Porter on Pedigrees

Woodbine’s Turf Champions Day on Sept. 14, headlined by the grade 1 Woodbine Mile, saw a 9% increase in total wagering from 2023.

After its opening Saturday of racing focused on juveniles and older horses Sept. 14, the Churchill Downs stakes program shifts its focus to the 3-year-old division Sept. 21. Eight Belles (G2) winner My Mane Squeeze leads the featured Dogwood (G3).

In a Sept. 17 press conference that followed alleged testing misconduct by lab director Dr. Scott Stanley at the University of Kentucky’s Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, HISA and HIWU executives credited their safeguards and procedures.

Maiden Watch: Week of Sept. 9-Sept. 15

Porter On Pedigrees

Thorpedo Anna, the leader of the 3-year-old filly division and an expected heavy favorite in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing, will not be the only short-priced public choice in action Sept. 21 at the Bensalem, Pa., track.

A report released Sept. 17 from HISA and its enforcement arm alleges Dr. Scott Stanley was removed from his leadership position of the University of Kentucky’s Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory because the lab failed to meet standards.

With a quiet weekend in racing for the current leaders, and both of Woodbine’s grade 1s for older horses ending in upsets, there was not much movement in Week 34 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Purses totaled $34,624,472 for 76 races during the Kentucky Downs meeting, including $13.6 million from the KTDF. That reflects an increase of 38% over last year’s total purses of roughly $25 million paid out over the same number of races