The New Zealand breeding industry lost one its best marketers as well as a genuine character with the passing of David Benjamin on Jan. 19. Benjamin had been battling illness for some time. He was 79.

The board of directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders held its first meeting of 2024 on Friday, Jan. 19. The newly seated board unanimously elected Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M., to serve as board president through 2026.

Godolphin’s First Mission had his final major preparation for next Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park while breezing five furlongs Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The board of directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held its first meeting of 2024 on Friday, Jan. 19. The newly seated board unanimously elected Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M., to serve as board president through 2026.

This section features BloodHorse MarketWatch’s annual review of total and average daily purses at North American racetracks and a review of 2023 stakes results by sire.

On Racing

A share in Horse of the Year finalist and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) hero White Abarrio has been acquired by Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud ahead of an expected start in the Feb. 24 $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

The first reported foal for Godolphin’s grade 1 winner Speaker’s Corner was born Jan. 18 at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky. A filly, she is also the first foal for her dam, the young Upstart mare Gratz Park.

Ciarán De Barra’s sales pitch for his new sire Marie’s Diamond was already long and exhaustive in detail, but it has grown again this week since the horse’s full brother Sindoriyno won on debut at Wolverhampton Jan. 16. 

A breeding right in Darley stallion Cracksman was the most coveted lot in the Tattersalls Online January Sale and it duly topped the auction with a winning bid of 50,000gns (US$66,000) from Dan Astbury.