Jockey Jareth Loveberry has not scored in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he knows almost what it feels like to win it, having just missed in the 2023 race with Two Phil's with his first Derby mount. This year, Loveberry returns, riding Chunk of Gold.View the full article

Glen Hill Farm's homebred Bridle a Butterfly posted a half-length victory over Out On Bail to win the $290,000 William Walker Stakes April 30 at Churchill Downs, giving 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Country House his first stakes winner.View the full article

Might have to tell NZTR that.

Implies but from what my sources with actual knowledge say is it is from something that was done during the refurbishment work recently and has left some bare patches towards the outside of the track...so it may not actually be vandalism despite some elsewhere jumping to that conclusion.  

Ironic Riccartons racing on the AWT today after 65+ mills of rain, probably be questionable if they will get on the grass on Saturday at present. A wee bit unfair having a go at Winston, he does act in good faith on the advice he gets, maybe he's just getting strung along.

"suffered intentional turf damage. The damage appears to be an act outside of the Club's control" This implies that it's vandalism....

In Victoria that would automatically be transferred to another track nearby. At the Gold Coast they would automatically move it to the AWT. Otaki has several tracks nearby and an AWT just up the road. But their only option is to abandon the meeting altogether,  3 days out. Bizarre. Someone should ask Winston how those AWTs are going helping to avoid abandonments. Perhaps ask Ballsey how his 100 day plan is going leading NZ Racing into the future.

Malicious gossip on another site that its caused by vandalism..I dont think that is correct I believe it may be another self inflicted wound similar to the debacle at the Gold Coast recently.Truth does matter sometimes.

Its Donald ducked too..they were forced to vertidrain two weeks ago which they did not want to do but were overuled and now its rooted too.  

Hope whatever he decides to go he is successful at...I think he would make a great trainer.

Maybe just give up, go harness racing perhaps, they seem to embrace AWTs.

CD Racing on life support. Pre race day postponments now. What next?

Maybe a move to Woodville, I'm hearing they got a good strong wind up that way at present, might dry out by Sunday/Monday.😕

Ōtaki Raceday Postponed Sunday’s Ōtaki racemeeting has been postponed after an inspection found the track surface was not safe for racing. NZTR suspects sections of the track may have suffered intentional turf damage. The damage appears to be an act outside of the Club's control and investigations are now underway. NZTR and the Club are assessing rescheduling options and will provide updates as soon as possible.

Otaki gone on Sunday , they are suggesting intentional damage to the track . How much more can CD owners take . It's a bloody sad situation .

Very nervous - Trackside will be snapping up him very shortly.

The demand for American Pharoah in Japan might explode if his son, Luxor Café, follows in his sire's hoofprints and wins the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill DownsView the full article

A very good driver actually one of the best ones told me he has never heard a driver say I don't want to win instead they are knocking you down to win. Are they allowed to talk or raise they voices to the horses in the straight?

Disagree, I much prefer Fowler in my view but that's just my opinion. I think Brett Davis is an outstanding caller. NZ probably have enough for full time roles but we are going to lose a couple next year when the greyhounds go. Rosanowski will be gone and maybe even Andy.

Note “Full ownership and control stays with Ukraine” This does at least continue US aide where necessary and provides funding for rebuilding the country if Putin is reined in.   CNN —  The United States and Ukraine have signed an “economic partnership agreement” that will give Washington access to Kyiv’s rare earth minerals in exchange for establishing an investment fund in Ukraine. The US and Ukraine have been trying to hammer out the natural resources agreement since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The deal comes after weeks of intense negotiations that at times turned bitter and temporarily derailed Washington’s aid to Ukraine.   The US Treasury Department on Wednesday announced that both countries signed the agreement. “As the President has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.     RELATED ARTICLEWorld’s military spending rises at highest rate in nearly four decades, report says “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent said. “And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.” Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was in Washington to sign on behalf of the Ukrainian government     Among the terms of the agreement are “full ownership and control” staying with Ukraine, she posted to X on Wednesday. “All resources on our territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine,” she said, adding: “It is the Ukrainian state that determines what and where to extract. Subsoil remains under Ukrainian ownership — this is clearly established in the Agreement.” The signing comes hours after a last-minute disagreement over which documents to sign Wednesday threatened to derail the deal. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to strike the deal during his trip to Washington in February – but the agreement was left unsigned when that visit was cut short following the contentious Oval Office meeting. Previous sticking points Among the key sticking point of the negotiations was the question of security guarantees – and whether the US would provide them as part of the deal. Trump initially refused that, saying he wants Ukraine to sign the agreement first and talk about guarantees later. At that time, Zelensky described the draft agreement as asking him to “sell” his country. Ukrainian officials have since indicated they believed that US investment and the presence of American companies in Ukraine will make the US more interested in Ukraine’s security. Shortly after the doomed White House visit, Trump ordered US aid to Ukraine to be suspended. While the assistance has since been restored, the episode became a major wakeup call for Ukraine’s European allies, who have pledged to step up their help to the country.     RELATED ARTICLEAfter Putin calls for three-day ceasefire, Trump reiterates demand for permanent Ukraine truce Trump has largely billed the agreement as Ukraine “paying back” for the aid the US has provided to Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. The details of the agreement have not been made public. However, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sunday that the deal “will not include assistance provided before its signing.” Speaking on Wednesday, Shmyhal described the deal as “a strategic agreement on the establishment of an investment partnership fund.” “It is truly an equal and beneficial international agreement on joint investments in the development and recovery of Ukraine between the US and Ukrainian governments,” he added. Under the deal, the US and Ukraine will create a joint investment fund in Ukraine with an equal contributions from both and equal distribution of management shares between them, Shmyhal said. “The American side may also count new, I emphasize new, military aid to Ukraine as a contribution to this fund,” Shmyhal said.