Kentucky Derby Winner Justify Sold for Record $75 Million

The owner of Kentucky Derby winner Justify has sold a stake in the colt for a reported record $75 million.

WinStar Farm announced Tuesday that China Horse Club, Head of State, Starlight Racing and WinStar each sold a 25 percent interest in the horse.

Justify is the 13th horse to win the Derby and Preakness Stakes and is expected to run in the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

"We are excited to have such a great partnership going forward with China Horse Club, Head of State, Starlight Racing and WinStar," said Elliott Walden of WinStar. "This group has the racing experience, knowledge and resources to take Justify to new levels."

The sale price would eclipse the previous record of $60 million paid for a share in 2015 in American Pharoah.

Racing Champion Zenyatta Retired to Breed Stardust

The racing industry was rocked Tuesday when news broke that Zenyatta, one of the most successful racehorses in history, had been retired to breed Stardust.

"This is a bittersweet day for all of us at Zenyatta Farms," said John Shirreffs, trainer of Zenyatta. "On the one hand, we are excited to see Zenyatta continue her legacy by producing world-class foals. On the other hand, it is hard to say goodbye to such an amazing horse."

Zenyatta was undefeated in 19 races and won more than $7 million in prize money. In 2010, she was named Horse of the Year and voted American Champion Female Turf Horse.

"Zenyatta has been an amazing horse to work with," said Shirreffs. "She is a true champion in every sense of the word. We are confident that her offspring will inherit her athleticism, intelligence and good looks."

Zenyatta is expected to foal in late 2012.

From War Horse to Racehorse: Vicki's Top Thoroughbred Picks

Forget about the Triple Crown. When it comes to horseracing, the Breeders' Cup is where it's at. Held every year in November, the Breeders' Cup is a series of races where the best thoroughbreds from around the world compete for a fortune in prize money.

This year, I'm putting my money on Vicki's Top Thoroughbred Picks. Here are my top three picks:

1) Enable

Enable is an English thoroughbred who has been tearing up the turf track this year. In her last race, she comfortably won the $4 million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most prestigious horse race. With wins in some of the world's top races under her belt, Enable is sure to give any horse a run for its money at this year's Breeders' Cup.

2) Accelerate

Accelerate is an American thoroughbred who has had an impressive year on the racetrack. Heading into the Breeders' Cup, he is currently ranked as the number one horse in North America. With a win in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic under his belt, Accelerate will be looking to cement his place as one of the best thoroughbreds in the world.

3) Yoshida

Yoshida is a Japanese thoroughbred who has made quite a name for himself on the international racing scene. This year, he won several major races including the Japan Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic. With his impressive track record and seasoned racehorse experience, Yoshida is definitely a contender to watch at this year's Breeders' Cup.

Zupic transferring thoroughbreds to new owner

Zupic Thoroughbreds, a well-known and highly respected breeder of champion thoroughbred racehorses, is transferring its entire breeding operation to new ownership. The transition is set to take place on January 1, 2019.

The new owner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is a longtime horse racing enthusiast who has been involved in the sport at the highest levels for many years. He already owns several successful racehorse breeding operations and is excited to add Zupic Thoroughbreds to his portfolio.

"I am very impressed with the quality of horses that Zupic Thoroughbreds has produced over the years," said the new owner. "I am confident that we can build on that success and create even more champions together."

Zupic Thoroughbreds' founder and former owner, John Zupic, is sad to see the business go but is confident that it is in good hands.

"My wife and I have been involved in horse racing for over four decades now," said Zupic. "And it's been our life's passion. We're so grateful for all the amazing horses we've been able to breed and bring into this world. We're really excited about what the future holds for them under this new ownership."

Trainer switches from Standardbreds to Thoroughbreds

When I decided to switch from training Standardbreds to Thoroughbreds, the first thing I did was consult with my veterinarian.

I had been successfully training and racing Standardbreds for years, but I had always been interested in trying my hand at Thoroughbreds. I knew that there were some big differences between the two breeds, especially when it came to conditioning and race preparation.

So before making the switch, I wanted to be sure that my veterinarian agreed with my plan and could help me make the transition as smooth as possible. Thankfully, he was on board and gave me a few tips to get started.

The first step was to gradually increase the distance of my workouts with the Standardbreds. This would help prepare their muscles and joints for the longer distances required by Thoroughbreds. I also needed to start feeding them a higher quality diet that would provide them with the necessary energy and nutrients for racing.

The final step was to Condition Myself Properly as well not just the horses…..something i kinda forgot about in the beginning…..which is very important if your looking to compete in races against thoroughbreds…. you need to be eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and most importantly (for me anyways) drinking lots of water!!!

After following these steps, I felt confident that my horses were ready for the challenge of racing against Thoroughbreds. And thankfully, they performed well too – we even won a few races!