$7.99 February 2017
Volume 29, Number 2
2 0 1 7
Delaware Park Leading Meet in 2016
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2017 Madjani
Tidjani x Salama, by Sibawaih Winner of 3 Kahayla Classic (Gr.1 PA) Horse of the Year in the UAE in 2005, 2006, 2007 Sire of Group winners HANDASSA (Gr.1 PA), RB FRYNCH BROAD (Gr.2) and winners BON BAISER DE FAUST, RB MADJYK MAN, ALAZEEZ, NIRAAN, MADGICALL, RB MOOSE, MERLOT MHF, AL ZAHIR, MADJANTHIS, FOAAD… Standing at Haras de Saint Faust (France) $2.000 (frozen semen)
No Risk Al Maury
Kesberoy x Nectarine Al Maury, by Baroud III Winner of 6 Group 1 PA & 3 Group 2 PA races Sire of Stakes winners in his first crop : AICHA DE MONLAU (Prix Razzia III, Gr.3 PA), RISK DE RIOLAT (Prix Mansour Dahbi, Listed PA) and BARNAMAJ, DAISY DES VIALETTES, GASCOGNE, DALSIMATA COLE, NAISHAAN, RISKY RED, RB HOT RISK… Standing at Haras de Saint Faust (France) $2.000 (frozen semen)
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Al Saoudi
Nuits St Georges x Fatzica, by Fatzour Winner of 4 Group 1 races Out of the same dam line as AL MOURTAJEZ, AL MOUTAWAKILA and AL MOUHANNAD Sire of VETLANA DE FAUST, NAJLAA, AWZAAN, AL CHAHIRA, VULKAIN D’ALBRET, DJOULDIA DE FAUST, VOYOU DE FAUST, EMIRAATY, ARIS DE CARRERE, KAREEM KB, BARNAAMAJ, VENT DE FAUST, MARIF, WINNER DE FAUST Standing at Haras de Saint Faust (France) $500 (frozen semen)
Al Jakbar
Al Sakbe x Essaada, by Hosni Group 1 winner in France 85% individual winner/runner strike rate Sire of Group winners JAMAAYIL (French Arabian Breeders Challenge Sprint, Gr.2 PA) and AGHSAAN (ARO Cup, Gr.3 PA) and winners AL MURJAAN, FIRDOS, AL KABEER, ZAAHY Standing at Shadwell Stud (England) $800 (frozen semen)
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22
25
14
INSIDE THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS
ARTICLES/STAKES 14 17 20 21 22 24 25 26
5 The Highs and Lows of 2016 6 2016 Stakes Results 7 Arabian Racing Cup Update Arabian Jockey Club Update Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming Sheikh Mansoor Festival in U.S. Polands All-Arabian Race Day Maktoum Challenge Round 1
Editor’s Notes Around the Ovals HARC Update
COLUMNS 8 10 12 32
Just Talkin’ by Michael Economopoulos Equi Tech by Dr. Deb Powell Making Claims by Joe Nevills The Backside by Steve Heath
ON THE COVER A rainbow shines over Delaware Park, the leading meet for the Arabians in 2016. Photo by Steve Heath. Design by Corliss Hazard.
@ArabFinishLine
www.facebook.com/ArabFinishLine Disclaimer : The opinions expressed in Arabian Finish Line are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the editors and owners of this publication. Arabian Finish Line does not intentionally print incorrect materials. The contents are the responsibility of the parties furnishing materials and do not necessarily constitute a statement of fact. Accuracy of information is subject to information known to us at printing deadline. We apologize for any errors which are sometimes unavoidable. Arabian Finish Line is not responsible beyond retraction of error.
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Publisher and Editor: Stephanie Ruff Corum - sjcorum@arabianfinishline.com Director of Marketing: Corliss Hazard - corliss@arabianfinishline.com Official Photographer: Steve Heath - steve@arabianfinishline.com Advertising Sales Representative: Vanessa Moreau-Sipiere - centurionexport@aol.com Contributors: Longin Blachut, Debbie Burt, Mike Economopoulos, Tobi Lopez Taylor, Joe Nevills, Debra Powell Printed by KoHN Creative. 410.840.3805. www.kohncreative.com Subscriptions are available to residents of USA at a rate of 12 issues (bulk rate), $30.00 year, Canadian residents $50.00 year, International (air mail) $120.00 year. Paypal and all major credit cards accepted. Call 717-860-6976 or order online: www.arabianfinishline.com
4 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Editor's Notes By Stephanie J. Corum
There have been some good discussions on Facebook about how to increase the number of race-bred Arabians and new owners. These talks are not new. Heck, back when we had almost 1,000 starters we were talking about the same thing. Wow, we would love 1,000 starters now wouldn't we? I got into the breeding business by leasing a mare. I now have a lovely 2-year-old filly who will be starting her basics this year. I am also looking into leasing another mare for a 2018 foal. I do not have the farm or the money to own broodmares, and existing breeders can't afford to breed all of their mares. It's a win-win situation so I would encourage people to consider that option. I also can't afford to get into racing by myself, but at the same time I want to bring new owners into the game. So this year, Steve Heath and I are forming Backside Racing which will be a partnership low on expenses and high on fun, much like the Pleasanton Arabian Racing Partnership that raced in California last year. Final details are being put on our partnership, but it looks like we will have one colt and one filly that will (hopefully) be ready to race when Delaware Park opens. They will run there for the season and if all goes well end the year in Texas. Bringing in multiple people helps keep expenses low and Steve, the official party planner, will make sure everyone has a good time regardless of where the horses finish. Partnerships are not new, but they are a great way to introduce new people to racing while decreasing the risks. Plus it gives us the much needed new owners. So if you're thinking about getting into the game, look into leasing and/or partnerships. They are both great ways to dip your toe into it. And for those who are highly experienced, help newcomers get started. Welcome them to Arabian racing and show them why there are so many dedicated people here. We have an exciting sport, fantastic horses and wonderful people. It's time we showed the world how great we really are.
5 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
2017 Race Meet Calendar DATE
TRACK CODE
LOCATION
CONTACT #
California - arabianracingofcalifornia.com Alameda Co. Fair State Fair/Cal Expo
6/21 - 7/11
PLN
Pleasanton
9/20 - 10/3
PLN
Pleasanton
510-846-2881 510-846-2881
7/12 - 8/1
SAC
Sacramento
916-263-6000
Sonoma Co Fair
8/2 - 8/22
SR
Santa Rosa
707545-4200
Ferndale
8/23 - 9/5
FRN
Ferndale
707-786-9511
Los Alamitos/LA Co Fair meeting
9/6 - 9/26
LA
Los Alamitos
714-820-2800
Fresno
10/4 - 10/17
FRN
Fresno
10/4 - 10/17
5/19 - 8/13
ARP
Aurora
303-690-2400 mihiracing.com
6/3 - 10/21
DEL
Stanton
302-994-2521
5/5 - 9/2
HP
Hazel Park
248-398-1000 hazelparkraceway.com
1/20 -3/14 **
HOU
Houston
281-807-8700
** T-bred meet
3/31 - 5/24 ##
HOU
Houston
281-807-8700
## Qrtr Hrse meet
Lone Star Park
4/20 - 7/30 **
LSP
Grand Prairie
972-263-7223
Arabian race dates
9/15 - 11/11 ## LSP
Grand Prairie
972-263-7223
not yet verified
Retama Park
6/9 - 8/12 ##
RET
San Antonio
210-651-7000
9/1 - 11/25 **
RET
San Antonio
210-651-7000
Colorado arabianracingcolorado.com Arapahoe Park (tentative dates) Delaware easternarabianracing.org Delaware Park Michigan Hazel Park Raceway Texas texasarabianbreeders.com Sam Houston Race Park
6 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Jan 13, 2017
It's a New Year The Year of Monarch By Evie Tubbs Sweeney After my last column announcing additional HARC money in 2017 that will be disseminated regardless of whether there is one HARC horse running or fifty, I’m pleased to announce that my mailbox began filling up with nomination forms. I head to Abu Dhabi the first week of March for the HARC Annual General Meeting to discuss its worldwide impact, better existing processes, and create new initiatives for continued growth in 2017. Fittingly, the following day we’ll be celebrating one of the Arabian breed’s all-time leading racehorses and sires, the great Monarch AH, as he turns thirty. It’s a momentous occasion, as he is one of HARC’s hallmark examples. Let’s pause on Monarch for a moment. Monarch represents a long line of racing predecessors. His sire line is packed with talent and beauty, through his sire Wiking. Etap (Wiking’s sire) did extremely well on the track. However, the breeding shed was where his legacy would eventually be cemented, siring horses that were “both comely and exceptionally talented racers.” Wiking's dam, Wilma, is a legend in her own right, needing little introduction.
and remained the leading sire of racehorses in the United States until his sale and departure to the Middle East in 2001. Monarch’s progeny have amassed over $5.2 million in earnings on the racetrack. Additionally, they are known for being beautiful and displaying a level of authentic Arabian type rarely found in Arabian racehorses. A perfect example is the stunning Royal Atheena, who was also a 5-time Darley award winner. Monarch is also a leading sire of broodmares, making his influence profound, and his legacy one that will last for generations to come. We hope you’ll join us for the Monarch Celebration on Sunday, March 5th at Al Wrsan Stud in Abu Dhabi. You can follow more on the event at www.Facebook.com/MonarchAH. But more importantly, we hope you’ll continue joining us in support of the HARC horse, and all that can be achieved if we work together. The sport, the breed, and the Arabian horse will be better for it.
Wiking ripped up tracks in Europe in his early racing years before going to auction and drawing the attention of Town & Country Farms in Florida. This really began the dominant Wiking years, with continued success on the track followed by an even more impressive breeding career. In 2000, Arabian Horse World magazine ranked him #1 Arabian Racing Sire in the Last Century. Wiking sired several superstars, but his most prominent son was Monarch AH. Monarch, out of the Polish Triple Crown winner *Sasanka, became nothing short of a phenomenon on the track, winning 19 of his 23 races, an amazing 14 stakes and 3 Darley championships. And then, like his father, Monarch became an equally famous sire, even surpassing his sire’s ranks, 7 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Our gracious editor, Stephanie, gives me a wide berth concerning my column's subject matter. I think her main concern is word count and taking up space, while not trying to offend anyone too badly. Last year I wrote about the passing of our wonderful stallion, KA Czubuthan. This month I would like to pay tribute to another who has left us; my dad. Some of you old timers may remember him as he often attended races. One of my great regrets for both he and I was that he didn't make it into more win pictures. He typically stood out in a crowd, wearing loud colored leisure suits and sandals. Bob Knight was afraid that he might spook the horses when he wore that bright-orange colored outfit. To a large part, my dad is responsible for my involvement with horses. When I was young and living in Long Island, New York, we were just a stone's throw away from Roosevelt Raceway, one of the country's premier harness tracks. One of the track's top trainers at the time, Joe MacDonald, lived across the street during the race meet. He had a son my age, and our families became best friends. I've often said that what I miss most about racing was the hustle and bustle on the backside and the sweet fragrance of horse sweat and manure. My first taste of that came at the track when I was just seven or eight. My dad encouraged my involvement with horses, although I believe part of the reason was his desire to acquire hot tips on a
good long shot. Through the summer and on weekends, I spent many hours mucking stalls and walking horses. Similar to Delaware, Roosevelt shut down in the cold winter months and the MacDonalds would head south for the winter to the farm in Franklin, Tennessee. There they would break out the young horses and prepare for the next season. For a couple of years, my big Christmas present was a week vacation spent at the Tennessee farm. It was there that I developed a great fondness for rural living, country music, and pecan pie. I dreamt of having my own farm one day. Not specific to horses, but related to who I am, my dad taught me the value of hard work. He was up and off be-
fore dawn each morning and worked second jobs at night and on the weekends to support our family. He often said that one of his happiest moments was when he wrote the last tuition check for my brother, Steven, who is twenty years my junior. Dad, working as a mailman and later in his own business, put eight kids through college, which he considered one of his greatest achievements. Actually, he put seven through college because the black sheep eldest son quit college after one year and wandered around the country until he settled down in Arkansas. My dad, though not initially enthused about my career choice (roaming hippie), nonetheless loaded the family into the station wagon and paid a visit
Mike Economopoulos and his father Andrew at Delaware Park. 8 • Arabian Finish Line • Febuary 2017
to my Arkansas homestead. I didn't have Arabians at the time, but I did have a matched team of mules which we used to plow the land we sharecropped. My dad got a kick out of drawing water from a well and taking pictures of everyone sitting in our outhouse. I may not have achieved the same level of success as my brother the Ph.D., but dad was supportive and proud. Getting back to that hard work stuff; we hauled hay, cut firewood, built fences and did anything we could to make a few bucks or sometimes even worked just to get a good meal. One thing led to another and after a while, I had a farm and a small herd of Arabian race horses. Their barn was much fancier than my house. It took a few more years to have horses actually fast enough to win a race. Then there was Brusally Orzelost, then KA Czubuthan, and now there are many fond memories. Dad made treks to Delaware, Florida, California and even Michigan to watch our horses run. He was impressed with our Darley (and Daryl) banquets long before they moved to Hollywood. He was even more impressed when we got indoor plumbing. He was a friendly sort of guy and very much enjoyed our fancy (and not so fancy) horse friends; always inquiring as to how they were doing. He was espe-
Left to right: Mother Agatha, trainer Carol Gregg, brother Steven and father Andrew in Michigan circa 1980.
cially fond of Rusty and Glenda Reeder. I think Dad even learned to appreciate the aromas of the backside. Even after we quit running horses a few years ago, he would always ask how the horses were doing. Although he was 89, confined to a wheelchair and living on a tight budget, he would also end every conversation by asking, "Is there anything I can do for you, son?". It was the same thing he asked all his children right up until the end. I guess I should have asked for a fast horse. In early October, 2016, my Dad, along with most of my brothers and sisters, made a trip back to New York where we were raised. Although the race track has been replaced by a shopping mall, many things remained the same. We went by all the old homes where we lived (even got a tour of one), visited with old friends and relatives, and attended my cousin's wedding. Dad was in prime form with newfound energy; laughing, joking and telling stories about the old days. Though his body was failing him, his mind was as sharp as ever, and he remembered things that most of us kids forgot. We visited my mom's grave and Dad told her he would see her soon. He was ready. My sisters were with him on the flight back to Chicago. After they arrived and were wheeling him in the terminal, he threw up his hands and departed this world. It was time. I look around with wonder. A fine farm, an extraordinary wife, and a few beautiful horses that grace our pastures. I figure most of it is due to dumb luck. What isn't has been passed on to me by a man who I will miss very much. I just wish I had gotten him into a few more win pictures.
9 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
- tech By Dr. Deb Powell, PhD © COADY PHOTO
www.hoofandpawtherapeutics.com
Platelet-Rich Plasma: Regenerative Therapy for Damaged Tendons and Ligaments Some of the most common clinical problems seen in our equine athletes are slow or poor healing of bones, tendons, and ligaments as well as other soft tissues. The majority of our performance horses are most susceptible to injuries of their lower limbs (the knee down on the front limb; the hock down on the hind limb). The tissues injured in these areas are predisposed to prolonged healing, boney nonunion and excessive formation of granulation tissue. The lower limbs of our equine athletes have minimal muscular protection and any decrease in blood supply will contribute to a poor healing process. For example, an injury of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) can be a cause for early retirement in the racing industry. Tendons and ligaments are composed strong fiber-like connective tissue which are aligned either to run in the direction of the force or pull on the structure upon which it is attached or to form a weave pattern in order to stabilize attachments. Tendons and ligaments function by their ability to be stretched under a load while maintaining strength and integrity. A tendon or ligament becomes injured when the load exerted on it exceeds the strength of the fiber groups, therefore the fiber cannot return to its original position nor can it sustain the same load as it could before being overstretched. Injury of the fibers involves either tearing or rupturing of the individual fibers or the entire fiber bundle. When these fibers tear, the integrity of the tendon or ligament is lost. The degree of fiber damage will be dependent upon the number of fibers that were torn during the overstretching event. Complete healing of the tendon and ligament fibers is a long
and difficult process, often taking upwards of 18 months or more. The disruption of the fibers is accompanied by bleeding, the formation of a hematoma, and growth of new scar tissue. The severity and intensity of the healing process directly influences the size and quality of the new scar tissue. Because the new scar tissue is composed of disorganized and inelastic fibers, which are inferior in both structure and function, the surrounding tendon or ligament tissue of the scar is predisposed to repeated injury. For this reason it is preferable that the healing process should be focused on regenerative rather than reparative…’a scarless repair.’ When we speak of regenerative therapies, we are wanting to restore the normal structure and biomechanical properties of the injured tissue, in other words, recreate a structure that matches its original strength and function...and this is where plateletrich plasma comes in. Platelet–rich plasma or PRP, was first used twenty years ago in human medicine as a supportive treatment for those receiving bone grafts. It has only been used in horses for about the past ten years. What is PRP? Platelet-rich plasma is a product that is derived from the horse’s own blood, therefore avoiding any host complications. A sample of the horse’s blood is withdrawn into a syringe containing an anticoagulant and processed in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the plasma (fluid portion). The inclusion of an anticoagulant during blood collection is of significance because it allows the plasma to be separated from the red cells. The
10 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
plasma contains the platelets and some white blood cells. The platelets are then further concentrated into a smaller volume of plasma. The final concentration of platelets should have a minimum of 5 times the number of platelets compared to values found for whole blood to be considered “platelet-rich.” So what is in the platelets that makes them so special in healing? First of all, platelets are naturally activated by exposure to a damaged area of tissue. They are in our blood just flowing along, causing no problem until they receive a signal that there is vessel damage. They are then activated to form a clot to stop bleeding at the injury site…good thing too, or we would bleed to death. Platelets are loaded with numerous growth factors that are released upon its activation. These growth factors act to enhance access of healthy inflammatory cells to the area of tissue injury, formation of new blood vessels, formation of new connective tissue and regeneration of epithelial tissue (skin)….And I bet all you thought they did was just clot blood! The goal of using PRP for tendon and ligament injuries is to minimize the damage to surrounding and injured tissue therefore the placement of PRP must be within the injury site. Ultrasound can be used to accurately place a needle within the tendon or ligament injury (lesion) in most locations. Radiographs are generally used for lesions within the horse hoof capsule. The usual goal is to fill the affected area with PRP without separating the fibers and creating further damage. PRP can also be used in a gel form, which is used to repair tissue surgically. The gel form provides both a source of growth factors and as a scaffold for new tissue growth within the wound. As with any treatment, the use of PRP does not come without some precautions. The protocols for PRP preparation can vary between veterinary hospitals and clinics and the various commercial PRP kits available are both costly and
vary in volume of blood drawn. Make sure you are working with a hospital or clinic that is familiar with the therapy and has developed or is using a technique that will create the best outcome. Also, the platelets themselves can elicit a mild to moderate inflammatory response that may last for at least 24 hours. However, research to date has shown that this response was self-limiting and presented no deleterious effects on the tissue healing process. In addition, the platelets need to be activated either immediately prior to or during their injection or gel placement into the injured site. Remember, it is the growth factors contained within the platelets that need to be released. Currently, there are a couple of agents that can be used for platelet activation, these are calcium or thrombin, or platelets can be activated by a freeze/thaw cycle (causing mechanical trauma) before use. Does this treatment really work? Well, a recent clinical study out of the Department of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Genova, Italy (2014; In Vivo 28:1119) used PRP on 99 sport horses suffering from varying degrees of superficial digital flexor or deep digital flexor tendon injury or fetlock suspensory ligament injury. Four protocols were used 1) a single injection with platelet concentrate; 2) two injections, 30 days apart; 3) three injections, 15 days apart; 4) single injection followed by shock wave therapy at day 7, 14 and 21. The researchers reported full healing for 81% of the horses following treatment with return to competitive activity regardless of treatment protocol. Because conventional therapies are not optimal by the fact that they cause formation of a tendon/ligament scar which does not possess normal functional fibers, the use of platelet-rich plasma is one regenerative therapy that can shorten the rehabilitation time with a higher number of horses returning to full activity.
11 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Follow Joe on Twitter at @DRFNevills
Chances are pretty good they will have announced the finalists for the Darley Awards by the time this copy of Arabian Finish Line is in your hands. If not, they ought to be coming any time now. I attended the Darleys a few years back when it was in Houston and had a great time. It was my first real delve into the racing Arabian breed on a national scale, and an experience that serves me well to this day. Just like any member of the racing community, my gears are constantly turning over how to drive interest in the sport and turn casual interest into passion. It doesn’t take much work to find a case full of magic bullets from fans, pundits, and industry leaders to achieve that goal – from focusing on the social aspect of the sport to creating a central authority figure, to lowering takeout. I’ve found that broad strokes are not often the path to success in changing the sport or its perception, so I prefer to focus on smaller goals that can contribute to the greater good.
races for an extremely limited horse population. I’ve seen the breed take great strides in increasing awareness over the past decade and carding stakes on some of racing’s biggest global events, but more still can be done. Here’s what I’m thinking. The Darley Awards honor Arabian racing’s elite competitors on the racetrack, but it lags behind other racing award shows in rewarding contributions that aren’t between the rails. The human side of the equation gets its kudos in the owner, trainer, breeder, and jockey categories, but I’d like to see it taken a step further. I want to see a Darley Award for media coverage. Before I give my reasoning, allow me to freely admit that my intentions are largely selfish. I am nothing if not a trophy-driven Millennial, and as an Eclipse Award honorable mention recipient and Sovereign Award finalist
in their writing categories, the opportunity to add more hardware to my mantle would be something for which I’d gladly sign up. Furthermore, as a writer for one of the few publications that covers Arabian racing in North America, my odds of winning would pretty stellar by default. That’s also part of my point. You don’t get a dime for winning an Eclipse Award, but the prestige of it drives writers to produce the best work they can for a chance at a statue. I’d like to bring that level of competition and prestige to the racing Arabian breed. The pool of media coverage for Arabian racing in North America is shallow as a puddle, and I have no problem saying you’re reading the standard-bearer for the field right now in the Finish Line. As it stands, the favorite for a hypothetical Media Darley Award in any given year is probably a piece out of this magazine. However, incentivizing the coverage of Arabian racing could bring out new reporters and outlets seeking acclaim. I can confirm from experience that Turf writers are an ego-driven lot, and a chance for national-level affirmation from a group that’s happy to have them could drive reporters and publications to show more interest in writing more, and higher quality, pieces about the breed. I know my trip to the Darley Awards was a game changer for me, and I didn’t even win anything.
In particular, I got to brainstorming how to expand the fan base for Arabian racing in North America. If you’re reading this, you probably love Arabian racing too, but it’s not speaking out of turn to say it’s a niche in a niche sport right now, with just a handful of tracks writing a handful of 12 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Sometimes it’s not as simple as a writer wanting to write something off their beaten path to make it happen. Time, print space issues, and general philosophies/prejudices are always a concern, but it’s not often one sees a publisher or editor turn down an award for their publication if it’s being handed to them. A Media Darley Award might take some time and promotion to get the attention of outlets outside of the sometimes-insular bubble of Arabian racing and help explain why it’s an important line to have on a resume. As much as I would want to win the hypothetical Media Darley Award each year – again, I am a Millennial through and through - the true sign of its success would be when writers for publications like Arabian Finish Line are simply in the rotation of winners and not the perennial champions. If this all goes to plan, the expanded coverage that a Media Darley Award could provide means more people are reading about Arabian racing, hopefully on a regular basis. The more they’re exposed to our corner of the sport, the more familiar they will become with its characters, the more likely they will develop favorites, and the more likely those
readers develop into lifelong followers. Think about what got you into horse racing. Whether you entered from reading The Black Stallion, watching the Kentucky Derby on television, going to the track with a family member, or you are a lifer who was born into the business, there was a time when media coverage helped inform you about the sport and ultimately helped steer your decision to stay in it. If you’re reading this right now, the written word on racing probably still means something to you. We cannot hope to grow this sport, Arabian or otherwise, unless we are willing to educate and nurture those just coming in, and keep informed those already invested. That’s why we need to support, encourage, and incentivize the media members who are doing that job, and try to expand their numbers. So, there we go. We’ve potentially expanded the coverage of Arabian racing and grown the fan base all for the cost of one extra Darley trophy per year. If it works, it sounds like a pretty fair trade to me. If it doesn’t, blame the media.
13 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
The Highs and Lows of 2016 By Stephanie Ruff Corum It's no secret that Arabian racing in the United States has been struggling, and many of us were wondering if 2016 would be the year it would turn around. Now that we are squarely in the beginning of 2017 we can say that while 2016 did not show an upswing the way we would have liked, it wasn't all doom and gloom. So here are some of the highlights (and low lights) of 2016 in no particular order. 1. Burning Sand Leading Sire for Record Eleventh Straight Year - What more can be said about Burning Sand as a stallion? His progeny dominated the U.S. racing scene again in 2016 with total progeny earnings of $733,164, four times that of the second ranked sire Dahess. In some cases, race fields were full of Burning Sand offpring, with only one or two horses being by a different sire. He completely dominated the scene with 59% winners from starters, an astonishing 27% stakes winners from starters and average earnings per runner of $19,815.
2. Virgule Al Maury Top Broodmare Sire - Long ago Virgule Al Maury proved his worth by leading the general sire list twice, and he is still the overall top French-bred sire in the U.S. In 2016 he showed that he is a truly versatile stallion by topping the leading broodmare sire list for the first time in 2016. (He was second in 2015.) While much of his success was due to AK Loretta, dam of Paddy's Day, Virgule Al Maury was not just a "one hit wonder". He has a total of 46 producing daughters who were the dams of 17 starters in 2016. There were 53% winners from starters and 12% stakes winners. 3. Paddys Day - Paddys Day had a tremendous year in 2016. First off he was named Darley Horse of the Year and Darley Champion 4-YearOld Colt for his accomplishments in 2015. Then he promptly went and proved he was just as good, if not better, as a 5-year-old. He
raced all over the country winning grade 1 races in Teas, Delaware and Kentucky. He won the Triple Jewel bonus for the second straight year, and he competed in Abu Dhabi in the richest Arabian race in the world where he finished a fast-closing eighth. 4. RB Madymoiselle - If there was one horse that should earn a "Most Miles Traveled" award it should be RB Madymoiselle. She ran 12 times (6 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third) at 7 different race tracks at distances from 7 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. 5. Delaware Park has best meet in years - From the Arabians only standpoint, Delaware Park had a stellar meet with increases in almost every category. Compared to 2015, the number of races was up 35%, number of unique starters up 23% and number of unique owners up 18%. The same number of stakes was run in 2015 and 2016, but the average purse rose 4%. The one negative figure was average handle on the stakes races, which was down 26%. That was not the case, however, for the average overnight figures. Similarly, the average purse rose by 4%, but in this case the average handle went up as well. It was 20% higher than the average handle in 2015. Even field size increased slightly from 6.5 to 6.8. 6. Arapahoe Park and Hazel Park struggle - For as well as Delaware Park did, Arapahoe Park in Colorado and Hazel Park in Michigan struggled badly. Hazel Park did not card a single Arabian race and Arapahoe Park only had a handful because of a lack of horses, owners and trainers at both tracks. Both tracks have race dates in 2017, but it is uncertain at this time if Arabians will race there.
Home of the most successful meet in 2017, Delaware Park's beautiful paddock. Photo by Steve Heath. 14 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
7. President of the UAE Cup S. back at Churchill Downs It's not often a great field of Arabians is assembled, but on a rare, but very popular,
night-time card at Churchill Downs, such an event took place. The top three older horses in the country and the top two 4-year-old fillies were among the starters in the $100,000 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup (Gr. 1), sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. At the finish, it was Quarter Moon Ranch LLC's reigning Darley Horse of the Year Paddys Day, with famed Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel aboard, who won the 1 1/16 mile race over Thess Is Awesome and RB Madymoiselle. The final time of 1:53.49 was a new track record for the Arabians. 8. Number of starters continues to decline - The total number of individual starters fell below 200 in 2016 and is at it's lowest point since the Arabian Jockey Club started tracking numbers in 1984. On the one hand, it means that the odds are good for those in Arabian racing to earn some money. It does, however, make it challenging to fill races and put on quality meets with full fields. Based on conversations with breeders, more horses are on the way, but it will still take time to see the increased numbers at the racetrack. 9. Gillis tops owners and breeders lists - Joe and Betty Gillis had another fantastic year in 2016. For the most part they race what they breed, and those horses are very, very good. Racing in the red and white silks of their Allegro Arabians, horses bred and/or owned by the Gillis's earned well over $300,000. Many of their horses are easily recognized by the "AA" in their name. Think stakes winners Jewell AA, Ruby AA, and stakes-placed winner Quick Sand AA. Their best runners of 2016, however, did not have the "AA" in their names. Easter Man and Sand Victor were multiple stakes winners and carried the Allegro Arabian silks into the winner's circle a total of 7 times. 10. Scott Powell leading trainer - When you are the trainer of the two leading money-earning Arabians of 2016, it's fairly safe to say you are the leading trainer in the U.S. Scott Powell managed the highly successful campaigns of both Paddys Day and RB Madymoiselle, collecting a few frequent flyer miles as he traveled with his charges all over the country as well as a trip to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with Paddys Day. His horses started 57 times with a 32% win rate and an impressive 65% top 3 finishes. In total, his horses earned just shy of $400,00.
was held at Santa Anita Park. Thess Is Awesome, bred and owned by Cre Run Farm, went wire to wire for the victory. The weekend was capped off with a celebratory dinner at the famous Beverly Hills Wilshire. 12. Four stakes on one night at Lone Star Park - The Dubai International Arabian Races, managed by Shadwell Farm, sponsored four stakes races on one night at Lone Star Park. It was a great way to close out the season for Arabian racing. Rosebrook Farm and Joe and Betty Gillis each won two races and trainer Jernesto Torrez conditioned all four of the winners: RB Madymoiselle, RB Nash, (owned and bred by Rosebrook Farm) and Ruby AA and Easter Man (owned and bred by Joe and Betty Gillis). 13. HARC gains momentum - The Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC), the brainchild of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was launched in order to support and promote racing for those who wish to preserve the traditional characteristics and type of the pure Arabian racehorse. While money was paid out to HARC-nominated horses around the country, much of the effort in 2016 was in education and exposure. HARC has shown the United States that it is here to stay, and will continue to incentivize those HARC-bred horses. They have dozens of HARC runners, stallions and broodmares, and they have signed up individual members. Through a series of educational and promotional seminars, they have educated and planted seeds in the minds of thousands of Arabian horse enthusiasts on the sport of Arabian racing.
11. Darley Awards shines as signature event - The Darley Award weekend, generously sponsored by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and hosted by the Arabian Racing Cup, is the signature weekend of Arabian racing celebrations. It started with the glamorous award ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Guests were able to walk the famous red carpet and sit in seats where the biggest stars sit during the Academy Awards. For the first time, the H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Award S. (Gr.1) 15 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Now our sites are squarely set on 2017. Will this be the year it all turns around? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Michelle Morgan poses by the twin spires of Churchill Downs during the President of the UAE Cup S. (Gr.1). Photo by Steve Heath.
2016 Graded Stakes Results Information compiled and presented by the Arabian Jockey Club.
17 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
2016 Non-Graded Stakes Results Information compiled and presented by the Arabian Jockey Club. 2016 non graded stakes results placing 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Horse Name Royal Richess Our Princess Jewell AA Charich Hesster TM Maddamee My Vaz Is Hot Miss Paradise Uptown Dannys Boy Sammy V CR Ardiente Zells Bells RB Madymoiselle Dream Pearl One Hot Chick Hesster Dream Pearl RB Madymoiselle Hesster Throughleap RB Madymoiselle Pams Masquerade Hesster Throughleap Easter Man Chndakas Express Kafo RB Fired Up Ruby AA RB Kinke Madjic Vaz WMA Prairie Wind RB Nash RB Open Fire Quick Sand AA Lil Dude AA
Sex age weight dist. date M 5 127 7f 3/5/2016 M 5 127 7f 3/5/2016 M 4 127 7f 3/5/2016 M 5 127 7f 3/5/2016 M 5 124 6f 6/12/2016 M 8 124 6f 6/12/2016 M 6 124 6f 6/12/2016 M 7 124 6f 6/12/2016 C 4 124 6f 6/18/2016 C 8 124 6f 6/18/2016 C 5 120 6f 6/18/2016 G 7 120 6f 6/18/2016 F 4 128 6f 7/2/2016 M 5 128 6f 7/3/2016 M 9 128 6f 7/4/2016 M 5 128 6f 7/5/2016 M 5 125 7f 9/16/2016 F 4 128 7f 9/17/2016 M 5 121 7f 9/18/2016 M 5 120 7f 9/19/2016 F 4 124 1m 11/4/2016 F 4 118 1m 11/4/2016 M 5 122 1m 11/4/2016 M 5 120 1m 11/4/2016 C 4 124 1 1/16m 11/4/2016 C 6 120 1 1/16m 11/4/2016 C 4 122 1 1/16m 11/4/2016 C 3 119 1 1/16m 11/4/2016 F 3 120 6f 11/4/2016 F 3 120 6f 11/4/2016 F 3 116 6f 11/4/2016 F 3 120 6f 11/4/2016 C 3 122 6f 11/4/2016 C 3 120 6f 11/4/2016 C 3 120 6f 11/4/2016 C 3 116 6f 11/4/2016
race course Sam Houston Race Prk Sam Houston Race Prk Sam Houston Race Prk Sam Houston Race Prk Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Arapahoe Park Oak Tree at Pleasanton Oak Tree at Pleasanton Oak Tree at Pleasanton Oak Tree at Pleasanton Los Alamitos Los Alamitos Los Alamitos Los Alamitos Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park
Race Name HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies Cobra Distaff Sprint Cobra Distaff Sprint Cobra Distaff Sprint Cobra Distaff Sprint J Partin mem.Cobra Sprint J Partin mem.Cobra Sprint J Partin mem.Cobra Sprint J Partin mem.Cobra Sprint HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies HH Shka Fatima IFAHR Ladies Uptown Farm Arabian Stakes Uptown Farm Arabian Stakes Uptown Farm Arabian Stakes Uptown Farm Arabian Stakes Shadwell Arab Stl.Tx Distaff Shadwell Arab Stl.Tx Distaff Shadwell Arab Stl.Tx Distaff Shadwell Arab Stl.Tx Distaff Dubai Intl. Arab Tx Open Dubai Intl. Arab Tx Open Dubai Intl. Arab Tx Open Dubai Intl. Arab Tx Open ShadwellArabTx LS Futurity ShadwellArabTx LS Futurity ShadwellArabTx LS Futurity ShadwellArabTx LS Futurity DIAR Tx Lone Star Futurity DIAR Tx Lone Star Futurity DIAR Tx Lone Star Futurity DIAR Tx Lone Star Futurity
purse $41,000.00 $41,000.00 $41,000.00 $41,000.00 $18,500.00 $18,500.00 $18,500.00 $18,500.00 $18,800.00 $18,800.00 $18,800.00 $18,800.00 $43,200.00 $43,200.00 $43,200.00 $43,200.00 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $30,000.00 $22,700.00 $22,700.00 $22,700.00 $22,700.00 $23,300.00 $23,300.00 $23,300.00 $23,300.00
time 1:34.16
1:18.74
1:18.21
1:19.94
1:32.38
1:53.30
1:50.04
1:20.26
1:18.67
Heathscape Photography Specializing in equestrian, sports and event photography. Telephone: (443) 289-5257 Instagram: @Steve_Heath40
steve_heath40@yahoo.com www.heathscapephoto.photoshelter.com
18 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Arabian Racing’s
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KD Kalhoun Pedigree: KD Kalibor x Belvedere Hartyna, by Baharr Race Record: 7 wins, 8 placings. 6/35(7-4-4) Sire of race winners. (photo age 6. Visit him at Mandolynn Hill Farman exceptionally kind stallion and more beautiful than ever)
Kan You Run Pedigree: Wiking x Kenia, by *El Paso Race Record: 15 wins, 16 places. 55(15-7-9)2-2 Sire of race winners.
Spirit Winds Arabians’ Two Heritage Arabian Racing Club Stallions, both standing at stud in Texas! Offering for sale: Purebred
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307-237-8419 days 307-234-1622 evenings www.spiritwindshorses.com email: spiritwinds3@hotmail.com
THE arabian RACING CUP MOVES FORWARD IN 2016 The mission of the Arabian Racing Cup is the national and international promotion of breeding and racing purebred Arabian horses. The last couple of years the Board of Stewards has been working hard to put together our new incentive program to best reward the breeders. We started out in 2015 paying $500 to the breeders of horses finishing first, second or third in specific races. In 2016 we were able to increase the number of races eligible for payouts, and we had a very good response. People asked if we would consider grandfathering horses in that were already born so that the breeders of these horses could be included. In response to that request, we created a grandfather clause that allowed stallion owners to nominate their stallions and by doing so made all the foals by said stallions eligible to be nominated as weanlings, yearlings and 2-year-olds. These offspring could then continue to win breeder awards after the official program kick-off in 2020. As of this writing, we had 39 stallions and 47 foals go +into the grandfather program. In 2016, our new program began, and 2017 foals will need to have their nominations started by paying $50 before December 31, 2017. The total nomination fee is $500 that will be completed by the time the horse is 2-years-old. Continuing to nominate your foals will allow our breeding program to grow and become stronger through the years. It will help achieve one of our goals, which is to increase the number of races every year for which breeders can earn reward money. The priority here is to encourage breeding because with no breeding there will be no racing. The United States is being offered some of the biggest sponsored stakes racing in the history of Arabian racing. This is thanks to the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al Nahyan Racing Festival, Shadwell’s DIAR races, and the President of the UAE Cup. We need to take advantage of these great opportunities, but without breeding more horses, we will not have enough horses to run in these races. Also in 2016, the Board brought on two new stewards - Jon Henningsgard and Garrett Ford. Both these men are heavily involved in Arabian racing. They came ready to work and brought some new ideas on how to promote breeding and racing. We are happy to have them. The Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup will have their annual retreat the weekend of March 4th in Houston, Texas. During the retreat, we will review 2016 and look towards 2017. We use this time to see what is working and what is not and brainstorm ways we can continue to improve and promote the Arabian horse. This will also be the weekend of the first leg of the Triple Jewel, sponsored by the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al Nahyan Racing Festival. It will be held at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. Our premier event - the Darley Awards - is right around the corner from March 31 through April 2. The award ceremony will be held along with the Sheika Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Darley awards in Hollywood, CA again this year. Mark your calendar and plan to be there. It is an event that must be experienced. I think we are headed in the right direction. We have a lot of positive things happening in Arabian racing. The Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup are open to your ideas and suggestions. As our founder Dr. Sam would say, “The Best You Bet”, Michelle Morgan Chief Steward, Arabian Racing Cup 20 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
arabian jockey club's annual review Arabian racing in the USA has never been better in terms of purse structure and sponsorships. However, on the flip side, it has never been more challenging in terms of numbers of owners, breeders and trainers. The early pioneers in USA Arabian racing either ran for no purse money (just prestige of their breeding) or they ran for so little money that it barely made a difference. Back in those days racing was a way for people who loved athletic ability as a way to prove their horses. It was about pride and passion for the breed. It was about the horse itself showing what it could do. It wasn’t about judges deciding which one they happened to like the best. This was the genesis of USA Arabian horse racing. In 2016, the Arabian Jockey Club traveled the world in support of Arabian racing and breeding. Your representatives worked on ways to bring information about Arabian racing and breeding to everyone who ever loved the breed or horse racing in general. We looked to find people with passion for the breed and educate them on the multiple benefits of owning, breeding, and racing Arabians. This included on-site seminars, social media outlets, formation of a Partnership Management directory, and LIVE Facebook broadcasts of noted stakes races. All were ways to enhance the THRILL of racing Arabians to current participants and newcomers alike. USA’s inclusion in the newly formed Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC) of HH Sheikh Sultan of Abu Dhabi brought added purse incentives and promotional support to encourage the continuation of Heritage bloodlines. These horses are known for athleticism and increasing the diversity of bloodlines, which are important factors in both racing and breeding. Hundreds of thousands of purse dollars from international sponsors such as the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan Festival, The President of the UAE Cup, Shadwell’s Dubai International Arabian Race day and HARC sponsorships gave USA Arabians the opportunity to showcase our breeding to the world. In addition, the Arabian Racing Cup (ARC) Breeders' Incentive program has once again begun paying out to breeders. Through November, 2016, Arabian purses were over $1,940,000 with less than 200 unique starters. An American-bred Arabian won the world’s richest Arabian purse of 1.2 million EU both years it has been run. Around the world there is strong demand for American-bred racing stock. Coupled with the downturn seen in breeding over the last seven years, it has been a challenge to maintain our racing stock at sustainable levels. There has never been a better time to become involved in Arabian racing and to breed Arabian race horses. The Arabian Jockey Club is here to support everyone in the sport of Arabian racing. The work done by an all-volunteer group of people is unrivaled anywhere. This non-profit organization is for all people who want to be a part of Arabian racing in and outside the USA. We encourage everyone to help the Arabian Jockey Club continue its mission by spending a mere $30.00 annually for membership and taking advantage of the discounts available for advertising. A tax free donation in any amount will aid the continuation of all the work done by a few that offers benefits to all participants in the sport. Visit www.arabianracing.org, www.arabianaracingcup.com, www.arabianfinishline.com, www.horsereporter.com, as well as the Arabian Jockey Club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They provide daily updates on Arabian racing in the United States and around the world. These are the top sources in the USA to keep you informed about all things in Arabian racing. Hope to see you at the races, Kathy Kathy Smoke, President of the Arabian Jockey Club 21 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
The Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming: A View from the Sunny Southwest
Text and photos by Tobi Lopez Taylor, www.tobitaylor.com The forty-third annual Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming was held in Tucson, Arizona on December 5 through 7, 2016 at the scenic Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Each year, the conference is put on by the University of Arizona’s Racetrack Industry Program (RTIP), the only degree-granting program of its type in the country. Its famous alumni include Bob Baffert, trainer of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and trainer Todd Pletcher, who has one Kentucky Derby winner and two Belmont Stakes winners to his credit. The symposium had an attendance of about 200 people, most of them racing industry professionals, as well as some RTIP students and journalists like myself. The symposium’s first day, which was sponsored by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program and primarily geared toward licensed officials, was composed of two half-day panels on race officiating. The second and third days consisted of a series of 45-minute sessions on various aspects of the horse racing or gaming industry, with an emphasis on wagering, customer retention, and marketing. The second day got off to a lively start with the session titled Racing’s Identity Crisis: Who and What Are We?, moderated by Steve Byk, the host of the radio show At The Races. The panelists were Michael Tanner, executive vice president and CEO of the U.S. Trotting Association; Bill Nader, formerly with the New York Racing Association and the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Peter Rotondo, vice president of media and entertainment for the Breeders’ Cup; and
Amy Zimmerman, vice president and director of broadcasting for the Stronach Group. Over the course of the session, the panelists grappled with what horse racing’s mission statement should be. While all agreed that the horses themselves provide a unique kind of excitement, they had differing perspectives on how best to promote racing to a younger audience: should it be marketed primarily as a gambling option, as entertainment, or as a sport? Among the ideas discussed were: the need to upgrade smaller tracks to offer a better, more comfortable entertainment experience, similar to what can be found at top-tier tracks like Saratoga and Santa Anita; and creating more exotic wagering choices and other incentives to attract and keep gamblers, while bearing in mind that a substantial segment of racing’s audience is passionate about the horses and the people in the sport. Perhaps the best-attended event at the symposium was the awards lunch. Art Sherman—trainer of Horse of the Year California Chrome and one-time exercise rider of Kentucky Derby winner Swaps—was presented with the Big Sport of Turfdom award from the Turf Publicists of America (TPA). The award is given annually to a “person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists.” Sherman called his stint as trainer of California Chrome “one of the wildest times of my life,” and told the crowd, “This has been a great life for me and my family, and I appreciate this honor.” After lunch came another well-attended panel, the Mark Kaufman Workshop, presented by the TPA and named for a
22 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
longtime sportswriter who died in 1995. Moderated by Jim Mulvihill, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s director of media and public relations, the session was devoted to a discussion with two Sports Illustrated journalists: Tim Layden and Bill Nack—the latter best known as the author of the book Big Red of Meadow Stable: Secretariat, the Making of a Champion, on which the 2010 Disney movie about Secretariat was based. While Layden’s stories of covering American Pharoah’s 2015 Triple Crown run were informative and entertaining, it was Nack who stole the show, recounting his experiences with Kentucky Derby winners Iron Liege and Swaps, his coverage of Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo, and of course his longtime relationship with Secretariat, which lasted until the horse’s death in 1989. Mr. Nack’s beautiful prose has long been an inspiration to me. After the session was finished, I approached Mr. Nack and asked him to sign my treasured first-edition copy of his book, which he graciously did. In return, I gave him a copy of my book on Orzel —and told him about this icon of Arabian racing, known as the “Arabian Secretariat.”
Late one afternoon, RTIP students presented posters highlighting their senior capstone and graduate professional development projects. Their studies included the economic impacts of racing, breeding, yearling sales, and racing clubs; unification of racing rules throughout the U.S.; and whether track surfaces affect the running style of winners. After the last session of the symposium, attendees were invited to the La Vida Local reception, which featured such Tucson food staples as street tacos, Sonoran hot dog, Green Valley pecans, and locally made Whiskey del Bac. This year’s Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming was a very well-organized event, and drew big names from throughout the industry, many of them RTIP alumni. Until this year, I had never attended this event, and I went to it with the perspective that it might be a good venue for Arabian racing enthusiasts to promote our breed. However, because the symposium is so heavily focused on the economics of Thoroughbred racing, and geared mainly toward racing industry employees (and future employees, in the form of RTIP students), I don’t believe that it would be of much direct benefit for Arabian racing owners and breeders to attend. That being said, there are worse things a racing fan could do than spend a few days at an Arizona resort in early December, with ample sunshine, 70-degree weather, sampling local food and drink, and catching a glimpse of the likes of Art Sherman and Bill Nack! Tobi Lopez Taylor is a writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. Her most recent book is Orzel: Scottsdale’s Legendary Arabian Stallion. She can be reached at tobi@tobitaylor.com.
Another interesting session was titled Bridging the Horseracing-Academic Divide, featuring three professors affiliated with the racing industry, and it proved to be much more interesting than its title. Dr. Mick Peterson’s wide-ranging talk gave examples of academic research that benefited the horse racing industry, including scientific detective work by entomologists that solved the mystery of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, which caused nearly one-third of mares in Kentucky to abort during the early 2000s. Then Dr. Ann Gillette discussed opportunities for academic studies of racing that would be beneficial to the industry, including the analysis of breeder incentive programs and takeout. And Dr. Marshall Gramm, an economist who studies wagering markets, made a case for the benefits that would accrue to the industry if racetracks and wagering companies provided more data to academicians. During the breaks between sessions, attendees were encouraged to visit the exhibit area, which resembled an electronics trade show, with its high-resolution monitors, teletimers, data systems, and wagering hardware and software. 23 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival 2017 Calendar for U.S. HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship March 4 - Sam Houston Race Park, Texas July 8 - Pleasanton , California November 12 – Finals in Abu Dhabi, UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup March 4 - Sam Houston Race Park, Texas September 4 - Monmouth Park, New Jersey November 12 – Finals in Abu Dhabi, UAE HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship September 4 - Monmouth Park, New Jersey November 12 - Finals, Abu Dhabi, UAE Wathba Stud Farm Cup July – Sacramento, California October – Fresno, California September – Retama Park, Texas October - Lone Star Park, Texas World Arabian Horse Racing Conference Morocco, May 1-7, 2017 May 3-5 - World Arabian Horse Racing Conference May 6 - Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship IFHRA Darley Awards Hollywood California, March 31-April 2 March 31 - US Darley Awards and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards at Dolby Theatre April 1 - Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards S. (Gr.1), Santa Anita Park April 2 - HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards Gala Dinner at the Beverly Hills Wilshire HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Conference for Education & Training Abu Dhabi, November 9-11 November 9-11 - Conference at the National Archives, Abu Dhabi November 11 - Al Wathba Challenge Endurance at EIEV , Al Wathba Award Gala Dinner at Emirates Palace November 12 - Finals of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival
24 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
Poland's All-Arab Racing Day By Longin Blachut The most important racing day for Arab horses in the Polish racing calendar is the All-Arab Racing Day. In 2016 it took place on Sunday, 21 August. There were nine races on the card, of which six were stakes with over 70 horses competing. Al Khalediah Poland Cup The first stakes race of the day was the Al Khalediah Poland Cup at a distance of a mile for four-year olds and up. Part of the Al Khalediah European Arabian Horse Festival, this race was in its third edition. The first two days (19 and 20 August) are a B Show, according to ECAHO ranking, and are traditionally held at the Al Khalediah Poland Farm. The Festival is a true gala for Arab horse aficionados, the only one in Europe with such high prizes.
winner Cakouet de Bozouls established a new track record at a mile, with a time of 1:46.6. Białka Stakes The next race of the day was the international Bialka S. (Gr.1) for three-year olds at a distance of 2000m. Named after the smallest of the three state studs specializing in Arabian horse breeding, it has been part of the All-Arab Racing Day since 1984. This year six horses went to the start (five colts and one filly). The breeders and owners of Abbas Akbar Al Mulla from France put forward two large framed colts, Muzahim (Akim de Ducor x Djami/Gepard) and Jasar, also by Akim de Ducor out of Membola by Barkas. Throughout most of the race, a well-handled fast pace
The Festival ended at the Sluzewiec Race track with a great flat race. Seven horses went to the gate. The public’s favorite was four-year-old Cakoute de Bozouls (Dahess x Udjidor de Bozouls/Dormane), bred in France by EARL Mezagri and bought at the 2014 Arqana Auction by Krzysztof Gozdzialski from Poland. The race was led at a very fast pace by six-year old Muzahim (Nougatin x Malmazja/Wermut) who ran out of gas on the last straight. It was at this point that jockey Szczepan Mazur let Cakouet de Bozouls show his blistering turn of foot and the colt won easily by four lengths. Second came Gazello the son of Nougatin, out of Gordaia by Damask (mother of Gorec now standing at stud in Texas). Third to pass the post, half a length behind Gazello, was five-year old Mufid (Akbars x Mukata Fata/KA Czubuthan). Chestnut
Cakouet de Bozouls (Dahess x Udjidor de Bozouls/Dormane) in the paddock prior to winning the Al Khalediah Poland Cup.
Shannon Queen (Ainhoa St. Faust out of Sasanka Fata, by Sam Tiki) noses out Muzahim to win the Bialka S.
was dictated by Wazir du Panjshir and Italian jockey P. Convertino, but he faded in the stretch. Next up were Jasar and Muzahim who fought against the only filly in the field, Shannon Queen, but Jasar soon ran out of steam. Muzahim battled head to head with Shannon Queen in the last furlongs for an exciting finish. Muzahim lost at the post by a short head to Shannon Queen with Alexandra Reznikova in the irons. Third, 10 lengths behind, came Jasar. Time of the race was 2:16.8. The winning filly is by Ainhoa St. Faust out of Sasanka Fata by Sam Tiki. The breeder is M. Gromala and the owners, M. Gromala and K. Kozlowska. She is in training with J. Kozlowski. Sabellina Stakes This race was named after great stakes-winning and stakes producing mare Sabellina, who established one of the best Polish racing dynasties, the so-called “S” line. Though born over 40 years ago this great mare’s legacy is still evident in today's racehorses.
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jockeys from 10 countries. It was Polish 19-year-old Joanna Wyrzyk, a rider by profession, who guided six-year-old Cepton (Von x Ceptona/Pepton) to an easy victory in a time of 1:54.8. Cepton is trained and owned by K. Zawilinski and was bred by A. Fratczak. A length and a half behind came 12-year-old gelding Dar Duni (Eldon x Decyma/Eurol) with Nora Hagelund Holm from Norway in the irons. Another three and a half lengths behind came Erika Taylor from the USA riding LB Naju (Sambist x WFA Naema/Vert Olive).
PourVous Kossak outduals Om Darshaana in the Sabellina S.
Just before the fifth race of the day it started to rain heavily, and the track became leaden. The best eight four-year-old and older mares bravely went to the gate to compete in the Sabellina S. at 2000m. Om Darshaana, the daughter of Dahess out of Om Mantra by William, last year’s Oaks winner, made a good start and went to the lead dictating a fair pace. Soon to her side came PourVous Kossak and Shadad Athbah. On the last turn for home, they accelerated and Shahed Athbah could not keep up the tempo. Then it was a thundering fight between five-year-old Om Darshanna and Dutch-bred four-year-old PourVous Kossak, carrying six kg less than her rival. PourVous Kossak won with half a length to spare. Third, three quarters of a length behind came Muhfuza Fata (Chndaka x Minerva/Santhos) that got the better of Shahad Athbah in the last furlong. The time of the race, 2:19, was not bad considering the rain and heavy turf. Mr. A. Walicki trains the winning mare for Polish owner K. Gozdzialski. HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship Sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahayan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, the sixth event of the day was an international one-mile race with 10 lady
Poland native Joanna Wyrzyk wins one for the home team in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship.
HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship The next race was HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship IFAHR for young apprentices. To hone their skills, all have participated in seminars and conferences held by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Academies under the patronage of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival.
Ali Al Shuwaikh, from Bahrain, wins the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship aboard Eastway.
Ten international participants went to the gates on horses four-and-up to compete in the Warsaw race edition at a distance of 1800m. It was a rider from Bahrain, Ali Al Shuwaikh, who easily won the race on the stallion Eastway (Nougatin x Elvia by Esplendor) in training with B. Strojwas for its owner C. Olsen Agri Sp.z.o.o. Second, one and three quarter lengths behind, came Rowan Scott from the UK on Inextremo (Marwan x Isy by Dajamo) and third was 20-year-old Polish apprentice jockey Ireneusz Wojcik aboard Wincent (Avangard x Wikora by Kornet) The time of the race was 2:11.5. After the race I talked with Ali Al Shuwaikh who has had an atypical apprentice jockey career. At 30 he is the oldest of the apprentice jockeys. He started taking part in flat racing some 13 years ago after having been an endurance rider for several years. He not only races at home but also in Qatar and Saudi Arabia and has over 300 races under his belt with 30 victories. He has also been a racehorse owner in
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the past. Sponsorship by HRH Prince Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, for whom he works and rides, has allowed him to attend a course at the British Racing School of Newmarket. He is probably the world’s only Business Informatics graduate among apprentice jockeys – but his life passion is flat racing. He dreams of obtaining the eight-week scholarship with a top world trainer offered by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Academies. HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup – Nagroda Europy (Gr.3 PA) The heaviest dose of emotion of the day came with the eighth race on the card: HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Nagroda Europy (Gr.3 PA). It’s the only group 3 race on Poland’s calendar and held at 2600m. Since 2010 this race has been included in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. It is a leg of the European Triple Crown and has been won by horses trained outside Poland.
The public’s favourite was four-yearold French colt Ziyadd (Bibi de Carrere x Mizzana by Akbar) bred and owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor. There were two other foreign-bred, owned and trained horses that took part in the Europa Cup. One of them was Italian five-year-old Lares de Pine (Calin du Loup – Komeira, by Ulumu) and the other was four-year-old French colt Ramizie Al Azizie (Akbar–Win Taouy, by Drug), full brother to four times Europe Triple Crown winner Amerretto. With the incessant rain, the Sluzewiec turf was very heavy. Eight contenders went to the gate. Seven-year old Magoun (Nougatin x Margo by Gusar) along with Ussam de Carrere (Njewman x Assada El Bareka by Mad Oua) led the field at a good steady tempo. Ramiz Al Aziz soon joined them. The two favourites, Ziyadd and Alladyn (Von x Alba Longa by Ostragon), were kept at the back. On the last turn Ziyadd accelerated and passed his adversaries at the rail and took the lead. Next to him appeared Tefkir, and in
the middle of the track Alladyn gained ground. With great cheers from the crowd Tefkir took the lead under T. Lukasek in the last furlong. He won by four lengths over Ziyadd and Alladyn finished third. Time of the race was 3:06.4. The bay four-year-old winner Tefkir (Njewman x Djourella by Kerbella) was bred in France by EARL de Beguerie and trained by Mrs. M. Lojek at the Sluzewiec track for his owner Mr. Z. Gorski. To the great happiness of the local public, Tefkir broke the six year dominance of foreign-bred, owned and trained horses that have won the HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan – Nagroda Europy. Many thanks to Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, for staging the races in Warsaw. We are most grateful to HH Sheikh Mansoor for supporting many races in Poland. It makes us shine and be at the forefront of the worldwide community of the six continent’s competition.
Tefkir (Njewman x Djourella, by Kerbella) is a French-bred racing in Poland. He won the first leg of the European Triple Crown, HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup - Nagroda Europy (Gr.3 PA). 27 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
AF Mathmoon Back to Form at Meydan Text and photo by Debbie Burt, www.equinecreativemedia.com
The first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge presented by Longines Conquest Classic (Gr1PA), proved to be an easy return to form for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s AF Mathmoon (AF Albahar x Temptayshun). The Purebred Arabian race run over a mile at Meydan opened the 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival and featured two of the previous Kahayla Classic (Gr1PA) winners in the aforementioned AF Mathmoon and the 2015 winner Manark.
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Also in the line up was RB Burn, who had defeated AF Mathmoon in the World’s Richest Arabian horse race, the HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) run on the turf in November. Shateh, who had been unbeaten in two starts this season, also beating AF Mathmoon on their most recent start in a Group 2, was a nonrunner. It proved to be a satisfying start for Britain’s champion Thoroughbred jockey, Jim Crowley, in his new job as retained rider for HH Sheikh Hamdan. Riding the owner’s AF Mathmoon, for Musabbeh Al Mheiri, Crowley stalked the early pace set by Uptown Danny’s Boy, with Manark on his outside. Manark took up the lead at the halfway point, but it was short lived. Crowley’s mount accelerated off the home turn and readily drew clear of the field in the straight to win by eight and a half lengths. RB Burn kept on to take second inside the final quarter mile. “What a fantastic start, and I have the monkey off my back straightaway,” said Crowley. “I was in a bit of a pocket at one stage, but when we found racing room I was keen to go for home as he stays well."
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“He actually surprised me the way he quickened, and he was by far the best tonight,” he continued.
Tobi Lopez Taylor tobi@tobitaylor.com Author of the books Orzel: Scottsdale’s Legendary Arabian Stallion and The Polish and Russian Arabians of Ed Tweed’s Brusally Ranch, as well as articles in Arabian Finish Line, Arabian Horse Express, Arabian Visions, Blood-Horse, and Dressage Today.
AF Mathmoon has not finished out of the first two on the dirt at Meydan, all in Group company, and must be strongly fancied for a repeat win in the Dubai Kahayla Classic on March 25 if he holds his form.
28 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
NF Proof+/ 1985 - 2013 4/22(14-5-1)D+8 Bay • 15.1 Hands
Stud Fee: $2,500. Frozen semen only.
Arabian Racing Hall of Fame Stallion
Broodmare sire of Darley Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and Leading 4-Year-Old Colt EASTER MAN. Congratulations to Joe and Betty Gillis! Still a leading broodmare sire in the U.S.
Anne Seymour 850.859.2808, seyvilla@embarqmail.com
(Falina Des Fabries x Rein Danse by Wiking) Race Record: 4/24(6-5-1)5-2; Darley Champion 3 Year Old Colt, Multi Graded Stakes Winner, U.S. Turf Record Holder Equally outstanding as a sire, producing incredible, muscular get with great temperaments, intelligence and density. Built for both racing, endurance and sport horse stock, his impact continues. Congratulations to Howie Rubin and MY THUNDER BOLT (THE LAST DANSE x FRENCH TWIST) 3 WINS, 4 SECONDS, 4 THIRDS MY AURORAS ECHO - 3 Year Old Filly (THE LAST DANSE X DOYA JUANA DANCE, by JUAN DE SHAWN) - Available for purchase!
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THE LAST DANSE STANDING AT
MANDOLYNN HILL FARM
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STUD FEE: $1,200 USD, LFG, MULTI MARE DISCOUNTS TRANSPORTED SEMEN AVAILABLE CONTACT: MICHELLE MORGAN- MMORGAN@ONT.COM CELL: 214-679-2026 OR 940-363-2559
OWNED BY: KEN & NANCY BLEWETT RANCHO MILAGRO YEGUA THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS 832-521-3111, CELL 361-443-9942 NANCYBLEWETT1@AOL.COM
u.n:told stories of horse life
By Steve Heath
Two Horses Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting... One of the horses is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. This alone is pretty amazing. But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small, copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect. Or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. And at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way. -Author Unknown In memory of James Ty Case III, a longtime Delaware horseman who had a passion for harness racing. He passed away at age 60 on January 13. 32 • Arabian Finish Line • February 2017
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Specializing in equestrian, sports and event photography.
Telephone: (443) 289-5257 Instagram: @Steve_Heath40 steve_heath40@yahoo.com www.heathscapephoto.photoshelter.com
(All photos unaltered.)
photo by Leigh Young
Cre Run would like to thank HH SHEIKH SULTAN BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN for sharing this great stallion with the world.
MONARCH AH
On March 5th, Monarch AH turns 30 years old, and Cre Run is proud to have been a part of this stallion’s legacy through our great broodmares Royal Atheena, In Awe and Monarchs Princess. We want to thank Sheikh Sultan for his vision, passion and dedication to the Arabian horse.
Cre Run represents Sharon Magness Blake with offerings of MONARCH AH by frozen semen in the USA. Stud fee: $5,000. See the horses of Cre Run and other fine stallions we represent including SADEEM, OUR MACHINE, SAM TIKI, DA ADIOS, and CROWNN ROYAL.
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF ARABIAN RACING CUP & HERITAGE ARABIAN RACING CLUB
CRE RUN FARM ALAN KIRSHNER AND DEBORAH MIHALOFF 15460 Campbell Lake Road, Doswell, Virginia 23047 804-227-9491 Email: crerun@aol.com
www.crerunfarm.com