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June 22, 2010
Source: BloodHorse |
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Unwanted Horse Coalition Takes the Next Step
Horse Health
The Unwanted Horse Coalition, now in its fifth year, adopted a multi-faceted strategic plan June 21 designed to continue advocacy and education programs but move the organization to the next level.
Coalition members met in Washington, D.C., as part of the American Horse Council National Issues Forum. The UHC, which falls under the AHC umbrella, devised the strategic plan during a meeting in May.
The strategic plan calls for continued development and distribution of educational materials; expanded involvement with current and potential member organizations; collaboration with the horse industry on developing solutions in areas such as euthanasia; and developing resources for equine care facilities.
The plan was developed in part in response to a 2009 survey of about 27,000 horse owners and industry stakeholders in the United States.
“We’ve done an outstanding job raising awareness (of the unwanted horse issue), but the survey shows people feel we need to become more involved at the working level rather than just educate and inform,” said Dr. Tom Lenz, who has served as UHC chairman for the past five years.
The UHC plans to work closely with state horse councils and other organizations that already may be doing things in the area of providing haybanks and feedbanks for horses, euthanasia and castration clinics, and wellness programs. It also is considering webinars to provide more access to information and programs.
The UHC also agreed to study formation of a site-based model that would incorporate funding mechanisms for future programs. Because of legal and financial questions, the coalition formed a subcommittee to study the issue and report back. So for the time being, the UHC will increase its efforts as a clearinghouse for information.
“The people putting on (clinics) should fund them at the outset,” AHC president Jay Hickey said. “You’re talking about a lot of money. Maybe we should walk before we run. We’d be inundated with requests.”
UHC members agreed, however, taking the next step could provide benefits not just for horses, but in how the organization is perceived.
“It would show we’re rea [ ... ] |
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June 22, 2010
Source: Saratoga |
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2010 Saratoga Racing Season Opening Day Friday, July 23
Saratoga Race Course Opening Day is Friday, July 23, 2010 – so get ready for another thrilling season of racing in Saratoga Springs!
Summer never truly begins in Saratoga until the historic Saratoga Race Track opens. Throngs of people from all over the world gather at the Race Track with one common interest -- to hear “And the race is off!” Adrenaline pumps as the crowd goes wild with cheers of encouragement to their favorite picks of the season.
There are a variety of viewing options available at the track. For those that like to be in the thick of things, seating is available near the Course to watch the race up close and personal. There’s also the option to camp comfortably with blankets and lawn chairs in the region of the screens, conveniently located around the track grounds.
Live music adds to the ambiance at the Saratoga Race Track, and near the front gates, there are vendors that sell beautiful pictures of the horses, jockeys, and the grounds. Another feature the Race Course offers is a chance for you to view your favorite horse. Before the horses run out on the track, they are brought to the paddocks where they can be viewed and admired.
The Saratoga Race Course is located at 267 Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs NY. Get directions to the Saratoga Race Course.
Jult 23, 2010 -- Saratoga Race Track Opening Day
Admission Gates Open At: 11:00 am
First Race Post Time: 1:00 pm
Parking: FREE General Parking
$10.00 Trackside Parking (open at 6:45 am)
General Admission: $3.00 Grandstand
$5.00 Clubhouse
Children under 12 FREE with parent/guardian
Reserved Seating Sold Separately
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June 20, 2010
Source: Sports Central |
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Horse Racing Industry Saddled With Financial Meltdown
The 2010 thoroughbred horse racing season has seen its Triple Crown races pass, yet thoroughbred racing fans can still look ahead to some key summer races such as the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Track in upstate NY this August, and of course the Breeder's Cup World Championships in the first weekend of November, to be held for the first time at Churchill Downs.
So, we will now see the end of the 2010 thoroughbred racing season in the same venue in which it began, for a historic first.
This year's Triple Crown races, however, not only did not produce a Triple Crown champion again, leaving 1978 champion, Affirmed, as the last to do so, but what was most unsettling was the fact that each leg was won by a different horse; with Super Saver winning the 136th Kentucky Derby, Lookin' At Lucky wining the 135th running of the Preakness Stakes, and Drosselmeyer prevailing in the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes.
And the contending Triple Crown horses' trainers and owners had no small part in creating a Triple Crown drought. Both the Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver, as well as Preakness Stakes winner, Lookin' At Lucky, were not even entered in the Belmont Stakes. And at a time when the horse racing industry is in a seemingly fiscal free-fall, if ever there was a time necessary to create interest for the casual fan, it is now.
In fact, just days before the very running of this year's Preakness, its future to remain in Maryland was in serious doubt. And equally remarkable, the third leg of the Triple Crown, the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes, coming up June 5, 2010 at Belmont Park, in Elmont, NY, also remains in a fiscal crisis. It was loaned $25 million by the state of New York just days before the running of the Belmont, in order for it to remain open for the rest of the 2010 racing season.
And it is with the Triple Crown races, still clearly in mind, that it is worth exploring the present state of the thoroughbred industry's challenges away from the track, especially in those states now hurting, that once could be counted on to provide the essential businesses necessary to support those horses we get to see on race day.
Largely, it comes down to the horse breeding farms and all of the ancillary businesses that [ ... ] |
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June 15, 2010
Source: Paulick Report |
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PA COMMISSION INVESTIGATING PENN NATIONAL TRAINING INCIDENT
The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission is investigating a May 29 incident at Penn National racetrack in Grantville, Pa., when there allegedly was no state veterinarian on the grounds or horse ambulance available to come to the rescue of a horse injured during morning training hours. The horse was euthanized later that morning.
Pigmaleon, a 9-year-old Chilean-bred who won 11 of 54 starts and $85,304, fractured his left hind leg while exercising at what his trainer, Michael Pappada, called a “moderate” speed at approximately 6:30 a.m. In a letter to Penn National general manager Frank Quigley and copied to others, including Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission chairwoman Corinne Sweeney, Pappada said no horse ambulance was available to transport the injured horse back to his barn. “Because of this, he was forced to walk off of the track and up a partial hill and this made the fracture even worse giving him no chance for survival,” Pappada said.
Compounding the situation, Pappada wrote, “There was no state veterinarian on duty to examine or euthanize the horse.” Pappada said Pigmaleon was euthanized at 7:50 a.m., an hour and 20 minutes after the injury occurred. No one came to dispose of the horse’s body until 10 a.m., he added.
“This is simply unacceptable,” Pappada wrote to Quigley.
“We are investigating what happened and we are concerned,” said Joseph Mushalko, operations director for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission. He said tracks are required to have horse ambulances manned during training hours. Mushalko said he hoped to complete the investigation prior to Thursday, when the commission holds its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture headquarters in Harrisburg.
Christopher McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National, declined to comment on the May 29 incident.
Owned by Rancho Alegre, Pigmaleon was coming off an eighth-place finish at Penn National, racing for a $4,000 claiming tag on May 18. He won two starts back at Mountaineer Park Aug. 30 while carrying a $5,000 claiming tag.
Following is the text of Pappada’s letter to Penn National’s general manager:
Dear Mr. Quigley [ ... ] |
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June 14, 2010
Source: YouTube |
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Rachel Alexandra Wins 2010 Fleur de Lis Handicap
ESPN - Rachel Alexandra wins the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 12, 2010.
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June 14, 2010
Source: YouTube |
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Zenyatta
The remarkable Zenyatta stands alone. Thrilling another crowd with her spine-tingling late charge, the undefeated mare nabbed a determined St Trinians by a half-length for her 17th consecutive victory in the June 13 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
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June 13, 2010
Source: BloodHorse |
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Zenyatta Stands Alone With Record 17th Win
Jockey Mike Smith aboard Zenyatta salutes the crowd on the way to the winners circle after winning the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational horse race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. , Friday, April 9, 2010.
The remarkable Zenyatta stands alone. Thrilling another crowd with her spine-tingling late charge, the undefeated mare nabbed a determined St Trinians by a half-length for her 17th consecutive victory in the June 13 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
This was the 6-year-old champion's unprecented third straight win in the Vanity, and and by her most exciting.
The victory moves her past Citation, Cigar and Mister Frisky for the most consecutive wins in modern times in races not restricted to state breeds.
Jockey Mike Smith had to ask her for something extra as she charged the lane. She trailed St Trinians by 2 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole and her rival wasn't giving in. But Zenyatta surged under right-handed encouragement from Smith as they approached the wire to collect her record victory.
Zenyatta, who carried 129 pounds, nine more than St Trinians, went over $6 million in career earnings while completing the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:49.01.
John Shirreffs trains the winner for Jerry and Ann Moss.
Zenyatta's stablemate, Zardana, finished third.
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June 12, 2010
Source: BloodHorse |
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Confident Rachel Blooms Again in Fleur de Lis
Rachel nation is breathing a little easier on the afternoon of June 12 after last year's Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra scored her first win of 2010, drawing away from four overmatched rivals in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II).
Rachel Alexandra romps in the Fleur de Lis/ Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Making her second start at Churchill Downs since her record-breaking 20 1/4-length romp in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), 4-year-old Rachel Alexandra looked a little more like her old self in the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis.
Sent off at prohibitive odds of 1-10 while carrying 124 pounds, she shook off pace rivals Jessica Is Back and Distinctive Dixie near the three-sixteenths pole and romped home while geared down late by jockey Calvin Borel, who gave a look over his shoulder at the retreating field as he approached the wire. The official margin of victory was 10 1/2 lengths while the final time was a sharp 1:48.78 over a fast track on a muggy, hot day at Churchill.
“She’s just getting back," Borel said afterward. "You have to give her a chance. She’s a filly and she did the impossible when she was a 3-year-old. I think you’ll see a great future now. She did everything right today. I don't think she was ready before."
Her fans were getting antsy for this type of performance after Rachel Alexandra, who won all eight of her starts in 2009, began her current campaign with second-place finishes in the March 13 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds and Churchill's La Troienne (gr. II) April 30.
Steve Asmussen trains the winning daughter of Medaglia d'Oro --Lotta Kim, by Roar, for Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick.
“I’m very proud for everybody involved that she won," said Asmussen, who added that Rachel Alexandra "is a tremendously sound filly."
He added: "She’s a machine and she ran a great race today, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction for the rest of the year. It’s an honor to train a horse like her. We will take her back to the barn and there will be a lot of pettin [ ... ] |
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June 11, 2010
Source: USA Today |
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Horse racing's biggest female stars back on track
The Thoroughbred racing world will focus on Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra this weekend — for very different reasons.
By Garry Jones, AP/ Rachel Alexandra, winner of the 2009 Preakness Stakes, is led off the track after an early morning workout at Churchill Downs on April 29 in Louisville.
Undefeated Zenyatta will attempt to take her unbeaten streak to record heights when she pursues her 17th consecutive victory in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
Zenyatta will try to add to her perfect record in the Vanity
Photo: Chad Harmon
A day earlier, defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra looks to regain her winning touch after a pair of season-opening losses when she competes in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta shares the mark with Cigar, Citation and Mister Frisky for the longest winning streak by a modern day Thoroughbred in races not restricted to state-breds. Hollywood Park is celebrating her accomplishments by giving away a bobblehead of her to those attending the Vanity.
Trainer John Shirreffs is sticking to the one-race-at-a-time approach that worked so well for him and the 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry.
"We're just trying to focus on the Vanity and not on all of her accomplishments," he said.
Zenyatta is bidding to win the Vanity, a Grade 1 race at 11/8 miles, for an unprecedented third time.
It would be her 11th Grade 1 triumph, including her historic victory against male horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Cigar's winning streak was stopped by Dare And Go on Aug. 10, 1996, in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, near San Diego. Citation fell short against Miche in the La Sorpresa Handicap on Jan. 26, 1950, at Santa Anita. Mister Frisky was undefeated with 13 wins in Puerto Rico and three at Santa Anita before he could do no better than eighth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 1990.
Zenyatta will carry a [ ... ] |
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June 11, 2010
Source: STV TV |
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An Odd Couple
Sammy the orphan racehorse found a new mother
Tiny Sammy, owned by St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown, forges close bond with giant Clydesdale horse Rose.
Match maker: Geoff Brown with Rose and Sammy Pic: © STV
A tiny thoroughbred racehorse foal who was left an orphan when his mother died just weeks after he was born has found a new carer - -
a giant Clydesdale horse.
The foal, owned by St Johnstone FC chairman Geoff Brown, looked to have a bleak future ahead of him when his first foster mum rejected him.
But Sammy - named by Mr Brown's granddaughter after Saints player Collin Samuel - is now thriving after the comparatively giant Rose took him under her wing.
The bonding process was given a helping hand with the use of some menthol vapour rub. It was smeared on Rose's nose and Sammy's back to mask his scent and convince Rose she was nursing her own foal. And it seems to be a match made in heaven - with Rose taking Sammy straight to her heart after losing three of her own foals shortly after birth.
Heritage
Now Sammy is growing quickly at Mr Brown's stud farm near Perth - and looks set to fulfil his potential on the racecourse.
He has a strong racing heritage - his grandmother, Dalkey Sound, was Mr Brown's most successful racehorse, winning 13 National Hunt races, and Sammy's survival means her bloodline will live on.
Mr Brown told STV News: "It was a bit of a disaster when Sammy's mother died. He was three weeks old and we got a phone call saying the mare was unwell. I set off from Glasgow to come through and the vet called to say they had to put her down.
"That left us a real dilemma with no mother - and no milk. We managed to get a Welsh horse up by midnight and she let him suckle in while she was blindfolded.
"But when the blindfold came off she wouldn't let him hear her.
"Fortunately we managed to get this Clydesdale in. I had never heard of using the Vicks vapour rub - but I'm pleased to say it has worked out extremely well.
"Yo [ ... ] |
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