The Horsemen's Journal - Winter 2012

winter fall 1012

volume 59/ # 4

winter 20 12

dEpartmEnts

2 mEssagE From thE national hbpa

7 industry nEWs

14 hbpa nEWs

16 lEgislativE updatE

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28

rEsEarch & mEdication updatE

24 mEdication committEE cornEr

26 2012-13 racing schEdulE For north amErica

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thE ridE oF thEir livEs – a look at the permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

aFFiliatE nEWs

FEaturEs

32 ExchangE WagEring: For horsEmEn, thE Jury is still out – it remains to be seen if this form of

betting will take off in north america.

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precautions can help reduce your liability for an equine-related website.

and silver are making a comeback, and advances in the area of platelet-rich plasma offer horsemen a variety of treatment options.

lEssons in liability – taking the proper

old-school Wound carE – Remedies like honey

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hj in EvEry iSSue

message from

the Ceo

dEar horsEWomEn and horsEmEn oF thE national hbpa:

national hbpa 870 corporate Drive Suite 300 lexington, KY 40503 p(859) 259-0451 F(859) 259-0452 racing@hbpa.org www.nationalhbpa.com

prEsidEnt/ chairpErson oF thE board Robin Richards First rEgional vicE prEsidEnt Stephanie beattie sEcrEtary/ trEasurEr Ron maus chiEF ExEcutivE oFFicEr phil hanrahan vicE prEsidEnt cEntral rEgion leroy Gessmann vicE prEsidEnt EastErn rEgion Stephanie beattie vicE prEsidEnt southErn rEgion Rick hiles vicE prEsidEnt WEstErn rEgion Ron maus

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by thE timE you rEcEivE this issuE oF thE horsEmEn’s Journal, thE claiming croWn racEs on dEcEmbEr 1 at gulFstrEam park Will havE bEEn run. morE than 270 trainErs paid thE $100 to nominatE thEmsElvEs For thE right to subsEquEntly nominatE horsEs For spEciFic racEs. my column Was submittEd Just aFtEr thE horsE nomination dEadlinE on novEmbEr 9, and approximatEly 220 horsEs WErE nominatEd to compEtE in thE EvEnt. among thEm arE numErous gradEd stakEs WinnErs, including thrEE gradE 1 WinnErs and a horsE coming out oF thE brEEdErs’ cup World championships. With sEvEn racEs and total pursE monEy oF $850,000 this yEar, WE arE hoping most, iF not all, oF thE claiming croWn racEs Will havE Full FiElds. sEE thE claiming croWn WEbsitE at WWW.claimingcroWn. com For morE dEtails and a complEtE rEcap oF thE racEs. i hopE somE oF you EntErEd your horsEs in thEsE racEs, and morE importantly, i hopE you Won. On October 16-17, the NHBPA had its Fall Executive Committee Meeting in Lexington. The Executive Committee received updates on a variety of matters. On Tuesday evening, Dave Basler reported on the TRA Simulcast Conference and the ARCI Model Rules Meeting; Kent Stirling reported on the Medication Strategy Working Group’s activities; Dr. Tobin reported on the 19th International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians; I, along with Robin Richards and Maria Catignani, reported on the West Virginia Racing Commission Lasix Hearing; and Rick Hiles and Marty Maline reported on the status of the proposed Lasix ban in Kentucky. On Wednesday, the Executive Committee received an update from Denis Blake, the editor of The Horsemen’s Journal, on the status of the magazine’s operations.

The remainder of the meeting was dedicated to financial matters, bylaws matters and a legal update.

For your planning purposes, the 2013 NHBPA Winter Convention will be hosted by the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA in Clearwater Beach, Florida, on February 20-24. Bob Jeffries, president of the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA, promises great weather and warm water. I am confident we will have a superior series of educational forums. Please plan on attending the Winter Convention; it is both a great networking opportunity as well as an exceptional educational experience. I especially want to invite and encourage those affiliate presidents, executive directors and board members who normally do not attend conventions to come to Tampa this year. You will not be disappointed.

The Minnesota HBPA has graciously agreed to host the 2013 NHBPA Summer Convention. The exact dates have not been set yet. Thanks to Tom Metzen Sr. and his board for agreeing to host the convention.

The Breeders’ Cup races for 2012 are now history. According to Matt Hegarty’s column in the Daily Racing Form online edition updated on November 6, “for the five juvenile races, 50 horses ran this year compared to 64 horses last year, a difference of 22 percent.” Smaller fields traditionally result in smaller handle since smaller fields are less attractive wagering races. This proved to be the case for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup juvenile races. According to the same column by Mr. Hegarty, handle on the five juvenile races declined 23 percent (from $35.89 million in 2011 down to $27.65 million in 2012). It can be logically argued that if states were to impose a complete ban on Lasix use, field size would decrease, wagering would be less, purses would be smaller and tax revenue derived from there would decline. Not a pretty picture for either the racing or the breeding side of our industry.

According to Jennie Rees’ Louisville Courier-Journal blog post on November 3, trainer Mark Casse reported that Spring in the Air bled badly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race. This filly finished fifth. David Grening reported on November 4 in DRF that trainer John Sadler said that Capo Bastone and Monument, who both ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, bled. These horses finished third and last, respectively. Since there were no requirements to conduct endoscopic examinations on every 2-year-old that raced on Friday and Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup, the actual number of the 50 starters that bled will remain a mystery. Yet wouldn’t it have made sense for the Breeders’ Cup to request (or require?) each 2-year-old to be scoped in a timely fashion after each juvenile race if next year the plan is to ban Lasix in all of the Breeders’ Cup races?

For further discussion of this topic, please see Dr. Kimberly Brewer’s excellent column in this issue’s Medication Committee Corner.

I am writing this column the day after Election Day. With no significant overall changes in Washington, D.C., it is unknown at this time if the lame duck session of Congress will take any action regarding amending the Interstate Horse Racing Act to address medication issues. It is also unclear what Congressional action, if any, may occur on the proposed Internet poker bill. The NHBPA’s Legislative Affairs Committee, co-chaired by Robin Richards and Frank Petramalo Jr., continues to work closely with our Washington, D.C., lobbying firm, American Continental Group, on these matters.

The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and other industry stakeholders such as The Jockey Club continue to promote their medication agendas. The NHBPA’s Medication Committee, under the leadership of Kent Stirling, and our Model Rules Committee, under the leadership of Dave Basler, continue to review, evaluate, comment, revise, refine and oppose, as necessary, proposals made by various industry stakeholders.

These and other committees of the NHBPA work to assist you, the horsewomen and horsemen of the NHBPA. My thanks to all the committee members and committee chairs for your dedication and hard work seeking to better our industry and protect the interests of the members of the NHBPA. May the Racing Gods smile on you, and may you have many visits to the winner’s circle.

sincErEly,

phil hanrahan chief executive officer

contributors Denis Blake Dr. Kimberly Brewer Michael Cusortelli Patti Davis Brian W. Fitzgerald Kimberly French Peter Sacopulos, JD

The

NaTioNal hBPa

woulD liKe to thanK itS coRpoRate

sponsors aFFiliatEs Board of Directors - Affiliates Dr. David Harrington, Alabama Gary Miller, Arizona Bill Walmsley, Arkansas David Milburn, Canada Ken Lowe, Charles Town Mark McGregor, Colorado Dave Brown, Finger Lakes Phil Combest, Florida Mark Buckley, Idaho John Wainwright, Illinois Joe Davis, Indiana Leroy Gessmann, Iowa Rick Hiles, Kentucky Stanley Seelig, Louisiana Bobbie Barron, Michigan Tom Metzen, Minnesota R.C. Forster, Montana John W. Baird, Mountaineer Park Todd Veerhusen, Nebraska Anthony Spadea, New England Eric Mikkelson, New Mexico Tim Hamm, Ohio Donnie K. Von Hemel, Oklahoma Sue Leslie, Ontario Jim Fergason, Oregon Stephanie Beattie, Pennsylvania Robert Jeffries, Tampa Bay Downs Dr. Tommy Hays, Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, LLP Robin Richards, Virginia Ron Maus, Washington

The views expressed on these pages are those of the authors and/or advertisers, and they may or may not reflect the positions and/or beliefs of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, its officers, or Board of Directors.

The Horsemen’s Journal, Volume 59 #4.

Postal Information: The Horsemen’s Journal (ISSN 0018-5256) is published quarterly by the National Horsemen’s Administration Corporation, with publishing offices at 1341 Meadowild Drive, Round Rock, Texas 78664. Copyright 2012 all rights reserved.

The Horsemen’s Journal is the official publication for members of the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, a representative association of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse owners and trainers. HBPA is a non-profit 501(c)6 Kentucky corporation. Members receive The Horsemen’s Journal as a benefit of membership paid by the national office from affiliate dues. Annual non-member subscriptions are $14. Single-copy back issues, if available, are $7. Canadian subscribers add $6. All other

photographErs Denis Blake Coady Photography Four Footed Photos Shelly Houde Thomas Allen Pauly Secretariat.com

staFF Denis Blake Editor 512-695-4541 E-mail: hj@hbpa.org Jennifer Vanier Allen Advertising Director 512-225-4483 509-272-1640 fax E-mail: advertising@hbpa.org Limb Design www.limbdesign.com Graphic Design thE horsEmEn’s Journal 870 Corporate Drive, Suite 300 Lexington, KY 40503-5419 Phone: 512-695-4541 Fax: 859-259-0452 E-mail: hj@hbpa.org HBPA Website: www.nationalhbpa.com Cover Photo: Merri Melde

subscriptions outside the U.S. add $20 payable in U. S. funds. To order reprints or subscriptions, call (866) 245-1711.

The HBPA National Board of Directors has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business required of the association. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and/or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the opinion or policy of the publisher or HBPA board or staff. Query the editor prior to sending any manuscripts.

Periodicals Postage Paid at Round Rock, Texas and additional mailing offices.

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OFFICIAL SPONSOR OFFICIAL SPONSOR of NationalHBPA HBPA of the the National

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DECEMBER Date 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.01.12 12.02.12 12.08.12 12.09.12 12.15.12 12.16.12 12.22.12 12.29.12 12.30.12

Stakes Name The Iron Horse The Express The Glass Slipper The Rapid Transit The Tiara The Emerald The Jewel The Sunshine State The Sugar Swirl (III) The South Beach The Dania Beach The Harlan’s Holiday The El Prado The Mr. Prospector (III) The Ocala

JANUARY Date 1.01.13 1.01.13 1.01.13 1.01.13 1.05.13 1.12.13 1.13.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.19.13 1.20.13 1.26.13 1.26.13 1.27.13

2012-2013

THOROUGHBRED

STAKES RACING SCHEDULE

954-454-7000 gulfstreampark.com follow us

Stakes Name The Gulfstream Park Derby The Old Hat (III) The Spectacular Bid The Ginger Brew Marshua’s River (III) The Fort Lauderdale (III) The Hal’s Hope (III) Eclipse Awards Day Sunshine Millions Classic Sunshine Millions Distaff Sunshine Millions Turf Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sunshine Millions Sprint Sunshine Millions F&M Sprint The Kitten’s Joy The Holy Bull (III) The Forward Gal (II) The Sweetest Chant

FEBRUARY Date 2.02.13 2.02.13 2.09.13 2.09.13 2.09.13 2.09.13 2.10.13 2.16.13 2.16.13 2.17.13 2.23.13 2.23.13 2.23.13 2.24.13

Stakes Name Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint The Hutcheson (II) The Donn Handicap (I) Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (I) The Suwannee River (III) The Gulfstream Park Sprint (II) The Hurricane Bertie (III) The Very One (III) The Mac Diarmida (II) The Sabin (III) The Canadian Turf (III) The Fountain of Youth (II) The Davona Dale (II) The Ladies Turf Sprint

Conditions 3yo & up 3yo & up Fillies & Mares 3yo & up 3yo & up Fillies & Mares 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up (FLB) Fillies & Mares 3yo & up Fillies & Mares 3yo & up 2yo 3yo & up 3yo & up 3yo & up Fillies & Mares 3yo & up (FLB)

Distance /Surface 1 1/16 M 6F 7F 7F 1 1/16 M (T) 1 1/16 M (T) 1 1/8 M 7F 6F 7 1/2 F (T) 1 M (T) 1 1/16 M 1 M (T) 6F 1M

Purse $100K $100K $100K $100K $125K $125K $200K $60K $100K $100K $100K $100K $75K $100K $60K

Conditions 3yo Fillies 3yo 3yo Fillies 3yo Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up 4yo & up

Distance /Surface 1M 6F 6F 1 1/16 M (T) 1 1/16 M (T) 1 1/16 M (T) 1M

Purse $100K $100K $100K $75K $100K $100K $100K

4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 3yo 3yo Fillies 3yo Fillies 3yo

1 1/8 M 1 1/8 M 1 1/8 M (T) 1 1/8 M (T) 6F 6F 1 1/16 M (T) 1 1/16 M 7F 1 M (T)

$400K $300K $150K $150K $150K $150K $100K $400K $200K $100K

Conditions 4yo & up 3yo 4yo & up 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up Fillies & Mares 4yo & up 4yo & up 3yo Fillies 3yo Fillies & Mares 4yo & up

Distance /Surface 5 F (T) 7F 1 1/8 M 1 1/8 M (T) 1 1/8 M (T) 7F 6 1/2 F 1 3/8 M (T) 1 3/8 M (T) 1 1/16 M 1 M (T) 1 1/16 M 1 1/16 M 5 F (T)

Purse $75K $150K $500K $300K $150K $150K $150K $100K $150K $100K $150K $400K $250K $60K

MARCH

Distance /Surface Purse 7F $150K 1 1/8 M (T) $100K 1 1/8 M (T) $150K 1M $300K 1 M (T) $100K 7F $150K 1 1/2 M (T) $150K 1 1/8 M $1 MIL 1 1/8 M $300K 1 3/16 M $100K 1 M (T) $100K 1 1/8 M $150K 1 1/2 M (T) $150K 6 1/2 F $75K

APRIL

Distance /Surface 7 1/2 F

Date 3.02.13 3.02.13 3.03.13 3.09.13 3.16.13 3.17.13 3.23.13 3.30.13 3.30.13 3.30.13 3.30.13 3.30.13 3.30.13 3.30.13

Stakes Name Conditions The Swale (III) 3yo The Herecomesthebride (III) Fillies 3yo The Palm Beach (III) 3yo The Gulfstream Park Handicap (II) 4yo & up The Honey Fox (III) Fillies & Mares 4yo & up The Inside Information (II) Fillies & Mares 4yo & up The Pan American (II) 4yo & up The Florida Derby (I) 3yo The Gulfstream Park Oaks (II) Fillies 3yo The Skip Away (III) 4yo & up The Appleton (III) 4yo & up The Rampart (III) Fillies & Mares 4yo & up The Orchid (III) Fillies & Mares 4yo & up The Sir Shackleton 4yo & up

Date Stakes Name Conditions 4.05.13 The GP Aftercare Stallion Stakes 3yo & up

Purse $60K

h

industry news

hj newS

hanDle, attenDance Slip at brEEdErs’ cup

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on November 2-3 produced some memorable performances on the track, including Royal Delta’s victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1) and Fort Larned’s determined win in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but the event registered declines in attendance and total handle compared to last year.

A crowd of 89,742 wagered $20,680,143 on-track at Santa Anita over the two days, while the 2011 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs attracted a two-day crowd of 105,820 with $21,475,916 wagered on-track. However, the on-track attendance at Santa Anita did rise by 4% over 2009, the last time the Breeders’ Cup was held at the Southern California track.

The $144,272,332 common pool handle on the two-day Breeders’ Cup this year was down 7% from the 2011 figure of $155,525,947 at Churchill. According to a review conducted by Breeders’ Cup officials, declines from East Coast pari-mutuel outlets in states affected by Hurricane Sandy totaled more than $9 million. Wagering sites in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia experienced an overall 29% decline in handle over the two days.

“While numerous factors come into play in analyzing wagering totals, it is apparent that the effects of the storm suppressed handle from what are traditionally strong areas of the country,” said Ken Kirchner of Falkirk International, a wagering and simulcasting consultant to the Breeders’ Cup. “New York was especially hard hit as NYRA was off $1.4 million (26%); Nassau OTB was down $1 million (56%), Yonkers down 50%, Suffolk OTB down (39%) and Catskill OTB down 38%.”

A decrease in field size also likely contributed to the reduced handle, as 162 horses competed in the 15 races this year compared to 173 last year. In particular, the juvenile races saw a drop in participation with 64 horses in the five 2-year-olds races a year ago and only 50 this year. The total handle on this year’s five juvenile races came in at $27.65 million, a drop of 23% from last year’s $35.89 million. This marked the first year the Breeders’ Cup banned Lasix in the juvenile races, which caused some owners not to enter.

The Breeders’ Cup returned to NBC for the 2012 Championships with the Classic hour in primetime earning a rating final of 2.0, nearly double the Classic hour rating in 2011.

The Breeders’ Cup will return to Santa Anita on November 1-2, 2013.

octobeR ShowS Decline in thoRouGhbReD waGeRinG, puRSeS anD Race DaYS but yEar-to-datE FigurEs still up Equibase Company LLC released their monthly Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators through the end of October, and while wagering, purses and race days all declined for the month as compared to the year before, the year-todate figures remain slightly up in all categories over the 2011 figures.

For October, wagering on U.S. races dropped by 8.79% while purses declined by 8.38% and race days dropped by 7.86%. For the first 10 months of 2012, wagering and race days are up slightly by 1.32% and 0.79%, respectively, while purses are up 7.08% for the year.

hoRSe pac-SuppoRteD canDiDateS havE strong shoWing on ElEction day Horse PAC, the bipartisan political action committee of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), announced that 41 of the 44 federal candidates it supported during the 20112012 election cycle won their races outright on November 6. One additional result for a PAC-supported candidate hinges on a December runoff race.

Horse PAC disbursed $416,500 to candidates in this election cycle, including $257,000 in direct contributions to individual candidates and an additional $159,500 to leadership and other PACs supporting both Democratic and Republican candidates.

Candidates and PACs in 25 states received Horse PAC funds in 2011-2012.

Kentucky-based candidates and PACs received the majority of funds with $85,000 over the two-year cycle, followed by New York ($54,500), California ($30,000), Louisiana ($27,500) and Florida, Texas and Michigan (all at $25,000).

“The non-partisan Horse PAC is the only PAC that looks out specifically for the interests of the entire Thoroughbred industry,” said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the NTRA. “Its size, as measured by donation totals, is considerable—even when compared to PACs of the largest sports leagues and gaming organizations in the United States. By focusing on members of key committees and on candidates who have significant horse racing constituencies, Horse PAC is able to ensure that our industry’s interests are well-represented in Washington.”

Horse PAC supports candidates who serve on the committees that oversee livestock and agricultural issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act; serve in leadership roles; understand horse racing’s issues; have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers or ADWs in their states; are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus; or are emerging leaders meriting early support in their legislative careers.

Since its founding in 2002, Horse PAC has disbursed nearly $2.5 million to federal political candidates and parties. For more information, visit www.supporthorseracing.org.

www.nationalhbpa.com

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newS

industry news

the JocKeY club ReleaSeS 2012 RepoRt oF marEs brEd statistics On October 19, the Jockey Club released Report of Mares Bred (RMB) statistics for the 2012 breeding season. Based on RMBs received through October 14, The Jockey Club reports that 1,861 stallions covered 35,391 mares in North America during 2012.

The annual statistics include the number of mares reported bred to each stallion and represent approximately 90% of the mares that eventually will be reported as bred in 2012.

According to historical trends, The Jockey Club expects to receive RMBs representing an additional 3,500 to 4,500 mares bred during the 2012 breeding season.

The number of stallions declined 3.8% from the 1,935 reported at this time in 2011, and the number of mares bred fell 3% from the 36,504 reported at this time last year.

RMB statistics for all reported stallions in 2012 are available through the Publications and Resources section of The Jockey Club’s website at www.jockeyclub.com.

The number of stallions covering 100 or more mares increased from 84 in

2011 to 87 in 2012. These stallions accounted for a greater percentage of the total mares reported bred this year—31.9% of all mares bred in 2012 versus 30.6% of all mares bred in 2011 as reported at this time last year.

Further book-size analysis shows a 1.1% increase in the number of mares bred to stallions with a book size of 100 or more in 2012 when compared to 2011 as reported at this time last year; a 14.4% increase in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 75 and 99; a 4.1% decline in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 50 and 74; a 10.6% decrease in mares bred to stallions with a book size between 25 and 49; and a 6.3% decline in mares bred to stallions with a book size fewer than 25.

In 2012, Cape Blanco (Ire) led all stallions with 220 mares bred. Rounding out the top five were Scat Daddy, 217; Kitten’s Joy, 213; Uncle Mo, 211; and Wilburn, 169.

During 2012, Kentucky’s 224 reported stallions covered 15,361 mares, or 43.4% of all of the mares reported bred in North America. The number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions declined 2.2% percent against the 15,714 reported at this time last year.

thoRouGhbReD aFteRcaRe alliance announceS Funding support From industry participants The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced in October that several industry groups, including 13 prominent breeding farms in Kentucky, The Jockey Club, two racetracks of The Stronach Group, the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton, Barretts Equine Limited and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (OBS), have developed plans to provide funds beginning in 2013 to support the TAA’s mission to accredit and raise funds for Thoroughbred aftercare facilities.

“This is an important first step, and we are grateful to these organizations for their commitments,” said Jack Wolf, president of the TAA. “We are hopeful other industry stakeholders will follow their lead in this important endeavor.”

The TAA received seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club and Keeneland Association, and some of those funds will be used for initial site inspections and accreditations planned for the last few months of 2012.

“Our objective is to develop sustainable funding from all points on the lifecycle of the Thoroughbred, from breeding and registration to sales, racing and all points in between, including veterinary care and transportation,” said TAA Executive Director Mike Ziegler. “Thanks to the seed capital generously provided by Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club and Keeneland Association and ongoing administrative and technical support from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and The Jockey Club, virtually all of our 2013 contributions will be directed straight to the horses, which is as it should be.”

The details of the funding are as follows: • 13 prominent Kentucky breeding farms (Adena Springs, Airdrie Stud, Castleton Lyons, Darby Dan, Darley, Gainesway, Hill ’n’ Dale, Millennium Farms, Pin Oak Stud, Taylor Made, Vinery, Walmac Farm and WinStar Farm) have pledged to the TAA a payment in the amount of 25% of each of their stallions’ advertised stud fees, effective with the 2013 breeding season. Breeders’ Cup Limited (BCL) has agreed to facilitate the collection of fees contributed by all stallion owners. BCL will also implement a fan contribution initiative surrounding the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World 8

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Championships at Santa Anita Park.

• The Jockey Club (TJC) announced that starting in 2013 it will increase fees by $25 for nearly all registry-related transactions including foal registration, naming and import and export applications. In coordination with The Jockey Club of Canada, funds raised from Canadian customers of The Jockey Club will be directed to Canadian Thoroughbred aftercare organizations to supplement ongoing aftercare activities for Canadian Thoroughbreds. The Jockey Club will also contribute $300,000 in 2013 to the TAA from its commercial companies.

• CARMA (California Retirement Management Account), founded in 2007 to raise money for retired California racehorses, confirmed that it is directing funds earmarked for California-based organizations and facilities that meet the TAA’s accreditation guidelines. In 2013, CARMA expects to grant in excess of $400,000.

• The Stronach Group and its tracks, Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park, have confirmed that they are earmarking funds for organizations in California and Florida that meet the TAA’s accreditation standards. In 2013, it is expected that in excess of $200,000 will be granted.

• Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, Barretts and OBS, beginning with the 2013 sales calendar, will enable buyers and consignors to automatically contribute .05% of their respective purchases or gross sales directly to TAA. The sales companies will contribute an additional .05% from their gross sales receipts as well. For those who do not wish to participate in the program, there will be a voluntary opt-out provision.

In addition, the TAA board announced that it has met in recent weeks to discuss sustainable fundraising strategies with a broad cross-section of industry organizations including Breeders’ Cup, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen Association and owners of stallions standing in New York, California and Florida. Meetings with racetracks and other trade associations representing jockeys, regulators, trainers and owners will be held later this year to encourage the broadest possible participation.

the JocKeY club to incReaSe FeeS bY $25 in support oF thE thoroughbrEd aFtErcarE alliancE

Denis Blake

Starting on January 1, 2013, The Jockey Club will increase fees by $25 for nearly all registry-related transactions, including foal registrations, and these funds will be provided to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

The TAA is an organization designed to serve as both the accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities.

The Jockey Club’s board of stewards made this decision based on its determination that the TAA’s mission and activities are consistent with The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred aftercare objectives.

In coordination with The Jockey Club of Canada, funds raised from Canadian customers of The Jockey Club will be directed to Canadian Thoroughbred aftercare organizations to supplement ongoing aftercare activities for Canadian Thoroughbreds.

Additionally, The Jockey Club will contribute $300,000 in 2013 to the TAA from its commercial companies and will maintain the voluntary retirement check-off option on foal registrations for owners and breeders to continue those Thoroughbred aftercare contributions.

In addition to the retirement check-off program, The Jockey Club’s other retirement initiatives include Tattoo Identification Services, Thoroughbred Connect and the Thoroughbred Incentive Program.

The change from $200 to $225 to register foals of 2013 will be the first change since 2000 when the standard, or on-time, registration fee changed from $175 to $200. At that time, DNA-typing replaced blood-typing and the entire breeding stock population was retested. Foals of 2012 registered within one year from their actual foaling date will be grandfathered at the $200 level.

Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club and Keeneland Association, the TAA is composed of owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. Additional information about TAA is available at www.thoroughbredaftercare.org.

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industry news KeenelanD anD wooDbine in DeaD heat For 2012 simulcast aWard honors Keeneland Race Course and Woodbine Entertainment Group were declared co-winners of this year’s Simulcast Award at the International Simulcast Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The award gives both tracks the distinction of becoming five-time winners of the prestigious contest. The crystal trophies were sponsored

by Post Time Technologies.

The Simulcast Award honors excellence in the presentation of a racetrack’s live race product to its simulcast outlets. A panel of five judges selected the winners as best among the 12 North American racetracks entered for consideration.

The judges cited Keeneland’s superb, sharp video and multiple paddock cameras as well as the streamlined Trakus presentation providing an enhanced viewing experience. Woodbine’s graphics package combined with exceptional commentators impressed the judges, who noted, “At Woodbine, it’s all about the horse.”

“We are so proud of our broadcast team and this award,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “Their dedication to making an outstanding simulcast product comes from their understanding and appreciation for what horseplayers want. It also is a tribute to the teamwork that goes into doing a broadcast of that caliber and to the leadership of our Director of Broadcast Services, G.D Hieronymus.”

“I’d like to thank the panel of judges for recognizing what is a great source of pride for Woodbine, the outstanding work of our Broadcast group,” said Nick Eaves, Woodbine’s CEO. “Congratulations to Doug Flaherty, Senior Director of Broadcasting, and his team for the tremendous honor.”

This year’s panel of judges consisted of: Vic Zast, author, Blood-Horse contributor and former racing executive with Delaware North Companies; Mike Mullaney, former Director of Media Relations at Gulfstream Park and Eastern Edition Editor/National Features Editor of the Daily Racing Form; Joe Clancy, Editor/Publisher/Owner of ST Publishing, Publisher of Steeplechase Times and the Saratoga Special; Gary West, ESPN columnist, former President of the National Turf Writers Association and former racing columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; and Mike Dorr, who while not at his daytime job as Pricing and Value Creation Director for Asurion Inc., is a devoted racing and handicapping enthusiast.

The 12 track entries were the actual simulcast audio and video transmission of a single race as sent to wagering outlets. Each entry included the pre-race features, odds, will-pays, commentaries, the actual running of the race, the results and post-race features. Keeneland’s winning entry originally aired April 12, 2012, and Woodbine’s on August 6, 2012.

The winning productions had noteworthy competition from other votegetting tracks including Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Gulfstream Park and Mohawk. Each received first-, secondor third-place votes on several ballots.

Previous winners of the award are Churchill Downs (1997), Turfway Park (1998), Penn National (1999), Santa Anita Park (2000-01), Hollywood Park (2002), Keeneland (2003, 2008-9, 2011), Los Alamitos (2007), Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (2005) and Woodbine Entertainment Group (2004, 2006-7, 2010).

The International Simulcast Conference is hosted by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations and Harness Tracks of America in association with the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.

ShanGhai bobbY GiveS the Race FoR eDucation its First brEEdErs’ cup WinnEr

Denis Blake

Undefeated Shanghai Bobby gave The Race for Education its first Breeders’ Cup win with a victory over He’s Had Enough in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 3 at Santa Anita Park.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik also earned her first Breeders’ Cup victory aboard the 6-5 favorite, a son of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Starlight Racing, who are board members for The Race for Education, and Coolmore partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The Coolmore connections purchased a half-interest privately from Jack Wolf’s Starlight group in a deal announced October 30.

Shanghai Bobby, winner of the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park

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by five lengths, improved to five-for-five in his young career and becomes the early favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Starlight Stables donates 1% of all of their horses’ earnings to The Race for Education. The organization also received a percentage of second-place finisher Animal Kingdom in the Mile, fourth-place finisher Grace Hall in the Ladies Classic and Flat Out’s third-place finish in the Classic, totaling $28,000 in contributions.

The Race for Education was established a decade ago to provide education programs and scholarships to young people in the equine and agriculture industry with significant financial need. The program has since awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships with much of its funding coming from the Racehorse Nomination Program, which allows owners to donate a percentage of earnings. For more information, visit www.raceforeducation.org.

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hBpA NEWS

NATIONAL HBPA PUBLICATION EARNS

POSITIVE REVIEW IN JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION World Rules for Equine Drug Testing and Therapeutic Medication Regulation, the fourth edition of the book that covers medication regulations around the globe, received a strong review in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).

The review by Andreas Lehner, PhD, in the September 15 issue of the JAVMA praises the book as having “tremendous value to the equine veterinary and sports communities.”

Lehner went on to say, “The book should be noteworthy for horse buyers, owners, trainers, equine veterinarians, regulators, attorneys investigating equine drug overdose penalties, analysts at testing laboratories, researchers and reporters—in short, anyone with an interest in equine sports and medication.”

The review also notes that the $25 price is extremely reasonable and that the book should be a “rallying cry to the scientific and regulatory communities for additional research that appropriately examines these withdrawal times,”

NATIONAL HBPA

WINTER CONVENTION SET FOR FEBRUARY 20-24, 2013

Denis Blake

The 2013 National HBPA Winter Convention will be held February 20-24 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Hosted by the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA, the event will feature a full slate of educational seminars, as well as an afternoon of racing at Tampa Bay Downs.

Registration for the Winter Convention is $350 for members and $150 for

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referring to the “at least 66 times that scientifically determined withdrawal time guidelines have not yet been linked to standardized therapeutic dosage regimens for given compounds, except for anabolic steroids, glycopyrrolate, firocoxib, flunixin meglumine and furosemide.”

The fourth edition of World Rules for Equine Drug Testing and Therapeutic Medication Regulation was released on February 14 by Wind Publications.

Authors of the 286-page book are Thomas Tobin, MVB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DABT, professor at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center; Kimberly Brewer, DVM, a private practitioner; and Kent H. Stirling, executive director of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and chairman of the Medication Committee of the National HBPA. For more information, go to www.windpub.com/books/worldrules.htm, or the book may be purchased at www.amazon.com.

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spouses/significant others. For registration information, go to www.hbpa.org or contact the National HBPA office at (859) 259-0451.

To receive the group rate at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, call (800) 4567263 and use the code “National HBPA.” The group rate of $207/night single occupancy or $219/night double occupancy is available through January 22.

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leGislAtiVe

upDAte

By Brian W. Fitzgerald, American Continental Group

congress has been out of session and on the campaign trail since september 22. following the november 6 election, congress returned on november 13 for a postelection, lame duck session that could last into mid-to-late December. Below is a report on the current status of our priority legislative issues.

MeDicAtion leGislAtion

iMMiGrAtion

There is little or no expectation that there will be any further consideration of the Senate and House companion medication bills, S. 886 and H.R. 1733, when Congress returns on November 13 for the lame duck session.

Before going out of session on September 22, Congress approved a six-month continuing resolution (“CR”), H.J. Res. 117.

The CR, which will fund the federal government through the end of March 2013, included provisions that will preclude the Department of Labor’s (DOL) H-2B Wage Methodology rule from going into effect until March 27, 2013, when the CR is set to expire. Notice of this most recent delay of the implementation of the DOL H-2B Wage Methodology rule was published in the Federal Register on October 2. The CR did not address the DOL’s H-2B Program Rule, which is currently subject to a preliminary injunction in pending litigation before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Florida challenging the rule.

feDerAl internet poKer leGislAtion

Denis Blake

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and the proponents of an Internet poker bill are expected to try to move the bill during the lame duck session.

To date, a draft of the bill has not been made public nor, with limited exception, shared with members of Congress. As we have been all year, we are continuing to closely monitor the status of the legislation, have recently spoken again with Senator Kyl’s and Senator McConnell’s senior staff to remind them of our interests and concerns with the proposed legislation and will be continuing to speak with other key members of Congress in the weeks ahead.

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+ RESEARCH MEDICATION UPDATE

WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE RACEHORSE SUMMIT PROVIDES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

the fourth welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit concluded october 17 in lexington as racing commission representatives discussed the implementation of safety initiatives and four other speakers made presentations on thoroughbred aftercare.

Like the three previous summits, held in October 2006, March 2008 and June 2010, the summit was underwritten and coordinated by The Jockey Club and GraysonJockey Club Research Foundation and hosted by Keeneland Association.

The two-day conference in the Keeneland sales pavilion brought together a cross-section of the Thoroughbred industry, including owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, horsemen, jockeys, track managers and regulators.

Among the points expressed by presenters, in order of presentation, during the two-day summit: • Dr. Mick Petersen, who oversees the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, emphasized that regular testing and proactive investment are necessary to improve racetrack safety. He said that the lab has worked with 40 racetracks and tested surface samples from 70 racing and training surfaces both domestically and internationally. Petersen also cited statistics from the Equine Injury Database that show that synthetic surfaces were safer than turf and turf was safer than dirt, although the best dirt track is almost as safe as a synthetic track.

• Matt Iuliano, the executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club, provided a summary of The Jockey Club’s Reformed Racing Medication Rules and the organization’s efforts seeking endorsements from industry organizations in addition to the American Quarter Horse Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations. The goal of the reformed rules is to create a uniform national medication rule book. Iuliano noted the wide range of regulatory approaches with frequently used therapeutic medications.

• Dr. Tim Parkin, an epidemiologist from the University of Glasgow and a consultant to the Equine Injury Database (created in the wake of the first summit), updated the audience on the database. He said the database now contains more than 40,000 reports and that 89 racetracks and the National Steeplechase Association participate, representing 93 percent of flat racing days and 100 percent of steeplechase races. Parkin also touched on an at-risk program in development that would identify horses that may be at higher risk for injury before a race. He said the intent was not to pull horses out of races but to look further at some of them that may be at risk.

• Dr. Wayne McIlwraith of Colorado State University addressed the use of corticosteroids and discussed the various benefits and side effects of different products. He also referenced a recently presented study at Melbourne University that showed in looking at horses with pre-existing conditions, horses

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treated with corticosteroids face a five times greater risk of injury than untreated horses.

• Joe Gorajec, the longtime executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, addressed the topic of continuing education for trainers. He stressed that vital scientific presentations like those made at the summit “should not lie dormant in a cubby hole in cyberspace.” He said that mandatory continuing education “is not only doable but worth doing.”

• Mike Ziegler, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), said that the recent announcement about broadbased funding of the TAA proves that “the industry is working together to solve its aftercare issues.” In the same session, Kristin Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club, announced that The Jockey Club will continue its well-received Thoroughbred Incentive Program in 2013. The program rewards retired Thoroughbred racehorses that now compete in horse shows.

• For the first time, all sessions were open to the public and the entire summit was available on a live video stream. Nearly 200 people attended, and several hundred watched online. In addition, highlights from the summit were tweeted steadily by numerous media representatives and others in attendance or watching the video stream.

PowerPoint presentations from various speakers at the summit are available at www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/WelfareSafety/default. asp?section=44.

A video replay will be available at a later date.

This summit included updates on initiatives first identified at earlier editions of the summit as well as recommendations for future implementation.

“We look upon the summit as a think-tank for this industry,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “This edition proved, beyond a doubt, that previous summits have indeed borne fruit and that the committees formed at the first few summits are still working hard to enhance the welfare and safety of our athletes.”

The presentations and panels on Tuesday were Surface Testing Laboratory Update, Reformed Racing Medication Rules Update, Identification of Illegal Riding Crops and Proper Crop Use, An Honest Look at Training (a trainer panel with an open discussion on horsemanship and training techniques), The Importance of Pre-Race Inspections (inspection of horse in back walking ring and presentation in sales pavilion), Breeders’ Cup – Health, Safety and Security, Equine Injury Database Update, Selected Effects of Training and Racing on the Musculoskeletal System, Corticosteroids and the Horse in Training, Trainer Continuing Education Programs and Safety Committees at Racetracks.

The panels on Wednesday were the Racing Commissioners Panel (Implementing Safety Initiatives) and Totally Aftercare.

NEW EQUINE CERTIFICATE, EQUINE COMPLEx COMING TO TExAS A&M the Department of animal Science at texas a&m university has established a new equine certificate that lays out a curriculum designed for students with a strong interest in equine science and industry. the university also announced the start of a new $80 million equine complex.

Beginning this year, students of any major can complete 22 credits in select equine courses and receive the equine

Kirksey Architecture

certificate in addition to their bachelor’s degree.

“The equine certificate provides a structured curriculum for students with a strong interest in equine science,” said Dr. David Forrest, associate head for academic programs. “The equine industry offers significant employment opportunities for qualified graduates. Texas leads the nation with more than one million horses and more than 500,000 people involved in the diverse components of the horse industry. The requirement to complete an equine internship will enhance the experiential learning of students to prepare them for a successful career.”

The coursework includes many existing courses as well as three new equine courses: equine industry and career preparation, equine disease and epidemiology and issues in the equine industry. Upon completion, students will have knowledge in equine nutrition, reproduction, disease, handling, management, career preparation and industry issues.

“Students have the opportunity to learn from equine expert faculty here at Texas A&M and use the facilities and animals already available” said Dr. Martha Vogelsang, senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science.

“Now they will get recognition for a strong, solid equine education, which can potentially enhance their career opportunities and increase their exposure as being part of the equine science program at Texas A&M.” In addition to the new equine certificate, the $35 million Phase 1 of a new equine complex at Texas A&M has begun. The Thomas G. Hildebrand DVM ’56 Equine Complex will become the center for equine teaching, research, service and student activities at Texas A&M. In addition, the complex will be the home for a world-class cross-country course for the Texas A&M Cross Country team that will weave its way through the white-fenced paddocks of the complex.

At a total cost of approximately $80 million when completed, the new complex brings together academic and non-academic units and departments, industry partners and the veterinary profession in a unique cooperative environment. The overall complex will be where future leaders of the equine

industry and equine veterinary medicine learn the importance of supportive relationships between horsemen, industry leaders and the veterinary profession.

At the same time, the new complex will provide a place for research and outreach activities dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse.

Planning for the new complex began in 2011 when input was gathered from the various users of the new facilities. In May 2012, the Texas A&M Board of Regents approved negotiation of a ground lease with a major donor. This gift, along with various in-kind and other major gifts, has allowed Phase 1 construction to begin. The unique private-public partnership found in this project could well serve as a model for future construction projects supported by the public at Texas A&M University.

With a long history of teaching, research, equine medicine and outreach excellence, Texas A&M University has been a vital contributor to the equine industry for generations. Both the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have been instrumental in providing the equine industry with knowledge and care that have advanced not only equine sciences, but the welfare of the horse as well. In 2009, the two colleges founded the Texas A&M Equine Initiative. One of the major goals of the Initiative has been the development of the new complex. As the Equine Initiative defined its role within the university and the horse industry, it developed four major imperatives. The four focus areas of the Initiative are curriculum enhancement, outreach and engagement expansion, facility construction and partnership development.

“From its inception, the Equine Initiative has been charged with bringing the equine expertise and resources of Texas A&M together in a collaboration that solidifies our places as the national leader in equine research, teaching and outreach,” said Dr. Jim Heird, executive professor and coordinator of the Texas A&M Equine Initiative. “The new equine complex will facilitate meaningful interactions among students, faculty, veterinarians and other professionals that will set Texas A&M apart in terms of a complete equine education. This is a unique partnership that is exciting for everyone connected with it. It is a major step in completing one of the four main goals of the Initiative.”

For more information on the Thomas G. Hildebrand DVM ’56 Equine Complex or the Texas A&M Equine Initiative, visit www.tamuequine.com.

www.nationalhbpa.com

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RESEARCH+MEDICATION UPDATE UC DAVIS TO TEST ExPERIMENTAL DRUG FOR LAMINITIS IN HORSES

veterinarians at the university of california-Davis School of veterinary medicine have announced plans to conduct the first clinical trial of an experimental drug that has shown promise in treating horses stricken with laminitis, an excruciatingly painful and often life-threatening foot-related disease.

Denis Blake

Four horses suffering from laminitis have been treated with the investigational anti-inflammatory drug so far. One experienced a complete remission that has lasted for more than a year, and three others have shown some improvement.

A paper on the first laminitis case has been accepted for publication by the peer-reviewed Journal of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. The paper is expected to be published in the journal’s February issue, but journal editors authorized the authors to disclose their findings ahead of publication.

“This is an unusual step for us to announce this so far in advance, but because euthanasia is often the only way to alleviate pain in severe laminitis, we felt that it was important to let the veterinarians and horse owners know that this compound has shown potential as a treatment,” said Alonso Guedes, an assistant professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

The horses were treated under a “compassionate use” protocol approved by the UC Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. That protocol allows animals to be treated with an experimental drug if no approved alternative treatment exists.

A clinical trial to assess the drug’s safety and establish a tolerable dose for the compound is expected to begin in the spring. Further clinical trials would be needed to establish the drug’s effectiveness as a laminitis treatment.

The experimental compound, known as t-TUCB, belongs to a group of antiinflammatory compounds called sEH (soluble epoxide hydrolases) inhibitors. It stems from a discovery made more than 40 years ago by UC Davis entomology professor Bruce Hammock while doing basic insect biology research.

Originally interested in finding biological insect control methods, Hammock has since broadened his research to also search for biomedical applications.

He and his colleagues have identified a group of anti-inflammatory compounds, including the sEH inhibitors, that have proven to be effective in relieving inflammatory discomfort and pain related to nervous system disorders in mice and rats. Their work has been published in scientific journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Laminitis is a poorly understood condition involving inflammation of a horse’s nailbed, the connective tissue where the horse’s hoof and lower foot bone join. The inflammation is usually accompanied by swelling, a restriction of the blood supply to that area, high blood pressure, lameness and extreme pain.

Guedes noted that the safe management of laminitis-related pain is one of the biggest challenges for equine veterinarians. Often, euthanasia is the only

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humane alternative for alleviating pain and suffering in horses afflicted with the condition.

Consequently, the survival rate for laminitis is estimated to be only 25 percent. Very few surviving horses return to their previous levels of activity, and laminitis often reappears.

In his upcoming paper, Guedes reports the case of a 4-year-old Thoroughbred mare named Hulahalla that developed laminitis. The horse had been retired from racing following a tendon injury and donated to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she was participating in a study focused on healing tendon injuries using stem cell treatments.

Veterinarians from UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital treated the laminitis with conventional therapies including cold immersion, antibiotics, leg wraps and two commonly used nonsteroidal drugs intended to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, but the horse only got worse. At the point that the mare was spending most of the day lying down, Guedes got involved.

Before resorting to euthanasia, Guedes and the veterinary team decided to try one last treatment, t-TUCB. The veterinarians administered the experimental compound intravenously early on the eighth day of Hulahalla’s illness. After receiving the first dose, the horse remained standing in the stall most of the day, became interested in her surroundings and walked voluntarily.

The mare’s demeanor, posture and mobility continued to improve over four days of treatment, and her high blood pressure gradually returned to normal.

No adverse effects from t-TUCB were observed, and Hulahalla has remained laminitis-free for a full year.

The sEH inhibitors, including t-TUCB, are currently available from the Hammock lab, which has provided the experimental compounds to more than 100 academic scientists around the world for basic investigation into their role in treating disease.

Hammock said that work aimed at moving t-TUCB and related compounds toward clinical use is advancing in several areas. He and Guedes are working on compounds with potential for targeting pain and arthritis in companion animals. And they are working with UC Davis to move the intellectual property from this research into a company to develop medications for difficult-tomanage neuropathic pain associated with diabetes and nerve injury.

Funding was provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the UC Davis Center for Equine Health.

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Think stomach ulcers don’t affect performance?

Get real.

Real world.

Real medicine.

In the real world, most horses* will develop painful, damaging stomach ulcers, which can lead to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) that may significantly impact performance — or even leave you stuck in the stall. Your veterinarian can diagnose stomach ulcers and respond with real medication, GASTROGARD® (omeprazole).

GASTROGARD is the only product approved by the FDA to treat and heal stomach ulcers in horses. No wonder 71% of veterinarians surveyed recommend GASTROGARD for treating stomach ulcers.1 Ask your veterinarian for an EGUS screening today before equine stomach ulcers sideline you.

*Research has detected stomach ulcers in 93 percent of racehorses,2 63 percent of nonracing competition horses and even 51 percent of foals.4

CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. GASTROGARD is indicated for the treatment and prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses and foals 4 weeks and older. In efficacy trials, no adverse reactions were observed. Safety in pregnant or lactating mares has not been determined. DO NOT USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. KEEP THIS AND ALL DRUGS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Market research data on file at Merial.

Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FS, Gross SJ. Factors associated with gastric lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J; 1996;28:368-374.

Mitchell RD. Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. Association for Equine Sports Medicine, September 2001.

4 Murray MJ. Endoscopic appearance of gastric lesions in foals: 94 cases (1987-1988). JAVMA; 1989;195(8):1135-1141.

1

2 3

®GASTROGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies. ©2012 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIGGD907-C (06/09)

MELAUGRD9061

Oral Paste for Horses and Foals NADA 141-123, Approved by FDA Caution Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

Description Chemical name: 5-Methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl) methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole.

Empirical formula: C17H19N3O3S. Molecular weight: 345.42. Structural formula: OCH3 How Supplied H3C CH3 OCH3 O N GastroGard® (omeprazole) Paste for horses contains 37% w/w omeprazole N S and is available in an adjustable-dose syringe. Each syringe contains 2.28 g of N omeprazole. Syringes are calibrated according to body weight and are available H in boxes of 7 units or 72 units.

Storage Conditions Store at 68°F – 77°F (20-25°C). Excursions between 59°F – 86°F (15-30°C) are permitted.

Indications For treatment and prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses and foals 4 weeks of age and older.

Dosage Regimen For treatment of gastric ulcers, GastroGard Paste should be administered orally once-a-day for 4 weeks at the recommended dosage of 1.8 mg omeprazole/lb body weight (4 mg/kg). For the prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers, continue treatment for at least an additional 4 weeks by administering GastroGard Paste at the recommended daily maintenance dose of 0.9 mg/lb (2 mg/kg).

Directions For Use • GastroGard Paste for horses is recommended for use in horses and foals 4 weeks of age and older. The contents of one syringe will dose a 1250 lb (568 kg) horse at the rate of 1.8 mg omeprazole/lb body weight (4 mg/kg). For treatment of gastric ulcers, each weight marking on the syringe plunger will deliver sufficient omeprazole to treat 250 lb (114 kg) body weight. For prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers, each weight marking will deliver sufficient omeprazole to dose 500 lb (227 kg) body weight.

• To deliver GastroGard Paste at the treatment dose rate of 1.8 mg omeprazole/lb body weight (4 mg/kg), set the syringe plunger to the appropriate weight marking according to the horse’s weight in pounds.

• To deliver GastroGard Paste at the dose rate of 0.9 mg/lb (2 mg/kg) to prevent recurrence of ulcers, set the syringe plunger to the weight marking corresponding to half of the horse’s weight in pounds.

• To set the syringe plunger, unlock the knurled ring by rotating it 1/4 turn. Slide the knurled ring along the plunger shaft so that the side nearest the barrel is at the appropriate notch. Rotate the plunger ring 1/4 turn to lock it in place and ensure it is locked. Make sure the horse’s mouth contains no feed. Remove the cover from the tip of the syringe, and insert the syringe into the horse’s mouth at the interdental space. Depress the plunger until stopped by the knurled ring. The dose should be deposited on the back of the tongue or deep into the cheek pouch. Care should be taken to ensure that the horse consumes the complete dose. Treated animals should be observed briefly after administration to ensure that part of the dose is not lost or rejected. If any of the dose is lost, redosing is recommended.

• If, after dosing, the syringe is not completely empty, it may be reused on following days until emptied. Replace the cap after each use.

Warning Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion, contact a physician. Physicians may contact a poison control center for advice concerning accidental ingestion.

Adverse Reactions In efficacy trials, when the drug was administered at 1.8 mg omeprazole/lb (4 mg/kg) body weight daily for 28 days and 0.9 mg omeprazole/lb (2 mg/kg)body weight daily for 30 additional days, no adverse reactions were observed.

Precautions The safety of GastroGard Paste has not been determined in pregnant or lactating mares.

Clinical Pharmacology Mechanism of Action: Omeprazole is a gastric acid pump inhibitor that regulates the final step in hydrogen ion production and blocks gastric acid secretion regardless of the stimulus. Omeprazole irreversibly binds to the gastric parietal cell’s H+, K+ ATPase enzyme which pumps hydrogen ions into the lumen of the stomach in exchange for potassium ions. Since omeprazole accumulates in the cell canaliculi and is irreversibly bound to the effect site, the plasma concentration at steady state is not directly related to the amount that is bound to the enzyme. The relationship between omeprazole action and plasma concentration is a function of the rate-limiting process of H+, K+ ATPase activity/turnover. Once all of the enzyme becomes bound, acid secretion resumes only after new H+, K+ ATPase is synthesized in the parietal cell (i.e., the rate of new enzyme synthesis exceeds the rate of inhibition).

Pharmacodynamics: In a study of pharmacodynamic effects using horses with gastric cannulae, secretion of gastric acid was inhibited in horses given 4 mg omeprazole/kg/day. After the expected maximum suppression of gastric acid secretion was reached (5 days), the actual secretion of gastric acid was reduced by 99%, 95% and 90% at 8, 16, and 24 hours, respectively.

Pharmacokinetics: In a pharmacokinetic study involving thirteen healthy, mixed breed horses (8 female, 5 male) receiving multiple doses of omeprazole paste (1.8 mg/lb once daily for fifteen days) in either a fed or fasted state, there was no evidence of drug accumulation in the plasma when comparing the extent of systemic exposure (AUC0-∞). When comparing the individual bioavailability data (AUC0-∞, Cmax, and Tmax measuremen ts) across the study days, there was great inter- and intrasubject variability in the rate and extent of product absorption. Also, the extent of omeprazole absorption in horses was reduced by approximately 67% in the presence of food. This is evidenced by the observation that the mean AUC0-∞ values measured during the fifth day of omeprazole therapy when the animals were fasted for 24 hours was approximately three times greater than the AUC estimated after the first and fifteenth doses when the horses were fed hay ad libitum and sweet feed (grain) twice daily. Prandial status did not affect the rate of drug elimination. The terminal half-life estimates (N=38) ranged from approximately one-half to eight hours.

Efficacy Dose Confirmation: GastroGard® (omeprazole) Paste, administered to provide omeprazole at 1.8 mg/lb (4 mg/kg) daily for 28 days, effectively healed or reduced the severity of gastric ulcers in 92% of omeprazole-treated horses. In comparison, 32% of controls exhibited healed or less severe ulcers. Horses enrolled in this study were healthy animals confirmed to have gastric ulcers by gastroscopy. Subsequent daily administration of GastroGard Paste to provide omeprazole at 0.9 mg/lb (2 mg/kg) for 30 days prevented recurrence of gastric ulcers in 84% of treated horses, whereas ulcers recurred or became more severe in horses removed from omeprazole treatment.

Clinical Field Trials: GastroGard Paste administered at 1.8 mg/lb (4 mg/kg) daily for 28 days healed or reduced the severity of gastric ulcers in 99% of omeprazoletreated horses. In comparison, 32.4% of control horses had healed ulcers or ulcers which were reduced in severity. These trials included horses of various breeds and under different management conditions, and included horses in race or show training, pleasure horses, and foals as young as one month. Horses enrolled in the efficacy trials were healthy animals confirmed to have gastric ulcers by gastroscopy. In these field trials, horses readily accepted GastroGard Paste. There were no drug related adverse reactions. In the clinical trials, GastroGard Paste was used concomitantly with other therapies, which included: anthelmintics, antibiotics, non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, diuretics, tranquilizers and vaccines.

Diagnostic and Management Considerations: The following clinical signs may be associated with gastric ulceration in adult horses: inappetence or decreased appetite, recurrent colic, intermittent loose stools or chronic diarrhea, poor hair coat, poor body condition, or poor performance. Clinical signs in foals may include: bruxism (grinding of teeth), excessive salivation, colic, cranial abdominal tenderness, anorexia, diarrhea, sternal recumbency or weakness. A more accurate diagnosis of gastric ulceration in horses and foals may be made if ulcers are visualized directly by endoscopic examination of the gastric mucosa.

Gastric ulcers may recur in horses if therapy to prevent recurrence is not administered after the initial treatment is completed. Use GastroGard Paste at 0.9 mg omeprazole/lb body weight (2 mg/kg) for control of gastric ulcers following treatment. The safety of administration of GastroGard Paste for longer than 91 days has not been determined.

Maximal acid suppression occurs after three to five days of treatment with omeprazole.

Safety • GastroGard Paste was well tolerated in the following controlled efficacy and safety studies.

• In field trials involving 139 horses, including foals as young as one month of age, no adverse reactions attributable to omeprazole treatment were noted.

• In a placebo controlled adult horse safety study, horses received 20 mg/kg/day omeprazole (5x the recommended dose) for 90 days.

No treatment related adverse effects were observed.

• In a placebo controlled tolerance study, adult horses were treated with GastroGard Paste at a dosage of 40 mg/kg/day (10x the recommended dose) for 21 days. No treatment related adverse effects were observed.

• A placebo controlled foal safety study evaluated the safety of omeprazole at doses of 4, 12 or 20 mg/kg (1, 3 or 5x) once daily for 91 days. Foals ranged in age from 66 to 110 days at study initiation. Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels were significantly elevated in horses treated at exaggerated doses of 20 mg/kg (5x the recommended dose). Mean stomach to body weight ratio was higher for foals in the 3x and 5x groups than for controls; however, no abnormalities of the stomach were evident on histological examination.

Reproductive Safety In a male reproductive safety study, 10 stallions received GastroGard Paste at 12 mg/kg/day (3x the recommended dose) for 70 days.

No treatment related adverse effects on semen quality or breeding behavior were observed. A safety study in breeding mares has not been conducted.

For More Information Please call 1-888-637-4251 and please visit our web site at www.gastrogard.com.

Marketed by: Merial Limited Duluth, GA 30096-4640 Merial Limited, a company limited by shares registered in England and Wales (registered number 3332751) with a registered office at PO Box 327, Sandringham House, Sandringham Avenue, Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex CM19 5QA, England, and domesticated in Delaware, USA as Merial LLC. US Patent: 4255431 and 5708017 Copyright © 2005 Merial Limited.

All rights reserved. Rev. 08-2005

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OwnerView.cOm Trainers: Register Today on OwnerView It’s Free

Breeder’s Cup Photo©

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®GASTROGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies.

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h B Pa

mediCation COMMITTEE CORNER BREEDERS’ CUP OR BLEEDERS’ CUP?

By Dr. Kimberly Brewer

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships of 2012 was remarkable, not only in the performances given by such notable horses as Wise Dan, Royal Delta and Fort Larned, but also in the experimental decision to make all juvenile horses run without any race-day medications. Most controversial of this medication ruling was the complete ban on furosemide (Salix/Lasix), which all American 2-year-old horses had legally been allowed to race on in competitions leading up to the Breeders’ Cup.

Current veterinary research is in agreement with long-standing

only wonder if the results of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile would be different for these two horses had they not bled into their lungs while racing.

This author speculates of the possibility that other juveniles racing without Lasix may have bled as well. Because it is not mandatory to examine a horse by endoscopy or disclose the results of an endoscopic exam to the public, many horses may have bled without our knowledge.

principles that horsemen have known for many eras of racing. Dehydration

There is a wave of popular thought, not backed by any concrete science or

of a horse lessens bleeding. Whether this dehydration is done by the old-

factoring in the shockwave theory of EIPH as a cause of bleeding, that has

fashioned means of “drawing a horse” (withholding food and water for at

formed the opinion of breeders and bettors that bleeding is genetic in nature.

least 24 hours prior to a race) or through modern pharmaceutical methods

Thus with that thought process being a prominent trend, it behooves owners

of diuretics such as furosemide, the results tend to be consistent. Lasix

and trainers of bleeders to hide this fact from the bloodstock market, fearing

horses or dehydrated horses bleed less severely and less often.

that a bleeder will be valued less as a breeding animal.

Our best knowledge on the disease of exercise-induced pulmonary

A second reason to hide a bleeder comes from having that horse being

hemorrhage (EIPH) or “bleeders” is based on the understanding that

placed on the veterinarian’s list per regulation, because then the horse must

shockwave forces from a horse’s legs hitting the ground radiate up the

meet certain circumstances to come off this list to race.

limb to the lungs, where these shockwave forces cause capillary damage

A third reason why bleeding is often not seen on passing glance by

and hemorrhage. The course of the disease is progressive and cumulative.

regulators or veterinarians is that the blood may only pour from the nostrils

Necropsy findings typically show the lesions from EIPH in the dorsal-

after the horse is cooled out, put in its stall and allowed to rest with its

caudal (most toward the tail and spine) portion of the lung, with older

head down.

horses that raced harder or more frequently having more severe lesions

A race-by-race examination of the Lasix policy and race results for the

traveling forward toward the head of the horse. The lung repairs itself

2012 Breeders’ Cup in juvenile horses does not tend to support the widespread

after a bleeding incident through scarring, making it less efficient to the

rumor that trainers use Lasix for performance-enhancing effects. If this

performance horse.

were the case, one would expect all of the horses who had been Lasix-free to

Following these principles, a 2-year-old horse that has had a shortened racing career with reduced distances and lesser number of starts should

maintain their form, with first-time-off Lasix horses regressing in form.

The fourth race on November 2 was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint with

not show as intense signs of damage, such as perfuse epistaxis (blood

no Lasix permitted. Of a five-horse field, only one horse, Ceiling Kitty (GB), had

pouring out the nostrils), than older horses that have had cumulative

never used furosemide. All other horses were first-time-off Lasix. Ceiling Kitty

damage over time.

(GB) finished last.

Perhaps because the Lasix ban was only on 2-year-old horses is why

In the sixth race on November 2, the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Lasix was not

the Breeders’ Cup was able to get away with the experiment of changing

allowed. Six horses raced having never used Lasix with seven horses to race as

the long-standing and veterinarian-endorsed procedure of giving

first-time-off Lasix. There were only two horses to win a Breeders’ Cup juvenile

furosemide as a preventative measure against EIPH. While Dr. Rick Authur

race without using Lasix in their lifetime, with the winner of this race, Flotilla

claimed that no horses bled during the 2012 Breeders’ Cup, this in fact

(Fr), never having Lasix. The second- and third-place horses were first-time-off

does not appear true. Two trainers, John Sadler and Mark Casse, have come

Lasix and finished with good enough form without Lasix to beat out many nice

forward with three of their horses having bled in Breeders’ Cup races. Mark

European horses.

Casse’s horse, Spring in the Air, is said to have had one of the most severe

The Juvenile Fillies race was contested by all American-based horses, all

forms of EIPH, that of epistaxis (blood pouring from both nostrils). The only

first-time-off Lasix. It is in this race that Spring in the Air is reported to have

more severe form of EIPH is sudden death of the horse while racing.

bled after finishing fifth.

John Sadler reports that his horse Monument, who was eased across

For Saturday’s race card, the first Juvenile sprint race was the Juvenile

the wire to a last-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, also bled. His

Filly Sprint Preview. All horses were American-based horses, and all were

other horse, Capo Bastone, bled in the same race, finishing third. One can

first-time-off Lasix.

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The second race was the Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview. No Lasix was allowed. Two European horses entered who had never run on Lasix, and the rest were all American horses first-time-off Lasix. The American horses finished in the top three spots.

The Juvenile Turf race was run with five foreign horses that had never

with the third-place horse, Capo Bastone, reported to have bled. Fortify finished fourth.

While no one knew what would happen to horses that had been trained and raced prior with Lasix and then have it become banned before this Breeders’ Cup event, a look back can tell us several key things that should

run on Lasix versus nine American horses that were first-time-off Lasix.

be considered moving into the future. First, horses did bleed during the

The European horse, George Vancouver, won this race as a non-Lasix horse,

Breeders’ Cup juvenile races. The extent and amount was not required to

however, the second- and third-place horses were both first-time-off Lasix.

be documented or reported by owners or trainers to any racing authority, and thus the true number of horses affected by this regulatory decision is unknown. Secondly, American victories and good finishes in juvenile races

had pledged earlier in the year not to race any of their 2-year-olds on

cannot be attributed to “performance-enhancing effects” such as the

medication. The top three finishers in this race were all first-time-off Lasix,

weight loss associated with using furosemide.

Denis Blake

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was run with only one horse who had not raced on Lasix. This was Fortify, owned by the Godolphin Stable, who

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Jun. 19 – Jul. 9, 2013

Nov. 8 – Dec. 16, 2012, Apr. 24 – Jul. 14, Nov. 6 – Dec. 22, 2013

Jul. 10 – 23, 2013

Jul. 17 – Sep. 4, 2013

Sep. 5 – 23, 2013

Oct. 2 – 15, 2013

Oct. 18 – Dec. 16, 2012, Dec. 26, 2012 – Jun. 18, Aug. 14 – Sep. 17, Oct. 16 – Dec. 25, 2013

Aug. 14 – 25, 2013

Dec. 30, 2011 – Dec. 23, 2012, Dec. 28, 2012 – Dec. 23, 2013

Sep. 18 – Oct. 1, 2013

Dec. 26, 2012 – Apr. 21, Sep. 25 – Nov. 3, 2013

Jul. 24 – Aug. 13, 2013

Alameda Co. Fair @ Pleasanton

Betfair Hollywood Park

Cal Expo/California State Fair

Del Mar

Fairplex Park

Fresno Co. Fair @ Fresno

Golden Gate Fields

Humboldt Co. Fair @ Ferndale

Los Alamitos Race Course

San Joaquin Co. Fair @ Stockton

Santa Anita

Sonoma Co. Fair @ Santa Rosa

california

Oct. 5, 2012 – May 7, 2013

Turf Paradise

Jan. 11 – Apr. 13, 2013

Apr. 26 – May 5, 2013

Santa Cruz Co. Fair @ Sonoita

Oaklawn Park

Jan. 19 – Mar. 17, 2013

nebraska

Feb. 22 – May 4, 2013 Sept. 10, 2013 May 10 – 12, 2013

Hastings Fairplay Park Horsemen’s Park

May 17 – Sep. 14, 2013 Fonner Park

Canterbury Park

Minnesota

Jan. 12 – Mar. 27, May 3 – Sep. 22, 2013

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs

Sep. 7 – Dec. 31, 2012

Nov. 22, 2012 – Mar. 31, Aug. 16 – Sep. 7, 2013

Fair Grounds Race Course

Laurel Race Course

Oct. 3 – Dec. 20, 2012, Apr. 17 – Sep. 7, 2013

Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, 2012, Jan. 1 – Feb. 2, Mar. 1 – 30, Dec. 1 – 30, 2013

Turfway Park

Evangeline Downs

Sep. 7 – 25, 2013

Kentucky Downs

Oct. 19, 2012 – Mar. 23, Apr. 26 – July 13, 2013

Apr. 5 – 26, Oct. 4 – 26, 2013

Keeneland

Delta Downs

Jul. 4 – Sep. 2, 2013

Ellis Park

Oct. 3 – Dec. 30, 2013

Hawthorne Racecourse Apr. 27 – June 30, Sep. 6 - 29, Oct. 27 – Nov. 30, 2013

Mar. 26 – Sep. 20, 2013

Fairmount Park

Churchill Downs

May 3 – Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 1, 2012 – May 5, 2013

Tampa Bay Downs Arlington Park

Dec. 15, 2012 – Feb. 27, 2013

Dec. 1, 2012 – Apr. 5, 2013

Hialeah Park

Gulfstream Park

Maryland

louisiana

Kentucky

illinois

florida

Remington Park Woodbine Racecourse Parx Racing

oklahoma ontario, canada pennsylvania

Jan. 3 – Dec. 29, 2012 Mar. 2 – Dec. 21, 2012

Hollywood Casino @ Charles Town Races Mountaineer Race Track

west Virginia

Jun. 8 – July 13, 2013

Colonial Downs

Virginia

Oct. 5 – Dec. 29, 2012

Retama Park

Jan. 5 – Dec. 29, 2012, Jan. 3 – Dec. 28, 2013

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 6 – Dec. 16, 2012

Aug. 10 – Dec. 9, 2012

Oct. 8 – Dec. 22, 2012

Nov. 2 – Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 7 – Dec. 3, 2013

Apr. 19 – Jun. 23, 2013

Dec. 7, 2012 – Apr. 16, 2013

May 24 – Sep. 2, 2013

Aug. 2 – Nov. 4, 2013

texas

Penn National

Beulah

Aqueduct

Zia Park

SunRay Park

Sunland Park

Ruidoso Downs

The Downs at Albuquerque

ohio

new york

new Mexico

Schedule is based on available information at the time each issue goes to press.

All racing jurisdictions have differing schedules and policies regarding the granting of future race dates that impact availability.

Rillito Park

dates>>

racing

Arkansas

Arizona

2012 2013

hj DateS

SCIENCE & NUTRITION

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DEADLY DOPING MEETS ITS MATCH Trainers Praise Natural Alternative

By Mark Hansen The pressure to win is so enormous that many horsemen resort to whatever it takes to get a piece of the purse or a decent sale… even if it means putting their horses’ lives in mortal danger by doping them with illegal synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) drugs to boost endurance.

races. He first started ordering a single jar of EPO-Equine once a month. Now he’s ordering several CASES each month.

And he won’t tell BRL exactly why. He said respectfully, “Sorry – no way.”

Bioengineers at U.S. based Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL), first discovered a completely natural EPO-booster for human athletes (and it’s working miracles for top athletes and amateurs around the world). Seeing these results, horse trainers contacted BRL and asked about using this natural formula for their animals.

That’s when the BRL team dug deeper and discovered a proprietary, horse-friendly strain of a common herb that promotes optimal blood-building results. EPO-Equine is based on the blood-boosting abilities of a certain strain of Echinacea that’s astounding researchers and trainers alike. (It’s not a strain you can find at the local health store.)

Veterinarians at the Equine Research Centre in Ontario, Canada ran a doubleblind trial investigating the blood building properties of the active ingredient in EPOEquine in healthy horses. For 42 days, one group of horses was supplemented with the active ingredient in EPO-Equine and another group of horses was given a placebo.

Veterinarian Gary Smith said, “It's a problem all over the The supplement delivered significant blood building results, industry. There is no way horses should be put on (synthetic) increasing red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. ReEPO.” searchers also observed improved blood quality and increased So how do racers win? How do you gain a competitive edge oxygen transport in the supplemented horses. Improved blood without harming your horses or risking your livelihood? The levels leads to elevated exercise physiology and performance. answer may be found in a safe all-natural horse supplement The patent-pending formula in EPO-Equine contains a dozthat supports natural EPO function. en different herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compoWhy is EPO boosting so critical? Just like in people, a nents combined to promote natural red blood cell production… horse’s muscles require oxygen for fuel. Red blood cells are for remarkable speed, strength and stamina right out of the the body’s oxygen-carrying cells. A higher red blood cell count gate. = more oxygen = more muscle energy. Elevated muscle enerTrainers find it easy to add just 1 scoop (3.2 grams) of EPOgy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during Equine to the horse’s daily feeding routine in the barn or on endurance events. All horses naturally produce EPO in their the road. Within a few weeks of daily use, you can expect to kidneys to stimulate production of new red blood cells from see increased red blood cell levels with no undesirable side bone marrow. In short, EPO is a natural “blood builder.” effects. An increase in red blood cell levels can improve musWith EPO doping, trainers try to boost the EPO effect to get cle performance, supercharge endurance, and enhance recova winning performance every time. They use a synthetic EPO ery after hard exercise. Nothing else is scientifically proven to (recombinant human EPO), even though the side effects can deliver these benefits in a completely safe and natural formula. harm the horse. That’s one reason why it’s illegal.

Compared to the cost of veterinarians, drugs, icing, tapping Fortunately there’s another option. EPO-Equine is a safe, the knees, putting the horse on Bute, or the consequences of highly effective natural dietary supplement scientifically engibeing banned for doping, EPO-Equine is very affordable at the neered for performance horses. low price of just $59.95 per jar. Or save $20 per jar if you have A Kentucky trainer who refused to give out his name, said, “I multiple horses or you’re ready to commit to a larger trial with don’t want my competition to know about this.” He found EPO- a 12-jar case at just $39.95 per jar. EPO-Equine can be orEquine to be so effective that he’s dead set against disclosing dered 7 days a week at www.EPOEquine.com or 1-800-557who he is, who his horses are, or even where he trains and 9055.

FeatuRe

the riDe of their

liVes

By Patti Davis

Thomas Allen Pauly

A looK At the perMAnently DisABleD JocKeys funD

Jockey Gary Stevens tumbles from his mount, Storming Home (GB), in the 2003 Arlington Million. Stevens returned from his injuries to ride again, but others are not so lucky.

the questions coMe in the quiet MoMents, when the sounD of thunDerinG hooVes AnD the cheers of the crowD GiVe wAy to the rhythMic Beeps of A BeDsiDe Monitor, the steADy whoosh of A BreAthinG MAchine. for soMe, the questions coMe the instAnt BAlAnce is lost, when the eArth AnD the BoDy Meet too fAst AnD too Violently, when the hooVes ABoVe Are friGhteninGly close to the heAD.

is My cAreer oVer? who will tAKe cAre of My fAMily? how will i pAy the Bills? will i eVer Be ABle to wAlK AGAin? 28

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the questions coMe. But for JocKeys who suffer cAtAstrophic on-trAcK inJuries, one orGAnizAtion— the perMAnently DisABleD JocKeys funD (pDJf)— helps proViDe soMe of the Answers. since its inception, the pDJf hAs DisBurseD ApproxiMAtely $4.5 Million to DisABleD riDers in finAnciAl support to Assist with MeDicAl cAre, equipMent purchAses such As wheelchAirs AnD speciAlly-outfitteD Vehicles, rehABilitAtion trAininG AnD the expenses of DAily liVinG. the pDJf Also Acts to heiGhten puBlic AwAreness of the pliGht of DisABleD riDers.

Secretariat.com

The PDJF currently supports 58 former jockeys whose lives have been dramatically altered by on-track catastrophic accidents. Most of the jockeys now supported by the PDJF were injured early in their careers, in their 20s and 30s, without time to build a financial cushion for themselves or their families.

Having lost their income, they face decades of living with disability and limited means.

Created in 2006, the PDJF is a fairly new organization. Many leaders representing the racing industry—such as racetracks, jockeys, horsemen’s groups (including the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and its affiliates) and other racing organizations—recognized the need to create a program that would bring much-needed financial assistance to a group of athletes who gave so much to the sport of horse racing. Initially, the PDJF was run under the auspices of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Charities, giving the organization time to build an infrastructure and gain the support of all facets of the horse racing industry. In January 2009, the PDJF became a freestanding 501(c)(3) public charity governed by a board of directors composed of representatives of both Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racing. In order to receive PDJF funds, applicants undergo a review process by the PDJF Eligibility Committee. Additionally, the PDJF maintains Investment and Fundraising Committees that oversee the operations of and disbursements by the Fund. Based in suburban Chicago, Nancy LaSala, the wife of recently retired jockey Jerry LaSala, is the Fund’s president and administrator.

Nancy LaSala (center) of the PDJF receives a donation on behalf of (from left) Pat Day, Jean Cruguet, Penny Chenery and Ron Turcotte at the annual Secretariat Festival in Paris, Kentucky, in September 2012.

Disabled jockeys often say the hardest part of transitioning into their new lives is when friends and fellow riders gradually stop visiting, when the racetrack chaplain is no longer beside the bed and when the number of cards and well-wishes trickles to a halt. Many say they feel forgotten. That is why the PDJF set out to be a constant and reliable source of support in a dangerous sport whose athletes compete without adequate health insurance, life insurance or a retirement fund.

“A small percentage of riders make ‘the big bucks,’ and when serious injuries result, it is not only the end of one’s racing career but also their way of life, and they find themselves in need of support, financially and emotionally,” said Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day. “The PDJF helps to meet these needs and lets them know they haven’t been forgotten.”

Whether piloting a stakes horse in the Breeders’ Cup or a low-level claimer around a half-mile bullring track, jockeys acknowledge and accept the inherent risks of the sport. They know a catastrophic injury is but one stride, one bad step, one riding mistake away. In the 2003 Arlington Million, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens thought he had the race won as his mount, Storming Home (GB), glided across the finish line but then promptly veered, catapulting him to the ground and into the path of oncoming horses. Escaping with a collapsed lung and broken vertebrae, Stevens later said the horses’ hooves were so close he could read the numbers on their shoes as they miraculously passed over his head. Less than a month later, however, Stevens was back in the saddle and counting his blessings. www.nationalhbpa.com

29

FeatuRe

pDJf: A View froM within The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is governed by an independent board of directors comprised of stakeholders from a broad crosssection of the horse racing industry. Current board members are: G. R. Carter Jon Court (Vice President) Bo Derek

William Farish Jack Fires Craig Fravel

Peggy Hendershot Nancy LaSala (President) Terry Meyocks

Bill Murphy (Treasurer) Billy Peterson (Secretary) Bill Punk

Mike Rogers John Velazquez

Four Footed Fotos

Many Hall of Fame jockeys and retired riders took part in the “Dining with the Dynasty” fundraiser at Arlington Park held in conjunction with the 2009 Arlington Million.

“We lay our lives on the line every day,” Stevens said, recalling the Million incident. “That was the first time I looked death in the eyes, and it gave me a new respect for life itself.”

The PDJF supports dozens of former jockeys who weren’t as lucky as Stevens. Some require round-the-clock care; others live with varying degrees of paralysis or traumatic brain injuries. All are survivors of horrific, life-altering accidents.

“Jockeys are truly remarkable athletes, fearless competitors and at risk every day they get on a horse,” noted Mike Rogers, president of the racing division of The Stronach Group, which owns racetracks across the country.

“Many have not only suffered career-ending injuries but injuries that have been life-changing for them and their families. It is imperative that our industry supports the PDJF and these extraordinary men and women with all its energy and passion.”

Fundraising, especially in lean economic times, is a constant challenge for the PDJF. “It was our vision, when the PDJF was created in 2006, that all of our industry partners would support the organization in a way that its funding would never be in jeopardy,” explained PDJF President LaSala. “The goal was for the PDJF to become a perpetual, self-sustaining source of revenue for its beneficiaries. Such a permanent endowment would ensure long-term, stable financing for the PDJF for years to come. Unfortunately, we still haven’t met this goal.

“There have been very troubling times in the past when we could not plan ahead 30 or 60 days on available funds,” she continued. “Witnessing the impact this had on the disabled riders and their families was very distressing.

Without consistent support from within the horse racing industry, forecasting

for monthly disbursements remains difficult. A permanent endowment would provide interest income to fund PDJF programs and services.”

Jockey karaoke contests, softball games, golf outings, poker tournaments, autograph sessions, jockeys tending bar or acting as chefs all are events in heavy rotation to raise funds for the PDJF. The “Dining with the Dynasty” luncheon has become a popular event held at Arlington Park the day before the Million, as many retired jockeys (Ron Turcotte, Chris McCarron, John Rotz and Angel Cordero Jr. among them) gather to tell stories and mingle with fans. A jockey challenge race is held, pitting “legends” against representatives of the Arlington riding colony in a pari-mutuel race that benefits the PDJF as well as the Race Track Chaplaincy of Illinois. This summer, the sale of an original oil painting depicting a morning workout scene at Santa Anita Park raised $22,000 for the Fund. And, of course, contributions from individuals, organizations, racetracks, horsemen and many others generously contribute to the PDJF’s coffers.

“Support for the PDJF is not just one person’s or one group’s responsibility,” said LaSala. “To be successful, we need the support of the entire Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industry. It is the community of horse racing as a whole that can make a difference.”

One enthusiastic supporter of the PDJF is Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner and breeder.

“I am delighted that the legacy of Secretariat can assist the PDJF in all its worthy endeavors,” Chenery said. “The continued and collective support of friends and fans—be it through the Foundation, the Secretariat Festival or the Secretariat.com website—provides the means to contribute to the welfare of disabled jockeys and brings recognition to this essential organization within the racing community.”

Your support is greatly needed and very much appreciated by the men and women we serve. For further information about the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, please visit www.pdjf.org or call (630) 595-7660. The PDJF is on Facebook and Twitter (@PDJFund).

The next time you hear the call to the post, think of it as a call to action. Grab your cell phone and text JOCKEY to 50555 to make a $10 donation to the PDJF (charges will appear on your wireless bill or be deducted from your prepaid calling plan). Donations can be made online at www.pdjf.org or by check to PDJF, P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126.

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31

FeatuRe Denis Blake

exchAnGe wAGerinG: for horseMen, the Jury is still out

it reMAins to Be seen if this forM of BettinG will tAKe off in north AMericA

By Michael Cusortelli

when executiVes froM BetfAir tVG introDuceD the iDeA of exchAnGe wAGerinG to north AMericAn rAcinG officiAls A few yeArs AGo, they preDicteD thAt the concept woulD GiVe A shot in the ArM to A stAGnAnt pAri-Mutuel Menu in neeD of A Boost. As of yet, exchAnGe wAGerinG hAs not yet left the stArtinG GAte on this continent, But thAt MiGht chAnGe in the future.

Exchange wagering is popular in Great Britain and Australia, due in part to the aggressive marketing efforts of Betfair, a London-based company that purchased the North American advance deposit wagering (ADW) and television network TVG for $50 million in 2009. Exchange wagering is a form of betting that allows customers, using their advance deposit accounts, to bet against each other on individual horses to win or lose.

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As it’s currently offered overseas, exchange wagering—also known as proposition betting—comes in many different forms. Here’s an example of how a more popular type of exchange wager works: Say Player A likes the chances of horse number 1 in the first race at his favorite track. Player B thinks horse number 2 has a better chance in the race, so he “challenges” Player A to a $100 proposition bet that horse 2 will outrun horse 1 (regardless of whether either horse wins the race).

If Player B is correct, he retains his $100, and $100 is collected from Player A’s account. If the London-based Betfair, which in 2009 acquired ADW company’s commission is 10 TVG, is hoping to bring exchange wagering percent, then it retains that fee across the pond. from Player B’s payoff, meaning that Player B (the winning player) gets a total of $190 for his $100 bet. In this form, exchange wagering is not much different than a football fan betting on his team at a Nevada sports book. The simplicity and familiarity of that system is one reason to believe exchange wagering could catch on in North America.

Betfair offers other forms of exchange wagers to its overseas customers, including what are known as “in-running” bets. With these types of wagers, odds are adjusted after the gate opens to reflect the race’s beginning and what is expected to occur as it unfolds.

For example, if a horse that is usually a pacesetter breaks poorly and lags behind the field early, its odds will increase as the race goes on. If that same horse starts to move toward the lead, the odds will drop and continue to do so as that horse gets closer to the front.

Other types of exchange wagers can include, but aren’t limited to, betting on the outcome of a photo finish or stewards’ inquiry.

Betfair began offering exchange wagering about 10 years ago, and the company says it currently handles more than five million transactions per day. To date, the legislatures of two states on opposite ends of the U.S., in California and New Jersey, have legalized exchange wagering at their tracks.

But it has yet to be implemented in either state.

TOC

wAit-AnD-see ApproAch Exchange wagering was made legal in California two years ago, and a target date of May 2012 was set for its debut. National and local organizations representing the interests of horsemen have been taking a wait-and-see approach with regard to a form of betting that would initially be unfamiliar to their U.S. customer base.

Critics of exchange wagering overseas say that money wagered in this form takes Lou Raffetto Jr., president of the revenue away from legal bookmakers, Thoroughbred Owners of California which are common there, and the pari(TOC), is taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if exchange mutuel system, which contributes to wagering makes sense for purses. Negotiations have been ongoing horsemen. between Betfair TVG and several horsemen’s groups, including the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), to come up with a business model under which all parties can prosper.

The TOC is the legislatively recognized representative of California’s Thoroughbred owners, and the organization must approve any agreement to bring exchange wagering to the state’s racetracks. Two of the major questions horsemen have are: • Will exchange wagering introduce a new customer base to horse racing, or just move existing customers from the traditional pari-mutuel model?, and • What percentage of revenue from exchange wagering would go toward purses, breeder awards and racetrack operations?

Lou Raffetto Jr., a 35-year racing industry veteran, has served as president of the TOC since June 2011. He said he would be surprised if bettors will be able to participate in exchange wagering at California tracks next summer at the earliest.

The TOC board issued a statement last June saying that it was tabling a vote on exchange wagering in California for one year. TOC Chairman Mike Pegram referred to the concept of exchange wagering as “a polarizing issue among the stakeholders in California racing.”

“This action (the tabling of the vote) will give us additional time to study this betting alternative and consider if it is in the best interests of the industry in our state,” Pegram added.

On September 20, after the California Horse Racing Board gave rules governing exchange wagering its initial approval at a meeting in Pomona, Raffetto confirmed that the TOC’s position hasn’t changed since June.

“We’re still taking a wait-and-see attitude,” Raffetto said. “We’ve essentially made a commitment to sit back and sort of watch the movie, so to speak, at least through next May or June. At that time, our board will review its position and make a decision going forward.

“We have some members who feel very strongly that exchange wagering is not good for the game, but we also have members who feel that we need to seek alternative sources of revenue and that this could be one of them, so why would we shut the door on it?” he added. “We also have members who are in the middle. They don’t have an opinion one way or another because they’re not sure they understand what exchange wagering is.”

the nAtionAl hBpA’s View Meanwhile, the National HBPA and its Wagering and Alternative Gaming Information (WAGI) Committee, chaired by Bob Reeves, is also looking into the feasibility of exchange wagering and whether it can increase handle and therefore increase revenue to its members in the form of higher purses and to racetracks in the form of increased revenue from wagering.

Reeves, who acknowledged that “if tracks aren’t financially healthy and able to stay in business, we don’t have any place to race our horses,” added that there are two major issues the NHBPA has in regard to any type of new wagers, similar to the concerns of the TOC. “We’ve met with the Betfair people a number of times regarding exchange wagering, and one issue we have is that we feel it might cannibalize other types of wagering,” said Reeves, who also serves as executive vice president of the Ohio HBPA. “If it does, it doesn’t look like the contribution to purses and the tracks would come close to what it has been from more traditional types of pari-mutuel bets.

“We’re not just concerned about purses—we’re concerned about keeping our racetracks open as well,” he added.

The other issue, according to Reeves, involves the takeout rate—or fee—from exchange wagering and what percentage of that fee goes back to the industry.

“We’re open to anything, any innovations that contribute to supporting live horse racing, and Betfair’s sales pitch to the industry has been that exchange wagering is going to bring lots of new fans to the game,” Reeves said. “We have a great relationship with Betfair—the negotiations have been positive, and they’ve been very flexible—but at this point I’d say we’re far apart philosophically.”

But the NHBPA, as well as the TOC, is open to looking at new sources of revenue, including exchange wagering.

“We’re going to be open-minded to anything that has the potential to increase revenue for our owners,” Raffetto said. “But it’ll be some time yet before exchange wagering will become a reality for race fans. I don’t see anything moving too quickly here in California.”

So it’s too early to say whether exchange wagering will ever leave the starting gate in North America, but it’s a good bet that discussions about it will continue and that horsemen and the industry as a whole will need to decide whether it makes sense to implement.

www.nationalhbpa.com

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Denis Blake

FeatuRe

lessons essons in

tAKinG the proper precAutions cAn help reDuce your liABility for An equine-relAteD weBsite 34

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By Peter J. Sacopulos, JD

As the econoMy tiGhtens AnD coMpetition BecoMes More intense, estABlishinG AnD MAintAininG A weBsite or other online presence hAs BecoMe A MAtter of Business necessity. yet Despite its unquestionABle ADVAntAGes, the forMAtion AnD operAtion of An equine weBsite exposes its owner or operAtor, whether horse owners, trAiners, BreeDers, fArMs or retAilers, to potentiAl new AreAs of liABility. there Are seVerAl MAJor AreAs of potentiAl liABility AssociAteD with the forMAtion, operAtion AnD MAintenAnce of A weBsite, But there Are MethoDs to Assist the equine Business professionAl in MiniMizinG those risKs. while this Article focuses specificAlly on weBsites, the sAMe GenerAl principles cAn Also Apply to other forMs of online ActiVity, such As A fAceBooK pAGe, twitter Account or A user-creAteD profile pAGe on A weBsite liKe ownerView.coM.

infrinGeMent issues The first area of potential liability involves infringement issues. Two main areas of infringement are domain name and the content of the website, specifically involving copyright issues.

Typically, the first step in the creation of any website is registration of a domain name with the appropriate registrar. A domain name registrar is a company or entity accredited either by the Internet Corporation for Assignment of Names and Numbers (ICANN) or by a national authority, or both. When attempting to register a domain name, the applicant may well find that the desired name, such as jonesstudstation.com or springvalleyranch.com, is already registered to another equine person, business or entity. The registrar will inform the applicant whether the desired domain name is or is not available.

Oftentimes, if a desired domain name is taken, a slightly different variation may be available. If this is the case, the question one must ask is whether a reasonable person conducting a search can become confused or misled by the similarities. If the answer is yes, it is advised to select an alternate domain name to avoid potential conflict and liability related to the person, business or entity in possession of the previously registered domain name.

The second major area of infringement involves the content of the equine website and specifically the liability associated with copyright infringement.

The equine business owner/professional must be certain that the content of the equine website, including text and images (photographs), is not copyright protected. Several laws, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998, prohibit the reproduction, distribution or public display of copyrighted materials on the Internet without the permission of the copyright holder. There are, however, exceptions including the “fair use” exception as well as other recognized statutory exceptions.

One exception to the federal laws protecting copyrighted material pertains to websites that have certain features such as bulletin boards. Some such sites permit users to post and exchange articles, information, photographs, videos and other such material. In these cases, the DMCA limits a website owner’s liability for user-committed copyright infringements if the owner of the website has adopted certain procedures. For example, one of the adopted procedures must include a provision in the website user agreement stating that repeat copyright infringers will be terminated, and the website must also accommodate standard technical measures used by copyright owners to identify and protect their copyrighted works. Additionally, the website must promptly remove any infringing material when notified of the infringement by the copyright holder. That procedure is commonly referred to as the “notice and take down” procedure.

priVAcy issues A second area of potential liability for those establishing, operating and/or maintaining an equine website is privacy issues. For example, businesses that provide breeding and foaling services often obtain personal information from www.nationalhbpa.com

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FeatuRe

visitors to their website. This information may include names, email addresses, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, demographic information and financial information. If this type of information is requested or collected and maintained by the equine facility or professional operating the equine website, steps must be taken to safeguard such personal information.

Equine professionals planning to create and maintain a website or that are presently operating a website should be aware that there are privacy and security concerns that may implicate federal and state statutes. The major federal statutes are the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Federal Wire Tap Act, the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, the Gramm-Leach-Biley Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Various states also have statutes that require those operating a website and collecting such personal information to conspicuously post a privacy policy informing and advising visitors of: (1) the categories of personal information collected and the third parties with whom that information may be shared; (2) the process for reviewing and requesting changes to collected information; (3) the process by which the operator of the website notifies users or visitors regarding material changes to the existing privacy policy; and (4) the effective date of the privacy policy.

Some stables have youth programs such as pony clubs. Privacy concerns about children impose additional areas of potential liability for equine professionals utilizing a website to promote any equine business or program targeting children under the age of 13. In fact, Congress has enacted special privacy protection for children under the age of 13. It is unlawful for the owner or operator of a website or online service directed at children or any operator that has actual knowledge that information is being collected from a child to collect personal information from a child in a manner that violates strict statutory-mandated regulation. Those federal statutory regulations are contained in the Child Online Protection Act of 1998 and are enforced by the FTC. In short, it is very important for the equine professional who utilizes and promotes his or her business by way of a website to strictly comply with privacy requirements as violations pertaining to children can carry both civil and criminal penalties.

An additional area of concern for the equine professional is the potential liability to another for invasion of his or her privacy. For example, a famous jockey’s or trainer’s name or likeness cannot be used by the owner or operator of an equine website for the user’s or owner’s own benefit without permission. The best method of avoiding the potential for liability based on invasion of privacy is to obtain written permission before using another’s name or image on an equine website.

other liABility As a general rule, the owner or operator of a website is subject to the same principles of liability for defamation as is a speaker or author publishing defamatory statements through any other medium. However, Congress has created a safe harbor for the owner or operator of a website that allows viewers to post messages and information and/or interact with one another. In such cases, the Federal Communications Decency Act of 1996 states: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”

Aside from this exception, the owner/operator of an equine website faces potential liability for defamatory postings.

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Information posted on equine websites on how to blister a leg, how to load a yearling into a horse trailer or how to train a 2-year-old to break faster from the gate all constitute instructional information and potential liability to a website viewer who is damaged by relying on that information or those instructions. Reliance issues and corresponding liability require the equine professional to prominently post a disclaimer of liability for any harm, economic or otherwise, that may be suffered by a website user or viewer or others from the user or viewer’s use of the website. Such a disclaimer may be included in a user agreement that must be acknowledged before access is granted to the website or posted on the website separately. An example for an equine website is: “The information provided on the Green Gables Stud website has been compiled for your convenience. Green Gables Stud makes no warranties about its reliability, accuracy or completeness for any information contained on the Green Gables Stud website.”

The above-stated concerns are also relevant to links to other websites, which are often referred to as hyperlinks. As such, an appropriate disclaimer relative to the accuracy of information contained on any linked websites should also be prominently posted or displayed on the equine professional’s website. An example of a disclaimer relative to a hyperlink is: “Before using other websites or disclosing personal information to them, Green Gables Stud suggests that you examine the terms and conditions of those websites, as they may be different from the Green Gables Stud website.”

Websites for any business, including equine businesses, bring certain risks of liability. However, these risks can be minimized through careful attention to issues of infringement, privacy, defamation, reliance and accessibility, which will then allow the benefits of maintaining an equine website to be enjoyed and the owner’s and operator’s business to be greatly expanded.

Peter Sacopulos owns and operates Green Gables Stud in Clay County, Indiana. In addition, Sacopulos is an attorney practicing equine law with the firm Sacopulos, Johnson & Sacopulos in Terre Haute, Indiana. Sacopulos may be reached at pete_sacopulos@sacopulos.com.

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FeatuRe

The Edwin Smith Papyrus, the world’s oldest known surgical document from ancient Egypt, mentions honey as a wound care treatment.

Denis Blake

olD-school wounD cAre

By Kimberly French

Manuka honey, which is produced only in Australia and New Zealand from the nectar of the manuka tree, has been shown to speed the healing process. It is much darker and thicker than regular honey.

reMeDies liKe honey AnD silVer Are MAKinG A coMeBAcK, AnD ADVAnces in the AreA of plAteletrich plAsMA offer horseMen A VAriety of treAtMent options.

Long before Sir Alexander Fleming unearthed the enzyme lysozyme and penicillin in the 1920s, various cultures developed remedies to heal dermal wounds. The Egyptians applied honey, while several Mediterranean civilizations swore by moldy bread and Hippocrates firmly believed in the medicinal virtues of vinegar.

www.nationalhbpa.com

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Certainly the introduction of modern antibiotics in the 1940s represented a tremendous leap forward in wound-care management, but the mismanagement of these pharmaceuticals in human medicine, as well as in animal husbandry, and the increased dissemination of naturally occurring resistant pathogens as humans and animals can travel from one continent to another in a matter of hours has physicians and veterinarians exploring basic methods and natural compounds that flourished centuries prior to the first penicillin prescription.

Deciphered from Egyptian hieroglyphics dating from around 1500 BC, the Edwin Smith Papyrus (an ancient medical text named after a 19th-century antiquities dealer) detailed a standard formula for wound care as a mixture of grease, honey and lint and/or fiber.

Honey was referred to as an agent in 500 of 900 ancient Egyptian health remedies.

While Hippocrates extolled the use of vinegar, he also proposed honey to be mixed with vinegar for pain, water and honey to assuage thirst and a blend of water, honey and other medicinal substances for severe fevers.

“Honey has been used on wounds for many years, dating back to the ancient Egyptians, because its high sugar content and osmolarity (concentration of chemical particles found in the fluid component of the blood) draw water out of wounds and reduce edema,” said Dr. Andrew Dart, director of the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Science Research and Clinical Training Unit, to The Horse magazine in February of this year. “It also pulls water out of bacterial cells, helps kill them and has a low pH.” Dart supervised a study conducted by lead researcher Dr. Andrea Bischofburger, a Swiss veterinarian who is a member of the Research and Clinical Unit at the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Camden, published in the October 2011 edition of Veterinary Surgery and presented at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, exploring the effect of using manuka honey on dirtied wounds in horses’ lower front limbs.

The researchers, including Dr. Christina Dart and Nigel Perkins, created two wounds slightly below the knee in each forelimb of eight Standardbred horses. They packed the incisions with fecal matter held in place by a bandage for 24 hours to simulate a horse that may injure itself overnight and by natural movements in his environment thoroughly pollute the wound before an owner may discover it.

After the sites were rinsed, one leg wound was treated with manuka honey, which is produced only in Australia and New Zealand, while the opposing limb was used as a control for 12 days. The wounds were then allowed to heal on their own volition, and the healing process was then measured for the next eight weeks.

“Wounds in horses, particularly leg wounds, have long healing periods,” Bischofberger said to www.phys.org. “Wounds in horses that received no formal treatment took an average of 64 days to heal, while those treated with manuka honey gel took 47 days to heal. In our pilot study, we used pure honey, but in our second study we used a water-based manuka honey gel of 66-percent honey.

When applied for 12 days, we found these wounds healed just as well as those treated with pure honey. With its faster wound healing times and its bandage40

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free application, the manuka honey gel solution is an extremely versatile and affordable topical wound product.”

“Manuka honey gel-treated wounds healed fastest at 47 days,” Dart told The Horse. “In comparison, pure manuka honey-treated wounds healed in 52 days, while plain gel and control wounds took 64 days to heal.”

“Honey has many useful properties, including broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory action and stimulation of new tissue growth,” reported Dr. R. Reid Hanson of the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University.

silVer lininG Honey is not the only ancient substance resurfacing in medical circles when it comes to discussing the future of wound management. Both colloidal and chelated silver are experiencing a revival in the human and equine medical fields.

One of the first recorded uses of silver as a preservative or disinfection agent was in 4000 BC in Persia. Before refrigeration was practiced, liquids were kept in silver containers, or pieces of silver such as a silver dollar would be placed in the liquid to keep it from spoiling.

By the 1800s, French surgeon Dr. Carl Crede was using silver nitrate to prevent wound infections, and before antibiotics were introduced, silver was the primary substance in combating infections. In fact, silver nitrate was dropped in the eyes of newborn babies to prevent blindness and is still used in some countries today.

In 1978, more than half of the world’s airlines had silver water filters, NASA chose a silver purification system for the space shuttle and more than 70 percent of hospital burn units in the United States use Silvadene, a silver-based cream, to ward off infection in their patients.

“Of all the older antimicrobial agents enjoying renewed interest, perhaps the one with the most tremendous potential is silver,” wrote Dr. Kenneth Marcella in piece on www.dvm360.com. “Colloidal silver is effective against hundreds of types of bacteria in extremely low concentrations. Studies have shown 0.01 and 0.04 ppm to be effective against hundreds of types of bacteria and 3 to 5 ppm to be effective against nearly 650 different microbes.

Silver is not just a hot commodity for investors as the use of chelated and colloidal silver has seen renewed interest in the veterinary world in recent years.

“The quality of the water and the silver are crucial to the production of a functional product, as is the highly strict control of current flow,” he continued. “Tap water contains roughly 100 to 300 ppm of dissolved solids, so highly distilled or deionized water must be used, but the resultant product has tremendous potential to provide veterinarians with antimicrobial agents that can take on the resistant bacteria and viruses we’re increasingly encountering.”

According to www.burnsurgery.org, “Elemental or ionic silver (colloidal silver) without an attached compound has historically produced the best wound healing and antibacterial results.”

In recent years, there has also been an explosion of chelated silver compounds in the equine veterinary market, not only for wound care, but also for nearly every illness or ailment, including those affecting the respiratory system.

These formulas are freely available from veterinarians, such as Rood and Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy and Hagyard Pharmacy, and Dr. Marcella stated further research was underway at the University of Florida to determine effects of chelated silver on issues with the guttural pouch, stomach and throat.

“There are some really good natural materials available, and some of these are now being used again,” Dr. Mike Cavey, co-founder of Wire2Wire Veterinary Products, told the Equine Chronicle. “One that we started working with a couple years ago is silver. It kills bacteria, fungi, viruses and is very effective and natural. It is non-toxic to humans and animals, and pathogens don’t have the ability to develop resistance to it.

“Another thing we’re working on is how to deal with wounds that are severely infected already and in situations where antibiotics have been typically used systemically and topically and bacteria are already resistant and proud flesh may be developing,” he continued. “In these instances, the body’s mechanisms are overreacting. There is a company in South Carolina that’s developed a product called QRB-7, derived from oak bark. The practice of using oak bark as a medication has been around for a long time, but this company has been able to create a product for modern use. In experimental trials, they haven’t yet found any organisms it won’t kill.”

plAtelet-rich plAsMA shows proMise The technology for platelet-rich plasma certainly did not exist before the last several centuries, but the principal ingredient, a human or equine’s cellular construction, is one of the basic units of life.

Used in human medicine for several decades in fields such as dentistry, plastic surgery, bone grafts, burns and the treatment of diabetic wounds, platelet-rich plasma is created after a patient’s blood is drawn and sent through a centrifuge to separate it. After leaving the centrifuge, the platelet compound is activated by the addition of thrombin and calcium chloride

before it is injected into the injury site or melded into another product, such as a gel or cream.

In a 2003 study performed by C.A. Carter, D.G. Jolly, C.E. Worden Sr., D.G. Hendren and C.J. Kane, a wound with a 2.5-cm thickness was cut below a Thoroughbred horse’s knee and hock. One wound was treated with a PRP gel while the other was not. By day 79, the PRP-treated wound exhibited more desirable dermal repair of the wound than the control injury.

“Non-healing wounds of the lower equine limb represent a challenging model,” Carter et al wrote. “The platelet is a natural source of a myriad of growth factors and cytokines that promote wound healing. This study evaluates the potential of platelet-derived factors to enhance wound healing in the lower equine limb.

“PRP gel-treated wounds at day 79 contained abundant, dense collagen bundles oriented parallel to each other and to the overlying epithelium, whereas control tissues contained fewer collagen fibers that were oriented randomly,” he continued. “Thus treatment of wounds with PRP gel induced accelerated epithelial differentiation and produced tissue with organized, interlocking collagen bundles. This study reveals that this novel, allnatural wound healant induced wound repair in injuries previously deemed untreatable.”

Another study published in 2009 by Brazilian researchers from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anesthesiology led by R. DeRossi came to the same conclusion as Carter et al.

“Wounds treated with PRP gel exhibit more rapid epithelial differentiation and enhanced organization of dermal collagen compared to controls in equine,” it stated.

So will the trend toward more natural or alternative remedies for wound care management, as well as for other equine ailments, continue to maintain an upward trajectory?

“All forms of medical and surgical therapies have their limitations,” wrote Dr. Terry Gerros on www.horsetalk.co.nz. “Certainly neither alternative therapy nor traditional Western medical management can correct a horse with colic due to a twisted bowel or induce fracture repair. There is a time and a place for all forms of therapy. From the scientific perspective, in order for these alternative therapies to play a useful and vital role, they will have to meet the standards of Western medicine, and I have seen some of the alternative therapies used and have observed positive results. I think we can all benefit by combining both the advanced diagnostics available and wondrous cures seen with Western medicine aided by the techniques that utilize the body’s natural healing powers. As a word of caution, using alternative therapies that result in delay of proven medical or surgical treatment may be disastrous.”

Gerros went on to sum up the mixture of modern and ancient medicine with advice that can be applied far beyond wound care: “While it is good to be open-minded, it is also wise to keep your eyes open. Be cautious when you hear claims of miracle cures or secret ingredients or processes.” www.nationalhbpa.com

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the GooD, the baD anD the uGlY December 30 will be the running of the $50,000 Magic City Classic at onemile-and-70-yards for Alabama-bred 3-year-olds and up as well as the $25,000 Kudzu Juvenile at 5 ½ furlongs for Alabama-breds at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. After several requests were turned down by the Birmingham Racing Commission in favor of saving the funding to help the Jefferson County Racing Association (JCRA) set up for a Quarter Horse meet in 2013, the newly appointed commissioners honored Dr. David Harrington’s third request acknowledging that the majority (approximately 98 percent) of horse simulcast revenue came from Thoroughbred racing. We wholeheartedly thank the new commissioners who have come on board and feel that for the first time in years we have a commission board that will no longer be biased toward the wants of the JCRA but act for the benefit of all involved.

The long-standing chairman of the racing commission has, via letter, asked the Alabama HBPA to become active in a manner that would be deemed legally improper. Our response back was to let them know that any initiatives to positively influence the attitude of the JCRA toward negotiating an agreement would be greatly appreciated.

The JCRA continues their stance against the Alabama HBPA, National HBPA and their affiliates, likening the HBPA to “union bosses” interested only in power and money. Talks of their plan to bring Quarter Horse racing to the Birmingham Race Course in 2013 continue but with no consideration for Thoroughbreds, saying it would cost too much. The JCRA is still showing no desire or intent to negotiate with the Alabama HBPA. As of this writing, we have distributed $7,200 to owners of Alabamabred horses running in open company. We established a $10,000-guaranteed giveaway to help support owners of these horses, so if you see any Alabamabreds placing first, second, third or fourth, tell them to contact me, Nancy Delony, at (205) 969-7048. The Alabama HBPA has also agreed to refund up to $500 in eligible travel expenses for horses hauling to the Fair Grounds to run in the Magic City Classic or Kudzu Juvenile. With no live racing at the JCRA nor a contract that was in place for 18 years, we feel this is the least we can do to support those who keep the live racing going.

Happy Holidays to all, and may 2013 see more races, purse increases, large fields, Lasix administered to all and a contract between the Alabama HBPA and JCRA. Nancy Delony, Executive Director arizoNa hBPa tuRF paRaDiSe The Turf Paradise meet is off and running with a full race card held on the opening day of October 5. Horsemen were slow to trickle in, but we now have 1,582 horses on the grounds. Prior to the opening, the Arizona HBPA, Arizona Department of Racing and Turf Paradise management held a horsemen’s meeting to welcome the horsemen back and inform them of the new license and medication rules that have been adopted.

The Arizona HBPA and Turf Paradise again hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for horsemen and backstretch workers on Wednesday, November 21. The dinner was a traditional holiday meal. The food was excellent, and the event was wellattended.

Coady Photography

alaBama hBPa

pReScott valleY Arizona HBPA President Gary Miller on October 30 was awarded the bid by the bankruptcy courts for the Prescott Valley racetrack property (Yavapai Downs). This has been a long and time-consuming endeavor for Miller, but he hung in there for horsemen. He now has 90 days of due diligence, and at this point, his plans are to run a summer race meet if there are not major setbacks. The Arizona HBPA has Live racing could return to Prescott Valley next year. been working with Miller to make the opening on Memorial Day weekend of 2013. Executive Director Tom Metzen, Secretary-Treasurer Wendy Hobson, board members, Senator Steve Pierce, Representative Andy Tobin, the Prescott Valley City Manager and officials, along with business owners, have all committed to helping make the summer meet a success. The purchase of the facility has been a lifesaver in this shaky economy for horsemen racing in Arizona. We appreciate the support and help from everyone.

Our sincere gratitude goes out to Gary Miller for taking on this task to help save racing in Arizona. People have no idea the countless hours and money that went into this project. Thank you, Gary Miller. clinic The Arizona HBPA clinic located at Turf Paradise is again open this year. Dr. Brokaw is open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no appointment necessary.

The HBPA is making a better effort to keep our website current; please check it out at www.arizonahbpa.com. Our door is open, and we are always looking for suggestions.

If you have not contacted us with your email address, please do so you can receive the email blasts. arkaNsas hBPa oaKlawn announceS RecoRD $20 million in puRSeS Welcome back, horsemen. Our live meet begins Friday, January 11. Many exciting events are happening in conjunction with our trail to the Triple Crown, including four races with combined purses of more than $2.5 million in our 3-year-old program. Highlighting our live season are purse increases for 13 of our 32 stakes races, the richest in Oaklawn Park history. Maidens are raised from $40,000 in 2012 to $53,000 in 2013, and middle-level claiming purses are raised by 20% or more.

The stakes schedule is as follows: 1/11 • Fifth Season • 4YO & Up, 1 1/16 Miles • $75,000 1/12 • Dixie Belle • 3YO, Fillies, 6 Furlongs • $60,000 1/19 • Pippin • 4YO & Up, F&M, 1 1/16 Miles • $75,000 1/20 • American Beauty • 4YO & Up, F&M, 6 Furlongs • $60,000 1/21 • Smarty Jones • 3YO, 1 Mile • $150,000 www.nationalhbpa.com

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1/26 • King Cotton • 4YO & Up, 6 Furlongs • $50,000 2/2 • Essex Handicap • 4YO & Up, 1 1/16 Miles • $100,000 2/9 • Martha Washington • 3YO, Fillies, 1 Mile • $75,000 2/16 • Bayakoa • 4YO & Up, F&M, 1 1/16 Miles • $100,000 2/17 • Spring Fever • 4YO & Up, F&M, 5 1/2 Furlongs • $60,000 2/18 • Southwest (G3) • 3YO, 1 Mile • $300,000 2/23 • Downthedustyroad Breeders’ • 3YO & Up, F&M (Ark.), 6 Furlongs

• $60,000 2/24 • Nodouble Breeders’ • 3YO & Up, C&G (Ark.), 6 Furlongs • $60,000 3/2 • Gazebo • 3YO, 6 Furlongs • $60,000 3/9 • Razorback Handicap (G3) • 4YO & Up, 1 1/16 Miles • $150,000 3/9 • Honeybee (G3) • 3YO, Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles • $150,000 3/16 • Rebel (G2) • 3YO, 1 1/16 Miles • $600,000 3/16 • Azeri (G3) • 4YO & Up, F&M, 1 1/16 Miles • $150,000 3/23 • Hot Springs • 4YO & Up, 6 Furlongs • $75,000 3/24 • Arkansas Breeders’-Female Div. • 3YO & Up, F&M (Ark.),

1 1/16 Miles • $50,000 3/29 • Rainbow Miss • 3YO, Fillies (Ark.), 6 Furlongs • $50,000 3/30 • Rainbow • 3YO, C&G (Ark.), 6 Furlongs • $50,000 4/6 • Bachelor Stakes • 3YO, 6 Furlongs • $75,000 4/7 • Arkansas Breeders’-Open Div. • 3YO & Up (Ark.), 1 1/16 Miles

• $50,000 4/10 • Fantasy (G2) • 3YO, Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles • $400,000 4/11 • Carousel • 4YO & Up, F&M, 6 Furlongs • $100,000 4/12 • Instant Racing • 3YO, Fillies, 6 Furlongs • $75,000 4/12 • Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) • 4YO & Up, F&M, 1 1/16 Miles

• $500,000 4/13 • Northern Spur • 3YO, 1 Mile • $100,000 4/13 • Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) • 4YO & Up, 6 Furlongs

• $250,000 4/13 • Oaklawn Handicap (G2) • 4YO & Up, 1 1/8 Miles • $500,000 4/13 • Arkansas Derby (G1) • 3YO, 1 1/8 Miles • $1,000,000 The Arkansas HBPA board of directors election results are in.

Congratulations President Bill Walmsley; Owner-Directors Terry Dunlavy, Linda Gaston, Bill Morrison, Robert Tucker, Gary Woodall; and Trainer-Directors Terry Brennan, Jinks Fires, Steve Hobby, Richard Jackson and Don Von Hemel.

We would also like to welcome back Dr. Kyle and Jane Roper to our medical clinic. The Ropers do the most amazing job of taking care of everyone. Our clinic is open on Monday and Tuesday during the live meet. We look forward to an exciting 2013!

the time this edition goes to press). The election committee comprised Nancy Staples, Joanna Boggs and Renee Schlesinger, two accountants from Nichols De Haven Associates and secretary/treasurer Patti Evans. Thank you to the members of both committees for their commitment, time and energy. chaRleS town hbpa webSite The Charles Town HBPA is once again up and running at www.cthbpa.com.

Hats off to staff member Barbara Robinson for creating and keeping the site updated regularly so our horsemen are kept informed. Check it out. owneRS DaY Owners Day was held on August 5 on the third floor of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with a delicious luncheon. CTHBPA favors were provided to our guests and trophies were presented to the winning owners, trainers and jockeys.

Flu Shot clinic A flu shot clinic was held in our HBPA office conference room with the nurses from the health department on hand inoculating 64 individuals who work in the barn area. blooD pReSSuRe anD SuGaR teStinG The nurses from the Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic are still coming to the track kitchen twice a month to provide our backstretch workers with an opportunity to be tested.

Race FoR the Ribbon Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races sponsored an all-day event for breast cancer awareness on September 22. The day began in the morning with a walk around the track to raise money. There were lots of horsemen, women and kids in pink who participated in the walk. In addition, there was a silent auction and pink hat contest.

All of the money raised from this event went to Susan G. Komen’s West Virginia affiliate.

Charles TowN hBPa pReSiDent anD boaRD oF DiRectoRS election This summer went by too fast, and we were busy bees. The president and board of directors election is scheduled for the end of this year. In June, the nominating committee and election committee members were approved by the board of directors. Those who served on the nominating committee were Steve Reggetts (Chairman), Ronnie Wilt and Tim Collins. The committee had several meetings to assemble their slate. On September 6, a general membership nominating meeting and luncheon was held at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in the Epic Buffet meeting room. Mr. Reggetts presided over this meeting and accepted nominations from the floor. The slate was finalized after checking the candidates’ eligibility followed by acknowledgements and affidavits being mailed to the candidates. (Votes will have been counted by 44

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tRaineR mileStone Congratulations to local trainer Ronney Brown, who saddled his 2,000th winner on Friday, October 19. weSt viRGinia bReeDeRS’ claSSic The West Virginia Breeders’ Classic Night on October 20 was an exciting card of racing at Charles Town with a full dining room, grandstand and apron of horsemen, horsewomen and racing fans. The $450,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic Stakes was won by Lucy’s Bob Boy, ridden by Gustavo Larrosa, owned by Michael Furr and trained by Sandra Dono. Congratulations to this winning team.

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florida hBPa anSweRS without QueStionS

By Kent H. Stirling

and financial contributions of their horsemen to legally acquire different forms of alternative gaming such as slots, but within a few years of being permitted to hold alternative gaming, these tracks began working on ways to keep these newfound gaming revenues for themselves. This meant casting off the horsemen, their “partners.”

Also there are three major Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies that take wagers on the Internet and by phone. Two of them are owned by CDI and the Stronach Group, and both, Twinspires and xpressBet, respectively, offer rebates to those who would wager on their sites, as opposed to wagering ontrack. This cannibalizes the on-track handle. So where before horsemen would get 10 cents on every dollar wagered on track, they now settle for 3 or 4 cents on the dollar when the bets are placed through a track-owned ADW. In effect, live horse racing has spawned ADWs and alternative gaming, only to have the tracks focus on the latter two to the detriment of the first.

3) The horse racing industry has a $2.2-billion annual statewide economic impact, but that is boosted especially in South Florida during the winter months when Gulfstream conducts by far the best winter racing in North America.

Numerous Kentucky Derby winners and other Triple Crown race winners begin their careers at Gulfstream Park, and these horses attract many snowbirds to South Florida. The economic impact on Florida remains significant, inasmuch as the Ocala area still boasts one of the major horse breeding centers in North America, but it is slowly shrinking as other states offer better year-round racing with higher purses than Florida does. With the state of Florida now having allowed “pari-mutuel barrel racing” and related activities, our breeding industry is in grave danger.

4) Gulfstream still creates very strong interest in racing, because they hold excellent racing and promote it substantially. Calder has always been the 2-year-old capital of North America, but with stagnant purses and no marketing of their product, they are losing many of their 2-year-olds to northern tracks.

Denis Blake

Things are not quiet in South Florida as The Horsemen’s Journal deadline approaches. Our horsemen are sitting between the two tracks on a potential tinderbox that could explode at any moment. I do not want to write anything that could appear inflammatory weeks after it was written at the time the winter issue of this magazine is released. What I have decided to do is reprint an interview done with me by a prominent Florida newspaper. Since they decided they wanted an arm and a leg to let me reprint my written interview in The Horsemen’s Journal, I have decided to reprint my unedited answers that I sent to them, but without their questions. You will have to guess what the questions were, but that should be easy. I have eliminated answers to questions that were about my background in racing, my family and the HBPA, except to admit my first job was with trainer Jerry Caruso at Randall Park in Ohio and that my alltime favorite track is Hialeah.

1) Each year, fewer and fewer owners and trainers in Florida are making a profit. I would guess that very few of the owners and trainers that race yearround in Florida are making any money. Of the trainers stabled year-round in Florida at Calder, I would estimate that 90 percent of them are broke or headed in that direction. This is because the purses at Calder have not increased in the last 10 years. Since Calder doesn’t do much in the way of advertising their racing, the pari-mutuel handle declines every year and the revenue from slots earmarked for purses barely covers the loss from the shrinking revenue from declining wagering on racing.

Gulfstream Park, on the other hand, strongly advertises its racing product and has actually increased its handle, even during the current recession. The slots revenue earmarked for purses has increased Gulfstream’s purses every year, most years by double digits. Gulfstream Park easily has the nation’s best winter racing, which attracts the best trainers and horses. This fact alone makes the year-round Florida trainers face competition that their horses often cannot compete with successfully during the four months that Gulfstream operates.

I know you are questioning my stating that 90 percent of the trainers at Calder are broke or going broke, because you are wondering why they would remain in the industry under such circumstances. The fact is, this sport really is a labor of love and the horse is a magical animal that captivates all who get involved with it. These people believe, as I did when I trained, that the “big” horse, or the horse that will turn rags into riches, is just around the corner if you hang in there for just one more year.

2) I think the worst thing that has happened to racing in my lifetime is the acquisition of tracks by large companies like Churchill Downs (CDI), Penn Gaming and the privately-owned Stronach Group (formerly Magna Entertainment) that are focused entirely on their bottom line to keep their stockholders happy. All of these corporations used racing and the strong efforts

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chaplain’S newS Good weather prevailed for the chaplain’s picnic and auction fundraiser held at the Ranson Moose Club picnic grounds on Columbus Day. There was a bit of a chill in the air for the chaplaincy’s horse show, but it did not stop the trailers from rolling in for a fun-filled day of classes including lots of classes for the kids. Word has it that this was the best one yet. Congratulations and thanks to all that participated.

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There still exists a significant demand and interest in Florida-bred horses, because they win some of the country’s most prestigious races and continue to outrun their pedigrees.

5) Our target customer at Gulfstream Park is in the 30-to-50 age range, inasmuch as racing in general seems to have lost a generation or two of fans when most tracks’ philosophy was pretty much “open our doors and they will come.” Well, they didn’t come, and other sports and forms of entertainment advertised and used new mediums such as television, which racing ignored for years. Gulfstream continually directs ads at families and the above demographic and keeps their facility pretty much full every weekend. It’s really tough, even for Gulfstream, to draw people to wager on weekdays when times are as hard as they are today. Unfortunately, by Florida law, Thoroughbred racing cannot take place at night.

6) Consumer interest began dropping about 50 years ago, a time when Thoroughbred racing was the number-one attended sport in North America.

That’s right, racing drew more attendance than either Major League Baseball, college football or the NFL. Racing was the only sport that could be legally wagered on, and this monopoly led to the “open our doors and they will come” philosophy as racing mistakenly eschewed spending money to have its product on television.

7) Slots have helped racing, in that they have increased purses at Gulfstream and kept purses from dropping at Calder. They have hurt the industry, because what partnership we horsemen had with the tracks has been or is seemingly being corrupted by their corporate bottom line.

8) Online betting (ADW) has pretty much destroyed our on-track business by making it easier and more profitable (via rebates) for fans to wager without coming to the tracks. Since the two tracks in question each have their own ADW company, they cannibalize our on-track business to where we get 3 or 4 cents on the dollar and the track’s ADWs get about 15 to 17 cents on the same wagered dollar.

9) Obviously destination casinos would not help our industry, in so much as they would have more and better alternative gaming to offer than our tracks and would have a giant profit margin and economic advantage, because they would most likely be required to pay nothing to purses as our tracks are currently required to do from slot revenues. Gulfstream would like to be a destination casino, but I am not convinced that would be as helpful to racing as some might think.

10) The very design of the “Gretna Model” purposefully eliminates the need for thousands of horses and denies the horsemen’s rights under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, which mandates that horsemen must consent to the track’s simulcast signal being sent across state lines for wagering purposes.

Here is how it could threaten our industry: Gulfstream Park has a Quarter Horse permit, with which they could conduct unsanctioned “flag drops” or “pari-mutuel barrel racing” (as opposed to legitimate Quarter Horse racing), and let’s say they build an equine “arena” on their land in Miami-Dade County to conduct these types of events, the former of which, according to the latest regulatory actions, takes only two horses per day. Then they build a beautiful large slots facility and connect it to the arena. Now they don’t need to pay Thoroughbred purses all the required money from their slots revenue, inasmuch as these “flag droppers” and track-owned “barrel racers” have clearly displayed in Gretna that they are happy with $2,000 a day divided up over eight races.

To compare, Gulfstream currently pays daily purses of well over $400,000 to the Thoroughbreds. A clever get-rich-quick scheme, or more like a get richer scheme!

11) Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses are two distinct breeds that each have their own industry in the U.S. Quarter Horses typically run shorter races of 46

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which a quarter-mile is somewhat typical. Thoroughbreds basically race from five-eighths of a mile to 1 ¼ miles. Both industries need about 1,500 or more horses to conduct a normal race meet, with every three or four horses requiring at least two or three people to care directly for them. Plus, both industries have large breeding industries in Florida that employ even more people than the races. Horses competing in “pari-mutuel barrel racing” are of unreported breeds that are raised and kept in backyards by their owners who often have their daughters race them around three barrels in about 20 seconds. Again, to compare, the lowest total handle I have ever seen at Calder or Gulfstream in the last year for an entire race card was about $1.8 million. The lowest at Gretna for “pari-mutuel barrel racing” last year was $24. I am not making that up. Gretna had five of their race cards end up with total handles under $70. This is nothing but a get-rich-quick scheme that entitles the track to a card room and then a slots parlor. Remember that every horse track in Florida has a Quarter Horse permit, except for Calder. The only legitimate Quarter Horse racing currently taking place in Florida is at Hialeah Park, where purses are in excess of $4 million for one meet.

12) If “pari-mutuel barrel racing” and similar events are legally upheld, legitimate racing will die almost immediately, since track owners will no longer be obligated to have events requiring the traditional volume of horses.

The owners and trainers will move to other states with higher purses almost immediately. All the breeding farms in Ocala will close down, and their breeding operations will then move to another state. Similar circumstances with unregulated gambling are already causing a mass exodus of the horse racing industry in Texas as we speak. bacKSiDe DoinGS

The Calder summer soccer league had five teams competing, and the league championship went to team Peru (pictured). The Calder pool tournament attracted some very good players from the backside, and emerging as the champion from the 24 participants was Mario Felipe.

Gulfstream Park has just opened, and the Gulfstream Park Medical Clinic has once again been open since early November. This clinic, the brainchild of Chaplain Tom LaPointe and his staff, was built by the Florida HBPA and Gulfstream and is part of the highly regarded Memorial Health Care System.

Chaplain Tom began a clothing and food drive immediately after Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey to help horsemen there and in other surrounding states who were affected by the storm.

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2013 DateS FoR FaiRmount paRK, 2012 in Review anD the ciRcuS comeS to town As you may know, the Illinois HBPA entered into an agreement with Fairmount Park to use the impact fee monies to raise purses and renew the Illinois stakes program for a period of three years. In early November, the Illinois Racing Board (IRB) approved the second year of that agreement.

The dates for next year are very similar to 2012 with one exception.

We will be starting one week earlier on March 26 and closing on September 20. This adds two race days to the schedule for a total of 69. This will replace the day-and-a-half we lost this year and still keeps us within the boundaries of our threeyear budget.

In addition to the dates order, the IRB has included three things that Fairmount must do before the 2013 meet begins. First, they must purchase a new starting gate. Second, the current sound system will be torn out and replaced with a new one. Third, the white fence on the outside of the track will be restored to its original color, white.

The ending purse account balance proved that the three-year plan will work. This was possible because of the fact that we had a very strong meet in 2012. Our overall handle was up some 30 percent. The field size also surpassed the previous year indicating that the horsemen approved of the increased purses. Our relationship with TVG has continued to grow, and the simulcast numbers, especially on Tuesdays, bear that out.

Alive and well! The crowds this year were once again outstanding. For the first time in many years, the IRB meeting was held at Fairmount. The common theme from the commissioners was how impressed they were with our attendance. We were happy to tell them that it was a typical day. Included is a picture that shows one example of going the extra mile to interact with the fans

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and get them to return, plus another photo of the circus that was a treat to the backside kids from the HBPA. As we enter into next year’s meet, we are well-aware that we are living on the impact fee money. That won’t last forever, even with our great crowds and ADW proceeds. We must complete our long journey of trying to get slots at tracks. Recently Governor Quinn has finally said he wants the gaming bill.

This is our time to seal the deal and make Illinois racing competitive with other states that have slots at their tracks. The timing is as follows. The election was November 6. Even though your representatives are constantly meeting and working with legislators, nothing will happen on the bill until after the election.

The fall session begins on November 27 and lasts for three days, and then there are three more days in December. In addition to that normal schedule, the governor and leaders have extended the fall session into January. January 9 is the last day of the current general assembly. This is why the governor has said he wants the gaming bill signed by that date. We are truly closer than we have ever been to getting this done. We will continue to get as many yes votes as we can so that the bill becomes reality one way or another.

Once again, we are happy to say that the track will be open for training during the down time, providing our horsemen a chance to continue racing at other tracks until we begin next year’s meet. iNdiaNa hBPa new pReSiDent, Five new boaRD membeRS in inDiana On October 9, the Indiana HBPA held its first board meeting with a new president and five new directors.

When ballots were counted at the beginning of October, Joe Davis was elected president for a three-year term. Prior to the election, Joe had served two terms on the Indiana HBPA board and had previously been chairman of the Benevolence Trust board of directors.

Trainer or owner/trainer directors on the Indiana HBPA board will be Kim Hammond, Marvin Johnson, Michael Lauer, Jim Riddle and Merrill Roberts. First alternate is Mike Norris. Second alternate is Randy Haffner.

Owner directors on the new board will be Gale Bess, Kim Hobson, Kathryn Kunz-Duran, Penny Lauer and Ron McKay. First alternate is Mike Hunt. Second alternate is Richard Pardue.

First vice president will be Michael Lauer. Second vice president will be Jim Riddle.

De la cRuz, amoSS anD patRicK win titleS at hooSieR paRK Fall meet The 2012 Hoosier Park Thoroughbred meet ended on Saturday, October 27, with Fernando De La Cruz winning his first leading jockey title. The Peruvian jockey won 68 races and more than $1.3 million in purses to finish nine victories in front of Hoosier Park’s two-time defending leading jockey winner, Leandro Goncalves.

De La Cruz will head to Tampa Bay Downs for the winter but will return to the Indiana circuit in the spring when racing resumes.

New Orleans native Tom Amoss won an allowance optional claiming event with Senor Rain on the closing day card to edge out three-time Hoosier Park leading trainer Gary Patrick. With 25 trips to the winner’s circle, Amoss saddled the winners of more than $506,000 in purse earnings throughout the meet to take home his second leading trainer title at Hoosier Park.

Patrick finished with 24 wins, followed by Walter Abner with 23 wins.

Gary Patrick didn’t go home empty-handed as he took home the leading owner trophy with 22 victories. A native of Ohio, Patrick now has won three leading owner titles in the 18-year history of Hoosier Park. He also earned www.nationalhbpa.com

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leading owner honors during the 1998 and 2011 seasons. Dr. Henry Mast’s Mast Thoroughbred LLC finished second with 11 wins.

inDiana hbpa SeeKS membeR cell phone numbeRS anD email aDDReSSeS The Indiana HBPA is asking all members interested in updates and information related to Indiana racing, legislation and regulation to give us your email address and/or cell phone number.

We will be putting in place an instant texting and email capability before the 2013 legislative session begins in January. Send your contact information to IN HBPA Executive Director Michael Brown at brownpreston@indy.rr.com.

iowa hbpa oFFice planninG FoR 2013 Race meet Although Prairie Meadows racing has come to an end, our office will remain busy planning for the opening of the 2013 race meet at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. We are planning for Groom Elite classes, a new owners seminar, our annual awards dinner and the Adventureland outing. Once again we will offer a basic training class to the general population before our meet opens. This class was initiated last year with a sign-up of 23 people who had limited or no experience in the racing industry. About half of these students obtained jobs on our backside. Dr. Reid McLellan of the national Groom Elite program conducted the classes and evaluated each individual’s aptitude 48

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a SucceSSFul aDoption On May 13, 2012, All the Love ran a game second, losing only by a head in a $5,000 claiming race at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, and after crossing the wire, she suffered a compound condylar fracture to her right front fetlock. As many All the Love is now recovered from a compound condylar know, a compound fracture and enjoying her retirement in Iowa.

Shelly Houde

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FoRt laRneD, winneR oF the 2012 coRnhuSKeR, GoeS on to win the bReeDeRS’ cup claSSic! Fort Larned won the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 3 at Santa Anita. He took hold of the lead and kept it going in a nice final time of 2:00.11 for the 1 1/4 miles.

Fort Larned was also the winner of the 2012 Prairie Meadows Prior to winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fort Larned Cornhusker Handicap captured the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap.

(G3) here on June 30 going 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.42 for a $300,000 purse. As in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fort Larned grabbed the lead early and never looked back. The Iowa HBPA is proud to have the winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic have part of his upward trajectory occur here in our state, and we give congratulations to the connections of Fort Larned. We hope to see him back next year!

Coady Photography

ReDuceD thoRouGhbReD DateS: inDiana tRacKS File 2013 Race Date ReQueStS Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs have filed requests that would reduce race dates for Thoroughbreds in 2013. Both have requested 57 Thoroughbred dates for the next racing season, plus three dates dedicated to all Quarter Horse racing.

The 2012 season featured 60 Thoroughbred dates at Indiana Downs, with one all-Quarter Horse date, and 63 Thoroughbred racing dates at Hoosier Park, with one all-Quarter Horse date.

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) filed a draft rule in late September that would have allowed a reduction in the tracks’ required minimum number of flat-racing dates from 60 to 50 per meet. That rule change was scheduled to be discussed in October. Then it was tabled for a December meeting.

Now, with the tracks’ requests, the 60-day flat-racing minimum is intact, while Thoroughbred race dates are reduced. The rule change is pending but not scheduled. The IHRC was scheduled to take up the request for 2013 race dates on December 14.

The Indiana HBPA and its members filed dozens of letters with the Commission, pointing out the disastrous effects on horsemen and the agribusinesses, commercial activity and employment that the industry supports in the state. A 2010 economic study found that horse racing and breeding has an economic impact of nearly a billion dollars in Indiana. That growth and impact would be severely curtailed with reduced dates.

Further complicating the race dates decision is the ongoing regulatory process involving Indiana Downs’ bankruptcy and a pending purchase of the track by Centaur Gaming, the parent company of Hoosier Park. The bankruptcy court accepted Centaur’s bid as part of its October 31 settlement of the bankruptcy filing. Now the purchase must be approved by anti-trust regulators.

If one entity owns both tracks, the ultimate effect could be that Thoroughbred racing will be conducted only at Indiana Downs, which would certainly have an impact on the race dates discussion. It remains to be seen whether all regulatory hurdles can be cleared in time for that change to occur in 2013.

for Thoroughbred care. Our office maintained a record of each person with evaluation and contact information given to any trainer who needed employees.

In addition to the basic classes, our office will conduct a full Groom Elite program later in the summer. Each category will be examined and will be assigned an instructor for that day. Not much can be accomplished without cooperation from others. The Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association always lends a hand with ponies and the tack needed, and the racing office provides lunch each day for the full program and afternoon snacks and drinks for the basic classes.

Last year we conducted a new owners seminar for the first time. It was really a trial run to see how something of this nature would work out. We were happy with the public interest and that the day’s event went smoothly. Once again we had the cooperation of the racing office and dual Iowa TBOA and HBPA member Scott Pope to explain the Iowa program for state-breds, and another dual member, Loren Jacobsen, CPA, instructed on tax requirements. This type of event depends on the cooperation of our trainers. Kelly Von Hemel hosted the group at his barn for costs of ownership, and trainer Joe Moss instructed at his barn on points of conformation. Along with those two trainers, Dave Elmegreen visited with the group for lunch.

Shelly Houde

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condylar fracture is a traumatic injury that typically results in the euthanizing of our equine athletes.

Prior to her injury, All the Love had an impressive race record that began on the Southern California racing circuit. Her initial outing was at Hollywood Park, where after a few more starts she broke her maiden in a special weight race going six furlongs. She went on after that to win All the Love’s racing career is now over, but thanks to a few more times on HART and many concerned Iowa horsemen, she still has the So Cal circuit at a long life in front of her.

Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. These wins occurred in allowance and upper claiming-level races.

As she began to age, she lost a step or two in speed and slowly began working her way down the claiming ranks, ultimately coming to Prairie Meadows.

While for most horses, All the Love’s injury would be life-ending, this wasn’t the case for her. She was surrounded by a great group of people in her owner, trainer J.R. Caldwell, Caldwell’s assistant trainer and grooms. They contacted their veterinarian, Dr. John Whitaker, who immediately began to give the necessary care to ease her pain while All the Love’s connections decided on what the next steps should be.

Luckily for them and All the Love, HART (Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds) was there to help with the decision-making process. HART is the 501(c)(3) horse adoption program created to help Thoroughbred racehorses that are done with their careers at Prairie Meadows find homes or, in All the Love’s case, help save her life.

The decision-making process for the Caldwell team was effectively, “What do we do now with this horse, and is anyone going to be able to take her even if she makes it through whatever is done?” Dr. Keith Soring, who is on the board of HART, answered both of those questions for them. First, she needed to have surgery to put the fetlock back together, and Dr. Soring arranged for the surgery to be conducted at Iowa State University for a reasonable operating cost to be paid by the HART program. Second, Dr. Soring assured All the Love’s team that HART would take the mare, rehabilitate her and find her a good home. With that, All the Love was taken into the HART program.

The surgery went well, and the performing surgeons at ISU gave her an excellent prognosis for her rehabilitation so long as she received the attention necessary. The next step for HART was to find a location willing to take on the responsibilities of rehabbing a just-operated-on Thoroughbred straight off the racetrack. After careful consideration and some suggestions by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission state veterinarians, Sage Creek Stables in Mitcheville, Iowa, was chosen as the perfect place for All the Love’s rehabilitation to occur.

Sage Creek is privately operated by Shelly and Pat Houde. Their stables are quiet, tranquil and easygoing–just the type of environment All the Love needed.

After a short amount of time, All the Love was doing much better. She had a few setbacks, as is typical with the severity of the injury she sustained, but was only seeing the proverbial greener pastures in front of her. So with that status, it was time for HART to find a new home for her. As that process began, it came to the attention of HART that both Shelly and Pat had become fond of the little mare who they were caring for.

On October 31, HART successfully adopted out this easygoing mare, who started off her career in Southern California, with the very people who accepted her onto their farm to rehab her. HART says “thank you” to Shelly and Pat for opening their hearts and allowing this horse to become part of their lives.

HART also says “thank you” to Prairie Meadows, everyone who has participated in the silent auctions put on for HART’s benefit and to all the horsemen who contribute $5 per start at Prairie Meadows. It’s the generosity from these organizations and people that enables HART to help horses find homes and careers after they are done racing in Iowa.

Currently on HART’s board are three people involved with the Iowa HBPA. They are President Leroy Gessmann as a Director, Secretary/Treasurer Barb Carroll as the Treasurer and Executive Director Jon Moss as Vice President. keNTuCky hBPa pReSiDent’S meSSaGe The challenge continues to preserve the ability to provide Lasix to our equine athletes on race day. You may recall that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) voted to ban Lasix in 2-year-olds on race day starting in 2014. Along with appearing before the Administration Regulation Review Subcommittee, I also expressed our concerns regarding the Lasix ban to the License and Occupations Committee. The Legislative Committee members are strongly opposed to the Lasix ban.

At the next meeting of the KHRC, Executive Director John Ward, in response to a question regarding the status of the Lasix ban, explained that the proposed legislation has not been filed. He stated that the KHRC is waiting to see if other jurisdictions will follow suit and institute a similar ban of Lasix. At this time, no other racing jurisdictions are coming forward to ban race-day Lasix.

You have probably heard that three 2-year-olds who ran in this year’s Breeders’ Cup bled. (Please read the reprint of Jennie Rees’ blog later in this section). Please recall that this was the first year of the experiment in which no 2-year-olds racing in the Breeders’ Cup races would be allowed to run with race-day Lasix.

Next year, management of the Breeders’ Cup is instituting a policy that no horse competing in the Breeders’ Cup event races will run with race-day Lasix.

One can only imagine what may happen when horses racing with Lasix their entire careers are required to run without Lasix. It is difficult to understand the logic behind the decision. It is surely not in the best interest of the health and welfare of the horse. Also, the betting public is at a distinct disadvantage attempting to wager when they have no way of knowing which horse may not run up to its ability due to not receiving Lasix. Finally, what about the horse owners? Their horse has attained the pinnacle of its career in its eligibility to the Breeders’ Cup. At considerable expense, the owner has paid the necessary nomination and entry fees to entitle their horse to run in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup events. Now imagine if that horse bleeds and runs poorly due to not receiving this important therapeutic medication. Not only does the owner lose his nomination and entry fees, their horse may suffer a career-threatening illness due to bleeding.

Recently, at a KHRC racing dates meeting, I appealed to the members of the KHRC dates committee to require Turfway Park management to at least run www.nationalhbpa.com

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weekends in February 2013. I explained that allowing the track to only run two days in the entire month would create an enormous hardship on the horsemen in Kentucky along with the employees that work and rely on Turfway Park. The chairman of the KHRC labeled me an “obstructionist.” If that means being concerned with a new racetrack owner who dramatically reduces their racing dates request and doing everything I can in an attempt to protect the interest of horsemen racing at Turfway Park in the winter, then I stand guilty as charged.

On a personal note, I want to express my congratulations to Dale Romans and Buff Bradley, both members of the KHBPA board of directors. Dale and Buff both won Breeders’ Cup races. Dale conditioned Little Mike, and Buff trained Groupie Doll. Being stabled nearby both of them, I know the amount of effort they put into their training operations, and their success is richly deserved.

Good luck in your racing endeavors.

Rick Hiles, President KHBPA

KentucKY DownS hanDle FRom inStant RacinG continueS to GRow

Denis Blake

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Denis Blake

caSSe: SpRinG in the aiR bleD baDlY in Juvenile FillieS Posted on November 3, 2012, by Jennie Rees – The Louisville CourierJournal ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Mark Casse said Saturday that Keeneland’s Alcibiades winner Spring in the Air bled badly in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park.

Casse going into the event was an outspoken critic of the Breeders’ Cup rule this year that no horse in its five races for 2-year-olds could run on the anti-bleeder medication commonly known as Lasix.

“Before I was disappointed with the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “Now I’m just down-right mad. I am furious.”

Casse said owner John Oxley was so upset that they considered—but did not—withdrawing Dynamic Sky from Saturday’s Juvenile.

Casse said Spring in the Air, who went off at odds slightly under 6-1, was traveling well when she acted like she was going to bolt midway through the far turn. He said jockey Patrick Husbands reported that when he got the filly down to a jog pulling up after the race, she started coughing.

“She coughed the entire way back to the barn,” Casse said. “She just constantly, constantly coughed. We called the vet. The vet scoped her and the

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toc ReSponSe to ReFoRmeD RacinG meDication RuleS Following is a reprint of a letter from Mark Dedomenico, MD, Chair of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) Medication Committee, to Matt F. Iuliano, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of The Jockey Club, regarding reformed racing medication rules.

As The Jockey Club now advances medication regulatory limits and restrictions that are well below the present allowable in nearly all jurisdictions within the U.S., we note that you failed to include contradictory points of view.

The only scientist you cite in your paper is Dr. Rick Arthur. Dr. Arthur has strong opinions to be sure, but he is certainly not the only source of knowledge on the subject. In fact, many are now beginning to question Dr. Arthur’s expertise as a “peer reviewed research scientist,” as he recently sounds more and more like a paid spokesman or lobbyist. Just to cite one example of opposing views, if you go to the RMTC website (of which Rick Arthur is secretary) you will find Hinchcliff’s paper on the Efficacy of Lasix for Prevention of EIPH. To quote that paper, “Results indicate that pre-race administration of Lasix decreases the incidence and severity of EIPH in Thoroughbreds racing under typical conditions in South Africa.” Our committee believes the last statement to be the case.

We also believe that it borders on cruelty to run horses without Lasix when it is so easy and safe to prevent “bleeding.” It’s a known fact that 80% of Thoroughbreds will have symptoms of EIPH and 60% of sudden deaths during racing have historically been attributed to EIPH. The annual cost for untreated EIPH in the U.S. is believed to be in the area of $100 million. It is for these reasons and more that we decline to support your proposal and respectfully suggest that you return to doing what you know best, maintaining the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds.

Sincerely, Mark Dedomenico, MD Chair, TOC Medication Committee the hbpa iS You The HBPA, established in 1940, is an organization of owners and trainers numbering approximately 30,000 nationally in 23 states and Canada and more than 6,000 in Kentucky. The association is governed by a board of directors consisting of owners and trainers volunteering their time and elected by the membership every three years. The HBPA is committed to working for the betterment of racing on all levels.

The HBPA represents owners and trainers on several fronts: • The HBPA is present in negotiating sessions with each racetrack regarding purse structure, equitable share of simulcast revenues, overall track safety, sanitation and security.

Denis Blake

Dear Matt, The Thoroughbred Owners of California is an organization comprised of individuals who are devoted to Thoroughbred horses and the sport of racing.

Our state leads the country in terms of trying to protect equine safety and in promoting the integrity of horse racing. We take a backseat to no one on the questions of safety and affection for our beloved equine athletes. The CHRB is also a leader in the pursuit of integrity in horse racing and the TOC has fully backed their recently expanded efforts. We have called for tougher standards for medication administration and greater penalties for rule violators.

The TOC’s Medication Committee recently reviewed the “Jockey Club Reformed Racing Medication Rules of August 12, 2012.” There is no doubt in the TOC Medication Committee’s mind when reading your “Foreword” and “Executive Summary” of that date that the elimination of Lasix use is one of the main objectives of your organization. It is further our view that you have way overstepped the traditional role of your organization, as well as your area of expertise. We understand your area of expertise to be the certification of the “Breed Registry for Thoroughbred Horses in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.” We question whether you have sufficient scientific expertise, not to mention industry support, for the expanded role you now seek. Your foray into questions of medication administration and racing rules is both duplicative and divisive. Further, you have involved international associations and authorities into the discussion. This has not been the norm for U.S. horsemen’s organizations since “Foreign Associations” may very well be advocating for policies that reflect “their own best interests,” not ours. In any case, “foreign views” are no more valid than the views of the “domestic” horsemen who fund your registry.

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vet said she bled a 3 out of (a scale of) 5. She put her head down and blood came out of her right nostril. Still this morning she is still coughing.

“I mean, is that right? I’ve got to tell you, Mr. Oxley is so upset about it he said he would never, ever run another 2-year-old without Lasix in the Breeders’ Cup. You just don’t know. This could be the end of her career, which is just absolutely ridiculous. We’ve got all these smart guys (running racing). Let them come back to the barn some time and watch a horse that bleeds cool out.”

Casse predicted Breeders’ Cup entries will sharply drop if the organization continues with its plan to ban race-day Lasix use in all competitors next year.

“These are 2-year-olds, so they’ve had young career. They’re still fairly healthy,” he said. “You go doing that to the older horses, who knows what’s going to happen? Twice I’ve seen horses fall and collapse from bleeding too badly. One at Keeneland, one down at Palm Meadows. One in a race, one just training. Isn’t that going to be nice? Will they be really proud a horse falls and kills a rider, or kills some other horses?

“They just do not know what they’re dealing with. I have owners talking about not wanting to buy horses any more. Can you blame them? Here you’ve got a filly like Spring in the Air, who is one of the best fillies in her division.

Definitely if she couldn’t run on Lasix, her career would probably be over.”

Casse said Spring Venture, who finished 13th in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, also underwent an endoscopic exam and showed no sign of bleeding.

“In my opinion, the turf isn’t near as hard on them,” he said. “Her trip was her demise.”

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

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

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

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

How can I join? You are invited to drop into the HBPA office to meet the staff and learn more about current projects and how you can get involved in helping to improve the industry. There are no membership fees. Remember, this is your organization. Become an active participant and one of the horsemen helping horsemen. To join, all you need to do is fill out our membership card and fax, mail or email it back to us. For more information, please visit our website at www.kyhbpa.org and click on “How to Join.” louisiaNa hBPa meSSaGe FRom pReSiDent StanleY SeeliG I am pleased to have this opportunity to report and update you on the ongoing efforts of our organization to benefit the horse industry in Louisiana. I committed to you when I ran for president that the Louisiana HBPA would be operated in an ethical and businesslike manner. I strive every day to deliver on that promise.

Since your board of directors and I took office in 2011, a number of significant improvements and changes have been made.

First, we made sure we utilized the funds you entrust us with in a responsible manner. For the first time in many years, the Louisiana HBPA is spending less than it is taking in. Our medical benefits, workers’ compensation and pension trusts have strong financials as a result of our fiscal discipline and strict adherence to the law.

We have also instituted rigorous policies and procedures to make absolutely certain that we have vigorous reviews of all financial activities including checks and balances in the use of credit cards, reimbursement of travel and meal expenses and the disbursement of checks. It is our goal to have a model financial system that is transparent and reliable for both fiscal security and accountability.

In March of this year, we hired R. Keith Gee as our new executive director. Keith is an experienced corporate lawyer who has worked in the governmental arena as well. In addition, Keith is a veteran of the horse industry.

He has been around and involved in the horse racing business for many years. He is respected New Louisiana HBPA Executive Director R. among his fellow horsemen and Keith Gee is familiar with the aspects of our business. We are fortunate to have Keith on our team.

Some other highlights of our efforts to improve the Louisiana HBPA include: • Office policies and procurement procedures for supplies have been implemented to reduce operating costs. Expenses due to these changes have resulted in a significant reduction in hard costs and increased operating efficiencies.

• The Medical Benefits Trust has implemented new claims-handling procedures that have significantly reduced fraudulent claims.

• The Workers’ Compensation Trust was enacted to provide a workers’ compensation program established in Louisiana instead of the Cayman Islands. The new structure is more efficient and less costly.

• In 2010, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that the organization was using funds dedicated to the Medical Benefits Trust to pay the general operating expenses of the organization. This procedure was not allowed by Louisiana law. Therefore, these funds were reclassified as a loan amounting to $1,141,298 as of December 2010. Due to changes in policies and litigation settlements, I am happy to report that this amount has been reduced to $60,651 as of October 12, 2012.

An important effort we are working on is trying to improve our member communications by establishing a digital communication network so members can be informed of important developments by email and text. You can help us out with this by visiting our website at www.lahbpa.org to enroll in this important service. You may also visit our bookkeeper and field offices to fill out enrollment forms.

The integrity of horse racing is important to our future. This is why we must insist that our HBPA is an organization of high integrity and superb accountability. Your board of directors and I work hard for you and the Louisiana HBPA to benefit the horse industry in Louisiana and to protect that trust.

Best Wishes, Stanley Seelig President, Louisiana HBPA Denis Blake

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Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino 2012-2013 Race Meets

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

2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton, LA 70668 * 337-589-7441 * www.deltadowns.com Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

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8000 Hwy 80 East, PO Box 5519, Bossier City, LA 71171 318-742-5555 * www.ladowns.com Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

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Fair Grounds Race Course 2012-2013 Race Meets

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Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino 2012-2013 Race Meets 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, LA 70570 Toll Free: 866-4-Racing * www.evangelinedowns.com Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

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miChigaN hBPa The Michigan Gaming Control Board on October 31, 2012, approved the date application submitted by Mt. Pleasant Meadows for the 2013 season.

The application requested approval of 46 days to run May 4 through October 11, 2013. Race days will be Saturday and Sunday. The HBPA and Mt. Pleasant Meadows are currently negotiating next year’s contract and expect negotiations to be completed by the end of November.

In early November, there were two bills to be introduced in the state legislature that would allow the racing industry to compete fairly within Michigan’s gaming industry. One bill to approve Instant Racing was to be introduced in the House, and a second bill to legalize Advanced Deposit Wagering (ADW) was to be introduced in the Senate. The Michigan HBPA, along with the other Michigan racing associations, has gained more support than ever with a strong grassroots effort from the industry. The challenges have been tremendous with 25 Michigan casinos and finally to generate interest in Lansing to attempt assisting a productive industry with a 77-year history. Hopefully, the spring newsletter will have good news! miNNesoTa hBPa 2013 DateS The Minnesota Racing Commission has approved our dates for the 2013 season and our contract is signed!

The meet will run May 17 through September 14, with a mixed Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse meet May 24 through September 1. This schedule extends our meet by two weeks and gives us more racing days than we’ve had since 2006. puRSeS up The average purses in the first condition book for the 2013 race meet will be based on a schedule designed to offer Thoroughbred purse payments of approximately $20,000 per race. Pots are up thanks to the historic agreement reached with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), which operates the largest tribal casino in the state, earlier this year.

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tRacK SuRFace Canterbury Park is in the process of hiring a new track superintendent. In the interim, quite a bit has been done to bring our surface back to one of the best in the nation. The composition of the track’s cushion and replacement materials was tested, and it was found to be short in clay. A replacement cushion has been added including 100-percent pure clay that was mixed in with an asphalt re-claimer, leveled to a consistent 6 ½ inches, and the track sealed for the winter. The training track’s header boards have been replaced, the rail leveled and the drains cleared. The surface has been strained and bladed to a uniform six inches.

Other than the normal fall rolling, divot filling, mowing and over-seeding, a contractor was hired to deep tine aerate the turf track with one-inch wide by 10inch deep tines. This has helped loosen the track, add air, level the surface and should stimulate root growth. In the spring, the turf chute will be lengthened to allow more room behind the gate.

As the holidays are upon us at the time of this mailing, it is a perfect time to wish you well, so on behalf of the Minnesota HBPA board of directors, may you all have a wonderful Christmas season and a prosperous 2013!

Happy Racing! mouNTaiNeer Park hBPa GeneRal meetinG On Saturday, October 20, the Mountaineer Park HBPA held a general meeting in Donna’s Kitchen to answer questions and provide information.

Mountaineer HBPA President John Baird and the board addressed the membership on the following issues: • John reported that contract negotiations are ongoing and we are working to resolve some of the issues that are of concern to the horsemen, including the start fees and the underpayment account.

• John reported that he reviewed the dates Mountaineer has submitted for the 2013 racing calendar. The 2013 racing schedule is very similar to the 2012 schedule with 210 days beginning in March and running through December.

• The West Virginia Racing Commission did sign an amendment that called for the disbursement of the current retirement plan prior to 2009. The money contributed in 2010 and 2011 will be placed in the new plan.

Those contributions will follow the old vesting schedule but will not be disbursed to members until they reach the age of 60.

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conGRatulationS 2012 championS Jockey Tanner Riggs claimed his first Canterbury riding title. He rode 74 winners, five more than three-time leading rider Dean Butler.

Hugh (Mac) Robertson led all trainers for his eighth consecutive title, with 53 wins and $866,805 in earnings from 181 starters.

Ruben Martinez of Phoenix, with 20 wins, was the leading Thoroughbred owner.

The other champions were: • Horse of the Year – Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer: Mac Robertson) • 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer: Mac Robertson) • Sprinter – Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer: Mac Robertson) • Older Horse – Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson) • Grass Horse – Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson) • Older Filly or Mare – Ruthville (owner: Arthur B. Hancock III; trainer: Michael Stidham) • 3-Year-Old Filly – Keewatin Ice (owner: Camelia Casby; trainer: Bryan Porter)

• 2-Year-Old – Badge of Glory (owner: Cheryl Spick and Richard Bremer; trainer: Bernell Rhone) • Claimer – Patriate (owner: Robert Johnson; trainer: Robert Johnson) • Quarter Horse – Huckleberry Mojito (owner: LMR 2011; trainer: Edward Ross Hardy)

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RaceS FoR wiSheS The owners, trainers, jockeys and employees at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort came together again to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern West Virginia at the annual Races for Wishes event on November 3. thanKSGivinG FeaSt More than 200 horsemen and women enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner at the Riverfront Buffett at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort on Thanksgiving Day, compliments of the HBPA. The Mountaineer Park HBPA office hours will follow the training schedule for January and February. We would like to send everyone best wishes for a happy and safe holiday!

NeBraska hBPa 2013 Race DateS ScheDuleD FoR nebRaSKa Four Nebraska racetracks will be running live in 2013 for a total of 50 live days. This is a reduced live meet schedule from 2012 due to the closure of the former Lincoln Race Course site in Lincoln for extended live racing. Simulcasting at the location will continue through August 2013, at which time operations will move to the new simulcast location at Highway 77 and West Denton Road in southwest Lincoln.

At the Nebraska Racing Commission hearing on November 7, Fonner Park in Grand Island applied for 31 days to be run February through May. Omaha Exposition and Racing (OER) applied for three live days to be run in Omaha at Horsemen’s Park the weekend after the Kentucky Derby. OER also applied for one day to be run in Lincoln (date to be determined later) and applied for 15 days to be run in Columbus, as Platte County Ag Society applied for a simulcast license but did not apply to run any live days at the Columbus track.

As an alternative, OER applied for 15 days in Columbus in order to meet the state law requirement that the entire circuit must run 49 total days. If no entity

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chilDRen’S haRveSt paRtY More than 35 children came out to the Harvest Party sponsored by the Mountaineer Chaplaincy. The children enjoyed games, pumpkin painting with pumpkins donated by board member Bob Bedner, a spider web activity that incorporated the importance of honesty, treats and a costume contest.

had applied for at least the remaining 14 live days, no racetrack would have been eligible to have simulcast wagering in 2014. No specific dates were given for the Columbus meet, but it is estimated that the meet will be run in late summer at roughly the same time as in past years.

New eNglaNd hBPa The 2012 Suffolk Downs race meet ended on November 2 with a full 10-race card and a full simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup program.

At Suffolk, John Rigattieri earned his ninth consecutive training title. Jay Bernardini was second. Tammi Piermarini, a longtime New England favorite, captured her third consecutive riding title and has moved to third-place behind Julie Krone and Rosemary Homeister as all-time winning female jockey.

The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes included eight races with a $50,000 purse. The Rise Jim was won by Miscoe Gray (Nine Maples Farm, owner). The Last Dance was won by Victor Laszlo (Patrica Moseley, owner). The Isadorable and First Episode were won by Southoftheborder (Lloyd Lockhard, owner). The African Prince was won by Adahai (Old Five Oaks Farm LLC, owner). The John Kirby and Louis Kemball were won by Dreamed a Dream (Kathy Raymond, owner). The Noeman Hall was won by My Friend Bob (Donna Pereina, owner).

The third annual Thoroughbred Horseman’s Charity Golf Tournament was held on August 16 at the Glen Ellen Country Club. This year’s event, usually sponsored by the breeders, had a joint sponsorship of both NEHBPA and the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The day was wonderful, not only for golfers, but also for other participants who were able to take advantage of the other activities available at the club, like swimming and tennis. The money raised is for Thoroughbred retirement and retraining for second careers after racing.

A showcase of our Thoroughbreds was the first North East Thoroughbred Association and Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Fund Horse Show on October 7. Many of the horses competing were horses that had raced at Suffolk Downs. Although the weather for the day was not ideal, the turnout was great and all feedback has been very positive. It was a great effort for the first-time event. Next year’s show will be held on October 13, 2013. More information is available at www.northeastthoroughbred.com.

CANTER NE held their seventh annual Suffolk Showcase helping to transition retiring racehorses to new careers. The event was Sunday, October 14, and the weather was rainy and cool; however, the show did go on! The event was well-attended, and a number of horses were selected for new careers.

In addition to a yearly contribution by the NEHBPA this year, our local feed company, Dodge Grain, and Purina Feed donated $10,000 to CANTER NE. Thank you Terry Burke of Dodge Grain.

Late September, The Eighth Pole, in conjunction with the nursing program at Boston’s Northeastern University, held the annual flu shot clinic. More than 130 people took advantage of this opportunity.

Later, on October 27, The Eighth Pole and its principals Jim Greene and Shirley Edwards were recognized by a community service award as part of Suffolk Downs’ community awareness program. Following the seventh race on the Saturday program, a commemorative plaque and a $500 check were presented to The Eighth Pole by Suffolk’s Christian Teja. A large contingent of folks from all segments of the local racing scene joined Jim and Shirley in the winner’s circle for a picture of the presentation.

In early October, the NEHBPA sponsored an appreciation lunch for all of the backstretch employees. The lunch was held in the track kitchen, and Kim and Bobby Kelly put out an outstanding spread. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to relax, visit and, of course, enjoy the good food. To add to www.nationalhbpa.com

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everyone’s enjoyment, later in the month the MTBA held their third annual pizza party for the backside. MTBA President George Brown ordered 60 large pizzas, cold drinks and coffee. Everyone came by, and all 60 pizzas were gone in no time!

We wish all our members and our backside employees good health, good luck and good racing until we see you again. ohio hBPa ohio hbpa electionS The Ohio HBPA election was completed recently with Rich Zielinski, Tim Hamm and Robin Schuster all being re-elected to four-year terms in the trainer or owner/trainer category. Kim Williams and Debbie Kopatz were elected for the first time and joined Nancy Garrison, who was re-elected, in the owner-only category. Jim Benton will serve as the alternate in the trainer or owner/trainer category for the next two years, while Jeff Jarvis will serve as the alternate in the owner-only category.

The recently elected board members join Mark Doering, Butch Nemann, Dr. John Piehowicz, Joe Poole, Bob Reeves and Alan White to make up the 12-member OHBPA board of directors for the next two years.

The following officers were elected to two-year terms by the board at its first meeting following the election: President - Tim Hamm, Thistledown Vice President - Mark Doering, Beulah Park Vice President - Joe Poole, River Downs Vice President - Dr. John Piehowicz and Executive Vice President - Bob Reeves. vlt upDate Thistledown is expected to be the first Thoroughbred track in Ohio to house video lottery terminals. Construction is currently taking place on the bottom level of the Thistledown grandstand, where the VLTs will be housed. An early April 2013 opening is planned for the Thistledown VLT facility.

River Downs will undergo a massive reconstruction process that will involve completely tearing down the existing grandstand and clubhouse areas and rebuilding an integrated VLT and racing facility along with relocating the main track and the turf course on the property. Construction is underway on the project, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2014.

Penn National Gaming has broken ground on the integrated racing and VLT facility to be built in the Youngstown area. The as-yet-unnamed track is expected to open in the fall of 2014. Racing will continue at Beulah Park until the Youngstown facility is ready to open.

2013 ohio RacinG DateS Thistledown has submitted an application with the Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) to race 122 days in 2013. Beulah Park submitted an application for 88 racing days in 2013. As of the deadline for this edition of The Horsemen’s Journal, River Downs had not submitted a racing dates application to the OSRC for 2013 as they are trying to work through construction issues prior to determining their proposed schedule.

The Ohio HBPA has had discussions with Harrah’s officials regarding a 2013 racing dates agreement at Thistledown, but nothing has been signed at this time.

No discussions have taken place with Penn National Gaming on a 2013 racing dates agreement for Beulah Park. The state-mandated minimum number of racing dates at Beulah Park is 114. If an agreement in not reached between Penn National Gaming and the Ohio HBPA on 2013 racing dates, Beulah Park will not be able to simulcast incoming signals in 2014.

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Ongoing discussions are taking place with Pinnacle Entertainment officials regarding the 2013 racing dates and construction schedule at River Downs.

Please check our website at www.ohio-hbpa.com for updates on 2013 racing dates. oklahoma hBPa (ThoroughBred raCiNg assoCiaTioN of oklahoma) incentiveS With the running of the 20th Oklahoma Classics, the Thoroughbred industry continues to make strides when it comes to racing and breeding in the state of Oklahoma. Approximately $1.1 million in purses were awarded to Accredited Oklahoma Thoroughbreds. Rivaling other state programs, Oklahoma has become a competitive state-bred program. tRao boaRD election The 2013 Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO) owner/ breeder board of directors will be elected. Ric Hedges, CPA, will count the ballots with the election committee present.

Please contact the TRAO if your address has changed. Following is the timeline for the board elections.

• Nominations end on November 3 • Candidacy affidavits must be returned by November 20 • Ballots will sent out November 22 by CPA firm • Return ballots must be postmarked by December 31 • Ballot counting on January 7 ReminGton paRK meet Remington Park will conclude its Thoroughbred meet on Sunday, December 9. heRitaGe place Sale The inaugural Thoroughbred sale is set for December 8 at Heritage Place.

The sale will be held closing weekend of Remington Park in conjunction with the TRAO general membership meeting.

FacebooK Keep up with the latest updates on Facebook by searching for “TRAO Racing.”

DateS to RemembeR Ballots mailed November 22 Return ballots by December 31 Counting of ballots by January 7 General membership meeting, December 8 at Heritage Place at 10:30 a.m.

Remington Park meet concludes December 9 Remington Park backside closes December 27 Will Rogers meet, March 4 to May 18 Stallion Stakes VI forms postmarked by January 31

hBPa of oNTario hbpa oF ontaRio electS new boaRD oF DiRectoRS The HBPA of Ontario is pleased to announce that the members recently elected a new board of directors that began its three-year term in October 2012.

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hoRSe RacinG inDuStRY panel appointeD bY pRovincial GoveRnment ReleaSeS Final RepoRt The final report from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMFARA) panel appointed by the Honourable Ted McMeekin has now been released. The panel’s final report outlines their Sustainable Horse Racing Model for the future of horse racing and breeding in this province. It is important to note that this is their recommended model for the industry and not a final plan.

One aspect of the model the panel and government agree on is not to reinstate the Slots at Racetracks Program, as they have deemed it would be poor public policy. The panel’s model includes accountability, transparency, a renewed focus on the consumer and return to government through tax revenues each public dollar invested.

In the coming days, the HBPA of Ontario will do its utmost to ensure that live racing continues at Fort Erie Race Track in 2013. Horsemen and horsewomen can be assured that the 30 days of live racing at Fort Erie outlined in the model is not satisfactory to the HBPA of Ontario and will be negotiated with the government. Furthermore, we do not support giving up Thoroughbred race dates to Ajax Downs when we have a 115-year-old historical track in Fort Erie that services horsemen and horsewomen well.

The next few weeks of negotiations are critical, so we ask everyone in the industry to remain united throughout this process of finding solutions. We ask for your continued patience and support during this transition.

To read the panel’s report, please visit www.hbpa.on.ca. For additional information regarding this, please visit the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association’s website at www.value4money.ca.

SaFetY veStS anD helmetS muSt meet StanDaRDS in ontaRio in 2013 Thoroughbred participants are reminded that effective January 1, 2013, all safety vests and helmets worn while mounted must meet the following standards per the Ontario Thoroughbred Rules of Racing 14.02.02. Participants are advised to check their equipment. Any questions regarding the new requirements should be directed to Ontario Racing Commission stewards.

HELMETS American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM 1163) UK Standards (EN-1384 and PAS-015) or Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZ 3838) VESTS British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA:2000 Level 1) Euro Norm (EN 13158:2000 Level 1) American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM F2681-08) Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association (SATRA Jockey Vest Document M6 Issue 3) or Australian Racing Board (ARB Standard 1.1998)

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The new board is as follows: OWNERS: Veronica Attard, Conrad Cohen, William Diamant (Vice President), Lynne Hindmarsh, Sam Lima, Sherry McLean TRAINERS: Roger Attfield, Mark Casse, Nick Gonzalez (Vice President), Sue Leslie (President), Danny Vella (Secretary-Treasurer) The HBPA extends its thanks to all the candidates who took part in the election process and would like to thank outgoing directors Larry Regan and Stan Fishman for their years of service on the board and their dedication to the association and our members.

wooDbine RacetRacK Trainers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that they have the necessary immigration paperwork on file when employing foreign workers.

Please note your responsibility extends to jockeys who are brought in to ride marquee races at Woodbine. If you have any questions regarding the necessary paperwork, please contact the Ontario Racing Commission stewards or the HBPA of Ontario.

We are negotiating at the moment with the Woodbine Entertainment, the Ontario Racing Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs with regard to race dates for 2013 and will inform members once an agreement is in place.

FoRt eRie Race tRacK Thank you to all who continued to send their horses to compete at Fort Erie this past season. We would like to send congratulations to the winners of the 2012 annual awards at Fort Erie and to the awards banquet organizers Candice Warwick, Lorrie Scott and Colleen Murphy for doing such a great job in making the event a success.

The HBPA of Ontario is currently in discussions to keep Fort Erie Race Track open for live racing in 2013. Further information regarding this will be posted to our website and distributed via email to members when it is available.

RetiRinG YouR thoRouGhbReDS When you have deemed that a Thoroughbred racehorse in your care no longer has the ability to race and you are looking to find it a new home, we urge you to make sure that you’re dealing with a reputable person, that you have provided a bill of sale and that The Jockey Club registration papers are duly executed. If you are having difficulty finding a new home for your horse in Ontario, please contact the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society at (416) 675-3993, ext. 3440, or www.longrunretirement.com or Second Start Thoroughbreds at (519) 688-0722 or www.secondstartthoroughbreds.org. inFoRmation FoR membeRS The HBPA of Ontario posts important information for Ontario horsemen and horsewomen on a regular basis on our website at www.hbpa.on.ca. Please check in regularly.

Do we have YouR email aDDReSS? We often communicate with HBPA of Ontario members by email. Do we have yours? Please take a moment to drop us a line at general@hbpa.on.ca with your current email address. We look forward to hearing from you. wooDbine RacetRacK oFFice winteR houRS anD cloSuRe Until December 16 – Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

December 17 – Open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

December 18 to 21 – Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

December 22 and 23 – Closed December 24 – Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

December 25 to January 2 – Closed Should you require assistance (including completion of B1s) and the Woodbine Backstretch Office is closed, please visit the HBPA of Ontario, Administrative Office, 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, Etobicoke, Ontario.

Telephone: (416) 747-5252 or (866) 779-3067.

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hbpa oF ontaRio aDminiStRative oFFice chRiStmaS SeaSon cloSuRe The Administration Office at 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, will be closed for the Christmas season from December 25 to January 2. oregoN hBPa hello FRom oReGon Hope everyone had a wonderful summer. As you know, we had our first summer/fall meet this year at Portland Meadows. The summer months were a challenge for the people in charge of the track, but they persevered and did a great job.

Track attendance has been good, and there have been a lot of promotions that drew a lot of new patrons who enjoyed themselves.

There has been some remodeling on the frontside, starting with a new branding campaign, painting outside, a new bar on the lower floor, a beer-b-q tent out front and outside dining. They hung old pictures, which gives a very nostalgic feeling.

Executive Director Dick Cartney is no longer with the Oregon HBPA. He is relaxing and enjoying life. He will be missed.

The ballots have gone out for our 2012 board of directors election. They will be counted in November, and the new board will be introduced before the end of this meet.

There was a benefit for longtime horseman James Easley on October 13 held in the Turf Club, which Portland Meadows donated the use of, along with a dinner. Thank you so much.

Another thank you goes to Jacqui Navarre, Sharon Balcom and everyone else who helped with the silent and regular auctions. People were so very generous with their donations. It just shows how we can all pull together for each other.

For the first time, we had a short claiming series for fillies and mares.

There were a lot of horses changing barns in the first two legs. The winner, Fantasyville, ran for owner Debra Larson and trainer Judy Miller and stayed in their barn for all three races. Congratulations to all the winning connections!

The colts and geldings were also changing barns like mad, but again the winner, Zilver, was not claimed out of Jonathan Nance’s barn. He is owned by Bob and Pat Cosgrove. Congratulations to everyone!

October 28 was the first leg of the HBPA Distance Series. We had three races with nine head each. What a great turnout for these races, and the claim box was jumpin’!

Our Back Side Café once again put on a Thanksgiving dinner for the horsemen and horsewomen on November 16. We appreciate all the work that goes into this and the wonderful meal we enjoy.

We lost some horsemen this summer, including Don Jackson, who was involved with racing for many years and was very well-known in the Pacific Northwest; Michael Malarkey, who was a longtime owner; and Jody Davidson, who rode here and many other racetracks. Our condolences to their families.

Hope your holidays are spent with your loved ones!

PeNNsylvaNia hBPa penn national noteS When winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fort Larned became the first horse bred in the United States since Tiznow to have a sire standing outside of Kentucky. E Dubai, sire of the 4-year-old colt, now stands in Pennsylvania at Northview Stallion Station. Congratulations to all the connections involved.

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Penn National will race 200 days in 2013 with first post at 6 p.m. ET each day. Racing will be Wednesday through Saturday in all months except January and February when racing will be Thursday through Saturday. There will be special race days on Tuesday, July 13, Monday, August 5, and Tuesday, November 27, with no racing on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The full calendar is below.

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Masters Stakes on September 8 and has added to the luster of the Masters as a steppingstone to winning in the Breeders’ Cup. Kudos should also go out to jockey Willie Martinez, a Presque Isle Downs regular, for his win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint aboard 3-year-old Trinniberg.

TamPa Bay dowNs hBPa The 91-day racing season begins on Saturday, December 1, and continues through Saturday, April 6. hbpa chRiStmaS paRtY Join us on Thursday, December 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the HBPA parking area. national hbpa winteR convention The Tampa Bay Downs HBPA has once again been chosen to host the National HBPA Winter Convention in Clearwater, Florida, from February 20-24.

Planned activities include a day at the races at Tampa Bay Downs as well as many informative meetings and seminars. in memoRiam Frances V. Thompson, 70, of Safety Harbor, Florida, passed away at home on September 11 from thyroid cancer. Fran, as she was known by her many friends, was a native of Brush, Colorado, but spent more than 40 years on the racetracks in Florida, the Midwest and northeastern states. She began her racing experience as the wife of the late trainer Delbert Thompson. The couple bred and trained many winners.

After the loss of her husband, Fran opened Fran’s Tack, which she ran successfully at Tampa Bay Downs, Atlantic City Race Course and recently at both Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs. She also was a successful owner while in the tack business, racing among others the good filly Exclusive Pow Wow. Fran will be remembered by all as a shining example of grace and good nature. Without exception, everyone who knew her loved her. virgiNia hBPa

pReSQue iSle noteS As of this writing, no racing dates have been set for the 2013 Presque Isle Downs meet. PID will apply for the dates at the Pennsylvania Racing Commission meeting held on November 15 at Penn National Race Course.

The two new barns are still a work in progress, but they are slated to be finished before the end of 2012. When finished, the barn area will have an additional 96 stalls and the stabling area will accommodate 700 horses, which does not includes the receiving or the stakes barn.

Congratulations are in order for Groupie Doll and her owners William “Buff” Bradley, his father Fred Bradley, Carl Hurst and Brent Burns in winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She won the Presque Isle Downs

2013 Race DaYS Set FoR colonial DownS The Virginia Racing Commission formally approved a joint request by the Virginia HBPA and the management of Colonial Downs, Virginia’s only pari-mutuel track, for 25 days of racing next summer. The meet will start on Saturday, June 8 (Belmont Stakes day), and end Saturday, July 13. The normal racing schedule will be five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Post time is 6 p.m. every day except Sunday, which has a 1 p.m. post.

Colonial’s two signature stakes races, the $300,000 Colonial Turf Cup and the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G2), are set for June 15 and July 13, respectively.

Thirteen additional stakes races, including six for Virginia-breds, round out the stakes schedule.

Average daily purses are projected to be $248,000, a 25 percent increase over this past summer’s purses. Individual overnight races should average around $22,000, an increase of more than 40 percent over 2012 overnights.

The increases allow Colonial to remain somewhat competitive with neighboring tracks in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, where purses are supplemented by slot machine revenue. Because Virginia does not have any form of alternative gaming, the number of race days had to be reduced from last year’s 31 days to next year’s 25 days in order to fund the increases. The www.nationalhbpa.com

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VHBPA and the track also agreed to reduce purses for the Virginia Derby and the Turf Cup by $300,000 in order to boost overnight purses.

The Virginia Breeders’ Fund will likely continue its 100-percent owner’s bonus plan. Virginia-breds running in non-stakes open races that finish in the first five spots will receive double the normal purse share. For example, a Virginia-bred running in an open maiden special weight race with a purse of $32,000 runs for $64,000.

The 1,000-stall stable area will open in mid-May to accommodate horses coming from Florida and elsewhere. Colonial will also run a shuttle van for horses at Laurel Park and the Bowie training center in Maryland, where most daily shippers are stabled. As usual, more than 80 percent of the races carded next summer will be on Colonial’s huge 180-foot-wide turf course. washiNgToN hBPa tRaininG beGinS FoR 18th SeaSon oF RacinG at emeRalD DownS In preparation for the Emerald Downs live race meet in 2013, the barn area will open on February 1. Director of Racing Bret Anderson will begin mailing stall applications in early December. If you missed one in the mail or are interested in moving your operation to Emerald Downs, stall applications are available on the Emerald Downs website at www.emeralddowns.com under the “Horsemen” tab or by calling Bret Anderson at (253) 288-7751.

Washington HBPA staff are available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to answer all your questions regarding racing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They can be reached at (253) 804-6822. new “paY aS You Go” woRKeRS’ compenSation RateS announceD FoR 2013 Next year, Washington horse racing participants will partake in a revamped system for the collection of Labor and Industries (L&I) workers’ compensation premiums. In an effort to reduce trainers’ upfront expenses and assess premiums more equitably, the former annual assessment has been replaced by a pay-as-you go premium that the Department of L&I refers to as “risk-based.”

The Washington HBPA and Washington Horse Racing Commission recognized that the initial setup of a stable is costly and the addition of a large upfront insurance premium, upon licensing, created a financial hardship for many trainers. Further, it was reported that trainers from other tracks were discouraged from coming to Emerald Downs for periods less than a full season because the annual L&I premium made it cost-prohibitive. To remedy both concerns, in 2013, at the time of licensing, trainers will only pay the appropriate license and fingerprint fee, and all L&I premiums will be assessed and collected monthly.

Formerly, trainers paid an annual premium in three 20%-40%-40% installments. The cost was the same for a trainer that had employees 12 months or three months. The exercise rider coverage was based on the maximum number of horses on any one day, even if the number was significantly less during the majority of the racing season. The premium for pony riders was collected annually per trainer.

Premiums for exercise riders and pony persons under the new system will be assessed on a per-horse/per-day basis and be collected monthly. For trainers, all horses, including ponies, will be counted. The 2013 rate is $1.31 per horse.

Following are a few examples of how the premium would be assessed.

Example 1: A trainer brings in one horse on the afternoon of March 5. At 3 p.m. on March 20, that horse leaves and two new horses come in and remain through the rest of the month. Premium would be calculated ((1horse for 15 days) + (2 horses for 16 days)) x $1.31 = 47 x $1.31 = $61.57 ($62). For simplicity, total premium is rounded to the next whole dollar.

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Example 2: A trainer has 10 horses for 16 days of the month and 12 horses for 14 days of the month. The premium assessment would be calculated as ((10 x 16 days) @ $1.31 + (12 x 14 days)) @ $1.31 = 328 x $1.31 = $429.68 (or rounded to next whole dollar = $430).

Example 3: A trainer comes in on the morning of the March 4 and works three horses and leaves the grounds with all three. He returns on March 14 and March 24 and does the same thing. Premium for the month would be calculated 3 x $1.31 + 3 x $1.31 + 3 x $1.31 = 9 x $1.31= $11.79 (or rounded to next whole dollar = $12).

Example 4: On April 1, a trainer has eight horses in his care. On April 16, he takes one horse out and brings in one pony horse. At the end of the month, the assessed premium is (8 x 30) @ $1.31 = 240 x $1.31 = $314.40 (or rounded to next whole dollar = $315).

It is imperative that trainers accurately report in/out and transfer activity within their stables. Rules that allow a trainer to be penalized for failing to report the correct number and/or names of horses in their care have been strengthened and will be enforced. Security personnel will also be held accountable for ensuring that horses coming through and leaving the gate are reported accurately. Trainers who fail to report a transfer of a horse within the grounds may be held responsible for the premium until the transfer is reported.

There will be no refunds for premiums for trainers who fail to report a transfer or incorrectly report the number of horses in their care.

Premiums for groom coverage will be similar to the former “groom slot” method but will be assessed monthly instead of annually. There will be a daily rate option for trainers that only need to hire occasional help. Formally a trainer paid an annual rate for each groom in his/her employ. That is if a groom was hired for one month or 12 months the premium was the same. Under the new method, the trainer hiring a groom for one month would pay $139 (the monthly rate) and the trainer that employed a groom for 12 months would pay $139 at the end of each of the 12 months. If a trainer who does not employ a full-time groom needs help on race day, he/she could employ any licensed groom and provide insurance coverage for $13.90 (daily rate equals 10 percent of monthly rate). Unlike former constraints, the groom would not be limited to paddocking.

They could perform all groom duties for that trainer during that one day.

At the time of licensing, trainers will be responsible for reporting the number and names of grooms who will be employed during the month. They will also be required to immediately report any changes to staffing of grooms during the month.

A licensed groom may be employed by two separate trainers at the same time, but each trainer must pay the required premium for that groom for the month.

Example 1: In April, a trainer has two grooms under his/her employ. On April 10, one groom quits and a new groom is hired on April 12. Both work through the end of the month. Groom premium for the month is 2 x $139 = $278.

Example 2: A trainer moves in on March 30 and employs a groom for two days. Groom premium for the month would be 1 groom x 2 days x $13.90 = $27.80 ($28).

Example 3: Trainer A shares a groom with Trainer B. The groom works one hour per day for Trainer A and seven hours per day for Trainer B. At the end of the month, both trainers are assessed a premium of $139 for coverage of the groom.

Example 4: Trainer A hires a groom who works from May 1 to May 26 and is let go. On May 27, Trainer B hires that same groom. At the end of the month, Trainer A owes full monthly premium for the groom and Trainer B is assessed a premium of 5 days x $13.90 = $69.50 ($70).

Although workers’ compensation coverage for all employees is mandated

news

lowe’s hardware heroes invade backstretch clubhouse Many will remember November 6 as Election Day, but the kids and staff at the Backstretch Clubhouse will remember it as the day the Auburn Lowe’s Heroes invaded their childcare center. The volunteer group made up of employees from the home improvement chain began about 10 years ago.

Working together, “transforming lives one community at a time” is the mission of the program, which embraces teamwork as its core value and encourages employees to team together and adopt a project with a local nonprofit.

The Backstretch Clubhouse playground received a thorough cleaning and renovation thanks to the Lowe’s Heroes.

We would love to extend a huge thank you to the Lowe’s Heroes: Joslyn Indreginald, Cele White, Darrell John, Jan Zerone, Greg Peckham, Kevin Gorder, Ryan Anke, Raluca Melero, Donnette Langdon, Brian Alonzo and Dave Wilson.

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by Washington State law, coverage under the Washington Horse Racing Industry (WHRI) L&I account is optional for trainers with employees not working at a licensed Washington racetrack. Trainers may opt to obtain coverage under a traditional independent business account available from the department. Go to www.lni.wa.gov or talk to L&I small business liaison at (800) 987-0145 for more information.

Trainers with employees at the farms and training centers opting for coverage via the WHRI account must comply with all licensing, reporting and job description guidelines outlined in the pertaining administrative rules.

Failure to do so may deny coverage under the account but will not relieve the trainer’s responsibility to provide coverage to all employees. Under the WHRI, trainers with grooms working at the farms and training centers will have the same reporting and collection of premium requirements as at the racetrack.

However, pony and exercise riders at the farm will require a separate license from exercise and pony persons at the track, and premiums will be collected on a per-employee, per-day basis. The 2013 daily rate for exercise and pony riders at the farm is $17.90 per day. Trainers must report the names and days that the riders will work at the beginning of the month. To ensure coverage, any personnel changes during the month must be made in advance. There will be no additional license fee for riders who are licensed at both the farm and racetrack.

Trainers traveling to other jurisdictions with their Washington employees may be eligible for out-of-state coverage under the WHRI account. Premiums would be assessed the same as at the farms, would carry the same reporting requirements and apply only to the trainer’s Washington employees.

The most effective method for lowering workers’ compensation premiums is to foster a safe workplace and reduce the incidents of fraud in both reporting of premium assessments and accidents. Another key is to return injured employees to work, even with limitations, as soon as possible.

The amended WHRC rules for workers’ compensation compliance address these issues. Trainers will be responsible for filing timely accident reports, and any licensee who partakes in fraudulent activity may be suspended from racing.

Department of L&I safety representatives will be more visible in the barn area and may require safety training compliance.

The complete L&I amended language may be viewed on the WHRC website at www.whrc.wa.gov. For a print copy of the changes or to obtain more information, please contact the Washington HBPA office at (254) 804-6822.

The kids were eagerly watching as an equipmentfilled truck and 11 volunteers in the iconic Lowe’s red vests attacked the planting beds, patio and, more importantly, the playground. As the large dump truck arrived with donated bright and clean wood chips for the playground, even the teachers were filled with excitement.

“Our playground was in dire need of cleaning and renovation, and because we are a nonprofit center, projects like this seem to get pushed to the back burner,” commented Director Mackenzie Noble.

“Our small center would never have been able to do this work on our own, and we are so thankful for the opportunity we were given to be

able to work with the Lowe’s Heroes.”

Not only did the wonderful volunteers clean up the playground, pressure wash the building and weed the front entrance, but their generous donations of time were complemented with enthusiasm and loving smiles.

Further, all associated with the Backstretch Clubhouse wish to express their gratitude to the Auburn Lowe’s store for their generosity, not only providing volunteers and outside materials, but also paint, curtain rods, stools and other materials contributed for the interior of the building as well.

“After a many weeks of coordinating with the Lowe’s Heroes group, the Lowe’s Heroes were able to make our dreams a reality,” added Noble. “I can’t thank them enough. What an example of community service they provided to our kids today.”

On the

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Please send all address changes either by e-mail to: hj@hbpa.org Or by mail to: The Horsemen’s Journal, P. O. Box 911188, Lexington, KY 40591-1188 www.nationalhbpa.com

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