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thinking forward.
volume 58/ # 4
winter 20 11
dePartmeNtS
2 meSSage from tHe NatioNal HBPa
6 iNduStrY NeWS
11 HBPa NeWS
14 reSearcH & medicatioN uPdate
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medicatioN committee corNer
22 2011/2012 raciNg ScHedule for NortH america
43 equiNe Product SPotligHt
claimiNg croWN xiii: a Big time iN tHe Big eaSY – For the first time in its 13 year history, the
claiming crown made a successful move to Fair Grounds in new orleans in December instead of its traditional summer location on the calendar.
44 affiliate NeWS
featureS
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NatioNal HBPa SelectS PHil HaNraHaN aS cHief executive officer – attorney and retired army
2011: a Year of cHaNgeS aNd cHalleNgeS for immigratioN aNd WorkSite eNforcemeNt iN tHe HorSe iNduStrY – an examination
NeW tecHNologY caN imPact metHodS of traiNiNg – the
vacciNatioNS for raceHorSeS –
brigadier General to replace longtime cEo Remi bellocq.
of the changes to the U. S. immigration policies over 2011 and how they have impacted the horse industry and will continue to do so in the future.
information that can be yielded through use of a number of existing and emerging technologies can enhance the training of racehorses.
a look at the vaccines available for your racehorses and how necessary they are.
www.nationalhbpa.com
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hj in eVery iSSuE
president
NatioNal HBPa 870 Corporate Drive Suite 300 Lexington, KY 40503 P(859) 259-0451 F(859) 259-0452 racing@hbpa.org www.nationalhbpa.com
PresideNt/ CHairmaN of tHe Board Joe Santanna first regioNal ViCe PresideNt Robin Richards seCretary/ treasurer Bill Walmsley CHief exeCutiVe offiCer Phil Hanrahan CHairmaN emeritus Dr. Ed Hagan ViCe PresideNt CeNtral regioN Leroy Gessmann ViCe PresideNt easterN regioN Robin Richards ViCe PresideNt soutHerN regioN Rick Hiles ViCe PresideNt WesterN regioN Ron Maus
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message from the
dear HorsemeN aNd HorseWomeN of tHe NatioNal HBPa, as tHe 2011 tHorougHBred Horse raCiNg year Comes to its CoNClusioN, i HoPe tHat tHis year, for you, Was filled WitH exCitiNg raCes, CeleBratioNs iN tHe WiNNer’s CirCle, aNd eNougH suCCess to lauNCH you iNto 2012 WitH tHe same or reNeWed eNtHusiasm for tHe sPort We all CHerisH. Before I describe a few key initiatives for 2012, I must devote some space to acknowledge the significant contribution that our former CEO, Remi Bellocq, made during his ten years of service to our 30 Affiliates and our 35,000 owner and trainer general members. Remi built industry relationships for the National HBPA that have resulted in both a respected and interactive position that we possess within the industry. His methodical approach to problem-solving was accomplished by a thoroughness of preparation, a depth of understanding of our industry and its stakeholders, and the keen ability to build a consensus among the variety of opinions offered on a number of different issues. While his leadership will be missed, his friendship will endure. We have all benefited from him sharing his many talents with both us and the industry in general over the last decade. Moving forward under the age-old adage that while you may be unforgettable, no one is irreplaceable, we formed a search committee and conducted a national search to hire Remi’s replacement. Congratulations to all of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup champion horses and their owners, trainers, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders, and jockeys. It takes “many hands” to achieve the successful accomplishment of being recognized as a “champion,” and the National HBPA applauds the efforts of all those involved. On a similar note, the 2011 Claiming Crown was hosted by the Fair Grounds and the Louisiana HBPA on Saturday, December 3. I extend to the winners of those races the same championship wishes expressed above. As a result of no longer maintaining a membership in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the National HBPA has established its own Legislative Affairs Committee and engaged the services of a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm to provide the National HBPA with strategic public policy and political advice in managing our efforts in the U.S. Congress and the federal executive branch. Clearly, the rights we enjoy under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 must be preserved and protected. We have chosen an outstanding group of governmental affairs advocates to also provide representation on immigration/visas and attempts at the federal level to regulate our state-regulated industry. We will continue to defend Lasix as an effective race-day medication based upon the scientific data that supports its effectiveness in the absence of any scientifically proven alternative. The National HBPA will not succumb to any industry peer pressure that is based solely on perception, emotion, or economic benefit to one segment of the industry to the detriment of the entire industry. If the existing science and those who practice it defend its usage, then documented scientific fact to the contrary must be presented to change the method by which we use Lasix to prevent Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH). There will be two changes to the leadership structure of the National HBPA in 2012. We have hired Phil Hanrahan as our organization’s new CEO (for more, see page 31). I believe it is vital to every organization to undergo leadership change. And while change is sometimes difficult to accept, in the long run it usually is beneficial to all involved. The National HBPA Board will continue to always set the vision and policy. The second change will occur at our 2012 Summer Convention in Iowa when the National HBPA will conduct its elections, an event that occurs every three years. After serving as the National HBPA President and Chairman of its Board of Directors, I will not seek reelection. My combined tenure of 14 years in a leadership position with the National HBPA as Secretary/Treasurer (over seven years) and as President and Chairman (over six years) is coming to an end. I am a staunch believer in term limits, and while I have enjoyed and treasured my service to our affiliates and their general membership, it is time for a leadership change at the top. If you believe your state president would be a good candidate to lead the National HBPA, encourage him or her to be a candidate for our national elections. Best of racing luck to everyone in 2012!
siNCerely, Joe Santanna President and Chairman
ContriButors Richard E. Glover, Jr. Craig McDougal Melissa Sykes Heather Smith Thomas Will Velie
the
national hBPa
photographers Richard E. Glover, Jr. HORSEPHOTOS Frank Sorge Z
woUlD liKE to thanK itS coRpoRatE
sponsors affiliates Board of Directors - Affiliates Dr. David Harrington, Alabama Gary Miller, Arizona Bill Walmsley, Arkansas Jim McFadyen, Canada Ken Lowe, Charles Town Mark McGregor, Colorado Dave Brown, Finger Lakes Phil Combest, Florida Mark Buckley, Idaho John Wainwright, Illinois Randy Klopp, Indiana Leroy Gessmann, Iowa Rick Hiles, Kentucky Stanley Seelig, Louisiana Bobbie Barron, Michigan Tom Metzen, Minnesota R.C. Forster, Montana Rembrandt Wright, Mountaineer Park Don Leifeld, Nebraska Anthony Spadea, New England Gary Clements, New Mexico Mark Doering, Ohio Donnie K. Von Hemel, Oklahoma Sue Leslie, Ontario Jim Fergason, Oregon Stephanie Beattie, Pennsylvania Robert Jeffries, Tampa Bay Downs Dr. Tommy Hays, Texas Horsemen’s Partnership LLP Robin Richards, Virginia Ron Maus, Washington
The views expressed on these pages are those of the authors, and they may or may not reflect the positions and/or beliefs of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, its officers, or Board of Directors. The Horsemen’s Journal, Volume 58, #4 Postal Information: The Horsemen’s Journal (ISSN 0018-5256) is published quarterly by the National Horsemen’s Administration Corporation, with publishing offices at 8609 Glen Canyon Drive, Round Rock, Texas 78681-3455. Copyright 2011 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 and Quarter Horse owners and 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
staff Richard E. Glover, Jr. Editor 512-246-9100 E-mail: hj@hbpa.org Jennifer Vanier Allen Advertising Director 512-225-4483 509-272-1640 fax E-mail: advertising@hbpa.org Limb Design www.limbdesign.com Graphic Design the horsemen’s Journal P.O. Box 2384 Round Rock, Texas 78680-2384 Phone: 512-246-9100 Fax: 512-246-0131 E-mail: hj@hbpa.org HBPA Website: www.nationalhbpa.com Cover Photo: HORSEPHOTOS/Frank Sorge
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 911170, Lexington, KY 40591-1170.
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industry hj neWS
Wagering DoWn, Purses and race dates uP in OctOber
to $9,095,655,837 in 2011). Purses have increased slightly – 1.11 percent ($875,665,714 in 2010 compared to $885,396,039 this year), and race days have declined 4.68 percent (4,784 in 2010 compared to 4,560 this year). * Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.
On November 5, Equibase Company LLC released its Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators for October 2011. Compared to October of 2010, wagering had declined 6.49 percent. However, purses were up 5.27 percent and race days were up slightly – 0.43 percent. Overall when comparing the first ten months of 2011 to 2010, wagering has declined 7.47 percent ($9,830,351,905 in 2010 compared
THe Jockey club releases 2011 rePOrt Of Mares bred statistics On October 20, The Jockey Club released Report of Mares Bred (RMB) statistics for the 2011 breeding season. Based on RMBs received through October 12, 2011, The Jockey Club reports that 1,935 stallions covered 36,504 mares in North America during 2011. The annual statistics include the number of mares bred to each stallion and represent approximately 90 percent of the mares that eventually will be reported as bred in 2011. According to historical trends, The Jockey Club expects to receive RMBs representing an additional 3,500 to 4,000 mares bred during the 2011 breeding season. The number of stallions declined 11.5 percent from the 2,186 reported at this time in 2010, while the number of mares bred fell 10.0 percent from the 40,576 reported at this time last year. RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2011 are available through the Publications & Resources section of The Jockey Club’s website at www.jockeyclub.com. The number of stallions covering 100 or more mares increased from 82 in 2010 to 84 in 2011. These stallions accounted for a greater percentage of the total mares reported bred this year — 30.6 percent of all mares bred in 2011 versus 26.8 percent of all mares bred in 2010 as reported at this time last year. Further book size analysis shows a 2.5 percent increase in the number of mares bred to stallions with a book size of 100 or more in 2011 when compared
to 2010 as reported at this time last year; a 32.2 percent drop in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 75 and 99; a 17.8 percent decline in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 50 and 74; an 8.0 percent decrease in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 25 and 49; and an 11.4 percent decline in mares bred to stallions with a book size fewer than 25. In 2011, Congrats led all stallions with 205 mares bred. Rounding out the top five were Giant’s Causeway, 198; Bellamy Road, 192; Scat Daddy, 191; and Henrythenavigator, 189. Thoroughbred breeding activity in Kentucky traditionally leads North America. During 2011, Kentucky’s 228 reported stallions covered 15,714 mares, or 43.0 percent of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions declined 9.2 percent percent against the 17,303 reported at this time last year. Of the top 10 states and provinces by number of mares reported bred in 2011 through October 12, 2011, only Ontario stallions covered more mares in 2011 than in 2010, as reported at this time last year. The top 10 states and provinces, ranked by number of mares reported bred in 2011 through October 12, 2011 were: Kentucky (15,714), Florida (2,876), Louisiana (2,674), California (2,446), Ontario (1,396), Pennsylvania (1,188), New York (1,147), New Mexico (1,066), Texas (1,016), and Oklahoma (982). Note: Each incidence in which a mare was bred to more than one stallion and appeared on multiple RMBs is counted separately.
uSDa TigHTenS slaughter hOrse transPOrt rules The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended the regulations under the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act to extend the protections now afforded to horses that are transported directly to slaughter facilities to include horses bound for slaughter, but first transported to intermediate collection points, such as assembly points, feedlots, or stockyards. The new rule went into effect on October 7, 2011. In its recently-released report entitled “Horse Welfare: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter,” the Government Accountability Office called on USDA to adopt these proposed rules to more broadly define “equines for slaughter” so that federal oversight is extended to more of the transportation chain for horses going to processing facilities. Background In 2001, USDA adopted rules that subjected commercial transporters of slaughter horses to federal regulation for the first time. The rules require shippers to certify the fitness of horses to travel and provide them with water, food, and rest for six hours prior to being loaded for transport. Once loaded the 6
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horses cannot be shipped for more than 28 hours without being off-loaded for six hours and given the chance to rest, eat, and drink. During transport, horses must be checked every six hours to ensure that no horse has fallen or is in distress. Shippers must segregate stallions and aggressive horses from others, provide enough room for the horses during transport, and use trucks equipped with doors and ramps that allow safe loading and unloading. The rules prohibited the use of double-deck trailers to transport horses to slaughter after December 7, 2006. In November of 2007, concerned that some horses bound for slaughter were not being protected because they were being delivered first to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard, USDA proposed to redefine “equines for slaughter” to include these horses. USDA received over 90 comments during the comment period, including comments from the AHC. Rule Changes The final rule makes several changes. The primary change, which was in the proposed rule, broadens the application of the Act by expanding the definition of “equines for slaughter” to include “any member of the Equidae family being transferred to a slaughter facility, including an assembly point,
news feedlot, or stockyard.” Previously, the rule only applied to horses moved directly to a slaughter plant. In effect, the rule change moves-up the point at which the regulations apply in the process of moving horses to a slaughter facility. The rule changes provide equines delivered to intermediate points en route to slaughter with the same protections regarding food, water, hour limits, and the prohibition on double-decker trucks, as those horses moved directly to plants. This change eliminates the possibility that horses en route to slaughter could be transported to an assembly point in a double-deck trailer and without any of the protections afforded under the regulations. USDA believed equines were delivered to these intermediate points en route to slaughter in part to avoid compliance with the regulations. The final rule change eliminates that possibility. Additional New Definitions This final rule also adds several new definitions, which were not in the proposed rule. These are definitions of: Assembly Point: Any facility, including auction markets, ranches, feedlots, and stockyards, in which equines are gathered in commerce. Feedlot: Any facility which consolidates livestock for preconditioning, feeding, fattening, or holding before being sent to slaughter. Stockyard: Any place, establishment, or facility commonly known as stockyards, conducted, operated, or managed for profit or nonprofit as a public market for livestock producers, feeders, market agencies, and buyers,
consisting of pens, or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, in which live cattle, sheep, swine, horses, mules, or goats are received, held, or kept for sale or shipment in commerce. USDA notes that these definitions are intended to be consistent with common industry and dictionary definitions of these terms, as well as with the definitions established by the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. In the narrative adopting the new rule, USDA noted that it will consider all horses delivered to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard to be equines for slaughter and subject to the regulations unless the owner/shipper presents an official certificate of veterinary inspection and the original copy of a negative equine infectious anemia test chart or other documents indicating the names and addresses of the consignor, consignee, owner and examining veterinarian for any horse being shipped, or other evidence that the horses are not bound for slaughter. In addition, the condition precedent for the Act and rules to apply requires that the horses in transit are actually “being transferred to a slaughter facility.” Simply shipping a horse to a facility, event, farm, ranch or sale would not subject the horse or the transport process to the Act and the regulations. -courtesy American Horse Council
the Jockey club partners with NBC SportS Group aNd raCetraCkS to BroadCaSt “road to the keNtuCky derBy” SerieS The Jockey Club, in collaboration with the NBC Sports Group, CNBC and six racetracks, will provide live coverage of six major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands over four consecutive weekends next spring, it was announced on November 8. The series will be highlighted by a 90-minute live broadcast on NBC featuring the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park on April 7, 2012 at 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET. The other four Kentucky Derby prep races are the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes from Turfway Park at 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET on March 24 and the Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park at 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET on March 31, both of which will air on the NBC Sports Network (which will be renamed from VERSUS on January 2, 2012), and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland Race Course and the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park, which will air from 6:007:00 p.m. on CNBC on April 14. “The Jockey Club is proud to work with our television and racetrack partners to bring more of our sport’s best racing to a national audience,” said
Ogden Mills Phipps, Chairman of The Jockey Club. “Increasing the television presence of Thoroughbred racing is just the first step in a long term, multi-media strategy focused on fan retention and development. Together with racetracks and other industry organizations, we plan to aggressively cross-promote Thoroughbred racing on a variety of traditional and new digital media platforms.” “These races are important steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “And this programming further demonstrates the NBC Sports Group’s commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing, which already includes long-term deals for the Triple Crown races as well as with Saratoga and Keeneland.” Increased television coverage of Thoroughbred racing and the development of a new digital media strategy were among nine recommendations identified in the major economic study of the Thoroughbred industry that was commissioned by The Jockey Club, and conducted in association with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, earlier this year. The findings and recommendations were announced in August at The Jockey Club’s Round Table Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Dol proposes changes to Child laBor ruleS oN FarmS The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new child labor regulations applicable to agriculture. The proposed rule would place new limits on the work “hired farm workers” under 16, and in some cases 18, would be allowed to do and could impact horse farms, ranches, and auctions that employ young people who work with horses. The proposed new rules would not apply to young people working on farms and ranches owned or operated by their parents. Currently, young people under 16 are prohibited from working in most occupations. However, the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), which established
American child labor laws, includes an exemption for agriculture that allows children under 16 to work on farms and ranches. “Congress created special exemptions for agricultural work in the FLSA because of its unique nature and the important role young people often play on farms and ranches. This proposed rule would radically restrict the work employed young people would be allowed to perform,” said American Horse Council (AHC) President Jay Hickey. “We are very concerned the DOL is attempting to so limit what young workers can do on farms and ranches that it would be impossible to usefully employ young people.” www.nationalhbpa.com
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industry news Specifically, the proposed rule would prohibit employed workers under 18 from working in feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges, or auctions. It would exclude employed workers under 16 from most animal husbandry activities such as branding, breeding, dehorning, vaccinating, castrating livestock, or treating sick or injured animals, including horses or working near breeding stallions. It would also prohibit workers under 16 from herding livestock from horseback or on a motorized vehicle or on foot in confined spaces such as pens or corrals and operating almost any type of tractor or power equipment. More on the proposed changes can be found on the AHC website at www.horsecouncil.org. “The DOL is saying most work around livestock is too dangerous for anyone under 16. I don’t believe most people who have grown up on a farm or ranch would agree with that opinion. These rules are so extreme operating a lawn mower wouldn’t be allowed,” said AHC Legislative Director Ben Pendergrass. The proposed rules apply only to hired, paid young workers and retain the parental exemption that exempts children working on farms and ranches owned or operated by their parents. It also does not apply to young people doing unpaid “chores” or recreational activities. “While the ‘parental exemption’ is supposedly left intact we are concerned
family farms and ranches that are owned as partnerships, even with other family members, such as grandparents, or brothers and sisters, or operated as LLCs would not qualify under the ‘parental exemption’ in these proposed rules,” said Pendergrass. “We don’t believe these proposed rules recognize the reality or traditions of agriculture. Basically if you have a nephew, niece or grandchild or other young person who is 15 and wants to work on your farm or ranch you can hire them, but there is not much farm work they would technically be allowed to do. We are also very concerned that these rules could bar anyone under 18 from working in any capacity at a horse sale or auction.” This proposed rule went through a 60-day comment period. Comments were due by November 1, 2011. After, the DOL reviews all submitted comments it will issue a final rule. “The AHC and other agricultural industries have asked the DOL for a 60 extension of the comment period. It is unclear whether or not this extension will be granted,” said Hickey. “We are currently drafting comments to submit to the DOL. If anyone in the horse community has examples of how the proposed rule would impact their horse farm or ranch, please email us at bpendergrass@ horsecouncil.org.” - courtesy American Horse Council
thE JocKEY clUb releases 2010 Breeding statistiCs The Jockey Club reported on September 15 that 2,904 stallions covered 44,184 mares in North America during 2010, according to statistics compiled through September 7, 2011. These matings have resulted in 23,558 live foals of 2011 being reported to The Jockey Club on Live Foal Reports received as of September 7, 2011. The Jockey Club estimates that the number of live foals reported, at this point in time, is approximately 85 percent complete. The reporting of live foals of 2011 is down 13.5 percent from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 27,233 live foals of 2010. “The decline in breeding activity in recent years has resulted in a downward trend for live foal returns that is expected to continue next year, based on our recently announced foal crop estimate of 24,700 for 2012,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director. The 2011 registered foal crop projection of 27,000 takes into account that not all live foals become registered. In addition to the 23,558 live foals of 2011 reported through September 7, The Jockey Club had also received 3,731 No Foal Reports for the 2011 foaling season. The number of stallions declined 7.2 percent from the 3,130 reported for 2009 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred decreased 10.6 percent from the 49,404 reported for 2009. The 2010 breeding statistics are available alphabetically by stallion name through the Publications and Resources link on The Jockey Club homepage at www.jockeyclub.com. Iuliano emphasized that the breeding statistics are not a measurement of the live foals born in each state or province, but rather a count of live foals by conception area, regardless of where the foals were born. He also stressed that the statistics should not be taken to represent the final fertility record of any single stallion or conception area.
Kentucky annually leads all states and provinces in terms of Thoroughbred breeding activity. Kentucky-based stallions accounted for 39.4 percent of the mares reported bred in North America in 2010 and 47.0 percent of the live foals reported for 2011. The 17,401 mares reported bred to 284 Kentucky stallions in 2010 have produced 11,065 live foals, a 14.4 percent decrease on the 12,931 Kentuckysired live foals of 2010 reported at this time last year. The number of mares reported bred to Kentucky stallions in 2010 declined 9.6 percent against the 19,252 reported for 2009 at this time last year. Among the top 10 conception areas for live foals of 2011, only Ontario and Oklahoma stallions produced more live foals in 2011 than in 2010 as reported at this time last year. The top 10 conception areas for live foals of 2011 reported through September 7 and regardless of where the foals were born are: Kentucky (11,065), California (1,762), Florida (1,565), Louisiana (1,516), Pennsylvania (790), New York (752), Ontario (732), New Mexico (660), Texas (580), and Oklahoma (545). The statistics include 451 progeny of stallions standing in North America but foaled abroad, as reported by foreign stud book authorities at the time of publication. In this category, 100 live foals by North American stallions were reported from Thailand, and 84 were reported from Korea. Remaining countries on the list are Ireland, 47; Saudi Arabia, 43; Japan, 34; India, 33; Great Britain, 24; Brazil, 15; Uruguay, 14; Chile, 10; Turkey, 10; France, 9; Peru, 8; Mexico, 6; Panama, 4; Australia, 3; Russia, 3; Dominican Republic, 2; Denmark, 1; and Trinidad, 1. The report also includes 81 mares bred to 26 stallions in North America on Southern Hemisphere time. The majority of these mares have not foaled.
noRth amERican liStED stakes raCes to undergo further reView annuallY On September 23, the North American International Catalogue Standards Committee (NAICSC) announced that all listed stakes races in the United States and Canada will undergo further review of their listed status annually by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)’s American Graded 8
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Stakes Committee (AGSC) and the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee (CGSC), respectively, beginning in 2012. Currently, North American stakes races with a minimum purse value of $75,000 available to all starters that close 72 hours in advance and have
no restrictions receive listed status in catalogues for sales organized by Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) members. Restrictions that prevent a race from receiving listed status include any conditions that tend to exclude runners of greater quality for considerations other than sex or age. Listed races are reviewed annually for possible upgrade to Grade III status. Under the new procedures, listed stakes will also be reviewed for possible downgrade by removal of their listed status. Races that lose their listed status would still qualify for non-listed black-type in SITA catalogues. Listed races for 2012 in the United States and Canada will be initially reviewed at the 2012 meetings of the AGSC and the CGSC. The committees will apply the same technique and information, including factbased statistical analysis, that is used during their annual evaluation of graded stakes races. Races not deemed to be of listed quality using this process will lose their listed status beginning in 2013. In addition, during 2012, TOBA has been charged by the NAICSC with investigating options for further quality control measures for non-listed black-type races.
EnhancEmEnt to thoRoUGhbRED connEct announCed BY the JoCkeY CluB The Jockey Club announced on September 27 an enhancement to Thoroughbred Connect™, the organization’s online resource for rehoming Thoroughbreds at the conclusion of their racing or breeding careers. Under this new feature, persons in possession of Thoroughbreds in need of aftercare can now list those horses publicly on www. thoroughbredconnect.com. Those willing to provide assistance for a Thoroughbred appearing on the list may request their contact information be sent automatically to the person in possession of the horse. Thoroughbred Connect enables Registry customers to express their willingness to be contacted by people in possession of Thoroughbreds in the event the horses are in need of aftercare or assistance. Those interested in providing aftercare or assistance can attach their name and contact information to the electronic records of Thoroughbreds within The Jockey Club’s database using Thoroughbred Connect. Since its introduction in May of 2011, more than 830 Registry customers have signed up to use the service, and over 1,700 horses have been enrolled. “We made this enhancement after hearing from a number of our customers who told us they’d like to see a list of horses in need of assistance, in order to expedite their placement into new homes,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “We are extremely pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response to the service since its launch in May, and we will continue to enhance the convenience of the service for our customers.” Each horse listing includes a link to the www.equineline.com Free Auction Results Search for the horse so that an individual can view public sales results as an aid in researching the horse’s history. Links to a fivegeneration pedigree from www.equineline.com and to racing information from www.equibase.com are also provided. To raise further awareness and use of the service, The Jockey Club has added the Thoroughbred Connect logo and website address on the back of the Certificate of Foal Registration.
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E-TRakka® CONTINUES TO EVOLVE Imagine you had a tool that enabled you to “LOOK” inside a horse and “SEE” its fitness level. That tool is E-TRAKKA®, the equine fitness monitoring system that accurately monitors training sessions. E-TRAKKA® trainers have now collected some 20,000 readings from around the world. The overwhelming evidence has proven conclusively and without a doubt that E-TRAKKA® information does help racehorse trainers. Every trainer wishing to improve their professionalism and knowledge should not ignore the immense value offered by E-TRakka®. Contact Andrew Stuart to find out how E-TRAKKA® can enhance your training.
kEy BENEFITS E-Trakka® readings are relative to race results (performance predication); Training sessions can be tailored to the individual horse; Early identification of the horse’s ability allows both the trainer and owner to make better career decisions; Lameness and health problems are easier to detect; The system is easy to use as it has been designed by horsemen, for horsemen; Sectional times are accurate, (even in the dark).
DannyMorton, Morton,Perth PerthTrainer Trainer Danny “Afterusing usingthe theE-TrAkkA E-Trakka®®system Blast) in in the the sprints sprintsrather ratherthan thandistance distanceevents” events” system II elected elected to run him (Scenic Blast) “After Robert Smerdon, Caulfield Trainer Dr. Greg Fox, Racehorse Trainer and Vet Kentucky “E-TrAkkA® is an invaluable training tool that has assisted me on many occasions” “The E-Trakka® data set from Tizdejavu’s first work on the grass turned out to accurately reveal his future multiple Group winning talent. If there is an option forLittle, any stable to use E-Trakka® it is tragic not to. The information it Colin Caulfield Trainer provides is exactly what every traineraid tries to establish every watching or timing a work.” “A very good training greatly improved withday thewhen new GPS engine”
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news
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hbpa news
Bellocq leaves
national HBPa
Z
after ten years of outstanding and exemplary service as chief executive officer (ceo) of the national HBPa, Remi Bellocq has left his position to become the new executive Director of equine Programming for Bluegrass community and technical college (Bctc) in lexington, Kentucky beginning october 3. Bellocq will work collaboratively with college administration to provide leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the equine industry support center and north american Racing academy. the position provides Bellocq with oversight of operations and the development and support of training and academic programs geared towards providing the racing and breeding industries with a more reliable and ready workforce.
eqUineline.coM Renews
according to Bellocq, “the national HBPa has been my home and, in many ways, my extended family for ten years. My many thanks go out to our Board of Directors and to our affiliate members who have given me so much support over the years. it will be hard to leave, but Bctc and the Kentucky community and technical college system have given me a wonderful opportunity, for which i am grateful. My goal is to build on the great work being done by Bctc and the north american Racing academy to provide horsemen with ready, willing, and able workers at all levels.” national HBPa President and chairman Joe santanna expressed his gratitude, saying, “i have the utmost professional respect and personal regard for Remi. During his tenure, he contributed substantially to the growth and success of our organization, and on behalf of our Board and over 30,000 general members, i sincerely thank him for not only that, but also for his very visible dedication to the entire thoroughbred horse racing industry.”
sPonsoRsHiP witH national HBPa
the national HBPa is proud to announce that equineline.com has renewed its corporate sponsorship with the largest racing horsemen’s association in north america. equineline.com consists of four services – equineline reports, trainer Program, Farm Program and Portfolio service – and is a component of the Jockey club information systems inc. (tJcis) of lexington, Kentucky. according to the national HBPa President and chairman Joe santanna, “equineline.com has been a great resource for horsemen for a long time, and the national HBPa is very proud of our continuing sponsorship by tJcis. as the global nature of the racing industry continues to grow, equineline.com continues to deliver important new information to horsemen from all around the globe. equineline.com’s products help our members make important decisions for their equine businesses.” equineline.com reports offer pedigrees, race records, and a wide assortment of breeding, racing and sales information for individual thoroughbreds and american quarter Horses, including free five-cross pedigrees for thoroughbreds, free auction results search for thoroughbreds, and a free racing recap for both thoroughbred and quarter Horse races. Many of the thoroughbred reports include video replay capabilities. Many HBPa offices make equineline.com reports available as a service to their members. the trainer Program helps trainers, their assistants, and bookkeepers streamline and, in many cases, automate the business-related details of training horses. the Farm Program enables farms to organize all of the billing,
health care, breeding, and foaling records upon which successful operation of their business depends. the Portfolio service allows owners and breeders to track and maintain real-time updated information on their horses. equineline.com also features a Pedigree analysis Program that enables customers to research and analyze the effects of specific crosses and inbreeding patterns through queries of the tJcis global database, and a free owner Program that stores and help owners manage their horse records, including procedures, revenues, and expenses. in June, tJcis introduced the equineline sales catalog app, which enables customers to download sales catalog books for all major north american sales and a number of major international sales to their iPad. once downloaded, the free app’s many features include short lists, mini-catalogs, annotation functionality, highlighting, and more. tJcis has an ever-expanding database of global information available within equineline.com reports and services, which includes detailed racing and breeding information from north america, argentina, australia, Brazil, chile, england, France, Germany, Hong Kong, ireland, italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, new Zealand, Peru, saudi arabia, south africa, United arab emirates, and Uruguay. the national HBPa encourages its members to support our corporate sponsors such as tJcis that support your organization and the programs and services it provides to horsemen across north america. visit www.equineline.com today to see the many available services and reports that could help you improve your equine business and its productivity. and be sure to check back frequently for free offers and promotions every month.
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news
HORSEMAN LABOR SOLUTIONS CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT HORSEMEN AS A SPONSOR OF NATIONAL HBPA
The National HBPA is pleased to announce that Horseman Labor Solutions (HLS) is continuing its support of horsemen by renewing its corporate sponsorship of National HBPA. Horseman Labor Solutions immigration service company provides assistance in the immigration process for the international worker in the horse racing industry. According to National HBPA President and Chairman Joe Santanna, “We are excited for the continued support of National HBPA’s horsemen and women by Horseman Labor Solutions. We greatly value their support of our organization and its members, as well as the keen insight into the immigration arena that they bring to the table. Horseman Labor Solutions knows the ever-changing immigration laws and statutes and the horse racing industry, and they are an excellent resource for the HBPA and our horsemen who need help in this area.” With nearly two decades of immigration legal experience, Horseman Labor Solutions is bringing workers as grooms, hot walkers, and other positions for trainers throughout the United States. “We are delighted to be one sponsor for the National HBPA,” said HLS CoOwner and Director of Operations Briian Newhouse-Velie. Newhouse-Velie continued, “We look forward to working with the National HBPA and its affiliates and some of the best trainers in the business. Horseman Labor Solutions provides solutions for employers in the chronically understaffed horse and equine industries. Our methodologies provide a turnkey package to
BIg DEE’S TACk & VET SUPPLIES CONTINUES
CELEBRATORy $10 BONUS CARD
SPONSORSHIP OF NATIONAL HBPA, OFFERS MEMBERS
Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies has again renewed its sponsorship of National HBPA, the largest racing horsemen’s representative association in North America. Established in 1977 and family-owned and operated, Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies offers over 20,000 name brand, top quality products developed by horse enthusiasts for horse enthusiasts. National HBPA President and Chairman Joe Santanna said, “We are excited about Big Dee’s continued support of the National HBPA and the over 35,000 horsemen we represent. Many of our members purchase products and supplies from Big Dee’s, and we encourage those who never have to consider supporting a company that has shown sustained support for our organization and its programs and services” Serving the equine community for over 30 years, Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies offers a full selection of products specifically for the racing industry, as well as general riding and horse care products. Their product selection includes an extensive selection of equine nutritional supplements, stable supplies, farrier supplies, and horse blankets. In addition, Big Dee’s offers in-house customizing services for stable jackets, brass name plates, saddle towels, and more. 12
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trainers and HBPA affiliates to assist in the often complex process. Our mission is to provide horse racing and equestrian employers with a range of options all designed to provide the highest quality workforce available, including H2B, P1 and P1S visas. Additionally, P1 visas provide a platform upon which beneficiaries can petition for permanent residence. “Our services assist the horsemen in individually navigating through the legal procedure involved in bringing workers for a temporary period. Our comprehensive temporary labor solutions often include legal, taxation, workers’ compensation, as well as other administrative compliance issues such as clearing the legal visa, consular checks, and transportation to the United States.” “Our immigration experience allows us to offer a suite of solutions to horsemen’s staffing needs,” said William Velie, CEO of HLS. “Our investment in the HBPA demonstrates our long-term commitment to the horse industry. We look forward to participating and presenting at future conferences.” William Velie and Briian Newhouse-Velie, both Oklahoma natives, are graduates of the University of Oklahoma. William attended the University of Oklahoma Law School, and Briian graduated with a Master’s Degree in Leadership Administration. Williams has practiced immigration law across the United States for nearly two decades and has a wide range of experience with employment-based immigration, with a focus on H2B visas. Velie has secured the certification by the United States Department of Labor of between three and five thousand H2B visas annually for the past five years. For more information, visit HLS at www.horsemanlabor.com or call Horseman Labor Solutions at 1-800-678-RACE (7223).
Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies is based in Streetsboro, Ohio, where the company operates a 12,000 square foot retail store and warehouse, a mailorder business and online store. Customers are invited to shop online at www.bigdweb.com, visit the retail store, or place orders via telephone by calling 1-800-321-2142. Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies prides itself on outstanding customer service and quality products at affordable prices. By recognizing the need for customer service representatives with extensive horse knowledge, Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies has ensured the best possible customer experience. Moreover, most in-stock orders placed Monday through Friday by 3:00 p.m. are shipped the same day, ensuring that customers receive their much-needed supplies as soon as possible. The company also offers free shipping on Non-FOB orders over $70. According to Brenda Miavitz, general manager of Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies, “We are happy to be partners with the National HBPA again for another year. Please join us on Facebook and visit our website for continual new offers on products.” In celebration of its continued partnership with the National HBPA, Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies would like to offer HBPA members a $10.00 bonus card with their first order of $70.00 or more! Be sure to use promo code HBPA11 to redeem this special offer. Limit one bonus card per person. Offer expires on December 31, 2012.
tEchnoloGY
+ RESEARCH MEDICATION UPDATE RACE DAY MEDICATION, DRUG TESTING INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH COMMITTEES PROVIDE UPDATES TO RMTC BOARD
at its october 6 meeting in Scottsdale, arizona, the Racing medication and testing consortium (Rmtc) board of directors heard important updates from the race-day medication, drug testing initiative (Dti) and research committees. items presented for discussion included penalty guidelines, race-day medication administration, security and surveillance, drug administration studies, and the research being conducted under the Rmtc-funded post-doctoral program. NTRA President Alex Waldrop presented a model rule to reflect the RMTC’s earlier recommendations that furosemide only be administered on race-day by regulatory veterinarians. The RMTC board voted to approve the model rule presentation to the Association of Racing Commissioners International Winter Meeting in Tucson, December 8 and 9, 2011. Under the proposed language of the model rule, regulators or their designees will have responsibility for race-day administration of furosemide. The various adjunct bleeder medications that have been used in some jurisdictions would no longer be authorized. RMTC Vice Chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations Alan Foreman presented a report on the work of the RMTC Penalty Guidelines Committee. Mr. Foreman reported that the committee continues to pursue a simplified classification system of drug categories and penalty guidelines. “Additionally, it is the committee’s goal to produce a list of appropriate testing decision levels and corresponding recommended withdrawal times for the various therapeutic medications,” Foreman said. Mr. Foreman also acknowledged the work of The Jockey Club in developing the revised racing medication rules for incorporating recommendations emerging from this and other committees of the RMTC. RMTC Chairman Dr. Bobby Lewis acknowledged the ongoing industry debate regarding the race-day use of furosemide and the work of the RMTC subcommittee chaired by Chris Scherf, Executive Vice President of the Thoroughbred Racetrack Associations, which is studying the matter. The principal objective of the committee, which was formed as a result of the International Summit on Race Day Medication, EIPH and the Racehorse,
held at Belmont Park in June, was to study various means of comprehensively measuring the effects of eliminating furosemide in a population of starters. While other organizations, including the Breeders’ Cup and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, have announced their plans for phasing out the use of furosemide in selected races beginning 2012, Dr. Lewis reiterated that as the industry advocate for medication matters, the RMTC will continue to monitor and study this issue, and stands ready to assist the industry in formulating rules and policies to support whatever change the industry decides. In other business, the RMTC directors also heard an update from RMTC Project Manager Dr. Gregg Scoggins on the work of its DTI committee and ongoing administration and threshold level research for several therapeutic medications, including the most commonly prescribed corticosteroids. The RMTC board approved funding for development of an analytical test for ITPP and heard recommendations from the scientific advisory committee on the direction of future RMTC research efforts. Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, director of the Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, was invited to share his expertise in the field of pharmacological effects of corticosteroids and their clinical uses. “Dr. McIlwraith is an internationally-recognized expert in research on these products, and his input is timely considering the progress that has been made by RMTC with the ongoing corticosteroid administration trials,” said RMTC Chairman Dr. Robert Lewis. The RMTC Board of Directors will convene again in Tucson, Arizona, in conjunction with the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program’s Annual Conference on Racing and Gaming in December.
INTERNATIONAL EFFORT ON EQUINE GENETICS CONTINUES MAKING STRIDES a major morris animal Foundation initiative was begun five years ago and is still going strong in advancing the health of horses through genetics research. in 2006, an international team of equine researchers began sequencing and assembling the horse genome, which was completed in early 2007. the collaboration involved scientists at 20 universities around the world. today, scientists from more than 30 elite academic institutions throughout 14 countries continue to use the initial maps and sequence of the horse genome to identify the molecular basis for diseases that affect horses. A significant part of this international effort, known as the Equine Consortium for Genetic Research (ECGR), was the largest equine health study in Morris Animal Foundation’s history. Led by Dr. James Mickelson at the University of Minnesota, the goal of the ECGR was to bring together the best equine researchers in the world in a collaborative effort to improve equine health by using the mapped equine genome to determine the location of genes that are either the cause of or are integrally associated with specific disease traits in horses.
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Over the past five years, the ECGR has made major inroads in research by funding eight research groups at five North American institutions. Members of the ECGR and scientists all over the world have used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips—a genetic tool developed with funding from Morris Animal Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and various European partners. The ECGR funds have been used to study recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, commonly known as tying up, in Thoroughbreds; lavender foal syndrome in Arabians; extreme lordosis, or swaying of the back, in saddlebreds; dwarfism in miniature horses; and susceptibility to cribbing and immune/ infectious diseases in a number of breeds. Other genome researchers are studying osteochondrosis, recurrent airway obstruction, metabolic syndrome,
laryngeal paralysis, polysaccharide storage myopathy, cervical stenosis and many other equine conditions. “The SNP chips allow us to identify those genes that contribute to a genetic disease much more quickly,” Dr. Mickelson explains. “We can then hope to more rapidly find the specific gene and mutation and develop a DNA test to determine a horse’s genetic risk for susceptibility to that particular disease.” For breeders in the industry, the use of genetic tests will allow them to select away from horses with known mutations to improve the overall health and well-being of their breeds. Horse breeders maintain meticulous pedigree records for many horse breeds, some extending back more than 300 years. Deep pedigree records, coupled with excellent health and performance records, provide excellent material for quantitative trait loci studies. Based on the consortium’s initial success, the University of Minnesota group received a $550,000 grant from the USDA to study the genetic basis for metabolic syndrome, which may predispose horses to a particular form of laminitis. The group is also developing online tools to provide information to the equine industry and help them get involved in research. “Our researchers are also investigating how the expression of all the genes in the genome responds to complex disease processes such as laminitis
and osteoarthritis,” Dr. Mickelson says. “Future studies will now continue this work on many other breeds and many other conditions.” The ECGR has greatly enhanced the ability of clinical and basic scientists to study genetic processes contributing to high-priority equine diseases and enhance knowledge regarding normal cellular processes governing equine biology, thereby benefiting the entire horse industry. Overall, probably the biggest success the ECGR has had so far is that it is leading the way in developing and capturing the potential of the equine genome sequence for translational purposes, Dr. Mickelson says. The current equine genome research environment has greatly enhanced the ability of all equine scientists to perform successful research and, in so doing, to identify genes and genetic mechanisms that contribute to susceptibility to diseases both known and unknown. “We hope to be able to do for the horse what can already be done for human and canine research,” Dr. Mickelson says. “We have teams of researchers in the United States and around the world in position to continue this exciting work. We envision a day in which owners and veterinarians can improve the quality of life of their horses by ensuring that genes that cause highly deleterious conditions are reduced or eliminated.”
NEW EQUINE BIOSECURITY RISK CALCULATOR NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR HORSE
OWNERS
with winter and flu season approaching, you are ready to do everything in your power to reduce your chances of catching a cold, but how do you rate in keeping your horses safe from infectious disease? See how you score. calculate your horse farm’s risks with Equine Guelph’s new and improved Equine biosecurity Risk calculator, a tool designed for horse owners to generate a report that grades them on their biosecurity management practices on their farms. Live and online now at www. EquineGuelph.ca (click Biosecurity Risk Calculator), the interactive tool is an educational resource of Equine Guelph (University of Guelph) developed in collaboration with Colorado State University and sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation and Vétoquinol Canada Inc. “Every horse owner should think about a biosecurity management plan,” says Karan Ann Paradis, Equine Product Manager of Vétoquinol. “Having a solid understanding of equine health, infectious disease and disease control is paramount in reducing biosecurity risk in a high-risk industry. Vétoquinol is delighted to support the development of this important educational tool for caretakers.”
The online resource helps horse owners calculate the biosecurity risk on their farms and also provides educational feedback on ways to decrease the risk of infectious disease. It takes about 10 minutes to answer 42 questions in 10 categories about their farms and rates their individual biosecurity risks in each category. Possible scores include: green for go (keep doing what you’re doing), yellow for caution (consider improvements), and red for stop (reassess to reduce serious risk). “The online resource will give horse owners a great starting point by revealing the potential risks currently present on their own farm and the most practical ways to decrease those risks,” says Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, AAEP Foundation Chairman. “AAEP Foundation is pleased to collaborate with our partners in Canada and the U.S. to provide this valuable tool for horse owners in North America.”
PENNSYLVANIA HORSEMEN DONATIONS TO FUND ITPP RESEARCH AT PENN VET AND PENNSYLVANIA EQUINE TOxICOLOGY AND RESEARCH LAB lawrence R. Soma, VmD, DacVa announced that the University of pennsylvania School of Veterinary medicine’s new bolton center has received a generous donation from the pennsylvania harness horsemen association. The monies donated, in conjunction with donations from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen Association at PARx, will be used for the purpose of developing methods to detect and study the effects of a performance enhancing drug, informally called ITPP. The on-going research program is a joint venture between Cornelius E. Uboh, PhD, director of the Pennsylvania
Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory at West Chester University and Dr. Soma, professor of anesthesia and the Marilyn M. Simpson professor of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Pennsylvania Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at Penn Vet in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, which is supported primarily by the Pennsylvania Horse and Harness Racing Commissions. “We are very appreciative of these gifts from the Pennsylvania horsemen’s groups, which have been used to enhance our research program. This is of
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benefit to all constituents in the racing industry,” says Dr. Soma. “We have withdrawn all other proposals requesting funding for this specific drug.” The research will be co-directed by Mary Robinson, VMD, PhD. Dr. Robinson is a lecturer of equine pharmacology. Her fellowship at Penn Vet is funded, in
part, by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. Research to investigate AICAR, another drug suspected of being utilized in the racing industry, is near completion thanks to funding from the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.
PFIZER ANIMAL HEALTH ExPANDS GLOBAL R&D HEADQUARTERS IN MICHIGAN WITH OPENING OF EQUINE RESEARCH CENTER on november 8, pfizer animal health affirmed its commitment to innovation in equine health with the opening of the pfizer animal health Equine Research center in Richland, michigan. the center, the culmination of a $7 million investment, expands pfizer animal health’s global research and development network headquarters in Kalamazoo, michigan, and will serve as the worldwide hub for research and development of equine vaccines and novel therapeutics. “The dedication of the Equine Research Center builds on the $75 million investment in the renovation and expansion of Pfizer’s veterinary medicine R&D headquarters in Kalamazoo completed in 2009,” said Dr. Cathy Knupp, Vice President, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Pfizer Animal Health. “The Center will support the work of a multi-disciplinary team of scientists committed to providing horse owners and the veterinarians who support them with truly innovative, best-in-class health solutions.” The Center adds 24,000 square feet of research laboratory space, as well as paddock and pasture facilities. It will serve as the U.S. equine research center of excellence for a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and specialists.
“Horses, like humans, are vulnerable to new outbreaks of prevalent illnesses such as equine influenza virus and Streptococcus equi, as well as to emerging diseases such as Hendra virus,” said Dr. Paul Lunn, Ph.D., MRCVS, Dip. ACVIM, Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University. “The Pfizer Equine Research Center will help answer the urgent imperative for much needed innovation to help horses live longer, healthier lives.” According to Dr. Mahesh Kumar, executive director, Global Biologics Research, who will lead the vaccine development program at the site, “The Center and its scientific team will serve as the engine for equine research, speeding the development of a next generation of equine vaccines and therapeutics.”
AMERICAN HORSEMEN, FUROSEMIDE, AND THE BREEDERS’ CUP OF 2011 by Dr. Kimberly Brewer and Dr. Thomas Tobin american horsemen have long known and understood the safety and health benefits that lasix brings to racing horses. on the other hand, at least some of our old world colleagues had still not received the lasix message, as made clear by the results of the 2011 breeders’ cup. Of the 180 horses racing over the two days of the Breeders’ Cup, seven horses, fewer than five percent, elected to run without Lasix. The other 95.6 percent of horses ran on Lasix, and of these, about 17 ran for the first time on Lasix. The question then becomes, of those horses that had never previously run on Lasix, which group performed better, those electing to run on Lasix for the first time, or those who declined the opportunity? The answer this question is stunningly clear. Of the seven horses that declined the opportunity to run on Lasix, only one finished in the money, and only modestly in the money at that. Sarafina, the 5-2 favorite in the official program in the Breeder’s Cup Turf, finished fourth of nine, earning $180,000.
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None of the six other non-Lasix horses finished better than eighth, to yield a non-Lasix horse earning average of slightly less than $26,000 (U.S.) per horse. On the other hand, of the 17 horses running on Lasix for the first time, two, Wrote and St. Nicholas Abbey, won their races, three were second, two were third, and one each came in fourth and fifth. This comes to a total of nine horses finishing in the money – and some very significantly in the money – for the first-time Lasix runners. Total winnings for these first-time Lasix horses were a not insignificant $3.5 million and change (U.S.), for an average of a little over $200,000 per horse. Simple division shows that first time on Lasix horses in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup earned about eight time more in purses than horses that declined the opportunity to become first-time Lasix horses. In closing, review of the results of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup shows clearly what American horsemen have long known and a fact with which science has only just recently caught up – Lasix treated horses race better, race safer, race more consistently, and finish more often and more substantially in the money than their non-Lasix treated compatriots, period.
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Always Available Hawthorne’s Hoof Freeze is available, along with Hot Nail and all the other great Hawthorne Products. Hawthorne’s Hoof Freeze aids in preventing and treating pain and soreness in horses’ hooves, particularly tender-footed horses. Hoof Freeze also combats thrush and white line disease, and is a very effective hoof hardener. Visit the new Hawthorne Products web site to learn how our complete line of products will maintain the health of your horse and relieve the soreness in those hooves.
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medication COMMITTEE CORNER LASIx AND BLEEDERS – A CLASSIC AMERICAN HORSEMEN’S STORY By Drs. Thomas Tobin and Kimberly Brewer
The story of Lasix is a classic American horsemen’s story. For many years, American horsemen withheld water prior to racing, believing that horses raced better when water was withdrawn. Then, when furosemide became available in the late 1960s, horsemen found that they could accentuate the water withholding effect by administering Lasix. Among the benefits was a reduced incidence of “bleeders,” technically epistaxis, acute bleeding from the nose during or post-race. Bleeders have been known for 300 years or more; classically, about one percent of horses bleed from the nose during or post-race. Bleeding is associated with poor performance and, very occasionally, with death of the horse. Based on the perceived efficacy of Lasix in reducing the numbers of bleeders, Lasix was approved for use throughout the United States starting in the early 1970s. In the 1970s, the flexible fiber-optic endoscope became available, and post-race inspection of the windpipes (tracheas) of racing horses commenced. What was found was that virtually all Thoroughbreds show blood in the trachea post-race. The amounts vary, from barely detectable to very substantial, including amounts associated with bleeding out the nostrils, or epistaxis. Additionally, bronchial wash techniques made clear that all Thoroughbred horses bleed into their lungs during racing; the only variable is the amount of bleeding. The condition also acquired a new and more scientific name, Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH). It also became apparent that pulmonary damage due to EIPH is cumulative, so as horses age, their incidence of bleeding increases. Steeplechase horses, which tend to be older and to have the added stress of heavier jockeys and jumps, show the highest rates of epistaxis. Postmortem studies on horses retired due to EIPH show that the lung lesions are located at the top of the lungs, below the backbone (technically, the dorsocaudal lobes), a highly specific and unusual location. Related work showed that pulmonary blood pressures in racing horses are unusually high, leading to the theory that blood pressure driven stress failure (rupture) of pulmonary capillaries vessels was the cause of EIPH. In 1995, New York became one of the last American states to approve the use of Lasix. Furthermore, the New York authorities kept records on the incidence of epistaxis in horses racing in New York, both before and after the introduction of Lasix. These data were reported by Bill Heller in his book “Run Baby Run,” published in 2002. These data show that for several years prior to the introduction of Lasix in New York in September of 1995, the rate of epistaxis, or EIPH, was just about five incidents per month. However, as soon as Lasix was introduced, in September of 1995, the number of epistaxis cases dropped to about one per month – an almost 80 percent reduction – and remained at this much lower rate for the following five years. These are extremely compelling data and fully support the claims that American horsemen had been making since the late 1960s (and which one of us (Tom Tobin), had presented before Congress in 1983) concerning the efficacy of furosemide in the prevention of EIPH. The Jockey Club, however, remained unconvinced, and in or about 2008 commissioned a study supported by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, and The Jockey Club of Southern Africa. In a very carefully designed and executed study,
an international team of veterinary scientists headed by Dr. Ken Hinchcliff conclusively demonstrated that furosemide significantly reduced the incidence of high-score EIPH, very similar to the results observed in New York ten-plus years previously. This Jockey Club-supported study was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2009, at which point the efficacy of Lasix in the prevention of EIPH was unequivocally established scientifically. The next question one might ask is how Lasix acts to reduce the incidence of EIPH. Approaching 20 years ago, the human pulmonary physiologist West and his coworkers proposed that EIPH was associated with pulmonary capillary rupture caused by the unusually high blood pressures observed in the pulmonary systems of racing horses, the “capillary/stress failure” theory of EIPH. More recently, however, Schroeter, a basic scientist by training, has proposed that EIPH is caused by stride-associated shock waves being transmitted up the forelimbs. These shock waves enter the lungs, continue “north” through the lung tissue, and are reflected back into the lung at the upper surface of the lungs, where they act to rupture the delicate alveolar/capillary tissues. This shock wave hypothesis provides an immediate explanation for the unusual location of the EIPH lesions, at the reflection point at the top of the lung, where the shock waves travelling “north” are reflected back into the lung tissue. Consistent with this shockwave theory, EIPH is not observed in swimming horses, supporting suggestions that EIPH is caused not by exercise, but by strides. Even more interestingly, in treadmill horses that favor a particular lead, evidence of EIPH as assessed by bronchial wash techniques is found only on the lead limb side. Apparently, the lead limb is the limb through which the most substantial stride-related shock waves are transmitted, and as such the hemorrhage occurs predominantly in the lung on that side. In passing, we also respectfully note that these observations suggest that the term ExerciseInduced Pulmonary Hemorrhage may be a misnomer, and that the condition might more correctly be called “stride” induced pulmonary hemorrhage. One argument presented by those wishing to eliminate Lasix is that its use “weakens the breed.” There is little scientific literature to support this theory and much to refute it. First, horses have bled as far back as the days of Eclipse, who bled so severely at times that he collapsed. Because the genes of Eclipse are prevalent in the lineages of most modern Thoroughbreds, if one wished to breed from “bleeding-free” pedigrees, there are very few pedigrees from which to choose. Furthermore, bleeding is not determined by genetics or heritability, but is simply a result of applied physics. Bleeding occurs due to stride-related shock waves acting on lung tissues, as demonstrated by the fact that all horses bleed. Furthermore, bleeding is related to shock waves in the lead leg, and physical factors such as racing surface, speed and distance traveled, weight carried, number of performances, hydration status, shoe type and so forth, all likely come into play in exerting shock wave stress on the horse’s lungs. Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage, therefore, is a stride driven phenomenon and not something that can be prevented purely through genetic manipulation. With regard to the mechanism of action of furosemide, the shock wave theory of EIPH suggests that Lasix (or water deprivation) may act in part by reducing the water content of the delicate lung alveolar/capillary tissue, www.nationalhbpa.com
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thereby reducing its susceptibility to shock wave damage. This possibility is particularly intriguing in view of the fact that the original approach to epistaxis was to withhold water, suggesting that American horsemen were correct all along when they withheld water prior to post and also when, more recently, they began administering furosemide to racing horses. This mechanism action of Lasix may also help answer the question of why furosemide is effective in the prevention of EIPH four hours after administration, after the drug has largely been eliminated from the horse. The answer is now obvious. While the furosemide is, as a practical matter, gone from the body of the horse by race time, the critically important change in the fluid balance of the horse persists fully until after the race, when the horses is again allowed free access to water. As well as reducing the susceptibility of the lung to shockwave damage, we must also consider the likelihood that what I will call a “dry,” or waterwithheld, lung is a more efficient lung. In this regard, it is well established that if you put too much fluid into a horse, the ability of the lung to oxygenate the blood is reduced, most likely because the extra lung water increases the distance that inspired oxygen has to travel from the alveolus to the pulmonary capillary red blood cells. This is important because the horse, as a practical matter, is unable to fully oxygenate its blood at maximal exercise. As such, any factor which improves the oxygenation of blood has the potential to optimize the delivery of oxygen to the musculoskeletal system of the horse, and thus its athletic performance. The above leads to an unexpected possible outcome with regard to the banning of furosemide in racing horses. This is because a prohibition on Lasix may make it easier to run horses “hot” and “cold,” as follows. In this procedure, a “cold” horse would be a horse from which water has not been withdrawn, or a horse to which additional fluid has been provided to reduce its pulmonary efficiency and the oxygenation capacity of the lung. Conversely, the “hot” horse would be a horse from which water has been withdrawn to the maximum amount, which horse would race as close to racing on furosemide as would be possible in the absence of furosemide administration. With virtually all horses currently running on furosemide, and furosemide use being very carefully regulated, the betting public is in a much better position to assess the pulmonary and performance capacity of the Lasix horse than a horse in the absence of Lasix, where the hydration status of the horse can be manipulated at will, and for which manipulation no test is available. Finally, manipulation of the betting outcome is improper, but in the last analysis involves only money. There is, however, another clearcut outcome
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to the banning of furosemide that involves human and equine lives. When Kentucky instituted its first routine necropsy program for racing horses, one of the early necropsy candidates was a horse that had “crashed” on the racetrack about one-quarter of a mile out of the starting gate. On necropsy, the horse was found to have two fractured vertebrate, but full necropsy established the proximate cause of death as massive pulmonary hemorrhage. This horse was a classic EIPH-related sudden death, in which a horse bleeds sufficiently heavily into its lungs to die acutely on the racetrack or soon post-race. Based on this experience, we noted that the definition of EIPH should be extended to include an incidence of sudden death on the racetrack, and these EIPH-related sudden death events place at risk the lives of both horses and jockeys. These EIPH acute sudden deaths have been reported in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Caracas, Arizona, New Mexico, and elsewhere. Based on data reported by our colleagues in Pennsylvania, the estimated incidence of EIPHrelated acute sudden death on the racetrack is about one episode in every 1,500 races. Because pretreatment with Lasix is close to 80 percent effective in reducing the incidence of high score EIPH and epistaxis, there is no reason not to think that pretreatment with Lasix does not equivalently reduce the incidence of acute deaths associated with EIPH in racing horses. As such, the administration of furosemide serves to protect the lives of both horses and their riders/jockeys, which creates a compelling ethical circumstances for veterinarians and others associated with the protecting the health and welfare of racing horses and their riders. In summary, American horsemen had long observed that withholding water prior to post improved the performance of racing horses and reduced the incidence of epistaxis. When injectable Lasix became available 40 or so years ago, American horsemen rapidly and correctly identified its ability to prevent EIPH. They lobbied for its approval in American racing, and its use spread throughout the entire Americas. Science now fully supports their long-held belief that Lasix prevents EIPH and allows horses to run more consistently and truer to form. Additionally, the presence of Lasix makes it more difficult to alter the performance of horses by manipulating their hydration status prior to post. More importantly, EIPH/epistaxis is associated with a small incidence of sudden death in racing horses, with an attendant risk to life and limb for horses and jockeys. Withdrawal of approval for Lasix in North American racing will, therefore, increase the risk to life and limb for horses and their jockeys, and also increases the potential for manipulation of the hydration status of horses prior to post, for which manipulation no testing procedures are currently available.
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Jul. 18 – Sep. 5, 2012 Oct. 3-14, 2012 Aug. 19 – Dec. 18, Dec. 26, 2011 – Jun. 17, 2012, Aug. 17 – Sep. 16, Oct. 18 – Dec. 9, 2012* Nov. 9 – Dec. 18, 2011, Apr. 25 – Jul. 15, Nov. 7 – Dec. 16, 2012 Aug. 15-26, 2012* Jan. 1 – Dec. 18, Dec. 30, 2011 – Dec. 23, 2012 Sep. 7-23, 2012 Sep. 19 – 30, 2012 Dec. 26, 2011 – Apr. 22, 2012, Sep. 26 – Nov. 4, 2012 Jul. 25 – Aug 12, 2012
Del Mar Race Course
Fresno Co. Fair @ Fresno
Golden Gate Fields
Hollywood Park
Humboldt Co. Fair @ Ferndale
Los Alamitos Race Course
Pomona Co. Fair @ Fairplex
San Joaquin Co. Fair @ Stockton
Santa Anita
Sonoma Co. Fair @ Santa Rosa
Calder Race Course
Jul. 11-22, 2012
Cal Expo/California State Fair @ Sacramento
florida
Jun. 21 – Jul. 8, 2012
Alameda Co. Fair @ Pleasanton
california
Apr. 9 – Jun. 30, 2012
Apr. 14 – Oct. 14, 2012
Hastings Racecourse
Oct. 1, 2011 – May 6, 2012
Turf Paradise
British columbia, canada
Apr. 28, 29, May 5, 6, 2012
Santa Cruz Co. Fair @ Sonoita
Jan. 13 – Apr. 14, 2012
Feb. 11 – Mar. 25, 2012
Rillito Park
Oaklawn Park
Jan. 28, 29, Feb. 4, 5, 2012
Jul. 4, 6, 7, 8, 2012
Pima Co. Fair @ Rillito Park
Coconino Co. Fair @ Flagstaff
Arkansas
Arizona
2011/2012
Jan. 7 – Mar. 21, May 4 – Sep. 23, 2012
Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
new Mexico
SunRay Park
Apr. 20 – Jun. 26, 2012
Dec. 6, 2011 – Apr. 17, 2012
May 25 – Sep. 3, 2012
Ruidoso Downs Sunland Park
Aug. 11 – Nov. 11, 2012
The Downs at Albuquerque
May 11 – Jul. 8, 2012
Horsemen’s Atokad Downs
Lincoln Race Course
Aug. 21, 2012
Fonner Park
Jul. 13-22, 2012
Feb. 24 – May 5, 2012
Agricultural Park @ Columbus
nebraska
Horsemen’s Park
Jul. 26 – Sep. 9, 2012
Canterbury Park
Minnesota
May 18 – Sep. 3, 2012*
Sep. 10 – Dec. 17, 2011
Nov. 24, 2011 – Apr. 1, 2012
Fair Grounds
Laurel Race Course
Oct. 5 – Dec. 17, 2011, Apr. 18 – Sep. 8, 2012
Evangeline Downs
Maryland
Oct. 19, 2011 – Mar. 17, 2012, Apr. 27 – Jul. 14, 2012
Delta Downs
louisiana
Dec. 1-31, 2011
Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2011, Feb. 17 – Apr. 30, Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2012
Hawthorne Racecourse
Turfway Park
Apr. 3 – Sep. 21, 2012
Fairmount Park
Kentucky
Apr. 30 – Sep. 30, 2012
Arlington Park
illinois
May 2 – Aug. 11, 2012*
Les Bois Park
Dec. 3, 2011 – May 6, 2012
Mar. 12, 2012
Ocala Training Center Tampa Bay Downs
Dec. 3, 2011 – Apr. 8, 2012
Dec. 10, 2011 – Feb. 19, 2012
Gulfstream Park
Hialeah Park
idaho
dates
Mar. 1 – Dec. 23, 2011, Mar. 2 – Dec. 21, 2012
Mountaineer Race Track
*Pending Approval
Jan. 4 – Dec. 30, 2011
Aug. 17, 18, 19, 24, 24, 26, 2012
Valle de lost Tesoros Hollywood Casino @ Charles Town Races
Jan. 20 – Mar. 12, Mar. 22 – May 19, 2012
Sam Houston Race Park
northamerica
west Virginia
Jun. 8 – Aug. 11, Oct. 5 –Dec. 29, 2012
Apr. 12 – Jul. 8, Sep. 14 – Nov. 10, 2012
Lone Star Park Retama Park
Jul. 20 – Aug. 26, 2012
Aug. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 2012 Longhorn Downs
Laredo Race Park
Jul. 7, 8, 21, 22, Aug. 11, 12, 25, 26, 2012
May 13 – Sep. 27, 2012
Presque Isle Downs
texas
Jan. 3 – Dec. 30, 2011, Jan. 5 – Dec. 29, 2012
Penn National
Gillespie County Fairgrounds
Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2011
Parx Racing
pennsylvania
Oct. 17, 2011 – Mar. 14, 2012
Mar. 5 – May 19, Aug. 25 – Nov. 10, 2012
Jun. 14 – Aug. 4, 2012
Portland Meadows
Will Rogers Downs
Fair Meadows @ Tulsa
oregon
oklahoma
May 4 – Nov. 17, 2012
Thistledown Racecourse
Oct. 10 – Dec. 21, 2011, Jan. 9 – May 5, Oct. 8 – Dec. 22, 2012 Apr. 27 – Sep. 3, 2012
Beulah
ohio
Nov. 4 – Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 8 – Dec. 4, 2012
River Downs
Aqueduct
Zia Park
new york
Schedule is based on available information at the time each issue goes to press. All racing jurisdictions have differing schedules and policies regarding the granting of future >> race dates that impact availability.
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feature
Claiming Crown Xiii: A Big Time in The Big eAsy
Photos by Richard E. Glover, Jr.
By Richard E. Glover, Jr.
ChAnge is rArely eAsy. When iT Comes To sTAging A mAjor rACing evenT, iT is douBly True. This year’s edition of the Claiming Crown was one of numerous changes, including a new venue and a new place on the racing calendar. Previously a summer fixture, ten of the prior 12 renewals of the Claiming Crown had been conducted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. It was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in 2002 and at Ellis Park in 2007. Claiming Crown XIII took place on a beautiful, cloudy but warm day on December 3 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana. The changes created new challenges for the Claiming Crown – some expected and others less so – but Claiming Crown Day itself was again a thoroughly enjoyable day of good, competitive races showcasing the best of the blue collar horses and their owners and trainers who make up the backbone of the Thoroughbred racing industry. Entries for the Claiming Crown were down this year, with only 39 horses entered in five races. The originally slated $50,000 Rapid Transit Stakes was 24
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not carded because too few horses were entered – something that had never before happened to a Claiming Crown race. Conversely, some of the horses that were entered were among the strongest ever to run in the Claiming Crown – including two horses coming straight off starts in Breeders’ Cup races. So strong was the original list of nominees that it may have scared off some potential entries. In the end, Claiming Crown XIII consisted of five races worth $425,000 in purses. In order to be eligible, a horse must have raced for a claiming tag of $35,000 or less (down to $7,500 or less, depending on the race) since January 1, 2010. The Claiming Crown is a day for the connections of claiming horses to shine in the spotlight, and they definitely did at Fair Grounds on December 3. There were familiar faces, longshot winners, up-and-comers, and plenty of impressive performances.
Jewel
iT hAppened AgAin
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
$150,000
m
aggi Moss, who has become a staple at or near the top of the national year-end owner’s standings over the last several years, celebrated her birthday on Thursday, December 1. With the help of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shane Sellers, Moss got a belated birthday present to remember in the form of a triumph in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel by her It Happened Again. Moss claimed It Happened Again from Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd. for $20,000 at Woodbine Racecourse on October 9, 2010. The five-year-old gelded son of Proud Citizen and the Quiet American mare Quiet Lucky really got rolling at Oaklawn Park this spring, racing to three consecutive victories that culminated in a Razorback Handicap (Gr. III) triumph on March 12. After three disappointing subsequent starts against tough company, It Happened Again
got what turned out to be an appreciated approximately five month break from competition. Fresh and training forwardly, It Happened Again gave Asmussen a signal that had the trainer confident heading into the Jewel. According to Asmussen, “He put in a fabulous threequarters work at Churchill [a six furlong breeze in 1:13 2/5 on November 14].” Moss concurred, saying, “He was just doing so well.” Going into the Jewel, it looked like trainer Mike Maker just about had the race surrounded. He saddled three of the race’s six starters – a favored coupled entry of Isthmus and Al Muhtasib and third choice Harmonizer. Maker was seeking his eighth Claiming Crown race victory, which would have put him in a tie with all-time leading Claiming Crown trainer Scott Lake. Maker’s charges could only finish second, third, and fourth as Asmussen and It Happened Again denied him a record-tying victory. Meanwhile, Asmussen moved into third place on the alltime Claiming Crown trainer list with his fourth Claiming Crown victory. His previous scores had come in the 2003 Emerald with Image, the 2005 Iron Horse with My Extolled Honor, and the 2007 Express with Golden Hare. In the Jewel, Isthmus grabbed a clear early lead over Rein King and Tutti Buona Gente, setting fractions of :23.97, :47.33 and 1:11.82. Sellers had It Happened Again settled back in fourth place early, and he dropped him to the inside with three furlongs to run and asked the gelding for his best. The result was a strong rally that carried him 1¼ lengths clear of a stubborn Isthmus at the wire, which he reached in 1:51.56 for the 1 1/8 miles. According to Sellers, “It was a typical Steve Asmussen ride. That’s the kind he wants – stay inside and let ‘em go when they want to. For a moment, I thought I waited too long, but when I asked him, he gave me what I wanted.” Rosie Napravnik rode runner-up Isthmus, and she was proud of his valiant effort. According to Napravnik, “He was a fighter. He was pretty sharp around the first turn, wanting to go on and be very eager, but he held on and ran great. He was really trying down the lane.” Al Muhtasib rallied mildly to finish third, 3 ¾ lengths behind Isthmus. It was another half-length back to Harmonizer in fourth place. Rein King and Tutti Buona Gente trailed past the wire. The Jewel was It Happened Again’s first time to finish in the money going 1 1/8 miles in three lifetime tries. The victory earned the gelding $82,500 to boost his lifetime bankroll to $429,078 in 27 starts. Notably, It Happened Again finished tenth to Friesen Fire in the 2009 Risen Star Stakes (Gr. III), also at Fair Grounds. Asmussen said It Happened Again would be pointed at the Fifth Season Handicap at Oaklawn Park on January 13. The Jewel was restricted to three-year-olds and up that had started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since January 1, 2010. www.nationalHbpa.com
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feature
$100,000 Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
emerald
CompliAnCe offiCer
o
n paper, Compliance Officer and Baryshnikov were clearly the class of the $100,000 Claiming Crown Emerald for three-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles on the grass. The former had reeled off six consecutive victories (including three restricted New York-bred stakes worth $100,000 or more apiece) before a disappointing eleventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr. IT), beaten 12 ½ lengths. Meanwhile, Baryishnikov was straight out of a disappointing seventh place in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (Gr. II), beaten 27 lengths, but earlier in the year had notched runner-up finishes in the Dixie Stakes (Gr. IIT) and Firecracker Handicap (Gr. IIT) and thirds in the Oceanport Handicap (Gr. IIIT) and Bernard Baruch Handicap (Gr. IIT). On the track, Compliance Officer ($0.80-to-1) and Baryshinikov ($2.30-to1) performed as expected to take the first two spots in the Emerald. LaMarca Stable’s Compliance Officer rallied to hit the wire 2 ¾ lengths in front of Baryshinikov in 1:44.51 over a firm turf course. Thabazimbi led the Emerald field through early fractions of :24.44, :49.50, and 1:13.90 while Baryshnikov stalked in second place. Jockey Alex Solis had Compliance Officer rating nicely in fourth place, and he swung the five-year-old gelded son of Officer and the Dynaformer mare Purple Hills wide around the turn for clear sailing. Once clear, Compliance Officer powered to the lead in early stretch and steadily drew away from Baryshinikov. Quick Delivery ran an even race in third pretty much all the way around and finished in that position, 2 ½ lengths behind Baryshinikov and 1 ¾ lengths to the good of Monzante. Avenstoke, Thabazimbi, and Ducduc completed the order of finish. Trainer Bruce Brown revealed that the Claiming Crown had not originally been the plan for Compliance Officer after the Breeders’ Cup, saying, “We were planning on just turning him out after the Breeders’ Cup, but he just bounced out of that so well.” Brown also felt like Compliance Officer did not get a chance to run his best race in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr. IT), so he was not surprised the gelding
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bounced back with a win in the Emerald. He explained, “The post really hurt him in the Breeders’ Cup. When he’s tucked behind horses, he relaxes. In the Breeders’ Cup, he got hung wide. Today, he was able to tuck in, and that’s the secret.” Solis concurred, saying, “He is really very easy to ride. He tucked in behind horses, then I just had to be patient. I got him out at the three-eighths pole, and he did his thing.” Compliance Officer earned $55,000 for his Emerald victory, increasing his lifetime earnings to $464,566 in 24 starts. He was claimed for $25,000 by La Marca Stable from Klaravich Stable, Inc. and William H. Lawrence on May 14 at Belmont Park. Owner Thomas LaMarca noted that Compliance Officer has been a pleasant surprise. He said, “I originally claimed him as a sprinter. Then we began to stretch him out. Bruce has done a fabulous job, and Alex fits him to a ‘T.’ It’s been like a fantasyland.” Notably, Compliance Officer was bred by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, who are tied with Richard Englander as the all-time leading Claiming Crown owners with four wins. Their thee-year-old colt Live in Joy was scratched out of the Emerald by trainer Wayne Catalano. The Emerald was restricted to three-year-olds and up that had started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since January 1, 2010.
$75,000
Richard E. Glover, Jr.
Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
glass slipper
rATTlin gyspy
T
he females took center stage in the $75,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper for fillies and mares, three and up, going six furlongs, and the smart bettors had their money down on the only female horse-jockey pair in the race – Rattlin Gyspy and jockey Rosie Napravnik. Sent off at $6.40-to-1, the pair rolled to a threelength victory over D’cats Meow in 1:11.45. Rattlin Gyspy is owned by Steven Howell, Ron Pauley, and Stephen Reiker, and she is trained by perennial top Fairmount Park trainer and Illinois HBPA President John Wainwright. Shesadozer, part of the favored three-horse entry of trainer Joe Woodard, was fastest out of the gate in the Glass Slipper. Wild About Marie and Right to Rule were also forwardly placed early, while Napravnik let Rattlin Gyspy settle near the back of the nine-horse field. Napravnik called on Rattlin Gyspy on the turn, and the four-year-old daughter of Quest and the Menifee mare Louisa started gaining steadily as the pair swung wide. Set down for the drive down the lane, Rattlin Gyspy reeled in all of her foes and pulled clear for a facile win. According to Napravnik, “I put her where she likes to be, and she came flying home.” Right to Rule held on to take third place, 2 ¾ lengths behind D’cats Meow and a half-length in front of Sweettouch. Scilly was next past the wire, followed by Networking, Wild About Marie, Shesadozer, and Costly. Rattlin Gyspy entered the Glass Slipper off a close fourth place finish in the $50,000 Flashy Lady at Remington Park on October 15. She had finished worse than fourth only once in her ten previous 2011 starts, which included three wins and a fast-closing second in the $75,000 West Virginia Secretary of State Handicap at Mountaineer Park on August 11. The $41,250 winner’s check for the Glass Slipper pushed Rattlin Gyspy’s lifetime earnings in 24 starts to $163,765. Co-owner Stephen Reiker sounded like the widely traveled filly might have earned a break when he commented, “We really don’t have any plans right now for her next start. She’s run at nine different tracks over the last 12 months, and we’re just going to enjoy the moment.” The Glass Slipper was the first Claiming Crown win for all of Rattlin Gyspy’s connections. The Glass Slipper was restricted to fillies and mares that had started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less since January 1, 2010. www.nationalHbpa.com
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eXpress
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ATTheBuzzer wner/trainer Jackie W. Thacker pulled off the second biggest upset in the 13-year history of the Claiming Crown when his Atthebuzzer crossed the wire 1 ½ lengths in front of Bombast in the $50,000 Claiming Crown Express to pay $95.40 for a $2.00 win bet. Only the $100.60 payoff on Adore You in the 2007 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper has been higher. “I guess he didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to win,” joked Thacker after the race. Atthebuzzer, a five-year-old gelded son of Even the Score and the Bold Ruckus mare Francesca’s Ruckus, was dismissed by the betting public despite top three finishes in each of his last five starts, perhaps because the public perceived he had been facing weak competition in those low level claiming and allowance races at Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs. Atthebuzzer’s performance in his last race mimicked his name – a head victory in the closing stride in a $5,000 allowance at Delta on November 18. Favored in the Express was Sherlock, who had reeled off four consecutive wins for trainer Cody Autrey before being claimed in August. Autrey claimed the gelding back out of a third place finish in his next start in September and trained him up to the Express. When the gates opened for the Express, Bombast and Gentlemansapproval battled for the lead through hot splits of :21.91 and :45.41, and that battle took a toll. Gentlemansapproval began to drop out of it, while Bombast forged to a clear lead in upper stretch but was starting to tire. Up-and-coming young jockey C. J. McMahon smartly tracked the dueling leaders on Atthebuzzer, and when he called on his mount in the stretch, the gelding was able to pass a tiring Bombast and edge clear to a decisive victory in 1:10.28 for six furlongs. Bombast held onto second place by three-quarters of a length over the mild rally of Plasma Beam. It was another 3 1 /4 lengths back to Sherlock in fourth place. He was trailed past the post by Sure Success, Tide Rising, Expect a Flyer, and Gentlemansapproval. Allworkandnoplay was scratched by the veterinarian. The win was the first in a Claiming Crown race for both Thacker and McMahon. The 17-year-old jockey commented, “He left good. I kept him in good position, and then he finished up real well for me.” Atthebuzzer earned $27,500 from the Express to increase his lifetime earnings to $123,387 in 39 starts. The Express was restricted to three-year-olds and upward that had started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less since January 1, 2010.
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
$50,000
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Richard E. Glover, Jr.
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
Lou Hodges, Jr./Hodges Photography
$50,000
iron Horse
pedrolino
C
oming off four consecutive second place finishes on the heels of two wins, Majhood went to post as the slight $2.20-to-1 favorite over Pedrolino at $2.50to-1 in the $50,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse for three-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. When the real running started, though, it was all Pedrolino, who powered to a 7 ¾-length victory over Severe Weather in 1:45.13 despite being eased up on late by jockey Robby Albarado. As the seven-horse field broke from the gate in the Iron Horse, Built to Precision drove to the lead over Lambeau and Indian Weaver. Meanwhile, Majhood was off a bit slow, and Albarado was content to let Pedrolino track the leaders in fourth place through fractions of :23.83 and :47.39. Pedrolino rallied around the leaders on the far turn and pulled away from the field coming down the lane to post an easy win. Severe Weather rallied mildly from fifth place to take second place, five lengths in front of a tiring Built to Precision. It was another 3 ½ lengths back to Baby Afleet, who was followed past the wire by Majhood, Lambeau, and Indian Weaver. It was the first Claiming Crown victory for both owner John Wade and trainer Doug Matthews. According to Matthews, “I’ve been running horses in the Claiming Crown for three or four years, but this is the first win. It feels good.” Pedrolino, who was claimed for $20,000 on June 18 at Parx Racing, was coming into the Iron Horse as a consistent but headstrong performer for Wade and Matthews. In four starts for the pair (all on synthetic surfaces), Pedrolino had one win, two seconds, and a third, with the latter being in a $50,000 claiming race at Keeneland on October 26. Matthews made sure Albarado knew ahead of time that the key to Pedrolino was getting the five-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor and the Dahar mare Bold Burst relax, and it paid off. Albarado recalled, “Doug said to keep him quiet but at the same time keep him forward, and it worked out well.” It was Albarado’s second Claiming Crown triumph. He rode Mizzcan’tbewrong to take the 2009 Claiming Crown Tiara. Pedrolino earned $27,500 for his Iron Horse victory, increasing his career bankroll to $147,038 in 18 starts. The Iron Horse was restricted to horses that had started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less since January 1, 2010. www.nationalHbpa.com
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feature
TAking sToCk,
moving Forward a
ttendance and handle figures were not available from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for Claiming Crown Day due to a policy by its parent company, Churchill Downs, Inc., not to release such information to the media. Thus, it is impossible to compare those aspects of the 2011 Claiming Crown with previous renewals of the event. Officials at Fair Grounds seemed please after hosting the Claiming Crown for the first time. According to the track’s communications & pari-mutuel marketing manager, James J. Mulvihill, “Our first Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds went off without a hitch, and we received very positive feedback from the out-of-town horsemen and owners in attendance. Hopefully, we showed once again that no city hosts a big event better than New Orleans, and no track has a better racing surface or offers more hospitality than Fair Grounds.” The owners, trainers, fans, and those involved with the planning of the 2011 Claiming Crown likewise seemed pleased with the wonderful job Fair Grounds did in hosting the event and making the participating horsemen and women feel welcome.
As it does every year at the University of Arizona’s Symposium on Racing & Gaming, the Claiming Crown planning committee was set to meet the week after the event to evaluate the success of this year’s renewal, weigh the effects of changing the event’s place on the racing calendar and what is best for the future, and consider possible host tracks for 2012. They will also be considering any additional changes that might be made to the event to increase participation and strengthen it for the future. The Claiming Crown is put on every year as a partnership between the National HBPA and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association (TOBA) with the generous help of the local horsemen’s association (the Louisiana HBPA this year) and host track. All those involved with this year’s Claiming Crown would like to thank B2B Casuals (www.B2Bcasuals.com) of Quinlan, Texas for its generosity in donating the beautiful Claiming Crown saddle towels and outrider towels used during the event.
Photos by Richard E. Glover, Jr. 30
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NatioNal HBPa SelectS
Phil hanrahan aS cHief executive officer
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL HORSEMEN’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION (NHBPA) IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS UNANIMOUS SELECTION OF ATTORNEY AND RETIRED ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL PHIL HANRAHAN AS ITS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. HANRAHAN WILL BEGIN HIS NEW POSITION ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011. Hanrahan earned his bachelor’s degree with cum laude honors from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He also graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee Law School in 1986. Hanrahan spent almost seven years on active duty in the Army as an armor officer between his bachelor’s degree and law school. After law school, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky and began practicing law, where he has specialized in bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and equine law for the last 25 years. Meanwhile, Hanrahan steadily rose through the ranks in the Army Reserve as an armor and cavalry officer, ultimately being promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and serving in two Commanding General positions. He also received a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College before retiring from the military in 2009. Hanrahan grew up working on a horse farm on Long Island, where he learned to ride in exchange for mucking stalls. It was here that he met Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens and spent part of a summer – after attending paratrooper school – walking “hots” at Belmont for the trainer. For a time, Hanrahan was a licensed Thoroughbred trainer. He has also owned, bred, and pinhooked racehorses. He is currently a handicapper and occasional tournament player. According to National HBPA President and Chairman Joe Santanna, “Phil brings a full array of proven leadership skills to the National HBPA as a result of his vast military experiences. His quarter-century of practicing law adds legal and professional negotiation, litigation, and public speaking skills. When we coupled those with his hands-on experiences in every facet of the Thoroughbred horse racing industry, we knew we had the right person. We are looking forward to Phil Hanrahan serving as the CEO of the National HBPA.”
pHil brings a Full array oF proven leadersHip skills To THe naTional Hbpa as a resulT oF His vasT miliTary eXperienCes. His quarTer-CenTury oF praCTiCing law adds legal and proFessional negoTiaTion, liTigaTion, and publiC speaking skills. www.nationalHbpa.com
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FEatURE
{2011}
A yeAr of chAnGes AnD chAllenGes for iMMiGrAtion AnD worKsite enforceMent in the horse inDustry by Craig McDougal and William Velie
Richard E. Glover, Jr.
As the yeAr winDs to A close, we looK BAcK At A Busy yeAr of proposeD chAnGes AnD steppeD up enforceMent thAt MAy siGnificAntly Affect the ABility of horseMen to Meet their lABor neeDs AnD AVoiD liABility. for horse owners AnD trAiners in 2011, iMMiGrAtion AnD lABor issues hAVe continueD to Be of serious concern As the oBAMA ADMinistrAtion’s increAseD ActiVities in eMployer AuDits AnD enforceMent hAs increAseD the consequences for eMployer ViolAtions. the increAse in enforceMent, coupleD with the inABility of lAwMAKers to coMe up with Any solution to current iMMiGrAtion issues, hAs MeAnt thAt 2011 hAs Been A yeAr of continueD chAllenGes to the horse inDustry in MeetinG essentiAl lABor neeDs AnD coMplyinG with coMplex iMMiGrAtion lAws.
{h-2B VisA issues} The past year has seen two major obstacles to the continued use of the H-2B visa utilized by many within the equine industry to secure horse grooms. First, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) proposed new regulations designed to change the method for determining prevailing wages across all industries. The new method would effectively raise the wage employers are required to pay H-2B employees anywhere from $4 to $10 per hour. A coalition of industry groups, including the National HBPA, is working to stop implementation of the proposed rules. The coalition filed two separate
lawsuits and successfully delayed implementation originally set for September 30. In addition to the legal efforts, lobbying efforts were heard by members of Congress. Both the House and Senate have proposed legislation that would prohibit the DOL from implementing the new prevailing wage regulations. Although successful in delaying implementation of the rule, the efforts did disrupt normal processing for H-2B visas when the DOL ceased issuing prevailing wage determinations for approximately four months. The DOL stated that the delay was due to the new regulation that requires the issuance and reissuance of prevailing wage determinations for the H-2B visa. The second issue, a much more serious threat to the horse industry, stemmed from a redefinition of the term “temporary need” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Historically, the governmental agencies responsible for the H-2B program have strongly appreciated the “on the ground” needs of employers in seasonal industries. For years, both the DOL www.nationalhbpa.com
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Richard E. Glover, Jr.
FEatURE
and USCIS have accepted that the “temporary need” of employers, under the H-2B regulations, can be justified by the seasonal or peakload needs of that employer in its operations at particular locations. For instance, a horse trainer can have a temporary seasonal need for more workers at a racetrack in Florida during the winter and also have a temporary seasonal need at a racetrack in Maryland during the summer. This is the logical, reasonable, and proper way to interpret the H-2B regulations. Though both the DOL and USCIS have long allowed season-based industries like the horse racing industry to use the H-2B program, a limited trend of recent decisions from one particular division of USCIS caused concern that one or more of its officers is veering away from clearly-established precedent, which threatens the horse industry. In recent months, a number of petitions for H-2B workers have been denied by the Vermont office of USCIS. These denials have stated that employers cannot justify a need for temporary workers based on a particular location. Horse industry associations have been advocating strongly before both USCIS and Congress to resolve the temporary need issue and ensure that the horse industry can utilize this visa to help meet labor shortages. The main actors on behalf of the horsemen have been the National HBPA, represented by President and Chairman Joe Santanna and National Latino Liaison Julio Rubio; the American Horse Council (AHC), represented by Jay Hickey; and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), represented by Peggy Hendershot.
{p VisA JocKeys} Jockeys have seen consistent approval of P visa applications over the last year. The P visa is available to internationally recognized athletes seeking to enter the United States to continue competing in the athlete’s sport. Jockeys that meet the international recognition standard are able to secure longer-term visas. Recent USCIS decisions have been issued within three to four weeks, significantly less than the wait times for other visa types. In addition to the P visa issued to the jockey, essential support personnel that work closely with the P jockey can, in some instances, qualify for a P-1S visa. The benefits of the P-1S over the H-2B are many, including a longer validity period.
{e-Verify ArizonA upDAte} Electronic verification (E-verify) of an individual’s authorization to work in the United States continues to move forward. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. Technological advancement is partly
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a driving force behind the push for E-verify. More importantly, however, is the political move to make E-verify mandatory on all employers. Arizona made headlines with the passage of SB1070, which many have called the nation’s toughest immigration law. Businesses, however, are more concerned with an earlier law referred to as the “business death penalty.” The law provides that the licenses of employers knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens may be, and in certain circumstances must be, suspended or revoked. That law also requires that all Arizona employers use E-Verify. A legal challenge to the law was heard by the United States Supreme Court. In Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting, the Supreme Court upheld the Arizona law, opening the door for other states to enact laws to revoke the business licenses of employers that hire unauthorized immigrants. The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation essentially making E-Verify mandatory nationwide. HR 2885, The Legal Workforce Act, would require almost every business in the country to adopt the program within two years. Political winds can change, as it appears they have in Arizona. The author of SB1070 was defeated in a recall election on November 8. Although it appears that the immigration bill was a major factor in the recall election, it is too early to determine if the recall will have any effect on the push to make E-Verify mandatory nationwide.
{increAseD scrutiny of inDepenDent contrActors} The federal government, seeking ways to stop shrinking revenues, is more closely examining designation of workers as independent contractors. The government’s rationale is that it is easier to collect taxes from an employer than from individual workers. If the worker is an employee, an employer will have requirements such as withholding and paying payroll taxes and completing an I-9 for the worker. In addition to increased federal scrutiny, states facing budget shortages are also questioning the validity of independent contractor classification. A decision on whether to classify an individual as an independent contractor or an employee is difficult due to vague regulations. Differences across industry sectors can add to the confusion. Factors that may indicate an employer-employee relationship in one industry may have little application in the horse industry. The IRS uses the “right-to-control test” when determining whether to classify an individual as an independent contractor or an employee. To assist employers, the IRS has also provided 20 factors used to evaluate right-tocontrol and the validity of independent contractor classification. Evidence of the degree of control and independence fall into one of three common law categories: behavioral, financial, and type of relationship. The behavioral category deals with whether or not the company has the right to control the work and the methods of performance. Under the behavioral category, it is important to consider the type of instructions given, such as defined work hours and specific steps to complete the job. If the business has more precise instructions for the worker, or has training on the company’s methods, then the business has a greater degree of control over the worker. The second category, financial control, examines the business aspect of the worker’s job. Receiving regular payments, having little chance of profit or risk of loss, and submitting expenses for reimbursement from the employer suggest an employer-employee relationship. Independent contractors typically use their own equipment and have a significant investment in their own equipment. Characteristics of independent contractors include having their services available to multiple companies and receiving flat fees for specific services. The final category is the type of relationship between the business and the worker. The relationship between the business and the employee can be influenced by things such as written contracts, employee benefits, permanency
of the relationship, and the services provided by the worker to the business. Hiring a worker for an indefinite amount of time and not just for a specific project is evidence of an employer-employee relationship. Penalties for misclassification can be severe. Companies may be required to pay back taxes, along with penalties and interest, unemployment and workers’ compensation, and retroactive fringe benefits. Further, with the increased I-9 audits by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, companies may be liable for I-9 violations for failure to properly complete an I-9 on employees a company considered to be independent contractors. Fines for failure to complete I-9 forms can range from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for each individual employee. The law does provide safe havens when there is a reasonable basis for the classification. First, court rulings and IRS determinations may form the basis for classifying an individual as an independent contractor. Second, a company has a reasonable basis for classification as independent contractors for any individuals in similar positions to ones classified as independent contractors in past audits. Finally, companies can rely on industry standards when classify independent contractors. If an industry has a long-standing practice of classifying certain types of individuals as independent contractors, then a company has a reasonable basis for continuing that practice in its treatment of current workers performing similar jobs. There are two requirements to maintain the reasonable basis for classification: consistent treatment and the return filing requirement. A company has violated the consistent treatment if it classifies some workers performing substantially similar duties as employees and some as independent contractors. In such a circumstance, all the workers would be considered employees. Further, if a company began withholding employment taxes while under an audit, the company would be treating the independent contractor as an employee. The second requirement to maintain a reasonable basis for classification as an independent contractor is the tax filing requirement on both the company and the independent contractor. The company is required to file a Form 1099-Misc. for each independent contractor. In addition to the company’s filing requirement, the independent contractor must file all required federal tax returns as an independent contractor. A worker that files an individual tax return as an employee may disqualify an employer from claiming protection under the safe haven provisions.
{Get inVolVeD, stAy ViGilent} As the New Year approaches, it is important to stay involved on immigration and labor issues. Let your Representatives and Senators know that the horse industry benefits from foreign workers. Also, it is important to stay vigilant in complying with record keeping requirements for American and foreign workers, as well as employees and independent contractors. Working smart on the front end can save you from problems later. Will Velie and Craig McDougal are attorneys experienced in immigration matters who represent Horseman Labor Solutions, an Immigration Services Company that represents horseman throughout the United States in immigration matters. Horseman Labor Solutions, a sponsor of the National HBPA, can be reached online at www.horsemanlabor.com or by phone at 1-877-678-RACE.
LIVE RACING IS BACK OPENING DAY
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www.nationalhbpa.com
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11/15/11 5:13 PM
new technoloGy cAn iMpAct MethoDs of trAininG
FEatURE
HORSEPHOTOS
BY MELISSA SYKES
LACTIC ACID BUILDUP, OPTIMAL HEART RATE, OxYGEN UPTAKE, AEROBIC VERSUS ANAEROBIC – DOES IT SOUND LIKE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE? WELL, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO INCORPORATE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY INTO YOUR TRAINING PROGRAM. ALL YOU NEED IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF VERY BASIC EQUINE ExERCISE PHYSIOLOGY.
Dr. Greg Fox Before you decide this is not for you and turn the page, understand that science is NOT meant to replace horsemanship. What the technological advances in gathering certain data can do for you is augment your training program. Information equals knowledge, and knowledge equals power. Trainers around the world have educated themselves on being able to bring their equine athletes to peak performance on race day. With the addition of scientific data collected on each individual animal, these horses are winning more races, recovering more quickly, and running more often than before. “Some horses possess large hearts, as evidenced by ultrasound as a yearling, but lack the conformation to move efficiently,” explained Bill Pressey of ThoroEdge Equine Performance in Kentucky. “Others post modest heart scores but have a way of going that requires little energy outlay, and yet others lack the proper enzyme levels and/or blood chemistry to finish strongly. “All of these factors can be measured and, therefore, improved with proper training intensities. Racing is full of so many variables such as trip, surface, travel, rider, traffic, etc. that uncovering a truly improved performance can take quite a long time – whereas in the mornings on the training track, those variables are constant.”
AeroBic Vs. AnAeroBic
Aerobic metabolism is the body’s use of glycogen combined with oxygen as fuel. Glycogen is the body’s primary fuel, derived from carbohydrates. Energy drawn upon in an aerobic state is essentially limitless. Anaerobic metabolism is when the body draws upon stored glycogen without oxygen for fuel. The latter is severely limited because of the production of lactic acid as a byproduct, which leads to fatigue, explained Pressey. He said, “Both systems are always running simultaneously, so the more aerobic capacity a horse possesses, the more he can save his anaerobic burst for the finish [of a work or race].”
heArt rAte Monitor with Gps
One of the applications for the use of a heart rate (HR) monitor combined with a GPS (global positioning system) is to determine fitness based on the horse’s ability to delay the switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.
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“In its most basic form, every time the heart beats, it fuels a certain distance of travel,” explained Pressey. “The further the better - six feet per beat is terrible, but 14 feet per beat is elite.” “To monitor fitness is very tricky,” said Dr. Greg Fox, an equine practitioner specializing in equine exercise physiology. “Fitness is a total of anaerobic and aerobic fitness. In American racing, the primary challenge is in the middle – the ability (of the horse) to maximize his oxygen uptake and to tolerate pace (speed).” According to Pressey, “For decades, human physiologists thought that maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was key, but it isn’t. What is key is speed at VO2max, or the amount of work done per unit of oxygen – and that depends on dozens of variables.” Both Pressey and Fox agree that trainers should not apply human exercise physiology to horses. “This is not right,” asserted Fox. “There are a variety of metabolic parameters (that can be measured) – lactate being the most common. It is useful but can be deceptive. Horses have to be able to produce high amounts of lactate, but they also have to be able to do that without going over that metabolic cliff. If you go over that cliff, they don’t recover. You can’t fatigue a horse that often in training.” “The biggest difference? Humans can train through fatigue and get stronger. Horses that train when excessively fatigued get injured and breakdown,” said Pressey. Pressey described what the heart rate should look like for a claimer versus a stakes caliber racehorse. He said, “Let’s take a common workout – the two minute lick, which is one mile in 2:00, or 15 seconds per furlong for eight panels. Every horse in the world can accomplish this – yet some do it aerobically while others do it anaerobically. The greatest horseman’s saying
of all time is ‘it’s not how fast they go, but how they go fast’ - absolutely brilliant.” When using a heart rate monitor with GPS, the data being collected for the trainer’s review is the heart rate at sub-maximal work (gallop) versus the animal’s heart rate at a full-out (maximal) breeze. As soon as the horse is let up, the time it takes for the heart rate to return to normal – the recovery heart rate – is also key to determining fitness/ability. According to Pressey, “The average maximum heart rate for horses is 230 bpm (beats per minute); some are at 203, some are at 240. That 240 doesn’t guarantee you anything, but 203 guarantees you failure, in my experience.” Pressey continued, “If you have a well-bred two year old today whose maximum heart rate is 203 bpm, you are going to waste tens of thousands of dollars to find out he cannot run because he lacks the raw materials to do so competitively. Somewhat related, if he can achieve that 230 bpm within seven seconds at the start of a breeze, he is an athlete.” To continue Pressey’s example, if the horse has a maximum heart rate of 230 bpm, then 200 bpm is utilizing only 85 percent of the horse’s capacity. Pressey explained, “If he can complete a two minute lick with an average heart rate of 200 bpm or lower, he possesses stakes quality aerobic stamina. The lower the heart rate at any given speed, the fitter the animal.” Trainers are accustomed to using a stopwatch to gauge how well their horses are training. Neither Pressey nor Fox believe in throwing out the stopwatch, but a heart rate monitor with GPS can you give you a more detailed picture of how that animal responded to the work. “Some horses are extremely efficient at going a furlong in 13 seconds, but fall off a metabolic cliff if pressed to a 12 second furlong,” said Fox. “A heart rate monitor quantifies precisely what the horse did that day in a workout and illustrates pace scenario. Fox continued, “Say you have a horse work a half-mile in 48 seconds. With the monitor, you can determine exactly what type of workout he got. For instance, the horse goes (each eighth) in :13, :12, :12, and :11; or :11, :12, :12, and :13; or :12, :12, :12, and :12. All are 48 second half-mile works, but they are three completely different workouts. The heart rate monitor system will show that. It is nice from a record keeping perspective to have that data on your computer.” Trainers in Europe and Australia have been using heart rate monitors for decades now. World-renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien has embraced the technology whole-heartedly. O’Brien told a London newspaper, “It is not just visual monitoring at Ballydoyle. There is also the scientific approach. Heart monitors are fitted to every horse, and a GPS armband is on every rider. Data is logged, ready for examination.” There are a number of equine heart rate monitors, complete with GPS, available worldwide. Most will collect heart rate, respiration, and speed. The latest technology has gone wireless. The data is transmitted in ‘real time’ to your computer, iPad, and even cell phone. Average cost per unit can range from $599 to $4,000.
hiGh speeD treADMills
Although quite pricey (average cost is six figures), a high-speed treadmill can have a place in the training stable. “From a fitness perspective, there are benefits (to using a treadmill),” said Fox. “From a psychological perspective, it could work against you. The dynamics of carrying a rider and carrying equipment will not be replicated on a treadmill. “In Australia and Japan, there are a lot of significant training operations that incorporate the use of the treadmill successfully. However, I don’t embrace the treadmill at all. When you look at the people required - one at the front, one
behind, and another on the side, and this is the minimum. Then you have to spend the time to train the horses to feel comfortable on it, and there will be a percentage of injuries associated with it.” “While some studies indicate training solely with a treadmill is as good as conventional training, I would hesitate to use only this machine as a means of getting race fit,” commented Pressey. That is not to say that training cannot be accomplished with the addition of treadmill work. By using a treadmill, the operator can completely control the workout. The horse is outfitted with a heart rate monitor, and exact speeds can be set via the treadmill controls. For those that have access and want to experiment with treadmill work, Pressey has outlined a simple starting point. According to Pressey, “Schedule one exercise per week on the machine. This serves as your ‘fitness testing’ session. After a warm-up, set the treadmill for, say, a two percent grade (incline) and gallop three minutes at 17 mph, followed by three more minutes at 20 mph, followed by a cool down period.” Pressey stresses that the heart rate must be collected during these sessions or “it’s a waste of time.” The day on the treadmill is meant to be an easy day where the fitness/ soundness of the horse is precisely gauged. According to Pressey, “A typical healthy horse may show heart rates/ intensity of efforts such as 166 bpm and 188 bpm. The following week repeat this session. If these heart rate numbers go down, then all is good. If they go up, call the vet or give the horse a short break from work. As the horse tells you through dropping heart rate/effort that he is healthy and getting fitter, you can move to 19 mph and 22 mph on the treadmill. This is the quintessential ‘letting the horse tell you when he is ready to move forward’ method, but we aren’t just relying on appetite, coat, and behavior to make the judgment – we are using objective, quantifiable means.” Pressey sees a future for the treadmill in America. “I think, over time, the treadmill use would increase, especially in the case of foul weather or rider unavailability. There are many, many more things to do with this equipment.”
weiGht scAles
“A weight scale can be used to measure precisely how much weight a horse loses during a breeze, or race,” Pressey explained. “Trainers can eyeball 10 to 20 pounds, but only a scale can pick up a two to three pound difference. If your horse typically races at six furlongs, loses 40 pounds, and takes four days to gain it back – but a month later only takes two days to gain it back – he is getting fitter and all systems are go. If the reverse is true, something is amiss.” Weight scales can run a few thousand dollars, while a weight tape costs less than $5. It is a big difference in price, but it is also a big difference in preciseness. “There is just too much individuality when using a tape measure,” Pressey asserted. “Even assuming the same person is doing the measurement every www.nationalhbpa.com
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FEatURE morning, he or she needs to be pulling the tape to the same tightness each and every time, or you will get a false reading. The scale has no such limitation.” Check with the racing secretary where you stable. Many racetracks across the U.S. still have scales in place from when feed and bedding was delivered in bulk and the trucks were weighed. These scales may need to be recalibrated, but the cost should be much less than buying your own set. Weighing horses was never much in vogue in America. However, many foreign racing jurisdictions include this information in their race programs. The Hong Kong Jockey Club weighs the declared runners and announces the horse’s body weight two days before every race meeting. In addition, each stable can weigh its horses subject to its own training schedules or requirements. The Japan Racing Association also makes weight scales available to the trainers. Being in radio contact with the exercise rider can also help control the horse’s workout. The trainer can determine if the pace needs to quicken or slow; the rider can relay if the horse is laboring or just coasting.
inforMAtion cAn leAD to power
rADio contAct
If you want to start with something simple yet technological, Fox suggests investing in wireless radios (average cost is less than $200). According to Fox, “Radios are the most important piece of technology in the barn. Being in contact with the rider – especially in emergency situations (loose horse, etc.) – can be very beneficial.”
Information is knowledge, but knowing how to interpret that information is the key to power. Fox explained, “Every single thing that you do has a plus and minus. Even getting information can work for you or against you.” “The true edge that owners/trainers have is access to their horses, yet they merely rely on information that is readily available to the masses: pedigree, workout info, conformation, etc.,” said Pressey. “Are we really to believe that science and technology can improve mating, breeding, foaling, veterinary care, and post-injury rehabilitation but can do nothing for conditioning?” Pressey asked. “That is the song sung to me by American trainers quite often, sad to say – but they are in the minority worldwide. Who’s to say if their mentors in 1940-1970 had access to these tools that they would not have implemented them into their work?”
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Congratulations Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer and owner WinStar Farm! For more inFormation: Mary Knight • 626-487-9960 • mary.knight12@gmail.com • www.EquiVibe.com 38
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V
VAccinAtions for
rAcehorses By Heather Smith Thomas
VACCINATION IS A VITAL PART OF HEALTH PROGRAMS, especially for horses that travel to racetracks AND COME IN CONTACT WITH OTHER HORSES.
Richard E. Glover, Jr.
Drs. Sarah Barr and Sara Langsam are part of a veterinary practice (Teigland, Franklin & Brokken, DVMs) based in Florida that serves racetracks along the East Coast. “We cover racetracks in New York, Delaware, Fairhill Training Center in Maryland, Gulfstream Park, Calder, Palm Meadows Training Center, and Tampa Bay Downs in Florida,” says Langsam. “In our practice, we ask ourselves three questions before recommending a vaccine to a trainer,” asserted Barr. Those questions are: 1. How likely is this horse to contract the disease? 2. How devastating could this disease be to the horse? 3. How effective is this vaccine in protecting the horse against the disease? Dr. Jeff Blea of Sierra Madre, California says some vaccines are standard for all horses, while others will depend on your location and which diseases your horses may encounter. Vaccination is a vital part of health programs, especially for horses that travel to racetracks and come in contact with other horses.
MANDATORY VACCINES EHV-1: “The one vaccine most racetracks have made mandatory is EHV-l (herpes virus),” noted Barr. She continued, “Though EHV-1 commonly occurs as a respiratory disease (rhinopneumonitis), it can also present in a potentially devastating neurologic form—which is the real concern. In recent years, racetracks have quarantined some barns for having a horse with neurologic herpes. Some tracks won’t allow horses to ship onto their grounds from a track that’s had a neurologic EHV-1 positive horse within the past 30 days.” “Vaccinating for EHV-1 does not prevent the neurologic form, but research has shown that a vaccinated horse sheds fewer virus particles if he becomes infected. So racetracks have made vaccination mandatory in an effort to reduce the risk to their population, in case one horse contracts the devastating neurologic form of this virus, which can be fatal,” explained Barr. “We try to prevent the respiratory form in hopes this might reduce incidence of the neurologic form,” commented Langsam. “The respiratory form can mutate. The theory is that if we can prevent it, or keep it from being severe, this may help. Every horse has been exposed to herpes; it’s a disease you never completely prevent because it’s always there. There are many carriers. Most young horses get exposed and go through it without serious problems. Our thought is to keep their immunity strong, and this might help prevent the neurologic form.” “At most tracks here, horses must be vaccinated for rhino every 90 days. For some tracks, it’s 120 days. Since trainers use a combination vaccine, most horses are vaccinated for influenza and rhino every 90 days,” said Barr. Dr. Kevin Dunlavy, a veterinarian in Louisville, Kentucky, goes south in the winter to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated. According to Dunlavy, “If a horse goes to any of the Churchill Downs properties, it must be vaccinated every 120 days. In my practice, we use the flu-rhino combination.” “The most common diseases in young Thoroughbreds are influenza and rhino. Vaccination doesn’t prevent these diseases 100 percent but definitely reduces severity and shortens the course of illness. Every day lost in training is an expense to the owner. Any way we can shorten a lay-up is beneficial,” asserted Dunlavy.
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FEatURE
OTHER IMPORTANT VACCINES WNV, EEE, and WEE: “Another standard vaccine in Kentucky is West Nile,” noted Dunlavy. “We often use the combination that contains EEE (eastern equine encephalomyelitis), WEE (western equine encephalomyelitis), WNV (West Nile Virus), and tetanus as an annual booster. These are serious and potentially fatal diseases, so vaccine is cheap insurance. Many equine insurance companies insist that a horse be vaccinated for these diseases before they will insure that horse.” “Most horsemen in California vaccinate against West Nile Virus,” said Blea. “Depending on which vaccine you use, it’s usually a two-shot series to start, and then a booster each year before mosquito season. This past summer, there was a West Nile positive horse at Santa Anita in August, and there’ve been many birds die in this area, so we boostered our horses again in late summer, in the face of this challenge.” According to Blea, it takes about six weeks to mount good response from vaccine, and horsemen wanted to stay ahead of the game. Blea wishes all racetracks would make it mandatory that horses be vaccinated for flu, rhino, and WNV.
get their horse off the grounds. In these instances, they are very quick to vaccinate,” said Barr. Tetanus: The other vaccination given routinely is tetanus because it is included with the EEE, WEE combination. Moreover, Langsam stated, “And any time we examine a horse with a wound, we give that horse another tetanus booster, especially if it’s been six months since its last tetanus shot.” Rabies: “If we can convince trainers to do just one more, we have them vaccinate for rabies, with an annual booster,” asserted Barr. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has added rabies to its list of core vaccines, recommended for all horses—regardless of location and use. “This is a great vaccine; it works very well,” Barr said of the rabies vaccine. However, some people still do not vaccinate, especially in areas that see very few cases of rabies. If the horses travel to other parts of the country, though, they could become exposed. Some people think racehorses are not likely to encounter rabid wildlife since they are kept in stalls rather than pasture, but this does not mean they are not at risk. “Many areas have skunks, raccoons, bats, etc., or feral cats coming into barns or around the backside, so we recommend vaccination,” noted Langsam. “Most horses coming in from the farms have been vaccinated, and it’s not difficult to keep up the annual boosters.” Botulism and Potomac Horse Fever: Langsam continued, “In the Northeast, we recommend that horses be vaccinated against botulism and Potomac Horse Fever. We give more vaccinations for Potomac Horse Fever than botulism, but this depends on whether they’re in an area that has higher risk for botulism.” Strangles: Very few trainers vaccinate for strangles. There are concerns with possible side effects and reactions, and it also does not give good
TIMING Barr is also concerned about WNV, EEE and WEE, especially for horses traveling to Florida. According to Barr, “Compliance rate with trainers is much lower for these vaccines, but we really push people to vaccinate because these diseases can be so devastating.” Barr added, “At the racetrack, however, there are always financial constraints. We understand this, but these diseases could kill the horse. The trainers we’ve persuaded to vaccinate for these encephalitis diseases usually do it every six months because their horses are in areas where there’s an active mosquito population (in the North during summer, and Florida in winter), so they are always exposed.” Some horse owners and trainers do not vaccinate for any diseases unless they must. “I often wonder if we really need to vaccinate every 90 days for flu and rhino, but these two are mandatory,” commented Barr. “For diseases with a high fatality rate, however, like West Nile, EEE and WEE, it’s unwise to leave horses unprotected. Fatality rate can be 30 percent. The chances of survival are not great, and cost of treatment is high—and the odds that the horse will have lingering effects from the disease (and might not be able to race again) are also high.” “I wish racetracks would make those vaccines mandatory. That would make our job easier, if trainers don’t have a choice except to vaccinate or 40
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Timing of vaccinations is important, regarding risks for exposure and taking race schedules into consideration. “Some people vaccinate after a meet ends, and here in California that will be about every 90 days,” explained Blea. “Some horses get a viremia, or cell-mediated, response from vaccination and feel a bit ‘off’ for a day or two afterward. Most people, if they’re not on a 90-day schedule, keep a chart and vaccinate a couple days after a race.” Then horses have time to recover from any side effects that might occur. “I understand trainers’ concerns about not wanting to vaccinate horses so often, and the fact they are always on a tight time schedule regarding the next race,” said Barr. “If a horse spikes a fever after vaccination, you don’t want this to happen just before or just after a race.” Timing is sometimes tricky--to create the least problem for the horse. Also, you do not always know whether the horse has a fever because of the vaccine or because it is getting sick. According to Barr, “It complicates the picture, and trainers do have a valid concern, digging their heels in about not wanting to vaccinate at certain times.” If horses are going out of the country to race, there are different requirements for vaccination. If you are shipping somewhere, you should vaccinate for the diseases you may encounter in that country, and vaccinate for rhino no closer than 14 days before shipping and no earlier than 90 days beforehand.
protection compared with some of the other vaccines. Thus, strangles is one vaccine that Barr does not recommend. Dunlavy says there is nothing worse than deciding to use a vaccine and getting an abscess on the horse’s neck. According to Dunlavy, “You’re vaccinating for something that has less than one percent chance of happening with your racehorse, and now you’ve created a problem.”
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR VACCINATION Some horse owners use minimal vaccines, but this may leave horses unprotected from serious diseases. Dunlavy noted, “Experience in my practice shows that vaccination works. Clients who keep up vaccinations have lower incidence of these diseases. It’s much cheaper than having to treat the horse or deal with the disease—everything from time lost in training/racing to costs of treatment. In close quarters in a racing stable, there’s also risk of exposing other horses if your horse gets sick.” Dunlavy went on to say, “It doesn’t make sense to not vaccinate— especially in a population of young horses because they are so vulnerable to disease. Every year when the new crop of young horses comes to the racetrack, it’s like kids going to school. They’re coming from their isolated farm where they’ve been raised, and suddenly they’re in a population of 1,700 to 1,800 horses in relatively close quarters and exposed to many things.”
VACCINATION HISTORY Some horses change hands, and if they have been claimed, it may be difficult to get their records, depending on the racetrack. Langsam noted, “Some keep better track of the health certificates coming in, and we can get records of when horses were vaccinated against flu/rhino. But the other vaccine records are at the previous owner or trainer’s discretion, to tell the new owner whether or not horses were vaccinated for other diseases. Many people just assume they weren’t and booster them.” Blea feels each horse should need a ‘passport’ with its vaccination history, in order to come to a track. Blea explained, “We’re looking at doing this in California. When horses come from a farm, most of them have a vaccination history, and you’d know if they were current. But if you buy a horse or claim a horse, you don’t know the vaccination history, especially if the horse has gone through several owners. You don’t know if the horse was vaccinated this year or not.” “Most people assume that if a young horse came from a Thoroughbred farm or two-year-old sale, its been vaccinated,” asserted Barr. “So it’s just a matter of getting them boostered at the right time. Most vaccines are so safe that if they get boostered in less than a year, it won’t matter. It’s better to double it up than leave horses unvaccinated.” Barr went on to say, “Horses come to the track as two-year-olds and automatically get into the trainer’s vaccination regimen, but sometimes I worry that they’re not getting the proper primary vaccine protocol they need at the beginning. Many places that break two-year-olds keep good records, and often we do get to see that they have been vaccinated, and the dates, but not always.”
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MAKE A TAx-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO THE NATIONAL HBPA FOUNDATION HELP YOUR FELLOW HORSEMEN! THE NATIONAL HBPA FOUNDATION IS A PERFECT PLACE TO DIRECT YOUR YEAR-END TAx-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS IN ORDER TO HELP YOUR FELLOW HORSEMEN WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST. The National HBPA Foundation, a tax-exempt Sec. 501 (c)(3) fund, was developed as a safety net for horsemen when other forms of assistance are unavailable or have been exhausted after disaster strikes. Every year, the National HBPA Foundation helps horsemen make it through difficult times such as disease quarantines at a racetrack or natural disasters likes floods, fires, etc. by providing tens of thousands of dollars in needed assistance. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the National HBPA Foundation and make a difference in the lives of your fellow horsemen and women who may find themselves in need, either: • Log onto https://www.nationalhbpa.com/MakeDonation.asp to make a credit card donation over the Internet • Mail a donation check made payable to National HBPA Foundation to: National HBPA Foundation, P. O. Box 13700, Lexington, KY 40583-3700 • Call toll-free 1-(866) 245-1711 for a credit card transaction via telephone.
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adver ti
3 MONTH RENTALS
sing d
1-800-387-8326 www.centurion-systems.com
please send all address changes either by e-mail to: hj@hbpa.org or by mail to: the horsemen’s Journal, p.o. box 911170, lexington, KY 40591-1170
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3 MONTH RENTALS
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inclusion in the “equine product spotlight” in no way represents any kind of endorsement or recommendation of these products by the national hBpa nor the horsemen’s Journal. this section is for informational purposes only and is solely intended to inform readers about the availability of equine-related products.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT finish line releases new BlAster All-natural Botanical horse spray
Finish Line Quality Horse Products recently released BLASTER®, an all-natural botanical horse spray that is a concentrated, ready-to-mix blend of seven natural essential oils in a water-soluble base. The essential oils include: Rosemary, Thyme, Calendula, Citronella, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, and Tea Tree Oils. According to Finish Line, Tea Tree, Calendula and Rosemary help promote healthy skin for your horse, while Citronella, Cedarwood and Lemongrass are known for other positive benefits for horses. The company says that BLASTER™ was formulated to be gentle to your horse’s sensitive skin, and safe, since its essential oils-based. It has a pleasant lemon/rosemary scent. According to Finish Line, laboratory tests show that the foil-sealed four-ounce concentrate stays fresh while stored for long periods of time; as soon as it is opened and diluted, you have a very fresh and aromatic horse spray. To use BLASTER®, you simply mix the concentrate with either water or a water/vinegar combination and use immediately. For more information, contact Finish Line Quality Horse Products by phone at 1-800-762-4242 or visit the company’s website at www.finishlinehorse.com. new economy size of lube All plus Available from equiaide
Equiade™ is now offering its popular natural dietary supplement, Lube All Plus, in a new, economy size 64-ounce bottle. According to the company, purchasing Lube All Plus in the economy size bottle represents a savings of approximately 50 percent. Lube All Plus is a dietary supplement that is made with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and used for the support of joints. The HA substance has been injected directly into joints for a long time for joint support. A few years ago, a special chemical process was discovered that broke the HA molecule in smaller units so it could be absorbed orally. Lube All Plus was one of the first products to come out that contained the oral version of HA. It is now in liquid form, and according to Equiaide, it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, unlike capsules or tablets that take longer to absorb. HA is also one of the components found in the joints of the body. As the body ages or undergoes stress, HA is depleted more rapidly than the body can replenish it, and that is where joint problems begin. Lube All Plus also contains MSM for inflammation, and Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help replenish cells in the various tissues that make up the joint capsule. For more information, contact Equiade Inc. by telephone at 1-800-413-3702 or visit the company’s website at www.equiade.com. To receive a 10 percent discount, use promotional code FP2011. farnam red cell® liquid now Available in easy-to-feed pellets
Red Cell® liquid iron supplement has supported the demands of equine athletes around the world for more than 35 years. But for some horse owners, pellets are easier to feed. Now, whether your horse prefers supplements in liquid form or as pellets, the choice is yours – Red Cell® liquid or Red Cell® Pellets. These yucca-flavored pellets deliver the same results as the liquid and may be fed alone or mixed with feed. Each half-ounce serving contains 300 mg of iron, as well as B-complex vitamins for immune system support. Red Cell® Pellets are available in a four-pound pail that provides the same 64-day supply, for horses in training, as a gallon of Red ® Cell liquid; plus the pellets will not freeze in the winter. Visit www.farnamhorse.com or call toll-free (800) 234-2269 for more information about Farnam® Horse Products. natural plan stomach soother updates packaging
Natural Plan Stomach Soother (NPSS), a natural product designed to help with stomach distress in horses and pets, recently announced that it had updated the packaging and look of its single-dose packet and 28-count pail. The packet has been upgraded to a thick foil that provides better protection to light. According to the company, this is critical since NPSS does not have any preservatives or stabilizers. This also protects the quality and consistency of the product. The upgrades in the packet resulted in a slightly larger packet, so the pail has changed too, from a 0.75 gallon to a one-gallon capacity. The pail still has a handy handle and is reusable and recyclable. The single-dose two-ounce packet does not require refrigeration and is ready to use - just open and either use a syringe to draw out and administer; or mix it into food or top feed. For more information, contact Natural Plan Stomach Soother at (800) 584-8642 or visit its website at www.stomachsoother.com. www.nationalhbpa.com
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Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion or policy of the publisher or National HBPA board or staff.
alaBama hBPa GEnERal mEEtinG hElD on octobER 15 For years, the Alabama HBPA had not held any general meetings. However, with the new administration, that is changing. On October 15, 32 current and four new members attended the general meeting held in Mobile, Alabama. The meeting was upbeat, and we received positive feedback from both old and new members. As a result of the meeting, and a follow-up inquiry, the Birmingham Racing Commission website is back up and running, allowing horsemen a direct link to registration and Alabamabred race nomination forms. Still no contRact As of this writing, the Alabama HBPA still does not have a contract with the Jefferson County Racing Association (JCRA), nor does it receive any monies from horse simulcasts revenue generated at the Birmingham Race Course. lawSUit UpDatE Our lawsuit, Alabama HBPA vs. JCRA, is ongoing. For those of you who are not familiar with the three claims of the suit, they are listed below: 1. JCRA is in violation of Alabama State law in accepting wagers on simulcast racing when it conducts no live racing. 2. That JCRA is accepting simulcast wagers in violation of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 as it does not have consent of the nearest track in an adjoining state to accept such wagers. 3. That JCRA has damaged the Alabama HBPA by its monopolistic practices in that it is the only entity authorized to conduct live racing in the State of Alabama, but refuses to do so. We are working diligently for the return of live horse racing to Alabama. Thank you all for supporting the Alabama HBPA. arizona hBPa tURF paRaDiSE We are off and running. Official opening day was Saturday, October 1, and the card included the Bienvenidos Stakes, along with four trials for the ATBA Sales Stakes, all with full fields. Attendance was good, and on-track and offtrack betting (OTB) handle was up compared to opening day last year. Our out-of-state handle continues to suffer due to recent budget changes made by the Arizona Department of Racing. Entries continue to go well; if the weather cooperates, we are looking forward to a successful meet. wElcomE to nEw FacES Horsemen continue to trickle in, however we have more empty stalls than ever before. We have some new trainers from Canada again this year, along with the ones that came last year. We welcome all the new faces on the backstretch this year and wish them a successful meet.
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nEw REcoGnition FoR ownERS The Arizona HBPA will be recognizing two owners every month for their contributions to Arizona racing. thanKSGiVinG DinnER The Arizona HBPA and Turf Paradise again hosted the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, which was well attended. mEDical clinic The Medical Clinic is open again this year. It is open on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clinic is open to all licensees and families. licEnSE FEES to incREaSE The Arizona Department of Racing has to become self-supporting by 2013. The state will no longer contribute monies to the Department. In an effort to create a budget, license fees are just one of the changes that horsemen will see. You can go onto www.arizonahbpa.com or www.azracing.gov for a complete price list. SEnD US YoUR Email aDDRESS Contact the Arizona HBPA office with your email address if you want to be on the mailing list. Remember safety first, your family expects you home tonight. arkansas hBPa oaKlawn mEEt to GEt UnDERwaY on JanUaRY 13 with $5 million plUS StaKES SchEDUlE A $200,000 bump to the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a condensed four-day, nine stakes Racing Festival of the South highlight Oaklawn Park’s 2012 live racing season, which kicks off Friday, January 13. In total, there will be 34 stakes races worth nearly $5.2 million during the season, beginning with the $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes on opening day. The 56-day meet will culminate Saturday, April 14, with the 76th running of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), a race that has produced five Triple Crown race winners since 2004 and the 2011 Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro. Oaklawn’s proven three-year-old series leading to the Arkansas Derby will once again feature the one-mile $100,000 Smarty Jones, the one-mile $250,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), and the 1 1/16-mile $500,000 Rebel Stakes (G2), which was increased from $300,000. The Smarty Jones and Southwest will anchor the holiday Monday cards on January 16 and February 20, respectively, while the Rebel will be held four weeks in advance of the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, March 17. “We are very proud of our 2012 stakes schedule, but we’re particularly excited about the boost to the Rebel Stakes because it’s making a name for itself as a leading Triple Crown prep -- not just an Arkansas Derby prep,” said David Longinotti, Assistant General Manager of Racing. Oaklawn has condensed its annual Racing Festival of the South and will now run its final nine stakes between Wednesday, April 11, and Saturday, April 14. The rich four days of racing begins Wednesday with the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) for three-year-old fillies; continues Thursday with the $75,000
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oaKlawn RElEaSES FiRSt conDition booK with incREaSED pURSES For the fourth consecutive year, Oaklawn Park’s first condition book will reflect an increase in purses from the start of the previous meet. For the first time in track history, maiden allowance races will start out carrying a minimum purse of $40,000, and the minimum claiming race purse will be $15,300. Last year, maiden allowance races started at $36,000, and the minimum purse was $15,200. The announcement of purses comes on the heels of the previously announced record 34-race stakes schedule worth nearly $5.2 million. This includes raising the Rebel Stakes (G2) from $300,000 to $500,000 and a condensed four-day, nine stakes Racing Festival of the South. “The continued success of Instant Racing and our Gaming Center keeps delivering as promised in the form of higher purses, which allows us to improve our racing product every year,” said David Longinotti, Assistant General Manager of Racing. “Oaklawn is very proud that we continue to buck the national trend and can offer these record purses.” Condition and stakes books are available upon request by calling (501) 701-5570, and these can also be found at www.oaklawn.com. Oaklawn Park’s barn area opened on Monday, November 14, and the track opened for training the following Monday, November 21. Charles town hBPa
Owners’ Day volunteers
catiGnani taKES oVER aS ExEcUtiVE DiREctoR On September 1, Maria Catignani began her new adventure as executive director for the Charles Town HBPA. GEnERal mEmbERShip mEEtinG Our September General Membership Meeting was something new and different. It was held in Shepherdstown at the Opera House. We had an update of information for the members, followed by a screening of the documentary, “Buck.” The Los Angeles Times was quoted about the film saying, “An exceptional slice of Americana, about the kind of unsung hero that America loves to love.” This idea for a meeting was well received. annUal FlU Shot clinic On October 5, our annual flu shot clinic was held in our office, with 60 of our backstretch workers receiving their shots from our local heath department nurses. wESt ViRGinia bREEDERS claSSic wEEKEnD Friday, October 14, was Charles Town HBPA Night at the Races of the West Virginia Breeders Classic weekend. The Board of Directors hosted dinner for our special guests, and the mayors of our five towns were in attendance for the stakes race trophy presentations. Trophies were also presented by the Jefferson County Commissioners for the stakes race named in their honor. West Virginia Deputy Attorney General Kelli Talbott, and Chairman Joe Smith and Executive Director Jon Amores of the West Virginia Racing Commission presented the trophies for Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in his absence. The Charles Town HBPA gave jackets and ball caps in navy blue and gold to the grooms, pony people, valets, gate crew, and tractor drivers for this event. Saturday, October 15, was the 25th running of the West Virginia Breeders Classics races. It was an exciting night for all of the winners – especially for one in particular: Russell Road, a second time winner of the $500,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic. Congratulations to Russell Road’s owner Mark Russell and trainer James W. Casey. GEnERal mEmbERShip holiDaY mEEtinG SEt FoR DEcEmbER 11 Plans are already in the making for our General Membership Holiday Meeting, which will take place on Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. on the third floor of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. There will be a brief meeting, a buffet dinner, and Karaoke Bob, who will once again be on hand for our entertainment and dancing. Richard E. Glover, Jr.
annUal ownERS’ appREciation DaY lUnchEon Since our last writing, Charles Town HBPA has had a full calendar of activities. Sunday, August 21, was our annual Owners’ Appreciation Day Luncheon, with about 400 in attendance and nine trophy races. Charles Town HBPA shirts and ball caps were given to all the grooms, pony people, gate crew, valets, and tractor drivers.
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Carousel and $100,000 Redbud Stakes; Friday with the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and $100,000 Instant Racing; before ending Saturday with the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes, $200,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), and the Arkansas Derby. “Our hope with the compressing of the Racing Festival is to make it more convenient to send horses to Hot Springs,” said Longinotti. “Horsemen will be able to line up one plane, send several horses across a couple different divisions, and arrange to have their main riders come for all the races of the Festival. We are confident that with this move, we will not only continue to attract the best three-year-olds, but will continue to have large, competitive fields for all our Festival races.” Other stakes of note during the 2012 season include the $125,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) and $125,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3), both on March 10, and the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (G3) on March 17. Oaklawn Park will run Thursdays through Sundays during the meet, with two holiday Monday cards.
Owners’ Day trophies www.nationalhbpa.com
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billboaRDS In other news, the Charles Town HBPA has three billboards placed along major roadways in the area advertising racing, breeding, and green space.
happY holiDaYS From our affiliate to all the National HBPA affiliates, the wonderful staff at the National HBPA office, and the thousands of horsemen and woman that make up the National HBPA, we wish you a very happy holiday. Florida hBPa
GolF toURnamEnt to bEnEFit tEx lEE On July 4, 2010, local vet tech Tex Lee, known to all the horsemen, was critically injured when a car hit him head-on. A golf tournament was organized to raise money to help with the huge bills. Our HBPA organized a team to play against other horse- Front: Greg Foster (left), Larry Reynolds, rear: Graham Davis (left), Clifford Tuomisto men, clients of the Equine Clinic, and community friends.
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FloRiDa’S GREtna paRi-mUtUEl baRREl RacinG licEnSE appRoVal tURnS StatE into caSino “whacK-a-molE” By Kent H. Stirling, Executive Director Only Florida could permit something like this to legally take place. I live in Florida, and we are on the verge of having our first pari-mutuel barrel racing facility in the town of Gretna in northern Florida, and so far it is completely legal according to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (DPMW). You might say to yourself, “Boy, some people in Florida must really love watching girls barrel race.” Or possibly you might ask, “What in the heck is barrel racing, and how do I wager on it?” I will let you read this article, and you can determine for yourself if you think barrel racing came to Florida because those responsible for it are of an altruistic nature and love the idea of giving more opportunities for young women to barrel race, or is this just nothing more than a get-rich-quick scheme to immediately get slots and a card room? So just what is barrel racing? It is a timed event where the participants, usually young women, race their horses around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern as fast as they can. It usually takes place at Western horse shows or at actual rodeos. Barrel racers usually race for prizes, and never are we aware of the public legally wagering on the outcome of these barrel races. In fact, the National Barrel Horse Association, the world’s largest with over 24,000 members, has condemned this exploitation of young girls as objects upon which to be wagered. So how did this travesty begin? Well, it all began with a number of Quarter Horse permits being issued in Florida three or four years ago. Most of them were handled by Gulfstream Park lobbyist/lawyer Marc Dunbar. Dunbar then teamed up with Paul Micucci and David Romanik, who had both been former presidents at Gulfstream Park, each for a very short period of time before being fired. In 2008, the trio acquired some property in Jefferson County, a North Florida county that had already approved pari-mutuel wagering long ago for the creation of the Jefferson County Kennel Club. Our boys then tried to have the Jefferson County Commissioners permit them to have a Quarter Horse racetrack with a lounge, restaurant, bowling alley and, of course, a card room. Oh, and they only wanted to run six days of Quarter Horse racing per year, something that a lot of folks at the time thought was strange since their dog track ran over 200 days of racing a year to operate a profitable card room. In Florida, once you begin operating your pari-mutuel race meet, you are immediately permitted a card room. According to an article on the Florida Baptist Witness web site about this 2008 commission hearing, Dunbar introduced Romanik as the “horsemen” that came up with the idea for the then-proposed Jefferson Downs Quarter Horse Track. Romanik then stated that he was “just interested in the horse part of this business.” Apparently, all six days of it. One of the speakers at that meeting, David Hall, asked, “Are they just building a horse track as they are saying, or is there more behind it?” The next citizen to speak, a pastor named John Wesley, spoke about the promised jobs this track would bring and facetiously stated, “I guess we need the School Board to put into our curriculum bartending and card dealing so our kids will have a future in our county.”
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Others mentioned in the article spoke to the “fast tracking” of this application, and to the rumored threat of a lawsuit by the “powerful attorney” Dunbar if the Commission didn’t move forward their application. It was all downhill for our Gulfstream boys after that, and the commission voted 4-1 to deny the permit. A picture accompanying the article was priceless as it showed a stunned and dejected Dunbar and Romanik after the negative vote. As to appealing the outcome of the vote, Romanik told the Tallahassee Democrat, “I really have to think about it and assess what happened.” Our “doctors,” “MD” and “DR,” then soon began operating in another nearby county in North Florida, Gadsden County. This time, they rolled out the same old promises to the people of Gretna but did so apparently without Micucci. Their financial backing came from the Poarch Band of the Creek Indians from Alabama. These Indians already owned the Pensacola Greyhound Track in the Panhandle and had spent a million dollars to buy some land in the town of Gretna, as Equestrian Land Holdings, LLC. Our heroes now added another lobbyist, Gene McGee, and the three of them each held 10 percent of their new venture called “Gretna Racing LLC,” while the Poarch Indians retained the other 70 percent. Again they promised the people of Gretna pretty much the same thing as they had in Jefferson County, but without the bowling alley. For several years now, they have promised the people of Gretna a Quarter Horse track without ever constructing it. In September of this year, they applied to the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (DPMW) for its consent to conduct not six days, but instead just two days of Quarter Horse racing, one to be held on December 17 and one in June. This application was kicked back to them by the DPMW for deficiencies, but Dunbar made it known that there would be no stopping his group. Since there seems to be nothing in Florida statutes that would limit a Quarter Horse permit holder to actually running legitimate Quarter Horse races, he might have been right. One of Gretna’s glaring application deficiencies was that it had no signed contract with the majority horsemen’s group expected to be racing (?) at its facility as mandated by the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. Romanik solved this little problem by simply forming his own horsemen’s organization, the “North Florida Horsemen’s Association,” that’s membership and Board of Directors would be interesting to know. With the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering Director now having been fired during this time, many letters from individuals and horsemen’s groups were sent to Ken Lawson, the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), asking him not to permit barrel racing in Florida under a Quarter Horse license. Why horsemen were told to send our letters to the DBPR and not the DPMW, I do not know. In any event, both the Florida and Tampa Bay Downs HBPAs sent letters, along with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders, the Florida Standardbred Breeders, the Florida Quarter Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, and even the aforementioned National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), among others. As I pointed out in the Florida HBPA letter to Secretary Lawson, every track in Florida, except for Calder, owns a Quarter Horse permit. I further stated, “The loss of jobs to the State of Florida could be monumental if this application is approved and other tracks rush through the now open door with their barrel racing applications.” In other words, this could be the end of horse racing as we know it in Florida inasmuch as all tracks are funded by card rooms and most also by slot revenue. I know it’s amazing, but I am unaware of any racetrack in Florida that opposed the DBPR’s approval of this application for barrel racing. As previously mentioned, the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) then officially came out in opposition to the Gretna facility being permitted to
conduct pari-mutuel barrel racing on young females. The NBHA Southeastern Director, Paul Stanley, strongly stated, “There is no place for betting where there are children competing.” According to the letter the DBPR sent me in response to my letter on behalf of the Florida HBPA, the DPMW had “90 days to approve or deny the application.” That would mean the Division had until at least the end of December to act on this application. This could be a problem, because our boys had announced that their first day of barrel racing would be on December 1. They and their Indian partners actually had printed ads with a picture of a young female barrel racer and information from their “North Florida Horsemen Association” explaining they were having barrel racing for total prize money of “$38,000 NFHA Barrel Race Competition 10 days 19 Performing 8 horses per performance.” Those are their actual words and lack of punctuation from the poorly written ad. By mid-October, the DPMW signed off on the Gretna application for barrel racing. This would then automatically allow Gretna to open its card room after it began pari-mutuel barrel racing on December 1, 2012. But Dunbar and Romanik were not done yet. They then immediately asked the Gadsden County Commissioners to approve slot machines at their facility. Florida has statutes that mandate that horse purses and monies for breeders’ awards be funded from alternative gaming such as card rooms and slots. But, alas, for barrel racing there are no mandatory requirements for any such funding. I doubt this came as a surprise to Romanik and Dunbar. On November 1, the Gadsden County Commission voted unanimously to approve “a January vote to allow slot machines in the impoverished county” reported the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau. The referendum will appear on the January 31, 2012 Republican Presidential Preference Ballot. The issue of whether this election will even be legal has recently come to light given the drastic changes effected to Florida’s voting laws this year. The days that immediately followed Gadsden’s misguided vote are reminiscent of “Whack-A-Mole,” the child’s game that features a series of holes through which moles pop their heads out. When you hit the mole on the head with a hammer, another mole invariably pops out of another hole, and then you hit that one, and on and on. The reality is that, with the Gadsden vote, our heroes have made Florida one big game of Whack-AMole for horsemen, because now other obscure pari-mutuels are popping up all over the state and asking for barrel racing permits at their own facilities. Apparently, our “doctors” have determined that horsemen are pursegobbling “parasites on the industry” that need to be removed from their altruistic tracks altogether, and they are now performing the operation for free (?). calDER hoRSE winS YEt anothER bREEDERS’ cUp RacE Bill Kaplan kept Calder’s winning streak alive in Breeders’ Cup races this year with the impressive performance turned in by Musical Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Last year, trainers Stan Gold and David Fawkes each won Breeders’ Cup races with Awesome Feather and Big Drama, respectively. This year neither, trainer fared as well, but trainer/owner Bill Kaplan did as he saddled 20-1 shot Musical Romance to a gutty victory for his ownership partner, Pinnacle Racing Stable. Musical Romance broke sharply and laid second on the rail early before dropping back to fifth leaving the turn, where she then came again, seemingly willing herself through a hole that did not seem to exist. Once through the tight hole, she battled for the lead until she proved strongest and began to draw off in deep stretch.
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The victory was Musical Romance’s ninth overall and sixth added-money event as she again made a runner-up out of last year’s Filly and Mare Sprint runner-up, Switch. Musical Romance was purchased by Kaplan for $22,000 from the 2009 OBS Spring Sale. We are hopeful that Musical Romance will win the Eclipse Award in the female sprint category for the Florida HBPA’s Secretary, Bill Kaplan. Why not, she deserves it, and both of our Calder Breeders’ Cup winners last year won an Eclipse Award?
Both went on to become graduates of the prestigious Groom Elite 201, which ended up with 12 graduates. mEDical clinic opEnS The first-class Gulfstream Medical Clinic, a part of the nationally well-regarded Memorial Health Care System, opened on December 1. Chaplain Tom, who created the clinic, is pictured in front of a group of back siders that he recently took on one of his many fishing trips.
mEEt chaplain miGUEl KnUcKEY Miguel Knuckey is the new chaplain at Palm Meadows Training Center. Miguel has recently come aboard Chaplain Tom LaPointe’s His Place Ministries at Gulfstream Park. He is an Elder at Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale and has been serving the Lord for over ten years. Chaplain Miguel Knuckey Miguel has a heart for people and a passion to serve, and there is no doubt he will excel in his new role at Palm Meadows Training Center. Miguel is pictured in the new computer lab at the beautiful training center. The computer lab, we are told, is thanks to Gulfstream President Tim Ritvo and one Sam Gordon. GRoom ElitE Calder and the Florida HBPA sponsored their sixth graduating class of the Groom Elite 101 Program this fall. The 23 graduates are pictured in the winner’s circle at Calder proudly holding their certificates and wearing their new Groom Elite jackets. Unfortunately, the man at the end of the picture in the dark blue jacket with sunglasses did not graduate.
Also pictured is Alvaro Lopez being presented the trophy for the highest grade by instructor, Dr. Reid McLellan. Alvaro’s score was only four-tenths of a point higher than Hazael Diaz, who was almost in a dead heat for the top spot.
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indiana hBPa hooSiER paRK mEEt cloSES inDiana RacinG FoR 2011 In-state Indiana Thoroughbred racing ended at Hoosier Park on October 23 after a total of 537 races during the meet, which began August 2. Rainy weather and its effect on track conditions cost horsemen 38 races during the meet. Live handle was down 20 percent for the 62-day meet, compared to 2010. Export handle was down 5.87 percent. Average field size was 8.22 per race. For the third time in the 17-year history of Hoosier Park, Gary Patrick was leading trainer, with 36 wins. Patrick, who also won leading trainer titles in 1998 and 2002, is second on the track’s all-time leading trainer list. He was followed in the 2011 standings by Barbara McBride and last year’s leading trainer, Tom Amoss, who each ended the season with 19 wins. In addition to the leading trainer title, Patrick won his second Hoosier Park leading owner title, with 36 wins. Mitchell Hunt and Dale Smith, of Hunt and Smith Ventures, finished second with 14 wins. With the close of the meet, Leandro Goncalves earned his second straight leading rider title. The Brazilian jockey won three races on the closing day card, including the fifth leg of the $33,000 Don K. Memorial Starter Handicap Series. The three wins on closing day placed Goncalves one win ahead of his total in 2010, with 104 wins for the 62-day meet. Goncalves earned more than $2.1 million in purse earnings during the meet, just shy of his track record setting year in 2010. Fernando De La Cruz finished second with a total of 81 wins. Hoosier Park’s all-time leading rider Rodney Prescott was third with 50 wins. inDiana hbpa paRtnERS with hooSiER paRK FoR 2011 hbpa DaY On September 24, the Indiana HBPA partnered with Hoosier Park for a full day of racing, food, music, and family fun. HBPA Day featured giveaways of T-shirts, Track Packs, stuffed horses, and eight laptop computers for high school and college students, plus a trick rider show between races. In addition, families could participate in face painting, corn hole games, and a bounce house. After racing ended for the day, the Indiana HBPA sponsored a catered buffet dinner for members and their families in what quickly became a very crowded tent by the track. After dinner, many energetic souls stuck around and danced to live music.
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“oFF-SEaSon” pRomiSES to bE bUSY The Indiana HBPA will be busy in the five months between the end of 2011 racing and the beginning of the 2012 racing season in April. As of this writing, race dates had not been established by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC). Under President Randy Klopp, the Indiana HBPA has advocated and will continue to advocate for increased racing opportunities for Thoroughbred horsemen and women in Indiana. However, with one track only recently emerging from bankruptcy protection and the other still in the bankruptcy process, plus limited available revenues, the outlook for big increases in race dates is hazy, at best. When dates are approved, the Indiana HBPA will post the information on our website at www.inhbpa.org. Likewise, the 2012 Indiana Thoroughbred breed development program has not yet been approved by the IHRC. Indiana HBPA has participated in multiple meetings and discussions intended to maximize the monies available for breed development. President Klopp has been working closely with the Breed Development Committee and with our track partners to develop innovative and responsive tweaks to the incentive program. The breed development program will be formalized and approved by the IHRC in late January. The Indiana General Assembly will meet for a session of limited duration beginning in January of 2012. The biennial short session in Indiana is designed to deal with off-budget year issues and is supposed to be done by the end of February. Indiana horsemen are wary, but hopeful, that this session will be less dramatic than the 2011 session that threatened to reduce slot revenues for horsemen by 57 percent. At the same time, state revenues are still tight, there is an election year coming, and horseman monies are – and will always be – a tempting target for legislators. We will have to continue to make our case – collectively and individually – for the agribusiness and employment value of the industry to state and local economies. An economic impact study released by the industry in 2010 emphasized the $733 million direct effect that racing and breeding has in Indiana. We will have to continue to get that message out.
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inDiana hbpa holDS SEconD continUinG EDUcation SEminaR FoR thE YEaR The Indiana HBPA held a second 2011 continuing education seminar on October 20 at Hoosier Park. The seminar, which followed a similar event at Indiana Downs during the summer, drew wide interest. Eighty trainers and assistant trainers attended the four-hour session, which included lunch. Presenters included Dr. Thomas Tobin, Professor of Veterinary Science in the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, and Professor in the Graduate Center for Toxicology at the University of Kentucky, who gave a presentation entitled, “Lasix and Bleeders: The American Horsemen’s Story”; National HBPA Deputy General Counsel Peter Ecabert, who spoke on tax law changes, labor law, national issues affecting horsemen, and the role of the National HBPA; Oklahoma attorney Will Velie of Horseman Labor Solutions, who addressed immigration and labor issues; and Presiding State Steward Stan Bowker, who talked about horsemen/race officials interactions and held a question-andanswer session with attendees. The continuing education requirement, passed by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission in 2010, states that, beginning no later than January 1, 2012, in order to maintain a current license, trainers must complete at least four hours per calendar year of continuing education courses approved by the commission. For the year, 125 trainers and assistant trainers received Indiana HBPA certification cards for attending the for-credit seminars.
The Indiana HBPA is in the process of cross-referencing our members’ addresses with new legislative district maps to prepare for a grassroots communication campaign to get our message out in a timely and targeted approach before and during the session. iowa hBPa aDVancED DEpoSit waGERinG pRoGRESS The Iowa HBPA and Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino (PMRC) have met and agreed on the hiring of a consultant for the continued pursuit of an advanced deposit wagering (ADW) white label. The consultant hired is Paladin Capital Partners, LLC. Paladin Capital Partners is comprised of Chuck Champion (former CEO of Youbet.com) and Gary Sproule (former CFO of Youbet.com). Both individuals have an extensive background in the ADW market and bring a skill set to the table that will advance PMRC’s and Iowa HBPA’s ability to navigate the seemingly complex waters of the current ADW marketplace. PMRC and the Iowa HBPA have also engaged many ADW companies to come in and give presentations to view what their individual strengths and weaknesses are. Some of the companies that have given presentations are TVG, Twinspires.com, Amtote, and a few others. Within the next couple of months, PMRC and the Iowa HBPA hope to have singled out a white label provider and effectively launched the collaborative site, working with the all of the stakeholders in a way that will greatly benefit purses over the coming years. pRaiRiE mEaDowS 2012 StablE aREa impRoVEmEntS A couple of major renovations are in the planning and development stages for Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino (PMRC) for the 2012 racing season. One of the improvements is for the health betterment of your Thoroughbreds – specifically improving the air quality of the stable area barns through the use of proper ventilation. PMRC Director of Racing Derron Heldt has been working on this project for the last couple of months and is now working with an engineer trying to develop the best possible air flow for the barns. Many horsemen have experienced the hot and stagnate summers Prairie Meadows has had in the past. The ventilation project is in the budget next year and will begin shortly in order to have the barns ready for horsemen by the beginning of 2012 racing meet. Another improvement for next year is the test barn. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has designed and made changes to the current test barn that will be completed by the beginning of the 2012 racing season. The main changes will be the increased size of the walking ring for horses cooling out and that the surface of the walking ring will be completely replaced to reduce dust. Also, the newly designed test barn will have increased ventilation, as this was a top priority of the commission to aid in the cooling of horses after running. hbpa annUal oFFicE moVE During the winter months, the Iowa HBPA moves our main offices from the stable area to the fourth floor of Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino. We are located right next to the simulcasting area on the north side of the building. Our hours of operation are also going to vary during the winter months as travel becomes difficult, but we will try and have a schedule of being in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. If you are unable to contact us during those normal operating hours, please feel free to contact Executive Director Jon Moss at his cell phone number, (814) 431-8195. www.nationalhbpa.com
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kentuCky hBPa pRESiDEnt’S mESSaGE In Kentucky, as we prepare for the long winter racing season at Turfway Park, one wonders if the impending legislative session will be favorable to Kentucky’s beleaguered racing industry. It appears that both Ohio and Illinois are poised to offer alternate gaming at their racetracks, along with the existing established operations in Indiana and West Virginia. In addition, New York will soon be offering maiden races in the $70,000 range compared to the $50,000 range at both Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Is it any wonder that many larger stables are establishing outfits in New York to take advantage of the slot-enriched purses there? We all wait in anticipation that Governor Steve Beshear, with his overwhelming re-election victory, will be successful in convincing the General Assembly that the time has come to support the deteriorating signature industry of Kentucky. Kentucky Downs continues impressive gains with its experiment with Instant Racing machines. Ellis Park is planning to be up and running possibly in January, but most likely in February. We applaud their efforts to try to supplement their purse structure. We all recognize that it does not provide the type of revenue recognized from slot machines at the racetracks, but at least it is something. The remaining racetracks have indicated that they will not move forward until litigation against the Instant Racing machines is concluded. While racing continues to erode, with diminished racing days scheduled and purses spiraling downward, there is a renewed interest to further limit the use of therapeutic medication in Kentucky. The Kentucky HBPA requested that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) schedule a series of meetings at the racetracks to hear from horsemen and racetrack practitioners regarding proposed changes in the medication policy. The Rules Committee of the KHRC agreed, and the town hall meetings were held during the Fall at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Turfway Park. Horsemen and veterinarians were especially vocal about the elimination of adjunct bleeder medications. At the Churchill Downs meeting, Bill Mott explained that while Dr. Scollay indicates that there is no scientific proof to support the continued use of adjunct bleeder medication, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they are helpful to stem excessive bleeding in horses. The racetrack practitioners in attendance agreed with Bill’s conclusion. I was invited to speak at a forum arranged by the KHRC on Lasix use in horses. I will report to you at a later date on the results of that meeting, which is scheduled to occur following the submission of my comments to The Horsemen’s Journal. Based on the participants invited to speak, which include the Humane Society, PETA, and other organizations calling for the elimination of Lasix on race day, I would suggest that those of us speaking in support of the continued use of Lasix on race day are at a distinct disadvantage. Congratulations to Kentucky HBPA Vice President Dale Romans for Court Vision’s stirring win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile. Dale trains Court Vision for B. Wayne Hughes, and they defeated the turf legend Goldikova in her attempt to win her fourth straight Breeder’s Cup Turf Mile. Good luck in your racing endeavors, Rick Hiles thE haStE to REmoVE laSix aS a RacE-DaY mEDication iS pUzzlinG The move to ban Salix (Lasix) as a race-day medication has polarized the racing industry. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) fired the first volley when it announced that two-year-old stake races in 2012 will not receive graded status if the horses are permitted to receive Lasix on 50
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race-day. The Jockey Club and Breeders’ Cup have followed suit in supporting a ban on race-day Lasix. This is contrary to the $1 million study commissioned by The Jockey Club, RMTC, and the South African Racing Authorities scientifically establishing that Lasix was extremely effective in preventing Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH). In addition, review of data recovered in New York both prior to the approval of the use of Lasix and after Lasix was approved for administration indicates an 80 percent reduction in the incidence of EIPH. Armed with this data from two credible sources, it provides conclusive evidence that Lasix is extremely effective in preventing bleeding in horses. Yet, as incredulous as it sounds, there are individuals that are inclined to ignore the scientific evidence. Lasix is ideal for preventing excessive bleeding, which may ultimately damage the lungs and increase the incidence and severity of bleeding in the process. In addition, after an episode of bleeding, a horse may possibly develop a severe bacterial lung infection. Another real concern is the possibility of sudden death during the running of a race directly attributable to excessive hemorrhaging. While rare, it only takes one event causing a horse to collapse during the running of a race, thereby placing the jockeys and other horses in peril. With all due respect to the organizations mentioned above favoring the prohibition of Lasix on race day, consider the plight of the unsuspecting owner. After perusing a sales catalog and studying bloodlines, the owner arrives at the horse auction. Next, the owner may enlist the advice of a confirmation expert to determine if the horse can withstand the rigors of racing. After careful consideration, the young horse is purchased, usually for a substantial sum of money. The horse is developed and prepared for a future racing career. Somewhere during the process, either before racing or shortly thereafter, the owner receives a call from the trainer that the horse has a bleeding problem. Without the owner’s knowledge, the horse is the product of a mating where both the stallion and broodmare had a propensity to bleed during strenuous exercise or racing. Now their progeny have inherited the trait for bleeding. It would appear, prior to recommending the end to Lasix administration to horses on race day, a reasonable course of action in order to protect the unsuspecting buyer is that an analysis should be conducted to determine confirmed bleeders and either eliminate them from the gene pool or at least stamp the foal papers of their progeny with a warning that the buyer may be inheriting a potential problem. It is interesting to note that in both the Kentucky Oaks and Derby in 2011, every horse competed after being administered Lasix. In the 2011 Breeders’ Cup, 170 of 178 of horses competing – a whopping 96 percent – were administered Lasix. Can it be reasonably stated that all owners and trainers were merely looking for a competitive advantage, or are they looking at the science that indicates all horses actually bleed into their lungs during strenuous exercise to various degrees? Lasix is extremely beneficial to control the level of bleeding. We, the majority of horsemen in Kentucky, echo the sentiments of horsemen in New York, California, and every racing jurisdiction. Follow the science and consider the health and welfare of the equine athlete before making a rash decision that may have a deleterious effect on racing’s participants. inStant RacinG ExpERimEnt at KEntUcKY DownS bEGinninG to Show DiViDEnDS Below is a breakdown of Kentucky Downs’ Instant Racing machines handle and revenues thus far in 2011: September average handle per day = $144,633
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GUatEmala mobil conSUlatE ViSitS chURchill DownS On October 22 and, 23 the Guatemala mobil consulate paid a visit to Churchill Downs Christ Chapel. This visit was made possible through the efforts of Kentucky HBPA Hispanic Coordinator Julio Rubio, who coordinated with both Churchill Downs and Chaplain Ken Boehm, who provided us with the use of the Christ Chapel. The purpose of the consulate visit was to support the high concentration of the Guatemalan population at the track and the surrounding community by providing them with official Guatemalan documents, like passports and consular IDs. We had a great turnout. Over 300 people showed up, and all were very thankful for the service. As you know, it is sometimes very difficult for workers to go and take care of matters like this due to work and not having transportation. Vice-consul Candu Hernandez was very grateful for our assistance and is looking forward for any future opportunities to assist. h2b iSSUES By Julio Rubio, Kentucky HBPA Hispanic Coordinator Horse industry associations have been advocating strongly before both USCIS and Congress to resolve the temporary need issue and ensure that the horse industry can utilize this H2B visa to help meet labor shortages. The main actors on behalf of the horsemen have been the National HBPA, represented by President and Chairman Joe Santanna and Kentucky HBPA Hispanic Coordinator Julio Rubio; the American Horse Council (AHC), represented by Jay Hickey; and the NTRA, represented by Peggy Hendershot. With our combined efforts, we have requested a meeting with USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas to voice our concerns of the impact our industry will suffer due to the lack of these temporary visas. We’ve yet to get that meeting, so we urge our members to please contact your state representatives and voice your concerns regarding this issue. thE hbpa iS YoU The HBPA, established in 1940, is an organization of owners and trainers, approximately 40,000 nationally in 23 states and Canada, and over 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.
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October average handle per day = $218,360 Daily handle per machine for September = $723 Daily handle per machine for October = $1,092 Total purses generated in September = $43,210 Total purses generated in October = $66,454 Totals purses generated to date 2011 = $109,664
The HBPA represents owners and trainers on several fronts: • 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, various insurance packages, which 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, the Thoroughbred Addiction Council of Kentucky (TACK), 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 with regards 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 into the Kentucky 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 www.kyhbpa.org and click on “How to Join.” louisiana hBPa woRKER’S compEnSation UpDatE The Horsemen’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance Trust (HWCIT) has engaged Artex Risk Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of the Arthur J. Gallagher Company, as consultants for the Louisiana worker’s compensation program. Artex brings over 50 years of experience in risk management, loss control, safety training, underwriting, and claims advocacy. The Artex team’s goal will be to build the expertise of the Louisiana horsemen’s staff and help insure the future success of the program. The objective of the program is to provide the full range of worker’s compensation insurance benefits required by law while managing the program in a cost effective manner. minnesota hBPa 2011 RacE mEEt comES to a cloSE The 2011 race meet came to a close at Canterbury Park on Sunday, September 11. Although the burden of a 20-day statewide government shutdown cost Canterbury 12 racing days, the overall disposition of our horsemen remained optimistic. The shutdown forced all of Canterbury Park’s operations to cease, including the track’s card club. Canterbury Park and the Minnesota HBPA made an arrangement that gave owners a small payout for horses that did not get to run in canceled races as long as their next start was in Minnesota when racing resumed.
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The Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC) approved a change in dates, allowing six of the lost days to be restored, resulting in racing one weekend longer that originally scheduled. Despite the shutdown costing 53 races and Canterbury losing $1 million during the shutdown, overall it was a good summer. Canterbury attendance showed a 4.9 percent gain over 2010, average daily on-track handle was up 0.8 percent, and the import handle improved 6.2 percent. FEStiVal oF championS On September 4, a crowd of 11,214 was on hand for the 18th running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions. The first “Festival” run in 1992 established a card of races put together by Minnesota horsemen for their Minnesotabred horses. This year’s 10-race card awarded over $400,000 in purse money to the best Minnesota-bred horses and presented a great show for the record festival crowd. The on-track handle was up 17.7 percent. 2011 mEEt lEaDERS Dean Butler was honored as he won his third consecutive riding title. He finished with 83 wins for the meet. Mac Robertson wrapped up another training title, his seventh straight at Canterbury Park, to highlight a season in which he was elected to the track’s Hall of Fame. Owners Al and Bill Ulwelling were honored as leading owners for the second consecutive year. 2011 DiViSional championS Horse of the Year: Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson) Older Horse: Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson) Grass Horse: Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson) Older Filly or Mare: Sheso Dazzling (owners: Eric Von Seggern and Kurt Kindschuh; trainer: Mac Robertson) Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Wild Jacob (owner and trainer: Stanley Mankin) Three-Year-Old Filly: Polar Plunge (owner: Camelia Casby; trainer: Gary Scherer) Two-Year-Old: Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer: Mac Robertson) Sprinter: Just Jebicah (owners: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn) Claimer: Just Jebicah (owners: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn) Quarter Horse: Cruzin the Wagon (owners: Terry and Mary Louise Pursel; trainer: Brent Clay) The Minnesota HBPA would like to congratulate the front-runners and all their connections! GRoom ElitE Our tenth year of conducting Groom Elite classes concluded with a graduation banquet to honor our 18 graduates of the Elite 101 course. The class was made possible thanks to an education grant from the Minnesota Racing Commission and Canterbury Parks’ generous contributions of lunches and a remarkable Italian buffet for the banquet. Special thanks go to instructors Tracy Turner, DVM; Christy Klatt, DVM; John King, DVM; and trainers Bernell Rhone and Tony Rengstorf for their contribution of time and knowledge. Chaplain Ed made the chapel, his computer, and audio-visual equipment available, and Ruben Rosas did an awesome job in translation for our Spanishspeaking students. Dr. Reid McLellan was here to open the course and for 52
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the testing and graduation. It is encouraging to have professionals that care enough about developing skills and educating new grooms to better care for the athletes that put on the show! Three young men, Bailey Thibeault, son of Bobbie Thibeault; Orlando Villegas, whose parents are Maricella and Oscar Villegas; and Luis Sanchez, son of Rosa and Dagoberto Sanchez; made their parents proud when they certified as “Junior Groom Elites.” Luis had the second highest written test score in the entire class and the highest written score of a Junior Elite student nationwide to date. Congratulations to future horsemen! 2012 RacE DatES Canterbury Park has applied for 2012 race dates. The 61-day meet will commence on May 18 (Preakness weekend) and will run through Monday, September 3 (Labor Day). EqUinE DEVElopmEnt coalition oF minnESota FoRmED Minnesota’s equine industry needs a boost, as does the rural economic development. And a sure thing to give the boost is a Racino! A newly formed, horsemen-led group called the Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota (EDCoM) is advocating on behalf of owners, breeders, and racing fans and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans who depend on a healthy equine industry in this state. Jeff Hilger, a Minnesota Thoroughbred breeder, has been named president of EDCoM. Rosemary Higgins, a Quarter Horse owner from Princeton, Minnsota, will serve as the group’s executive director. The focus is to get the Minnesota legislature to understand that increasing horse racing purses is important because it helps grow the entire industry — more horses, trainers, and breeders come to Minnesota, requiring more support from farmers, veterinarians, fence builders, and other businesses. “The equine industry touches all 87 counties in our state. It will be an enormous economic engine for Minnesota if legislators are willing to make the same investment in horse racing purses and equine development that other states have successfully made,” Hilger explained. “In the short term, we have a vehicle that allows the Legislature to address a few of the toughest problems facing the state and, in the long-run, increase jobs and help an agricultural industry that has been hard hit,” Hilger said. “Simple logic dictates that it is time to move this economic engine forward.” Horsemen, stay tuned as to what you can do to help! minnESota RacinG commiSSion/phYEnYlbUtazonE (bUtE) lEVEl chanGE At its November 1 work session, the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC) voted unanimously to move forward in changing Minnesota medication rules relative to the use of “bute.” Following the suggestion of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and Dr. Lynn Hovda, a member of the ARCI Regulatory Veterinary Committee, Minnesota will adopt the ARCI model rule recommendation for a rule change. The ARCI’s concern is that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) policies are compromising the examining veterinarian’s ability to identify sore horses at the pre-race exam and continUED on paGE 55
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that NSAID levels the morning of the race could still mask the clinical signs of inflammation and pain. According to the ARCI website, “The ARCI Racing Regulatory Veterinarian Committee has called for a re-evaluation of current NSAID policies in the U.S. and a change in NSAID regulations changed to better protect the horse.” In July of 2011, the National HBPA Board of Directors passed a resolution stating, in part: “The National HBPA Board of Directors asks the RCI Model Rules Committee to reconsider the recent change in thresholds/decision levels for Bute violations from the longstanding 5 mcg/ml level. The lowered 2 mcg/ml level will inevitably cause unjustified ‘positives.’ While the RMTC’s proposal to reduce penalties for minor overages at this lowered level may alleviate some problems due to this change, the Model Rules Committee is requested to address the real problem, which is that longstanding thresholds/decision levels should not be changed without adequate scientific support. The results of the 2010 RMTC phenylbutazone study analyzed in Pennsylvania showed that a significant proportion of the findings exceeded the 2 mcg/ml level. This emphasizes the lack of scientific support for the new 2 mcg/ml level for Bute.” To date, the Minnesota HBPA sees no proof that the change will benefit horses or racing overall. The rule making process will take longer than the beginning of the 2012 meeting. It was suggested that in 2012, trainers will be advised when their horses test over the 2mcg/ml so they can adjust their medication schedule individually on each horse as to not go over the limit when the new rule takes effect. mountaineer Park hBPa SUmmER picnic In late summer, our horsemen enjoyed a picnic sponsored by the Mountaineer Park HBPA in a scenic state park. Attendance was approximately 150 horsemen and their families. thanKSGiVinG DinnER Approximately 225 horsemen and their families had Mountaineer Park HBPA-sponsored complimentary Thanksgiving meals at the Riverfront Buffet at the Mountaineer Park Casino. boaRD ElEction UnDERwaY Mountaineer HBPA election results for the presidential and Board of Directors elections will be available in late November. 2012 moUntainEER RacinG SchEDUlE Racing dates for 2012 at Mountaineer Park were approved by the West Virginia Racing Commission to be March 2 through December 21, 2012, which will total 210 days. neBraska hBPa 2012 RacE DatES FoR nEbRaSKa The Nebraska State Racing Commission met on November 9 and officially accepted live race date applications from the five Thoroughbred tracks in the state. The 2012 live race schedule will be conducted as follows: Fonner Park in Grand Island will run 31 days, beginning February 24 through May 5.
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Lincoln Race Course in Lincoln will run 29 days, beginning May 11 through July 8. Horsemen’s Park in Omaha will run six days, beginning July 13 through July 22. Ag Park in Columbus will run 23 days, beginning July 26 through September 9. Horsemen’s Atokad Downs in South Sioux City will run one day on August 21. A total of 90 days of live racing will be conducted for Thoroughbreds in Nebraska at the five race tracks. new england hBPa EncoURaGinG FUtURE with GamblinG bill As the 2011 racing season comes to a close, the New England horsemen can look forward to an encouraging future. The latest expanded gaming bill passed both the House and the Senate during the summer and is currently under review by a six-person legislative conference committee. Our expectation is for a finished bill to be on Governor Patrick’s desk and subsequently signed into law by the Governor prior to Thanksgiving. At this time, it is not possible to accurately forecast our future purse structure or the amount dedicated to the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association (MTBA) program. Our success in developing favorable legislation is a direct result of the close cooperation and hard work of the MTBA and the New England HBPA. Both organizations mobilized their members and conducted massive telephone lobbying efforts. It was a job well done, and everyone who called or wrote can feel as though they own a share of the success. 2012 contRact nEGotiationS Negotiations for a 2012 contract between Suffolk Downs and the New England HBPA have begun amid an air of optimism that the deal could be done by year's end. What is emerging as a major concern is the fact that Suffolk has a construction issue, while the HBPA has a racing issue. Simply put, Suffolk’s efforts to address the EPA problem currently calls for a major construction project involving the barns, which may not be completed by the original target date of April 30, 2012. The HBPA’s concern is the ability of Suffolk to provide needed stall space and training capability for our horsemen who have laid up in New England for the winter or who are shipping in from tracks such as Tampa. There is a great deal of speculation that 2012’s starting date may be targeted for very late May. The HBPA board will hold regular monthly meetings during the dark season. Members can get information on progress about the EPA track project by looking on our website at www.newenlandhbpa.com. 2011 hbpa ElEctionS In late September, we counted the votes in our long delayed New England HBPA election. The results gave us veteran breeder/horseman Anthony Spadea as president, Bernie Bramante as first vice president, and Manfred Roos as second vice president. A new face on the owner side and a welcome addition is Lee Loebelenz, whose Dover, Massachusetts farm has been producing competitive runners for decades. The owner slate is rounded out by: James Greene, Susan Clark, and Shirley Dullea, with Donald Colapietio, Jr. as first alternative. The successful trainers include: Shirley Edwards, Archie Ricciardi, John Assimakopoulos, and Kevin Clark. The trainer alternatives are Adel Salim and www.nationalhbpa.com
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Joe Signore. John Assimakopoulos topped the voting numbers for trainers, while owner Jim Greene drew the most votes of all board candidates. FREE FlU ShotS The free flu shot clinic on October 5, sponsored by the Eighth Pole human services program at Suffolk Downs in conjunction with the Northeastern University School of Nursing, was a rousing success, with over 150 racetrack workers taking advantage of the opportunity. This was the Eighth Pole’s ninth straight year providing a free flu shot clinic on the backstretch and the sixth year of partnering with Northeastern University. mtba chaRitY GolF toURnamEnt The MTBA held its third annual charity golf tournament on September 15 to benefit Second Chances, which provides a home for retired racehorses. The event raised over $7,000 for Second Chances. This shotgun tournament was held at the Glen Ellen Country Club in Millis, Massachusetts. In addition to golf, there was a buffet dinner and raffles, and family/friends were welcomed to enjoy many amenities including swimming, tennis, softball, and miniature golf. Participants were glad to have fun while contributing to a good cause – a home for retired racehorses. topSFiElD FaiR oUtinG Over 50 backstretch workers and their families enjoyed an outing to the Topsfield Fair. A large bus provided by the Eighth Pole left the track at 11:00 a.m. for the 12-mile trek to one of America’s oldest agriculture fairs. Seven hours later, a tired but thoroughly entertained group returned to the track with stories galore about the Topsfield midway, free shows, animals, farm exhibits, and refreshments. KaRaoKE, pizza anD moRE On October 8, the track kitchen and the New England HBPA sponsored a karaoke and free pizza night for track workers. There was plenty of food and entertainment. The event contained many tales of surprising hidden talent – watch out American Idol, here we come. 6th annUal SUFFolK ShowcaSE bY cantER Canter, an organization that helps retired racehorses find a place/owner to start their second career, held its sixth annual Suffolk showcase of available horses on October 23. This was an opportunity for interested buyers to view horses in one place at one time on Suffolk’s backstretch. Many loved seeing these horses in person and getting an opportunity to speak directly with trainers/owners to help decide on choosing horses that are ready for their next career. annUal pizza DaY FoR thE bacKStREtch Following up on last year’s success, the MTBA again hosted a “thank you” pizza party on October 24 for the backstretch community. MTBA Chairman George Brown had 60 large cheese/pepperoni pizzas delivered into the barn areas, as well as soft drinks. Distribution tables were set up at a central location, and it was fun to watch production line pizza eating. Fortunately, the demand dried up before the last piece of the 60th pizza was eaten. bacKStREtch appREciation DaY Sponsored by the New England HBPA, November 4 was declared backstretch appreciation day. All were provided with a full dinner at the track 56
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kitchen. In addition to the dinner, 25 grooms were awarded T-shirts and $25 for recognition of their outstanding efforts this meet. Over 200 attended and enjoyed it very much. 2011 mEEt Suffolk Downs’ 2011 meet ended on November 5. Although the season was off to somewhat of a slow start, last year’s “contentious” negotiations of simulcast revenues allowed for three purse increases, making it a more successful season. This meet’s leading rider with 107 wins was Tammi Piermarin, capturing her second straight title and her third at Suffolk. Tammi is currently the fourth leading female rider in Thoroughbred racing history. John Rigarrieri has earned his eighth consecutive title as leading trainer at Suffolk by winning 59 races during the 2011 meet. We want to wish all of the horsemen much success and good health as this meet closes and we go into the winter season. Please continue to visit the New England HBPA website at www.newenglandhbpa.com for current information and happenings. We look forward to seeing everyone in the spring. ohio hPBa RacE DatES SEt FoR 2012 Racing dates for Ohio’s three Thoroughbred tracks have been set for 2012. Beulah Park will run 114 days in 2012, with River Downs scheduled to run 93 days and Thistledown set to run 122 days. Beulah Park will run its traditional winter-spring meeting from Monday, January 9 to Kentucky Derby Day, May 5. The 70-day meeting will feature racing five days per week on a Monday through Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday schedule in January and February. Fridays are dropped from the schedule in March, when racing will be conducted four days per week. Wednesdays are dropped from the schedule in April through the remainder of the meeting. Beulah Park’s fall meeting will begin on Monday, October 8 and continue through December 22. Racing will be conducted four days per week on a Monday through Wednesday and Saturday schedule throughout the fall meeting. Training for the fall meeting at Beulah Park will begin on September 20. River Downs’ meeting will begin on April 27 and run through Labor Day, September 3. Racing will be conducted five days per week throughout the River Downs meeting on Wednesday through Sunday each week. Training at River Downs in 2012 will be conducted from April 17 through September 22. Thistledown will run 122 days of live racing in 2012, the same number the track has conducted in each of the past three years. The Thistledown meeting will begin on May 4 and continue through November 17. Racing will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays each week through the end of August. Thursdays will be added to the schedule in September through the remainder of the meeting. Training will be conducted at Thistledown from April 4 through November 17. oklahoma hBPa oKlahoma claSSicS The Thoroughbred industry in Oklahoma continues its commitment to make Oklahoma the place to race, breed, and own Thoroughbreds in the mid-south. The 19th running of the Oklahoma Classics was conducted on October 28 at Remington Park. The ten-race card dedicated solely to the Oklahoma-bred horse was comprised of eight stakes races and two starter allowance races. The stakes portion of the program provided a gross distribution to Accredited Oklahoma-bred horses in excess of $1.1 million dollars.
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REminGton paRK attEnDancE, hanDlE Up The 2011 Remington Park meet has continued its upward trend from 2010. On-track handle and attendance are up, along with the export handle when compared to the 2010 meet, which was a record setter. will RoGERS 2012 mEEt While the 2012 racing dates have yet to be finalized, Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Oklahoma will kick off the year approximately on March 5, 2012 and conclude its 32-day meet on Preakness Day. Estimations for the daily purse distribution for the meet should exceed $145,000 per day. Stallion StaKES Foal nominationS DUE JanUaRY 15 Nominations for the foals of 2011 that have been sired by eligible stallions for the 2013 Stallions Stakes will be due on January 15, 2012. Nominations made on or before the January 15, 2012 deadline will be $150. hBPa oF ontario wooDbinE bacKStREtch nEwS In response to the request of many trainers, the Board of Directors of the HBPA of Ontario approved the purchase of a viewing shelter for horse people at Woodbine. The structure has now been installed by the bleachers located at the Race Office and will offer shelter during inclement weather conditions. We are discussing with Woodbine the feasibility of installing a second shelter near the three-eighths pole in 2012. Trainers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that they have the necessary immigration paperwork on file when employing foreign workers. Please note your responsibility extends to jockeys who are brought in to ride marquee races at Woodbine. If you have any questions regarding the necessary paperwork, please contact the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) stewards or the HBPA. The 2012 race season will once again flow from early April to December. We are negotiating at the moment with Woodbine Entertainment with regards to race dates and will inform members once an agreement is in place. FoRt ERiE RacE tRacK Thank you to all who continued to send their horses to compete at Fort Erie this past season. We are counting on this continued support in 2012. Over the winter months, please encourage horse people at other tracks to consider Fort Erie Race Track in 2012. We would like to send congratulations to the winners of the 2011 annual awards at Fort Erie and to the awards banquet organizers, Candice Warwick, Lorrie Scott and Colleen Murphy, for doing such a great job making in making the event a success. ontaRio RacinG commiSSion The ORC continues to freeze test samples. The ORC does not currently have a test for all drugs, so test samples are kept in the event that tests are developed in the future. Should a new test be developed for a banned drug and the frozen test sample is retested and comes back positive, the ORC does have the ability to fine participants years after.
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The Oklahoma Classics has become a premier state-bred day, rivaling the likes of the Maryland Million Day (Maryland), Red Letter Day (Illinois), and other prominent days nationally that spotlight their state's best.
On July 15, 2011 the Ontario Racing Commission released a notice to the industry on the modified rules on the labeling of medications for “BARN USE.” The modification of the rule is a change for which the HBPA of Ontario has been lobbying for many years. The ORC reminds trainers that under the Rules of Racing (TB 15.09-019 (f)), they must maintain records relating to the particulars of any medications administered to horses in their care. For further information regarding this change, please see Thoroughbred Directive Number 4-2011 on the ORC’s website at www.ontarioracingcommission.com. REtiRinG YoUR thoRoUGhbREDS When you have deemed that a Thoroughbred racehorse in your care no longer has the ability to race and you are looking to find it a new home, we urge you to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable person, that you have provided a bill of sale, and that the Jockey Club Registration Papers are duly executed. If you are having difficulty finding a new home for your horse in Ontario, please contact LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society at (416) 675-3993, ext. 3440 or www.longrunretirement.com or Second Start Thoroughbreds at (519) 688-0722 or www.secondstartthoroughbreds.org. impoRtant inFoRmation FoR mEmbERS oF thE hbpa oF ontaRio pEnSion plan HBPA of Ontario Pension Plan Annual Statement of Benefits are in the process of being mailed. It is particularly important that members of the plan take a moment to review the statement and accompanying letter. If you are on the Pension Plan and have not received your statement, please contact the Administration Office at (416) 747-5252 or 1-866-779-3067. inFoRmation bUllEtS FoR mEmbERS The HBPA of Ontario posts important information for Ontario horsepeople on a regular basis on our website at www.hbpa.on.ca. Please check in regularly. hbpa oF ontaRio mEmbERS – Do wE haVE YoUR Email aDDRESS? We often communicate with HBPA of Ontario members by email. Do we have yours? Please take a moment to drop us a line at general@hbpa.on.ca with your current email address. We look forward to hearing from you. hbpa wooDbinE RacE tRacK oFFicE – wintER hoURS anD cloSURE FoR 2011 • Until December 11th - Open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. • December 17th and 18th - Closed • December 19th to 23rd - Open 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. • December 25th, 2011 to January 3rd, 2012 – Office closed Should you require assistance (including completion of B1s) and the Woodbine Backstretch Office is closed, please visit the HBPA of Ontario, Administrative Office, 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, Etobicoke, Ontario. Telephone: (416) 747-5252 or 1-866-779-3067.
www.nationalhbpa.com
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oregon hBPa poRtlanD mEaDowS mEEt UnDERwaY, moRE chanGES in StoRE FoR 2012 The 2011-2012 racing season at Portland Meadows got underway on October 17, with a number of changes being made from the previous meet. Much like some other parts of the country, horse racing is struggling in Oregon. Due to poor economic conditions and a shortage of horses, the current race meet has been reduced to 55 days instead of the 75 days that were scheduled in 2010-2011. Additionally, the number of races slated to be run has been cut back to 517 rather than the normal 720 races in previous years. Despite having good weather and some competitive racing, the average daily handle on Portland Meadows racing is down 30 percent for the first three weeks of the meet. The simulcast handle on other tracks is also down a significant amount. In an effort to turns things around, Portland Meadows will transition to a summer racing schedule beginning in July of 2012, when it will begin the next race meet, which will run until the end of December. The new racing schedule is pending approval from the Oregon Racing Commission. Recognizing that there must be some changes made in the near future if racing is to survive in our state, a cross section of industry stakeholders have been holding a series of meetings in an attempt to find some solutions to our current problems. Among the groups represented at the meetings were Portland Meadows management, the Oregon HBPA, the Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders, the Oregon Quarter Horse Racing Association, the Oregon Fairs, advance deposit wagering (ADW) companies, and several members of the Oregon Racing Commission. President Jim Fergason, Vice President Ron Sutton, and Executive Director Dick Cartney have attended the meetings to represent the Oregon HBPA. A number of interesting ideas and proposals were developed over the course of the three meetings. Going forward, the group will attempt to implement some of those ideas to help insure the future of our industry. chanGES at thE oREGon hbpa There have been some changes in the make up of the Oregon HBPA in recent months. For starters, long time Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Linda Morgan has retired. Morgan, who held her position for approximately 25 years, was an extremely loyal employee and tremendous help to the horsemen. She managed to keep the office up and running through many tough times and was an important asset to the organization. Replacing Linda as the Administrative Assistant is Debbie Fergason. She is well known to all the horsemen as she and her husband, Rolland, have owned and trained horses in Oregon for many years. Debbie always has a smile and good word for everyone. If you have not been into the HBPA office lately, feel free to stop in and say hello to Debbie. The Board of Directors also changed recently when Vanessa Hunt resigned to accept the job as outrider for the Portland Meadows race meet. Vanessa was a very valuable member of the Board who attended nearly every meeting and gave valuable input and advice on numerous issues. Jim Gordon, who was the next alternate, moved up to take the vacant spot on the current Board. thanKSGiVinG DinnER As has been the custom in the past, the Oregon HBPA hosted Thanksgiving dinner in the track kitchen for horsemen and their families. Everyone enjoyed a great meal put on by Cindy Patterson and her capable staff of helpers.
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chRiStmaS paRtY In addition to the Thanksgiving dinner, a Christmas Party was held in the kitchen in December. The Christmas Party was highlighted by a visit from Santa, who passed out gifts for the kids. wE nEED YoUR UpDatED aDDRESS FoR oUR UpcominG ElEction Also a reminder, horsemen, that we have an urgent need to get updated addresses for everyone. We will be having an election in 2012, and it is extremely important that we have a good address in order to make sure everyone gets a ballot. Pennsylvania hBPa StablE aREa UpDatE The fall meet at Penn National bristles with activity. New outfits are streaming in to bring the large complement of new barns to capacity for the upcoming Winter Meet. Construction of a new horsemen’s clinic and Laundromat were expected be finished by the first week in December. The joint project, initiated by Penn National Race Course and the Pennsylvania HBPA, is funded by monies set aside for capital improvements in the stable area. Additional projects, including the repaving of the middle road between the barns, are planned prior to the onset of winter. nEw VocationS pEnnSYlVania The Pennsylvania division of the New Vocations Horse Adoption Program, initiated as another joint project by Penn National and the Pennsylvania HBPA, is off and running. The coordinator, Jennifer Hamm, has worked closely with Anna Ford and a committee chaired by Sandee Beattie. The committee, composed of member volunteers Renee Nodine VMD, Stephanie Tate, Crystal Salvaggio, Jay Romick and Gary Craig, have served to make the project a success. To date, 88 Thoroughbreds have been accepted into the program, with 62 being adopted. According to Jennifer, “Ron Rodger’s Training Center and Cheryl Longreen’s Bow Crest Farm have done a great job and have helped to run the program smoothly. It has been very satisfying finding new homes and new careers for retired racehorses. It’s no longer the end of the line for these beautiful animals; it’s a new beginning.” pRESqUE iSlE DownS The quality of racing at Presque Isle Downs continues to make its mark. Notable among Presque Isle performers, Musical Romance, winner of the Masters on September 10, romped in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Her win in going-away fashion in the “Sprint” should stake her claim as the best distaff sprinter of the year. This is the third consecutive year that horses racing in “The Masters” have won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The Grade II Masters also produced Dubai Majesty and Informed Decision, the winners from 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, Wise Dan, the winner of the Presque Isle Mile, went on to win the Grade II Fayette at Keeneland on October 29. The subsequent performances of the aforementioned horses are remarkable accomplishments and a credit to the quality of racing for a little racetrack on the shores of Lake Erie. The best-kept little secret in racing perhaps is not a secret anymore. Good horses owned by top owners and trained by the national leading trainers have been making the trek to the tranquil shores of Erie and competing for the lucrative purses offered in Pennsylvania.
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pEnn national 2012 DatES Penn National will race 201 days in 2012, commencing on January 5 and concluding on December 29. Racing through the first week March will be conducted on Thursday through Saturday, and Wednesdays will be added beginning on March 7. With a few exceptions, racing will be conducted on this four-day-a-week schedule until November 6, at which time live racing will be added on Tuesdays through December. tamPa Bay downs hBPa 86th SEaSon UnDERwaY The 86th season of live racing at Tampa Bay Downs opened on Saturday, December 3 and runs through Saturday, May 6. 2012. This year’s impressive $2.5 million stakes program led off with the opening day Lightning City Stakes. ElEction The Tampa Bay Downs HBPA will be holding a general membership nominating meeting on Friday, January 20, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in the HBPA office. At that time, nominations from the Election Committee and the floor will be accepted for the Board of Directors. All eligible persons are strongly encouraged to run, and anyone interested may contact the HBPA office for further information. Ballots and biographical information of eligible candidates will be mailed out around February 29, 2012. Please take the time to vote as it is vital that the interests of our horsemen be protected. Know your candidates and vote accordingly. The election will take place on Friday, March 30, and the new Board will be seated on Friday, April 6. chRiStmaS paRtY The annual Tampa Bay Downs HBPA Backstretch Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday, December 20, from 11:20 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the HBPA office area. Anyone interested in volunteering his or her time to help serve food and assist in the clean up will be greatly welcomed. It is a great way to spread some holiday cheer for everyone in the stable area – especially those who are away from home during this holiday season. GRoom oF thE wEEK Trainers wishing to nominate their grooms for our weekly “Groom of the Week” award may do so by stopping in the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA office and submitting their name. Each week, we will award the lucky groom $50, an embroidered jacket, and a photo which will be hung up in the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA office on our “Groom of the Week Wall of Fame.” Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year.
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Pennsylvania racing is alive and well, and we look forward to the 2012 racing season. Presque Isle Downs is slated to commence the 2012 season on May 13, 2012. The 2012 racing season will consist of 100 days of racing, with last day of racing on September 27. Racing will be held on Sundays through Thursdays, with a first post time of 5:30 p.m.
texas horsemen’s PartnershiP, llP tExaS RacinG commiSSion GRantS 2012 liVE RacE DatES FoR tExaS RacEtRacKS At its September 21 meeting, the Texas Racing Commission granted the 2012 race dates for Texas racetracks, as well as dates for the first eight months of 2013. Lone Star Park will hold a 53-day Thoroughbred meet from April 12 through July 8, 2012. The track’s 26-day American Quarter Horse meet will be conducted from September 14 through November 10, 2012. Retama Park will hold a 20-day Quarter Horse meet from June 8 through August 11, 2012. The track’s 26-day Thoroughbred meet will run from October 5 through December 29, 2012. Sam Houston Race Park will host a 31-day Thoroughbred meet from January 20 through March 12, 2012. The track’s 27-day Quarter Horse meet will run from March 22 through May 19, 2012. Sam Houston’s 2012 Thoroughbred meet will feature 15 stakes races totaling more than $1.1 million in purses over the course of the 31 days of live racing. The stakes program will once again be highlighted by the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (Gr. IIIT), the track’s signature event, on January 28, 2012. The 2012 Thoroughbred stakes schedule will begin with an exciting change to Texas Champions Day on opening weekend, and for the first time ever, the traditional one-day event will be extended over two days starting on Friday, January 20 and continuing on Saturday, January 21. Texas Champions Weekend will feature over $400,000 in total purses beginning Friday, a day highlighted for fillies and mares carrying over to Saturday, a day that will feature open races for Texas-breds. “Texas Champions Weekend is a weekend for us to celebrate Texas Thoroughbred horses, trainers, breeders and owners,” said Andrea Young, President of Sam Houston Race Park. “We have taken what is historically one of our most significant days in racing and expanded it across two premier racing nights. We appreciate the Texas Thoroughbred Association for helping us make it happen, and we look forward to offering some of the best live racing in the country on opening weekend at Sam Houston Race Park.” The Gillespie County Fair Association will again hold its annual eight-day mixed meet on weekends in July and August. The track will conduct live racing in 2012 on July 7, 8, 21, and 22 and August 11, 12, 25, and 26. Also still on the calendar are dates previously granted to three facilities that have licenses but have not yet been built – Laredo Race Park, Longhorn Downs, and Valle de los Tesoros. Laredo Race Park is scheduled to conduct an eight-day mixed meet on August 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2012. Longhorn Downs is scheduled for an 18-day mixed meet from July 20 through August 26, 2012. Finally, Valle de los Tesoros is slated to conduct a six-day Quarter Horse meet on August 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26, 2012. In all, the 223 granted dates consist of 110 days of live Thoroughbred racing, 79 days of live Quarter Horse racing, and 34 days of mixed meet racing. These totals are down slightly from 2011, during which there will be a total of 231 days of live racing (114 Thoroughbred, 66 Quarter Horse, and 51 mixed). Richard E. Glover, Jr.
www.nationalhbpa.com
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The Texas Racing Commission granted the following dates requests for the first eight months of 2013: • A Lone Star Park 53-day Thoroughbred meet from April 11 - July 7, 2013. • A Sam Houston Race Park 30-day Thoroughbred meet from January 18 - March 10, 2013. • An eight-day Gillespie County Fair Association mixed meet on July 6, 7, 20, and 21 and August 10, 11, 24, and 25 of 2013. • A Valle de los Tesoros six-day Quarter Horse meet on August 16, 17, 18, 24, 24, and 25, 2013. thbpa anD tthbpa ElEction pRocESS UnDERwaY The process to elect new 2012 Board of Directors members for the two organizations that comprise the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, LLP, the Texas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (THBPA) and the Texas Thoroughbred HBPA, Inc. (TTHBPA), have been underway for some time. As an owner or trainer of horses racing in Texas, your vote is very important to the THP, and we encourage you to take the time to vote in this election. THBPA (Quarter Horse and Paint Board): The THBPA (Quarter Horses and Paints), is scheduled to elect two (2) owner representatives and one (1) trainer representative. All persons licensed by the Texas Racing Commission (TRC) as owners or trainers of Quarter Horses and Paint horses are eligible for membership in the THBPA. A person becomes a member of the THBPA by participating in a race meeting at any licensed racetrack in Texas within the last year. THBPA President Dr. Tommy Hays appointed a nominating committee for this year’s election, and there was a horsemen’s meeting on October 21 at Lone Star Park to accept nominations from the general membership of THBPA. The nomination period for the election has since closed, and there are currently ten nominees for the three available positions. Ballots for the election are expected to be mailed out the second week of December, and they will be counted the first week of January 2012. If you have started a Quarter Horse or Paint horse in Texas in the last twelve (12) months and do not receive a THBPA ballot by December 20th, or if you have any other questions regarding the elections, please contact the THP’s main office in Austin at (512) 467-9799 or cmartin@texashorsemen.com. TTHBPA (Thoroughbred and Arabian Board): TTHBPA members will elect two (2) owner representatives and one (1) trainer representative for 2011. All persons licensed by the Texas Racing Commission (TRC) as owners or trainers of Thoroughbred or Arabian horses are eligible for membership in the TTHBPA. A person becomes a member of the TTHBPA by participating in a race meeting at any licensed racetrack in Texas within the last year. TTHBPA President Jan Haynes appointed Dr. Richard Weilburg, Junior Martinez, and Kathy Stephens-Arnold to serve on the nominating committee, and nominations were taken through October 28. Currently, there are six nominees for the three open positions. Ballots for the election are expected to be mailed out the second week of December, and they will be counted the first week of January 2012. If you have started a Thoroughbred or Arabian horse in Texas in the last twelve (12) months and do not receive a TTHBPA ballot by December 20th, or if you have any other questions regarding the elections, please contact the THP’s main office in Austin at (512) 467-9799 or cmartin@texashorsemen.com.
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Election Ballots It is imperative that all THBPA and TTHBPA members carefully follow the instructions on the ballots they receive in order insure that your ballot is valid and counted. Completed ballots must be received by close of business on the date specified in order to be counted. Note that ballots must be received by this day to be counted – not postmarked by this day. Be sure to mail your completed ballot in the signed postage prepaid business reply envelope early enough for it to arrive by the date specified. Election ballots will be verified and counted by an independent CPA firm. Each and every year, the THP staff and our independent auditors receive numerous returned ballots which do not follow the explicit instructions for each specific board. According to the TTHBPA bylaws, any variation from the instructions on your ballot render it invalid, and it will not be counted. The ballot you receive will instruct you as to exactly how many candidates you may vote for in each category (owner or trainer). If you vote for more than the number instructed in any category, your ballot will not be counted. Write in votes will not be counted. When you have completed your ballot, place it in the postage prepaid business reply envelope. Sign the outside of the prepaid postage envelope. The postage prepaid business reply mailing envelope must be signed. It is imperative that your signature is present for verification. virginia hBPa 2012 RacE DaYS The Virginia HBPA and the management of Colonial Downs reached agreement on a proposed schedule for next year’s racing at the New Kent, Virginia track. There will be two months of racing—June and July—with four race days each week—Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That schedule is similar to this past summer’s schedule with one significant change. Racing on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays will be at night, with a 7:00 p.m. first post, instead of in the afternoon. Sundays will keep the usual 1:00 p.m. starting time. Night racing is possible for the first time because over the winter, the track plans to install lights on its huge turf course, where 80 percent of Colonial’s races are run. At present, only the main dirt track has lights. The horsemen and the track think night turf racing will attract larger crowds and also generate greater simulcast wagering on Colonial’s races. Purse levels are expected to equal this year’s daily average of $197,000. The agreed upon 2012 schedule is subject to approval by the Virginia Racing Commission. mixinG thEm Up Colonial’s main track is probably the last one in the country that changes surfaces every season to accommodate Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing on the same oval. After the summer flat meet, hundreds of tons of the sand and clay cushion are scraped from the surface, exposing the stone dust base on which the harness horses race in the fall. Come spring, the
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SomEthinG nEw The fall harness meet also featured the opening of a new grandstand wagering area devoted to video games with a wagering twist. In one of the simulcast areas, Colonial installed 30 touch screen video game machines (see photo). Games include a slot-like spin wheel and poker (see photo). On the wall are the traditional simulcast screens with races broadcast from across the country. By making a $10 trifecta wager at designated flat and harness tracks—on opening Sunday, Philadelphia Park was the selected track—a patron is given a plastic card with 1,000 points on it. Swiping the card in one of the video game machines then entitles the bettor to play the video games, with the possibility of winning a $10,000 prize or accumulating points that can be cashed in at penny a point. A player who uses up 1,000 points without winning can make another $10 trifecta wager, thereby adding 1,000 points to his or her plastic card. The card does not expire and may be used at subsequent visits to the track. The business plan from the point of view of track management and the Virginia HBPA is quite simple: increased handle by promoting trifecta simulcast
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cushion – stored in he stable area – is reapplied before the Thoroughbred meet. Harness racing this fall started with a one-day salute to the two breeds that race at the track, sponsored by the Virginia HBPA and the Virginia Harness Horse Association. The inaugural Sunday card had a flat turf race, a steeplechase race, and ten harness races. The first was a mile-and-a-half flat contest for Thoroughbreds on Colonial’s turf course inside the main track. It was won by Virginia-bred multiple stakes winner Researcher, owned by Kinross Farm and trained by Neil Morris (see photo of race start, Researcher is third on the outside). The next race, also for Thoroughbreds on the turf, was a two-and-a-quarter-mile steeplechase event over ten hurdles. Debra Kachel’s Lake Placid, trained by Ricky Hendriks, was the winner (see photo, Lake Placid on the lead at the last jump, ridden by champion jockey Paddy Young). The card then shifted to the main track for Standardbred racing. Winning the first of ten harness races was Take The Field, owned and trained by Henry Lewis (see photo of Take The Field coming to the wire, driven by Charles Perry, Jr.).
wagering at certain tracks, which would not normally occur, results in more revenue for Colonial and the horsemen’s purse account. That is achievable because the commission, or take out, on trifecta wagers at certain tracks, like Philadelphia Park, is a relatively high 30 percent. The takeout on win/place/ show wagering at most tracks (including Colonial) is around 18 percent, and takeout is usually in the 20 percent range for “exotics” like exactas, trifectas, and pick four wagering. The difference between a 30 percent trifecta takeout at certain tracks and lower takeouts on wagers at other tracks makes it feasible to pay video game winners without hitting the track’s pocketbook too hard. Additionally, of course, if the bettor hits the trifecta funding his video game playing, so much the better. When it comes to revenue, churn is the name of the game in pari-mutuel wagering. If the video games prove popular, Colonial will keep the grandstand simulcast area open year-round instead of closing it when there is no live racing at the track. washington hBPa EmERalD DownS 2011 mEEtinG honoRS At the close of Emerald Downs 16th season on September 25, it was announced that Horse of the Meeting honors went to Noosa Beach. The fiveyear-old Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold became the first horse ever to be honored twice for award. Trained by Doris Harwood and owned by her husband, Jeff, Noosa Beach won three of the four stakes in the older handicap division and became number one all-time with 11 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. Although Noosa Beach missed winning a second consecutive Longacres Mile, he was part of a brilliant stretch run duel and finished a solid second to multi-millionaire Awesome Gem. In addition to Horse of the Meeting, Noosa Beach was voted Top Older Horse, Top Washington-bred, and Top Sprinter—the second straight year he won four different awards. He was also the fifth straight Washington-bred to win Horse of the Meeting. Trainer Jim Penney and Assistant Trainer Kay Cooper trained three horses that won divisional honors in 2011. Michael and Amy Feuerborn earned the amazing distinction of owning two champions: Top Three-Year-Old Filly Class Included and Top Two-Year-Old Chu and I, both double stake winners at the meeting. Penney also trained Top Three-Year-Old Male Jebrica, campaigned by Ron and Rosalie Warren, who won the Emerald Downs Derby. Jebrica had continued success in Canada with a close second in the British Columbia Derby (CanIII) and then winning the $100,000 British Columbia Premier’s Handicap on October 2 at Hastings Park. You Me and Ema B took honors as Top Older Filly or Mare. The four-yearold filly, trained by Margo Lloyd, is co-owned by Lloyd and Patrick Hoonan. Touch of Elegance, the meet’s only seven-time winner, prevailed over sixtime winner Buddy Dave for Top Claimer honors. Trained by Frank Lucarelli for Chris Randall and Nick Rossi, the four-year-old Olmodavor filly was 7-1-0 in eight starts overall. Lucarelli claimed his third Emerald Downs training title and first since 2006 by a 53-52 margin over Howard Belvoir. Lucarelli’s title ended a four-year run by 10-time training champion Tim McCanna. Chris Stenslie was awarded Top Training Achievement for an excellent campaign during which she saddled 25 percent winners and won three stakes. Eighty-seven-year-old trainer Don Munger, who has owned, bred and trained horses for over 40 years, and trainer Bill Christian, who grew up on the racetrack as the son of jockey/trainer parents, were co-honorees of the Martin www.nationalhbpa.com
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Durkan Award. Named in honor of the late state senator and longtime proponent for Thoroughbred racing in Washington, the annual recipients are chosen by Director of Racing Bret Anderson and staff, and the award honors trainers that exhibit leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship, and excellence on and off the track throughout the 82-day meeting. Leslie Mawing captured his first Emerald Downs riding title by a 129-100 margin over Juan Gutierrez. Leonel Camacho-Flores was voted Top Riding Achievement for his improved riding during the second half of the meet. Over the final 29 days, the 27-year-old rider had 34 wins and finished the meet with wins on nine straight cards. In addition to Noosa Beach’s repeat, Howard Belvoir was leading owner for the second straight time. Belvoir came up just shy of an owner/trainer double but had nine wins over the second place finisher among owners, notching 21 wins from 146 starts. EmERalD DownS’ 2011 SEaSon honoRS Horse of the Meet: Noosa Beach (WA) Top WA-bred: Noosa Beach (WA) Top Older Horse: Noosa Beach (WA) Top Sprinter: Noosa Beach (WA) Top Older Filly or Mare: You Me and Ema B (WA) Top Three-Year-Old Male: Jebrica (WA) Top Three-Year-Old Filly: Class Included (KY) Top Juvenile Male: Chu and I (WA) Top Juvenile Filly: Talk to My Lawyer (WA) Top Claimer: Touch of Elegance (KY) Race of the Meet: 76th Longacres Mile Training Achievement: Chris Stenslie Riding Achievement: Leonel Camacho-Flores Durkan Award: Don Munger & Billy Christian Lindy Award: Lance Bullock Leading Rider: Leslie Mawing (129 wins) Leading Trainer: Frank Lucarelli (53 wins) Leading Owner: Howard Belvoir (21 wins) Leading Apprentice: Lance Bullock Top Quarter Horse: Devon Dat Cash (WA) laDY lUcK StRiKES waShinGton hbpa boaRD mEmbER KEith SwaGERtY The Washington HBPA Toro Lawn Mower Drawing to benefit Churchill Downs tornado victims was held during the Board of Directors meeting on September 25. When Director Sue Spooner pulled board member Keith Swagerty’s name from the bin of 100 entries, her first words were “I can’t believe it!” Swagerty, whose horses run under the name West Coast Racing LLC, was present at the meeting and had already gained attention for winning with two of his stable’s longshots the previous day. The lawn mower raffle was a nice topper for the lucky weekend. Leanna’s Blast won the second race on the Saturday card and paid $37.60 to win. Another Swagerty owned horse, Stormin Patrick, captured the eighth race and paid $38.20. Combined, the two race wins represented about the same odds as the Toro lawn mower drawing. The board suggested the Keith enter a few more contests before the weekend was over to further capitalize on his lucky streak. Unfortunately, he had no horses enter for the Sunday, Emerald’s final day of racing. Thank you to Steve Andersen of EquineSavings and Toro for donating the lawn mowers to HBPAs around the country to benefit such a worthy cause. 62
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waShinGton hbpa 2011 GEnERal mEEtinG The well-attended 2011 Washington HBPA General Meeting and barbecue was held on September 1 at the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA)’s Alhadeff sales pavilion. The move in location was done to capitalize on some gorgeous Seattle weather and to bring attention to the Washington HBPA’s new home at the WTBOA’s office complex. The meeting presented an overview of the 2011 race meet from a variety of perspectives. Committee chairs reported and opened the floor for questions and comments regarding the condition book, track and safety, legislative issues, and Washinton HBPA finances. Following, Washington HBPA Executive Director MaryAnn O’Connell reported on current national issues and recent Left to right, Directors Jack Fabulich, changes to the Washington Rules Pat LePley, and Diane Garrison of Racing. She reported that the majority of Washington rule changes during the past year came about because of horsemen’s requests and encouraged the membership to regularly communicate ideas for positive changes and rule amendments. President Ron Maus talked about national issues that negatively affect the success of Thoroughbred racing. He questioned the term “industry” as applied Pat LePley, Karla Laird and Jack Fabulich talking to horse racing because of the multiple interests that to Ron Maus work independent of a common goal that would prosper Thoroughbred racing as a whole. During his presentation, Maus elaborated on the challenges facing all horsemen and racing stakeholders, including current economic climate, medication, competition amongst racetracks, external gaming options, horse population reduction, and owners/trainers’ and stakeholders’ inability to recoup investments. He concluded with reporting on what the HBPA is trying to do, both locally and nationally, to “become an industry” by cooperatively pulling together to not only help each other through this tumultuous period, but to create a lasting future for our beloved sport. The speaker forum concluded with a very positive presentation by Emerald Downs’ President Ron Crockett wherein he provided a review of Emerald Down’s history and evolution. More than once, Crockett commended horsemen for their support at the entry booth, which tremendously contributed to a 2011 live handle that was better than anticipated. The night concluded with a question/answer session.
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EmERalD DownS chaplaincY holDS SUmmER caRniVal The Washington HBPA would like to acknowledge the Emerald Downs Chaplaincy for the wonderful Summer Carnival and Barbeque it put on for backstretch children. Held in mid-August, the group had the test barn stalls converted to a carnival atmosphere, complete with treats, games and prizes for all participants. Volunteers from Chaplain Bryan’s church and members of the Chaplaincy Board served as “carnies.” As has become tradition with the last few Washington HBPA picnics, the quarter chute was transformed into a soccer pitch. This year, Chaplain Bryan
organized a three-on-three tournament. The Summer Carnival replaced the Washington HBPA picnic and was very well received and enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks again to all those that helped put on this event.
www.nationalhbpa.com
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CORTA-FLX, INC. • PO BOX 3807 • AIKEN, SC 29802 (888) 294-1100 • Mon - Fri, 8 AM - 5 PM EST 110411 www.corta-flx.com • cortaflx@aol.com
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