From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 8, 2014) — The Jockey Club today unveiled a redesigned website, jockeyclub.com, that focuses in large part on the industry service activities and advocacy efforts the organization leads or supports in addition to providing information about industry events and the organization’s affiliated companies and charitable foundations. The site features horizontal navigation and a responsive-design architecture that optimizes presentation on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Designed and developed by The Jockey Club Information Systems, the website prominently displays and describes activities relating to aftercare, integrity, safety initiatives and promotion of the sport. It also features a steady stream of “tweets” from Twitter accounts of The Jockey Club companies and a link to The Jockey Club’s Facebook page. “The Jockey Club routinely embraces a wide range of initiatives that benefit all segments of the Thoroughbred industry — from new fan development to aftercare for retired horses,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “The redesigned site makes it... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 5,  2014) — United States race dates declined by 3.15% in 2013 when compared to the previous year, yet total wagering and purses held steady, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released by Equibase Jan. 5. In spite of a poor December 2013 showing, in which handle on U.S. races fell by 10.51% over the previous year, total wagering for the year rose by .06% from $10,874,189,902 in 2012 to $10,881,239,410. The figures include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. Purses for the year showed a minuscule decrease of .04% from 2012; the total was $1,123,856,097 in 2013 compared to $1,124,254,126. The total number of race days (actual race programs) for 2013 was 5,143, down from 2012’s total of 5,310. For the month of December, wagering on U.S. races totaled $706,764,330 in 2013, a sharp decline from the 2012 total handle of $789,805,605. The total number of race days was off 3.58%, from 335 in December 2012 compared to 323 this year, contributing to... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2014) — More than $818,000 was raised Jan. 4 during the live auction portion of the 24th Annual Select Stallion Season Auction benefiting Thoroughbred Charities of America. Seasons to 16 select stallions and a lifetime breeding right to Spendthrift Farm’s Into Mischief   raised more than $793,000 from a spirited crowd of a couple hundred gathered at the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center on the grounds of Keeneland. Bidding on these seasons actually began Jan. 2 during a telephone and online auction session that ran through the morning of Jan. 4. The bidders who placed the top prices online were then invited to continue bidding by phone during the live auction. Stallions represented at the select auction included Blame  , Broken Vow  , Congrats  , Distorted Humor  , Elusive Quality  , Justin Phillip  , Lonhro  , Macho Uno  , Malibu Moon  , Medaglia d’Oro  , More Than Ready  , Pioneerof the Nile  , Point of Entry  , Smart Strike  , Speightstown  , and Tiznow  . The live auction also offered eight other items including an African safari, a Triple Crown ticket... ...

MONROVIA, Calif. (Dec. 31, 2013) — The California premiere of Landlocked Films’ documentary Penny & Red: The Life of Secretariat’s Owner, will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Krikorian Theater in Monrovia and will benefit equine welfare and rescue efforts through TROTT (Training Racehorses Off The Track) and the Secretariat Foundation. The film, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker John Tweedy and narrated by actress Diane Lane, is a 60-minute documentary that gives Penny Chenery’s reflection on her life as “The First Lady of Racing” and her experience of owning “America’s Horse.” The evening will begin with an optional VIP reception at 6:30 p.m., where guests are invited to join Tweedy, Hall of Fame Jockeys Laffit Pincay, Jr., Gary Stevens, and Mike Smith, Mucho Macho Man owners, Dean and Patti Reeves, famed equine artist Fred Stone, and other racing celebrities for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by the famed Derby Restaurant. Following the screening, guests will beinvited to join Tweedy in a Q & A session related to the film.... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2013) — For the third consecutive year, Santa Anita Park and HRTV (R), The Network for Horse Sports, are proud to combine on a non-fiction film festival competition, entitled: “This is Santa Anita.” The festival is open to filmmakers and film students producing Santa Anita-based films with a maximum running time of five minutes. “This is Santa Anita” entries will be judged by an esteemed panel of racing and entertainment professionals and the competition will include prize money for the top five entries. First prize will be $10,000, with second prize at $4,000, while third through fifth prizes will be $2,000, $1,500, and $500, respectively.  An additional $10,000 first prize — Fan Favorite — will be awarded to the winner through an online poll. The entries judged to be in sixth through 10th places will receive free entry to the 2015 competition. Application entries, which are available in-person, or online at www.hrtv.com/filmfestival, will be accepted beginning Friday, Dec. 27, with the first day of shooting scheduled... ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 24, 2013) — An auction of Betfair Hollywood Park equipment and memorabilia will be held Jan. 24-25 ontrack and online. Among the available items will be track maintenance equipment such as tractors, water trucks and backhoes. Items will be available for inspection Jan. 22-23. The bidding starts at 10 a.m. each day. For a complete list of items available and photos, click http://gaauction.com/event/hollywood-park-race-track/. ...

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2013) — OwnerView, the website and information resource developed by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to assist both current and prospective Thoroughbred owners, will host a national, two-day Thoroughbred ownership conference in October 2014 at Keeneland Race Course, it was announced today. The conference, sponsored jointly by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the Keeneland Association, The New York Racing Association, Inc., and the Stronach Group, will feature panel discussions with prominent industry participants as well as an exhibit hall and several informational and educational networking events with owners and industry representatives. “Del Mar is delighted to be part of a logical and essential effort to grow our game through the encouragement of new ownership in conjunction with educational opportunities for all owners,” said Joe Harper, president and chief executive officer of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. “We believe that when you bring a good group of dedicated people together — as is the case here — that... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C, (Dec. 12, 2013) — On Tuesday, December 10, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing entitled “The State of Online Gaming.” The hearing focused on the current status of online gaming, including poker, and the push to legalize it at the state level. Witnesses at the hearing were by invitation only and included: John Pappas, Executive Director, Poker Players Alliance; Andrew Abboud, Vice President of Government Relations and Community Development, Las Vegas Sands Corporation; Geoff Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Association; Les Bernal, National Director, Stop Predatory Gambling, Kurt Eggert, Professor of Law, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Chapman University and; Rachel Volberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Pari-mutuel wagering is the only interstate wagering currently permitted on the internet but three states have legalized intrastate online gaming – Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey – to permit people physically within their respective borders to participate. Several online gaming bills... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 12, 2013) — The Jockey Club reminds owners of unregistered yearlings and 2-year-olds that the requirements for foal registration must be completed by December 31, 2013, to avoid additional late registration fees. The late registration fee increases from $550 to $800 after December 31 of the yearling year and from $800 to $2,025 after December 31 of the 2-year-old year. Interactive RegistrationTM is the most efficient means to complete the Application for Foal Registration and other registration requirements. Interactive Registration enables customers to check the status of their applications and, through the Registration Center, view and resolve outstanding conditions of registration. Sign-up is free at registry.jockeyclub.com. ...

By The American Horse Journal Early foaling begins soon. With the arrival of January foals just around the corner, now is the ideal time to blood-type mares to estimate the probability that your baby will develop jaundice foal syndrome. As with many other conditions, prevention and early recognition is the best remedy. ...

From Thoroughbred Charities of America LEXINGTON , Ky. (Dec. 3, 2013) – Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor John and Debby Oxley with the TCA Leadership Award and the Retired Racehorse Training Project with the TCA Industry Service Award at the 24th Annual Select Stallion Season Auction to be held Saturday, January 4, 2014 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington , Ky. “John and Debby Oxley and the Retired Racehorse Training Project have made outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred industry,” said Dan Rosenberg , president of TCA. “Both honorees embody the mission of Thoroughbred Charities of America and it is our honor to recognize them for their tremendous efforts.” The TCA Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA’s mission. Past award winners include Frank Stronach, Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson and Bill Casner. John and Debby Oxley are prominent Thoroughbred owners and breeders with notable runners including 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff... ...

By The Press Democrat SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2013) — The Sonoma County Fair will get the horse racing schedule it wanted after all, at least in 2014. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20131126/articles/131129616 ...

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2013) — The North American International Catalogue Standards Committee (NAICSC) today issued a reminder that effective January 1, 2014, additional quality control requirements will be implemented for races in North America eligible for non-Listed black-type in catalogs compliant with guidelines required by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA). The NAICSC establishes the requirements for non-Listed black type races in sales catalogues produced in North America that are compliant with guidelines required by SITA. Races eligible for non-Listed black-type status include  stakes races with a purse of $50,000 or more that are open or have  restrictions allowed by NAICSC (e.g., state bred, stallions’ progeny, sales graduates or non-winners of a sweepstakes). The new requirements, which were first announced in November 2012, include the addition of a minimum Race Quality Score (RQS) for individual age/sex divisions. Statistics used in the evaluation of Graded and Listed races, including ratings provided by the North American Rating Committee, are not available for non-Listed black-type races. The... ...

BONSALL, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2013) – The California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association holds its annual Christmas Party Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bonsall residence of president Bob Curtis. The address is 7102 Via Mariposa Norte, Bonsall, located in Saratoga Estates. There is no charge to attend, but members are requested to bring an appetizer or side dish. The main course and dessert will be provided. For further information, email ctfma@yahoo.com.   ...