HorseRacingBC Serving the British Columbia Horseracing community
Issue # 67
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014
B it s & Bi kes FREE! HorseRacingBC Subscription
Can’t find a copy? Anyone wishing to receive this paper on-line can email jimreynolds@ uniserve.com and simply ask to be put on a safe and secure mailing list. You will receive the paper in a unique PDF format each month. Looking For Old Photos We are looking for old photos that show the history of BC racing. Photos will be reproduced and published and returned safely. No win photos please New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society New Stride announces that they have received accreditation from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and have qualified for grants from the THA, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Blue Horse Charities. The aforementioned groups have very rigorous application, review and approval processes.
Bill Davis Jr. and Sr. among the days mantel-piece hardware
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC) The office of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC) has moved. The new location is: #7 - 5492 Production Blvd. Surrey, BC V3S 8P5 New telephone #: 604-534-0145 New Fax#: 604-534-2847 Updated Stallion Info Standardbred Canada would like to remind stallion owners and lessees to submit their updated 2015 stallions for the online stallion directory. Information can be submitted via the online update form or by contacting Caren Brown-Stockwell at 905858-3060 (Ext. 258). The Thoroughbred Ladies Club of BC The TLC of BC, whose charity work and scholarship program has benefited backstretch workers at Hastings Racecourse since 1973, meets the first Tuesday each month. If you would like to join them in their worthwhile efforts or help at the occasional function, please call: Linda Sentes 604-318-7949 Barb Williams at 604-542-8951.
Rememberance Day—Breeders Classic
The Breeders Classic on November 11th was certainly a day to remember for trainers Bill Davis and Dennis Johnston and the two guest drivers from Ontario. Davis scored three out of four training wins, including the $75,000 Robert Murphy Stakes with Need You So Bad and also had one driving win. Davis currently sits atop the trainer and driver standings with 97 training victories with an impressive UDRS of 0.500 at this writing) and 122 driving victories with a UDRS of .404. Two of Davis’ three wins on the day, including the Robert Murpy, came with his son Billy Davis Jr. driving. The younger Davis, who flew in for Classic Day, had four wins—two of those in Stakes races. The other invader from Ontario was Doug McNair, a young driver with and impressive record of over 1,500 lifetime wins. He is also the youngest driver to reach 1,000 wins and $1,000,000 in monies won. McNair flew out from Ontario to compete with his future brother in law Billy Davis Jr., McNair showed his game with three wins, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth while piloting both of Dennis Johnston’s Breeders Classic winners in the $50,000 Robert Millbank Memorial for two-year-old colts and geldings and the $75,000 Mary Murphy Memorial for three-year-old fillies. Trainer Dennis Johnston certainly had a day to remember with Go to The Windows winning the Mary Murphy and Blissful Angel with a victory in the $50,0000 Robert Millbank. The other big winners on the day were the Bob Chadwick clan and two-year-old Kootenay Mystic winner of the $50,000 Betty Millbank Memorial.
Issue #67
Racing News
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE ACQUIRES EMERALD DOWNS
Tribe will own and more than $11 million over the years, and the in purse enhancements tremendous efforts of operate the NorthAlberta Downs may have hosted its last card at Emerald Downs. Northwest Racing AsAfter just concluding its 2014 season, Alberta Downs may have hosted its west’s Premier Also, the Muckleshoot sociates’ President Ron Thoroughbred raclast card of harness racing. Tribal Classic has been Crockett and his partA post on its facebook page from Tuesday revealed that the Lacombe, Alta. ing facility. the cornerstone of the ners, Thoroughbred one-mile oval had not been granted race dates by Horse Racing Alberta for The Muckleshoot In- Washington Cup series horse racing has strug2015. dian Tribe has reached for Washington-bred gled in an increasingly “After 5 years of supplying the harness racing industry in Alberta with a difficult environment agreement in principle horses. place to race. Despite a 50% increase in daily handle in 2014 over 2013. with Northwest Racing “The Tribe’s long- both in Washington Horse Racing Alberta has decided not to give Alberta Downs any more race Associates to acquire standing support of the State and nationally. days in the future. We thank the horsemen and fans for their support over the Emerald Downs, the state’s thoroughbred “My goal has always last 5 years.” industry been to preserve this Northwest’s premier racing industry,” That news was confirmed by the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, Thoroughbred racing continues with this important transaction,” said Crockett said. “I have who informed Trot Insider that a total of 90 days have been assigned to the facility. Muckleshoot Tribal accomplished that goal When the transaction still-to-be-completed Century Downs racetrack project and 23 dates have closes in the next 60 to Council Chair Virginia and this is now good been granted to Northlands Park for the 2015 season. The total race dates on this first draft race calendar (113) is up from the 90 days the Tribe will Cross. “It is the Tribe’s time for the Tribe to 104 dates scheduled in 2014. These dates are not etched in stone given that assume full ownership goal to keep the step in and bring EmerThoroughbred horse ald Downs to the next Century Downs is still under construction and slated to open in spring 2015. and operational control from Northwest Rac- racing industry as a level.” Letter to the Editor Crockett has agreed to ing Associates, which viable part of our state’s Emerald serve as a consultant to has operated the race- economy. Hi Jim, Downs sits in the center the Tribe to help with track since its beginof the Tribe’s historical the transition to new Thanks for the good old days photo of Winnie talking to his jockey Charlie ning in 1996. This transaction is homeland and this ownership and the curSmirke. Winnie was a great supporter of horseracing and owned a horse called Strombolli which won a lot of races. Those were my schooldays the culmination of the transaction makes it an rent management team when I was the school bookmaker at the private school I attended, the two Muckleshoot Tribe’s important part of our will remain in place. economic development The 2015 live racbig races in England, the Epsom Derby and Grand National, both had an support of Thoroughprogram.” ing season, the 20th in anti post market so it was easy to run a race book. That year the Grand bred racing in WashAfter the transaction track history, is schedNational was won by a horse called Russian Hero at 66 to 1.We only had ington State over many closes the Tribe will un- uled to run 70 days 1 bet on the horse so cleaned up. Interestingly Russian Hero was trained years. The Tribe has been Emerald Downs’ dertake an evaluation from April through by a small trainer called George Owen in Cheshire, my part of England. landlord since 2002, of steps to strengthen September including Dick Francis, the jockey novelist had his first job at the end of World War when it acquired the the performance of the 80th running of II as stable jockey for George Owen. I had Dick on one of my flights when 157-acre property on Emerald Downs. Not- the Grade 3 Longacres I flew for Air Canada from London to Vancouver,he was taking his family which Emerald Downs withstanding a number Mile in August. on an Alaskan Cruise. Dick spent a lot of time in the cockpit talking racing. The stable area opens of legislatively authosits, and since 2004 One thing we discussed was the inexplicable fall of the Queen Mothers the Tribe has invested rized enhancements February 1. horse Devon Loch which he rode. Leading by 50 lengths it fell 100 yards from the winning post. Dick said the horse was just tired, but I told him the 2015 SUMMER STABLING AND RACING OPTIONS horse seemed to spot the jump alongside the run in and attempted to jump UPDATE it. The fall spoiled a huge Royal victory. Memories an old photo brings!!!! The Harness Racing BC board are continuing talks with Fraser Downs Incidentally, talking of old photos there are some good ones in the café of with regards to summer stabling. Fraser Downs Management has indithe Town and Country hotel by the tunnel with one of Patterson Park 100 cated to HRBC that there will be no summer racing. years ago. Jim Vinnell, Bill Pambrun, Mike Brown (Director of racing - GPEB) and Jackson Wittup met with Racing Management and the Native Band repreYours Truly, sentatives in Kamloops on October 15th. Mike gave both parties an David Woolley, extensive document with regulatory needs and both parties will now have Langley. Thanks David. It is a great photo but I didn’t know who the jockey was. I will pass on the to do a cost analysis to see if racing is possible in the future. The infrainformation to the Thoroughtbed Ladies Club who supplies these wonderful glimpses of structure is there, it just needs updated. Osoyoos has given a price to rent the facility for training only, they are a the past. volunteer organization only and are not able to supply any help with manpower for an extended period of time. All cost and risk to host racing would have to come from an outside source. for all your horse insurance needs
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An Idaho Horse A man from Idaho breezed into BC with a six-year-old horse that had never raced before but which he entered for a race. The horse won easily and paid a whopping price. The racing stewards did not like the look of the thing and questioned the owner. “Is this horse unsound?” they asked. “Not a bit,” said the owner.”In that case,” asked the stewards, “why have you never raced him before?”. “Mister,” said the man from Idaho, “we couldn’t even catch the critter until he was five years old”.
Issue # 67
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014
CSU Releases New Furosemide Research Results… by Dr. Paul Morley As the debate over the controversial drug furosemide (marketed as Salix and also known as Lasix) heats up in advance of the Breeders’ Cup, a Colorado State University (CSU) researcher has released new study results about the impact that bleeding in the lungs has on racehorses’ performance and the effectiveness of the most common treatment for the condition. Furosemide, is designed to reduce exerciseinduced pulmonary hemorrhaging (EIPH), the bleeding in the lungs that commonly occurs while horses are racing. The use of the medication
was banned by the Breeders’ Cup last year in races that were limited to 2-yearold horses, but race officials reversed that policy and are allowing furosemide to be used in all races this year. The industry in North America is divided over the issue, with proponents of the diuretic arguing that furosemide protects horses’ health and improves performance, and opponents saying that permitting the drug is marring the sport’s good name. The Breeders’ Cup, a 30-year-old series of Thoroughbred races, will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Recent research by
Paul Morley, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, a CSU professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and one of the foremost experts on furosemide and EIPH, is providing important new information to stakeholders in the debate. Morley is part of a long-standing collaborative group that has published three new papers in Equine Veterinary Journal that address the effects of EIPH on performance as well as the efficacy of furosemide in controlling the condition. In the first study, Morley and his coauthors studied EIPH in 1,000 racehorses, and showed that
the condition has detrimental effects on their ability to perform as elite athletes. However, in another study that followed the lifetime racing careers of more than 700 horses, the research group was unable to find an association between EIPH and the number of races the horses were able to run or their earning potential, except in the most extreme form of the condition. In the third project, Morley and his research team examined existing studies on furosemide and concluded that there is high-quality, albeit limited, evidence that the drug is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of EIPH
in racehorses. The finding supports the results of his team’s landmark 2009 clinical trial on furosemide. “These studies build on our earlier work to provide horsemen and regulators with the evidence they need to inform the highly charged debate about EIPH and Lasix,” said Ken Hinchcliff, BVSc, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and one of Morley’s longtime collaborators on the studies. “Our international team has explicitly addressed the key issues facing racing around the management of
EIPH.” Despite the controversy surrounding the issue, Morley said he and his fellow researchers don’t have a horse in the race, so to speak; they are simply trying to provide independent, unbiased information so that ongoing discussions about furosemide are based on sound facts. Morley acknowledged that there is much more research to be done, since the longterm effects of EIPH and furosemide on the wellbeing of horses are still unclear. “We want to continue providing high-quality evidence for the decision-makers, and to inform the debate,” he said.
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Issue #67
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014
2014 Breeders Classic…Harness Racing’s Richest Day
Winning photos courtesy of Michael’s Fine Photography
The Betty Millbank Memorial Stake — 2-year-old fillies ($50,000)
The Mary Murphy Breeders Stake Stake — 3-year-old fillies ($75,000)
Kootenay Mystic: b,f, 2 - Camystic-Creative Girl-Safe N Rich,
Go To The Windows: b,f,3 - Allamerican Cobalt-Bold Beauty-
Owner: Robert E Chadwick, Surrey,BC, Trainer; K Chadwick, Driver: Bill Davis, Time; 2:01.3
Artsplace Owner: Dennis Johnston,Cultus Lake,BC, Trainer; D Johnston, Driver: D McNair Time; 1:58
The Robert Millbank Memorial Breeders Stake — 2-year-old colts & geldings ($50,000)
The Robert Murphy Memorial Breeders Stake Stake — 3-year-old colts & geldings $75,000
Blissful Angel b,c,2 - Blissfull Hall-Angelic Smile-Grinfromeartoear
Need You So Bad: b,g,3 - American Ideal-Sendingforth-Cams Card
Owner: William R Pambrun, Abbotsford-Dennis Johnston, Cultus Lake, BC Driver: D McNair, Trainer; D Johnston, Time: 1:56
Shark, Owner: J J J Stables, Aldergrove, BC, Trainer: Bill Davis, Driver; Billy Davis Jr., Time: 1:54.1
Issue # 67
www.horseracingbc.ca
On Any Given Race Day photos by Brandy Gladu
December 2014
www.horseracingbc.ca
Issue #67
The Good Ol’ Boys
December 2014
LESLIE MAWING FINALIST FOR GEORGE WOOLF AWARD Leslie Mawing, the leading rider at Emerald Downs in 2014, is a finalist for one of Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious awards. Mawing is among five riders named by Santa Anita as finalists for the 2015 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. James Graham, Corey Nakatani, Mike Luzzi and Rosie Napravnik are the other finalists. The winner will be announced in January and is usually presented with the award in March. Held in conjunction with the Jockeys’ Guild and voted on by jockeys nationwide, the Woolf Award is presented to a jockey whose career and personal character earn esteem for both the rider and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. It is named in memory of the Hall of Fame jockey who suffered fatal injuries following a racing accident at Santa Anita on January 3, 1946. Mawing rode 102 winners at Emerald Downs in 2014*32 more than runner-up Rocco Bowen*and notched his first Longacres Mile victory aboard These five trainers are proof that this racing game of ours keeps us young, Fraser Downs is home to Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd. A 40-year-old seven such gentlemen who have reached the golden age of 80+. These five are (left to right): Dan native of South Africa, Mawing has 2,240 career wins and over $24 million in purse earnings. At Ingram, Bill Young, Ray Gimmell, Marcel Bouvier and Richard Craig. Emerald Downs, Mawing ranks No. 4 all-time both in wins, 597, and stakes wins, 32.
Increasing Your Horse’s Stamina With Leg Saver!
The basic Leg Saver treatments are quite simple. 3 Treat the lung and heart ting points (located on the front coronet band) once, 3 days before a race or event. 3 Treatments are for one hour each. 3 Treatments should be done separately, one after the other. 3 It will take 2 hours to complete both. 3 The following day the horse should be walked for ½ hour to one hour. 3 The morning of the race the lungs should be treated for ½ hour as early as possible (about 8 am). Do not treat the heart. 3 This will increase performance about 4 to 8 lengths, depending on the horse. 3 Always check on the shoulders, hocks, poll & whirlbone to make sure the horse is ready for optimal performance. 3 Always treat the hocks if there is any heat in them at all. A number of trainers have been experimenting with the amount of exercise needed to keep the horse performing at its peak. Here is what we have found: 3 Horses that have their training reduced the week before the treatment are significantly improved over horses that are kept at their regular degree of exercise. They win a lot more money. 3 Reducing the exercise program the week before the treatment produces a much fitter horse. Results show about 80% wins & seconds—mostly wins (rider error caused some of the second place finishes). 3 These treatments reduce stress and strain on the horse’s body (hooves, ankles, tendons, ligaments, knees, hocks and other areas of stress). 3 Protocol for young race horses – treat their heart and lungs once every 2 weeks. This builds stronger horses with tremendous stamina. This will not make them run faster it just makes them finish stronger. This new protocol will give you the best results in your performance horse. Having more stamina down the stretch run results in more wins! Try it with one horse and see the results. I’m reluctant to tell a world-class trainer what to do but this protocol really generates superior results! CONTACT: GARY DESROCHES www.equi-stimlegsaver.com legsaver@gmail.com 1-800-595-7408 toll free 1-604-215-3622
Leslie Mawing is one of only four riders with 500 career wins at Emerald Downs. He rode 102 winners in 2014 including the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd.
Issue # 67
Emergency care for orphan foals: five tips
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014
By Christina Weese
It’s a position you hope you never need to be in — but if you suddenly become responsible for an orphan foal, here are five tips from Dr. Fernando J. Marqués, a specialist in large animal internal medicine at the WCVM, on what to expect.
1. Consult a veterinarian. “Because foals have no energy reserves in place,” explains Marqués, “they can go downhill very fast compared to an adult horse. So it’s important not to wait – at the first sign of trouble, call the vet.” Owners should keep the foal warm and dry until it can be seen by a veterinarian or transported to a veterinary facility. 2. Is the foal healthy? “The foal will first be assessed to determine if it needs any treatment besides nutrition and fluids,” says Marqués.
Dr. Fernando Marqués: “Because foals have no energy reserves in place, they can go downhill very fast compared to an adult horse.” Photo: Christina Weese.
There are a variety of situations, especially with a difficult or prolonged birth, that could have an impact on newborn foal’s health. Your veterinarian will want to assess these needs so they can be addressed as soon as possible. 3. The race for antibodies. A newborn will need colostrum or plasma to provide them with the antibodies needed to fight viral and bacterial infections. “It’s not uncommon for neonates to get infections within their first hours of life,” says Marqués. Colostrum must be given ideally within 12 hours of birth: after 24 hours the foal’s intestinal lining will no longer absorb immunoglobulins (antibodies). Beyond 24 hours, or if colostrum is unavailable, blood plasma can be given intravenously. If owners are unsure as to whether a foal received enough colostrum from its mother, veterinarians can run a blood test to check for the presence of antibodies in the foal’s blood. 4. Nutritional needs. If the orphan foal is healthy, its primary need is mare’s milk to provide nutrition and fluids. “Foals are fed 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight per day in milk,” says Marqués, “and should be fed every two hours.” Overfeeding can be just as detrimental as underfeeding, so following recommendations to calculate the right amount of milk is very important. A number of commercial milk replacers made specifically for horses are available. 5. Be aware of normal foal behaviour. Having a baseline for normal expected foal behaviour can be extremely helpful. The lack of a normal bonding with the mare or the lack of a suckle reflex, which can be indicative of “dummy foal” syndrome or systemic infection (sepsis), is a big red flag. “The suckle reflex is a neurologic reflex, an involuntary and almost instantaneous response,” says Marqués. “It’s like having your knee tapped with a hammer — it’s not a learned behaviour. If you put your fingers in a foal’s mouth and there’s a weak suckle or none at all, this is indicative of further problems.” If the foal is unable to nurse, a veterinarian will need to determine why. Possible reasons include neurological damage or sepsis, and the foal will probably need intravenous fluids, antibiotics, etc. until it recovers enough to drink or nurse normally.
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Issue #67
www.horseracingbc.ca
December 2014