The racing world is mourning the death of American jockey Robby Albarado. A winner of over 5,000 races, the Louisiana native sadly passed away at the age of 52 on Wednesday. A significant move was made in US racing on the day too, with the Preakness Stakes moved back one week in the calendar.
Here is today’s racing news for Thursday.
Racing mourns Robby Albarado after jockey dies aged 52
The racing world was darkened by the death of Hall Of Fame jockey Robby Albarado on Wednesday. Albarado died at the age 52, just one week after undergoing heart surgery. He rode his first winner at the age of 16 in 1990, which preceded a further 5,000 in an extraordinary career. Among his best achievements were three Breeders’ Cup successes and two Preakness Stakes’, the first of those aboard two-time US Horse of the Year Curlin, who also won the Dubai World Cup. (The Sun)
Preakness Stakes moved to revive US Triple Crown
The second leg of the US Triple Crown has been moved to revive the series. Pimlico’s Preakness Stakes is the least heralded of the Triple Crown races, with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes usually attracting the greater audiences. However, in a move to encourage more Derby runners to contest the Preakness, the second leg will now take place one week later, giving horses 22 days between the first two Triple Crown races. The brilliant Justify, who has since sired City Of Troy among others, was the last Triple Crown winner in 2018, and is one of only two since 1978. (ESPN)
Constitution River on course for Juddmonte but Calandagan’s Europe campaign on hold
The Group 1 Juddmonte International is set to host another O’Brien-Gosden showdown. York’s 1m2f prize has attracted some of the best fields in Europe in recent seasons, with Eclipse hero Constitution River now on course to take on Ombudsman in the race. Ombudsman is the defending champion, arriving on the Knavesmire after a devastating display in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. However, Aidan O’Brien is proving the adage true of not running scared from one horse. O’Brien has said the Juddmonte International “is what we’re aiming him for and that’s what we’re really looking forward to.” (Racing Post)
Conversely, Calandagan, who was taken out of the Juddmonte International earlier this week, may have run his last European race in 2026. Francis-Henri Graffard’s star finished second in his bid for back-to-back King Georges at Ascot behind Kalpana. His trainer is looking further abroad, with the defence of his Japan Cup title taking priority on November 29. (Racing Post)
Fortitudine flies on debut
Rebel’s Romance may be recently retired but his legacy may well live on in his full brother. Fortitudine made his debut at Kempton on Wednesday and few horses will have won by as far first time out. James Doyle and he passed the post 21 lengths clear of their nearest challenger. The victory was more remarkable because he had not gone off favourite, winning at 7/2. After the race, Doyle suggested that “everyone has been a bit surprised by that [performance].” (Thoroughbred Daily News)