proved that Japanese racing has reached a level of global excellence," Yonemoto said, according to Daily Sports . "We expect to see the debut of his offspring in 2027." Yonemoto added, "The progeny are already arriving, and the global phenom, who retired at the peak of his powers, is set to pass on his legacy to the next generation." Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Commodore makes new record with role
Leading the way is nothing new for a Queensberry woman who has become the first female Commodore of a radio-controlled yacht squadron in New Zealand. Commodore Alexa Bell said she was the worst of the 13 sailors in the Cromwell Radio Yacht Squadron (CRYS) but was keen to learn and raise the profile of the club. Radio-controlled yacht racing was not a great spectator sport, Mrs Bell said. "It's a bit like cricket. You either get it or you don't get it." However, sailing them was highly competitive. The Cromwell squadron started with five members post-Covid. While there were a huge variety of vessels to choose from the 95cm ones were the preference at Cromwell. For the technically minded they are DS95 class 1 boats. Mrs Bell's introduction to the sport was through her husband Roy Goodwin, who was an enthusiast. The couple, who met on a flight from Auckland to Melbourne, and eventually sailed to New Zealand on a yacht, ending up in Kerikeri. While Mrs Bell had always been keen to move south, Mr Goodwin was convinced the best sailing in the country was in the Bay of Islands. However, two trips to cycle the Central Otago trails had him asking why they were not living here, Mrs Bell said. "I said 'I can fix that'," Mrs Bell said. Three months later they moved. Mr Goodwin joined the Cromwell squadron and Mrs Bell was happy to wave him off, she said. The then Commodore Jamie White, of Cromwell, suggested Mrs Bell give it a go. "I was like 'OK, then' and I got hooked." When Mr White decided he was short of time to manage the club he had a solution. "He told me, didn't ask me, that I was going to be commodore." A big part of the appeal of sailing was the competitiveness and the banter between the sailors, she said. "It's just fun. It's technical but it's fun, you know? I'm terrible, I'm the loser. I've just started but it doesn't matter." With her background it was no surprise competitiveness was the aspect that attracted Mrs Bell. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Mrs Bell was a professional equestrian — riding, caring for and training horses, and in 1985 set the world record, which still stands, with a jump of 7ft4.5in (2.25m) for puissance — essentially high jump for horses and riders, she said. After representing Canada for about 15 years, while on holiday in Australia she landed a job coaching the Australian Showjumping Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — the youngest ever coach and first woman to do so. It was on a flight back to Melbourne from Horse of the Year in Hawke's Bay that she met Mr Goodwin. "I wasn't in the mood to talk, I thought. I was very tired, very grumpy. We hadn't won, you guys [New Zealand] had beat us, I was going home tail between my legs and this guy starts chatting away and I was like, I just want to go to sleep. But three hours later that was it." When she gave up working with horses Mrs Bell went to the Le Cordon Bleu school, in Paris and began a new career in food. She ran Pub Grub in Kerikeri, and brought the business with her to Queensberry. She offers everything from easy meal solutions to full catering service. CRYS was a young club with many members in their 30s, Mrs Bell said. That led to meetings on Sundays at 1pm in the winter and 5.15pm on Tuesdays in the summer. They share the Dunstan Boat Club rooms at McNulty Inlet and sail on the water there. Mrs Bell was keen to increase membership and encouraged more women to join up. Radio-controlled yachts were sailed all around the world and there were thousands of clubs sailing a huge range of vessels. "You could travel all over the world and every day go to a different club and sail somewhere. It's really, really large." The CRYS will host the Otago championships on November 7 and 8. Anyone wanting to find out more would be welcome at McNulty Inlet on Sundays at 1pm or contact the club at
7NEWS
04-06-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Stallion announcement signals the end for ‘once-in-a-lifetime' champion Pride Of Jenni
Australia's reigning Horse of the Year and the country's leading stallion will meet later this year with Pride Of Jenni confirmed for a meeting with I Am Invincible. Yarraman Park Stud, in conjunction with Pride Of Jenni's owner Tony Ottobre, announced on Tuesday night that the three-time Group 1-winning daughter of Pride Of Dubai had been booked into the star resident of its Hunter Valley farm. 'I Am Invincible, what he's been able to do is incredible,' Ottobre said. 'I'm in awe of what he's been able to produce so I think we'll get a good one out of Pride Of Jenni.' The announcement effectively signals the end of Pride Of Jenni's career, which took in 39 starts for 10 wins and 12 minor placings. The seven-year-old's most recent appearance came in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on May 24, when she finished 10th of 12 in the race won by Antino. She announced herself a star during Melbourne Cup Week in 2023, when she won the Empire Rose Stakes and Champions Mile in the space of eight days, and returned in the second half of the season to win the $4 million All-Star Mile and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Ottobre said like during her racing career, when Sammy Waters was the loyal companion of the Ciaron Maher-trained mare, Pride Of Jenni would have a designated carer as a broodmare. 'A horse like this only comes once in a lifetime, and she'll have her own carer throughout her entire life now,' he said. 'So, wherever she goes, there will be a carer going with her. We're bringing in Caroline Kirwin from Ireland. 'Prior to that, we had Samantha Waters at the Ciaron Maher stables. Wherever Pride Of Jenni went, Sam was there all the time, and she never left her side at the stables. 'Now I've specially employed Caroline Kirwin from Ireland, who will be arriving soon to go through the breeding journey with Pride Of Jenni — wherever Pride Of Jenni goes, she's going.' Pride Of Jenni is one of the highest-profile bookings for I Am Invincible, who is in contention for a fourth straight win in the Australian Champion Stallion award. The son of Invincible Spirit will stand at a fee of $220,000, including GST, for the 2025 breeding season.
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Katie Price sparks concerns after animal fans spot alarming detail in new photo
Katie Price has sparked alarm bells amongst her online followers after sharing a new image of her riding a horse but some noticed something rather unsettling Katie Price has sparked alarm amongst animal lovers in a new snap she has shared to her social media channel. The former model has never shied away from sharing her love of animal s and has had dozens of pets in recent years. Famously, horses have a soft spot in Katie's heart, and she has previously competed at the Horse of the Year show on her horse, Jordan's Glamour Girl. But in a new update, Katie, 46, has taken to social media to share an image of her out riding her horse, Wallis, who she has had since he was eight-years-old, as the temperatures across the country continued to rise ahead of summer. Sharing the snap with her 2.7 million followers on Meta's Instagram platform, Katie beamed as she proudly sat on the stunning black horse in the sunshine. The telly star looked every inch the equestrian expert as she donned a pair of black jodhpurs, black riding boots and a premium horse riding helmet. Captioning her upload, Katie penned: "Everyday routine out riding. My happy place." Her post which has been liked thousands of times was soon flooded with mixed responses. Some animal lovers noticed that the bit in the horses mouth, used for the reins appeared to be too tight. One follower penned: "His bit is way too tight! Come on Katie, this is basic know how for horses." A second added: "Jesus loosen the bit ffs." "Ouch! What have you done to the mouth - needs bigger bit and loosen the rein," commented another. A fourth concerned fan added: "Noseband and bit both too high, nice horse though." But some leapt to Katie's defence, with one writing: "Horses are soul medicine of the best kind." A second went on to say: "I don't care where Katie got the horse from it's a lovely photo and why do people have a problem with anyone having a happy place move on and stop b****ing about her them without sin cast the first stone." Another typed: "Lovely pic so what if she is riding someone elses horse she can ride. Why do the Karen's of the world have to be picky and mean. Just because you're not happy with your life don't be b***y about others u mite just get good karma back." But over the years, there has been concern for Katie's animals. In 2020, a petition was made to put a ban in place to stop her from owning animals. The petition launched on has since had over 37,000 signatures following some heartbreaking revelations about Katie's pets. Her beloved German Shepherd dog was killed on the A24 close to her home, seven months after another of her dogs was killed on the same road. Her horse was also killed on the same road after breaking free from Katie's fields. In 2020, her French Bulldog puppy Rolo suffocated after becoming trapped under a chair. Katie has previously described Wallis as her "sidekick through thick and thin." She has previously shown appreciation to her horse with a loving post saying in August, saying: "I've been riding horses since I was 7 and I've had Wallis since he was 8, he is now nearly 22, horses are my life and passion."
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Why legendary Secretariat still rules 2025 Kentucky Derby, 52 years later
Secretariat, the legendary Thoroughbred racehorse, has a special connection to the 2025 Kentucky Derby. According to The Courier-Journal in Louisville, every horse racing at Churchill Downs on Saturday descends from the Triple Crown winner. Secretariat sired more than 660 registered foals in his lifetime. He died in 1989. Nicknamed Big Red, Secretariat is an icon in horse racing. He went on to win the Triple Crown in 1973, etching his name in history books. Secretariat won the Derby with a time of 1:59.40, a record to date. The racehorse then won the Preakness Stakes at 1:53 and the Belmont Stakes. Read More: Kentucky Derby 2025: Rain to change odds; here's the new favourite horses at Churchill Downs Born: March 30, 1970, at The Meadow, Doswell, Virginia Died: October 4, 1989, at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky (age 19, euthanized due to laminitis) Breeder: Meadow Stud (Christopher Chenery) Owner: Meadow Stable (Christopher and Penny Chenery) Trainer: Lucien Laurin Jockey: Primarily Ron Turcotte Color: Chestnut with a white blaze and three white stockings Physical traits: Height: ~16.2 hands (66 inches), per Blood-Horse. Weight: ~1,175 pounds during racing. Stride: Up to 24 feet, one of the longest recorded. Total Races: 21 Record: 16 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, 1 fourth Earnings: $1,316,808 1972 (2-Year-Old): Sanford Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Laurel Futurity, Garden State Futurity. Named 1972 Horse of the Year (first 2-year-old to win unanimously). 1973 (3-Year-Old): Bay Shore Stakes, Gotham Stakes (tied track record), Arlington Invitational, Marlboro Cup (world record: 1:45 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles), Man o' War Stakes (course record: 2:24 4/5), Canadian International Stakes. Triple Crown (1973): Kentucky Derby (May 5, 1973, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 miles): Time: 1:59 2/5 (fastest in history, unbroken as of 2025) Margin: 2 1/2 lengths over Sham Preakness Stakes (May 19, 1973, Pimlico, 1 3/16 miles): Time: 1:53 (corrected in 2012) Margin: 2 1/2 lengths over Sham Belmont Stakes (June 9, 1973, Belmont Park, 1 1/2 miles): Time: 2:24 (world record, unbroken) Margin: 31 lengths Read More: Kentucky Derby 2025: How much do jockeys actually earn? Prize money, payout and more 1973 Horse of the Year Champion Three-Year-Old Colt National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (1974) Ranked #2 on Blood-Horse's Top 100 U.S. Racehorses (behind Man o' War) Notable Losses: Wood Memorial (third, due to an abscess) Whitney Stakes (second to Onion) Champagne Stakes (disqualified to second) Maiden debut (fourth) Grave Location: Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky Details: Buried whole (a rare honor) with a simple headstone near Bold Ruler and Round Table. Necropsy revealed his massive heart, per Dr. Swerczek.
