w w w . s o uthernracehorse.co m MAY/JUNE 2013
COVERING THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
In This Issue: Traveling Man Joe Offolter The Kindness of Strangers Tracking Foal Growth
A Division of Center Hills Farm
Kipling (Gulch-Weekend Storm, by Storm Bird)
Toccet (Awesome Again-Cozzene’s Angel, by Cozzene)
Now standing in Oklahoma at Mighty Acres! Sire of Breeders’ Cup winner and all-time leading Oklahoma-bred KIP DEVILLE ($3.3 million in earnings) 2013 Fee: $2,500
Multiple G1 winner with progeny earnings of more than $10 million The leading sire in Oklahoma for the last two years 2013 Fee: $2,500
Air Commander (Point Given-Santaria, by Star de Naskra)
Save Big Money (Storm Cat-Tomisue’s Delight, by A.P. Indy)
The Visualiser (Giant’s Causeway-Smokey Mirage, by Holy Bull)
A Grade 2-winning son of Horse of the Year POINT GIVEN Sire of a 2yo stakes winner in his first crop to race 2013 Fee: $2,000
Versatile, record-setting multiple stakesplaced runner out of G1 millionaire First foals to race are 2yos of 2013 2013 Fee: $2,000
$1 million yearling and graded stakesplaced son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY First foals to race are 2yos of 2013 2013 Fee: $1,500
All fees are stands and nurses All stallions are nominated to the Oklahoma Bred Program, 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
THE LANE’S END TEXAS STALLIONS FOR 2013 VALID EXPECTATIONS Valid Appeal-Mepache Fee: $7,500 Live Foal
TOO MUCH BLING Rubiano-Rose Colored Lady Fee: $4,000 Live Foal
GRASSHOPPER Dixie Union-Grass Skirt Fee: $3,500 Live Foal
SING BABY SING Unbridled’s Song-Roll Over Baby Fee: $2,500 Live Foal
SUPREME CAT Hennessy-Sweet Little Lies Fee: $1,000
Owner - W. S. Farish | Manager - Danny Shifflett | 26685 Mitchell Rd., Hempstead, TX 77445 (979) 826-3366 Cell: (713) 303-8509 Fax: (979) 826-9405 | E-mail: danishfflett@aol.com Photo: Margaret Kempf
VALOR FARM STALLIONS ARE MAKING HEADLINES AGAIN! $15,250 e averag as x e at F-T T Unbridled’s Song – Golden Par, by Gold Meridian g in l r a 2012 Ye Sale! A talented son of sire of sires UNBRIDLED’S SONG, MY GOLDEN SONG was Texas’ leading freshman
my golden song
sire in 2011 and leading second-crop sire last year. He is the only Texas stallion with three stakes winners in 2013 – PLATINUM SONG (also the 2012 Texas Champion 2YO Filly), COWGIRL N UP (earnings of nearly $200,000) and his newest stakes winner TRIUMPH AND SONG! 2013 Stud Fee: $2,000
PLATINUM SONG
Scott Brown’s PLATINUM SONG, a filly by MY GOLDEN SONG, is a two-time stakes winner with earnings of $124,186. Reed Palmer Photography
COWGIRL N UP Coady Photography
Caroline Dodwell’s COWGIRL N UP has hit the board in 11 of 13 starts with three stakes victories and earnings of $191,466.
Reed Palmer Photography
TRIUMPH AND SONG On the board in all eight career starts, Victoria Ashford’s TRIUMPH AND SONG won the Premiere Stakes at Lone Star with a 99 Beyer Speed Figure as he dominated the 6 ½-furlong sprint and finished under wraps in a blazing-fast time of 1:15.45!
WIMBLEDON
Wild Rush – Strawberry Clover, by Darn That Alarm Formerly Texas’ leading freshman and second-crop sire, WIMBLEDON has eight stakes horses, including 2012 Texas Champion 2YO Colt/Gelding WORLDVENTURER.
2013 Stud Fee: $1,500
$7,500 averag e at F-T Texas 2012 Ye arling Sale!
Reed Palmer Photography
WORLDVENTURER WORLDVENTURER earned $127,432 last year plus the title of Texas Champion 2YO Colt/Gelding! He already has two stakes wins as a 3-year-old and his earnings now stand at $207,932. WORLDVENTURER sold at the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2YOs in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale for $150,000 as the highest price of the entire sale. Wimbledon also sired the highest-priced Texas-bred in the sale, Winehouse, who sold for $32,000.
New for 2013!
CROSSBOW
BERNARDINI – FOREST HEIRESS, BY FOREST WILDCAT A son of Classic-winning Champion 3YO and emerging sire of sires BERNARDINI out of multiple graded SW FOREST HEIRESS (earner of $419,201 w/ a 105 Beyer) from the family of Grade 1 winners LOUIS QUATORZE, WILDCAT HEIR and AWESOME GEM, CROSSBOW was a graded stakes performer at Saratoga who earned a 104 Beyer and showed brilliant speed!
2013 Stud Fee: $1,500
EARLY FLYER
Gilded Time – Bistra, by Classic Go Go A top 5 sire in the state of Texas, EARLY FLYER has already sired 23 stakes horses with average earnings per starter of over $33,000! EARLY FLYER is the sire of three Texas Champions: FORMAL FLYER ($247,479), SWORD TRICK ($210,130) and TAMTASTIC ($126,004). 2013 Stud Fee: $3,000
$29, ave 000 at F rage 2012 -T Tex as Yea r Sal ling e!
INDYGO MOUNTAIN A.P. Indy – Mountain Girl, by Mountain Cat
A winning son of the great A.P. INDY, INDYGO MOUNTAIN brings an impeccable pedigree to the Lone Star State. His female family includes Grade 1 winners SIPHONIC and LARAGH and millionaire DIXIE DOT COM. Phone Trick – Jet Route, by Alydar 2013 Stud Fee: $1,000
JET PHONE
JET PHONE’S first runner, 2010 Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding ACES N KINGS, is burning up the track with four stakes wins and earnings of more than $245,000. JET PHONE has the speed and pedigree to get you a runner!
SILVER CITY
2013 Stud Fee: $1,000
Unbridled’s Song – Proposal, by Mt. Livermore From a family loaded with speed and soundness, SILVER CITY was a brilliant sprinter who had the stamina to go around two turns (second in the G3 Southwest Stakes at a mile). His dam’s full brother, G3 winner and G1-placed MULTIPLE CHOICE, raced until age 8! His first foals look great! 2013 Stud Fee: $2,000
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
Southern Racehorse Advertisers Index 7S Racing Stables............................42 Asmussen Horse Center....................9 Betty Matthews Racing Silks...........42 Biomedical Research Laboratories....7 Ellen Caines, Agent.........................43 Caldwell Racing..............................32 Carter Sales Co...............................23 Diamond G Ranch..........................11 DRF Breeding.....................................6 Eureka Thoroughbred Farm...........30 Evil Minister.......................................29 Harmony Training Center...............11 JEH Stallion Station.........................BC Johnny Keefer Racing & Training.....44 Keen Farms......................................10 Lane’s End Texas...............................1 Mighty Acres.................................. IFC Mojo Racing Partners.....................15 palaMOUNTAINS..............................32 Prime Ltd. Horse Transport..............42 River Oaks Farms.............................31 Rockin’ Z Ranch............................ IBC Jim Shields/Arkansas-breds for Sale....16 Silver Spur Ranch Services..............42 Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma.................8
ADVERTISE IN SOUTHERN RACEHORSE! Southern Racehorse magazine is the most effective and affordable way to reach owners, breeders, trainers and others involved in the horse racing industry in Texas, Oklahoma and the surrounding region. Southern Racehorse goes to more than 4,000 members of the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) and Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO), making it the region’s largest racing magazine. For more information about advertising in Southern Racehorse, including ad rates, deadlines and specifications, go to www.southernracehorse.com/advertising or contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or info@southernracehorse.com. Published by Pangaea Enterprises LLC d/b/a Southern Racehorse Southern Racehorse P.O. Box 8645 Round Rock, TX 78683 (512) 695-4541 www.southernracehorse.com Physical Address Southern Racehorse 1341 Meadowild Drive Round Rock, TX 78664 Editor/Publisher Denis Blake info@southernracehorse.com
Contributing Writers Martha Claussen Susan Salk Heather Smith Thomas Photographers Denis Blake Coady Photography Merri Melde Dustin Orona Photography Copyeditor Shelby O’Neill Cover Photo Denis Blake
Art Director Amie Rittler • arittler3@gmail.com Copyright ® 2013 Southern Racehorse All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission. Southern Racehorse reserves the right to refuse any advertising or copy for any reason. Southern Racehorse makes a reasonable attempt to ensure that advertising claims are truthful, but assumes no responsibility for the truth and accuracy of ads.
Unbridled’s Heart............................44
CONNECT WITH SOUTHERN RACEHORSE ONLINE!
Valor Farm......................................2, 3
HHH
Winner’s Circle Thoroughbred Trainers Test......................................43
For the most up-to-date racing and breeding news for Texas and Oklahoma, visit Southern Racehorse online at www.southernracehorse.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/southernracehorse. You can also sign up for the free monthly email newsletter, the Southern Racehorse Express.
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Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
WHAT’S INSIDE
Southern
Racehorse May/June 2013
20
Remember Me Rescue receives unexpected gift to help former racehorses
Departments
33
Trainer Joe Offolter is closing in on 1,000 career wins
Fast Furlongs
12
TTA News
17
TRAO News
19
The Marketplace Classifieds
42
Features The Kindness of Strangers 20 Two strangers make a donation to help Texas-based Remember Me Rescue create a better home for ex-racehorses
36 There are many
factors that influence foal growth
Southern Racehorse Stakes Roundup 24 Sam Houston, Lone Star and Will Rogers carded a full slate of stakes in March and April Traveling Man Trainer Joe Offolter traverses the Texas/Oklahoma circuit winning one race at a time
33
One to Grow On 36 Nutrition, environment, foaling date and exercise all play crucial roles in foal growth rates
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 5
Barbara D. Livingston photos
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A DV E RT ISE M E N T
ALL-TIME WINNING TRAINER GOES FROM SKEPTIC TO ENTHUSIAST Scott Lake Sees Dramatic Improvement In His Thoroughbreds ·
W
hen you’re one of the top all-time winning thoroughbred trainers, you’re not about to jeopardize the health of your horses, your winnings, or your reputation by giving them a new performance supplement without doing your research first. That is why Scott Lake, a thoroughbred trainer with more than 5,000 all-time career wins, was - at first - hesitant to try a supplement that his colleague insisted would dramatically increase his horses’ performance. Scott said, “I was skeptical about trying anything promising to boost EPO levels because I have heard too many horror stories about horses being harmed by doping. But a friend of mine in the industry kept giving me information on this new, all-natural supplement. Then I did my own research, and I realized this isn’t the synthetic EPO that damages horses. This is a 100% all-natural supplement, with data to back up its claims.” So Scott chose 6 horses that he felt were under performing to try EPO-Equine®. “The horses had coats that weren’t where I thought they should be. They were dull, dry and wiry. Plus, their blood levels were a little messed up, and they were training just ‘OK’. I thought, let’s try it. Let’s see if this supplement will help them.” After feeding his horses EPO-Equine® for a month, Scott noticed a huge improvement. “All of my horses looked better and their coats were shinier. Then 4 of the horses on the supplement won the first time I ran them. Coincidence? I don’t think so. They looked better and performed better. They really turned it around. I liked seeing that.” Scott’s quite certain that EPO-Equine®, the natural supplement he tried, is making a huge difference in his horses’ performance. And because of the results, he plans on putting more of his horses on this natural “blood builder”. But why is it important to “build blood,” and how does this supplement work as a blood builder? Just like in people, a horse’s muscles require oxygen. Red blood cells are the oxygen-carrying cells that deliver oxygen to muscles. A higher red blood cell count = more oxygen = more muscle energy.
BY MARK HANSEN
Elevated muscle energy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during endurance events. EPO-Equine® contains a natural “blood-builder.” Bioengineers at U.S.-based Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL) discovered a proprietary strain of Echinacea angustifolia that’s promotes red blood cell production. Veterinarians at the Equine Research Centre in 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 EPO-Equine and another group of horses was given a placebo. The supplement delivered significant blood building results, increasing red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Optimized blood levels leads to elevated exercise physiology…for remarkable speed, strength and stamina right out of the gate. Trainers not only trust and rely on EPO-Equine® because it’s effective, but also because of its strict quality control, extensive product testing and adherence to banned substance regulations that guarantee safety. EPO-Equine® does not contain any banned or harmful substances. Every batch of EPO-Equine® is tested by an independent laboratory to guarantee that it’s clean for use in competition. EPO-Equine® is easy to use. Just add just 1-4 scoops (3.2 grams) of EPO-Equine® to the horse’s daily feeding routine. Within 3-4 weeks of daily use, you can expect to see increased red blood cell levels with no undesirable side effects. According to Scott Lake, “I absolutely recommend EPOEquine® if your horse isn’t performing or competing to its potential. Give it a shot. It definitely turned my horses around.” Trainers also find that EPO-Equine® is very affordable at the low price of just $59.95 per jar. Or even more affordable by saving $180 when purchasing a 12-jar case for just $539.55 and getting FREE shipping. EPO-Equine® can be ordered at www.EPOEquine.com or 1-800-557-9055, and comes with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.
ASMUSSEN HORSE CENTER IS STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 50 YEARS AND STILL COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE OF RACING IN TEXAS! Keith and Marilyn Asmussen
NEWS FL
ASH!
er had anoth m r o t S Primal er on May 3 when 2yo winn ckstal easily broke d Ro Texas-bre en at first asking by n o id her ma Star! Then e n o L t a , hs 3 1 /2 lengt t Churchill Downs ng a li il 9 y Ma rimed N W her P d e r b a Louisian y 3 3 /4 lengths in romped b make Primal Storm to as! first start juvenile sire in Tex g the leadin
For more than five decades, Asmussen Horse Center has flourished. We have irrigated and grown our program in the Texas heat, survived the hard times and are committed to the future and the good times that are coming. Horses are, and always have been, our ONLY business! We offer an affordable and accomplished stallion roster and a full range of services, from transportation to breaking to tack and more.
ALL ASMUSSEN HORSE CENTER STALLIONS STAND FOR JUST $1,500. YOU SIMPLY WILL NOT FIND BETTER MARE CARE OR BREEDING FOR THE PRICE!
LITTLEEXPECTATIONS
Valid Appeal – Mepache, by Iron Constitution
2013 Fee: $1,500
INTIMIDATOR
Gone West – Colonial Play, by Pleasant Colony 2013 Fee: $1,500
PRIMAL STORM
Storm Boot – Primistal, by Stalwart
2013 Fee: $1,500
Congratulations to trainer Steve Asmussen and his entire team on another milestone in his illustrious career. Steve now has more than 6,450 career wins to rank second on the all-time list! Asmussen Horse Center • Keith Asmussen • P.O. Box 1861 • Laredo, TX 78044 Phone: 956-723-5436 • Fax: 956-723-5845 • www.asmussens.com • kaasmussen@aol.com
Keen Farms
Dallas and Donna Keen Burleson, Texas
Proudly standing Unbridled’s Heart and Final Row (GB) Mare Care • Foaling Facilities Year Round Boarding Sale Prep • Lay-ups • Rehabilitation 24 hour internet accessible cameras for owners
www.keenequine.com • (817) 689-1214
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 2011 racing? For various reasons, the TTA has been unable to pay the individuals listed below. 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! MICHAEL ANTWINE $153.55 RODERICK T ARMSTEAD & RONNIE E CRAVENS II $312.39 $81.75 BAR STOOL STABLES ERICH BREHM $48.86 $1,008.68 CARAIMONT LLC JAIME CASTELLANOS $176.58 $100.67 MARK FELD DBA LUCAS DOWNS LTD FLETCHER PROPERTIES INC $177.17 $131.70 JOAQUIN GARZA DEWAN GODFREY $215.15 $442.93 NICHOLAS GRANADOS PEGGY HAMMOND $196.33 $252.86 MATTHEW S HERRIDGE $309.61 ESTATE OF KENDALL HILL CHARLES HUKILL $59.06 $81.20 JOE DALE JOHNSON LAW OFFICE OF D FETTNER PC RCVR AUBURN CR $224.88 $205.26 CATHY & MARGUERITE LOKEY MAGNOLIA RACING STABLE & JIM WARD $1,530.04
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Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
L A ‘TREY’ MALECHEK III RENIA MANN E MARTINEZ JR JUAN ESPINOZA MARTINEZ VICKI LEA MCILVAIN MIDWEST THOROUGHBREDS RAMON MUJICA RONALD G NELSON CARL NOWIK RALPH S O’CONNOR PERUVIAN GLASS & MORE INC CARLA J AND ROBERT J PICKARD RELIANCE RANCHES LLC ANTONIO RIVERA TBD TRAINING FACILITY JERRY TODD CARY R WHITE JOHN W WILKE
$31.73 $51.68 $107.38 $381.19 $141.76 $81.20 $210.78 $319.72 $1,067.84 $838.62 $977.87 $51.68 $354.34 $25.25 $349.99 $51.68 $237.12 $295.70
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 2012, HTC-trained horses earned over $1-million. In March and April of this year, there were 91 winners with total earnings of $1,005,191!
• 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 200-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
Leading Oklahoma Stud Farm
By both earnings and number of wins at Oklahoma tracks
TACTICAL CAT Storm Cat – Terre Haute, by Caro (Ire)
Standing
LUCKY LIONEL Mt. Livermore – Crafty Nan, by Crafty Prospector
AFFIRMATIF
Unbridled’s Song – Wichitoz, by Affirmed Edmond, Oklahoma Contact R.G. Gammill (405) 359-5712
$1,000 LFG – Payable Oct. 1, 2013
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 11
fastfurlongs Fasig-Tipton Texas Sale Records Big Increases, Texas-bred Worldventurer Sells for $150,000 The Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on April 3 on indicated that the Texas-bred would run in the Texas Stallion Stakes at the grounds of Lone Star Park concluded with significant increases Lone Star on May 11 (contested after press time for this issue) and then across the board and a big price in the new Horses of Racing Age por- likely go north of the border to run at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver. tion of the auction as Texas-bred multiple stakes winner Worldventurer Other regional stallions and horses also found success at the sale. In sold for $150,000. All the addition to being the sire important figures were up of Worldventurer, Wimcompared to last year, even bledon also sired the highwithout the inclusion of est-priced Texas-bred, hip the three older horses at #5. Consigned by Hebert the end of the sale. Bloodstock, agent, and The average price inpurchased for $32,000 as creased nearly 20% to a private sale by Jerry Cate $23,564, the median and ELA Racing Stable, jumped almost 43% to the filly named Wine$20,000, buy-backs imhouse is a half sister to proved to 30.2% from three stakes horses. Texas 32.8%, and the gross came stallion Special Rate, in at $1,743,750, up from who stands at Key Ranch $1,575,100 for last year’s near Salado, had progeny Reed Palmer Photography larger catalog. Texas-bred Worldventurer could be headed to Canada to finish out his already sell for $25,000, $24,000 A 2-year-old filly by Kit- stellar 3-year-old campaign. and $15,000 among five ten’s Joy went for $130,000 as the highest-priced juvenile. The Ken- that went through the ring. All-time leading Texas stallion Valid Expectatucky-bred, consigned by Mike Neatherlin as agent for James Tolliver, tions, who stands at Lane’s End Texas near Hempstead, had a filly sell for is a full sister to Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Derby Kitten $20,000. and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) runner-up William’s Kitten. Among horses from the Sooner State, an Oklahoma-bred filly by Named Ring Bit, the filly worked an eighth-mile in a co-fastest time Oklahoma stallion Podium sold for $22,000 from the consignment of of :10 1/5 and sold to Sallusto & Albina, agent. Robert Brewer, agent, to buyer Spaeth Mfg. and Machine Shop Inc. Worldventurer, a gelded son of Valor Farm stallion Wimbledon, Podium stands at Caines Stallion Station near Wynnewood. Another went to Bryan Anderson, agent. Bred by Clarence Scharbauer Jr. and Oklahoma-bred by an Oklahoma stallion, a filly from the first crop of sold for $14,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearling Sale, Mighty Acres stallion The Visualiser, sold for $20,000. Worldventurer won three stakes and earned $207,932 for Wesley Bryan Anderson was the leading buyer with two head for $210,000, Melcher before going through the ring a second time. The 3-year-old and Twin Oaks Training Center topped the consignor list with 14 sold was named last year’s Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding. Twin for $416,000. Oaks Training Center, agent, consigned Worldventurer. “Our sale reflects the optimism people feel coming back into the “It was just a business decision,” Melcher told The Blood-Horse about industry,” Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton Texas, said selling the gelding. “I have been successful in other businesses, and I’m to The Blood-Horse. “We continue to hold the sale at Lone Star convinced you can make money in the Thoroughbred business. We Park, which is completely under the ownership of Global Gaming for have had a great time and lot of fun with Worldventurer, but it was the the first time this year. This new ownership is one of the reasons for right time to sell.” the optimism.” Anderson signed the ticket for Canadian owner Peter Redekop and To view the hip-by-hip results, go to www.fasigtipton.com. 12
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
s
Sam Houston Meet Records Gains in Handle and Attendance Sam Houston Race Park concluded its 20th annual live Thoroughbred meet on March 18 with the 33-day racing season highlighted by a series of high-profile stakes races and notable attendance and handle gains. The revamped stakes schedule in 2013 was anchored by the richest Thoroughbred race in Texas and in Sam Houston history. The inaugural $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on January 26 featured a dynamic field of fillies and mares. The winner, Joyful Victory, gave a dominating performance that garnered national attention. The 5-year-old daughter of Tapit, who is trained by Larry Jones and owned by Fox Hill Farms Inc., solidified her place as one of the top older horses in the country with a stunning victory in the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita Park less than two months later. Now the newly minted millionaire will likely accomplish even more en route to her intended target of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships in November. Joyful Victory also earned Horse of the Meet honors at Sam Houston. Daily purses were up 5% from 2012 to $170,000 per day, compared to $162,000 in 2012. For the third consecutive year, Sam Houston was able to offer the highest purse structure since opening in 1994. In total, the meet featured 23 stakes races with purses of $1.7 million, including four new stakes for Texas-breds. Sam Houston officials noted increases in both on-track and total handle. Total handle was up 2% with $43,917,000 wagered compared to $43,071,000 last year. Total on-track handle from Houston fans increased 9%. Monday afternoon racing continued to be wellreceived by racing fans. On both February 11 and March 18, Sam Houston led the nation in handle for the live cards. Live attendance was up 10% from 2012 with sizeable crowds for several of the racing festival events. On March 9, Sam Houston hosted the second annual Camel and Ostrich Races. The highly entertaining evening attracted a crowd of 14,818, topping the record-setting attendance of 12,389 in 2012. “Our goal was to improve the quality of our live racing product, and we believe we made great strides, especially with the addition of the Houston Ladies Classic,” said Sam Houston President Andrea Young. “That stakes will return next year. We really felt it set the tone for the entire meet.” Texas horseman Danny Pish won his fourth Sam Houston training title with 27 wins. He showcased some promising rising stars, including Platinum Song, who captured the $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes on Texas Champions Weekend. “It was a great meet,” acknowledged Pish. “We started with a bang, with the filly in the Bara Lass, and all in all, we kept winning races. I was very pleased that two of my horses, Pharme’s Phire and Temparnillo, were undefeated this meet.”
Pish, who operates a training center in Cibolo, Texas, credits his Sam Houston team, led by assistant Jasmine Daniels, for their hard work. Pish won his first Sam Houston title in 2006 and was the leader the following year as well. In 2010, he finished in a tie with Karl Broberg. With four leading trainer titles in Houston, Pish is second to Steve Asmussen, who holds the record with five seasons of top honors since the track opened in 1994. Asmussen was second with 17 wins. Jack Bruner saddled 16 winners, and Brent Davidson finished the meet with 11 victories. As an apprentice rider in 2012, Gerardo Mora impressed horsemen and fans with his talent and finished the meet in second-place to veteran Glen Murphy. This year, Mora started strong, dueling mid-meet with Murphy, before drawing off to win his first Sam Houston leading rider title with 47 victories, including two stakes wins. “I want to thank all the people who have supported me in Houston,” said Mora. “My agent (Toby Cathey) and so many trainers named me on great horses. I am very happy to be leading rider.” Born in Palestine, Texas, the 20-yearold Mora had family ties to racing as his uncle Adrian Ramos has ridden in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico since 2001. Mora began working horses in Louisiana three years ago and rode as an apprentice at Retama Park in 2011. He was the leading rider at Retama for their 2012 Thoroughbred meet. Murphy was second in the standings with 38 wins. Roman Chapa had a strong season with 26 victories, and Chris Landeros finished the meet well with a total of 22 wins. Prominent Dallas businessman Tom Durant won his second Sam Houston leading owner title with 16 wins. He shipped in 36 starters, all trained by Jack Bruner, with a mix of maidens, allowance runners and stakes horses. Rising star Legal Mind ably stepped up to stakes company to win the $50,000 Auto Nation Spring Stakes on March 16. Durant’s previous owner title came in 2011, and he said he was pleased with the meet and the success of his runners. “All of our horses were coming off lay-offs,” said Durant. “We started slow but then really took off. The meet turned out very well for us.” Durant is the owner of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas, and summed up the key to his long-term association with Bruner. “I let Jack choose where to run the horses,” he said. “My job is to sell enough cars to pay for them.” End Zone Athletics Inc. was second in the standings with six wins. Jose Luis Espinoza, Ralls and Foster LLC and Pharme Racing Ltd. were tied with five victories each. Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 13
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Leading Oklahoma Stallion Don’t Get Mad Dies
Joy Gilbert
Don’t Get Mad, one of Oklahoma’s leading sires since moving to Dr. Robert Zoellner’s Rockin’ Z Ranch in Beggs in 2011, passed away in mid-April after an accident in the breeding shed. The son of Stephen Got Even earned $793,835 in 13 career starts with victories in the Indiana Derby (G2), Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) and Derby Trial. He also finished fourth in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1). As a stallion, Don’t Get Mad has three crops to race, not including his 2-year-olds of this year, with progeny earnings of $2.75 million. His leading earner is three-time stakes winner Populist Politics, whose bankroll stands at $491,416. The Louisiana-bred, who was named that state’s champion 3-year-old colt, finished third in the 2011 Super Derby (G2).
Don’t Get Mad
Will Rogers Downs Racing Secretary Adjusts to New Role
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For more Texas and Oklahoma racing news, go to www.southernracehorse.com Coady Photography
For the last five years, Jesse Ullery was the voice of Will Rogers Downs. His voice filled the casino as he offered insight on wagering before each race, and it got louder as it crackled out of the grandstand speakers as the horses changed position during the race. During the first day of racing on March 4, Ullery stood near the track railing quietly watching the races with the day’s program rolled up in his hand. He is still involved in daily racing operations but in an even larger role at the Claremore racetrack and Jesse Ullery, racing secretary for Cherokee casino. Casino Will Rogers Downs, stands in front Ullery is the racing secof the outside rail during live racing at the retary, which means he Claremore track and casino. oversees the entire racing operation. He’s in charge of writing the condition book, gathering nominations for stakes races, allotting stalls to horsemen, negotiating simulcast contracts and supervising the running of races. “I know how important of a role I serve now, and it is not like I went away,” said Ullery. “I’m still here, and I’m still fortunate enough to be around the same group of great customers, great employees and great horsemen. I’m just serving in a different capacity.” While Ullery was best known at the track for calling the races, during the last four years he also served as clocker and then became the assistant racing secretary prior to last year’s spring meet. Well-known track announcer John Lies was behind the microphone during this spring’s meet, but schedule conflicts with his duties at Lone Star Park meant Ullery returned to the booth to call races a couple of days. In his new job, Ullery said his goal is to make sure the races run smoothly and provide entertainment for those at the track and those watching in simulcast facilities around the world. “I enjoy the opportunity to be in a role where I can help not only Will Rogers Downs be successful but also allow the horsemen to have success,” Ullery said. “I enjoy my new position, and I think I have the very best crew that I could possibly assemble. We all work together as a team for a common goal, and I thoroughly enjoy working with everyone here.” The Thoroughbred spring meet at Will Rogers concluded May 18.
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Equine Sales of Louisiana Announces 2013 Sales, Construction of New Barns Equine Sales of Louisiana LLC has announced their 2013 Thoroughbred sales schedule. This year, they will be offering three sales for Thoroughbred horses: • The Consignor Select Yearling Sale will be held on Wednesday, September 4. Nominations for this sale are now being accepted, and the deadline for nomination contracts is June 14. • The Open Yearling Sale will be held on Monday, October 28. This sale is open to all yearlings throughout the Southwest region. Nomination forms and closing dates will be announced shortly. • The Mixed Sale will be held on Tuesday, October 29, following the Open Yearling Sale. This sale is open to all Thoroughbreds. Nomination forms and closing dates will be available in the near future. Sales Director Foster Bridewell stated, “With our newly updated sales pavilion and on-site barns now under construction, we offer consignors the optimal location to sell their Thoroughbreds in the South.” Equine Sales of Louisiana has raised the funds necessary to construct a total of 232 stalls in barns located on-site at the rear of the sales pavilion. Sitework began on March 8, and the company expects it to be fully completed and operational by the end of August in time for the Consignor Select Yearling Sale. For more information, contact Bridewell at (214) 718-7618 or visit www.equinesalesofla.com.
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SOUTHERN RACEHORSE WANTS YOUR FOAL PHOTOS! To submit your Texas-bred or Oklahoma-bred foal photo to be printed in Southern Racehorse or on our Facebook page, email your photos to info@southernracehorse.com. Please include the sire, dam, sex, foaling date, owner and breeder. Photos must be high resolution to appear in print. Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 15
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Carter Sales Co.’s OKC Yearling Sale Adds Session for 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age
The Carter Sales Co.’s OKC Summer Yearling Sale is set for Monday, August 19, at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, and the state’s premier sale for Thoroughbred yearlings has added a session for 2-year-olds and horses of racing age. “Our sale always coordinates with opening weekend at Remington Park, so it is a perfect time to present 2-year-olds and older horses that are ready to race,” said Sale Manager Terri Carter. Works for the 2-year-olds will be held at Remington and all horses in the sale are to be radiographed and scoped. “We start the weekend with racing opening on Friday, and we usually get to see horses from the previous sale compete before the auction on Monday afternoon,” added Carter. “It is a great way to start the Thoroughbred season.” Entries for the sale are available at www.cartersalesco.com or by calling the office at (405) 288-6460.
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory to Seek ISO 17025 Accreditation As part of its ongoing commitment to the state’s horse racing industry, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) announced that it will seek ISO 17025 accreditation for its drug-testing lab from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). TVDML’s goal is to achieve accreditation from A2LA by early spring of 2014. This would be the laboratory’s second accreditation. In 2012, the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) renewed TVMDL’s accreditation for an additional five years, which includes its drug-testing lab. The A2LA accreditation program is designed to meet the guidelines of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and the Association of Official Racing Chemists (AORC). TVMDL is an AORC member. ISO 17025 is an international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. In addition to ISO 17025 accreditation, the A2LA program includes accreditation that is designed specifically for competition animal drug-testing laboratories. “Applying for ISO 17025 accreditation from A2LA is an extensive and demanding process,” TVMDL Director Dr. Tammy Beckham said. “After carefully considering this option, we decided that securing ISO 17025 accreditation is the next important step in our agency’s commitment to serving the Texas horse racing industry.” Under the Texas Racing Act of 1989, TVMDL’s College Station facility serves as the primary provider of drug-testing services to the state’s pari-mutuel horse racing and greyhound racing industries. Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said, “The team at TVMDL does an outstanding job of leading in the science of veterinary diagnostics and this is a great example of how they positively impact the state and its constituents.” For more information, go to tvmdl.tama.edu. 16
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FOR SALE ARKANSAS-BRED 2 YOS & YEARLINGS Contact Jim Shields (479) 648 8725 jameshshields@cox.net
Letter from the Executive Director As of April 30, of the more than 6,000 bills filed in this legislative session, several have the potential to sustain and, to varying degrees, revitalize the Texas horse industry. State Representative Senfronia Thompson’s HB 1186 and HB 1187 will enable the Texas Racing Commission to share investigatory information with other state agencies and allow the TRC to enforce stricter penalties on individuals who violate the TRC’s drug enforcement policies. As of this writing, these bills have passed the House and are waiting to be heard by the full Senate. Representative Richard Raymond filed HB 2729 and HJR 121 relating to the operation of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at Texas racetracks. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa filed companion bills SB 789 and SJR 36. These are identical bills to the horsemen’s bill of 2011, which was HB 2111. Representative Raymond also filed HB 2375 authorizing racetrack extension locations, allowing existing racetracks to operate satellite simulcast facilities. As of April 30, we are still trying to get these bills heard in Committee. Senator Kel Seliger introduced SB 1340, which extends the timeframe for pre-opening simulcasting from two years up to six years. Although captioned identically to Representative Raymond’s HB 2375, it has substantial differences in content. SB 1340 has passed in the Senate and is now beginning to work through the House. The committee substitute for Senator Hinojosa’s SB 1494 allows racetrack licensees that have not constructed a permanent facility to offer simulcast wagering at a single location within the county where the license is designated and to transfer allocated race dates to another operating racetrack. It A variety of also strengthens language prohibiting Internet wagering and increases penalties. This bill passed beneficial initiatives out of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters and must now go to the full Senate Finance Committee. are being pursued, Garnering the most attention is Senator John Carona’s SJR 64, which proposes a constitustakeholders are tional amendment authorizing and regulating the operation of casino games and slot machines by a limited number of licensed operators, including Texas racetracks and certain Indian tribes. collaborating and After an initial hearing, this bill remains in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. Subsequently, Senator Carona and staff have worked with stakeholders on a committee subcompromising, stitute to incorporate provisions more beneficial to the horse and greyhound industry. contacts are being To me, this whole legislative process is comparable to working on a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle made, working while the picture on the box keeps changing. The good news is that we have a dedicated team of horsemen working on it. relationships are My time in the Texas Capitol this session has definitely been a learning experience. I do not being forged and envy those who are newly elected, overwhelmed with much to learn about myriad issues and struggling to prioritize them. our message is I have found many good people representing us who have a genuine interest in the horse being delivered. industry and would like to do something to help. I respect those legislators who do not just say what they think I want to hear. I appreciate those who take time to visit with their constituents whether or not they agree on an issue and whether or not they believe that issue has any chance of success in this session. I give extra points to those who are comfortable with the prospect of allowing Texans to vote on issues. I have come to admire staff members who take the time to listen and learn in order to better understand our issues so they can provide good input to their bosses. I appreciate the long hours they work, “herding cats” to come up with a palatable recipe for cat food. I have been frustrated by the fact that re-election concerns often impede support; it can be dangerous to step up to an issue, and no one is fighting to be first in line to do so. It seems that no issue stands alone on its own merit but is simply a small part of that much bigger moving picture. I have learned that a bill draft can go through so many changes that the only thing that remains the same may be the bill number. I have come to realize the impact a single word may have on the meaning and intent of legislation, and I have had many discussions on unintended consequences. Sometimes, the wheels grind slowly. Other times, things change quickly. One day, things seem promising and like they’re gaining momentum, only to hit a wall. Another day, a bill that appeared to have substantial opposition at a hearing can emerge favorably, while a bill that appeared acceptable to all can mysteriously stall. More often than not, actions defy logic. I do feel that the bits and pieces of progress are enabling us to move forward. A variety of beneficial initiatives are being pursued, stakeholders are collaborating and compromising, contacts are being made, working relationships are being forged and our message is being delivered. We will continue our efforts, and we sincerely appreciate yours. Monday, May 27, marks the last day of the 83rd regular session of the Texas Legislature. Stay tuned, and please check www.texasthoroughbred.com for current updates. Mary Ruyle Executive Director, Texas Thoroughbred Association Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 17
texas Thoroughbred Association News for more, visit www.texasthoroughbred.com
The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund would like to congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients: Scholarships Renewed for 2013-2014 School Year Cameron Bragg, Mesquite, Texas, son of TTA member Steve Bragg Louisiana State University, Graphic Design
Page Trahan, Grapeland, Texas, daughter of TTA member Carey Trahan Sam Houston State University, Broadcast Production
New Scholarships Awarded for 2013-2014 School Year
Breanna Bristol, Round Rock, Texas, member of TTA Austin Community College School of Nursing
Michael Davidson, Arthur City, Texas, son of TTA members Brent and Colleen Davidson Texas A&M University, Animal Science Andrea Hartis, Fort Worth, Texas, daughter of TTA member Eileen Hartis University of North Texas Health Science Center, Doctorate of Physical Therapy
DEADLINE REMINDERS Accreditation:
The deadline to accredit foals of 2012 for $75 is a postmark, fax or credit card date of May 31, 2013. (TTA member fee is $75. Non-members add $50 or become a TTA member for $60.) After that date, the fee to accredit foals of 2012 increases to $200. Do not ever send in the original Jockey Club Certificate; we just need a copy. Also, send in an ATB application (see page 41 or download at www.texasthoroughbred.com) and the fee if May 31 is getting close and you have not received a Jockey Club Certificate. Send in the copy of the papers later.
Stallion Owners:
If you have not yet paid the annual administrative fee for your stallion for 2013, the deadline for late payment of $325 is August 1, 2013. If this is the stallion’s first year in Texas, and he came in after February 1, you can pay the early administrative fee of $200. The annual administrative fee cannot be accepted for a breeding season after the August 1 deadline. If you stood a stallion in Texas in 2013 and have not yet accredited him, you have until August 1 to accredit him for $100. Any stallion accreditations postmarked after August 1, 2013, will not be accredited for 2013, but for 2014. The deadline to nominate stallions to the Texas Stallion Stakes for the 2013 breeding season is October 1, 2013. Only Texas accredited stallions may be nominated. The fee to nominate is the greater of $1,500 or the advertised stud fee for stallions standing their first season in Texas in 2013. For stallions not new to the state, there is also a $500 late fee.
Rules and Regulations for the Accredited Texas-Bred Program State:
A photocopy of the annual ‘Report of Mares Bred’ shall be submitted to the TTA office on or before the date required by The Jockey Club (August 1). Stallion owners are eligible to receive Stallion Awards only from offspring sired in Texas after the stallion has become accredited with the Texas Thoroughbred Association and applicable administrative fees have been paid. If you file your Report of Mares Bred electronically, you have an opportunity to print it before filing.
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Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma News
New Building at Will Rogers Downs The Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO) would like to announce the opening of a new facility on the backside of Will Rogers Downs. Here are the important details: • Building will be open before live racing begins and closed shortly after the last race • There are four TVs located at the east end of the building • This building will be used strictly for watching races • Any misuse or misconduct will be subject to reprimand • Remember, this is your building; please take care of it This facility will give all owners, trainers, grooms and other interested persons stabled on the south stable area a chance to watch races without having to leave their barns for a long period of time. They can watch a race they may be interested in and get back to the horses they may have in a future race in a matter of minutes without having to get to the grandstand (which is no easy thing to do on most occasions). We also hope to have a tote machine placed in the building very soon, along with a cold drink dispenser and perhaps a snack dispenser. The TRAO would like to thank Will Rogers Downs for its assistance in getting this accomplished.
Interim Final H-2B Wage Rule Released, Processing of H-2B Visa Applications to Resume
On April 24, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) issued an interim final H-2B wage rule that is effective as of that date. DHS had recently suspended processing most petitions for new H-2B workers because of a court decision issuing a permanent injunction against certain parts of the rule that was used to determine H-2B wage rates. This interim final rule will allow the DHS to resume processing H-2B applications. Unfortunately, this new rule is similar to a 2011 wage rule that has been blocked by Congress and opposed by many organizations, including the American Horse Council, because it will make the H-2B program significantly more costly to use. On March 21, a judge in Pennsylvania granted a permanent injunction against the 2008 H-2B wage rule that was used to issue “prevailing wage determinations” and gave the DOL 30 days to come into compliance with the court order. H-2B employers must receive a “prevailing wage determination” as part of the process to bring an H-2B worker into the county. This rule is in response to that court order. This new wage rule will change the way the prevailing wage is calculated. The rule requires the DOL to use the mean wage rate established by the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage survey for an occupation in the area of intended employment. It eliminates a four-tier wage structure based on skill level that was previously used to determine the prevailing wage in most circumstances. This change will increase the wage rate employers will be required to pay H-2B workers. This rule will also apply to all current H-2B workers for work performed on or after the effective date of this rule. This means current H-2B employers may receive new prevailing wage determinations from the DOL that they will have to pay to their H-2B workers for hours worked after April 23, 2013.
Fair Meadows 2013 Thoroughbred Meet Here are some things you need to know about the Fair Meadows meet: • Fair Authority will be building 24 new tack rooms this meet • New exit will be available onto 15th Street by the old Health Department building • New entrance will remain at gate seven with new track entrance crossing the old parking lot and intersecting the exit lane at the new location • Fair Meadows will run the 2013 dates awarded by OHRC starting June 8 and ending August 2 • Track will open 10 days prior to meet (May 27-28) • Gate entrance subject to OHRC approval • Fair Meadows race dates for 2013: June: 8,9,13,14,15,16,19,20,21,22,23,27,28,29,30 July: 3,4,5,6,7,11,12,13,14,18,19,20,21,25,26,27,28 August: 1,2 (Total race days: 34) • Tulsa Fair Authority Board voted to submit 2014 license application to the OHRC
Important Dates 2013 Thoroughbred Race Meets & Sales June 8 - Fair Meadows Tulsa Meet Starts August 16 - Remington Park Meet Starts August 19 - Carter Sales Co. Oklahoma City Summer Sale (Yearlings & 2YO/Racing Age) August 26 - Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearling Sale
2013 TRAO Board Meetings August 13 - Remington Park October 10 - Remington Park December 5 - Remington Park
2013 OHRC Scheduled Meetings June 20 August 2 October 17 November 21
for more, visit www.traoracing.com
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Kindness of strangers
Two strangers make a donation to help Texas-based Remember Me Rescue create a better home for ex-racehorses By Susan Salk
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Terri Cage Photography
Donna Keen takes a moment to relax, but she spends much of her time working with former racehorses to prepare them for productive lives away from the racetrack.
Horsephotos.com
Donna’s husband, Dallas, is an accomplished trainer in Southern California and the Southwest, but he also finds time to patrol the barns at the couple’s farm in Burleson, Texas.
In only a few short years, Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. has become one of the most successful owners in racing, posting an all-time record 542 wins last year with earnings of $10.1 million. The Illinois couple has also made a point to support racing charities and retirement facilities, including one located a thousand miles away that’s run by a woman they had never met. The decision by the Papieses to build a 20-stall, stateof-the-art barn for a horse rescue in Texas arose from two simultaneous colic emergencies. On the same late July evening that the two-time Eclipse Award finalists for Outstanding Owner were racing to save one of their own, sparing no expense for surgery for their sickly racehorse, a small but valiant nonprofit in the Lone Star State called Remember Me Rescue was making the sad decision to euthanize a hard-luck broodmare they’d only just rescued from the slaughter pipeline. With no emergency veterinary funds to handle the seriousness of the colic case that felled the chestnut mare Karitsas Punch, the painful decision to euthanize her was made by Remember Me Rescue’s owner, Donna Keen. Shortly after one horse was saved and the other perished, the worlds of the Papieses’ top-tier horse racing organization and that of the bootstrap horse rescue would be joined. Keen typed a brief and sad note to her Facebook fans to relay the news that the mare, for whom so many were praying, had been put down. And Richard Papiese, who rarely read or
Terri Cage Photography
Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds won an all-time record 542 races last year and has twice been nominated for an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Owner.
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Thanks to Richard and Karen Papiese of Midwest Thoroughbreds, who Donna Keen had never met, Remember Me Rescue was able to build a new barn to further the organization’s goal to rehabilitate and retrain ex-racehorses.
Terri Cage Photography
kept up with online postings like these, happened to read Keen’s words and then picked up the telephone. “He called me and said how terrible he felt and that he had a horse with colic the same day,” Keen said. “He had the resources to save his horse and felt terrible that we didn’t.” Papiese immediately wrote out a $10,000 check to the charity, and in Keen’s grateful enthusiasm, she told him she could use the money to build a modest barn for her ex-racehorses. “I started telling him how we had to keep some horses outside and that they’re cold in the winter and hot in the summer, and before we got off the phone, he said, ‘I’ll build you a barn,’” Keen recalled. Not long after, the trucks rolled in, and work crews got busy, transforming her modest facility in Burleson into something she’d previously only dreamed of. Crews reworked the dirt on about a half-acre of the property, rearranging the earth for proper drainage. Shortly thereafter, six concrete trucks arrived with a crew of about 20 to pour the foundation. Then the trusses, rafters and wood arrived, along with the gates and windows. According to Keen, the state-of-the-art facility, which is built to the same hurricane-resistant specifications as the Papieses’ barns, is a godsend. The solid structure will offer shelter in heat and cold for horses who previously stood in the open outside in small paddocks. And the barn will also provide a safe environment for volunteers. 22
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For Keen, a racehorse owner who started the certified nonprofit rescue in 2008, the kindness of others in the horse industry is never a surprise, but she said the donation of a new barn takes the cake. “Rich Papiese didn’t want anybody to know about the barn at first, but we convinced him that people need to know that people like him, the real champions of racing, are out there,” said Keen, whose husband, Dallas, is an accomplished trainer with victories including the 2004 Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) with Jim Jackson’s Texas-bred Yessirgeneralsir. Keen and longtime supporter Maggi Moss, a leading owner who has pledged to help with Remember Me Rescue’s future veterinary emergencies, urged Papiese to let the story be told. “We are super thankful for this,” Keen said. “I’ve told people we’d be happy with a tent. I was keeping horses outside in little paddocks. They got wet when it rained and were so hot in the sun that we had to bathe them three times a day. Thanks to Rich and Karen Papiese, our horses will have a solid roof over their heads, and Remember Me Rescue will be able to take in more horses in the future.” H For more information about Remember Me Rescue, including how to donate or volunteer, visit www.teamkeen.com. Susan Salk is the creator of OffTrackThoroughbreds.com, a blog devoted to telling success stories of ex-racehorse Thoroughbreds in new careers and of the people, on and off the track, who help them.
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[Southern Racehorse Stakes Roundup]
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Sam Houston, Lone Star and Will Rogers card a full slate of stakes in March and April By Denis Blake
Sam Houston Race Park Unstoppable U Cannot Be Stopped in Maxxam Gold Cup
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he $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park has attracted nationally prominent horses since its first running in 1994, and the 2013 renewal on March 2 included multiple stakes winners and two horses that had run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). It was Unstoppable U who showed his class and maturity in capturing the 1 1/8-mile feature. The 4-year-old son of Exchange Rate won his first two career starts last year at Aqueduct before running sixth in the Belmont Stakes. Trained by Kenneth McPeek for owners Magdalena Racing and Mojallali Stables Inc., he began his 2013 campaign at Oaklawn Park and shipped into Sam Houston fresh off an allowance score on February 9. “He’s acted like a good horse from the beginning,” said McPeek. “He had some breathing issues as a 3-year-old. That’s why he didn’t run well in the Dwyer. He’s maturing, and this was a good test for him.” With confident handling by jockey Chris Landeros, the Kentucky-bred Unstoppable U sat off early pacesetter Hurricane Ike, who posted fractions of :23.88 for the first quarter-mile and :48.48 for the half-mile. At the top of the stretch, Landeros took command and moved Unstoppable U to the lead, drawing off in a final time of 1:50.96 over a fast main track. McPeek was at Sam Houston in 2002 to saddle the incomparable Take Charge Lady in the $275,000 NTRA Great State Challenge Distaff. “I’ve had a bit of luck over the years,” said McPeek. “I need to come back more often, I suppose.” Trainer Michael Stidham finished second and third in the Maxxam with Dreaming Blue and Hurricane Ike, who was sent off as the post-time favorite. Unstoppable U returned $15.80 as the fifth betting choice in the eight-horse field.
Departing Rolls to Big Win in Texas Heritage Stakes
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rainer Al Stall Jr. knew he had a talented colt in his barn with the undefeated Departing. Owned and bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider, the War Chant colt won both of his starts at Fair Grounds Race Course and ably won his stakes debut on March 2 at Sam Houston in the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes. Rider Brian Hernandez Jr. kept his mount in a tracking position as Seeking Payday went to the lead. “I was happy to follow the six horse and give him a target,” said Hernandez. “He did it in hand.” “We’re in a good spot,” stated his trainer. “They send nice horses to us year in and year out. He’s a good horse and has everything put together. We know he has talent and will just see how far he can go.” Departing won by 2 ¾ lengths and got the one-mile distance in 1:37.94 as the odds-on favorite. Following his Sam Houston win, Departing finished a good third in the Departing $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) and then scored an impressive victory in the $750,000 Illinois Derby (G3). Terry Hamilton’s Holiday Mischief was a game second, followed by Texas-bred Worldventurer, who had won two previous stakes this season at Sam Houston.
Artemus Kitten Victorious in Jersey Lilly Stakes
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rtemus Kitten, a 5-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy, ran second in the 2012 Jersey Lilly Stakes but shed her bridesmaid status in the 2013 edition on March 2. With a skilled ride from jockey Rosie Napravnik, Artemus Kitten rallied for a 1 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes, covering the firm course at Sam Houston in a final time of 1:44.12. Bred and owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Michael Maker, the talented mare won her fifth career race, returning to the winner’s circle for the first time since July 14 at Ellis Park. “I love coming here to ride on the turf; this is a great course,” said Napravnik. “This filly had a great stalking trip on the outside; she was much the best.” “It was nice to see her get a good trip today,” said Joe Sharpe, assistant to Maker. “She was very unlucky last year.” Artemus Kitten returned $4.80 for the win. Bruce Lunsford’s Distorted Legacy, a graded stakes-placed 6-year-old mare, ran second, followed by Hinkle Farms’ Firehouse Red in third.
Artemus Kitten
Flashpoint Impressive in Sam Houston Sprint Cup
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lashpoint took on some of the nation’s top 3-year-olds in 2011, competing in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Preakness Stakes for trainer Steve Asmussen. In the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup Stakes on March 2, rider Glen Murphy had the call on the 5-year-old son of Pomeroy for Peachtree Stable. It resulted in the fifth win from 11 starts for the Florida-bred, who covered six furlongs in 1:10.21. “He’s a big horse and left the gate well,” said Murphy. “He’s a tough horse to work in the morning but put it together tonight.” Trainer Larry Jones had a memorable night at Sam Houston Race Park on January 26, setting two track records with Joyful Victory and Icon Ike. This time his trainee Hamiltonian, a 4-year-old son of Bellamy Road, set the pace but had to settle for second. Flashpoint, sent off as the third-betting choice, returned $10.40 for the win and earned $30,000 for the victory. Bind, a son of Pulpit owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, was third.
Flashpoint
Legal Mind Wins Final Stakes of Sam Houston Meet
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he final stakes of the 2013 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet took place on March 16 with a solid group of 3-year-old fillies competing at a distance of one mile in the $50,000 Auto Nation Spring Stakes. Trainer Jack Bruner felt that Legal Mind deserved a chance to step up to stakes company. The dark bay daughter of Bellamy Road is owned by Tom Durant and broke her maiden on October 26 at Retama Park. She was impressive as she came off the pace to score by two lengths in a $21,000 allowance on February 9. Rider Gerardo Mora kept her in a comfortable tracking position as Livin Peace took the lead, completing the first quarter-mile in :23.91 and the half-mile in :47.55. The rail opened up, and Mora guided his filly to a 2 ½-length victory. She covered the mile, over a fast main track, in a final time of 1:39.76. Kathy Stephens and Frank Nieschwietz’s Satin Gold, who was making Legal Mind her 2013 debut off a third-place finish in the $75,000 La Senorita at Retama Park, rallied for second under jockey Alfredo Contreras. Legal Mind, sent off at odds of 8-1, returned $18.60 to her backers. Pozo de Luna Inc.’s Bilrrubina (Mex) was sent off as the post-time favorite and ran third.
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[Southern Racehorse Stakes Roundup]
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Will Rogers Downs Foreign Sultress Upsets WRD Classic Distaff Sprint
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Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
cattered Acres LLC’s Foreign Sultress, a 4-year-old filly by Foreign Policy, scored a 10-1 upset in the $55,000 Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs Classic Distaff Sprint Stakes for Oklahoma-breds on April 8 at the Claremore track. Benny Landeros rode for trainer Andy Gladd. She clocked six furlongs in 1:11.43 and won by 2 ¼ lengths. Bred by Bob and Paulette Pogue out of the Dixie Brass mare Sultress of Swing, Foreign Sultress has compiled a record of 14-5-3-1 with earnings of $100,494 while racing exclusively in Oklahoma. She broke her maiden at Will Rogers last year and then picked up a win at Fair Meadows before winning twice more at Remington Park. She kicked off her 4-year-old season with a runner-up effort in a Will Rogers allowance race and then earned her first career stakes win in the Distaff Sprint. Richter Family Trust’s homebred Jazzin’ Okie, a daughter of Candy Ride (Arg) who won last year’s Wilma Mankiller Memorial Stakes at Will Rogers, got up to Foreign Sultress finish second as the favorite with Jose Medina up for trainer Kenneth Nolen. Diamond Disco, a homebred running for 7 Cedars Farm, closed to take third with Garrett Steinberg aboard for conditioner Clinton Stuart. The filly is by Oklahoma stallion Diamond, a son of Mr. Prospector who stands at Oklahoma Equine.
Johnny Whip Takes TRAO Classic Sprint
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Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
eorge Straw Jr.’s Johnny Whip earned his first career stakes victory on April 9 in the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint Stakes for Oklahomabred colts and geldings. Ridden by Benny Landeros and trained by Jody Pruitt, the 4-year-old gelding by Stephen Got Even scored by two lengths and traveled six furlongs in 1:10.08. Johnny Whip, who was bred by Robert Zoellner of Rockin’ Z Ranch out of the Seeking the Gold mare Paradisa, has been remarkably consistent throughout his career with a record of 20-7-4-4 and earnings of $154,506. The gelding finished third in last year’s Jim Thorpe and Tishomingo Stakes at Remington Park. Okie Ride, the 2-5 favorite, finished second for breeder/owner Richter Family Trust. The Candy Ride (Arg) gelding has earned nearly $400,000 in his career with five stakes victories, including the Silver Goblin and Oklahoma Classics Sprint last year. Luis Quinonez rode the 6-year-old for trainer Kenneth Nolen. Keith Hooker and Lyn Aldridge’s Ransom Roberto, by Rojo Dinero, closed to Johnny Whip take third for trainer Wilson Brown and jockey Miguel Perez.
Nine-year-old Humble Smarty Wins Clem McSpadden Stakes
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Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
ike a fine wine that gets better with age, Brett Creighton’s Humble Smarty scored a decisive 4 ½-length victory in the $51,000 Clem McSpadden Memorial Route 66 Stakes on April 23 at Will Rogers Downs. The 9-year-old Arkansas-bred gelding dashed six furlongs over a good track in 1:10.20 with Belen Quinonez aboard for trainer Jerry Donaldson. Bred by James Danaher out of the Zignew mare Humble Danzig, the son of Mutakddim has now won 18 of 73 career starts with earnings of $536,883. The gelding is enjoying perhaps his best season yet this year as he has three wins and a second in five starts. Humble Smarty began his 2013 campaign with an allowance/optional claiming win at Oaklawn Park in his home state and then captured the $60,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes for Arkansasbreds. The veteran sprinter has earned $113,750 this year. Texas-bred Solar Charge, a 6-year-old gelding by Authenticate running for owner H and H Ranch and trainer Danny Pish, got up to finish second Humble Smarty under Roman Chapa and pushed his career bankroll to $326,192. George Straw Jr.’s Oklahoma-bred Johnny Whip, who won the TRAO Classic Sprint Stakes two weeks earlier, took third.
Lookinforchange Gives Trainer Jerry Donaldson a Stakes Double
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Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
rainer Jerry Donaldson sent out his second stakes winner in as many days on April 24 as Lookinforchange rolled to a 4 ¼-length victory in the $50,000 Wilma Mankiller Memorial Stakes at Will Rogers Downs. On April 23, Donaldson saddled Humble Smarty to win the Clem McSpadden Memorial Route 66 Stakes at the track in Claremore, Oklahoma. Bred in Kentucky by Lila McKinnis and Rod Edgmon and owned by Margaux Farm LLC and Vinery LTD, Lookinforchange stopped the timer at 1:10.82 for six furlongs under jockey Benny Landeros. This marked the first career stakes win for the 5-year-old Gilded Time mare, who now has a record of 24-7-3-3 with earnings of $205,914. Lookinforchange, who won an allowance and an allowance/optional claiming race last year at Remington Park, started her 2013 campaign in Texas with a fifth-place finish in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic. She then moved on to Oaklawn Park and captured an allowance/ Lookinforchange optional claiming race. Clark Brewster’s Givhans Ferry, who shipped in from Fair Grounds for trainer Steve Margolis, finished a clear second under Belen Quinonez. Jerry Namy’s Storm’s Promise, also from Fair Grounds, took third for trainer Karl Broberg and jockey Bryan McNeil.
Hard Cider Leads Oklahoma Equine Progeny Sweep in Fillies Division of Oklahoma Stallion Stakes
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Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
ill Rogers Downs presented two divisions of the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds on Kentucky Derby Day, May 4, and progeny of stallions standing at Oklahoma Equine swept the exacta in the fillies race. In the one-mile affair contested over a sloppy track, Hard Cider enjoyed a stalking trip under jockey Garrett Steinberg and then seized command in the stretch to draw clear by 3 ½ lengths. The daughter of Liquor Cabinet (Ire) became her sire’s first stakes winner when she stopped the timer at 1:41.40. Bred and owned by 7 Cedars Farm and trained by Clinton Stuart, Hard Cider appears to be finding her stride as a 3-year-old. It took the Oklahoma-bred eight tries to break her maiden, but she did it in style with an 8 ½-length romp on April 9 at Will Rogers. That set her up for another big win in the Stallion Stakes, and now her record stands at 9-2-1-1 with earnings of $58,447. She is out of the Oklahoma-bred mare Alley’s Hard Cider Account, by Alamocitos. Liquor Cabinet, who was last year’s leading freshman sire in Oklahoma, has jumped out to the early lead on the state’s second-crop list this year. The Hennessy stallion ran first or second in 10 of his 12 career starts, including a win in the Grade 3 Aqueduct Handicap in New York. Hard Cider is one of 34 foals in Liquor Cabinet’s first crop to reach the track. Dr. Joe and Terri Carter’s Oklahoma Equine, where Liquor Cabinet stands, is located in Washington, Oklahoma. Circle S Ranch Inc.’s homebred Mari’s Big Rock, a daughter of Oklahoma Equine stallion Diamond, set the early pace and held on to finish a clear second. The filly is still a maiden but has hit the board in five of seven starts with earnings of $29,828. Cody Worst rode her for trainer Tim Williams. Favored Rah Rah Rachel, winner of the fillies division of the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes run in November at Remington Park, took third for owner Iron Oaks LLC, trainer Gene Jacquot and jockey David Cardoso. She is a daughter of Mighty Acres stallion Air Commander. Lady Bison (by Burbank) and Pippa Okie (by Cavvy) completed the field.
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[Southern Racehorse Stakes Roundup]
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Du Da Dandy Takes Colts/Geldings Division of Oklahoma Stallion Stakes for Diamond G Ranch
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Kelli Johnston/Coady Photography
andy Gammill’s Diamond G Ranch Inc. scored a trifecta of sorts on May 4 at Will Rogers Downs as Du Da Dandy posted an 8 ¾-length victory in the $54,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes for colts and geldings. Diamond G not only bred and owns the chestnut gelding but also stands Du Da Dandy’s sire Tactical Cat in Edmond, Oklahoma. Ridden by Bryan McNeil and trained by Martin Lozano, Du Da Dandy grabbed an early lead in the one-mile contest and was never threatened over a sloppy track before hitting the wire in 1:39.27 for his first stakes win. The Oklahoma-bred only started his racing career a month earlier when he broke his maiden at first asking at Will Rogers going 5 ½ furlongs. He then finished fifth against allowance foes in his only defeat to date. His three-race earnings stand at $45,418. Du Da Dandy is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Vision Quest. Tactical Cat, a Grade 1-winning son of prolific stallion Storm Cat, has sired the earners of more than $19 million and is a mainstay on the lead- Du Da Dandy ing sires list in Oklahoma. Du Da Dandy became the 25th career stakes winner sired by Tactical Cat. Odds-on favorite Chuck, a colt by the late Diamond G resident and perennial leading Oklahoma stallion Evansville Slew, chased Du Da Dandy throughout but had to settle for second under Belen Quinonez. Chuck, who is trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel and runs for breeder Norma Lee Stockseth, won a division of the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes in November at Remington Park. The colt has earned $69,563 in his career. First-time starter Okie Can Do, a gelding by the Kingmambo stallion Cavvy running for breeder Richter Family Trust and trainer Kenneth Nolen, finished third, more than 20 lengths behind Chuck. Hot Walker (by Ocean Terrace) and T J’s Folly (by Air Commander) rounded out the field.
Lone Star Park Triumph and Song Romps in Premiere Stakes to Open Lone Star Meet
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For more information about the Texas Thoroughbred Association, go to www.texasthoroughbred.com • For more information about the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, go to www.traoracing.com 28
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
Reed Palmer Photography
ictoria Ashford’s Triumph and Song made a smooth transition from allowance to stakes company in the $50,000 Premiere Stakes for Texas-breds on April 11, opening day of the Lone Star Park meet. The 4-year-old gelded son of Valor Farm stallion My Golden Song scored an easy wire-to-wire victory by 4 ¼ lengths and ran 6 ½ furlongs in a blistering 1:15.45 as the 3-10 favorite. Jamie Theriot rode for trainer Bret Calhoun, who indicated the Texas-bred would next head to Kentucky to take on stakes company there. Daily Racing Form reported that Triumph and Song earned an impressive Beyer Speed Figure of 99 for his effort. Bred by Ashford and Dr. Troy Carmichael, Triumph and Song is out of the Hadif mare Coryphee. Although Coryphee only faced the starter five times in her career, the daughter of a former Valor Farm stallion won twice with a second and third for earnings of $42,080. Prior to winning his stakes debut in the Premiere, Triumph and Song had Triumph and Song won two allowance/optional claiming races at Fair Grounds and is now a perfect three-for-three on the year. All told, the gelding has a record of 8-5-1-2 with a bankroll of $120,116. Triumph and Song is one of five stakes winners sired by My Golden Song, who recently surpassed $1 million in progeny earnings from his first two crops to race. Paul Rigali Jr.’s Texas Air, a 5-year-old son of Texas City also making his stakes debut, got up for second at odds of 12-1 for trainer Allen Milligan. Multiple stakes winner Solar Charge, an Authenticate gelding running for H and H Ranch, took third.
Lasting Bubbles Scores in JEH Stallion Station Stakes
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Reed Palmer Photography
asting Bubbles, bred and owned by Judy Peek and trained by Ken Peek, won the 17th running of the $50,000 JEH Stallion Station Stakes on April 13 at Lone Star Park. With Lindey Wade aboard, the 5-year-old mare by Pulling Punches stalked the pace on the outside behind favorite Cowgirl N Up, who posted fractions of :22.37 and :45.20. Lasting Bubbles, with strong urging and under the whip, took the lead with a furlong to go and powered away to win the contest for Texasbred fillies and mares by 5 ½ lengths. Cowgirl N Up held on for the place, and it was another 3 ½ lengths back to the third-place finisher. The final time for the 6 ½-furlong sprint was 1:16.32. “She put me in a good position,” Wade said. “She ran the lights out.” Lasting Bubbles earned $30,000 for her win in the JEH Stallion Station Stakes, increasing her lifetime earnings to $111,002. It was her fourth win from 11 starts, and she earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for the win. Runner-up Cowgirl N Up, a daughter of Valor Farm stallion My Golden Lasting Bubbles Song owned by Caroline Dodwell and trained by Jimmy “Scooter” Dodwell, pushed her bankroll to $191,466 with her secondplace effort. Im a Bear, a filly by Lane’s End Texas stallion Touch Tone owned by Tom Durant, took third.
Master Rick Rules Grade 3 Texas Mile
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THE PRIDE OF TEXAS
EVIL MINISTER Deputy Minister – Evil’s Pic, by Piccolino
Eddie George Ranch 9364 County Rd. 18, Briscoe, TX 79011 (806) 375-2577 • Cell: (806) 216-0126
Reed Palmer Photography
aster Rick, running for Dallasite Richard Davis, used a four-wide move on the far turn and rallied to win the $200,000 Texas Mile Stakes (G3) on April 27 at Lone Star Park and record his first career graded stakes victory. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Master Command scored by 1 ¼ lengths in an evenly matched field of six. The Florida-bred covered the course in 1:36.01 as the 5-2 second choice in a race with five horses sent off at odds between 5-2 and 4-1. Master Rick, who was bred by English Ranch Farm, needed five tries before he broke his maiden at Oaklawn Park as a 3-year-old last March, but he followed that up with a victory in the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes at the Arkansas track. He then took on some of the toughest horses in the country and hit the board in the Super Derby (G3) and Zia Park Derby. As a 4-year-old this season, he finished fourth in the Fifth Season Stakes and Essex Handicap at Oaklawn before winning an allowance/ Master Rick optional claiming event there. All told, Master Rick has compiled a record of 16-4-1-2 with earnings of $351,363. “Absolutely the best!” said Davis after the race. “Obviously a mile is his distance, and that’s where he’s the strongest and we’re gonna keep him there.” Favored Prayer for Relief, a millionaire who won three graded stakes as a 3-year-old and hit the board in four graded events as a 4-year-old last year in California, put in a good effort to take second and gave Asmussen a sweep of the exacta. The 6-year-old gelding Good Lord, a veteran of 48 races who came in from Tampa Bay Downs, set the early pace and held on to finish third.
Sire of First Crop $124,000+ SW
From his first full crop, sire of back-to-back 2012 SW DREAD THE PIRATE ($124,019), Indiana Futurity by 3 & Crown Ambassador S. by 3 3/4
Graded Stakes Winner at Two
H Winner of the Sapling (G3) at Monmouth Park H Third in the Futurity S. (G2) at Belmont Park H Broke his maiden by 2 ¾ lengths at Pimlico
Fee: Private / Live Foal Guaranteed / First TX-breds arrived in 2012 / TX-bred Yearlings by Evil Minister For Sale Now Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 29
Eureka Thoroughbred Farm Proudly standing:
ORATORY
Pulpit • Arrested Dreams, by Dehere
The leading sire in Texas with 2012 progeny earnings of more than $1.4 million! ORATORY, a son of PULPIT, won the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in stakes-record time. As a stallion, ORATORY already has 13 stakes horses in his first three crops with total progeny earnings of nearly $5 million.
2013 Fee: $3,500/LFG ANGLIANA
Giant’s Causeway • Pratella, by Jade Hunter A durable and sound son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY! ANGLIANA, a listed stakes winner and four-time G2 and G3-placed runner, faced the starter 31 times and hit the board in 18 of those starts while racing until age 8 and earning nearly $400,000. Look for his first 2-year-olds to hit the track in 2013!
2013 Fee: $1,500/LFG 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
River Oaks Farms
STANDING FOUR OF THE TOP STALLIONS IN OKLAHOMA!
LATENT HEAT
Maria’s Mon • True Flare, by Capote
A Grade 1 winner off to a fast start as a stallion! New to Oklahoma for 2013! LATENT HEAT won the prestigious Malibu Stakes (G1) and San Carlos Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita, both at seven furlongs, and also placed in two other graded races going two turns. From just two crops, he has sired the earners of more than $2 million, including four stakes horses (two graded).
2013 Fee: $3,500/LFG
READ THE FOOTNOTES Smoke Glacken • Baydon Belle, by Al Nasr (Fr) A leading sire in Oklahoma with progeny earnings of nearly $7 million! READ THE FOOTNOTES, who captured the Remsen Stakes (G2), Nashua Stakes (G3) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) during his brilliant career, has sired 14 stakes horses, including Grade 1 winner RIGHTLY SO. His average earnings per starter is $44,809!
2013 Fee: $3,500/LFG
TIZ WEST
Gone West • Tizso, by Cee’s Tizzy
A Grade 3 winner from one of the best female families of all-time! TIZ WEST proved himself as a racehorse with a Grade 3 win at Hollywood Park, and his pedigree is second-to-none. He is a half brother to Haskell Invitational (G1) winner and Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up PAYNTER, and his dam is a full sister to Horse of the Year and two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner TIZNOW and $2.8-million earner BUDROYALE!
2013 Fee: $2,000/LFG
CHITOZ Forest Wildcat • Wichitoz, by Affirmed A lightning-fast son of FOREST WILDCAT! CHITOZ was fast enough to set a 5 ½-furlong turf course record at Monmouth Park in a stakes and had the stamina to finish second by a neck in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. His first foals are 2-year-olds of 2013!
2013 Fee: $2,000/LFG
River Oaks Farms Inc.
3216 U.S. Hwy. 177 North • Sulphur, Oklahoma 73086 Inquiries to Lori or Francisco Bravo Phone: (940) 367-4380 or (940) 367-4457 • Fax: (580) 622-4411 Email: riveroaksfarms@aol.com • Website: www.riveroaksthoroughbreds.com
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< Conditioner Joe Offolter is closing in on 1,000 career wins, but the Oklahoma native isn’t fixated on numbers.
Traveling man Coady Photography
Trainer Joe Offolter has made his mark in both Oklahoma and Texas. Born and raised in Dibble, Oklahoma, the affable conditioner loves his family, spending mornings at the barn and winning races. Shipping horses meetto-meet is arduous, but complaining is not in Offolter’s vernacular. He is a hardworking, capable horseman and well-liked on both the frontside and backside of tracks throughout the region.
Trainer Joe Offolter traverses the Texas/ Oklahoma circuit winning one race at a time
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Racing was his calling Many horsemen are born into the business, but Offolter did not have a family legacy to follow, although he does remember attending races with his grandfather and feeling drawn to horses. A high school athlete, he could have made his living coaching football or basketball, but instead he decided to explore a racing career. He began working for Oklahoma horseman Boyd Morris and trained both American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. In 1988, Offolter went out on his own with a small string, and by 1991, he was running in Oklahoma and in Nebraska at the now defunct Ak-sar-ben (which is Nebraska spelled backwards). Offolter enjoyed racing in Nebraska and had fond memories of the Omaha racetrack. “Ak-sar-ben had a beautiful backside,” recalled Offolter. “The people were awfully nice and really loved their racing.” In the early years, Offolter just managed a handful of horses, but his stable grew in the mid-1990s when Lone Star Park opened. That was also when he began training for Merle Medcalf, who would become one of Offolter’s principal clients. “I have been so fortunate with my owners,” said Offolter. “Merle and I have been together for more than 20 years, and I have some really good clients.” Medcalf, who resides in Harrah, Oklahoma, about 25 miles east of Oklahoma City, remembers their early days. “I started in the race business before Oklahoma got pari-mutuel, first with Quarter Horses and then ended up with Thoroughbreds,” recalled Medcalf. “I had several experiences with trainers before I met Joe, who was just starting out.” Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 33
The relationship between an owner and trainer is far from an exact science, but in the case of Medcalf and Offolter, it worked. “Joe was different; he didn’t make a whole lot of excuses,” said Medcalf. “We hit it off and became good friends. I couldn’t ask for a better person to take care of the horses.”
seconds and 806 third-place finishes and earnings in excess of $11 million. The 54-year-old horseman has no plans of slowing down, but milestones, such as winning his 1,000th race, don’t seem to have much allure. “In this business, you’re always looking for the next win, but I continue to take it one race at a time,” stated Offolter.
Two special mares
Dustin Orona Photography
As Offolter reflects on the past 25 years he has dedicated to training racehorses, he is quick to mention two of his alltime favorites. Both are mares: Strawbailey and Miss Natalie. Strawbailey was a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mister Baileys (GB) out of the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Strawberry on Top. She made Oklahoma-bred Miss Natalie, one of Offolter’s favorite and most accomplished runners, closed out her debut at Lone Star in her racing career in style as she won last year’s $113,050 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint at Remington Park with Cliff Berry in the irons. 2001 and won eight of her 24 career starts. Her Hitting the Oklahoma-Texas circuit best results came in her 4-year-old campaign, when she won backThe toughest part of the business for Offolter is shipping his to-back stakes at Remington. Of course, throughout the four years horses between Oklahoma and Texas. He runs at Remington Park in her career, there were a few dry spells. and Will Rogers Downs and then to Texas to compete at Sam Following her victory in the 2002 Ricks Memorial, StrawbaiHouston Race Park and Lone Star Park, as well as Retama Park. ley made five starts without a win. However, Offolter, with owner Mike Shamburg is the racing secretary at both Lone Star and Medcalf ’s blessing, gave her some needed time off. She rewarded Remington, and he gives high marks, on many levels, to Offolter. them with a huge effort in the 2003 edition of the turf stakes, “Joe is the type of trainer every racing secretary values,” said rallying from last to defeat a classy field including Devout Sinner Shamburg. “He uses his allotted stalls and runs his horses; he and Cherylville Slew. doesn’t just train on the track. He has served on the (Thorough“I owe that to Merle Medcalf,” Offolter said in a post-race interbred Racing Association of Oklahoma) board, so he recognizes view. “After Strawbailey’s last race at Lone Star, I told him I needed both sides of an issue and knows the game well.” to turn her out for a while, and he said to do what I needed to do.” Shamburg acknowledges that the business can be tough at Strawbailey retired with earnings of $170,670, and Offolter times, but there are few horsemen as even-keel as Offolter. said he truly enjoyed his time with the dark bay mare and gave “Everyone in the racing office knows that win, lose or draw, Joe high marks to her dam, Strawberry on Top. Offolter trained her is always very professional,” added Shamburg. “Winning is great, from 1993 to1996 as she made 39 starts, with her top stakes effort but in our business, the true measure of character is how you resulting in a second-place finish in the 1994 Lady Remington accept defeat.” Breeders’ Cup Handicap. According to Equibase statistics through early May, Offolter “Much of my success came from offspring of that mare,” said has saddled 6,403 Thoroughbreds, winning 861 races with 887 Offolter. “I had seven or eight of her babies, and all were very 34
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sensible and the majority were stakes winners.” His other standout mare, Miss Natalie, was retired following her victory last October in the $113,050 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint. The intrepid sprinter ran for Gar Oil Corp. of Fort Worth and was ridden to victory in that race by Cliff Berry. He settled her off the pacesetters, and she gave her all in the final furlong, drawing off in an impressive six-furlong clocking of 1:09.91 against a solid field of Oklahoma-breds.
Good rapport with riders Berry and Offolter have a history that is nearing the two-decade mark, and it’s still going strong. “We met when Remington Park opened,” recalled Berry. “Joe didn’t have a lot of horses, and I wasn’t riding for very many outfits. We just hit it off, maybe because he was raised the same way as me.” Ivan Arellano rode the majority of the Offolter horses during the last Sam Houston meet. The 24-year-old jockey is a relative newcomer to the Texas circuit but established a solid working relationship with the conditioner. “He’s been very good to me,” said Arellano. “I have learned a lot from Joe. He knows his horses very well, and I work most of them in the mornings. But when it comes to the race, he has confidence that I will make the right decisions.” Both Arellano and Berry appreciate Offolter’s calm demeanor and that he is not the type of horseman to yell or reproach after a loss. “’You already beat yourself up when you lose a race; you don’t need me to do it for you,’” Berry recalled Offolter telling him in a post-race meeting.
Coady Photography
Life outside of racing Offolter and his wife, Karen, have been married 28 years, and they raised two sons, Jacob and Chad. The trainer is appreciative of the support he receives from his family in regard to the hours and stresses of the racing business. “My wife likes horse racing as much as anyone in Offolter and young rider Ivan Arellano teamed for a successful meet at Sam America,” stated Offolter. Houston Race Park earlier this year. But Karen does insist that they make time each December for a vacation, so the Offolters join trainer Randy “She was on her game that night,” said Berry. “Joe had her just Oberlander, agent Monty Penny and their wives for some rest and right; she ran a great race.” relaxation. Last December, their destination was Costa Rica, and The Distaff Sprint win was the seventh from 25 lifetime atOffolter tried ziplining for the first time. tempts for Miss Natalie, a now 6-year-old mare by Fistfite from He enjoyed the adventure as he was flying over the lush rain the Slew the Slewor mare It’s the Berries. She was bred by Center forests and flora and fauna of the Central American country. Hills Farm. However, at one point in the unique experience, he recalled countThe Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint was a fitting finale for ing the days until he could return to his horses. the talented mare, who was bred to Into Mischief the first week of “I remember thinking that it was fun, and I have to take April. Into Mischief, a Grade 1-winning son of Harlan’s Holiday, vacations or my wife gets mad at me,” admitted Offolter. is producing some stellar runners, and his first crop includes top “To be honest, going on vacation and playing a little golf is 3-year-olds Goldencents and Vyjack. Offolter hopes to be able to okay, but my favorite thing to do is being at the barn with have the same success with Miss Natalie’s offspring as he had with my horses.” H those of Strawberry on Top. Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 35
one to
Growon
Nutrition, environment, foaling date and exercise all play crucial roles in foal growth rates By Heather Smith Thomas Photos by Merri Melde
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Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
Foals grow swiftly during the first months of life, and genetics, feed and environment all play a role in growth and skeletal development. W.B. (Burt) Staniar, PhD, assistant professor of equine nutrition at Penn State University, has studied the growth of foals all over the world and shared his insights for this article. “The research we’ve been conducting focuses on the foals’ first two years of growth and how nutrition provided by pasture and supplements influences that growth,” said Dr. Staniar. “In addition, we are paying more attention to how other variables, such as date of birth, age at weaning and when animals enter training, will affect the growth pattern and ultimately the athletic potential of the animal.” One of the main issues regarding growth is trying to avoid the various developmental problems that can occur. From a research standpoint and also a management standpoint, there needs to be a definition of growth. What kind of growth should farm managers look for? Do they want rapid growth? Maximum growth? Slow growth? What kind of growth will meet their objectives in raising a healthy horse?
“I think our objectives in raising a horse are to maximize the opportunity for that animal to realize the athletic potential that’s a part of its genetics,” said Dr. Staniar. “Optimum growth is what we’re looking for, but defining that is difficult. It may be different for each individual, and the end result is often two to five years down the road. It’s hard to determine how growth at three months of age will influence what a foal will be at three years of age.”
But there are also some periods during growth where this doesn’t really fit, due to the short-term growth patterns. These short-term patterns are separate and apart from the genetic patterns and involve what we might call the environmental influence (nurture versus nature). “How does temperature, available feed, weaning, etc., affect patterns of growth, for instance?” he added. “These environmental influences are probably more important to the horse owner raising foals in the day-to-day care and management of the foal than they are to the
Understanding growth patterns At many of the breeding farms Dr. Staniar has worked with in the past, broodmares and foals are kept on pasture at all times. Some mares are brought into stalls for foaling, but most foal out in the fields. “One thing we pay close attention to in the research we’ve been doing, and for the health of the animals, is trying to sort out the relationship between the environment and the animal,” he said. “By environment, I mean the pasture, climate and all the things that surround and affect the animal and its physiology. One of the things we are able to do here is look at the physiologic mechanisms that are a basis for the pasture/animal relationship. “I’ve done a lot of work examining growth patterns,” he continued. “The long-term growth pattern for horses has already been welldefined. I think of this as their genetic potential, and there are some significant breed differences in that curve, but it’s basically a sigmoid curve. The foals grow in utero, a bit slowly at first, and then go through a period of exponential growth just before birth. After the foal is born, it continues to grow very fast for a while and the fastest growth is during the first few weeks after birth, but as the animal reaches maturity, the growth slows and then reaches a plateau. This is gen- The short-term growth pattern of a foal born in January is quite different than that of one who hits the ground in April. erally how all things grow, whether bacteria or long-term growth patterns. So that’s what our research is focused on.” mammals. That focus in turn leads to a number of questions that Dr. Staniar’s “We are also trying to understand short-term patterns of growth,” he added. “Long-term patterns are genetic whereas short-term patterns team examines in their research. “One of these questions is how date of birth affects the foal,” said are affected by seasons, environment, etc. The latest National Research Council (NRC) update has a good growth curve that does a nice job Dr. Staniar. “If it’s born in January versus April, does this influence the characterizing the growth of horses of many breeds. This data was pattern of growth? We’ve found that the short-term pattern is very difmainly from Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, etc., and maybe lacks ferent for the foal born in January versus the foal born in April. Condisome of the pony and draft breeds but does a relatively good job of tions in which they are growing up are very different at different ages. The tricky thing is the intersection between the age of the animal and characterizing growth rates.” Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 37
its potential for growth and the environment it’s in at that particular time, such as feed available, temperature and so on. When you compare the growth of foals born in January to those born in April, the April foals are growing more rapidly at a young age because they are born into a more nutrient-rich environment with green grass. Foals born earlier will obviously be heavier at that time of year because they are a month or more older, but they didn’t grow as fast at that young age.”
“The manager needs to pay attention to both the horses and the environment and consider how best to fit the horse to its environment to optimize health and performance,” Dr. Staniar pointed out. “We still see a decrease in growth during weaning, because the animals are stressed somewhat, and though conditions for forage in October may be at a high, from that point on the pasture quality declines as we move into winter.” Environmental conditions change and the foal’s body starts to Weight vs. height conserve energy for Researchers study the thermal regulation (to relationship between the keep warm) and for pasture and the animal building a winter hair when looking at growth coat. There’s not as rate to see how they can much energy put tomatch up where the aniward growth. It’s getmal is and its ability to ting colder, pastures grow. When talking about are declining in qualigrowth in foals, it is imty, and all the signals to portant to differentiate the animal are that the between weight and height. environment is chang“Weight is what we refer ing and that it needs to to when taking about cattle get ready for winter. or other livestock species,” “In all the growth Dr. Staniar said. “Weight is data I’ve looked at, not so important in horses. If a foal’s growth slows due to stress or less-than-ideal forage availability, he or she there’s a decrease in It plays a role and is one of tends to make up for that in the spring with a compensatory growth spurt. growth rates in the the factors we look at, but winter months, with I am more an advocate of looking at withers height because it’s a closer February usually being the lowest for horses raised in the Northern measure of skeletal development in young horses.” Hemisphere,” said Dr. Staniar. “The young horse’s body is conservMany of the major breeding farms measure withers height, but you ing energy for other purposes and decreasing the growth rate. But the won’t find a growth curve for withers height in the NRC recommen- decrease at this time represents an opportunity for us as managers. dations. There’s not much research that’s looked at growth patterns in If you realize this will occur, you can provide the animal with more terms of withers height, even though it’s what we most often measure. energy and an environment that doesn’t allow the growth to decrease “There are still questions we have no real answers for,” said Dr. Sta- quite so much.” niar. “We think we want a smooth growth curve in a young horse. We think this is best because we don’t want large deviations in the short- The first year of life term patterns. We don’t want the young horse to drop off in growth at You can counterbalance some of the negative effects of that first weaning, for instance. Depending on the breed and the objectives of winter for the weanling and make up for some deficiencies in the the owners, foals are weaned as young as three months of age to as old environment. For example, it’s an opportunity to provide better quality as nine months. While there are numerous variables to consider, one hay so there is more energy available to the foals. of the most important is the environment into which you are weaning “The thing that’s interesting is that if a foal really drops off in growth, the foal. If a January foal is weaned in the middle of a hot summer such as at weaning, when he’s stressed and especially if forage availabilwhen pasture conditions are poor, this may have a negative impact ity and temperature are less optimal as well, with all of these stresses on growth. By contrast, an April-born foal weaned in early fall, when happening at once, he makes up for it later,” Dr. Staniar said. “The the pasture may go through a fall growth phase, will likely continue a more an animal decreases growth at this point and conserves energy by strong pattern of growth.” putting it toward maintenance instead of growth, when spring comes By six months of age, a considerable portion of a foal’s diet is already and there’s good grass again, the more the animal tries to catch up.” provided by pasture. This growth spurt is called compensatory growth, and it happens in 38
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
all species. The more the young animal decreased growth through that first winter, the more likely there will be an even greater increase in growth the next spring. And it is this type of growth spurt that has been indirectly linked with developmental problems in the growing skeleton. If you can compensate for the decrease in growth during winter and be thinking about it in spring (not complicating a growth spurt by feeding high-energy feeds at that time), this can smooth out the peaks
Staniar. “If a person is raising young horses, he or she should be paying attention to growth rates, measuring weight and skeletal development. You could do this as often as every two weeks, but at minimum, I’d recommend taking measurements about once a month. A weight tape isn’t as accurate as a scale but can be a good estimate if you’re just looking for changes. There are also some good equations available for weight estimations for growing foals.”
Problems with rapid growth There are some problems that can occur in foals if we try to maximize growth, and some foals (either due to genetics and/or environment) tend to grow too fast anyway. The first step in dealing with this is awareness. If, in your breeding decisions, you’ve chosen a large mare and a large stallion and you expect that the foal is going to grow rapidly, you should closely monitor that foal’s growth. “There’s a perceived connection between rapid growth and developmental problems,” said Dr. Staniar. “So this is something we want to minimize. The mistake some people make is to take the animal off all energy altogether to try to halt the rapid growth. It’s more important to look at the big picture and the growth of that animal and what your objectives are over the first two
and valleys of the young horse’s growth and potentially help minimize some of the risk for developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). “This bumpy pattern of growth may or may not be detrimental,” said Dr. Staniar. “In extremes, it “If a person is raising young horses, he or she should be paying might be, because it may play a attention to growth rates, measuring weight and skeletal role in skeletal abnormalities. There is some work from the 1940s and development. You could do this as often as every two weeks, 1950s that looked at wild horses’ but at minimum, I’d recommend taking measurements about patterns of growth. The young ones once a month.” grow slower in winter and speed up in spring. These are normal cycles.” On the other hand, fast growth in a wild horse might not be as extreme as that of a domestic youngster years—and how you can try to moderate some of those short-term on lush pasture or one that’s being fed grain and other concentrates to changes. You don’t want to hinder the growth rate; you just want to push for faster growth in order to get it ready or for early training. Wild maintain the genetic potential and long-term growth curve with as few deviations as possible. You try to smooth out the slows and spurts and horses mature more slowly in a natural environment. Dr. Shinar advised that caution must be taken when trying to plan ahead for proper feed and management.” Dr. Staniar suggests extra caution be taken when rapid growth is compare wild and domestic horses. Subjected to completely natural conditions (harsh winters and intermittent nutrient levels or shortage expected. “If you bred a mare and stallion that both grew very rapidly and both of available feed), a domestic horse might not be able to develop full showed signs in the past of some kind of DOD, you’d have to be even potential as a top athlete. “Some of these areas are exciting in our research right now,” said Dr. more careful,” he said. “This match-up could be a disaster waiting to
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 39
happen, but maybe you went ahead with this breeding because those though you have no control over temperature changes in winter/sumindividuals were extremely successful in the discipline you are inter- mer. You can pay attention to the type and quantity of feed and the ested in for the foal. So you gamble. If you are aware of the problems, environment you are keeping him in. You have control over the nutrihowever, when that foal hits the ground, you would be doing every- tion and also the other management aspects, such as exercise.” thing you can to reduce the risk of it getting DOD.” If you can deal with this on a day-to-day basis, you can probably The importance of exercise You may think that if the foal, weanling or yearling is out in the field reduce the risk by paying close attention to growth and monitoring it’s getting exercise, but if it’s living by itself, it may not get as much the spurts. “You would not feed that foal a lot of high-energy feed,” he said. exercise as it would if it were running around with a buddy. “If you look at a field of 10 mares and foals, the foals all play “You would closely monitor how rapidly it’s growing, how much nutrition it’s getting from the dam and how to feed accordingly. There together,” Dr. Staniar said. “If there’s just one mare and foal, they don’t run around as much. is some evidence that moderate This kind of exercise is imporexercise might also be beneficial • tant, developmentally. Maybe for these foals to help regulate you could take the mare and growth and aid proper developIf you bred a mare and stallion that foal for a walk or pony the ment.” both grew very rapidly and both showed foal while riding the mare. If you pay close attention to There are also ways to exerthat animal and know it is at signs in the past of some kind of DOD cise a weanling or yearling. It risk, you might be able to catch (developmental orthopedic disease), shouldn’t be anything extreme any problems early on and you’d have to be even more careful. This because you don’t want to overavoid short-term deviations in do it, but make sure they get a growth patterns. match-up could be a disaster waiting to proper amount of exercise. “As milk production in the happen, but maybe you went ahead with The young horse’s muscles mare decreases or you are getand skeleton are all making ting ready to wean, this may this breeding because those individuals decisions for growth based on be the time to creep feed with were extremely successful in the discipline how much and what kind of something that’s not a highstress they are under. This energy feed, something more you are interested in for the foal. So you stimulates how much they like you’d feed an adult horse gamble. If you are aware of the problems, grow and how much extrathat’s not growing,” he said. cellular matrix the bones “This kind of feed would not however, when that foal hits the ground, should lay down.” provide as much energy as the you would be doing everything you can to Clearly exercise is crucial typical young foal might eat in for building strong bones. But a creep feed. You could choose reduce the risk of it getting DOD. you should walk a fine line, something lower in protein and • which requires moderation inenergy.” stead of extremes, in order to Then as you wean and the foal is adjusting to a non-milk diet, this supplemental feed can help strengthen the growing tissues rather than damaging them or not giving them enough stress to optimize their growth and strength. ensure that he doesn’t have nutritional stress at weaning time. From the time you decide to breed a mare, starting with stallion “Choose a low-stress weaning strategy,” he suggested. “Follow up with this kind of feed through winter so the weanling maintains growth selection, you are making important decisions that will affect the foal. (rather than dropping off too much), and then when spring arrives, pay As the mare goes through her pregnancy, the care and nutrition you close attention to what he’s eating. How much time will this yearling be provide also influences the foal’s future. To maximize your chances for success on the track, it is prudent to continue that diligence and spending out on pasture with access to high-energy lush grass?” Maybe the yearling doesn’t have access to pasture and you are feeding monitor the foal’s growth, feed program, environment and exercise. It’s a long trip from mating a mare and stallion to getting the resulting a good-quality hay but not one with high-energy density. “This way you could maintain a smoother growth curve,” he added. runner to the winner’s circle, but careful attention to foal growth can “As you manage that animal, you have some influence on growth even give your runner a head start. H 40
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013
TE XA S THOROUGHBRED
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P.O. Box 14967 Austin, Texas 78761 Phone: 512-458-6133 Fax: 512-453-5919 www.texasthoroughbred.com
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A C C R E D I T E D T E X A S - B R E D T H O R O U G H B R E D A P P L I C AT I O N
(For Weanlings, Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age Only) MUST BE FOALED IN TEXAS
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE
1.
Horse Name:___________________________________________Color:____________________________________________
2.
Exact Foaling Date:______________________________________ Sex:_____________________________________________
3.
Sire:_________________________________________________ Dam:____________________________________________
4.
Foal Jockey Club #:________________________________/Foal State:______________________________________________ MUST BE TEXAS
5.
After dropping this foal, to which stallion was mare bred back?:______________________________________________________
6.
Owner:_______________________________________________ SS# or Fed ID#_____________________________________
7.
Mailing Address:________________________________________________________________________________________
8.
City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________________________________________________
9.
Home Phone: (
F = Filly, C = Colt, G = Gelding
)_______________ Work Phone: (
)______________ Email: __________________________________
10.
Breeder:______________________________________________ SS# or Fed ID#:_____________________________________
11.
Mailing Address:_______________________________________ Home Phone: (
12.
City, State, Zip:_________________________________________________________________________________________
)________________________________
Regarding the May 31 and December 31 deadline dates: If the dam of this horse has not yet been accredited with the TTA, you have 30 days in which to do so in order to keep the original accreditation fee for this foal. The accreditation date of the mare will be used as the accreditation date of the foal. Any fee change will apply if this 30-day period is exceeded. I have read the rules regarding accreditation of Texas-bred weanlings, yearlings and horses of racing age and do hereby agree to abide by these rules and those of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Check one of the following:
❑ Owner
❑ Lessee
❑ Agent
Signature:________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please enclose this application along with: 1.
Do not send in your original Jockey Club certificate of registration. The Texas Thoroughbred Association no longer needs to stamp original papers; instead, you will receive an attachment card that will verify the Accredited Texas-Bred status of your horse. This card needs to be attached to the original Jockey Club papers.
2.
Applicable accreditation fee (non-members add $50) • $75 when applied for before May 31 of the foal’s yearling year • $200 when applied for between June 1 and December 31 of the foal’s yearling year • $1,500 when applied for on or after January 1 of the foal’s 2-year-old year
For Office Use Only Date Received________________________________________Accreditation # ______________________________________ Fee Paid____________________________________________Date Confirmed______________________________________
Southern Racehorse • MAY/JUNE 2013 41
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