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Great Britain leads Eventing after dressage,U.S. is sixth (2)

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August 14, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

AACHEN, Germany--Great Britain leads on 72.8 following the Dressage phase of the FEI Eventing World Championship in Aachen on Friday, Aug. 14.

Tamra Smith on Lillet 3 (Photo by Allen MacMillan)Laura Collett on London 52 had Great Britain’s best score of the competition, 22.8, while Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo added 23.4.

Those scores, combined with Tom McEwen and JL Dublin’s overnight 26.6, leave the Brits in prime position heading into Saturday’s Cross-Country phase, as Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley’s 29.3 is discarded.

Host nation Germany is close behind on 73.6 penalties after moving into second place, with France sitting third on 84.5.

INDIVIDUALLY, Julia Krajewski of Germany on Uelzener’s Nickel leads individually with a score of 22.0.

William Coleman on Diablo (Phoo by Allen MacMillan)Collett is second, followed by Michael Jung of Germany on fischerChipmunk FRH, third on 23.0.

The U.S. team of Will Coleman on Diabolo, Boyd Martin on Cooley Nutcracker, Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake and Phillip Dutton on Denim is sixth on 93.2.

There are 16 teams competing.

Individually, Tamie Smith on Lillet, competing as an individual, is eighth on 27.0, Coleman is 21st on 30.0, Martin in 25th on 30.9, Pamukcu is 36th on 32.2, and Dutton is 38th of the 87 competitors on 32.6.

"Lillet is so young to be doing something like this," said Smith of the10-year-old mare."You don't know what she's going to do, but she was like a seasoned pro."

"Her trot work was brilliant," said Smith."She's such a special horse. I'm so proud of her."

Boyd Martin on Cooley Nutcracker (Photo by Allen MacMillan)"Some things were good,, but I had a hard time putting it all together today," said Coleman "We did the best we could. It was his first championship. There was not a lot of time during the test to give him a moment to relax."

"I was pretty pleased with the ride," said Martin." There were one or two moments that I'd like to redo, but overall very pleased with it. He's a quirky horse, but when you go into the ring he's all business."

It's a very challenging cross country course," said Martin, "It's winding and goes back and forth, and that is energy sapping."

It is also expected to be hot again, which will be challenging.

The temperature today was in the high 90s.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s Cross-Country phase, where 42 jumping efforts across Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s Championship track stand between the combinations and the next potential shake-up of the leaderboard.

Cross-Country gets under way at 09:15, which is 3:15 Eastern,  on Saturday.

Hunter/Jumper shows have changed under Bill Moroney's tenure (2)

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August 8, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

Bill Moroney has served as CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation for 10 years, and under his administration hunter and jumper shows have changed dramatically.

Bill MoroneyThe hunter/jumper calendar is dominated by series shows, weeks or more often months long, owned by private equity companies interested only in profit.

There are FEI rated horse shows weekly, sometimes as many as four in one weekend.

Customer service and coverage of international competitions and promotion of human and equine stars are sadly lacking.

Trainers and exhibitors clearly love the changes to the competition calendar, as horse shows without an FEI rating don't fill.

Series of shows such as HITS, Traverse City, Tryon, the Winter Equestrian Festival, the World Equestrian Center and Thermal means less expense for exhibitors and less stress on horses with having to van to shows week after week.

But these series have almost entirely wiped out smaller, local one day and weekend shows, which in turn have eliminated most local trainers as they have no place for their students to show.

The competition calendar is so crowded with numerous FEI competitions every weekend, granted spread out throughout the country, that there aren't enough exhibitors to fill all the shows.

Recent HITS shows in Saugerties, N.Y., had very light entries in many divisions, for instance. ponies and juniors.

These series have also adversely affected such top shows as Devon, Upperville, Lake Placid and the Hampton Classic.

With FEI rated shows at HITS two weeks before and two weeks after Devon, the FEI rated Sapphire Grand Prix there had only 23 entries.

These shows have also had to raise huge amounts of money to simply exist.

Phillip Richter, President of Lake Placid shows, said it had cost almost $ 5 million to renovate the grounds, and Devon has just started the Legacy Initiative, a five-year, $5 million effort to preserve, restore, and modernize Devon’s historic grounds and facilities.

With Moroney having announced his retirement in June, the USEF is now searching for a new CEO, but will this mean a continuation of the status quo or a new look at what is best for the show industry.

HITS is reportedly losing money.

What would happen to the hunter/jumper industry if one or more of these private equity funded show series folded.

There would be a huge vacuum,, with no one day or weekend shows to fill the gap.

Customer service is sadly lacking.

There's a daily drumbeat of complaints from exhibitors who have called the Federation and can't get through to any one.

While many of the international Nations Cups are covered, other U.S. wins in top classes are not.

To get more interest in the sport and more people watching the sport, there needs to be better coverage.

The most recent example of that was Karl Cook's win in the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes at Dublin, which got no coverage.

The U.S. had a fantastic win in the 100th anniversary of the Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin, and while the USEF did have a press release about that, but it had only only one quote in it.

No mention of Paris Sellon going double clean in her first senior Nations Cup, or the fact that she's the daughter of the TV director of Cheers and Friends, a tidbit that might have gotten the attention of one or two national publications.

Also, many USEF press releases don't go out to everybody.

There are many great human interest stories of both the riders and horses involved in the hunter/jumper sport, and coverage of that would increase interest tin the sport.

The USEF iis asking for input on it's next CEO, so share your thoughts if you feel a change is needed, particularly if you are one of the local trainers or riders who have lost out because of no one day and weekend shows.

Michael Matz had two stakes winners, whie Graham Motion, Keri Brion and Arch Kingsley also had winners (2)

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August 10, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

WILMINGTON, Del.--Michael Matz has had two stakes winners in the last week, including a homebred for his wife DD.

Tatters in the Winners Circle at Delaware Park (Photo by Hoofprints)In addition to his success at the racetrack, Matz and DD have celebrated the engagement of both of their sons, Robert and Alex, during the past month, Robert to a girl from the West coast and Alex to Isabel Stattinius who competes in hunter classes.

Dorothy Alexander Matz' Tatters won a $45,000, 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds by a head on July 16 at Delaware Park in his first race.

Tatters followed that up with a win in the $75,000, 6 furlong Dover Stakes on Aug. 8, also at Delaware Park.

Tatters won after Snowhomish was disqualified from first after first bumping Tatters and then drifting in front of him.

"The jockey had to stand up on him and pull him up, said Matz. "He started to run again, but he was beaten 3/4 of a length. But there was good reason for the disqualification."

"DD DOESN'T usually keep the colts she's  bred, but the man who broke him said Tatters might be a nice one, so DD decided to keep him," said Matz. "We put him in the Stakes race hoping he'd get at least stakes placed, because DD is selling his dam at the Keeneland breeding sale this fall. She's selling most of her mares and only keeping a few."

"I don't know where he'll go next, because some people called DD about buying him, and she said she'd sell if she got an offer she couldn't refuse," Matz said.

Runnymoore Racing's Understudy Kitty won the $75,000, 7 1/2 furlong Sussex Handicap Stakes for Delaware bred or certified 3-year-olds and up on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths on Aug. 1 at Delaware Park.

"He looked like he was going to be a real nice horse, but every time he ran he got hurt," said Matz. "They gave him a year off, and I ran him once, but he got tired, and then we ran him in this stakes. He got left at the gate, so he was dead last going into the turn, but then he won going away."

"He's Delaware and Virginia certified, so we'll look for another race like this for him.", said Mat. "I think there's one Sept. 22."

"Iv'e only got about 17 or18 in training now, mostly family  and Runnymoore plus three nice fillies forMichael  Moran," said Matz.

GRAHAM MOTION has won eight races, including three stakes, during the past month. 

He won two stakes at Colonial Downs on Aug. 1, including  the $150,000, 5 1/2 furlong Andy Guest Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf  with Roja, who won by 1/2 length.

The same day, Gimme a Nother won the G2, $500,000 Beverly D Stakes for fillies and mare 3 and up on the turf by a neck.

 Warming won the G2, $200,000, 1 1/16 mile Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by a neck on Aug.8 at Del Mar.

Motion saddled Bless Her to win a $73,000, 1 3/16 mile Allowance turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up by 2 1/14 lengths.

He had three Maiden Special Weight winners, Party Guest in a $70,00, 5 1/2 furlong turf race a Colonial on July 10, Embouteillage in a $115,000, 5 1/2 furlong 2-year-old filly race at Saratoga on Aug. 5, and Induction in a $70,000, 1 mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies at Colonial on Aug. 9, as well as a Maiden Claiming winner in Mobile at Saratoga onAug. 7.

KERI BRION had five flat winners for five different owners over the past month. 

She saddled two winners at Delaware Park on July 24,.

Planet Clare won a $36,000, 1 mile Starter Allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up by 5 1/2 lengths, and Carloun won a $25,000 Starer Optional Claiming race by a nose.

Lendalfoot won a $90,000, 1 1/16 mile Allowance race for fillies and mares 3 and up by 1 1/2 lengths at Colonial Downs on July 26.

Brion saddled Celtic Prince to win a $34,500, 1 mile Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up on the turf at Colonial on July 22, and Rivage in a $14,000, 1 mile and 70 yards Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at Presque Isle on July 13.  

ARCH KINGSLEY saddled Benjis Benefit (Ire) to win a $40,000, 1 1/8 mile Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up on the turf by 4  3/4 lengths at Colonial on Aug. 7.

15 yearlings sell for over $1 million at Saratoga Yearling sale (2)

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August 12, 2026

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The 105th Saratoga Selected Yearling sale began with a bang on Monday evening, Aug. 10 as 15 yearlings sold for over $1 million, with the sales topper, a Nyquist colt, bringing $3.2 million. 

A Nyquist colt, the sales topper on Monday night at the Saratoga saleThe 15 yearlings sold for seven figures surpassed last year's opening session record of nine, so if it continues in the second session it will result in record figures. 

"Tremendous start to the 105th Saratoga Yearling Sale tonight," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "Literally from beginning to end, the energy was palpable. The bidding activity was very, very, very, strong. Tremendous session."

"We were optimistic when we put together the Saratoga catalog,"said Browning. "We were more optimistic then when the horses unloaded off the vans and we saw them on the sales grounds. We got even more optimistic as we saw the level of activity on the sales grounds with people looking, got even more optimistic in terms of repository activity. But despite our optimism, it exceeded our expectations."

"Amazing" said Russell Jones of Unionville, Pa., whose Walnut Green was a top sales agency before Jones sold it although he continues to buy and sell top young thoroughbreds as part of a syndicate. "It's a high stakes game, and when you win it pays off big, and when it doesn't pay off you get a big write-off."

A $3,200,000 colt by Nyquist (hip 83) was the session's sales topper when bought by Randy and Jenny Boyd's Boyd Racing, with Brittany Linton acting as agent.

The Boyds are relatively new players to the high end of the sport, making a splashy debut at the 2025 Saratoga Sale.

From just a few horses in their stable at this time a year ago, they have now grown to be major players at auction, and this year bought multiple G1 winner Splendora..

"We're enjoying every minute of it," Jenny Boyd said. "It's exciting. You don't know what's going to happen around the corner.  This is a magnificent colt. We love him,"

Boyd Racing is among five buyers relatively new to Saratoga highend  buyers along with Flying Dutchmen, Mitsu Nakauchida, B-4 Farms and Blue Devil Racing.

Nyquist, the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Award divisional champion who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby, sired three seven figure yearlings duing the first night session

This colt is the first foal out of the Marking mare Slammed, a remarkable New Mexico-bred who won nine of her 13 career, starts, including the G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes in 2022.

"He's worth every penny of it, and we're excited to see him on the track next year," Randy Boyd said.

Three other yearlings sold for over $2,000,000 with two tied for the second highest price of the evening at $2,300,000 - a chestnut Gun Runner colt (hip 78), with trainer Wesley Ward signing the ticket, and a gray Into Mischief colt (hip 91) purchased by Flying Dutchmen.

Ward says he has increased his presence at the upper end of the yearling marketplace in hopes of targeting the American classics in the coming years.

"He's some horse," Ward said of his purchase, who will race for a partnership. "I go out every year [to Three Chimneys] and look at all of his yearlings in the sales, and this one stood out. We're really excited to get a colt like this. Everything that I like in a racehorse, he had."

Early in the sale, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding for Zedan Racing, payed $2,000,000 to buy a bay colt by two-time Horse of the Year and prominent classic sire Curlin, consigned as agent by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, which stands his sire.

"He did great today," Hill 'n' Dale's Director of Bloodstock Jes Sikura said. "We had high hopes, and he had shown so well throughout the last few days, so we were coming up here excited.  We're thrilled that such a result came up for great partners in Don Alberto who entrusted us with him. We're over the moon excited."

Mitsu Nakauchida payed $1,900,000 for a gray filly by Not This Time (hip 100), a breakout young sire who is dueling Into Mischief on the top of the North American sires earnings list at this point of the season. 

The final horse through the ring, a chestnut Gun Runner colt (hip 113), was also purchased for $1,900,000 by M.V. Magnier of the international Coolmore group and frequent partner White Birch Farm.

A bay colt (hip 54) from the final crop of the late classic sire Uncle Mo and from the immediate family of Hall of Fame racemare Rachel Alexandra sold for $1,500,000 to B-4 Farms LLC.

Later in the evening, Stonestreet had another $1,500,000 sale, as a Quality Road filly (hip104) was purchased by Boyd Racing, with Linton again acting as agent.

A Nyquist filly (hip 49) was a $1,375,000 purchase by Dan Hayden, as agent for Blue Devil Racing,.

RTM Racing made several purchases late in the evening, including buying a $1,150,000 chestnut Gun Runner filly (hip 108).

Legion Bloodstock/Gracie Bloodstock, as agent, payed $1,075,000 for a filly (hip 40) by Candy Ride, a successful veteran sire who is the sire of Gun Runner, among other champions.

A chestnut Gun Runner filly (hip 111) was purchased for $1,050,000 by RTM Racing from the consignment of Darby Dan Farm, as agent.

Three additional yearlings sold for $1,000,000 each:

--A bay colt from the second crop of Life Is Good (hip 70) sold to Mitsu Nakauchida from the consignment of Taylor Made. 

--A Nyquist colt (hip 75) continued the big night for his sire when purchased by Resolute Bloodstock.

--A Tiz the Law colt (hip 101) was purchased by the MyRacehorse group from the consignment of Gainesway. 

During the session, 79 of the 97 yearlings sold for a total of $54,395,000, an average price of $688,544 and median of $500,000.

Monday’s results were all up from last year’s opening session, when 77 yearlings sold for $39,975,000, an average price of $519,516 and median of $400,000, a 36.1 percent rise in total sales, a 32.6 gain in average price and a 25 percent increase in median.

The buyback rate for the session came in at a solid 18.5%.

"I often say after the first night, you know, we don't make any bold proclamations," Browning said of pacing above the records, but added, "We played a hell of a first half."

Kasey Perry-Glass 11th after first day of World Championship dresssage (2)

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August 11, 2026

By Staff Writers

AACHEN, Germany--Frederic Wandres of Germany on Bluetooth OLD leads individually after day one of team dressage on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at the World Championships.

Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD (Photo by Allen MacMillan)Wandres, who competed Bluetooth at the Dressage Festival in Florida last winter, leads on a score of 75.963 over Becky Moody of Great Britain on Jagerbomb,,, who scored 73.820.

After two riders of each four man team have competed, Germany leads Great Britain with Australia third if you take just the top score of each team, while it's Germany, Denmark and Great Britain if you use both rider's scores.

For the U.S., Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat W.P. is 11th on 70.608, and Meagan Davis on Toronto Lightfoot is 25th on 67,624 of the 45 riders that have gone, while the U.S. is eighth of 17 teams.

Both  Perry-Glass and Davis were last minute substitutes on the team when first Jotfan LaPlata and then Genay Vaughn had to withdraw.

"I just hoped or a clean, consistent, solid test for him," said Perry-Glass, who had previously been a member of the Rio dressage squad. "I'm so proud of him. That is the biggest atmosphere he's been in and biggest I've been in. I've been to a couple games, but this is just something else.  What I love the most is that I know what to expect and how to channel my nerves."

Raphael Netz of Germany, making his World Championship debut, also gave Germany a strong start with Great Escape Camelot with a score of 73.338%, putting him in third place.

Netz, a multiple medalist at FEI Youth Championships, had an error in the one-time changes but otherwise produced a strong test.

Denmark currently sits second with 144.130% and Great Britain is still well placed in third after the opening day with a team total of 143.168%

Moody, one of the leading individual combinations and winners of this year’s FEI Dressage World Cup Final, made several mistakes. 

Her 73.820% currently puts them in second individually, but the result was way short of her best scores.

Jagerbomb was a little too excited in the arena, and mistakes crept into the test.

“Some of our test was the best we’ve done; some of it was really bad. He was a little too excited and distracted when we entered the arena, but we pulled it back and still had some really good bits,” Moody said.

Sweden currently is fourth in the team standings with 141.087%, followed by Portugal in fifth on 140.078% and Australia in sixth on 139.658%.

The Grand Prix team competition continues tomorrow with team medals awarded at around noon Eastern, and the 30 individual combinations qualifying for the Grand Prix Special will be confirmed.

Insanity reigned at Saratoga Yearling sale as 35 sell for over $1 million (2)

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August 12, 2026

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Records were toppled as 35 yearlings sold for over $1 million at  the 105th Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale, Fasig-Tipton's flagship auction that ended its two night run on Tuesday , Aug. 11.

It seems totally crazy - 35 yearling selling for over $1 million with four selling for over $4 million.

How many of those will even make it to the racetrack, much less win and even much less win enough to go on to be a top stallion at stud, which is the only place where a horse can return that kind of investment.

Joe and Sean Clancy's  Saratoga Special summed it up perfectly - "Crazy seemed somewhat apropos.....but plenty of other adjectives would fit the bill, too, like wild, ridiculous, zany and even daft. Sensible and normal need not apply."

Three yearlings from the Delaware Valley sold for more sane prices, with two fillies from Virginia, one by American Pharoah and the other by Epicenter, selling for $250,000 and $175,000 respectively.

A Maryland-bred, bred by Cynthia and Charles McGinnes' Thornmar Farm, by Vekoma,out of Coconut Cake, sold for $335,000.

"We were delighted with the sale because we bred every one of his four dams," said Cynthia McGinnes. "He is the great-great grandson of Muffies Muffin, the first broodmare we had. He is the result of 50 years of our breeding."

How many breeders can claim that distinction, breeding four generations of top race horses.

THE SALE broke records for gross, average, and median established just last year.

Led by a pair that sold for $4.2 million and $4 million,a total of 35 yearlings were sold for seven figures over the course of two nights, also breaking the record established last year, when 25 horses hit that marker.

“Genuinely believe it was the greatest horse sale I've ever seen in my life,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “I joined Fasig-Tipton in 1988. We've had some wonderful moments, and some not so wonderful moments, and last night and tonight were simply incredible. It shows you what happens when you are able to assemble a magnificent group of horses on the grounds, and that's really where it starts and really where it finishes, because the finest judges that rate yearlings in the world, came on the grounds … and they clearly decided that this was an exceptional group of horses, which validated the thoughts and the beliefs that our consignors and our customers had, and our inspection team had, and that's a very, very, very fulfilling and a rewarding experience, really for every member of our staff and for every customer that we've got.”

Browning often speaks of the magic and the atmosphere in Saratoga Springs, a vibrant racing town, but said “there really isn’t any pixie dust” to the record results, giving credit to those who support Fasig-Tipton at every level.

“Pretty special place, but it's a special place because of the men and women at work at Fasig-Tipton,” Browning said. “The men and women who support Fasig-Tipton as buyers and sellers, the men and women who have worked at Fasig-Tipton and participated in our sales that came before us, and hopefully we're laying a foundation for a culture and a company and an organization that will continue to aspire to great heights for both ourselves and for our industry.”

An Into Mischief colt (hip 136) who is a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Barnes sold for $4,200,000 to Flying Dutchmen about an hour into Tuesday's session to lead the sale.

The Flying Dutchmen team bought 11 totaling $21,625,000, including Tuesday’s top two lots, and four of the evening’s top five prices.

A Gun Runner colt (hip 200), sold for $4 million, also to Flying Dutchmen. 

Late in the evening, a colt by Not This Time (hip 227) matched the $3,000,000 price tag to tie for the third-highest price of the night, going to the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds, White Birch, and M.V. Magnier of the Coolmore group.

Flying Dutchmen paid $2,800,000 for another Into Mischief colt (hip 140). 

Spendthrift bought another Into Mischief colt in support of its own stallion, as Delta Squad Racing, Whisper Hill Farm, and Spendthrift partnered at $2,600,000 on a bay colt (hip 121).

Other top yearlings were by Gun Runner and Into Mischief.

A chestnut Gun Runner colt (hip 207) was purchased for $2,300,000 by RMT Racing.

Spendthrift partnered with Go Go Greys Stable for an Into Mischief filly (hip 217), consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, as agent for breeder LNJ Foxwoods. 

A chestnut Gun Runner colt (hip 194) was purchased for $1,750,000 by Caitlin Dunne, acting as agent for Asagi Stables. 

Spendthrift and Delta Squad partnered for a $1,700,000 colt by Not This Time (hip 129). 

Stonestreet also bred the next colt on Tuesday’s leaderboard, a chestnut son of Triple Crown winner Justify (hip 212), purchased by Speedway Stables for $1,550,000. 

Next on the hit list for Into Mischief was a filly (hip 124) purchased for $1,500,000 by Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Buckland Sales, as agent for breeder Calumet Farm. 

Matching that $1,500,000 price was a Gun Runner colt (hip 216), purchased by Legion/Gracie, agent, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency. 

A Constitution colt (hip 119) who was just the fourth horse through the ring was purchased for $1,450,000 by Flying Dutchmen to help set the tone for the evening. 

A colt from the second crop of Life Is Good (hip 201) sold for $1,200,000 to Justin Casse, with Taylor Made Sales Agency also acting as agent.

A pair of Gun Runner fillies each brought $1,100,000, with Boyd Racing, with Brittany Linton as agent, bought a chestnut filly (hip 128), and Legion Bloodstock buyingr a bay filly (hip 184).

Another three yearlings joined the leaderboard at $1,000,000 exactly:

--A chestnut colt from the second crop of unbeaten Horse of the Year Flightline, himself a graduate of The Saratoga Sale, brought $1,000,000 when purchased by Deuce Greathouse, agent 30A. 

--Historic Claiborne Farm brought a consignment to The Saratoga Sale for the first time since 1975, and was led by a Constitution colt (hip 186) purchased by the partnership of St. Elias, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and Belladonna Racing. 

--A Tapit colt (hip 205) purchased by Resolute Bloodstock is out of the Argentinian Grade 3 winner Giant Remex, a Giant’s Causeway mare who had produced Argentinian stakes winner Renio Joy. 

During the Tuesday session, 71 yearlings sold for $63,410,000, with an average of $893,099 and median of $550,000.

Over the two nights, 152 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $118,215,000, a sale record surpassing the mark set last year, when 161 yearlings sold for $100,845,000, the first time in this storied sale's history to reach nine figures.

The average was $777,730, up 24.2% over the highwater mark set last year of $626,366. The median rose 16.6% for another record, to $525,000 from last year's $450,000.

The Leading Consignor by gross was Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold 29 yearlings for a total of $22,705,000.

The overall buyback rate was 18.3 percent.

“It was a vibrant atmosphere,” Browning said. “It was a kind of a celebration of all the things that that that everybody does right. I hope in 2028 and 2029, we’ve got to use a catalog cover that's twice the size of this one to put all the pictures of the great graduates. Because I'm telling you, mark my words on Aug. 11, 2026, you're going to look up two years from now, three years from now, and see some of the best horses in the world are graduates of this horse sale."

U.S. dressage team eighth, Simonson qualfied for the Grand Prix Special (2)

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August 12, 2026

By Staff Writers

AACHEN, Germany--Twenty years after winning team gold in Aachen, Germany repeated the feat in front of their home crowd at the FEI Dressage World Championship 2026.

Christian Simonson on Fleau de Baian (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan Photo)The hosts finished on a team total of 235.063%, 3.618 points clear of Great Britain with 231.445, while defending champions Denmark won bronze on 229.426.

The U.S. finished eighth of the 19 teams on a score of 210.621.

Only the top six teams qualified for the Los Angeles Olympics, but the U.S, as the home nation was pre-qualified.

Christian Simonson on Fleau de Baian was the highest U.S. rider, placing 26th on 71.394 and qualifying for the Grand Prix Special on Friday.

Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat W.P., who had competed Tuesday, finished 31st on 70.606 and just missed qualifying, but may still make it if someone drops out.

Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana, last to go, scored 68.711.

It felt surreal," said Simonson. "I'm a little speechless, honestly, at the moment. But it's just something I'll never forget. It was just really special. I try to be incredibly present with him, and I know that I can do my best job if I don't worry about anything else.

"HOW CAN I do the best job for him at that moment in this movement?" he said. "And just try to do my personal best for the feeling that I would like, and so that's really like that just fills my thoughts so much that then I usually don't have much more room to think about anything else, and so that's part of it."

Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan photo)Simonson has ridden Fleau de Baian for three years.

 "it's been kind of a long journey, but building step by step with him,"Simonson said. "We did the U25 series last year. So to be here with him at a show like this after last year is a testament of how amazing of a horse is. He just gave his all every step, and it's been so good in progressing each step by. I'm so unbelievably proud of him and of the team. It makes you a bit emotional. It's really special."

 "I have a small book that I wrote every my all my goals," said Smonson. "When I was 13 or 14, it had Pan Ams, a World Cup and a World Equestrian games in it, and so that was the first thought that went in my head was, Wow, I can't believe this. One of these things got fulfilled today."

"She's such an amazing mare and a great partner of mine, and I knew this atmosphere would be a little tense for her, and I kept trying to relax or, but she was a little tense with the atmosphere," said Holzer.  "I was really pleased with the piaffe and passage, she felt really, really with me, so I just have to try to be very positive and go on. Some parts got a little tense, and then the harmony came back again."

Cathrine Laudrup Dufour on Mount St Johnleadsindividually (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan photo)"I knew that it was going to be a lot of electricity in the air, with the crowd being with these top riders before me, and I think that affected me a little bit more than I would like to honestly admit," said Holzer. "She's so incredible. she's such an athlete, and you see that in moments when she relaxes, but that's not her nature. She's not relaxed by nature. She's really a very active horse, you know, even out in the paddock."

"I feel very, very grateful that at my age, 62, I can still do this sport," said Holzer.

 Christine Traurig, team coach and chef d'equipe, said the team is building towards the Los Angeles Olympics.

"We're looking at La 28, but also, because wer're the hosts and thus qualified, we have this wonderful opportunity to bring in the younger riders and younger horses at an event like this and give them the experience," said Traurig.

"Los Angeles is right around the corner," she said. "We have to look at these in the younger generation like Christian Simonson and Meagan Davis so that we have greater depth in horses and riders. That's what we have to look for going towards L A." 

Despite Germany’s commanding team performance, no German combination finished inside the individual top three.

Isabell Werth on Eendy de Fontaine, was fourth on 79.976, Katharina Henner on Denoix  PCH was fifth on 79.224, Frederic Wandres was ninth on 75.963 and Raphael Netz  was 13th on 73.338.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark on Mount St John Freestyle leads individually on 82.376%, Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus is second on 80.885, and Charlotte Fry on Glamoudale is third on 80.311.

The six highest-ranked eligible teams secured a team quota place.

Alongside medalists Germany, Great Britain and Denmark, qualification went to Belgium in fourth, the Netherlands in fifth and Sweden in sixth.

Cyber Ninja won the $75,000 Novice Stakes in Saratoga (2)

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August 13, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Cyber Ninja,trained by Jack Fisher, won the $75,000, 2 3/8 mile Michael G. (Micky) Walsh Novice Stakes at Cyber Ninja outduels Lynches Knock in the Micky Walsh Photo by Tod Marks)Saratoga on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Riverdee Stable's Cyber Ninja, ridden by Jamie Bargary, won by 1 length over Lynches Knock, trained by Ricky Hendriks, and Philip My Dear, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Those three finished 23 3/4 lengths in front of King Al and Famous Figure while Alpamayo  was pulled up  and vanned off the course.

Cyber Ninja, who was stakes placed on the flat, had previously won a maiden, an allowance and the Daniel Van Clief Memorial Stakes at Foxfield in April over fences.

Most recently, he had placed second to Mr. Percy in the Jonathan Kiser Memorial Novice Stakes at Saratoga on July 16.

CYBER NINJA ran third for most of the race, moved up to collar the leader, Philip My Dear after the final fence and went into the lead on the turn.

"I loved where he was," said Sean Clancy, manager  of the Riverdee syndicate. "H's a real pro. Shout  out to Bill Mott, who trained him before we got him. I watched the race from Bill's box. I thought it would give me some luck."

"I've had horses beaten the last four times out, so I didn't celebrate until after the finish," said Clancy.  

"The only thing I said to Jamie was, `Just be confident and trust the horse,'" he said.  "He's a nice horse, and he's had plenty of experience."

"I made a deal to buy this horse at the Breeders Cup two years ago," said Clancy. "I'd been following him for a long time. I thought everything about him just screamed jumper."

With this win, Cyber Ninja graduates from the novice ranks and now has to run in open company.

"I talked to Jack,and I'll probably put him away until next year," said Clancy. "I don't see any good spots for him this fall.""

Caroline Pamukcu and Phillip Dutton 14th and 15th after Eventing day one dressage (2)

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August 13, 2026

By Staff Writers

AACHEN, Germany--New Zealand and Great Britain are tied for the lead while The Brit's Tom McEwen on JL Dublin leads individually after day one of Eventng dressage.

Phillip Dutton on Denim (Photo by Allen MacMillan)After two riders from each of the teams, New Zealand and Great Britain each scored 55.9, and Germany is third on 59.9 while the U.S. is sixth of the 16 teams with a score of 64.9.

McEwen leads on 26.6 with Jonelle Price of New Zealand on Senor Crocodile second on 27.3 and  Alexis Goury of France on Je'vail third on 28.5.

Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake is 14th on 32.3, and Phillip Dutton on Denim is 15th on 32.6. 

FOR THE dressage test, thi was the first competitive outing of the Olympic Short Test, which will also be used at the Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028.

Caroline Pamucku on HSH Blake (Photo by Allen MacMillan)The updated test asked plenty of questions, with little room for error as every transition and movement arrived in quick succession.

"The flying changes still can get better," said Dutton after completing his test. " You don't have much time to regroup after the changes. Overall, I was pleased wit the test."

"It's a tough course," said Dutton of Saturday's cross country course. " "It's a proper five-star course. "There are a lot of options if something goes wrong. "I'll have to do a lot of studying tomorrow. The first and second water are strong, and the bank, and coming home the mounds are pretty hard."

McEwen’s performance laid the foundation for Great Britain’s opening-day aim for the gold medal, with teammate Gemma Stevens on Flash Cooley adding 29.3 to bring their provisional team total to 55.9.

“Dubs always delivers. I’m really, really pleased with him,” McEwen reflected.

Tom McEwen on JL Dublin (Photo by Kim MacMillan)“It’s a really good test, and you can see people are performing it really well,” he said of the new dressage test. “I think on Friday, especially hopefully with the Brits, you’re going to see some really good tests delivered.”

New Zealand matched Great Britain stride for stride, with stellar tests from Price and Johnstone leaving the two nations level at the top.

Price admitted the result exceeded her expectations after Senor Crocodillo produced a clean and consistent test to record a personal best of 27.2.

It was also the second-best Dressage score at a Championship of Price’s career, behind only the 26.1 she produced with McClaren at Praton, Italy in 2022.

“He’s a quiet achiever, this guy,” she said. “He’s just such a trier and over the last couple of years we’ve been able to really start solidly building a test, so it was pretty cool to come out and show him at his best. If I broke 30, I was pretty happy, so to be comfortably shy of that was probably above expectation.”

With another 44 still to come on Friday, many of the favorites for team and individual medals are yet to enter the arena, leaving the Championship wide open.

Among them are Germany’s Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH.

The 18-year-old gelding is the only horse to have led a World Championship after Dressage more than once, doing so with Julia Krajewski of Germany ) at Tryon 2018 and with Jung at Pratoni 2022. 

Siennois won an Allowance hurdle at Colonial for Keri Brion (2)

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August 14, 2026

By Staff Writers

NEW KENT, Va.--Keri Brion saddled Leipers Fork Steeplechase's Siennois (Ire) to win the $65,000.2 1/4 miles Allowance Hurdle at Colonial Downs on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Siennois winning at Colonial (Photo by Coady Media)Siennois won by 5 1/4 lengths over Fulmineo, trained by Julie Gomena, and Flash Frozen, trained by Tom Garner.

"He's an extremely nice horse," said Brion. "I've loved him since he came into my barn in the winter. He was bought from a digital sale."

"He came from California, where he was obviously very well taken care of by previous connections," said Brion. "He had a sarcoid on the inside of his hind leg that broke open at Fair Hill, which is why he only ran okay that day. Dr. David Levine took it off, and he's been awesome ever since."

A sarcoid is a skin lesion.

"I have to give thanks to Mark George and Mark McMillan for trusting the recommendation to buy him and allowing me to train him," Brion said. "Horses like this make you want to get up in the morning." 

Jack Fisher saddled Bruton Street-US' Time Song to win the $60,000 Maiden Special Weight hurdle by 4 3/4 lengths over Thomas Aquinas, trained by Garner, and Roundtop, trained by Brion.

Ricky Hendriks saddled his own Morninstar Farm's Starforce to win the $35,000 Handicap Hurdle by 1 14 lengths over Fouroneohsmokeshow, trained by Brion, and Bright Eyed Eagle, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Charlotte Fry won the Dressage Individual gold medal, Christian Simonson 29th (2)

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August 14, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

AACHEN,, Germany--Defending World Champions Charlotte Fry of Great Britain  on Glamourdale won the gold meal in the Grand Prix Special at the FEI Dressage World Championship on Friday, Aug 14.

Christian Simonson on Fleau de Baian (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan Photography)Fry's score continue to climb throughout the test, eventually finishing on 82.295%.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark on  Mount St John Freestyle won the silver medal on 80.927, while Katharina Hemmer of Germany on Denoix PCH won the bronze with 80.866.

Christian Simonson on Fleau deBaian, the only American to qualify for the Grand Prix Special, finished 29th of the 30 qualifiers on 68.456.

Simonson, a very young up-and-coming superstar is America's hope for the future. 

"Fleau felt actually amazing in the ring today," said Smonson. "He felt so good and so with me each step. The passage work and the extension work I was so happy with. I had a little mistake coming into the the first half passes, where I did some changes."

"But I'm so happy with him and the team," he said. "It's been an amazing journey. And I feel very grateful to get to learn and grow as I'm continuing my career. I think that was an example of that today, and so I'm just very happy to be here and happy with today."

Simonson competed in Aachen as a Young Rider and then in the Pan Am Games.

"Yeah, it's been a kind of a whirlwind," he said. "I have unbelievable levels of gratitude when I think of the journey. I've written down so many goals, like competing at a Pan Ams or competing in a World Cup."

"So these past five years or so or since 2023, even the past three years, have felt like so much of a whirlwind, but it's so much and so many thanks to give," said Simonson.

AFTER A relatively quiet season with few competition appearances, Charlotte Fry featured in relatively few predictions for the top three.

Charlotte Frye on Glamourdale (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan photo)DSC 5935However, she once again showed that she and Glamourdale must be taken seriously.

After their surprise victory in Herning, Fry and Glamourdale proved they are here to stay, reclaiming the gold medal with a commanding lead.

“It’s still quite a blur what just happened. We were both completely focused, he had so much power, stayed relaxed and happy. The more I asked, the more I got. I didn’t even dare to dream about defending our title among all those amazing riders and horses,” said Fry.

Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle were perhaps the hot favourites for the title, but their score of 80.927% left them just short of gold. An error in the one-time changes and some uncertainty in the second pirouette lowered their score slightly.

Bronze went to Hemmer Denoix PCH, who moved ahead of her legendary compatriot Isabell Werth.

With 80.866%, Hemmer came remarkably close to Laudrup-Dufour, but ultimately had to settle for bronze.

Great Britain leads Eventing after cross country, the U.S. is fifth (2)

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August 15, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

AACHEN, Germany--Great Britain leads Eventing on 75.6 penalties and has a little over three fences in hand over Germany with 90.4 penalties and Switzerland with 106.5 following the cross country on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Will Coleman on Diabolo (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan Photo)The U.S. is fifth on 112.3, just behind Ireland on 110.1 and just ahead of France on 113.9.

Individually, it''s incredibly close at the top, with Michael Jung of Germany on fischerChipmunk FRH leading on his dressage score of 23 over Rosiland Carter of Great Britain on Lordships Graffalo on her dressage score of 23.4 and Laura Collett of Great Britain on London 52 on 23.6.

Will Coleman on Diabolo is sixth, finishing on his dressage score of 30, just behind Tim McEwen of Great Britain on JL Dublin with 28.6 and Christoph Wahler of Germany on D'Accord FRH with 29.4.

Only five were double clear cross country, no jumping and no time faults.

TAMIE SMITH on Lillet 3, riding as an Individual, is 18th wit 35.0. Boyd Martin on Cooley Nutcracker is 23rd with 37.3, Phillip Dutton on Denim is 33rd with 45.0 while Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake was eliminated after a fall.

Tamra Smith on Lillet 3 (Photo by Allen MacMillan)With scores so close, much will hinge on Sunday's show jumping.

"Diabolo was amazing," said Coleman, who finished on his dressage score of 30.0. "He was better than his rider today. I can't say enough good things about him."

"It was a tense cross country course, a bit frenetic," said Coleman. "I think he'll get something out of this. I thought the course rode the way I thought it would."

"I was so impressed with this horse," said Martin. "He was nervous and tricky in the warm-up, but once he was out of the start box he was all business."

Nutcracker started with a hood over his ears, but after a few fences, Martin pulled it off and threw it into the crowd.

"He was a little spooky with the noise at first, but once he settled in I wanted to give him more air in his ears," said Martin.

Boyd Martin on Cooley Nutcracker (Photo by Sarah Miller for MacMillan Photo)The course was lined with huge, very enthusiastic and loud crowds of 35,000 spectators.

I was set to go the hard way at the bank, but I didn't want to go crashing, so I listened to the coaches," said Martin. "I felt obligated to have a clean round. It was just a little slower way."

"Lillet was super," said Smith."She was everything I hoped she'd be. It was a fast and furious cross country course, but she's such a cross country machine."

"She's only 10 and green, but I rode her like a seasoned horse and she acted like one," said Smith." I took the long way at the bank and the option at the end of the course because I didn't know what she knows, and I didn't want to risk anything. I decided jump the jumps first and then get the time. She's so young, but she has a great career ahead of her."

Jung's Chipmunk, leading with a clean round, is incredible at 18 years old.

Phillip Dutton on Denim (Photo by Allen MacMillan)He has win championships all over the world.

“That was pure joy,” said Jung."He’s a bit like a fine wine, he just keeps getting better. He was wonderful jumping everywhere. He was so powerful and so with me."

"The crowd was amazing," said Jung. "There's big pressure for tomorrow. Everyone has to jump clean."

The concluding phase, the show jumping, which will decide who wins the medals in both the individual and team competitions, will be staged in the Main Stadium Sunday at 1:00 p.m., 7 a.m. Eastern.

Michael Jung has one single goal: “Not to make the same mistake as in 2022.”

Back then, at the World Championships in Pratoni, he missed out on winning the individual gold medal after knocking a rail at the last fence.

Michael Jung on fischer Chipmunk (Photo by Kim MacMillan)“That’s obviously still on my mind,” Jung admitted frankly. “But we already had a few slip-ups in the dressage yesterday. I hope those are the only ones that happen this weekend.”