Betdaq, the Irish based online sports betting company, has announced its intentions to sponsor 72 horse races, including the GBP 25 000 Kent National, which is going to be held between February 14 and March 6 at the Arena Leisure courses Lingfield, Wolverhampton, Southwell and Folkestone.

Certainly, the Old Roan Chase at Aintree will be a great occasion for those who enjoy horse racing, since it could be the comeback of three track favorites: Voy Por Ustedes, Exotic Dancer and Ungaro. The Sir Robert Ogden trio has different trainers and already is among the 22 contestants for the Mildmay Course event.

Master Minded is back in the tracks bigger and stronger than last year. He showed he is in great shape during an exhibition round of jumping thanks to which he claimed the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“He has done so well during the summer,” trainer Paul Nicholls said. "We took our time with him last year as he was so lean when he came to us from France but he is now bigger and stronger. He will start off in the Tingle Creek and then have two to three more runs before the Champion Chase. He will get two and a half miles in time but we will stick to two miles as he is so efficient at the trip.”

Irish trainer Jim Bolger took advantage of the absence of Aidan O’Brien’s Duke of Marmalade and won the Irish Champion Stakes with his New Approach. The colt, winner of the Epsom Derby gave a brilliant victory to trainer Bolger, who could not be more satisfied.

However, New Approach was not the only champion of the day for Bolger. His filly Lush Lashes previously won the Group One race at Leopardstown, the Matron Stakes. Bolger’s son-in-law Kevin Manning was in charge of riding both winners.

After a brilliant third place in the Epsom Oaks last weekend, John Oxx’s Katyra will skip the Pretty Polly Stakes and any preparation race and go straight to compete at the Darley Irish Oaks. This was confirmed by the filly’s trainer this week.

John Oxx had first informed that Katyra would go straight to the Curragh but later admitted he was thinking about running the filly at the Pretty Polly Stakes on Irish Derby weekend. However, the trainer finally discarded the Stakes and any preparation run before the fillies Classic.

A report from the Ontario Strategic Horse Racing Review Panel that could dramatically change the economics of the horse industry in Ontario is about to be submitted soon and it is expected that it would have a profound effect in the way racing is being regulated at the present day.

The Review Panel will submit its report to Ted McMeekin, minister of government and consumer services. On it, they will propose the government the need to renew the racing industry and also the measures aimed to bring back the profitable development that the horse racing industry needs.

The Preakness Stakes 2008 will be held at the Pimlico Race Course, on the 17th of this month. This event first took place one evening in 1868, where a couple of sportsmen agreed to hold a special horse race to commemorate a honorable occasion, and this event then became the constitution for the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown.

Big Brown is the favourite to win a Triple Crown this year, and this has made the whole event gain a lot of popularity. Early odds had Big Brown at -300, requiring $300 bet in order to win $100. If Big Brown should win, that $300 is paid back.

Like every year, the last Sunday of April was a festive day for Turkmenistan, a day when they celebrate the Turkmen Horse Day, which is also their national day. For this festivity and for the development that the horse races industry has had in the country, Turkmenistan in known as the Central Asian largest super modern equestrian center.

For the celebration of the Turkmen Horse Day, most villages and cities in the country organize fairs and festivals where they enjoy concerts and competitions, specially horse races.

Since Budweiser ended its sponsoring contract with the Irish Derby in June, the organizers of the Classic have been searching for a new supporter. Now, the search is over since Dubai Duty Free stepped forward and signed a five-year contract to sponsor the race, which will hold its 143rd edition this year.

“The Irish Derby is a major race meeting attracting widespread media coverage across Europe and beyond and is therefore in line with our global strategy of promoting Dubai and Dubai Duty Free,” Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said.

This past Saturday, the world’s richest race was held at Nad al Sheba racetrack, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Curlin, the now Horse of the Year, set a new record by winning the race and taking a 7¾ length advance over its competitors.

Robby Alvarado, the winning rider says: “What a horse. Curlin is like a limousine and I am just along for the ride.” In the race, Curlin blew past the leaders, Well Armed and Asiatic Boy, and as he crossed the finish line effortlessly, Albarado raised an index finger to the sky.