Horsetalk New Zealand: Database likely to aid parentage testing in Thoroughbreds, identify gene doping

Horsetalk New Zealand: Database likely to aid parentage testing in Thoroughbreds, identify gene doping. “Dr Teruaki Tozaki and his fellow researchers, writing in the journal Genes, said the database they constructed from their findings will provide useful information for genetic studies and industrial applications in Thoroughbred horses. These include a gene-editing test for gene-doping control and a parentage test using insertions and deletions for horse registration and identification.”

Behind the Lens: Two Million Photographs, One Passionate Historian (Thoroughbred Daily News)

Thoroughbred Daily News: Behind the Lens: Two Million Photographs, One Passionate Historian. “Two summers ago, when six-time Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara D. Livingston acquired the entire five-decade archive of noted 20th Century racetrack photographer Jim Raftery, she thought the hard part would be getting the 300 oversized boxes from Florida to New York in the middle of a pandemic.”

BloodHorse: Equine Library Donated to Cal Poly Pomona

BloodHorse: Equine Library Donated to Cal Poly Pomona. “The California Thoroughbred Foundation is donating the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library in Arcadia—one of the most extensive collections of equine literature found anywhere—to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona…. The university intends to digitize research books for worldwide access, exposing the Burke Library to a far wider audience than the Foundation could offer.”

The State Journal: Locals contribute to new website chronicling African Americans in the horse industry

The State Journal: Locals contribute to new website chronicling African Americans in the horse industry. “Three local folks are involved in a new website designed to increase awareness, education and access to African American history. The website, Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry, is a collaborative effort between individuals, organizations, communities and the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park.”

Del Mar: Racing suspended as 15 jockeys at US track test positive for coronavirus (BBC)

BBC: Del Mar: Racing suspended as 15 jockeys at US track test positive for coronavirus. “Racing has been suspended at a track in the United States after 15 jockeys tested positive for coronavirus. Meetings scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Del Mar will not be held. All jockeys set to ride at the track in California were checked after leading riders Flavien Prat and Victor Espinoza tested positive.”

Lifehacker: How to Watch the Virtual Kentucky Derby This Weekend

Lifehacker: How to Watch the Virtual Kentucky Derby This Weekend. “The Kentucky Derby was originally slated to happen this weekend, but like most everything else worth getting excited about, it has been postponed to later in the year. This is only the second time the race has even been postponed in its storied 146-year history. (The first time was in 1945, in the final year of World War II.) While we won’t see an actual race this Saturday—that’s been rescheduled for September 5—Churchill Downs is hosting a number of Derby-related events this weekend to raise money for COVID-19 relief.”

Virtual Kentucky Derby at Home Party: Date, start time, TV, how to watch, live stream (NBC News)

NBC News: Virtual Kentucky Derby at Home Party: Date, start time, TV, how to watch, live stream. “On May 2, Churchill Downs will empty on the first Saturday in May for the first time since 1945. The 146th Kentucky Derby has been moved from May 2 to Saturday, September 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the party will still go on—from home. Fans can stay healthy at home as NBC Sports and Churchill Downs partner for a virtual Kentucky Derby at Home Party, which includes The First Saturday In May: American Pharoah’s Run to the Triple Crown, a look back at American Pharoah’s 2015 Derby win en route to his historic Triple Crown, and The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown, a socially distant, computer-simulated edition of the Run for the Roses that pits all 13 Triple Crown winners against each other.”

SportBusiness: FEI removes OTT paywall and offers broadcasters free archive

SportBusiness: FEI removes OTT paywall and offers broadcasters free archive. “The FEI, the international federation for equestrian sport, has removed the paywall from its FEI.tv streaming platform and is also providing free archive footage to broadcasters. Announcing the move today (Friday), the FEI said that the OTT platform will provide all of its coverage of past events and special equestrian features free of charge while live sport is on hold until the end of June.”

BetaNews: Grand National goes virtual to give fans their racing fix

BetaNews: Grand National goes virtual to give fans their racing fix. “The Grand National is a highlight of the British sporting calendar. An event that prompts people who never normally bet on a horse race to venture a few pounds at the bookies or take part in a workplace sweepstake. With this year’s race canceled due to the coronavirus it looked like they might miss out, but virtual reality is coming to the rescue.”

British Horseracing Authority: Digital race archive playing vital role in ground-breaking rider research

British Horseracing Authority: Digital race archive playing vital role in ground-breaking rider research. “The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced details of how its digital archive of previous races is assisting multiple research projects aimed at improving rider safety. The projects, which are based at the University of Sydney, University College Dublin and University of Bath respectively all use a digital race archive created by the BHA earlier this year to map and digitally re-construct how jockeys fall in more detail.”

Pennsylvania Creates Database of Horse Racing Rulings

The state of Pennsylvania has launched a new database of rulings given with regard to horse racing activities. “Results of official rulings issued against licensees by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission now will be available online as part of the commission’s continuing commitment to transparency and modernizing its oversight of the state’s racing industry. Historically, access to the database of rulings was limited to racing regulators. Today, any decision, matter or action taken by racing judges, stewards, or the commission, relating to racing activities now will be publically accessible and searchable…”

Twitter Livestreamed the Melbourne Cup

Twitter continues to get into livestreaming sports. “The race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup, will this year be streamed live on Twitter, competing with the Seven Network’s stream and live TV broadcast of the race. The Melbourne Cup is not the first sport that Twitter has live streamed, but is the first outside the United States.” It’s already streamed, but interesting to see what other events outside of the US Twitter will make deals for.