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SERITA HULT PHOTOS
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#1 Florida Freshman Sire #3 Nationally Ranked 10 triple digit speed ratings
r New fo 2016!
Gll Smile Sprint Champion at 4 Graded Stakes Placed at 3, 4, & 5 15 Triple digit speed ratings
Happy New Year from all of us at Double Diamond Farm!
Donald R.Dizney
https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Dude/130049330338431
Standing: First Dude & Bahamian Squall • Contact Roger Brand, Jimmy Alexander or Melissa Anthony for stallion inquiries
899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 • (352) 237-3834 Fax: (352) 237-6069 • visit-www.doublediamondfarm.com
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JANUARY • 2016 • VO L 5 9 / I S S U E 1
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS 6 8 22 36
LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW —By Matt Bryan FLORIDA FOCUS DECOUPLING UPDATE GAMBLING DEAL
44
FTBOA MEMBER UPDATE
46
—By Dara Kam
—By Tammy A. Gantt
Syndications coming back? —By John Alan Cohan
INDUSTRY NEWS
82
Country-wide Florida-bred statistics
90 92
LEADING SIRES FARM MANAGEMENT
94
DRIFTING OUT
98
AROUND THE COUNTRY
—By Jamie Cohen
—By Mike Mullaney —By Ed DeRosa
RIGHT OF DE ROSA
FEATURES Ocala’s historic farm celebrates 60 years —By JoAnn Guidry
28
THE LEGACY OF OCALA STUD
38
CLAIMING CROWN
48 56 62 64 66 70 74 84 88
Royal Posse takes Jewel;Florida-breds win three —By Brock Sheridan It’s a family affair —By Mike Mullaney
GLEN HILL FARM
Profile of an ever-present source of industry knowledge and horse-savvy business acumen —By Reg Lansberry
KENT STIRLING
MARION COUNTY: HOME TO MANY BREEDS —By Carlos Medina FTBOA UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE —By Patrick Vinzant
A pictorial of some of Marion County’s thoroughbred farm stallions
STALLION SHOWS
A look at retired thoroughbred Man From Wicklow —By Ben Baugh
RETIRED THOROUGHBREDS
Keeping racehorses running —By Denise Steffanus
EQUINE CARE
A pictorial of the season’s festive event
FTBOA’S HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Photos from Marion County’s annual event
FARM CITY WEEK
4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANAURY 2016
COVER PHOTO OF OCALA STUD: FILE PHOTO COVER INSET: SERITA HULT CONTENTS PHOTO OF QUEIT KITTEN: KENNY MARTIN
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Important FTBOA Dates and Deadlines 2016
801 SW 60th Avenue Fax: (352) 867-1979 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR-INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ART DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PRODUCTION PRINT TECH OPERATIONS & FACILITIES CEO & PUBLISHER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Ocala, Florida 34474 • (352) 732-8858 www.ftboa.com Brock Sheridan Mike Mullaney Tammy A. Gantt John D. Filer Antoinette Griseta Emily Mills, Nancy Moffatt Jeff Powell LONNY TAYLOR POWELL CAROLINE T. DAVIS PATRICK VINZANT
Florida Equine Communications, Inc. (A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office – 801 SW 60th Avenue Ocala, Florida 34474 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is published monthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Statistical Review in February. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Communications or the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from THE FLORIDA HORSE©.
GEORGE RUSSELL, PRESIDENT/BOARD CHAIRMAN JOSEPH M. O’FARRELL III, 1ST VICE PRESIDENT GIL CAMPBELL, 2ND VICE PRESIDENT SHEILA DIMARE, SECRETARY FRED BREI, TREASURER Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing in North America are compiled from data generated by Daily Racing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Services, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., the copyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited. Advertising copy deadline 5th of month preceding publication. Subscriptions and change of address: Please mail to – Circulations Department. THE FLORIDA HORSE, 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474. Printed by PANAPRINT
AMERICAN HORSE PUBLICATIONS • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CEO & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FIRST VICE PRESIDENT SECOND VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT DIRECTORS
George Russell Lonny Taylor Powell Joseph M. O’Farrell III Gil Campbell Sheila DiMare Fred Brei Phil Matthews, DVM Barry Berkelhammer, Mark Casse, George Isaacs, Richard Kent, Milan Kosanovich, Roy Lerman, Diane Parks, Jessica Steinbrenner, Charlotte C. Weber, Greg Wheeler PAST PRESIDENTS Don Dizney, Harold Plumley, Stanley Ersoff, John C. Weber,MD, Douglas Oswald CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/ ASSISTANT TREASURER Caroline T. Davis ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT/ BUSINESS & OPERATIONS MANAGER Patrick Vinzant ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT/ MEMBER SERVICES & EVENTS DIRECTOR Tammy A. Gantt EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/ ASSISTANT SECRETARY Becky Robinson MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & EVENTS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Sally Moehring AWARDS, REGISTRATIONS & PAYMENTS Sheila Budden
Florida Sire Stakes 2YO Payment FTBOA Marion County Legislative Days OBS Championship Stakes FTC Charity Stallion Season Auction FTBOA Info Center at OBS Stallion Registration Deadline Membership Renewal Deadline Awards Gala FTBOA Info Center at OBS Day at Races–Tampa Business Leaders Trip FTBOA Info Center at OBS Farm and Service Directory Deadline Kentucky Derby Florida Sire Stakes Yearling Payment Preakness Belmont Scholarship Application Deadline FTBOA Info Center at OBS Election Candidate forms available Candidate Forms Deadline Late Stallion Registration Deadline Florida Sire Stakes FTBOA Info Center at OBS Foal Registration Deadline Florida Sire Stakes Equine Institute Stallion Directory Page Deadline FSS Finals FSS Bus Trip Charity Golf Tourney FTBOA Info Center at OBS Annual Meeting Breeders’ Cup Late/Late Stallion Registration Deadline FSS Late Yearling Payment Farm City Farm Festival Farm City Ag Hall of Fame Dinner Member Holiday Charity Open House
Jan. 15 Jan. 19-20 Jan. 26 Jan. 27 Jan. 27-28 Feb. 15 March 1 March 14 March 15-16 April 9 April 19-22 May 1 May 7 May 15 May 21 June 11 June 15 June 14-17 TBD TBD Aug. 1 TBD TBD Aug. 31 TBD Sept. 15 Oct. 1 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Nov. 4-5 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. TBD TBD Dec. 7
Thoroughbred Week–National Mid Atlantic Sports Network Saturdays at 8 a.m. & Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Directv 640, 640-1; Dish 432, 433
Thoroughbred Week–Central Florida
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Tammy Gantt: tgantt@ftboa.com, (352) 732-8858, ext. 239 Online at FTBOA.com 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 Additional event and charity dates 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 will be added as they are scheduled. www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
9 a.m. Sat.–Cox Ocala-Channel 16 8:30 a.m. Sunday–Fox 51
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANAURY 2016 5
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LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW
Right Out of the Gate
legislation. The additional funds promised by the Seminole Tribe of he 2016 Legislative Session will open to much fanfare on Florida will not start flowing to the state until the next fiscal year, Jan. 12. It is scheduled to end after 60 days on Mar. 11. so the legislature will not be able to spend the money this session. Gaming issues will certainly receive considerable discus- However, we have to assume that legislation will pass, and the desion throughout session. As you may have read, the Governor has coupling may be included, and work accordingly. If the legislature does approve the compact, along with recently announced an agreement Please know that your Asany other related issues, they will with the Seminole Tribe of Florida on sociation is working on these likely want to let some time pass bea new gaming compact. The compact problems daily, but we still need fore re-addressing gaming issues. In contains a minimum guarantee of $3 your help. There is no substitute other words, whatever passes this sesbillion over 7 years for the State of for these lawmakers hearing per- sion is likely to be in place for three or Florida. That is three times the amount sonally from individuals through- four years before the legislature is guaranteed in the previous compact. out the state who are impacted by ready to address it again. If we prevail, The Governor’s Office is promoting their decisions. Please contact the we can expect to be in good shape for the agreement as creating a cap on the amount of gaming that can be offered legislators on the previously mentioned list and let some time and if our opposition wins, we may suffer irreparable damage. by the Seminole Tribe, providing cer- them know that decoupling is bad for Florida. Please know that your Association is working on these problems tainty and stability for the gaming environment of the state, and allowing flexibility for future policy decisions by the Legislature. The daily, but we still need your help. There is no substitute for these new compact allows previously banned table games as well. Please lawmakers hearing personally from individuals throughout the state go to www.ftboa.com/about-us/why-florida-bred under Florida In- who are impacted by their decisions. Please contact the legislators on the previously mentioned list and let them know that decoupling dustry Resources for a full copy of the executed compact. For the compact to be valid, it must be approved by the legisla- is bad for Florida. Thank you! ■ ture. It is generally understood that the legislature will be interested in addressing several issues that would be impacted by an executed compact. The compact allows for decoupling should the legislature choose to adopt it. Decoupling would allow a race track simply to cease racing and act as a “mini-casino.” Obviously, if the legislature were to allow decoupling of thoroughbred tracks, it would be the beginning of the decline of the industry. We have at www.change.org or at the FTBOA office been working hard to defeat decoupling but several of the tracks have been pushing just as hard in favor of it. They are well financed and have hired countless lobbying firms to advocate for decoupling. Therefore, it is vital that horse breeders, farm owners, horse owners, trainers and equine related businesses let legislators know what a terrible decision it would be to decouple thoroughbred tracks – a decision that could be upon them in a matter of weeks. Please click here for a list of the legislators you should contact on this issue, http://www.ftboa.com/membership/education-station Your local delegation has been very engaged in this issue on your behalf. If you see Representatives Dennis Baxley, Marlene O’Toole, Charlie Stone, and Clovis Watson or Senators Charlie Dean, Alan Hays, and Dorothy Hukill, please thank them for their efforts to defeat decoupling and tell them your story of how it would negatively impact you. There is a chance that the legislature will not be able to develop the consensus necessary to pass a compact or any other gaming By MATT BRYAN
T
FILE PHOTO
“
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Sign the Petition Today
to Decoupling
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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Florida FOCUS by Mike Mullaney
Florida-breds Take Big Prizes at Laurel
JIM MCCUE PHOTO
The Green Bay Packers were losing a Hall of Fame quarterback 2-year-old,” Terranova said. “We said, ‘Let’s let him grow up.’ Since he when Brett Favre’s skills began to erode, but they had a more-than- came back training he hasn’t missed a beat.” While El Kabeir was a tiger last winter at Aqueduct, Terranova excapable backup waiting in the wings. Zayat Stable’s Florida-bred El Kabeir, coming off the bench after pressed interest in a warm-weather campaign this winter. Gulfstream the retirement of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, displayed and even Santa Anita’s Malibu in late December are under consideration. Whatever direction he takes, Terranova expects big things. his eagerness to play the role of Aaron Rogers Nov. 14 with an im“Once we put him back in route races,” he said, “that’s when I think pressive display of grit in grinding out a nose victory in the $100,000 we’ll see him coming back into top form. He was so brilliant as a 2City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park. The seven-furlong City of Laurel was part of a six-stakes card, fea- year-old, then he learned to rate, stretch out and finish as the distances tured by the Frank De Francis Dash, and El Kabeir’s success wasn’t the increased. I think that’s what we’re going to see more of down the road.” Velasquez concurs. only big-race score for Florida-breds: Gentlemen’s Bet was the ele“I think the horse is much better vated winner of the marquee event. going long. Seven-eighths is too short El Kabeir and Gentlemen’s Bet both for him,” he said. “He’s a very good suffered foot injuries and their Laurel horse, but longer will be better.” successes indicate they have completed The performance of Gentlemen’s their respective roads to recovery. Bet in the six-furlong, $350,000 De El Kabeir, bred in Reddick by Francis was reminiscent of the form Rustlewood Farm, had been a Kenhe showed when he finished third, less tucky Derby (G1) contender but unlike than two lengths away from victory in the acknowledged star of the Zayat the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). family stable, American Pharoah, who Florida-bred El Kabeir In his eagerness to claim the pacewas trained in California by Bob Baffert, El Kabeir prepped for the classics last winter and spring out of setting role in the De Francis, rider Joshua Navarro and Trouble Kid acted like hooligans in shutting off Gentlemen’s Bet in the run down John Terranova’s New York barn. Dating back to last year’s Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the backstretch. After slamming the brakes and gathering his mount, Churchill Downs, El Kabeir had won three graded stakes in five starts, Daniel Centeno asked Gentlemen’s Bet for another run and the 6-yearincluding the Jerome (G3) and Gotham (G3), with a pair of seconds, and old horse gamely complied. Challenging the length of the stretch, ran a good third to Frosted in the April 4 Wood Memorial (G1) before Gentlemen’s Bet closed on the leader – who likely gained at least a coming to Louisville. Derby dreams were dashed, however, as the injury couple lengths from the backside skirmish – but fell three-quarters of a length short of catching Trouble Kid. to his left-front foot forced his withdrawal on the eve of the big race. Upon review, the stewards reversed the order of finish, with GenIn recovery for three months, he resumed his workouts in July, then made his comeback against older sprinters in the Oct. 31 Bold Ruler tlemen’s Bet elevated to first, Trouble Kid dropped to second and the (G3) at Belmont. Finishing last of five, handicappers recognized that the 3-2 favorite Palace remaining in third, 1¾ lengths farther back. StallBold Ruler served as a useful outing, despite the disappointing finish, and walkin’ Dude, who was unruly and dropped Trevor McCarthy in the they made the 3-year-old the even-money favorite in the City of Laurel. starting gate prior to the break, finished fourth. Of the incident on the backstretch involving his horse and Trouble Under Cornelio Velasquez for the first time, El Kabeir raced in close quarters along the rail until he eased outside on the turn, rallied outside Kid, trainer Ron Moquett said, “I was afraid [Gentlemen’s Bet] was longshot Roxbury n Overton and ground out his victory. Another long- going to go down. We’re all attached to this horse and we were worried. I thought that if it hadn’t been for the interference, we would have shot, Duff, came flying along the rail to miss the place by a nose. Fractions for the race were :22.92, :45.95 and 1:10.62 with a final seen a pretty good show.” Gentlemen’s Bet paid $12 to win. He has won seven of his 16 career time of 1:23.58. El Kabeir, a $250,000 OBS purchase in August of 2013, paid $4.20 while raising his career earnings to $834,892. The starts and the $210,000 first prize boosted his career earnings to $731,390. Gentlemen’s Bet is owned by Harry Rosenblum. Bred in Florida by son of Scat Daddy-Great Venue, by Unbridled’s Song, has won five of Juvenal Diaz, the son of the Unbridled’s Song stud Half Ours is out of his 11 career starts. “[El Kabeir] had nine straight races from the time he started as a Lady of Sun, by Gentlemen. 8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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Chitu Retires to Bridlewood, To be First Florida Stallion Offered on “Share The Upside”
COADY PHOTO
Like El Kabeir, Gentlemen’s Bet suffered a foot injury, grabbing a quarter in the BC Sprint (G1), which kept him away from the races for 15 months. Moquett said his horse’s chances in the De Francis were enhanced after a tie-back procedure, which had been failing Gentlemen’s Bet since his comeback, had recently been corrected. “This was his Breeders’ Cup,” said Moquett. “This race is so historic. It’s something I’ve always wanted to win. It’s been on my bucket list. I’m over the moon.” Fractions for the race were :22.33, :45 and :56.96 with a final time of 1:09.34. ■
Graded stakes winner Chitu has been retired to stud at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, where he will become the first stallion introduced to the Florida breeding market through the renowned “Share The Upside” program. Chitu’s fee is $3,000 stands and nurses, and he’ll be offered to breeders through two program options in 2016: the “Share The Upside” program, and pay out of sales proceeds. The “Share The Upside” program offers breeders the opportunity to earn a free lifetime breeding right in Chitu after producing and paying the stud fee for two live foals in the first two years, while the pay-out-of-sales-proceeds program provides extremely flexible payment terms. “Chitu is a very exciting stallion prospect being offered with some very exciting breeder programs, courtesy of his owner Susan Chu who is showing a big commitment to Florida and breeding many of her own top stakes-winning mares to Chitu,” said George Isaacs, Bridlewood general manager. “This horse epitomizes what I picture as the ‘Baffert physical’ – big, balanced, strong, and fast looking. Chitu proved that on the racetrack, and he’s one of those gorgeous, must-see individuals that breeders are going to like.” “Chitu is a great stallion prospect to introduce Florida breeders to the “Share The Upside” program, which has gained widespread popularity around the country by rewarding breeders with an opportunity to realize substantial value through a free lifetime breeding right,” he added. “Breeders will also be offered another option, and that is a pay-out-ofproceeds program. The level of flexibility and value being offered makes these the most breeder-friendly programs around, and we believe these are exactly the kinds of opportunities the Florida market is looking for.” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said: “Chitu could have easily won a Grade 1 race anywhere in the country, he had that Grade 1 quality about him. Physically, he’s just a specimen of a horse. He has everything you look for in a good horse. What I loved about him most was his demeanor. He has a great mind to go along with that great
Chitu to stand at Bridlewood
body. I like horses that I know are going to be fast, but are also going to carry it a mile. That was Chitu.” On the track, Chitu was an undefeated 2-year-old after being purchased for $300,000 at OBS March Select by Baffert and Donato Lanni as agent for owner Susan Chu of Tanma Corporation. The imposing chestnut colt won his debut a Hollywood Park and captured a Santa Anita allowance race in a crisp 1:08 4/5 to close out his juvenile campaign. As a 3-year-old, Chitu stretched out around two turns in the Robert
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 9
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Florida FOCUS Lewis S. (G2) at Santa Anita and finished a game runner-up to Candy Boy, beaten only a half-length. He earned his way into the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his next start with a win in the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3), running 11⁄8 miles in 1:47.88 – marking the third fastest time in race history and only two-fifths of a second off the track record. Chitu returned to sprinting for the second half of his sophomore season, impressively defeating Grade 1 winner Declassify and several older graded winners in the Damascus S. on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Santa Anita. That performance set him up as one of the favorites for the prestigious Grade 1 Malibu S. at Santa Anita, where he set a swift pace through six furlongs in 1:08 4/5 before yielding late to champion Shared Belief, beaten only three-quarters of a length. By champion Beholder’s sire, Henny Hughes, Chitu retires with earnings of $597,800. He is out of the A.P. Indy mare, Sea Gift.
10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
There will be limited quantities for the “Share The Upside” and pay-out-of-proceeds programs, and both will be offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. For more information about Chitu and his programs, please contact George Isaacs at 352-622-5319. ■
Ocala Stud Sets its 2016 Stud Fees J. Michael O’Farrell Jr.’s Ocala Stud has set stands-and-nurses stud fees for its 2016 roster, which includes the new stallions The Big Beast, a Grade 1 winner and leading sprinter by Yes It’s True, and I Spent It, a Grade 2 winner by Super Saver. Ocala Stud has also added the established Florida stallions Awesome of Course, Brooks ‘n Down and Hear No Evil to its 12-stallion roster. Ocala Stud’s stallions, with fees, are as follows: Stallions 2016 Fees Stallions 2016 Fees Adios Charlie..............$3,000 In Summation............$2,500 Awesome of Course...$5,000 Kantharos ..................$5,000 Brooks ‘n Down..........$2,500 Overdriven .................$3,000 Hear No Evil................$2,500 Prospective................$5,000 High Cotton ................$5,000 The Big Beast ...........$6,000 I Spent It ....................$3,000 Uncaptured................$6,000
For more information about Ocala Stud’s roster of stallions, please contact Joe or David at 352-237-2171 or visit OcalaStud.com. ■
Gulfstream, FTBOA & FHBPA Partner On $4.5 Million Stakes Program Gulfstream Park along with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA) and Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) have jointly announced a 2016 Florida-bred stakes program worth $4.5 million, highlighted by the $1.05 million Sunshine Millions and $2.9 million Florida Sire Stakes. The Sunshine Millions, six races restricted to Florida-breds including the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, will be contested Jan. 16, the week of the National Owners Confer-
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Florida FOCUS ence and the afternoon of the Eclipse Awards. The Sunshine Millions, inaugurated in 2003, was open to horses bred in New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania during last year’s Championship Meet. The Florida Sire Stakes will include $2 million in stakes purses for 2-year-old Florida-breds and $900,000 for Florida-bred 3-year-olds. The Sire Stakes will include the $500,000 In Realty and $500,000 My Dear Girl. The Florida Sire Stakes, formerly the Stallion Stakes, dates back to 1982 and was created by Ocala breeder and owner Dan Lasater. “This joint agreement between Gulfstream Park, the FTBOA and the FHBPA shows our continuing commitment to Florida thoroughbred racing and breeding as well as our promise to strengthen the industry during the summer,” said P.J. Campo, Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group (parent company of Gulfstream Park) and General Manager of Gulfstream. “By making the Sunshine Millions a series restricted to Florida-breds, we hope to build momentum and support the Florida breeding and racing program. We will continue building a cohesive program that serves Gulfstream throughout the year.” Lonny Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President of the FTBOA,
12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
said; “The Florida breeders are pleased to join hands with our partners Gulfstream Park and FHBPA to reinvigorate and bring national wagering and horsemen participation and awareness on these lucrative days featuring some of our finest Florida-breds. We are pleased to provide these additional Florida-bred racing opportunities to our breeders and owners.” Kent Stirling, Executive Director of the FHBPA, said; “The FHBPA is proud to again be a partner in the Sunshine Millions with Gulfstream Park, and is very happy to again welcome the FTBOA back as a partner in this series of races that is once again dedicated to Florida-breds registered with the FTBOA. We look forward to this event again being one of the major events to take place during Gulfstream’s meet.” ■
Ride to Win Gives Jockey Insight Ride to Win: An Inside Look at the Jockey’s Craft, authored by award-winning turf writers Gary West and Bob Fortus has recently been released and is available to the public. Presenting rare insights into thoroughbred racing, the 280page book has been in the works for three years and is based on more than 100 interviews with jockeys, trainers, owners, jockey agents and stewards. Some of the sport’s most accomplished jockeys and trainers, including 19 members of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, share information that will help the reader understand and appreciate the nuances of the jockey’s craft. The book explores everything that goes into winning a race, from the rider’s perspective. “There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye,” Fortus said. “Our goal was to shed light on everything jockeys do to try to reach the winners’ circle—a complex, fascination process. These are amazing athletes.” How do jockey land mounts? How do they plan strategy? What’s actually happening on the way to the starting gate? What are jockeys thinking and trying to do as a race unfolds? The book answers those questions and many more. “Bob and Gary are both very knowledgeable of horse racing and are excellent writers. And they have a love of our great sport,” Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day said. “This book, their collaborative work, is a testimony to that. It is an easy read and very understandable even for the casual fan. But longtime, hard-core racetrackers will thoroughly enjoy this also. A ‘must read.’” The book is published by JockeyTalk360 and can be ordered at jockeytalk.com. The price is $20 plus shipping and handling. A portion of the proceeds is dedicated to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund. ■
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Florida-bred juveniles Swagger Jagger and Ballet Diva each brought storylines to the winner’s circle Nov. 28 at Gulfstream Park West after scoring in two of the six $75,000 stakes on the card. Kevin Warner owns Warner Thoroughbreds of Lexington, Ky., which co-owns Swagger Jagger, who took the Pulpit Stakes at a mile on the turf by a neck at 7-1. Last year Warner had another promising Florida-bred juvenile in Firespike, who won the Juvenile Turf at Gulfstream Park West prior to an eighth-place finish in the Pulpit. Warner was in attendance for both races last year and, after the Pulpit, suffered a stroke immediately after his return home, putting him in intensive care for more than a week. It’s fair to say Swagger Jagger’s victory made this year’s renewal a feel-good story. “It’s kind of bittersweet to come back here and win this race after what happened last year,” said the 49-year-old Warner. Swagger Jagger had dropped his first four starts, including races against the top of the state-bred crop in the Florida Sire Stakes’ Affirmed and In Reality. Trainer Mike Maker found less-challenging company in a maiden
Florida-bred Ballet Diva
14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
Florida-bred Swagger Jagger
KING PHOTO
Jagger, Diva Provide Storylines With Stakes Wins
race at GPW on Oct. 31, and following a onelength tally, run under identical conditions, Swagger Jagger went into the Pulpit a course and distance winner. Racing in the middle of the pack under Eddie Castro, he circled wide, finished gamely and won professionally, finishing the race in 1:37.56 over a firm course. He paid $17.40 after emerging best in the field of 14. The Pulpit’s $42,315 first prize almost exactly doubled his previous earnings, raising his total to $83,630. Life Imitates Art, last early, closed fast to
just miss. The 9-10 favorite, who held the lead entering the stretch, Mountain Music Man was third, a length behind the runner-up. Swagger Jagger is the first stakes winner for Woodford Thoroughbreds stallion Crown of Thorns out of the Congaree mare Magical Mist. Warner purchased the colt for $77,000 at the April, 2015 OBS sale from breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds. ■
House Party Stakes Ballet Diva played to rave reviews when she first stepped on the stage, but trainer Stanley Gold noticed that the Jacks or Better Farm homebred had difficulty finishing her recent races, most notably tiring and finishing sixth in her last outing, the Oct. 3 My Dear Girl, the finale of the Florida Sire Stakes. Heading into the House Party Stakes on Nov. 28, he said that he would be keeping her in one-turn races and the House Party fit the bill. Brandy’s Girl, coming out of her 4¾-length victory in MARTIN PHOTO
Florida FOCUS
the Juvenile Filly Sprint at GPW on Nov. 7, which followed a 12¼-length blowout maiden victory at Monmouth, was heavily favored at 3-5 and she led the field of six through an opening quarter in :22.19, but Ballet Diva, who had been tempered by starts in all three Florida Sire Stakes races, took the fight to her from the outside. The pressure took a toll on Brandy’s Girl, who cracked and finished last of six. Ballet Diva, repulsed a bid from Dad’s Kiddo, and won by two, getting the distance in 1:11.96 under Jose Caraballo. She paid $4.80. “We sat just a little off, stalking…we had that advantage on the outside which you don’t get breaking from rail,” Gold said. ”That was good. I thought if she’s good enough there will be no excuses.” Dad’s Kiddo easily held second, 5¾ lengths ahead of Fabulous Dream. Ballet Diva’s wrapped up the campaign with four wins from six starts, with a third, and earnings of $339,675. Her victories also include the Cassidy over a fast 5½ furlongs and the Susan’s Girl at seven furlongs in the slop, both at Gulfstream Park. “As long as it’s one turn we’ll be OK. The mile at Gulfstream is a one-turn race,” Gold said, who indicated that Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Old Hat on Jan. 2 might be her next start. Ballet Diva is a daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Hear No Evil out of Dame Sylvieguilhem, by Nureyev. ■
Code Warrior Triumphs Again Florida-bred Code Warrior won her second stakes in three weeks and remained unbeaten in three starts by posting a 1¾-length victory over Cousin Claire in the $50,405 Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies Nov. 31 at Golden Gate. Backed at 2-5 off a victory against males in the Golden Nugget on Nov. 7, Code Warrior had a good stalking trip in third as Coniah and Andean dueled through fractions of :22.45 and :45.37 in the six-furlong race. Code Warrior was angled outside nearing the quarter pole, bumping with Cousin Claire before seizing command and spurting away
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Florida-bred Code Warrior
VASSAR PHOTO
Badilla added that Code Warrior will target the $50,000 California Oaks at 11⁄16 miles Feb. 6. “We’ve asked her to run two quick races in three weeks, so two months [between races] will be fine for her,” Badilla said. “She had that long between her first race and the Golden Nugget. Bill always told me you don’t want to risk anything by overracing a young horse.” My Dynamo, Andean, Coniah and Find Joy completed the order of finish. ■ —By Jon Forbes
Reporting Star Hits Deadline in El Prado
MARTIN PHOTO
under jockey Anne Sanguinetti’s hand ride. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the incident on the far turn but made no change to the original order of finish. Code Warrior completed the distance in 1:09.67 and returned $2.80. “I knew they were going to take a look at that [incident] because it was a pretty significant bump,” Sanguinetti said. “Honestly, I thought I might have taken the worst of it. I stepped out because I was caught behind those leaders who were tiring. I was right up their heels. When we brushed, it tipped me out into [Cousin Claire] even worse.” Code Warrior debuted a seven-length winner against fillies Aug. 28 before easily handling males by 2½ lengths in the Golden Nugget on Nov. 7. She has earned $76,250, including $30,300 for her Golden Gate Debutante win. Manny Badilla, the former assistant to the late Bill Morey Jr., trains Code Warrior for Anne Sanguinetti’s parents, John and Chris of J. C. Racing Stable. The Sanguinettis, on Annie’s advice, purchased the daughter of Society’s Chairman, and Runaway Groom’s daughter Lady Natalie, for $18,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Texas sale of 2-year-olds. She was bred in Florida by Pamela Edel. Badilla said of his filly, “She’s awesome … there’s nothing else to say about her. The plan is to take baby steps, and one thing we know is that she loves this synthetic track.”
22-1, and the 12-1 Macagone dueled early for the early lead, setting fractions of :24.24 and :48.53. Macagone assumed command between calls but was no match when Reporting Star and Aztec Brave challenged in the stretch. Reporting Star, who had broken a tad behind the field from his outside post, had swung out with Aztec Brave on the turn and, after dispatching Macagone, those two, who had exchanged body blows on the turn, continued to joust in the run to the wire. The stewards reviewed the race and decided that, while physical, neither opponent had gained a decisive edge, which allowed the order of finish to stand. “[Reporting Star] always runs so hard,” As he heads into his fifth year of racing, Reporting Star – the 2014 Florida-bred turf winning trainer Pat Parente said. “You want champion who was coming off a brief fresh- to see a horse like that win and get to the finening in Ocala – showed Dec. 12 that his ish line first. That’s his kind of race. He loves ability to exchange punches and win a close the competition.” Miguel Vasquez rode Reporting Star; one hadn’t ebbed, taking a hard-fought decision in the $100,000 El Prado Stakes at Gulf- Corey Lanerie, who instigated the stewards’ inquiry, was aboard the slightly favored stream Park. As close on the tote board as they were at Aztec Brave. Reporting Star’s El Prado victory fits the wire, Reporting Star and another 9-5 shot, the Irish-bred Aztec Brave, came to the nicely with his tally in the Grade 2 Canadian wire together with Reporting Star edging race, the Play the King, at Woodbine on Aug. his opponent by a head in the 7½-furlong 23. Bred by Gilbert Campbell, the son of Circular Quay – Classic Beauty, by Sword turf race. Macagone was 2¾ lengths behind the lead- Dance, has shown a zest for close finishes: ers, with Plainview, Siete C, Red Judicata and Including the Play the King, he has won three Slim Shadey completing the order of finish. races by a nose. Though the race was run in the infield as He came into the El Prado off three sucoriginally scheduled, repeated rains had softened cessive races in which he was either steadied the course – which was labeled “good” – lead- or lacked room, including a fourth-place fining to the withdrawal of five starters, including ish in the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview on the morning-line favorite, War Correspondent. Nov. 7 at Gulfstream Park West. Even after a Siete C, the longest price on the board at troubled trip in that race, he was beaten only a neck by the winning Florida-bred Old Time Hockey. For his career, Reporting Star has won six of 26 starts and has earned $589,546; this year he is two for seven. Reporting Star, who is owned by Copper Water Thoroughbred Co., earned $60,760 and Florida-bred Reporting Star paid $5.80. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 15
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Florida FOCUS por Mike Mullaney
Los Green Bay Packers estaban perdiendo a uno de los mariscales de campo del Salón de la Fama cuando las habilidades de Brett Favre comenzaron a erosionarse, pero tenían un refuerzo más que capaz esperando su momento. El Kabeir, criado en Florida, de Zayat Stable, que comenzó a competir después del retiro del ganador de la Triple Corona American Pharoah, mostró su voluntad de desempeñar el papel de Aaron Rogers el 14 de noviembre con una demostración impresionante de valor para obtener una victoria por un hocico en
Florida-bred El Kabeir
City of Laurel Stakes de USD 100,000 en Laurel Park. La City of Laurel de siete furlongs fue parte de una tarjeta de seis carreras, encabezada por la Frank De Francis Dash, y el triunfo de El Kabeir no fue la única marca exitosa para los caballos criados en Florida: Gentlemen’s Bet fue el ganador destacado del evento principal. El Kabeir y Gentlemen’s Bet sufrieron lesiones en las patas, y sus victorias en Laurel indican que ya se han recuperado por completo. El Kabeir, criado en Reddick por Rustlewood Farm, había participado de la Kentucky Derby (G1), pero, a diferencia de la reconocida estrella del establo de la familia Zayat, American Pharoah, que fue entrenado en California por Bob Baffert, El Kabeir comenzó a competir en las carreras clásicas el invierno pasado y salió del establo de John Terranova, en Nueva York. Desde la Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes de 16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
grado 2 del año pasado en Churchill Downs, El Kabeir había ganado, de cinco carreras, tres competiciones de grado, incluidas la Jerome (G3) y la Gotham (G3), con un par de segundos de ventaja y obtuvo el tercer puesto ante el ganador Frosted en la Wood Memorial (G1) del 4 de abril antes de regresar a Louisville. Sin embargo, su sueño de ganar una carrera de hierba se vio frustrado debido a que la lesión que sufrió en la parte delantera de su pata izquierda lo obligó a retirarse en la víspera de la carrera. Después de una recuperación de tres meses, volvió a entrenarse en julio y regresó a la pista contra corredores más adultos en la Bold Ruler (G3) del 31 de octubre en Belmont. Ocupando el último lugar de entre los cinco competidores, los analistas reconocieron que la Bold Ruler sirvió como un regreso útil, a pesar del desalentador resultado, y designaron al caballo de tres años el favorito de las apuestas a la par en la City of Laurel. Bajo el mando de Cornelio Velásquez por primera vez, El Kabeir corrió, con marcas de cuarto reñidas, junto al barandal hasta que se abrió por afuera en la curva, superó al improbable ganador Roxbury n Overton y se aseguró la victoria. Otro poco probable ganador, Duff, avanzó a toda velocidad junto al barandal y perdió por un hocico. Las fracciones de la carrera fueron 0:22.92, 0:45.95 y 1:10.62, con un tiempo final de 1:23.58. El Kabeir, una compra de OBS de USD 250,000 en agosto de 2013, pagó una ganancia de USD 4.20, y las ganancias de toda su trayectoria aumentaron a USD 834,892. El hijo de Scat Daddy-Great Venue, hijo de Unbridled’s Song, ha ganado cinco de 11 carreras clásicas. “[El Kabeir] ganó nueve carreras seguidas desde que comenzó a los dos años”, recordó Terranova. “En ese entonces nos dijimos: ‘Dejemos que crezca’. Desde que volvió a entreJIM MCCUE PHOTO
Caballos Criados en Florida Ganan Premios en Laurel
nar, no se ha perdido ni una sola competición”. Mientras que El Kabeir mostró lo mejor de sí el invierno pasado en Aqueduct, Terranova expresó su interés en una campaña en carreras de clima más cálido este invierno. Están considerando la posibilidad de participar en Gulfstream e incluso en Santa Anita’s Malibu a fines de diciembre. Independientemente de la dirección que tome, Terranova tiene grandes expectativas. “Una vez que vuelva a participar en carreras de ruta —dijo— creo que será el momento en que lo veremos en su mejor estado. Era un caballo tan brillante a los dos años que aprendió a medir su ritmo a medida que las distancias aumentaban. Creo que vamos a ver más de esto en el futuro”. Velásquez concluye: “Creo que al caballo le va mejor en las carreras largas. Siete octavos es una distancia muy corta para él”, asegura. “Es un caballo muy bueno, pero es mejor aún en las pistas más largas”. El desempeño de Gentlemen’s Bet en la De Francis de seis furlongs, de USD 350,000, hizo recordar a su actuación en la Breeders’ Cup Sprint, en 2013, cuando salió tercero, a menos de dos cuerpos del ganador. Como consecuencia de su deseo de determinar el ritmo de la carrera en De Francis, el jinete Joshua Navarro y Trouble Kid actuaron deshonestamente al cerrar a Gentlemen’s Bet cuando este avanzaba por la recta opuesto en los primeros puestos. Después de usar los frenos y recomponer su montura, Daniel Centeno le pidió a Gentlemen’s Bet otro trote rápido, y el caballo de seis años cumplió con valentía el compromiso. Desafiando la longitud de la recta, Gentlemen’s Bet se acercó al líder (que probablemente le había sacado, por lo menos, un par de cuerpos de ventaja después de la maniobra sucia), pero quedó a tres cuartos de cuerpo de alcanzar a Trouble Kid. Después de la revisión, los árbitros revirtieron el orden de llegada, y Gentlemen’s Bet quedó en primer lugar, Trouble Kid pasó al segundo puesto y, 1 ¾ cuerpos más atrás, el favorito de 3-2 Palace terminó tercero. Stall-
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Chitu se Retira a Bridlewood para Convertirse en el Primer Semental de Florida al que se le Ofrece el Share The Upside El ganador de carreras de grado Chitu se ha retirado al establo de Bridlewood Farm en Ocala, donde se convertirá en el primer semental que es introducido al mercado de criadores de Florida por medio del reconocido programa Share The Upside. El precio de Chitu es de USD 3,000 y se ofrecerá a los criadores a través de dos opciones en 2016: el programa Share The Upside
y la cancelación de las ganancias de la venta. pero que también podrán correr velozmente, El programa Share The Upside ofrece a los cri- al menos, una milla. Así era Chitu”. En la pista, Chitu se convirtió en un ejemadores la oportunidad de obtener un derecho de cría de Chitu para toda la vida de forma gra- plar de dos años invencible después de haber tuita después de generar y pagar el precio del sido adquirido por USD 300,000 en la OBS establo de dos potrillas vivas en los primeros March Select por Baffert y Donato Lanni, que dos años. Mientras tanto, el programa de can- era el agente de la propietaria Susan Chu, de celación de las ganancias de la venta ofrece tér- Tanma Corporation. El imponente potro castaño ganó su competencia de debut en Hollyminos de pago extremadamente flexibles. “Chitu es un semental muy interesante y wood Park y obtuvo la carrera condicional se ofrece por medio de programas de cri- con la tajante marca de 1:08 4/5 con la que adores muy ventajosos, cortesía de su propi- cerró su campaña juvenil. A los tres años, en la Robert Lewis S. (G2) etaria, Susan Chu, que ha mostrado un gran compromiso con Florida y está cruzando a de Santa Rita, Chitu tomó ventaja en las dos varias de sus yeguas más galardonadas con curvas y terminó en segundo lugar después de Chitu”, destacó George Isaacs, gerente gen- Candy Boy, quien le sacó solo medio cuerpo. eral de Bridlewood. “Este caballo representa Luego, en su próxima carrera clásica en la lo que yo considero que es el ‘físico de Baf- Sunland Derby (G3) de USD 800,000, corrió fert’: grande, equilibrado, fuerte y rápido. 1 1/8 millas en 1:47.88 y marcó el tercer Chitu probó esto en la pista y es uno de esos tiempo más rápido en la historia de las carmaravillosos ejemplares que hay que ver y reras, a solo dos quintos de segundo del récord. Con este triunfo, logró ingresar en el que gusta a los criadores”. Agregó: “Chitu es un gran semental para Kentucky Derby (G1). Chitu regresó a las carreras de velocidad presentar ante los criadores de Florida por medio del programa Share The Upside, que ha durante la segunda mitad de su temporada con tres años, y venganado gran popularició, de manera sordad en todo el país al presiva, al ganador recompensar a los cride grado 1 Declasadores y brindar la sify y a otros oportunidad de materiganadores de grados alizar un valor sustanen la Damascus S. de cial por medio de un la tarjeta de la Breedderecho gratuito de cría ers’ Cup en Santa para toda la vida. A los Anita. Esa actuación criadores también se les Chitu to stand at Bridlewood lo colocó entre los faofrecerá otra opción, que es un programa de cancelación de ganan- voritos para la prestigiosa Malibu S. de grado cias. El nivel de flexibilidad y el valor ofre- 1 en Santa Anita. Durante esta carrera, mancido hace que estos sean los programas más tuvo un ritmo acelerado a lo largo de los seis idóneos para los criadores, y creemos que furlongs con una marca de 1:08 4/5 pero, en estas opciones representan la clase de oportu- la recta final, cedió su lugar al campeón Shared Belief por solo tres cuartos de cuerpo. nidades que busca el mercado de Florida”. Hijo del semental padre del campeón BeBob Baffert, entrenador del Salón de la Fama, señaló: “Chitu podría haber ganado fá- holder, Henny Hughes, Chitu se retira con cilmente una carrera de grado 1 en cualquier ganancias acumuladas de USD 597,800. Es lugar del país; él tenía ese don para las car- hijo de la yegua de A. P. Indy, Sea Gift. Habrá cupos limitados para los programas reras de grado 1. En cuanto a su físico, es un excelente ejemplar. Tiene todo lo que se busca Share The Upside y cancelación de gananen un buen caballo. A mí me encantaba su cias, y ambos se ofrecerán por orden de lleconducta. Tenía una mente brillante, que se gada. Para obtener más información acerca complementaba con un excelente físico. Me de Chitu y sus programas, comuníquese con gustan los caballos que sé que serán rápidos, George Isaacs al 352-622-5319. COADY PHOTO
walkin’ Dude, que se mostró desafiante y tiró al suelo a Trevor McCarthy antes de que comenzara la carrera, finalizó cuarto. Con respecto al incidente en la recta opuesta que involucró a su caballo y a Trouble Kid, el entrenador Ron Moquett declaró: “Tenía miedo de que [Gentlemen’s Bet] se cayera. Sentimos un profundo afecto hacia este caballo y estábamos preocupados. Creo que, si no hubiera ocurrido la interferencia, habríamos disfrutado de un gran espectáculo”. Gentlemen’s Bet pagó USD 12 por la victoria. Ha ganado siete de 16 carreras, y este premio de USD 210,000 ha aumentado las ganancias de toda su vida a USD 731,390. El propietario de Gentlemen’s Bet es Harry Rosemblum. Criado en Florida por Juvenal Díaz, es hijo de Half Ours (del establo Unbridled’s Song) y de Lady of the Sun, hija de Gentlemen. Como El Kabeir, Gentlemen’s Bet sufrió una lesión en la pata cuando había superado el cuarto de la BC Sprint (G1). Esta lesión lo mantuvo fuera de competencia durante 15 meses. Moquett señaló que las posibilidades que tenía su caballo en De Francis mejoraron después de corregir un procedimiento quirúrgico, que no había generado problemas en Gentlemen’s Bet desde su regreso. “Esta fue su Breeders’ Cup”, declaró Moquett. “Esta carrera es histórica. Era algo que siempre había querido ganar. Estaba en mi lista. Estoy en la gloria”. Las fracciones de la carrera fueron 0:22.33, 0:45 y 0:56.96, con un tiempo final de 1:09.34.
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Florida FOCUS Ocala Stud Establece los Precios para 2016 Ocala Stud, de Michael O’Farrell, hijo, ha establecido los precios para su lista de 2016, que incluye a los nuevos sementales The Big Beast, campeón de grado 1 y líder en carreras de velocidad, hijo de Yes It’s True y I Spent It, un campeón de grado 2 hijo de Super Saver. Ocala Stud también agregó a su lista de 12 sementales a los establecidos ejemplares de Florida Awesome of Course, Brooks ‘n Down y Hear No Evil. Los sementales de Ocala Stud, junto con sus precios, son los siguientes:
Sementales
Precios para 2016
Adios Charlie ..............$3,000 Awesome of Course ...$5,000 Brooks ‘n Down..........$2,500 Hear No Evil................$2,500 High Cotton ................$5,000 I Spent It ....................$3,000
In Summation $2,500 Kantharos ......$5,000 Overdriven .....$3,000 Prospective ....$5,000 The Big Beast $6,000 Uncaptured ....$6,000
Para obtener más información acerca de la lista de sementales de Ocala Stud, comuníquese con Joe o David al 352-237-2171 o visite OcalaStud.com.
Gulfstream, FTBOA y FHBPA Asociadas en un Programa de Apuestas por Estado de USD 4.5 Millones Gulfstream Park, la Asociación de Criadores de Purasangres de Florida (FTBOA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Asociación de Criadores de Florida para la Protección de Caballos (FHBPA, por sus siglas en inglés) han anunciado de manera conjunta un programa de carreras para 2016 para caballos criados en Florida por USD 4.5 millones. En estos montos, se destacan la Sunshine Millions, de USD 1.05 millones, y la Florida Sire Stakes, de USD 2.9 millones. La Sunshine Millions, con seis carreras 18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
solo para caballos criados en Florida que incluye a la Sunshine Millions Classic de USD 250,000, se llevará a cabo el 16 de enero, en la semana de la Conferencia Nacional de Propietarios y, en la tarde, los Eclipse Awards. La Sunshine Millions, que se realizó por primera vez en 2003, comenzó a aceptar caballos criados en Nueva York, Maryland y Pensilvania el año pasado, durante el Championship Meet. La Florida Sire Stakes incluirá USD 2 millones en apuestas para los caballos criados en Florida de dos años y USD 900,000 para los caballos criados en Florida de tres años. La Sire Stakes incluirá la In Realty y la My Dear Girl, ambas por USD 500,000 cada una. Los inicios de la Florida Sire Stakes, antes llamada la Stallion Stakes, se remontan a 1982 y fue creada por Dan Lasater, criador y propietario de Ocala. “Este acuerdo conjunto entre Gulfstream Park, la FTBOA y la FHBPA muestra nuestro compromiso permanente con la cría y las carreras de purasangres de Florida, así como nuestra promesa de fortalecer el sector durante el verano”, indicó P. J. Campo, vicepresidente del grupo Racing for The Stronach Group (compañía matriz de Gulfstream Park) y gerente general de Gulfstream. “Al hacer de Sunshine Millions una serie destinada solo a los caballos criados en Florida, esperamos impulsar y generar apoyo para el programa de crianza y carreras de Florida. Continuaremos construyendo un programa integral que sirva para Gulfstream todo el año”. Lonny Powell, CEO y vicepresidente ejecutivo de la FTBOA, agregó: “Los criadores de Florida están felices de trabajar en equipo con nuestros socios de Gulfstream Park y FHBPA para revigorizar el sector de carreras de caballos y generar participación y concientización respecto de esta época próspera, en la que se destacan los mejores caballos criados en Florida. Estamos felices de proporcionar estas oportunidades adicionales de carreras a nuestros criadores y propietarios de caballos criados en Florida”. Kent Stirling, director ejecutivo de la FHBPA, declaró: “La FHBPA está orgullosa nuevamente de ser socia en la Sunshine Millions con Gulfstream Park, y está feliz de recibir otra vez en esta serie de carreras dedicadas, una vez más, a los caballos criados en
Florida y registrados en la FTBOA. Esperamos que este evento sea uno de los eventos más importantes con Gulfstream”.
Ride to Win Da una Perspectiva de los Jinetes Ride to Win: An Inside Look at the Jockey’s Craft (Camino a la Victoria: Una Mirada al Arte de los Jinetes), de los galardonados escritores de carreras sobre hierba Gary West y Bob Fortus, ha sido lanzado recientemente y ya está a la venta. El libro de 280 páginas, con perspectivas únicas sobre las carreras de purasangres, es el resultado de tres años de trabajo y se basa en más de 100 entrevistas a jinetes, entrenadores, propietarios, representantes y árbitros. Algunos de los jinetes y entrenadores más premiados de este deporte, incluidos los 19 miembros del Museo Nacional del Salón de la Fama de Carreras de Caballos, comparten información que ayudará al lector a entender y valorar los pormenores del arte de los jinetes. El libro explora lo que implica ganar una carrera desde la perspectiva de un jinete. “Hay mucho más de lo que se ve”, señala Fortus. “Nuestro objetivo era divulgar el esfuerzo que hacen los jinetes para entrar en el círculo de ganadores —un proceso fascinante pero complejo—. Son deportistas consagrados”. ¿Cómo manejan la montura los jinetes? ¿Cómo planean la estrategia? ¿Qué sucede realmente mientras se disponen a empezar la carrera? ¿Qué piensan y qué intentan hacer los jinetes durante una carrera? El libro responde estas preguntas y muchas más. “Bob y Gary tienen mucha experiencia en carreras de caballos y son excelentes escritores. Les fascina este deporte maravilloso”, aseguró Pat Day, uno de los jinetes del Salón de la Fama. “Este libro, su trabajo en colaboración, da testimonio de ello. Es fácil de leer y se entiende rápidamente, incluso para un aficionado informal. También lo disfrutarán los seguidores de carreras de caballos de larga data, sin duda. Es un libro imperdible”. El libro es publicado por JockeyTalk360 y puede solicitar una copia en jockeytalk.com. El valor es de USD 20 más costos de envío. Una parte de las ganancias es destinada al Fondo de Jinetes con Discapacidades Permanentes.
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Jagger y Diva Hacen Historia con Importantes Triunfos
KING PHOTO
Florida-bred Swagger Jagger
de Eddie Castro, aprovechó los espacios, terminó la carrera con valentía y ganó con profesionalismo: se impuso con una marca de 1:37.56 en una pista firme. Pagó USD 17.40 después de vencer en el grupo de 14 ejemplares. El primer premio de la Pulpit de USD 42,315 casi duplicó sus ganancias previas, que se incrementaron hasta USD 83,630. Life Imitates Art, último al comienzo de la carrera, casi ganó gracias a que tomó impulso en la última parte. Mountain Music Man, favorito de 9-10 y a la cabeza al entrar en la recta, quedó tercero, un cuerpo detrás del segundo. Swagger Jagger es el primer hijo ganador de clásicos del semental Crown of Thorns (establecimiento Woodford Thoroughbreds) y de la yegua Magical Mist, de Congaree. En la subasta de OBS de abril de 2015, Warner compró al potro por USD 77,000 al criador Woodford Thoroughbreds.
House Party Stakes Ballet Diva generó críticas cuando salió a escena por primera vez, pero el entrenador Stanley Gold observó que la yegua de Jacks or Better Farm había tenido dificultades para terminar sus últimas carreras (en especial, se cansó y terminó sexta en su última competencia, la My Dear Girl del 3 de octubre, la final de la Florida Sire Stakes).Mientras se preparaba para la House Party Stakes del 28 de noviembre, el entrenador dijo que mantendría a Ballet Diva en las carreras de una sola vuelta, y la House Party cumplía este requisito.Brandy’s Girl, que había logrado una victoria por 4 ¾ cuerpos en la Juvenile Filly Sprint de Gulfstream Park West el 7 de noviembre y que luego se había impuesto con una sorpresiva victoria por 12 ¼ cuerpos en la carrera de máidens de Monmouth, tenía una ventaja de 3-5 y se impuso en la pista de seis competidores con un primer cuarto de 0:22.19. Sin embargo, Ballet Diva, que había empezado bien en las tres
Florida-bred Ballet Diva
MARTIN PHOTO
El 28 de noviembre, los jóvenes Swagger Jagger y Ballet Diva, criados en Florida, sumaron recuerdos al círculo de ganadores en Gulfstream Park West después de quedarse con dos de las seis carreras de USD 75,000 de la tarjeta. Kevin Warner es el dueño de Warner Thoroughbreds of Lexington, Kentucky, firma copropietaria de Swagger Jagger, que ganó la Pulpit Stakes de una milla sobre hierba por un cuello a 7-1. El año pasado, durante la Firespike, Warner era propietario de otro prometedor potrillo criado en Florida, que se impuso en el Juvenile Turf de Gulfstream Park West antes de quedarse con el octavo lugar en la Pulpit. Warner asistió a ambas carreras el año pasado y, después de la Pulpit, sufrió un ACV al regresar a su hogar, por lo que estuvo internado en terapia intensiva durante más de una semana. Por ello, la victoria de Swagger Jagger hizo que la renovación de este año fuera muy bien recibida. “Es una sensación un tanto agridulce volver y ganar esta carrera después de todo lo acontecido el año pasado”, aseguró Warner (49 años). Swagger Jagger había abandonado sus primeras cuatro carreras, incluidas aquellas contra la camada de los mejores caballos de la Florida Sire Stakes: Affirmed e In Reality. El 31 de octubre, el entrenador Mike Maker se encontró con rivales menos desafiantes en una competencia máiden en Gulfstream Park West. Después de un puntaje de un cuerpo, Swagger Jagger corrió la Pulpit y obtuvo una victoria holgada. En el medio del grupo y con las órdenes
carreras de la Florida Sire Stakes, la desafió desde el exterior. La presión surtió efecto en Brandy’s Girl, que se distrajo y terminó última. Ballet Diva venció a Dad’s Kiddo y ganó por dos cuerpos, con una marca de 1:11.96 al mando del jinete José Caraballo. Dio una ganancia de USD 4.80. “Nos quedamos algo rezagados, esperando. Tuvimos esa ventaja del exterior, que uno no encuentra si no se separa del barandal”, exclamó Gold. “Esto fue positivo. En ese momento, pensé que si era buena, no habría excusas”. Dad’s Kiddo terminó fácilmente en el segundo puesto, 5 ¾ cuerpos delante de Fabulous Dream. Ballet Diva terminó la campaña con cuatro victorias de seis carreras, un tercer puesto y ganancias por USD 339,675. Sus triunfos también incluyeron la Cassidy en una pista rápida de 5 ½ furlongs, y la Susan’s Girl de siete furlongs, ambas en Gulfstream Park. “Siempre que sean carreras de una vuelta, estaremos bien. La milla de Gulfstream es una carrera de una vuelta”, afirmó Gold e indicó que, probablemente, la Old Hat de grado 3 de Gulfstream el 2 de enero sea la próxima carrera de la yegua. Ballet Diva es hija del semental Hear No Evil de Ocala Stud, hijo de Dame Sylvieguilhem, hija de Nureyev.
Code Warrior se Impone Otra Vez La yegua criada en Florida Code Warrior ganó su segunda carrera en tres semanas y permanece sin sufrir derrotas en las tres carreras. Logró un triunfo por 1 ¾ cuerpo sobre Cousin Claire en la Golden Gate Debutante, de USD 50,405, para yeguas de dos años el 30 de noviembre en Golden Gate. Code Warrior, respaldada por la victoria de 2-5 en la Golden Nugget mixta del 7 de noviembre, logró el tercer triunfo consecutivo, si bien Coniah y Andean se disputaron la punta al inicio con fracciones de 0:22.45 y 0:45.37, respectivamente, en la carrera de seis furlongs de Golden Gate. Code Warrior avanzaba por afuera, cerca del poste del primer cuarto, cuando se golpeó con Cousin Claire antes de recuperar el control y tomar carrera bajo las riendas de Anne Sanguinetti. Los árbitros realizaron una investigación THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANAURY 2016 19
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Florida-bred Code Warrior
del incidente en la curva más lejana, pero no hicieron cambios al orden original de llegada. Code Warrior completó la distancia en 1:09.67 y dio una ganancia de USD 2.80. “Sabía que investigarían [el incidente], porque fue un golpe bastante importante”, declaró Sanguinetti. “Honestamente, pensé que me había llevado la peor parte. Logré recuperarme porque había quedado detrás de caballos cansados. Los seguimos bien de cerca. Durante el incidente, fuimos lanzados contra Cousin Claire peor de lo que esperaba”. El 28 de agosto, Code Warrior logró su primer triunfo por siete cuerpos, antes de imponerse por 2 ½ cuerpos ante potros en la Golden Nugget el 7 de noviembre. Ha obtenido ganancias totales de USD 76,250, que incluyen unos USD 30,300 por su victoria en la Golden Gate Debutante. Manny Badilla, exasistente de Bill Morey, hijo, entrena a Code Warrior para los padres de Anne Sanguinetti, John y Chris, de J. C. Racing Stable. Los Sanguinetti, por recomendación de Anne, adquirieron a la hija de Society’s Chairman y de Lady Natalie (hija de Runaway Groom), por USD 18,000 en la venta de FasigTipton Texas de ejemplares de dos años. Fue criada en Florida por Pamela Edel. Badilla describió a su yegua: “Es genial; es todo lo que puedo decir de ella. El plan es avan20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
Reporting Star se Impone en El Prado Reporting Star, casi iniciando su quinto año de carreras, el campeón 2014 de hierba criado en Florida que se tomó un breve descanso en Ocala, mostró el 12 de diciembre que su habilidad para intercambiar golpes y ganar una carrera reñida está intacta, después de una decisión difícil en El Prado Stakes, de USD 100,000, en Gulfstream Park. A una distancia mínima (tanto entre ellos como de la meta), Reporting Star y su rival de 9-5, Aztec Breve, criado en Irlanda, llegaron a la meta juntos y Reporting Star quedó solo a una cabeza de distancia de su oponente en la carrera sobre hierba de 7 ½ furlongs. Macagone se ubicó 2 ¾ cuerpos detrás de los líderes. Plainview, Siete C, Red Judicata y Slim Shadey completaron el orden de llegada. Si bien la carrera se desarrolló en la pista principal como estaba programado, las reiteradas precipitaciones habían ablandado el terreno (catalogado de “óptimo”), lo que hizo que cinco participantes se retiraran, incluido el favorito War Correspondent.
Florida-bred Reporting Star
MARTIN PHOTO
VASSAR PHOTO
Florida FOCUS
zar de a pequeños pasos, y algo que tenemos claro es que le encanta esta pista sintética”. Badilla agregó que Code Warrior se enfocará en la California Oaks, de USD 50,000, de 1 1/16 millas el 6 de febrero. “Le hemos exigido que participe en dos carreras rápidas en tres semanas, por lo que los dos meses [entre carreras] serán suficientes para ella”, aseguró Badilla. “Tuvo un largo período de descanso entre su primera carrera y la Golden Nugget. Bill siempre me decía que no había que arriesgarse a hacer correr demasiadas carreras a un caballo”. My Dynamo, Andean, Coniah y Find Joy completaron el orden de llegada. —Por Jon Forbes
Siete C, el ejemplar de mayor valor en la grilla con 22-1, y Macagone (12-1) disputaron la punta al comienzo de la carrera con fracciones de 0:24.24 y 0:48.53. Macagone logró tomar el control, pero no pudo hacer nada cuando Reporting Star y Aztec Brave lo desafiaron en la recta. Reporting Star, que se había despegado un poco del poste exterior, se había abierto en la curva junto con Aztec Brave y, después de dejar atrás a Macagone, estos dos, que habían intercambiado golpes en la curva, continuaron codo a codo en la parte final de la carrera. Los árbitros revisaron las carrera y decidieron que, si bien hubo contacto físico, ninguno de los oponentes había logrado una ventaja decisiva, por lo que se mantuvo el orden de llegada. “[Reporting Star] siempre corre con mucha energía”, reconoció el galardonado entrenador Pat Parente. “Uno quiere ver que un caballo como este gane y llegue a la meta primero. Ese es su estilo. Le encanta competir”. Miguel Vásquez montó a Reporting Star. Corey Lanerie, que solicitó la investigación de los árbitros, manejó las riendas del levemente favorecido Aztec Brave. La victoria en El Prado de Reporting Star resulta muy útil para su clasificación en la carrera canadiense de grado 2, la Play the King, que tendrá lugar en Woodbine el 23 de agosto. Reporting Star, criado por Gilbert Campbell, hijo de Circular Quay y de Classic Beauty, hija de Sword Dance, ha demostrado agallas en las finales reñidas: además de la Play the King, ha ganado tres carreras por un hocico. Llegó al Prado después de tres carreras sucesivas en las que fue neutralizado o le faltó espacio para avanzar. Esto incluye el cuarto puesto en la Sunshine Millions Turf Preview el 7 de noviembre en Gulfstream Park West. A pesar de tener una carrera difícil en esa competencia, fue vencido solo por un cuello por el galardonado Old Time Hockey, criado en Florida. Durante su trayectoria, Reporting Star ha ganado seis de 26 carreras y ha obtenido USD 589,546. Este año, ha ganado dos de siete carreras. Reporting Star, cuyo propietario es Copper Water Thoroughbred Co., ganó USD 60,760 y dio una ganancia de USD 5.80.
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Show Pride in Where you Live! Order your License Plate today Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles For branch locations, contact Marion County’s Main Office, McPherson Complex, 503 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, 34471 Phone: (352) 368-8200 • Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Online at mariontax.com
For more information: Florida Agriculture Center & Horse Park Authority, Inc. 11008 South Highway 475 Ocala, Florida 34480 • 352-307-6699 Fax: 352-307-6799 • flhorsepark.com
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A Losing Bet By TAMMY A. GANTT
F
or over a year now, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association has been creating awareness with its message of No Decoupling with legislators, within the industry and with business leaders. On the following pages are examples of a few of the letters written on the industry’s behalf from The Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Owners’ & Breeders’ Association and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Economic Partnership. As the letter writing campaign continues, more letters will follow showing the strength of the industry and why decoupling would decimate the industry. FTBOA is not alone in this effort as the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders’ and Owners’ Association among others at national, state, county and city levels are all working to show legislators the economic impact of our industry. From now throughout the winter, educating Florida legislators on this issue is important and contacting them in person, by phone, by e-mail or with a letter can create a lasting effect. The message you convey should be your message of why the industry is important to you, what your role in the industry is and what impact you make from an economic per-
22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
spective. Why are you involved in the Florida thoroughbred industry? How many jobs are provided because of the industry at your farm or business? What is the number of horses you are responsible for as a farm owner, manager or supplier? What is your land use? If you are a member of the business community, be sure to share what horse country means to you – full restaurants, hotels, shops and open space and an agricultural setting. The message can be simply put and heartfelt. Some letters have also included economic numbers, some of which, are supplied here. The FTBOA is a resource of economic information and decoupling topics at ftboa.com under membership then education station. In addition, FHBPA has NoDecoupling.com with continuing information on the topic. A FEW STATS TO SHARE WITH LEGISLATORS
2014 Statewide conservative study by the industry - Direct impact
• The Industry produces about $1 Billion economic impact on the state (racing direct impact)
• Over $400,000 in payroll taxes • More than 12,000 racing industry jobs • The Industry provides an economic impact far greater than spring training baseball which appeals to legislators thanks to the dollars it brings to Florida
• Florida is the # 2 breeding region in North America • Over 20,000 thoroughbreds engage in racing in Florida annually
2015 Marion County breeding region study by the Chamber & Economic Partnership Direct and Indirect Impact
• The equine industry accounts for 18% of the GDP for the county ($1.6 billion of county's $8.7 billion GDP)
• Horse at OBS sold for $142 million last year • $2.62 billion is the reported total economic impact of the equine industry in county (indirect and direct)
• 19,209 full and part-time jobs are produced in Marion County thanks to the equine industry
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October er 23, 2015
Sen. Charlie D Dean 311 Senate Offi fice c Building 404 South Monro o Street oe Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Dear Sen Dean: On behalf of the Ocala/M M on Countty Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), I urge you to Mari reject any efforts to sever or decouple live horse racingg from casino operations. As the Horse Capital of the World, this move o would have a significant economic impactt on our community and region. Earlier this year the CEP commissioned SMRI to conduct an economic impact analysis of the equine industry in Marion County. T The findings conclude that the industry has a $2.6 billion annual iimpactt and that thoroughbreds represen sent a significant portion of thatt industry. These local farms an n support businesses create thousand nd ndds of local jobs and fform orm a key component to our growing tour uri m sector. uris Whil hi e we appreciate and understand the d desire of the State to reach a new tribal compact, it should no ot be at the risk of decimating our Thorou o ghbred and other racing breeds and it certainly should n put our local ffar not arms and businesseess at risk for the benefit of out-off--state casino interests. Please help us support our signature uur local industry and say No to Decoupling. Thank you ou ffor or your continued leadership for our region i and an our state. Sincerely
Kevin T. Sheilley President & CEO
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Though certainly not a surprise, it is still always amazing to see our in-state thoroughbred industry numbers in terms of how they fit with and relate to Florida’s economy. A recent 2013 conservative study conducted by nationally acclaimed pari-mutuel and gaming economists Cummings & Associates of horse breeds from the pari-mutuel industry based in the Sunshine State provided a handful of very impressive equine economic impacts including:
■ $1 billion per year of Economic Impact ■ More than $400 million expended per year in local salaries and payroll taxes ■ More than 12,000 jobs ■ An annual economic impact state-wide far in excess of coveted baseball spring training
Florida...the Best State for Business
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FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160
SALLY MOEHRING PHOTO
Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com www.ftboa.com • www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner • 850-617-7341 • Fax 850-617-7331 e-mail: Christopher.denmark@freshfromflorida.com 407 S. Calhoun • 416 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
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THE LEGACY OF
Ocala Stud By JOANN GUIDRY all it a milestone purchase in Florida thoroughbred history. On Jan. 16, 1956, Maryland horseman Joe O’Farrell and his brother, Tom, were part of a nine-person syndicate headed by Bruce Campbell that paid $700,000 for 800 acres of what had been Ocala-based Dickey Stables. Included in the deal were the farm’s 16 broodmares, two of which were Noodle Soup and Iltis. Those two broodmares would play key roles in the newly-christened Ocala Stud’s quick start to historic success. That May, Needles, out of the aforementioned Noodle Soup, became the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. Bred by William Leach, who had owned Dickey Stables, and raced by D & H Stable, the son of Ponder finished second in the Preakness Stakes and won the Belmont Stakes. In 1955, Needles had become the champion 2-year-old male and the first Florida-bred to be named a national champion. When Needles was named the 1956 champion 3-year-old male, the spotlight shone brightly on Ocala as a viable thoroughbred industry center. At
28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
SERITA HULT PHOTO
C
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Bearing the mantle of the oldest active Florida thoroughbred operation, Ocala Stud celebrates its 60th anniversary.
From Left: Ocala Stud’s David, Michael and Joe O’Farrell
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Ocala Stud
60 Years
Brought to Florida from the O’Farrells’ Maryland farm, Rough ‘n Tumble would go on to be one of the foundation stallions in the Florida thoroughbred industry.
the time of Needles’ Kentucky Derby win, there were only four thoroughbred farms in the Ocala area. But that was soon to change as the Ocala farm rush was on. Joe O’Farrell, in his role as the Ocala Stud’s managing partner, wasted little time in taking advantage of Ocala’s newly-found fame. With Needles’ dam Noodle Soup as a centerpiece, he quickly built up a broodmare band and filled the training barns with young horses. The stallion barn was soon anchored by Rough’n Tumble, who had stood at the O’Farrells’ Maryland farm. By Free For All out of Roused, by *Bull Dog, Rough’n Tumble would go on to become one of the foundation stallions of the Florida thoroughbred industry. With 14 crops of racing age, Rough’n Tumble had lifetime progeny earnings of $6.2 million, siring 24 stakes winners and 20 stakesplaced runners. Among his stakes winners were Floridabred national champions My Dear Girl and Dr. Fager. While waiting for the first Ocala Stud-bred crop, O’Farrell took a proactive approach on another front. On Feb. 25, 1957, O’Farrell staged the first-ever 2year-olds in training sale in the Hialeah Park paddock. Conducted by Fasig-Tipton, a total of 37 head sold with most of them coming from the Ocala Stud consignment. Included in that latter group was Marylandbred Ragtime Cowboy, by Rough’n Tumble, who went on to win the 1958 L.E. Stoddard Jr. Steeplechase Stakes. That victory earned the O-Farrell Brothersbred Ragtime Cowboy the distinction of becoming the
30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
first stakes-winning graduate of a juvenile sale. The majority of the horses in that initial Ocala Stud consignment had been Maryland-breds brought to Florida from the previous O’Farrell farm. But in1958, the first juvenile crop of horses foaled and raised at Ocala Stud were sold at public auction. That crop went on to record a national best mark of 12 winners which won 27 races. Part of that Ocala Stud consignment included Wedlock, by Rough’n Tumble, who sold for $4,500. Wedlock became the first registered Floridabred filly to win a classic race when she won the 1959 Kentucky Oaks. Just that quickly, Ocala Stud’s reputation as a leading juvenile consignor was established. O’Farrell would go on to become one of the founding members of the Florida Breeders’ Sales Company (1958) and later the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (1974). And Florida was on its way to becoming the country’s prime 2-year-olds in training market. Remember Iltis, one of the broodmares that had been part of the original land purchase? When bred to Rough’n Tumble, she produced Florida-bred My Dear Girl, the 1959 champion 2-year-old filly and the first national champion bred by Ocala Stud. By 1960, Ocala Stud had bred or sold winners of more than $1 million. Already considered the leading commercial breeder in the country by that time, Ocala Stud finished 10th that year on the list of leading breeders in North America. Adding to the farm’s accomplishments, Ocala Stud
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bred and sold Roman Brother, who in 1965 became the first Florida-bred to be named North American Horse of the Year. SOLID FOUNDATION
That phenomenal early success laid the foundation for Ocala Stud becoming not only the oldest active thoroughbred operation in the state, but also one of its perennial leaders for six decades. In fact, Ocala Stud has been represented by at least one Florida-bred stakes winner every year since 1959. Additionally, Ocala Stud has been named the Florida Breeder of the Year four times. At this writing, that honor includes three consecutive years, 20102012 and then again in 2014. In 2012, Ocala Stud was named the TOBA National Breeder of the Year. To date, the farm has bred solely and/or with partners 146 Florida-bred stakes winners, including Florida-bred millionaires Musical Romance, Asia Express, Shake You Down, Turbulent Descent, Bolshoi Boy, Shadowbdancing and Gourmet Dinner (with William J. Terrill). New York-bred millionaire Queen Alexandra was also bred by Ocala Stud. Office Queen (1970 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly) and Musical Romance (2011 Champion Female Sprinter) have since joined My Dear Girl and Roman Brother as Ocala Stud-bred national champions. Musical Romance also became the first Ocala Stud-bred/sold runner to win a Breeders’ Cup race when she captured the 2011 BC Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Ocala Stud also has connections to three Kentucky Derby winners. That trio includes Florida-breds Carry Back (1961 Kentucky Derby) and Unbridled (1990 Kentucky Derby), as well as Street Sense (2007 Kentucky Derby). Carry Back, bred, owned and trained by Jack Price, was foaled, raised, broken and trained at Ocala Stud. Unbridled, bred by Tartan Farms and owned by Mrs. Frances Genter, and Street Sense, bred/owned by James Tafel, were broken and trained at Ocala Stud. Rough’n Tumble, who was the dominant Florida sire from 1959-1968, has been since followed by a long list of leading sires to stand at Ocala Stud. Included on that roster are Distinctive, Explodent, Sovereign Dancer, On to Glory, Mighty Appealing, Pentelicus, Saint Ballado, Notebook, Montbrook, Concerto, Trippi, High Cotton and Kantharos. WITNESSING HISTORY
Joseph Michael O’Farrell Jr. was eight years old when his father Joe moved the family from Maryland to Ocala. At 22, and just a semester away from an agriculture busi-
ness degree from the University of Florida, the younger O’Farrell was thrust into a leadership role. Following his father’s heart attack and the farm’s financial reorganization in 1971, he took over the day-to-day operations of Ocala Stud. The two men worked together to rebuild Ocala Stud until the elder O’Farrell’s death in December, 1982.
I was raised in the thoroughbred business “ and never had any intentions or desire to do anything else. ” —Michael O’Farrell
“I was raised in the thoroughbred business and never had any intentions or desire to do anything else,” says O’Farrell, 68, who has now served as Ocala Stud’s president and general manager for more than three decades. “I had to step in a little sooner than anticipated. But my father and I got to work together for 11 years. There were some tough times along the way over the decades. But with the help of a lot of good people, perseverance and luck, we’ve managed to still be here today.” According to O’Farrell, the toughest time was 1971 and its aftermath. “After my father’s heart attack, the farm’s syndicate partnership dissolved and the farm was foreclosed on by the bank,” recalls O’Farrell. “Then we sold all the horses
in October and November dispersals. It was a stressful time for all of us and we weren’t sure how we were going to move forward.” But Ocala Stud, albeit in a different version, did move forward. “Roy Kennedy, who was a banker and a horseman, helped us buy back the main 185 acres of the farm,” said O’Farrell. “Then Herbert Allen, who had been one of our longtime clients, sold us a package of 10 broodmares, seven yearlings and sent the stallion Distinctive
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Ocala Stud
60 Years
to stand at the farm. He let us pay him back over time. From there, we started over. That whole experience taught me that things don’t stay good forever and things don’t stay bad forever. I’ve never forgotten that lesson.” Now a solely family-owned operation, today O’Farrell shares Ocala Stud ownership with sisters Susan Greiner and Anna O’Farrell, brother-in-law James Lewis and nieces Claire and Meghan Lewis, the husband and daughters of O’Farrell’s late sister Margaret. O’Farrell’s sons Joe and David are now the third generation of O’Farrells involved in the management of Ocala Stud. Joe, 38, is the farm’s financial manager and David, 35, is its farm manager. “We’ve raised and sold a lot of good horses over all these years on Ocala Stud,” said O’Farrell, who has been married to wife Judy for 44 years. “But the truth is that a lot of O’Farrells have been raised on and provided for by Ocala Stud. With Joe and David’s children, we’re into our fourth generation.” THE THIRD GENERATION
Despite their heritage, it was not a given that Joe and David O’Farrell would become involved in the family business of Ocala Stud. “Judy and I decided it was best to allow our sons to know there were other opportunities out there. Growing up, the boys spent more time playing sports than being
We’ve raised and sold a lot of good horses over all these “years on Ocala Stud. But the truth is that a lot of O’Farrells have been raised on and provided for by Ocala Stud. With Joe and David’s children, we’re into our fourth generation.
”
—Michael O’Farrell around the horses,” said O’Farrell. “I didn’t want to force them into the thoroughbred business. I wanted them to want to be in the thoroughbred business. I was very fortunate to work with my father and I consider myself very fortunate to now be able to work with my sons.” First Joe then David went to Erskine College in Due West, S.C.; both graduated with business degrees. After graduating in 1999, Joe became an accountant with a bank in South Carolina. David graduated in May 2003 and by July was working at Ocala Stud. By 2004, Joe joined him and immediately became involved in the financial end of the farm’s operation. David meanwhile worked his way through the broodmare, stallion, training and sales divisions on his way to becoming assistant farm manager. When longtime Ocala Stud farm manager Bob Noble retired in July 2012, David transitioned
32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
into that position. “Until I became the financial manager, I really didn’t grasp what it takes to run an operation like Ocala Stud,” said Joe. “We have about 60 year-round employees and 100 during peak breeding, training and sales seasons. There’s about 90 broodmares between ours and clients’ with another 150 sales and training horses. It’s a big operation.” In addition to his Ocala Stud position, Joe was elected to the Florida Breeders’ and Owners’ Association’s board of directors in 2012. He is currently the board’s first vice president, a position his father served in for many years. “I’m very honored be on the FTBOA board,” said Joe, who with wife Alicia, has a 7-year-old son named
Joseph Michael O’Farrell IV. “I feel it’s important to take a leadership role in the Florida thoroughbred industry just like my grandfather and my father did. Now that I’m involved to the degree that I am, I find it amazing what they accomplished. And I want to be part of Ocala Stud’s present and future.” David echoes his brother’s sentiments. “I love being involved in all aspects of the farm,” he said. “Working with and learning from all the great longtime employees of the farm has been an invaluable experience. And I’m very fortunate to be able to work with my family. Over the past 12 years, I’ve gotten such a different perspective on what my grandfather and my father managed to do. To be celebrating 60 years in a
Mr and Mrs. Joe O’Farrell and Michael (at left) Joe O’Farrell in the Ocala Stud office (below)
FILE PHOTO
JIM JERNIGAN PHOTO
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Ocala Stud
60 Years
very difficult business is definitely something extremely special.” Part of that fourth generation of O’Farrells includes David and wife Allison’s three children. The trio includes Maggie (7), Annie (5) and John David Jr. (3).
velopments have overtaken the land where there were once thoroughbred farms. “I remember being able to ride my horse on dirt roads from farm to farm when I was growing up,” recalled O’Farrell. “But nothing stays the same. That’s just how life is.” It was that inevitable development enbe on the FTBOA croachment that brought a new chapter to Ocala Stud’s history. In 2011, the O’Farboard. I feel it’s important to take a leadership rell family sold the 185-acre original role in the Florida Thoroughbred industry just main site of the farm on Shady Road like my grandfather and my father did. Now that I’m involved to the (SW 27th Avenue) for $9 million to dedegree that I am, I find it amazing what they accomplished. And I veloper and thoroughbred horseman John want to be part of Ocala Stud’s present and future. —Joe O’Farrell Brunetti. The terms of the sale provided the O’Farrells with a lease through 2016 with a possible option to renew after that time. TODAY’S OCALA STUD “It’s was a financial decision made by the family to Over the decades, the landscape around Ocala Stud sell the property,” said O’Farrell. “We didn’t sell the has changed. Ocala Stud, Glen Hill Farm and Red Oak Ocala Stud name and we will continue to operate as we Farm are the only three remaining major thoroughbred have for 60 years. When the time comes where renewoperations in the Shady Road area that was once the epi- ing our lease is not an option, we will just move the op2011 Breeders Cup center of the industry in Ocala. A mall, a community col- eration to our other properties.” Winner and ChamThe original 185-acre site includes the business oflege, medical offices, restaurants, shopping strips, car pion Female Sprinter dealerships, a high school, apartments and housing de- fice, training division and stallion barn. The other Musical Romance SERITA HULT PHOTO
“I’m very honored
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Working with and learning from all the great longtime employees of “ the farm has been an invaluable experience. And I’m very fortunate to be able
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properties alluded to by O’Farrell include the 120-acre Shady Lane broodmare division, located a half-mile south of the main farm, and the 240-acre Ocala Stud Annex, 12 miles northeast of the main farm, which serves as the weanling/yearling division. The Shady Lane property was originally bought in partnership with Jerry Parks and Ed Wiest in 1981; the latter two were bought out in 1999. The Ocala Stud Annex was bought in 1980. “On the Shady Lane property, there is a barn that was previously a stud barn. In fact, it’s where Jack Price stood Carry Back when it was his Dorchester Farm,” said O’Farrell. “So if we have to, we can always move our stallions there. At the Ocala Stud Annex, there is a racetrack that we never had to use. So we’ll just refurbish that and move the training division there.” In the meantime, it’s business as usual at Ocala Stud. Ever since Joe O’Farrell staged that inaugural juvenile sale in 1957, Ocala Stud has bred Florida-breds to sell in the Florida juvenile market. Today, that business plan has streamlined even more so to selling in only Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company juvenile vendues. Over six decades, Ocala Stud has sold more than 250 stakes winners, including horses bred by the farm, its partners, as well as those for clients. Most notably among the Ocala Stud-bred sales graduates are Grade 1 Florida-bred stakes winners Three Ring, Outofthebox, Musical Romance, Turbulent Descent, Rigoletta, Asia Express and Calculator. The highest-priced horse ever sold by Ocala Stud is Florida-bred Chapel Royal. Bred by Ocala Stud, the graded stakes winner was sold for $1.2 million at the 2003 OBS February juvenile sale at Calder. In 2015, Ocala Stud sold 35 juveniles for a gross of $3,150,000. The operation’s top-priced juvenile was Elfin Cove, who sold for $675,000 at the OBS March 2year-olds in training sale. The 2013 bay filly by Adios Charlies out Siren Cove, by Montbrook, was bought by Navrick International. At this writing, Ocala Stud has once again this season surpassed $1 million in earnings by its Florida-bred runners. To date, Ocala Stud is represented by 2015 Florida-
SERITA HULT PHOTO
to work with my family. Over the past 12 years, I’ve gotten such a different perspective on what my grandfather and my father managed to do. To be celebrating 60 years in a very difficult business is definitely something extremely special. —David O’Farrell bred graded stakes winner Calculator, as well as stakes winners Forevamo and Courtesan. The latter was bred in partnership by Ocala Stud, Joseph Michael O’Farrell III and John David O’Farrell, et al. “We have definitely weathered the test of time in a very tough business,” said O’Farrell. “Of course, we’re very proud of all the good horses we’ve raised and sold, as well as the leading stallions that have stood at the farm. But the truth is that none of that success would’ve happened without the help of a lot of good clients and employees that have stayed with us through good and bad times. Horses come and go, but the relationships you have with people are really what get you through life.” And in Ocala Stud’s case, that’s 60 years and counting. ■
OCALA STUD HISTORICAL SUCCESS HIGHLIGHTS Florida Breeder Of The Year: 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2014 TOBA National Breeder Of The Year: 2012 146: Number of Florida-bred stakes winners bred by Ocala Stud solely and/or with partners (Through Dec. 7,2015) Ocala Stud-Bred National Champions My Dear Girl – 1959 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Roman Brother – 1965 Horse of the Year 1965 Champion Handicap Horse Office Queen – 1970 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Musical Romance – 2011 Champion Female Sprinter Ocala Stud-Bred Breeders’ Cup Champion Musical Romance – 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprinter Ocala Stud-Bred Florida-Bred Champions Office Queen – 1969 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly 1970 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Chevron Flight – 1971 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Wittgenstein – 1973 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Country Queen – 1978 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly 1979 Champion Turf Horse 1979 Champion Handicap Female Mighty Appealing – 1984 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Three Ring – 1998 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly 1999 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Outofthebox – 2001 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Chapel Royal – 2003 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Shake You Down – 2003 Champion Sprinter Green Vegas – 2006 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Jardin – 2008 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Candrea – 2011 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Turbulent Descent – 2011 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Musical Romance – 2011 Florida-Bred Horse of the Year 2011 Champion Older Female 2011 Champion Female Sprinter 2012 Champion Older Female 2012 Champion Female Sprinter Calculator – 2014 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Ocala Stud-Bred Florida-Bred Millionaires Musical Romance - $1,681,885 Asia Express - $1,464,947 Shake You Down - $1,442,014 Turbulent Descent - $1,211,640 *Gourmet Dinner - $1,191,230 Bolshoi Boy - $1,039,702 Shadowbdancing - $1,003,530 *Co-Bred with William J. Terrill Ocala Stud Leading Florida Sires Rough’n Tumble – 1959-1961, 1965, 1967-1968 Leading Florida General Sire Notebook – 2000, 2001 & 2005 Leading Florida General Sire Montbrook – 2002, 2003, 2008 & 2009 Leading Florida General Sire 2001 & 2008 Leading Florida Juvenile Sire Concerto – 2002 Leading Florida Freshman Sire Trippi – 2007 Leading Florida General Sire 2006 & 2007 Leading Florida Juvenile Sire High Cotton – 2011 Leading Florida Freshman Sire Kantharos – 2014 Leading Florida Juvenile Sire *Other prominent Florida sires to stand at Ocala Stud include Distinctive, Explodent, Sovereign Dancer, On to Glory, Pentelicus, Mighty Appealing and Saint Ballado. THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANAURY 2016 35
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FLORIDANEWS
Gambling Deal Could be End of Road for Dog, Horse Racing
ings toward purses for horse races, pursuant to its contracts with the The News Service of Florida—TALLAHASSEE — horsemen and breeders, according to Calder lobbyist Wilbur Brewton. By DARA KAM Attendance for the horse races is down dramatically at the nce posh destinations drawing A-list socialites, celebrities and gangsters, Florida's dog and horse tracks are now Miami Gardens track, Brewton said. "It's just wrong to continue to require racing at facilities so they at the center of a dispute over whether they should be alcan lose a substantial sum of money doing it. It's like you have two lowed to do away with live racing altogether. The issue, known as "decoupling," is one of several key items law- franchises for McDonald's and one is losing money and the other makers and industry leaders are trying to work out as they cobble to- isn't, but they say you have to keep both of them open," he said. But the horse industry is dead set against the idea of letting gether gambling legislation for the session that begins next month. Eliminating dog and horse racing at the state's pari-mutuels would tracks drop the races. "This is just a money grab by the casinos. That's all it is," said be allowed in a $3 billion, seven-year agreement, called a "compact," signed by Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe of Florida last week. Joe Pennacchio, executive director and president of the Florida But the Legislature needs to sign off on the deal, almost certain Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. "Maybe if they to be modified in order to get the votes required for passage in the traded horses for blackjack tables, they may make more money. But that's not how they got their permit. They got their permit beHouse and the Senate. Decoupling remains a thorny issue for lawmakers and the in- cause they agreed to race horses. My point is if you don't want to dustry. Under current law, live races — or offering jai alai games — race horses, that's fine. Just give the permit back." In Central Florida, the horse breeding are required for tracks to have more lucrative operations like poker rooms or, in Broward Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice and training industry provides thousands and Miami-Dade counties, slot machines. president of the Ocala-based Florida of jobs and injects billions of dollars into The number of racing days varies widely. Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' the state's economy, Pennacchio said. “There are some legislators who are Doing away with money-losing greyAssociation, said his organization is hound racing has drawn repeated legisla- firmly opposed to decoupling, which he emotionally invested in getting rid of the dog racing. I understand that. But to even tive debates in recent years, as dog tracks calls one of the worst things we think for a second that you would lump are widely viewed as a dying industry, kept could face in our business. horses in with that is preposterous," he said. afloat by tax breaks and poker rooms or Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice president of the Ocalaslots that put the facilities in the black. But across-the-board decoupling of dogs and horses, as per- based Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, mitted under the compact, is more complicated, according to said his organization is firmly opposed to decoupling, which he House Regulatory Affairs Chairman Jose Felix Diaz, the cham- calls "one of the worst things we could face in our business." Combating decoupling is his top priority right now. If it hapber's chief negotiator on the gambling deal with the Seminoles and pens, "nothing else seems to matter," Powell said, noting the dithe lead on gambling legislation. "There's some (legislators) that would be OK with decoupling rect and indirect economic effects that would cascade down if all horses. There's some that would be OK with decoupling most tracks stopped horse racing. Indeed, the economic and political heft of the horse industry is horses but not thoroughbreds. It does get a little stickier when it likely to doom across-the-board decoupling. But Diaz said that any comes to horses," Diaz, R-Miami, said. Only three tracks — Gulfstream Park, Calder Race Course and legislation would "take care" of Calder, if horse decoupling is not included in the bill. Tampa Bay Downs — now run thoroughbreds. “I look at it as a matter of equity. It's difficult to decouple everyLast year, The Stronach Group, the company that runs Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, took over racing operations at body except for one and not listen to the one that is being excluded. Calder, owned by Churchill Downs, in nearby Miami Gardens. So if everybody gets decoupled except for thoroughbreds, then there Calder leases its racetrack to The Stronach Group, which operates needs to be some considerations for those tracks that are not being decoupled but would like to be," he said. "I think it would be unjust to racing under Calder's permits. But now, Calder wants to get out of the horse-racing business start picking winners and losers. So if that's what ultimately happens altogether, while keeping its slot machines and hoping to re-es- because that's where the votes are, then those losers would need to have something done that would alleviate some of their concerns if we tablish its card room. Calder would continue to steer money from its slot machine earn- want to pass an equitable deal." ■
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Royal Posse takes Jewel;Florida-breds win three BY BROCK SHERIDAN HALLANDALE BEACH
R
oyal Posse seemed to be primed for the Claiming Crown Jewel for 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014. The 4-year-old gelding had won two of his last three races with one second including a victory in the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 4. On Oct. 24 at Belmont Park, he came back to again run good in stakes company, finishing second in the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap, just three-quarters of a length behind winner Empire Dreams. So it was no wonder the 4-year-old gelding went off as the 9-5 favorite in the Jewel and he did not disappoint. Rizwan, at 50-1, broke on top in the 11/8 mile Jewel and led the field of 14 around the clubhouse turn in front of Mal Guapo in second and Market Blaster in third. Meanwhile, jockey Javier Castellano had Royal Posse neatly tucked in behind those leaders in fourth as the field went the first two furlongs in :22.98. Rizwan continued to show the way until there was a half-mile to run when Royal Posse made a quick move to get up and challenge while racing just to the outside of the leader. With three-eighths to go, Royal Posse took command from a tiring Rizwan but Mr Palmer was also looking for room to challenge from the inside. Running for home, Royal Posse was kept safe as Mr Palmer angled out for the drive but was no match for the leader. Royal Posse gave Castellano his fourth victory on the afternoon as he ran under the finish line in 1:50.77 in driving rain and on a sloppy and sealed track. African Fighter got up for third. Royal Posse has now won three of 10 starts and has not finished worse than second since an eighth-place effort in allowance optional-claiming company at Belmont Park in May. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith, Royal Posse has now earned $304,610. He paid $5.60. 38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
Royal Posse (pictured) claims the “Jewel” for 3-year-olds and older.
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CLAIMING CROWN
EMERALD
Quiet Kitten (above) wins the Tiara while Florida-bred Runs With Bulls takes the Iron Horse (below)
The Claiming Crown Emerald proved to feature one of the better finishes on the day as Roman Approval and jockey Corey Lanerie came from far back to win the $125,000 race for 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014. Taken off the turf course and run at 11/8 miles on the main track, The Emerald was a cavalry charge at the start as Uncle Dave went to the front from post 4 with Escondido in post 5 and Laythatpistoldown also went for the front from post 13. The field began to sort themselves as they raced
around the clubhouse turn with Uncle Dave getting to the front with Escondido running second and Scrumpdilicious in third. Laythatpistoldown continued to be asked for speed by Edgard Zayas and had the lead as they raced down the backstretch with Scrumpdilicious in second, Escondido third as Roman Approval was rating far back in the pack. As Laythatpistoldown, Scrumpdelicious and Escondido raced three abreast around the far turn, Yankee Dealer was looking for room on the rail and Roman Approval was in full gear in fourth with Key to Power also trying to put together a rally. At the wire Roman Approval was in front of Key to Power in second with Ghost Hunter third.
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TIARA
40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
On the first Claiming Crown race of the day, Quiet Kitten took the $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara, for fillies and mares that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014, run at 11/16 miles on the turf. Florida-bred Big and Toasty went for the early lead with L.A. Style a length back in second and Quiet Kitten in third as they went the first quarter-mile in :25.43. Midway down the backstretch, L.A. Style and Quiet Kitten loomed up on the outside of Big and Toasty as they went into the far turn three abreast. However, Quiet Kitten began to separate and went on to win by two lengths in 1:48.51 over a track rated as good. Seneca Destiny rallied to get up for second while Wild Swava finished third. It was the seventh career victory for Quiet Kitten, a 3-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy out of Quiet Alice, by Quiet American. The Marcus Vitali trainee earned
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$68,750 for owners Crossed Sabres Farms LLC and pushed his career earnings to $194,280. He paid $9.20 to win and jockey Matthew Rispoli was aboard.
Florida-bred Runs With Bulls stalked the early pace set by Twocubanbrothersu and Palentine Hill, took over going into the far turn and won the $100,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse for 3-year-olds and older who have started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less since Jan. 1, 2014. Owned by Looch Racing Stable and trained by Peter Walder, Runs With Bulls was ridden by Javier Castellano. It was the third consecutive victory for Runs With Bulls and his fourth in five starts, all at Thistledown in the allowance optional-claiming ranks. It was also his fifth win in 11 career starts for the son of Flashy Bull and For All Who Dream by Eltish, who was bred in Florida by Rosebrook Farms LLC. Runs With Bulls earned $60,000 for the victory and increased his lifetime bankroll to $140,343. He paid $4.60 to win. DISTAFF DASH
Trained by Afred McIntosh for Acclaimed Racing Stable, Silver Sashay was ridden to victory by Edgard Zayas. Her career bankroll is now $143,890. RAPID TRANSIT
Florida-breds continued their success on the Claiming Crown card in the seven furlong Rapid Transit as Stallwalkin’ Dude won in front-running fashion in the $110,00 event for 3-year-olds and older which have
Florida-bred Silver Sashay (above) triumphs in the Distaff dash and Florida-bred Stallwalkin’ Dude claims the Rapid Transit (below)
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The Claiming Crown Distaff Dash featured fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014 and was pulled off the turf course and run on the main track at five furlongs. Florida-bred Silver Sashay went to the early lead out of the gate but Katie O. quickly took over from post 6 as those two lead the field into the far turn with Awesomendensome in third. Around the far turn Awesomendensome began to fall back as Silver Sashay went two-wide but a head in front of Katie O. followed by Forest Funds after they went the first quarter-mile in :22.41. Silver Sashay dug in to fight off Katie O. and Forest Funds. Silver Sashay went on to win in :57.90 over a track rated as sealed and “good.” Katie O. finished second with Forest Funds in third. Silver Sashay paid $11.40. Silver Sashay is a 5-year-old mare by Eurosilver out of the Bahri mare River of Faith. She was bred in Florida by Emerald Pastures Corp and this was her fourth consecutive victory.
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IRON HORSE
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over while racing on the outside of Newfound Gold as Trouble Kid ranged up on the outside to challenge. But there was no running past Stallwalkin’ Dude as he went on to win by a half-length over Trouble Kid in second with Rockinn On Bye third. Stallwalkin’ Dude is by City Place and out of Chelle Spendabuck, by Dare and Go. A 5-year-old gelding, Stallwalkin’ Dude picked up his seventh win from 17 career starts and now has $574,750 in career earnings. He was bred in Florida by Marie M. Haire and was owned by trainer David Jacobson. Stallwalkin’ Dude paid $6.40 as the 6-5 second choice behind Trouble Kid at 2-1.
CLAIMING CROWN
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GLASS SLIPPER
MARTIN PHOTO
Moonshine Promise pulls out the win in the Glass Slipper (above) while Successful Native takes the Canterbury (below)
started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less since January 1, 2014. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Stallwalkin’ Dude broke best of all from post seven but Newfound Gold raced up to contend for the lead as well. Leaving the chute and running onto the main track, Newfound Gold had a head in front of Stallwalkin’ Dude as they went the first two furlongs in :22.39. Moving towards the turn, Stallwalkin’ Dude took
Owner Looch Racing Stable, trainer Peter Walder, and a Thistledown shipper won for the second time on the Claiming Crown card as Moonshine Promise took the $100,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper. It was the third win on the day for jockey Javier Castellano. The Glass Slipper featured a $110,000 purse for fillies and mares, 3 years old and older which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 since Jan. 1, 2014 and was run at one mile. My House took the early lead from post 5 with Mimi’s Dream also getting to the front from the inside as Moonsine Promise settled into third behind that group. Racing down the backstretch, My House and Mimi’s Dream continued to battle up front with a vanguard of Moonshine Promise, Mimi’s Dream, Miss Darla and Concealedwithakiss following close behind as they went the first quarter in :23.12. Racing into the far turn, My House, Moonshine Dream and Miss Darla broke away from the pack while Miss Darla had a difficult time keeping pace as they made their way around the bend. Moving towards the straightaway My House and Moonshine Promise found themselves in a two-horse battle but Moonshine Promise began to get the edge with a furlong to the finish. Moonshine Promise hit the wire in 1:37.67 on a track that was “good” but also sealed. Moonshine Promise is a 6year-old mare by Will He Shine out of Sweetwater
42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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Promise, by Service Stripe. She has now won seven of 12 career starts including two of her last three races and three of her last five. She has earned $142,490 and paid $12.20.
for Marco Thoroughbred Corp and earned $60,500 for the win. It was his fourth victory from only seven starts and his career bankroll now stands at $154,450. He paid $25.20.
CANTERBURY
EXPRESS
Successful Native came from off the pace to take the $110,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury for 3-yearolds and older which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014. The Canterbury was originally scheduled to be run at five furlongs on the turf, but was switched to the same distance on the main track. Noble Prince hit his best stride out of the gate with Delta Bluesman also getting to the front of the pack in the early going. Those two lead the field through a first quarter in :22.06 as Successful Native was content to stay towards the back with jockey Juan Leyva in the irons. Dreaming of Neno, who had drawn in from the alsoeligible list, made a big move around the far turn and had the lead turning for home with Noble Prince hanging tough in second as Delta Bluesman was also in contention. Those three battled down the stretch with Delta Bluesman looking to be the winner inside the final sixteenth when Successful Native made a big move on the outside. At the wire, Successful Native had the lead over Delta Bluesman in second with Officer Griffin third. Final time was :57.09 over the track that was now downgraded to sloppy and sealed. Successful Native was trained by Aubrey Maragh
The Claiming Crown Express saw 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less since Jan. 1, 2014 go six furlongs on the main track. Showing the early way was Florida-bred Blings Express from the 2 post and Artefacto from post 5 with number 5 Artefacto and Doddsprivatelabel from gate 14 in close pursuit. After a quarter-mile in :22.53, Artefacto took over from Blings Express racing in second with Big Legacy and Artefacto trying to keep pace. Down the stretch, they were four across the track with Big Legacy in front between horses, Artefacto on the inside, Union Label making a run on the outside and Slan Abhaile making a move on the rail. As they raced towards the finish, Doddsprivatelabel was making a big run on the outside with Big Legacy holding on and Slan Abhaile trying to get in front while on the rail. Doddsprivatelabel hit the wire in front with Slan Abhaile second and Big Legacy third. The final time on the sloppy and sealed track was 1:10.77. Doddsprivatelabel increased his earnings to $198,620 with the win, which was his second from eight starts. Marcos Zulueta trained the 4-year-old gelding for owner M-Z Racing Partnership. Luis Saez was aboard Doddsprivatelabel, who paid $27.40. â–
Doddsprivatelabel is victorious in the Express
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FTBOA MEMBER UPDATE
SAY
NO Sign the Petition Today
to Decoupling
FTBOA is still encouraging members and those who could be impacted by potential decoupling legislation to contact legislators explaining the negative effect it would have on the industry and its participants. FTBOA is a resource for economic information, can assist you in planning/preparing your letter/e-mail, has sample letters, can provide contacts and encouragement for your efforts. Decoupling at Glance is at ftboa.com under Membership, then select Education Station or you can e-mail Tammy Gantt at tgantt@ftboa.com for a direct link. FLORIDA SIRE STAKES UPCOMING DEADLINES
January 15 Two year old deadline - $250 final payment
February 15 Stallion registration deadline $2,000 UPCOMING EVENTS
Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stallion Season Charity Auction January 27 immediately following the opening session of the OBS sale To register to bid or place an advance bid, please visit www.ftboa.com or e-mail tgantt@ftboa.com for further information. Please be sure to bid as this is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Florida Thoroughbred Charities which funds the Second Chance Farm for retired thoroughbreds at the Lowell Correctional Institute in which women inmates receive an equine certification degree as part of the program. The funds also are awarded for student scholarships.
44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
Keeping members informed
The stallions with seasons in the charity auction include: FTBOA’S BIO
From time to time, members ask what the mission of our organization is and what we do. Here it is in a nutshell. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association is a not-for-profit association with the mission of promoting the Florida thoroughbred worldwide. The FTBOA represents more than 1,400 thoroughbred breeders and owners internationally who breed, raise, sell, train and race thoroughbreds born in the state of Florida. In 2015, FTBOA was awarded Florida Association of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives and the Non-Profit of the Year by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, a prestigious honor considering there are over 1,000 non-profits in the county. Florida is one of the top thoroughbred breeding regions in the world. Ocala, in Marion County, is the heart of thoroughbred breeding, frequently referred to as the “Horse Capital of the World” because it has more horses and ponies that any other in the United States. It is the home to the FTBOA, the Florida Thoroughbred Museum and Gallery, Ocala Breeders’ Sales, top breeding operations, elite veterinarians, research facilities and an abundance of supporting suppliers. Florida ranks second in annual foal production in North America and also annually ranks equally as high with thoroughbred runners, winners and stakes winners. In fact, Florida has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any state outside Kentucky with Needles in 1956, Carry Back (’61), Foolish Pleasure (’75), Unbridled (’90), Silver Charm (’97) and the 11th Triple Crown winner Affirmed in 1978. Current Triple Crown champion American Pharoah also has Florida ties with his historical Florida bloodlines including Florida-bred Classic champion Unbridled. The horse also spent his early training days in Citra, part of Florida’s breeding region hub in Marion County. Florida is host to championship caliber racing at Gulfstream Park, along with Gulfstream Park West and Tampa Bay Downs. The FTBOA has several vehicles it uses to promote the Florida Thoroughbred including Florida-bred breeders’ awards, Florida owners’ awards, the Florida-bred stakes program and the Florida Sire Stakes. The
Florida-bred stakes program includes several special racing days for Florida-bred Thoroughbreds including the Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park each January, the Sunshine Millions Preview at Gulfstream Park West in November and the Florida Cup at Tampa Bay Downs in April. The over $3 million Florida Sire Stakes program is a 12-race series for 2-year-olds and 3-year olds and a supplemental program for FTBOA registered Florida-breds by FTBOA Florida stallions. The FTBOA also owns Florida Equine Communications (FEC), publisher of the award-winning monthly magazine The Florida Horse. FEC also produces Wire to Wire, a daily Central Florida thoroughbred digest; Wire to Wire.net, the local thoroughbred auction pub; Horse Capital Digest, an official horse show publication and Thoroughbred Week, a weekly national television program on MASN. Florida Equine Communications also handles the media relations, social media and internet marketing for the Association. The Florida Horse includes English and Spanish-language content about Florida-bred stakes winners, Florida progeny, breeding and ownership information, farm management topics, feature profiles and important industry trends and events. The FTBOA also administers Florida Thoroughbred Charities, which is the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred industry. Since 1990, FTC has strengthened and supported the community by raising more than $3.5 million for charitable organizations within the Thoroughbred industry, the city of Ocala, Marion County and the state of Florida. The charity also funds the Second Chances thoroughbred retirement farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute giving women there a chance to learn equine skills so they can be placed on farms for employment after release. In 2015, the farm celebrated its 15th year anniversary to great success producing a remarkable almost 100% recidivism rate as the former racehorses they work with positively change their lives. The most recent retiree to the farm is Florida-bred stakes winner East Hall, winner of over $700,000. The FTBOA also represents its membership and the industry, working with the local, state and national levels of government. You can follow the FTBOA at www.ftboa.com, on Facebook and Twitter under thefloridahorse and on YouTube. ■
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INDUSTRYNEWS
Agreement & tax benefits of syndications
Horse Syndications Are Coming Back? By JOHN ALAN COHAN —Attorney at Law
ship among a group of investors. With a breeding syndicate, a stalhe Tax Court has recognized that horse racing or breeding lion, whether a retired racehorse or show stallion may be transis a highly speculative venture, but that “an opportunity to ferred into a syndicate, and syndicate members (co-owners) are earn a substantial ultimate profit in a highly speculative entitled to one free nomination per season. Members may choose venture is ordinarily sufficient to indicate that the activity is en- to sell their annual nominations, and eventually a share in profits gaged in for profit even though losses or only occasional small should the horse be sold. The entrepreneur who establishes the venture manages these syndicates. Each party is entitled to sepprofits are actually generated.” The possibility of just one successful racehorse or breeding arately report tax deductions for costs and depreciation. A syndicate agreement will state whether the horse is or is not champion could require purchasing a highly expensive animal or insured. Members may obtain mortality insurance, however, on group of animals. Sometimes a syndicate is formed to pool resources and mini- their individual fractional interests. The legal structure of the synmize the risks. Syndication is a way of getting involved in racing, dicate is usually a partnership, tenancy in common, or LLC entity. Syndicates entitle people who are new to the horse industry to breeding or competing on a much higher level than individual gradually get started in an activity that ownership. For the owner-manager, it protakes could end up be very rewarding, vides funds with which to purchase a horse that otherwise might be unaffordable. the qualifications of the syndicate with a minimal outlay of cash. Some syndicates have a set time For many years, fractional ownership manager, and to check out the frame, such as a year in which the has been a means of buying into horse rachorse will be raced, purse money dising and breeding opportunities. This was pedigree and record of the tributed, and the horse sold at the end particularly active in the 1980’s and 1990s, individual horse or horses of the period. This enables investors when horse prices were steadily rising and more people wanted to join in earning involved. Syndicate agreements to minimize risks, get earnings sooner profits. are usually fairly straightforward rather than later, and often may involve a relatively modest investment, There are several kinds of syndicates, documents, but an attorney depending on the fair market value of but in principle the people who buy into the the horse. deal become co-owners of fractional intershould always review them. It is always important to know the ests in the racehorse, show horse or stalqualifications of the syndicate manager, and to check out the pedilion, as the case may be. A racing syndicate may take one of several forms. Typically, a gree and record of the individual horse or horses involved. Synspecific racehorse is involved, and the manager is usually the dicate agreements are usually fairly straightforward documents, owner of the horse. The syndicate members have decision-mak- but an attorney should always review them. Tax benefits may vary, depending on the type of agreement. ing powers, such as deciding when the horse will commence its racing career, be gelded, retire for breeding or stud duties, or For example, some racing syndicates are structured as limited partnerships, which may have a different allocation of tax benefits than whether to change the trainer or to sell the horse. Purses are distributed to members pro-rata on a monthly basis. a typical breeding syndicate. But generally, the co-owners may reIn addition to the price of shares, members may be required to pay alize tax deductions for depreciation of their fractional interests a monthly maintenance fee. Upon termination of the syndicate, the and for maintenance fees. manager is to divide the proceeds among the members proporAbout John Alan Cohan tionately. John Alan Cohan is an attorney who serves the horse, livestock If a horse is not a successful performer or is injured, each memand farming industries. He can be reached at: (310) 278-0203, ber’s loss is limited to a fraction of the purchase price. On the breeding side, stallion syndications are a viable means or email at johnalancohan@aol.com. His website is JohnAlanof buying into a super-stallion and spreading the costs of owner- Cohan.com.
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It is always important to know
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By MIKE MULLANEY
BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTOS
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48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
ith a filly whose pedigree traces back to one of the greatest mares to carry its orange, black and white silks, and a gelding who wasn’t able to carry his own weight and was written off by veterinarians as a lost cause, Ocala’s Glen Hill Farm took a pair of graded stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 28, winning the Hollywood Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds with Chiropractor and the Jimmy Durante (G3) for juvenile fillies with Family Meeting. Winning those races with their Florida homebreds “certainly was special,” said Craig Bernick, Glen Hill president. “Spending Thanksgiving there, then winning a Grade 3 stakes with a filly who goes back to Convenience, then winning a Grade 1 stakes with a horse who was so severely injured as a yearling … it was incredible.” Among the foals dropped by the Grade 1-
winning Convenience – who earned $648,933 in a glittering career highlighted by her photofinish victory in a match against champion mare Typecast – was the Grade 1-placed Conveniently, an incredibly productive broodmare who dropped, among others, multiple gradedstakes winner Concept Win; multiple Grade 1-placed Major Impact, American record holder Earn Your Stripes and Supplier. The latter produced multiple stakes winner High Margin and Deep Discount, who in turn produced graded-stakes winners Capital Request and Closeout as well as Family Plan, the dam of Family Meeting. Chiropractor’s breeding isn’t too shabby, either: His third dam is Sandy Blue, the multiple graded-stakes winner who took six added-money events, including the Hollywood Oaks on the main track and the Del Mar Oaks on the grass. Chiropractor is the fifth of seven named foals dropped by Sandy
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Acceptance, off at 60-1, opened daylight leads while Blue’s granddaughter, and Chiropractor’s dam, the Thesetting fractions of :23.51 and :47.41. He still led through atrical mare Eversmile. It’s hard to imagine a horse better bred for the infield six furlongs in 1:12.23 when Om took over, but by this than Chiropractor: In addition to his third dam – victress time Chiropractor – 10th, about eight lengths off the leadin what would be designated a Grade 1 turf race – both ers at the six-furlong marker – was in gear and he and his grandsire and his sire, Kitten’s Joy, were Eclipse March, who came from almost as far back, engulfed the favorite in the lane and fought it out to the wire, with ChiAward-winning turf champions. Both Family Meeting and Chiropractor prepped for ropractor getting up by a head in 1:48.87 for the nine furtheir careers at Glen Hill’s newly leased barn at the Fair longs. March had a half-length on Om. Chiroprcator returned $30.80 and his winner’s share Hill Training Center in Maryland, and they began their careers in Maryland and Delaware, but the road to Del of the $300,000 race was $180,000, which raised his earnings to $273,100 and his record to 3-2-0 from Mar was much rougher on Chiropractor. One morning at the Ocala farm, in March of his year- seven starts. “He was a really significant project,” Bernick said of ling year, he was discovered to be so severely injured that veterinarians advised he be euthanized. “I wouldn’t say he was a three, but for one legged horse, more like a two-legged of them to overcome something like he did, then to horse,” Bernick told the Florida Horse. “We’re not sure what happened, but we win a Grade 1, it’s … it’s very special. It’s amazing think he may have tried to straddle the that he ever made it to the starting gate. —Craig Bernick fence with his hind legs. However it his cleverly named gelding.“You take care of all your happened, he was sort of hopping around. “The veterinarians recommended we put him down, horses, but for one of them to overcome something like but the farm manager thought we could maybe save his he did, then to win a Grade 1, it’s … it’s very special. It’s life. He was literally in a stall for six months, then we amazing that he ever made it to the starting gate. “And he comes out of his races so well. Phenomenal!” handwalked him for another four or five months.” Nakatani’s sentiments toward Glen Hill and trainer Chiropractor debuted as a 3-year-old on May 15, finishing fourth at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Pimlico. He broke Tom Proctor run along the same lines. “What a great outfit to ride for,” he said. “Tom always his maiden at Delaware next out, going a mile on the infield, then was sent west, finishing first and second in has them ready. I asked him if he wanted me to do anyoptional claimers at Del Mar, running fifth in his lone thing special, but he said, ‘No, just ride your race. Get Santa Anita start, then finishing a fast-closing second him to settle and you’ll be fine.’ With these kind of races, back at Del Mar in his prep for the pace is the key.” Van Dyke was up on Family Meeting in the Jimmy Du. the Hollywood Derby. All of his California races rante, contested about an hour before the Hollywood Derby. Tom always has them ready. I asked were on turf, and he was ridden Like Chiropractor, Family Meeting has a come-fromhim if he wanted me to do anything by Drayden Van Dyke each behind running style, forcing her to wind her way special, but he said, ‘No, just ride time. Veteran Corey Nakatani through a large field. There were 12 fillies in the Durante, with Riri, undeyour race. Get him to settle and you’ll would replace the youthful Van Dyke in the Hollywood Derby. feated with turf wins at Del Mar and Santa Anita, the be fine.’ —Corey Nakatani Om, who had beaten Amer- slight favorite over a pair of Irish-breds, Jeremy’s Legacy ican Pharaoh in a maiden at Del Mar in 2014, had since and Mirage. Family Meeting, who had won one of her two prior become something of an infield-Derby specialist, winning the Del Mar and Twilight Derbys on turf in his two starts, a victory over maiden company on a soft course starts leading up to the Hollywood Derby. For that reason at Laurel three weeks before the Durante, was offered he was sent of the 9-10 favorite with Chiropractor a 15- at 37-1. Corps de Ballet held the lead through deep stretch 1 afterthought. A field of 14 met the starter and the butterfly effect and fractions of :23.21, :48.03 and 1:13.10, but she was in play: Vigilante was scratched, which put the long- couldn’t hold on late as Mokat, then Family Meeting, shot speedball Acceptance into the race, which compro- who was ninth and almost eight lengths back at the halfmised Om, who did his best running while in front, mile pole, came flying. Family Meeting overcame Mokat inside the furlong grounds to win by a half-length. Sutcontrolling a manageable pace.
Glen Hill
“You take care of all your horses
”
“What a great outfit to ride for ”
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ton’s Smile was third, 1¾ lengths behind the runner-up. Van Dyke indicated the best has yet to come. “She’s a little green. She hasn’t quite figured it all out yet,” he said. “She was idling on me, but I could feel I had a ton of horse under me, so I just wanted to keep her calm. When it came time, she went. She’s a good one ... can’t wait to see what she does next.” Family Meeting, a daughter of Sky Mesa, paid $76.60 and finished the mile Durante in 1:37.14. Her prize from the $101,750 race was $60,000. Like Chiropractor, she is trained by Proctor, whose father, Willard, trained the first Glen Hill horses. Bernick is the 37-year-old grandson of Glen Hill’s
96-year-old founder, Leonard Lavin. It was decided to lease Team Valor’s barn at Fair Hill when it was decided to vacate operations in Chicago, Lavin’s hometown, due to Arlington Park’s newfound accent on the Illinois state breeding program. “My grandpa and I have a very close relationship,” he said. “We talk horses, and we talk about the farm” in Ocala, where he; his wife, Lindsey, and their two daughters spend the winter. Though a firm decision had not been made at press time, Bernick indicated that Chiropractor would likely remain in California but that Family Meeting may return for a wintertime Florida campaign. ■
Van Dyke says Family Meeting is a little green, but her best is yet to come.
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Increased Purses
and Opportunities in 2016 2016 TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY DIVISION August - Desert Vixen Stakes - 6 furlongs-Dirt - $200,000 September - Susan's Girl Stakes - 7 furlongs-Dirt - $300,000 October - My Dear Girl Stakes - 11/16 miles-Dirt - $500,000
2016 TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT DIVISION August - Dr. Fager Stakes - 6 furlongs-Dirt - $200,000 September - Affirmed Stakes - 7 furlongs-Dirt - $300,000 October - In Reality Stakes - 1 1/16 miles-Dirt - $500,000
2016 THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY DIVISION August - Three Ring Stakes - 7 furlongs-Dirt - $150,000 September - Jewel Princess Stakes - 1 mile-Turf - $150,000 October - Meadow Star Stakes - 1 1/16 miles-Dirt - $150,000
2016 THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT DIVISION August - Unbridled Stakes - 7 furlongs-Dirt - $150,000 September - Prized Stakes - 1 mile-Turf - $150,000 October - Foolish Pleasure Stakes - 1 1/16 miles-Dirt - $150,000
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Advertisement
For more information go to www.ftboa.com or e-mail floridasirestakes@ftboa.com
COGLIANESE PHOTO
FSS Bonus Races
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Florida Sire Stakes Program (FSS) FSS purse supplement will be awarded to the
The FSS program consists of over $3 million in purse awards for 2-year-old, 3-yearold and older horses and includes the lucrative Florida Sire Stakes – a twelve race series for two-year-olds. In 2015, a six race series for three-year-olds was added.
winner of a maiden special weight race if the winner is fully FSS eligible. Foals are eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes series, and the two-year-old, three-year-old and up supplemental stakes program if:
Also included are a $5,000 FSS purse sup- 1. The foal’s sire was an FTBOA-registered stallion standing in Florida when the foal plement for each of 30 two-year-old maiden was conceived, AND special weight races, with 15 races for fillies and 15 races for colts/geldings. These 2. The foal is a Florida-bred registered with the FTBOA, AND 30 races typically start in April with at least two races per week, and each race at a dis- 3. The foal is kept eligible with payment of tance of at least 4.5 furlongs. The $5,000 eligibility fees by the deadline(s) required
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner • 850-617-7341 • Fax 850-617-7331 e-mail: Christopher.denmark@freshfromflorida.com 407 S. Calhoun • 416 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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Advertisement
2016 Florida Sire Stakes Program Deadlines & Payments (Foals of 2014) Includes eligibility in Florida Sire Stakes series, two-year-old and 2017 three-year-old supplemental stakes
2013 – Stallion registered with FTBOA 2014 – No weanling payment required
Before/on May 15 - $250; May 16 through Nov. 15 - $500
2015 – Yearling payment required:
Before/on Jan. 15 - $250; Jan. 16 through Feb. 28 - $500
2016 – Two-year-old payment required:
If yearling payment was not paid in 2015, a one-time payment of $5,000 can be made by Jan. 15, 2016 for eligibility.
COGLIANESE PHOTO
For more information go to www.ftboa.com or e-mail floridasirestakes@ftboa.com
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By REG LANSBERRY
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CHINO PHOTOS
ith the Sunshine State’s on-track racing product and breeding and sales sectors continuing to gather steam as they rebound from the Great Recession of 2008, an ever-present source of industry knowledge and horsesavvy business acumen continues to hold sway in a vital role to which he is ideally suited: Kent Stirling, for the past two decades executive director of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA). Whether his expertise concerning issues of the moment is needed in the state capitol in Tallahassee, testifying before Congress in Washington, D.C., or on a panel discussing a controversial topic that is his forte, medication in racing, Stirling’s unique perspective is the product of a lifetime spent around horses. The FHBPA membership has been the fortunate beneficiary of all of it. “I have known Kent for about twenty-five years,” said Bill White, FHBPA president, whose notable career as a trainer resulted in his selection to the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame. “He is very valuable to the organization because he knows the history of racing issues in Florida. By having a historical reference you gain an idea why issues have evolved to where they stand right now.” Stirling’s evolutionary path to a career in racing can be traced directly to his family. His parents, William and Jean, were gifted show horse riders—with plenty of hardware to show for it. “Those trophies were made of real silver back then,” their son said admiringly.
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KENT STIRLING Another contributor to the trophy case was his sister, Jo Thomas, an accomplished show horse rider in her own right, who for many years managed Chime Bell Farm in Aiken, S.C., for (the late) conditioner Willard C. (Mike) Freeman and his wife, Iris. Freeman’s most famous runner during his long career was Shuvee, winner of the 1969 Filly Triple Crown. A 1975 National Racing Hall of Fame inductee, she remains the only filly to defeat colts twice (1970, 1971) in the then two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup. Growing up on his family’s Stirrup Hill Farm in western Pennsylvania, which comprised of 140 acres and was located originally in Bakerstown, Pa., before relocating to Rector and Ligonier, the Stirlings baled their own hay. Their son contributed a mandatory twenty hours per week worth of farm chores, “Or my father wasn’t happy. That just doesn’t happen much any more. I am glad I did it,” Stirling said. During his formative years, as he watched family members flying over fences, “I realized that it was a
58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
whole lot farther to fall,” Stirling cracked. He decided to trade time spent atop a horse for time spent atop a Little League mound, where he starred. In addition to ownership of lumber companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Bill Stirling also had horses. He liked to get up in the mornings and ride prior to reporting for work in the afternoons. Realizing he should pursue the urge to train horses in earnest, the lumber companies were thereupon sold. His son first encountered the racetrack’s backside in earnest at Randall Park in Oh., where he walked hots for trainer Jerry Caruso. Randall was made of wood. Across the street was a new brick facility named Thistledown. Stirling was drafted after matriculating at the University of Miami (Florida) where he obtained a business degree. He opted to join the Air Force in lieu of going into the Army while the Vietnam conflict raged half a world away. Upon being informed his vision was 20/400+, that scuttled any chance at a “flyboy” career. Instead, the Air
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Force’s prescription was four years spent behind a desk three maidens. But that’s what I had,” Stirling said. “That’s in procurement at a trio of locations — Lackland Air the way you should start: from the ground up rather than Force Base in San Antonio, Tx.; Luke AFB in Glendale, at the top and then wind up going downwards.” After Stirling obtained his trainer’s license in 1976, Az., and Homestead AFB in Homestead, Fl. Having always loved animals, and horses especially, his father hooked up with Canadian businessman John Stirling’s decision once he left the Air Force in 1973 was A. McDougald, who was a close friend and partner of simple. He informed his father he wanted to train race- legendary Canadian breeder E.P. Taylor of Windfield’s Farm fame. The Stirling stable—now with good horses for a living. With his father calling the shots, the boss’s pragma- horses—divided into two strings. In summer, one would tism asserted itself in important ways. While other trainer- be stabled at Woodbine Race Track just outside of fathers were handing their trainer-sons ready-made Toronto, the second at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga juveniles that were virtually a “sure thing” and would thus Springs, N.Y. During winter, Stirling the Elder would enable both horse and rookie trainer to break their re- return to Woodbine with a string while Stirling the Younger would head south to spective maidens at first asking, Florida’s far warmer environs to the three-horse string entrusted to that I broke break and train the just-turned 2Stirling’s care by his father comall three maidens. But that’s year-olds. Not exactly tough duty. prised of 3-year-old maidens. He After Mr. McDougald passed promptly broke all three at Calder. what I had. That’s the way “I was lucky that I broke all away, his wife duly forged ahead you should start: from the with the racing stable. In 1982, ground up rather than at the she purchased a 4-year-old colt top and then wind up going that had raced in Europe and already broken his maiden for downwards. —Kent Stirling owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr., noteworthy as founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Little could Stirling have suspected the best horse he would ever train had just entered his shedrow. Named Nijinsky’s Secret, he was sired by Nijinsky II, a son of Taylor’s 1964 dual classic winner Northern Dancer, widely considered the greatest sire of the second half of the twentieth century. In 1970, Nijinsky II became the most recent horse to sweep the English Triple Crown. “Nijinsky’s Secret was a fascinating horse, one of my favorites. He was big; 1,250 lbs. on Woodbine’s scale,” Stirling recalls. “He was also muscle-bound. Every time I laid him off he came back less muscle-bound and, as a result, became better as time went on.” Stirling said that during his peak in Florida, Nijinsky’s Secret went to post as the highweight in seven consecutive races – and won them all. “I don’t know how many times that has [ever] been done,” Stirling says. Highlight of Nijinsky’s Secret’s graded stakes triumphs were consecutive renewals (1983, 1984) of the Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap (G1) where his breeding and talent were realized in full measure. He also took down the W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2). Racing from age 2 through 6 prior to a career at stud, Nijinsky’s Secret registered 14 wins from 36 starts and $787,932 in purses.
“I was lucky
”
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KENT STIRLING It was while training for the McDougalds that Stir- with future Racing Hall of Fame reinsman Jerry Bailey ling’s portfolio expanded, a circumstance that would pay aboard. Declares Stirling about his filly in matter-of-fact future dividends. When the McDougalds purchased fashion: “She should have won it. She was the best horse Green Meadows Farm in West Palm Beach, Florida, the in the race.” [In 2004, Elliott would pilot Smarty Jones to Grade Stirlings were tasked with maintaining its seven-furlong 1 victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, dirt track and one-mile turf oval. Accordingly, Stirling “really got to know” how to main- which garnered the son of Elusive Quality an Eclipse tain a dirt track and turf course. That knowledge proved Award at year’s end as champion three-year-old male.] Doradoradora, a graded stakes-placed daughter of key because, “I have walked a lot of turf courses so I know 1982 Travers Stakes (G1) winner Runaway Groom, a good turf course from a bad turf course,” he said. His resumé also includes time spent as assistant gen- was transferred to Stirling after she had broken her eral manager of the old St. Lucie Training Center, now maiden at Ak-Sar-Ben Race Course in Nebraska. known as Payson Park. “I used to harrow it an endless Making 55 starts during a hickory-tough career amount of times,” Stirling noted. His father installed and through age 5, she amassed nearly $600,000 in purses. Her most glowing moment under Stirling’s tutelage developed St. Lucie’s turf course. Two other notable horses during his training career occurred when she secured the Florida Stallion’s My were fillies. Southern Bar Girl, a foal of 1988, was sired Dear Girl Stakes at Calder on Oct. 7, 1990. That vicby Southern Sultan, a son of 1968 Belmont Stakes vic- tory propelled her into the starting gate twenty days tor Stage Door Johnny. Purchased by Stirling at the OBS later for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at April sale, the long-and-short of matters is that she never Belmont Park. Although “Dora” finished up the track in the colors realized her full brilliance on the racetrack due to a variety of circumstances, primarily an eccentric owner who of Team Ashby Stable, her effort was certainly no diswas not above interfering with his trainer’s wishes and a grace. (She did finish in front of Lite Light, who the follong list of nagging ailments that further compromised lowing spring would capture the Kentucky Oaks (G1).) Not only did winner Meadow Star, at odds of 1-5, thrash her talent. “Southern Bar Girl was an absolute freak,” Stirling the competition that day, her victory put the cherry on says, his voice replete with admiration. Never quick out top of an undefeated season that culminated in an of the gate, she was only at her best going long. It was Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly for trainer thus no surprise that whenever the owner told the trainer Leroy Jolley and owner Carl Icahn. run her in a sprint, she got dusted. was a Determined to give Southern Bar Girl time off to ad- fun thing to do and I was grateful for the experience. dress physical issues when —Kent Stirling she was a juvenile, Stirling “Taking Doradoradora to the Breeders’ Cup was a informed the owner she was primed to win easily – but fun thing to do and I was grateful for the experience,” after that they badly needed to give her some time. “There was a guy, Bob Savage, who had a racing Stirling says. Having trained for 20 years, the vagaries of racing wrap-up show. I put the phone to the owner’s ear as the [track] announcer says about Southern Bar Girl, ‘She’s thereupon descended. With as many as 23-24 horses in pulling ahead at the sixteenth-pole . . . she’s 20 lengths his shedrow at one time compared to an ideal number of 17, Stirling watched his client list dwindle along with in front . . . and she’s being eased!’ ” Stirling said. Her owner promptly entered Southern Bar Girl to run the number of heads peering out over stall doors. He had back 14 days later in the 1990 Alcibiades Stakes (then a gotten down to just five or six horses in 1995 and knew Grade 2) at Keeneland Race Course with a jockey – the time had come to do something else. During his last three years on the backside (1992Stewart Elliott— who had never before ridden in a 1995), Stirling was performing “double duty” as graded stakes race, Stirling said. Contested at 8.5 furlongs, Southern Bar Girl finished FHBPA president. The organization then performed a third, beaten just 3/4-length for it all by Private Treasure masterstroke by creating the position of executive di-
Taking Doradoradora to the Breeders’ Cup
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rector with him in mind as the obvious choice. Stirling readily accepted the job under the leadership of president Scott Savin. According to equineline.com, from 1976-1995, Stirling sent 2,093 starters postward and registered 189 wins (9%) with career purse earnings an eyelash shy of $3.7 million. The training fraternity’s loss was the frontside’s gain. Stirling brought to the executive director’s chair a valuable commodity for his FHBPA members, which truth be told, had become evident during his three years as president: a fundamental knowledge of racing’s ins-andouts, and first-hand working relationships with the industry’s “key players” both in Florida and nationwide. Those qualities have certainly not escaped White’s attention. “It is vital to have someone like Kent who’s lived and breathed racing and made a living doing it,” he said. “That is why he has been such a tremendous asset to our horsemen. Anyone who gets up at 4:30 a.m. and has experienced the ‘ups and downs’ of the game brings a special brand of perspective on so many levels.” If there is one element in Stirling’s repertoire that has served the industry well, it is his comprehensive understanding of medication. Indeed, he is the coauthor of World Rules for Equine Drug Testing and Therapeutic Medication Regulation: 2012 Policy of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc., along with Thomas Tobin and Kimberly Brewer. Stirling’s leadership on the issue is well known, and he is nothing if not outspoken concerning his advocacy of race day medication. “What we are really talking about is (the administration of) race day Lasix (known by its tradename of Salix). Lasix is the only one out there,” Stirling said. “I think that stops it. It keeps the veterinarian out of the stall four hours before a race. And that’s where most of the problems are going to happen.” As someone who has always enjoyed helping horsemen, Stirling leaves little doubt this is a topic where he can educate people in racing that don’t know much about it. “A lot of the medication positives today are what I call ‘nonsense positives.’ The things that they can pick up . . . our testing [in racing] is so much stricter now compared to the Olympics it’s almost laughable.” Stirling then proffered a favorite analogy regarding how infinitesimal a positive today’s sophisticated testing can detect. He prefaced it by saying a violation of
one Nanogram equates to being one second of your life — if you were 32 years old. “But if you get a Picogram violation, that would be one second of your life — if you were 32,000 years old!” he said. “I mean, every time someone runs a horse his license is in jeopardy. If a horse ships in to a track and goes into a stall where another horse had been that had something . . . .” With the end of 2015 looming, Stirling freely admitted that retirement is imminent. He is relishing the opportunity to lower his handicap, putter around the garden, and devote even more time to an already intense rooting interest following his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and his alma mater, the “U” (Miami Hurricanes). Given racing’s plethora of ongoing problems with progress on too many fronts occurring at a snail’s pace, if that, the industry might do well to throw a halter over Stirling before he bolts too far past the office door. ■
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Marion County: Home to Many Printed with permission from the Ocala Star Banner
By CARLOS MEDINA
C
arl G. Rose is often credited with establishing the first thoroughbred farm in Marion County in the 1930s. What's not often recounted is his constant promotion of the nascent industry. It was Rose who encouraged and helped establish other farms in Ocala. Granted, it was mostly land he owned, but thanks to his efforts, the foundation of the industry got off to a strong start. The area's thoroughbred industry got other shots in
The county's growing reputation as a training center was solidified this year with American Pharoah, who was the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978.
SERITA HULT PHOTO
the arm over the years that added to the industry's growth. In the 1950s, it was Needles, the first Floridabred Kentucky Derby winner. In the 1960s Ocala-bred Carry Back won the 1961 Derby and Dr. Fager was named champion in four separate divisions, including Horse of the Year in 1968. The 1970s saw Foolish Pleasure win another Kentucky Derby for Florida in 1975, while Affirmed won the 1978 Triple Crown. In the 1990s, Unbridled (1990) and Silver Charm (1997) won their respective Kentucky Derby races.
With each success, the number of farms grew and today stands in the hundreds. Along with the farms came the feed mills, veterinarians, equine hospitals, sales companies, hay producers, farriers and thousands of equine workers. All that infrastructure continues to draw different breeds and disciplines to the area. While still a major thoroughbred breeding center, traditionally second only to Kentucky for number of foals produced, Marion County has evolved into a melting pot for the equine industry. “This county is horse heaven, having its fair share of a variety of tack shops specializing for diverse disciplines, other service providers like farriers, tack menders, blanket washers, boot shops, a variety of equine therapy specialists, and cutting edge equipment providers,” said Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice president of the Ocala-based Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Despite its diversity, the area's thoroughbred tradition rules. “The warm sunshine, abundant water and limestonerich grass produces healthy horses of all disciplines, including thoroughbred racehorses. That's one of the reasons why so many young thoroughbreds, including many Kentucky Derby hopefuls and future Breeders' Cup contenders are schooled in the Ocala area,” Powell said.
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J. FILER PHOTO
The county's growing reputation as a training center was solidified this year with American Pharoah, who was the first horse to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) since Florida-bred Affirmed did it in 1978. Then, in his last start, he won the Breeders' Cup Classic in late October. Kevin McKathan, who along with his brother, J.B., owns McKathan Brothers Training Center, where American Pharoah got that early training, thinks the success will serve as another draw to the area. “I think what it will do is open some of the newer people's eyes that don't realize what we do here as a whole in Ocala,” McKathan said. It also turns out that what's good for thoroughbred training is also good for other disciplines including eventing, driving and others. “This (Marion County) is the place to be for the winter. We've become as relevant as any of those other areas,” said Richard Trayford, who runs Equiventure, a promoter of eventing competitions. The U.S. and Canadian national eventing teams train in the area, as do numerous top eventing competitors. “It's no longer just a practice place to get out of the weather. We're saying that there's more to this area. It just happens to be the best place on Earth, with the footing and the weather, during the winter than any other place in the summer,” Trayford said. The county is also home to the revitalized Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park, a 500-acre state facility that holds a multitude of horse shows and events throughout the year. Several top horse shows also call the area home. The annual Live Oak International combined driving and show jumping competition is put on by the Weber family and is held on the family's bucolic Live Oak Plantation. For more than two decades, the area has also attracted thousands of competitors and horses from around the country to the annual HITS horse show. The Horse Shows in the Sun event is scheduled for 12 weeks
ESI PHOTOS
Breeds
this year and begins in December, its earliest start ever. The show has grown to include a $1 million show jumping event, which attracts international competitors and last year hosted an international, team show jumping competition. “The diversity of disciplines provides for opportunities for all horse breeds to show their versatility,” Powell said. “Thoroughbreds are racehorses, but they also are performers for eventing, endurance, show jumping, polo ponies, hunters, jumpers, dressage, therapeutic riding, and trail riding among other equine activities offered in the Horse Capital of the World.” ■
Lisa Goldman aboard Rocs to Riches captures the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open on Feb. 3, 2015
The diversity of disciplines provides for “opportunities for all horse breeds to show their versatility. ” —Lonny Powell
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New Website Design By PATRICK VINZANT
statements and view and print copies of your he Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ 1099 forms. The My Breeder Account butand Owners’ Association (FTBOA) is ton will take you to a link to set up your acproud to announce the launch of our count access with InCompass. The content slider designed for the main newly designed website which is located at www.ftboa.com. The site’s homepage features page helps organize and showcase content in an easy to follow format. colors that tie back to We shifted to a memberthe new, more visually Among other new funccentric layout so our appealing FTBOA logo. The uncluttered design tions, members will be able members could easily navigate our site and lomakes the website to access their breeder cate information they are faster, easier to navigate and more user friendly. awards statements and view seeking. You will notice streamlined menus, simIn addition to the and print copies of their ple navigation and acchanged design and 1099 forms. cess to the information layout of the pages, you need. The slider new functions have —Patrick Vinzant, Business & been implemented. All Development Manager serves as the focal point for the new website. forms are now PDF The slider displays all sorts of informawritable so that members and users can fill out their registration, membership, or Florida tion, such as images, popular features like Sire Stakes forms online and print a com- CEO Corner, President’s Remarks, Mempleted form out and send back to the office ber Motivator, the monthly online vervia email, fax or regular mail. All forms are sion of The Florida Horse to the now located in one location under Forms on weekly Thoroughbred Week television show. the top menu bar. The site also includes hyAnother key feature is the Florida-bred Search which is also located on the top menu perlinks to Florida Thorbar. The Florida-bred Search allows users to oughbred Charities, our quickly search the see if a Florida-bred is reg- events calendar, Florida Equine Communicaistered with the FTBOA. A new feature is the My Breeder Account tion publications and a button. The FTBOA has joined with In- contact us section that Compass to provide an on-line account ac- allows for feedback from cess service for breeder accounts. our members and bios of InCompass Financial Services has made it current board members and possible for you to view your FTBOA executives. It has been our primary breeder account online. The account access feature provides the opportunity to access goal in developing this new site your breeder account and view activity. You to include easier navigation to conwill be able to access your breeder awards tent, applications and services, but
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also for the site to serve as an information resource. Easy to locate social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are on the top of every page. We will continually be expanding our online content to bring you updated and relevant information, so we encourage you to bookmark it, check back often and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said the updated website has been a part of his long term technology plan. “During the first few months after my arrival at FTBOA it became apparent that some priority attention and in-
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To be Unveiled
As the enhanced website is rolled out we will continue to tweak and im“ prove upon it as a living and evolving digital platform in order to maximize the FTBOA member as well as guest experience. ” —FTBOA CEO Lonny T. Powell
vestment were needed in our various technology and external and internal communications platforms,” Powell said. “Our rejuvenated website is the most visible of these improvements. As the
enhanced website is rolled out we will continue to tweak and improve upon it as a living and evolving digital platform in order to maximize the FTBOA member as well as guest experience.”
Our website will be updated on a regular basis, with new events, applications and other new content. In the months ahead we will launch a new online store to make ordering FTBOA merchandise more convenient. ■
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2016
Stallion
Ocala/Marion County Thoroughbred farms opened their doors to prospective breeders last month as the area’s popular stallion shows got underway. More shows are slated for this month, and they will be featured in future issues.
BRIDLEWOOD PHOTOS BY CINDY MIKELL JOURNEYMAN PHOTO BY SERITA HULT
Bridlewood
Farm
1) Corfu stands at stud for $3,000
2) Mach Ride stands at stud for $2,000
1 3) Big Drama stands at stud for $15,000
4) Fort Loudon stands at stud for $4,000 5) Chitu stands at stud for $3,000
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Showcase 3 4
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2016
Stallion Showcase
2
1
Journeyman
Stud
1) Winslow Homer stands at stud for $5,000 2) Fury Kapcori stands at stud for $5,000
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3 3) Khozan stands at stud for $6,500
4) Exclusive Quality stands at stud for $2,500
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By BEN BAUGH Florida-bred Man From Wicklow (left) enjoys green grass in Ireland and other playmates.
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or some it’s a meteoric rise to the top, and for others the process takes a bit longer. Sometimes realizing one’s destiny doesn’t come at the pace one would hope, leading to frustration, despite possessing the talent and potential. But for those who are determined, the variables of time and patience can make all the difference, and that was certainly the case for a Grade 1 winner bred by J.R. Cavanaugh. Man From Wicklow was a horse that showed promise, but his trainer, who would eventually end
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up owning nearly two-thirds of the horse, Rick Violette, didn’t necessarily know that his charge would become a Grade 1 winner. The dark bay gelding is by the 1986 Eclipse Award winning Older Male, Turkoman; and out of the Fast Play broodmare Star of Wicklow. Man From Wicklow was bred by J.R. Cavanaugh, and foaled April 23, 1997. “He was a late weanling when I first saw him and bought him,” said Violette. “I think I bought him in late December of his weanling year. So,
PHOTOS COURTESY MORNA MCDOWALL
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he was quickly a yearling. He was on Jim’s Farm (Wicklow Farm), and I had trained horses off and on for Jim over the years.” Cavanaugh has enjoyed success as a breeder, despite the challenges one faces when operating on a smaller scale, said Violette. “Jim breeds a high percentage of stakes horses for both his acreage and for what his budget allows,” said Violette. “He’s done a remarkable job. I had a couple of other graded stakes horses besides Man from
Wicklow. Marquette was one who was a really nice horse. I bought Man from Wicklow. I partnered the first couple of years, and then I bought a couple of the partners out. So, I owned more than half of him for most of his career.” However, the thought of Man From Wicklow becoming a Grade 1 winner was far from Violette’s mind, something the gelding would accomplish during his 6-year-old campaign. It was a journey riddled with challenges, but
one that would ultimately prove rewarding. “I was excited by him, but he was frustrating too,” said Violette. “He showed talent in the morning, but he was an incredibly slow learner to the point that I ended up buying out a couple of the other owners. They weren’t satisfied with what he had done. Fortunately for me, I ended up with a much larger piece.” It was that purposeful, methodical approach that provided Violette with the THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 71
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time and with some encouraging results, placing in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap and Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap. Man From Wicklow would make his first start in Grade 1 company during his 5-yearold campaign. “In the Sword Dancer (placed fourth), he got checked really badly early on that cost us position, and the jock also dropped his stick,” said Violette. “We were not beaten far and seriously compromised. I ran him back in the Man O’ War (placed third). He ran good and long, but pulled up with a bunch of mucous in his lungs. It was kind of disheartening because we zigged and zagged a little bit.” Man From Wicklow’s first graded stakes victory came late during his 5-year-old campaign. The highweight for the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder Race Course, the dark bay gelding won his first race in nearly 17 months, scoring a one-length victory in the 1½-mile added money race. “When he ran in the McKnight, it was an awesome race,” said Violette. “He had been on the pace for most of his good races and when he could get away well. Jerry Bailey was on
opportunity to bring the gelding along slowly. Man From Wicklow made three starts during his juvenile campaign, never once finishing in the money, but it would be a different story during his sophomore year. “I kind of backed into a good thing, because it wasn’t until his 3-year-old year that I put blinkers on him,” said Violette. “He was a big nervous horse, and that’s why I kind of resisted putting them on because it was kind of one disappointing performance after another, after he had trained very well in the mornings.” It was a test in patience. Man From Wicklow would go postward seven times, and his sevWe tried to make him a pony, but he just enth start would prove didn’t have the mental capacity to do that. It just lucky as he found the wasn’t going to work. He wasn’t winner’s circle on Oct. 6, going to be somebody’s riding 2000 in a maiden special weight race at Belmont horse. —Rick Violette Park, but an equipment adjustment in his previous start on Sept. 7, him for the first time that day. It was typical Jerry would be a harbinger of things to come. “It was kind of a last ditch effort at the Bailey, go to plan b, and we Meadowlands, and I put blinkers on the first closed fast and found antime,” said Violette. “He was fifth that day. other dimension.” Violette’s belief in the He flew up out of the lane and was out of the picture. He gobbled horses up and galloped horse found his patience out really well. So, his next start was when he being rewarded in Man broke his maiden at Belmont, second time From Wicklow’s next start, blinkers, he paid an enormous amount of the first of his 6-year-old money. It was over $100. I was actually more campaign. As it was then upset with him. I ran him back, in two weeks the realization of hard work, time in a non-winners of (two allowance) race persistence and determinaand he won that. He paid $50 that day. The tion, culminating in his first Grade 1 victory on Feb. 16, blinkers certainly turned him around.” However, it was as a 4-year old, where 2003 at Gulfstream Park. “The Gulfstream Park Man From Wicklow began to assert himself, performing in stakes company for the first Breeders’ Cup Handicap
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was probably his best race,” said Violette. “Jerry came out of the race impressed. He (Bailey) said, ‘He’s a real racehorse today. He beat nice horses easily.’ He was a fun horse to be around. He was a challenge; I guess he was until the dumb trainer figured out how to use blinkers.” A durable campaigner, Man From Wicklow raced unit he was seven, retiring with 6 wins, 4 seconds and 5 thirds from 31 starts, bannkrolling $609,395. After his racing career, attempts were made to find Man From Wicklow a new vocation, but they were illfated. “We tried to make him a pony, but he just didn’t have the mental capacity to do that,” said Violette. “It just wasn’t going to work. He wasn’t going to be somebody’s riding horse. When Morna (McDowell) moved back to Ireland, the family had a farm that she inherited, we sent him and Free of Love, who was retired and a graded stakes winner for Ralph Evans, to her the year she moved over there.” Violette stays in touch with McDowell, and gets updates on Man From Wicklow on a routine basis. “He’s the king of the county over there,” said Violette. “She’s (McDowell) actually in Cork.” ■ Man From Wicklow joins other friendly barnyard animals enjoying a meal in retirement.
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Equine Care
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By DENISE STEFFANUS thletes of all species rely on sports medicine to keep them competitive, and many of the same therapies are used in veterinary and human medicines. For humans, the team doctor keeps the players in the game. At the typical racing stable, veterinarians experienced in lameness and respiratory disease keep the racehorse running. The most common therapies performed at the racetrack for in-competition racehorses are joint injections, procedures for sore shins, and inhalation therapy for respiratory ailments—all of which have counterparts in human sports medicine.
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JOINT INJECTIONS
Joint injections are commonplace for athletes, from humans to horses. A classic example appeared in the iconic 1979 football movie North Dallas Forty, in which Nick Nolte’s character, bearly able to walk, gets a knee injection to enable him to play. Repetitive movement of a joint creates friction within the joint, and the resulting inflammation
to help heal the joint, also may be injected. “Essentially what we’re doing is preventing that joint from getting injured further, and you extend the racing career of that horse immensely,” said Mark Cheney, D.V.M., who has spent 45 years on the track caring for the upper echelon of racehorses. Cheney is frustrated by negative publicity about joint injections, especially corticosteroids. He said that if the proper amount of the correct cortisone is used and the horse is hand-walked for several days to allow the medication to work, studies have shown it helps heal the joint and protect it from further damage. Triamcinolone is indicated for highly moveable joints; methylprednisolone is an excellent steroid for spinous processes of the spine, he said. Cheney explained the concern about development of compensatory lameness, when a horse with a painful joint shortens its stride and places more pressure on the opposite leg when it switches leads. “When you have abnormal pressure on a leg, that’s what creates breakdowns,” Cheney said.
Equine athletes, like humans, require maintenance therapy to be safely competitive breaks down the viscosity of its lubricating fluid, hyaluronic acid. When the fluid becomes thin, it no longer protects the cartilage that lines the joint, which creates more friction and inflammation with continued use. Soon, osteoarthritis sets in. At the first hint of a joint problem, the veterinarian x-rays the joint to look for bone chips, which require surgical removal. Absent a chip, the best therapy is to inject the joint with high-viscosity hyaluronic acid. Additional agents, such as a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycans) or Polyglycan (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine)
“Our whole objective is to prevent breakdowns in horses. If [regulators] cut all this out, thinking that we ought to stop joint injections, you’re going to start having three or four times more breakdowns.” Cheney said the majority of subtle lamenesses that cause a horse to shorten its stride are those that are difficult to detect, especially by a regulatory veterinarian who rarely has time to do more than watch a horse jog before a race. The daily work of the stable veterinarian is pivotal in preventing serious injuries. “I spend hours every day examining horses, palpating every joint, every soft-tissue structure,” Cheney said. “Most of them aren’t actually lame,
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Equine Care they’re just moving stiff.” Injections of hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone are mainstays in human medicine. “Injections of [hyaluronic acid] have been shown to be beneficial in improving symptoms in select cases of mild to moderate osteoarthritis,” said Dr. Freddie Fu, chairman of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and founder of Pitt’s UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, which cares for the Pitt Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers football players. “Triamcinalone is a steroid and, while it can be used to decrease inflammation, it should be used sparingly,” he advised. SHINS
Bucked shins, which occur in young horses, are an inflammation of the periosteum where the tendons attach to the cannon bone. Athletic exertion causes painful microfractures in the surface of the underlying bone. Called shin splints in humans, the condition is prevalent in runners and dancers. “The periosteum pulls loose and it gets blood under there,” Cheney said. “That’s what all the pain is. And if you tack it down where it won’t pull loose again, then they’re never going to have any more problems with their shins.” The key to healing shins is to increase the circulation, which is accomplished by scratching the bone with a needle, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or the controversial treatments pinfiring and blistering. Shockwave therapy was adapted from human medicine, where the high-pressure waves are used to pulverize kidney stones. In Europe, the same technology was found to be useful in treating tendinitis, heel spurs, and hard-to-knit fractures in humans. “Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is not a mainstream treatment strategy but nonetheless is utilized in some cases, primarily for symptoms of tendinopathy, which is a common overuse pathology,” Fu said. “Actually, a recent meta-analysis in the American Journal of Sports Medicine did show that EST can 76 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
be effective in cases where other methods of non-operative treatment have failed. I have also heard of it being used in chronic cases of medial tibial stress syndrome [shin splints].” Shockwave therapy can be used to deaden pain, so racing regulators have placed stringent restrictions on its use. In New York, only a commission-licensed veterinarian may possess a shockwave machine and administer the treatment in a commission-designated location; the commission must be notified of the treatment; and the horse may not breeze or race for ten days after treatment. Other states have adopted similar rules. Cheney said the treatment of choice for bucked shins is pinfiring. The veterinarian uses a red-hot needle to repeatedly penetrate the tissue overlying the bone to cause an acute inflammation that draws healing agents to the site. The treatment is done under local anesthesia and requires intensive aftercare to avoid infection. “After pinfiring, the horse must be walked under tack for one month and then in controlled exercise for one month before resuming training,” he said. The American Association of Equine Practitioners states in its position paper on pinfiring, “When applied judiciously and in conjunction with appropriate analgesia and aftercare, the AAEP considers the modality an acceptable form of therapy in cases that have proven refractory to conventional treatment.” Although pinfiring is rare in humans, Cheney recalled a study in the 1990s of ten worldclass marathon runners with shin splints. “They tried surgery and all kinds of instrumentation and therapies, and the shin splints reoccurred in all of them,” he said. “Then they pinfired their cannon bones, and nine out of ten of them never had another problem.” Blistering entails the topical application of a caustic agent to increase circulation and draw healing agents to the site. “Blistering shins rarely works,” Cheney said. “But it’s great for tendons.” Some veterinarians inject an internal blister of almond oil and 2% iodine into the sacrosciatic ligament (gluteals), which often becomes sore secondary to a stifle and/or hock inflammation. Concurrently, the stifles and/or hocks are injected with hyaluronic acid. In humans, injecting an internal blister is
called prolotherapy. “Prolotherapy is an injection therapy used to stimulate collagen proliferation and is typically used in selected cases of chronic myofascial pain and also low back pain,” Fu said. “It may be used in cases where other primary treatment strategies have proven ineffective.” RESPIRATORY
Cheney said lung infections and exerciseinduced pulmonary hemorrhage or EIPH (bleeding) are the two most common respiratory conditions that require therapy. “Just think of the environment horses live in,” he said. “There are over 40 allergens present in hay. So that’s like you and I being sensitive to molds, trees, flowers, and pollens. You start sneezing and coughing. Horses do the same thing, and it creates a lot of mucus in their lungs and in their trachea. When you get that continuously in their lungs, that leads to damage to the capillaries, and that creates an EIPH episode. When they bleed, horses can get an infection, and if you don’t put them on antibiotics, they can get pneumonia.” Clenbuterol, a bronchodilator, is the drug of choice for horses during training, but the drug must be withdrawn—from three days to 14 days, depending on jurisdiction—before a race. Lasix, an injectable medication, is administered raceday to prevent bleeding. Veterinarians use nebulizers to deliver respiratory therapy to horses, just as doctors treat their human patients with inhalation therapy. ■
Medications for Horse and Human
The most common medications used in horseracing are: furosemide, aminocaproic acid, and conjugated estrogens for control of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding); the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories phenylbutazone, flunixin (Banamine), meclofenamic acid (Arquel), and ketoprofen; clenbuterol for respiratory congestion; and Gastro-Gard to treat and prevent gastric ulcers. All except Banamine have human counterparts:
Veterinary Furosemide Aminocaproic acid Phenylbutazone Meclofenamic acid Ketoprofen Clenbuterol Gastro-Gard
Human Lasix Amicar Phenylbutazone Meclomen Orudis Clenbuterol Prilosec
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AroundCountry_Layout 1 12/16/15 4:17 PM Page 78
■FLORIDA-BREDS AROUND THE COUNTRY ————By Race Type/Grade ————
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—STAKES RACES Win/Place/Show Horse Name
Sex Age Sire
Dam
Breeder
Track Off ID Pos Race Name
Date
Grade/ Value
Earngs
Chiropractor
G
3 Kitten's Joy
Eversmile
Glen Hill Farm
11/28/15
DMR 1
Hollywood Derby
1/$302,250
$180,000
Family Meeting
F
2 Sky Mesa
Family Plan
Glen Hill Farm
11/28/15
DMR 1
Jimmy Durante S.
3/$101,750
$60,000
Ballet Diva
F
2 Hear No Evil
Dame Sylvieguilhem Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/28/15
GPW 1
House Party S.
$75,000
$46,035
Swagger Jagger
C
2 Crown of Thorns
Magical Mist
Woodford Thoroughbreds
11/28/15
GPW 1
Pulpit S.
$75,000
$42,315
Code Warrior
F
2 Society's Chairman
Lady Natalie
Pamela Edel
11/28/15
GG
1
Golden Gate Debutante S.
$50,405
$30,300
Control Stake
C
3 Discreetly Mine
Be a Quiet Honey
B.P.N.
11/26/15
FG
1
Thanksgiving H.
$59,400
$36,000
Gentlemen''s Bet
H
6 Half Ours
Lady of Sun
Juvenal Diaz
11/14/15
LRL
1
Frank J. De Francis Memorial Da $350,000
$210,000
El Kabeir
C
3 Scat Daddy
Great Venue
Rustlewood Farm Inc.
11/14/15
LRL
1
City of Laurel S.
$100,000
$60,000
Old Time Hockey
G
6 Smarty Jones
Grat
Glen Hill Farm
11/7/15
GPW 1
Millions Turf Preview S.
$100,000
$60,605
Brandy''s Girl
F
2 Posse
Don't Stop Dreamin Edwin T. Broome
11/7/15
GPW 1
Juvenile Filly Sprint S.
$100,000
$61,070
Jewel of a Cat
M
5 Wildcat Heir
Marbleous Routine
Mr. & Mrs. Marty Hershe
11/7/15
GPW 1
Millions Turf Sprint Preview S.
$100,000
$60,140
Saraguaro
C
3 Express Tour
Return of Mom
Karen Silva
11/7/15
GPW 1
Millions Classic Preview S.
$100,000
$61,070
Legal Laura
F
4 Wildcat Heir
Arealhotlover
Gilbert G. Campbell
11/7/15
GPW 1
Millions Distaff Preview S.
$100,000
$60,605
Little Nick V.
C
2 Colonel John
Campionessa
Hickstead Farm
11/7/15
GPW 1
Juvenile Turf S.
$100,000
$60,140
Pancake
F
2 Corinthian
Gran Senorita
Arindel Farm
11/7/15
GPW 1
Juvenile Filly Turf S.
$100,000
$60,140
Li''l Meatball
G
2 Graeme Hall
Sophie's Meatball
George J. Kerr
11/7/15
GPW 1
Juvenile Sprint S.
$100,000
$59,675
Full Ransom
F
4 Full Mandate
Retroesque
Gregg James
11/7/15
DMR 1
Kathryn Crosby S.
$82,900
$46,740
Code Warrior
F
2 Society's Chairman
Lady Natalie
Pamela Edel
11/7/15
GG
Golden Nugget S.
$52,255
$30,350
Fellowship
C
2 Awesome of Course
Go Girlfriend Go
Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/28/15
GPW 2
Smooth Air S.
$75,000
$14,700
Life Imitates Art
C
2 More Than Ready
Habiboo
Hardacre Farm LLC
11/28/15
GPW 2
Pulpit S.
$75,000
$13,650
Recognition
F
2 Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Premier Tri
Moreau Bloodstock International Inc. & Lucio Fernandez 11/28/15
GPW 2
Wait a While S.
$75,000
$13,650
Big John B
G
6 Hard Spun
Baldomera
Brylynn Farm Inc.
11/26/15
DMR 2
Hollywood Turf Cup S.
2/$252,250
$50,000
Mac Daddy Mac
C
2 Put It Back
Abuela Esther (URU) Stud El Aguila
11/14/15
DMR 2
Bob Hope S.
3/$100,500
$20,000
Rizwan
C
3 Silver Tree
Entertaining
Vegso Racing Stable
11/7/15
GPW 2
Millions Turf Preview S.
$100,000
$14,662
One Step Salsa
G
4 Two Step Salsa
Just One Kiss
Emil Hagger
11/7/15
GPW 2
Millions Turf Preview S.
$100,000
$14,663
Silent Prayer
F
2 Brooks 'n Down
Sacred Psalm
Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/7/15
GPW 2
Juvenile Filly Sprint S.
$100,000
$19,700
Katie''s Kiss
F
3 Kantharos
Sydney's Kiss
A. Francis Vanlangendonck & Barbara Vanlangendonck 11/7/15
GPW 2
Millions Turf Sprint Preview S.
$100,000
$19,400
Nauset Beach
C
4 Scat Daddy
Outstanding Info
Patricia Generazio
11/7/15
GPW 2
Millions Classic Preview S.
$100,000
$19,700
My Miss Venezuela F
3 Hold Me Back
Multipass
Orlyana Farm
11/7/15
GPW 2
Millions Distaff Preview S.
$100,000
$19,550
Light the Night
C
2 Street Cry (IRE)
Namaste's Wish
Live Oak Stud
11/7/15
GPW 2
Juvenile Turf S.
$100,000
$19,400
Lupo''s Way
F
2 High Cotton
Queen Amira (GB)
Ocala Stud
11/7/15
GPW 2
Juvenile Filly Turf S.
$100,000
$19,400
78 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
Gentlemen’s Bet/Frank J. De Francis Memorial
MCCUE PHOTO
Family Meeting/Jimmy Durante S. (G3)
BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
Chiropractor/Hollywood Derby (G1)
1
AroundCountry_Layout 1 12/16/15 4:19 PM Page 79
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—STAKES RACES Win/Place/Show Horse Name
Sex Age Sire
Dam
Breeder
Date
Track Off ID Pos Race Name
Fellowship
C
2 Awesome of Course
Go Girlfriend Go
Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/7/15
GPW 2
Juvenile Sprint S.
Flora Dora
F
2 First Dude
Aidan
Dizney Double Diamond LLC
11/4/15
AQU
2
Tempted S.
R Free Roll
M
5 Rockport Harbor
Jewels N Gems
Richard Averill
11/1/15
BEL
2
Pirellone
C
2 Gio Ponti
Eyepopnruby
LeAnne M. Robbins
11/28/15
Bonita
F
2 Bluegrass Cat
Broad Picture
Arindel Farm
11/28/15
Fabulous Kid
C
4 Congrats
Lemon Drop Girl
Wave of Glory
F
2 Midshipman
Il Vino Bianco
Redneck Humor
G
4 Da Stoops
Dame Sylvieguilhem Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
Amigo
C
4 Hard Spun
Dat You Miz Blue
My Miss Venezuela F
3 Hold Me Back
I''malreadythere
G
Catholic Cowboy
G
Grade/ Value
Earngs
$100,000
$19,250
3/$200,000
$40,000
Pumpkin Pie S.
$100,000
$20,000
GPW 3
Buffalo Man S.
$75,000
$7,125
GPW 3
Hut Hut S.
$75,000
$6,975
Dr. K. K. Jayaraman MD & Dr. Vilasini Devi Jayaraman MD 11/26/15
AQU
Fall Highweight H.
3/$250,000
$25,000
Patricia Generazio
11/26/15
AQU
3
Furlough S.
$142,500
$15,000
11/25/15
ZIA
3
Zia Park Sprint S.
$107,120
$10,700
Arindel Farm LLC
11/21/15
GPW 3
Tropical Turf H.
3/$100,000
$9,600
Multipass
Orlyana Farm
11/21/15
DED
Orleans S.
$75,000
$7,500
2 Crown of Thorns
Wildfire Ruby
Thomas J. Lane DVM
11/14/15
DMR 3
Bob Hope S.
3/$100,500
$12,000
5 Heatseeker (IRE)
Kombat Lake
Luis de Hechavarria
11/14/15
LRL
3
Richard W. Small S.
$100,000
$10,000
3
3
3
Glacken Too
C
4 Smoke Glacken
Storm Prospect
Sienna Farms LLC
11/14/15
GG
$50,715
$6,000
Rontos Lily
F
2 Big Drama
Platinum Tiara
M375 Thoroughbreds Inc.
11/7/15
GPW 3
Juvenile Filly Sprint S.
Oakland S.
$100,000
$9,850
Noble Prince
G
5 Chapel Royal
Amaday
Miriam Michelle Robles
11/7/15
GPW 3
Millions Turf Sprint Preview S.
$100,000
$7,275
Delta Bluesman
G
5 Wagon Limit
Smoke Alarm
Denis A. Dwyer
11/7/15
GPW 3
Millions Turf Sprint Preview S.
$100,000
$7,275
Southern Barbecue C
3 Hear No Evil
Sexy Stockings
Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/7/15
GPW 3
Millions Classic Preview S.
$100,000
$9,850
Flutterby
F
4 Congrats
Zoobie
The Jerome G. Bozzo Trust
11/7/15
GPW 3
Millions Distaff Preview S.
$100,000
$9,775
Ian Smith
C
2 Wildcat Heir
Cry Hallelujah
Brent Fernung Crystal Fernung & Eugene P. Cahalan 11/7/15
GPW 3
Juvenile Turf S.
$100,000
$9,700
Catira Rock
F
2 Rock Hampton
Perfect Girl
Ric Deg Farm & Luisa Degwitz
11/7/15
GPW 3
Juvenile Filly Turf S.
$100,000
$9,700
Bullet Gone Astray
C
2 Gone Astray
Permanent Makeup Joe Carroll & Kris Carroll
11/7/15
GPW 3
Juvenile Sprint S.
$100,000
$9,625
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’s Association •Lonny Powell – CEO, Executive Vice President •Brock Sheridan – Editor-in-Chief •Tammy Gantt – Assistant Vice President, Membership Services, Events Director, Contributing Editor, Industry and Community Affairs Adena Springs South •Declan Doyle – Director of Stallion Seasons & Sales
Gulfstream Park •Michael Costanzo – Claims Clerk Hialeah Park •R. Peter Aiello IV – Director of Simulcasting, Track Announcer Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park •Heather Belmonte – Executive Assistant Ocala Breeders’ Sales •Tom Ventura – President •Kevin Honig – Mutuels
Tampa Bay Downs •Allison DeLuca – Racing Secretary •Doug Murray – TRPB Agent Breeder •Rick Heatter Trainers •Todd Pletcher •Chuck Simon
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 79
und The Country
Florida-Breds Aro
AroundCountry_Layout 1 12/16/15 4:19 PM Page 80
Florida-Breds Aro
The Country und
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—ALLOWANCE Win/Place/Show Track Date
Breeder
Off ID
Grade/ Pos
Horse Name Sex Age Sire
Dam
Value
W W Concerto
G
4
Concerto
Winning Foursome
Dr. Mary Beth Stanton
11/27/15
HAW
Time Jumper
G
4
Denis of Cork
Adorable Heidi
Faraway Farm
11/26/15
GG
1
$29,316
$16,200
Score One
G
6
Montbrook
Improvised
Pinky Mendoza
11/23/15
PRX
1
$53,500
$30,600
Mooch
F
3
Concerto
Twothirty
Littlebrother Farm LLC
11/20/15
RP
1
$35,200
$20,916
Two Step Flor
F
4
Two Step Salsa
Pyrite Flower
Maverick Stables
11/14/15
GG
1
$28,992
$16,200
1
$21,000
Earngs $12,600
It Is Back
F
4
Put It Back
Omega Three
Mr. T Stables
11/11/15
PEN
1
$29,500
$17,700
Macho Sox
G
5
Macho Uno
Legendary Journey
Fred and Sara Lynn Yutani
11/9/15
ZIA
1
$27,500
$16,500
Redneck Humor
G
4
Da Stoops
Dame Sylvieguilhem Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/8/15
ZIA
1
$28,740
$17,100
Black Label
G
4
Exclusive Quality
Black Bottom
Mr. & Mrs. Marty Hershe
11/5/15
RP
1
$35,200
$20,916
Instant Thought
Promotional
F
3
Artie Schiller
Dancinanimaux
F
3
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Full of Dance
Glen Hill Farm
11/4/15
AQU
1
$67,000
$40,200
Michael Mandara & Deeana Mandara
11/4/15
RP
1
$35,200
$20,967
Indian Rocket
F
3
Indian Charlie
Back Lite
G
3
Put It Back
Yellow Heat
E Paul Robsham Stable LLC
11/28/15
RP
2
$37,136
$6,921
Fashionably Lite
Janet Erwin
11/28/15
HAW
2
$28,560
$4,200
Awesome Warrior
F
3
A. P. Warrior
Awesome Medicine R. C. Van Voorhees & Liz Steinbach
11/27/15
CMR
2
$8,830
$1,802
Always Sunshine
C
3
West Acre
Sunny Again
Gilbert G. Campbell
11/26/15
LRL
2
$42,000
$8,820
Metaphorically
G
3
A. P. Warrior
Bailey's Machogirl
Elijah Bailey
11/26/15
GPW
2
$35,800
$8,150
Tasunke Witco
C
3
High Cotton
Saint Gertrude
Ocala Stud
11/22/15
LRL
2
$43,386
$8,820
Zip ''n Sip
G
4
City Zip
Proud Beauty
Bridle Oaks Farm Inc.
11/18/15
RP
2
$40,040
$6,938
Cloudy River
C
3
D'wildcat
Unbridled Approval
Charles Patton
11/12/15
PEN
2
$33,040
$5,900
Dreaming of Bella
M
6
City Place
Smart Lady Doc
Tim Ahearn & Bob Leonard
11/11/15
LRL
2
$42,000
$8,820
Indian Starlight
M
6
Indian Ocean
Winter Melody
Bridlewood Farm
11/9/15
AQU
2
$67,000
$13,400
Everlasting Secret
F
3
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Ever Lasting
Edward Seltzer & Beverly Anderson & Marc Haisfield
11/8/15
LRL
2
$50,568
$8,820
Astro Lady
F
2
Exclusive Quality
Klairan
Louie Rogers Thoroughbreds LLC
11/6/15
CMR
2
$12,065
$2,567
Susie''s a Cowgirl
F
4
Cowtown Cat
Personality Girl
Glas-Tipp Stable LLC
11/1/15
BEL
2
$77,000
$15,400
Unbridled Candy
G
3
Candy Ride (ARG)
Restraint
Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A.
11/26/15
GG
3
$29,316
$3,240
Wildcat Runner
C
3
Wildcat Heir
Pretty Springs
Ponder Hill Inc.
11/23/15
PRX
3
$53,500
$5,610
Tiznow R J
C
3
Tiznow
Ruban Bleu
Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A.
11/22/15
CD
3
$55,777
$5,380
Breitling Flyer
C
4
Ghostzapper
Starbuster
Bathen Thoroughbreds LLC & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Ho
11/22/15
GPW
3
$45,500
$5,450
Chocolate Wildcat
G
3
Wildcat Heir
Chocolate Brown
Dennis A. Drazin
11/12/15
PEN
3
$33,040
$3,245
Santorini Sky
G
3
In Summation
Silent Serenade
Ocala Stud
11/11/15
RP
3
$35,200
$3,816
Flirting Clara
F
4
Exclusive Quality
Clarabella
Louie Rogers Thoroughbreds LLC
11/11/15
PEN
3
$29,500
$3,245
Standard Deal
F
3
Consolidator
Miranda Stands
Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
11/8/15
GPW
3
$35,400
$3,900
By My Side
M
5
The Kaiser
Shaye Alone
Frank Bertolino
11/7/15
CMR
3
$8,470
$901
Saint Emma''s Fire F
3
Cabo Lobo
The Emmanator
Larry Altman
11/5/15
CT
3
$27,000
$2,690
Black Martino
C
3
Two Step Salsa
Eyes a Fox
Bailey Bolen
11/1/15
GPW
3
$35,400
$4,250
Wild Twist
F
3
Wildcat Heir
Rhythm in Shoes
New Farm
10/3/15
CT
3
$27,000
$2,690
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT Win/Place/Show Horse Name Sex Age Sire
Dam
Giddy Up
F
2
High Cotton
Benny''s Diamond
F
3
Benny the Bull
Our Nation
C
2
Hy Riverside
C
3
First Distinction
F
Sorryaboutnothing
C
My Dear Venezuela F
Off Track ID Pos
Grade/ Value
Earngs
1
$28,500
$17,100
1
$55,000
$30,000
WO
1
$56,700
$33,540
GPW
1
$36,800
$23,200
11/19/15
GPW
1
$47,000
$31,000
11/15/15
DMR
1
$53,000
$31,200
11/8/15
GPW
1
$47,000
$31,000
Breeder
Date
Cindy Woo Who
Thomas L Croley
11/25/15
PEN
Drippingindiamonds
Gregg James
11/24/15
PRX
United States
Camp Surprise
Northwest Stud
11/20/15
Macho Uno
Sarcasm
Amy Dunne
11/20/15
2
With Distinction
Miss Greatness
Freddie Hyatt
2
Repent
Royal Card
Woodford Thoroughbreds
2
Wildcat Heir
Bayou Mist
Orlando Martinez
80 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
AroundCountry_Layout 1 12/16/15 4:19 PM Page 81
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT Win/Place/Show continued Off Value
Grade/ Earngs
1
$40,000
$22,800
MVR
1
$17,000
$10,200
DMR
1
$52,500
$31,200
11/1/15
GPW
1
$47,000
$31,000
11/28/15
GPW
2
$43,000
$10,000
Jared Cheeks
11/28/15
GPW
2
$41,000
$8,000
Dee-Ellen Cook
11/28/15
HAW
2
$20,000
$4,000
Horse Name Sex Age Sire
Dam
Breeder
Date
Track ID Pos
Family Meeting
F
2
Sky Mesa
Family Plan
Glen Hill Farm
11/7/15
LRL
Makinville
G
4
Petionville
Makin Heat
Y-Lo Racing Stables LLC
11/3/15
Coppa
F
2
Yesbyjimminy
Diplomatic Angel
Carlos Rafael
11/1/15
Fulfilled Fantasy
F
2
Gone Astray
Unbridled Fantasy (AUS)
Juan Centeno
R Girls a Charmer
F
2
In Summation
Velvet Charm
Ocala Stud
Red Hot Looks
C
2
Bring the Heat
Take a Look
Silken Wildcat
G
3
D'wildcat
Lilly Marlene
Southern Quality
C
2
Exclusive Quality
Sweetsouthernjazz
Laurence Leavy
11/28/15
TAM
2
$20,000
$4,000
Gray Cotton
C
2
High Cotton
Pisane Hills
Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon
11/25/15
HAW
2
$19,400
$4,000
Newcomb
F
2
Giant's Causeway
Rainbow's Song
Glen Hill Farm
11/22/15
LRL
2
$40,000
$8,400
Salsa Appeal
C
2
Two Step Salsa
Jazz Appeal
Casey Seaman
11/21/15
CMR
2
$9,394
$1,879
Difference Maker
C
3
Wildcat Heir
Provocative
GoldMark Farm LLC
11/20/15
GPW
2
$36,800
$7,140
Loveyou Likethat
F
2
Crown of Thorns
Whirlwind Charlott
Woodford Thoroughbreds
11/18/15
MVR
2
$17,000
$3,400
Howling Wolf
G
2
Yesbyjimminy
Righteous Wolf
Constance E. Stawasz
11/17/15
MVR
2
$17,000
$3,400
Fired Up Sensation F
2
Zensational
Pure Disco
Patricia Generazio
11/15/15
GPW
2
$42,000
$10,000
Lori''s Folly
C
2
With Distinction
Kissa Melissa
Just For Fun Stable
11/14/15
PRX
2
$54,700
$10,000
Paddy O''Wagon
G
2
Paddy O'Prado
Gioiello
John A. DeVault & Sue S. DeVault
11/14/15
GPW
2
$43,000
$10,000
Silent Movies
C
2
Chapel Royal
Magic Show
Steve Prather
11/8/15
DMR
2
$52,750
$10,400
Wastin'' Away
F
2
High Cotton
Pageant Girl
Thomas L Croley
11/8/15
LRL
2
$40,000
$8,400
Forman the Foreman C
2
Cool Coal Man
Donnie's Secret
Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds
11/7/15
GPW
2
$42,000
$9,600
Determined Lady
F
2
Big Drama
Lemon Pie
Hal Queen Farm
11/4/15
GPW
2
$43,000
$10,000
Majestic Robert
C
2
Majesticperfection
Sewickley Heights
Rick Sutherland
11/1/15
PRX
2
$51,500
$10,000
Candy Man Can
G
4
Lemon Drop Kid
Snow Cone
Live Oak Stud
10/31/15
AIK
2
$20,000
$3,600
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 81
und The Country
Florida-Breds Aro
AroundCountry_Layout 1 12/16/15 4:19 PM Page 82
Florida-Breds Aro
The Country und
■FLORIDA-BRED FINISHERS—MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT Win/Place/Show continued Horse Name Sex Age Sire
Dam
Breeder
Date
My Good Venezuela F
Gold Point Gal
Orlyana Farm
11/28/15
2
Wildcat Heir
Track ID Pos GPW
3
Off Value
Grade/ Earngs
$43,000
$5,000
Night Rythm
G
2
Cowtown Cat
Unholy Night
Jessica Wynn Hartigan
11/28/15
GPW
3
$41,000
$4,600
Just Like a Rock
C
3
Rock Hampton
Netjet
Ric Deg Farm & Luisa Degwitz
11/25/15
PEN
3
$28,500
$3,135
Abiding Star
C
2
Uncle Mo
Abiding
Gilbert G. Campbell
11/22/15
PRX
3
$53,500
$5,500
Salsa Bay
C
2
Two Step Salsa
Franconia
Michael Vincent Laurato
11/20/15
WO
3
$56,700
$6,149
Mystic Sky
G
2
Sky Mesa
Mystical Woman
Vegso Racing Stable
11/19/15
CD
3
$54,420
$5,200
Jane''s Cat
F
3
Cowtown Cat
Jane Daniels
Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc
11/18/15
GPW
3
$34,400
$3,800
Dance Electric
F
2
Eskendereya
Proud Lightning
Destiny Oaks of Ocala
11/18/15
MVR
3
$17,000
$1,700
My Pisano
G
4
Yesbyjimminy
Diplomatic Angel
Bridlewood Farm
11/18/15
MVR
3
$17,000
$1,700
Dancing Lucy
F
3
Northern Afleet
River Forest
Glen Hill Farm
11/15/15
LRL
3
$40,000
$4,400
Bandera''s Gold
C
2
Mineshaft
Bandera Negra
Y-Lo Racing Stables LLC
11/14/15
GPW
3
$43,000
$5,000
Liam''s Prince
C
3
Northern Afleet
Princess Liam
Sienna Farms LLC
11/13/15
AQU
3
$60,000
$6,000
Epic Journey
G
2
J P's Gusto
Golden Horseshoe
Brent Fernung & Crystal Fernung
11/13/15
CD
3
$51,447
$4,890
Cowboy Classic
G
2
High Cotton
La Faye
SCF Inc.
11/12/15
DED
3
$33,900
$3,135
Something Naughty F
2
Into Mischief
Gracious Assault
Christy Whitman
11/11/15
MVR
3
$17,000
$1,700
Our Way
G
2
Tizway
She's Sensational
Farm III Enterprices LLC
11/8/15
AQU
3
$60,000
$6,000
Osceola Pond
G
2
Cape Blanco (IRE)
Big Promise
Glen Hill Farm
11/8/15
DMR
3
$52,750
$6,240
Perdido Playboy
C
2
Maimonides
Centerfold
Antonia B. Noonan
11/7/15
GPW
3
$42,000
$3,200
Gray Cotton
C
2
High Cotton
Pisane Hills
Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon
11/7/15
HAW
3
$20,000
$2,200
Broken Halo
F
3
Purim
Miami Princess
Jim Vanhandel
11/5/15
DMR
3
$52,750
$4,680
Proud Lady
F
2
In Summation
Proud Trippi
Phil Combest
11/4/15
GPW
3
$43,000
$5,000
Completely Bonkers G
2
Giacomo
Complete Approval
H & E Ranch
11/1/15
BEL
3
$75,000
$7,500
Going Abroad
2
In Summation
Sweetly Valid
Ocala Stud
11/1/15
PRX
3
$52,500
$5,500
G
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse 82 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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■ Replays www.FTBOA.com FTBOA Member library Brought to you by
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■ Local Cox Ocala – Saturdays 9 a.m. Local 16, Digital 112
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LESLIE MART IN
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The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association held its third annual Member Holiday Charity Open House on December 5 sponsored by Palm Chevrolet. The evening drew 175 guests and over two truckloads of toys were collected for the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County. Canned goods were also collected for the Ocala Farm Ministries. Dessert cookies featuring celebrity horses at the retirement farm were provided by Second Chance at the Lowell Correctional Institute where the program is housed. Raffle items were donated by Jan Cubbage, Farm Credit and Sneaky Snacks horse treats with the funds raised going to the Florida Thoroughbred Charities. Door prizes were donated by Farm Credit, Great Lakes Agra, Sneaky Snacks and Steve Young Lavender Fields. The event brought together FTBOA members, community leaders and business partners for charity, to showcase the facility and to celebrate the season.
7 8
1) A top hat Santa awaits the photo booth 2) Andrew Fernung and Joy Williams 3) The Beach Bash broke out in dance 4) Boys & Girls Club's Carswell Ponder and Sally Moehring 5) Nancy Moffatt in photo booth 6) Patrick Vinzant, Diane Parks and Marsha Evans 7) FTBOA President George Russell with wife Karen 8) George Isaacs chats with Fred Moehring in the member library 9) Greg Wheeler and his wife Donna 10) Helen and Joe Barbazon 11) Mary and Maria Haire with Tammy Gantt
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11 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 85
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Holiday Open House 1) Sean Kaplan joins sponsors Thom & Amy Workman of Palm Chevrolet with BGC's Stan Creel and FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell 2) The raffle raised funds for Florida Thoroughbred Charities 3) Dayle Eldridge and her mom Gayle Frasier of Hartley DeRenzo get their treasure map 4) Guests enjoyed desserts from the Second Chance program in the Florida thoroughbred museum 5) Valerie Dailey, Sally Lewis and Kelly Moore 6) Two truckbeds of toys were collected and caravanned by Palm Chervrolet to the Club 7) Eric & Tina Halsteter of Sneaky Snacks store door prizes in their wagon
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8) Second Chance Farm Manager John Evans chats with Kaye Teater, one of the first Florida stallion register researchers
9) Rasmussen College's Chris Kent and his wife toast to the holiday 10) The Ladies of Journeyman Stud 11) Cheryl Magana enjoys the holiday booth 12) Young FTBOA members all smiles at the photo booth
11
4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 87
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Farm City Week Wrap-Up romoting national Farm City week, the Marion County area Farm City Week included a number of activities to promote the agricultural lifestyle – a photo contest with some winners featured here, a Farm City Festival, Plant/Science research and Education Unit tours, and the Marion County Agriculture Hall of Fame induction which honored former Florida Lieutenant Governor James H. Williams. Since its inception in 2003, the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame has been recognizing individuals who have made tremendous achievements and contributions to the furtherance of agriculture in our community. Members include 28 men and three women credited for their advancement in Marion County's agricultural history (click here to read the members' biographies). Inductees are commemorated with a bronze plaque displaying their photo and short bio. The plaques placed on permanent exhibit in the of the foyer of the Extension Service's Auditorium. The week was sponsored by The Marion County Farm City Week Coalition and included the UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Service, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’Association, Florida Equine Commu1 nications, Marion County Farm Bureau, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Marion County Public Schools, Marion County Peanut Producers, Ocala/Marion County Chamber Economic Partnership (CEP), Seminole Feeds and Sparr Building and Farm Supply.
P
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5 88 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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8
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1) The lucky winner of a new John Deere wagon was chosen from all the youth who gave all the correct answers in the scavenger hunt at the Farm City Festival 2) The Marion County Farm Bureau volunteered and sponsored a luncheon in honor of the week 3) The scenes of a Farm City category featured this tying first place winner by Scott Hodlmair from Willston's Horsemans Park 4) Renee Ross poses for a horse hug with Tucker for her photo entry 5) Mare Raphaela with her Corfu baby on on foggy Sunday morning in Mike and Martha Borchetta's front yard 6) Staci Sanders won first place in the plants and crops division with her photo of a glorious field of sunflowers 7) Cheryl Magana received first place for her nature photo taken on Easter morning at Adena Springs South in the heart of horse country 8) Scott Hodlmair's first place-animal photo Moment of Silence was taken at Post Time Farm in Ocala, the site of Horse Shows in the Sun each December through March 9) Kaye Boyer's photo of an orphaned calf named Lindsey being fed by Katherine Boyer in Pedro, Florida tied for first place in the scenes of a Farm City category. THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 89
LeadingSireLists_Florida Horse_template 12/17/15 8:48 AM Page 90
LEADING FLORIDA SIRES
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through Nov. 30, 2015. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
WITH DISTINCTION
WILDCAT HEIR
NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Yrlg 2yo Avg Sold
2yo Avg
Name
Sire Name
Farm Name
Wildcat Heir
Forest Wildcat
Deceased
$6,381,218
227
136
7
12
1
$6,738,599
Wild Dude
$634,667
26
$33,327
14
$60,250
With Distinction
Storm Cat
Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds $2,948,531
159
90
2
3
1
$2,957,466
Distinctiv Passion
$146,220
8
$15,563
5
$44,600
Exclusive Quality
Elusive Quality
Journeyman Stud
$2,140,309
116
59
2
2
0
$2,143,612
Sr. Quisqueyano
$186,400
3
$2,800
11
$22,927
Magna Graduate
Honor Grades
Woodford Thoroughbreds
$1,936,579
93
51
5
6
0
$1,939,589
Magna Light
$139,334
2
$10,000
5
$42,200
High Cotton
Dixie Union
Ocala Stud
$1,856,339
120
55
1
1
0
$1,875,403
Dream of Me
$168,440
15
$29,373
35
$48,257
In Summation
Put It Back
Ocala Stud
$1,848,839
88
57
2
2
1
$1,855,691
Summation Time
$110,858
5
$17,700
17
$34,382
Kantharos
Lion Heart
Ocala Stud
$1,589,329
41
27
4
4
1
$1,589,329
Katie's Kiss
$178,195
30
$28,307
11
$67,273
Awesome of Course Awesome Again
Ocala Stud
$1,572,075
58
27
3
4
1
$1,572,075
Fellowship
$391,150
7
$27,857
18
$32,333
Two Step Salsa
Get Away Farm
$1,541,040
74
36
2
2
1
$1,569,885
Classic Salsa
$190,710
3
$15,167
11
$31,173 $20,333
Petionville
Earnings
POLLARD’S VISION Leading Earner
Montbrook
Buckaroo
Deceased
$1,357,948
83
43
0
0
0
$1,361,872
Score One
$90,820
6
Bring the Heat
In Excess (IRE)
Ward Ranch
$1,180,308
52
32
1
2
0
$1,180,308
Richies Sweetheart $207,919
1
$1,500
Hear No Evil
Carson City
Ocala Stud
$1,063,408
33
18
1
3
0
$1,067,537
Ballet Diva
$339,675
3
$25,733
First Dude
Stephen Got Even
Double Diamond Farm
$950,850
40
15
1
1
0
$950,850
Flora Dora
$355,332
28
$26,125
38
$36,900
Benny the Bull
Lucky Lionel
Bridlewood Farm
$931,177
48
21
0
0
0
$931,177
Benny's Bullet
$89,000
6
$8,183
5
$13,700
Concerto
Chief's Crown
Deceased
$904,892
58
33
1
2
0
$911,893
Concert Stage
West Acre
Forty Niner
Deceased
$800,728
24
17
1
1
0
$800,728
Fast Flying Rumor
Cool Coal Man
Mineshaft
Journeyman Stud
$791,637
41
24
0
0
0
$791,637
Competitive Player
4
$84,750
Big Drama
Montbrook
Bridlewood Farm
$710,965
28
10
1
1
0
$710,965
Tribal Drama
$209,000
7
$45,429
31
$82,726
Indy Wind
A.P. Indy
Journeyman Stud
$608,933
28
14
0
0
0
$629,155
A. P. Cino
$107,730
3
$5,733
Flashstorm
Storm Cat
Northwest Stud
$599,552
25
17
1
1
0
$599,552
Golden Pirate
$104,915
6
$5,867
6
$21,167
Gone Astray
Dixie Union
Northwest Stud
$590,391
37
8
2
2
0
$590,391
It's High Time
$224,200
21
$21,757
27
$49,119
Yesbyjimminy
Yes It's True
Bridlewood Farm
$523,527
39
24
0
0
0
$531,262
Yes Mz Olga
$48,658
1
$8,000
6
$51,833
Leading the Parade
A.P. Indy
Lamholm South
$513,084
36
17
0
0
0
$514,808
Clever Royal
$56,280
Concorde's Tune
Concorde Bound
Deceased
$467,376
34
21
1
1
0
$488,614
Tune Me In
$95,175
Brooks 'n Down
Montbrook
Ocala Stud
$420,490
3
2
0
0
0
$420,490
Silent Prayer
$218,550
Wagon Limit
Conquistador Cielo Bridlewood Farm
$406,154
14
6
1
1
0
$406,154
Delta Bluesman
$116,405
Act of Duty
Mr. Prospector
Deceased
$350,102
34
13
0
0
0
$350,102
Rasta Rant
$71,720
Rock Hampton
Storm Cat
Ric Deg Farm
$334,479
18
9
0
0
0
$334,479
Condestable
$63,015
2
$2,100
3
$6,167
1
$2,500
12
$26,917
$84,210 $103,695 $83,470
The Green Monkey
Forestry
Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds $260,914
13
9
1
2
0
$318,274
Green Doctor
$66,006
Kiss the Kid
Lemon Drop Kid
Journeyman Stud
$280,066
15
7
0
0
0
$280,066
Just Kidding
$99,380
Admiral's Cruise
A.P. Indy
Deceased
$269,402
11
5
2
2
2
$276,454
Crucero
Hello Broadway
Broken Vow
Ups and Downs Farm
$270,553
16
8
0
0
0
$270,553
My Sweet Dove
$62,050
Three Wonders
Storm Cat
Deceased
$262,325
20
7
0
0
0
$262,325
Two Wonders
$87,177
Straight Man
Saint Ballado
Deceased
$255,364
14
10
0
0
0
$255,681
Unflinching
Crown of Thorns
Repent
Woodford Thoroughbreds
$243,900
12
4
1
1
0
$243,900
Swagger Jagger
Mach Ride
Pentelicus
Bridlewood Farm
$231,262
7
5
1
1
0
$231,262
Ackeret
$75,000
1
$1,200
1
$7,000
United States
A.P. Indy
Northwest Stud
$182,583
15
6
1
1
0
$182,583
La Irunesa
$59,928
7
$8,529
5
$48,240
Spensive
Ponche
Y-Lo Racing Stable
$164,515
8
2
0
0
0
$164,515
Aces for John
Proud Accolade
Yes It's True
Deceased
$153,334
13
5
0
0
0
$153,334
Hudatbe
90 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
$142,690
$121,155 $83,630
$123,957 $29,985
LeadingSireLists_Florida Horse_template 12/17/15 8:49 AM Page 91
LEADING FLORIDA FRESHMAN SIRES
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through Nov. 30, 2015. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
BIG DRAMA
FIRST DUDE Farm Name
GONE ASTRAY
NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings
Leading Earner
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Yrlg Avg
2yo Sold
$355,332
28
$26,125
38
$36,900
Tribal Drama
$209,000
7
$45,429
31
$82,726
$590,391
It's High Time
$224,200
21
$21,757
27
$49,119
0
$420,490
Silent Prayer
$218,550
1
0
$243,900
Swagger Jagger
$83,630
1
$2,500
12
$26,917
0
0
0
$147,584
R Luckey Charlie
$31,233
16
$22,619
15 $144,033
3
0
0
0
$116,462
Exactamente
$27,520
4
$17,750
13
$61,385
4
3
0
0
0
$87,350
Revolver Sessions
$42,100
4
2
0
0
0
$43,842
Kim
$19,282
2
$41,000
Name
Sire Name
First Dude
Stephen Got Even Double Diamond Farm
$950,850
40
15
1
1
0
$950,850
Flora Dora
Big Drama
Montbrook
Bridlewood Farm
$710,965
28
10
1
1
0
$710,965
Gone Astray
Dixie Union
Northwest Stud
$590,391
37
8
2
2
0
Brooks 'n Down
Montbrook
Ocala Stud
$420,490
3
2
0
0
Crown of Thorns
Repent
Woodford Thoroughbreds $243,900
12
4
1
Adios Charlie
Indian Charlie
Ocala Stud
$89,554
7
3
J P's Gusto
Successful Appeal Journeyman Stud
$116,462
12
Iqbaal
Medaglia d'Oro
Ward Ranch
$87,350
Rodman
Malibu Moon
Deceased
$43,842
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through Nov. 30, 2015. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
LEADING FLORIDA 2ND CROP SIRES
BECOME A COOL COAL MAN
KANTHAROS
2yo Avg
NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's
Earnings
KISS THE KID
Leading Earner
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Katie's Kiss
$178,195
30
Name
Sire Name
Farm Name
Kantharos
Lion Heart
Ocala Stud
$1,589,329 41
27
4
4
1
$1,589,329
Cool Coal Man
Mineshaft
Journeyman Stud
$791,637
41
24
0
0
0
$791,637
Competitive Player
$83,470
Kiss the Kid
Lemon Drop Kid Journeyman Stud
$280,066
15
7
0
0
0
$280,066
Just Kidding
$99,380
Mach Ride
Pentelicus
Bridlewood Farm
$231,262
7
5
1
1
0
$231,262
Ackeret
$75,000
1
United States
A.P. Indy
Northwest Stud
$182,583
15
6
1
1
0
$182,583
La Irunesa
$59,928
7
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse • www.ftboa.com
Yrlg 2yo Avg Sold $28,307
2yo Avg
11
$67,273
4
$84,750
$1,200
1
$7,000
$8,529
5
$48,240
THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016 91
Cohen_Farmmanagement_Florida Horse_template 12/17/15 8:49 AM Page 1
Reviewing topics for a strong New Year
FARM M A N A G E M E N T
A Positive & Productive Setup
I
t is almost hard to believe, but 2015 is actually about to come to a close. This has been a fantastic year for the Florida racing industry, as probably the greatest horse of our time, American Pharaoh, got his start in this state. Plenty of things happened in 2015, setting up 2016 to be busy, positive and productive for the equine industry. Let’s review topics covered to gallop strong into the New Year. Outstanding web links that for farms were once again discussed. Information available ranges from financial resources, manure management and pasture management to manure to energy/ alternative energy systems. Be sure that any information be gleaned from trusted, sciencebased sources. While there are certainly several excellent options out there, one avenue that can always be trusted stems from university systems. When .edu is part of the web address, the information is absolutely coming from scientifically-based university research. The North American Manure Expo in Chambersburg, PA. focused extensively on improving sustainability for farms; horse farms, crop farms and other livestock all had experts available for discussion. Stall construction from Bamboo wood (a highly renewable wood) and composting horse manure to reuse as superior bedding and/or a soil amendment to improve pastures and riding areas was explained. Either can be a viable option for anyone having a barn looking to improve overall sustainability. Erosion. This topic can bring nightmares to some farms. Certainly, some types of farm/home property are more susceptible than others because of the slope of the land, farm layout, soil type, etc., but it is bad for us all because, besides being a potentially expensive hassle to fix, it can carry pollutants (like excess nutrients, oils and additional sediments) to the water. Maintaining healthy vegetative cover is always the best first step to avoid erosion. Please use caution with any excess application of herbicides along fence lines, plant additional seed, trees and shrubs (especially great at the top of a slope) to keep all soil areas covered. This is an especially critical step around any waterways. These few key management practices can dramatically stop erosion from becoming a demon. 92 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
As good vegetative cover helps curtail erosion and slow-release fertilization of the grass and ground cover areas (need determined through routine soil testing) can help supply necessary nutrients in a controlled-release manner. Recent fertilizer technology advances have resulted in new products that slowly release nutrients specifically into the root zone, improving efforts to minimize potential overall fertilizer nutrient loss from the root zone while maximizing plant uptake. Commercial fertilizers are often water-soluble, quick-release fertilizers (QRFs); while these are predictively readily available for plants when properly placed in soil, they can become a serious problem where nutrient leaching is a serious concern in highly unpredictable, hi-leaching/flooding events, like those found with Florida’s heavy rains and hurricanes. Correct nutrient management utilizes a combination of fertilizer type, application rate, application time, and application placement and slow-release fertilizers are one outstanding management option. Let’s not forget that 2015 was declared the, “International Year of the Soil” by the United Nations. Globally, up to 50,000 sq. km of soil are lost each year (equaling the size of Costa Rica), meaning keeping farmland as pastures can be very beneficial for water purification, climate change, etc. It can take up to1000 years to produce only two or three centimeters of topsoil, so composting horse manure/bedding and then spreading it back on the ground really helps to nurture the soil, improving it for plants, horses, the water, etc. Just ONE TEASPOON of healthy soil contains more living things than all of the people on the planet! Hopefully, this refresher gives ideas that can assist the farm’s management to be more effective. To schedule a FREE, non-regulatory farm visit, please contact me or your local Extension agent. As always, keep up the good management practices! ■ Jamie Cohen • 352-671-8792 Farm Outreach Coordinator UF IFAS/Marion County Extension Service jamiecohen@ufl.edu.
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Charity Stallion Season Auction Wednesday, January 27
Immediately following the opening session of the OBS Winter Mixed Sale
At the OBS Sales Pavilion Stallions include:
Adios Charlie Anthony's Cross Awesome Of Course Bahamian Squall Beau Choix Brethren Brooks n Down Capo Bastone City Wolf Cool Coal Man Crown of Thorns Csaba
Currency Swap Drill Doctor Peach Duke of Mischief Exclusive Quality Factum Field Commission First Dude Flashstorm Fort Larned Fury Kapcori Get Rich Quick
Global Response Gone Astray Handsome Mike Hear No Evil He's Had Enough High Cotton In Summation I Spent It J P's Gusto Kantharos Khozan Love Bully
Magna Graduate Mark Valeski Overdriven Poseidon's Warrior Prospective Rattlesnake Bridge Retreive Revolving Senor Swinger Soldat The Big Beast The Green Monkey
Treasure Beach Turbo Compressor Two Step Salsa Uncaptured United States Vineyard Haven Winslow Homer With Distinction Wrote (IRE) List as of 12/9/2015, additional stallions may be added.
Advance bidding forms available at www.ftboa.com or at the FTBOA offices. Advance bids are sealed and opened prior to start of auction. • Sales catalogs available first week of January.
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ & OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352.629.2160, Fax: 352.629.3603 • www.ftboa.com
42654–fh
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DRIFTING OUT
T
he youthful and fighting spirit of the Florida thoroughbred industry is embodied in Laurine FullerVargas, which is something that will soon be Managing Editor for Florida Equine discovered by the state lawmakers and those lobbyists who Communications seek to “decouple” thoroughbred racing from the state’s “racinos.” Her bona fides are easy to list: A trainer, breeder, broodmare manager, show-horse competitor and Massachusetts’ youngest licensed owner at the age of 12, her father was a jockey, her mother is a trainer and her grandfather was a breeder, owner and trainer. Her husband is a licensed jockey, he the son of Triple Tiara-winning jockey Abigail Fuller, whose father Peter was one of the more interesting characters this sport ever produced: Harvard graduate, Kentucky Derby-winning owner (sort of), son of a Massachusetts governor and Golden Gloves heavyweight champion of New England, and someone who fought in the courts long after his Dancer’s Image was disqualified from winning the 1968 Kentucky Derby. When Laurine said “It’s in my blood,” she When Laurine was talking about thoroughbreds, but she said “It’s in my blood,” she was could also be talking about her zest for a fight. Believing that her off-the-track thoroughtalking about bred was scored unfairly when competing in thoroughbreds, the show ring against warmbloods, her enbut she could ergy and sense of fair play led her to create a also be talking welcoming environment for an all-thoroughabout her zest bred show-horse competition, cleverly for a fight. named “Run for the Ribbons,” which she hosts at her Cedar Lock Farm in Morriston. She, her husband and her best friend Cara McKeon – all of whom are 20-something – witnessed the agonizing death of the thoroughbred industry in Massachusetts and they are bound and determined not to let the same thing happen in Florida. And decoupling, if passed by the Legislature, could prove to be the death knell of the sport here. To that end, they are looking forward to stepping into the ring with anyone who threatens Florida’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry, which is something that decoupling threatens to do. Laurine has written Gov. Rick Scott and has told him
94 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
that to expect a petition with 1,000 signatures. On her own initiative, she has approached not only leading local industry leaders, but also the incoming northern horsemen. Expert at the art of social media, Laurine and her partners, either electronically or in person, come armed with the facts and figures, derived from FTBOA studies, such as: a direct economic impact beyond $1 billion; more than $400,000 in payroll taxes; more than 12,000 jobs directly involved in the racing industry statewide; nearly 20,000 full- and part-time jobs, either directly or indirectly involved in the equine industry, in Marion County, and more than a $2.6 billion, indirect and direct economic, impact in Marion County alone. Not only has she approached horsemen but she has also met with the peripheral businesses supported by the equine economy, such as restaurants and hotels. From Dade and Broward counties, to the Bay Area and up to Ocala and Marion County, she has been struck by the fact that these businessmen are uniformly unaware of the threat that decoupling poses, not only to the equine industry, but to their own businesses as well. “It’s amazing,” she said. “The peripheral businesses aren’t tied on to the importance of this issue. I don’t think that people are getting it … maybe that’s because there just isn’t enough information out there, but it’s important to at least try to get them that information … to rally the community.” Those with Internet can sign a virtual petition after clicking into www.change.org/p/florida-governor-rick-scott-andy-gardiner-say-no-to-decoupling-in-flo rida-to-protect-the-horse-racing-industry-and-state-seconomy. As of Thursday morning there were 974 signatures, with the goal of 1,000 by this weekend, after which she will send the signatures on to Gov. Scott. For more information on the economic impact and importance of the equine industry, click into www.ftboa.com/about-us/why-florida-bred. ■
• • • • •
FILE PHOTO
by Mike Mullaney
Youth Carries the Flag
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Visit me at www.louiseereinagel.com E-Mail: limelightf@gmail.com
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O F
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WRIGHTS OF DEROSA
Florida is a Year-Round Brand by Ed DeRosa
A
common complaint is that thoroughbred in- point to the success (and extension) of Florida’s premiere dustry stakeholders rarely work together, but meeting as a handle driver, the rising tide has lifted all boats. Those boats are in the Florida harbor, though, and it’s that does not apply to Florida where racetracks, sales companies, and breeders have built a strong year- not high tide everywhere. If market share on Florida racing has gone up, then it’s gone down in other jurisdictions. OBS round industry from cradle to racetrack. Florida racing has always had a strong brand, so these is selling more of the fewer 2-year-olds produced each year, developments have not been so much about strengthening so one sale folded and others aren’t as strong. But does that mean that Florida is adversarial to other rethat brand as they have been about making it omnipresent, gions or parts of the industry? Of course not. and it goes beyond the racetrack. With fewer dollars bet on track each year, an attractive The Florida foal crop increased 2012-2013, and its share of foals produced in North America has increased each year year-round wagering product benefits all bet-taking outlets since 2011 when it hit a low of 8.5%. In that same time, the such as my employer, TwinSpires.com. And many of those number of Florida-bred Florida-sired foals has increased selling 2-year-olds in Florida March-June acquired them elsewhere the previous summer-fall. dramatically. Racing is a niche sport with niche crevices. People can And Florida breds are succeeding outside the Sunshine State, too, as they earned more than $20,000 per start for the make their living doing very specific things in this industry, which is regulated in a similar way with state, federal, first time ever in 2013 and replicated the feat in 2014. The Ocala Breeders Sales Co. has gotten in on the ac- and special interest politicos all having a say in how raction as well, strengthening its 2-year-old sales to the point ing operates. This has been known to breed contempt and in-fightthat Keeneland ended its 2-year-old sale, and the others outing. Instead of viewing niche talents as an opportunity to side Florida mostly appeal to regional markets. On the racetrack, races and purses have increased each year to changes in the landsince 2010 with the number of scape, and business has improved. It’s time for the starters in 2014 the highest industry at large to do the same. since 2006. This is a betting game, though, and ultimately the improve the industry, the revenue/salary they generate is strength of the industry is judged on handle, and this is guarded to the detriment of other opportunity. Florida racing has shown it doesn’t have to be this way. where Florida shines brighter than the Sun in its nickname. Handle this year (through November 30) on races in It adapted to changes in the landscape, and business has imFlorida is up 12.6% versus last year and up an incredible proved. It’s time for the industry at large to do the same. ■ 35.5% since 2010. Ed DeRosa is director of marketing for Brisnet.com, the And it’s not just because there are more races. Bettors throughout North America choose to wager on Florida rac- official data source of the Kentucky Derby and Twining, which has a market share of 15.1% this year versus Spires.com. Ed joined Brisnet.com in July 2011 following 13.5% last year and just 10.4% in 2010. Put another way, nine years as a writer and editor with Thoroughbred Times. for every $1,000 wagered on North American thorough- He grew up in Cleveland and learned to love horse racing bred racing this year, $47 more of it is on Florida racing while going to Thistledown with his grandfather. Ed is a diehard Indians fan, leaving him to wonder which--if eithan five years ago. Each of Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Gulf- ther--will come first: A Triple Crown winner or an Indians stream Park West (aka the former Calder Race Course) have world championship. Ed's favorite horses are Real Quiet, shown year-over-year increases, so while it might be easy to Ghostzapper, and Rachel Alexandra.
“Florida has adapted
”
98 THE FLORIDA HORSE • JANUARY 2016
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A 12 race series for both 2 & 3-year-olds, plus 2-year-old and up supplementals
2-Year-Old Payment $250 by Jan. 15 Yearling Payment $250 by May. 15
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
42625
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