NEWS
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HBPA NEWS
RED BRAND ADDED TO NATIONAL HBPA STABLE OF CORPORATE SPONSORS The National HBPA is pleased to announce that Red Brand, a leading manufacturer of American-made premium agricultural fencing products for more than a century, is the newest corporate sponsor for North America’s largest horsemen’s association. The company was founded in 1889 as Keystone Steel & Wire Company and began in a humble shed on a rented farm in Dillon, Illinois. It was there that Peter Sommer invented a machine that wove steel wire fence to replace traditional wooden timber fences. The first “Red Brand” fence appeared around 1925, with, in a display of modern marketing savvy, Keystone wire and fence posts dipped in red paint, making the new Red Brand products instantly recognizable on farms all over America. That tradition continues to this day, as Keystone still tops off these
products with a coat of red paint—even the barbs on coils of barbed wire. Today, Keystone Steel & Wire Company’s Bartonville, Illinois, campus is one of the largest wire mills in the world with more than 2 million square feet of manufacturing space on more than a thousand acres. The company’s nearly 900 employees produced more than 700,000 tons of steel last year. “When it comes to fencing, Red Brand is the first name most horsemen think of, and it’s easy to spot the familiar red tops on fencing everywhere that horses are raised and trained,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “We are excited to have Red Brand as a partner, and I hope that all members will consider Red Brand products for their fencing needs.” For more information about Red Brand products and to find a dealer near you, go to redbrand.com or call (800) 447-6444.
NATIONAL HBPA MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1940, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and its affiliates operate on behalf of Thoroughbred racehorse owners, trainers and backstretch personnel throughout the United States and Canada. Our mission is to improve and preserve Thoroughbred horse racing by: 1. Providing a representative voice for all Thoroughbred horsemen on matters integral to the advancement of Thoroughbred racing in the United States, Canada and at the state level. 2. Encouraging the highest standards of horsemanship to continuously improve the care, health and safety of the horse. 3. Facilitating guidelines to ensure the safety of the jockeys, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, hot walkers, farriers, veterinarians and all others who regularly come in contact with the racehorse.
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Supporting the development, adoption, implementation and enforcement of nationwide uniform rules which promote safety and integrity in racing. Disseminating information on critical issues facing our industry to HBPA affiliates and to the general public as appropriate. Supporting and promoting programs and entities which provide general benevolence and other beneficial programs for affiliates and members. Assisting in the development of programs at affiliated tracks providing for the aftercare of our horses when their racing careers are over. Promoting the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.
NATIONAL HBPA’S POSITION REGARDING THE REGULATION OF RACING MEDICATION 1.
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The National HBPA’s focus has always been, and remains, the health and safety of the horse, the safety of the jockey, and the safety of all individuals coming into contact with the horse including grooms, hot walkers, trainers and veterinarians. The National HBPA believes a truly independent and transparent Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) composed of industry stakeholders (including the NHBPA, The Jockey Club, the United States Trotting Association and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, among others) not dominated by any individual organization, with input from appropriate medical and veterinary professional bodies such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners, must be the final evaluator of medical and veterinary science. The National HBPA believes that RMTC approved medication rules should be reviewed by the Association of Racing Commissioners
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International on behalf of state racing commissions, and following an evaluation based on science and medical research with all industry stakeholders being heard, the rules should be adopted or rejected by a majority vote. The National HBPA contends that uniform medication rules must be based solely on published scientifically determined regulatory thresholds, with published scientifically determined withdrawal time guidelines, all based on and supported by data published in the scientific literature. The National HBPA believes that RMTC and ISO-17025 accredited laboratories should perform all medication testing. The National HBPA does not tolerate cheating in this sport. The NHBPA supports rules wherein repeat offenders of medication rules, after due process, should be severely penalized, including permanent expulsion from the industry.