fall 10spring 14

www.nationalhbpa.com 1

34Coming TogeTher in Californiathe national hbpa’s winter convention in pasadena offered something for everyone

38Blood TesTs for lifehumans are not the only species that can benefit from blood tests

44The gene geniesGenetic testing can help determine which runners will go the distance

deparTmenTs

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message from The naTional hBpa

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indusTry news

12hBpa news

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legislaTive updaTe

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researCh & mediCaTion updaTe

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mediCaTion CommiTTee Corner

202014 raCing sChedule for norTh ameriCa

49affiliaTe news

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24million-dollar Claimersthe claiming crown returns to Gulfstream park with larger purses and an additional race

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h jnaTional hBpa

870 corporate Drivesuite 300

lexington, KY 40503

p(859) 259-0451F(859) 259-0452racing@hbpa.org

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in every issue

presidenT/Chairpersonof The Board

robin richards

firsT viCe presidenT

leroy Gessmann

seCreTary/Treasurer

ron maus

Chief exeCuTive

offiCer phil hanrahan

viCe presidenT

CenTral region

leroy Gessmann

viCe presidenT

easTern region

randy Funkhouser

viCe presidenT souThern

region rick hiles

viCepresidenT

wesTern region

ron maus

message from

the Ceodear horsewomen and horsemen of The naTional hBpa:The 2013 Claiming Crown is in The Books. iT was a greaT day of raCing wiTh perfeCT weaTher and large fields. Claiming Crown day was, however, CaughT up in The head-To-head daTe fighT BeTween gulfsTream park and Calder raCe Course. BeTTors had The Claiming Crown raCes aT gulfsTream and Three sTakes raCes aT Calder To Choose from ThaT day. hopefully, By deCemBer 2014 BoTh TraCks will have resolved Their differenCes in suCh a way ThaT is BenefiCial To horsemen, The BeTTing puBliC and The raCeTraCks. you Can read a reCap of The evenT on page 24 of This issue.

Our NHBPA Winter Convention in Pasadena, California, was a great success. I want to thank Joe Morris of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and Alan Balch of the California Thoroughbred Trainers for their assistance in obtaining panel speakers for the convention and for appearing on our Horsemen’s Roundtable along with NHBPA President Robin Richards. We were able to present an exceptionally talented group of speakers and they addressed some “cutting edge” topics. Continuing our convention series regarding equine science, Dr. Jeff Blea, a practicing veterinarian and the president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, explained what shock wave therapy is and what it can be used for. Dr. Sue Stover, from the University of California, Davis, provided updated information on training racehorses and bone remodeling related thereto. As always, the Medication Panel put together by Kent Stirling and Dr. Tom Tobin provided timely insight regarding current medication topics, including the Breeders’ Cup Lasix “study,” the National Uniform Medication Program and acepromazine research. The NHBPA remains committed to our publically stated position that uniform medication rules must be based solely on published, scientifically determined regulatory thresholds, with published, scientifically determined withdrawal time guidelines, all based on and supported by data published in the scientific literature.

Other convention speakers addressed the “business” of the horse business. Workers’ compensation insurance is a challenge across the country. Brad McKinzie, from Finish Line Self Insurance Group; Ed Fenasci, the secretary/treasurer of the Louisiana HBPA; John Unick, the president of the Thoroughbred Racing Division at MOC Insurance Services; and Kent Stirling, executive director of the Florida HBPA, provided the audience with a full spectrum of workers’ compensation issues, challenges and recommendations. The importance of establishing relationships with legislative bodies and regulatory agencies was addressed, as was the status of exchange wagering. Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, addressed the coming Thoroughbred racehorse shortage, and then he fielded some animated and passionate questions from the audience.

It was also announced that the NHBPA Summer Convention will be hosted by the Oklahoma HBPA (Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma) in August. As of this writing, the exact date has not been set, but it will be during the live Thoroughbred meet at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. I want to thank the board of directors of the Oklahoma HBPA for their willingness to host the summer convention. I also want to urge all the affiliates, their officers, directors and members to attend. We will have another series of exceptional speaker panels, so I guarantee that you will learn something. You will also be able to network with other affiliates, as well as have the opportunity to see a different racetrack and its facilities.

In November, I testified on behalf of the NHBPA in Washington in front of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. The NHBPA was the only witness that testified against H.R. 2012, “a bill to improve the integrity and safety of interstate horseracing, and for other purposes.” Among other things, this House bill seeks to move all drug testing, education, research and adjudication to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and seeks to phase out the use of Lasix (Salix) over a two-year period. The primary focus of

our testimony was that, during the four-year period from 2009 through 2012, there were 368,980 post-race tests and, of those, only 142 tests were positive for Class 1 or Class 2 “cheater” drugs or “doping.” In other words, 0.00038 percent of the tests detected illegal substances like Dermorphin that serve no purpose other than to dope a horse to affect the outcome of a race. Additionally, 99.2 percent of the 368,980 post-race tests in Thoroughbred races were negative for drug use. This rate of “clean tests” by no stretch of the imagination evidences a problem of rampant unregulated drug use that some in our industry would have you believe is the case. Quite to the contrary, these results should be the envy of every sport that tests for drugs.

Medication continues to take center stage in our industry and keeps our Model Rules Committee, chaired by Dave Basler, and our Medication Committee, chaired by Kent Stirling, busy. Dave and I attended the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) Model Rules Committee Meeting in December. In April 2013, the NHBPA presented our proposal to the RCI Model Rules Committee regarding the need to add specified endogenous, dietary and environmental substances (EDEs) to the list of substances that will not result in positive tests. EDEs are naturally occurring substances that might be found in a horse’s blood or urine. The NHBPA’s proposal was reviewed by various committees of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and the RCI between April and December. At the December RCI meeting, with regard to the EDEs, the RCI Model Rules Committee accepted the validity of the existing thresholds for caffeine, total carbon dioxide and DMSO. The RCI Model Rules Committee added plasma thresholds for boldenone, nandrolone and testosterone. The committee also approved thresholds for estranediol, hydrocortisone, methoxytyramine, salicylate/salicylic acid and theobromine. We will continue to work with the RCI and the RMTC regarding the other EDEs.

Additionally, acting on changes requested by the RMTC, the RCI Model Rules Committee voted to recommend to its board the following: (A) using a limit of detection for the regulatory threshold for stanozolol (an anabolic steroid); (B) setting the threshold for boldenone in female horses and geldings at 25 picograms in blood; and (C) with regard to nandrolone in male horses other than geldings, to look to the threshold for estranediol.

Some of the other matters the Model Rules Committee made recommendations on included the following: (A) clarifying the model rules that at the current time only omeprazole (GastroGard®) is approved on the “List of 24” as an anti-ulcer medication, and (B) addressing shock wave treatment matters, including accepting Dave’s argument regarding the list of horses treated with shock wave therapy.

As always, if any of you are in Lexington, please stop by the NHBPA’s office. We welcome your comments, feedback and visits.

May the Racing Gods smile on you, and may you have many visits to the winner’s circle.

sinCerely,phil hanrahanchief executive officer

www.nationalhbpa.com 3

The NaTioNal

hBPa woulD liKe to

thanK its corporate

sponsors

The views expressed on these pages are those of the authors and/or advertisers, 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 61 #1.Postal Information: The Horsemen’s Journal (ISSN 0018-5256) is published quarterly by the

National Horsemen’s Administration Corporation, with publishing offices at P.O. Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683. Copyright 2014 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

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

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affiliaTesBoard of Directors - affiliatesDr. David Harrington, Alabama

J. Lloyd Yother, ArizonaLinda Gaston, ArkansasDavid Milburn, Canada

Randy Funkhouser, Charles TownMark McGregor, Colorado

Dave Brown, Finger LakesPhil Combest, Florida

Mark Buckley, IdahoBrian LaMew, Illinois

Joe Davis, IndianaLeroy Gessmann, Iowa

Rick Hiles, KentuckyStanley Seelig, Louisiana

George Kutlenios, MichiganTom Metzen, Minnesota

R.C. Forster, MontanaJohn W. Baird, Mountaineer Park

Todd Veerhusen, NebraskaAnthony Spadea, New England

Tim Hamm, OhioBill Anderson, Oklahoma

Sue Leslie, OntarioRon Sutton, Oregon

Tim Shea, PennsylvaniaRobert Jeffries, Tampa Bay Downs

Dr. Tommy Hays, Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, LLPDavis Ross, Virginia

Ron Maus, Washington

ConTriBuTorsKimberly S. BrownBrian W. FitzgeraldShelby O’NeillKent H. Stirling

phoTographersAckerley ImagesDenis BlakeCoglianese PhotosRick May, Vision PhotographyMaryAnn O’ConnellReed Palmer Photography

sTaffDenis BlakeEditor512-695-4541E-mail: hj@hbpa.org

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wise Dan repeaTs as horse of The year aT eClipse awards

america’s best racinG app released for iphone and android

h jnews

industry newsWise Dan, a winner

of six major stakes races in the United States and Canada last year, was named the 2013 Horse of the Year on January 18 at the 43rd Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group. Wise Dan won the Horse of the Year Award in 2012, as

well. The Eclipse Awards, held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, honor excellence in Thoroughbred racing and are voted on by representatives of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.

Owned and bred by Morton Fink of Northbrook, Illinois, Wise Dan finished first in the balloting with 208 votes, followed by Reeves Thoroughbreds’ Mucho Macho Man, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), with 21 votes, and Will Take Charge, winner of the Travers Stakes (G1), with 15 votes.

Wise Dan also won the Older Male and Male Turf Eclipse Awards to become the first horse ever to win three Eclipse Awards in consecutive years, having also swept the same categories in 2012.

As a 6-year-old in 2013, Wise Dan won six races from seven starts, winning all of his starts on turf and suffering his only defeat when he ran second in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland Race Course when the race was shifted to the main track at 1 1/16 miles due to heavy rains. His six victories included four Grade 1 races and two Grade 2 events. Following his lone season defeat, Wise Dan rebounded to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park for the second year in a row. He earned $2,751,972 on the year and has won 19 of 27 career starts with total earnings of $6,293,610. He is a chestnut Kentucky-bred gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry trained by Charles LoPresti.

Following is a complete list of Eclipse Award winners for 2013:2-Year-old male: Shared Belief2-Year-old filly: She’s a Tiger3-Year-old male: Will Take Charge

3-Year-old filly: Beholderolder male: Wise Dan older female: Royal Deltamale sprinter: Points Offthebenchfemale sprinter: Groupie Dollmale turf horse: Wise Dan female turf horse: Dank (GB)steeplechase horse: Divine Fortunehorse of the Year: Wise Danowner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramseytrainer: Todd PletcherJockey: Javier Castellano apprentice Jockey: Victor Carrasco eclipse award of merit: D. Wayne Lukas. Voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, this award honors outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry. special award: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The Special Award honors outstanding individual achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Media Eclipse Awards are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. The 2013 Media Eclipse Awards were presented to the following: Photography: Jamie Radosevich-Hernandez, Louisville Courier-Journal and USA Today, “Wise Dan in the Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs,” June 30, 2013 Writing, News/enterprise: Marcus Hersh, Daily Racing Form, “Dubai World Cup: Douglas Back at Racetrack for First Time Since Being Injured,” March 26, 2013 Writing, feature/Commentary: Marty McGee, Daily Racing Form, “For Desormeaux, Conflicting Views on his Struggles,” April 20, 2013 television, Live racing Programming: NBC Sports, “The Kentucky Derby,” May 4, 2013. Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer television, feature Programming: HRTV, “HRTV Presents: Saratoga WarHorse,” November 2, 2103audio/multimedia Internet: The New York Times, “The Jockey,” August 13, 2013

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The Jockey Club and Equibase Company announced the release of the America’s Best Racing app for iPhone and Android. The free app includes video replays provided by Roberts

Communications plus full charts and pari-mutuel payoffs of all graded stakes races (including the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup) for the current year as they occur, as well as every graded stakes race run since 2010.

The app can be downloaded at itunes.com and play.google.com. A web version of America’s Best Racing is available at americasbestracing.net and equibase.com.

“This app is the perfect tool to follow graded stakes races from your mobile device as they happen throughout the year and watch the best of racing from the past several years,” said Jason Wilson, vice president of business development for The Jockey Club. “We are happy to partner with Equibase to bring this app to a new audience of fans as part of America’s Best Racing’s fan initiatives.”

America’s Best Racing, initiated and funded by The Jockey Club and promoted in association with NTRA Communications, is a multimedia fan development platform designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events, with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition.

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thorouGhbreD aFtercare alliance awards $1 million in granTs

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced in December that it has awarded $1 million in grants to its 23 accredited facilities.

This is the first round of financial grants that the TAA has awarded since its formation in February 2012. Individual grant awards were based on a comprehensive review by the TAA Grants Committee and Board, and the grants will be used for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds.

“We’re very pleased to award these grants to our accredited facilities, to recognize and support their efforts to care for our retired Thoroughbred athletes,” stated Jack Wolf, TAA board president and Thoroughbred owner. “Since the TAA was formed nearly two years ago, many people have been working diligently to fulfill the TAA’s mission of accrediting aftercare facilities and financially supporting them, and I’m thrilled to say that vision became a reality today. This is a major step forward for the industry in providing a long-term strategy for Thoroughbred aftercare, and we’re all very proud. I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, Keeneland Association and all of our donors, from stallion farms, sales companies and racetracks to owners, breeders and fans. Your support made these grants possible.”

Following is a complete list of TAA-accredited facilities receiving grant awards:

Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue – Pawling, New YorkAngel Acres Horse Haven – Glenville, PennsylvaniaCANTER, California – Los Gatos, CaliforniaCANTER, Ohio – Mentor, OhioEquine Encore – Tucson, ArizonaThe Exceller Fund – Lexington, Kentucky

Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care – Palm City, FloridaGlen Ellen Vocational Academy – Glen Ellen, CaliforniaHumanity for Horses – Mt. Shasta, CaliforniaKentucky Equine Humane Center – Lexington, KentuckyLong Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society – Toronto, Ontario Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue – Chesapeake City, MarylandMitchell Farm Equine Retirement – Salem, Connecticut Neigh Savers Foundation – Walnut Creek, California New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society – Surrey, British Columbia New Vocations – Marysville, Ohio Old Friends – Georgetown, KentuckyReRun – Virginia Beach, VirginiaSouthern California Thoroughbred Rescue – Norco, California Thoroughbred Placement Resources – Upper Marlboro, Maryland Tijuana River Valley Animal Rescue – San Diego, CaliforniaTROTT USA – Laguna Hills, CaliforniaUnited Pegasus Foundation – Tehacapi, California Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the TAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call (859) 224-2756.

industry newsnews

national ownership conFerence To Be held in oCToBer

OwnerView, the website and information resource developed by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) to assist both current and prospective Thoroughbred owners, will

host a national, two-day Thoroughbred ownership conference in October 2014 at Keeneland Race Course.

The conference, sponsored jointly by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Keeneland Association, New York Racing Association Inc. and The Stronach Group, will feature panel discussions with prominent industry participants as well as an exhibit hall and several informational and educational networking events with owners and industry representatives.

“Owners are the backbone of the Thoroughbred industry, and the future of our great sport is incumbent upon the energizing and engagement of current and prospective owners,” said Bill Thomason, the president and chief executive officer of Keeneland. “Not only as a racing facility, but also as the world’s largest Thoroughbred marketplace, Keeneland is proud to serve as the host for the first year of this unique event. We look forward to working with The Jockey Club, TOBA and our other track sponsors in the months ahead as we plan the agenda and make the necessary arrangements.”

Additional details about the conference, including dates, will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information about OwnerView, go to ownerview.com.

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new racinG series airs on fox sporTs 1The February 9 running of the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1), the first

major race of the year for older racehorses, kicked off “The Jockey Club Tour on FOX” series of races, which will be televised on FOX Sports 1 during 2014. The new series includes eight other telecasts that will feature several of North America’s most prestigious races for older horses as well as the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1), the world’s richest Thoroughbred race.

The announcement of the 2014 schedule was made by David Nathanson, general manager and chief operating officer of FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2, and Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club.

While the nine telecasts will predominantly feature older horses, there will also be prominent races for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) from Keeneland Race Course will provide fans the opportunity to watch contenders on the 2014 Triple Crown trail and the Saratoga Special (G2) from Saratoga Race Course in August will showcase 2-year-olds that might compete in the 2015 Triple Crown.

Each telecast will include at least two top stakes races featuring the leading horses in North America. The complete list of all races will be announced in the near future, pending final approval from all necessary organizations.

The partnership between the FOX Sports Media Group and The Jockey Club is a multi-year agreement that was announced in August 2013, the same month FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network, launched.

The on-air talent for the series will include some familiar names in the racing industry, including Greg Wolf, Richard Migliore, Andy Serling, Simon Bray and Alyssa Ali.

“These nine shows will all be a fast-paced mix of behind-the-scenes features, gambling insights and pageantry surrounding the event, and they should appeal to both newcomers and longtime fans of Thoroughbred racing,” said Jason Wilson, vice president of business development for The Jockey Club, which is underwriting the series.

The agreement also includes international and Spanish-language rights, including the ability to air races on FOX Deportes, the nation’s leading Spanish-language sports network.

Following the Donn, the series is scheduled to cover the following races:

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Date eveNt traCkSaturday, March 29 Dubai World Cup (G1) Meydan Race Course Saturday, April 12 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) KeenelandSunday, May 11 Man o’ War Stakes (G1) Belmont ParkSunday, July 6 United Nations Stakes (G1) Monmouth ParkSunday, July 20 Eddie Read Stakes (G1)/ Del Mar/Saratoga TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Sunday, Aug. 10 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) Saratoga Sunday, Aug. 17 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1) SaratogaSunday, Sept. 14 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) Woodbine

purses, handle hold sTeady in 2013Purses and handle for races in the United States remained at a nearly identical level in 2013 compared

to the prior year, but the number of race days dipped by more than 3 percent, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released by Equibase Company LLC.

Despite big drops in handle (down 10.51 percent) and purses (down 6.95 percent) for the month of December 2013 compared to December 2012, likely due in part to a number of weather-related cancellations in the Midwest and Northeast, the final figures for 2013 showed an annual handle of $10.88 billion (up 0.06 percent from 2012) and total purses of $1.12 billion (down 0.04 percent from 2012). The only significant difference between the 2013 and 2012 numbers was a 3.15 percent decline in number of race dates from 5,310 in 2012 to 5,143 in 2013.

10 hJ sprinG 14

industry newsnews

pletcher, castellano anD ramseYs Top 2013 earnings lisT

caliFornia racetracK practitioner To lead aaep in 2014

Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano and Ken and Sarah Ramsey finished 2013 as the leading trainer, jockey and owners, respectively, by North American earnings, according to final statistics released by Equibase Company LLC, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information.

Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man led all Thoroughbreds in 2013 with North American earnings of $2,984,000. Will Take Charge, who narrowly lost to Mucho Macho Man in the Classic, was also a close runner-up in earnings, finishing the year with a total of $2,960,977.

The year-end compilations are distributed annually by Equibase and include results from Thoroughbred racing in North America from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013. Expanded North American racing leaders lists that include all trainers, jockeys, owners and horses are available within Stats Central at equibase.com.

Pletcher, who led all trainers for the past three years and previously topped

the trainers’ list from 2004 to 2007, sent out the winners of 224 races from 946 starts for earnings of $25,248,816 in 2013. Runner-up again for the second consecutive year was Bob Baffert, whose horses won 133 races from 570 starts for earnings of $15,317,291 in 2013.

Javier Castellano established a single-season earnings record in leading the jockeys’ list in 2013, breaking the previous record set by Ramon Dominguez in 2012. Castellano rode the winners of 362 races from 1,617 mounts and ended the year with earnings of $26,214,007. Joel Rosario finished second with 275 wins from 1,295 mounts and earnings of $21,585,941.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey won 230 races from 880 starts and earned $12,231,045 in North America in 2013 to lead all owners. Runner-up was Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. with 401 victories from 1,479 starts and earnings of $7,230,797.

Racetrack practitioner Jeff Blea, DVM, a partner in Von Bluecher, Blea, Hunkin Inc., Equine Medicine and Surgery in Sierra Madre, California, was installed as president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) during the December 10 President’s Luncheon at the association’s 59th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Blea possesses significant expertise in ethical and policy issues affecting racetrack veterinarians and is a strong advocate for improving the racing model for both the horse and the practitioner through adoption of uniform rules among racing jurisdictions.

At the age of eight, Blea moved with his family from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to New Orleans, where his father trained Thoroughbred racehorses. In high school, Blea began exercising horses in the mornings before taking out his jockey’s license during his senior year, winning his first race aboard Miss Ethel at Fair Grounds Race Course in February 1983. However, a morning training

accident five months later at Jefferson Downs abruptly ended his riding career.He enrolled at Colorado State University, where he obtained his bachelor’s

in 1989 and his DVM in 1993. After graduation, he was hired as an associate with Robert Story Equine in New Mexico, where he cared for racing American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at Sunland Park and Ruidoso Downs. The following year, Dr. Helmuth von Bluecher brought Blea into his Southern California racetrack practice, where Blea became a partner in 1998. The five-veterinarian practice serves several racetracks, including Santa Anita Park and Del Mar. Blea concentrates his practice on musculoskeletal issues and lameness diagnostics.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. The AAEP reaches more than five million horse owners through its more than 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.

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h jnews hBPa NEWS

RACE FOR EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES APPROACHING

CORPORATE SPONSORS RENEW WITH NATIONAL HBPA FOR 2014

Horsemen and their children are reminded that deadlines are approaching for several Race for Education scholarships.

The HBPA Horsemen Scholarship, which awards up to $6,000 per year, has a deadline of March 28. Administered in partnership with the National HBPA, this scholarship is for children of horse farm and backstretch employees.

Other scholarships are also available, including ones for residents of Washington and New York states and for Hispanic or African-American students who are children of horse farm or backstretch employees. Additionally, there is a scholarship for students to attend the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program.

Through academic development programs, tutoring, internships, financial

literacy training and scholarships, the Race for Education provides opportunities for educational success for young people with significant financial need and academic challenges. The program has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships and funding to more than 375 students. The primary funding for the Race for Education comes from the Racehorse Nomination Program, which invites racehorse owners to nominate their horses and donate a percentage of earnings. Other significant funding comes from federal programs and a partnership with Thoroughbred Charities of America’s Annual Stallion Season Auction.

For more information and a complete list of deadlines and scholarships, go to raceforeducation.org.

The National HBPA is pleased to announce that all four corporate sponsors—equineline.com, Finish Line Horse Products Inc., Horseman Labor Solutions and Big Dee’s Tack and Vet Supplies—have agreed to another year of sponsorship.

“We greatly appreciate our corporate sponsors, and I know that many of our members use their products and services on a daily basis,” NHBPA CEO Phil Hanrahan said. “From immigration solutions and guidance from Horseman Labor Solutions to top quality horse health care products from Finish Line to an extensive menu of pedigree information, racing data and owner and trainer services from equineline.com to a complete selection of horse tack and supplies from Big Dee’s, our stable of corporate partners is a valuable resource for members across North America.

“The support of our corporate sponsors makes it possible for the NHBPA to provide many services and benefits,” he added, “and we encourage all our members to patronize our sponsors.”

equineline.com, a component of The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. (TJCIS) of Lexington,

Kentucky, offers a wide variety of services for horsemen. 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.

Other equineline.com products include the Trainer Program, Farm Program and Portfolio Service. A free Owner Program helps owners manage and track their horse records, including procedures, revenue and expenses. TJCIS also offers the popular Equineline Sales Catalog app. Many HBPA offices make equineline.com reports available as a service to their members.

finish Line horse Products Inc. has manufactured products for racing and other performance horses for nearly 40 years, but the family history with horses goes back well

over a century. John Edward Howe, the great-grandfather of the company’s founder, rode horseback with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, and Howe’s grandson John Casper Howe had a long career as a jockey and then as a trainer. Finish Line strives to provide the right products at the right price and offers a free hotline for customers to ask trained staff about Finish Line products or just general equine-related questions.

Finish Line products are made in the United States and are 100-percent guaranteed to horsemen every time with the goal to “produce products that will show you a noticeable improvement in your horse.” That makes Finish Line’s products a necessary part of many trainers’ barn programs and a factor in racing barns throughout the country. For more information about Finish Line Horse Products Inc., visit the company’s website at finishlinehorse.com.

Serving the equine community for more than three decades, Big Dee’s tack & vet supplies specializes in race supplies and carries an extensive line of horse health care items. In addition, the company carries product lines for all

equine disciplines—a testament to the company’s efforts to be a convenient, one-stop shopping destination for horsemen and women. The company also offers a variety of equine gifts and custom products, plus a complete line of dog-related products.

Big Dee’s prides itself on its top-notch customer service and its affordable prices. The company also takes great pride in its speedy service and tries to keep all of its merchandise in stock for immediate delivery. More than 90 percent of in-stock orders placed by 3 p.m. are shipped the same day. Customers can shop by phone at 1 (800) 321-2142 or online at bigdweb.com. A complete product line catalog and a specific racing product catalog are available upon request.

horseman Labor solutions (HLS), an immigration services company, provides assistance in the immigration process for the international worker in the horse racing industry. HLS helps bring workers as grooms, hotwalkers and other positions for trainers throughout the United States.

HLS CEO William Velie, a frequent speaker at NHBPA conventions, has practiced immigration law across the United States for nearly two decades and has a wide range of experience with employment-based immigration. Velie has secured the certification by the U.S. Department of Labor of between 3,000 and 5,000 visas annually for the past five years. For more information, visit HLS at horsemanlabor.com or call Horseman Labor Solutions at 1 (800) 678-RACE (7223).

The National HBPA also welcomes Lavin Insurance Group LLC as a national sponsor. The company, through program administrator Stone Lane LLC, offers the Owners’ and Trainers’ Liability Program to members of the National HBPA and its state affiliates. The program protects a horseman’s assets in the case of bodily injury or property damage resulting from equine activities, such as racing, breeding, training and sales. Stone Lane LLC also offers mortality insurance and other insurance services for the equine industry. For more information, go to lavininsurance.com or call Kevin Lavin at (502) 228-1600.

www.nationalhbpa.com 13

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Congress convened the second session of the 113th Congress the week of January 6. Following is a report, written in early February, on the status of pending federal legislation of interest to National HBPA members.

feDeraL meDICatIoN LegIsLatIoNAs reported previously, U.S. House of Representatives Member Joe

Pitts (R-PA) and U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced new federal medication legislation, The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2013, on May 16 of last year. The House bill, H.R. 2012, has 20 co-sponsors, and the Senate companion bill, S. 973, has two co-sponsors.

The legislation would put the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in charge of the regulation and enforcement of medication in horse racing, ban the use of Lasix (Salix) for 3-year-olds and up beginning two years after the enactment of the legislation and require the consent of USADA for acceptance of off-track wagers. Ultimately, the costs incurred by USADA for carrying out its duties under the legislation would be passed on to the horsemen.

H.R. 2012 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), and its Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, chaired by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE). The subcommittee held a hearing on the bill on November 21. Philip Hanrahan, the NHBPA’s CEO, testified at the hearing in opposition to the legislation. The other five hearing witnesses who testified in support of the legislation included Jesse Overton, a former chairman of the Minnesota Racing Commission; Dr. Lawrence Soma, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; Travis Tygart, CEO of USADA; Dr. Sheila Lyons, a veterinarian; and Wayne Pacelle, CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States.

In follow up to the hearing, the NHBPA responded to written questions posed to Hanrahan by Rep. Pitts. The questions and Hanrahan’s responses will be included in the subcommittee’s record of the November 21 hearing.

The Senate bill, S. 973, has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). To date, there has been no formal action taken on the bill.

feDeraL INterNet gamBLINg LegIsLatIoNAlso as reported previously, on June 6, 2013, Rep. Peter King (R-

NY) introduced H.R. 2282, the Internet Gambling, Enforcement and Consumer Protection Act of 2013. The bill would legalize all forms of Internet gambling, with the exception of sports betting, when offered by federally licensed and regulated operators. Under the bill, the federal government would retain overall licensing and oversight over federal Internet gambling but would rely on the states for licensing and enforcement under a common federal standard. The bill would create within the U.S. Department of Treasury an Office of Internet Gambling Oversight that, as the federal regulator, would oversee state and tribal agencies carrying out licensing activity authorized by the bill.

H.R. 2282 has been referred to three House committees: House Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade; House Financial Services; and House Judiciary and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations. The bill has one co-sponsor: Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA).

Following the introduction of Rep. King’s bill, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced his own Internet gambling bill, H.R. 2666, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, on July 11. Rep. Barton’s bill would allow only for Internet poker similar to the bill he introduced in the 112th Congress.

H.R. 2666 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade and the House Financial Services Committee. The bill has one co-sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), who recently announced he would be resigning from Congress.

To date, no Internet gambling legislation has been introduced in the Senate. However, in July, the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, chaired by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Ranking Subcommittee Member Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), held a hearing on The Expansion of Internet Gambling: Assessing Consumer Protection Concerns. The hearing focused on concerns about the potentially negative effects of expanded Internet gambling on consumers, the potential for corruption and other potential negative impacts on the public.

More recently, there have been reports that Sheldon Adelson, the owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and a large Republican political donor, has been working on recruiting state attorneys general to urge Congress to ban Internet gaming and has been circulating among state AGs a letter to the Congressional leadership to that end. The American Gaming Association is opposing Adelson’s efforts.

ImmIgratIoN reform LegIsLatIoNOn May 21, 2013, the full Senate approved by a vote of 68-32 the

comprehensive immigration reform bill, S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act.

In June, the House Judiciary Committee approved four separate immigration bills: H.R. 2278, the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act, that strengthens interior enforcement and border security; H.R. 1773, which creates a new agricultural guest worker program; H.R. 2131, which addresses high-skilled visas; and H.R. 1772, which expands the current E-Verify system.

The House Homeland Security Committee approved one additional bill, H.R. 1417, which directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan for achieving operational control of security in high-traffic areas along the border within two years and the entire southwestern border within five years.

The House Republican Leadership has made it clear that it has no intention of taking up consideration of the Senate-passed bill, S. 744.

More recently, President Obama in his January 28 State of the Union address, called upon Congress to get immigration reform done this year, stating, “If we’re serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement—and fix our broken immigration system.”

Shortly after the State of the Union address, House Republicans released a document that spells out a broad set of “GOP Standards for Immigration Reform.” The document’s preamble states the following:

Our nation’s immigration system is broken and our laws are not being enforced. Washington’s failure to fix them is hurting our economy and jeopardizing our national security. The overriding purpose of our immigration system is to promote and further America’s national interests, and that is not the case today. The serious problems in our immigration system must be solved, and we are committed to working in a bipartisan manner to solve them. But they cannot be solved with a single, massive piece of legislation that few have read and even fewer understand, and therefore, we will not go to a conference with the Senate’s immigration bill. The problems in our immigration system must be solved through a step-by-step, common-sense approach that starts with securing our country’s borders, enforcing our laws and implementing robust enforcement measures. These are the principals guiding us in that effort.

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The elements of reform addressed in the “GOP Standards for Immigration Reform” include the following six elements:

Border security and Interior enforcement must Come first. It is the fundamental duty of any government to secure its borders, and the United States is failing in this mission. We must secure our borders now and verify that they are secure. In addition, we must ensure now that when immigration reform is enacted, there will be a zero tolerance policy for those who cross the border illegally or overstay their visas in the future. Faced with a consistent pattern of administrations of both parties only selectively enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, we must enact reform that ensures that a President cannot unilaterally stop immigration enforcement.

Implement entry-exit visa tracking system. A fully functioning entry-exit system has been mandated by eight separate statutes over the last 17 years. At least three of these laws call for this system to be biometric, using technology to verify identity and prevent fraud. We must implement this system so we can identify and track down visitors who abuse our laws.

employment verification and Workplace enforcement. In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that the majority of employees have their work eligibility verified through a paper-based system wrought with fraud. It is past time for this country to fully implement a workable electronic employment verification system.

reforms to the Legal Immigration system. For far too long, the United States has emphasized extended family members and pure luck over employment-based immigration. This is inconsistent with nearly every other developed country. Every year, thousands of foreign nationals pursue degrees at America’s colleges and universities, particularly in high-skilled fields. Many of them want to use their expertise in U.S. industries that will spur economic growth and create jobs for Americans. When visas aren’t available, we end up exporting this labor and ingenuity to other countries. Visa and green card allocations need to reflect the needs of employers and the desire for these exceptional individuals to help grow our economy. The goal of any temporary worker program should be to address the economic needs of the country and to strengthen our national security by allowing for realistic, enforceable, usable, legal paths for entry into the United States. Of particular concern are the needs of the agricultural industry, among others. It is imperative that these temporary workers are able to meet the economic needs of the country and do not displace or disadvantage American workers.

Youth. One of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. It is time to provide an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children through no fault of their own, those who know no other place as home. For those who meet certain eligibility standards, and serve honorably in our military or attain a college degree, we will do just that.

Individuals Living outside the rule of Law. Our national and economic security depends on requiring people who are living and working here illegally to come forward and get right with the law. There will be no special path to citizenship for individuals who broke our nation’s immigration laws—that would be unfair to those immigrants who have played by the rules and harmful to promoting the rule of law. Rather, these persons could live legally and without fear in the U.S., but only if they were willing to admit their culpability, pass rigorous background checks, pay significant fines and back taxes, develop proficiency in English and American civics, and be able to support themselves and their families (without access to public benefits). Criminal aliens, gang members and sex offenders and those who do not meet the above requirements will not be eligible for this program. Finally, none of this can happen before specific enforcement triggers

have been implemented to fulfill our promise to the American people that from here on, our immigration laws will indeed be enforced.

It should become clearer in the coming months whether there is true bipartisan interest in Congress for enacting immigration reform legislation before the end of the 113th Congress. In anticipation of such a possibility, the NHBPA will continue to work with its allies in the industry and those on Capitol Hill in order to advance our interests and goals with regard to immigration reform.

feDeraL LegIsLatIoN to ameND the horse ProteCtIoN aCt of 1970

H.R. 1518, the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2013, introduced in April by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), has strong, growing support with 258 House Members co-sponsoring the legislation. The bill would amend the Horse Protection Act of 1970 to prohibit a Tennessee Walking Horse, a racking horse or a spotted saddle horse from being shown, exhibited or auctioned with an “action device” or “a weighted shoe, pad, wedge, hoof band or other device or material if it is constructed to artificially alter the gait of the horse and is not strictly protective or therapeutic.” The bill excludes from the term “action device” soft rubber or soft leather bell boots or quarter boots. The bill would also increase fines and penalties for violations of the Act.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation in November. It is expected the committee will take up formal consideration of the legislation in the near future.

The Senate companion bill, S. 1406, was introduced by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). The Senate bill has 40 co-sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for consideration but no formal action has been taken.

feDeraL tax LegIsLatIoN As reported previously, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced two tax bills of interest

to NHBPA members, H.R. 998, the Equine Tax Parity Act, and H.R. 2212, the Race Horse Cost Recovery Act. No formal developments on either bill have occurred.

H.R. 998 would make horses eligible for capital gains treatment after 12 months, similar to other business assets (except cattle). Under current law, horses held for breeding, racing, showing or draft purposes qualify for the capital gains rates only if held for 24 months. Under the current federal tax code, gains by individuals from the sale of property used in a trade or business, including horses, qualify for long-term capital gains and are subject to the maximum capital gains tax rate of 15 percent for taxpayers earning less than $450,000 or 20 percent for those earning more than $450,000. In light of the fact that the individual tax rate can go as high as 39.6 percent, the lower capital gains rate is quite favorable.

H.R. 2212 would permanently put all racehorses in the three-year category for depreciation purposes. In 2008, the Farm Bill approved by Congress included provisions that allowed all racehorses to be depreciated over three years, regardless of their age when placed in service. These provisions expired at the end of last year.

The two bills have been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over all revenue bills. It is unlikely either bill will be considered as standalone legislation but instead will be sought to be added to a suitable legislative vehicle. Congress is likely to take up consideration of a package of popular tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013, commonly referred to as “tax extenders,” before the end of the second session. This package could be a vehicle for Rep. Barr’s two bills.

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Once again, the summit will be underwritten and coordinated by The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and hosted by the Keeneland Association. The two-day workshop brings together a cross-section of the breeding, racing and veterinary communities.

“We owe it to our athletes, both equine and human, to do all we can to ensure their safety, and convening this summit to exchange ideas and develop new programs is one of the best ways we can do that,” said Edward L. Bowen, president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

The summit will be held in the Keeneland sales pavilion and is open to the public; a live webcast will also be available.

A formal agenda and a list of speakers will be announced at a later date.

Among the major accomplishments that have evolved from the previous four summits are the Equine Injury Database; the Jockey Injury Database; the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, which provides science-based testing of racing surfaces to enhance safety for horse and rider; a uniform trainer test and study guide; the publication of stallion durability statistics; and the movement by state racing commissions to create regulations that void the claim of horses suffering fatalities during the conduct of the race.

“The public believes that racing owners dump their retiring horses into auctions and that a lucky few get rescued and adopted,” RRTP President Steuart Pittman said. “Our survey tells a different story. Most of these horses were not rescued. They were sold or donated through networks of people both inside

and outside of racing who work very hard to transition these animals.”

Among the findings were:• 34 percent of these horses were acquired directly from racing owners.• 31 percent were acquired from non-racing private owners.• 13.5 percent were acquired from nonprofit placement or rescue

organizations, although that share increased from 11 percent to 19 percent over the last 10 years.

• 9 percent were acquired from professional training or sales businesses.• 2.3 percent came through auctions.

The survey revealed that prices for horses increased with training but are still far below what it costs to transition racehorses to new careers. Other findings include:• The average adoption fee at nonprofit placement organizations

was $1,001 (22 percent were free). These organizations were most likely to have horse protection terms in contracts.

• Horses acquired through racing owners were purchased for an average price of $1,265 (30 percent were given away).

• Horses sold through private non-racing owners had an average price of $2,618, not including the 19 percent that were free.

• Horses sold through professional training or sales businesses had an average sale price of $4,646, not including the 4 percent given away.

• The average price at public auction was $839.

Of survey respondents, 37 percent identified the sport of eventing as their primary riding discipline. Hunter/jumper was second at 27 percent, dressage third at 13 percent and then trails and recreation (English) at 9 percent.

The following conclusions are taken from the full survey report:• Racehorses are placed in second careers with long-term owners

through a marketplace that lacks networks and forums through which the sellers, trainers and buyers can find one another.

• Prices and adoption fees are depressed to a level that makes subsidies for those providing transition services essential until demand rises significantly.

• The financial incentive to retire horses sound from racing does not exist until increased demand raises prices for retiring horses.

RRTP will respond to the results of this study with a major expansion of its work in 2014, including:• A second Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium at

Pimlico Race Course on October 4-5 that will include more horses, trainers and racing stables;

• Contracts for professional services that will re-launch its heavily trafficked website, develop partnerships with racing and riding institutions, and explore the feasibility of a publishing venture; and

• Compile, print and distribute the first state-by-state resource directory for Thoroughbred placement.

A full copy of Exploring the Bridge to Second Careers is available on the RRTP website at retiredracehorsetraining.org.

the Jockey club and Grayson-Jockey club research Foundation announced that the fifth welfare and safety of the racehorse summit will be held tuesday, July 8, and wednesday, July 9, 2014, in lexington, Kentucky.

WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE RACEHORSE SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR JULY

RRTP RELEASES FIRST NATIONAL STUDY OF THOROUGHBRED

EX-RACEHORSE PLACEMENT

a report released by the maryland-based retired racehorse training project (rrtp) is the first nationwide study of how thoroughbred ex-racehorses are transitioned into second careers. it is based on a survey conducted in late 2013 titled exploring the bridge to second careers in which owners of 4,200 ex-racehorses from 47 states and canada responded to 23 questions.

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WHY THE RUSH TO JUDGMENT?By Kent H. Stirling

It seems the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) were in a great hurry to institute the adoption of the “Terrific 24” controlled therapeutic substances throughout the United States by January 1, 2014. It was also hoped that the Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) system would also soon be adopted nationally.

In 2003, the RMTC board of directors reviewed a list of 51 therapeutic medications that would need thresholds and withdrawal times. Furosemide (Lasix/Salix) was not on this list as it already had thresholds and, in most states, a four-hour withdrawal time. This list of 51 therapeutic medications came from a survey where more than 75 veterinarians were asked to list all the medications they felt “necessary” for use in their practice. They were not “asked to list all medications that they used in 2001,” as was cited in a November 2013 RMTC letter to a state racing commission.

This list of 51 medications (52 with Lasix) was then prioritized into five groups by the RMTC and two further groups titled “Research Under Way” and “Already in Body of Model Rules.” During this process, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) was dropped and furosemide added to the last category. So, from a world of 52 medications, we then gave up the four anabolic steroids and added the new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), firocoxib and diclofenac, for a total of 50 therapeutics for which RMTC hoped to establish thresholds and withdrawal times.

In January 2012, the RMTC Penalty Guidelines Subcommittee met in Baltimore and essentially picked the 24 controlled therapeutics from an American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) survey that prioritized therapeutic medications into three categories of highest, moderate and low. Of the 17 medications in the highest priority category, albuterol (Ventolin), hydroxyzine (Atarax) and phenytoin (Dilantin) were dropped from consideration by this subcommittee. Of the four medications in the moderate category, atropine and pentoxifylline (Trental) did not make the cut. Of the 26 medications that the AAEP listed as low priority, five were chosen by this committee made up of representatives of or observers from The Jockey Club and RMTC, a number of laboratory directors, a few regulators and two practicing veterinarians who were past presidents of the AAEP.

The RMTC had also prioritized its 50 therapeutic medications as mentioned above. Of the eight medications in the first priority group, only pyrilamine (Equihist) didn’t make the “Terrific 24.” In the second priority group containing nine medications, fluphenazine (Prolixin) and hydroxyzine didn’t make the cut. Of the eight medications in the third priority group, albuterol, reserpine (Serpasil) and trichlormethiazide (Naquazone) fell by the wayside. The fourth priority group was decimated by the “Terrific 24,” and of the eight therapeutics, only prednisolone made the cut. Gone were atropine, beclomethasone (Beclovent), Buscopan, cromolyn (Intal), isoxsuprine, pentoxifylline and phenytoin.

It was eventually decreed by the RMTC and the RCI that these 24 medications would be the law of the land and everything else would be “strictly prohibited.” This then left 26 therapeutics, 19 of which are Class IV or V, that would now be handled as prohibited medications. At first there was a mixed message from leaders of the RMTC and RCI about whether these 24 were to be the final permitted number of therapeutics, as the National HBPA thought more should be added. The “yes” answer morphed into it was possible to add more if an organization (the NHBPA) came up with about $60,000 for scientific research for a threshold and withdrawal time that could be blessed by the RMTC and RCI.

The AAEP submitted a list of six additional medications in early 2013 for inclusion with the “Terrific 24.” These were cimetidine, guaifenesin, hydroxyzine, isoflupredone (Predef 2X), ranitidine (Zantac) and trichlormethiazide. Apparently, the RMTC is studying the first five but has dropped trichlormethiazide because it is usually used “in combination with dexamethasone,” which is now prohibited. It appears the $60,000 was a special rate for the NHBPA.

Once it was established that there could possibly be more than 24 controlled therapeutic substances, the question was asked about what happens to thresholds and withdrawal times already permitted in certain states? The answer was that you can use them too beyond the “Terrific 24” but just not with the same “confidence.” Whatever that means?

OK. So that means that Kentucky and New York each have about 20 more medications with withdrawal times, which means there is a threshold somewhere at the testing laboratory. California and Washington each have numerous other medications beyond the “Terrific 24.” Arizona looks to have about 15 permitted medications beyond the “Terrific 24,” Virginia more than that and Delaware with in excess of 60 more withdrawal times. Oh, and Florida has three thresholds beyond the “Terrific 24.” And this is uniformity?

In an email to a veterinarian looking for clarification on those medications outside the 24, an officer of the RMTC wrote, “The list (24) does not prohibit the use of the other drugs and substances not on the list. However, they may not be present in a horse in a post-race sample. That is no different than the current practice. It will be up to the lab to determine what constitutes a positive, but it must be pharmacologically significant.”

“Pharmacologically significant.” Bring on the lawyers! My lab director has no background in pharmacology, so how would she know if something is pharmacologically significant?

Remember when I stated that Lasix had a four-hour withdrawal time in most states? Well, it turns out that in the Mid-Atlantic region, the home of the “Terrific 24,” there is no uniformity on the withdrawal time for Lasix. According to an article from The Blood-Horse, Lasix can be administered at three hours in Maryland, 3 ½ hours in Delaware and four hours in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

www.nationalhbpa.com 19

In this particular article, there was also concern over the flunixin (Banamine) threshold once again. The RMTC has had a difference of opinion between certain East and West Coast states for years about whether the threshold should be 20 ng/ml or 50 ng/ml. One would think for fairness to horsemen that the higher threshold would be adopted, but the RMTC and RCI adopted the 20 ng/ml threshold. In Florida, after a number of positives at 20 ng/ml, most vets moved their administration time back from 24 hours prior to post to closer to 36 hours to avoid inadvertent overages/positives.

New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Rick Violette Jr. recently dosed 20 of his horses with flunixin, using the RMTC/RCI advised dose and administration time, and at least four of his horses tested over the 20 ng/ml threshold. Violette likened this process as similar to “using a sundial” to set administration or withdrawal times but then using the world’s most sensitive testing or pinpoint technology to test for the substance.

This reminds me of the 2 mcg/ml threshold with a 24-hour withdrawal time that the RMTC and RCI set for phenylbutazone (bute). But when research was reviewed, it appeared that a 2 gram, 4.4 mg/kg, dose of bute, the normal AAEP-recommended dose, would put some horses over the 2 mcg/ml threshold. In a December 2012 RCI meeting, they had the 2 mcg/ml threshold at 24 hours tied to a single IV dose with the amount not stated. Later, the RMTC listed the amount of the bute dose at 4 mcg/ml, about a 10 percent reduction from the normal 4.4 mcg/ml. The bute dose continued to silently float downwards until today it is 2.2 mcg/ml, or a half dose. This new 2.2 mcg/ml threshold works perfectly with a 24-hour withdrawal time, but did you or your veterinarian know the threshold and 24-hour withdrawal time was for a half dose of bute?

Florida dropped from 5 mcg/ml to 2 mcg/ml after a six-month phase-in, but after numerous overages when the phase-in period ended, most vets found that a 24-hour withdrawal time was too close for comfort, so they backed up that withdrawal time to about 28 hours.

Years ago, the RMTC decreed that although they did not follow the “preponderance of scientific research” when it came to permitting the use of Lasix, it would be the only medication to get a free pass, so to speak. Every other medication that the RMTC was to set a threshold or withdrawal time on would be accomplished by following the preponderance of scientific evidence. In 2009, along came the South African Lasix study that vindicated the free pass that the RMTC had given furosemide. There is certainly some question in my mind and others as to how much science was used in establishing thresholds and withdrawal times for some of the “Terrific 24.”

While I am all for uniformity, I want it to be true uniformity for everyone. We are on the right track, but we need to get it right and not be rushed by someone or some organization setting an arbitrary deadline. Also, a phase-in period should be automatic when any new threshold or withdrawal time is passed by the RMTC or RCI so that horsemen and their veterinarians can adjust, because as pointed out above, these thresholds and withdrawal times are not always accurate. A year ago or more in Florida, the laboratory dropped its internal threshold for clenbuterol from 25 pg/ml to 5 pg/ml and opted not to inform the horsemen and veterinarians. The result was more than 150 positives.

Last summer, the RCI board of directors tried to pass the Multiple Medication Violations penalty system, for which the NHBPA had been the sole negative vote when it passed the RMTC. Ohio HBPA Executive Director Dave Basler poked numerous well-thought-out holes in the MMV when it was presented. Some of them were very simple, like which penalty group does 3 ½ points fall into, the first or the second?

According to The Blood-Horse, while a number of racing commissioners were concerned that it would be imprudent to pass a clearly flawed rule, RCI Chairman Duncan Patterson said that he would be “embarrassed for the organization” if the proposal didn’t pass the committee and added, “We will be severely criticized, and justifiably so, within the industry if we don’t pass this.”

Such a rush to judgment, and to satisfy whom?

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Denis Blake

22 hJ sprinG 14

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24 hJ sprinG 14

Feature

mILLIoN-DoLLar Claimers

The Claiming Crown reTurns To gulfsTream

Park wiTh larger Purses and an addiTional raCe

AFTER RECORD-BREAKING PURSES AND HANDLE AT THE FIRST RENEWAL OF THE CLAIMING CROWN IN 2012 AT GULFSTREAM PARK IN

HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA, THE EVENT DEDICATED TO THE “BLUE-COLLAR” CLAIMING HORSES OF THE SPORT RETURNED DECEMBER 7

WITH EVEN LARGER PURSES AND A NEW ADDITION TO THE RACE LINEUP. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 15-YEAR HISTORY, THE CLAIMING CROWN

OFFERED A COOL $1 MILLION IN PURSES, AND PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE NATIONAL HORSEMEN’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION

(NHBPA), GULFSTREAM PARK, THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION (TOBA) AND FLORIDA HBPA ANNOUNCED THAT THE

REVITALIZED AFFAIR WOULD REMAIN IN SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL AT LEAST 2015 UNDER A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS.

“In the late 1990s, TOBA President Drew Couto approached NHBPA President Bill Walmsley and NHBPA Executive Director Scott Savin with an idea about creating a special day of stakes races just for claiming horses,” said Florida HBPA Executive Director Kent Stirling. “This TOBA/NHBPA joint venture took place first in Minnesota at Canterbury Park in 1999 with purses of $500,000. It remained at Canterbury for many years under the nurturing and guidance of Canterbury President and CEO Randy Sampson and Minnesota HBPA President Tom Metzen Sr.”

In addition to 10 runnings at Canterbury, the event was also contested at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing), Ellis Park and Fair Grounds Race Course before debuting at Gulfstream.

“The 15th renewal of the Claiming Crown is now a million-dollar event locked into a three-year deal with Gulfstream Park as one of their premier racing events,” Stirling added. “This is a fantastic event for our one-time ‘blue-collar’ claiming horses and their connections, but a great debt of gratitude is owed to those mentioned earlier who conceived of and brought this concept to fruition as the Claiming Crown.”

This edition of the Claiming Crown also attracted a wide range of sponsors, including Avis, Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach, Daily Racing Form, Hampton Inn Hallandale Beach-Aventura, Marriott Hollywood Beach, Matteo’s Restaurant, Miller Lite, RCC Associates, Banfi Wines, Tri-City Electric, J. Mark’s Restaurant and Pritchard Sports and Entertainment Group.

The number of trainer nominations increased from 274 in 2012 to 283 in 2013. Although the 2013 handle of $8.83 million did not match the record $12.22 million from 2012, it was still nearly double the highest Claiming Crown handle at any other track. It’s also worth noting that the 2012 Claiming Crown was held on opening day at Gulfstream after no live racing for nearly eight months at the track, while the 2013 edition was contested on the second weekend of the “Championship Meet” that began immediately after the conclusion of an extended summer meet.

To reach the $1 million level, the $100,000 races from 2012 were boosted by $10,000 and the $110,000 Iron Lady for fillies and mares was added to the schedule. All of the Claiming Crown races were restricted to horses who had started for a specified claiming price since January 1, 2012.

The 2012 edition featured a remarkable four-win afternoon for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. Although they couldn’t quite duplicate that feat this time, the Ramseys picked up two wins to extend their all-time win record in the event to 12, and Maker saddled another winner to also bring his leading total to 12.

“I enjoy the Claiming Crown, because they put a lot of work and effort into it and it’s kind of the blue-collar guy’s turn,” Ken Ramsey said. “Although they say, ‘Ramsey’s not blue-collar now,’ they didn’t come any bluer than me a few years back. I got fortunate and ended up making a little bit of money selling my telephone business, and I plowed it back into horse racing, something I love. It turned out well, and I can’t complain. Life is good.”

Florida’s Gulfstream Park hosted the Claiming Crown for

the second time, and for the first time ever total purses for

the event hit $1 million.

By Denis Blake Photos by Coglianese Photos

www.nationalhbpa.com 25

TRAINER NICK ZITO HAS PRETTY MUCH

DONE IT ALL IN HIS ILLUSTRIOUS

CAREER WITH FIVE TRIPLE CROWN RACE

WINS, TWO BREEDERS’ CUP VICTORIES

AND INDUCTION INTO THE NATIONAL

MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF

FAME. WHILE A CLAIMING CROWN

VICTORY MIGHT NOT QUITE BE ON PAR

WITH THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE

VETERAN CONDITIONER NONETHELESS

DID ADD ONE TO HIS RéSUMé WHEN

NEVADA KID LED EVERY STEP OF THE

WAY IN THE $200,000 CLAIMING CROWN

JEWEL FOR HORSES WHO HAD STARTED

FOR A TAG OF $35,000 OR LESS. UNDER

LUIS SAEZ, THE 4-YEAR-OLD COLT

BY SILVER TRAIN HIT THE WIRE 2 ¼

LENGTHS IN FRONT WHILE DRIFTING OUT

IN A TIME OF 1:50.41 FOR 1 1/8 MILES.

THE 5-1 FOURTH CHOICE EARNED A

$110,000 PAYDAY FOR THE HURRICANE

BOYS AND RICHARD PELL.“He likes to run that way,” said Zito

about his third Claiming Crown starter and first winner. “We talked about it. The fence looks pretty good right now. I love it when they drift because they change leads and get into that second gear. They catch their breath. [Saez] did a great job doing that. I love it when they do that. [Eddie] Belmonte used to do that. I’m dating myself. I used to watch Belmonte ride like that. [Saez] actually reminds me of Belmonte.”

Nevada Kid came into the race with only one victory in 10 starts on the year, but he did have a daylight victory against $30,000 claimers at Gulfstream in December 2012 and appeared to be rounding into form with a good second in his last start at Aqueduct in New York. This victory improved his career record to 18-4-5-1 with a bankroll of $278,935. Nevada Kid was bred in Kentucky by Emilie Fojan and Bona Terra Stud LLC.

$200,000 JeWeL

Dominant Jeannes, one of three horses on the day to hit the board for owner Mr. Amore Stable and trainer Jason Servis, ran second and again proved his versatility. The Pleasantly Perfect gelding had won a grass contest at Gulfstream going a mile earlier in the year, and then prepped for the Claiming Crown two months prior with a third-place effort in a five-furlong sprint on a sloppy main track at Parx Racing near Philadelphia.

“I was thrilled to death,” said Servis about his horse running second with Paco Lopez aboard. “My horse ran great, just terrific. I’m really happy. We just couldn’t get to the winner. My horse hadn’t run in a while, and for whatever reason I couldn’t get a race in the middle. I wanted to make this his third race off the layoff, but I couldn’t get it done.”

Blackacre Farms Inc.’s Flatter This, a stakes winner at Tampa Bay Downs earlier in the year, finished third with Eduardo Nunez riding for conditioner Kathleen O’Connell.

Rule Number Six, Isutalkintome, favorite and 2012 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit winner Bernie the Maestro, Voodoo Storm, Sinorice, Nevada and Avenida Paseo completed the field.

nevada kid

“I love it when they drift because they change leads and get into that second gear.” – Nick Zito

26 hJ sprinG 14

AS GREAT AS THE FOUR-WIN DAY FOR KEN

AND SARAH RAMSEY WAS IN THE 2012

CLAIMING CROWN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN

EVEN MORE EPIC IF MAJOR MARVEL HAD

PREVAILED OVER NIKKI’S SANDCASTLE

IN THAT YEAR’S $125,000 CLAIMING

CROWN EMERALD, A 1 1/16-MILE CONTEST

ON THE TURF FOR HORSES WHO HAD

STARTED FOR $25,000 OR LESS. THE

RAMSEYS AND TRAINER MIKE MAKER

EARNED A MEASURE OF REDEMPTION IN

THE EMERALD THIS TIME, AS NO PHOTO

WAS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THAT MAJOR

MARVEL HAD WON BY 1 ½ LENGTHS AS

THE FAVORITE UNDER JULIEN LEPAROUX.

THE RACE WAS CLOCKED IN 1:43.72.“We got two today,” Ken Ramsey said after

leading Major Marvel into the winner’s circle. “That’s half of what we got last year, but I’m not complaining. [Last year] that other horse ran a good race, but [Major Marvel] redeemed himself this year.

“I like the way Julien stalked that early speed and stayed in contact, then put that other horse away and went on,” Ramsey added. “He won easy, so I’m delighted. This was a major win for us. I think it puts us over the $12 million mark [in earnings] this year, so we’re in pretty good shape, money-wise. You’ve got stay in the black, you know—you can’t keep going in the red.”

The Ramseys ended 2013 with earnings of $12.2 million to lead all owners, and in January, also at Gulfstream, they took home Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder.

“We claimed this horse for $10,000 from Maggi Moss over at Churchill Downs and that’s been a really, really good claim, because he’s won [12] races for us since we claimed him,” Ramsey said. “So he’s what you call a money machine, or maybe a running machine—he just keeps on putting them out.”

$125,000 emeraLD

Major Marvel, a now 8-year-old gelding by Bernstein bred in Kentucky by Richard Shultz, has a career record of 53-22-7-3 with earnings of $698,328.

North Star Racing’s North Star Boy (Ire), who had competed in claiming races in Great Britian before racing in New York and Maryland, finished second with Corey Lanerie in the saddle for trainer Niall Saville. Mr. Amore Stable’s Best Actor, trained by Jason Servis and ridden by Paco Lopez, grabbed third.

Political Courage, Grip Hands, Blameshifter, El Uno, Plainview, All Knight, Days Ride, Dr. Chase, Dr. Goldfarb, Dreaming of Danny and Alley Oop Oop completed the field of 14.

major marvel

“We got two today. That’s half of what we got last year, but I’m not complaining.”

– Ken Ramsey

Features

THE FIRST OF THE TWO VICTORIES FOR

KEN AND SARAH RAMSEY CAME WITH

DEANAALLEN’SKITTEN IN THE $125,000

CLAIMING CROWN TIARA FOR FILLIES

AND MARES WHO HAD STARTED FOR

$25,000 OR LESS. FAR BACK EARLY IN

THE 1 1/16-MILE TURF CONTEST, THE

6-YEAR-OLD MARE UNLEASHED AN EYE-

CATCHING LATE MOVE UNDER JAVIER

CASTELLANO TO WIN BY THREE-PARTS

OF A LENGTH IN 1:42.12 AS THE 9-10

BETTING CHOICE. CHAD BROWN WAS

THE WINNING TRAINER.“I was a little bit worried about

being back too far, but [Castellano] timed it perfectly,” Ramsey said. “She won going away, and I can’t ask for any more than that.”

“I had a beautiful trip,” said Castellano, who, like the Ramseys, returned to Gulfstream in January for an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Jockey. “She’s a come-from-behind horse. That’s the way she likes to run. Mr. Brown and myself, we both agreed to take advantage and let the speed go, then circle around the horses and let her run. It worked out great.”

Deanaallen’skitten was bred in Kentucky by Six Winters Farm Inc., and she has spent her entire career running in the familiar red-and-white silks of the Ramseys, who also stand her sire, Kitten’s Joy, at their Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The 2004 Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf Male was North America’s leading stallion in 2013 by progeny earnings, and he will command a $100,000 fee this breeding season. Deanaallen’skitten became one of 24 stakes winners in 2013 for Kitten’s Joy, also tops in North America, when she took the $100,000 Trevita Stakes at Aqueduct in her last start before the Claiming Crown.

Deanaallen’skitten needed nine tries to break her maiden, but after that she

$125,000 tIara

developed a habit of winning and had her picture taken after seven of her next 12 starts. All told, she has a record of 21-8-5-5 with earnings of $374,246. Brown indicated that the mare might be retired to join the Ramseys’ broodmare band, or she could return to the races at age 7.

Rock On Baby, running for Miller Racing LLC and trainer Marty Wolfson who also teamed to win the Glass Slipper earlier on the card with Centrique, got second with a late run under Julien Leparoux. Hot Pink Stable and Skychai Racing LLC’s Brandys Secret, with Robby Albarado in the irons for trainer Mike Maker, set the pace and held third.

Completing the field were Sharapova Slams, Harbingerofthings, Grandma’s Rules, Marataya’s Tune, Negrita Tata, Marie’s Music, Raro and Edie.

deanaallen’skiTTen

“I had a beautiful trip. She’s a come-from-behind horse. That’s the way she likes to run.”

– Javier Castellano

www.nationalhbpa.com 27

28 hJ sprinG 14

Features

IN THE 2012 CLAIMING CROWN GLASS

SLIPPER, TRAINER MARTY WOLFSON

SCORED A DOMINANT WIN WITH STARSHIP

TRUFFLES AND USED THE RACE AS A

STEPPINGSTONE TO TURN THE FORMER

CLAIMER INTO A GRADE 1 WINNER WHEN

SHE TOOK THE $350,000 PRINCESS

ROONEY HANDICAP THE FOLLOWING

SUMMER AT CALDER RACE COURSE.

THIS TIME AROUND, HE SADDLED MILLER

RACING LLC’S CENTRIQUE, A ONE-TIME

$15,000 CLAIMER WHO RAN SEVENTH

BEHIND STARSHIP TRUFFLES IN THE

PRINCESS ROONEY, TO A SHARP SCORE

IN THE $110,000 EVENT FOR FILLIES AND

MARES WHO HAD STARTED FOR $16,000

OR LESS. ANOTHER WOLFSON TRAINEE,

LEXINGTON PEARL, RAN SECOND. “She ran faster than Starship did last

year,” Wolfson said after watching jockey Javier Castellano pilot Centrique to a 1 ¼-length win in 1:22.21 for seven furlongs as the 9-10 favorite. “I don’t think she’s as good, but you never know. We didn’t know Starship would win a Grade 1 or run in the Breeders’ Cup, either.

“I just didn’t want that outside filly [One Fast Frog] to make too easy a lead,” Wolfson added. “My fillies are both kind of equal, but [Centrique] is just quicker.”

Bred in Virginia by Lazy Lane Farms Inc., Centrique finished off the board in her first five trips to the post but since then has compiled a record of 10-6-4 in 25 starts with career earnings of $353,180. She entered the Glass Slipper off a 10-length win in an allowance optional claimer at Calder and a third-place run in that track’s $50,000 Bold World Handicap.

“I had a beautiful trip,” Castellano said after the Glass Slipper, the first of his two Claiming Crown wins on the card. “That’s what we were looking for today. We didn’t see too much speed in the race. We took

$110,000 gLass sLIPPer

advantage. We broke on top and let the race unfold. I think we were much the best in the race. Mr. Wolfson did a great job with the filly.”

Miller Racing also owns Lexington Pearl, a daughter of Elusive Quality ridden by Jonathan Gonzales. Bruce Mendel’s Ainsley finished third with Matthew Rispoli in the irons for trainer Marcus Vitali. First Acquital, One Fast Frog, Starship Elusive, Admitit and Cuentos completed the order of finish.

CenTrique

“She ran faster than Starship [Truffles] did last year. I don’t think she’s as good, but you never

know. We didn’t know Starship would win a Grade 1 or run in the Breeders’ Cup, either.”

– Marty Wolfson

www.nationalhbpa.com 29

THE $110,000 CLAIMING CROWN RAPID

TRANSIT AT SEVEN FURLONGS PITTED

A FIELD OF 12 RUNNERS WHO HAD

STARTED FOR $16,000 OR LESS, AND

THE DISTANCE PROVED TO BE IDEAL FOR

HIGH POINT THOROUGHBRED PARTNERS’

GOODTIMEHADBYALL, WHO STALKED

THE PACE AND DREW CLEAR UNDER

RIDER KENDRICK CARMOUCHE TO WIN

BY 4 ½ LENGTHS AT ODDS OF 5-1. THE

5-YEAR-OLD QUIET AMERICAN GELDING,

WHO WAS BRED BY JOHN GUNTHER IN

KENTUCKY, STOPPED THE TIMER AT

1:22.11 TO RECORD HIS EIGHTH CAREER

WIN IN 47 STARTS. “He had some back class,” stable

manager Clay Sanders said about the Jorge Navarro-trained winner. “He had been in a Grade 3 when he was a young horse. We just thought bringing him into a new program and giving him some easier competition on the East Coast coming from Kentucky he might turn around.”

After being claimed for $25,000 at Churchill Downs in June, Goodtimehadbyall recorded consecutive wins at Delaware Park and Parx Racing, but he came to Gulfstream off a rare subpar race.

“We were actually pretty confident,” Sanders said. “Cutting back from two turns to one turn is one of our favorite moves when we claim horses. We thought the seven furlongs would fit him like a glove. His form was kind of clouded up. He reared up at the start in his last race and lost all chance in a really tough allowance against [millionaire] Gourmet Dinner.”

In seven starts since being claimed, Goodtimehadbyall has banked $131,205. The gelding moved back up to the Grade 3 level after the Claiming Crown to run seventh behind eventual Donn Handicap (G1) winner Lea in the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes at

Gulfstream. That marked the first graded stakes appearance for Goodtimehadbyall since he ran sixth in the 2011 Ohio Derby (G3).

Favored Ghost Is Clear, under Javier Castellano, shipped in from Kentucky to take second for owner and trainer Mike Maker. Jacks or Better Farm Inc.’s Grande Shores, the runner-up in Gulfstream’s Montbrook Stakes for Florida-breds in his previous start, finished third for trainer Stanley Gold and rider Edgard Zayas.

The order of finish was completed by Kingsford Drive, Palatine Hill, Be Brave, Silver Day, Loveyouallthetime, Mel Beach, Lawyer Daggett, Navajo Ca Lo and Batito.

goodTimehadbyall

$110,000 raPID traNsIt

“Cutting back from two turns to one turn is one of our favorite moves when we claim horses. We thought the

seven furlongs would fit him like a glove.” – Clay Sanders

30 hJ sprinG 14

JUST AS THE CONNECTIONS OF GRADE 1-

CALIBER HORSES MAKE PLANS FOR

A SEASON FINALE IN THE BREEDERS’

CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, SO DO

THOSE WITH CLAIMING-LEVEL HORSES

AIMING FOR THE BIG MONEY AT THE

CLAIMING CROWN. THE PLAN SET OUT

BY TRAINER GEORGE LEONARD III FOR

LARRY MORSE’S POINT FINISH WORKED

OUT PERFECTLY, AS IT ENDED WITH A

VISIT TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE AFTER THE

$110,000 CLAIMING CROWN IRON HORSE

FOR HORSES WHO HAD STARTED FOR A

CLAIMING PRICE OF $7,500 OR LESS. “I’ve been waiting for this race for a whole

year,” Leonard said after Paco Lopez guided the Point Given gelding to a four-length victory as the 7-2 second choice in 1:42.43 for 1 1/16 miles. “I always thought he could handle the company if we could get lucky and get this far with him, and it worked out perfect. Thanks to God, everything worked.”

“I was waiting and waiting, but I knew I had a lot of horse,” said Lopez, who earned two Claiming Crown victories on the day. “It was pretty easy for my horse.”

Prior to the Claiming Crown, Point Finish, who was bred in Kentucky by Harris Thoroughbred LLC, had run first or second in 10 of his 11 starts for the year. His list of victories included a win over the synthetic surface at Keeneland Race Course and both the dirt and turf courses at Indiana Downs.

His season-ending victory was by far the richest of his career, and the $60,500 paycheck gave him a total of $180,581 for the year. He followed up his Claiming Crown win with another victory in the $60,000 Forego Stakes at Turfway Park in January to improve his career totals to 26-11-7-3 with earnings of $273,833. Morse and Leonard claimed the now 5-year-old gelding for $15,000 in October 2012 at Hoosier Park.

$110,000 IroN horse

Kenneth Fishbein’s Francois, who came in from Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago, finished second with Jeffery Sanchez riding for trainer Cheryl Winebaugh. Toh’s Grey Cat, a Florida-based runner for trainer Peter Walder and owners Marshall Mack, Joseph Falco and Aventura Stable, got third under rider Juan Delgado.

Whatthecatdrugin, Froggyville, In Rhythm, defending race champion Brother Bird, Flattermejim, Red Hills, Horned Frog, Deputiformer, Roman’s Avenue, Tyler’s Wildcat and He’s Spectacular completed the order of finish.

PoinT finish

“I’ve been waiting for this race for a whole year. I always thought he could handle the company if we could get lucky and get this

far with him, and it worked out perfect.” – George Leonard III

Features

www.nationalhbpa.com 31

AROUND THE TIME OF THE FIRST

CLAIMING CROWN AT GULFSTREAM,

RIBO BOBO FINISHED OFF THE BOARD

AGAINST CONDITIONED $8,000 CLAIMING

COMPANY AT THE SOUTH FLORIDA

TRACK. FAST FORWARD TO THE 2013

CLAIMING CROWN, AND RIBO BOBO

ROLLED TO A RELATIVELY EASY VICTORY

IN THE $110,000 CLAIMING CROWN

EXPRESS, A SIX-FURLONG DASH FOR

HORSES WHO HAD STARTED FOR $7,500

OR LESS. The Louis Quatorze gelding turned into

a new horse in 2013, as he won by daylight on January 9 at the $8,000 level and then proceeded to reel off eight consecutive wins, including two stakes victories. He was claimed three times early in the year with trainer Jason Servis and Mr. Amore Stable taking the then 5-year-old for $6,250 in March. That marked the last time he ran in a claiming race. Ribo Bobo came into the Claiming Crown with earnings of nearly $250,000 on the year, but he also entered off of his first defeat of the year, a second-place finish in the $250,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National Race Course.

“Our last race we got beat by a really nice horse, and Ribo was scared a little on the inside rail,” said Paco Lopez after riding Ribo Bobo to a nearly wire-to-wire 2 ½-length win in 1:10.02. “Today there were not as many horses and we made the lead easy. We went outside a little because he was looking for the other horses.”

“I’m always nervous,” Servis admitted about the 1-2 favorite. “I’ve run a lot of horses in a lot of big races, but I really like this horse. I really wanted to win it.”

Ribo Bobo finished 2013 with 10 victories as the leader among all horses racing at major tracks in the United States and Canada, and he kicked off 2014 with a score in the $150,000 Florida Sunshine

Millions Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream. Bred in Florida by Rapputi Stables LLC, Ribo Bobo has won 16 of 49 career starts with earnings of $659,655. Back in 2011, he was on the fringe of the Kentucky Derby trail, as he finished off the board in the graded Holy Bull and Sam F. Davis Stakes.

Somraj Singh’s Never Stop Looking, who finished second in four straight races at Monmouth Park, Parx Racing and Laurel Park prior to his trip to Florida, ran second again with Armando Ayuso riding for trainer Claudio Gonzalez. J B’s Unc, owned by High Point Thoroughbred Partners, trained by Jorge Navarro and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, crossed the wire third.

The Fed Eased, Upon Reflection, Razzo Succo, Bear’s Spirit, Vero’s Hero, On Appeal, Chelsea Brook and Trip N Run rounded out the field.

ribo bobo

$110,000 exPress

“I’ve run a lot of horses in a lot of big races, but I really like this horse. I really wanted to win it.”

– Jason Servis

32 hJ sprinG 14

THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE CLAIMING

CROWN PRODUCED THE BIGGEST UPSET

OF THE DAY, AS MRS. J.W. ABERNETHY

JR.’S HOMEBRED CAROLINA LIZARD

SCORED A NECK VICTORY AT ODDS OF

34-1 IN THE $110,000 CLAIMING CROWN

IRON LADY, FOR FILLIES AND MARES WHO

HAD STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE

OF $7,500 OR LESS. RIDDEN BY PEDRO

MONTERREY JR. AND CONDITIONED

BY ROBERT POSADA, THE 4-YEAR-OLD

FLORIDA-BRED FILLY BY SAINT ANDDAN

GOT THE 1 1/16-MILE DISTANCE IN 1:45.30.Carolina Lizard earned $60,500 for

the victory to more than double her career earnings, and another victory back at her home base of Calder Race Course after the Claiming Crown helped improve her record to 24-6-5-5 with a bankroll of $128,639. The filly broke her maiden at Calder in April 2012 and dropped as low as the $6,250 level before climbing back up the ladder. Although the filly had been offered for a tag many times in her career, there were no takers so she continued to race for her breeder.

“I knew I would win because she was doing so good,” Monterrey said of the dark bay or brown runner who came into the Claiming Crown off of a victory in a starter optional claimer at Calder. “I’d been on her every morning since her last win, and I couldn’t hold her any longer. I knew I had it when I got to the eighth pole because my filly is hard to get past.”

“I thought she had a good chance today,” Posada added. “We’ve had her whole family and they’re all heart.”

Runner-up Courtney Ryan also showed heart, as the IAB Stables runner battled with Carolina Lizard on the front end throughout the race to finish second by a nose with Paco Lopez aboard. The Tamara Levy trainee had a four-race win streak snapped in her previous start when she finished a close second behind Carolina Lizard.

$110,000 IroN LaDY

White Wabbit Wacing LLC’s Daddys Jewel, with Jose Lezcano up for trainer Aubrey Maragh, took third and was followed by Princess Malia, Special Jak, favored Winiliscious, Action Lady and Dakota Eyes.

Carolina lizard

“I’d been on her every morning since her last win, and I couldn’t hold her any longer. I knew I had it when I got to the eighth pole

because my filly is hard to get past.” – Pedro Monterrey Jr.

Features

www.nationalhbpa.com 33

hfms_hj_Layout 1 2/4/2014 4:29 PM Page 1

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34 hJ sprinG 14

togethercoming

in California By Denis Blake

The National HBPA’s Winter Convention in Pasadena offered

something for everyone

Denis Blake

www.nationalhbpa.com 35

The three days of forums included a panel of experts who tackled a variety of workers’ compensation topics. The panel, composed of Ed Fenasci of the Louisiana HBPA, Brad McKinzie of Finish Line Self Insurance Group and John Unick from the Thoroughbred racing division of MOC Insurance Services, advised horsemen that workers’ comp issues will continue to challenge the industry, especially as health care costs rise.

Exchange betting proved to be one of the hottest topics of the convention with a panel composed of John Hindman of TVG, Brian O’Sullivan of Global Betting Exchange Ltd. and Darrell Vienna, a longtime California trainer and attorney.

To date, California and New Jersey are the only states to have passed legislation covering exchange betting, however, neither has yet instituted it.

Betfair, a leading exchange betting company, is the parent company of TVG, and Hindman touted the benefits of the form of wagering, which is long established in Europe but still new to North American bettors. Hindman and O’Sullivan argued that exchange betting would bring in a new and younger demographic to the sport. Vienna countered with concerns about integrity, because exchange wagering can involve betting on a horse to lose, and cannibalization, with bettors possibly shifting from pari-mutuel wagering (from which horsemen get a higher percentage) to exchange wagering. Vienna said exchange wagering implementation is currently stalled in California while horsemen examine and question how to get a fair share of the wagering to purses.

The Lobbying and Relationship Development Forum offered advice on maximizing connections with lawmakers and regulators. The panel included Michael Brown of the Indiana HBPA, NHBPA lobbyist Brian Fitzgerald, Jay Hickey from the American Horse Council (AHC) and Richard Rosenberg from the California Horse Racing Board.

“What I do is not complicated; it’s not rocket science or secret,” said Hickey, who has served as president of the AHC for more than 20 years. “People think what happens in Washington is more complicated than it really is but it’s built on relationships and trust, and I mean that in a positive way. That goes for whether you are working with a senator or regulatory agency.”

Brown also offered advice for relationship building with lawmakers on a local or state level.

“Don’t presume that they know anything about horses,” he said. “I try to establish myself as a resource for information, not dissimilar to working with the press. Try to make a basic connection, figure out who they know back home and who knows them. Make appointments and meet with them when you don’t need something.”

In an earlier forum on immigration and legislative affairs, Fitzgerald and NHBPA Immigration Liaison Julio Rubio updated the membership on current topics related to those issues. More information can be found in Fitzgerald’s column on page 14 of this issue.

Dr. Sue Stover, from the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Jeff Blea, the recently

named president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, covered current equine science in their forum. Stover spoke about lung and heart issues related to racehorses, and Blea offered an explanation of shock wave therapy and its proper use.

In the Thoroughbred Shortage Forum, National Thoroughbred Racing Association President and CEO Alex Waldrop examined the potential impact of reduced foal crops on field size, race days and wagering handle.

Waldrop noted that the Thoroughbred foal crop has declined by nearly 40 percent since 2006 while the number of races has declined by just 17 percent during that same period. The result in coming years will be less horses of racing age to fill races that could lead to shorter field sizes, which already hit an all-time low of 7.89 starters per race in 2012. Because handle tends to increase with field size, the declining starters per race could ultimately affect handle, which then could affect purses.

To counter the horse shortage and its impact on the sport, Waldrop outlined a variety of solutions, including maximizing the number of starts per horse, reducing the number of races/race days, lowering takeout to stimulate handle and regulatory uniformity to allow for easy movement of horses between jurisdictions.

The suggestion of reduced races and race days brought a variety of comments and questions from attendees, with some noting that many tracks have profited from expanded gaming and could use some of that revenue to maintain current race day levels until the foal crop recovers, and that racing opportunities need to remain at least close to the current level to allow horsemen to successfully run their operations and also to attract new owners.

The Horsemen’s Roundtable Forum featured NHBPA President Robin Richards, TOC President Joe Morris and CTT Executive Director Alan Balch. The trio covered a wide range of topics affecting all horsemen, from claiming rules to takeout rates to growing racing’s fan base.

“We haven’t kept up with consumer preferences, and we need to do research and keep up with the times,” said Morris, who also talked about looking at ways to reduce costs for owners and trainers through group buying and co-ops at racetracks.

The Medication Forum again proved to be one of the most attended meetings of the convention with a panel that included Kent Stirling, chair of the NHBPA Medication Committee and executive director of the Florida HBPA; Dr. Dionne Benson, executive director and COO of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC); Dr. Don Shields, a racetrack veterinarian and co-founder of Winner’s Circle Ranch rehabilitation center in California; Dr. Thomas Tobin of the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center; and Dr. Hugh Townsend, professor in the department of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Science. Dr. Steven Barker, state chemist for the Louisiana State Racing Commission and director of analytical systems laboratories at Louisiana State University, was unable to attend due to weather-related travel problems.

A statue of Zenyatta and the Kingsbury Memorial Fountain, built to honor an original Santa Anita board member and inscribed with names of legendary runners like Seabiscuit, greeted NHBPA members on their visit to the California track.

he National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has a history dating back nearly 75 years with the motto of “horsemen helping horsemen.” That was on full display at the NHBPA’s Winter Convention on January 22-26 at the Westin Pasadena Hotel in Southern California. As always, horsemen from state and provincial affiliates across North America were in attendance to share information and attend educational seminars, but the event also reached out to non-NHBPA affiliates, notably the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT). After all, a horseman is a horseman no matter where he or she lives, trains or races.t

36 hJ sprinG 14

thank you sponsors!

Corporate Sponsors

Convention SponsorsAlabama HBPAArkansas HBPACharles Town HBPADaily Racing FormElite Turf ClubFlorida HBPAIllinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s AssociationIndiana HBPALavin Equine Insurance ServicesMichigan HBPAMOC Insurance ServicesOklahoma HBPA (Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma)Oregon HBPAPremier Gateway InternationalRacing & Gaming ServicesSanta Anita ParkVirginia HBPAWashington HBPA

Letter from the National HBPA President

Much of the forum focused on the RMTC’s list of 24 controlled therapeutic medications, which is further covered in Stirling’s Medication Committee Corner on page 18 of this issue. Townsend highlighted some of the shortcomings of a study of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH, or bleeding) related to the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, including the small number of horses included and that the study was not randomized, blinded or controlled.

Horsemen also took a break from the meeting rooms to attend an afternoon of racing at Santa Anita Park for Sunshine Millions/Cal Cup XXIV Day with six stakes races offering more than $1.1 million in purses.

The NHBPA’s Summer Convention is slated for August and will be hosted by the Oklahoma HBPA (Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma) during the opening week of Thoroughbred racing at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Dear Horsemen and Horsewomen of the National HBPA,

In Phil Hanrahan’s column on page 2 of this issue, you will read a review of what we have been up to lately, including a recap of the recently concluded convention in California. I am so pleased that we had a big turnout and, as always, a lively, informative and spirited set of educational forums. Of course, a big part of the draw was a) the weather and b) the chance to be at Santa Anita Park. For the day at the races, I would like to thank Mike Rogers and The Stronach Group for their very generous gesture. When I called Mike, he never hesitated when I asked for The Stronach Group’s support in our endeavor to get our educational material to a wider audience. Thanks also to Joe Morris of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and Alan Balch of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, whose cooperation was key, as well. Both gentlemen have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in our industry. And, as always, thanks to Phil, Laura Plato and Robert Scott, who artfully put the whole thing together.

Now, having said that, of what value was our get-together to the industry? Information. Education is empowering. Once all the options are on the table, people can better decide what course to take. The Workers’ Compensation Forum was very informative. The theme, which may have been the overriding one for the whole convention, was trainers taking control. Folks from California and Louisiana discussed self-insurance programs. Although not perfect, they have stabilized what had become a runaway situation in several states.

Dr. C. Reid McLellan, in his lesson on horsemanship from the Groom Elite Program, used a thinly veiled metaphor of the herd mentality to describe leadership in the horse industry itself. He spoke of the speed the wild horse needed to get out in front of and outrun the tiger. John Unick, an insurance broker, recounted how much he loves our industry but always feels the need to “dress us up” when trying to sell us to an underwriter. Indeed, busy as we may be, horsemen need to get out in front of their issues and be proactive. We will continue to put the issues before you and demand that medication reform be based on the best science available. Whether it be through online forums or other means of discussion, the communication among horsemen’s groups has to continue to ensure that we understand the challenges as fully as possible, as well as the possible solutions.

Robin RichardsPresident, National HBPA

www.nationalhbpa.com 37

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Features

BLooD tests

for Life

Humans are not tHe only species tHat can benefit from blood tests

By Kimberly S. Brown

38 hJ sprinG 14

We humans think nothing of having our bLood draWn once a year

to have a screen of tests run in order to give us an accurate

account of Where some of our important baseLine numbers

stand. in fact, We often Look With anticipation (or maybe dread)

to knoWing What our choLesteroL, trigLycerides, bLood sugar or

other LeveLs are and seeing hoW they have changed for better or

Worse since our Last tests.

www.nationalhbpa.com 39

With advances in equine laboratory testing, you now can have—and should have—a general health profile chemistry panel and a complete blood count (CBC) run on your horses annually. These are the equine versions of what you get with your annual checkup and blood test.

Best of all, the equine blood tests can be done with that one blood sample your equine veterinarian draws for your horse’s annual Coggins test.

All equine veterinarians have access to the blood analysis systems used for this general health profile. Some veterinarians have the equipment needed to analyze these blood parameters right in their clinic or hospital. Other veterinarians use local or national laboratories to have blood chemistry profiles run on their patients.

Whether your horse is a backyard buddy or a high-level competitive athlete, there is value in knowing what his baseline numbers are to catch any abnormalities early, to monitor levels that are outside normal boundaries and to protect your horse and the horses he comes in contact with (also why you have a Coggins test run each year to detect the presence of equine infectious anemia, or EIA).

An estimated 1.7 to 2 million Coggins tests are run each year in the United States. Think of the additional information that could be provided to each of those horse owners and veterinarians if a complete blood panel was run on each horse. And think of what that array of samples could mean for advancing the general knowledge of equine health in the United States.

For example, with the concern today about outbreaks of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) at major competitions—from Thoroughbred racetracks to Quarter Horse events—simple blood tests could detect the presence of the virus’ DNA in the horse’s bloodstream. (This test should be done in conjunction with nasal swab testing.) While positive findings are not a predictor of potential illness, detection of the EHV-1 virus in a seemingly healthy horse could provide the veterinarian and trainer opportunities to proactively manage that subclinical horse differently to perhaps prevent him from becoming sick or spreading the disease.

Blood samples also could detect if a horse’s immune system is below par, which might make him more susceptible to disease. If, for example, that immune-deficient horse comes in contact with a horse that has a latent herpesvirus infection, it could set the stage for virus transfer.

But for more normal day-to-day uses, the complete chemistry profile from a blood test could give veterinarians, owners and trainers valuable insights into the well-being of their horses.

did you know tHe same type of

blood testing is available for

your Horse?

40 hJ sprinG 14

Kim Sprayberry, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, noted in an article titled “Why Perform the CBC and How Can the Information Be Used to Manage Cases” that next to performing an expert physical examination, a blood sample submitted for a complete blood count is the most basic tool available to veterinary practitioners.

“The CBC is commonly performed by equine veterinarians as the foundation of diagnostic evaluation, for serial monitoring of a patient’s response to therapy, for pre-surgical screening, as an adjunct to insurance or pre-purchase examinations and as part of a routine well-horse care program,” Sprayberry continued. “Many of us fall into a pattern of taking into account only the (protein and red and white blood cell) count, thus depriving ourselves of much important and relevant information pertaining to our understanding of the state of health or disease present in the patient that stands before us.”

An example of the use of a blood chemistry profile in a healthy horse was given by Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, who said, “Early detection of metabolic derangements (metabolic syndrome, i.e., hyperglycemia) could help minimize long-term effects such as laminitis.”

Pusterla said this type of blood chemistry panel testing also is routinely used on newborn foals.

“The 24-hour wellness foal check has become a routine evaluation for most neonates,” Pusterla said. “The 24-hour mark is often chosen since this is the time when 90 percent of antibody absorption has occurred.”

But it’s not just foals that can benefit from routine blood work. “Routine blood work should be encouraged in order to improve the

well-being of equids and recognize subclinical diseases (with no noticeable symptoms),” Pusterla stated. “Such approach should apply to all age groups—foals, adults and older horses.”

Pusterla gave some specific examples of using a complete blood count and biochemical panel in adult horses. He said that in horses routinely receiving NSAIDs, “it would be beneficial to determine their renal (kidney) parameters on a regular basis.”

For competition horses, Pusterla said, “Performance-limiting factors that could be recognized via routine blood work would include altered red blood cell (RBC) parameters, which would decrease oxygen-carrying capacity, as well as underlying subclinical myopathies (suboptimal performance).”

He noted that older horses benefit from a regular CBC “to monitor inflammatory parameters (nucleated cell count, fibrinogen, globulin levels).”

Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, is a professor in the population health section of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. When asked what she thought the top five advances in equine veterinary medicine in the past 25 years have been, she included, “Biochemistry panels versus having to request individual tests that cost as much as a panel does now.”

Sources quote the cost of these additional blood tests at between $100-$200 depending on your geographic location and any additional tests you have run.

Before you think that blood test screenings are the answer to all medical questions, be aware that there are many other types of blood tests for specific problems and diseases that are extremely valuable, especially for sick or subclinical horses. Those include screenings for Strep equi (strangles) and other respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.

Let’s look a little further into what a simple blood sample can tell us and what is tested.

.

blood cHemistriestotal serum Protein (tP) is a common blood test for horses. Your

veterinarian might do a total serum protein test, which measures the total protein in the blood as well as the amount of two major proteins found in blood: albumin and globulin. TP aids in diagnosing many different problems, including liver, kidney and GI tract disease.

albumin is mainly produced in the liver, and it is often used to determine how well the liver and kidneys are working and to determine if the body is absorbing enough protein. The body uses albumin to move small molecules through the bloodstream, and albumin plays a key role in keeping blood from leaking out of blood vessels. You often will hear albumin mentioned when the veterinarian discusses total serum protein being tested.

globulin is actually made up of several different types of proteins, which are categorized as alpha, beta and gamma. Some globulins are produced in the liver, and others are manufactured by the immune system. Globulins are not soluble in pure water but are soluble in dilute salt solutions. Globulin levels can help your veterinarian know if your horse is more susceptible to infection.

alkaline phosphatase (aLkP) is an enzyme mostly produced by the liver and bones. This level is rarely low, but it can be high when specific problems occur in the horse’s body. Rapid growth in young animals can cause ALKP levels to increase. In older horses, these increases can indicate excessive bone turnover associated with arthritis. ALKP also can indicate liver disease or vitamin D deficiency.

aspartate transaminase (ast) is an enzyme found in several places of the horse’s body, and it usually is found in low levels in the blood. When levels are elevated, it can indicate liver or muscle problems. Keep in mind when using AST for monitoring muscle problems that AST builds up slowly and remains in the blood for some time after something like a tying-up episode.

One use of AST by some veterinarians is as an indicator of how a horse is handling training. Alan McGregor, BVCSc, of McGregor Veterinary Clinic in Bunbury, Western Australia, said he uses blood-based analysis on many of his racing clients’ horses.

“AST levels rise in early preparation work,” noted McGregor in an article on AERC.org, “especially when young horses start programs. The AST values generally level out at 12 to 14 weeks of training. This gives the owner a measure of which horses have successfully handled the increased work, which horses can advance to the next step and which horses may need additional conditioning time.”

Blood urea nitrogen (BuN) tests are used to judge kidney and liver health by measuring the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. When the liver breaks down protein, the waste product urea nitrogen is produced and circulates in the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys remove urea nitrogen from the bloodstream and excrete it in the urine.

Calcium (Ca) is tightly regulated by the body, so low or high levels of calcium in the blood sample can indicate a variety of diseases.

Creatinine kinase (Ck) is used to measure muscle damage. Horse owners often hear of CK and AST being studied after a horse has a tying-up episode. When muscle cells are damaged, proteins are released into the bloodstream in a matter of a few hours. AST, as stated before, takes a while to accumulate in the bloodstream. CK accumulates quickly and can take a long time to go back to normal levels after a severe tying-up episode

Creatinine (Crea) or creatine phosphokinase (CPk) is also used to measure muscle damage and kidney function. CREA rises quickly after muscle damage (six to eight hours) and dissipates quickly (usually by two days). CREA testing also can help distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN levels.

Features

www.nationalhbpa.com 41

gamma-glutamyl transferase (ggt) is an enzyme that indicates liver disease or corticosteroid excess.

glucose (sugar) is an important indicator of metabolic syndrome. The normal way that glucose and insulin interact, according to a succinct summary by Martin Furr, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, is that insulin regulates blood glucose. As glucose goes up, insulin goes up in response. Insulin stimulates cellular uptake of the glucose. Blood glucose goes down as a result.

Insulin resistance is an important health problem today, especially among aging and overweight horses. Here is a synopsis of insulin resistance from the University of Minnesota, where a tremendous amount of research has been undertaken on this complicated problem:

“In response to feeding, insulin is secreted by the pancreas into the bloodstream. Insulin in the bloodstream directs the glucose (sugar) absorbed from the food into the body’s tissues, including liver, fat and muscle. Insulin resistance occurs when insulin no longer has a normal effect on the tissues. In the insulin-resistant horse, the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream, and the insulin arrives at the tissues and binds the cells; however, the glucose enters the tissue cells at a much lower rate than normal. This lower rate of glucose uptake into tissues results in higher levels of blood glucose.

“Horses and ponies compensate for insulin resistance by secreting even more insulin into the bloodstream in order to keep the blood glucose concentration within the normal range. Therefore, horses and ponies with equine

metabolic syndrome (EMS) have a higher concentration of insulin within the blood, which can be measured to determine if insulin resistance is present.”

LDh is short for lactate dehydrogenase (or sometimes called lactic dehydrogenase). High levels can indicate tissue damage.

total bilirubin (tBIL) is a component of bile, which is secreted by the liver. This might be elevated if the horse has liver disease or if the horse has not been eating.

take-Home messageJust like humans need to know their numbers from a simple blood test, it

is valuable information for your horse, too. Ask your veterinarian about expanding the knowledge of your horse’s baseline health with the use of equine blood tests.

Kimberly S. Brown has more than 30 years of experience writing and editing in the equine medical industry. She is president of The Homestead Information Network Inc., a company focusing on marketing, business development and editorial services.

42 hJ sprinG 14

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Tuesday:Beyer sire profi le Young sire profi le – by Dan IllmanBreeder of the Week

Wednesday:Broodmare of the Week Dan Illman’s Pedigree Handicapping columnRoad to the Kentucky Derby rankings

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How a half dozen hairs can dramatically improve your business.

Genetic testing is here, and the results are real.

As one of the nation’s leading equine genetics companies, ThoroughGen has developed proven testing methods that are changing the racing, breeding and bloodstock industries.

With DNA extracted from just a few mane or tail hairs, ThoroughGen provides validated, predictive information that will improve the likelihood of success in purchasing, breeding and deciding which horses are best to train and race. Our affordable testing begins at just $175 per horse, and is a safe and simple process for horses of all ages.

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GENEGENIES

GENETIC TESTING CAN HELP DETERMINE WHICH RUNNERS WILL GO THE DISTANCE

By Shelby O’Neill

Features

44 hJ sprinG 14

BEFORE TAKING A TRIP TO THE BETTING WINDOW, HANDICAPPERS USE THE PAST PERFORMANCES TO EXAMINE ANY NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT COULD INFLUENCE THEIR

BET, FROM WORKOUTS TO JOCKEY WEIGHTS TO TRACK SURFACES TO BROODMARE SIRES. DESPITE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, PICKING WINNERS AT THE TRACK ISN’T AN EXACT

SCIENCE, BUT HAVING AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE AT YOUR DISPOSAL CAN DEFINITELY HELP PUT LUCK ON YOUR SIDE.

The same holds true in the breeding shed, where for centuries breeders have relied on an array of tools to concoct the exact alchemy for creating a perfect runner. These days, broodmare and stallion owners have an arsenal of statistics and information to work from, including race records, speed figures,

auction history, physical appearance, progeny data and nicking.

Thanks to continued innovation and advances in science and technology, horsemen can now add genetic testing to the list of tools that can assist in ferreting out which horses are destined for greatness and which ones are destined to become pasture ornamentation. But, of course, nothing is guaranteed in horse racing, and even a perfect physical specimen can fail on the racetrack due to improper training, injury or simply a lack of heart.

Two of the preeminent companies involved in genetic testing for Thoroughbreds are the New York-based ThoroughGen and the United Kingdom’s Thoroughbred Genetics.

“We use genetics as a complement to the existing strategy,” said ThoroughGen’s Dr. Steve Tammariello, who also works as a molecular geneticist at Binghamton University, where he studies

neurodegenerative diseases. “What we tell our clients is that genetics will never explain 100 percent if a horse is ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but it’s one of the tools that can be used to give you a better bull’s-eye to target.”

THE BUILDING BLOCKSAs a geneticist by day and a Thoroughbred owner

by night, Tammariello wondered if the genetics he studied at work could also be applied to improving both the probability of breeding a winner and the integrity of the breed itself.

“The first step was to look at several hundred horses of all breeds just to see what’s different (genetically) between all breeds of horses,” he said. “When we figured out what we really wanted to see in Thoroughbreds, we started looking into Thoroughbreds and figuring out which (genes) were bad and which were good. That’s how we came up with our models.”

The study of genotypes (the genes within an organism) and phenotypes (the traits of an organism) has long been employed in the breeding of purebred dogs and other animals, so its application to Thoroughbreds seemed a natural fit.

“We started out applying DNA techniques that were being used in other forms of animal breeding,” said Dr. Steve Harrison, founder and managing director

DNA testing for horses can be used before a horse is even conceived

to help match a mare and stallion or on young horses to project their

class level on the track.

Courtesy ThoroughGen

www.nationalhbpa.com 45

46 hJ sprinG 14

of Thoroughbred Genetics. “Rather than being gene-specific tests, there were DNA assessments that allowed us to look at things such as the true inbreeding level of horses, which affects the breeding route that needs to be taken. Our philosophy is to help owners and breeders buy or breed horses that are more genetically adapted to doing a specific job and more genetically coordinated.”

According to Tammariello, a big factor in this is epistasis, in which one gene variant overrides another gene. As an example of an epistatic interaction, he uses Labrador retrievers.

“Epistasis is really important in biological systems,” Tammariello said. “When you look at black Labrador retrievers, they have one particular allele [gene variant] that allows black pigment to be formed and another gene that controls pigment deposition into the fur. Chocolate Labs have a different variant because they’re not producing black pigment, so it doesn’t matter whether they have the gene that deposits it or not. Yellow Labs can have the gene that produces that black pigment, but the other gene has a mutation that doesn’t allow them to deposit it onto fur, so one gene overrides the others. This is why black pigment appears on the noses of some yellow Labs. The same phenomenon occurs in all multicellular organisms, including horses.”

While geneticists have been able to isolate specific genes that show a propensity for distance running or stud potential, this emerging field does still have limitations. “It can’t necessarily take into account the commerciality of breeding or pur-chase decisions,” Harrison said. “At the moment, it also doesn’t score for such things as temperament, will to win, etc. Ironically, the number of veterinary or conformational factors that can be tested for are pretty limited. It can’t at the moment tell us whether there will be pregnancy difficulties. In terms of mating and purchasing animals, it can’t factor in the imponderables that all dealings with horses are beset with.”

TWO APPLICATIONSAfter specific genes have been isolated, that knowledge can be applied to

help breeders and owners produce a racehorse that is more likely to fit their goals. The first application is in the breeding shed.

“For example, we help breeders to set out from the start to produce a miler by helping to ensure that all of the appropriate building blocks from mare purchase to stallion selection are in place,” Harrison said. “For a number of

years, we have used a series of tests that enable us to categorize horses into stamina, precocity and relationship groupings. We also look at energy-release genes. Together with inbreeding DNA assessments, these combinations of analyses allow us to help select or breed more targeted and less genetically variable individuals.”

Tammariello likens the potential of the genetically tested breeding model to extreme nicking.

“Nicking is an incomplete assessment of the genetics of the situation,” he explained. “We’re taking the racing panel from the mare and the stallion, and because we know which variants give rise to better horses, instead of guessing, we actually know their genetics and are able to predict which stallions and mares have the best chance of producing a good runner.”

In addition to its breeding crosses, ThoroughGen offers a racing panel, which typically is performed on weanlings and yearlings, particularly at sales.

“We started by looking at about 600 horses, and 300 were graded stakes winners with Beyer Speed [Figures] above 100,” Tammariello said. “We compared those to horses bred similarly but having never gone above a peak Beyer of 79. Through that, we have a panel of genetic variants that we have found that significantly separate elite horses from non-elite horses. We’ve been following this for four years, and we’ve had quite a bit of success. Four of the horses that we’ve tested have won graded stakes, and two that we tested have won Breeders’ Cup races. We’re able to predict the class of racing about 70 percent of the time.”

ThoroughGen’s tests for Thoroughbreds start at $175 per horse and include a discount if more than 50 horses are submitted for testing. The simple process involves submitting a form along with a hair sample to the company, and the results, which include a genetic screening and description of the horse’s genotypes, are emailed out from ThoroughGen within five to 10 business days. The stallion and breeding reports have a different cost structure that is available on a case-by-case basis.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Thoroughbred Genetics’ offerings run the gamut from 55 GBP (about $90) for genetic database information to 380 GBP (about $620) for mare and sire genetic profiles, in addition to private fees for custom genetic testing.

Genetic testing will never be a guaranteed predictor of future success, but it can

be a useful tool in conjunction with other methods, and

Dr. Steve Tammariello says it will become a more

powerful tool as the technology progresses.

Courtesy ThoroughGen

Features

46 hJ sprinG 14

www.nationalhbpa.com 47

BETTING ON GENETIC TESTINGOne breeder betting on genetic testing is Ellen Jackson of Victory Rose

Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, California. “One of my clients told me about Dr. Tammariello, and I thought that it

would be kind of fun to try,” Jackson said. “It’s been really interesting to see the pattern. It does appear that most of them do seem to train like the genes say. There’s lots more that goes into it, but it’s nice to know if the DNA is there.”

Jackson has seen the proof firsthand in her runners like Olympic Jumble, a 3-year-old son of Olympio out of a Carson City mare who broke his maiden in his debut and ran third in a stakes during his juvenile campaign while running like the sprinter his test results proved him to be. She has also applied genetic testing in the stallion barn.

“We tested all our stallions, and one of our stallions who had made $4.5 million turned out to be one of the lowest they’d ever tested,” she said. “By then, he was 16 or 17 years old and had been a complete failure at stud. Also, we bought a stallion this past year based on DNA, and his first crop is running like crazy.”

As a strong proponent of genetic testing, Jackson has had Dr. Tammariello come speak to groups of local horsemen in California. She also pointed to the proliferation of testing in sale barns, such as an upcoming Australian sale that requires genetic testing to be available for all sale prospects.

“Everybody’s going to be using it very soon,” she said. “It’s going to be just as important as nicking or bloodlines or anything we’ve accepted as the only way to breed. If you can play cards and stack your deck even 10 percent, which I think this does more than that, what a huge asset. With the amount of money we spend on racehorses between gestation and raising the foal to get them to the first race, you’ve easily got $20,000 in a horse, even if you don’t pay the stud fee. This can help so you don’t train three horses in order to get one winner.”

For skeptics, Jackson offered a final piece of advice.

“Genetic testing is not a gray area,” she said. “It’s what makes up their muscles, and what makes up their muscles is what they are.”

THE FUTUREGenetic testing has the potential to paint a brighter picture for both

horsemen and the breed itself. First, the more data that is gathered for genetic testing, the better the comparison to give more accurate racing potential readings for horsemen.

“One thing that we are moving toward is shifting genetic assessments to computer-based extrapolations based on accumulated DNA data,” Harrison said. “This will make it more financially viable to provide large amounts of cyber-genetic information at a very reasonable cost to owners and breeders. This information can then be utilized with other performance and pedigree data to incorporate into more complex probability models that can be accessed by clients.”

As the amount of research into genetics increases, scientists will likely be able to offer even more data to horsemen.

“Life is extraordinarily complex,” Tammariello said. “Genetics is so complex that this is basically at the tip of the iceberg. As we move forward with technology and more testing, we will be able to refine these products and these tests better and look at real epigenetic studies, which is the control of gene expression. The technology is almost here for us, but it will take a long time to sort it all out.”

Tammariello also hopes that with time the Thoroughbred breed itself will be improved because of genetic testing.

“My partners and I started into this because we were concerned with the glut of horses that are being produced,” he said. “There are a lot of substandard horses, and we don’t know what to do with them. What we want to see is improving the breed as a whole, so if people make smarter decisions that help a bit in producing good horses, they will be helping the good of the whole Thoroughbred breed.”

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No Live Racing Jan. 1 - May 10; Sept. 26 - Dec. 31, 20148 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINOMAY 11 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

April 2014 May 2014 June 2014

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

July 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Racing Sunday through Thursday, except racing Saturdays May 17 & June 7January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

No Live Racing Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

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No Live Racing Jan. 1 - May 10; Sept. 26 - Dec. 31, 20148 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINOMAY 11 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

April 2014 May 2014 June 2014

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

July 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Racing Sunday through Thursday, except racing Saturdays May 17 & June 7January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

No Live Racing Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

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October 2014 November 2014 December 2014

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No Live Racing Jan. 1 - May 10; Sept. 26 - Dec. 31, 20148 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINOMAY 11 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

April 2014 May 2014 June 2014

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

July 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Racing Sunday through Thursday, except racing Saturdays May 17 & June 7January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

No Live Racing Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

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Check website for further information8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

No Live Racing Jan. 1 - May 10; Sept. 26 - Dec. 31, 20148 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINOMAY 11 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

April 2014 May 2014 June 2014

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

July 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Racing Sunday through Thursday, except racing Saturdays May 17 & June 7January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

No Live Racing Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

Post Time 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

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October 2014 November 2014 December 2014

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Check website for further information8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

No Live Racing Jan. 1 - May 10; Sept. 26 - Dec. 31, 20148 Races Post Time - 5:25pm

PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINOMAY 11 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

April 2014 May 2014 June 2014

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

July 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Racing Sunday through Thursday, except racing Saturdays May 17 & June 7January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

No Live Racing Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

Post Time 5:25pm - 8 Races Post Time - 5:25pm - 8 Races

No Live Racing No Live Racing No Live Racing

October 2014 November 2014 December 2014

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alaBama hBPa

Alabama lost one of its greatest supporters of Thoroughbred racing when Kenneth W. Cotton passed away January 17 at his residence. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife of 63 years, Myrtis Cotton; daughter Catherine (Ricky) Jacobs and son Kenneth W. (Lisa) Cotton Jr., all of Wing, Alabama; brother Donald Cotton, as well as seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ken Cotton will be missed by many and remembered with great respect.

The Alabama HBPA held its elections for the 2014-17 board of directors and officers and is pleased to announce the following slate: Dr. David Harrington, President; Rhett Harrelson, VP; Carl Tuttle, Treasurer; and Nancy Delony, Executive Director, along with John A. Beck, Gary House, Darrell Z. Jackson, Mike McKinnell, Dennis Murphy, Ken Robinette and John Young with alternates Fred Palmer and John K. Sherling Jr. We are pleased to have an active board and appreciate all who attended our first board meeting on February 1.

December 7 was the running of the $50,000 Magic City Classic Stakes and $25,000 Kudzu Juvenile Stakes for Alabama-breds at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The winner of the Magic City was Busted Account, a 6-year-old gelding by Royal Empire out of Cookin Jen, by Polish Numbers. He is owned by Michael J. Annechino, trained by Jonas Gibson and was bred by Bobby G. Pruitt. B. G.’s Admiral ran second with Anchored Back running third and Ikan Dream closing for fourth.

The Kudzu Juvenile was won by Strike for Gold, a 2-year-old by Incriminate out of Pioneer Rose, by Pioneering. He runs for breeder Gus King and is trained by Scott Gelner. Hitchismyname ran second, Joyce’s Buckaroo third and Cosmic Empire fourth.

We are pleased to announce that the Birmingham Racing Commission has appropriated funds to run both the Magic City Classic and Kudzu Juvenile for 2014. Remember that the Alabama HBPA will reimburse shipping costs up to $500 for horses running and not finishing in the top three in these two stakes.

Our $10,000 supplemental purse distribution for 2014 is off to a good start with All Things Gold, owned and trained by Kenward Bernis, finishing fourth on January 1 at Delta Downs; Zoom On, owned by Dennis and Sam Murphy, winning January 13 at Beulah Park; and Mad About Alli, owned by Carl Tuttle, finishing fourth at Oaklawn Park on February 1. Congratulations to them.

The Innovation Group, led by John Swiatek, was chosen to lead the feasibility study that is currently underway at Birmingham Race Course. Subcontracting with Bill McLaughlin, who also submitted a bid, John spent two days in Birmingham with Bill going through the facility and barns, collecting soil samples and talking with track management. We are impressed with their expertise and look forward to their input.

In the meantime, we are off and racing around the country.Nancy Delony, Executive Director

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turF paraDiseThis season, Turf Paradise hired a new trackman, and he is making

changes to the surface and equipment. The crew has been busy adding sand and trying to improve the surface. The trackman has worked closely with the jockeys, management, trainers and the Arizona HBPA. He continues to work on maintaining a good surface.

Arizona HBPA President Lloyd Yother, Executive Director Tom Metzen Sr. and

lobbyist Bas Aja have been working with Senator Piece and the governor’s office on the ADW bill. The Arizona HBPA remains hopeful that the bill will pass this year.

Our president and executive committee have also been working with the Arizona Department of Racing for better enforcement and surveillance on the backstretch for milk-shaking and other activities. We have encouraged the department to use the investigators to lawfully enforce statutes.

As we enjoy almost 80-degree weather here in the Valley of the Sun, we see racing cancellations almost daily across the Midwest and Northeastern states from the bitter cold temperatures. We hope relief is soon to come.

This is an election year for the Arizona HBPA, so we encourage all members to make sure we have your current address. Ballots will go out between March 7 and March 22, and ballots are due back by 4:00 p.m. on April 21. We encourage all members to vote.

The Arizona HBPA medical clinic is open for the following hours for walk-ins: Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please note that the Arizona HBPA has a new email address: azhbpa@outlook.com.

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The Oaklawn Park live season kicked off with a press party in Little Rock at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel. The event, which was sponsored by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Oaklawn and the Arkansas HBPA, included a silent auction, reception and dinner with live auction. The keynote speaker was trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The Oaklawn meet started January 10 with 57 days of racing. We are pleased that TVG will telecast daily, with onsite coverage hosted by track announcer Frank Mirahmadi. Joining Frank with pre-race commentary from the paddock and post-race interviews is Nancy Ury-Holthus, a new member of the Oaklawn media staff and formerly with TVG. Nancy is a Hot Springs native who recently married Paul Holthus, son of the late Bob Holthus who for many years was Arkansas’ leading trainer and served on the Arkansas HBPA Board of Directors. Bob’s daughter Debbie Holthus is the Arkansas HBPA’s administrative assistant.

Oaklawn is hosting some of the nation’s most important winter racing, highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. Oaklawn is offering more than $20 million in purses with 31 stakes, including 10 graded contests with the highest purse distribution ever.

This year’s four-race series for 3-year-olds includes the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, $300,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and $600,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) before concluding with the Arkansas Derby on April 12, closing day of the meet. There are seven additional graded stakes, including the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Oaklawn Handicap (G2), Honeybee Stakes (G3), Azeri Stakes (G3), Razorback Handicap (G3), Fantasy Stakes (G3) and Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3).

The Arkansas HBPA has partnered with Oaklawn and TwinSpires to launch OaklawnAnywhere. Fans and horsemen can set up an account to use while at the track or anywhere they wish. It is free to open an account and members will have access to all Oaklawn races, plus those from the most popular U.S. and international tracks. Members will also receive special offers, promotions, handicapping tools and free past performances.

Bobby Geiger, Oaklawn’s director of racing, stated that the benefit of opening an account with OaklawnAnywhere is that the money stays in Arkansas: Arkansans benefit through taxes collected by the state and horsemen benefit by increased purses. You must be an Arkansas resident to sign up.

The Arkansas HBPA is proud to sponsor our backside medical clinic during

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.

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the live meet. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Kyle Roper; his wife and nurse practitioner, Jane Roper; and nurse Becky Palmer to head up this program. Dr. and Mrs. Roper have been instrumental in developing this program from its inception. Dr. Roper is president of Mercy Clinics.

Chaplain Rich and Robbi Heffington did a wonderful job with the Christmas party for backstretch workers, as fun was had by all the adults and the children received wonderful presents. The Arkansas HBPA is very blessed to have such wonderful people to work with. On March 10, the chaplaincy is hosting a backstretch picnic, and other events include the annual fundraiser on March 14 and golf tournament on March 31.

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activities anD eventsFall began with Thanksgiving dinner in the racetrack kitchen with 84

people enjoying turkey with all the trimmings, homemade pies and cakes.We had our first Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Mixer. It was an

opportunity for local government officials, businesses and organizations to learn about the Charles Town HBPA services, activities and support to the community. The office was decorated for the holidays with a Christmas tree of horse racing-related ornaments. Refreshments were prepared by racetrack kitchen owner Darlene Hostler. CTHBPA President Randy Funkhouser greeted our 63 guests and gave a presentation about the organization. Six door prizes were given away, and guests received one of our signature CTHBPA calendar books as a thank you for attending.

impact stuDY in west virGiniaThrough the joint support of Charles Town HBPA, Mountaineer Park HBPA,

the Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association and the West Virginia Breeders Association, a study was conducted to show the impact racing has on the state. The report, titled “The Economic Impact of the Thoroughbred and Greyhound Racing Industries on West Virginia’s Economy 2012,” was published on January 20, 2014. This study was compiled by West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics and prepared by John Deskins, PhD, and his staff. Some of the key findings included:

• Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing in West Virginia contributes more than $321 million in total business volume to the state’s economy.

• The industries support more than 7,300 jobs in West Virginia.• The industries generate more than $100 million in total employee

compensation.

• The industries generate $4.6 million in total state tax revenue.Thoroughbred racing accounts for around three-fourths of the total

economic impact of the two industries.To read the study, go to the CTHBPA website at cthbpa.com.

leGislative news From west virGiniaGovernor Tomblin has introduced legislation to cut lottery appropriations

by approximately $39.12 million a year for the next two years. The largest cuts in the drafted bill (SB 385) would include Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing purses and payments to the state’s Infrastructure Fund and cities and counties with racetrack casinos.

horsemen in the newsSeveral of our local horsemen should be congratulated for the success of

their horses racing at the highest levels. Last year, trainer Ollie Figgins III and owner Susan Wantz campaigned with filly Dance to Bristol to win numerous graded stakes, resulting in her being a finalist for an Eclipse Award as Champion Female Sprinter. Charles A. (Buck) Woodson bred Giovanni Boldoni, who finished second by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and may be considered a contender for this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1). Owner and Charles Town HBPA board member Jim Miller is beaming after his 3-year-old filly Aurelia’s Belle finished second in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. He is pointing her to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May.

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the Dates war continuesAt the National HBPA Winter Convention in Pasadena during our Horsemen’s

Roundtable Forum, Joe Morris, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, was lamenting that race weeks had shrunk from sometimes six race days to five days and now most race weeks were four days long. I reminded him that we ran eight days a week in South Florida. A lot of people laughed, but it was not funny. And, yes, when Gulfstream Park went to five-day race weeks in January coupled with Calder Race Course’s three-day weeks that gave us an eight-day race week until the end of March.

So how did Gulfstream’s first summer meet fare racing head-to-head with Calder? Gulfstream paid total average overnights of $206,506 and paid total daily purses of $246,853 from July 1 through December 31, 2013. Calder’s Tropical Park meeting began on September 1 and ran through December 31, 2013, and paid total average overnights of $111,732 and total daily purses of $144,751. During the 46 race days of Gulfstream’s summer meet, it averaged 7.92 starters per race. The 53-day Tropical Park meet averaged 7.38 starters per race.

The Gulfstream “Championship Meet” began on November 30, and through Sunday, January 26, it was paying total average overnights of $275,738 and total daily purses of $416,840. Calder began its first winter meet on January 3, and through January 26, it was paying average overnights of $116,012 and total daily purses of $126,845. During these 12 days, Calder averaged 8.3 races a day and had average starters per race of 7.37, which was identical to the Tropical Park meet. Meanwhile, the Championship Meet offered 10.3 races per day during these 35 days and had average starters per race of 8.90.

For the 2012-13 season, from November 30, 2012, the last day of the Tropical meet, horsemen raced 43 days until January 27, 2013, for total purses of $16,475,540. This year, during the same time period encompassing 35 days

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of Gulfstream and 26 days of Tropical, or a total of 61 race days, horsemen ran for $18,140,342, or $1,664,500 more than last year.

When one compares live handle from the opening of the Gulfstream Championship Meet on November 30 through January 26 to Calder’s live handle during the same period, it appears there is no contest. For the 26 days that both tracks ran head-to-head in this period, Calder handled $28.4 million to Gulfstream’s $204.1 million, meaning Gulfstream had 7.2 times as much live handle as did Calder. The average Gulfstream handle was $7.9 million per day, while Calder averaged $1.1 million per day.

To be fair, Gulfstream ran more races, 268 to Calder’s 216, so we must adjust the handle by the number of races to get a true comparison. By doing so, we find that on a per-race basis Calder handled $131,000, while the average handle per race on Gulfstream was $761,600.

Things are going badly for Calder, but they don’t seem to care. Will the lack of space at Gulfstream for 2-year-olds lead to some sort of settlement between these two tracks? One can only hope.

GulFstream struGGles into its “championship meet”Gulfstream Park currently has one active racing permit that extends

from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, therefore, the need by Gulfstream to delineate its old winter dates from the “summer meet” dates by naming the winter meet the “Championship Meet.” Last meet, Gulfstream opened on December 1, 2012, with the seven stakes races of the first Claiming Crown ever to be run at the beautiful Hallandale Beach oval. Almost $1.5 million was wagered on track, and the total wagering handle on the live product was over $12.2 million for the day.

This meet, Gulfstream had a “soft” opening on Saturday, November 30, two days after Thanksgiving. Kicking off a new race meet the day after “Black Friday” on a weekend when many were traveling was not viewed as a good idea. Also no one throws the elegant parties that Gulfstream does the evening before their big race days such as the Claiming Crown, Sunshine Millions and Florida Derby, to name a few. Such a party the day after Thanksgiving was not viewed positively. So the eight stakes race, million-dollar Claiming Crown was scheduled for the second Saturday of the new Championship Meet. Few tracks promote themselves like Gulfstream, but even with this great marketing program, just over $860,000 was wagered on track and total wagering on the live product was just over $8.8 million, an impressive handle number for most any track but Gulfstream.

Gulfstream spends “Mucho Macho” money on advertising, and it works, as every year wagering on Gulfstream goes up. But even with a great marketing program behind it, wagering numbers that should have been up were down a disappointing 27 percent. The main reason, of course, was that bettors weren’t buying that the Gulfstream summer meet ended one day with races mostly carded with Calder horses, and then the next day the boys and girls from the north were flooding the entry box as the Gulfstream Championship Meet raced its first day. While the northern horsemen were indeed entering races in similar amounts to the previous year, the bettors still seemed to see this Championship Meet as nothing more than an extension of the summer meet and its lesser quality horses.

The wagering handle on Gulfstream for the 16 race days that began with November 30, 2013, and ended December 31, 2013, was roughly $93.8 million. The corresponding 16 days in 2012, when adjusted for number of races run, had a total wagering handle on Gulfstream of about $125.1 million. This meant that the 27-percent dip on handle for the Claiming Crown was a good indicator of what was to come, as the total wagering on Gulfstream during those 16 days was down 25 percent.

For the first two weeks of January, which consisted of nine race days, Gulfstream handle was down only 10 percent, as the handle in the current meet was $67 million compared to last year’s $74.4 million. For the next two weeks, which consisted of 10 days and concluded on January 26, wagering handle was up 1.7 percent, $81.9 million from $80.5 million. We assume this meant the bettors from around the country were now satisfied that the Championship Meet was indeed as stated and was no longer an extension of the summer meet.

So through January 26, Gulfstream’s total handle on its live product was down 13.3 percent, a percentage that is shrinking rapidly, but one that appears will not lead to this meet being up over last year’s. Gulfstream’s long streak of years in which handle increased every year certainly seems in jeopardy as the connotation of the word “Gulfstream” seemingly can’t convey both “Championship” racing and summer racing at the same time.

bacKsiDe DoinGsA group of backsiders (pictured) took the Jungle Queen up the Intracoastal

Waterway for a tour of Millionaire’s Row. They enjoyed a barbecue dinner on the way back…Groom Elite began its annual 101 Class with 18 men and women participating…Chaplain Tom LaPointe and his assistant, Alberto Grimaldi, began the annual Gulfstream soccer league with eight teams (pictured), some from Palm Meadows Training Center and some from Calder Race Course…Palm Meadows has its own soccer league with five teams participating…As usual, Chaplain LaPointe drops off hundreds of pounds of food twice a week on the backsides of Calder, Gulfstream and Palm Meadows. He collects the food at 7-Elevens, sports arenas, certain restaurants and from the food bank.

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inDiana GranD racinG to open the bacKsiDe For the 2014 meet on april 1Indiana horsemen are eagerly awaiting the beginning of a new racing

season. Opening day for the 2014 Indiana Grand Thoroughbred racing season will take place on Tuesday, May 6.

Presuming a brutal winter finally ends, the racing season will begin with the opening of the track backside on April 1. Horsemen should be able to move in that day, with the track opening for works within 10 days after that.

Stall applications are available on the Indiana Grand website at indianadowns.com/SiteImages/FileGallery/2014_Tbred_Stall_App_updated_1-20-14_2757.pdf.

Indiana Downs will run four days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) through the second week of July. Beginning July 15 through the end of the meet, November 1, Thursdays will be added for five race days a week. Post times will incorporate a combination of day racing at 2:05 p.m. on weekdays, with a 5:05 p.m. start time on Fridays and Saturdays.

More than 300 stalls will have been added to the backside by the time the 2014 meet begins. Lighting and ventilation have been improved in existing barns 1-4.

The one-mile dirt surface will get a major overhaul before the start of the 2014 meet. That process, which involves stripping the track down to its limestone base, rebuilding it back up and restructuring drainage tiles on the inside of the track, began before winter took the state in its icy grip.

The track backside will also see the construction of new dorm space before the beginning of the 2014 meet. And a second Indiana HBPA trailer will be in place for horseman services and benevolence activities.

The front side of the track will debut a new toteboard and big screen, and a new emphasis on promotions and racing will help generate excitement for the meet.

Thoroughbred horsemen recognize that a new era has begun for Indiana racing and breeding. Now, if we can just get rid of Old Man Winter…

For updated information on Indiana Thoroughbred horsemen, go to inhbpa.org.

For regulatory information, go to in.gov/hrc.For information about the track, go to indianadowns.com.

iowa hBPa

2014 iowa hbpa scheDule oF eventsApril 12-15: Intro to Groom Elite 99April 16: IA HBPA general membership meeting and board meetingApril 18: Opening of the Prairie Meadows meet April 27: Annual IA HBPA Awards Dinner held in conjunction with ITBOA

Awards Dinner May 22: General nominating meeting for IA HBPA board and president

positionsJune 27-28: Iowa Festival of Racing showcasing three Grade 3 races June 28: H.A.R.T. (Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds) auction July 7-9 & 14-16: Groom Elite 201 held on two consecutive weeksJuly 7-26: Adventureland tickets will be sold and available for use July 10: IA HBPA election August 2: Iowa Classics Night featuring Iowa-bred stakesAugust 9: Closing day of the Prairie Meadows meet

prairie meaDows announces scheDules For 2014 purses, Dates, staKes(Press Release from Prairie Meadows on February 4 with content edits by

the Iowa HBPA)The Thoroughbred meet’s average daily purse projected for the 67-day

period, beginning on April 18 through August 9, will be approximately $220,000 per race day. Maiden special weight purses will be $30,000 for open contenders and $38,730 for state-bred contenders. The top-level, open allowance purses will be $40,000, and Iowa-bred purses will be $51,640.

“Our racing staff evaluated the purse structures at other tracks around the Midwest region,” said Derron Heldt, Prairie Meadows’ director of racing. “We tried to structure this year’s purses to be competitive in all categories with those across the region.”

In order for purses to remain competitive, the Iowa HBPA guaranteed monies from the underpayment account. Leroy Gessmann, president of the Iowa HBPA, said, “Maintaining quality purses to offer our owners and trainers is very important to remain viable. We are glad to provide that continued support for our members and look forward to another year of successful racing at Prairie Meadows.”

Thoroughbreds will race on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. Thirty-three stakes worth more than $3 million will be featured during the 67-day meet. Prairie Meadows’ live card will begin early on the three Saturdays comprising the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes), as well as on Memorial Day, July 3 and July 4. The Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, Iowa Derby and Iowa Oaks, all Grade 3 events, headline the Iowa Festival of Racing, June 27-28, which offers six stakes in all and combined purses worth more than $1 million. Iowa Classic Night on August 2 will feature purses worth $550,000 distributed across seven stakes for Iowa-breds.

Prairie Meadows has hired Pat Pope to serve as Thoroughbred racing secretary. A graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Pope is a fixture in the industry with more than 30 years of experience. The Sioux City, Iowa, native was also the racing secretary at Prairie Meadows from 1997 to 2002. In addition, he has been racing secretary at Oaklawn Park, Louisiana Downs and Delaware Park.

“Pat is well-known throughout the industry,” Heldt said. “We feel his ability to attract quality stables is vital to striking a balance with the open program and the Iowa program. We look forward to having him back with us.”

Chad Keller, who has been with Prairie Meadows since 2000, will be the racing secretary for the 27-day American Quarter Horse meet (August 16-October 18). In addition, he will assist Pat Pope during the Thoroughbred meet.

“Chad did an excellent job for us managing both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets in 2013,” Heldt said. “But, that’s a tall order. Having both Pat and Chad in the office to manage these programs is a plus-plus. We’re looking forward to a great year and excellent racing opportunities.”

ia/mn challenGe races will be bacK aGain For 2014 racinG seasonAfter discussion between the parties concerning the IA/MN Challenge

Races, a decision to pursue another year of the program was made. Currently, the races are still being decided upon but will be available in the first book that comes out for Prairie Meadows.

This arrangement is beneficial to both racing jurisdictions because it will allow Minnesota-bred Thoroughbreds to compete at Prairie Meadows in restricted races written for Iowa-breds prior to the start of the Canterbury Park race meet.

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Likewise, when the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet concludes in mid-August, Iowa-breds will have an opportunity to run alongside Minnesota-breds in designated races at Canterbury through mid-September.

This program is slated to launch with the return of the 67-day Thoroughbred meet at Prairie Meadows on Friday, April 18.

keNTuCky hBPa

presiDent’s letterThe landscape in Kentucky may well change this year. A favorable ruling

from the Kentucky Supreme Court on Instant Racing Machines and gaming legislation appear poised to provide a much-needed lift to the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky. Decisions reached in the next several weeks will be pivotal. The KHBPA has been at the forefront on both of these issues. Special thanks to Frank Jones, vice president of the KHBPA, for his due diligence in assuring that horsemen’s interests are protected in the legislation. We met with Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs, regarding concerns, and I have been in constant communication with Corey Johnsen, president of Kentucky Downs, and Ron Geary, owner of Ellis Park, to discuss their views.

I reported to you earlier about the development of uniform medication guidelines. One of the issues that I inquired about are thresholds for medications already in place that are not part of the original 24 medications being proposed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). The executive director of the RMTC, at the Equine Drug Council Meeting, expressed the view that only the 24 medications will be considered. Dr. Mary Scollay, equine medical director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, disagreed with the RMTC executive director’s view on this point. Later, I received correspondence from Dr. Scollay emphasizing that the thresholds for medications already in place in Kentucky will remain. Apparently, jurisdictions are all over the place on this issue. Some are implementing Kentucky’s model while others are banning trace levels of all medications except the 24 proposed by the RMTC. So much for uniformity.

Pete Salmen, a KHBPA director, informed me that his longtime friend Mac DeHart recently passed away following a long battle with cancer. Mac was a horse owner, and he and his brother John owned the DeHart Paint Company. John DeHart also served on the KHBPA board of directors several years ago. Mac served, with distinction, as a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. He is fondly remembered.

Good luck in your racing endeavors.Rick Hiles, KHBPA President

charles white recipient oF Khbpa claiminG coveraGeOwner Charles White recently experienced the thrill of victory and the agony

of defeat all in the same race at Turfway Park. He ran a horse who won. In the same race, Charles claimed a second-time starter. Unfortunately, the horse he claimed suffered a catastrophic injury and was euthanized.

White has a signed KHBPA membership card on file. By having signed a card, he was eligible for claiming coverage, at no cost to him. The coverage provides reimbursement for a portion of the claiming price. Contact your local KHBPA office for specific details.

Horsemen are reminded to make sure to have a membership card on file.

tom upton: owner, trainer anD authorTom Upton trained horses for several years in Kentucky. The affable trainer

was a fixture at the Kentucky Horse Center in Lexington. Tom then accepted a position to train horses in Australia, and he and his family relocated to the “land down under.” Now he has written a book, Travels of the Wonthaggi Notpu. It is an outsider’s look at Australia’s culture, history and landscape from the inside.

The book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Khrc rules committee upDateTom Conway, Burr Travis and Edward Bonnie, members of the Kentucky

Horse Racing Commission Rules Committee, recently called a meeting to address the issues raised in correspondence from the KHBPA.

The KHBPA received the amendments that have been filed on behalf of the KHRC with the Legislative Research Commission. Prior to requesting the opportunity to appear at the public hearing, perhaps something should be clarified regarding this regulation:

“It shall constitute a violation of this administrative regulation if notice is made pursuant to this section that a horse will race with Furosemide (Lasix/Salix) and the post-race urine, blood serum or plasma does not show a detectable concentration of Furosemide in the post-race urine, blood serum or plasma.”

While the aforementioned regulations have not changed, as you are aware, the method of administering Furosemide to horses has indeed changed. Commission veterinarians are now responsible for administering the medication. If there is no detectable level of Furosemide in the post-race sample of the horse, after the Commission veterinarian has given the medication, then how could those circumstances subject the trainer to a violation?

Following a lengthy meeting that included a discussion with the state steward, the members of the committee were able to resolve the concerns expressed in the letter to everyone’s satisfaction.

Denis Blake

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Guatemalan consulate to visit churchill bacKsiDe in summer 2014The Consulate General of Guatemala in Silver Spring, Maryland, provides

mobile services and assistance to Guatemalan citizens residing or living temporarily in the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and Kentucky. For the second time, Representative Candu Hernandez and her staff will visit the backside of Churchill Downs and attend to the needs of our Guatemalan community.

In mobile consulates, hundreds of Guatemalans are helped with renewing their passports; obtaining a new passport, consular cards, birth certificates or death certificates; and accessing certain procedures and advice about assorted issues, including divorce.

The high number of Guatemalan immigrants here in Kentucky and especially throughout Kentucky racetracks has forced Guatemalan authorities to get closer to their compatriots so they can attend to their basic consular needs.

Additional services this Consulate General offers are travel documents, visas, civil registry and legalization of documents, providing to the Guatemalan community protection of their national interests contained in the foreign policy of our country and via international rights.

If you would like additional information, please contact KHBPA Hispanic Services Coordinator Julio Rubio at (502) 363-1077 or JulioKYHBPA@gmail.com.

the hbpa is YouThe HBPA, established in 1940, is an organization of owners and trainers

numbering approximately 30,000 nationally in 23 states and Canada and more than 6,000 in Kentucky. The association is governed by a board of directors consisting of owners and trainers volunteering their time and elected by the

membership every three years. The HBPA is committed to working for the betterment of racing on all levels.

The HBPA represents owners and trainers on several fronts:• The HBPA is present in negotiating sessions with each racetrack

regarding purse structure, equitable share of simulcast revenues, overall track safety, sanitation and security.

• The HBPA provides benevolence to horsemen in need, education and recreation programs to the backstretch, and various insurance packages that include—free of charge to members—fire and disaster insurance and claiming coverage. Visit one of the fully staffed HBPA offices at the currently running racetrack in Kentucky for details.

• The HBPA works in conjunction with the chaplaincy program and the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund to provide support and benefits for horsemen.

• The HBPA supports scientific research and marketing initiatives on a regional and national level to help promote interest in Thoroughbred racing.

• The HBPA is at the forefront in litigation and legislation on issues involving horsemen’s rights in regard to interstate simulcasting, proprietary rights, casino gambling, therapeutic medication, sports betting and many other areas of concern to horsemen.

How can I join? You are invited to drop by the HBPA office to meet the staff and learn more about current projects and how you can get involved in helping to improve the industry. There are no membership fees. Remember, this is your organization. Become an active participant and one of the horsemen helping horsemen. To join, all you need to do is fill out our membership card and fax, mail or email it back to us. For more information, please visit our website at kyhbpa.org and click on “How to Join.”

olD school apartmentsWhat started out as a dream by

leadership of Kentucky’s horsemen to improve the lifestyle of older horsemen has blossomed into a tremendous asset for older racetrack workers from across the country. The Old School Apartments recently celebrated its 10th anniversary as a living facility for older racetrack workers. Located within walking distance of Churchill Downs’ stable gate, grocery shopping and four bus

lines, the two-story building was transformed from a 100-year-old abandoned

schoolhouse into 40 modern apartments for older racetrack workers and others who are low-income. Trainers, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders and jockeys from across the country who can live unassisted call the Old School Apartments home, including the groom of 1975 Preakness winner Master Derby.

The studio ($475 per month) and one-bedroom ($510 per month) apartments are handicap accessible and feature a year-long lease, free utilities, central air and heating, a stove and refrigerator, and onsite laundry facility. The building also houses the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund and the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center. Horsemen who are interested in learning more about living in this unique facility can call (502) 636-5950. Be sure to ask about any applicable leasing specials.

ELLIS PARKINSTANT RACING MACHINES HANDLE & REVENUES ‐ 2013

KDTFTotal Returned Track Purses  Awards & Development Equine Equine Higher General

Month Handle to Public Revenue Generated Supplements Fund Industry Drug Education FundJanuary 2,064,331 1,873,234 140,125 18,675 1,333 15,482 4,129 2,064 2,064 7,225February 2,462,803 2,234,782 167,593 21,919 1,566 18,471 4,926 2,463 2,463 8,620March 2,482,197 2,223,605 197,775 22,013 1,572 18,616 4,964 2,482 2,482 8,688April 2,419,595 2,207,972 152,987 20,852 1,489 18,147 4,839 2,420 2,420 8,469May 2,446,936 2,225,985 161,480 21,249 1,518 18,352 4,894 2,447 2,447 8,564June 1,901,506 1,755,962 98,759 17,045 1,217 14,261 3,803 1,902 1,902 6,655July 2,521,211 2,313,100 145,315 23,316 1,663 18,909 5,042 2,521 2,521 8,824August 2,937,702 2,687,838 177,846 26,089 1,863 22,033 5,875 2,938 2,938 10,282September 2,239,232 2,068,137 115,620 20,429 1,459 16,794 4,478 2,239 2,239 7,837October 2,042,630 1,842,032 150,005 18,624 1,329 15,320 4,085 2,043 2,043 7,149November 2,292,998 2,091,591 144,617 20,903 1,493 17,197 4,586 2,293 2,293 8,025December 1,896,434 1,707,747 142,112 16,920 1,209 14,223 3,793 1,896 1,896 6,638

27,707,575 10,765,578 1,794,234 248,034 17,711 207,805 55,414 27,708 27,708 96,976

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Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino 2013-2014 Race Meets

2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton, LA 70668 * 337-589-7441 * www.deltadowns.com

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

October 2013 February 2014 June 2014 01 04 05 06 07 11 12 05 06 07 08 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 30 31 26 27 28

November 2013 March 2014 July 2014 01 02 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 27 29 30 46 Quarter Horse Days 88 Thoroughbred Days

December 2013 April 2014

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January 2014 May 2014 01 02 03 04 01 02 03 08 09 10 11 07 08 09 10 15 16 17 18 14 15 16 17 22 23 24 25 21 22 23 24 28 29 30 31 29 30 31

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January 2014 84 Thoroughbred Days

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Fair Grounds Race Course 2013-2014 Race Meets

1751 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70119 504-944-5515 * www.fairgroundsracecourse.com

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs 2014 Race Meets

8000 Hwy 80 East, PO Box 5519, Bossier City, LA 71171 318-742-5555 * www.ladowns.com

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

January 2014 May 2014 August 2014 02 03 01 02 11 04 08 09 10 03 07 08 09

12 13 14 18 11 15 16 17 10 14 15 16 19 20 21 25 18 23 24 17 21 22 23 26 27 28 25 26 29 30 31 24/31 28 29 30

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02 03 04 08 08 12 13 14 07 11 12 13 09 10 11 15 15 19 20 21 14 18 19 20 16 17 18 22 22 26 27 28 21 23 24 25 29 84 Thoroughbred Days

March 2014 July 2014 01 03 04 05

02 03 04 08 06 10 11 12 09 10 11 15 13 17 18 19 16/23 17/24 18/25 19/26 22 20 24 25 26 46 Quarter Horse Days 27 31 84 Thoroughbred Days

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino 2014 Race Meet

2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, LA 70570

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June 2014 84 Thoroughbred Days 04 05 06 07

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upDates anD reminDers• The Louisiana HBPA will conduct an election for all 10 board members

and the president on March 25. Election ballots will be mailed March 5 and must be received at the designated post office box marked on the ballot envelope by March 25.

• Please help us have a good 2014 election by making sure that the LAHBPA has your correct mailing address so that you may receive your ballot. Please contact the horsemen’s bookkeeper to verify and update your address at any of the Louisiana racetracks or at the LAHBPA main office at (504) 945-1555 as soon as possible.

• Horsemen are reminded to have their jock and pony fees on deposit with the bookkeeper before their horse starts.

• Workers’ compensation accounts should be funded and kept current.• If you wish to have the payroll checks of workers approved, please make

sure you have a current executed agreement on file with the LAHBPA.• Our website at lahbpa.org is updated on a regular basis to inform

horsemen of changes to training hours or any closings.

miChigaN hBPa

we’re bacK to the citY in michiGan!The Michigan HBPA, together with Hazel Park Raceway and Northville

Downs, is pleased to announce that the Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued executive orders that allow for Thoroughbred racing to return to the metropolitan Detroit area this year. Thoroughbreds will begin their race meet at Hazel Park on Sunday afternoon, June 29, followed by a “grand reintroduction” of Thoroughbred racing planned for Friday, July 4. Racing at Hazel Park will be conducted every Friday and Saturday evening from July 4 until October 11 with a 7:00 p.m. post time. Construction of the new racing surface and facility changes are scheduled to begin as soon as weather permits.

Hazel Park was a premiere location for Michigan Thoroughbred racing until 1984 and the return of a Thoroughbred racing program after a 30-year absence has been long sought after. The MiHBPA and the horsemen and women of our sport are very pleased with this new relationship between Hazel Park and the MiHBPA. Hazel Park’s principals are making a large investment in the future of Michigan pari-mutuel racing, and the MiHBPA has clearly demonstrated its willingness to be a partner and participant to assist the racetrack in every way possible.

Northville Downs, which has operated for 70 years as a harness racing track since its opening in 1944, will be making its first appearance in the Thoroughbred racing market. Track conversion and facilities construction are scheduled to begin at Northville in June with the inaugural Thoroughbred opening day planned for October 18. Post time is tentatively slated for 1:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through November 16.

The addition of Thoroughbred racing in the Northville market offers even more opportunities for new and veteran horse racing fans to enjoy the sport in the Detroit metro area. The additional strategic partnership between the MiHBPA and Northville Downs will be focused on reinvigorating the horse racing fan base.

Although horse racing has had a difficult time competing in the wagering market in recent years, the MiHBPA is confident that a reversal is coming. There needs to be significant changes in the format of horse racing for the Michigan fans and new opportunities for the tracks and the horsemen to participate in other forms of revenue at the tracks, like advanced deposit wagering and horse racing video lottery terminals. The Michigan HBPA is working closely with the

racetracks to implement these changes.Since 1933, Thoroughbred horse racing has played a vital role in Michigan’s

equine-agricultural environment. Michigan horsemen spend millions of dollars in maintaining equine farms, purchasing trucks and trailers, employing more than 12,000 Michigan residents and supporting feed and hay farmers.

The new relationship between the MiHBPA and the Detroit-area racetracks is structured as a five-year plan and will hopefully reinvigorate the breeding industry in Michigan as well. Many Michigan breeders have been uncertain of the future of Thoroughbred racing in the state, and many breeders have indicated that these new agreements will provide the inspiration to return to the business. The next two years will certainly be transition years in Michigan as the confidence level increases and incentives for breeding and racing in the state are being explored.

The MiHBPA looks forward to welcoming home many of the trainers and owners who have been economically forced to travel to surrounding states in the past three years. Our association will make every effort to provide improved opportunities for all of our current, past and future members.

new boarD membersThe election results for the MiHBPA are in and the board is pleased to

announce that Jason Uelmen has been reelected to the board in the trainer category and Chrissy Kutlenios has been elected to the board in the owner category. Our thanks to all that sought office and your commitment to the MiHBPA.

FacebooK anD websiteAs new and pertinent information becomes available, the MiHBPA will post

developments to our website at mihbpa.com and to our Facebook page.

miNNesoTa hBPa

summers are wonDerFul in minnesota!It has been a long cold winter in Minnesota, and we are anxiously looking

forward to spring and seeing the horses start to roll into the backside. The gates open on April 22 and, weather permitting, the track will open for training on April 25. Racing resumes Friday, May 16..Thanks to added purse money from the Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund, we will again have a full backside of competitive horses running into mid-September. Average purses for 2014 are expected to be $21,750 per race. Minnesota-bred stakes will have a minimum purse of $60,000 and open stakes will be $75,000!

If you were not aware, the Minnesota HBPA was sued by North Metro Harness Initiative, the owners of Running Aces Harness Park, over the agreement made with us back in 2005 when they were approved for their license. This suit started in August 2012 and has now been settled.

After spending more than $150,000 in attorney’s fees and months of meetings and depositions, we have come to an agreement. Upon advice of counsel and agreement of the board of the Minnesota HBPA and the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association, we have settled the suit. Here’s the settlement: The purse account received $1.25 million with no strings attached. Plus, we will receive approximately $29,000 back from the monies not spent with the American Arbitration Association. Thanks to our attorneys, the MQHRA and the Minnesota HBPA board for all of their help in getting this problem taken care of. This money, along with the Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund, will increase purses for 2014. Running Aces will now try to enter into a new simulcast agreement with Canterbury Park.

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Trainers, if you have not yet seen it, The Jockey Club has a wonderful resource for you to make yourself available to new owners. Go to ownerview.com and create a profile. This will enable prospective clients to find you by name or racetrack.

See you soon!

mouNTaiNeer Park hBPa

The children’s Christmas party of 2013 hosted by the Mountaineer Park Chaplaincy was a great success with many happy children in attendance. They made crafts, listened to a special presentation on the true meaning of Christmas and enjoyed a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Special thanks to all those who donated their time and talents and also to Billy Johnson, who provided the pizza and drinks.

The 2013 racing year at Mountaineer Park concluded with extreme weather conditions forcing the extension of our racing calendar until December 29. Bart Baird finished the year with leading trainer honors with 47 wins, and Jeff Radosevich followed with 39 victories. Total wagering from all sources on live Mountaineer races was $247.96 million, up 3.2 percent from 2012. Purse distribution totaled $26.47 million, and purse distribution for stakes was just over $2 million. The 2014 live racing season will encompass 210 days of racing commencing on March 1. For 2014, the days of racing have changed to Saturdays through Wednesday evenings. Friday racing has been eliminated in favor of a Wednesday card.

Our board of directors and president are monitoring pending state legislation that could, if passed, dramatically affect our purse structure. We are enlisting the support of local government officials as well as our membership to stop this legislation. The pending legislation would reduce by 15 percent the net proceeds of the video lottery funds contributed to our purse account. The anticipated loss of video lottery funds at Mountaineer Park when racinos in Ohio commence is estimated at more than 20 percent.

A study titled “The Economic Impact of the Thoroughbred and Greyhound Racing Industries on West Virginia’s Economy 2012,” conducted by West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics, supports our position to keep racing viable in the state. Some of the key finds of the study include:

• Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing industries in West Virginia contribute more than $321 million in total business volume to the state’s economy. To provide context, this level of output constitutes about 12 percent of the leisure and hospitality sector statewide.

• The industries support more than 7,300 jobs in West Virginia. This figure is equivalent to about 10 percent of the employment in the state’s leisure and hospitality sector.

• The industries generate more than $100 million in total employee compensation.

• The industries generate $4.6 million in total state tax revenue.• Thoroughbred racing accounts for around three-fourths of the total

economic impact of the total industries.Please remember to check our webpage at mphbpa.com for our monthly

newsletter. Also please stop in the Mountaineer Park HBPA office or email us at egonzalez@mphbpa.com to update your contact information.

Wishing each of you good racing luck in 2014!

New eNglaNd hBPa

suFFolK Downs newsBy Lynne SniersonUncertainty. That single word sums up what the Thoroughbred racing and

breeding industries in New England are contending with on many fronts. As of press time in early February, it was impossible to determine what the

future holds for Suffolk Downs, the sole surviving Thoroughbred track in the region and the only facility in Massachusetts with a one-mile oval and a turf course.

The owners of Suffolk Downs have maintained that they cannot continue to offer live racing while sustaining multimillion-dollar annual losses unless gaming partner Mohegan Sun is successful in its bid to win the sole destination casino resort license designated for the Greater Boston area.

Mohegan Sun, which proposes to develop a $1.3 billion project on racetrack grounds, and Wynn Resorts, which hopes to put a $1.6 billion project in the city of Everett located only two miles from the racetrack, are the two finalists.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has pushed back the date to award the license from April to sometime in May, according to its current timetable.

Nevertheless, the Mohegan Sun/Suffolk Downs partnership could only remain in the hunt if it prevailed in a second referendum in the city of Revere slated for February 25. The voters were sent back to the polls after Suffolk Downs, which straddles the cities of East Boston and Revere, saw split results in November 5 ballot initiatives. East Boston residents resoundingly rejected the proposal to develop a world-class destination resort casino at the track while Revere voters supported the measure by a 61-39 percent margin on the same day.

That forced the track, which at the time was without a gaming partner and quickly allied with Mohegan Sun, to relocate the entire project to approximately 42 of the 52 acres located in Revere. Under terms of the deal, Suffolk Downs would become the landlord and Mohegan Sun, which has publicly stated it has no interest in racing, would own and operate the gaming.

Renderings of the proposed $1.3 billion Mohegan Sun/Suffolk Downs project

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC

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Massachusetts law stipulates that the racing and gaming would then have to be totally separate entities. But the backside of the racetrack is located entirely on the Revere side of the property, so no stabling, training or even housing of workers could take place there. Moreover, Mohegan Sun would need the land that the barns, dormitories and other buildings sit on for construction of the massive casino project, which includes a 500-room hotel, restaurants, retail shops and a full service 10,000 sq. ft. spa.

Therefore, a practical alternative training and stabling site, preferably with a one-mile main track, turf course and suitable workforce housing, would be required. But being able to find or build such a facility in the heavily developed Boston region, one that would also be within reasonable traveling distance of Suffolk Downs, is a Herculean task.

Although there have been discussions to rent the idle Rockingham Park in New Hampshire and have the horses ship in to race, the plan is fraught with problems. Another possibility is to convert part of the existing Suffolk grandstand to house 750 horses and construct additional new barns and buildings on the East Boston side of the property.

While these critical issues remained up in the air at press time, Suffolk’s management and the New England HBPA had yet to reach a new deal on purses to be paid in 2014, the number of live racing days and even the dates of the meet. Negotiations were continuing.

“We hope to have an agreement that is equitable and fair to the horsemen in place soon so that everyone may move forward with their plans for the upcoming meet,” said Anthony Spadea, president of the NEHBPA. “Despite all of the uncertainty that Suffolk Downs and the horsemen are faced with at this time, we’re trying our best to make sure there will be a successful live meet with a strong overnight program and competitive opportunities for horses in all divisions.”

Adding to the instability of the future, horsemen would not find out until mid- or late February the decision of the Horse Racing Development Fund (HRDF), a subsidiary of the gaming commission. The HRDF was tasked with splitting between the Thoroughbred and Standardbred horsemen what are expected to be considerable subsidies generated by a predetermined percentage of the gross gaming revenue from the three destination casinos and single slots parlor, regardless of which companies are awarded the licenses.

In October, the NEHBPA and Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association submitted a co-authored report with empirical evidence demonstrating that the Thoroughbred industry generates 90 percent of the racing revenue in the state and thus deserves 90 percent of the resources to be awarded through the HRDF.

It has yet to be determined what will happen to those funds designated for the horsemen and breeders if Mohegan Sun does not win the license at Suffolk Downs and there is no live Thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts.

new hampshire upDateMeanwhile, in New Hampshire new bills that would expand gambling were

introduced in the state Senate and House of Representatives in late January and early February. But none of the bills included any provisions for the restoration or regulation of live racing or for a breeding program.

While the bill that was expected to easily pass in the Senate called for the development of two casinos, a high-end one in the southern part of the state and a smaller one in the north country, Governor Maggie Hassan was putting her support behind House Bill 1633, which would legalize a single destination resort casino to be located along the border with Massachusetts.

Millennium Gaming of Las Vegas, which holds the option to purchase Rockingham Park should gambling be expanded in the Granite State, is perceived as the odds-on favorite to win the bidding process for the license for the high-end casino in the southern tier should either bill be signed into law.

But strong opposition to casino gambling remained in the House, which has killed every piece of expanded gambling in modern times.

Millennium officials have stated that should they prove successful, the return of live racing is part of their plan for the revitalization of Rockingham Park, which last held a Thoroughbred meet in 2002 and a Standardbred meet in 2009. Nonetheless, Millennium officials have not committed to the reintroduction of live racing and added it would depend upon a number of factors at the time. They also said it is premature to declare whether Thoroughbred or harness racing would be invited back if it comes to pass.

awarD winnersThe New England Turf Writers Association (NETWA) voted for the

organization’s annual award winners after the conclusion of the 2013 meet in November and the divisional champions are:

2-year-old filly: Blessed Time2-year-old male: Duty Proper3-year-old filly: Secret Returnrobert m. o’malley memorial award for 3-year-old male: How Convenientolder female: Wildcat AppealJames r. Bishop memorial award for older male: Olympistturf female: Lapantalones FanceJoseph e. Carney memorial award for turf male: Perfect Joiskisprinter: How ConvenientCliff sundberg memorial award for New england-bred: Victor Laszlospecial achievement award winners: Chaotic Bull and Glowing PromiseThe NETWA’s most prestigious annual awards go to Kathy Ritvo, who

became the first woman to train a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner when dual Grade 1 winner Mucho Macho Man defeated a world-class field in November, and veterinarian Dr. Richard Sheehan Jr., who has served the racing community for more than 20 years.

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Ritvo, now based in South Florida, was voted the winner of the Lou Smith Memorial Award for Yearly Achievement. As a member of the Petro and Ritvo families, she grew up in the New England racing community. Dr. Sheehan, winner of the Sam McCracken Award for Lifetime Achievement, also has deep regional roots and follows in the footsteps of his father, longtime equine veterinarian Dr. Richard Sheehan, who won the same prestigious award in 1997.

John Rigattieri, who finished atop the Suffolk Downs trainer standings for the 11th consecutive year, and Tammi Piermarini, the leading rider for the fourth straight season and racing’s all-time third winningest woman jockey, won top honors in their respective categories.

The winner of the James B. Moseley Award for Horse of the Year will be revealed at the awards dinner to be held at the Danversport Yacht Club in July. The NETWA’s Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be elected in the spring and inducted that same evening.

ohio hBPa

Racing dates have been set for three of the four Thoroughbred tracks that will race in Ohio in 2014.

Beulah Park is currently in the midst of its 59-day winter-spring meeting that began on January 6 and runs through Kentucky Derby Day on May 3, which will be the final day of racing ever at the track that is celebrating its 90th year in operation.

Thistledown will conduct 122 days of live racing in 2014. Racing will begin on Friday, April 18, and run through Sunday, November 16. Racing will be conducted on Friday and Saturday for the opening weekend of the meet. Sundays are added to the schedule the following weekend, starting on Sunday, April 27. Wednesdays are added to the schedule beginning the first week in May. Racing will be conducted four days per week throughout the remainder of the meeting at Thistledown.

Belterra Park, formerly River Downs, will begin racing on a new surface when its 100-day live racing season starts on Thursday, May 8. Live racing will be conducted on a Thursday through Sunday schedule each week. Additional live racing day cards will be held on Memorial Day, May 26, and Labor Day, September 1. The meeting concludes on Sunday, October 19.

The Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) has yet to act on a request from Penn National Gaming Inc. for a 21-day meeting at the new Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown, which would run from November 24 through December 30 pending a commitment from Penn to build the more than 1,000 stalls at Mahoning Valley that both the OSRC and the OHBPA feel are a necessity.

oklahoma hBPa (ThoroughBred raCiNg assoCiaTioN oF oklahoma)

oKlahoma horse inDustrY impact stuDY releaseDThe Oklahoma Equine Alliance in November released a comprehensive

study showing that the economic impact generated by the Oklahoma equine industry, including the Thoroughbred racing and breeding segments, reached $3.6 billion in 2012, yielding roughly 35,070 full-time equivalent jobs. The study was completed in 2013 and commissioned by members of the Oklahoma Equine Alliance.

Members of the Oklahoma Equine Alliance include the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association,

Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows, Oklahoma Horse Council, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The study provides thorough economic data and highlights the cooperative efforts of private and public partnerships that have driven the growth of Oklahoma’s equine business.

Oklahoma is known worldwide for its top caliber horses as well as its top-tier facilities. Oklahoma is recognized as the “horse show capital of the world,” is home to more than 1,000 rodeo events and hosts the top race meet for American Quarter Horses in the United States as well as top-tier Thoroughbred racing. The Oklahoma State Fair Park and Tulsa Expo Square have completed improvements to their facilities totaling more than $250 million since 2005. The facilities are a significant component in the ability to host national and international equine events year-round.

“There is no doubt that the equine industry is a significant economic driver within our Oklahoma economy,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese. “With a total impact of $3.6 billion and generation of over $100 million in state and local taxes, it is evident that the equine industry is important to all areas of our state. We want to continue to support our equine events and participants as they create opportunity here in Oklahoma.”

For additional information and copies of the study, contact Blayne Arthur at (405) 522-6105 or blayne.arthur@ag.ok.gov.

conGratulations to the 2014-2016 owner/trainer trao DirectorsThe following were elected to serve on the TRAO Board of Directors as

Owners/Trainers: Donnie K. Von Hemel, Joe Offolter, Tim G. Williams, Randy Oberlander and Kari Craddock.

trao boarD member oF the month: wilson brownWilson Brown was born in Cement, Oklahoma, and went to 13 different

schools because he followed and worked the crops, chopping and pulling cotton and hauling hay. He has loved horses his whole life.

When he was 13, he moved to a farm in Verden that had about 40 horses—big horses, Welshes and Shetlands. He thought, “I’d died and gone to heaven.” He leaned on the fence and smelled the sweat and manure. What else could a boy wish for! Wilson and his brother Jesse broke all of the farm owner’s horses without the benefit of saddles, whether he wanted them broken or not.

A licensed trainer for about 40 years, Wilson recently turned 71 and decided to retire at the end of the Remington Park meet. After getting his license in Holly, Colorado, he won his first start and thought it was easy. Little did he know!

Wilson started running Quarter Horses at Apache Downs but wanted to run them all at 660 or 870 yards, so he moved to Thoroughbreds early on. A few trainers he started with include Dale Sneed, Evans Komardly, Lynn Farrell, Curtis Alpers and Mike Teel. Wilson sold Mike his first racehorse, although he’s not sure if Mike likes or dislikes him for that today!

Wilson has met a lot of wonderful people racing across America. He has two children, Todd and Terri, and his wife, Brenda, has two children, Brandon and Bridget. Together they have eight grandchildren. They have missed a lot of their grandchildren’s events, sports and dancing, so he hopes not to miss any more after retirement. Wilson and Brenda bought a farm north of Stillwater and have their home and training facility west of Jones for sale.

Wilson has had some great clients over the years and some not so great—those he didn’t have very long. He was blessed having a colt, It’sallinthechase, for Darwin Olson that he started in the Breeders’ Cup in 2001. In 2002, he enjoyed the experience of a lifetime as he ran the colt in the Kentucky Derby. Wilson wishes every owner and trainer who has fought this racing game could

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have the same experience. He always said, “If I couldn’t run 2-year-olds, I’d find another profession. They were my passion!”

It’s been a long race from Apache Downs to so many racetracks he can’t remember. He has raced horses at Remington Park since its opening day, been in the same barn since day one and considers it to be one of the best racetracks he has raced on.

Wilson said that during his time on the hard-working TRAO board he hopes that some beneficial things for the horsemen and Oklahoma racetracks have been accomplished.

TRAO wishes him a happy retirement!

tulsa countY Fair boarD votes For 2014 live race meetThe Tulsa County fair board on December 3 gave the go-ahead for another

year of live horse racing at Fair Meadows.The board, formally known as the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority,

voted 4-0 to hold the races for the 26th consecutive year. The 400-race meet will be held June 5 to July 26.

The future of live horse racing at Fair Meadows has been up in the air since 2012, when the fair board agreed to end live racing at the track as part of a $1.44 million-a-year naming rights agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

ron shotts retires From Fair meaDowsRon Shotts, the longtime director of racing at Fair Meadows who had

worked at the track since it opened in 1989, retired on December 31. “Ron Shotts has been an outstanding director of horse racing for Fair

Meadows,” said Expo Square President and CEO Mark Andrus in an article in the Tulsa World. “I appreciate his work and wish him the best in his retirement.”

Shotts, 67, was a tailback at the University of Oklahoma and became interested in horse racing through his father and horse owner, Art. Shotts recalled the early days of Fair Meadows, when crowds of 6,000 or more were not uncommon.

“It was just new and exciting,” he told the newspaper. “And, of course, if you wanted to make a legal bet in Oklahoma back then, you had to go to a racetrack.

“I was just really fortunate to have a good staff that did all the work,” he added.

A replacement for Shotts has not yet been named.

will roGers Downs 2014 race DatesMarch: 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 29, 31 (10 days)April: 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 29 (13 days)May: 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17 (7 days)Total Race Days: 30 at 10 races per day = 300 races

more chanGes to blacK-tYpe stanDarDs in 2014The North American International Catalogue Standards Committee in

November issued a reminder that effective January 1, 2014, additional quality control requirements will be implemented for non-listed black-type races.

The new requirements, first announced in November 2012, include the addition of a minimum Race Quality Score for individual age/sex divisions.

For more information, go to northamericanicsc.com.

hBPa oF oNTario

theY’re bacK!After what has been a bone-chilling and snowy winter in Ontario, the

Woodbine Race Track backstretch opened for Thoroughbred training on February 18 with opening day scheduled for Saturday, April 12. There will be 133 race days at Woodbine with racing scheduled at 1:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday (May 19, August 4, September 1 and October 13) and Tuesday, July 1. Wednesday night racing will begin on May 28 and will be conducted throughout the season, except for the following days: July 2, August 6, September 3 and October 15. Post time on Wednesdays will be 6:45 p.m.

live thorouGhbreD racinG at Fort erie race tracK in 2014The board of directors of the HBPA of Ontario is pleased to advise there will

be live Thoroughbred racing at Fort Erie Race Track in 2014.Meetings to organize, schedule and promote the race meet at the historic

border oval are taking place. Horse people can assist by spreading this positive news and by encouraging fellow horse people to support horse racing at Fort Erie. It will be essential that we as an industry continue to showcase our commitment to live racing at Fort Erie, to improving the game and growing our fan base.

On behalf of Thoroughbred horse people in Ontario, the HBPA extends its sincere appreciation to Premier Kathleen Wynne, John Snobelen and the many others for their commitment to working with the horse racing industry to bring this agreement to fruition.

Additional details on the 2014 race season at Fort Erie will be released when available.

orc vets’ list policY chanGesOn January 8, the Ontario Racing Commission issued a notice to the

industry to advise trainers with horses on the vets’ list from 2013 that they should take the necessary steps to complete any required official timed work and/or official veterinary examination prior to entering the horse in any jurisdiction. This is a change in policy from the 2013 season when horses on the vets’ list were removed at the conclusion of the race season.

According to ORC spokespeople, “Recent improvements in co-operation throughout North American racing jurisdictions have made it possible to maintain an official Thoroughbred vets’ list between racing seasons and will provide protection for the health and safety of both horses and racing participants.”

To contact an official veterinarian, call the Woodbine race office at (416) 675-7223, ext. 2526 or the ORC Vet Hotline at 1 (855) 261-6821.

Trainers are reminded that prior to the beginning of the 2014 Ontario Thoroughbred racing season, they must make arrangements with ORC’s official veterinarian to have their horses examined for removal from the list.

assistant trainer anD trainer testinG Dates For 2014Do you live and work in Ontario in the Thoroughbred industry and are you

interested in taking the HBPA of Ontario assistant trainer or trainer test this year? The following are the test dates for 2014. Application packages are available from the Woodbine backstretch office or online at hbpa.on.ca. Please note all applications are due three weeks prior to the test dates.

application Date test DateMarch 5 March 26 April 12 April 23May 21 June 11 July 2 July 23September 3 September 24

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oregoN hBPa

Hello everyone from the Oregon HBPA. We finished up our race meet on January 26, and it was a good one.

Trainer Jim Fergason took home the leading trainer title with 34 winners. Rigoberto (Jessie) Velasquez (24), Nick Lowe (23), Jonathan Nance (22) and Sam Dronen (21) rounded out our top five in the Thoroughbred trainer standings.

The leading jockey title for the first time in her career went to Eliska Kubinova with 55 wins, followed by Leonel Camacho-Flores (49), Joe Crispin (45), Jorge Rosales (39) and Javier Matias (35).

Art McFadden and Howard Belvoir shared the leading owner title with nine Thoroughbred winners each.

Congratulations to all those leaders and to all the horsemen and horsewomen who participated in the race meet. Thank you!

During the last few days of the meet, the Portland Meadows Derby was won by Hurliman Enterprises’ Maddie’s Gold, trained by Debby Fergason, who ran against other top 3-year-olds including Jet Set Kitten, owned by Bob and Pat Cosgrove and trained by Jonathan Nance; Stoney River, owned by Larry and Gay Welliver and trained by Debbie Van Horne; Nosetodagrindstone, owned by Horseplayers Racing Club LLC and trained by Rody Barrett; and Softstar, owned by Oscar Holguin and trained by Pablo De Jesus. What a great bunch of horses, owners and trainers.

Because of an increase in purses this season, funded by the reserve funds of the Oregon HBPA, the fields filled better than ever, the handle numbers were up and it was a very successful race meet. Hope we can keep this upward trend for future racing here.

Horsemen were going every which way after our closing day, so we do wish them good luck wherever they end up.

PeNNsylvaNia hBPa

Winter has belted the Harrisburg area with a fury not seen in years. Extremes in cold temperatures and snow and freezing rain have caused many racing cancellations at Penn National Race Course. Training in the morning has been sporadic and difficult…but, as always, horsemen persevere. They are a hardy lot!

The leader in number of wins for trainers in 2013 was John G. Locke (90), followed by Timothy C. Kreiser (86). The leading jockey was David Cora (178) with Dana G. Whitney a distant second (133).

The leading owner was Rock Bottom Ranch, the stable name of trainer Sandee Martin, who is making her mark at Penn National. Born and raised in Harrisburg, Sandee had a banner year in 2013. Rock Bottom Ranch led all owners in races won (58) and did it with a modest stable of only 20 horses. She also had the winningest horse at the meet in Reign Suzanne, an Ontario-bred 3-year-old filly who won eight of 14 starts while banking $133,760.

Sandee attributes her involvement in horse racing to her parents and family. She is the youngest of six children with three sisters and two brothers. Her father, Army pilot Colonel John Martin, did two stints in Vietnam then settled locally with his wife, Donna, to raise a family. They set up a horse farm in Hershey, and the rest is history. She was working and riding horses from the age of three. They had a Quarter Horse stallion and some ponies on the farm, and riding them came easy to her. Her sister Candee galloped Thoroughbreds at Penn National and influenced her to try her hand.

A graduate of Lower Dauphin High School, Sandy began working with Thoroughbreds at Stone Meadow Farm at the age of 14. She worked while

attending school and both galloped and ponied horses to the post during the races. Under the tutelage of Dean Crane, a legendary local horseman, she learned to break babies and eventually got the opportunity to ride in a race. In June 1987, she rode her first race for Dean. As an apprentice in 1988, she won 163 races to lead all “bugs” at Penn National and finished third nationally for the Eclipse Award in the apprentice jockey category. Her career as a jockey lasted 10 years, but due to some major injuries she hung up her tack and began a training career.

Her love of riding horses has never waned. She still gets on many of her own horses in training and has continued to ride the amateur circuits all over the world. She most recently rode in the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in Dubai and also participates in the International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders. Sandee has traveled the globe and ridden in such faraway and exotic places as Macao on the outskirts of Hong Kong; Casablanca, Morocco; Oman on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the middle of a desert; Berlin, Germany; and in this country as far away as California and Texas. She is undoubtedly an international star and now a rising star on the local front. Congratulations, Sandee!

TamPa Bay dowNs hBPa

The Tampa Bay Downs HBPA kicked off the 2013-2014 meet with its annual Christmas party on December 17. Good weather, food and holiday spirit brought out more than 300 owners, trainers and backside workers to enjoy the festivities. Many thanks to all volunteers who helped make it a great day.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, your TBD HBPA donated to several worthy charitable 501(c) organizations, including:

• Bakas Equestrian Center: Sponsorship in 2014 of a therapeutic horse named Chester.

• The Holiday Sharing Fund: A local sheriff’s organization that provides bicycles to needy children in the Oldsmar area.

• Equestrian Inc. Horse Rescue: Sponsorship of a hole in its benefit golf tournament as well as the donation of one ton of hay per month through the end of the meet. Anyone wishing to make a donation to this worthy organization may do so by visiting its website at equestrianinc.org.

• Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa: Payment of November board for 15 horses in the organization’s care.

Thanks to the 15 percent purse increase realized at the beginning of the meet, the TBD HBPA has been able to render more assistance to the backside with medical and dental needs.

We would like to thank Glenda Smith of Equestrian Inc. and Pam Barry for their efforts in finding homes for some of the retired Thoroughbreds at Tampa Bay Downs. Key Haven, retired from racing by his owner Vic Scodius, found a successful new career in the hunter/jumper world thanks to Pam’s efforts.

Congratulations to the following recipients of the TBD HBPA Groom of the Week Award:

Luiz Hernandez – Trainer, Kenneth Cox Martin Garcia – Trainer, Robert O’Connor Chas Diton – Trainer, Rick Slomkowski Jose Orantes – Trainer, Charles Harvatt Pas Bradus – Trainer, William BradleyEach recipient received $50 and an embroidered TBD HBPA jacket and hat. If you are at the track, remember to stop in on Saturday mornings for coffee

and donuts.

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Our annual owner/trainer appreciation dinner was held at Countryside Country Club on February 24. Once again, we were treated to a fun evening of dining and dancing, as well as surprises and games.

Plans are in the works for our annual horsemen’s backside barbecue, which will be held in the latter part of March. We’ll keep you posted on the date and time.

washiNgToN hBPa

emeralD Downs traininG beGins For 19th seasonThe horses were on the track on Saturday, February 1, in preparation for

the 2014 Emerald Downs live meet. Instead of a traditional Friday evening opening day, this year, the 75-day meet begins Saturday, April 12, and runs through Sunday, September 28. Racing will be offered Saturdays and Sundays during April with Friday, May 2, being the start of three-day per week racing. With the exception of July 3 (the popular fireworks extravaganza), there will be no Thursday racing in 2014. Monday holiday racing will be held May 26 and September 1. Although the horse population seems to be rebounding, the change in schedule is felt to better serve the welfare of the horse. Spreading the season over a larger amount of time should give horses more rest between races and increase field size.

Director of Racing Bret Anderson reported that nearly 300 horses were on the grounds for the first day back at the track, almost double the horse population from February 1, 2012. He expects more than 1,000 horses to be in the stable area in time for the track’s opening day.

Emerald Downs has announced a 29-race stakes schedule worth more than $1.6 million and highlighted by the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile and Washington Cup XII for state-breds. See page 63 for the complete schedule.

Due primarily to a decrease in total Northwest Racing Series (NWRS) nominations for 2014, the available purse money for series stakes was down this year. Fortunately, most of the shortfall was made up by sponsorship and the purse account. As of this writing, only the Gottstein Futurity suffered a loss in purse value, however, sources report that sponsorships are still being sought for the Northwest’s premier 2-year-old race whose name honors Joe Gottstein, the founder of the historic Longacres Racetrack that served as Washington’s primary racetrack for 57 years from 1933 to 1991.

emeralD Downs announces $1.6 million staKes scheDule hiGhliGhteD bY GraDe 3 lonGacres mile

A 29-race stakes schedule featuring the 79th renewal of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3), three stakes doubleheaders and Washington Cup XII has been announced for the 2014 season at Emerald Downs.

Beginning with the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares on Sunday, May 11, and ending with a stakes doubleheader for 2-year-olds on closing day, Sunday, September 28, a total of $1,610,000 will be offered in stakes purses.

Twenty-six stakes are scheduled on Sundays including the Longacres Mile on August 24. The Mile—among the Northwest’s most enduring and iconic sporting events—is half of a stakes doubleheader also featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

According to Emerald Downs Vice President Jack Hodge and Director of Racing Bret Anderson, the 2014 stakes schedule allows all categories several opportunities at large purses and is designed so that horses peak for the biggest events in August and September.

The schedule features 10 stakes events for older horses, 10 races for 3-year-olds, eight events for 2-year-olds and one race for American Quarter Horses.

The road to the Longacres Mile begins Sunday, May 18, with the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs, and continues Sunday, June 15, with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. The $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap on Sunday, July 20, serves as the final local prep, and 2013 Horse of the Meet Herbie D used the 1 1/16-mile event as a perfect tune-up for his brilliant victory in last year’s Longacres Mile.

Annually attracting several of the nation’s fastest middle-distance runners, the Mile culminates a tremendous two-week stretch that features championship events in four categories. In addition to the Mile and Emerald Distaff, 3-year-old fillies meet in the $65,000 Washington Oaks on Saturday, August 9, and 3-year-olds square off in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Sunday, August 10.

The 2-year-old divisions tilt heavily toward the latter half of the meeting, capped by a September 28 doubleheader featuring the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles and the $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes at six furlongs.

Washington Cup XII—six races exclusively for Washington-breds worth an aggregate $300,000—is Sunday, September 7. Again in 2014, Washington Cup races are worth $50,000 in all six stakes divisions: 2-year-olds, 2-year-old fillies, 3-year-olds, 3-year-old fillies, older horses and older fillies and mares.

The 75-day season, the 19th at Emerald Downs, begins Saturday, April 12. Live racing is offered every Saturday and Sunday through April, with Fridays

Horses returned to the track at Emerald Downs with horsemen showing their support for the Seattle Seahawks before their Super Bowl victory

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added to the schedule beginning May 2. Post time is 6:45 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. weekends. Exceptions are 1 p.m. for Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 3, and 4:30 p.m. for the Fireworks Spectacular, Thursday, July 3.

Holiday racing will be held Monday, May 26; Friday, July 4; and Monday, September 1.

2014 emeralD Downs staKes scheDuleDate Purse NameSun., May 11 $50,000 Hastings Handicap (3&UP F&M) 6FSun., May 18 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap (3&UP) 6 ½FSun., May 25 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G) 6 ½FSun., June 1 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F) 6 ½FSun., June 8 $50,000 WA State Legislators Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6 ½FSun., June 15 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap (3&UP) 1MSun., June 22 $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G) 1MSun., June 29 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F) 1MSun., July 6 $50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M) 1MSun., July 13 $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G) 1 1/16MSat., July 19 $50,000 Kent Handicap (3YO F) 1 1/16MSun., July 20 $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP) 1 1/16MSun., July 20 $50,000 Emerald Express* (2YO C&G) 6FSun., July 27 $50,000 Angie C Stakes* (2YO F) 6FSat., Aug. 9 $65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F) 1 1/8MSun., Aug. 10 $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO) 1 1/8MSat., Aug. 16 $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes* (2YO C&G) 6 ½FSun., Aug. 17 $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F) 6 ½F Sun., Aug. 24 $65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1 1/8MSun., Aug. 24 $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP) 1MSun., Aug. 31 TBA Bank of America Championship Challenge

(3&UP QH) 440YWa Cup xIISun., Sep. 7 $50,000 Northwest Farms Stakes (2YO F WA) 6FSun., Sep. 7 $50,000 DRF Dennis Dodge Stakes (2YO C&G WA) 6FSun., Sep. 7 $50,000 Comcast SportsNet Stakes (3YO F WA) 1MSun., Sep. 7 $50,000 Jim Beam Stakes (3YO C&G WA) 1MSun., Sep. 7 $50,000 Pegasus Training Center (3&UP F&M WA) 1 1/16MSun., Sep. 7 $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA) 1 1/16MSun., Sep. 28 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity* (2YO) 1 1/16MSun., Sep. 28 $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes* (2YO) 6F*Includes NWRS money

crocKett honoreD with sports citizen awarDEmerald Downs President Ron Crockett was recognized with one of

Seattle’s most prestigious honors, the 2013 Paul Allen Sports Citizen Award, earlier this year.

The award is given annually to an individual who has made a significant or compelling philanthropic contribution. In addition to saving the state’s Thoroughbred racing industry, Crockett is a longtime benefactor of Seattle Children’s Hospital and played a leadership role in raising $50 million for the renovation of Husky Stadium.

Former University of Washington basketball star Quincy Pondexter, whom Crockett mentored during his four years with the Huskies, and Crockett’s 10-year-old granddaughter Lauren Slavin, introduced him, and he received a standing ovation while making his way to the stage.

A video tribute offered congratulations from a diverse list of subjects including UW Athletic Director Scott Woodward, Washington HBPA President Ron Maus, Husky tailback Deontae Cooper and officials from Seattle Children’s Hospital.

In accepting the award, Crockett thanked his wife, Wanda, and talked about growing up and attending Renton High School and receiving the McCurdy Scholarship that enabled him to attend the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Crockett later founded and owned Tramco, which performs maintenance and modification of airliners, growing the company from five employees in 1970 to 2,500 employees by the time he sold it in 1988.

Crockett, who attributes his success to his parents and his education, believes in philanthropy and is a strong supporter of the UW scholarship program, giving back to his alma mater.

sliGht increase For worKers’ comp in 2014Although total premiums collected increased and number of claims

decreased in 2013, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced higher premiums for the Washington horse racing industry for 2014.

“WHBPA Executive Assistant Lanna Allen is doing an exceptional job at managing claims,” reported co-worker MaryAnn O’Connell. “She takes getting people back to work at some capacity and fighting fraud very seriously. I’m not sure how high rates would be without her efforts.”

In 2013, L&I converted to a risk-based “per horse/per day” method for assessing premiums to cover exercise riders and employee pony persons. Because mandatory annual premiums are no longer collected, the effect of the more equitable method is an increase in the number of “ship-ins” and trainers who come to Emerald Downs later in the meet. The goal of the program is to keep the cost per horse/per day relatively even no matter how long the horse remains in training.

Thanks to the cooperative efforts of L&I, the Washington Horse Racing Commission, WHBPA and Emerald Downs, new for 2014, independent contractor pony persons may now purchase elective coverage by paying the per horse/per day premium.

The 2014 on-track rates are $1.40 per horse/per day plus $144 per month per groom. Trainers can pay a daily rate for temporary grooms or for exercise riders who work at farms or training centers. For more information, contact WHBPA staff at (253) 804-6822 or email contactus@whbpa.com.

From left, Miss Seafair Emily Rio Barber, Special Olympics athlete Tyler May, Ron Crockett, his granddaughter Lauren Slavin and former UW basketball star Quincy Pondexter

Rick May, Vision Photography

64 hJ sprinG 14

aDvertisers’ inDex AHC Products Inc. ..........................................................................................9Arlington Park ..............................................................................................64Barclay’s Collars ..........................................................................................64Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supply ........................................................................17Biomedical Research Laboratories ...............................................................11Centaur ....................................................................................................... BCDaily Racing Form ........................................................................................42Dandy Products Inc. .....................................................................................47Delaware Park ..............................................................................................22Equaide ........................................................................................................13equineline.com .............................................................................................33Equiwinner Patches .......................................................................................8Farrier Product Distribution ..........................................................................22Finish Line Horse Products .........................................................................4, 5Four Scorned LLC .........................................................................................42Hawthorne Products .......................................................................................6HBPA of Ontario ...........................................................................................37Horseman Labor Solutions ...........................................................................33Lavin Insurance Group LLC ..........................................................................42Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association .............................................47New Mexico Horse Breeders Association. ......................................................13Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission/TRAO ................................................ IFCPresque Isle Downs ......................................................................................48Pyranha ..................................................................................................... IBCSoft-Ride ......................................................................................................41TheraPlate ....................................................................................................13ThoroughGen ................................................................................................43TwinSpires....................................................................................................23Walters Buildings .........................................................................................64Xpressbet .....................................................................................................37Yearsley Bloodstock Insurance .....................................................................10W.F. Valentine & Company ...........................................................................13

for more informaTion or To reserve sPaCe, Call The horsemen’s Journal adverTising deParTmenT

aT {512.225.4483} {adverTising@hbPa.org}

advertising deadlinesPring 2014adverTising sPaCe reservaTions:

friday, may 2, 2014ad maTerials due: wednesday, may 7, 2014

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