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2025 Year in Review Santa Anita Opening Day Hong Kong Cup Results Hong Kong Jockey Challenge Hong Kong Cup woeks |
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Date: 12/31/2025
As everyone celebrates the holidays, it is time to bid farewell to 2025 and the exciting racing which we enjoyed, however much like at the end of 2024, many of us are glad to be done with 2025. This year had some outstanding horses and great feats by both equine and human athletes, but we also had some sad losses to mourn. Here's a look back at the best and worst of the 2025 racing season.
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The $20 million Saudi Cup on February 22 is world's richest horse race, contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. 9-4 second choice Forever Young outfinished 4-5 favorite Romantic Warrior by a neck with 34-1 Ushba Tesoro third. On the undercard, Byzantine Dream won the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap, Straight No Chaser won the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Ascoli Piceno won the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint, Shin Emperor won the $2 million Neom Turf Cup, and Golden Vekoma took the $1.5 million Saudi Derby.
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A month later the eyes of the racing world moved further east on the Arabian Peninsula to Meydan for the $12 million Dubai World Cup. 41-1 longshot Hit Show won the headliner with Florent Geroux aboard for Brad Cox. 29-1 Mixto was second and 1-2 favorite Forever Young third. On the undercard, 13-1 Soul Rush rallied to win the Dubai Turf by a nose over 1-5 favorite Romantic Warrior, Danon Decile won the Sheema Claasic, Dark Saffron took the Golden Shaheen, and Admire Daytona won the UAE Derby.
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One story repeated in this space over recent years finally came to a conclusion as trainer Bob Baffert's suspension from Churchill Downs tracks meant he again was able to run in the Kentucky Derby. Thankfully, racehorse breakdowns or drug positives were not prominent in the headlines in 2025, instead replaced by another threat to the sport's well-being, which is the rise in computer-assisted wagering, where high rollers are given advantages regular bettors do not have, such as back door access to betting pools and data, with the ability to place thousands of bets in the final seconds before pools close at the start of a race. Late odds drops happening mid-race, and unusually low exotic payouts, can be attributed to this.
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The redevelopment at Belmont Park continues with the new grandstand to be ready in time for the 2027 Belmont Stakes; the track will also host the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships. In Canada, horse racing west of the Rocky Mountains came to an abrupt end as Fraser Downs, the harness track in Surrey, British Columbia, closed its doors for good in August, followed shortly after by nearby Hastings Park in Vancouver, whose 2025 closing day in October was announced in December to be the track's last. Both tracks were run by casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment, which also runs the casino at Woodbine in Toronto.
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Foreign racing continues to attract more and more attention in North America with increased availability of betting outlets and TV coverage. In the Melbourne Cup, the "race that stops a nation", Half Yours rallied by Goodie Two Shoes and Middle Earth, with jockey Jamie Melham the second female rider to win, exactly 10 years after Michelle Payne's historic win. In late November, 3-1 second choice Calandagan won the Japan Cup over Masquerade Ball and Denon Decile with regular rider Mickael Barzalona in the irons for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, as the first foreign-trained winner in 20 years. The year closed out with the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. 1-10 favorite Romantic Warrior rallied to win the Hong Kong Cup by 1 1/2 lengths over Bellagio Opera and Quisisana, with James McDonald aboard for trainer Danny Shum completing the first ever four-peat in Cup history. Sosie took the Vase for jockey Maxime Guyon and trainer Andre Fabre, over last year's winner Giavellotto and Goliath. Ka Ying Rising won the Sprint for local trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton for the second year in a row, over Helios Express and Satono Reve. Voyage Bubble repeated in the Mile over Soul Rush with Red Lion third, under regular rider Zac Purton for trainer Ricky Yiu.
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European racing gives out its awards in November. Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, QIPCO Champion, and Japan Cup winner Calandagan was named Cartier Horse of the Year as well as champion Older Horse. Delacroix was named champion 3-year-old colt, Minnie Hauk is champion 3-year-old filly, Asfoora is champion sprinter, Trawlerman is champion stayer, Gstaad took the 2-year-old colt award, and Precise is the champion 2-year-old filly.
Of course, with all the excitement and joy the sport brings, there are always losses each year. Many horses lost their lives due to injury while others succumbed to illness or old age. Here are some of the notable losses in 2025, both human and equine, with links to articles about each. If we missed someone, please let us know.
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