SUB-ZERO

At least things are heating up at the track...



ED CIRCLES THE WAGONS

Canadian bred SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike-Forty Gran, El Gran Senor - bred by KINGHAVEN FARMS) is ready to roll in Saturday's San Rafael Stakes:

January 17, $100,000, 3yo, 1m, Santa Anita Park, 3:36 PM PT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. The Pamplemousse Kafwain Alex O. Solis 116 Julio C. Canani
2. Fiddlers Afleet Northern Afleet Michael C. Baze 116 John O’Hara
3. Brother Keith Johar Garrett K. Gomez 116 Robert J. Frankel
4. Ryehill Dreamer (Ire) =Catcher In The Rye (Ire) Mike E. Smith 119 John A. Shirreffs
5. Papa Clem Smart Strike Tyler Baze 116 Gary Stute
6. Square Eddie Smart Strike Rafael Bejarano 122 Doug F. O’Neill
7. Charlie’s Moment Indian Charlie Joel Rosario 116 Walther Solis
8. Feisty Suances Suances (GB) David Romero Flores 116 Darrell Vienna




KEENELAND JANUARY
CANADIAN UPDATE

JOSHAM FARMS LTD. paid $40,000 for ETHAN'S CAR, a 5yo Cat Thief broodmare prospect

J.A. EVERATT paid $18,000 for NEW ATTRACTION (Honour and Glory) a daughter of Canadian SW Celmis, dam of Buffalo Jump and Gumboots. The 5yo is in foal to PURIM.

DR. RICHARD LISTER paid $32,000 for SHAWSHANK LADY, a Touch Gold mare in foal to Petitionville.

DR.ROSS MCKAGUE paid $8,000 for VAN EVERY WAY, a Sea Wall mare, half to EVERYTHING and in foal to OFFLEE WILD.

DOMINION BLOODSTOCK (Dave Cotey) bought a Consolidator filly for $6,000.



DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL STARTED THIS MORNING
PREVIEW FROM ATTHERACES.COM

Racing at Nad Al Sheba looks like ending on a real high with the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival promising to exceed the five that have gone before.

The US$6million Dubai World Cup on March 28 - the highlight of the DIRC, which gets underway on January 15 — will be the final race ever to be run at Nad Al Sheba, which opened for business back in 1992.

Before racing moves to Meydan for the 2009-10 season though, there is more than US$31million to be won over the 10 weeks of the DIRC.

And with the value of the dollar so strong at the moment, competition will be fiercer than ever before, and accordingly has attracted some of the world’s top-rated horses.

The Richard Hannon-trained Prix de la Foret winner Paco Boy could be one of the top draws, while 1,000 Guineas heroine Natagora, the Japanese duo Matsurida Gogh and Vodka, Germany’s Quijano, 2007 Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly, dual Arc runner-up Youmzain, Breeders’ Cup winner Muhannak, and the narrow Hong Kong Vase runner-up Purple Moon, are other big names to look out for.

The two biggest international squads belong to Mike De Kock and Herman Brown, who have 70 horses between them.

South African maestro De Kock, champion international trainer for all five of the previous carnivals, sets the benchmark as always with a formidable 45-strong, headed by Eagle Mountain, Archipenko, Honour Devil and JJ The Jet Plane.

Compatriot Brown’s team is headed by Dubai Duty Free and Singapore Cup hero Jay Peg, and ably backed by up by the top class South African King’s Gambit, Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Traffic Guard and the well-regarded Mourilyan.

The home challenge as always will be led by Godolphin, who have some interesting new recruits from the Americas, including Arkansas Derby (Gr.2) winner, Gayego, and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile third Two Step Salsa, and South American imports, Argentine Derby winner Tecla Shiner and Chilean sensation Sos Brillante.


ATTHERACES TOP TRAINERS AND THEIR HORSES:
http://www.attheraces.com/article.aspx?hlid=498259&title=Dubai+Racing+Carnival+Preview&lid=nav+-+features&ref=At+The+Races+Features&nav=features&sub=&day=Thu


TIZNOW, at WINSTAR FARM, he stands for $75,000. Photo taken last week by Cindy and Terence at www.horse-races.net






















SPEIGHTSTOWN, a hot young sire, at WinStar open house last week...see more photos and tons of info at www.horse-races.net














Harness folks vs Woodbine...
BILL O'DONNELL in for OHHA

Dave Briggs writes in GUELPH MERCURY..

The Ontario Harness Horse Association has thrown up a Hail Mary in an effort to salvage any hope of a racing contract with the Woodbine Entertainment Group.

It helps considerably that the man throwing the bomb -- a Hall of Fame horseman in both Canada and the United States nicknamed "The Magic Man" -- has considerable skills as a communicator.

Monday, Bill O'Donnell of Acton was voted in as the president of the OHHA when previous president Jim Whelan decided not to run for his 10th term in that position.

First, two calls by Whelan and the OHHA...

Read the rest at
http://news.guelphmercury.com/Sports/article/427097



Call For Hall Of Fame Nominations

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, which represents both standardbreds and thoroughbreds, is seeking public nominations for both horses and people to be considered for induction in 2009.

Public nominations close on Wednesday, April 15 and those selected by the Nominating Committee for potential election, will be announced on Monday, May 4.

Following the election process by the Election Committee, the 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced on Tuesday, May 19.

Call for Hall Of Fame Nominations Inductees will be honoured at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala Dinner, held at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ontario on Thursday, August 27.

Effective in 2007, the Board of Directors of the Hall of Fame voted to reduce the age eligibility for admission of active Trainers from 60 to that of 55 years of age. In 2006, the age requirement for active Drivers was reduced to 50 from 60 by the Board. These two amendments, with respect to the regulations governing eligibility, will significantly increase the number of candidates that qualify to be nominated.

All nominations must be made in writing, accompanied by detailed documentation that would support the nomination, and submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, 1-2150 Meadowvale Blvd., Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 6R6.


PATENA, SHAFTED, Canadian owned or trained
appear on DERBY LISTS

Ky. Derby Trail: Let the Lists Begin
by Steve Haskin
Updated: January 14, 2009

With the first Derby Dozen list scheduled for early February, this is a good time to make up a Top 10 list of horses who haven’t accomplished enough just yet to make the official list, but who have a good chance of making it in the near future.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/48780.htm