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  • Hoof Beats Bio
    by Kate Jones on July 1, 2019 at 7:22 pm

    Attraction of Opposites Differences, similarities between Geoff Stein and David Reid make for one of racing’s leading partnerships THE GREEK MYTH IS WELL KNOWN, OF THE KING NAMED MIDAS. For Midas’ hospitality, Dionysus, god of wine, offered to grant the king anything he wished. The king’s request was simple: that everything he touch turn to

  • Canadian Sportsman Bio
    by Kate Jones on July 1, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    The Perfect Mix by Dave Briggs Take one part low-key, charismatic deal-maker, add a workhorse and detail-fanatic and the result is the profoundly-successful Preferred Equine Marketing partnership of Geoff Stein and David Reid. he burning question is this – how did two guys as different as January and July create the most successful horse agenting

  • Wendy Ross Interview with Bob Boni
    on July 9, 2025 at 2:22 pm

    Listen as Wendy Ross talks with 2025 Hall Of Fame inductee owner and breeder Bob Boni at the Hall Of Fame dinner on Sunday July 9 2025

  • Bob Boni Knows How To Pick’em (Part 2)
    on June 27, 2025 at 5:11 pm

    Bob Boni Knows How To Pick’em (Part 2) Prior to his Hall of Fame induction next weekend in Goshen, NY, Bob Boni shared his thoughts on a few influential horses, and things he’s enjoyed in his career. Part 1 is here . Nihilator  ($3,225,653) Foal of 1982 (Niatross—Margie’s Melody—Bret Hanover) Pershing Square  ($812,277) Foal of 1982 (Niatross—Treasure Blue Chip—Meadow Skipper) “The first yearling crop by Niatross were foaled in 1982. I had researched them. There were approximately 75 colts and 75 fillies among them. I remember the situation where the plan to buy a group of what I thought were to be his best ones came to me. I was walking on First Avenue on my way to Bloomingdales on what was a dreary Saturday morning. It was as though I was thunderstruck. I went to a pay phone — no cell phones back then — and immediately called Lou Guida. Lou loved the idea. ‘You buy the horses and I’ll come up with the money. We’ll decide after they’ve been bought whether we sell them or put them into training.’ We ended up buying seven privately, and an eighth at auction. To say that the venture was successful would be an understatement. The two best ones were Nihilator and Pershing Square, both of which went to the Haughton Stable. I can’t say that I knew that Nihilator was to become a generational horse, but based on what I regularly saw of him and the way Billy spoke, I felt pretty positive about his chances. “You asked me why didn’t he succeed in the stud. I’m not smart enough to know that, but I suspect that it may have something to do with his gait and the fact that he hit the ground so hard. He was so great that he overcame those deficiencies. As is sometimes the case, his foals didn’t. There have been other great horses with gait issues who had those transmitted negatively in the stud. Two that come to mind are Prakas and Matts Scooter.” Caressable  ($1,006,380) Foal of 1983 (Niatross—Tarport Karen—Thorpe Hanover) “She came from the second crop by Niatross and was destined to become his most accomplished filly. One very interesting story with her. She was regularly driven by Bill O’Donnell. The Breeders Crown for fillies was to be raced at Yonkers Raceway that year. O’Donnell was racing earlier at Garden State Park. The schedule called for us to helicopter over to Yonkers after Billy’s early drives were done there. We had plenty of time to get there. Would you believe? The helicopter pilot got lost trying to find Yonkers and we didn’t make it in time. Herve Filion subbed for Billy and he won. It was, remarkably, the only time in all the years that I’ve been in the business that Herve drove one for me. It was also the richest race that Herve won of all the *82,336 that Herve officially drove in.” * There were many more. That number only includes the time since those records were kept. Camtastic  ($2,117,619) Foal of 1985 (Cam Fella—Lushkara—Albatross) “He was another limited partnership horse. Whereas Nihilator’s partnership, the Wall Street Stable, was composed of 10 owners with equal equity, that of Camtastic was many owners with very small individual ownership. Furthermore, the group wasn’t completed until later in the year. This resulted in his not being able to be put into training until December. That didn’t hold him back though. He still made his baby race debut on May 29. This coming from Bob Bencal’s stable, one known for being quite conservative. Of note about Camtastic. Bob Bencal would say that of all the horses he ever trained he never had one who enjoyed training more than this colt. He just loved working and being on the track. There are some who say, when shopping for yearlings, they want the leader of the pack. The leader of the herd will also be the leader on the racetrack, so they say. Certainly not in Camtastic’s case. He was what I would call a very timid colt. He had a buddy who was also timid. Those two would hang out together, away from the rest of the herd in their field of yearling colts. I suspect mostly because the other colts would bully them. “He was an exceptional 2-year-old, becoming the 2-Year-Old Pacer of 1987. He had to be scratched from the Woodrow Wilson because he came up sick before the race. His ownership group, their friends and relatives were all planning to come to the race. I had to cancel 172 dinner reservations. After he was scratched, Bencal asked me what he would need to do to become 2-Year-Old Pacer of the Year. I responded that he would have to go undefeated for the rest of the season. He proceeded to do just that. “You again, asked why he failed in the stud. I had an answer for Nihilator. Here I have none. He was as perfect a racehorse as there ever was. If he might have been lacking in any area, I have no idea what that might have been. I suppose it goes back to the biblical verse, when speaking of great stallions – ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ Always B Miki  ($2,715,368) Foal of 2011 (Always A Virgin—Artstopper—Artsplace) “I remember first seeing him baby race at The Meadowlands. I was sitting with Mitchel Skolnick and Mike Klau. He was more than impressive. He had been bred and raised by Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable. Joe had given him to the late Richard Ringler to break and get going. I believe he had trained in 2:02 and Hurley had sent him to Joe Holloway to race. We had some interest in him because we had invested in his sire Always A Virgin who also had the same Hurley-Holloway connection. I suggested to Mitchel that maybe he ought to express some interest in the colt to Hurley and figuratively get his oar in the water. Mitchel did the same. By his third race he kept getting more impressive. It was time to talk serious. Mitchel struck a deal with Hurley. “In retrospect, it was a tremendous bargain. Hurley raised his initial price by $300 after his third start. You might ask where the extra $300 came from. You would have to ask Hurley about that. ‘Miki’ began making breaks and Holloway sent him to Roger Welch in Indiana where he was eligible in the Indiana program. I cannot stress how great a job Roger did with the colt. He not only made a solid racehorse out of him, but he also became the dominant colt in Indiana. At 3, he was back with Holloway and doing extremely well. He appeared to be the top 3-year-old in the country. Then while warming up for the Breeders Crown for which he was favored, he broke a bone. Because of where he was to be in his recuperation, Holloway and Mitchel had a difference of opinion which resulted in their partnership becoming dissolved. Ultimately Mitchel’s group bought out Marty Granoff, who had in the interim come into the ownership group, at a very significant price for a horse who had just broken a bone. The horse was given to Jimmy Takter. Takter loved him and wanted to buy a small interest, 10 per cent. Mitchel said okay, but the price would have to be based on the same number as he and his partners had paid. Takter said okay. A few days later Always B Miki broke his other hind pastern. Takter said he had made a deal and was still in for his purchase. Three months later Always B Miki was back racing and winning. The rest is history. Everybody who has had anything to do with him has done exceptionally well. We call him the gift that keeps giving.” It seems, we’ve only scratched the surface. You’ve had an incredible career. Is there anything you’ve done more than anything else that has given you the greatest satisfaction? “The simple answer would be all of it. Believe it or not, I even enjoyed unloading hay and straw and doing stalls. When I was at Pine Hollow and the stud man took a Sunday off and I was asked to sub for him I felt like I was being asked to pinch hit for Mickey Mantle. I suppose that if it came down to the most enjoyable, it would be the racing, specifically the two years with Nihilator. Racing is a lot more fun than breeding. Something I’ve said only half-jokingly, if you enjoy racing and want to torture yourself, get into breeding.  “If you were asking the achievement of which I was most proud, it would be the hand I played in 2018, getting the initial five-year appropriation for harness racing in New Jersey, in no small part using my friendship with George Norcross in achieving it. It was a coordinated effort, shared with only Kathy Parker and John Campbell, with most done behind the scenes.”

  • Bob Boni Knows How To Pick’em (Part 1)
    on June 26, 2025 at 5:08 pm

    Bob Boni Knows How To Pick’em (Part 1) It was Goshen week of 1970. I was visiting Pine Hollow Stud Farm in nearby Pine Bush, NY. Mort Finder had just begun the enterprise. As was to be his custom, the farm was showing some of the yearlings that would be featured in their consignment to Harrisburg that November. I recall thinking, who features yearlings the first week of July? They were bound to be immature and under developed compared to how they would look five months hence. Hell, none of them are even a year old yet. Well, Mort Finder did and the person showing and who had prepped them was a scrawny New York City born and raised young man named Bob Boni. I was impressed by the condition and the amazing presence of these yearlings. That was my first introduction to Boni. Looking back, I doubt that there is a single person involved in all of harness racing in America that I’ve known longer. This story has had many starts and mostly stops to it. I’ve wanted to do it almost from the start of this column. My problem was in determining how to do it, since Boni has worn so many hats in the business. What do I write about? Is he a breeder, an owner, a farm manager, a racing manager a sales representative? He has been involved in those, and likely several other areas of our sport. ‘How do I write about them all?’ I asked myself. I came to the conclusion that I was unable to. Instead, I just procrastinated and did nothing. Now, with the imminent induction of Boni to the sport’s Living Hall of Fame next week, I decided it had to be now or probably never. The reason this column is appearing on Friday, rather than its usual Sunday spot is my editor has opted to split it into two parts, with Part 2 coming on Sunday. Instead of writing about Boni’s entire life, one well lived — a project for a younger and more capable person, Charlie Leerhsen or Dean Hoffman — I decided to focus on a part, a very important segment, of his story. I doubt that there have been too many individuals in our sport, absent some trainers, who have been involved with the management and selection of so many great and influential horses. This was the area on which I decided to focus. Chronologically, here are Boni’s thoughts on a select few: Green Speed  ($953,013) Foal of 1973 (Speedy Rodney—Peridot—Hickory Pride) “He was as nice a yearling as I had ever seen or had anything to do with, certainly to that point in time. He was bred and owned by Lloyd S. Lloyds a patron of the W R Haughton Stable. I’m not certain that Mr. Lloyds had ever even seen him until he began training. Mr. Lloyds had made the decision to sell him at Harrisburg as a yearling. I suspect that he didn’t initially want to train him because his late wife Margaret was the first exponent of the theory of the first foal often being the best foal that a mare will have. Green Speed was Peridot’s second foal. Her first foal was named Peridot’s Pride. He was a talented stakes winner, but physically he was as different than Green Speed as day was from night. Peridot’s Pride was a big, plainish, kind of coarse colt. Green Speed was more refined, and racy looking, to my eye, a much nicer individual. “Billy Haughton had come to the farm to look at our yearlings as he always did. He looked at Green Speed as well. He loved him as I was certain he would. He loved him even more after he was turned out in the paddock. He called Lloyds from my desk and told him that he really liked the colt. Did he really want to sell him? Lloyds said ‘Yes.’ Billy then asked him if it would be okay if he tried to buy him for another owner. Lloyds said that was fine. Apparently, sometime between then and the Thursday before Harrisburg he had a change of heart. After our trucks had loaded and were on their way to Harrisburg, I received a phone call from Lloyds. He had decided to keep the colt and have Billy train him. I told him the colt was already on his way to Harrisburg. Of course, he was then withdrawn from the sale. The rest, of course is history. He raced alright until the later part of the racing season at 2, but nothing to indicate what he was going to become, until he won the Hanover Colt Stake at Liberty Bell in 2:01f which then was the world record for a 2-year-old trotter. From that point forward he was a force to be reckoned with. He, of course went on to win the 1976 Hambletonian at DuQuoin and was voted Horse of the Year.” Escape Artist  ($85,194) Foal of 1976 (Meadow Skipper—Noreen Napoleon—Bret Hanover) “There are likely many today who won’t even recognize the name. But this colt gave me, to that time, what was likely my greatest thrill ever in the sport. As was mentioned above, the Fourth of July weekend is often not the best time to display a yearling that will be sold in November. Escape Artist was most definitely such a colt. In July he was a big, gangly immature colt. I suggested to Mr. Finder that we might not want to showcase him during Goshen. But Finder insisted. Noreen Napoleon, his dam might have been Finder’s favorite mare ever. We showed him, but I doubt that he turned many heads then. As time went on, what had been a figurative ugly duckling grew into the most beautiful swan. He became a truly exceptional individual. I knew he would top our consignment. But I didn’t know how well he would do. He brought $260,000, the highest price for a yearling ever. I still have the tape of Tom Caldwell selling him. It took him 6½ minutes to sell and I was smiling for each second of the time. Words cannot express how pleased and proud I was.” Cam Fella  ($2,041,367) Foal of 1979 (Most Happy Fella—Nan Cam—Bret Hanover) “I didn’t have anything to do with either breeding or racing this truly great horse and sire. He was standing stud at what then was Jef’s Standardbred Country Club. We did a partnership deal where we bought the farm and its equine assets from Ed Friedberg. The biggest asset of those were the 10 breeding rights we were to receive for standing Cam Fella. The new venture was called Dreamaire Stud. It was to be managed by Leo McNamara. With the termination of the Dreamaire partnerships, Cam Fella moved to Stonegate Farms where he lived out the rest of his life.” In Part 2, Boni will share his insight on the great Nihilator, among others.

  • Bob Boni to USHWA Hall of Fame
    on September 1, 2024 at 3:11 pm

    USHWA, in conjunction with the Harness Racing Hall Of Fame, is pleased to announce the election of racing executive Tom Aldrich, bloodstock expert Robert Boni, and trainer Chris Ryder to the greatest honor in the industry, membership to the Hall Of Fame. Harrisburg, PA – USHWA has also elected racing official and administrator Judy Davis-Wilson and writer/editor Debbie Little to the pinnacles of their professions, membership in the Communicators Hall Of Fame. Robert Boni’s parents took him to Yonkers Raceway as a youth, and upon his graduation from high school, he embarked on a harness racing career that has taken him through increasingly responsible stints with Pine Hollow Stud, International Standardbred, the Wall Street Stable with principal Lou Guida, Dreamaire Stud, and his present operation of his Northwood Bloodstock Company, which combines bloodstock agency, sales consultancy and breeding expertise. Along the way, Boni pioneered the usage of video as a marketing tool for selling top racehorses, dating back to 1978 and the Liberty Bell Sale. Among the many great horses with whom Boni has been associated are Horse of the Year Nihilator, world champion  Always B Miki , Pershing Square and Caressable ; he has been a part of six Breeders Crown championships. For Dreamaire, Boni assembled a broodmare band that contained 20 mares with 1:55 records, at a time when no one else owned two such mares. Boni’s impact has been greatly felt in the upper echelons of harness racing’s premier guiding associations. Boni is a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum, has written several timely and pertinent articles on major issues of the day, and is Chairman of USHWA’s Breeder, Sire, and Broodmare Awards Committee. In his capacity of vice president of the SBOA of New Jersey, Boni played a primary role in securing appropriation funding that helped revitalize racing and breeding in the Garden State. Aldrich, Boni, Ryder, Davis-Wilson and Little will be honored in two upcoming ceremonies. They will receive their first formal recognition at the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Dan Patch Awards Banquet, to be held at the Rosen Centre, in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 23, 2025 . The second event will, of course, be their formal introductions to their Halls at Goshen on the first Sunday of July 2025 . The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) is the leading group of communicators about the Standardbred horse. USHWA conducts the official annual balloting for the sport’s most prestigious honors: induction into the Hall Of Fame and Communicators Hall Of Fame, along with the selection of the Horse of the Year, Trotter and Pacer of the Year, and the leading divisional horses of each season. Each year, USHWA holds the Dan Patch Awards Banquet, honoring the best and brightest performers in North American harness racing. This banquet is the association’s principal source of funding, and with generous financial support from the harness racing and breeding industry, USHWA is able to host the banquet at a world-class facility in a world-class manner. Click here for the complete story “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition and I thank all who have supported me…it has truly been a great ride with many special people and great horses and a lifetime of doing everything I ever wanted to do with no plans of stopping.” Bob Boni

  • Ownership Change for Volume Eight
    on January 21, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    Winning Key Farm acquires ownership interest in Volume Eight Worthington, PA – Jan. 21 2023  Winning Key Farm is excited to announce a partnership with the current ownership group of 2-year-old 2022 Trotting Colt of the Year Volume Eight that gives them an interest in the champion trotter beginning in 2023. The transaction was put together by Bob Boni of Northwood Bloodstock Agency , bringing the idea to his trainer Noel Daley, and then to Patty Key. “With Patty Key and Winning Key, his breeder, in mind, I reached out to Noel about the possibility of an interest in Volume Eight being available,” said Boni. “Noel said yes and Patty was immediately enthused about the possibilities. It did not take much more than that to put the parties together. I asked Patty’s farm manager Eric Crocker about the colt as well as they raised him, and being a son of the great Chapter Seven, it seemed like a perfect fit. He has shown extraordinary ability and hopefully it will be a fun year for everyone involved.” Noel Daley added that “It is a terrific opportunity at this time to have the breeder come back in with an ownership interest. He is clearly a very talented trotting colt that will be pointed for the major events in ’23 and in addition to the excitement of his racing career, as breeders he could very well prove to be an important part of their breeding program in the future.” “When Bob Boni brought this to us, I was immediately excited with the prospect of participating in his ownership as it is very much a chance to continue the legacy of my late husband Bob,” commented Patty Key. “While we have been mostly focused on our breeding program and not given much thought to racing, this is a very special situation. We followed all of his races as if we still owned him and I am thrilled that Noel and the other owners have given us this opportunity. Now we can look forward to his races with even more anticipation and I believe it is something Bob would have wanted us to do.” The Dan Patch Award winner was the fastest 2-year-old colt trotter of 2022, taking his mark of 1:52 with a last quarter of :27 flat and a dominant victory in the Kindergarten Classic Final for earnings of $432,232. He finished his campaign winning five in a row, adding the Valley Victory Final for trainer Noel Daley and driver Andy McCarthy, and he is listed as the Meadowlands Winter Book favorite for the 2023 Hambletonian.

  • Fate and Keen Vision Draws Boni to Indiana
    on January 5, 2023 at 7:41 pm

    Fate and Keen Vision Draws Boni to Indiana It is impossible to tell the story of harness racing without Robert “Bob” Boni and for over a decade it has been impossible to tell the story of Indiana harness racing without his name as well. Since 1969, Boni has been full time in some capacity in harness racing and the results have been nothing short of remarkable on the East Coast as well as the Hoosier state.  Boni’s full time involvement in harness began at Pine Hollow Stud but not exactly by design. “I finished school, got in my car, and made my way to Goshen, New York in hopes of securing a job with Arden Homestead’s main trainer Harry Pownall,” said Boni. His plan did not come to fruition as he had planned which in hindsight may have been for the best. “Mr. Pownall said he would have loved to hire me, but he simply did not have any openings or much turnover in his grooms for a spot to be available for me,” Boni remembered.  Boni’s harness racing aspirations were not squashed by the fruitless venture to Goshen as he took the short drive over to Pine Bush where Pine Hollow Stud was located. “Pine Hollow looked to be the premier farm in New York at the time and I was lucky that they had an opening when I showed up and asked for a job. It was only about an hour and a half from my boyhood home in Queens so it made a lot of sense to start there,” Boni noted. “I spent 11 years there and I do not regret it one bit.”  After his tenure at Pine Hollow, Boni ventured out on his own with almost immediate success. He managed the Wall Street Stable that went “all-in” on the first crop of Niatross which led Boni to travel all the way to Indiana one winter day where he inspected and purchased the former fastest horse of all time, Nihilator. “I’ve always said Indiana is my second favorite state and that is a big reason why,” Boni said with a laugh.  Boni has certainly been no one hit wonder with his connected standardbreds. His other standouts include $800,000 winner Pershing Square, 1987 Pacer of the Year Camtastic, Indiana standout stallion Always A Virgin, and the 2nd fastest horse of all time Always B Miki. The latter two certainly have strong connections to the Midwest and Boni was instrumental in both of their paths.  Always A Virgin was partially purchased by Boni with multiple other partners prior to his three year old season where he earned over $1 million in purses. After his 4-year-old season, the decision came on where he should stand, at which point Boni made the case for Indiana. “It definitely took some convincing of our fellow partners, but my partner Mitchell Skolnick and I had studied and admired the Indiana program and thought it was the best spot for him. We knew he would have several years of support where in some states that is not always the case because you never know which new hot sire might come in after you,” Boni stated.  The success of Always A Virgin as a sire has been immense and his impact on the growth of Indiana Standardbreds cannot be overstated. His first two two crops produced 3 millionaires, 3 Breeders Crown winners, and the at one time fastest horse of all time. In total, Always A Virgin’s offspring have earned over $60 million and still counting. “Always A Virgin is what you hope for from a regional sire. He immediately produced horses that could leave the state program and win. Once you do that, you are made as a stallion, and Indiana certainly gave him the support,” said Boni.  Boni’s connection to Always A Virgin played a role in leading him to one of Indiana sired sons, Always B Miki. After watching Always B Miki’s early baby races, Boni was enamored by the colt. “He showed incredible speed as a young horse, and my connection to Always A Virgin definitely made me take a closer look at him. Luckily, he was owned by Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice stable who owned Always A Virgin so we already had a strong relationship there,” Boni noted.  Always B Miki took Boni and the other connections on an incredible ride, but he was not the last tie to Indiana for Boni. He has continued to play a role in sending multiple stallions to Indiana including the likes of Class Included, JK Endofanera, and newcomer in 2023 Rebuff. The latter stallion is an extremely exciting prospect in the eyes of Boni. “He is a horse that could have stood anywhere. He is a Breeders Crown winner and the fastest son of Muscle Hill, which is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Boni.  In Boni’s eyes, Rebuff is a further affirmation of the rise of the Midwest in harness racing. The massive growth of Kentucky combined with the addition of the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty trots now at Hoosier has created a shift in the business in Boni’s opinion. “It is a validation of the midwest. Some people did not pay attention to this program due to the distance from the east coast, but with so many stables established in Kentucky, that is now changed. It really is a cataclysmic shift in the way we race horses. It is going to open up the thought process and Indiana will be looked at much differently,” Boni explained.  Besides the rise of the midwest coming in the future, Boni has glowing remarks for the current program. “People really do not realize the amount of open stakes offered by Hoosier Park. Indiana and Hoosier Park put on an excellent presentation. I think with the growth of dual eligibility in Kentucky, you are going to see nominations to the big races in Indiana rise dramatically.”

  • New formula used for Meadowlands Pace final post position draw
    on July 12, 2022 at 7:49 pm

    The brainchild of SBOANJ first vice-president Bob Boni — 15 years in the making Lexington, KY — Moments after his trainee Night Hawk finished second in the second of two Meadowlands Pace eliminations last Saturday night (July 9) at The Meadowlands, trainer Brian Brown thought to himself that now he will need to hold his breath awaiting the post position draw for the $600,000 final this Saturday (July 16), hoping his colt didn’t draw post 10 in the open draw among the non-winners. At the time Brown wasn’t aware that a format change had been made for this year’s Pace final draw and that Night Hawk was guaranteed a spot on the starting gate no farther out than post seven. …. read the complete story

  • Bob Boni Talks with Dave Brower
    on January 20, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    Bob Boni Talks with Dave Brower abou t the Winter Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands On Jan. 17 2022

  • Whichwaytothebeach topped the Tattersalls Winter Mixed Sale with a bid of $390,000
    on January 18, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    Toscani nabs Whichwaytothebeach for $390,000  It was the second highest-priced hors e sold in sale history and it came during an auction that set new records for average ($47,259) and median ($29,500). With one significant purchase, Gino Toscani of Mount Hope, ON led the buyers at the Tattersalls Winter Mixed Sale held Monday (Jan. 17) in the paddock at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. Bidding online via ProxiBid, Toscani spent $390,000 to collar the sale topper,  Hip 77 Whichwaytothebeach , a 4-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere out of Swinging Beauty consigned by Bob Boni’s Northwood Bloodstock. “He seems like a nice horse,” Toscani told the USTA’s Ken Weingartner. “I hope he can come through. He’s just going to be 4. His brother, Captain Barbossa, was good as a 4-year-old and hopefully he’s going to be the same for us and we can get our money back.” Whichwaytothebeach will be trained by Desiree Jones. It was the second highest sale-topper since at least 2014. The record was set in 2020 when Lindy The Great sold for $450,000. Previously trained by Brett Pelling, Whichwaytothebeach earned $546,425 with a record of 12-6-6 in 27 starts and a mark of 1:49.2. “He’s a legit horse and he was younger than the others. I think that was a big edge,” Boni said. In all, 90 racehorses, stallion shares and breedings collectively sold for $4,253,300 to produce an average of $47,259 and a median of $29,500. The sale set new records for average and median. This year’s auction also set a record for the fewest offerings sold. “(The record average is) partly a reflection of the number of horses sold, but, on the other hand, it is a fair representation of what we did offer. I was very happy with that,” said sale manager David Reid. “It’s always exciting to have a live sale, for sure.” This year’s gross was up 14 per cent from last year’s total of $3,741,400. The average was up 50 per cent from $41,244 in 2021 and the median was up 55 per cent from $19,000 last year. The record for gross was set in 2018 when 221 horses/stal- lion shares — 131 more offerings than this year — grossed $6,694,000. Northwood also sold  Hip 83 Belmont Major N  to Amanda Kelly of Greenfield Center, NY for $200,000 — “A very strong price. The half-mile track miles he showed earlier really helped him a lot,” Boni said — and  Hip 67 Ethan T Hanover  for $115,000 to Matthew Medeirra of Big Z Farm. Reid’s Preferred Equine consigned both the second- and third- highest-priced horses sold —  Hip 56  mare  Swift Swanda  for $240,000 to Josh Green, agent, of Milford, DE and  Hip 85  2020 Little Brown Jug winner  Captain Barbossa  for $210,000 to Robert DiNozzi of Ossining, NY. “If he’s anything like he’s been all his career, he’ll make money,” DiNozzi told Weingartner. “We’ll race him at Yonkers a little bit, put him in the Borgata Series, but he’s also good on a mile (track) so if he’s racing well, we will put him in everything. He’s raced with the best and either been competitive or beaten them. There is nothing not to like about the horse.” Preferred Equine sold 51 offerings, grossing $2,479,200 for an average of $48,612. Northwood Bloodstock had 28 sales, grossing $1,284,600 for an average of $45,879. Diamond Creek sold eight for a total of $428,000, an average of $53,500. Reid said he was “very happy with the pre-sale traffic and the at-sale traffic. I was very happy with the attendance. I thought the auctioneers, once again, they are a very talented crew that kept a very good pace to the sale and we continued to offer the online bidding as a convenience to owners that can’t make it and it’s working out very well. “I think there were 10 horses sold online today with another 14 (online bidders) ending up the underbidder. Obviously, as a result of the pandemic, we’ve offered other services and tools. I think the results played in today. “The other thing I thought was interesting is that on the stream- ing through  www.tattersallsredmile.com  there was a point in time today where we had more than 1,000 viewers watching the live stream. For the industry, I think it’s great to see the energy and the participation level and it kind of goes off 2021’s sale season, which was favorable.” For historical reference, in 2020, the Winter Mixed Sale sold 128 horses/stallion shares for $5,279,200 to produce an average of $41,244 and a median of $26,500.  In 2019, 150 horses/stallion shares grossed $4,395,300 for an average of $29,302 and a median of $20,000. In 2018, 221 horses/stallion shares grossed $6,694,000 for an average of $30,290 and a median of $20,000. In 2017, 233 horses/stallion shares grossed $6,288,400 for an average of $26,989 and a median of $15,000. In 2016, 258 horses/stallion shares grossed $5,849,400 for an average of $22,672 and a median of $16,500. In 2015, 269 horses/stallion shares and breedings grossed $5,971,500, for an average of $23,291 and a median of $14,000. In 2014, the gross of $5,971,500 for 234 horses/stallion shares produced an average of $25,519 and median of $14,000. In 2013, 206 horses and stallion shares grossed $4,549,600, an average of $22,085.

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  • StarLadies Partnership Shopping for Potential Star Fillies at March OBS Sale
    by Tom Pedulla on March 3, 2026 at 9:45 pm

    StarLadies is about to go shopping – for fillies, that is. Established by Laurie Wolf in 2015 with the aim of attracting women to racing – to Thoroughbred ownership and to all of the experiences surrounding it – StarLadies is working the upcoming Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of 2-year-olds in training.  Read More…

  • 2026 Kentucky Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down for March 3
    by Mike Curry on March 3, 2026 at 8:06 pm

    This feature provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Triple Crown trail and three horses whose chances for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve are not as strong as they previously were. In the fourth edition of this blog for the 2026 run for the roses, the focus is on what has changed since the previous edition on Feb. 18. HEATING UP Read More…

  • 2026 San Felipe Stakes at a Glance
    by Patrick Reed on March 3, 2026 at 6:55 pm

    Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes Presented by DK Horse is the second of three Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve points preps held at Santa Anita Park, following the Robe Read More…

  • Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage March 5-8
    on March 3, 2026 at 5:06 pm

    We’re now deep in the heart of prep season for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and two more qualifying points races are scheduled for Saturday, March 7: the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and the Read More…

  • Trifecta Betting Strategy for 2026 San Felipe Stakes
    by J. Keeler Johnson on March 3, 2026 at 4:32 pm

    A high-profile Grade 1 winner is slated to make his 2026 debut in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes Presented by DK Horse at Santa Anita Park. But he isn’t guaranteed to win the 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifier. Read More…

  • Stars of Yesterday: Looking Back at Best San Felipe Stakes Winners
    by John Piassek on March 3, 2026 at 12:00 pm

    Saturday’s card at Santa Anita Park includes the $200,000, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes Presented by DK Horse. Some of California’s top 3-year-olds will square off in the final local prep race for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Read More…

  • Jockette Challenge on March 8 Spotlights Women Riders in Puerto Rico and Beyond
    by Gabi Kuenzli on March 3, 2026 at 10:00 am

    Escuela Vocacional Hípica Agustín Mercado Reveron (EVH) is a famous jockey, trainer, and exercise rider academy, located in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. Read More…

  • Pioneering Jockey Patricia Cooksey Wouldn’t Change Anything
    by Tom Pedulla on March 3, 2026 at 4:00 am

    Any discussion of Patricia “P.J.” Cooksey’s trailblazing career as a jockey has to involve her boxing record, unsanctioned as those bouts were. “I had three fistfights,” she said proudly, “and I’m 3-0.” Cooksey was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and, with three older brothers to deal with, she learned to assert herself at an early age. “They didn’t go easy on me or give me any breaks,” she said. Read More…

  • 2026 Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles: Rebel Stakes Winner Class President
    by Mike Curry on March 2, 2026 at 9:24 pm

    Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we take a look each week at a recent winner of a race the Road to the Derby schedule which offers qualifying points to the 1 ¼-mile classic race May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs. Read More…

  • Registration Open for National Horseplayers Championship Last Chance/First Chance Contest
    on March 2, 2026 at 5:35 pm

    LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 2, 2026): Registration is now open for the annual National Horseplayers Championship ‘Last Chance/First Chance’ Contest at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, the final chance to qualify for the 27th National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). The NHC-eve fixture will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Read More…

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        • Former Wildie Rescue Finds Special Forever Home
          by Amy Harris on February 19, 2026 at 5:19 pm

          Robinson Outreach at RiverCross Ranch (ROARR) in Springbank, Alberta, recently received a special gift ‒a horse donation from Helping Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS). The sweet-tempered bay gelding named Cheyene was rescued from a campground near Sundre four years ago after … The post Former Wildie Rescue Finds Special Forever Home appeared first on Horse Canada.

        • Josh Brolin to Narrate ‘Horse Power’ Documentary
          by Amy Harris on December 17, 2025 at 12:31 pm

          Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin – a lifelong horseman with deep roots in the American West – will narrate Horse Power, the new IMAX®/Giant Screen documentary. The film, produced in partnership with American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), celebrates … The post Josh Brolin to Narrate ‘Horse Power’ Documentary appeared first on Horse Canada.

        • Rescuing Animals, Rebuilding Hope
          by Amy Harris on July 17, 2025 at 4:58 pm

          In recognition of Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15th, First Onsite Property Restoration announced a $10,000 matching donation to support rescued animals and recovery efforts at Happy Days Sanctuary in Stevensville, Ontario. Happy Days was founded in response to … The post Rescuing Animals, Rebuilding Hope appeared first on Horse Canada.

        • The RCMP’s Royal Role, Plus a Tribute to Burmese
          by Amy Harris on May 28, 2025 at 1:45 pm

          The historic visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Ottawa on May 27 to deliver the throne speech had the requisite pomp and circumstance befitting the British Monarchy. And a large part of that pomp was the sight … The post The RCMP’s Royal Role, Plus a Tribute to Burmese appeared first on Horse Canada.

        • Oddly Satisfying…. Fabulous Farrier Influencers
          by Amy Harris on May 27, 2025 at 5:49 pm

          It won’t come as a shock to many horse people that young farriers are having a moment (viral ones at that) of social media fame. Being strong, proficient, charming and good-looking seem to be job requirements for farriers, both male … The post Oddly Satisfying…. Fabulous Farrier Influencers appeared first on Horse Canada.

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          • Jimmysstar in Newmarket Handicap mix?
            by RS NewsWire on March 3, 2026 at 3:06 am

            A sparkling track gallop at Cranbourne from Jimmysstar has Ciaron Maher considering an unlikely start in the Newmarket Handicap. Maher said he would confer with the sprinter’s owners before deciding whether to accept in the Group 1 sprint over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday. The Maher team had been planning… Read More » The post Jimmysstar in Newmarket Handicap mix? first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

          • Middle East tensions cast shadow over Dubai World Cup and Autumn carnival
            by Graham Potter on March 3, 2026 at 1:25 am

            While there are obviously far more important and wide-ranging implications of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, where it really has become a matter of life and death, the disruption of racing can only be viewed as little more than a minor inconvenience … but it is a disruption,… Read More » The post Middle East tensions cast shadow over Dubai World Cup and Autumn carnival first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

          • Girl to Queen for Idle Flyer
            by RS NewsWire on March 3, 2026 at 1:23 am

            Matthew Smith has mapped out a plan for talented four-year-old mare Idle Flyer, which will hopefully end in Group One glory. The daughter of Dundeel is set to resume in Saturday’s Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick, with the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) her ultimate… Read More » The post Girl to Queen for Idle Flyer first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

          • Free Horse Racing Betting Strategy – Tuesday races 3/3/2026
            by Adam Page on March 2, 2026 at 10:28 pm

            Resident tipster Adam gives his betting strategy for Tuesday (3/3/2026) racing. Please note that some prices quoted were available at the time of writing, which was 9.30am Tuesday. Take note that other plays may be added throughout the day. Index 0.5u = A chance/throw at the stumps 1u = A… Read More » The post Free Horse Racing Betting Strategy – Tuesday races 3/3/2026 first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

          • 3/3/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Ararat
            by Adam Page on March 2, 2026 at 9:04 pm

            Eight races have been set down for Ararat on Tuesday. The weather is fine, the track is soft (7) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit. Race One: 8 Aradeo Race Two: 5 Villa Capitalista Race Three: 8 Immortal Justice Race Four: 9 Live Forever… Read More » The post 3/3/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Ararat first appeared on Just Horse Racing.