North American Trainer - Fall 2008 - Issue 10

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European Trainer ISSUE 31 – AUTUMN 2010

North American

ISSUE 10 $5.95

www.trainermagazine.com

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOROUGHBRED

From good to great The trainers who discovered Curlin and Big Brown

Vets in the spotlight The welfare of the racehorse under scrutiny

The Gate Crew

The vital role played by the horsemen down at the start

Publishing Ltd

RICHARD MANDELLA On his life, career and the scopolamine case

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE

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Introduction Giles Anderson

The last twelve months have certainly proved to be a tumultuous time in the racing industry. Racing has taken a long hard look in the mir ror and the inspection has been encouraging. Change is on its way. The resolve to make the game more transparent and safer is happening. But racing still lacks the unilateral pull for change. Too many organizations are fighting their own battles rather than pulling together as one. With so many diverse strands and opinions both at a state and national level this is of little surprise.

Off the track, the buzz has been centered around the percentage of money internet betting companies are re-distributing back into purses.

This is going to take some time to resolv e. Horsemen rightly want a fair share of the wagering pie but are dealing with the tracks wh ose business plans are developed on retaining income from existing splits.

Consider how racing has changed over the last twenty years. First simulcast wagering, then internet wagering. The business model for distributing these types of wagers hasn’t changed in this time. But the habits of the bettor certainly has. Racing needs to recognize this, that if we take the bettor for granted and can’t offer them the betting opportunities they desire, we’re in danger of losing them to other forms of gambling and, perish the thought, betting exchanges. Whilst currently illegal in the US – but legal in Canada – these exchanges, which work off an approximate 5% commission, would like to enter into the US market. Not to take US residents’ wagers (for now) but to put money back into the system from outside the US which in effect they are “pirating” at the moment. You could say they’re trying to legitimize their act.

If racing is to grow, the last group of pe ople it needs to jump into bed with are exchanges. Whilst I have nothing bu t admiration for those who came up with the concept, their use in Europe has been the subject of much criticism. How can anyone in racing endorse a model for wagering where you are allowed to wager on a horse losing? Say you have a horse running in Kentucky and you’ve got to run your horse but ideally you could do with running the horse over an extra furlong but a suitable race hasn’t been carded before the end of the meet. So you happen to pass this little bit of information to someone who has an exchange account, they tell you not to worry as we could “split the deal on this one” and offer longer od ds on the horse winning through the exchange than anyone else. Some people are going to be tempted by your longer odds and wager with your friend. But you know something they don’t – the horse is unlikely to win. If it loses, you win because you’ve got the money less the 5% that was wagered on your horse to lose. Morally this is wrong but it’s been happening. In Europe, there have been high profile court cases involving owners, trainers and jockeys. The racing industry has had to regulate against some individuals – banning them from racing as a result of their immoral activities through the exchanges.

Think about it: just as racing is taking a long hard look in th e mirror and is making the game more transparent, is now a good time to get shot in the foot? I ISSUE 10 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 01

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CONTENTS ISSUE 10

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TRM Trainer of the Quarter

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California Thoroughbred Trainers

Standing nearly 17 hands high Krazy Koffee landed Cindy Krasner her first British Columbia Derby – by Bill Heller How the rules on drugs are changing the face of racing

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Richard Mandella

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Palm Meadows

The Hall of Famer talks candidly about his life as he has made it, with natural horsemanship, intelligence, perserverance, and a sense of humor.

By Frances J. Karon Frank Stronach opened the 304-acre, state-of-the-art Florida training center five years ago and has received rave reviews ever since. By Bill Heller

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North Trainer Magazine is published by Anderson & Co. This magazine is distributed for free to all CTT members. Editorial views expressed are not necessarily those of Anderson & Co. Additional copies can be purchased for $5.95 (ex P+P). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Issue 10 Printed in the United States For all editorial and advertising inquiries please contact Anderson & Co Tel: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 1 888 218 4206 email: info@trainermagazine.com www.trainermagazine.com

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CONTENTS ISSUE 10 30

Good to Great

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Gate Crew

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The equine larynx

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Nationalizing the rulebook

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How discovering a world-beater in your stable can be laced with disappointment. Just ask Pat Reynolds and Helen Pitts. By Bill Heller A look at the fine art of handling racehorses at the gate and the work the crew does behind the scenes to guarantee a race gets off as smoothly as possible. By Frances J. Karon

Guess who is this? Find out on page 30

A close inspection of the equine larynx confirms that the racehorse has been designed for athletic ability rather than soundness. By James Tate BVMS MRCVS America needs to look at coordinating its own rules of racing before considering joining in the international debate. By Frances J. Karon

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Joint degeneration

The mechanisms controlling food intake are complex and still in the development stage, but the study is progressing. By Dr Catherine Dunnett

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Vitamins and diet

Better Talk Now

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State breeding and racing incentive tables Stakes Schedules

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Arnold Kirkpatrick column

Picky Eaters

Graham Motion’s Breeders’ Cup Turf-winning nine-year-old isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. By Bill Heller

Role of the vet

The plight of Eight Belles brought the racetrack vet into the public spotlight.

By Ken Snyder

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A look at a new drug-free treatment that may be a side-effect-free solution.

By Howard Wilder Are our racehorses receiving the proper vitamin intake to ensure their optimal performance? By Dr Catherine Dunnett

Forthcoming stakes races from North America Why we need leadership to guide the industry through the drug mire

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CONTRIBUTORS Frances J. Karon, is a native of Puerto Rico and graduate of Maine’s Colby College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She operates Rough Shod LLC based in Lexington, Kentucky and specializes in sales, pedigree research and mating recommendations. Among the Pattern horses whose breedings she has suggested is Breeders’ Cup winner Cajun Beat. Frances has also pinhooked foals to yearlings with some success.

Publisher & Editorial Director Giles Anderson Sub Editor Frances Karon Stakes Schedules Editor Sophie Hull Design/Production Neil Randon Website Gary Pinkett Advertising Sales Giles Anderson Executive Assistant Penny Farrow Circulation Pippa Anderson Photo Credits Fiona Boyd; Mark Cranham; Dr Catherine Dunnett; Fernando Gonzalez; Horsephotos.com; Frances J. Karon; Rex Miller; Suzie Picou-Oldham; Racingfotos.com; Neil Randon; Frank Sorge; Dr Sutter; James Tate & Rogerio De Souza - Mark Johnston Racing Ltd; Vet-Aire;Weipers Centre Equine Hospital Cover Photograph Rex Miller Trainer Magazine, PO Box 13248, Lexington, KY 40583-3248

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James Tate BVMS MRCVS qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Glasgow University and his career started with mixed practice in Cumbria. He is from a family steeped in horseracing.

His father, Tom Tate, is a dual purpose trainer, his father-in-law, Len Lungo, is a National Hunt trainer, and his Uncle, the legendary Michael Dickinson, has just retired from the training ranks. James is cur rently the resident senior vet for leading flat trainer Mark Johnston, a position which he has held since the start of 2006.

Ken Snyder is a Louisville based freelance writer. He is a regular contributor to several other racing publications, a feature writer and essayist for some non-racing magazines, and an advertising marketing writer, as well.

Dr Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD, R.Nutr. is an independent nutritionist registered with the British Nutrition Society. She has a background in equine research, in the field of nutrition and exercise physiology with many years spent at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. Prior to setting up her own consultancy business, she worked in the equine feed industry on product development and technical marketing.

Bill Heller, Eclipse Awardwinner Bill Heller is the author of 19 books, including “After The Finish Line, The Race to End Horse Slaughter in America.” In 2006, he received a first place award from the American Horse Publications for a column he wrote for Thoroughbred Times and was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame Writers’ Corner.

Heller, 55, lives in Albany, N.Y., just 30 miles south of Saratoga Race Course, with his wife, Anna, their son Benjamin and their dog Belle Mont.

Arnold Kirkpatrick in more than 45 years of involvement in the thoroughbred industry, Arnold Kirkpatrick has accumulated a vast experience in most aspects of the business – from being executive vice president of a major breeding farm to president of a race track. He has won major industry awards both as a writer and as a breeder.

North American Trainer is the official magazine of the California Thoroughbred Trainers. It is distributed to all ‘Trainer’ members of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and all members of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association

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Krazy Koffee wins the British Columbia Derby at Hastings P ark

The TRM trainer of the quarter award has been won by Cindy Krasner. Cindy and her team will receive a TRM product portfolio worth in excess of $1,500. The portfolio will consist of TRM tack bags and saddle pads as well as a large selection of the world famous TRM product range.

S

TANDING in the Hastings Park winner’s circle after her threeyear-old Krazy Koffee had captured the 83rd running of the $330,000-added British Columbia Derby Sept. 21, trainer Cindy Krasner was a bit stunned.

This was the 51-year-old trainer’s first BC Derby.

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TRM trainer of the quarter

CINDY KRASNER

By Bill Heller

“One interviewer said to me, ‘What kind of emotion is going through your head right now?’” she related. “I said, ‘You know what?

I’m speechless.’ For me, that’s a big deal. I’m not usually speechless. It was joy and amazement and a sense of, ‘Thank God, it’s finally over.’ It was a fantastic feeling.”

The feeling was still there a week and a half later. “That was about as special as you

could get,” she said. “Everyone strives to win the Derby. It doesn’t matter where it is. That was my first Derby. I’ve been in before and hit the board, but never won it.”

Krazy Koffee delivered her most meaningful victory, rallying five-wide to defeat Wink at the Girls by a length under Dave Wilson. That extended Krazy Koffee’s winning streak to five and improved his

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lifetime record to six-for-nine.

He’s always been Krasner’s big horse, literally. “He’s a huge horse,” Krasner said.

“He’s almost 17 hands. He adapted well to our bull-ring that we have up here, but it would be really nice to see how he’d handle a one-mile track.”

That could happen next year. Krasner had just one more start penciled in for Krazy Koffee this year: an October 12th stakes showdown with Hastings Park’s top older horse, Spaghetti Mouse, who has won four consecutive stakes. He won the BC Derby in 2005 and has earned nearly $850,000 in his career, making him the top BC-bred earner ever.

Krazy Koffee was the only BC-bred in this year’s Derby, making his victory even sweeter for his owner and breeder, Butch Goertzen, whose stable includes just three other horses, a broodmare, a two-year-old and a weanling. “He’s a farmer who used to raise buffaloes and still raises pigs,” Krasner said.

Goertzen had never attended a BC-Derby

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previously. Krasner has seen dozens. “I grew up at the racetrack,” she said.

Her dad, William Olsen, was a trainer at Hastings. Her mom, Martha, was a handson owner. “We all worked side-by-side throughout my entire life,” Krasner said.

Krasner’s older brother, Greg, helped out, too, before choosing another career. “He’s been with a company now for 20 years, a tree nursery,” she said. “He really wasn’t interested in racing.”

But Krasner was, and she got her trainer’s license when she was 16. After working for a couple other trainers, including Jack Diamond, who once owned Hastings Park, Krasner opened her own stable in her early 20s.

Krasner’s husband, Sam, is a recentlyretired jockey who finally conceded to back problems which required two surgeries, and is now a groundskeeper at a local golf course. “He rode all over the country for 25 years,” Krasner said. “He was helping me, but the body couldn’t do the job anymore.

Golf is his second love.”

Krasner’s first love continues to be horses, and she is having an outstanding year. Her P. S. Good N Ready took the BC Cup Debutante, and Krazy Koffee won two stakes before adding the Derby. Through September 30th, she was tied for sixth in the trainer standings with 23 victories from just 96 starts, an outstanding win percentage of 24.0. She also had 27 seconds and 15 thirds, and her stable has grown to more than 30 horses.

Winning the BC Derby won’t hurt her business.

She’s made occasional incursions into the United States, racing in stakes at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. She’s unsure if Krazy Koffee will take her to grander, more difficult stakes in the U.S. in 2009. “He’s a little bit of a funny colt,” Krasner said. “He doesn’t take to change quickly. That’s why we didn’t race in all the other Derbies across Canada.”

That’s all right. He got the one that meant the most to his trainer and owner/breeder.

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

The Changing Face of Racing Part 2

By Edward I. Halpern, CTT Executive Director

A

RE ANY of us old enough to remember a time when the training of Thoroughbreds was about providing enough care and enough exercise to obtain optimal performance? I suppose such a time existed, but not in recent memory. Hands on therapy and horsemanship have been replaced by fast acting and less labor intensive drugs and medications. By way of example, in the last decade we have seen the elimination of equipment such as the whirlpool tub. The whirlpool was as simple as a trash can that was attached to the exhaust end of a vacuum cleaner and then filled with ice and water. It was an effective technique in dealing with knee, ankle, and foot problems. Massaging legs has also become a practice of the past. Those techniques are no longer attractive alternatives to fast acting and comparatively inexpensive anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. I think back also to a time when respiratory problems where handled by a change in bedding, time in an outdoor pen, and adjustments in feeding procedures and feed products. Those days have given way to easier and more effective bronchodilators such as Albuterol and Clenbuterol. Those are just a few examples of the changing nature of the role of the trainer. I am not so naïve as to believe the old methods were more effective. But I am convinced that the change to a dependence on drugs has been a considerable factor in shortening racing careers, increasing expenses, and damaging the sport.

The demands of time and labor and competition, along with the efficacy of

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The line it is drawn The curse it is cast The slow one now Will later be fast As the present now Will later be past The order is Rapidly fadin’.

And the first one now Will later be last For the times they are a-changin’.

BOB DYLAN modern drugs have driven us away from patience as a training technique and pulled us into the world of pharmaceuticals.

Unfortunately, the medicine cabinet of the barn area has morphed from its intended role into a cornucopia of performance enhancing alternatives. There has been no middle ground. We are all victims of what author Kevin Phillips calls “the inherent vulnerability of human nature exposed to pecuniary temptation.” As more and more trainers were seized by the gravitational pull of easier victories, new owners, and greater income, more and more trainers were enticed or, in most cases, forced into using alternatives they didn’t prefer. If a trainer wants to compete and wants to attract new owner-clients, he or she is left with little choice but to take the medical route; some trainers more so and some less so. Some trainers use the kitchen sink approach and give horses everything in the medicine cabinet, while others prefer not to administer anything unless they are certain of the therapeutic necessity. Success in racing favors those who lean towards the former approach.

The legal use of approved substances is not a moral failing. It is neither immoral nor unethical for the trainer, the veterinarian, or the owner to use, prescribe, or condone the use of therapeutic medications. If an allowable threshold level is 10 picograms, then there is no wrongdoing in seeking a level of 9.99. By setting thresholds, it is the regulators who have dictated what is acceptable and what is not. The regulators’ mistake has been in believing that their edicts regarding medications would allow the use of therapeutic medications while not

creating performance enhancement. They were clearly wrong. Their mistake was using a standard that said the substance should not allow the horse to run beyond its natural ability. Stated differently, it was assumed that performance enhancement could be determined by testing for the detectable level of certain drugs and medications when they were present on race day. It was assumed that if there was a certain level of given substances there was performance enhancement. If there was no detectable level, it was assumed there was no enhancement. Both propositions were incorrect as shown by our everyday experience with Clenbuterol. Does anyone doubt that given the same conditions the following will happen? Take two horses of equal ability and physical condition, and give one the standard dose of Clenbuterol for fifty-seven days and give none to the other. Then race them against each other on the sixtieth day. The horse that has been on Clenbuterol will win. Frankly, I don’t know if scientists would agree, but I’m certain almost all trainers would.

If preventing performance enhancement is the goal, the standard should be that the substance should not allow the horse to run beyond its natural ability given its preadministration physical condition. An exception could be made for substances that do no harm to the horse and do not have an effect on the betting public. (Under such a rule, a horse would be allowed to run on Salix, but not with the aid of corticosteroids.) Unfortunately, assessing harm to the horse or the betting public is difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, some make the argument for a total ban on medications. New rules are coming and they are certain to limit and/or ban the use of some medications. Like it or not, we have entered a new phase of regulation.

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) has instigated major changes in drug classification and penalty rules. It has spearheaded the move to control steroids. It is about to attack the issues of corticosteroids, and there are rumblings of new limits on Clenbuterol.

Although it has not yet been discussed at the RMTC, it is theoretically possible that a ban on NSAID’s is next. The movement has started, and the times they are a-changin’. I

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

On board with the California Thoroughbred Trainers

By Ed Golden, turf writer

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RGUING religion and politics can erode the best of friendships. Debating sports can lead to divisiveness among the bosomest of buddies, too. Fortunately for Jim Cassidy and Mike Smith, their allegiance to the New York Yankees and the New York Mets hasn’t compromised the success they’ve enjoyed together on the racetrack.

Cassidy, a native of the Bronx, has been a lifelong Yankee fan, while Smith, born in Roswell, New Mexico, became a loyal Mets’ supporter while earning 15 riding championships on the New York circuit during a tour that began in 1989.

When Smith moved permanently to Southern California in 2007, after an earlier hitch in 2001, he joined forces with Cassidy and, baseball fidelity aside, it’s been a match made in heaven on the track, where they have won a plethora of stakes races together.

Cassidy, 63, like Smith, was weaned in horsemanship on the East Coast, working for among others the legendary Frank Whiteley, trainer of iconic champions Damascus and Ruffian, before coming to California in 1981. His stint in New York included nine years as an aide to veterinarian Jim Prendergast.

Other Cassidy tutors back east included trainers Joe Cantey and Charles Sanborn. In California, Cassidy learned the ropes as an assistant to Gerry Moerman, Darrell Vienna, and the late Brian Mayberry. Flying solo as a

trainer since the mid 1990s, Cassidy currently is president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), a relatively new organization devoted to “Horsemen Helping Horsemen.”

“I was voted in over a year ago, and it’s an absolutely worthwhile organization that’s a vital component of the horse racing industry,” said Cassidy, whose board members include trainers William Anton, Tim Bellasis, Jack Carava, Eoin Harty, Gloria Haley, Dan Hendricks, Cliff Sise, Jr., Howard Zucker, and retired 97-year-old trainer Noble Threewitt. “I’m hoping we can do things on this new board that haven’t been done before. Our goal is to help enhance racing in California and act as a buffer between the TOC (Thoroughbred Owners of California), the California Horse Racing Board, and management. Right now, we’re working on increasing the CTT’s presence and improving our effectiveness within the industry.”

Cassidy’s demeanor is one of leisure, but his core is impregnable, thanks in large part to Whiteley.

“He was tough as nails,” Cassidy remembered. “I was working for Prendergast when I first met him, and we did all his (veterinary) work. Whiteley used to call the vet ‘The Butcher’ and me ‘Butcher, Jr.’ I was there through the Ruffian years (1974-75) and it turned out to be very sad years (she was euthanized after breaking down in a match race against Foolish Pleasure in 1975).”

Fellow Irishman Harty, who says,“I joined

“I’m hoping we can do things on this new board that haven’t been done before” Jim Cassidy 12 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

CTT President Emeritus Noble Threewitt

the CTT for the betterment of racing and its personnel,” believes Cassidy is a good fit as CTT president.

“I know from being around him at the board sessions that he’s very opinionated, very forceful,” Harty said. “He seems to have the interest of the horsemen at heart, which is a good thing. You need somebody like that. He’s very passionate about what he does and has a strong sense of what’s right and wrong.”

Other board members have made significant contributions, among them trainer Howard Zucker.

“My objective has always been to speak for the horses, because no one can speak for their safety,” he said. “I’ve been head of our track safety committee for more than eight years, seeking improved conditions for our backstretch help and making sure our hospital and our benevolent programs run well. Mr. (Ed) Halpern has been a fabulous executive director helping on the workmen’s comp situation. We went through that crisis and remedied that problem. We try to offer our input in meetings with the TOC so that, in general, we can mutually benefit. Owners and trainers are on the same page, working for the same goals. We were responsible for bringing changes in our surfaces, and, hopefully, have made them much safer than they were.”

Said trainer and board member Dan Hendricks: “We’ll try to maintain positive thinking about our future. We want to be involved in many of the decisions and will try to make improvements we hope will benefit racing.”

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

Trainer Jack Carava, a relative newcomer, has similar objectives. “I’ve only been involved a short time, so I haven’t had a lot of long-term goals, but I’d like to maintain the goals that have been on the table since I got here,” he said.

“The reason I became a member of the board and vice president in Northern California was to try and bring management, trainers, and the TOC together,” said Bill Anton. “We’re like three spokes in a wheel. If one breaks, we all go down. Communication and cooperation between the three entities will make things better. These are very trying economic times, not only for racing, but every business, so we must be prudent and not selfish, otherwise, we’ll all be looking for a job.”

Tim Bellasis has become pro-active. “I didn’t like the way things were going,” he said in explaining why he became a board member. “I’m pretty vocal about what I think is right and wrong. I was unhappy with the purse structure up North. I thought the fairs were telling cheaper horses they were unwelcome. I thought it was time to get off the stick and do something about it.”

Participation in a Northern California committee to gain TOC voting rights in 2007 inspired Haley to seek a CTT directorship. “I want to see a continued dialogue among TOC, CTT, and the rest of the industry create a unified force to further our sport,” she said. “I’m concerned about the safety of the horses and the condition of the tracks. I’m also in support of horse rehabilitation and retirement organizations.”

As a new Director, Cliff Sise, Jr. wants to see the continued growth of CTT’s strength as an organization. “There are issues that require the CTT to make a stand on behalf of the membership, and I want to ensure that that action is taken.”

Cassidy, who moved to California in 1981 when Sanborn became ill, has made his mark in the Golden State with fillies and mares.

His most recent stakes winner is Dancing Diva, who captured the Grade II CashCall Mile by a nose at Hollywood Park last July 5.

“She’ll be pointed to a race at the autumn Hollywood Park meet and then run at the Santa Anita winter meet,” Cassidy said. “I’m skipping the Breeders’ Cup. It’s true that my career has been dominated by good fillies (he won his first Grade I stakes with English import Ticker Tape in the 2004 American Oaks at Hollywood; later that year she won the Grade I Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keeneland).”

Other female stakes winners trained by Cassidy include Katdogawn (another English import), who won three Grade II races on turf in 2004; yet another English import, Singhalese, who won the Grade I Del Mark Oaks in 2005; and Passified, who last year won the Flawlessy Stakes and the San Clemente Handicap, each time with Smith

These are trying economic times... so we must be prudent and not selfish, otherwise, we’ll all be looking for a job.”

Bill Anton

“My objective has always been to speak for the horses, because no one can speak for their safety” Howard Zucker

“We want to be involved in many of the decisions... we hope will benefit racing” Dan Hendricks

“I joined the CTT for the betterment of racing and its personnel” Eoin Harty

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

aboard. In 2006, Moscow Burning, a six-year-old mare, became the career earnings leader for California-bred females, passing Fran’s Valentine with earnings of more than $1.4 million. Moscow Burning was claimed for $25,000 in 2003.

That’s not to say Cassidy doesn’t have a way with colts.

“We’ve had a few decent ones, like Milk It Mick (winner of the Grade I Kilroe Mile in 2006), Ocean Sound (third in the 2002 Blue Grass) and Golden Balls (2007 La Puente Stakes winner),” Cassidy said. “A few of those turned out to be OK, but the fillies have been sensational.”

The same can’t be said this year about his beloved Yankees. The Bronx Bombers, despite Major League baseball’s highest payroll, languished behind upstart Tampa Bay and defending champion Boston almost all season, and missed the American League playoffs for the first time since 1993. Cassidy is on good terms with former Yankee manager Joe Torre, himself a horse owner, who now manages the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“This season has been disappointing,” Cassidy said, “because I love the Yankees fiercely. I check the scores 20 times a day.

I’ve talked with Torre a couple times and I did see him with (trainer Bobby) Frankel one day and we talked. I wished him good luck (with the Dodgers), but said I was never going to switch allegiance, and he understood. There was no chance I would switch to the Dodgers.”

Smith, whose Mets won the National League East title this year after blowing a 7 ½ game lead with 17 games remaining in 2007 to give the crown to the Phillies, reserves his jibes at Cassidy and the Yanks.

Business, after all, is business.

“We’ve had really good success and really work well together,” Smith said. “Jim’s the type of guy who wants you to be part of the team. He listens to what you have to say and he’s willing to try things if you think they might work.

“Riding for him puts no pressure on you.

He makes you feel like the horse is yours, too, and you’re going out there doing the best you can and he’s going to be OK with whatever the outcome is. If something happens, you explain it and he understands it. He’s a great horseman and a great friend, too. We go out and eat dinner a lot and have a great relationship together.”

That doesn’t mean Smith won’t take an opportunity to take a shot at the Yankees’ fall from grace.

“He’s a Yankee fan,” Smith said. “That’s his only vice, and I’m a Mets’ fan, so we argue about that. We get together on Sunday and have dinner and talk about what happened during the week and what the future holds

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“I’d like to maintain the goals that have been on the [CTT] table since I got here” Jack Carava

“I’m concerned about the safety of the horses and the condition of the tracks...”

Gloria Haley

“I was unhappy with the purse structure up North...”

Tim Bellasis

“There are issues that require the CTT to make a stand...”

Cliff Sise, Jr. and we always have a good time.”

Baseball and socializing aside, Cassidy has a realistic approach on racing’s future.

“To a large extent, it looks bleak, with the economy and all,” Cassidy said. “The sales are down in most places, but there are some positive signs. People have become more aware of what the public wants. There’s a big push against medications, which is really

good. (Synthetic) tracks are a lot safer.

Horses shouldn’t have catastrophic injuries that we’ve had in the past, so I see a lot of pluses.

“I know the overall picture looked dismal to a certain extent, but I look forward to the future. If the right minds get together and can stay on track, I believe we can make a big improvement.” I

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PROFILE

Frances J. Karon meets

RICHARD MANDELLA

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RICHARD MANDELLA

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is not in his tack room office between sets at Del Mar this morning. Instead, the son of a blacksmith is at the end of the long indoor barn, artfully sweeping a rasp across a back hoof of a two-year-old Storm Cat filly. When prompted, he says, simply, “The basics are what make this game work. Believe me, basic horsemanship will hold you in good stead.

It’s the most important thing. Knowing that a horse is shod as correct as he can be, that the blacksmith’s doing a good job –” “You?” Embarrassed, he downplays his handiwork.

“No, I tinker around, that’s all. I don’t do it every day. And it doesn’t make me any better than anybody else.”

B

Richard Mandella with his Grade 1 winner Into Mischief

EFORE one of his sets goes out, he addresses Paul Nilluang – a 22-year Mandella veteran (lengthy associations are not uncommon in the Mandella stable), on a high-end claimer: “Give me a minute. Let me ride him,” and he swings his leg over the horse.

As the trainer guides the colt around in figure eights, Nilluang says, “He knows everything about riding.” Back on the ground, Mandella is dismissive. “People’ll think I’m showing off.” Or maybe we’ll get a greater understanding of why he’s really good at what he does, with an in-depth, firsthand knowledge of each of his horses.

Mandella always knew what he wanted to do. He says, “My father had a little ranch [in California] where we trained a little bit of everything: a few Quarter Horses, a few Thoroughbreds, a few Appaloosas. We’d make a roping horse out of one that couldn’t run. We were just a little mom-and-

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pop deal. Three Rings Ranch, which was three miles away, was the big farm, and when I turned 16 there was a rider who broke his leg so they needed somebody desperately,” and Mandella was offered his first paying job. “Money didn’t mean anything at the time. I said, ‘Jeez, I don’t know when I’d do it.’ I’d get up, clean the stalls, feed the horses, go to school, come back and then we’d train until 8 o’clock at night.” His father hired someone to do his son’s morning chores, allowing young Mandella to get on 6 or 7 horses at Three Rings each day before school. “I found out I got $2 apiece for each one I rode. I’d have done this for free! This was like somebody just giving me money. Hot damn!”

Later, Mandella moved to New York and trainer Victor “Lefty” Nickerson, “a really intelligent man. He and Allen Jerkens were great friends so I was pretty privileged to hear the stories and to listen to people like that talk. I was like a sponge, just couldn’t hear enough. I wanted to hear what they thought, what they had to say, so I could learn.” He pauses as one of his horses gallops by. “Nobody ever had to say anything twice to me. A lot of times they didn’t have to say it, I could just see the look in their eye, because I wanted to be a trainer.

I’d ask Lefty, ‘What would you do in this case?’ and he’d quote me what Allen Jerkens would do, what Hirsch Jacobs would have done. He’d never say what he’d do. He’d tell me what three other guys would do. Now that was a great pleasure in my life, working for him. One of the greatest pleasures I’ve ever had.” Consequently, one of Mandella’s greatest triumphs is tinged with one of his greatest sadnesses. In 2004, Nickerson died the day Pleasantly Perfect won the Dubai World Cup. “I won the race, and I was walking the horse around the enclosure

Mandella checks Into Mischief ’s legs

there and the phone rang. It was my son telling me that Lefty had passed away that morning. I dedicated the race to him. Loved him like a brother or father, I’m not sure which one he was. We had a lot of fun together. Equal with those Breeders’ Cups.

Equal with the Dubai World Cup.” Among the Grade 1 winners since Mandella took out his license in 1974 are Afternoon Deelites; Dixie Union; Soul of the Matter (“Whenever he didn’t run his race there was never any mystery. You’d know he’d come back with a foot bleeding.

But he had a heart of gold. He tried. Oh man, I loved that horse.”); The Tin Man; and South American imports Gentlemen (“This horse was tough. We trained him two sets a day.”); Malek; Puerto Madero; Redattore; Sandpit (“A big teddy bear.”); and Siphon. “How do you pick a favorite?

They’re all a little different.” But there are a few, beginning with 1977 California

Champion 3-Year-Old and Champion Older Horse Bad ‘n Big, who retired sound at the age of eight. “He wasn’t my first stakes winner but the first one of significance that probably helped my career, because at that time I wasn’t known at all, didn’t have anybody feeding me.” His voice softens when he talks about Phone Trick, who raced in 1985-’86. “That horse was the kindest horse – until he got on the racetrack. When I used to walk the sets through the barn area at Santa Anita I’d hang on to his tail and swish it. He’d walk along. If I’d stop, he’d stop. He didn’t walk if I didn’t do it. But then when we turned the corner and he’d see the gap, he’d swell up like this,” the trainer puffs himself up, “and he’d pull like a bear. He was tough to gallop. Not mean, just pulled. Then he’d walk off the track and just take a deep breath and was like a saddle horse, like a pony. I loved him like a son.

The difference is my son cost me money and

MANDELLA’S MAGNIFICENT

Halfbridled wins the 2003 Juvenile Fillies

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Action This Day wins the 2003 Juvenile

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“He was tough to gallop. Not mean, just pulled. Then he’d walk off the track and just take a deep breath and was like a saddle horse, like a pony. I loved him like a son. The difference is my son cost me money and he made money.” he made money.” Mandella’s ubiquitous sense of humor has a dry delivery and is frequently self-deprecating. He can be slightly hard to read, but the safe bet is: when in doubt, assume he’s pulling your leg, no matter now poker-faced.

In essence, Mandella’s career was set alight by Phone Trick, but he wonders what might have been had he exercised less caution. “In those days, I was really

BREEDERS’ CUP FOUR

Johar (left) dead-heats with High Chapar ral in the 2003 Turf

Pleasantly Perfect wins the 2003 Classic

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“I’d gotten up and spoken at some of the meetings, and some of them got pretty heated. And so I get a positive for scopolamine, and my first thought was: somebody sabotaged me. That was my first thought, that somebody’s done this because of positions I’ve taken. But I never said it. This is the first time I’ve said it publicly.” conservative and careful, knowing that the world’s looking at what I do as to whether I’d get another client or not, so everything I did I calculated, made each start count. I was sure scared that nobody would ever know to send me a horse. I knew only one way to do it, and that was win races, so I was very careful who I’d start and where I’d start. And that’s great, but when you get to be 57 and not so worried that you’ll be able to eat next week, it’s more fun to reach out and try something now and then, a little more than I did then.”

Taking a tour through the deserted clubhouse, we pass the wall honoring Del Mar’s flagship race, the Pacific Classic.

Among the paintings of Classic winners are Dare and Go (1996), Gentlemen (1997), and Pleasantly Perfect (2004). It was in that ’96 renewal that Dare and Go snuffed out Cigar’s record-setting attempt at 17 wins in a row. “I actually got hate mail,” he says with equal parts amazement and amusement. “It wasn’t something to take serious. I wasn’t too scared. I was warned not to be out late at night.” For Mandella, this is not a problem.

Tom Goncharoff, R.D. Hubbard’s manager and Mandella’s close friend, says, “With him, it’s senior citizen hours. You try to have dinner at five because he gets up so early.”

Presumably, Mandella received no hate mail for his four-bagger of Breeders’ Cup races in a single afternoon, training the winners of the Classic (Pleasantly Perfect), Turf (Johar, in a dead-heat), Juvenile (champion Action This Day), and Juvenile Fillies (champion Halfbridled), for four different owners, in 2003. In 1996, he had four winners on the championship day but only two – Horse of the Year Kotashaan in the Turf and Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Phone Chatter (by Phone Trick) in the Juvenile Fillies – in actual Breeders’ Cup

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races. Is he going to win four more this year?

“No,” he says, “I’m pretty sure not.”

Goncharoff recalls Breeders’ Cup 2003 as “surreal, phenomenal. I was hanging out at the barn that morning. Hubbard called,” he says, “doing his handicapping, wanting to know how we felt about the horses. I’m a big Mandella fan, and I said, ‘Dee, I know you’ll think this is going to sound ridiculous but these horses just all look like they’re sitting on tilt. I mean it.’ But we had no idea he’d win four. That was…amazing. Richard was being very cool with his owners and the press, and, after the second race, it was just the two of us walking back to the barn. I’m carrying the blanket of flowers to deliver at the barn and put next to the other one, and there’s nobody else around.” The usually reserved Mandella turned to Goncharoff and shook him excitedly. “Can you believe this?!”

P

EOPLE gather along the rail and engage in easy-flowing repartee with Mandella. Dan Hendricks, who trained Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek, is Costello to Mandella’s Abbott. “Frances,” says Mandella, “is writing a story for Girl’s GQ magazine.” “Playgirl,” I correct him. “Well, I didn’t want to say it. I didn’t want to sound boastful.” Hendricks is well-versed in Mandella humor. Mandella’s assistant for 10 years from when the trainer had a stable of 22 horses, Hendricks has known him since 1978. “Playgirl? I don’t think so, Richard.”

Gary Mandella, now training on his own but for many years his father’s assistant prior to a stint as an analyst on TVG, also has the routine down pat. He jokes that his saddlecloths are similar to his father’s so he can use them, too. Their horses are stabled

together at Del Mar, so Mandella senior shoots back, “I’ll have to change barns to get him out of the feed.” “Lucky for me the straw’s all the same,” quips Gary, his only son (he also has a daughter, Andrea, with wife Randi), who has had plenty of winners in his own right. Mandella is, of course, proud of him. “I am. Frustrating. Wish he’d have been a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist like I should have been.”

Hendricks asserts that Mandella has “mellowed out a lot” in the last 30 years. “He was pretty intense, but I’ll tell you what: I’d be at the off-string with 20 horses and he’d know exactly what was going on with every single one. He’s very thorough, which is why he’s so successful. He doesn’t miss a whole

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“Life is what you make of it – we’re mostly responsible for things that happen to us. Hard work and dedication do generally bring you better luck than the guy that’s not paying attention.”

lot. He just sees things all over, overall – with the industry, with his horses, with life, everything.”

“When I was young starting out I really thought that I’d be glad when I’ve done this long enough, when I’m older and losing won’t bother me so much. Or the injuries or mistakes – there’s plenty to go around in a stable. Every day you can wake up and say, ‘We know something’s wrong…not sure if anything’s right.’ And I guess I handle it better,” continues Mandella, “but I’ve also got bigger, more expensive horses to worry about so it’s a wash. Losing never becomes easy. My first years I would get myself sick.

Seriously – really sick. I would just tear myself up, be too hard on myself for all the

mistakes I’d made. Now, I’ll criticize myself, openly and honestly, but I’ll get over it. I try to just realize what I did wrong and go on and try not to do it again. But with horses, it’s a constant work in progress.”

“I acted older when I was young, more than I do now. I was so serious, all my life.”

After a morning in Mandella’s company, this is an incredulous statement until he tempers it: “Not that I didn’t have my moments! But when I started training I was a little conservative. I didn’t want to use much of my humor. I was hoping nobody’d notice how young I was.”

The best piece of advice Mandella carries with him? “When I was a kid, probably 12 or 13 years old, I went to the races with my

parents and we stopped at Henry Moreno’s barn before the races. I remember my mother said something like ‘it’s a tough life at the racetrack’ and Henry made the remark, ‘It’s what you make of it.’ And I’ve always thought that, no matter if you’re at the racetrack or not, it’s a pretty good statement, period. You know? Life is what you make of it – we’re mostly responsible for things that happen to us. Hard work and dedication do generally bring you better luck than the guy that’s not paying attention.” He leans over the rail, watching and listening to the sounds of the morning workers blowing over the track. “My mother also made a statement that I thought was pretty impressive and that I’ve kept in mind

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all my life. She said, ‘If you know you’re right you can be as loud as you want, but if you don’t know you’re right, be quiet. And listen.’ When I was right, I stood up for me.

But if I wasn’t sure I sat back and listened till I figured it out, and there’s a lot more standing back and listening than there is the other. You don’t know you’re right that often in this business.”

Mandella seized his opportunity to be loud and stand up for himself. Fourteen years on, the wound is still raw. Clearly, his scopolamine positive in 1994 was the most difficult moment of his career. “In my life – the worst time in my life.” He has said that he was never the same person after the incident, but now, “It’s getting better as the years go on. I was a miserable person for a long time. People around me will attest to that, and there’s some now that’ll attest that I have my moments, and it has a lot to do with the scopolamine. It really took away the naïve outlook I had before that.”

Along with six other Thoroughbred and Standardbred trainers, Mandella was raked over the coals after a positive test for scopolamine came through. “When it first happened, the politics of the game had gotten a little bit heated with Mr. Hubbard, and I stood up for him because they were wrong.” R.D. Hubbard, the former CEO of Hollywood Park for whom Mandella conditioned Gentlemen, was met with criticism when he wanted to institute changes he hoped would improve racing in the state. “I’d gotten up and spoken at some of the meetings, and some of them got pretty heated. And so I get a positive for scopolamine, and my first thought was: somebody sabotaged me. That was my first thought, that somebody’s done this because of positions I’ve taken. But I never said it.

This is the first time I’ve said it publicly.”

Scopolamine, like atropine, comes from the poisonous jimsonweed. “The straw had been terrible with weeds all year. Once I heard that it can come in the weeds, we started collecting weeds in the barn,” and these were sent to the lab at the University of California, Davis. One of 13 Mandella’s son Gary (left) is a trainer in his own right, having been his father’s assistant for many years

Mandella in the paddock with jockey Jose Valdivia

identified in the straw from Santa Rosa – where all the trainers with scopolamine positives had acquired their bedding – was jimsonweed. Mandella went to the library for books on poisonous plants. “I learned the most valuable use of the drug is to slow down the smooth muscle, which is the intestine. The first thing you learn about horses is colic, the most dangerous, delicate situation in the horse business. The last thing a person in his right mind would do would be to tamper with a smooth intestine.”

Adding insult to injury, “One of the investigators in the hearing suggested that maybe we were opening the straw in the parking lot and putting jimsonweed in it.

When they searched

Willard Proctor’s barn, the state vet was witnessing the search and stopped a groom opening a bale of straw in the stall and there was a jimsonweed right in the middle of it. It was that obvious.” Lab tests showing an abundance of scopolamine and a trace of atropine, while the trainers’ horses had a trace of scopolamine and no atropine, created another hitch. Mandella’s extensive research had taught him that neurohyoscyamine is a mirror image of atropine; he was adamant that what the vets were calling atropine, wasn’t. “I said, ‘Doc, I just read two books last night that tell me that’s not the way it is. I don’t know what you did in your testing, but I’m asking you to tell the chemist to refine his test because he’s made a mistake.’” The lab confirmed that Mandella was right, but there was still a problem: they were saying that if it wasn’t a drug-related dosing, some amount of atropine should have been identified in the positive samples. “They didn’t know enough about it so they just started thinking stuff.”

Mandella funded further testing, contaminating three horses with varying

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otherwise, and I became much smarter all of a sudden. But a year and a half later, there was still argument whether we had enough evidence. Obviously they were embarrassed that the position they took – that we were all guilty – was being an embarrassing correction.” Eventually, the trainers were exonerated. “Had the world responded as I thought it might, it would have actually turned out to be a good time in my life. But I think to this day people think that most of us just got away with using scopolamine and bullshitted our way out of it.”

M

Mandella talks with Eddie Delahoussaye

“If horses are so desperate that they need milkshakes to run maybe we all ought to just pack up our bags and go home.” amounts of jimsonweed, because “if you’ve got a trace of scopolamine, to me, at some point, atropine’s off the picture.” One of the horses, the one with the highest ingestion, died. “At the hospital they couldn’t save him.

So we’re going to tinker with scopolamine in our racing barn and hope they don’t die?! It was suggested at one of the hearings that it might be used to calm a nervous horse, and I agreed. I said, ‘We calmed the hell out of the one we killed. He didn’t raise his head for anything!’”

The accusations continued. “This wasn’t what I had thought would happen once we

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found the cause and proved our situation. I would have thought the leaders in the industry would have said, ‘Jeez, all these years we didn’t know what these scopolamine positives meant. All of a sudden we’ve figured it out.’ I thought there would have been a little bit of appreciation or sympathetic understanding. I was proud of myself, as proud as I’ve ever been. You know, I train horses. I don’t consider that rocket science. This was pretty tricky stuff that I never thought I had the capability of doing, but it proved that when you’re in a pinch you can do things you wouldn’t

ANDELLA has been intense, focused, broken only by his seeking reassurance the voice recorder is on and by the occasional asides to his riders and grooms.

His levity has evaporated. Mandella mentions a friend who referred to “those guys that used scopolamine,” and he says, “I’ve never corrected him, but I think he still believes that. I don’t take offense to it, and I probably ought to sit him down and tell him the story but it takes a day and it’s like pulling blood out of me.”

He shrugs off the bad memories. “I couldn’t quit and say I’m not going to train anymore because I couldn’t pass any other test. This trainer’s test is the only one I’ve ever been able to pass,” he says with a straight face. “I’ve often thought if I’ve ever had a bad year coming on that I would take a year off and see the world a bit. But I do enjoy training. Not every single day – there’s days that I’m miserable and pissed off, at people or horses, one or the other, but most days are pretty good.”

Reflecting on his career, he admits, “I’ve already gotten more out of it than I ever would have imagined. Hall of Fame, Breeders’ Cups, one-two-threes in the Santa Anita Handicap. I would have never dreamed of that when I was a teenager.”

Predictably, Mandella has a negative opinion on drugs in racing. “We’re at the mercy of being liable for our horses, and I’m proud to be liable for mine. I take great offense to this milkshaking situation, because it’s changed my and every other trainer’s life on the backside. Every horse we take to the races is going to have blood drawn before he runs, and that’s only done because of milkshaking. They’re probably going to force racing to have detention barns, which are going to be very unfair for the horse. When you take a horse from your barn to another barn, it unsettles him – he’s going to kick a wall, hurt a hock, bruise a foot. There are a lot of things that are unfair to the horse and it’ll be our way of, one more time, punishing the horse for our shortcomings. And if horses are so desperate that they need milkshakes to run maybe we

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all ought to just pack up our bags and go home.

“I think the first thing the industry needs to do is get a little prouder of ourselves before we can expect the public to be proud of us. And that covers a lot of territory.

There’s what I call the ‘no fear syndrome.’

There was a jockey a few years ago who used to wear a cap and shirt that said ‘No Fear,’ and the trainers these days tend to have the approach of no fear of authority. When I came around the racetrack, when the stewards gave you direction you saluted them. The racing secretary could tell you to move your horses off the grounds and not get much argument, and there was authority that everyone respected very well. That authority has really diminished. People now are starting to demand how they’re to be punished, not just accept what they did.

And I think if somebody’s got proof and evidence and they’re absolutely right, I go back to what my mother said: you be very loud and right, which was the position I took with scopolamine. But people just thinking that they’re bigger than the game I’m not a big fan of. I had a young trainer

asking me a month ago, ‘Richard, if you don’t push the lines like some of these trainers do, push the limits, how do you propose that somebody like me compete?’

Some of the younger guys are thinking – and I think that’s part of the concept of steroids and milkshakes – that they really have to do that to win at the game, and obviously it might help a little bit, occasionally, but not as much as probably they think it does. But surely the younger group has it in their head that pushing the limits is part of being successful.”

He believes that there is room, however, for a legitimate margin of error. “We are dealing with working people.

We’re not from Harvard, and we’re doing the best we can with the

budget that we have. If you had too much Bute here, tighten up your system. Whatever the rule is, if you get a little over, you’ve got to understand that we’re simply hardworking people dealing with some very sensitive medications. I think there should be a warning, and for the second offense a good ass-whipping, and the third offense cut a finger off.” He laughs, which is a good thing, because his expression is dead serious.

The Hall of Fame biography states that Richard Mandella is “known as one of the nicest guys in racing.” That is hard to dispute. This morning, a man approaches him for advice, and Mandella patiently explains himself in broken-down detail.

“Well, come back by again. I’ll keep thinking of ideas,” Mandella offers. Another man speaks of seeing Mandella, who he had never met, in the Keeneland paddock and inquiring how Halfbridled was doing, and of how the trainer said, “Do you have a minute?” and took him to his barn, pulling the filly out of her stall. “Oh, really?”

Mandella says now. He doesn’t remember the particular incident, presumably because it is not so singular for him. “Must have been a weak moment.” An unlikely story.

Before I leave, I ask if he prefers being called Richard or Dick. “Doesn’t matter to me.” Then, as an afterthought: “I like ‘Sir Richard’ best!” Vintage Mandella. I

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OR all the criticism Frank Stronach has received for turning Gulfstream Park from a racetrack into a casino/concert hall/shopping mall that offers racing, he’s received very little credit for developing the best training center in the country, 49 miles north of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach: Palm Meadows.

Owned and operated by Stronach’s Magna Entertainment Corp., Palm Meadows is just off the Florida Turnpike.

The immaculate 304-acre facility has received rave reviews from horsemen since it opened in 2003.

“It’s very nice; it’s the best training center in the world,” trainer Dale Romans said.

“For one, everything is so new. The racetracks are in good shape. Everything is state of the art. The barns are nice. They’re airy for the horses. The upkeep is great. It’s as good today as it was the day it opened.”

But Palm Meadows has more than just the fine facilities offered to horses and horsemen from November 1st through May 1st. Under Stronach’s direction, the living quarters for exercise riders, hotwalkers and grooms resemble college dorms rather than the rundown slums found on many racetracks’ backstretches.

Four three-story dorm buildings each consist of 52 rooms. Each 12-by-20 foot room has two beds, its own shower, toilet, microwave, refrigerator, heater/air conditioner and storage locker. Each building has a laundry room equipped with three washers and three dryers. In the courtyard, there are two sand volleyball courts and a patio with benches and barbecue grills.

Imagine that: backstretch workers living like human beings.

“That’s Mr. Stronach,” Palm Meadows General Manager Gary Van den Broek said.

“He wanted to provide better living facilities for the people who work here. There’s nothing fancy about them, but they’re better than other facilities.”

Just about everything at Palm Meadows is better than other facilities.

“From the creation and design of the training facility to the creation and design of dormitories for the backside help, Frank continues to show a genuine and unique concern for those who play such an important role in this sport,” Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy said.

There are three training surfaces for horses on Palm Meadows’ spacious site: a

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100-foot wide, mile-and-an-eighth dirt track, a 176-foot wide, seven-eighths mile turf course and an 80-foot wide, one-mile, Lshape jogging track which borders the main track. The dirt surfaces are similar to the ones at Gulfstream Park. “We have a little less clay content than what Gulfstream has,” Van den Broek said. “We’re here to leg up horses.”

That’s an option that trainers employ.

Romans had a 32-horse barn stabled at Palm Meadows as well as a barn at Gulfstream.

“So we go back and forth,” Romans said.

“Most of the horses here at Palm Meadows are getting ready to run. They’re young horses, not quite there yet.”

Other horses at Palm Meadows already

have amassed impressive credentials. Last winter’s 1,100-horse population at Palm Meadows included Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito’s then-undefeated War Pass, the 2007 Two-Year-Old Champion Colt, as well as an unheralded runner in Rick Dutrow Jr.’s barn named Big Brown, who had won his only start in 2007 by daylight.

Dutrow kept Big Brown at Palm Meadows as he prepared him for this year’s Triple Crown run. “I have about 80 horses in New York, and I talk to my people up there every day,” Dutrow said last spring.

“But I’d rather be here with this horse because it’s so much fun. He wants to be here at Palm Meadows.”

Palm Meadows’ configuration may have

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Palm Meadows

PALM MEADOWS

Frank Stronach opened the 304-acre state-of-the-art Florida training center in 2003 and it has received rave reviews from horsemen ever since.

By Bill Heller

“Everything is state of the art. The barns are nice. They’re airy for the horses. The upkeep is great. It’s as good today as it was the day it opened” been one of the reasons why. The barns at Palm Meadows are connected to the main track by a system of horse paths designed so that a horse doesn’t have to walk on pavement to get to the track.

Though Dutrow spent much of the spring

denying that Big Brown had ongoing foot problems, the quarter crack he developed before the Belmont Stakes became the hottest story in racing and certainly did nothing to help his chances of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in

1978.

Before the Kentucky Derby, Big Brown’s major works were at Palm Meadows. He breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 – galloping out six in 1:14 2/5 – on April 18th, then five furlongs in :58 3/5 on April 24th nine days prior to the Run for the Roses.

Big Brown’s powerful victory in the Kentucky Derby, and his triumphs in the Preakness and Haskell Stakes, will do nothing to diminish Palm Meadows’ stature.

When Big Brown was eased in the Belmont Stakes in the only loss of his career, the longshot winner who beat him, Zito’s Da’ Tara, had also wintered at Palm Meadows.

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The quickly growing list of Palm Meadows’ alumni who have had tremendous success include 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, 2004 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Birdstone, 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam, 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor and 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

Street Sense’s success last year helped propel his trainer Carl Nafzger into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame this summer. Nafzger remains enthusiastic about Palm Meadows. “This training facility is great,” he said. “It’s fantastic. It’s quiet. You can do so much here to train a horse. You’ve got the chute.

You’ve got the turf. You can do everything in the world to train a horse. Of course, everybody comes to Florida because of the weather.”

Zito is well aware of the difference in the weather between Florida and New York every winter. “You always say you’re a product of your environment,” he said.

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“All the credit goes to Mr. Stronach.

Ninety-nine per cent of the facility was his design” “Obviously, this is a great facility. The surface is good. It’s quiet. It’s a good place to train. That’s the main thing.”

Van den Broek defers accolades to his boss: “All of the credit has to go to Mr. Stronach,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent of the facility was his design. We didn’t do a thing until he approved it, anything from the color of the screws to the color of the turf to designing the stalls. Everything. It was all him.”

Among the 66 trainers who were stabled at Palm Meadows last winter in addition to Dutrow, Nafzger, Romans and Zito were

Jim Bond, Dominic Galluscio, Stanley Hough, Jimmy Jerkens, Steve Klesaris, Michael Matz, Kiaran McLaughlin, Kenny McPeek, Graham Motion, Angel Penna Jr., Linda Rice, Tom Skiffington, Barclay Tagg, John Terranova, Jimmy Toner, Rick Violette, John Ward and Marty Wolfson.

There are 40 barns at Palm Meadows, each with 36 12-by-12 foot stalls with rubber mats. Every other stall is lined with rubber on the walls. Each barn contains an office, a private restroom, two tack rooms, a second restroom for staff, provisions for a washer, dryer and ice machine and a storage loft for light equipment. Twenty 40-foot-wide sand rings allow horses to roll in for fun. A 55,000 square-foot composing plant processes horse waste into compost.

A three-storey administration/lodging building has an employee lounge, a kitchen and a trainer’s lounge with men’s and women’s locker rooms on the first floor. The second and third floors have 30 fullyfurnished, one-bedroom efficiency apartments for trainers and assistant trainers with approximately 480 square feet of living space.

The 40 barns at Palm Meadows each has 36 stalls with rubber mats. Every other stall is lined with r ubber on the walls. The barns contain an office, a private restroom, two tack rooms, a second restroom for staff, plus provisions for a washer, dryer and ice machine.

Stall rent is $1,200 per stall for the season; dorm rooms are $500 per room for the season and trainer apartments are $1,000 per room with a six-month lease only.

Training hours are from 6:30 to 11am. with one harrow break at 8:30 a.m. The turf track is available for breezing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m., and numbers are limited. The starting gate is available on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Free horseshuttle transportation is available to Gulfstream Park on race days.

Last spring, Tagg had Triple Crown hopeful Tale of Ekati stabled at Gulfstream Park, but transferred him to Palm Meadows.

Romans and many other trainers shuttled horses back and forth. A training facility completely separate from a busy, crowded racetrack is a nice option for any trainer. I

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Big Brown rears up before his first star t at Saratoga with trainer Pat Reynolds (right) – a race he won by more than 11 lengths

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From Good to

GREAT

Helen Pitts and Pat Reynolds knew Curlin and Big Brown were potential superstars after their first runs. To see them bought out of their yards would be a bitter pill to swallow.

By Bill Heller

L

OSING an under-achieving horse is a reality trainers live with daily. But how do you lose a horse who performs spectacularly in his debut? How do you lose a horse you’ve waited your whole lifetime to train?

Helen Pitts and Pat Reynolds might still be basking in Curlin and Big Brown’s success had each horse’s incredible debut not triggered multi-million dollar deals which led both horses to new trainers, Curlin to Steve Asmussen and Big Brown to Rick Dutrow, Jr. “Bottom line, there’s always that sense of personal satisfaction,” Pitts said in the Saratoga paddock in early August. “Curlin looked like a world-beater the day he broke his maiden. And for us guys to get these type of horses ready to win the first time out, that’s what generated those million dollar offers. If the horses would have got tired and hung on and won by a thumbnail, don’t think for a minute the phone would have been ringing off the hook.”

Instead, Curlin won his debut at Gulfstream Park in February by 12¾ lengths.

“People were calling that night,” Pitts said. “All kinds of numbers were flying.”

Six weeks later, in trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, Curlin won the Grade 3

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“It was very hard. If I had that opportunity, it would be great. But all I could do was root for him. I’m very good friends with Scott. At least I hope so; I’m marrying his brother.”

Helen Pitts

Rebel Stakes by 5¼ lengths on the way to taking the Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic to earn Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old Championships. He’s gone on this year to add the Dubai World Cup and Stephen

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Foster, before capturing the Woodward at Saratoga August 30th.

Big Brown won his debut on closing day at Saratoga on turf in September by 11¼ lengths for owner Paul Pompa, Jr. “Immediately after the race I turned to Paul

and said, ‘That’s a $2 million race.’”

Reynolds said. “By the time he got to the Northway, he had two phone calls. And they were serious inquiries.”

In Dutrow’s barn, Big Brown subsequently won this year’s Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and, after his mysterious debacle in the Belmont Stakes, the Haskell Stakes.

“You know, I spoke to Helen,” Reynolds said. “She said, ‘Five years from now, people are going to be asking you, ‘How did it feel when they took the horse?’’ Helen just told me, ‘You’ve got to grin and bear it.’”

Reynolds does. Pompa continues to be Reynolds’ most important owner.

And Pitts? What else can she do? On September 5th, she married Greg Blasi, whose brother Scott is Asmussen’s assistant trainer. “At least I keep Curlin in the family,” she said.

Yet another trainer, Kenny McPeek, Pitts’ former boss before she struck out on her own, also might have had Curlin in his barn, had he not decided to take a sabbatical before quickly returning to training. “Kenny McPeek was the guy who picked out the horse, and when he came back training horses, Curlin was the only horse that he asked for that he didn’t get back,” Pitts said.

“So how does Kenny feel? So the whole thing is just the way that it unfolded. The way the Big Brown thing went down is the way it went down.”

And if it hadn’t? “If I had this horse today, I’d be in heaven,” Pitts said. “A dream come true.”

Her dream of working with horses began early in her life. Raised on a farm near Monkton, Maryland, she was the daughter of Clinton Pitts, Jr., a long-time racing steward, and his wife, Avia, who runs a layup operation in Maryland. “My mom had me riding horses before I could walk,” Pitts, now 34, said, September 2nd.

Initially, she worked around show horses and jumpers. Pitts then worked for steeplechase trainers. “I thought I’d be in the steeplechase world,” Pitts said. “My dad used to ride; my mom used to train. I always went foxhunting. I loved it; I did. I also loved steeplechase.”

She was a steeplechase rider briefly, and then focused on training, working with Charlie Fenwick and Jack Fisher before serving as an assistant for trainer Frannie Campitelli for six years in Maryland and Florida. When Campitelli didn’t go to Florida one winter, Pitts caught on with Kenny McPeek, who convinced her to work with him in Kentucky as an exercise rider and assistant trainer in 1999.

McPeek was just emerging as a national presence, and Pitts had an opportunity to work with graded stakes winners Harlan’s Holiday, Take Charge Lady and Repent. “I exercised all three,” she said, a trace of pride

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still apparent years later. “Repent, he was my man,” she said. “He was difficult; he was ornery, but he was a hard-trier.”

She was, too, and she relished working with McPeek. “Kenny’s a huge asset,” she said. “You learn a lot.”

McPeek gave up training in the summer of 2005 to become a bloodstock agent, then returned to training less than a year later.

Pat Reynolds with his latest stable star Backseat Rhythm

S

EVERAL of his clients kept their horses with Pitts when he left.

Pitts began her own stable, one which has quickly grown to 40 in just three years. “She’s a classy girl. She’s smart and she’s hard-working,” McPeek said last August. “I told her, ‘You’re going to rise; you’re going to rise fast. She’s done a good job. There’s no questioning it. ” When McPeek returned to training, he asked for his horses back from his owners.

He got all but one, the son of Smart Strike McPeek had picked out of the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $57,000. His name was Curlin, and he remained in Pitts’ stable, and she began training him in the summer of 2006.

“We brought him in the end of June or the first of July that summer,” she said. “He supposedly had bucked shins. He was breezing and he wanted to buck shins again.

So we turned him out, let him grow up, which he did. We brought him back in Florida.”

Asked her first impression of Curlin, she said, “He was very big and handsome. By the time we got to Florida he was breezing further. Everything was very easy for him, even though he didn’t know what he was doing. He wasn’t clumsy. He did what you asked him to do, but he had to figure it out.

He was very intelligent.”

Pitts has an edge on many trainers. She can exercise her own horses. “I used to get on mine every day,” she said. “I think it’s a big advantage. You get to know the horses and you get to know if everything’s okay.

You get to know them better. This winter, I was getting on five or six. Now I’ve got enough riders, good riders. I just get on Einstein.”

She exercised Curlin for a while before turning him over to her assistant, Hanne Jorgensen. “I got on him some,” she said.

“He was good and he was a neat animal to be around.”

And when he began working? “When you watched him work, he kind of gave me the ‘Wow!’ impression,” she said.

When Curlin held his own working with Pitts’ good colt For You Reppo, Pitts knew he was ready for his debut. “I expected him to run good, but you never know with firsttimers,” she said. “Anything can happen. I didn’t expect him to win by 12 lengths.

“It kind of made your jaw drop. I was impressed. It makes you think of what kind

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of horse we had. This is why we do it. This is why we come to the barn every day.”

Then he was gone for an offer too good to refuse. Pitts received a relatively small commission from the sale. She hated losing Curlin. “It kills you, but you can’t tell them not to take it,” she said. “Being at that point in my career, and to have a horse like that, is huge. Those horses are few and far between.

To have a horse like that is pretty special.”

She followed his campaign last year with ambivalence. “At first, it was very hard,” she said. “It was very hard. If I had that opportunity, it would be great. But all I could do was root for him. I’m very good

friends with Scott. At least I hope so; I’m marrying his brother.”

Einstein’s emergence as one of the top grass horses in the country the past two years has helped Pitts refocus. He captured the Grade 2 Mervin H. Muniz, Jr., Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in 2007 and this year added two Grade 1 stakes: the Gulfstream Park Turf on Feb. 23, then the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 3.

“Einstein filled the void,” she said. “It was hard.”

Ironically, Einstein raced against Curlin on dirt in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, June 14. He finished a

“It kind of made your jaw drop. I was impressed. It makes you think of what kind of horse we had. This is why we do it. This is why we come to the barn every day.”

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Curlin won his first star t at Gulfstream Park by more than 12 lengths

“Curlin looked like a world-beater the day he broke his maiden. And for us guys to get these type of horses ready to win the first time out, that’s what generated those million dollar offers.” non-threatening second by 4 ¼ lengths, barely nosing out Barcola for place. “I said before the race I’d be happy to run second to him,” Pitts said. “I didn’t think he got up” for the place spot.

Einstein returned to turf and finished second by a length to Thorn Song as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs, before picking the worst possible race to come out of the gate poorly: the Arlington Million. He finished fifth. Regardless, he has three wins and three seconds from eight starts and earnings of more than $800,000 this year.

“She’s got Einstein over there to soften the blow,” Reynolds said. “I have Backseat Rhythm.”

This year, Pitts watched Big Brown win two-thirds of the Triple Crown and thought of his original trainer, Pat Reynolds.

“I feel for him,” she said. “I’ve been in that spot. All you can do is wish them the best of luck.”

Born and raised in New York City, Reynolds, now 57, has campaigned top sprinter Peeping Tom, graded stakes winners Watchmon and Zakocity, and a

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handful of other top horses, but nothing remotely comparable to Big Brown, whom he helped select and purchase.

“I had a half-brother who really never developed, Snake River Canyon,” Reynolds said. “He got very ill. We had him for one start (after claiming him when he was third by three-quarters of a length in his debut) and (previous trainer) Frank Brothers, I guess figured they might like him back. We bought him for $62,500, and they paid $75,000, and he fought off all challengers that day and he hung on and won by a head (when he was claimed back in his second start). He had to fight off half the field. So the horse had a lot of courage.

“And then his half-brother became available in the sales. So Paul Pompa went down there and told his guys to take him to the farm and scope him out. They called and asked me what they thought they should look for. We put our heads together and we end up buying him for $190,000.”

His name was Big Brown.

It didn’t take Reynolds long to conclude he had a real nice two-year-old when he came up from the April Keeneland Two-

Year-Olds-in-Training Sale. “Actually, his first workout on the dirt, he showed a lot of aptitude,” Reynolds said. “He went :35 and change. He went one of the eighths in :11 and change and we knew we had a real horse. That was at Belmont in the spring.”

That summer at Saratoga, Reynolds was stabled at the Oklahoma Training Track and he selected a grass race for Big Brown’s debut. “He was a Boundary by Danzig,” Reynolds explained. “And then having the luxury of the turf course right there. He did a half in :44 and change on the turf course one day. It kind of went unnoticed by the clockers.”

Big Brown would debut on closing day at Saratoga, Sept. 3, 2007. “Things really hadn’t gone great; it was kind of a slow meet,” Reynolds said. “I knew I had an ace in the hole. So I went ahead and laid him in the race, and the only bad part was that (Edgar) Prado got hurt, so we had to use a substitute jockey. We chose the very athletic Jeremy Rose. I was worried about the horse making the corners because he was moving so fast around the turns.”

Big Brown was nothing less than magnificent in his debut, going wire-to-wire to win the mile-and-a-sixteenth maiden grass race by 11¼ lengths without Lasix. He was 14-1. “He ran a spectacular race and everybody was happy,” Reynolds said. “And I kind of knew the phone calls would come right afterwards.”

They did. Reynolds spent the next 10 days showing Big Brown off to prospective buyers. “Paul got turned down by a couple of people because he was asking a hefty sum,” Reynolds said. “And then IEAH came with their offer and it was too good to turn down.”

Regardless, Reynolds had already speculated about Big Brown’s next race in 2007. “I thought we might have the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf) in our hip pocket because he didn’t have anything wrong with his feet,” he said. “There was no quarter crack situation then. He never missed a day of training. And he was 85 percent ready to go down to Monmouth and run in the Breeders’ Cup when he changed hands. He was like a work away from the Pilgrim (Stakes). And the Pilgrim was like 2½ weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, so the timeline was good and I was supremely confident. I just couldn’t see anybody catching up with him on the turf course – dry, soggy, hard, whatever. He’d been on all kinds of turf courses and he was just that fast. He just doesn’t like any other horses near him, especially on the grass. He just runs away from them.”

Pompa broke the bad news to Reynolds, and softened the blow by cutting him in on the deal. “I knew I was working for a guy who’s fair-minded and I wasn’t going to get gypped about any commission,” Reynolds said. “I just had to accept reality that this is a

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game where you have to take money off the table or you can’t stay.”

Then all Reynolds had to do was watch Big Brown sweep the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness before failing to finish the Belmont Stakes, his first career defeat, before rebounding to win the Haskell.

“It was a little rough emotionally at times, but I tried to put my emotions out of the way,” Reynolds said. “I’ve still got 15, 16 horses for Paul at all times. I’ve got Backseat Rhythm over there. That eased the pain a little bit.”

Not completely. With “a horse like that, you become an international star,” Reynolds said. “You make history by winning the Derby and the Preakness. But once the deal was inked, there was nothing I could do.

And I can’t ever do anything else but root for Paul Pompa for what he’s done for me.

He’s a great owner. He’s an understanding guy. He knows we’re all human and make mistakes.”

Reynolds, though, hadn’t made a mistake with Big Brown. Nor had Pitts with Curlin.

Reynolds, who saddled Backseat Rhythm to win the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga August 15th by 3 ¼ lengths for Pompa, tries to be philosophical about his experience with Big Brown. “I don’t really spend time and think too much about what happened, but the way it unfolded,

Big Brown wins the Monmouth Stakes

Paul’s cousin Jerry said, ‘This was a 50 million-to-one shot, the way the horse was entered on the turf down there (for his three-year-old debut March 5th at Gulfstream Park), and it was scratched from the turf to the dirt, and he decimated a oneother-than, and then the Florida Derby is

right around the corner.’”

The rest is history, and Steve Asmussen and Rick Dutrow, Jr., will be remembered as Curlin and Big Brown’s trainers. Yet, Pitts and Reynolds built the foundation for those two great Thoroughbreds. The next time, maybe they’ll get to keep them.” I

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Trusting in the expert hands of...

THE GATE

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By Frances J. Karon On Blue Grass Day in 2008, roughly 26,000 people in the stands went crazy as Visionaire, the last to load into the starting gate, took his place in the lineup. When the doors shut behind him, it was the signal that the feature race of Keeneland’s spring meet was only seconds away, and the crowd cheered, wild with anticipation.

Everything fell perfectly into place, and head starter Robert “Spec” Alexander released the field: the shrill clang and sharp burst of the metal gate springing open gets the blood flowing like no other thrill associated with horseracing.

T

CREW

HIS is the polished performance fans get to enjoy in the afternoons, when all eyes are focused on the racehorses and the gate crew is behind the scenes, yet in full view of the trackgoers. But during the morning dress rehearsals, everyone realizes that the starters play an integral role in what happens when the money’s on the line, because this is where they get to know the horses. A horse can be training brilliantly and perfectly prepared for its race, but there’s no use if it unravels at the start.

Atop their ponies or on foot, trainers stream through the 4½-furlong chute throughout training hours to observe the Keeneland gate crew schooling their horses; it’s that important. On the back of a stocky tobiano, one of them watches his charge

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“There’s so much to learn out here.

I’ve been doing this for over 40 years and if you start to think you’ve learned everything, don’t” Spec Alexander

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balk repeatedly before Alexander snaps a whip at the colt’s heels. The horse goes in.

“Spare the rod, spoil the child, right, Spec?” says the trainer. The colt is backed out and re-loaded; this time, he doesn’t dig his toes into the Polytrack. Another colt is nervous, on the brink of falling apart. “Back him out,” Alexander tells one of his staff. “We’ve got him wound up like an eight-day watch. Nice and easy.” After a reassuring pat and a few seconds to regroup, the colt moves into the gate effortlessly and remains standing quietly until he is let out.

The trainers have a good rapport with the starters and respectfully defer to their

expertise once they have communicated a specific horse’s quirks to the men. As he is waiting for his string to reach the gate, Rusty Arnold, consistently a leading trainer at the track, exchanges pleasantries with Alexander. How good does he think the Keeneland team is? “You know, they always say if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything,” he says, raising his voice for all to hear. The men laugh. “No, really – we have the best gate crew here.” Period.

A horse must have two official gate works approved by a head starter to acquire a gate card. While the word “schooling” implies horses graduate – in this case the diploma is the gate card – and put morning gate work behind them forever, it is an ongoing process for all. Even experienced horses – Curlin was here the other morning – come just to stand, to jog out, or have an officially recorded gate work, when the clocker in the stands is radioed their names and the distance they’ll be breezing. For these, Alexander waits for the track to clear ahead while keeping an eye on the horses in the gate and an ear out for his assistants, who are in constant communication with him.

When all is ready, he tells the jocks to “tie it on” and springs them out, watching intently to see how the horses behave.

Schooling at Keeneland goes on six days a week during the racing season, and five days during the off season. Spec Alexander, Keeneland’s head starter since 1991, says, “There’s so much to learn out here. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years and if you start to think you’ve learned everything, don’t. Each horse is a different individual, and we do different things with one. If you think the same old thing is going to work on every horse, it’s not. You’ve got to do different things. You’ve got to watch them in the mornings. That’s why we school, to learn about them.”

Understanding quirks and nuances before the all-important races is invaluable.

How invaluable? On the afternoon of the 18th of April, David Carroll’s second-time starter Acoma, who had previously finished third at The Fairgrounds after practically walking out of the gate, is fitted with the ‘Monty Roberts blanket’ and enters like a seasoned pro. Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron, moonlighting as a TVG analyst during the Keeneland meet, explains the benefits of the gate crew’s schooling, which gave Acoma the confidence to remain calm. As if on cue, the Empire Maker granddaughter of champion Althea breaks sharply and comes home an easy winner under Julien Leparoux.

Alexander says of the filly, “Last year she’d get in here and just lay down.”

Carroll credits the patient handling skills of the crew at The Fairgrounds, where Acoma was stabled over the

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Alexander leads a horse into the gate – a horse must have two official gate works approved by a head starter to acquire a gate card

winter, and the Keeneland guys, who continued to move her progress forward. Six weeks after her maiden victory, the 3-yearold filly won the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs for her third win in succession.

Starting gate employees now have the advantage of a countrywide system. Notes on each horse are input into a computer, so the team at Keeneland, for instance, can learn about horses like Acoma from their counterparts in Louisiana. “Everybody has to work together, help each other out,” says Alexander. “It makes it a lot easier when everybody works together.” But Alexander’s not much for computers himself. There’s a hint of stubbornness when he says, “I can’t even turn one on!” He doesn’t need one. He is a racing historian with an impeccable memory, an aficionado of the good ol’ days when real horses carried weight, and men sewed their own muck sacks from seed sacks. Alexander broke Ridan, who won the 1962 Blue Grass. That colt’s trainer, LeRoy Jolley, is among those who stops over and visits with Alexander.

Alexander, a jockey-sized man who wears a tidy suit and fedora at gametime, is something of a diplomat as well. This morning, two men over from England stop by to learn the lay of the land in advance of bringing a Group winner for a schooling session in a few days’ time. Alexander listens carefully to them. “They know more about the horse than we ever will. It can’t be your 42 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

“Everybody has to work together, help each other out. It makes it a lot easier” Spec Alexander way or the highway. They’re with him every day.” The European horse is tricky, with a tendency to duck under the front doors, and the men explain how they want to walk him through the gate three or four times, blindfold him, load him up and send him out with the ring of the bell, to which he is not accustomed.

“Keeneland caters to people more than any other racetrack in America,” beams Alexander. “They really put the welcome mat out for people. You know what I did one time? Godolphin brought some horses over to run in the Derby, and they were in the quarantine barn. I took the small gate” – Keeneland owns three, a 14-horse, 12-horse, and a four-horse – “over there and schooled their horses by the quarantine barn.”

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All of the men on Alexander’s 12-strong team are true horsemen. Raleigh Cox has been here the longest after Alexander, since 1993. When Alexander teases, “I’ve got a secretary in the office,” it is Cox, who keeps up with the paperwork, to whom he refers.

And that “office” is more often than not the 4½-furlong chute. Sterling Cornu trained John Franks’ horses for 15 years, and Alexander’s younger brother, Freddie, who retired from IBM 10 years ago, is also on the team, although he plans to cut back from full-time to working only during the race meets after October. This morning, when one of the gate doors opens with a bounce, Doug Gibson handles the impromptu gate maintenance by rearranging some black rubber bands and spraying WD-40. The gates require little repair work, receiving immediate attention when necessary.

Alexander says, “You take a band off this side, and maybe two or three weeks later you’ll have to take another off or put that one back, switch it around. You borrow from Peter to pay Paul.” The rest of the guys are: Francis “Bud” Bundy, Robert Douglas, Joe Heet, Stacy Luce, Shawn Mann, Larry McGlasson, Jody McShane and Gary White.

The head starter is a sprightly 70 years old and easily manages agile gymnastic skills – as do they all – around the fractious animals.

“I school a lot of horses,” he says. “I wouldn’t ask my men to do anything I wouldn’t do.” And what they do requires a lot of expertise, dedication and nerve of steel: to stand in very close quarters soothing half a ton of coiled, quivering Thoroughbred who could explode without a moment’s notice, they have to know what they’re doing, and be quick on their feet. For his part, Alexander promises that he will “be here another 15 years. I’ve got some people I just want to haunt,” he says mischievously.

“I’ll be 85 then. I can retire then. I’m going to live to be 104. Or I’m going to be like Methuselah – I’m going to live to be 900 years old!”

With field sizes of up to 14 at Keeneland, they are a couple of people short when the gate is full, but not every horse behaves better the company. “Well,” says Alexander, “some horses don’t want anyone in the gate with them. We had one here the other day in a stakes race and the trainer said if somebody gets in there with him he’s a difficult horse, but if he’s in there by himself, he’ll stand all day.”

And how do they decide which method – blindfold, pushing from behind, backing in, the security blanket – to use on an uncooperative animal? Alexander explains that it is primarily instinctual. “When we

school horses, we just see. We try to make it as comfortable for the horse as we can.

Sometimes, with a horse that’s being bad, you pick up his tail to take his mind off what he’s doing. You try not to do that but in a split second in the afternoon you don’t want him up in the air when you take the start, so that’s why you’ll throw a kink in his tail. It doesn’t hurt him. And some horses, if you pick up their tail, they break better.”

At afternoon post time, the bell rings, and doors open to unleash a frenzy of movement. It’s the task of the starting gate crew to ensure that the chaos is as organized as possible. What follows the start is routine: while the race plays out on center stage, the tractor tugs the gate out of the horses’ path and to the starting point for the next post.

The gate men zip around in their white golf carts. Races run over a mile and a sixteenth start in front of the grandstand, and the men are able to watch on the big infield screen.

For the short 2-year-old races out of the side shoot, they can see the finish from afar without having to move. Alexander says it doesn’t really matter to him who wins the races. “We just want them all to get off good.

That’s what I worry about. I just hope when they leave here they all have a nice, fair, even start.” I

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M

EN have been interfering with the equine larynx for centuries, but so far with only limited success.

When a horse is heard to be making a noise for the first time, it is of serious concern. Sometimes the concern is only short lived as the horse may be unfit, have a mild respiratory infection or perhaps a sore throat. However, on other occasions the equine athlete in question is on the verge of being diagnosed with a problem that will limit its performance for the rest of its life.

The equine athlete is anatomically designed on a knife edge in so many ways.

Firstly, rather than having five digits like a human, the horse is precariously balanced on the equivalent of our middle finger. Add to this the obscure meandering anatomy of the horse’s gut leading to regular occurrences of painful and life-threatening colic episodes, and it is easy to get a sense of just how the thoroughbred has been built for athletic ability rather than soundness – the horse’s respiratory system is no exception. The horse has a massive, powerful cardio-respiratory system but unfortunately air is inhaled and exhaled through a small unreliable larynx and a rather narrow complex nasal system, especially considering that the horse is an obligate nasal breather and thus does not receive any air through its mouth. It is for this reason that any abnormality in the upper respiratory tract of the horse causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen it receives. Clearly, the result of this is an adverse effect on performance.

When faced with a horse that makes a respiratory noise we have a few diagnostic tools at our disposal. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, we must analyze the noise that the horse is making at exercise. Is the noise inspiratory (when the horse is breathing in) or expiratory (when the horse is breathing out), or are there both excess inspiratory and expiratory breathing sounds? Also, the noise must be accurately described as certain noises are characteristic of certain abnormalities. For example, an inspiratory ‘whistle’ or ‘roar’ made all the way up the canter often indicates laryngeal hemiplegia (paralysis of the left side of the larynx), whereas an expiratory ‘gurgling’ or ‘choking’ sound whilst the horse is at peak exercise or pulling up at the top of the canter usually indicates dorsal displacement of the soft palate.

Young, unfit horses coming into training for the first time often sound ‘thick’ in their wind and can also make an expiratory gurgle when pulling up at the top of the gallop, especially if they have a sore throat (pharyngitis). This condition is essentially inflammation of the pharynx characterized by enlarged white spots (lymphoid follicular

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The equine larynx – on a knife edge!

By James Tate BVMS MRCVS hyperplasia). It is a condition that is easily diagnosed by endoscopic examination and will affect almost all horses at some stage and is present in nearly one hundred percent of horses in training under two years of age. The exact cause is unknown but it is probably initiated by challenge to the young horse’s immune system. It is not a serious condition and it usually self-resolves with time. However, when it is causing problems, various treatments may be attempted including anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and immuno-stimulants.

Endoscopy is a crucial diagnostic aid; however, it can have its limitations when carried out in a horse at rest. If the horse has a respiratory infection, pharyngitis or an obviously paralyzed larynx then endoscopy is an excellent diagnostic aid, but in other cases scoping a horse at rest can provide

little in the way of information as to why the horse is making such a noise. For this reason, equine veterinary medicine has looked to more advanced technology for assistance. The idea of ‘scoping’ horses on a treadmill whilst galloping came first. Whilst this certainly has obvious merits it does come with some downsides such as the question of whether a treadmill truly represents an equivocal test to a gallop or race and the surface on which the horse has to gallop. In fact, many of the treadmills around the country are currently not in use as too many injuries have occurred. There is now a new idea of fixing a scope in the horse’s nostril, which stays in place whilst the horse canters or gallops. It transmits a signal that can be viewed on a monitor and so we could see exactly what the horse’s larynx was doing as it makes the noise. As

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EQUINE LARYNX

Left is an endoscopic photograph of a normal horse’s larynx at rest. Note the symmetrical arytenoids and vocal folds leading into the horse’s windpipe and the tongue-like epiglottis sitting in front of the larynx.

Below is an endoscopic photograph of a horse at rest showing obvious laryngeal hemiplegia. Note the left side of the horse’s larynx (right as we view it) is hanging into midline and thus it will obstruct airflow when the horse is at exercise

yet only a prototype of this ‘over-ground’ endoscope exists but could this be the future of accurate diagnosis of equine wind problems?

By far the most common condition that causes an abnormal inspiratory sound, and possibly the most common cause of any abnormal respiratory sound in the thoroughbred racehorse, is idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (paralysis of the left side of the larynx). This condition is caused by degeneration of the nerve that supplies the left side of the larynx so that that it ‘hangs’ into midline causing an inspiratory ‘whistling’ or ‘roaring’ sound during cantering or galloping and thus obstructing airflow to the lungs. The cause of this nervous degeneration is not known but this again leads me onto yet another poor anatomical design point of the horse. The right laryngeal nerve has a simple route, branching off from the vagus nerve (which comes from the brain) travelling directly to the larynx. However, God decided that the left laryngeal nerve shouldn’t have it so easy and instead it must travel all the way to the heart, where it wraps around a large pulsing artery, before coming all the way back to the larynx. The left laryngeal nerve is also the longest nerve in the body and so it stands to reason that it is commonly damaged and perhaps unsurprisingly, there is also data to suggest that the bigger the horse, the greater its chance of developing laryngeal hemiplegia.

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A horse fitted with a Cor nell Collar

T

HIS disorder is not desirable for a number of reasons, not least the fact that it is a progressive disease and hence a small problem in a two-yearold can rapidly become a huge problem in a three-year-old. Nevertheless, surgical treatment is commonly attempted and there are three main operations. A ‘Hobday’ operation refers to the removal of a large portion of the left side of the larynx and thus theoretically reduces the amount of respiratory obstruction. However, many veterinary surgeons argue that although this may alleviate the noise (as the left vocal cord has been removed) it struggles to reduce the obstruction significantly and hence they prefer the ‘tie-back’ operation.

Here, the larynx is permanently tied open and so the obstruction should be alleviated.

However, things are never so simple in wind surgery and occasionally the larynx can end up in a mess if things do not go well, for example, the stitch breaks down. Hence, the last resort is to insert a permanent metal tube into the horse’s throat through which it can breathe, by bypassing the larynx altogether. This can also be very messy and it is not easy to keep the tube clean, however, Party Politics did win a Grand National with a tube in his windpipe!

Above: An endoscopic photograph of a young horse with pharyngitis. Note the inflamed white lymphoid follicles Right: A horse undergoing endoscopic examination

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On the left is an endoscopic photograph of a nor mal horse’s larynx at rest. Note the tongue-like epiglottis sitting in front of the lar ynx. On the right is an endoscopic photograph of a horse showing dorsal displacement of the sof t palate. The soft palate is rising in front of the lar ynx thus partially obstructing the horse’s airway and the tongue-like epiglottis is completely obscured

Perhaps the most common cause of an expiratory ‘gurgling’ sound is dorsal displacement of the soft palate. During normal breathing, the soft palate sits in front of the larynx just below the epiglottis allowing maximal airflow through the larynx.

During eating on the other hand, the soft palate rises above the larynx, directing food into the food pipe rather than the windpipe.

What happens in this condition is that the soft palate rises up during exercise thus blocking airflow and often causing an expiratory gurgling or choking sound.

Although the clinical signs of this problem are quite characteristic, confirmation of the diagnosis can be difficult as the larynx often looks normal at rest and thus the use of a treadmill or over-ground endoscope may be

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Party Politics winning the 1992 Grand National with a tube in his windpipe

necessary for an absolute diagnosis.

There are many possible treatments for soft palate displacement, probably because none of them are one hundred percent effective. Starting with the simple solutions, if there is respiratory infection, it should be treated. Next, if the horse is unfit, it should be trained further before considering anything more radical. Then various items of tack can be tried – these include a cross-noseband, a tongue-tie, a spoon-bit, a ring-bit or an Australian noseband. If none of these treatments works then surgery is often attempted. There are a number of possible operations but two are more commonly carried out than the rest – soft palate cautery and the ‘tie-forward’ operation. This is because most soft palate operations are approximately 60% effective; therefore the easiest operation with the shortest layoff is usually tried first. The soft palate can be cauterized with a hot iron to make the palate firmer so that it does not displace during breathing. This may sound a little unsophisticated and slightly barbaric but it is

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very easy to do, it hardly interrupts the horse’s training and it can make a large difference in some horses, although it often has to be repeated. The second most commonly carried out operation, the ‘tieforward’, tackles the problem from a different angle. Here, the larynx is manually tied forward with steel stitches, which reduces the amount of soft palate that is available to rise up and block the airway. Some horses have performed much better after such an operation and examples include Royal Auclair, who had his best season following the surgery culminating in finishing fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the Aintree Grand National.

There is a piece of tack that acts in a similar way to the tie-forward operation called the ‘Cornell Collar’ or throat support device. Researchers at Cornell University in the state of New York believe that a deficit in one particular muscle contributes to soft palate displacement and the device intends to mimic the effect of this muscle.

However, although it is in use in some

American states, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, it is banned by most racing authorities including most of Europe. There may be many reasons for this but perhaps the main one is the possibility of cheating as unlike an operation the tack is not permanent and so it could be fitted correctly one day and deliberately incorrectly another day.

Another common upper respiratory condition is epiglottic entrapment or aryepiglottic fold entrapment as it is sometimes known. The epiglottis is the tongue-like structure that should sit in front of the larynx. However, the epiglottis can become enveloped by a mucosal fold and so it becomes trapped in front of the larynx causing a partial obstruction. This usually results in a gurgling or choking sound that may be inspiratory or expiratory. The cause is not completely understood but diagnosis can be made relatively easily at rest if the horse has an ulcerated epiglottis representing the regularity with which the horse entraps its epiglottis, or alternatively a treadmill or over-ground scope could be used to visualize the horse entrapping at exercise. Treatment again involves checking for infection and using different tack, however, surgery can often be successful, at least in the short term, by cutting the mucosal fold and thereby preventing the epiglottis from becoming entrapped.

No discussion of equine wind problems would be complete without at least touching on respiratory infections. Respiratory infections can predispose horses to many of the conditions mentioned above but they can also target the larynx itself. Such laryngeal infections must be treated quickly and aggressively as any scarring or permanent damage to these important structures can leave the horse with a significant problem for the rest of its life. The cause of laryngeal infections is not fully understood. Some have suggested that kick-back may cause damage to the horse’s larynx, which then becomes infected.

However, if this were true then we should expect an increased incidence of laryngeal infections associated with dirt racing due to the large amount of kick-back, an idea that has no statistical evidence to support it.

In summary, the horse’s larynx is a complex topic and I have only succeeded in scraping the surface of a very large subject.

There are essentially two major obstacles that so often cause us to fail in its treatment.

Firstly, we are not always certain about a horse’s specific problem as we cannot scope it in the final furlong of a race. Secondly, even when we know what the problem is, the area is so delicate and there is so little margin for error that surgery fails to improve equine wind issues with alarming regularity. I

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An endoscopic photograph of a horse with epiglottic entrapment. The epiglottis has become enveloped by a fold of sub-epiglottic mucosa. If the horse does this repeatedly then an ulcer is often visible on the tip of the epiglottis These images show just what horrendous consequences laryngeal infections can have. The horse on the left was able to continue racing making just a slight noise caused by the scarring following a laryngeal infection. The horse in the middle received surgery on his larynx to enable him to continue racing. The horse on the right recovered from this terrible infection but was retired from racing

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Nationalizing the rulebook W

ORLDWIDE rules?

North American trainers who cross the globe with their racehorses are few and far between, beyond the annual mass exodus to Dubai for the World Cup Festival and the occasional trek to Japan for the Japan Cup. Realistically speaking, we need to start a little closer to home before we can even think about tackling worldwide rules.

Neil Drysdale summed it up perfectly: “The rules of racing? Did you say the rules of racing?! In which state? In which country?” A cynic might add: And on what day of what week of what year? And who’s their lawyer?!

Drysdale regularly sends runners to compete outside his adopted home state of California, and has a method for circumventing problems with medication.

“We call a local vet and see what the rules are when we go out of state,” he says. “You have to, because they keep changing the rules. The correct thing would be to standardize the industry, like they do internationally. Just catch up with the rest of the world.”

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), comprised of 23 industry groups (representing numerous breeds), has been hard at work introducing its proposed uniform medication policy to the country. Its mission statement is “to

The Autumn 2008 issue of our sister publication European Trainer includes an ar ticle on Worldwide Rules, in which Katherine Ford examines European efforts to establish a worldwide r uling system for governing horseracing. When we looked at running the same article in this issue we realized that America had to first look at coordinating their own r ules of racing at a national level before joining in the inter national debate. Frances J. Karon investigates.

develop, promote and coordinate, at the national level, policies, research, and national programs that seek to ensure the fairness and integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants, and to protect the interests of the racing public.” As of the end of September, 32 of the 38 racing states have adopted, or are in the process of so doing, some variance of the RMTC’s model rule on steroids. Its guidelines provide for proper administration as well as proper testing procedures, and the website (www.rmtcnet.com) features a “Withdrawal Times Database” where anyone from a licensed groom to an owner can look up “suggested withdrawal times for therapeutic medications.”

But as Churchill-based conditioner Dale Romans points out, “All the withdrawal rules are much farther out then they would

need to be, to try to prevent from the rare horse that holds it in longer. I got a Bute overage at Delaware two years ago on a horse who got an injection of Bute 24 hours out. Everything was done exactly by the rules. Everybody thinks the HBPA [Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, of which Romans is vice president] is so bad, that we’re pro-medication and wants medication. We don’t. We just want to make sure there’s no way for an innocent person to be convicted of something.”

The admirable efforts of the RMTC notwithstanding, the industry’s problems extend beyond medication issues.

At Saratoga this summer, a trainer waited in the paddock to saddle a runner. He was expecting a good effort from his colt in the turf race. Instead, as other trainers cinched

“Everybody thinks the HBPA wants medication. We don’t. We want to make sure there’s no way for an innocent person to be convicted of something.”

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The Breeders’ Cup has now banned anabolic steroids from competition

their horses’ girths and threw the jockeys up, he watched, helpless, as his charge was sent on the long walk back to the barn unsaddled: the horse was shod with toe grabs, which, as the trainer was informed in the paddock, are not allowed on the turf at Saratoga – though still legal on the dirt course.

The dilemma was multi-faceted. The trainer in question is based at a racetrack where toe grabs were not yet illegal on the turf. Reaching for a solution, he sought permission for his horse to run barefoot, which he had done before with success in another jurisdiction. But, out of fairness to the betting public, this was disallowed.

Consequently, the horse was an automatic scratch by the stewards. This type of mistake is all too simple to make when a trainer ships his horses. Even the most wellprepared and well-traveled trainer can get tangled up in the confusion created by the sweeping tides of change.

It is a lot to keep up with. Running a racing stable is a full-time, seven-day-a-week job without having to stay on top of what must feel like constant rule modifications.

In June, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee, a branch of The Jockey Club that was formed after the fatal breakdown of Eight Belles – who wore toe grabs in the Kentucky Derby – released its initial recommendations, including an official, Association of Racing Commissioners’ International-mandated ban on toe grabs by December 31, 2008. The committee

requested that racetracks exercise a “house rules” policy of barring the shoes before the recommended deadline. The New York Racing Association issued a news release on August 14 – more than a week after the incident at Saratoga – announcing: “toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (.07874 inches) on front horseshoes will be banned from all horses racing at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racetrack. The limitation takes effect on October 29.”

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s American Graded Stakes Committee has taken it to another level with a warning that it will remove any graded accreditation to currently-graded races run at venues that don’t voluntarily administer the limitation on toe grabs, beginning January 1, 2009.

The example of toe grabs used in this forum is just one of many possible illustrations. Yet another issue is raised by Drysdale. “We’re having trouble in the U.S. because every racetrack now has different entry dates. Some racetracks you enter a week out, and some it’s six days, some it’s five days, four days, three days. So that’s another problem.” And that is the problem: when it comes to racing unity, there is a never-ending supply of “so that’s another problem.”

One advantage the European community has over the North Americans in obtaining solidarity is that there is already no raceday medication permitted

overseas. In “Worldwide Rules,” Ford notes that Europe’s International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has the challenging task of creating a universal set of rules encompassing all aspects of racing, from disqualification policies to uniformity of equipment declaration and use. To give an example of the confusion, the tongue tie – which is used without notation in past performance lines in North America – can be worn in France as in the States, but must be declared in Great Britain and is completely outlawed in Switzerland.

Ford also addresses how the Breeders’ Cup is doing its part to encourage Europeans to be more comfortable to participate in its sanctioned races, beginning with this year’s marquee event at Santa Anita. Previously, European shippers have felt at a disadvantage against their American counterparts. Breeders’ Cup’s senior vice-president of operations Pam Blatz-Murff says, “The California Horse Racing Board has been working towards a steroid-free Breeders’ Cup since last year and at our last board meeting we added stricter penalties for a positive test.” These penalties are a one-year suspension from the Breeders’ Cup for a one-time anabolic steroid offense, and a lifetime ban resulting from three such offenses. Blatz-Murff continues, “Although the Breeders’ Cup is not a regulatory body, we do control purse money on Championship Day and so can instigate regulations…In 2009, we are going

“Every racetrack now has different entry dates. Some racetracks you enter a week out, and some it’s six days, some it’s five days, four days, three days” Neil Drysdale 52 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

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“The California Horse Racing Board has been working towards a steroid-free Breeders’ Cup since last year and at our last board meeting we added stricter penalties for a positive test” Pam Blatz-Murff to require our year-round stakes program to be steroid-free. If the organizing tracks are within a jurisdiction which allows steroids, we will ask them to come up with a rule of their own in order to receive their Breeders’ Cup allocation.” Although they’d like to see more in the way of banning medication in our country, European trainers have welcomed this step with open arms.

Other measures the Breeders’ Cup will be taking, as they did for the first time in 2007, are out-of-competition testing for EPO (blood doping) 10 days prior to raceday and TCO2 (milkshake) testing from the detention barn before each race.

In his Paulick Report on September 29, Ray Paulick writes that “California’s

prohibition on race-day of throat-washing products such as Wind Aid that are commonly used in some other jurisdictions could create problems at this year’s Breeders’ Cup for trainers unfamiliar with CHRB [California Horse Racing Board] regulations.

For that reason, [CHRB equine medical director Dr. Rick] Arthur said, the Breeders’ Cup horseman’s handbook will explain its medication rules in detail and an associate steward will be assigned to outline California medication rules to every trainer with a horse in the Breeders’ Cup.” This is a great short-term solution but not practical for everyday racing. We all believe that the answer lies in unity, and the level of interest to obtain it is encouraging, but

regardless of where you draw the line, there's got to be a line. The biggest hurdle is getting everyone to agree on whose line is in horseracing’s best interest. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will announce details of its new Safety and Integrity Initiative, to deal with the implementation of recommendations on medication and testing, injury reporting, safety research and care of retired racehorses, on October 15. In a speech on October 1, NTRA president and chief executive officer Alex Waldrop said, “Every major horsemen's group has signed up, and every major Thoroughbred racetrack is on board.” Let’s hope that it's the committee to end all committees. I

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PICKY EATERS

Poor appetite in horses in training is not uncommon, whether this is a transient problem following racing, or, more regularly, during training in particular horses. In some situations, ‘failure to clean up’ may simply be explained by horses being offered more feed than they require and so they are being over fed, whilst in other instances, where it is accompanied with poor condition, the causes may be more complicated.

Certainly, physiological mechanisms exist in horses to match energy and nutrient intake to daily requirements and these systems form the basis for self regulation of feed intake in horses in the wild or at grass.

By Catherine Dunnett

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What drives appetite?

The mechanisms involved in controlling feed intake and appetite are very complex, but have been studied extensively in humans and other species. Similar work in this area in horses is limited but progressing. The hypothalamus appears to be the critical area of the brain that is involved in the regulation of food intake, and it represents the body’s thermostat, helping to regulate body temperature. This area of the brain produces a number of protein-like chemicals (peptides) that help to control feed intake, through either stimulatory or suppressive effects on appetite. The hypothalamus also responds to a number of chemicals, hormones and nutrients circulating in the blood, and some of which have previously been investigated in horses. Leptin produced by adipose tissue, insulin produced by the pancreas, ghrelin and obestatin produced in the gut and triiodothyronine (a thyroid hormone) produced by the thyroid gland are all involved in regulation of feed intake and appetite (Dhillo 2007). In addition, the products of carbohydrate, fat and protein digestion are also known to be involved in the regulation of appetite.

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Some early work that was carried out by Ralston and co-workers in the 70s and 80s explored the effects that blood glucose and insulin have on feeding behavior in horses.

Perhaps not surprisingly, they reported that the elevation in glucose and insulin concentrations in blood, which are seen following consumption of a cereal based concentrate feed, appear to delay further feeding (Ralston 1986).

Some research has also been carried out on the role of leptin, which is a hormone produced by the adipose tissue, in horses.

The function of leptin is to suppress appetite, and circulating levels of leptin are increased with increasing body fat content.

Therefore, one would expect that in fit lean racehorses, circulating leptin concentration would be reduced, in order to drive appetite and achieve feed intake sufficient to meet the increasing energy demands of training.

This certainly appears to be the case, with the circulating level of leptin being lower in young fit Standardbred racehorses compared to mature unfit Standardbred horses (Gordon et al. 2007). In this same study, these authors also reported that ghrelin and obestatin, which are both reported to stimulate appetite, were also significantly greater in the fit versus the unfit

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racehorses. Hence there appears to be a logical mechanism for ensuring that feed intake is maintained in horses in hard work.

However, the variation in the level of these appetite-stimulating or -suppressing factors has been shown to be quite variable between horses, even when body condition score is similar (Cartmill et al. 2003). This may help to explain the differences in feeding behavior and appetite within a group of racehorses in training.

Despite this complex system for matching feed intake to energy requirement, there is no doubt that in some individuals the drive to feed is overridden by other external factors. In some cases, suppression of appetite may be contributed to by pain, for example from poor dentition. In this situation, the physical act of feeding may be painful, due to the presence of sharp enamel points on the cheek teeth. Pain due to acute or ongoing injury may also influence appetite, and research in geriatric human patients suggests that there is a relationship between pain intensity and perceived appetite suppression (Bosley et al. 2004).

Horses that are worriers or a bit ‘stressy’ can also seem to suffer from poor appetite and again research in humans shows that both depression and stress can adversely effect appetite but can sometimes be ameliorated through the use of drugs to

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“Poor appetite and characteristic picky eating is also a widely reported clinical sign of underlying gastric ulcers, the incidence of which is high in horses in training” reduce anxiety or to treat depression.

Where stress is an issue in particular horses, steps need to be taken to try and alleviate it by close inspection of the horse’s environment. If there is practical opportunity for a period out at grass, or at least a period being hand grazed, this can be beneficial, as will managed opportunity for social contact with other horses.

Poor appetite and characteristic picky eating is also a widely reported clinical sign of underlying gastric ulcers, the incidence of which is high in horses in training. Whilst veterinary medication such as omeprazole is evidently effective in treating acute gastric ulcers, their reoccurrence in susceptible horses is also well documented following cessation of treatment. It is therefore important that some thought is given to the

underlying feeding and management factors that contribute to the development of ulcers, with appropriate changes being made. In some instances, antacids or other antiulcerogenic feed supplements, where efficacy is supported through scientific trials, can be a useful adjunct to veterinary therapy.

Chronic intake of mycotoxins, which are substances produced by mold species contaminating feed, have also been shown to depress appetite in horses. Feed intake was significantly decreased in athletic horses fed concentrate feed that had been experimentally contaminated with a cocktail of mycotoxins, fed for 21 days (Raymond et al. 2005). Mycotoxins can be found in both forage and grains and their presence is affected by factors such as harvesting and storage conditions.

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Strategies to improve appetite Essentially any health issues that are likely to impact on appetite, e.g. poor dentition or gastric ulcers, should be addressed. The focus can then shift to the feed and management of horses in training in an attempt to support appetite.

Forage Good quality and palatable forage, which is free from any significant molds and mycotoxins, is essential. Ideally, batches of hay should be tested for these common contaminants before purchase and the cost can be minimal when larger batch sizes of forage are bought.

An adequate quantity of forage should also be fed (a minimum of 1% of the horse’s bodyweight, e.g. 5 kg for a 500 kg horse). This will help ensure that the hindgut environment remains hospitable to a good balance of microflora, even when a high starch diet is fed. This should additionally help ensure that the horse’s natural supply of B vitamins is good in order to support a healthy appetite.

prevent its absorption, limiting any adverse effects on health. More feed and supplement manufacturers appear to be including a mycotoxin binder in their formulations for this purpose.

Herbs such as parsley, garlic, ginger and peppermint, etc., whilst they have a historic association with improvements in appetite, have little scientific evidence for their positive effect in horses. B-vitamins are also used extensively, either directly into the feed or through intravenous or intramuscular administration in horses in an attempt to improve appetite. Whilst there is no work in horses to support this practice, loss of appetite has been associated with B12

Concentrate feeds

Keeping meal size small but frequent will also help maintain appetite with horses less likely to be over faced with feed. Whilst manual feeding is still the norm, there are now a number of automatic feeders in existence for horses that allow very small quantities of feed to be presented on a little and often basis. Such equipment can be programmed according to the individual horse and trainer’s requirements and may certainly be advantageous for individuals with consistently poor appetites.

Ensuring that energy density of feed remains high is also essential, where appetite is poor. Top dressing feeds with vegetable oil, or high oil ingredients such as rice bran or micronized linseed can help to increase the ‘energy or ‘calorie’ content of feeds without large associated increases in the volume of feed fed.

Feed additives and supplements

Ingredients called mycotoxin binders that are derived from either charcoal, yeast, or montmorillonite clays can also be used in the feed to bind any ingested mycotoxin and

58 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

deficiency in humans and early studies in children supplemented with B vitamins suggest improvements in appetite. B vitamin status may also be improved as discussed earlier through greater provision

of forage and also the daily use of a probiotic product such as a live yeast.

Medication Drugs that are used to treat particular conditions such as gastric ulcers, where appetite may have been adversely affected, will usually improve feed intake. Other drugs such as corticosteroids, benzodiazepines, and cyproheptadine have also been shown to improve appetite in other species. Anabolic steroids such as stanozolol or nandrolone have also in the past been used by trainers in the US for building muscle mass and for ‘rejuvenating’ horses coming back into work following a layoff. One of the additional effects of such steroids is to improve appetite, which is cited by some trainers as the main reason for their use. However, concerns by the racing authorities on the ethics of their use in terms of retaining a level playing field and their potential long term effects on health and fertility has led to a recent change in rules regarding the use of steroids. This effectively prevents horses that have been recently treated with steroids from legally racing in a number of states including Kentucky and California.

Appetite is therefore a complex subject physiologically, but there are many practical steps that can be taken to maintain feed intake either through a change to the feed itself, or a change in feeding management or environment. For the best effect, a holistic approach is worthwhile with careful consideration and investigation of the potential cause of consistently poor or loss of appetite in horses in training. I

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bosley, B. N., Weiner, D. K., E., T. and Granieri, R. E. (2004). Is Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Associated with Decreased Appetite in Older Adults? Preliminary Evidence. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 52(2): 247-251.

Cartmill, J. A., Thompson Jr, D. L., Storer, W. A., Gentry, L. R. and Huff, N. K. (2003). Endocrine responses in mares and geldings with high body condition scores grouped by high vs. low resting leptin concentrations. Journal of Animal Science 81(9): 2311-2321.

Dhillo, W. S. (2007). Appetite regulation: An overview. Thyroid 17(5): 433-445.

Gordon, M. E., McKeever, K. H., Betros, C. L.

and Manso Filho, H. C. (2007). Plasma leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin concentrations in young fit racehorses versus mature unfit standardbreds. Veterinary Journal 173(1): 93-102.

Ralston, S. L. (1986). Feeding behavior. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice 2(3): 609-621.

Raymond, S. L., Smith, T. K. and Swamy, H. V. L. N. (2005). Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, metabolism, and indices of athletic performance of exercised horses. Journal of Animal Science 83(6): 1267-1273.

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Better Talk Now wins the Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day June 2007

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BETTER TALK NOW

He may be nine years old but late-running gelding

MR. DEPENDABLE BETTER TALK NOW is...

I

T’S HARD to imagine that Better Talk Now, Graham Motion’s remarkable, late-running nine-yearold gelding, would ever cost his trainer a good night’s sleep. After all, Better Talk Now’s victory in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf gave Motion a national presence, one which has only grown as Better Talk Now continues to perform at the highest level of racing with 14 victories in 47 career starts and earnings of more than $4.2 million.

Yet there was one race that still haunts Motion. Back on December 28th, 2002, with jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard for the first time, Better Talk Now was uncontrollably rank, not what you would expect from a horse who always comes from behind. He was running in the $100,000 Woodchopper Handicap at the Fair Grounds. Coming off two consecutive allowance victories, Better Talk Now went off the 6-5 favorite in a field of 11.

“The time Ramon first got up on him, he gave him a hard time,” Motion said.

“Basically, he ran off with Ramon in the post parade.”

It got worse.

By Bill Heller

“In the race, he just got very strong and unmanageable, and went to the front,” Motion said.

Unfortunately for Motion and Dominguez, that move came midway through the mile-and-a-sixteenth turf stakes as Better Talk Now went from sixth to battle head-to-head with the leader. He poked a head in front way too early, and tired to finish eighth by six lengths.

Motion had trouble getting that performance out of his mind. “My worst nightmare was that he’d do it again in a race,” Motion said. “I had flashbacks.

Absolutely. I didn’t know the horse he would become.”

Motion couldn’t have dreamed how good his horse would become. Better Talk Now’s last 26 starts have been in graded stakes. Twenty-four of those stakes were Grade 1 or Grade 2.

If he’s slowing down at the age of nine, he certainly didn’t show it this summer at Saratoga Race Course when he overcame a wide trip to finish second in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. In his next start just three weeks later over a yielding course in the $750,000 Grade 1 Northern Dancer

Stakes at Woodbine, September 7th, he clipped heels in traffic and finished seventh under Dominguez, who has ridden Better Talk Now in his last 18 starts.

“Ramon rarely makes excuses, but he was adamant about this,” Motion said September 9th. “He said he was cruising and one of the other horses came over and he clipped heels. Ramon says it cost him everything.”

Motion said that Better Talk Now came out of the race with a few minor scrapes and otherwise was fine. Motion has two options in mind for Better Talk Now’s final race this year: the $2 million Canadian International at Woodbine, October 4th, or the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita three weeks later.

“A lot of it is going to depend on how he’s doing,” Motion said. “Our biggest concern is how he feels before we make any decisions.”

That has always been Motion’s concern, and Better Talk Now’s continued success is a testimony to the talent and patience of his 43-year-old trainer who ranked 15th nationally in earnings through midSeptember.

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PROFILE

Better Talk Now with trainer Graham Motion at Belmont Park before the Man O'War Stakes 2008

Asked what Better Talk Now has meant to him, Motion searched for words without finding them: “Oh, he’s meant … I couldn’t put it in just a couple of minutes what he’s meant to me. He’s done so much for my career, and he’s such a neat horse. He’s such an integral part of the outfit.”

A native of Cambridge, England, Motion is the son of Michael, a highly-successful bloodstock agent, and Jo, an amateur rider, assistant trainer and tack shop owner.

Motion worked for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard from 1985-1990, then briefly for Jonathan Pease in France, before returning to the United States, where he worked for Bernie Bond before starting his own stable. Bounding Daisy gave Motion

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his first victory at Laurel Park in 1993. Gala Spinaway delivered Motion’s first graded stakes win, and Film Maker his first Grade 1 stakes when she captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in 2003.

Motion is based at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and trains a stable which has reached as many as 100 Thoroughbreds. He had a sensational 2007 campaign, winning 145 races from 646 starts and earning more than $6.5 million, 12th best in the country.

Diane Perkins trained Better Talk Now, who she bred, for his first six starts, one as a two-year-old and five at three. In his last start for Perkins, Better Talk Now tried

grass for the first time and won a maiden race at Churchill Downs by nine lengths.

In his first two starts for Motion, Better Talk Now finished eighth in an allowance race and sixth in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes, both races at Saratoga. Motion dropped Better Talk Now back to allowance company and he won two straight, one at Delaware and another at Aqueduct.

That set up Better Talk Now’s appearance in the Woodchopper, the one Motion would like to forget. But it was only one race.

Showing no ill effect from the Woodchopper, Better Talk Now won another allowance test, and, at the end of his

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BETTER TALK NOW

With regular rider Ramon Dominguez and groom Fenella O'Flynn

four-year-old season, his first graded stakes, the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Handicap at Aqueduct by half a length under Edgar Prado on November 1st, 2003.

Motion responded by giving the son of Talkin Man, out of Bendita, by Baldski, a five-month break. Better Talk Now began his 2004 campaign with two clunkers: an eighth and ninth. Then he followed with seconds in both the ungraded Battlefield Stakes and Grade 2 Bowling Green.

In his first start in a Grade 1 stakes, Better Talk Now won the Sword Dancer at Saratoga by a length and a half. He was then fourth in the Grade 1 Man o’ War, but rebounded to capture the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Lone Star Park by a length and

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After the Breeders Cup Turf 2007 where he was 4th

“I couldn’t put it in just a couple of minutes what he’s meant to me. He’s done so much for my career. He’s such an integral part of the outfit.” three-quarters over Kitten’s Joy, the biggest favorite of the entire Breeders’ Cup Day at 3-5. Better Talk Now was 27-1. “It was unbelievable,” Dominguez said. “At the halfmile, they opened up in front of me. I took advantage of that. It paid off. It made him finish up even stronger.”

Better Talk Now is still finishing strong, closing ground in virtually every race that he enters. That in itself is an accomplishment.

“He was very difficult early on,” Motion said. “That was a big learning curve. I mean, it took us a while to figure him out.”

Though he won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Handicap and the Grade 1 Man o’ War in 2005, Better Talk Now didn’t come close to repeating his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, finishing seventh by 10 ¼ lengths at Belmont Park.

At the age of seven, Better Talk Now captured two Grade 2 stakes, the Dixie Handicap and the Sky Classic, before finishing second by half a length to Red Rocks in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

64 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

In 2007, at the age of eight, Better Talk Now won the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap by a head over English Channel, who came back to win last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf on a rain-drenched, soft course at Monmouth Park. Better Talk Now was a non-threatening fourth.

English Channel was subsequently named Champion Grass Horse and was retired to stud Better Talk Now is still racing.

He began 2008 by finishing sixth in a Grade 3 stakes at the Fair Grounds, then finished ninth of 16 in the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic before running fifth in the Manhattan. In yet another Grade 1 stakes, the Man o’ War, Better Talk Now rallied to finish third, 2½ lengths behind the winner, Red Rocks, and just half a length behind reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, who was second in his grass debut.

At Saratoga for the Sword Dancer, Better Talk Now attracted more attention than anyone. “I thought it was a very neat atmosphere in the paddock for the Sword

Dancer,” Motion said. “I think a lot of people came to see him, and that’s neat. A lot of people came up to talk to me that day.

If he can do a little something for the game, I think it’s a good thing.”

How could it not be? When racing’s top horses are routinely retired at the age of three, four or, if we’re lucky, five, Better Talk Now is a living example that older horses can still impact and even win major stakes races.

Motion, of course, has had other top horses, including Film Maker, who was second, third and second in three consecutive starts in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf from 2004 through 2006.

Motion has done a masterful job of orchestrating Better Talk Now’s career. His most number of starts in a single year was nine in 2002, when he was three. He made seven, eight, seven, five and four starts in subsequent years. He’s made six starts in 2008 so far.

There may be more next year. “We haven’t talked about retiring him,” Motion said. “If he gave us any indication that he wasn’t willing to do it or that he wasn’t doing well, I think we would talk about it.

But we haven’t even talked about it really.”

Asked if he is proud of his handling of Better Talk Now, Motion said, “Yeah, but I think he’s probably made me look good, to be honest. He’s always been a good horse. He can be tricky, but he’s probably made me look good at the end of the day.” I

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PROFILE

BETTER TALK NOW

Winning career statistics

Provided by Brisnet

DKBBR G 1999 AWD: 9.75 SSI: 40.28 Owner: Bushwood Stables Llc Sire: Talkin Man 1992 SPI: 1.52 Dam: Bendita 1985 (Baldski 1974) Breeder: Wimborne Farm Inc. (KY) Trainer: Motion H Graham Life 47 14 - 7 - 4 $4,216,664 111 Fast (99) 4 0 2 2008 6 0 - 1 - 1 $ 163,876 106 Wet (100) 0 0 0 2007 4 1 - 0 - 1 $ 499,647 107 Turf (108) 43 14 5 DATE

TRK

06/09/07 Belmont

DIST

11/4m

FRACTIONS

:50

1:14

1:38 2:02

RACE-TYPE

E1

E2/

LP

0 0 4

$16,360 $0 $4,200,304

91 111

SPD

PP

ST

1C

2C

Str

FIN

Manhttnh-G1 66

90/ 102 102

6

7

7

6

5

1

Skyclsc-G2

81

95/ 102 104

6

6

6

6

3

1

Dixie-G2

74

92/ 120 108

3

7

7

6

3

1

95/

99 103

5

9

9

7

3

1

76

86/ 106 102

1

8

8

9

5

1

Ftmarcyh-G3 75

97/ 102 101

1

5

5

4

2

1

98 106

5

7

6

4

2

1

91/ 110 105

3

6

6

4

3

1

87/ 120 106

1

6

5

5

3

1

EightThirty55k 67

77/ 124 103

5

2

1

1

1

1

Alw 38000n3x 82

88/

92

5

4

4

3

4

1

Alw 50000n2x 80

83/ 111 100

8

8

6

5

1

1

Alw 43000n1x 46

59/ 101

81

6

6

6

6

1

1

Md Sp Wt

92/

93

3

8

7

2

1

1

1 Better Talk Now 2 English Channel 3 Shakis RA Dominguez

Gamely on rail, head

09/24/06 Woodbine 13/8m

:50

1:15

1:40 2:18

1 Better Talk Now 2 Jambalaya 3 Last Answer RA Dominguez

Rallied 4w, led, held, head

05/20/06 Pimlico

11/8m

:48

1:12

1:37 1:48

1 Better Talk Now 2 Dreadnaught 3 Ar tie Schiller RA Dominguez

Rail, angled, run btw, up, head

09/10/05 Belmont

13/8m

:47

1:11

1:35 2:11

Manowar-G1 73

1 Better Talk Now 2 King's Drama 3 Relaxed Gesture RA Dominguez

3 wide run, determined, neck

07/02/05 Monmouth 13/8m :49© 1:14ª 1:40ª2:20©

Unitdntn-G1

1 Better Talk Now 2 Silverfoot 3 Request For Parole RA Dominguez

Angled back to rail, 3/4 length

04/23/05 Aqueduct 11/16m

:24

:48

1:12 1:42

1 Better Talk Now 2 Remind 3 Ecclesiastic RA Dominguez

Inside move, dug in, neck

10/30/04 Lone Star 11/2m

:49

1:13

1:40 2:29

Bcturf-G1

76 101/

1 Better Talk Now 2 Kitten's Joy 3 Powerscourt RA Dominguez

Five wide move, clear, 13/4 lengths

08/14/04 Saratoga

11/2m

:49

1:15

1:40 2:28

Swrddncr-G1 62

1 Better Talk Now 2 Request For Parole 3 Balto Star RA Dominguez

Saved ground, clear, 11/2 lengths

11/01/03 Aqueduct 11/8m

:50

1:14

1:38 1:50

Knkrbkrh-G2 69

1 Better Talk Now 2 Del Mar Show 3 Millennium Dragon ES Prado

Altered course stretch, 1/2 length

06/29/03 Delaware 11/8m

:51

1:15

1:39 1:50

1 Better Talk Now 2 Pickupspeed 3 Rochester RA Dominguez

Bid, pace, prevailed, neck

01/18/03 Gulfstream Pk 1m

:24

:48

1:13 1:36

91

1 Better Talk Now 2 Good Boy Sam 3 Handsome George ES Prado

Up final strides 4w, neck

11/02/02 Aqueduct 11/8m

:49

1:15

1:40 1:52

1 Better Talk Now 2 Thefull Circle 3 Hydrogen ES Prado

3 wide trip, driving, 3 1/4 lengths

10/01/02 Delaware 11/8m

:51

1:15

1:40 1:52

1 Better Talk Now 2 JadeDigger 3 MakeYourOwn EM Coa

Bid, drew off smartly, 31/4 lengths

07/06/02 Churchill Dns 1m

:23

:47

1:13 1:36

1 Better Talk Now 2 Reverse Psychology 3 Gulch's Sensation CH Borel

Widened,hand urging, 9 lengths

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84

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WELFARE

Drugs in racing and the role the vet has to play Artificial racing surfaces are the most significant innovation aimed at reducing injuries in recent decades

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By Ken Snyder

T

WO horses – Eight Belles and Big Brown – have brought racetrack veterinarians and their care of thousands of racehorses squarely to the forefront of the racing industry...and in the hot seat of public and government scrutiny. Perceptions that vets are drug pushers responsible for masking injuries that lead to catastrophe are more popular than ever.

Dr. Foster Northrop, a racetrack veterinarian since the early ’90s, expresses it in succinct terms: “The perception in the media is we’re a bunch of butchers, right now, and that’s about as far from the truth as you can get.”

The truth, according to Northrop, and fellow racetrack vets, doctors Douglas Beebe and Steven Allday, is that perceptions are grossly inaccurate about veterinary practices and the role that vets are having in the industry. Medications like steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs like phenylbutazone (commonly referred to as “bute”), and anti-bleedings drugs like Salix (also called Lasix) cannot mask problems that lead to injury or death nor can they enhance performance, according to the vets.

“You cannot make a horse perform better than its potential,” said Beebe.

Steroids, a hot-button topic because of their much-publicized use by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. with Big Brown, are but one example of what these vets believe is a major misperception. “Every qualified veterinarian knows this steroid thing is an absolute farce,” said Beebe, a 45-year veterinary practitioner, of a controversy that is leading more and more states with racing to ban or restrict steroid use. “When you give too much of it, you can’t handle the horse. You can’t walk them. They don’t want to train.”

Northrop echoed and elaborated on Beebe’s point: “You can’t get in a stall with

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WELFARE

Eight Belles suffered a fatlal injur y in front of the TV cameras, bringing the care of racehorses under the public spotlight

“The perception in the media is we’re a bunch of butchers, right now, and that’s about as far from the truth as you can get.”

Dr. Foster Northrop them, or they’ll run their race in the paddock, not on the racetrack. That’s the thing: most medications are self-limiting because when you overmedicate you don’t get performance and people can’t understand that.”

Anti-inflammatory medications like Butazolidin and their application are also misunderstood, according to Northrop.

“You take a lame horse and give them as much ‘bute’ as you want to give them and they’re still going to be a lame horse. It doesn’t mask pain. It’s not a pain reliever; it’s an anti-inflammatory. We are not allowed to give any pain relievers,” said Northrop.

Concerns over Salix to prevent post-race and workout bleeding in a horse’s bronchial system are also misguided, according to Northrop. “Horses bleed for a lot of reasons we don’t understand,” he said. “We’re running in cities where there’s tons of smog and pollution. These horses are putting

70 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

everything they have in what they do and they’re going to bleed. These people that want to take Lasix away can’t be preaching health and safety of horses because you’re putting horses in harm’s way without the medication.”

So are there answers for professionals and a profession that rightly or wrongly is looked to for change in practices to placate those who believe change is necessary? All three vets worry that change will come not from the professionals but from bureaucrats and those who, in the words of Northrop, “have never seen the back end or the front end of a horse, who speak out on issues with general vague notions not backed by scientific or clinical evidence.

“If you want a good reform in medication,” he continued, “you put a panel together of three true, respected racetrack practitioners, two equine orthopedic surgeons that specialize in race horses, two internal medicine guys that see a lot of race

horses, two human orthopedic surgeons that specialize in athletes – Olympic level, professional, level, college level – two internal medicine guys that specialize in the same thing, two regulatory vets and a neutral mediator. You put them in a room together and they can come up with a sensible therapeutic medication plan in six hours.”

Like many persons within and outside the industry, Allday believes a fundamental problem is the lack of a central governing body for horseracing. “The time in the past where horses stayed in one jurisdiction is past. Horses ship around,” he said. “All the states that have racing are going to have to sit down, budget their money and begin testing for medications uniformly.”

Transgressors of any uniform regulation are also going to have to be penalized more severely than what is current, according to Allday. “You have to make penalties stick.

When somebody does something wrong, their livelihood has to be affected. That’s the only way we’re going to clean it up.”

Northrop is encouraged by efforts he sees in his home state of Kentucky to improve drug testing. “If the rogues are using illegal drugs, we want to catch them. And if we catch them, we want to get them out of the game – not just fine them, but get them out,” he said.

Allday also makes a point overlooked, perhaps, by the media and would-be reformers: the percentage of rule-breakers among racetrack veterinarians. “If you look at statistics there are less than one percent of

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SEE IF THIS MAKES SENSE TO YOU!!!

JOINT PAIN and INFLAMMATION cause the performance horse to bear down and strain. This straining results in capillaries lining the respirator y tract to burst open…this causes bleeding (visible exter nally in the nostrils or otherwise).

Exercise itself is not the cause of respirator y bleeding… it is caused by the horse experiencing joint pain while exercising. Therefore, you cannot control or eliminate bleeding without getting to the root cause of the problem.

The shot you pay for before race time is really not ver y effective when measured by the number of horses receiving it and still bleeding right through it.

RELIEVING JOINT PAIN WHILE EXERCISING STOPS MOST BLEEDING! TRY SUBSIDE–STOP THE PAIN CYCLE–TAKE THE PAIN-FREE RIDE! TRY ABR–STOP THE ALLERGY-BLEEDING CYCLE. Both SUBSIDE and ABR are ALL NATURAL, ALL HERBAL products that work NATURALLY. JUST POSITIVELY GOOD RESULTS. TO ORDER SUBSIDE and ABR contact Marie Kosniecki at 517-795-8990 Ken’s Harness (Pocono Downs) at 570-961-8827 Hot to Trot Tack Supply at Showplace Farm, NJ (Tony Respali) 732-610-2747 Pacesetter Tack (Adam Murray) Saratoga Gaming & Racing at 888-298-5346 Daryn Hall at 812-525-7535 Joe Heet (Thoroughbreds) KY at 859-351-3512 Becky Swinehart at 608-728-1818 Joey at ABBEY ROAD PRESENTS 248-521-2221

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WELFARE

“Less than one percent of horses are turning up with bad tests. What’s that tell you? It tells me it’s a pretty clean industry” Steven Allday bad tests [those showing illegal medications or illegal doses of legal drugs] on the industry across the board,” he said. “That represents thousands of horses running every day and there’s less than one percent of horses that are turning up with bad tests.

What’s that tell you? It tells me it’s a pretty clean industry.”

Northrop presents at least a unique if not novel perspective on the kind of catastrophic injury that led to the euthanizing of Eight Belles. “People always wonder why it happens on national tv so

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much. Think about it: Why are they on national tv? Because they’re the fastest and they try the hardest. When you’re the fastest and you’re trying harder, you’re more likely to get hurt. Some of these horses have a heart the size of a Cadillac, thus, when something starts pinching in the middle of a race, like any good athlete, they ignore it and try to finish the race.

“Every horse that I’ve been involved with that has been a catastrophic breakdown, and fortunately it’s not a whole lot of horses, went into that race or that breeze and I had no clue that anything was wrong. The odd misstep, the hole in the track – there’s truth to those things sometimes being the cause.

There’s also truth in some cases that an injury and catastrophe has been gradually coming on. But the horse has given no indication.

“We do everything every day, 10 and 12 hours a day, seven days a week trying to prevent an Eight Belles situation.”

Northrop, perhaps surprisingly, believes

PETA and the Humane Society “have done us a favor” in the wake of the Eight Belles catastrophe by bringing to the fore issues that can be beneficial to racetrack veterinary practice and the racing industry. “They’ve made us look within our industry and within ourselves, and every safety consideration coming out of this is a benefit to the horse.”

He quickly added, however: “Are their claims accurate? Absolutely not.”

Some reforms – whether they involve stricter or more restricted use of medications, uniform standards, or more severe penalties to standards’ violators – cannot touch larger issues that may be beyond the reach of even the bestintentioned individuals.

“The breed is under a lot more stress than it used to be. Most horses used to get the winter off. Now we’ve gone into year-round racing and it’s hard on a horse,” said Northrop.

Beebe, who did graduate work in

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NORTH AMERICAN RACING VETS

“Every horse that I’ve been involved with that has been a catastrophic breakdown, went into that race or that breeze and I had no clue that anything was wrong” Dr. Foster Northrop

nutrition before veterinary school, has conducted an exhaustive study of the skeletal system of horses and believes diet is the root-cause of injuries. According to Beebe, 80% of hundreds of samples he studied showed deficiency in trace mineral complexes needed to produce good bone.

“We analyzed the grasses, hay and feeds and all were lacking significantly in nutraceuticals. That’s why they break down.”

Allday subscribes to one popular belief

that poor breeding is the principal cause of injuries.

Artificial racing surfaces like Polytrack – the most significant innovation aimed at reducing injuries in recent decades – are welcomed by the vets but not completely endorsed either.

“All are not the same,” said Beebe. “I assumed that most were pretty well consistent in their dynamics – that they would act a certain way when cold, a certain way when wet, and a certain way when dry.

Apparently, that’s not the case.” Whether dirt or artificial, Beebe believes consistency in the surface is the real key to racehorse health. “You train on a consistent track every day, you’re going to have fewer injuries, bottom line,” he said.

Northrop adopts a wait-and-see attitude on the surfaces: “I’m all for them once they’re proven to be more effective and safer than a dirt track.” He applauds Keeneland’s switch to an artificial surface but doesn’t think it’s an automatic decision for other tracks with dirt surfaces. “Until I’m sure and I’m convinced the catastrophic injury rate is going to do down I’m not sure I’d change a track like Churchill or The Fairgrounds or Palm Meadows, all of which have great records and are very safe racetracks.”

While all three vets are united on misperceptions of their role, divisions on the upshot of media and government attention on their profession range from absolute pessimism to hope. Beebe believes we have a situation where “people who know nothing but who are making the rules and regulations will shut the industry down” by taking away from vets the means to correct injuries that

occur in horses. The consequence, he believes, will fall upon owners not able to make any return on their investment. “An owner is going to say, ‘I’ve got a horse now that can’t be treated and I’ve got to lay them off for six months or a year. I can’t afford that.’ That would kill the industry.”

Northrop’s outlook and perspective, while bright, comes with a caveat that goes back to a principal concern he shares with Allday, Beebe and perhaps all racetrack veterinarians. “All the things going on in our industry are wonderful to help the safety and welfare of the horse...as long as the right people are making the decisions.”

No less a racing authority than Kentucky’s chief racing steward and retired Hall of Fame trainer John Veitch believes it’s unfair to focus solely on vets and their role in racing in the wake of controversy like that surrounding Eight Belles. “There’s enough blame to go around for everybody,” he said.

The question remains whether vets will go back to “the perpetuator of time-off,” as Allday described veterinary involvement with racing before drugs like Salix and Butazolidin, or whether they will continue with tighter restrictions and perhaps, stiffer penalties for rogue vets.

Perhaps more likely, racing years from now may come to know the old adage that the more things change, the more things stay the same. “I’ve got satellite radio and I listen to old shows like “The Shadow” and others from the ’40s,” said Northrop. “They talk about horses getting the ‘juice’ and a ‘sure thing at Santa Anita’ on the Jack Benny Show. And that show is from the 1940s. It’s been like that all along.” I

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VETERINARY

Treating joint degeneration the drug-free way

New treatment

By Howard Wilder

THE BACKGROUND Lameness resulting from joint degeneration or osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting horses and the most common reason that vets are called out to competition horses. OA causes inflammation of the joint lining and progressive destruction of articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones composing a joint. This destruction decreases both the natural shock-absorbing function and the range of motion of the joint, ultimately resulting in lameness in the affected animal.

Conventional treatments for joint disease include reduced or altered exercise regimes, bandaging, the use of antiinflammatory agents, anti-arthritic drugs, artificial joint fluid and corticosteroids.

For many years these treatments have helped to improve the condition of horses’ joints and subsequently helped maintain their overall soundness.

Yet the fact is that all of them offer only limited efficacy; some are associated with side effects and the fact that some of them involve the administration of prohibited substances creates a headache for trainers.

74 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

With these factors in mind, perhaps it’s not surprising that a completely new form of ‘drug-free’ treatment is attracting increasing interest from both the equine vets and trainers. While it’s still early days, its advocates believe that it may, over time, prove to offer a more effective and sideeffect free way forward for the management and treatment of equine joint disease.

The new treatment, which is gaining an increasing foothold in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, is called an ‘autologous’ treatment because it effectively involves the horse healing itself.

A range of in-depth studies are underway to test the efficacy of autologous therapies and, while not yet conclusive, initial research results and anecdotal evidence are proving encouraging.

The causes So, let’s examine how it works. Joint cartilage destruction is caused by a number of substances that increase when inflammation occurs in the joint.

Laboratory and clinical research has shown that one of the main substances responsible for cartilage destruction is interleukin 1 (IL-1). A multitude of research has also shown that antibodies produced against this cartilage-destructive substance can have a beneficial effect in arresting cartilage damage. A protein called IL-1RA has proved particularly helpful in this respect.

Treating the problem

The autologous treatment involves harnessing the regenerative and antiinflammatory properties of the horse’s own

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An intra-articular injection into the affected joint

blood cells, including IL-1RA to combat the IL-1, and encouraging damaged muscoskeletal tissues to heal. Effectively then the horse heals itself, a huge potential advantage for hard-pressed trainers trying to juggle horses’ treatment regimes around racing commitments.

The treatment involves a veterinary surgeon taking blood from the horse with a special syringe containing specially treated glass beads. The syringe is then incubated for 24 hours during which time white blood cells locate onto the beads and produce the regenerative and anti-inflammatory proteins.

After incubation, the syringe is placed into a special centrifuge to separate the serum from the blood clot and create a solution

known as Autologous Conditioned Serum (ACS) – effectively a type of ‘antiinflammatory soup’ with boosted levels of IL-1RA and other regenerative proteins.

The ACS is then decanted into three to five vials for later intra-articular injection by the vet into the affected joints of the horse to reduce inflammation and initiate cartilage healing. Typically, three treatments are recommended for optimum clinical effect whilst the horse remains in training or is rested.

Results A study published in 2005 and carried out at Colorado State University examined the

efficacy of the ACS therapy compared to a control (placebo).

Sixteen horses were involved in the trial.

Eight underwent the ACS therapy and the remaining horses were treated using saline solution. The horses were injected with the protein intra-articularly at weekly intervals for one month and then monitored for therapeutic success until day seventy of the trial. Factors measured included lameness, movement in the joint and a determination of the volume of synovial fluid.

The study demonstrated that compared to the control group the horses treated with the new therapy showed improvement in lameness and swelling.

Further examination histologically

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showed that there were also significant reductions in cartilage erosion with the ACS therapy compared to the control group.

The ACS process also encouraged the concentration of IL-1RA, the protein that promotes healing, to increase in the affected joints until day 70 showing that the benefit of the treatment is not short-lived.

Veterinary surgeon Dr. Thomas Weinberger, Müggenhausen, Germany, who led the study, commented: “The arthrosis study clearly demonstrates that the ACS Therapy is an efficient and safe alternative to common therapeutic interventions.”

The late Prix d’Amerique winner and world record trotter Victory Tilly is known to have undergone the treatment successfully.

The experience so far

So, what do equine vets make of this revolution? Consultant Equine Surgeon Cedric Chan BVSc CertES(Orth) DiplECVS MRCVS says the results he’s experienced so far have been encouraging but it’s too early for definitive conclusions.

A RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery, who runs NW Equine Referrals, UK and France, based in England, Chan says: “I became interested in the therapy as a new physiological form of joint treatment for OA after attending a lecture by Professor Wayne McIlwraith and also using it at one of my referral centers in France, which was using it based on Orthogen’s (the company which first developed the treatment) experience.”

He has, in particular, used the treatment after arthroscopic surgery where OA had been demonstrated.

Neal Ashton, BVet Med Cert EP Cert ES (ST) MRCVS, shares Cedric Chan’s views: “The Autologous Conditioned Serum is now regularly considered at Oakham as an option for intra-articular joint disease in a range of joints. It’s proved particularly effective in treating horses which have been non-responsive to steroids.”

Ashton treats a high percentage of competition horses which are competed regularly and cites a key advantage of ACS as its flexibility when fitting in treatment around events. “Certainly trainers and riders seem to understand and are attracted by the concept of the horse healing itself,” he comments.

Andy Bathe MA, VetMB, DipECVS, DEO, MRCVS, Head of the Equine Sports Injuries Clinic at Rossdale & Partners (Newmarket, England) and another user, says: “I was the first user of the new therapy in the UK. Over the last eighteen months we’ve been pleased with the usefulness of this product in treating our practice

Filtering the serums into vials for individual treatments

“Completely new form of ‘drugfree’ treatment is attracting increasing interest from both the equine vets and trainers” population of racing Thoroughbreds, as well as on our referral population of a broader range of horses.

“We’ve found it helpful in the management of traumatic joint disease in racing Thoroughbreds, which have only

A syringe containing treated glass beads

“The horses treated with the new therapy showed improvement in lameness and swelling”

been partially responsive to corticosteroids.

We’ve had some noticeable successes in helping high quality horses achieve the kind of success they deserve. We have also found beneficial effects in soft tissue injuries such as tendon and ligament injuries. It’s a very exciting technology and one which certainly adds to our armory when trying to treat injuries in these athletic horses.”

Lanark-based Clyde Vet Group recently treated the first horse in Scotland and Andrew McDiarmid BVM&S, Cert ES (Orth), MRCVS, head of the practice’s equine division, says: “While the use of this treatment is in its early stages, preliminary results are encouraging and it is definitely an exciting addition to our therapeutic range of treatments in the management of equine lameness. It represents new territory for equine vets and may herald the start of a completely new direction in treating joint disease.

At the moment, we, like other clinics, are primarily using it to treat cases that have not responded to conventional therapies.”

So, what’s the conclusion so far? “At its best, the therapy has proved extremely effective,” says Neal Ashton. “While it hasn’t worked in every case, I’ve treated racehorses which have gone on to win races and eventers which have got round Badminton and Burghley – something they would have struggled to do the year before.

ACS has a well-deserved place in our toolkit of treatments for joint disease.”

With more research indeed planned and in-depth studies underway, the development of autologous therapies could well be a key area to watch for 2008. I

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NUTRITION

V

ITAMINS are a key part of the diet for racehorses and although the clinical signs associated with an overt deficiency or excess of one vitamin or another are rare, we should not presume that the level of vitamins provided in the diet is optimized for performance. Horses are, generally speaking, quite tolerant of sub-clinical deficiency or excess with regards to vitamins, and the margin of acceptable intake to prevent health issues is therefore relatively wide in most cases. However, maintenance of health is a separate issue compared to optimal performance, which is the ultimate target for horses in training.

Vitamins can be divided into those that are water soluble, which includes the Bgroup vitamins and vitamin C; and fat soluble, namely vitamins A, D, E and K. As the B-group vitamins are water soluble, excess intake above requirements will increase the quantity lost via the kidneys in urine. This is a useful mechanism as overzealous use of B vitamin containing supplements will usually only be uneconomical rather than of potential detriment to health.

The B-group vitamins have a myriad of

Vitamins are a good supplement for stabled horses who don’t get enough grass and sunshine

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The role vitamins play in the diet

By Catherine Dunnett

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VITAMINS

functions within the body, but are particularly important for energy generation, proper function of the nervous system, red blood cell formation, and maintenance of the digestive system and skin health. Normally in horses, B vitamins are synthesized by the population of bacteria that resides in the horse’s hindgut.

These endogenous vitamins are then available for use by the horse. Clearly this provides an incentive to ensure that the bacterial balance in the hindgut is healthy and the environment hospitable. Keeping meal sizes small will help to achieve this as it reduces the amount of starch that escapes digestion in the small intestine. This is relevant as it serves to reduce the level of inhospitable acid in the hindgut as a result of starch fermentation. Live yeast supplements can also help to ameliorate some of the negative effects of high starch racing diets on the hindgut environment and microbial balance.

There has been considerable interest in B vitamin supplementation in racehorses for a number of different reasons. Many of the B-group vitamins are intimately involved in the various energy generation pathways.

Particularly they play an important role in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl Co-A, which is a key stage in aerobic metabolism.

Reduced or incomplete conversion of pyruvate to acetyl Co-A contributes to a build up in lactic acid in muscles, which is a significant factor in the process of fatigue. B vitamins are therefore crucial to exercise performance and it is not surprising that supplementation with them is often a feature of in-training diets.

C

URRENTLY there is no evidence to suggest that supplementation above that required to meet daily requirements is beneficial. A previous study has reported that addition of a mixed B vitamin supplement to a fortified concentrate feed had no effect on the accumulation of lactate during intense exercise. However, whilst hyper supplementation may not be beneficial, some feeds may not provide an adequate B vitamin intake, especially where microbial synthesis is reduced due to a compromised hindgut. Putting exercise performance aside, there can be other justification for B vitamin supplementation.

These reputedly stimulate the appetite, which can be helpful for fussy feeders under stress. In addition, many of the ‘calming’ supplements contain sometimes quite high concentrations of B vitamins as some are said to moderate excitable behavior.

There is little evidence in horses to support either of these two notions due to a lack of research undertaken in this area.

Certainly suppression of appetite has been

B vitamins are believed to help calm high-str ung horses

correlated with vitamin B12 deficiency in man and folic acid supplementation has been reported to improve appetite in children. As far as the effect of B vitamin supplementation on behavior is concerned, there is again no substantiation for its use in horses, but there is clearly some involvement of certain B vitamins in mood and behavior from studies carried out in other species.

Vitamin C is an additional water soluble vitamin that forms part of the body’s antioxidant defences. It is particularly important for lung and joint function and forms part of the immune defenses. Unlike the B vitamins, it is not generally found in proprietary feed, as the horses can synthesize vitamin C from glucose in the liver. It is therefore debatable whether

additional dietary vitamin C is required in normal horses with a relatively sedentary lifestyle. However, it is currently believed that the endogenous synthesis of vitamin C may not be sufficient to keep pace with an increased requirement where the production of damaging free radicals is markedly increased. This can occur with inflammation, particularly where respiratory or joint disease is present. Not all forms of vitamin C are well absorbed in horses and ironically the commonly known form (ascorbic acid) is actually very poorly absorbed. Other sources of vitamin C such as ascorbyl palmitate or calcium ascorbyl 2 monophosphate are more bioavailable. The beneficial effect of vitamin C supplementation, where respiratory disease

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NUTRITION

is present, is reasonably well established.

Certainly exercise tolerance and endoscopic inflammation score was improved in horses with a previous history of recurrent airway obstruction (formerly COPD) following only four weeks of supplementation with vitamins E and C and selenium.

The fat soluble vitamins comprise vitamins A, D, E and K. These are absorbed from the gut in association with the fat content of the diet and, unlike the water soluble vitamins, can be stored in the body, mainly the liver. This is an advantage in some respects, as it allows stores of vitamins A and D, for example, to be called upon when the levels in the diet are reduced.

However, retention within tissues can also lead to potential health issues with oversupply of these vitamins.

Supply of vitamin A, which is needed for vision and to support immunity, is generally good from typical racing diets. Horses will receive pre-formed vitamin A from their concentrate feed and Beta carotene, which is a precursor for pro-vitamin A, from any grass or other green material such as hay or alfalfa.

The concentration of vitamin A typically found in racing concentrates ranges between 11,000-14,000 iu/kg. A racehorse in training being fed 13 lbs of concentrate feed per day would therefore receive between 66,000 – 84,000 iu/day just from the concentrate feed. This is a sufficient intake to adequately meet the daily requirement for horses in work. However, care needs to be exercised to avoid excess intake, especially where multiple vitamin A-containing supplements are used. The upper safe level of vitamin A in the diet of e.g. a 1,000 lbs horse is about 144,000 iu/day. Excessive intake has been associated with bone fragility and has also been implicated in developmental orthopaedic disease.

There has been little research completed to quantify the optimum intake of vitamin A for performance. Only one previous study suggests that an intake of 50,000 iu of vitamin A/day (already supplied by most racing diets) would support connective tissue and reduce tendon injuries.

Vitamin D, another fat soluble vitamin, is intimately involved in calcium balance and facilitates the absorption of calcium from the gut and its re-absorption from the kidneys and bone. Vitamin D status is likely to be particularly important where bone

Above: Diagram showing performance relating to dietary content

remodeling occurs and especially during the typical period of early training where decreases in bone density have been observed. Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin, as horses can produce it naturally in the skin when exposed to the sun. This could be an issue for many horses in training, as they spend most of their time indoors out of the sunshine. Again, racing feeds tend to be well fortified with vitamin D and an average intake will easily meet daily requirements.

V

ITAMIN E is probably best known for its antioxidant properties and its previously suggested involvement in ‘tying up’ and other related muscle conditions. Although an unequivocal link between inadequate vitamin E intake and tying up has not been established, it is generally accepted that these horses may have a higher requirement for vitamin E rather than a true deficiency.

Previous research has suggested that the existing National Research Council recommended intake for vitamin E is insufficient to maintain plasma and muscle vitamin E levels during training. It has recently been suggested that a vitamin E intake nearer to 1500-2500 iu/day may be needed to maintain its status during regular exercise. An even higher intake of vitamin E (5000iu/day) has been reported to reduce the exercise associated rise in creatine kinase (CK) during prolonged endurancetype exercise.

“Water soluble vitamin E is also now available using new technology to encapsulate the ingredient making it dispersible in water” 80 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

This recent work has led many UK feed companies to increase the level of vitamin E in their feed. Whilst it was common to see racing feeds containing 113 iu vitamin E/lbg, many companies have now increased that level to nearer 135 – 225 iu vitamin E/lb. However, as with most things nutritional, it is not just the level of vitamin E present that counts, but what the source is.

The availability of vitamin E varies markedly between synthetic sources, largely found in prepared feeds, and natural sources. In addition, water soluble vitamin E is also now available using new technology to encapsulate the ingredient making it dispersible in water. The natural form of vitamin E, which can be incorporated in feeds, appears to be significantly more available than the synthetic form. Further, when this natural source of vitamin E is encapsulated to render it water soluble, this makes its availability increase still further.

Vitamin K is the last fat soluble vitamin to mention. Its primary effects with relevance to racing are its involvement in blood clotting and also bone metabolism. Vitamin K can be provided in the diet, primarily from forage as the level in cereals is comparatively low, and is usually added to concentrate feeds as part of the overall vitamin and mineral premix. Like the B vitamins, vitamin K can be produced by intestinal bacteria, although their exact contribution in horses is unknown. Studies in horses to date have not quantified the dietary requirement for vitamin K. In general therefore, racing diets tend to be well fortified with vitamins. The need for additional vitamin supplementation above a well formulated concentrate feed fed at appropriate levels should not be overemphasized. Certainly, the addition of bioavailable forms of vitamin C and vitamin E in some instances may be worth further consideration. Further research on the effects of B vitamins on appetite and behavior and the role of vitamin K in horses would be beneficial. I

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STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

BUSINESS State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Stallion owners Awards

Alabama

2 races per year are held specifically for horses bred in Alabama, one at Turfway park and one at Fairgrounds.

Arizona

Range from 15-25% of the winners share of the purse

Breeders can receive up to 30% of the winners earnings

N/A

Daily

Yes

N/A

California

Receive a further 25% of purse earned 1st – 5th in open allowance and overnight stakes race

Award varies yearly according to revenue from betting. Given to horses finishing 1st-3rd in race run in California

Given for progeny who win non-claiming races with purses above $15, 000, and claiming races with a purse above pre-designated levels.

At least one offered per day

10 during 2008

Breeder and stallion awards for horses finishing 1st-3rd in grade stakes races within the US

Delaware

Receive 20% of purse won for horses 1st – 3rd in overnight races and stakes races

Receive 20% of purse N/A won for horses 1st – 3rd in overnight races and stakes races

Yes

Hold 4 in September, with purses of $75,000

N/A

Florida

Awards vary as they are paid out by the individual racetracks to winners of certain races, except stakes races.

An award of 15% of the gross purse is given

Yes, amount depends on Yes, amount depends on N/A individual racetrack individual racetrack

Georgia

Horses bred in Georgia from stallions nominated with the Georgia TOBA are eligible to run in restricted stakes races held at Calder racecourse.

Illinois

Given if IL Bred comes 1st – 3rd in open races.

Ranges from 40-60% of the purse.

Awarded in open races to Sire incentive programs the winner at 11.5 % of through restricted stakes purse won. In restricted races races offered from 1st – 4th at 60, 20, 15, and 5 % of purse won.

Indiana

Receive 20% of base purse for winners in all allowance and stakes races. Also receive 15% of base purse for winners of claiming races if claiming price is over $7 500

Iowa

20% of the gross purse of a stakes races is given

Restricted Races

Out Of State Race Awards

25; 2 specifically offering $100,000 in purse money

N/A

Receive 20% of the base Receive 10% of the base Hold restricted Indiana purse for winners of all purse for winners of all bred Allowance, Claiming and Stakes races in Indiana races in Indiana races. IN breds receive 3lb weight allowance in open races except stakes.

18 in 2008, with purses of $100,000

Breeder awards for wins in other states or Canada at 10% of purse (only if no live TB meet in Indiana)

Receive 30% of purse won for horses 1st – 4th in restricted races, and 40% of purse in open company races.

Receive 12% of the winners purse

Required to hold at least 1 race per day that is restricted.

N/A

N/A

Kentucky

For horses foaled in KY & by KY sires, KTDF fund available on races distributed as follows 65% for 1st, 20% for 2nd, 10% for 3rd and 5% for 4th.

Receive 25% of winning N/A purse for winners of all maiden special weights, allowance and stakes races. Awards also for winners of Gr. 1 races in Kentucky who receive $25 000, or $100 000 for KY Derby/Oaks

N/A

N/A

Breeder awards at 10% of win purse for winners of maiden and allowance races held within US. Also $2500 to winners of Grade 1 races held in other states.

Louisiana

N/A

22 % of the purse earned by a LA bred finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd in any race in LA is paid to breeders

Paid for the stallion’s progeny finishing 1st 3rd in an allowance, handicap or stakes race in LA

3 races per day are offered at each track holding a race meeting

N/A

Breeders Award for a LA bred finishing 1st – 3rd in any race outside LA, with stallion owner awards paid in stakes races outside LA

Maryland

Awards available for winning Maryland bred horses- except stakes, starter or claiming races (less than $20,000)

Awards available for winning and stakes placed horses

Awards for winning and stakes placed offspring

N/A

Around 20

N/A

Massachusetts

30% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any races except restricted ones.

25% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Massachusetts

15% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Massachusetts

Yes

At least 8 races in 2008 with purses of $50,000

N/A

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N/A

Yes, County Fair races for IL breds

Restricted Stakes races

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STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

STATE INCENTIVES

State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Stallion owners Awards

Restricted Races

Restricted Stakes races

Out Of State Race Awards

Michigan

Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rd in open races.

10% of gross purse of all races in Michigan

Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rd in open races.

Yes

At least one race per day

N/A

New Jersey

30% purse supplement for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in open company races in NJ

Awarded for horses finishing 1st- 3rd in any race in NJ. Ranges from 25 -35% depending on if sired by a state stallion or not.

10% purse supplement for offspring finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in NJ

Average 2 per day

Minimum 16 through the year

N/A

New Mexico

20% owner awards in overnight races for horses finishing 1st – 3rd.

10% breeder awards are available for winners of races in NM

7% for winners of progeny of races in NM

Varies depending on revenue available, usually 4 per day

Varies depending on revenue available

N/A

New York

Ranges from 10 – 20% of purse depending on whether a NY based sire or not, for horses finishing 1st – 4th in claiming races of $30,000 and over

Ranges from 10 – 20% of purse depending on whether a NY based sire or not, for horses finishing 1st – 4th in races in NY

N/A

Run over 900 races annually restricted to NY breds.

Hold 45 restricted stakes races annually with a total purse of over $4 million

N/A

Ohio

N/A

5% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starter allowance races and 10% on any other races

3% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starter allowance races and 5% on any other races

N/A

28 restricted stakes in 2008

N/A

Oklahoma

2008 Oklahoma Bred supplements total around $3 Million – 50% of this is added to purse money, the other 50% is awarded to breeders (34%) and stallion owners (16%).

Required to schedule at least 2 per day.

‘Oklahoma Classics’ – 8 restricted stakes races held at Remington Park

N/A

Oregon

An additional $500 is allocated to winners of restricted races

Breeders receive 10% of the purse for horses that win in any race in Oregon

N/A

Yes, at least 1 per day

N/A

N/A

Pennsylvania

For horses finishing 1st – 3rd in all overnight races owners receive 30-40% of the purse won.

Receive 30% of the purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any Pari–mutuel race in the state.

Receive 10% of the purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any Pari – mutuel race in the state.

Hold overnight restricted Yes races for PA breds.

N/A

Texas

40% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas except restricted stakes races

40% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas

20% of purse won by progeny finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas

At least 2 required daily, with at least one for maidens

Yes

N/A

Virginia

100% bonus on all open races at Colonial Downs from 1st – 6th

Pro-rata share of earnings based on what other V bred horses have earned.

Pro-rata share of earnings based on what other V bred horses have earned.

Very little, around 4 annually.

6 Restricted stakes with purses of $60 000

Breeder awards paid for wins in races anywhere in US.

Washington

Awarded for owners of horses finishing 1st – 4th, at 15% of the purse won.

Awarded for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in races at Emerald downs.

(75% of award goes to first placed horse, 15% to 2nd and 10% to 3rd)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

West Virginia

30% of horses earnings in West Virginia

40% of horses earnings in West Virginia

15% of horses earnings in West Virginia

2 races/day at Charlestown and 1 race/day at Mountaineer Park

N/A

N/A

Canada – British Columbia

13% purse supplement on BC bred horses finishing 1st – 5th in any race.

An award is given to breeders for horses finishing 1st – 3rd (except older horses competing in the lowest claiming categories)

Awards are paid when offspring finishes 1st 3rd in any race other than a starter allowance and claiming race.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Canada - Ontario

N/A

Awards available for horses finishing 1st-3rd in races in Ontario.

N/A

N/A

Yes – restricted Ontario sire stakes and Ontario bred stakes

Breeder awards to Graded stakes winners within North America

If any details need updating or you are not included on this table please contact us at T rainer ISSUE 10 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 83

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STAKES SCHEDULES

RACES

COPYRIGHT

Races are divided by distance and the relevant surface is indicated as follows: AWT - All Weather Track D - Dirt T - Turf The indexes cover all graded races in North America where information was available at the time of publication. Additionally, all European Group One races have been included as well as major races from Japan and the UAE.

Under Copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. This includes but not limited to; photocopying for commercial redistribution and or facsimile recording without the prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to the publisher.

BREEDERS’ CUP RACES

DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to publish correct information, the publishers will not be held liable for any omission, mistake or change to the races listed in all published indexes.

Prize money is indicated by Breeders’ Cup and racetrack contributions.

Less than 5.5f (1100m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Birdonthewire Stakes Cassidy Stakes Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic

Calder Calder Charles Town Charles Town Albuquerque Delta Downs Delta Downs Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sunland Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Delta Downs Delta Downs Sunland Park Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Sunland Park Delta Downs Oaklawn Park

The Jefferson County Chamber Of Commerce Dash for Cash Breeders Classic

La Fiesta handicap Mademoiselle Zydeco S Pontalba Old Hickory KLAQ H La Coneja S Esplanade S Crème de la Crème Calcasieu Bold Ego H Swift S Dixieland S Louisiana Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter Louisiana Premier Night Matron Louisiana Premier Night Sprint Budweiser H Louisiana Premier Night Bon Temps Starter Spring Fever s

Class

S S

S

R S S R

Race Date

Value

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 28-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 16-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 21-Feb-09

$100,000 $100,000 $125,000 $125,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $125,000 $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $45,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $45,000 $50,000

Age

Surface

2 2F 2F 3+ 3F 3+ F&M 3+ 2F 2 3+ 3 F (Reg NM bred) 3+ F&M 2F 2 3+ F&M 4+ 3 4+ 4+ F&M 4+ 3+ 4+ F&M 4+ F&M

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1100 1100 0900 0900 1100 1000 1000 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1000 1000 1100 1100 1100 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1100

Distance Furlongs 5 1/16 5 1/16 4 1/16 4 1/16 5 1/16 5 5 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 5 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 5 5 5 5 5 1/16

Closing Date 4-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 4-Dec-08 12-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 26-Dec-08 9-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 30-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 13-Feb-09

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Less than 5.5f (1100m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA

John E. Jackson Jr Memorial S ATBA Spring Sales S

Fair Grounds Turf Paradise

Class

R

Race Date

Value

Age

28-Mar-09 $60,000 4+LA Bred 3-May-09$50,000 (+$25,000 for AZ bred) 2

Surface D D

Distance Metres 1100 1000

Distance Furlongs 5 1/16 5

Closing Date 14-Mar-09

Less than 5.5f (1100m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

P.G. Johnson S Thomas Edison S Mr. Diz S Osage Hills S Witch’s Brew S Bonapaw S Dr A.B. Leggio Memorial S Black Gold S Colonel Power S Mardi Gras S Bienville S

The Meadowlands The Meadowlands Laurel Park Remington Park The Meadowlands Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds

Class

Race Date

Value

18-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 20-Dec-08 10-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 24-Feb-09 14-Mar-09

$60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $60,000 $60,000 $75,000 $60,000 $75,000 $60,000 $75,000

Class

Race Date

Value

S

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 2-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 27-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 15-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09

CAN150,000 $75,000 $50,000 $75,000 $2,000,000 CAN150,000 CAN150,000 $100,000 $75,000 $65,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000

Race Date

Value

S S

Age

Surface

3F 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 4+ F&M 3 4+ 3F 4+ F&M

T T T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 1000 1000 1100 1000 1000 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100

Distance Furlongs 5 5 5 1/16 5 5 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16

Closing Date 11-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 6-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 17-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 28-Feb-09

6f-6.5f (1200m-1300m) AWT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

CAN USA USA USA USA CAN CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Fanfreluche S The Jack Goodman S Albany The Anoakia S BC Sprint Ontario Fashion S Kennedy Road S Vernon O Underwood Sausalito Playa Del Rey S Holiday Inaugural Stakes Gowell S Holiday Cheer Stakes Turfway Prevue S Wishing Well Stakes Cincinnati Trophy Stakes Forego Stakes St. Patrick’s Day H Hansel S Queen S

Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Golden Gate Fields Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Woodbine Hollywood Park Golden Gate Fields Hollywood Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park

Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3

S S

Age

Surface

2F 2 3 + F&M 2F 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ F&M 2F 3+ 3 4+ F&M 3F 4+ 4+ 3 4+ F&M

AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Distance Metres 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1300 1300 1200 1200 1200

Distance Furlongs 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 6

Closing Date 1-Oct-08 9-Oct-08 11-Oct-08 9-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 5-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 10-Dec-08 17-Dec-08 23-Dec-08 31-Dec-08 7-Jan-09 14-Jan-09 5-Mar-09 11-Mar-09 11-Mar-09

6f-6.5f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country Track Code Name USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Finger Lakes Charles Town Beulah Park Remington Park Remington Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Belmont Park Albuquerque Zia Park Hoosier Park Fort Erie Fort Erie Hoosier Park Zia Park Hawthorne Finger Lakes Hawthorne Hawthorne Turf Paradise Hawthorne Zia Park Penn National Penn National The Meadowlands The Meadowlands Hoosier Park Retama Park Calder Turf Paradise Hoosier Park

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies Farm Family Insurance WV Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders Classic S

Scarlet & Gray Handicap Ada S E L Gaylord Memorial S ATBA Fall Sales S ATBA Fall Sales S Hudson Handicap Budweiser Special Permian Basin S Merrillville S The Game Cup Longshots OTB Cup Brickyard S Governor’s Cup Sun Power Stakes Finger Lakes Juvenile Lightning Jet Handicap Showtime Deb Stakes City of Phoenix S Powerless Handicap Lea County Sprint The High Yield Stakes (PA bred) Blue Mountain S (PA bred) Jersey Juvenile Colts Jersey Juvenile Fillies Miss Indiana S New Braunfels Stakes Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap Caballos del Sol S Indiana Futurity

86 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

S S S R R S

S R R S S S S S S S

S S S

Age

Surface

18-Oct-08 $50,000 2F D 18-Oct-08 $125,000 2 D 18-Oct-08 $50,000 3+ FM D 18-Oct-08 $50,000 3+ F&M D 18-Oct-08 $50,000 2F D 18-Oct-08$50,000 (+$50,000 for cer t. AZ-bred) 2 C&G 18-Oct-08$50,000 (+$50,000 for cer t. AZ-bred) 2F 18-Oct-08 $125,000 3+ D 19-Oct-08 $50,000 3+ D 19-Oct-08 $55,000 2F D 24-Oct-08 $50,000 3+ F&M (Reg IN bred) D 25-Oct-08 CAN27,500 2 C&G D 25-Oct-08 CAN27,500 2F D 25-Oct-08 $50,000 3+ (Reg IN bred) D 26-Oct-08 $55,000 2 D 1-Nov-08 $100,000 2 CG D 1-Nov-08 $50,000 2 D 1-Nov-08 $100,000 3+ D 1-Nov-08 $100,000 2F D 1-Nov-08 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1-Nov-08 $100,000 3+ FM D 2-Nov-08 $55,000 3 D 6-Nov-08 $75,000 2 D 6-Nov-08 $75,000 2F D 7-Nov-08 $60,000 2 C (NJ bred) D 7-Nov-08 $60,000 2 F (NJ bred) D 8-Nov-08 $50,000 2 F (Reg IN bred) D 8-Nov-08 $50,000 3+ FM D 8-Nov-08 $150,000 3+ D 8-Nov-08 $50,000 3+ D 9-Nov-08 $50,000 2 (Reg IN bred) D

Distance Metres 1200 1300 1200 1200 1300 D D 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

6 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 1200 1200 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 6 6 4-Oct-08 12-Oct-08 7-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 2-Oct-08 2-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 21-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 23-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 29-Oct-08

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6f-6.5f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA

New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile For Fillies New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Fillies New York Stallion Series - Great White Way Division New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship New York Stallion Series - Fif th Avenue Division Chamisa Handicap New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Colts and Geldings New Mexico ClassicCup Juvenile For Colts and Geldings Chuck Taliaferro Memorial S

S S R S R

Christopher Elser Memorial South Carolina Residency Race (C & G)

R R

Zia Park Zia Park Aqueduct Zia Park Aqueduct Albuquerque Zia Park Zia Park Remington Park Philadelphia Park Philadelphia Park Mountaineer Hoosier Park Hoosier Park Aqueduct Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Zia Park Aqueduct Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sunland Park Sunland Park Nakayama Remington Park Remington Park Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Beulah Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Mountaineer Aqueduct Turf Paradise Mountaineer Sunland Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Nad Al Sheba Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Nad Al Sheba Turf Paradise Sunland Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Nad Al Sheba Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park Sunland Park

Donna Freyer Stakes South Carolina Residence Race (F) Sophomore Sprint Championship Stakes Indiana Stallion S Indiana Stallion S Fall Highweight Handicap Thanksgiving H Arizona Breeders’ Futurity Arizona Breeders’ Futurity Zia Park Distaff S Garland of Roses Handicap Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Louisiana Champions Day Lassie S Louisiana Champions Day Sprint H Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S Johnie L Jamison S New Mexico State Racing Commission H Capella Stakes Black Mesa S Silver Goblin S Cactus Wren H Letellier Memorial Stakes S Samuel H Sugar Bowl S Lost in the Fog Juvenile S Christmas Stakes Gravesend Handicap Arizona Juvenile Fillies S New Year’s Eve Stakes Riley Allison Futurity Louisiana Futurity Louisiana Futurity Spectacular Bid Stakes Old Hat Stakes F.W. Gaudin Memorial S Mr Prospector American Beauty S La Senora H First Lady H Smarty Jones S Al Shindagha Sprint Pepsi Cola H Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint G Malleah H Dixie Bell S Sunshine Millions Dash El Paso Times H King Cotton S Pan Zareta S Phoenix Gold Cup Santa Teresa H Hurricane Bertie H Mountain Valley S Mahab Al Shimaal Mesa H Bill Thomas Memorial H Duncan F Kenner BC S Coyote H Hot Springs S Prima Donna S Natural State Breeders Happy Ticket S Carousel H Rainbow Miss S Dubai Golden Shaheen Rainbow S Princess of Palms H Count Fleet Sprint H Czaria H

Class

S S

S S

S S

S S S S S S S S S R

Gr 3

S S Gr 3 Gr 3 S Gr 3 Gr 3 S

Gr 3 Gr 3

R

S S Gr 1 S R Gr 3

Race Date 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 18-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 23-Nov-08 27-Nov-08 27-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 30-Dec-08 30-Dec-08 31-Dec-08 31-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 4-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 18-Jan-09 19-Jan-09 22-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 25-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 15-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 5-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 16-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 22-Mar-09 27-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 5-Apr-09 10-Apr-09 11-Apr-09

Value

Age

Surface

$140,000 2F D $140,000 3F D $100,000 2 D $170,000 3+ D $100,000 2F D $50,000 3+ FM D $140,000 3 C&G D $140,000 2 C&G D $50,000 3+ D $50,000 2 CG D $50,000 2F D $75,000 3 D $50,000 2 F (Reg IN bred) D $50,000 2 (Reg IN bred) D $100,000 3+ D $60,000 3+ D $40,000 2 F (AZ bred) D $40,000 2 C&G (AZ bred) D $55,000 3+ F&M D $75,000 3+ FM D $100,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 2F D $100,000 3+ D $100,000 2 C&G D $125,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) D $125,000 3+ F&M (Reg NM bred) D $726,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ (AZ bred) D $60,000 2F D $15,000 3+ D $60,000 2 D $50,000 2 D $75,000 3+ D $100,000 3+ D $50,000 2F D $75,000 3+ FM D $100,000 2 D $50,000 2F D $50,000 2 C&G D $100,000 3 D $100,000 3F D $75,000 4+ D $100,000 4+ D $50,000 4+ F&M D $125,000 3 F (Reg NM bred) D $100,000 4+ F&M D $50,000 3 D $200,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ D $125,000 3 (Reg NM bred) D $300,000 4+ F&M S D $50,000 4+ D $50,000 3F D $250,000 3 D $50,000 3F D $50,000 4+ D $75,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 4+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D $125,000 4+ F&M D $50,000 3 D $200,000 NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ D $125,000 4+ D $50,000 3+ D $50,000 4+ D $50,000 3F D $50,000 3 F (ARK Bred) D $60,000 4+ F&M LA Bred D $50,000 4+ F&M D $50,000 3 F (Ark Bred) D $2,000,000 NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ D $50,000 3 C&G (Ark Bred) D $50,000 3+ F&M D $150,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D

Distance Metres 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1300 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1300 1300 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1300 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1300 1300 1200 1200 1300 1300 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

27-Oct-08 27-Oct-08 27-Oct-08 2-Nov-08 27-Oct-08 27-Oct-08 7-Nov-08 2-Jun-08 2-Jun-08 4-Nov-08

15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08

17-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 4-Dec-08 4-Dec-08 28-Oct-08 5-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 12-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 10-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 19-Dec-08 15-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 19-Dec-08 16-Dec-08 20-Dec-08

20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 12-Jan-09 9-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 13-Jan-09 16-Jan-09 6-Dec-08 16-Jan-09 16-Jan-08 6-Dec-08 17-Jan-09 23-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 6-Feb-09 6-Feb-09 31-Jan-09 20-Feb-09 6-Mar-09 6-Mar-09 28-Feb-09 6-Mar-09 13-Mar-09 13-Mar-09 29-Jan-09 14-Mar-09 20-Mar-09 1-Oct-08 1-Oct-08 27-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 3-Apr-09

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6f-6.5f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

USA USA USA USA

Daylight Sprint Sandra Hall Grand Canyon H Joanne Dye S Ann Owens Distaff H

S S S

Sunland Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Turf Paradise

Race Date

Value

21-Apr-09 25-Apr-09 25-Apr-09 25-Apr-09

$50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000

Age

Surface

3 3+ (AZ bred) 3 F (AZ bred) 3+ F&M (AZ bred)

D D D D

Distance Metres 1200 1200 1300 1200

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

6 6 6 1/16 6

11-Apr-09 17-Apr-09 17-Apr-09 17-Apr-09

6f-6.5f (1200m-1300m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA JPN USA

Dance in The Mood S Keihan Hai Hollywood Turf Express

Hollywood Park Kyoto Hollywood Park

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 3 Gr 3

29-Oct-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08

$65,000 $754,000 $150,000

Age

Surface

3+ F&M 3+ 3+

T T T

Distance Metres 1200 1200 1200

Distance Furlongs 6 6 6

Closing Date 22-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 19-Nov-08

7f-7.5f (1400m-1500m) AWT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA CAN CAN CAN USA CAN USA USA USA

Lexus Raven Run The Damascus BC S The Cascapedia S Frost King S Jammed Lovely S Glorious Song S Moccasin S Bessarabian S Hollywood Prevue S On Trust H Cats Cradle H

Keeneland Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Hollywood Park Woodbine Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Hollywood Park

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 2

18-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 8-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 23-Nov-08 23-Nov-08 14-Dec-08 20-Dec-08

$300,000 $100K/$100K(BC) $100,000 CAN125,000 CAN150,000 CAN150,000 $100,000 CAN150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000

S S

Gr 3

Age

Surface

3F 3 3F 2 3F 2F 2F 3+ F&M 2 3 + CA Bred 3+ F&M Ca Bred

AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Distance Metres 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1500 1500

Distance Furlongs 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 1/16 7 1/16

Closing Date 8-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 5-Nov-08 5-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 3-Dec-08 10-Dec-08

7f-7.5f (1400m-1500m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

LA Stallions S WV Onion Juice Breeders Classic The Jefferson Security Bank Cavada WV Breeders Classic WV Division of Tourism Breeders Classic Iroquois Handicap LA Stallions S Gate Dancer WV Lottery Breeders Classic Remington Park Sprint Championship Sport Page Handicap Silver Goblin H Cocodrie Gardenia S Michigan Futurity Michigan Juvenile Fillies Yankee Affair S Marshland My Trusty Cat Golden Triangle S Jack Price Juvenile Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies 40th Tri-State Futurity S New York Stallion Series - Thunder Rumble Division New York Stallion Series - Staten Island Division Charlie Iles Express H Mandolynn Hill Farm Stallion S Mandolynn Hill Farm Stallion S West Virginia Futurity S Squan Song S Orleans Sam’s Town Eavesdrop Stakes Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes Kenny Noe Jr Handicap Eleanor M Casey Memorial S Triple Sec Genesis Hutcheson Stakes Forward Gal S Louisiana Premier Night Starlet Louisiana Premier Night Prince Richter Scale Gold Cup Magnolia Sunshine State

Louisiana Downs Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Belmont Park Louisiana Downs Louisiana Downs Charles Town Remington Park Belmont Park Philadelphia Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Pinnacle Pinnacle Philadelphia Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Calder Calder Charles Town Aqueduct Aqueduct Albuquerque Lone Star Lone Star Charles Town Laurel Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Philadelphia Park Philadelphia Park Calder Charles Town Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park

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Class

Race Date

Value

S S S S S S

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 28-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 21-Nov-08 21-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 5-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 16-Jan-09 16-Jan-09 30-Jan-09 30-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 6-Mar-09 6-Mar-09 7-Mar-09

$100,000 $125,000 $500,000 $125,000 $125,000 $100,000 $50,000 $125,000 $75,000 $150,000 $40,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $75,000 $50,000 $100,000 $50,000 $150,000 $150,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $50,000 $20,000 $20,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $45,000 $50,000 $50,000 $150,000 $150,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000

S Gr 3 S R

S S S R R

S S R R S S Gr 3 S

Gr 2 Gr 2 S S Gr 2

Age

Surface

2 C&G 3+ C&G 3+ F&M 3F 3+ FM 2F 2 3 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 2 C&G 2F 3+ 3+ 2F 3+ F&M 2 2F 2 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 3 + C&G 3+ F&M 2 3+ F&M 3F 3 2F 2 CG 3+ 2F 3 3F 3 3F 3F 3 4+ 3+ 3+ F&M 4+ Fla-bred

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1500 1400 1500 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 1/16 7 7 1/16 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 11-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 17-Oct-08

18-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 8-Oct-08

9-Nov-08 13-Nov-08 13-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 20-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 1-Sep-08 1-Sep-08 29-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 21-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 21-Feb-09

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7f-7.5f (1400m-1500m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA

Inside Information Swale S

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 2 Gr 2

15-Mar-09 28-Mar-09

$150,000 $150,000

Age

Surface

4+ F&M 3

D D

Distance Metres 1400 1400

Distance Furlongs 7 7

Closing Date 28-Feb-09 14-Mar-09

7f-7.5f (1400m-1500m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

GB JPN USA JPN USA USA USA USA

Dewhurst St (Darley) Mainichi Broadcasting System Sho Swan Stakes No Le Hace Stakes Hanshin Cup Frances A Genter Stakes Appleton H Arizona Stallion S South Beach S

Gp 1 Gr 2

18-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 21-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 28-Mar-09 4-Apr-09 11-Apr-09

£270,000 $1,111,000 $50,000 $1,305,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000

Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

USA USA CAN USA USA USA CAN CAN USA CAN CAN CAN USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

BC Juvenile Marina Princess Elizabeth S Sharp Cat S Its In The Air S Real Quiet Autumn S South Ocean S Forty Niner Kingarvie S Ontario Lassie S Sir Barton S Pacific Heights My Charmer Stakes Display S Bayoka H Hollywood Starlet Corte Madera Gold Rush CashCall Futurity WEBN Stakes Likely Exchange Stakes Dust Commander Stakes Valdale Stakes Wintergreen S Bourbonette Oaks Fairway Fun S

Gr 1

25-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 2-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 3-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 31-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 7-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 28-Mar-09

$2,000,000 $50,000 CAN250,000 $100,000 $65,000 $100,000 CAN150,000 CAN125,000 $75,000 CAN125,000 CAN150,000 CAN125,000 $75,000 $50,000 CAN150,000 $150,000 $250,000 $75,000 $75,000 $750,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $150,000 $50,000

Newmarket Kyoto Retama Park Hanshin Calder Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park

Gr 3 Gr 3 S

Age

Surface

2 C&F 3+ 3+ 3+ 3F 4+ 3 4+ F&M

T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 1400 1400 1500 1400 1500 1500 1500 1500

Distance Furlongs 7 7 7 1/16 7 7 1/16 7 1/16 7 1/16 7 1/16

Closing Date 5-Aug-08 16-Sep-08 5-Nov-08 11-Nov-08 13-Dec-08 14-Mar-09 28-Mar-09

8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) AWT Oak Tree at Santa Anita Golden Gate Fields Woodbine Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Woodbine Woodbine Golden Gate Fields Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Golden Gate Fields Turfway Park Woodbine Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Golden Gate Fields Golden Gate Fields Hollywood Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park

S

Gr 2 S S S S S Gr 2 Gr 1

Gr 1

Gr 3

Age

Surface

2 3+ F&M 2F 2F 3+ F&M 2 3+ 2F 3+ 2 2F 3+ 3+ F&M CA Bred 3+ F&M 2 3+ F&M 2F 2F 2 2 3 4+ F&M 4+ 3F 4+ F&M 3F 4+ F&M

AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Distance Metres 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16

14-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 20-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 26-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 26-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 21-Jan-09 28-Jan-09 4-Feb-09 11-Feb-09 25-Feb-09 11-Mar-09 18-Mar-09

8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA

Spend a Buck Handicap Blue Hen Stakes Florida Stallion Stakes - In Reality Division Florida Stallion Stakes - My Dear Girl Division Maid of the Mist Stakes Sleepy Hollow Stakes Remington MEC Mile Autumn Leaves Stakes Fantasy Stakes Ohio Freshman Stakes Ack Ack H Ascot Graduation Stakes Iroquois Illini Princess Handicap Buck’s Boy Handicap Pocahontas Chilukki S Tempted Stakes Nashua Stakes Jean Lafitte Veterans S Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap Mountaineer Mile Handicap Glacial Princess Stakes Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino Stakes Honey Bee S

Calder Delaware Park Calder Calder Belmont Park Belmont Park Remington Park Mountaineer Hastings Racecourse Beulah Park Churchill Downs Hastings Racecourse Churchill Downs Hawthorne Hawthorne Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Aqueduct Aqueduct Delta Downs Zia Park Calder Mountaineer Beulah Park Tokyo The Meadowlands

Class Gr 3 R R S S

R Gr 3 Gr 3 S S Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3

S R Gr 3

Race Date

Value

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 21-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 2-Nov-08 2-Nov-08 2-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08

$100,000 $75,000 $400,000 $400,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 CAN 100,000 $50,000 $100,000 CAN 100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $55,000 $200,000 $125,000 $50,000 $726,000 $60,000

Age

Surface

3+ 2F 2 2F 2F 2 2 3+ FM 2F 2 3+ 2 2 3+ FM 3+ 2F 3+ F&M 2F 2 2 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 2F 3+ 3F

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700

Distance Furlongs 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16

Closing Date 4-Oct-08 6-Oct-08 16-May-08 16-May-08 4-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 7-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 15-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 28-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 27-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 30-Sep-08 1-Nov-08

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8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Fillies/Mare New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Si Cima S Alysheba S Frances Slocum S Northern Dancer S Too Much Coffee S Lady’s Secret S Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap Delta Airlines/Top Flight Handicap Kentucky Jockey Club Golden Rod Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Tenacious H Delta Mile Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes Treasure Chest Zia Park Derby Hank Mills Sr. H Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante Stakes East View Stakes New Mexico Eddy County S Damon Runyon Stakes Billy Powell Claiming H Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity Louisiana Champions Day Ladies H Louisiana Champions Day Star ter H Jennings H Governor’s Cup Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship S Red Hedeman Mile Kachina H Maryland Juvenile Championship S Stage Door Betty Handicap Alex M Robb Handicap Cypress Camelia Hal’s Hope H Albert Dominguez Memorial H Louisiana H Winsham Lad H Lecomte S Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 1 Truly Bound H Mineschaft H Risen Star S Silverbulletday S Essex H Louisiana Premier Night Championship Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Star ter Louisiana Premier Night Gentlemen Star ter Louisiana Premier Night Distaff UAE 2000 Guineas Chou Croute H Pippin S Martha Washington S Curribot H Southwest S Sabin H New Mexico State University S Arizona Oaks Turf Paradise Derby Fountain Of Youth Stakes Borderland Derby Gulf Coast Classic Goddess Davona Dale Stakes Island Fashion S Burj Nahaar Razorback BC H Ocala Azeri BC S Gulfstream Park H Fair Grounds Oaks Rebel S Louisiana Derby Honeybee S

Zia Park Zia Park Fair Grounds The Meadowlands Hoosier Park Laurel Park Hoosier Park Remington Park Beulah Park Aqueduct Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Aqueduct Fair Grounds Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Zia Park Turf Paradise Hawthorne Aqueduct Zia Park Aqueduct Albuquerque Hawthorne Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Laurel Park Remington Park Laurel Park Sunland Park Turf Paradise Laurel Park Calder Aqueduct Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Sunland Park Fair Grounds Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Nad Al Sheba Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park

90 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

Class

Race Date

S S

9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 14-Nov-08 14-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 5-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 28-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 4-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 15-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 12-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 15-Feb-09 15-Feb-09 16-Feb-09 20-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 1-Mar-09 1-Mar-09 5-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 8-Mar-09 8-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 15-Mar-09

S S S R Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1

Gr 3 Gr 3

S S S S S S S S S S Gr 3 S S S Gr 3 S

Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 S R R S Gr 3

Gr 3 S

Gr 2

Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2

Value

Age

Surface

$170,000 3+ F&M $180,000 3+ $60,000 3+ F&M LA Bred $65,000 3+ $50,000 3+ F&M (Reg IN bred) $50,000 3 $50,000 3+ (Reg IN bred) $50,000 3+ F&M $50,000 3+ FM $150,000 3+ FM $150,000 2 $150,000 2F $300,000 3+ $60,000 3+ $100,00 3+ $750,000 2 $500,000 2F $100,000 3+ F&M $150,000 3 $50,000 3+ $100,000 2F $75,000 2F $120,000 2 $75,000 2 $12,500 3+ $100,000 2 CG $100,000 3+ F&M $50,000 3+ $50,000 3+ $75,000 3+ $50,000 2F $125,000 2 (Reg NM bred) $50,000 3+ F&M $50,000 2 C&G $100,000 3+ FM $75,000 3+ $75,000 4+ $75,000 4+ F&M $100,000 4+ $100,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) $75,000 4+ $50,000 3+ $100,000 3 $200,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ $60,000 4+ F&M $125,000 4+ $200,000 3 $150,000 3F $100,000 4+ $200,000 4+ $55,000 4+ F&M $55,000 4+ $150,000 4+F&M $250,000 NH 3yo SH 3yo $60,000 4+ F&M $50,000 4+ F&M $50,000 3F $50,000 3+ $250,000 3 $100,000 4+ F&M $125,000 4+ (Reg NM bred) $50,000 3F $100,000 3 $250,000 3 $100,000 3 $75,000 4+ $75,000 4+ F&M $150,000 3F $50,000 3F $200,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ £150,000 4+ $75,000 4+ F&M Fla-bred $175,000 4+ F&M $300,000 4+ $400,000 3F $300,000 3 $600,000 3 $100,000 3F

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700

Distance Furlongs 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16

Closing Date 27-Oct-08 27-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 5-Nov-08 6-Nov-08 5-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 24-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 24-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 4-Dec-08 5-Dec-08 11-Dec-08 19-Dec-08 19-Dec-08 18-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 2-Jan-09 27-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 30-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 6-Feb-09 6-Feb-09 15-Feb-09 6-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 13-Feb-09 13-Feb-09 13-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 20-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 27-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 27-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 6-Mar-09 29-Nov-08 6-Mar-09

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8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Green Oaks Sportsman’s Paradise Syndey Valentini H Lookout Cresent City Oaks Godolphin Mile Cresent City Derby B-Connected New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks Nodouble Breeders Sunland Park Oaks Harry W Henson BC H New Mexico Breeders’ Derby Apple Blossom H Fantasy S Bayakoa S Fifth Season S Instant Racing BC Northern Spur BC Arizona Breeders’ Derby

Delta Downs Delta Downs Sunland Park Delta Downs Fair Grounds Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Delta Downs Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Sunland Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise

Class

Race Date

Value

S

20-Mar-09 20-Mar-09 22-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 4-Apr-09 5-Apr-09 8-Apr-09 9-Apr-09 11-Apr-09 11-Apr-09 25-Apr-09

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 3 Gr 3

17-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 31-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 2-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 14-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 23-Nov-08 27-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 21-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 3-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 11-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 18-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 29-Jan-09 7-Feb-09

$150,000 $150,000 $75,000 $100,000 €237,600 $100,000 $250K/$250K(BC) $2,000,000 $50,000 $754,000 £200,000 CAN250,000 $35,000 $75,000 $100,000 $100,000 €250,000 $100,000 $175,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $1,852,000 $65,000 $60,000 $100,000 $400,000 $100,000 $75,000 $500,000 $60,000 $50,000 $100,000 $60,000 $150,000 $60,000 $60,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $100,000 $75,000 $100,000 $60,000 $200,000 $75,000

S R S Gr 2 S R S

S Gr 1 Gr 2

Age

Surface

$75,000 3F $75,000 3 $100,000 34 F&M (Reg NM bred) $50,000 3+ F&M $75,000 3 F L Bred $1,000,000 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ $75,000 3 LA Bred $50,000 3+ $100,000 3 F (Reg NM Bred) $50,000 4+ (Ark Bred) $200,000 3F $50K(BC)/$100K 3+ F&M $100,000 3 (Reg NM Bred) $500,000 4+ F&M $250,000 3F $100,000 4+ F&M $100,000 4+ $75K 3F $75K 3 $40,000 3 (AZ bred)

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700

Distance Furlongs 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16

Closing Date 7-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 29-Jan-09 14-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 3-Apr-09 3-Apr-09

8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA ITY USA USA USA USA JPN GB CAN USA USA USA USA FR USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA

Violet S Pin Oak Valley View Remington Park Oaks Miami Mile Handicap Gran Criterium Remington Green S The Las Palmas H BC Mile Walter R. Cluer Memorial S Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Fuji Stakes Trophy (Racing Post) Cup and Saucer S Gray Ghost Starter H Yankee Affair Stakes Skyy El Joven Stakes M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes Criterium International Arthur I Appleton Juvenile Turf Mrs Revere John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf New York Stallion Series - Perfect Arc Division New York Stallion Series - Cormorant Division Commonwealth Turf Blushing K.D. H Mr Sulu Chandler S Jack Coady, Sr. S Centennial S Mile Championship War Chant S Buddy Diliberto Memorial H Miesque S Citation H Generous S Live Oak Georgia Debutante Stakes Matriarch Pago Hop S Queen of the Green H Louisiana Champions Day Turf H Woodchopper S Dahlia H Furl Sail Hcp Dixie Poker Ace S Col. E.R Bradley Hcp Fort Lauderdale Stakes Marshua’s River Stakes Glendale H Dania Beach Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Sweetest Chant Marie G Krantz Memorial H Al Rashidiya Tallahassee

The Meadowlands Keeneland Remington Park Calder Milan Remington Park Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Turf Paradise Tokyo Doncaster Woodbine The Meadowlands Philadelphia Park Retama Park Retama Park Saint-Cloud Calder Churchill Downs Calder Aqueduct Aqueduct Churchill Downs Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Remington Park Kyoto Hollywood Park Fair Grounds Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Hollywood Park Calder Hollywood Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Hollywood Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Nad Al Sheba Gulfstream Park

Gr 3 Gp 1 S Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gp 1 S S

Gp 1 S Gr 2 S R R Gr 3

Gr 1

Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 R Gr 1

S

S Gr 3

Gr 3

Age

Surface

3+ F&M 3F 3F 3+ 2 C&F 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 3+ 2 C&F 2 3+ 3+ 2 CG 2F 2 CF 2 3F 2F 3+ FM 3+ 3 3+ F&M 3+ LA Bred 3F 3 2 C&G 3+ 3 3+ 2F 3+ 2 2F 3 + F&M 3F 3+ F&M 3+ 3 3+ F&M 3+ F&M 4+ LA Bred 4+ 4+ 4+ F&M 4+ F&M 3 4+ 3F 4+F&M NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 4+ Fla-bred

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1777 1600

Distance Furlongs 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8.9 8

Closing Date 3-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 9-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 17-Oct-08 16-Sep-08 12-Aug-08 24-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 13-Jun-08 13-Jun-08 15-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 22-Oct-08 25-Oct-08

22-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 14-Oct-08 19-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 19-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 10-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 27-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 20-Dec-08 9-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 9-Jan-09 3-Jan-09 10-Jan-09 24-Jan-09

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8f-8.5f (1600m-1700m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA IRE IRE

Marion County Hallandale Beach S Sun City H Turf Paradise H Coconut Grove Al Fahidi Fort Sarah Lane’s Oates S Gentilly S Canadian Turf H Jebel Hatta Honey Fox H Allen Lacombe Memorial H Tempe H Scottsdale H Fortin H Dubai Duty Free Red Camelia S Boynton Beach Dwight D Patterson H Desert Sky H Irish 2000 Guineas (Boylespor ts) Irish 1000 Guineas (Boylespor ts)

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Nad Al Sheba Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Curragh Curragh

Class

Gr 2 S S Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3

Gr 1

S R Gp 1 Gp 1

Race Date

Value

8-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 15-Feb-09 19-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 5-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 18-Apr-09 25-Apr-09 2-May-09 23-May-09 24-May-09

$75,000 $125,000 $50,000 $50,000 $125,000 $250,000 $60,000 $60,000 $150,000 $250,000 $100,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $60,000 $5,000,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 €400,000 €400,000

Age

Surface

4+ F&M Fla-bred 3 4+ F&M 4+ 3F NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 3 F LA Bred 3 LA Bred 4+ NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 4+ F&M 4+ 3 3F 4+ F&M NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 4+ F&M LA Bred 3F 3+ (AZ bred) 3+ F&M 3 CF 3F

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1777 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1777 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8.9 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8.9 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8

24-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 6-Feb-09 6-Feb-09 31-Jan-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 14-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 6-Mar-09 6-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 8-Apr-09 17-Apr-09 24-Apr-09 3-Sep-08 3-Sep-08

9f-9.5f (1800m-1900m) AWT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA

BC Ladies Classic Fayette S Coronation Futurity Native Diver H Prairie Bayou Stakes Tejano Run Lane’s End S

Oak Tree at Santa Anita Keeneland Woodbine Hollywood Park Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 1 Gr 3 S Gr 3 S

24-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 16-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 14-Mar-09 21-Mar-09

$2,000,000 $150,000 CAN250,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $500,000

Gr 2

Age

Surface

3+ F&M 3+ 2 3+ 3+ 4+ 3

AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Distance Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

9 9 9 9 9 9 9

14-Oct-08 15-Oct-07 26-Nov-08 3-Dec-08 14-Mar-09 18-Feb-09

9f-9.5f (1800m-1900m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE UAE USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA USA USA USA

Empire Classic Handicap WV Breeders Classic Distaff West Virginia Breeders Classic Oklahoma Derby Turnback The Alarm Handicap Jack Short Adios Amigos Allowance Carl G Rose Classic Styvesant Handicap Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Stakes The My Sister Pearl S A Huevo S Discovery Handicap Falls City H Clark H Demoiselle Stakes Remsen Stakes Montauk Handicap Zia Park Distance Championship Japan Cup Dirt Queens County Handicap Louisiana Champions Day Classic Fred W Hooper Handicap Sunshine Millions Classic Holy Bull S Donn H Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 2 Al Bastakiya New Orleans H Bonnie Miss S Florida Derby UAE Derby The Rampart H Sunland Derby Oaklawn H The Skip Away H Arkansas Derby Sunland Park H

Belmont Park Charles Town Charles Town Remington Park Belmont Park Hastings Racecourse Calder Aqueduct Beulah Park Charles Town Charles Town Aqueduct Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Aqueduct Aqueduct Aqueduct Zia Park Hanshin Aqueduct Fair Grounds Calder Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Nad Al Sheba Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park

92 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 10

Class

Race Date

Value

S

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 2-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 27-Nov-08 28-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 7-Dec-08 7-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 13-Dec-08 24-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 31-Jan-09 5-Feb-09 5-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 27-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 29-Mar-09 4-Apr-09 4-Apr-09 11-Apr-09 19-Apr-09

$250,000 $125,000 $500,000 $300,000 $100,000 CAN 26,000 $200,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $500,000 $200,000 $200,000 $75,000 $200,000 $2,416,000 $100,000 $150,000 $100,000 $1,000,000 $150,000 $500,000 $200,000 $250,000 $500,000 $200,000 $750,000 $2,000,000 $150,000 $800,000 $500,000 $100,000 $1,000,000 $100,000

S Gr 3 S Gr 3 R S S Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 S Gr 1 Gr 3 S Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 2

Age

Surface

3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3 3+ FM 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3 3+ F&M 3+ 2F 2 3+ FM 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 4+ 3 4+ NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ NH 3yo SH 3yo 4+ 3F 3 NH 3 SH 3 4+ F&M 3 4+ 3+ 3 3+

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Distance Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1900 1800 1800 1700 1700 1700 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1900 1800 1800

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1/16 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1/16 9 9

4-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 8-Oct-08 11-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 5-Nov-08 1-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 24-Nov-08 14-Oct-08 29-Nov-08 7-Nov-08 29-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09

28-Feb-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 2-Feb-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 11-Apr-09

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9f-9.5f (1800m-1900m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Ticonderoga Handicap Mohawk Stakes Fuchu Himba Stakes Knickerbocker Handicap Oak Tree Derby All Brandy S Find H Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Cardinal Audrey S Kenis S River City H My Charmer Handicap Tropical Turf Handicap Naruo Kinen Tropical Park Derby Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Gulfstream Park Turf H Suwannee River Fair Grounds H Bayou H The Palm Beach S Mervin H Muniz Jr Memorial The Herecomesthebride S

Belmont Park Belmont Park Tokyo Belmont Park Oak Tree at Santa Anita Laurel Park Laurel Park Calder Churchill Downs Hollywood Park Churchill Downs Calder Calder Hanshin Calder Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park

Class

Race Date

Value

S S Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 S

Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 3

18-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 15-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 1-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 1-Feb-09 1-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 21-Feb-09 14-Mar-09 14-Mar-09 15-Mar-09

$150,000 $150,000 $726,000 $100,000 $150K/$150K(BC) $50,000 $50,000 $150,000 $100,000 $65,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $754,000 $100,000 $500,000 $250,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $500,000 $150,000

Class

Race Date

Value

19-Oct-08 25-Oct-08

S Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3

Age

Surface

3+ FM 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 3 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 3F 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 3+ 3 4+ F&M S 4+ 4+ F&M 4+ 4+ F&M 3 4+ 3F

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1700 1700 1700 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800

Distance Furlongs 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 9 9 9 9 9

Closing Date 4-Oct-08 4-Oct-08 2-Sep-08 11-Oct-08 16-Oct-08 23-Oct-08 30-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 5-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 22-Nov-08 28-Oct-08 14-Dec-08 6-Dec-08 17-Jan-09 17-Jan-09 24-Jan-09 7-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09 28-Feb-09

10f-10.5f (2000m-2100m) AWT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

CAN

Woodbine

Maple Leaf S

USA

Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Classic

Gr 1

Age

Surface

Distance Metres

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

CAN175,000

3+ F&M

AWT

2000

10

1-Oct-08

$5,000,000

3+

AWT

2000

10

14-Oct-08

10f-10.5f (2000m-2100m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

USA UAE UAE

Ladies Handicap Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 Dubai World Cup

Gr 2 Gr 1

14-Dec-08 5-Mar-09 28-Mar-09

$75,000 $300,000 $6,000,000

Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

GB USA ITY JPN ITY FR JPN USA JPN

Champion (Emirates Airline) BC Filly & Mare Turf Premio Lydia Tesio Tenno Sho (Autumn) Premio Roma Criterium de Saint-Cloud Fukushima Kinen Hollywood Derby Aichi Hai

Gp 1 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gp 1

18-Oct-08 24-Oct-08 26-Oct-08 2-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 12-Nov-08 24-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 20-Dec-08

£375,000 $2,000,000 €237,600 $2,448,000 €237,600 €250,000 $754,000 $500,000 $726,000

Aqueduct Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba

Age

Surface

3+ FM NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+

D D D

Distance Metres 2000 2000 2000

Distance Furlongs 10 10 10

Closing Date 29-Nov-08

10f-10.5f (2000m-2100m) TURF Newmarket Oak Tree at Santa Anita Rome Tokyo Rome Saint-Cloud Fukushima Hollywood Park Chukyo

Gr 1 Gr 3

Age

Surface

3+ 3+ F&M 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 2 CF 3+ 3 3+ FM

T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

Distance Furlongs 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Closing Date 5-Aug-08 14-Oct-08 25-Sep-08 16-Sep-08 9-Oct-08 29-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 19-Nov-08 11-Nov-08

11f-11.5f (2200m-2300m) TURF Country Code CAN USA USA JPN USA USA USA

Track Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Woodbine The Meadowlands Aqueduct Kyoto Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise

Sky Classic S John Henry S Red Smith Handicap Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup Mac Diarmida H The Very One H Wildcat H

Track Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Keeneland Milan Oak Tree at Santa Anita Aqueduct Tokyo Hollywood Park Tokyo Hollywood Park Calder

Sycamore Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro BC Turf Long Island Handicap Copa Republica Argentina Hermosa Beach Stakes Japan Cup Hollywood Turf Cup WL McKnight Handicap

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 2

25-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 8-Nov-08 16-Nov-08 21-Feb-09 22-Feb-09 5-Apr-09

CAN250,000 $60,000 $150,000 $1,675,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000

Class

Race Date

Value

Gr 3 Gp 1 Gr 1 Gr 3

18-Oct-08 19-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 1-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 9-Nov-08 30-Nov-08 6-Dec-08 13-Dec-08

$150,000 €237,600 $3,000,000 $150,000 $1,076,000 $65,000 $4,639,000 $250,000 $150,000

Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3

Age

Surface

3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ FM 4+ 4+ F&M 3+

T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200

Distance Furlongs 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Closing Date 8-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 25-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 7-Feb-09 7-Feb-09 27-Mar-09

12f-12.5f (2400m-2500m) TURF Country Code USA ITY USA USA JPN USA JPN USA USA

Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 2

Age

Surface

3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 3+

T T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 2400 2400 2400 2400 2500 2400 2400 2400 2400

Distance Furlongs 12 12 12 12 12.5 12 12 12 12

Closing Date 8-Oct-08 9-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 18-Oct-08 30-Sep-08 29-Oct-08 14-Oct-08 26-Nov-08 29-Nov-08

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12f-12.5f (2400m-2500m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

USA JPN UAE USA USA UAE IRE IRE

La Prevoyante Handicap Arima Kinen City of Gold Pan American H Orchid H Dubai Sheema Classic Irish Derby Irish Oaks (Darley)

Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gp 1

13-Dec-08 28-Dec-08 5-Mar-09 21-Mar-09 22-Mar-09 28-Mar-09 28-Jun-09 12-Jul-09

$150,000 $3,333,000 $250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $5,000,000 €1,500,000 €500,000

Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

Age

Surface

CAN

Valedictory S

7-Dec-08

CAN150,000

3+

AWT

Race Date

Value

Age

Surface

31-Dec-08

$75,000

3+

D

Race Date

Value

Age

Surface

1-Nov-08

CAN 30,000

3+

D

Calder Nakayama Nad Al Sheba Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Nad Al Sheba Curragh Curragh

Age

Surface

3+ FM 3+ NH 4yo+ SH 4yo+ 4+ 4+ F&M NH 4yo+ SH 4yo+ 3 CF 3F

T T T T T T T T

Distance Metres 2400 2500 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400

Distance Furlongs 12 12.5 12 12 12 12 12 12

Closing Date 29-Nov-08 11-Nov-08 7-Mar-09 7-Mar-09 3-Sep-08 3-Sep-08

13f-13.5f (2600m-2700m) AWT Woodbine

Distance Metres 2600

Distance Furlongs 13

Closing Date 19-Nov-08

13f-13.5f (2600m-2700m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

USA

Gallant Fox Handicap

Aqueduct

Class

Distance Metres 2600

Distance Furlongs 13

Closing Date 13-Dec-08

14f-14.5f (2800m-2900m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

CAN

Pacific Customs Brokers Ltd. Marathon

Hastings Racecourse

Class

Distance Metres 2800

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

14

22-Oct-08

15f-15.5f (3000m-3100m) TURF Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

Class

Race Date

Value

Age

Surface

FR USA

Prix Royal-Oak Hasta La Vista H

Gp 1

26-Oct-08 3-May-09

€250,000 $50,000

3+ 3+

T T

Longchamp Turf Paradise

Distance Metres 3100 3000

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

15.5 15

8-Oct-08 24-Apr-09

16f-20f (3200m-4000m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

CAN

Cheldon Tour de Fort Cup

Fort Erie

Class R

Race Date

Value

28-Oct-08

CAN27,500

Age

Surface

3+ C&G

D

Distance Metres 3200

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

16.32

16f-20f (3200m-4000m) DIRT Country Track Code Name

Race Name & (Sponsor)

JPN

Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes

Nakayama

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Class

Race Date

Value

Age

Surface

6-Dec-08

$1,188,000

3+

T

Distance Metres 3600

Distance Furlongs

Closing Date

18

28-Oct-08

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3/10/08

HE Members of Congress were clearly bored and frustrated. One commented, “The six members of this panel can’t even agree on what to do; why should you expect us to believe that racing can handle this problem on its own?”

Another yawned.

A third snapped, “For more than 28 years, you have been telling us that you’d fix this problem and it hasn’t happened; why should we think you can do it, now?”

Finally, another demanded, “We don’t know the ins and outs of your industry, how do you to expect us to make a decision if everyone comes in here and says something different?”

Unless you’ve been in Siberia for the past few months, you’ve ascertained by now that I’m talking about the recent hearings in the U.S. Congress about drugs in racing and whether or not the Interstate Horseracing Act should be amended to provide that the federal government take over control of the chaos that comprises the current drug and medication policies of horse racing.

The consensus among the industry representatives who testified at those hearings was, in short, that there is no consensus. And the answer to the obvious question of “Who’s in charge here?” was “no one”—although NTRA President Alex Waldrop did attempt a brave imitation of his namesake Alexander Haig’s notorious pronouncement, “I’m in charge here,” but was forced to admit later that the NTRA is only in charge insofar as “building a consensus” is concerned, just like The Jockey Club and other organizations in the business which the normal person would assume would “be in charge.”

My friend Arthur Hancock, one of the Thoroughbred fraternity’s smartest, most articulate spokesmen, attributed our problems to a lack of leadership. “We are a rudderless ship,” he said, “and the way we are going, we will end up on the rocks…We are too fragmented and too diverse. We are composed of too many ‘fiefdoms,’ and each one is led by a Nero-like chieftain, who had rather do things his way than help the cause as a whole.”

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THE ARNOLD KIRKPATRICK COLUMN Drugs in racing I have to take a little credit for the change of direction which concludes that assessment, because, when Arthur and I first began debating all this, it was his position that the industry’s problems were the result of a lack of leadership, whereas I am unalterably convinced that our problem is not a lack of leadership but too much leadership. As of this writing, we have 183 separate organizations in Thoroughbred racing alone. That’s 183 separate egos. 183 separate agendas. 183 separate jealousies. 183 separate suspicions.

183 separate fears. 183 separate paranoias. To quote an obscure gospel song I heard years ago, “Nobody wants to play rhythm guitar for Jesus; everybody wants to be the leader of the band.”

It’s probably inherent in the nature of our game, really, that nobody seems to want to cooperate with each other, but it’s exceedingly distressing to me that we seem to have reache d the point where many of the organizations and most of the individuals to whom we look for leadership would rather see the entire business go down in flames than cooperate with one of their competitors. With 183 rudders all pointing in different directions, we have two possible outcomes—at best, we’ll be dead in the water; at worst, we’ll be breaking apart on the rocks.

All that having been said, agreement in racing is not necessarily an impossible dream.

There was one time when the whole industry came together, and, coincidentally, it resulted in the very same Interstate Horseracing Act which is back on the front burner today.

Believe me, it wasn’t easy. It took more than 2½ years of hard work, tough negotiations and cooperation between people who were more inclined to detest each other than to cooperate. It was an alliance, not just of the organizations in the Thoroughbred industry, but of the entire pari-mutuel industry, including Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, Greyhounds, OTB interests, etc. I think it’s another failing of people in the Thoroughbred industry that we tend to underestimate the intelligence and level of

influence of those who are not involved in our discipline. One of the astounding corollaries of the effort to pass the Interstate Horseracing Act was that we of the Thoroughbred industry discovered that there are a whole lot of smart, powerful and politically-astute people in the world who are not involved in the Thoroughbred business, and, without them, we never could have gotten the Interstate Horseracing Act passed.

So, when the industry went before Congress, we spoke with one voice and got the deed done. In short, it has happened onc e, and it can happen again.

What will it take? Sure, we could form another coalition, but that would require more than 100 fiefdoms to surrender a measure of their autonomy, and, trust me, they are not going to do that to an entity which is perceived to be advancing the agenda of any particular individual or group, an entity which is perceived to have a bone in any of these squabbles. It would take years, if not decades, to build the trust and cooperation necessary to diffuse the detritus of years of turf battles between our fiefdoms.

If we are to have any chance at all to generate a consensus that would enable us to prevent federal intervention on the issue of medication and drugs in the horse business, I would suggest that the only ones to do it would be the ones who accomplished it 38 years ago—the American Horse Council.

With all due respect to the other “consensus builders,” the AHC is the only organization which has an established reputation of fairness and objectivity toward all participants in the horse business, whatever their interest is; it is the only organization which has successfully convinced the other disciplines in the industry to help racing achieve something positive for it before; it is the only organization with a record of success in an endeavor of this type.

In short, it’s time to face up to the fact that we need a trusted, impartial leader to guide us through these troubled waters. We had better pick one, and fast. I

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