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FALL 2019

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THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL CONTENTS | FALL 2019 | VOLUME 66/#3

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

Message from the National HBPA

Getting Back on Track

Access Denied

Track superintendents are serious about improving safety for horses and riders

Why the Jerry Hollendorfer vs. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club case is important for all horsemen

The Truth About Medication, Veterinary Care and Breakdowns It’s important to examine the facts and research about what causes and what does not cause catastrophic injuries

Industry News

18 12

HBPA News

Research & Medication Update

Affiliate News

Driving Demand for Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses The Retired Racehorse Project and Thoroughbred Makeover are raising the profile of the breed away from the racetrack

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

MESSAGE FROM

THE CEO NATIONAL HBPA 3380 Paris Pike Lexington, KY 40511 P (859) 259-0451 F (859) 259-0452 racing@hbpa.org www.hbpa.org

PRESIDENT/ CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD Leroy Gessmann SECRETARY/ TREASURER Lynne Schuller CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Eric J. Hamelback VICE PRESIDENT EASTERN REGION Stephen Screnci VICE PRESIDENT SOUTHERN REGION Rick Hiles VICE PRESIDENT CENTRAL REGION Joe Davis VICE PRESIDENT WESTERN REGION J. Lloyd Yother

he National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) was recently asked to summarize what the NHBPA is doing to protect the health and welfare of horses. At the NHBPA, we are proud of our many initiatives on this front. At the core of our mission, we encourage the highest standards of horsemanship so as to continuously improve the care, health and safety of the horse. These are the guiding principles for all that we do; the better our equine athletes do, the better we do and the better horse racing does. The NHBPA understands intrinsically that protecting the health and welfare of our horses is not only in the best interest of the horses but also in the best interest of the horsemen. Some specific examples of NHBPA actions to protect the health and welfare of our horses include: •• NHBPA follows scientifically validated medical recommendations of the nation’s leading veterinary organizations. NHBPA is explicit in its belief that health care decisions on individual horses should always involve a veterinarian with the best interests of the horse as the primary objective; •• NHBPA advocates for the establishment of an office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Lab to oversee and establish absolute uniform laboratory protocols; •• NHBPA supports ongoing research determining nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug effects on equine athletes within 48 hours of a race; •• NHBPA advocates for a mandatory national horse racing checkoff program. This new program would generate funds needed to support the many initiatives designed to improve the welfare and safety of horses and riders, such as underwriting medical research, enhancements to equine safety and testing uniformity; •• NHBPA supports random out-of-competition testing for prohibited substances, with 100 percent of our samples tested in laboratories accredited by the International Organization for Standardization, the single-most important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world. This testing helps ensure the integrity of our industry; •• NHBPA demands that horses that become injured during racing or training are placed on a veterinarians’ list that is in place to prevent entry in any racing jurisdiction until properly cleared to race again by veterinarians in any jurisdiction. The list also must be nationally published and mutually enforced among racing jurisdictions—no exceptions; •• NHBPA also advocates that all horses entered to race should be subjected to pre-race veterinary examinations to ensure compliance with accepted flexion, palpation and observation standards and, as stated above, that veterinarians’ lists must be nationally published and mutually enforced among racing jurisdictions—no exceptions; •• NHBPA also supports the use of the Equine Injury Database (EID), which is the horse racing industry’s national database of racing injuries. It identifies the frequency and types of racing injuries as well as the outcomes of those racing injuries. It is incumbent upon all tracks to report and characterize any and all injuries and fatalities;

•• NHBPA also seeks mandatory necropsies and drug tests to be reported on the EID for horses fatally injured on a racetrack; •• NHBPA and affiliates advocate and fund research for preventive medicine, responsible training and the humane treatment of our racehorses, as well as for understanding and reducing equine injuries and illness; •• NHBPA advocates for initiatives to improve policies to inform and provide continuing education for trainers, while also supporting owners and veterinarians; •• NHBPA also strongly advocates for more open communication among owners, trainers and veterinarians regarding their equine athletes; •• NHBPA supports the transfer of all veterinary medical records when a horse is claimed or transferred following a request of the new owner; •• NHBPA seeks mandatory protocols for every track to undergo an independent surface materials analysis and assessment every year. NHBPA demands the data collected be made available to the regulatory authority regarding each racetrack’s maintenance procedures; •• NHBPA supports the continued development, adoption, implementation and enforcement of nationwide uniform rules that promote safety and integrity in racing and are backed through research and science; and •• NHBPA passionately supports the continued development and enhancement of off-the-track Thoroughbred retirement facilities and adoption groups, along with programs at affiliated racetracks providing for the aftercare of our horses when their racing careers are over. This is just the beginning. We at the NHBPA know we must— and we can—do even more to ensure that each horse everywhere in the United States and Canada is given the attention and protection it deserves. We will continue to look to national veterinary leadership for guidance in the process. The NHBPA embraces this responsibility and remains open to serious, substantive and scientifically backed reforms that protect the health and welfare of our equine athletes. A personal note: One of the best blessings during my career with horses was spending many years with a special horse named Remington. Remington was enjoying a second career as a polo pony when I met him, and he taught me more about the game than any human. He enjoyed a long, productive and happy life long after his racing days were behind him. We owe it to the horses to reward them for all they give us as owners, trainers, breeders and racing fans by providing them with well-deserved rest and care once their racing saddles have been removed for the last time. The Thoroughbred industry must embrace this responsibility of care through contributions to organizations such as the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

SINCERELY, ERIC J. HAMELBACK

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

CONTRIBUTORS

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NATIONAL HBPA

AFFILIATES

WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS CORPORATE

SPONSORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS - AFFILIATES Dr. David Harrington, Alabama Norm Castiglione, Alberta Robert Hutton, Arizona Bill Walmsley, Arkansas David Milburn, British Columbia and Canadian National James Miller, Charles Town Kent Bamford, Colorado Chris Vaccaro, Finger Lakes Stephen Screnci, Florida Marta Loveland, Idaho Eddie Essenpreis, Illinois Joe Davis, Indiana David McShane, Iowa Rick Hiles, Kentucky Benard Chatters, Louisiana Blaine McLaren, Manitoba George Kutlenios, Michigan Dr. Scott Rake, Minnesota Jami Poole, Mountaineer Park Robert Moser, Nebraska Anthony Spadea, New England Joe Poole, Ohio David Faulkner, Oklahoma Sue Leslie, Ontario Ron Sutton, Oregon Sandee Martin, Pennsylvania Eddie Esquirol, Saskatchewan Robert Jeffries, Tampa Bay Downs David Ross, Virginia Pat LePley, Washington

Dr. Kimberly Brewer Dr. Clara Fenger Jen Roytz Peter Sacopulos Dr. Thomas Tobin

PHOTOGRAPHERS Denis Blake Coady Photography Coglianese Photos Adam Coglianese/NYRA Kenny Martin/Coglianese Photos Condor36 – stock.adobe.com Dustin Orona Photography Emerald Downs Faas – stock.adobe.com Anne Litz Marioav – stock.adobe.com

STAFF Denis Blake Editor P (512) 695-4541 hj@hbpa.org Jennifer Vanier Allen Advertising Director P (716) 650-4011 F (509) 272-1640 jallen@hbpa.org Limb Design www.limbdesign.com Graphic Design THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL 3380 Paris Pike Lexington, KY 40511 P (512) 695-4541 F (859) 259-0452 hj@hbpa.org HBPA WEBSITE: www.hbpa.org COVER PHOTO: Paul – stock.adobe.com

The opinions, representations and viewpoints expressed by the authors in the articles contained in The Horsemen’s Journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions, representations and viewpoints or the official policies or positions of The Horsemen’s Journal, National Horsemen’s Administration Corporation or National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association Inc. and its affiliates (collectively “HJ”). HJ is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to or reliance on any information contained within this issue. Information in this issue may become outdated due to the rapidly changing nature of the horse industry. The publication of any advertisements or articles should not be construed as an endorsement of any product, service or position unless specifically stated. The Horsemen’s Journal, Volume 66 #3. Postal Information: The Horsemen’s Journal (ISSN 0018-5256) is published quarterly by the National Horsemen’s Administration Corporation, with publishing offices at P.O. Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683. Copyright 2019 all rights reserved. The Horsemen’s Journal is the official publication for members of the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, a representative association of Thoroughbred owners and

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trainers. HBPA is a non-profit 501(c)6 Kentucky corporation. Members receive The Horsemen’s Journal as a benefit of membership paid by the national office from affiliate dues. Annual non-member subscriptions are $14. Single-copy back issues, if available, are $7. Canadian subscribers add $6. All other subscriptions outside the U.S. add $20 payable in U.S. funds. To order reprints or subscriptions, call (866) 245-1711. The HBPA National Board of Directors has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business required of the association. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and/or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the opinion or policy of the publisher or HBPA board or staff. Query the editor prior to sending any manuscripts. Periodicals Postage Paid at Round Rock, Texas and additional mailing offices. CANADA POST: Publications mail agreement no. 41530527. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: P. O. Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Horsemen’s Journal, P.O. Box 911188, Lexington, KY 40591-1188.

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FEATURE

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THE HORSEMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS

TOBA Names Finalists for National Owner of the Year

The following is a complete list of the state breeders of the year: Arkansas: Bill McDowell California: Premier Thoroughbreds Canada: Cam Ziprick and Arnason Farms Florida: Ocala Stud Indiana: Michael E. and Penny S. Lauer Iowa: Allen Poindexter Kansas: Jerry Johnson Kentucky: Godolphin Louisiana: Bill and Al Ulwelling Maryland: Richard Golden Massachusetts: George Brown (posthumously) Minnesota: Joel and Kris Zamzow New Jersey: Sam Fieramosca New Mexico: R.D. Hubbard New York: Chester and Mary Broman North Carolina: Dr. Frank Batten Ohio: Steve DeMaiolo Oregon: Paul Hagemann Pennsylvania co-breeder: Elizabeth Moran Pennsylvania co-breeder: Thomas and Lori Fackler South Carolina: Franklin Smith Sr. Texas: W.S. Farish Virginia: William M. Backer Trust Washington: Delores Christianson

he Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) announced that Juddmonte Farm, Hronis Racing, Klaravich Stable, Rockingham Ranch and Peter M. Brant were selected as finalists for the TOBA National Owner of the Year. The award was announced live at the TOBA National Awards Dinner presented by Red Brand, which was held after press time for this issue on September 7 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. TOBA also honored breeders from 22 states and Canada, with the National Breeder of the Year and the National Small Breeder of the Year to be revealed at the event. James E. “Ted” Bassett III was presented with the TOBA Industry Service Award, and John D. Gunther received the prestigious Triple Crown Breeders Trophy for his homebred Justify. Other TOBA national award winners included Justify’s dam, Stage Magic, who was named National Broodmare of the Year, and Aztec Sense, who was honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA (see more on page 12). Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year went to Archie Rocks, owned by Maya Simmons, and Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor received the Robert N. Clay Award, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use.

Fall Speaker Series Announced at University of Louisville

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

racing can benefit and coexist with this new form of gaming. Bill Knauf, vice president of business operations for Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, will discuss how that state’s newly enacted sports wagering law has changed the park’s operations. Kentucky State Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger), who plans to introduce a sports wagering bill in the state’s next legislative session, will discuss the bill and its goals. All events are from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Chao Auditorium in the lower level of Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus. Events are free, but tickets are required. For ticket information or questions, contact Liz Young at liz.young@louisville.edu or (502) 852-7617. ADAM COGLIANESE/NYRA

he University of Louisville Equine Industry Program (EIP), with the support of Horse Racing Nation, invites the public to a free speaker series that focuses on the most current topics in the horse racing industry. “It is important for our program to be a leader in bringing stakeholders together for open dialogues addressing the matters that affect our industry,” said EIP Director Sean Beirne. “Our goal is to bring experts to campus in a fun and engaging platform to educate our students, industry participants and the general public about topical issues.” The 2019 Fall Equine Speaker Series is as follows: September 18: The Business of Racetrack Surfaces—Delve into the business of racetrack surfaces and what steps tracks take to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the horse. The panel includes Mick Peterson, director of Agriculture Equine Programs at the University of Kentucky and an expert on the engineering of track surfaces; Jamie Richardson, track superintendent at Churchill Downs; and Michael Dickinson, trainer and creator of the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface. Jim Mulvihill, senior director of betting information at Churchill Downs Inc., will moderate the panel. October 9: An Evening with Tom Durkin—Eclipse Award of Merit track announcer Tom Durkin will discuss his illustrious career in calling races. Durkin is known for his rich vocabulary as well as the humor and passion he brought to his race calls. November 13: Sports Betting and Horse Racing—This panel will take an in-depth look at the introduction of sports wagering at the state level and how

RENOWNED FORMER TRACK ANNOUNCER TOM DURKIN IS AMONG THE SPEAKERS SLATED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE PROGRAM.

FEATURE

Industry Employee Award Finalists Announced

he finalists for six of the now seven Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced. The winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award, which has only one prize, has already been decided and goes to Bobby Lillis, executive director of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation Inc. and director of benefits for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. A new category was added this year to honor those in an administrative role, and this group of finalists, along with those in the original five categories, will be recognized at the awards ceremony luncheon hosted by Keeneland on October 11 in Lexington, Kentucky. A shortlist judging panel met at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, on Tuesday, August 13, to determine the finalists and the Community Award winner. The second and final stage of judging will take place on October 10, with a second judging panel deciding the winners in the six remaining categories. Panel chair Dan Fick stated, “I was truly honored to again be a part of these meaningful awards, and on behalf of my fellow judges, let me offer sincere congratulations to Bobby Lillis, as well as to all the finalists and all of the nominees. Yet again, our job was a difficult one as the quality of the group was extremely high. All those involved, including the nominators, should be very proud of their participation this year. “Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed, in partnership with the National HBPA, TOBA, The Jockey Club and Breeders’ Cup, have been underwriting these awards for four years now, and they have quickly become a very important part of our industry’s landscape,” Fick continued. “Without the support of Sheikh Mohammed, these hardworking individuals might not truly get the acknowledgement and recognition they deserve for the important work they do. “I look forward to sitting down with each of the finalists when the final judging panel meets in October,” he added. “And based on the strength of the nominees, we will certainly have our work cut out for us, but it will be an honor for all of us to meet these exceptional individuals in person.” The shortlist panel was composed of Fick, chair of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program; Ramiro Restrepo, market representative for FasigTipton; Maggie Wolfendale, paddock analyst and reporter for the New York Racing Association; Cate Johnson, director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame; and Stuart Angus, sales account manager at Taylor Made. Following is a list of the finalists and their employers:

Dedication to Racing Award Cristobal Trejo Tomlinson Thoroughbred Training LLC Janeen Painter Richard Mandella Lesley McCall Moquett Racing Leadership—Breeding Award Jenny Carpenter Buttonwood Farm Joe Peel Claiborne Farm Mark Cunningham Airdrie Farm Leadership—Racing Award Destin Heath WinStar Farm Saul Castellanos Mark Hennig Racing Stable Thomas Brandebourger Chad Brown Newcomer Award Amy Stokes Courtney Schneider Michael Norris

Godolphin LLC Shawhan Place Katherine Ritvo

Thoroughbred Community Award Winner Bobby Lillis Executive director of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation/ director of benefits for the Maryland THA

Administration Award Andrea Greathouse Paramount Sales Bessie Gruwell Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Maria Catignani Charles Town HBPA Dedication to Breeding Award Barrett Midkiff Taylor Made Farm Ernest Blair Lane’s End Farm Steve Clark Godolphin LLC

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The Jockey Club Projects Foal Crop of 20,500 in 2020

he Jockey Club is projecting a 2020 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 20,500. It also revised the 2019 foal crop down from 21,500 to 20,800. This adjustment is based on the number of Live Foal Reports received to date for the 2019 foaling year. The foal crop projection, traditionally announced in mid-August, is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2019 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by August 1 of each breeding season. “We estimate that approximately 80 percent of Reports of Mares Bred,

which the foal crop estimate is based on, have been received,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director. Additional foal crop information is available in The Jockey Club’s online fact book at jockeyclub.com/factbook.asp and in the online state fact books. Stallion owners who have not returned their RMBs for the 2019 breeding season are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Interactive Registration, which enables registered users to perform virtually all registration-related activities over the internet, is the most efficient means of submitting RMBs and is available at registry.jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView Accepting Nominations for the New Owner of the Year Award

wnerView has announced that it is accepting nominations for the 2019 New Owner of the Year Award, presented by Fasig-Tipton, which will honor a new Thoroughbred owner who has been successful in the sport and had a positive impact on the industry. The deadline for nominations is September 30. The award will be presented at the Thoroughbred Owner Conference at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, scheduled to be held October 28 through October 30, in the week leading up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Nominees for the New Owner of the Year Award must have made their first start as a Thoroughbred owner in the past four years, had an ownership stake in a horse at the time it won a stakes race in the past 12 months and had a verifiable owner license in 2019.

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Anyone, including current owners, can nominate an owner who meets the criteria for the award. Thoroughbred performance as well as a nominee’s promotion of the sport will be considered. A selection committee that includes industry personnel and established owners will choose the winner. Past recipients include Sol Kumin, LNJ Foxwoods, Charles and Susan Chu and the Churchill Downs Racing Club. “The annual Thoroughbred Owner Conference celebrates Thoroughbred ownership, so it is the perfect venue to present the New Owner of the Year Award,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. To submit a nomination, please contact Falter for a nomination form at (859) 224-2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com. More information about the Thoroughbred Owner Conference, including online registration, can be found at ownerview.com. HJ

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FALL 2019

FEATURE

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“I look at the DRF breeding news site every morning ... I’m also a fan of the new DRF sire performance standings.” Kent Barnes Stallion Manager, Shadwell Farm

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Carrie Brogden Machmer Hall, Select Sales

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NEWS

HBPA NEWS

KENNY MARTIN/COGLIANESE PHOTOS

AZTEC SENSE NAMED NATIONAL HBPA CLAIMING CROWN HORSE OF THE YEAR

AZTEC SENSE

Joseph Besecker’s Aztec Sense has been selected as the National HBPA’s 2018 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year following a remarkable season in which the 5-year-old gelding went eight for eight and earned $408,540. His campaign last year was capped by a hard-fought victory in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel on December 1 at Gulfstream Park. The National HBPA selects its Claiming Crown Horse of the Year from horses that participated in the Claiming Crown championships with the winner chosen by the NHBPA Industry Awards Committee. The award was presented September 7 at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s 34th annual National Awards Dinner presented by Red Brand at Fasig- Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. The National HBPA, which represents about 30,000 Thoroughbred owners and trainers throughout the United States and Canada, is a sponsor of the dinner that honors owners and breeders from 22 states and Canada. The Claiming Crown was created by the National HBPA and TOBA to stage a Breeders’ Cup-style championship for claiming horses, the blue-collar workhorses that are the backbone of most tracks’ racing programs. Besecker, who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and owns a research and investment management firm, has been claiming horses for some 30 years. This year, through late August, Besecker ranked third in North America with 118 wins and eighth in purses at more than $3 million. He views the Claiming Crown Horse of the Year Award as recognition of his philosophy of what he calls the three P’s. “If you have the right process and the right people, you’ll get performance,” he said. “I’m a claiming owner. I’m not a $200,000, $400,000 buyer

of 2-year-olds or yearlings. I love the Claiming Crown, the concept of the Claiming Crown. The people who run it deserve a lot of credit because they treat the meat-and-potatoes people like the Breeders’ Cup. I’ve been a fan of the Claiming Crown for a long time. You’re recognizing what really is the everyday people of racing, the claiming part. That’s where I am.” At Besecker’s request, trainer Jorge Navarro claimed Aztec Sense for $12,500 at Parx Racing two years ago after the gelding had lost a $25,000 claiming race by 32 lengths. The Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense won an entry-level allowance race in his first start for his new connections before ending his 2017 season with a fourth in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit at seven furlongs. Aztec Sense has remained unbeaten since, including his only start at age 6 in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes on Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup card on January 26. That race also gave Navarro his 1,000th win as a trainer. It was bittersweet, however, as Aztec Sense came out of the race with an ankle chip. “He had a surgery that went extremely well, and hopefully we’ll get him back to where he was,” Besecker said. “He’s back in training and doing really well.” Besecker was originally interested in Aztec Sense because he thought the gelding had talent that hadn’t yet materialized. “He showed some promise in some races early,” he said. “When he didn’t run well, they dropped him in for the $12,500. But he had a couple of really strong glimpses. Whoever had him every time, no matter if he was coming up a little short, they had to have liked him because they kept running in maiden special weight races. That was my whole point: ‘Look, these people must think they have something. The light bulb hasn’t clicked on yet, but it looks like they think it will.’ Luckily Jorge was there and he looked at him. He said, ‘Yeah, I kind of like this horse.’ So we took him. Then, in less than a week, he called and said, ‘We might have something pretty good here.’ “You get excited, but you don’t want to get too excited. When he ran at Gulfstream the first time in the Claiming Crown, we were pretty excited. But he got in all kinds of trouble. Then we just started him on the run. He’s won 10 of the 11 races we’ve had him. That is a dream. I’ve been claiming horses since the 1980s, and this is what you hope for. Doesn’t always work out.” Aztec Sense earlier this year was named Parx Racing’s 2019 Horse of the Year. The gelding won four races, three in stakes, at Parx, including the $150,000 Pennsylvania Derby Champion Stakes. The 2019 Claiming Crown is set for December 7 at Gulfstream. For more information, visit claimingcrown.com. HJ

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FALL 2019

It PAYS to NOMINATE ATTENTION OWNERS: ALL 2018 foals by the following stallions are eligible to nominate to Iowa Stallion Stakes, regardless of what state they are foaled in. One time payment, due Dec 2nd makes your 2018 foals eligible for a 2yo and a 3yo stakes. Chitoz Cinco Charlie City Wolf Cougar Cat Country Day Cyber Secret Daredevil Den’s Legacy Deputy Storm D’Funnybone Dialed In Doctor Chit Dramedy Drill El Caballo Entourage Euroears

Excaper Eye of the Leopard Fast Anna Field Commission First Dude Five Iron Flashback Foreign Policy Forest Attack Formidable Fort Larned Fort Prado Get Stormy Giant Oak Giant Surprise Golden Ticket Gray Meteor

Graydar Greatness Hamazing Destiny Harbor the Gold Hold Me Back Honorable Dillon I Want Revenge Jafmil Jersey Town Kennedy Kipling Kiss the Kid Latent Heat Lentenor Lightnin n Thunder Liquor Cabinet Majestic Harbor

Matt’s Broken Vow Midshipman Mission Impazible Morning Line Mr. Besilu Mr. Nightlinger Mucho Macho Man Mustanfar My Italian Ex Native Ruler New Year’s Day Newport Northern Afleet Paddy O’Prado Pass Rush Pataky Kid Perfect Soul Pollard’s Vision

KAUAI

ONE MUSICAL MOMENT

by GIROLAMO

by BELLAMY ROAD

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Won the 2019 $89,801 ITBOA Stallion Auction Stakes Season donated by Darley

Power Broker Protonico Read the Footnotes Revolutionary Run Away and Hide Sangaree Save Big Money Sebastian County Self Control Shackleford Shadow Hawk Sing Baby Sing Sixthirteen Sky Kingdom Slumber Smarty Jones Snapy Halo Soaring Empire

Spaniard Special Rate Sports Talk Stroll Strong Contender Strong Mandate Suntracer Tactical Cat Tale of Ekati Tapiture Taprize Telling The Visualiser Tidal Volume Two Step Salsa War Dancer Wilburn Woke Up Dreamin

Coady Photography

A.P. Million Alpha Alternation American Lion Arcarcharch Artie Schiller Astrology Atreides Bahamian Squall Benny the Bull Blueskiesnrainbows Brody’s Cause Bullet Train Bustin Stones Caleb’s Posse Capo Bastone Cashel Castle

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Won the 2019 $79,055 ITBOA Stallion Auction Filly Stakes Season donated by WinStar Farm

SOUTHGATE by DRAMEDY ■

Won the 2019 $77,604 ITBOA Stallion Auction Futurity Season donated by War Horse Place

Nominations are also due December 2nd for Iowa Bred Foals born in 2018. Visit www.iowathoroughbred.com for nomination forms

STALLION OWNERS:

Consider donating a season to the ONLY Stallion Auction where YOU could receive up to $15,000 • ALL foals born in 2021 by your stallion, regardless of what state they are foaled in, are eligible to nominate to our 2023 ITBOA Stallion Futurity for two year olds and 2024 Stallion Stakes for three year olds. • Proceeds from the season’s sale will be solely designated to the ITBOA Stallion Futurity & ITBOA Stallion Stakes • NO ENTRY FEE FOR THE STALLION OWNER INTO THE STALLION AUCTION

2019 Stallion Auction, December 7-16 www.iowathoroughbred.com for donation form and more info

IOWA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION For More Information Contact Our ITBOA Office at 800-577-1097, or e-mail ITBOA@msn.com Visit our website at www.iowathoroughbred.com

NEWS

RESEARCH AND MEDICATION UPDATE

Equine Practitioners Set to Converge on Denver for 2019 AAEP Annual Convention The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will hold its 65th annual convention December 7-11 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The AAEP Annual Convention is the world’s largest event dedicated to equine veterinary care. The educational program offers approximately 130 hours of continuing education presented by renowned researchers, academicians and practitioners; daily social and networking events; and a 300-exhibitor-strong trade show showcasing the latest technologies, services and products to improve and aid practice. Sessions will provide the latest diagnostics and treatments in core areas such as lameness, reproduction and dentistry. On Sunday, December 8, the keynote presentation sponsored by Merck Animal Health will feature Tammy Hughes discussing the central factors that drive gender-related communication problems and how practices can bridge the gap. The following day, equine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson will examine the surgical opportunities that are available for fracture repair when he delivers the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture, sponsored by Platinum Performance. New this year is AAEP Practice Life Conversations, a series of nonscientific discussions designed to help veterinarians successfully navigate the daily rigors of life in equine practice. Attendees will also be

able to get hands-on learning by taking advantage of an expanded slate of wet and dry labs. Attendees can catch up with old classmates and establish valuable new connections at the convention’s social and networking events. The social calendar culminates December 10 with the Zoetis-sponsored After Party and Concert, with a performance by country singer Josh Turner. To register, view the complete educational program or book a hotel room, visit convention.aaep.org. The American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians will hold its annual meeting in conjunction with the convention. For more information, visit aaevt.org.

Sponsorships were obtained for all four of the races Kentucky Downs made available for Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Day held Saturday, August 31. The benefit days continue to prove popular, as sponsorships have sold out for the past several years. Equibase, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Starlight Partners each sponsored an overnight race. All sponsorship dollars went to Grayson to support equine research. “Kentucky Downs is pleased to once again be supporting equine health through Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Day,” said Ted Nicholson, senior vice president and general manager of Kentucky Downs. “We believe that it is important to give back to our equine athletes, and Grayson funds critical research for Thoroughbreds and all breeds.” “We are heartened by the support of Kentucky Downs and our race sponsors on behalf of equine research,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “We are looking forward to an exciting day of racing that will have the added impact of facilitating equine wellness.” Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

Kentucky Downs Research Day Sponsorships Sell Out

all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $27.5 million to fund 366 projects at 44 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org. HJ

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FALL 2019

OFFICIALSPONSOR SPONSOR OFFICIAL of the the National NationalHBPA HBPA of

$150K Maryland Million Classic* Three-year-olds & up, 1 ⁄ mi. $125K Maryland Million Turf* Three-year-olds & up, 1 mi., turf $125K Maryland Million Ladies* 1

Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & up, 11⁄8 mi., turf

$100K Maryland Million Distaff*

A handicap for fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & up, 7 fur.

$100K Maryland Million Sprint* A handicap for 3-year-olds & up, 6 fur. $100K Maryland Million Lassie* Fillies, 2-year-olds, 6 fur. $100K Maryland Million Nursery* Two-year-olds, 6 fur. $60K Maryland Million and/or Registered Maryland-Bred Turf Starter Handicap 3-year-olds & up, who have started for a

PRE-ENTRY DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, October 9 ENTRY DEADLINE: October 16 CALL to confirm your horse’s eligibility prior to entering—410.252.2100 or at MarylandMillion.com Chris Merz, Racing Secretary/Coleman E. Blind, Stakes Coordinator Laurel Park 1.800.638.1859 or fax 301.725.4561

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

claiming price of $12,500 or less since October 21, 2018, 11⁄8 mi., turf. First preference to Maryland Million-certified horses. This is a starter/stakes.

$60K Maryland Million and/or Registered Maryland-Bred Turf Distaff Starter Handicap Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds & up,

who have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less since October 21, 2018, 11⁄8 mi., turf. First preference to Maryland Million-certified horses. This is a starter/stakes.

$50K Maryland Million and/or Registered Maryland-Bred Starter Handicap 3-year-olds & up, who have started for a claiming

price of $8,000 or less since October 21, 2018, 7f. First preference to Maryland Million-certified horses. This is a starter/stakes.

$50K Maryland Million and/or Registered MarylandBred Distaff Starter Handicap Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds & up, who have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less since October 21, 2018, 7f. First preference to Maryland Million-certified horses. This is a starter/stakes. See Pre-Entry book for additional details at MarylandMillion.com

A DV E RT I S E ME N T

RACETRACKS TO BAN LASIX Best Natural Solution when Lasix is Banned By Mark Hansen

While bleeding from the nose in racehorses is uncommon, it is accepted that most every horse will experience some level of bleeding in their lungs. Even though this may only cause slight discomfort for the equine athlete, it is a trainer’s worst nightmare because it can lead to poor performance, lost training days, costly treatments, or worse — a very sick horse that’s banned from racing for life. For one trainer, this is exactly the nightmare that happened to him. Suddenly not just one, but two of his best horses were bleeding from EIPH (Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage). They were in danger of being banned from racing, even though they were still in their prime. Lasix (Salix) was not an option. The trainer was at a loss. What can be done? Facing these concerns for two of his

horses, the trainer (who asked us to withhold his name for competitive reasons) was willing to try anything. So, he searched for another option. He gave his horses an alternative to bleeder drugs and treatments; something he had read about called BleederShield. This natural respiratory horse supplement helps control bleeding. It is just as effective in improving the health and performance of bleeders but without any of those “drug issues” that come with most race-day bleeder medications. “I used BleederShield paste on two horses that had been bleeding. Now, neither horse has bled. This is a great product; it saved the careers of two very good horses.”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND BLEEDERSHIELD

To understand how BleederShield works, we looked at a controlled study

run by veterinarians at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. They investigated the effects of the active ingredient in BleederShield, yunnan baiyao, which has been shown to help reduce bleeding in people and animals. The veterinary team wanted to see how this active ingredient specifically affected bleeding in horses. They measured template bleeding times in horses before and after receiving a supplement with the active ingredient. The researchers reported that the supplement significantly reduced bleeding time. They concluded that the active ingredient in BleederShield was effective at minimizing blood loss in horses.1 What surprised us the most about BleederShield is its effectiveness without the use of drugs. Having a drug-free option is critical in countries that ban most raceday EIPH medications. And even though Lasix/Salix isn’t banned in the USA yet, its day may be coming. There’s a serious need NOW for a natural solution that can help control bleeding in performance horses. Trainers and owners alike are impressed with the results they are seeing from BleederShield. One winning trainer told us: “I have horses that bleed and when I use this product I have no problems. I’m sure there are a lot of products on the market but I stand behind this one all the way.” Now you can improve the health of your horses while protecting the investment in their racing careers. With the results from the scientific studies, you can expect BleederShield to reduce bleeding events in horses during intense exercise… repair damaged blood vessels … and provide support for normal lung function and normal blood flow.2 Best of all, BleederShield is easy AND affordable. It could be the smartest investment you make to avoid pricey problems related to EIPH. It’s well worth the small price to avoid a banning risk or losing a great horse. A company spokesperson confirmed an exclusive offer for Horsemen’s Journal readers: if you order BleederShield this month, you’ll receive 10% off your first order by using promo code HJ10 at checkout. You can order BleederShield today at www.BleederShield.com. 1. Graham L. et al. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 12:4 (2002) 279-282. 2. Graham L. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2006.

Congratulations TO TRAINER SCOTT LAKE ON HIS 6,000TH CAREER WIN!

SEE THE DIFFERENCE OUR CLINICALLY PROVEN SUPPLEMENTS CAN MAKE! www.epoequine.com

800-557-9055

FEATURE

DRIVING DEMAND FOR THOROUGHBRED EX-RACEHORSES

THE RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT AND THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER ARE RAISING THE PROFILE OF THE BREED AWAY FROM THE RACETRACK By Jen Roytz Photos by Anne Litz

THERE ARE 10 DISCIPLINES SHOWCASED AT THE EVENT, INCLUDING RANCH WORK.

ver the past year, hundreds of Thoroughbreds throughout the United States and Canada have been preparing to compete for their share of a purse worth more than $100,000. But this is no graded stakes event. Each of these horses has run its last race and is in its first year of retraining for a new career. As the world’s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently retired Thoroughbreds, the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is the flagship event for the Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has garnered international acclaim for increasing demand for Thoroughbreds after racing. This year, an estimated 450 horses will make the journey to Lexington, 18

Kentucky—the mecca for all things Thoroughbred—and the famed Kentucky Horse Park, a one-of-a-kind venue that is part amusement park, part working farm and one of the most storied equestrian competition grounds in the world. For many, the Thoroughbred Makeover, which this year is set for October 2-5, is a bucket-list experience. But this event is more than a competition. It is the largest gathering of Thoroughbred aftercare representatives and advocates in the nation. Here, professional connections, networks and friendships are forged based on one common denominator—the Thoroughbred. For many of the competitors, this is the largest show of their careers, but somehow the atmosphere is less about the competition and more about camaraderie, collaboration and a celebration of the horse. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

A THOROUGHBRED RESPONSE TO THE WARMBLOOD INVASION

SKYE LIIKANEN WON THE 2018 DRESSAGE DIVISION ABOARD SACRED PROMISE, A GELDED SON OF SUPER SAVER WHO COMPILED A RECORD OF 14-1-2-1 ON THE RACETRACK WHILE RUNNING IN OHIO, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY AND INDIANA.

THE MAKEOVER ALLOWS THOROUGHBREDS TO SHOW THEIR NATURAL ATHLETICISM ACROSS DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING JUMPING.

The Retired Racehorse Project debuted the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium in 2013 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The competition garnered national acclaim and immediate demand that it become an annual event. The makeover arose naturally from the Retired Racehorse Project’s mission. Steuart Pittman, a Maryland-based equestrian who had built a riding and training career largely on the backs of retired racehorses, founded the organization in 2010 after witnessing the Thoroughbred, once the dominant breed in the show ring for English disciplines from the lower levels all the way to Olympic-caliber competition, fall out of favor with many equestrians. Top riders were importing European Warmbloods and finding that the additional money spent on the purchase price and travel was quickly rewarded with success in the show ring with horses purpose-bred for jumping and fluid movement. The Thoroughbred required a more sensitive ride and ample training by a skilled equestrian to redirect its talent from being speed-based to focusing more on agility, suppleness and adjustability. Pittman rallied a group of like-minded equestrians, and together, they put on the Retired Racehorse Training Symposium in 2009 and were overwhelmed by the attendance. After formalizing their organization the following year, the group began hosting “Trainer Challenges” at equine expos on the East Coast aimed at showcasing what skills a retired Thoroughbred racehorse can learn in just 100 days of formal retraining. Attendance continued to grow at these events, and in 2013 the inaugural makeover was held. By 2015, the Thoroughbred Makeover had outgrown the apron of Pimlico and was relocated to the Kentucky Horse Park, where it has experienced record numbers of entries each year since. This year’s competition will mark the fifth anniversary at the park. “I got involved with the Retired Racehorse Project as it mounted the first Thoroughbred Makeover at Pimlico, and being on this ride has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Kirsten Green, the organization’s operations director. “These days, we handle entries for hundreds of horses each year, and when I look back to the 26 we started with in 2013, I think, ‘That was cute.’ When we look back historically and consider the thousands of horses served and the millions of dollars trainers have invested in the care and training of those horses, it’s clear we’ve figured out a model that’s effective and a key part of the aftercare industry.” Just as in past years, horses in this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover can compete in up to two of the 10 available disciplines: barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunters, freestyle, polo, ranch work, show hunters and show jumping. This and every year since its inception, hundreds of horses have gained a solid foundation of training in preparation for the makeover. Equestrians preparing horses for this year’s event range in age from 12 to 72 years old, represent all levels—juniors, amateurs, professionals and teams—and are coming from 44 states and four Canadian provinces.

BEYOND THE MAKEOVER

THE FIRST EDITION OF THE MAKEOVER FEATURED 26 ENTRIES, AND THIS YEAR’S EVENT IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT APPROXIMATELY 450.

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The Retired Racehorse Project does much more than just promote and organize this one big event. The organization works in several ways to further its mission of creating more demand for Thoroughbreds after racing. Nearly any hobby, sport or activity has at least one dedicated publication, but until a few years ago, there was no publication dedicated to Thoroughbreds in non-racing sports. In 2015 the Retired Racehorse Project began publishing Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, a quarterly publication filled with articles and information pertinent to those who ride, compete on or otherwise have an interest in off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), including training tips, feature 19

FEATURE stories, pedigree information, news related to aftercare and Thoroughbreds in sport, competition information specific to Thoroughbreds and more. “Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine represents all aspects of the Thoroughbred world,” said Kristen Bentley, communications manager for the Retired Racehorse Project. “In each issue, subscribers not only learn about topics specific to OTTBs but they also get an inside look at the breeding and racing side of the industry and how on-track routines and training relate to off-track life. Everything you can do with a horse, from eventing to chasing cattle, you can, of course, do with an OTTB, so readers get to explore disciplines with which they may not be familiar in the magazine as well. Sections dedicated to OTTB and aftercare news mean that readers stay abreast of the latest developments and trends in the industry.” The Retired Racehorse Project also puts on clinics, demonstrations and seminars throughout the year and around the country aimed at showcasing Thoroughbreds to equestrians and educating them about the many ways to successfully transition and train these horses after racing. Topics range from nutrition, hoof care and soundness to how to address common training challenges and how best to prepare ex-racehorses for careers in various equestrian disciplines. Social media is a major driver for any business, idea or movement to gain traction these days, and the Retired Racehorse Project has one of the most robust and engaged social media presences in the Thoroughbred world. With more than 170,000 followers among its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles, the organization provides its followers with everything from success stories, rider profiles and features about other entities doing good work on behalf of retired racehorses to interactive educational webinars focused on topics popular with off-track Thoroughbred owners, riders, trainers and enthusiasts. “The Retired Racehorse Project’s social media platform allows us to help shape the narrative of the second-career Thoroughbred and celebrate the community around these athletes—a community that includes the horse’s ontrack connections as well as his off-track success,” Bentley said. “Our engaged followers are helping us show the horse world that the Thoroughbred is cool again!”

A MASTER CLASS IN HORSE TRAINING At the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover, the Retired Racehorse Project launched its innovative Makeover Master Class, a clinic-style training demonstration in which several recently retired racehorses with no formal retraining (all sourced from reputable aftercare organizations) are paired with accomplished trainers who have had success transitioning Thoroughbreds from racing to equestrian sports. Each trainer wears a headset microphone and presents to the audience what their first ride on a recently retired racehorse looks like, taking turns to talk with the audience about what they’re asking of their mounts, what the horses’ responses are telling them and the various “whys” behind what they’re doing. Based in part off of popular colt-starting competition formats but without the competition aspect, the Master Class aims to educate equestrians about the many ways a Thoroughbred can be successfully retrained as a riding or competition horse and to walk the audience through some common training techniques and scenarios. “I think equestrians are naturally visual learners; we get great benefit from watching other talented horsemen at work,” Green said. “I think that’s why the Master Class is such a great opportunity both for someone considering getting

started with their first OTTB or established trainers looking to put more tools in their tool box. As an organization, we’ve always believed the best way to secure a horse’s future is to give them a solid foundation, and the Master Class demonstrates firsthand how to get started on the right foot with a diverse group of horses and trainers.” HJ To learn more about the Retired Racehorse Project and the Thoroughbred Makeover, go to retiredracehorseproject.org.

ALWAYS A CROWD-PLEASER, THE SEMIFINALS FOR THE POLO DIVISION INCLUDES A SEVEN-MINUTE CHUKKER (PERIOD) PLAYED BY ALL FIVE FINALISTS, PLUS ONE ADDITIONAL HORSE TO MAKE THE TEAMS EVEN.

THE IMPACT OF THE RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT Since hosting its first Retired Racehorse Training Symposium a decade ago, the Retired Racehorse Project has made a significant impact on the Thoroughbred aftercare industry by jump-starting demand for retired racehorses through the Thoroughbred Makeover and its other educational programs. With the firm belief that data drives decisions, the Retired Racehorse Project collects copious amounts of information on the horses and riders who compete each year in the Thoroughbred Makeover. Some pertinent statistics are included on the following page.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Jen Roytz is the co-founder of Topline Communications and executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project. She has worked in many facets of the sport, from galloping at the track to serving as marketing director for one of the industry’s leading stud farms. In her spare time, she rides and competes in the hunter/jumper ring (aboard Thoroughbreds, of course). 20

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

IMPACT

OF THE

RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT

RRP's educational programming along with its signature event, the Thoroughbred Makeover, has made a significant impact on the Thoroughbred aftercare industry by jump-starting demand for retired racehorses and serving as a complement to other aftercare organizations and initiatives.

10,000

READERS

Avg Off-Track Price

Of Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine with tips on care, training and more

2016

$$$

2017 2018 0

$500 $1000 $1500 $2000

$16,384,000 Dollars Leveraged

(estimated cumulative dollars invested in Makeover horses by their trainers since 2013)

Avg Makeover Graduate Sale Price:

$9,800

Makeover Trainers Accepted 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

2018 2017 2015

2016

RRP Websites

with educational resources and tools for OTTB lovers see a combined 3,709,920 pageviews annually

800 700

Horses Impacted

87,000+

600 500 400

Horses Registered for Thoroughbred Makeover

300 200 100

THE HORSEMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

MAKEOVER ATTENDEES & LIVESTREAM VIEWS 2017-2018 21

FEATURE

GULFSTREAM PARK

RACES

CLAIMING CROWN SAT/DEC7 2019

CLAIMING RACE

CONDITIONS

DIST / TURF

PURSE

Jewel

3YO&UP

1 1/8 M

$200K

Tiara

3YO&UP F&M

1 1/16M (T)

$125K

Emerald

3YO&UP

1 1/16M (T)

$125K

Iron Horse

3YO&UP

1 1/16M

$110K

Express

3YO&UP

$110K

Glass Slipper

3YO&UP F&M

$110K

Rapid Transit

3YO&UP

$110K

Canterbury

3YO&UP

5F (T)

$110K

Distaff Dash

3YO&UP F&M

5F (T)

$110K

ENTRY DAY Wednesday, December 4 REGULAR NOMINATIONS Sunday, November 10 SUPPLEMENTAL NOMINATIONS Wednesday, December 4

Claiming Crown

For qualiﬁcation criteria and nomination deadlines, call Michael Costanzo at 954-457-6260, www.gulfstreampark.com or the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) For qualification criteria and nomination deadlines, call Michael Costanzo at 954-457-6260, www.gulfstreampark.com or the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) at 888-606-8622. Visit our website at claimingcrown.com or e-mail claimingcrown@toba.org. The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association & Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

901 S FEDERAL HIGHWAY // HALLANDALE BEACH // 954.454.7000 // GULFSTREAMPARK.COM 22

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

2019

NOMINATION Name of Horse

Year Foaled

*Nomination Fee Schedule: *Supplemental Fee Schedule:

Color

Sex

Sire

Dam

Trainer: Dam Sire

Nomination Fees By November 10: $100 for each race nominated

OWNER INFORMATION

Name: _________________________________________________ Farm/Company: _________________________________________

Nom. Fee Paid*

Regular Nominations must be received or postmarked on or before November 10. Supplemental Nominations must be received on December 4.

By December 4: $5,000 Jewel $3,000 Emerald and Tiara $2,500 All Others

(One ownership entity per nomination form)

Claiming Crown Race

PAYMENT METHOD THROUGH YOUR HORSEMEN’S ACCOUNT AT GULFSTREAM PARK OR MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

FHBC

Address: _______________________________________________ City: __________________________________________________ State/Prov: ________________ Zip: _________________________

MAIL TO:

Mike Costanzo Gulfstream Park 901 South Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 (954) 457-6260

Tel: _______________Email:____________ “I submit this nomination of the above-listed horse(s) in order to make each eligible for participation in the 2019 Claiming Crown, and do so with the understanding that I will be bound by the terms and conditions established by Claiming Crown Ltd. I understand that said conditions are available to me online at www.claimingcrown.com and/or are printed on the backside of this document and are all incorporated herein by reference. Payment is enclosed.” Signature:_______________________ Date:__________________ [ ] Owner or [ ] Authorized Agent

FAX TO: Gulfstream Park

(954) 457-6357 Michael.costanzo@gulfstreampark.com

Faxed or emailed nominations must be submitted with a valid credit card number, by the cardholder, and are deemed valid only after the transaction has been processed by the authorized financial institution.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Claiming Crown Ltd. reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to: (1) postpone, discontinue, amend, or change the conditions for all or part of the Claiming Crown program; and, (2) to reject the nomination and/or entry of any horse deemed ineligible or otherwise prohibited from competing in the program. Please return this original with your payment; make copy (front and back) for your files.

See reverse side for important information regarding Claiming Crown rules and regulations which are considered part of this nomination form.

P.O. Box 910668, Lexington, Kentucky 40591-0668, (859) 277-5891

conditions.

All races are limited to 14 starters which have complied with and satisfied the eligibility conditions, and which have been selected in accordance with those

1. Nomination, Entry and Starting fees are accepted subject to the approval of Claiming Crown Limited (CCL). The propriety of the amount of the enclosed fee will be determined by CCL, and if any such nomination or entry fee is determined to be other than that which is required to be paid in full in a timely manner, the referenced horse(s) may be prohibited from entering and/or starting in a Claiming Crown race in the sole discretion of CCL. The guaranteed purse for Claiming Crown races will be stated prior to the time entry fees are due. Nomination, entry and starting fees are applied to the guaranteed purses. Purses will be distributed in accordance with the distribution schedule set forth in the 2019 Claiming Crown Summary of Conditions, which information is incorporated herein by reference. 2. Payment of horse Nomination fees make a horse eligible for only the current running of Claiming Crown, and does not satisfy any future nomination requirements. Purses shall be distributed by Gulfstream Park (“GSP” or the “Host Track”) after certification that the purse is distributable in accord with applicable statutes or regulations. 3. Nomination and Entry to or in Claiming Crown races is valid only upon the acceptance of and compliance with the rules and regulations governing Thoroughbred horse races adopted by the State where the races are conducted, the rules and regulations of the Host Track, the rules and regulations of CCL, and/or compliance with any decision of the state racing officials, and/or officers of the Host Track, and/or CCL regarding the interpretation and application of their respective rules and regulations. At the discretion of the Stewards, the Host Track, or CCL, and without notice, the entry of any horse may be refused. CCL shall have no liability for the actions of any officials or employees of the Host Track or for any matter under the control of such track, its officials or employees. Purses shall be payable to the rightful parties recognized as such by state racing officials. 4. A horse entered in a Claiming Crown race may be scratched by authorized racing officials for any reason including but not limited to if (i) such horse's equipment malfunctions, is damaged or lost and cannot be remedied within sufficient time, in the judgment of authorized racing officials, to allow the race in which such horse is entered to start at post time for such race, (ii) the horse does not appear “sound” for racing purposes, or (iii) if any other unavoidable event occurs with respect to a horse entered in a Claiming Crown race, or to its jockey, which cannot be remedied within sufficient time, in the judgment of authorized racing officials, to allow the race in which such horse or jockey is scheduled to participate to start at post time for such race. In the event of a scratch under such circumstances, the Entry and/or Starting fees may, at the discretion of CCL, be refunded. 5. CCL reserves the right to limit the number of entries in any of the Claiming Crown races. In the event CCL determines it must limit entries they will be selected in accordance with the Claiming Crown conditions regarding field selection or by such other method as CCL may determine in its sole discretion. The Claiming Crown field selection process is set forth in the 2019 Claiming Crown Summary of Conditions and is incorporated herein by reference. CCL reserves the right to modify the distance of any race to accommodate track and/or race safety. CCL reserves the right to transfer any turf race to the main track, or to cancel any, or all, Claiming Crown races without notice prior to the actual running thereof, without any liability, other than the return of Entry and/or Starting fees. 6. In making any application for participation in Thoroughbred racing, it is understood that an investigation may be made by the appropriate authority as to the owner(s) character, reputation, mode of living and financial standing, which investigation may involve interviews with family, personal or business acquaintances. 7. Owner hereby expressly and irrevocably grants CCL the exclusive right to use, in connection with the promotion of the Claiming Crown, the name and likeness of the Owner, of any horse entered or nominated, and of any co-owners, jockeys, trainers, grooms, assistant trainers, colors, logos, silks, and any other associated or identifying characteristics, as well as any other matter relating to the participation of the horse in the Claiming Crown. Promotion by CCL may include, without limitation, televising, broadcasting (including but not limited to on-line and web broadcasting in any form, fashion or manner) and/or recording in any manner the races which are a part of the Claiming Crown and the activities incident to them, and broadcasting, exhibiting and/or exploiting the same by any means now or hereafter known, including, without limitation, licensing such rights to others for uses approved by CCL. Owner hereby expressly, irrevocably and perpetually WAIVES on his behalf and on behalf of his agents and employees (including trainers, grooms, exercise riders, assistant trainers and jockeys) any and all rights he or they may have in connection with any matter referred to in this paragraph, including without limitation, any claim to invasion of the right of privacy, right of publicity or to misappropriation, for infringement of trademark, or other intellectual property rights or for any remuneration therefor. Upon demand, Owner shall cause any of the aforementioned persons to deliver releases to CCL permitting it to use and exhibit such material. Owner understands and agrees that CCL reserves the right to use names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, symbols, logos, slogans, results, still and motion pictures, videos and audio reports, trailers, promos and other identifying characteristics relating to CCL and the Claiming Crown, and that any such use by Owner of any of them is prohibited without the express written consent of CCL (which may be denied for any reason). CCL reserves all rights to advertise the Claiming Crown in any manner deemed appropriate by CCL in its sole discretion. Owners, trainers, assistant trainers, grooms, jockeys and horses shall not display commercial advertising or promotional material of any kind, including but not limited to, product names, logos and/or slogans on clothing or equipment, including but not limited to the jockey’s attire, before, during, or after the Claiming Crown race in which the horse is entered without prior written approval of CCL which may be denied for any reason. 8. All claims, controversies and/or objections arising out of or related to the application or interpretation of any rules or conditions of CCL shall be decided solely by the CCL Appeals Board. Information regarding the Appeals Procedure for CCL shall be furnished to any person submitting a written request for such information to Claiming Crown Limited, P.O. Box 910668, Lexington, Kentucky 40591-0668, Attn: Appeals Board. Any person wishing to object to any action or decision by CCL in the application of its rules or conditions must, within thirty (30) days of being advised of such action or decision, submit to the Appeals Board a written Notice of Appeal in compliance with the Appeals Procedure and shall be entitled to an oral hearing upon making a written demand as set forth in the Appeals Procedure. The Appeals Procedure shall not be applicable to matters arising under condition 5 hereinabove from which there shall be no appeal. The appeal process noted herein is the sole appeal venue and process and Owner WAVES THE RIGHT, IF ANY, to file a lawsuit to contest CCL’s decision or any appeal therefrom. Any appeal not postmarked or received within thirty (30) days of being advised of the action or decision of CCL shall be DEEMED WAIVED AND FOREVER BARRED. 9. Owner agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CCL and its officers, directors, employees and volunteers (or if for any reason indemnification is not available, to contribute to CCL's losses and the losses of its officers, directors, employees and volunteers), to the fullest extent permitted under the law, from and against any and all claims, damages, judgments, liabilities, losses, costs or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (should CCL select its own counsel which it may do at its sole and exclusive discretion), to which CCL and/or its officers, directors, employees and volunteers may become subject or liable as a result of or arising out of directly or indirectly: (i) any action or conduct of any horses owned by or under the control or direction of Owner while on the race track premises, and (ii) any acts, or failure to act by Owner, any Co-owners, or any of their agents, employees or invitees while on the race track premises. 10. Owner hereby RELEASES, WAIVES AGAINST AND DISCHARGES CCL and its officers, directors, employees and volunteers, to the fullest extent permitted under the law, from any claims, losses, obligations, costs and expenses arising from or due to personal injuries or property damages of any kind or description to the person, property or horses owned or controlled by Owner occurring on track premises. Owner agrees that all risk of loss, injury, damage or destruction to persons or property, including but not limited to, the horses brought onto track premises by or at the direction of Owner, his agents or employees, arising from, due to, caused by, resulting from or in any way, directly or indirectly, related to any cause, including but not limited to accident, theft, fire or otherwise, whether or not caused by or contributed to or by or related to any fault or negligence of CCL and/or its officers, directors, employees and volunteers or the condition of the track premises, are assumed in full by Owner, except as to acts or conditions caused by the intentional, or willful conduct of CCL. Owner agrees that the release and waiver and discharge provisions hereof are intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the law. Owner further agrees that the foregoing provisions hereof regarding such release and waiver and discharge shall not be deemed waived or affected in any way by the fact that CCL does or does not, may or may not, in the future carry insurance coverage against claims where loss is caused by or resulting from damage or injury to property, persons and/or horses while competing on the race track, using the training tracks, stables, roads or any other facilities over the race track premises or in transit thereon. 11. Whenever the term "Owner" is used herein, it shall include the owner whose name appears on the reverse side of this form, all owners, co-owners (or lessees) of horses controlled by or in partnership with the Owner, jockeys, grooms, exercise riders, assistant trainers, servants, employees and invitees of the Owner, and their heirs, representatives, successors and assigns. Owner agrees to provide a copy of this Nomination Agreement to all co-owners of the horses listed on this Nomination Agreement. 12. In consideration of CCL's agreement to pay the purses described hereinabove, Owner hereby consents to allow CCL and/or the Host Track to contract with any domestic or foreign licensed wagering entity for the purpose of accepting wagers on Claiming Crown races pursuant to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. sections 3001, et seq. and warrants that no third party or organization has or will be given the right or authority to assert any claim, demand, or cause of action inconsistent with such consent. 13. By signing this form on the reverse side, I hereby certify that I have read, understand and agree to the terms and conditions of this Nomination Agreement including all release and waiver provisions.

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FEATURE

GETTING BACK oN TRACK Track superintendents are serious about improving safety for horses and riders Story and photos by Denis Blake

ore than 100 attendees gathered at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on June 22-25 for Track Superintendent Field Day. While many in the industry and certainly most in the general public are not familiar with the event, it has been going on for nearly 20 years, bringing together track superintendents and their crews from around the United States, Canada and Dubai to share ideas and information about track maintenance, safety, equipment and more. And while most industry gatherings cost hundreds of dollars to attend, there are no registration fees thanks to a long list of sponsors headed by title sponsor Equine Equipment. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout for this year’s event,” said Roy Smith, track superintendent at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and founder of the gathering. “We have representatives from about 50 Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks along with a great group of speakers and sponsors. This is the only chance track supers really have to meet, and a lot of excellent information is being shared here.” Dr. Michael Hardy, a veterinarian for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at Indiana Grand, presented a session titled, “Emergency Horse Ambulance Response on the Track.” He covered best practices for horse ambulances and emergency response plans, not just on the track ovals but also in the paddock and any other areas where a horse could get injured. “We can’t always predict what’s going to happen, and we see something new every year,” he said. “We have to be prepared and communicate as best we can.” 26

Hardy mentioned the importance of communication between all parties at the track, from the veterinarians to stewards to track crew, and how tracks should strive to provide the same level of emergency response during training hours as during live racing. Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys’ Guild, addressed the group and also hit on the topic of communication. He noted that at most tracks jockeys and track supers have positive and open lines of communication and that working together helps ensure the safest racing possible. “As everyone knows, today we are under intense scrutiny,” he said. “We must all do our part for safety and integrity to enhance the public perception of our sport, and that’s part of why this event is so important.” Meyocks also talked about the need for tracks to invest the necessary resources for proper management of the racing surfaces, including the use of the best equipment, technologies and staff available. “Safety for the human and equine athletes should always be paramount,” he said. “A small investment in track management can save millions in lawsuits and medical bills and, of course, most importantly save the lives of jockeys and horses.” Following the presentation, Roy Smith gave Meyocks a $1,000 check for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund on behalf of the group. Although the event covered a wide range of topics, many speakers circled back to emphasize the recurring theme about the importance of communication and technology. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

MORE THAN 100 TRACK SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEIR STAFFS ATTENDED WITH THE GOAL OF SHARING INFORMATION AND MAKING RACING SURFACES SAFER.

Hall of Fame harness racing driver John Campbell, who retired in 2017 with more than 10,000 wins and nearly $300 million in earnings, talked about issues related to track surfaces in the Standardbred racing world as well as the racing industry in general. “This is a critical time for racing for all breeds,” said Campbell, who now serves as president and CEO of The Hambletonian Society. “The general public can't always distinguish between Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds; they just see horse racing. We are all in the same boat, and this is something we all need to be on board for and work together.” Campbell also mentioned how track surfaces are important not just to horses, horsemen, drivers and jockeys but also to a sometimes-overlooked group—bettors. “Track surface is important to keeping horses on the racetrack but also making sure the races are fair and entertaining to bet on,” he added. Keynote speaker Jolene Brown, a farmer, author and speaker known as “The Dr. Phil of Agriculture,” addressed the group and spoke about how today’s fast-paced and technology-driven society is affecting just about everything, including track maintenance. “Everything is so fast now with technology—it’s not the haves and have-nots, like it used to be; it is the haves and have-right-nows,” she said. “Communication is the bloodstream of business. The pace has changed in our world and so has the process. Everything needs to be measured and documented. The world is asking for documentation.”

"Safety for the human and equine athletes should always be paramount," Terry Meyocks said. "A small investment in track management can save millions in lawsuits and medical bills and, of course, most importantly save the lives of jockeys and horses."

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

Brown talked about how farming has changed in recent years and how the supply chain—from farm to table—now demands documentation with specific details about when and where a crop was planted and harvested, what temperature it was stored at and other minutiae. She suggested track supers use the latest technology and communication methods and have as much documentation as possible. After Brown’s address, the group presented Roy Smith with a special plaque honoring his commitment to the annual meeting and to bringing track supers together to share information and best practices. “Roy has done so much for this group and the horse racing industry over nearly two decades that it was hard to even fit all the text on the plaque,” said Steve Andersen of title sponsor Equine Equipment. “Track supers and their crews work long hours with little recognition, but the men and women who get up well before the crack of dawn to ensure our track surfaces are as safe as possible are a vital part of this industry. I know I speak for all the sponsors of this event in saying that we are proud to play a part in helping this group get together and share information and friendship.” A track executive panel included Chris McErlean of Penn National Gaming Inc., Derron Heldt of Prairie Meadows and Sal Sinatra of the Maryland Jockey Club. The panel talked about the importance of two-way communication between track management and track superintendents and that ultimately both have the same goal of a safe racing surface that will reduce injuries as much as possible and help ensure larger fields to drive handle. "Communication is 1,000 percent important, not just within your own track but also including the horsemen and jockeys," Sinatra said. "No one is ever going to be completely happy, but without a good surface and a safe surface, you don't have good racing." Other speakers at the event covered topics that included tractor technology, disaster preparation/recovery and stress fractures and how they relate to track surfaces. There were also presentations about the rich history of racing at Charles Town, extreme weather and irrigation technology. Several equipment demonstrations also were included. The 2020 Track Superintendent Field Day will be held at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit tracksupers.com. HJ 27

2020 STAKES SCHEDULE A NEW LEVEL OF RACING January 24–May 2

RACING FESTIVAL OF THE SOUTH

Over $600,000 Average Daily Purses MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHTS–$85,000+ • OPEN ALLOWANCE RACES–$90,000+ DATE Friday, Jan. 24 Saturday, Jan. 25 Saturday, Jan. 25 Saturday, Feb. 1 Saturday, Feb. 1 Saturday, Feb. 8 Saturday, Feb. 15 Monday, Feb. 17 Monday, Feb. 17 Monday, Feb. 17 Saturday, Feb. 22 Saturday, Feb. 29 Saturday, Mar. 7 Saturday, Mar. 7 Friday, Mar. 13 Saturday, Mar. 14 Saturday, Mar. 14 Saturday, Mar. 14 Saturday, Mar. 21 Saturday, Mar. 28 Saturday, April 4 Friday, April 10 Saturday, April 11 Saturday, April 11 Saturday, April 11 Saturday, April 11 Friday, April 17 Friday, April 17 Saturday, April 18 Saturday, April 18 Saturday, April 25 Friday, May 1 Saturday, May 2

RACE Smarty Jones* Fifth Season Pippin American Beauty Martha Washington* King Cotton Dixie Belle Bayakoa (G3) Razorback Handicap (G3) Southwest* (G3) Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Spring Fever Hot Springs Honeybee* (G3) Temperence Hill Essex Handicap Azeri (G2) Rebel* (G2) Gazebo Nodouble Breeders’ Purple Martin Fantasy* (G3) Carousel Oaklawn Mile Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) Arkansas Derby* (G1) Rainbow Miss Rainbow Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) Bachelor Arkansas Breeders’ Championship Oaklawn Invitational

PURSE $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $125,000 $125,000 $200,000 $500,000 $750,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $300,000 $125,000 $350,000 $350,000 $1,000,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $600,000 $200,000 $250,000 $500,000 $1,000,000 $125,000 $125,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

RESTRICTIONS 3YO 4&Up 4&Up, F&M 4&Up, F&M 3YOF 4&Up 3YOF 4&Up, F&M 4&Up 3YO 3&Up, F&M (AR) 4&Up, F&M 4&Up 3YOF 4&Up 4&Up 4&Up, F&M 3YO 3YO 3&Up (AR) 3YOF 3YOF 4&Up, F&M 4&Up 4&Up 3YO 3YOF (AR) 3YO (AR) 4&Up 4&Up, F&M 3YO 3&Up (AR) 3YO

DISTANCE 1M 1M 1M 6F 1M 6F 6F 1 1/16 M 1 1/16 M 1 1/16 M 6F 5 1/2 F 6F 1 1/16 M 1 1/2 M 1 1/16 M 1 1/16 M 1 1/16 M 6F 6F 6F 1 1/16 M 6F 1M 6F 1 1/8 M 6F 6F 1 1/8 M 1 1/16 M 6F 1 1/16 M 1 1/8 M

*Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks Points Race

1-800-OAKLAWN • OAKLAWN.COM

JANUARY S

19 26

20 27

21 28

22 29

23 30

24 31

FEBRUARY S

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

MARCH

APRIL S

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 4 10 *11 17 18 24 25

*Arkansas Derby Day Racing Festival of the South

MAY S

THE HORSEMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

MARIOAV – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

FEATURE

ACCESS DENIED WHY THE JERRY HOLLENDORFER VS. DEL MAR THOROUGHBRED CLUB CASE IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL HORSEMEN By Peter Sacopulos, J.D.

o say that Thoroughbred racing has been in the news a lot lately is an understatement. One of the reasons for the increased coverage by the national media has been the number of tragic breakdowns that occurred at Santa Anita Park in California earlier this year. Another was the subsequent banishment of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer from that track and later others. First, The Stronach Group, owner of Santa Anita, banned him from the California track, and then the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club did the same. The New York Racing Association also moved to exclude Hollendorfer but then in mid-August appeared to reverse that decision and allow him to compete. Several horses from Hollendorfer’s barn, both in Northern and Southern California, were among those that suffered fatal injuries, though the specific reasons for his banishment were not made public. As one might expect, legal actions soon followed. For horsemen, this is an important topic, regardless of whether you race 30

in California or at a Stronach-owned track. This article evaluates the law, argument and facts surrounding the dispute and the July 26 court ruling. It also discusses how this litigation will proceed, provides perspective on what may be expected in the long term and offers perspective on why this ruling is of importance not only to the litigants but also to horsemen in general. On July 15, Hollendorfer and the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) filed a Complaint for Emergency Relief in the San Diego Superior Court of California against Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, 22nd Agricultural District Association (DMTC). The plaintiffs, Hollendorfer and the CTT, by way of their complaint, sought injunctive relief. Specifically, the plaintiffs sought a court order to prevent DMTC from denying Hollendorfer’s Stall Application and from refusing Hollendorfer’s entries to Del Mar’s races. Eleven days later, Judge Ronald F. Frazier issued a ruling in favor of Hollendorfer and the CTT and against DMTC. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

THE LAW, ARGUMENT AND FACTS

“

FOR HORSEMEN, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU RACE IN CALIFORNIA OR AT A STRONACH-OWNED TRACK.

”

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

To be entitled to injunctive relief, a party must meet a two-pronged test. First, the party or parties seeking the injunctive relief must present evidence that they will suffer irreparable harm if the other side is not ordered to cease its action or inaction. The second prong of the test relates to the likelihood of success. Specifically, it requires the party seeking injunctive relief to demonstrate that they are likely to prevail on the merits. In California, the court considered these two interrelated factors—the likelihood of irreparable harm and the likelihood of success on the merits—in determining that the plaintiffs were entitled to the relief sought. To convince the court he was entitled to relief, Hollendorfer and the CTT offered evidence of his career as a Thoroughbred trainer spanning nearly 40 years. Hollendorfer argued to the court that Thoroughbred training and participation in the sport comprise his principal income. He offered evidence that since the decision by DMTC to exclude him, he has lost approximately 40 additional horses from his stable. In short, Hollendorfer argued that his exclusion from Del Mar would result in him suffering irreparable harm and imminent loss of business. Conversely, DMTC argued that Hollendorfer was “radioactive” and that should a Hollendorfer horse break down, there would be irreparable harm to DMTC’s reputation and significant long-term negative impact to its business. In the end, the court found that Hollendorfer and the CTT presented evidence sufficient for the court to conclude that Hollendorfer would suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief. The court next reviewed and weighed the evidence relative to the second prong of the injunctive relief test—that being the likelihood of Hollendorfer and the CTT prevailing on the merits. Here, the court evaluated the Race Meet Agreement and the stall agreement, both of which contain arbitration clauses. In doing so, it concluded that the DMTC was not permitted to arbitrarily deny a licensee’s Stall Application nor arbitrarily refuse a licensee’s entries to race. The court found that the DMTC had done just that to Hollendorfer. As such, the court concluded that Hollendorfer and the CTT had a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits. The court, having found that Hollendorfer and the CTT presented sufficient evidence and satisfied both prongs of the injunctive relief test, entered its order of July 26, 2019. The court held: Defendant Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is enjoined from denying Mr. Hollendorfer’s Stall Application, from refusing Mr. Hollendorfer entry to the Del Mar races, and from preventing Mr. Hollendorfer’s access to the fairgrounds as necessary to saddle, observe and race his horses until fair procedure can be completed, in the form of arbitration as per the Race Meet Agreement. (See Hon. Ronald F. Frazier, Judge of Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Ruling of July 26, 2019, in Cause No.37-2019-00036284CU-BC-CTL.)

ARBITRATION: RULES, PROCEDURE AND PROCESS The parties were ordered to arbitrate. Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution and is defined as “the process in which a neutral third person or panel, called an arbitrator or an arbitration panel, considers the facts and arguments which are presented by the parties and renders a decision. The decision may be binding or nonbinding.” (See Alternative Dispute Resolution Rule 1.3 (B)) 31

CONDOR 36 – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

FEATURE

Significantly, the Race Meet Agreement, entered into by and between the DMTC and the CTT, and the Stall Application, completed and submitted by Hollendorfer, both require disputes to be submitted to arbitration. Specifically, section 6 of the Race Meet Agreement titled “Stall Assignments” states: TRACK shall during the 2019 Summer Meet provide a minimum of 3,200 stalls in good condition for stabling. In the allocation and assignment of stall space for thoroughbreds, so long as the trainer is duly licensed, TRACK will not discriminate in any way against any trainer by reason of membership of any trainer in the CTT, or by way of any arbitrary or capricious conduct by TRACK. If any trainer asserts that TRACK shall have so discriminated on such ground or grounds, then the trainer claiming to be so aggrieved may submit his claim to TRACK or to CTT for examination, and if CTT shall then believe the claim to have merit, CTT shall be entitled to present the merits of the grievance on behalf of such trainer to TRACK. If the dispute is not settled, TRACK and CTT agree that the matter is to proceed immediately to arbitration before a hearing officer chosen by mutual consent by TRACK and CTT. If TRACK and CTT cannot agree on a hearing officer chosen by mutual consent, a hearing officer shall be appointed by the CHRB. (See Race Meet Agreement Summer 2019, entered into between Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and California Thoroughbred Trainers; effective July 17, 2019–September 2, 2019, specifically, rhetorical section 6 “Stall Agreement.”) The arbitration process includes many features that are similar to pretrial procedures. For example, arbitration includes serving and responding to interrogatories (written questions that must be answered or objected to under oath), requests for admissions and requests for production of documents. In addition, arbitration allows for the parties to take depositions. The process may be conducted by a single arbitrator or by a panel. In the matter involving Hollendorfer and the CTT, a single arbitrator is to be selected by DMTC and the CTT. If the two organizations are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the provision provides for the California Horse Racing Board to appoint one. A decision by an arbitrator may be binding or nonbinding. If nonbinding, a party receiving what it perceives to be an unfavorable ruling may seek further proceedings by way of a court hearing because the arbitration clause in the Race Meet Agreement is silent as to whether the arbitration is binding or nonbinding. 32

WHAT LIKELY HAPPENS NEXT? There are at least two possible scenarios going forward. First, DMTC may fold. It may elect to do so because of the time involved in the arbitration, which is often an expensive and time-consuming process. The meet at Del Mar may well be over before the arbitration is concluded (and the meet will have concluded by the time this magazine is mailed). This is to say that time is on the side of Hollendorfer and the CTT. Alternatively, DMTC may elect to proceed with arbitration. Should it do so, Hollendorfer and the CTT will receive a hearing on the merits. Interestingly, it also appears from the court’s July 26 order that the issue of DMTC’s arbitrary and capricious excluding of Hollendorfer will be presented to the arbitrator as well. Should DMTC elect to proceed, it must understand that while it has the authority to exclude a licensee, it does not have the authority to do so in an arbitrary and capricious manner. DMTC should further understand that Hollendorfer and the CTT are proceeding to arbitration in a strong position given the court’s recent ruling.

FURTHER ANALYSIS OF THE JULY 26 DECISION The court’s decision in favor of Hollendorfer and the CTT provides horsemen with both answers and questions. First, the court provided clear direction on the issue of whether a track has the authority to exclude or deny access to a licensee from its premises. The court held, based on precedent, that a track may do so. However, it does not have the authority to arbitrarily exclude or deny access to a licensee and may not do so without providing the licensee due process. In providing this answer, the court relied on the prior California ruling in Greenburg v. Hollywood Turf Club, 7 Cal.App.3d 968, 977 (1970), wherein the California Court of Appeals held that while there is a right to exclude, that exclusion must be for a legitimate reason but may not be done on an arbitrary basis. Additionally, the July 26 order affirmed the rule and provided an answer set forth in the landmark decision of Barry v. Barchi, 443 U.S. 55 (1979). In that decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that as a licensed trainer, owner, jockey, veterinarian, etc., the licensee has a property interest in their license. Further, THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

FAAS – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

a licensee is entitled to due process relative to any allegation or attempt to curtail or deprive them of their property interest. That includes both substantive and procedural due process. Procedural due process requires, among other things, the right to reasonable notice of the charges (exclusion/denial) and the opportunity to be heard “at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner,” Armstrong v. Manzo, 380 U.S. 545, 552 (1965). Additionally, the licensee is entitled to and must be provided with substantive due process, which requires that there must be a rational relationship between a legitimate regulation or rule and the means chosen for the desired end. The questions presented by the California court’s decision are equally important. For example, are the parties required to arbitrate not only the underlying issue of exclusion but also the arbitrary and capricious nature of why Hollendorfer was excluded while others were not? Additionally, should Hollendorfer prevail on the merits, then there remains the question of how that could impact similar decisions/rulings to ban him or any other horsemen at tracks both within and outside of California. With NYRA’s reversal on excluding

Hollendorfer, that doesn’t appear to be an issue for that situation, but it could reappear down the road. Significantly, the horsemen in New York do not have a contract with NYRA similar to that which the CTT has with DMTC. How might the protection afforded Hollendorfer and the California horsemen, pursuant to the CTT and DMTC Race Meet Agreement and the resulting arbitration decision, act as a game-changer in New York or other states? Additionally, at a time when many in the horse racing industry are advocating for the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, should additional consideration be given to the uniformity of dispute resolution, the consistency of state association and track contracts and the incorporation of alternative dispute resolution principles? What is certain is that Hollendorfer, the CTT and DMTC are ordered to reconvene for a status conference before the superior court on October 25 of this year, and between now and then, the parties will be engaged in the arbitration process as ordered by the court. The next chapter in this dispute (or its possible conclusion), as well as answers to the questions presented by the court’s July 26 decision, awaits. HJ

Peter Sacopulos is a partner in the law firm of Sacopulos, Johnson & Sacopulos in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he represents clients in a wide range of equine matters. He is a member of the American College of Equine Counsel and serves on the board of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee. Sacopulos has written extensively on equine law issues and is a frequent speaker at equine conferences. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

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THE NATIONAL HORSEMEN’S BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. WHAT IS IT? A program to protect your assets in case of an injury or damage to property arising from your equine activities (breeding, racing, sales, training). This is not a substitute for workers’ compensation coverage. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? $90 per horse and $180 minimum premium—Beginning November 1st WHAT DOES IT COVER? • Liability claims arising from injuries to participants (non-employee jockeys and exercise riders) • Contractual liability (i.e. hold harmless in Race Track Stall Agreements) • Premises and Operations liability coverage for all equine operations including breeding, boarding, training and racing HOW MUCH DOES IT COVER? Each member additional insured has their own $1,000,000 coverage for each occurrence or offense and $2,000,000 general aggregate. Damage to premises rented to you or occupied by you with the permission of the owner is provided with a limit of $50,000. Medical Payments coverage applies as well in the amount of $5,000 per person.

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THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

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FEATURE

THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDICATION, VETERINARY CARE AND BREAKDOWNS IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE THE FACTS AND RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT CAUSES AND WHAT DOES NOT CAUSE CATASTROPHIC INJURIES

BY KIMBERLY BREWER, DVM, MSC; CLARA FENGER, DVM, PHD, DACVIM; AND THOMAS TOBIN, MRCVS, PHD, DABT

t the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) meeting in August, the Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee approved changing the withdrawal time of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to 48 hours and the withdrawal time for joint injections from seven days to 14 days. The Jockey Club would have us believe that these recommendations do not go far enough and that the elimination of race-day furosemide (Lasix) is a similar necessity. The impetus for these changes is clearly the pressure on the racing industry as a result of the widely publicized number of breakdown injuries at Santa Anita Park in California in the early part of 2019. Despite clear evidence that any pain-relieving effects of NSAIDs have long passed before the 24-hour point, regulatory veterinarians have long maintained that the 24-hour rule interferes with their ability to perform pre-race examinations. Further, much discussion has been made about the masking effect of joint injections on pre-existing injuries, suggesting that pulling back NSAIDs to 48 hours and joint injections to 14 days will save the lives of horses. However, the facts simply do not support these new recommendations.

THE ROLE OF NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS High-intensity exercise is accompanied by the production of inflammatory mediators, which have a role in stress adaptation in the body that enables it to remodel and rebuild bone and muscle to better withstand future stresses. Training of horses and humans is designed to do exactly this. Training should be close but not equal to maximal effort to produce enough stress to induce changes but not to tip the body into a state in which the adaptation cannot take place. This is the basic rule of proper training/conditioning, and it lays the groundwork for our understanding of catastrophic injury. Each system of an animal, including bones, ligaments and tendons, is stressed, allowed appropriate time to respond and then be stressed again. Research has shown time 36

and again that failure to allow enough time to respond results in progressive injury because the balance between inflammation and recovery becomes tipped toward progressive inflammation. In addition to their relatively short-term pain relief effect, NSAIDs (phenylbutazone, flunixin and Ketofen) inhibit the most active inflammatory mediators. Because of the important role of these inflammatory mediators in the response to training, these drugs are inappropriate for use during routine training. Inflammatory mediators are key contributors to an animal’s ability to respond to conditioning by becoming fitter. NSAIDs therefore interfere with racehorses becoming fit. On the other hand, the sparing use of NSAIDs, in advance of racing and far enough out that the analgesic—or pain relief—is no longer in effect but close enough that some anti-inflammation is still in effect, actually helps to prevent the development of progressive injury. Horses simply come out of their races better. The current regulations with a 24-hour restriction on the administration of NSAIDs permit this beneficial effect without masking lameness. One key point about the effect of NSAIDs is that in Kentucky in 1992, when such medications like phenylbutazone and flunixin could be used at four hours before post, the breakdown rate was 1.4 per 1,000 starts, essentially exactly the same as the rate today. It is likely that any benefit to the health of the athletes by preventing such use from masking lameness at the time of the race simply has been offset by the loss of the beneficial effects to the overall prevention of exertional inflammation.

THE ROLE OF JOINT INJECTIONS The injection of joints is controversial, and those opposed to the practice point to several research papers they claim suggest that horses may be at higher risk of injury if joints are injected because of the anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects of joint injections. Of the many papers on the subject, none of the scientific research supports this point of view. As we have noted, high-intensity exercise is accompanied by the production of inflammatory mediators that affect every organ system of the animal. The joints are commonly

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affected as a result of high-speed impact, and inflammatory mediators result from this joint stress. The inflammatory mediators go on to affect the cartilage, joint fluid and, ultimately, the bone underlying the cartilage. Both NSAIDs and joint injections are used to break the cycle of cumulative damage. Such interventions, used appropriately, prevent inflammatory mediators from causing permanent joint damage. Joint injections are usually performed using corticosteroids, which have somehow earned a darkened reputation. Research in cell cultures in the laboratory has shown that at some concentrations corticosteroids are beneficial, and at other concentrations, they are detrimental. The true test of the value of any therapeutic intervention must be its actual use in clinical patients. Research performed in the 1990s showed that, in experimentally damaged joints in horses that remained in training, one commonly used corticosteroid, triamcinolone (Vetalog), was actually beneficial to the cartilage and joint health. Another, betamethasone (BetaVet), caused no damage. Only one, methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol), was shown to be detrimental to the cartilage, and that study used a higher dose that was repeated more frequently than is used in clinical practice, rendering the study’s conclusions of questionable value. More importantly, none of these commonly used corticosteroids were found to mask lameness in the experimental horses. Corticosteroid injections into damaged joints maintain cartilage integrity and improve hyaluronic acid concentrations in the joint fluid without detectable adverse effects on sub-chondral bone. This mirrors the racetrack practitioner’s experience. Used appropriately, corticosteroid injections preserve health and soundness not only for the horse’s racing career but beyond. Two studies are often quoted when joint injections are targeted for further regulatory restrictions. One paper by R.C. Whitton at the University of Melbourne in Australia sought to determine if there was a relationship between corticosteroid injections and breakdown injuries. In that paper, there was an association between corticosteroid injections and musculoskeletal injury rates, but the definition of musculoskeletal injury was “any limb injury identified by a veterinarian where the attending veterinarian recommended that the horse should not continue training and required a rest period.” According to Whitton and colleagues, any horse that received a joint injection was more likely to require a layup after a diagnosis of musculoskeletal disease than a horse that did not receive such an injection. This would seem to be common sense. A veterinarian says, “The horse is lame. Let’s inject a joint.” Then, “Hmmm, on re-examination, that injection didn’t do the trick. Let’s lay him up.” That would be the way it’s supposed to work. A total of 11 horses suffered catastrophic injuries during the timeframe of the study, and of those, only four received any intra-articular injections. Of those four, two horses received multiple injections, with one receiving three intra-articular injections and one receiving five intra-articular injections. There was a significantly higher risk of catastrophic injury when multiple injections were performed without ongoing diagnostic tests, such as radiographs, but no higher risk with a single injection. Seven of 11 horses were not evaluated at all by a veterinarian for any musculoskeletal problems. The study’s most important finding was that failure to investigate musculoskeletal injury, either by never looking in the first place or by failing to perform diagnostic tests at the time of evaluation for the second or subsequent injection, was actually the greatest risk for catastrophic injury. A paper written by L.C.R. Smith of Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket, England, looked more specifically at the association between corticosteroid injections and fractures. Like in the Australian paper, Smith found that there was an increased risk after multiple injections, particularly when the injections were repeated frequently. Also like in the Australian paper, Smith found that only a small percentage of those horses that had a fracture had received diagnostic imaging, such as radiographs. The only significant fractures associated with

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intra-articular corticosteroids in the Smith study were radiocarpal (knee) chip fractures, a fracture not typically associated with catastrophic outcomes. These two papers taken together fail to show any association between corticosteroid injections and breakdown injuries. They indicated that any musculoskeletal risk was associated with any intervention—not just corticosteroids but also hyaluronic acid and regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP)—simply because the underlying lameness, rather than the intervention, predisposes the horse to further musculoskeletal injury. The most important finding that could lead to the improved safety and welfare of racehorses is that the failure to perform diagnostics, most commonly radiographs, before the second and subsequent injection of the same horse places the horse at the greatest risk. It is clear that requiring veterinary evaluation and diagnostic imaging, rather than restricting corticosteroid joint injections, would make the greatest impact in preventing breakdown injuries. Further restricting the timeframe for joint injections would further remove the attending veterinarian from the decision-making process. If the veterinarian cannot intervene to improve the horse’s soundness, why would the trainer even call the veterinarian to look?

THE SUPPOSED ROLE OF LASIX IN BONE FRACTURES IN RACEHORSES First, we note that two prominent veterinarians and researchers, Dr. Wayne McIlwraith and Dr. Paul Morley, are on record that administration of furosemide to horses is not a cause of osteoporosis and therefore not associated with bone fractures. This concern has arisen from the human medical literature on “loop diuretics” (furosemide) and fracture rates in elderly human cardiac failure patients, who are in poor health, prone to falls and on long-term furosemide that involves daily doses over the course of years. In humans, vertebral fracture is the most common type of osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal women in the United States. The fracture rate is estimated at 25 percent, and the incidence increases with advancing age, rising substantially after 75 years of age, as reported by Paik and colleagues. The Paik study involved 55,780 women aged 55 to 82 years, focused on vertebral fractures only and ran from 2003 to 2012. This study showed that the use of loop diuretics was associated with an increased risk of vertebral fractures in women of this age group. The second study reviewed by Carbone and colleagues noted that half of all postmenopausal women experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Reporting on loop diuretic use and the fracture rate in postmenopausal women, this study concluded, “No significant association was found between every use of loop diuretics and changes in BMD [bone mineral density], falls or fractures in post-menopausal women in the WHI [Women’s Health Initiative]. However, prolonged use of loop diuretics was associated with a higher fracture risk in post-menopausal women. Loop diuretics are most commonly used by women in poor health who are already at risk for falls, fractures and loss of BMD.” Similarly, a major Danish study on no fewer than 1.58 million Danes over age 65, both male and female, showed that the use of loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics was significantly associated with fragility fractures. However, in this study the association between diuretic use and fragility fractures was strongest in the first two weeks after introduction of the diuretic and thereafter gradually declined. This finding was interpreted as the increased fracture rate being due to an increase in falls rather than to any changes in bone health. A recent study by Heo et al. in children with congenital heart disease has shown similar results, in that furosemide therapy, even with inconsistent dosing, was associated with an increased risk of bone fractures in children with congenital heart disease. The question then arises as to how these findings relate to furosemide use and fracture rates in racehorses. There are two major differences between

FEATURE

Thoroughbred racing than in harness racing. Consistent with the above lack of effect of furosemide on the number of annual starts in harness racing is the marked discrepancy between FMI rates in harness and Thoroughbred racing. As shown in Figure 2, FMI rates are markedly different between Thoroughbred and harness racing, in this case in Ohio harness racing. Again, if furosemide were the driving force in Thoroughbred racing breakdowns, one might reasonably expect the rates in harness racing to be comparable with those of Thoroughbred racing, which is clearly not the case. As set forth in Figure 2, these epidemiological and evidence-based interpretations are in good agreement with the evaluations of leading veterinary practitioners. World-renowned equine surgeon Wayne McIlwraith is on record as stating that “there is no scientific evidence for Lasix promoting musculoskeletal injury,” an opinion that is fully supported by the available equine data and careful review of the published human data. Again, the relevant human data involves individuals with underlying chronic health problems, which means that the furosemide administration is on a daily basis for up to years at a time. Such an administration schedule means that the furosemide administration can produce significant long-term changes in the physiology of the patient, which is not the case when furosemide is used to prevent EIPH in racehorses. Furosemide is administered in racehorses by intravenous injection, its diuretic action is complete within about two hours, and it is typically not re-administered until the horse races again, on average about six weeks later. As such, it is extremely unlikely that these widely spaced single IV administrations can produce any significant effect on the bone calcium metabolism of the horses in question and therefore on their fracture rate.

the racehorse and these human situations, namely that these human patients have substantial underlying health deficits, including age in the older human patients studied and congenital heart disease in the Heo study. The second major difference is that these human patients are generally on long-term daily oral doses of furosemide, i.e., 24/7/365 dosing, so they have prolonged exposure to furosemide. In contrast, in the prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), furosemide administration is infrequent and is in a short-action form (namely intravenous administration), so there is no opportunity for a long-term cumulative effect of furosemide on calcium metabolism or bone structure to develop. Consistent with these evaluations, there is no evidence in horse racing of an increased incidence of breakdowns or reduced numbers of starts associated with furosemide use. While the average number of starts per year in Thoroughbred racing has been declining since 1960, there has, if anything, been an actual increase in the number of starts in harness racing over the last 25 years or so (Figure 1). Harness horses race as often as once or twice a week, and those on furosemide receive this medication considerably more often than racing Thoroughbreds. Given this complete lack of effect of furosemide use on the number of starts per year in harness racing, it is clear that furosemide administration is not a factor in the longstanding decline in the average number of starts per year in U.S. Thoroughbred racing. These evaluations are also consistent with the much smaller fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI) rates in harness racing than in Thoroughbred racing. Review of the FMI rates in harness and Thoroughbred races in California from 2009 to 2018 shows one Thoroughbred death per 429 starts while in harness racing there was one death per 11,627 starts, a 27-fold higher FMI rate in

AVERAGE STARTS PER YEAR

FIGURE 1: ANNUAL START RATES FOR STANDARDBREDS AND THOROUGHBREDS

STANDARDBRED

AVERAGE NUMBER OF STARTS

18 16

y = 0.0179x - 18.729 R2 = 0.1755

14 12

THOROUGHBRED

10 8

Standardbred Thoroughbred

y = -0.086x + 179.28 R2 = 0.9596

6 4 2 0 1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

YEAR 38

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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FIGURE 2: STARTS TO PRODUCE ONE EQUINE DEATH

16,000

Ohio Harness Racing 15,648 Starts

STARTS PER DEATH

14,000 12,000

STARTS TO PRODUCE ONE EQUINE DEATH

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0

K K a y K s ct ia hio 04 -93 rni hio ,U g, U uedu uck ing, U inia gin Aus ia, Au ,O 89g, O Califo irg 986 cin ase e, Vir ent q c g 9 r ia, n V 1 a h K r i A o a n 1 r , , i t c r o c , , , t c e e t g g ic ia ng as ia, t ra Vic ing rdl epl Fla tor cin cin s ra tor aci s, V ech Fla Hu rac Ste Vic t ra ase t ra Vic nes le r t , ace epl r a h a , r d a l e g l c a l r g t F F n e p F H S Hu cin aci epl Jum t ra Flat r Ste Fla Data are from published sources circa 2008. Flat racing apparently refers to Thoroughbred racing, with no specification as to surface. Presumably, Australian and English figures refer to Thoroughbred turf racing and those for California and Kentucky refer to racing on dirt. Hurdle racing refers to racing over low jumps, and steeplechase racing to racing over higher and less-forgiving jumps. The jump races in the Victoria, Australia, line refer to pooled hurdle and steeplechase figures in that state, and it is possible that the steeplechase death rate figure for this period is in the order of 1/100 or less, since Victoria steeplechase racing reported an FMI rate of 1 equine death per 90 starts between 1986 and 1993.

With regard to the frequency of anti-EIPH administrations, it is well established that nowadays about 95 percent of North American Thoroughbred horses race on furosemide, so the annual start rate for a horse gives a good indication of the number of racing-related furosemide administrations per year. In harness racing, the percentage of horses racing on furosemide is closer to 50 percent, but harness horses start at about three times the rate of Thoroughbred horses, so if anything, harness horses are, on average, treated with furosemide many more times per year than Thoroughbred horses.

WHAT DO THE CURRENT MEDICATION RULES IN THE U.S. PROVIDE FOR RACING? Therapeutic medications are developed and employed in horses for exactly the same reasons that medications are developed and employed in humans, dogs, cats or any animal. Modern medicine has improved the life expectancy and quality of life not just for humans but also for animals, including horses. In the horse racing industry, we have a responsibility to do everything that we can for the health and safety of the athlete, and this includes therapeutic medications. The argument is often repeated that liberal medication policies have led to a weakening of the breed, a somewhat ludicrous statement considering that

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American-bred Thoroughbreds continue to experience great success across the globe. The actual number of starts per year for each horse is unchanged over the past 12 years and is actually higher for American horses than in many other countries (Figure 3). Restrictions on medications in other countries have led to the growth of unproven supplement use, shockwave therapy and drugs that do not test. The controversial use of bisphosphonates—medications that limit bone turnover but also may be implicated in abnormal fracture repair and are difficult to identify in drug testing—was started in Europe well over 10 years before their approval for use in horses in the United States. Shockwave therapy—another beneficial therapeutic modality that has come under scrutiny for potential implication in catastrophic injuries—was first used in Europe many years before it became available in the United States. It seems unlikely, if we are using Europe as the measuring stick for catastrophic injuries, that either bisphosphonates or shockwave therapy are major contributors to the underlying problem. In the United States, 70 percent to 80 percent of the foal crop actually make it to the races. In other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, this percentage is closer to 30 percent or 35 percent. This difference is multifactorial, so we cannot claim that medication policy or any other single factor is the reason for this two-fold difference. However, one thing is clear: If 39

FEATURE

NUMBER OF STARTS PER YEAR PER HORSE

FIGURE 3: NUMBER OF STARTS PER YEAR BY COUNTRY

Number of races per year per horse 6.5 6.5 6.0 6.0 5.5 5.5 5.0 5.0 4.5 4.5

4.0 4.0

2007 2007

2008 2008

2009 2009

2010 2010

France France

2011 2011

UK UK

2012 2012 Germany Germany

an owner wants to buy a horse to become an active participant in horse racing, that person’s chances of making it into the grandstands in America to watch their horse run are pretty good. This makes horse racing a game for all comers, an average person’s game not restricted to the ranks of the well-heeled. With the dominance of American Thoroughbreds in sheer numbers and success in every jurisdiction and the ownership appeal to anyone who is interested in the sport, it makes no sense to try to follow international rules that are not really working elsewhere.

ARE BREAKDOWN INJURIES AT EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS? Well over half of all American households have dogs or cats as pets, and they are cherished family members for most of us. Many drive-through windows at banks and fast-food restaurants hand out dog biscuits, and even Starbucks will hand you a “Puppuccino” if your pooch is so inclined. Our pets provide unconditional love and receive our dedicated care. And they perish at a rate of about 8 percent per year. To repeat, the beloved, cared-for and even spoiled pets of America die at 8 percent per year. Whether hit by a car, eating something they shouldn’t or any number of fates, house pets, no matter how beloved and well cared for, are at a high risk of death just because we can’t control everything in their lives. Death rates for Thoroughbreds have recently caused headlines like “Raced to Death” that decry huge death rates and perpetuate the idea that industry participants are calloused to the safety and welfare of their athletes. Those of us inside the industry have difficulty understanding where these perceptions come from. The rate at which Thoroughbreds are euthanized due to severe racing injuries averaged 1.68 per 1,000 starts in 2018. The risk to any single horse of such an injury would be 0.168 percent per race, or 1 percent per year, using an average of six starts per year. We can confirm these numbers by looking at the total number of catastrophic injuries and dividing by the number of starters

2013 2013

2014 2014 Australia Australia

2015 2015

2016 2016

2017 2017

US US

in the same years, and this number goes from 1.2 percent in 2009 to 1 percent in 2015, holding steady at 1 percent in the two following years. Of course, catastrophic injuries are not limited to racing competition, as some injuries occur during training. Training injuries also may claim the lives of racehorses, and these occur at about half the rate as racing injuries, so of course, we need to increase that annual death rate by half again as much, raising the “raced to death” statistic to 1.5 percent. Another 0.2 percent of racehorses perish from unrelated reasons, such as colic or pneumonia, so now, the annual rate of death is up to 1.7 percent. As we dive deep into these numbers, it’s starting to look like being a racehorse is far safer than being a lap dog. This narrative does not mean in any way that the racing industry should not limit those injuries that can be prevented anymore than it means that an 8 percent per year death rate is acceptable for our dogs and cats. But it is a far cry from the narrative of “raced to death.” There is little doubt that horses traveling at 40 miles per hour are at greater risk of injury than horses that are not, but the actual rate of death of Thoroughbreds not in training is unknown. Anecdotally, most Thoroughbred farm owners who have horses both on the farm and on the track have higher numbers of catastrophic injuries at the farm than on the track. This is likely because a young mare that develops an injury in the field does not have the benefit of a jockey to pull her up. On the track, if a horse cracks a cannon bone, the jockey immediately pulls up the horse, a move that saves many horses’ lives. Many more horses fracture a leg and go in for surgical repair than the ones that have to be euthanized as lost causes.

WHY DOES THE U.S. CATASTROPHIC INJURY RATE RUN HIGHER THAN THOSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES? When discussing the catastrophic injury rate across different countries, we are not comparing apples to apples. When reporting or recording injuries, most other countries include only horses euthanized directly on the racetrack. The

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Equine Injury Database maintained by The Jockey Club includes horses euthanized within 72 hours of racing. The first step required for a legitimate comparison would be to compare only those horses that are euthanized on the racetrack to the catastrophic injury rate of other countries. Secondly, we can realistically compare only those injury rates on the turf to the rates in other countries where racing only takes place on the turf. The manner in which injuries are reported and compared is not transparent enough to draw the conclusion that there even is a difference between the United States and other countries.

CONCLUSIONS The outcry against horse racing because of the catastrophic injury rate is greatly overblown. However, despite this fact, it is clear that some things can be done to improve the safety and welfare of these athletes. It is at least as important to understand what is not causing the catastrophic injuries as to understand the underlying causes. Distraction from the dogged pursuit of the facts by randomly restricting medications without scientific basis will only prevent any real progress in making horse racing as safe as it can possibly be. Catastrophic injury rates are unchanged in Kentucky from the early 1990s when Class 4 medications including all NSAIDs could be used at four hours to post to

now with 24-hour restrictions on NSAIDs and essentially seven-day restrictions on joint injections. These injuries had a brief downturn after the current uniform medication policies were put in place but have since rebounded. All of the focus on medications has failed to move the needle on catastrophic injuries and instead has contracted the game further. Based on available evidence, the single most important contributing factor to catastrophic injuries is the intervention of a practicing veterinarian. When a veterinarian is called to see a horse and that horse is identified as lame or even injected, it is more likely to be laid up than the horse for whom the veterinarian is not called. The most common veterinary history for a horse with a catastrophic injury is that it was never seen for a lameness. Right now, most horses see a veterinarian about 24 hours before racing. The RCI would have this moved to 48 hours. Right now, a horse that is perhaps not quite right but not unsound can be evaluated seven days before a race. The RCI would have this moved to 14 days. The removal of experienced practitioners from the routine monitoring of the equine athletes is a recipe for disaster, and it is all being perpetrated in the name of animal welfare and safety. Let’s take a step back and really investigate the underlying causes of catastrophic injuries before the elimination of all therapeutic medications returns veterinary medicine to the dark ages. HJ

THE MOST COMMON VETERINARY HISTORY FOR A HORSE WITH A CATASTROPHIC INJURY IS THAT IT WAS NEVER SEEN FOR A LAMENESS. RIGHT NOW, MOST HORSES SEE A VETERINARIAN ABOUT 24 HOURS BEFORE RACING. THE RCI WOULD HAVE THIS MOVED TO 48 HOURS. RIGHT NOW, A HORSE THAT IS PERHAPS NOT QUITE RIGHT BUT NOT UNSOUND CAN BE EVALUATED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE A RACE.

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www.racingohio.net The Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund offers more than $5.7 million in stakes & overnight purses for state-bred runners and includes a lucrative stallion & broodmare incentive program. For more information on our outstanding program, contact Greg Veit, OTRF Administrator 77 S. High Street, 18th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 greg.veit@racing.ohio.gov 614-779-0268

AFFILIATE NEWS ARIZONA HBPA Arizona Downs Update Arizona Downs’ opening was very successful with great crowds and lots of enthusiasm. The clubhouse and grandstand are very nice, and more than 700 horses were originally stabled at the track. On June 14, track owner Tom Auther informed me their main investor decided to pull out, and June 15-16 would possibly be the last weekend of racing. Everyone, including Arizona HBPA President Robert Hutton and myself, started calling and scrambling trying to help Arizona Downs find some new investors. On June 17, Auther had a horsemen’s meeting and informed horse owners that racing would be suspended until an investor could be found. He said he wanted horsemen to stay, and he would keep the track open for training while they continued pursuing investors. After three weeks of searching, Auther called another meeting and told the horsemen that Mike Barro had stepped up and invested some money into the venture and that racing would resume on July 20 and run through September 1. When racing resumed July 20, Arizona Downs had the biggest day of the year so far! Again, a large crowd with lots of enthusiasm and excitement filled the grandstand, clubhouse and apron. Barro’s investment guaranteed purse money for the rest of the season. I have been at Arizona Downs every weekend for racing, and Arizona HBPA board members Debi Ferguson and Kevin Eikleberry have been there almost daily. Hopefully, the rest of the meet goes without further delays. Leroy Gessmann, Arizona HBPA Consultant

HB 2547 and Turf Paradise Update As you know, House Bill 2547 was passed, and the governor did sign the bill. The big question now is will the implementation of the guidelines in the new law be followed? Jerry Simms, majority owner of TP Racing LLC, which operates Turf Paradise, has stated they are not pursuing a lawsuit, but it is yet to be seen what Monarch is going to do regarding simulcasting. We are currently having ongoing stakeholder meetings with the Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing to discuss how we move forward with the new bill that went into effect August 27. Rillito did get their bill passed and has worked out a deal with Turf Paradise that they will receive a portion of Turf Paradise’s purse revenue for Rillito’s purses at the same rate as was done in the past prior to the greyhound legislation going into effect. Under the new law, Rillito can open up to six new OTBs in the next two years. They are in the process of getting that started. The Arizona HBPA board has entered into an arbitration process with Turf Paradise to attempt to settle some contract disputes. Turf Paradise made an attempt at an offer to settle arbitration on July 15, and our board voted to reject that offer 8-0. Arbitration is set for October 3. The items being taken to arbitration are: 1. The dates of our current contract. Is the contract still in effect? 2. The poor condition of the backside and the lack of maintenance and updating. 3. The advertising fund that is being assessed on the HBPA. What is the correct amount? How are the funds being used? 4. Does the Arizona HBPA have the right to deny signal consents? Turf Paradise has been doing some work on the backside this off-season. The inside rail on the training track has been raised to 42 inches all the way around. All the barns have been painted—the ends anyway; however, the L-row

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barns were the only barns that were painted entirely. A new product was applied to the turf track starting at the finish line around to the five-furlong pole. This product, StaLok Fiber, is the same as that used by Del Mar and Santa Anita on their turf tracks. It is a fiber that is drilled into the ground and binds together, forming a webbing and then the roots grow and attach to the webbing, making it more difficult for divots to occur. If it works, Simms has said he will do the rest of the track next summer. Work has started on the new walking path; the path runs along the backside of the racetrack from the five-furlong gap around to the gap at the six-furlong chute. There are trails going through the L-row barns connecting to the street in the K row. However, this path originally was to have a bark surface, but it will instead be sand and be harrowed daily. All restrooms have been painted and cleaned. No red and green emblems this year—just all white! All sinks have been secured and reattached to the wall, with new faucets. The toilets have been replaced where needed, and all have been secured to the floor and have new lids where needed. All of the showers have new faucets, showerheads and curtains. Nothing has been done to any of the roofs, paddock or clubhouse as of now. We also are trying to schedule a meeting with the lobbyist for the Native Americans to start a conversation on sports betting, a meeting with Senator Martha McSally to discuss the proposed national legislation banning Lasix and a meeting with Congressman Paul Gosar to discuss the national legislation dealing with animal welfare.

ARKANSAS HBPA Rick Hammerle Joins Oaklawn’s Racing Department Rick Hammerle, a highly respected racing official with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, has joined Oaklawn’s racing department as racing coordinator. He will work alongside Vice President of Racing Jed Doro and Racing Secretary Pat Pope during the 2020 live racing season that runs January 24 through May 2. Hammerle, who was most recently vice president of racing and racing secretary at Santa Anita, began his career as a racing official in 1987 at Golden Gate Fields. That led to positions at Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and Meadowlands before he returned to his home state of California in 2000 as assistant racing secretary at Santa Anita. He was promoted to racing secretary at Santa Anita in 2003 and also held the dual role of racing coordinator at Del Mar until 2011 when he was promoted again to vice president of racing at Santa Anita. In addition, he has been racing secretary for a record seven Breeders’ Cups and was a member of the Graded Stakes Committee as well as the Breeders’ Cup selection committee. “We are very excited to have Rick join the racing department team,” Doro said. “His experience and connections are going to be invaluable as we continue to grow our racing program. We have a lot of great things happening at Oaklawn right now, and we’re glad Rick is going to be part of it. We’re in the process of building six new barns, and we’re anticipating record purses for the 12th straight year.” “It’s a real privilege to be coming to a place that loves racing, loves the horses and loves the fans the way Oaklawn does,” Hammerle said. “It couldn’t have worked out better for me, and I can’t wait to get started.”

NEWS

Four Million-Dollar Races, Boosted Southwest Stakes Highlight 2020 Oaklawn Season Four $1 million stakes races—the Rebel Stakes (G2), Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Apple Blossom Handicap (G1)—highlight Oaklawn’s 2020 stakes schedule. In addition, the richest Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep series in the country just got richer with significant bumps to the Southwest Stakes (G3), Honeybee Stakes (G3) and Fantasy Stakes (G3). “We have so many great things happening now at Oaklawn, and it’s reflected in our remarkable stakes program scheduled for the 2020 season,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are especially proud of the increases we made to our 3-year-old series for horses on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trail.” Oaklawn’s rich 3-year-old program for colts and geldings begins opening day, January 24, with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and culminates closing day, May 2, with the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational, which is returning to the schedule following a successful debut in 2019. In between are the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (the Presidents’ Day Monday feature, which has received a $250,000 increase over 2019), the Rebel Stakes on March 14 and the Arkansas Derby on April 11. Rebel Stakes weekend also will feature three other stakes, including the inaugural $125,000 Temperence Hill Stakes March 13 for 4-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles. The race is named in honor of the 1980 champion 3-year-old who won the Rebel, Arkansas Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1) before returning the following year to win the Oaklawn Handicap. Oaklawn has boosted the purses of all three races in its 3-year-old fillies series in 2020 starting with a $25,000 increase to the $150,000 Martha Washington Stakes on February 1. Both the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes on March 7 and the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 10 received $100,000 increases. The Racing Festival of the South kicks off April 10 with the Fantasy Stakes and is followed the next day, April 11, with the Arkansas Derby and three other stakes: the $200,000 Carousel Stakes, $250,000 Oaklawn Mile and $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3). The Carousel for filly and mare sprinters received a $50,000 increase and joins the Derby Day card for the first time. For the first time in Oaklawn history, the Racing Festival of the South continues past the Arkansas Derby and will conclude the following Saturday, April 18, with the Oaklawn Handicap for 4-year-olds and up and the Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares. Both races received an increase of $250,000 over their 2019 purses. “My father conceived the idea for the Racing Festival of the South in 1974, and since that time, it’s become one of the most prominent events on the national racing calendar,” Cella said. “I think he would be thrilled to see the purses of the Oaklawn Handicap and Apple Blossom at $1 million each.” Oaklawn’s 2020 stakes schedule features 33 races worth $10.7 million. Overall, 15 of the 33 races received purse increases, including four Arkansas-bred stakes. The 57-day season begins January 24 and continues through May 2.

CHARLES TOWN HBPA Purse Increases Take Effect at Charles Town Owners, trainers and jockeys noticed a purse increase for all of the overnight races on the card beginning on August 8. That came as a result of Senate Bill 13, which returns $11 million annually to West Virginia’s racing industries. The funds had been taken from the racing industry to pay off the West Virginia 46

Workers’ Compensation Deficit Reduction Fund. The bill passed with overwhelming majorities in both houses and was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice. “Any increase in a daily purse distribution is certainly a good thing for the track and the horsemen,” said Erich Zimny, Charles Town’s vice president of racing operations. “It’s not a secret that the amount of money going into the purse fund from gaming revenue has taken a hit due to the competition that’s come online in neighboring states. When owners or breeders look toward where they want to race or breed, the availability of purse money obviously plays a significant role. More than likely, any increase in horse availability is going to be a gradual process, but it doesn’t negate the fact that this purse increase puts the Charles Town program in a much better place.” Other changes include increased deductions for aftercare of horses and an increase in jockey mount fees.

Charles Town Track Kitchen to Reopen The Charles Town HBPA is pleased to announce that a new vendor has been approved for the track kitchen. A number of applications were received, and after interviewing several candidates, the committee decided that James and Brenda Wilhelm brought the right mix of experience, a great menu, affordable prices and awareness of the needs of the horsemen.

Charles Town HBPA General Membership Meeting The next general membership meeting for the Charles Town HBPA will be held Tuesday, September 17, at 11 a.m. in the racetrack grandstand.

Retirement Plan for Backstretch Personnel Q&A If you participate in the Retirement Plan for Backstretch Personnel, you should attend the general membership meeting on Tuesday, September 17, at 11 a.m. in the racetrack grandstand. There are changes coming to the plan in 2020, and Administrative Committee attorney Mike Lloyd will be there to discuss those changes and answer questions.

Charles Town HBPA Sponsors Award at the Thoroughbred Makeover The Charles Town HBPA is pleased to sponsor the Wild & Wonderful Awards at the Thoroughbred Makeover to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 2-5. These awards provide $1,000 for first place in any category and $500 for second or third in any category. To be eligible for an award, the horse must have had six starts or more at Charles Town or be a West Virginia-bred with at least one start at Charles Town.

Charles Town to Host 11th Annual Race for the Ribbon Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is once again partnering with the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative Inc. to present the 11th annual Race for the Ribbon on Saturday, September 21. The event will feature a 5K fun run, the Race for the Ribbon track walk, a silent auction, a night of Thoroughbred racing and other events at the property throughout the day. Prior editions have raised approximately $160,000 for breast cancer care and treatment in the state. Events will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the fifth running of the Race for the Ribbon 5K that will start and finish at Hollywood Casino. The event is a stroller-friendly walk/run open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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AFFILIATE NEWS West Virginia Breeders Classics XXXII The West Virginia Breeders Classics XXXII will take place October 12 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Now celebrating 33 years, the West Virginia Breeders Classics event has generated $25 million in purses for the breeders and horsemen of West Virginia and become the premier horse racing event on Charles Town’s fall calendar. The West Virginia Breeders Classics also includes a golf tournament and gala as well as charitable donations to important local and statewide organizations. The brainchild of National Football League Hall of Famer and West Virginia native Sam Huff, the West Virginia Breeders Classics is a one-night event with a year-round impact for West Virginia Thoroughbred racing and breeding. Post time is 7 p.m., and the races will air on TVG.

THE 11TH ANNUAL RACE FOR THE RIBBON WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 21.

Registration is available at imathlete.com/events/racefortheribbon5k2019. All participants in the Race for the Ribbon 5K will receive a swag bag and T-shirt, with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races donating all entry fees to the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative. Following the 5K is the ceremonial walk around the track at noon, and each $25 donation for participation in the walk will come with a commemorative T-shirt. Throughout the day, patrons also are invited to check out the pink lemonade stand, silent auction and pink hat contest, which will award cash prizes for the best hats in show. At 5 p.m., an evening of world-class Thoroughbred racing kicks off. The card includes eight stakes, headlined by the second graded race on Charles Town’s calendar, the $300,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3) for 3-year-old fillies. New for 2019 is the inaugural running of the $100,000 Dickie Moore, named after the track’s longtime general manager of racing who retired at the end of 2018. Being reprised once again is the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes in honor of Misty Bennett, the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative’s mission and outreach coordinator who passed away in March of last year. Here’s the full stakes lineup on Race for the Ribbon day: • Charles Town Oaks (G3) 3yo fillies 7 furlongs $300,000 • Dickie Moore Stakes 2yo fillies 7 furlongs $100,000 • Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes 3yo and up fillies and mares 7 furlongs $75,000 • Henry Mercer Memorial WV-bred 2yos 4 ½ furlongs $50,000 • Rachel’s Turn Stakes WV-bred 2yo fillies 4 ½ furlongs $50,000 • Sadie Hawkins Stakes WV-bred 3yo and up fillies and mares 7 furlongs $50,000 • Frank Gall Memorial WV-bred 3yos and up 7 furlongs $50,000 The Race for the Ribbon card is responsible for six of the eight largest non-Charles Town Classic day all-sources handle figures in track history with the 2013 card holding the record for wagering volume on a non-Classic program with more than $2.2 million wagered. In its short history, the Charles Town Oaks has seen the likes of multiple Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Groupie Doll, as well as Grade 1 winners Her Smile, Book Review and So Many Ways, take to the gate to contest it. In 2018 Late Night Pow Wow scored a popular win for the local contingent by taking the Oaks and becoming just the second West Virginia-bred and -sired horse to win a graded stakes.

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FLORIDA HBPA Florida Horsemen Bedding Down Into Horse Shavings Business

Aside from the cost of hay and feed, one of the biggest expenses in horse care is usually bedding—the soft, wood shavings that line the inside of stalls to keep horses clean and comfortable. “With our membership of nearly 6,000 racehorse owners and trainers doing business in Florida and a horse population of nearly 3,500 supporting Florida horse racing, the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association saw an immediate need to help keep the cost of bedding down while putting funds back into our industry,” said FHBPA board member Chuck Simon, a prominent trainer who will be spearheading the new shavings program named Gulfstream Horsemen’s Purchasing Association (GHPA). Working with suppliers, the GHPA created a proprietary blend of medium to large wood shavings using top-of-the-line Southern Pine timber. The product was designed to spread and absorb well. “Most importantly, our horse owners and trainers will see a substantial cost savings,” Simon noted, citing several similar horsemen-operated programs at racetracks nationwide. The GHPA shavings are being sold in 10 cubic-foot expanded bags for an introductory price of $4.95 per bag. While the shavings are available only at Thoroughbred centers directly connected with Gulfstream Park, such as Gulfstream Park West (Calder), Palm Meadows and Palm Beach Downs, the GHPA has plans to expand its service and 47

NEWS its product offerings. Meanwhile, the FHBPA will use profits from the GHPA shavings sales to create and expand various horsemen’s programs—part of its longstanding mission of “horsemen helping horsemen.”

Florida HBPA Notes Court OK for Racehorse Breeders, Sales Company to Intervene in Calder Pari-Mutuel ‘Permit-Swapping’ Case

FHBPA Scholarship Gave Chance a Leg Up

In May 2019, the Florida HBPA noted a Florida administrative court’s approval for two key horse racing industry organizations to join its ongoing fight against Calder Casino and Race Course’s so-called pari-mutuel permit swap. In an order issued May 7, Judge Darren A. Schwartz cleared the way for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company to intervene in the FHBPA’s effort to keep Thoroughbred horse racing at Calder rather than replace it with jai alai. Because Florida requires an underlying operational pari-mutuel permit to grant a slot machine license in Miami-Dade County, Calder’s move to “swap” its permit is widely seen as a means to keep its lucrative casino without the larger overhead of horse racing. The FHBPA initiated the lawsuit against Calder in 2018. “Millions of dollars that would otherwise be available through the payments of awards from Thoroughbred races would be lost if Calder is permitted to switch its underlying pari-mutuel activity from racing Thoroughbreds to conducting jai alai games,” Judge Schwartz wrote. Although Calder received state regulatory approval to operate its “summer jai alai” permit, the FHBPA has meanwhile filed a legal action that questions the process and legitimacy of the permit’s issuance. “We’re soundly heartened and encouraged by the court’s recognition of our horsemen’s collective economic engine and job creation contributions to Florida,” FHBPA Board Chairman Stephen Screnci said. “Indeed, each aspect of our business and each investor who has brought money into Florida expecting to enjoy a return on their racehorse investment is critically supported by having a viable horse racing venue at Calder.”

Trainer James Picou Passes Away Trainer James “Jimmy” E. Picou died July 19 in South Florida following a long illness. He was 85. Picou trained Thoroughbreds for 45 years based in New York and Florida before retiring in 2004. He trained for many notable owners including Fred Hooper, Mrs. J.O. Burgwin, Joseph Roebling and Marcia Schott. Jimmy was one of 16 children born to French (Cajun) parents Talton JIMMY PICOU and Adelaide Picou in southeast Texas. Jimmy and his brother, Clarence, began riding at the bush tracks of Louisiana and Texas. Jimmy began his racing career as a jockey in 1949 winning around 200 races. He then began an illustrious training career with numerous major stakes winners, including Val’s Prince, Diplomatic Jet, Stub, Whata Brainstorm, Fall Aspen, Susan’s Girl, Willow Hour, Mr. Brick, Quillo Queen, Feeling Gallant, Palm Hut and Bonnie and Gay. Jimmy built a reputation for his talent in developing racehorses and as a gentleman at his profession. He is survived by his son, Jim Picou, and daughters Debbie Markowski and Lisa Picou. His wife, Helen, passed away in December 2016. Clarence died in November 1998. COGLIANESE PHOTOS

Training Thoroughbreds to make a living as a single mother wasn’t easy for Terri Pompay. Slogging seven days a week on the Florida and Northeastern racing circuit meant she often had to leave her young son, Chance, in her truck while she worked. Like any other kid, Chance spent some of his time alone playing video games and, of course, helping his mom. But Chance wasn’t just any kid. While he waited for Terri to finish work, the truck became a haven for him to pursue his love of history and archeology. He studied. His grades flourished and he aced his SAT. “I spent a lot of time reading and learning about ancient things,” he said. So it came as no surprise when, one day, the fabled college acceptance letter came from his dream school, Boston University. “I was desperate for money to help him get there,” Terri explained. “I didn’t know what to do.” That’s when she heard about the FHBPA student scholarship program. Chance applied for FHBPA assistance, got selected and was soon on his way to Boston. “Every little bit of money was helping,” Terri said. Just four years later, he’s now returned home sporting not only a bachelor’s degree in archaeology and classical civilization but also a master’s in archaeology. While currently walking hots part-time for Terri, he’s working toward his Ph.D. and planning his transition into professional archaeology. Little did he realize how his early years of moving back and forth among racetracks and interacting with the diversity of the backstretch would map his fascination with the transient history of human civilization. “Horse racing has been around for centuries,” he noted. “A lot of experience at the track I can bring to bear in archaeology.” Indeed, what he learned from his mom about interacting with racehorse owners, making connections and deals and adapting to new racetrack environments and people will help him out greatly in the archeology field, much of which takes place in foreign countries. Quietly articulate, eloquent and thoughtful, Chance also sees himself as a horse racing ambassador. The FHBPA scholarship helped introduce his horse racing background to his classmates, many of whom would otherwise have never known anything about the sport if it were not for meeting Chance at school. His advice to future FHBPA scholarship applicants: “Let your passion speak for you in your application essay,” he said. “If you make it clear that you really do want to accomplish your goals and you think it will be a big help, it’s a big help in applying.” This year, 14 worthy students of South Florida Thoroughbred horse racing backstretch families will be splitting nearly $40,000 of financial aid from the Florida HBPA, after the FHBPA Board Scholarship Committee chaired by Herb Oster reviewed the applications and determined the 2019 recipients. Horsemen’s financial support for these students will help spread our economic impact far into Florida and nationwide and create ambassadors for our sport through the students’ selected colleges, including Broward College, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of South Florida, ASA College, Duke University, Hebron Technical Institute, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University and College of Central Florida.

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AFFILIATE NEWS INDIANA HBPA Ownership and Legislation Updates Eldorado Resorts has entered into an agreement to buy 51 percent of Caesars Entertainment; the sale is scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2020. If successful, Eldorado will become the largest casino operator in the United States. Caesars Entertainment owns Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Indiana, along with Harrah’s Hoosier Park located in Anderson, Indiana. Caesars also owns two other casinos in Indiana: Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond and Horseshoe Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, just west of Louisville, Kentucky. In 2019 the Indiana Legislature passed the largest gaming bill since the inception and passage of casino gambling, and Indiana horsemen were active in the session, enabling the passage of several key laws. Most important, live table games will be enacted on January 1, 2020, rather than July 1, 2021. Live table game revenue dedicated to the horse racing industry will be at the same percentage and handled in the same manner as slots revenue. It is estimated the additional revenue from live table games will add approximately $4 million to Thoroughbred purses and awards and be a boost across the board for the entire race program.

New Indiana HBPA Initiatives

A THREE-ON-THREE SOCCER LEAGUE IS JUST ONE OF THE NEW THINGS THE INDIANA HBPA IS TRYING.

The Indiana HBPA has started three initiatives this summer. The first is a community garden in which backside workers can grow their own fresh vegetables. Indiana Grand supplied the area for the garden, and the Indiana HBPA provided plants to those wishing to participate, along with all of the tools and a watering tank to maintain the garden. The second initiative is a movie night in which a major movie is shown on a dark day on the Indiana Grand Jumbotron, and a meal is provided including Mexican food, burgers, hot dogs and Papa John’s pizzas. The third initiative is a three-on-three soccer league that plays twice a week with a monthly tournament in which medals are awarded to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. Cold sodas and water along with food are provided at the events. There are approximately 50 players at each event and another 20 spectators that enjoy the recreation opportunity. In addition, the Indiana HBPA was the presenting corporate sponsor of the Jockeys and Jeans event held at Santa Anita on June 22 that benefited the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. This is a great event to assist fallen riders who depend on financial assistance from the PDJF, which relies strictly on donations. The PDJF has no permanent funding, which I believe is a problem within our industry that must be corrected. I encourage all horsemen’s organizations throughout all jurisdictions across the United States to get involved both by financial contributions and using their respective platforms to raise awareness of this most worthwhile organization.

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I am so proud to have the honor of representing the men and women of the Indiana HBPA who are so committed to this program. Brian Elmore, Indiana HBPA Executive Director

Former NCAA National Champion Kent Benson Speaks at Indiana HBPA Fellowship Event Kent Benson, a member of the undefeated 1976 Indiana Hoosiers NCAA national championship basketball team, provided a program during the Indiana HBPA’s Fellowship Night on August 29. The event included dinner followed by the talk from Benson at the Backstretch Café at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. A native of New Castle, Indiana, Benson was named 1973 Indiana Mr. Basketball. He went on to an outstanding career at Indiana University. In addition to serving as a member of the 32-0 team of 1976, Benson is the eighth all-time leading scorer in IU KENT BENSON, WHO PLAYED history and one of only three players ON COACH BOBBY KNIGHT’S to grab more than 1,000 rebounds 1976 NCAA CHAMPION INDIANA during his tenure in Bloomington. HOOSIERS BASKETBALL TEAM, A No. 1 draft pick in 1977, BenWAS THE FEATURED SPEAKER AT INDIANA HBPA FELLOWSHIP son went on to play in the NBA for 11 NIGHT. seasons with Milwaukee, Detroit, Utah and Cleveland. He retired from basketball in 1989. Benson now serves as a motivational speaker. His talk focused on striving for excellence with a focus on “six D’s” he has identified as key to achieving one’s goals: desire, determination, dedication, discipline, direction and decision. Although his program is geared for all ages, his insights into growing up in Indiana, sports and life are especially effective for junior high and high school students. Benson, who was the 1973 Fellowship of Christian Athletes High School Athlete of the Year, also talked about his testimony and walk with God to cap off the program. The 30-minute program concluded with a question-and-answer session. In addition to dinner, the Indiana HBPA provided random drawings to four lucky attendees for IU-Hoosiers red-and-white basketballs autographed by Benson. The public was encouraged to bring items for autographs. Courtesy photo slicks of Benson in action at IU also were provided for the meet-and-greet with guests.

Back to School/PDJF Night Held at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino Indiana Grand Racing & Casino participated in the July 27 PDJF Racing Across America, an event held at various racetracks across the country. The entire evening was dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Indiana Grand jockeys participated in several activities throughout the night, including a jockey foot race from the starting gate, a tug of war with the track maintenance crew and a dunk tank. Also, racing fans purchased used racehorse shoes provided by paddock blacksmith Buddy Rickly, who sold out of the popular souvenir. During the popular “Peppermints for Ponies,” fans could buy peppermints to feed to the pony horses between several races, with all proceeds going to PDJF. 49

NEWS In addition to the activities for PDJF, a portion of the evening was dedicated to back-to-school activities providing younger racing fans will all types of free activities. Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story made a special appearance while kids enjoyed face painting, a coloring station, animals from Silly Safaris and airbrush tattoos. The Indiana HBPA provided eight backpack giveaways throughout the night along with a Dell laptop giveaway that was won by William Bishop of Clark Pleasant Middle School in nearby Whiteland. The Indiana HBPA also donated $10,000 to PDJF in a special presentation between races. The organization is also involved with the Jockeys and Jeans event held annually to support PDJF. Rodney Prescott, Indiana’s all-time leading jockey, took a turn in the dunk tank and was part of the team that defeated the track maintenance crew in the tug of war. Prescott, who is secretary of the Jockeys’ Guild, takes part in the activities each year to raise funding and awareness for PDJF. “The PDJF is so important to our industry, and I’m really glad we can participate in this national event,” Prescott said. “It’s always a lot of fun, and the jockeys really enjoy the entire night.” Several hundred dollars was raised for PDJF through the activities during the night. In addition, trainer Genaro Garcia, Indiana Grand’s current leading trainer, and owner Bruce Murphy donated $300 to the cause. “We actually had to turn away jockeys from the foot race we had so many wanting to participate,” said Steve Cahill, clerk of scales at Indiana Grand. “These guys really enjoy this night, and once again, the jockeys remain undefeated in the tug of war. We weighed the jockeys, and 12 jockeys were right at 1,335 pounds compared to seven track maintenance crew members, who weighed in right at 1,340 pounds. Hats off to the track crew for coming over and participating in the tug of war. It is always a lot of fun, and the main thing is to raise funding and awareness for PDJF.”

Grand Experience Travels to Duran Farm for UpClose Look at a Breeding Farm Grand Experience, the popular free interactive program for racing fans of all ages, went on the road in July. Presented by the Indiana HBPA, the event normally held at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino was instead held at Katie and Tony Duran’s farm in Shelbyville. Lunch was provided along with a tour of their breeding farm. Grand Experience provides guests of the monthly program with a behindthe-scenes look at Thoroughbred racing. The event focuses on a different topic each month showcasing the different aspects of the Thoroughbred industry. The event at Duran Farm gave fans an up-close-and-personal look at a breeding farm complete with broodmares and weanlings. Industry experts also were on hand to answer questions about the Indiana Thoroughbred breeding program. Other events planned for 2019 through the Indiana HBPA’s Grand Experience include “Come Along for the Ride” with former jockey and chaplain Otto Thorwarth set for Saturday, September 21, beginning at 9 a.m., and held trackside at Indiana Grand.

IOWA HBPA 2018 Awards for IA HBPA and ITBOA The annual Iowa HBPA Awards were held May 18 for the category winners of the 2018 racing meet. The awards presentation was once again held in conjunction with the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.

Danny Caldwell was named Owner of the Year for the IA HBPA. This is the fifth time Caldwell has held the title. In 2018, he had 200 starts, and his horses won 50 races, including multiple stakes, with earnings of $974,795. Horse of the Year honors for 2018 went to Remembering Rita, who started nine times during the year and won three, with his largest victory coming in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3). In all, Remembering Rita had total earnings of $253,846 in 2018. Remembering Rita is owned by Jeral Keith Adams and trained by Doug Anderson. Claimer of the Year for 2018 was Wise Eyes with total earnings of $69,643. This Iowa-bred had eight starts with three wins. Wise Eyes is owned by Caldwell and trained by Federico Villafranco. Trainer of the Year honors went to Karl Broberg for the third year in a row. He had 264 starts, with 82 wins for total earnings of $1,198,815.

HART Silent Auction Held During Iowa Festival of Racing On Friday, July 5, during Prairie Meadows’ Festival of Racing, the local horse rehabilitation and retraining program Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds held a silent auction in the fourth-floor clubhouse. All proceeds went to benefit HART, which aids in the placing and retraining of Thoroughbreds when their racing careers are over at Prairie Meadows. The auction was held online with a viewing for the first time ever. From all accounts, the new format for the auction was a resounding success. More than $7,000 was raised for HART. “We want to thank all the people who provided items and purchased from the auction this year,” said Jon Moss, president of HART. “All the profits go directly to the aftercare of the horses in the program that do so much for us here at Prairie Meadows and racing in general. Again, a big thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to holding it again next year!”

KENTUCKY HBPA President’s Message The Horseracing Integrity Act gained some notoriety and supposed momentum when 16 trainers decided to support the legislation. The trainers on the list have an opinion, but I believe it is countered by the significant number of horsemen nationwide who emphatically disagree with their stance. One wonders how many trainers who were contacted about signing the letter refused to sign it. The letter begins by referring to the string of events at Santa Anita that have shaken public confidence. Amid the furor is the fact that the racing surface was compromised. It is interesting that with all the new measures enacted, injuries to horses continued. Finally, it appears they are addressing the real culprit—the racing surface. Further, the letter states that Thoroughbred drug testing will be placed in the capable hands of an independent board composed of “non-conflicted” equine experts and representatives of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. I gather that the non-conflicted equine experts will maintain that status as long as they echo the ideologies of USADA, which includes running without Lasix on race day. As I have previously stated, the Association of Racing Commissioners International in a press release stated that the decision to ban race-day Lasix “encourages a return to practices deemed cruel, inhumane or potentially dangerous to the health and welfare of a horse.”

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AFFILIATE NEWS

KY Downs Opened in Sep. 2011 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

$284,520 $1,759,874 $2,529,945 $2,813,398 $3,234,741 $4,325,658 $5,825,855 $7,336,067 $4,575,065 $32,685,123

TOTAL PURSES EARNED Ellis Park Keeneland/Red Mile Opened in Aug. 2012 Opened in Sep. 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

$76,052 $248,034 $344,347 $524,571 $739,468 $629,771 $790,249 $479,936 $3,832,428

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

$364,062 $2,018,965 $2,340,021 $2,411,330 $1,498,637 $8,633,015

Derby City Gaming Opened in Sep. 2018

2018 $2,051,596 2019 $5,402,646 $7,454,242

Grand Totals $52,604,808

2019 figures are thru June

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

Ellis Park Update The strong meet at Ellis Park continued as the ultimate advertisement for horsemen and tracks working together for the benefit of all. Thanks to an agreement between the Kentucky HBPA and Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs, $5 million in purse money MR CUB (MIDDLE IN BLACK BLINKERS), and Kentucky Thoroughbred WITH BRIAN HERNANDEZ JR. UP, TAKES Development Fund suppleTHE KENTUCKY DOWNS PREVIEW TOURIST MILE STAKES. ments were transferred from Kentucky Downs to Ellis Park for the 2019 meet. The results have been startling and are an important factor in keeping horses and their associated jobs in the commonwealth during the summer. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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“I know it sounds like a broken record, but it just shows how much we can accomplish working together,” said Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky HBPA. “What Kentucky Downs does for Ellis Park in consultation with us is extraordinary and makes possible a return to a true KIDS PET A RACEHORSE-TURNED-STABLE circuit. With Churchill PONY RIDDEN BY MITCH DENNISON, Downs’ skyrocketing purses WHO RUNS TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN’S thanks to their Derby City ELLIS PARK DIVISION, AS PART OF THE Gaming historical horse FAN-EDUCATION PROGRAM MAKING OF racing facility, Kentucky A RACEHORSE, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TRACK AND THE increasingly is the place KENTUCKY HBPA. to be.” Ellis Park used some of the money to stage the second Kentucky Downs Preview Day, which added a race this year for five $100,000 turf stakes on August 4. The event is designed to provide Ellis Park a marquee day with stakes positioned as steppingstones to Kentucky Downs’ elite five-date meet that offers the highest average daily purses in the world outside of Japan. The races produced two course records and three results flirting with the record, with two races apiece being won by a head and neck and the other by a half-length. The five winners all received entry fees-paid berths in the corresponding stakes at Kentucky Downs, and their connections indicated that all five would point there. Lloyd Madison Farms IV’s May Lily, with Gabriel Saez up for trainer Greg Foley, started the stakes action by winning the inaugural KDP Ladies Sprint by a head over odds-on favorite Surrender Now in a four-horse photo. In a race in which three-quarters of a length separated the top four, the Ian Wilkes-trained Mr Cub and jockey Brian Hernandez edged Siem Reap by a neck, with the classy multiple graded stakes victor and 2018 winner Mr. Misunderstood another neck back in the KDP Tourist Mile. Trained by red-hot Rusty Arnold, Totally Boss stamped himself as a horse with a big future, rallying from near last to wear down 2018 winner Jazzy Times to take the 5 ½-furlong Turf Sprint by a half-length in a course-record 1:00.26 under Florent Geroux. Kallio, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Brendan Walsh, caught frontrunning Classy Act in the final strides for a neck victory in the KDP Ladies Turf. Geroux earned his second stakes and second course record as the Brad Cox-trained Factor This led most of the way before holding off 36-1 Botswana and My Boy Jack by a head in the KDP Kentucky Turf Cup, running 1 ¼ miles in 1:59.12. “I’m gearing up for Kentucky Downs,” said Geroux, a former meet riding champion at that track and who is riding regularly at Ellis Park for the first time. “I’m glad Ellis Park was able to offer that kind of money in the stakes races, to have those nice purses and have a nice steppingstone to Kentucky Downs.” Kentucky horsemen also continued to be a force in stakes throughout the country. The day before Kentucky Downs Preview Day, Cox captured Saratoga’s Grade 1 Test with Covfefe and Del Mar’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon with Beau Recall. Arnold also had Saratoga stakes success just prior to Ellis’ preview day with Leinster taking the Grade 3 Troy on August 3 and Concrete Rose the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 2. Mike Maker sent out Henley’s Joy, an Ellis Park debut winner who took the Kentucky Downs Juvenile in his second start last summer, to win Belmont Park’s COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

At The Jockey Club Roundtable, the panelists are handpicked by The Jockey Club, and all sing from the same hymn book. There are no opportunities to ask questions of the presenters. The gist of their prepared statements is that Lasix is the root of all that is wrong in racing. Yet, it was The Jockey Club that commissioned the important South African study, authored by Paul Morley, Kenneth Hinchcliff and Alan Guthrie, three scientists with impeccable credentials, concluding that Lasix markedly decreased both the incidences and severity of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. What is especially telling in the South African study is “the challenge will be for countries such as Australia, England, Hong Kong and South Africa that do not currently permit race-day use of Lasix to balance the animal welfare aspect of being able to prevent or reduce the condition, i.e., EIPH, against the imperatives for drug-free racing.” Ellis Park continues to be a genuine success story. The new owners, Ellis Entertainment, have shown tremendous enthusiasm and intent to take Ellis Park to a prominent position in Thoroughbred racing. Thanks to the enormous success of Kentucky Downs’ historical horse racing operation, the KHBPA has been able to send millions of dollars to Ellis Park for its purse program. The infusion of purse money has given horsemen an opportunity to stay in Kentucky and run their horses here. The dramatic increase in Churchill Downs’ purses is directly attributable to its historical horse racing facility in proximity to the racetrack. Please take a few minutes to review the accompanying chart regarding purses attributable to historical horse racing. We continue to communicate and hold out hope that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will develop a workable solution to restore Turfway Park and provide horsemen an opportunity to race with an appreciable increase in purses during the difficult winter months. We will keep you updated on the Turfway Park situation. Good luck in your racing endeavors. Rick Hiles, KHBPA President

NEWS Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby on July 6. Promises Fulfilled won the Grade 2 John A. Nerud for trainer Dale Romans on that undercard. The Churchill Downs-based Bret Calhoun put Mr. Money on the road after two Churchill Downs stakes victories, sweeping the Grade 3 Indiana and West Virginia Derbies with an eye on the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Indiana Grand’s signature Indiana Derby card featured four Kentucky-based winners in its six stakes, including the Larry Jones-trained Street Band in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. Trainers sent horses from Kentucky to sweep Arlington’s trio of graded stakes July 13: Cox with Juliet Foxtrot in the Modesty, Jack Sisterson with Bandua in the Arlington Handicap, Mike Maker with Faraway Kitten in the American Derby. That same day, Eddie Kenneally won Saratoga’s Grade 3 Sanford with Churchill Downs debut winner By Your Side and a $100,000 stakes at Delaware with Parlor, who has raced at all five Kentucky tracks. But more Kentucky horsemen are keeping their top 2-year-olds at home, with Walsh, Mark Casse and Robertino Diodoro among those having divisions stabled at Ellis Park for the first time or, in the case of Casse, the first time in a quarter-century. Most notable: Romans, long among the chief cheerleaders for Ellis Park, sent out Albaugh Family Stables’ budding superstar Dennis’ Moment to a 19 ¼-length victory over a field of highly regarded 2-year-olds in near-record time under a hand ride by Miguel Mena. Kentucky owners, trainers and breeders rallied around Ellis Park’s fundraiser with Louisville’s ESPN 680 and Kentuckiana Friends of V, a V Foundation affiliate, to raise more than $11,000 for cancer research on August 11, the day of the track’s signature $125,000 Groupie Doll Stakes and $100,000 Ellis Park Derby. Giving the fundraiser a big boost was Louisville owner Clinton Glasscock, who heads Two Dimes Stable and committed 10 percent of the purse if the partnership’s Mr Darcy won a $53,000 allowance race earlier that day. The Angel Montano-trained Mr Darcy won as the longest shot in the field, earning more than $3,000 for the nonprofit. Longtime Kentucky fixture Paul McGee took the Groupie Doll with Go Google Yourself, while UAE Derby and Indiana Derby runner-up Gray Magician earned his first stakes victory for California-based Peter Miller, who has a division based in Louisville for the first time. The Kentucky HBPA again staged College Day at Ellis Park on July 21 with the horsemen presenting a laptop via a drawing after every race and teaming with the track to provide another student with a $1,000 scholarship. Winners attended schools from as far away as UCLA and SUNY Morrisville in upstate New York, along with local and regional colleges, universities and vocational schools. Making of a Racehorse, the free, family-friendly fan-education program inspired by Kentucky HBPA board member John Hancock, was held for the fourth year, hosted by Hancock and Jennie Rees, the Kentucky HBPA’s communications specialist and Ellis Park publicity director. The program, held on a Saturday morning, allows the public to see up-close what goes on in the morning to get horses ready for the afternoon. The Kentucky HBPA’s annual horsemen’s picnic took place August 7 at Ellis Park with the event well-attended by horsemen and track personnel who enjoyed chicken dinners catered by Henderson’s J&B Barbecue and with Ellis Park video manager Scott Graves serving as digital deejay.

Update on Permanent Resident Cards and H-2B Visas Permanent resident cards are a popular topic on the backstretches of many racetracks across the country. The process to obtain a PRC through an employer is smooth and seamless. Essentially, it can be accomplished in a little over a year as compared to five years in the past. 52

Julio Rubio, KHBPA’s backstretch services coordinator and Hispanic liaison, and Will Velie, an attorney and developer of Horseman Labor Solutions, have crisscrossed the country in the past several months, visiting various racetracks and walking shedrows to discuss the PRC program with trainers and their stable employees. Most recently, at Saratoga, a number of trainers, including Shug McGaughey, signed up for PRCs for their stable employees, many of whom are currently here on work visas. Trainers are supportive and sponsor their employees who have been working for them for quite a while. This is especially important since the workers can finally bring their family members to live with them in the United States. We encourage employers who are interested to please contact Julio Rubio at the Kentucky HBPA for more information. On the H-2B visa front, we are encouraging trainers to apply for November visas to avoid the risk of not getting visas next spring. H-2B visas are in such high demand in the spring that every year there is a limited supply of visas and many trainers find themselves without a full complement of workers. Therefore, if you are a trainer who moves south for the winter and is in need of employees, we recommend you apply for visas well in advance. For those of you interested in applying for H-2B visas for the winter, now is the time to start. To reiterate, if you don’t want to be short-staffed this winter, apply now! Please contact Julio or Will for more information.

The HBPA Is You The HBPA, established in 1940, is an organization of owners and trainers numbering approximately 30,000 nationally in 23 states and Canada and more than 6,000 in Kentucky. The association is governed by a board of directors consisting of owners and trainers volunteering their time and elected by the membership every three years. The HBPA is committed to working for the betterment of racing on all levels. The HBPA represents owners and trainers on several fronts: • The HBPA is present in negotiating sessions with each racetrack regarding purse structure, equitable share of simulcast revenues, overall track safety, sanitation and security. • The HBPA provides benevolence to horsemen in need, education and recreation programs to the backstretch, and various insurance packages that include—free of charge to members—fire and disaster insurance and claiming coverage. Visit one of the fully staffed HBPA offices at the currently running racetrack in Kentucky for details. • The HBPA works in conjunction with the chaplaincy program and the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund to provide support and benefits for horsemen. • The HBPA supports scientific research and marketing initiatives on a regional and national level to help promote interest in Thoroughbred racing. • The HBPA is at the forefront in litigation and legislation on issues involving horsemen’s rights in regard to interstate simulcasting, proprietary rights, casino gambling, therapeutic medication, sports betting and many other areas of concern to horsemen. How can I join? You are invited to drop by the HBPA office to meet the staff and learn more about current projects and how you can get involved in helping to improve the industry. There are no membership fees. Remember, this is your organization. Become an active participant and one of the horsemen helping horsemen. To join, all you need to do is fill out our membership card and fax, mail or email it back to us. For more information, please visit our website at kyhbpa.org and click on “How to Join.”

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AFFILIATE NEWS

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs 2019 Race Meet

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NEWS

Delta Downs The 2019–20 Thoroughbred meet at Delta Downs begins October 8 and ends February 29. Louisiana Premier Night is February 8, featuring approximately $1 million in purses for Louisiana-bred horses. For additional information, contact the Delta Downs racing office at (888) 589-7223.

Evangeline Downs The 2019 American Quarter Horse meet at Evangeline Downs begins September 27 and ends December 14. On November 15, the trials for the $1 million LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity (RG1) will be conducted with the final on December 7. On November 16, the trials for the LQHBA Breeders’ Derby will be conducted with the final also on December 7. Estimated purse for the Derby is $275,000. For additional information, contact the Evangeline Downs racing office at (337) 594-3022.

of three years of support knowing that the challenges are great and will not be successfully resolved overnight. So 2019, thus far, has been a remarkable year for the horsemen and for Canterbury Park. But the best is yet to come.

MOUNTAINEER PARK HBPA Mr. Money Wins West Virginia Derby, Gives Calhoun a Grade 3 Double COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

LOUISIANA HBPA

Fair Grounds The Fair Grounds 2019–20 Thoroughbred meet will begin November 28 and finish March 29. The meet will feature the 107th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 21. For more information, contact the racing office at (504) 948-1288.

Louisiana Downs The 2019 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet concludes September 25. The Grade 3 Louisiana Super Derby on September 7 will be the marquee event.

MINNESOTA HBPA Canterbury Park Update It has been a watershed year at Canterbury Park, one that portends well for the future. An expansive mixed-use development broke ground late in 2018 and has gone full steam ahead this year. The development will include a deluxe apartment complex, condominiums, a business campus, a luxury hotel and a pedestrian-friendly center for shops and restaurants. The first phase will be completed in early 2020 when the deluxe apartments open. As work on the development continued this summer, a major special event was inaugurated in mid-July: the Twin Cities Summer Jam. This year’s edition featured three days of diverse music from the likes of REO Speedwagon, Tim McGraw, Aerosmith, Pitbull and Rascal Flatts. It was extremely well received by all and provided a rejuvenating 10-day break from the races. The week after the break was filled with big crowds and full fields. As important as Canterbury Park’s new development and the Twin Cities Summer Jam are, a new joint initiative between the Minnesota HBPA, Canterbury Park and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association may prove to be the most beneficial to racing. The initiative, called the Racehorse Engagement Project, has a singular purpose: to attract more owners to Minnesota racing, including owners of active racehorses as well as those whose days on the track are over. For the latter, multiple avenues are being utilized to place retired racehorses and to repurpose those that can be. The project has been up and running for just a few months. However, all three partners have committed to a minimum 54

MR. MONEY ROMPS IN THE $500,000 WEST VIRGINIA DERBY (G3).

Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Money left little doubt he’s headed up the ladder with a handy six-length victory in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) on the afternoon of August 3 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort. The track celebrated the 50th anniversary of the West Virginia Derby, and from a business perspective, a key financial index reflected strong growth compared with the 2018 edition of the track’s marquee race day. Total pari-mutuel handle from all outlets on the nine-race program was $2,458,675, up 30.7 percent from $1,879,747 last year. On-track wagering on the live card at Mountaineer was about even with 2018, according to statistics. Wagering on the nine-horse Derby alone totaled $729,724, which included a large show pool due to the presence of the victorious 1-2 favorite Mr. Money. Derby handle was up 40.3 percent from $520,029 in 2018, when the race also had a nine-horse field. This year, 69 horses competed on Derby Day versus 60 in 2018. Mr. Money, a colt by Goldencents out of the Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole, entered the race with three consecutive Grade 3 wins—the Pat Day Mile and Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand, which he won by a combined 14 ¼ lengths with Gabriel Saez aboard. His score in the West Virginia Derby, again with Saez up, looked as easy as the previous three. Heavily favored Mr. Money fired away from post nine in the 1 -mile Derby and was taken back a bit by Saez as Plus Que Parfait took the rail and the lead. The pace was dawdling—a half-mile in :49.10—so Saez asked Mr. Money to apply pressure to the front-runner as Chilly in Charge began to gain on the top pair three-wide. Mr. Money began to edge away at the top of the stretch and gradually opened the advantage to six lengths as Chess Chief rallied late to nab Plus Que Parfait for second. The winning time was 1:50.28 on a track rated fast. “[Trainer Bret Calhoun] has done a tremendous job with him, and my job was to find the winner’s circle,” Saez said. “On the final turn I asked him to get it done, and here we are. Good horses make you look good.” “He’s a very good horse, and Chester has allowed me to manage him in a THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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AFFILIATE NEWS good way to keep his confidence level up,” said Calhoun, who a race earlier won the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Cup (G3) with Silver Dust. Chester Thomas, a western Kentucky coal executive with a keen interest in the Thoroughbred business and who races under the Allied Racing Stable banner, credited Calhoun and Saez with Mr. Money’s recent success. “Bret has done a great job, and from what I could see, Gabe did a wonderful job getting him to relax [through slow fractions],” Thomas said. “I knew he was sitting on a lot of horse when he let him loose. What we saw on paper became reality.” Mr. Money, a $170,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase bred in Kentucky by Spruce Lane Farm, earned $301,000 in the West Virginia Derby to become racing’s newest millionaire at $1,074,220. Thomas, when asked if the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing on September 21 is in the cards for Mr. Money, looked at Calhoun and asked him the question. “It’s a good possibility,” the trainer said. “That’s definitely where we are hoping to be.” Tom Durant’s Silver Dust, who finished fifth in the 2017 West Virginia Derby in his one previous appearance at Mountaineer, made up for it with a victory in the West Virginia Governor’s Cup at 1 miles. Ridden by Jack Gilligan—his only mount of the day—Silver Dust sat just behind the dueling pair of Exclamation Point and Kukulkan through moderate fractions, took over three-wide entering the stretch, was in close quarters with a gritty Kukulkan in the lane and edged away to win by a half-length in 1:43.85 on a track rated fast. Silver Dust had to survive a stewards’ inquiry and an objection by Corey Lanerie, who rode the Mexican-bred champion Kukulkan, for interference in the stretch. After the stewards let the result stand, the connections of Kukulkan congratulated Calhoun for Silver Dust’s victory. “I thought it went very well,” Calhoun said. “He was very professional…He can be a real handful—in the paddock and around the [starting] gate, but he did everything right today. There have been times he has hung [in the stretch], but today he went gamely to the wire.” It has been a good year for the 5-year-old Tapit gelding, who won the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes and finished second in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap, both at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. In his start before the Governor’s Cup, he finished second, beaten a head, in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at Indiana Grand. The Governor’s Cup score pushed Silver Dust’s career earnings to $594,777. He was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation. With the turf course playing very fast, the $75,000 West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup produced not only a new Mountaineer course record for one mile and 70 yards on grass but also a new North American record based on industry statistics. Glen Hill Farm’s 5-year-old gelding Caribou Club, a multiple graded-stakes winner trained by Tom Proctor at Fair Hill in Maryland, rallied from off the pace to win the Speaker’s Cup by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:37.01 with jockey Feargal Lynch aboard. The previous course record of 1:37.21 was established by Major Marvel on Derby Day in 2012. The previous North American record, according to Equibase, was 1:37 set by Aborigine at Penn National in 1978, when races were timed in fifths of a second. Lynch, who is based in Maryland but travels to other tracks to ride, made the most of his only mount of the afternoon. “Tom [Proctor] has been a great supporter this year,” Lynch said. “He never gives me any instructions. I walked the [course] this morning and figured it would be very fast. This horse has a big kick, and his last race at [Woodbine in Canada] set him up nicely for this race. He’s a pretty cool horse.” THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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Three races later, Augustin Stable’s Lift Up, a 5-year-old mare trained by Michael Dickinson and ridden by Joe Bravo, won the $75,000 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup, also at one mile and 70 yards on the turf. Her final time of 1:37.21 would have equaled the course record on the books before Caribou Club broke it.

Eldorado Resorts Enters into Agreement to Sell Mountaineer Eldorado Resorts Inc. entered into definitive agreements to sell Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort. Century Casinos Inc. will acquire the operating assets, and VICI Properties Inc. will acquire the land and real estate assets. The transactions are subject to regulatory approvals and other customary close conditions and are expected to close in early 2020.

Mountaineer Park HBPA General Meeting The Mountaineer Park HBPA was to hold a general meeting on August 26, after the deadline to submit news for this issue. The fourth amendment to the West Virginia Racing Commission Retirement Plan was to be discussed. The following amendment was adopted by the West Virginia Racing Commission: FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE WEST VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION RETIREMENT PLAN FOR BACKSTRETCH PERSONNEL 1.13 Eligible Trainer. A trainer of thoroughbred race horses who has been issued a valid occupational permit by the West Virginia Racing Commission and who stables the horses that he or she trains at an Eligible Race Track or at an approved training facility and/or farm associated with racing at an Eligible Race Track and who meets the requirements of paragraphs (a) or (b) below. (a) The Trainer makes at least 75% of his or her total racing starts in any Plan Year at an Eligible Race Track, but not less than 18 starts at an Eligible Race Track during the applicable Plan Year. (b) The Trainer makes at least 100 total racing starts in any Plan Year at an Eligible Race Track, and makes more than 50% of his or her total racing starts in any Plan Year at an Eligible Race Track. (c) For purposes of the 75% and 50% requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, if a Trainer’s Eligible Race Track is dark, for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days, then starts at an ineligible track shall not be considered. (d) For purposes of the 18 start requirement referenced in paragraph (a) above, the Administrative Committee may reduce the number of required starts for an Eligible Race Track on account of an unanticipated reduction in racing days at that Eligible Race Track. Such reduction must be recommended by the Administrative Committee before the allocation is made for a given Plan Year. Section 2.03 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following new Plan Section 2.03: “2.03 Annual Eligibility. Eligibility will be determined by the Administrative Committee on an annual basis for each Participant and potential Participant. Application dates and locations shall be as designated by the Administrative Committee at its discretion, on a nondiscriminatory basis, and communicated within the industry. Participants and potential Participants who do not apply within the time period annually specified by the Administrative Committee shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan for such Plan Year. Further, any Participant who requests to begin receiving distributions from the Plan on and after January 1, 2020, (not including spousal death benefits) shall be ineligible for contributions under the Plan for a period commencing with the Plan Year after the year that Plan benefits commence and ending on the last day of the third Plan Year following the completion of the payment of benefits.” Section 6.01 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following new Plan Section 6.01: “6.01 Allocation of Contributions to the Retirement Plan. The contributions made to the Plan pursuant to Section 5.01 above shall be allocated annually to the accounts of all Active Participants as of the Accounting 55

NEWS Date of the Plan. Participants shall be eligible to receive an allocation of the Plan contribution in a given year only if the Participant meets the participation eligibility requirements on such Accounting Date. One half of the contributions to this Plan for the current Plan Year and forfeitures for the previous Plan Year shall be allocated pursuant to subsection (a), the remaining one-half shall be allocated pursuant to subsection (b). (a) Each Active Participant shall receive a fractional share of one-half of such contribution, the numerator of such fraction being one, and the denominator of the fraction shall be the total number of Active Participants for the Plan Year, determined as of the last day of the Plan Year, to which such contributions relates; (b) Each Active Participant shall receive a fractional share of one-half of such contribution, the numerator of the fraction being the Active Participant’s Service Years and the denominator of the fraction being the total number of Service Years for all Active Participants for the Plan Year, computed on the last day of the Plan Year to which the contribution relates. For purposes of this paragraph (b), only Service Years beginning on and after January 1, 2010, are considered for purposes of post-2011 allocations. Further, once an individual has begun receiving benefits and later becomes eligible to participate again pursuant to Plan Section 2.03, the Participant’s Service Years for purposes of this paragraph (b) restart at one year.” In addition, the revisions to the Mountaineer Park HBPA Medical Trust were to be discussed. The document plan has not been updated since its inception and does not reflect the benefits required by the backstretch personnel.

The Mountaineer Park Chaplaincy Hosts Annual Picnic Racing-related employees and their families enjoyed a day of food, swimming, fun and fellowship at Tomlinson Run State Park on August 8.

Still, in order for SSR, which has been running abbreviated meets at Suffolk Downs since it and gaming partner Mohegan Sun were passed over in 2014 for the lone Boston-area full-destination resort casino license, to make the multimillion-dollar investment in the fairgrounds and a long-term commitment, legislation will need to be enacted. The Massachusetts House of Representatives and the State Senate, which each passed competing racing bills and could not reach agreement, ultimately worked out a last-minute compromise to simply extend the current state racing statutes before they expired at midnight July 31. It is expected that when lawmakers reconvene for the fall legislative session they will again take up the issue, and there is optimism that bills favorable to the industry will be passed. A bill to allow sports betting in the Bay State is one of the pieces of legislation that will surface when the legislative session resumes, and its passage could be a boon for horsemen. Governor Charlie Baker, who introduced the sports betting bill in January, is on record saying he expects it to be green-lit in the fall. Meanwhile, The Stronach Group has dropped its plans to develop a new racetrack in Lancaster, Massachusetts. The land that was under consideration by TSG has already been leased to another concern, and its principals have informed town officials that a racetrack is not in the plans. Nonetheless, other parties have expressed preliminary interest in stepping up on the development of a new, stateof-the-art track in a different region, and those options remain open. “We all have wonderful memories of racing at Suffolk Downs, and we were sad to say goodbye to the track and witness the last live race in its 84 years of history,” Umbrello said. “But there is a great deal to look forward to as we work to create an exciting and viable long-term future for the state’s breeding industry and for live racing at a new racing facility in Massachusetts.”

OHIO HBPA NEW ENGLAND HBPA New England Horsemen Upbeat About the Future Despite End to Live Racing at Suffolk Downs By Lynne Snierson The last chapter in the history of live racing at Suffolk Downs was written when the 84-year-old landmark concluded its final meet at the end of June, but the book is far from closed on the New England Thoroughbred industry. “The end of live racing at Suffolk Downs is by no means the end of live racing in Massachusetts and our region,” said NEHBPA Executive Director Paul Umbrello. “We remain positive and optimistic about the development of a new venue in the state that will be able to host a live meet in 2020. We continue to work diligently and enthusiastically toward that end.” Any future racing at Suffolk Downs, which was sold to a major real estate concern in 2017 and is currently in the process of demolition to make way for a mixed, multi-use development on the 161-acre property, is a non-starter. Though the main building remains open for simulcasting under the aegis of Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (SSR), which retained the live racing and simulcasting rights after the sale, until further notice, the stable area, main track and turf course are no longer useable. SSR officials have turned their attention to the western part of Massachusetts where the shuttered Great Barrington Fairgrounds is located. They continue to work on a viable plan to revitalize the fairgrounds, which last ran a Thoroughbred meet in 1998 and needs considerable refurbishment and upgrades. But the old clubhouse is still standing and able to be renovated, and the infrastructure remains in place, which are big advantages. 56

Mahoning Valley Update Mahoning Valley Race Course is set to kick off its 38-day live fall meeting on Friday, October 25. One of the highlights of the fall meeting comes on opening weekend when the Youngstown-area oval will host the five-race Best of Ohio Stakes series on Saturday, October 26. The Best of Ohio features five $150,000 stakes events for registered Ohiobreds and rotates each year among Ohio’s three Thoroughbred tracks. The richest race of the fall meet will be the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes to be run at six furlongs for 3-year-olds on Monday, November 25. Mahoning Valley will race on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays each week during the fall meet, with the following exceptions: Opening day and the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29, are added to the calendar. Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, and Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, will both be dark days. The meet concludes on Monday, December 30. Post time for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and the two added Fridays is 12:45 p.m. with Saturday post time set for 12:15 p.m.

Ohio Thoroughbred Fund Stakes Schedule The Ohio HBPA board of directors is seeking the opinions of its members regarding a proposed plan to change the current Ohio Thoroughbred Fund stakes schedule in 2020. The proposed changes would create a Best of Ohio-type program at each Thoroughbred track featuring five $100,000 stakes races. This would replace the current program that has the Best of Ohio at one track each year with five $150,000 stakes. THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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AFFILIATE NEWS The proposed changes would not impact the total number of Ohio Thoroughbred Fund stakes run in 2020 (it would remain at 43), nor would it impact the total amount spent on Ohio-funded stakes races. Rather it would take 10 existing stakes that were run for $75,000 in 2019 and make them $100,000 events in 2020 and also reduce the five Best of Ohio Stakes run for $150,000 in 2019 to $100,000 each in 2020. Below is a look at how the proposed Ohio Thoroughbred Fund stakes schedule could look in 2020 if it is adopted by the Ohio State Racing Commission. 2020 Proposed OTF Stakes Schedule March 21 — 3-year-old fillies • $75,000 Southern Park Stakes • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley April 11 — 3-year-olds • $75,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley April 18 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited fillies/mares • $75,000 T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley May 9 — Best of Ohio Belterra Park Program 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial Stakes • 6 furlongs 3-year olds • $100,000 Tall Stack Stakes • 6 ½ furlongs 3-year-old fillies • $100,000 Tomboy Stakes • 1 1/16 miles turf 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $100,000 Mackey Memorial/Angenora • 6 furlongs 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Gendelman Memorial Handicap • 1 1/16 miles turf

September 6 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited fillies/mares • $75,000 Miss Southern Ohio Stakes • Belterra Park September 13 — 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $75,000 Scarlet & Gray Handicap • 6 furlongs • Thistledown September 20 — 2-year-olds, accredited • $75,000 Loyalty Stakes • 6 furlongs • Belterra Park September 26 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited • $75,000 Catlaunch Stakes • 1 1/16 miles • Thistledown October 3 — 2-year-old fillies, accredited • Emerald Necklace Stakes • 6 furlongs • Thistledown October 10 — 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $75,000 Diana Stakes • 6 furlongs • Thistledown October 31 — Best of Ohio Mahoning Valley Program

3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $100,000 Best of Ohio Distaff • 1 1/8 miles 2-year-olds • $100,000 Juvenile Stakes • 1 1/16 miles 2-year-old fillies • $100,000 John Galbreath Memorial Stakes • 1 1/16 miles 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Best of Ohio Sprint • 6 furlongs 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Best of Ohio Endurance • 1 ¼ miles

November 7 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited fillies/mares • $75,000 Ohio Debutante Handicap • 1 mile • Mahoning Valley

May 16 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited • $75,000 Rowland Memorial Handicap • 6 furlongs • Thistledown

November 21 — 3-year-olds & up • $75,000 Cardinal Handicap • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley

May 31 — 3-year-olds • $75,000 Green Carpet Stakes • 1 1/16 miles turf • Belterra Park

November 21 — 3-year-old fillies • $75,000 First Lady Stakes • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley

June 6 — 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $75,000 Petro Memorial Handicap • 1 1/16 miles • Thistledown

November 28 — 2-year-old fillies, accredited • $75,000 Glacial Princess Stakes • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley

June 20 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited • $75,000 George Lewis Memorial • 1 1/16 miles • Thistledown

November 28 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited • $75,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap • 1 mile • Mahoning Valley

June 27 — 3-year-olds • $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup • 1 1/8 miles • Thistledown

December 5 — 2-year-olds, accredited • $75,000 Joshua Radosevich Memorial • 6 furlongs • Mahoning Valley

July 4 — 2-year-olds • $75,000 Hoover Stakes • 5 ½ furlongs • Belterra Park July 4 — 3-year-old fillies, accredited • $75,000 Cincinnatian Stakes • 1 1/16 miles turf • Belterra Park July 11 — 2-year-old fillies • $75,000 Miss Ohio Stakes • 5 ½ furlongs • Thistledown July 12 — 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $75,000 Vivacious Handicap • 1 1/16 miles turf • Belterra Park

December 12 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited fillies/mares • $75,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap • 1 mile • Mahoning Valley This proposed schedule is put out only to seek input from our membership. If you prefer that the stakes schedule stay the way it has for the past several years, we would like to know that. Likewise, if you prefer the proposed schedule, we would like to know that as well. Please email your comments to Ohio HBPA Executive Director Dave Basler at dbasler@rrohio.com by October 7, as the board will be addressing this item at its next meeting on October 10.

July 18 — 3-year-olds & up, accredited • $75,000 Buckeye Native Stakes • 1 1/16 miles turf • Belterra Park July 19 — 3-year-old fillies • $75,000 Queen City Oaks • 1 1/16 miles • Belterra Park August 8 — Best of Ohio Thistledown Program

2-year-olds • $100,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes • 6 furlongs 2-year-old fillies • $100,000 Tah Dah Stakes • 6 furlongs 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Honey Jay Stakes • 6 furlongs 3-year-olds & up, fillies/mares • $100,000 Pay the Man Stakes • 1 1/8 miles 3-year-olds & up • $100,000 Governor’s Buckeye Cup • 1 ¼ miles

August 9 — 3-year-olds, accredited • $75,000 Horizon Stakes • 1 1/16 miles turf • Belterra Park THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA (OKLAHOMA HBPA) 2018 Oklahoma-Bred Thoroughbred Champions The TRAO honored its 2018 award winners at an awards banquet held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on August 2. Congratulations to all of the winners!

NEWS Champion Thoroughbred Male Racing Stock, Champion Male Sprinter, Champion Aged Stallion/Gelding, Horse of the Year and All Breeds Horse of the Year: Welder (The Visualiser—Dance Softly) Owner: Ra-Max Farms Champion Thoroughbred Female Racing Stock, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Turf Runner: Sydney Freeman (Tizway—Peach Brew) Owner: Robert H. Zoellner Champion Thoroughbred 2-Year-Old Filly: Dicey (Flat Out—Broken Blues) Owner: Jay Lewis and Pat Swan Champion Thoroughbred 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: D Toz (Chitoz—Dyna Okie) Owner: Richter Family Trust Champion Thoroughbred 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Shannon C (Latent Heat— Miranda Diane) Owner: B&S Racing Champion Thoroughbred Female Sprinter: Three Chords (Euroears—Carter’s Chord) Owner: Dream Walkin’ Farms Champion Thoroughbred Male Turf Runner: Perfect to Please (Pleasantly Perfect—Your Pleasure) Owner: Elada D. Kirk Champion Thoroughbred Aged Mare: Gianna’s Dream (Twirling Candy— Untamed Beauty) Owner: Jordan V. Wycoff Champion Thoroughbred Horse Mixed Meets: Master’s Bouquet (Foreign Policy—Shhh Hush Hush) Owner: Bob and Paulette Pogue Leading Owner of Thoroughbred Racing Stock: C.R. Trout Leading Breeder of Thoroughbred Racing Stock: Center Hills Farm Leading Sire of Thoroughbred Racing Stock: Euroears, Owner: James E. and Marilyn Helzer

DUSTIN ORONA PHOTOGRAPHY

Leading Dam of Thoroughbred Racing Stock: Dance Softly, Owner: Center Hills Farm

WELDER WENT HOME WITH A SLEW OF AWARDS, INCLUDING HORSE OF THE YEAR.

Welder Ready to Begin Defense of 2018 Remington Park Horse of the Meeting Title Welder, the 2018 Horse of the Meeting at Remington Park and recently crowned TRAO Horse of the Year, posted a half-mile breeze on August 6 as the 6-year-old gray sprinter prepared for his first start of the Thoroughbred season. Owned by Ra-Max Farms of Claremore, Oklahoma, and trained by Teri Luneack, Welder breezed four furlongs over a fast track in an easy :50.57 under exercise rider Obed Sanchez. Welder was first to the track after the 58

renovation break, putting his breeze in under sunny skies with morning temperatures in the low 80s. A son of The Visualiser from the Tiznow mare Dance Softly, Welder was bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm. Welder is expected to aim for many of the same sprint stakes he dominated a year ago. Luneack is hopeful for a possible return in an open company allowance sprint early in the season to help prepare for the big-money action later on the schedule. In 2018, Welder won four consecutive stakes events, becoming the first horse in Remington Park history to win four stakes in the same season. Welder won the $70,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint (five furlongs) on a sloppy main track in his season debut on September 7. He followed with the $150,000 David Vance Stakes (six furlongs), handling open company and shippers from around the country on September 30, and then took the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint Stakes (six furlongs) on October 19. He finished the season with victory in the $70,000 Silver Goblin Stakes (6 ½ furlongs) on November 16. All but the Vance were for eligible Oklahoma-breds. In addition to Horse of the Meeting honors, Welder was voted best in three other divisions: Champion Older Male, Champion Sprinter and Champion Oklahoma-bred. He has only finished worse than third in two of his 27 career starts with 17 wins, four seconds and four thirds. At Remington Park, Welder has never been out of the money in 11 starts, winning seven with three second-place runs and a third. His career earnings are at $722,651.

Vacation Ends for 2015 Oklahoma Derby Winner Shotgun Kowboy with Easy Breeze Shotgun Kowboy, winner of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby in 2015 and a three-time winner of the Oklahoma Classics Cup, returned to action on August 7 for breeder/owner/trainer C.R. Trout. The 7-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding breezed an easy three furlongs in :36.58 on a fast Remington Park surface to end his 14-week rest period, galloping out a half-mile in :49 3/5, according to official Remington Park clocker Vicky Grothaus. Jockey Sasha Risenhoover was up as Shotgun Kowboy trained under sunny skies with temperatures in the high 80s for his first activity since April 28, when he was fifth in the Grade 3, $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park in Texas. “We’re just bringing him back; his foot was a little shelly and a little sore after his last race so we gave him a rest,” said Trout, a member of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park. “We ran him at Oaklawn and then at Lone Star so he deserved some time. We’re hoping to bring him back and have him ready for the Classics.” By Kodiak Kowboy from the Siphon (Brz) mare Shotgun Jane, Shotgun Kowboy won the Oklahoma Classics Cup in 2015, 2017 and 2018; it is the richest race for Oklahoma-breds. If successful in this year’s Classics Cup on October 18, Shotgun Kowboy would become the first horse to win it a fourth time. A victory also would put him in a tie with sprinter Highland Ice for the most career Classics wins at five. Shotgun Kowboy has earned $1,403,241 with 13 wins from 37 career attempts. He has eight wins, two seconds and three thirds in his 14 starts at Remington Park with earnings in Oklahoma City totaling $836,577. Shotgun Kowboy is only the second Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, joining the great Clever Trevor (1989), and Trout acknowledged how special and consistent the gelding has been throughout his career. “He’s saved my biscuits many times,” said the trainer. “He’s my buddy.” The 2019 Remington Park Thoroughbred season opened August 23 and continues through Sunday, December 15.

THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

AFFILIATE NEWS OREGON HBPA Summer Meets We have just completed our third of five summer fair meets in Oregon as of press time. Race meets at Union, Grants Pass and Prineville have concluded with some very successful elements. Horse safety is a top priority, and in that regard, the summer has been a huge success. We have had zero catastrophic injuries of our racehorses and take great pride in that effort. With regard to jockey safety, we had one slight mishap with a jockey injuring his wrist after a race, requiring a six- to eight-week rehabilitation break. The racing surfaces have been very good thanks to the hard work put in by volunteers at every summer fair meet. The handle is up as some of our larger fair meets are in their third year of simulcasting. The weather also has cooperated with cooler temperatures allowing large crowds to fill our outdoor grandstands. The one disappointment is the field size; as with most states, we are struggling to attract enough horses to fill the starting gate. The Oregon HBPA continues to be creative and identify programs that will help with this challenge. Our current programs include a trainer of the day award, a $200 minimum per start incentive and adding $500 to all Thoroughbred races. Any ideas from other states are greatly appreciated. Our summer racing concludes with our fourth fair race meet at Tillamook, where our slogan is the Cheese, Trees and Ocean Breeze. You may have heard of the excellent cheese that is produced at the local Tillamook cheese factory. And last but not least, we wrap up our summer racing in Burns at the Harney County Fair meet. Along with the rodeo, it is a great time for all!

Racing Ends at Portland Meadows; Set to Begin at Grants Pass Downs Oregon also has conducted one commercial race meet in the fall and winter at historic Portland Meadows. However, that time has come to an end, and there are many changes in store for racing in Oregon. Below is an email from our executive director to the horsemen and horsewomen of the state of Oregon that describes the changes coming to the state. Greetings Horsewomen and Horsemen, It is a new day for racing in Oregon with many changes occurring over the past few months. After decades of horse racing at Portland Meadows, the track will now be closed. The Stronach Group, owners of Portland Meadows, did not apply for a race meet license for the 2019–2020 race season. The property is also up for sale with a serious buyer in place to convert the property to a warehouse and trucking operation. That is very sad for so many people who have raced there for all these years. However, when one door closes another one opens, and we have a great new opportunity with a company called TMB Racing Inc. TMB is owned by Mr. Travis Boersma, who is a cofounder and CEO of Dutch Brothers Coffee Company. TMB approached the Oregon HBPA Board of Directors several months ago, and we are pleased that we recently signed a contract with TMB and welcome them as our new commercial race meet operator and partner. The TMB commercial race meet will begin this fall at Grants Pass Downs. Racing will be on Saturdays and Sundays beginning September 21 and concluding on November 3. Purses are guaranteed to average $60,000 per day with plans to run four Quarter Horse races each weekend and up to 16 Thoroughbred races. Of course, that will depend on the number of horses and the opportunity to fill races with full fields. We are busy working with TMB on a condition book THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

FALL 2019

and hope to have one out soon. Thank you for your patience; as with any new endeavor, there are always lots of new and emerging issues to tackle. There are some exciting plans for Grants Pass Downs this fall. As I write this email, a new safety rail is being installed at the track. Sand was added to the track before the summer meet, and more sand will be added before the fall meet to provide a safe racing surface. To improve the safety of the race surface even further, new equipment has been ordered. A new tote/audio board is being constructed, and I hear it is quite impressive. New stalls have been ordered to provide a safe environment for our racehorses. TMB is in the process of creating a website where all racing information can be found. A new announcer and racing secretary are being hired with some exciting news to come in the near future. There are long-term plans to widen the track, build new barns, improve the grandstand, create a beautiful new winner’s circle and build a new jockeys’ room. You also may have heard that Churchill Downs has entered the picture and is partnering with TMB. They have a strong interest in bringing historical racing machines, similar to the Instant Racing machines previously at Portland Meadows, to Oregon to increase revenues for racing. These are exciting and interesting times. As we look forward to 2020, the Oregon racing season will begin with a TMB spring meet in April and May. Union will run the first part of June followed by the TMB summer meet in mid-June through early July. Prineville will then take center stage in mid-July, followed by the Tillamook County Fair race meet in early August. The summer fair season concludes with a race meet in Burns in early September. And finally, we end our race season with the TMB fall meet in mid-September through early November. The purse structure at the fair meets will be similar to 2019 with the purses at the three TMB meets again guaranteed to average $60,000 per day. Stay tuned for more specific details as we get closer to the actual race meets. I hope you are all having a great summer. Good luck at the races! Randy C. Evers, Executive Director, Oregon HBPA

PENNSYLVANIA HBPA Inactive Horsemen’s Accounts The Pennsylvania HBPA announces inactive accounts in the horsemen’s bookkeeping account at Penn National. In accordance with the live racing agreement, Penn National furnished a list of accounts that have been inactive for a period of four years. The names on those inactive accounts are set forth below. Holders of inactive accounts should contact the PA HBPA at P.O. Box 88, Grantville, PA 17028 or by telephone at (717) 469-2970 or by fax at (717) 469-7714. All inactive accounts that remain unclaimed one year after the date of this publication will be paid to the PA HBPA’s Benevolent Fund. 360 Racing Stable; 8731 LLC and Canet, Julian; Haydee Acevedo; Angelo Agnello; Andrew Ali; Thomas Amenta; William R. Ammannn; Ann Bernecker and Emily Twilley-Selvey; Anthony Bilich, Alan Phillip Klein and Philip Lebherz; William E. Atkins; Judy Attard; Brad Auger; Bada Boom Racing; Bada Boom Racing and Council Rock Racing; Robert A. Baker; Elizabeth Barr; Cody Beattie and Olya Stahlman; Karen Benshoff; James R. Berger; Samuel E. Bermudez; L. Barrett Bernard; Ann Marie Bernecker; Beverly Bloomfield and Matthew Izzo; Jerrold Blackman; Diane Bloxham; Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock LLC; Braeburn Limited Partnership; Glenn E. Brok; Buena Vista Racing Co Inc.; Donald Burke; W. Peter Buyck Jr.; Anthony Calascibetta; Calia’s Wild Ride Racing LLC; Joseph Calvo; Carol Ricker and Julian DeMarco; Hubert Cave; Marco A. Ccamaque; Pramote Changsila; Oriel Chavez; Michael A. Cimini; James R. Clanin; Clovertowne Farm; 59

James A. Cochrane; Bernard Connaughton; Drumlanrif Farm LLC; Drumlanrig Farm LLC; Kathryn Costley; Ben Creed; Thomas Cross; Bradford W. Dawkins Jr.; Anthony DePaul; Diamond Wood Stable; Don Mar Stable; Donald L. Brown Jr. and Erin McElwee; Donegal Derby Dreams V; E.L.R. Inc.; E.M.O. Stable; Eagle View Farm LLC; Emerald Isle Stable; George Marion England III; Ernest Biddle; F and R Stables LLC; Elizabeth M. Fennessey; Five M Stable LLC; Beverly Fortebuono; Nicole Freeland; Paul Galmitz; George McCullough LLC and Ronald Abrams; Glenridge Stable; DJ Stable LLC; Greenfields Farm, Inc.; Linda M. Griggs; Christopher W. Grove; Jose Luis Guerra; Lisa Guerrero; Jody Guida; H.C.B. Lindh & Pierce & Pierce Inc.; James M. Hackman; Crane Thoroughbred Services LLC; Billy, Donna & Justin Hays; Charles Heath; Enrique E. Hernandez; Hesa Stable; Leanne Hester; Ronald Hirsch; Joseph W. Holman Jr.; Home Team Stable and William Reed; Huckleberry Farm LLC; J. Patrick Morell, John Hicks and William Hart; John R. James; Gloria P. Jaramillo; JC Squared Racing; JC Thoroughbreds; Jerry B. Hackett and Tracy Nunley; Jodie Pointer and Richard Trechak; John J. Tammaro III and Thomas J. Ryan; Jolene Ecker and Joanne McCabe; Keith Jones Holding Inc.; Julie Gordon and Ann Bernecker; JWD Racing; K.C. Garrett Farm; Ashley L. Kauffman; Carol Ann Kaye; Catie Ann Keil; Kenneth Taylor, et. al; Daniel E. Kepler; James Kettell; Alan S. Kline; David Knecht; Joseph Kornfeind; Edward R. Krishack; Kurt Luscombe and Gary Marsh; L & P Racing; Harry L. Landry; Ronald S. Laneve; James L. Lawrence II; Dave Lengel Racing, Inc.; Michael Lerman; Let’s Rock FPL; Alan J. Lockhart; Lloyd W. Lockhart; Los Samanes LLC; Lori Loudin-Smith; Kurt Luscombe; Magalen O. Bryant and James Day; Magic Carpet Racing; James Anthony Mandel; Robert T. Manfuso; Astrid Mans; Leslie Mawing; Mike J. McCarthy; Thomas J. McDermott; Dolores McLeod; Kristina McManigell; Craig A. McMinn; Me K Nic Racing; Ruben A. Monjes; Joy Heart Farm LLC; MoveUp Stable and Katherine Neilson-McKenna; Maleke Mundle; Babette Muzzy and James Hess; Perdido Bay Racing; David Nuesch; William C. O’Neill; Oasis Racing Stables LLC; Octoraro Stables LLC; Off The Hook and Guerrero, Lisa; Cory Orm; Barry Ostrager; Our Rocky Stable; Passion Stables, Inc.; Steve Pazzaglia; Robert A. Peoples; James Politano; Anthony Quartarolo; Racebrook Stables LLC; Vivian E. Rall; Randall (Randy) & Denise Rolfe; Jaclyn Reed; L. Kay Reed; Darlene Reese; Patti A. Remedio; Donald R. Reuwer; North Hill Stables; Luis Rivera Jr.; Robert P. Murray and Matthew S. Kintz; Robert Tresente and Bettina Munson; Aletha C. Robinson; Rolling S Stables; A.R. Enterprises, Inc.; Sajor Stable and Dana Point Farm; Jalon L. Samuel; Michele C. Sanger; Santa Rey Stable; Javier Santiago; Lawrence E Sargent; Niall Saville; Ronald Schneider; Schumer, Barry and Brown, James F.; Michael C. Sedlacek; Six L’s Stable; Skiman Racing Stable; Cheryl G. Smith; Lonnie Somerville; Somraj Singh and MCA Racing Stable LLC; South View Stables & Jay F Young; Bobby Gene Sowder; Richard Sparling; Frederick J. Spinazzola; Kenton Stalheim; Beverly R. Steinman; Stoneleigh Farm LLC; Tara Farms Inc.; T. M. Racing Stables, L.L.C.; Tee-N-Jay Farm; Dale K. Thiel; Martin Thompson; Todd Beattie and Dennis Sweigart; Savannah Jo Tracy; Robert Triola; Triton Farms; Valente Stables LLC; Nicki Valvo; Juan M. Vasquez; Antonio Vega; Jeffrey Verrecchio; Virginiana; Shale Wagman; Walsh, Joseph and Cranmore Stables; Sheila J. Williams; Don C. Wilson; Winquest Thoroughbreds LLC; Patricia Winter-Brown; Woodford Thoroughbreds; WTR Stables; Kristen S. Wyco; Chadds Ford Stable LLC; William R. Yeagley III; Zapo Stable; and Michael Zavolas.

WASHINGTON HBPA Law Abidin Citizen Prevails in $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) On August 11, the biggest day of horse racing in Washington State got even bigger. Breaking from tradition, the track said goodbye to Longacres Mile Day and the customary attendance-enhancing giveaways and said hello to $2 hot60

EMERALD DOWNS

NEWS

LAW ABIDIN CITIZEN CAPTURES THE 2019 EDITION OF THE HISTORIC LONGACRES MILE (G3).

dogs, $2 beers and Championship Sunday, which carded Emerald Downs’ four major championship races all on the same day. This year’s Grade 3 event was joined by the $50,000 Washington Oaks, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby and $50,000 Emerald Distaff. “We have seen other tracks in the country have success with multiple-stakes days,” said Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler. “Adding the two championship 3-year-old races, we thought, would really make this day special for the fans attending.” For Championship Sunday this year, the new format catered to horseplayers with an emphasis on product rather than promotion. It also created a palpable air of excitement around the tarmac for fans new and old. The idea of having four major stakes races in one day was designed to increase the Mile’s field size, offering trainers multiple opportunities to ship horses. As a further incentive to attract entries, Emerald Downs management revised the purse payout, guaranteeing sixth- through last-place finishers 2 percent of the pot. For the Mile, this meant a minimum payout of $4,000. Field size and quality of the entries for the 2019 Mile significantly increased over last year. Championship Sunday generated just shy of $3 million in handle, a 12 percent increase from 2018. The signature Longacres Mile was first run in 1935 at Longacres Racetrack, and the inaugural winner was Coldwater, who earned just under $10,000 for his connections. Since then, the Longacres Mile has been run every year with the exception of 1943 (due to World War II). This year’s Longacres Mile saw one of the most thrilling stretch drives in the race’s history when Law Abidin Citizen nailed 3-5 favorite Anyportinastorm in the final jumps to prevail by a head. Ridden by Abel Cedillo at 119 pounds, Law Abidin Citizen ran one mile in 1:34.08 and paid $15.60, $4.80 and $4.20. Mark Glatt was the winning trainer for owners Dan Agnew of Vancouver, Washington, Gerald Schneider of Auburn and John Xitco of Tacoma. For Glatt, the trip to Emerald Downs was a homecoming. He was raised in Auburn, and his father was a top trainer at Longacres. Anyportinastorm, ridden by Juan Hernandez at high weight of 124 pounds, did everything but win the race. Breaking from the No. 8 post, Anyportinastorm set fractions of :23.05, :45.58, 1:09.37 and 1:21.46 and dug in gamely when Law Abidin Citizen moved up to challenge. Anyportinastorm and Law Abidin Citizen raced virtually head and head the final sixteenth of a mile, with the latter up THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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AFFILIATE NEWS in the final strides. Restrainedvengence finished a neck back in third in a race dominated by the top three finishers. Due to last-minute audio issues, Emerald Downs Director of Media Joe Withee was pressed into race-calling duties with less than one minute’s notice and announced the Longacres Mile from trackside in place of regular announcer Tom Harris. Withee called the race like a veteran and later commented that although he didn’t have time to prepare, he also didn’t have time to get nervous! ESPN personality Kenny Mayne served as honorary steward for the 2019 Longacres Mile. In the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares, No Talking Back performed an encore of her Boeing Stakes victory in the previous month. Chris Stenslie was the winning trainer for breeder Jody Peetz of Issaquah, Washington, who races No Talking Back with Steve Shimizu. Patiently handled by Scott Stevens, No Talking Back rallied inside and collared a resilient Bella Mia for a one-length victory in 1:49.56 for 1 1/8 miles. The 6-5 favorite ridden by Kevin Orozco, Bella Mia ran gallantly in defeat, setting fractions of :23.06, :47.30, 1:11.20 and1:36.45 before yielding grudgingly to the winner. Blazinbeauty, ridden by Javier Matias, rallied from last to finish third. Longtime Emerald Downs Director of Customer Service Kathy Coffey served as honorary steward for the 2019 Emerald Distaff. My Grandpa wouldn’t be denied in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds. Overcoming a poor start, My Grandpa outdueled the gutsy filly Alittlelesstalk in a prolonged drive and scored by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:49.71 for 1 1/8 miles. Time ’n Time Again finished third. Ridden by Jorge Carreno and trained by Tom Wenzel, My Grandpa is owned by former Emerald Downs owner and president Ron Crockett. Although Crockett is most well known for his vast contributions to the Washington horse racing industry and philanthropic contributions around the state, he likely regards his role as “My Grandpa” to Lauren, John and Sadie as his most fulfilling accomplishment. Crockett’s horses throughout the years have been named after family members, and it is quite fitting that this year’s Derby winner was named after him. Former Washington Husky great and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Junior Coffey served as honorary steward for the 2019 Muckleshoot Derby. Coincidentally, Coffey trained 2006 Derby winner Raise the Bluff for Crockett. Killarney Lass made it look easy in the $50,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Sprinting clear early and well rated by jockey Javier Matias, the Eskendereya filly powered home for a 9 ¼-length victory over Twirling Devon in 1:48.55 for 1 1/8 miles. Frank Lucarelli was the trainer for owner Dan Sargent of Edgewood, Washington. Twirling Devon, with Kevin Orozco riding, rallied from last to finish second, and Two Shakes, ridden by Abel Cedillo, finished third. Theresa Hodge of Oak Crest Farm served as honorary steward for the 2019 Washington Oaks.

WHPBA Reaches Agreement with Emerald Downs Jockeys On July 1, during a special meeting, the WHBPA Board of Directors unanimously approved a fee increase of $10 for losing jockey mounts at Emerald Downs. The additional cost to owners will be offset by an increase in the participation purse to $210. The jockeys petitioned the WHBPA board for this increase on June 28. While the timing of the petition was unfortunate, the board concluded that agreeing to the increase and changing the participation purse was preferable to any disruption of live racing. The revised jockey fee scale went into effect on July 26, pending approval by the Washington Horse Racing Commission. The new fee schedule will remain in effect through the 2020 Emerald THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL

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Downs race meet. In the future, requests for fee increases by riders must be brought forward and discussed at least one month prior to the beginning of any race meet. The WHBPA board hopes that future discussions will be cordial.

Horsemen Helping Horsemen at Emerald Downs Over the last few months, Emerald Downs horsemen have generously exemplified the HBPA’s time-tested motto of “horsemen helping horsemen.” June 22 was the famed Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at Santa Anita. Due to budget constraints, the Washington HPBA was unable to contribute to the event. After speaking at length with event coordinator Barry Pearl, WHBPA Executive Director MaryAnn O’Connell promised to try to privately raise funds for the event. After making a few phone calls to board members, $1,740 in private donations were accumulated and presented on behalf of the Washington HBPA to the PDJF via the Jockeys and Jeans event. On June 30, the Washington HBPA hosted a spaghetti dinner to raise money for jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores, who was seriously injured in a riding accident at Turf Paradise last winter. Leonel is well known and respected at Emerald Downs for his kind demeanor and strong work ethic. Everyone really missed having him at the Auburn track this season and wanted to send a message of support and financial assistance as he is recovering in Arizona over the next year. The dinner, held at Fletcher Center in the barn area, quickly sold out and exceeded expectations for attendance. O’Connell prepared more than 50 pounds of spaghetti, and former Washington Horse Racing Commission employee and horsewoman Jill Hallin provided salad and a lot of labor! The event raised $2,000. Leonel was able to personally pick up his check a couple of weeks after the event. He suffered a broken pelvis and spent several months in a wheelchair but is now up and walking and looks to be close to riding weight! Championship Sunday that featured the Grade 3 Longacres Mile was a busy day in the Quarter Chute Café, located in the barn area. To honor the hard work of horsemen and the contributions of owners and others involved in the industry, the WHBPA provided free coffee in the kitchen all day. The event also was used as a fundraising opportunity to aid injured rider Franklin Ceballos, who fractured vertebrae in a riding accident in July. Patrons of the Quarter Chute were offered the opportunity to pay it forward by donating their would-be coffee expense to Ceballos. The yield from the coffee fund was $500, and Joe and Sally Steiner donated the WHBPA payment for coffee to the fundraising efforts for Ceballos. The largest fundraising event of the 2019 race season was for the Horsemen Helping Horsemen Distance Series, which started August 10 and will end September 21. Two separate series (one for fillies and mares, one open) spanned from $5,000 claiming to starter allowance races and distances from 1 1/8 miles to 1 ½ miles. Contributions from horsemen and breeders of $50,000 were added to the purse pool, which began with $13,800 for the first $5,000 claiming race, $15,000 for the $8,000 claiming event and $18,200 for the starter allowance final event (for horses that have started in the first two events). The series, which was inaugurated last year, was the brainchild of owner and breeder Jody Peetz, who led the fundraising efforts. The race series creates a claiming frenzy as it allows for claiming eligibility. A total of eight horses were claimed from the first leg of the series, most with multiple trainers shaking for their chance at continuing to the $8,000 claiming race. On behalf of the Washington HBPA board and staff, we thank everyone who contributed to the fundraising events and wish both Leonel and Franklin a speedy recovery.

NEWS

Trainer Frank Lucarelli First to 1,000 Wins at Emerald Downs Crest Drive rolled to a 14 ½-length victory on August 18 to give trainer Frank Lucarelli his 1,000th victory at Emerald Downs. A five-time Emerald Downs training champion, Lucarelli is No. 1 all time in both wins and earnings at the track, and with 57 wins this year, he is on pace for his greatest season there. Lucarelli, 62, was presented with an engraved saddle and plaque by Emerald Downs Vice President Jack Hodge and credited his family and stable staff. “I love it up here at Emerald Downs,” Lucarelli said. “I just want to thank everyone at the track, my wife, Pam, my assistant, Dennis Snowden, my owners, my grooms…I want to thank all of them.” Ridden by Gary Wales, Crest Drive ran six furlongs in 1:09.58 and also gave Chad Christensen his meet-leading 21st victory as an owner. Although the race was a blowout, there were some anxious moments as the stewards posted an inquiry, and Ryan Barber on runner-up Front Row Friends lodged an objection alleging interference at the start. However, no change was made to the order of finish.

EMERALD DOWNS

APPROXIMATELY 10,000 FANS TURNED OUT FOR THE CORGI RACING.

Corgis Return to Emerald Downs August 4 marked the return of the corgis at Emerald Downs. The third annual Corgi Day races again proved that a bunch of good-natured, stubby-legged canines make for one of the highest-attended race days of the season. About 10,000 people came to enjoy 72 corgis in a plethora of colors and sizes. The event started with a post parade of all entries, followed by six qualifying heats and a final championship, which entertained the crowd between races. Angus Phan, owned by Marian Armas of Auburn, was crowned the 2019 Corgi Champion. Beyond the cuteness, the attraction of corgi races baffles most horsemen. Many of the dogs that run never make it to the finish line, and you can’t bet on them either. A big crowd is always a positive on any race day, and it does appear corgi fans also show a love for horses. The hope is that the excitement of the day will convert a few corgi fans to horse racing fans down the road. Corgi Day also served to help two nonprofit organizations. Attendees were able to support and meet adoptable dogs from the Auburn Valley Humane Society in the picnic area throughout the day, and the Emerald Downs Backstretch Chaplaincy held a 50/50 raffle to support its programs in the stable area. Dogs were adopted, and money was raised to enhance the lives of those living and working in the industry. Quite possibly, a few horsemen became corgi fans as well.

FRANK LUCARELLI CONTINUES TO ADD TO HIS RECORD TOTALS AT EMERALD DOWNS.

Lucarelli added victory No. 1,001 on the same card with Legitimate Cause and has a chance to break the single-season record of 66 wins shared by Tim McCanna and Jeff Metz. Lucarelli, who also maintains a string of horses in Northern California, has 1,783 wins overall and more than $22 million in earnings. HJ

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