Grand Zulu Hopes for the Winners Circle

It was smiles and celebration all around at the 2004 Group One BMW racing event, which was held at Rosehill, when the then three-year old Grand Zulu crossed the finish line in remarkable form. For trainer, Gwenda Markwell and Grand Zulu’s owner, Hong Kong based David Choy, it was a magnificent victory and a wonderful achievement for the entire team. But it was the last time that winning celebrations were experienced in the Grand Zulu camp.

Make the Story of Dan Patch Your Next Read

The story of Dan Patch begins on 29 April 1896, when a knobbly-kneed and clumsy little colt was born to owner Dan Messner. Not seeing much racing potential in the colt was disappointing to Messner, but the colt’s gentle demeanor and obvious love for attention from people encouraged Messner to keep trying. Through his desire to bring out the best in Dan Patch and the patient training of John Wattles, the future slowly grew more positive for the large horse. His life is a rags-to-riches story, one of heartache, love, affection and loss. It is story that deserves to be kept alive, and Charles Leerhsen has done just that by writing and releasing the novel “Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the most famous horse in America”.

New Zealand and Australia Head to International Events

Over the last few years, Australia and New Zealand have both noticed an increase of horses being flown out to international racing events, rather than taking part in local racing meetings. Many are wondering how the growing number of horses leaving New Zealand and Australia will affect their clubs and racing festivals, as the best horses are running in international races. In the past, events held in England and America did not pose a great threat, but big international events are now being hosted in Dubai and Asia, giving New Zealand’s horses a competitive field to compete in.

Breeders’ Prizes Scheme in Britain

In 1993, the Horserace Betting Levy Board introduced the Breeders’ Prizes Scheme to the horse racing industry in Great Britain. It was put forward as an incentive to breed quality horses in Britain and to improve the breeding stock of the country. Breeders are therefore compensated each time one of their horses wins a race that is eligible under the Breeders’ Prizes Scheme guidelines. This year, the Horserace Betting Levy Board has set aside £1,920,000 for the Breeders’ Prizes Scheme.

The Gilboa Festival is Ready for Action

On 11 October 2006, approximately ten thousand spectators gathered at the Gilboa Hippodrome in Israel to watch the first sanctioned horse racing event in their country. Unlike the thousands of punters and screaming enthusiasts that can be found at racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, the crowd at the Gilboa Hippodrome was more subdued and had an atmosphere of a family gathering. But it was still a memorable moment that has helped to pave the way for the 2008 Gilboa Festival that kicks off on Tuesday.

Stem Cell Therapy Benefits Racehorses

Many race horses suffer injuries to their legs, of which tendon injuries, knee and elbow injuries are the most common. The healing process can be painful and often places a horse on the sideline for months at a time. Although these injuries do heal, ligaments and tendons tend to lose their strength during healing, and scar tissue is weaker than the original tissue. When it comes to cartilage, the damage is often irreplaceable and the tissue in cartilage takes an extremely long time to heal. Research and tests in regard to stem cell therapy have shown many positive results, and could assist horses in recovering to their full strength.

Jockey Dreams Come True

The Palmowski family did not have anything to do with horses or racing. They did not own a horse, and only watched horse racing events in passing on the television screen. It is therefore understandable that they were visibly shocked when their fourteen year old son, Joseph Palmowski, announced that he wanted to become a jockey. His dream of riding some of the greatest horses in the horse racing industry started after he watched the Grand National, and his determination gave him the courage to take on the challenge that would shape his future.

< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 >