Latest news with #2
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Barry Hills dies aged 88 as tributes paid to trainer of more than 3,000 winners
Barry Hills had a brilliant career and he won four of the five British Classics at least once, before he handed over the stable's licence to son Charlie in 2011 Tributes have been paid to top horse racing trainer Barry Hills who has died at the age of 88. Hills sent out more than 3,000 winners during a brilliant career which lasted more than 40 years - and saw him saddle winners of four of the five British Classics at least once. He set out at South Bank Stables in Lambourn and 1973 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rheingold, 24-time scorer Further Flight and 2004 Guineas hero Haafhd were among the best horses he trained. A statement from the British Horseracing Authority said: "All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Barry Hills and send our deepest condolences to his family and friends at this sad time. "Barry's contribution to racing was immense and he will rightly be remembered as one of the great figures of our sport." In a post on his X account, son Charlie Hills said: 'Gone but will never be forgotten #dad.' Charlie took on the stable's licence in 2011 when his father, who battled serious illnesses including cancer, retired. He briefly made a return to the sport after the death of his son John in 2014. Hills was also father to Michael and Richard, both successful riders who rode almost 2,000 winners each and George, who has worked in bloodstock. "Very sorry to hear about the death of Barry Hills. In awe of him, tough as nails," commentator Mike Cattermole wrote on X. "Incredible life which changed after an almighty gamble with Frankincense in the 1968 Lincoln. Arc-winning trainer within five years. Patriarch of an amazing racing family. Thoughts with them all." Trainer Dylan Cunha said it was "devastating" to hear his former boss had passed away. "My deepest condolences & sympathies with the Hills family," he said on the social media platform. "Barry Hills was a true legend, a master indeed & I always think back to the best days I ever had working there." Hills, who prepared Tap On Wood to take the 2,000 Guineas in 1979 and saddled Ghanaati three decades years later, had ten British and Irish Classics on his record. Starting out as a jockey, one of his more unusual successes came in the 1992 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Nomadic Way. The blinkered runner switched between the two codes of racing and he also claimed the 1988 Cesarewitch Handicap. He died in 2012 at the age of 27. And Further Flight was a real stable favourite, galloping to victory in five editions of the Jockey Club Cup. A spokesperson for the Racehorse Owners Association said: "Everyone at the ROA is deeply saddened by the passing of Barry Hills, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time. "Barry made an extraordinary contribution to racing and will be remembered as one of the sport's true greats."
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Map shows US states with highest use of harmful pesticides
You may think you're being healthy by filling your plate with fruits and vegetables, but experts are warning the nutritious staples may actually be covered in cancer-causing chemicals. Based on the most recent data collected by the US Geological Survey in 2019, harvesters across Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma and parts of Texas have been using the toxic herbicide 2,4-D at high amounts. Due to its ability to completely destroy vegetation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2,4-D as a 'possible human carcinogen' in 2015. The classification came as a result of multiple studies suggesting that high exposure to the herbicide could damage human cells and was seen to cause cancer in animals. While direct exposure to Pesticide 2,4-D is rare for most Americans, the toxins from the herbicide can accumulate in the body through eating unwashed grains and other crops. And while the chemical may only be used on crops in select states, the crops from those states are shipped nationwide - indicating that all Americans are at a risk. David Goldsmith, an environmental epidemiologist at George Washington University in Washington, DC, said: 'The public needs to be informed and vigilant about the use of herbicides, keeping them away from children and schools.' He told Newsweek : 'I am concerned if farmers or farmworkers are not using effective safety gear and thus may be excessively exposed via inhalation or skin contact. 'I am also concerned that 2,4-D may contaminate drinking water sources. Although, I believe that there is a direct risk for people who buy produce from fields that have had 2,4-D used on them.' Talking about why the herbicide was being heavily used only in certain states, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, director of the Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health noted that it was due to their particular type of produce. He said: 'The Midwest, Great Plains, and Northwestern US have the highest 2,4-D usage, largely because these regions are the primary producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, and other field crops that are commonly treated with 2,4-D.' No usage of the toxic pesticide was seen in states such as California - known for producing artichokes, broccoli, carrots and lettuce - and states in the New England region. Sparse use of 2,4-D was reported in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming - all known for producing onions, potatoes, carrots, lentils, sweet corn, beans, peppers and pumpkins. The data also showed low use by farmers in Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, where agricultural produce is mostly focused on celery, peas, brussels sprouts, okra, radishes, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and cucumbers. Shockingly, data from the CDC also shows that Kentucky has the high rates of cancer in the US - particularly lung, colon and pancreatic cancers - followed closely by Iowa and Louisiana. Federal agencies across the US, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have deemed 2,4-D as safe for humans, despite research suggesting otherwise. While not completely banned across the entire European Union, 2,4-D is heavily restricted and its use is significantly curtailed in many countries in the region. In one such instance, the herbicide not been approved for use on lawns and gardens in countries like Denmark and Norway. A 2022 BMC study found that one in three Americans had higher than acceptable levels of exposure to the toxic herbicide and were at the risk of leukemia in children, birth defects and reproductive problems in adults. According to Natural Resources Defense Council, scientists have also previously found links between exposure to 2,4-D and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a form of blood cancer) and sarcoma (a soft-tissue cancer). Additionally, the agency warned that high exposure to the herbicide can negatively alter the functioning of various hormones including estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones - paving the way for the development for cancer. Gerald LeBlanc, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, told Newsweek: 'IARC has classified 2,4-D as a Group 2B carcinogen, which means that it is possibly carcinogenic to humans. 'In my estimation, 2,4-D might cause cancer in humans, but only at unrealistically high exposure levels.' However, it is possible that the herbicide can cause internal body damage over time if consumed through foods. Toxins are often stored in fat tissues, organs such as the liver and kidneys and even within nerve cells and bone marrow when ingested. An overload of harmful toxins in the body can eventually cause fatal damage to cells, tissue and crucial organs.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
America's silent poisoning: Map shows the US states most at risk
You may think you're being healthy by filling your plate with fruits and vegetables, but experts are warning the nutritious staples may actually be covered in cancer-causing chemicals. Based on the most recent data collected by the US Geological Survey in 2019, harvesters across Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma and parts of Texas have been using the toxic herbicide 2,4-D at high amounts. The chemical was an active component in Agent Orange - the defoliant used by American forces during the Vietnam War to destroy forestry and crops - and is now a widely used herbicide to control the growth of weeds around crops. Farmers across the Midwest and southern states typically spray the pesticide over corn plants, soybeans, rice, wheat, hay, barley, oats, rye, sugarcane and tobacco. Due to its ability to completely destroy vegetation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2,4-D as a 'possible human carcinogen' in 2015. The classification came as a result of multiple studies suggesting that high exposure to the herbicide could damage human cells and was seen to cause cancer in animals. While direct exposure to Pesticide 2,4-D is rare for most Americans, the toxins from the herbicide can accumulate in the body through eating unwashed grains and other crops. And while the chemical may only be used on crops in select states, the crops from those states are shipped nationwide - indicating that all Americans are at a risk. David Goldsmith, an environmental epidemiologist at George Washington University in Washington, DC, said: 'The public needs to be informed and vigilant about the use of herbicides, keeping them away from children and schools.' He told Newsweek: 'I am concerned if farmers or farmworkers are not using effective safety gear and thus may be excessively exposed via inhalation or skin contact. 'I am also concerned that 2,4-D may contaminate drinking water sources. Although, I believe that there is a direct risk for people who buy produce from fields that have had 2,4-D used on them.' Talking about why the herbicide was being heavily used only in certain states, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, director of the Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health noted that it was due to their particular type of produce. He said: 'The Midwest, Great Plains, and Northwestern US have the highest 2,4-D usage, largely because these regions are the primary producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, and other field crops that are commonly treated with 2,4-D.' No usage of the toxic pesticide was seen in states such as California - known for producing artichokes, broccoli, carrots and lettuce - and states in the New England region. Sparse use of 2,4-D was reported in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming - all known for producing onions, potatoes, carrots, lentils, sweet corn, beans, peppers and pumpkins. The data also showed low use by farmers in Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, where agricultural produce is mostly focused on celery, peas, brussels sprouts, okra, radishes, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and cucumbers. Shockingly, data from the CDC also shows that Kentucky has the high rates of cancer in the US - particularly lung, colon and pancreatic cancers - followed closely by Iowa and Louisiana. Federal agencies across the US, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have deemed 2,4-D as safe for humans, despite research suggesting otherwise. While not completely banned across the entire European Union, 2,4-D is heavily restricted and its use is significantly curtailed in many countries in the region. In one such instance, the herbicide not been approved for use on lawns and gardens in countries like Denmark and Norway. A 2022 BMC study found that one in three Americans had higher than acceptable levels of exposure to the toxic herbicide and were at the risk of leukemia in children, birth defects and reproductive problems in adults. According to Natural Resources Defense Council, scientists have also previously found links between exposure to 2,4-D and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a form of blood cancer) and sarcoma (a soft-tissue cancer). Additionally, the agency warned that high exposure to the herbicide can negatively alter the functioning of various hormones including estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones - paving the way for the development for cancer. Gerald LeBlanc, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, told Newsweek: 'IARC has classified 2,4-D as a Group 2B carcinogen, which means that it is possibly carcinogenic to humans. 'In my estimation, 2,4-D might cause cancer in humans, but only at unrealistically high exposure levels.' However, it is possible that the herbicide can cause internal body damage over time if consumed through foods. Toxins are often stored in fat tissues, organs such as the liver and kidneys and even within nerve cells and bone marrow when ingested. An overload of harmful toxins in the body can eventually cause fatal damage to cells, tissue and crucial organs. Ramachandran noted: 'The issue is that pesticides can remain on or in food, and chronic dietary exposure has been linked to increased risks of metabolic syndrome, cancers, and other health problems. 'They can also contaminate water, air, and soil, potentially affecting people living near treated fields or those exposed through drift and runoff.' As a result, he advised Americans to 'wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption; consider choosing organic produce to reduce dietary pesticide exposure, especially for children and pregnant women; and avoid entering fields or areas recently treated with pesticides and follow posted warnings.'
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Hotazhell in the mix for stellar renewal of Eclipse
Jessica Harrington is on weather watch, as she eyes a drop of rain which will allow Irish 2,000 Guineas third Hotazhell to step up in trip for Sandown's Coral-Eclipse on Saturday week. The son of Too Darn Hot excelled as a juvenile, winning four times and ending the year with Group One honours when edging out Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix at Doncaster in the Futurity Trophy. After missing his intended return in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on account of fast ground at ParisLongchamp, Hotazhell was a respectable third behind impressive winner Field Of Gold when making his belated reappearance in Classic company at the Curragh. Harrington is now keen to move up in distance for what could be a mouthwatering Eclipse – for which Ombudsman, Sosie, Camille Pissaro are all pencilled in – but would also have no issue forgoing a trip to Esher to wait for future battles if no rain arrives. 'At the moment the plan is to go to the Eclipse with Hotazhell,' said Harrington. 'We're just hoping the weather might break next week in England and we get some rain and the idea would be to go to the Eclipse, but the weather will dictate as we don't want firm ground. 'He could have gone to France this weekend for a Group Two (Prix Eugene Adam), but we might as well wait and there are also plenty of races in the autumn for him. 'He ran very well at the Curragh and that was his first run of the year and a mile and two will be fine for him.'
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
‘A giant of the game' – Willie Mullins adds his tribute to Kevin Prendergast
Prendergast – son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast – was a hugely popular and respected figure, landing the last of his Classic successes with Awtaad in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2016. 'I was sorry to hear about Kevin. He was a tremendous trainer, who always had a word for you,' said Mullins, the reigning champion National Hunt trainer in Ireland and Britain. 'He had an opinion on everything and that opinion was valued by people because he'd been through it, he knew the good days and he knew the bad days. 'He was a tremendous character who will be sadly missed. A proper giant of the game, he did the hard work and he knew everything about the game.' Former trainer Mick Halford, who now represents Joseph O'Brien on racecourses, said: 'Kevin was a master on the Curragh when I started. He was somebody I always looked up to, his horses were always a credit to him. 'He was a great man to talk to, a great man for advice, and for a bit of slagging! 'He was a lovely man and I had a lot of time for him, and he will be sadly missed on the Curragh. 'He led a full life, he was a great example to us all.'
