American Racehorse - January/February 2015

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Covering the Thoroughbred industry in Texas, Oklahoma and around the region

In this Issue: Remembering America’s Equine Artist The Unique Experience of Racehorse Ownership Immigration Issues for Horsemen Oklahoma-bred OTTB Finds a Home

A Division of Center Hills Farm

Kipling (Gulch-Weekend Storm, by Storm Bird) Sire of Breeders’ Cup winner and all-time leading Oklahoma-bred KIP DEVILLE ($3.3 million in earnings) 2015 Fee: $2,500

Toccet (Awesome Again-Cozzene’s Angel, by Cozzene)

Save Big Money (Storm Cat-Tomisue’s Delight, by A.P. Indy) Oklahoma’s leading second-crop stallion and sire of stakes winner MAMA’S MAD MONEY and stakes-placed Rich Uncle 2015 Fee: $2,000

Multiple G1 winner with progeny earnings of more than $11 million 2015 Fee: $2,500

The Visualiser (Giant’s Causeway-Smokey Mirage, by Holy Bull)

$1 million yearling and graded stakesplaced son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY Sire of ZEALOUS VISION, an easy winner of the 2014 Oklahoma Classics Lassie 2015 Fee: $1,500

All fees are stands and nurses All stallions are nominated to the Oklahoma Bred Program, Oklahoma Stallion Stakes, Iowa Stallion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup

Mighty Acres

675 W. 470 Rd. • Pryor, Oklahoma 74361 Phone: 918-825-4256 • Cell: 918-271-2266 • Fax: 918-825-4255 www.mightyacres.com

MY GOLDER SONG IS THE ONLY STALLION to sire

two texas-sired,texas-bred graded stakes winners!

FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD

• 2014 Texas Horse of the Year/Champion 3YO Filly • 2013 Texas Champion 2YO Filly • Winner of G3 Eight Belles at Churchill • Second to Eclipse Award Winner UNTAPABLE in G2 Fair Grounds Oaks • Fourth, beaten by a length, in G1 Test Stakes • Earnings of $420,521 Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs

THEGIRLInTHATSONG

• Winner of the G2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita

Benoit Photo

by four lengths • Winner of $100K Happy Ticket Stakes on turf at Louisiana Downs • Second in $300K Zia Park Oaks • Earnings of $407,695 and counting

Crossbow • Early Flyer • Jet Phone • My Golden Song • Silver City The Estate of Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Ken Carson, General Manager Donny Denton, Farm Manager • David Unnerstall, Attending Veterinarian Post Office Box 966 • Pilot Point, Texas 76258 (940) 686-5552 • Fax (940) 686-2179 www.valorfarm.com • www.facebook.com/valor.farm

VALOR FARM STALLIONS ARE OFF TO A HOT START IN 2015!

Coady Photography

SILVER CITY, easily the leading freshman sire in the region last year, is the sire of undefeated PROMISE ME SILVER, the 2014 Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Filly who is a perfect FIVE-FOR-FIVE WITH FOUR STAKES WINS, including the $100K Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park in January of this year! SILVER CITY is also the sire of Silverhill, who ran second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.

Valor Farme stallions ear for responsiblbred 3 Texas- are 2YOs that the weighted on al nt me ri pe Ex Free Handicap

Dustin Orona Photography

W V JETSETTER, by JET phone, won the TTA Sales Futurity and a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes and finished third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes last year to be named 2014 Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding.

The Estate of Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Ken Carson, General Manager Donny Denton, Farm Manager • David Unnerstall, Attending Veterinarian Post Office Box 966 • Pilot Point, Texas 76258 (940) 686-5552 • Fax (940) 686-2179 www.valorfarm.com • www.facebook.com/valor.farm

Coady Photography

EARLY FLYER is the sire of EARLY FANTASY, winner of the $50K Yellow Rose Stakes, and Santacafe (2nd in $50K Bara Lass Stakes) and Fly the Red Eye (2nd in $50K Richard King Stakes), all during the 2015 Texas Champions Weekend at Sam Houston.

ABOUT AMERICAN RACEHORSE American Racehorse (formerly Southern Racehorse) covers Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The magazine reaches more than 6,000 readers and is mailed to all members of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, Alabama HBPA, Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association, Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, North Carolina Thoroughbred Association and South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, plus more than 1,200 Louisiana horsemen. That makes it the largest racing and breeding magazine in the region by far.

For more information or to inquire about advertising, contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or visit www.americanracehorse.com.

CONNECT WITH AMERICAN RACEHORSE HHH

Online: www.americanracehorse.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanracehorse Twitter: @AmerRacehorse Email: info@americanracehorse.com Phone/Text: (512) 695-4541 Fax: (512) 870-9324

Published by Pangaea Enterprises LLC d/b/a American Racehorse American Racehorse P.O. Box 8645 Round Rock, TX 78683 Physical Address American Racehorse 1341 Meadowild Drive Round Rock, TX 78664 Editor/Publisher Denis Blake info@americanracehorse.com Art Director Amie Rittler arittler3@gmail.com Copyeditor Judy Marchman

Contributing Writers Dr. Maria Ferrer Annie Johnson Craig McDougal Jen Roytz Fred Taylor Jr. Will Velie Photographers Ackerley Images Denis Blake Coady Photography Dustin Orona Photography Hodges Photography Libbie Johnson Steve Queen Christopher Walt Cover Photo Horsephotos.com

Copyright © 2015 American Racehorse All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission. American Racehorse reserves the right to refuse any advertising or copy for any reason. American Racehorse makes a reasonable attempt to ensure that advertising claims are truthful but assumes no responsibility for the truth and accuracy of ads.

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AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

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WHAT’S INSIDE

American

Racehorse January/ February 2015

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The art of Edward Troye lives on

Departments Fast Furlongs State Association News The Marketplace Classifieds

10 18 66

Features

34 An Oklahoma-bred finds his home

60 The uniqueness

of the ownership experience

Edward Troye: America’s Equine Artist First celebrated and then nearly forgotten, the painter’s work lives on

26

OTTB Spotlight: Home at Last Former Oklahoma-bred stakes winner traveled the country before finally making it home

34

A First Step Toward a Long-Needed Solution Immigration, executive action and how it affects horsemen

40

Standing Guard The Racing Officials Accreditation Program prepares those who regulate the sport

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Stakes Race Round-Up 52 A recap of the stakes action from Remington Park and Retama Park Ask a Vet

What is the Henneke horse body condition scoring system?

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Selling the Game: 60 The Memorable Ownership Experience There’s more to owning a racehorse than just winning AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 5

Eureka Thoroughbred Farm Proudly Standing Some of Texas’ Most Exciting Stallions EXPECT A LOT

Awesome Again – Tizamazing,

by Cee’s Tizzy

A full brother to Preakness Stakes (G1) winner OXBOW

2015 Fee: $1,000

MR. BESILU

A.P. Indy – Balance,

by Thunder Gulch A $4.2 million yearling out of a half sister to the great ZENYATTA

2015 Fee: $2,000

THE HUNK

Speightstown – Penniless Heiress,

by Pentelicus

A stakes-winning son of a champion sprinter and half brother to top stallion WILDCAT HEIR

2015 Fee: $1,500

Eureka Thoroughbred Farm

Inquiries to Bill Tracy 6476 U.S. Highway 290 E. • Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Phone: (830) 688-1709 Email: info@eurekathoroughbreds.com Website: www.eurekathoroughbreds.com Accredited Texas Stallions Nominated to the Texas Stallion Stakes and Minnesota Stallion Stakes

River Oaks Farms

Standing Oklahoma’s Leading Stallions CHITOZ Forest Wildcat – Wichitoz,

by Affirmed

A lightning-fast son of FOREST WILDCAT

2015 Fee: $2,000

LATENT HEAT Maria’s Mon – True Flare,

by Capote

Oklahoma’s leading 2014 sire by progeny earnings

2015 Fee: $3,500

ORATORY Pulpit – Arrested Dreams,

by Dehere

New to Oklahoma for 2015

2015 Fee: $3,500

READ THE FOOTNOTES Smoke Glacken – Baydon Belle,

by Al Nasr (Fr)

Oklahoma’s #3 sire by progeny earnings

2015 Fee: $3,500

RIVER OAKS FARMS INC. P.O. Box 97 • Sulphur, Oklahoma 73086

Inquiries to Lori or Francisco Bravo • Ranch: (580) 622-4412 Francisco: (940) 367-4457 • Lori: (940) 367-4380 • Fax: (580) 622-4411 Email: riveroaksfarms@aol.com • Website: www.riveroaksthoroughbreds.com Accredited Oklahoma Stallions • Nominated to the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes, Iowa Stallion Stakes and Minnesota Stallion Stakes

ADVERTISEMENT

ILLEGAL DOPING MEETS ITS MATCH Trainers Praise Natural Alternative By: Mark Hansen

The pressure to win is so enormous that many horsemen resort to whatever it takes to get a piece of the purse or a decent sale…even if it means putting their horses’ lives in mortal danger by doping them with illegal synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) drugs to boost endurance.

Veterinarian Gary Smith said, “It’s a problem all over the industry. There is no way horses should be put on (synthetic) EPO.” So how do racers win? How do you gain a competitive edge without harming your horses or risking your livelihood? The answer may be found in a safe all-natural horse supplement that supports natural EPO function.

Why is EPO boosting so critical? Just like in people, a horse’s muscles require oxygen for fuel.

Red blood cells are the body’s oxygen-carrying cells. A higher red blood cell count = more oxygen = more muscle energy. Elevated muscle energy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during endurance events. All horses naturally produce EPO in their kidneys to stimulate production of new red blood cells from bone marrow. In short, EPO is a natural “blood builder.”

With EPO doping, trainers try to boost the EPO effect to get a winning performance every time. They use a synthetic EPO (recombinant human EPO), even though the side effects can harm the horse. That’s one reason why it’s illegal.

Fortunately there’s another option. EPOEquine® is a safe, highly effective natural dietary supplement scientifically engineered for performance horses.

A Kentucky trainer who refused to give out his name, said, “I don’t want my competition to know about this.” He found EPO-Equine® to be

so effective that he’s dead set against disclosing who he is, who his horses are, or even where he trains and races. He first started ordering a single jar of EPO-Equine® once a month. Now he’s ordering several CASES each month. And he won’t tell BRL exactly why. He said respectfully, “Sorry – no way.”

Bioengineers at U.S. based Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL), first discovered a completely natural EPO-booster for human athletes (and it’s working miracles for top athletes and amateurs around the world). Seeing these results, horse trainers contacted BRL and asked about using this natural formula for their animals.

That’s when the BRL team dug deeper and discovered a proprietary, horse-friendly strain of a common herb that promotes optimal bloodbuilding results. EPO-Equine® is based on the blood-boosting abilities of a certain strain of Echinacea that’s astounding researchers and trainers alike. (It’s not a strain you can find at the local health store.)

Veterinarians at the Equine Research Centre in Ontario, Canada ran a double-blind trial investigating the blood building properties of the active ingredient in EPO-Equine® in healthy horses. For 42 days, one group of horses was supplemented with the active ingredient in EPOEquine® and another group of horses was given a placebo.

The supplement delivered significant blood building results, increasing red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Researchers also observed improved blood quality and increased oxygen transport in the supplemented horses. Improved blood levels leads to elevated exercise physiology and performance.

The patent-pending formula in EPO-Equine® contains a dozen different herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components combined to promote natural red blood cell production…for remarkable speed, strength and stamina right out of the gate.

Trainers find it easy to add just 1 scoop (3.2 grams) of EPO-Equine® to the horse’s daily feeding routine in the barn or on the road.

Within a few weeks of daily use, you can expect to see increased red blood cell levels with no undesirable side effects. An increase in red blood cell levels can improve muscle performance, supercharge endurance, and enhance recovery after hard exercise. Nothing else is scientifically proven to deliver these benefits in a completely safe and natural formula.

Compared to the cost of veterinarians, drugs, icing, tapping the knees, and putting the horse on Bute; or even the consequences of being banned for synthetic doping, EPOEquine® is very affordable at the low price of just $59.95 per jar. Or save $180 if you are ready to commit to a larger trial of 12-jar case for just $539.55 with FREE shipping. EPOEquine® can be ordered at www.EPOEquine.com or 1-800-557-9055, and comes with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.

fastfurlongs Dustin Orona Photography

Bayerd Named Horse of the Meeting at Remington, Track Posts Increased Numbers

Bayerd Winning two of the three top stakes for 2-year-olds this season at Remington Park helped Bayerd seal up honors as the track’s 2014 Horse of the Meeting.

Owned by Clark Brewster and trained by Steve Asmussen, Bayerd won the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes in September and then posted a thrilling victory over rival Shotgun Kowboy in the $250,000 Springboard Mile on the season’s final day, December 14. Bayerd was also voted the top 2-year-old male for his pair of stakes wins.

Shotgun Kowboy, who defeated Bayerd in the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes in November, earned honors as Champion Oklahoma-bred.

Bred, owned and trained by C.R. Trout, Shotgun Kowboy was third in the Kip Deville and second beaten just a head in the Springboard Mile. He was an emphatic winner in the $86,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile.

Other titles went to: Zooming – Champion 2-Year-Old Female: Ending the season with a three-race win streak, including the $100,000 Trapeze Stakes, was enough to gain Zooming top honors. She is owned by Carl Moore Management and trained by Bret Calhoun.

Tonito M. – Champion 3-Year-Old Male: A sharp win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby—his only local attempt—made Tonito M. a champion. He is owned by Mickey Gonzalez of M Racing Group LLC and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Okie Smokey – Champion 3-Year-Old Female: Using her exhilarating late-running style to score three times, Okie Smokey captured top 3-year-old female honors. Bred in Oklahoma and owned by the Richter Family Trust and trained by Carlos Padilla, the daughter of Cavvy won in allowance company, and then posted victories in the Oklahoma 10

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Classics Distaff and Useeit Stakes.

Code West – Champion Older Male: A victory in his only outing of the meet, the Governor’s Cup, earned older male honors for Code West, who is owned by Bryan Hawk and trained by Boyd Caster.

Bringinginthelute – Champion Older Female: Another champion bred, owned and trained by C.R. Trout, Bringinginthelute won just one of her six races at Remington, but that combined with a pair of seconds and thirds garnered her the votes as top older female. She rallied to win the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf in October, after finishing second in September’s Ladies on the Lawn Stakes, both for Oklahoma-breds.

Okie Ride – Champion Sprinter: A winner in the Remington Park Turf Sprint in early September, Okie Ride hit the board in three other stakes to earn his title. Bred in Oklahoma and owned by the Richter Family Trust, Okie Ride is trained by Kenny Nolen.

Greengrassofyoming – Champion Turf Performer: Winning the meet’s richest turf stakes in his only local start was enough for Greengrassofyoming to gain his title. Owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, the 4-year-old son of Quest won the $100,000 Remington Green Stakes for trainer Mike Tomlinson.

Crusin’ Main – Champion Claimer: A winner of four races, Crusin’ Main was very popular among horsemen throughout the 2014 meet.

Haltered three times, the now 8-year-old Crusin’ Main won against allowance company, competed in races for claiming price levels of $6,250 up to $20,000 and attempted a couple of Oklahoma-bred stakes events as well.

The results of the various horsemen standings resembled the way things finished a year ago as the top owner, trainer and jockey were all repeat champions.

Danny Caldwell – Ran Ricks Jr. Memorial Award for Leading Owner: The Poteau, Oklahoma, owner won his sixth leading owner title at Remington Park and his fifth consecutive. Caldwell’s runners won 39 races during the season to set a new record for success. The mark toppled the former standard of 36 wins set by Gary Owens in 2005. Caldwell’s horses are trained primarily by Federico Villafranco and were ridden almost exclusively during the meet by Ramon Vazquez.

Caldwell was also the leading owner by earnings with $763,288.

The award is named in honor of the first owner with a horse on the grounds at Remington Park upon the opening in 1988. Ricks was an influential breeder and owner in Oklahoma and was instrumental in

s

helping bring pari-mutuel racing to the state in the early 1980s.

Steve Asmussen – Chuck Taliaferro Award for Leading Trainer: Steve Asmussen won his eighth consecutive Remington Park title and his 11th overall in Oklahoma City. Asmussen totaled 49 winners and was also the leading trainer by total stable earnings with $1,046,316.

The award is named in honor of one of the early training stars in Remington Park history. Taliaferro had a long and successful career nationally before returning to his home state of Oklahoma, where he sat atop the local trainer standings twice before his death in 1994.

Ramon Vazquez – Pat Steinberg Memorial Award for Leading Jockey: Riding primarily for leading owner Danny Caldwell throughout the meet and for leading trainer Steve Asmussen during the first half of the meet, Vazquez piled up the victories to finish with 90. This was the second consecutive rider’s title for Vazquez in as many full seasons at Remington Park. Despite finishing second in victories with 79, Cliff Berry was the top rider by mount earnings with $1,845,822.

The Steinberg Award is named in honor of the rider who dominated the early years of Remington Park racing before his passing in 1993.

As for wagering at the track, Remington Park recorded across the board increases for the meet, continuing a positive trend for Oklahoma racing.

With one more race date on the calendar in 2014, Remington Park also experienced an increase in average field size in 2014 compared to

the 2013 season, helping draw the attention of more horseplayers. Over the 607 races conducted in 2014, Remington Park averaged 9.4 starters per race. A year ago, the average was still a very respectable 9.1 starters per race from 600 races.

Total handle on Remington Park racing in 2014 was $56,950,002 for an increase of 8.1 percent over the total from 2013. Continued appreciation for the quality of racing and field size was evident in the handle results from races exported to other jurisdictions. The export handle of $51,823,954 was up 8.1 percent compared to a year ago.

Remington Park enjoyed a handle increase on-track as well with $4,745,148 wagered, up 5.4 percent from the on-track handle in 2013.

Remington Park’s three off-track sites in Oklahoma City handled $380,900 for an increase of 48.4 percent against the same statistic from last year.

“We’re very pleased with the results of the 2014 Thoroughbred season,” said Matt Vance, Remington Park’s vice president of racing and wagering. “Through a collaborative marketing effort over the past two years with the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, we have a sponsorship agreement with TVG. That has driven more play toward Remington Park and, more specifically, advance deposit wagering play that has spiked this year. More customers now realize the quality of our pools, field size and local horsemen.”

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 11

WHERE REAL CONSIGNORS AND REAL BUYERS COME TOGETHER! 2-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING AND RACE AGE HORSES SALE Auction: April 27 Breeze Show: April 25 Make plans to join us at our state-of-the-art sales facility in Opelousas, Louisiana for the fastest-growing auction in the region!

Call us today for a catalogue or visit www.equinesalesofla.com

For Further Information: Foster Bridewell, Sales Director Tel: 214-718-7618 Web: www.equinesalesofla.com

Equine Sales Co.

372 Harry Guilbeau Road Opelousas, LA 70570 Tel: 337-678-3024 • Fax: 337-678-3028

ff Louisiana-bred Filly Helps Raise Money for Humanitarian Efforts There’s nothing new about horsemen doing more than their share of fundraising, whether for industry causes or global concerns. The latter came into play at a November 15 fundraiser in Chicago at Concern Worldwide’s annual Thanks for Giving Gala.

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international humanitarian organization dedicated to finding solutions to eliminate extreme poverty and reduce suffering in the world’s poorest countries.

What made this fundraiser unique is that up for auction was a 25 percent share in the unraced, then 2-year-old Louisiana-bred filly Turbine. Her breeder, Brian Burns of Mount Joy Stable, donated the share. Burns owns the filly’s sire, Smooth Air, who stands at

Ray and Anna Paul’s Gulf Coast Equine in Sunset, Louisiana. The share in Turbine sold for $12,000 to Molly McShane, the co-chair of the event who, according to a recap on The Blood-Horse website, outbid Pope McLean of Crestwood Farm in Kentucky.

“It was very exciting,” Burns told The Blood-Horse. “They had a humongous photo of the filly, who is gorgeous. An auctioneer was taking bids and two people were bidding on the phone. It was for a great cause and a good way to introduce people to the sport.”

Turbine has finished off the board in two starts since the auction, but trainer Brett Brinkman indicated he expects the filly to improve when she goes around two turns.

Immaculate to Stand at Seguin Horse Center, Congo King to Key Ranch The roster of Texas stallions for the 2015 breeding season increased with the addition of Immaculate and Congo King.

Immaculate, a son of leading stallion Distorted Humor out of Eclipse Award winner Folklore, will stand the 2015 breeding season at Don and Leah Ford’s Seguin Horse Center in Texas. The 6-year-old stallion will stand for a fee of $1,000.

A $450,000 yearling purchase, Immaculate is a two-time winner who broke his maiden against special weight company at Santa Anita. His sire, Distorted Humor, recently surpassed $100 million in progeny earnings and will stand the 2015 season for a $100,000 fee. Immaculate’s dam, the Tiznow mare Folklore, won the 2005 Grade 1 Matron Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to be named that year’s champion 2-year-old filly.

Immaculate joins Gaff and Dynameaux at Seguin Horse Center. For more information, call (830) 491-1412.

Congo King, a son of South African Triple Crown winner Horse Chestnut (SAf), will stand at Joe Kerby’s Key Ranch near Salado. An earner of $165,350 on the track, Congo King broke his maiden at Saratoga in his career debut and went on to place in a pair of Grade 3 stakes, the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland and Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs. His dam is the Grade 3-placed Mr. Redoy mare Sweet Nostalgia, whose foals include Canadian champion and multiple graded stakes winner Added Edge and Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Gold Memory.

Congo King will stand for a $2,000 fee. For more information, contact Key Ranch at (254) 527-3679 or keyranch.com.

Coady Photography

Retama Park Hosts First Ever Chihuahua Derby

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AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Tracks across the country have featured wiener dog races along with all sorts of other “racing” animals from ostriches to buffalos to zebras, but Retama Park put a new spin on that promotion with a “Chihuahua Derby” on November 29.

A total of 27 mixed-breed Chihuahuas took to the San Antonio-area track with names like Mr. Duke, Kim Kardashian, Nacho Cheese and Joe, but in the end it was Bubbas Finch who came out on top.

Christopher Walt

Frontstretch Fest to Celebrate Horse Racing with Events in North Carolina and Tennessee

The Stoneybrook Steeplechase at Carolina Horse Park is set for April 4.

Frontstretch Fest, a classic Southern celebration of horse racing, quality bourbon, craft beer and artisanal food, will debut in 2015 at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina, and at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Nashville, Tennessee.

Frontstretch Fest will kick off as the official infield affair of the 64th annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase at Carolina Horse Park, 80 miles south of Raleigh, on Saturday, April 4. Then, on May 2, Frontstretch Fest comes to Nashville, where it will serve as one of the world’s largest Kentucky Derby viewing parties.

Both Frontstretch Fest events will feature artisanal food and drinks, hand-rolled cigars, live music, interactive entertainment and much

more. “Bourbon Bend” and “Craft Beer Boulevard” will offer tastings and classes from local and national distilleries and breweries alongside “Cuisine Corner,” which will showcase the best local chefs and food trucks.

“We see an opportunity to create something truly unique,” said Brian Bauer, agency director at Rockhouse Partners, the company that founded Frontstretch Fest. “Horse racing, quality bourbon, craft beer and artisanal food all have a natural home in our region, and we’re thrilled to present an exceptional combination of these experiences for fans.”

For more information, visit frontstretchfest.com.

Heritage Place Thoroughbred Sale Posts Gains The third annual Heritage Place Thoroughbred Sale on December 13 in Oklahoma City posted the highest gross and average in the auction’s short history. All told, 88 horses sold from 121 who entered the ring with gross sales of $232,550. That represents an 18 percent increase from last year’s sale when 94 sold from 129 offered. This year’s average of $2,643 jumped 26 percent up from last year’s.

The sale topper was a 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred named Sly Okie, who sold for $20,000 to Ed Melzer from consignor and breeder Richter Family Trust. The Slewship filly had raced five times with two seconds and a third against maiden company and a fourth and a fifth in stakes company.

Two horses each sold for $13,500 as the second-highest price at the

sale, and both were purchased by Al Ulwelling. First was a yearling colt

by Toccet consigned by Ellen Caines, agent for Hidden Springs Ranch LLC. The Oklahoma-bred is a half brother to Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Stakes winner Dancing Diva (by Affirmatif). The second horse was a yearling Mr. Nightlinger colt consigned by Mighty Acres, agent. The February foal is out of a stakes-placed mare whose first foal, Misterbulltoyou, has hit the board in all five starts.

The highest priced broodmare was Flying Drum, who sold for $10,000 to Scattered Acres LLC from Ellen Caines, agent. The winning daughter of Forestry sold in foal to Stephen Got Even with a paid 2015 season to Affirmatif.

For complete results, go to heritageplace.com.

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 15

NEW TO TEXAS FOR 2015!

CONGO KING Horse Chestnut (SAf)— Sweet Nostalgia, by Mr. Redoy

• The only son of South African Triple Crown Winner Horse Chestnut (SAf) standing in North America.

• Won his 2-year-old debut in maiden special weight company at Saratoga, defeating the GRADE 1-placed multiple graded stakes winner STREAM CAT. • As a 3-year-old, defeated GRADE 1 winner IN SUMMATION when 2nd in the Shakertown S. (G3) at Keeneland & also 3rd in the Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. A winner on both turf and dirt!

• By HORSE CHESTNUT (SAF), a grandson of SADLER’S WELLS who won the TRIPLE CROWN in South Africa, out of multiple stakes winner SWEET NOSTALGIA.

2015 STUD FEE - $2,000/LIVE FOAL

KEY RANCH

Inquiries to Joe Kerby 1849 Lindemann Rd. #900 • Salado, Texas 76571 Phone: (254) 527-3679 • Email: keyranchmail@cs.com • Website: www.keyranch.com

• MARES

COMPLETE DISPERSAL

• YEARLINGS

• BROKE 2-YEAR-OLDS BY INTIMIDATOR, LITTLEEXPECTATIONS AND PRIMAL STORM • ALL THREE STALLIONS FOR SALE

Prices upon request, all horses available at ranch for inspection Keith Asmussen

Dr. Steve Velasco, veterinarian Dee Martinez, office manager, 956-763-7594 P.O. Box 1861 • Laredo, TX 78044 • Phone: 956-723-5436 • Fax: 956-723-5845 Email: kaasmussen@aol.com • Website: www.asmussens.com 16

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Congratulations to Asmussen Horse Center and El Primero Training Center Graduate

UNTAPABLE!

Steve Queen

• 4 G1 WINS (INCL. THE BC DISTAFF AND KY OAKS) • $2.99 MILLION IN EARNINGS • UNANIMOUS ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER CHAMPION 3YO FILLY

Also congratulations to TAPITURE, runner-up in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with earnings of nearly $1.4 million.

Both UNTAPABLE and TAPITURE are trained

by Steve Asmussen and received their early training in Texas!

Owner Ron Winchell, Keith Asmussen and Manager David Fiske

EL PRIMERO TRAINING CENTER is renovated and ready to give your race prospect the opportunity to be on this list.

Our riders make the difference!

H H H H

6 Eclipse Award-Winning Champions 200 Stakes Winners 13 Millionaires 3 Breeders’ Cup Winners

Keith Asmussen

H

75 Graded Stakes Winners

Dr. Steve Velasco, veterinarian Dee Martinez, office manager, 956-763-7594 P.O. Box 1861 • Laredo, TX 78044 • Phone: 956-723-5436 • Fax: 956-723-5845 Email: kaasmussen@aol.com • Website: www.asmussens.com

State Association News TEXAS THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWS Fiftyshadesofgold Named Texas-bred Horse of the Year The Texas Thoroughbred Association has announced the 2014 Texas Champions and named Fiftyshadesofgold as the Texas Horse of the Year in addition to Texas Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. The winners were determined by a points system based on performances in stakes races and will be honored by the TTA on June 20 at Lone Star Park.

Bred by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr. and owned by his son Douglas, Fiftyshadesofgold was one of the top fillies in the country last year after taking the Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Filly title in 2013.

The Bret Calhoun trainee kicked off her 2014 campaign in the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series, which was renamed to honor Scharbauer’s contributions to the Texas racing and breeding industry. Fiftyshadesofgold took the Two Altazano division with ease, and then moved into open company where she finished second to eventual Eclipse Award winner Untapable in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. The Texas-bred went on to capture the Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs and ran a good fourth in two Grade 1 races, the Test Stakes at Saratoga and the TVG Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. She earned $322,731 for the year and retired from racing in September with a career bankroll of $420,521. She will begin her career as a broodmare with a visit to leading sire Tapit.

Fiftyshadesofgold’s sire is My Golden Song, who stands at Valor Farm, a longtime leading stallion station near Pilot Point, Texas, started by the elder Scharbauer. Hadif Cat, a daughter of former Valor Farm stallion Hadif and the dam of Fiftyshadesofgold, will be honored as the Texas Champion Broodmare, and the Estate of Clarence Scharbauer Jr. will receive the award as the leading accredited Texas-bred money earner.

Progeny of Valor Farm stallions also swept the juvenile category as Promise Me Silver, by Silver City, was named Texas Champion 2-YearOld Filly, and W V Jetsetter, by Jet Phone, was named Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding.

Promise Me Silver, bred and owned by Myrna and Robert Luttrell and trained by Calhoun, was undefeated in four starts last year, including wins in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Darby’s Daughter division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park and the Letellier Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.

W V Jetsetter won the TTA Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park and the My Dandy division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama and also finished third in the Grade 2 Toyota Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga. Bred by Scharbauer, the colt first ran for owner Wesley Melcher and trainer Bret Calhoun, and then for R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trainer George Weaver.

Texas Champion 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding honors went to Johnny Evans and Terry Eoff’s F J Uncle Vic. The son of Uncle Abbie of Key Ranch near Salado, Texas, won the Allen’s Landing Stakes against open company at Sam Houston by nearly 10 lengths to start the year and went on to finish second in two editions of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes. The colt, who was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Prifitera and trained by Eoff, also finished third in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap.

The awards for older horses featured a repeat winner in each category, as Lasting Bubbles defended her crown as Texas Champion 18

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Older Filly/Mare and Ol Winedrinker Who earned the title of Texas Champion Older Horse.

Lasting Bubbles, bred and owned by Judy Peek and trained by her son Kevin Peek, won five races and was third four times in 10 starts last year while earning nearly $200,000. The now 7-year-old daughter of Pulling Punches won the Yellow Rose Stakes at Sam Houston, Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes and Valor Farm Stakes at Lone Star and Zia Park Distaff in New Mexico.

Ol Winedrinker Who became a three-time champion by winning two stakes in New Mexico and placing in three others. Bred and owned by Sam and Sammy Stevens, the Sligo Bay (Ire) gelding was the Texas Champion 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding in 2012 and Texas Champion Older Horse in 2013. The Joel Marr trainee is closing in on $500,000 in lifetime earnings.

The award for Texas Champion Claimer will be announced in March after an online vote at texasthoroughbred.com among the top Texasbred claiming horses that ran in the Lone Star State last year.

Changes to Permissible Medication Levels in Texas Texas Racing Commission Executive Director Chuck Trout has issued a memo detailing revisions to the list of approved therapeutic medications. The revisions took effect January 1, although enforcement will not begin immediately. During the first Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets of 2015, the TRC will provide feedback to trainers and veterinarians regarding any overages related to newly implemented medication levels, with enforcement beginning in April for Thoroughbreds and in June for Quarter Horses. However, the commission reserves the right to enforce the limits prior to that time against a trainer or veterinarian who repeatedly or excessively exceeds the newly implemented permissible levels.

For details, visit txrc.texas.gov.

TOBA Ownership Seminar at Lone Star Park The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) has announced the 2015 schedule for its seminars and clinics, with a Thoroughbred Ownership Seminar set for March 29 at Lone Star Park.

These educational events are sponsored by Blood-Horse Publications and feature various topics for prospective, new and established Thoroughbred owners and breeders.

“We are very excited to offer educational opportunities to owners and breeders across the country,” TOBA President Dan Metzger said. “Our seminars and clinics are open to both TOBA members and non-members and the primary focus is to increase knowledge of our sport.”

To register online, go to toba.org.

TTA Employee Jennifer Gibbs’ Home Destroyed by Fire On January 3, the home of Texas Thoroughbred Association Accreditation/Racing Manager Jennifer Gibbs was struck by lightning and totally destroyed by fire. She and her husband, Sand, got out safely, but they lost everything.

Jennifer has a big heart and is dedicated to helping the people in-

volved in the Texas racing and breeding industry. TTA is very fortunate to have her.

Many TTA members and Texas horsemen donated money to help Jennifer and Sand, and several stallion seasons were also donated with the proceeds going to a fire recovery fund for the couple.

Jennifer would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of donations and support.

Results of TTA Board of Directors Election to Serve 2015-2017 Ballots in the TTA Board of Directors Election were tabulated in the TTA offices on December 17. Assisting with the tabulation were TTA Directors Bill Tracy and Henry Witt Jr., along with Fallon Ferguson, Cheri Grant and Executive Director Mary Ruyle.

A total of 44 ballots were tabulated for the Central Region, 39 for the East Region and 233 ballots for the at-large election of five directors.

Tom Bradfield, DVM, of Austin was re-elected to represent the Central Region, and Hal Wiggins of Houston was re-elected to represent the East Region.

With five at-large board positions available, incumbent Ed Few was re-elected, while Danny Keene of Greenville, Wes Melcher of Sulphur Springs, Brent Savage of Cypress and Fred Taylor Jr. of Fort Worth were elected to fill the remaining four positions.

TTA Director Rick Penn from Parker was later elected to fill the office of Second Vice President. The office was previously held by Mark Martinez of San Antonio, whose term expired at the end of December.

We would like to thank all candidates for their interest in serving on the board and look forward to their continued participation in association activities.

The next TTA board meeting is scheduled for March 30 in conjunction with the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park.

Historical Racing Update On January 21, Judge Lora Livingston denied our motion to modify the judgment in the case regarding historical racing. While we were not successful on this particular day, we believe that we did help position ourselves somewhat better for an appeal. The deadline to file an appeal with the Third Court of Appeals in Austin is March 3.

We have your money…You have our information!

Is your name on this list of breeders and owners who have earned money through the Accredited Texas-Bred (ATB) Program for 2013 racing?

For various reasons, the TTA has been unable to pay the individuals listed. Usually the problem is very simple to correct.

Perhaps a transfer form was never completed when you purchased your money-earning Texas Thoroughbred, or we might need a copy of a Jockey Club certificate. Perhaps you have moved and forgotten to tell us.

Please call the TTA’s Accreditation Department at (512) 458-6133 so we can complete your paperwork…and so you can collect your ATB earnings!

MARY BONHAM/RAFTER L RANCH END ZONE ATHLETICS INC. ROBERT EVERETT ERNESTO FELIX-SALMON HALL’S FAMILY TRUST

GLORIA HIGGINS MAGNOLIA RACING STABLE & JIM WARD HEATHER MAYFIELD

CHARLES MCKAMIE

MICHAEL G. VALENZUELA DENISE MICHELLE GANTT WYNNE JERRY D. YOCHAM

$65.59 $988.23 $186.32 $33.24 $181.17 $32.57 $1,876.09 $1,523.80 $69.13 $73.74 $904.48 $329.41

THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA NEWS TRAO General Membership Meeting The TRAO General Membership Meeting was held December 13 in Oklahoma City prior to the Heritage Place Thoroughbred Sale. More members were in attendance than at any meeting in recent memory, so we thank all who attended.

The meeting provided a complete recap of 2014, including purse and handle reports for each track, claiming race reports and breed awards, and the PowerPoint presentation is available at traoracing.com.

Following are some items of note from the presentation: 2014 Benevolence Program as of December 2, 2014 • Optical — $23,730 • Dental — $46,752 • Medical — $92,489 • Prescriptions — $16,998 • Flu Shots — $2,000 • Death Benefits — $3,000 Charity Organizations • TRAO donated $5,000 to the Equine Special Olympics.

• TRAO donated $2,500 for a Thanksgiving dinner for all horsemen at Remington Park.

• TRAO donated $2,500 to the backside children’s Christmas program.

• TRAO donated $1,000 to Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park to host a “welcome back horsemen” party.

• $35,000 budgeted annually for the backside chaplaincy program at Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park.

• As of December 1, 2014, there are currently four horses in the TRAO Retired Thoroughbred Program, to which TRAO has disbursed $4,954.

Track Programs Funded by TRAO • Ice program at Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park • TRAO Groom of the Week at Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park • Race of the Week at Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows and Remington Park • Hot walkers for ship-ins at Will Rogers Downs and Remington Park • Test barn supplies, rubbing alcohol, buckets, etc. at Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows and Remington Park AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 19

State Association News Subscriptions for Members • The Horsemen’s Journal • American Racehorse (formerly Southern Racehorse) • American Racehorse Stallion Register covering Oklahoma and surrounding states • TRAO weekly e-newsletter

2015 Oklahoma Race Dates Will Rogers Downs (30 Days) March: 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31 (6 Days) April: 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28 (12 Days) May: 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26 (12 Days)

updated with new televisions, paint and other improvements. The total cost of the demolition, rebuild and improvements is approximately $250,000, according to the article.

Stallion Stakes for Foals of 2016 Progeny of the following stallions are nominated to the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes for the 2015 breeding season (foals of 2016, races to be run in fall of 2019 for 3-year-olds at Remington Park). For more information on the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes, go to traoracing.com.

Affirmatif Kennedy Blake’s Passion King of Scat Bricktown Cat Kipling Burbank Latent Heat Fair Meadows (34 Days) Chitoz Liquor Cabinet June: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 (17 Days) C’Mon Tiger Mr. Nightlinger July: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25 (17 Days) Diamond Notional Doctor Chit Omega Code Remington Park (67 Days) Ellerton Oratory August: 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 (10 Days) Euroears Pleasant Storm September: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 (17 Days) Going Wild Podium October: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31 Gruff Read the Footnotes (19 Days) November: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28 (14 Days) Alabama HBPA News December: 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 (7 Days)

Will Rogers Downs Stakes Schedule and Post Times Will Rogers Downs will offer 30 days of racing from March 16 to May 26 with post times set for 1:15 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Following is the stakes schedule for the Claremore track: April 6 — $50,000-guaranteed Wilma Mankiller Memorial, fillies and mares, 3yo and up, 6 furlongs April 7 — $50,000-guaranteed Clem McSpadden Memorial Route 66, colts and geldings, 3yo and up, 6 furlongs April 27 — $55,000-guaranteed Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs Classic Distaff Sprint, Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares, 3yo and up, 6 furlongs April 28 — $55,000-guaranteed TRAO Classic Sprint, Oklahoma-bred colts and geldings, 3yo and up, 6 furlongs May 2 — $50,000-estimated Oklahoma Stallion Stakes (Colts and Geldings Division), progeny of eligible stallions, 3yos, 1 mile May 2 — $50,000-estimated Oklahoma Stallion (Fillies Division), progeny of eligible stallions, 3yos, 1 mile May 25 — $55,000-guaranteed RPDC Classic Distaff, Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares, 3yo and up, 1 mile and 70 yards May 26 — $55,000-guaranteed Cherokee Nation Classic Cup, Oklahoma-bred colts and geldings, 3yo and up, 1 mile and 70 yards

Renovations Underway at Fair Meadows Several projects are moving forward at Fair Meadows that should result in a better facility for fans and horsemen when the Tulsa track opens in June. According to an article in The Journal Record, the north section of the grandstand has been removed and the Winning Colors restaurant and bar is being rebuilt. The simulcast facility is also being 20

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Sasha’s Prospect Save Big Money Sebastian County Service Stripe State City Tactical Cat The Visualiser Toccet Waupaca Western Expression

Ira, Buggin Out Win Alabama-bred Stakes at Fair Grounds Even though there is currently no live racing in Alabama, horses bred in the state had their chance to shine on December 12 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans in the $25,000 Kudzu Juvenile Stakes and $50,000 Magic City Classic Stakes.

In the Kudzu Juvenile, Ira and jockey Forest Boyce prevailed by a head to win with a 5 ½-furlong clocking of 1:07.21. Trained by Randy Nunley and owned by Jerry Hackett, Ira came into the race off a thirdplace effort at Parx Racing and a second-place finish at Laurel Park against maiden company. Bred by Hackett Brothers Thoroughbred Inc., the gelded son of the Silver Deputy stallion J Be K improved his record to 6-1-1-1 with earnings of $22,025.

A Bandit Walking, a Time Bandit gelding bred by Chase Ladner and owned by Pamela Pavolini and who shipped in from Delta Downs, finished a game second with Abel Lezcano up for trainer Dale White Sr. The Chapel Royal filly Mide as Well, a maiden winner at Delaware Park in September, took third with Kerwin Clark aboard for owner Walnut Hill Stable LLC and breeder/trainer Randy Nunley.

Lily So Lovely, Ava’s Secret, Hey Y’all, Royal Punter, Deuceswildcat and Excessivelywild completed the field.

In the Magic City Classic, Dennis Murphy’s homebred Buggin Out drew clear to an easy 7 ¼-length victory as the 4-5 favorite. James Graham piloted the 3-year-old gelding by Indy for trainer Kenneth Hargrave. Buggin Out covered a mile and 70 yards in 1:43.61.

After finishing fourth in his debut at Louisiana Downs in June, Buggin Out has hit the board in six consecutive races, with the first five coming against maiden special weights and culminating with a victory at Delta Downs in October. His earnings now stand at $57,960 with a record of 7-2-2-2.

Hodges Photography/Lynn Roberts

Busted Account, the winner of the 2013 Magic City Classic, finished a clear second with Miguel Mena in the saddle for conditioner Jonas Gibson. The Royal Empire gelding, who was bred by Bobby Pruitt and is owned by Michael Annechino, is approaching the six-figure mark in earnings with a bankroll of $99,165.

Deborah Strahan’s Joyce’s Buckaroo, a Royal Strand (Ire) filly, took third with Mitchell Murrill up for trainer and breeder Delbert Cuevas.

Anchored Back, Sa Ira (outside) Hoss, B Street Blues, Crimson Pride and Bama’s Empire completed the field.

Alabama-breds will get another chance to race together in the first running of the Kenneth Cotton Memorial Race on April Buggin Out

Hodges Photography/Lynn Roberts

25 at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, Louisiana. The race offers a $25,000 purse for 3-year-old and up maidens going six furlongs. The race is sponsored by the Alabama HBPA with $5,000 included from the Louisiana HBPA.

Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association News Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet The ATBHA Annual Awards Banquet and Membership Meeting will be Friday, March 27, at the Clarion on the Lake. Awards will be presented for 2014 Breeder of the Year, Horse of the Year, Stallion of the Year and Broodmare of the Year, in addition to recognizing all of the 2014 stakes winners. The reservation deadline is March 24.

For additional information, call the ATBHA office at (501) 624-6328.

New Arkansas Stallions for 2015 Following is a list of new stallions for 2015 as reported to the ATBHA: Double Irish — gr. 2011, by Tapit—Cee’s Irish, by Cee’s Tizzy. McDowell Farm, 623 Palmetto Road, Sparkman, AR. Shortleaf Stable, owner. $1,000 LFG High Cascade — ch. 1998, by Woodman—Ruby Slippers, by Nijinsky II. Cornerstone Farms, Siloam Springs, AR. Dr. Becky BynumAvery, DVM, owner. $500 Hightail — dk.b/br. 2010, by Mineshaft—Stormy Renee, by Storm Cat. Trophy Club Training Center, 132 Running Deer Lane, Royal, AR. Calumet Farms, owner. $2,500 LFG Icon Ike — dk.b/br. 2009, by Yes It’s True—Robbie’s Gal, by Straight Man. Starfish Stable LLC, 1556 South Moore Road, Hot Springs, AR. Fletcher and Carolyn Gray and Doug Hesterly, owners. $1,000 LFG Laurie’s Rocket — b. 2009, by Bluegrass Cat—Clay’s Rocket, by American Chance. McDowell Farm, 623 Palmetto Road, Sparkman, AR. Willis Horton, owner. $1,000 LFG

Important Upcoming Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 28 – Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes and Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes (both races close February 21) March 27 – Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes (Open Division) (closes March 19) March 28 – Rainbow Stakes (closes March 20) March 29 – Rainbow Miss Stakes (closes March 20) April 11 – Arkansas Derby Day

ATBHA Suggestion Box If you have something you would like discussed or addressed by the ATBHA Board of Directors, drop a note or card regarding the issue into the suggestion box located at the ATBHA office.

The box will be opened at each meeting of the board, and any suggestions or issues will be addressed at that time or at a subsequent meeting if additional information is needed.

We hope this proves to be a useful means of communicating the concerns or accolades of our members!

Membership Dues Reminder Please make sure your ATBHA membership dues are kept current.

Annual membership dues are due December 31 prior to the membership calendar year and are delinquent if paid after March 1 of the calendar year.

Pursuant to ATBHA rules and regulations (see page 6 of the rules and regulations book), if you do not pay your annual dues by the March 1 deadline, you will not be eligible to register your broodmares, foals and/or stallions at the membership rate. This rule will be enforced.

Annual dues paid by March 1 are $50 per member. Dues paid after March 1 are $75 per member.

Incentive Supplement for Arkansas-breds at Oaklawn

To encourage more starts by registered Arkansas-breds in open company races and to promote and add interest in owning Arkansasbreds, the ATBHA will pay a $2,000 incentive supplement to the owners of registered Arkansas-breds when their registered Arkansas-bred wins an open company race at Oaklawn Park during the 2015 racing season, excluding all stakes races.

These funds shall be paid from the Arkansas Racing Commission Purse and Awards Fund and shall be disbursed by the Arkansas Racing Commission per written directions from the ATBHA pursuant to current Arkansas law.

Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association News Arapahoe Park Sets 2015 Racing Dates Arapahoe Park has set the dates for its 2015 live horse racing season. The Aurora, Colorado, track will host 39 days of Thoroughbred, Arabian and American Quarter Horse racing from May 23 to August 16. Racing will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 1 p.m. each day. There will be special holiday racing on AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 21

State Association News Memorial Day, May 25, and on the Fourth of July.

Stall applications are available on the track’s website, mihiracing. com. The stable area will open on April 22, and the racetrack will open for training on April 23. The stakes schedule and condition book will be released shortly.

The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition has announced the 2015 GHRC Private Stallion Season Sale to fund efforts to bring the great American sport of horse racing to Georgia.

“We are honored and humbled by the stallion donations from some of the leading breeders in the racing industry who unanimously agree that Georgia represents the best new location for one of our nation’s oldest sports,” said Dean Reeves, GHRC President and owner of 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man. “What makes our sale so unique is that we are the only ones offering two black-type stakes races at Gulfstream Park preferred for progeny of all stallions donated to the auction.”

Reeves, who donated a season to Mucho Macho Man, said the sale will feature outstanding stallions from Adena Springs, WinStar Farm, Lane’s End, Taylor Made Stallions, Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms and other top breeders.

“The quality of these stallions shows how bringing racing to Georgia is supported by the racing industry and is an opportunity for all of us,” Reeves added. “These are going to sell fast, and we appreciate the industry’s support and encouragement.”

All stallion seasons are being sold privately through McMahon and Hill; no auction will be held. For an updated list of stallions and to make an offer for immediate consideration, email thebottomline@ mcmahonandhill.com or call McMahon and Hill at (859) 846-4020.

The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition consists of leading business, civic leaders and Thoroughbred owners who are dedicated to promoting Georgia racing and its many benefits to the state and the industry.

North Carolina Thoroughbred Association News Congratulations to the 2014 NCTA Award Winners Our awards dinner was held on January 24 at Bennett-Bunn Plantation, and Peter Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds was the featured speaker. The deadline for this issue was just before the event, so look for photos of the awards dinner in the March/April issue. Following are the winners of our awards for year 2014.

Champion 2-Year-Old: Hangover Saturday, bred by Steve Laymon and John Eaton and owned by Steve in a partnership

1st runner-up: Incremental, bred by Nancy Shuford

2nd runner-up: Double the Cheers, bred by Beth Muirhead Champion Claiming Male: Special Congrats, bred by Beth Muirhead

1st runner-up: Literata, owned by George and Stephanie

Autry

2nd runner-up: Muy Man, bred by Jim Chandley 22

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Steve Queen

Georgia Horse Racing Coalition News Private Stallion Season Sale to Help Raise Funds for GHRC

Champion Claiming Female: Missdixieactivist, bred by Jim Chandley

1st runner-up: More Than Special, bred by Beth Muirhead and owned by Beth Muirhead, Frank Coniglio, Sidney Ritman and Richard Rendina

2nd runner-up: Michael’s Tribute, bred by Jim Chandley Champion Allowance Female: Maco Light, owned and bred by Dogwood Plantation (Joanne and Sandy Dew)

1st runner-up: Happie Hattie, bred by Nancy Shuford Champion Steeplechase Horse: Recurring Dream, owned by High Hope Stables (William Price) Champion Stakes Winner: Daring Kathy, owned and bred by Steve Laymon and partners

1st runner-up: Speed Seeker, owned by Frank Coniglio, Sidney Ritman, Richard Rendina and partners

2nd runner-up: Ice for the Lady, bred and owned by Kenan Rand Horse of the Year: Dayatthespa, owned by Steve Laymon, Peter Bradley and partners Broodmare of the Year: Dayatthespa wins the $2 million Breed- Dixie Lass, bred and ers’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf to clinch the owned by Jim Chandley Eclipse Award for Champion Grass Mare.

Owner and Breeder of the Year and TOBA Award Winner: Steve Laymon

Board of Directors Comings and Goings

We have two new board members for 2015–16: Jeff Morris and Dora Alcon.

Jeff, who lives in Raleigh with his family, has a small farm with three broodmares. A former trainer from California, Jeff decided to retire from the track for his family and settled in Raleigh. We are thrilled to have him on the board.

Dora, who lives in Wilmington, is involved with Blue Bloods Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement and serves on its board. She and her husband owned Thoroughbreds in New York until 2013, when he passed away. We are so happy to have her join the board and know what a great asset she will be.

Leaving the board are Hubert Vester and Bill Thompson, who have both served for more than 10 years. We wish them the best and are so glad to have had them serving for so long.

Remaining on the board are Bob Sanford, Mike Yoder, Stephanie Autry, Tom Hendrickson and your president, Joanne Dew. I want to personally thank all the members of the board for the help they have given me for all of these years and look forward to an even better year in 2015.

We also have a new member, Fred Griffith, and his wife Robin. It is so wonderful to have them join the association. They live in Charlotte and their farm is Griffith Family Stables. They are involved in quite a few horses, mostly 2-year-olds. We are pulling for more winners for NCTA members and the Griffiths in the coming year. Welcome to the NCTA! Joanne Dew

Parx Racing near Philadelphia hosted the South Carolina Residency Stakes on November 16, and both races resulted in photo finishes. Sponsored by the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the stakes were for horses who spent Miss Bullistic at least 90 days at a training center in South Carolina prior to June 30, 2014.

In the $75,000 Donna Freyer Stakes for 2-yearold fillies, Kathleen Willier’s Miss Bullistic, who prepped at Franklin Smith’s Elloree Training Center, prevailed in a blanket finish with four horses nearly hitting the wire together. The photo revealed a sweep of the trifecta for Elloree Training Center grads as Mondor took second with Pattitude in third.

Bred in Maryland by H. Graham Motion and trained by Hamilton Smith, Miss Bullistic was ridden by Jevian Toledo and stopped the timer at 1:20.26 for 6 ½ furlongs. The filly by the Tiznow stallion Bullsbay broke her maiden at Laurel Park and then captured the $100,000 Selima Stakes there on the turf. Following her victory at Parx, she returned to Laurel and ran second in the $125,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship Stakes to end her 2-year-old campaign with earnings of $161,620.

New York-bred Mondor, also a shipper from Laurel, closed well to take second for owner Barbara Houck and trainer Donald Barr.

Robert Bone’s Pattitude, trained by Keith Nations, came in off a third-place finish against maidens at Duff Churchill Downs to fill that same spot again.

Lust for Diamonds (Webb Carroll Training Center), Pinkout (Wes Carter Training Center), Saluda (Webb Carroll Training Center), Kawfee Fa Marfa (Custom Care

Equine), Matty’s Wondergirl (Webb Carroll Training Center), Kalamity Jane (Aiken Training Track-Cary Frommer) and Riverwalk Weekend (Glenview Farm) completed the field.

The $75,000 Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings went to Duff, a graduate of Custom Care Equine running for Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group LLC. With Daniel Centeno in the irons for trainer Ron Potts, the Pennsylvania-bred colt by Candy Ride (Arg) sprinted 6 ½ furlongs in 1:19.25 and scored by a head over Stonebriar.

Bred by Two Sisters Farm, Duff picked up his second stakes win after taking the $75,000 Mark McDermott Stakes against state-breds at Presque Isle Downs. He also finished third in the $100,000 Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes in West Virginia. His record now stands at 6-3-1-1 with earnings of $133,220.

Dunbarton Stable LLC’s Stonebriar, an Aiken Training Track graduate who came in off a third-place effort in the $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery Stakes at Laurel, battled gamely to take second for trainer Timothy Keefe. Someday Farm’s Nasa, a colt by Smarty Jones who broke his maiden at Laurel by nearly 10 lengths, closed to finish third as the favorite. The Keller Stables graduate and John Servis trainee went on to win the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx and then finished second in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct in his first start as a 3-year-old on January 3.

Mini Cosmo (Webb Carroll Training Center), Savvy Street (Elloree Training Center), Kensington Kid (Webb Carroll Training Center) and Daystrike (Aiken Training Track-Cary Frommer) completed the field.

The 2015 South Carolina Residency Races will be held again at Parx Racing in the fall. Early bird nominations are $150 by February 15, or regular nominations are $300 by July 31. For more information, go to sctoba.org.

www.americanracehorse.com

Libbie Johnson

EQUI-PHOTO

Libbie Johnson

EQUI-PHOTO

South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association News Miss Bullistic, Duff Capture South Carolina Residency Races

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@AmerRacehorse AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 23

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Edward Troye:

America’s Equine Artist

First celebrated and then nearly forgotten, the painter’s work lives on

By Annie Johnson

Two exhibitions at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, celebrate the oeuvre of acclaimed antebellum animal painter Edward Troye (1808–1874) and the two 20th-century sportsmen who returned him to his former glory through their works: Edward Troye and His Biographers: The Archives of Harry Worcester Smith and Alexander Mackay-Smith and Faithfulness to Nature: Paintings by Edward Troye.

Troye is shown here in a print of a photo portrait taken

by W.R. Phipps of Lexington, Kentucky, and presented to Keene Richards in 1872.

National Sporting Library & Museum, Harry Worcester Smith Archives

26

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Like the Thoroughbred champions of the turf whom he immortalized in oil, Edward Troye was the foremost animal painter and sporting artist of 19th-century America. His work was unmatched by American artists, and the Swissborn originally named Edouard de Troy, himself of French descent, was regarded as a peer of the European greats. In 1839, during the first decade of his U.S.-based career, the Spirit of the Times called Troye “the finest animal painter since [George] Stubbs,” the preeminent British sporting artist of the previous century, and throughout Troye’s lifetime, racing journals referred to him as “the Landseer of America” after his British contemporary, animal painter Sir Henry Edwin Landseer.

In 1832, just one year following his arrival in the United States, the 24-year-old Troye landed his first commissions for Thoroughbred portraiture with owner John Charles Craig of Philadelphia. Troye painted Craig’s lionhearted racemare Trifle, by Sir Charles, who in the portrait is accompanied by jockey Willis, trainer William Alexander and an unidentified groom.

Despite her diminutive size of 14 ¾ hands, at age three, Trifle won six of 11 races. To compete in three of these races, she had traveled more than 500 miles from Baltimore to South Carolina, where she won two of three starts over the Charleston and Columbia tracks. Trifle was unyielding in the last year of her career, winning 12 straight Jockey Club purses between September 1833 and October 1834.

At the time of her retirement in the fall of 1834 at age six, she had amassed 19 wins in 25 races—most of which were at four-mile heats—and had placed second once.

“Trifle, we regard, as a phenomenon,” the American Turf

Register and Sporting Magazine distinction, excelling in the sports of declared in a memoir recounting steeplechase and combined driving, and her career, “the best race nag of serving as Master of Foxhounds for a her size we have ever had, and for number of hunt clubs across the Northboth speed and bottom, surpassed east. As part of the evening’s festivities, by no nag that has run in America he had coordinated an exhibition of in the last 15 years.” artwork, trophies and related collectibles With the July 1832 portrait on loan from sportsmen. This included of Trifle, along with two other several Troye paintings provided by Belportraits of unidentified bay mont, which had been purchased by The mares owned by Craig, the artist Trifle, 1832; Oil on canvas, 21 x 24 inches Jockey Club in 1907 from the estate of launched what quickly became a Collection of Kirk & Palmer Ragsdale Major Barak G. Thomas, a former patron successful and prolific 40-year career in animal portraiture that of the artist and owner of Dixiana Farm in Kentucky. preserved the likeness of the mightiest of American antebellum “Seeing at once the value of Troye’s paintings in turf history, I racing heroes. Troye was the “Master of a school which he made began tracing Troye’s work throughout the United States,” Smith himself,” his close friend and patron Alexander Keene Richards wrote in a 1926 article for The Field. wrote at the time of the painter’s passing in 1874; yet, this school By organizing the banquet with the intention of uniting Amerof portraiture “seemed destined to die with him, for the tricks of ican sportsmen, Smith had unwittingly sparked this new personal the trade of the photographer have encroached upon his Art.” quest to revive interest in Troye’s artistic contributions to both Equine photography was usurping the distinct branch of fine the history of American racing and the art world. art that was animal painting. Published in the same year as Troye’s Smith spent two decades of painstaking research and travel death was Famous Horses of America, the first book of photographs across the county to locate Troye’s paintings; at the time of his of leading Thoroughbreds that boasted prints “taken from life,” 1926 article written for The Field, he had tracked down 240 of capturing the racers exactly as they appeared at rest. the artist’s works.

During his lifetime, turf journalists recognized Troye as “the “Mr. Smith is doing a public service to the art world as well greatest animal painter living” and, after his death, proclaimed as the horse world in his work relating to Troye,” stated the New that “America should fondly treasure his memory”—yet the art- York Herald in 1924. “How much it is needed is shown by the ist’s work eventually fell into obscurity. His portraits of the giants fact that when he wrote to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for of the turf continued to be cherished but as private relics of sport- such information as that institution might have concerning the ing men and their families—heirlooms like the prized trophies artist, word came back that Troye’s name was not to be found in and silver cups from past race victories and viewed only on the any book or record relating to early American painters, and that walls of the owners and breeders who commissioned them. nobody with the museum had ever heard of him.”

From the small-scale exhibition of sporting art collectibles he The Rebirth of Troye had curated for the Sportsmen’s Dinner in 1911, Smith evolved It was a monumental event in the world of horsemen: the to become “the Troye Authority,” for under his leadership, an first-ever Sportsmen’s Dinner, held in February 1911 at the Wal- exhibition of 35 of the artist’s paintings was held at New dorf Astoria in New York. More than 125 sportsmen represent- York’s Newhouse Galleries in November 1938. It was a 12-day ing racing, polo and hunting met for this banquet that gathered exhibition “Of Celebrated Thoroughbred Horses, Cattle, Their together “those interested in sports, of which the horse is either Owners, Families, Trainers and Jockeys—Kings and Queens of the vehicle or the motive,” remarked the evening’s toastmaster, the Early American Turf, Under the Advice and Direction of August Belmont Jr., chairman of The Jockey Club.

Harry Worcester Smith, The Troye Authority,” according to the “You have certainly responded eagerly to the call issued by catalogue. Four of the paintings referenced in this article—Trifle Harry W. Smith,” Belmont said during his keynote about the (c. 1832), Reel (c. 1859), Lexington (c. 1868) and War Dance (c. event’s organizer, “as good a sportsman as the best of us and with 1869)—were included in this exhibition. the energy of a dozen of us.”

“The works of those painters who have immortalized AmeriHarry Worcester Smith was a horseman of the highest can sport are still comparatively unfamiliar to American sport AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 27

lovers,” wrote E.J. Rousuck of Newhouse Galleries in the cat- pages, providing a comprehensive account of Troye’s life and alogue’s introduction. “This may be attributed to the fact that work. This includes a chronological list of 356 paintings and 11 these paintings, for the drawings that the author stated “probably sets most part, remain houseforth less than half of Troye’s production as a porhold treasures of the trait painter.” past—treasures which Mackay-Smith dedicated The Race Horses have been passed from faof America to “Three Pioneer Collectors”—A. ther to son. This is espeKeene Richards, Harry Worcester Smith and cially true of the work of Walter Morrison Jeffords Sr.—as well as “Three Edward Troye. This first Present-Day Collectors”—Walter M. Jeffords Jr., exhibit of Troye’s work Paul Mellon and Harry T. Peters Jr. Due to the should undoubtedly be “enthusiasm, scholarship and generosity” of the of the greatest interest to Reel, c. 1859; Oil on canvas, 22 x 29 inches present-day collectors, Mackay-Smith was able to The Jockey Club devotees of sport and to bring the book to fruition, for they provided a art lovers alike; the Thoroughbreds in his paintings are the pro- three-year fellowship at the National Sporting Library that supgenitors of the splendid Thoroughbreds of this country.” ported its completion. The publication of this consummate text Smith had been successful in reintroducing Troye’s lost legacy on Troye was vital to finishing what Harry Worcester Smith had to 20th-century America, yet at the time of his death in 1945, he begun—returning the artist, whose work was unprecedented in had not achieved his intended goal of publishing a book docu- the preservation of antebellum racing history, to his proper status menting the artist’s work. Found among his papers acquired by as America’s greatest animal painter. the National Sporting Library was a handwritten note, signed by Smith, which states: “Who will continue my accumulation of Uncovering History thought, feeling and art?”

While the museum’s Edward Troye and His Biographers Although the date of Smith’s reflective question is unknown, exhibition reveals the efforts of Harry Worcester Smith and on the day prior to his death, he praised the “interest and skill Alexander Mackay-Smith through letters, newspaper clippings, in historical research and in sport” of fellow historian and eques- photographs, books and other archival materials, Faithfulness to trian Alexander Mackay-Smith to writer Carvel Collins, who Nature: The Paintings of Edward Troye displays a total of 42 paintimmediately passed on these compliments. The ings and drawings baton may have been passed, but more than than span the artthree decades would transpire before Mackayist’s entire career.

Smith began work on The Race Horses of AmeriThe collection’s title ca, 1832–1872, Portraits and Other Paintings by pays homage to the Edward Troye, which he published in 1981 after sentiments of A. three years of writing. In the interim, MackayKeene Richards in Smith was serving as editor of The Chronicle of the painter’s obituthe Horse and was instrumental in founding a ary, which states, number of equestrian associations, including “Troye’s paintings the National Sporting Library in 1954. were studies from Mackay-Smith became convinced of the nature, faithful to a 1 1 W ar D ance , 1869; O il on canvas , 24 / x 29 / inches 4 4 need for this definitive book on the artist affault, but never meThe Jockey Club ter completing exhaustive research to write the chanical. He was no background for a Troye portrait that was included in his 1978 imitator. He had a style of his own, and often said it was his head publication, The Poster Book of Horses: Paintings of American that painted his pictures, not his hand.”

Equestrian Sport by American Artists and Designers. MackayBeginning with the early drawing Donkey and Goat (1823), Smith’s The Race Horses of America, published by the National sketched by the artist at age 15, the last piece in the collection is Museum of Racing, contains 30 chapters and more than 450 Troye’s portrait of 2-year-old Waverly, completed in September 28

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

1872 for Lexington patron James A. Grinstead of Walnut Hill with seven wins in eight races, having broken down during her Stud. Waverly, by imported Australian, would go on the next year final four-mile contest in 1843. to place second behind Tom Bowling in the 10th running of the “Judged upon her joint performances and produce, Reel stands Travers Stakes. Retired to stud following injury while racing in second to no other racemare bred in America,” wrote the 20thKentucky, Waverly had a promising stallion career cut short due century racing historian John Hervey. to death by colic in 1878.

Reel produced 13 foals, includIn Waverly, Troye included in the ing the valiant Lecomte, by Bosbackground a mare that Mackayton. Lecomte, who is honored Smith suggested was the horse’s with a stakes for 3-year-olds at dam, the imported mare Cicily Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Jopson. This would be the paintOrleans, was the only horse to er’s final work, and Mackay-Smith ever beat the powerful Lexingwrote, “It was characteristic of the ton. The pair’s yearlong rivalry artist that only after the completion dominated the racing world, unof a masterpiece was he content to til Lexington’s victory in their put down his palette and brushes final meeting in 1855 over New and to end his career as an artist.”

Orleans’ Metairie Course deemed 1 L exington , 1868; O il on canvas , 29 / x 38 inches 2 Harry Worcester Smith’s own him as the ruler of the turf—a The Jockey Club legwork across the country was timely conclusion to Lexington’s crucial to the discovery of many of Troye’s paintings among racing career, as the 5-year-old was gradually going blind. Reel’s privately owned collections, the locations of which would have last foal was War Dance, a successful sire who was also the last otherwise remained a mystery. colt by Lexington. Troye’s 1869 portrait of War Dance and his “For years I have motored all over the South, covering 1859 painting of Glencoe, both commissioned by owner A. thousands of miles,” Smith wrote in The Field about his search, Keene Richards, are featured in the Faithfulness to Nature exhibi“for before the ‘War Between the States’ (1860–1865) the great tion, as are two works of the magnificent stallion Lexington—a plantations below the Mason and Dixon Line, owned by ‘South- painting from 1868 and a charcoal drawing from 1870, the latter ern families that formed the nobility of America,’ were the only of which Troye had in his possession when he died. studs in the U.S. where Thoroughbreds were bred.”

The 1859 portrait of Reel included in this exhibition was Troye’s portraits of Reel, the incomparable grey racemare and painted for General Wells when she was more than 20 years old. broodmare, are examples of Smith’s Southern racehorse discover- The artist was praised for his ability to paint grey horses, and this ies. Smith had been successful in locating two paintings of the painting of Reel was the portrait most often reproduced, accordgrey mare that had remained among the descendants of South- ing to Mackay-Smith. ern racing royalty: one in the former home of Captain William “Grey in youth, with a strip in her face, she grew snow-white in J. Minor of Natchez, Mississippi, and a second at Wellswood, later life and is so portrayed by Troye in the painting which conthe northern Louisiana home of Jefferson Wells Jr., whose ances- noisseurs have declared his chef d’oeuvre,” wrote Hervey of this tor had raced the grand mare. The second portrait, a 24 ¼ x 34 painting. “Now in the collection of The Jockey Club, it discloses ¼ painting of Reel in a landscape, “had hung 60 years over the an individual of exquisite beauty.”

This portrait was willed to A. Keene Richards by General Wells fireplace at Wellswood and accumulated a coating of smoke and dust that turned the grey mare to a brown.” This painting is now and was later passed to Major Barak Thomas. With The Jockey Club’s in the possession of the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga acquisition of several of Troye’s works from Thomas’ Kentucky estate in 1907, it is likely that this painting was included in the collection Springs, New York.

Sired by imported Glencoe during his first full season in 1837 featured during Smith’s Sportsmen’s Dinner in 1911. at James Jackson’s Forks of Cypress in Alabama, Reel was owned

by General Thomas Jefferson Wells, who campaigned the filly at Lexington Immortalized Fittingly, the equine Lexington stands guard over the city of tracks throughout Louisiana. She was undefeated at age three, beating older horses in four-mile-heats, and retired at age five Lexington, Kentucky, in the form of “Big Lex,” a blue-colored AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 29

adaptation of Troye’s 1868 portrait of the famous stallion. Since 2009, the image of Big Lex has been featured as the logo for the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (VisitLEX) marketing campaign, embellishing everything from street signs and billboards to bumper stickers as he serves as the face of “Big Lex” the Horse Capital of the Courtesy of VisitLEX World.

Sanders Bruce, founder of Turf, Field and Farm, once wrote of a Troye painting, “If it ever fades from the canvas, it will be for the reason that so much of the real spirit of the immortal racer is embodied in it, that it will grow tired of its fetters, burst the trammels, and, with an eagle bound, join the planets in a grand and never ending race around the sun.”

In this instance, he was talking about one of Troye’s portraits of the racehorse Kentucky, but he could just as easily have been referencing Lexington, whom the artist painted several times over a 15-year span— always capturing “the blind hero of Woodburn Stud” as the majestic stallion that he was.

As Bruce eloquently suggested, the day finally came when the noble Lexington courageously leapt off Troye’s canvas—perhaps in search of a grassier landscape—for according to the legend, Big Lex turned blue for a reason, having grazed on the nourishing bluegrass pastures of Central Kentucky.

And one day, Big Lex might feel compelled to head north toward the city of Georgetown; there, he would visit the former site of A. Keene Richards’ farm Blue Grass Park, where Troye often worked in his studio, built on the property especially for him by his friend and greatest patron. And while there, Big Lex would also make his way to the city’s cemetery, where Troye was laid to rest in 1874, and pay his respects to the celebrated artist.

Lexington, who won six of seven career starts 30

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

and was a dominant sire in the 1860s and 1870s, has long graced the cover of The BloodHorse’s Stallion Register in the form of a Troye painting. It is fitting for the iconic horse to carry on as the face of the Horse Capital of the World; as Bruce wrote in his “Death of Edward Troye” obituary for Turf, Field and Farm, “His horses were not mere outlines. The canvas seemed to glow with life.” H

The National Sporting Library & Museum’s Coming Home Series: Edward Troye (1808–1874) consists of the exhibitions Edward Troye and His Biographers: The Archives of Harry Worcester Smith and Alexander Mackay-Smith, on view until February 22, 2015, in the library’s Forrest E. Mars Sr. Exhibit Hall, and Faithfulness to Nature: Paintings by Edward Troye, on view in the museum until March 29, 2015. The exhibition catalogue is available for purchase online from

Amazon.com, or by calling the museum front desk at (540) 687-6542, ext. 27.

All images related to the exhibition have been provided with permission by the National Sporting Library & Museum with special thanks to Claudia Pfeiffer, George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Curator.

Annie Johnson is a freelance writer currently working on a book about antebellum Thoroughbred racing in New Orleans. Her work has appeared in Deep South Magazine and on her website, antebellumturftimes.com, which features articles related to her research on the sport’s history. Follow Annie on Twitter at @AntebelTrfTimes

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OTTB Spotlight:

Home at Last

Former Oklahoma-bred stakes winner traveled the country before finally making it home

Courtesy Tom Curtin

By Jen Roytz

W

Tom Curtin thought he would never see Oklahoma-bred Thewaytogo again, but thanks to fate, some caring horse people and a little luck, they have been reunited.

eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all heard stories about people finding long-lost relatives or losing a beloved dog only to become reunited with them years later. These stories can run the gamut from gut-wrenching and tear-jerking to heart-warming and hard to believe. They remind us that sometimes life and fate have funny ways of working themselves out over time, and that sometimes miracles may just happen.

This is one of those stories.

Thewaytogo came from modest beginnings. Bred in the Sooner State by the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School, he was consigned as a 2-year-old in 1997 to the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City and purchased for $800 by Jesse Trotter. The gelding was big, but he was precocious and by the spring was showing promise of good things to come.

The son of Haymarket (GB) won his second start at the maiden special weight level at Lone Star Park for owner/trainer Trotter, and by the end of his juvenile year, Thewaytogo was a stakes winner after taking the No More Hard Times Stakes at Remington Park.

Trotter loved the horse and treated him with kindness and meticulous care. Thewaytogo ran 29 times and turned Trotterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial investment of $800 into winnings of over $80,000.

In 2000, when the gelding was at the point that allowance races were no longer an option, Trotter, now in his mid-80s, looked to find him a good home and placed him on a farm that worked with disadvantaged children.

Two years later, a gentleman named Tom Curtin was looking for a Quarter Horse gelding to

34

AMERICAN Racehorse â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

use for ranch work. He came across a small classified ad for a 17.2- his eye, and after much back and forth, the owner simply gave her the hand Thoroughbred, and though the horse was not what Curtin was gelding in disgust. looking for, he was intrigued by the horse’s size and scheduled an Harrison moved the Thoroughbred to her in-laws’ farm and reappointment to see him. named him “Buster.” His eye healed, and the family soon found him “Just a few minutes in the stall with him, and I knew he had to to be the perfect horse that they’d been searching for. come home with me,” Curtin said. “I instantly fell in love.”

Buster, however, began losing weight, and no amount of feed and Curtin called him “Nassau” and soon found that even though the nutritional and gastric supplements would help. Eventually he colhorse had little to no icked, and with one of her children recently diagnosed experience with ranch with autism and her husband temporarily out of work work, the Oklahomaon disability leave, the family simply could not afford the bred worked and roped expensive and regularly occurring vet calls. cows with the best of Harrison reached out to Fallen Horses founder Traci them. Curtin took him Hutmier, and together they used social media to raise to parades, and the horse the money to transport Buster from Nevada to Hutmier became his ambassain California so she could work with him. With her vet’s dor for off-track Thorassistance, Hutmier soon found the cause of Buster’s oughbreds long before weight loss—approximately 80 pounds of sand in his the OTTB movement gut. gained popularity. Nas“Our vet came out and determined that he was full of sau was truly the love of sand,” Hutmier explained. “We talked about the sand Courtesy Tom Curtin Tom’s life. and how to handle it and started him immediately on a But in 2008, an un- Thewaytogo, now named Nassau, ‘no hay’ diet. It was amazing to see the transformation.” sold for just $800 at auction and fortunate set of circumBuster went from weighing just 937 pounds to more went on to earn more than $80,000 stances forced Curtin to than 1,150 pounds. His coat began to gleam, and his relocate back to his home on the track. personality started to shine through. Before long, he was state of Massachusetts. He looked and looked but was unable to find a place to board Nassau that he could afford, so he found a family in New York who would care for him, under the condition that Curtin would come to get him as soon as he could.

Curtin stayed in regular contact with the family for six months.

Then, out of nowhere, the family—and Nassau—disappeared. Tom searched for Nassau for years but to no avail, and he finally, grudgingly, came to the heartbreaking conclusion that he would never see his beloved horse again.

It was 2012 and Dottie Harrison, currently the vice president of Fallen Horses, a California-based nonprofit equine rescue, rehabilitation and adoption organization, was looking for a horse for her family. She found an ad on Craigslist from a ranch in Nevada for several horses for sale and made an appointment to look them over.

One of the horses at the ranch was a big, rangy, 17.2-hand horse, and while he seemed kind enough, Harrison felt he wasn’t the right fit for her family due to his size. She visited the ranch several times that month and on her way out to the farm one day, the owner called to let her know that the “big horse” had injured his eye and would be put down upon the owner’s return.

Harrison rushed to the horse’s aid once she arrived at the ranch and began treating the eye daily with antibiotic ointment and pain medicine. She implored the owner not to put the horse down due to

the favorite of everyone at the Fallen Horses facility.

Thrilled to show Harrison the horse’s turnaround, Hutmier took some photos and emailed them to her friend.

It was the end of 2013 and Harrison was chatting online with Emmie Ewing, a new horse-inclined friend she’d met on social media.

The topic of off-track Thoroughbreds came up, and Harrison told Ewing about the plight of her 18-year-old Thoroughbred named Buster.

Ewing commented that the stories reminded her so much of her fiancé’s old horse named Nassau. The more the women discussed the horse, the more they started getting the feeling they were talking about the same horse.

“Dottie sent her the photos,” said Fallen Horses Chief Financial Officer Victoria Hardesty. “Emmie took the photos to Tom. When he looked closely at the third one, he broke down. He was looking at Nassau, and his horse was alive and well after all those years.”

Thewaytogo’s identity was confirmed by his Jockey Club tattoo.

“When Dottie and I were discussing our horses, she began telling me of her horse that was an OTTB trained to work cows,” Ewing said. “That’s what led me to ask more questions, and each time I got the same answer from both Dottie and Tom. There are currently 2.9 million horses in the U.S. Tom was highly skeptical because, really, what are the chances?”

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 35

The horse and the chances defied all odds, but it was truly him, and Jen Roytz is a freelance writer and marketing and public relations to Tom, it was simply a miracle. consultant for various entities, both equine and non-equine. She can “On February 5, 2014, Buster had an early breakfast,” Hardesty said. also be found on the back of an OTTB most days. This article original“He was brushed for the final time at Fallen Horses in Pinon Hills, ly ran in the Paulick Report’s “OTTB Showcase” at paulickreport.com.

California. Don Buckner of Redmond, Oregon, If you have or know of a retired Thoroughbred arrived with his rig. With hugs and kisses, Bustwith an interesting story to tell, we’d love to Name: Thewaytogo (aka “Nassau” and “Buster”) er was loaded for the trip. Those of us left watchhear about it! Just email Jen Roytz (jenlroytz@ Born: April 7, 1995 ing the trailer leave the driveway had tears in gmail.com) with the horse’s Jockey Club Color: Bay our eyes and joy in our hearts for this wonderful name, background story and a few photos.

Sire: Haymarket (GB) This section is sponsored by the Retired horse. He was going home at last.”

Dam: Ah Me After numerous pick-ups and drop-offs of Racehorse Project, which works to facilitate Sale History: Sold at the Heritage Place Winter various horses around the country, and a deplacement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses Mixed Sale as a 2-year-old in 1997 for $800 lay due to the horrendous winter weather near in second careers by increasing demand for Race Record: 29-3-2-6 Washington D.C., Buster finally arrived in them in the marketplace and inspiring an Earnings: $82,276; 1st, No More Hard Times S.; Granby, Massachusetts, on February 12. Ew2nd, Norman S., 3rd, Brother Brown S., Great West army of equestrians to provide the training greeted him with warm blankets and lots of ing that secures their futures. RRP proS., Clever Trevor S., Prairie Gold Juvenile S. love, as Curtin was away on business. grams include online educational resources, Two days later, Curtin and Nassau were reunited…on Valentine’s Day. programs at major horse expos, “Today, Nassau is enjoying a semi-retired life in his New England interactive databases including a country setting,” Ewing said. “He’s shedding his winter fluff and en- Bloodline Brag and Retired Racejoying the small patches of green grass popping up. We celebrated his horse Resource Directory, featuring 300 farms and organizations, 19th birthday on April 7 and, just yesterday (April 14), Tom rode him and more than 200 online horse listings, with most of the horses for the second-first time.” having some second career training. RRP’s Thoroughbred Makeover That was nearly a year ago, and now thanks to the compassion and and National Symposium moves in its third year to the Kentucky dedication of a few people from around the country, Thewaytogo is Horse Park October 23-25, 2015. For more information, go to retired back home and getting ready to celebrate his 20th birthday. racehorseproject.org. H

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A young stallion with tremendous potential!

SEBASTIAN COUNTY was a versatile and talented racehorse

who won a stakes at Oaklawn Park and placed in five other stakes from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, including the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity.

A son of HENNESSY, whose sons at stud include JOHANNESBURG and HENNY HUGHES, SEBASTIAN COUNTY is a full brother to top stallion CACTUS RIDGE. His dam placed in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and also produced stakes winner and Grade 3-placed HARRIETT LANE.

SEBASTIAN COUNTY’S first crop will hit the track in 2015!

2015 FEE: $2,500 – LIVE FOAL Property of Dream Walkin’ Farms

ROYAL VISTA RANCHES

Inquiries to Laura Erickson 26822 State Highway 59 • Wayne, Oklahoma 73095 Phone: (405) 449-7575 • Fax: (405) 449-7474 Email: royalvistaranches@valornet.com • Website: www.royalvistaranches.com Accredited Oklahoma Stallion • Nominated to the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes

A First Step Toward a Long-Needed Solution

Immigration, Executive Action and How It Affects Horsemen

By Will Velie and Craig McDougal • Photos by Denis Blake

R

ight up until Thursday night, November 20, these authors, along with at least 11 million other people in the United States, sat on the edge of our proverbial seats waiting to hear the details of the president’s long-awaited announcement regarding the fate of millions of undocumented immigrants to the United States.

Whether the wait was worth the expectation is a question with no easy answer. For opponents of the president’s actions, his executive order was akin to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River and declaring himself emperor. For advocates of executive action, the president’s order was a longawaited down payment on the promise he made on his way to the presidency in 2008 to fix the broken immigration system within the first 100 days of taking office.

It is a safe bet that neither advocates nor opponents of the executive action were completely satisfied by the order announced on that Thursday night in November.

To begin with, the power of an executive order is fleeting and inherently limited to the length of time that the executive who made the order remains in office. Since President Obama has only two years remaining in his administration, the immigrants who step forward and register for the benefits offered by the executive order run the risk of being exposed and deported if a succeeding executive repeals the order and mandates strict interpretation and enforcement of immigration laws.

Beyond the possibility that the executive order may not be renewed in the next administration, the greatest disappointment most advocates for the executive order felt was that it did not reach

40

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

far enough to help more people out of their legal immigration limbo.

While the order does reach a projected five million people, it does not reach the remaining approximately six to seven million people who fall outside of the legal requirements to qualify for deportation relief established by the action.

From about 8 p.m. on November 20 until 6 a.m. the next morning, the Department of Homeland Security dropped nearly 20 memoranda one by one, addressing a broad range of immigration issues. Some of the memos closely affect vital interests of trainers, backstretch workers and the Thoroughbred industry. Regardless of the memosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; content, however, the effort will ultimately come to little effect without passage of a comprehensive immigration package to address the long-term needs of American society and industry.

Selfishly for our industry, comprehensive immigration reform should address both the immediate needs of undocumented horsemen as well as long-term needs of trainers and backstretch workers. To be effective, comprehensive immigration reform needs to provide a pathway to legalization for horsemen who currently have no valid immigration status, provided they pass a background check and can establish they have been in the United States for a sustained period. Effective immigration reform must also address the long-term needs of the Thoroughbred industry by ensuring that horsemen have access to a viable straightforward visa program that allows international jockeys, grooms and exercise riders to temporarily come to the United States to assist U.S. racing teams and Thoroughbred farms in competing in the global arena.

America has always maintained its competitive edge by attracting the best talent the world has to offer while training Americans to fill these roles first. By passing immigration reform that emphasizes

training and hiring of Americans first while enabling consistent access to international talent, Thoroughbred racing and American industry can meet its labor needs well into the 21st century.

Through the sustained efforts of individuals such as Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing and vital organizations like the National HBPA, horsemen are making themselves heard in the immigration debate and are determined to make sure that their interests are served in the comprehensive immigration legislation that will be produced in the near future.

The November 20 executive action was the start of a conversation that in true American fashion will undoubtedly be heated, hopefully civil, and absolutely essential for the good of our nation.

Summary of the Executive Order We will provide a quick run-down of the highlights of the order announced November 20 and do our best to stay out of the legal thickets and emphasize those provisions that will likely affect horsemen the most.

Three provisions regarding temporary legal status for individuals previously unlawfully present in the United States were detailed in the order that either expand on current categories of individuals allowed temporary legalization or create a new category altogether. a. Parents of United States citizens and permanent residents The first and most far-reaching category detailed was the creation of a new class of eligibility for legalization called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA). The order allows temporary legalization for three years for individuals who: (1) have a U.S. citizen or permanent resident son or daughter (of any age) as of November 20, 2014; (2) have been present in the United States since before January 1, 2010; and AMERICAN Racehorse â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 41

(3) were present in the United States on November 20, 2014, and pass background checks for criminal activity and prior immigration violations. b. Expansion of DACA (also known as the DREAM Act) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was created in 2011 to allow individuals who came to the United States as children to become temporarily legal. DACA will be expanded under the order, expanding the temporary legalization validity period to three years from two and allowing some individuals previously not qualified due to their age to take part. c. Allowing more family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be forgiven for unlawful entry to the United States Called “Expansion of the Provisional Waiver Program” in the executive order, the memo expands the number of immediate relatives of Americans eligible to obtain permanent residence despite their initial unlawful entry into the United States. Prior to this order, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only allowed spouses and children of U.S. citizens and parents of adult U.S. citizens who could demonstrate extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent to apply for a waiver of their immediate relative’s unlawful entry into the United States.

Under the new order, USCIS will expand access to a waiver of unlawful entry allowing an individual to get a family-based “green card” for spouses and sons and daughters of permanent residents.

USCIS will also try to clearly define its standard for granting of a waiver called “extreme hardship.” A clear definition will hopefully give guidance to officers defining this subjective concept so that consistency will be the rule and eliminate the opportunity for arbitrary decisions made by an officer’s discretion.

In addition to the above-discussed expansion of temporary relief from deportation to newly eligible individuals, the executive order addressed several other issues. For a detailed description of the entire contents of the executive order, you can find a summary at uscis.gov/ immigrationaction.

The remaining provisions include the following: • Reordering of prosecution priorities into three categories to make clear where the government’s resources should be focused in enforcing immigration laws.

• Improving both land and sea borders without impeding travel, lawful trade or commerce. An additional 20,000 Border Patrol agents will be hired and deployed as part of this measure.

• Replacing the community police and federal immigration partnership program called Secure Communities with a new

program called the Priority Enforcement Program. The new program will follow priority guidelines to determine which detailed individuals should be held by local police for transfer to federal immigration officers.

• Authorization of U.S. Department of Labor investigators to give special T and U to give visas to individuals they determine to be victims of crimes involving trafficking or other criminal activities, including extortion, forced labor and fraud in foreign labor contracting. A note to employers who used for visa programs or employ international workers: This provision can be used visas to employees who will testify in criminal proceedings for unfair employment practices. Make sure to review employment practices so that you cannot be caught in an unpleasant investigation or trial.

• Visa policies to support highly skilled industry and professional level visa holders. These include employment authorization for spouses of H-1B professional level visa holders, streamlining and ensuring consistency in business visa adjudications and utilizing available numbers of employment-based green cards to people waiting in line and expanding the number of 27-month work authorization documents issued to college graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

• Allow undocumented immediate relatives of active duty U.S. Military members to remain in the United States and apply for permanent residence.

• Give raises to immigration officers.

• Integrate refugees and immigrants through language and civics programs.

• Reform immigration courts.

• Promote citizenship attainment.

Remember that none of this executive order matters if it is repealed in two years. For our country to get this important piece of business right, our Congress needs to pass a long-lasting bill that addresses the many issues contained in the concept of immigration into one package of comprehensive immigration legislation. To make sure they get it right, our Congress needs to hear from us. So remember: Let your representatives know what you think—early and often at contactingthecongress.org. H Attorneys William Velie and Craig McDougal are with Horseman Labor Solutions, an immigration services company based in Oklahoma that represents horsemen throughout the United States in immigration matters. Horseman Labor Solutions can be reached online at horsemanlabor.com or by phone at (877) 678-RACE.

For breeding and racing news from across the region, go to AmericanRacehorse.com 42

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

4th Annual Thoroughbred Sale NEW DATE THIS YEAR OCTOBER 4, 2015

• Yearling Session • Mixed Session for Horses of All Ages

Serving the Horse Industry for 37 Years!

(Located just 2 miles from Will Rogers International Airport)

2829 South MacArthur Blvd. • Oklahoma City, OK 73128 (405) 682-4551 • Fax (405) 686-1267 To find the latest sales results, catalogs and entry contracts, please check out the Heritage Place website. www.heritageplace.com • E-mail: info@heritageplace.com

BIG BAND SOUND Bernstein – Ensnare, by Seeking the Gold

•An accomplished sprinter, BIG BAND SOUND proved his soundness by racing to age 6 while hitting the board in more than half of his starts on turf, dirt and synthetic surfaces • A Grade 2 winner who placed in three other graded stakes before retiring with earnings of more than $400,000 • BIG BAND SOUND is the result of the remarkable breeding program of Ogden Mills Phipps, who bred each of his first four dams. BIG BAND SOUND’s dam, the SEEKING THE GOLD mare Ensnare, produced three stakes horses and produced the dam of G3 winner FASHION ALERT and G2 winner RENEE’S TITAN, who is also by BERNSTEIN and sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland November 2015 FEE: $2,500 - LIVE FOAL

Payable when foal stands and nurses (special consideration to approved mares; multiple mare discount) Property of a Syndicate Standing at:

GULF COAST EQUINE

Inquiries to Anna Paul or Ray Paul 545 Muscadine Road, Sunset, Louisiana 70584 Office/FAX (337) 662-2425 Anna (352) 342-5737 • Ray (318) 578-1866 E-mail: gcequine@yahoo.com Website: www.gcequine.com

FLORIDA CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD MILLIONAIRE MULTIPLE GRADE 2 WINNER Hutcheson S-G2, in first start at 3 Ohio Derby-G2, by 4 lengths Gulfstream Park H-G2, 103 Beyer

GRADE 1 STAKES-PLACED 2nd, by only 1/2 length in the $600,000 Metropolitan H-G1

2nd, to Kentucky Derby winner BIG BROWN in the Florida Derby-G1

WINNER AT 2, 3 & 4

Won MdSpWt first time out at 2 Multiple Grade 2 winner at 3 Grade 2 winner at 4

SIX TRIPLE DIGIT BEYERS 107 in the Metropolitan H-G1

SW ON DIRT & TURF

Multiple stakes winner on dirt 7 furlongs to 1 1/8 mi.

Stakes winner on turf at 1 1/16 mi.

PRECOCIOUS FAMILY

Half-Brother to OVERDRIVEN - Undefeated 2YO Graded stakes winner of the Sanford S-G2.

First Starter ELECTRIC KISS MdSpWt winner in career debut at LA Downs!

FREE to all stallions 352-342-5737

SMOOTH AIR

Smooth Jazz - Air France, by French Deputy 2015 fee: $2,500 LF (payable when foal stands and nurses) Multiple mare discounts are available Special consideration to approved mares BOARDING

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BREEDING

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GULF COAST EQUINE LLC • 545 Muscadine Rd., Sunset, LA 70584 Inquiries to: Anna Paul (352) 342-5737 • Ray (318) 578-1866 E-mail: GCEquine@yahoo.com • www.GCEquine.com I S A L E S R E P R E S E N TAT I O N

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CONSIGNMENT

Graded-Stakes Son of Tapit $350,000 Two Year Old Triple Digit Speed Figures Bred by Edward P Evans

Standing Guard

The Racing Officials Accreditation Program prepares those who regulate the sport

By Denis Blake

Ackerley Images

T

here’s no question that horsemen are hard-working and passionate, whether racing is their profession or hobby. Up before dawn, rarely a day off, often in bed after midnight, and all for a sport in which even the very best lose far more often than they win. Those who regulate racing also put in long hours, and there’s much more to being a steward than just showing up at post time. But before becoming an accredited racing official, there is an intense training and testing process that is overseen by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, or ROAP. Unlike most other professional sports, which are overseen by a commissioner and regulated by officials from league headquarters, horse racing has always been fragmented, with each state or province having a different, albeit similar, set of regulations despite the push for uniform rules across all jurisdictions.

Until about 25 years ago, there was little standardization in the training and education of stewards and other racing officials. That’s about the time interstate simulcasting began to take off, which made it more important than ever for the industry to strive for a reliable and consistent way to accredit stewards, whose job it is to ensure a level playing field for the betting public and the equine and human participants in every race.

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 47

In the late 1980s, the Thoroughbred industry, including The Jockey Club, began to come together to create a program to accredit stewards. The Quarter Horse industry, in fact, was already a bit ahead in that race, as the American Quarter Horse Association had for many years trained and accredited racing officials to oversee non-pari-mutuel racing. As Quarter Horse racing grew into new states and non-parimutuel racing turned into pari-mutuel, the AQHA’s direct role was reduced and it joined with its Thoroughbred brethren to help bring a national accreditation program to fruition.

Spearheaded by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) in coordination with the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program and University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, the accreditation program went national in 1991 and eventually evolved into ROAP, which to date has had nearly 1,000 participants.

Among its supporters, ROAP counts a full bowl of the alphabet soup of horse racing organizations, from the AQHA to the NHBPA (National Horsemen’s Benevolent Cathy O’Meara and Protective Association) to the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) to TOBA (Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association), plus harness racing and steeplechase organizations.

Cathy O’Meara, who serves as ROAP coordinator and also industry initiatives coordinator for The Jockey Club, said one of the main benefits of the program is an increased level of professionalism and expertise across the industry.

“It really has helped raise the bar,” she said about ROAP. “Now, everyone out there has that base level of education and base level of experience. Fans and horsemen are getting fair treatments, and track management knows they are getting trained individuals.”

While there are certifications and accreditations in a variety of fields that can be had by taking a short online course and paying a fee, there is no such fast or easy track when it comes to earning ROAP accreditation.

To achieve accreditation, an individual must attend, in person, a 60-hour accreditation school offered by Louisville or Arizona (the schools alternate as host every year in various locations) and pass five exams spanning eight hours, including an oral test, film analysis and three-part written test. Finally, the applicant must possess a significant amount of experience in the racing industry.

Accreditation is split into three levels—all of which require attending the school and passing the exams. Level III, which is the base level, requires at least 225 racing dates of prior experience, within the previous 10 years, as a licensed racing official (steward, racing secretary, paddock judge, clerk of scales, etc.) or meeting a threshold of starts as 48

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

a trainer or jockey over a period of five to 15 years (more starts earn experience faster). In the absence of that experience, ROAP may accept an application based on other current or past experience in the industry. For Level II and I (the highest level) accreditation, requirements are added for days and years worked as a steward or judge.

The vast majority of racing jurisdictions require ROAP accreditation for stewards.

“The laws of each state vary,” O’Meara said, “but we have 30 jurisdictions out of 32 that require accreditation in some shape or form. Some of the rule books actually say you must be ROAP-accredited and some say you have to attend a certain type of class and others make it a job requirement before you can apply.”

Since ROAP is the only organization offering a stewards school and accreditation, its seal of approval is a requirement in most states even if it is not listed by name in the rules.

O’Meara said each annual school attracts 30 to 40 attendees, with about 10 to 15 beDenis Blake coming accredited. She noted that the difference in numbers is not simply those who do not pass the test—although there are some who don’t—but some attendees are from the media or are regulators who are seeking more knowledge but not accreditation.

O’Meara also pointed out that there is no such thing as “Thoroughbred” or “Quarter Horse” accreditation and that both breeds, as well as Arabians, Paints, Appaloosas and mules, are covered in the flat racing program (there is also a program for harness and steeplechase racing).

The 60-hour course is held over a period of eight days, and the curriculum covers all facets of racing and regulation, including drugs and medication, administrative law, security, pari-mutuel operations, film analysis and more.

“A lot of people come in from Thoroughbred racing and say they want to only do Thoroughbred racing; they can’t, it’s flat racing accreditation,” O’Meara said, adding that those coming from the Quarter Horse world sometimes have an advantage because they are already familiar with the concept of time trials and the break of a Quarter Horse race, which might be foreign to a Thoroughbred person.

Continuing the Education In most states, once you pass the test to become a licensed trainer you can remain licensed for life. ROAP accreditation, however, has a continuing education (CE) requirement that mandates 16 hours of instruction every two years.

“The CE is a mix of going over old stuff and adding in new things,” O’Meara said. “We have points of emphasis that are developed by our stewards advisory committee each year and voted on by the board. We spend a

The Kentucky Derby, which draws a field of 20 runners most years, always has its share of bumping, and the stewards must determine whether any of it warrants a disqualification. good deal of time on things like film review, ‘what ifs’ and current events.”

ROAP also introduced a Certificate Course in 2012, which is a shorter two-day program designed as a possible steppingstone to the 60-hour school and ROAP accreditation. The program provides general education for racing officials and delves into the specifics and responsibilities of various jobs at the track, including outrider, clerk of scales, starter/assistant starter, placing judge, horse identifier and more.

There is no prerequisite for the course and it’s open to anyone from handicappers to media to industry employees and horsemen. Although it’s not required by any racing commissions for racing officials, that could change in the future.

“Lots of people don’t want to put that much time into the 60-hour course,” O’Meara said. “So this gives them the chance to see what the regulatory part is like.”

The ROAP website at horseracingofficials.com also offers educational opportunities with suggested reading materials, links to further information and a job board for racing officials and employers to connect.

For the Love of the Game Rarely does a newspaper headline trumpet how well a game was officiated or how a team won because the referee made the right decision.

When you add in the fact that nearly every fan and horseman at the track has a rooting interest in a race, even the correct call made by the stewards can be unpopular. So why would someone want to become a steward or racing official?

Magdaleno “Mag” Perez Jr., a recent graduate of the University of Arizona’s racing program who attended and passed the test for stewards’ school, said it’s a profession he enjoys.

Perez has worked as a steward for both horse and greyhound racing for the Arizona Department of Racing, as well as a Lasix coordinator ensuring that all protocols for the medication are followed on race day.

While getting a driver’s license is a relatively simple process, he said

Ackerley Images

that’s not the case for ROAP accreditation.

“The course definitely covers everything and doesn’t sugar coat anything,” he said. “You need to know all the terms used in racing and all the medical terms and lingo for drug testing. The written test is four hours long and takes every bit of it. My hand was cramping up after filling up four booklets with writing.”

While overseeing the running of the races and looking for possible disqualifications is the most obvious part of a steward’s job, in actuality it is a rather small segment of what they do, and the typical day begins well before horses enter the starting gate.

“On a normal day, the stewards get in and approve license applications for people,” said Perez, who has worked at both Rillito Park in Tucson and Turf Paradise in Phoenix. “There are background checks and investigations, and hearings are a big part. In Arizona, we write our own rulings and hearing notices.”

Perez said those hearings can cover everything from the fairly mundane, such as a small fine for a trainer bringing a horse to the paddock late, to more serious matters of suspensions for medication positives or riding infractions.

Horse racing is a sport of passion for everyone from owners and breeders to jockeys and trainers to the wagering public. Many racing officials also share that passion, despite working mostly behind the scenes and rarely receiving accolades from the industry. They need the skills of a referee, lawyer, judge and scientist to regulate a complex sport with participants from all walks of life.

“My dad was a trainer, and I was a gambler and groom and I’ve done everything from the bottom to the top. My satisfaction comes in knowing that I did my job well at the end of the day,” Perez said.

“A big part of racing is the passion and the love. I see people jumping up and down and hugging in the stands when they win. It gives me chills. You want to make sure the races are safe and fair, and that makes my day.” H AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 49

WW W.S OUT

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AHO MA IN TEXA S, OKL RED INDU STRY

THE REG ION AND ARO UND

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AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

BIG Dreams. BIG Goals. BIG Results.

KENNEDY

A.P. Indy - Lovely Regina, by Deputy Minister

By Red Hot Sire of Sires A.P. INDY. Three-Parts Brother to Champion BERNARDINI. There are 4 Stakes Winners from the A.P. Indy line in his immediate family, including 2012 Grade 1 SW LOVE AND PRIDE ($985,760, by A.P. INDY), sold for $4,900,000 at 2013 Fasig Tipton Kentucky Sale. Second Dam is Grade 1 Winner & Broodmare of the Year CARA RAFAELA ($884,452) 2015 Fee: $2,000 LIVE FOAL Stands & Nurses Nominated to Breeders’ Cup, OK Bred Program, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa Stallion Stakes.

NOTIONAL

In Excess - Truly Blessed, by French Deputy

Brilliant Miler From Sire Line of Indian Charlie.

1st Crop- $50K SW, $60K SP, Can SP 2nd Crop- 10 Wnrs, 3 SHs, 2 SWs #1 Third-Crop OK Sire by 2014 Earnings, Winners, SWs #2 OK Sire Overall by 2014 Winners. Top FOUR OVERALL OK Sire by 2014 Progeny Earnings. Sire of 12% Stake Performers. Oklahoma’s Leading Juvenile Sire by 2014 Stakes Horses 2015 Fee: $2,000 LIVE FOAL Stands & Nurses Nominated to Breeders’ Cup, OK Bred Program, Oklahoma , Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa Stallion Stakes.

OMEGA CODE Elusive Quality - Tin Oaks, by Deputy Minister

Sire of More U.S. Winners than Any Son of Elusive Quality FIFTH Ranked Sire by 2014 OK Bred Earnings 2014 Stakes Performers incl.: ALPHA AND OMEGA ($120,654), 2 1/2- length winner of Remington’s $50,000 Tishomingo S. in 2014 & 3- length winner of the $64,000 OK Stallion S. (C&G div.); returning Grade 1 winner SIGNAL ALERT; Zeta Zody, placed in Remington’s $50,000 Te Ata S. 78% runners in first six crops 2015 Fee: $2,000 LIVE FOAL Stands & Nurses Nominated to Breeders’ Cup, OK Bred Program, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa Stallion Stakes

WWW.ROCKIN Z RANCHOK.COM Rockin’ Z Ranch

2275 South Highway 75 Beggs, Oklahoma 74421

Phone: (918)267-2275 Fax: (918)267-2276 rockinzranch@gmail.com

Stakes Race Round-Up Remington closes with the Springboard Mile, and stallions are showcased with stakes in Oklahoma and Texas

Dustin Orona Photography

Dustin Orona Photography

As horsemen and racing fans celebrated the holidays in November and December, Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Retama Park near San Antonio each presented a set of races to spotlight the stallions in their respective states. The Remington meet came to a close in mid-December with the rich Springboard Mile along with solid menu of undercard stakes, and Texas-breds scored big open company wins in New Mexico and Louisiana.

DANCING DIVA

BAYERD

$55,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes (Fillies Division) Remington Park 2-year-old filly by Affirmatif out of Midsummer Magic, by Pure Prize Owner: Harmony Stable LLC • Trainer: Boyd Caster Breeder: Hidden Springs Ranch LLC (Oklahoma) Jockey: Curtis Kimes Stallion Affirmatif stands in Oklahoma at Caines Stallion Station

FESSTUNE

$50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes • Remington Park 3-year-old gelding by Omega Code out of Fess, by Festin (Arg) Owner/Breeder: Clark Brewster (Oklahoma) Trainer: Scott Young • Jockey: Belen Quinonez Stallion Omega Code stands in Oklahoma at Rockin’ Z Ranch

Dustin Orona Photography

Dustin Orona Photography

$255,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes • Remington Park 2-year-old gelding by Speightstown out of Cherokee Jewel,

by Cherokee Run Owner: Clark Brewster • Trainer: Steve Asmussen Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables LLC (Kentucky) • Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

HONEY’S RYAN

$100,000 She’s All In Handicap • Remington Park 3-year-old filly by Student Council out of Run Carrie Run,

by Orientate Owner: Rusty Taylor, Elaine Holliday, Margaret and Jerry Davis, and Mike Walker • Trainer: Karl Broberg Breeder: Univ. of Kentucky (Kentucky) • Jockey: Cliff Berry

JOHNNY WHIP Dustin Orona Photography

$50,000 Silver Goblin Stakes • Remington Park 5-year-old gelding by Stephen Got Even out of Paradisa, by Seeking the Gold Owner: George Straw Jr. • Trainer: Jody Pruitt Breeder: Robert Zoellner (Oklahoma) • Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

52

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Coady Photography

$81,375 Zia Park Distaff Stakes Zia Park 6-year-old mare by Pulling Punches out of Slim’s Secret,

by Desert Secret (Ire) Owner/Breeder: Judy Peek (Texas) Trainer: Kevin Peek Jockey: Kerwin Clark

Dustin Orona Photography

LASTING BUBBLES

OKEY DOKEY KYLE

OKIE SMOKEY

Dustin Orona Photography

Dustin Orona Photography

$50,000 Useeit Stakes Remington Park 3-year-old filly by Cavvy out of Spooky Okie,

by Silver Ghost Owner/Breeder: Richter Family Trust (Oklahoma) Trainer: Carlos Padilla Jockey: Bryan McNeil Stallion Cavvy stands in Oklahoma at Cres-Ran Farms

$55,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes (Colts/Geldings Division) • Remington Park 2-year-old gelding by Tactical Cat out of Memory Divides, by Star Dabbler Owner/Breeder: Lori Bravo and Ann Sachdev (Oklahoma) • Trainer: Francisco Bravo Jockey: Quincy Hamilton Stallion Tactical Cat stands in Oklahoma at Raywood Farm

PROMISE ME SILVER

$106,000 Clever Trevor Stakes • Remington Park 2-year-old gelding by Kodiak Kowboy out of Shotgun Jane, by Siphon (Brz) Owner/Breeder/Trainer: C.R. Trout (Oklahoma) Jockey: Luis Quinonez

Hodges Photography

Coady Photography

SHOTGUN KOWBOY

Coady Photography

$75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes (Darby’s Daughter Division) • Retama Park (left) $50,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes • Fair Grounds (right) 2-year-old filly by Silver City out of Uno Mas Promesa, by Macho Uno Owner/Breeder: Robert and Myrna Luttrell (Texas) • Trainer: Bret Calhoun Jockey: Cliff Berry (Retama), Robby Albarado (Fair Grounds) Stallion Silver City stands in Texas at Valor Farm

Dustin Orona Photography

W V JETSETTER

ZOOMING $100,000 Trapeze Stakes • Remington Park 2-year-old filly by After Market out of Dance Studio, by Bertrando Owner: Carl R. Moore Management LLC • Breeder: Charles and David Yochum (Texas) • Trainer: Bret Calhoun • Jockey: Lindey Wade

$75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes (My Dandy Division) Retama Park 2-year-old colt by Jet Phone out of Better Than Most,

by Elusive Quality Owner: R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing Breeder: Clarence Scharbauer Jr. (Texas) Trainer: George Weaver • Jockey: Jamie Theriot Stallion Jet Phone stands in Texas at Valor Farm

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 53

For about $1.25 per day palaMOUNTAINS Equine

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54

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Adena Springs, Randy Bradshaw, Dale Bennett, Brett Brinkman, James Cassidy, J. J. Crupi, Gabriel Duignan, Eaton Sales, Larry Jones, Eddie Kenneally, Romain Malhouitre, Mike McCarthy, Mike Puype, Ramsey Farm, David Scanlon, Paul Sharp, Stonestreet Farm, Becky Thomas, Mark Thomas, Steve Venosa, Brendan Walsh and many others

704.588.5590 www.palaMOUNTAINS.net

TWO FOR THE MONEY!

Every paid paid breeding breeding to to AFFIRMATIF AFFIRMATIF or or STATE STATE CITY CITY receives receives Every a second second breeding breeding at at half half price price to to either either one! one! a

STATE CITY CITY STATE

Carson arson C City ity – –W Wajna ajna,, by

by N Nureyev ureyev C

A G1-winning G1-winning millionaire millionaire A and proven sire! and proven sire!

STATE CITY CITY isis already already the the sire sire of of STATE

the earners earners of of more more than than $5.1 $5.1 million million the with five five stakes stakes horses, horses, including including aa G2 G2 with winner and two G3-placed runners. winner and two G3-placed runners.

2015 Fee: Fee: $1,000 $1,000 –– LIVE LIVE FOAL FOAL 2015

AFFIRMATIF AFFIRMATIF

Unbridled nbridled’’ss S Song ong – – U ichitoz , by A ffirmed W Wichitoz, by Affirmed A talented talented son son of of the the late late A UNBRIDLED’S SONG! SONG! UNBRIDLED’S AFFIRMATIF is the leading freshman sire AFFIRMATIF is the leading freshman sire in Oklahoma! He is the sire of Dancing Diva, in Oklahoma! He is the sire of Dancing Diva, an 8 ½-length winner of the Oklahoma Stallion a 6 1/2-length maiden winner who finished Stakes and second in the Oklahoma Classics second in the Oklahoma Classics Lassie Stakes.

Lassie with earnings of $70,393.

2015 2015 Fee: Fee: $1,000 $1,000 –– LIVE LIVE FOAL FOAL

CAINES STALLION STALLION STATION STATION CAINES •

•

Inquiries to to Ellen Ellen J. J. Caines Caines Inquiries P.O. .O. Box Box 695 695 •• Wynnewood, Wynnewood, Oklahoma Oklahoma 73098 73098 P Phone: (405) 826-5549 • Fax: (405) 665-2782 Phone: (405) 826-5549 • Fax: (405) 665-2782 Email: e-caines@hotmail.com e-caines@hotmail.com Email: Website: www.cainesstallionstation.com Website: www.cainesstallionstation.com Accredited Accredited Oklahoma Oklahoma Stallions Stallion Nominated to the Oklahoma Stallion Stallion Stakes Stakes Nominated to the Oklahoma

?

Ask a Vet

What is the Henneke horse body condition scoring system, and what are the suggested ranges for various horses?

By Dr. Maria Ferrer

Whether your horses are pasture companions, athletes or breeding animals, it is important to keep them fit. The Henneke horse body condition scoring system was developed by Dr. Don Henneke at Texas A&M University to provide an objective way of evaluating fat deposition in horses. Body fat deposition is assessed visually and by palpation at the neck, withers, shoulders, ribs, tail head and back. A body condition score (BCS) from 1 to 9 is then assigned (see chart).

Henneke Horse Body Condition Scoring System Score/ Condition

Description

1/Poor.......................... Bone structures easily apparent and palpated under the skin. No subcutaneous fat.

2/Poor.......................... .Bone structures apparent. Thin neck but without visible bones. Prominent bones in the back and loin, but some fat cover present.

3/Thin.......................... Thin neck, visible ribs, prominent withers and hips.

4/Moderately Thin....... Slightly prominent ribs and vertebra at the loin. Neck is not thin, withers and hips not prominent. Some fat cover over the tail head.

5/Moderate.................. Ribs not prominent, filled but palpable. Neck and shoulder blend smoothly into the body. Back is level at the loin and there is fat cover on the tail head.

6/Moderate.................. Some fat accumulated at the neck, withers, shoulders, ribs and tail head.

7/Moderately Fat......... Noticeable fat at the neck, withers, tail head, shoulders and on both sides of the lumbar spine, creating a crease along the loin. Ribs covered with fat but palpable.

8/Fat............................ Neck is thick. Fat fills in over the withers and behind the shoulders, tail head is soft, ribs are difficult to feel and the crease along the spine is clear.

9/Very Fat.................... Flank filled with fat, with no definition to body parts. Bulging fat in the neck and ribs and very deep spinal crease. . actors such as food intake, weather conditions, performance or work activities, reproductive status, parasites or dental probF lems can affect your horse’s body condition and, in turn, its overall health. The ideal BCS for the average horses is a 5 or 6.

Broodmares should enter the breeding season with a BCS above 5 (ideally 6 or 7) and remain above 5 throughout pregnancy and lactation. Mares that enter the breeding season with a BCS below 5 require more time to start cycling and more services per pregnancy, and they have lower pregnancy rates. In addition, thin lactating mares are more likely to experience pregnancy loss if they do become pregnant, and they are more likely to cease estrous cycles. A loss in BCS at the end of gestation can also result in prolonged gestation. On the other hand, obesity has also been associated with decreased reproductive performance.

Stallions should maintain a BCS of 5 or 6. Because heavily booked stallions lose weight during the breeding season, it is recommended that they begin the breeding season with a BCS of 6 or 7. Low (below 3) and high (above 8) BCS can lead to decreased reproductive performance in stallions. Horses on pasture should enter the winter season at a BCS of 6 or 7. BCS is often lost during the cold winter months when pasture quality is poor and energy intake does not cover maintenance requirements.

Your veterinarian can help you address your horses’ nutritional needs for each stage of their lives and ensure a long and healthy partnership between you and your equine companion. H Dr. Ferrer is a board certified theriogenologist at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Have a horse health question? Ask an expert!

American Racehorse has teamed with the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital to provide horsemen with accurate, helpful information about equine health.

Each issue of the magazine will include an “Ask a Vet” feature covering a general health topic or answering a question submitted by an American Racehorse reader. To submit a question to possibly be answered in a future issue, send an email to info@ americanracehorse.com or a fax to (512) 870-9324.

To find out more about the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, go to vet.uga.edu/hospital.

Please note that all questions may not be answered in the magazine, and horsemen should seek the advice of their veterinarian for urgent issues. H 56

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

WIMBLEDON (G2)

Wild Rush – Strawberry Clover, by Darn That Alarm

• WIMBLEDON flashed immense talent as a racehorse, drawing clear to win the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and defeating eventual millionaires BORREGO and POLLARD’S VISION, making him one of the top favorites for the Kentucky Derby before retiring with a minor injury.

• WIMBLEDON was the leading first crop and second crop sire in Texas and is the sire of nine stakes horses, including 2013 Texas Horse of the Year and 2012 Texas Champion 2-Year-old Colt/Gelding WORLDVENTURER, an earner of $266,975 who sold for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton Texas as a horse of racing age.

• WIMBLEDON is also the sire of stakes winners DAPHNE ANGELA and CHICKS A FLYIN, both with earnings in excess of $200,000.

• 108 BEYER FIGURE • $443,818 IN EARNINGS

2015 FEE: $2,000 – LIVE FOAL Property of Jack Cook

KEY RANCH

Inquiries to Joe Kerby 1849 Lindemann Rd. #900 • Salado, Texas 76571 Phone: (254) 527-3679 Email: keyranchmail@cs.com • Website: www.keyranch.com Accredited Texas Stallion • Nominated to the Texas Stallion Stakes Series

HARMONY TRAINING CENTER Where winners train!

HTC, centrally located in Inola, Oklahoma, is the premier location for your Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse training needs.

In 2013, HTC-trained horses earned just over $3 million, and in 2014 that number jumped to nearly $4.8 million!

Congratulations to all the HTC-trained horses from 2014!

HES RELENTLESS, Hobbs American Derby-G3, multiple stakes placed, AQHA CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD COLT DANCING DIVA, Oklahoma Stallion Stakes (Fillies), placed Oklahoma Classics TEXAS SILK, Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity-G1, PSBA American Paint Classic Futurity-G1, multiple stakes placed CANT BE CAUGHT, Lone Star Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity, Cricket Bars Futurity FESSTUNE, Oklahoma Stallion Stakes (Colt/Geldings) FIRE BURNING, Lubbock Stakes-G3 FIRST PRIZE SHAUNDA, Decketta Stakes-G3 NKHOOTS, Valley Junction Futurity NANNY McFEEBE, Kansas Jackpot Futurity HADA CERTAIN CHARM, Red Cell PM Distance Challenge DASHIN JJ, Pot O Gold Futurity CORONAS CONCIERGE, NCQHA Futurity PAINT THIS KITTY, Colors of the Wind Stakes MISS MOVIN ON, Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity FULL OF FASTBALLS, Sequoyah Stakes PURTY PORUNOS, Lorelei Derby, placed PSBA American Paint Classic Derby Plus these additional stakes and futurity placed finishers: PV Ima Sparky Too, Big Kids Birthday, Rocketair, Play Harder, Judy Miss Banks, Gee Whit, Bettor Times, Shadow Be Quick, Big Ennis, Desert Empress, Ape Hanger, Pepperchew, Texas Streak, Eye a Spit Curl Girl, Daltsguninforsuccess, Jessgowithit, Quickie Rickie and Texas Too Moons

• Why choose HTC? • • HTC is located near Tulsa and an easy haul of less than 12 hours to 12 tracks, including Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows, Lone Star, Sam Houston, Retama and Oaklawn • Approved for official timed workouts • Completely railed, professionally-maintained training track is 40’ wide and 6 furlongs with a 350-yard chute • 152 stalls, each 11’ by 12’ • Round pens, sand pen, walkers and starting gate usage included with stall rental

HARMONY TRAINING CENTER 34396 S. 4220 Road • Inola, OK 74036 • 918-843-2301 (cell) • 918-543-6940 (office) info@HarmonyTrainingCenterOK.com • www.HarmonyTrainingCenterOK.com

DANCE MASTER

Gone West – Nijinsky’s Lover by Nijinsky II Graded Stakes Winner and Multiple Graded Stakes Sire

This proven Thoroughbred sire shows great versatility in all aspects of racing, including the barrel arena.

•

THOROUGHBRED – 275 Race Age Foals, 212 Starters with 149 Winners (70%/STR), 19 Stakes Horses (9%/STR),

$7.8 Million in Progeny Earnings, 2008’s #9 Leading Sire for 2yo Money Earners Sire: GONE WEST, G1 Stakes Winner/Producer, Leading Sire with 100 Stakes Winners, Sire of Top Stallion SPEIGHTSTOWN

Dam: NIJINSKY’S LOVE, Stakes Winner/Producer by Nijinsky II, Twice Leading Broodmare Sire with 378 Dams Producing 263 Stakes Winners •

QUARTER HORSE – 19 Race Age Foals, 13 Starters, 9 Winners (69%/STR), 10 ROM (77%/STR), 6 AAA (46%/STR). Sire of Hit the Crown (SI 101), New Track Record at Hialeah, 400 yds in 19.408; and Dakota Dance Master, 2nd Manitoba Bred Futurity

•

APHA – Sire of Ms. Flashy Dancer, 2014 Remington Park Track Record for Paints & Appaloosas at 330 yds

•

BARRELS – Sire of Ghost of Comanche (09), SI 95, Money Earner with Consistent 1D-2D Competition and “Best Time” Holder for Several Arenas. Now Being Fine-Tuned for 2015 Barrel Season.

2015 Stud Fee: $1,000 – Live Foal Property of Pat & Debbie Washburn • Accredited Oklahoma-Bred standing at:

Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Sciences Ranch 14021 West 32nd St., Stillwater, OK 74074 Contact: Dennis Wilbourn RVT, Ranch Coordinator • (405) 744-6656 • (405) 649-2504 • dennis.wilbourn@okstate.edu

Selling the Game: The Underlying Elements of a Memorable Ownership Experience There’s more to owning a racehorse than just winning—it’s about enjoying the unassuming aspects that make the ownership experience unique

By Fred Taylor Jr. • Illustration by Tim Carroll This is part two of Selling the Game, a series of articles about the excitement of Thoroughbred racehorse ownership and how to attract new owners, by Fred Taylor Jr. He is the founder and managing partner of Mojo Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, which operates Mojo Racing Partners offering affordable opportunities for newcomers and veterans to become involved in Thoroughbred ownership. Taylor serves as a liaison to the Department of Transportation for a major airline and is a former recipient of the Texas Thoroughbred Association’s Allen Bogan Memorial Award for member of the year.

Happy New Year, American Racehorse readers!

It’s the middle of winter, and if you’re like me, you’re probably looking forward to the warmth of spring racing.

As we cope with the shorter days and colder nights, stoke the coals in the fireplace and settle into your favorite chair while I muse over the lesser-known virtues (the intrinsic silver linings) of racehorse ownership.

Personal Intrigue A few years ago, I started examining the various benefits that make ownership special. It was a question that frequently came to mind because I knew that there were more fulfilling aspects of ownership than the renowned image of royal grandeur attributed to the sport. There are numerous underlying qualities and countless subjective moments that lift up the experience and provide unequivocal satisfaction for the people who own racehorses but aren’t seen or shared with the public.

I also knew once I solved the cost puzzle (which I will discuss in future articles), there were more pragmatic reasons and benefits that should be brought to the surface and highlighted to help the public to see Thoroughbred racing as a viable sporting option in which they can intimately participate. After being in the sport for more than eight years, experimenting with different types of participation options and studying what my ownership partners and the general public liked (and didn’t like), I realized at the core of each person’s experience is a sense of jubilation that’s based on several common 60

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(albeit personal) feelings that are inspired by the horses in which they have an ownership interest.

I also realized these personal feelings aren’t exclusive. In other words, no one in the industry is intentionally hiding the individual values ownership provides or trying to keep others from enjoying the same uplifting experiences. In fact, the thinking is quite the opposite; however, the challenge of presenting these experiences and emotions to the public in a more realistic light remains the same.

The Challenge There once was a time when the United States was suffering through its greatest depression. During this time, the sport of horse racing captured the nation’s attention, lifted the spirits of practically every man, woman and child and provided the public with something exhilarating to take its mind off of the economic calamity. Quite simply, horse racing gave people something to cheer about.

Today, the public’s fascination with racing has dwindled much like the economy did during the Great Depression. As spectators and par-

ticipants, people are turning to sports and pastimes that are seemingly more wholesome, less complicated to understand and easier to get involved in.

Over the past two decades, the racing industry has struggled to agree on what the sport needs, and that indecisiveness has inhibited its ability to tell a compelling story. Since the 1980s, there have been several iterations of branding and re-branding of racing’s image to encourage people to just come out to the races.

Industry leaders are searching for ways to recapture the hearts of the public and bring people back to a sport that once was the most popular in the country.

The challenge isn’t unique to this country either. In Europe, Australia and Asia, similar issues are at the forefront of their respective Thoroughbred industries. And, the same question is being asked. Other sporting activities and easier entertainment options are tantalizing the public’s interest. So, how are we, the Thoroughbred racing industry, going to get future generations involved in the sport?

The Sentimental Ingredients When I started on my journey to figure out the underlying values of Thoroughbred racing, I was determined to find the true meaning of being an owner. I wanted to put my finger on it, share it with others and then help them enjoy the same experience. Since then, I’ve decided that, aside from the cost, the key ingredients associated with owning racehorses are based on three positive memory biases.

The first thing that gets the juices flowing is the understanding that what we like comes from what we think about, dream about and desire. Then, once a person takes the initial steps to get involved, there are many not-so-obvious but directly consequential things that happen daily but aren’t fully appreciated until the pleasant experiences are strung together like a series of numbers (1+1+1+1 = a cumulative pleasing memory). And, after being in the sport a few years, one’s personal feelings are usually best remembered through rosy retrospection (we don’t reflect on the hard work, we just muse over the good things

the hard work provided).

These sentimental ingredients aren’t delusions and they aren’t tricks.

They are real feelings that take place when people get involved in racehorse ownership. Through advertising, news stories and choreographed public broadcasts, we might have developed our first impressions of, and the appetite for, the sport. As the first thoughts about actually owning a racehorse come to mind, we envision being in the shoes of the proud owners standing in the winner’s circle. When we take the first step into ownership, we instantly contemplate our horse’s potential.

Once we’ve been in the sport several years, we have the benefit of reminiscing about the times we’ve spent in the company of our horses in the barn, at the training track and in the saddling paddock on race day.

Denis Blake And, as our personal experiences add up, we are rewarded with a lifetime of memories to reflect on our achievements.

Time for Reflection It’s during these winter months that we have the perfect opportunity to open the book of our memories, turn the pages on the times we’ve spent with our horses and relive the personal moments that bring warmth to our souls.

Metaphorically speaking, the sport of Thoroughbred racing provides a chocolate box of experiences that build upon themselves and paint colorful memories of sunnier places that lift our spirits when it’s cold outside. And, the best part, our horses are the stars that are featured over and over again.

If you’ve never owned a racehorse but are thinking about taking a slice, then let me assure you that the purest pieces of chocolate come from the behind-the-scenes activities. It is this collection of lesser-known experiences leading up to the race that builds the base of and provides more potent memories than the race or the result by itself.

So, let’s take the time to explore a few of the hidden truffles that form the basis of ever-lasting ownership experiences: The atmosphere AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 61

in the barn area, the personalities of horses and one of the special places where preparation and anticipation come together in a glorious moment right before the race.

The Backside One of my favorite places at the racetrack that’s a constant source of my fondest memories is the barn area (also known as the “backside”).

In the mornings, rain or shine, sleet and snow, there’s always a flurry of activity taking place. The trainers, riders, grooms, hot walkers, farriers and vets are going about their business of tending to the equine athletes. People and horses move together in an understood motion like traffic intersecting on city streets during rush hour. Watching all of it happen at once can be confusing and a little intimidating at first; but, once you become familiar with the surroundings, you begin to appreciate and take comfort in knowing there’s a rich tradition, a natural rhythm and a synchronized method on the backside that happens every day at racetracks across the United States. And, it’s been happening this way consistently for more than a century.

Standing in the barn door is a good vantage point to see the horses as they go to and from their training routines on the track. Upon their return, the horses are first walked around the shed row (the pathway in front of or between the barn stalls) to help their bodies cool down as their muscles relax after the morning’s exercise. Once settled, the horses are bathed either inside in a shower stall at the end of the barn or outside in the sun. As the cool water cascades over their warm bodies, vapors of steam rise up and disappear into the morning sunshine. Before being returned to their stalls and fed their breakfast, the horses dry off either by being hooked up to what looks like a carnival ride (an automatic walker that gently guides the horses in a steady circle) or hand-walked again around the shed row.

Later in the day, the morning’s training activity gives way to a settled calm and peaceful tranquility as the horses rest. I like strolling through the neatly kept barns and visiting with the horses in the afternoons or evenings because it provides a mellow, pleasing and mildly intoxicating feeling that’s not unlike being in a barrel house at a bourbon distillery. Other than the birds chirping and the call for horses that are being readied for the next race, the barn at this time of day is usually tidy and quiet. The air is cool and fresh, and there’s a gentle breeze blowing through the shed row that conjures up an aromatherapy mixture of fresh hay and sweet feed.

Being able to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the backside is a special aspect of owning racehorses. Once you’re familiar with and understand the way the stable is orchestrated, you’ll begin to appreciate the barn area as a uniquely pleasing environment. Many of the best memories I have are of my family, friends and partners 62

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

interacting with the horses in the barn—it’s definitely time well spent.

Horse Personality The ways a horse behaves and interacts with you will create a lifetime of memories that you’ll enjoy reminiscing with your family, friends and associates.

I’ve had the privilege of creating ownership packages that included 16 different racehorses. With every horse, I remember how each one interacted with its respective owners and visitors. Some were relaxed and gentle and welcomed the attention. Others were feisty and could become “nippy” if they didn’t get a scratch or treat. And, one veteran was a little grumpy and didn’t like being messed with. Once you learn a horse’s particular personality, then the opportunity to develop a relationship and special memories will follow.

The keys to a positive interaction with any horse are to respect its space and understand that a horse sees the world differently than a human. In this regard, one must understand that horses are flight animals, and their attentiveness is based on a survival instinct. As such, they’re always scanning for potential danger because if they think they’re in danger, their best defense is to quickly get away from what they think could attack them.

Horse Expressions A horse’s ears are like eyebrows on a human. Unlike eyebrows, however, a horse’s ears rotate independently like radar. Up and forward, indicates that the horse is alert. Flipping back and forth, tells us the horse is curious about what’s going on. Pinned back is a warning that it is agitated and intent on snapping at you. By paying attention to a horse’s ears, you can gauge the mood of a horse right in front of you.

Because horses’ eyes are positioned more to each side of their face, they have monocular vision, meaning what they see in one eye will be different than what they see in the other, in addition to binocular vision (like humans). Whether their heads are down or up, horses are constantly looking for anything that could hurt them. Horses have to turn their heads to see what’s directly in front and behind them.

Thus, when you’re standing near a horse, it’s best to be at a 45-degree angle to their face and gently place your hand on their flank if walking toward their hindquarters. This way, the horse knows where you are at all times and is less prone to become surprised by your presence.

A horse’s tail movement is also a good indicator of its mood. Constantly swishing about indicates some sort of aggravation, tucked down and between its legs as it walks or runs is a sense of fear and up while galloping is usually a good sign of satisfaction.

So, as you’re trying to get to know your horse, it’s best to watch its “expressions.” Your horse’s ear, eye and tail movements are not only adorable but also serve as important indicators of the horse’s mood and the action it’s about to make.

Horse Sounds Though horses can’t talk, they do communicate by the sounds they make. Perhaps the most obvious is the whinny—it’s a high pitched, audible greeting to let you know they are happy to see you. When a horse sighs and nickers, it is offering a more subtle form of contentment. These sounds are very pleasing, and once you get to know them, it’ll make you feel welcome to be in their company.

Horses also create secondary sounds that are just as gratifying as comfort food. When horses nuzzle your hair and sniff your ears, it offers a cool and friendly reminder of the more gentle qualities they possess. As they graze, they make a “guttural ripping” sound as they pull the grass from the ground or the alfalfa from the hay ball hanging next to the opening of their stall. Their munching generates a sturdy assurance that life is good and they are happy. As horses walk across

pavers, their hooves drum a steady “clop, clop, clop” cadence that no other animal has the ability to produce, and when you hear it, the marching rhythm will immediately capture your attention.

The Saddling Paddock Being inside the saddling paddock on race day is a privilege for all owners and a reward for those who have worked hard to prepare your horse for this moment. And, on a sunny day, it’s also one of the best places to soak in the atmosphere of the sport itself.

On race day, owners are allowed into a track’s saddling paddock to watch their horse have the racing tack (reins, saddle, saddle cloth, etc.) installed. The trainer will greet the jockey and go over any lastminute instructions. And, it’s an opportunity to chat with fellow horsemen and wish them luck as a sign of good sportsmanship.

When your horse is being led into the saddling area, it’s a lasting moment of unadulterated pride and excitement. No matter what you know or think, butterflies will form in your stomach and you’ll start praying that your horse runs a big race. As you watch your trainer put all of the equipment on your horse and make the final preparations, you’ll reflect on all of the things that have come together to get your horse ready for this race. When the rider emerges from the jockey’s room and your racing silks shimmer in the sunlight, for a moment, all of the “what if ” possibilities fade away as you marvel at how great it is to be there, how glad you are to be involved and how magnificent everything looks.

In addition to being the place where the horses are saddled for the races, the paddock offers the public a closer look at the horses on which they are planning to bet. It really doesn’t matter if it’s a stakes race or a claiming race, there’s always plenty of people viewing the saddling area—especially with the advanced technology of world-wide simulcast wagering—to see if your horse looks like it has what it takes to win the race. As you’re standing there surrounded by hundreds of racing fans (sometimes thousands for big events), don’t forget about the times when you’ve been on the outside looking in and be sure to mentally give thanks to the fans for their support.

Once the tack is on and a racing official verifies each horse’s identity, the runners are led into the walking ring for additional viewing by the connections and fans. As the horses are paAckerley Images raded around, each trainer keeps a watchful eye on his or her horse’s disposition. In the background, you’ll hear a racing analyst provide the patrons with his or her commentary and selections. Naturally, you’ll hope to live up to the expectations if your runner is considered to be a contender, but the commentary doesn’t really matter at that point —you are a living part of the wonderful atmosphere that’s taking place.

When a racing official shouts, “Riders up!”, it’s time for the race!

Your trainer will give the rider a “leg up” onto your beautiful horse and the bugler will trumpet the “call to the post.” At this point, your level of energy is so high you can hardly see straight, and that’s when the trainer gives you an assuring wink and says to the group, “Let’s go have some fun!” H AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 63

RED EARTH TRAINING CENTER Oklahoma’s Finest Horse Training Facility for Nearly 25 Years!

• 5/8th-mile certified racetrack with rails and starting gates • Insulated/ventilated barns with 43 – 12 x 12 stalls • Daily Racing Form and Equibase recognized time works • Covered Equi-ciser (90ft diameter with rubber safety walls) • 23 paddocks with concrete shelters • Public use of track and Equi-ciser

We provide a full range of services including:

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FOUR MILLIONAIRES HAVE TRAINED AT RED EARTH: CALEB’S POSSE, MR. ROSS, BIEN NICOLE AND MAYSVILLE SLEW!

RED EARTH TRAINING CENTER 3056 SOUTH LADD AVE. GOLDSBY, OKLAHOMA 73093 (405) 288-6128 WWW.REDEARTHTRAININGCENTER.COM

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Mallory Farm

Same Horse Same Halter ••• One Halter Does It All 1-800-331-0413 foaltoyearlinghalter.com

• Breeding • Boarding • Sales Scott Mallory

2672 Newtown Pike • Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 707-6469 malloryfarm@yahoo.com

Moving Like a Winner

Hands-On Trainer in Oklahoma

Don’t miss our hot prospects from Inside Move at Yearling and Two-Year-Old sales in California, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas!

Accepting horses for upcoming Will Rogers Downs meet Stabled at racetrack

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Bethe Deal • Sabinal, TX Cell: (830) 426-1646 • Email: Bethedeal@sbcglobal.net

BREAKING AND TRAINING IN OKLAHOMA

Tara Sanders

Racing in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and at Delta Downs www.tarasandersracing.com

(318) 491-2915 66

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

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Gillian (Jill) Taylor (318) 745-9974 • Fax: (318) 745-9976 1914 Highway 163 • Doyline, LA 71023

•

Paradise Farm Inc. •

7S RACING STABLES 7SinRACING Specializing breaking andSTABLES preparing your colts for Specializing in breaking you and and yourpreparing trainer your colts for you and your trainer

7S Racing Stables is located 2 hours west of Lone Star Park in Carbon, Texas.

We have for several years 7S Racing Stables is located 2 hours west of Lonebeen Star working with young race colts, them years from breaking Park in Carbon, Texas.

We havetaking for several been to conditioning and race cutting on working with young race prep colts,while taking them down from breaking owner expense and helping you have your colts to conditioning race prep while cutting downprepared on for the expense racetrackand experience! owner helping you have your colts prepared for the racetrack experience!

FEATURES: •FEATURES: 5/8 mile training track 5/8 mile training • Starting gates track Startingcare gates • Farrier Farrier care • Transportation • Complete Transportation vet services • Horses Complete services forvet sale Horses forfees saleare $30/day • Breaking • Breaking fees are $30/day The best price in the area with proven results!

The best price in the area with proven results!

7S Racing Stables 7S Racing Stables 254-643-2035

Louisiana Boarding Facility

Professional Mare Care Reasonable Rates for Extraordinary Care Client References Available

Year-round Mare Care, FoalertTM System and Cameras, Lay-ups, Foaling, Boarding, Sales Prep Jayne Segura, Owner/manager 337-339-3233 • paradisejayne@yahoo.com

“Where HONESTY, KNOWLEDGE & CARE unite.”

254-643-2035 5001 Hwy 1027, Carbon, TX 76435 5001 Hwy 1027, Carbon, TX 76435 www.7SRacingStables.com www.7SRacingStables.com Want to reach more than 6,000 horsemen in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina and around the region?

Advertise in the American Racehorse classifieds for as little as $75 per issue!

Contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or info@americanracehorse.com

American Racehorse Advertisers Index 7S Racing Stables...................................67 Affirmatif/State City...............................55 Aragon Nutraceuticals..........................54 Asmussen Horse Center.............16, 17, 66 Big Band Sound......................................44 Biomedical Research Laboratories........9 Century Acres Farm...............................54 Channon Farm LLC................................67 Cinder Lakes Ranch...............................13 Congo King.............................................16 Cytowave.........................................24, 25 Dance Master.........................................59 Equine Sales Company.........................12 Equiwinner...............................................11

Eureka Thoroughbred Farm....................6 EuroXciser................................................66 Fasig-Tipton Texas.............................32, 33 Flashpoint................................................37 Foal to Yearling Halter...........................66 Hands-On Oklahoma Trainer................66 Harmony Training Center......................58 Heritage Place.......................................43 Inside Move............................................66 JEH Stallion Station................................BC Kansas Thoroughbred Association.......68 Lane’s End Texas......................................1 Mallory Farm...........................................66 Moro Tap.................................................46

Mighty Acres......................................... IFC My Pal Charlie..........................................8 Paradise Farm Inc..................................67 Red Earth Training Center.....................65 River Oaks Farms Inc..........................7, 36 Rockin’ Z Ranch.....................................51 Royal Vista Ranches........................38, 39 Tara Sanders Racing..............................66 Santa Fe Horse Transport.................31, 66 Smooth Air...............................................45 Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma..................64 Valor Farm.............................................2, 3 Wimbledon.............................................57

AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 67

KANSAS THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION STALLION SEASON AUCTION The Kansas Thoroughbred Association has stallion seasons available for purchase from several states including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, and more. Visit our website for a complete list and contact information.

These are TOP QUALITY STALLIONS at great prices!

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ERIC ANR

ACE HOR SE.C

COV ERIN G

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THE THOR OUG

In This Issue:

STRY HBRE D INDU

Layman Exams for the • PrepurchaseBush Track Rider Won Big s • Oklahoma IRAs and S Corp • Understanding

UST 2014 JULY /AUG

OKLA HOM IN TEXA S,

UND A AND ARO

THE REGI ON

No other regional or national racing and breeding publication reaches more Southern horsemen and horsewomen than American Racehorse!

We make it easy to get your message out to more than 6,000 potential customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Our ad rates are affordable, and we can design an ad for you at no charge!

To view a complete list of ad rates or for more information, go to www.americanracehorse.com/advertising Contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or info@americanracehorse.com

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AMERICAN Racehorse • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015