american racehorse - july/august 2015

In this Issue:• AmericAn PhAroAh, AmericA’s hero

• The ins And ouTs of hAy

• undersTAnding The morning Line

• geTTing inTo The ownershiP gAme

www.AMERICANRACEhoRsE.CoM

july/August 2015

CARPE DIEM Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1)

GRADED STAKES GLORY STARTS HERE

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALEMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Mighty Acres675 W. 470 rd. • Pryor, oklAhoMA 74361Phone: 918-825-4256 • cell: 918-271-2266 • FAx: 918-825-4255WWW.MightyAcres.coM

A Division of Center Hills Farm

Mighty Acres will hAve More thAn 20 heAd consigned As Agent for:

• center hills farm • harmony stables & center hills farm • harmony stables • rendell saddler • ron erickson • Jon l. starr • leo Butell • cresran farm • rockin’ Z ranch

checK oUt the Mighty Acres consignMent cArter sAles coMPAny

oKc sUMMer sAle • sUndAy, AUgUst 16oKlAhoMA city fAirgroUnds sAle ArenA

www.cArtersAlesco.coM

All are accredited Oklahoma-breds except for Colonel John yearling (Arkansas-bred)

Previews available at the farm before the sale, contact Randy Blair at Mighty Acres.

Mighty Acres wishes to thank all the mare owners for a successful breeding season!KiPling • toccet • sAve Big Money • the visUAliser

with yeArlings By:

• colonel John • discreet cat • dominus • don’t get Mad • dublin • dunkirk • Kennedy • Kipling • notional • save Big Money • temple city • the visualiser • toccet

000477-LE-American Racehorse July 2015.indd 1 7/14/15 3:02 PM

2 AMERICAN RACEhoRsE • JULY/AUGUsT 2015

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR JUST $49/YEAR (SIX ISSUES PLUS THE STALLION REGISTER) OR SAVE BIG AND GET TWO YEARS FOR JUST $79!

CHOOSE [ ] 1 YEAR FOR $49 OR [ ] 2 YEARS FOR $79

Name:_____________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address:_____________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________

Email:______________________________________________________________________________

Amex/Visa/MasterCard #______________________________________________________________

Exp. Date_____________ CCV#_________ Phone: ________________________________________

Signature___________________________________________________________________________

Mail this form with a check or credit card info to: American Racehorse, PO Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683

Or subscribe online at www.AmericanRacehorse.com, fax to (512) 870-9324, call (512) 695-4541 or email [email protected]

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!American Racehorse covers the racing and breeding industry in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas and provides you with the news and information you need to know!

Each issue features articles on horse health, second- career racehorses, horsemen and horses in the region and more, plus breeding, racing and sales news.

WWW.SOUTHERNRACEHORSE.COM

COVERING THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY IN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND AROUND THE REGION

WWW.SOUTHERNRACEHORSE.COM

In This Issue:

JULY/AUGUST 2014


• Prepurchase Exams for the Layman

• Oklahoma Bush Track Rider Won Big

• Understanding IRAs and S Corps

JULY/AUGUST 2014

GET TWO FREE GIFTS WITH ANY NEW OR RENEWED SUBSCRIPTION!

• • •Every American Racehorse subscription order through August 31, 2015, will receive a free horse stress reliever and light-up pen.

GET TWO FREE GIFTS WITH ANY NEW OR RENEWED SUBSCRIPTION!

• • •Every American Racehorse subscription order through August 31, 2015, will receive a free horse stress reliever and light-up pen.

The Estate of Clarence Scharbauer, Jr.Ken Carson, General ManagerDonny Denton, Farm Manager • David Unnerstall, Attending Veterinarian

Post Office Box 966 • Pilot Point, Texas 76258(940) 686-5552 • Fax (940) 686-2179www.valorfarm.com • www.facebook.com/valor.farm

VALOR FARM STALLIONS MAKE HISTORY AGAIN

In the first six months of this year, three Valor Farm stallions have sired a graded stakes-winning Texas-bred! No farm in Texas has ever done this!

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER GREAT BREEDING SEASON!

CROSSBOW • EARLY FLYER • JET PHONE • MY GOLDEN SONG • SILVER CITY

HE’S COMIN IN HOT took the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs by daylight in his stakes debut. His sire, EARLY FLYER, is North America’s leading 2-year-old sire by number of winners through July 6 with NINE WINNERS from 10 starters; no other stallion has more than six!

THEGIRLINTHATSONG captured the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita and placed in the Grade 2 Santa Maria and Grade 1 Santa Margarita

with lifetime earnings of $479,695. Her sire, MY GOLDEN SONG, is also the sire of 2014 graded

stakes winner FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD ($420,521).

Seven-time stakes winner PROMISE ME SILVER ($440,415) scored a decisive win in the Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. Her sire, SILVER CITY, is Texas’ leading active sire of stakes horses in 2015 with three. He has sired two graded stakes horses.


Published by Pangaea Enterprises LLC d/b/a American RacehorseAmerican RacehorseP.O. Box 8645 • Round Rock, TX 78683

Physical AddressAmerican Racehorse1341 Meadowild Drive • Round Rock, TX 78664

Editor/PublisherDenis Blake • [email protected]

Art DirectorAmie Rittler • [email protected]

CopyeditorJudy Marchman

Contributing WritersCiara BowenJohn Alan CohanRobert Stawicki, MS, DVMDenise SteffanusFred Taylor Jr.

PhotographersDenis BlakeCiara BowenMary CageCoady PhotographyAmber Chalfin/ Down the Stretch PhotographyDustin Orona PhotographyFort Worth Star-Telegram Photograph CollectioniStockphoto/©magbugiStockphoto/©FokinOlLinscott PhotographyPatricia McQueenSteve QueenReed Palmer Photography/ Churchill DownsDanielle Rosier

Cover PhotoHorsephotos.com

Online: www.americanracehorse.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/americanracehorse

Twitter: @AmerRacehorseEmail: [email protected]

Phone/Text: (512) 695-4541Fax: (512) 870-9324

CONNECT WITH AMERICAN RACEHORSEH H H

Copyright © 2015 American RacehorseAll rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission. American Racehorse reserves the right to refuse any advertising or copy for any reason. American Racehorse makes a reasonable attempt to ensure that advertising claims are truthful but assumes no responsibility for the truth and accuracy of ads.

American Racehorse (formerly Southern Racehorse) covers Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. The magazine reaches more than 6,000 readers and is mailed to all members of the Alabama HBPA, Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association, Colorado Thorough-bred Breeders Association, Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, North Carolina Thoroughbred Association, Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and Texas Thoroughbred Association, plus more than 1,200 Louisiana horsemen. That makes it the largest racing and breeding magazine in the region by far.

For more information or to inquire about advertising, contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or visit www.americanracehorse.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN RACEHORSE

AMERICAN RACEhoRsE • JULY/AUGUsT 2015 5

26Finally, a Triple

Crown winner

American RacehoRse

July/August 2015

DepartmentsLetter to the Editor 6Fast Furlongs 10State Association News 20The Marketplace Classifieds 66

FeaturesAmerican Hero 26A pictorial look back at American Pharoah’s Triple Crown triumph, the first the sport has seen since 1978

All About Hay 33Forage expert says misconceptions exist regarding different types of hay and their nutritional value

Laying Down the Line 38The morning line is a useful handicapping tool that is sometimes misunderstood

Training Young Minds 42New York’s Morrisville State College offers a unique program to prepare students to work in the Thoroughbred industry

State-bred Success 52Spring racing in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas showcased some of the top horses bred and sired in the respective states

Tax Talk 54Operating in a businesslike manner

Ask a Vet 56Nutrition for the working stallion

Selling the Game 60Achieving your dream by having a plan, setting goals and keeping a budget

WHAT’S INSIDE

33The ins and outs of hay

42Training the next generation

Setting the RecoRd StRaight on SecRetaRiat

I happened across your magazine when I was looking for contact information for someone at the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

Coincidentally there was an article on First Secretary in the May/June issue—awesome. I happen to be researching material for a book on some of Secretariat’s stakes winners and other off-spring, so it was an interesting read.

But I should correct one item in the sidebar—Tinners Way is not Secretariat’s last foal. That honor goes to the unraced Risen Starlet, who was born May 30, 1990. Tinners Way was born May 25. Lady Secretary, who was a maiden winner at Pimlico Race Course, was born May 28. So Tinners Way was his last colt but not his last foal.

I know a lot about that last crop. I’m also a photographer, and I was on a mission back then to photograph as many of them as I could. I ended up with more than half of them.

As you might notice, I’m passionate about the subject of Secretariat and his sons and daughters. I dare say I’m probably the only person in the world who photographed all nine of his Grade 1 stakes winners. I had to go to Australia to get one of them.

Great magazine!

Patricia McQueenFramingham, Massachusetts

www.americanracehorse.com

Letter to the Editor

Risen Starlet, Secretariat’s final foal, never raced but was in training for a while at Belmont Park with Scotty Schulhofer. This photo of her is from the fall of 1992.

Patr

icia

McQ

ueen


The pressure to win is so enormous that many horsemen resort to whatever it takes to get a piece of the purse or a decent sale…even if it means putting their horses’ lives in mortal danger by doping them with illegal synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) drugs to boost endurance.

Veterinarian Gary Smith said, “It’s a problem all over the industry. There is no way horses should be put on (synthetic) EPO.”

So how do racers win? How do you gain a competitive edge without harming your horses or risking your livelihood? The answer may be found in a safe all-natural horse supplement that supports natural EPO function.

Why is EPO boosting so critical? Just like in people, a horse’s muscles require oxygen for fuel. Red blood cells are the body’s oxygen-carrying cells. A higher red blood cell count = more oxygen = more muscle energy. Elevated muscle energy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during endurance events. All horses naturally produce EPO in their kidneys to stimulate production of new red blood cells from bone marrow. In short, EPO is a natural “blood builder.”

With EPO doping, trainers try to boost the EPO effect to get a winning performance every time. They use a synthetic EPO (recombinant human EPO), even though the side effects can harm the horse. That’s one reason why it’s illegal.

Fortunately there’s another option. EPO-Equine® is a safe, highly effective natural dietary supplement scientifically engineered for performance horses.

A Kentucky trainer who refused to give out his name, said, “I don’t want my competition to know about this.” He found EPO-Equine® to be

so effective that he’s dead set against disclosing who he is, who his horses are, or even where he trains and races. He first started ordering a single jar of EPO-Equine® once a month. Now he’s ordering several CASES each month. And he won’t tell BRL exactly why. He said respectfully, “Sorry – no way.”

Bioengineers at U.S. based Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL), first discovered a completely natural EPO-booster for human athletes (and it’s working miracles for top athletes and amateurs around the world). Seeing these results, horse trainers contacted BRL and asked about using this natural formula for their animals.

That’s when the BRL team dug deeper and discovered a proprietary, horse-friendly strain of a common herb that promotes optimal blood-building results. EPO-Equine® is based on the blood-boosting abilities of a certain strain of Echinacea that’s astounding researchers and trainers alike. (It’s not a strain you can find at the local health store.)

Veterinarians at the Equine Research Centre in Ontario, Canada ran a double-blind trial investigating the blood building properties of the active ingredient in EPO-Equine® in healthy horses. For 42 days, one group of horses was supplemented with the active ingredient in EPO-Equine® and another group of horses was given a placebo.

The supplement delivered significant blood building results, increasing red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Researchers also observed improved blood quality and increased oxygen transport in the supplemented horses. Improved blood levels leads to elevated exercise physiology and performance.

The patent-pending formula in EPO-Equine® contains a dozen different herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components combined to promote natural red blood cell production…for remarkable speed, strength and stamina right out of the gate.

Trainers find it easy to add just 1 scoop (3.2 grams) of EPO-Equine® to the horse’s daily feeding routine in the barn or on the road. Within a few weeks of daily use, you can expect to see increased red blood cell levels with no undesirable side effects. An increase in red blood cell levels can improve muscle performance, supercharge endurance, and enhance recovery after hard exercise. Nothing else is scientifically proven to deliver these benefits in a completely safe and natural formula.

Compared to the cost of veterinarians, drugs, icing, tapping the knees, and putting the horse on Bute; or even the consequences of being banned for synthetic doping, EPO-Equine® is very affordable at the low price of just $59.95 per jar. Or save $180 if you are ready to commit to a larger trial of 12-jar case for just $539.55 with FREE shipping. EPO-Equine® can be ordered at www.EPOEquine.com or 1-800-557-9055, and comes with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.

ILLEGAL DOPING MEETS

ITS MATCH

Trainers Praise Natural Alternative

By: Mark Hansen

ADVERTISEMENT

American Racehorse welcomes letters from its readers for possible publication. To submit a letter, send it to [email protected], fax it to

(512) 870-9324 or mail it to American Racehorse, P.O. Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

Letter to the Editor

The pressure to win is so enormous that many horsemen resort to whatever it takes to get a piece of the purse or a decent sale…even if it means putting their horses’ lives in mortal danger by doping them with illegal synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) drugs to boost endurance.

Veterinarian Gary Smith said, “It’s a problem all over the industry. There is no way horses should be put on (synthetic) EPO.”

So how do racers win? How do you gain a competitive edge without harming your horses or risking your livelihood? The answer may be found in a safe all-natural horse supplement that supports natural EPO function.

Why is EPO boosting so critical? Just like in people, a horse’s muscles require oxygen for fuel. Red blood cells are the body’s oxygen-carrying cells. A higher red blood cell count = more oxygen = more muscle energy. Elevated muscle energy helps the horse perform harder, faster and longer during endurance events. All horses naturally produce EPO in their kidneys to stimulate production of new red blood cells from bone marrow. In short, EPO is a natural “blood builder.”

With EPO doping, trainers try to boost the EPO effect to get a winning performance every time. They use a synthetic EPO (recombinant human EPO), even though the side effects can harm the horse. That’s one reason why it’s illegal.

Fortunately there’s another option. EPO-Equine® is a safe, highly effective natural dietary supplement scientifically engineered for performance horses.

A Kentucky trainer who refused to give out his name, said, “I don’t want my competition to know about this.” He found EPO-Equine® to be

so effective that he’s dead set against disclosing who he is, who his horses are, or even where he trains and races. He first started ordering a single jar of EPO-Equine® once a month. Now he’s ordering several CASES each month. And he won’t tell BRL exactly why. He said respectfully, “Sorry – no way.”

Bioengineers at U.S. based Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRL), first discovered a completely natural EPO-booster for human athletes (and it’s working miracles for top athletes and amateurs around the world). Seeing these results, horse trainers contacted BRL and asked about using this natural formula for their animals.

That’s when the BRL team dug deeper and discovered a proprietary, horse-friendly strain of a common herb that promotes optimal blood-building results. EPO-Equine® is based on the blood-boosting abilities of a certain strain of Echinacea that’s astounding researchers and trainers alike. (It’s not a strain you can find at the local health store.)

Veterinarians at the Equine Research Centre in Ontario, Canada ran a double-blind trial investigating the blood building properties of the active ingredient in EPO-Equine® in healthy horses. For 42 days, one group of horses was supplemented with the active ingredient in EPO-Equine® and another group of horses was given a placebo.

The supplement delivered significant blood building results, increasing red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Researchers also observed improved blood quality and increased oxygen transport in the supplemented horses. Improved blood levels leads to elevated exercise physiology and performance.

The patent-pending formula in EPO-Equine® contains a dozen different herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components combined to promote natural red blood cell production…for remarkable speed, strength and stamina right out of the gate.

Trainers find it easy to add just 1 scoop (3.2 grams) of EPO-Equine® to the horse’s daily feeding routine in the barn or on the road. Within a few weeks of daily use, you can expect to see increased red blood cell levels with no undesirable side effects. An increase in red blood cell levels can improve muscle performance, supercharge endurance, and enhance recovery after hard exercise. Nothing else is scientifically proven to deliver these benefits in a completely safe and natural formula.

Compared to the cost of veterinarians, drugs, icing, tapping the knees, and putting the horse on Bute; or even the consequences of being banned for synthetic doping, EPO-Equine® is very affordable at the low price of just $59.95 per jar. Or save $180 if you are ready to commit to a larger trial of 12-jar case for just $539.55 with FREE shipping. EPO-Equine® can be ordered at www.EPOEquine.com or 1-800-557-9055, and comes with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.

ILLEGAL DOPING MEETS

ITS MATCH

Trainers Praise Natural Alternative

By: Mark Hansen

ADVERTISEMENT


fastfurlongs

Grade 1 Winner and Sire Congaree to Stand at Lane’s End TexasCongaree, a multiple Grade

1 winner and accomplished stal-lion, will stand the 2016 breed-ing season at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Texas near Hemp-stead. Farm Manager Danny Shifflett said the 17-year-old stal-lion arrived July 8. A stud fee will be announced soon.

Congaree earned $3,276,490 during his racing career with five Grade 1 victories from seven fur-longs to 1 ¼ miles in the Swaps Stakes, Hollywood Gold Cup, Carter Handicap and Cigar Mile (twice). He finished third in both the Ken-tucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and also found success in Texas

with a victory in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap.As a stallion, Congaree has sired the earners of more than $15.4

million with 15 stakes winners. Among his progeny are Grade 1-win-ning millionaires Jeranimo and Don’t Tell Sophia. The latter is out of a daughter of Valid Expectations, Texas’ all-time leading stallion who stood at Lane’s End Texas until being retired from stud duty in 2013.

Congaree is a son of champion Arazi out of the Grade 1-placed Mari’s Book mare Mari’s Sheba. Congaree’s half brother, Sangaree by Awesome Again, is a Grade 1-placed stakes winner who stands in Indiana.

Congaree, who stood the 2015 season at Saratoga Stud in New York, was bred and campaigned by Texans Bob and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable and is still owned by the couple under the Magnolia Stable name.

Remington Park in Oklahoma City has announced its stakes sched-ule for the 2015 Thoroughbred meet with a total of 33 events worth more than $3.5 million. Remington Park’s Thoroughbred season opens August 14 and runs through December 13. The Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby is the schedule’s richest race with a $400,000 purse.

The spectacular Oklahoma Derby Day program on September 27 features seven stakes races worth a total of $1.05 million headlined by the Oklahoma Derby and sup-ported by the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, $100,000 Remington Green and three other events.

The $250,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds and the $100,000 Trapeze Stakes for 2-year-old fillies headline the season’s closing day. Lovely Maria, who was fourth in the 2014 Trapeze, went on to win this year’s Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks.

A stellar night of stakes races for Oklahoma-breds falls on October 16, with the $1 million-estimated Oklahoma Classics. The program consists of eight stakes led by the $175,000-estimated Classics Cup for older horses going 1 1/16 miles. The other Classics races include male and female divisions for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and up at six fur-longs, male and female divisions for turf runners going a route and the Classics Distaff for fillies and mares on the main track.

A pair of races for Oklahoma-breds have been added to the schedule late in the season. The $75,000 Don C. McNeill Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at one mile will be held on November 27. The race is named in honor of the owner and breeder who passed away earlier this year. McNeill bred and campaigned the great Oklahoma-bred Clever

Trevor. McNeill was inducted into the Oklaho-ma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2012, joining Clever Trevor.

On the same program is the $75,000 Slide Show Stakes for Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old fil-lies. The race is named after the sensational

filly who won 11 of her 12 Remington Park races, eight of them stakes events, in the mid-1990s.

Overall, 18 of the stakes races on the schedule are restricted to Oklahoma-breds.

The normal first post time during the season is 7 p.m. Racing will be conducted on a regular Wednesday-through-Saturday basis after the opening weekend is completed. Special Sunday programs will take place for the Oklahoma Derby on September 27 and for Springboard Mile Day on December 13. Both programs begin at 1:30 p.m.

There will be holiday racing on Labor Day Monday, September 7, at 1:30 p.m. Afternoon racing on Black Friday, November 27, will also be-gin at 1:30 p.m. For the complete schedule, go to remingtonpark.com.

Remington Park Announces Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule

Congaree and jockey Pat Day splashed to an impressive win in the 2002 Lone Star Park Handicap.

Lone

Sta

r Pa

rk


fastfurlongs Unbridled’s Heart, a promising young Texas stallion whose first crop of foals hits the track this year, died June 8 after undergoing colic surgery. The 10-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song stood the 2015 breeding season at Double Infinity Ranch after previously standing at Keen Farms.

Sold for $1 million as a yearling, Unbridled’s Heart broke his maiden at first asking for Darley Stable with a 10-length victory going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Belmont Park. He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort and went on to record two more wins on the turf and to place in stakes at Belmont and Lone Star Park. His dam is the Farma Way

mare Wild Heart Dancing, a four-time graded stakes winner of nearly $600,000.

“He was a breathtaking horse and made an impact on everyone that met him,” said owner Ian Yarnot. “We hope for his memory to live on through his babies but are heartbroken over his loss. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.”

Texas Stallion Unbridled’s Heart Dies of Colic

Mary CageUnbridled’s Heart

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is presenting nearly 20 Awards of Merit throughout the year to indi-viduals or organizations that are working to provide a better life for Thorough-breds or the people who work with them, either on the backstretch or on the farm. The recipients are nominated by the leadership of various state Thor-oughbred owners and breeders associations. In June, TCA announced Awards of Merit for two retired racehorse organizations in Louisiana and Texas.

The Louisiana Horse Rescue Association (LAHRA) was honored at the Lou-isiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s awards banquet on June 6, and LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE) was named the Award of Merit recipient at the Texas Thoroughbred Association’s awards banquet on June 20.

LAHRA is a nonprofit organization that aims to rescue, rehome and retrain Thoroughbred racehorses. The organization is staffed exclusively by volunteers and has recently been involved in two large-scale horse rescues in Louisiana.

Since its inception in 2010, LAHRA has assisted more than 200 Thoroughbreds.LOPE is a nonprofit organization that works to help Texas racehorses

through rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming services. LOPE employs an extensive retraining program to ensure its horses receive a strong foundation going forward in a new discipline. LOPE President Lynn Reardon has pro-duced a horsemanship DVD, offers horsemanship clinics and is the author of Beyond the Homestretch. LOPE has assisted well over 1,000 Thoroughbreds.

TCA was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds for charities in the Thoroughbred industry that provide a better life for Thoroughbreds both during and after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rescue and research and by helping the people who work with them. Over the last 25 years, TCA has distributed more than $21 million in grants to more than 200 Thoroughbred-related organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Texas, Louisiana Retired Racehorse Organizations Honored by Thoroughbred Charities of America

For Further Information:Foster Bridewell, Sales Director

Tel: 214-718-7618Web: www.equinesalesofla.com

Equine Sales Co.372 Harry Guilbeau Road

Opelousas, LA 70570Tel: 337-678-3024 • Fax: 337-678-3028

H CONSIGNOR SELECT YEARLING SALE H WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

H OPEN YEARLING AND MIXED SALE HSUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015

• CONSIGN NOW! •

WHERE REAL CONSIGNORS AND REAL BUYERS COME TOGETHER!

Make planS to join uS at ouR State-of-the-aRt SaleS facility in opelouSaS, louiSiana foR the faSteSt-gRowing auction in the Region!

Call us today or visit www.equinesalesofla.com for a consignment form and more information


ffOaklawn Park has begun construction of a new barn that will

replace one of the oldest barns in the stable area. It will be ready for the 2016 live racing season.

The new barn, a steel beam and cinder-block wall construction, replaces Barn #2, one of the few remaining older, wooden barns in the stable area. It will be similar to the track’s most recent barn, which was constructed between the 2006 and 2007 live seasons and named after Smarty Jones. A decision has not been made on which famous racehorse with ties to Oaklawn the new barn will be named for.

“Long-range, we’d eventually like to replace all of the older barns with more modern structures,” Oaklawn Plant Superintendent John Hopkins said. “We’ve come a long way toward that goal already.”

The removal of Barn #2, along with another structure that was

used by the maintenance department, will allow Oaklawn to gain hundreds of additional public parking spaces. In addition, the old-est horse path to the racing surface is also being replaced by a new on/off gap positioned on the south turn.

“Oaklawn has always been committed to racing first, and it’s ex-citing to be in a position where we can make improvements year after year to our racing program and stable area,” Director of Racing David Longinotti said. “Having Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby winner American Pharoah become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years was the most exciting moment in the history of Oaklawn, and we’re looking forward to continuing that momentum into next year.”

Oaklawn’s 2016 live meet is scheduled to run January 15 through April 16. Horses will begin arriving November 16.

Oaklawn Begins Work on New Barn, Other Stable Area Improvements

Exclusively Listed With

EXCLUSIVE LISTING

This property won’t last long!

CALL NOW for a Private Showing!Travis Turner • Cell 254.855.6430

United Country Realty

Conveniently located 2 hours from Remington Park, 3 hours from Lone Star Park, and 5 hours from Ruidoso, this elegant ranch of 188 Acres, which was once home to such famous horses as Eyesa Special,

Love Samba, and Valiant War Hero is now for Sale. This stunning show place includes the custom 3,544Square Foot Spanish Style Home, designed with a Southern Ranch Flair. It contains 3 Bedrooms, 2 1⁄2 Baths,

and a Chef’s Kitchen complete with custom granite counter tops and a Sub Zero Refrigerator.

There is an 18 stall horse barn, with living quarters, mare foaling monitor, 23 paddocks with loafing sheds, a horse walker, and a covered round pen. In addition, there are 2 hay and

storage barns, along with all the equipment being transferred to the new owner with the sale.There are also 3 Producing Oil Wells included!


Texas-breds Ol Winedrinker Who, He’s Comin in Hot Win Major StakesOn the heels of Texas-

breds Promise Me Silver and Texas Air winning graded stakes on the same day in May, two more horses bred in the Lone Star State picked up major stakes vic-tories in June. First it was Ol Winedrinker Who, the reigning two-time Texas Champion Older Horse, capturing the $150,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in New Mexico on June 13, and then He’s Comin in Hot made his stakes debut a winning one in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes on June 27 at Churchill Downs.

Under a patient and well-timed ride by jockey Isaias Enriquez, Ol Winedrinker Who scored a convincing 4 3/4-length victory in the rich-est race of the Albuquerque meet. The 6-year-old gelding by Sligo Bay (Ire) covered his nine-furlong trip in 1:52.64 for trainer Joel Marr and breeders/owners Sam E. Stevens and Sammy L. Stevens.

Raced at eight tracks in four different states, Ol Winedrinker Who has won 11 of 33 starts, and the $87,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed the gelding’s earnings to $598,603.

For the third year in a row, a Texas-bred trained by Bret Calhoun and sired by a stallion at Valor Farm won an important 2-year-old stakes under the famed Twin Spires. This time around it was the Early Flyer gelding He’s Comin in Hot, who stopped the timer at 1:10.90 for six furlongs with Jamie Theriot aboard at odds of 4-5.

He’s Comin in Hot runs for Douglas Scharbauer, whose father, Clarence Scharbauer Jr., started Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas. Valor Farm is the breeder of He’s Comin in Hot and also the home of stallion Early Flyer. He’s Comin in Hot improved his record to 4-2-1-1 with earnings of $96,510.

The Bashford Manor was on the same card as the $100,000 Debutante Stakes for fillies, which was won by Calhoun trainees Fiftyshadesofgold, by My Golden Song, in 2013 and Promise Me Silver, by Silver City, in 2014.

Ol Winedrinker Who

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy

The Arkansas Breeders’ Sales Company Fall Mixed Sale

For further details contactC. F. (Frank) Newman, Sales Director

Arkansas Breeders’ Sales Company(479) 650-5837

[email protected]

November 29, 2015Hot Springs, Arkansas

Lower entry fee and less commission raise your bottom line!

Come join us and take full advantage

of selling where top stables gather for the best winter racing in America – Oaklawn Park.

Entry Fee: $350 per horse

No commission on first $4,000 bid – 5% thereafter

Entry Deadline:

September 16, 2015

He’s Comin in Hot

Ree

d Pa

lmer

Pho

togr

aphy

/Chu

rchi

ll D

owns


ffA packed house came together May 30 for the second annual “Jockeys &

Jeans” at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. As a result, a total of $201,078 was raised for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) through sponsor-ships, ticket sales, donations, and live and silent auctions that featured more than 100 items.

“Bringing Jockeys & Jeans to Indiana and to the Midwest is another step our company has taken in our commitment to horse racing,” said Jim Brown, president and COO of Centaur Inc. and general manager of Indiana Grand. “Both of our properties [Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park] continue to work toward the betterment of the sport, and organizations such as PDJF are vital to the growth and well-being of the horse racing industry.”

The evening was emceed by Peter Lurie, a nationally known on-air racing analyst and handicapper, and coincided with the live racing program at In-diana Grand, which included the $75,000-added Indy Star Stakes and the $75,000-added PDJF Stakes, both held on the turf. Handle for the evening also saw a boost on the 10-race card that included two American Quarter Horse races with a total of $969,088 wagered, marking the second-largest Sat-urday night for the 2015 season, trailing only Kentucky Derby Day when more than $1.3 million in handle was recorded.

Jeff Boone and Associates Auctioneers provided all services for the night as a gift to the event, which included online bidding and live streaming bidding during the live auction. The auctions brought in a total of $87,250 with the highest item, a one-of-a-kind Billy Lopa painting, bringing $30,000.

Jockeys & Jeans was complemented by appearances from several leg-endary jockeys including Walter Blum, Bill Boland, Steve Cauthen, Patti

Cooksey, Jean Cruguet, Pat Day, Dave Erb, Earlie Fires, Mike Manganello, Chris McCarron, Laffit Pincay Jr., John Rotz, Barbara Jo Rubin and Jorge Velazquez. They were featured in a meet and greet with the public during the night and were joined by several area celebrities who served as honorary committee members. In addition, five disabled jockeys who directly benefit from PDJF were on hand and helped present the trophy to the winner of the PDJF Stakes. Those riders includ-ed Michael Straight, Anne Von Rosen, Tad Leggett, Jack Fires and Stacy Burton.

The evening was capped off by a special presentation from Helping Hands for Freedom. Patrick Shannon, co-founder of the organization and also a Pur-ple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, presented PDJF with a check for $10,000 to assist the cause. Helping Hands for Freedom assists military families during injury, loss and/or deployment, and Shannon pointed out that they are very aware of what injuries can do to individual and their families.

“The goal of Jockeys & Jeans from the very start was to raise money and awareness for PDJF, and we are overwhelmed at the support brought in by everyone involved,” said Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing for Indiana Grand. “Getting such a national response from the legend-ary jockeys that were in attendance to show their support for PDJF was a great boost. PDJF supports over 60 disabled riders and having some of those jockeys at the event was also very gratifying. We are so grateful to everyone who contrib-uted their time, skills and resources to make this event such a huge success.”

More Than $200,000 Raised for PDJF at Indiana Grand’s “Jockeys & Jeans”The PDJF Stakes trophy presentation included racetrack and PDJF representatives, winning jockey Fernando De La Cruz, plus the disabled jockeys (front row, from left) Michael Straight, Anne Von Rosen, Tad Leggett, Jack Fires and (back row, center) Stacy Burton, with the trophy.

Linscott Photography

Remington Park will change the name of one of its Oklahoma-bred stakes to honor Oklahoma media icon Bob Barry Jr., who died June 20 in a traffic accident in Oklahoma City.

Remington Park is renaming the August 28 Ladies on the Lawn Stakes as the Bob Barry Memorial Stakes. The race will also pay tribute to Barry Jr.’s father, Bob Barry Sr., who passed away in 2011. The race for Oklaho-ma-bred fillies on the turf has been contested since 2009 and will now rec-ognize the 60-year era of Bob Barry Sr. and Bob Barry Jr. working behind a microphone or on camera in Oklahoma.

The 2015 Remington Park Thoroughbred season will be the first in the track’s history not covered in some capacity by Barry Jr., the longtime Okla-homa City sports director at KFOR-TV (succeeding his father in 1997) and host of Sports Morning at WWLS-98.1 FM, The Sports Animal.

“There was no more beloved member of the media in this region than Bob Barry Jr. and there’s a reason for that,” noted Remington Park President and General Manager Scott Wells. “We watched him grow up. He had big shoes to fill and did so admirably. All of us at Remington Park will dearly miss him.”

A six-time Sportscaster of the Year in Oklahoma, Barry Jr. had been at

KFOR NewsChannel 4 since 1982. He tirelessly covered all sports includ-ing Remington Park horse racing, giving the top events at the track their due in sportscasts under his watch.

“Junior always made sure the biggest races and stories at Remington Park were included in the local highlights on NewsChannel 4,” noted Dale Day, track announcer at Remington Park, who worked briefly with Barry Jr. while at WWLS in the early 1990s. “Renaming one of our Oklahoma-bred races for both Bob Barry Jr. and Sr. is a fitting tribute to a pair of Oklahomans who loved all sports in our state.”

Barry Sr. began his broadcast career in 1955 at KNOR-AM in Norman. He was selected as the University of Oklahoma play-by-play announcer by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson in 1961, just prior to beginning his ca-reer at KFOR-TV (then WKY-TV) in 1966. Barry Sr. also called Oklahoma State football and basketball (1973–1990) before returning to call Okla-homa games from 1991 to 2011. Barry Sr. was the sports director at KFOR from 1970 to 1997, when he handed the reins to his son. He retired from KFOR in 2008 and is a member of both the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Remington Park Renames Race to Honor Barry Sportscasters


The PDJF Stakes trophy presentation included racetrack and PDJF representatives, winning jockey Fernando De La Cruz, plus the disabled jockeys (front row, from left) Michael Straight, Anne Von Rosen, Tad Leggett, Jack Fires and (back row, center) Stacy Burton, with the trophy.


A five-horse photo finish in the final race was needed to determine the outcome of the second annual World Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand on June 27. The combined efforts of jockeys Albin Jimenez and Abel Lezcano paid off as the duo represented their home country of Panama and won four races on the card to take the title with 48 points over the United States with 47 and Mexico with 43.

Peru finished third with 28 points followed by Ven-ezuela (13), Puerto Rico (8) and Italy (3). There were four lead changes throughout the 10-race card for the top spot in the challenge that included Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse jockeys.

“This was a lot of fun and everyone in the room seemed to have a good time,” said Jimenez, who is Indiana Grand’s leading rider. “It’s a great feeling to win the challenge and I thank Abel for helping get the job done. We were in the room and I told him, ‘It’s just me and you, man. We have to work together to win this.’ It was like that with everyone. They were all supporting each other and keeping score during the races.”

Ironically, Lezcano came into the jocks’ room to ride just one horse in the second race, one of two winners on the night for him. Due to rider changes, he ended up riding four on the night.

The U.S. team had the most jockeys with nine while Mexico had

eight. Venezuela’s Olaf Hernandez was the lone rider representing his country and picked up 13 points on his own in the competition. Or-lando Mojica was the same for Puerto Rico, earning eight points. In all, there were nine countries represented in the competition that included 28 jockeys. Points were awarded for the top four finishers in each race, with 10 points for a win, five points for second, three points for third and one point for fourth.

In addition to the World Jockey Challenge, the evening included spe-cialty foods from six different countries at the outdoor food venues along with several beverages from other countries. Two Polynesian dancers per-formed between races, including a crowd-pleasing routine with fire.

Panama Wins World Jockey Challenge at Indiana Grand

Riders from nine countries competed in the World Jockey Challenge.


It Continues To Happen In

Uptown Station

Come & Join Us! Get In On � e Huge Purses!

� e Most Lucrative State Bred Program In � e Nation!

Over $6 Million in Stakes Races for New Mexico Breds!

Watch for the 2015 Dates to Get

Your Next Champion at one of these sales

ad for Americanracehorse - NMHBA.indd 134 7/6/15 9:44 AM


Barry Eisaman, DVM Eisaman Equine

“Especially that �rst couple of months, it’s miraculous how quickly this process

moves it along.”

McLain Ward Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

and Show Jumping Competitor

“We use it on most of our top competition horses, horses that

regularly compete at the highest level. We use it all the time.”

Tim Ober, DVM US Equestrian Team Veterinarian

“We’ve used Cytowave most e�ectively for tendon injuries,

some suspensory branch injuries. It’s been very helpful.”

Healthy Horses Win.

844-298-9283 www.Cytowave.com

Designed for use in your own barn under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Available for rent or purchase.


ALABAMA HBPA NEWS

Although we give it a very, very slim chance, gambling at the four dog tracks in Alabama is being talked about as a source of revenue to help offset the state’s deficit. The conservative Republican Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh says he will introduce legislation to authorize a lottery and casino gambling, saying that it is time to let the people of Alabama make a decision on gambling. Three-fifths of Alabama legislators and a major-ity of voters would have to approve the gambling proposal. The lottery proposal was handily defeated when put on the ballot several years ago.

What does this mean for horsemen? Birmingham Race Course, originally a horse track, is one of the four

dog tracks being talked about. The contract from the Alabama Thor-oughbred Association with the track operator, Jefferson County Racing Association (JCRA), was established back in the early 1990s and only guar-antees a daily purse structure of $85,000 should gambling be allowed. Even though it is highly unlikely that gambling would be approved, this would not be sufficient to run a quality horse meet. The JCRA has been unwilling to discuss a live horse meet with the Alabama HBPA.

Birmingham Race Course Update

State aSSociation newS

Our condolences go out to the family of longstanding Alabama HBPA member John B. Porter of Brooksville, Florida. John passed away on April 16. A trainer at Birmingham Race Course during the days of live racing, John passed his love of racing on to his daughter Tracy, who along with her husband, Randy Nunley, trains and races out of Delaware Park.

Alabama HBPA Loses Longtime Member

COLORADO THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWSGet Happy Mister Named Colorado-bred Horse of the Year

Get Happy Mister was named the 2014 Colorado-bred Horse of the Year at the Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner held at Arapahoe Park on June 27. The award honored one of the best campaigns in the history of Colorado horse racing. Get Happy Mister completed an undefeated 2014 season at Arapahoe Park with five victories, four of them in stakes. His top performance was a 2 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic. He also earned the title as top older colt/gelding.

Bred by Willard Burbach, the 5-year-old bay gelding sired by First Samurai is owned by Annette Bishop, trained in Colorado by Kenneth “Butch” Gleason and ridden in Colorado by Mike Ziegler. Based in Southern California in 2015 in the barn of Bishop’s son-in-law, Mark Tsagalakis, Get Happy Mister won the Grade 3, $100,500 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita on April 19 in his first race on turf with Tyler Baze aboard. With that victory, Get Happy Mister became the high-est-earning Colorado-bred ever at $384,928, passing the $342,783 career earnings of Cut of Music.

“He’s an outstanding horse. He’s very deserving,” Bishop said.Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg shared stories from his half-

century of experience in horse racing as guest speaker at the CTBA awards dinner. Van Berg also served as auctioneer for a charity auc-tion that included special memorabilia from Van Berg’s 1987 Ken-tucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victories with Alysheba. Proceeds will be donated to CANTER Colorado, an organization that finds new homes for retired racehorses.

“I love the people. I love how down-to-earth they are. It’s like fam-ily,” Van Berg said about Arapahoe Park.

Other Colorado-bred honorees included Sudies Storm (older mare) for breeder/owner Susanne Wadleigh, Bridlewood Angel (3-year-old filly) for breeder/owner Doyle Huber, Mr Wild Kitty (3-year-old colt/gelding) for owner Lynne McGregor and breeder Menoken Farms (Linda Wood), Ms. Battlefield (2-year-old filly) for breeders and own-ers Sandra Kutz and Greg Lebsock, and Sky T (2-year-old colt/gelding) for owner Richard Lueck and breeder Glen Scott.

Burbach was honored as Colorado champion breeder and Bishop’s Tangarae LLC as Colorado champion owner. Burbach’s Sara Margaret, the dam of Get Happy Mister, was named champion broodmare, and Oliver’s Twist, who stands at and is owned by Linda Wood’s Menoken Farms, was named champion stallion.

ARkANSAS THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION NEWSMixed Sale Set for November 29 in Hot Springs

The Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association has announced, on behalf of the Arkansas Breeders’ Sale Company, that a fall mixed sale will be held in Hot Springs on November 29. Sales Director C.F. “Frank” Newman stated that “with the tremen-dous growth of purses at Oaklawn Park, a mixed auction has been needed for some time to meet the growing demand of horses by the top stables that gather each year for the best winter racing in America.”

The sale will feature 2-year-olds in training that will be eligible to race within 45 days at Oaklawn.

Oaklawn’s 2015 live meet began with maiden special weight purses at $60,000, and by the end of the live meet, purses had increased to $65,000. With Oaklawn’s maiden special weight purses being the highest in the country, registered Arkansas-breds are becoming quite popular with some of the better outfits.

The sale will also include weanlings, yearlings and in-foal brood-mares. Past graduates of the Arkansas sale include Arkansas Derby winner Rampage.

“Our lower entry fee and commissions raise the bottom line of consignors,” Newman added.

The closing date for the sale is September 16. For more information and consignment contracts, contact New-

man at the Arkansas Breeders’ Sales Company at (479) 650-5837 or [email protected].


GEORGIA HORSE RACING COALITION NEWSHorse Racing in Georgia: The Starting Gate Remains ClosedBy Carl Danbury Jr.Reprinted with permission from Points North Atlanta

The mane on my neck, nearly all the way down to my withers, stands at attention the first Saturday in May when more than a score of 3-year-olds are loaded into the starting gate at Churchill Downs in Louisville. As they begin a five-week odyssey hoping to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed pulled off the miraculous feat in 1978, I paw at the ground in anticipation. As a Georgia resident, however, most times the pawing is from frustration.

Because I live here, the thrill of victory—that is, of picking the winner in one of the three Triple Crown races, the Breeders’ Cup or 40,000-plus other races held around the country each year—and cashing a winning ticket is only possible if I travel elsewhere. Yes, I can go to Kentucky or Florida, or a dog track in Alabama to place a wager, or I can engage in illegal offshore wagering or call a local bookie, but I can’t wager legally online from the comfort of home nor at a local track or off-track wagering parlor. As a result, a portion of the reve-nues that Georgia misses out on winds up in the saddlebags of other, perhaps more progressive states. It’s not a big deal to some people, but having the ability to wager on races like the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes was a part of my silks for years.

• • •Suwanee, Georgia, residents Patti and Dean Reeves own 10 horses,

including 2013 Breeders’ Cup champion Mucho Macho Man, now retired and standing stud at Adena Springs in Kentucky. They help lead the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition’s fight, alongside Wood-stock’s Steven Crayne, founder of Starting Gate Marketing LLC and executive director of the GHRC, who said the legislative fight for pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia is like a steeplechase course.

“Opposition to this legislation only needs one-third of the vote to defeat it,” Crayne said. “Any legislation must have two-thirds of the vote for it to be introduced. We were just two votes short in the Sen-ate, and there were 10 outstanding undecided votes. Sometimes, you get the impression that some are more focused upon keeping their legislative jobs than they are about creating thousands of jobs and increasing revenues for the state.”

To read the complete article with more information about the efforts to bring pari-mutuel racing to Georgia, go to pointsnorthatlanta.com.

Two divisions of the ITOBA Stallion Season Stakes are set for August 26 at Indiana Grand. Each division, one for fillies and one for colts and geldings, will offer a $75,000-added purse for 3-year-olds going one mile on the main track. The stakes are restricted to nominated offspring of eligible stallions.

For a list of eligible runners, information on eligible stallions and nomi-nation forms for the 2016 and 2017 Stallion Season Auction Stakes, go to itoba.com or call (317) 709-1100.

ITOBA Stallion Season Stakes Races Set for August 26

INDIANA THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS

This issue went to press just before the running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby presented by Indy Star and Grade 2, $200,000 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand on July 18, but both races were shaping up to be among the best ever.

Bob Baffert, trainer of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, had three of the 57 nominations for the Indiana Derby, which this year was

Indiana Derby News

moved to a July date for the first time in its 21-year history. Todd Pletch-er had nine nominees, and a total of 13 nominees had faced American Pharoah.

“The nomination lists for both the Indiana Derby and the Indiana Oaks are very impressive,” said Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand. “We are pleased to see so much support for the Derby and the Oaks. This will be the first year in the history of the Derby it has not been held the first Saturday in Octo-ber. We knew there was some risk in moving the race to July, but with better weather and a look at the horses on the nomination list, I believe the move has only strengthened this race, which has always received national attention.”

WISH-TV was scheduled to provide live coverage of both races from Indiana Grand.

For a recap of the race, go to americanracehorse.com and look for cov-erage in the September/October issue.

The ITOBA Fall Mixed Sale is set for October 25 at 2 p.m. at the Champi-ons Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Sale packets are now available online and the entry deadline is September 18. For more information on the sale, go to itobasales.com or call (317) 752-5694.

Fall Mixed Sale Reminder

Follow us on Twitter – @AmerRacehorse


State aSSociation newSNORTH CAROLINA THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWSPresident’s Message

I would like to thank Rebecca Montaldo for her write up of the Bel-mont Stakes from June 6, when the Thoroughbred world finally got a Triple Crown winner in American Pharoah. Congratulations to all the connections from the NCTA. Rebecca was one of the lucky ones to see this happen in person and sent photos and messages through Facebook about her experience. I asked her to write something about her experience, which you will find below. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Please send us pictures of babies and breeding updates for the coming year to the NCTA so I can include them in future communica-tions.

Joanne Dew, NCTA President

Racing NewsFollowing are some recent winners with ties to NCTA members.

For a complete list, including horses that placed for NCTA members, check out our Facebook page.

Bob Sanford bred a winner in Son of Posse, a 7-year-old gelding who took a claiming race at Parx Racing on June 9 and followed that up with two second-place finishes later in the month. Congratula-tions to Bob.

Milaya broke her maiden at Delaware Park on June 23 by five lengths. She is owned by George and Stephanie Autry. What a nice win for this 3-year-old filly.

Quando Wando was a winner at Fort Erie on June 14 by daylight against maiden claiming company. This 3-year-old-filly, who was claimed out of the race, was owned by Bill Thompson in partnership with Laurie Silvera.

Nancy Shuford bred Incremental, a 3-year-old gelding by Flatter out of the Chelsey Cat mare Sister Chelsey, who was a maiden claim-ing winner at Prairie Meadows on June 19. Nancy stands Chelsey Cat at her farm in Hickory, North Carolina.

Taliesin won a claiming race on June 20 at Belterra Park for breeder Jim Chandley, who owns the 4-year-old filly’s sire, Misbah.

A Day to Remember at Belmont ParkBy Rebecca Montaldo

My attendance at the Belmont Stakes almost didn’t happen. Due to a planned trip to London later in June, I convinced myself I wasn’t go-ing to be able to go to New York this year to watch the races on June 6. Money can be a limiting factor when planning vacations, especially when you own horses. Nonetheless, I was thrilled that my Kentucky Derby pick, American Pharoah, won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown.

Well, I didn’t even have time to bemoan the fact that I wasn’t going to see him compete in the final leg, when immediately after he won the Preakness Stakes, a text came in from my Long Island friend. It read, “I got us tickets to the Belmont Stakes yesterday, just in case.”

OMG!!!! Instantaneously, my budgetary convictions vanished as I turned to my husband and proclaimed that I was going to the

Belmont. Of course having a slight concern for his opinion on the matter, I added, “You don’t mind, do you?” Being a smart man, he was fully supportive of my adventure. Within minutes, my plane res-ervations were made. I was going.

Oh no, I was going, ugh. I thought American Pharoah stood a great chance to ride into the history books with a win in the Belmont. Vic-tor Espinoza was his pilot and the colt had Bob Baffert training him. He possessed the mind and stature, breeding and form to complete the task. Although those things may seem important and advanta-geous, I knew, in the end, that these attributes would not be enough. Sure, he would face fresh horses and the campaign to win a Triple Crown is a grueling one, to say the least. However, none of these hurdles compared with his biggest obstacle, my attendance. I knew I had to formulate a plan that would help him overcome my jinx effect.

The first thing I had to do was to harness my excitement. My friends couldn’t understand my blasé attitude when discussing going to Belmont or the Pharoah’s chances of winning. You see, I couldn’t tell them that it was part of the plan. How could I possibly explain that I held the reins of triumph in my hands? It was up to me alone whether a Triple Crown was going to happen. I’ve been here before and I am convinced that my support and presence had the previous contenders beat before they even ran in the Belmont Stakes.

Soon, I started to experience the anxiety of my responsibility. My stress manifested into physical symptoms. My right eye started twitching and I almost rubbed my hair out on the top of my head. That was okay. I would survive.

The other part of my plan was to not show any outward support for this son of Pioneerof the Nile. I couldn’t purchase a cap or T-shirt, not even a lapel pin. As a collector of all these things, it took tremen-dous discipline on my part not to buy this merchandise. So now, I could add withdrawal to my anxiety.

Furthermore, I would not dress up in the Zayat Stable colors, even though they are some of my favorites. I wouldn’t buy any new themed outfits as I have done previously. There would be no fancy chapeau or fancy dress. I would simply wear a top, skirt and loafer-styled Sketchers. My attire was quite subdued and not impressive for the clubhouse section where we were seated, but I would have to endure my humble garments for the sake of history.

Some folks might find all this a bit silly and nonsensical, but not a racetracker. They know that superstition is a large part of the game. They know that wearing the same socks that helped win a previ-ous race will certainly contribute to continuous victories. Just as I knew that my attendance could dash the hopes of millions if I didn’t change my “way of going.”

Finally, the day came. All my work was going to be put to the test. Although, I must confess, I did buy one $2 win ticket on American Pharoah. Last year, however, I bought 10 California Chrome win tick-ets for friends and family as souvenirs. Sorry folks at home, none for you this year.

We all know the outcome of the race. What you didn’t know be-fore now is how much I contributed to this successful result! When American Pharoah was making his stretch run and his lead widened as Frosted faded, it was clear that my jinx was conquered by all my


sacrifices. I am sure that Ahmed Zayat would appreciate my efforts, if he only knew. So, if you happen to know him, just fill him in. He might want me at the Breeders’ Cup this year, and I don’t have tickets. So, Mr. Zayat, if you throw some tickets my way, I promise to wear the same humble outfit that I wore to the Belmont Stakes.

THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION OF OkLAHOMA NEWSFortunes Handicapping Contest Set for September 26

Remington Park will present the Fortunes Handicapping Contest on Saturday, September 26, with a minimum prize pool of $10,000. The contest costs $125 to enter, plus a $120 real money bankroll with $15 bet on each of eight live races that night at Remington Park.

Contestants must place at least one win wager per race, and the remainder may be divided up by either place, show, exacta or trifecta wagers. Following Remington Park’s eighth race, the contestant with the highest bankroll will be declared the contest winner. Contestants will have exclusive access to the Fortunes Terrace as well as a buffet provided by the Bricktown Brewery from 6:00 p.m. through the end of racing. The winner will receive 60 percent of the prize pool with money paid down to 10th place.

For more information, go to remingtonpark.com or call (405) 424-1000, ext. 3537.

Dates to RememberThe Carter Sales Co. OKC Summer Sale, which will include yearlings

and horses of racing age, is scheduled for August 16 at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. For more information, go to cartersalesco.com.

Heritage Place’s annual Thoroughbred sale, with a yearling session added this year, is October 4 in Oklahoma City with an entry deadline of August 25. Get more information at heritageplace.com.

TRAO reminds all horsemen that the annual TRAO Champions Award Banquet is set for July 31 at the historic Skirvin Hotel in Okla-homa City. For more information, go to traoracing.com.

Owner/Breeder Gerald Dixon DiesGerald L. Dixon, a popular, if not iconic, Thoroughbred owner and

breeder from Guymon, Oklahoma, passed away the evening of July 7. He is best known as the owner of 2012 Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Highland Ice, a five-time Remington Park champion and 1997 Horse of the Meet. Highland Ice won 16 of 48 races, includ-ing a record nine stakes at Remington Park.

Dixon was a jockey, farmer, landowner, poet and author in 2009 of his memoirs titled, 80 Years of Memories in No Man’s Land. At age 75, Dixon took great pride in being licensed as a hotwalker for his Oklahoma-bred Highland Ice. He would report to the stable area at Remington Park in the mornings to visit Highland Ice, bring him car-rots and walk him in the shedrow.

Dixon fell in love with horse racing due to his family’s involvement and referred to himself as “a small-time jockey who had big-time fun.” Known for his perpetual smile and keen memory, he maintained tremendous pride in his hardscrabble Western Oklahoma roots, say-ing, “hard times opened doors for me.” Up to his death at age 92, Dix-on would drive himself from Guymon to the races in Oklahoma City.

Dixon’s wife, Vonda, preceded him in death in 1994, and he is sur-vived by his son, Jerry Dixon, and daughter, Rae Jean Humble, who reside in Guymon.

Former TRAO Director Ron Blalock DiesRonald Dale “Ron” Blalock, a former TRAO board member and

longtime horseman, died June 28 at the age of 76. Born in Konawa, Oklahoma, Blalock was a businessman in Oklahoma City and a found-ing member, officer and director of the Independent Finance Institute (an association of small loan companies). He raced Thoroughbred horses around the region in the name of High Hopes Thoroughbreds, and he was a member of both TRAO and the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He also served on the boards of Uptown Kiwanis and Campfire Girls of OKC.

He is survived by Linda C. Blalock, his loving wife of 36 years; his daughters, Deanna Lynn Blalock-Polley and husband Dave of Madi-son, Wisconsin, and Barbara Kay Blalock of San Rafael, California; his son, Ronald D. Blalock II of Oklahoma City; his grandsons, Alex Blalock of San Rafael and Owen Foster of Jones, Oklahoma; his brother, Jeffrey Blalock and wife Carol of McKinney, Texas; and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated by the family.

SOUTH CAROLINA THOROUGHBRED OWNERS AND BREEDERS ASSOCIATION NEWSSCTOBA Member Has Two Exciting Foals

SCTOBA member Nancy Terhune, whose training operation is based near Camden, South Carolina, has two exciting colts on the ground that are products of her breeding program. Both are out of stakes-winning Lion Hearted mares that Terhune bred in West Virginia with Ernest Frohboese and raced to great success.

Aspenglow, a four-time stakes winner who placed in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park and retired with a record of 23-14-2-1, has a foal by Orb, and Silver Heart, a multiple stakes win-ner who banked nearly $600,000, has a son by Dunkirk.

“The Dunkirk foal is gorgeous, kind of a red roan with white stock-ings,” she said. “They are both really handsome, really good babies.”

Terhune said they will be raised in Camden.“They will be here until the time comes to sell them, if I sell them,”

she said. “It’s going to be really hard to sell them, especially the Orb foal because he’s the first one out of Aspenglow.”

TEXAS THOROUGHBRED ASSOCIATION NEWSHistorical Racing Update

The Texas Racing Commission recently voted to post the repeal of rules governing pari-mutuel wagering on historical races in the Texas Register for public comment, and your immediate action is needed by the July 27 deadline for comments. Please send an email or a letter to the Commission in support of keeping the rules in place.

Letters may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to (512) 833-6907 or sent via regular postal mail to Texas Racing Commission, P.O. Box 12080, Austin, TX 78711 or Texas Racing Commission, 8305 Cross Park


State aSSociation newSDr. #110, Austin, TX 78754.Sample letters are available in the second paragraph of the TTA

Member Communications page at texasthoroughbred.com/about-us/tta-member-communication.

The active involvement of all horsemen in such issues is imperative to protect our industry.

Important Deadlines and Updates for HorsemenStallion Accreditation and Admin Fee Deadline: To receive stal-

lion awards on foals conceived during the 2015 breeding season, a stallion must be accredited and his annual administrative fee for the 2015 season must be paid.

If you stood a stallion in Texas for the 2015 breeding season but have not yet accredited him, you have until August 1 to do so for $100. Any stallion accreditation applications postmarked after August 1 will not apply to the 2015 breeding season but will apply to 2016.

If you have not yet paid your stallion’s annual administrative fee for the 2015 breeding season, the deadline for late payment of $325 is August 1. If this is the stallion’s first year in Texas and he came into the state after February 1, you may pay the normal admin fee of $200. The annual administrative fee cannot be accepted for the current breeding season after the August 1 deadline.

Texas Stallion Stakes Deadline: The deadline to nominate stallions to the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series for the 2015 breeding season is October 1, 2015. Only accredited Texas stal-lions may be nominated. The nomination fee is the greater of $1,500 or the advertised stud fee. At this point, stallions not new to the state for 2015 must also pay a $500 late nomination fee.

October 1 is also the deadline to pay any balance owed for stallions early nominated to the TSSS for the 2015 breeding season. Invoices will mail in early September.

Report of Mares Bred: Rules and regulations for the Accredited Texas-bred Program state: “A photocopy of the annual ‘Report of Mares Bred’ shall be submitted to the TTA office on or before the date required by The Jockey Club (August 1).”

If you file your Report of Mares Bred electronically, you have the opportunity to print the report before filing so that you may make a copy to send to TTA.

ATB award checks for the Lone Star Park meet should mail by August 17, and the Retama Park Thoroughbred meet is set to begin August 21.

TTA Honors Horsemen, Elects New Board Officers On June 20, the 2014 Texas Champion horses and their connections

were honored before 130 attendees at the TTA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet at Lone Star Park. Honorees included two recipients of the Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA Member of the Year: John Elliott, CEO of Global Gaming LLC, and Andrea Young, president/COO of Sam Houston Race Park; and three recipients of the T.I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement: the late James D. Jackson of Rockdale, the late Bill McMorris Sr. of Austin and Nat Kieffer, Ph.D. of College Station.

The TTA Board of Directors met that same day and elected the follow-ing officers to serve a one-year term: President, Hal Wiggins of Houston; First Vice President, Phil Adams of Gainesville; Second Vice President, Phil Leckinger of Tioga; and Secretary/Treasurer, Rick Penn of Parker.

The Executive Committee comprises the officers, Immediate Past President Ken Carson of Pilot Point, Danny Keene of Greenville and Bill Tracy of Fredericksburg.

Yearling Sale Cancelled, TTA Exploring Options for Future Sales

The yearling sale that was to be conducted by Western Bloodstock Ltd. at Lone Star Park on August 24 has been canceled due to a lack of entries. The short turnaround time between the departure of Fasig-Tipton and the announcement of the 2015 yearling sale made it very difficult to attract sufficient entries, as many horsemen had already made plans to sell elsewhere. However, the TTA is still examining options for future Thoroughbred sales in the state, as well as options for the 2016 TTA Sales Futurity. Please check texasthoroughbred.com for the latest information and updates.

Second Roses to Ribbons Event Held at Lone Star ParkAfter a successful but rainy debut of the Roses to Ribbons Old-Fash-

ioned Horse Fair in March at Sam Houston Race Park, the TTA and Pad-dock Foundation held a second edition of the event on July 11 at Lone Star Park.

Roses to Ribbons is an event designed to promote transitioning Thor-oughbred horses to new careers after racing. It showcases horses avail-able for sale and provides a chance for prospective buyers to meet with racehorse trainers and tell them what kind of horse they are looking for. Racehorse rehoming organizations also attended the event, which featured concessions and a tack swap and sell. More than 250 people RSVP’d to attend the event, and nearly a dozen horses found new homes.

A third event is being considered at Retama Park, and the goal is to have a Roses to Ribbons event at least once a year at each of the three Class 1 tracks in Texas. For more information, go to the Paddock Founda-tion page on the TTA website.

Check out American Racehorse on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmericanRacehorse


Keith AsmussenDr. Steve Velasco, veterinarian

Dee Martinez, office manager, 956-763-7594P.O. Box 1861 • Laredo, TX 78044 • Phone: 956-723-5436 • Fax: 956-723-5845

Email: [email protected] • Website: www.asmussens.com

El PrimEro Training CEnTEr Renovated and ready for your race prospects!

2015 2-Year-old Starters• 15 Winners of $593,514

The Southwest’s Most Complete Equine Facility

• 3 Stakes Placed runners: Show Bound – Second in grade 3 Bashford manor Stakes at Churchill, adhara – Second in Debutante Stakes at Churchill and True Heat – Second in mountain Top Futurity!

• 2 Stakes Winners: FlEET grEY – Undefeated winner of the TTa Sales

Futurity and maiden Special at Churchill Downs, and

DiaBoliCal King – Winner of the $146,572 mountain Top Futurity

in new mexico by 7 ¼ lengths!

HH

HHH

HH

HHCheck out American Racehorse on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmericanRacehorse

AmericanHero

A pictorial look back at American Pharoah’s Triple Crown triumph, the first

the sport has seen since 1978Photos by Amber Chalfin, Down the Stretch Photography



OKCSummer SaleSelect Yearlings & Horses of Racing Age

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Oklahoma City Fairgrounds

Opening Weekend Remington Park

Eligible for $25K

BONUS!

2652 Reece Lake Road

Washington, OK 73093

CARTERS A L E S C O

www.cartersalesco.com

405.640.8567

The

!"#$%&'( )*)!+&#,-,./)*)0,-1)2%##',#)*)03#4%56)* 78'&,9)*)7,-,5:-);,85)*)7,35&#/)<%/)

7#,++4,=)*)<'%$,51)*)<'+>#::&)7%&)*)<,$'53+))*)<,5?&)@:&)A%1)* <34-'5)*)<356'#6)

B3#,:%#+))*)C%/5:+D:-1))*)E:55:1/)*)E'F-'5.)*)G%&:5&)C:%&)*)G'5:),( )<%H'1)*)G'I3,#)7%4'5:&)

J,&',5%-)*)K-1)L%+8',5:1)*)K#%&,#/)*)M:%1)N8:)L,,&5,&:+))*)O%H:)0'.)A,5:/)*))O8%>6le(,#1)

O$,6:)@-%>6:5)*))O'-:5&)J%$:)P;QJR)*)O3>>:++(3-)!FF:%-)*)N%>&'>%-)7%&)*)N%F'9%#)*)N:$F-:)7'&/

)N8:)S'+3%-'+:#)* N,>>:&)*)TO)M%5.:#

Catalogs online July 15 at cartersalesco.com.


GET MORE DONE.

WITHOUT SPENDING

MORE MONEY DOING IT.

Presenting the E Series. Budget friendly. Built to last.The E Series is ready to help you get more work done … for less. Powerful, fuel-sipping diesel engines from 22 to 100 horsepower* make them economic to own. Four-wheel drive, power steering, comfortable operator environment, and simple controls make !"#$%#&'(%!)%)*#+&!#,%-./%01!"%&%'!&+!1.2%*+13#%)4%566789:7;%()<=>>%?./%!"#%@%A#+1#'%family of tractors made to last for decades at an unexpectedly low price. Learn more at JohnDeere.com/eSeries or visit your John Deere dealer today.

!"#$#%&%'&(#)*#$#+,$-.*/.01#&+,.0&#$"")2.$3.)04#/),#$(&#&-.1.'-&#*)(#".10.52$03# savings.** Simply call us toll-free at 866-678-4289 before you make your purchase!

*Manufacturer’s estimate of power (ISO) per 97/68/EC. Price shown is MSRP for the 1023E Tractor and does not include taxes, setup, freight or delivery. Loader and implements sold separately. Prices may vary by dealer. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trade-marks of Deere & Company.

**Certain rules and restrictions apply.

JohnDeere.com/eSeries

15-500-313 JD E Get More Done_AmerRacehorse_8.5x11.indd 1 7/1/15 9:30 AM


Forage expert says misconceptions exist regarding diFFerent

types oF hay and their nutritional value

By Denise steffanus

Hay and grain are the staples of most equine diets. Feed companies, which em-ploy equine nutritionists to formulate their products, have taken the guesswork out of deciding on the appropriate concentrate (grain mixture) to feed a horse, based on its age and occupation. But when it comes to selecting hay, horse owners largely are on their own.

Forage should form the basis for every horse’s diet. While many farms cultivate lush pasture grass to sustain their animals, most farms rely on hay as the main source of forage. Even farms whose pasture supports their horses’ nutritional needs well in spring and fall will need to feed hay when extremes in temperature make pasture sparse.

Misconceptions about the nutritional value of various types of horse hay abound, said Les Vough, Ph.D., extension forage specialist at the University of Maryland and author of a wide range of publications on forage. These misconceptions actually create a demand for lower-quality hay that drives up its price.

“In some cases, the lower-nutritional-value hay—fully headed-out timothy—will actually sell for more in the marketplace than high-quality alfalfa,” Vough said. “To some extent, horse owners tend to associate the nutritional value with the head, like you would wheat or barley. They do not understand that fully mature grass hays are low in nutritional value when they reach that stage. see protein contents on some of that hay run in the 5 percent to 6 percent range, and it should be somewhere in the

All About Hay

iSto

ckph

oto/

©m

agbu

g

All About Hay

GET MORE DONE.

WITHOUT SPENDING

MORE MONEY DOING IT.

Presenting the E Series. Budget friendly. Built to last.The E Series is ready to help you get more work done … for less. Powerful, fuel-sipping diesel engines from 22 to 100 horsepower* make them economic to own. Four-wheel drive, power steering, comfortable operator environment, and simple controls make !"#$%#&'(%!)%)*#+&!#,%-./%01!"%&%'!&+!1.2%*+13#%)4%566789:7;%()<=>>%?./%!"#%@%A#+1#'%family of tractors made to last for decades at an unexpectedly low price. Learn more at JohnDeere.com/eSeries or visit your John Deere dealer today.

!"#$#%&%'&(#)*#$#+,$-.*/.01#&+,.0&#$"")2.$3.)04#/),#$(&#&-.1.'-&#*)(#".10.52$03# savings.** Simply call us toll-free at 866-678-4289 before you make your purchase!

*Manufacturer’s estimate of power (ISO) per 97/68/EC. Price shown is MSRP for the 1023E Tractor and does not include taxes, setup, freight or delivery. Loader and implements sold separately. Prices may vary by dealer. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trade-marks of Deere & Company.

**Certain rules and restrictions apply.

JohnDeere.com/eSeries

15-500-313 JD E Get More Done_AmerRacehorse_8.5x11.indd 1 7/1/15 9:30 AM


9 percent to 12 percent range in the first cutting.”According to Vough, horse owners should look for hay that has been

cut earlier in its growth cycle, which will be predominantly leafy material with a minimum of stems. Regrowth cuttings, or second and third cut-tings, are preferable.

“When they get their regrowth cutting in late summer or fall, it’s all leaf material, and it can run 20 percent to 22 percent protein and very low in fiber,” he said.

Vough also cautioned that many misunderstandings between buyer and seller arise from confusion in terminology. He suggested that hay vendors should be more precise in their description of the types of hay they have to offer and that buyers should become more

acquainted with the different types of hay available so they can explain what they want more accurately. He cited a recent incident with a South Carolina horse owner who was unhappy with the pure alfalfa delivered to her.

“What she had asked for was alfalfa, and what she actually wanted was just enough alfalfa in it to be able to find some,” he said. “She really wanted grass hay. So it was a terminology problem.”

Types of hayThe types of hay most commonly fed to horses include the following:• Alfalfa: This leafy legume grows up to three feet high, with five

to 25 stems growing from each crown. It can vary in color from dark

“Round bales stored on the ground in the elements can be a source of botulism, especially if moist, decomposing material is found inside them.”

iSto

ckph

oto/

©Fo

kinO

l


lime-green to shades of yellow, green and brown, depending on the sea-son. It’s highly palatable, high in calories and rich in protein (17 percent to 20 percent) and calcium (1.19 percent to 1.41 percent).

• Orchardgrass: Folded, bunched leaves and stems produce pale-brown, cattail-like heads that appear to be missing a segment every 1/32-inch. Protein content (8 percent to 13 percent) is slightly higher than timothy. It’s a good crop to mix with alfalfa when seeding a hay field.

• Timothy: Leafy stems can reach 40 inches tall in optimum growing conditions. When cut, it strongly resembles dried blades of grass that vary in color from soft green to gray-brown green. A mature plant pro-duces a green to yellow, cattail-like head. Protein content is the least of these three types of hay and ranges from 5 percent to 11 percent, depend-ing on maturity of plant at harvest, with fully headed plants providing the lowest nutritional value.

Clearing up some misinformationSome misconceptions relate to the suitability of different types of hay

for horses. Alfalfa has been regarded as too rich for horses; orchardgrass is commonly thought to be low in nutritional value; and timothy histori-cally has been valued as the best selection.

Alfalfa is ideal to meet the higher protein requirements of growing horses and pregnant or lactating mares.

“Alfalfa hay is actually lower in many nutrients than fresh-growing pasture grasses, the most common forage source for our young growing horses and broodmares,” Vough said.

Horses that consume a diet too rich in protein, derived from grain concentrates and forage, will excrete higher levels of ammonia, which has led some horsemen to the misconception that feeding alfalfa will damage the horse’s liver and kidneys.

Ammonia is a naturally occurring substance in the body. It is pro-duced when amino acids in protein are processed in the digestive system. The liver metabolizes ammonia into urea in the bloodstream, where it is cleaned from the blood by the kidneys and excreted as urine.

A normal horse should have no problem processing a diet too high in protein because the body uses what protein it needs then discards the rest. However, according to a 1983 study of racetrack feeding prac-tices, every kilogram of crude protein ingested over the recommended level caused a racehorse to finish one to three seconds slower. Researchers theorized that energy that should have been devoted to performance was instead utilized to detoxify the body of excess ammonia.

Orchardgrass is not sensitive to the time of cutting. It matures earlier in the growing season and can be harvested when it is leafy, lush and higher in nutritional value than timothy.

Timothy is sensitive to the time of cutting, so its nutritional value is highly variable depending on the stage of maturity and the weather conditions that impact its growth. Timothy that is overmature is coarse, stemmy and of poor nutritional value.

“Trainers will tend to feed more alfalfa and higher quality hay,” Vough said of hay used in the racing industry. “So that’s where we see more of the alfalfa hay moving in the horse industry. Pleasure horse owners are more interested in straight grass, timothy in particular, or an alfalfa-grass mixture. In this area, it can be alfalfa-timothy or it can be alfalfa-orchardgrass.”

According to Vough, the common belief that hay stored for more than a year loses its nutritional value also is a misconception. Hay that has been stored in a dry environment loses some nutritional value in the first two months, principally vitamin A, but then it stabilizes and will main-tain the same nutritional level for as long as two years.

“If someone offers you their good-quality, barn-stored, last year’s hay at a bargain-basement price, take them up on it,” he advised.

Selecting hayTo evaluate the quality of hay, Vough instructed the horse owner to

cut open a representative bale from the lot and select a flake to inspect for maturity, leafiness, color, odor, condition and foreign-material content.

“Does it have a leafy appearance or does it have a stemmy appearance?” Vough said. “Does it have a fresh smell? If it’s been in storage for nine or 10 months, it’s not going to have that field-fresh smell, but you don’t want it to smell musty or have weeds or other plant material in it that will give it an off smell, like ragweed.”

Color can vary from green to yellow to brown, based on the stage of maturity, curing time and type of hay.

“Grasses, as they mature, will naturally lose their bright-green color, so you do not generally see a bright-green, first-cutting, grass hay like you would alfalfa,” he said.

But buyers should beware not to be deceived by artificial coloring con-tained in some hay preservatives that gives it a bright-green appearance.

“You have to learn to differentiate between food coloring and natural coloring,” Vough said, but he added that a misconception is that pre-servative-treated hay is harmful to the horse, when the opposite is true.

“Horse people tend to shy away from preservative-treated hay, and it’s actually quite beneficial,” he said. “Preservative-treated hay oftentimes will have a softer texture and a better palatability than the same hay that is untreated.”

The final criterion is to check for foreign material, weeds and harmful plants and insects.

Hay testingAlthough horses typically pick through hay to find the tastiest morsels,

Vough said palatability is not a gauge for ascertaining quality.“Animals in general are somewhat like people, particularly kids, es-

pecially if you have been feeding one type of hay and you make an abrupt change to another type of hay,” he said. “There is an adjustment period. And then maybe one horse will eat a particular type of hay


and another horse will not. They have their preferences just like people do.”

The only valid way to test for quality is by laboratory assay of a representative hay sample. Commercial laboratories offer forage testing to determine the nutritional value of lots of hay. Typically, core samples are taken from 15 to 20 representative bales. Those core samples are mixed together thoroughly in a box or other contain-er, then a sample large enough to fill a sealed, one-quart plastic bag is withdrawn, labeled and mailed to the laboratory. Assays take about 10 days to two weeks to process.

Many farms that produce large vol-umes of hay and hay dealers who handle thousands of bales have their lots tested and make the assay information available to prospective buyers. Consumers can use that information to determine the qual-ity of the hay before they buy it and af-terward to form the basis for designing a cost-effective, nutritionally balanced diet for their horses with the assistance of a nutritionist, veterinarian or feed mill consultant.

While Vough said it is not reasonable to assay small lots of hay, he suggested that horsemen sample at least one lot of the type of hay they typically feed their horses to educate themselves on its quality.

“One thing that is useful is to sample some of it and maybe keep a flake or two out of the bale so that you know what it looked like, but then have it analyzed so that you at least have a general association of the nutritional value based on what you typically buy,” he said.

Contact your local extension service for the names of laboratories in your area that perform hay testing.

Rolls versus balesWhen pasture is scarce or frozen, the trend over the past decade has

been to set out large rolls of hay for forage. Round bales, which typically contain the equivalent of about ten square bales of hay, may be enveloped in plastic as the final phase of the baling process to protect them during storage. Others are allowed to cure in the elements to form a water-shed-ding outer layer, which typically develops mold and may be a problem for horses with respiratory allergies.

Round bales stored on the ground in the elements can be a source of botulism, especially if moist, decomposing material is found

inside them. Even those enveloped in plastic may be at risk if they are not consumed within a few days of unwrapping them and setting them out in the pasture. Horses regularly consuming round bales should be vaccinated against botulism as a precaution.

Square bales of hay that contain mold never should be fed to horses, but what about allowing horses to graze on round bales whose outer crust is largely moldy forage? Vough said that because round bales contain such a large volume of hay, horses are able to pick through them to eat only the hay that is palatable and discard the moldy

forage.“If you look at the amount of waste

that typically occurs with large round bales, you don’t see that amount of waste with other hay, like the small square bales that are being fed in the barn,” he said. “I think that since the amount that is available to them is much less in the barn than it is with a round bale, they don’t have the ability to be as selective [in the barn]. If they’re hungry, they’re going to have to eat it.”

A high volume of waste occurs if round bales are set on the ground. Horses tend to pick through them, then use the discarded hay as a soft spot to snooze. Instead, round bales should be placed in a feeder designed specifically to be safe for horses. Prefera-bly, the feeder should be under some sort of overhead cover to protect the bale from rain.

Hay storageSpontaneous combustion is a real dan-

ger when storing newly baled hay, but the old practice of sprinkling salt between the layers has no effect in preventing fire,

Vough said. Instead, he suggested storing hay in a building with good ventilation and stacking it loosely so that air channels can circulate through it.

“The ideal hay storage is one that is very open and air can move through,” he said. “Segregate the bales so the heavy, wetter bales don’t go in the barn or they go on the outside of the stack, not in the middle, and then stack the bales on their sides, particularly with the cut side up. You can’t stack them tight.”

According to Vough, modern barns and storage buildings that are constructed of metal or other materials that are airtight can contribute to the molding of hay during storage. H

Hay finder serviceThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency

hosts a website, Hay Net (fsa.usda.gov/haynet), that brings

together buyers and sellers of hay through free ad postings.

After clicking on “Access eHayNet Service,” the website

offers two primary choices, “Need Hay Ads” and “Have Hay

Ads.” From there, individuals can select the state where

they want to buy or sell hay.

Once they have selected the desired state, visitors to the

website can browse ads (most recent appear first) or post

one of their own by registering as a user.

To place an ad, users can click on the link “Add a Hay Ad.”

An online form asks for contact information and provides

a space to compose and submit an ad. Users may attach a

link to the ad that takes readers to a website of the user’s

choice. This is especially helpful for hay sellers, who can

refer prospective buyers to a company or farm website or

one that displays a photo of the hay for sale or additional

information about it or the seller.

Unlike some websites that prohibit posting of personal

information, ads on Hay Net are permitted to contain specif-

ics such as the price of the hay, where it was grown, the

first and last name of the contact person and contact phone

numbers. All ads must contain an email address, city, state

and at least the first name of the contact, but no additional

contact information is required to be posted.

Because deleting an ad can be accomplished in just a few

clicks on the main Hay Net page, stale listings do not appear

to be a problem. —Denise Steffanus

FOUR MILLIONAIRES HAVE TRAINED AT RED EARTH: CALEB’S POSSE, MR. ROSS, BIEN NICOLE AND MAYSVILLE SLEW!

• 5/8th-mile certified racetrack with rails and starting gates• Insulated/ventilated barns with 43 – 12 x 12 stalls• Daily Racing Form and Equibase recognized time works• Covered Equi-ciser (90ft diameter with rubber safety walls)• 23 paddocks with concrete shelters• Public use of track and Equi-ciser

RED EARTH TRAINING CENTER

RED EARTH TRAINING CENTER3056 SOUTH LADD AVE.GOLDSBY, OKLAHOMA 73093(405) 288-6128WWW.REDEARTHTRAININGCENTER.COM

Oklahoma’s Finest Horse Training Facility for Nearly 25 Years!

• Breaking and Training• Sales Preps (Yearling & 2YO in Training)• Lay-Up and Professional Rehabilitation Services• 24 Hr Experienced Care and Monitoring• Regularly Scheduled Farrier Services• Equine Transportation• Two Veterinary Surgical Clinics Less than a Mile Away

We provide a full range of services including:

EXPANSION COMING SOON WITH A NEW BARN AND

ROUND PEN!


Laying Down the Line

There are countless ways to handicap a horse race, but the first step for many is checking the morning line. But just what is the morning line and how is it determined?

“My job is to predict the odds that the public will make the horse, not the odds I think a horse deserves to be,” said Rick Lee, the longtime morning line odds-maker at Lone Star Park. “It might not match up with my selections. That’s the most misunderstood part. It’s not my opinion on who is going to win.”

Lee, who also does the morning line at Remington Park and provides Oaklawn Park selections for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, said it takes him an average of two hours to handicap and create odds for an entire card.

“I handicap the race first and mark the horses on the probability of them winning the race, from the horse I like the most to the least,” he said. “From there, I look at the most likely winner and see how much the public is going to like him, how much more talented he is, does he have a trainer who attracts a lot of money.”

Lee said the key to making a good morning line is correctly tabbing the favorite, even if that’s not the horse he believes is the most likely winner. If a line maker is wrong on that, then the whole race is going to be off.

“I’m never afraid to make a horse odds-on,” Lee said. “If he’s going to be 3-5, I don’t make him 2-1 or everyone else’s odds will be wrong.”

Some races are much easier to create a morning line for than others. A five-horse field with a standout favorite is a breeze, while a race filled with first-time starters or a stakes race with multiple runners coming off a victory last time out can be tough.

It should also be noted that Lee and line makers at other tracks work under tight deadlines, as the morning line must be done not long af-ter the races are drawn. Although a line maker can look at the weather forecast, sometimes races are drawn as much as a week in advance so he or she has to assume it will be a fast track or firm turf, even if a slightly different morning line might be warranted on a sloppy track or yielding turf depending on the top contenders’ ability to handle that kind of sur-face. And particularly at smaller tracks, some horses may not have a rider named at entry time or there could be a rider named on multiple horses, which can muddy the pari-mutuel picture a little.

Lee said the toughest part of creating the morning line is when several horses figure to vie for favoritism.

“It happens sometimes,” he said. “I get paid to make those decisions (about who is going to be the favorite), so I don’t believe in making

the morning Line is a usefuL hanDicapping tooL that is sometimes misunDerstooD By Denis Blake


Fort Worth Star-Telegram Photograph Collection

ToTeboards have changed greaTly since This one used in The 1930s aT The defuncT arlingTon downs near dallas, buT The informaTion displayed is sTill viTal To handicappers.

co-favorites or co-second choices. That doesn’t mean I’m right, but I don’t believe in doing that. So I will split hairs and find a favorite even though you know there’s a possibility of being wrong when you have a race that is super competitive. It’s a bad feeling when you can’t confi-dently determine the favorite.”

Even when a morning line maker is spot-on, a large win bet by an owner, trainer or handicapper, especially at a track with modest betting pool sizes, can significantly skew the odds and make a good morning line look bad.

As already mentioned, the goal of the morning line is to predict the final odds of the race, not the winner. So if Lee puts a horse at 3-5 on the line and it goes off at 3-5, the line maker got it “right,” regardless of whether that horse wins or loses.

“You might have a horse dropping from a stakes race to a claimer, and I would never bet him with my own money,” Lee said. “But I know he’s going to take tons of money, so you have to put him at a short price, even though you might think it’s a terrible pick.”

Likewise, if Lee likes a horse to win for reasons on which the public might not fully focus, such as one who had a better-than-looked effort last time out or who runs for a low-profile barn that excels in a particular situation (a second-time starter, first time off of a layoff, etc.), he might put it at 6-1 even if he thinks that horse is the most likely winner.

In addition to its obvious use for the current race on the card, Lee said the morning line can be helpful when it comes to multiple-race wagers like the Pick 3 or Pick 4. But just as you would consider the skill and success of a particular horse, trainer or jockey, you should do the same for the morning line maker at any tracks you like to play.

An easy way to gauge the ability of a morning line maker is to compare the morning line odds with the final odds by examining several days of recent race results at equibase.com. Keep in mind that making a morning line is not an exact science, so if the favorite is set at 5-2 and goes off at 2-1, that’s pretty close. Also remember that most morning line makers will not put a horse higher than 20-1 or 30-1, so if a horse is tabbed at 20-1 and goes off at 60-1, that shouldn’t be considered a “miss.” In gener-al, looking at the first four or five lowest odds in each race and comparing them to the morning line will give you a good indication of how much trust you can put in the morning line at a particular track.

“If you bet a track and have a lot of confidence that the line maker knows what he’s doing, then you can take advantage of overlays much more effectively,” Lee added. “If a good line maker has a horse at 3-1 and he’s going off at 8-1, he’s probably a genuine overlay and not just one that the line maker missed. Or if he makes a horse 4-1 and he goes off at 6-5, there’s probably no value there. So people should pay attention to how good the line maker is. It helps for a Pick 3 or Pick 4 when you


are looking at the future races [and don’t have the benefit of current odds like you do on the next race up].”

Making Your Own Morning Line As most any successful handicapper will

tell you, the goal should not be to pick the most winners but to find the most value. It’s easy to find a 3-5 horse who is likely to win, but if you are betting on those horses, then they have to win nearly every time for you to make money in the long run. On the other hand, picking one winner at 10-1 can net you more profit during the day compared to several short-price favorites.

For that reason, it can be a good idea to make your own morning line. This can be helpful in several situations, such as when the scratch of one or more contenders or a switch from the turf to the main track ren-ders the original morning line invalid, when you do not believe the track’s morning line is accurate, or if you want to make your own line based on the fair value odds you assign to each horse.

A fair value odds line can be useful in find-ing the right horse to play when you like more than one horse and are looking for a value play. Creating your own line based on what you believe to be the odds of each horse

winning—regardless of how the public bets— allows you to compare your numbers with the actual odds and determine if one horse offers more value than another.

To make your own morning line, you need to make sure it “balances,” meaning that all the win odds account for the takeout rate at that track and the number of horses in the race. While the math behind it is a little tricky, it’s pretty easy to make your own morning line using the included chart.

The first step is to establish your target point val-ue, which is 100 plus the takeout rate at the track (which you can normally find in the track program or with a simple online search) plus the number of runners. So for a 10-horse field in a state with a win bet takeout rate of 17 percent, your target

would be 127 (100+10+17). Some rounding is involved in the points assigned to the odds (see the chart), so you do not need to hit the target point value exactly but should be within a point or two.

Once you have your target point value, you next establish the favorite and the odds for the leading contenders until you get down to the longshots at 15-1, 20-1 and 30-1. Then add up the corresponding points using the chart at left to see how close you are to your target point value. It will probably take you several tries to get the race to balance by adjusting the odds up or down to hit your target. If you need some practice, you can use past races (without peeking at the track’s morning line) and compare them to the final odds.

Another benefit to creating your own morning line is that you can do it during your normal handicapping process, and it gives you another perspective to view the race in addi-tion to the track’s morning line and the actual odds.

Making a morning line on your own is not going to instantly turn you into a successful handicapper, but when used in conjunction with your current methods, it can help to give you an edge over your fellow players and improve your bottom line. H

Stev

e Q

ueen

few fans even see The on-Track ToTeboard now wiTh mosT money being beT off-Track or online.

morning line odds charT

odds poinTs

1-5 70 2-5 65 3-5 60 4-5 55 1-1 50 6-5 45 7-5 41 8-5 38 9-5 35 2-1 33 5-2 28 3-1 25 7-2 22 4-1 20 9-2 18 5-1 17 6-1 14 8-1 11 10-1 9 12-1 8 15-1 6 20-1 5 30-1 3 50-1 2


Along a seemingly endless thruway in central New York, there’s a small town most people don’t even realize exists. Some would call it a sleepy place, one that’s slightly homey. The students who go to college there call it boring. There are no movie theaters, no malls, not even a Wal-Mart or a bowling alley. To find any excitement, you have to delve deeper into Morrisville State Col-lege. Find the equine students—the equine racing students, to be exact.

Morrisville’s equine racing management degree is unique in that it focuses more on the day-to-day care and maintenance of a racehorse rather than on the front-side jobs or the business aspects of the track, as the well-known University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program does. Nearly any day of the year, Morrisville students can be found out at the barn performing a variety of tasks as they work to prepare themselves for careers as trainers, exercise riders, grooms or other posi-tions at a track, training center or horse farm.

Students are assigned at least one horse to groom and they are responsible for nearly ev-erything to do with that horse. They arrive each morning around 6:30 to feed the horses and muck stalls, and from that point, their

responsibilities vary. The horses in training are prepared for their workouts and those on layoff receive their poultices. Additional chores such as setting grain and tidying up the shed row are carried

Training Young MindsNew York’s Morrisville State College offers a unique program to prepare students to work in the Thoroughbred industry

by ciara bowen

In addition to classroom instruction,

students get experience in the saddle and

on the track.

Cia

ra B

owen

Cia

ra B

owen


out until about 11, and then it’s time to hit the classroom.When Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, located in nearby Farm-

ington, is open, students regularly make the trip over with their horses for either workouts or races. There, like at the school, they tack their horses, accompany them to the gap, watch their workout, and then cool them out and van them back to campus. On race days, the routine is much the same—preparing a horse for the walkover, ac-companying it in the paddock, collecting it after the race, cooling it out and vanning it back.

Graduates from the program have found a variety of jobs in the racing industry including working on farms, exercise riding, grooming, owning their own horses, taking out their assis-tant trainer’s licenses and even beginning their own training stables.

In addition to the regular work associated with caring for racehorses, students at Morrisville are exposed to a broad range of technologies and treatment methods. The barn that houses the racehorses is adjacent to the Morrisville State College Equine Rehabilitation Center. The center offers a variety of treatments and con-ditioning services including equine swimming, solarium therapy, cold saltwater spa therapy, therapeutic laser and ultrasound, underwater treadmill therapy and more.

Morrisville’s Thoroughbreds and rehabilitation facility aren’t the only moneymakers for the school—it previously stood a few Standardbred stallions, including two Hambletonian Stakes (the first Triple Crown event for trotters) winners, and holds an an-nual yearling sale in September. Students interested in the racing

program can opt to enroll in the Standard-bred option instead of the Thoroughbred focus and are then able to prepare to drive in races on the New York fair circuit. Vernon Downs is within close driving distance of the school, and on any given night of racing there, it is common to see a horse either owned by Morrisville or one that was bred by the school.

Once the horses’ racing days are over, stu-dents often adopt them. Some horses have been taken home by their grooms and others by alumni, but all are well cared for. Morrisville horses have gone on to careers in polo, West-ern pleasure, English pleasure, eventing, Grand Prix jumping and hunters.

Junior Tory Egerton adopted her horse, Flaming Love, from the school. She’s liked horses her entire life but fell in love with rac-ing through Barbaro. Her passion for the sport has given her a greater appreciation for off-track Thoroughbreds, so it was only fitting that

Morrisville student Tory Egerton adopted former racehorse Flam-ing Love through the school and is now training the mare for a second career.

Ciara Bowen

Ciara Bowen


she adopted the first horse she liked when she began her journey at Morrisville.

“I took a picture of her the first time I saw her and sent it to my mom saying, ‘I want this mare when she retires,’ ” Egerton recalled. “I never actually thought it would happen. I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.”

Egerton has had “Flame” for two years, and the pair are currently working their way into dressage and hope to try hunters in the future.

“I would definitely recommend OTTBs from Morrisville to other people,” Egerton said. “We take great care of our horses. They aren’t your stereotypical track horses because we aren’t your stereotypical

track people. Being at a school, our horses have to be safe enough to work with students and we are taught to teach them their manners. They all know how to ride in an arena, and they have plenty of turn-out. I’ve seen quite a few of our horses’ lives after Morrisville, and they let down and transition into new careers quite easily. I would recom-mend any of our horses after they are retired, and when I graduate I will keep coming back for more.”

For anyone looking to get a foot in the door of the racing world, or for anyone just in love with horses, there’s no better place to go.

To learn more about the equine program at Morrisville State College, go to morrisville.edu. H

Finding My WayFor most of my life, I wanted to be a veterinarian, or so I

thought. During my junior year of high school, the guidance counselors really cracked down on preparing us for our senior year and for the years beyond that. They brought up the point that some of us may have had a career path in mind that wasn’t actually what we wanted but, rather, what our parents wanted. Something clicked in that conversation, and I realized that that described me.

It also presented an-other challenge. I didn’t know what else I could possibly do.

I’ve loved horses my entire life and grew up in Arkansas near Oaklawn Park, but I never imag-ined I could go to col-lege and work with them. When I discovered that there were schools with equine majors, I knew that I had to attend one.

I wasn’t interested in Morrisville initially; in fact, until Septem-ber of my senior year, I had never even heard of the college. During a visit to Becker College in Massachusetts, my mom and I met her high school best friend and her family for lunch. Her oldest daughter, who is the same age as me, mentioned Morrisville and thought I should check into it. I didn’t give it much thought until early March after receiving news that I would not be able to attend

Becker due to financial reasons. Begrudgingly, I pulled up Morrisville’s website—and if I hadn’t, my life would be much different today.

The moment I saw the Thoroughbred major, I knew that this was the school for me. I submitted my application within a cou-ple of days, and after a very short wait, received my acceptance letter in the mail.

Horse racing is one of the only sports that has ever captivated me. I love everything about it, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. There are so many stories within it, and I love hearing them. I love reading them. Even more, I love capturing them on paper and with my camera. There’s just something about standing at the rail watching the blur of legs and color and listening to the thunder of hooves as they fly past you that got into my

blood, and I don’t think it will ever leave.Thanks to Morrisville, I understand the world of racing bet-

ter than I could ever hope, and I definitely recommend it to any young person looking for a way to become involved with the sport (so long as they don’t mind the cold—winter is brutal there). — Ciara Bowen

After falling in love with horse racing at Oaklawn, Ciara Bowen, pictured with Eclipse Award winner Take Charge Brandi, is looking to turn her passion into a career.

Danielle Rosier


• Why choose HTC? •• HTC is located near Tulsa and an easy haul of less than 12 hours to 12 tracks, including Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows, Lone Star, Sam Houston, Retama and Oaklawn

• Approved for official timed workouts

• Completely railed, professionally-maintained training track is 40’ wide and 6 furlongs with a 350-yard chute

• 152 stalls, each 11’ by 12’

• Round pens, sand pen, walkers and starting gate usage included with stall rental

HARMONY TRAINING CENTER34396 S. 4220 Road • Inola, OK 74036 • 918-843-2301 (cell) • 918-543-6940 (office)

[email protected] • www.HarmonyTrainingCenterOK.com

HARMONY TRAINING CENTERWhere winners train!

HTC, centrally located in Inola, Oklahoma, is the premier location for your Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse training needs.

In 2013, HTC-trained horses earned just over $3 million, and in 2014 that number jumped to nearly $4.8 million. Through June of this year, HTC-trained horses have already earned $4,064,870.

Photo by Dawna Wood

• More than six months of consecutive racing with 120 race days at Indiana Grand from April 21 through October 31

• Indiana Grand is a world-class racing and gaming facility with a renowned dirt and turf course

• In 2014, Thoroughbreds in Indiana ran for total purses of $24.4 million with an average purse per race of more than $25,600

• There are 37 Thoroughbred stakes events in Indiana worth more than $4 million in 2015, including the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) and $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G2)

indiana thoroughbred owners and breeders association

(317) 709-1100 • [email protected] • itoba.com

WHY RACE IN INDIANA?

WHY BREED IN INDIANA?

• The Indiana Breed Development Fund totaled $10.3 million in awards and purses in 2014

• Indiana-bred and -sired maidens and allowance horses run for approximately $35,000 per race

• In 2015, there will be 26 stakes for Indiana-bred or -sired horses with four offering purses of $150,000-guar. and 20 for $85,000-added

• Over the past three years, Indiana-breds won or placed in stakes from coast to coast at Gulfstream Park, Woodbine, Monmouth Park, Colonial Downs, Hollywood Park, Oaklawn Park, Canterbury Park, Turfway Park, Hazel Park, Arapahoe Park, Mountaineer Park, Ocala Training Center and more

• Increased sire power with approximately 75 stallions standing in the state


2016 Stallion Register

The 2016 American Racehorse Stallion Register is the most affordable and effective way to advertise your stallion to more than 6,000 potential breeders across the region.

Only American Racehorse goes to virtually every Thoroughbred breeder in:

• TEXAS• OKLAHOMA

• INDIANA• LOUISIANA• ARKANSAS• COLORADO

Get more information at www.americanracehorse.com, call (512) 695-4541 or see the Stallion Register Reservation Form on the following two pages.

Covering the thoroughbred industry in texas, oklahoma and around the region

www.ameriCanraCehorse.Com


American Racehorse also goes to members of the state associations in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, plus numerous breeders in Kentucky, Florida and New Mexico. With options starting as low as $795 for a full page ad, no other

regional or national publication gets your stallion in front of more breeders!

H 2016 STALLION REGISTER DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 9! H

GET MORE FOR YOUR

ADVERTISING DOLLAR!


www.ameriCanraCehorse.Com


2016 Stallion RegisterRESERVATION FORM

DEADLINE – OCTOBER 9, 2015

The 2016 American Racehorse Stallion Register, to be published in December 2015, will be the biggest ever with a circulation of more than 6,000 across the Midwest, Southwest and Midsouth regions. In addition to reaching EVERY member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma and Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Stallion Register issue will go to breeders in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida,

Louisiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and more! American Racehorse has a wider distribution across the region than The Blood-Horse for a fraction of the price.

ADVERTISING PACKAGES (SELECT ONE)

a [ ] 1-Page Stallion Statistical or Display ad $795 Includes free hypothetical mating and page displayed on American Racehorse website!B [ ] 2-Page Statistical Spread $1,295 Includes statistical page plus second page with one color photo and descriptive information, plus free hypothetical mating and pages displayed on American Racehorse website! C [ ] 2-Page Statistical Spread with internet Stallion listing $1,695 Includes statistical page plus second page with one color photo and descriptive information, plus free hypothetical mating on American Racehorse website and special online showcase for your stallion with photo and weekly updated stallion progeny statistics!

optional add-ons for increased ExposureGive your stallion even more exposure with specially discounted full page color ads

in american racehorse in addition to his statistical page

D [ ] 1-time placement of full page ad $600 (save $195) In any issue: Nov/Dec 2015, Stallion Register, Jan/Feb 2016 or Mar/Apr 2016E [ ] 2-time placement of full page ads $1,000 (save $590) In any two issues: Nov/Dec 2015, Stallion Register, Jan/Feb 2016 or Mar/Apr 2016F [ ] all 4 breeding season issues (BEST ValUE) $1,800 (save $1,380) In all issues: Nov/Dec 2015, Stallion Register, Jan/Feb 2016 and Mar/Apr 2016

Mail, Fax or Email to: American Racehorse

P.O. Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683Phone: 512-695-4541 • Fax: 512-870-9324 • Email: [email protected]

2016 Stallion RegisterDEADLINES

Stallion Statistical Page Reservations: Friday, October 9, 2015

ONE FORM PER STALLION (please type or print)

Stallion__________________________________________________________ Year Foaled___________________ Sire______________________ Dam________________________ Dam’s Sire______________________________ Standing at___________________________________________ Address__________________________________ Inquiries to________________________________ Phone (____ )_________________ Fax (____ )____________ Email___________________________________________ Website_______________________________________ Property of_______________________________________ Address_______________________________________ Phone (____ )_________________ Fax (____ )____________ Email______________________________________ Year Entered Stud_________ 2016 Fee_________________ Live Foal Guarantee? Yes / No

Stallion is accredited/registered in (list state or states) ______________________________________________________

Stallion is nominated to the stallion/sire stakes programs in (list state or states)__________________________________

Other accreditations or eligibility_______________________________________________________________________

PaCKagE SElECTED (FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) ______ PriCE $_________oPTionS (FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) ______ PriCE $_________

ToTal amoUnT DUE THiS STallion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_______________

all aDVErTiSing mUST BE PaiD in aDVanCE

Method [ ] American Express [ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] Check Enclosed # ________________________

Card #_________________________________________ Expiration Date_______________ CCV#_____________

Name on Card___________________________________ Phone (____ )____________________________________

Billing Address for Card___________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature______________________________________________________________________________

Mail, Fax or Email to: American Racehorse

P.O. Box 8645, Round Rock, TX 78683Phone: 512-695-4541 • Fax: 512-870-9324 • Email: [email protected]

To submit a free text-only listing for the alphabetical index, please provide American Racehorse with the stallion’s name, stud fee and farm contact information by October 9.


State-bred Success

FATAL STING$55,000 Cherokee Nation Classic Cup Stakes Will Rogers Downs4-year-old gelding by For Glory out of Chrisy Lynn, by SlewacideOwner: Steve Dupy and Kent BlairBreeder: Mike Castor (Oklahoma) • Trainer: Roger Engel Jockey: Bryan McNeil

EXPECT ROYALTY$50,000 Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes • Lone Star Park5-year-old mare by Valid Expectations out of Autumn Sky, by SkywalkerOwner/Trainer/Breeder: Leroy James Pollok (Texas) Jockey: Iram Diego

INFECTIOUS$75,000 Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes (Got Koko Division) • Lone Star Park3-year-old filly by Valid Expectations out of Red Cell, by GeriOwner/Breeder: W.S. Farish (Texas) • Trainer: Danny Pish Jockey: Cliff Berry

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy

Dus

tin O

rona

Pho

togr

aphy

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy

Dus

tin O

rona

Pho

togr

aphy

Spring racing in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas showcased some of the top horses bred and sired in the respective states

MAGICAL TWIST$44,780 Aspen Stakes • Arapahoe Park6-year-old gelding by Oliver’s Twist out of Cruz’n Ocala, by Family CallingOwner: Eli Diamant • Breeder: Menoken Farms (Colorado) Trainer: Sharlot Martinez • Jockey: Dennis CollinsStallion Oliver’s Twist stands in Colorado at Menoken Farms

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy

A J MARIE$43,760 Ingrid Knotts Stakes • Arapahoe Park4-year-old filly by Songandaprayer out of Too Tired Tonight, by Cat ThiefOwner/Breeder: Robert Schreiber (Colorado) • Trainer: Tyrone Gleason Jockey: Brian TheriotStallion Songandaprayer stands in Louisiana at The Stallion Station @ Copper Crowne


MAJESTIC CITY$200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) Lone Star Park6-year-old horse by City Zip out of It’schemistrybaby, by MeadowlakeOwner: Bloom Racing Stable LLC • Breeder: Trackside Farm and Robert and Helen Evans (Kentucky) Trainer: Richard Baltas Jockey: Charles Lopez

NEVERTOOMANYKISSES$88,350 Swifty Sired Fillies Stakes • Indiana Grand3-year-old filly by Checklist out of Favorite Tryst, by Favorite TrickOwner: Deann Baer • Breeder: Deann and Greg Baer, DVM (Indiana) • Trainer: Tim Glyshaw • Jockey: Oriana Rossi

SON OF A NUT$89,450 Sagamore Sired Stakes • Indiana Grand3-year-old gelding by Unbridled Express out of Damie’s Peanut, by StravinskyOwner: Sherri Greenhill • Breeder: Greenhill Racing (Indiana) Trainer: Jeffrey Greenhill • Jockey: Albin JimenezStallion Unbridled Express stands in Indiana at Swifty Farms

MORE THAN EVEN$53,350 RPDC Classic Distaff Stakes • Will Rogers Downs5-year-old mare by Stephen Got Even out of Sallybrooke, by DehereOwner/Breeder: Doyle Williams (Oklahoma) Trainer: Roger Engel • Jockey: Cliff Berry

SUPERMASON$75,000 Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes (Stymie Division) Lone Star Park3-year-old gelding by Grasshopper out of Folksy, by Midway RoadOwner: Brad Grady • Breeder: W.S. Farish & E.J. Hudson Jr. Irrevocable Trust (Texas) • Trainer: Bret Calhoun • Jockey: Lindey WadeStallion Grasshopper stands in Texas at Lane’s End Texas

Lins

cott

Pho

togr

aphy

Lins

cott

Pho

togr

aphy

Dus

tin O

rona

Pho

togr

aphy

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy

Dus

tin O

rona

Pho

togr

aphy

WALLY VAN$40,000 Arapahoe Park Sprint Stakes • Arapahoe Park7-year-old gelding by Crafty Shaw out of Runaway Elegance, by Runaway GroomOwner: Bill Vanlandingham • Breeder: Willard Burbach (Colorado) Trainer: Tyrone Gleason • Jockey: Mike ZieglerStallion Crafty Shaw stands in Colorado at Menoken Farms

Coa

dy P

hoto

grap

hy


Last issue, we focused on the material participation test that the IRS may use to determine whether an equine venture is a hobby or a business. This issue, we will look at hobby loss audits, in which the IRS sometimes views horse activities as a means of generating tax losses, rather than as a profit-oriented venture. The IRS gives the greatest problems to individuals who have had a significant history of losses that they use to write off other income.

In addition, the IRS will argue, particularly in such cases, that the activity has all the hallmarks of a hobby, so that the costs of operation are nondeductible, personal expenses of the taxpayer.

In a recent case, a taxpayer convinced the U.S. Tax Court that his breeding activity was a business, not a hobby, despite 23 years of losses. [Mullins v. United States, 334 F.Supp.2d 1042 (E.D. Tenn. 2004)] The case involved primarily cattle; however, the same hobby loss principles are applicable to the horse industry as well.

The court said: “If losses, or even repeated losses, were the only criterion by which farming is to be judged a business, then a large proportion of the farms of the country would be outside the pale. It is the expectation of gain, and not gain itself, which is one of the factors which enter into the determi-nation of the question.”

The taxpayer in the Mullins case maintained from 70 to 100 head of cattle during his years of farming. After retir-ing from his company, he devoted about 50 hours per week working on the farm. He and his wife lived on a modest house on the farm.

The court said that Mullins pursued his farm operations with the same dedication and devotion that he applied to his success-ful toolmaking business. He did not enter the farming venture blindly but consulted with people who had extensive experience in the cattle business. The court said that Mullins acquired a cer-tain amount of expertise on his own and that he also relied upon the expertise of others through regular consultations.

Although Mullins’ cumulative losses were substantial, the court concluded that he engaged in the venture as a business, not as a hobby.

Also, at the trial a real estate expert testified that the fair market value of the farm had significantly appreciated as a result of farm improvements. This evidence, according to the court, made the losses less significant because an overall profit

could result if the land were sold.It is important in a horse or livestock venture, if there is a

history of losses, to seek expert advice on whether you are operating in a businesslike manner. Of course, “businesslike manner” varies from individual to individual because every ven-ture is a unique operation. What might count as businesslike for one type of activity might seem amateurish in another case.

In this regard, I find that it is important to have a tax opin-ion letter or other formal analysis as documentary evidence of your overall businesslike approach.

A tax opinion letter is something I use to help clients analyze the details of their operations, with a view toward complying, as best as possible, with the criteria set forth in the hobby loss rule. A tax opinion letter helps show that you sought expert advice and that, hopefully, you followed some or all of it.

In hobby loss audits, the IRS will view this document, among others, in deciding whether you are operating in a businesslike manner. The IRS does not expect an impossible level of formal-ity or excellence in your farm records. But in audits indicating a fairly long history of losses, the IRS will heavily scrutinize operations in order to decide whether the venture is a business or a hobby. The lack of good business records, in such cases, will incline the IRS to rule that it is a hobby.

In the Mullins case, the taxpayer had helpful evidence that his farm property had appreciated in value. This was by way of a formal appraisal (as well as testimony of a real estate agent). A formal appraisal is a helpful item of documentary evidence, for if your property has appreciated in value (or is expected to appreciate in value) as a result of your stewardship, this is an element in your favor. It shows that you have a profit motive because if the property were sold you might then make an overall profit.

In addition to a tax opinion letter, appraisals are important items of evidence to show your businesslike intentions. Keep in mind that appraisals are important not only for land, but also for assets used in the venture, such as bloodstock. H

John Alan Cohan is a lawyer who has served the horse, livestock and farming industries since 1981. He serves clients in all 50 states and can be reached at (310) 278-0203 or by e-mail at [email protected]. His website is JohnAlanCohan.com.

Tax Talk: Operating in a Businesslike Manner

By John Alan Cohan, Attorney at Law


?The nutritional needs of any horse are directly proportional to its level of work, and breeding stallions are no exception. In order to determine the level of work a stallion is performing, owners must consider multiple factors, such as the size of the breeding book, the fitness level of the stallion and even the activity level of the stallion outside of the breeding shed. Stallions that spend their off hours pacing the fence line and constantly calling to mares will burn many more calories in the course of a day than stallions that stand quietly in their stalls eating hay. Even considering these additional energy expenditures, only the most heavily utilized breeding studs will have nutritional requirements above those of horses at maintenance doing a low level of work.

As most stallions are fed more than the recommended minimum feed requirement, it is not difficult to understand why the majority of breeding stallions are overconditioned. For any horse, excessive body condition is associated with a higher incidence of musculoskeletal problems, founder and metabolic syndrome. For breeding stallions, excessive body condition has the added detriment of reduction of libido (sex drive) and even a reduction in semen quality due to fat insulation of the testicles. In addition to the effect on health and fertility, feeding stallions high amounts of high-protein concentrates can also make them “hot” and difficult to manage in the breeding shed.

The optimal stallion feeding program should start with a base of high-quality forage. Many breeding studs can be man-aged on a good quality timothy and alfalfa hay mix with the addition of a balancing ration to make up for any gaps in the vitamin and mineral composition of the hay. In cases where additional calories are needed to meet nutritional require-ments and maintain “optimal” body condition, the addition of a standard pelleted ration may be necessary. In this case, a complete ration is recommended over high-protein concentrates (such as 12-14 percent sweet feed), as these feeds are balanced with fiber and are less likely to result in energy spikes due to rapid absorption of a starch from the gut. A ration such as equine senior or other such complete feed will allow for a more gradual increase in protein content of the ration until the desired body condition is achieved and maintained.

With regard to the addition of feed supplements to improve stallion fertility, many companies make sensational claims with the use of their product. It is important to keep in mind that only a very small number of feed supplements have been critically evaluated for their effects on semen quality. Of these supplements, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to marginally improve sperm motion parameters; however, this was only in extended semen after 48 hours of cooled storage. Omega-6 fatty acid, in combination with vitamin E and selenium, has been shown to improve sperm motility in stallion semen during the fall and winter months; however, there was no effect on semen quality during the breeding season. Considering the fact that these feed supplements may improve stallion semen characteristics under cer-tain circumstances and are not likely to have a negative impact on semen quality, they may be included at the discretion of the owner. For a nutrition plan tailored to your specific situation, consult with your veterinarian. H

Dr. Robert Stawicki is a clinical assistant professor of theriogenology at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Have a horse health question? Ask an expert!American Racehorse has teamed with the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital to provide horsemen with

accurate, helpful information about equine health.Each issue of the magazine will include an “Ask a Vet” feature covering

a general health topic or answering a question submitted by an American Racehorse reader. To submit a question to possibly be answered in a future

issue, send an email to [email protected] or a fax to (512) 870-9324.To find out more about the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, go to vet.uga.edu/hospital.Please note that all questions may not be answered in the magazine, and horsemen should seek the advice of their veterinarian

for urgent issues.

Nutrition for the Working Stallion Why do breeding stallions often appear to be “fat”?

Is there a medical reason for this?By Robert Stawicki, MS, DVM, Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists

Ask a Vet

2015 INDUCTEES INTO THE TEXAS HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME:

Ken Armbrister

Stanley Beard (deceased)

Lukin Gilliland, Sr. (deceased)

Sammy Jackson (deceased)

Dan (deceased) and Jolene Urschel

No Le Hace

JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award: Ben Hudson

To make reservations, contact Ryan Grammer at (210) 651-7045 or [email protected]

Proceeds from the 2015 Hall of Fame Gala—a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization—will benefit Groom Elite; Saddle Light Center; and The Race Track Chaplaincies at Lone Star Park, Sam Houston Race Park and Retama Park Race Track.

!"#$%&"'()!*+#*,-*%)./()/0.1)2)1)+3,3Retama Park Race Track, Selma, TX

Gala includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, prime rib buffet, silent

and live auctions, valet parking, and live Thoroughbred racing

2015 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala

TEXAS HORSE RACINGHALL of FAME



Tuesday, September 29Ike Hamilton Expo Center, West Monroe, Louisiana

For consignment forms or more information contact Louisiana �oroughbred Breeders Association P.O. Box 24650, New Orleans, Louisiana 70184504.947.4676 • 1.800.772.1195 • [email protected]

2015 breeders sale am racehorse_Layout 1 5/15/15 10:58 AM Page 1

2015 INDUCTEES INTO THE TEXAS HORSE RACING HALL OF FA ME:

Ken Armbrister

Stanley Beard (deceased)

Lukin Gilliland, Sr. (deceased)

Sammy Jackson (deceased)

Dan (deceased) and Jolene Urschel

No Le Hace

JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service Award: Ben Hudson

To make reservations, contact Ryan Grammer at (210) 651-7045 or [email protected]

Proceeds from the 2015 Hall of Fame Gala—a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization—will benefit Groom Elite; Saddle Light Center; and The Race Track Chaplaincies at Lone Star Park, Sam Houston Race Park and Retama Park Race Track.

!"#$%&"'()!*+#*,-*%)./()/0.1)2)1)+3,3Retama Park Race Track, Selma, TX

Gala includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, prime rib buffet, silent

and live auctions, valet parking, and live Thoroughbred racing





Tuesday, September 29Ike Hamilton Expo Center, West Monroe, Louisiana

For consignment forms or more information contact Louisiana �oroughbred Breeders Association P.O. Box 24650, New Orleans, Louisiana 70184504.947.4676 • 1.800.772.1195 • [email protected]

2015 breeders sale am racehorse_Layout 1 5/15/15 10:58 AM Page 1


This is part five of Selling the Game, a series of articles about the excitement of Thoroughbred racehorse ownership and how to attract new owners, by Fred Taylor Jr. He is the founder and managing partner of Mojo Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, which operates Mojo Racing Partners offering affordable opportunities for newcomers and veterans to become involved in Thoroughbred ownership. Taylor serves as a liaison to the Department of Transportation for a major airline and is a former recipient of the Texas Thoroughbred Association’s Allen Bogan Memorial Award for member of the year. If you missed a previous installment, you can find past issues of American Racehorse at americanracehorse.com.

Selling the Game: Becoming an Owner—Achieving Your Dream by Having a Plan, Setting Goals and Keeping a Budget

Hello, American Racehorse readers! Now is an exciting time to be or become a racehorse owner. The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years captured the hearts of racing fans like

a long-lost dream come true. What once seemed so difficult to achieve in the modern racing world finally happened

and along with it came proof that the impossible is actually possible when the right circumstances come

together at the right moment. In the first four articles in this series, we discussed the dreams and desires horse racing inspires, as well as the fundamental elements of owning and training racehorses. For the next two articles, we’re going to

explore the components for developing a strategy to help make your ownership experience a success and hopefully

your dreams come true.

Having a PlanWhether you’ve been in the horse racing business for years, or

you’re ready to participate in your first racehorse venture, it’s impor-tant to not only understand how the sport works but also that you need to have a reasonable plan that can help provide the best possible experience.

In previous articles, my objectives were to help you understand the sport from an insider’s point of view. I explained the types of owner-ship, the costs to participate, the types of training and the racing pro-cess. Now, I want to provide you with some general guidance to help you think about developing a strategy that can take you from being a spectator or fan to actually owning a racehorse.

You Need a Strategy

A strategy defines what you are going to do, who’s going to be in-volved, how much you are going to invest or spend to make it happen and when you are going to do it. In a nutshell, a strategy spells out in four steps how you are going to do something.

A strategy is essentially your business plan. Some business plans are informal—I’m going to claim a racehorse at Oaklawn; Jack Lucky is going to be my trainer; I’m going spend $15,000 to claim the horse and $3,000 a month on training and vet care; and I’m going to do this at the end of the Oaklawn meet to race the horse at the upcoming

Lone Star Park meet. This is a pretty straightforward plan that clearly defines the owner’s intentions.

Some business plans relay the same intentions as the one above, but the strategy is more complex—especially if two or more peo-ple are involved because the structure of the entity becomes more dynamic when considering distribution of costs, revenues and personal interests. Even a general partnership requires some basic documentation that outlines the agreement for banking and tax purposes. If you are considering forming a partnership or LLC that involves multiple partners and different levels of participation, capital contributions and management decisions, then it’s best to draft a formal business plan (or articles of incorporation) that is reviewed by an attorney and a CPA, as well as a tax expert. Once the plan is agreed upon, the participants need to sign an agreement to make it binding.

If your strategy is to join a racing group and follow its racing plans, then you need to know your obligations (costs and length of commitment), as well as what is being promised in return (ac-cess, experience and distributions). If a racing group’s business strategy (the terms and conditions for participation) isn’t specifically outlined in plain English, then it’s in your best interest to look at another entity that offers a clear vision of what it intends to do.

Careful forethought, realistic expectations and fiscal responsibility can help make you a more successful owner

By Fred Taylor Jr.

Denis Blake


Make It ReasonableSome people are ambitious, have deep pockets and possess the abil-

ity to absorb significant losses over the years before their dream comes true. Some people make a medium-sized investment and strike gold on their first attempt. And, some people take part while operating on a shoestring budget, meticulously managing their money and enjoy-ing the different aspects of the experience along the way.

Once you are aware of the different ownership structures and the costs and processes to keep racehorses in training, then you know what you can afford. If you decide being a sole owner isn’t for you, you can choose other practical options such as participating in a rac-ing group or starting a partnership or LLC where the costs are divided among the participants.

The key to any of these options is knowing what’s right for you and sticking with it.

Get Right With RacingIt may seem like a gos-

pel saying, but it’s very true about being an owner: If you ain’t right with racing, you can’t be right with owner-ship.

To be an owner at any level requires a certain amount of commitment and prioritiza-tion and having a mindset that allows you to accept the reality of horse racing it-self—and that includes both the highs and lows. To put it another way, the beauty of the ownership experience isn’t the illusion of living in a dream state, it’s the satisfaction of that dream coming true based on all of the effort put forth to make it happen.

In this regard, the plan you come up with and the decisions you make have to be constantly fueled by hope and optimism while at the same time grounded in the reality that there may be (and most likely will be) setbacks. It may take time to realize your dream, and what you do has to be managed by practical objectives. Once you set your expectations based on the realities of the sport, you’ll be able to carry on even if your horses aren’t running well and you can celebrate when they reach their peak performance at whatever level they race.

Setting GoalsWe’ve all heard the saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The same

adage applies whether you’re trying to figure out if you want to be a sole owner, evaluating different racing groups or creating your own

partnership—it takes time to put together an ownership strategy. Once you have a plan established, the next step is to implement

it in stages. To do that, you need to set goals—preferably goals that are “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable and Timely).

Here’s how SMART goals can work for your racehorse ownership plans:

• Be Specific. If you were to say, “I want to own a racehorse,” I would think that’s great, but I wouldn’t know how you are going to do that because you weren’t very specific about your intentions. But if you told me you want to join a racing group during the current race meet to learn more about the different aspects of ownership so one day you can branch out on your own, then I would have a better understanding of what it is you are trying to achieve. When you set

a goal for yourself or your business, make it SMART by defining what it is you are trying to achieve—this not only helps you be clear about your objective, but it will also help others under-stand what you are doing if you want them to partici-pate in your efforts. • Measure Your Results.

You need to be able to evaluate your actions to know if your objectives are successful or not. In this regard, the idea is to have some sort of hard numbers to quantify the result (e.g.,

only spend $10,000 or earn enough purse money to offset training costs). However, being measurable doesn’t always require having a specific set of data to know if you are being productive. You can mea-sure your success if your goal is to acquire a racehorse at a particular sale, bring on a couple of partners or join a group. Either way (data-driven or task-specific), in order for a goal to be SMART, it needs to demonstrate a predetermined personal action. Otherwise, it would just be a passive intention that’s meaningless to what you ultimately want to achieve.

• Can You Actually Do It? Winning the Kentucky Derby is the pinnacle of success in this sport, but you have to ask yourself if it is attainable based on your present position. The best way to evaluate whether your goals are SMART in this regard is by considering a series of questions: Are you putting the right resources, people and bloodstock in place to make it happen? Is what you are proposing reasonable for your, your racing group’s or your partners’ budget?

Denis Blake


What are the hurdles or pitfalls that would keep you from attaining your goal and can you overcome those types of setbacks?

• A Better Alternative. Doing things on a whim is exciting, but you might find yourself accusing your spouse, friend or business partner of “spoiling the fun” when they ask a simple question about your spontaneous decision: Does it make sense? In other words, they want to know if your idea is realistic and reasonable. This part of the SMART check tests the practicality of your plan. It also encourages you to think about other options that can help you realize some level of success quicker and still be equally fulfilling while you are work-ing toward your ultimate objective. Maybe taking on the burden of owning a racehorse outright isn’t doable right now, but being part of a racing group might be more practical because it’s affordable and fun.

• When Will You Get It Done? The last part of a SMART goal is establishing a time frame in which you will achieve it. Having a deadline keeps you on task and forces you to think about and do all that you can to make it happen (within reason, of course). Deadlines can be as narrow or wide as you want them to be. Working within a set time frame can help you think outside the box and come up with ideas you might not otherwise consider if you had more time to dwell on a set path. The most effective goals are those set quarterly, but depending on the size of your task and the stage of development, it may make more sense to try to achieve a result every six months or more. That being said, the more you can divide your objective into smaller, time-driven tasks, the more likely it is you’ll achieve ultimate success.

Keeping a Budget

Cost is one of the main determining factors of whether you decide to become an owner or not. As discussed in the third article of this series, the overall cost of ownership is made up of bloodstock ac-quisition, training and racing expenses, vet care and administrative expenses.

By being aware of the costs of racehorse ownership, you can then determine what you can afford and at what level you are willing to participate. Once you determine your level of participation, you should establish a budget to cover your costs over a set period of time.

The three most important considerations for setting a budget are determining how long you can afford to participate, having a reserve and sticking to your budget.

Capital LongevityThe amount of money you should plan to spend depends on how

long your horses are expected to race. On average, the racing tenure for most Thoroughbreds is two to three years. After that, a small per-centage of colts become stallions (based on their pedigree and racing success), many fillies become broodmares and the majority of colts

and geldings are transitioned from racing to other careers such as hunter/jumper, polo and eventing.

Young Thoroughbreds (yearlings and 2-year-olds) can be in a race group for several years if they stay healthy and sound. You should be prepared to cover your portion of the ownership costs for at least a year or two unless the terms of the agreement in your group or part-nership stipulate an exit opportunity.

Depending on their ability, older racehorses may only be competi-tive up to 5 years old. That being said, some veteran geldings run well at ages 7 and 8, and even beyond. To this end, it’s important to know the age and racing campaign for the individual that is being consid-ered for or already part of the group’s bloodstock.

Contingency PlanningDespite their tremendous size, Thoroughbreds are lean and

rather fragile animals. Because they are bred for speed, they are also “high-strung” animals. Their unique physique and sometimes skittish behavior requires careful management to keep them in proper balance.

Accidents and injuries happen that require additional veterinary treatments, surgery and care before the horse can return to racing. When a racehorse needs time off, all of the time and effort put in up to that point is essentially lost and will have to be restarted once the horse returns to training.

To allow for unexpected veterinary costs, it’s a good idea to set aside three to six months of budgeted training/vet care as a reserve. This is like having a self-insured major-medical or disability plan for your horse (or yourself if you are in a partnership). If you decide to not do it up front, then you should at least be prepared to pay your portion of the additional costs if extra veterinary care is required.

Budget Stick-to-itivenessSticking to the budget you’ve created should be an important

consideration regardless, but this is especially true if you decide to purchase bloodstock from an auction. Thoroughbred auctions are exciting and enticing. It’s easy to get caught up and carried away by the thrill and enthusiasm of buying your racehorse. For every horse that enters the ring, the auctioneer generates a buying rhythm with his yodeling cadence, and bid spotters detect the signals from the buyers gathered around and then belt out their acceptance of the current price—which is announced in single numbers (two, five, seven…). When shortened up, the actual prices ($22,000, $55,000, $107,000) don’t seem to be as large as they are in reality, so be mindful.

In the next article, we’ll examine the elements of a strategy for selecting bloodstock from a sale and why that is important in preserving funds to cover training and other expenses. H


SILVER CUP

Recent Graduates

GET HAPPY MISTER

($384,928, GSW San Simeon Gr. 3, Northern Spur)

TENANGO

($426,754, G3-Placed, MSP @ AQU & BEL)

WALLY VAN (MSW $263,382)

FOLSUM (MSW $156,640)

DANZIP (MSW $148,984)

SWEET DIXIE VAN (MSW $114,747)

SALE !!

Arapahoe Park Race Track, Aurora, CO

YearlingColorado

saTurday, aug. 8 • 6pm

Yearlings ByBig Brown • Crafty Shaw • Distorted Reality

Dunkirk • Euroears • Exchange Rate First Defense • Fusaichi Pegasus

Grand Minstrel • El Roblar • Maclean’s Music Margie’s Wildcat • Oliver’s Twist

Quinton’s Gold • Ready’s Image • Rule Tulsa Te • Western Expression

Yearlings eligible for 2016 Silver Cup Futurity ($60,000 est.)

Catalog at WWW.CotBa.CoM • (303) 294-0260


the marketplace Classifieds

Mallory Farm• Breeding • Boarding • Sales

SCOtt MALLOry2672 Newtown Pike • Lexington, Ky 40511

(859) [email protected]

Moving Like a WinnerDon’t miss our hot prospects from

Inside Move at Yearling and Two-Year-Old sales in California, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas!

Bethe Deal • Sabinal, TXCell: (830) 426-1646 • Email: [email protected]

FOAL TO YEARLING HALTER

SAME HORSESAME HALTER

• • •One HalterDoes It All

1-800-331-0413Foaltoyearlinghalter.com

the marketplace Classifieds

Improve your training plans this year

(323) 665-6550

EuroXciser ™

[email protected]

Track Covers 50’ to 72’ Machines

EuroXciser.com

Untether Exercise your horses, and improve

conditioning, endurance and soundess

Keith [email protected]

956-723-5436 • 956-763-8907ICC

PERMITTED

KC HOrSE trANSPOrtAtIONDivision of Asmussen Horse Center

Over 50 years of Quality Service in The Horse Business

P.O. Box 1861Laredo, Texas 78044

4707 E. SaundersLaredo, Texas 78045

Dee MartinezOffice Manager956-763-7594

Gwen RogersManager

956-763-7004

ARKANSAS-BRED YEARLINGS FOR SALE• GelDinG By JonesBoro o/o

storm anD a Half mare

• fillies By sea Prince (storm cat) o/o multiPle winninG mares

Contact Sarah Shields for more information(479) 648 8725 or [email protected]


the marketplace Classifieds the marketplace Classifieds

Want to reach more than 6,000 horsemen in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas

and around the region? Advertise in the American Racehorse classifieds

for as little as $75 per issue! Contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or

[email protected]

7S RACING STABLESSpecializing in breaking and preparing your colts for

you and your trainer

7S Racing Stables is located 2 hours west of Lone Star Park in Carbon, Texas. We have for several years been working with young race colts, taking them from breaking to conditioning and race prep while cutting down on owner expense and helping you have your colts prepared for the racetrack experience!

FEATURES: • 5/8 mile training track • Starting gates • Farrier care • Transportation • Complete vet services • Horses for sale • Breaking fees are $30/day

The best price in the area with proven results!

7S Racing Stables 254-643-2035

5001 Hwy 1027, Carbon, TX 76435 www.7SRacingStables.com

7S RACING STABLESSpecializing in breaking and preparing your colts for

you and your trainer

7S Racing Stables is located 2 hours west of Lone Star Park in Carbon, Texas. We have for several years been working with young race colts, taking them from breaking to conditioning and race prep while cutting down on owner expense and helping you have your colts prepared for the racetrack experience!

FEATURES: • 5/8 mile training track • Starting gates • Farrier care • Transportation • Complete vet services • Horses for sale • Breaking fees are $30/day

The best price in the area with proven results!

7S Racing Stables 254-643-2035

5001 Hwy 1027, Carbon, TX 76435 www.7SRacingStables.com

•Paradise Farm Inc.

•

louisiana boarding FacilityProfessional Mare Care

reasonaBle rates for extraorDinary CareClient References Available

Year-round Mare Care, FoalertTM System

and Cameras,Lay-ups,

Foaling, Boarding, Sales PrepJayne Segura, Owner/manager

337-339-3233 • [email protected] “Where HONESTY,

KNOWLEDGE & CARE unite.”

7S Racing Stables ...................................... 67Arkansas-bred Yearlings for Sale ............. 66Arkansas Breeders’ Sales Company ....... 15The Art of Horse Racing ............................ 66Asmussen Horse Center ...................... 25, 66Bigheart Training Center ........................... 63Biomedical Research Laboratories ........... 7Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana ... 59Calle Real ................................................... 30Carter Sales Co. ........................................ 31Channon Farm LLC ................................... 67Cinder Lakes Ranch .................................. 13Colorado Silver Cup Yearling Sale .......... 63Cytowave ............................................ 18, 19

Equine Sales Company ............................ 12EuroXciser ................................................... 66Equiwinner .................................................. 11Finish Line Horse Products Inc. ............... 8, 9Foal to Yearling Halter............................... 66Harmony Training Center ......................... 45Heritage Place .......................................... 41Indiana Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Assoc. ............. 46, 47Inside Move................................................ 66ITOBA Fall Mixed Sale ................................ 45JEH Stallion Station ................................... BCKeeneland September Yearling Sale .... IBCLane’s End Texas ......................................... 1

Mallory Farm .............................................. 66Mighty Acres .............................................IFCNew Mexico Horse Breeders’ Assoc. ..... 17NTRA/John Deere ...................................... 32palaMOUNTAINS ........................................ 57Paradise Farm Inc. .................................... 67Red Earth Training Center ........................ 37Rockin’ Z Ranch......................................... 55Santa Fe Horse Transport .................... 48, 66Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame ............ 58Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma ................ 64, 65United Country Realty/Travis Turner ........ 14Valor Farm .................................................... 3

American Racehorse Advertisers Index

Boarding • Broodmare Care • Foaling Layups • Equiciser • Sales Prep

•Gillian (Jill) Taylor

(318) 745-9974 • Fax: (318) 745-99761914 HiGHway 163 • Doyline, la 71023

CHANNON FARM LLC•

Quality Care for Thoroughbreds


WANT MORE HORSEPOWER FROM YOUR ADVERTISING?

No other regional or national racing and breeding publication reaches more area horsemen and horsewomen than American Racehorse!

We make it easy to get your message out to more than 6,000 horsemen in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

Our ad rates are affordable, and we can design an ad for you at no charge!

To view a complete list of ad rates or for more information, go to www.americanracehorse.com/advertising

Contact Denis Blake at (512) 695-4541 or [email protected]

WANT MORE HORSEPOWER FROM YOUR ADVERTISING?

WWW.AMERICANRACEHORSE.COM


In This Issue:

JULY/AUGUST 2014


• Prepurchase Exams for the Layman

• Oklahoma Bush Track Rider Won Big

• Understanding IRAs and S Corps

JULY/AUGUST 2014

WWW.AMERICANRACEHORSE.COM

CARPE DIEM Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1)

GRADED STAKES GLORY STARTS HERE

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALEMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

with yeArlings By:

• colonel John • discreet cat • dominus • don’t get Mad • dublin • dunkirk • Kennedy • Kipling • notional • save Big Money • temple city • the visualiser • toccet

american racehorse - july/august 2015

Documents