Does artificial lighting benefit the conditioning of a horse?

By Paul Peacock

The claims of manufacturers of light therapy equipment for equines vary from the scientifically proven, through the scientifically dodgy to the downright bizarre. Trainers need to be able to sift through the advice and make financially viable judgements and weigh up the various proposed benefits against costs.

There is also the question of animal welfare to consider, comparing proposed benefits against the possible inconvenience of treatment. Certain forms of so-called light therapy, involving crystals and projected rainbows lie outside the remit of this article as much the same conclusions apply as in other forms of alternative treatment for equines.

However, there are many scientifically proven and highly practical uses for light therapy with thoroughbreds. Research by H. Kolárová, PhD, D. Ditrichová, MD, J. Wagner, PhD at three universities in the Czech Republic has conclusively shown that light penetrates skin tissues and there are a number of light receptors in the skin. These receptors have various functions including the production of more than one set of hormones and vitamins.

Mares at stud

Research in the USA showed that the day-length stimulated the pituitary gland to produce follicle stimulating hormone, thus bring the mare into season. This response is linked to the onset of spring, which in the natural world would bring the mare to foal at the appropriate time. However, this is not usually good enough to meet the cycle of yearling sales, especially in the US (much less so in Europe) and artificial light is used in the autumn and winter months to bring mares into season prematurely early. Up to 70 days of enhanced light, using medium intensity day-glo lighting, either in bulb or fluorescent form, is usually sufficient. More recent research has reduced this figure to les than a month with the use of the drug Sulpiride.

Implications of day length

Clearly, if the pituitary gland can be stimulated using artificial light, other benefits might be available to the horse if the onset of spring is artificially induced. These included increased energy, healthier immune system response, quicker and better recovery from injury and the vague yet important increased interest in life and work. This simple conclusion has led to a growing industry which in some cases uses pseudo science to market benefits that are simply not true.

The science

As far as it is currently understood, light has a number of effects under the skin, i.e. nothing to do with the eye. These effects are not fully understood, and consequently, in order to sell equipment, many companies resort to little understood, pseudo science in order to enhance the effects of light therapy equipment.
There are some compelling and intriguing reasons for looking in to light therapy, but there are not, as yet, any ‘double blind’ scientific studies to actually back up current claims.

Vitamin D

There are light receptors under the skin, but the production of this important vitamin does not need them. It is impossible for any mammal to get all its vitamin D from food sources. One of the many cholesterol molecules is broken down by a specific frequency of light to the vitamin. This only takes place under ultra violet B, and so ordinary bulbs and fluorescents do not produce the required frequency.
The effects of vitamin D deficiency used to be thought to be quite plain. However modern research has shown there to be a lot of problems directly or indirectly associated with lower amounts of the substance.
These can include depression, seasonal affective disorder, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, poor coat quality and other skin problems, periodontal disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
Consequently, Vitamin D being such an important molecule, the exposure of horses to an adequate amount of UVb light either in daylight or artificial form is important.

Endothelial light receptor cells

The science that might be at work in the other forms of light therapy shown by advertisers is detailed below, but these ideas are not particularly highlighted by many of the companies themselves. Usually you get the statement, “healing at the cellular level” or the “light heats up cells thus increasing their metabolism” or “the extra energy given to cells allows oxygen to become more available”. None of these statements can be attributed to factual evidence. However, current and possible areas for research include the following.
Horse skin, as in almost all mammals, contains a lot of light receptors. These use light to create a number of interesting effects.

First of all, nitric oxide synthatase (NOS), an enzyme which produces nitric oxide, is found more readily at higher light activity. This releases nitric oxide into the tissues which stimulates blood flow and has an effect on the nerves in the area. The interruption of morphine receptors can be initiated by nitric oxide, among other substances, thus providing an element of pain relief. In circumstantial evidence there does seem to be an increased immune system response directly associated to light receptors receiving extra incident light. This might be associated with oestrogens and their interaction with NOS, nitric oxide itself, and other as yet unknown substances.  In particular, wound repair and the healing of operation scars is becoming an interesting area of study which has been one of the favourite claims for using light therapy, particularly cold laser treatment.

Treatments

Cold laser treatments are supplied in hand held form in a little box. You simply shine the light at the treatable area for a short while. A number of companies say that this treatment works by somehow transferring energy to and from ADP to ATP. This claim is nonsense. However, the non-science of the claims does not have to mean that the treatment doesn’t work. Hand held lasers are expensive, possibly out of the reach of many small yards. LED infra red diode therapy is where a string of infra red diodes are attached to the affected part. There are receptors in the skin which respond to infra red energy, normally to increase blood flow to remove the heat from the area. This can, therefore, have some benefit at the local level, but it is not conclusively shown. Furthermore many companies suggest using this equipment at the acupuncture points on the animal, causing the prospective user to weigh up the relative pros and cons of alternative therapies too, something beyond the scope of this article.
 


SAD adjustments, as described earlier, are possibly the best use of light therapy. It has to be said that the best and most cost effective light source is the sun, and stables need to be as light and airy as possible. However the simple use of daylight bulbs or fluorescents is sufficient to compensate for day length initiated disorders, keeping the animal in general good health. There are companies that sell booths with banks of lights on them. You can alternate these lights for infra red banks which create a warm radiance on the animal. They are frequently advertised with benefits such as shortening warm up / warm down times, and drying the animal after exercise or otherwise. Trainers will have to make up their own minds about these benefits.  There are no studies which detail the combined effect of heat and light on the health response of horses, yet common sense might provide some hints to their possible use.

Un-synchronised fluorescent lighting

Some horses. Like a small but significant number of humans, respond negatively to fluorescent lighting that is un-phased. Older, or cheap, fluorescent lights can have a flicker associated with them which can affect some thoroughbreds. Examples of crib biting and walking and kicking have been eased by simply changing the lighting.

Conclusion

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that light therapy has some basic scientific truth about it. However the studies to completely show benefits are few and far between. Particularly, trainer will have to make up their own minds whether expensive equipment justifies the proposed benefits. Perhaps the very best light therapy can be obtained by simply changing the indoor lighting to daylight bulbs and the maintenance of a fourteen hour regime of daylight type radiation in the yard.

Bones of contention - how to maintain a strong skeleton

By Catherine Dunnett

The expression ‘no foot no horse’ should perhaps be extended to cover all the bones of the skeleton, for as far as racehorses are concerned, without strength and durability in this area a trainer’s job is fraught with difficulties.  The number of training days lost to lameness in a season is testament to this.   A racehorse’s diet should help to maintain the skeletal system during rigorous training.  This task is no doubt easier when the skeletal foundations have been firmly laid in utero and during the rapid growing phase.

The formation of cartilage and its subsequent conversion to bone ‘proper’ is one of the key processes to highlight.  Long bones develop in the foetus from early bone templates that are composed entirely of cartilage.  Conversion of cartilage to bone occurs initially within a central area of ossification (bone formation) within the long bones, known as the diaphysis and then also at each end of the bone (epiphysis). 

There are various abnormalities that can occur during the development of bones and joints that may involve problems during the localised conversion of cartilage to bone, or with bone lengthening, or changes within the bone after it has formed, once a horse has commenced training.

Nutrition is only one of many factors involved in DOD
Osteochondrosis (OCD) involves disruption to the normal conversion of cartilage to bone within the areas of ossification.  For many years, researchers viewed nutrition as the key to OCD, however, it is now recognised that genetic predisposition, body size and mechanical stress, as well as trauma are all additional factors that must be considered.  Whilst diets that simply oversupply energy have been demonstrated to increase the incidence of OCD, the previously hypothesised causal link with excessive protein intake has not been proven. 

This suggests that the source of the energy in feed is an important issue.  Recent research supports this, as it has been reported that diets with a high glycemic nature, i.e. those with a high starch and sugar content (typical of the more traditional stud and youngstock rations), appear to be more likely to trigger OCD. 

However, one would suspect that this would be more apparent in genetically susceptible animals.

Many mineral imbalances in the diet have also been implicated as causative factors in OCD, but few have any strong evidence to support their role.  For example, OCD lesions have been reproduced experimentally in foals maintained on a very high phosphorus intake.  This type of diet could arise inadvertently by feeding straight cereals such as oats, without a suitable balancer or complementary feed such as alfalfa to redress the  low calcium to phosphorus ratio in the grain.  Less extreme versions of this diet could occur through excessive top dressing of ‘balanced’ coarse mix or cubes with additional cereals such as oats or barley, as is common practice in many yards. 

A low copper intake, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy, has also been implicated in OCD.  Copper has received particular focus due to its functional role in the activity of a key enzyme involved in formation of the collagen cross-links.  However, other trace minerals including manganese and zinc may be equally important during this key stage in a foal’s development in utero, as they are necessary co-factors for important enzymes involved in regulating cartilage metabolism. 


Blood tests that challenge the premise that horses are unaffected by molybdenum levels in grazing

In grazing youngsters, a secondary copper deficiency can be caused by excessive molybdenum levels in pasture.  In cattle, bacteria in the rumen form complexes between molybdenum and sulphur.  These thiomolybdate complexes will bind copper within the gut and when absorbed will then search out further copper to bind, either circulating in the blood or in association with copper dependent enzymes.  This can severely impair the activity of some key enzymes involved in growth processes and cartilage turnover. 

However, as a horses gut is somewhat different from a cow’s, in that the hindgut (the equivalent of the rumen) is positioned after the small intestine and not before, there is theoretically less opportunity for these thiomolybdates to be absorbed and ‘cause trouble’.  At least this is what has been largely accepted from previous studies in horses that focussed on plasma copper levels and copper absorption.

However, new blood tests that can be used to measure the activities of key copper dependent enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), in conjunction with traditional measurements of plasma copper status and the presence of thiomolybdate complexes suggest that this may not always be the case.  Dr Stewart Telfer of Telsol Ltd, routinely carries out such tests in cattle and has to date analysed about 100 samples in horses suspected of having an issue with molybdenum interactions.  He says, “From our work, it is clear that horses do suffer from molybdenum (thiomolybdate) toxicity.  The interactions between copper, iron, molybdenum and sulphur will take place in the horse’s gut and in certain situations, not always linked to a high molybdenum intake, will result in the horse suffering from molybdenum (thiomolybdate) toxicity.  Dr Telfer however, acknowledges that only relatively small numbers of samples in horses have been tested and the laboratory does not currently have a definitive reference range for horses.
 

Calcium and phosphorus may be mobilized from bone to compensate for ‘acidic diets’
When yearlings first move into training yards, they usually experience a significant change in their diet that has consequences for bone metabolism during this period in their lives when some continued growth occurs and the skeletal system is put under considerable strain.  In general terms, a ‘stud diet’ has what’s called a high dietary anion to cation ratio (DCAB).  This is largely due to the high inclusion of ingredients like soya and forages.  A ‘full race training diet’ on the other hand tends to have a much lower DCAB (is more acidic) due to the reduction in forage intake and higher inclusion of cereals such as oats.  The significance of a low DCAB is that it reduces the efficiency of calcium absorption and retention within the body and may contribute to the reduction in bone density seen in horses in early training.  This surely is an argument for limiting the intake of cereals and maximising forage intake during the early stages of training when a high cereal intake is largely unnecessary. 

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the horse's body, with the majority being present in the skeletal system.  Phosphorus is also found in large amounts in bone in close association with calcium.  A racehorse’s diet should provide an adequate intake of both minerals but also needs to provide a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio of near to 2:1.  Although exercise demands a slight increase in calcium intake above the requirements for maintenance, this is usually satisfied by the generalised increase in feed intake.  However, the efficiency with which individual horses absorb calcium varies and should certainly be investigated when a calcium-related issue arises.  This can be achieved by examining an individual horse’s calcium and phosphorus status, by looking at the diet and also within the body using a creatinine clearance test.

Topdressing – a national pastime


When using straight feeds, or when topdressing ‘straights’ onto a ‘balanced’ racing mix or cubes, be aware that certain types of feed are much higher in calcium relative to phosphorus and vice versa (see table).  Alfalfa, with its high calcium to phosphorus ratio, makes an ideal partner for cereals, which are low in calcium relative to phosphorus. 

Conversely, the traditional combination of oats and bran is not ideal, as it combines two feeds, which are low in calcium.  Remember that you can use a supplement or feed balancer to carefully correct any deficiencies or imbalances when feeding straights.  Equally excessive addition of oats to a balanced mix or cube can decrease the calcium to phosphorus ratio sufficiently to cause problems. Most commercial mixes or cubes have sufficiently high calcium to phosphorus ratios to practically be able to withstand the addition of 1-2kg of oats daily, however any increase beyond this is unwise without further corrective measures.

Feeds High in Calcium & Low in Phosphorus 


Alfalfa, Sugar Beet,  Seaweed


 
Feeds Low in Calcium & High Phosphorus

Oats, Barley, Maize, Wheat Bran


Horses have a complex regulatory system, involving certain hormones, for ensuring that the proportion of calcium in the body, relative to that of phosphorus, remains stable and that the level of active or ‘ionised’ calcium in the blood remains within tight limits.  If for one reason or another the level of calcium relative to phosphorus in the blood drops, a number of safety systems will be triggered to redress the balance.  Bone acts as a reservoir of both calcium and phosphorus, which can be drawn on when necessary.  The body's balance of calcium and phosphorus is continually 'corrected' by either conservation or loss of calcium or phosphorus in the urine, via the kidneys or through the skeletal system.   Sustained calcium and phosphorus imbalance can, however, contribute to developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD) in young horses, or lameness and sometimes bone fractures in mature horses. 

Research shows silicon is a trace mineral worth a second look. Moving on to a less well-recognised trace mineral as far as bone is concerned, there has been some interesting research carried out into the effects of supplemental silicon in the racehorse’s diet. Silicon is a natural constituent of plants and provides structure and rigidity to some of their cell walls.  It therefore forms a natural part of the horse’s diet, however, the availability in horse feed is apparently limited.   Silicon plays a role in the development of new bone and is also important for the calcification process.  It is therefore a relevant micronutrient for horses in training, as bone is dynamic and is constantly undergoing change, in response to forces placed upon it during the training process. 

Research carried out by Dr Brian Nielsen at Michigan State University in the early nineties reported a dramatic decrease in injury rates in quarter horses fed a bioavaiable form of silicon as sodium zeolite A.   This program of research has also established that the silicon is available to foals via the milk of supplemented mares.  However, thus far the group have not uncovered the mechanism by which the beneficial effects of silicon are brought about.  However, the form in which sodium zeolite A is fed (a chalk like powder) and the level of intake used in these studies (about 200g per day for a 500kg horse) makes it impractical to use as a feed supplement unless it can be incorporated within a feed pellet. 

In conclusion, attention to those factors within the diet that support bone turnover is likely to contribute to a reduction in injuries observed, however, the implementation of appropriate training techniques and use of suitable training surfaces also has a huge impact on the durability of horses in training in comparative terms.

The benefits of long reining - enhancing a horse's physical and emotional well-being

By Bolette Petersen

Lunging and long reining may seem like old fashioned, basic disciplines for working horses. However by the end of this article, I hope to remind you that these disciplines, when incorporated into your horse’s work routine, can really enhance their physical and emotional state. 

After twenty years of working on the ground with yearlings and racehorses, I have seen how these simple methods have produced many successful racehorses. 

Used on a regular basis, these disciplines will strengthen your horse’s body so that he will go from being a front wheel drive machine to a four wheel drive machine with extra power behind. As well as becoming stronger, he will be more confident and willing in his work. You will notice how he will respond better to his handler, due to them spending more time together as a team whilst being lunged and long reined.

 I find that it is safer and easier to lunge a horse in a closed round pen. When lunged correctly, your horse will become more balanced in his work, his muscles will become stronger and have a more rounded feel to his body shape. Always put on over reach boots and brushing boots to protect the front legs. Some horses will need brushing boots behind too. I find the key bit a wonderful device for horses of all ages because it teaches them to accept the bit, as well as helping to soften their mouth, which eventually gives them a suppleness through their neck, resulting in an overall improved movement throughout their body. Even when they are older and still in training.  

Many horses will initially rush into the round pen and immediately start cantering until they settle. It is very important to teach horses to walk around the pen first, allowing them to relax and warm up their muscles. Horses are more prone to injuries at a canter, so it is imperative that you teach your horse to trot at a collected pace, making sure his hind feet fall into the foot prints of his front feet. You will see that this is the natural rhythm for your horse, allowing his muscles to work properly, and keeping injuries to a minimum. At this pace he will put less pressure on his fetlocks, tendons and knees, as well as less concussion going through his shoulders and withers. Trotting a horse at this pace can also strengthen weaknesses through the legs. I have noticed on many occasions, improvements in horses that are back at the knee because the shoulder and chest area strengthen, tightening everything up.  

Your horse should trot the same amount of time each side, and for most horses, trotting each way five to ten minutes every other day will produce significant results in his overall fitness. The day in between can be used for relaxation, long reining, walking or riding out, depending on what routine you are in.  

Incorporating side reins after a week or two will help the horse learn to use his hind quarters and hamstrings to a greater degree, they will also strengthen his back muscles, in particular his longissimus dorsi, and neck muscles: the rhomboid muscle along the top of his neck, the complexus muscle, the longissimus, capitus and atlantis muscles. These muscles will take on a much more pronounced, rounder shape to them.  Your horse‘s body will work almost like a concertina effect, this creates deeper strength throughout his body, strengthening his buttocks, and hamstrings which really power him forward towards his shoulders and neck. He will then start to drop his head into the bit, rounding his neck, working deeper. His muscles along his backbone (longissimuss dorsi) will start becoming even stronger, providing a better platform for the saddle and rider, thus helping to protect the back bone.

 Some horses will never have had side reins on before, so it is important to start with the reins quite long and then gradually shorten them over time. The ideal length allows the horse unforced give in his mouth and neck so that he attains a natural curve to his head (as seen in photo). Again after a couple of weeks you will notice his muscles changing shape, becoming more curved, in particular the rhomboid, longissimus capitis and atlantis muscles. Over time you can shorten the side reins to build the muscles up even more. Never have them too tight though as this may cause your horse to have a sore mouth and he may start to go against the lunging.

Incorporating long reining into your horse’s weekly routine is also beneficial for general fitness and well being. It is a difficult discipline, and should only be attempted by the more experienced horseman. I really enjoy taking my horses up the road, out of the farm and into the woods, but I always make sure that I do this route a few times in advance, leading in hand first, so that they are familiar with their surroundings. By leading them in the roller and side reins, they learn to abide by your voice and get to see different objects like rubbish bins, cars, tractors and barking dogs. It is good for them to come into contact with these different objects, because they will be so much calmer when in training. The side reins make it easier to control them too, so you don’t have to use a chiffney all the time.

It is easier to get the horse used to the long reins whilst lunging in the round pen. Lunge your horse in two lunge reins, attached to each side of the bit, through the middle holes of the roller, on each side for a couple of days until he gets used to them against his sides and flapping around his legs. Then, at the walk bring yourself around behind your horse, making sure you are not too close because he may kick out. Be prepared for your horse to take off which can happen sometimes if he is a little nervous. Help to avoid this by keeping your hands down by your knees so that your horse drops his head, rounding his back, and get him to walk on around using a calm reassuring voice to keep him calm and controlled. The side reining will have prepared him for this contact to his mouth, so he should be more receptive. If you can get someone to walk at your horse’s head for the first week, it will make it easier and safer.

 After a few days of practicing circles with the long reins, in the round pen, you can then try walking your horse out onto the road. The aim of this discipline is to get your horse out into the woods walking around the trees. This is particularly good for breaking in yearlings because not only will they become braver and more independent, you will notice how their mouths and neck will be much more pliable and their body more balanced. Keeping your hands down by your sides will help coax your horse to bring his head down, making him work forward with more strength from his hindquarters. Please make sure you wear leather gloves at all times, to give your hands greater protection in case your horse pulls hard.  

Long reining is also extremely beneficial for horses in training and resting racehorses. The older horses really enjoy learning new things. You may find that they sometimes lose interest in their work because they have become bored with the same routine. Therefore, I find that by incorporating lunging in side reins and long reining you will notice that they immediately change their attitude to their normal work, becoming more positive towards everything they do. 

I have worked with many horses that just need a change to freshen them up and just turning them out doesn’t seem enough. That’s why horses come here, to my farm for ‘working holidays’, not only to relax, but to do different things, and learn new disciplines.

 One such horse is Zorn, and he really is my inspiration for all the work that I now do with horses that come here for a rest during their training career. We bred him so he had been through all the basic education with me before he went into training. Unfortunately after four unsuccessful years in training and a few injuries, we took him home. I began schooling him with a view to having him as a dressage horse. Lunging in side reins came easy to him because he remembered what he had been taught as a youngster, as was long reining, and it didn’t take him long to become more balanced, rounded and stronger behind.

 He did this work for eight months with quite a lot of dressage thrown in. He became so fit, that we decided to send him back into training. A couple of month’s later he won his first race! He had become a stronger horse for all the work he had done at home and it had paid off.  Seeing him win on several occasions after that has been extremely rewarding for everyone involved.  

He has been home every summer for his ‘working holidays’, and always returns to a winter all weather campaign, winning a few races every year.

It is not just Zorn who has been successful after his ’back to basics’ schooling. Horses like Captain Rio, Torrid Kentavr, Distant Prospect and Shatin Venture, amongst others, have all been educated here in the same way, they have all been through these basic disciplines as youngsters and have since done extremely well on the racecourse

 Lunging and long reining may seem like old fashioned, basic disciplines for working horses. However by the end of this article, I hope to remind you that these disciplines, when incorporated into your horse’s work routine, can really enhance their physical and emotional state. 

The future structure of New York racing

By Bill Heller

The New York Racing Association’s 51-year reign on Thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, and Saratoga Race Course is nearing an end.
Maybe.

Though billions of dollars, tens of thousands of jobs and the future of a vibrant racing and breeding industry are at stake, the process of choosing a successor when NYRA’s current franchise expires on Dec. 31, 2007, has been playing out like an unending circus, one which did not end on Nov. 21 when the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Future of Racing in New York recommended Excelsior Racing Associates, not the non-profit NYRA, be granted the franchise to operate NYRA’s three tracks, Aqueduct in Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, and Saratoga Race Course, beginning Jan. 1, 2008.

That recommendation was made by members of a lame-duck Legislature for a lame-duck Governor, and everything changes on Jan. 1, 2007. That’s when current Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat who was elected Governor by an overwhelming margin on Nov. 7, assumes office, accompanied by a newly-elected Legislature. Spitzer replaces Republican George Pataki, who had been in office for 12 years.
Ultimately, the future of racing in New York will be decided by Spitzer and the Legislature and it is unclear whether or not they will follow the Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendation.

That is not their only difficult decision, for we do not know whether NYRA or the state of New York owns the three tracks and the incredibly valuable real estate they occupy, or whether or not the archaic state racing law will be rewritten to allow a for-profit entity to operate the three tracks.

Excelsior, headed by New York Yankees General Partner Steve Swindal, owner George Steinbrenner’s son-in-law, and casino-hotel developer Richard Fields, plans to run racing at the three tracks as a non-profit entity and video lottery terminals at Aqueduct and Belmont, if approved by the new Legislature, on a for-profit basis.
VLTs at Aqueduct were approved in October, 2001, a month following the tragedy of 9-11, but construction has still yet to start more than five years later despite the fact that Aqueduct signed a contract to partner with MGM Grand more than two years ago. The State’s Division of the Lottery, which oversees VLT casino’s at the state’s other racetracks, has yet to give final approval to the contract, propelling NYRA into bankruptcy.

Welcome to New York.

THE HISTORY

The four privately-owned racetracks in New York in the early 1950s, Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Jamaica and Saratoga Race Course, lacked sufficient capital to fund much needed renovations at their facilities. So Ashley T. Cole, the Chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, suggested that the Jockey Club come up with a solution. The Jockey Club appointed a committee to study the issue: Christopher T. Chenery (who would own Secretariat two decades later), Harry F. Guggenheim and John W. Hanes. The trio presented a plan of action in September, 1954: create a not-for-profit racing association to acquire the existing tracks and operate them under a long-term franchise granted by the state of New York.

The New York State Legislature complied, and on June 22nd, 1955, the New York Racing Association, originally called the Greater New York Association, was created under a 25-year franchise grant which guaranteed the association a minimum four percent of pari-mutuel handle at downstate tracks and five percent at Saratoga to be used for capital improvements. This allowed the association to borrow $47 million on a 10-year loan from a consortium of 13 banks headed by the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in the fall of 1955.

Approximately $24.5 million was used to purchase New York’s four tracks, and the remainder went into rebuilding Belmont Park and making major improvements at Aqueduct and Saratoga.

On April 8th, 1958, the Greater New York Association was renamed NYRA, and on August 1st, 1959, Jamaica closed. The property was sold for $6.5 million on July 15th, 1960.

NYRA’s first problem had surfaced years earlier. After just one year of operation, NYRA needed more money to pay its debt service, so the legislature increased NYRA’s take of pari-mutuel handle by one percent at all its tracks. The takeout rate would be raised and lowered many times over the years. But as the franchise neared its sunset date of 1980, NYRA encountered what would become a familiar, troubling scenario. Banks were reluctant to lend money to NYRA for any period beyond the end of the franchise. So NYRA’s franchise was extended through 1985.

In October, 1983. The franchise was extended through December 31st, 2000, with an important provision: if the franchise had not been extended by September 1st, 1997, the governor was mandated to create a nine-person committee to solicit proposals from any interested parties for a new 10-year franchise beginning January 1st, 2001.

Nine days before that deadline would have kicked in, allowing open bidding on New York racing for the first time, Governor Pataki ignored damning investigations of NYRA by the State Attorney General and Comptroller and extended NYRA’s franchise through its present expiration date, Dec. 31, 2007. To minimize media coverage of such a controversial decision, Pataki’s office issued a press release half an hour before post time for the 1997 Travers Stakes.

This time, nine years later, NYRA, which weathered a new scandal involving money laundering by its tellers that resulted in a deferred prosecution agreement, has not been saved at the bell. At least not yet.

THE POLITICS OF NEW YORK

For the past 12 years, the course of New York State has been dictated by three powerful politicians, two Republicans, Governor Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, and one Democrat, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Year after year, Pataki and the State Legislature fail to get a state budget completed by the mandated deadline of April 1, leaving key issues to be resolved in a swap meet in the late morning hours preceding a summer recess. Of the trio, only Bruno has a real concern for racing. He once was NYRA’s staunchest backer, but that support dissipated in the past year.

Faced with the opportunity of forging a new future for racing in New York through open bidding - the same opportunity they ignored in 1997 - Pataki, Bruno and Silver instead demonstrated how little they truly are concerned with horse racing. The extension of the NYRA franchise in 1997 mandated that open bidding begin in 2005 if NYRA’s franchise had not been extended past 2007, and Pataki, Bruno and Silver were each given three appointments to a nine-member ad-hoc committee charged with publishing a request for proposals for a new franchise beginning in 2008, sorting those bidders out and recommending a winner to the state legislature by September 29th, 2006.

On Nov. 18th, 2005, six of the nine members of the Committee on the Future of Racing met for the first time - Silver hadn’t even bothered to make his three appointments - in Saratoga Springs at a public meeting. Three of the six had no experience in racing. The collective lack of racing knowledge of the six was stunning, and much of the initial meeting was spent deciding whether or not a meeting of six of the nine members constituted the establishment of the committee. If Rob Williams, a lawyer from the State Racing and Wagering Board who was ultimately chosen as the committee’s executive director, hadn’t been in attendance to hand-walk the members through their first meeting, their first session would have been even more embarrassing. The six decided to subscribe to trade publications to increase their knowledge of racing, then went into executive session.
 
Fast-forward to the committee’s first public hearing in Albany last January 24th. Silver still had not appointed his three members, so three of the nine chairs on the podium were empty. Regardless, an entire entourage from Magna Entertainment Corporation, including founder and chairman Frank Stronach, attended to weigh in on the future of New York racing. A similar hearing was held the next day in New York City. Charlie Hayward, NYRA’s President and CEO, testified at both hearings.

All the testimony in the world, however, would not resolve the thorny question of track ownership.

THE ISSUE

Deciding the future of New York racing would be easier if one could determine the past or present. Doesn’t anyone know whether the New York Racing Association or the state of New York owns Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course? It’s only been 51 years since NYRA took over the racetracks, yet that principal issue has yet to be resolved, and could ultimately drag racing in New York into an interminable series of lawsuits taking years to resolve.
NYRA, which has trademarked some of its stakes races such as the Travers, contends quite accurately that it actually purchased the three tracks; has been paying property taxes on them for decades and actually holds deeds to at least two of the properties.

The state maintains that it created NYRA and that if NYRA’s franchise expires, the tracks and the land they occupy revert to the state, and that NYRA, in exchange for one of its franchise extensions, agreed to that. Yet if such claims can be documented, why hasn’t the matter been resolved?

Confusing the issue even more is that, even if the state is right, it may be unconstitutional to take a tangible asset, the tracks and the land, from NYRA without compensating NYRA adequately. And if that wasn’t confounding enough, consider that NYRA’s contention that it owns the track and lands has a far greater chance of being supported in a federal court than in a state court. That may explain why the state of New York bailed NYRA out of impending bankruptcy in December, 2005, with a $30 million loan. But the state only released $11 million of the $30 million to NYRA through late-October, 2006, explaining that the delay was because the state’s Division of the Lottery had not given final approval to NYRA’s VLT casino contract with MGM Grand, even though it was signed more than two years earlier.

That prompted NYRA to threaten to declare bankruptcy again. The state then offered the remaining $19 million to NYRA if NYRA guaranteed that it would not file for bankruptcy through the first six months of 2007. Instead, NYRA, on November 3, filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. “We always viewed filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a last option, and regrettably, NYRA’s Board of Trustees felt that we were required to take this action to protect New York’s Thoroughbred racing industry,” NYRA’s Hayward said. “The goal of the filing is to maintain the current schedule of racing and dates, purse structure, stakes program and all other racing operations.”

Of course, video lottery terminals at Aqueduct could reverse NYRA’s finances drastically and immediately, but VLTs there have been on hold for more than five years. Since it will take 12 to 14 months to install them once there is final approval by the state Division of the Lottery, there is virtually no chance that they could be up and running before NYRA’s franchise literally expires. That could all change when Spitzer and the new State Legislature take office in January. Or it could stay the same for months.

Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s move on.

THE BIDDERS

Early in the bidding process, NYRA’s management made it clear that it, too, would bid on the new franchise. In doing so, it would be the only not-for-profit entity doing so. One can only conjecture how strong that bid would have been if NYRA had enlisted the support of the 5,000-member New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
Instead, the NYTHA threw its unconditional support to the Empire Racing Association, a group baring a more-than-passing resemblance to a not-for-profit think-tank called Friends of New York Racing (nobody was thinking ahead here, the acronym is FONY or FONYR) headed by Tim Smith, the former head of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association who had been chosen to become the new president of NYRA only to withdraw at the last minute to create Friends, whose members included many entities who would bid on the NYRA franchise including bitter enemies Magna and Churchill Downs, Inc.

At a private meeting with NYTHA’s leadership in December, 2005, Smith, who said he had no ties to the Empire Racing Association, spoke on behalf of the group, which soon afterwards announced it had the NYTHA’s support for its bid on the new franchise. NYRA understandably felt undercut, and in August, 2006, Smith finally admitted that he, indeed, had a stake in Empire. But not everyone in the NYTHA is comfortable with the decision to back Empire. In a mid-October, 2006, story in the Daily Racing Form, many prominent New York trainers went on record saying that the NYTHA membership was not polled before the decision was made to support Empire and that the NYTHA should not be backing any bidder at this time.

Regardless, citing the backing of New York’s horsemen, Empire argued that New York racing should be operated by New York people, a position which quickly lost credibility when Empire added not only Magna and Churchill Downs, but also Delaware North, which operates Finger Lakes, the only non-NYRA Thoroughbred track in New York, and two harness tracks in the state, and Woodbine Entertainment from Canada in an all-out assault to land the bid.

Two other groups emerged as final four bidders for the franchise: Excelsior Racing Associates, whose backers include retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, and Capital Play, an Australian bookmaking operation given little chance to succeed and indeed was ruled out before the final decision was made. The Committee on the Future of Racing was mandated to announce the winner of the bidding process by September 29th, but postponed that announcement to Nov. 21, when it announced that Excelsior was a narrow winner over Empire and NYRA a distant third. The Committee cited Excelsior’s offer to pay off NYRA’s $50 million pension fund debts as a major factor in its selection.

Does the Committee’s decision matter? It is hard to imagine a new governor from a new party and a new legislature not wanting to make its own determination. And the new governor and new legislature do not take office until January.

There is another important issue, one which cannot be overstated. The archaic state racing law in place allows only for a non-profit entity to operate the tracks. Unless that law is amended, nobody but NYRA can have the franchise. Excelsior’s desire to separate the tracks as a non-profit business and the VLTs as for-profit might not be constitutional the way the existing racing law reads. Throw in yet another variable.

Since we still do not know whether the state of New York or the New York Racing Association owns the track and the land they occupy, perhaps NYRA can use the ownership issue for leverage to cut a franchise extension with a new governor and new legislature. If not, the issue will be resolved in court. 
That may take years.
If a new franchise holder is not in place when NYRA’s current franchise expires December 31st, 2007, then the separate NYRA Oversight Committee will be asked to conduct racing the following day. That committee’s members - all of them without any experience in racing - is headed by a chairwoman who, when asked last summer what will happen when NYRA’s franchise expires, thought the franchise ended December 31st, 2006. She was only one year off.

Racing has continued at Aqueduct despite NYRA’s bankruptcy, though one of the track’s main parking lots has been shuttered by the Port Authority, which had purchased the land from NYRA earlier, suggesting that NYRA does indeed own the track and its property. On Wednesday, November 8th, a crowd of 1,239 braved a raw, wet afternoon to watch nine races at Aqueduct.

Say a prayer for racing in New York.

Dermatologic conditions that affect thoroughbred racehorses

Horses are similar to many other species with the skin being the largest organ in the body.  This is based on overall organ size; just think about the total surface area of a 600 kg horse!  The good news is that it can be easily evaluated by visual inspection and palpation.  Specific tasks for equine skin include protection from trauma, thermoregulation (temperature control; sweating and heat conservation), sensory perception, secretory function and pigmentation.  In addition, it is important to recognize that skin is an important indicator of systemic health since disorders of the skin may actually indicate systemic ill health.

Hives (urticaria)
Of all domestic species horses show evidence of hives most often.  The technical veterinary terminology for hives is urticaria.  In some cases horses will have a condition of recurrent or repeated bouts of hives.  The skin lesion itself is an indication of allergic reaction.  This is not a specific disease, yet it is a clinical sign of a systemic problem.  In some cases this may be a very serious condition such as after drug treatment, vaccination or insect bite.  Other times it is a more mild condition associated with an air-borne allergen.  The size of the bumps, how rapidly they develop and the contact they have with one another are all important characteristics of the condition in determining the severity of the problem.  Those that occur rapidly, enlarge quickly and touch with one another (coalesce) are the most severe.  Figure 1 shows examples of mild (individual) and severe hives (coalescing) lesions in two different horses.
The cause of hives is somewhat complicated.  Specific immune cells called mast cells and basophils are the source of the proteins that result in hive formation.  The primary protein released from these cells is called histamine.  Once the allergen is present in the host, either by contact, ingestion (by mouth) or inhalation (by the respiratory tract) a series of events occurs that results in the release of inflammatory mediating proteins that include histamine.  The effects of these proteins are increased leakage from blood vessels, increased recruitment of white blood cells to the area of inflammation and hive or wheal formation.   Immunologic or hypersensitivity reactions to dugs, ingested material, or inhaled pollens or dusts are potential sources for allergen exposure.  The most common medication to result in hives is penicillin.  Air borne allergens may be certain types of pollens or molds or specific feed types.  Alfalfa is a forage source that results in allergy in certain horses, the horse pictured in Figure 1 (lower panel) is suffering from hives as a result of allergy to alfalfa hay.
Definitive diagnosis of the cause of hives can be challenging.  Many times symptomatic therapy is required for the initial stages of disease and following anti-inflammatory therapy the lesions will disappear.  In cases where the lesions recur, diagnosis may be required.  The most effective method of making a diagnosis is to skin test the individual with a series of different allergens.  Once the allergen (s) is / are defined they must be eliminated from the horse’s environment.  This can be very challenging to accomplish for certain air borne or particulate allergens.  In cases where elimination can not be accomplished, symptomatic therapy may be required intermittently.  An example of recurrent disease may be associated with certain insects during warm months of the year; lesions will recur as long as insect bites continue to occur.  Once the seasons change then the insect population will regress and lesion development will be less common.  Horses maintained in warm climate environments may have more problems with clinical disease associated with warm weather insects or pollens.
Treatment with a low dose of allergen over a period of many weeks to months has been used in people and small animals to reduce immune responses to antigen stimulation.  This process of reducing immune reactivity is called hyposensitization.  Hyposensitization may be attempted in an effort to reduce the reactivity of the horse’s immune system.  The response to this treatment may take weeks to many months to see an improvement.
The goal of management of affected horses involves elimination (or control) of exposure to inciting allergens.  Symptomatic anti-inflammatory therapy under veterinary guidance is needed when lesions are present. Once the allergens have been identified and controlled development of lesions and clinical sings may be achieved.
Pastern dermatitis
Scratches, sore heel, pastern dermatitis, and grease heel are all names of a similar disorder that affects horses undergoing frequent moist conditions.  As a result of race horses requiring frequent baths it is common under training conditions for pastern dermatitis to occur.
Crusting and flaking associated with scratches occurs on the back side of the pastern in one or several limbs (Figure 2).  Although it is common to start as a small circular lesion, the lesions often enlarge to become ulcerated lesions on the pastern.    The condition commonly begins on a white limb and then may spread to involve other limbs.
It is important to identify if a topical irritant may be responsible for the initial lesion.  If this is the case the irritant material should be thoroughly washed off and the limb(s) dried.  Not uncommonly the initial lesion is a minor irritation and secondary complications occur from opportunistic bacterial infections.  The secondary complications can make this condition extremely difficult to clear.  Local cleansing and keeping the limb dry will often be curative.  Thick emollients should not be applied, the most important aspects of managing this condition is keeping the limb(s) clean and dry without adding topical irritants or materials that will retain moisture.
In severe cases antibiotic therapy may be necessary and therefore veterinary consultation is recommended.  Severe disease may require additional diagnostic tests to be performed such as skin biopsy for histologic analysis and bacterial / fungal culture.  In some instances a definitive cause can not be identified and care with cleaning the limb and keeping it dry will improve the condition.
The goal of managing a horse with scratches is to keep the affected areas clean and dry.  Avoid application of topical emollients since these agents will retain moisture in the affected areas.  In severe cases veterinary attention may be required to completely clear the infection with antibiotic therapy.
Dermatophilosis
One of the most important skin conditions in horses involves bacterial infection with Dermatophilus congolensis.  Characteristics of this condition include matted hair, skin crusting, scab formation and hair loss.  Most commonly horses that suffer from this condition are maintained in prolonged moist conditions, occasionally horses that are maintained under dry conditions develop this disorder.
The area where the lesions may be observed are usually over the head, neck, and sides of the belly or chest.  More localized disease may occur over the top line (back) region or on the cannon bone of the hind limbs, particularly in race horses.
Signs associated with this condition may be local or generalized and include hair loss and skin crusting, without itching.  When the condition is severe horses may show signs such as depression, poor appetite, weight loss or fever.  When this condition occurs on the head or legs the areas of white skin are more likely to be affected.  When horses have a thick coat the crusting scabs are more easily felt than seen, the crusts are located deep in the coat next to the skin surface.   When the crusts are removed pus material may be observed on the skin or crust.  These lesions can also occur on short coated horses during summer months.  The cannon bone condition in race horses occurs in warm moist conditions.  Small matted hair patches are observed down the front of the cannon bones.
The diagnosis can be made by careful examination, findings that are consistent with those described, and microscopic analysis of the crusts.  In suspect cases bacterial culture can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of this condition requires careful cleaning of the affected area and removal of scabs.  It is important to recognize that this is the result of a skin infection and the skin may be very painful to touch, therefore removal of scab material may be strongly refused by the horse.  In severe cases, veterinary aid should be implemented to allow for safe and effective removal of scab material.  Gentle washing should include a dilute betadine or chlorhexidine scrub (surgical scrub).  In some instances soaking scab material with warm water will facilitate removal and will not meet with severe objection by the affected horse.
Infections that involve white skin may be associated with secondary light sensitivity, so that the horse develops a severe sun burn.  Protection from sunlight is recommended in such cases, if the horse must be outdoors, then powerful sun block (SPF 25 or greater) should be applied.
When this condition is present on the lower limbs bandaging should be used with caution.  The presence of the bandage material will promote a dark, moist environment, which will prolong healing time.  Clean and dry limbs will be most likely to heal.  Contact with wet bedding material or surfaces (wet grass) should be avoided until the lesions have healed.  Scar formation may occur with longstanding disease; this will possibly lead to skin cracking and reinfection.  If lameness occurs at any point veterinary consultation should be sought out immediately.
Dermatophilosis is a skin infection that results in crusting and cracking, which involves the cannon bone in race horses.  Mild cases respond well to dry, clean conditions.  In more severe cases antibiotic therapy may be required.  Caution should be implemented when affected horses are handled because lesions are typically painful to touch, making affected horses potentially dangerous to work with.
Dermatophytosis
Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal skin infection that can affect horses of all ages.  Younger horses are more sensitive than order horse, particularly those maintained under stressful conditions.  Spores of various fungal species can exist in the environment for extended periods of time; they are remarkably resistant to environmental destruction.   Most cases are observed in the cool winter months, when horses are confined indoors and are groomed extensively.   Outbreaks may also occur at times of warm wet weather, a superior time for fungal sporulation on growth.
Infection is dependent upon live spores and skin abrasion, in some cases following very mild skin trauma.  For this reason most lesions occur in the girth or saddle friction areas.
Early signs appear as hairs that stand up off of the skin surface.  Hair loss occurs easily at this time and commonly appears as a round area of hair loss.  Hair loss occurs in a expanding region with the borders becoming diffuse and ill defined.  The girth, neck  and shoulder / chest wall are common sites for infection to occur.  Generalized infection is not common, but may develop in a young horse that is under severe stress or illness.
The horse will only appear to be itchy on the lesions early in the course of disease (first few days).  As the affected area begins to heal hair loss will persist on the outer portion of the affected area, while hair growth will occur centrally in the affected area.
The diagnosis of fungal skin infection is made by microscopic evaluation that reveals the presence of fungal organisms and fungal culture.
Management of horses suffering from fungal skin infection usually involves exposure to sunlight and good nursing care, reduced stress, and maintaining excellent nutrition and proper deworming.  Recovery occurs over a period of approximately 2 weeks.  Specific treatment is aimed at controlling infection in the individual horse as well as controlling infection in the environment.  Clipping affected areas in horses with long hair coats is recommended.  Thorough cleaning of clipper blades is required after use on infected horses.  Topical administration with an antifungal product containing miconazole is typically effective.  All horses in contact with the infected individual and equipment should be monitored for evidence of disease and considered exposed.  Exposure to sunlight of other infected horses is necessary as well.  Topical cleansing of affected areas with an iodine scrub or 2.5% lime sulfur will also aid in control of the spread of lesions.  Oral treatment with antifungal agents should be considered in severe cases that don’t respond to local treatment.  Systemic treatment of such cases will require veterinary consultation and evaluation.
One of the most important aspects of managing fungal skin infection is limiting exposure to other horses in the same environment.  All hair and contact materials should be considered “infected” material and must be properly disposed.  Appropriately diluted  washes of antifungal drugs should be used to clean the environment so that continued or reexposure does not occur.  Horticultural antifungal fumigants can be used for environmental cleaning, but should not be used for topical use.  It is also important to recognize that people can develop lesions from fungal agents and proper protection should be implemented to avoid human infection.  Individuals that do not have normal immune function should not work with horses suffering from fungal skin infection.  
Summary
In summary there are many skin conditions that can affect horses, particularly race horses that are under stressful conditions.  Following good methods of general maintenance and hygiene will reduce the likelihood of lesions developing.  If lesions should occur identification of the type of skin infection will aid in the best course of action for management.  In cases that don’t respond well to initial attempts at management as well as those that progress despite treatment will require veterinary consultation for additional diagnosis and treatment.

Elizabeth G. Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Kansas State University
 (16 October 2006)

Immunostimulants and their role as an alternative to vaccines

By Elizabeth Davis, DVM
 

What is immunomodulation?  By definition this simply means that we modify the natural immune response.  This can occur in one of two ways, either by boosting the response with immunostimulants or suppressing the response with medications like corticosteroids.  Currently immunostimulation has become a more widely discussed method of managing horses suffering from infectious disease. 

An ideal situation when a host is exposed to pathogen challenge (e.g. bacteria or virus) is to have optimal immunity that protects the host from disease.  However, if we have a situation of overwhelming challenge or an inadequate immune response then we have an individual that succumbs to infectious disease.  In many cases specific therapy in the form of antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiparasitic or antifungal therapy will work in combination with the immune system to aid with pathogen clearance.  In some instances though, the addition of an immunostimulant will aid in “boosting” the immune response so that we have a more robust immune response acting in coordination with the antimicrobial drug to clear the infection.  Some examples of instances where immunostimulant therapy have been shown to be of benefit to equine patients include prevention of disease prior to stress such as long distance transport or weaning, bacterial respiratory disease, endometritis (infection of the lining of the uterus) or improvement of nasal secretions associated with viral respiratory disease (Equine Herpes Virus, EHV).  When a person is asking whether this type of treatment is right for their horse, it is important to consult with a veterinary professional to determine the appropriateness of such therapy.

Specific examples of diseases
Respiratory infection (prophylaxis and treatment)

Immunostimulants may be beneficial for treatment of chronic, infectious pulmonary disease in young horses.  An example would be a horse that has experienced clinical disease for several weeks with incomplete resolution following antibacterial therapy.  The indications for immunostimulant therapy in horses are relatively specific for the management of infectious disease.  The mechanism of action of nonspecific immunostimulation is activation of specific white blood cells that produce proteins of inflammation called cytokines.  Immunostimulant therapy may not be effective in patients with acute, fulminate infections because the immune response is likely maximally stimulated by the infectious agent.  Therefore, these agents are useful as a preventative therapy or for chronic respiratory infection that is incompletely resolved.  Horses with primary immunodeficiency syndromes, such as severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome of Arabian foals, are incapable of responding to immunostimulant therapy.  Immunostimulant therapy is indicated in horses with chronic bacterial or viral respiratory infections due to immunosuppression or immunotolerance to the organism.  Prophylactic administration of immunostimulant preparations prior to stressful events such as weaning or long-distance transportation may decrease onset of infectious disease that is associated with reduced immune responses and stress.

Propionibacterium acnes:

In equine medicine, Propionibacterium acnes (EqStimÒ, Neogen Inc.)  is recommended for treatment of chronic, infectious respiratory disease that is unresponsive to conventional antibiotic treatment. In addition, it is recommended for prophylactic administration prior to stressful events that may impair pulmonary defense mechanisms, including weaning and long-distance transport.  Propionibacterium acnes is considered an additive (adjunct) treatment to antibiotic therapy, not a stand alone treatment.  Treatment requires a series of 3 injections over a period of approximately 1 week.
In addition to equine respiratory disease, P. acnes has been recommended for treatment of endometritis, osteomyelitis, papillomatosis (warts), abdominal abscess, fistulous withers, and sarcoid skin tumors.  In this author’s experience, administration of P. acnes is effective for treatment of viral papillomatosis, whereas, efficacy for treatment of sarcoid skin tumors (intralesional and intravenous) is less consistent.   
 


Inactivated Parapoxvirus ovis:

Parpoxvirus ovis (Zylexis™, Pfizer Animal Health) is a non-specific immunomodulator that contains a purified highly concentrated viral strain that is inactivated and packaged in a freeze dried form.  In a respiratory challenge model of equine herpesvirus (EHV) infection, Zylexis™ was shown to reduce the severity of nasal discharge when compared with placebo-treated horses.  The response of this treatment occurs rapidly after treatment and may be effective in less than 24 hours.  Similar to other compounds Zylexis™ treatment requires a series of 3 treatments over approximately 10 days.
Respiratory disease and beyond

Interferon-alpha:

Interferon-alpha (IFN) is a naturally produced protein that has antiviral activity.  Interferon production occurs naturally in all mammalian hosts, including horses.  Synthesis of this protein is induced by viral infection, and is an early, nonspecific antiviral defense mechanism.  Interferon-alpha aids with nonspecific immunity via enhanced killing activity of several types of white blood cells.  Interferon- induces an antiviral state in target host cells by stimulating production of enzymes that inhibit viral protein synthesis and degrade viral RNA.  In mice, administration of IFN stimulates white blood cells to produce other proteins that activate the cell response that promotes cellular killing and removal of microorganisms.     


  
Interferon alpha can be used in a few different ways, by the mouth in low doses or systemically at higher doses.  When the low doses are used by mouth the effects include: reduced inflammation in the lower respiratory tract of racehorses with pulmonary inflammation. This treatment reduces fluid and mucous in the respiratory tract, lowers total cell counts in lung fluid therby improving pulmonary health which may improve athletic performance.  Interferon- administration is not effective with all airway conditions, so it is important to visit with your veterinarian to determine what tests are needed and if this therapy is right for your horse.
When IFN is given to the patient by the oral route an interesting effect is that it is not absorbed by the intestine, which is in contrast to many drugs that we administer to our equine patients.  We know this because IFN is degraded by digestive enzymes and cannot be detected in peripheral blood after oral administration.  Instead, oral dosing activates unique natural defense systems originating in the oral cavity (mouth).  This anatomic region is a special component of the immune system called the oropharangeal-associated lymphoid tissue. White blood cells exposed to IFN transfer enhanced biologic effects to other naive white blood cells in the absence of IFN.  Ultimately this therapy has a bit of a domino-effect from one activated white blood cell to another.  This process requires direct cell-to cell-contact, which does not require continued presence of IFN.  Cell-to-cell transfer of the antiviral state to naive cells permits low to undetectable concentrations of IFN to produce potent antiviral activity, and possibly represents a major mechanism for amplification natural IFN activity.  White blood cells then enter general circulation and communicate this antiviral capability to cells at distant sites.  This mechanism allows the biologic effects of IFN to reach tissues accessible to mobile white blood cells, in which penetration of IFN is poor, such as the surface of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and eye.

Although this treatment is effective under various conditions, it is important to note that patients can become unresponsive to IFN therapy after repeated administration due to production of anti-IFN antibody (protein) or reduction in sensitivity of the immune system to the interferon that is given. These effects occur after the host has been exposed to a foreign protein (in this case IFN-α) several times.  The effect of antibody production that limits the effectiveness of IFN has been observed in human patients and calves.

An additional use of interferon-α is a larger dose administration given systemically (intravensously).  When used in high doses, this treatment can be beneficial for horses suffering from certain viral diseases, such as West Nile Virus encephalitis.  Since we don’t have an effective antiviral drug for treatment of WNV, the use of a natural protein made by the immune system makes good sense.  In the cases that have been managed with this therapy, the results have generally been favorable.   
  
Additional uses of immunstimulant agents including equine endometritis

Mycobacterium:

Mycobacterial products have long been recognized as potent stimulators of nonspecific immunity.  The bacteria Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine was developed from a strain of Mycobacterium bovis that had been inactivated through serial passage (growth) in culture. Live BCG, whole-inactivated BCG, and mycobacterial cell wall fractions have been used as nonspecific immunostimulant agents, and all 3 preparations demonstrate strong activity when administered with antigen.  The mechanism of action is white blood cell activation and subsequent release of immune stimulating proteins by the host, called cytokines.  Whole, inactivated BCG preparations can be highly reactive; therefore, partial cell wall products have been developed that are less reactive.  Purified peptides (tiny proteins) are the smallest subunit of the mycobacterial cell wall that maintains immunostimulant activity.  In equine medicine, mycobacterial cell wall products are used to treat infectious respiratory disease (Equimune IVÒ, Bioniche, Belleville, ON, K8N 5J2) and sarcoid skin tumors (RegressinÒ, Bioniche, Belleville, ON, K8N 5J2).

Purified mycobacterial cell wall extract is labeled for single-dose, intravenous administration, as solo therapy for treatment of equine herpesvirus infection.  Administration of purified mycobacterial cell wall extract improves clinical recovery of horses with respiratory disease resulting from stress, transportation, bacteria and/or viral infections.  In an investigation looking at the efficacy of such preparations response to treatment was determined by monitoring clinical signs (fever, cough, anorexia, nasal discharge, abnormal auscultation, poor performance) and laboratory tests (complete blood count, differential, and acute phase protein concentration).  More than half of the horses treated with mycobacterial cell wall extract improved significantly within approximately a week after administration of a single dose, whereas less than half of the saline treatment group were without clinical signs.

In human medicine, live BCG immunotherapy is used for treatment of certain tumors that affect the urinary system.  In such patients, treatment with live BCG organisms prevents recurrence or progression of superficial bladder tumors, and the response is superior to treatment with certain chemotherapeutic agents.  Complications may occur in patients that are treated multiple times with a certain BCG products, veterinary consultation will help avoiding complications with administration.

Mycobacterial cell wall extract

Settle® (Bioniche, Belleville, ON, K8N 5J2) has been studied for its effectiveness to treat endometritis in mares.  Endometritis is classified as an infection of the innermost lining of the uterus.  In certain mares, persistent infection of the uterus may impair reproductive soundness, so clearance of infection is an important mechanism to maintain reproductive health in infected mares.  The most common bacterial pathogen associated with endometritis in horses is Streptococcus zooepidemicus.  Settle has been shown to work well alone and in combination with standard therapies to clear infection of the uterine lining.  This product can be used as a systemic treatment (intravenously) or locally (in the utuerus).  Consultation with your veterinarian will help determine if this therapy is right for your mare.

Conclusion

Immunostimulant therapy may be beneficial for equine patients under a variety of settings that include prevention and treatment of various infectious diseases.  It is important to know the appropriate use of such treatments so that the ideal immunostimulant preparation is selected for each individual patient. Determination of the factors of disease in your horse will be provided by appropriate veterinary evaluation.  In some instances this method of treatment will work in combination with antimicrobial agents to enhance the clearance of pathogen challenge.    
 

Osteochondritis dissecans - the development, causes and treatments of OCD

By Deborah Spike-Pierce, DVM
​

One of the most common orthopedic problems encountered in young horses is osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).  This is of particular concern in the Thoroughbred industry, where horses are often bought and sold before maturation is complete and are expected to perform starting at a relatively young age.  There are many common sources of confusion surrounding this disease.  Deborah Spike-Pierce, DVM discusses research into the development, causes and treatment of OCD.

Development

In the most basic sense, OCD is caused by a disruption of the normal growth process of bone. It most commonly occurs in young fast growing animals such as large breed dogs, pigs and horses.  Normally, a cartilage framework in the growth plate at the end of a bone is slowly converted into bone as an animal grows.  If this ossification process is interrupted, the syndrome of OCD can result. There are three major stages of this disease, although the term OCD is commonly used to refer to all parts of the syndrome.  The first phase is osteochondrosis (OC), which is a disturbance of ossification of cartilage into bone resulting in excess retained cartilage.  If this retained cartilage results in inflammation of the joint, this stage is termed osteochondritis.  The inflammation may manifest itself clinically as joint distention or lameness.  Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is the stage where a portion of the retained cartilage loosens from the parent bone and forms a fragment.  The separated fragment may remain cartilage or it may ossify into bone.  It is the disturbance of this fragment that can cause the most severe clinical form of the disease by shedding debris into the joint, thus causing synovial effusion and lameness.  Not all horses that develop OC will go on to develop OCD.  In many cases, horses will have no clinical signs and areas of retained cartilage will go on to ossify normally as the horses grow with no long term consequences.

Many different parameters have been described as having an affect on the development of OCD. There is no apparent common denominator in OCD formation and the disease is multifactorial.  Nutritional imbalances, trauma, rate of growth, biomechanical influences as well as genetic predisposition have all been documented as potential causes.

Recent research on the relationship between nutrition and development of OCD have found multiple correlations.  It has been shown recently in the United States that the time of year can affect OCD rates due to spring and autumn peaks in the energy content of the grass.  In studies, horses fed diets with low copper, excess zinc, excess phosphorus and high digestable energy have all shown increased rates of OCD.  There has been an emphasis placed on copper intake, especially in pregnant mares, as copper has been shown to play an important role in the repair of osteochondrotic lesions.  Since mineral content of feed and forage vary throughout the world it is recommended to concentrate on a sound nutritional program since the nutritional contribution to OCD formation itself is multifactorial.

Certain sites in each joint are predisposed for OCD formation.  It is thought that a high mechanical load in areas of thickened cartilage where the blood supply is tenuous can lead to OCD due to traumatic causes.  Conformation may play a role in the distribution of the weight that the horse places on the developing bone.   It has been proposed that horses with a toe-out and upright conformation of their hindlimbs may have higher levels of hock OCDs.  This issue is intertwined with genetics as conformation is influenced by genetics.  Conformational variations can also induce more mechanical stress in particular areas and affect the ossification process via trauma.

Research investigating a possible link between genetics and OCD development is ongoing.  Studies in Standardbreds assessing the prevalence of hock OC have shown heritability rates ranging from 0.25 to 0.52.  These numbers appear significant, however certain warmblood studbooks will not allow stallions with hock OCD into their registry and after 20 years the incidence within the breed has not decreased.  This again supports the claim that OCD is a multifactoral disease.The most recent research on OCD development is at the molecular level.  The focus is on the development and maturation of cartilage, growth factors, collagen types and the expression and metabolism of these factors in bone development.

Osteochondritis dissecans can occur in many different joints but is most commonly identified in fetlocks, hocks and stifles.  Generally, the fetlocks are the first joints affected, followed by hocks, where OCD develops between 2-6 months of age.  OCD of the stifle and shoulder joints usually emerges later, often between 6-9 months of age.  In short, the larger the joint or the longer it takes to ossify, the later OCD develops.  These are the typical windows of susceptibility but since OCD may be traumatic as well as purely developmental in nature the disease may manifest itself at a later time.

Clinical Signs

In many cases, OC and OCD may be clinically silent, with no outward signs that a problem is occurring.  In other cases, there are outward manifestations of the disease.  Fetlock OCD may present as a foal or weanling with persistent distention of one or more fetlocks, with or without lameness.  Radiographs of the affected joints may confirm an OCD lesion.  However, traumatic chip fractures of P1 and sesamoid bone fractures present with similar clinical signs, so radiographs may show those lesions instead.

 
A foal or weanling with hock distention (bog) with or without lameness may also have OCD.  Hock OCD is often bilateral, even if distention is only present in one leg.  High quality radiographs are essential in this diagnosis, since small lesions may cause significant joint distention.

Stifle OCD can have a slightly different presentation, often found in a lame yearling with stifle distention.  Radiographs taken at the onset of the lameness and joint effusion may not show an OC or OCD lesion; it may require several weeks for the lesion to be evident radiographically.  However, even without radiographic evidence of a lesion at the onset of the problem, it is important to restrict exercise because the joint debris causing the effusion may result in significant damage to the articular cartilage with excessive exercise.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of OC or OCD is most often made from radiographs.  OC lesions are characterized by a lucent area in the bone representing an area of retained cartilage.  OCD lesions often have a similar lucent area as well as the presence of a bony fragment.  However, some lesions are not able to be identified on radiographs and exploratory arthroscopy may be necessary to make the proper diagnosis.

Osteochondrosis lesions occur in specific anatomic sites in horses.  In a stifle, OCD lesions most commonly occur in the lateral trochlear ridge of the distal femur (Figure 1), the medial trochlear ridge of the distal femur and less commonly in the patella.  The most common area of OCD in the hock is the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (Figure 2), followed by the distal lateral trochlear ridge of the talus and the medial malleolus of the distal tibia.  Fetlock OCD most commonly occurs in the proximal (Figure 3) and distal sagittal ridge of the distal cannon bones.

Since Thoroughbreds are sold at ages ranging from a few months old to adulthood, many variations of this syndrome are seen on survey radiographs.  In young horses, a lucency is often seen where the cartilage in this location has not fully ossified.  Many of these areas  will continue to ossify as the horse matures and not develop OCD.  However, some will go on to develop OCD. This is a grey area purchasers face when buying immature horses.

Treatment

Since there is not a preventive solution for OCD, horses with this disease often need to be treated.  This usually consists of either conservative medical management or arthroscopic surgery.  Conservative medical management has been shown to be successful in very young horses that still have the capacity to heal an OC or OCD lesion.  Regimes may include a modified exercise program, medication, and supportive therapy.  Exercise modification may involve reducing the intensity and amount of exercise (changing from large field to small paddock turnout, for example) or it may be as drastic as stall rest in severe clinical cases.  Medications focus on improving the health of the joint, decreasing inflammation, and augmenting the blood flow to the area of OC or OCD.  Supportive therapy can be as simple as bandaging an effused joint.

If a lesion is non-responsive to conservative management it may need surgical intervention. Surgical treatment is generally the treatment of choice in true OCD lesions that have a flap (versus the OC lesions that characterize the initial phase of this disease).  Surgery is recommended in these types of lesions even if the horse is not showing clinical signs.  It is likely that a true OCD lesion visible on radiographs will become a clinical problem in training and thus require down time for surgical treatment during the training or racing process.  Therefore, it is best removed before the joint is inflamed and further damage occurs.  Prognosis varies by joint but is generally favorable, except in the case of the shoulder joint.

In a study of Thoroughbreds with stifle OCD affecting the femoropatellar joint the affected horses’ overall racing performance was not significantly different than their unaffected siblings.  Fewer of these horses started races at two years old, but there was no difference at three years of age.  The size of a stifle lesion can be a concern when a horse is marketed; however no study has been able to link the size of the lesion with performance.  It is also important to note that the radiographic size of an OCD is not always consistent with the true size identified at surgery because a portion of the OCD is cartilaginous and therefore not identifiable radiographically. 
A study of hock OCD in Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds who underwent arthroscopic removal of the OCD lesion showed the overall racing performance was not different between affected horses and their siblings. The site of the lesion also had no impact in  performance.

There has not been a study published assessing racing performace in horses with fetlock OCD lesions.  However, studies involving multiple breeds show favorable results from surgery.  Ninety perfect of horses who had proximal sagittal ridge OCD lesions arthroscopically debrided returned to athletic activity.

Conclusion
Osteochondritis dissecans can be a confusing and concerning disease.  Although research into its causes is ongoing, there are many effective treatment options available.  Many lesions will heal without requiring surgical intervention and the prognosis for those requiring surgery is generally favorable as well.

Reiki - the ancient Japanese healing method

By Paul Peacock,

Many racing yards are turning to a number of alternative treatments in an attempt to either speed healing times, improve the life styles of individual thoroughbreds or respond to the wishes of owners who themselves have clear ideas and requirements for the care of their animals.

A fast growing treatment for racehorses is Reiki, an ancient Japanese healing methodology which is said to date back over 2000 years, but was actually ‘discovered’ by a monk in Victorian times. It involved a combination of Japanese and Christian philosophies – the manipulation of Chi and the laying on of hands. Only recently has this technique been used with animals, possibly most successfully on equines.

Trainers frequently try Reiki for a halting and infrequent period, and there are two reasons for this, according to Beth Luck, an equine Reiki therapist. “If substantial treatment with Reiki takes place, and is successful, the horse can become calmer and in some circumstances loose that winning instinct – it becomes a horse again.” The last words a trainer needs to hear is that a racehorse somehow calms itself in a racing sense. The second reason is the unbelief that the fundamentals behind the process actually work. But there are reasons why, in certain circumstances, thoroughbreds might benefit from the attention of someone trained, or attuned, to Reiki in a racing yard.

As we shall see later, Reiki is associated with a calming effect on an agitated animal, and the greatest successes have been achieved where the thoroughbred has become difficult to ride, or is confined to box rest or shows signs of agitation.

It is a source of frustration often repeated by practitioners that they believe an animal needs more attention and or rest than might be actually available in a racing schedule, and consequently the patient is being only partially accommodated and frequently returned to racing too quickly. It would be easy to see that an animal only partially well would fall to injury in training or on the track. But then are the claims of Reiki practitioners valid, after all, every athlete, human or equine will benefit from a lot of rest and attention?

Reiki is thought to be connected to the body's magnetic or energy field. Some people say it is the manipulation of the Universal Life Energy and that the ‘patient’ receives energy through the practitioner which puts things right. This energy is sometimes referred to as ‘chi’ and is the same as that which is manipulated by acupuncturists and Oriental massage practitioners. This is the same so-called energy system as that used in Yoga and other oriental healing techniques. The basic idea is that the energy pervades all living things and is needed in order to put your system in the best possible status so that you can heal yourself. There is said to be a difference between the Reiki energy and all the others forms of chi; it is described as ‘beautiful energy’. The more a practitioner delves into the process the more beauty he or she is said to recognise in the energy. All the other forms of chi are cold in comparison.

In Reiki this energy can be received by the laying on of hands or the near contact; the hand being waved or held just above a special point. Thus the patient can ‘drink in’ energy which allows the body to heal itself. The ‘special points’ are known as Chakras, and the animal is supposed to let the person know which, if any, can be used. It is also important for practitioners to make sure the animal is happy before any administration. 
The crown Chakra is between the ears and another, called the third eye, just above the line of the eyes. There is another by the throat and yet another by the withers and there is a solar plexus Chakra and a sacral one, with a root one by the rump. Interestingly, all these points happen to be largely where the animal’s centres of lymph nodes.  All these points are used by the practitioner, and the training the Reiki practitioner undertakes involves an appreciation of which channel is actually accepting the energy.
The idea of there being an energy involved in the healing process should imply that the animal actually feels something. There are reports of exactly that among people who are able to report their responses. Warmth and tingling are frequently reported during sessions, but there are few if any scientific studies that measure either a temperature rise in tissues or an increased blood flow where the sensation is being reported.
Various claims are made for this treatment in humans from the healing of cancers to tempering of moods, and there is a wealth of circumstantial evidence to show the treatment has been to good effect. But there are equally a large number of claims of fantastic results with horses, particularly where the animal has suffered some trauma or other.

The use the non scientific term, ‘puts things right’ about best describes the process of what practitioners believe the ‘energy’ is actually doing. Some practitioners call this chi a spiritual energy to differentiate it from heat or kinetic energy. In short, the energy is said to be something all animals need, but is not measurable in standard scientific terms. Consequently, some practitioners are able to provide treatments from a very great distance, the conduit for this energy being some form of spiritual communication.

Simon Earle, who practices what he calls natural horsemanship, had a Reiki practitioner in the yard for some time who worked on the horses, but the results were not discernibly different from the other work in the yard.
Lisa Venables of Holistic Horses has used a modified form of Reiki in her yard where animals have been discarded from the racing scene. She uses a number of techniques, but has an interesting take on Reiki which retains the energetic theory, but could provide an insight into the therapeutic effect of the treatment. She believes that we communicate our state of excitement to horses and the action of Reiki is basically calming. In order to be able to do it in the first place, the practitioner has to be confident and calm, and this is communicated to the animal. A horse that has a problem, and suffers from the stress of the injury or illness and also the stresses of living in a fast paced, modern racing yard, might not heal as well as it could. The Venables version of Reiki involves bringing the animal to a relaxed state, and once relaxed and at peace, healing has more of a chance of success. This communication of the human’s calm, she believes is an energetic process. This is more likely to mean a proactive understanding between the animal and the human, responding on feedback from the other, and emotional rather than spiritual in essence.

This empathetic idea of Reiki is certainly more understandable to Western minds and yet still draws on resources or perception and communication that might be considered ‘alternative’ by many. The kind of person who is able to communicate in this way might not fit in to the life of modern racing stables, with the fast paced sequence of training and therapies. However, Lisa believes every yard should have one person on the staff able to “communicate” with the animals in such a way.

The law regarding Reiki is the same as any complimentary therapy in that it must not be used as frontline treatment. It is an offence not to allow a suitably qualified vet to treat any ailment or injury the animal might develop. It is similarly an offence to diagnose a problem or propose a course of treatment. In short, Reiki can only be administered as an adjunct to treatment, under the supervision of a vet. The vet is within his remit of care to refuse to allow Reiki, or any complimentary therapy, where he believes it might be injurious to the animal. This might happen, for example, when the practitioner waves his or her arms around a lot and consequently unnerves the animal. There do exist, however, horse therapy centres where, like the one run in Wicklow, Ireland by Heidi & Philip Sheane, who has an equine vet on site and a mix of complimentary and conventional healing takes place. Reiki is a part of the compliment of therapies and a horse has a tailored programme to match its own needs.

Reiki is practised by a few equine practitioners around Chantilly in much the same way around the UK. It is of most interest in America, where there is a well established, if loose, association of practitioners. The laws covering the use of Reiki in the UK are set in Equine and Animal husbandry EU statutes, and similar ones exist in the USA. However, there are no uniform practitioner training requirements and almost anyone can set themselves up as a Reiki practitioner. Whether you believe in the Chi energy transfer explanation for the apparent success of this technique or whether you feel there are other explanations including the setting of an animal at ease and reducing stress will determine which kind of person you employ, if any.  A Reiki practitioner with a comprehensive racing yard understanding can provide an angle to animal care which will benefit both horse and owner. A part of the technique is to notice the response of the animal when they are laying on hands and can therefore understand which parts of the animal are ‘taking the healing’. Such feedback has proved effective in assessing day to day practicalities of training such as poorly fitting saddles, rider stance and shoe problems.

Certainly there is mileage in improving horse health by paying them long term physical attention; everyone associated with them will know how much racehorses crave it, and Reiki is an excellent conduit for making a horse feel special. Whether it is the impulsive impartation of healing energy remains to be seen.
 

Frank Stronach and his growing global Magna empire

WHEN Frank Stronach says he is optimistic that “down the line” his company can control “ten per cent of all the gambling in the world”, the queue of punters wanting to bet against him may be very short. He has a record of reaching his targets, and if he ruffles a few feathers along the way, so what.

Stronach reaches his 74th birthday in September, but he retains the energy and business enthusiasm that took him from his native Austria to Canada as a 21-year-old tool and machine engineer, and launched him into his own company three years later. At the age of 41 he was running a major automotive parts company, Magna International Inc., from which eventually sprung Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC), now the biggest race-track owner and operator in the United States and the vehicle for his gambling ambitions.

In the States, MEC accounts for 11 racecourses, ranging from the glorious and historical Gulfstream Park, Pimlico and Santa Anita, through the unexpected Breeders’ Cup venue Lone Star Park, to the thoroughbred and quarter horse mix of Remington Park, and accompanying training centres. Then there are two television channels, a betting operation, and a one-third share in AmTote, the leading international totalisator systems provider that will soon become wholly owned by MEC; a plant making horse bedding, and various extensive real estate developments. The Magna empire was not always so big; it was bigger. With losses mounting, Stronach’s frantic purchase of race tracks in the late-1990s was balanced last year by the sale of two harness racing tracks, one in Canada, the other on the Maryland-Virginia axis.

In Europe, Stronach’s immediate influence is less obvious. Personally, the man who has a trophy room full of Eclipse Awards for owning and/or breeding such as the Preakness Stakes winner Red Bullet, Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, and Breeders’ Cup winners Awesome Again and his sons Ghostzapper, Perfect Sting and Macho Uno, has only recently dipped a toe into the ownership waters, with horses in training with Luca Cumani and Jeremy Noseda that were collected when he bought for the first time at Tattersalls in Newmarket in 2005.

Corporately, European interests extend to the Magna Racino, a 24-hour combination of racecourse and casino 20 miles south of Vienna that is Stronach’s gift to his Austrian birthplace, a betting website, MagnaBet, and a one-third share in a joint venture with Churchill Downs and Racing UK, the British racecourse rights exploiter and TV channel operator. That last project, set up earlier this year and operating from England as Racing World, is both new and still small, but it sets the tone – and may yet set the standard – for Magna’s global wagering ambitions. It brings together two great race-track rivals, covering most of the top venues in North America, a UK subscription-only racing channel that boasts the best of British racing, bar Ascot, and is pointed towards a European-based betting site, MagnaBet, which feeds all manner of foreign currency into the dollar-rich host-track pools.

Joe de Francis, Magna’s executive vice president and recently promoted to the main board, was at the forefront of negotiations to set up Racing World, and he is not immune to gentle ribbing about the amalgamation of ambitions between his company and Churchill Downs, which together provided most of the funding for the project. “There’s an internet term known as co-opetition, which sums up our relationship,” he says. “We’re vigorous competitors in some areas but collaborators in others. Global distribution of the racing and betting product is the key, and it’s the smart and the right thing for us to work much more closely on an international vehicle such as Racing World. We both have quality content, and that goes for Racing UK, so this is an ideal arrangement. “In addition, we have MagnaBet, the essentially German-language, European sister to XpressBet, our US-based, English-language internet betting site. They have developed side by side, but we are in the process of merging them on to one platform, which will be available globally, with technical expertise sitting in various places around the world.“We need local partners, who understand the idiosyncrasies of the local markets. That’s why it’s important to be with Racing UK, which knows the demands of British punters.”

Magna previously worked for a time with the other UK racing channel, At The Races, through TRNi, but the relationship was never a marriage made in heaven, perhaps because TRNi’s vision clashed with Stronach’s.
The arrangement with Racing UK is working well, says executive chairman Simon Bazalgette, who explains: “I think they are much more comfortable working with a racecourse group that understands how a betting path should operate. They also seemed to be impressed how Racing UK was managing our racecourses’ right in the UK, because they wanted to exploit their rights in the UK and Ireland. “Racing UK was already working with Magna because XpressBet was taking UK racing, but Racing World has strengthened our relationship, which will grow, especially now that we have 48-hour declarations in place in Britain.
“We are in the process of putting pari-mutuel links into the major UK bookmakers, which will transmit bets back to the US pools through the AmTote gateway.
“To distinguish themselves from the betting exchanges, and to help their margins, UK bookmakers are becoming more interested in the kind of exotic bets that overseas pari-mutuel operators provide. We see this as a growth area, especially when UK punters realise they can play the big carry-overs that US pools often turn up.”
Bazalgette, who expects the joint venture to take more UK racing to the States in the future, as the possible precursor to a fully global channel that would include other European racing authorities, sums up his joint venture partners: “Churchill Downs is the more corporate, more conservative organisation, but Magna is very driven and commercial, which reflects Frank Stronach’s business approach. He has shaken up North American racing, buying tracks when no-one else did.”

Magna will need to be commercial if it is to drive down ongoing losses and wipe out the minimum $500m of debts hanging round its neck. This year’s first-quarter net income of $2.2m was the first plus after seven consecutive losing quarters, but the second quarter reverted to recent type, and though revenues for the first six months of 2006 were up from $413m to $465m, compared with the same period in the previous year, costs were also up, largely due to servicing debt, from $433m to $488m. The red ink is back, and the second-quarter loss of around $26m all but matches the same period in 2005. Yet Stronach remains confident. He believes MEC could be debt free, or have very little debt, some time next year. “People may ask, ‘Why the hell are you in this kind of business, losing so much money?’” he said to investors on publication of the first-quarter results. “Well, it’s a huge business, and I’m optimistic that down the road, we have a great opportunity to be the foremost gambling and entertainment company in the world.”
Joe de Francis, a lawyer by profession, has 25 years’ experience in the horseracing business. His family controlled the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes, and he took over as chief executive in August 1989. He retains that position today, but under Magna, which bought 51 per cent of the company from de Francis and his sister in November 2002.

De Francis is well placed to view all sides of the MEC operation. “I came in at the tail end of the cycle of acquiring race tracks and at the beginning of the distribution of the racing and betting products,” he reflects. “I believe Mr Stronach when he talks about controlling ten per cent of global gambling. You can’t climb high unless you aim high. “Magna is both a race-track company and a wagering organisation. It believes strongly in vertical integration. First and foremost it owns race tracks, but to be successful in the 21st century you have to distribute your content as broadly as possible, and that’s where globalisation is important. It’s part of our mission statement. “To be successful, a race-track operator has to be involved in distribution businesses. I compare horseracing to manufacturing. We make the product and we distribute it.
“Since I came into the business, I’ve watched the evolution in distribution, from the days when you got in your car and drove to the track to bet on live racing. There was no simulcasting, very little off-track betting and no home wagering, and it was only about a dozen years ago that things began to change. “The challenges now are to select the best technology, distribution platforms and partners, so that you can take the product around the world. The challenges in North America, which centre on legislation, underscore the importance of developing systems to take the product to Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim.
“One advantage is that horseracing is extraordinarily popular, to varying degrees, around the world. The only comparison for passion and global appeal is football."

De Francis stresses that nailing down the distribution systems will be key to Magna’s success, with three pathways to be negotiated, in no particular order but together.“There’s the bet pathway,” he says. “Since our wagering is pari-mutuel, as opposed to fixed odds, we have to figure out the best way to transmit a bet from the customer to the race track, which is important because the pari-mutuel system allows the customer access to a range of betting opportunities, such as the exotics, that fixed odds cannot provide. “We are exercising our option to purchase the remaining 70 per cent of equity in AmTote, and that will give us control over one of the best companies in the global market. We are working actively with a number of the larger UK bookmakers to allow them to take pari-mutuel bets on our racing, which will enable them to offer exotic bets.”

De Francis is aware of Simon Bazalgette’s observation that UK bookmakers could get one over the betting exchanges from this channel, but he takes no side over the new betting phenomenon itself, saying: “The betting exchange business model is different from ours and it fulfils a market demand, but how we interact with them is a new issue. I don’t have a clear answer on how to work with or against them.”

However, he does have an unobscured view on the second distribution pathway – pictures, “which give the punter the ability to see the race live. People won’t bet as much if they can’t see the race, and that’s where Racing World is so important.” The third pathway involves data and information, which de Francis says is vital to give the punter everything he needs to make an informed wager. “Together they make up a three-legged stool,” he explains. “If one leg is not there, you’ll fall over. In North America we control all three, through AmTote, HRTV and Xpressbet, but in different markets it’s almost certain we will choose to partner others.”

Expansion remains on the cards for Magna, de Francis says, but while he is reluctant never to say ‘Never’, the US race-track portfolio appears to be full – with The Meadows harness racing venue almost sold – and there are no plans to extend beyond Austria’s Magna Racino in Europe.However, AmTote is steadily moving over; the New York Racing Association franchise, which is up for grabs next year, is being strenuously pursued, “with partners”, because “it’s an important part of the North American landscape and provides a very important piece of content,” and 500 slot machines are on standby for Gulfstream Park, as a forerunner of the model for other racecourse-casino sites.

Remington Park’s fortunes have already been transformed by the introduction of slots – much of the $12.5m, second-quarter revenue increase in the Magna’s southern US operations came from the introduction of the casino facility there last November - and de Francis points to improved revenues, better purses for owners and better quality racing as benefits that will flow from these and other developments in technology over the next five years. “There will be an enormous evolution in our business generally,” he forecasts. “We’re going to be in many more geographical markets, with much more content available in homes, so that people will be able to access the racing product like never before. We’re being presented with a unique set of challenges.”
 
THE MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT CORP. EMPIRE

Original parent company Magna International Inc. is a diversified automotive parts supplier, based in Canada and founded by Frank H Stronach, currently chairman and interim chief executive.
Stronach, born in Weiz, Austria, on 6 September 1932, emigrated to Canada in 1954 with a background in tool and machine engineering. He started his first tool and die company in 1957, branched out into automotive components and after a merger of companies MII was formed in 1973, and has grown into one of the world’s biggest of its kind.
Under reorganisation of the corporate structure in November 1999, the non-automotive businesses and real estates assets, including recently acquired race tracks, were transferred to Magna Entertainment Corp, which became a public company, quoted on Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange in March 2000. Executive office in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, but incorporated in Delaware, USA.

RACE TRACKS

USA
Golden Gate Fields: Albany, California; acquired in Dec ’99; 105 racing days.
Great Lakes Downs: Muskegon, Michigan; acquired in Feb ’00; 120 racing days.
Gulfstream Park: Hallandale Beach, Florida; acquired Sept ’99; races during winter months.
Laurel Park: Laurel, Maryland; majority interest acquired with Pimlico Nov ’02; two near-four-month meetings at either end of year split by three-week August meeting.
Lone Star Park: Grand Prairie, Texas; acquired Oct ’02; thoroughbred racing April to mid-July, quarter horse racing October and November.
The Meadows: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; acquired April ’01; year-round harness racing on 210 days; in process of being sold for $200m.
Pimlico: Baltimore, Maryland; majority interest acquired with Laurel Park Nov ’02; 8-week spring meeting includes Preakness Stakes.
Portland Meadows: Portland, Oregon; operated by MEC since ’01; races from October to April.
Remington Park: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; thoroughbred racing August to November, quarter horse racing March to June; year-round simulcasting and casino.
Santa Anita Park: Arcadia, California; two seasons, 26 December to mid-April, six-week Oak Tree meeting in autumn.
Thistledown: North Randall, Ohio; acquired in Nov ’99; races 185 days March to December.
Europe
Magna Racino (Ebreichsdorf, Austria; built April ’01; thoroughbred and harness racing from April to November; year-round gaming and entertainment.


WAGERING


XpressBet: for US-based punters only, in states where legal; launched ’02; HQ in Washington, Pennsylvania; off-track betting facilities and national account wagering business, by telephone and internet; covers pari-mutuel betting from over 100 thoroughbred, harness and quarter horse tracks in North America and races in Australia, Dubai and South Africa; offers real-time audio and video streaming; bets co-mingled with existing race track pools.
MagnaBet: European-based online, mobile phone and SMS service, for non-US customers; launched ’04; covers pari-mutuel betting on races from US, Austria, Germany and UK; offers real-time and recorded audio and video streaming; bets co-mingled with existing race track pools.

TELEVISION


HorseRacing TV (HRTV): owns and operates 24-hour network focused on horseracing; available to more than 11m cable and satellite viewers in US.
The Racetrack Television Network (RTN): one-third interest in direct-to-home, subscription telecasting service from MEC and other tracks, made available to betting shops internationally.
Racing World: one-third partner since January ’06 with Racing UK and Churchill Downs in international TV channel, currently broadcasting US racing to Britain and Ireland.

OTHERS


AmTote International: leading provider of totalisator services to international pari-mutuel industry; 30% interest bought for $3.8m in August ’03; notice given of intention to take up option on remaining 70% of equity in two stages, September and November ’06, for total of $14m.
Thoroughbred training centres: San Diego, California; Palm Beach County, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland.
Production facilities: for Streu-Fex, straw-based, horse bedding product, in North Carolina and Austria.
Real estate: two golf courses (in Austria and Canada) and related recreational facilities; residential developments in US, Austria and Canada.
Employs 5,300 through the group.

PARIMAX


Holding company formed in February ’06 to oversee development of XpressBet, HRTV, RaceONTV, Magnabet, AmTote, Racing World and PremiereWin (TV partner in central Europe).

Time for a re-think? Why do we deny a horse water and fibre before a race?

Removal of fibre and water intake before a race are supposed to enhance performance in Race Horses… Surely this is not sound practice, let alone science. No sensible, modern day athlete would go out of their way to cause discomfort in their digestive system and thereby reduce performance, let alone remove hydration. Perhaps the racing industry should look outside their field of view and take a leaf out of the endurance horse world. In this field of horsemanship, horses are fed just before and even during competition and hydration of the horse is paramount. Common sense says that a happy and comfortable horse will give us its ‘all’. Perhaps now is the time for a bold trainer to take this on board. The following is a more scientific rational behind my thinking.

The evolution of the horse into the animal we know today has meant the development of a very specialised digestive system. The proportionally huge hind-gut indicates the importance of fibre/forage in the equine diet. The specialised stomach has evolved to cope with a nearly continuous intake of fibrous plant material, so that (unlike the stomachs of omnivorous and carnivorous animals) the pyloric sphincter allows a ‘trickle’ of partly digested material into the small intestine. This function may cause a problem for horses fed a high level of concentrates as this ‘trickle’ mechanism can allow food to pass through the sphincter, before sufficient digestive processes have taken place. Also the acid level in the equine stomach is relatively high, as it has evolved to start the breakdown of cellulose in plant material, ready for digestion.

It has been suggested that inadequate provision of fibre in the diet may be a reason for many cases of stomach ulcers in horses. For optimum health and performance all horses require a balanced supply of :- Fibre – 1) indigestible fibre – for gut health and motility and 2) digestible fibre for nutrients and energy – the cellulose of plant material is broken down by colonies of microbes in the hind-gut into ‘complex’ carbohydrates, producing Volatile Fatty Acids which are absorbed into the blood stream, transported to the liver and converted into fat. This fat can be utilised by the body cells for energy or stored as adipose tissue until further energy is required. The process of fermentation and absorption of volatile fatty acids continues for many hours, so that horses may draw on the stored energy as required.

Good quality hay and pasture can provide much of the essential nourishment required for general maintenance and health, always providing that a balanced supply of micronutrients is fed. For horses in strenuous work, high energy fibre sources such as alfalfa chaff and sugar beet shreds can be a valuable part of the ‘short’ feed. The provision of adequate dietary fibre, in the daily diet, satisfies the equine ‘trickle’ feeding system and also the physiological and psychological need to chew.

Starch & Sugars – ‘simple’ carbohydrates for an energy supply – from oats and micronised cereals, Care has to be taken with quantities fed, as cereal overloading has been considered as a possible ‘trigger’ for problems such as ‘set-fast’, laminitis, azoturia etc. The choice and balance of cereals in the diet is also important, as some horses have been found to show an apparent intolerance to barley, exhibiting skin eruptions, filled legs and/or excitable ‘mood swings’. Cereals are broken down into their component glucose molecules in the small intestine and absorbed into the blood stream.

This ‘blood sugar’ can be directly utilised by the muscles as a valuable ‘fast release’ energy source for short bursts of strenuous work or stored in the muscles or the liver as glycogen. During prolonged exercise a problem found to be associated with fatigue – hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) – may be avoided by the provision of sugars such as molasses in the diet. Vegetable Protein – for tissue repair and development of almost all body constituents; Cereals contain a very small percentage of protein which is digested in the small intestine. Soya beans, an excellent source of quality protein, are also digested in the small intestine; providing the 22 amino acids commonly recognised as essential in the horse’s diet. Most importantly the limiting amino acids lysine and methionine, as they are likely to cause metabolic problems if in short supply. Methionine is classified as an essential amino acid, it helps lower cholesterol levels, reduces liver fat protects the kidneys and regulates ammonia formation, also a natural chelating agent for heavy metals.

Certain amino acids are necessary for the metabolism and utilisation of energy. It is recommended that care should be taken to supply a correct balance of protein for horses under six years of age, as they are still in the growth and body building stage and will have greater requirements for protein and the associated, necessary micronutrients than the mature horse. Lysine is the amino acid involved with growth as are the minerals calcium, phosphorus, copper and zinc for the strength and integrity of cartilage and bone. However overly high intakes of protein can lead to an increase of urinary ammonia producing and/or aggravating respiratory problems for the stabled horse. Also, over feeding protein can cause an increase in the requirement for water possibly leading to a certain amount of dehydration and at least very wet beds - with a resulting increase of ammonia! . Fats/Oils – 1) as an energy source, 2 ¼ times the energy of carbohydrates per unit weight. 2) as an insulating layer of subcutaneous fat and 3) for development and maintenance of cell membranes. It is thought that fats may prove valuable in increasing the performance of horses at sustained submaximal exercise by providing a higher energy density diet, with the risks of carbohydrate overloading likely to be reduced.

The horse conditioned to an intake of oil in the diet will be able to accept more demanding training sessions, leading to increased fitness and performance . Made up from ‘chains’ of fatty acids, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids are considered to be important for the horse.

If the blood glucose and muscle and liver glycogen energy stores have been depleted then the body will convert to fat oxidation for metabolic energy. – from ‘ The Scientific Rational for High Fat Diets for Equines’ Deborah M Lucas MSc, CBiol, MIBiol, R.Nutr. Minerals – almost every body process requires a correct supply (the feral horse fulfilled requirements from a variety of herbage grown in different soil types).

Minerals rarely act on their own, but interact in groups and with Vitamins, so that a deficiency or excess of one may affect many body processes; for example, research suggests that excessive iron intake may cause a type of metabolic corrosion affecting both respiratory tissue and working muscle. Also a balanced supply of trace elements such as selenium, copper, zinc and manganese along with vitamins E and C is advisable, to protect cell membranes from ‘free radicles’ and help control ‘oxidative’ stress for horses in heavy exercise, under stress and when travelling etc. Vitamins – as above almost every body process requires a correct supply.

Vitamins rarely act in isolation but interact with other vitamins and with minerals. For optimum health and performance a correct and balanced supply is essential. For example – the normal requirement for Vitamin K (important for the blood clotting mechanism) can be met through microbial digestion in the gut, if quality forage is supplied; but a deficiency has been considered to be a cause of pulmonary bleeding and internal haemorrhage, so it should be supplied in the diet of the stabled, working horse. The important B complex vitamins can also be manufactured by the gut microbes during the digestion of forage, but additional dietary supplementation will be required for stabled horses in work . The correct storage of Vitamins is vital as they are sensitive to heat, light, moulds and oxidising agents.

Valfredo Valiani - we profile the successful Italian trainer

Valfredo Valiani (46), the man who discovered Electrocutionist, trains around 50 horses from his base in Pisa, Italy. In love with his motherland, he admits to having had thoughts of moving his operation abroad, to England or France perhaps.

 ”But I am getting older, it would be tougher to move now”, he explains. He wants to run more horses abroad though. His raids abroad have been very selective and successful. Two runs in England have resulted in two Group One wins. ”When I have the right horse, I like to race internationally”, Valfredo says, and soon reveals his views on how racing is developing in Europe these days. How does he see the current state of affairs?

”If you are talking about the horses”, Valiani reflects, ”I think European racing is doing very well. The quality of our horses is world class, something global results clearly show. If you are talking about the situation of our sport, however, I think it is going quite badly. ”

”England apart, not many have been putting money into the game in serious attempts at attracting new faces at the tracks. That is our main problem. I am not saying it is wrong to have people in betting shops but we must try to get them from the betting shops to the tracks. Hopefully, when they experience this great spectacle they will want to come back. We are missing crowds at the tracks. Unless this is addressed, it will come back to us in a negative way. In fact, it already does. Therefore, I think that our Jockey Clubs, our associations and most of all our racecourses must do better. If the big heads in racing don’t work together, races will soon be much worse than now. The only way to stop this is that owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys get together, face the racecourse ownerships, trying to work together. Unfortunately, in Italy this is almost impossibe.  We are trying to do it now. Earlier this year, I went to a dinner with Max Hennau and Jim Kavanagh, where we had the president and vice president of the breeders’ association, a prominent owner, a big bloodstock agent and the president of the European Breeders’ Association present. We tried to socialise and discuss our problems. 

”Up to a certain point, the trainers’ problems are also the same problems owners and breeders experience. Organising a good spectacle is the main thing, we must give the racing fans a top class leisure product, and together we can do just that. We all believe that the European Trainers Federation is very important. If we make the ETF work properly, we can become very influential. To do that, we should increase and expand our meetings to include all countries, and work together. We must work as a team in Europe, and representatives from each country must work locally. Racing people should not be overtaken by administrators from outside the sport. I believe racing people are the right people to run our business. Well, as you know, that is not preciseley what is happening everywhere, is it?”

”In Italy, UNIRE is run by people who are mainly political, not people with the right knowledge on racing. The main problem for a trainer, is that he who works harder and tries to be serious and professional, is not properly rewarded. Much too often, hard work makes little difference.” 

So, with strong views on how racing should be run, and a desire for change in Italy, how seriously have Valiani been considering a move to a bigger playing field?

”Unless I should get a good offer to go to Newmarket or Chantilly, I intend to stay in Pisa”, he says, ”I love my country, as does my wife Sveva. Our five-year-old son Vittorio Guiseppe is important to me, he is my hobby if you like. Really, my hobby used to be going on long riding treks in the coutryside, on riding horses, not thoroughbreds. But there is little time for that. When I can get a break I love travelling, and normally we go away in January, seeing other parts of the world is both important and relaxing. This year we went to Mauritius and Morocco.”

Racehorse trainers do not have much spare time and for Valfredo the free hours he gets is dedicated to his family. 

”I spend more and more time with my son”, he says. Is litte Vittorio Guiseppe going to step into his father’s shoes one day? ”He has ridden of course, he has a pony”, Valfredo explains, ”but we live upstairs in the yard and I think he has too many horses around him right now. Therefore he is not all that interested. A situation I am quite happy about. I hope he is not going to become a trainer – at least not in Italy, I would rather see him becoming a soccer player or something like that”, Valfredo laughs. Although he is a prominent player at home, with international success, it is clear that he sees better conditions abroad. 

Valiani has no hesitation when asked which is the best course in Italy. ”Definitely Milan”, he assures us, ”it is big track, and it is well developed, with a 1000 metres straight. You can run races over 2400 metres with just one bend, like at Newmarket. It is a severe racetrack, where the best horse usually wins. I prefer to run my horses there.” 

Valfredao was introduced to racing by his father, who was a teacher riding in amateur races in Italy. ”He became a steward, and later on he was president of the Italian stewards”, he explains, ”he put me on a horse for the first time when I was three. From about seven or eight, I was competing in show jumping. This continued until I was 14 and rode my first throughbred – I fell in love with him from day one. I switched to racehorses almost overnight and became the youngest amateur riding races in Italy in 1974. I rode quite a few flat races, won three times and had good fun but I am too tall. Riding was never going to become a career.  I always wanted to be a trainer. ”

It was also his father who sent the young, tall amateur rider to Newmarket ten years later, to learn from working with Luca Cumani. Valfredo spent two years with the Bedford Lodge handler, and experienced top class horses like Bairn, Commanche Run and Free Guest. ”Frankie Dettori had just come over from Italy too, and we both learned a lot from Luca”, Valfredo tells us. ”After the years in England, I went to work as assitant to Richard Cross in Los Angeles for a year, and I went on to work with preparations of yearlings in Lexington in 1986.”

After spending over three years learning abroad, Valfredo returned to Italy to set up as a trainer in 1987. His first horse, a colt named Swalk, was owned by Luca Cumani and Doctor Boffa, of Fittocks Stud. Many horses have passed through his hands since, but there is no doubt which is the best he has had in his care;

”I discovered Electrocutionist when he was very young, as he was bred by an owner of mine”, Valfredo tells us, ”he wanted to sell him, and I really liked him a lot. At the same time, Mr Earle Mack, an American ambassador, had asked me to find him a yearling. He bought him privately and, as you know, Electrocutionist proved to be an excellent investment. ”

Does Valfredo prefer buying his horses as yearlings?

”Yes I do”, he says, ”I like to get my horses as yearlings, and I tend to buy late developing types. I hate to say this but I have been better with middle-distance horses, not so much with sprinters. A trainer should be able to train all kinds, but this is still true – I like to buy horses with a future as older horses, horses with scope - and I am not a trainer of juveniles. I like to give them time. As an example, by the 1st of August this year I had sent out only one juvenile runner. I have a nice bunch of young horses in my yard. Hopefully, there is a future Group One winner among them. ”

Valiani trains around 50 horses and owns a few himself. ”I don’t like it, but I do own some”, he says, ”they are for sale, from time to time I buy to sell on, sometimes it works out, sometimes not, one has to take the odd gamble.” 

He buys horses mainly in Italy, England and Ireland, where he found a smashing daughter of Lahib back in 1997.  We have been lucky before Electrocutionist came along”, he says, ” Super Tassa, who won the Prix Corrida in France and the Yorkshire Oaks in England, was a real bargain. I found her at Fairyhouse, and paid only 1800 Irish pounds for her.”

Valiani tells us that he has an ambition to campaign more horses abroad. ”I like to run my horses in Italy, and if a horse is good enough, I like to send it to Newmarket or Chantilly to prepare for races there. I fly up and down when we are getting the horse ready for a big event.”

Having prepared for his training career by working around the world, Valiani now trains for owners from North America, England and France, though most of his owners are Italians. Individuals own the majority of the horses. Racing syndicates and racing clubs are yet not playing a big role in Italy, he explains: 

”The problem with the Italian man is that his attitude is to own the horse outright, not share it with someone else. Partnerships are a good thing, in my opinion, and we are really working on this. Racing partnerships is also an excellent way to attract people from outside the game, as partnerships give members a smaller risk but should give them the same fun”. 

From being an amateur rider as age 14, soon to become too tall to pursue a career in the saddle, Valiani has worked his way up the training ranks in Europe, and he is now one of the most respected in his trade. Where would he have ended up in life, if training had not been an option? 

”Probably a cowboy”, he laughs, ”I grew up in the Grosseto, a small place in the countryside, where people used horses every day – much like the North American cowboys. Well, if I had not become a trainer maybe I would have been a vet now, however. I thought that I wanted to become a vet, but I soon decided that what I really wanted was to work closely with horses full time. I studied for three years, though did not get very good results. I was spending too much time fooling around with horses!”

Frank Stronach and his growing global Magna empire

When Frank Stronach says he is optimistic that “down the line” his company can control “ten per cent of all the gambling in the world”, the queue of punters wanting to bet against him may be very short. He has a record of reaching his targets, and if he ruffles a few feathers along the way, so what.

Stronach reaches his 74th birthday in September, but he retains the energy and business enthusiasm that took him from his native Austria to Canada as a 21-year-old tool and machine engineer, and launched him into his own company three years later. At the age of 41 he was running a major automotive parts company, Magna International Inc., from which eventually sprung Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC), now the biggest race-track owner and operator in the United States and the vehicle for his gambling ambitions.

In the States, MEC accounts for 11 racecourses, ranging from the glorious and historical Gulfstream Park, Pimlico and Santa Anita, through the unexpected Breeders’ Cup venue Lone Star Park, to the thoroughbred and quarter horse mix of Remington Park, and accompanying training centres.

Then there are two television channels, a betting operation, and a one-third share in AmTote, the leading international totalisator systems provider that will soon become wholly owned by MEC; a plant making horse bedding, and various extensive real estate developments.

The Magna empire was not always so big; it was bigger. With losses mounting, Stronach’s frantic purchase of race tracks in the late-1990s was balanced last year by the sale of two harness racing tracks, one in Canada, the other on the Maryland-Virginia axis.

In Europe, Stronach’s immediate influence is less obvious. Personally, the man who has a trophy room full of Eclipse Awards for owning and/or breeding such as the Preakness Stakes winner Red Bullet, Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, and Breeders’ Cup winners Awesome Again and his son Ghostzapper, Perfect Sting and Macho Uno, has only recently dipped a toe into the ownership waters, with horses in training with Luca Cumani and Jeremy Noseda that were collected when he bought for the first time at Tattersalls in Newmarket in 2005.

Corporately, European interests extend to the Magna Racino, a 24-hour combination of racecourse and casino 20 miles south of Vienna that is Stronach’s gift to his Austrian birthplace, a betting website, MagnaBet, and a one-third share in a joint venture with Churchill Downs and Racing UK, the British racecourse rights exploiter and TV channel operator.

That last project, set up earlier this year and operating from England as Racing World, is both new and still small, but it sets the tone – and may yet set the standard – for Magna’s global wagering ambitions. It brings together two great race-track rivals, covering most of the top venues in North America, a UK subscription-only racing channel that boasts the best of British racing, bar Ascot, and is pointed towards a European-based betting site, MagnaBet, which feeds all manner of foreign currency into the dollar-rich host-track pools.

Joe de Francis, Magna’s executive vice president and recently promoted to the main board, was at the forefront of negotiations to set up Racing World, and he is not immune to gentle ribbing about the amalgamation of ambitions between his company and Churchill Downs, which together provided most of the funding for the project.

“There’s an internet term known as co-opetition, which sums up our relationship,” he says. “We’re vigorous competitors in some areas but collaborators in others. Global distribution of the racing and betting product is the key, and it’s the smart and the right thing for us to work much more closely on an international vehicle such as Racing World. We both have quality content, and that goes for Racing UK, so this is an ideal arrangement.

“In addition, we have MagnaBet, the essentially German-language, European sister to XpressBet, our US-based, English-language internet betting site. They have developed side by side, but we are in the process of merging them on to one platform, which will be available globally, with technical expertise sitting in various places around the world.

“We need local partners, who understand the idiosyncrasies of the local markets. That’s why it’s important to be with Racing UK, which knows the demands of British punters.”

Magna previously worked for a time with the other UK racing channel, At The Races, through TRNi, but the relationship was never a marriage made in heaven, perhaps because TRNi’s vision clashed with Stronach’s.

The arrangement with Racing UK is working well, says executive chairman Simon Bazalgette, who explains: “I think they are much more comfortable working with a racecourse group that understands how a betting path should operate. They also seemed to be impressed how Racing UK was managing our racecourses’ right in the UK, because they wanted to exploit their rights in the UK and Ireland.

“Racing UK was already working with Magna because XpressBet was taking UK racing, but Racing World has strengthened our relationship, which will grow, especially now that we have 48-hour declarations in place in Britain.

“We are in the process of putting pari-mutuel links into the major UK bookmakers, which will transmit bets back to the US pools through the AmTote gateway.

“To distinguish themselves from the betting exchanges, and to help their margins, UK bookmakers are becoming more interested in the kind of exotic bets that overseas pari-mutuel operators provide. We see this as a growth area, especially when UK punters realise they can play the big carry-overs that US pools often turn up.”

Bazalgette, who expects the joint venture to take more UK racing to the States in the future, as the possible precursor to a fully global channel that would include other European racing authorities, sums up his joint venture partners: “Churchill Downs is the more corporate, more conservative organisation, but Magna is very driven and commercial, which reflects Frank Stronach’s business approach. He has shaken up North American racing, buying tracks when no-one else did.”

Magna will need to be commercial if it is to drive down ongoing losses and wipe out the minimum $500m of debts hanging round its neck. This year’s first-quarter net income of $2.2m was the first plus after seven consecutive losing quarters, but the second quarter reverted to recent type, and though revenues for the first six months of 2006 were up from $413m to $465m, compared with the same period in the previous year, costs were also up, largely due to servicing debt, from $433m to $488m. The red ink is back, and the second-quarter loss of around $26m all but matches the same period in 2005.

Yet Stronach remains confident. He believes MEC could be debt free, or have very little debt, some time next year. “People may ask, ‘Why the hell are you in this kind of business, losing so much money?’” he said to investors on publication of the first-quarter results. “Well, it’s a huge business, and I’m optimistic that down the road, we have a great opportunity to be the foremost gambling and entertainment company in the world.”

Joe de Francis, a lawyer by profession, has 25 years’ experience in the horseracing business. His family controlled the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes, and he took over as chief executive in August 1989. He retains that position today, but under Magna, which bought 51 per cent of the company from de Francis and his sister in November 2002.

De Francis is well placed to view all sides of the MEC operation. “I came in at the tail end of the cycle of acquiring race tracks and at the beginning of the distribution of the racing and betting products,” he reflects. “I believe Mr Stronach when he talks about controlling ten per cent of global gambling. You can’t climb high unless you aim high.

“Magna is both a race-track company and a wagering organisation. It believes strongly in vertical integration. First and foremost it owns race tracks, but to be successful in the 21st century you have to distribute your content as broadly as possible, and that’s where globalisation is important. It’s part of our mission statement.

“To be successful, a race-track operator has to be involved in distribution businesses. I compare horseracing to manufacturing. We make the product and we distribute it.

“Since I came into the business, I’ve watched the evolution in distribution, from the days when you got in your car and drove to the track to bet on live racing. There was no simulcasting, very little off-track betting and no home wagering, and it was only about a dozen years ago that things began to change.

“The challenges now are to select the best technology, distribution platforms and partners, so that you can take the product around the world. The challenges in North America, which centre on legislation, underscore the importance of developing systems to take the product to Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim.

“One advantage is that horseracing is extraordinarily popular, to varying degrees, around the world. The only comparison for passion and global appeal is football.”

De Francis stresses that nailing down the distribution systems will be key to Magna’s success, with three pathways to be negotiated, in no particular order but together.

“There’s the bet pathway,” he says. “Since our wagering is pari-mutuel, as opposed to fixed odds, we have to figure out the best way to transmit a bet from the customer to the race track, which is important because the pari-mutuel system allows the customer access to a range of betting opportunities, such as the exotics, that fixed odds cannot provide.

“We are exercising our option to purchase the remaining 70 per cent of equity in AmTote, and that will give us control over one of the best companies in the global market. We are working actively with a number of the larger UK bookmakers to allow them to take pari-mutuel bets on our racing, which will enable them to offer exotic bets.”

De Francis is aware of Simon Bazalgette’s observation that UK bookmakers could get one over the betting exchanges from this channel, but he takes no side over the new betting phenomenon itself, saying: “The betting exchange business model is different from ours and it fulfils a market demand, but how we interact with them is a new issue. I don’t have a clear answer on how to work with or against them.”

However, he does have an unobscured view on the second distribution pathway – pictures, “which give the punter the ability to see the race live. People won’t bet as much if they can’t see the race, and that’s where Racing World is so important.”

The third pathway involves data and information, which de Francis says is vital to give the punter everything he needs to make an informed wager.

“Together they make up a three-legged stool,” he explains. “If one leg is not there, you’ll fall over. In North America we control all three, through AmTote, HRTV and Xpressbet, but in different markets it’s almost certain we will choose to partner others.”

Expansion remains on the cards for Magna, de Francis says, but while he is reluctant never to say ‘Never’, the US race-track portfolio appears to be full – with The Meadows harness racing venue almost sold – and there are no plans to extend beyond Austria’s Magna Racino in Europe.

However, AmTote is steadily moving over; the New York Racing Association franchise, which is up for grabs next year, is being strenuously pursued, “with partners”, because “it’s an important part of the North American landscape and provides a very important piece of content,” and 500 slot machines are on standby for Gulfstream Park, as a forerunner of the model for other racecourse-casino sites.

Remington Park’s fortunes have already been transformed by the introduction of slots – much of the $12.5m, second-quarter revenue increase in the Magna’s southern US operations came from the introduction of the casino facility there last November - and de Francis points to improved revenues, better purses for owners and better quality racing as benefits that will flow from these and other developments in technology over the next five years.

“There will be an enormous evolution in our business generally,” he forecasts. “We’re going to be in many more geographical markets, with much more content available in homes, so that people will be able to access the racing product like never before. We’re being presented with a unique set of challenges.”

THE MAGNA ENTERTAINMENT CORP. EMPIRE

Original parent company Magna International Inc. is a diversified automotive parts supplier, based in Canada and founded by Frank H Stronach, currently chairman and interim chief executive.
Stronach, born in Weiz, Austria, on 6 September 1932, emigrated to Canada in 1954 with a background in tool and machine engineering. He started his first tool and die company in 1957, branched out into automotive components and after a merger of companies MII was formed in 1973, and has grown into one of the world’s biggest of its kind.
Under reorganisation of the corporate structure in November 1999, the non-automotive businesses and real estates assets, including recently acquired race tracks, were transferred to Magna Entertainment Corp, which became a public company, quoted on Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange in March 2000. Executive office in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, but incorporated in Delaware, USA.

RACE TRACKS

USA
Golden Gate Fields: Albany, California; acquired in Dec ’99; 105 racing days.
Great Lakes Downs: Muskegon, Michigan; acquired in Feb ’00; 120 racing days.
Gulfstream Park: Hallandale Beach, Florida; acquired Sept ’99; races during winter months.
Laurel Park: Laurel, Maryland; majority interest acquired with Pimlico Nov ’02; two near-four-month meetings at either end of year split by three-week August meeting.
Lone Star Park: Grand Prairie, Texas; acquired Oct ’02; thoroughbred racing April to mid-July, quarter horse racing October and November.
The Meadows: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; acquired April ’01; year-round harness racing on 210 days; in process of being sold for $200m.
Pimlico: Baltimore, Maryland; majority interest acquired with Laurel Park Nov ’02; 8-week spring meeting includes Preakness Stakes.
Portland Meadows: Portland, Oregon; operated by MEC since ’01; races from October to April.
Remington Park: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; thoroughbred racing August to November, quarter horse racing March to June; year-round simulcasting and casino.
Santa Anita Park: Arcadia, California; two seasons, 26 December to mid-April, six-week Oak Tree meeting in autumn.
Thistledown: North Randall, Ohio; acquired in Nov ’99; races 185 days March to December.

Europe
Magna Racino (Ebreichsdorf, Austria; built April ’01; thoroughbred and harness racing from April to November; year-round gaming and entertainment.

WAGERING
XpressBet: for US-based punters only, in states where legal; launched ’02; HQ in Washington, Pennsylvania; off-track betting facilities and national account wagering business, by telephone and internet; covers pari-mutuel betting from over 100 thoroughbred, harness and quarter horse tracks in North America and races in Australia, Dubai and South Africa; offers real-time audio and video streaming; bets co-mingled with existing race track pools.
MagnaBet: European-based online, mobile phone and SMS service, for non-US customers; launched ’04; covers pari-mutuel betting on races from US, Austria, Germany and UK; offers real-time and recorded audio and video streaming; bets co-mingled with existing race track pools.

TELEVISION
HorseRacing TV (HRTV): owns and operates 24-hour network focused on horseracing; available to more than 11m cable and satellite viewers in US.
The Racetrack Television Network (RTN): one-third interest in direct-to-home, subscription telecasting service from MEC and other tracks, made available to betting shops internationally.
Racing World: one-third partner since January ’06 with Racing UK and Churchill Downs in international TV channel, currently broadcasting US racing to Britain and Ireland.

OTHERS
AmTote International: leading provider of totalisator services to international pari-mutuel industry; 30% interest bought for $3.8m in August ’03; notice given of intention to take up option on remaining 70% of equity in two stages, September and November ’06, for total of $14m.
Thoroughbred training centres: San Diego, California; Palm Beach County, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland.
Production facilities: for Streu-Fex, straw-based, horse bedding product, in North Carolina and Austria.
Real estate: two golf courses (in Austria and Canada) and related recreational facilities; residential developments in US, Austria and Canada.
Employs 5,300 through the group.

PARIMAX

Holding company formed in February ’06 to oversee development of XpressBet, HRTV, RaceONTV, Magnabet, AmTote, Racing World and PremiereWin (TV partner in central Europe).

Reiki - Paul Peacock discovers the ancient Japanese healing method.

Many racing yards are turning to a number of alternative treatments in an attempt to either speed healing times, improve the life styles of individual thoroughbreds or respond to the wishes of owners who themselves have clear ideas and requirements for the care of their animals. A fast growing treatment for racehorses is Reiki, an ancient Japanese healing methodology which is said to date back over 2000 years, but was actually ‘discovered’ by a monk in Victorian times. It involved a combination of Japanese and Christian philosophies – the manipulation of Chi and the laying on of hands.

Only recently has this technique been used with animals, possibly most successfully on equines. Trainers frequently try Reiki for a halting and infrequent period, and there are two reasons for this, according to Beth Luck, an equine Reiki therapist. “If substantial treatment with Reiki takes place, and is successful, the horse can become calmer and in some circumstances loose that winning instinct – it becomes a horse again.” The last words a trainer needs to hear is that a racehorse somehow calms itself in a racing sense. The second reason is the unbelief that the fundamentals behind the process actually work. But there are reasons why, in certain circumstances, thoroughbreds might benefit from the attention of someone trained, or attuned, to Reiki in a racing yard. As we shall see later, Reiki is associated with a calming effect on an agitated animal, and the greatest successes have been achieved where the thoroughbred has become difficult to ride, or is confined to box rest or shows signs of agitation.

It is a source of frustration often repeated by practitioners that they believe an animal needs more attention and or rest than might be actually available in a racing schedule, and consequently the patient is being only partially accommodated and frequently returned to racing too quickly. It would be easy to see that an animal only partially well would fall to injury in training or on the track. But then are the claims of Reiki practitioners valid, after all, every athlete, human or equine will benefit from a lot of rest and attention? Reiki is thought to be connected to the body's magnetic or energy field. Some people say it is the manipulation of the Universal Life Energy and that the ‘patient’ receives energy through the practitioner which puts things right. This energy is sometimes referred to as ‘chi’ and is the same as that which is manipulated by acupuncturists and Oriental massage practitioners.

This is the same so-called energy system as that used in Yoga and other oriental healing techniques. The basic idea is that the energy pervades all living things and is needed in order to put your system in the best possible status so that you can heal yourself. There is said to be a difference between the Reiki energy and all the others forms of chi; it is described as ‘beautiful energy’. The more a practitioner delves into the process the more beauty he or she is said to recognise in the energy. All the other forms of chi are cold in comparison. In Reiki this energy can be received by the laying on of hands or the near contact; the hand being waved or held just above a special point.

Thus the patient can ‘drink in’ energy which allows the body to heal itself. The ‘special points’ are known as Chakras, and the animal is supposed to let the person know which, if any, can be used. It is also important for practitioners to make sure the animal is happy before any administration. The crown Chakra is between the ears and another, called the third eye, just above the line of the eyes. There is another by the throat and yet another by the withers and there is a solar plexus Chakra and a sacral one, with a root one by the rump. Interestingly, all these points happen to be largely where the animal’s centres of lymph nodes. All these points are used by the practitioner, and the training the Reiki practitioner undertakes involves an appreciation of which channel is actually accepting the energy.

The idea of there being an energy involved in the healing process should imply that the animal actually feels something. There are reports of exactly that among people who are able to report their responses. Warmth and tingling are frequently reported during sessions, but there are few if any scientific studies that measure either a temperature rise in tissues or an increased blood flow where the sensation is being reported. Various claims are made for this treatment in humans from the healing of cancers to tempering of moods, and there is a wealth of circumstantial evidence to show the treatment has been to good effect.

But there are equally a large number of claims of fantastic results with horses, particularly where the animal has suffered some trauma or other. The use the non scientific term, ‘puts things right’ about best describes the process of what practitioners believe the ‘energy’ is actually doing. Some practitioners call this chi a spiritual energy to differentiate it from heat or kinetic energy. In short, the energy is said to be something all animals need, but is not measurable in standard scientific terms. Consequently, some practitioners are able to provide treatments from a very great distance, the conduit for this energy being some form of spiritual communication. Simon Earle, who practices what he calls natural horsemanship, had a Reiki practitioner in the yard for some time who worked on the horses, but the results were not discernibly different from the other work in the yard. Lisa Venables of Holistic Horses has used a modified form of Reiki in her yard where animals have been discarded from the racing scene.

She uses a number of techniques, but has an interesting take on Reiki which retains the energetic theory, but could provide an insight into the therapeutic effect of the treatment. She believes that we communicate our state of excitement to horses and the action of Reiki is basically calming. In order to be able to do it in the first place, the practitioner has to be confident and calm, and this is communicated to the animal. A horse that has a problem, and suffers from the stress of the injury or illness and also the stresses of living in a fast paced, modern racing yard, might not heal as well as it could.

The Venables version of Reiki involves bringing the animal to a relaxed state, and once relaxed and at peace, healing has more of a chance of success. This communication of the human’s calm, she believes is an energetic process. This is more likely to mean a proactive understanding between the animal and the human, responding on feedback from the other, and emotional rather than spiritual in essence. This empathetic idea of Reiki is certainly more understandable to Western minds and yet still draws on resources or perception and communication that might be considered ‘alternative’ by many.

The kind of person who is able to communicate in this way might not fit in to the life of modern racing stables, with the fast paced sequence of training and therapies. However, Lisa believes every yard should have one person on the staff able to “communicate” with the animals in such a way. The law regarding Reiki is the same as any complimentary therapy in that it must not be used as frontline treatment. It is an offence not to allow a suitably qualified vet to treat any ailment or injury the animal might develop. It is similarly an offence to diagnose a problem or propose a course of treatment. In short, Reiki can only be administered as an adjunct to treatment, under the supervision of a vet.

The vet is within his remit of care to refuse to allow Reiki, or any complimentary therapy, where he believes it might be injurious to the animal. This might happen, for example, when the practitioner waves his or her arms around a lot and consequently unnerves the animal. There do exist, however, horse therapy centres where, like the one run in Wicklow, Ireland by Heidi & Philip Sheane, who has an equine vet on site and a mix of complimentary and conventional healing takes place. Reiki is a part of the compliment of therapies and a horse has a tailored programme to match its own needs. Reiki is practised by a few equine practitioners around Chantilly in much the same way around the UK.

It is of most interest in America, where there is a well established, if loose, association of practitioners. The laws covering the use of Reiki in the UK are set in Equine and Animal husbandry EU statutes, and similar ones exist in the USA. However, there are no uniform practitioner training requirements and almost anyone can set themselves up as a Reiki practitioner. Whether you believe in the Chi energy transfer explanation for the apparent success of this technique or whether you feel there are other explanations including the setting of an animal at ease and reducing stress will determine which kind of person you employ, if any. A Reiki practitioner with a comprehensive racing yard understanding can provide an angle to animal care which will benefit both horse and owner.

A part of the technique is to notice the response of the animal when they are laying on hands and can therefore understand which parts of the animal are ‘taking the healing’. Such feedback has proved effective in assessing day to day practicalities of training such as poorly fitting saddles, rider stance and shoe problems. Certainly there is mileage in improving horse health by paying them long term physical attention; everyone associated with them will know how much racehorses crave it, and Reiki is an excellent conduit for making a horse feel special. Whether it is the impulsive impartation of healing energy remains to be seen.

Who is Controlling Racing's TV signals?

For all the differences between the horseracing and betting landscapes in Britain and North America - size, history, administration and race and bet types, - one similarity of principle has emerged over the last five years. The live televised racing scene has crystallised into two entities, and the impact on both the foundation and prosperity of the sport and the availability of its betting facilities has been thrown into the blender.

In Britain, the 60 racecourses have lined up equally between the two cable and satellite broadcasters - Racing UK (RUK), with 30 tracks on board, and At The Races (ATR), with 29, but soon to become 30 when the new venue of Great Leighs attains its long-awaited completion. In North America, the dominance and extensive exclusivity of TVG has been challenged by the major corporate racetrack owners Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC) and Churchill Downs Inc., which have jointly formed the cable and satellite broadcaster Horseracing TV (HRTV), shutting out TVG from coverage of their many high-quality courses.

Into the mix have been catapulted bookmaking, advance deposit wagering and online betting facilities, the biggest attraction for the public and the most significant cash provider for racing outside the deep pockets of racehorse owners. What will come out at the other end, and when, is impossible to say with any certainty. Interested parties have their own views, based on which side of the divide they sit, but it would take someone akin to a soothsayer, let alone an experienced industry observer, to imagine where the path will lead. The road-makers are still at work, using different maps to plot their separate ways, and sometimes giving the impression they are making up the journey as they go along.

Two examples of intricacies that can only ripen confusion and spread uncertainty are worth recording, before attempting to untangle the web spun by rights-holders seeking to manage content to best advantage. Ascot, Britain’s best-known international venue, lined up with At The Races when the second coming of that daily satellite broadcaster emerged from the ashes of a failed venture known as Attheraces in June 2004. At the time, as Ascot negotiated with its bankers over loans to service a £200 million redevelopment scheme, huge uncertainty surrounded previous rights, which may have meant Ascot having to repay a significant sum. Partly to allay the fears of financial institutions, Ascot fell in with ATR, and was given a five per cent stake in the company for its allegiance.

However, the contract, which runs until 2012, did not include pictures supplied to betting shops, and when these came up for renegotiation earlier this year, Ascot decided to jump on to the back of another media rights horse. It sided with Amalgamated Racing - Amrac for short - which had set up a joint venture with the stock market-quoted betting-shop services provider Alphameric to introduce a new channel, Turf TV, offering pictures from aligned courses to off-track bookmakers. Until then, for 20 years the betting industry had had only one company to deal with, Satellite Information Services (SIS), which took pictures from Racing UK courses under contract, and by sub-contract from At The Races’ courses through an organisation called Bookmaker Afternoon Greyhound Service (Bags). Bags has outgrown its title by owning horseracing rights and covering evening racing, while ATR controls no betting-shop picture rights in Britain, but it does use SIS to produce its programmes on a daily basis, and has a contract with it to distribute pictures into betting shops in overseas territories such as Sri Lanka.

Confused? You soon will be… Explaining the decision to go with Amrac, Ascot’s finance director Janet Walker says: “We believe Amrac is the best vehicle for racing’s commercial relationship with the betting industry. And the decision has no impact on our separate satellite media rights arrangement with ATR, and should in no way be interpreted as a negative reflection on our relationship with that company.”

In North America, the picture began to get decidedly murkier in March this year, when Churchill Downs bought a 50 per cent stake in HorseRacing TV, which had previously been owned wholly by Magna. It was the biggest in a series of deals that the two sides concluded at the time, and out of the arrangement came the formation of another joint venture called TrackNet Media Group, through which one partner’s horseracing content would become available to the other’s various distribution platforms - Magna’s advance deposit wagering (ADW) site XpressBet, Churchill’s similar newcomer TwinSpires.com. TrackNet would also deal with providing content, from pictures to betting availability, for third parties, it emerged. These were to include racetracks, OTBs, casinos and other ADW operators - but not TVG, it seemed; well, not without a groundbreaking change of heart. HRTV immediately took over coverage of Churchill Downs, and as contracts run their course, it picked up exclusive rights to Arlington Park on August 6, Fair Grounds in November and Calder on January 3, 2008. It was not long before the consequences became clear. The 2007 Kentucky Derby was shown exclusively on HRTV and bet on through TwinSpires and winticket.com (whom Churchill Downs subsequently purchased). TVG and its wagering partner Youbet did not get a look-in. The same applied to the second races in the US Triple Crown, the Preakness, run at Magna-owned Pimlico, but come the last leg, the Belmont, exclusivity returned to TVG, under its contract with the New York courses. Just before the Kentucky Derby, a contributor to the Turf’n’Sport website was moved to remark: “At the best possible time of the year for generating positive horseracing buzz, the industry has succeeded in turning on itself and creating negative headlines.

At a time when online racebooks that offer betting on all major Thoroughbred tracks continue to make inroads, and at a time when the World Trade Organisation has ruled America must open up horse betting to offshore racebooks, the existing companies are bitching at each other.” The punchline summed up: “How long will it take horseplayers to catch on and simply move their accounts offshore?” He clearly is not the soothsayer identified earlier, who might supply the answer to what will come out of the mix. But he does have a point.

A similar observation holds good in Britain, though with a different emphasis. At times the two sets of particular circumstances in Britain and North America do run along parallel lines, but at others they are subtly interlinked and completely separate. The differences, and some of the connections, can be seen in the betting arena, where HRTV and TVG have their own direct outlets, but Racing UK has a joint venture and At The Races remains corporately aloof while relying on bookmaker partners to provide one of 30 income streams. The key in Britain is Turf TV, the betting-shop channel set up in part by the Racing UK courses, which flickered into life with six exclusive members (including Ascot) and a small percentage of betting-shop supporters, mainly small independents until the Tote joined up, but none of the four majors, which account for 80 per cent of the UK estate.

On January 1, Turf TV will be bolstered by 25 other RUK courses. The split will be equal - just as it is in the choice facing satellite viewers, who need two TV accounts to cover the field - and the dominant bookmakers, who have lined up solidly behind SIS and the status quo, will have to decide whether they can survive on half rations for their horseracing coverage. On that decision could depend a large slice of British racing’s future prosperity. The situation in North America depends on whether racecourse and betting operators choose TrackNet or TVG. It seems they cannot have both. In each case, the participants have made their positions clear.

Robert Evans, president and CEO of Churchill Downs, told a shareholders’ meeting: “I understand our objectives on occasion may ruffle a few feathers. That is one of the things about competition. It is not really our intent just to go out and be disruptive. Our intent is to compete aggressively and to attract more customers to our business. There are always a few potential consequences when you challenge the status quo.” In response to the Kentucky Derby impasse, TVG general manager David Nathanson said: “We attempted to negotiate with TrackNet Media and its owners in good faith, but thus far have not seen any terms from them indicating a strong desire to reach a mutually beneficial long-term agreement. We remain open to negotiating an agreement that is in the best interest of the racing industry, the respective parties and, ultimately, the racing fan.”

In Britain, Turf TV has become the dividing line between broadcasters and rights-holders Racing UK and At The Races. RUK executive chairman Simon Bazalgette reflects: “Historically British racing has not been good at being commercial about negotiating its media rights, and has allowed third parties, such as BSkyB (the satellite provider) and the bookmakers, to get a lot of the economic benefit. Now racecourses can manage the business themselves, keeping more of the commercial benefit in racing and having greater control over the presentation of the sport. Turf TV is a great deal for the racecourses.” ATR chief executive Matthew Imi takes a dispassionate view of Turf TV, since betting-shop rights do not figure in his company’s portfolio. “It will be interesting to see how it works out, but we’re not threatened by Turf TV,” he says. “The most fascinating aspect is not whether Turf TV gains any material traction among the big bookmakers, but what the net effect will be on British racing. For us, though, it’s a valuable opportunity to concentrate on our core business, which is to exploit our partners’ rights. Getting together in the UK with Racing UK is not on our radar.” It might not be war, but for the moment, and maybe for the foreseeable future, it clearly is every man for himself.

HOW THE TELEVISION BROADCASTERS LINE UP NORTH AMERICA HORSERACING TV (HRTV)

Owned by: Joint venture of Nasdaq-listed Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC) and Churchill Downs Inc. Operates: Subscription national cable and satellite TV horseracing network. Live racing content is acquired by sister company TrackNet Media Group. Estimated coverage 11 million homes. Racetracks covered: 70-plus Thoroughbred, harness and Quarter Horse tracks, including Santa Anita Park (California); Churchill Downs (Kentucky); Gulfstream Park, *Calder (Florida); Lone Star Park (Texas); Arlington Park (Illinois); Pimlico (Maryland). International: UK tracks on Racing UK. MEC operates off-track betting network, and national account wagering business XpressBet. Churchill Downs recently opened online national account wagering service, TwinSpires, and more recently acquired account wagering operator AmericaTAB and affiliates. Overseas coverage: Racing World channel in Britain, joint venture with Racing UK. *effective January 3, 2008 TVG Owned by: Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., global multi-media and technology company, including loss-making TV Guide magazine, in which Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has 41 per cent stake. Operates: Subscription national cable and satellite TV horseracing channel, and online betting network. Estimated coverage 50 million homes. Racetracks covered: Turf Paradise (Arizona); Del Mar, Fairplex Park, Hollywood Park, Los Alamitos, Oak Tree (California); **Calder (Florida); Prairie Meadows (Iowa); Ellis Park, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Turfway Park (Kentucky); Meadowlands, Monmouth Park (New Jersey); Ruidoso Downs, Zia Park (New Mexico); Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Saratoga, Yonkers Raceway (New York); Emerald Downs (Washington). International: Japan, UK tracks on At The Races. Some contracts with tracks owned by HRTV partners due to expire over next year. Has arrangement with online account wagering operators Youbet and The Racing Channel. Overseas coverage: At The Races in Britain, through arrangement with TRNi and the Dubai Sports Channel in the UAE. **through January 2, 2008 BRITAIN RACING UK (RUK) Owned by: 30 British racecourses, split Jockey Club Racecourses (50%), Chester, Goodwood, Newbury, York (sharing 25%), 11 smaller courses (sharing 25%). Owns all rights, including terrestrial TV, except for licensed betting offices (belong to Amrac, see below and facing). Operates: Subscription national cable and satellite (via BSkyB service, part of Setanta Sports package) TV horseracing channel, with links to small number of bookmaker partners; international channel, Racing World, in partnership with MEC and Churchill Downs; licensed betting-office channel, Turf TV, set up by Amalgamated Racing (Amrac), joint venture between Racecourse Media Services (separate company owned by RUK courses and Ascot) and betting-office provider Alphameric; overseas delivery of pictures and data from RUK courses in association with South Africa-based racetrack and betting operator Phumelela. About 200,000 subscribers (including Setanta, forecast to grow to 1 million when Premiership football comes on stream in Autumn 2007). Racetracks covered: Aintree, Ayr, Bangor, Beverley, Carlisle, Cartmel, Catterick, Cheltenham, Chester, Epsom, Goodwood, Hamilton, Haydock, Huntingdon, Kempton, Ludlow, Market Rasen, Musselburgh, Newbury, Newmarket, Nottingham, Pontefract, Redcar, Salisbury, Sandown, Thirsk, Warwick, Wetherby, Wincanton, York. International: France, Dubai, occasional other major races; HRTV (see above) coverage of North America on separate channel, Racing World. Overseas coverage: North America, joint venture with HRTV; Australia, jointly with At The Races; other territories, partnership with Phumelela (South Africa). AT THE RACES (ATR) Owned by: broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (46%), racetrack owners Arena Leisure (46%) and Northern Racing (2%), and racecourses Ascot (5%), Newton Abbot, Plumpton and Ripon. Owns all media rights of participating courses except licensed betting office and terrestrial TV rights. Operates: National cable and satellite (part of Sky Sports package) TV horseracing channel, with links to bookmaker partners. ATR courses shown in betting shops through agreement with Satellite Information Services (SIS), which sub-contracts rights from Bookmaker Afternoon Greyhound Service (Bags). BSkyB subscription platform covers 8.5 million homes in UK. Racetracks covered: Ascot, Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Exeter, Fakenham, Folkestone, Fontwell, Hereford, Hexham, Kelso, Leicester, Lingfield, Newcastle, Newton Abbot, Perth, Plumpton, Ripon, Sedgefield, Southwell, Stratford, Taunton, Towcester, Uttoxeter, Windsor, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Yarmouth. (Great Leighs will become 30th on opening). Plus all 27 Irish courses. International: France, Dubai, Germany, occasional other major races; TVG (see facing) coverage of North America. Overseas coverage: North America, arrangement with TRNi, through to TVG; Australia, jointly with RUK; other territories, distribution by SIS.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Vets and other professionals recognise that gastrointestinal function and health in horses exists in a finely balanced state. Most conditions relating to the intestinal tract, for example colic and diarrhoea are well understood and are most commonly treated either medically or surgically. There has been, however, less appreciation of how frequently the health of a horse’s stomach can be compromised. The true prevalence of equine stomach lesions (gastric ulcers) was recognised only with the introduction of gastric endoscopy. How prevalent are ulcers? Numerous studies conducted in the 1980s and ‘90s in varied horse populations within differing sporting disciplines identified EGUS as a much more a widespread problem than commonly assumed. Many of these studies focussed on thoroughbred racehorses, and produced remarkably similar findings.

Between 80 and 90% of horses in training were found to have gastric ulcers. And, somewhat surprisingly, over 50% of racehorses temporarily out of training also had lesions. Moreover, this health and welfare issue was not confined to thoroughbred racing; horses competing in other equestrian sporting disciplines were also prone to this condition. In contrast, less than 5% of permanently grazed horses appear to suffer from gastric ulceration. Prevalence of EGUS in horses engaged in different equestrian sporting disciplines Population Prevalence (%) Racing (thoroughbreds) 80 - 90 Trotting/pacing (standardbreds) 72 - 88 Endurance racing 67 Show horses 58 Foals (thoroughbred) > 50 Symptoms to look for that may suggest gastric ulceration include chronic recurrent colic, episodic colic, acute colic, reduced appetite, poor body condition and chronic diarrhoea. Whilst these clinical signs are not always indicative of gastric ulcers, as can be seen from the table below there is a clear relationship.

The strongest indicator appears to be an inability to thrive as indicated by poor body condition and reduced appetite. Incidence of overt clinical signs in horses subsequently found to have EGUS Clinical signs Incidence (%) Chronic recurrent colic, for 7 days or more 25 Episodic colic (1+) for 7 or more days 13 Acute colic 10 Reduced appetite 53 Poor body condition 40 Diarrhoea 9 Unfortunately, however, in about 52% of horses where gastroscopy reveals ulceration there will have been no obvious prior clinical signs.

What causes gastric ulcers? Gastric lesions (ulcers) are now recognised as a common condition in stabled horses, whether involved in racing or other equine sports, and in foals, yet they appear to be absent in wild horses. You may be familiar with the fact that gastric ulcers in humans are frequently caused by infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, it was not surprising therefore that this was investigated but then dismissed as a possible cause in horses. So, what is the cause and why is the prevalence in racehorses so high? To answer this question we need to examine the manner in which we train, house and feed our racehorses. All the clinical evidence to date indicates that the high incidence of gastric ulcers in racehorses is a ‘man-made’ phenomenon that is related to the feeding and management practices that we employ during training.

There are four key contributory factors involved in the development and progression of ulcers:

1) Dietary makeup and feeding practices

2) Intensity of exercise (level of work)

3) Stress factors

4) Prolonged use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as phenylbutazone, and corticosteroids. When considering these factors we need to appreciate that the horse has evolved over millennia as an exclusively grazing animal with a digestive system that is reliant on the continual ingestion of fresh forage to meet its dietary requirements. In EGUS the damage caused to the lining of the stomach arises from prolonged exposure of the gastric mucosa to gastric acid, without sufficient protection from the buffering effect of saliva.

Dietary makeup and feeding practices Racehorses are most often fed a diet that is high in starch rich cereal and low in forage. Horses produce gastric acid continuously, and high starch diets tend to further increase its production through stimulation of a hormone known as gastrin. In addition, where these starch-rich meals are large, inadequate mixing in the stomach can lead to some of the starch being fermented here, which further contributes to the overall acidity. During feeding, chewing normally stimulates the production of saliva, which contains a natural buffer ‘bicarbonate’, to offer some protection of the gastric mucosa against the corrosive effects of gastric acid. However, the amount of saliva produced for each kilogram of concentrate feed consumed is about 2.5 times less than that produced for the same weight of forage, as proportionally less chewing is involved. Minimal forage intake therefore takes its toll on gastric health, as during periods when the horse has no access to feed or forage, the protective effects of saliva are lost and these are key danger times for gastric ulceration.

A recent study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal also suggests that repeated electrolyte or salt administration may exacerbate or even induce gastric ulceration. But before we all cast aside our daily electrolyte or salt administration, which has great physiological benefit, we need to take these recent findings in context. This latest study used an endurance model of electrolyte administration using a concentrated electrolyte syringe 8 times within an 8-hour period. Whilst this may be common practice during endurance races, this type of administration in racing is in my experience not practised. It is, however, a difficult conundrum for endurance trainers as electrolyte depletion during races is a significant issue.

Certainly electrolyte or salt products that dissolve more slowly in the stomach may be an advantage. Exercise intensity The level of work that horses undertake has also been found to be a significant contributory factor in the development of EGUS. Although ulcers are present in about 40% of horses undertaking light exercise this increases to over 95% in horses with busy racing schedules. This effect probably arises through the physical movement of the organs and tissues within the horse’s body that occurs during exercise. Mechanical movement and compression of the stomach forces the most sensitive non glandular regions of its lining into further contact with gastric acid, and this effect is exacerbated when exercise intensity is increased.

Stress Although training and racing by necessity place horses under physiological stress, psychological stress is also implicated in ulcer development. Recent studies in the USA indicate that sudden stressful changes from the normal daily routine and environment, including transport and new stabling, promote rapid changes to the integrity of the stomach lining. Indeed, gastroscopy showed the appearance of ulcers within only 6 days. Medical treatment of gastric ulcers Gastric ulcers in horses rarely heal spontaneously, so veterinary intervention is necessary. Methods for the treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses follow those employed in human medicine and generally involve the use of antacids alone, or in conjunction with anti-ulcer drugs.

Antacids neutralise gastric acid. Those based on sodium and calcium carbonates and bicarbonates have the potential drawback of releasing carbon dioxide (gas) in the gut. In addition, bicarbonate supplementation can increase blood bicarbonate levels that could potentially result in a breach of doping rules. Antacids containing aluminium or magnesium hydroxides and silicates may be preferential.

Drugs used to inhibit gastric ulcers include, the H2-receptor blockers cimetidine and ranitidine and the so-called ‘proton-pump inhibitor’ omeprazole. Omeprazole is the most widely used and effective treatment in horses and is marketed as an oral paste under the trade name Gastroguard. Dietary supplement products available for gastric health Product Company Active ingredients Function Product Form Dose (500kg horse) Neigh-Lox Saracen (KER) Dihydroxy-aluminium, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminium phosphate Antacid Coats & protects Pellet 340g Settlelex Feedmark Calcium carbonate, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, dicalcium phospahte Antacid Powder 30-100g Acti-Soothe Nelson Veterinary Ltd high fibre ingredients, calcium carbonate. Magnesium carbonate, probiotic, prebiotic Antacid Pellet 400g Gastro Ardmore Equine phytochemicals, mucosal agents,, natural antibiotics, natural stress reducers Other Paste 1 syringe Ulseraze NAF Powder, lactoferrin, ginger, marshmallow, Liquorice,psyllium seeds, phosphotidylcholine, Other Powder 60g U-Guard Equine America Calcium carbonate, kaolin, liquorice, aloe Vera, iron oxide, dried apple pectin pulp, magnesium silicate, vitamin B5 and magnesium oxide. Antacid Coats & protects Powder 40g Stomacare Twydil polyunsaturated fatty acids, phospholipds, chitosan glucosamine fibre Antacid Coats & protects Syringe 1-2 syringes (60-120g) Dietary prevention of ulceration Mark Tompkins chairman of the Newmarket Trainers Federations takes the view that “a common sense approach to gastric ulcers is what's needed, with care being taken over the feeding regime and any stress on horses being kept to a minimum”. In essence he is absolutely correct and as we largely know what the dietary trigger factors are, this should be a fairly straightforward process.

Firstly, whilst the need to minimise gut fill from forage is appreciated, we should try to maximise forage intake whenever possible. This serves two purposes by increasing the amount of protective saliva produced, but also reducing the amount of time that horses in training spend without access to feed. Racehorses could benefit from the best of both worlds, if they were fed more hay or haylage for the majority of the time, with the level being reduced to a minimum (1% of bodyweight for hay and 1.25% of bodyweight for haylage) in the 2-3 days before racing. Additionally, any horses that suffer from recurrent ulcers would certainly benefit from turnout onto pasture for some part of the day. Ensuring meal size is minimised can mollify the negative effects of a high cereal intake. Greater number of small meals, rather than a few large ones is the better option.

It is usually the second and third meals of the day that often need to be reduced and be redistributed to a fourth late feed. Addition of generous double handful of alfalfa chaff to concentrate feeds will also encourage chewing and improve saliva production. Supplements fed to help maintain gastric mucosal health are unlikely to be as effective as drug treatments such as Omeprazole. However, they can be used as an adjunct to veterinary therapy following an initial course of treatment, or during periods where drug treatment has to be withdrawn to avoid contravening doping regulations. In choosing a product however, selecting those from companies that have tested the efficacy of their product in a scientific environment is a wise strategy.

Warren Stute - a look back at a lifetime of uncompromising standards

Shortly after his 80th birthday a few years ago, trainer Warren Stute agreed to stop galloping his horses.
“I could still do it, but I promised my family so they would stop worrying,” the wiry old-timer confided begrudgingly to a Hollywood Park publicist in his gruff voice after being slowed by a minor stroke.

That was vintage Warren Stute, a tough-talking conditioner who spent nearly seven decades on horseback before passing away in Arcadia at age 85 on August 9.

Stute, the senior half of the most famous brother training act in Southern California history with 80-year-old Melvin, left vivid memories as a top horseman with uncompromising standards.

Stute was not the easiest man to get along with, but he was respected by all and beloved by many, as several attested during a memorial service in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club paddock attended by about 300 on August 13.

“Warren was tough, ornery and opinionated, but was the most lovable guy,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar president and CEO. He recalled his “introduction” to Stute in 1967 as a neophyte track cameraman nearly trampled by a horse Stute was exercising.

Harper would spend many mornings in the stable cafeteria at a table including the Stute brothers and the late Clement Hirsch, a track executive and owner who had horses with Warren for 50 years. “I cherished those mornings, listening to him and his suggestions at the coffee klatch,” said Harper.

Although an outspoken right-wing conservative and anti-feminist, Stute nevertheless earned admiration from a centrist veterinarian and a female trainer.

“We first saw each other in 1971--I can’t say met, because all he did was scowl,” recalled track veterinarian Rick Arthur. “The next year he wanted me fired because he said I was a hippie. He could only say liberal with disgust. I considered myself a moderate, but he thought that was liberal. He was gruff, had a temper and wouldn’t talk to you--some for hours, some for life--but for all his gruffness, he had a real kind heart,” said Arthur. “He helped his grooms when they got in trouble with the stewards and security and bailed one out of jail. He thought grooms should park in a lot near the Del Mar backside instead of owners, for which it was reserved.”
I turned a horse I owned named Guillermo over to him when he was 77 or 78 with the condition he couldn’t gallop him,” recalled Arthur of the Real Good Deal Stakes winner. “He got on him anyway and said he was the only one who could handle him.

“In 30 years, I can’t remember ever putting a horse trained by Warren down in a race,” added Arthur. “Warren knew when to stop. He didn’t try to get one more race out of a horse. We lost a good old-school trainer.”
Trainer Jenine Sahadi, no wilting violet herself, remembered a friendly truce with Stute. “He was my neighbor for 17 years (at Santa Anita),” said Sahadi. “He wanted to know why I wasn’t making eggs and bacon.
“One morning, I told Warren I was jogging a horse, and he said, ’If you want to jog those SOB’s, take them to Yonkers (a harness track).’ He said you gallop and work thoroughbreds.”

Octogenarian Jack Robbins, a retired veterinarian and president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, began on the track around the same time as Stute. “He didn’t have a lot of tolerance for owners,” said Robbins. “If anyone told him how to train, out he went.”

Yet a few owners maintained long alliances with Stute, none longer than Clement Hirsch. “As far as loyalty, if you were his friend, he was the best friend you could ever have,” said Bo Hirsch, Clement’s son who continued the family affiliation by keeping horses with Stute for seven years after his father’s death.

Stute made his first major mark in racing when he won the 1951 Santa Anita Maturity (later renamed the Strub Stakes) with Great Circle under Bill Shoemaker when it was the richest race in the world with a $205,700 purse.
Later in 1951, Stute won the Del Mar Debutante with Tonga, a race he would win again 51 years later in 2002 with Miss Houdini for Bo Hirsch. Stute spread his fame internationally earlier in 2002 when he scored the richest victory of his career with Grey Memo in the $1-million Godolphin Mile in Dubai.

There were dozens of stakes winners in between, particularly a blitz during 1969 and 1970 with South American imports Figonero and Snow Sporting and tomboy filly June Darling.

Warren and Mel formed a life-long mutual admiration society despite contrasting personalities, and each thought the other belonged in the Racing Hall of Fame.

“I might be the luckiest man in the world,” said Mel. “He’s not heavy; he’s my brother. He carried me since I was one day old. In my humble opinion, he was the greatest trainer who ever was.”
Mel conceded that his brother could be tough and stubborn, but that he came through when the chips were down. Mel recalled Warren bailing him out financially, once by paying his rent and once by buying tires for his car.

“I wanted to cancel a party for my 80th birthday and saw him 10 days before,” said Mel. “He said, ’I’ve made 79 of your birthdays and I’ll make your 80th.’ He died the morning after my birthday.”

Steve Stute, Warren’s older son, confessed that it was not easy growing up as a teenager during the 1960s. “He broke all my Bob Dylan records and threw all my sociology books for college out the window,” recalled Steve, whose father refused to speak to him for three years when he grew his hair long. “But he was honest.”

Glen Stute, Warren’s younger son and a trainer, thanked the racing community for its support. “The outpouring of love since this man has passed has blown my mind,” said Glen. “The tears in your eyes, the stories I have never heard carried me through all this.”

Steve Schuelein
 (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)

TRM Trainer of the Quarter - Freddie Head

The TRM Trainer of the Quarter goes to Freddie Head for the win of Marchand d'Or in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

James Crispe (European Trainer - Issue 15 / Autumn 2006)

The future of dispute resolution - alternatives to the usual legal process

Disputes about horses and money are all too common in the racing world. The legal process is not a good way of settling disputes it can be costly, lengthy, antagonistic and uncertain. Therefore other ways of settling disputes have been sought. Walking away from a problem may work but it all too often returns twofold. Arbitration To solve a problem by simple negotiation (i.e., with no intermediaries and no legal processes) is a blessing but unfortunately such cases are rare as people often become entrenched in a dispute protecting a “point of principle.” In the USA and increasingly in Europe the costs of legal proceedings have become astronomical. The most common form of legally binding dispute resolution is litigation through the courts before a judge who must be seen as being disinterested and unbiased and where each party is given a fair opportunity to: 1. Present his/her case. 2. To know the opposing case, and 3. To answer it. An arbitrator can be chosen by both parties to act as the judge in their dispute. The traditional legal process has no procedure that allows the parties in a dispute to discuss their respective cases with frankness and openness without giving away their bargaining positions. The unsatisfactory factors of the traditional legal processes have led to the development of alternative dispute resolution the aim of which is “a process for finding a solution that the parties can live with.” Negotiation is the commonest way that disputes are settled. It is only when direct negotiation breaks down that some other means of reaching a settlement is required. Mediation Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) where the parties select an independent third party, or neutral who will assist the parties to reach an acceptable solution. The mediator discusses the problem with both parties together and also separately in private sessions called “caucuses”. These private caucuses enable the mediator to use his or her imaginative problem solving skills to encourage frank and open discussions for both parties. The mediator is there to guide the parties to their own solutions. The mediator is not there to make judgements but to act as an honest broker rather than a judge. Mediation may be brought to the attention of the disputants by solicitors, by a colleague who has experience of mediation as a method of alternative dispute resolution or by the courts. There are court mediation schemes in many larger cities and an increasing number of civil cases brought to the courts are directed back for mediation. It should be emphasised that over 80% of mediations are successful, that the cost of mediation is dramatically less than litigation and also that the proceedings are confidential. It should be noted that parties directed to mediation by the courts, who decline the mediation process, may be charged costs by the court even if they win their case. The process of mediation is that the mediator meets and introduces himself to the two parties. Each party nominates a spokesperson who can be the disputant, the insurer, or friend or a solicitor or barrister. The mediator will then ask each party to outline their side of the dispute, the so-called “initial opening statement”. All parties are present and the mediator listens to both statements. The mediator then separates the two parties and speaks to them both individually. These private sessions are called caucuses. The first caucus tends to be for a relatively short time but then the caucus can be for variable lengths of time in order for the mediator to ascertain the facts, explore both parties evidence and opinions. The mediator explains that he will not reveal any information to the other party unless he is given specific permission to do so. The mediator is not a judge but merely acts as a catalyst exploring alternative methods by which the dispute might be solved. These mediation hearings are “without prejudice”. This means that in the event of the dispute not being solved then the evidence and discussions cannot be mentioned at any subsequent legal trials. It should be emphasised that the vast majority off mediations (>80%) result in a successful outcome and both parties will find common ground and the mediator produces a short conclusive statement which both parties sign. What subjects of disputes can be mediated? For trainer disputes can arise from numerous quarters from the initial purchase of horses, syndicate disputes, partnership disagreements, personal injuries, employment disputes, farriery problems, problems with builders over stables, all-weather gallops etc. The list is endless. Throughout Europe racehorse trainers face the same problems. The marvellous “old-fashioned owners” who even when faced with the worst of luck would murmur - “Oh well, that’s racing!” - are all too rare these days and in the age of modern syndicates there is often a “closet barrister” or a syndicate member who cannot accept that “accidents happen” and who are determined to prove that every piece of bad luck must be someone’s fault and that somebody “definitely needs pursuing”. In my experience, modern trainers may be accused of “ducking and weaving” but they are merely trying to avoid the left hook that often comes from the most unexpected quarter. As they search the world for a horse that may be a “hidden gem” with some “form” which might enable it to compete with the best there are inherent risks. As an equine veterinary surgeon I have been dispatched to far-flung corners of the globe to “vet” such horses and on the whole such entrepreneurial owners have benefited greatly. Galileo, Tulipa and Cobbett have arrived from Warsaw racetrack and acquitted themselves with great aplomb, but for every success there have been some disappointments and the buying and selling of racehorses is often fraught with the possibilities for a dispute. For the “Veterinary Defence Society” (VDS) the purchase of horses represents the biggest single area of problems for the equine veterinary surgeon and the VDS does a very fine job in looking after the interests of veterinary surgeons in this very complicated area. One thing is certain and that is that in the life of a modern European trainer disputes will and do occur from the relatively minor – “How come I was fined by the Jockey Club because the vaccination in the passport was a few days out, and the horse couldn’t then race for a further twenty one days while this problem was rectified?” To the high-profile and well-documented dispute between Coolmore and Sir Alex Ferguson over the ownership of Rock Of Gibraltar. Mediation can take place even when a court date has been set. The costs of mediation are likely to be a fraction of the costs of a court case. In the unusual event of mediation not reaching a satisfactory conclusion then a court case can always occur. The mediation process is one in which a compromise agreement is made i.e., it is not a win/lose situation but a solution that both parties can live with. Some contact details: The Veterinary Mediation Association – www.veterinarymediation.com

New European legislation could prove costly for racehorse transporters

THE enforcement of new European legislation next spring may come as a costly blow to racehorse transporters. The regulation aims to safeguard animal welfare by radically improving conditions during transport, but the racing industry feels that existing standards are already sufficient and the innovations amount to only red tape.

The “Animal Welfare During Transport Regulation” was first drafted by the European Commission in November 2004, primarily with the desire to safeguard livestock being moved for slaughter. There have been countless horror stories involving these poor beasts, who are often subjected to shockingly cramped conditions and treated with little dignity. Racehorses, however, are another matter entirely, but the bill will have a knock-on effect unless an exemption clause is brought in.

Animal transporters (not racehorse transporters) undertaking journeys of over eight hours will be forced to fit satellite navigation systems into newly built vehicles from next year, while all vehicles must have the equipment from 2009. There is also a stipulation for air conditioning. Drivers and staff will need to achieve competency certificates. The total cost of improvements, upgrades and other compliance is thought to total up to £20,000 / €29,000 per vehicle. For both racehorse transport companies and private individuals, this will come as a serious financial blow. It is thought that the governments of Ireland and France will be lenient when it comes to enforcing these regulations. This is no surprise in the case of the former, given the long-standing desire to protect its racing industry for economic, social and political reasons. Britain, however, is another matter, and there are plenty who feel that the overzealous manner with which the detail of EU regulations are adhered to is to the country's detriment.

Kevin Needham, who runs BBA Shipping And Transport Ltd, feels that the needless astringency of the new rules will result in only one reaction. "Operators will ignore them," he said. "Bring a prosecution will be so difficult; there is much the authorities will need to prove. This is nothing but a source of irritation and annoyance." "Every horse box we build nowadays is different to the one before. The whole process is geared towards the operator. Whatever facility you want can be added, and the standard of boxes nowadays is a lot better than in the past. We are not driving lorries with cart springs around anymore, now we have modern chassis with air suspension."

According to Needham and other executives in the same sector, it behoves transporters to move racing and breeding stock with the greatest possible care already. "It matters to everyone who moves thoroughbreds that they get to the races in the best possible condition. Optimum performance depends on it, and our customers rightly will not stand for anything less." Merrick Francis of the Racehorse Transporters’ Association is optimistic that a differentiation will be made between racehorses and other livestock that will overt the situation. "It is still all up for consultation and interpretation by DEFRA [the department for environment, food and rural affairs] but there is reason for optimism that a practical solution can be found," he said.

The pivotal point of this situation is that the EU has listed the changes as 'regulations' rather than 'directives'. This allows the British government far less flexibility, though, according to the Racehorse Trainers’ Federation chief executive Rupert Arnold, they are doing what they can. "DEFRA is trying to be as flexible and helpful as possible. I think that we can find a way through this, but there are areas such as with competency certificates and the regulations applying to journey times and distances that need clarification," he said. One thorny issue of the new regulations is that of competency certificates, which will be required for both drivers and their assistants. Many transporters feel strongly that it is ridiculous to ask a box driver of 40 years experience to pass a test conducted by someone else with far less knowledge of the trade.

Furthermore, there are new controls preventing horses being transported below 0C and above 30C, but trainers who set off for the races early in the morning could not help but offend this stipulation. Most punitive of all is the rule that pertains to the angle of slope of a horse box's ramp which would immediately outlaw a huge number of existing lorries. Cathy McGlynn, the European consultant for the British Horseracing Board, is attempting to assuage these and other frustrations for the racing industry. And the good news is that she is making purposeful headway. "We have been working hard at this for four years, consulting with Rupert Arnold and Merrick Francis and the civil servants. Our dealings with DEFRA have been constructive," she said. "The chances are that domestic racehorse transporters will not be too hard hit, but those firms operating on the continent will have to comply. Details are still to be sorted out." McGlynn concurs with those who feel that the high standards of welfare common throughout the racing industry need no improving upon. Like Arnold, she is particularly frustrated at the rules pertaining to permissible temperature. "There is just no scientific basis for this regulation. If there were, it would be a different matter, but there is no proof of any welfare issue at temperatures outside those which they state." "In some parts of Europe, for example, it is below zero for half of the year. Introducing regulation that cannot be adhered to is futile," she said.

The fact is that this issue took horns from the disgraceful state in which horses for slaughter have been treated in countries such as Hungary and Poland. The International League For The Protection Of Horses and the RSPCA are entirely justified to have taken action over this issue, and the legislation is a step forward in this sphere. But penalising racehorse transporters seems invidious. Needham is particularly irritated by the intransigency of the EU to differentiate between the two situations. "It is a case of one size being made to fit all. The regulations are made from the meat-horse perspective. Nobody is going to jeopardise a Sadler's Wells filly with a foal at foot, for example," he said.

Furthermore, the directive is also looking for all loading ramps to have a 20 degree loading angle and for all boxes to have a minimum headroom of 75cm (roughly 30 inches) above the withers. There is no way that small operators can take on the significant extra expenditure to modify existing boxes, and most will choose to run the gauntlet. Racehorse transportation has taken a quantum leap forward in tandem with the increasing internationalisation of the sport. Gone are the days in which European horses were not in a fit state to compete at events such as the Breeders' Cup. And the awareness of optimum international travel, coupled with the great strides made in other equine sports, have had a knock-on effect in raising domestic standards. "Arthur Stephenson used to send his horses to Cheltenham and back (500 mile round trip) in a day, and horses can still travel long distances, get off the box and run well," Needham says. "Traffic is a bigger problem nowadays, however. Our boxes going to Ireland can get stuck on the A14 for hours. Forward planning can overt this to a degree, such as traveling at off-peak times where it is practical. There are always unforseen delays though. Finding a solution to awkward problems is a daily problem for transporters."

In addition to the new regulation, all horseboxes sold after May 1st 2006 are now fitted with Digital Tacographs, to record driver’s hours and from October 1st 2006 all horse boxes have to be sold with a “Euro 4” specification engine. “The idea behind the new specification engine is to reduce engine emissions even further” says George Smith of George Smith Horseboxes. “However, they’ve been cleaned up since 1990, the new specification is simply to reduce both Nitrous Oxide and soot this is impossible unless you use either an AD Blue System or exhaust gas recirculation”. The cost – approximately £3,000 (€5,000). Naturally, vehicle manufacturers are advising us to buy new boxes before the new regulations come into force!

Electrolyte Balance – vital to the proper functioning of a racehorse's system

Electrolytes are essential components of the racehorse’s diet as they are vital to the proper functioning of the body’s basic physiological processes, such as nerve conduction, muscle contraction, fluid balance and skeletal integrity. The major electrolytes, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium are widely distributed within the body, but can be more concentrated in particular organs and tissues. For example, the level of potassium is very high in red blood cells but quite low in plasma, and the level of calcium in blood is low, but comparatively very high in bone and in muscle cells. The body has in-built mechanisms that work to maintain the correct electrolyte balance within the tissues, fluids and cells. These modify the absorption of electrolytes in the gut, or their excretion by the kidneys. These mechanisms are not foolproof however, and electrolyte loss through sweat can be a major issue for Thoroughbreds. The sweat of the equine athlete, unlike its human counterpart, is hypertonic; meaning that horse sweat contains higher levels of electrolytes than the circulating blood plasma. Consequently, the horse loses comparatively large quantities of electrolytes through sweating.

Although the electrolyte composition of equine sweat varies between individuals, on average a litre would contain about 3.5g of sodium, 6g of chloride, 1.2g of potassium and 0.1g of calcium. From this we can see that the majority of the electrolyte lost is in the form of sodium and chloride or ‘salt’. The amount of sweat produced on a daily basis and therefore the quantity of electrolytes lost differs from horse to horse and depends on a number of factors. As sweating is primarily a cooling mechanism, how hard a horse is working, i.e. the duration and intensity of exercise and both the temperature and humidity of the environment are all significant. Horses can easily produce 10 litres of sweat per hour when working hard in hot humid conditions. Stressful situations can also cause greatly increased sweating.

For example, during transport horses can lose a significant amount of electrolyte through sweating and the opportunity for replenishing this loss through the diet may be less as feeding frequency is reduced. Use of electrolyte supplements either in the form of powders or pastes is advocated before, during and after travel, especially over long distances. Jim Paltridge from IRT (UK) Ltd, (International Racehorse Transport), says, "we use a powdered electrolyte supplement added to the feed on a regular basis given for the 3 days prior to travel. We find this helps offset much of the loss normally incurred during transport and subsequently the horses arrive at their destination in better shape. We feel this electrolyte supplementation is a valuable attribute in the ongoing battle to reduce in-flight dehydration".

Electrolytes lost from the body in sweat must be replenished through the diet. All feeds, including forages, have a natural electrolyte content and in concentrate feeds this is usually enhanced by the addition of ‘salt’, which is sodium chloride. Forages such as grass, hay, haylage or alfalfa (lucerne) naturally contain a large amount of potassium, as can be seen from the table 1 below. In fact, 5kg of hay for example, would provide in the region of 75g of potassium, which largely meets the potassium needs of a horse in training. It is therefore questionable whether an electrolyte supplement needs to routinely contain very much potassium unless forage intake is low. Calcium is another important electrolyte, but it is lost in sweat in only very small amounts and its availability in the diet tends to be very good.

Calcium is particularly abundant in alfalfa with each kilogram of the forage providing nearly 1.5g of calcium. A kilo of alfalfa alone would therefore go a long way towards replacing the likely calcium loss through sweating. In addition, the calcium found in alfalfa is very ‘available’ to the horse in comparison to other sources, such as limestone. Calcium gluconate is another very available source of calcium, however, it has a relatively low calcium content compared to limestone (9% vs. 38%) and so much more needs to be fed to achieve an equivalent calcium intake. Interestingly, there is great variation between individual horses in their ability to absorb calcium, however, scientific studies carried out at Edinburgh Vet School showed that this variability was considerably less when a natural calcium source in the form of alfalfa was fed.

By far the most important electrolytes to add to the feed are sodium and chloride or ‘salt’. The levels of sodium and chloride found in forage are quite low and due to manufacturing constraints only limited amounts of salt can be added to traditional racing feeds. A typical Racehorse Cube fed at a daily intake of 5kg (11lbs) would provide only about 20g of sodium and 30g of chloride. As can be seen from table 2 this is a fair way short of meeting the daily requirements for these particular electrolytes by a racehorse in hard work.

It is therefore very important that supplemental sodium and chloride is fed. Ordinary table salt is by far the simplest and most economical electrolyte supplement, but the downside is the issue of palatability as the addition of larger quantities of salt to the daily feed can cause problems with horses ‘eating up’. As an alternative salt could be added to the water, but only when a choice of water with and without salt is offered. Salt should not be added to the water if it puts a horse off from drinking, as dehydration will become a problem.

Inadequate water intake can also contribute to impaction colic. Saltlicks are another alternative, although intake can be vary variable and we rely on the horse’s innate ability to realise its own salt requirements, which is questionable. So addition to the feed is by far the best route for adding salt or electrolyte supplements to the diet. Splitting the daily intake between two or three feeds can reduce problems with palatability.

Mixing salt and Lo Salt can make another simple DIY electrolyte supplement in the proportion of for example 500g to 250g respectively. Salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), whilst Lo Salt contains a mixture of sodium chloride and potassium chloride (KCl). This formulation provides 3g of sodium, 6g of chloride and 1g of potassium per 10g measure. This DIY mixture will replace these electrolytes in the approximate proportions that they are lost in sweat. What are the implications of a racehorse’s diet containing too little or too much of an electrolyte and how can we assess this? An inadequate level of certain electrolytes in the diet in some horses may simply result in reduced performance. In other individuals, it can make them more susceptible to conditions such as rhabdomyolysis (tying up), or synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (thumps), both of which are regularly seen in horses in training. Conversely, an excess electrolyte intake is efficiently dealt with by the kidneys and is ultimately removed from the body via the urine.

Therefore, the most obvious effect of an excessive electrolyte intake is increased drinking and urination. For this reason, the use of water buckets rather than automatic drinkers is preferred, as whilst the latter are far more labour efficient, the ability to assess water intake daily is lost. Excessive electrolyte intake can also be a causative factor in diarrhoea and some forms of colic. There is also some recent evidence in the scientific press that suggests that repeated electrolyte supplementation might aggravate gastric ulcers. However, these early studies used an electrolyte administration protocol typical of that seen during endurance racing, rather than simply a daily or twice daily administration, which is more commonly used in racing.

Supplements that contain forms of electrolyte that dissolve more slowly in the stomach, however, may be less aggressive to the sensitive mucosa. Unfortunately blood levels of sodium, potassium, chloride or calcium are poor indicators of whether dietary intake is sufficient or excessive unless it is very severe. This is because the body has effective systems for regulating the levels of these electrolytes in blood within very tight physiological limits. A creatinine clearance test, which measures the electrolyte content of a paired blood and urine sample is a much more useful indicator of dietary electrolyte adequacy.

There are a large number of commercial electrolyte products available, with a wide range in the breadth of ingredients that they contain. Consequently, they vary enormously in the amount of electrolyte that they deliver per recommended daily dose, as can be seen in table 3. In addition, whilst some glucose or other carbohydrate can help improve palatability, its presence should not compromise the amount of electrolyte that is contained within the supplement. In humans, it is recognised that the uptake of sodium from the gut is improved in the presence of glucose, while this effect in horses has not been firmly established. Electrolyte paste products are also often used either before and or after racing or travel.

These products are useful as they allow rapid electrolyte intake even when feed eaten may be reduced following racing. These electrolyte pastes often provide a more concentrated form of supplement and it is extremely important to ensure that the horse has access to water immediately following their use. Failure to do this may mean that the concentration of electrolytes in the gut actually draws water from the circulating blood, which can exacerbate dehydration. Another disadvantage with paste supplements is that if they are not formulated well, with an appropriate consistency, they can be difficult to dispense from a syringe and the horse may also be able to spit most of the product out after administration.

Some simple rules of thumb for choosing a good electrolyte are that salt should be one of the first ingredients listed on pack, as all ingredients are listed in descending order of inclusion. Additionally, be wary of supplements that taste sweet, as they may contain a lot of carbohydrate filler and little electrolyte. Some electrolyte supplements also contain many superfluous ingredients such as vitamins and trace minerals. The inclusion of these latter ingredients is largely unwarranted and their presence could cause issues with oversupply if the electrolyte is multi-dosed daily. Some electrolyte products specifically marketed towards racing may also contain bicarbonate.

The theory behind its inclusion is sound as ‘milk shaking’, whilst outside the rules of racing, has some scientific validity. However, the limited amount of bicarbonate contained in such electrolyte supplements is unlikely to have the positive effect on performance attributed to the former practice. Other extra ingredients such as pre-biotics may be more useful as they may improve the absorption of some electrolytes. In Summary, electrolyte supplementation in one form or another is essential within a racing diet. Ensuring that you are using a good electrolyte supplement is important and the quantities fed must be flexible and respond to changes in the level of work, degree of sweating and climate.