The California Thoroughbred Foundation is in a period of transition.  We have been known for annually granting scholarships to veterinary  students and a fellowship for graduate research in the veterinary field.   We maintained a voluminous library of equine literature and an extensive collection of art, trophies, and memorabilia—both once available to the  public at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association headquarters  in Arcadia. Innumerable winners of our scholarships have gone on to careers in the horse world, including recently as members of the safety teams at California racetracks. Research by graduate students at the University of California, Davis, working with the help of our Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in Equine Studies, has enhanced the health and well-being of horses everywhere. An endowment is being established at the U. C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to enhance the Foundation’s Rowan Fellowship. It will fund two fellowships each year and will be named the California Thoroughbred Foundation/Rowan Fellowships. Another endowment, at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona,... ...

Charlize Zuraek is the recipient of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s 2024 Western University of Health Sciences scholarship. The Foundation awards scholarships to students at Western University as well as to students at the University of California, Davis. These extraordinary young people are training for a life of service to horses.  Ever since her mother adopted an off-the-track Thoroughbred, Charlize has been interested in horses and was soon headed for her career goal of becoming an equine veterinarian. She competed in reining and was on the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Equestrian Team during the time she was doing her undergraduate work at U.C. Da-vis. She subsequently entered veterinary school at Western, where she expects to complete her degree in 2025. Charlize has served veterinary externships with Starwood Equine Veterinary Services, Pioneer Equine Hospital, and two locations of the Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics. As part of the annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners held in San Diego, she participated in Del Mar Student Day to learn more about racetrack... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation has awarded the 2023 Louis R. Rowan Fellowship Award to Shadira Gordon, a PhD student in the epidemiology graduate group at the University of California, Davis. During the first two years of her PhD, Shadira conducted a case-control study to evaluate the effect of host characteristics, diet, and biosecurity protocols in California performance horses during a equine-alphaherpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak. Her results pinpointed such crucial factors  influencing EHV-1 susceptibility as how often horses attend competitions, the number of horses attending from the same facility, and the nature of competitive activities. Currently, Shadira is working on identifying and categorizing the strains isolated during the ongoing EHV-1 out-break, which has affected more than 15 California counties. Her goal is to integrate potential prevention strategies, the genetic characteristics of EHV-1 and EHM, and social network analyses of Thoroughbred horse movements between events.  Beyond her research, Shadira strongly advocates for One Health initiatives. She has been a regular participant and discussion leader at events like the UC Davis Education Conference on... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs. Alan Balch Melinda Brown Robert T. Cannon CRK Stables, LLC Catherine and Mark Devereaux Tracy Gantz Vito A. Gioiello Jane Goldstein Gail Gregson Daniel Hof Peter O. Johnson Michael D. Lewis Ronald McAnally Bill McLean Lorraine A. Mercer Richard J. Meyer Robert K. Mitchell Nina G. Morrow Daniel O’Neill Connie Pageler Richard Patenaude Ada Gates Patton Glenn G. Porter Michael Reif Tom and Missy Robbins Gino Roncelli Salvador F. Saggese Frank P. Santilli Samantha Siegel Barry Silverman United Funding Financial Group, Inc. Cyndalee Wahstrom ...

Happy holidays from the California Thoroughbred Foundation, one of the largest contributors to scholarships for veterinary students at the University of California, Davis and Western University in Pomona. Our scholarships go to students focused on Thoroughbred breeding and racing. In addition, we award the Louis R. Rowan Fellowship Award to a PhD research fellow at Davis. The most recent Rowan Fellowship went to Christina Rohlf, a PhD candidate in the biomedical engineering graduate group at the University of California, Davis. Megan Elcombe and Silke Hoffmann received this year’s scholarships at Davis, while Cassandra (Cassie) Bernas was the recipient at Western University. All three have a strong interest in equine veterinary care and have served internships that have furthered that passion. Bernas’ family owns several off-the-track Thoroughbreds, an example of the importance of the Thoroughbred industry to these recipients. “They have made such a large impact on my life,” Bernas said, “and I hope to continue to make a positive impact on their industry and lives as well.” ...

We are heading towards a crisis in the equine veterinary world, with only about one percent of veterinary students choosing to go into equine prac-tice—down from four percent in the mid-2000s (according to research by the American Veterinary Medical Association). When you add the number of retiring veterinarians leaving the field and current veterinarians leaving in search of better pay and more regular working hours, the availability of primary and emergency care for horses in the United States and beyond will be seriously affected. Pursuing a veterinary degree is an expensive endeavor, and students typically graduate with massive student debt. The California Thoroughbred Foundation is committed to supporting and encouraging equine veterinary students at the University of California at Davis and Western University of Health Sciences Pomona through annual scholarships. Our scholarships are some of the very few that support third-year students and graduate research fellows at a time when they need it most.  Donors like you are the backbone of our success. As 2023 comes to a close, we... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation has awarded the 2022 Louis R. Rowan Fellowship Award to Christina Rohlf, a PhD candidate in the biomedical engineering graduate group at the University of California, Davis. Since childhood, Christina has been interested in using science and technology to advance veterinary medicine. Therefore, she chose to study biomedical engineering to apply concepts to the development of emerging technologies for use in animal medicine. In 2015, Christina received a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University with a focus in musculoskeletal biomechanics. At Texas A&M, she also conducted research investigating the success rate of different toggle pin fixation methods for canine subjects. After graduation, Christina chose to attend graduate school at U.C. Davis because it offered a collaborative biomedical engineering graduate program and a veterinary school, allowing her to simultaneously advance both of her career interests. As a graduate student Christina has applied biomedical engineering design principles to further the health of equine athletes by fabricating a custom mechanical testing apparatus to monitor... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation, in its continuing mission to advance education in equine health, awarded scholarships to Megan Elcombe and Silke Hoffmann. The two candidates study at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Megan, also selected to receive The Jockey Club Scholarship, is president of the UC Davis veterinary school class of 2024. She received her bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and pursued her master’s in animal science at Southern Illinois University. While at Southern Illinois, she assisted with research on folliculogenesis in mares and new reproductive technologies and also conducted a project on common respiratory and musculoskeletal systems in performance horses. Megan served an internship with a Western Kentucky clinic that specializes in lameness, which solidified her interest in equine sports medicine. Upon graduation, she plans to join a private practice that serves Golden Gate Fields and has served externships with regulatory and private practice veterinarians at Golden Gate. Silke, also the recipient of The Jockey Club Vision Scholarship, attended Cal Poly... ...

Cassandra (Cassie) Bernas is the recipient of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s 2023 Western University of Health Sciences scholarship. The Foundation awards scholarships to students at Western University as well as to students at the University of California, Davis. Our trustees continue to be inspired and filled with admiration for these extraordinary young people who are training for a life of service to horses. A third-year veterinary student at Western, Cassie grew up working with off-track Thoroughbreds and showing jumpers. She received her bachelor of science at the University of California, San Diego in biochemistry and completed a master’s degree in marine genetics there. She has collaborated in research under a small animal orthopedic surgeon and presented this work at the National Scholars Symposium, Pac Vet, and Western U’s Research Day. “This opportunity exposed me to orthopedic surgery and the orthopedic field in general,” Cassie said. “I hope to use this experience to develop a foundation of knowledge that I can apply toward my future as a clinician that continues to... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs. Robert McCabe Sr. Bill McLean Nina G. Morrow James Murphy Odyssey Transportation Inc. of Nevada Neil O’Dwyer 2005 Trust Richard R. Patenaude Ada Gates Patton Jay Privman Dave Reid Michael Reif Tom & Missy Robbins Salvador F. Saggese Santa Anita Park Samantha Siegel John Sondereker Southern California Equine Foundation Mike Talla United Funding Financial Group Inc. Cyndalee Wahlstrom Winning Streak LLC MEMORIAL DONATIONS The CTF accepts donations in memory of relatives and friends, with all such donations allocated to Scholarship Funds of the Foundation. Please remember members of our industry with a donation to the CTF memorial fund. Donations may be sent to CTF, 201 Colorado Place, Arcadia, CA 91007. The CTF joins in honoring the memory of those whose names appear in bold type. We also thank and acknowledge the donors for their generous contributions. JERRY LAMBERT Elinor L. Plumer ...

Mary Forney has spent her entire working career in the California Thoroughbred industry, and the California Thoroughbred Foundation is lucky to have someone with her wealth of experience join the board. In one sense, she is coming home because her first job was as secretary to Brian Sweeney, general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.  Once her mother took Mary and her sisters to the races at Santa Anita, Mary’s dream was to work in the industry. She remained at the CTBA for 14 years, and she and her husband, Jim, started their family of three children. During her time at the CTBA, Mary also wrote articles for this magazine. In 1990, fellow Foundation trustee Jane Goldstein convinced Forney to come work for Santa Anita as the program production coordinator. Forney spent 13 years at Santa Anita, later as the executive assistant to the president and simulcast coordinator. In dealing with out-of-state simulcast contracts, she traveled to tracks throughout the country. She joined the Thoroughbred Owners of California as... ...

California Thoroughbred Foundation trustee John Sadler did a phenomenal job managing the career of Flightline, who was named the 2022 Horse of the Year in late January. Flightline captured the imagination of people inside and outside of the industry with his brilliant undefeated career. In addition to his Horse of the Year title, Flightline received an Eclipse Award as the champion older dirt male, and he earned a total of $4,514,800 during his career. Sadler trained Flightline for Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. A son of Tapit—Feathered, by Indian Charlie, Flightline showed promise from his early days of training. He won his six starts by a combined 71 lengths. And while his 81⁄4-length margin of victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is a record for that race, Flightline put on perhaps his most impressive perfor-mance in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, where he demolished the field by 191⁄4 lengths. Sadler was winning his fourth Pacific Classic in the last... ...

Larisa Wick Holderied has fond memories of a childhood filled with fun visits to Santa Anita, courtesy of her great-grandfather, Ray Bell Sr., who was a champion rodeo rider before becoming a successful race horse owner and bloodstock dealer. Unlike several of Bell’s other descendants who pursued racing professions, she went in a different direction, earning a B.A. degree from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from Albany Law School in New York. She was admitted to the bar in New York State in 2005. Coming full circle to the Thoroughbred world, Mrs. Holderied has joined the California Thoroughbred Foundation board of trustees and brings valuable experience working with non-profit organizations. Currently she is director of government relations for the Wright Group NY, where she is responsible for the creation and execution of the fiscal, educational, and government engagement lobbying strategies for approximately 60 nonprofit organizations. Mrs. Holderied is a board member and development committee chair of LiveOn NY, a nonprofit membership association representing a network of more than... ...

On behalf of the California Thoroughbred Foundation, I want to thank you for your interest and commitment to the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred. With your support, the California Thoroughbred Foundation awards much-needed scholarships to equine veterinary students at U. C. Davis and Western University of Health Sciences.  As leaders in veterinary medicine, these universities attract outstanding students for the education, experiential learning, and mentorship that positions them to be leaders. They are learning the newest technology and diagnostic techniques available today. They study hard to excel in difficult coursework and spend countless hours as externs at major clinics throughout the country.  One of the largest hurdles to overcome is the cost of their education. Our scholar-ships are some of the very few that support third-year students and graduate research fellows at a time when they need it most. Every recipient is heartened and encouraged by our foundation.  We want you to know how important it is to them. Several of our recipients have joined the safety teams at... ...

Jane Goldstein, a longtime California Thoroughbred Foundation trustee, the retired director of publicity at Santa Anita, and the first woman to head a track publicity department in this country, received a standing ovation when honored during the luncheon of the inaugural Horse Racing Women’s Summit at Santa Anita Sept. 29. Fellow Foundation trustee Amy Zimmerman, one of the many Goldstein has mentored throughout her career, presented the award. The summit, designed to provide women in racing with ways to “engage, innovate, and invest,” offered a day of panels comprising fe-male executives throughout the racing industry.  Summit organizers recognized Goldstein as “a groundbreaking leader and inspirational example to women in racing.” Zimmerman noted the barriers Goldstein had to face during her career simply because she was a woman, from the Daily Racing Form not hiring women at the time to press boxes being closed to women. Once in charge of publicity at Santa Anita, Goldstein “expected excellence from those who worked for her because she demanded it of herself because of... ...

  As the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library move to a new home at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, many of the books will continue to be available for research at the office of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. In donating the books to Cal Poly, the California Thoroughbred Foundation is working with the university to make the transition as seamless as possible. Katie Richardson, the department chair of the Cal Poly library and department head of special collections and archives, is processing the books as they are moved to the university. That will allow material to be as accessible as possible during the transition. Those books not yet processed will remain at the CTBA. Among the last to move will be the American Racing Manual set and racing chartbooks, both popular with researchers. “We thought it would be best to do a gradual move of the collection to minimize interruptions to the collection while materials are being transported and cataloged at Cal Poly Pomona,” said Richardson. The... ...

Ada Gates Patton, president of the California Thoroughbred Foundation, has been named farrier director of the California Horse Center Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang. She will oversee all horseshoeing on the farm and has been involved with the California Horse Center in educational work about good farrier practices. The first female farrier licensed to shoe Thoroughbred racehorses in the U.S. and Canada, Gates Patton has served as farrier liaison for the 1984 Olympic Games and the FEI World Games in Lexington, Ky., and as the official horseshoe inspector for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Flag Is Up is home to Monty Roberts, whose join-up methods of starting horses Ada Gates Patton, green shirt, works with the California are world famous. He and his Horse Center to educate about good farrier practices wife, Pat, have been involved in the California breeding and racing industry for decades. Gates Patton started shoeing for Roberts in 1978 at the CTBA Sales’ Hollywood Park 2-year-old sale and has trained with him on his... ...

Early every year, part of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s mission to support veterinary students focused on the Thoroughbred manifests itself in the choice of a third-year student at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomo-na. We decided to look in on the 2017 Foundation choice, Allison Salinger, and see what she has been doing. Originally from Pennsylvania, Allison graduated from Virginia Tech University with a bachelor of science degree in biology focused on research. Before she graduated from Western University in 2018, Allison was one of 33 veterinary students nationwide to receive financial support from the Winner’s Circle Scholarship Program, sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practi-tioners’ Foundation, Platinum Performance, and the Race For Education. Allison started at Mississippi State in July 2019 and is now a third-year large animal surgery resident at the university. Her work includes a study that investigated how a novel, headless screw could repair carpal bone fractures in racehorses. The study demonstrated that this screw compares favorably to others used and that its design... ...

Katarina (Kat) Hilton is this year’s recipient of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s 2022 Western University of Health Sciences scholarship. The Foundation awards scholarships to students at Western University as well as to students at the University of California, Davis. The curriculum vitae, personal essays, and in-person verbal interviews with these students leave our trustees inspired, hopeful, and filled with admiration for these extraordinary young people. They are brilliant, beyond hard-working, and willingly face a challenging life of service to horses.  From an early age, Kat cared for her family’s Thoroughbred horses, became a leader in Pony Club, and later became an event rider who assisted other riders and horses in the recovery veterinarian box. These early experiences made her path very clear: to provide proper medical care as an equine veterinarian. She has shadowed solo and multiple equine practices focused on lameness evaluations, pre-purchase examinations, diagnostic imaging, and movement for a variety of breeds, specifically off-the-track Thoroughbreds. As a veterinary student, Kat added to her intensive studies with leadership roles... ...

In its continuing mission to advance education in equine health, the California Thoroughbred Foundation awarded scholarships to Amber McElhinney and Izabella Pendergast. The two well-qualified candidates study at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Amber plans to pursue a career in equine surgery and lameness. She has a BS in equine science from the University of New Hampshire and studied equine cardiology at the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies for her undergraduate senior honors thesis. Amber is a disaster service worker in Yolo County and treasurer for the Global Veterinary Alliance. She has completed externships with several equine clinics and gathered data for a study on PET scans of injured racehorses with Dr. Sue Stover. Amber wants to work with sport horses and treat lameness. She is especially interested in the prevention of orthopedic diseases, including concussive breakdown in racehorses. Izabella has loved horses from an early age, when her mother helped her find a stable where she could work with the horses... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation is donating the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library— one of the most extensive collections of equine literature found anywhere—to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. “This is such a rare and specialized collection that it is a great match with an academic library,” said Foundation President Ada Gates Patton. “Officials from Cal Poly Pomona approached us about acquiring the library, with proposed expert management of books and increased public access.  “The Foundation does not have resources like those at Cal Poly. In addition, with more and more material available on the Internet, in-person use of the library decreased in recent years, followed by a two-year closure because of the pandemic. So after studying the proposal carefully, our board voted for the donation. This will benefit anyone interested in publications about horses, whether for serious study or just pleasure reading.” The university intends to digitize research books for worldwide access, exposing the Burke Library to a far wider audience than the Foundation could offer. “We have... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs. ...

Ferrin Peterson, the 2018 recipient of a California Thoroughbred Foundation scholarship when she was a third-year veterinary student at the University of California, Davis, has continued her unique dual careers as a veterinarian and jockey. She has moved to Kentucky and hired former star rider Julio Espinoza as her jockey agent. Dark days in the racing calendar provide time for her to engage in veterinary work. As reported on this page two years ago, Peterson was the second-leading rider at Monmouth Park in 2020, when Hall of Fame former jockey Julie Krone served as her agent and mentor. Their subsequent foray into New York racing was impeded because pandemic restrictions prevented them from going into the stable area and making crucial trainer contacts. Next, Peterson went to Maryland, where bad weather and an equine herpes outbreak curtailed racing, severely limiting her opportunities. While in Maryland, Peterson worked with trainer Graham Motion at his Fair Hill training center, and she finished second on one of his horses in her first ride... ...

Wallace S. Rohrer, a member of the International Union of Journeyman Horse-shoers, created 14 handmade shoes specifically crafted for the Thoroughbred racehorse. The California Thoroughbred Foundation is honored to have this extraordinary example of his work in the form of a unique horseshoe board on display at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. It demonstrates Rohrer’s abilities as well as pays tribute to the IUJH, which dates back to 1874. Rohrer, the son of a blacksmith, shod horses for some of the finest California trainers from the 1950s-70s. He later became the paddock horse-shoer at receiving barns of California racetracks, requiring him to check every horse for every race to confirm the runner was properly shod for that surface. He served on judging panels for the IUJH journeyman exam, a requirement for licensing as a farrier at California Thoroughbred racetracks. The rigorous test took five hours in the forge and one hour under a horse. The candidate had to make four different shoes (announced at the start of the test), beginning... ...

Continuing Education for Trainers The California Thoroughbred Foundation, which is devoted to fostering education in an effort to improve the health of Thoroughbred racehorses, applauds the California Horse Racing Board’s continuing education series for trainers. It is part of a new California regulation that requires trainers and assistant trainers to complete a minimum of 12 hours of approved continuing education coursework every 36 months as a condition for licensing. The CHRB has created webinars on such topics as racehorse neurological conditions, understanding shoulder fractures, and compounded medications as part of this continuing education. Top veterinarians Dr. Sue Stover, Dr. Dionne Benson, and Dr. Barrie Grant are among the experts that have contributed to these webinars. The CHRB and the California Thoroughbred Trainers have been instrumental in furthering this continuing education. Equine Medical Director Dr. Jeff Blea, who is also a Foundation trustee, has been impressed with the level of enthusiasm and interest from trainers. “I have received numerous positive comments from trainers on several of these educational webinars, as it... ...

First and foremost, we thank you for being a loyal supporter and participant in our dedication to the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred. With your support, the California Thoroughbred Foundation awards much-needed scholarships to third-year equine veterinarian students at the University of California, Davis and at Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona. These students are learning the newest technology and diagnostic techniques available today. Our Rowan Research Fellowship rewards a UC Davis graduate student in equine research.  Several recipients have joined the safety teams at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Our research fellow just accomplished her PhD in genetic research of the Thoroughbred. The California Thoroughbred Foundation has and continues to have the well-being of Thoroughbreds on and off the track as its focus, as it has for decades. Evolving from origins in the 1940s, the Foundation has promoted this through education of veterinarians and crucial research. Veterinarians today are being drawn in greater numbers to practice in areas other than Thoroughbreds. This fact alone underscores the importance of... ...

The vast improvement in horse safety at California tracks can be credited in part to research by Ph. D. candidate Sarah Shaffer, who was granted the Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in Equine Studies at U. C. Davis in 2019 by the California Thoroughbred Foundation. Shaffer’s work has earned her the additional honor of the 2021 James M. Wilson Award for the year’s most outstanding research report, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal. Her potentially accident-preventing discoveries focus on proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. The Center for Equine Health at the Davis School of Veterinary Medicine reported that previously there was no way to identify horses at risk for PSB fracture. Shaffer’s studies included discovery, characterization, and description of changes before such fractures, which put horses at risk for possible catastrophic accidents. “Sarah’s research findings were key to developing injury-prevention strategies that contributed to the 41% reduction in California racehorse fatalities over the previous year,” said Dr. Susan Stover, who directed Shaffer’s research at the J. D. Wheat Veterinary... ...

Anna Dahlgren, who received the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in 2017, is about to complete her Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. The training Dahlgren has received will support her long-standing interest in improving the health of Thoroughbred racehorses and contributing to the industry that Louis Rowan cared about so passionately. Working with UC Davis professors Drs. Fern Tablin and Carrie Finno, Dahlgren investigated the underlying genetic cause for atypical equine thrombasthenia (AET), a heritable platelet dysfunction that causes prolonged bleeding following injury. The potential role for this disorder in de-laying wound healing could have a significant impact on the Thoroughbred industry. Dahlgren graduated with her B.S. degree in biochemistry/molecular biology from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., prior to pursuing her Ph.D. at UC Davis. Throughout her Ph.D. training, she has not only researched the genetic basis of AET, but also investigated the effects of micro-dosing of erythropoietin in racing Thoroughbreds to identify a biomarker for drug testing.  “Anna has done a tremendous amount of... ...

Chelsea Fishenfeld, the recipient of the 2021 California Thoroughbred Foundation’s scholarship for a veterinary student at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, sent the following thank you to the Foundation: “Huge thanks to the California Thoroughbred Foundation. “I am beyond grateful for the scholarship that they have provided me, as it has helped keep the stressful costs of fourth-year travel to a minimum. “I can’t wait to continue my pursuit of equine medicine, meet wonderful people, and learn something new every day. “This career path has been busy, fun, and fulfilling from the start. Through riding, working as an ambulatory tech, shadowing my farrier, and several externships, I have learned to love all aspects of the horse. Thoroughbred horses were a large part of the foundation of my horsemanship, and I can’t wait to be able to treat them as their doctor. “I plan on doing an equine internship, followed by pursuing ambulatory practice with acute interests in both sports medicine and internal medicine. I appreciate so much the... ...

The Foundation’s keenest mission is fostering health of the horse and helping support the future veterinarians who will oversee their well-being. These students go through intense, lengthy, and expensive training that requires drive and commitment. We award scholarships and fellowships at the University of California, College of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, and Western University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine in Pomona. Our trustees work with Gregory Ferraro DVM and trustee Jeff Blea DVM to meet, interview, and select scholarship recipients. The candidates leave us inspired, hopeful, and filled with admiration for these extraordinary young people who look forward to a career of service to horses. Dr. Carrie Fino, to whom we awarded the Louis R. Rowan Fellowship at UC Davis in 2009, joined the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 2014. In 2017 she became the Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director of the UC Davis Center for Equine Health. Dr. Fino’s background and training include completing her DVM and an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at the... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation selected Chelsea Fishenfeld for its third-year veterinary student scholarship at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. Her undergraduate degree is in animal science and pre-veterinary at Cal Poly Pomona. “My enthusiasm for everything horse-related has provided me invaluable opportunities that served as a launching Chelsea Fishenfeld point for becoming an equine veterinarian,” Chelsea wrote in her application. “I have sought exposure to various facets of the equine industry, including Thoroughbred racetrack practice and the rehabilitation and retraining of Thoroughbred racehorses for new careers as sport horses. I am dedicated to continually expanding my network and knowledge to improve outcomes for horses and their people.” Chelsea has worked with a Thoroughbred track veterinarian and with the radiation safety officer for the equine nuclear medicine facility at Santa Anita. Among her externships, she was with Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, Pacific Crest Equine Hospital, and track veterinarian Dawn Bloomer, DVM. Additionally, Chelsea has experience with Foothill Equine, Shamrock Shoeing Farriery Services, House Calls For Horses, and Chino Valley Equine Hospital.... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs: Lisa & Ernst Auerbach Alan F. Balch John H. Barr Lee M. Bass Randall C. Bassett Candace Bibby Kevin S. Bogart Clydene Boots William N. Brooks II Melinda Brown Michael Crowley Harold Demar Gregory L. Ferraro Tracy Gantz Vito Gioiello Golden Gate Fields Jane Goldstein Dolly Green Research Foundation Gail Gregson Ray Hilding Clement “Bo” Hirsch Daniel Hof Donald Krawiec John R. Lanza Margaret Ellen Leonard Joyce A. Liske LNJ Foxwoods Gary Margolis Bill McLean Mary J. McPherson Ronald & Lorraine Mercer Ted Merrill Martha M. Miller Bob Mitchell Deanna Mooney Moss Foundation James Murphy Odyssey Transportation Inc. of Nevada Doug O’Neill Elizabeth Ann Owings Ada Gates Patton Glenn G. Porter Jay Privman Michael Reiff Tom & Missy Robbins Kirk & Judy Robison Ben & Diane Rochelle Salvador F. Saggese Santa Anita Frank P. Santilli Melanie J. Schow Kathie Schreiber Samantha Siegel George E. Small Southern California Equine Foundation The Strugar Family Foundation Frank R.... ...

As a major step forward in diagnostics to aid in Thoroughbred racehorse health, the first-ever standing positron emission tomography (PET) machine was installed on the Santa Anita backstretch in late 2019.  Dr. Mathieu Spriet, an associate professor at  the University of California, Davis, developed the  Longmile Positron Emission Tomography (MILE-PET) Scan machine at the university in partnership  with the Brain Biosciences and Longmile Veterinary  Imaging Division. The PET machine at Santa Anita Dr. Jeff Blea, a racetrack veterinary practitioner since 1994, noted the advantages the PET scanner brings, saying: “The PET scan at Santa Anita, in conjunction with the relationship with Dr. Spriet and his colleagues at UC Davis, has allowed veterinarians here in Southern California to advance the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal issues in race-horses well beyond anyone’s expectations. This pioneering technology certainly has been, and will continue to be, a positive game changer for horse safety.” Dr. Blea, a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Southern California Equine Foundation, serves as a... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation has many dedicated trustees, who work to further the organization’s mission. Dr. Greg Ferraro is one who served the Foundation for many years before he moved on to help the Thoroughbred industry on an even bigger scale. Today Ferraro is the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, and the industry is lucky to have someone of his experience in that Ferraro capacity. A former racetrack veterinarian and an equine orthopedic surgeon, Ferraro spent years as director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He also served as the first president of the Southern California Equine Foundation, which runs the equine hospitals at California racetracks. With John Kimsey he developed the Kimsey Splint, which stabilizes lower-leg injuries. Ferraro has dedicated his career to equine safety in every role he has taken on. While on the Foundation board, he was instrumental in the process of determining worthy candidates for the veterinary scholarships and fellowships that the Foundation awards.... ...

Courtney Tunney Hotchkis has been elected to join the Founda-tion board of trustees. Her father, Peter Tunney, also is a trustee. Mrs. Hotchkis has extensive experience in racetrack marketing. Upon graduating from the University of Arizona, where she ma-jored in communications, she worked in the group sales depart-ment at Santa Anita Park and later served as the track’s marketing manager for almost 20 years. A lifelong resident of Pasadena, she married John Hotchkis in 1995. They have two daughters, Perry and Ellery. Perry graduated from U.C. Berkeley in May and now works as research coordinator at the New York University Transplant Institute. Ellery is a senior in high school and an English riding enthusi-ast. She competes frequently in horse shows in equitation and jumping classes. Mrs. Hotchkis’ extensive volunteer experience includes work at the Mayfield Junior and Senior Schools, where she was president of the parents’ associations. She volunteers for an organization that raises money for Children’s Hospital of Los Ange-les and works part-time at Salutations Home, a Pasadena gift... ...

When the California Thoroughbred Foundation awards scholarships to veterinary students, it looks for high-quality candidates who are likely to specialize in equine endeavors. Ferrin Peterson has gone above and beyond anyone’s expec-tations in that regard. Peterson received a scholarship from the Foundation in 2018, when she was a third-year large animal veterinary student at the University of California at Davis. That was also the year she obtained her jockey’s license. Since then, she has graduated from vet school, become a licensed veterinarian, and continued what has become a very successful jockey career. This past summer, with Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone as her agent, 28-year-old Peterson rode at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. She did so well that she ended the meeting as the second-leading rider, with 42 wins, and was featured in a major article in BloodHorse magazine. She moved on to ride regularly at the tough Aqueduct fall meeting in New York. “I think I benefit from having multiple things going on in my life, and they complement... ...

CTBA/CTF Library Catalog     The pandemic has caused large and small changes in many aspects of the horse world. In spite of the downturns, the California Thoroughbred Foundation made some adjustments and continues to fund veterinary medicine scholarships, our primary mission. The students training to provide for the health and safety of the horse still need our support. Across the country, tracks have curtailed or canceled their meetings. Racing has continued in California, but without spectators and with limited access for owners. Sales have gone on but only with precautions such as social distancing and access by video. One thing that has not changed is the needs of horses, including their health care. Our Foundation is vitally involved in promoting this area by awarding scholarships at U. C. Davis and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona to veterinary medicine students, carefully selected because of their interest in horses and intention of working with them upon graduation. Several of our recipients have joined the veterinary safety teams at Santa Anita... ...

Jeanne Lapeyre Canty, who died Sept. 13 at age 83, was a fierce supporter of the California Thoroughbred Foundation and a huge loss to the organization. She believed strongly in the Foundation’s missions of sponsoring research and educational projects, awarding scholarships to veterinary students, and maintaining the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. Mrs. Canty served as the Foundation’s president for more than a decade and continued to be active up until her death. When the Foundation trustees met via teleconference this past August, she was a vigorous contributor, concerned for every facet of the organization. She was especially proud of the scholarships, which have helped many students who have gone on to specialize in caring for Thoroughbred racehorses. “Jeanne Canty consistently gave me caring advice about all facets of the management and mission of the Foundation when I stepped in as president,” said Mrs. Ada Gates Patton, who succeeded Mrs. Canty in that role. “Her vast knowledge of the organization and its history has been crucial to me, as has... ...

The late Sherwood Chillingworth, who long served the Thoroughbred industry, primarily as the executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, is receiving two honors this fall. The California Thoroughbred Foundation will add Chillingworth’s silks to those already displayed on the walls of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Also, Santa Anita has renamed the grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes as the Chillingworth Stakes. Oak Tree has generously donated to many equine charities throughout its history, including the Foundation, which has helped fund scholarships and fellowships for veterinary students. Thus, the Foundation is pleased to include the Chillingworth silks in its collection. Chilling-worth was a partner in numerous top runners, including Swing Till Dawn, Yashgan, Forzando, and Valley Victory. The $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes is scheduled for Sept. 19 for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at 61⁄2 furlongs. Before the race was known as the L.A. Woman, it was called the Louis R. Rowan, in honor of one of the founders of both the Foundation and Oak Tree, a past... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation awarded its 2020 Western University scholarship to Julissa Hoogeveen. (See the May 2020 issue of California Thoroughbred, page 19.) Hoogeveen kindly took the time to write the following letter of thanks to the Foundation: Dear California Thoroughbred Foundation, I want to express my gratitude for your generosity in regards to the California Thoroughbred Foundation scholarship. I grew up in Chino Hills, Calif., in an equestrian community and knew from a young age my career would combine my love for horses and desire to give back to the community. When I was accepted into the DVM program at Western University of Health Sciences, these dreams were realized. I look forward to graduating in 2021 as an equine veterinarian with a focus in rehabilitation and integrative medicine. This scholarship will help offset some of the financial burden obtained while I earn my doctorate. I look forward to giving back to the equestrian community, WesternU, and the California Thoroughbred Foundation. Thank you for your generosity, Julissa Hoogeveen DVM Class... ...

The California Thoroughbred Foundation loaned Noor’s 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup trophy from the Charles S. Howard collection to Santa Anita for the June 6 edition of the Hollywood Gold Cup. The historic race reverted to its original name for this year’s running, won by Improbable. The name change grew out of a conversation between Alan F. Balch, a trustee of the Foundation and the executive director of California Thoroughbred Trainers, and Aidan Butler, executive director of California Racing Operations for The Stronach Group. For six years after Santa Anita absorbed many of the stakes from now-closed Hollywood Park, the race was known as the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. “The Hollywood Gold Cup is one of the most storied races in all of American racing, and we are right to remember it,” said Butler. “Beginning when Seabiscuit won the inaugural in 1938, it has attracted some of the fnest older horses in the world. Even though Hollywood Park doesn’t exist anymore, this race does, and it deserves to be linked to its grand past.” Noor’s beautiful trophy made a ftting display in the winner’s circle presentation following Improbable’s victory. Crafted by Shreve... ...

In its continuing mission to advance equine education, the California Thoroughbred Foundation awarded scholarships to Kimberley Sannajust and Nicholas Edelman. The two well-qualifed candidates study at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Kimberley Sannajust’s interest in Thoroughbred racing and racetrack medicine began when she was in high school and got a job working as a groom and hotwalker for trainer Jef Bonde at Pleasanton. “I developed a passion for their incredible athleticism and immediately knew I wanted to become an advocate for ensuring the health of these animals,” she wrote in her scholarship application. Her work on a PET (positron emission tomography) equine distal limb project introduced her “to the value of this novel imaging modality for early detection of subtle injuries.” Scheduled to receive her DVM degree in June 2021, Kimberly earned a BS neurobiology, physiology, and behavior degree from Davis. Her plans after graduation include an internship at an equine hospital and application for an equine-specific imaging fellowship/residency or work as part of a... ...

Early every year part of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s mission to support veterinary students focused on the Thoroughbreds manifests itself in the choice of a third-year student at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. It is an honor to interview these extraordinary nominees, and the vote is always very close. Our choice this year is Julissa Hoogeveen. The first Thoroughbred that Hoogeveen owned as a young girl suffered from navicular disease. She vowed then and there to dedicate her career to unraveling this lameness. Her stellar undergraduate and veterinary studies have put her on the Dean’s List year after year and garnered many additional scholastic awards. Work with her research mentor at Western University includes the histologic study of the distal limb, most extensively, the distal sesamoidean impar ligament. Tis study is the first step in determining the significance of the impar ligament in relation to navicular syndrome. Hoogeveen has become a certified veterinary acupuncturist to help manage chronic and acute pain in horses. Her studies at the Chi... ...

A phone call to the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library started with “I’m the step-great-grandson of Carleton F. Burke. I have some of his artifacts. Would you like to have them?” When librarian Vivian Montoya relayed this to Foundation president Ada Gates Patton, Patton’s reply was, “ABSOLUTELY!” Recently, Patton went to Palm Springs, where Theodore (Theo) D. Robinson Jr. resides, to pick up the donation of a silver platter and silver coffee pot with carved wooden handle, won by Burke; an oil painting of Burke’s favorite polo pony, Scotty, by the noted artist Franklin Voss; and an ink-well hoof with engraved silver. There she learned some family history. Carleton F. Burke married late and had no children. But his wife, Myrtle Wood Hook, had lots of illustrious family. Her grandson, Theodore Douglas Robinson, is a descendant of the Astors, a governor of New York, and three U. S. Presidents: James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Theo Jr. is her great-grandson and is a noted photographer and artist who... ...

2020 OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES PRESIDENT – Mrs. Ada Gates Patton VICE-PRESIDENT – Gail Gregson TREASURER – Alan F. Balch SECRETARY – Jane Goldstein Ex Offcio President – Mrs. Jeanne L. Canty Jeff Blea, DVM, Tracy Gantz, Thomas S. Robbins, John W. Sadler, Noreen Sullivan, Peter W. Tunney, Amy J. Zimmerman The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs.   ...

Located 46 miles east of Washington, D.C., in the heart of Virginia’s hunt country, the National Sporting Library and Museum is a world-class research library and fine art museum, with impressive collections highlighting such country pursuits as the equestrian sports of polo, foxhunting, steeplechasing, and Thoroughbred racing. It was my pleasure to meet with their curators and librarians to introduce the California Thoroughbred Foundation and the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. Claudia P. Pfeifer, the George L. Ohrstrom Jr. head curator, went step-by-step through “Leading the Field,” stunning oil portraits of famous masters of foxhounds up and down the East Coast. The backstories between the artist, Ellen Emmet Rand, and her subjects in the 1930s was riveting. Michelle Guzman, the George L. Ohrstrom Jr. head librarian, opened up the environmentally controlled stacks for us to see books of equestrian knowledge dating back to 1523. The 400-year-old images of teeth, hooves, musculature, and lungs reveal the forward-thinking scientific research of the horse centuries before modern imaging. I instantly recognized a rare... ...

The late Clement Hirsch’s silks are being added to the collection at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association headquarters in Arcadia. Throughout the hallways of the CTBA offices, the California Thoroughbred Foundation displays the silks of people who have made notable breeding and racing contributions to the industry. A founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association, Hirsch was a prominent owner and breeder for more than 50 years prior to his death in 2000. He also was instrumental in the establishment of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and sat on that board as well as the CTBA board. Hirsh’s son, Bo, has continued to race horses and donated the silks to honor his father. The late Warren Stute was Hirsch’s longtime trainer, taking over for R. H. McDaniel, who moved to Las Vegas, in 1952. Hirsch won the 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup with Figonero and the 1970 Charles H. Strub Stakes with Snow Sporting, both Argentine imports. He also owned California-bred June Darling, winner of the 1970 Del Mar Futurity, Oak... ...

The glaring spotlight that has been shining on racing this year has prompted track owners and managers to institute laudable new safety measures to protect the sport’s most treasured asset—the Thoroughbred. The California Thoroughbred Foundation has had—and continues to have—the health and welfare of Thoroughbreds and other horses on and of the racetrack as its focus for many decades. Evolving from origins in the 1940s with Carleton F. Burke among the founders, the Foundation has promoted this through the education of veterinarians and support of crucial research. Veterinarians today are being drawn in greater numbers to practicing in equine areas other than Thoroughbreds. This fact alone underscores the importance of our main educational efforts: Two scholarships annually for undergraduates at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine; candidates must demonstrate an interest in working with horses, preferably Thoroughbreds. The Southern California Equine Foundation (the veterinary organization) and Dolly Green Foundation help support these scholarships. The Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in Equine Studies at Davis for a graduate student... ...

At first glance it seems odd that the California Thoroughbred Foundation is awarding this year’s Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in Equine Studies to a mechanical engineering Ph. D. candidate at U. C. Davis. But Sarah Shafer earned this honor by her work with horses. She graduated with a B.S. from The Ohio State University with research honors, minoring in equine science and writing a horse study for her thesis. Her current research at the J. D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory at Davis involves studying the effects of race surface and exercise history on skeletal adaptation and risk for skeletal injury in racehorses. Dr. Susan M. Stover, Distinguished Professor at that laboratory, writes about Ms. Shafer: “I have been remarkably impressed with her enthusiasm, drive, diverse skills, optimism, and ‘get in and do it’ attitude. She is a remarkable fit for our research program, designed to elucidate training programs that have the potential to prevent fetlock breakdowns in Thoroughbred racehorses.” Shafer chose to move to Davis for graduate school so... ...

Dr. Laurie Bohannon, the recipient of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s Louis R. Rowan Fellowship at U. C. Davis in 2012, was hired by The Stronach Group as Senior Veterinarian, a newly created position, prior to the start of Santa Anita Park’s autumn meeting. She works with association veterinarians in aspects of safety protocols. Dr. Bohannon’s role is to cover on-track training and assist The Stronach primary track veterinarian to provide coverage during live racing. She assists with morning examinations of horses for both training and racing. Her experience includes private and regulatory veterinary medicine at California racetracks. She and Dr. Alina Vale, who was awarded a scholarship at Davis by the Foundation in 2008, were the two monitoring vets at Del Mar, part of a seven-vet team overseeing the safety of horses training and racing this summer. The Foundation gives the Louis R. Rowan Fellowship in Equine Studies to a graduate student at Davis working on research to enhance the health and lives of horses. Dr. Bohannon was selected for... ...

Dr. Alina Vale, who received a scholarship from the California Thoroughbred Foundation in 2008, and Dr. Laurie Bohannon, the CTF Louis R. Rowan Fellowship recipient of 2012, are putting their veterinary experiences to good use at Del Mar. Drs. Vale and Bohannon were named as the two monitoring veterinarians during the summer meeting. They are part of a seven-vet team that oversees the safety of the horses stabled and competing at the racetrack. In the mornings, Drs. Vale and Bohannon pay close attention to the horses on the track from perches on towers just past the finish line and on the backstretch near the five-eighths pole. “We’re trying to identify horses that aren’t traveling well,” said Dr. Vale. “Horses constantly adapt their skeletons to the pressures put on them in training, and if we can detect minor injuries before they become major ones, then that will make things much safer for the horses and riders.” Dr. Vale rode retired racehorses as a youngster and is a former Ride and Tie... ...

August 2019 Now that Del Mar’s summer meeting is in full swing, the California Thoroughbred Foundation would like to recognize the contributions to its board from Tomas S. Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president of racing and industry relations. A valued and longtime Foundation trustee, Robbins benefits the board through his vast racing industry experience. He also regularly volunteers his time to interview candidates for the Foundation’s scholarships. “I’m proud to serve on the California Thoroughbred Foundation,” said Robbins, “especially since one of its key purposes is to financially assist veterinary students in California. We look for students who have an interest in the Thoroughbred and in pursuing a future in our California equine industry. Te Foundation’s efforts have helped many worthy candidates.” Robbins has served in an official capacity, usually as racing secretary, for just about every major track in California. Many international racing organizations also call upon his expertise. He chairs the North American Ratings Committee and the Racing Secretaries/Directors Breeders’ Cup Selection Panel, and he serves on... ...

March 2019 The California Thoroughbred Foundation sincerely thanks the following for their generous donations supporting our programs. ...