North American Trainer - Fall 2009 - Issue 14

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North American Trainer ISSUE 14 (FALL 2009)

North American

ISSUE 14 (FALL 2009) $6.95

www.trainermagazine.com

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOROUGHBRED

Weighty Issues

Have synthetic surfaces changed the way racing secretaries write conditions?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Does it do more than aid recovery?

JOHN SHIRREFFS A trainer who likes to do things differently

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE

Publishing Ltd

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Introduction Giles Anderson

I am writing this introduction on the Sunday following the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita and now I don’t know why I bothered to wait! In fact I delayed printing of this issue until the race had been run. But part of me thinks, what would I have done if Zenyatta was beaten? Was I getting superstitious about the 13th race? Would I have changed the style of our cover feature on John Shirreffs? In hindsight, I doubt it.

Or perhaps I should follow John’s example and be more laid back and simply let what will be, be.

With our feature on John, we’ve got a strong insight for his way of doing things. John is obviously at one with his horses and perhaps takes the media scrutiny as part of the job rather than a tool for self-promotion. He strikes me as being the sort of person we’d all like to be – the ability to do well in whatever situation we find ourselves.

When Zenyatta runs in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita this November, she’ll be yet another iconic champion to have enthralled racing fans over the previous 75 years at the famous Arcadia race place.

Researching the different photographic options for this article was fascinating. Did we go down the easy route and go with mainly horse photos or did we try and capture the glory of yesteryear? To some the intro picture may seem a little bizarre, but consider California in 1934: when you look at the picture, bear in mind that the number of cars on the road was nothing like it is today, so to attract that number of vehicles in your parking lot on your opening day was some achievement.

In this issue of the magazine we also look at Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and discuss the ways the treatment can be used to aid in a horse’s recovery from injury. Much has been written on the subject over the last few months and the idea of our article is to look at the various situations in which the treatment can be used.

Last year we ran a table of different state-by-state breeding / ownership incentives and thanks to the interest that this table generated, we’ve updated this for the fall.

The next issue of North American Trainer will be published in late January, so until then, good luck wherever your racing takes you this winter. I ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 01

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CONTENTS ISSUE 14

North American Trainer magazine is published quarterly by Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd, who are based in the United Kingdom with a representative address in Kentucky. This magazine is distributed for free to all CTT members. Editorial views expressed are not necessarily those of Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd. Additional copies can be purchased for $6.95 (ex P+P). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States For all editorial and advertising inquiries please contact Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd Tel: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 1 888 218 4206 email: info@trainermagazine.com www.trainermagazine.com Issue 14

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California Thoroughbred Trainers The new challenges ahead for racing

12 John Shirreffs

Frances J. Karon meets John Shirreffs, a master horseman, hands-on trainer, and great ambassador for the sport of horseracing

20 Neurology

The identification and effects of neurological disease in the horse, which does not always spell the end of a promising career. By James Tate

28 Santa Anita

The site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Santa Anita has a long and storied history, as told by Larry Bortstein

40 Hemp

Hemp, a natural product with many uses, is a good source of protein and can now be found in horse feed – but proceed with caution.

By Catherine Dunnett

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CONTENTS ISSUE 14

60

50 42 HBOT

60 The Other Half

50 Weighty Issues

67 Product Focus 70 State Incentives 72 Stakes Schedules

An in-depth look at hyperbaric oxygen therapy that is increasingly being used to treat lowerlimb wounds on racehorses.

By Margaux Thomas Bill Heller talks to racing secretaries about the trials and tribulations of writing conditions for three surfaces

56 Skin

Barry Sangster and Phil Dyson discuss the ten most common skin ailments of the horse

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Ken Snyder lends insight into what it’s like to be the spouse of a successful trainer such as David Carroll, Tim Ice, Graham Motion and Helen Pitts-Blasi

Indexes of forthcoming major stakes races

80 Arnold Kirkpatrick column Making a case for a racing czar

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CONTRIBUTORS

Publisher & Editorial Director Giles Anderson Assistant Editors Frances Karon, Sophie Hull Design/Production Neil Randon Website Gary Pinkett Advertising Sales Giles Anderson Executive Assistant Alexandra Summerfield Circulation Pippa Anderson Photo Credits Rex Miller, Vassar Photography, Frances Karon, Suzie Picou-Oldham, Thoroughbred Photography, James Tate, Katey Barrett, Benoit and Associates, David Mitchell, Amy Zimmerman, Santa Anita Archives, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Keeneland, Eclipse Sportswire, Horsephotos, Shutterstock Cover Photograph Rex Miller An Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd publication Main Address – United Kingdom 3 Stibb Hill, West Lavington SN10 4LQ Representative Address – North America PO Box 13248, Lexington, KY 40583-3248 Contact details Tel: 1 888 218 4430 Fax: 1 888 218 4206 info@trainermagazine.com www.trainermagazine.com

North American Trainer is the official magazine of the California Thoroughbred Trainers. It is distributed to all ‘Trainer’ members of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and all members of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association

Larry Bortstein has been a sportswriter for more than 40 years and has covered horse racing for more than 25 years. He was a staff writer with the Orange County Register in Santa Ana, Cal., for 17 years.

Dr Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD, R.Nutr. is an independent nutritionist registered with the British Nutrition Society. She has a background in equine research, in the field of nutrition and exercise physiology with many years spent at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. Prior to setting up her own consultancy business, she worked in the equine feed industry on product development and technical marketing.

Philip Dyson graduated from Glasgow University in 1998. In 2002 he began a PhD course at the Royal Veterinary College, London, investigating the relationships between training and injury in flat racehorses. Philip was awarded the Royal Veterinary College Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine in 2004 and successfully completed his Doctorate in 2005.

He has a special interest in medical and or thopaedic causes of poor performance and is now an equine partner in Clevedale Veterinary Practice, a large mixed practice in Guisborough, North Yorkshire.

Bill Heller, Eclipse Award-winner Bill Heller is the author of 19 books, including “After The Finish Line, The Race to End Horse Slaughter in America.” In 2006, he received a first place award from the American Horse Publications for a column he wrote for Thoroughbred Times and was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame Writers’ Corner. Heller, 55, lives in Albany, N.Y., just 30 miles south of Saratoga Race Course, with his wife, Anna, their son Benjamin and their dog Belle Mont.

Frances J. Karon, is a native of Puerto Rico and graduate of Maine’s Colby College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

She operates Rough Shod LLC based in Lexington, Kentucky and specializes in sales, pedigree research and recommendations.

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Arnold Kirkpatrick in more than 45 years of involvement in the thoroughbred industry, Arnold Kirkpatrick has accumulated a vast experience in most aspects of the business – from being executive vice president of a major breeding farm to president of a race track. He has won major industr y awards both as a writer and as a breeder.

Barry Sangster BVMS MRCVS graduated from Glasgow University vet school in 1998 and his career started with mixed practice in Scotland. A lifelong horesracing enthusiast, he has contributed European racing coverage to Thoroughbred Daily News for the past two seasons.

Ken Snyder is a Louisville, Kentucky based freelance writer.

He is a regular contributor to several other racing publications, a feature writer and essayist for some non-racing magazines, and an advertising marketing writer, as well.

James Tate BVMS MRCVS qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Glasgow University. He is from a family steeped in horseracing. His father, Tom Tate, is a dual purpose trainer, his father-in-law, Len Lungo, is a National Hunt trainer, and his Uncle, the legendary Michael Dickinson, has just retired from the training ranks.

Margaux Thomas spent her early years in South Africa, had a French education in Italy and graduated from the Royal Agricultural College with a BSc (Hons) in International Agriculture and Equine Management. Her dissertation, which explores the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy , was inspired by learning about this novel technique while treating thoroughbreds at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. Margaux has travelled extensively and speaks four languages. She plans to develop her skills further in rehabilitation and performance enhancement though unobtrusive therapy wherever the opportunity arises.

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

New challenges lead to new opportunities

By Edward I. Halpern CTT Executive Director & General Counsel

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HE repercussions of the banking and stock market meltdown continue to haunt the racing industry. The number of horses housed at our local facilities has dropped to the point that two once-crowded training facilities no longer have enough horses or trainers to justify the $3 million in subsidy that it takes to keep them open. Much to the chagrin of some owners and trainers, a choice has been made by the Southern California Off-Track Wagering Vanning and Stabling Committee to make Hollywood Park and Santa Anita the only subsidized facilities in Southern California. A drop in income and increased expenses for off-site stabling at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park have created a shortage of funds and, therefore, the industry can no longer afford the luxury of the additional training centers. There are currently a total of over 1,000 unused stalls at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, and there are only a total of 400 qualified horses at the other facilities. As a result, Fairplex will close after the Oak Tree Racing Association meet in November 2009.

San Luis Rey Downs will also close, unless enough horsemen are willing to use and pay for stalls in order to keep that facility open.

Although San Luis Rey Downs may stay open as a private facility, it will no longer receive a subsidy. Leigh Ann Howard, who runs that facility, is attempting to round up enough trainers and horses to justify keeping that property open. I know Leigh Ann, and I have no doubt she will get that done. But, the

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owners of horses that are trained there will have to pay for the cost of keeping that facility open.

The closures of Fairplex and San Luis Rey Downs certainly create problems for the industry. These facilities have traditionally allowed trainers to prepare young horses that are making the transition from farms to racetracks. The subsidy that has been paid over the years stands as proof of the industry’s recognition of the importance of having these facilities open. Training and breaking young horses at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita will have to be carefully monitored. Schedules will have to be created so as to avoid the dangers of having inexperienced colts and fillies on tracks that are being used for galloping and working older horses.

The lack of subsidy for additional training centers will also make it more expensive to get horses ready for the major tracks. This is a move that will certainly not encourage current and new owners. If neither facility is open, owners and trainers who prefer to train on dirt are going to be limited to training tracks at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita and to private facilities. Nonetheless, the current state of the economy and the unavailability of subsidy money leave no choice for the Thoroughbred industry but to cut back on subsidized facilities.

These closures are a symptom of much larger problems. We are suffering from a reduction in the horse population. Some time ago, we recognized that the number of California-bred foals was decreasing. There is also an alarming decrease in the number of breedings across the nation. The number of horses being bought out of state and brought to California is also decreasing. As we lose horses to age, injury, or other jurisdictions, we no longer replace them. It is not unusual for trainers who used to have 30 horses to now have 10 or 20. As a result, field size shrinks and the number of races and the number of race days are also shrinking. What we are seeing is consolidation.

Planned consolidation and new economic realities provide an opportunity that can lead to constructive change. It is not time to panic; it is time to go to work. Racing can be successful. Look at the figures from the last Santa Anita meet and the recently concluded Del Mar meet. I, for one, am not panicked about the somewhat imminent closing of Hollywood Park. We will find a place to train the horses, probably Fairplex and/or Del Mar. We will realign the calendar to make better and more profitable use of the dates that Hollywood Park gives up. We will find better ways to use the internet and more interesting bets for the young people who are showing up in significant numbers at all of our tracks. I have no doubt that the solutions are there and that innovative people will be found to turn things around. We are at a tipping point, and, although I am not clairvoyant, I am optimistic.

In December, I will be leaving the California Thoroughbred Trainers in the pursuit of new goals. Therefore, I will leave it to those who succeed me and who are better qualified to come up with solutions. From my perspective, the past ten years as Executive Director have provided me with an unimaginable decade of education, accomplishment, and satisfaction. For that I thank the CTT Board of Directors for their support, the staff for their efforts, and the membership for their input.

To those members who were not always enamored by my leadership, I leave you with the following tale. Each year, the CTT sends out election ballots to the membership. One year, we received an unmarked ballot on which the following note had been scribbled, “Get rid of Ed Halpern, he is a waste of money.� I have kept that ballot in a prominent place on my desk, and each morning I use it as a reminder that each day I have a duty to do something that justifies my keep. I can only hope that the accomplishments of the organization during the past ten years will provide evidence of my having met that goal.

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

Horses and trainers return to their home base at Golden Gate Fields – for now...

Northern California Report

By Charles E. Dougherty, Jr CTT Deputy Director

After traveling along the summer fair circuit since late June, the horses and trainers are now starting to settle back down at their home base of either Golden Gate Fields or Pleasanton.

There is one more stop on the fair tour as dates still are to be run in Fresno in October. This will be the first year ever that Fresno will not run overlapped with the majors in the North. It goes without saying that Fresno officials are most anxious for this historic meet. Once that fair is finished, we come back to Golden Gate Fields to finish off the 2009 racing year.

It should be noted that the fair circuit has had a very strong year, with the field sizes averaging around eight horses per race all summer.

In somewhat of an ironic twist, Golden Gate Fields was awarded an additional eight days of racing in the upcoming 2009 months

of November and December. In going with the trend of reducing race days, the original schedule approved by the California Horse Racing Board had four-day race weeks in those months. The rationale in awarding the additional days was done to provide a cohesive North/South simulcast signal. In addition, we usually have a strong influx of trainers from the Northwest and Canada during this time frame. Thus, we have more horses to fill the races.

With all the uncertainty related to the Magna bankruptcy filings, many trainers are left to wonder if Golden Gate Fields will be sold or continue to run as is. The big question always remains: If Golden Gate Fields is, indeed, put up for sale, who would buy it? Obviously, nobody here in the North would want to see Golden Gate fall to the hands of a developer. That would be catastrophic for Northern racing!

Our Minesweeper wins the The Bar t Heller during CARF racing at Golden Gate Fields, Saturday, September 12, 2009

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

Mendoza continues to earn his Mr. Friday Night billing

By Steve Schuelein

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RIDAY Night Lights” has been a successful weekly television series about high school football in Texas, but Southern California trainer Jesse Mendoza has been starring in his own version.

“They used to call me ‘Friday Night Jesse’,” Mendoza said with a laugh recently of his ability to shine under the lights on Friday night at Hollywood Park, where he is stabled.

On a Friday night in 2007, Mendoza scored his first stakes victory in the Harry Henson with Hurry Home Warren when the three-year-old hurried home in stakesrecord time of 1:08.60 for six furlongs on turf.

“A week later, Valid’s Valid won the Tuzla Stakes on turf,” said Mendoza of another conquest for Mr. Friday Night with the filly. If Santa Anita or Del Mar were interested in installing lights, Mendoza would no doubt be willing to help with construction.

“Flying Bearcat, another horse that I trained, broke his maiden on a Friday night,” said Mendoza. “The owner wanted to scratch because the race was the last on the card and he didn’t want to be up until midnight. He didn’t come, but the horse won going away.”

Valid’s Valid and Hurry Home Warren both earned close to $200,000 before retirement. Mendoza was particularly proud of Valid’s Valid, purchased out of a Barretts sale for $4,700.

Barretts bargains are nothing new to Mendoza, who considers Golden General as good a horse as he has conditioned since he went on his own 13 years ago. “We paid $2,700 for him at Barretts, and he earned close to a quarter million,” said Mendoza.

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“He never won a stake, but earned the most of any horse I trained. It seemed like every time he won, Kent Desormeaux rode. They had some sort of communication.”

Mendoza will be excitedly watching the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita this year, hoping to send out his first starter in the near future.

The closest he came was in 2006 when he pre-entered Adoradora in the Juvenile Fillies for Joseph Guy Vachon, who also owned Flying Bearcat. The race overfilled, and Adoradora – a maiden with two starts did not draw in.

“The owner was offered $500,000 for her, but he wanted a million,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza was close to several Breeders’ Cup starters as assistant to trainer Gary Jones for 21 years before the latter’s retirement in 1996. “The one I remember

best was Best Pal,” said Mendoza. “They supplemented him for $365,000 to the Classic, but he didn’t fire.” Best Pal finished 10th as the second choice in the 1993 Classic at Santa Anita.

Mendoza was an assistant during all 11 of Jones’s Breeders’ Cup starters, and although none of them won, a few were close. Turkoman finished second in the 1986 Classic after a third-place finish in 1985. The filly Meafara finished second in the 1993 Sprint, a neck behind Cardmania. Lakeway finished third in the 1995 Distaff.

Mendoza, who turns 46 on October 28, spent nearly half his life working for the Jones family. He first worked at the track for Farrell Jones, Gary’s father, and worked for a few months for Marty Jones, Gary’s son, after Gary’s retirement.

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

Hurry Home Warren (rail) won nearly $175,000 for Mendoza

“Flying Bearcat broke his maiden on a Friday night. The owner wanted to scratch because the race was the last on the card and he didn’t want to be up until midnight. He didn’t come, but the horse won going away.”

“Jesse was smart-minded and went from groom to assistant kind of quick,” recalled Gary Jones of the precocious aide from his home in Del Mar. “Most of my help came from two Mexican families: Jesse – who was my assistant at Hollywood Park – came from one, and Rafael Becerra – my guy at Santa Anita – came from the other.

“I never had to get tough with any of the help because they policed themselves,” added Jones. “One time a horse came out without the bandages properly wrapped, and when I was leaving the barn, I could hear Jesse getting all over the groom.”

Jones nowadays derives the most pleasure in racing following the accomplishments of his son and former assistants. “One day I went to Hollywood Park, and Marty, Jesse, and Rafael each won a race,” said Jones of a particularly rewarding trip.

Mendoza said he learned a great deal in the Jones barn. “I learned how to maintain a horse and look for all the vital signs,” said Mendoza. “The most important thing is common sense – that doesn’t apply to the owners a lot of times.”

Mendoza mentioned one deviation from a Jones training principle. “Gary worked his horses every five days religiously,” said Mendoza. “It was too much for some horses.”

The job with Jones enabled Mendoza to see New York. “I went with him one time to Belmont when Rose Cream ran in the Coaching Club American Oaks,” said Mendoza of a memorable 1985 trip. “I went as the groom, and Gary went as the trainer and hot walker.”

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mendoza moved to this country with his parents when

he was five and has been on the track ever since. “This is the only job I have had and know,” said Mendoza. “I do it for the love of the horses.”

Mendoza also assisted trainer Ben Cecil for four years during the late 1990s while first going on his own after Jones retired.

Mendoza credited veteran owner Terry Quinn as the most positive influence on his life and career. “He helped me when I was struggling with just a couple of horses and gave me moral support to achieve my goals in life,” said Mendoza of the 77-year-old owner.

Mendoza lives in Bell Gardens with his wife Lorena. They have three children: Cristal, Jesse Jr., and Ruby. Society may soon be losing a good assistant trainer and gaining a good police officer in Jesse Jr., 21, who is about to graduate from the police academy after assisting his father in recent years.

Candy Pull has emerged as the current star of Mendoza’s 10-horse stable. “He’s a Cinderella story,” said Mendoza of the fouryear-old California-bred gelding. “We claimed him last year for $20,000 at Golden Gate Fields, and he has won five races and earned more than $100,000. He’s a little money-making machine.”

Candy Pull since finished second in the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar in September 2009.

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PROFILE

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John Shirreffs

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JOHN SHIRREFFS

Among the adoring fans coming to meet Zenyatta on the mor ning of the Hirsch are Bo Derek, her sister Ker ry Perez and niece MacKenzie, shown here with Zenyatta and John Shir reffs

Having previously won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo, media-shy John Shirreffs is back in the spotlight with his unbeaten filly Zenyatta.

Frances J. Karon meets a man genuinely unaffected by fame and who lives for his horses and the pleasure their success gives his owners and fans alike

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STEADY stream of admirers maneuvers their way to the backstretch, hopeful for a glimpse at “the big horse.” Her accommodating trainer greets them all with a friendly smile. John Shirreffs wears the mantle of Zenyatta’s keeper graciously; there’s no grandstanding in this shedrow. Onlookers gather by the sawhorses that double as a saddlerack – high-withered Zenyatta’s tall-tree saddle is on there somewhere – and names of racing’s acclaimed greats float through the air, because a horse like Zenyatta brings that out in people. But two days before the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes, in which Shirreffs trainees Life is Sweet and Zenyatta will run as an uncoupled entry, he doesn’t concern himself with such talk.

Getting to know the trainer during this very stressful time promised to be a crash course in Shirreffs-ology, an opportunity to observe the man when the world is on his shoulders. John Shirreffs: Raw and Uncensored. Instead, the world is sitting squarely on Atlas’ shoulders, and Shirreffs, well, he’s lounging in a hammock in his barn at Del Mar Racetrack. Steve Willard, champion Zenyatta’s exercise rider, provides the obvious caption: “We’re a very laid back barn here.”

Nerves are kept to a minimum as the Hirsch, and five-year-old Zenyatta’s unbeaten record, looms. “You know how streaks are. They do end.” Shirreffs laughs.

“It would be sad, but it happens.” As for the pressure, “I try not to think about it,” he says. “I learned a little trick a long time ago.

I give myself a job: I’m putting the saddle on. So I never think about the race, I just think about putting the saddle on. I know it sounds silly, but…”

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PROFILE

Shirreffs, who grew up on the East Coast, spent weekends in a Long Island livery stable owned by Irish brothers, “Uncle” Eddie and “Uncle” Hughie Gormley. He and other children mucked stalls in exchange for lunch. Rainy days cleaning tack around a pot-bellied stove while men, some from the track, played cards, drank tea and swapped stories, was just the kind of environment to draw in a young boy. “It was fun, a great atmosphere,” he says. The “uncles” gave Shirreffs riding lessons, and before long he was giving lessons himself, riding next to inexperienced city folk and teaching them how to post by moving them up and down with a hand on their elbow.

Later, after the wannabe surfer had completed a stint in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and migrated to the board-friendly waves of California, he began working at a cattle spread after a cowboy named Jim Matthews offered him a job to teach an Appaloosa to jump for room, board and the princely sum of five dollars a week. One day, Shirreffs was riding to another farm and his horse became stuck in a mud bog up to his knees and hocks. “I’d never been there so I didn’t know that the ground was like,” he says. “Being from New York, how the hell would I know what ground looks like anyway?!” As he guided the horse out of the muck, Henry Freitas, manager of Loma Rica Ranch, promptly asked him to break his yearlings.

Presumably, Freitas hadn’t seen Shirreffs ride the horse into the mud, or, if he had, says Shirreffs, “Well, he might have thought, ‘That’s my kind of person, not too smart!’”

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HUS began John Shirreffs’ involvement with Thoroughbreds, when the dreams of a drifting surfer were preempted by a love of and talent for horses, and Freitas became his mentor. “He had the patience to teach me about racehorses. One of the stories that I like about Henry was when we were busy during breaking season and it was getting a little late, and I wasn’t sure if we had time to get all the sets out, so I said, ‘Henry, we’d better hurry up or we might not make the last set.’ And he looked at me and said, ‘John, we’re not going to rush this set.

These horses are going to get this job done.

Then we’ll go on to the next one.’ That always had a big impact on me. He was very right. We have to do each individual job correctly to do a good job.”

Marty Wygod, for whom Shirreffs conditioned Grade 1 winner After Market and currently has 2009 Grade 1 winner Life is Sweet – coming into the Hirsch off a third in the Hollywood Gold Cup against males – stops by on Friday morning to watch his four-year-old filly school in the paddock and jog over the Polytrack. Before Isabel Bourez

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A relaxed Shirreffs runs a laid-back barn

gets a leg up, Shirreffs stretches Life is Sweet’s limbs and tells her owner, “She loves this!” From a few feet away, Wygod shoots back, “I think you love it.”

Shirreffs, says Wygod, “identifies with the horses. He understands their specific characteristics and he goes to a great degree of individualizing his training with them. He lives for it. I mean, the barn is his home. It’s a love and a passion for him, and it’s nice to see. He loves what he does to a degree that you can see it – he just loves it.”

This morning, Shirreffs alternates viewing points as he escorts each set to the track, but wherever he goes, shouts of “Good luck!” follow him. “Oh, thank you,” he answers quietly each time, sounding a little surprised. He walks with a swinging gait, the vestige of an injury suffered the day after last Thanksgiving, when his pony wheeled beneath him and cracked his pelvis.

This is the media-elusive John Shirreffs.

He shies from the limelight whenever possible, but he’s neither aloof nor unapproachable. When strangers come up to shake his hand, he listens politely and shows them pictures on his iPhone. These are the moments he loves the most, seeing first-hand how much enjoyment people get from his horses. To be so unaffected by and immune to fame and glory for oneself is rare, but with Shirreffs, it’s genuine. The

man who stays out of the winner’s circle so that he can watch his owners’ and friends’ reactions says, “I just enjoy looking at everybody being happy.”

Shirreffs began training a small stable in 1978, with his first stakes winner, Jade Ring, on the California fair circuit in 1980. Too modest for self-promotion – even now, with all his success, he will only say, “I’ve been lucky” – Shirreffs left the training ranks and became assistant first to Brian Mayberry, then Bill Spawr, until 1994, when he took over a private stable for Ed Nahem and Marshall Naify’s 505 Farms, overseeing the successful return of Bertrando from stud duty, until Naify died in 2000.

David Ingordo, the Central Kentucky horseman who assists numerous highprofile clients with their bloodstock interests and who spotted Zenyatta as a yearling, introduced Shirreffs to Jerry and Ann Moss’ racing manager – his mother, Dottie – in 2000, suggesting that Shirreffs receive some of the Mosses string. He had met Shirreffs in 1992, when Ingordo’s boss Bobby Frankel loaned the then-teenager as a driver to Dr. Helmuth Von Bluecher for the Hollywood meet. Ingordo says, “There were two things that impressed me about him: one, he actually talked to me, when a lot of the other trainers wouldn’t because

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JOHN SHIRREFFS

The Shirreffs feeding routine involves the team-motivational "mush mush time"

“He lives for it. I mean, the barn is his home. It’s a love and a passion for him, and it’s nice to see.

He loves what he does to a degree that you can see it – he just loves it” Marty Wygod

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss after Shirreffs-trained Giacomo won the 2005 Kentucky Derby

they thought I was just looking in their barn to find out what they were doing, knowing that I was working for Bobby. But John was always nice to me.

“And number two, I was impressed with the care he gave to his horses. When you’re with a vet you look at all the horses that are having problems, so for 60 days straight I would go to his barn and I saw a lot of what was going on, and I was always impressed how he handled the problems and how he used the vet for diagnosis, not just to train his horses. He was making his own decisions and would even come up with things that the vets didn’t at times, and he would be right. The quality of his horsemanship is one of his hallmarks to this day.”

Shirreffs was signed on as trainer for the Mosses. It was a good match all around; so

good, in fact, that the trainer married Dottie Ingordo in 2003.

Many of Shirreffs’ top horses – such as Grade 1 winners Zenyatta, Giacomo, Tiago, and Tarlow – have run in the green-andpink silks of the Mosses. Jerry Moss says, “Aside from John’s love of the game he has a real appreciation for a beautiful horse. He takes endless pictures and he studies them and studies the horses all the time. ‘Now, that foot hits the ground that way…’ It’s just fascinating to watch him and to listen to what he says. He’s got a sense of humor that works, which is terribly important to have in a game like this. And yet,” concludes Moss, “he’s incredibly honest about things, so he’s a pleasure to work with as well as a pleasure to be around.”

Ingordo-Shirreffs describes her husband similarly. “He likes the time between twelve

and three because it’s quiet. He’ll just sit outside a horse’s stall for hours and observe them, try to figure out something that can help them. ‘What can I do to help this horse?

What can I change?’ That’s the difference.”

By choice, 64-year-old Shirreffs trains a relatively small stable. “I don’t like to lose track,” he explains. “I’m a little bit of a control freak. I like to know. I enjoy the horses, I enjoy the interaction. I wouldn’t be successful as a management person.” He laughs slowly. “I’d be in the mail room!”

Not a management person, perhaps, but Shirreffs, who periodically posts works and snippets of barn life on YouTube, is certainly an ambassador. “I like to do the videos because it shows the backside,” he says, “which is something a lot of the fans don’t get to see. A race takes two minutes, or a minute and a half, and there’s so much more that goes on before the race.”

Helmet-cam footage and audio posted on the “jonshfs05” channel on YouTube of Mike Smith breezing Zenyatta provides a rush few people beyond jockeys Mike Smith, David Flores and daily exercise Steve Willard will ever experience first-hand.

The irony of Rachel Alexandra not traveling to Santa Anita for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup because of the synthetic surface is that, like that filly’s co-owner Jess Jackson, Shirreffs doesn’t care for the artificial footing. He cites an exodus of racehorses away from California, where all racetracks are comprised of synthetics: “Whether you like it or don’t like it, we’re losing horses. That’s never good for a racing program. Look at the horses that are leaving California; that to me is a real, true indication of how it is. If it’s great, people are coming here, because California has the best weather for horseracing.”

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He continues, “One type of injury has been replaced by another type of injury.

Probably one of the most frustrating things for a trainer is there’s no early warning. You can go check your horses’ ankles every day, they feel good, and then one day the son of a gun is lame and you can’t fix it because it’s gone too far.

“They probably spent a hundred million dollars around the whole country with synthetic tracks, wouldn’t you say? Close to it, or more. What happens if they would have put a hundred million dollars into the research on horse injuries: broken legs, laminitis, and they found some way to fix a horse’s leg, how to prevent laminitis? Not only would that help all the horses on the racetrack, but it would help every backyard horse around the world. It would have done so much more for the horses in general.”

When in 2005 Giacomo’s Kentucky Derby win thrust Shirreffs into the spotlight – albeit reluctantly, just ask the NBC producer who had to beg him to participate in the winner’s circle presentation when Shirreffs just wanted to be with his horse – we learned about the horse smoothie.

“Those were the days of bigger, stronger, faster. Those days are gone,” he says now.

“On synthetic tracks, you cannot train them bigger, stronger, faster, because they can’t handle that workload on a synthetic track.

Giacomo liked apple and carrot juice, so we started off with that, adding a little bit of protein. We didn’t want to add more bulk to his feed because they have small stomachs and there’s only so much feed you can get through, so we came up with this thing that would not only stimulate his appetite but would also add protein. You know, you feed

“What happens if they would have put a hundred million dollars into the research on horse injuries? Not only would that help all the horses on the racetrack, but it would help every backyard horse around the world” them the same thing all the time and it gets real dull.”

“Dull” is the antonym for feeding time around the Shirreffs barn, the whirlwind that is known as “mush mush time.” That’s “mush” as in “push,” not “rush.” “You guys ready?”, he calls out, his voice getting deeper. Someone – it’s all a blur – wheels out the feed cart, and Shirreffs puts on a pair of gloves and grabs a scoop in each hand.

His help flits around at full speed, presenting him with feed tubs from every direction with an almost simultaneous chorus of “Aitcho

morning” or “Starzig afternoon,” and he processes and shovels out each horse’s feed order from memory with lightning speed.

“We’ve got a little New York deli going on here,” he jokes. When it’s time to move to the next point, he yells, “Mush mush! Let’s go!” as if this were the Iditarod. Shirreffs will even break out into a song, or at least a rhythmic chanting of “mush mush,” as the mood permits. The feeding routine is “a little motivational technique,” and it seems to work. “You’ve got to have fun when you can. You know how it is!”

Exercise rider Frankie Herrarte and Shirreffs engaged in a pre-workout discussion at the barn

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Shirreffs keeps Life is Sweet in line after the Hirsch

His horses eat “about seven” times a day – “We want to be unusual. I am from the 60s!” he reminds – and are fed from small rubber tubs on the ground. “I use them because they become a toy for them afterwards – they can flip them up, throw them around, kick them out.” Indeed, a Giant’s Causeway colt is holding his in his teeth, tossing his head in a scene straight out of Oliver Twist. It’s not uncommon to find a groom sitting beside a stall, handfeeding. “However it works best for the horse,” says Shirreffs.

Another perk of being a horse in this barn is assistant trainer Michelle Jensen, who regularly performs massage therapy on them. In the office she shares with Shirreffs, a pink saddlecloth that belonged to Hollywood Story, who Jensen used to exercise – owner George Krikorian also had Grade 1 winner Starrer with Shirreffs – keeps dust off the computer.

The Shirreffs stable area is still serene on Sunday, raceday. Between a set, Shirreffs settles into his hammock, by all appearances as relaxed as he was on Friday. “Hard at work!” says Steve Willard, “Take a picture!”

Shirreffs covers his face with his omnipresent Mill Ridge hat and says, “No, really, it wasn’t me!”

Six hours before post time for the 8th race, two employees of the California Horse Racing Board bring lawn chairs and settle in where one can keep an eye on Zenyatta in Stall 7, and the other on Life is Sweet in Stall 8. Welcome to the California version of the detention barn. Shirreffs is not a fan of the detention barn practice in other racing jurisdictions, where runners have to move to a strange barn for secure monitoring. “How 18 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

can that be good for hours before a race, to have them all stirred up?” Shirreffs asks. “Is that crazy or what?” In their home stalls at Del Mar, Life is Sweet and Zenyatta are content and unconcerned.

Most of the help disperses after training hours. Shirreffs remains. He pulls out his laptop and goes through photos, pausing often to tell a story. There’s Zenyatta, lying down in her stall as a two-year-old, with Gus Adair curled up beside her, massaging her tendons with aloe vera. There are pictures of Giacomo in his stall at Adena Springs, with Ann Moss scratching his ear through the bars. He seems especially proud of individual photos of his team who were integral in the development of Giacomo: each poses holding the Kentucky Derby trainer’s trophy. “Well, I think there’s not much thought,” he answers when prodded on his finest training accomplishment. “The Der-beee!”

A

S afternoon approaches, Shirreffs runs home for a quick change of clothes. When he returns, the only outward suggestion that the trainer is nervous is an occasional stroll, meandering in front of stalls, stopping to go in and run his hand down a leg here and there. Or, he’ll stand a distance across from Life is Sweet and Zenyatta, studying them. Life is Sweet dozes, while Zenyatta nibbles at the rope that normally holds a haynet outside her stall.

When it’s time, both runners are prepped – Mario Espinoza on Zenyatta, with Giacomo’s old groom Frank Leal subbing for Espinoza on Life is Sweet – and leave for the receiving barn. Life is Sweet takes the

lead; Shirreffs, ball cap pulled down tight to the top of his glasses like a protective mask, and his wife bring up the rear. Like her trainer, Zenyatta is a study in control: only her dance maneuver betrays her excitement to run. She circles around the arena with the other contenders without taking any notice of them. Shirreffs stands in the middle, focused on both of his horses. As the 7th race goes off, Zenyatta halts, ears pricked, mesmerized by the voice of Trevor Denman calling the race. No one rushes Zenyatta.

(Nobody ever rushes Zenyatta.) She stands like a 17-hand bronze statue before taking Espinoza for another walk, pausing again halfway around, fascinated that there’s a race she’s not in. Espinoza brings her into the middle of the arena and Shirreffs goes over and talks to her.

Zenyatta makes her entrance into the paddock and when she stops to survey the scene, the crowd breaks into a loud cheer.

Behind her, Life is Sweet spooks, and Zenyatta throws her head and springs into motion. Espinoza leads her into the corner of the #10 saddling stall, staying at her head to keep her shielded from the commotion.

With a steady hand, Shirreffs saddles #7 Life is Sweet, then Zenyatta: with the saddles on, his job is, as he says, done.

Shirreffs spends a reflective moment in the empty 10 stall, and Willard tosses Mike Smith onto the black mare’s back. Amid a rush of scrambling to box seats and tables, Shirreffs slips away to watch the race alone at ground level. He’s not exactly incognito, but the fans afford him a little privacy as the Hirsch plays out on the track: under regular rider Garrett Gomez, second-choice Life is Sweet fails to fire, and behind slow fractions Zenyatta belatedly unleashes a furious frenzy to win by a head, without breaking a sweat. That her record remains perfect – at 12-for-12 – is no accident; like a grandmaster at chess, Shirreffs has calculated every move with precision.

The trainer eases his cap up on his forehead, smiles, hugs friends, and masterfully avoids the overflowing winner’s circle.

He’d like to follow his horses – Zenyatta goes to the testing barn, and Life is Sweet goes home – but attends a press conference instead. When he breaks free, he hurries to the barn to look them over and asks about what he missed in the last hour. Satisfied all is well, he speaks to some fans, then relieves Leal to handgraze Life is Sweet, gently chastising her as she strips bark away from a tree. After a few minutes, someone offers to take Life is Sweet from Shirreffs. “No, I’ve got her,” he says, relaxed, resting a hand on her withers and enjoying the quiet time with his horse.

(At press time, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Lady's Secret Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita to remain undefeated in 13 starts.)

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VETERINARY

EQUINE NEUROLOGY Do you have to be a brain surgeon to understand it?

This article covers the complex topic in a straightforward manner to aid the reader’s understanding of some of the most common neurological conditions of the racehorse, such as the ‘wobbler syndrome’, Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM), ‘stringhalt’ and the neurological consequences of head and neck trauma.

By James Tate BVMS MRCVS

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EUROLOGICAL problems in racehorses are not uncommon and when they do occur, they can be hugely significant. Horses suffering from neurological disease are often not

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diagnosed that quickly because trainers have a tendency not to consider a neurological problem unless it becomes glaringly obvious.

The complaint is often vague – an unusual lameness or gait, a history of clumsiness or falling, or a blow to the head.

The neurological examination and localization of the problem The primary aim of the veterinary neurological examination is to establish whether a neurological problem is present.

It is only after this that the vet can begin to

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analyze all the signs in an attempt to localize the problem, for example, to the brain or spinal cord.

The physical examination begins with assessment of the horse’s general behavior and mental status before examining the nerve reflexes of the head, most of which can be easily tested with a mint. The horse hears the rustle of the mint wrapper, before smelling the mint, seeing it, taking it with its lips and tongue, using its facial muscle to chew it before finally swallowing. The next time readers feed a mint to a horse, they now know that they are actually testing many complex neurological pathways!

The vet may then proceed to examining the horse’s body – starting with the neck before moving onto the fore limbs, the back, the hind limbs and finally the tail and perineal area. Horses are then assessed at walk and trot before being asked to perform some more demanding tests, for example the ‘tail-pull’ test, turning the horse in tight circles, or asking the horse to walk whilst blindfolded.

Once the neurological examination is complete, the results are analyzed by the vet who may then be able to localize the problem. The presence or absence of different reflexes can tell the examiner a great deal about the exact location of the problem, whether it is in the brain or the spinal cord. For example, if a horse shows

Anabaa was diagnosed as a ‘ wobbler’ when he was two years old but recovered to become a champion racehorse and a very successful sire before dying in July this year

hind limb incoordination but its front limbs appear unaffected, then the problem lies in the spinal cord behind the withers but ahead of the tail. On the other hand, if the head reflexes are normal but the horse shows front and hind limb incoordination, then the problem must lie in the spinal cord between the head and the withers.

Wobblers One of the most common and important neurological conditions of the racehorse is the ‘classical wobbler syndrome.’ The term ‘wobbler’ describes exactly what such horses look like – they are uncoordinated and wobbly. It is more accurately described as ‘cervical vertebral malformation’ as it is produced by bony abnormalities in the horse’s neck vertebrae putting pressure on the spinal cord and so causing the horse to be uncoordinated. There are two main types of bony abnormality – narrowing of the vertebral canal through which the spinal cord runs, which causes problems for the horse whichever way the neck is positioned, and instability of the neck vertebrae, which mainly causes problems for the horse when its neck is flexed upwards. However, determining the specific problem in a horse’s neck is often academic unless surgery is being considered and so the level of incoordination shown by the horse is the most important piece of information.

The exact cause of why a horse should develop bony changes in its neck vertebrae and become a wobbler is unknown. There is some evidence that it might be genetic, however, successful stallions such as Anabaa, who was diagnosed as a wobbler in his youth, have gone some way to showing that genetics can only be part of the picture.

It has also been suggested that the wobbler

Having been diagnosed as a ‘ wobbler’ when he was a foal, Shamardal defied the odds and became a champion, winning the Group One Darley Dewhurst as a two-year-old, before going on to score in three fur ther Group One contests as a three-yearold (pictured opposite winning the Prix du Jockey-Club). Now at stud, his progeny are already making their presence felt in the winners’ enclosure.

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A sequence of photographs illustrating an uncoordinated horse being asked to turn in a tight left-handed circle

syndrome develops as a result of a developmental bony disorder similar to osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This does fit in well with the fact that wobblers are most commonly seen in fast growing male Thoroughbreds and that nutrition of the growing horse also seems to play a part.

Essentially, the spinal cord is tightly held in a small bony canal formed by the horse’s vertebrae and any tiny bony change to these vertebrae can put significant pressure on the spinal cord and hence cause incoordination.

A fall or stumble almost always instigates the first veterinary examination and the appearance of a wobbler is quite characteristic. Flexion of the neck is often painful whereas back pain is unusual.

Wobblers show equal incoordination on both sides and the hind legs are always affected while the front legs can be normal in some horses. Wobblers often show something called ‘hypermetria,’ which is also known as ‘goose stepping,’ where the horse over-flexes its leg, walking in an exaggerated way.

Suspected wobblers are usually asked to perform some demanding tests, which are designed to highlight any incoordination.

This often begins with asking the horse to turn in tight circles, where it may find it hard to place its feet correctly and often ends up standing on the other foot, stumbling and stopping in an abnormal position. Having assessed the horse turning, many will then ask the horse to reverse, which also shows off incoordination as moving backwards requires more coordination than moving forwards.

The list of manipulative neurological tests is nearly endless but many of these are very useful when assessing a potential wobbler.

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A horse being asked to reverse, which requires more coordination than moving for wards

For example, the ‘tail-pull test’ reveals hindlimb weakness, the ‘hop test’ reveals any front leg incoordination, and asking a wobbler to walk when holding its head up high can cause increased incoordination in horses with neck vertebrae instability.

The incoordination of a wobbler can be

graded using a number of different classifications, most of which vary from zero to five, with zero being normal and five being a severely uncoordinated horse that cannot stand let alone walk. This scale is useful for monitoring progress and for insurance purposes. Some insurance

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A horse being asked to walk with its head held up high. This is an important test for a wobbler because the horse is being asked to move while maintaining upward flexion of its neck, which is the site of the problem. Most wobblers show incoordination when performing this test but horses with neck vertebrae instability can often be much worse.

The ‘hop test’. When carrying out this test, the veterinary surgeon usually holds up a front leg and asks the horse to hop using its other front leg. Severe wobblers have been known to fall during this test but most just struggle to perform it, stopping in an abnormal position. The photograph illustrates a horse struggling to perform the test.

The photograph above illustrates the ‘tail pull test.’ The horse is ask ed to walk in a straight line while the vet pulls the horse’s tail to the side. Whereas a nor mal horse weighing about 1100 pounds should easily be able to resist the pull of a human who is only about a tenth of its weight, a wobbler is quite easily pulled to the side, as it has neither normal hind leg coordination nor nor mal hind leg strength. The horse being tested is easily pulled to the side.

policies do pay out if a horse is diagnosed as a wobbler of a certain grade, but as with most types of insurance, wobbler clauses are not always straightforward.

Wobblers are usually diagnosed using a combination of clinical signs and x-rays.

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searched for that might explain the incoordination. It is usually possible to find small bony changes associated with some of the neck vertebrae and if so, this will be the most likely site of the spinal cord compression that is causing the incoordination. It is also possible to inject a

dye into the spinal column that shows up brightly on x-ray – something that is known as a myelogram. When performed, this shows very clearly where any compression may be. However, this is not commonly carried out because it is a dangerous procedure for a number of reasons – the dye is an irritant, and any injection here is dangerous, with the uncoordinated horse then expected to get up smoothly after the anesthetic without injuring itself further.

Unfortunately, little can be done to aid the recovery of a wobbler. Wobblers are often treated with long courses of antiinflammatories and rested for up to six months in the hope that the problem may settle. However, this is not straightforward as the horses often become very fresh.

Another issue with wobblers is that even if they recover, how safe are they to ride? If their incoordination has been blamed on changes seen on neck x-rays, then the problem could recur. Neck surgery is sometimes attempted but success is far from guaranteed. All of these concerns and thoughts come together to make the diagnosis of a wobbler a damning one in so many cases, which makes the fairytale stories of Anabaa and Shamardal even more extraordinary.

Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM) Some say that EPM is now the most common neurological disease affecting horses in the USA. The disease causes very similar signs to those shown by a wobbler but cases can have a considerably better outcome. The initial signs are often vague findings such as lethargy and horses knocking themselves at exercise but these may progress to obvious incoordination and weakness and sometimes severely affected horses cannot even stand. Although more common in young horses, the disease can affect horses of any age.

In 1991 researchers found that EPM was caused by a small protozoal organism called Sarcocystis neurona, which is common in North and South America. The Sarcocystis lifecycle must involve its definitive host or carrier, the Virginia Possum, and for a horse to become infected it must ingest the Sarcocystis from possum feces when, for example, grazing in a field.

The horse does not pass on Sarcocystis and so becomes infected with the organism, which targets its brain and spinal cord resulting in an uncoordinated horse.

Several new studies, however, have shown that the exact cause of EPM is not as clearcut as it seemed. Uninfected horses were fed up to 60 million Sarcocystis neurona sporocysts from the feces of infected possums but the signs of EPM were not always seen. In essence, EPM continues to puzzle vets. Currently, it seems that there are two possibilities. Firstly, it is another species

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of Sarcocystis that causes EPM and not Sarcocystis neurona. Secondly, another factor or agent predisposes a horse to develop the disease. Nevertheless, it does appear to be fairly concrete that possums play a pivotal role in horses becoming infected with the disease and so horse owners are well advised to try and keep the two species separate.

The task facing the vet is often to decide whether a particular horse has EPM or classical wobbler syndrome. The most common clinical differences are that horses with EPM often show forelimb incoordination and usually display more advanced signs on one side, whereas wobblers often show only hind limb incoordination and are usually equally affected on both sides. Confirmation of the diagnosis of EPM is not straightforward as a blood test only shows that a horse has come into contact with the disease (not necessarily become infected with it) and although a spinal fluid sample can confirm the disease, it is still possible to get false positive and false negative results. Recent extensive blood testing has revealed that over half the horses in areas with high rates of EPM, for example, the Midwest and

Northeast, seem to have been exposed to Sarcocystis but only a small percentage develop neurological signs.

Nevertheless, perhaps the biggest difference between EPM and the classical wobbler syndrome is that EPM is treatable in a large proportion of cases if therapy is initiated quickly. Several different types of anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory drug have to be given to the horse for a long period of time, but a significant percentage of horses can recover and race successfully and only a small percentage have to be euthanized. There is also the possibility of a vaccine becoming available in the future.

Stringhalt ‘Stringhalt’ is an involuntary, repetitive, exaggerated flexion reflex of the hock. As the horse walks, it flexes its hock in an exaggerated manner with every stride.

Some horses have a mild form of the condition in which it is only noticeable at walk and has no effect on the horse’s athletic ability. However, horses with a severe form of the condition can actually touch their belly with their hoof on every stride and the stringhalt can limit their athletic ability. Treatment is often ineffective

but when the condition first becomes apparent, rest and anti-inflammatories are usually initiated to try and resolve the problem or at least limit its severity. There is a surgery in which a specific tendon is cut, which can abolish the condition in some horses but this is not often attempted unless the condition is preventing the horse from being an athlete.

The stringhalt described above is often referred to as ‘classical stringhalt’ in order to differentiate it from ‘Australian stringhalt,’ which is seen in the southern hemisphere.

Australian stringhalt causes affected horses to walk with the same strange gait described above but it often affects both hind legs. It is caused by the ingestion of plant toxins and so is usually found in several horses grazing on a specific pasture.

Acute Head or Neck Trauma Horses bang their heads with alarming regularity; however, if a horse receives a blow of sufficient strength in a specific place, it can result in severe neurological consequences. When the neurological signs do not disappear immediately, the attending vet will perform a thorough neurological examination which attempts to localize the

The lifecycle of Sarcosytis neurona The organism is accidentally passed on to the horse via possum faeces

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An x-ray showing a severe fracture of a horse’s neck ver tebra. Horses with such injuries show obvious incoordination as a result of compression on the spinal cord and recovery from such an injur y is highly unlikely.

problem to a specific part of the brain, or at the very least to establish whether the problem is in the brain or the spinal cord.

Head and neck x-rays are carried out and sometimes the cause becomes clear so the required treatment is obvious. However, more commonly, the x-rays show no significant abnormalities and then deciding upon a treatment plan difficult.

For many years, both doctors and vets administered the strongest type of antiinflammatory at their disposal – the corticosteroids. However, new extensive research carried out in human patients has surprisingly revealed that not only do patients not seem to improve for the administration of corticosteroids but that these drugs actually seem to be potentially harmful. While some vets still give corticosteroids to horses who suffer from acute head or neck trauma, this human research has encouraged many of them not to use this type of drug. As a result, treatment now comprises of good management of the situation, for example, maintaining breathing, reducing swelling using other drugs, preventing secondary injury and good nursing. The prognosis for horses following head trauma and neurological signs is variable and highly unpredictable.

Other neurological conditions There is a long list of equine neurological conditions but there are a few more that are worthy of mention particularly with regard to racehorses. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) is best known for causing respiratory

A post-surgery x-ray showing a metal implant called a ‘kerf cut cylinder,’ which is stabilizing a neck ver tebra in an attempt to reduce the horse’s incoordination.

problems in horses or abortion in pregnant mares but it can also cause neurological disease. Treatment is not easy and hence many vaccinate against the disease.

There are also a number of conditions that result from damage to specific nerves with perhaps the best example being ‘Sweeney.’ This condition results from damage to the suprascapular nerve that is usually caused by trauma, for example, a collision with another horse or a solid object such as a fence. The nerve damage then slowly leads to marked muscle loss of the shoulder, and a few months after the incident the amount of muscle loss can be quite alarming. Fortunately, the condition usually resolves with rest but the muscles often require up to eighteen months to regenerate. I ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 27

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SANTA ANITA 75 years old this December

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HERE would seem to be little historic significance to the seventh race at Santa Anita on October 16, 1988. The sixfurlong allowance event was captured by an Idaho-bred two-year-old named Bet on the Blurr, who won by a head in 1:10.60 under Eddie Delahoussaye.

The true significance of the mundane race on a mundane day at the Oak Tree meet comes from discovering the name of the winning trainer.

It was the first victory in a Thoroughbred race for Bob Baffert.

“I felt like I had just won the Kentucky Derby,” said Baffert, who would go on to win the actual Kentucky Derby three times and is the most recent trainer enshrined in the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. In 1988, Baffert, a training star of Quarter Horses for a decade, was beginning an attempted conversion to the world of Thoroughbreds and didn’t know if it would work out.

“A Quarter Horse jockey had worked the horse five-eighths in about :58 seconds and couldn’t believe how much slower Thoroughbreds were,” Baffert recalled. “I worried about it because I didn’t know any better.”

Baffert eventually figured it out. He has been a towering presence in Southern California and American Thoroughbred racing for most of the past 20 years. When he entered the Hall of Fame in August, he joined such past and present Santa Anita training luminaries as Tom Smith, Red McDaniel, William Molter, Mesh Tenney, Charlie Whittingham, Laz Barrera, Ron McAnally, Jack Van Berg, Bobby Frankel, D.Wayne Lukas, Richard Mandella and Neil Drysdale.

The roster of conditioning notables who have done business on the Santa Anita backstretch also includes such potent combinations as brothers Mel and Warren Stute, as well as Mel’s son Gary, and fatherson duos Charlie and Mike Whittingham, Wally and Craig Dollase and Richard and Gary Mandella.

Marty Jones, who is carving out a solid reputation of his own, is a third-generation trainer, following his late grandfather Farrell, an eight-time training champion at Santa Anita, and retired father Gary, who twice won the Santa Anita Handicap.

These men and the horses they handled – names like Seabiscuit, Swaps, Round Table, Affirmed, John Henry, Ferdinand, Alysheba and Sunday Silence – are among the thousands who have written glorious chapters in the history of the Arcadia, California, track, a saga that will mark its 75th anniversary on Christmas Day. One of the most lasting traditions in American sport since 1977 has been the

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One of the world’s greatest racecourses, Santa Anita, celebrates its 75th anniversary on December 25.

Larry Bortstein takes a look back at the colorful history of the Arcadia, California, venue that plays host to the Breeders’ Cup this year for the fifth time

The groundbreaking ceremony (above) for the building of the racetrack in March, 1934; Dr. Charles Strub (right) and his backers built Santa Anita for $1million

day-after-Christmas opening of each Santa Anita meet.

It was December 25, 1934, a Tuesday, when the picturesque track first opened its doors with the San Gabriel Mountains serving as a gorgeous backdrop.

With such national entertainment celebrities as Clark Gable, Fred Astaire and Al Jolson among the nearly 10,000 in attendance, Las Palmas, a five-year-old mare trained by Ted Horning and ridden by Jack Westrope, won the seven-furlong California-Bred Handicap, the track’s first race. She returned $14.60 for winning the top purse in the $800 event.

The opening-day feature was the $5,000, one-mile Christmas Stakes, won by High Glee, a three-year-old filly ridden by Silvio Coucci for trainer Tom Healey.

Santa Anita was the brainchild of Dr. Charles Strub, a San Francisco dentist who made his fortune with a chain of painlessdrilling centers.

Owner and operator of the successful San Francisco franchise in baseball’s Pacific Coast League, he set his racing sights

southward when he was rebuffed in his attempt to build a track in his hometown after California legislated the advent of parimutuel horse racing. The state had struck down all forms of gambling in 1909.

Dr. Strub and his backers built Santa Anita at a cost of $1 million and immediately announced that the first Santa

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An aerial view of the Santa Anita paddock and grandstand in 1934

The first race program (lef t); the racetrack was used as a detention center during World War II (above)

Anita Handicap, to be run February 25, 1935, would offer $100,000 in purse money.

Both the cost of building the track and the $100,000 purse for a single race were considered foolhardy ventures in a Depression-riddled economy.

“I sat with my family in our box and ate hot dogs and read the Racing Form,”

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recalled Mary Crowe, then 13 years old. “It was great fun.” The oldest of Dr. Strub’s three daughters and third of his five children, Mrs. Crowe was 88 when she died suddenly on August 19, several days after granting this interview.

Santa Anita survived to become one of the pre-eminent forces in the sport. Along the way, it became the first track in America to offer a mechanized starting gate and the photo-finish camera.

Under the late racing secretary Jimmy

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An aerial view of Santa Anita racecourse at Arcadia in 1934, with the San Gabriel mountains in the background

Elias “Lucky” Baldwin, builder of the original Santa Anita racetrack

Kilroe, it became the home of the country’s best winter racing and attracted top stables and horsemen from the rest of the country and overseas.

In 2010, the Santa Anita Handicap will be run for $1 million for the 25th time.

Greinton, trained by Whittingham and

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ridden by Laffit Pincay, won the first sevenfigure Big ‘Cap in 1986.

“I first came to Santa Anita in 1949, when I was 17, as a groom for my uncle, Reggie Cornell,” recalled McAnally, who saddled John Henry for back-to-back triumphs in the Santa Anita Handicap, in 1981 and 1982.

“He trained Silky Sullivan, who was famous for coming from way back to win races and won the Santa Anita Derby in 1956,” McAnally, now 77, said. “I won my first race at Santa Anita, with a claimer named Hemet Star, in 1952. I didn’t have many good horses like my uncle then – or many horses at all – but I thought I was on my way up after that first win.”

Two of the most notable figures in Santa Anita’s history were there on opening day, and for many years thereafter.

One was racecaller Joe Hernandez, who was in the announcer’s booth for Las Palmas’ triumph in the Christmas Day opener – and for a total of 15,587 consecutive Santa Anita races.

The creator of the “There they go!” cry that made him a national institution, he didn’t leave the microphone until January 27, 1972, several hours after he was kicked

in the stomach by a pony at Hollywood Park while visiting several horses he owned.

Hernandez died six days later.

He called the victory by ex-steeplechaser Azucar in the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap, and Seabiscuit’s memorable victory as a seven-year-old in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap. But his most memorable call may have been his portrayal of Johnny Longden’s winning ride aboard George Royal in the 1966 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. It often is considered the most dramatic moment in the track’s history because at the age of 59 Longden was making his last appearance in the saddle.

Years earlier Hernandez had been Longden’s agent and he remained one of Longden’s closest friends. As George Royal neared the wire in a head-to-head duel with Plaque, Hernandez poured out his emotions.

“Joe wanted Johnny to win that race so bad,” recalled Terry Gilligan, who would succeed Hernandez as Santa Anita’s racecaller after the latter’s death, “that I think he helped that horse get to the wire.”

Noble Threewitt, then at 21 the youngest licensed trainer in North America, ran a

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“The 2003 Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree produced one of the greatest training accomplishments in history when horses sent out by Richard Mandella won four of the eight races on the card”

Fred Astaire was one of the many celebrities who attended the first Santa Anita meeting

At 21, Noble Threewitt was the youngest licensed trainer in North America and then became the oldest when he retired in 2007 at the age of 96

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horse in Santa Anita’s second race on the track’s opening day.

He was North America’s oldest trainer when he saddled his final horse on January 25, 2007, a three-year-old named Threeatonce, owned by his grandson, Christopher Chinicci. Threewitt officially retired a month later, February 24, 2007, his 96th birthday. He now is 98 and remarkably, he and his wife Beryl, whose father was a trainer, have been married for 76 years!

On November 6-7, Santa Anita will for the fifth time be the setting for the Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s world championships. The event was first held in Arcadia in 1986, and also in 1993, 2003 and 2008. This is the first time the Breeders’ Cup is being run at the same track two years in a row.

The Oak Tree Racing Association, a nonprofit horsemen’s group which since 1969 has leased Santa Anita from its corporate entity, the Los Angeles Thoroughbred Club, for a fall meet, worked for many years to be acknowledged as a separate and distinct organization.

“We’d been talking to the (Daily Racing)

Form for a few years about listing our races with their own identity,” said Sherwood C. Chillingworth, executive vice president of Oak Tree.

“Two years ago, they finally started listing our races as being run at ‘OSA,’ Oak Tree at Santa Anita. That meant a lot to us and our directors.”

The 2003 Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree produced one of the greatest training accomplishments in history when horses sent out by Richard Mandella won four of the eight races on the card, including a dead heat in the Turf, and a clear-cut victory in the Classic with Pleasantly Perfect.

Dr. Strub and his successors in Santa Anita’s executive suite, including his son Robert, always insisted that the track and its more than 300 acres be kept in pristine condition. They spent lavishly around the world to acquire beautiful art and sculpture for the track’s various rooms and always maintained lush gardens on the property.

Bob Berry, 84, is now in his 50th year as the track’s main florist. He and his crew supply and install the floral work that marks the grounds.

Though Santa Anita is nearing its 75th birthday, the Santa Anita story actually goes back to the late 19th century, when Elias “Lucky” Baldwin built the original Santa Anita on property near the present facility.

Baldwin would go on to develop one of the foremost racing and breeding operations of his time.

Michael Harlow, now Santa Anita’s director of racing, connects to the original Santa Anita through Josephine Gorman, his 91-year-old grandmother.

“My father, Blas Cuellar, ran Lucky Baldwin’s vineyard in Arcadia,” Gorman recalled. “I remember as a girl living on the original track grounds.”

World War II caused the closure of Santa

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“During the 1984 Olympic Games, Santa Anita hosted the equestrian show jumping and dressage events.

England’s Prince Philip, head of the International Equestrian Federation, ran the show” Anita as a racetrack from March 10, 1941, until May 15, 1945. Through much of that period, the track served as an assembly center for detained Japanese-Americans, who later were sent to relocation camps.

“It’s not one of the proudest times in Santa Anita history,” recalled George Yoshinaga, whose family briefly lived in converted horse stalls and who later became a columnist for the English-language edition of Rafu Shimpo, the Los Angeles Daily News for Japanese-Americans.

“But I served in the United States Army because I felt it was my duty as an American and I never regretted it,” said Yoshinaga, still writing regularly at the age of 85.

Not all Thoroughbred champions who appeared at Santa Anita won on any racetrack. During the 1984 Olympic Games, Santa Anita hosted the equestrian show jumping and dressage events. England’s Prince Philip, head of the International Equestrian Federation, ran the show from the office normally occupied by racing secretary Kilroe. His messages were fielded

by Nancy Wallen, who recently marked her 40th anniversary at Santa Anita.

The top horse at the Olympics was an 11year-old mare named Touch of Class, with whom Joe Fargis won gold medals in individual and team show jumping.

Under her original registered name, Stillaspill, she had raced six times at Penn National, Bowie and Charles Down. She finished as close as seventh twice and never earned a cent.

“She was no good as a racehorse and no good as a hunter,” Fargis said. “But she was a super jumper.” I 38 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

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Clockwise from left: The palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains are synonymous with Santa Anita; Touch of Class and Joe Fargis won gold medals in individual and team show jumping at Santa Anita during the 1984 Olympic Games; John Henry, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in 1981 and 1982; the Santa Anita grounds are always immaculate; Eddie Logan ran his shoeshine stand from the opening day in 1934 until he died in February 2009 at the age of 98

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NUTRITION

Will hemp change the way we feed horses?

An ideal bedding material for horses, hemp is also used in clothing, paper and even insulation in the construction industry. Importantly, it is also increasingly popular as a food ingredient.

Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD, R,Nutr looks into its possible beneficial qualities as an equine food stuff.

H

EMP has been synonymous with horse bedding for many years, as its fibrous properties give these products good cushioning and absorptive properties. The fibrous properties of hemp also make it attractive to other diverse uses outside of the equine industry including in the manufacture of clothing, garden mulch and paper and it has even been used in the construction industry within insulation material. Latterly, hemp has become popular as a food ingredient for people, being associated with well-known brands such as ‘The Food Doctor’ and ‘Ryvita.’ It has also been investigated as a feed ingredient for farm animals, including laying hens and dairy cows. Hemp is primarily an oilseed crop like soybean, linseed and rapeseed, and it is the grain or seed that contains the majority of the nutritional value. In comparison to other oilseed crops, hemp produces a very high yield (~10 tons of dry matter per acre per year) and therefore it is not surprising that in recent years it has become a good economic crop for farmers in some parts of the world.

Hemp is reputed to contain minimal allergens Hemp is a relatively environmentally friendly crop, as its requirement for pesticides and herbicides is apparently minimal. It is also reputed to contain minimal potential allergens. For horses in training that are prone to dietary-induced urticaria or hives, or where dietary sensitivity contributes to chronic loose droppings, hemp offers a possible alternative to traditional protein sources. Hemp is free

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from gluten, which is a particular type of protein found associated with starch in many cereal grains. Gluten is known to be problematic in the diet of some people.

Hemp is available as a feed ingredient in a number of forms including: G Shelled hemp seed (where the oil is retained) G Hemp oil, where the oil is extracted through cold pressing techniques G Hemp flour/cake, which is the residual material following oil extraction Hemp is regarded as being a good quality source of protein Hemp has an interesting nutritional profile and in its raw state is somewhat similar to linseed. The different forms of hemp offer a varying nutritional profile (see table below), but generally it is high in oil and offers a good source of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.

It is also relatively high in protein and soluble fiber, and contains a range of vitamins and minerals. Hemp is regarded as a relatively high-quality source of protein, thus providing a good profile of both essential and non-essential amino acids compared to traditionally used soybean.

Additionally, hemp contains large amounts Nutritional value of hemp Shelled Hempseeds

Energy (DE MJ/kg) Carbohydrate % Protein % Oils & Fat % Minerals Fiber

25.4 47.0 34.4 50.6 6.1 7.6

Hemp flour/cake

11.1 50.7 27.9 8.9 6.3 22.0

* Analysis supplied by the Yorkshire Hemp Company

of the proteins edestin and albumin, which due to their globular structure are both reported to be highly digestible. The relative digestibility of hemp protein in horses is largely unknown to date. A good protein source must be digested efficiently in the small intestine in order to allow absorption of the released amino acids. Any protein that escapes digestion in the small intestine reaches the hindgut where it can be fermented by the resident bacteria.

Although these ‘escaped’ amino acids can be utilized to support the resident bacterial population, their nutritive value to the horse is greatly reduced due to little or no absorption from the hindgut.

Hemp oil provides a balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids Hemp oil is dominated by the omega 6 fatty acid alpha-linoleic acid, which accounts for about 50% of the oil present, but unlike many other traditional oil sources in the horse’s diet, hemp oil also has a high content of the omega 3 fatty acid alpha-

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linolenic acid (20% of the oil present) and also about 15% of the omega 9 fatty acid oleic acid. For horses in training where access to grazing is reduced, supplementation with omega-3-containing ingredients or feeds can be advantageous.

Hemp also contains appreciable amounts of gamma-linolenic acid GLA (1-4% of total oil present), which is more commonly associated with evening primrose oil. In human nutrition, GLA is reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties and is associated with complementary use for eczema and pre-menstrual tension in women. Likewise, in horses GLA has previously featured in calming products and also those targeted at coat condition and skin health. Like most vegetable-derived oils, the stability of the constituent fatty acids in hemp is supported by its natural antioxidant content that consists predominantly of gamma-tocopherol, a natural form of vitamin E. The oil content of hemp can be extracted by a process known as cold-pressing, which

retains the integrity of the constituent fatty acids. Where the majority of the oil has been extracted from hemp seeds, the residue remaining is hemp flour or cake, which is often the material that finds its way into the animal feed sector. This material may be useful as a source of quality protein, but it also retains a reasonably high oil content.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels are generally very low in hemp Hemp technically belongs to the same family as marijuana, Cannabis sativa.

However, apart from physically looking very different, hemp does not contain any appreciable levels of the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The level of THC found in the varieties of hemp cultivated commercially is very low, typically less than 0.3% as opposed to the 7-20% in the psychoactive plant. The THC, which stimulates the nervous system, is predominantly found within the leaves, with very little present within the harvested seed, where the greatest nutritional value is found.

The varieties of hemp that can be grown under Home Office license within the UK or within the EU for human or animal consumption must legally contain THC levels below a threshold of 0.02% or 200mg/kg. However, there is no doubt that THC would be considered a prohibited substance under the rules of racing within EU member states. Despite the very low level of THC present in the seed and extracted oil, there have previously been some concerns relating to the presence of these minute quantities of THC in human hemp-based foodstuffs and the likelihood of ‘testing positive’ during work-based drug testing. Previously, individuals have cited their consumption of such foods as a defense against a positive employmentbased urine test for THC, where marijuana use is suspected. Studies were subsequently carried out to establish whether this was valid or not.

An assessment of the effect of regular consumption of hemp containing foods on urinary levels of THC was undertaken in people in the USA. This study compared four doses of THC (ranging from 0.09 to 0.6 mg/day) as being representative of the typical levels found in hemp seed products and reflecting common consumption.

Following 10 days of supplementation, in this study, only one urine sample of the 15 tested was reported as positive as it was found to be above the 50 ng/ml urine threshold. However, in a subsequent study, where the urine collection protocols were more rigorous but the intake of THC similar, a greater number of ‘positives’ were found, although a large amount of variation between individuals was noted. While it was concluded that it was unlikely that the regular consumption of hemp-containing foods would elicit a positive urine test above the reporting threshold, the situation with respect to athletic competition may be different.

The rules of racing, for example within the member states of the European Horseracing Scientific Liaison Committee (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy) would certainly consider THC to be a prohibited substance and as there is no published threshold for THC, where THC was present in urine a positive test would largely depend upon the sensitivity of the analytical protocols of the regulatory laboratories, which may well be very high.

So while the level of THC in hemp seed or oil is likely to be extremely low, if present at all, the lack of information on the effect of regular feeding in horses currently acts as a cautionary barrier to its widespread use in racing. However, with the growing interest in hemp as a feed ingredient and the growth of the hemp industry, appropriate research could be undertaken to ease its passage into the equine feed sector. I ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 41

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a relatively modern practice in medicine which involves the administration of oxygen in an environment where the ambient pressure has been increased (Ronald and Larry, 1994) to two-to-three times the normal atmospheric pressure at sea level. Here, we explore this therapy which is experiencing significant expansion, particularly in the US, though it is still somewhat unknown in Europe. By Margaux Thomas

T

HE technique has been applied to humans for more than 30 years but used in equine veterinary medicine since approximately 2000 (Coyle, 2006). Experience with human medicine is important, as extensive clinical experience shows that equine skin and normal wounds in horses behave similarly to those in humans, another mammal.

Interest in HBOT by the equine industry is due to its ascribed beneficial effects on the healing of lower limb wounds, which remain a major health problem to man and horses worldwide. Slow-healing wounds or those that fail to heal can result in prolonged hospitalization, numerous surgical interventions and time-consuming wound care. Slow healing is particularly inconvenient and challenging for highperformance human and equine athletes.

Whether or not horses are “wild” or “elitist” they will always by nature be flight animals prone to soft tissue injuries such as abrasions, puncture wounds, lacerations and bruises (Thomas, 2001), most frequently experienced as lower limb wounds (Slovin, 2008). Such wounds, including skin wounds, take longer to heal due to greater wound retraction, slower rates of epithelialisation and earlier cessation of contraction (Jacobs et al, 1984), which frequently leads to more serious conditions such as proud flesh and infection. They are subject to considerable tension during movement as the lower leg of the horse has no muscles below the knee or hock and no buffering tissues between the skin and the tendons, ligaments, joints or bones (Thomas, 2001). Lower limb wounds contribute to the loss of performance and potential loss of commercial value of the affected horse (Cochrane, 2003), and are thus dangerous for horses and horse owners, particularly those part of the elite equine industry such as racing.

In human medicine HBOT is provided to the patient through a variety of mechanisms. The most common is the walk-in (multi-place) chamber, compressed to depth with air while the patient breathes 100% oxygen with a head tent, face mask, or endotracheal tube. Alternatively, the patient may be treated in a one-person (monoplane) chamber pressurized to depth with oxygen.

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Horses are treated in large hyperbaric chambers which provide ample moving space during long treatments and reduce the likelihood of them panicking. Cameras enable visual monitoring of the therapy in the case of an emergency.

Wound healing is a complex orchestration of interaction among various groups of cells. In order to successfully complete the healing process, cells must communicate with each other as well as with the wound environment. To do so, two conditions are required: adequate perfusion and sufficient blood supply (Clark and Price, 2004). It is considered that HBOT improves the healing process by facilitating such interaction. Its beneficial effect is probably due to the fact that the technique increases oxygen supply to the wound area by increasing the concentration of oxygen in the blood and in the blood plasma. It does this by subjecting patients to an enriched

Well Armed was sent to a HBOT chamber after winning the Dubai World Cup

oxygen environment under higher-thannormal atmospheric pressure, which helps oxygen penetrate the wound environment.

Increased oxygen concentrations can persist for up to four hours after each treatment.

More specifically, scientists generally believe that wounds heal more quickly when their environment is enriched in oxygen because of the beneficial effect of oxygen on the following conditions: Hypoxia relief Hypoxia – a broad term meaning diminished availability of oxygen in body tissues – occurs as an insufficient supply of oxygen which prevents the healing process from proceeding (Write, 2001). It is caused by disrupted vasculature and has been described by Khanna et al (2002) to be a key limiting factor to wound healing.

However, non-excessive hypoxia initiates healing by providing an important stimulus

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for neovascularization in the wounded tissue. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream thereby reducing the intensity of swelling and infection which maintains the wound environment until proper blood flow is re-established (Sen et al, 2002).

Reducing infection Along with hypoxia, infection is the main challenge faced in wound healing. Over the years it has been observed in both humans and horses to occur mainly in the lower limb wounds and requires secondary intention healing. Infection is greatly enhanced by the absence of supporting deep musculature and low vascular support.

These render the damaged tissue environment highly fragile and thus prone to contamination. Oxygen is a vital factor in the prevention of infection.

Collagen deposition and wound tensile strength An important step in wound healing is collagen deposition, which is vital for the build-up of angiogenesis and the tissue remodelling (Gordillo and Chandan, 2003).

Angiogenesis, the complex chain of events by which the cellular metabolic need translates into mature blood vessels (Gimbel and Hunt, 2004), is an important component of the proliferative phase in

“Growing attention is being paid to HBOT by research scientists, veterinarians and rehabilitation experts, and increasing numbers of facilities are being installed to treat horses” wound healing. It mainly involves the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones and enhances the activity of endothelial cells in the wound space.

Most importantly, collagen deposition promotes the tensile wound strength.

Ongoing studies have shown that many steps in the collagen synthesis are dependent on the provision of oxygen, suggesting that HBOT has the potential to improve both collagen deposition and tensile strength during the remodelling phase, thus helping to promote the entire wound healing process.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) The process of wound healing and even more so HBOT are being researched in equine and human science. A recent discovery in this regard seems significant.

Sen (2003) states that almost every cell in the wound micro-environment is bound to a specialized enzyme in order to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxygen is thus believed to assist healing via the production of these oxygen species in the wound environment. According to Gordillo and Chandan (2003), these appear to act as cellular messengers which then enhance the healing process through a series of steps.

These species have been shown to enhance processes such as cytokine action, angiogenesis, cell motility, and extracellular matrix formation (Sen, 2003). This provides another important reason why oxygen is so important in equine wound healing.

Practical experience at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (KESMARC) has shown that “HBOT is effective for many types of wounds

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including massive developing injuries to the lower leg, large surface wounds from trauma, etc. It decreases tissue swelling and therefore salvages damaged tissues when used in the case of acute traumatic injuries. In the case of chronic wounds, HBOT assists the epithelium covering the wound and stimulates fibroblast production of collagen.” (Equine Oxygen Therapy, 2008).

A distinctive advantage of HBOT is that it causes no pain and probably little stress to horses.

In general HBOT is described as an effective and safe therapy. In the U.S., it is an FDA-approved therapy. However, HBOT is known to produce occasional side effects which appear to be more prevalent when this therapy is used for wound healing in humans. These include: Oxygen toxicity; Ear and sinus barotrauma; Myopia; Aggravation of congestive heart failure; Oxygen seizures; Pulmonary barotraumas.

Little is known about such or other side effects in horses which according to Slovin (2008) may include untreated pneumothorax, high fevers, emphysema and upper airway occlusions. Those applying HBOT to horses should thus be particularly alert to its possible side effects and should share their experience with other specialists and scientists.

It has been argued that HBOT increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream thus creating hyper oxygenated tissues. As a result, swelling and infection are reduced both in wounds and in compromised grafted tissues until adequate blood flow is established. However, Dr. Steve Adair (Associate Professor of equine surgery at the college of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee) states that it is possible that HBOT reduces the signal for tissues to create new blood vessels and a slower rate of new blood vessel formation will decrease the overall rate of healing. Therein lies another apparent contradiction in the use of HBOT for healing horse wounds which needs to be resolved.

It has been suggested that HBOT is best used as an adjunct to traditional wound healing therapies such as skin grafting, maggot debridement therapy, low-level laser therapy and vacuum assisted closure.

However, the most appropriate time to associate HBOT with such therapies remains to be determined. More research is needed in this area.

While using HBOT on its own to heal human wounds is still under investigation, the treatment is increasingly recognized by scientists as prone to saving compromised skin grafts or skin flaps in humans. There is still little evidence about the positive effects of HBOT on the healing of grafts on horses, 46 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

Simply therapeutic or does HBOT really enhance performance?

By Larry Bortstein WHILE hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a tool used to aid in healing wounds, there are other uses for it that are not without their share of controversy, as evidenced by two major racing jurisdictions that have begun to question the ethics of the therapy. There is some debate, however, on whether the taboo is deser ved.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin won his first Breeders’ Cup race, the Dir t Mile with Alber tus Maximus, at Santa Anita in 2008. He credits the use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber on his proper ty in Bradbury, California, near Santa Anita, with helping Albertus Maximus recover after hard races and strenuous workouts.

That’s why Cerin says he is incredulous that the New York State Racing and Wagering Board (NYSR&WB) recently enacted a rule that horses can’t be entered to race if they have received HBOT within seven days of post time, suggesting it may have performance-enhancing capabilities.

Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the NYSR&WB, said the racing offices at the New York tracks monitored HBOT by receiving inand-out slips from chamber operators on horses who had received therapy.

“The racing offices aren’t supposed to take entries on horses who’ve been in the chambers less than seven days before they race,” Mahoney said. “The system we have in place seems to be working well.”

Though the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering has not adopted similar legislation, two tracks in the state, Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course, enacted house r ules prohibiting use of the chambers no closer than 72 hours prior to a race.

“This has reached the level of absurdity,” Cerin said. “What are they going to do next – ban breathing?”

Humans have undergone the therapy for years, Cerin said, and no scientific evidence exists that it boosts per formance. It may even possibly have the opposite effect too close to a start. “I sent Alber tus Maximus for the therapy after workouts,” Cerin said, “but not within two weeks of a race. I’ve found it can make a horse lethargic.”

Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director of the California Horse Racing Board, said the use of HBOT falls under the general state r ules against the use of dr ugs within 48 hours of a race.

“No specific rule against the use of HBOT is

contemplated in this state,” Ar thur said. Ed Halpern, the executive director of Califor nia Thoroughbred Trainers, said the board of directors hasn’t discussed the issue.

Cerin and other trainers nationwide insist HBOT is beneficial in many ways, an assessment shared by a leading Mar yland veterinarian.

“They are wonderful for helping horses get over soft tissue injuries and recuperate quicker from hard races,” said Dr. Kathleen Anderson of the Fair Hill Training Center.

“They also help treat bleeders. Those horses still have to receive anti-bleeder medication when they race, but the therapy helps repair broken blood vessels. It’s not inexpensive, about $300 per treatment, but owners like it because their horses can come back quicker and race again.”

Bill Casner, the chairman and co-owner of WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, is a strong proponent of HBOT. “It’s one of the best therapeutic methods we have in horse racing,” said Casner, who in 2001 brought the first hyperbaric chamber to Kentucky.

Two of Casner’s top runners, Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed and 2008 Santa Anita Derby/Travers winner Colonel John – both sons of Tiznow – benefited greatly from their time in the hyperbaric chamber at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, Califor nia, near Santa Barbara, which pioneered the therapy for horses when it installed its oxygen chamber – big enough to hold two horses at a time – in April, 2000.

“Well Armed needed to recover from his trip to Dubai and the chamber helped him do that,” Casner said. “Unfortunately, he got hur t in his first race back and won’t race again until next year.”

Colonel John was scratched from the Santa Anita Handicap in March, which would have been his first star t of 2009, when he developed a serious lung infection. He finally made his 4-year-old debut with a victor y in the Wickerr Handicap on Del Mar’s turf course in July.

“Without the hyperbaric chamber at Alamo Pintado, he might not have made it back to the races at all,” said Casner.

“We have a chamber at our far m in Kentucky,” he continued, “and we put the mares who’ve just foaled in there with their newbor n foals. It helps them replace the blood they’ve lost in bir th.”

Casner said attempts to limit HBOT are a

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HBOT

Albertus Maximus had HBOT during the lead up to his Breeders’ Cup Dir t Mile victory product of over-zealousness on the par t of regulators.

“I think that when the RMTC (R acing Medication and Testing Consortium) develops a uniform rule on hyperbaric chambers, we’ll get more understanding of the science of what they do and how beneficial they are. They’re not performance enhancing because the effects wear off after a couple of hours.”

English-born trainer Graham Motion, whose Better Talk Now is still competitive in Grade I competition at the age of 10, said HBOT remains uncommon in his native countr y. But he dismisses the notion that it has performance-enhancing qualities.

“You don’t give it to a horse before a race, but right after a hard race,” Motion said, “or if they run down in their ankles or heels. It sends oxygen directly to the area and helps it heal faster.”

New York-based Mark Hennig is the trainer of the good three-year-old filly Don’t Forget Gil.

When he trained in California in the 1990s, he won the 1993 Santa Anita Derby with P ersonal Hope.

“I like the therapy because the horse can r un back faster than before,” Hennig said.

Both Motion and Hennig admit, however, that New York and Florida could have a valid point in their stance limiting HBOT. “Everyone is more sensitive about these issues now,” Motion said. “I have no problem with controlling the use of the therapy.”

Hennig said, “It’s OK with me.”

“We saw the effect it had on humans over a period of years,” senior veterinarian Dr. Doug Herthel said, “and we thought it would be useful with our horse patients.”

Grade 1 winner Thorn Song suffered abscesses on both front feet when he ran in the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar on July 25.

Once considered a leading candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on tur f, he was sent to

Alamo Pintado by trainer Mike Mitchell.

“I don’t know if he can make the Breeders’ Cup,” Mitchell said in August, “but we wanted to give him the best possible way to recover. I can’t understand why anybody would think that’s wrong.”

Enforcing use of the chambers could be an issue, since they are usually based away from the track. Trainers haven’t been required to report a horse that has been on HBOT and tracks don’t list them in the program.

Even Hennig admitted he’d rather not specify whether one of his horses received the therapy. “The owners want to make her a broodmare and they’d rather not let it be known,” he said.

Whatever the effects of HBOT, be they purely therapeutic or performance enhancing, the stigma that surrounds it suggests that it bears closer examination in the interest of fair ness and uniformity in our spor t.

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with and without complications. It seems that the negative effect experienced in some cases may be due to appropriate protocols not yet having been developed for horses, so this is another important area for research.

Is HBOT economical?

The economics of any therapy are usually a good indicator of its effectiveness and value. Indeed, the increasing use of this therapy by trainers, clinics and breeders worldwide suggests strongly that it is effective. Equine hyperbaric chambers were first used in America in 2000, followed by Australia in 2004.

Because HBOT is an expensive therapy, owners use it essentially on valuable horses.

The cost per horse varies according to the facility and the number of treatments needed, which ranges from two to 25 depending on the ailment. Chronic wounds, particularly those located on the lower limbs, do not recover at the same speed as a fresher injury caught in its early stages, thus increasing the cost. The price of treating a horse ranges from $325 to $1000.

Shelena Hoberg of the KESMARC rehabilitation centre considers HBOT to be a profitable form of therapy for both the service provider and the owner but acknowledges that the cost of treatment in

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relation to the value of the horse is invariably a major consideration for owners. It should also be borne in mind that HBOT costs about a third of an average surgery. Studies with humans have shown that the extra cost of HBOT is offset by reduced hospitalization and treatment time, which also applies to horses.

The above suggests that, for horse owners, HBOT is financially viable when applied to the right wound and in the right circumstances. The main obstacle to the wider use of HBOT is a lack of awareness and knowledge by horse owners of its advantages. Potential users tend to mainly consider its high cost when choosing what therapy to apply. Such prejudice will have to be overcome by providing potential users (horse owners, clinics, rehabilitation centers) with sound information on the use of HBOT including its benefits, drawbacks and financial costs.

Global expansion Growing interest in and use of HBOT for treating horse wounds is reflected in growing attention being paid to this technique by research scientists, veterinarians and rehabilitation experts, and the increasing number of facilities being installed to treat horses. The latter is occurring mainly in the U.S. but is also happening gradually in other

countries. While a number of veterinary faculties worldwide are keen to explore the use of HBOT, shortage of funds remains a major constraint.

Growing interest and expansion is illustrated by the purchase and use of hyperbaric chambers for use on animals.

This is enabled by the Canadian company Equineox Technologies which is the first company in the world to develop, manufacture and install hyperbaric oxygen chambers in small and large animal veterinary clinics.

In 2004 it was known that 14 chambers were being operated in Canada and the United States in a number of veterinary clinics, colleges, private horse farms, and rehabilitation clinics (Equineox Technologies, 2004).

Conclusion The elite horse industry and racing in particular is in constant progress and is continuously attempting to improve the welfare and performance of its equine athletes. Consequently, as standards improve, better therapies and techniques are required. It is vital to raise questions which will trigger the scientific research needed to enable the appropriate use of new techniques such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in wound care.

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WEIGHTY Issues

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HE job of a racing secretary has never been easy. Pleasing an entire population of horsemen simultaneously may be literally impossible.

The recent advent of synthetic racing surfaces has increased a racing secretary’s challenges exponentially. And it’s not likely to stop.

Nobody knows that better than Ben Huffman.

With remarkable candor, the veteran racing secretary of Churchill Downs and Keeneland explained why he would like another shot at weighting the horses that contested the $557,600 Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 2nd, the race before the Kentucky Derby.

“Frankly, that one got by me,” Huffman said. “Einstein should have been the highweight.”

Instead, because of the weight allowances Huffman had written into the stakes in January – several weeks before Einstein (Brz) won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on Pro-Ride, the track’s synthetic course – Einstein carried 119 pounds, five less than highweight Court Vision.

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Synthetic surfaces and the move towards more weight-for-age races are giving racing secretaries a headache when weighting horses. By Bill Heller The allowances Huffman had written for the stakes specified “Non-winners of a Grade or Group 1 stakes over a mile on turf since October 3, 2008, allowed 3lbs.; $150,000 over a mile on the turf since September 1, 2008, 5lbs.; a graded or group stakes a mile or over in 2008-2009, 7lbs.”

He wishes he could go back in time and tweak those allowance conditions.

“My weight allowances were ‘Grade 1 on turf’,” Huffman said. “Einstein won a Grade 1 on synthetic. We’re so used to writing weight allowances for turf, ‘Grade 1 wins on turf.’ There’s never been a Grade 1 winner of the Santa Anita Handicap who came here for the Woodford Reserve. No horse had ever come from the Santa Anita Handicap and run in the Woodford. I’d written those conditions in January. He hadn’t even won yet. I didn’t have the Big ‘Cap on my mind. I could have written ‘any Grade 1.’ Especially with synthetics, you have to be more careful. I won’t miss it again.”

Huffman didn’t realize Einstein’s surprising low weight until he saw an overnight. “I said, ‘Oh-oh,’” he said. “That was a mistake on my part.”

Quite naturally, the weights didn’t sit well with Court Vision’s connections. “Not at all,” Bill Mott, the horse’s Hall of Fame trainer, said in August. “Einstein got away with murder. We don’t give five pounds to horses like him. He slipped in. Good for him; bad for us. Generally, that doesn’t happen. The conditions were written ‘nonwinners on turf.’ There used to be quite a difference between dirt and turf. Now you have synthetics in the middle.”

Carrying 119 pounds, Einstein barely won the 2009 Woodford Reserve by a head over Cowboy Cal, who had the same impost. Court Vision, toting five more pounds than both, rallied from last in the field of nine to finish third, 2¾ lengths behind Cowboy Cal. The Daily Racing Form chart notes that Court Vision “angled out entering the stretch when making a

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good move, but could not sustain the bid.”

We’ll never know what would have happened if Einstein had been the highweight. But carrying high weight isn’t like it used to be.

Mott trained North America’s last great handicap horse, Cigar, the two-time Horse of the Year who won 16 consecutive races, tying Citation’s all-time mark. Cigar carried 130 pounds to win both the 1996 MassCap and the Citation Challenge.

Skip Away, who defeated Cigar in the 1996 Jockey Club Gold Cup carrying 121 to Cigar’s 126, won the 1998 MassCap carrying 130 and the Iselin Handicap carrying 131.

Those days are long gone.

“Since then, some of the other horses that have come around have been lucky enough to get into weight-for-ages,” Mott said. “I don’t know if that’s good for the sport. We always had both. The thing is about the handicaps now, I think every racing secretary that’s weighting races is a little more careful putting too much weight on anybody because they can race somewhere else. We can ship horses around the country, whether by air charter or by air cargo. If a guy doesn’t like the weights, they literally fly across the country

“No horse had ever come from the Santa Anita Handicap and run in the Woodford.

With synthetics, you have to be more careful. I won’t miss it again” Ben Huffman and get in another race. There was a time you had traditional races that everybody had to run in because everybody was there.”

Because trainers have that option with their top horses, the challenge for racing After winning at Santa Anita Einstein went on to win the Woodward Reserve Turf Classic carrying 119 pounds

secretaries these days is getting enough quality horses into weight-for-age stakes if there is a standout nobody wants to race against. It’s a challenge Del Mar Racing Secretary Tommy Robbins confronted August 9th in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap as unbeaten Zenyatta pursued her 12th career victory in a stakes she had captured in 2008, setting a track record doing so.

“Your fear as a racing secretary is that you don’t get enough competition,” said

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Cigar wins the 1996 Arlington Citation Challenge carrying top weight of 130 pounds

Robbins, who has also been the racing secretary at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.

He was delighted when nine other fillies and mares entered against Zenyatta in the Hirsch. And even though three of them would scratch, Robbins was happy. That still left a field of seven. “I didn’t think we’d get seven horses,” Robbins said.

This year, the Hirsch was run weight-forage. “We’ve changed,” Robbins said. “We changed some of our graded stakes this summer. There’s been a push on a national level to get more weight-for-age races.”

Is that good for racing? “It’s certainly better for the better horses because they don’t get weighted out of races,” Robbins said. “That’s been the push of many people the last few years.”

Robbins wrote in two weight allowances for the Hirsch, which assigned three-year-olds 119 pounds and older fillies and mares 123: “Non-winners of a Grade 1 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed two pounds,” and “non-winners of a Grade 2 at a mile or over in 2008 allowed four pounds.”

Thus did Zenyatta and her stablemate Life Is Sweet carry 123 pounds and the other five fillies and mares 119 each. “If it had been a handicap, Zenyatta would have carried a lot more,” Robbins said.

As it was, Zenyatta was life and death to edge Anabaa’s Creation by a head, spotting that rival four pounds.

That made Zenyatta 12-for-12. Eleven of her victories have been on synthetic tracks, which set her up well to race in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, held at Santa Anita for the

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“Einstein got away with murder. We don’t give five pounds to horses like him. He slipped in. Good for him; bad for us” Bill Mott second consecutive year.

The wisdom of holding racing’s World Series on a synthetic surface for the second straight year – an obvious disadvantage for great dirt horses – is dubious and will likely keep America’s top horse this summer, the brilliant filly Rachel Alexandra, out of the Breeders’ Cup. For the first time in racing history, trainers have three different surfaces to choose from: dirt, turf and synthetics, be they Pro-Ride, Cushion, Polytrack or Tapeta.

Evaluating that third surface and its effects on training, racing, handicapping and betting will take time. But with true handicap racing for North America’s top

horses on the endangered species list, the weight allowances for weight-for-age stakes have never been more important.

“I’ve been in the game all my life,” Huffman said. “This is a third surface. It’s certainly going to change how racing secretaries write weight allowances. You have to have tons of data over a long period of time. It’s tough. This Turf Classic is a perfect example. I was thinking ‘Grade 1 turf.’ I should have been thinking “Grade 1 synthetic.”

Racing secretaries are left on their own dealing with this added variable. “Everyone is different,” said New York Racing Association Racing Secretary P.J. Campo, who writes races for all three NYRA tracks:

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Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct.

“Everyone writes their own conditions within their own timeframes. I go back two months as far as my regular allowances to get weight off. When I start writing my conditions for the spring, I look at what’s going on in the winter in California and at Gulfstream. It’s very difficult to pin down.

There’s going to be certain horses that fall through the cracks.”

And what of synthetics? NYRA’s three tracks offer dirt and turf racing only.

“What has made it difficult is synthetic,” Campo said. “I count synthetic as dirt. If you wanted to get specific, you could. But you don’t want to jump the gun. It’s difficult to start writing a third set of conditions. In New York, we don’t get a lot of synthetic horses running on dirt. That could change.”

It won’t change quickly at Arlington Park, where horses race on Polytrack or turf. “I

haven’t changed the way I weight races because of synthetics,” Racing Secretary Kevin Greely said in August. “If it’s a handicap, you might take it into consideration.”

Robbins is reluctant to change conditions at Del Mar: “We’ve shied away from that. We don’t designate specific surfaces. Right now, there’s a very strong belief that races on synthetics are very similar to turf.”

Others are skeptical. How could anyone know for sure after just a few years of synthetics, which seem to change at different times of the year depending on temperature and climate?

Remember, there isn’t one specific type of synthetic surface being used by racetracks, but several. It seems more likely that, eventually, racing secretaries will have to deal with that difference.

“That’s coming,” Huffman said. “I’ve written a couple allowance races on dirt and put in a money clause on a non-synthetic surface with allowances. There was a good synthetic horse out there who wouldn’t have been eligible to run in one of our allowance races. We called the horse’s trainer and let him know about the clause, but he didn’t enter the horse. It’s hard to fill allowance races. I’m trying to gather up as many horses as I can.

“In my mind, we have three surfaces in the country. It used to be two. The way we do things are going to change a little bit.”

But they will change. Racing secretaries are going to have to deal with the effects of a third surface. “I think they’ve got to throw that into the equation,” Mott said. “They have to think about it, sure. It’s a whole different ballgame.” I

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Ten common skin conditions

By Barry Sangster and Phil Dyson

“He’s come into his summer coat and you can see your face in it.” “She looks very well in her skin.” These typical comments from TV racing pundits underline the link most horsemen make between the sleek, shiny coat of the finely -tuned equine athlete and the general wellbeing of the animal that this reflects. However , skin conditions are not merely an aesthetic consideration and, left unidentified or untreated, can interrupt carefully planned training schedules. This article seeks to list ten important skin conditions of racehorses and provide a brief explanation of their cause, recognition and treatment. Broadly, skin conditions may result from trauma, infection, allergy or abnormal growths.

A deep wound directly over the fetlock joint.

Joint fluid may be seen leaking from the wound.

The wound was lavaged under arthroscopic guidance. Following this procedure and intensive antibiotic therapy, the horse made a full recover y

1 CUTS/TRAUMA Nicks and scrapes of varying severity are an occupational hazard for the racehorse, particularly if they are required to jump obstacles. Most of these can be dealt with by first aid and simple ongoing treatments, such as the application of a bandage or antiseptic cream. Veterinary examination would certainly be required where the wound appears to be infected or suturing is necessary. Most importantly, a vet should look at any deep wound which lies over a

A small wound over the tarso -crural joint.

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permethrin or cypermethrin powders/washes at 10-day intervals. All horses in contact should be treated and rugs steam-cleaned.

Mud fever normally occurs around the paster ns, coronets and bulbs of the heels af ter a horse has stood in wet and muddy conditions

tendon sheath or joint capsule, as infection tracking into these structures is a very serious matter. Without prompt treatment, persistent lameness or even euthanasia may be the result. There is no doubt that the wound illustrated in Figure 1 required urgent and extensive veterinary treatment.

However, Figure 2 illustrates what, at first presentation, appears to be a relatively minor wound. Closer examination revealed joint fluid leaking from the wound, and a septic tarso-crural (hock) joint sepsis was diagnosed. Joint sepsis is treated by lavage or flushing of the joint with sterile fluid, usually under a general anesthetic.

2 SUNBURN As the name suggests, this is damage to the skin caused by direct exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation, i.e. sunshine. The problem is normally restricted to nonpigmented areas which receive the full effect of the sun. In racehorses, this generally means white areas on the face.

The lesions start with the formation of blisters and progress to crusting of the skin.

Secondary bacterial infection is a possibility. Prevention is by application of high-factor sun cream to the affected area, placing a gauze fly screen over the horse’s face, or simply keeping the animal out of strong sunlight.

Rain Rot is the result of prolonged wetting of the hair

3 LICE This parasitic condition is the most common cause of pruritis (itching) in horses. Seen most regularly during the winter months, the infestation usually concentrates on the mane and tailhead areas and is often accompanied by an increase of scale (dandruff) in the coat.

Severe cases may develop hair loss and a ‘moth-eaten’ appearance. Diagnosis can be made by examining the infected areas with a hand lens, as the lice and their eggs are readily identified in this way. Lice are contagious and can be spread by rugs, grooming equipment and bedding.

Treatment is by three applications of

4 RINGWORM A highly contagious fungal infection, ringworm is also capable of affecting humans (Figure 3). It is also important to remember that racehorses with active lesions should not travel to the races.

Some damage to the skin is usually a prerequisite for ringworm to invade.

Therefore, the areas most commonly affected are those which are rubbed by tack.

The fungi attack and weaken the hair follicles which break, causing alopecia. This reveals reddened, scaly and crusty areas of skin beneath. These are usually circular in shape. Secondary infection by bacteria is also a possibility. Microscopic examination of plucked hairs or skin scrapings may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Horses develop resistance to ringworm and the lesions would normally resolve within three months. Older horses are likely to have less widespread or severe lesions if previously exposed. Topical treatment with fungicides will limit the duration and severity of the infection and they can also be applied to tack. Stable hygiene is important in preventing the spread of disease and fungicidal disinfectants may be used for cleaning stalls. Tack, blankets, etc. should only be used on the infected horse.

4 MUD FEVER/RAIN ROT These two conditions arise from infection with the same bacteria, Dermatophilus Congolensis, resulting in two differing presentations according to the area affected. Mud fever normally occurs around the pasterns, coronets and bulbs of the heels and is usually due to horses standing in wet, muddy fields or exercise in similar conditions.

Rain rot is the result of prolonged wetting of the hair and is found along the horse’s topline, flanks, rump and face, i.e. areas exposed to rainfall and run-off.

Small lesions become widespread until the coat looks like it is sodden. This fluid oozing from the skin mats the hairs, giving rise to ‘paintbrush’ lesions. The skin is painful and may start to harden, with crust formation.

Mud fever can be prevented by ensuring that horses which go out in wet, muddy conditions have their legs properly cleaned and dried afterwards. Waterproof barrier creams can also be applied before exercise.

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more severe cases benefit from systemic antibiotic treatment.

6 HIVES/URTICARIA The cause of this acute ailment is often difficult to pinpoint, but it has been linked to food sensitivity, drug reactions, insect bites and various infections. The lesions take the form of multiple raised plaques, usually on the head and trunk. These will pit when pressed with a finger i.e. they are edematous. Pruritis will only be mild, if present at all. Most cases will regress spontaneously, but a steroid injection usually effects a cure. In recurrent cases it may be worthwhile attempting to identify the allergen, so that it can be avoided.

Figure 4 illustrates a horse which had suffered a severe urticarial reaction, which then became secondarily infected.

7 SARCOIDS The cause of this nodular skin complaint has not been categorically identified, but a papilloma virus is likely to be at least partially responsible and there is a genetic component to equine susceptibility. They often develop at the site of a previous wound and it could be that flies contribute to their spread. Sarcoids do not spread

A severe case of hives

beyond the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but they should be categorized as a tumour rather than a wart or simple lump.

Six clinical forms have been categorized: Occult, verrucose, nodular, fibroblastic,

An occult sarcoid situated behind a horse’s right ear

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mixed and malignant/malevolent. They vary markedly in appearance, and their clinical significance varies with their location on the body, their type and size.

Occult sarcoids take the form of areas of alopecia which become crusty. The verrucose lesions are rough and warty. The nodular versions are large, usually spheroid lesions contained within the skin.

Fibroblastic sarcoids may appear to be fleshy and ulcerated and can have a broad or narrow (pedunculated) base. Mixed lesions can show any combination of the four previous forms.

The malignant/malevolent version is a rare and more aggressive form. The most commonly affected areas are the head, the horse’s underside (particularly around the genitals) and the limbs. Diagnosis is normally made on visual appearance, but this can be confirmed by histopathological examination of a biopsy.

Treatment of these lesions provides a real challenge, as simple surgical removal can result in recurrence and the appearance of further lesions around the surgical site.

This is a problem even with a wide margin of excision. Other options are cryotherapy, in which the sarcoid is frozen having possibly been debulked surgically. The lesion can be injected with BCG, which stimulates an immune response, or cisplatin.

Topical chemotherapy and radiation therapy are further options. However, the truth is that there is no easy option and a veterinarian will always give a guarded prognosis regarding complete resolution.

Some sarcoids may progress to the size where athleticism is severely compromised (Figure 5)

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9 AURAL PLAQUES Another condition likely to be the result of the Equine Papillomavirus, and which may be spread by black flies. They normally present as grey-white plaques on the inner surface of the ear, (see photo, left) but the lesions may also appear grape-like.

Although not generally causing a problem, once they appear they are unlikely to resolve. Treatment is not usually required.

An aural plaque

8 JUVENILE WARTS Infection with the Equine Papillomavirus results in these unsightly, but generally harmless, warts. It is unusual to find them on a horse older than three years old.

Commonly found on the face and muzzle, they may also develop on the pasterns and

sheath. The warts should regress within three or four months as immunity develops.

As such, no treatment is normally warranted.

Where the warts are interfering with tack, a cream containing podophyllum can be applied.

10 NODULARY NECROBACILLOSIS The cause of this common condition is unknown, but it may be related to insect bites or trauma to the skin. It presents as small (usually 1cm or less), painless nodules within the skin which are normally found along the back and on the chest walls.

Some lesions can release granular material or become mineralized and gritty to the touch.

A punch biopsy to confirm the diagnosis may also be curative in small, isolated lesions. This type of distribution can also be treated by injecting a steroid directly into the nodule. Widespread lesions will require systemic steroid treatment to clear them up. Removal is required where the nodules have become calcified. I

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Helen Pitts-Blasi and her outrider husband Greg Blasi, who helps look after his wife's Kentucky stable when she goes to Florida for the winter with her main string

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THE OTHER HALF

The Other Half

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PROFILE

Single-minded person, driven by a passion for training horses, would like to meet partner who is also tirelessly dedicated to the Thoroughbred seven days a week, 365 days a year, with no guarantee of success... ...So, who in their right mind would marry a trainer?

Ken Snyder finds out

C

ALL it “married with horses” – a box never to be found on any form, but surely the most accurate three-word description of life for a married trainer. Thoroughbreds are the other children for trainers with families, the children for those without a family, and, at the same time, four-legged taskmasters demanding the highly unusual start- and end-time in workdays that are every day.

But while the TV sitcom “Married with Children” presented dysfunction among a human family, “Married with Horses,” at least in the lives of Kim and David Carroll, Anita and Graham Motion, Heather and Tim Ice, and Greg Blasi and Helen PittsBlasi, presents a world of humans and horses with way more positives than negatives.

Marriages and families are forged and maybe strengthened more than most in an

environment where failure gets short odds; where “soul-mate” means being, at the very least, part-time “barn help” and full-time cheerleader; and where, most surprising of all, children might get more parenting and “family time” than children of “nine-tofivers.”

One thing is for certain: racetrackers marry racetrackers. The Carrolls were both exercise riders at Belmont; the Motions were “pupil assistants,” or “assistants to assistants,” to trainers in France when they met; Heather Ice was a veterinary technician visiting, among many barns, trainer Cole Norman’s, who employed an assistant named Tim Ice; and Churchill Downs outrider Greg Blasi’s ponies were and still are stabled just across the road on the backside from the barn of his bride of one year, trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi. In short, marriages may be made in heaven for some

people, but they’re made in the shedrow, it would seem, for most trainers.

In producing racetrack romance, proximity, however, is probably secondary to a shared love of Thoroughbreds and racing, pure and simple. “I love to gallop horses,” said Kim Carroll. “This is what I do and who I am.”

“We love the horses and that’s pretty much all we talk about – the horses and campaigns we have planned,” said Anita Motion, who broke yearlings in her native England and here in the U.S. Love and knowledge of horses gives spouses of trainers an understanding of what the life is like. Unfamiliarity with the long hours and days would probably be a “deal-breaker” for someone outside the sport.

“Heather knew my hours,” said Tim Ice. “It wasn’t something that was a total surprise to her.”

With a laugh, Heather talked about how friends prior to marriage couldn’t understand the sizable cramp horses put into a social life. “They had no idea what time I had to be at work and couldn’t understand when they’d ask me to do something that most times I didn’t feel like it because I was tired.”

In a serious tone she added: “It would be very hard and very difficult to not be involved For Graham and Anita Motion and their children, home is where the stable is

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in racing and be married to someone who is – ‘Why is he always out there so late?’ and ‘Why is he always tired when he gets h ome?‘ If you’re not out there experiencing it, you just can’t comprehend it.”

Helen Pitts-Blasi goes so far as to say she couldn’t imagine being married to someone outside the sport. “They couldn’t understand the hours and the time and the phone and everything else.” She granted that a person into show horses or some other horse-affiliated activity might be more understanding of the life and demands of a trainer but only “maybe.”

Who, after all, could understand that honeymoons with beaches, candle-lit dinners, etc. are, by and large, for other people?

The Carrolls’ honeymoon was spent at Oaklawn Park when David left Saratoga to take a position as assistant trainer to Peter Vestal. We had dated for seven months and got married seven weeks after David proposed only because he was going off to Arkansas,” recalled Kim. “I was like, I’m going back to Florida, not Arkansas; I’m from New York and I’m not going to that part of the world.”

“It would be very difficult to not be involved in racing and be married to someone who is – ‘Why is he always out there so late?’ and ‘Why is he always tired when he gets home?‘ If you’re not out there experiencing it, you just can’t comprehend it.”

Helen Pitts-Blasi

I

N the next breath and with no hint that there was any real hesitation about either David’s proposal or destination, Kim recounted how she started riding for another trainer in Arkansas, a good friend of Vestal’s.

Obviously, married life with David won out over single life in Florida.

That life that she and David embarked upon put demands on them that are probably typical for many racetrack newlyweds. Kim was called on to “pitch in” literally, as in pitching hay into and out of stalls and more. Arriving at Gulfstream Park to begin training in his own name, David and Kim wound up with more horses than they had anticipated...10 to be exact. “And it was just the two of us,” Kim recalled with a shake of her head at a workload best suited to six or even seven people.

The Motions’ story is similar. When Graham first took out his trainer’s license, he and Anita would drive to Laurel and she would muck stalls while he and an assistant galloped horses. “And then I’d go to my real job working for Katie Voss breaking yearlings and riding lay-ups at her farm,” said Anita.

“When I’d get done for the day, I would go back and pick Graham up,” said Anita.

Those kind of days and hours wouldn’t sound unusual for Heather Ice. She meets Tim at his barn sometime in the early morning (he arrives anywhere between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.), helps out around the shedrow, then goes to work in the H.B.P.A. office, if they are at a Louisiana racetrack, as a bookkeeper. She works through the last

Kim and David Carroll spent their honeymoon on the backstretch and raise their children around the horses

race of the day. “Usually between six and sixthirty my day is over.”

Kim Carroll may have graduated to bookkeeping, as has Anita Motion, for their husbands’ stables, but she is still hands-on with the horses in a key capacity for her husband. She gallops as many as seven

horses on some mornings.

“They respond to her,” said David, noting that Acoma, a graded stakes winner, is a regular workout mount for Kim. Greg Blasi spends more time in the saddle as an outrider, but being married to a successful trainer means there’s more for

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PROFILE

him to do than policing the horses of other trainers in morning workouts. When Helen is at Gulfstream, as she is every winter, he helps out with horses left behind. “She leaves some horses up here to run at Turfway. They’re stabled at Trackside [the training track in Louisville near Churchill Downs] and I kind of keep an eye on them.”

While assistance, be it bookkeeping or exercising horses, really does “come with the turf” for spouses of trainers, it is probably the moral support that means the most in a sport and profession that feature the highest highs and the lowest lows.

“She’s the one that when things are going bad is there to pick me up,” said David Carroll of Kim. “I don’t think I could do this without her. Sometimes I don’t think I give her enough credit for that.”

Again, it is an understanding of the sport that makes morale-boosting a part of communication and relationship. Greg Blasi is a former trainer from a family of horsemen and horsewomen, as is Helen. “When she gets down, I can be very beneficial to her as far as helping her through a lot of that.”

Support is necessary in situations far worse than races lost. Heather Ice, a diminutive 4’10” to Tim’s strapping 6’4”, remembered how her husband’s career as a trainer was nearly derailed before it even began.

“We had a very rough patch because we were getting some horses from an owner and he did a ‘180’ on us. We were left ‘holding air.’

“Tim was ready to quit. I talked to him about waiting it out, telling him that this was still our chance, and this is what you’ve been wanting to do.”

Shortly after, other owners, Drs. K.K. and Devi Jayaraman, came into their lives with a horse named Summer Bird. “The rest is history,” Heather said of the horse that won this year’s Belmont Stakes and who has essentially launched Tim’s career.

There is a downside, though, to a Summer Bird, a Denis of Cork (who, last year, finished third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont for David Carroll), an Einstein in Helen Pitts-Blasi’s barn, or a Better Talk Now in the barn of

Graham Motion: time apart between spouses.

“It’s something you know going into a marriage and you know it’s just part of it,” said Gred Blasi of winters spent in Kentucky while his wife is in Florida, “but you have to make it work.”

“It’s tough on both of us,” said Tim Ice, who has had to accompany Summer Bird for weeks at a time on a campaign through New York for the Belmont, New Jersey for the Haskell, and back to New York for the Travers in Saratoga and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Heather, who delivered their first child on September 15th, joined him in the days preceding Summer Bird’s big races, but they both looked forward to things settling down after the summer. Still, as of October 5th, Tim had still not met his son.

With horses at various times in Florida, Kentucky, New York and California, time apart for the Motions, who are based in Fair Hills, Maryland, is a challenge.

G

RAHAM and Anita will travel together if at all possible on trips spanning only a few days.

As for extended, meet-long travel to Florida, for instance, the Motions have adopted what Anita laughingly calls the life of “gypsies” to include their two children, Jane and Marcus (called “Chappy”). The children attend school in Fair Hills through Christmas, then transfer to Florida schools through Easter before returning to Maryland to complete the school year. In summers, the whole family relocates to Saratoga for the racing there.

Anita says of her husband: “He makes an effort to be home as much as he can because he’s a dad, first and foremost.”

Fair Hills affords Graham, born and raised in Cambridge, England, the opportunity to actually spend more time with his children than if he had a conventional career. “We train more European-style at Fair Hills,” he said. “Every time we race, we ship, which means I don’t go to the races every afternoon, which would be the case if I was at Belmont every day, for example.”

“We’re very fortunate in that respect in

“She’s the one that when things are going bad is there to pick me up,” said David Carroll of Kim. “I don’t think I could do this without her. Sometimes I don’t think I give her enough credit for that” David Carroll 64 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

New parents Heather and Tim Ice. Because of obligations with Summer Bird, Tim has yet to meet their son Carson James (below) who was bor n in September

that I get to see the kids a lot. I’m often able to come home and have lunch with them.

Once a week, I’ll try to take the kids to school then go to Delaware and see my string of horses there.”

David Carroll, in summer months, has to only look out his office door down the shedrow to see his son, 10-year-old Declan.

“He loves the barn,” said Kim. In truth, Declan might be found anywhere at Churchill Downs. “This is his playground,” said David. “He goes up to the recreation hall and shoots pool. He goes over to [fellow trainer] Norman Casses’s barn and rides the exerciser they have other there, and he spends a lot of time in the jocks quarters, too.”

Having Declan with him at the racetrack (and to a lesser extent, 13-year-old daughter Ashlyn, who is active with horses of her own and three-day eventing) is by design for the Carrolls. “A lot of trainers don’t want their kids on the backside,” said David, “but I think the more time you spend with them, the better.”

In addition to time together, David believes the racetrack offers lessons that can serve his children well in adulthood. “They see us make the sacrifices and the ups and downs. They see that life is not always rosy.

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They see how hard we work for the things we have.”

He spoke of Ashlyn calling him after Acoma did not finish in the money in the Delaware Handicap. “She was crying and saying, ‘Daddy, you work so hard. You were up there all week, and you’ve got nothing to show for it.’ And I said, ‘That’s life. You don’t always get out of life what you put into it, but you never give up trying.’”

The lesson is applicable to everyone and everything, but particularly important to racetrackers who must learn it to have a chance at success. After all, what else would keep you going through alarm clocks set to 4 a.m. or earlier, seven-day workweeks, extended time on the road from those you love, twists of fate both cruel and marvelous, and being married with horses. I

ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 65

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PRODUCT FOCUS issue 14.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Winners Bee Pollen meets the specific needs of your horse Winners Bee Pollen produces a complete line of ALL NATURAL supplements to meet the specific needs of your horse. For racing horses, Winners DYNAMIC TRIO and DYNAMIC TRIO 50/50 are the premier multifunctional performance supplements in racing today. Dynamic Trio 50/50 was used by Jack Brooks with most of his record-setting 8 All American Futurity winners. These costeffective multi-component products are dynamic performance supplements which address the mental and physical soundness of athletic horses.

DYNAFLEX is a highly effective joint support enzyme system which helps to promote normal joint function. MUSCLE MOJO

is a unique and powerful natural supplement which addresses slight to moderate muscle soreness during and after exercise.

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North American Trainer Suppliers’ Guide

ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 67

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Surfacing Resources adds Red Barn mats to their lists of products Surfacing Resources, LLC, a leading supplier and installer of quality rubber flooring for the equine industry, is proud to announce the addition of Red Barn mats to our product line.

Red Barn has manufactured high quality, 100% nonabsorbent, vulcanized rubber mats for over 40 years. With 3 mat sizes to choose from (4’x6’, 4’x8’ and 5’x7’), we can accommodate a wider variety of stall sizes and reduce the number of mats and seams per stall.

Ultimately this is more efficient than using the standard “one size fits all” 4’ x 6’ mat that is offered by other mat companies.

Additionally, Red Barn provides a 15 year warranty which is 3 years longer than the warranty offered by any of our other product lines.

For further information call Surfacing Resources on 260-432-2515 or visit www.surfacingresources.com.

68 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Equiwinner™ Patches Guaranteed to Stop Bleeding EIPH, Tying-up and Anhidrosis in Days. Thousands of Horses Worldwide Successfully Treated!

Before the invention of Equiwinner, nobody thought that the horse problems of bleeding, tying-up and nonsweating could be completely cleared, and in only ten to fifteen days!

These conditions are not inevitable. On a recent roundup of wild horses on Pryor Mountain in Wyoming, none were found to have bled after they were galloped from mountain tops and rounded up with helicopters in pens miles away. This level of health is now easily possible with Equiwinner. Here’s how: The stress of training and racing has an effect on the electrolyte balance and essential fluids in a horse. Since electrolytes are involved in every physiological process in the body, restoring normal homeostasis, that is, resetting the electrolyte balance to optimum, clears a number of serious conditions, including bleeding EIPH, tying-up and non-sweating. With

the horse in an optimum state of health, the problems are naturally overcome and performance improves. The essential fluids need to be properly balanced to enable the horse to display power and speed.

Equiwinner uses Smart Cell Signal™ which restores the normal metabolism of the horse by communication with the body cell signaling system. In other words, the horse’s body can sense the electrolytes in the patch and responds to them. Nothing passes into the body of the horse.

There are no side effects. The results from one treatment can last for months or up to a year.

Available in the US and Canada from Signal-Health LLC. For further information call 877-378-4946 or visit www.signal-health.com.

North American Trainer Suppliers’ Guide

ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 69

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STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

BUSINESS State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Stallion owners Awards

Restricted Races

Restricted Stakes races

Out Of State Race Awards

Alabama

Awards range from 50% to 2% of purse money, for winners down to 8th. If there are fewer than 8 starters, those percentages go to the winner

50%, 30% and 20% of nomination, entry and starting fees for horses finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively

N/A

N/A

N/A

2-3 races per year, restricted to AL-bred horses

Arizona

Range from 15-25% of the winners share of the purse

Breeders can receive up to 36% of the winners share of the purse

N/A

Daily, with higher purses

Yes

N/A

Arkansas

Paid annually on earnings at the Oaklawn Park live meet the previous year

Paid annually on earnings in the US and Canada the previous calendar year

Paid annually on earnings in the US and Canada the previous calendar year

Four, at Oaklawn Park in March each year

Two, at Louisiana Downs in October or November

California

Can receive at least a 20% bonus on the finisher's share for finishing 1st-5th in an open allowance or overnight stakes race; can receive up to a 20% bonus for finishing first in open starters above $15,000 and open claiming races with a gross purse above the predesignated level

For 1st-3rd of any race run in California and any graded stakes in the US: 75% of the remainder of the total incentive award monies after owners awards are paid; individual breeders receive a pro-rated share of the breeders fund.

Maximum purses: 1st $330,000, 2nd - $120,000, 3rd - $90,000

25% of the remainder of the total incentive award monies after owners awards are paid given for progeny who win non-claiming races with purses above $15, 000, and claiming races with a purse above pre-designated levels.

Maximum purses: 1st - $330,000, 2nd $120,000, 3rd - $90,000

At least one offered per day.

Also California Cup held during Oak Tree meeting

10 during 2008

Breeder and stallion awards for horses finishing 1st-3rd in grade stakes races within the US

Delaware

25% of the purse share if horse finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any race, including Stakes races, during the Delaware Park meet (Awards in Stakes races not to exceed $15,000)

Receive 20% of purse won for horses 1st – 3rd in overnight races and stakes races

N/A

Yes

Hold 4, with purses of $75,000

N/A

Florida

Awards vary as they are paid out by the individual racetracks to winners of certain races. Payment is based on a percentage of the gross purse

AAn award of 15% of the gross purse is given. Each single breeder award may not exceed $15,000. The Breeder Bonus Award can be paid based on the balance of the awards account after certain conditions have been fulfilled

20% of the gross purse of a stakes races is given. Each single stallion owner award may not exceed $15,000

Yes, amount depends on individual racetrack

Yes, amount depends on individual racetrack

N/A

Georgia

Horses bred in Georgia from stallions nominated with the Georgia TOBA are eligible to run in restricted stakes races held at Calder racecourse

Illinois

Given if IL Bred comes 1st – 3rd in most open races.

Ranges from 40-60% of the purse

Awarded in open races to the winner at 11.5 % of purse won. In restricted races offered from 1st – 4th at 60%, 20%, 15%, and 5% of purse won

Sire incentive programs through restricted stakes races

Yes, County Fair races for IL breds

25; 2 specifically offering $100,000 in purse money

N/A

Indiana

Receive 20% of base purse for winners in all allowance and stakes races. Also receive 15% of base purse for winners of claiming races if claiming price is over $7,500

Receive 20% of the base purse for winners of all races in Indiana

Receive 10% of the base purse for winners of all races in Indiana

Hold restricted Indiana bred Allowance, Claiming and Stakes races. IN breds receive 3lb weight allowance in open races except stakes

18 in 2008, with purses of $100,000

Breeder awards for wins in other states or Canada at 10% of purse (only if no live TB meet in Indiana)

Iowa

Receive 30% of purse won for horses 1st – 4th in restricted races, and 40% of purse in open company races. Supplements are capped at $50,000 per race

Receive 12% of the winners purse

N/A

Required to hold at least 1 race per day that is restricted

N/A

N/A

Louisiana

For horses foaled in KY &

by KY sires, KTDF fund available on races distributed as follows 65% for 1st, 20% for 2nd, 10% for 3rd and 5% for 4th

Receive 25% of winning purse for winners of all maiden special weights, allowance and stakes races (maximum bonus is $10,000 per race). Awards also for winners of Gr. 1 races in Kentucky who receive $25 000, or $100 000 for KY Derby/Oaks.

Kentucky Claiming Title divided among the breeders of the top three claiming horses at all KY track throughout the year

N/A

N/A

N/A

Breeder awards at 10% of win purse for winners of maiden and allowance races held within US (maximum bonus of $10,000 per race). Also $2500 to winners of Grade 1 races held in other states.

Breeders Cup races are excluded

Kentucky

N/A

22 % of the purse earned by a LA bred finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd in any race in LA

Paid for the stallion’s progeny finishing 1st -3rd in an allowance, handicap or stakes race in LA or in a stakes race outside of LA

3 races per day are offered at each track holding a race meeting. LA has four State Bred Days, one at each track

N/A

22 % of the purse earned by a LA bred finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd in any Stakes race outside LA. World Wide Breeders Awards paid to LA bred finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any race outside LA

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STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

STATE INCENTIVES

State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Stallion owners Awards

Restricted Races

Restricted Stakes races

Out Of State Race Awards

Maryland

Awards available for winning Maryland bred horses- except stakes, starter or claiming races (less than $20,000)

Awards available for winners of any race and for stakes-placed horses in MD. Breeders Award usually double the Stallion Award.

In stakes races the award is based on the first $100,000 of the gross purse

Awards available for winners of any race and for stakes-placed horses in MD. Stallion Award usually half the Breeders Award. In stakes races the award is based on the first $100,000 of the gross purse

N/A

Around 20

N/A

Massachusetts

30% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any races except restricted ones

25% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Massachusetts

15% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Massachusetts

Yes

At least 8 races in 2008 with purses of $50,000

N/A

Michigan

Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rd in open races.

10% of gross purse of all races in Michigan

Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rd in open races.

Yes

At least one race per day

N/A

Minnesota

Purse supplements of 62% paid to all places in open, restricted overnight and restricted stakes races

31% of total available paid from 1st to 3rd

7% of total available paid to stallion owners whose progemy finish 1st-3rd

N/A

N/A

N/A

New Jersey

30% purse supplement for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in open company races in NJ (maximum award of $15,000)

Awarded for horses finishing 1st- 3rd in any race in NJ. Ranges from 25 -35% depending on if sired by a state stallion or not

10% purse supplement for offspring finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in NJ

Average 2 per day

Minimum 16 through the year

N/A

New Mexico

20% owner awards in overnight races for horses finishing 1st – 3rd.

10% breeder awards are available for winners of races in NM

7% for winners of progeny of races in NM

Varies depending on revenue available, usually 4 per day

Varies depending on revenue available

N/A

New York

Ranges from 10 – 20% of purse depending on whether a NY based sire or not, for horses finishing 1st – 4th in claiming races of $30,000 and over

Ranges from 10 – 20% of purse depending on whether a NY based sire or not, for horses finishing 1st – 4th in races in NY

N/A

Run over 900 races annually restricted to NY breds.

Hold 45 restricted stakes races annually with a total purse of over $4 million

N/A

Ohio

N/A

5% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starter allowance races and 10% on any other races

3% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starter allowance races and 5% on any other races

N/A

28 restricted stakes in 2008

N/A

Oklahoma

Overnight races split 50% - 30% - 20% for first three finishers

Required to schedule at least 2 per day

‘Oklahoma Classics’ – 8 restricted stakes races held at Remington Park. Starting in 2010 Remington and Will Rogers will offer 2 additional stakes for nominated foals and nominated stallions standing in OK

N/A

Oregon

33% of money earned

Breeders receive 10% of the purse for horses that win in any race in Oregon

N/A

Yes, at least 1 per day

N/A

N/A

Pennsylvania

For horses finishing 1st – 3rd in designated overnight races owners receive a designated percentage of the purse share

Receive 30% of the purse won for PA-sired horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any Pari–mutuel race in the state; For non-PA-sired

horses, the award is 20% Receive 10% of the purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any Pari – mutuel race in the state

Hold overnight restricted races for PA breds

Yes

N/A

Texas

40% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas except restricted stakes races

40% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas

20% of purse won by progeny finishing 1st – 3rd in any race in Texas

At least 2 required daily, with at least one for maidens

Yes

N/A

Virginia

100% bonus on all open races at Colonial Downs for winners only

Pro-rata share of earnings based on what other V bred horses have earned

Pro-rata share of earnings based on what other V bred horses have earned

Very little, around 4 annually

6 Restricted stakes with purses of $60,000

Breeder awards paid for wins in races anywhere in US

Washington

Awarded for owners of horses finishing 1st – 4th, at 15% of the purse won

Awarded for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in races at Emerald downs. (75% of award goes to first placed horse, 15% to 2nd and 10% to 3rd)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

West Virginia

Owners will divide 25% of monies available for distribution, not to exceed 35% of each horse's earnings

Breeders will divide 60% of monies available for distribution

Stallion owners will divide 15% of the monies available for distribution, not to exceed 35% of the sire's progeny earnings

2 races/day at Charlestown and 1 race/day at Mountaineer Park

N/A

N/A

Canada – British Columbia

13% purse supplement on BC bred horses finishing 1st – 5th in any race.

An award is given to breeders for horses finishing 1st – 3rd (except older horses competing in the lowest claiming categories)

Awards are paid when offspring finishes 1st -3rd in any race other than a starter allowance and claiming race.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Canada - Ontario

N/A

Awards available for horses finishing 1st-3rd in races in Ontario.

N/A

N/A

Yes – restricted Ontario sire stakes and Ontario bred stakes

Breeder awards to Graded stakes winners within North America

68% to mares and 32% to stallions standing in OK. Then split 50% - 30% - 20% for first thr ee finishers

If you have any updates for this par t of the magazine please call us on 1 888 218 4430 or email us at info@trainer magazine.com

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STAKES SCHEDULES

STAKES SCHEDULES RACES

BREEDERS’ CUP RACES

Races are divided by distance and the relevant surface is indicated as follows: AWT – All Weather Track D – Dirt T –Turf The indexes cover all graded races in North America over $50,000 in value, where information was available at the time of publication. Additionally, all European Group One races have been included as well as major races from Japan.

Prize money is indicated by Breeders’ Cup and racetrack contributions.

COPYRIGHT

If you would like to receive notification as we update the Stakes Schedules on our website, simply send an e-mail to feedback@trainermagazine.com.

Under Copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. This includes but not limited to; photocopying for commercial redistribution and or facsimile recording without the prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to the publisher.

DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to publish correct information, the publishers will not be held liable for any omission, mistake or change to the races listed in all published indexes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

51/16f and less (1100m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Calder Calder Zia Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Sunland Park Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sunland Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Cassidy Stakes Birdonthewire Stakes Lea County Sprint KLAQ H Esplanade S Bold Ego H Swift S Happy Ticket S John E. Jackson Jr Memorial S Budweiser H Louisiana Premier Night Sprint Louisiana Premier Night Matron Spring Fever ATBA Spring Sales S

Class

Country USA USA USA USA HK USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track The Meadowlands The Meadowlands The Meadowlands Remington Park Sha Tin Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds

Race Name & (Sponsor) Thomas Edison S P.G. Johnson S Witches Brew S Remington Park Turf Sprint S Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint Bonapaw S Dr A.B. Leggio Memorial S Black Gold S Mardi Gras S Colonel Power S Bienville S

Class

S S S S R

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 12-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 27-Dec-09 2-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 2-May-10

Value Age Surface $75,000 2F D $75,000 2 D $60,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ D $60,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 4+ D $60,000 4+ F&M LA Bred D $60,000 4+LA Bred D $50,000 3+ D $100,000 4+ D $100,000 4+ F&M D $60,000 4+ F&M D $50,000 (+$25,000 for AZ bred) 2 D

Metres 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1000 1000 1000 1100 1000

Furlongs 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 5 5 5 1/16 5

Closing 3-Oct-09 3-Oct-09 20-Oct-09 2-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 2-Jan-10 2-Jan-10 29-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 12-Feb-10

51/16f and less (1100m) TURF

Gp 1

Race Date 16-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 13-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 23-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 16-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 26-Mar-10

Value $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 HK$12,000,000 $60,000 $75,000 $60,000 $60,000 $75,000 $75,000

Age 3+ 3F 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 3+ 4+ F&M 3 3F 4+ 4+ F&M

Surface T T T T T T T T T T T

Metres 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100

Furlongs 5 5 5 5 5 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16 5 1/16

Closing 9-Oct-09 9-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 16-Oct-09 5-Dec-09 9-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 13-Mar-10

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) AWT Country CAN USA CAN USA USA CAN USA USA USA

Track Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Turfway Park Turfway Park Turfway Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Fanfreluche S The Jack Goodman S Ontario Fashion S The Anoakia S BC Sprint Kennedy Road S Holiday Inaugural Stakes Gowell S Holiday Cheer Stakes

Class R

Gr 1 Gr 3 S S

Race Date 25-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 1-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 29-Nov-09 19-Dec-09 26-Dec-09

Value CAN150,000 $65,000 CAN150,000 $65,000 $2,000,000 CAN150,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000

Age 2F 2 3+ F&M 2F 3+ 3+ 3+ F&M 2F 3+

Surface AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Metres 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

Furlongs 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Closing 7-Oct-09 14-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 4-Nov-09 19-Nov-09 9-Dec-09 6-Dec-09

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country Track USA Finger Lakes USA Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies ATBA Fall Sales S

USA

Turf Paradise

ATBA Fall Sales S

CAN USA USA USA

Hastings Racecourse Zia Park The Meadowlands Hoosier Park

Premier’s Handicap Permian Basin S Eillo S Indiana Stallion S

72 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

Class R

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09

R

17-Oct-09

Gr 3

18-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 23-Oct-09

S

Value $50,000 $50,000 (+$50,000 for cert. AZ-bred) $50,000 (+$50,000 for cert. AZ-bred) CAN 100,000 $60,000 $65,000 $70,000

Age 2F 2 C&G

Surface D D

Metres 1200 1200

Furlongs 6 6

2F

D

1200

6

3+ 2F 3+ 2F

D D D D

1200 1200 1200 1200

6 6 6 6

Closing 3-Oct-09

7-Oct-09 6-Oct-09 16-Oct-09 14-Oct-09

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6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track The Meadowlands Hoosier Park Belmont Park Zia Park Hawthorne Finger Lakes Beulah Park Hawthorne Hawthorne Hawthorne Philadelphia Park Philadelphia Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Zia Park Zia Park Zia Park Zia Park Zia Park The Meadowlands The Meadowlands Calder Aqueduct Aqueduct Mountaineer Turf Paradise Remington Park Remington Park Fair Grounds Aqueduct Remington Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Zia Park Sam Houston Race Park Sam Houston Race Park Turf Paradise Aqueduct Aqueduct Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Nakayama Sunland Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Beulah Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Mountaineer Mountaineer Sunland Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise Oaklawn Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Seton Hall University S The Crown Ambassador S S Hudson Handicap S Governor’s Cup Lightning Jet Handicap S Finger Lakes Juvenile Scarlet & Gray Handicap S Showtime Deb Stakes S Sun Power Stakes S Powerless Handicap S Parfaitment Stakes S Channel Three Stakes S Pontalba Old Hickory New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship S New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Colts and Geldings S New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile For Colts and Geldings S New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile For Fillies S New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Fillies S Jersey Juvenile Fillies S Jersey Juvenile Colts S Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap S New York Stallion Series - Fif th Avenue Division R New York Stallion Series - Great White Way Division R Sophomore Sprint Championship Stakes Caballos del Sol S Oklahoma Classics Lassie S Oklahoma Classics Juvenile S Thanksgiving H Fall Highweight Handicap Gr 3 Silver Goblin S S Arizona Breeders’ Futurity - C&G S Arizona Breeders’ Futurity - F S Zia Park Distaff S Yellow Rose S S Spirit Of Texas S S City of Phoenix S Garland of Roses Handicap Gravesend Handicap Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S S Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint S Louisiana Champions Day Lassie S S Louisiana Champions Day Sprint S Capella Stakes Gr 3 New Mexico State Racing Commission H S Johnie L Jamison S S Letellier Memorial Stakes S Cactus Wren H S Sugar Bowl S Samuel H R Lost in the Fog Juvenile S Arizona Juvenile Fillies S Christmas Stakes New Year’s Eve Stakes Riley Allison Futurity Louisiana Futurity S Louisiana Futurity S Old Hat Stakes Gr 3 Dixie Bell S American Beauty S Mr Prospector Gr 3 La Senora H S Adena Springs Sugar Swirl Gr 3 Pepsi Cola H S G Malleah H F.W. Gaudin Memorial S El Paso Times H Spectacular Bid Stakes King Cotton S Sunshine Millions Sprint S Mesa H Sunshine Millions Oaks S El Diario H Phoenix Gold Cup Hurricane Bertie H Gr 3 Pan Zareta S Mountain Valley S Coyote H R Hot Springs S Prima Donna S Natural State Breeders S Carousel H Duncan F. Kenner BC S Rainbow Miss S S Rainbow S S Nodouble Breeders S Princess of Palms H R Count Fleet Sprint H

Race Date 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 25-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 2-Nov-09 2-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 13-Nov-09 13-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 17-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 22-Nov-09 22-Nov-09 26-Nov-09 26-Nov-09 27-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 23-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 29-Dec-09 29-Dec-09 31-Dec-09 31-Dec-09 3-Jan-10 15-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 17-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 24-Jan-10 24-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 13-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 14-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 15-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 28-Mar-10 28-Mar-10 3-Apr-10 9-Apr-10

Value Age Surface $65,000 3+ F&M D $70,000 2 D $125,000 3+ (NY bred) D $60,000 2 D $100,000 3+ (IL bred) D $50,000 2 D $50,000 3+ FM D $100,000 2 F (IL bred) D $100,000 2 CG (IL bred) D $100,000 3+ F&M (IL bred) D $75,000 2 D $75,000 2F D $60,000 2F D $60,000 2 D $170,000 3+ D $140,000 3 C&G D $140,000 2 C&G D $140,000 2F D $140,000 3F D $60,000 2 F (NJ bred) D $60,000 2 C (NJ bred) D $150,000 3+ D $100,000 2F D $100,000 2 D $75,000 3 D $50,000 3+ D $60,000 2F D $60,000 2 C&G D $60,000 3+ D $100,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ D $50,000 2 D $50,000 2F D $60,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D $65,000 3+ FM D $65,000 3+ D $100,000 2 D $100,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 2F D $100,000 3+ D $925,000 3+ D $125,000 3+ F&M (Reg NM bred) D $125,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) D $60,000 2F D $50,000 3+ (AZ bred) D $60,000 2 D $15,000 3+ D $50,000 2 D $50,000 2F D $75,000 3+ D $75,000 3+ FM D $100,000 2 D $50,000 2F D $50,000 2 C&G D $100,000 3F D $50,000 3F D $50,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 4+ D $125,000 3 F (Reg NM bred) D $100,000 4+ F&M D $125,000 3 (Reg NM bred) D $50,000 4+ D $75,000 4+ D $50,000 3F D $100,000 3 D $50,000 4+ D $300,000 4+ D $50,000 4+ F&M D $250,000 3F D $50,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 4+ D $125,000 4+ F&M D $75,000 4+ F&M D $60,000 3 D $50,000 3+ D $60,000 4+ D $60,000 3F D $50,000 4+ F&M (ARK Bred) D $60,000 4+ F&M D $50K(BC)/$75K 3+ D $50,000 3 F (Ark Bred) D $50,000 3 C&G (Ark Bred) D $50,000 4+ (Ark Bred) D $50,000 3+ F&M D $150,000 4+ D

Metres 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1300 1200 1200 1300 1300 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1300 1200 1300 1200 1300 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

Furlongs 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 1/16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Closing 16-Oct-09 14-Oct-09 10-Oct-09 13-Oct-09 21-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 21-Oct-09 21-Oct-09 21-Oct-09 21-Oct-09 19-Oct-09 19-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 31-Oct-09 3-Nov-09 13-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 18-Nov-09 16-Nov-09 25-Nov-09 25-Nov-09 27-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 12-Dec-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 27-Oct-09 3-Dec-09 3-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 11-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 18-Dec-09 18-Dec-09 14-Dec-09 14-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 11-Jan-10 12-Jan-10 2-Jan-10 8-Jan-10 2-Oct-10 15-Jan-10 15-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 5-Feb-10 5-Feb-10 30-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 19-Feb-10 5-Mar-10 12-Mar-10 12-Mar-10 24-Mar-10 19-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 25-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 27-Mar-10

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6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA

Track Sunland Park Sunland Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Czaria H KHEY Y-96 Sprint Joanne Dye S Sandra Hall Grand Canyon H Ann Owens Distaff H

Class

Country CAN USA USA JPN

Track Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Kyoto

Race Name & (Sponsor) Nearctic S The Sen. Ken Maddy H BC Turf Sprint Keihan Hai

Class Gr 2 Gr 3

S S S

Race Date 10-Apr-10 20-Apr-10 24-Apr-10 24-Apr-10 24-Apr-10

Value $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 7-Nov-09 28-Nov-09

Value CAN500,000 $100,000 $1,000,000 $960,000

Age Surface 3+ F&M D 3 D 3 F (AZ bred) D 3+ (AZ bred) D 3+ F&M (AZ bred) D

Metres 1200 1200 1300 1200 1200

Furlongs 6 6 6 1/16 6 6

Closing 2-Apr-10 10-Apr-10 16-Apr-10 16-Apr-10 16-Apr-10

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) TURF

Gr 3

Age 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+

Surface T T T T

Metres 1200 1300 1300 1200

Furlongs 6 6 1/16 6 1/16 6

Closing 30-Sep-09 26-Oct-09 13-Oct-09

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) AWT Country USA USA CAN USA USA CAN CAN CAN

Track Keeneland Keeneland Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine

Race Name & (Sponsor) Perryville presented by Budweiser Select Lexus Raven Run Frost King S BC Filly & Mare Sprint The Cascapedia S Glorious Song S Jammed Lovely S Bessarabian S

Class Gr 3 Gr 2 R Gr 1 S

Race Date 17-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 4-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 22-Nov-09

Value $150,000 $300,000 CAN125,000 $1,000,000 $65,000 CAN150,000 CAN150,000 CAN150,000

Age 3 3F 2 3+ F&M 3F 2F 3F 3+ F&M

Surface AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Metres 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400

Furlongs 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Closing 7-Oct-09 14-Oct-09 14-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 13-Aug-09 28-Oct-09 28-Oct-09 4-Nov-09

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Belmont Park Aqueduct Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Calder Calder Aqueduct Aqueduct Philadelphia Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Sam Houston Race Park Sam Houston Race Park Calder Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Iroquois Handicap Bold Ruler Louisiana Legacy My Trusty Cat Louisiana Jewel Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies Jack Price Juvenile New York Stallion Series - Staten Island Division New York Stallion Series - Thunder Rumble Division Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes Sam’s Town Orleans Bara Lass S Groovy S Kenny Noe Jr Handicap Triple Sec Genesis Forward Gal S Louisiana Premier Night Prince Louisiana Premier Night Starlet Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Hutcheson Stakes Sunshine State Inside Information Swale S

Class S Gr 3 S S S S R R S R R S S Gr 3 Gr 2 S S Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2

Race Date 24-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 4-Dec-09 4-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 15-Jan-10 15-Jan-10 31-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 6-Mar-10 14-Mar-10 27-Mar-10

Value $125,000 $150,000 $250,000 $125,000 $250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $60,000 $60,000 $150,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $150,000 $75,000 $150,000 $150,000

Age Surface 3+ FM (NY bred) D 3+ D 2 C&G D 2F D 2F D 2F D 2 D 3+ FM D 3+ D 2 D 3 D 3F D 2F D 2 D 3+ D 3 D 3F D 3F D 3 D 3F D 4+ D 3 D 4+ Fla-bred D 4+ F&M D 3 D

Metres 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400

Furlongs 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Closing 10-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 1-Sep-09 20-Nov-09 20-Nov-09 25-Nov-09 25-Nov-09 12-Dec-09 1-Jan-10 1-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 22-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 13-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 13-Mar-10

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) TURF Country GB JPN USA JPN USA USA USA USA

Track Newmarket Kyoto Remington Park Hanshin Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Dewhurst St (Darley) Mainichi Broadcasting System Sho Swan Stakes Ladies on the Lawn S Hanshin Cup Grindstone S Appleton H Arizona Stallion S South Beach S

Class Gp 1 Gr 2 S Gr 2 Gr 3 S

Race Date 17-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 27-Nov-09 20-Dec-09 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 3-Apr-10 10-Apr-10

Value £300,000 $1,420,000 $50,000 $1,660,000 $60,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000

Age 2 C&F 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3 4+ 3 3+ F&M

Surface T T T T T T T T

Metres 1400 1400 1500 1400 1500 1500 1500 1500

Furlongs 7 7 7 1/16 7 7 1/16 7 1/16 7 1/16 7 1/16

Closing 4-Aug-09 15-Sep-09 18-Nov-09 10-Nov-09 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 27-Mar-10

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) AWT Country CAN USA USA USA CAN CAN CAN CAN CAN CAN USA USA USA

Track Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Woodbine Turfway Park Hollywood Park Hollywood Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Princess Elizabeth S BC Juvenile Fillies BC Juvenile BC Dirt Mile South Ocean S Autumn S Kingarvie S Ontario Lassie S Sir Barton S Display S My Charmer Stakes Hollywood Starlet CashCall Futurity

Class R Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 S Gr 2 S S S S Gr 1 Gr 1

Race Date 31-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 11-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 29-Nov-09 2-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 19-Dec-09

Value CAN250,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 CAN125,000 CAN150,000 CAN125,000 CAN150,000 CAN125,000 CAN150,000 $50,000 $500,000 $750,000

Age 2F 2F 2 C&G 3+ 2F 3+ 2 2F 3+ 2 3+ F&M 2F 2

Surface AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT AWT

Metres 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700

Furlongs Closing 8 1/16 1-Aug-09 8 1/16 26-Oct-09 8 1/16 26-Oct-09 8 26-Oct-09 8 1/16 21-Oct-09 8 1/16 28-Oct-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 1/16 18-Nov-09 8 1/16 25-Nov-09 8 1/16 15-May-09 8 1/16 15-May-09

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country Track USA Delta Downs

Race Name & (Sponsor) Gold Cup

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Class S

Race Date 16-Oct-09

Value $100,000

Age 3+

Surface D

Metres 1600

Furlongs 8

Closing 2-Oct-09

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8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Delta Downs Calder Philadelphia Park Calder Calder Hoosier Park Hoosier Park Mountaineer Belmont Park Belmont Park Pinnacle Hastings Racecourse Beulah Park Pinnacle Hastings Racecourse Hawthorne Hawthorne Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Delta Downs Churchill Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Churchill Downs Beulah Park Mountaineer Aqueduct Aqueduct Tokyo Zia Park Zia Park Zia Park Calder Fair Grounds The Meadowlands Beulah Park Aqueduct The Meadowlands Churchill Downs Aqueduct Churchill Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Sam Houston Race Park Hawthorne Zia Park Zia Park Aqueduct Aqueduct Fair Grounds Hawthorne Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Remington Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Calder Sunland Park Aqueduct Delta Downs Delta Downs Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Sam Houston Race Park Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Magnolia S Florida Stallion Stakes - My Dear Girl Division R Cozy Lace S Spend a Buck Handicap Gr 3 Florida Stallion Stakes - In Reality Division R Francis Slocum S S Too Much Coffee S S Autumn Leaves Stakes Sleepy Hollow Stakes S Maid of the Mist Stakes S Michigan Futurity S Fantasy Stakes Ohio Freshman Stakes R Michigan Juvenile Fillies S Ascot Graduation Stakes Buck’s Boy Handicap S Illini Princess Handicap S Iroquois Gr 3 Pocahontas Gr 3 Jean Lafitte Ack Ack H Gr 3 Lookout R B-Connected R Chilukki S Gr 2 Glacial Princess Stakes R Mountaineer Mile Handicap Nashua Stakes Gr 2 Tempted Stakes Gr 3 Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino Stakes Gr 3 Veterans S New Mexico Classic Cup Peppers Pride Championship for Fillies/Mare S New Mexico Classic Cup Rocky GulchChampionship S Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap S Si Cima S S Honey Bee S Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap R Top Flight Handicap Gr 2 Alysheba S Kentucky Jockey Club Gr 2 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Gr 1 Golden Rod Gr 2 Delta Mile Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes Gr 3 Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes Gr 3 Treasure Chest Star Of Texas S S Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante Stakes S Zia Park Derby New Mexico Eddy County S Damon Runyon Stakes S East View Stakes S Louisiana Champions Day Handicap S S Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity S Louisiana Champions Day Ladies H S Hank Mills Sr. H Springboard Mile Enchantress S S Tenacious H Kachina H Stage Door Betty Handicap Gr 3 Red Hedeman Mile S Alex M Robb Handicap S Cocodrie R Gardenia S R Albert Dominguez Memorial H S Hal’s Hope H Gr 3 Winsham Lad H Smarty Jones S Tiffany Lass S Holy Bull S Gr 3 Louisiana H Lecomte S Gr 3 Pippin S Donn H Gr 1 Essex H Louisiana Premier Night Championship S Louisiana Premier Night Distaff S Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Star ter R Louisiana Premier Night Gentlemen Star ter R Pelleteri S Martha Washington S Curribot H Southwest S Silverbulletday S Gr 3 Sabin Gr 3 Arizona Oaks Jim’s Orbit S Turf Paradise Derby

76 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

Race Date 16-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 20-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 25-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 1-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 20-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 27-Nov-09 27-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 4-Dec-09 4-Dec-09 4-Dec-09 4-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 6-Dec-09 6-Dec-09 6-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 20-Dec-09 20-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 27-Dec-09 1-Jan-10 1-Jan-10 3-Jan-10 3-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 18-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 14-Feb-10 15-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10

Value Age Surface $100,000 3+ F&M D $400,000 2F D $75,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 3+ D $400,000 2 D $70,000 3+ F&M (Reg IN bred) D $70,000 3+ (Reg IN bred) D $75,000 3+ FM D $100,000 2 (NY bred) D $100,000 2 F (NY bred) D $50,000 2 C&G D CAN 100,000 2F D $50,000 2 D $50,000 2F D CAN 100,000 2 D $100,000 3+ (IL bred) D $100,000 3+ F&M (IL bred) D $100,000 2 D $100,000 2F D $175,000 2 D $100,000 3+ D $60,000 3+ F&M D $60,000 3+ D $150,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 2F D $125,000 3+ D $150,000 2 D $100,000 2F D $925,000 3+ D $60,000 3+ D $170,000 3+ F&M D $180,000 3+ D $200,000 3+ FM D $60,000 3+ F&M LA Bred D $60,000 3F D $50,000 3+ FM D $150,000 3+ FM D $65,000 3+ D $150,000 2 D $300,000 3+ D $150,000 2F D $125,000 3+ D $750,000 2 D $500,000 2F D $125,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 3+ D $100,000 2 F (IL bred) D $150,000 3 D $120,000 2 D $65,000 2 D $65,000 2 F (NY bred) D $50,000 3+ D $100,000 2 C&G (IL bred) D $100,000 3+ F&M D $50,000 3+ D $200,000 2 D $125,000 2F D $60,000 3+ D $50,000 3+ F&M D $100,000 3+ FM D $125,000 2 (Reg NM bred) D $65,000 3+ D $75,000 4+ D $75,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) D $100,000 4+ D $50,000 3+ D $100,000 3 D $75,000 3F D $150,000 3 D $75,000 4+ D $100,000 3 D $75,000 4+ F&M D $500,000 4+ D $100,000 4+ D $200,000 4+ D $150,000 4+F&M D $55,000 4+ F&M D $55,000 4+ D $60,000 4+ F&M D $75,000 3F D $50,000 3+ D $250,000 3 D $150,000 3F D $100,000 4+ F&M D $50,000 3F D $125,000 3 C&G D $100,000 3 D

Metres 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700

Furlongs Closing 8 2-Oct-09 8 1/16 15-May-09 8 1/16 3-Oct-09 8 1/16 3-Oct-09 8 1/16 15-May-09 8 1/16 7-Oct-09 8 1/16 8-Oct-09 8 1/16 6-Oct-09 8 10-Oct-09 8 10-Oct-09 8 8 1/16 14-Oct-09 8 14-Oct-09 8 8 1/16 14-Oct-09 8 1/16 21-Oct-09 8 1/16 21-Oct-09 8 14-Oct-09 8 14-Oct-09 8 23-Oct-09 8 21-Oct-09 8 23-Oct-09 8 23-Oct-09 8 21-Oct-09 8 28-Oct-09 8 26-Oct-09 8 24-Oct-09 8 24-Oct-09 8 29-Sep-09 8 1/16 27-Oct-09 8 8 26-Oct-09 8 1/16 31-Oct-09 8 1/16 31-Oct-09 8 1/16 13-Nov-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 14-Nov-09 8 1/16 20-Nov-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 14-Nov-09 8 1/16 11-Nov-09 8 20-Nov-09 8 1/16 7-Nov-09 8 7-Nov-09 8 20-Nov-09 8 1/16 25-Nov-09 8 1/16 21-Oct-09 8 1/16 23-Nov-09 8 23-Nov-09 8 1/16 21-Nov-09 8 1/16 21-Nov-09 8 1/16 6-Nov-09 8 1/16 21-Oct-09 8 1/16 6-Nov-09 8 4-Dec-09 8 4-Dec-09 8 11-Dec-09 8 1/16 12-Dec-09 8 18-Dec-09 8 1/16 12-Dec-09 8 18-Dec-09 8 1/16 12-Dec-09 8 18-Dec-09 8 18-Dec-09 8 1/16 26-Dec-09 8 19-Dec-09 8 1-Jan-10 8 13-Jan-10 8 9-Jan-10 8 9-Jan-10 8 1/16 9-Jan-10 8 9-Jan-10 8 1/16 15-Jan-10 8 1/16 23-Jan-10 8 1/16 29-Jan-10 8 1/16 22-Jan-10 8 22-Jan-10 8 22-Jan-10 8 1/16 22-Jan-10 8 1/16 30-Jan-10 8 5-Feb-10 8 1/16 5-Feb-10 8 5-Feb-10 8 1/16 6-Feb-10 8 6-Feb-10 8 12-Feb-10 8 20-Jan-10 8 1/16 12-Feb-10

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8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Sunland Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Sydney Valentini H Risen Star S Mineshaft H Two Altazano S Sportsman’s Paradise Green Oaks Borderland Derby Davona Dale Stakes Island Fashion S Goddess Gulf Coast Classic Razorback H Azeri S Ocala TBA-2 S Honeybee S Rebel S Gulfstream Park H Costa Rising S Fair Grounds Oaks Cresent City Oaks Maxxam Gold Cup Cresent City Derby Sam Houston Distaff Fantasy S Apple Blossom H Bayakoa S Fifth Season S Instant Racing Northern Spur Arizona Breeders’ Derby

Class S Gr 3 Gr 3

Gr 2

Gr 2 S Gr 2 S S

S

Race Date 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 28-Feb-10 28-Feb-10 5-Mar-10 5-Mar-10 6-Mar-10 6-Mar-10 7-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 2-Apr-10 3-Apr-10 7-Apr-10 8-Apr-10 10-Apr-10 10-Apr-10 24-Apr-10

Value Age Surface $100,000 4 F&M (Reg NM bred) D $300,000 3 D $100,000 4+ D $125,000 3F D $75,000 3 D $75,000 3F D $100,000 3 D $150,000 3F D $50,000 3F D $100,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 4+ D £150,000 4+ D $150,000 4+ F&M D $75,000 4+ F&M Fla-bred D $200,000 4+ F&M D $125,000 3F D $300,000 3 D $300,000 4+ D $60,000 4+ D $400,000 3F D $75,000 3 F LA Bred D $100,000 4+ D $75,000 3 LA Bred D $50,000 4+ F&M D $300,000 3F D $500,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 4+ F&M D $100,000 4+ D $75,000 3F D $75,000 3 D $50,000 3 D

Metres 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1700

Furlongs 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 1/16

Closing 12-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 20-Jan-10 12-Feb-10 12-Feb-10 19-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 19-Feb-10 19-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 5-Mar-10 5-Mar-10 27-Feb-10 6-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 17-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 17-Mar-09 20-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 1-Apr-10 1-Apr-10

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) TURF Country USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA JPN GB USA FR USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA HK USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Belmont Park Woodbine Keeneland Keeneland Turf Paradise Retama Park Turf Paradise Woodbine Oak Tree at Santa Anita Tokyo Doncaster Retama Park Saint-Cloud Fair Grounds Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree at Santa Anita Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Calder Calder Fair Grounds Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Aqueduct Aqueduct Kyoto Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Fair Grounds Sha Tin Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds

Race Name & (Sponsor) Athenia Handicap Cup and Saucer S Bryan Station Pin Oak Valley View Queen of the Green H Skyy El Joven Stakes Walter R. Cluer Memorial S Bunty Lawless S The Harold C Ramser Sr H Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Fuji Stakes Trophy (Racing Post) M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes Criterium International Blushing K.D. H BC Juvenile Fillies Turf The Las Palmas H BC Mile BC Juvenile Turf Chandler S Jack Coady, Sr. S John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Arthur I Appleton Juvenile Turf Mr Sulu Mrs Revere Commonwealth Turf New York Stallion Series - Perfect Arc Division New York Stallion Series - Cormorant Division Mile Championship Woodchopper S Pago Hop S San Jacinto S Louisiana Champions Day Turf H Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile Buddy Diliberto Memorial H Furl Sail Hcp Fort Lauderdale Stakes Dixie Poker Ace S Marshua’s River Stakes Glendale H Dania Beach Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Sweetest Chant Marie G Krantz Memorial H Col. E.R Bradley Hcp Jersey Lilly S Hallandale Beach S Sun City H Turf Paradise H Coconut Grove Tallahassee Marion County Allen Lacombe Memorial H

Class Gr 3 R Gr 3 Gr 3

R Gr 3 Gr 3 Gp 1 Gp 1 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 S S S Gr 2 Gr 3 R R Gr 1 S S Gp 1

S

Gr 3

Race Date 17-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 22-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 12-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 2-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 10-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 16-Jan-10 17-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 7-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 14-Feb-10 21-Feb-10 21-Feb-10 27-Feb-10

Value $100,000 CAN250,000 $125,000 $150,000 $50,000 $100,000 $50,000 CAN125,000 $100,000 $960,000 £200,000 $100,000 €250,000 $60,000 $1,000,000 $200,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $60,000 $175,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $2,360,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $100,000 HK$16,000,000 $60,000 $60,000 $100,000 $60,000 $100,000 $50,000 $100,000 $75,000 $100,000 $60,000 $100,000 $50,000 $125,000 $50,000 $50,000 $125,000 $75,000 $75,000 $60,000

Age Surface 3+ FM T 2 T 3 T 3F T 3+ F&M T 2 CG T 3+ T 3+ T 3F T 3+ T 2 C&F T 2F T 2 CF T 3+ F&M T 2F T 3+ F&M T 3+ T 2 T 3F T 3 T 2F T 2 T 3+ LA Bred T 3F T 3 T 3+ FM T 3+ T 3+ T 3 T 3F T 3+ F&M T 3+ T 3+ T 3+ T 3+ F&M T 4+ T 4+ LA Bred T 4+ F&M T 4+ F&M T 3 T 4+ T 3F T 4+F&M T 4+ T 4+ F&M T 3 T 4+ F&M T 4+ T 3F T 4+ Fla-bred T 4+ F&M Fla-bred T 4+ F&M T

Metres 1700 1700 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600 1700 1700 1700 1700 1600 1700 1700 1600 1600 1600

Furlongs 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 1/16 8 1/16 8 8 8

Closing 3-Oct-09 1-Aug-09 7-Oct-09 14-Oct-09 16-Oct-09 19-Jun-09 16-Oct-09 7-Oct-09 15-Sep-09 11-Aug-09 19-Jun-09 14-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 28-Oct-09 28-Oct-09 13-Oct-09 14-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 25-Nov-09 6-Nov-09 16-Oct-09 12-Dec-09 19-Dec-09 30-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 30-Dec-09 8-Jan-10 2-Oct-10 8-Jan-10 2-Oct-10 16-Jan-10 9-Jan-10 20-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 5-Feb-10 5-Feb-10 30-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 6-Feb-10 13-Feb-10

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8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) TURF Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Canadian Turf H Sarah Lane’s Oates S Gentilly S Honey Fox H Tempe H Scottsdale H Desert Sky H Red Camelia S Boynton Beach Dwight D Patterson H

Class Gr 3 S S Gr 3 R S

Race Date 27-Feb-10 6-Mar-10 6-Mar-10 6-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 28-Mar-10 17-Apr-10 24-Apr-10

Value $150,000 $60,000 $60,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $60,000 $50,000 $50,000

Age Surface 4+ T 3 F LA Bred T 3 LA Bred T 4+ F&M T 3 T 3F T 3+ F&M T 4+ F&M T 3F T 3+ (AZ bred) T

Metres 1600 1600 1700 1600 1600 1600 1600 1700 1600 1700

Furlongs 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 8 8 8 1/16 8 8 1/16

Closing 13-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 5-Mar-10 5-Mar-09 5-Mar-10 14-Mar-09 3-Apr-10 16-Apr-10

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) AWT Country USA USA CAN USA

Track Keeneland Oak Tree at Santa Anita Woodbine Turfway Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Fayette S BC Ladies Classic Coronation Futurity Prairie Bayou Stakes

Class Gr 2 Gr 1 R S

Race Date 31-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 12-Dec-09

Value $150,000 $2,000,000 CAN250,000 $50,000

Age 3+ 3+ F&M 2 3+

Surface AWT AWT AWT AWT

Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800

Furlongs 9 9 9 9

Closinge 21-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 1-Aug-09 2-Dec-09

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) DIRT Country USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track The Meadowlands Philadelphia Park Hastings Racecourse Belmont Park Aqueduct The Meadowlands Calder Beulah Park Aqueduct Hawthorne Aqueduct Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Aqueduct Aqueduct Aqueduct Zia Park Hanshin Fair Grounds Aqueduct Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Meadowlands Cup H Docent Handicap Ballerina Breeders’ Cup Stakes Empire Classic Handicap Turnback the Alarm Pegasus S Carl G Rose Classic Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Stakes Stuyvesant Handicap Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap Discovery Handicap Falls City H Clark H Demoiselle Stakes Remsen Stakes Gazelle Zia Park Distance Championship Japan Cup Dirt Louisiana Champions Day Classic Queens County Handicap TBA S Sunshine Millions Distaff Fountain Of Youth Stakes Bonnie Miss S Florida Derby New Orleans H Louisiana Derby The Rampart S The Skip Away S Oaklawn H Arkansas Derby Sunland Park H

Class Gr 2 S S Gr 3 Gr 3 S R Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 1 S Gr 3 S Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 3

Race Date Value 16-Oct-09 $300,000 17-Oct-09 $75,000 17-Oct-09 $25K (BC)/ CAN 100K 24-Oct-09 $250,000 31-Oct-09 $100,000 6-Nov-09 $150,000 14-Nov-09 $200,000 14-Nov-09 $50,000 14-Nov-09 $100,000 21-Nov-09 $200,000 21-Nov-09 $100,000 26-Nov-09 $150,000 27-Nov-09 $400,000 28-Nov-09 $200,000 28-Nov-09 $200,000 28-Nov-09 $300,000 6-Dec-09 $200,000 6-Dec-09 $3,080,000 12-Dec-09 $150,000 12-Dec-09 $100,000 19-Dec-09 $100,000 30-Jan-10 $500,000 27-Feb-10 $250,000 27-Mar-10 $200,000 27-Mar-10 $750,000 27-Mar-10 $500,000 27-Mar-10 $750,000 28-Mar-10 $150,000 3-Apr-10 $100,000 3-Apr-10 $500,000 10-Apr-10 $1,000,000 18-Apr-10 $100,000

Age Surface 3+ D 3+ D 3+ FM D 3+ (NY bred) D 3+ FM D 3 D 3+ D 3+ D 3+ D 3+ D 3 D 3+ F&M D 3+ D 2F D 2 D 3F D 3+ D 3+ D 3+ D 3+ D 3+ F&M D 4+ F&M D 3 D 3F D 3 D 4+ D 3 D 4+ F&M D 3+ D 4+ D 3 D 3+ D

Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1900 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1900 1800 1800 1800

Furlongs 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1/16 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1/16 9 9 9

Closing 2-Oct-09 3-Oct-09 7-Oct-09 10-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 4-Nov-09 31-Oct-09 11-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 11-Nov-09 11-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 23-Nov-09 13-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 28-Nov-09 5-Dec-09 13-Feb-10 13-Mar-10 9-Jan-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 20-Mar-10 27-Mar-10 10-Apr-10

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) TURF Country USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Keeneland Calder Calder Tokyo Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Oak Tree at Santa Anita Calder Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Calder Calder Hanshin Sam Houston Race Park Sam Houston Race Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds

Race Name & (Sponsor) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S (by invitation only) Calder Derby Calder Oaks Fuchu Himba Stakes Knickerbocker Handicap Ticonderoga Handicap Mohawk Stakes Oak Tree Derby Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Cardinal River City H Tropical Turf Handicap My Charmer Handicap Naruo Kinen Richard King S John B. Connally BC Turf Sunshine Millions Turf Suwannee River Gulfstream Park Turf H Fair Grounds BC H The Palm Beach S The Herecomesthebride S Bayou BC H Mervin H Muniz Jr Memorial

Class Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 S S Gr 2 S Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 S Gr 3 S Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 7-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 27-Nov-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 5-Dec-09 30-Jan-10 30-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 7-Feb-10 20-Feb-10 13-Mar-10 14-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 27-Mar-10

Value $500,000 $100,000 $75,000 $925,000 $100,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $960,000 $50,000 $150K / $50K (BC) $500,000 $125,000 $300,000 $50K / $50K (BC) $150,000 $150,000 $50K(BC)/$75K $500,000

Age Surface 3F T 3 T 3F T 3+ FM T 3+ T 3+ FM (NY bred) T 3+ (NY bred) T 3 T 3+ T 3+ F&M T 3+ T 3+ T 3+ FM T 3+ T 3+ T 3+ T 4+ T 4+ F&M T 4+ T 4+ T 3 T 3F T 4+ F&M T 4+ T

Metres 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800

Furlongs 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Closing 3-Oct-09 3-Oct-09 1-Sep-09 3-Oct-09 10-Oct-09 10-Oct-09 31-Oct-09 4-Nov-09 11-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 27-Oct-09 25-Nov-09 20-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 23-Jan-10 6-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 13-Mar-10 13-Mar-10

10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) AWT Country Track CAN Woodbine

Race Name & (Sponsor) Maple Leaf S

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Class

Race Date 7-Nov-09

Value CAN175,000

Age 3+ F&M

Surface AWT

Metres 2000

Furlongs 10

Closing 21-Oct-09

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10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) AWT Country Track USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Race Name & (Sponsor) BC Classic

Class Gr 1

Race Date 7-Nov-09

Value $5,000,000

Age 3+

Surface AWT

Metres 2000

Furlongs 10

Closing 26-Oct-09

10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) TURF Country GB CAN JPN AUS ITY JPN ITY FR JPN JPN HK JPN

Track Newmarket Woodbine Kyoto Moonee Valley Rome Tokyo Rome Saint-Cloud Fukushima Chukyo Sha Tin Chukyo

Race Name & (Sponsor) Champion (Emirates Airline) E P Taylor S Shuka Sho Tattersall’s Cox Plate Premio Lydia Tesio Tenno Sho (Autumn) Premio Roma Criterium de Saint-Cloud Fukushima Kinen Chunichi Shimbun Hai Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup Aichi Hai

Class Gp 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gp 1 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gp 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gp 1 Gr 3

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 25-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 14-Nov-09 21-Nov-09 12-Dec-09 13-Dec-09 19-Dec-09

Value £400,000 CAN1,000,000 $2,100,000 AUS$3,050,000 €297,000 $3,120,000 4297,000 €250,000 $960,000 $960,000 HK$20,000,000 $925,000

Age 3+ 3+ F&M 3F 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ 2 CF 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ FM

Surface T T T T T T T T T T T T

Metres 2000 2000 2000 2040 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

Furlongs 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Closing 4-Aug-09 30-Sep-09 1-Sep-09 3-Aug-09 24-Sep-09 15-Sep-09 8-Oct-09 28-Oct-09 13-Oct-09 27-Oct-09 16-Oct-09 10-Nov-09

11f-111/16f (2200m-2300m) TURF Country USA USA USA USA JPN USA USA USA

Track The Meadowlands The Meadowlands Oak Tree at Santa Anita Aqueduct Kyoto Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Princeton S John Henry S BC Filly & Mare Turf Red Smith Handicap Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup Mac Diarmida H The Very One H Wildcat H

Class Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3

Race Date 16-Oct-09 30-Oct-09 6-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 15-Nov-09 20-Feb-10 27-Feb-10 3-Apr-10

Value $60,000 $60,000 $2,000,000 $150,000 $2,140,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000

Age 3 3+ 3+ F&M 3+ 3+ FM 4+ 4+ F&M 3+

Surface T T T T T T T T

Metres 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200

Furlongs 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Closing 9-Oct-09 23-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 24-Oct-09 13-Oct-09 6-Feb-10 13-Feb-10 26-Mar-10

12f-121/16f (2400m-2500m) TURF Country CAN AUS ITY USA USA USA JPN JPN HK USA JPN USA USA GB

Track Woodbine Caulfield Milan Keeneland Aqueduct Oak Tree at Santa Anita Tokyo Tokyo Sha Tin Calder Nakayama Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Epsom Downs

Race Name & (Sponsor) Pattison Canadian International BMW Caulfield Cup Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro Sycamore Long Island Handicap BC Turf Copa Republica Argentina Japan Cup Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase WL McKnight Handicap Arima Kinen Pan American H Orchid H Derby (Investec)

Class Gr 1 Gp 1 Gp 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gp 1 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gp 1

Race Date 17-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 18-Oct-09 22-Oct-09 1-Nov-09 7-Nov-09 8-Nov-09 29-Nov-09 13-Dec-09 26-Dec-09 27-Dec-09 20-Mar-10 21-Mar-10 5-Jun-10

Value CAN2,000,000 AUS$2,550,000 €297,000 $125,000 $150,000 $3,000,000 $1,370,000 $5,920,000 HK$14,000,000 $150,000 $4,260,000 $150,000 $150,000 £1,250,000

Age 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 4+ 4+ F&M 3 C&F

Surface T T T T T T T T T T T T T T

Metres 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2500 2400 2400 2400 2500 2400 2400 2400

Furlongs 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 1/16 12 12 12 12 1/16 12 12 12

Closing 30-Sep-09 3-Aug-09 17-Sep-09 14-Oct-09 17-Oct-09 26-Oct-09 29-Sep-09 13-Oct-09 16-Oct-09 12-Dec-09 10-Nov-09 6-Mar-10 6-Mar-10

13f-131/16f (2600m-2700m) DIRT Country Track USA Aqueduct

Race Name & (Sponsor) Gallant Fox Handicap

Class

Race Date 31-Dec-09

Value $65,000

Age 3+

Surface D

Metres 2600

Furlongs 13

Closing 12-Dec-09

14f-141/16f (2800m-2900m) AWT Country Track USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita CAN Woodbine

Race Name & (Sponsor) BC Marathon Valedictory S

Class

Race Date 6-Nov-09 6-Dec-09

Value $500,000 CAN150,000

Age 3+ 3+

Surface AWT AWT

Metres 2800 2800

Furlongs 14 14

Closing 26-Oct-09 18-Nov-09

15f-151/16f (3000m-3100m) TURF Country Track FR Longchamp USA Turf Paradise

Race Name & (Sponsor) Prix Royal-Oak Hasta La Vista H

Class Gp 1

Race Date 25-Oct-09 2-May-10

Value €250,000 $50,000

Country Track AUS Flemington JPN Nakayama

Race Name & (Sponsor) Emirates Melbourne Cup Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes

Class Gp 1 Gr 2

Race Date 3-Nov-09 5-Dec-09

Value AUS$5,650,000 $1,500,000

Age 3+ 3+

Surface T T

Metres 3100 3000

Furlongs 15.5 15

Closing 7-Oct-09 23-Apr-10

16f-20f (3200m-4000m) TURF Age 3+ 3+

Surface T T

Metres 3200 3600

Furlongs 16 18

Closing 3-Aug-09 27-Oct-09

ISSUE 14 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 79

Kirkpatrick issue 14.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd

L

AST time I looked, the good ol’ U. S. of A. was not only a democracy but was trying to export democracy to a number of places, several of which didn’t seem overly enthused about having it.

Furthermore, despite the fact that almost everybody in our country thinks democracy is great – even Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh, who are in favor of a sort of altered democracy in which everyone has a free choice, just so long as it’s what those three say we should do – our politicians keep appointing Czars to run everything to which applying some common sense would affect their numbers in the popularity polls. And the minute we appoint a Czar, he is expected to start a war against whatever it is we have appointed him to control.

As best I can figure, we’ve started a lot of wars recently, not just real wars, but a war on poverty, a war on drugs, a war on illicit sex, etc., but, also as best I can recollect, we haven’t won a real war since World War II. I don’t know much about wars and fights, but if I kept losing ‘em, I don’t think I’d be so quick to start ‘em.

Anyway, over the past couple of decades, there have been increasingly-frequent and increasingly-strident calls for the appointment of a Czar of Racing, a benevolent dictator who could solve the Problems of Racing with a wisdom and charm that would astonish even the most ardent opponents in the polyglot of factions who spend their time blathering on about “WHAT WE NEED TO FIX OUR INDUSTRY,” only to oppose anything that makes any real sense, because they didn’t come up with it.

So, being as how I regard myself as A True Patriot, I am hearby offering myself up to become Czar of Racing. In fact I intend to be Czar of the entire

13/10/09

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THE ARNOLD KIRKPATRICK COLUMN If I Were Czar – Part 1 Education and Licensing Thoroughbred business.

As the first step in my campaign to become the democratically-chosen dictator of the Thoroughbred Industry, I am going to publish a number of position papers in this foreign-owned publication setting forth the ways I will improve our business when I am elected Czar.

My first act as Czar – after the inaugural gala, of course, and prior to the first assassination attempt – will be to require everyone in the business (and I do mean “everyone” – every owner, trainer, rider, race track operator, auctioneer, and, yes, even every bloodstock agent and breeder) to have a license in order to pursue their chosen aspect of our business.

Even worse, in order to obtain a license, every participant in the business would have to undergo some “education” and demonstrate at least a basic knowledge of how our industry operates.

For instance, they would have to endure a crash course in the basic principles of supply and demand, in addition to which they would have to pass a test to prove that they understand that such lovely dreams as “Build It And They Will Come” or “Breed It And It Will Sell” only come true in the movies.

They will have to demonstrate a complete and thorough understanding of such economic bombshells as the following: A. Racing should be conducted as a result of fan demand – not because you need something to do with your foals. Further, racing six days a week, 52 weeks a year, in 38 states is too much for the public to stomach. The real reason “people aren’t

going to the races the way they used to” is that there is way too much racing going on. People have had too much of it.

Racing is here to entertain people; people aren’t born to support racing.

B. Even though it’s a drop of nearly 15%, 30,000 foals a year is still too many.

C. 5,100 (or even 1,500 horses) is way too many to have in a sale.

D. Not every foal which is born is going to make money for its breeder or for the person who chooses to race it.

E. We can’t blame all our problems on the recession. As a matter of fact, we can’t blame any of them on the recession.

Almost all of our major problems have been around for decades – and there is not a single problem faced by the Thoroughbred business today, not one, that is not our own damned fault.

In fact, at the swearing-in of each licensee, he or she will have to acknowledge that there is such a thing as the Law of Supply and Demand, and that it applies to the horse business, just as it does to everything else.

Further, they will have to make a public acknowledgement that they understand that it applies to them, as individuals, too, and not just to their neighbors.

So, my loyal followers, I hearby announce my first declaration of war. Since I’m pretty old and don’t have a lot of time to fool around, it’s going to be a biggie. We’re opening on three fronts – cupidity, stupidity and bad husbandry. Демократия умерла. Да здравствует царь.1 I 1 “Democracy is dead. Long live the Czar.” (Courtesy of iGoogle, WordMonkey Translator.)

“They would have to pass a test to prove that they understand that such lovely dreams as “Build It And They Will Come” or “Breed It And It Will Sell” only come true in the movies” 80 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com ISSUE 14

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