By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2016) — California Chrome retained a tenuous hold on his spot at the top of the weekly NTRA Top 10 Thoroughbred poll two days after suffering his first defeat of the year to Arrogate in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. California Chrome, who has led the voting every week so far this year, topped the pool with 442 total points while receiving 30 first-place votes. Arrogate, who was fifth in the polling prior to the Breeders’ Cup, received 16 first-place votes and trails California Chrome by 24 points in the poll, with 418. By and large, the 46 voters in the poll also vote in the Eclipse Awards balloting, making the poll an imperfect but important harbinger for the Horse of the Year vote. Beholder, winner of Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, moved up five spots, from eighth to third, while the previously undefeated filly she nosed out in that race, Songbird, dropped from third to fourth. Filling out... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2016) –A crowd of 72,811 at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5 set a record for the highest single-day attendance for a Breeders’ Cup World Championships since the event switched to a two-day format. Saturday’s attendance at Santa Anita was the highest for any Breeders’ Cup day since 72,730 were on hand at Churchill Downs in 2010 to see Zenyatta in the final race of her career. The two-day attendance for 2016 was 118,484, the highest in Breeders’ Cup history. Common-pool wagering on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $109,055,897, a 3.2% increase over the $105,625,491 wagered in 2015. Common-pool wagering for the two days was $159,991,803, an increase of 6.25% over the $150,574,656 total in 2015. Saturday’s on-track handle was $13,515,269, an increase of 3.5% over last year’s on-track handle at Keeneland. The on-track handle at Santa Anita for the two days was $20,694,235. “The Breeders’ Cup exists to showcase the very best of Thoroughbred racing and we witnessed that over the last two... ...

From CHRB ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2016)  – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, October 20, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Commissioners Steve Beneto, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        In discussing 2017 race dates allocations for Northern California, all attempts to negotiate an agreed-upon solution failed and all motions failed to garner the required four votes for adoption. Therefore, the matter was moved to the November agenda. Chairman Winner implored the stakeholders to try once again to reach an accord. ·        The Board approved the license application for the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association to conduct a race meet commencing December 30, 2016, through December 17, 2017. ·        The Board approved for 45-day public notice proposed amendments to regulations that would allow racing secretaries, racing associations and fairs to write medication-based race conditions, subject to CHRB final... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2016) –Members of the California Horse Racing Board made a commitment to decide the highly contentious Northern California 2017 racing dates dispute at its regular October meeting, but at the conclusion of a nearly 2 1/2-hour discussion Oct. 20 at Santa Anita Park, the regulatory agency could not reach a resolution. The CHRB commissioners in attendance voted 3-1 to approve a dates proposal for the region, but because only four of seven member seats were filled, the three votes did not meet the required four needed to pass the measure. CHRB chairman Chuck Winner and fellow members George Krikorian and Steve Beneto voted to approve the proposal, while Alex Solis provided the only “no” vote. Commissioners Madeline Auerbach and Jesse Choper were not in attendance and the seat previously held by Richard Rosenberg is vacant. The proposal would have assigned Golden Gate Fields dates from Dec. 26-June 20, the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton from June 21-July 11, the State Fair at Cal Expo... ...

By Bloodhorse.com POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2016) — A yearling from the first crop of California stallion Smiling Tiger, a multiple grade I-winning sprinter and millionaire, topped the Barretts October mixed sale at $190,000. Held at Barretts’ former home at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., the sale included a broodmare for $105,000 as well as a $95,000 yearling filly. Overall sale figures were nearly identical to last year, when the sale was held at Del Mar. A total of 174 horses grossed $2,484,000 and averaged $14,276, compared with the 2015 figures of 175 horses grossing $2,534,500 and averaging $14,483. “This shows stability and that it doesn’t matter where you sell them, it’s what you sell that counts,” said Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts. The yearlings averaged $15,705, down 8.8% from the $17,218 average in 2015. A total of 82 of the 217 yearlings through the ring did not sell, for a buy-back rate of 37.8%. The yearling median was $8,500 in 2016 and $10,000 in 2015. “I was very pleased... ...

By Terry Miller, Arcadia Weekly I just received some very sad news that my good friend and horse photography mentor, Bill Machon passed away.  He truly was a fixture at Santa Anita and always had advice, a bloody good joke or two and knew everyone.  More importantly they knew and loved him. Bill was, for all intents and purposes the Ambassador of Racing Photojournalists, especially at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park tracks. Recently, April 2, the Press Photographers’ Association of Greater Los Angeles bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award upon the eminent photographer Bill Mochon during its annual awards luncheon in Alhambra. A virtual fixture at Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, Mochon for years had been mentoring young and green photographers and helping us all understand horse racing photography’s dos and don’ts – i.e. like the first time I met Bill in the late 1990s he advised me it was perhaps not good protocol to stand in front of the automatic camera at the finish line … true story. Talk... ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2016) — Harris Farms is saddened to report that its stakes winning broodmare, Super Tuesday, died on October 1, 2016 as a result of complications of colic. Super Tuesday (Political Ambition-Vaderette, by Skywalker) won five races including the Work The Crowd at Golden Gate Fields, and the California Sires at Hollywood Park.  She was by Political Ambition-Vaderette, by Skywalker and produced four winners from five foals to race including Quick Meeting ($152,872), Maybe Tuesday ($169,302) and Doris Johnson ($47,253). Her current 2-year old, Primary Target by Thorn Song is in training at Santa Anita. She was owned and bred by Harris Farms and Sheila Williams, and was trained by Dean Pederson.  For further information, contact John Harris at johnharris@harrisfarms.com or Dave McGlothlin at davemcglothlin@harrisfarms.com. ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2016) — A filly by the first-crop stallion Smiling Tiger was purchased for $130,000, making her the most expensive horse of Tuesday’s Barretts select yearling sale at Del Mar. Gross sales and average price were essentially the same compared to 2015, and median price declined. Overall, 46 horses sold for $1,710,000, an average of $37,174, according to results provided by Barretts. The gross increased $81,000 from 2015, while the average increased $151. The median price was $27,500 compared to $32,500 in 2015. The number sold increased by 2 from last year. :: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales “We felt holding steady would be a win,” said Barretts general manager Kim Lloyd. The sale was dominated by California-breds. There were nine horses withdrawn, and 23 listed as not sold, or 34 percent of the horses that went through the ring. The number of horses bought back was exactly the same as in the 2015 sale, which Lloyd said was discouraging.... ...

From DMTC                 DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2016) — Fourteen stakes races worth just over $2 million will be offered during Del Mar’s third consecutive fall racing season that kicks off at the shore oval on Friday, November 11, which is Veterans Day.   The stakes roster, highlighted by a pair of Grade I events on the closing weekend of December 3 and 4, mirrors for the most part the previous two falls, all of which have been dubbed the “Bing Crosby Season” as a salute to the track’s founder and the rich history of old Hollywood that he embodied.   One of the changes from last year’s stakes schedule is the addition of the $200,000, Grade II Bayakoa Handicap for older fillies and mares on Saturday, December 3 to the lineup. Previously, the race had been run at Los Alamitos.   Conversely, Del Mar will not present three stakes it offered during the fall of 2015 because they have returned to the Santa Anita schedule. Those were the... ...

From CHRB DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2016) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, August 25, at Del Mar’s Surfside Race Place. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        Seven individuals concerned about racehorse fatalities at Del Mar’s current meet addressed the Board during the comment period to express those concerns. CHRB Executive Director Rick Baedeker described some of the rules, policies and practices the CHRB has in place with respect to the safety of horses and riders. He and Chairman Winner assured the public that this Board’s primary objective is the health and safety of horses and riders. ·        The Board approved a rolling three-year racing calendar for thoroughbred meets in Southern California as submitted by racetracks and horsemen and reflecting a multi-year agreement on... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board approved a three-year racing calendar for the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit starting in 2017, with dates similar to the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The racing board was presented with a proposed calendar by racing officials at a committee meeting on Monday. The full board approved the calendar on Thursday. For the 2017 season, Santa Anita will run from Dec. 26, 2016 to July 4, 2017, followed by a two-week meeting at Los Alamitos. Del Mar’s summer meeting will run from July 19 to Sept. 4. Los Alamitos will host the Los Angeles County Fair meeting for three weeks in September before Santa Anita begins a five-week autumn meeting in the final days of September through October. In the final months of the year, Del Mar will run a four-week meeting from Nov. 1-26 before Los Alamitos hosts a three-week meeting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17. Del Mar’s autumn meeting will include the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.... ...

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board has stepped up drug testing in Southern California with industry cooperation and soon things will be going really high tech with a new focus on biological markers supported by The Jockey Club. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) hired an additional examining veterinarian for the current meet, while the CHRB appointed a second official veterinarian, which have allowed for increased out-of-competition drug testing – an increasingly important strategy for detecting substances and practices not easily identified through traditional post-race screening. CHRB Executive Director Rick Baedeker said the increased drug testing will continue indefinitely. The Ken Maddy Laboratory at UC Davis is critical to this effort, as it is considered the preeminent facility of its kind and administers the testing for horses participating at Del Mar, Santa Anita, and all other racetracks in the state. Research is a key component of the Maddy Laboratory’s commitment to equine health and safety, and now the lab is breaking new ground... ...

From The Jockey club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 17, 2016) — Barbara Banke and J. Michael O’Farrell Jr. have been elected to the board of stewards of The Jockey Club, filling the expired positions of Stella F. Thayer and Peter S. Willmott. Banke is a Thoroughbred owner and breeder and proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, based in Santa Rosa, California. She serves on the boards of the Breeders’ Cup, TOBA, and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and has been a member of The Jockey Club since 2013. She owns Stonestreet Stables, which has campaigned the winners of 100 stakes races, including horses of the year Curlin (2007, 2008) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), and is a leading developer of stallions, including Curlin, Kantharos, Carpe Diem, Maclean’s Music and Astrology. Her Lexington-based Stonestreet Farm is a leading commercial breeder and has produced the winners of 38 graded stakes and more than $38,000,000 in purses. O’Farrell owns and operates Ocala Stud, the oldest active Florida Thoroughbred farm, in Ocala, Florida. Ocala... ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 13, 2016) — The Jockey Club is projecting a 2017 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 22,500. The projection for the 2016 foal crop was also 22,500. The 22,500 foals estimated for 2017 and for 2016 is a 2.3% increase from the 22,000 projected for both the 2015 and 2014 foal crops. “As always, this projection is based on reports of mares bred received to date, and we estimate that approximately 80% of those reports have been received,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director. The foal crop projection, traditionally announced in mid-August, is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2016 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by August 1 of each breeding season. Additional foal crop information is available in The Jockey Club’s online fact book at jockeyclub.com/factbook.asp and in the online state fact books. Stallion owners who have not returned their RMBs for the 2016 breeding season are encouraged to do... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 5, 2016) — Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron has been named the 2016 recipient of the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award and will receive the honor in ceremonies at Del Mar Aug. 21. McCarron, 61, is the 13th winner of the Pincay Award, which is given to those who have served the sport “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination, and distinction.” The honor and its trophy will be presented to McCarron by his fellow Hall of Fame rider Pincay, who rode against him for more than two decades in California and called him “as tough a competitor as there was. “Chris was a warrior on the racetrack,” Pincay said. “He was so smart and so competitive, and when you rode against him, you knew you had to be at your very best. He made me and all the other jockeys he rode against better riders. “But away from the track he was, and still is, a special friend—someone you could count on every day of... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2016) –Veteran track announcer Bobby Neuman will call the upcoming Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos Race Course, the track announced Aug. 4. The 12-date season will run Sept. 8-25. “Bobby is an excellent race caller and I’ve enjoyed his work for many years,” said Brad McKinzie, vice president and general manager of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “We’re excited to have him join the team.” A native of Los Angeles who attended the University of California-Santa Barbara before completing the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, Neuman, 47, was the longtime caller (2005-2014) at Calder Race Course after serving as the paddock host the previous six years at the South Florida track. He began his career calling races on the Arizona fair circuit and has also served as the track announcer (1997-1999) at Thistledown, Albuquerque Downs, Santa Fe Downs, and Standardbred tracks The Red Mile and Pompano Park. He also continues to call the annual OBS Championship Stakes in Ocala, Fla.... ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 4, 2016) — The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has announced the regional owners and state and Canadian breeders who will be recognized at its National Awards Dinner Sept. 10 at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington. The regional owners of the year for 2015 are Stonestreet Stables, Eastern region; Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Midwestern region; Zayat Stables, Southern region; and Reddam Racing, Western region. The state and Canadian breeders of the year are: Arizona: Triple AAA Ranch Arkansas: McDowell Farm California: Reddam Racing Canada: Tall Oaks Farm Florida: Jacks or Better Farm Illinois: Richard & Karen Papiese Indiana: Justice Farms Iowa: Poindexter Thoroughbreds Kansas: Pam M. Davis Kentucky: Godolphin Louisiana: Set-Hut Maryland: Dance Forth Farm Massachusetts: Langdon Wilby and Mary Beth Reis Michigan: Campbell Stable Minnesota: Curtis A. Sampson New Jersey: Holly Crest Farm New Mexico: A & A Horse Farm, New York: Eklektikos Stable North Carolina: Chandley Farm North Dakota: Backhaus & Sons Ohio: 3 Clovers Farm & Blazing Meadows Farm Oregon: Oakhurst Thoroughbreds South... ...

From Barretts                 DEL MAR, Calif. (July 27, 2016) — Dan Dayton, stable manager at Barretts for more than 25 years, passed away July 19 unexpectedly near his home in Oregon. Dan was stable manager at Barretts since its inception in 1989 and was the only stable manager while we were located in Pomona. He performed the same function for both Barretts racing and training for several years as well. Dan was a loyal and dependable employee who was known to do anything possible to keep both Barretts consignors and his dogs happy. Most importantly, he was known as a loving husband to his wife Jackie, a caring father and a devoted son. ...

From American Horse Council             WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 26, 2016) — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced proposed changes to the regulations governing enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The HPA was passed in 1970 to stop the cruel practice of “soring” horses that was occurring in some sectors of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse industry. The proposed rule would make several major changes to current HPA regulations with the goal of ending soring.  The AHC is currently reviewing the proposed rule to determine its impact on the horse industry.  After the AHC has had the opportunity to analysis the details of the proposed rule we will follow up with additional information. The AHC Horse Show and Animal Welfare Committees will also be convening to discuss the proposed rule. This is a proposed rule only and USDA will be accepting comments until September 26, 2016.  USDA will then have to review all comments and release... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (July 26, 2016) — Richard Eamer, whose Mandysland Farm of the 1980s and 1990s today is part of Magali Farms, died in May. He was 88. Co-founder of National Medical Enterprises Inc. in 1969 with John Bedrosian and Leonard Cohen, Eamer was a California resident and studied law and accounting at USC. He entered the Thoroughbred business in 1981, and some of his earliest purchases came with Bedrosian at the 1981 CTBA Sales’ Del Mar Yearling Sale. Eamer bought property in the Santa Ynez Valley and officially opened Mandysland Farm in 1983. A lifelong animal lover, he named the farm for a favorite Labrador Retriever. “What I wanted was a nice little piece of property where I could very slowly get involved in the racing business and have some place to walk my dogs,” Eamer said in 1982. Laura Cotter, formerly an assistant to trainer D. Wayne Lukas, became manager of Mandysland in the late 1980s. The farm stood several stallions, included M. Double M., Mon Classique and... ...

By DRF.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 23, 2016) — California Diamond, the undefeated California-bred winner of the Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds earlier this month, sold for $125,000 at Saturday’s Paddock Sale at Del Mar of horses of racing age. California Diamond was the most expensive hip of seven horses sold at the brief sale. California Diamond was purchased by Rockingham Ranch and is expected to be trained by Peter Miller, according to Rafael Becerra, Jr., who signed the ticket. California Diamond was consigned by John Brocklebank, who trained California Diamond in both of his starts. California Diamond raced for the Brocklebank family’s Twin V Farm when he won the Santa Anita Juvenile on July 9, his most recent start. The California-bred California Diamond was the only horse to change hands for $100,000 or more. Only 21 horses were catalogued in the sale, which was held after a 10-race program that included California Chrome’s popular win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. Of the 21 offered, three were... ...

From The Jockey Club                 LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 20, 2016) — The Jockey Club reminds stallion managers to submit their Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) for the 2016 breeding season by August 1. “We ask that RMBs be submitted by August 1 to enable us to provide the most comprehensive breeding statistics possible to industry stakeholders,” said Matt Iuliano, executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club. Iuliano also pointed out that stallion managers who submit their RMBs by August 1 are among the first to receive their Stallion Service Certificates, which expedites the timely registration of 2017 foals. Reports of Mares Bred may be submitted via Interactive Registration at registry.jockeyclub.com or a form is available by email, fax, or mail by contacting inquiries@jockeyclub.com. ...

From Barretts DEL MAR, Calif. (July 17, 2016) — The catalog for the second annual Barretts August Select Yearling Sale is now on-line and will be mailed soon.  This auction of 72 yearlings will be held on Tuesday August 30 starting at 2:00 p.m. in the Surfside Race Place located on the grounds of the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California.  We believed that last year’s yearlings were a very good group of yearlings in terms of quality and we believe that this year’s group is stronger.  Last year’s select yearling group has already started strong from limited starters including the sensational Hot Perfection.   The yearlings will be stabled inside the Del Mar Horse Show Arena adjacent to the Sales Pavilion.   The interactive, sortable and searchable, on-line catalog can be viewed now here.   The August Sale catalog is also available for your Ipad.  Click here for details.   This is the complete list of stallions in the catalog: Archarcharch, Awesome Gambler, Calimonco, Champ Pegasus, Coil, Cyclotron, Data... ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 15, 2016) – California stallion and Grade II winner Rendezvous was represented by his first winner on Friday when Meeting in Heaven won the fourth race at Sacramento, a maiden claimer. Meeting in Heaven is out of the Doc’s Leader mare Doc’s Lil’ Angel, was bred by Laura Ann Franklin, is owned by Carrol Stubbs and trained by Armando Lage. The 3-year-old gelding ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.36 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 7-2. ...

From CHRB DEL MAR, Calif. (July 15, 2016) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, July 14, at Del Mar Surfside Race Place. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        The Board approved a series of motions designed to comply with a Superior Court order, submit emergency regulations to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), and permit Los Alamitos to write race conditions for its current meet (subject to OAL approval of the emergency regulations) – all pertaining to the internal program at Los Alamitos involving the testing of hair samples to determine the eligibility of horses for certain races. ·        Representatives of the Stronach Group advised the Board that Golden Gate is proposing that the vanning and stabling fund not reimburse nearby Pleasanton for stabling costs during Golden... ...

From Barretts DEL MAR, Calif. (July 14, 2016) — The catalog for the Fifth Annual Paddock Sale at Del Mar of Race Ready Horses, scheduled to be held on Saturday, July 23 in the Del Mar paddock approximately 30 minutes after the last race is declared official, is now on-line.  This catalog currently consists of 8 horses of racing age and 10 two-year-olds. Additional horses are expected to be entered prior to sale time. Information including pedigree, complete past performances and a recent race video, if applicable, for each horse can be found in sortable format here.   For the first time, there will be a training preview for horses in the Paddock Sale catalog on Friday, July 22.   This preview will start immediately after regular morning workouts end at 10 a.m. and will be held in the manner of morning workouts.   All horses who work must work at least 3/8ths of a mile.  This preview will be broadcast live http://www.barretts.com/sales/ViewSale/index.asp and videos will be posted on-line soon thereafter.  ... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 14, 2016) –After more than two and a half hours of discussion July 13 during a California Horse Racing Board Race Dates Committee meeting, a racing schedule for 2017 in both Northern and Southern California remained unresolved. At the end of talks Wednesday afternoon at Del Mar, CHRB chairman Chuck Winner adjourned the meeting and said the stakeholders involved would meet in another two weeks to again discuss the issues in each region. While industry stakeholders in the southern region of the state said they would likely be reaching an agreement soon and talks on the topic were finished relatively early in the afternoon, the northern dates disputes—between the state’s fair circuit and Golden Gate Fields—took up the majority of the time. The entirety of the Northern California debate revolves around the region’s highly desired summer and early fall schedule, which has traditionally been allocated to the fairs. In previous meetings on the topic, the California Authority of Racing Fairs proposed a schedule that... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (July 14, 2016) –Majority owners Perry and Denise Martin and Taylor Made Stallions announced July 14 that 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome   will run to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, as a portion of his earnings through the remainder of his racing career will be committed to the charity. California Chrome is currently pointed to the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 23, and the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 20, both at Del Mar. In addition to a portion of California Chrome’s future race earnings to support The V Foundation, the California Chrome team will also hold other special events to raise charitable donations for The V Foundation. The first such event will be an auction following the San Diego Handicap that will offer California Chrome’s blinkers, jockey Victor Espinoza’s silks worn in the race, as well as a co-branded Chrome and V Foundation saddle blanket worn during the horse’s final workout at Del Mar. All proceeds... ...

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 13, 2016) – Two U.S. congressmen, Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) and  Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), have submitted a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew urging finalization of proposed rule changes regarding withholding and reporting of pari-mutuel winnings.  The letter to Treasury was submitted on July 12 and was posted today on the official Twitter account of Rep. Boustany (@Boustany). In the text, Yarmuth and Boustany highlight the bipartisan support the new guideline enjoys, as well as recent congressional activity on the matter and the pari-mutuel wagering industry’s economic impact. The letter concludes: “As you are well aware, it has been more than a year since the proposed rule was first published and, as such, we strongly encourage you to act on this matter by finalizing the proposed rule.” A PDF file of the complete letter can be accessed here: https://www.ntra.com/wp-content/uploads/160712-Boustany-Yarmuth-Pari-Mutuel-Letter-to-Secretary-Lew.pdf. The letter comes on the heels of language in a House Appropriations Committee Report issued last week that accompanied House passage of the 2017 Financial... ...

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 8, 2016) – The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill Thursday evening that includes report language detailing Committee on Appropriations instructions for the U.S. Treasury to “expedite final consideration of the guidance which would modernize the rules governing pari-mutuel wagering.” The bill (HR 5485) provides $21.7 billion in annual funding for the Treasury Department, the Judiciary, the Small Business Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other related agencies. A companion bill in the Senate containing identical “Guidelines for Pari-mutuel Winnings” has been passed out of committee and now awaits passage by the full Senate. Language in the House Appropriations Committee Report reads: Guidelines for Pari-mutuel Winnings.—The Committee appreciates the Department of the Treasury’s proposed rule (REG– 132253–11) published on March 4, 2015, along with the associated public hearing held on June 17, 2015. The Committee encourages the Treasury to expedite final consideration of the guidance which would modernize the rules governing pari-mutuel wagering. “The... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (July 8, 2016) — “I’ve been calling races for 44 years and I’ve never had one like this.” The voice, that unmistakable voice, was Trevor Denman on the telly from his retreat in Minnesota. To be specific Kellogg, Minnesota, population 450. And the thing he hadn’t encountered in more than four decades of manning microphones up high at racetracks around the world? How about a break; a holiday; a complete shutdown. How about seven and a half months between his last call — at Del Mar on November 29, 2015 — and his next one to be – also at Del Mar on July 15, 2016. “So very different,” Denman said. “I’m feeling fresh, feeling good. But maybe there’s just a little bit of trepidation, just a bit of apprehension about that first call back. It’s been a while now. Then again, when I think about it, how lucky can I be? I’ll be calling the first day at Del Mar, the best day... ...

From CHRB DEL MAR, Calif. (July 8, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting Thursday, July 14, beginning at 9:30 a.m., while the Race Dates Committee will meet Wednesday, July 13, at 1 p.m. Both meetings will be held at Del Mar’s Surfside Race Place. The public is encouraged to attend. An audio-only webcast of the Board meeting can be heard through a link on the CHRB website (webcast). The Board agenda and supporting package of materials as well as the committee agenda and package are available on the CHRB website. ...

By Beefmagazine.com In just about any place that cattle graze, venomous snakes slither and that means the chance for snakebite is ever-present. And anyone who has seen the after-effects in a snakebitten cow, horse or dog knows just how toxic the venom can be. http://beefmagazine.com/pasture-range/how-treat-prevent-snakebite-cattle-and-horses?PK=UM_BEFTop5-062016&NL=BEFTop5&utm_rid=CPG02000000210990&utm_campaign=10356&utm_medium=email&elq2=8f996f2d64fc4b008c713aefcc6f9d0c ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 30, 2016) —Santa Anita Park June 29 completed the installation of its new turf course, which will be ready for use for the Southern California track’s fall meet, which begins Sept. 30. Including the hillside component, Santa Anita’s unique turf course covers approximately nine acres of surface area, which has now been amended and covered. The Bandera Bermuda turf mixture was grown in La Quinta, Calif., approximately 120 miles east of the Arcadia racetrack. “This has been a major undertaking and we’re very pleased with how the entire project has progressed,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of West Coast operations for The Stronach Group. “The hillside portion of the course was completed about three weeks ago and the oval was finished late yesterday. This particular turf has proven very resilient in our immediate area and right now, with the warm temperatures we’ve been experiencing, conditions are optimal for fast growth. “The hillside has already begun to root, so that’s great news. About 40% of... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (June 24, 2016) — Del Mar will reduce overnight purses for a second consecutive year, according to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club vice president of racing and industry relations Tom Robbins. Robbins said the drop will be “about 10% across the board.” The most noticeable decrease in the first condition book for the summer meet is in maiden special weight events, which will dip from $70,000 to $63,000, the lowest those races have been since 2011. “The reasoning is, we can only pay out what we generate from handle,” Robbins said. “We’ve paid out, in the last two years, a little more than we’ve generated. This is not only set by us, but also the (Thorougbred Owners of California).” Robbins pointed to several factors to explain the decrease—including heavy rains during Del Mar’s opening weekend in 2015 and the first season of dirt racing after an extended period of racing on a synthetic main track—but the most influential aspect, as it has been for the whole Southern California... ...

PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 24, 2016) – California stallion Unionize was represented by his first winner when Katy in Cahoots won the eighth race at Oak Tree at Pleasanton on Thursday. Katy in Cahoots is out of the Tomorrows Cat mare Miraloma Park, was bred by Angel Vera, is owned by Maureen Morley, Arturo Ponce and Allen Rogers and is trained by Rogers. Unionize, a 10-year-old son of Dixie Union, stands at Summer Wind Farm. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 23, 2016) –Robert Troeger couldn’t escape the proximity and immediacy of the nearby Complex fires as he drove away from Santa Anita Park late in the afternoon of June 22. “We’ve got a front-row seat for the air show,” said the former trainer, who now serves as Santa Anita’s stable superintendant, as he watched DC-10 airplanes drop flame retardant on the San Gabriel Mountains that overlook the Arcadia, Calif. racetrack. The fires, which have burned through nearly 5,000 acres since June 20 according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, have come up against many horse farms in the San Gabriel foothill communities like Duarte, Monrovia, Azusa, and Bradbury—and the effort to shelter horses being evacuated from those areas has been a concerted one. Santa Anita has taken in 40 horses from the evacuated areas, according to Troeger. Renee Hernandez, a spokesperson for the now-closed racetrack at Fairplex Park in Pomona said they currently have just less than 200 horses on the grounds. “Thank God Pomona is still there to... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 22, 2016) –The Thoroughbred Owners of California elected Joe Ciaglia and re-elected incumbents Nick Alexander, Ron Ellis, Billy Morey, and Samantha Siegel to its board of directors. All five were elected to three-year terms. The new board officially takes office July 1. . Ciaglia is chief executive officer of California Landscape & Design and California Skateparks. He has owned Thoroughbreds since 1999 and has campaigned several graded stakes winners, including Weemissfrankie, Dance With Fate, and Ashleyluvssugar. Alexander, who is elected to his second three-year term, serves as secretary/treasurer as well as chair of the finance committee. Ellis has served on the board for eight years as an owner-trainer representative and is a member of the Racing Affairs and Medication & Integrity committees. Morey, who is an owner-trainer member and Northern California representative, has been on the board since 2012. Siegel was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in January of this year. A total of 6,980 ballots were mailed out to eligible voters, and 1,513... ...

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 21, 2016) — The seventh Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, will be streamed live at grayson-jockeyclub.org/WelfareSafety/default.asp?section=50. (A link to the live stream will be available at jockeyclub.com.) The summit, underwritten and organized by The Jockey Club and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, is being hosted by Keeneland Association in the Keeneland sales pavilion in Lexington, Ky. Biosecurity, respiratory health, racetrack surfaces, equine injuries, nutrition, use of the crop, and rider safety are among the topics to be covered by noted industry and equine professionals. Donna Barton Brothers will once again act as master of ceremonies. The summit is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. EDT and conclude at 5:00 p.m. EDT. It is free and open to the public, and registration is recommended for in-person and online. Registration and a complete agenda for the summit are available at grayson-jockeyclub.org/WelfareSafety/default.asp?section=50. If you have questions for the speakers before or during the summit, please email horsesummit@jockeyclub.com or tweet using... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 18, 2016) –The 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Los Angeles, CA and Santa Anita Park this fall on November 4 & 5 and volunteers are needed! The Breeders’ Cup is an annual year-end affair for those at the absolute pinnacle of the Thoroughbred horse racing industry. This Olympic-esque event held at premier North American racetracks is where participants from all over the world converge to compete for $28 million in purse money. Operated by Breeders’ Cup Limited, the World Championships were first held in 1984 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA. A one-day event until 2006, the Breeders’ Cup is now spread over two highly anticipated days of racing that produce some of the most exciting moments of the year. Santa Anita, or “The Great Race Place,” as it is commonly referred to, opened in 1934 and sits atop 320 acres of land at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, CA. The Art Deco designs throughout remind even... ...

From CHRB ARCADIA, Calif. (June 17, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, June 16, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Jesse Choper, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        The Board approved a regulatory amendment requiring that authorized bleeder medication be administered only by independent, third-party veterinarians. The rule, which now goes to the Office of Administrative Law for review and final approval, conforms to recommendations by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and Racing Commissioners International. The rule was supported by the California Veterinary Medical Board and will bring California into line with 14 other state racing jurisdictions. ·        The Board heard a report from the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau that identified four of the 56 hubs sending wagers to California host tracks as being habitually 8 to 12 seconds... ...

From Ballena Vista Farm ARCADIA, Calif. (June 16, 2016) — Ballena Vista Farm freshman sire Calimonco was represented by his first winner when 2-year-old filly My California powered to a 9 1/4-length, wire-to-wire victory in a $57,035 maiden special weight at Santa Anita on Thursday in her second start. Her time for the 5 furlongs over a fast track was 58.06. Bred in California by owner Mercedes Stables, LLC and trained by Robertino Diodoro, My California is the first foal from Give My Regards, a winning daughter of Smart Strike and half-sister to graded winner Broadway Empire and Grade II-placed Cinderella’s Dream. Calimonco, a Grade II-placed, stakes-winning full brother to Storm Cat’s grade I winners and Breeders’ Cup champions Sweet Catomine and Life Is Sweet, retired with earnings of $391,486. He currently stands at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona for a stud fee of $1,500 live foal. ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 16, 2016) The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations today passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2017.  This bill makes appropriations for the United States Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and certain other government agencies and, similar to a companion bill passed out of committee in the U.S. House of Representatives last week, includes language that encourages the IRS to modernize regulations for withholding and reporting of pari-mutuel winnings. Recent actions by the Senate and House are the latest in a concerted, industry-wide effort to modernize regulations relating to pari-mutuel winnings. Updates proposed by the NTRA would clarify regulations by redefining the “amount of the wager” to include all of a bettor’s investment into a single pari-mutuel pool, and not simply the base amount of the winning combination. The effort has received support from Members of Congress as well as all segments of the horse racing industry, including customers, who last year submitted nearly 12,000 comments to the Treasury and... ...

COALINGA, Calif. (June 16, 2016) — Mark your calendar now for Friday, October 7, as the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association will sponsor a seminar on current breeding issues at the Harris Ranch Inn in Coalinga. The CTBA is reinstituting this annual seminar, which will consist of a full day of valuable information and has been popular for members and people in the California breeding and racing industry. Details for the event will be available soon. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 15, 2016) — Greg Avioli, who has served as a senior adviser to the Thoroughbred Owners of California board of directors, has been named to the new post of chief executive officer of the organization effective July 16. Avioli, according to a June 15 release, has assisted the TOC with gaming legislation, advance deposit wagering issues, and strategic planning. He has held other racing industry positions, including CEO for The Stronach Group, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup, chief operating officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and president of Horse PAC. “Given the many opportunities and challenges now facing the organization, we felt it was important to bring in additional executive experience on the management team,” TOC board chairman Mike Pegram said. “Greg has decades of experience at the highest levels of our industry and proven leadership in legislative and regulatory affairs.” Avioli said he will work to “improve the overall racing experience for owners in California.” ...

From TOC             PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 10, 2016) — All horsemen are invited to join TOC for an Open Forum at the Pleasanton Satellite Wagering Facility at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m. Meet TOC Directors for discussion of current events and an opportunity to have your questions answered. ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2016) — The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Wednesday passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2017. This bill makes appropriations for the United States Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and certain other agencies and includes language that encourages the IRS to modernize regulations for withholding and reporting pari-mutuel winnings. Last year the IRS and the Treasury began an examination of current pari-mutuel tax withholding rules at the request of the NTRA and numerous Members of Congress. Also last year the IRS and Treasury began a rulemaking process to examine the tax treatment of certain wagering winnings including pari-mutuel. NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop addressed the issue at a hearing before Treasury and IRS officials on June 17, 2015, when he outlined how wagering habits have changed in the 21st century and how current regulations are punitive. Updates proposed by the NTRA would clarify regulations by redefining the “amount of the wager” to include... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (June 9, 2016) — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be honored this summer by the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation at its annual fundraising and awards dinner. The event will take place Aug. 15 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar Resort, located just a few miles south of Del Mar. “I’m honored to be recognized by the Gregson Foundation and to stand alongside past honorees who are truly a who’s who of California racing,” Baffert said in a release. Among the Gregson Foundation’s past honorees are Baffert’s fellow trainers Jack Van Berg, Ron McAnally, Mel Stute, and the late Warren Stute, in addition to such industry leaders as Ann and Jerry Moss, Mace and Samantha Siegel, Dr. Jack Robbins, and Joe and Barbara Harper. Last summer, the foundation saluted jockeys Mike Smith and Gary Stevens while raising money to provide college scholarships to the children of California’s backstretch community. “It’s pretty remarkable to see how the Gregson Foundation’s scholarship program has grown through the years,... ...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (June 8, 2016) – Robert Sweeney, former executive vice president and general manager of California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, passed away last week. He was 89. A California native, Sweeney spent 11 years with the CTBA, seven as executive vice president and general manager, and retired in 1989 to San Juan Capistrano. Sweeney, who would go on to be editor of the CTBA’s California Thoroughbred magazine, wrote his first article for the publication when he was in the army during World War II. After graduating from USC, Sweeney spent 19 years as director of industrial relations with Robertshaw, then with Buzza Cardozo Greeting Card Company. He turned down a vice presidency when the company was relocated to Cincinnati through a merger and, having already owned and bred a pair of mares, joined a horse sale company in Pomona. Four years later, he was hired as assistant to then-CTBA general manager Brian Sweeney (no relation), and took over as executive vice president and general manager in 1982. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 6, 2016) –Tickets for this year’s two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park are now on sale to the general public, officials said June 6. The event will be held Nov. 4-5. It will be the record ninth time Santa Anita will host the Breeders’ Cup, which offers 13 races and purses totaling $26 million. Ticket prices range from $25-$750 for Friday’s program and from $50-$850 for Saturday. General admission prices are $10 per pass on Friday and $25 per pass on Saturday when purchased in advance. General admission passes will be available at the gate on event days for $15 per pass Friday and $40 per pass Saturday. The passes don’t include a reserved seat. All fans that attend the World Championships will receive free track programs Friday and Saturday upon entering Santa Anita. Tickets can be purchased online at www.breederscup.com/tickets or by calling toll-free at 877-849-4287. In related business, Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita have again enlisted QuintEvents as the official... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 5, 2016) — Santa Anita is adjusting its first post to 1:30 p.m. Pacific, beginning Thursday for the remainder of the spring-summer meeting through July 10. The only exception will be Saturday, when first post time is noon to coincide with the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes program in New York. Track officials are hoping an earlier post time will boost handle. Santa Anita marketing director Nate Newby said the previous first post time of 2 p.m. produced situations when handle on late races did not live up to expectations on occasions. Through the Memorial Day program on May 30, the 17th day of the 40-day meeting, on-track handle was down 3 percent from a comparable period in 2015, Newby said. All-sources handle was down 2 percent, while on-track attendance was up 6 percent. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (June 2, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board will again consider adopting a third-party Lasix administration policy at its regular meeting June 16. The rule on third-party Lasix administration on race day is on the agenda for the June 16 CHRB meeting, confirms spokesman Mike Marten. The rule would meet the standards of the Association of Racing Commissioners International model rule and the National Uniform Medication Program in that independent veterinarians, rather than track veterinarians, would administer race-day Lasix. It would be similar to New York in that veterinarians employed by the racing association would conduct the race-day administrations. In California, like all other U.S. racing states, Lasix (furosemide and formally called Salix) is allowed to be administered on race day as a way to prevent or reduce the severity of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Many states have had third-party Lasix administration policies in place for several years now, as the trend has been to shift away from track veterinarians to independent vets administering race-day Lasix (furosemide, officially... ...

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 30, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board would like to clear up any confusion over the vote at last Thursday’s Board meeting to amend Rule 1688, the riding crop rule. The vote did not change the current three-strike rule that was adopted at the November 2014 meeting of the CHRB. The vote merely authorizes a 45-day period for the public to comment on the proposed change. Following the 45-day public comment period, after considering input from all who wish to submit opinions, the Board will once again vote on whether or not to amend the current three-strike rule. The CHRB has set the standard by adopting several rules designed to protect horses, such as the establishment of safety requirements for the construction of the riding crop and the adoption of  Rule 1688, which prohibits using the crop more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond. The proposed amendment would further state “except in the last 16th of a... ...

From CHRB ARCADIA, Calif. (May 28, 2016) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, May 26, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, George Krikorian and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        With a 4-3 vote, the Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed regulatory amendment governing use of the riding crop in races. Current restrictions prohibit using the crop more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond. The amendment would further state “except in the last 16th of a mile in a thoroughbred race, at which time a jockey is prohibited from using a riding crop more than four times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond before using the riding crop again.” The Board will conduct a public hearing on... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (May 27, 2016) — Kaleem Shah successfully bid $290,000 for a son of Candy Ride   at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age, and immediately pointed to his 20-year-old daughter, Sophie. “She bought the horse,” Shah said, grinning, shortly after he signed Sophie’s name to the sales slip. Bob Baffert usually buys horses for the owner, and Shah said the trainer was watching the sale closely on video. The May 27 sale at Del Mar ran concurrently with an afternoon of racing at Santa Anita Park about 100 miles to the north. John Stephens’ Stephens Thoroughbreds consigned the sale topper, who is out of stakes winner She’s Sensational, by Point Given  . Baffert trained Point Given, the 2001 Horse of the Year. “Bob liked the horse very much,” Shah said. Breeder Farm III Enterprises bred the Candy Ride colt in Florida. He sold for $140,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale and went through the 2016 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s... ...

From TOC             PLEASANTON, Calif. (May 27, 2016) — All horsemen are invited to join TOC for an Open Forum. Meet TOC Directors for discussion of current events and an opportunity to have your questions answered. The event will be held Saturday, June 18, in the Pleasanton Satellite Wagering Facility at the Alameda County Fair at 10:30 a.m. Registration is now open online. Sign up at http://www.toconline.com/events/. RSVP suggested but not required. We look forward to seeing you there. Have a hot topic? Email us in advance at info@toconline.com. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (May 25, 2016) –Seven people and two horses — including California-bred Lava Man — were inducted into the Arcadia Historical Society Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions during a gala celebration May 24. Zenyatta joined Lava Man along with Chris McCarron, Ron McAnally, Gary Jones, Mike Mitchell, Mel Stute, Buddy Johnston’s Old English Rancho, and Joe Burnham—honored by more than 200 people, most from the Southern California racing community, gathered at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden across the street from Santa Anita Park. Jockey Victor Espinoza also received special recognition for his recent achievements with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   and Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner California Chrome  . Alan Balch, executive director of California Thoroughbred Trainers, emceed the event. Patterned after Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame, the Walk of Champions was created in 2014 and consists of bronze plaques installed on the sidewalks of downtown Arcadia that memorialize important horses, people, and other racing industry entities. Connections of all of the honorees attended, ranging... ...

From Breeders’ Cup ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2016) — The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are returning to sunny California and Santa Anita Park on November 4 and 5. We’re excited to offer you an exclusive ticket pre-sale window that begins now and ends on Sunday, June 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  To purchase tickets, click http://www.breederscup.com/tickets/?utm_source=toc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=window_open&utm_campaign=pre-sale_3 and use promo code THEBEST or call (877) 849-4287 now. Don’t miss out on your chance to be there and experience the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships as the best of the best compete in 13 championship races, including the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2016) — Legislators who chair the United States Senate and House of Representatives Agricultural Committees are expected to speak at the American Horse Council National Issues Forum June 14 in Washington, D.C. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is confirmed as the leadoff speaker. U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, has also been invited. “We would be very fortunate to have the chairmen of both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees address us,” AHC president Jay Hickey said May 9. “The $102 billion equine industry is an important sector of the agriculture community, not only when horses are in their breeding life, but also when they move into their racing, showing, work, or recreation careers. “The equine world is still regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in terms of disease control, import/export, interstate movement, and research. The congressional agriculture committees are important to the horse industry.” The National Issues Forum will also feature... ...

 From CHRB                 ARCADIA, Calif. (May 6, 2016) — The date for the monthly meeting of the California Horse Racing Board originally scheduled May 19 has been changed to May 26. That meeting location remains at Santa Anita Park. The agenda for this meeting, including the start time, will be posted on the CHRB website by May 16. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (May 1, 2016) – California stallion Coil was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old filly Recoiling, his first foal to race, won Sunday’s third race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight,  at first asking. Recoiling is out of the Pentelicus mare Chanceofalifetime, was bred by Martin Bach, is owned by Bach, Lynn Gitomer and Daniel Weiner and is trained by William Morey. Recoiling ran the 4 ½ furlongs in 52.29 and won by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 2-1 in a field of eight. Coil, a son of Point Given, stands at Magali Farms. ...

ALBANY, Calif.  (May 1, 2016) – California stallion Unusual Heat was represented by three winners on the nine-race card at Golden Gate. Unusual Storm, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Storm Queen, won the first race, a $12,500 claimer. She was bred by Gordon Bithell. Lily Kai, out of the Northern Afleet mare Amadamprez, won the fourth race, a Cal-bred allowance. She was bred by owner Donald Dizney. Cheekaboo, out of the Souvenir Copy mare Sandy Cheeks, won the eighth race, the $100,000 Campanile Stakes. She was bred by Madeline Auerbach, Richard Rosenberg and Barry Abrams. ...

From CTFMA      Sid Huntley passed away at age 79 on January 23 in Weatherford, Texas. Sid was a former president of the CTFMA and was a fine individual.  He was born in Colfax, Washington, but  spent the majority of his life in California. His parents started racing Quarter Horses in 1950 and went on to win the All American Futurity three times. Their initial win was in 1959 with Galobar, in 1961 they won with Pokey Bar and in 1963 they won again with Goetta. The All American Futurity is the world’s richest horse race for two year olds. In 1964 Goetta was named the World Champion Quarter Horse. Their ranch stood several great stallions including Depth Charge, Feast, and the great Sugar Bars. Sid was a member of the Rancho Vistadores.  He loved roping, dutch oven cooking and leather tooling. He especially loved spending time with his family.  He leaves his wife Charlton, eight children and seven grandchildren. Sid was a kind man and will be missed by all... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2016) — Former trainer and Santa Anita Park stall manager Donn Luby died in his sleep April 26 from complications of cancer at the Life Care Center in Bridgeton, Mo. He was 71. An avid golfer, Luby, who frequently had a tobacco pipe in-hand, was a well-respected horseman and friend to many in Southern California’s large racing community. “He was a good guy,” trainer Jerry Fanning said. “He was a good stall man. He trained—did everything.” An assistant to Gary Jones in the late 1970s, Luby took over the training of Eleven Stitches in the spring of 1981 and sent him out to victory with Sandy Hawley aboard in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) that summer. Seven years later, he would go on to train Flying Julia, who won the Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) under Frank Olivares in 1988. “He was one wonderful person and a fair stall man,” said Santa Anita assistant starter Huey Barnes. “In that job, you have to... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 29, 2016) — California stallion Empire Way   got his first winner April 29 when his son Dutt Bart, out of Applaud Dubai, by Essence of Dubai, won a  4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos Race Course in his first start by 2 1/4 lengths. The final time was :52.07. A grade II-placed full brother to three-time champion Royal Delta, Empire Way stands at Lovacres Ranch in California for $5,000. Dutt Bart was bred by Lovacres Ranch owner Terry Lovingier and is co-owned by Lovingier and Albert Chou. The colt had been offered by Lovacres at the 2015 Barretts October yearling and horses of racing age sale where he was sold for $50,000 to agent Mike Harrington, who is Dutt Bart’s trainer. The colt is the first foal bred by Lovingier out of winner Applaud Dubai and is the mare’s second winner out of three foals of racing age. Applaud Dubai was a winner at 2 but found only modest success at the track. Her dam, Miss... ...

From Barretts DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 28, 2016) — The catalog for the 27th Annual Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age is now on-line and will be mailed soon.  This auction of 138 head will be held on Friday May 27 beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California.   The interactive on-line catalog can be viewed now here.   The May Sale catalog is also available for your Ipad.  Click here for details.   The official training preview is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 25 on the Del Mar Racetrack beginning at 10:00 a.m.   The preview will be streamed live http://www.barretts.com/sales/ViewSale/index.asp.  Video clip for each preview will be posted shortly after each horse previews here.   Among the many top stallions represented in the sales catalog are Acclamation, Afleet Alex, Archarcharch, Bodemeister, Broken Vow, Candy Ride, City Zip, Creative Cause, Discreet Cat, Drosselmeyer, Empire Way, Exchange Rate, First Dude, First Samurai, Friesan Fire,... ...

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 28, 2016) –The seventh Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will feature a mix of updates on previous summit topics such as racing surfaces, rider safety, and equine injuries and new topics including nutrition, biosecurity, and respiratory health. The summit, organized and underwritten by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and The Jockey Club, will be hosted by Keeneland Association on June 28 and will be open to the public. It will also be streamed live on the Jockey Club website and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation’s website. Those interested in attending the summit can register for free here. The event will again be emceed by Donna Barton Brothers, former jockey and current NBC racing analyst. Brothers is on the advisory board for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is the author of the horse racing guide “Inside Track.” Other new topics include an update from the American Association of Equine Practitioners racing committee, a progress report on biomarker research, and discussions regarding compounded medications, nutraceuticals, lameness,... ...

From DMTC DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 28, 2016) — Del Mar and The Stronach Group have announced an offer of a $1-million bonus to a horse who sweeps this year’s TVG Pacific Classic, the Xpressbet Awesome Again Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The three Grade I races, all open to 3-year-olds and up, are scheduled to be run on Saturday, August 20 (TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar), Saturday, October 1 (Xpressbet Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park) and Saturday, November 5 (Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park). The $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic and the $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic are both run at a mile and one quarter. The $300,000 Xpressbet Awesome Again is contested at a mile and one eighth. “A big part of our business is to bring our fans the stars of the game,” said Del Mar’s executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins. “A bonus like this is an extra added incentive for the best horses to come to Southern California and aim... ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Apr. 23, 2016) – Arizona-bred Scrap Iron, from the first crop of California stallion Informed, became his sire’s first stakes winner with his victory in Saturday’s $50,076 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby at Turf Paradise. His time for the 1 1/16 miles on the main track was 1:44.98. The 3-year-old gelding, bred by owner Roger P. Downes and trained by Kevin Eikleberry, is the second foal from the Atticus mare Pagan Baby. Informed, a graded stakes winner of $521.349 by Tiznow, stands at Ridgeley Farm near Hemet, Calif., for $2,500 live foal. ...

From CHRB ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, April 21, at Golden Gate Fields. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, and Jesse Choper also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        The Board approved a joint request by the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) and San Joaquin County Fair to reallocate two weeks of race dates (September 21 through October 4, 2016) to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton after San Joaquin officials indicated they did not wish to run those dates in Stockton as previously allocated. ·        The Board approved for public notice various regulations and amendments requiring that all horses be microchipped by January 1, 2018, in order to race in California. ·        The Board approved a request by management and horsemen at Los Alamitos to immediately suspend authorization for the use... ...

From OwnerView ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 21, 2016) –Today OwnerView officially opened registration for the third edition of the Thoroughbred Owner Conference being held at Santa Anita Park, October 31 – November 3, 2016, the same week as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The upcoming conference promises to entertain attendees, to inform them about important issues related to Thoroughbred ownership, and to provide multiple opportunities for guests to network and socialize with industry leaders, speakers and other owners. The business panels, topics and speakers have been finalized, and this next conference is shaping up to be another great event for owners on every level. Some of the speakers invited are top industry trainers, jockeys and owners, including Bob Baffert, Richard Mandella, Art Sherman, Gary Stevens, Mike Smith, Laffit Pincay, Dean Reeves, Barbara Banke, and John Amerman. As an added bonus, on behalf of the Breeders’ Cup, you will receive one Grandstand Reserved seating ticket as part of your Thoroughbred Owner Conference registration for both Breeders’ Cup World Championships racing days on November... ...

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2016) — Marjorie (Margie) Lambert owner of Ren-Mar Thoroughbreds, Inc., died March 23 at her home in Los Angeles. A Celebration of the Life of Lambert will be held on Monday April 4, at 2:30 p.m., at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in memory of Marjorie D. Lambert be sent to United Pegasus Foundation in Tehachapi or The Sweet Water Ranch in Chatsworth. ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2016) — Del Mar will present 43 stakes events during its 39-day season worth a total of $7.55 million, highlighted by the seaside course’s ‘piece de resistance’ – the $1-million TVG Pacific Classic, scheduled for Saturday, August 20. The track’s 77th summer gathering alongside the blue Pacific will take place from Friday, July 15 through Labor Day Monday, September 5. The shore oval’s 33 major, or “advertised,” stakes again will carry purses ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, while its 10 “overnight” stakes each will be worth $75,000. Further, the racing headquarters “where the turf meets the surf” will provide its horsemen with projected purses of more than $525,000 a day, the richest incentives of their kind in California and among the most lucrative of any race meet in America. Del Mar will present 21 graded stakes in all – six of them (including the TVG Pacific Classic) Grade I, 11 valued at Grade II and four at Grade III. The Classic, run at... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 30, 2016) — Click here to view the 2015 NTRA Legislative Action Campaign Annual Report Features of the report include: ·        Federal legislative summary ·        List of 2015 contributors to the Legislative Action Campaign ·        Videos explaining NTRA legislative fundraising and advocacy ·        Membership benefit information for contributors The NTRA thanks all individuals, farms, racing stables/partnerships, bloodstock services, sales companies and industry organizations who contributed to one or more of the NTRA’s legislative fundraising programs.  This support allows the NTRA’s federal legislative team to represent the horse racing and breeding industry in Washington, D.C. and is crucial to the team’s success there. ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2016) — A son of first-crop sire The Factor   who previewed with a furlong work in :09 4/5, brought $460,000 to top the Barretts select 2-year-old sale at Del Mar March 30. A daughter of Smart Strike was the highest-priced filly at $450,000. The sale topper is headed to Japan, while the Smart Strike filly will remain in California. Dr. Riki Takahashi, who has been successful buying future stakes winners out of the Barretts March sale, purchased the colt by The Factor, while trainer Bob Baffert bought the Smart Strike filly. The sale averaged $124,558 for 43 sold, down 8.8% over 2015, when 45 averaged $136,622. This year Barretts held the sale at Del Mar in late March, whereas the corresponding sale last year was held at Fairplex in Pomona in late February. With 62 withdrawals, the sale grossed $5,356,000 in 2016, compared to $6,148,000 in 2015. “We were a little stronger on the top this year, and the higher-end horses did well,”... ...

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, March 24, at Cal Expo. Vice Chairman Richard Rosenberg presided. Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, and Jesse Choper also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved the Sahara Dunes Casino (Lake Elsinore Hotel) to accept wagers on horse racing. Ten other minisatellites already are operating within California private businesses, such as card cards, sports bars, and restaurants, so this will be the 11th. Wagering also is offered at 29 other racetracks and simulcast facilities throughout the state. The Board approved for public notice a proposed regulatory amendment to both encourage the proper use of the whip and reduce its use in harness racing by, for example, prohibiting drivers from using the whip more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond. A similar rule governing use of the riding crop already... ...

From TOC             ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 25, 2016) — The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has announced the winners of its 2015 statistical awards for leading California owners. Reddam Racing LLC was leading owner in purse money won in California as well as leading owner by number of wins; Watson, Pegram and Weitman led all owners by number of California stakes wins; and Kings River Ranch was leading owner by number of California starts. David and Mark Greco, Patrick Grohl and Brent Malmstrom were selected as Rookies of the Year.   Reddam Racing runners earned a total of $2,922,316 in California last year, with 49 wins from 251 starts. Top earners were Nyquist, winner of the Del Mar Futurity and the FrontRunner and Best Pal stakes, Mrazek, winner of the Graduation Stakes, and Found Money, winner of the King Glorious and Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes.   The partnership of Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman won a total of 10 California stakes races in California last year. Their leading... ...

By Bloodhorse.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Mar. 24, 2016) — Los Alamitos Race Course intends on running the next edition of the Los Alamitos Derby (gr. II) during its September meet, a track official said during a California Horse Racing Board meeting March 24 at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento. Los Alamitos for 2016 lost its July meet—which featured the Los Alamitos Derby the last two years—but gained spring dates through negotiations with Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, so the Orange County track had to move one of its signature races either to its upcoming April-May meet, or meets later in the year, in September or December. BALAN: CHRB Approves 2016 California Race Dates With the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) running April 9, Brad McKinzie, Los Alamitos general manager of Thoroughbred racing, said September would be the best fit. “In cooperation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California, they have requested that we continue to run the Los Alamitos Derby,” McKinzie said. “Obviously, the Los Alamitos Derby doesn’t... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 24, 2016) — Golden Gate Fields announcer Michael Wrona has won the contest to take Trevor Denman’s position as Santa Anita Park‘s permanent race caller. The 49-year-old native of Australia was handed the job after a worldwide search in which three others—Frank Mirahmadi and international announcers Craig Evans and David Fitzgerald—auditioned for the job at Santa Anita. The announcement was made March 24. “It was an exceptionally close decision, but Michael just raised his game here at Santa Anita,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of West Coast Operations for The Stronach Group. “We are honored to welcome him to the historic fabric of ‘The Great Race Place.’ He has earned the right to make that booth his own.” Wrona will continue calling Santa Anita’s races through the end of the winter/spring season April 10. He begins his full-time position May 5 when Santa Anita opens its spring/summer meet. Wrona’s replacement at Golden Gate will be named in the next few weeks. ...

By Bloodhorse.com ATOKA, Okla. (Mar. 24, 2016) — Tough, dedicated, and determined are how friends remember Jeff Lukas, who died this week at age 58. Also being remembered is the brilliant training career cut short by the aftermath of severe brain injuries Lukas suffered in December 1993, when he collided with Tabasco Cat, loose and in full stride through the Santa Anita Park barn area. “I started off with Jeff as an exercise rider, at the bottom, and I mean he was tough,” said trainer Dallas Stewart, who rose through the Lukas Racing Stable organization to become an assistant under Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Jeff’s father. “He was focused and a really great horseman.” When Stewart started with the Lukas stable, he worked with Winning Colors, the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Jeff Lukas is credited with developing. “To be the kind of trainer he was, you just have to have it in you—it can’t be taught. He had it,” Stewart said. “And after the accident, he... ...

From Barretts DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 22, 2016) — Ten quality two-year-olds have been supplemented to the 2016 Barretts March Select Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training to be held on the grounds of the Del Mar racetrack.   These supplemental horses will be sold directly after the end of the main catalog on Wednesday, March 30.  A complete list of the catalog supplement is shown at the bottom of this e-mail.  The entire supplement in PDF can be found at http://www.barretts.com/sales/Catalogs/catmar2016/documents/B116_Supplements.pdf   Hard copies of the supplemental catalog will be found both in the Santa Anita racing office in Arcadia and on the sales grounds located on the Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California later this week.  They will show up in the Ipad version by tomorrow.   The entire sale catalog can be viewed at http://www.barretts.com/sales/Catalogs/catmar2016/catalogTABLE.asp   The official training preview is scheduled to be held on next Monday, March 28 on the Del Mar racetrack beginning at 10:00 a.m.   The preview will be streamed live at http://www.barretts.com/sales/ViewSale/index.aspVideo clips for... ...

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting Thursday, March 24, at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento beginning at 10:00 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend. An audio-only webcast of the Board meeting can be heard through a link on the CHRB website (webcast). The meeting agenda and supporting package of materials also are available on the CHRB website. ...

HEMET, Calif. (Mar. 17, 2016) — California stallion Daddy Nose Best has sired his first foals, both colts. BG Stables is the breeder of the colts, one out of the mare Rachel Jones, delivered Feb. 7, the other out of the mare Huera Bonita, delivered Feb. 16. Daddy Nose Best stands at BG Thoroughbred Farm. ...

By Bloodhorse.com COALINGA, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2016) — The first reported foals for California stallion Clubhouse Ride are two fillies each born the week of March 7. A bay filly out of the Stormin’ Fever mare Fever’s Bet was bred and is owned by Michael Frazee and Neale Jensen, and a bay filly out of the Decarchy   mare Oscillator was bred and is owned by Rick Seidner of Six S Racing Stable. An 8-year-old son of Candy Ride  —Seeking Results, by Seeking the Gold, Clubhouse Ride stands at Harris Farms near Coalinga, Calif. as the property of Six S Racing Stable and Craig Lewis. His 2016 fee is $2,500. Clubhouse Ride won back-to-back editions of the Californian Stakes (gr. II) in 2013 and 2014 and finished second in the 2013 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and 2014 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (gr. I). He retired with a 5-9-10 record from 43 career starts and $1,341,131 in earnings. ...

Barbara Kelly, owner and breeder of the California stallion Fullbridled and a longtime member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, passed away Friday. Funeral services will be Saturday at noon at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills. Fullbridled, a 15-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song, stands at Daehling Ranch. ...

From Barretts DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 13, 2016) — Barretts Sales has announced that Greg Baugh has been hired to the newly created position of Director of Business Development. The Del Mar resident also serves as Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s customer service manager during its race meets. Baugh, 50, will be in charge of Barretts auction operations at Del Mar as well as overseeing its outreach program in the sizeable San Diego equine community. He additionally will ensure that the needs of auction consignors and purchasers are properly met at the group’s six local venues. “Greg brings to this position a solid history of success in operations, customer service and sales,” said Kim Lloyd, Barretts general manager. “His knowledge and relationships within the Thoroughbred racing industry will be important resources for generating new business for Barretts as well as expanding the Barretts at Del Mar brand.” Baugh has worked with Barretts’ staff members over the past year as they have made the transition from presenting their sales at Fairplex Park... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 10, 2016) — Golden Gate Fields will begin to broadcast its races using high-definition cameras and video March 17, The Stronach Group announced March 10. The new high-definition Golden Gate signal also will feature three new cameras—one on the starting gate, a camera near the walking ring for paddock coverage, and a scenic camera. The track will implement a new high-definition graphics package, similar in format to the one currently in use at Santa Anita Park. More cameras will be added in the future., the track said in a release. On-track patrons will be able to watch Golden Gate’s races on 500 new high-definition televisions that have been installed on the Turf Club tables, in the Top of the Stretch betting carrels, and throughout the Golden Gate facility. “Taking the Golden Gate broadcast signal HD is another example of The Stronach Group’s continuing commitment to long-term racing in California,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of West Coast operations for the company. “Golden Gate, with... ...