North American Trainer, issue 35 - February - April 2015

ISSUE 35 FEBRUARY ’15 - APRIL ’15 $5.95

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The winning ways of

WESLEY WARD

Understanding the COBALT conundrum

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE

Does daylight affect racetrack performance?

GILES ANDERSON

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Upping the fillies

FTER another great haul at the Breeders’ Cup, Wesley Ward was an obvious candidate to be a cover feature for North American Trainer.

His cool and calm demeanor comes to life through Bill Heller’s profile over the coming pages. Wesley comes across as the trainer who gets the most out of his horses in the morning and when they head for battle in the afternoon or evening, they are sent fully prepared.

I was fascinated to learn about how he is the one to ride every horse when they come into train but also equally interested in his comments about fillies: “I just think in the early part of the year, they mature faster, and they’re mentally more advanced”.

Wesley’s record with these fillies speaks for itself, but I wish we had got Wesley to share his views on the points entry system for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. It’s now the season when the very efficient media department at Churchill Downs update journalists inboxes every Saturday evening with the latest points tables for the first weekend in May. Since the arrival of the new points system two things have happened. Firstly, some legitimate but established Derby trials have been excluded from providing points

for winning connections and at the same time, fillies no longer have a clear option of getting into the Derby field.

I know we are talking about less that 50 fillies who have taken up the Derby option over the years but it is more about the principle that the greatest two minutes in sport has somehow become manipulated away from its historical values.

Sure, fillies “could” take on the boys in the prep races but at the same time if they got beaten, they would simply be reducing their chances for making the line up in the Oaks field. A double whammy of missing points.

There may not be much that will happen with the opening up of some the stakes races but surely it is about time the two leading points-earning fillies get a “wildcard” option to run in the Kentucky Derby. It would be a fascinating way of giving proven class fillies a chance against the males at their prime, in the first half of the year.

Whilst on the the subject of the fillies and Classics, I’m sure I am not alone in thinking that the intense pressure for the “Triple Crown” has rather dented the opportunity to promote a legitimate fillies equivalent and if the barriers against access into the Derby are to persist, surely it is the least that should be done.

Wherever your racing takes you this spring – good luck! ■

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CONTENTS 14

Wesley Ward

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Let there be light

The Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot-winning trainer in profile, by Bill Heller

How daylight affects racehorse performance and safety,

by Stacey Oke

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Jimmy ‘The Hat’ Allard

Winning owners

The Pick 6 gambler gives his views on racing, by Ed Golden

Profiles of recent Grade 1-winning owners, by Bill Heller.

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Florida racing

How the industry in southern Florida is flourishing after investment from Frank Stronach, by Bill Heller

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The Cobalt Conundrum

In the genes

Dr Brandon Velie looks at whether racing success is inherited

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Trackside

Introducing a new feature on the latest racetrack news

A potential new drug threat to racing, by Denise Steffanus

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State Incentives

The plight of Illinois and the growth of Oklahoma, by K.T. Donovan

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Racetrack Safety

Denise Steffanus reports on measures to make racing safer

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Trickle treat

Dr Catherine Dunnett looks at new feeding devices which allow for a more natural feeding regime

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Contributors

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California Thoroughbred Trainers

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TRM Trainer of the Quarter

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Suppliers Directory

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Stakes Schedules

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The Sid Fernando column

CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial Director/Publisher Giles Anderson Editorial Consultant Frances Karon Sub-editor Jana Cavalier Designer Neil Randon

Editorial/Photo Management Louise Crampton 1 888 659 2935 Advertising Sales Giles Anderson, Scott Rion 1 888 218 4430 Photo Credits Benoit Photography, Coady Photography, Duralock, Four Footed Photos, Galopfotos/Frank Sorge, Horsephotos, Keeneland, Steve Martine, Caroline Norris, Thomas O’Keeffe/Rossdales, Dustin Orona Photography, Louise Reinagel, Mark Reuhl, Shutterstock, SV Photos Cover Photograph Steve Martine

An Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd publication Contact details Tel: 1 888 218 4430 Fax:1 888 218 4206 info@trainermagazine.com www.trainermagazine.com United Kingdom 14 Berwick Courtyard, Berwick St Leonard, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 5UA North America PO Box 13248, Lexington, KY 40583-3248 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

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Alan F. Balch was hired as Executive Director of California Thoroughbred Trainers in April 2010. His professional career in racing began at Santa Anita in 1971, where he advanced to the position of Sr. Vice President-Marketing and Assistant General Manager, and was in charge of the Olympic Games Equestrian Events for Los Angeles in 1984. He retired in the early 90s to become volunteer president of the national equestrian federation of the USA, as well as of the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden.

He remains volunteer president of USA Equestrian Trust, Inc.

K. T. Donovan travels the world to cover racing through writing, television and video.

As a freelancer, she has written for most of the major racing publications around the world, and contributed in various capacities to live shows and documentaries on American television networks, as well as for Sky, and RTE (Irish television). She is based in Lexington, Kentucky.

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.

breeding.

Sid Fernando (@sidfernando) is president of eMatings LLC and Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc. He is the former bloodstock editor of Daily Racing Form and also blogs about racing and

Ed Golden is the author of Santa Anita’s widely acclaimed “Stable Notes,” hailed by peers as “the best in racing.” A native of Philadelphia, he earned Eclipse Award honorable mention while with the Philadelphia Daily News and has written for The Blood-Horse and USA Today.

Bill Heller, Eclipse Award winner and author of 25 books including biographies of Hall of Fame jockeys Ron Turcotte, Randy Romero, and Jose Santos, is a member of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame Communications Corner. He and his wife Anna live just 30 miles south of Saratoga Race Course in Albany, where their 24-year-old son Benjamin also resides.

Professor Celia Marr is an equine clinician at Rossdales, Newmarket. She is a RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Medicine and Honorary Professor at the Glasgow University Veterinary School. She has previously worked at veterinary schools in Glasgow, Pennsylvania, Cambridge and London and in racehorse practice in Lambourn. She is Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s Thoroughbred Research & Consultation Group and Editor-in-Chief of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Stacey Oke is a licensed veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. In addition to writing for various horse publications, she also contributes to scientific journals, is an editor of an internationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journal, creates continuing education materials for both human and veterinary medicine, and conducts biomedical research studies.

Denise Steffanus is a freelance writer and editor based in Cynthiana, Kentucky. A longtime contributing editor for Thoroughbred Times, she earned the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Award and the USA Equestrian (now the U.S. Equestrian Federation) Award for Media Excellence. Steffanus, a Pitttsburgh native, is a licensed Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and a member of American Mensa.

Dr Thomas Witte is an Equine Surgeon and Senior Lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College.

Recognised as an RCVS, American and European Specialist, his clinical interests include head and neck surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Tom gained his PhD in the Structure and Motion Lab at the Royal Veterinary College while completing a Horserace Betting Levy Board Research Training Scholarship. He trained as an equine surgeon in Kentucky and then Cornell University in New York. His research focuses on the biomechanics and control of the equine locomotor system and upper respiratory tract.

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

ALAN F. BALCH

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Why is it?

BOUT 45 years ago, when I was first professionally involved in racing, among the first meetings I participated in was about the advertising budget for the upcoming year at Santa Anita. As a very young “Director of Public Relations,” I had just learned that my duties included supervising the advertising agency. I had no education at all in advertising, but I soon understood that everyone thinks he’s an expert in the field. It’s somewhat similar to horse training in that respect.

Does advertising work? How can you tell?

What makes it good? How much should we spend? Why should we spend anything at all?

Whatever we budget, how should we spend it?

I confess to have been skeptical about advertising going in . . . . about how much it “works,” if at all. But I stumbled across this old saw somehow, light-years before Google.

A man wakes up after sleeping under an advertised blanket, on an advertised mattress, pulls off advertised pajamas, bathes in an advertised shower, shaves with an advertised razor, brushes his teeth with advertised toothpaste, washes with advertised soap, puts on advertised clothes, drinks a cup of advertised coffee, drives to work in an advertised car, and then, refuses to advertise, believing it doesn’t pay.

Later when business is poor, he advertises it for sale.

Why is it?

Well, I was far from a decision-maker in those days, and Santa Anita’s advertising budget for the 1971-72 season was cut back from the previous season. A lot. What happened?

Attendance and handle rose. Slightly.

As an academic sort, I wanted to learn more.

So I found everything I could on the subject to read and think about, from subscriptions to books to courses. Assaulted as we all are, every day, by every conceivable form of advertising, I began to think about it in ways I never had before. What works, what doesn’t, and why, and how is advertising a race track different 6

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from advertising a bar of soap or brand of beer, if it is?

The advertising agencies of the time were “experts,” of course, although I quickly learned that most of their expertise involved competing with other agencies for new accounts. When a prospective client inquired too much about what impact their advertising had actually had on sales of their clients, conversations quickly took different twists and turns. The focus invariably turned to product quality and competitive environment. (Yet another similarity with horse training, come to think of it.)

Santa Anita was in those days a “prestige” or “showcase” brand and account. Our ad business was sought after. Later, it became much less so, once the advertising community understood how demanding we were . . . if we were going to advertise, we wanted results.

We wanted to see a clear connection between advertising expenses and our attendance and handle.

We suffered through a few years of wet weather and lackluster business, as well as a couple of idiotic advertising decisions we made because they were recommended by these “experts.” One was the production of an exceptionally expensive and strikingly beautiful television commercial – it won a CLIO Award – few potential customers ever saw it. Why? Because it was two minutes long!

We produced the spot but couldn’t afford to buy the time to run it very often.

Trial and error is the best teacher, however.

As a marketer and advertiser, I had an exceptionally expensive education, courtesy of Santa Anita.

I learned that advertising does work; it is a necessity to employ effectively in any

“

Marketing, promoting,

and advertising are rightfully seen as required investments in the future of our sport

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competitive market. When done properly – in conjunction with the other important components of modern marketing – it works so well that after about 10 years, even a colossal venue like Santa Anita began to have trouble handling the business, an eventuality that in my early years I never dreamed I would see.

Sadly, on-track and overall business at most California tracks have now regressed to the point that little thought is apparently given to advertising. Or, perhaps, those who don’t believe in it are making the decisions. The “advertising doesn’t work” and “we can’t afford it” executives seem to be in charge everywhere. Except at Del Mar. The “nobody will go to Del Mar in November” skeptics worried me, I have to admit, in the aftermath of Hollywood Park’s long, slow decline and closing. But getting to Del Mar just before the new meeting opened, I immediately was reminded of the power of intelligent advertising integrated with sophisticated marketing. San Diego and its seaside track were buzzing. The results were powerful, despite a far smaller market than Los Angeles: daily average attendance on-track skyrocketed 187% over Hollywood’s numbers, and handle overall rose 15% to $10.4 million per day, when compared with Hollywood’s.

To refuse to advertise, or to advertise weakly, in mega-markets like Los Angeles and San Francisco, is to refuse to compete. To stay in the starting gate. The word “advertise” means literally to turn attention to – when every other significant attraction is advertising, competing for attention, and racing is not, is inviting disaster.

Where racing is healthy, anywhere in the world, its leaders are competing and competing successfully with every other leisure-time and gaming activity. Marketing, promoting, and advertising are rightfully seen as required investments in the future of our sport, and essential tools to compete. The rewards are not just or even mainly financial, but also in seeing the love for horses and the excitement that large crowds of enthusiastic fans generate.

Where racing is not investing in advertising – or, worse, not even informing or exciting the public about their investments in redevelopment and innovations where those do exist – that message and the result are the opposite.

Why is it happening? n

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

David Bernstein: rising above adversity WORDS: ED GOLDEN PHOTOS: BENOIT PHOTOS

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AvID Bernstein has suffered two tragedies: one a game changer, the other a life changer.

When a horse he trained, The Wicked North, was disqualified from first to fourth in the 1994 Santa Anita Handicap, he lost almost half a million dollars. When his son, Bobby, died at 27 on July 10, 2006, he lost much more: a piece of himself.

The wound has healed, but the scar will never go away. Only his devotion to training, which has been his vocation for 45 years, has helped ease the infinite grief of losing not one loved one, but two.

The day after Bobby died, his mother, victoria, understandably traumatized and distraught, took her own life.

“Training helped me get through all that,” said Bernstein, who turned 75 on Jan. 6 and now lives on a two-acre spread in San Jacinto. His girlfriend of many years, Elizabeth Philippian, is a welcome provider of aid and comfort. “She’s a staunch supporter of racing,” Bernstein said, “and that helps me because she has a dynamic interest in it. It has really made a big difference because neither of my prior two wives liked racing at all.

“In fact, they were scared of horses. That made my life a little tough. One of them wanted me to be a mailman. Horses are a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job, so the attention they need does keep you very busy and helps keep your mind occupied.

“After Bobby died, his mother died the next morning. We had been divorced for a long time, but it was still a shock.”

It’s 15 years and counting since Bernstein’s bio has appeared in a media guide, but there it is, Hollywood Park

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS 2000, page 280: David Bernstein, born, January 6, 1940, in South Pasadena, raised in Downey—the same Southern California town where The Carpenters, Karen and Richard, earned their musical spurs.

It goes on to list names of horses he trained that have passed on with nary a memory to that Great Race Track in the Sky: Dancing Liz, Stalcreek, Grey Gauntlet, Prince Bobby B, Houston Sunrise, Regal Rhythm and, of course, The Wicked North—Bernstein’s most accomplished and celebrated runner who forever in racing annals will be remembered for his controversial disqualification in the Santa Anita Handicap after crossing the wire a length and a half in front under Kent Desormeaux.

Most who saw the mile and a quarter race maintain to this day that The Wicked North, the 9-5 favorite, got a raw deal, citing the alleged interference in the stretch did not warrant his number being taken down. The stewards ruled otherwise, however, costing Bernstein and his owners nearly half a million dollars, the difference between first money and fourth.

Daily Racing Form’s comments read in part: “THE WICKED NORTH drifted out on a short lead in the initial stages, dueled outside HILL PASS to the second turn, put a head in front on that turn, began to inch away into the stretch, came in despite left handed urging in upper stretch and held off STUKA under urging. Following a stewards’ inquiry, THE WICKED NORTH was disqualified and placed fourth for interference in upper stretch.”

The revised order of finish: Stuka, Bien Bien, Myrakalu, The Wicked North.

Initially, Bernstein accepted the decision forthrightly, with no qualms or tantrums.

As soon as Trevor Denman announced the change, Bernstein, tarrying in the Winner’s Circle, walked to Stuka’s trainer, Gary Jones, shook his hand, and offered his congratulations.

But The Wicked North’s team hadn’t even left the track that afternoon before litigation proceedings were being formulated against the California Horse Racing Board over the DQ. “(Owner) Mr. (Philip) Hersh objected to the disqualification, so he went ahead and had the track and the film analyzed,” Bernstein related. “He spent about $30,000 trying to overturn the disqualification, and as I recall, the judge presiding over the hearing said if the stewards had had the information we showed him before they made their decision, the DQ probably wouldn’t have happened.

“Of course, the stewards made their decision on what they had in front of them, and it wasn’t what we showed them, which was that (Chris) McCarron (aboard pacesetting 16-1 shot Hill Pass inside of The Wicked North) came out to tighten things up because he didn’t want (Alex) Solis (on 31-1 outsider Myrakalu, who would finish fourth, nearly three lengths behind The

“

The judge presiding over the hearing said if the stewards had had the information we showed him before they made their decision, the DQ probably wouldn’t have happened

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Wicked North) to get through. When Chris did that, Alex was making a move on the inside and he stood up.

“They blamed Wicked for it because he came in a few inches and the other horse came out 18 inches. Stuka was out in the middle of the track and he just lumbered along, but he benefitted from the DQ by finishing second and being moved into first.

“I remember Gary Jones saying, ‘Boy, I’m sorry.’ He was really classy about it.

It’s one of those things. It happened. The stewards made a decision, and I remember before he died, Pete Pedersen said it was one of the toughest decisions he ever made, for whatever that’s worth.

“We got $75,000 for fourth, from $550,000 to the winner, so it cost me a bundle ($475,000—a nice piece of change even two decades of inflation later).

There was one relatively insignificant upside to the episode. “We went to the Derby Restaurant that night and management felt so badly over what happened, it picked up the bill for our entire party,” Bernstein said.

The Wicked North would go on to win an Eclipse Award as outstanding older male of 1994 on the strength of victories in the San Antonio Handicap, the Oaklawn Park Handicap and The Californian. In 17 career starts, the Kentucky-bred chestnut son of the Northern Dancer stallion Far North won eight times, with four seconds and one third, earning $1,180,750.

“Wicked was a lovely horse to be around,” Bernstein said. “He went to stud but he turned out to be less than stellar as a stallion. He had one stakes winner that I was aware of, Red’s Lady, but the rest of them

“

We went to the Derby Restaurant that night and management felt so badly over what happened, it picked up the bill for our entire party

”

were just racehorses. I inherited one of her daughters, Hello Ruffie, who won first time out.”

The loss of money, even the princely sum of $475,000, can never compare to Bernstein’s loss of his son, Bobby.

“He was born with a single ventricle heart,” Bernstein said. “When he was 12 days old, he had his first surgery. They put on a pulmonary band. Then when he was eight, he had open heart surgery to accommodate a larger band.

“In that first surgery at 12 days old, he suffered some seizures, which left him with cerebral palsy, so he had a really tough road to go, but he loved racing. He had a big parrot that he carried around Del Mar several years in a row when he was younger.

“He lived to be 27. They thought he might only live to be 15 or 16 with that single ventricle heart, but he had a great sense of humor and was a great guy. He was the apple of my eye, of course.

“I have two other marvelous sons from a previous marriage, Darryl, and David Jr. He’s in Wenatchee, Washington, on the radio. He’s got my voice. And Darryl owns a couple of photography studios, one in Kansas City, Missouri, and one in Seattle.

Bobby was cremated, and I have him on a book case in my home.

“Prince Bobby B was named after Bobby and ran second in the 1986 Del Mar Derby.

But he did set a mile track record on the grass there that lasted 10 years. I remember when they asked Bobby on the Felix Taverna show what he would do if the horse didn’t run well in the Derby, and he said, “I’m going to fire my dad.”

Bernstein graduated from Downey High School in 1957 and later attended Cal Poly Pomona. “I was a big fan of The Carpenters, but on the other hand, really and truly, I only thought about horses,” he said. “My grandparents took me to the races when I was nine years old, and I got hooked on it then.

“In fact, it was a day that Milo valenzuela won six of the eight races at Hollywood Park. My grandparents lived by Hollywood Park. I was named after my grandfather, who also was named David Bernstein. He was a typesetter for the Los Angeles Herald Express (later the Herald Examiner) and wrote a column on Saturdays called “Señor Bernie’s Picks”. I named a horse Señor Bernie after him. He won a few races.”

Before he became a trainer, Bernstein worked with his father who built store fixtures for vons Markets, and after that was in the industrial catering business.

Bernstein at one time was “The Birdman of Santa Anita.” He had tweets at Barn 59 before anyone ever heard the words “social media.”

“I always liked parakeets and enjoyed raising and breeding them to introduce different colors,” Bernstein said. “I gave them to people at the track. The birds live for three or four years and make good pets.

It was a hobby that I had and it was fun.”

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

Bernstein’s The Wicked North was controversially disqualified and placed fourth after finishing first in the Santa Anita Handicap in 1994

victories have been few and far between for Bernstein in recent years, understandable when you’re down to six horses, which he was at press time. Still, he maintains a positive outlook, caring diligently for his chosen half-dozen like they were Secretariat reincarnate, sending them through their daily regimen while adhering to a placating ancient credo: “Inner peace is beyond victory or defeat.”

Leandro Mora knows the goodness of Bernstein’s soul.

“I was there when little Bobby was born,” said Mora, a native of Mexico who now is a valued assistant with Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill.

“I stayed with David Bernstein for eight years, starting in 1978. Finally, I wanted an assistant trainer’s license and he helped me get it.

“I learned more than English from him. I learned ‘gentleman’s English,’ because he is a gentleman.”

Bobby Frankel, Simon Bray, Lewis Cenicola, James Chapman, Wally Dollase, Leonard Duncan, Paco Gonzalez, Walter Greenman, Eddie Gregson, Alex Hassinger Jr., Ian Jory, Robert Marshall, Mike Mitchell, Doug Peterson, Jay Robbins, Jenine Sahadi, Sanford Shulman, Mel Stute, Warren Stute and Noble Threewitt are 10

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“

It’s tough, but fortunately I have some great owners who pay their bills religiously . . . Everybody’s real supportive and you just do the best you can. It’s just worked out

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those with bios in that 2000 Hollywood Park Media Guide who, for one reason or another, are no longer training.

But David Bernstein soldiers on each morning with a ready smile and a warm greeting, always looking you in the eye when he speaks. At the race track, not only is it gratifying to see him, but to hear him as well, what with his rich, mellifluous voice, his words fully and properly pronounced, not clipped, no “dese, dose, deres or dems.”

His vocabulary is expansive, not limited to that of an LAUSD dropout: “um, like, dude, you know, basically, cool and awesome.”

Says Bernstein in explaining how he

might have come by his golden tones: “My grandfather was a singer.”

Be that as it may, Bernstein, like most devoted trainers, is in horse racing for the duration, warts and all. “It’s tough,” he says, “but fortunately I have some great owners who pay their bills religiously . . .

Everybody’s real supportive and you just do the best you can. It’s just worked out.

“I think the most horses I ever had in training was 31. Mr. Hersh was a client who kept supplying me with horses, and we also claimed a few. In fact, the first one I claimed went right up the ladder. I claimed him for $6,250 and he won for eight, twelve-five, 16 and 20.

“He got claimed that day for 20 and it was the last time he ever won a race . . .

We’ve had a lot of luck. I can’t complain.

We’ve had a pretty good run, but now it’s gotten a little thin.”

His persistent optimism brings to mind this appropriate Chinese proverb: “Distance tests the endurance of a horse; time reveals a man’s character.”

And so it comes to pass that this giant of a David, 6-1 and 240 pounds, has endured the slings and arrows life has hurled at him, but still stands, emotionally undiminished, marching onward to a finish line that may yet yield a pot of gold. n

www.trmirelandinc.com

Lochte (#7) wins the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes for Marcus Viatli

Trainer of the Quarter

MARCUS VITALI

The TRM Trainer of the Quarter award has been won by Marcus Vitali. Vitali and his team will receive a selection of products from the internationally-acclaimed range of TRM supplements, as well as a bottle of fine Irish whiskey.

WORDS: BILL HELLER PHOTOS: SV PHOTOS

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N the span of 50 minutes, January 24th, trainer Marcus Vitali watched his five-year-old gelding Lochte win the $150,000 Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes in a tight, three-horse photo on TV and his talented three-yearold gelding Bluegrass Singer finish third in the $400,000 Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Vitali, 54, has come a long way from watching horses gallop at Narragansett right from his Rhode Island living room. “We lived right across the street from Narragansett,” he said. “My family owned the trailer park there. I started walking horses when I was seven years old. I got paid nothing. I had a pony. When I was little I would go to the track. I fell in love with horses.”

He’s never stopped loving them. “I always do what’s right for the horse, what’s best for the horse,” he said. “It took a lot of years to get clients. Lot of hard work. Lot of years. Lot of dedication. I have a great, great staff. Couldn’t do it without them. It takes teamwork.”

Vitali’s father owned a couple horses off and on. Vitali apprenticed under his father’s trainer Eddie Vashey. “They called him Flash,” Vitali said. “He was quick and witty.

Great horseman.”

After riding for a year on the New England

fair circuit, Vitali became a trainer in 1982.

“My base used to be Suffolk Downs,” he said.

Unfortunately, he’s been a witness to the continued crumbling of what was once a vibrant New England racing industry.

“Of course, it’s sad,” he said. “I’ve seen in my career, almost every track I’ve been associated with, close one at a time.

Narragansett, Lincoln Downs, Rockingham, Suffolk now twice, Marshfield, Great Barrington.”

He moved to Florida six years ago and his career has been spiralling upwards ever since. But it’s the second time he moved to Florida. In 1982, he came to Gulfstream Park with one horse, who became ill and never even started.

He returned to New England, before coming to the conclusion 25 years later that racing there would never be a viable alternative again. He spent his first winter out of New England at Penn National in 2009 and, with encouragement from several of his owners, returned to Gulfstream Park.

This time he stuck.

Now, he’s starring with a 36-horse stable that includes Lochte, who won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at 39-1 last year, Grade 2 Monmouth Cup winner Valid and Bluegrass Singer, who captured

the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 3 before finishing third in the Holy Bull Stakes.

Vitali hopes Bluegrass Singer will prove he belongs with the best three-year-olds in the country chasing the Kentucky Derby.

“Who wouldn’t want to be on the Kentucky Derby trail?” Vitali said. “He’s special. He’s got a great future.”

Crossed Sabres Farm owns all three graded stakes winners, who helped carry Vitali to a national stage he could only having dreamed of watching horses gallop across the street at Narragansett.

“2014 was my career year,” Vitali said.

“2015 just began and we’re off to a good start. I’ve had the same clients for many years. People have given me an opportunity to train their horses. It’s very satisfying.”

Through late January, Vitali ranked third in the trainer standings at Gulfstream Park with 10 victories from 70 starters. He also has 12 seconds, four thirds and more than $300,000 in earnings.

“I love it,” he said. “I absolutely enjoy competing with the best trainers in the country. It’s very fulfilling. They’re working with iron; I’m working with wood. I’m just banging away.”

Like any good New England trainer would. n

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PROFILE

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WESLEY WARD

Wesley Ward

Taking an alternative route to success across the globe ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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PROFILE

Hootenanny, with Frankie Dettori up, was Wesley Ward’s first Breeders’ Cup winner in the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita

Trainer Wesley Ward didn’t invent “thinking outside the box,” but he sure is living it—joyfully and successfully: racing fillies vs. colts in graded stakes, running an America-maiden claiming winner in a stakes race at Ascot, giving a 10lb apprentice his first mount at prestigious Saratoga, and skipping the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita to watch his son in a cross country meet a couple thousand miles away in Florida.

WORDS: BILL HELLER PHOTOS: STEVEN MARTINE, HORSEPHOTOS

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ESLEY does things nobody else does, ever since he was a little guy,” said his dad, Dennis, who, like Wesley, is a former jockey who switched to training after years of battling weight problems.

Dennis did a fine job filling in for Wesley at Santa Anita in the winner’s circle and with the media when Hootenanny gave Wesley his first Breeders’ Cup victory. A second one with Judy the Beauty, a five-year-old mare Wesley owns, followed the next day.

Wesley’s reaction to his Breeders’ Cup success? “Chad Brown had a better day,” he said. Brown did: three victories. That does nothing to diminish the performances of Ward’s horses in the Breeders’ Cup. With six starters, he had two wins, three seconds (one of them to his own horse) and one third (behind another of his horses in second).

Dizzying success at racing’s highest level hasn’t gone to Wesley’s head. It didn’t when he became the first American trainer to win a race at Ascot five years earlier. If anything, it’s made him more appreciative of racing.

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“It took me all over the world,” he said.

“It’s opened up so many doors for me. I’m just a boy from way out in the country.”

One who’s breathed and lived and loved horses his whole life, Wesley admits, “I just can’t get enough of what I do,” he said.

“It’s seven days a week. I absolutely love it.

I have a passion for it. I’m hands on, doing what I love.”

It shows. Thirty-one years after winning the Eclipse Award as 1984’s outstanding apprentice jockey, he is one of a handful of former riders who have had continued or had even greater success as a trainer. Opened

“

I just can’t get enough of what I do. It’s seven days a week. I absolutely love it. I have a passion for it. I’m hands on, doing what I love

”

doors only matter if you walk through them.

Opportunities are wasted if not seized. And Wesley has never been shy about reaching for the stars.

He has a burning competitive drive to win at the highest level of racing, which makes his decision to miss the Breeders’ Cup to see his 16-year-old son Riley run in a high school meet even more remarkable. “I think it speaks volumes of Wesley’s character,” his New York friend, former outstanding jockey and now trainer Robbie Davis said.

“He’s got his ducks in a row. He’s got his priorities straight. To miss your kid rips your heart out. You can always watch a replay to see how your horse did. He got the horse ready. He did everything to get him to the race. All they had to do was put a saddle on him. He just wanted to be with his family.

His father is very close to him. He knows what it means to be there to see your kid.

This game, they play it seven days a week, 365 days a year. But we have another life.”

Wesley doesn’t understand what the fuss was about his Breeders’ Cup absence, especially since he’d done the same exact thing the year before. “Everyone made a big deal out of it after I won,” Wesley said.

“The year before I didn’t win and it wasn’t a big deal. It’s just important to him for me to be there. It’s just the one sport he does.

There are certain days of the year I need to be there for him. I just make a point to do it. My owners understand. They’re fine with it.”

Racing has been fine with Wesley his whole life—one that seemed destined to be spent with horses. His maternal grandfather, Jim Dailey, was an outrider in New York.

WESLEY WARD

“

I’m the first one on their back when they come in to train. I think it means a lot. If horses are mishandled, they develop bad habits

”

His dad’s father, Glenn, was a jockey and blacksmith. His dad rode and still trains.

Wesley’s mom, Jeanne, trained horses, too. Wesley has four aunts, and they’re all involved in horses. Gwyn, the oldest of Dennis’ sisters, galloped and trained. Linda was an outrider in California for 30 years and now works in the mutual department at Del Mar. Another sister, Dove, works for Arizona breeders. Dawn rode, married a jockey, Orlando Garrido, and quit riding after having a baby.

Just like his son, Dennis began riding before he became a teen-ager. “I rode for six years, then I worked as a valet and jock’s agent for 20 years,” Dennis said. “I started training the same year Wesley started riding in 1984 just so he could get on horses. I took him all over the country. He rode Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.”

More than three decades later, Wesley is still riding every single horse he trains. “I think it’s very important with the younger horses,” Wesley said. “I’m the first one on their back when they come in to train. I think it means a lot. If horses are mishandled, they develop bad habits.”

Born an only child in Selah, Washington, Wesley began galloping horses when he was 12. “I rode my first race when I was 13,” he said. “You didn’t need a license at the bush tracks.”

Wesley realized he was getting an education. “I just got a wealth of experience,” he said. “It was a different era.

They let you drive cars when you were 14.

Riding races to me was like a drug. I quit school when I was in the ninth grade. It was the only thing I knew. It was everything. I had to just quit.”

Being immediately successful eased his transition. “He won 300 races before he came to New York,” Dennis said.

In New York, Wesley continued a sensational year in 1984. “We chose Lenny Goodman (the jockey agent who represented Steve Cauthen) before he went to New York,” Dennis said. “His mom went with him to New York.”

Wesley’s career immediately skyrocketed in New York. “I knew I was living a dream,” he said. “I’d ridden at the small fairs with one goal: to go to New York and ride.

I’d been riding at Yakima Meadows (in Washington). That’s where you want to be: New York—best horses, best riders, best trainers.”

Wesley Ward receives an Eclipse Award for top Female Sprinter Judy The Beauty

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PROFILE On his way to winning the Eclipse Award, he rode 335 winners and won riding titles at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and The Meadowlands. “I started at the bottom and I made it to the top when I was 16 years old,” he said. He remembers on Closing Day at Belmont Park, Gregg McCarron’s, Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron’s brother, told Wesley something he would never forget: “He told me, `You remember this. Right now, you’re the best of the best.

It’s a hell of an achievement. Appreciate what you accomplished.’”

While he was in New York, Wesley became friends with Davis, then one of New York’s top riders. “We grew up in the same part of the country,” Robbie said. “I grew up in Idaho. He rode at a lot of the tracks I rode at: Longacres, Billings, Montana. Then he came to New York. I don’t think he had a license to drive. He’d ask me to give him a ride to work, a ride home. He was a real likeable kid.”

Robbie remembers driving with Wesley

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on the Long Island Expressway, singing songs together from Madonna’s first album.

“I had just bought it,” Robbie said. “We’d both be singing in on the parkway.”

Twenty-eight years later, Wesley repaid Robbie’s kindness by giving Robbie’s son Dylan, a triple bug apprentice—his first mount at Saratoga in 2012. He finished fourth on Black Rhino. “You can’t get a better spot than that to start your career,” Robbie said. “It was a great honor.”

Wesley didn’t stop there, personally overseeing Dylan’s early career as well as helping Dylan’s sister Katie begin her career.

“We call him `Uncle Wes,’” Robbie said.

“

There were times I couldn’t pay the feed guy.

The first guy I ‘buddied up with’ was my feed guy

”

“He took Dylan under his wing like he was his own kid. At one point, Wesley said, `I might lose a few owners, but I’m going to make him a rider.’”

Wesley didn’t have to think long about helping Dylan. “He reminded me of myself from yesteryear—a wonderful young guy who really seemed to have the drive, who really wanted to be a jockey,” Wesley said.

“It’s tough to make a name for yourself.

Nobody was really helping him.”

So Wesley did.

All the great memories of his jockey titles in New York—an Eclipse Award and an endless stream of victories on high-profile horses (e.g., he rode 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand to his maiden victory the year before)—made it that much harder on Wesley after he lost his bug and began an unending battle with his weight, one he knew was coming. “I knew I was in trouble from the day I started,” Wesley said. “My dad had a similar career. I knew I had a limited time. So I enjoyed it. I knew there was going to be an end. I paid attention a lot because I knew I was going to be a trainer.”

Yet he wanted so desperately to keep riding. “Right after I lost the bug, the weight, it became terrible,” he said. “Then it just got so bad I went overseas where weights are higher.” He rode in Malaysia, Singapore and Italy.

He had the nerve to eat like a normal person and when he returned to the United States, he got on a scale and was shocked. “I weighed 150 pounds,” he said. He headed for Florida in the spring of 1989 to lose weight and resume riding in the U.S. “I went on this juice diet,” he said. “You eat all the fruit and fruit juice in the morning, then all the vegetables you can eat…then nothing else. I’d run twice a day at 4 a.m. in the morning and 4 p.m. in the afternoon. I’d put 20 pounds of clothes on and run on the beach in August. It was very, very difficult.

Every day. Every single day. I went down to 114 pounds in 43 days. I rode one last year.

I wanted to end it on my terms.”

When it was over, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. He put training on hold and decided he might become a racing official.

He was accepted for the University of Arizona Racing Industry Program, and, for a month before it started, became a jockey agent, representing Eddie Razo and Jose Corrales. “We were doing well, but then you have to deal with different personalities, the trainers, the jockeys, the stewards,” Wesley said. “I found out I didn’t want to be a jock’s agent. And the racing people weren’t dealing with horses, they were dealing with horsemen. I missed the horses so much. I never went to Arizona.”

Instead, he went home to Washington in the summer of ‘90. “I went back and started galloping horses for my dad,” he said. “Then, I kind of went into depression for the only time in my life. How am I going to be a trainer? I took the summer off.”

His life changed with a single conversation with his dad. “My dad came into my

WESLEY WARD apartment and said, `You have to get back and go to work. Because that’s what we do.

When you take the white pants off, you’re just another guy.’”

Dennis remembers the conversation: “I told him, `You’ve got to persevere.’ He went through a lot of low spots, but he keeps persevering. That’s just the way he is. You don’t want to tell him not to do it.

He’ll do it. He was on the wrestling team in high school. He was 85 pounds. He wanted to try free-style wrestling. He came back with a trophy bigger than him. That’s just the way he is.”

Dennis gave his son one horse to train, Mariana Red—a horse he had claimed years earlier. Mariana Red won his first start for Wesley. “That was his first win at Yakima Meadows,” Dennis said. “I had done the same thing, also. I won with my first horse, Yes Father, at Portland Meadows.”

Wesley placed an ad in Washington Thoroughbred magazine in the fall of 1990 and was surprised when he received several answers. “A lot of owners who didn’t have a trainer answered,” he said. “Then I broke other trainers’ yearlings. That’s how I got going.”

Wesley showed up at his dad’s barn, gave Mariana Red back to him and said, “I’m going to California.” Dennis responded, “Good luck.”

Wesley was 22. He had five horses he’d been racing at Yakima Meadows and showed up at Santa Anita. “I had a burning desire to get to the highest level,” he said. “I always had a yearning to get back to New York.”

Having spent most of his life in racing helped prepare him for the difficult realities he faced trying to make it at Santa Anita at the age of 22.

He struggled. “There were times I couldn’t pay the feed guy,” he said. “The first guy I ‘buddied up with’ was my feed guy.”

Wesley augmented his meager income by galloping horses for other trainers. And he tried to figure out what he needed to do to jumpstart his career. “When I first started training, I really felt like the only time you can get an edge in this business, a legal edge, you have to take advantage of it,” he said.

“I thought `How can I win at this level?’ I went to the sales at Bartlett’s that fall and bought a couple cheap yearlings for a couple thousand dollars. I had them dead fit. They ran a quarter of a mile race for two-year-olds in late February or March.

“I thought if I could get these horses— they weren’t Derby-type horses—ready, I’d be okay. It took me six months to win my first race, but I started getting more and more horses. Then racing shifted from Santa Anita to Hollywood Park. I started claiming them, and I had a knack at it. I finally got to where I was making it. I made a name for myself as a trainer of two-yearolds.”

But he shouldn’t be pigeon-holed for his incredible success with two-year-olds.

Yes, he’s become an annual presence in

England and France’s biggest two-year-old stakes, but he also did a superb job training and managing Judy the Beauty, who was expected to become his first Eclipse Champion when she was named 2014’s outstanding female sprinter following her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

In 1994, Wesley notched his first stakes and graded stakes victory when Unfinished Symph captured the Grade 3 Will Rogers Handicap. Later that year, Unfinished Symph won the Grade 3 Cinema Handicap

and the Grade 2 Shoemaker Handicap before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile as Wesley’s first starter in the Breeders’ Cup. Wesley’s first four Breeders’ Cup starters all finished third.

Ward raced in California, winning four graded stakes with Men’s Exclusive and three with Bear Fan before moving to Florida with his family—his wife, Kimberly, and their three children, Riley, Denae and Jack—in 2006. At the time, the kids were eight, five and two. “The eastern tracks were having bigger purses with slot machines,”

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Wesley said. “The East Coast seemed like there would be a lot more opportunities.

That’s when I approached Bobby Frankel.

I rode for Bobby as a jockey, and we maintained a friendship through my training career. We were going out to dinner often.

I said, `Is there any way you can help me with some clients?’ He said, `Where?’ I said, `Florida, because of the schools.’ He called Mr. Ramsey the next day.”

Ken Ramsey and Wesley have been working together ever since. Wesley calls Ken “Boss.” Ken said, “I hired him because of Bobby Frankel. I told Bobby I don’t have a good two-year-old trainer for my Kitten Joys and he said, `I’ve got just the man for you: Wesley Ward. He rides his own horses.’

That’s when we got started. I think he’s the best with two-year-olds, but he’s branched out. Wesley is a very likeable guy. He knows how to give instructions to riders. And he’ll go anyplace.”

In 2009, the country boy from rural Washington went across the pond to Ascot and made history. Then he did it again and again. “I don’t know if I would have gone back if I didn’t win with the very first year I started,” he said. “I’d never been there.”

He didn’t go to Ascot on a whim. “It’s something that I’d been looking at,” Wesley said. “I have a little edge with two-year-olds, but after they win here, you have nowhere to go. There aren’t a lot of races for them.

I thought about the climate over there, and the way they’re trained. They don’t train a

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“

PROFILE

I have a little edge with two-year-olds, but after they win here, there aren’t a lot of races for them. I thought about the climate over there, and the way they’re trained. They don’t train a lot for sprinting

”

lot for sprinting.” Wesley did.

Ascot was an adventure Wesley, his dad, and his son will never forget. The impetus was an invitation for Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Cannonball to compete in the Group 1 $489,500 King’s Sand Stakes at five furlongs on grass at Ascot. Cannonball had finished second by a head and second by a neck in a pair of Grade 3 stakes in his prior two starts.

But Wesley didn’t send Cannonball to Ascot alone. “Wesley saw all these two-yearold stakes,” Dennis said. “He took a few.

I’m reading the Form on the airplane. They said, `If we finish fifth, we’d be doing good.’

I said, “Fifth? Are they kidding? We’re going over there to win. He worked them at River

Downs to get them ready. He took the right ones. I took my grandson, Riley. We had a ball. That was the greatest place we’ve ever been. My grandson won a mechanical bullriding contest. We couldn’t get him on it, then came back two hours later and we couldn’t get him off it.”

Cannonball, Wesley’s first starter at Ascot, finished sixth at 33-1 under John Velazquez in the field of 15 in the King’s Stand Stakes, June 16, 2009. “After Cannonball, I was worried about getting embarrassed,” Wesley said. “I said, `What am I doing here?’”

One of Wesley’s two-year-olds provided the answer later that afternoon. Strike the Tiger, a two-year-old gelding Wesley owned in a partnership, went off the same 33-1 odds under John Velazquez in the field of 22 in the five-furlong listed grass stakes, the Windsor Castle. Strike the Tiger won by a neck, making Wesley the first American trainer to win a race, let alone a stakes race, at the Royal Ascot Meet.

The following afternoon at Ascot, Wesley raced Jealous Again, a two-year-old filly he owned in partnership, in the Group 2 $147,500 Queen Mary Stakes at five furlongs on turf.

She’d be making her grass debut in her third career start. After winning her debut, a maiden race on synthetic at Keeneland, by 11 ¼ lengths at 3-2, she took on males in the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes.

Wesley doesn’t hesitate occasionally racing two-year-old fillies vs. colts in stakes. “I

WESLEY WARD just think in the early part of the year, they mature faster, and they’re mentally more advanced,” he said. The betting public agreed, making her the 2-1 favorite in the field of nine. She led most of the way before tiring to finish second by a length and a quarter.

Sent off at 6-1 in a field of 13 under Velazquez in the Queen Mary, she won wire-to-wire by five lengths. In two days, Wesley had saddled two winners at Ascot. “I was proud,” Dennis said.

But Wesley wasn’t done at Ascot. On four days of rest, Ward entered Cannonball in the $809,000 Group I Golden Jubilee Stakes. He finished second by a neck at 11-1 in a field of 14. “Three jumps after the wire, he wins the race,” Ken Ramsey said.

After leaving Wesley’s barn to race in Australia the following January, Cannonball had no wins and was two seconds from 18 subsequent starts. Strike the Tiger was one-for-10 after getting claimed away from Wesley.

Wesley wasn’t a one-year wonder in Europe, rather a presence ever since his initial foray. Judy the Beauty won a $54,000 race for two-year-old fillies at Chantilly in France, May 2, 2011. Judy the Beauty was named for Wes’ mother’s best friend, Judy. “She was called Judy the Beauty because she was as beautiful inside as she was on the outside,” Wesley said. “She died from cancer.”

In 2013, No Nay Never followed a maiden victory on synthetic at Keeneland with victories in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot and the Grade 1 Darley Prix Money at Deauville.

Last year, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Hootenanny won the Windsor Castle Stakes in a field of 24 at Ascot by 3 ½ lengths before finishing second by a half-length in the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny Stakes at Deauville.

Then he gave Wesley his first Breeders’ Cup victory, edging his stable-mate in Wesley’s barn, the Ramseys’ Luck of the Kitten, by three-quarters of a length in the Juvenile Turf—a Wesley Breeders’ Cup exacta.

Wesley watched the race in his tack room in Florida. “All by myself,” he said. “I’ll tell you what, it was really unbelievable. I was screaming and yelling. Somebody would

Ward with his son Riley, jockey John Velazquez with his wife Leona after victory with Strike The Tiger in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot

Jealous Again went wire-to-wire to win the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009 by an impressive five lengths

have thought I was having a heart attack.”

The next day, Judy the Beauty won the Filly and Mare Sprint by a head. All she’s done is post nine victories, seven seconds, one third and a fourth in 18 career starts.

She capped an incredible two-days for Wesley. In absentia. For his son’s meet. He

hopes his three children do not follow him into racing. “I would never want my kids to come into this business, just because it’s so hard,” he said. “Not just financially, but it can be very difficult. The mental part is difficult.”

It’s easier if you think outside the box. n

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RACING

Jimmy The Hat The life and times of the Pick 6 architect

W

HEN push comes to shove, there isn’t much leeway for James Everett Allard, known to racing’s rank and file as “Jimmy the Hat.” Politically incorrect and assuredly opinionated, he would have been an ideal fit in “Guys and Dolls,” the Tony Awardwinning musical tale of a dichotomous gambler, based on the book by American newspaperman and author Damon Runyon.

Runyon is best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway that grew out of the Prohibition era.

To New Yorkers of his generation, a “Damon Runyon character” evoked a distinctive social type from the Brooklyn or mid-town demi-monde—the adjective “Runyonesque” referring to this type of character.

Allard would have suitably comported with the leading performers of “Guys and Dolls,” namely Sky Masterson, Harry the Horse, Nathan Detroit and Nicely-Nicely.

But his frequently effusive countenance offers more than that—much more.

Paraphrasing the show business term, “born in a trunk,” Allard was virtually born at the track. Though his place of birth is Rochester, N.Y., and he now resides in Santa Monica, California, Allard’s first lucid memories of life came at Batavia Downs, a harness track 34 miles from Rochester, as the crow flies.

Betting on horses is a way of life for Allard, now a Pick 6 architect who was weaned on racing when he was three years old. In the 22

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Meet Jimmy Allard: “Jack of all trades, master of one.”

A self-proclaimed “professional horse player,” Allard is at once dogmatic, enigmatic, pragmatic, and, when it comes to playing the Pick 6, pretty much automatic. Even though he turns 61 on April 26, 2015, pose any question, and Allard’s curious and expansive mind zeroes in on total and accurate recall. Like Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek behind the podium, he’s got all the right answers before the buzzer sounds.

WORDS: ED GOLDEN PHOTOS: BENOIT PHOTOGRAPHY

book of Allard’s life, however, that chapter is a mere grain of sand in a desert of infinite horizons.

Ask Allard a question, then take a deep breath, draw on Job’s patience and prepare to listen. Don’t expect any pauses, pregnant or otherwise. There’s no telling when his soliloquy will end or how many paths it will traverse. He rambles coherently with an ideological zeal and a child’s innocence.

Periods are not prominent among his properties of punctuation, as the following episodes reveal in graphic yet curtailed detail.

“My dad, Everett James Allard, was a World War II sergeant who spent 195 consecutive days on the front lines, received the Bronze Star for bravery, and during that period, his uncle—my great uncle, Fred Allard—owned what was arguably the greatest bar in Rochester,” Allard said.

“When my dad came home, he had what I now perceive to be post-traumatic stress syndrome, and he’d sit out in my great aunt Marie’s backyard for weeks at a time.

“Finally, my uncle Fred took him into his restaurant on State Street, and he became

great uncle Fred’s protege. Years later, he opened his own bar on the other end of State Street, so there was Fred Allard’s bar on one end of State Street and just plain old Allard’s at 312 State Street.

“In between was Eastman Kodak, which at the time was the fifth most powerful corporation in America. My dad meets my mom—her full name was Phyllis Louise Harrington—she was born Oct. 3, 1919.

She was about 34 when I was born and my dad, who passed away at 42 on May 26, 1959, was about 37.

“My father grew up around Fred Allard’s restaurant and bar, which was pretty much a bookie joint in those days. I was born in a two-bedroom apartment, a block and half from the restaurant.

“I remember sitting on my father’s shoulders at Batavia Downs when I was three, watching people around me jumping up and down screaming.

“Maybe 40 years later, I reconnected with my father’s aunt Marie, who was my great aunt and more like a sister to him, and she recounted that story for me. It was literally my first memory in life. I don’t remember

JIMMY ALLARD

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RACING anything before that. She told me about me sitting on my father’s lap in the bar and watching him play gin rummy for 50 bucks a hand.

“This was full-on gambling. My uncle Bob was the collector; my uncle Fred and my dad made book; they cashed payroll checks for the guys at Eastman Kodak and there were craps games in the back room.

They gambled on everything: shuffleboard, pool, fights, horse racing, and this was when I was a baby. My dad died a month after my fifth birthday, so I’m talking about when I was really young.

“Two years after my dad died, my mom married a guy named Howard Burke, who was an engineer for General Dynamics.

We ended up living for three-and-a-half years in Samsun, Turkey, where he was building a hearing and seeing base on top of a mountain, 86 miles across the Black Sea from Russia.

“So I spent three-and-a-half years of my life riding and driving two Arabians on the back of a big, black carriage with a red velvet interior and big brass lanterns on it. We would unhook the horses in the heat of the afternoon and I would ride them into the Black Sea, slide off their backs, grab their tails, swim with them, and I actually rode the bigger of the two in a horse race.”

Segue now to Act II, focusing on Allard’s passion for the Pick 6, and the origin of his moniker.

“I give Ivan Puhich credit for my nickname,” Allard said, referring to the jockeys’ agent who represented Mario Gutierrez when he won the Kentucky Derby aboard I’ll Have Another in 2012. Now retired, former Marine Puhich, who fought on Okinawa in 1945, turned 88 Dec. 22.

“My buddy Brian Beach (agent for California Chrome’s regular rider Victor Espinoza) swears up and down that he’s the one who gave it to me, and Michael Singh, one of the biggest gamblers in North America, swears that he gave it to me. But I give Ivan Puhich credit for it.

“I wear hats because I like them. I’ve had skin cancer issues, and in Southern California, I place my glasses and the brim of my hat in a position so as to keep the sun out of my eyes. That way, when a horse walks in front of me, I have a perfect view of it.

Not only is the hat a skin cancer protector, it’s a tool I use when I’m paddock-profiling horses.

“Since the inception of the 50-cent Pick 5, I only play Pick 6’s on carryover days now. The carryover money offsets the 25 percent track takeout and the government’s 25 percent takeout, so it just makes sense to wait for the carryovers. But now I play the 50-cent Pick 5, which I’ve been monitoring since day one. I don’t think there’s been an exotic wager in horse racing that comes close to those payoffs.

“With the 14 percent take out, the pools are absolutely astronomical and the payoffs are inordinately out of line. Santa Anita has the 50-cent Pick 5 and the 50-cent Pick 24

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“

Santa Anita has the 50-cent Pick 5 and the 50-cent Pick 4, but if you play the Pick 4, you should go back to kindergarten and learn math, because value-wise, it’s not on the same planet

”

4, but if you play the Pick 4, you should go back to kindergarten and learn math, because value-wise, it’s not on the same planet.”

Most people have a better chance of using the rest room at a bank than hitting the Pick 6. Not Jimmy the Hat. In the last 29 years, Allard has bet “somewhere between 40 and 50 million dollars” on the horses—enough to balance a Third World budget.

Remarkably, he is on the plus side.

“I’ve had some horrible years, but I’ve had some great years, too,” Allard said. “I’ve been involved in three or four of the biggest payoffs in Thoroughbred horse racing history, but it’s a struggle. It’s tough every day. The biggest part of it is psychological, when you come home stuck 20, 30, 40, 50 grand for the month, and you’ve got to keep digging in.

“You have to have the heart to keep going and get your money back. Thank God I’ve managed to keep moving forward.

“I’ve hit five out of six a thousand times in the last 29 years. I’ve hit the Pick 6 probably a couple hundred times. The biggest one I ever had was on Jan. 16, 1989. I picked nine winners in a row at Santa Anita—nine, not six—and won $1,065,000. On Aug. 1 of 1990 or 1991, on a $1,260 ticket, I hit the Pick 6 at Del Mar for $589,000.

RACING “Back in the old days, you couldn’t bet Northern California tracks in Southern California. You had to drive to Santa Barbara at the Earl Warren County Fair Grounds, the closest place you could bet on Northern California races.

“I bought into a ticket with a famous handicapper named Rene Romero, and we hit the Pick 6 for I think it was $1,072,000.”

Any horse player worth his money clip knows betting on horses is a full-time job.

Jimmy the Hat is in the Hall of Fame in that category. He eats, sleeps and drinks handicapping.

“It’s a three-step process for me,” said Allard, who, wearing standard track garb such as jeans and casual shirt blends in with the hoi polloi on any given racing day. But with his Vandyke beard, dominated by gray and a stylish chapeau, he cleans up nicely when the occasion calls for it.

“In the mornings when I can, I’ll be at Santa Anita, Del Mar, San Luis Rey Downs or whatever track or training facility applies, to see the horses train,” he said. “That’s the first step.

“The second step is drudgery, going through racing forms and statistics anywhere from two to three hours, depending on the day and what goes into it. I read all editorials pertaining to anything to do with Southern California horse racing, and if I see anything going on back East involving (trainers) Chad Brown, Christophe Clement, Michelle Nevin or Brian Lynch—any one of those four—I’m going to read it.

“I have to buy a racing form every day, as opposed to just getting the PP’s (past performances) off the computer like so many people do nowadays, because the form’s editorials are important to me, as are the jockey/trainer stats and horses for courses. Once that’s done, the third step is being in the paddock every race.

“I try to get a view of the horses coming out of the receiving barn and pick up on their body language while they’re being saddled, particularly when the jock gets a leg up. I want to see the reception the horse gives to its rider.

“Then I take one last good look in the post parade. There have been countless times when horses looked great and ran accordingly, and conversely, looked horrible and ran up the track. It doesn’t always work, but it has about a 70 percent success rate.

People say it’s not a beauty contest, but horses that look good outrun the ones that look bad seven out of 10 times. I really enjoy going to the paddock looking at horses who speak to me through their body language.

“I’m also at the track in the morning talking to as many assistant trainers, jockey agents, exercise riders, veterinarians, horse shoers—anybody who might have knowledge regarding what’s going on in horse racing.

“I get to the track a minimum of twoand-a-half to three hours before first post because I use the replay machine to watch previous races. I don’t have computers. I’m 26

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“

I wear hats because I like them. I’ve had skin cancer issues, and in Southern California, I place my glasses and the brim of my hat in a position so as to keep the sun out of my eyes. That way, when a horse walks in front of me, I have a perfect view of it

”

not a technological guy at all, but I’m a hypocrite because I go to the track and I use their replay machine. I keep strict records on first-time geldings and follow them usually through their third start as a gelding. If they don’t progress by then, I discount it. These are regimens I’ve been doing for many years.”

Since Pick 6 bets must be made well in advance of the second and later legs of the wager, no one can know what antics a horse might display prior to plunking down his or her money—not even someone as knowledgeable as Allard.

“It’s a huge handicap because obviously you’re playing the last five legs blind,” he said. “So many times a horse will be washed

out or flip over backwards and you know you’re screwed. There are a thousand ways to lose a race and only one way to win it.

That’s why you want to literally take every last edge you can until they walk into the gate before you make the bet.

“I’ve been going to the track my whole life. My first 12 years in town I’d get out there at least twice a week, but since 1986, I’ve been going to the track every day full time. I missed a few days when I was managing the heavyweight kickboxing champion of the world, and when I went to Brazil with (Bobby) Frankel, and when I went to Europe for the Normandy Day ceremonies with Carmen Miceli, and on very rare occasions when I’ve been sick.

Otherwise, for the last 29 years, I’ve been at the track for live racing in Southern California every day.

“I was a jock’s agent for Isaias Enriquez for nine months, and he’ll tell you it was the best nine months of his career. We won three stakes races, I got him on three Frankel horses, and I was an agent for a reason.

There were things about jockeys and how they maneuvered that I wanted to learn.

“I was very good at it and really liked Isaias. He knew I was serious and that if he wasn’t a professional and didn’t show up for his works, that I didn’t need to do it.

I enjoyed working with him, but naturally there are people around the track you don’t particularly care for or have respect for but you have to try and be diplomatic with them, and it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

“That was the only other profession I had.

I did manage the heavyweight kickboxing champion of the world, Dennis Alexio, from 1988 to 1999. I traveled all over the world first class, but back in those days, there just wasn’t any money in it, so I just did it to have a great time.

“I happened to meet Alexio at Venice Beach. Within a week we were best friends.

He had a 72-1 record with 69 knockouts and was the (ISKA) International Sanctioning Karate Association and PKA (Professional Karate Association) full contact karate heavyweight champion of the world during those 11 years.”

Allard’s friendship with Frankel could comprise a book rivaling War and Peace in profundity. Frankel, the irascible Hall of Fame trainer who died at the age of 68 in November 2009, was a horseman of a different color, a man of many moods, predominantly sardonic.

“I came to California in 1974 and Frankel two years before me, but I didn’t take much note of him until the late 70s when he was called ‘Boy Genius’ and ‘Boy Wonder,’ smashing all the records,” Allard recalled. “I followed him all through the 80s when he was so incredibly prevalent, especially after the Juddmonte horses went to his barn. But I never really knew him or was associated with him until the mid-90s.

“In 1994, I was on the backside at Del Mar and Bill Barisoff, who was a jocks’ agent, was at Frankel’s barn with three or

JIMMY ALLARD

Medaglia d’Oro’s trainer Bobby Frankel, second from left, and assistant Huberto Ascanio, left, congratulate Laffit Pincay, Jr. after victory in the Grade II $250,000 San Felipe Stakes Sunday, March 17, 2002 at Santa Anita Park

four other agents, and they were talking about boxing.

“As I walked by the barn, Barisoff told Frankel that I managed Dennis Alexio, the kickboxing champion. Boxing was the only other sport I’ve been involved in that I really enjoyed, and Frankel was a huge boxing fan, which I hadn’t been aware of.

Everyone started talking boxing but a halfhour later, all the agents were gone and it was just Bobby and I talking boxing.

“Bobby had big signs up all over the barn, ‘No Trespassing, No Visitors,’ and he had a reputation for having a real bad temper and throwing people out of his barn, so I’m standing there thinking it’s a strange situation for me to be in, when suddenly Bobby says, ‘Hold on a second. I’ve got to go do something with this horse.’ Well, when he walked away, I walked away too.

“The next afternoon at the races, Frankel came up to me and said, ‘What’s the matter? Can’t you get up in the morning?’

I said, ‘I don’t understand. What do you mean?’ He said, ‘How come you didn’t come out to the barn this morning?’ I said I did. I was at Bruce Headley’s barn, I was at Eric Kruljac’s barn, I was at a lot of barns.’ He said, ‘Why didn’t you come by my barn, and I said, because you’ve got big signs up, No Trespassing, No Visitors. The last thing I want is to have you get your famous temper up and start yelling at me because I can yell just as loud as you can, and I don’t intrude in other people’s lives

and privacy unless I know I’m invited in.

“He said, ‘You never have to worry about that. You come to my barn any time you want, 24 hours a day, and when my horses win, I want you to go to the winners’ circle.’ I just looked at him and said, ‘You’re kidding. You’re joking.’ I thought he was messing with me, and he said, ‘No, goddam it. That’s what I said, didn’t I?’ “From that day on, I went to the Derby with him, I went to Brazil with him, we ate dinner together a thousand times, I’d go to Hollywood Park every Tuesday morning for training and on the way home we’d go to a place by LAX called the Coffee Company for breakfast and then he’d pick up a couple

“

There are a thousand ways to lose a race and only one way to win it.

That’s why you want to literally take every last edge you can until they walk into the gate before you make the bet

”

of steaks at Costco and we’d watch the Tuesday Night Fights on ESPN. “Anytime there was a big match, we’d have a fight party at his house. We always talked about going to a famous fight club in Philadelphia called the Blue Horizon, with seats in the balcony overhanging the ring, and watching the fights there.

Unfortunately, we never got to do it.

“When Empire Maker was a two-yearold and he worked against Medaglia d’Oro and wouldn’t let him get by, Frankel said, ‘This could be the horse to win the Triple Crown.’ When the TNT Stud people from Brazil invited him there for Carnival, I was with him for 10 days. When Medaglia d’Oro won the Travers in 2002 for (owner) Edmund Gann, he gave Frankel a handmade Bentley and Bobby asked me to drive it back to California with him. But he didn’t like it, so we dropped it off at a dealership in Newport Beach, then went to a dealer in Santa Monica and he bought a brand new, top of the line Mercedes and wrote a check for $152,000.

“We used to eat at a Chinese restaurant in Pasadena all the time called Eugene Chang’s. He loved that place, as he did Dan Tana’s in West Hollywood, and a place right down the street from where he lived in Pacific Palisades called Georgio’s. They had these little lobster raviolis that he loved.

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RACING uncharacteristically, came to a couple of them, had a few drinks, was very sociable, and had a great time. He wasn’t a real social person so that was kind of an interesting diversion to his personality we saw once in a great while.

“I’ll never forget this as long as I live.

We were at the Derby with Empire Maker as the favorite in 2003. Bobby was being interviewed at the commissary by at least 100 journalists, and one asked, ‘Now that you’ve been inducted into the Hall of Fame, do you feel it puts more pressure on you to win the Kentucky Derby?’ And Frankel’s answer was, ‘If Buster Millerick’s not in the Hall of Fame, I’m embarrassed for the Hall of Fame.’

“Frankel had immense respect for Buster Millerick. He thought he was one of the most talented, instinctual horsemen of all time. Anytime Bobby had any doubts in his mind about anything, he was lucky that this cantankerous old guy with a cigar in his mouth who swore like a truck driver and went to church eight times a week, liked him for some reason. Interestingly enough, a year after Bobby died, Buster was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“Bobby followed all sports and when he was a kid, being from Brooklyn, he fantasized about being a baseball player, but he loved boxing. He was a big fight fan.”

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“

Bobby followed all sports and when he was a kid, being from Brooklyn, he fantasized about being a baseball player, but he loved boxing. He was a big fight fan

”

There have been other figures in sports dubbed “The Hat,” to wit, former longtime jockey agent Harry (The Hat) Hacek, and the late baseball great, Harry (The Hat) Walker, who won the National League batting crown when he hit .363 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1947.

But none was as Runyonesque as Jimmy (The Hat) Allard, whose notions on how to resolve racing’s ills might merit consideration, should he ever become the man in charge, the commissioner, if you will.

“You have to hire someone who says to

NYRA, Churchill, Stronach and the other major entities, ‘you can’t just go your own way,’” Allard said. “Issues should be standardized and simplified. The fact is that in this day and age, our exotic betting menu is so incredibly complicated that we’re alienating people.

“You have to be 21 to gamble in Las Vegas and 18 to bet on a horse race, so we’ve got a three-year head start to cultivate young people, but we do nothing to achieve that.

“We should have a 10-minute video at every track in America fundamentally educating people on how to bet, explaining that when you go to Vegas, you bet against the house, but when you go the track, you bet against everybody else. That’s how parimutuel works.

“There is no greater value anywhere for your wagering dollar than betting Pick 6 carryovers that skyrocket in value within 24 to 48 hours of their inception. Bettors should keep their hands out of their pockets, show patience and restraint and wait for those opportunities.

“We’re still charging people for parking and admission, and three dollars and 25 cents for a bottle of water when we expect them to show up four and five days a week and then go to the windows and gamble.

That’s absolutely ludicrous.

JIMMY ALLARD “Race horses have been demonized, when the fact is, 85 to 90 percent of horsemen are compassionate care givers who love their animals. People need to realize that if horse racing were to cease to exist tomorrow, the value of these horses would plunge into a black hole of oblivion, and nobody would want to contemplate the potential future of these horses that for 250 years have been bred to be professional athletes.

“If there wasn’t a venue like Thoroughbred horse racing, contemplating their future would be much uglier than it is . . . Do we need to make things better in terms of cleaning up the drugs and doing everything we can to make horse racing safer? Of course. But the answer isn’t to eliminate horse racing.

“We should have handicapping tournaments like they have in poker, culminating with a championship finale on the Breeders’ Cup races. Horse players from all over could participate with a simple $500 buy-in and challenge a basic betting menu the general public could follow, with finalists going for a possible life-changing score in the Breeders’ Cup—racing’s Super Bowl.

“That’s the needed hook. Horse racing has fallen too far out of popularity with the general public. We need to show that winning can be a life changer, that racing

“

Horse racing has fallen too far out of popularity with the general public. We need to show that winning can be a life changer, that racing is beautiful

”

is beautiful, and that if you’re interested in gambling you should quit buying lottery tickets, quit going to Vegas, quit playing poker against sharks and instead, come to the track and look at it like the stock market.

“Don’t want to handicap? Hire a pro.

There are plenty of professional clockers and handicappers with useful information.

“The biggest phenomenon in gambling the last 50 years without any question is the World Tournament of Poker. It’s universal appeal ever since it was on the Travel Channel—which was going broke by the way at that time— is monumental. It crosses all ethnic boundaries when it comes to people who

watch it in person and on television.

“A tournament like this is the only way I know to reach out to the general public and say, ‘Look, there’s a sport that’s being forgotten and is slowly circling the drain.

You need to know about it before you allow that, because it’s the only gambling that actually has an industry.’

“We are the only form of gambling that produces a product, and the product is the horses themselves. Other forms of gambling involve money just being shuffled back and forth across a poker table, a blackjack table, a craps table, or a slot machine.

“The amount of employment and revenue Thoroughbred horse racing has provided to states and the Federal government in tax dollars over the years is incredibly gigantic.

The fact that our country is allowing it to fall by the wayside is an absolute travesty.”

If the game should one day pass on to that Great Race Track in the Sky, it won’t be because of the unabashed efforts and support of Allard.

“Ninety percent of people think of Jimmy the Hat as this guy who goes to the race track and is a hard-core horse player, which I am,” Allard said. “But make no mistake: I’ve had a passion, an obsession, and a love for horses, literally since I was in diapers.

“I live my life so that I can be around horses, because horses are my life.” n

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A horse working at Gulfstream Park with the 110-foot, $30-million statue of Pegasus slaying a dragon in the north parking lot in the background

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FLORIDA

What the future holds for Florida racing and breeding For decades, a settlement in the Middle East seemed more likely to happen that an agreement on dates between South Florida’s three warring thoroughbred racetracks, Calder Raceway, Gulfstream Park and Hialeah Park.

WORDS: BILL HELLER PHOTOS: LOuISE REInagEL, STEVE MaRTInE, HORSEPHOTOS

T

hAT changed last July when the Florida Division of PariMutuel Wagering approved an historic deal between Frank Stronach’s Gulfstream Park in hallandale and Churchill Downs’ Calder just eight miles away that sealed the future of racing in South Florida for six and a half years. Gulfstream will conduct racing 10 months per year at its own track, and, through its lease agreement with Churchill Downs, for two months, October and November, at Calder under the new name of Gulfstream Park West. Gulfstream Park West’s initial meeting concluded on the final day of November—six days before racing shifted back to Gulfstream.

Sadly for many, unless there is a legislative change, John Brunetti’s beautiful hialeah Park, which now conducts Quarter horse racing, will continue to be irrelevant as a Thoroughbred racing outlet.

Maybe Frank Stronach envisioned this when he commissioned and built the magnificent 110-foot, $30-million statue of Pegasus slaying a dragon in Gulfstream Park’s north parking lot. For Gulfstream is now the undisputed king of racing in South Florida, and Pegasus lets the world know.

“It’s iconic,” Gulfstream Park President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Ritvo, also former trainer, said Jan. 6. “It’s a brand. It’s a legacy that Frank says, `This is horse racing.

This is the horse.’ At first, everybody thought, `What are they doing?’ Now, people stop and take pictures. It’s just a monumental thing not a lot of people would have done. Mr. Stronach is a long-term thinker, and he thinks this is our brand.”

Stronach, now 82, has never been bashful about promoting his concept of racing: that a track should be part of a destination, not the lone attraction. That is why he built a village

full of stores and restaurants around Gulfstream Park.

“I honestly believe we’re in our infancy,” Ritvo said. “I see Gulfstream becoming a yearround mecca destination with horse racing as part of it, where families can come and spend a weekend. I see a hotel overlooking the racetrack—condos being built on it. I’ve been to hong Kong. Gulfstream can become a downtown hong Kong, where racing will be part of the attraction. It will become the future of what racetracks will look like... an entertainment experience. At first, that viewpoint wasn’t popular. Not a lot of people thought it was going to work. But it makes no sense to have the facility only open noon to 5 p.m., four or five days a week.”

Accordingly, Gulfstream Park, besides culling local involvement by scheduling concerts and weddings, has become a major player nationally in the racing industry. For the second year in a row, Gulfstream Park is the site of the Eclipse Award Dinner on Jan. 17, and, two nights later,

“

Gulfstream can become a downtown Hong Kong, where racing will be part of the attraction. It will become the future of what racetracks will look like...an entertainment experience.

Tim Ritvo

”

the Jockey Guild Awards Dinner. Additionally, Fasig-Tipton’s two-year-olds-in-training sale has relocated from Stronach’s Adena Springs Complex in Willston, Fla., to Gulfstream Park.

An under-track show on the main track will be March 2 and the one-day sale on March 4.

But does that portend a favorable future for Thoroughbred racing in South Florida?

Most South Florida horsemen believe they were fortunate that Stronach, not Churchill Downs, will be the face of racing in South Florida.

“What you have going on right now is two entities that are on the opposite sides of the Earth as to how they feel about horse racing,” Calder hall of Fame Trainer Bill White said. “Churchill thinks horse racing has a bleak future. They want to exit from horse racing and become a casino. On the other end is Gulfstream. They think racing does have a bright future and they are doing everything they can.”

Initially, Gulfstream leased 430 stalls at Calder. When Calder announced in early December that unspecified development on part of the property would begin Jan. 1, there were 700 other horses at Calder with nowhere to go. Gulfstream stepped in and built more than 400 temporary stalls and helped horsemen find other options for the rest.

The way Gulfstream Park helped those horsemen has ensured that no matter how Stronach was previously perceived by Florida horsemen has forever been replaced by extreme gratitude and appreciation.

“We will accommodate every horse that is stabled at Calder,” Ritvo said. “Once the Northern stables go back at the end of March, there will be room. We’ll make sure there is.

We’re adding another 170 stalls in a new barn for the Fasig-Tipton Sale, and we’re only using them for a few weeks. There are very few other racing jurisdictions building barns. There is no ROI on a barn. But it needs to be done. It’s an ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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Gulfstream Park has become a major year-round player nationally

investment in the upkeep of a facility. You have to maintain a facility at the highest level.”

Horsemen have noticed. “What Frank has done differently is put a lot of horsemen like Tim Ritvo in place, and it’s a bonus for the industry, at least for South Florida,” trainer Dave Fawkes said. “It’s a lot better than it was.”

Ritvo thinks his background on the backstretch is a difference maker. “For sure,” Ritvo said. “I feel honored to be in this position.

I’ve bridged the gap between the corporate side and the backstretch. The corporate people— they don’t understand the love of the horse… the passion.”

Trainer Donna Green said, “Frank Stronach and Tim Ritvo and the people who work with them are horsemen, and they do a phenomenal job.”

Kent Stirling, the long-tenured executive director of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protection Association, which represents 6,000 owners and horsemen, agrees.

“Gulfstream is doing an excellent job,” he said. “Gulfstream, to their credit, wants to have racing. Nobody advertises like Gulfstream.

They’re all over. They promote racing, not slots.

Now we’re dealing with someone who wants racing. Frank does believe in horsemen.”

There is a caveat. “Our greatest fear is that it’s a monopoly,” Stirling said. “Sometimes, that’s not a good thing. They can roll over you.”

Brent Fernung, who owns and operates Journeyman Stud in Ocala with his wife Crystal, expressed a similar concern: “I always get a little nervous when there is a monopoly, and they’re the only one in the game right now. But, 32

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honestly, when you look at what Gulfstream has done at this point, you have to be encouraged.

The purses are up. They’re running with full fields. It’s really an encouraging start.”

But it’s not only on the track that Stronarch is putting his money down to invest in the state.

After a five-year hiatus, his Adena Stallions’ farm in Williston, Florida, on the northwest fringe of Ocala, is back in business, hoping to ride the wave of enthusiasm and optimism in the state.

“The timing felt right to go again and go strong to the hoop with a big group of stallions,” Adena Stallions Director of Breeding Services Jack Brothers said. “I think there’s more stability in Florida than there ever was.

Gulfstream Park is doing extremely well. Palm

­­“

Churchill thinks horse racing has a bleak future.

They want to exit from horse racing and become a casino. On the other end is Gulfstream. They think racing does have a bright future

”

Bill White

Meadows is too. Mr. Stronach has always been a big believer in Florida racing. He started Macho Uno there. He just wanted to return here at the right time. We have a very strong presence in Kentucky, Giacomo in Maryland and stallions in Canada, we feel like we have a lot of the regional markets covered.”

Stronach’s first Adena Springs farm opened in Versailles, Kentucky, in 1989. Seven years later, Adena Stallions opened in Florida. In 2000, Adena Springs’ Kentucky farm moved to its present site in Paris.

Now there are new sires and new hope for Florida, where four stallions, Fort Larned, Hunters Bay, Capo Bastone and City Wolf are standing for the 2015 season.

“We re-opened for the 2015 breeding season,” Brothers said. “Look, the sales are returning successfully in Florida. That’s created a viable broodmare market. We think the local breeding industry is optimistic about the future of racing here. Any of those four have the license and the credentials to be successful.

Florida-breds have shown they’re competitive with anybody.”

In its 2013-14 winter meet, Gulfstream competed head-to-head with Calder. In the current winter meet, which began on Dec. 6 and runs through March 29, there was a twomonth absence of live racing at Gulfstream which, Ritvo said, created anticipation for this winter’s opening.

“Finalizing this deal eliminated head-to-head racing,” Ritvo said. “It’s allowed us to grow field size. What we’ve done is take the casino revenue to improve racing. We’re using slot revenue as

FLORIDA a crutch to make our product better. We know the casino revenue won’t be there forever. We want to make racing viable to stand on its own. horse racing is our main business. Even though we have a casino and we have the village, our number one priority is horse racing.”

In an interesting twist, Gulfstream decided to hold all its stakes races this meet on Saturdays.

“That was P.J. (Racing Secretary P.J. Campo),” Ritvo said. “Saturdays are obviously the best day to have eyeballs on our product. Sundays are good, but not as good as Saturdays.”

Will the new South Florida landscape boost Florida’s breeding industry? Is it an improvement? “I think it’s better,” Tom Ventura, the Ocala Breeders Sale’s general manager and director of sales, said. “Looking around at the rest of the country, we have sizable purses that give people a fair shot.

From that aspect, that’s positive. Certainly, the agreement between Churchill and Stronach has alleviated a lot of the concerns and fears. There’s one entity operating racing now. I do see more stability and that has to help.”

Fernung agreed: “As a whole, I’m very happy. I see our industry making a comeback here. There are new stallion operations coming in. The foal crop has increased the last two years.

This might have been the only area to have that.

We’ve got some reasons to be optimistic.”

What happens in 2020 when the Gulfstream Park-Calder deal expires? “In five years, Stronach will own Calder,” Stirling said. “One way or another, Calder won’t be around.”

Maybe the rest of the racing industry in North America needs to pay attention to what happened at Calder when Churchill Downs let the world know its future is centered on its casinos not on horse racing. Does that mean another Churchill Downs’ track, the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, will follow?

“The Fair Grounds is next,” Stirling said.

“They have got a huge ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) business without a lot of tracks.”

White agreed: “Fair Grounds has a bulls-eye on it.”

Until Churchill Downs made its deal with Gulfstream Park, Calder was forced to run 150 dates of live racing to operate its casino. Now Calder keeps its casino as long as Gulfstream Park runs 40 dates at Calder. Churchill Downs remains Calder’s owner and continues to operate its casino.

“There are other jurisdictions now where the horsemen are running for less money even with slots,” Ritvo said. “We’ve become so dependent on out slot revenue, we haven’t grown our handle. Those facilities are running into serious problems. So we totally believe that a product must be reliable to stand on its own. Casinos must be seen as a short-term subsidy.

“I know one thing. The horsemen and horse racing in Florida is in a lot better position than it was two years ago. And it can be a great position for a very long time.”

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out Churchill Downs’ priority at Calder.

Pull in the front entrance and read the billboard: “Voted Best Casino South Florida.”

There is a new word in horse racing’s vocabulary: de-coupling. That is the separation 34

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Frank Stronach brought in former trainer Tim Ritvo (right) to run Gulfstream Park. The track has also hosted the Eclipse Awards Dinner for the past two years

“

We totally believe that a product must be reliable to stand on its own.

Casinos must be seen as a short-term subsidy Tim Rivto

”

of racetrack and casino when the parent company takes action on the unsettling reality that the casinos makes money and many tracks hemorrhage it. “Every racetrack wants to decouple,” Fawkes said. “Eventually that band-aid falls off.”

It sure did at Calder.

White said, “It’s especially sad for me. You look at it, and you say, `It can’t be true.’ But it is. I’ve been at Calder since 1986 and leading trainer 10 times, five times for Tropical (at Calder). I’ve spent my entire career at Calder and to see it driven into the ground on purpose has really been tough to watch.”

White was so upset that he began an unprecedented sabbatical from training on New Year’s Day. “I’ve put my stable on rest,” he said.

“I’m taking the next three or four months off. I usually carry around 30 horses, and we usually reduce our stable to 10 to 12 in the winter anyway because the level of competition really changes from summer to winter at Gulfstream.”

Another Calder hall of Fame trainer, Eddie Plesa, said “To see first-hand what Churchill has done, it burns me to no end. It kills me. I’ve been at Calder since the beginning (1971). My father raced there, too. This has been part of my family for 45 years. At one point, this place was a showplace. Try to find someone who will miss Churchill in South Florida. With the exception of two days (Kentucky Oaks Day and Kentucky Derby Day), they could care less about horse racing.”

On the plus side, Plesa didn’t lose his job as

300 Calder employees did after the agreement was made with Gulfstream.

Is hialeah Park’s demise going to follow?

Green visited hialeah recently for the first time in a long time. “I was amazed, literally star-struck,” she said. “Every picture was in the same place. The gift shop was in the same place.

John Brunetti is that same John Brunetti from years ago trying to bring Thoroughbreds back to hialeah. he has a love of the business. how many people like that are left in the business— who have a love of racing and never gives up on it? The love of racing has never left him.”

Just outside Miami, hialeah Park opened as the nation’s first pari-mutuel greyhound track in 1922. hialeah’s first Thoroughbred meet began on Jan. 15, 1925. Brunetti, now 83, bought hialeah in 1971, 30 years before hialeah Park’s last Thoroughbred race was run in 2001. hialeah was dormant until Nov. 20, 2009, when Quarter horse racing began.

On Aug. 14, 2013, the hialeah Park Casino opened.

But if you mention “hialeah,” the mind conjures top Thoroughbreds, pink flamingos and magnificent architecture rarely found at a racetrack.

Stirling said, “he’s got probably the most beautiful track ever.”

That’s not enough. “The fight at hialeah is over,” Stirling said. “he realizes he’ll never get Thoroughbreds.”

Because the vitality of South Florida’s racetracks, like almost all North American tracks, are tied to its casino business, attention must be paid to June 30. That’s the day when the casino compact between the state of Florida and the Seminole Indians expires. Who knows how a new deal might affect racetracks and their casinos? “As an industry, we need to be proactive in making sure our interests are protected,” Ventura said. “There are repercussions.”

That means additional uncertainty.

But there is one certainty—one advantage that all racetracks and the breeding industry in South Florida enjoy. As Ventura noted, “Being that it’s 70 degrees outside in December, it’s a nice place to have horses.” n

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COBALT The new blood doping saga Catching cheaters is like playing Whac-A-Mole. Regulators smack one here, and another turns up there. Early in 2014, Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural got wind that some Standardbred trainers were using high doses of cobalt in an effort to increase their horses’ performance. He hired Brice Cote, a former harness driver and New Jersey State Police officer, to investigate. Gural also sent samples to a Hong Kong laboratory to test for cobalt. As a result, Gural banished two trainers from his three racetracks by his power of exclusion when their horses registered high levels of cobalt. At the time of their expulsion, cobalt was not a violation of New Jersey racing rules, so Gural took matters into his own hands.

WORDS: DeniSe SteffanuS PHOtOS: SHutteRStOCK, HORSePHOtOS, tHOmaS O’Keeffe/ROSSDaleS

I

N September 2014, while investigating a report from one of its security officers, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission uncovered allegations that veterinarian Ross Russell had instructed his assistant, Dr. Libby Rees, to administer “cobalt products” to his clients’ horses.

Rees became the whistleblower in this case, and her testimony, among others, caused IHRC Executive Director Joe Gorajec to recommend a fine and a 20-year suspension of Russell’s racetrack license. On September 30, IHRC enacted an emergency rule setting the cobalt threshold at 25 ppb (parts per billion).

In January, horses conditioned by three of Australia’s top trainers, Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh, and Danny O’Brien, were found with excessive cobalt levels, spurring an investigation by Racing Victoria.

Racing jurisdictions have taken a critical look at cobalt levels in horses’ blood because of the presumption that these high doses can be used as a blood-doper to enhance performance. This presumption is based on allegations that human athletes have been using cobalt for the same purpose. The problem is that the ability of megadoses of cobalt to enhance performance is not backed by published scientific studies in humans or animals. Scientific literature that talks about high doses of cobalt is fraught with words such as “presumed,” “suspected,”

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“purported,” “anecdotal.” This largely is the defense cheaters have been relying on in case they got caught.

Blood doping is the term you’ll hear tossed around in sports that require physical exertion and stamina. Simply stated, it means increasing the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to exercising muscles, thereby increasing stamina.

Oxygen is carried to muscles by red blood cells, and then the blood carries away lactic acid, the waste product left behind when oxygen is used by those muscles. Lactic acid causes the burning you feel when your muscles tire.

The natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) causes bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Increase EPO and you increase red blood cells, thereby increasing

oxygen delivery to muscles and decreasing exhaustion. Regulators in human and animal sports banned the use of epogen, a genetically engineered form of EPO, that was being used by cheaters because, in addition to being illegal as a performance enhancer, epogen caused the blood to thicken to sludge and leave the athlete—human and animal— with an irreversible form of anemia.

Now regulators are faced with another attempt to replace training with cheating— giving high doses of cobalt by injection, hopefully to enhance performance in the same way epogen did.

Cobalt is the trace mineral that bacteria in the digestive tract use to produce vitamin B12, which is essential for the formation of red blood cells. The normal equine

COBALT

diet contains the small amount of cobalt necessary for this process. The theory is that megadoses of cobalt increase production of EPO, which, in turn, increases production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Cobalt in Indiana

The most egregious cobalt saga concerns Russell. In a sworn affidavit, Rees told the Indiana Horse Racing Commission that she administered cobalt to clients’ horses at Russell’s direction. She claimed Russell told her cobalt “makes them run like a beast, but you only get one or two races out of them, and then they’re done.”

In the affidavit, Rees described the reaction of a horse Russell instructed her to administer a “Vitamin Plus Jug,” Russell’s code for intravenous cobalt. Rees said the horse’s heart rate increased significantly, she struggled for breath evidenced by her flaring nostrils and increased respiration rate to 35 breaths per minute (normal respiration is eight to 12 breaths per minute), and the horse’s entire body sweated profusely. Rees said the reaction lasted five minutes, during which time she feared the horse would die.

“Every horse that I have observed receiving a jug containing a cobalt product

has had a similar reaction, but sometimes to a lesser degree,” Rees said in her affidavit. “I discontinued giving Vitamin Plus Jugs after observing [redacted]’s adverse reaction to the substance.” (Indiana law prohibits the release of the horse’s name.)

Russell maintains that no scientific evidence proves that high doses of cobalt will cause a horse to “run like a beast,” and he denies ever saying that to Rees.

“Regulators think that it’s a performance enhancer, but I don’t think it’s a performance enhancer,” Russell said. “If you can show me the study that says that, I’d like to see it ... That’s their hypothesis from doing human and maybe rat research, but as far as I know, I don’t know of any done on a horse to show performance.”

The problem is, Russell is correct—at least as far as published studies go.

“I would defy you to show me one article in humans,” said Dr. George Maylin, the principal researcher investigating cobalt abuse for the New York Drug Testing and Research Program. “There’s none. It’s hypothesis. They do show it in rats, and because it happened in rats, they then hypothesized that it could be going on in humans. But that work all comes out by authors out of Italy, a guy by the name of Lippi is the big one, but they have no data, at least not that’s published.

“Even with red blood cell production, which seems to be the target analysis, if you will, there are very, very few papers that show an increased red blood cell production in normal people. It certainly happens in people with liver disease, kidney disease, etc., but those are confounded studies. I’m aware of two papers that in normal people cobalt increased their blood cell production, but there’s not a lot of data out there and that data was from the 1950s.”

Maylin also disputed a study of beerdrinkers that is often cited as proof that excess cobalt causes heart disease. In that research, two months after a brewery added cobalt salts to its beer to preserve the foam head, alcoholics drinking large quantities of the ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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beer developed a syndrome of heart disease (cardiomyopathy), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), and a circulatory system sludged with red blood cells (polycythemia).

“It was not a real legitimate study,” Maylin said. “In other words, there are a number of papers that went back and forth on that, and there is one paper that clearly demonstrates that only the people with severe liver damage in that study had cardiomyopathy problems.”

In a similar study in Belgium, only beerdrinkers with diet deficiencies developed sludgy blood. Yet another study found that hypothyroidism occurred only in anemic adults and children who were treated with cobalt.

This lack of reliable data prompted racing regulators to call for two recent studies in horses. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium called for a study to document the effects of a single injection of cobalt on study horses. Dr. Heather Knych and colleagues at the University of California undertook that task, along with Dr. Rick Arthur, medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, and Dr. Richard Sams, laboratory director for LGC Sport and Specialized Analytical Services in Lexington, which does post-race drug testing for Kentucky, Delaware, and Indiana.

The United States Trotting Association enlisted Maylin and his colleagues Dr. Karyn Malinowski and Dr. Kenneth McKeever at Rutgers University for its study. McKeever is the principal researcher whose work resulted in the epogen ban.

Maylin’s group is working to determine the typical level of cobalt found in normal horses and at what level cobalt becomes a drug.

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“That is, at what level cobalt stimulates red blood cell production or stimulates other enzymes that would be involved in exercise,” Maylin said.

Dr. Sarah Ralston, who specializes in equine nutrition at Rutgers, said, “The whole flap about cobalt in racehorses is based on its purported stimulation of erythropoietin, which technically increases oxygen-carrying capacity, but this action is actually a toxicity issue.”

“

I would defy you to show me one article in humans. There’s none. It’s hypothesis. They do show it in rats, and because it happened in rats, they then hypothesized that it could be going on in humans

Dr George Maylin

”

Rees has followed the horses in Russell’s practice that she alleges received high doses of cobalt, and she said her initial assessment of the situation is valid.

“It is a poison, it is not a medication, and they have performed exactly as a poisoned horse would, which has been very poorly

… It’s toxic when it comes into the vein of a horse and it is a substance that has no therapeutic use in the horse, so it should not be found in excessively high quantities in their blood.”

Cobalt in feed and vitamins

Russell argues that the high levels found in his clients’ horses are because cobalt is widespread in the horse’s diet, and an accumulation of cobalt in the horse’s body is to blame. Six horses in Indiana tested extremely high, and all were from Russell’s client stables. One horse that registered 1,127 ppb had tested 18.6 ppb when it was claimed by Russell’s client less than ten days earlier.

“Cobalt is in every B mineral, just about every natural mineral, all your B vitamins,” Russell said. “And over time, people have given build-up shots, different types of vitamins, and horses respond to that. And recently, these vitamins have gotten stronger and people see an advantage to that …

“Cobalt is in all your [intravenous] vitamins … Cobalt is in a lot of things, such as calcium supplements. If you give a horse one thing of calcium paste, there’s over 200 micrograms or something—I’m not sure of the exact amount—but there are over 200 in a tube of calcium. Look into the whereabouts of this, how much cobalt is around, and you’ll be surprised.”

An example found on the Internet is a vitamin and mineral paste for debilitated horses that contains 16 milligrams of cobalt per daily dose for horses weighing 900 pounds. This would be 80 times the 200 micrograms in the calcium supplement Russell referenced.

COBALT According to Sams, even this 16 milligram oral dose of cobalt would not be expected to cause a bad test.

“Administration of cobalt in various forms including supplements has been investigated in order to determine whether they incur any risk of producing a violative residue,” he said.

“Oral administration of cobalt-containing supplements resulted in no change in blood cobalt concentrations in one recent study.

“Although the total dose administered is greater from [that paste for debilitated horses], the fact remains that orally administered cobalt-containing products are not likely to cause elevated blood cobalt concentrations because orally administered cobalt is intended as a source of cobalt for bacteria in the GI tract to use to synthesize Vitamin B12 which is excreted in the feces.

The horse then obtains the vitamin B12 that it requires from the latter source,” he said.

Feed producers sometimes fortify their products with cobalt, as do some vitamin manufacturers, but the amount of cobalt in these products is negligible, usually less than one milligram per day.

Dr. Joe Pagan, founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research near Lexington, said his company has eliminated cobalt from its racehorse feed because of the recent flap.

“Traditionally, we have added cobalt to our horse feed, but we added it at very low levels, like 0.1 part per million,” Pagan said.

“It was added pretty much as a substrate so that the bacteria that live in the digestive tract had some cobalt so they could produce B12 and the horse then could utilize the B12. We did that for years. But with all the uproar about cobalt these days, we’ve just taken it out of our feeds, and particularly our racing feeds.

“We’re not going to add that very tiny amount of cobalt because it still would appear in the ingredients as being added. We made the decision that we’re just not going to muddy that water.

“I can tell you that when cobalt is fed at the levels that we’re talking about, that would be used nutritionally to fortify feed, you are not creating levels of cobalt that are above the threshold from the various racing jurisdictions.”

Cobalt and laminitis

A potential toxic effect of excess cobalt that should be investigated further is laminitis.

In 2011, Dr. Ali Mobasheri, head of the Department of Veterinary Pre-Clinical Sciences at the University of Surrey, England, co-authored a study of the effects of cobalt chloride on the hoof. The findings show novel evidence that cobalt chloride reduced the oxygen supply to the membrane that attaches the hoof wall to the foot while it increased inflammation in that membrane.

This suggests that horses given high doses of cobalt chloride may be predisposed to laminitis.

“Yes, it’s a possibility,” Mobasheri said.

“This could increase the risk of acute laminitis in horses. However, as far as I’m aware, there 40

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have been no clinical studies to examine this possible association.”

Mobasheri added, “Using cobalt chloride does not improve equine performance and has significant risks and potential sideeffects ... I don’t think there is any solid evidence to support its use. It’s a classic case of people assuming it has benefits for equine performance because it may enhance erythropoietin production.”

Dr. Chris Proudman, head of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said he also is unaware of any scientific research investigating the use of cobalt to enhance performance.

Halting cobalt abuse

On January 12, Gorajec issued a report on the results of Indiana’s 2014 cobalt testing program. Over 60 days of racing—25 days at Indiana Grand and 35 days at Hoosier Park— only nine horses out of 879 tested positive and among them just one Thoroughbred.

During the summer of 2014 when Indiana did not regulate cobalt, 21 out of 354 horses registered greater than 25 ppb.

The report showed an 83% decline in cobalt abuse once regulations were put in place. Out of the horses tested during the multi-breed meet—505 Standardbreds, 309 Thoroughbreds, and 65 Quarter Horses— just one horse, a Quarter Horse, tested in excess of 100 ppb. That horse registered 249 ppb.

Many jurisdictions have begun the process

to regulate cobalt, but until those rules are formally adopted, cobalt is not a violation in those jurisdictions and there are those trainers who will try it to gain an advantage.

Racing officials have access to the names and racing records of the horses that registered very high levels of cobalt. They also have the legal right to compel medical examinations to assess the current health of these horses. Such an examination would reveal if high doses of cobalt made them “run like a beast” or caused them to perform like poisoned horses; harmed them physically; or was simply a waste of money at the risk of losing one’s trainer’s license and livelihood.

Until researchers publish their findings, knowing what happened to these horses might discourage trainers from trying it in jurisdictions where it is not yet regulated.

Trainers also should question their veterinarians about what is contained in prerace jugs, because they have the right to know what is being put in their horses and if legitimate science backs its use.

“Is the proper place to be researching this in live racehorses that go to a starting gate with human beings on their back to race?”

Rees asked. “No, this is not the appropriate place for us to be trying it out.

“Cheaters will do what cheaters will do until people start standing up to them,” she said. “And that’s the only way things are going to change in racing. As long as people are too scared to do that, nothing’s going to change.” n

BUSINESS

Arlington Park has struggled to compete alongside the numerous casinos within 100 miles of the track

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STATE INCENTIVES

State Incentives

The perils of Illinois and the growth of Oklahoma

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This magazine has examined the correlation between slots revenue and a healthy racing industry. Slots are not enough without a strong breeding incentive program to produce long-term results, and marketing innovations to keep the racetrack as patron-friendly as a modern casino. What happens when one of those three legs is missing? How can it be that Illinois, once a proud bastion for both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries from farm to racetrack, could do everything right—build a relationship with the legislature, present world-class racing in a clean, beautiful facility, update old grandstands, and boast a breeder-friendly incentive program—and yet continue to drown?

I

WORDS: K.T. DONOVAN PHOTOS: FOuR FOOTeD PHOTOS, DuSTiN ORONA PHOTOgRAPHy

llINOIS illustrates the plight of horse racing when engaged in an adversarial position against casinos, an existential struggle where one misstep can result in decades of decline. In the early 1990s, the state’s racing interests helped riverboats become land-based by making a deal for the profits from a yet-tobe-built 10th riverboat. like the contractor who takes upfront money for “supplies” then disappears, the boat was never built, and Illinois became the poster child for chickens letting the fox into the henhouse.

Twenty years on, there are 17 casinos within 100 miles of Arlington Park. In 2006, the state levied a 3% “impact fee” intended to help the racetracks make up for the money flowing away from them to the casinos. Expired in 2009, now imprisoned former Governor Rod Blagojevich extended the impact fee while receiving $125,000 in campaign contributions from Chicago-area Standardbred tracks Maywood Park and Balmoral Park, and expected another $100,000 that he was caught on tape extorting from Balmoral and Maywood representatives in a quid pro quo arrangement, but the tracks never paid.

Balmoral’s lawyers argue that the original campaign payment had no set arrangement beyond the hopes of putting a racing-friendly governor in office—like any other business making campaign contribution—to candidates they feel will serve them well. Nevertheless, the casinos have demanded the repayment of the $78 million the impact fee paid to those tracks during that time, which effectively would shutter Maywood and Balmoral. A bankruptcy filing in December 2014 allowed the two Standardbred tracks to continue operations until their legal woes reach a conclusion.

The bitter rivalry with the casinos in Illinois continues.

In a city with Cubs and White Sox, eternal optimism runs through the blood, but hope has a reason to live with the election of new Governor Bruce Rauner. like a talented twoyear-old in the barn, there is endless potential and he’s not yet given reason to complain. A fiscally conservative Republican with friendly ties to the Democratic legislature, he is looking for ways to turn around the state’s severe financial problems without raising income taxes and is open to what expanded gaming can do; but he has kept his intentions close to his vest. He has a longstanding relationship with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, even previously fundraising for the mayor’s proposed downtown las Vegas-style hotel/casino.

Illinois Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Foundation President Dan Sullivan pulls no 44

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“

We now have fewer than 500 Illinois-bred foals a year, and that’s unsustainable. The Illinois legislature’s preference for casinos over racing is directly responsible Dan Sullivan

”

punches when describing what the racing industry means to the state of Illinois.

“The (Nevada-based) casinos come in like carpetbaggers, extract money from the state, and give nothing back,” he vehemently explains. “Illinois racing revenue goes back into the rural communities. It’s the only sport that contributes out of its own urban location to rural areas, to breeders and stallion owners.”

For this reason, the state’s fiscal advantages of a strong breeding and racing industry and the indirect jobs maintained, like veterinarians and transport, were discussed by the Illinois Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Foundation with members of Rauner’s team before his very welcomed election.

Previous Governor Pat Quinn’s twicerepeated refusal to sign slots bills that benefit racing, which had already passed the state legislature for ever-evolving reasons, made him “no friend to racing” in the words of a lifelong, second-generation Standardbred industry insider, whose plans to leave racing

are indicative of harness racing’s travails.

“Rauner HAS to be better than Quinn,” Sullivan adamantly declares. “I believe if he sees that racing throws money to rural communities, he’ll encourage racing.”

The harness industry has not worked closely with its Thoroughbred counterpart despite overlapping interests, but what it has suffered serves as a chilling warning to the Thoroughbred community. Within a couple of weeks of Maywood and Balmoral filing for bankruptcy, the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association reported that 2015 will have the fewest number of Illinois-bred Standardbred foals ever recorded, with further decline to come as 100 fewer mares will be bred in 2015 than in 2014. In 2013, there were 492 Standardbred foals registered in Illinois. In 2005, that number was 1,367; in 1995 it was 2,000. The numbers are scarily parallel to those of the Thoroughbreds.

“We now have fewer than 500 Illinoisbred (Thoroughbred) foals a year, and that’s unsustainable,” Sullivan says. “The Illinois legislature’s preference for casinos over racing is directly responsible. They might as well put a stake in our heart. I wonder if Hawthorne is going to be around next year.”

Horsemen in Illinois have not simply wrung their hands and then reached for a handout.

There are more foals dropped in Illinois than mares bred there, which indicates what a strong breeders’ incentive program the horsemen have developed—with 11.5% of the base purse spread among the first four finishers in restricted races—and the total to the winner in open company. To improve quality, breeders will send a mare to a Kentucky stallion, but let her foal in Illinois, as seen in other states with desirable programs like California and New York. However, the average purses per race over the last four years have increased by 28% in California to $41,609, and by 33% in New York to $47,791, whereas in Illinois, they still languish in the mid-$20,000’s and are dropping.

“You can compare the average purse per race to Indiana and Iowa, but those averages are skewed by a few big stakes at Arlington on a couple of days,” Sullivan points out.

“Arlington can have a million-dollar race, and draw horses from England, but that doesn’t help Illinois owners on a daily basis.

“I have seven two-year-olds, and I can’t afford to race in Illinois. I have an Illinoisbred racing at Tampa (Bay Downs). Arlington averages $5,000 claimers. That isn’t going to support Illinois breeders and owners long term. Arlington, only last year, finally realized that they need Illinois-breds to survive, and

STATE INCENTIVES they need year-round racing to keep us here.”

Sullivan refers to Arlington bypassing trainers to allow for more of the purses to go to breeders’ awards. They added $70,000 to breeders’ wwards, which helps keep Illinoisbreds racing in the state at all three tracks.

For a long time, tracks would argue that they couldn’t make money from state-bred races, so they would write races that somehow didn’t fill, and then they wouldn’t have to comply with the regulation for two a day.

“Four years ago, they realized that half of all races in Illinois had Illinois-breds in them, so the numbers of (restricted) races went up,” Sullivan said. “They have to run eight to ten races a day, and 50% of those races are comprised of Illinois-breds, not just the restricted races.”

Arlington and Fairmount recognized the connection between supporting breeders to get full fields and betting dollars. Without a sustainable breeding industry, the long-term prospects for Thoroughbred racing statewide are bleak. Bettors aren’t the only ones driven away; owners won’t buy Illinois-breds if there aren’t the rewards to run for. Sullivan used to sell the horses he bred, but now only breeds to race.

As much as Sullivan argues for slots revenue as the safety net for Illinois racing, he wisely points out that racing cannot be supported solely by gaming as a single leg on which to balance breeding and marketing. Certainly, the industry will not thrive without changing other fundamental parts of how tracks conduct business. He suggests paying purses back to eighth place, which would encourage people to enter their horses to fill races, and give everyone a shot at making even a little bit of money.

Indiana and Iowa benefitted from watching Illinois’ struggles from next door, and when given the opportunity, they capitalized on slots money at their racetracks and on the farms.

Indiana produced only 94 Thoroughbred foals in 1993 when riverboat gambling was legalized. By 1998, that number reached 311; and after tracks got their own slots in 2007, the foal crop exploded to 647 foaled in 2009.

Spurred by the breeding industry’s faith in racing, between 2002 and 2003 the number of races increased by nearly 50%, and between 2008 and 2009 after slots came to their tracks, purses went up by more than 30%.

Iowa led the way—the first to legalize riverboat gambling in 1991—and allowed slots

Foals bred in slots states vs. non-slots states ILLINOIS Reg foals/% of NA crop Mares bred to IL stallions IL stallions/avg book size IL-breds sold (wnlg-2yo) Average field size Average purse per race

2010 644/2.3% 540 79 48 8.1 $21,999

2011 471/1.9% 393 59 69 8.1 $23,214

2012 342/1.5% 331 62 55 8.2 $29,026.00

303 51 39 7.7 $25,306

INDIANA Reg foals/% of NA crop Mares bred to IN stallions IN stallions/avg book size IN-breds sold (wnlg-2yo) Average field size Average purse per race

739/2.6 “1,154” 122/9.5 116 8.8 $24,121

768/3.0 “1,087” 115/9.5 95 8.4 $26,717

685/3.0 986 94/10.5 86 8.4 $25,422

639 72/8.9 116 8.6 $24,755

IOWA Reg foals/% of NA crop Mares bred to IA stallions IA stallions/avg book size IA-breds sold (wnlg-2yo) Average field size Average purse per race

241 176 25/7.0 34 7.6 $25,311

217 193 25/7.7 39 7.7 $25,782

281 239 28/8.5 26 7.4 $24,832

191 20/9.6 50 7.8 $24,576

OKLAHOMA Reg foals/% of NA crop Mares bred to OK stallions OK stallions/avg book size OK-breds sold (wnlg-2yo) Average field size Average purse per race

793/2.8 1,478 185/8.0 131 9.6 $20,460

757/3.0 1,208 174/6.9 107 9.5 $20,732

681/2.9 1,212 153/7.3 82 9.1 $21,346

1,022 110/9.3 147 8.6 $20,925

TEXAS Reg foals/% of NA crop Mares bred to TX stallions TX stallions/avg book size TX-breds sold (wnlg-2yo) Average field size Average purse per race

869/3.1 1,436 246/5.8 107 8.6 $13,244

753/3.0 1,235 213/5.8 62 8.8 $15,295

653/2.8 1,041 168/6.2 59 8.7 $14,674

911 123/7.4 85 8.6 $14,994

at pari-mutuel facilities in 1994. Iowa stallions have been increasing in number since the mid1990s, with harness horses and Quarter Horses increasing the fastest. Prairie Meadows, owned

by Polk County, distributes gaming revenues back into the community rather than to an out-of-state casino corporation, and spreads it across all three breeds. The racetrack boasts a $123-million impact from spending generated by the purses alone, as local horsemen turn around and buy locally. This is what Sullivan wants to see happen in Illinois.

Perhaps the greatest success story from

2013

midwestern states is Oklahoma. Remington Park was about to close in 2004 when 750 slot machines resuscitated it and began a decade of ever-building success.

“It’s been exactly what the legislature was promised,” President and General Manager Scott Wells said. “On March 1, ten years ago when I started, purses were at $65,000/day.

Two years later, they were at $130,000/day as we saw the direction Remington was headed.

Now, they are at $235,000/day. From the casino, 22.5% goes to purses, and 22.5% goes to state education programs, so that’s 45% off

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New barns have been built at Remington Park thanks to casino revenues

the top and worth it. The Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred people split that 50-50, and 30% goes to breeder programs.”

Thoroughbred breeding in Oklahoma lags behind the improved quality of racing. After the recession, many breeders left the business and haven’t returned. On the other hand, Quarter Horses are entrenched in Oklahoma like Thoroughbreds are in Kentucky. long before slots and long before pari-mutuel wagering in Oklahoma, Quarter Horse breeders dominated their sport nationally from Oklahoma. An Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horse is competitive everywhere, and the stallions stand there, attracting the best mares.

An Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horse could pick up good slots-driven purses in neighboring New Mexico or even Iowa, but in Oklahoma, they receive breeders’ awards in addition to slots-enhanced purses; so they have built on their long-standing foundation to grow even further.

“Remington Park gets no benefits of a tribal casino,” Wells clarifies. “There are 124 casinos in Oklahoma, and Remington is limited to 750 machines. Yet, because the Chickasaw have embraced racing, we have a good reputation.

We’re centrally located, and the track has a great surface, so our racing has benefitted—going on an upward spiral since the casino came.”

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Wells credits the horsemen for making “a very good deal” to improve both racing and breeding with slots dollars, and the “excellent management” of the Oklahoma-based owners.

When Global Gaming Solutions, the gaming arm of the Chickasaw Nation, purchased Remington Park in 2010, they immediately put $12 million into refurbishing the track, mainly in the horsemen areas of the ground floor and luxury suites. Six years ago, the barns were renovated. There is another expansion happening in 2015, as the opening of the new Fortune’s Suite—a 1,500-square foot luxury room adjacent to the casino, one side all glass facing out to the track, located right before the wire.

Wells has made sure that Remington Park puts horses first, so it’s not simply a venue for a casino. The casino revenue increases during live racing, and the horsemen enjoy the casino themselves. The focus on appreciating all breeds of horses paid off, with 15,000 people showing up on a cold spring night to watch Paints race.

“We worked very hard on marketing from the beginning, and have never failed to integrate horses into the gaming marketing,” Wells said. “Jockey casino commercials are popular, and racing is at the forefront of all marketing campaigns.

Wells also runs lone Star Park—also owned by the Chickasaw Nation—but suffering from an experience similar to Illinois’ racetracks.

Texas racing already was reeling from louisiana and New Mexico on either side having slots.

Remington Park dealt a devastating blow. The refusal of the Texas government to legalize gaming has resulted in a steady stream of people traveling for hours to wager elsewhere.

“Texas can count in the BIllIONS the dollars that have left its state over the last 20 years to be spent in neighboring states on gaming (and ancillary industries like restaurants and hotels) because they won’t allow slots,” Wells laments. “In Texas, I see a determined core of hardy people who have hung in there, had their hopes dashed over and over, and are still looking for a better future there.”

Texas horsemen continue to breed Thoroughbreds, and despite paltry purses, hold out hope to become the powerhouse it should be with the pride that only Texas can sustain. Ten years ago, lone Star Park triumphantly staged a sparkling Breeders’ Cup, filled with optimism for the future, proving that the Texas racing and breeding community know how to put on a world-class show. Only one leg to support the industry is missing— healthy purses. The decline in quality racing is a preventable misfortune. Wells directly observes the contrast between one state having slots-enhanced purses, and another competing unarmed against all its neighbors.

“My recommendation for lone Star is to implement historical racing terminals—that would save it,” Wells said. “You breed and invest, and I maintain and operate a venue to race. When we pull together, we create a product. Every time you run, we generate more income for all of us. I can only allow one race every 25 minutes for safety reasons.

Why not sell that race 20-25 times a year? Why not give the patrons more of our own product to enjoy and wager on between races? If government restricted every modern business to doing things the old-fashioned way, where would we be? There would be no progress.”

Progress in marketing ideas and government perception of racing’s place in a state economy are needed. As long as racing complains that it’s a dying sport, it will die. When it proclaims it is a vibrant, far-reaching industry with multiple components that shouldn’t be shackled, then everyone across the state wins. n

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

47

STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

BUSINESS State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Stallion Owners Awards

Restricted Races

Restricted Stakes Races

Out of State Awards

Contacts

Alabama

60% for thoroughbred races $75,000.00 for 2 races at the Fairgrounds, New Orleans, Louisiana.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

T: 334-288-0275 E: mabgpruitt@ bellsouth.net

Arizona

10-15% of the winners share of purse at the end of meet from track

Breeders receive from State quarterly 14%-27% from winners share. Breeders receive 10% from winners share at end of meet from track.

No

Arizona Bred races are offered each racing day.

Arizona Breeders Futurity / Derby & Oaks each $35,000 added

N/A

T: 602-942-1310 F: 602-942-8225 E: atba@att.net W: www.atba.net

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 and up to 20% bonus for finishing 1st in an open starter allowance above $15K and open nonmaiden claiming races with a claiming prize of $40K or greater in Southern California and $20K or greater in Northern California.

For 1st-3rd of any race run in California and any graded stakes in the US. Breeders receive 75 % of the remainder of total incentive award monies after owner awards are paid, with an individual breeder receiving a pro-rated share of this breeders fund.

The maximum purses: 1st - $330K, 2nd $120,K, 3rd - $90,K.

25% of the remainder of N/A incentive monies for winners of non-claiming races and certain claiming races, all allowance above 15K & 1,2,3 in stakes. Maximum purses: 1st - $330K, 2nd - $120K, 3rd - $90K.

Yes

N/A

No change from Winter 2013

Delaware

25% to Owners

25 % to Certifiers

No

Yes - see www.dctp.weebly.com

25 % to Certifiers

N/A

T: 302-994-2398 E: dctp@dtha.com W: www.dctp.weebly.com

Florida

Florida Owners’ Awards are paid by the individual Florida tracks to the owner of a FTBOA registered Florida-Bred winner of certain races with up to $50,000 in added purse money. The payment of the FOA is based upon a percentage of gross purse.

(Calder, Gulfstream and Tampa)

Breeders’ Awards are paid to the breeder Yes of a Florida-Bred registered with the FTBOA which finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any race at a licensed Florida Thoroughbred pari-mutuel track. Under the current plan, Awards paid to the breeder of a FTBOA registered Floridabred finishing 1st (10%, $10,500 cap), 2nd (3%, $3,000 cap) or 3rd (2%, $1,500 cap) at a Florida thoroughbred racetrack. The cap for first place increased in 2013 from $10,000 to $10,500 in 2014.

These include the Florida-bred Daily and the Florida Stallion Stakes program. The Floridabred Daily is a Florida-bred preferred race is offered daily at each Florida track. All incentive programs are funded through a portion of the Thoroughbred pari-mutuel handle. The Florida Sire Stakes program consists of 2 divisions for 2 year olds and 3 year olds (3 races for colts, 3 races for fillies) and 2 year old and upward supplemental races worth over $3 million.

Horses must be FTBOA registered Floridabred and by an FTBOA registered stallion their year they were conceived

The Florida-bred N/A stakes program is a program which includes several special racing days such as the Sunshine Millions Preview, Sunshine Millions, and Florida Cup Day.

Tel: 352-629-2160 E: info@ftboa.com W: www.ftboa.com

Illinois

Earned when an Illinois-Registered Thoroughbred finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd in some types of open races, including maiden special weights, allowance races, overnight handicaps and claiming races with a claiming price of $10K or more. The Owner’s Award is 60% of the earned portion of the purse for an Illinois Conceived and Foaled Thoroughbred (IB) or 40% of the earned portion of the purse for an Illinois Foaled Thoroughbred (IF)

The owner’s share of the Breeder’s Award Yes is 11.5% of the winner’s share of the base pirse (60%). Open Races - breeder of winning horse receives the entire Breeder’s Award (11.5% of the winner’s share of the base purse). Illinois Races - In a race restricted to Illinois Reg. horses the Breeder’s Award (11.5% of the winner’s share of the base purse) is divided between 1st - 4th finishers; 1st - 60%, 2nd - 20%, 3rd - 15%, 4th - 5%

Yes - minimum of 2 per day

Yes

N/A

T: 800-450-9895 E: info@itoba.com W: www.itoba.com

Indiana

Purse supplement of 40% of the total purse available to Indiana Bred horses that finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any race not restricted to Indiana Bred horses, excluding claiming races below $10,000.

Breeders receive 20% of the total purse when a registered Indiana Bred wins any race in Indiana. Please note that the award is not paid on claiming races below $10,000.

Stallion owners receive an award equal to 10% of the total purse when a registered Indiana Bred that was sired by an Indiana stallion wins any race in Indiana. Please note that the award is not paid on claiming races below $10,000.

Restricted races written for Indiana Bred and Indiana Sired and Bred horses.

Twenty four stake races written for Indiana Bred horses annually

An out-of-state breeder’s award is an award paid to the breeder of a registered Indiana bred which wins a flat race in another state, Puerto Rico, or Canada.

The amount of the award is 10% of the winner’s share of the purse for any race when entered for a claiming price of greater than or equal to $10,000. This award is applicable only when there is no live thoroughbred race meet in progress in Indiana (except for stake races and for two-year-olds winning out of state prior to July 1 of the race meet). Awards will be paid by the commission. Out-of-state breeder’s awards shall be limited to a single race award not to exceed $10,000.

T: 317-233-3119 E: jbarnes@hrc.in.gov T: 317-234-2542 E: tsaltzman@hrc.in.gov W: www.in.gov/hrc/tb

Iowa

Can vary, in 2015 25% of purse won for 1st-4th in restricted IA races, 40% of purse for open races.

12% of winners purse to 1st, 6% to 2nd - 4th

2.5% of total supplement fund. Based on a points system

Yes

Yes

N/A

T: 515-957-3002/ 800-577-1097 F: 888-505-3556 W: www.iowathoroughbred.com

Kentucky

Horses registered with KTDF qualify for purse supplements in designated stakes, handicap, allowance, non-claiming maiden races, and allowance optional claiming races for a claiming price of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) contested at licensed Thoroughbred race meetings in Kentucky.

Breeders winning races in Kentucky and at No racetracks in USA & Woodbine: 10% of winning purse for MSW & ALW with a maximum of $3,000/race. 10% of winning purse for Stake races with a max of $4,000/race. Grade I wins are eligible for $7,500/race and Grade II and Grade III wins are eligible for $5,000/race.

Breeders winning races in Canada, England, France & Ireland are eligible for $7,500/ race for Group 1 wins and $5,000/race for Group 2 and Group 3 wins. Breeders winning Group 1 races on Dubai World Cup Day, Hong Kong International Day & Japan Cup Day are eligible for $7,500/race. Breeders winning the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks are eligible for $50,000/race. Kentucky claiming component allocates $200,000 to the top 20 horses in the state with the most wins.

No

Yes

Breeders winning races at racetracks in USA & Woodbine: 10% of winning purse for MSW & ALW with a maximum of $3,000/race. 10% of winning purse for Stake races with a max of $4,000/race. Grade I wins are eligible for $7,500/race and Grade II and Grade III wins are eligible for $5,000/race. Breeders winning races in Canada, England, France & Ireland are eligible for $7,500/race for Group 1 wins and $5,000/race for Group 2 and Group 3 wins. Breeders winning Group 1 races on Dubai World Cup Day, Hong Kong International Day & Japan Cup Day are eligible for $7,500/race.

T: 859-246-2040 F: 859-246-2887 E: Jamie.Eads@ky.gov W: www.khrc.ky.gov

Louisiana

Louisiana Breds run for higher purses than Breeders awards are paid at the rate of 20% open horses for horses finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at any track in Louisiana or in a stake race outside the state. Horses finishing 1st,2nd, or 3rd in non stake races outside the state will participate in a $400K fund set up to pay breeders awards for those horses.

Stallion awards are paid on allowance, handicap or stake races in Louisiana as well as stake races out of state. This is done pro rata with a total of $900K to be distributed annually.

3 Accredited Louisiana Bred races offered each day at each track, this includes a maiden race. Each race track in the state offers a whole day of racing featuring accredit Louisiana bred stakes horses.

Yes

Horses finishing 1st - 3rd in non stakes races outside the state will participate in a $400K fund set up to pay breeders awards for those horses.

Stake races outside the state are paid at the rate of 20% of earnings capped at $200K.

Tel: 504-947-4676 Tel: 800-772-1195 W: www.louisianabred.com E: ltba@louisianabred.com

Maryland

30% of horse’s share of the purse 1st, 2nd, 3rd

10% Stallion Bonus 10% Maryland-sired Bonus

No

Schedule determined annually

N/A

E: info@ marylandthoroughbred.com W: www. marylandthoroughbred.com

Massachusetts 30% of share of purse for horses finishing 25% of share of purse for horses finishing

15% for horses finishing 1st,2nd or 3rd in open or stakes races, maximum $5,000 award

No

8 races per year for 2 yo, 3 yo and 3 & up

N/A

T: 508-252-3690 E: mtba@comcast.net W: www.massbreds.com

Michigan

No

Yes

Yes

N/A

T: 616-844-5662 E: info@mtoba.com W: www.mtoba.com

48

30% of horses’s share of the purse 1st, 2nd, 3rd

1st, 2nd or 3rd in open races, maximum $5,000 award

1st, 2nd or 3rd in open or stakes races, maximum $5,000 award

N/A

10% of gross purse of all races in Michigan.

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

The following states either do not have a state incentives fund or do not publish it. Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES State

Owners Awards

Breeders Awards

Minnesota

Awards are paid out as purse supplements in open overnights along with the purse.

The amount is based on a percentage of the purse for TBs.

New Jersey

STATE INCENTIVES

Restricted Races

Restricted Stakes Races

Out of State Awards

Contacts

Breeders’ awards are paid to the Same as Breeders’ Awards breeders’ of MNBs that place 1st-3rd in any open or restricted overnight or stakes race. They are paid out based on an individual’s purse earnings as compared to the total for all MNBs.

Yes

Yes

No

T: 952-496-7950 W: www.mrc.state.mn.us

Owners of registered NJ-breds receive a 40% bonus for finishing 1st - 3rd in any open company race run at Monmouth Park or the Meadowlands. Bonus will be deposited into owners account at each respective racetrack. The 40% bonus has a maximum award of $15K.

Awards paid to registered NJ-breds finishing 1st - 3rd in any race run within New Jersey. 35%* of purse earnings will be paid if the foal is sired by a registered NJ stallion and the foal is conceived in NJ. 25%* of purse earnings will be paid if the foal is sired by a stallion that stands in a state other than New Jersey. *max award determined annually

Stallion owners will receive an award equal to 10%* of the amount that the foals of the registered stallion earn while finishing 1st - 3rd in races run within New Jersey.

Yes at least 1 per day.

Yes

N/A

T: 732-542-8880 E: info@njbreds.com W: www.njbreds.com

New Mexico

Class 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

Class

Class

Currently run mixed meets.

Must offer one NM Bred overnight race per breed excluding trials. Varies per race dates & race tracks.

Varies based on racetrack & race dates mixed meets.

N/A

T: 505-262-02224 E: nmhba@nmhorsebreeders. com W: www.nmhorsebreeders.com

New York

For all open-company races in New York State with a minimum claiming price of $30,000, there are two tiers of owner awards:

Stallion awards are paid to owners of registered New York-based (at the time of conception) covering stallions. Please note that only New York-bred progeny of New York-based stallions are eligible to earn stallion owner awards. Stallion owner awards have been increased to 10% of purses earned from finishes in first through third place. All stallion owner awards are capped at $10,000 per horse, per race.

More than 800 restricted Yes - see www.nybreds.com races are run each year at NYRA tracks and at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.

N/A

T: 518-388-0174 F: 518-344-1235 E: nybreds@nybreds.com W: www.nybreds.com

A $1,108.97 $413.01 $164.54 A B 831.73 309.76 123.41 B C 708.51 263.87 105.13 C D 431.26 160.62 63.99 D Total $1,840,466.82 Total $2,070,528.87

New York-Sired*

1st Place

$1,919.38 1,439.53 1,226.27 746.42

Breeder awards are determined based on the covering stallion.

New York-Sired*

First Place Second Place 20% Third Place $20,000 Cap per Award

Award (% of Purse Money Earned)

First through Third Place Cap per Award

Stallion Owners Awards

UPDATED JANUARY 2015

Award (% of Purse Money Earned)

30% 15% 15% $40,000

A B C D Total $322,081.41

1st Place

$298.57 223.93 190.75 116.11

Non-New York-Sired* Award (% of Purse Money Earned)

Non-New York-Sired* Award (% of Purse Money Earned)

Ohio

N/A

15% of winner’s share of purse for all races other than claiming or starter allowance. All claiming & starter allowance races, 10% of winner’s share of purse.

10% of winner’s share of purse for all races other than claiming or starter allowance. All claiming & starter allowance races, 5% of winner’s share of purse.

Yes

Yes

N/A

T: 513 574-5888 E: gb.otbo@fuse.net W: www.otbo.com

Oklahoma

50% of OKB Purse

34% of OKB Purse

16% of OKB Purse

The race track offers at least 2 restricted races each race day

Yes

No

T: 405-943-6472 W:www.ohrc.org

Oregon

Approximately 30% of money earned.

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

N/A

Yes

N/A

N/A

T: 503-285-0658 E: info@oregontoba.com W: www.oregontoba.com

Pennsylvania

Range from 20-40% for horses finishing 1st - 3rd in any non-restricted race.

Breeders receive 20-30% of purses earned by the first three finishers in all races in the state.

10% received by stallion owners for the first three finishers in all races in the state.

Pennsylvania ran over 500 restricted races in 2014 totalling $14m

In 2014 Pennsylvania will have paid over $1.68 million for 22 PA-Bred Stakes. These races include an additional 25% for Pennsylvania Sired horses finishing 1st - 3rd.

N/A

T: 610-444-1050 W: www.pabred.com

Virginia

100% purse bonus on all open races at Colonial Downs 1st - 6th place, $10K cap per award; $25K Virginia bred money added on all open non-graded stakes races run at Colonial Downs.

Breeders awards paid on a win anywhere in the U.S. Breeders are paid based on their pro-rata share of earnings compared to what other Virginia Breds have earned.

Stallion awards are based on their offspring’s pro-rata share of earnings compared to what other Virginia Sired horses have earned.

1-2 restricted races per week Five Virginia Bred restricted depending on how many fill. stakes races with a purse of Total of 4 to 8 per year at $50K each.

Colonial Downs.

Breeders awards paid on any T: 434-977-3716 E: info@vabred.org win in US. W: www.vabred.org

Washington

Awarded for 1st - 4th place finishes at Emerald Down. Factor varies, about 12-15%.

N/A

No

Washington-bred races average about one per race day.

6 stakes races for Washington-bred or sired horses on Washington Cup Day.

N/A

T: 253-288-7878 E: maindesk@washington thoroughbred.com W: washingtonthoroughbred.com W: www.wtboa.com

West Virginia

Only money earned at either Charles Town or Mountaineer race tracks are considered. (Earnings on single purse are capped at $100K.) Total money available for distribution is divided 60% to the breeders, 25% to the owners, and 15% to the sire owners.

Only money earned at either Charles Town or Mountaineer race tracks are considered. (Earnings on single purse are capped at $100K.) The total money available for distribution is divided 60% to the breeders, 25% to the owners, and 15% to the sire owners.

Only money earned at either Charles Town or Mountaineer race tracks are considered. (Earnings on single purse are capped at $100K.) The total money available for distribution is divided 60% to the breeders, 25% to the owners, and 15% to the sire owners.

Yes

Yes

N/A

T: 304-728-6868 E: wvbreeders@gmail.com W: www.wvtba.net

Canada – British Columbia

When a BC-Bred horse finishes 1st to 8th in all overnight races at Hastings Racecourse (some exceptions apply) the purse earned will be supplemented by 25% for the 2015 race meet.

When a BC-Bred horse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in any race at Hastings Racecourse the owner of the Broodmare at the time of foaling will receive an award. Percentages vary. Awards are paid at the end of January following the race season.

When a BC-Bred offspring of a British Columbia stallion finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any race at Hastings Racecourse other than a claiming or starter allowance/ handicap race, the owner of the stallion at the time of service will receive an award. In the case of Optional Claiming/ Allowance races with a listed claiming price of $50,000 or more, the BC-bred offspring must not be entered for the claiming price to be eligible for an award.

Percentages vary. Awards are paid at the end of January following the race season.

No

Yes - see www.cthsbc.org

No

T: 604-534-0145 E: cthsbc@cthsbc.org W: www.cthsbc.org

Canada – Ontario

$1K - 1st, $500 - 2nd place, $300 - 3rd at Woodbine. At Fort Erie Racetrack $400 to the winner of races from the Allowance level and down; $1K to the winner of Allowance level races. Ontario Bred Purse Bonus at Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks - 20% Ontario-Bred purse bonuses are paid to the owner of eligible horses earning purse money in open races.money in open races.

Preset amounts on Ontario races are paid for 1st - 3rd at Stakes Level, for 1st only from the Allowance to the $20K Claiming level.

Yes

Yes

In 2013 over $5,000,000 was offered in Restricted Stakes Purses at Ontario Racetracks. Additionally over $12 million was offered in Restricted Allowance & Maiden Special Races for Ontario Sire Progeny.

Breeder Awards for Stakes races are paid for 1st - 3rd outside of Ontario in North America, for stakes races with purses of $75K or higher.

T: 416 213-0520 T: 416 675-3602 E: programs@ ontarioracingcommission.ca W: www. ontarioracingcommission.ca

First through Third Place 10% Cap per Award $20,000 *A New York-sired New York-bred is sired by a registered New York stallion. A non-New York-sired New York-bred is sired by an out-of-state stallion or an unregistered New York stallion.

First Place 15% Second Place 7.5% Third Place 7.5% Cap per Award $20,000 *A New York-sired New York-bred is sired by a registered New York stallion. A nonNew York-sired New York-bred is sired by an out-of-state stallion or an unregistered New York stallion.

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

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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RACING

50

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

TRACK SAFETY

Developments in track safety

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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RACING

Breakaway PVC rails are widely regarded outside of the U.S as the state-of-the-art in safety rails

The very nature of horse racing makes it the most dangerous land sport on Earth. Jockeys must control a pack of stampeding animals ten times their size, while precariously balanced atop them as the horses race at speeds approaching 40 mph. “It’s the nature of the beast,” said Racing Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey about the perils of race riding. “It’s part of the life we live, and we just come to accept it.”

WORDS: BILL HELLER PHOTOS: DuRaLOck, BEnOIT PHOTOGRaPHY, GaLOPPFOTO/FRank SORGE, HORSEPHOTOS, kEEnELanD

T

HE deaths of three jockeys within 48 hours horrified racing last October. CarlyMae Pye and apprentice Caitlin Forrest died in Australia, and apprentice Juan Saez was killed at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Saez was the 153rd jockey killed in the United States since 1940.

Thirty years have passed since the first safety rail—designed by Richard Fontana— was erected at Del Mar. That innovative aluminum rail featured offset posts to provide a safe spot under the rail away from thundering hooves and a sloping, padded rim that would deflect a rider toward the infield during a spill. In 2006, Julien Leparoux credited the Fontana Safety Rail with saving his life during a spill at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. The image of Leparoux somersaulting the rail earned photographer Matt Goins that year’s Eclipse Award.

The Fontana Safety Rail is no longer manufactured, but the model rule based on it is still upheld by the Association of Racing Commissioners International as the exemplar for safety. Meanwhile, other countries largely 52

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

have gone to breakaway plastic rails.

With prompting from the Jockeys’ Guild, the RCI’s Rider and Driver Safety Committee is taking a fresh look at safety rails, assisted by racing regulators and representatives from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, the Jockeys’ Guild, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Racing Officials Accreditation Program.

New rules for race rails

The RCI’s model rule for rail construction dictates that the inside rail must have no less than a 24-inch overhang with a continuous smooth cover; the rail must withstand the impact of a horse running at a gallop; and the top of the rail must be between 38 and 42 inches high.

The California Horse Racing Board’s Rule 1472 on rail construction additionally mandates that posts be set in concrete; rails and post covers must be secured with welds or bolts; and it prohibits breakaway polyvinylchloride (PVC) rails.

Three principal rail designs being investigated by the committee are currently

in use here and around the world. The Rider Protection System, manufactured

by Horsemen’s Track and Equipment in Louisville, complies with the current model rule. The other two rail designs—breakaway PVC rails manufactured by Britain’s Duralock and by Australia’s Global Barrier Systems— are widely regarded outside the U.S. as the state-of-the-art in safety rails, despite being excluded here by the RCI’s model rule.

Terry Meyocks, National Manager of the Jockeys’ Guild, has been in contact with organizations throughout the world to see what rails their riders feel are safest.

“They’re higher and they’re more flexible,” he said of the feedback he got on rails outside the U.S. “I think we need to be open to it … We all need to recircle the wagons and basically say that there are new things we can do as an industry to help prevent jockeys, exercise riders, and horses from getting injured,” Meyocks said, although he emphasized that he was not recommending one company over another.

The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance accredits racetracks that comply with its broad Code of Standards. Executive Director Mike Ziegler said compelling evidence presented to the committee suggests that the model rule should be changed to include PVC rails.

“You want a rail to give to a point, but break when a horse goes through it,” he said. “The gentle give allows the horse to maintain its path and doesn’t force it back into the line of other horses. That would be the safer choice.”

Ziegler recommended a video of an incident in the 2010 Veolia Handicap, wherein Global Barrier’s MawSafe rail

TRACK SAFETY

Rounding the turn into the stretch in the Kentucky Derby where Calvin Borel skimmed the rail on Mind That Bird in 2009

illustrates the enhanced safety of breakaway PVC rails. (See YouTube, “MawSafe Corporate Video.”)

In the Veolia, Brent Evans and his mount were slammed into the rail during a chainreaction collision at Australia’s Flemington Racecourse. With the help of the flexible rail, Evans and his horse recovered and finished the race, and rider James Winks, who was thrown through the uprights supporting the rail, escaped serious injury. MawSafe uprights kick out upon impact without allowing the rail to collapse, and, unlike static aluminum rails with the wide brim, the top of the rail is curved PVC.

Evans described the incident.

“As my horse bumped into the running rail, I lost my inside iron and my left leg dragged along the running rail for a good couple of strides,” he said. “In previous instances with the aluminum running rail, riders have come out with severe lacerations and amputated limbs. But, fortunately, in this case with the MawSafe running rail, I came out with just a couple of scratches and rode a week later.”

In 2013, Del Mar obtained a waiver of Rule 1472 to install the MawSafe rail on its turf course. In a press release, the CHRB stated: “Executive Director Kirk Breed, pointing out that the current safety rules do not allow any of the safety railings to be made of PVC, said technology of rail construction has advanced considerably since the safety rules were adopted 20 years ago and this proposed rail is ‘better than the aluminum rails that are out there.’ He said the MawSafe rail has been thoroughly ‘vetted by our engineers.’”

Rails in the UK and Europe

Duralock’s PVC race rail is the most widely used in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Plastic running rails were introduced in the UK in the late 1960s and later subsidized by the Horserace Betting Levy Board as a safer alternative to rigid rails. Today, all inside rails there must be plastic.

“All running rail has to undergo testing before it can be used on racecourses,” said Rob Hartley, Racecourse Licensing Executive for the British Horseracing Authority. “And since testing has been done with Rubber and Plastics Research Association and our own strength testing, we are probably in a better position to justify what we approve.”

PVC race rail in the UK is subjected to

a test for falling-weight impact at various temperatures; a flexural test that simulates a horse leaning into the rail to determine the strength required to cause failure; a compression-strength test; a durability test; and a test of its resistance to environmental chemicals.

A safety video on Duralock’s website (www.

Duralock.com) shows runaway racehorse El Capone galloping head-on into the rail prior to a race. The PVC rail breaks away without injuring the horse or even unseating its rider.

Both continue on calmly to the race after what would have been an ugly accident had the rail been static aluminum.

Last year, the New York Racing Association erected Duralock rails on the turf courses at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. Its PVC rail also is used at Kentucky Downs, which exclusively runs turf races.

American rails

Terry Meycocks, National Manager of the Jockeys’ Guild

Most racetracks in the U.S. have the old Fontana rail or the Rider Protection System, an improvement over the Fontana design that creates less shadowing on the racetrack and requires less maintenance. Keeneland Race Course, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Hollywood Park, and Fair Grounds are among its client tracks.

The jockey who best knows rails is Hall of Famer Calvin Borel. Nicknamed “Bo-Rail” for his fence-hugging style, Borel skimmed the rail with Mine That Bird to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1), then mirrored that ride in 2010 with Super Saver.

The first thing trainer Cecil Borel, Calvin’s older brother and mentor, taught him about ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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RACING

RCI Model Rule StandaRdS Helmets

The helmet must comply with one of the following minimum safety standards or later revisions: l American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM 1163) l UK Standards (EN-1384 and PAS015) l Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZ 3838)

Vests

The safety vest must comply with one of the following minimum standards or later revisions: l British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA):2000 Level 1 l Euro Norm (EN) 13158:2000 Level 1 l American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2681-08 or F1937 l Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association (SATRA) Jockey Vest Document M6 Issue 3 l Australian Racing Board (ARB) Standard 1.1998 race riding was to get to the fence and ride it all the way if he could. Asked about his penchant for picking the most dangerous path on the racetrack, Borel said, “The rail, it doesn’t bother me. It’s the shortest way around, you know. I mean I was brought up that way and I kept going.”

When you make that many trips along the rail, mishaps are bound to happen, and Borel said he’s had his share.

“I’ve had quite a few. But I don’t think about that,” he said. “The day I’m going to think about falling or having something

happen on the rail, I’ll just retire, because you cannot go there and ride and think about that. The best thing you can do is just not ride.”

Borel gave high marks to the current rail at Keeneland—the Rider Protection System.

“Actually the safety rail, especially the one at Keeneland, most probably saved me from breaking my ribs a couple of times instead of just getting a pinch,” he said. “The one at Keeneland is very, very safe. It will stop you.

It’s got a little wall and it bounces back and forth. It helps you a lot.”

Borel, who hasn’t ridden at tracks with flexible plastic rails, isn’t sure if that should be the next step for American tracks.

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “You’d have to have it up and ride it and figure it out.

Until it’s up and you figure it out or maybe bump it or whatever, you really can’t tell.”

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has ridden more than 32,000 races here and abroad for earnings in excess of $261 million.

His most recent tour de force was aboard the magnificent Zenyatta during the crowdpleasing mare’s 19-for-20 career.

Smith said it would be difficult for him to say which rail he thought would be the safest: the flexible rail used in Europe or the safety rails used in the U.S. “In Europe, the rail gives a lot,” he said.

“You can actually hit it and it will bend and come back to you, which I think is probably one of the safest ones. I have to mention the safety rail we have, because it has a top that you can actually slide on it, if you had to, which is kind of neat, other than just the regular old rail that doesn’t give at all.”

Smith is concerned about the proposal to allow rails to increase in height—from the current 42” to 50” high.

“I’d have to see some sort of studies,”

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Luis Jauregui was the CHRB’s assistant steward in 2006 who helped set up a program for jockeys, exercise and pony riders to wear new safety helmets and vests

he said. “I understand the logic somewhat.

You’d want it high enough that a horse wouldn’t flip over it, but you have to be careful about where it hits you on your leg, because it could pop an ankle pretty easy if you hit it.”

Overall, Smith believes racing is doing a good job to improve safety. In particular, he praised California for coming up with the idea of a safety steward.

“As far as safety, there are just so many elements of danger out there. You just really have to keep an eye on everything,” he said.

“We have out here in California a safety steward that goes over every single thing, because there are just so many different things that can happen. They certainly should have someone out there that you can talk to and run things by all the time, because there’s always something popping up.”

TRACK SAFETY

Safety steward

The CHRB was the first jurisdiction to create the position of safety steward. In 2006, then-assistant steward Luis Jauregui, an ex-jockey and Smith’s old riding buddy, defined that position when he stepped into it with no job description—just a first-hand knowledge of racing. Jauregui’s 19-year riding career spanned 8,288 races.

“I started monitoring training, enforcing rules, and a lot of things,” Jauregui said.

“I started doing a track inspection—about three hours walking on the track inside and out, pointing out little things that needed to be padded, needed to be changed.

I was also working with the exercise riders and the jockeys and horsemen overall to see if they had any concerns with something.”

Other duties of the safety steward are to review racing films with apprentice riders, investigate equine fatalities, and make sure medication rules are followed. Jauregui commended steward Bo Derek’s efforts in helping him and others improve the safety of horses and humans.

An important program Jauregui helped implement was the equipment exchange for stable employees required to wear helmets and safety vests. The program, instituted by the California Horsemen’s Safety Alliance, was designed to reduce injuries, thereby reducing workers’ compensation costs for trainers. Jockeys, exercise riders, and pony riders were supplied new helmets and safety vests that met improved standards if they

ntRa SaFetY and InteGRItY allIanCe aCCRedIted RaCeCouRSeS The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance accredits only those racing facilities that comply with its Code of Standards, which covers six broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication, testing, and penalties; safety research; and wagering security. In 2014, the following tracks received that accreditation: Aqueduct Arlington Park Belmont Park Calder Race Course Canterbury Park Churchill Downs Del Mar Fair Grounds

Fairplex Park Finger Lakes Golden Gate Fields Gulfstream Park Hollywood Park Keeneland Race Course Kentucky Downs Monmouth Park

completed a safety class and turned in their old equipment.

“As an industry, we all benefit by keeping these trainers out of the negative and trying to make money instead of losing money,” Jauregui said. “You can’t make racing 100% safe. It’s a dangerous sport. But you try to make it as safe as possible. That’s my goal.

“It’s so important that we get a safety steward in every jurisdiction, even if it’s just a steward-in-training. We need someone in the barn area during training hours monitoring safety for horses and riders, enforcing regulations, and being the go-to guy to get things resolved. It creates jobs and in a positive way that will help the industry.”

In December, Jauregui was asked to join

Pimlico Race Course Santa Anita Park Saratoga Race Course Suffolk Downs Sunland Park Turfway Park Woodbine Dubai, UAE

the Welfare of the Racehorse Summit’s Racing Equipment and Safety Committee, where he said he will recommend the MawSafe rail.

Safer starting gates

The hard steel and close quarters of the starting gate make it perhaps the most dangerous element of horse racing. Yet, little has been done to improve its safety since Clay Puett invented it in 1939. Even attempts to pad it were feeble.

“What padding there was was procured from the local awning company and tacked onto a piece of board,” said Dr. Philip Shrimpton, who invented the state-ofthe-art Best Pad Safety Padding first used in Keeneland’s starting gate. Ted Bassett,

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RACING who was at Keeneland’s helm for more than 30 years, devotes two pages of his autobiography Keeneland’s Ted Bassett: My Life praising Shrimpton’s revolutionary ideas based on three years he spent as a racing commission veterinarian at the starting gate. Shrimpton’s design uses a variety of structural safety padding that protects by cushioning the hard steel with force-dissipating foams and various durable protective coatings.

“We just finished the side panels on the Keeneland 14-stall gate with a foam that heals itself,” Shrimpton said. “You can whack it and put a hole in it, and you can watch it actually return to its old shape over the course of 24 hours.”

Best Pad Safety Padding also is on starting gates at Churchill Downs, Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park, Turfway

Park, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park, Parx Racing, Penn National Race Course, and Los Alamitos Race Course.

In 2010, Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto invested $500,000 to research starting gates and to incorporate the best safety features it saw into its custom-built starting gate.

The stalls in its gate are narrower to enable the assistant starters to handle fractious horses more easily; the pontoons (where the assistant starters stand) better accommodate the handler without getting in the horse’s way; the back doors operate in tandem so it only takes one man to close both at the same time; and the front doors open silently.

“Without the bell, you wouldn’t know a race has started,” said Steve Koch, Woodbine’s vice-president of racing.

“The starting gate itself is amazing,” said jockey Jesse Campbell. “They (Woodbine)

are always looking at ways to increase safety, which, as a rider, is extremely comforting to know.”

Public perception

The perception that racing is doing its best to make the sport safer is crucial for survival of the industry. Racing is no longer the darling of American sport like it was in the 1940s and ‘50s, when the rich and famous were regulars at the track, movie scripts were spattered with racetrack jargon, and news reels celebrated the latest big win. Now, only the diehard racing fan can tell you who won last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Improving safety to reduce accidents so fewer horses and riders are injured is paramount. Without a positive image to gather public support, live racing will perish. n

ntRa SaFetY and InteGRItY allIanCe aCCRedIted RaCeCouRSeS Safety helmets

Model rules require all mounted persons and members of the gate crew to wear safety helmets and safety vests. But model rules are only suggestions; they aren’t enforceable unless adopted by the individual jurisdiction.

All jurisdictions require jockeys to wear helmets, but rules vary regarding exercise riders, pony riders, and gate crew. In most jurisdictions, anyone on horseback on racetrack grounds must wear a helmet. In California, helmets also are mandatory for the gate crew, but acceptance of that part of the model rule has been slow in other states. Kentucky, for one, has opted out.

“We wear vests—no helmets,” said Robert “Spec” Alexander, who has been Keeneland’s starter since 1967. “The only thing that gets hurt on a man are his arms, his muscles, and his back. No horse has ever hit a man in the head.”

The Association of Racing Commissioners International, which drafts the model rules, recommends that helmets comply with minimum standards set by at least one of three testing agencies: The American Society for Testing and Materials, the UK Standards, or the Australian/New Zealand Standard.

On November 25, former jockey Andria Terrill, who sustained three skull fractures in a 2013 spill, sued Suffolk Downs for $1.3 million because racing officials allegedly told her the inferior helmet she wore was in compliance with safety standards. Suffolk claims no culpability in the incident. Racetracks and riders will be watching this case closely.

Danielle Santos, director of marketing for helmet manufacturer Charles Owen, said a helmet has to protect the head in two ways: The liner protects against concussion or brain injury, and the outer shell protects against skull fracture.

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Charles Owen uses a dense, expanded polystyrene liner that Santos called “microscopic bubble wrap.” The shell is lightweight fiberglass.

“We are always looking to make [our helmets] lighter and more aerodynamic,” she said. “We’re always trying to come up with different resolutions of questions we have from riders.”

The jockey’s “monkey crouch” presents a challenge to helmet manufacturers.

They must find a way to protect the base of the skull while preventing the helmet from being pushed downward over the jockey’s brow. Santos said the Charles Owen J3 skull cap solves that problem.

“It gives the opportunity for a cut-out at the back that would keep the safety where it needs to be but also provide some coverage with the harness,” she said. “It actually cups the back of the base of the skull.”

Helmet prices range from about $200 for the Charles Owen J3 skull cap to $1,000 for the titanium Jock-Up One, manufactured by GPA and worn by premier French jockey Olivier Peslier.

Safety vests

Safety vests are not well understood, even by those who wear them. Common practice has been to cut them to suit if they don’t fit well, but what most users don’t realize is modifying them can ruin their protective design.

In a 2011 evaluation of safety vests by the Australian government, jockeys’ reviews were mixed.

“In one particular fall I had, I was kicked in the ribs by passing horses, which resulted in one month off with bruised ribs. But I feel that without the vest, they would have been broken ribs,” said one respondent.

Another gave the vests a resounding thumbs down:

“I feel the vests are far too restrictive in movement and keep you straight like a board, hence the reason when you fall you can’t bend, and all the pressure goes to head and neck. I started riding when vests were not compulsory and have noticed a lot more head, neck, back injuries since being introduced. If I had the choice, I would not wear a vest.”

On October 1, the second-most popular vest in Australia, the Tipperary Ride-Lite jockey vest, was banned when it failed all four safety tests that riding vests are subjected to. Riders have been given a phase-out period through March 31 to switch to an approved vest. No such mandate was issued in the U.S., where approved vests must meet minimum requirements set by at least one of five testing agencies.

In 2010, makers of inflatable safety vests for use in other equestrian sports began marketing them to racing. The vest’s airbag inflates when a carbondioxide cartridge in the vest is triggered by the pull of a ripcord attached to the saddle when the rider and horse separate.

Manufacturers claim the vest fully inflates in less than one-quarter of a second.

Mike Ziegler, executive director of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, evaluated the inflatable vest for the Alliance, and he saw a number of issues that would make it unsuitable for use in racing, including the need, once it has been activated, to repack the airbag and replace the CO2 cartridge using a wrench.

“First of all, a lot of riders come off in the paddock or in the post parade, and if it’s tethered to the saddle and the rider came off, it would have to be reset,” he said. “Additionally, that CO2 cartridge is loud,” he emphasized.”

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NUTRITION

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TRICKLE FEEDING

TRICKLE TREAT Feeding more in tune with nature ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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In evolutionary terms, we have been racing horses for a fraction of time compared with the millions of years that these wonderful animals have roamed the earth. The structure and physiology of their digestive system has evolved over this time to reflect their natural feeding patterns, which will have been greatly influenced by availability and quality of food. Fast forward into the present day, and this evolutionary drive has created some difficulties for the modern day racehorse in training as trainers strive to maintain optimum performance.

WORDS: CatheRine Dunnett BSC, PhD, R.nutR PhOtOS: MaRC Reuhl

Racehorse feed management is often at odds with nature

Wild populations of horses will spend a large part of the day grazing on often very poor quality grass, such as heathland or moorland.

They browse almost continuously to achieve an adequate intake of energy and nutrients.

Researchers have estimated that these wild horses may spend up to 18 out of every 24 hours a day feeding. In contrast, a racehorse in training may be fed 2–4 concentrate meals a day with a couple of periods where hay or haylage is offered. The total amount of time spent feeding is, by contrast, considerably less. This meal-feeding regime is clearly very different to the trickle feeding system driven by nature and is at odds with the physiology of the horses’ digestive system.

Large cereal-packed meals are linked to many health issues

A racehorse’s diet is also very different in terms of its composition. The contribution of forage to the total diet is generally much lower than in wild horses. Additionally, high starch and sometimes high oil-containing ingredients are relied upon to create an energy-dense concentrate ration, which delivers a sufficient energy or calorie intake to meet the demands of training and racing.

Concentrates are most often fed as discrete meals—two, three or four times a day, and they are usually larger in size towards the evening. These large, high starchcontaining meals bring a greater risk of numerous health issues, such as colitis, colic, and laminitis; these conditions arise from hindgut acidosis resulting from incomplete enzymatic breakdown of starch in the small intestine. Large high starch-concentrate feeds also pose a threat to the gastric mucosa, and gastric ulceration may develop.

Trickle feeding, as the name suggests, allows a horse to feed on an almost continuous basis with small amounts of food material. The concept of very frequent small meals, rather than a few large ones, could be highly beneficial in terms of health and psychological benefits. But is it possible to achieve a trickle feeding regime in a training yard, and is it desirable to do so?

In this article I will examine both low-tech and high-tech changes that can be made to 60

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feed management in racing to move toward a trickle feeding regime.

When feeding concentrates manually, it is not always possible to feed a large number of small meals since this is very labor intensive.

Some simple improvements, such as evening out the size of meals through the day, can help.

Extending foraging time

The intake of forage for racehorses has probably increased in recent years. Perhaps this is in response to more nutritional and veterinary information regarding the quantities of forage that are desirable to maintain digestive function and gastric health. Despite this, horses are a long way from achieving a feeding regime that is near to that which is seen in their nondomesticated state.

“

A number of new feeding devices have been introduced, which consist of plastic boxes with meshed lids that slow the rate of forage intake but allow feeding in a head-down position

”

In an ideal situation, racehorses would perhaps have access to forage on a truly ad libitum basis. This would reduce the time spent without access to feed (such as overnight) and would better mimic the trickle feeding state seen in the wild.

Researchers in Sweden have suggested that very digestible forage could be used as the sole source of energy for horses in training.

This was suggested following a trial in Swedish Standardbred Trotters that were fed a 100% forage diet (grass haylage plus alfalfa pellet) on a free choice basis. However, to

put this data into context, the forage was of a very high nutritional value, being on average ~12% (dry matter) protein and ~ DE 14MJ/kg compared to some of the hay traditionally used in racing. In addition, the relative success of this feeding regime in relation to performance was only measured in terms of qualification to race and race participation rather than any attempt to quantify performance itself, which is very difficult to quantify. The trial did, however, suggest improved health since there was no incidence of colic, gastric ulcers or tying up over the prolonged training period. Muscle glycogen was also found to be within the normal range in all of these horses and was related to the intake of fructan, a water soluble carbohydrate found in high amounts of grass.

Prolonged forage consumption in a head-down position

Small holed hay or haylage nets have been shown in U.S. studies to slow down the rate of consumption of forage, which is beneficial. However, the benefit of a slower rate of feeding in this instance may be offset by the negative effects of horses not eating from the floor, which allows better mucociliary clearance. Because of this, a number of new feeding devices have been introduced, which consist of plastic boxes with meshed lids that slow the rate of forage intake but allow feeding in a head-down position. A recent study in the UK reported evidence of frustration in horses when hay consumption was restricted through small holed haynets, which again could be counterproductive.

The reality for horses in training is that they will often not consume a healthy intake of forage, even when it is offered readily, and much gets trampled into the bed or just left. Therefore I would not advocate any management change that is likely to reduce forage intake. Prolonging the time over which forage is eaten is a good idea for horses that eat forage well and manage to eat more than the minimum requirement of 1% of body weight.

Offering multiple forms of forage, such as grass hay, alfalfa, chaff or haylage in multiple locations in the box, is another strategy.

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NUTRITION This has been shown to increase the total amount of time spent foraging and also the amount consumed overall.

Taking our lead from agriculture

Agriculturalists have understood the benefits of trickle feeding on feed conversion and animal performance for many years and have embraced technology to allow them to achieve this. Over the past few years, a number of companies have targeted the horse market with automatic feeders that allow concentrate feeding to be automated.

They allow many more feeds per day (little and often) than can be achieved practically by hand.

Brands such as Quickfeed®, SimpleFeeder® (which allows up to 8 feeds per day) and IFeed® (which claims to allow 720 small portions to be delivered in 24 hours) offer the possibility for very early feeds, very late feeds and even feeds throughout the night. They also offer consistency because they are programmable for an individual horse. Manufacturers suggest that they are compatible with coarse mixes or sweet feeds, cubes and straight cereal, as well as both low-fat and highfat feeds. While the initial outlay may be relatively high (in the region of $250–400

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“

The reality for horses in training is that they will often not consume a healthy intake of forage, even when it is offered readily, and much gets trampled into the bed or just left

”

per unit), they claim to offer economy in the longer term, since they are labor-saving; and studies by SimpleFeeder® report 30% less feed wasted when presented as 8 feeds per day.

These automatic feeders have been embraced by some big names in racing and breeding. Joe Hernon of Coolmore Stud is quoted as saying, “This is a revolutionary product for our industry, and it is a musthave item for every bloodstock owner.”

Trying to think about the potential downside of such an innovation, certainly one would need to investigate how these feeders are kept clean to ensure that they don’t become a haven for mold growth and mycotoxins. Additionally, any psychological effects of reduced social contact would need to be addressed.

Supplementation may also be more complicated, and one or two manual feeds per day may be required for any supplements to be given. Moreover, they should not be seen as an opportunity to merely increase the concentrate feed intake, resulting in a reduced forage intake because you may find that many of the potential benefits are lost.

In conclusion, while our feeding systems may not be perfect, there are numerous ways in which we can adapt our current practices when aiming to extend the feeding period. This can be achieved in a low-tech way, simply through care and attention to how forage is offered and by increasing the number of meals and reducing meal size. Alternatively, there are a number of innovations that can help achieve this in a non–labor-intensive way, which potentially offers many advantages to health and welfare in the long term. n

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LIGHT

LET THERE BE LIGHT

How daylight affects racehorse performance and safety Recipient of multiple awards, including the Saratoga Trainer’s Title and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer, Bill Mott is no stranger to traveling with his horses. For example, Mott was trainer and chaperone of Cigar, winner of the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996. How do Mott and other elite trainers consider the impact of jet lag, lightdark cycles, and other factors associated with shipping across times zones on their horses’ performance?

WORDS: STACEY OKE DVM, MSc PHOTOS: Marc Reuhl, SHUTTERSTOCK

I

“

N general, traveling by plane to places like Dubai isn’t that much different than taking a van between New York and Florida. They both take about 22 hours, but I find that flying internationally turns a horse’s biological clock upside down and does seem to throw them off for a day or two…but they do seem to turnaround quicker than we do,” shares Mott.

Rhythm is a racehorse

In reference to biological clocks, Mott is of course referring to circadian rhythms—near 24-hour cycles of behavioral, physical, and biochemical processes that ebb and flow like ocean tides. The sun that rises and sets every day is the center of our universe and drives the internal clocks of all organisms, including horses.

“The light-dark cycle in a 24-hour period is one of the most important environmental cues—referred to as zeitgebers—that coordinate an animal’s internal clock to the earth’s 24-hour rotation,” explains Barbara Murphy, BScEq, PhD, from the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; Murphy is an expert in the field of circadian rhythms in horses.

According to Murphy, physical activity, body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, hormone levels, sleepiness, among other body functions, undergo rhythmic undulations over the 24-hour period in response to a number of external cues including light, temperature, feedings, and social interactions.

She adds, “Synchronization between an animal’s daily rhythms and their environment helps ensure optimum survival by allowing them to anticipate activity, feed availability, and predation pressure.”

Thus, even slight alterations in an organism’s daily cycle or “rhythm” can negatively impact a large variety of body systems, including athletic performance.

International travel, jet lag, and racehorse performance

As Mott has learned through experience, horses do experience jet lag; but Mott inherently concludes that a horse’s jet lag doesn’t seem to affect horses as profoundly as it affects us. Mott’s personal experience is actually quite astute, and one published study—dubbed the “jet lag study”— confirms Motts assertions. According to the jet lag study (published in a 2011 edition of the Journal of Neuroendocrinology), crossing several time zones in a short period of time results in a mismatch between an individual’s biological clock and the “new” solar time.

As many of us know, classic signs of mismatch (i.e., jet lag) in humans include disturbances in sleep and gastrointestinal, cognitive, and psychomotor function, including athleticism. For example, it is reportedly disadvantageous for human athletes (e.g., baseball players) to travel eastward prior to competitions.

Considering how common it now is for horses to travel internationally for athletic competitions, the research team from Bristol University, led by Domingo Tortonese,

DVM, DrVetSci, PhD, simulated jet lag in former racing Thoroughbreds using light-controlled stables and a high-speed treadmill.

The study found that horses, unlike humans, are capable of rapidly adapting to changes in their photoperiod and that their body responds to jet lag in such a way that enhances their physical performance.

Specifically, the horses were able to run at a full gallop on a treadmill for an additional 25 seconds before reaching the point of fatigue. The study authors concluded that horses are exquisitely sensitive to sudden alterations in light-dark cycles.

They also suggested that a horse’s ability to adapt to changes in light-dark cycles could be because horses lack a “robust” sleepwake cycle, meaning that horses sleep more in a “fits and bursts” type of pattern and require only a fraction of the sleep needed by humans to behave like civilized creatures.

Another interesting feature of the jet lag study was that, “…the rapid adaptation of horses to photoperiodic changes is not accompanied by an increase in the level of stress but by alterations in neuroendocrine systems that favor an enhancement of their physical capacity during the process.”

Those findings, however, contradict results from an earlier study on jet lag in horses published in the Journal of Circadian Rhythm in 2006 by Murphy, et al.

“We found that body temperature rhythms were out of synch with the environment for two weeks following a six-hour time zone transition,” explains Murphy.

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TRAINING Vernal Equinox March 21-22

Arctic Circle Equator Summer Solstice June 21-22

Incoming solar energy equal in both hemispheres

SUN Winter Solstice December 21-22

Incoming solar energy greatest in Northern Hemisphere Autumn equinox September 22-23

Amount of light, light-dark cycles, and athleticism

Other research groups have also looked at biological clocks, light, and the cyclical patterns of physical activity in horses. In one study, coauthored by Murphy and published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2010, mares were fitted with halter-mounted monitors to measure their physical activity under three different conditions: (1) pasture under natural light, (2) stabled under a light-dark cycle mimicking the outdoors [12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark], and (3) constant darkness.

Murphy, et al. found that physical activity did indeed follow a circadian pattern (particularly under stabled light-dark cycles and in constant darkness) and that the levels of “clock genes” (i.e., genes known to be involved in the control of circadian rhythms) isolated from muscle tissue reflected the circadian activity pattern.

“These results confirm that altering the amount of light a horse is exposed to impacts physical activity and that human management regimes may strengthen or unmask equine circadian behavioral outputs.

As exercise synchronizes circadian rhythms, our findings provide a basis for future work determining peak times for training and competing horses both to reduce injury and to achieve optimal performance,” says Murphy.

She adds, “This study is also the first to show that muscle function in the horse has a 24-hour rhythm, and the clear implication is that there is an optimum time for exercise and performance.”

Is it therefore possible that artificially altering a performance horse’s exposure to light and that tinkering with the timing of light exposure could prove to be a noninvasive, relatively inexpensive, and simple approach to enhancing a racehorse’s natural ability?

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Incoming solar energy equal in both hemispheres

Incoming solar energy greatest in Southern Hemisphere

Racehorses are early birds…right?

Another factor to consider, in addition to the total number of hours exposed to light and when they are exposed it, is each individual horse’s circadian rhythm. For example, we all have a 24-hour rhythm, but we aren’t all the same—some of us are early birds (especially in the racehorse industry) and others are night owls. This variation of “internal time” between individuals is referred to as chronotype.

“

This study is the first to show that muscle function in the horse has a 24-hour rhythm, and the clear implication is that there is an optimum time for exercise and performance Barbara Murphy

”

“In addition to light being a zeitgeber for the circadian clock, it can also directly affect levels of alertness and sleepiness. This acute effect of light depends on time-ofday of light exposure, on light intensity, duration, spectral composition, and on an individual’s light history,” wrote the study authors from The Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

The study authors also wrote, “…Only a little is known about light effects on physical performance.”

The researchers therefore studied the

impact of chronotype in human athletes that were exposed to 160 minutes of either bright or dim light. In the last 40 minutes of exposure, subjects performed a bicycle ergometer test to measure total work, blood lactate levels (an indicator of fatigue), and heart rate. Subjects performed the exercise based on their chronotype, which was determined using a chronotype questionnaire. Key findings of that study were that exposure to bright light enhances physical performance and that timing of the exercise must take an individual’s internal time into consideration.

According to the study authors, noninvasive measures to increase physical performance at an individual’s optimal time-of-day is of major interest for a wide range of applications, including athletic competitions. They concluded, “Although more studies are needed…our results indicate we will in [the] future be able to recommend tailored and optimally timed training sessions for individuals with different chronotypes.”

This finding in human research begs the question: Can simply exposing racehorses to brighter light at an appropriate time of the day using an appropriate light spectrum (i.e., using lights that more closely match natural light) enhance racehorse performance? This is potentially a particularly salient question for trainers in the Northern Hemisphere, such as New York, England, Ireland, and France, among others, who are at the mercy of the earth’s natural tilt away from the sun, making our days (and therefore our exposure to light) much shorter than they are in the summer.

Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the imposition of the short days surrounding the winter solstice and daylight saving (i.e., shifting our clocks back one hour to maximize the daylight hours) wreaks havoc on many people’s circadian rhythms even though it only involves one hour of our lives. For example, studies have shown that there are more automobile and workplace accidents and potentially more health issues such as heart attacks and myocardial infarcts. This confirms the assertion that all organisms are sensitive to even small changes in their circadian rhythms.

In addition to the shift in circadian cycle immediately after turning the clock back in the fall, an estimated 5–20% of humans are diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD, winter depression). Knowing what we do now about biological clocks, the fact that almost one-fifth of residents in the Northern Hemisphere feel the effects of decreased exposure to sunlight is not surprising, especially considering that some racehorse-rich areas lose a substantial percentage of their time being caressed by the sun’s rays for several months each and every year (see table, page 68).

Forcing the hands of time

Throughout this article, several questions have been raised. In a nutshell, can trainers

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TRAINING

manipulate the light-dark cycle, the total number of hours of light a horse is exposed to, the timing that light is applied, the brightness and quality (spectrum) of the light, and timing of training, racing, and shipping in relation to their own biological clocks to enhance performance? Their ideas are not as absurd as they might outwardly seem considering: 1. The surprising amount of research in this field already conducted in both human and equine subjects.

2. The fact that artificial light exposure has been used to “trick” mares into cycling earlier in the season that normal to breed Thoroughbreds earlier in the year to meet the imposed foaling birthdate of January 1st.

Mott says that although he is unlikely to artificially induce jet lag in his horses using simulated lighting, “I wouldn’t be opposed to something as noninvasive as using SAD lamps” or full-light spectrum lights mimicking sunlight.

Indeed, one researcher, Carol Hall, senior lecturer in equine sports science at Nottingham-Trent University in the UK, reportedly conducted a study on the effect of artificial light on equine SAD. According to several online news articles, Hall reportedly indicated that horses were exposed to light 68

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

strips for one hour per day for six weeks.

Key findings of her study were that horses that did not undergo light therapy showed signs of suffering from “winter blues.”

Specifically, those horses slept longer than previously noted, were less interested in being ridden, and had poorer performance when jumping. In contrast, horses exposed to the light strips were “less grumpy than they usually were at that time of year.”

In a previous interview, Hall said, “We believe that these results go some way

towards suggesting that light treatment results in happier horses that are easier to ride.

“The findings have indicated that horses may get depressed over the winter months and that treating them with light therapy could be effective in reducing these winter blues.”

Hall said the findings could be used to treat susceptible horses before the depression sets in.

“By monitoring the horses’ behavior

APPROXIMATE CHANGE IN HOURS OF LIGHT EXPOSURE FROM SUMMER TO WINTER SOLSTICE Country

Hours of light exposure in summer

Hours of light exposure in winter

No. of sunlight hours lost in winter

15

9

6

San Francisco, USA

14.5

9

5.5

Florida, USA

13.5

10.5

3

17

7.5

9.5

London, England

16.5

7.5

9

Dubai, UAE

13.5

10.5

3

New York, USA

Dublin, Ireland

LIGHT during the summer, it may be possible to select those that would benefit from treatment in the future.”

Despite the positive remarks made online, Hall’s research is not available either on her personal website (www. ntu.ac.uk/apps/staf f_pr ofiles/staf f_ directory/125605-5/26/carol_hall.aspx) or on PubMed, and Hall did not respond to email queries regarding her research.

With that said, Murphy and colleagues have conducted two key studies on this topic.

“Data in both humans and horses suggest that it is the wavelength, or color, and not the intensity that is important for influencing the circadian system. This is why SAD lamps for humans now use blue lights,” shares Murphy.

The first of Murphy’s studies on blue light therapy, published in the Veterinary Journal in 2013, found that low-level blue light administered to one eye is equally effective as sunlight is at influencing horses’ circadian rhythms. In a subsequent study, published in 2014 in the Equine Veterinary Journal, Murphy et al. investigated the efficacy of a low-intensity blue light delivered by a “light mask” to a single eye of broodmares to advance their cycles. The light mask was indeed effective, advancing the mares breeding season by three months.

In the near future, Murphy and colleagues hope to use the light mask to prevent jet lag in horses.

“

The findings have indicated that horses may get depressed over the winter months and that treating them with light therapy could be effective in reducing these winter blues

”

Carol Hall

Not just about performance – safety matters One final aspect of light and performance in racehorses to consider is safety. As we are all acutely aware, racehorse safety is an issue that has received much awareness and publicity over the past decade or so, especially following accidents in highly publicized events, such as Eight Belles and Barbaro, and even after the latest meet in Saratoga (for example, visit www.timesunion.com/ local/article/N-Y-investigates-Saratogameet-race-horse-deaths-5722872.php).

As such, the racehorse industry continues to make every effort to maximize safety as

evidenced by the continued research efforts and sharing of information at meetings such as the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, held in July 2014 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. As mentioned in multiple places throughout this article, it may be possible to adjust a horse’s light exposure to improve racehorse safety. For example, the jet lag study suggested that a photoperiodic shift induced by artificially altering a horse’s lightdark cycle could be beneficial in terms of reducing the level of injury in competitions.

More specifically, if it takes longer for a jetlagged horse to fatigue when exercising, can injuries therefore be prevented?

The “jet lag effect” could potentially benefit horses. As Mott points out, “They are more apt to become injured when they are fatigued.”

Concluding thoughts

Any successful trainer must consider a myriad and varied aspects of the horse, the race and field, the track surface, veterinary intervention, farriery, nutrition, tack and appliances (e.g., ear plugs, nose bands, etc.), and sometimes even superstitions and rituals. Considering the available science supporting the positive impact of light on performance, it may seem prudent at this juncture to ask the final obvious question: How many trainers does it take to screw in a light bulb? (tongue in cheek, of course!) n

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WINNING OWNERS – OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2014

WINNING OWNERS

Profiles on Grade 1-winning owners between October and December, 2014 North American Trainer’s special feature on our top Grade 1 winners for the past quarter. Visit trainermagazine.com/winners to view the profiles of all Grade 1-winning owners from April 2013 through December 2014.

WORDS: BILL HELLER PHOTOS: COADY PHOTOGRAPHY, HORSEPHOTOS

BY THE MOON Won the Frizette at Belmont Park, Oct. 4 Owned by Jay Em Ess Stables Trained by Michelle Nevin Sire Indian Charlie Dam By The Light by Malibu Moon

Jay Em Ess Stables, which was the leading owner at both the 2007 spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park and at the 2009 Del Mar meet, was created from the first letter of

the three owners’ first names, Jan and Mace Siegel and their daughter Samantha. Jan died in 2002, and Mace passed away nine years later, leaving 49-year-old Samantha to head the stables.

Jay Em Ess purchased its first horse at the 1964 Timonium Sale and named their filly Najecam, the backward spelling of Mace and Jan. Mace, a racing fan growing up in New

York and New Jersey, met Jan on a blind date at Aqueduct in 1962. They married two months later. Mace founded Santa Monicabased Macerich Co., which develops, owns and manages regional shopping malls. He was a founding member and vice-president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

Jan was a big band singer and named her daughter for her favorite Cole Porter song, “I Love You, Samantha.”

Samantha served with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association and the Gregson Foundation Board. She and her dad were honored by the Gregson Foundation in 2008.

Jay Em Ess’ top horses include 2004 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Declan’s Moon, millionaire Urbane and Rail Trip.

The stable now has 80 horses in Kentucky and California.

DAREDEVIL Won the Champagne at Belmont Park, Oct. 4 Owned by Let’s Go Stable Trained by Todd Pletcher Sire More Than Ready Dam Chasethewildwind by Forty Niner

Let’s Go Stable was founded in 2006 by 33-year-old Kevin Scatuorchio and his brother-in-law, Bryan Sullivan, who married Scatuorchio’s sister, Courtney Scatuorchio

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became a fan through his dad, Jim, who has owned horses for more than 25 years. Jim campaigned multiple-graded stakes winner and million-dollar earner More Than Ready and 2007 Eclipse Turf Champion Older Male and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner English Channel. Jim is a partner in Let’s Go Stable.

“I’ve been going to the racetrack with my dad since I was a little kid,” Kevin said.

Sullivan was a trader for the Clinton Group

until he decided to concentrate on Let’s Go Stable in 2007.

The stable name came from a favorite expression of one of Kevin’s friends, Rob Petitti, who played in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and is now an investor in the stable.

Many of Let’s Go Stable’s investors are from the New York City metropolitan area, which is why the stable named a son of More Than Ready Verrazano—the name of the double-decker suspension bridge connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island. Let’s Go Stable bought Verrazano for $250,000 at the Keeneland September 2011 Yearling Sale and he won six of 13 starts, including the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, earning more than $1.8 million.

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RACING

RICH TAPESTRY

Won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Oct. 4 Owned by Silas Yang Siu Shun, Won Tak Wai; Ho Chi Kueng and Che Ung Yuk Tak Trained by C.W. Chang Sire Holy Roman Emperor Dam Genuine Charm by Saddler’s Wells

CROwN QuEEN Crown Queen wins the 31st running of the The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, Oct. 11 Owned by Besilu Stables Trained by Bill Mott Sire Smart Strike Dam Delta Princess by A.P. Indy

Benjamin Leon Jr., a 69-year-old native of Oriente, Cuba, races in the name of Besilu Stables. A visionary in providing health care and a world-class softball player, he has a passion for horses that began when he was a child. “Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by horses,” he told Ocala.com in 2011. “I’d get in trouble for drawing pictures of horses in history class.”

Leon’s family emigrated from Cuba to 72

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Miami in 1961. Leon’s father, Benjamin Sr., co-founded Clinica Cubana, a medical service provider for immigrants, in 1964.

Six years later, Leon and his father began Clinica Asociacion Cubana (CAC), which introduced managed health care in Florida.

In 1973, the CAC was awarded Florida’s first HMO license. Leon established Leon Medical Centers Inc. (LMC) for Medicare recipients in 1996. Today, 2,300 LMC professionals serve more than 42,000 Medicaire recipients.

Leon was good enough in softball to land

in the sport’s Hall of Fame in 1988.

His first equine purchases were Paso Fino show horses. He owned and bred numerous champions.

Leon began buying Thoroughbreds in 2008, and, in 2011, he purchased ThreeYear-Old Champion Filly Royal Delta for $8.5 million at the Keeneland November Sale.

Royal Delta was subsequently the Champion Older Female in both 2012 and 2013. Leon now owns 50 horses, including 15 in training with Bill Mott and Chad Brown.

WINNING OWNERS – OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2014

DON’T TELL SOPHIA

Won the Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland, Oct. 5 Owned by Phil Sims and Jerry Namy Trained by Phil Sims Sire Congaree Dam Lost Expectations by Valid Expectations.

Don’t Tell Sophia (opposite) with Joseph Rocco, Jr up, wins the Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland

Trainer and co-owner Phil Sims, a 53-yearold native of Flemingsburg, Ky., began attending the races at Keeneland in Lexington, 60 miles from his family’s farm, when he was seven years old. His family raised cattle, grew tobacco and dabbled with Thoroughbreds. While he was in high school, Sims claimed fillies from the track, bred them and re-sold the ones that became pregnant. He raced the others. “I started training by default,” he said.

Sims saddled his first horse in 1980. He stables his horses year-round at Keeneland and uses his 70-acre farm in Georgetown, 15 miles from Lexington, as a lay-up and training facility.

Sims’ first Grade I stakes victory was with his long-time owner Nelson McMakin’s Hot Cha Cha in the 2009 Queen’s Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Sims spoiled her with sweet potatoes, carrots and peppermints.

Jerry Namy, a geologist who bought into Don’t Tell Sophia when she was three, fell in love with racing after his dad showed him the entries for the 1947 Kentucky Derby.

Namy survived a 2009 plane crash that took the life of his friend, owner Kendall Hill, and of his business partner, Bob Schumacher.

Namy races horses by himself and in partnership with Sims.

Access our current articles and back issues of European AND North American Trainer online at www.trainermagazine.com

HILLSTAR

Won the Canadian International at Woodbine, Oct. 19 Owned by Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild Trained by Sir Michael Stoute Sire Danehill Dancer Dam Crystal Star by Mark of Esteem

Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild was born into substantial wealth on August 29th, 1931, but didn’t join the family business, the NM Rothschild & Sons Banking House, until he was 26.

Founded by Nathan Mayer Rothschild in 1811, this British investment banking company employs more than 3,000 people in 42 countries.

After joining his family’s company, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild carved his own niche in the finance world and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 after serving as her financial adviser.

He served as chairman of many endeavors including The Economist, the United Racecourse, the British Mercantile Banking & Securities House Association, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. He was a director of IBM United Kingdom Holdings Limited, De Beers Consolidated Mines and the Daily Telegraph.

From three marriages, he has two sons, one daughter and two step-sons. His third marriage was to American lawyer and entrepreneur Lynn Forester. They spent one night of their honeymoon as guests at the White House.

Sir Evelyn bred Hillstar at historic Southcourt Stud in Bedfordshire. His family’s involvement in Thoroughbred racing began in 1835 when banker Baron James de Rothschild began racing and breeding horses in France.

Frequently referred to as the richest man in the world, Sir Evelyn’s net worth has been reported as $20 billion.

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RACING

LADY ELI

Won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita, Oct. 31 Owned by Sheep Pond Partners Trained by Chad Brown Sire Divine Park Dam Sacre Coeur by Saint Ballado

Sheep Pond Partners took all of two years to win a Breeders’ Cup race. Jay Hanley, a general contractor and real estate developer, was building a house for Sol Kumin on

Sheep Pond Road on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. Kumin owned a filly named Wild Grace. “I had her with another trainer, and decided to give her to Chad Brown,” Kumin told Steve Haskin of Blood-Horse.

Brown had worked with Wild Grace’s dam, Gracious Lady, and agreed to train her.

Hanley, who had a deep passion for Thoroughbreds, asked if he could get involved. Hanley’s parents lived in Saratoga Springs, and his grandmother lived near the city. All three would take Hanley to Saratoga Race Course. “Basically, from there I’ve been sort of obsessed,” Hanley told Haskin.

Hanley and Kumin formed a partnership, named it for the street of Kumin’s new home and purchased Lady Eli for $160,000 at the Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds-inTraining Sales. They named her for Kumin’s wife, Elizabeth, whose initials are E.L.I. After Brown trained Lady Eli on grass for the first time, he told her owners she could win the Breeders’ Cup. She did. “It’s unbelievable,” Elizabeth Kumin said. “I never expected anything like this.”

Lady Eli with Irad Ortiz, Jr wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita

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TExAS RED

Won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, Nov. 1 Owned by Eric Brehm Jr., Wayne Detmer, Lee Michaels, J. Keith Desormeaux and Dr. Gene Voss Trained by J. Keith Desormeaux Sire Afleet Alex Dam Ramatuelle by Jeune Homme

In the mid-1970s, Eric Brehm Sr. and his pal Wally would study nights, then take off for the harness track because they could get in free after the seventh race. They did well playing trifectas, made T-shirts saying “Trifecta Kids” and, some 15 years later, Brehm Sr. got to know Josh Pons, who won an Eclipse Award for his series in The BloodHorse called “Country Life Diary.”

Brehm Sr. asked Pons if he would check out a Seattle Slew mare, Seattle Queen, who was in foal to Malinowski in New Jersey. Pons gave his blessing and Brehm bought the filly for $5,000.

They named Seattle Queen’s second foal

by Citidancer Fat Wally. He set a track record at Retama Park winning a maiden race by 13 lengths. “Seeing my father’s expression as his colt crossed the finish line first had me hooked forever,” Brehm Jr. told America’s Best Racing.

Brehm Jr. wound up in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program and was an intern at Lone Star Park.

In 2009, Brehm Sr. met trainer Keith Desormeaux, who wound up as trainer for Team Brehm and their friend/ partner Dr. Gene Voss. Desormeaux purchased three horses from the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

One of them, Texas Red, was purchased for $17,000. Two more Brehm family members, Wayne Detmer and Lee Michaels, bought in. Lee’s husband, Paul, bought his share as a present for her. Texas Red is both the Detmers and the Michaels’ first Thoroughbred. “How great is that?” Brehm Jr. asked.

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WINNING OWNERS – OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2014

wORk ALL wEEk

The Midwest Thoroughbreds-owned Work All Week wins the Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, Nov. 1 Owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds Trained by Roger Brueggemann Sire City Zip Dam Danzig Matilda by Repriced

Incredible success has allowed Richard and Karan Papiese, who founded Midwest Thoroughbreds with two horses in 2001, to give back even more. They support several Thoroughbred retirement programs, including New Vocations, Remember Me Rescue, Galloping Out and Beyond the Roses, and racetrack chaplaincies around the

LA TIA

country as well as the Permanent Disabled Jockey Fund. Midwest Thoroughbreds also operates Thunder Ranch Farm in Anthony, Fla., for its own retired and turned-out horses.

The Papieses own and operate Midwest Store Fixtures, a family business that outfits display cases, kiosks and other custom products for retail outlets, in University Park, Ill. After hiring trainer Jaime Ness in 2009, Midwest Thoroughbreds became a force in the industry, finishing second nationally in victories with 236 in 2009. The stable has finished No. 1 every year since. Midwest Thoroughbreds recorded 310 wins in 2010, 418 in ’11, a record 542 in ’12 and 401 in ’13.

In 2014, Midwest Thoroughbred, which now has more than 300 horses, was the leading owner for the fifth consecutive year with 219 victories from 992 starters. No other owner was even close in the number of starters and winners. The $5.7 million Midwest Thoroughbreds’ horses earned last year was third best nationally behind Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Kaleem Shah, Inc.

Won the Matriarch at Del Mar, Nov. 30 Owned by Salvador Hernandez’s Hernandez Racing Club Trained by Armondo De la Cerda Sire City Place Dam La Adelita by Sky Classic

La Tia, with Joel Rosario up, wins the Matriarch Stakes

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A chance meeting connected La Tia’s owner and breeder, Chicago restaurateur Salvador Hernandez, the owner and breeder of La Tia, with the filly’s original trainer, Brian Williamson before Williamson’s assistant, Armando De la Cerda opened his own stable.

Williamson fancies tacos and Delacerda

told him about Hernandez’s Mexican restaurant in 2012. Williamson checked the restaurant out, went back many times and became friends with Hernandez, who has owned Thoroughbreds for 25 years.

Before the start of the Arlington meet that year, Hernandez gave Williamson four horses to train including his home-bred, Illinois-bred La Tia. Hernandez also raced stakes winners Voy Por Uno Mas and Diablos First Lady in partnership with trainer Moises Yanez and Del Sol Farm.

RACING

GRADE ONE WINNERS – OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2014 Raccourse

Race

Date

Keeneland

Darley Alcibiades S (BC)

Belmont Park

Horse

Sire

Owner

Trainer

10/03/2014 Peace and War

War Front

Qatar Racing Ltd

Olly Stevens

W

Champagne S (BC)

10/04/2014 Daredevil

More Than Ready

Let’s Go Stable and WinStar Farm LLC

Todd Pletcher

P

Belmont Park

Frizette S (BC)

10/04/2014 By The Moon

Indian Charlie

Jay Em Ess Stable

Michelle Nevin

P

Keeneland

Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (BC)

10/04/2014 Carpe Diem

Giant’s Causeway

WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC

Todd Pletcher

W

Keeneland

First Lady S

10/04/2014 Dayatthespa

City Zip

Frankel, Jerry; Frankel, Ronald; Laymon, Steve; Bradley Thoroughbreds

Chad C Brown

W

Keeneland

Shadwell Turf Mile (BC)

10/04/2014 Wise Dan

Wiseman’s Ferry

Morton Fink

Charles LoPresti

W

Santa Anita Park

Santa Anita Sprint Ch. (BC)

10/04/2014 Rich Tapestry

Holy Roman Emperor Cheung, Yuk Tak; Ho, Chi Keung; CW Chang Wong, Tak Wai; Yang, Siu Shun

Keeneland

Juddmonte Spinster S (BC)

10/05/2014 Don’t Tell Sophia

Congaree

Sims, Philip A.; Namy, Jerry

Philip A Sims

P

Keeneland

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup 10/11/2014 Crown Queen

Smart Strike

Besilu Stables

William I Mott

P

Woodbine

E P Taylor S

10/19/2014 Just The Judge

Lawman

Qatar Racing Ltd and Sangster Family Charles Hills

Woodbine

Pattison Canadian International

10/19/2014 Hillstar

Danehill Dancer

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild

Sir Michael Stoute

P

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

10/31/2014 Goldencents

Into Mischief

WC Racing

Leandro Mora

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

10/31/2014 Untapable

Tapit

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC

Steve Asmussen

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf 10/31/2014 Lady Eli

Divine Park

Sheep Pond Partners

Chad C Brown

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

10/31/2014 Hootenanny

Quality Road

Magnier, Mrs John; Smith, Derrick; Wesley Ward Tabor, Michael B.

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Classic

11/01/2014 Bayern

Offlee Wild

Kaleem Shah, Inc.

Bob Baffert

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 11/01/2014 Judy the Beauty

Ghostzapper

Wesley Ward

Wesley Ward

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mare Turf 11/01/2014 Dayatthespa

City Zip

Frankel, Jerry; Frankel, Ronald; Laymon, Steve; Bradley Thoroughbreds

Chad C Brown

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Alfeet Alex

Brehm, Erich; Detmar, Wayne; Michaels, Lee; Desmormeaux, J. Keith

J. Keith Desmormeaux P

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

11/01/2014 Take Charge Brandi Giant’s Causeway

Willis D Horton

D Wayne Lukas

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Mile

11/01/2014 Karakontie

Bernstein

Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.

Jonathan E Pease

W

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

11/01/2014 Work All Week

City Zip

Midwest Thoroghbreds, Inc

Roger A Brueggemann P

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Turf

11/01/2014 Main Sequence

Aldebaran

Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.

Graham Motion

Santa Anita Park

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

11/01/2014 Bobby’s Kitten

Kitten’s Joy

Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Chad C Brown

W

Churchill Downs

Clark H’cap

11/28/2014 Hoppertunity

Any Given Saturday

Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. Bob Baffert and Weitman, Paul

W

Aqueduct

Cigar Mile H’cap

11/29/2014 Private Zone

Macho Uno

Good Friends Stable, LLC

Alfredo Velazquez

W

Del Mar

Hollywood Derby

11/29/2014 California Chrome Lucky Pulpit

Coburn, Steven; Martin, Perry

Art Sherman

W

Del Mar

Matriarch S

11/30/2014 La Tia

Salvador Hernandez

Armando de la Cerda P

Los Alamitos

Starlet S

12/13/2014 Take Charge Brandi Giant’s Causeway

Willis D Horton

D Wayne Lukas

W

Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Futurity

12/20/2014 Dortmund

Big Brown

Kaleem Shah, Inc.

Bob Baffert

W

Santa Anita Park

La Brea S

12/26/2014 Sam’s Sister

Brother Derek

Dedomenico, Mark; Hollendorfer, Jerry Hollendorfer Jerry; Todaro, George

W

Santa Anita Park

Malibu S

12/26/2014 Shared Belief

Candy Ride

Jungle Racing LLC; KMN Racing LLC, Hollendorefr; Litt; Solis ii; Todaro

W

11/01/2014 Texas Red

City Place

Jerry Hollendorfer

W indicates connections who have previously won a Gr 1 and are listed on the website. P indicates connections winning for the first time that are covered in the magazine. Biographies for all Gr 1 winners can be accessed online at trainermagazine.com/winners

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Web only/ print

P

W

P

W

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VETERINARY

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Inheritability

IN THE GENES

Is racing success inherited?

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VETERINARY

There can be no doubt that the hopes of both buyers and vendors at yearling sales are underpinned by the principle that racing success is at least partially determined by genetics. The yearlings that attract the highest prices are often those that are closely related to the best-performed horses of the previous generation. However, most racing enthusiasts would agree that while having great bloodlines may make success on the racecourse more achievable, it by no means guarantees success.

WORDS: DR. BRanDOn Velie, UniVeRSity Of SyDney PHOtOS: CaROline nORRiS, MaRC ReUHl, UniVeRSity Of SyDney

U

l T I m AT E l Y , racing success is the result of not only a “superior pedigree,” but also of an ideal environment that includes trainer, jockey, and nutrition among a myriad of other things. With so many environmental variables influencing racing success, the degree in which an individual’s superior performance is attributable to its pedigree can be unclear. In addition to this, the likelihood of this performance being passed on to future generations is uncertain and can complicate the process of sire and dam selection. Researchers at the University of Sydney are applying science to determine just how accurately progeny racing performance can be predicted from genetics. A recent article published in Equine Veterinary Journal described their work in hong Kong.

Fortunately, a virtue of racing success being a multifactorial trait (a trait resulting from the combined effect of both environmental and genetic variables) is that researchers can estimate the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors contributing to racing success. This is done through genetic analyses that can account for the influences of known environmental variables such as trainer, track, and jockey. Such analyses ultimately result in a genetic parameter that is characteristic of each selected trait and is referred to as heritability.

How is heritability measured?

Essentially, heritability describes the extent to which relatives will resemble each other in relation to a trait of interest. These traits can range from prize money earned and number of stakes race wins to more complex traits such as liability for a specific disease or the risk for a certain type of injury. Put another way, heritability can be viewed as the likelihood of the performance of any sire or dam being reflected in their foals. heritability estimates range from 0.0 to 1.0 with estimates less than 0.20, which are considered lowly heritable and estimates above 0.40 are considered highly heritable. however, it is vitally important to understand what is implied by a heritability estimate above zero. Racing success is complex and likely involves a combination of 82

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

potentially hundreds of genes that influence muscle, respiration, bone, circulation, and even the “will to win.” Each of the genes involved likely has a small individual effect on racing success that is ultimately captured by the estimate of heritability. In essence, a heritability of 0.16 for race win time at 1,000 meters would suggest that 16% of the variation seen in 1,000-meter race win times is due to the combination of genes that make up each individual horse. The remaining 84% would then be a result of environmental factors such as jockey and the condition of the racetrack.

Applying science in a racing population

Given the varied use of racing statistics such as cumulative earnings, stakes race wins to advertise the superiority of stallions standing at stud and yearlings at sales, the heritability of racing success in hong Kong was recently explored by researchers at the University of Sydney. While previous researchers have estimated the heritability of racing success in North America and Europe, heritability estimates are characteristic of the population in question and can change if the genetic structure of a population changes. For example if the industry prefers more sprinter types instead of stayer types. hong Kong’s racing population is unique in that not only is the entire racing population composed of imported horses,

“

It is possible that the low heritabilities for Hong Kong racing success are a result of the horses racing in Hong Kong being “genetically” evenly matched

”

but all of the horses are primarily trained at one racecourse (Sha Tin Racecourse).

Additionally, all racing, training, and veterinary procedures are monitored and regulated with a higher stringency than any other racing population in the world.

Researchers at the University of Sydney analyzed data for 4,947 horses that had competed in a race in hong Kong over the last decade from Australasia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa.

These horses represented offspring from 1,071 sires and 4,485 dams. Traits often associated with racing success, such as earnings, finish position, and race win times were calculated for every horse. Adjusting for known environmental effects such as trainer, track condition, age, and barrier position, the heritability of these traits were then estimated.

Winning time: a decent predictor

The heritabilities for the time it takes a horse to finish a race varied by distance and ranged from zero to 0.16, while the heritability of race win time ranged from 0.06 to 0.52.

It is possible that because analyses only accounted for the official distance of each race and not the actual distance each horse has run (with horses that are caught out wide and that cover more ground than those that stay next to the inside rail) or the tempo of the race, these estimates may be biased downwards. The heritability of win time at 1,600 meters (heritability = 0.52) was slightly higher than estimates in other racing populations and provides an interesting point of discussion. Previous estimates of heritability for win time have ranged from 0.05 to 0.28 with most placing win time as lowly heritable when environmental variation is accurately adjusted for. While it is typically uncommon to list win times for races in breeding advertisements for sires,

INhERITAbIlITY

Researchers at the University of Sydney analyzed the data of over 4,500 horses which had raced at Sha Tin to determine traits

these estimates from studies on varying populations suggests that the time it takes a horse to win a race may be a decent predictor of the performance of future progeny for races run under similar conditions.

Finish position: genetics can be overcome

heritability estimates pertaining to finish position were low and ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 and as expected were highly influenced by trainer, sex, and racing experience (career length, number of previous race starts). The region from which a horse originated was also associated with finish position. This is likely due to the breeding emphasis in certain racing regions, such as Australasia, which tend to favor sprint type horses, being more suited to the racing conditions and regulations in hong Kong. In addition to this, because heritability estimates for finish position are low, they also suggest that a horse from a “weaker” family may still perform at an elite level if it were to experience the right environment.

of superiority of one horse over another would not necessarily be accurate.

Career earnings: highly influenced by non-genetic factors

Do these conclusions apply outside Hong Kong?

heritability for career earnings in hong Kong was low (heritability = 0.06); however, studies from other racing populations have suggested a moderate heritability (0.20– 0.40) for career earnings. Although to some extent this supports the use of earnings as a tool for advertising the best sires and dams, it must be noted that earnings are highly influenced by many environmental factors such as trainer and sex. Without proper consideration of these influences, the claim

Keeping in mind that heritability estimates are specific to a population, it is possible that the low heritabilities for hong Kong racing success are a result of the horses racing in hong Kong being “genetically” evenly matched. heritability analyses depend on the variation that exists within a population and if the same genes or groups of genes are present in nearly all of the horses racing in hong Kong, then heritability will be low.

It is possible and by all accounts likely, that purchasers of horses bound for a racing career in hong Kong favor a specific type of horse. If true, this would ultimately reduce the amount of genetic variation in the hong Kong racing population and reduce the importance of a “strong” pedigree as it pertains to racing success in hong Kong. however, if a racing population has a large amount of genetic variation, most likely observed in the substantial Thoroughbred breeding industries of Australia and the U.S., heritability would likely be significantly higher as a strong pedigree would play a more vital role in racing success. n ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

83

TRACKSIDE

TRACKSIDE A new feature looking at stories in the news from tracks across North America.

PHOTOS: HORSEPHOTOS

The future of Atlantic City Racecourse remains in the balance

Southern California Tracks expand “Ship and Win”

Beginning April 2nd Southern California racing will benefit from an enhanced Ship and Win program that will initially last through until the end of 2015.

First launched at Del Mar in 2011, the program has helped average field sizes rise from 8.1 in 2010 (a year before the program) to 8.8 per race during 2014 at the seaside oval. From this April all out of state shippers, with at least one start under their belts, who compete at the three southern Californian tracks will benefit from a guaranteed bonus of $1000 on their first start in any race. In addition, connections will also receive a 30% purse supplement for all prize money won on their first start in any non stakes races at the three tracks.

“The foal crop has been dropping and we had to come up with a way of boosting our field size. We reached out to our local trainers and of course we wanted other trainers from out of state to bring strings of horses in. But we really wanted local trainers to benefit and at Del Mar over 60% of the horses that qualified for the program were from local trainers who went out and got horses from other states or Europe”, reports Craig Dado, of the California Marketing Committee, which along with the southern California tracks will be financing the initiative. “It’s a tool for trainers to go to their owners and say lets buy a horse and on your first start in California, you’re in a chance for this big bonus”.

writes Jennifer Montfort

Craig Dado: Ship and Win program will increase field sizes

Del Mar on schedule for new dirt track debut

Craig Dado also brought us up to date on the progress of the installation of the new dirt track at Del Mar; “We’re almost done taking out the synthetic track right now, we’re down to the subbase and we need to take out the the old drainage system out and then we’ll have the new dirt surface laid in the next month or two. It’ll be the same dirt as at Santa Anita. We’re going to learn alot in the first year but we’re looking forward to it”.

The new Del Mar dirt surface will be laid in the next couple of months

84

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

Atlantic City Race Course opened in 1946, the vision of John B. Kelly, Sr., creating the course near his summer playground in Ocean City with Fred C. Scholler, Glendon Robertson and James “Sonny” Fraser. But

by January 2015, its owners Greenwood Racing, signaled its imminent end.

The Press of Atlantic City reported the July 22 opening day was attended by 28,000 fans, among them Princess Grace of Monaco (Kelly’s daughter), Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. It boasted the distinction of a few industry “firsts”—holding a season under the lights, simulcast wagering from other racetracks—and hosted legendary horses like Round Table, Dr. Fager, and Kelso. Over the next few decades fans and horsemen alike flocked to the South Jersey oval to take advantage of its unique atmosphere and to race on its turf course, considered one of, if not the best in the country.

The story of its decline is a familiar refrain to anyone who follows racing. The rise in popularity of other sports, declines in attendance as a new generation failed to find its way to the race track, increasing land value and above all, competition. First from the Atlantic City casinos it preceded and then from surrounding states that turned their racetracks into racinos. When Greenwood Racing purchased the track in 2001 it was already in a steady decline and holding shortened meets. Prior to the 2008 economic downturn, and the collapse of the Atlantic City casino industry, owning a track in such close proximity to the East Coast gambling stronghold was a good strategic move for the Pennsylvania based company.

And so, for over a decade Greenwood maintained ownership. Minimal resources were dedicated to its race meets, pieces of the track were sold off to real estate developers and the training track and backstretch fell into disrepair and decay. It was impossible to avoid seeing the inevitable signs of deterioration, the plant falling victim to what historic preservationists define as “demolition by neglect”—allowing a building to deteriorate until the only possible option is to tear the place down.

Despite the physical condition of the grounds, it wasn’t hard to envision a new future for the track. In the years since Greenwood’s purchase something remarkable happened. People began to refer

TRACKSIDE to the six-day turf meets as a “boutique” meet. Attendance and handle steadily increased as people came back to ACRC, hungry for live racing in South Jersey. In 2013, the track reported attendance figures jumped 23.1% from the previous year, with a 22.6% increase in average daily handle and an on-track handle increase of 10.6%. The trend continued in 2014, with an 11.69% increase in average daily handle, despite the cancellation of an entire card due to weather.

There was talk of adding dates and making improvements to the facility. It seemed that ACRC was back.

The statistics and the abruptness of the announcement in January this year that the end was near, make Greenwood’s assertion in their press release that “…continuous business decline in the industry, the current regional economic climate and the absence of alternative revenue opportunities…” hard to believe.

Attendance and handle increases demonstrate there is an appetite for racing at ACRC. It’s not a stretch to reimagine ACRC, under a new management committed to the racing product and willing to invest in some capital improvements.

Expanding the April all-turf meet to two or three weeks would certainly bring the region out of winter racing, bridging the transition from Aqueduct to Belmont and ushering in a summer of racing at Monmouth Park. Imagine the impact on local and surrounding state breeding programs to have a revitalized New Jersey circuit.

Adding another turf meet in the fall could serve the same purpose. Easily accessible by major highways and under two hours away from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, there is no reason this model couldn’t succeed. A boutique meet at ACRC would demonstrate exactly what a successful track

Despite attendance and handle increases ACRC’s survival is under threat

looks like without an influx of casino money to keep it operating.

It is certainly not without precedence.

Kentucky Downs recently came off its most successful racing meet to-date. Their five day all turf meet shattered previous records with an almost 24% increase in handle and field sizes that averaged 10.2 starters per race. For track President Corey Johnsen, the success of the meet can be attributed to long term planning dedicated to crafting a racing product that will last.

“Any sports franchise that takes a short range approach loses money. The long term plans, the ones that treat the sport with respect, they are the profitable franchises that leave a legacy for the next generation to build upon,” he says.

Shorter turf meets are also responding to the changing landscape of the industry.

Johnsen cites an increase in turf races offered in the U.S. and Canada since 2004 and notes that short meets like Kentucky Downs enrich regional racing circuits, keeping turf horses in the region and racing at each venue.

When a track like ACRC closes, it represents not only the end of an era, but a missed opportunity for racing to reinvent itself. These are the tracks that introduce people to racing, serving as gateways to greater financial and emotional ties to the game.

“We need to make sure that we provide an exceptional experience for the people who love the sport and love to wager,” Johnsen says. “The best way to introduce people to horse racing is through live racing.

It’s difficult to get most people interested until you get them out to the racetrack to enjoy a day of beautiful sport.”

The 73rd edition of the Aiken Trials are coming

The 2015 running of The Aiken Trials will be held to be held on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Aiken Training Track. The Aiken Trials is the first leg of the Aiken Triple Crown, the three-weekend-long celebration of horse sports that includes The Aiken Trials, The Aiken Steeplechase, and the USC Aiken Pacers and Polo match.

The Aiken Trials draws upwards of 10,000 spectators who enjoy a day of family fun that includes extravagant tailgating spreads, assorted vendors, good-natured side betting, and fun contests such as the hat contest and the best tailgate contest.

The Aiken Trials is offering a new Pack a Picnic special this year. The package includes 4 patron tickets and a second row parking spot for $60. Families and friends are encouraged to “pack a picnic” or tailgate, and come out to enjoy a fun day of racing.

Aiken Trials Treasurer, Nikki Bargeloh, encourages the public to come out to the

event. “The Trials are always an exciting day. You never know when you might see the next Classic Winner come through Aiken, like Palace Malice. It’s a fun, family event where everyone really gets an opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close and personal”.

Gates open at 10 am with the opening ceremonies and carriage parade beginning at 1 pm. Post time for the first race is 2 pm.

Tickets are $10 for general parking (3rd row or farther) and $10 for gate entrance

in advance. A VIP tent party will begin at 11 am. Tickets for the tent are $75 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

This year, the VIP tent has increased in size to accommodate 500 patrons.

The Aiken Trials will be held at the Aiken Training Track which is located at 538 Two Notch Road, Aiken, SC 29801. Tickets for the Aiken Trials can be purchased online at www.aikentrials.com or by calling the Track office at (803) 6484631.

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

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STAKES SCHEDULES

RACES

STAKES SCHEDULES COPYRIGHT

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.

Stakes Schedules are now updated monthly – visit 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 is 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.

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Sunland Park Sunland Park Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town

Race Name & (Sponsor) Mt. Cristo Rey H’cap Copper Top Futurity It’s Binn Too Long Coin Collector St Fancy Buckles St Henry Mercer Memorial Rachel’s Turn St Its Only Money S

Class S S S S S S S

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA USA GB USA USA USA

Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Delta Downs Gulfstream Park Sam Houston Race Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Canterbury Penn National Golden Gate Fields Royal Ascot Ruidoso Downs Lone Star Park Lone Star Park

L.A Premier Night Matron L.A Premier Night Sprint L.A Premier Night Bon Temps Starter L.A Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Bucharest S The Ladies Turf Sprint Al Quoz Sprint Honor the Hero St Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Albany St King’s Stand St Mountain Top Futurity TTA Sales Futurity - C&G Div TTA Sales Futurity - Filly Div

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Gulfstream Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Fair Grounds Keeneland Keeneland Albuquerque Albuquerque Albuquerque Belmont Park Belmont Park Belterra Park Ruidoso Downs Thistledown Ruidoso Downs Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Keeneland

The Rampart S Spring Fever La Coneja St Costa Rising St Shakertown St Giant’s Causeway St Petticoat S Casey Darnell Pony Express Duke City Sprint Astoria Tremont Hoover St Rio Grande Senorita Futurity Miss Ohio St Rio Grande Senor Futurity Lucky Coin Caress Coronation Cup Quick Call Schenectady Troy St Smart N Fancy BC Turf Sprint

Race Date 08-Mar-15 14-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 24-May-15 20-Sep-15 20-Sep-15 20-Sep-15

Value $85,000 $55,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000

4.5f (900m) Age 3+ (NM Bred) 2 C&G 3F 3 3+ FM 2 2F 3+

Surface D D D D D D D D

Metres Furlongs Closing 0900 4.5 28-Feb-15 0900 4.5 CLOSED 0900 4.5 09-Apr-15 0900 4.5 09-Apr-15 0900 4.5 14-May-15 0900 4.5 10-Sep-15 0900 4.5 10-Sep-15 0900 4.5 10-Sep-15

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com S S S&R S&R

Gr 1

Gp 1 S R R

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 29-Mar-15 26-May-15 31-May-15 14-Jun-15 17-Jun-15 21-Jun-15 12-Jul-15 12-Jul-15

$100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $75,000 $50,000 $75,000 $1,000,000 $75,000 $150,000 $50,000 £375,000 $175,000 $100,000 $100,000

4+ F&M 4+ 4+ F&M 4+ La bred 4+ 4+ 4+ F&M NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 2 2 CG 2F

5f (1000m) D D D D T T D T T T T T D D D

1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

D D D D T T D D D D D T D D D T T T T T T T T

1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Gr 3 S S Gr 3 S

S S S

Gr 1

22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 23-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 10-May-15 17-May-15 05-Jun-15 06-Jun-15 13-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 27-Jul-15 28-Jul-15 03-Aug-15 04-Aug-15 07-Aug-15 22-Aug-15 23-Aug-15 31-Aug-15 01-Nov-15

$100,000 $100,000 $85,000 $60,000 $125,000 $100,000 $55,000 $60,000 $55,000 $250,000 $250,000 $75,000 $175,000 $75,000 $175,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $1,000,000

4+ F&M 4+ F&M 4+ FM ( NM Bred) 3+ La Bred 4+ 4+ FM 3F 3+ 3 2F 2 2 2F 2 F (OH Bred) 2 4+ 4 + FM 3F 3 2 3+ 3 + FM 3+

Oaklawn Park Aqueduct Turf Paradise Aqueduct Golden Gate Fields Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Tampa Bay Downs Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Aqueduct Santa Anita

88

King Cotton S Toboggan H’cap Tempe Broadway (NY Bred) Lost in the Fog St Mardi Gras S Duncan F. Kenner S The Minaret St Jimmy Winkfield Hot Springs S Tom Fool Las Flores St

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

Gr 3 S

L

Gr 3 Gr 3

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 18-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 09-Mar-15

$100,000 $150,000 $75,000 $100,000 $50,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $100,000

24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 27-Jan-15 15-Feb-15 17-Jan-15 18-May-15 21-May-15 05-Jun-15 21-Apr-15 02-Feb-15 02-May-15 02-May-15

5.5f (1100m)

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5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5

08-Feb-15 14-Feb-15 14-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 16-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 07-May-15 24-May-15 24-May-15 02-Feb-15 02-Feb-15 12-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 09-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 20-Oct-15

6f (1200m) 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ FM 4+ 4 + FM 3+ 3+ F&M 3 4+ 4+ 4+ FM

D D D D AWT T D D D D D D

1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

31-Jan-15 25-Jan-15 05-Feb-15 01-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 28-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 27-Feb-15

STAKES SCHEDULES Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Country USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE 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 GB GB 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 GB USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Aqueduct Golden Gate Fields Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Hawthorne Mahoning Valley Meydan Hawthorne Racecourse Oaklawn Park Chukyo Oaklawn Park Tampa Bay Downs Will Rogers Downs Will Rogers Downs Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Hawthorne Hawthorne Oaklawn Park Santa Anita Aqueduct Mahoning Valley Will Rogers Downs Belmont Park Belmont Park Belterra Park Thistledown Belmont Park Albuquerque Albuquerque Belmont Park Canterbury Thistledown Canterbury Belmont Park Belmont Park Thistledown Belmont Park Penn National Penn National Royal Ascot Royal Ascot Belmont Park Canterbury Canterbury Lone Star Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Arlington Park Arlington Park Thistledown Thistledown Saratoga Belterra Park Canterbury Canterbury Saratoga Canterbury Canterbury Belterra Park Canterbury Thistledown Albuquerque Niigata Thistledown Ascot Thistledown Keeneland Thistledown Mahoning Valley Mahoning Valley Mahoning Valley Mahoning Valley Penn National

Race Name & (Sponsor) Correction Camilla Urso St Cicada St Gazebo The Third Chance H’cap Southern Park S Dubai Golden Shaheen Robert S. Molaro H’cap Rainbow Miss S Takamatsunomiya Kinen Rainbow S Hilton Garden Inn Sprint Wilma Mankiller St Clem McSpadden Memorial Route 66 St Carousel H Count Fleet Sprint H Bachelor Czaria H Land of Lincoln St Pretty Jenny St Instant Racing San Pedro St Distaff H’cap Howard B. Noonan St Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs Classics St Gold Fever License Fee Babst/Palacios Memorial H’cap Dr TF Classen Memorial St Affirmed Success Albuquerque Journal S Bank of Albuquerque S Diablo S 10,000 Lakes St Michael F Rowland Memorial H’cap Lady Slipper St Jersey Girl True North S Angenora St Jaipur Invitational Danzig S New Start Commonwealth Cup Diamond Jubilee St Dancin Renee Victor Myers St Frances Genter Valor Farms St Rockville Centre Lynbrook Sanford St Honorable Miss H’cap Amsterdam St Alfred G Vanderbilt H’cap Isaac Murphy St Addison Cammack Cleveland Kindergarten St Honey Jay St Tale of the Cat Tah Dah St MN Distaff Sprint Championship MN Sprint Championship Prioress Northern Lights Debutante St Northern Lights Futurity St Loyalty St Shakopee Juvenile Stakes Scarlet & Gray H’cap Camino Real Futurity Sprinters St Best of Ohio Sprint H’cap QIPCO British Champions Sprint S Diana St BC Sprint Cardinal H Cardinal H Emerald Necklace S First Lady St Glacial Princess St The Fabulous Strike H’Cap

Class S Gr 3

Gr 1 S S Gr 1 S

L Gr 3

S S L Gr 2 S S

S S S S

S

Gr 2 S Gr 3 R Gp 1 Gp 1

S

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

S S Gr 1 S S

S Gr 1 S Gp 1 Gr 1

Race Date 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 16-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 27-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 30-Mar-15 30-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 07-Apr-15 08-Apr-15 09-Apr-15 10-Apr-15 11-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 13-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 28-Apr-15 02-May-15 02-May-15 03-May-15 03-May-15 04-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 11-May-15 16-May-15 17-May-15 17-May-15 06-Jun-15 06-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 14-Jun-15 14-Jun-15 20-Jun-15 21-Jun-15 29-Jun-15 05-Jul-15 05-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 20-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 02-Aug-15 02-Aug-15 02-Aug-15 02-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 24-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 07-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 13-Sep-15 13-Sep-15 20-Sep-15 28-Sep-15 05-Oct-15 11-Oct-15 18-Oct-15 25-Oct-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 22-Nov-15 22-Nov-15 26-Nov-15

Value $100,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $2,000,000 $75,000 $75,000 $1,718,000 $75,000 $75,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $300,000 $100,000 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $75,000 $200,000 $75,000 $55,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $60,000 $60,000 $100,000 $60,000 $75,000 $60,000 $150,000 $250,000 $75,000 $300,000 $75,000 $75,000 £385,000 £525000 $100,000 $60,000 $60,000 $50,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $200,000 $200,000 $350,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $75,000 $60,000 $60,000 $300,000 $80,000 $80,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $1,718,000 $150,000 £600,000 $75,000 $1,500,000 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $200,000

6f (1200m)

Age 4 + FM 4+ FM 3F 3 4+FM 3F NH 3yo+ SH 3yo+ 4+ 3 F (Ark Bred) 4+ 3 C&G (Ark Bred) 4+ 3+ FM 3+ CG 4+ F&M 4+ 3 3+ F&M 3 3F 3F 3 4 + FM 3 3+ FM 3 4 + FM 3+ (OH Reg) 3+ FM (OH Bred) 4+ 3 3F 4+ 3+ C&G 3+ (OH Bred) 3+F&M 3F 4+ 3+ FM (OH Bred) 4+ 3 3 F (PA Bred) 3 4+ 3+ FM 3 + CG 3 F (Min Bred) 3+ FM (TX Bred) 2 NY Bred 2F 2 3+ FM 3 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 2 (OH Bred) 3+ (OH Bred) 3+ 2F 3 FM 3 3F 2F 2 2 2 3+ FM (OH Reg) 2 3+ 3+ (OH Bred) 3+ 3 + FM (Ohio bred) 3+ 3 + (Ohio bred) 3+ 2F 3F 2 F (Ohio bred) 3+

Surface D AWT D D D D D D D T D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D T D D D D D D D D D D D D T D T T T D D D D D D D D D D AWT AWT D D D T D D D D D T D D D T D T T D T D D T T D

Metres Furlongs Closing 1200 6 01-Mar-15 1200 6 06-Mar-15 1200 6 01-Mar-15 1200 6 14-Mar-15 1200 6 19-Mar-15 1200 6 1200 6 17-Jan-15 1200 6 19-Mar-15 1200 6 1200 6 18-Feb-15 1200 6 1200 6 22-Mar-15 1200 6 28-Mar-15 1200 6 29-Mar-15 1200 6 02-Apr-15 1200 6 29-Mar-15 1200 6 03-Apr-15 1200 6 04-Apr-15 1200 6 02-Apr-15 1200 6 02-Apr-15 1200 6 03-Apr-15 1200 6 04-Apr-15 1200 6 05-Apr-15 1200 6 1200 6 18-Apr-15 1200 6 19-Apr-15 1200 6 19-Apr-15 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 19-Apr-15 1200 6 26-Apr-15 1200 6 26-Apr-15 1200 6 26-Apr-15 1200 6 09-May-15 1200 6 1200 6 10-May-15 1200 6 24-May-15 1200 6 24-May-15 1200 6 1200 6 CLOSED 1200 6 05-Jun-15 1200 6 05-Jun-15 1200 6 21-Apr-15 1200 6 21-Apr-15 1200 6 14-Jun-15 1200 6 20-Jun-15 1200 6 20-Jun-15 1200 6 03-Jul-15 1200 6 05-Jul-15 1200 6 05-Jul-15 1200 6 12-Jul-15 1200 6 19-Jul-15 1200 6 19-Jul-15 1200 6 19-Jul-15 1200 6 23-Jul-15 1200 6 23-Jul-15 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 09-Aug-15 1200 6 1200 6 27-Aug-15 1200 6 27-Aug-15 1200 6 23-Aug-15 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 04-Sep-15 1200 6 1200 6 CLOSED 1200 6 19-Aug-15 1200 6 1200 6 04-Aug-15 1200 6 1200 6 20-Oct-15 1200 6 30-Oct-18 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 1200 6 19-Nov-15

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

89

STAKES SCHEDULES Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com Country USA USA

Track Penn National Beulah Park

Race Name & (Sponsor) Blue Mountain S Joshua Radosevich Memorial S

Class R R

Race Date 26-Nov-15 06-Dec-15

Value $75,000 $75,000

Age 2 F (PA bred) 2 (OH Acc)

6f (1200m) Surface D D

Metres Furlongs 1200 6 1200 6

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore 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

Sunland Park Turfway Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Santa Anita Sunland Park Santa Anita Santa Anita Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Santa Anita Santa Anita Santa Anita Aqueduct Aqueduct Aqueduct Albuquerque Albuquerque Belterra Park Belmont Park Canterbury Belmont Park Canterbury Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga

El Diario H Cincinnati Trophy St Hurricane Bertie Gulfstream Park Sprint Sensational Star St Bill Thomas Memorial S Evening Jewel St Echo Eddie St Premiere St Wayne Hanks Memorial S Las Cienegas St Kona Gold St San Simeon St New York Stallion - Park Avenue Division New York Stallion - Times Square Division Belle Harbor S Budweiser Special Carlos Salazar Tall Stack St Vagrancy H’cap Dark Star Cup Victory Ride St MTA Stallion Auction S John Morrissey St Adirondack St Saratoga Special Union Avenue St Funny Cide Seeking the Ante

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

Santa Anita Delta Downs Delta Downs Laurel Park Sam Houston Race Park Laurel Park Laurel Park Gulfstream Park Santa Anita Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Laurel Park Gulfstream Park Aqueduct Keeneland Keeneland Aqueduct Tampa Bay Downs Keeneland Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Albuquerque Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Albuquerque Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Charles Town Pimlico Saratoga Charles Town Saratoga Charles Town Arlington Park Charles Town Saratoga

San Vicente St L.A Premier Night Prince L.A Premier Night Starlet The Barbara Fritchie H’Cap Jim’s Orbit S General George H’cap The Wide Country Stakes Swale S San Carlos St The Any Limit Inside Information Conniver Stakes Sir Shackleton Bay Shore St Commonwealth St Madison St Carter H’cap Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore St Beaumont St Sugar Maple St Robert Hilton Memorial Confucius Say St Original Gold St O.D. McDonald H Elusive Quality Wait a While S Paradise Creek S Bouwerie St Mike Lee St Intercontinental Woody Stephens St Univ of NM H’cap Bed o’ Roses (H’cap) New York Stallion Series - Cupecoy’s Joy Division New York Stallion Series - Spectacular Bid Division Belmont Sprint Championship Robert G Leavitt St Shine Again St Shine Again Sadie Hawkins St Test Frank Gall Memorial Arlington-Washington Futurity Sylvia Bishop Memorial King’s Bishop

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

S S Gr 3 Gr 3 S Gr 2 Gr 2 S

08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 23-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 10-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 20-Apr-15 27-Apr-15 27-Apr-15 27-Apr-15 03-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 17-May-15 22-Jun-15 05-Jul-15 20-Jul-15 31-Jul-15 17-Aug-15 17-Aug-15 21-Aug-15 29-Aug-15 29-Aug-15

$50,000 $75,000 $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $55,000 $60,000 $75,000 $150,000 $75,000 $150,000 $55,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $100,000 $200,000 $200,000

6.5f (1300m)

3+ F&M 3F 4+ F&M 4+ 4+ (CA Bred) 3+ F 3 (CA Bred) 3 (CA Bred) 3+ ( TX Bred) 3+ FM 4+ FM 4+ 4+ 3F 3 3F 3+ 3+ F&M 3 4+ FM 3+ 3F 3 3+ (NY bred) 2F 2 3+ FM (NY bred) 2 2F

D AWT D D T D D D D D T D T D D D D D T D D D D D D D D D D

1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300

6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5

3 3yr La bred 3 F La bred 3+F&M 3 3+ 3F 3 4+ 3F 4+ F&M 3+ FM 4+ 3 4+ 4+ FM 4+ 3 3F 4+ FM 3 3+ 3+ FM 3+ 4+ 3F 3 3 F (NY bred) 3 (NY bred) 4+ FM 3 3+ 4+ F&M 3 F (NY Bred) 3 (NY Bred) 3+ 3 3+ FM 3 + FM 3+ F&M 3F 3+ 2 3F 3

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D T T T D D T D D D T T D D D D D D D AWT D D

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 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400 1400

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 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

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90

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

Gr 2 S&R S Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2

Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 2

S S

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

02-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 13-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 17-May-15 24-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 05-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 18-Jun-15 21-Jun-15 22-Jun-15 22-Jun-15 05-Jul-15 02-Aug-15 06-Aug-15 06-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 23-Aug-15 23-Aug-15 30-Aug-15

$200,000 $125,000 $125,000 $300,000 $75,000 $250,000 $100,000 $200,000 $250,000 $75,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 $300,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $75,000 $250,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $60,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $500,000 $60,000 $150,000 $100,000 $100,000 $400,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $500,000 $50,000 $100,000 $50,000 $500,000

Closing 19-Nov-15

31-Jan-15 06-Feb-15 01-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 13-Feb-15 14-Mar-15 27-Mar-15 27-Mar-15 03-Apr-15 03-Apr-15 03-Apr-15 03-Apr-15 10-Apr-15 CLOSED CLOSED 12-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 03-May-15 15-Jun-15 21-Jun-15 13-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 02-Aug-15 02-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 16-Aug-15

7f (1400m) 23-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 06-Feb-15 01-Jan-18 06-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 13-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 09-Apr-15 09-Apr-15 09-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 03-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 24-May-15 24-May-15 08-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 CLOSED CLOSED 21-Jun-15 23-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 26-Jul-09 06-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 16-Aug-15

STAKES SCHEDULES Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com Country USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Saratoga Saratoga Arlington Park Saratoga Saratoga Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Charles Town Keeneland Charles Town Charles Town

Race Name & (Sponsor) Ballerina St Forego Arlington-Washington Lassie Spinaway St Hopeful St Pink Ribbon St Wild and Wonderful St Charles Town Oaks Tri-State Futurity BC Filly & Mare Sprint West Virginia Futurity (WV) Eleanor Casey Memorial

Class Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Fair Grounds Calder Delta Downs Tampa Bay Downs Delta Downs Fair Grounds Lone Star Park

Black Gold St Azalea St Azalea The Pelican St Pelican Allen Lacombe Memorial H’cap Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship St

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 JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA JPN USA JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Gulfstream Park Delta Downs Delta Downs Santa Anita Sunland Park Laurel Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Tokyo Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Sam Houston Race Park Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Santa Anita Delta Downs Laurel Park Delta Downs Sunland Park Turfway Park Fair Grounds Santa Anita Sunland Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Aqueduct Keeneland Oaklawn Park Hanshin Aqueduct Keeneland Lone Star Park Golden Gate Fields Golden Gate Fields Belmont Park Will Rogers Downs Will Rogers Downs Belmont Park Lone Star Park Lone Star Park Tokyo Golden Gate Fields Tokyo Albuquerque Golden Gate Fields Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Will Rogers Downs Will Rogers Downs Penn National Penn National Belmont Park Albuquerque Belmont Park

Fred W Hooper H’cap L.A Premier Night Distaff L.A Premier Night Ladies Starter Buena Vista St The Peppers Pride S The Miracle Wood Stakes Canadian Turf Davona Dale St February St Island Fashion S The Herecomesthebride S Texas Heritage Stakes Dixie Poker Ace S Gulfstream Park H Frank E. Kilroe Mile Gold Coast Caesar’s Wish St Borgata New Mexico State University S Bourbonette Oaks Red Camelia St Dream of Summer Stakes Harry W Henson H Appleton Honey Fox St Crescent City Oaks Danger’s Hour Maker’s 46 Mile Northern Spur Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) Plenty of Grace Appalachian St Texas Mile San Francisco Mile Silky Sullivan St Westchester H’cap Oklahoma Stallion Colts & Geldings Division Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Division Ruffian H’cap Texas Stallion St - Stymie Division Texas Stallion St - Got Koko Division NHK Mile Cup Alcatraz St Victoria Mile Albuquerque Distaff All American Kingston H’cap Mount Vernon H’cap Commentator Critical Eye RPDC Classic Distaff Cherokee Nation Classic Cup Penn Oaks Penn Mile Metropolitan H’Cap Charles Taylor Derby Just a Game St

R Gr 1 S

Race Date 30-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 06-Sep-15 08-Sep-15 20-Sep-15 20-Sep-15 20-Sep-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 22-Nov-15 13-Dec-15

Value $600,000 $700,000 $75,000 $350,000 $350,000 $100,000 $100,000 $350,000 $50,000 $1,000,000 $50,000 $50,000

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

7f (1400m) Surface D D AWT D D D D D D D D D

Metres Furlongs Closing 1400 7 16-Aug-15 1400 7 16-Aug-15 1400 7 20-Aug-15 1400 7 23-Aug-15 1400 7 23-Aug-15 1400 7 06-Sep-15 1400 7 06-Sep-15 1400 7 30-Aug-15 1400 7 1400 7 20-Oct-15 1400 7 1400 7 03-Dec-15

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore Gr 3 S S R

01-Mar-15 07-Mar-15 07-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 21-Jun-15

$60,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $60,000 $50,000

7.5f (1500m)

3 3F 3F 3 3 3F 3+ FM

T D D D D T T

1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500

7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5

4+ 4+ FM La bred 4+ F&M 4+ FM 4+ NM Bred 3 4+ 3F 4+ 3F 3F 3 4+ LA Bred 4+ 4+ 4+ F&M 3F 4+ 4+ 3F 4+ FM La Bred 4+ FM (CA Bred) 3+ F&M 4+ 4+ F&M 3 F&M La Bred 4+ 4+ 3 3F 4+ 3F 3+ 3+ 3 (CA Bred) 4+ 3 CG 3F 4+ FM 3 CG 3F 3 3 4+ F&M 3 + FM 3+ 3+ (NY Bred) 3+ FM (NY Bred) 3 + (NY Bred) 3+ FM 3+ FM 3+ 3F 3 3+ FM 3 4+ FM

D D D T D D T D D D T D T D T D D D D AWT T D D T T D T T D T T T D T T D D D D D D T T T D AWT T T D D D D T T D D T

1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Gr 3 S&R S&R Gr 2 S Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 3 S Gr 2 Gr 1 R R S Gr 3 S S Gr 3 Gr 2 S S Gr 1 Gr 1 S Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 3 S Gr 3 S S Gr 2 R R Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 3 S S

S S

Gr 1 Gr 1

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 23-Feb-15 23-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 14-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 23-Mar-15 23-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 11-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 13-Apr-15 13-Apr-15 13-Apr-15 25-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 27-Apr-15 03-May-15 03-May-15 03-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 11-May-15 11-May-15 18-May-15 24-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 26-May-15 27-May-15 31-May-15 31-May-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15

$100,000 $150,000 $65,000 $200,000 $85,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $1,707,000 $50,000 $150,000 $50,000 $60,000 $300,000 $400,000 $75,000 $100,000 $75,000 $85,000 $150,000 $60,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $300,000 $75,000 $100,000 $300,000 $100,000 $1,608,000 $100,000 $125,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $50,000 $50,000 $250,000 $75,000 $75,000 $1,667,000 $75,000 $1,636,000 $55,000 $100,000 $125,000 $125,000 $200,000 $200,000 $55,000 $55,000 $150,000 $50,000 $1,250,000 $55,000 $700,000

15-Feb-15 21-Feb-15 21-Feb-18 21-Feb-15 21-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 12-Jun-15

8f (1600m)

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

25-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 06-Feb-15 07-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 CLOSED 14-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 28-Feb-15 06-Mar-15 28-Feb-15 07-Mar-15 13-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 13-Mar-15 14-Mar-15 15-Feb-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 03-Apr-15 04-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 17-Apr-15 17-Apr-15 17-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 22-Apr-15 22-Apr-15 26-Apr-15

01-Apr-15 01-May-15 01-Apr-15 14-May-15 15-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 16-May-15 17-May-15 21-May-15 21-May-15 24-May-15 28-May-15 24-May-15

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STAKES SCHEDULES Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com Country USA USA USA JPN USA GB GB GB USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA GB USA USA USA USA JPN JPN JPN

Track Belmont Park Canterbury Canterbury Tokyo Belmont Park Royal Ascot Royal Ascot Royal Ascot Canterbury Belmont Park Belmont Park Arlington Park Canterbury Canterbury Belmont Park Lone Star Park Belmont Park Arlington Park Arlington Park Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Canterbury Saratoga Saratoga Ascot Keeneland Keeneland Keeneland Keeneland Kyoto Hanshin Hanshin

Race Name & (Sponsor) Acorn St Brooks Fields St HBPA Distaff Yasuda Kinen Poker H’cap St James’s Palace St Queen Anne St Coronation St Northbound Pride Oaks Perfect Sting Dwyer St Purple Violet St Lady Canterbury St Mystic Lake Mile Forbidden Apple Assault St Manila Hanshin Cup Springfield St Shuvee H’cap De La Rose St New York Stallion Series - Cab Calloway Division New York Stallion Series - Statue of Liberty Division Fourstardave H’cap Mystic Lake Derby Riskaverse Better Talk Now Queen Elizabeth II St (Qipco) BC Juvenile Fillies Turf Championship BC Juvenile Turf BC Dirt Mile BC Mile Mile Championship Hanshin Juvenile Fillies Asahi Hai Futurity St

Class Gr 1

Gr 1 Gr 3 Gp 1 Gp 1 Gp 1

Gr 3 S

R Gr 3 S Gr 3 R R Gr 2

Gp 1 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1

Race Date 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 08-Jun-15 14-Jun-15 17-Jun-15 17-Jun-15 20-Jun-15 22-Jun-15 04-Jul-15 05-Jul-15 05-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 13-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 03-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 11-Aug-15 14-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 24-Aug-15 28-Aug-15 01-Sep-15 18-Oct-15 31-Oct-15 31-Oct-15 31-Oct-15 01-Nov-15 23-Nov-15 14-Dec-15 21-Dec-15

Value $750,000 $75,000 $75,000 $1,808,000 $300,000 £375,000 £375,000 £385,000 $75,000 $100,000 $500,000 $75,000 $100,000 $100,000 $150,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000 £1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,808,000 $1,173,000 $1,274,000

Age 3F 3+ 3+FM 3+ 4+ 3C 4+ 3F 3F 4+ F&M 3 3F 3+ FM 3+ 4+ 3+ (TX Bred) 3 3+ 3 3+ FM 4 + FM 3 3F 3+ 3 3F 3 3+ 2F 2 CG 3+ 3+ 3+ 2F 2 No G

8f (1600m) Surface D T T T T T T T T T D AWT T T T D T AWT AWT D T T T T T T T T T T D T T T T

Metres Furlongs Closing 1600 8 24-May-15 1600 8 31-May-15 1600 8 31-May-15 1600 8 29-Apr-15 1600 8 31-May-15 1600 8 21-Apr-15 1600 8 21-Apr-15 1600 8 21-Apr-15 1600 8 15-Jun-15 1600 8 21-Jun-15 1600 8 21-Jun-15 1600 8 25-Jun-15 1600 8 05-Jul-15 1600 8 05-Jul-15 1600 8 28-Jun-15 1600 8 03-Jul-15 28-Jun-15 1600 8 1600 8 09-Jul-15 1600 8 16-Jul-15 1600 8 19-Jul-15 1600 8 26-Jul-15 1600 8 1600 8 1600 8 02-Aug-15 1600 8 17-Aug-15 1600 8 16-Aug-15 1600 8 16-Aug-15 1600 8 04-Aug-15 1600 8 20-Oct-15 1600 8 20-Oct-15 1600 8 20-Oct-15 1600 8 20-Oct-15 1600 8 30-Sep-15 1600 8 28-Oct-15 1600 8 11-Nov-15

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore USA USA

Canterbury Canterbury

Minnesota Derby Minnesota Oaks

S S

09-Aug-15 09-Aug-15

$80,000 $80,000

3 CG 3F

8.32f (1664m) D D

1664 1664

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 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

Delta Downs Santa Anita Aqueduct Golden Gate Fields Delta Downs Oaklawn Park Santa Anita Sam Houston Race Park Tampa Bay Downs Oaklawn Park Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Sunland Park Aqueduct Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Turf Paradise Santa Anita Turfway Park Gulfstream Park Sam Houston Race Park Sunland Park Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs Santa Anita Aqueduct Tampa Bay Downs Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Sunland Park Sunland Park

92

L.A Premier Night Championship Robert B. Lewis St Withers St California Oaks L.A Premier Night Gentlemen Starter Essex H Santa Maria St Jersey Village S Wayward Lass St Bayakoa S Evening Attire Southwest S Mine That Bird Derby Busher St Mineshaft H’cap Rachel Alexandra St The Besilu Fountain Of Youth St Risen Star S Bayou H’cap Turf Paradise Derby Santa Ysabel St John Battaglia Memorial St The Palm Beach S Jersey Lily S Curribot H Cat Cay Honeybee S Florida Oaks Tampa Bay Derby San Felipe St Gotham St Challenger St Razorback H Azeri S Rebel S The Royal Delta New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks New Mexico Breeders’ Derby

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

S Gr 2 Gr 3 S&R Gr 2

Gr 3

Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2

Gr 3 L Gr 3

Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 2 S S

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 16-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 23-Mar-15 23-Mar-15

$200,000 $200,000 $250,000 $50,000 $65,000 $100,000 $200,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $300,000 $100,000 $100,000 $125,000 $175,000 $400,000 $400,000 $60,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $350,000 $400,000 $400,000 $60,000 $250,000 $300,000 $750,000 $200,000 $100,000 $100,000

8.32 8.32

8.5f (1700m) 4+ 3 3 3F 4+ La bred 4+ 4+ FM 4+ 4+ FM 4+ F&M 4+ 3 3 3F 4+ 3F 3 3 4+ FM 3 3F 3 3 4+ 3+ 4 + FM 3F 3F 3 3 3 4+ 4+ 4+ F&M 3 4+ FM 3F 3 (NM Bred)

D D D AWT D D D T D D D D D D D D D D T D D AWT T T D D D T D D D D D D D D D D

1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700 1700

8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5

24-Jan-15 30-Jan-15 25-Jan-15 30-Jan-15 24-Jan-15 07-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 03-Feb-15 01-Feb-15 07-Feb-15 01-Feb-15 07-Feb-15 14-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 20-Feb-15 20-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 21-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 28-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 07-Mar-15 07-Mar-15 07-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 14-Mar-15 14-Mar-15

STAKES SCHEDULES Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com 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 USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Track Sunland Park Sunland Park Oaklawn Park Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Keeneland Oaklawn Park Santa Anita Keeneland Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs Oaklawn Park Keeneland Keeneland Keeneland Aqueduct Aqueduct Turf Paradise Fonner Park Hawthorne Hawthorne Belmont Park Golden Gate Fields Albuquerque Belterra Park Lone Star Park Penn National Belterra Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Belterra Park Belmont Park Thistledown Canterbury Canterbury Belterra Park Saratoga Saratoga Arlington Park Arlington Park Belterra Park Belterra Park Penn National Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Thistledown Saratoga Saratoga Canterbury Canterbury Thistledown Thistledown Keeneland Keeneland Mahoning Valley Penn National Mahoning Valley

Race Name & (Sponsor) Sunland Park Oaks Sunland Derby Arkansas Breeders (Open) The Gulfstream Oaks Fair Grounds Oaks Star Guitar St Crescent City Derby Transylvania St Fantasy S Santa Anita Oaks Central Bank Ashland St Sophomore Turf Stud Sophomore Turf The Distaff Turf Tampa Turf Classic Apple Blossom H Coolmore Lexington St Jenny Wiley St Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare St Woodhaven S Memories of Silver S Gene Fleming Breeders Derby Bosselman/Gus Fonner St Milwaukee Avenue H’cap Peach Of It H’cap Beaugay Golden Poppy St The Lineage Classic Tomboy St Lone Star Park H’cap The Lyphard Green Carpet St Ogden Phipps H’cap Easy Goer Sydney Gendelman Memorial H’cap Mother Goose St J William Petro Memorial H’cap Blair’s Cove St Princess Elaine St Cincinnatian St Lake George St Lure Black Tie Affair H’cap Lincoln Heritage H’cap Horizon St Vivacious H’cap Robellino S West Point H’cap Yaddo H’cap Ballston Spa Pay the Man S With Anticipation St P.G. Johnson St MN Classic Championship MN Distaff Classic Championship Catlaunch Stakes Juvenile St BC Juvenile Fillies BC Juvenile Ohio Debutante H The Swatara Bobbie Bricker Memorial H’cap

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

Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 S S S S S Gr 3 S Gr 3 R Gr 1

Gr 1 S S S Gr 2 S S

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

Race Date 23-Mar-15 23-Mar-15 28-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 04-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 11-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 18-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 20-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 10-May-15 19-May-15 26-May-15 31-May-15 01-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 15-Jun-15 28-Jun-15 28-Jun-15 04-Jul-15 04-Jul-15 13-Jul-15 25-Jul-15 09-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 10-Aug-15 10-Aug-15 23-Aug-15 29-Aug-15 29-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 03-Sep-15 04-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 07-Sep-15 27-Sep-15 11-Oct-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 08-Nov-15 26-Nov-15 06-Dec-15

Value $200,000 $800,000 $75,000 $250,000 $400,000 $60,000 $75,000 $100,000 $400,000 $400,000 $500,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $600,000 $250,000 $300,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $150,000 $50,000 $60,000 $75,000 $200,000 $75,000 $75,000 $1,000,000 $150,000 $75,000 $300,000 $75,000 $60,000 $60,000 $75,000 $200,000 $100,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $150,000 $150,000 $400,000 $75,000 $200,000 $100,000 $60,000 $60,000 $75,000 $150,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $75,000 $100,000 $75,000

Age 3F 3 3+ (Ark Bred) 3F 3F 4+ LA Bred 3 La Bred 3 3F 3F 3F 3 3 3+ F&M 4+ 4+ F&M 3 4+ FM 4+ FM 3 3F 3 (AZ Bred) 3+ 3+ 3+ FM 4+ FM 3+ FM 3+ 3F 3+ 3+ F&M 3 4+ FM 3 3+ 3F 3+ FM (OH Bred) 3+ CG 3+ FM 3F 3F 4+ 3+ 3+ FM 3 3 + FM 3+ 3+ (NY bred) 3+ FM (NY bred) 3+ FM 3 + FM 2 2F 3+ 3+ FM 3 + (Ohio bred) 2 2F 2 C&G 3 + FM (Ohio bred) 3+ 3 + FM

8.5f (1700m) Surface D D D D D D D T D D D T T T T D T T D T T D D D D T T D T D T T D D T D D T T T T T T T T T T T T T D T T D D T D D D T D T

Metres Furlongs Closing 1700 8.5 07-Mar-15 1700 8.5 02-Feb-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 15-Mar-15 1700 8.5 15-Mar-15 1700 8.5 15-Mar-15 1700 8.5 15-Mar-15 1700 8.5 19-Mar-15 1700 8.5 28-Mar-15 1700 8.5 22-Mar-15 1700 8.5 22-Feb-15 1700 8.5 22-Mar-15 1700 8.5 22-Mar-15 1700 8.5 22-Mar-15 1700 8.5 22-Mar-15 1700 8.5 29-Mar-15 8.5 26-Mar-15 1700 1700 8.5 26-Mar-15 1700 8.5 02-Apr-15 1700 8.5 05-Apr-15 1700 8.5 05-Apr-15 1700 8.5 CLOSED 1700 8.5 16-Apr-15 1700 8.5 16-Apr-15 1700 8.5 16-Apr-15 1700 8.5 26-Apr-15 1700 8.5 01-May-15 1700 8.5 26-Apr-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 15-May-15 1700 8.5 21-May-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 24-May-15 1700 8.5 24-May-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 14-Jun-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 20-Jun-15 1700 8.5 20-Jun-18 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 12-Jul-15 1700 8.5 26-Jul-15 1700 8.5 30-Jul-15 1700 8.5 30-Jul-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 13-Aug-15 1700 8.5 16-Aug-15 1700 8.5 16-Aug-15 1700 8.5 16-Aug-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 23-Aug-15 1700 8.5 23-Aug-15 1700 8.5 27-Aug-15 1700 8.5 27-Aug-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 20-Oct-15 1700 8.5 20-Oct-15 1700 8.5 1700 8.5 19-Nov-15 1700 8.5

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA BAR USA UAE USA USA USA

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Santa Anita Laurel Park Laurel Park Golden Gate Fields Fair Grounds Sam Houston Race Park Garrison Savannah Tampa Bay Downs Meydan Laurel Park Santa Anita Santa Anita

Suwannee River Gulfstream Park Turf H Donn H San Antonio St John B. Campbell H’cap Maryland Racing Media St El Camino Real Derby Fair Grounds H’cap Maxxam Gold Cup XXXII Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup Hillsborough St Jebel Hatta Private Terms St Santa Margarita St Santa Ana St

Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 2

Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 2

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 15-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 01-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 16-Mar-15

$150,000 $300,000 $500,000 $500,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $125,000 $100,000 $102,500 $150,000 $300,000 $100,000 $350,000 $200,000

4+ F&M 4+ 4+ 4+ 3+ 3+ FM 3 4+ 4+ 3+ 4+ FM NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 3 4+ FM 4+ FM

9f (1800m) T T D D D D AWT T D T T T D D T

1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800 1800

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

25-Jan-15 25-Jan-15 25-Jan-15 30-Jan-15 06-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 06-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 17-Feb-15 10-Jan-15 22-Feb-15 03-Mar-15 06-Mar-15 06-Mar-15 06-Mar-15

93

STAKES SCHEDULES Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Country USA USA USA USA USA USA UAE 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 Laurel Park Turfway Park Aqueduct Gulfstream Park Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Meydan Fair Grounds Keeneland Aqueduct Santa Anita Santa Anita Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Keeneland Aqueduct Oaklawn Park Hawthorne Racecourse Charles Town Hawthorne Santa Anita Belmont Park Belmont Park Penn National Belmont Park Belmont Park Albuquerque Thistledown Arlington Park Thistledown Saratoga Saratoga Belterra Park Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Arlington Park Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Saratoga Belterra Park Thistledown Keeneland Charles Town Charles Town Mahoning Valley

Race Name & (Sponsor) Harrison E. Johnson Memorial St Spiral Stakes Stymie S Florida Derby Mervin H Muniz Jr Memorial New Orleans H Dubai Duty Free Louisiana Derby Toyota Blue Grass St Wood Memorial St Santa Anita Derby Providencia St Gazelle St Arkansas Derby Ben Ali St Top Flight H’cap Oaklawn H Sixty Sails H’cap Charles Town Classic Illinois Derby La Puente St Fort Marcy Peter Pan St The Mountainview H’cap Pennine Ridge Wonder Again Downs at Albuquerque H The Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup American Derby George Lewis Memorial St Diana St Coaching Club American Oaks Norm Barron Queen City Oaks Curlin Jim Dandy St National Museum Racing Hall of Fame St Whitney H’cap Alydar Lake Placid Pucker Up St Saratoga Dew St Summer Colony Fleet Indian Albany St Personal Ensign Inv St Evan Shipman (NYB) Saranac St The Woodward Bernard Baruch H’cap John W. Galbreath Memorial St Best of Ohio Distaff H’cap BC Distaff Championship My Sister Pearl A Huevo St Ruff/Kirchberg Memotial H’cap

USA USA USA USA USA

Gulfstream Park Pimlico Arlington Park Arlington Park Arlington Park

The Skip Away S Preakness St Modesty H’cap Arlington H’cap Beverly D. St

USA USA UAE JPN UAE USA JPN USA USA USA USA GB USA USA USA

Santa Anita Santa Anita Meydan Nakayama Meydan Santa Anita Nakayama Aqueduct Churchill Downs Belmont Park Belmont Park Royal Ascot Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park

San Marcos St Santa Anita H’cap Al Maktoum Challenge Rd 3 Yayoi Sho Dubai World Cup Santa Barbara H’cap Satsuki Sho (Japanes 2000 Guineas) Excelsior Kentucky Derby New York St Manhattan S Prince of Wales’s St Belmont Oaks Invitational Belmont Derby Invitational Suburban H’cap

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

S Gr 3 S Gr 1 Gr 1

Gr 2 Gr 2 Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 S

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

Race Date 22-Mar-15 22-Mar-15 23-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 05-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 12-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-15 03-May-15 10-May-15 31-May-15 31-May-15 01-Jun-15 14-Jun-15 05-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 19-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 27-Jul-15 27-Jul-15 01-Aug-15 02-Aug-15 08-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 10-Aug-15 15-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 18-Aug-15 25-Aug-15 29-Aug-15 29-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 05-Sep-15 06-Sep-15 06-Sep-15 08-Sep-15 11-Oct-15 11-Oct-15 31-Oct-15 08-Nov-15 15-Nov-15 29-Nov-15

Value $100,000 $55,0000 $100,000 $1,000,000 $300,000 $400,000 $6,000,000 $600,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $150,000 $300,000 $1,000,000 $150,000 $200,000 $600,000 $150,000 $1,500,000 $400,000 $75,000 $150,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $150,000 $75,000 $150,000 $75,000 $500,000 $300,000 $75,000 $100,000 $600,000 $200,000 $1,250,000 $100,000 $300,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $200,000 $250,000 $750,000 $100,000 $300,000 $600,000 $250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $2,000,000 $50,000 $50,000 $75,000

9f (1800m)

Age 3+ 3 4+ 3 4+ 4+ NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 3 3 3 3 3F 3F 3 4+ 4 + F&M 4+ 3+ F&M 4+ 3 3 4+ 3 3+ 3 3F 3+ 3 (OH Bred) 3 3+ (OH Bred) 3+ FM 3F 3F 3 3 3 3+ 4+F 3F 3F 3+ FM (NY bred) 3 + FM 3F 3 (NY bred) 3+ FM 3+ 3 3+ 3+ 2F 3+ FM (OH Bred) 3+ FM 3+ F&M 3+ 3+

Surface D AWT D D T D T D D D D T D D D D D D D D T T D D T T D D T D T D T D D T D D T T D D D D D D T D T T D D D D T

Metres Furlongs Closing 1800 9 13-Mar-15 1800 9 01-Mar-15 1800 9 08-Mar-15 1800 9 08-Feb-15 1800 9 15-Mar-15 1800 9 15-Mar-15 1800 9 17-Jan-15 1800 9 15-Mar-15 1800 9 22-Feb-15 1800 9 22-Mar-15 1800 9 29-Dec-18 1800 9 27-Mar-15 1800 9 22-Mar-15 1800 9 29-Mar-15 1800 9 26-Mar-15 1800 9 29-Mar-15 1800 9 29-Mar-15 1800 9 04-Apr-15 1800 9 22-Mar-15 1800 9 12-Feb-15 1800 9 11-Apr-15 1800 9 19-Apr-15 1800 9 26-Apr-15 1800 9 21-May-15 1800 9 17-May-15 1800 9 17-May-15 1800 9 04-Jun-15 1800 9 1800 9 02-Jul-15 1800 9 1800 9 12-Jul-15 1800 9 12-Jul-15 1800 9 1800 9 19-Jul-15 1800 9 19-Jul-15 1800 9 26-Jul-15 1800 9 26-Jul-15 1800 9 26-Jul-15 1800 9 02-Aug-15 1800 9 06-Aug-15 1800 9 02-Aug-15 1800 9 09-Aug-15 1800 9 16-Aug-15 1800 9 16-Aug-15 1800 9 16-Aug-15 1800 9 23-Aug-15 1800 9 23-Aug-15 1800 9 23-Aug-15 1800 9 23-Aug-15 1800 9 1800 9 1800 9 20-Oct-15 1800 9 29-Oct-15 1800 9 05-Nov-15 1800 9

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com Gr 3 Gr 1 Gr 3 Gr 3 Gr 1

29-Mar-15 17-May-15 12-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 16-Aug-15

$150,000 $1,500,000 $150,000 $150,000 $750,000

4+ 3 3+ FM 3+ 3+ FM

9.5f (1900m) D D T T T

1900 1900 1900 1900 1900

T D D T D T T D D T T T T T D

2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

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94

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

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

08-Feb-15 08-Mar-15 08-Mar-15 09-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 19-Apr-15 20-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 03-May-15 06-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 18-Jun-15 05-Jul-15 05-Jul-15 05-Jul-15

$200,000 $1,000,000 $400,000 $942000 $10,000,000 $150,000 $1,757,000 $150,000 $2,000,000 $300,000 $1,000,000 £375,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $500,000

4+ 4+ NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 3 NH 4yo+ SH 3yo+ 4+ FM 3 4+ 3 4+ FM 4+ 4+ 3F 3 4+

9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5

15-Mar-15 18-Jan-15 02-Jul-15 02-Jul-15 24-May-15

10f (2000m) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

30-Jan-15 22-Feb-15 03-Mar-15 21-Jan-15 17-Jan-15 10-Apr-15 04-Mar-15 12-Apr-15 02-Jan-15 24-May-15 24-May-15 21-Apr-15 Inv Inv 21-Jun-15

STAKES SCHEDULES Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Country GER USA USA USA USA USA USA USA GB JPN USA USA JPN

Track Munich Arlington Park Arlington Park Arlington Park Saratoga Saratoga Thistledown Thistledown Ascot Kyoto Keeneland Keeneland Tokyo

Race Name & (Sponsor) Grosser-Dallmayr Preis Arlington Million XXXI American St Leger St Secretariat Stakes Alabama Travers Governor’s Buckeye Cup Best of Ohio Endurance H’cap Champion (Qipco) Shuka Sho BC Filly & Mare Turf BC Classic Tenno Sho (Autumn)

Class Gp 1 Gr 1 L Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 S S Gp 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1 Gr 1

Race Date 27-Jul-15 16-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 16-Aug-15 23-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 06-Sep-15 11-Oct-15 18-Oct-15 19-Oct-15 01-Nov-15 01-Nov-15 02-Nov-15

Value € 155,000 $1,000,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000 $1,250,000 $75,000 $150,000 £1,300,000 $1,608,000 $2,000,000 $5,000,000 $2,721,000

10f (2000m) Age 3+ 3+ 3+ 3 3F 3 3+ (OH Bred) 3+ (OH Bred) 3+ 3F 3+ F&M 3+ 3+

Surface T T T T D D D D T T T D T

Metres Furlongs Closing 2000 10 06-May-15 2000 10 24-May-15 2000 10 24-May-15 2000 10 24-May-15 2000 10 09-Aug-15 2000 10 16-Aug-15 2000 10 2000 10 2000 10 04-Aug-15 2000 10 02-Sep-15 2000 10 20-Oct-15 2000 10 20-Oct-15 2000 10 16-Sep-15

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com USA USA USA USA JPN GER USA JPN

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Hanshin Dusseldorf Saratoga Kyoto

The Very One Mac Diarmida Sheepshead Bay H’cap Man o’ War BC St Takarazuka Kinen Henkel Preis der Diana German Oaks Glens Falls H’cap Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup

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

22-Feb-15 22-Feb-15 03-May-15 10-May-15 29-Jun-15 03-Aug-15 06-Sep-15 16-Nov-15

$100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $400,000 $2,721,000 € 500,000 $200,000 $1,636000

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

11f (2200m) T T T T T T T T

2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200 2200

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore USA USA USA USA UAE USA USA JPN JPN USA USA USA GER USA GB USA USA GER USA GER GER GB USA GER JPN

Santa Anita Santa Anita Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Meydan Keeneland Keeneland Tokyo Tokyo Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park Hamburg Arlington Park Ascot Belmont Park Saratoga Hoppegarten Saratoga Baden-Baden Cologne Ascot Keeneland Munich Tokyo

San Luis Rey St Tokyo City Cup Orchid St Pan American Dubai Sheema Classic Elkhorn St Bewitch Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) Belmont St Brooklyn Invitational Brooklyn H’cap IDEE 145. Deutsches Derby Stars and Stripes St King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Betfair) Bowling Green H’cap Waya St Grosser Preis Von Berlin Sword Dancer Invitational St Longines Grosser Preis von Baden Preis von Europa QIPCO British Champions Series Fillies & Mares BC Turf Grosser Pries Von Bayern Japan Cup

JPN

Nakayama

Arima Kinen

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

22-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 29-Mar-15 19-Apr-15 25-Apr-15 25-May-15 01-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 07-Jun-15 06-Jul-15 12-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 02-Aug-15 09-Aug-15 10-Aug-15 30-Aug-15 07-Sep-15 28-Sep-15 18-Oct-15 01-Nov-15 02-Nov-15 30-Nov-15

$200,000 $100,000 $150,000 $150,000 $6,000,000 $250,000 $150,000 $1,757,000 $3,617,000 $150,0000 $400,000 $400,000 € 650,000 $100,000 £1,000,000 $250,000 $200,000 € 175,000 $1,000,000 € 250,000 € 155,000 £565,000 $3,000,000 € 155,000 $5,426,000

4+ 4+ 4+ F&M 4+ NH 4yo+ SH 4yo+ 4+ 4 + F&M 3F 3 3 4+ 4+ 3 CF 3+ 3+ 4+ 3+ FM 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3 + FM 3+ 3+ 3+

28-Dec-15

$4,530,000

T D T T T T T T T D D D T T T T T T T T T T T T T

2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400

T

2500

Saratoga

John’s Call St

27-Aug-15

$100,000

Saratoga

Birdstone

13-Aug-15

$100,000

3+

T

2600

Kyoto

Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger)

Gr 1

26-Oct-15

$2,029,000

3+

D

2800

Kyoto Belmont Park

Tenno Sho (Spring) Belmont Gold Cup Invitational St

Gr 1 Gr 1

04-May-15 06-Jun-15

$2,721,000 $2,500,000

3 No G

T

3000

Saratoga

A P Smithwick Mem S’Chase

Gr 1

USA

Saratoga

New York Turf Writers Cup S’Chase

GB

Royal Ascot

Gold Cup

31-Jul-15

$125,000

4+ 3+

T D

3200 3200

21-Aug-15

$150,000

4+

T

3300

4+

T

3800

19-Jun-15

£375,000

16-Aug-15

14

02-Aug-15

15

16-Sep-15

16 16

18-Mar-15 CLOSED

T

4000

16.5

19-Jul-15

19f (3800m)

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com Gp 1

13

16.5f (3300m)

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Gr 1

11-Nov-15

16f (3200m)

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12.5

15f (3000m)

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com JPN USA

CLOSED 02-Jul-15 09-Jun-15 19-Jul-15 26-Jul-15 20-May-15 16-Aug-15 17-Jun-15 01-Jul-15 04-Aug-15 20-Oct-15 12-Aug-15 14-Oct-15

14f (2800m)

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 JPN

13-Mar-15 20-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 15-Mar-15 17-Jan-15 02-Apr-15 09-Apr-15 15-Apr-15 15-Apr-15 18-Jan-15 CLOSED

13f (2600m)

North American Trainer available for iPhone/iPad via Appstore USA

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

12.5f (2500m) 3+

Stakes Schedules now updated monthly – trainermagazine.com USA

08-Feb-15 08-Feb-15 19-Apr-15 26-Apr-15 13-May-15 CLOSED 23-Aug-15 30-Sep-15

12f (2400m)

Call us on 1 888 659 2935 to subscribe from $13 Gr 1

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

4+

19

16-Aug-15

20f (4000m) 20

ISSUE 35 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM

21-Apr-15

95

SID FERNANDO

E

ither way it’s viewed, fashion in its various forms is mostly dictated by the reigning hierarchy, or Establishment, which is revamped every so often by the societal upheavals that mark civilizations. Over the last 10 years, for example, we’ve seen a bloated commercial marketplace – ruled by breeders, stud farms, and money-making main-track stallion prospects – reach an apex from 2004 to 2007 and plummet with the global economic meltdown of 2008 – a reaction to excess.

It’s noteworthy for its eerie symbolism that the Horses of the Year from 2009 to 2013 were three females (Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, and Havre de Grace) and a turf gelding (Wise Dan, twice) – not one stallion prospect – and the leading sire of 2013 was Kitten’s Joy, a turf horse made by a private owner-breeder. Each was the antithesis of the lauded male dirt champion of another era that was the stock in trade of the Establishment, which lost a big part of its hold on racing in the ensuing recession as it dealt with infighting, smaller foal crops, synthetic tracks, medication uniformity, breakdown issues, diminished wagering, higher takeout, casino infiltration, track closings, bad publicity, and international disapproval.

Now, wealth has returned to the upper echelons of society, and a rejiggered Establishment of new and old owners and breeders under the leadership of the Jockey Club is flexing its heft to effect change. Part of its philosophy appears to have a reactionary sheen, particularly in these areas: A return to dirt racing and the dismantling of synthetic tracks; the push for medication reform and the abolishment of race-day medication (i.e. Lasix) to achieve international harmony; and renewed desire to breed the classic dirt horse. All of this, presumably, would rekindle the notion of the great “medication-free” American dirt horses of the 1960s and 1970s that were admired and sought the world over.

Can this approach succeed in 2015 and beyond?

Southern California is soon to be all dirt, and two important tracks with Jockey Club connections – Keeneland in the heart of 96

TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35

Out with the new and in with the old The noted mid-20th century pedigree theorist, author, and observer Franco Varola once said that racing is a microcosm of society, and how right he was.

Racehorses, after all, are bred according to the fashion of the times, which racing is structured to accommodate; or, perhaps, if you prefer the chicken before the egg scenario, it’s the other way around, that racing is shaped by fashion and horses are produced to fit the resulting paradigm.

Kentucky breeding territory and the host of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup; and Meydan in Dubai, home of the richest race in the world and controlled by Jockey Club member Sheikh Mohammed – have turned from synthetic to dirt, too. This year will mark the first time since Meydan opened in 2010 that the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup races will be contested on dirt, and the potential spoils for dirt sires and runners, particularly at 10 furlongs, will be immense. Both Keeneland and Meydan, ironically, were renowned for their safety and large fields during their synthetic eras but maligned for the quality of their bigrace winners, which ultimately didn’t sit well with the powers that be.

Will the Jockey Club-backed bills in the Senate and House of Representatives to phase out Lasix materialize into law?

Probably not, especially with so much opposition from trainers, many of them at the bottom rungs of the sport and far removed from those owners and breeders who are motivated to bring the dirt horse back to international relevance.

Can breeders put more stamina into horses?

“

This year will mark the

first time since Meydan opened in 2010 that the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup races will be contested on dirt

”

Yes, and it’s notable that in 2015 there will be six sons of the great Irish-bred Galileo, a son of Kentucky-bred Sadler’s Wells, at stud in North America, which has historically imported turf horses to fortify dirt quality and stamina.

In the big picture, it’s fairly safe to say that no one’s going back in time to the Golden Age of the mid-20th century when Franco Varola made his pronouncements or the 1970s when Forego won against topclass competition at sprints and two miles without the aid of medication.

But change borne by the good intentions of those who would revitalize the American dirt horse is in the air. It’s fitting – symmetrical, even – that the Eclipse Award winners of 2014 are mostly dirt horses, and particularly symbolic of this is the Horse of the Year.

California Chrome, the popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, won Horse of the Year over turf gelding Main Sequence, becoming the first stallion prospect to land the big prize since Curlin in 2008, and the first three-year-old since Curlin in 2007. Now, California Chrome isn’t bred as smartly as Curlin and he is trained by the type of guy who’s more familiar with cheaper horses than national champions, but the colt may get a chance to become internationally relevant in Dubai, and it’s almost certain he’ll find a home at stud at an establishment in Kentucky.

California Chrome is a grandson of Pulpit, the sire of 2014’s leading stallion Tapit. Tapit is the sire of 2014 champion three-year-old filly Untapable and Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, and at $300,000 live foal, he is currently the most expensive sire in America.

He and California Chrome are reflections of the new, old era. ■