BloodHorse Monday 12/1/25 | Abu Dhabi

All right, welcome in. It is a December 1st edition of

Blood Horse Monday. We're already into December,

Frank, how about that? And frankly, the weather outside

here in Lexington, KY is very, very, it is officially winter.

I think we've hit that point. Churchill's over.

It feels like Turfway. It's the time of year that would

make you want to go to the desert.

No, that's exactly right. Or somewhere significantly

further South in here. Literally the thought at this

point. Some great racing though, of

course over the weekend both at Churchill and Del Mar as they

wrap up their their respective meets, we see a couple of

change, a little bit of changing of the guard at Churchill,

certainly with Irad Ortiz Junior winning the riding title there.

We see Brad Cox getting a training title as well.

But look, it's about the horses. And frankly, a horse and

magnitude wins the Clark, the 151st rendition of that race.

One of those 3 year olds, we were kind of waiting to put it

all together. Frankly, on the four year old

side of things, we saw fierceness put it all together

in the Pacific Classic. Was that this race for

magnitude? I mean it the Clark has become

kind of a little bit of a preview of what's coming in the

year ahead, in this case 2026. And, and I like that he, he

rated just a bit settled into that second position, that

pressing position in American dirt racing is absolutely where

you want to be. And then he put it put enough

together to to win it in a stretch.

I'll tell you really the top three finishers are all quality

horses. Chunk of gold just repeats the

effort. I mean, I, I think Travis said

a, a career best effort or something during the stretch.

And I was a little bit like chunk of gold's done that a

bunch of times. For whatever reason, he's often

overlooked. But just look at the the pet,

the resume he's put together. He he does it again and again,

so magnitude was able to get by him.

Hit show picked up the pieces for second.

All he is is no raining Dubai World Cup winner, so quality

horse who's also has put together a strong finish to this

year. We'll see how it falls on my

vote. He might sneak in as a finalist

for in the handicapped division for me with that big win in

Dubai and some quality runs since then.

Yeah, He's been a good horse all year.

The magnitude question though, obviously Gossgar a little bit

up the track in this one, Frank. But as we look forward to the

handicapped division next year, obviously we already talked with

Aaron Wellman on this show. We'll see journalism next year.

Where do you put magnitude in that group?

Did this elevate him into, I mean essentially a top two or

three in the in the four year old group?

Yeah, I, I, I think so. You know, if, if he doesn't have

that set back after his win in the spring, I think he's one of

the five favorites probably in the Derby and we would see from

there. So now he's kind of shown

himself that he's he's shown that he's kind of right back

where he was and ready to take on some of those bigger name

horses. Rattle and roll.

Might we have seen his best days already?

Is it a chance that maybe that was his last Last.

One, because he's done. He's been there for a lot of

them. He's been there.

For a while. So hopefully he comes back, but

we'll see on that. One, we saw trainer Brad Cox hit

win #500 and then in the last win #501 with A5 win way on a

win day on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Further, ADO wins the Jockey Club there.

This is a race that's either very predictive or very not

important for the Kentucky Derby trail.

After watching Saturday, which which one do you think would you

learn more toward? I think it's pretty predictive.

I agree. When you have a trainer like

Brad Cox that has a talented 2 year old like this, you know, I

was pretty impressed. What what would really impressed

me about that race is he moves up from 4th to contend for the

lead without being asked at all. Like that was just talent, you

know. Now some people might quibble

that it took him a little bit of effort to get by the front

runner, but we we don't have a whole lot of track record at

this point. Maybe that front runner is going

to turn out to be one of the top horses.

You know, you it's all kind of self defining at this point.

But he does get by him and he opens up any any wins.

He holds off a closing run. So I was playing impressed.

Yeah, I, I think he's, I think that and just seeing the

connections that that we're looking at a talented horse

here. You know, the the 20 length

wind, you can't, can't take that away either.

And, and in terms of yes, he didn't win this by 20 lengths,

obviously, but I saw that talent show itself in the backstretch

and in the far turn when he's just doing it on his own.

So to me, that was pretty impressive.

Yeah, no. And you mentioned it, it's the

connections here that give you the hope, right?

I mean, you know who the ownership is, you know who the

training group is, and so that, you know, you know who's going

to be riding if he continues to move along that way.

So this is the kind of cult that you can get pretty excited

about. Would you rather be in the Ted

Noffy group or in the Further ADO group at this point?

You know you'd like to have both.

It's good to be spendthrift and they're doing a lot of things

well over there, obviously, and and that's good for them.

It really is. We see the Goldenrod win go to

Bella Ballerina. She is the half sister to Oaks

winner, pretty mischievous. And look, the Jockey Club as a

race, as a predictor goes back and forth.

Gold Rod doesn't go back and forth.

This is the predictor race. Bella Ballerina puts herself

right in that. Conversation and the winning

trainer Brendan Walsh obviously just made it successfully to the

Kentucky Oaks with with the half sister.

I suspect we'll see her in the fairgrounds route again, which

has been so, so successful for three-year old Phillies.

So no, nothing new there. So now let's just keep an eye

and see how she progresses and does.

Who do you who do you think we've seen the better group at

the top? Is it the Derby group right now

with the Noffees and with the Ados at the top or, or are we

getting, I mean, Bella Ballerina, she's really

talented, Philly. I I'll have to go with the Colts

then when you have a colt like Ted Nafi ship from the East

Coast, go out West and win the Breeders Cup juvenile on the

West Coast. That's that's nothing that I

mean that that's pretty impressive.

And and that caught my eye. I agree and the top of the

Philly. Group.

The top of the Philly group right now, Super corridora.

That was only her second win, right.

And you know, you talk about a Bella Ballerina, that's only her

second race ever, frankly. And so we're still seeing that.

I think it's more that in a rare year the Colts are further along

than the than the Phillies are. So often we see these Phillies

really developed as 2 year olds and are able to continue it into

the three-year old year. Should be interesting to see all

of this. And out West, of course, closing

weekend at Del Mar, we get those trio of turf races, including

the win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. 4 Salami's test score, a

real chance to win a second grade one probably insert

himself into that, maybe second place of the Eclipse votes.

But you could have made a case with him alongside A journalism,

something like that. Near miss there.

But Chad Brown, boy, this is just what he does.

Yeah, I mean it was, it was telling that the horses that

shipped in did very well. It's good news and bad news.

We want the West Coast to do well, but it's good to see some

talented 3 year old ship out. You know, the winner had a kind

of a trouble trip at Keeneland. He didn't really want to get in

the gate in the brine station then he did.

He just didn't show the usual amount of interest kind of race

wide throughout and finished fifth that Chad fixed whatever

the problem was and got him right back.

And because other than that effort, the horse has been super

consistent. So I again, it's kind of that

pre, Hey, it's great to win a grade one anytime you can win

it, but it's also a little bit of let's look ahead the next

year and that that horse figures to keep improving and be right

there. I think the only thing that was

was kind of an awe shucks or an oh Dang it from the Delmar beat

was the the cancelling of the Pat O'Brien of the two year old

race there. Are you of a similar opinion to

me that once they the Breeders Cup is east of the Rockies that

will fill that race again? That's so many of the best 2

year olds just end up in those dirt races.

Kind of just saved up, you think?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Might be, I mean Jay Humpty has

a really good piece up at bloodhorse.com about about it

and and it's some of the issues that go into.

Did you mean the Bob Hope or the Bob?

Hope. I'm sorry.

Yes, The Bob Hope. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So the Bob Hope. Is that O'Brien's the top?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bob Hope is a traditional prep

race for two year olds during three.

Yeah, yeah. So I I think with the paddle

Brian that I think you'll you'll eventually at.

The bottom, yeah, at it. Again, I apologize, but yes, but

I think with those two year old races, once that Breeders' Cup

is back east of the Rockies, we'll fill those.

Races. Yeah, I would think so.

Yeah, it's tough to see those things though.

You know, you get used to those races, especially those two year

old preps. We get excited about them,

especially post Breeders' Cup. Just tough to see those

cancellations. It's, it's great to see a lot of

people in the industry now giving a lot of thought to

California. It's it's just such a terrific

racing circuit. So many of our best owners are

about are out there. So let's continue on that on

that path and and find a way for to keep these traditions going

in California. And the Bob Hope is one of them.

And Jay really pointed out what a loss that was for this year

and hopefully let's get it right back for next year.

Starlet and for charity the next couple of weeks at Los Alamitos

before of course, the big Malibu day, the 26th back at Santa

Anita there in Southern California.

But I thought overall, you know, some talk about, you know,

wagering pools and those things, but overall a very positive meet

at Delmar, frankly, another one at Churchill Downs as well.

Yeah, exactly. Some strong fall meets for sure,

and the big, big fall meter weekend of racing at Aqueduct is

coming up. So good to see that momentum

going. And yeah, as you brought up,

most normal people countdown the days of Christmas, but us in the

racing community, countdown the days of December 26th and that

huge card at Santa Anita, which was so successful last year, it

really was and really created some momentum for the whole

year. So hopefully that comes past

again this year. Hopefully we will get back to

the exactly that we'll hear. You're now from Dale Brown and

this is an interview that Sean recorded for this episode.

He is the race course director there at Abu Dhabi.

You and I'll react to this after the video, Frank, But the

emergence of the Arabian Peninsula in general as part of

especially the dirt scene internationally has been really

fascinating when we talk about racing in the United States, You

know, and, and you, you mentioned that, hey, maybe not

so great that, you know, these shippers come into California,

win those turf races, but having other countries invested in dirt

racing the way that Japan is, the way that we're seeing now in

places like Abu Dhabi, real positive, frankly, for what we

do in North America. Well, you know, we we just

talked about how strong the three-year olds turning 4, the

the handicapped division is looking for 2026.

We just came off what I think was the best handicapped

division in years. So I think the international

races are a part of that. You do have a chance to go race

in the $20 million Saudi Cup. You have a chance to race in the

what's Dubai up to 16 or 12. It's it's a lot, it's 8 figures.

So when you see those races and Breeders' Cup at the end of the

year, you can justify bringing a horse back in an older age and,

and adding to that racing resume and strengthening in that we we

have so many current stallions that raced at 4 and older, Gun

Runner, Curlin, that it's shown that it can be done.

You can have that extra year or two of racing and still be a

successful sire. Obviously it's not my horse, not

my money, but there's added racing opportunities and that

sure certainly helps in the decision making process.

Yeah, a little purse money can go a long ways for sure.

But here is Sean with Excuse Me with Dale Brown from over there

in Abu Dhabi and other racing there.

Joined here on Blood Horse Monday by the Abu Dhabi Turf

Club race course director Dale Brown.

Just Dale, how are you doing today?

Yeah. Well, thanks.

Well, great to be with you and great to talk about all things

that are happening with the Abu Dhabi Turf Club in the coming

coming rest of the season. Yeah, there's a lot of exciting

stuff coming out there in Abu Dhabi.

I will actually be out there this weekend for the President

Cup that's coming up. This is a race for three-year

olds and up, going 7 furlongs on the turf.

Just who are some of the top horses that you guys are

expecting to be participating in this race?

Yeah, this is the this iteration of the Thoroughbred race on the

President Cup day. So there's two races on the Cup

day. For starters, there's a purebred

Arabian race, Group 1, and also the Thoroughbred Listed race,

which we're going to talk about over 1400 meters for three-year

old and older. We're really hoping to attract

some top local talent from Dubai given that we are looking to

have a bigger race in February, which we'll talk about later,

called the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup worth $1,000,000 US.

But we're hoping thinking that Charlie Appleby and some of our

local trainers like Michael Costa will bring horses to this

event and the horses that are rated 100 plus in the ratings

here and up in the UAE, which will give us a really good feel

for His Highness the President Cup Thoroughbred Visted Race on

the 6th of December. Well, you mentioned the race

that you guys are coming up with later on in the next couple of

months. But for this race, it's an, it's

a $1 million race for you guys out there.

And is this the President Cup, a race that you guys are really

looking to promote to kind of increase its status?

It's listed status right now, but increase into that group

status and you know kind of turn into one of the features of the

track in the country. Yeah, we're actually looking to

profile thoroughbred racing here at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, The

history of Abu Dhabi and and the previous name of the Turf Club

was the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and it has a rich history

in purebred Arabians. But we understood that we wanted

to be able to provide the opportunity for thoroughbred

racing here in Abu Dhabi. And that really is the prime

location for it is in Dubai. But we're sort of starting to

sort of emerge with our thoroughbred offering.

And on this day on the 6th of December coming up in, in

several weeks time, we'll have the His Highness the President

Cup, which is one of the top rated listed thoroughbred races

for us here at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club.

And we're also looking to develop that thoroughbred

offering as we look to enhance the condition book for

thoroughbred racing going into the future.

Well, we see a lot of big races kind of for this division on the

turf Sprint division out there in the Middle East.

We think of the 1351 turf Sprint on Saudi Cup night.

We think about the AL Cosmic Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

Is the President Cup a race that could kind of play a role as a

stepping stone into some of these races for the local horses

out there. You look it can.

It's interestingly the the Gulf region is really looking to

collaborate more in relation to all their races and especially

around thoroughbred to get the best thoroughbreds here.

So they stay in the region to campaign.

That's really important because if the region functions as as a

whole group effectively, then you tend to get the better

thoroughbreds here in the conductor campaign and the

horses that are made for that sort of that shorter distance up

to a mile, they can go into longer distances if they're sort

of multifaceted in the way they're racing.

That's what we're looking to do, especially here in the UAE, is

to work with the golf region more collectively so we get the

best horses here and get the most out of our carnivals during

this period. Well, this race day, as you

mentioned, it also features the big, the big race for the

Arabians, the President Cup version for the Arabians.

That's $8 million for you guys out there and you have several

other stakes races on the day. Just how big of a race card is

this for the Abu Dhabi Turf Club?

Just where does this kind of rank them in your season?

Oh, this is one of their biggest days.

This is, this is the, this is the grand final for the purebred

Arabians. They, they race throughout the

world through this, this President Cup format and in the

Grand Prix, they race on, in the arc on in, in Paris during that,

that, that race meeting. And you know, through Europe,

the purebred Arabian racing is, is very prominent and it

culminates here at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on the 6th of

December. And you'll see the best pure and

Arabians in the world you know, rating up to 130 plus.

And it's a great race. The the pure and Arabian race of

interest. The the World Cup Grand Prix was

in on the Arc day and long Chomps and it was a stirring

battle between Al Gadir and HML Shaheen who's the the top rated

horse here for the President Cup on the 6th of December and they

fought it out to the line. It was one of the better races

of the day and I I come from a thoroughbred background and it

was one of the great races, was a stirring jewel down the

straight and I'm sure we'll see another great race here on the

6th of December. Yeah.

Well, over here in America, you know, we all TuneIn to the Dubai

World Cup and we turn into the Saudi Cup, so we kind of pay

attention on those days. But over the last, you know,

decade or so, how much has the UA ES yearly calendar really

kind of grown and expanded? It seems like you guys are

working on that in the Abu Dhabi Turf Club.

So how much has that region's horse racing just kind of taken

off? This is the growth region and I

and I can say that with some experience.

I was in Singapore as the Chief Racing Officer when Singapore

closed and then Macau closed and where a lot of jurisdictions are

struggling with the relevance of horse racing for many reasons in

this region. It is growing and is growing

fast and the region understands that it is an area where we can

hold some of the great events and they want world class events

here and it's on Abu Dhabi's vision and strategic plan to be

able to develop world class events, especially for

thoroughbreds. As I said earlier, you'll see in

the coming years the thoroughbred offering will grow

and we'll do it in a complementary way with the

purebred Arabian offering that we have both types of racing for

the tradition for people who love their purebred Arabian

racing, but also developing that thoroughbred racing.

We said that international appeal back into the US, look at

how we stream, look at how we provide people connection to not

only the World Cup and to Dubai, but the emergence of Abu Dhabi

and the track here in the Abu Dhabi city.

Well, tell us a little bit about the track itself in Abu Dhabi.

What are what are some of the amenities that you guys offer,

if any, any fans make it to the racetrack, What what could they

expect? It's a, it's a very surprising

location. It's A to give you a sort of a

bit of a brief overview of the whole site.

It's got a huge equestrian setup which is world class.

It has a sand track for training and a 2000 meter track.

The President Cup for pure but Arabians is run over 2200.

We do run 2400 meter races on the grass track.

It's a grass surface. There is an amazing

grandstanding amenities. I think people are surprised

when they get here in the middle of the track.

There's a nine hole golf course which is a very good standard

and a thriving golf business driving ranges.

We've got a Country Club here that is being redeveloped as

part of the master plan which has multi sporting facets to it.

So it is a one stop shop for a sporting environment here in the

city of Abu Dhabi. When people get here they are

absolutely surprised at the amenity of the race club itself.

It's got an amazing grass track, pretty good covering of grass

and the jockeys are right here from an international exposure

point of view and the top jockeys comment on how good the

surface is here and enjoy riding on the grass here in Abu Dhabi.

Yeah. Well, tell us a little bit about

yourself. You kind of mentioned some of

your experience a little bit earlier, but how did you get

involved in horse racing originally?

And then what ended up bringing you out to Abu Dhabi?

I've been involved in the industry for over 30 years.

So I started as a steward in racing in Australia and I've

worked my way through many administrative roles through not

only thoroughbred racing, through harness racing here in

Australia, in Australia, and most of you will be all your

American friends would be aware of harness racing, a big sport

also in the US. So I've I've had that

opportunity to experience both disciplines.

You know, flat racing with thoroughbreds and purebred

Arabians and also with the standard breeds and harness

racing. But also I've had the chance to

tour the world and different conferences, the Global Wagering

Symposium conference in Arizona or the opportunity to speak

there about 10 years ago. And I've been to many

conferences around the world, including Hong Kong.

So I've really had a quite adverse, diversified career in

racing and still love a tool today.

Yeah. Well, with all that experience

that you've had kind of seeing different racing jurisdictions

across the globe, how does the UAE kind of compare right now in

terms of racing quality, in terms of their upward

trajectory, kind of how does that all compare?

Yeah, it's a really good question.

I mean, the upward trajectory is there and the will to be able to

establish the region is one of the best racing regions and

destinations in the world, especially from Abu Dhabi's

point of view. We really want to be a

destination for international racing as well as growing local

racing. There's a real appetite to drive

racing for the future vision, to be a destination for people to

come and visit, to be a part of the carnivals that exist, be a

part of the, yeah, the Saudi Cup, the Dubai World Cup, to be

to play a real role in that and to grow the region

exponentially. So the vision is really you have

Abu Dhabi is front of mind as part of the carnivals that are

here during this period, through the UAE, through the Dubai World

Cup, through Saudi, through Qatar to have Abu Dhabi is one

of the destinations for international racing.

Well, as as you grow the Abu Dhabi Racing, you mentioned the

Gold Cup earlier, just what are some of the things we can look

forward to in the future that you guys are going to put

together? Yeah, we have a short break

after the racing season for this year completes its race meeting

on the 20th of December. We then received what we

received the track and we'll be back on the 7th of February.

And on the 7th of February, we have the inaugural running of

the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup over 1600 meters for four year old horses

and older. It will be worth $1 million US

and 600,000 US to the winner. It will complement the Dubai

World Cup and the carnival that's being held during that

period. We're expecting to get some of

the top line thoroughbreds here for that race over the 1600

meters. It fits well into into the

carnival. It's three weeks before Super

Saturday in Dubai and we believe that we will attract the top

line thoroughbreds here to the Abu Dhabi Surf Club to race in

the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup. On that day we're expecting we

will have 4 purebred Arabian races and three thoroughbred

races, top lining with our Abu Dhabi Gold Cup over 1600 meters.

So we're really looking forward to that.

It'll be the first running of this.

It is a very exciting event for us.

It really puts us on the international map as a

destination for thoroughbred racing and we're looking forward

to welcoming people from all around the world coming to be a

part of that event on the 7th of February 2026, and even more

exciting with announcing a new partnership with Churchill

Downs. So on Kentucky Derby Day,

there's a race that Kentucky Derby Hall, which is called the

Old Forester. So next year the winner of the

Old Forester will receive an invitation to the Abu Dhabi Gold

Cup event in 2027. So we're really looking forward

to that relationship and growing that relationship and

strengthening our ties with the USA and a lot of racing

jurisdictions within the US to drive international thoroughbred

racing here in the UAE and in Abu Dhabi.

Yeah. And I know we'd be pretty

excited to see if one of our horses were going to go over

there to participate in that race in 2027.

Well, with the President Cup coming up this weekend, where

can fans in America, where can they watch?

Is there a website online where they can watch?

What would post time be all that?

Yeah, you can go to Abu Dhabi. We stream across there

exclusively. Also, Sky World was one of our

partners who take our simulcast and then we've got many partners

in the US where they can watch it live.

A lot of people who would have sport sporting bet accounts

across the US will be able to watch it on those accounts on

live streaming. It will be across live streaming

services in the US, but Sky World's involved in in the US

will take that coverage. If those who don't have an

account with relative outlets associated with Sky World can

then look at Abu Dhabi Turf Club on YouTube and you'll be able to

watch the stream live. Awesome.

Well, thank you so much for taking the time with us here,

Dale. I'm very excited to come out

there this weekend and see the race, see the race course and

all that. I hope to run into you out

there. Look forward to seeing you and

look forward to all your compatriots in the US tuning in

to to the President Cup. Awesome.

Well, thank you so much, Dale. And now we'll get back to What

Horse Monday. Thank you.

Unmute the mic there. Some fascinating stuff there

from Dale Brown there in Abu Dhabi.

Appreciate Sean doing the interview.

He is on a plane currently doing the work that you and I don't

have to do, but a cool opportunity for him to get over

there. Let's sit out to you there.

Yeah, as we were saying, Sean was smart enough to get out of

their cold heads in the desert. One of the reasons we thought it

was it is it was we had a chance to go over there and we thought

it was important because there's some good things going on on

that entire circuit. Abu Dhabi, as Dale just

outlined, is adding this million dollar race in February that's

kind of coordinated to set up right in line with the carnival

schedule made on is the main track.

Well, I shouldn't say Maine. It's the host of the Dubai World

Cup and it has Carnival, which is the races, big, big group of

stakes races nearly every weekend that that lead up to the

Dubai World Cup. But Abu Dhabi is on that same

Emirates circuit, if you will. And so they're going to have a

big race three weeks out, $1,000,000 American.

The the nice thing and what it sounds like from what Dale is

saying is they're really, there's a lot of interest in the

Arabian racing there. So they can take that and then

they know that there's a lot of international interest in

thoroughbred racing. So they can kind of mix the two

together and, and have it have some nice race cards and bring

people out to the track. And that's what they're doing.

The President's Cup, that's mostly an Arabian card, but they

have this $300,000 American US listed race at the end of it for

thoroughbreds. So we thought that would be fun

to cover and also just see what's going on on the entire

circuit. Is is Dale kind of outlined?

There. So of course bloodhorse.com your

home for all of that coverage as well.

It is a growing region. And frankly Frank, I wanted to

to have a more of a big picture conversation about Arabian

Peninsula racing, whatever we're calling it these days.

Obviously we think of the Saudi races, we think of those races,

they're in Dubai, but just the emergence in general and like I

said before, we heard this clip that interested dirt racing.

I mean, I think it's something that frankly it could be a real

positive for North American side as.

Well, yeah, that's The thing is it's a growing circuit and

they're gonna need horses, you know, and and some of those

horses can come from Kentucky and and U.S. states, absolutely

horses. So that's exciting as well.

You know that as he outlined, Abu Dhabi is it is turf racing,

but Maidan of course is has the dirt track and so much interest

in that. So maybe huge races on that

track that as we talked about it, so many added opportunities

for horses to race from the US and and beyond.

Yeah, it's a really fascinating move too.

You can see. And I talked with on my radio

show Frank with Gary Palmisano once they announced an expanded

Derby trail through places like Maidan.

I think a very smart move. Get to more, get to those places

that care the most about dirt racing, whether that's in the

Arabian pencil, whether that's the Japanese route.

But frankly, it's going to draw in those Japanese horses as

well. We see so much overlap between

horses like Forever Young who just won the Breeders Cup

Classic. We've seen him so compete at a

very, very high level in the Arabian Peninsula.

I think a very, very good move on the Derby.

And then on the turf side, as they all outline, they're going

to have the, it's not the old Forester Stakes that's the

sponsor, but it one of the greatest stakes on Derby weekend

will now have this association with the new $1,000,000 Gold Cup

race. So it's great to just see these

relationships develop. I, I love the, if you win this,

you qualify for that. It it, it kind of teaches

everybody all these races are out there and these

opportunities are out there. Yeah, it's cool to watch these

trails and I and I, I like them popping up.

It does create challenges in North America as far as the

calendar is, is concerned. We've seen different races.

I I don't want to say lose their their prestige or whatever, but

frankly, you know, I'll use a, a very specific race.

The San Anita Handicap is in March.

It is up against these races. It offers less money to travel

to get there is what it is, etcetera.

But we see it affecting the Pegasus.

We see it affecting, frankly, probably a race, you know, less

like the Clark because you could still run in the Clark and then,

you know, have the time if you did want, if a hit show wanted

to go back, that kind of thing. Do American races need to adjust

to just the purse money that's available there?

I mean, it's, it's got to be a consideration at least, right?

If you needed any reminder that the world is constantly

changing, just follow racing. I mean, it's just good point the

way things are with changing training schedules and these

added opportunities out there. The Santa Anita Handicap used to

be among the one or two races for older horses that you wanted

to win. And that's it's still a great

race and still a race that you want to win.

But now that I mean, it's, it's going to be impacted by the it's

already been impacted by these races and will continue to be.

But I mean, we, we see the thing.

On the other hand, with the Breeders Cup, you know, that the

Jockey Club Gold Cup had to rethink on on where it needed to

be on the calendar. And you know, it's, it's just

constantly changing. And with, with the, we like that

there's added international opportunities.

We, we hate that these horses have to go overseas to race in

them, but it's become a smaller world.

And at the top end, these, these are creating opportunities to

keep horses racing. So that's the part that I like

about it. I hate that it does negatively

impact some of the winter rate, winter and early spring races.

Traditional big races we have over here.

You know what I think of in our circuit here in Kentucky, they

just closed at Churchill for the fall meet.

But for that September meet, they don't even bother to run on

the turf anymore that first weekend because Kentucky guys

just wrapped up. And so many of the best turf

forces are there. So many of them are then aiming

for Keeneland, right? And so even Churchill has had to

make an adjustment within their September schedule just to

adjust for the fact that, hey, if you have a turf horse at all,

you're going to run for the purses at Kentucky Downs.

It's just the reality. And so we're seeing more and

more of this purse driven scheduling in horse racing and

certainly the Arabian Peninsula falls well within that.

Should be an exciting set of races coming up there for sure.

When you talk with people around racing about what's happening,

let's use Maidon as an example. What are the positives that come

out of a place like Maidon? You know, you've got the modern

facility, you've got those sorts of things.

What do you hear most say from horsemen about a place like

Maidon? I mean, it's they just do

everything to try to make that travel as easy as possible.

You know, they pay, pay your way over there.

It's a great set up in terms of the training track and and the

track itself. You can stay at the hotel right

there. It's a pretty amazing track.

The Dubai World Cup itself is just an incredible day.

You just see people from all corners of the world remember

just going in that day and just, yeah, believe me, I'm the least

qualified person to talk about fashion.

And I know like. Even Frank.

I know enough that some people dress differently than others

and you saw pretty much every type of garb.

Oh, sure, Imagine. So that was just incredible,

just an immediate, it just immediately hits you.

Oh, this is truly an international event and we've

seen that at Breeders' Cup now too.

And, and that's, it's great to see.

And, but in terms of the horsemen, I, I mean just, I, I

think it's on everybody's radar now.

And I think so many people have had good experiences there that

that people realize it's a place that that realistically you can

go and race and do well. You wonder too, because we've

seen a shift now, like I think the Jessamine is probably the

best example this year. Horses coming out of Kentucky

Downs. We used to think maybe you need

a little bit of time, Maybe the conditions they are what they

are, coming back from the Middle East and needing a race or

whatever else. That seems to be declining as

well. People traveling better back

from the Arabian Peninsula, etcetera.

If that keeps up, I could see even more back and forth between

the circuits. Yeah, it seems like trainers

have really figured out how to do that.

As I said, hit show, put together some nice races late in

the year, so. So yeah.

Big days continue, but Frank wanted to ask you magazines

coming up, what should we be watching for?

Obviously, December is upon us. Yeah.

So I mean, we, we have the virtual issue of November is,

is, is out and posted on our website.

I, I know the printing can be a challenge on on when you get

that issue. So if you want to get to right

to it, the virtual issue is posted, but it has all the

breeding like a lot of people like to see the in depth

breeding report, the long form breeding report of all these

Breeders' Cup classic Breeders' Cup winners, not just a classic

winner, all the winners. So, so that's in there.

I think you got to start with that.

That's a really popular thing. We have a feature on Kendrick

Carmouche. She's about as popular with the

people as as any jockey he'll ever meet.

And I, I think he's a guy that his enthusiasm just brings

people to. Race.

I was there on Wood Day this year when he won his four

thousandth race and he jumped into the crowd.

He's that kind of guy, so I'm sure the interview's fantastic

as well. Yeah, there's no, no barrier.

There really isn't. It's all part of it.

So that's a key that's. We had Brian on last week on on

the show, Brian Hernandez Junior.

They grew up together in Louisiana as as fellow jockeys

and he shared a story of them, you know, trading notes about

mounts between New York and Kentucky.

And it is interesting. And I said this to Sean last

week, the bigger personality went to the city and Brian went

to Kentucky and New Orleans and Louisiana.

Right now it sort of fits that way, right?

Where Kendrick is comfortable with that Aqueduct crowd.

You know what that what that Saturday is like up there in the

winter. It's very fun.

I'm sure the the interview's great.

I mean, Ed McNamara, who's assisted us at Blood Horse here

over the years, has a terrific book on just all the jockeys

from that region. It's just an incredible story.

I always like those stories that are kind of region specific,

right? Why?

Why is it that this one region produces all these great jockeys

and he just lists all of them and it has each one of their

stories and it really kind of builds on itself.

You know, one person sees that, oh, this is something I can do

and something I can be successful at, and somebody else

does it and they follow in the footsteps.

And it's one of the great traditions in in racing in the

US. It's it's really incredible

story. I always like to ask trainers

and jocks, where's the next generation coming from, right?

Because in horse racing we, I think we take for granted how

many quality people we get from family operations that come up

because they were in the barn. I think of someone just very top

of my head, like an Andy B and Cohen, who very clearly is good

at the media thing but is doing all the barn stuff.

Well, she grew up with it, right?

She grew up with a dad who's a trainer and all those kinds of

things. I always wonder where that next

generation is coming from. But you know, places like

Louisiana have to be spots that we get future horsemen,

horsewomen, horse people from if we're going to move the sport

forward. And and Brian, certainly an

example of Kendrick for sure. Yeah, it's a, it's a that strong

base, that strong foundation and they can kind of the story can

emanate from there and doing things like this podcast and

Blood horses, trying to be out on as many different platforms

as we can because that's something that we value and we

want to bring people to sport as much as we can.

I of course, bloodhorse.com the QR code at the bottom of the

screen. I'll throw it back up.

If you're on Spotify or on YouTube, go get the magazine

there. And if you haven't signed up for

the daily bloodhorse.com, click on daily at the top left of the

homepage. Free e-mail to you every single

morning. Start your day with Blood Horse

and get your horse racing knowledge together.

Yeah, the the.com will have like as, as we just said, Sean's over

at Abu Dhabi and it's going to take a look at that entire

circuit, you know, racing over there and all the good.

It's going to cover the race, obviously.

So a lot of good coverage from there.

We have Joe Perez at the Tattersalls sale, the mayor's

sale. So you know that mayor sales

have all completed large. Well, January will pick up

again, but for this year they've completed largely in the US.

So he's he's over there to cover that.

And then we have the supposing coming up, which always very

topical this year. A lot of lot of good, good

groups on that schedule. So good panels.

We'll have coverage from there as well with Byron King, so.

Already next week. Stuff coming up.

We get it Byron, you like Arizona, we get it.

All right. So I'll be get it.

All right. So you've got the PPS in front

of you. Big weekend at Naira at

Aqueduct. Obviously we've got Demoiselle

talk, we got Cigar Mile talk, We've got the Remsen.

Of those three races, is the one you're particularly looking

forward to. I think the Remsen, OK, yeah,

see where the three-year old division is going a.

Little another race that has has maintained its position as an

important predictor for success, certainly amongst 3 year olds

moving forward. Yeah, for sure.

Yeah. Who stands out there talking

courting Chambersville? Anybody.

I. Mean I suspect Paladin will be

the OK favorite I'm I'm kind of think Balboa as a chance of

wiring this group though. Yet looks to me like he has a

speed advantage. Had some experience for sure.

I really like that race that after they shipped him east of

the new trainer, Brittany Russell really kind of showed

some speed that maybe some of these other horses haven't faced

yet. That California speed that, you

know, Bob Baffert's so good at and prepared him some, and then

he just immediately comes to Laurel and just delivers.

It looks like his best performance to me.

And the lot of early speeds. I think that's a good upset

pick, but Paladin probably is. It's the most likely.

Yeah, Flavi and Pratt staying around New York will ride that

one. They're talking is an

interesting one. Son of Good Magic here, second

in the champagne for Danny Gargan.

The aforementioned Kendrick Carmouche will ride there as

well. Just an interesting group and

frankly I I feel very old by the way, this is a tis now mayor

feel like tis now hasn't been around long enough for me to be

doing those guys and things of course, but I know but good

magic in this spot and Danny Gargon Gargon nice little fall

with the 2 year olds this year should be interesting once we

get to that courting in here as well should be should be one of

the more favorites in by the time we get there but.

It's a good group, it is very, and it's nice to see a big group

of horses. Full field here largely, so

that'll be a great race. And then of course, it wouldn't

be a New York race without dreaming in it and probably

dreaming. We'll pick up on the outside

there for sure. Should be a fun one, though.

It really should. Should be a nice race there.

But the Cigar Mile as well on the card.

Anybody stand out for you in this group?

I mean, Phileas Fogg just really looked to me like he's really

put everything together late in the year.

I don't see any reason why that's going to change.

I think he's he's due for a big, big effort here and a big win.

See had a Grade 1 yet? At least fog I don't think.

So of course this is great too. Yeah, grade.

One type of field though, yes. Grade one type of.

Field, Well, isn't it funny? The certain races, yeah, but the

certain races, you just, they're grade one in your head forever.

Cigar Mile will always be grade one.

The Clark will always be grade one.

It's just one of those, you know.

Yeah, never mind. It's.

Like, oh. Man, it's probably great too,

but. Well, yeah, Philly swag.

I mean, certainly Bishop Spay on the outside as well.

Yeah. Well, it should be fun.

I mean, I even think you know, and Irad's in town for the for

Saturday to ride. John Velasquez will be there,

Joel Rosario, etcetera. It is it is a big card in a big

day and it is represented by the best jockeys as well.

A fascinating group, though in this one, I think crazy Mason,

the four year old here is a fascinating 1 and it's it's a

cold front. And most recently, of course,

third in the Forego, second in that Vosburgh, I think just as a

local kind of option should be a really interesting one.

Did run off a bunch of wins including great too in the

Carter which I also think. About that, the thing I like

about well, I don't likes. Maybe not the right word, but

you know he lost the book of Nano a couple times and book of

Dano. Is we're not holding out against

anybody. Exactly.

Yeah, like that kind of says, hey, you're in the right

ballpark if if that suits beating you.

And yes, he definitely fits right in here.

Demoiselle on the card as well. Anybody stand out on the 2 year

old Philly side of things here? Kind of look at the two American

Pharaohs here, Zany and concurrently the old classic top

Pletcher and Chad Brown showdown again, they they look like they

both fit for well. Fitzy.

They look like the two two to be to me.

Yeah, concurrently, coming out of a maiden win, took her a

couple of sots to do that. But Flabby and Pratt up there,

you're surprised he stayed in New York for the winter?

I think it makes a lot of sense for him, frankly.

It does, I mean just build those relationships absolutely can be

ready for for the bigger meets and aqueducts.

Aqueducts is it? We forget.

We act like they're not running for 80,000 and all the maidens

and all the allowances in Twitter.

Yeah, right. So Naira's landed on its plan

and it it's well thought out aqueducts going to become a

thing in the past and then we're going to shift racing to Belmont

and the new facility is really built there to take it.

But a few years ago when there was talk of just we just close

Aqueduct, you know, we did a story on it.

It's like this is a major meet with a lot of money wagered on

the meet and a lot of big purses.

So it's it's winter racing done right.

And Belmont makes sense to be the new home for it.

But these these are it's you can do very well racing at Aqueduct

in the winter. It'll be interesting to see if

they bring that because I, I don't know if anyone else does

this, but I have the times of the year in my head around horse

racing. And one of those things is the

tarp on the grass at Aqueduct. Whenever I see the tarp, I know

it's it's winter and we're done. There's no grass racing.

We're done, done. I wonder if they'll do that at

Belmont for us if I if for me personally, just to know what

time here. Just so you know what's it's

exactly. Oh, man.

Well, good stuff. We appreciate Frank jumping in

on the episode this week. We'll be back next week.

We'll do a little Hong Kong talk.

Obviously, we'll have plenty of a reaction to what what Sean

went through as far as his coverage there in Abu Dhabi and

of course Cigar Mile Day down there at Aqueduct as.

Well, a terrific thing the Hong Kong Jockey Club's doing and

raise money for those fire victims anytime racing can just

put itself in and be a part of the community and part of that

community is helping out the community community when it's in

need. That that was great to see

there. You go.

Well, he's Frank. I'm Louis.

Thanks so much for hanging out with us this week on Blood HORSE

Monday. Back at it next week.

Will Sean be here or not? Find out.

The Blood Horse is dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred

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