Dr. Robert and Laura Vukovich

Article by Bill Heller

Going to the track with your father is a powerful experience for a little boy—a treasured memory. “I grew up on the Jersey shore, and my dad used to take me out to Monmouth Park,” Dr. Robert Vukovich of WellSpring Stables said. “I was probably nine or 10. He taught me how to read the Racing Form, and sometimes he would place a bet for me. I’ve always loved horses and horse people. I decided if I ever had the chance, I would try to get involved somehow.”

Seven decades later, he is involved up to his gills and wouldn’t want it any other way. The fact that he can share it with his wife Laura makes it even more special. “She’s been there every step of the way,” he said.

Why did he wait until the 1990s to get involved in Thoroughbred racing? “College and my pharmaceutical career got in the way,” he joked. “I started in pharmaceutical research.”

He eventually developed his own company, Robert’s Pharmaceutical, and sold it to a large United Kingdom company in the late 1990s. That allowed him to return to horses.

Asked if he ever misses his pharmaceutical career, Robert said, “No. I don’t miss all the pressures. I don’t miss all the deadlines and the regulatory commissions.”

That didn’t prevent him from being successful in his industry. “He came from nothing and has worked very hard,” Laura, a native of Brooklyn with no prior history with horses, said. “We both did. He’s just a warm, caring person even to his horses. He says, `You only go around once—no rehearsal.’”

He’s never been happier than he is now with horses. “I wake up in the morning, and I think of horses,” he said. “I talk to people all day about horses, and sometimes I even dream about them—horses like Leave No Trace. Could this be really happening? Did we win the Spinaway?” They did.

In 1999, the Vokoviches bought a horse farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey, where they now also live. “We started with 100 acres and added pieces,” Robert said. “We currently have 168 acres. Laura names most of our horses.”

She named their two-year-old filly star Leave No Trace after a movie she watched some time ago. “I didn’t see the whole movie,” she said. “It was about a father and a daughter and some tragedy.”

Their horse operation has been the complete opposite. They began breeding horses and then started buying them at auctions and racing them. “Over time, I got to appreciate that I could do better than breeding by carefully selecting horses at auctions,” Robert said. “We now buy most of our bloodstock.”

His initial success came with the help of late trainer Dominick Galluscio, who saddled Organizer and Dr. Vee’s Magic to consecutive victories in the rich Empire Classic for New York-breds in 2006 and 2007. “He was a great trainer and a friend,” Robert said.

Now he uses Phil Serpe and Jim Ryerson as his trainers. “After Dominick passed, I asked Jim Ryerson if he’d take a few horses,” Robert said. “He did. I asked him who would be useful to me as a trainer who races in New York and Florida, and he nominated Phil Serpe. Phil and I have been doing business for seven years. We train our horses in the winter down in Florida and bring them up in the springtime and decide whether to send them to Jim or Phil.”

Robert and Laura now have 15 horses in training, including eight yearlings and five weanlings. They have never done better than the last two years. In 2021, Safe Conduct won the Queen’s Plate. Unfortunately, Peter and Laura weren’t there at Woodbine. “We couldn’t get up there to watch in because of Covid,” Robert said. “We had a bunch of people here. When he crossed the finish line, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. It was remarkable.” More recently he finished second in the Gr. 3 Monmouth Stakes. “He’s still a special horse,” Robert said. 

So is Leave No Trace, who followed a 2 ¼ length debut in a restricted maiden debut at Saratoga by capturing the Gr. 1 Spinaway there at 14-1. Serpe trains both Safe Conduct and Leave No Trace. Robert and Laura purchased Safe Conduct for $45,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland November Sale and Leave No Trace for $40,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Fall Sale. Combined, they have earned more than $900,000 with a lot of racing still ahead of them.

But, again, Robert and Laura weren’t at the track when Leave No Trace won the Spinaway. “We were in Switzerland when she won the Spinaway,” Laura said. “We watched it on the telephone. It was around midnight. My husband went bananas. We were very proud. Now Phil is asking us not to be there in her future races. He said he’d buy us cruise tickets.”

Regardless, Robert and Laura are embracing the ride. “To see a little baby grow up and become a rockstar in horse racing, it’s very fulfilling.” Robert said.

Actually, they enjoy every horse they have, regardless of their performances. “Horses are very honest,” Robert said. “They’re the best employees you can have. They just give you all they have, and they never question it. Mother Nature created these animals so beautiful, so powerful and, for most cases, very gentle around you. You sit and watch them in awe. They always give you their best. They give you everything they’ve got. You can’t ask for more. I’m going to be 80. The horses keep me young.”

Is sexual harassment an issue on the backstretch?

Words - Ken Snyder

“You’ve come a long way baby” was a slogan for a cigarette brand back in the late ‘60s.  And while more and more women trainers are commonplace on racetracks, the problem is they and other females are still addressed as “baby” and far, far worse by male workers…in the early 2020s.

Sexual harassment at racetracks, like practically all workplaces across America, exists. And things far worse than a “honey,” “sweetie,” or yes, “baby” is directed at women by men unfamiliar with them, creating uncomfortableness or offense.

To wit, at one racetrack, female workers living on the backside above the barns generally can’t leave their rooms at night by themselves.

At another racetrack, a female assistant trainer living on the backside had to make sure to lock her tack room door as there were persons, presumably drunk and/or drugged men, pounding on it on many nights. 

The locations of the instances above are not important because sexual harassment is everywhere on every racetrack. Extremes like the situations above are seemingly minor forms of harassment, not physically threatening but damaging on another level.

Sandra Washington, a 21-year-old assistant trainer to John Alexander Ortiz, is the tack room survivor.  Much to Ortiz’s credit (and were all trainers this thoughtful and generous) he moved Washington into his home with his wife and family for two years. He expressed his reason succinctly: “There are some bad people back here.”

There are bad people everywhere, but the racetrack is an environment with living arrangements and working hours that make for far more dangerous scenarios.   

A member of one racetrack chaplaincy, who is female and ministers specifically to female backside workers, said, “I am not allowed to work here when it is dark.” Not surprisingly, the racetrack she serves is where female barn workers also can’t go out when it is dark either.

“Most of them take showers right after they work.  They don’t want to be out of their room” she said.

“If they do go out, they make sure to be part of a group,” she added, “but most completely avoid it.”

To say the racetrack is different from other workplace environments is comparing Mother Earth to the moon.  Where to begin?  The biggest difference is a huge majority of female workers on the racetrack do not leave their place of work for homes elsewhere.  As many as 85% of workers live in racetrack dorms or above barns (and also above the horses). Life with male co-workers in some kind of proximity is 24/7. 

Demographically, female racetrack workers are overwhelmingly Hispanic. In fact, racing in the U.S. might employ more Hispanics, per capita, than any other industry. If this is not a factor in the degree or number of instances of harassment, it certainly is a factor in how female victims respond to it. (More on this later.) 

Add to that an outdoor environment. “Catcalls are a common commodity back here,” according to Washington—something that will bring you before Human Resources in a hurry in office settings, typically. 

Lastly, there are cultural and economic issues unique to the racetrack. 

Understanding the impact of coming to a foreign country and an environment that can be virtually inescapable is a factor in being preyed upon, according to Karen Jemima Davila. She is a student at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville and assistant to Churchill Downs racetrack chaplain, Joseph del Rosario. “It’s just work, work, work. They [Hispanic women] save a little bit for themselves and the rest they send back to their homes.  It affects how they do things and how they understand themselves.” 

Most do not know what is out-of-bounds as far as treatment from men because they are not integrated into American culture, lifestyle, and, most important, rights.  And if they do know what is permissible and what is not, they fear reprisal or job loss if they report harassment.

“I’ll lose my job--that’s the biggest fear. ‘If I come forward, are they going to kick me out and take my license?’” said Eli Hernandez, racetrack chaplain at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and San Luis Rey.

“That’s the problem right there. ‘I keep my mouth shut; I’ll keep my job.”  

Social pressures also exist to prevent either coming forward or pursuing a complaint to a conclusion and action by the racetrack against a perpetrator.  “The word starts getting around that it’s their fault.  ‘You brought this on yourself.‘ ‘You’re easy.’  People start whispering,” said Hernandez. 

“That’s a lot of pressure. You’re talking about 25-, 26-, 27-year-olds.  All they’re trying to do is make a living and support their families.  It’s bad enough they’re away from their families,” said Hernandez.

Another factor is a fear of deportation if they come forward—a fear not grounded in fact.  According to Hernandez and others questioned, a Hispanic woman who is an illegal immigrant is regarded as a possible victim of an offense and that only. Nothing more, nothing less. With representatives at every jurisdiction interviewed for this story, the message was the same:  immigration status is not and will not be an issue with a woman lodging a complaint. 

Are Hispanic women unaware of immunity from deportation proceedings if they file a complaint for sexual harassment?  Lynn McNally of the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) responded, “That’s a good question.” 

“Probably more could be done to communicate that there wouldn’t be repercussions in their immigration status because they reported something.”

Racetracks—it is safe to say and to their credit—are not ignoring the issue or standing still on measures to prevent it. Churchill Downs and the racetrack chaplaincy, along with non-profit organizations historically supporting efforts there and the Kentucky HBPA are re-instituting meetings from pre-Covid days to make female workers aware of what is and what isn’t sexual harassment, and what to do if they are harassed.

Before Covid, Churchill Downs conducted three meetings a year in the on-track chapel there.

“There are always new people, so this has to be ongoing—something that we continually address,” said del Rosario.

“The purpose is to encourage women to not accept that kind of behavior…to speak out, that Churchill Downs Security is not going to tolerate it, and to pass the word to others.“

One initiative that was also pre-Covid was hiring a women’s ministry director—a position now filled by Davila.  “That has helped build trust. A woman talking to another woman will make it easier,” said del Rosario.

Nebraska tracks are similar to Churchill Downs in that harassment prevention seems to be a collective effort from various racetrack constituencies.

Both the Nebraska HBPA board members and management at racetracks in the state are at the core of a shift in attitudes of mutual respect, according to McNally. “I think that that gives us a tremendous advantage in moving things forward and having women feel comfortable in the workplace.

“There’s a difference between being internally supportive and actually taking action to prevent behaviors from occurring with employees. Our president, Gerald Wilson, has been extremely vocal about treating all employees respectfully. He’s been very, very proactive and vocal about it.”  

Women-to-women relationships, counsel, and guidance are probably the most important keys to prevention on Nebraska racetracks as well, according to Lynne McNally.  “We are an all-female staff at the HBPA.”

Hernandez, as well, is mindful of gender in building trust issues in his work in Southern California.

“I always have my wife there,” he said of encounters with female barn workers reporting harassment. “Sometimes they just want to talk to my wife.

“‘Who can I trust?  Who can I come to where I’m not going to be judged? ‘You’re not going to put me down.’  ‘You’re not going to blame me, but you’re going to listen to me,’” Hernandez said, echoing what he has heard and what he has seen in serving as a chaplain in Southern California.

“I told my wife when we started four years ago, ‘Let’s show people our hearts before we ask them to show us their hearts.’”  

Hernandez believes he and his wife have built a foundation where women are less hesitant about coming forward.

Coming forward, however, is only the beginning of a process that often is short-circuited by the victim.

He recalled driving a female racetrack worker to make a report who, on the way, told him she didn’t want to proceed with a report after all. “‘I don’t want to get a bad reputation.  I don't want people to start talking bad about me,’” he recalled her saying in response to why she wouldn’t file a report. 

“It will happen.  Everybody is going to know.  Everybody is going to say she’s a slut, or she’s the one who gave in.”

The number of individuals coming to Hernandez—two female workers last year and three in 2020—would seem to indicate the issue is not a big one, at least at Southern California racetracks. The fact is, the number of harassment offenses unreported is inestimable.

The need expressed by everyone responsible for harassment in the racetrack environment is better communication to female barn workers about their rights and making certain of good resources for protection.

Hernandez is an example, perhaps, of resources and equally important, a thoughtful, careful approach to aiding and supporting a victim. “Our main goal is to build trust by having a safe zone here where people just come here.  

“We put out clothes, water, toiletries, shoes, and Pampers every day.  We also make breakfast for people who don’t have money.  

Perhaps more impactful and important for harassment victims is how he and his wife approach the individual. “Let’s do one ‘stitch’ at a time,” said Hernandez, using a wound analogy to describe both what he sees in harassment victims and the care that he and his wife try to bring to women coming to them. “We won't try to close up the wound in one day.  Let’s talk a little bit today and then tomorrow we’ll visit it again.”

Let’s hope racing will have fewer “wounds” for the Sandra Washingtons of racing and the many, many Hispanic female workers simply trying to make a living for themselves and their families in their home countries.  

A living is not always a life.

What's happened to Jerry Dixon Jr. since the Kentucky Derby?

Article by Ken Snyder

There is always someone absent from the post-Kentucky Derby press conference presenting the winning owner, trainer, and jockey to the media.  If you consider the missing person is the individual closest to the winning horse who spends the most time with them, it doesn’t make sense. It also carves away from reportage a beautiful dimension to horse racing. Absent this year, as is always the case, was the groom. Jerry Dixon, Jr. had work to do: lead Rich Strike to the test barn and then to the horse’s barn for a bath and feed. 

Today, four short months later, Dixon is absent from Derby-winning trainer Eric Reed’s barn. He mucks stalls now for trainer David Wilson, Jr. at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, 107 miles northeast of Louisville and Churchill Downs and eons away in terms of racing prestige. The last horse Dixon took to a paddock at the time of writing was for another Belterra trainer in a $5,000 claiming race. The reasons for Dixon’s departure from Reed are undisclosed, private, and depending on whom you ask, likely to be disputed.  

It’s the racetrack.  

The sport of racing demands resilience to disappointment and occasional heartbreak. Ask Steve Asmussen, maybe the hardest working trainer on the racetrack, who is the all-time leader in wins but winless with 24 Derby starters. The very best trainers like Asmussen see roughly only one out of five of their horses winning. Horses purchased for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and occasionally seven figures, flop as racehorses or worse—suffer an injury. Many never make it to the racetrack at all. As for horse owners, there’s an old joke that you can become a millionaire owning racehorses…if you start out as a billionaire. It’s a tough sport. But it has a soul.

That soul is manifested in people like Jerry Dixon, someone who, in less than half a year, has gone from the highest of highs to, well, Belterra Park. 

Whatever may have happened with Jerry, there’s no denying in the opinion of many that he gave Rich Strike all of himself. Lindsy Reed, Eric’s daughter, perhaps overstated it only minimally when she said in the wake of the Derby that “Jerry didn’t let that horse out of his sight” during the two weeks the horse was stabled at Churchill Downs before the big race. Horse and groom adopted the same rest schedule, and Jerry slept on bags of wood shavings with his head in Rich Strike’s stall. He would also lie down in the stall. Waking up was left to Rich Strike who, Dixon said, would drop hay or drip water on him to wake him up. 

In all sports, there are relationships between teammates, player and coach, and competitors—the best example being jockeys who are de facto guardians of each other’s lives. But horse racing, all by itself, offers animal and human relationships with discoveries that, if they don’t touch you someplace in your heart, they should. There is a unique bond not duplicated between humans. Grooms and horses develop their own language—a kind of telepathy that no other person shares. A good, if not great, groom like Dixon (and he falls more to the latter of those two adjectives) is the protector, caretaker and “interpreter” for the horse, reading the body, the behavior and most importantly the changes that tell a groom first, and subsequently a trainer and others, how the horse is doing and what might be expected. Dixon did all these things in the crucial two weeks leading up to the astounding triumph of an 80-to-one longshot. 

Breaking the bond has not been easy for Dixon.

“I think about Rich Strike every day. I go through my phone and look at pictures. I even look at the Derby still.”    

Dixon’s pairing with Rich Strike and the relationship that followed was not happenstance but one that was carefully considered and thought through by Eric Reed and others, given the already apparent talent of the horse well before the Derby. 

Lindsy Reed introduced Dixon to Rich Strike at her family’s training center after her dad claimed him out of a race at Ellis Park. “’I’m going to leave you and Richie alone,’” Lindsy told Dixon and, without another word, walked off, leaving Dixon befuddled and a tad fearful. He knew of the horse’s potential and his importance to the stable. Whether it was a test for Dixon isn’t known but likely. 

“So, he didn’t eat you alive,” Lindsy said when she returned to Dixon and Rich Strike. The horse had stood quietly, allowing Dixon to pet him, prompting her to say, “He likes you.” She said nothing more.  That may have been when he won the job of the groom for Rich Strike. Before this introduction, trainer Eric Reed had seen what he called a “soft touch” with horses in Dixon that he felt might suit Rich Strike.

The choice of the relatively young Dixon, 31, who has worked on the racetrack for several trainers (including Shug McGaughey), proved to be a good one. Horse and groom established a bond that was relaxing to the energetic, if not high-strung, three-year-old.

Dixon laying down in the stall became Rich Strike’s cue to lay down as well. 

Some waking hours were not so easy, however.  

A few days before the Derby, Dixon needed to jog Rich Strike in front of the state veterinarian as required. “I was trying to jog Rich Strike, and he kind of just wanted to walk. Once I smooched to him a little bit to jog, he wanted to put his two front hooves in my pockets.” Rearing up in protest provided a clear message:  “I’d rather not jog—maybe another time.

“I was watching the way he was training every morning. He got better and better every day; that was the biggest indicator [of coming performance]. He would bow his neck every morning while he was going. It didn’t matter if it was the day after we breezed him.” Fast recovery from a prior-day breeze or timed workout seemed to have no effect. It was what impressed Dixon most about Rich Strike before the Derby. 

Watching a horse and knowing what you are seeing are two very different things. Dixon knew what he was seeing, and it pointed to everything coming up roses, as in the garland draped over Derby winners.  He was confident the horse could at least hit the board in the Derby, and the win was not a total shock.  “He loved the racetrack.” 

A win belongs first to the horse and jockey and, of course a team—starting with the owner who writes the checks, the trainer, the groom, down to the hotwalker.  

As for the post-Derby press conference, Dixon had a job to do, which he had done hundreds of times:  get his horse back to the barn after a race. It’s hard to imagine this quiet, extremely polite young man, who liberally sprinkles “sirs” or “ma’ams” in his conversation, seeking or enjoying the spotlight. He was where he wanted to be: with the horse.  

There were tears and a lot of them for Dixon in the wake of Rich Strike’s Derby victory.  

There were tears, too, when the relationship between Dixon and Rich Strike came to an end.  Psychologists might say Dixon is going through the stages of grief. Whatever the reason Dixon said, “it’s probably going to take a while to jump back in the stall and feel like I’m doing right for a horse.

“I know I still have the eye for it and the talent for it. It’s all about wanting to do it.”

In the meantime, he bides his time raking out soiled straw from stalls, pushing it in a wheelbarrow to a collection area, and spreading fresh straw. It is menial and mindless, but it keeps Dixon home in Cincinnati with his wife and daughter.

The Triple Crown trail, with its excitement and attention from the media and racing world, was “living the dream,” usually expressed sarcastically but true for Dixon. But it had a downside.  

“It’s hard to have a family. You have to be all the way in or not at all,” said Dixon. All is demanded of every racetracker who wants to succeed in racing, from trainer to hotwalker. “My wife and daughter missed the family time they wanted to have with me while I was chasing my dream.  

“Stepping away from grooming has given me downtime with my family.”

The racetrack itself is also family for Dixon. A lady in the racing office at Belterra has talked to him daily, telling him over and over, “’Don’t forget. You’re a part of that horse winning the Kentucky Derby.’ 

“She’s making sure I’m all right. I know where it’s coming from. It's not people just being kind.” 

History is unerasable no matter what is going on in the present or what may come in the future. Dixon obviously heeds the encouragement of the lady in the Belterra racing office. “He won the biggest race in America. That solidifies his greatness. I’m part of the history with the horse.”  

Jerry is a fourth-generation horseman, but he and he alone accomplished something no one in his family ever did or likely ever will do. Forevermore, he will be pointed out to generations of Dixons that follow: that Jerry Junior was a groom for a Derby winner.

On a recent muggy summer morning at Belterra as Jerry mucked stalls and spread new straw, an aged hotwalker passing by stopped to ask if I had ever interviewed a Derby-winning trainer (yes) or jockey (yes). “Have you ever interviewed a Derby-winning groom?” he asked with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, knowing the answer as he pointed to Jerry Dixon, Jr.  

Racing, again, has its ups and downs, but the triumphs are permanent.     

A Kentucky Derby is what people around the world see. What’s not seen is the day-to-day that gets a Derby starter and all other horses down to the cheapest claimer to the starting gate.  

For grooms, days can begin as early as 4:00 a.m. in pitch-black darkness, of course, with bathing horses, tacking them up, and readying them for workouts. In Jerry Dixon Jr.’s case, past roles in various barns included coating legs with medication, then applying bandages or wraps, and sending a horse out under an exercise rider. The process is repeated on a second horse while the first is out on the track. When horses return, they must be bathed, their legs medicated, or simply wrapped again and fed. The merry-go-round of horses going out and coming back in from workouts, and the work needed for each horse, is virtually non-stop through 10:30 or 11 a.m.

The day, however, isn’t over. There’s an afternoon feeding, and on race days, there’s taking a horse to the paddock before a race, getting them back to the barn, bathing and feeding. During racing at Turfway Park just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, which has night racing, the day begins at 5 a.m. for Dixon and can end as late as 10:45 or 11 p.m., if one of the horses in his care runs in the last race. “I don’t get home till midnight,” he said.

His hours during racing at Belterra are only marginally better. He has to be at the track at 4 a.m. and be there at least through feed time at 5:30 in the afternoon. A horse in the last race of the day means an extra hour at the track.  

The job is a tough one and getting tougher all the time as not just most, but all racetracks have a shortage of barn help. The shortages, according to Dixon, are going to mean “somebody is getting cheated.” Something as obvious as a missing horseshoe can be overlooked in the rapid-fire process of getting horses out for workouts in the morning. “There are so many horses and so few people with a limited amount of time to get things done.” 

There are other issues related to an individual trainer’s style and the regard with which they hold grooms. “Sometimes it feels like people look at the grooms as if they’re just workers and not in the aspect of being a part of the organization to have some knowledge to be able to give back to the trainer, the assistant, or whoever. Like I’ve said, we spend more time with the horse than anybody else does.  We’ll see something before the trainer will. I’ve been in barns where you don’t see the trainer. It’s more of a phone type of deal.”

It’s not uncommon for grooms to sometimes double as assistant trainers, managing the barn for stables—something Jerry did at Turfway. “If we had horses in, I’d make sure I was in contact with the vet. I’d get the Lasix, or, if we had any problems, make sure we got any medication needed for the horse, take them to the races, cool them out, load them on the trailer, unload them—everything,” he said. 

Races were, of course, after a full morning. “I would get there and do the stalls, do the groundwork, get the horses out with the exercise riders—find out how far we would train the horses each day. 

Days off are two Sundays a month…maybe. 

Dixon credits Eric Reed and his daughter Lindsy; other trainers; Reed’s groom Benito Luna, who now cares for Rich Strike; and members of his own family—his father and uncles he describes as “great horsemen”—for mentoring and helping him in his career.

It is a career that is not over. He plans to take the test for a trainer’s license and hang his own shingle perhaps as early as later this year.  

Rob Atras - the 'up and coming' NY based trainer in profile

Words - Bill Heller

Trainer Rob Atras wasn’t born into racing; he was into racing before he was born. His mother didn’t let her pregnancy at the time prevent her from visiting the winner’s circle after her horse won a race at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. 

“She has the win picture,” Rob laughed. “She said, `You were in my stomach when the picture was taken.’ When I was old enough, I went around the track with her. I was probably five or six. ”

Three decades later, Rob is a rising star in New York—a young conditioner steeped in old school horsemanship with an uncanny knack of claiming horses. He was good enough to finish tied for seventh with Brad Cox in the 2021 Saratoga Meet, when he won his first Gr. 1 stakes, the Coaching Club American Oaks, with Maracuja. At the current Belmont Park Summer Meet, he is tied for sixth with David Donk. Rob’s earnings grew from $1.8 million in 2019 to $2 million in 2020 and $3.9 million in 2021. He’s already topped $2 million in the first six months of this year. Rob, who is 37 years old, ranked 37th nationally in earnings last year and is 37th this year through the end of June.

He is strengthened by his wife/assistant trainer/best friend Brittney, who is proud of Rob’s horsemanship. Asked why he is successful, she said, “I think because he treats each horse individually. It’s so true—how they train, how their legs are wrapped. Rob is very hands-on. He’s always feeling their legs. He’s really good at reading a condition book. Rob is very realistic about the horses we have and where they need to race to be successful.”

Rob’s equine education began with his mother, Tanis, who owned a couple of horses while working at a bank. When she retired, she had all the time she wanted with horses. “She grew up always riding,” Rob said. “She owned a couple of horses with trainer Jack Robertson. We were very close to his farm. She would help him out. I was too young at first. I’d be in the track kitchen reading the Form. I had a pretty good background from my mom.”

She couldn’t be prouder of her only child, and she saw his love of horses as a child. “That was his passion,” she said. “To be that successful at the New York tracks, we’re very proud of him. He puts his heart and soul into it. He’s done that his whole life. He loves it. He’s got a great wife, and they’re a great team.”

Rob’s father, Jim, was an undercover investigator for the Royal Canadian Mountain Police for 30 years in the province of Manitoba. “Sometimes he was gone for a week,” Rob said. “He wasn’t really involved in horses, but he’s been really supportive of me.”

Still. “We never miss a race,” his mother said. “It’s so exciting for us. We love watching him.”

Rob’s journey from Portage la Prairie in Manitoba to New York had plenty of interesting stops.

He worked summers for Jack Robertson when he was 16 and 17. Asked what he learned from him, Rob replied, “All the fundamentals—taking care of the horses, the legs, keeping track of the horses.”

After he graduated from high school, he took a job in a steel factory. “I left the job, and with everything I made, I bought a horse,” Rob said. “With no plan. I went to the University of Manitoba for a year and a half.”

Then he bolted back to the track for life.

Rob began working for trainer Bert Blake. “He’s a legend up in Canada, and he had a small stable,” Rob said. “He asked me if I could work for him. I had two horses. He said I could keep them. I trained a little on my own. Bert let me do that. I worked up to assistant trainer. It was really cool.”

His next job was even cooler. He got an offer to come to Kentucky and work for trainer Rebecca Maker, whose top horse at the time was It’s No Joke, a multiple stakes winner who earned $685,612. He was eighth in the Gr. 1 Clark at Churchill Downs, but Rob still has a good memory of the race. “I was standing next to Todd Pletcher; I emailed my mom and told her, `You’ll never believe who I was standing next to.’ After Churchill Downs, Rob worked for Maker at the Fair Grounds.

“It really opened my eyes—how big the racing world is,” Rob said. “I was so green. I was a sponge and took in everything. I wanted to be there and learn as much as I could. I was 22.” 

He returned to Canada and cobbled together a stable of 15 to 20 horses. His first winner was a $5,000 claimer, Forgotten Battle, September 3, 2010, at Assiniboia Downs. Like many other trainers at Assiniboia, he wintered in Turf Paradise in Phoenix. That’s where he had the good fortune of meeting trainer Robertino Diodoro in 2014. “He sent me a couple horses to run in Canada,” Rob said. “I think I was finishing my fourth or fifth year training on my own.”

Diodoro offered him a job. “I didn’t have a ton of horses in my barn; as much as I loved Turf Paradise, it was a struggle financially. I felt like I was spinning my tires a little bit. I wasn’t really moving up. He asked me to go to Oaklawn Park. That meant giving up my horses and clients. I was going from trainer to assistant trainer, but it didn’t take long for me to decide. I’m going to take this opportunity and see where it goes.”

He has never regretted that decision. “I got along very well with Robertino; you feel like you’re working with him, not for him. We developed a friendship.”

Rob would eventually handle Robertino’s horses in New York before striking out on his own in the toughest circuit in the country. “He talked to a few people, and I wound up with six horses.” Rob said. Now he has 50.

He began on his own in the 2018–2019 winter, a calculated gamble, racing at Aqueduct while many of New York’s top outfits shipped to Florida for the winter. He knocked his opportunity out of the park, winning five races in his first nine starts.

In New York, he found a baseball team to root for, the love of his life and a goat.

“When I came to New York, I started watching the Yankees,” he said. “They had Aaron Judge. I went to a couple games.” Judge is currently leading the majors in home runs, and Rob wears a Yankees cap almost all the time.

Brittney, like her husband, was introduced to horses at a young age. “Both of my parents are horse people,” Brittney said. “My father (Larry Dixon) was a trainer and had a training center in Virginia; my mom is a vet. I grew up with horses.”

She got the opportunity of a lifetime in Godolphin’s Flying Start program, traveling all over the world. “It was amazing,” she said. “I met a lot of contacts and got to see the greatest horses in the world.”

Unsure of what she wanted to pursue in horse racing, she took a job working for Fasig-Tipton after she graduated from the University of Georgia, then worked for Bridlewood Farm. 

Her mom was a vet at Belmont Park, administering Lasix shots. Brittney decided to tag along with her and then do the same with veterinarian Dr. Michael Galvin. On her first morning with him, she met Rob.

Galvin and Brittney stopped by Rob’s barn. “I was still working for Robertino at the time,” Rob said. “Dr. Galvin asked him how one of my horses did in his race. I said, 'No good!’ Then Galvin introduced Brittney. “I said, `Hi,’ and that was it,” Rob said. “I was still pissed off about the race.”

Brittney took that experience favorably. “He had no interest in talking to me; that made me more interested.”

Fate, karma or coincidence happened the next day when Rob and a friend went to Trotters, a bar and restaurant in Franklin Square. Brittney was living with her mother, and they decided to go there as well. They sat next to Rob and his pal. “We talked for two hours,” Brittney said. 

While she was leaving, though, she slipped and fell down. “I slipped; I wasn’t drunk,” she said. “I was super embarrassed.”

She felt she had to tell Rob that, so she stopped by his barn the next morning. Then she invited Rob to join her and her mother for dinner. “We have been together ever since,” she said. “He’s literally the most kind, thoughtful person I know.” They married in September 2018.

Gilbert the goat

Then there’s the goat, Gilbert, possibly the greatest goat of all time. Or maybe the greatest Gilbert of all time. “I had never had a goat,” Rob said. “We had a wild horse, a Tapit colt, Tappin Vegas, who was very tough to manage. Someone said, `Why don’t you get a goat? They’re supposed to calm down horses.’ I asked around.” 

Rob bought three-month-old Gilbert. He was not an instant success. “The goat was wild—running all over the place, jumping up and down,” Rob said. “We tied him down between two horses’ stables.”

Gilbert wanted nothing to do with the problem horse he was supposed to calm down, Tappin Vegas. The horse in the other stall was Becker’s Galaxy, an older gelding. “He fell in love with Becker’s Galaxy,” Rob said. “Whenever Becker’s Galaxy would leave his stall, Gilbert would cry out. But Gilbert’s calmed down. Now he listens to his name like a cat or a dog.”

Does he come when he’s called? “Sometimes,” Rob said.

Rob is much better at training horses than goats. 

One of Rob’s happiest clients is Sandy Goldfarb, a long-time successful owner who had temporarily left the game. “I was with Diodoro,” Sandy said. “Then I was out of the game for five years.”

He credits Rob and Brittney for getting him back into the game. “They’re really amazing—the most down-to-earth people, and the care they give their horses is unbelievable,” Sandy said. “I just really believe in Rob, his talent, his ability. He’s done an incredible job. I have eight to 15 horses with him now. They get claimed left and right.”

Two horses they claimed gave Rob instant credibility in New York. “We claimed American Power in Saratoga for $40,000 (on July 29, 2020),” Rob said. All American Power did was win four straight, including the $145,500 Gr. 3 Toboggan Handicap, January 30, 2021, at Aqueduct. It was Rob’s first graded stakes victory.

Sandy and partners had similar success with Mr Phil—a $32,000 claim on  February 27—this year who won three straight allowance races before taking on sprint superstar Jackie’s Warrior and finishing fifth in the Gr. 2 True North Handicap, June 10.

In between those two successful claims, Rob’s Maracuja gave him his first Gr. 1 stakes, taking the Coaching Club American Oaks by running down Malathaat to win by a head last July 24. “We came in as an underdog,” Rob said. “We were hoping for second, but we would have settled for third. It was quite a thrilling race, an oddly-run race.”

Indeed.  

Maracuja (2) Coaching Club American Oaks 2021 - Atras’ first Gr.1 winner

“I would never have expected my first Gr. 1 to be at Saratoga,” Rob said.

Brittney still gets emotional talking about it nearly a year later: “Literally, I think I’m going to cry. I get serious goosebumps. It was so amazing and so beautiful. I am still not sure she won it.”

She did. And the common denominator for those two successful claims and the Gr. 1 stakes winner was the care they received from Rob and Brittney.

“You learn to train a $3,000 claimer as a stakes horse,” Rob said. “In feeding him, taking care of him. We just believe in that. The people I learned from were very good trainers. Everything matters: the type of feed, the hay in the stall, every little item. They’re going to be happy if they’re healthy.”

In terms of making claims, Rob said, “Obviously, the horse’s form is the first thing you look at. I like to look at a horse’s conditions. What level is next for this horse? I like to look at the back class. When I worked with Jack Robertson, that’s one thing he would do. A lot of times, he’d bring horses up from the states, who were off form. A lot would go on to be stakes horses up here (at Assiniboia).”

At Assiniboia, Rob was the leading percentage trainer in 2014. Now he’s in the Top Ten at Saratoga and Belmont. “It’s something I never really expected.” Rob said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling. When I was a youngster, I was watching New York racing and seeing all these great trainers. Then you get here as a trainer. It’s a different world. It really keeps you focused all the time. I don’t like to get ahead of myself. I think about this week. Never get complacent because you’re running against the best. It’s very tough, but very rewarding.”

Alan Balch - Inspiring Ascot

Although I’ve never been to Royal Ascot, I first went to the course in October 2012, for the second British Champions Day, where Frankel “miraculously” recorded his 14th straight and final win after having been left at the start of the rich Champion Stakes.  

On a cold, damp day, with the going “soft, heavy in places,” a capacity crowd of 32,000 was in attendance, and somewhat uncharacteristically for the British (I was told), yelled itself crazy for Frankel’s super effort. Not to mention trainer Henry Cecil.

Actually, however, Ascot has a true capacity far in excess of that day’s attendance. In the most recent Royal meeting, in June this year, crowds of over 60,000 were there. The television coverage of the masses of humanity in the stands, the infield and the various enclosures all along the mile straight, the paddocks, and on both ends of the strikingly beautiful permanent stands, gave any racing fan a thrill.

At the Cheltenham Festival for jump racing in March this year, attendance over four days ranged from 64,000 to 74,000 . . . “almost capacity,” according to management. And that left the media speculating about possibly adding a fifth day to its schedule, “like Royal Ascot.”

I was in London myself this year, late in March, amazed (and pleased) to see abundant advertising for Royal Ascot almost everywhere I went. Even though Opening Day was over two months away! Track managements in Britain clearly don’t take such attendance figures for granted . . . they believe in strong promotion and marketing, at least for their major racing, and undoubtedly their commercial sponsors (of which there are many high-profile brands) do as well.

What I see here in American racing attendance is virtually the opposite. And it’s a grave concern. Have we given up trying to persuade fans to go to the races?

The exceptions here seem to be the Triple Crown races, Breeders’ Cup, some Oaklawn days, the short summer meetings at Del Mar and Saratoga, and the two short Keeneland sessions. As one of racing’s dinosaurs, I admit to living in the past. But when I joined Santa Anita in 1971, I was told by one of racing’s most authoritative figures that I’d never see a crowd of 50,000 at our track again: “Those days are long gone.”  Within five years, however, the Santa Anita Handicap, Derby and Opening Day were regularly drawing well over 50,000. More importantly, our daily average attendance 15 years later, over 17 weeks of 5 days each, peaked at just under 33,000 in 1986. And that was when announced attendance in California was scrupulously honest and audited.

I mention this because now I hear the old pessimism again, all the time, walking through the nearly vacant quarter-mile long stand at Santa Anita . . . that the days of regular big crowds at race tracks, actually any real crowds at all, are long gone. The reasons cited are obvious: Internet, satellite and telephone betting, pervasive competition from other sports and gaming, and the proliferation of all sorts of simulcasting—all disincentives for going to the races.  

What worries me most is hearing track executives and horsemen saying, “It really doesn’t make any difference, not having fans at the track, as long as the total handle’s there, generating purses.”

Actually, I believe it does. Not just because bets at the track contribute way more to purses than any others, and non-wagering revenues are critical to a track’s finances. It’s also an enormous difference for the future prospects of the sport. Where are those future off-track bettors going to come from if they’ve never been to the races? And how about future owners, too—how much fun is it to win a race with a few loud yells echoing through an empty stadium, whether you’re an owner or a horseplayer?

Consider, in geographical terms, that California by itself is 1.7 times larger than the United Kingdom, and a few years ago this state surpassed that entire nation in annual gross domestic product. Competitive gaming and sporting opportunities in the British Isles equal or probably exceed those available in California, at least in terms of access. Yet—I am told—the reason there’s apparently so much more interest in racing there than here is “cultural.” Her Majesty the Queen and all that?

It's true that in many respects Great Britain is the birthplace of all equestrian sport. Queen Anne founded Ascot itself in 1711, official colors were invented and approved in 1783, and then the British Empire ruled the world for so long . . . until it didn’t.  

However, the Belmont Stakes and Saratoga commenced in the 1860s, the Kentucky Derby in 1875, and organized California racing in fits and starts beginning in the early 1900s. For a very long time, racing was far and away America’s most popular sport. That it hasn’t maintained a true competitive popularity here, despite the advent of so much competition, are sheer failures of management, marketing and promotion. American racing’s commitment to sophisticated, creative marketing as an investment, rather than a troublesome expense to be cut, then cut even more, has seriously waned or even disappeared over the last quarter-century.

It's never too late to rediscover and share the magical spectacle of racing. Whatever troubles our sport faces, its intrinsic allure of intersecting superlative beauty, elegance, human and equine athleticism beyond compare, coupled with its enormous array of gaming opportunities, is a marketer’s dream.

As anyone who attended Royal Ascot or watched it on television can attest.  

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

Words - Dr. Cath Dunnett

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. A number of air freight transport companies advise trainers to use a powdered electrolyte supplement added to the feed on a regular basis given for the 3 days prior to travel. As this helps offset much of the loss normally incurred during transport and subsequently the horses arrive at their destination in better shape. 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 very 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.

Racetrack Fracture Support Equipment - coming to North America this summer

Words - Ian Wright

Over the last six months, British racecourses have taken a major step forward in racehorse welfare by being provided with fracture support systems (Figure 1). These consist of two sizes of compression boots and flexion splints, both for use in the forelimbs; and a set of modular adjustable splints. Together, these provide appropriate rigid external support for the vast majority of limb fractures that occur during racing. The general principles are that management of all fractures is optimized by applying rapid and appropriate support to provide stability, reduce pain and relieve anxiety. 

Figure 1

The fracture support systems are about to make their debut in North America with trials due to take place this summer and fall with the support of the National HBPA.

The fracture support system is provided in two mobile impact resistant carrying boxes that protect the equipment and allow it to be checked before racing. All boots and splints are permanently labeled with individual racecourse identification to ensure return of equipment if it leaves the racetrack. 

In the last 25 years there have been major improvements in fracture treatment due to significant advances in surgical techniques (particularly with internal fixation), minimally invasive approaches (arthroscopy) and the use of computed tomography (CT). Arthroscopy and CT allow accurate mapping and alignment of fractures, which is important for all and critical for athletic soundness. All have contributed to improvements in survival rates; and it is now safe to say that with correct care, the vast majority of horses that sustain fractures in racing can be saved. Equally importantly, many can also return to full athletic function including racing. 

Fracture incidences and locations vary geographically and are influenced by race types, track surfaces and conditions. There is good evidence that the majority of non-fall related fractures, i.e. those occurring in flat racing and between obstacles in jump racing, are caused by bone fatigue. This is determined by the absolute loads applied to a bone, their speed/frequency and the direction of force application. As seen with stress or fatigue failure in other high-performance working materials in which applied forces are relatively consistent, fractures in racehorse bones occur at common sites, in particular configurations, and follow similar courses. Once the fracture location has been identified, means of counteracting forces which distract (separate) the bone parts can therefore be reliably predicted and countered. 

Worldwide, the single most common racing fracture is that of the metacarpal/metatarsal condyles (condylar fracture). In Europe, the second most common fracture is a sagittal/parasagittal fracture of the proximal phalanx (split pastern). Both are most frequent in the forelimbs. 

In the United States, particularly when racing on dirt, mid-body fractures of both proximal sesamoid bones, which destabilize the fetlock (almost always in the forelimbs), are the most common reason for on-course euthanasia. They occur less frequently when racing on turf. 

There is no specific data documenting outcomes of horses that have sustained fractures on racecourses. However, there is solid data for the two most common racing injuries. The figures below are a meta-analysis of published data worldwide.

CONDYLAR FRACTURES

• Repaired incomplete fractures: 80% returned to racing

• Complete non-displaced fractures: 66% of repaired fractures returned to racing

• Displaced fractures: 51% raced following repair

• Propagating fractures: 40% raced following repair

SPLIT PASTERN

• Short incomplete fractures: 65% returned to racing

• Long incomplete fractures: 61% returned to racing

• Complete fractures: 51% returned to racing

• Comminuted fractures in most circumstances end racing careers but with appropriate support and surgical repair, many horses can be saved. There is only one comprehensive series of 64 cases in the literature of which 45 (70%) of treated cases survived.

MID BODY SESAMOID FRACTURES

• Uni-axial (single) fractures: 53% raced following screw repair

• Bi-axial (both) fractures are career ending but can be salvaged with appropriate emergency support and arthrodesis (fusion) of the fetlock joint. Results of a single series of 52 cases are available in which 65% of horses were able to have unrestricted activity post-operatively primarily as breeding animals

The science behind the development of the fracture support systems comes from two directions. The first is data collected from racecourse injuries and the second, improved understanding of fracture courses and behavior. Data collected from UK flat racecourses between 2000 and 2013 demonstrated that 66% of fractures occurred in the lower limb (from knee and hock down) and of that over 50% of fractures involved the fetlock joints. Condylar fractures are most common, representing 27% of all reported fractures; and of these, approximately two thirds occurred in the forelimbs. Split pasterns were the second most common, accounting for 19% of all fractures with three quarters of these occurring in the forelimbs. These fractures have predictable planes and courses, which means that once recognized, they can effectively be immobilized in a standard manner that is optimal for each fracture type. For condylar fractures and split pasterns, this principally involves extension of the fetlock joint. By contrast, in order to preserve soft tissues and blood supply to the lower limb, fractures of the sesamoid bones require fetlock flexion. 

Figure 2

Figure 3

The compression boot is readily applied “trackside” and can be used to stabilize most distal forelimb fractures sufficiently for horses to be humanly moved off the course. It is the temporary immobilization of choice for forelimb condylar fractures and split pasterns (Figure 3). Radiographs can be taken with the boot in place (Figure 4), and this can be maintained for transport. The boot is a rigid construct of fiberglass made from a single mold. The divided front portion is contiguous with a foot plate on which the back of the boot is hinged.  Two sizes are available with internal foot widths of 135 and 160mm (5–6 inches). Removable foot inserts are also provided to make minor adjustments for hoof size. The boot is lined with foam rubber and has a rubber sole plate that protects the shell and provides a cushion grip for the foot. When the boot is opened, the injured limb is placed into the front of the boot while the back is closed and secured by sequential adjustment of ski boot clips. When the boot edges are apposed (it cannot be over tightened), immobilization is secure. It is made with a fixed fetlock angle of 150o which counteracts distracting forces and allows horses to weight-bear and load the limb to walk. 

Figure 4

Flexion splints (Figure 5) are critical for the survival of horses with breakdown injuries such as sesamoid fractures. They are also suitable for other lower limb injuries, which are supported by fetlock and pastern flexion such as tendon and suspensory ligament injuries and lacerations. The splints are made of aluminum alloy with a secure work-hardened foot plate and conjoined compressed foam-lined front splint, which is angled 30o at the level of the coffin joint and extends to the top of the cannon. Here, there is a shallow foam-covered concavity in which the upper cannon sits, allowing the horse to lean into the splint and load the leg while flexed. The splint is secured to the leg with nylon and Velcro straps. Splints are provided with internal foot widths of 135 and 160mm (5–6 inches) to accommodate variations in horse/hoof sizes.

The modular adjustable splints (Figure 6) are made from heat-treated aluminum alloy. They are lightweight and can be configured to fit the individual horse and regional needs. The splints are 38x19mm (1.5x0.75in) rectangular tubes with an enclosed locking screw I beam. They are light but rigid and secure and are tolerated well. In the hindlimb, the reciprocal apparatus which combines stifle, hock and fetlock joint positions precludes use of a compression boot. However, modular splints provide rigid support for condylar fractures and split pasterns in hindlimbs and are secured—over a bandage to create a parallel sided tube—on the inside and outside of the limb. The splints can also be adjusted and assembled to splint fractures that occur above the fetlock (Figure 7). 

Figure 7

Appropriate immobilization effectively stops fracture progression (i.e., getting worse) which not only improves the horse's prospects for recovery but also provides effective relief from pain and anxiety. As flight animals, loss of limb control or function is a major contributor to stress. The relief provided by effective immobilization is substantially greater than provided by any pain killer or sedative. It is also recognized that when fractures occur in the high-adrenaline environment of racing, horses exhibit latent pain syndrome. Application of appropriate rigid support at this time (i.e., on the track) limits pain generation and allows humane movement for considered evaluation, X-ray, etc., away from the racetrack. 

In the UK, techniques for application of the boots and splints are taught to racetrack veterinary surgeons at annual seminars run by the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (ARVS). The Racecourse Association (RCA) has provided forms to record use and to collect data centrally which, in the fullness of time, will determine impact and help to guide future welfare strategies. 

Providing modern, scientifically rational equipment to racecourses has done two things in the UK. First, injured horses are optimally cared for immediately and secondly, it sends out a strong positive public relations message that people involved in racing care. The initiative has been widely welcomed by the British racing industry. “This new equipment will provide the best possible chance for an injury to be properly assessed while discomfort to the horse is significantly reduced and give the best chance of future rehabilitation” Caroline Davies, RCA (Racecourse Association) - Racecourse Services Director.

“The fracture support [system] kit is a major advance in the treatment of horses on the racetrack. It allows immediate effective support to be applied to an injured horse, resulting in pain control and stability, facilitating safe transport from the racecourse to a center of excellence without risk of exacerbating the injury. This will optimize the chance of horses to return to athletic function. This innovation must be seen as a major step forward in horse welfare for the participants in racing and all other equine disciplines.” Simon Knapp, Horse Welfare Board.

Go Canada - innovations to support breeders and buyers in Ontario

Words - Ken Snyder

With apologies to patriotic Canadians everywhere, the “O” that begins the nation’s stirring and beautiful national anthem might be adopted and altered by the Ontario horse industry to “Go Canada.” A reason?  Divide 173 race days (133 at Woodbine, 40 at Fort Erie) by approximately $65 million CAD in purse money. Go Canada indeed.

“If you have a good horse, there is an opportunity to make significant money here in Ontario,” said Peter Berringer, president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society and also someone with “skin in the game,” as they say.

He is a trainer with both a small string stabled at Woodbine and broodmares and stallions at his farm, Aurora Meadows in Rockwood Ontario, west of Toronto. He, like other Canadian trainers, is in the hunt for purse money that might surprise those in the horse industry. Statistics for 2021 from The Jockey Club (TJC) show that 1,853 Ontario starters earned $43,612,419 USD ($56,790,117.87 CAD) or $23,536 ($30,646.39 CAD)  in earnings per runner last year. The figure beats the same statistics for California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.  

Earnings, however, are only a part of the story. Financial incentives to breeders in Ontario through a Mare Purchase Program (MPP) and Mare Recruitment Program (MRP)* make investments in Ontario racing worthwhile both for the present and in the future in breeding and racing. The MPP provides Ontario buyers of in-foal mares at select U.S. horse sales 50% of the purchase price up to $25,000 CAD.  Sales include Wannamaker’s Online Sale; Fasig-Tipton November Breeding Stock, MidAtlantic Winter Mixed, and Kentucky Winter Mixed sales; the OBS Winter Mixed Sale; and Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and January Horses of All Ages Sale. Additionally, there is a $2,500 CAD incentive for every mare bred back to a registered Ontario sire.

With Ontario horse sales under the recruitment program, mare owners bringing an in-foal mare into the province can receive $5,000 CAD through a Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP). The incentive applies to up to five in-foal mares per owner or entity. The $2,500 CAD incentive for breeding back to a registered Ontario sire applies also as with mare purchasing. 

Berringer said a few new stallions annually come into the province but that “the issue is we don’t have a large number of resident mares. 

“Mare Recruitment is trying to help us build Ontario-bred numbers,” said Berringer. “People will foal here and hopefully, with the incentives, people will breed back here. Then, when they have their horses, they’re probably going to benefit the most financially by racing in Ontario because you’re running for 40-percent bonuses if you’re running an Ontario-sired, Ontario-bred horse.” He added that the goal is twofold: to drive the Ontario horse population and increase the quality of the stock running in the province.

PETER BERRINGER

Funding for both the MPP and the MRP is through the TIP and comes from a pari mutuel tax returned by the government to the horse industry. Breeding programs total over $7 million CAD from the TIP, according to Berringer.

Ontario-breds are more than just important to racing in the province, according to Berringer. “It’s pivotal to racing. A strong breeding development program relates directly to our local horse sales and the racing product. We need a strong breeding program to have sustainable racing.”

Government statistics estimate that 45,000 people in Ontario depend on or benefit from horse breeding and racing, but Berringer thinks the figure might be low. “You have to be able to sustain all those farms and spinoff jobs on the farm and farm-related, which are imperative to the economic sustainability of rural communities.”

Berringer, as a farm owner, is sensitive to the impact of breeding and racing on operations and individuals not directly related to horse racing. His introduction to Thoroughbreds was working as a teenager at an uncle’s farm. “It was a multifaceted Thoroughbred farm with usually 60 to 120 horses at capacity in the winter. There were stallions and broodmares, yearlings and racehorses. I was lucky to have exposure to handling stallions, breeding and reproductive exposure, foaling, yearling sales prep, yearling sales, and breaking and training,” he said.

Transitioning to training came in his late 20’s when he was, at that time, the farm’s general manager/trainer. “I started to focus on training and racing because of the action and reducing my farm business to outside clients and a successful horse quarantine operation that I was operating for international horses.” On the farm, he met and worked with successful trainers and owners, and had exposure to top-tier Canadian champions.

Increased responsibilities on the farm along with obtaining a university degree while still working on the farm in the 1980s fed a burgeoning passion not just for the horses but the business.

This passion puts him on the tip of the spear for challenges not just facing his own racing and farm operations, but all Canadian horsemen and horsewomen. Canada’s tax structure for the horse industry is, according to Berringer, “the biggest detriment to our racing program.” It calls for a write-off of $17,600 [CAD] per entity per owner, a pittance compared to the U.S. tax structure that this year allows a 100% deduction of the purchase price of a horse. Lobbying efforts to improve the tax structure in Canada have been ongoing for some time but without much, if any, progress.  

In addition to incentives, there are also efforts on the racetrack to benefit Ontario horsemen and horsewomen. The Heritage Series of eight races for three-year-old Ontario-sired horses—four for fillies and four for colts—is in its second year divided between six races at Woodbine and two at Fort Erie between July and September. The Series provides an obvious boon to Ontario-sired horses to run in restricted stakes races. Last year, the first for the Series, purses for the eight races totaled $750,000. This year purses will increase from $80,000 to $100,000 per race. Horses accumulate points over multiple races with the points leader among fillies and colts earning a $20,000 bonus. Second- and third-place finishers in points earn bonuses of $10,000 and $5,000.

Lastly, if not most importantly, Ontario’s annual Premier yearling sale, this year at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion on August 31, generates interest and sales for Ontario-breds and not just within the province.  Berringer said many American owners with Canadian trainers as well as American trainers who race in Canada shop the Premier sales. “If you’re racing up here, it’s good to have an Ontario-bred horse because it gives you eligibility to a substantial and lucrative incentive program and bonuses as well as a possible place in the Queen’s Plate with a million-dollar purse as well as other stakes races.” 

Probably surprising to U.S. buyers are Canadian exports to U.S. sales. “There are 100 to 150 yearlings that sell every year down in Kentucky that are Ontario-bred,” said Berringer.

If Ontario racing is highly aggressive among racing jurisdictions in its breeding programs and incentives, it is, quite frankly, because it has to be. The COVID pandemic provides a prime example. “COVID really knocked the industry down when there were no spectators. At least in the U.S., spectators were allowed and business went on. We didn’t have any of that.” Adding to empty grandstands, Ontario racing, which usually begins in April, was pushed back to a June start in both 2020 and 2021. American racing, for the most part, continued the same meet schedules in the COVID restrictions.

Of course, Ontario racing right now experiences the same issues facing other racing jurisdictions in the U.S. All have horse shortages. Ontario may be complimented, though, for creating a means to minimize the effect on field sizes and typically producing fields larger than that in the U.S. Berringer points to racing secretaries at Woodbine both adding conditions and combining them to draw more entries into races. A recent Saturday at Woodbine and Santa Anita showed 84 starters for 10 races at Woodbine (8.4 per race) and only 68 starters for the same number of races at Santa Anita (6.8).  

Another issue shared by Ontario with the U.S. is a chronic labor shortage. The situation may be more acute in Canada than in the U.S. with a smaller immigrant base from which to draw. “A lot of the people that come to Canada are from Barbados and Jamaica to work on the backstretch, and it’s getting more and more difficult to obtain work permits. It’s increased over COVID,” said Berringer. The U.S., by contrast, has Central and South American countries with larger populations that have traditionally supplied their horse industry. The impact can be seen, said Berringer, by some U.S. stables who formerly came to Ontario to race, no longer coming north.

Home-grown efforts are underway to address labor shortages. Berringer points to a new program that the Ontario government started this year, which trains people for the horse industry and then provides financial assistance for the continuation of training. He takes a wait-and-see attitude toward the impact it may have. “It’s hard to find people to do this work early in the morning.” That goes for both Ontario and the U.S. 

The one major difference between Canadian racing and American, and where Canadian racing is most lacking in comparison is with new owners. There is just not the population base or large enough body of families historically involved in racing in Canada as in the U.S. “Racing struggles with this everywhere and probably the creation of a large fractional owner syndicate, and introducing people to the sport and excitement of it all, hopefully, will encourage new participants and they’ll purchase more and invest more in the industry once they get a taste for it; but it’s a struggle to find new breeders and owners,” said Berringer. 

He noted that leading Canadian trainer Josie Carroll, along with other top trainers in the U.S., receives horses bought by MyRacehorse, a syndicate offering “micro shares” that has been successful both in terms of business and on the racetrack. MyRacehorse, still in relative infancy, was part owner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner, Authentic.

Canada’s horse industry, not surprisingly, is dependent on its larger neighbor to the south, with a much larger selection of stallions. “It used to be a couple of years ago; it was 70 percent local horses produced [in Ontario],” said Berringer. “Now, it’s a fifty-fifty split.” He added that it is a trend more attributable to a decrease in Ontario of local breeding participants than an increase in U.S. stallions. 

Quantity, however, does not necessarily dictate quality. Bigger purses divided by a smaller pool of horses, as cited in the opening of this story, improve the odds for earnings with Ontario horsemen and horsewomen. “You’ve got to put it in perspective. In Ontario, we’re probably producing just over 750 foals a year. Statistically, there’s a lot more money for our foals than a lot of other jurisdictions.”

A point of pride with Berringer and other Canadians in the horse industry is the success of Ontario-breds. Say the Word, Channel Maker, and Count Again, who recently won a Gr. 1 race in California are only three of many Ontario-breds succeeding on the racetrack. Recently retired Pink Lloyd, sired by Old Forester, is, perhaps, the biggest star of Ontario-breds. Career earnings totaled $2,455,430 and included five Sovereign Awards for Champion Male Springer and the 2017 Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year. Incredibly, his wins were in 26 stakes races. Let it not be forgotten as well that the dam of this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is Gold Strike, Canada’s Sovereign Award Champion 3YO Filly in 2005.

The issue for Ontario racing isn’t good horses, apparently; it is just the need for more of them. With breeding programs, added racing for Ontario-breds, and the Premier sales, it won’t be for lack of trying. That especially holds true for Berringer, who is quick with a quip: “I still love horses and horse racing and still enjoy going home to the farm every day--ok most days--to work.  

Go Canada.

*Applications for the MPP and MRP by Ontario horsemen and horsewomen are available at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s website, cthsont.com, under “Breed” and then “Incentives.”

HISA: Devilish details defined

Words - Annie Lambert

Not everyone required to opt into the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act is pleased to oblige. The confusing regulations have left many with less than a clear understanding of what the new rules actually mean. Those details have constantly fluctuated and will probably continue to shift past their application.

Not everyone hates the idea, however. The intent was to make United States Thoroughbred racing safe, fair and ethical for everyone involved through national uniform standards. The legislation, H.R. 1754 passed in 2020 as part of a COVID-19 relief bill. Once signed by President Donald J. Trump, HISA officially became law.

(An introductory overview of HISA can be found in Issue 62/Breeders’ Cup 2021 of Trainer magazine on page 26.)

The legislation includes racetrack safety program protocols that began July 1, as well as anti-doping and medication control regulations, under the direction of Drug Free Sports International, to be finalized by January 1, 2023. The governing body of HISA, referred to as the “Authority” in the legislation, did not leave an abundance of time for the busy and independent members of the racing community to thoroughly digest the new rules and oversights before being asked/required to become obligated by registering themselves and their horses. The Authority refers to those within their jurisdiction as “covered,” such as covered horses and covered persons. 

According to the Authority, as of June 29th, 20,537 people and 23,070 horses were registered. In addition, 20 of 24 states under HISA Authority were in agreement or expected to comply.

Not signing up means a person or horse may not participate in racing. Once signed up, however, being misinformed or not following the rules can land people and equines severe punishments, large monetary fines and/or disqualification from industry participation.

To date, stakeholders who feel the regulations are overly invasive and confusing appear to outnumber those who believe HISA is necessary to save the horseracing industry.

Digesting the Law

Signing your name to a contract that is technically not complete and subject to changes that may influence your livelihood understandably terrifies any human nature. The extensive rules, regulations, protocols and punishments for non-compliance seem daunting.

An undertone from the backsides of many racetracks suggests that horsemen would feel more comfortable if they had additional time to digest the legislation prior to registering. Instead of the July 1, 2022 deadline, how about pushing the implementation to 2023?

HISA’s CEO, Lisa Lazarus, implied publicly the law was the law, in spite of aggressive timelines; the Authority has been responding to some of the many questions posed by the public. They will continue to educate racing industry participants. 

According to HISA’s Liz Beadle, they are unsure what to expect when it comes to the number of probable stakeholder registrations. 

“We aren’t going to venture a guess,” Beadle offered via an email. “Since such a registration process has never existed at the national level before, it’s unclear how many people and horses are or will be participating in racing. It should be noted that the universe of people expected to register is limited to the 24 states conducting covered horse races under HISA’s authority.”

Basically, everyone now licensed by any state racing commission must be registered by HISA to continue to work and/or run horses or work with horses (such as vendors) within restricted areas of the tracks. Any horse in training or racing at an approved racing facility must also be registered. There are no fees required to register, and you need only register one time. Those registered may unregister at any time.

People responsible for registering horses, usually the trainer, are required to keep daily records for each animal. Records required include any administered medications, therapeutic procedures, treatments and surgical procedures. Those records must be given to regulatory veterinarians, stewards and HISA when requested, making it important that they be updated daily.

Owners and jockeys must also register for HISA “to participate in Thoroughbred racing.” If an owner’s horse is not in the care of a trainer, it is the owner’s responsibility to register his horse. 

Trainers are required to complete continuing education classes for licensing, in addition to registering all horses in their care. As noted previously, they must agree to keep health, vaccination, training and daily treatment records for each horse in their care. Fortunately there is Equine MediRecord, a relatively new enterprise, specializing in securing those daily records. (See Sidebar #1)

Trainers entering a horse into a claiming race have given their consent to transfer that horse’s veterinary and treatment records from the prior 60 days to the new owner, should it be claimed. Claims will be voided if the horse dies or is euthanized on the track, has a positive test, bleeds or is unsound within one hour post-race. 

Claimed horses are required to go to the test barn. Whether those horses will be tested is unclear. If tested, who will pay for that protocol? The claimed horse will be immediately transferred to new connections, but what happens if a test comes back positive weeks later? A voided claim could end up in more litigation.

Covered riders—jockeys and exercise riders—are required to participate in continuing education, to take a physical exam and complete a baseline concussion protocol test. They will be required to use HISA-approved safety vests and helmets. A medical history card is to be carried inside the vest when on a horse. Riders are also obliged to study and follow new riding crop rules.

Only approved riding crops will be allowed under HISA rules and may be inspected by the safety officer, stewards and the clerk of the scales. The specifications include being a maximum weight of eight ounces, no more than 30 inches in length with a set amount of shock-absorbing material.

Enforcement of the crop specifications may be postponed to August 1, 2022, due to a shortage of manufacturing resources.

Use of the riding crop, for jockey or exercise rider, is only to maintain the horse’s attention for safety and encouragement. A rider may only use the crop on the hindquarters a maximum of six times during a race. The crop is only to be used two or fewer times before allowing at least two strides for the horse to respond before using the crop again.

A rider may tap the horse on the shoulder with the crop when both hands are on the reins and touching the neck. It is legal to show/wave at the horse with the crop without physical contact. It is not legal to raise the crop with the rider’s wrist above the helmet.

New horseshoe regulations will not be enforced until August 1, 2022, to ensure adequate inventory of HISA compliant shoes.

Basically, on both fore and hind feet, toe grabs, bends, jar calks, stickers and traction nails will be prohibited on all dirt, synthetic and turf surfaces during training and racing. The only exception is for full rim that is two millimeters or less in height from ground surface of the shoe and that extends the entire circumference of the shoe, used only on dirt and synthetic surfaces.

Purportedly, bar shoes, pads, glue on shoes, quarter crack patches may only be applied by a covered veterinarian. Those official regulations, however, will come in another phase of the bill.

Edicts & Concerns

An open letter was sent to Lazarus on behalf of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations, Inc, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Thoroughbred Owners of California and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. The communication pointed to several areas of concern for stakeholders within the legislation. 

Many horsemen outside the organizations cited by this letter have similar concerns and more. Here are a few:

HISA has been vague in defining some of the rules and protocols. For example, there is not clear guidance as to what is permitted at training facilities and out of competition horses (layups) as compared to racetracks. Perhaps a list of approved training facilities and farms, including which HISA rules will be enforced at these facilities.

Medication lists, classification types and protocols seem to be lacking clarification. To date there is no list of controlled medications with guidance for legal usage. Most medication violations stem from controlled therapeutic medications used to enhance equine quality of life. A therapeutic use exemption could be useful.

There should be a distinction between prohibited medication and controlled medication violations. As now written in HISA, every violation of every type requires unnecessary and costly legal defense costs. Prohibited substances that show up during testing due to accidental contamination causes reputational harm to stakeholders when officials overreact and go public before investigating thoroughly. 

There should be distinct definitions between punishments prescribed to prohibited substances, specified substances and controlled medications. After all, very few positive tests can be attributed to actual doping incidents each year.

The confusion and conflicts created by the aggressive enactment of the HISA legislation causes concern that egregious problems could arise when the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program (ADMC) is executed January 1, 2023.

So many factors within HISA deserved more oversight by horsemen before being written into the law. Little things like allowing suspended horses to train while not able to race. Allowing ownership groups to decide which principle should be the managing partner. Collecting a post-race urine sample at the horse’s stall (with regulatory oversight) when he cannot relax and provide urine at the test barn. 

Better definitions for “race day” and “official timed works.” The overreach of the HISA Authority having a say in when a horse should be retired is wrong in any horseman’s realm. Owners, not a non-horseman entity, should make the decision of retirement.

Litigation & Money Woes 

Multiple lawsuits have been filed on behalf of state racing commissions and other racing entities. The courts have overruled most suits, while others are pending appeal. The Texas Racing Commission (TRC) has declined to abide by HISA’s federally mandated program.

Texas law cites that only the TRC can make rules and regulations for Texas racing. HISA demands that state racing commissions enforce the rules and regulations per HISA. 

Amy Cook, executive director of the TRC, has announced that Texas will allow wagering on out-of-state racing signals at simulcast locations in the state. The TRC will not, however, allow pari-mutuel wagering at a Texas meet that is HISA-compliant or the export of simulcast signals to other states.

According to Cook, all pending requests for approval of the import and export of pari-mutuel simulcast signals will be considered and approved on a case-by-case basis. Texas horse racing will therefore be confined to Texas. It has been predicted that the state will take a financial hit from the decision; it remains to be seen if the ominous financial predictions come to fruition.

Litigation was recently filed on behalf of Louisiana and West Virginia, their respective state racing commissions, the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Jockeys’ Guild and several Louisiana individuals considered “covered persons” under the Authority.

The complaint basically cited that HISA was unconstitutional by overstepping state racing commissions, has multiple violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and violated the Fourth and Seventh Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee a right to a jury trial and protection against unreasonable search and seizures.

A federal judge in Louisiana denied the litigants’ request but gave the defendants in the suit—HISA, its CEO Lisa Lazarus and the Authority’s board members, the FTC and individuals associated with the FTC—until July 14 to respond to the motion.

One of the great unknowns regarding HISA has always been, “Who pays what and how?” That question has only been partially and vaguely answered. Racetrack operators, industry stakeholders and the betting public obviously have monetary concerns. HISA’s first year operating budget is roughly $14.3 million.

Fees are calculated whereby those states or tracks with the highest handle, purses and number of starts will pay the largest assessments. Each state racing commission decides whether to opt in or out of collecting and remitting fees for the program. If a commission opts out, the responsibility falls to the tracks and horsemen.

Five states have chosen to fund their portion of HISA: California, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota and Virginia. Each state has a little different formula for collecting their fees.

For example, California will owe $1.4 million to the Authority for 2022. The state purportedly will split the payment between Thoroughbred horsemen, through purse revenues, and Thoroughbred racetracks, via commissions, from their share of Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW). The California Horse Racing Board has stated this will not affect bettors.

The other states are funding their HISA invoice in a variety of ways, and some have yet to make a decision. 

Out in the Cold

A Facebook page titled Horsemen Arguing HISA has arguably exposed sincere concern and even fear from stakeholders who are looking at their livelihoods vanishing directly in front of them. 

Their main concerns circle around fairness to backstretch workers, the fact that not enough input in the HISA legislation came from horsemen and that the true welfare of the horses has been overlooked in some areas. Were stakeholders left out in the cold as rules and regulations were written?

With no or little input from horsemen, those industry workers have suspicions that animal activists like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) may have influencers among those within HISA. Many questions and concerns submitted to the HISA website and at various meetings across the country went unanswered.

Prohibited protocols and penalties are also worries for the horsemen. Why is it taboo to ice a horse pre-race? Human athletes use ice in competition regularly. How can it be prohibited to fire shins on horses (beginning with the 2022 foal crop), but legal to fire splints and curbs?

Investigative powers seem over-the-top to many on the backside. The Authority would have access to all properties and places of business with the right of seizure for covered persons in question?

The concerns go on and on, as does a growing distrust. Covered persons have had trouble being heard by those in charge of HISA—a lack of communication and transparency. Those under the HISA legislation would like to see it simplified using a more common sense approach.

On the Record

Equine MediRecord principles worked this year’s Preakness, including (l to r) Finlay Dargan, COO, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Pierce Dargan, CEO, and his fiancé, Alexandra May.

Most horsemen have a vivid aversion to bookkeeping. Understandably so… They’d much rather concentrate on training horses and keeping owners happy and informed.

The new Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act (HISA) requires trainers and veterinarians to maintain detailed, daily health and treatment records for equines in their care. Those records must be made available to regulatory veterinarians, stewards and HISA upon request. The record keeping also applies to layups that are being given rest time at off-track facilities.

Imagine the daily hours to keep up with a barn full of trainees. There is a solution—a software program—to ease the struggle.

Equine MediRecord became operational in 2018, the brainstorm of Pierce Dargan in County Kildare, Ireland. Dargan, a fifth-generation horseman, is the company’s CEO. Dargan’s system was created for his family’s training operation in Ireland to help keep current with racing regulations they faced at the time. 

Trainers sign up with Dargan’s company platform, which allows them to keep the precise and tedious records required by HISA. Those with multiple stables and facilities can add assistant trainers and veterinarians to assist with inputting information.

“What our system then does is notify the trainer when a record has been put in by someone else for them to sign off, ensuring they know at all times what is being given to their horses,” Dargan explained. “Any horse with an open treatment on our system will [be marked], to remind the trainer to check this horse before entering into any races as there is still a treatment in the horse’s profile; this ensures the withdrawal period is completed before they race.”

Presently, the cost is $1.50 per horse, per month for the initial year, increasing to $3.00 per horse-month the second year. “We wanted to make sure this was a tool that all trainers, big and small, could afford,” Dargan said. “One of the benefits of having clients globally is we can spread the costs, making it cheaper for all.”

 “We have done the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the last two years, as well as the Pegasus World Cup, Saudi Cup and Preakness in 2022,” Dargan pointed out. “This has meant that top trainers such as Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, Steve Asmussen and many others had to use the system to keep records for those races.”

“Seeing as [HISA] is the first time in the U.S. that trainers will be having to keep these records nationwide, we are now in discussions with multiple trainers to keep the system outside of these large racing events,” he added.

Sorting Through HISA 

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 (HISA) contains many, many of pages of government speak. It can be confusing and difficult to discover the answers you are seeking. Perhaps knowing how the general categories are listed may help. HISA will hopefully include a search engine in the future.

Additional Perspectives on the Horseracing and integrity Act

Words - Peter J. Sacopulos

As the effective date of July 1, 2022, approached, the issues and inquiries regarding the  Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) became immediate. These questions include inquiries from racetrack veterinarians as to their obligations for registering and reporting medication and treatment of Thoroughbred horses and from jockeys seeking guidance on whether the new rule regulating the use of the crop is effective between HISA’s start date of July 1, 2022, and the delayed enforcement of the use of the new crop on August 1, 2022. So too have been questions regarding the pending constitutional challenges and legal efforts to enjoin HISA. These issues have received significant attention by way of journal articles, HISA-sponsored “Town Hall Meetings” and national seminars. Conversely, HISA’s impact on those in the Thoroughbred industry outside of the United States have received limited analysis and discussion. 

As a practitioner representing licensees before regulators, I have received multiple inquiries from trainers outside the United States as to their obligations and their owners’ obligations relative to HISA. Additionally, I have received questions as to what, if any, impact HISA has regarding simulcast signals from tracks outside of the United States such as Woodbine in Canada. 

To comply with HISA, the foreign national trainer must register as a covered person. In fact, compliance with regard to registration and licensing is a three-step process for the foreign national Thoroughbred trainer. First, to comply with HISA, the international trainer is required to register as a covered person pursuant to 15 U.S.C.S. §3054(d). Second, he or she is required to apply for and secure a Thoroughbred trainer’s license from the jurisdiction (state) in which they will enter and race. For example, if the foreign national trainer has a Thoroughbred that will compete in this year’s Breeders’ Cup event, then he or she must have a current valid Thoroughbred trainer’s license issued by the State of Kentucky for the 2022 season. Third, the foreign national trainer must properly register the Thoroughbred horse(s) that he or she will enter and start with both the state and the HISA Authority. 

The rules requiring HISA registration are codified at 15 U.S.C.S. §3054(d). Online registration is available at https://www.hisaus.org/registration. Additionally, only days before the effective date, the Authority issued the “HISA Trainer Handbook,” which can be found at https://www.hisaus.org/home#resources. 

In registering, the foreign national trainer is responsible for and obligated to fully and completely understand and comply with all HISA requirements. Once properly registered and deemed a “covered person,” the foreign national trainer has certain ongoing obligations. For example, Thoroughbred trainers are required to complete four (4) hours of training annually pursuant to Section 2182(b)(5) of the rules governing the Racetrack Safety Program. Additionally, there are requirements for filing records relative to the medical care and treatment of horses. Also, the licensing and ongoing requirements for covered persons apply to owners of Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, it is recommended that the Thoroughbred trainer who is going through the registration process informs his or her owner of those requirements and sees that the owner(s) are properly registered as covered persons. 

The issue of HISA and control of a track’s signal is one that has received discussion and attention. In fact, one racing jurisdiction, the State of Texas, has refused to honor HISA. In response, the HISA Authority is prohibiting Texas tracks from exporting their simulcast signal across state lines. What is clear and defined relative to the HISA Authority’s right to control a simulcast signal is that a state that refuses to recognize and comply with HISA may be placed in a position of having its tracks prohibited from exporting the simulcast signal. Conversely, what has received little or no discussion, is how, if at all, HISA’s rule regarding simulcast signals will affect Canadian or European simulcasting. 

For example, it seems clear that HISA has no control or jurisdiction over Woodbine’s simulcast signal since it is outside the jurisdiction of the Authority and the FTC as it is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Less clear, is what, if any, control HISA/the Authority has or may have over Sam Houston Race Park and Lone Star Park (Texas tracks) exporting its signal to Woodlawn. Should the Texas track(s) do so, it could be argued that the signal is being transmitted across state lines and, therefore, subject to HISA regulation. Conversely, it may also be argued that the signal is not “crossing state lines” but rather being transmitted to a foreign jurisdiction and not subject to HISA control or restrictions. The answer is unclear. Equally unclear is whether additional states will adopt the “Texas position” on HISA when HISA announces the “rest of the story”—that being each jurisdiction’s proportional share of the costs for the Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication part of the program. This expense is expected to be a multiple, perhaps many multiples, of each state’s assessed cost for implementing the Racetrack Safety Program.

The passing of the effective date of HISA and the ongoing and repeated modifications and changes, has resulted in additional questions. For example, the new crop rule, covered under Rule 2280 of the Racetrack Safety Program rules, became effective July 1, 2022. However, the riding crop specification rule will not be enforced until August 1, 2022. And, there is ongoing concern including the mandated registration for participation despite the anti-doping and medication rules not being submitted for public comment and approval by the FTC.

Also, there are and continue to be multiple challenges to the legality of HISA. The HBPA, together with twelve (12) of its affiliates, have a pending appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, Louisiana. That lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of HISA on the basis that Article I, Section I of the United States Constitution, prohibits delegation of legislative authority to a private entity as well as for the reason that HISA violates the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution. The State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Racing Commission, Tulsa County Public Facilities, Global Gaming RP, LLC d/b/a Remington Park, the State of Louisiana, the State of West Virginia, the West Virginia Racing Commission, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, Hanover Shoe Farms and the United States Trotting Association also have an appeal pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. In July, the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Racing Commission, the Louisiana HBPA, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Jockey’s Guild, Inc., the State of West Virginia, the West Virginia Racing Commission, and several individuals filed an additional (third) challenge to HISA that is pending before the United States District Court. That action seeks not only to find HISA unconstitutional but also seeks injunctive relief in the form of a temporary restraining order. That matter is set for hearing later in the month of July. 

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act is national federal legislation governing Thoroughbred racing in the United States. The authority and jurisdiction of HISA and its governing agency, the United States Federal Trade Commission, is limited to racetrack safety issues (presently) and anti-doping and medication issues next year in the U.S. However, the effects of HISA will be felt by those in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere outside the U.S. as the 2022 season continues and into the future. 

The Long Game - what can be done to bolster the “staying” division?

Words - Annie Lambert

North American distance races appear to have an ever-shrinking number of entries. The pool of horses willing and able to run a route of ground has slowly contracted. Finding a reason as to why, however, does not have a singular answer.

The Jockey Club statistics expose a downward trend in foals produced in the United States. The mid-1980s saw the high point with the 1985 foal crop exceeding 50,000 registered foals. But since that peak, the numbers have slipped. The economic downturn in 2008 caused many breeders to sell off or curtail breeding operations, which led to the number of foals falling from around 32,000 in 2008 to just over 17,000 in 2021.

That stunning 45% decline of potential runners could explain smaller fields, but not necessarily a loss of distance runners. Or could it?

Fewer horses to enter races with certain conditions revolves into a vicious circle; when racing secretaries cannot fill longer races, for example, they will inevitably offer fewer of them. 

It does not come across as though lagging purses are the biggest culprits, but it may be that breeders are looking toward pedigrees that produce runners with more speed than endurance. Do sprinters provide a faster return? Economics usually proves a strong motivator, especially in such a competitive industry as Thoroughbred horse racing.

Fewer breeders breeding fewer Thoroughbreds in general, plus more commercial breeders seeking speed that sells, could be a major factor.

One thing for certain is that no one can offer a definitive answer as to why it is difficult to fill races at classic distances. Solutions to the problem are also elusive. Those within the Thoroughbred racing industry will only offer personal hypotheses. 

Nature, Nurture & Breeding

The modern Thoroughbred’s ancestry traces back to foundation sires imported to Europe around the turn of the 17th century. The Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk, from the Mediterranean Middle East, were crossed on native English equines. The result was a horse that could carry weight while sustaining speed over extended distances.

The foundation Thoroughbred originated in Great Britain with its genetic origin being Arabian, which might suggest endurance. Generations of selective breeding have sped up the North American Thoroughbred. Study condition books from any racecourse, and you’ll find only a small percentage of distance races— those being one mile and one eighth or further.

When it comes to breeding, experts often disagree on the heritability factor of genes—heritability being a measurement of how completely a trait is passed down through the genes.

E. Gus Cothran, PhD, was formerly a research professor with the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science. The emeritus professor is currently an advisor and consultant to the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS) at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The retired professor believes racing performance has a heritability of 30–35%. The remaining 65–70% he attributes to non-inherited factors, the likes of training, nutrition and health care.

“Very few people understand heritability,” Cothran said. “It’s the trait itself that has the heritability of roughly a third. That means that about 30% of what causes the trait is genetic, and the rest of it is environmental. It has to do with training and upbringing; about a third is nature and two-thirds nurture.”

Having a low genetic contribution to the trait means it will be more difficult to select for thorough breeding, according to Cothran. A complicated trait is probably made up of multiple genes having to interact. For example, there are multiple genes that would contribute to speed.

“Typical animal improvement breeding practices, which means you pick the animals that have the traits you desire to the highest degree you can find, breed them together and hope they will produce individuals that are equal or better than the parents,” Cothran explained. “And you’d have to do that probably several generations to make a large improvement, if it is even possible.”

“There may be one gene that has a maximum contribution to speed, one form of it, [for example] a particular gene with muscle characteristics,” the professor added. “But by itself, it is only going to make up a little bit of the total package of the speed.”

Andy Havens, founder of Havens Bloodstock Agency, Inc. in California, sees the trend toward speed; but he believes his ideas as to why things have changed are merely guesses as there are no statistics to back up the ideas.

 “I think the phenomenon is real,” Havens said of vanishing distance horses. “For a number of years and for a number of reasons the trend has turned more toward speed-oriented racing on the dirt, going away from the European type distance horses. Most of the races, other than Del Mar, that were longer races have been shortened.”                

A Turn of Foot

California-based, multiple-graded stakes-winning trainer Leonard Powell believes a lot of breeders are looking toward marketing their equine product. Since speed sells, there may be fewer classic-distance horses being produced. Powell hails from a racing family in France, riding races and training there prior to relocating to the United States. He has had plenty of experience with route horses.

“We run all day in Europe and have one pace, and it isn’t that way here,” Powell pointed out. “We bring middle-distance horses here; you want a horse that has a turn of foot. He can go a mile, mile and one eighth. With tactical speed, you can be in a good spot.”

Powell noted that the racing office has trouble filling races going one mile and one eighth or further. Those races might draw five or six horses on a good draw, but if they drop the race back to one mile and one sixteenth, it will have a full field.

Jeff Mullins is based at Santa Anita and recently set up an annex stable at Gulfstream Park. He was hoping the condition book in Florida would provide more opportunities, and larger purses, for his distance runners; that turned out not to be the case. 

“A lot of those [classic distance] horses have gone elsewhere, where there is more money,” Mullins opined. “If you go to Churchill or Keeneland or Oaklawn, those purses are higher than California.”

Mullins, with career earnings approaching $55 million, has won graded stakes with imported horses, the likes of Itsinthepost (FR), Battle of Hastings (GB) and River Boyne (IRE). He and his customers choose European horses for their surface preferences as much as their running distances.

“We purchase some sprinters and some distance horses—it just depends on the horse,” he said. “The main thing that we look for over there are horses that like firm ground.”

According to Mullins, there are not enough distance horses in California to fill those races, but “there are not enough horses in California period.”

It’s Not Just Canada 

Scott Lane, racing secretary at Woodbine in Ontario, Canada, was quick to point out that a lack of entries in stayer races was not solely a Canadian problem.

“It’s a North American issue,” he lamented, “not just a Woodbine issue.”

Lane did not have an “expert reason” why the problem exists, but thought there were many more stallions with shorter-distance pedigrees.

“You see a lot of middle-distance, milers now that are the vast percentage of the sires available in North America,” he pointed out. “You just don’t see many of those classic-distance horses that are going to stud, horses that race at a mile and a half and a mile and three quarters. You don’t see many of those turned into studs. That could be a reason why.”

Havens, a leader in bloodstock sales in California for over 30 years, would agree with Lane’s opinion on North American stallions. Very few stallions that are primarily distance horses seem popular with breeders.

“All I can really say is, it’s a function of selecting the stallions that we like,” Havens offered. “I think the choices of stallions that we go to stud with are speed oriented horses that like to run early. We like those really hot, brilliant horses that are precocious enough as two-year-olds to get enough experience to run in the classics [at three].”

Lane, who has written Woodbine’s condition book since 2019, leaned away from blaming North American purse structures. He cited Gulfstream’s $3 Million Pegasus World Cup (Gr. 1), as a case in point. In the field of nine, only first placed Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and runner up Knicks Go (Paynter) had won Gr. 1 stakes. The balance of the field, although most were graded stakes placed, had not.

“We have two Gr. 1’s [at Woodbine] going a mile and a half on the turf that we’ve seen very difficult to fill over the last couple of years, unless we get some European interest,” Lane cited. “With the [pandemic] travel restrictions we had to modify those races a little bit. 

“For the Valedictory Stakes (Gr. 3) we cut back from a mile and three quarters to a mile and a half. The Singspiel Stakes (Gr. 3) used to be at a mile and a half and is now a mile and three eighths. We’ve modified our distances to try and suit some of the handicap horses that [normally] go a route of ground at a mile and a sixteenth to a mile and a quarter to try and help fill longer races.”

Those changes, and other distance race changes around North America, may prove a lack of quantity and quality of horses for the stayer divisions everywhere. Many more horses are bred to sprint or run middle distances, according to Lane.

“We never have problems filling Woodbine races from five furlongs up to seven furlongs,” he noted. “You start getting to a mile and a sixteenth, we still have a lot of interest for those races. A mile and a quarter and over, we don’t have as many of those horses with the classic pedigree, so to say, anymore. We definitely see the farther you go, the less and less pool of horses you have to pick from. It’s just the way it is now.”

Texas Hold ‘Em

Texas Thoroughbred racing has had its ups and downs for decades but is ascending in recent years with popular racetracks, high-value incentive programs and prospering horse auctions. Ken Carson is the general manager of Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas, which was founded by Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer who campaigned 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Alysheba (Alydar). Their son, Doug Scharbauer, now owns the farm.

Carson, who has been on the Texas Thoroughbred Association board for nearly 30 years, agrees breeding trends are at least partially responsible for decreasing distance horse numbers. He does, however, have a lot of clients that breed to race.

Although Carson is a Texas native, he spent a decade or more in Kentucky working many facets of the racing industry, including five years as pedigree consultant at Three Chimneys Farm in Versailles. Carson believes commercial breeders have contributed in part to the vanishing distance horse pool.

“The market drives the bus,” Carson voiced. “The speedier horses sell better; they look better at the sales, and you don’t wait as long on them. I’m not saying it’s right, but I think that’s driving a lot of it. The two-year-old in training sales—they work an eighth real fast, and they bring the big dough.”

 Conformation traits of speedier pedigrees tend to portray a more precocious individual. They appear balanced as though they are mature and grown into their frame, even as a two-year-old. Distance horses are often rangier, long-bodied with leaner muscle leaving their overall look as not being finished, which they are not. It will usually take that immature looking distance-bred horse longer to mature physically as well. Thus, the economics of a quick return are diminished.

Carson has no doubt there are still North American mare owners breeding to increase those classic distance horses—even in Texas. After many years of deflated numbers, The Jockey Club report of the number of mares bred shows Texas annual foal numbers are rising.

Most acknowledge the trend toward fewer stayers is real. It seems to have crept into the industry slowly, but does anyone truly care? It would not seem so.

“I don’t think it is a planned influence,” Havens opined of the shorter-faster phenomenon. “I don’t know if anybody really thinks it’s a problem.”

Hybrid Stayers

With a shortage of distance horses in North America—those running one mile and one eighth or further—steeplechase horses occasionally take to the flat track to help alleviate the problem.

Scott Lane, racing secretary at Woodbine in Ontario, Canada, said the hybrids are “few and far between now,” but they can help to fill a race now and again.

“[Trainer] Jonathan Sheppard comes to mind as one that would have some of those hybrid horses,” Lane pointed out. “They’d see a flat race at Delaware, then go to Saratoga and run over the hurdles. You do see some horses that race here through the years that transition to the hurdles afterwards. Some of the United States interest will buy these horses that are no longer competing at Woodbine and transition them into the U.S. hurdle races during the summer months.

“They have extensive hunt meet racing from July through October with races in Virginia and Maryland; and I think probably South Carolina and Pennsylvania. The top ones run in Saratoga in the summer.”

Stacy and Robert Mitchell

Words - Bill Heller

With a dollar and a dream, Stacy, a critical-care nurse, and Robert Mitchell, a surgeon, became horse owners. With a willingness to learn, they became Thoroughbred breeders after purchasing 92-acre Briland Farm in Lexington. And with patience and a commitment to race only home-breds, they created a niche—one made so much sweeter when their three-year-old filly Secret Oath took them to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs by taking their first Gr. 1 stakes, the Kentucky Oaks, rather easily by two lengths under Luis Saez.

“They do it all themselves—pretty much a ‘mom-and-pop’ operation with just a few horses,” their Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “To have that kind of success is phenomenal. They’re very protective of their horses. Stacy foals out most of them herself. We’ve had a great relationship.”

Along the way, Stacy and Robert learned the ups and downs of racing. “The Thoroughbred industry can be as high as possible and the lowest of lows with foals dying,” Stacy said. “You just never know. Every time you get a good one, you say, `This is the one.’”

She was right with Secret Oath. “This was the one!” Stacy said. “It’s been exciting. Very satisfying.”

She’s certainly satisfied with her legendary trainer. “He’s great,” Stacy said. “He’s just classy. We can call him anytime. My husband talks to Wayne on the way to work every day. They both start their day at 3 a.m. He sees all his patients before they operate.”

Stacy and Robert met in the intensive care unit.

Born in western Kentucky, Stacy said, “I never had a horse. I always wanted a horse.”

Turns out, Robert did, too.

After they were gifted an older Quarter Horse, their realtor told them that horses usually like companions. The Mitchells found someone with a young mare with a decent pedigree. The man offered to give them the mare. “My husband didn’t want it for free,” Stacy said. “He did it for $1. That made it a two-way transaction.”

The Mitchells bred that mare, Chao Praya, to Level Sands and got Level Playingfield, who won nine of 49 starts and earned $664,822.

Upping  the ante, they bred Chao Praya to Empire Maker. They were rewarded with another star—Gr. 3 stakes winner Imposing Grace, who won five of 26 starts and made $326,743. 

The Mitchells then purchased Rockford Peach, who was in foal to Running Stag, for $36,000. She produced Absinthe Minded, a multiple-stakes winner who earned more than $600,000. She is the dam of Secret Oath. She was also the last Thoroughbred the Mitchells bought.

“The bottom line is we’ve never bought a race horse,” Robert told Meredith Daugherty in her February 23, 2022, story in the Paulick Report. “Every horse we’ve ever raced was born on our farm. We haven’t bought any Thoroughbred for over 20 years.”

How have they succeeded with only home-breds? “Luck—a lot of luck,” Stacy said. And a lot of work. “We went to so many clinics,” Stacy said. We became sponges for information. We read breeding books.”

Having a great trainer certainly helped, especially when their best horse, Secret Oath, showed a ton of potential. After breaking her maiden in her second start, she finished fifth in the Gr. 2 Golden Rod Stakes before winning three straight, an allowance by 9 ¼ lengths, the Martha Washington Stakes by 7 ½ and the Gr. 3 Honeybee by 7 ½.

That prompted a shot against colts in the Arkansas Derby, and she made a powerful rally in early stretch before tiring to third as the 7-5 favorite under Luis Contreras. “I thought she was going to be second, but she got tired because she made that big move,” Stacy said.

Lukas made a jockey switch to Saez for the Oaks, and he contributed a fine ride. “You’re nervous all day,” Stacy said. “You see them going to the gate. When she made the move, I just hoped it was a timed ride and she wouldn’t get tired. I was yelling, `Hang on, hang on.’ The rest of it was a blur. She didn’t want the lilies. I got the flowers.”

Secret Oath then finished fourth against colts in the Gr. 1 Preakness and is being prepped for a summer campaign, possibly starting in the Gr. 1 Coaching Club and/or Alabama. Stacy missed the Preakness. “My husband was there,” she said. “I was here foaling mares. I think she made a good run. I’m just happy that she finished in the top half and came out of it healthy.”

Health is very important to Stacy: “I don’t think I could do horses if I wasn’t a nurse. Keep the broodmares healthy. I’m able to do a lot of it myself.”

Stacy and Robert’s 22-year-old daughter Jessica is a registered nurse, hoping to go to grad school. Jessica’s younger sister Hannah is hoping to go to nursing school.

Asked if she’s proud of her daughters, Stacy said, “Oh, yeah. Being a mom is the best job I ever had. I couldn’t be prouder of my daughters.”   

And Secret Oath, the ultimate home-bred who will eventually become a broodmare, one with quite a resumé.

“We’ve been breeding since 2000,” Stacy said. “You always hope you have a Derby or Oaks winner.”

Now they do.

Fitri and Jim Hay

Words - Bill Heller

To racing’s “Golden Couple,” frequent fliers Fitri and Jim Hay, the United States is just one of many locales where their horses have had great success. They’ve won in England, France, America and Dubai—the base of Jim’s company JMH Group and where the couple now resides. “They’re racing enthusiasts,” Alex Cole, the Hays racing manager for the last 17 years, said. “It’s something they enjoy a great amount.”

Visiting the winner’s circle after graded and group stakes can do that to you. Their tremendous turf horse Cape Blanco (they owned 50 percent of the horse in partnership with Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor) captured the Dante Stakes, the Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes and was named the 2010 Irish Three-Year-Old Colt of the Year. The Hays had 27 winners in 2010, their highest total ever.

In 2011, trainer Aidan O’Brien sent Cape Blanco to the United States, and he quickly added to the Hays’ resume. After sweeping the Gr. 1 Man o’ War Stakes, Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Cape Blanco was named the 2011 Eclipse Champion Male Turf Horse.

That same year, the Hays purchased a 50-percent share of four-time Gp. 1 winner Fame and Glory. His victory in the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup culminated an unforgettable day for the Hays. “Some days can be beyond fable,” Fitri told Catherine McQueen in her December 26, 2019, story in Ccercle, a luxury magazine. “We were guests of the Queen [Elizabeth} for lunch at Windsor Castle. Much to our surprise, this was followed by being included in the royal procession down the track in one of the queen’s carriages—an unbelievable experience!”

The success of Cape Blanco and Fame and Glory helped the Hays purchase Birch Grove, the former mansion of Prime Minister Harold MacMillian. The property includes a private golf course.

Jim was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and Fitri in Jambi, Sumatra. They met in Jakarta, Indonesia, and married on August 25, 1996. They have two daughters, Jasmine and Catriona, who both enjoyed considerable academic success.  

Horse racing has always added up for Jim, whose grandmother taught him addition by watching televised races and making pretend bets. “He was hooked after that,” Alex said.

Jim studied at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in applied chemistry. In 1975, he joined British Petroleum (BP) as an engineer and worked his way up to a senior executive.

After his 27-year run at BP, Jim founded the JMH Group, a private business with two divisions—one dealing with construction, the second with lifestyle and fashion. He also acquired Fosroc, a construction solutions firm.

He’d been increasingly attracted to Thoroughbred racing, and after he and Fitri moved to the United Kingdom in 1998, he began spending so much time at racetracks and sales that Fitri felt like a racing widow. So she took the plunge and fell in love with racing, too.

Together, they began buying horses to build a stable in 2001. They didn’t have their first winner, Baratjea Dream, until 2004, then progressed rapidly. In 2010, they had a breakthrough with Cape Blanco.

In the U.S., their horse—in partnership with Smith, Magnier and Tabor—Deauville, won the 2016 Belmont Derby at Belmont Park. 

More recently, Highland Chief, owned completely by Fitri, captured the 2022 Gr. 1 Man o’ War in his second start for trainer Graham Motion at Belmont Park. 

Paul Cole (Alex’s father) and Oliver (Alex’s brother) had been training Highland Chief in Great Britain. Four weeks after the Man o’ War, Highland Chief raced in the Gr. 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont, finishing a solid fourth.

More and more, the Hays have been shipping their top horses to the United States. “The way things are in Great Britain, they send them to the U.S. for prize money,” their racing manager Alex said. 

The Hays spend their racing year at Newbury, Newmarket, York, Dante, Royal Ascot, Sandown, Newmarket again, Goodwood, Longchamp, Deauville and Dubai. Away from the track, they enjoy hunting, shooting, fishing, golf, rugby and soccer.

They have shared their success. The JMH Group was a major donor in the establishment of the Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science at Jim’s alma mater, Strathclyde. The Group also supports various charities in the Middle East and in India including disaster relief. Fitri has supported various projects to help and educate street children in Indonesia.

Asked why she enjoys racing, she told McQueen in her article, “There are several aspects that cannot be defined in monetary terms. There is firstly the enormous thrill of owning a horse that wins a race. That applies to all races. The thrill is magnified when it happens in a big race. The thrill is further magnified when the horse has been bred by us.”

All made possible by not becoming a racing widow.

Terry Finley

Words - Bill Heller

“If horse racing was just about dollars and cents, very few people would be in this game because it’s a terrible investment,” West Point Thoroughbreds founder and CEO Terry Finley said.

Yet he has been passionately invested in Thoroughbreds for much of his life, bringing in more than 2,000 new owners through racing partnerships in West Point Thoroughbreds’ first 31 years. 

His father, a chemistry teacher who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, found relief from the demands of his job and raising seven children in Levittown, Pennsylvania, at the racetrack—first as a $2 bettor and then by getting involved in a partnership. 

Terry was 10 years old. “I saw how much fun they had,” Terry said. “It was teachers, plumbers, state workers and the like. I saw how much fun and enjoyment a partnership could be.”

His six older siblings didn’t take to racing, giving Terry additional, much-appreciated time with his father. They forged a special bond through their love of horses and horse racing, frequently doing double-headers: Thoroughbreds in the afternoon and harness-breds at night.

Most people would be surprised to learn that Terry has waged his private battle with stuttering much of his life. He rarely stutters now, if at all, but it was bad enough as a senior in high school that he thought it cost him his appointment to West Point. It did not.

Terry graduated from West Point in the star-studded Class of 1986, which featured many high-profile graduates including former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and four of Terry’s closest friends: Steve Cannon, the former CEO of Mercedes Benz who is now a co-owner of the Atlanta Falcons; Joe DePinto, the long-tenured CEO of 7-Eleven Inc.; David Urban, a CNN political commentator and a powerful member of the Republican Party and former FBI agent Jim Diorio. 

Working together, those five friends created the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund named for their classmate, Col. John M. McHugh, a fatal victim of a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2010. The Fund helps the children and family of fallen soldiers with college costs. Through 2021, the Fund has awarded $25 million in scholarships to more than 3,500 college students all over the country. 

After leaving the Army with the rank of Captain in November, 1994, Terry toiled in a job he hated, selling life insurance for a year and a half, before finally conceding to his life-long passion for horses.

Terry started West Point Thoroughbreds with a $6,500 claimer and now boasts 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Flightline, his undefeated four-year-old who is currently ranked fifth in the world after capturing the Gr. 1 Met Mile by six lengths. 

Terry’s wife Debbie and their daughter Erin are key members of West Point Thoroughbreds’ corporate team.

Debbie and Terry met in pottery class in the 10th grade, started having dates at racetracks, and have been together ever since. Terry especially admires her tenacity as a mother, specifically helping their children, Erin and Ryan, secure the coaching they needed to pursue their passions. “She wouldn’t take `no’ for an answer,” Terry said proudly.

Erin didn’t let a horrific hand injury when she was four years old prevent her from continuing her riding lessons and becoming a top equestrian, frequently transitioning former West Point Thoroughbreds to a second career.

One can only imagine how difficult it was for Erin to deal with her injury growing up. Then one day at Saratoga, Terry ran into Steve Asmussen and noticed that Steve was also missing part of his thumb. Terry brought Erin to Steve, and they connected immediately when Steve reached out his damaged hand. “There was this mutual feeling that we’re not the only people in the world that had this type of accident.” Erin said. 

Erin’s younger brother, Ryan, an All-American and professional soccer player, graduated from the prestigious Wharton School and will begin a business career with a consulting firm in Dallas in October.

Terry has been West Point’s general, deploying his Thoroughbreds around North America to one of a dozen top trainers, forming strategic alliances and relying on key officers, especially his wife and daughter, to oversee his troops day-to-day. Having been exposed to breakthrough technology in the Army, Terry has been ahead of the curve ever since, reflected in West Point’s website, television ads and customer service.

“He’s worked very hard at it,” his Kentucky-based trainer and buddy Dale Romans said. “I watched it from its infancy—Terry was smart enough to use the Internet and social media. I think he was the first one. He was very ahead of the curve. “

Along the way, West Point Thoroughbreds has taken care of its Thoroughbreds when their racing days were over, through its Congie DeVito Black and Gold Fund. Congie didn’t let his brittle bone disease prevent him from becoming Terry’s first employee after nagging him for months. Congie pioneered West Point’s technology—cutting-edge material at the time. “He was very valuable,” Terry said. “He was everything to our entire team.” Terry treated him accordingly, surprising Congie with an electric wheelchair and customized van that gave him mobility he’d never had his entire life. “It was the first time he could control his direction,” Terry said. “He did figure 8’s over and over. I’ve never seen a person happier or more content. He always wanted to run. This was the closest he could come. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.”

When Congie died in 2011 at the age of 35, he donated his two kidneys, saving two other lives. “The kidneys were his gift out the door,” his mother, Roberta, said. “He was the one who thought of it.” 

While trying his best to avoid the spotlight, Terry has quietly become an industry leader. “Terry’s a straight-forward guy, very honest and cares about the sport,” former NFL linebacker Robert “Stonewall” Jackson, a partner on Always Dreaming, said. “He wants to do the right thing for the industry.”

He does so quietly. “It’s pretty remarkable,” his son Ryan said. “Other people—you can’t get to shut up. That’s something I learned from my dad: being humble.”

Erin calls her father “the definition of the American dream: serving your country and taking a risk. I am proud of him for not giving up with two kids and not a lot of financial backing, and grinding it out.”

Terry said, “It’s a labor of love. I get to live my dream: to win races.” 

Advocating for Humane Education - the work being done to educate youngsters in equine welfare

Words - Bill Heller

How do you change culture? How do you ensure horses’ welfare? “Education is the answer,” Equine Advocates’ founder Susan Wagner said. “To me, it’s the only thing that changes the picture.”

She knows quite a bit about change. When Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown chase drew her to the racetrack for the first time, she witnessed his 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes and was so dazzled that she quit her job and got a new one as a hotwalker on the backstretch the very next day. A myriad of jobs followed: working at Sagamore Farms in Maryland; writing for the Horsemen’s Journal; doing radio and TV work for the New York Racing Association  and for Teletrack off-track betting in New Haven, Connecticut; and becoming the first female jockey agent in New York, representing George Martens, who won the 1981 Belmont Stakes on Summing to deny Pleasant Colony the Triple Crown. She then worked for New York Zoological Society and for Friends of Animals.

When she learned of horse slaughter in the United States, she and her sister Karen began Equine Advocates (EA) in 1996. They opened the Equine Advocate Farm and Sanctuary near Chatham, New York—40 miles southeast of Saratoga Springs—in late 2004. EA currently has 82 residents, including 19 Thoroughbreds. The newest horse, a wild Mustang mare named Onaqui, arrived from Utah on June 4.

In 2006, with the considerable help of longtime supporter and Thoroughbred owner and breeder Jeffrey Tucker, EA constructed a humane education center on the 140-acre farm to teach kids, preschool through college, about the humane treatment of horses. She was stunned two years later to learn that New York State has a law mandating humane education courses be taught at elementary schools. Section 809 of New York State Education Law mandates every elementary school in the state teach “the humane treatment and protection of animals and the importance of the part they play in the economy of nature as well as the necessity of controlling the proliferation of animals which are subsequently abandoned and caused to suffer extreme cruelty.” The law has been on the books since 1947, yet very few schools even know about it today.

Fifty-five years after the law was passed, the New York State Bar Association created the Committee on Animals and the Law to focus on legal issues regarding the interests of animals and to serve as a legal resource for humane-related issues pertaining to animals and “make a difference for both animals and people.”

Just like that law, few people are aware of that committee.

But at least New York State has a humane education mandate. Only eight of the other 49 states do: California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. 

“If any state should offer humane education, Kentucky immediately comes to mind since the breeding of horses for racing is what that state is most famous for,” Wagner said.

“There’s been a law since 1947, but it hasn’t been implemented,” retired Brooklyn elementary school teacher Sheila Schwartz said. “There’s no one around to see that it’s being done.”

She said she was “shocked” when she learned about the state law from the ASPCA in 1980. She began teaching it immediately and continued to do so until she retired in 2014. She created a humane education curriculum in 1985, and served as the chairman of the United Federation of Teachers Humane Education program from 1989 through 2014. “We were a support group,” she said. “Most of the teachers didn’t want to start a program.”

Asked to guess what percentage of schools have programs now, she replied, “I’d be surprised it is more than two to five percent.”

PETA noted: “Under New York State’s current education laws, elementary schools are required to provide instruction in the humane treatment and protection of animals. Unfortunately, many educators are not even aware of this requirement, and compliance is inconsistent.”

Teachers that do want to start humane education courses have a valuable resource in Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (H.E.A.R.T), which offers full-service humane education programs in New York City, Chicago and Indianapolis and is accessible online. Its mission is “to develop a generation of compassionate youth who create positive change for animals, people and the natural world.”

What have all these kids who didn’t have humane education classes been missing? “Humane education gives them another way to view animals,” Schwartz said. “I think it makes them empathetic to animals and to each other. When I did the program, we would have them role playing. What are the alternatives?”

Susan Wagner has made a career of finding alternatives for horses. Yet she is realistic: “We can’t rescue every horse. So the best thing we can do is teach young people the tools to rescue them on their own in addition to being able to report animal abuse to the authorities. One of our main issues is to eliminate horses being treated poorly.”

Yet she and Michele Jacobs, the humane education teacher she hired last November, do not indoctrinate their students. “We don’t tell these kids what they should think,” Wagner said. “We show photos of a horse pulling a carriage in a busy city and a horse in a pasture pulling a carriage in a field. We ask the kids, ``What do you see? What do you feel?’ Then we get them to talk about horses. We tell them the different types of horses and what they are used for. There are ways to handle a horse properly. We’re very careful not to tell them what is right or what is wrong. They look at the pictures and they decide.”

Then they get to tour Susan’s farm. Horses meant to be slaughtered and/or have suffered abuse are now living like kings and queens in oversized paddocks, receiving excellent care and huge doses of love and carrots from a steady stream of visitors. Each horse’s story is posted just outside their paddock. They come to Susan when she calls their names. The bond she enjoys with them is obvious.

In 2019, the last full year of activity before the two-year pandemic, more than 800 students from nearby schools enjoyed the EA’s classes and tours. “It’s great for these kids,” Wagner said. “They love it. Some bring their parents back on open-house days.”

Michele, who began riding lessons when she was four, said. “It’s wonderful working here. I had teaching jobs all over the area, and I’ve always wanted a job working with horses.” Now she’s doing both.

She, too, was unaware of the state law: “I did not know about it. I don’t know why schools aren’t doing programs.”

Her programs at EA are geared to “inspire a new love of equines by thinking for themselves,” Michele said. “We talk about taking care of the horses. The younger ones’ reactions are curiosity. They want to know more about the animal. I had third and fifth grade students last week,” Michele said. ”They all sat down right away. They were very interested. They asked very intelligent questions. Even the third-graders were all over about horses having feelings. Their faces lit up. Another time, we had a three-year-old with one of the horses. It was her first time seeing a horse—a huge animal. The way she looked at him and touched him was beautiful.”

Michele’s three kids, 11-year-old Benjamin, 13-year-old Matthew and 16-year-old Caleb, have all been to Susan’s farm. “I’m very passionate about horses, seeing their expressions,” Benjamin said. “I like petting them. I want to help my mom with humane education. It’s definitely not right to treat horses badly. A lot of other animals, too. I want to learn about it.”

Matthew, who helps his mom take care of their own horse, said, “I just think they’re really cool animals. I think it’s very important because if you treat them the wrong way, you’re not going to live a happy life. I believe the animals have feelings, too.”

Caleb, their 16-year-old brother, has done a 10-hour volunteering stint at EA and plans on doing it again as a part of his school’s mandated policy of volunteer work. “I think the farm is really beautiful,” he said. “I know they treat their horses and other animals very well. I think what they are doing is excellent.” 

Other kids of Caleb's age are happy participants at EA, too. Danielle Melino, who lives in Austerlitz, 15 minutes from EA, is a high school agriculture teacher at Housatonic Valley High School in Connecticut (EA is close to the New York-Connecticut state line). “We were the first post-COVID class to visit the farm,” she said. “It was probably the best field trip I’ve taken with my kids in years. We heard from Michele, Susan and volunteers. My students were blown away. They learned about a lot of topics: PMU (pregnant mares’ urine used to treat menopause), wild Mustangs, horse slaughter, carriage horses and camp horses. We learned about the history of the organization. I always tell my students these horses couldn’t ask for a better setting and better care on these beautiful grounds.” 

 She was so impressed with EA’s program that she reached out to another high school who also visited the farm, and also brought her 4-H class there. “I think humane education should be in every school,” Danielle said.

Daniela Caschera teaches preschool for three- and four-year-olds kids at Albany Academy, where Michele had taught. Her kids did a zoom with Michele. “She had left a bucket of items before we did the zoom,” Caschera said. “We guessed what they might be used for. Then, when she zoomed, she talked about those items: a horseshoe, some food, a brush, a file for teeth.

“They were so excited. One of my students, Leon Carey, then visited the farm with his parents. He loves animals. His father is a vet. His grandfather has a reindeer farm in Corning.”

Daniela was appreciative of having a zoom with Michele available during the pandemic: “With COVID, it was a way to introduce something new to the kids. My kids were very engaged, for three- and four-year-olds. They asked a lot of questions. After that, Michele gave us part of a tour.”

One moment stood out for Daniela: “We were talking about horses sleeping standing up. One of my little girls asked why. She’s the youngest person in my class. And she told her mom why horses sleep standing up. It stuck.”

Daniela intends to spend a whole week next year focused on horses as part of her curriculum.

Ray Whelihan, an associate professor at the State University of New York – Cobleskill, teaches an animal science class. He’s been visiting Susan’s farm for a decade. “Susan is a key part of the course,” he said. “She zoomed during COVID. It is such a professional organization over there. She gives extraordinary care.”

Susan has been working with Ray to create an individual course focusing solely on horses and/or a course of equine ethics.

“We desperately need humane education because kids are the future horse caregivers in America,” Wagner said. “I think every state should have humane education because every state has horses. For states with major horse racing and breeding, humane education should be compulsory because there are so many more horses bred. It’s important to make sure that every horse bred to race, whether or not he races, has a soft landing. Humane euthanasia should be considered a last resource to make sure the horses don’t fall through the cracks and end up being slaughtered.”

Classes and tours are just part of EA’s humane education program. Its Kid’s Corner is part of its Fun From Home program. There are equine-themed puzzles, quizzes, mazes and games, and video tours of the farm. 

Brand new are the Equine Readers Club, offered online, once a month on Saturdays at noon, which are available on Facebook and YouTube; and “Live at Lunchtime” on Wednesdays is also available on those two platforms.

Following a two-year absence during the pandemic, EA scheduled seven open houses in 2022. The first was on May 14 and the last will be on November 5.

EA plans to expand its humane education program, hoping to reach as many children as possible. “I think it’s something that people don’t know about—how bad horses can be treated and how bad they are treated,” Caleb Jacobs said. “They should be treated like a dog and a cat. I think more people should know about it.” 

#Soundbites - How are you complying with HISA regulations, and what additional steps are you taking to be compliant?

Words - Bill Heller

Michael Matz

I don’t think we have any choice. It is what it is, and you have to do it. It’s extra work, but it makes a fair playing field. This is what we have to do. I’m sure there are a lot of glitches that will have to be worked out. We just have to comply. I hope it makes a big difference. With the bunch of people caught (cheating), it should have been done a long time ago. 

Richard Mandela

I’m lucky I’ve got my son helping. He showed me yesterday what we will be doing: a lot of recording information—we’re already doing at Santa Anita, ever since a couple years ago when we had problems with horses breaking down. It’s a great improvement, but it involves a lot of recording, inspections, checking, double checking, triple checking. It’s a pain in the neck, but it’s working.

Dale Romans

I’m going to hire a person to do all the HISA stuff. I’m going to put him on staff. I can’t do it myself. I’m going to have an open mind about HISA, but I think there’s going to be some unnecessary repetitive work. They’ll have to figure that out. 

Bruce Levine

Bruce Levine

I haven’t registered yet (as of June 9). I’m going to look at it next week. My wife will do that for me. I’m all for uniform rules, but some of the smaller tracks may have a problem. It’d be nice to have uniform rules. I just don’t know how much horse knowledge they have. They should have had people on the backstretch asking questions. 

Joe Sharp

Basically, it’s been a learning process for everybody. We’re trying to follow the guidelines that they’re giving us. It seems all the kinks haven’t been worked out yet. We’re waiting for changes in a couple of things. We’re registered and trying to sort through what they’re asking. There’s a little lack of clarity in some areas. I think we’re all trying to do the right thing.

Mike Stidham

First of all, I’m complying by just filling out the forms for myself and my horses. It’s quite a bit of data and a lot of paperwork. Everything they’re asking trainers to do has to be documented—what we did, what the vets did. I think there’s a redundancy. Whether or not this is the answer to solve many of the problems of the industry remains to be seen. We’re all going to find out after a period of time. 

Wayne Catalano

I don’t know what to think, to tell you the truth. We’ll do whatever we have to do. I don’t know what difference it’s going to make. People can get around a lot of things.

Pat Kelly

I don’t think we need it. The little guys don’t need it. I only have two horses.  We’ve already done a lot of this with the National THA (National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association). They want people to do all this, but there’s no funding for it. It’s another layer of government bureaucracy we don’t need. I just don’t see everyone doing this by July 1.  They may have to push the date back. I’ll sign up if I have to.   

Ron Ellis

It’s not a great thing when government gets involved. It seems like a lot of unnecessary red tape. My owners are grumbling. They all have to do paperwork. We’ll see how it works out.

Antonio Sano trainer of Preakness contender - Simplification

This article was first published ahead of the 2017 Kentucky Derby - when Calder was still open for training.

We’re republishing it ahead of the 2022 Preakness Stakes - where Sano will start Simplification for owner Tami Bobo.

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Antonio Sano is an early riser and according to his wife Maria Christina, not the greatest of sleepers in any instance. Up at 3:50 every morning come rain or shine, Sano can be found splitting time between his barns at Calder and Gulfstream Park. Between the two locations, he’s got roughly 70 horses in his care.

Assistant trainer Jesus “Chino” Prada

The two- and three-year-old are based at Calder, and the older horses are some 10 miles away at Gulfstream. “I like the track [at Calder] for the babies. It’s a good track, deep sand, and when it rains it drains, while over at the other place, it can take two days to clear.” Assistant trainer Jesus “Chino” Prada, who has been an integral member of the team since Sano started training in the U.S., chips in: “Gulfstream is great for racing, but here is the best for training.”

Sano might not yet be a household name across North America, but in his native Venezuela, the man’s a legend. He trained no less than 3,338 winners on his home soil, and it was only thanks to a kidnapping in 2009 that lasted longer than a month that he quit training in the country. The kidnapping -- his second -- resulted in the father-of-three doing what was best for his family, which was to remove them from the danger that his success was creating.

Sano is a third-generation trainer. “My father, grandfather, and uncle all worked with horses,” he recounts. “My father right now is 88 years old. He arrived from Italy when he was just 16 and was working with horses. They came from Sicily. In fact, my whole family is from there, including my wife!”

After graduating from college with a degree in engineering, the magnetic pull to the racetrack was too great, and Sano went to work as an assistant trainer Julio Ayala to enhance what knowledge and skills had been passed down to him from his father and grandfather.

Eventually (March, 1988) setting up on his own, Sano ended up training in Venezuela for 23 years, earning the trainers’ championship title 19 times and winning an average of 150 races annually, with three year-end win tallies in excess of 200. That’s no mean feat when you consider that racing only takes place twice a week in the major city of Valencia, where Sano was based.

In Venezuela, according to Sano, the pedigrees of the horses he trained were a little different than what he works with in the U.S., and so was the daily training regime. “I had 160 horses in my barn and worked the horses in four groups. Riders here take the horses to the track every 45 minutes and come back. There 4 sets of 40 horses each. Every rider work on 2 horses per set. I had the privilege to count with 20 riders at that time. We would take them all to the track at 6 A.M. At 6:45 A.M., the second set would be ready, the third by 7:30 A.M., and the last before 8:30 A.M.”

After first going from Venezuela to Italy, Sano and his family moved to the U.S. in March of 2010. They had visited the country before without spending any time at the racetrack, preferring the great vacationing opportunities that Florida offers with a young family in tow.

Well known for his training of staying types, Sano found the transition to training the speed-bred horses of the U.S. “Each horse is different, but I’ve learned more from others around me here in the U.S. than I ever learned in Venezuela,” he says -- modest words, perhaps, for a trainer who is a master of his game. “But my focus is always on the way the horses finish.”

Prada has been a friend of Sano’s for over 40 years. They attended trainer school together, along with Enrique Torres.

Their teaming up in Florida may never have happened had Sano decided to move to Italy after the kidnapping. “Italy has beautiful people and great food, but the racing wasn’t for me. So I went to Florida and met Mike Antifantis (the racing secretary at Calder at the time), who gave me a couple of stalls. I then had to go back to Venezuela and close shop, giving all my horses away.”

March 22, 2010, was an important date in Sano’s and Prada’s lives. It marked the start of a new chapter, when they claimed their first horse for their fledgling operation. The numbers quickly grew from there. “Two horses became four, and quickly we had 10,” recounts Prada.

The stable ended its first season with 37 winners, including two in stakes races. Knowing very few people or being known to few was probably a good thing for Sano as he and Prada quietly went about building their business. And where resentment for the new man in town could have quickly grown, friendships flourished with other trainers. “They treated me well and with respect,” says Sano.

With a successful formula in place, Sano’s stable was able to gradually improve the quality of stock. Still, his patronage remains primarily from Venezuelan or other Latin American ownership interests; he hasn’t really caught on with American owners.

In 2004, Sano started to shift his focus away from claiming horses to buying yearlings, while still using the claiming philosophy of trading up purchases. This time last year, Sano had high hopes for a then-unraced Broken Vow filly named Amapola, who he had bought as a yearling for $25,000. Amapola crossed the wire first by nearly 10 lengths in her May, 2016, debut in track record time for four-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream, only to lose the race in the stewards room for drifting in at the start. She turned a lot of heads that day, and Sano parted with her for a substantial profit. “I sold her for the money,” he says.

As with most buyers at sales, pedigree and conformation are at the top of Sano’s list when studying a catalogue page, but for him the stride of the individual and the horse’s eye are the main factors to determine if he is going to raise his hand in the ring -- should the price fall in his preferred buying range of $5,000 to $50,000.

In 2015, Sano made a number of purchases at yearling sales, and came home from the Keeneland September sale with a good-looking son of first crop sire and Florida Derby winner Dialed In.

The sale of that colt, from the consignment of Jim and Pam Robinson’s Brandywine Farm, must have been a rather bittersweet moment for breeders Brandywine and Stephen Upchurch. The chestnut’s dam Unbridled Rage had died about a week and a half after he was born, and the newly orphaned foal was bottle-fed until a foster mare could be found.

Sano with Gunnevera

That colt, for which Sano had the winning bid at $16,000, was, of course, Gunnevera. And thanks to him, if Dialed In hadn’t already been a particular favorite of Sano’s, he certainly would be now.

After the sale at Keeneland, Gunnevera, along with the other Sano purchases, was sent to Classic Mile Park in Ocala, where he was broken by Julio Rada a classmate of Sano and Prada’s at the Venezuelan training school in 1988.

Gunnevera was showing potential at Classic Mile and by the time of his arrival at Calder, his reputation was growing. However, the faith shown in him by those who knew him best wasn’t being shared by everyone: the first-time owner who Sano had bought the horse for eventually got around to paying for the colt...but the check bounced.

The name “Gunnevera” has no real meaning. It’s a combination of place names and words favored by his ownership interests -- Jamie Diaz, originally from Spain but now in Miami; and Peacock Racing, a partnership of Venezuelans Guillermo Guerra and Guerra’s father-in-law Solomon Del-Valle, who ended up with the horse just six weeks before his first run.

Del-Valle’s friendship with Sano is deeper than most normal friendships, as it was he who helped Sano’s wife arrange and finance Sano’s release from his kidnappers. “I told him that we bought horses at the yearling sale and this was the best one, that I’m going to make him a champion.” Sano’s prophecy looks like it’s showing some promise, and Gunnevera’s success has gone someway toward repaying Del-Valle’s generosity to the Sano family over the years.

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Fast forward to 2022 and Gunnevera stands as a stallion at Pleaseant Acres Stallions in Morriston, FL. He has earned his place in the stallion barn on the back of his race record - winning the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot at two. At three he won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, finished second in both the Grade 2 Holy Bull and the Grade 1 Travers and was a game third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

As a four year old he finished second in a pair of Grade 1’s - The Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Woodward Stakes and ran a gallant third in the Pegasus World Cup (Gr.1). At five, his third place finish in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) meant that he retired with earnings of over $5.5m and as such has become the highest ever earner to stand at stud in Florida.

Gunnevera was not his trainer’s first graded stakes winner; although none received anywhere near the level of acclaim as the son of Dialed In. Sano previously handled Devilish Lady, City of Weston, and Grand Tito to graded stakes wins.

Sano is the first to admit that nothing has compared to the Gunnevera success story and the national exposure he received. But how well does he react to the inevitable pressure? “I’ve never been in a situation like this before, but it’s a blessing,” he calmly says. For Maria Christina, it’s as if her husband’s life is going on just the same. “He never sleeps before any race, he’s always thinking about something.”

Come to think of it, Sano’s whole day and night seems to be taken up with work or thinking about horses. The work day often ends 16 hours after it began, giving Sano a little much-needed family time with his three children. His eldest son Alessandro is already following in the family business and now works as one of his father’s assistant trainers.

But what about time away from horses, does Sano take a vacation? “One week -- and I don’t relax,” he says. “He’s always on the phone to Chino and I say, ‘No phone, Tony, the horses won’t run faster with you not there,’” interjects Maria Christina.

“Twenty (five) years ago when Alessandro was born, I would never have thought that I would be where I am now,” says Sano.

“But Tony, you were scared to come here 20 years ago. There wasn't the opportunity we have here in Venezuela,” retorts Maria Christina.

So Venezuela’s loss is America’s gain, and this is one family truly living the American dream.

First published in North American Trainer issue 44 - May - July 2017

Buy this back issue here!

Brian Lynch - the Australian born trainer whose set to make a mark at Ellis Park this summer

By Ken Synder

“If you find something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “I’ve been blessed to do a job that I have a passion for. I have fun with it.”

“Fun” is not a word often associated with training Thoroughbreds. The job, as everyone in racing knows and as Lynch noted, “is seven days a week, 365 days a year.”  The word, however, crops up often for those who know Lynch.

“He’s fun to be around,” said Richard Budge, general manager at Margaux Farm, where many of Lynch’s horses have begun careers as yearlings. 

Dermot Carty, a bloodstock agent who first met Lynch when he came to Canada in 2005, echoed Budge: “With Brian, he just makes it fun. He makes it enjoyable through the good times and the bad. He’s one of the few true characters in the business who actually puts enjoyment into horse racing.” 

Greg Blasi, Churchill Downs outrider who knows Lynch away from the racetrack “cowboying” with him, (more on this later), expressed it most succinctly: “He’s a hoot.”

Of course, the most fun is trips to the winner’s circle, and Lynch has made plenty of those: 720 at press time and earnings just short of $47 million.

A native of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia, Lynch fits, perhaps, the profile of a stereotypical and classic “Aussie.” 

“We have more of a laid-back attitude than Americans. It’s nothing to share a few beers with each other and have a good time…helps you make new friends, that’s for sure.”

What Lynch did before coming on the racetrack may explain also why racing is more fun to him than anything. He was a bull rider back home. In fact, he came to America in 1992 to join this country’s professional circuit with big purses after learning the trade locally. “They had a local rodeo back home, and it was a big thing. Not far from the racetrack was a horse trader who had some bucking horses and some bucking bulls; and I used to hang around his place a lot. That’s where I got the taste for jumping on bulls.”

The racetrack Lynch mentioned is an unusual triangular racecourse that was across the road from his home and where he got his start, filling water buckets and learning to ride as a boy. “I could ride from a young age. It wasn’t long before I graduated to galloping horses. 

“I was always a little bit too big to be a jockey. I sort of found a lot of work helping on the wilder horses.”  Apparently, it was experience sufficient to prepare him for something bigger and more dangerous…with horns.

Thoroughbreds sidetracked Lynch when he came to Southern California and a small farm near the border with Mexico. “There was a little Thoroughbred farm called Suncoast Thoroughbreds. I got a job breaking colts for them, and it wasn’t far from San Luis Rey.”  

Lynch said he “annoyed” the stewards there till they gave him a trainer’s license. His start was with two horses at San Luis Rey.

That led to training for the Mabee family’s Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona in San Diego County.

“I kicked around California for a lot of years just with small numbers, just scratching out a living—selling, and running horses, and flipping horses. I was bringing some from Australia and moving them.” 

His big break was training at Santa Anita and Del Mar where he met some important influences. “Most say they admire the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. For me, it’s Ron McAnally, Jack Van Berg, and Bobby Frankel,” he said with a laugh.

When Frankel learned the Mabee family was going to downsize their Thoroughbred operation, he approached Lynch about joining his stable as an assistant. “He was starting to get more two-year-olds than he’d ever had. That’s when Chad [Brown] and I teamed up with horses for Bobby. Chad went to California, and I went to South Florida and Palm Meadows in the first year that it opened,” said Lynch.

“Bobby certainly wasn’t a textbook teacher,” Lynch said of the legendary New York trainer who died in 2009. “He wasn’t going to walk you through everything. He was a guy that if you were around him enough and you didn’t absorb anything from him or learn anything from him, then shame on you.”

Frankel, not known publicly as being chatty, was half of a truly odd couple with the amiable Aussie. Not just the experience, but the friendship is treasured by Lynch. “He had a heart of gold. He was a great guy to train horses for and just a wonderful human being.”

Lynch’s big break came when he moved to Canada to manage Frankel’s division at Woodbine in 2005. In 2006 he went out on his own, eventually becoming a private trainer for Frank Stronach. 

Canada was very much to his liking; in both 2006 and 2007, his earnings topped $1 million before jumping to over $3 million in 2008. That year began his string of consecutive top 100 earning trainers in North America that continued through last year.

He is quick to credit owners for his success and consistency: “I’ve been very blessed to have long-term owners who like to play the game and who have always tried to work on finding the better horses.  Fortunately enough, if you look back over the list, there’s been quite a few of them.”

Quite a few indeed. Lynch trained Clearly Now, who set the Belmont record for seven furlongs (1:19.96) in that track’s 2014 Sprint Championship, earning an Equibase speed figure of 122. (To give you an idea of how phenomenal the performance was, the next year’s Sprint Championship winner won in 1:22.57.)  Other top horses include Grand Arch, owned by Jim and Susan Hill of Margaux Farm and  winner of the Gr. 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland in 2015; Oscar Performance, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in 2016; and Heart to Heart, winner of two consecutive back-to-back Gr. 1 stakes in 2018 at Keeneland and Gulfstream Park. Most notable outside the U.S. was a win in Canada’s 2015 Queen’s Plate Stakes with Shaman Ghost.

While many trainers get labels for being good with two-year-olds, sprinters, etc., there is an enviable trademark for Lynch’s horses: long careers. “I’ve raced two- and three-year-olds and still have them around running Gr. 1’s and winning at six or seven.” Grand Arch raced till the ripe old age of seven and in stakes company, finishing his career in the Forbidden Apple Stakes at Belmont. “Keep them in good form and you’ll have them still around when they’re older,” said Lynch who also points to “patient owners” like the Hills, willing to give their horses a break as a necessary ingredient in managing racing careers.  

If there is a label, Lynch is unaware of it. When it was pointed out that in the past five years he had started more horses on the turf than on dirt, his response elicited another Lynch trademark: humor.  “Probably because they were too slow for the dirt.

“I guess I primarily grew up training horses and riding horses to run on the turf down there [Australia], so I probably am influenced to run ‘em on the grass. I’m certainly not frightened by the dirt, by any means, but somehow, I ended up trying them on the grass. If they run well there, I’ll keep them on that surface.”

Brian Lynch with mentor D. Wayne Lucas

As intent as he is on enjoying himself and bringing enjoyment to others in the game, he is “no-nonsense” as a trainer—a euphemism not used by Carty to describe Lynch. “He can figure out in a very short period of time if a horse has or does not have any talent. He’s not one of those bull***t trainers who tells people that, ‘yes, yes, it’s going to get better’ and in his heart and soul, he knows it’s just for a day rate. He’s not interested in the day rate. He’s interested in developing and making great racehorses.”

Asked about his success and consistency, Lynch responded with characteristic modesty and self-deprecation: “One thing I’ve learned about training horses over the years is I’ve gotten very good at delivering bad news. That’s what you seem to do a lot.”

Unlike many high-profile trainers with multiple divisions and large strings of horses who are more business people than trainers, Lynch’s focus is the barn first, and then business. “It’s switch on, switch off,” said Carty. “Clients will feel good and enjoy themselves at the races with Lynch. But when he goes back to that barn and those horses, he switches to Brian Lynch who looks after the horses, making sure they’re ok. 

“He’s there first thing in the morning, and following the races, he goes over and checks every stall and goes through it. He’s not one who would just leave it to the help,” said Carty.

Richard Budge offered another perspective on Lynch. “I would say he’s unique in the fact he’s willing to roll the dice in a stakes race with a horse that may be an outsider.”

Brian Lynch with groom Juan Garcia

A case in point was a recent start by Phantom Currency (yet another Hills-owned horse) in the Gr. 3 Kitten’s Joy Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream in April. The horse was coming off a 13-month layoff. While most trainers may have looked for an allowance race tune-up, Lynch went for the gold. The horse won, earning a very impressive 114 Equibase speed figure.   

“If a horse is training well, he’ll ask, ‘Why not? Let’s give it a shot,’” added Budge.  

“That would be a huge positive. We can be a little tentative about where to place them or put them. You never know if you could have run a stakes race when you run in an allowance.

That very question faces Lynch with his first potential Kentucky Derby starter, in Classic Causeway.  

After two impressive wins—the first in the Gr. 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes in February and a month later in the Gr. 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby with identical and impressive Equibase speed figures of 104—the horse finished a mystifying last in the Florida Derby.

Classic Causeway, owned and bred by Clarke M. Cooper and Kentucky West Racing, is one of three foals from the final crop of Giant’s Causeway who died in 2018. 

He made his debut at Saratoga last September and blew away the competition from gate to wire over seven furlongs, winning by six-and-a-half lengths. The horse entered the Derby picture with a third-place finish in the Gr. 1 Breeders’ Futurity in October at Keeneland and followed that with a second-place finish in the Gr. 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November at Churchill Downs. His two wins at Tampa Bay Downs earned him qualifying points for one of the 20 spots in the gate the first Saturday in May.

Before the Florida Derby, Lynch had this to say about the son of the great Giant’s Causeway, known as the “Iron Horse” after winning five Gp. 1 races in just 11 weeks as a three-year-old. “You always hope that you come across one in your career that you can have a ‘kick at the can’ in the Derby, but fortunately this horse came into our stable, and he’s done everything we’ve asked of him. I think he’s just getting better, and we’re really excited to have him.”

louis rushlow

Whatever lies ahead, Lynch said he will “stop and smell the roses,” whether they’re draped across the withers of Classic Causeway at Churchill Downs or the figurative kind. 

He embraces a positive attitude toward racing that most of us should emulate. “Racing is a game of ups and downs. You could be dodging missiles in Ukraine. You get over a loss, have a beer or soft drink, and move on.”  

His idea of relaxation may be an indication of the kind of person Brian Lynch is. When Greg Blasi mentioned one day he and other outriders were going up to a farm east of Louisville to work cattle, the 57-year-old Lynch was quick to say to Blasi, “If you ever need some help, just let me know.”  

He’s ridden with Blasi, and the others as many times as he’s had the opportunity, ever since. “He’s just a very good horseman, whether it’s on the back of a pony herding cows—just whatever,” said Blasi. “He used to gallop his own horses. He’s come up the hard way, and he tells stories about when he didn’t have a couple of nickels to rub together. Nothing was handed to him. I respect guys like that. There are a lot of people that didn’t have to struggle to get where they are.

“He’s also a lot of fun to be around.”  Ah, there’s that word. 

For a guy who’s ridden bucking broncos and bulls, you might expect a certain fearlessness. Not so: “I have one fear in life, and that is that there’s a good time going on somewhere and I’m not in the middle of it.”

Racehorse Bone Health: From a Nutritional Perspective

Strong, healthy bones are the foundation for racehorse soundness, but unfortunately skeletal injuries are an issue that every trainer will face. There are many factors involved in the production of strong bones; however, two key factors that we can influence are training and nutrition. 

By Louise Jones

Every trainer knows how important exercise is to ‘condition’ the bones, and we are constantly striving to improve training programmes so that sufficient strain is applied to signal an increase in bone development, whilst not straining the bones to the point of fracture; this is a difficult balancing. Perhaps more fundamental to this is the role of diet in supporting bone density, strength and repair.  Even minor nutrient deficiencies or imbalances can mean that the horse doesn’t receive the nutrients it requires for healthy bones and thus increases the risk of potential problems down the track.

Understanding how bone is formed and adapts in response to training, alongside the critical role optimal nutrition plays in these processes, can help to ensure skeletal soundness and minimise the risk of bone-related injuries.

Bone formation & remodelling

Bone formation occurs by a process of endochondral ossification; this is where soft cartilage cells are transformed into hard bone cells. Bone consists of three types of cells and an extracellular matrix. This extracellular matrix is made mainly from the protein collagen, which makes up to 30% of mature bone and is a key element in connective tissue and cartilage. The three types of cells in bone are:

• Osteoblasts: These are the cells that lay down the extracellular matrix and are responsible for the growth and mineralisation/hardening of bone.

• Osteoclasts: These cells are involved in the breakdown of bone, so that it can be replaced by new stronger bone. 

• Osteocytes: These cells work to maintain and strengthen when a bone requires modelling or remodelling.

Bone mineral content (BMC) is a measure of the amount of mineral in bone and is an accurate way of measuring the strength of a bone. Interestingly, about 70% of bone strength is due to its mineral content; calcium being the most notable and accounting for 35% of bone structure. A horse’s bones do not fully mature until they are about 5-6 years old. So, whilst a horse will have reached 94% of their mature height when they are a yearling, they will have only reached 76% of their total BMC. 

Although it may seem like mature bone is inert, it is in fact a highly dynamic tissue, and BMC is constantly adapting in response to exercise and rest by a process called remodelling.zBone remodelling is a complex process involving several hormones and nutrients. Essentially when mature bone ages or is placed under stress, such as exercise, small amounts of damage occur. This results in the osteoclast cells removing the old or damaged bone tissue. In turn, this triggers osteoblasts and osteocytes to repair the bone by laying down collagen and minerals over the area, thus strengthening the bones. It’s estimated that 5% of the horse’s total bone mass is replaced (remodelled) each year. It should be noted that during the remodelling process, bone is in a weakened state. Therefore, if during this period, the load applied to the bones exceeds the rate at which they can adapt, injuries such as sore shins can occur.  

Bone strength & exercise

When galloping, a horse places up to three times its body weight in force on the lower limbs. The more load or pressure put on a bone, the greater the bone remodelling that will need to take place. Ultimately, this will result in new, stronger bones being formed. 

Studies have shown that correct exercise can increase bone density in the cannon bone, the knee and sesamoid bones; and this can help reduce the likelihood of skeletal injury. However, the intensity of training is key; low intensity exercise (trotting), whilst essential for muscle development, has been shown to only result in small change in cannon bone density. Whereas training at high speeds for a short amount of time (sprinting), rather than repetitive slow galloping, has shown to result in a significant increase in bone density. This is highlighted in a study using a treadmill where short periods of galloping at speeds over 27mph (43 km/hour) were associated with a 4-5% increase in the density of the cannon bone.

Whilst exercise clearly plays a pivotal role in bone density, doing too much too soon can be disastrous and result in issues such as:

• Sore/buck shins: This is a common injury in young racehorses. It is caused by excessive pressure on the bones resulting in tiny fractures on the cannon bone, which may not have fully mineralised (strengthened and hardened). This results in the periosteum (a fibrous membrane of connective tissue covering the cannon bone) becoming inflamed. 

• Bone chips: Another common skeletal injury in racehorses, mostly seen in joints, particularly in the knee. This is when a tiny fracture occurs in the joint, weakening the bone and ultimately resulting in a ‘chip’ of the bone becoming separated. 

When trying to maximise skeletal strength, periods of lower intensity exercise or rest are just as important as gallop work, as they give the bone a chance to remodel. However, prolonged rest will have a negative effect on skeletal health.  Research has looked at the loss of BMC in the cannon bone when horses were placed on box-rest (with 30 minutes on the walker) and found overall BMC was reduced. Therefore, even horses returning to work after a short period of 1-2 weeks of box-rest could potentially have a significant decline in bone density and thus be at increased risk of skeletal injury once exercise recommences. 

It’s also important to bear in mind that when a young horse starts training, it is normally coming from a 12–24-hour turnout. This is where the horse has the ability to gallop and play. However, once training begins, they are typically stabled from long hours with short intervals of low intensity training. Consequently, bone demineralisation can occur. In addition, during this early stage of training, bone will undergo a significant degree of remodelling in response to exercise. Initially this process makes the bone more porous and fragile before it regains its strength. As a result, research has shown that horses can have reduced bone density during the first few months of training, with bones being at their weakest and the horse more prone to issues such as sore shins between day 45–75 of training. 

It should be noted that even when training is carried out slowly, conditions such as sore shins can still happen as bone remodelling occurs at different rates in every horse and is influenced by factors such as track surface and design. While there is some information on exercise and bone development from which to make inferences, a definitive answer as to the perfect amount of exercise to support optimal bone development has not yet been found.

Nutrition & bone health

Exercise is essential to bone health, but nutrition plays an equally important role. Bone is continuously being strengthened, repaired and replaced. And if we can aid bone remodelling with good nutrition, we can decrease the likelihood of skeletal injury. The essential nutrients for bone health are protein, minerals and vitamins, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn) copper (Cu), vitamins A, D and K. 

Protein: Collagen is a protein and forms the bony matrix on which minerals are deposited. Feeding sufficient high-quality protein, rich in essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine, is therefore a key factor in the development of strong healthy bones. When selecting an appropriate feed for horses in training, both the level and quality of the protein it provides should be carefully considered; not all protein is equal.  

Calcium & Phosphorus: It is well documented that these essential minerals are the foundation of strong and healthy bones, making up 70% of the BMC. The ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the diet is also very important for bone mineralisation. This is because imbalances in the Ca:P ratio can result in the removal of calcium from the skeleton and may lead to bone demineralisation. The minimum Ca:P ratio in the diet should be 1.5:1, with the ideal ratio being at least 2:1 for young horses. It is important to note that adding other feedstuffs such as chaffs or cereals to the horse’s feed can alter the Ca:P ratio in the overall diet. For example, adding oats, which are high in phosphorus, will reduce the calcium to phosphorus ratio and this may adversely affect calcium absorption. On the other hand, including some alfalfa, which is high in calcium, can help to increase the Ca:P ratio if required. 

Copper & Zinc: Copper is an important mineral for bone, joint and connective tissue development. Lysyl oxidase is an enzyme that requires copper. It is responsible for cross-linking of collagen, and therefore copper plays an important role in the formation of new bone which requires a collagen matrix. Similarly, zinc is integrally involved in cartilage turnover; and research has shown that horses supplemented with zinc, as part of a complete mineral package, have increased bone mineral density compared to horses fed an unsupplemented diet. Copper and zinc are frequently found to be low in forage and therefore must be provided in the form of a hard feed or supplement. 

Vitamins: A number of vitamins play essential roles in skeletal health. For example, vitamin A is involved in the development of osteoblasts—the cells responsible for laying down new bone—whilst vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption. More recent research has also shown that feeding vitamin K improves the production of osteocalcin, the hormone responsible for facilitating bone metabolism and mineralisation. Furthermore, research in two-year-old thoroughbreds suggests that feeding vitamin K may help increase bone mineral density and thus potentially be beneficial for decreasing the incidence of sore shins. Although standard feed manufactures include vitamin A and D in their feeds, a few also now include vitamin K.

Supplementation for bone health

Young horses in training, those recovering from injury or returning to work following a rest will benefit from additional nutritional support targeted at maintaining improving bone health. In these situations, supplementing with elevated levels of calcium and phosphorus will help improve bone health. Look for a supplement containing collagen, which is rich in type I and II collagen, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans—all of which aid the bone remodelling process and help to maintain bone health. Choosing a supplement that also contains chelated copper and zinc, as well as vitamins A and D, will also help support bone mineralisation. 

In summary, skeletal injuries have a huge adverse effect on the racing industry and are a common cause of lost training days. Undoubtedly, adapting our training regimes, modifying our gallops and improving our management practices will all help to reduce the risk of bone-related injuries. Equally, the role of nutrition in bone health should not be overlooked. A balanced diet, rich in nutrients, minerals and vitamins, can contribute significantly to bone density and strength. Proper nutrition is an essential parameter of skeletal health, participating in both the prevention and treatment of bone diseases.  To achieve a strong, sound skeleton, you must feed the bones.

The Importance of forage testing

Forage (hay/haylage) is an important source of nutrients for horses in training. However, the levels of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and copper present can vary enormously and depend on factors such as the species of grass and the land on which it was grown. It is recommended that you regularly test the nutritional value of your forage. This will highlight any mineral excess/deficiencies and allow for the ratios of certain minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to be assessed. In most cases, any issues identified can be corrected through using an appropriate hard feed and/or supplement.

Marketing racing - the efforts being made by tracks across North America

By Ken Synder

At some point in time—70 years or so ago in the 1950s—the decision was made by the “powers that were” in horse racing to not broadcast races on the burgeoning medium of television. There was a fear that it would keep fans home watching racing on TV rather than at the racetrack. The decision, of course, backfired. On-track attendance diminished in a sport that had historically been part of a “Big Three,” which included baseball and boxing.   

In one of those strange twists of history, the decision also succeeded many years later in driving the biggest part of racing’s fan base to… guess what? Television. Today, TV networks like TVG broadcast racing from around the country, and even the world, to viewers at home with Advance Deposit Wagering accounts. 

Things, obviously, have changed and changed hugely. But some things haven’t. The following newspaper headline, provided by Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing and president of 1/ST Content, is as true then as it is now: “No young people come racing anymore.” When was it written? The 1930s.

Young people and equally, if not more importantly, new owners don’t “come racing anymore.”  

Ironically, television is the lifeline for the sport and perhaps the “tip of the spear” for bringing in those missing young people and new owners.

In 2019, at one of the sport’s major venues, Santa Anita, there were 13 racing fatalities on the dirt surface. This may have been the nadir for horse racing, threatening the very existence of the sport in California with potential effects rippling to racetracks across America and those involved in breeding and sales in Kentucky and Florida. But in a state with the most virulent cancel culture, Santa Anita—specifically the Stronach Group and 1/ST Racing—“canceled the cancelers.” In 2020, there were zero racing fatalities on the dirt surface.

What do animal welfare and safety have to do with marketing? It’s elementary: Marketing begins with a product. “The best thing we’ve got is the horses above anything else,” said Butler. 

“The world is changing. Do people want to be involved or watch a sport that involves animals? There’s not one group now that doesn’t have an outlook toward the animal welfare and the care of the animals to make it safer.” 

He offers a brutal assessment of the past, which may account for racing’s journey to some kind of abyss in 2019. “We’ve inherited an old-fashioned model where maybe it [safety] once wasn’t the core focus.” 

“The culture now in California, particularly at Santa Anita, is one that, if anything goes wrong, everybody is horrified. Everybody sees that there’s not going to be a future. For years, when something went wrong, it was an accepted thing.”

The safety of horse and rider is part of a big jigsaw puzzle, he said, but perhaps it is the most important piece in marketing a sport perceived negatively by many. He recalled a dinner in California with someone who visibly winced when informed Butler was part of the racing industry. “He said, ‘You’ve been having a lot of injured horses, right?’” Butler conceded that yes, that was the case in 2019 but then went through changes that produced dramatic improvements—most critically vet inspections during training hours—to get across that positive animal welfare, born out statistically at Santa Anita, has never been higher.  

“In 30 minutes, he couldn’t wait to come out to the track,” said Butler, adding with a laugh, “It’s going to take a long time to go through everybody in California over dinner.”

Of course, that’s where marketing in the traditional sense takes over, but not all in the traditional mediums of radio, TV and newspaper. For younger potential fans, “the first touchpoint these days is digital,” said David Wilson 1/ST’s chief marketing officer. “It’s on the iPhone or smartphone. Having strong social media is really our opportunity to cultivate our community, connect with them and inspire them to come to our tracks. 

“It’s about the convergence of sports, entertainment and technology.” Wilson believes the task is creating narratives and stories that will capture the imagination of potential younger fans who have had  little or no exposure to horse racing.  

Part of that too, according to Wilson, is marketing to younger fans in audiences not previously targeted. “We need to look at how we are addressing women in the sport. How are we addressing African-American and Latino communities? How are we making sure that any minorities have opportunities not only to work within our companies but to feel represented? We make very conscious efforts that if we want to be a modern company, we want to address all of our customers, and all of our customers are diverse. Our marketing and our social platforms and the inspiration between the sport and entertainment all need to reflect that.”

Traditional markets as well are being looked at in new ways. “Your owners bring other people. These are potentially new owners and it’s grassroots, but it is something that’s been overlooked.” 

To show appreciation to owners, all 1/ST race tracks make “best turned-out” awards every day—something routine in the UK and Ireland but novel in the U.S., except for major race days.  Champagne toasts after every win are also standard at tracks.   

“It’s so difficult, especially during some of the big meets, to get a winner; and you have to try and bend over backward to show the owners that you are really thankful for their participation,” said Butler.

For bettors and others who love horses or simply want a day at the races, one task for racing marketers is how do you add to weekday attendance on, say, a Wednesday afternoon at Gulfstream Park in the blazing summer heat? “There is really no easy answer,” Butler admits, but there is effort. Gulfstream is attracting people to the track for business lunches with food and beverages on par with the best restaurants and a backdrop the restaurants, of course, can’t offer: horses.  

Gulfstream is also exploring the engineering for lighting the racetrack for night racing, which should boost on-track attendance on those days that normally don’t draw a lot of fans while also beating the Florida heat.  

1/ST is not the only racetrack seeking enhanced owner-engagement and new fans, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Some tracks are also doing things to combat unique obstacles.

Canada’s Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto—the premier racing venue in Canada—is challenged by a dearth of owners. “We don’t have tax benefits for owners like you get in the States,” said Martha Wakeley, who manages horsemen concierge services and is also manager of Racing Operations. The biggest hindrance, however, is a population base generally without a family background in racing unlike the U.S., where racing is bequeathed to succeeding generations in places like Kentucky.

COVID, oddly enough, offered Woodbine an opportunity to evaluate the owner experience. Because COVID allowed only owners on track during lockdowns, management was able to see and define needs in hospitality and customer service that had, perhaps, gone unnoticed before. Wakely called it a “silver lining” that came out of the pandemic. “We opened an exclusive lounge just for owners and trainers and their guests,” she said, noting that most trainers at Woodbine are also owners.  

The goal with owners is to recognize their importance and to make them feel special. Part of that, too, is for guests of owners to see that their hosts and hostesses are very important to Woodbine. Wakely stated something that is obvious but still often overlooked: “Without the owners, we don’t have a job.” 

The track has invested much time and travel in marketing to owners as well as everyday race fans.  Hospitality teams from Woodbine have visited Santa Anita, Saratoga, Keeneland and Churchill Downs to study and replicate what works at U.S. tracks.

Woodbine may, however, exceed the U.S. customer experience with concierge services beyond the racetrack. “We have looked at groups coming in for stakes races and being available to book golf tee times and tickets to the theater,” said Wakely. “We want to be able to offer all that to make it a whole weekend experience.”

The experience at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky is well-known; it is the “Fenway Park” of American racing—the required destination for “racing as it was meant to be,” to quote a marketing theme from years back. It is arguably the most picturesque and bucolic in the world. It is also not lacking for patrons. In the last pre-COVID year, 2019, Keeneland’s daily attendance average was just over 15,000 for the spring/April meet and was slightly higher in the fall/October meet.

So what do you do when you don’t lack for owners and, most critically, racing fans? In the case of Keeneland, they have written the proverbial book on corporate sponsorships. Two sponsors, Toyota and Maker’s Mark bourbon, have surpassed 25 years with Keeneland. Two other sponsors—Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Darley—will reach the 20-year mark with Keeneland this year.

“Sponsorships are incredibly valuable to Keeneland, as they provide important funding for our racing purses, our investments in fan education, advancements in safety and integrity initiatives, philanthropic initiatives for our sport and the central Kentucky community…and the list goes on and on,” said Christa Marillia, Keeneland vice-president and chief marketing officer.

In Lexington, local horse farms like Claiborne Farm, Coolmore, and the aforementioned Darley also sponsor premier stakes races, essentially investing in their own industry. “They buy and sell horses at our auctions, compete on our racetrack, and understand and appreciate the full circle of Keeneland’s business model,” Marillia said.

NYRA & Fox Sports host and paddock analyst Maggue Wolfendale (L) with host and reporter Acacia Courtney (R)

In an irony of ironies, racing beyond Triple Crown races and the TVG network catering to ADW accountholders has made its way to national telecasts regularly.  “America’s Day at the Races,” produced by NYRA and airing on Fox network channels FS1 and FS2, features live racing on Saturdays and Sundays.  The impetus for NYRA was entry into the ADW market, a revenue stream already flowing for Twin Spires, Express Bet and TVG. “We really were playing catchup so we thought we needed a TV strategy,” said Tony Allevato, chief revenue officer for NYRA and president of NYRA Bets.

“Our original concept was we would pick up selected dates during the year and put them on Fox regional networks—Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Ohio. We put together a pilot and showed it to Fox. They loved it,” said Allevato. Instead of a regional strategy, however, the pilot spurred Fox to suggest a show on FS2, broadcasting nationally.  

The first production was a daily show from Saratoga, two hours a day and produced by NYRA’s TV department with input from Fox that amounted to 80 hours the first year.

“We got a fantastic reaction from the industry,” said Allevato. Broadcast hours were added, and Fox acquired equity with NYRA, which gave the network a slice of the ADW wagering. “We’ve provided an extra revenue stream for the telecast. Not only is there the traditional advertising and sponsorship revenue, but you also have wagering dollars coming in; and it’s become a win-win for both of us. For Fox, they’re incentivized to give us the most distribution possible.”

Distribution included the recent Arkansas Derby, broadcast on FS1 as part of “America’s Day.” “We have a couple of shows that will be on Fox [the main network] this year, which will be over a million viewers for each one of those. That’s more eyeballs watching horse racing, more wagering, more account signups, more fans. It’s really almost like we’re creating a new ecosystem to help grow the sport,” said Allevato.  

Growth is aimed at more than just ADW accounts, he added. “Even though the sport has really gone to online betting, our goal is to get people to come to the track. That’s our number-one goal. We believe once you come to the track, you will become a fan for life.”

“America’s Day” content is aimed at driving live attendance at racetracks. “The stories are all there:  Within every race, there’s an owner, there’s a trainer, there’s a jockey, there’s a groom, there’s the pace of the race, there’s the favorite.”

NYRA doesn’t forget marketing to owners either, according to Allevato. “One of the rules for our show is we must interview one owner at a minimum, and that doesn’t mean just for a million-dollar race; it can be for a ten-thousand dollar race. 

Allevato, too, points with pride to production values that rival, if not surpass, that of other sports. “When we’re covering a race in New York, we’ll have 35 cameras on a certain select day, compared to a college basketball game with seven cameras. That is a real big-time production.  

NYRA & Fox Sports TV analysts Andy Serling (L) and Anthony Stabile (R)

“With the Arkansas Derby, we had three people at Aqueduct contributing remotely and six announcers at Oaklawn Park.  

“We believe horse racing is our sport. We want people flipping through the channels, land on a Fox Sports 2 or FS1, see “America’s Day at the Races,” and go, ‘Wow, this is major league!’ We don’t ever want to come across as a second-tier product.”

Can all of this be “the start of something big,” to borrow from the song title? Combined with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act potentially providing central governance, successful marketing aimed at improving on-track owner-trainer-fan experiences, and NYRA’s venture into national television the impact, are promising. Can it take racing back to its preeminent days in the first half of the 20th century, when it was one of the three biggest sports in the land? There is more competition for sports fans than in the ‘50s.  

If “something big” isn’t starting, however, there’s a better-than-average chance racing may be in store for something bigger at least.