SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 19, 2014) – Ag Day at the California Capitol was held Wednesday and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association was there, representing breeders and offering legislators information on the vital role the Thoroughbred industry plays in the state’s agricultural economy. CTBA past Presidents Sue Greene and Leigh Ann Howard, along with event coordinator Christy Chapman promoted the sport and educated visitors to the CTBA booth on general horse facts and Thoroughbred racing and breeding in California. Long time CTBA member Ellen Jackson once again provided a mare and foal (Maddie’s Odyssey accompanied by her two-week-old Unusual Heat colt) for the CTBA booth so visitors could have a personal experience with a Thoroughbred. Among the legislators that visited the booth were Assemblymembers Isadore Hall III, Jimmy Gomez, Frank Bigelow, Christina Garcia, Steven Bradford, Brian Jones, Adam Gray, Cheryl Brown and Senator Tom Berryhill. Many members of the local media also stopped by to take photos and visit with the horses. For more information on California’s Ag Day, click http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/agday/.   ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2014) – Tribal Spy really did have the luck of the Irish on her side in the $100,500 Irish O’Brien Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. She was one of two horses in the race seemingly with early speed, but when Ciao Bella Luna got off absolutely last in the field of seven, Tribal Spy found herself with an uncontested lead, and she nursed it all the way to the wire to win the downhill turf sprint for California-bred females. Tribal Spy ($10.40) got away with soft fractions – for the downhill course — of 22.36 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.75 for a half-mile while covering the about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.59 to give jockey Irving Orozco his first stakes win. Tribal Spy held on to win by one length over an unlucky Ciao Bella Luna, who bravely got back into contention and fought on along the rail through the lane. Ciao Bella Luna finished second by a head over Dancingtothestars, with... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2014) — Seeking her first graded stakes win, Let Faith Arise put away pace rivals Fiftyshadesofhay and Iotapa in the stretch to win the $350,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (gr. I) March 15 at Santa Anita Park (VIDEO). Let Faith Arise, runner-up in both the La Canada (gr. II) and Santa Maria (gr. II) stakes to begin the year, prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths with Corey Nakatani aboard. It was Nakatani’s fifth win in the Santa Margarita, but his first since 2000 with Riboletta. Let Faith Arise, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old daughter of Kafwain  , is a homebred for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. It was the first Santa Margarita win for the Hall of Fame conditioner. Let Faith Arise, always prominent while racing between Fiftyshadesofhay and 7-5 favorite Iotapa, completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:48.70. Iotapa, who defeated Let Faith Arise by 1 3/4 lengths in winning the Santa Maria Feb. 15 in front-running fashion, held second by half a length with Stanwyck... ...

By SFGate.com ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 15, 2014) — It’s always advantageous for a horse to possess natural speed, but sometimes you need some grit, too, which is how Marks Mine won the $59,400 Camilla Urso Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Marks Mine, the even-money favorite, broke from the No. 5 post position under Frank Alvarado in the 6-furlong race for fillies and mares. Fellow front-runner Fast and Fury, ridden by Leslie Mawing, broke from the outside slot in the field of eight. “I told Frank to back off if the eight goes, and he tried to do that, but the eight backed off, too, so he was stuck on the inside,” winning trainer Steve Specht said. “I was a little concerned that it would soften her up for someone else from behind, but she digs in and gives you what she’s got.” Marks Mine disposed of Fast and Fury at the top of the stretch and spurted to a two-length lead, but just as Specht feared, Happybirthdaybaby and jockey Russell Baze... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 10, 2014) — Golden Gate Fields announced that the Campanile, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies bred in California, has been moved from May 31 to June 8, the same day as the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds bred in California. Both races are Golden State Series Stakes. “By moving the Campanile to June 8, we create a day where California-breds are showcased in two stakes,” said Jerkens. “We are also going to try to card a couple of allowance races for California-breds that day. As California Chrome proved with his dominating victory in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita (Saturday), California-breds deserve to be spotlighted.” Golden Gate also announced that the Alcatraz Stakes has been added to the winter-spring meeting stakes schedule. The Alcatraz is for 3-year-olds and will be run at one mile on the turf May 11. Nominations for the race will close May 1. The addition of the Alcatraz means Golden Gate Fields will present a... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 9, 2014) — Following a dazzling win from California Chrome in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Art Sherman says he can concentrate on the best way to get to this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). “I’m not making any plans (for his next race), you know what I mean?” said the 77-year-old Sherman, whose long years of toil are being rewarded by the unlikely California-bred colt. “I’m in the Derby now; I’ve got enough points. That took a lot of pressure off me. I’m just going to play it by ear. There is a chance we might go to the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).” Speaking by phone to the Santa Anita publicity department March 9, Sherman added, “The horse has to let me know. He came out of the race good, he ate up last night. I was happy. He’s a cool horse. I just don’t want to do too much with... ...

By Bloodhorse.com KENNEWICK, Wash. (Mar. 3, 2014) — Stakes winner Northern Indy   was represented by his first foal when a filly was born March 2. Born at breeder Keith Marks’ farm near Kennewick, Wash., the newborn filly is the third offspring out of the winning Crowning Storm mare Storming Slew. During his race career, Northern Indy compiled a career record of 3-1-1 from 18 starts, and earned $133,407 for owner Highland Yard. His best performances included a victory in the 2012 Hasta La Vista Handicap at Turf Paradise and a runner-up effort in the 2011 Canadian Derby (Can-III). Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Walsh, Northern Indy stands for $2,500 at Paradise Road Ranch near Lathrop, Calif. Read more on BloodHorse.com:  http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83633/ca-stallion-northern-indy-sires-first-foal#ixzz2uxYUvK9v ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2014) – The first Santa Anita spring-summer meeting from April 25 to June 29 will look very similar to the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting it replaces even though some of the race names have been changed. The list of 34 stakes includes six Grade 1 races with familiar names such as the Gamely Stakes, American Oaks, Vanity Stakes, Shoemaker Mile, and Triple Bend Stakes. The Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup has been renamed the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, and will be run on June 28, the final Saturday of the meeting. Hollywood Park closed for development after its autumn meeting in December. Ten other stakes have been renamed – the Last Tycoon Stakes was the Inglewood, the Spring Fever was formerly the B. Thoughtful, the Desert Code had been run as the Harry Henson, the Precisionist Stakes was the Mervyn LeRoy, the Adoration Stakes was the Marjorie Everett Stakes, the Angels Flight Stakes was the Railbird, the Singletary Stakes was the Tsunami Slew, the... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2014) – Mike Lakow, a former director of racing at the New York Racing Association, has been hired as racing director at Santa Anita, the track announced Friday. Lakow, 57, will begin working at Santa Anita on March 24 and will assistant Santa Anita racing secretary Rick Hammerle, the track said. Lakow currently works as a steward at Calder Race Course in Miami. Aside from NYRA, Lakow has worked at tracks in Delaware, Dubai, Florida, Kentucky, and New Jersey. He spent 12 years with NYRA as director of racing. “Mike brings a breadth of experience and close personal relationships with horsemen nationwide that will serve us well as we move forward into this era of expanded dates and opportunities here at Santa Anita,” Santa Anita chairman Keith Brackpool said in a statement. Santa Anita added a spring-summer meeting to its schedule this year following the closure of Hollywood Park at the end of 2013. In the past, Santa Anita ended its winter-spring meeting in mid-April,... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2014) — Two Internet poker bills have been introduced in the California Legislature for consideration this year, but neither includes the racing industry on the short list of entities eligible for licensing. Josh Rubenstein, senior vice president for development of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and spokesman for a coalition of racing interests, said the bills were disappointing in that regard but were by no means the final word. “That’s the initial language. But the way bills start out and the way they finish, as we have seen, are usually quite different,” Rubenstein said by phone Feb. 26. The measures were among hundreds introduced Feb. 21 in time to meet the submission deadline for 2014 legislation. Senate Bill 1366, authored by Sen. Lou Correa, and Assembly Bill 2291, by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, received their first readings Feb. 24. Correa’s bill is a reintroduction of SB 678, which was submitted last year but never moved out of committee. The Jones-Sawyer legislation essentially reworks a bill advanced... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2014) — California-bred millionaire The Usual Q. T. passed away Thursday at the age of 8, according to posts on his and co-owner Michael Nentwig’s Facebook pages. “We are very sad to announce that Multiple Grade 1 Stakes Winner, THE USUAL Q. T. has passed away at the age of eight. He brought so much joy to our lives. Melinda and I would like to thank Jim and Melanie Bassett Cassidy for providing the best care for him during his racing career and in his retirement. He was a tremendous race horse and he will live on in our hearts forever!” The Usual Q. T. was a gelding by Unusual Heat, out of the Western Fame mare Lunge, was bred by Carlee Van Kampen, was owned by Don Van Racing, Nentwig, Goerge Saadeh and Jeffrey Byer and was trained by James Cassidy. He has eight wins in 23 starts and earnings of $1,531,240. The Usual Q. T. was a multiple Grade I winner (Hollywood Derby and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2014) — Santa Anita Park gained approval for its first spring/summer meet from the California Horse Racing Board Feb. 21 and presented a stakes schedule for the nine-week stand that looks quite a bit like Hollywood Park, which it is replacing. The meet follows a brief break from the Arcadia track’s winter/spring stand and will run for 40 days, April 25 through June 29. The schedule calls for racing on a Thursday through Sunday schedule with an additional card for Memorial Day, May 26. The regular first post will be 1 p.m. PDT, expect for twilight Friday programs, which will begin at 3 p.m. There will be an 11 a.m. first post for each of the Triple Crown cards. Santa Anita will run 33 stakes, most of those taken over from Betfair Hollywood Park, which closed for racing in December and is expected to be demolished in 2014, then replaced by commercial and residential development. Nineteen graded stakes are on the new Santa Anita... ...

From CHRB ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2014) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Friday, February 21, 2014, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. 1st Vice Chair Bo Derek, 2nd Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg, and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, and George Krikorian 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 application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to conduct a race meet at Santa Anita Park from April 25 through June 29, essentially a continuation of the current meet in Arcadia that runs through April 20, with a four-day break in between. The application was approved pending clarification of the schedule of stake races historically run in Southern California. ·        Several commissioners reported on working with racetracks on the development of fire evacuation plans as well as fire prevention measures. These efforts will continue and their progress will be detailed in public reports.... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com BONSALL, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2014) — It’s not like the place wasn’t already on the map. San Luis Rey Downs was built in 1969. But the cluster of runners that vanned up to win at Santa Anita Park last weekend helped poke a hole in the idea that the newly invigorated training center is located somewhere near the ends of the earth. It’s not, although you can see it from there. Last Saturday, Peter Miller’s San Luis Rey stable cracked with On the Backstreets (by Street Boss, out of a Springsteen classic) in the $81,650 Sweet Life Stakes down the hillside turf course, then came right back on Sunday to win the $97,450 Baffle Stakes, also down the hill, with the Tribal Rule gelding Red Outlaw. For icing, the Miller barn popped later on Sunday with the 29-1 Rathbaun in a $60,000 allowance/optional claimer, then kept rolling into the Monday holiday program with the $25,000 claimer Keyboard Courage in the first and the Street Cry colt... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ALBANY, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2014) — California-bred Tamarando and Dance With Fate, the one-two finishers in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Golden Gate Fields, exited the race in good order and will likely make their next starts in Kentucky. Tamarando came from last in a field of eight to win the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby by a half-length over Dance With Fate, who took second by 2 1/4 lengths over 6-5 favorite Enterprising. “He came out of the race real well,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer of Tamarando, who earned his third career stakes victory at odds of 2-1. All three of Tamarando’s stakes wins have come on synthetic surfaces, including the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) on Polytrack, the Real Quiet Stakes on Cushion Track at Betfair Hollywood Park, and the El Camino Real Derby on Tapeta. Hollendorfer said he is looking at the $550,000 Spiral Stakes (gr. III), a 1 1/8-mile race that will be run March 22 at Turfway Park,... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2014)—Red Outlaw, with Joel Rosario up, prevailed in a head and head battle the length of the stretch to take Sunday’s $75,000 Baffle Stakes by a head over favored Gangnam Guy and Victor Espinoza, getting 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.05. The second choice at 5-2 in a field of seven 3-year-olds, Red Outlaw broke alertly from post six and sat a close second down the hill to longshot Noble Metal through fractions of 21.64, 43.69 and 1:06.39. He was carried wide by the pacesetter crossing the dirt at the top of the lane and was immediately engaged to his outside by the favorite as the field straightened for home and those two bumped a furlong out, resulting in a stewards’ inquiry. After a review of several minutes, the stewards ruled unanimously that the contact did not affect the original order of finish and they let the original result stand. Trained by Peter Miller, Red Outlaw paid... ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2014) — California-bred Tamarando was content to sit last through the first six furlongs, but then unleashed a strong closing run to score a solid victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. Tamarando, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, was not exactly a last-minute replacement for his unbeaten stablemate Exit Stage Left, who suffered a tendon injury one week earlier. “We had talked about running him anyway,” said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who had given Tamarando, a son of  Bertrando, a strong five-furlong work after his second-place finish in the Jan. 25 Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita. Hollendorfer said that owner-breeders Larry and Marianne Williams did not want to run at Santa Anita again because the track does not play well to Tamarando’s late-closing style. Tamarando ($6.60) was last in the field of eight but sat closer to the lead than he had in recent starts. He was five lengths behind pacesetting I’ll Wrap... ...

BERKELEY, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2014) — Donald Valpredo was elected President, Harris Auerbach Vice President, Tim Cohen Treasurer and Sue Greene Secretary of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association at Monday night’s Board of Directors meeting in Berkeley. It was also announced at the meeting that John Barr, Leigh Ann Howard and Jane Johnson were re-elected to Board seats and Edward Freeman won election as the newest member of the Board. Greene had been President for the previous three years but was termed out per association by-laws. “After three outstanding years as serving as President of our organization the CTBA, Sue Green was termed out. The directors wrestled with the thought of a change in the by-laws to extend the term for another year, but after good discussion decided to pass on a by-law change,” said Valpredo. “We have some outstanding and energetic newcomers on the board and one or two oldtimers. To encourage and facilitate the learning process of some younger directors I inherited the position of once again serving as... ...

By Bloodhorse.com Bill Currin, who bred, owned, and trained 2006 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) winner Stormello, died Feb. 11 in Solana Beach, Calif., after a long illness. He was 77. His wife of 58 years, Betty, was at his side, as she has been since they became childhood sweethearts in North Carolina. The Currins have raced several major stakes winners. Bill trained their homebred Memorette, a graded stakes-winning earner of $896,753. As Bill liked to tell the story, the only reason the mare raced in Betty’s name was because Bill didn’t have time to get to a jewelry store one Christmas. Memorette’s second dam, Fondre, won five stakes for Currin and W.R. Hawn. She became a foundation mare for the Currins’ breeding operation. Memorette is by Memo out of Fondre’s daughter Forever Fondre. The Currins moved to California when Bill wanted to be an actor and followed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz west when they formed an acting school. During those days, Bill lived in the Chateau Marmont hotel in... ...

By Herb Wittenberg, CPA COVINA, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2014) — An IRS Audit is disagreeable. It’s time consuming, requiring you and/or your accountant to gather up your supporting documentation.  Perhaps you can end up paying additional taxes.  Some things trigger an audit, so here are some tips to help you avoid them. The Schedule C Form requires you to enter an occupational code number for your business.  The correct number for Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding is 711210.  Failure to enter this number on the Schedule C can get you an IRS Audit. Each Race Track sends you a Form 1099 at year end showing your gross purse earnings.  They also send the IRS a copy of the Form 1099.  You must show gross purse income of at least this amount on your return or it will trigger a letter, (and perhaps an audit), from the IRS. The actual money you receive from the Race Track will always differ from the Form 1099 because the track deducts various expenses – i.e.... ...

By Bloodhorse.com RAMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2014) — The first reported foal for Storm Cat’s dual stakes-winning son Calimonco   was a filly born Feb. 5 at Don and Karen Cohn’s Ballena Vista Farm near Ramona, Calif. Bred by Ballena Vista Farm and Martin J. Wygod, the dark bay or brown filly is the first foal out of Action Nine, a winning daughter of War Front  . Calimonco, who had career earnings of $391,486, won the 2011 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar and 2012 Sidd Finch Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He is a full brother to champion 2-year-old filly Sweet Catomine and Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) winner Life is Sweet. Calimonco was bred to 50 mares his first year at stud and stands his second season at Ballena Vista Farm for a fee of $1,500. Bred in Kentucky by Pam and Martin Wygod, Calimonco is out of the Kris S. mare Sweet Life. Read more on BloodHorse.com:  http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83305/first-foal-for-storm-cat-son-calimonco#ixzz2t3uuEetm ...

From Tommy Town Thoroughbreds PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 12, 2014) — Lookn Wild, a gelded 6-year-old son of Ministers Wild Cat, made it nine-in-a-row with another wire-to-wire win in a Turf Paradise allowance/optional claiming six furlong race. Lookn Wild has won 14 races from 30 lifetime starts with earnings of $113,405. Bred in California by Darren Carraway & Judd Whitworth this gelding is out of the Smoke Glacken broodmare Smokin Sasa. He has won at seven different racetracks during his four-year campaign. Ministers Wild Cat was the fourth ranked 2013 sire in California with progeny earnings over $3.5 million. He sired seven 2013 stakes winners that have won eleven stakes. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. – Wagering at California tracks rose 14 percent in January, bucking a national trend, according to discussions at an open forum conducted at Santa Anita by the Thoroughbred Owners of California on Saturday. “With the country being down on handle, a lot of that has to do with weather on the East Coast, wagering on California was up 14 percent and purse generation was up 12 percent,” said TOC president Joe Morris. “We’ve been consistently outperforming this year. That’s good news for us out here.” California had a dry January, with hardly any rainfall, leaving the state in a drought. That led to little disruption to racing. Across the country, many tracks were affected by snow and cold weather. Nationwide, wagering was down .23 of a percentage point in January, from $802.3 million to $800 million, according to figures released last week by Equibase. The California handle figures mentioned by Morris were part of a wide variety of issues discussed before a small group of owners... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2014) – Equine fatalities at California tracks dropped 24 percent in the 2012-13 fiscal year to its lowest number in more than two decades, according to the California Horse Racing Board’s annual report, published earlier this month. From July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013, 209 horses of all breeds died within enclosures under the jurisdiction of the racing board throughout the state. By comparison, there were 278 fatalities in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, and 265 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The figure reached 325 in the 2007-08 fiscal year. “That’s a substantial drop,” said California equine medical director Dr. Rick Arthur. For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the racing board listed 90 fatalities during racing, 56 fatalities during training and 63 other deaths from such causes as heart attacks, diseases including colic, colitis and enteritis, and respiratory and neurological causes. Although the commission did not release fatalities by breed, Arthur said there were fewer Thoroughbred fatalities during the last fiscal year than any year since... ...

By Paulick Report INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2014) — Following the closure of Hollywood Park, the only horse remaining in track’s walking ring is one who had been in the ground for 46 years. Native Diver, often heralded as the West Coast’s Kelso, was brought to rest there after dying suddenly from a bout of colic. After the track closed on Dec. 22, officials made the decision to move the horse’s remains to Del Mar, but activists say that isn’t the end of the story. http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/dust-to-dust-exhuming-native-diver-from-hollywood-park/ ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2014) – Oscillator is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Oscillator is by Decarchy, out of the In Excess mare Excessive Susan, was bred by Ed Delaney, is owned by Stephen Campbell and trained by Jorge Periban. She has three wins in 13 starts, earnings of $140,548 and is coming off a third in a Jan. 18 allowance. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2014) – Registration fees for California-bred and California-sired foals will increase as of Apr. 1, 2014 for non-members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, it was announced on Thursday. Registration fees for non-members of the CTBA will be $200 per foal if applied for by September 30 of yearling year and $250 if applied for after September 30 of yearling year but before the following January 1. Registration fees for member fees stay the same — $100 per foal if applied for by September 30 of yearling year and $125 if applied for after September 30 of yearling year but before the following January 1. The fee will remain the same for two-year-olds and older: $750. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2014) – Led by champion 3-year-old filly Doinghardtimeagain, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds is the champion breeder of California-foaled thoroughbreds by earnings for the second consecutive year. The award will be presented at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, to be held Feb. 10 at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds finished with foal earnings of $3,089,448. Doinghardtimeagain, a homebred daughter of Tommy Town stallion Ministers Wild Cat, contributed the biggest chunk of that total, $388,240, including a win in the Grade II Hollywood Oaks. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds finished first in earnings in 2012 with $2,561,735, also led by Doinghardtimeagain with $198,500. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds also was the California champion breeder in 2009. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2014) — The California-bred Horse of the Year for 2013 will be announced at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, to be held Feb. 10 at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley. The four finalists for Horse of the Year, in alphabetical order, are: Halo Dolly, Points Offthebench, Teddy’s Promise and Tiz Flirtatious. The business session of the annual meeting begins at 4 p.m. with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and a 7 p.m. awards dinner. For reservations, please contact Christy Chapman at 626-445-7800 ext: 247 or email at christy@ctba.com. The other champions that will be presented at the dinner: Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – “Unusual Heat,” owned by The Unusual Heat Syndicate. Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings – “Unusual Heat,” owned by The Unusual Heat Syndicate. Champion Sire of California Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings – “Tribal Rule,” owned by The Tribal Rule Syndicate. Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number... ...

By Bloodhorse.com HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2014) — The first grade I winner for trainer Tim Yakteen is now his first Eclipse Award winner as Points Offthebench received the award as champion male sprinter Saturday, Jan. 18 in South Florida. Donnie Crevier and Charles Martin’s Points Offthebench won four straight sprints in Southern California in 2013, a stretch capped by back-to-back grade I victories in the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar and Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park. In both grade I wins Points Offthebench defeated Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents, victories further flattered by Goldencents’ win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I). Bred in California by Gary Rocks, Points Offthebench is the second Cal-bred in three years to be named champion male sprinter, joining 2011 champion Amazombie. Points Offthebench was preparing for a start in the XpressBet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) when he broke down Oct. 26 at Santa Anita. He suffered a fractured right front fetlock and was... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2014) – Lone California-bred Lakerville returns from a 17-month layoff in Sunday’s $75,000 Clocker’s Corner Stakes at Santa Anita. Lakerville is by Unusual Heat, out of the Out of Place mare Foreverinthegame, was bred by Abrams & Team Green, is owned by Madeline Auerbach and trained by Barry Abrams. He has four wins in six starts, earnings of $211,540 and is making his first start since a seventh in the Aug. 15, 2012 Green Flash. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2014) – Rick Baedeker, the former president of Hollywood Park, has been named executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, the regulatory board announced Thursday. The racing board met in a private executive session before its scheduled meeting on Thursday to approve Baedeker’s appointment unanimously, according to chairman Chuck Winner. The position has been vacant since last summer, following the death of Kirk Breed from an illness. The appointment is contingent upon Baedeker completing the state’s formal hiring process, according to a statement read at the start of the meeting by Winner. Baedeker, 64, oversaw Hollywood Park from 1999 to 2005 when the track was owned by Churchill Downs Inc. In recent years, Baedeker has worked as a consultant for the Breeders’ Cup in California and has helped in the development of mini-satellites in Southern California at restaurants and bars. In the 1990s, he worked as a marketing executive at Hollywood Park and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and held leadership positions at The... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2014) – Pete Parrella was in his 20s when he first visited Los Alamitos Race Course in the 1960s. “I stood on the apron,” Parrella recalled. “There were 10,000 people there. It was standing room only.” Parrella was there to watch champion Quarter Horse Kaweah Bar and to spend time at the races with some buddies from work. “I didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “I tried to figure out all the numbers, and I was hooked.” In the past four decades, Parrella has developed a successful Southern California lumber business that allowed him to buy Quarter Horse runners, a farm in Chino, Calif., and later invest in Thoroughbreds. Today, Parrella and his wife, Evelyn, are active Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred owners who sometimes spend afternoons at the Thoroughbred races at Santa Anita and evenings watching Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos. Later this year, one trip to Los Alamitos will meet all their needs. Los Alamitos will operate Thoroughbred meetings in June and December... ...

RAMONA, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2014) — According to Daily Racing Form columnist Jay Privman, the Eclipse Award for male sprinter “is a close call” between Benchmark’s Points Offthebench, a two-time Grade 1 winner who died in his final work for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and the Eddington 4-year-old Secret Circle, who won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint as the 5-2 favorite in his second start following an 18-month layoff. Both stallions stand at Ballena Vista Farm. Undefeated at distances of six furlongs or less, Secret Circle has never finished worse than second in nine career starts. He earned $859,800 for his two victories in as many starts in 2013 and increased his lifetime bankroll to almost $1.9 million. Points Offthebench is the second California-bred Eclipse Award finalist for Benchmark, whose 3-year-old Idiot Proof was among the 2007 finalists in the male sprinter category. Ballena Vista sire Tribal Rule also has a close connection to the 2013 Eclipse Awards as his full sister Common Hope is the dam of the Two-Year-Old Male finalist,... ...

By Matt Burke ALBANY, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2014) — Legends are not simply conjured out of thin air and pasted on to the pages of our children’s history books. Rather, they are conceived from the most exquisite blend of pinpoint timing and awe-inspiring achievement. Willie Mays knew this as he chased down an uncatchable fly ball in the 1954 World Series. Years later, fans knew it as Gale Sayers fielded a punt and galloped eighty-five yards over the Wrigley Field mud for a touchdown, thus marking his sixth score of the day as a rookie with the Chicago Bears. And in horse racing, Hollywood Park’s track announcer, Vic Stauffer certainly knew it as his deafening cries for Zenyatta shook the grandstand and echoed on up into the heavens during the 2010 Vanity Handicap. In sports, and in life, everyone needs someone or something to believe in. It is belief that nourishes the spectator’s soul as they cheer on competitors in all forms of competition. Belief unites people who would otherwise... ...

From The Unusual Heat Syndicate COALINGA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2014) – Unusual Heat (Nureyev-Rossard (DEN)) once again defended his California Leading Sire Championship in 2013 doing so for the 6th consecutive year with earnings of $4,903,019. The “Six-Peat” is the first in the modern era of California and the rare feat has only been matched and surpassed in the past by the amazing Khaled (1952-1964).  Unusual Heat now boasts career progeny earnings of over $41.8 million. Unusual Heat’s 2013 earnings of $4,903,019 are the 5th highest total in California history for a single year giving Unusual Heat 3 of the Top 5 California Sire Seasons ever and 6 of the Top 9 seasons.  Unusual Heat set the All-Time California Earnings record in 2008 with progeny earnings of $5,827,513 and is one of only 2 California sires to ever go over the $5 million mark in earnings for a single season, doing it twice (2008 and 2009). The 2013 season also marked Unusual Heat’s astonishing and unprecedented 10th consecutive California Turf... ...

From Ballena Vista Farm RAMONA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2014) – Tribal Rule led California sires by 2-year-old progeny earnings in 2013 for the third consecutive year and was a clear leader on the state’s general sire list by winners (107) and races won (199), according to statistics compiled by The Bloodhorse. Tribal Rule also had progeny earnings of $4,810,599, second overall to Unusual Heat ($4,903,019). The versatile son of Storm Cat gets runners on all surfaces. Second among California sires by turf earnings last year ($1,417,106), Tribal Rule was the leading California sire by synthetic earnings ($1,771,082) and fourth nationally behind Kentucky sires Candy Ride, Stormy Atlantic and Canadian sire Niigon. Ironically, Candy Ride’s rise to the top on the synthetic sire list was enabled by the Hollywood Futurity Grade I victory of Shared Belief, the second graded winner produced by Tribal Ruleʼs full sister Common Hope. Tribal Rule has lifetime progeny earnings of $19.6 million with eight crops to the races. His 2014 stud fee is $6,500 and he... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2014) – California-bred Cyclometer overcame a slow break for a game win in Saturday’s $88,960 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita. Cyclometer is by Cyclotron, out of the Eastern Echo mare Moana Loa, was bred by owners Bruce Headley, and Irwin and Andrew Molasky and is trained by Headley. “It was a little eventful leaving the gate, to be honest,” said jockey Mike Smith.  “A horse acted up and my horse rocked back a bit so we spotted everyone a jump at the start.  I still got away in good order…so I was just hoping I was two jumps better than (pace-setting) Anillo because I had already given him one. “Cyclometer was really on his game today.  In the stretch, I could only mess it up, at that point.  I just kept hand-riding him, and it was working.” Cyclometer has five wins in 17 starts, earnings of $330,254 and was coming off a second in the Nov. 24 On Trust. Cyclometer ran the six furlongs in... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2014) — As reported last night by Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Gonzalo Nicolas suffered a chipped vertebrae on the lower part of his back and will be sidelined four to six weeks, agent Vince DeGregory said Friday morning. The seven-pound apprentice rider was thrown when his mount, Shand, broke down and fell in upper stretch in Thursday’s eighth race. Nicolas was treated at Huntington Memorial Hospital and released to his family, which took him to their home in Riverside. “It was a tough night,” DeGregory said. “He had tremendous pain in his neck and back. He won’t need surgery, but we’ll take all the time necessary before coming back. Right now, it looks like four to six weeks.” A 23-year-old native of Guatemala, Nicolas had one win from 16 mounts through Santa Anita’s first six days, with two seconds and two thirds. “He came here when he was 13 and was a wrestling champ at Riverside High,” said DeGregory, who has... ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2014) — Madeline Auerbach has been appointed, and Bo Derek has been re-appointed, to the California Horse Racing Board by Gov. Jerry Brown, it was announced on Thursday. Auerbach, 69, of Bell Canyon, has been a horse owner and breeder at M. Auerbach LLC since 2000, during which she has been most known as a primary owner of top stallion Unusual Heat. She was a chief financial officer at JSA Corporation dba Hippopatamus from 1977 to 2004. Auerbach is a director of Thoroughbred Owners of California and the founder and chair of the California Retirement Management Account. Derek, 57, of Santa Ynez, has served on the CHRB since 2008. Derek has been the owner of Bless the Beasts since 1998 and has been a film and television actress since 1977. ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 2, 2014) — California stallion Unusual Heat finished fourth in the nation for 2013 progeny turf earnings, according to Daily Racing Form. Led by Grade II winner Gervinho’s $290,140 in purses, progeny by Unusual Heat totaled $3,390,407 in turf earnings, trailing only Kentucky stallions Kitten’s Joy, Giant’s Causeway and Stormy Atlantic. Ranking 10th, 11th and 15th on the list, respectively, were prominent Kentucky stallions Medaglia d’Oro, Smart Strike and Tapit. Unusual Heat stands at Harris Farms and last year’s stud fee was $20,000. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 28, 2013) – California stallion Grazen was represented by his first winner Saturday when Grazen’s Hope won the seventh race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Grazen’s Hope is out of the Bartok mare Chelcee’s Hope, was bred by owner Nick Alexander and trained by Steven Miyadi. He won at first asking, running the six furlongs in 1:09.87 and winning by two lengths at odds of 24-1. ...

LAUREL, Md. (Dec. 28, 2013) – California-bred She’s Ordained overcame trouble around the turn and rallied up the rail to win Saturday’s $100,000 Willa On the Move Stakes for fillies and mares at Laurel Park. She’s Ordained is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Not For Live mare Whole Lotta Love, was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Ronald Ulrich and trained by Timothy Kreiser. She has 14 wins in 30 starts, earnings of $330,685 and was coming off a second in the Nov. 27 Lady in Waiting Stakes. She ran the six furlongs in 1:10.58 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 3-1. For She’s Ordained’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/shes+ordained. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2013)—Although he nearly clipped heels and was carried eight-deep turning for home, California-bred Gervinho kept to his task and proved best in Thursday’s Grade II, $200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes, winning by a head over longshot Procurement while getting one mile on turf in 1:33.47. Well back early in a field of nine, Gervinho sat mid pack early under confident handling. “He took the path I wanted,” said winning trainer Carla Gaines. “I just told Rafael to settle into stride and make a run at the quarter pole on the outside.  He did exactly as I asked, but someone got in his way (approaching the quarter pole).  When the other horse (Si Sage) got in the way, I thought we were done, so I was so happy to see him re-rally. “He’s such a big horse, he’s huge.  He’s been delightful…We’ll see how he comes out of this, but obviously we would think about the Cal-bred race next month ($250,000, 1 1/8 miles turf California Cup Turf... ...

By Paulickreport.com INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2013) — When has a horse done enough? That was the question many people were asking a week ago when Cost of Freedom, a 10-year-old California-bred gelding by Cee’s Tizzy with career earnings of $1,018,799, was entered in an $8,000 claiming race on the final weekend of racing at Betfair Hollywood Park. http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/a-holiday-tale-rallying-to-help-old-warrior-cost-of-freedom/ ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2013) – California-bred Grade 1 winner Tiz Flirtatious will stay in training in 2014, trainer Marty Jones said last weekend. A 5-year-old mare, Tiz Flirtatious is likely to race in the spring at Santa Anita. “We’ll run her next year,” Jones said. “She’ll get a couple of months off and it will take her a couple of months to get ready. You’ll see her in April or May.” A six-time stakes winner, Tiz Flirtatious has won 8 of 14 starts and earned $779,800. She won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in September, and was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf there on Nov. 2. Tiz Flirtatious, owned by breeder Pamela Ziebarth, was fifth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on Dec. 1 in her last start. “She’s a pretty special horse,” Jones said. “It came down to Pam wanting to see her run another year.” ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 21, 2013) — California-bred Warrens Venedalucy prevailed in a long stretch duel to win Saturday’s $50,080 Bold Ego Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland Park. Warren Venedalucy is by Doc Gus, out of the Carson City mare State the Obvious, was bred by Benjamin Warren, is owned by Ace Racing Stable and trained by Justin Evans. She has five wins in 22 starts, earnings of $135,490 and was coming off a win in a Nov. 6 optional claimer. For Warrens Venedalucy’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/warrens+venedalucy. ...

By Bloodhorse.com Santa Anita Park, with the approval of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, will reduce the takeout on its Daily Double wager to 18% during the upcoming season, and will offer the bet three times daily. The track also announced it will offer a guaranteed $500,000 pool for the Late Pick Four wager on its opening day nine-race card Dec. 26. The Daily Double was first introduced at Santa Anita in 1961, one of the first so-called “exotic” wagers requiring bettors to pick consecutive winners on the first and second races daily. The minimum $2 bet later became a “rolling double” available on all races. Santa Anita’s new Daily Double will be offered each day on three separate occasions—on races one and two; four and five; and on the final two races. “After consulting with many of our best customers and the TOC, we felt it was time to make some ‘player-friendly’ adjustments to this iconic wager,” said Tom Ludt, Santa Anita senior vice president for racing and gaming,... ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2013) – Stakes-winning highweights Alpine Luck, Aotearoa and Better Bet are part of an 11-horse field entered in Sunday’s $200,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Eligible 2-year-olds, the final stakes race at Betfair Hollywood Park. Smoove It is by Square Eddie, out of the Distorted Humor mare Smoove, was bred by J. Paul Reddam, is owned by Reddam Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill. He has one win in five starts, earnings of $58,510 and is coming off a second in a Nov. 22 allowance. Pray Hard is by Kafwain, out of the Songandaprayer mare Unbridled Prayer, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. He has earnings of $62,100 and is coming off a maiden win in his fifth start. Ghost of Harrenhal is by Singletary, out of the Free House mare Special Smoke, was bred by C Punch Ranch, is owned by Mark Mandala, Mike Peterson, Joseph Schneider and Helen Meredith and is trained by Derek Meredith. He... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2013) — The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California unanimously voted to appoint owner William Strauss to fill a vacancy on the board created by the recent resignation of Dennis Cardoza. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82477/bill-strauss-elected-to-serve-on-toc-board ...

By Bloodhorse.com                 INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2013) — A 20-foot long monument within the garden paddock at Betfair Hollywood Park that marks the burial place of the great Native Diver will be moved, along with his remains, to Del Mar in the next few weeks. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82472/native-diver-monument-moving-to-del-mar ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Dec. 18, 2013) – The Tom Squad is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Riley Allison Futurity for 2-year-olds at Sunland Park. The Tom Squad is by Old Topper, out of the Foresty mare Lexie Miss, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Johnnie Nall. He is coming off a maiden win in his fourth start with earnings of $24,368. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2013) — The CTBA 2014 Stallion Directory, with Tribal Rule on the cover, is now available and online here The 220-page hard-copy version, ranging from Eclipse Award winner Acclamation to World Renowned,  can be purchased for $15 + tax + shipping fee   ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2013) — California-bred Teddy’s Promise cruised to a deceptively easy win in Sunday’s $100,000 Playa del Rey Stakes for fillies and mares at Betfair Hollywood Park. Teddy’s Promise is by Salt Lake, out of the Capote mare Braids and Beads, was bred by owners Ted and Judy Nichols and is trained by Ron Ellis. She has 11 wins in 28 starts, earnings of $882,397 and was coming off an eighth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Teddy’s Promise ran the six furlongs in 1:09.66 and won by 1 1/4 lengths at odds of 3-5. For Teddy’s Promise’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/teddys+promise. ...

From Betfair Hollywood Park Publicity INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2013)—In commemoration of the closing of Betfair Hollywood Park, mutuel tickets purchased on the final day of racing – Sunday, Dec. 22 – will have special messages highlighting some of the unforgettable achievments from legendary performers – both human and equine – during the 75-year history of the legendary track. Known as the Home of Champions and the Track of the Lakes and Flowers, Hollywood Park has been the playground of thoroughbred superstars such as Seabiscuit, winner of the inaugural Hollywood Gold Cup in 1938, Noor, Citation, Swaps, Round Table, Affirmed, Ferdinand, Ack Ack, Native Diver, Lava Man, Skip Away, Cigar, John Henry and Zenyatta. Many of the game’s greatest jockeys and trainers have added to their glowing resumes at Hollywood Park, including numerous Hall of Famers. Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Bill Shoemaker are the runaway leaders in terms of wins among riders at Hollywood Park, having combined for 5,465 victories – 568 coming in stakes. Other Hall of Famers who... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) –California’s seven racing commissioners voted unanimously Thursday for Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Winner to serve as Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board beginning January 6, 2014, the date that current Chairman David Israel’s final term will expire. The commissioners also elected Commissioner Bo Derek to serve as 1st vice chair and Commissioner Richard Rosenberg to serve as 2nd vice chair. Chair Elect Winner presented Chairman Israel with a framed gavel on behalf of their fellow commissioners and thanked him for his years of service on the Board, especially for his tireless efforts this last year as chairman, indicating that “everybody who has anything to do with horse racing owes you a debt of gratitude.” Chairman Israel was appointed to the CHRB in July 2008 and reappointed in March 2010, marking 5 ½ years of service. His parting advice to his colleagues and the industry was to “keep the sport clean and safe and it will find its audience.” CHARLES WINNER – Vice Chairman in 2013…Appointed... ...

By DRF.com                 INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) — Once there was a very special racetrack, a bold, proud, brassy sporting palace of lakes, flowers, and an exotic species known as the goose girl, conjured up by movie moguls, frequented by celebrities, beloved by the masses. It was the place to see or be seen, whether you were a celebrity, a political figure, an industry titan, horse owner, or racing fan. http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-park-what-run-it-had ...

By DRF.com INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2013) – Betfair Hollywood Park will be dismantled rapidly after the final day of racing in track history on Dec.  22. Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau said earlier this week that the track is making plans to hold a general auction of its holdings in January; that some basic equipment will be moved to Los Alamitos, which will host five weeks of Thoroughbred racing for the first time in 2014; and that arrangements have been made to move the graves of the prominent racehorses Landaluce and Native Diver who are buried on the property. The remains of Great Communicator, the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, also will be relocated, but a site has not been determined. Hollywood Park will be developed for residential and commercial uses in 2014. After the Dec. 22 closing day of the current meeting, the grandstand will no longer be used. Simulcasting will shift to the adjacent casino, which is being remodeled to accommodate more racing customers. An auction of racetrack... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 13, 2013) – California stallion Chhaya Dance was represented by his first winner on Friday when D D Dancer won the eighth race at Golden Gate Fields, a maiden claimer for 2-year-old fillies. D D Dancer is out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Water Trade, was bred by Eagle Oak Ranch, is owned by trainer Jose Bautista. She ran the six furlongs in 1:12.84 and won by 2 ½ lengths at 20-1. ...

POMONA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2013) — The catalog for Barretts 2014 January Mixed Sale is now on-line and will be mailed soon.  This auction will be held on Monday, January 27 in the Hinds Pavilion located on the grounds of Fairplex Park in Pomona, California beginning at 11:00 a.m.   You can view the catalog now at: http://www.barretts.com/sales/Catalogs/catjan2014/catalog.asp Among the sires of the yearlings and two-year-olds in the catalog are such stallions as Awesome Gambler, Cape Blanco, Colonel John, Cyclotron, Desert Code, Desert Party, Dixie Chatter, Forestry, Giacomo, Henrythenavigator, Limehouse, Lucky Pulpit, Majestic Warrior, Marino Marini, Midnight Lute, Midshipman,  Northern Afleet, Old Fashioned, Papa Clem, Parading, Scat Daddy, Sierra Sunset, Square Eddie, Surf Cat,, Stormin Fever, The Pamplemousse, Tiz Wonderful, Tribal Rule and Unusual Heat. Among the covering stallions in the catalog are such stallions as Atticus, Calimonco, Coil, Decarchy, Desert Code, Dialed In, Dixie Chatter, Good Journey, Hansen, Heatseeker, Informed, Lucky Pulpit, Marino Marini, Midnight Lute, Papa Clem, Sierra Sunset, Slew’ Tiznow, Square Eddie, The Pamplemousse, Thorn Song, Tizbud, Tribal... ...

By DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2013) – Los Alamitos Race Course received approval from the Cypress City Council on Monday evening to expand its racetrack to a mile in circumference to accommodate Thoroughbred racing in 2014, a construction project track officials said was to begin Tuesday. The council voted 5-0 to approve the expansion after hearing 50 minutes of testimony in favor of the project. There were no speakers in opposition of the plan. Los Alamitos will host five weeks of Thoroughbred racing in 2014, two weeks in July and three weeks in December. The racing dates are part of a revamped Thoroughbred racing schedule in Southern California following the permanent closing of Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 22. Santa Anita and Del Mar also will have expanded racing schedules in 2014. Brad McKinzie, a consultant at Los Alamitos who is leading the track’s new Thoroughbred operation, said after Monday’s meeting that the track will begin removing trees Tuesday on the property. The property for the redesigned racetrack is west... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2013) –The CTBA website now includes a Breeders Spotlight feature that will be updated regularly. If you would like to be considered for inclusion, please forward us your answers to the following questions along with a photo: When and how did you first get involved in the Thoroughbred breeding industry? How does your professional background influence your Thoroughbred breeding plan? What has been the highlight of your career in the industry, and what are your ultimate goals? If you could make one change to the industry what would it be? How do you think it would benefit both your business plan and that of others? In five years, do you anticipate having more, less or the same degree of involvement in the industry, and please explain why? Please email responses and photo to: ctbaken@aol.com. ...

                ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2013) – The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association has redesigned its website, CTBA.com, to be more user-friendly and efficient.                 The redesign has made the site cleaner and more accessible, minimizing clicking and maximizing the user experience for all devices – desktop, smartphone and tablet. The new site utilizes color and navigation schemes to improve the overall ease of use, with a modern look and a horizontal navigation bar. Among the additions is a dedicated front-page breeder spotlight.                 Data from the previous site has been preserved and integrated into the new site, with a fully functional search tool.                 The site was designed by Mad Haus Creative of Monrovia, Calif. ...

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2013) — Eight stakes were elevated in or to graded status and 11 were downgraded for 2014 during the meeting of the American Graded Stakes Committee Dec. 4 in Lexington. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82327/eight-stakes-elevated-in-status-for-2014 ...