north american trainer - fall 2009 - issue 14

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iner ISSUE 14 (FA

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ublishing Ltd

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOROUGHBRED

www.trainermagazine.comNorth American ISSUE 14 (FALL 2009) $6.95

THEOFFICIAL

MAGAZINE OF THE

Weighty IssuesHave synthetic surfaces changed the way racing secretaries write conditions?

Hyperbaric OxygenTherapyDoes it do more than aid recovery?

JOHN SHIRREFFSA trainer who likes to do things differently

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IntroductionGiles Anderson

I am writing this introductionon the Sunday following theLady’s Secret Stakes at SantaAnita and now I don’t knowwhy I bothered to wait! Infact I delayed printing of thisissue until the race had beenrun. But part of me thinks,what would I have done ifZenyatta was beaten? Was Igetting superstitious about the

13th race? Would I have changed the style of ourcover feature on John Shirreffs? In hindsight, I doubt it.Or perhaps I should follow John’s example and bemore laid back and simply let what will be, be.

With our feature on John, we’ve got a strong insight forhis way of doing things. John is obviously at one with hishorses and perhaps takes the media scrutiny as part ofthe job rather than a tool for self-promotion. He strikesme as being the sort of person we’d all like to be – theability to do well in whatever situation we find ourselves.

When Zenyatta runs in the Breeders’ Cup at SantaAnita this November, she’ll be yet another iconicchampion to have enthralled racing fans over theprevious 75 years at the famous Arcadia race place.Researching the different photographic options for thisarticle was fascinating. Did we go down the easy routeand go with mainly horse photos or did we try andcapture the glory of yesteryear? To some the intropicture may seem a little bizarre, but consider Californiain 1934: when you look at the picture, bear in mind thatthe number of cars on the road was nothing like it istoday, so to attract that number of vehicles in yourparking lot on your opening day was some achievement.

In this issue of the magazine we also look atHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and discuss the ways thetreatment can be used to aid in a horse’s recovery frominjury. Much has been written on the subject over thelast few months and the idea of our article is to look atthe various situations in which the treatment can beused.

Last year we ran a table of different state-by-statebreeding / ownership incentives and thanks to theinterest that this table generated, we’ve updated this forthe fall.

The next issue of North American Trainer will bepublished in late January, so until then, good luckwherever your racing takes you this winter. �

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North American Trainer magazine is publishedquarterly by Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd, whoare based in the United Kingdom with a representative address in Kentucky. This magazine is distributed for free to all CTT members. Editorial views expressed are notnecessarily those of Anderson & Co PublishingLtd. Additional copies can be purchased for$6.95 (ex P+P). No part of this publication maybe reproduced in any format without the priorwritten permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States

For all editorial and advertising inquiries please contact Anderson & Co Publishing LtdTel: 1 888 218 4430Fax: 1 888 218 4206email: [email protected]

CONTENTSISSUE 14

8 California Thoroughbred TrainersThe new challenges ahead for racing

12 John ShirreffsFrances J. Karon meets John Shirreffs, a master horseman, hands-on trainer, and great ambassador for the sport of horseracing

20 NeurologyThe identification and effects of neurological disease in the horse, which does not always spell the end of a promising career. By James Tate

28 Santa AnitaThe site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Santa Anita has a long and storied history, as told by Larry Bortstein

40 HempHemp, a natural product with many uses, is a good source of protein and can now be found in horse feed – but proceed with caution. By Catherine Dunnett

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CONTENTSISSUE 14

42 HBOTAn in-depth look at hyperbaric oxygen therapy that is increasingly being used to treat lower-limb wounds on racehorses. By Margaux Thomas

50 Weighty Issues Bill Heller talks to racing secretaries about the trials and tribulations of writing conditions for three surfaces

56 SkinBarry Sangster and Phil Dyson discuss the ten most common skin ailments of the horse

60 The Other HalfKen Snyder lends insight into what it’s like to be the spouse of a successful trainer such as David Carroll, Tim Ice, Graham Motion and Helen Pitts-Blasi

67 Product Focus70 State Incentives72 Stakes Schedules

Indexes of forthcoming major stakes races 80 Arnold Kirkpatrick column

Making a case for a racing czar


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Larry Bortstein has been asportswriter for more than 40years and has covered horseracing for more than 25 years. Hewas a staff writer with the OrangeCounty Register in Santa Ana, Cal.,for 17 years.

Dr Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD,R.Nutr. is an independentnutritionist registered with theBritish Nutrition Society. She has abackground in equine research,in the field of nutrition andexercise physiology with manyyears spent at The Animal Health

Trust in Newmarket. Prior to setting up her ownconsultancy business, she worked in the equinefeed industry on product development andtechnical marketing.

Philip Dyson graduated fromGlasgow University in 1998. In2002 he began a PhD course atthe Royal Veterinary College,London, investigating therelationships between trainingand injury in flat racehorses. Philipwas awarded the Royal Veterinary

College Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine in 2004and successfully completed his Doctorate in 2005.He has a special interest in medical and or thopaediccauses of poor performance and is now an equinepartner in Clevedale Veterinary Practice, a large mixedpractice in Guisborough, North Yorkshire.

Bill Heller, Eclipse Award-winnerBill Heller is the author of 19books, including “After The FinishLine, The Race to End HorseSlaughter in America.” In 2006, hereceived a first place award fromthe American Horse Publicationsfor a column he wrote for

Thoroughbred Times and was inducted into theHarness Racing Hall of Fame Writers’ Corner. Heller, 55,lives in Albany, N.Y., just 30 miles south of SaratogaRace Course, with his wife, Anna, their son Benjaminand their dog Belle Mont.

Frances J. Karon, is a native ofPuerto Rico and graduate ofMaine’s Colby College with aBachelor of Arts degree in English.She operates Rough Shod LLCbased in Lexington, Kentucky andspecializes in sales, pedigreeresearch and recommendations.

Arnold Kirkpatrick in more than45 years of involvement in thethoroughbred industry, ArnoldKirkpatrick has accumulated a vastexperience in most aspects of thebusiness – from being executivevice president of a majorbreeding farm to president of a

race track. He has won major industr y awards both asa writer and as a breeder.

Barry Sangster BVMS MRCVSgraduated from GlasgowUniversity vet school in 1998 andhis career started with mixedpractice in Scotland. A lifelonghoresracing enthusiast, he hascontributed European racingcoverage to Thoroughbred Daily

News for the past two seasons.

Ken Snyder is a Louisville,Kentucky based freelance writer.He is a regular contributor toseveral other racing publications,a feature writer and essayist forsome non-racing magazines, and an advertising marketingwriter, as well.

James Tate BVMS MRCVS qualifiedas a veterinary surgeon fromGlasgow University. He is from afamily steeped in horseracing. Hisfather, Tom Tate, is a dual purposetrainer, his father-in-law, Len Lungo,is a National Hunt trainer, and hisUncle, the legendary Michael

Dickinson, has just retired from the training ranks.

Margaux Thomas spent her earlyyears in South Africa, had aFrench education in Italy andgraduated from the RoyalAgricultural College with a BSc(Hons) in International Agricultureand Equine Management. Herdissertation, which explores the

use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy , was inspired bylearning about this novel technique while treatingthoroughbreds at the Kentucky Equine SportsMedicine and Rehabilitation Center. Margaux hastravelled extensively and speaks four languages. Sheplans to develop her skills further in rehabilitationand performance enhancement though unobtrusivetherapy wherever the opportunity arises.

Publisher & Editorial DirectorGiles AndersonAssistant EditorsFrances Karon, Sophie HullDesign/ProductionNeil RandonWebsiteGary PinkettAdvertising SalesGiles AndersonExecutive AssistantAlexandra SummerfieldCirculationPippa AndersonPhoto CreditsRex Miller, Vassar Photography, Frances Karon, Suzie Picou-Oldham, Thoroughbred Photography, James Tate, Katey Barrett, Benoit and Associates, David Mitchell, Amy Zimmerman, Santa Anita Archives, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Keeneland,Eclipse Sportswire, Horsephotos, Shutterstock

Cover Photograph Rex Miller

An Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd publication

Main Address – United Kingdom3 Stibb Hill, West Lavington SN10 4LQ Representative Address – North AmericaPO Box 13248, Lexington, KY 40583-3248Contact detailsTel: 1 888 218 4430Fax: 1 888 218 [email protected]

North American Trainer is the official magazine ofthe California Thoroughbred Trainers. It is distributedto all ‘Trainer’ members of the ThoroughbredHorsemen’s Association and all members of theConsignors and Commercial Breeders Association

CONTRIBUTORS

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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED TRAINERS

New challengeslead to newopportunities

THE repercussions of thebanking and stock marketmeltdown continue to haunt theracing industry. The number ofhorses housed at our local

facilities has dropped to the point that twoonce-crowded training facilities no longerhave enough horses or trainers to justify the$3 million in subsidy that it takes to keepthem open. Much to the chagrin of someowners and trainers, a choice has been madeby the Southern California Off-TrackWagering Vanning and Stabling Committeeto make Hollywood Park and Santa Anita theonly subsidized facilities in SouthernCalifornia. A drop in income and increasedexpenses for off-site stabling at Santa Anitaand Hollywood Park have created a shortageof funds and, therefore, the industry can nolonger afford the luxury of the additionaltraining centers. There are currently a total ofover 1,000 unused stalls at Santa Anita andHollywood Park, and there are only a total of400 qualified horses at the other facilities. Asa result, Fairplex will close after the Oak TreeRacing Association meet in November 2009.San Luis Rey Downs will also close, unlessenough horsemen are willing to use and payfor stalls in order to keep that facility open.Although San Luis Rey Downs may stayopen as a private facility, it will no longerreceive a subsidy. Leigh Ann Howard, whoruns that facility, is attempting to round upenough trainers and horses to justify keepingthat property open. I know Leigh Ann, and Ihave no doubt she will get that done. But, the

owners of horses that are trained there willhave to pay for the cost of keeping thatfacility open.

The closures of Fairplex and San Luis ReyDowns certainly create problems for theindustry. These facilities have traditionallyallowed trainers to prepare young horses thatare making the transition from farms toracetracks. The subsidy that has been paidover the years stands as proof of theindustry’s recognition of the importance ofhaving these facilities open. Training andbreaking young horses at Hollywood Parkand Santa Anita will have to be carefullymonitored. Schedules will have to be createdso as to avoid the dangers of havinginexperienced colts and fillies on tracks thatare being used for galloping and workingolder horses.

The lack of subsidy for additional trainingcenters will also make it more expensive toget horses ready for the major tracks. This is amove that will certainly not encouragecurrent and new owners. If neither facility isopen, owners and trainers who prefer to trainon dirt are going to be limited to trainingtracks at Hollywood Park and Santa Anitaand to private facilities. Nonetheless, thecurrent state of the economy and theunavailability of subsidy money leave nochoice for the Thoroughbred industry but tocut back on subsidized facilities.

These closures are a symptom of muchlarger problems. We are suffering from areduction in the horse population. Some timeago, we recognized that the number ofCalifornia-bred foals was decreasing. There isalso an alarming decrease in the number ofbreedings across the nation. The number ofhorses being bought out of state and broughtto California is also decreasing. As we losehorses to age, injury, or other jurisdictions,we no longer replace them. It is not unusualfor trainers who used to have 30 horses tonow have 10 or 20. As a result, field sizeshrinks and the number of races and thenumber of race days are also shrinking. Whatwe are seeing is consolidation.

Planned consolidation and new economicrealities provide an opportunity that can leadto constructive change. It is not time to panic;it is time to go to work. Racing can besuccessful. Look at the figures from the lastSanta Anita meet and the recently concludedDel Mar meet. I, for one, am not panickedabout the somewhat imminent closing ofHollywood Park. We will find a place to trainthe horses, probably Fairplex and/or DelMar. We will realign the calendar to makebetter and more profitable use of the datesthat Hollywood Park gives up. We will findbetter ways to use the internet and moreinteresting bets for the young people who areshowing up in significant numbers at all ofour tracks. I have no doubt that the solutionsare there and that innovative people will befound to turn things around. We are at atipping point, and, although I am notclairvoyant, I am optimistic.

In December, I will be leaving theCalifornia Thoroughbred Trainers in thepursuit of new goals. Therefore, I will leave itto those who succeed me and who are betterqualified to come up with solutions. From myperspective, the past ten years as ExecutiveDirector have provided me with anunimaginable decade of education,accomplishment, and satisfaction. For that Ithank the CTT Board of Directors for theirsupport, the staff for their efforts, and themembership for their input.

To those members who were not alwaysenamored by my leadership, I leave you withthe following tale. Each year, the CTT sendsout election ballots to the membership. Oneyear, we received an unmarked ballot onwhich the following note had been scribbled,“Get rid of Ed Halpern, he is a waste ofmoney.” I have kept that ballot in aprominent place on my desk, and eachmorning I use it as a reminder that each day Ihave a duty to do something that justifies mykeep. I can only hope that theaccomplishments of the organization duringthe past ten years will provide evidence of myhaving met that goal. �

By Edward I. HalpernCTT Executive Director

& General Counsel

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After traveling along the summer fair circuitsince late June, the horses and trainers arenow starting to settle back down at theirhome base of either Golden Gate Fields orPleasanton.

There is one more stop on the fair tour asdates still are to be run in Fresno inOctober. This will be the first year ever thatFresno will not run overlapped with themajors in the North. It goes without sayingthat Fresno officials are most anxious forthis historic meet. Once that fair is finished,we come back to Golden Gate Fields tofinish off the 2009 racing year.

It should be noted that the fair circuit hashad a very strong year, with the field sizesaveraging around eight horses per race allsummer.

In somewhat of an ironic twist, GoldenGate Fields was awarded an additional eightdays of racing in the upcoming 2009 months

of November and December. In going withthe trend of reducing race days, the originalschedule approved by the California HorseRacing Board had four-day race weeks inthose months. The rationale in awarding theadditional days was done to provide acohesive North/South simulcast signal. Inaddition, we usually have a strong influx oftrainers from the Northwest and Canadaduring this time frame. Thus, we have morehorses to fill the races.

With all the uncertainty related to theMagna bankruptcy filings, many trainers areleft to wonder if Golden Gate Fields will besold or continue to run as is. The bigquestion always remains: If Golden GateFields is, indeed, put up for sale, who wouldbuy it? Obviously, nobody here in the Northwould want to see Golden Gate fall to thehands of a developer. That would becatastrophic for Northern racing!

Northern California ReportBy Charles E. Dougherty, JrCTT Deputy Director



Horses and trainers return totheir home base at GoldenGate Fields – for now...

Our Minesweeper wins the The Bar t Heller during CARF racing at Golden Gate Fields, Saturday, September 12, 2009




Mendoza continues to earnhis Mr. Friday Night billing

F RIDAY Night Lights” has been asuccessful weekly televisionseries about high school footballin Texas, but Southern Californiatrainer Jesse Mendoza has been

starring in his own version.“They used to call me ‘Friday Night

Jesse’,” Mendoza said with a laugh recentlyof his ability to shine under the lights onFriday night at Hollywood Park, where he isstabled.

On a Friday night in 2007, Mendozascored his first stakes victory in the HarryHenson with Hurry Home Warren whenthe three-year-old hurried home in stakes-record time of 1:08.60 for six furlongs onturf.

“A week later, Valid’s Valid won theTuzla Stakes on turf,” said Mendoza ofanother conquest for Mr. Friday Night withthe filly. If Santa Anita or Del Mar wereinterested in installing lights, Mendozawould no doubt be willing to help withconstruction.

“Flying Bearcat, another horse that Itrained, broke his maiden on a Fridaynight,” said Mendoza. “The owner wantedto scratch because the race was the last onthe card and he didn’t want to be up untilmidnight. He didn’t come, but the horsewon going away.”

Valid’s Valid and Hurry Home Warrenboth earned close to $200,000 beforeretirement. Mendoza was particularly proudof Valid’s Valid, purchased out of a Barrettssale for $4,700.

Barretts bargains are nothing new toMendoza, who considers Golden General as good a horse as he has conditioned sincehe went on his own 13 years ago. “We paid$2,700 for him at Barretts, and he earnedclose to a quarter million,” said Mendoza.

best was Best Pal,” said Mendoza. “Theysupplemented him for $365,000 to theClassic, but he didn’t fire.” Best Pal finished10th as the second choice in the 1993Classic at Santa Anita.

Mendoza was an assistant during all 11 of Jones’s Breeders’ Cup starters, andalthough none of them won, a few wereclose. Turkoman finished second in the1986 Classic after a third-place finish in1985. The filly Meafara finished second inthe 1993 Sprint, a neck behind Cardmania. Lakeway finished third in the1995 Distaff.

Mendoza, who turns 46 on October 28,spent nearly half his life working for theJones family. He first worked at the track forFarrell Jones, Gary’s father, and worked fora few months for Marty Jones, Gary’s son,after Gary’s retirement.

“He never won a stake, but earned the mostof any horse I trained. It seemed like everytime he won, Kent Desormeaux rode. Theyhad some sort of communication.”

Mendoza will be excitedly watching theBreeders’ Cup World Championships atSanta Anita this year, hoping to send out hisfirst starter in the near future.

The closest he came was in 2006 when hepre-entered Adoradora in the JuvenileFillies for Joseph Guy Vachon, who alsoowned Flying Bearcat. The race overfilled,and Adoradora – a maiden with two starts -did not draw in.

“The owner was offered $500,000 for her,but he wanted a million,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza was close to several Breeders’Cup starters as assistant to trainer GaryJones for 21 years before the latter’sretirement in 1996. “The one I remember

By Steve Schuelein

“


“Jesse was smart-minded and went fromgroom to assistant kind of quick,” recalledGary Jones of the precocious aide from hishome in Del Mar. “Most of my help camefrom two Mexican families: Jesse – who wasmy assistant at Hollywood Park – camefrom one, and Rafael Becerra – my guy atSanta Anita – came from the other.

“I never had to get tough with any of thehelp because they policed themselves,”added Jones. “One time a horse came outwithout the bandages properly wrapped, andwhen I was leaving the barn, I could hearJesse getting all over the groom.”

Jones nowadays derives the most pleasurein racing following the accomplishments ofhis son and former assistants. “One day Iwent to Hollywood Park, and Marty, Jesse,and Rafael each won a race,” said Jones of aparticularly rewarding trip.

Mendoza said he learned a great deal inthe Jones barn. “I learned how to maintain ahorse and look for all the vital signs,” saidMendoza. “The most important thing iscommon sense – that doesn’t apply to theowners a lot of times.”

Mendoza mentioned one deviation from aJones training principle. “Gary worked hishorses every five days religiously,” saidMendoza. “It was too much for somehorses.”

The job with Jones enabled Mendoza tosee New York. “I went with him one time toBelmont when Rose Cream ran in theCoaching Club American Oaks,” saidMendoza of a memorable 1985 trip. “I wentas the groom, and Gary went as the trainerand hot walker.”

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mendozamoved to this country with his parents when

he was five and has been on the track eversince. “This is the only job I have had andknow,” said Mendoza. “I do it for the love ofthe horses.”

Mendoza also assisted trainer Ben Cecilfor four years during the late 1990s whilefirst going on his own after Jones retired.

Mendoza credited veteran owner TerryQuinn as the most positive influence on hislife and career. “He helped me when I wasstruggling with just a couple of horses andgave me moral support to achieve my goalsin life,” said Mendoza of the 77-year-oldowner.

Mendoza lives in Bell Gardens with hiswife Lorena. They have three children:Cristal, Jesse Jr., and Ruby. Society maysoon be losing a good assistant trainer andgaining a good police officer in Jesse Jr., 21,who is about to graduate from the policeacademy after assisting his father in recentyears.

Candy Pull has emerged as the currentstar of Mendoza’s 10-horse stable. “He’s aCinderella story,” said Mendoza of the four-year-old California-bred gelding. “Weclaimed him last year for $20,000 at GoldenGate Fields, and he has won five races andearned more than $100,000. He’s a littlemoney-making machine.”

Candy Pull since finished second in thePirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar inSeptember 2009. �



Hurry Home Warren(rail) won nearly$175,000 for Mendoza

“Flying Bearcat broke his maiden on aFriday night. The owner wanted to scratchbecause the race was the last on the card andhe didn’t want to be up until midnight. Hedidn’t come, but the horse won going away.”


PROFILE


JohnShirreffs

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JOHN SHIRREFFS


A STEADY stream of admirersmaneuvers their way to thebackstretch, hopeful for aglimpse at “the big horse.” Heraccommodating trainer greets

them all with a friendly smile. John Shirreffswears the mantle of Zenyatta’s keepergraciously; there’s no grandstanding in thisshedrow. Onlookers gather by thesawhorses that double as a saddlerack –high-withered Zenyatta’s tall-tree saddle ison there somewhere – and names ofracing’s acclaimed greats float through theair, because a horse like Zenyatta brings thatout in people. But two days before theGrade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes, in whichShirreffs trainees Life is Sweet and Zenyattawill run as an uncoupled entry, he doesn’tconcern himself with such talk.

Getting to know the trainer during thisvery stressful time promised to be a crashcourse in Shirreffs-ology, an opportunity toobserve the man when the world is on hisshoulders. John Shirreffs: Raw andUncensored. Instead, the world is sittingsquarely on Atlas’ shoulders, and Shirreffs,well, he’s lounging in a hammock in his barnat Del Mar Racetrack. Steve Willard,champion Zenyatta’s exercise rider,provides the obvious caption: “We’re a verylaid back barn here.”

Nerves are kept to a minimum as theHirsch, and five-year-old Zenyatta’sunbeaten record, looms. “You know howstreaks are. They do end.” Shirreffs laughs.“It would be sad, but it happens.” As for thepressure, “I try not to think about it,” hesays. “I learned a little trick a long time ago.I give myself a job: I’m putting the saddleon. So I never think about the race, I justthink about putting the saddle on. I know itsounds silly, but…”

As a boy of ten or 11, Kansas-born

Having previously wonthe Kentucky Derby withGiacomo, media-shyJohn Shirreffs is back inthe spotlight with hisunbeaten filly Zenyatta.Frances J. Karon meetsa man genuinelyunaffected by fame andwho lives for his horsesand the pleasure theirsuccess gives his ownersand fans alike

Among the adoring fans coming tomeet Zenyatta on the morning of theHirsch are Bo Derek, her sister Ker ryPerez and niece MacKenzie, shownhere with Zenyatta and John Shir reffs


PROFILE


Shirreffs, who grew up on the East Coast,spent weekends in a Long Island liverystable owned by Irish brothers, “Uncle”Eddie and “Uncle” Hughie Gormley. Heand other children mucked stalls inexchange for lunch. Rainy days cleaningtack around a pot-bellied stove while men,some from the track, played cards, drank teaand swapped stories, was just the kind ofenvironment to draw in a young boy. “Itwas fun, a great atmosphere,” he says. The“uncles” gave Shirreffs riding lessons, andbefore long he was giving lessons himself,riding next to inexperienced city folk andteaching them how to post by moving themup and down with a hand on their elbow.

Later, after the wannabe surfer hadcompleted a stint in the Marine Corpsduring the Vietnam War and migrated tothe board-friendly waves of California, hebegan working at a cattle spread after acowboy named Jim Matthews offered him ajob to teach an Appaloosa to jump forroom, board and the princely sum of fivedollars a week. One day, Shirreffs was ridingto another farm and his horse became stuckin a mud bog up to his knees and hocks. “I’dnever been there so I didn’t know that theground was like,” he says. “Being from NewYork, how the hell would I know whatground looks like anyway?!” As he guidedthe horse out of the muck, Henry Freitas,manager of Loma Rica Ranch, promptlyasked him to break his yearlings.Presumably, Freitas hadn’t seen Shirreffsride the horse into the mud, or, if he had,says Shirreffs, “Well, he might have thought,‘That’s my kind of person, not too smart!’”

T HUS began John Shirreffs’involvement withThoroughbreds, when thedreams of a drifting surferwere preempted by a love of

and talent for horses, and Freitas became hismentor. “He had the patience to teach meabout racehorses. One of the stories that Ilike about Henry was when we were busyduring breaking season and it was getting alittle late, and I wasn’t sure if we had time toget all the sets out, so I said, ‘Henry, we’dbetter hurry up or we might not make thelast set.’ And he looked at me and said,‘John, we’re not going to rush this set.These horses are going to get this job done.Then we’ll go on to the next one.’ Thatalways had a big impact on me. He was veryright. We have to do each individual jobcorrectly to do a good job.”

Marty Wygod, for whom Shirreffsconditioned Grade 1 winner After Marketand currently has 2009 Grade 1 winner Lifeis Sweet – coming into the Hirsch off a thirdin the Hollywood Gold Cup against males –stops by on Friday morning to watch hisfour-year-old filly school in the paddock andjog over the Polytrack. Before Isabel Bourez

gets a leg up, Shirreffs stretches Life isSweet’s limbs and tells her owner,“She loves this!” From a few feetaway, Wygod shoots back, “I think youlove it.”

Shirreffs, says Wygod, “identifies withthe horses. He understands their specificcharacteristics and he goes to a greatdegree of individualizing his training withthem. He lives for it. I mean, the barn is hishome. It’s a love and a passion for him, andit’s nice to see. He loves what he does to adegree that you can see it – he just loves it.”

This morning, Shirreffs alternates viewingpoints as he escorts each set to the track, butwherever he goes, shouts of “Good luck!”follow him. “Oh, thank you,” he answersquietly each time, sounding a littlesurprised. He walks with a swinging gait, thevestige of an injury suffered the day after lastThanksgiving, when his pony wheeledbeneath him and cracked his pelvis.

This is the media-elusive John Shirreffs.He shies from the limelight wheneverpossible, but he’s neither aloof norunapproachable. When strangers come upto shake his hand, he listens politely andshows them pictures on his iPhone. Theseare the moments he loves the most, seeingfirst-hand how much enjoyment people getfrom his horses. To be so unaffected by andimmune to fame and glory for oneself israre, but with Shirreffs, it’s genuine. The

man who stays out ofthe winner’s circle sothat he can watch hisowners’ and friends’

reactions says, “I justenjoy looking at

everybody beinghappy.”

Shirreffs begantraining a small stable in 1978, with

his first stakes winner, Jade Ring, onthe California fair circuit in 1980. Toomodest for self-promotion – even now, withall his success, he will only say, “I’ve beenlucky” – Shirreffs left the training ranks andbecame assistant first to Brian Mayberry,then Bill Spawr, until 1994, when he tookover a private stable for Ed Nahem andMarshall Naify’s 505 Farms, overseeing thesuccessful return of Bertrando from studduty, until Naify died in 2000.

David Ingordo, the Central Kentuckyhorseman who assists numerous high-profile clients with their bloodstockinterests and who spotted Zenyatta as ayearling, introduced Shirreffs to Jerry andAnn Moss’ racing manager – his mother,Dottie – in 2000, suggesting that Shirreffsreceive some of the Mosses string. He hadmet Shirreffs in 1992, when Ingordo’s bossBobby Frankel loaned the then-teenager asa driver to Dr. Helmuth Von Bluecher forthe Hollywood meet. Ingordo says, “Therewere two things that impressed me abouthim: one, he actually talked to me, when alot of the other trainers wouldn’t because

A relaxed Shirreffs runs a laid-back barn



JOHN SHIRREFFS

they thought I was just looking in their barnto find out what they were doing, knowingthat I was working for Bobby. But John wasalways nice to me.

“And number two, I was impressed withthe care he gave to his horses. When you’rewith a vet you look at all the horses that arehaving problems, so for 60 days straight Iwould go to his barn and I saw a lot of what was going on, and I was alwaysimpressed how he handled the problems andhow he used the vet for diagnosis, not just totrain his horses. He was making his owndecisions and would even come up withthings that the vets didn’t at times, and hewould be right. The quality of hishorsemanship is one of his hallmarks to thisday.”

Shirreffs was signed on as trainer for theMosses. It was a good match all around; so

good, in fact, that the trainer married DottieIngordo in 2003.

Many of Shirreffs’ top horses – such asGrade 1 winners Zenyatta, Giacomo, Tiago,and Tarlow – have run in the green-and-pink silks of the Mosses. Jerry Moss says,“Aside from John’s love of the game he has areal appreciation for a beautiful horse. Hetakes endless pictures and he studies themand studies the horses all the time. ‘Now,that foot hits the ground that way…’ It’s justfascinating to watch him and to listen towhat he says. He’s got a sense of humor thatworks, which is terribly important to have ina game like this. And yet,” concludes Moss,“he’s incredibly honest about things, so he’sa pleasure to work with as well as a pleasureto be around.”

Ingordo-Shirreffs describes her husbandsimilarly. “He likes the time between twelve

and three because it’s quiet. He’ll just sitoutside a horse’s stall for hours and observethem, try to figure out something that canhelp them. ‘What can I do to help this horse?What can I change?’ That’s the difference.”

By choice, 64-year-old Shirreffs trains arelatively small stable. “I don’t like to losetrack,” he explains. “I’m a little bit of acontrol freak. I like to know. I enjoy thehorses, I enjoy the interaction. I wouldn’t besuccessful as a management person.” Helaughs slowly. “I’d be in the mail room!”

Not a management person, perhaps, butShirreffs, who periodically posts works andsnippets of barn life on YouTube, is certainlyan ambassador. “I like to do the videosbecause it shows the backside,” he says,“which is something a lot of the fans don’tget to see. A race takes two minutes, or aminute and a half, and there’s so much morethat goes on before the race.” Helmet-cam footage and audio posted onthe “jonshfs05” channel on YouTube ofMike Smith breezing Zenyatta provides arush few people beyond jockeys Mike Smith,David Flores and daily exercise Steve Willard will ever experience first-hand.

The irony of Rachel Alexandra nottraveling to Santa Anita for the 2009Breeders’ Cup because of the syntheticsurface is that, like that filly’s co-owner JessJackson, Shirreffs doesn’t care for theartificial footing. He cites an exodus ofracehorses away from California, where allracetracks are comprised of synthetics:“Whether you like it or don’t like it, we’relosing horses. That’s never good for a racingprogram. Look at the horses that are leavingCalifornia; that to me is a real, trueindication of how it is. If it’s great, peopleare coming here, because California has thebest weather for horseracing.”

“He lives for it. Imean, the barn is hishome. It’s a love anda passion for him,and it’s nice to see.He loves what hedoes to a degree thatyou can see it – hejust loves it”Marty Wygod

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss after Shirreffs-trained Giacomo won the 2005 Kentucky Derby

The Shirreffs feeding routine involves the team-motivational "mush mush time"



PROFILE

He continues, “One type of injury hasbeen replaced by another type of injury.Probably one of the most frustrating thingsfor a trainer is there’s no early warning. Youcan go check your horses’ ankles every day,they feel good, and then one day the son ofa gun is lame and you can’t fix it because it’sgone too far.

“They probably spent a hundred milliondollars around the whole country withsynthetic tracks, wouldn’t you say? Close toit, or more. What happens if they wouldhave put a hundred million dollars into theresearch on horse injuries: broken legs,laminitis, and they found some way to fix ahorse’s leg, how to prevent laminitis? Notonly would that help all the horses on theracetrack, but it would help every backyardhorse around the world. It would have doneso much more for the horses in general.”

When in 2005 Giacomo’s KentuckyDerby win thrust Shirreffs into the spotlight– albeit reluctantly, just ask the NBCproducer who had to beg him to participatein the winner’s circle presentation whenShirreffs just wanted to be with his horse –we learned about the horse smoothie.“Those were the days of bigger, stronger,faster. Those days are gone,” he says now.“On synthetic tracks, you cannot train thembigger, stronger, faster, because they can’thandle that workload on a synthetic track.Giacomo liked apple and carrot juice, so westarted off with that, adding a little bit ofprotein. We didn’t want to add more bulk tohis feed because they have small stomachsand there’s only so much feed you can getthrough, so we came up with this thing thatwould not only stimulate his appetite butwould also add protein. You know, you feed

them the same thing all the time and it getsreal dull.”

“Dull” is the antonym for feeding timearound the Shirreffs barn, the whirlwind thatis known as “mush mush time.” That’s“mush” as in “push,” not “rush.” “You guysready?”, he calls out, his voice gettingdeeper. Someone – it’s all a blur – wheelsout the feed cart, and Shirreffs puts on a pairof gloves and grabs a scoop in each hand.His help flits around at full speed, presentinghim with feed tubs from every direction withan almost simultaneous chorus of “Aitcho

morning” or “Starzig afternoon,” and heprocesses and shovels out each horse’s feedorder from memory with lightning speed.“We’ve got a little New York deli going onhere,” he jokes. When it’s time to move tothe next point, he yells, “Mush mush! Let’sgo!” as if this were the Iditarod. Shirreffs willeven break out into a song, or at least arhythmic chanting of “mush mush,” as themood permits. The feeding routine is “alittle motivational technique,” and it seemsto work. “You’ve got to have fun when youcan. You know how it is!”

“What happens ifthey would have puta hundred milliondollars into theresearch on horseinjuries? Not onlywould that help allthe horses on theracetrack, but itwould help everybackyard horsearound the world”

Exercise rider FrankieHerrarte and Shirreffsengaged in a pre-workoutdiscussion at the barn


His horses eat “about seven” times a day– “We want to be unusual. I am from the60s!” he reminds – and are fed from smallrubber tubs on the ground. “I use thembecause they become a toy for themafterwards – they can flip them up, throwthem around, kick them out.” Indeed, aGiant’s Causeway colt is holding his in histeeth, tossing his head in a scene straightout of Oliver Twist. It’s not uncommon tofind a groom sitting beside a stall, hand-feeding. “However it works best for thehorse,” says Shirreffs.

Another perk of being a horse in this barnis assistant trainer Michelle Jensen, whoregularly performs massage therapy onthem. In the office she shares with Shirreffs,a pink saddlecloth that belonged toHollywood Story, who Jensen used toexercise – owner George Krikorian also hadGrade 1 winner Starrer with Shirreffs –keeps dust off the computer.

The Shirreffs stable area is still serene onSunday, raceday. Between a set, Shirreffssettles into his hammock, by all appearancesas relaxed as he was on Friday. “Hard atwork!” says Steve Willard, “Take a picture!”Shirreffs covers his face with hisomnipresent Mill Ridge hat and says, “No,really, it wasn’t me!”

Six hours before post time for the 8thrace, two employees of the California HorseRacing Board bring lawn chairs and settle inwhere one can keep an eye on Zenyatta inStall 7, and the other on Life is Sweet in Stall8. Welcome to the California version of thedetention barn. Shirreffs is not a fan of thedetention barn practice in other racingjurisdictions, where runners have to move toa strange barn for secure monitoring. “How

can that be good for hours before a race, tohave them all stirred up?” Shirreffs asks. “Isthat crazy or what?” In their home stalls atDel Mar, Life is Sweet and Zenyatta arecontent and unconcerned.

Most of the help disperses after traininghours. Shirreffs remains. He pulls out hislaptop and goes through photos, pausingoften to tell a story. There’s Zenyatta, lyingdown in her stall as a two-year-old, with GusAdair curled up beside her, massaging hertendons with aloe vera. There are pictures ofGiacomo in his stall at Adena Springs, withAnn Moss scratching his ear through thebars. He seems especially proud ofindividual photos of his team who wereintegral in the development of Giacomo:each poses holding the Kentucky Derbytrainer’s trophy. “Well, I think there’s notmuch thought,” he answers when proddedon his finest training accomplishment. “TheDer-beee!”

A S afternoon approaches,Shirreffs runs home for a quickchange of clothes. When hereturns, the only outwardsuggestion that the trainer is

nervous is an occasional stroll, meandering infront of stalls, stopping to go in and run hishand down a leg here and there. Or, he’llstand a distance across from Life is Sweetand Zenyatta, studying them. Life is Sweetdozes, while Zenyatta nibbles at the rope thatnormally holds a haynet outside her stall.

When it’s time, both runners are prepped– Mario Espinoza on Zenyatta, withGiacomo’s old groom Frank Leal subbingfor Espinoza on Life is Sweet – and leave forthe receiving barn. Life is Sweet takes the

lead; Shirreffs, ball cap pulled down tight tothe top of his glasses like a protective mask,and his wife bring up the rear. Like hertrainer, Zenyatta is a study in control: onlyher dance maneuver betrays her excitementto run. She circles around the arena with theother contenders without taking any noticeof them. Shirreffs stands in the middle,focused on both of his horses. As the 7thrace goes off, Zenyatta halts, ears pricked,mesmerized by the voice of Trevor Denmancalling the race. No one rushes Zenyatta.(Nobody ever rushes Zenyatta.) She standslike a 17-hand bronze statue before takingEspinoza for another walk, pausing againhalfway around, fascinated that there’s a raceshe’s not in. Espinoza brings her into themiddle of the arena and Shirreffs goes overand talks to her.

Zenyatta makes her entrance into thepaddock and when she stops to survey thescene, the crowd breaks into a loud cheer.Behind her, Life is Sweet spooks, andZenyatta throws her head and springs intomotion. Espinoza leads her into the cornerof the #10 saddling stall, staying at her headto keep her shielded from the commotion.With a steady hand, Shirreffs saddles #7 Lifeis Sweet, then Zenyatta: with the saddles on,his job is, as he says, done.

Shirreffs spends a reflective moment inthe empty 10 stall, and Willard tosses MikeSmith onto the black mare’s back. Amid arush of scrambling to box seats and tables,Shirreffs slips away to watch the race aloneat ground level. He’s not exactly incognito,but the fans afford him a little privacy as theHirsch plays out on the track: under regular rider Garrett Gomez, second-choiceLife is Sweet fails to fire, and behind slowfractions Zenyatta belatedly unleashes afurious frenzy to win by a head, withoutbreaking a sweat. That her record remainsperfect – at 12-for-12 – is no accident; likea grandmaster at chess, Shirreffs hascalculated every move with precision.

The trainer eases his cap up on hisforehead, smiles, hugs friends, andmasterfully avoids the overflowing winner’scircle.

He’d like to follow his horses – Zenyattagoes to the testing barn, and Life is Sweetgoes home – but attends a press conferenceinstead. When he breaks free, he hurries tothe barn to look them over and asks aboutwhat he missed in the last hour. Satisfied allis well, he speaks to some fans, then relievesLeal to handgraze Life is Sweet, gentlychastising her as she strips bark away from atree. After a few minutes, someone offers totake Life is Sweet from Shirreffs. “No, I’vegot her,” he says, relaxed, resting a hand onher withers and enjoying the quiet time withhis horse.� (At press time, Zenyatta won the Grade 1Lady's Secret Stakes at Oak Tree at SantaAnita to remain undefeated in 13 starts.)

Shirreffs keeps Lifeis Sweet in line afterthe Hirsch


PROFILE


VETERINARY

EQUINENEUROLOGY

This article covers the complex topic in a straightforward manner to aid thereader’s understanding of some of the most common neurological conditions ofthe racehorse, such as the ‘wobbler syndrome’, Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM),

‘stringhalt’ and the neurological consequences of head and neck trauma. By James Tate BVMS MRCVS

NEUROLOGICAL problemsin racehorses are notuncommon and when they dooccur, they can be hugelysignificant. Horses suffering

from neurological disease are often not


diagnosed that quickly because trainers havea tendency not to consider a neurologicalproblem unless it becomes glaringly obvious.The complaint is often vague – an unusuallameness or gait, a history of clumsiness orfalling, or a blow to the head.

The neurological examination andlocalization of the problemThe primary aim of the veterinaryneurological examination is to establishwhether a neurological problem is present.It is only after this that the vet can begin to

Do you have to be a brain surgeon to understand it?

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NEUROLOGY


analyze all the signs in an attempt to localizethe problem, for example, to the brain orspinal cord.

The physical examination begins withassessment of the horse’s general behaviorand mental status before examining thenerve reflexes of the head, most of whichcan be easily tested with a mint. The horsehears the rustle of the mint wrapper, beforesmelling the mint, seeing it, taking it with itslips and tongue, using its facial muscle tochew it before finally swallowing. The nexttime readers feed a mint to a horse, theynow know that they are actually testingmany complex neurological pathways!

The vet may then proceed to examiningthe horse’s body – starting with the neckbefore moving onto the fore limbs, the back,the hind limbs and finally the tail andperineal area. Horses are then assessed atwalk and trot before being asked to performsome more demanding tests, for examplethe ‘tail-pull’ test, turning the horse in tightcircles, or asking the horse to walk whilstblindfolded.

Once the neurological examination iscomplete, the results are analyzed by the vetwho may then be able to localize theproblem. The presence or absence ofdifferent reflexes can tell the examiner agreat deal about the exact location of theproblem, whether it is in the brain or thespinal cord. For example, if a horse shows

hind limb incoordination but its front limbsappear unaffected, then the problem lies inthe spinal cord behind the withers butahead of the tail. On the other hand, if thehead reflexes are normal but the horseshows front and hind limb incoordination,then the problem must lie in the spinal cordbetween the head and the withers.

WobblersOne of the most common and importantneurological conditions of the racehorse isthe ‘classical wobbler syndrome.’ The term‘wobbler’ describes exactly what such horseslook like – they are uncoordinated andwobbly. It is more accurately described as‘cervical vertebral malformation’ as it isproduced by bony abnormalities in thehorse’s neck vertebrae putting pressure onthe spinal cord and so causing the horse tobe uncoordinated. There are two maintypes of bony abnormality – narrowing ofthe vertebral canal through which the spinalcord runs, which causes problems for thehorse whichever way the neck is positioned,and instability of the neck vertebrae, whichmainly causes problems for the horse whenits neck is flexed upwards. However,determining the specific problem in ahorse’s neck is often academic unlesssurgery is being considered and so the levelof incoordination shown by the horse is themost important piece of information.

The exact cause of why a horse shoulddevelop bony changes in its neck vertebraeand become a wobbler is unknown. There issome evidence that it might be genetic,however, successful stallions such asAnabaa, who was diagnosed as a wobbler inhis youth, have gone some way to showingthat genetics can only be part of the picture.It has also been suggested that the wobbler

Having been diagnosed as a ‘ wobbler’when he was a foal, Shamardal defiedthe odds and became a champion, winning the Group One DarleyDewhurst as a two-year-old, beforegoing on to score in three fur therGroup One contests as a three-year-old (pictured opposite winning the Prix du Jockey-Club). Now at stud, hisprogeny are already making their presence felt in the winners’ enclosure.

Anabaa was diagnosed as a ‘ wobbler’when he was two years old butrecovered to become a championracehorse and a very successful sirebefore dying in July this year


VETERINARY


syndrome develops as a result of adevelopmental bony disorder similar toosteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Thisdoes fit in well with the fact that wobblersare most commonly seen in fast growingmale Thoroughbreds and that nutrition ofthe growing horse also seems to play a part.Essentially, the spinal cord is tightly held ina small bony canal formed by the horse’svertebrae and any tiny bony change to thesevertebrae can put significant pressure on thespinal cord and hence cause incoordination.

A fall or stumble almost always instigatesthe first veterinary examination and theappearance of a wobbler is quitecharacteristic. Flexion of the neck is oftenpainful whereas back pain is unusual.Wobblers show equal incoordination onboth sides and the hind legs are alwaysaffected while the front legs can be normalin some horses. Wobblers often showsomething called ‘hypermetria,’ which isalso known as ‘goose stepping,’ where thehorse over-flexes its leg, walking in anexaggerated way.

Suspected wobblers are usually asked toperform some demanding tests, which aredesigned to highlight any incoordination.This often begins with asking the horse toturn in tight circles, where it may find ithard to place its feet correctly and oftenends up standing on the other foot,stumbling and stopping in an abnormalposition. Having assessed the horse turning,many will then ask the horse to reverse,which also shows off incoordination asmoving backwards requires morecoordination than moving forwards.

The list of manipulative neurological testsis nearly endless but many of these are veryuseful when assessing a potential wobbler.

For example, the ‘tail-pull test’ revealshindlimb weakness, the ‘hop test’ revealsany front leg incoordination, and asking awobbler to walk when holding its head uphigh can cause increased incoordination inhorses with neck vertebrae instability.

The incoordination of a wobbler can be

graded using a number of differentclassifications, most of which vary from zeroto five, with zero being normal and fivebeing a severely uncoordinated horse thatcannot stand let alone walk. This scale isuseful for monitoring progress and forinsurance purposes. Some insurance

A sequence of photographs illustrating anuncoordinated horse being asked to turnin a tight left-handed circle

A horse being asked to reverse, which requires more coordination than moving for wards


dye into the spinal column that shows upbrightly on x-ray – something that is knownas a myelogram. When performed, thisshows very clearly where any compressionmay be. However, this is not commonlycarried out because it is a dangerousprocedure for a number of reasons – the dye is an irritant, and any injection here isdangerous, with the uncoordinated horsethen expected to get up smoothly after theanesthetic without injuring itself further.

Unfortunately, little can be done to aidthe recovery of a wobbler. Wobblers areoften treated with long courses of anti-inflammatories and rested for up to sixmonths in the hope that the problem maysettle. However, this is not straightforwardas the horses often become very fresh.Another issue with wobblers is that even ifthey recover, how safe are they to ride? Iftheir incoordination has been blamed onchanges seen on neck x-rays, then theproblem could recur. Neck surgery issometimes attempted but success is far fromguaranteed. All of these concerns andthoughts come together to make thediagnosis of a wobbler a damning one in somany cases, which makes the fairytalestories of Anabaa and Shamardal even moreextraordinary.

Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM)Some say that EPM is now the mostcommon neurological disease affectinghorses in the USA. The disease causes verysimilar signs to those shown by a wobblerbut cases can have a considerably betteroutcome. The initial signs are often vaguefindings such as lethargy and horsesknocking themselves at exercise but thesemay progress to obvious incoordination andweakness and sometimes severely affectedhorses cannot even stand. Although morecommon in young horses, the disease canaffect horses of any age.

In 1991 researchers found that EPM wascaused by a small protozoal organism calledSarcocystis neurona, which is common inNorth and South America. The Sarcocystislifecycle must involve its definitive host orcarrier, the Virginia Possum, and for a horseto become infected it must ingest theSarcocystis from possum feces when, forexample, grazing in a field.

The horse does not pass on Sarcocystisand so becomes infected with the organism,which targets its brain and spinal cordresulting in an uncoordinated horse.

Several new studies, however, have shownthat the exact cause of EPM is not as clear-cut as it seemed. Uninfected horses were fedup to 60 million Sarcocystis neuronasporocysts from the feces of infectedpossums but the signs of EPM were notalways seen. In essence, EPM continues topuzzle vets. Currently, it seems that there aretwo possibilities. Firstly, it is another species

A horse being asked towalk with its head heldup high. This is animportant test for awobbler because thehorse is being asked tomove while maintainingupward flexion of itsneck, which is the siteof the problem. Mostwobblers showincoordination whenperforming this test buthorses with neckvertebrae instabilitycan often be muchworse.

The photograph above illustrates the ‘tail pull test.’ The horse is ask ed to walk in astraight line while the vet pulls the horse’s tail to the side. Whereas a nor mal horseweighing about 1100 pounds should easily be able to resist the pull of a human who isonly about a tenth of its weight, a wobbler is quite easily pulled to the side, as it hasneither normal hind leg coordination nor normal hind leg strength. The horse beingtested is easily pulled to the side.

The ‘hop test’. Whencarrying out this test, theveterinary surgeonusually holds up a frontleg and asks the horseto hop using its otherfront leg. Severewobblers have beenknown to fall during thistest but most juststruggle to perform it,stopping in an abnormalposition. Thephotograph illustrates ahorse struggling toperform the test.

policies do pay out if a horse is diagnosed asa wobbler of a certain grade, but as withmost types of insurance, wobbler clauses arenot always straightforward.

Wobblers are usually diagnosed using acombination of clinical signs and x-rays.The neck is x-rayed and abnormalities are

searched for that might explain theincoordination. It is usually possible to findsmall bony changes associated with some ofthe neck vertebrae and if so, this will be themost likely site of the spinal cordcompression that is causing theincoordination. It is also possible to inject a

VETERINARY



of Sarcocystis that causes EPM and notSarcocystis neurona. Secondly, anotherfactor or agent predisposes a horse todevelop the disease. Nevertheless, it doesappear to be fairly concrete that possumsplay a pivotal role in horses becominginfected with the disease and so horseowners are well advised to try and keep thetwo species separate.

The task facing the vet is often to decidewhether a particular horse has EPM orclassical wobbler syndrome. The mostcommon clinical differences are that horseswith EPM often show forelimbincoordination and usually display moreadvanced signs on one side, whereaswobblers often show only hind limbincoordination and are usually equallyaffected on both sides. Confirmation of thediagnosis of EPM is not straightforward as a blood test only shows that a horse hascome into contact with the disease (not necessarily become infected with it) andalthough a spinal fluid sample can confirmthe disease, it is still possible to get falsepositive and false negative results. Recentextensive blood testing has revealed thatover half the horses in areas with high ratesof EPM, for example, the Midwest and

Northeast, seem to have been exposed toSarcocystis but only a small percentagedevelop neurological signs.

Nevertheless, perhaps the biggestdifference between EPM and the classicalwobbler syndrome is that EPM is treatablein a large proportion of cases if therapy isinitiated quickly. Several different types ofanti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory drughave to be given to the horse for a longperiod of time, but a significant percentageof horses can recover and race successfullyand only a small percentage have to beeuthanized. There is also the possibility of avaccine becoming available in the future.

Stringhalt‘Stringhalt’ is an involuntary, repetitive,exaggerated flexion reflex of the hock. As the horse walks, it flexes its hock in anexaggerated manner with every stride. Some horses have a mild form of thecondition in which it is only noticeable atwalk and has no effect on the horse’s athletic ability. However, horses with asevere form of the condition can actuallytouch their belly with their hoof on everystride and the stringhalt can limit theirathletic ability. Treatment is often ineffective

but when the condition first becomesapparent, rest and anti-inflammatories areusually initiated to try and resolve theproblem or at least limit its severity. There isa surgery in which a specific tendon is cut,which can abolish the condition in somehorses but this is not often attempted unlessthe condition is preventing the horse frombeing an athlete.

The stringhalt described above is oftenreferred to as ‘classical stringhalt’ in order todifferentiate it from ‘Australian stringhalt,’which is seen in the southern hemisphere.Australian stringhalt causes affected horsesto walk with the same strange gait describedabove but it often affects both hind legs. It iscaused by the ingestion of plant toxins andso is usually found in several horses grazingon a specific pasture.

Acute Head or Neck TraumaHorses bang their heads with alarmingregularity; however, if a horse receives ablow of sufficient strength in a specificplace, it can result in severe neurologicalconsequences. When the neurological signsdo not disappear immediately, the attendingvet will perform a thorough neurologicalexamination which attempts to localize the

VETERINARY


The lifecycle of Sarcosytis neuronaThe organism is accidentally passed on to the horse via possum faeces


An x-ray showing a severe fracture of a horse’s neck ver tebra. Horses with such injuries show obvious incoordination as a result of compression on the spinal cord and recovery from such an injury is highly unlikely.

A post-surgery x-ray showing a metalimplant called a ‘kerf cut cylinder,’ whichis stabilizing a neck ver tebra in anattempt to reduce the horse’sincoordination.

problem to a specific part of the brain, or atthe very least to establish whether theproblem is in the brain or the spinal cord.Head and neck x-rays are carried out andsometimes the cause becomes clear so therequired treatment is obvious. However,more commonly, the x-rays show nosignificant abnormalities and then decidingupon a treatment plan difficult.

For many years, both doctors and vetsadministered the strongest type of anti-inflammatory at their disposal – thecorticosteroids. However, new extensiveresearch carried out in human patients hassurprisingly revealed that not only dopatients not seem to improve for theadministration of corticosteroids but thatthese drugs actually seem to be potentiallyharmful. While some vets still givecorticosteroids to horses who suffer fromacute head or neck trauma, this humanresearch has encouraged many of them notto use this type of drug. As a result,treatment now comprises of goodmanagement of the situation, for example,maintaining breathing, reducing swellingusing other drugs, preventing secondaryinjury and good nursing. The prognosis forhorses following head trauma andneurological signs is variable and highlyunpredictable.

Other neurological conditionsThere is a long list of equine neurologicalconditions but there are a few more that areworthy of mention particularly with regardto racehorses. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1)is best known for causing respiratory

problems in horses or abortion in pregnantmares but it can also cause neurologicaldisease. Treatment is not easy and hencemany vaccinate against the disease.

There are also a number of conditionsthat result from damage to specific nerveswith perhaps the best example being‘Sweeney.’ This condition results fromdamage to the suprascapular nerve that isusually caused by trauma, for example, acollision with another horse or a solidobject such as a fence. The nerve damagethen slowly leads to marked muscle loss ofthe shoulder, and a few months after theincident the amount of muscle loss can bequite alarming. Fortunately, the conditionusually resolves with rest but the musclesoften require up to eighteen months toregenerate. �

NEUROLOGY



RACETRACK


SANTA ANITA75 years old this December

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One of the world’s greatest racecourses, Santa Anita,celebrates its 75th anniversary on December 25. Larry Bortstein takes a look back at the colorfulhistory of the Arcadia, California, venue that plays

host to the Breeders’ Cup this year for the fifth time

THERE would seem to be littlehistoric significance to theseventh race at Santa Anita onOctober 16, 1988. The six-furlong allowance event was

captured by an Idaho-bred two-year-oldnamed Bet on the Blurr, who won by a headin 1:10.60 under Eddie Delahoussaye.

The true significance of the mundanerace on a mundane day at the Oak Treemeet comes from discovering the name ofthe winning trainer.

It was the first victory in a Thoroughbredrace for Bob Baffert.

“I felt like I had just won the KentuckyDerby,” said Baffert, who would go on towin the actual Kentucky Derby three timesand is the most recent trainer enshrined inthe National Racing Museum and Hall ofFame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

In 1988, Baffert, a training star of QuarterHorses for a decade, was beginning anattempted conversion to the world ofThoroughbreds and didn’t know if it wouldwork out.

“A Quarter Horse jockey had worked thehorse five-eighths in about :58 seconds andcouldn’t believe how much slowerThoroughbreds were,” Baffert recalled. “Iworried about it because I didn’t know anybetter.”

Baffert eventually figured it out. He hasbeen a towering presence in SouthernCalifornia and American Thoroughbredracing for most of the past 20 years. Whenhe entered the Hall of Fame in August, hejoined such past and present Santa Anitatraining luminaries as Tom Smith, RedMcDaniel, William Molter, Mesh Tenney,Charlie Whittingham, Laz Barrera, RonMcAnally, Jack Van Berg, Bobby Frankel,D.Wayne Lukas, Richard Mandella and NeilDrysdale.

The roster of conditioning notables whohave done business on the Santa Anitabackstretch also includes such potentcombinations as brothers Mel and WarrenStute, as well as Mel’s son Gary, and father-son duos Charlie and Mike Whittingham,Wally and Craig Dollase and Richard andGary Mandella.

Marty Jones, who is carving out a solidreputation of his own, is a third-generationtrainer, following his late grandfatherFarrell, an eight-time training champion atSanta Anita, and retired father Gary, whotwice won the Santa Anita Handicap.

These men and the horses they handled –names like Seabiscuit, Swaps, Round Table,Affirmed, John Henry, Ferdinand, Alyshebaand Sunday Silence – are among thethousands who have written gloriouschapters in the history of the Arcadia,California, track, a saga that will mark its75th anniversary on Christmas Day.

One of the most lasting traditions inAmerican sport since 1977 has been the

day-after-Christmas opening of each SantaAnita meet.

It was December 25, 1934, a Tuesday,when the picturesque track first opened itsdoors with the San Gabriel Mountainsserving as a gorgeous backdrop.

With such national entertainmentcelebrities as Clark Gable, Fred Astaire andAl Jolson among the nearly 10,000 inattendance, Las Palmas, a five-year-old maretrained by Ted Horning and ridden by JackWestrope, won the seven-furlongCalifornia-Bred Handicap, the track’s firstrace. She returned $14.60 for winning thetop purse in the $800 event.

The opening-day feature was the $5,000,one-mile Christmas Stakes, won by HighGlee, a three-year-old filly ridden by SilvioCoucci for trainer Tom Healey.

Santa Anita was the brainchild of Dr.Charles Strub, a San Francisco dentist whomade his fortune with a chain of painless-drilling centers.

Owner and operator of the successful SanFrancisco franchise in baseball’s PacificCoast League, he set his racing sights

The groundbreaking ceremony (above)for the building of the racetrack in March,1934; Dr. Charles Strub (right) and hisbackers built Santa Anita for $1million

southward when he was rebuffed in hisattempt to build a track in his hometownafter California legislated the advent of pari-mutuel horse racing. The state had struckdown all forms of gambling in 1909.

Dr. Strub and his backers built SantaAnita at a cost of $1 million andimmediately announced that the first Santa


Anita Handicap, to be run February 25,1935, would offer $100,000 in purse money.Both the cost of building the track and the$100,000 purse for a single race wereconsidered foolhardy ventures in aDepression-riddled economy.

“I sat with my family in our box and atehot dogs and read the Racing Form,”

recalled Mary Crowe, then 13 years old. “Itwas great fun.” The oldest of Dr. Strub’sthree daughters and third of his fivechildren, Mrs. Crowe was 88 when she diedsuddenly on August 19, several days aftergranting this interview.

Santa Anita survived to become one ofthe pre-eminent forces in the sport. Alongthe way, it became the first track in Americato offer a mechanized starting gate and thephoto-finish camera.

Under the late racing secretary Jimmy

The first race program (left); the racetrack was used as a detention centerduring World War II (above)

An aerial view of the Santa Anita paddock and grandstand in 1934

RACETRACK



Kilroe, it became the home of the country’sbest winter racing and attracted top stablesand horsemen from the rest of the countryand overseas.

In 2010, the Santa Anita Handicap will berun for $1 million for the 25th time.Greinton, trained by Whittingham and

ridden by Laffit Pincay, won the first seven-figure Big ‘Cap in 1986.

“I first came to Santa Anita in 1949, when Iwas 17, as a groom for my uncle, ReggieCornell,” recalled McAnally, who saddledJohn Henry for back-to-back triumphs in theSanta Anita Handicap, in 1981 and 1982.

“He trained Silky Sullivan, who wasfamous for coming from way back to winraces and won the Santa Anita Derby in1956,” McAnally, now 77, said. “I won myfirst race at Santa Anita, with a claimernamed Hemet Star, in 1952. I didn’t havemany good horses like my uncle then – ormany horses at all – but I thought I was onmy way up after that first win.”

Two of the most notable figures in SantaAnita’s history were there on opening day,and for many years thereafter.

One was racecaller Joe Hernandez, whowas in the announcer’s booth for LasPalmas’ triumph in the Christmas Dayopener – and for a total of 15,587consecutive Santa Anita races.

The creator of the “There they go!” crythat made him a national institution, hedidn’t leave the microphone until January27, 1972, several hours after he was kicked

in the stomach by a pony at Hollywood Parkwhile visiting several horses he owned.Hernandez died six days later.

He called the victory by ex-steeplechaserAzucar in the inaugural Santa AnitaHandicap, and Seabiscuit’s memorablevictory as a seven-year-old in the 1940 SantaAnita Handicap. But his most memorablecall may have been his portrayal of JohnnyLongden’s winning ride aboard GeorgeRoyal in the 1966 San Juan CapistranoHandicap. It often is considered the mostdramatic moment in the track’s historybecause at the age of 59 Longden wasmaking his last appearance in the saddle.

Years earlier Hernandez had beenLongden’s agent and he remained one ofLongden’s closest friends. As George Royalneared the wire in a head-to-head duel withPlaque, Hernandez poured out hisemotions.

“Joe wanted Johnny to win that race sobad,” recalled Terry Gilligan, who wouldsucceed Hernandez as Santa Anita’sracecaller after the latter’s death, “that Ithink he helped that horse get to the wire.”

Noble Threewitt, then at 21 the youngestlicensed trainer in North America, ran a

An aerial view of Santa Anita racecourse at Arcadia in 1934, with the San Gabriel mountains in the background

Elias “Lucky” Baldwin, builder of the original Santa Anita racetrack


RACETRACK


Fred Astaire was one of the many celebrities who attended the first Santa Anita meeting

At 21, Noble Threewitt was the youngestlicensed trainer in North America andthen became the oldest when he retiredin 2007 at the age of 96

horse in Santa Anita’s second race on thetrack’s opening day.

He was North America’s oldest trainerwhen he saddled his final horse on January25, 2007, a three-year-old namedThreeatonce, owned by his grandson,Christopher Chinicci. Threewitt officiallyretired a month later, February 24, 2007, his96th birthday. He now is 98 andremarkably, he and his wife Beryl, whosefather was a trainer, have been married for76 years!

On November 6-7, Santa Anita will forthe fifth time be the setting for the Breeders’Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s worldchampionships. The event was first held inArcadia in 1986, and also in 1993, 2003 and2008. This is the first time the Breeders’Cup is being run at the same track two yearsin a row.

The Oak Tree Racing Association, anonprofit horsemen’s group which since1969 has leased Santa Anita from itscorporate entity, the Los AngelesThoroughbred Club, for a fall meet, workedfor many years to be acknowledged as aseparate and distinct organization.

“We’d been talking to the (Daily Racing)

Form for a few years about listing our raceswith their own identity,” said Sherwood C.Chillingworth, executive vice president ofOak Tree.

“Two years ago, they finally started listingour races as being run at ‘OSA,’ Oak Tree atSanta Anita. That meant a lot to us and ourdirectors.”

The 2003 Breeders’ Cup at Oak Treeproduced one of the greatest trainingaccomplishments in history when horsessent out by Richard Mandella won four ofthe eight races on the card, including a deadheat in the Turf, and a clear-cut victory inthe Classic with Pleasantly Perfect.

Dr. Strub and his successors in SantaAnita’s executive suite, including his sonRobert, always insisted that the track and itsmore than 300 acres be kept in pristinecondition. They spent lavishly around theworld to acquire beautiful art and sculpturefor the track’s various rooms and alwaysmaintained lush gardens on the property.

Bob Berry, 84, is now in his 50th year asthe track’s main florist. He and his crewsupply and install the floral work that marksthe grounds.

Though Santa Anita is nearing its 75thbirthday, the Santa Anita story actually goesback to the late 19th century, when Elias“Lucky” Baldwin built the original SantaAnita on property near the present facility.Baldwin would go on to develop one of theforemost racing and breeding operations ofhis time.

Michael Harlow, now Santa Anita’sdirector of racing, connects to the originalSanta Anita through Josephine Gorman, his91-year-old grandmother.

“My father, Blas Cuellar, ran LuckyBaldwin’s vineyard in Arcadia,” Gormanrecalled. “I remember as a girl living on theoriginal track grounds.”

World War II caused the closure of Santa

“The 2003 Breeders’Cup at Oak Treeproduced one of thegreatest trainingaccomplishments inhistory when horsessent out by RichardMandella won fourof the eight races onthe card”


RACETRACK



RACETRACK

Anita as a racetrack from March 10, 1941,until May 15, 1945. Through much of thatperiod, the track served as an assemblycenter for detained Japanese-Americans,who later were sent to relocation camps.

“It’s not one of the proudest times inSanta Anita history,” recalled GeorgeYoshinaga, whose family briefly lived inconverted horse stalls and who later becamea columnist for the English-language editionof Rafu Shimpo, the Los Angeles DailyNews for Japanese-Americans.

“But I served in the United States Armybecause I felt it was my duty as an Americanand I never regretted it,” said Yoshinaga,still writing regularly at the age of 85.

Not all Thoroughbred champions whoappeared at Santa Anita won on anyracetrack. During the 1984 Olympic Games,Santa Anita hosted the equestrian showjumping and dressage events. England’sPrince Philip, head of the InternationalEquestrian Federation, ran the show fromthe office normally occupied by racingsecretary Kilroe. His messages were fieldedby Nancy Wallen, who recently marked her40th anniversary at Santa Anita.

The top horse at the Olympics was an 11-year-old mare named Touch of Class, withwhom Joe Fargis won gold medals inindividual and team show jumping.

Under her original registered name,Stillaspill, she had raced six times at PennNational, Bowie and Charles Down. Shefinished as close as seventh twice and neverearned a cent.

“She was no good as a racehorse and nogood as a hunter,” Fargis said. “But she wasa super jumper.” �

“During the 1984Olympic Games,Santa Anita hostedthe equestrian showjumping and dressage events.England’s PrincePhilip, head of theInternationalEquestrianFederation, ran theshow”



SANTA ANITA

Clockwise from left: The palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains are synonymous with Santa Anita; Touch ofClass and Joe Fargis won gold medals inindividual and team show jumping at SantaAnita during the 1984 Olympic Games;John Henry, winner of the Santa AnitaHandicap in 1981 and 1982; the SantaAnita grounds are always immaculate;Eddie Logan ran his shoeshine stand fromthe opening day in 1934 until he died inFebruary 2009 at the age of 98


NUTRITION

HEMP has been synonymouswith horse bedding for manyyears, as its fibrous propertiesgive these products goodcushioning and absorptive

properties. The fibrous properties of hempalso make it attractive to other diverse usesoutside of the equine industry including inthe manufacture of clothing, garden mulchand paper and it has even been used in theconstruction industry within insulationmaterial. Latterly, hemp has becomepopular as a food ingredient for people,being associated with well-known brandssuch as ‘The Food Doctor’ and ‘Ryvita.’ Ithas also been investigated as a feedingredient for farm animals, including layinghens and dairy cows. Hemp is primarily anoilseed crop like soybean, linseed andrapeseed, and it is the grain or seed thatcontains the majority of the nutritionalvalue. In comparison to other oilseed crops,hemp produces a very high yield (~10 tonsof dry matter per acre per year) andtherefore it is not surprising that in recentyears it has become a good economic cropfor farmers in some parts of the world.

Hemp is reputed to containminimal allergensHemp is a relatively environmentallyfriendly crop, as its requirement forpesticides and herbicides is apparentlyminimal. It is also reputed to containminimal potential allergens. For horses intraining that are prone to dietary-inducedurticaria or hives, or where dietarysensitivity contributes to chronic loosedroppings, hemp offers a possible alternativeto traditional protein sources. Hemp is free


from gluten, which is a particular type ofprotein found associated with starch inmany cereal grains. Gluten is known to beproblematic in the diet of some people.

Hemp is available as a feed ingredient in a number of forms including:� Shelled hemp seed (where the oil is

retained)� Hemp oil, where the oil is extracted

through cold pressing techniques� Hemp flour/cake, which is the residual

material following oil extraction

Hemp is regarded as being a good quality source of proteinHemp has an interesting nutritional profileand in its raw state is somewhat similar tolinseed. The different forms of hemp offer avarying nutritional profile (see table below),but generally it is high in oil and offers agood source of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.It is also relatively high in protein andsoluble fiber, and contains a range ofvitamins and minerals. Hemp is regarded asa relatively high-quality source of protein,thus providing a good profile of bothessential and non-essential amino acidscompared to traditionally used soybean.Additionally, hemp contains large amounts

of the proteins edestin and albumin, whichdue to their globular structure are bothreported to be highly digestible. The relativedigestibility of hemp protein in horses islargely unknown to date. A good proteinsource must be digested efficiently in thesmall intestine in order to allow absorptionof the released amino acids. Any proteinthat escapes digestion in the small intestinereaches the hindgut where it can befermented by the resident bacteria.Although these ‘escaped’ amino acids canbe utilized to support the resident bacterialpopulation, their nutritive value to the horseis greatly reduced due to little or noabsorption from the hindgut.

Hemp oil provides a balance ofomega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acidsHemp oil is dominated by the omega 6 fattyacid alpha-linoleic acid, which accounts forabout 50% of the oil present, but unlikemany other traditional oil sources in thehorse’s diet, hemp oil also has a highcontent of the omega 3 fatty acid alpha-

Shelled Hempseeds Hemp flour/cake

Energy (DE MJ/kg) 25.4 11.1Carbohydrate % 47.0 50.7Protein % 34.4 27.9Oils & Fat % 50.6 8.9Minerals 6.1 6.3Fiber 7.6 22.0

* Analysis supplied by the Yorkshire Hemp Company

Nutritional value of hemp

Will hempchange the waywe feed horses?

An ideal bedding material for horses, hemp is alsoused in clothing, paper and even insulation in the

construction industry. Importantly, it is alsoincreasingly popular as a food ingredient.

Catherine Dunnett BSc, PhD, R,Nutr looks into itspossible beneficial qualities as an equine food stuff.

HEMP ISSUE 14 v1.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 12:39 Page 1

HEMP


linolenic acid (20% of the oil present) andalso about 15% of the omega 9 fatty acidoleic acid. For horses in training whereaccess to grazing is reduced,supplementation with omega-3-containingingredients or feeds can be advantageous.

Hemp also contains appreciable amountsof gamma-linolenic acid GLA (1-4% of totaloil present), which is more commonlyassociated with evening primrose oil. Inhuman nutrition, GLA is reputed to haveanti-inflammatory properties and isassociated with complementary use foreczema and pre-menstrual tension inwomen. Likewise, in horses GLA haspreviously featured in calming products andalso those targeted at coat condition andskin health. Like most vegetable-derivedoils, the stability of the constituent fattyacids in hemp is supported by its naturalantioxidant content that consistspredominantly of gamma-tocopherol, anatural form of vitamin E.

The oil content of hemp can be extractedby a process known as cold-pressing, which

retains the integrity of the constituent fattyacids. Where the majority of the oil has beenextracted from hemp seeds, the residueremaining is hemp flour or cake, which isoften the material that finds its way into theanimal feed sector. This material may beuseful as a source of quality protein, but italso retains a reasonably high oil content.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levelsare generally very low in hempHemp technically belongs to the samefamily as marijuana, Cannabis sativa.However, apart from physically looking verydifferent, hemp does not contain anyappreciable levels of the psychoactivesubstance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).The level of THC found in the varieties ofhemp cultivated commercially is very low,typically less than 0.3% as opposed to the 7-20% in the psychoactive plant. The THC,which stimulates the nervous system, ispredominantly found within the leaves, withvery little present within the harvested seed,where the greatest nutritional value is found.

The varieties of hemp that can be grownunder Home Office license within the UKor within the EU for human or animalconsumption must legally contain THClevels below a threshold of 0.02% or200mg/kg. However, there is no doubt thatTHC would be considered a prohibitedsubstance under the rules of racing withinEU member states. Despite the very lowlevel of THC present in the seed andextracted oil, there have previously beensome concerns relating to the presence ofthese minute quantities of THC in humanhemp-based foodstuffs and the likelihood of‘testing positive’ during work-based drugtesting. Previously, individuals have citedtheir consumption of such foods as adefense against a positive employment-based urine test for THC, where marijuanause is suspected. Studies were subsequentlycarried out to establish whether this wasvalid or not.

An assessment of the effect of regularconsumption of hemp containing foods onurinary levels of THC was undertaken inpeople in the USA. This study comparedfour doses of THC (ranging from 0.09 to0.6 mg/day) as being representative of thetypical levels found in hemp seed productsand reflecting common consumption.Following 10 days of supplementation, inthis study, only one urine sample of the 15tested was reported as positive as it wasfound to be above the 50 ng/ml urinethreshold. However, in a subsequent study,where the urine collection protocols weremore rigorous but the intake of THCsimilar, a greater number of ‘positives’ werefound, although a large amount of variationbetween individuals was noted. While it wasconcluded that it was unlikely that theregular consumption of hemp-containingfoods would elicit a positive urine test abovethe reporting threshold, the situation withrespect to athletic competition may bedifferent.

The rules of racing, for example withinthe member states of the EuropeanHorseracing Scientific Liaison Committee(UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy)would certainly consider THC to be aprohibited substance and as there is nopublished threshold for THC, where THCwas present in urine a positive test wouldlargely depend upon the sensitivity of theanalytical protocols of the regulatorylaboratories, which may well be very high.So while the level of THC in hemp seed oroil is likely to be extremely low, if present atall, the lack of information on the effect ofregular feeding in horses currently acts as acautionary barrier to its widespread use inracing. However, with the growing interestin hemp as a feed ingredient and the growthof the hemp industry, appropriate researchcould be undertaken to ease its passage intothe equine feed sector. �

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VETERINARY


Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

OXYGEN THERAPY ISSUE 14.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 12:48 Page 1

HBOT



VETERINARY


Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a relatively modern practice in medicinewhich involves the administration of oxygen in an environment where the ambientpressure has been increased (Ronald and Larry, 1994) to two-to-three times thenormal atmospheric pressure at sea level. Here, we explore this therapy which is

experiencing significant expansion, particularly in the US, though it is stillsomewhat unknown in Europe. By Margaux Thomas

THE technique has been appliedto humans for more than 30years but used in equineveterinary medicine sinceapproximately 2000 (Coyle,

2006). Experience with human medicine isimportant, as extensive clinical experienceshows that equine skin and normal woundsin horses behave similarly to those inhumans, another mammal.

Interest in HBOT by the equine industryis due to its ascribed beneficial effects on thehealing of lower limb wounds, which remaina major health problem to man and horsesworldwide. Slow-healing wounds or thosethat fail to heal can result in prolongedhospitalization, numerous surgicalinterventions and time-consuming woundcare. Slow healing is particularlyinconvenient and challenging for high-performance human and equine athletes.

Whether or not horses are “wild” or“elitist” they will always by nature be flightanimals prone to soft tissue injuries such asabrasions, puncture wounds, lacerations andbruises (Thomas, 2001), most frequentlyexperienced as lower limb wounds (Slovin,2008). Such wounds, including skinwounds, take longer to heal due to greaterwound retraction, slower rates ofepithelialisation and earlier cessation ofcontraction (Jacobs et al, 1984), whichfrequently leads to more serious conditionssuch as proud flesh and infection. They aresubject to considerable tension duringmovement as the lower leg of the horse hasno muscles below the knee or hock and nobuffering tissues between the skin and thetendons, ligaments, joints or bones(Thomas, 2001). Lower limb woundscontribute to the loss of performance andpotential loss of commercial value of theaffected horse (Cochrane, 2003), and arethus dangerous for horses and horseowners, particularly those part of the eliteequine industry such as racing.

In human medicine HBOT is provided tothe patient through a variety ofmechanisms. The most common is thewalk-in (multi-place) chamber, compressedto depth with air while the patient breathes100% oxygen with a head tent, face mask, orendotracheal tube. Alternatively, the patientmay be treated in a one-person(monoplane) chamber pressurized to depthwith oxygen.

Horses are treated in large hyperbaricchambers which provide ample movingspace during long treatments and reducethe likelihood of them panicking. Camerasenable visual monitoring of the therapy inthe case of an emergency.

Wound healing is a complexorchestration of interaction among variousgroups of cells. In order to successfullycomplete the healing process, cells mustcommunicate with each other as well aswith the wound environment. To do so, twoconditions are required: adequate perfusionand sufficient blood supply (Clark andPrice, 2004). It is considered that HBOTimproves the healing process by facilitatingsuch interaction. Its beneficial effect isprobably due to the fact that the techniqueincreases oxygen supply to the wound areaby increasing the concentration of oxygen inthe blood and in the blood plasma. It doesthis by subjecting patients to an enriched

oxygen environment under higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure, which helpsoxygen penetrate the wound environment.Increased oxygen concentrations can persistfor up to four hours after each treatment.

More specifically, scientists generallybelieve that wounds heal more quicklywhen their environment is enriched inoxygen because of the beneficial effect ofoxygen on the following conditions:

Hypoxia reliefHypoxia – a broad term meaningdiminished availability of oxygen in bodytissues – occurs as an insufficient supply ofoxygen which prevents the healing processfrom proceeding (Write, 2001). It is causedby disrupted vasculature and has beendescribed by Khanna et al (2002) to be akey limiting factor to wound healing.However, non-excessive hypoxia initiateshealing by providing an important stimulus

Well Armed was sent to aHBOT chamber after winningthe Dubai World Cup



HBOT

for neovascularization in the woundedtissue. HBOT increases the amount ofoxygen in the bloodstream thereby reducingthe intensity of swelling and infection whichmaintains the wound environment untilproper blood flow is re-established (Sen etal, 2002).

Reducing infectionAlong with hypoxia, infection is the mainchallenge faced in wound healing. Over theyears it has been observed in both humansand horses to occur mainly in the lowerlimb wounds and requires secondaryintention healing. Infection is greatlyenhanced by the absence of supportingdeep musculature and low vascular support.These render the damaged tissueenvironment highly fragile and thus proneto contamination. Oxygen is a vital factor inthe prevention of infection.

Collagen deposition and woundtensile strengthAn important step in wound healing iscollagen deposition, which is vital for thebuild-up of angiogenesis and the tissueremodelling (Gordillo and Chandan, 2003).Angiogenesis, the complex chain of eventsby which the cellular metabolic needtranslates into mature blood vessels(Gimbel and Hunt, 2004), is an importantcomponent of the proliferative phase in

“Growing attention is being paid to HBOTby research scientists, veterinarians andrehabilitation experts, and increasing numbers of facilities are being installed totreat horses”

wound healing. It mainly involves theformation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones and enhances the activity ofendothelial cells in the wound space.

Most importantly, collagen depositionpromotes the tensile wound strength.Ongoing studies have shown that manysteps in the collagen synthesis aredependent on the provision of oxygen,suggesting that HBOT has the potential toimprove both collagen deposition andtensile strength during the remodellingphase, thus helping to promote the entirewound healing process.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)The process of wound healing and even

more so HBOT are being researched inequine and human science. A recentdiscovery in this regard seems significant.

Sen (2003) states that almost every cell inthe wound micro-environment is bound to aspecialized enzyme in order to producereactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxygen isthus believed to assist healing via theproduction of these oxygen species in thewound environment. According to Gordilloand Chandan (2003), these appear to act ascellular messengers which then enhance thehealing process through a series of steps.These species have been shown to enhanceprocesses such as cytokine action,angiogenesis, cell motility, and extracellularmatrix formation (Sen, 2003). This providesanother important reason why oxygen is soimportant in equine wound healing.

Practical experience at the KentuckyEquine Sports Medicine and RehabilitationCenter (KESMARC) has shown that“HBOT is effective for many types of wounds



VETERINARY

including massive developing injuries to thelower leg, large surface wounds from trauma,etc. It decreases tissue swelling and thereforesalvages damaged tissues when used in the caseof acute traumatic injuries. In the case ofchronic wounds, HBOT assists the epitheliumcovering the wound and stimulates fibroblastproduction of collagen.” (Equine OxygenTherapy, 2008).

A distinctive advantage of HBOT is thatit causes no pain and probably little stress tohorses.

In general HBOT is described as aneffective and safe therapy. In the U.S., it isan FDA-approved therapy. However,HBOT is known to produce occasional sideeffects which appear to be more prevalentwhen this therapy is used for wound healingin humans. These include:� Oxygen toxicity;� Ear and sinus barotrauma;� Myopia;� Aggravation of congestive heart failure;� Oxygen seizures;� Pulmonary barotraumas.

Little is known about such or other sideeffects in horses which according to Slovin(2008) may include untreatedpneumothorax, high fevers, emphysema andupper airway occlusions. Those applyingHBOT to horses should thus be particularlyalert to its possible side effects and shouldshare their experience with other specialistsand scientists.

It has been argued that HBOT increasesthe amount of oxygen in the bloodstreamthus creating hyper oxygenated tissues. As aresult, swelling and infection are reducedboth in wounds and in compromisedgrafted tissues until adequate blood flow isestablished. However, Dr. Steve Adair(Associate Professor of equine surgery atthe college of Veterinary Medicine,University of Tennessee) states that it ispossible that HBOT reduces the signal fortissues to create new blood vessels and a slowerrate of new blood vessel formation will decreasethe overall rate of healing. Therein lies anotherapparent contradiction in the use of HBOT forhealing horse wounds which needs to beresolved.

It has been suggested that HBOT is bestused as an adjunct to traditional woundhealing therapies such as skin grafting,maggot debridement therapy, low-levellaser therapy and vacuum assisted closure.However, the most appropriate time toassociate HBOT with such therapiesremains to be determined. More research isneeded in this area.

While using HBOT on its own to healhuman wounds is still under investigation,the treatment is increasingly recognized byscientists as prone to saving compromisedskin grafts or skin flaps in humans. There isstill little evidence about the positive effectsof HBOT on the healing of grafts on horses,

WHILE hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is atool used to aid in healing wounds, there areother uses for it that are not without their shareof controversy, as evidenced by two majorracing jurisdictions that have begun to questionthe ethics of the therapy. There is some debate,however, on whether the taboo is deser ved.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin won his first Breeders’Cup race, the Dir t Mile with Alber tus Maximus,at Santa Anita in 2008. He credits the use of ahyperbaric oxygen chamber on his proper ty inBradbury, California, near Santa Anita, withhelping Albertus Maximus recover after hardraces and strenuous workouts.

That’s why Cerin says he is incredulous thatthe New York State Racing and Wagering Board(NYSR&WB) recently enacted a rule that horsescan’t be entered to race if they have receivedHBOT within seven days of post time, suggestingit may have performance-enhancing capabilities.

Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for theNYSR&WB, said the racing offices at the NewYork tracks monitored HBOT by receiving in-and-out slips from chamber operators onhorses who had received therapy.

“The racing offices aren’t supposed to takeentries on horses who’ve been in the chambersless than seven days before they race,”Mahoney said. “The system we have in placeseems to be working well.”

Though the Florida Division of Pari-MutuelWagering has not adopted similar legislation,two tracks in the state, Gulfstream Park andCalder Race Course, enacted house rulesprohibiting use of the chambers no closer than72 hours prior to a race.

“This has reached the level of absurdity,”Cerin said. “What are they going to do next –ban breathing?”

Humans have undergone the therapy foryears, Cerin said, and no scientific evidenceexists that it boosts per formance. It may evenpossibly have the opposite effect too close to astart. “I sent Alber tus Maximus for the therapyafter workouts,” Cerin said, “but not within twoweeks of a race. I’ve found it can make a horselethargic.”

Dr. Rick Ar thur, the equine medical directorof the California Horse Racing Board, said theuse of HBOT falls under the general state r ulesagainst the use of drugs within 48 hours of arace.

“No specific rule against the use of HBOT is

contemplated in this state,” Ar thur said. EdHalpern, the executive director of CaliforniaThoroughbred Trainers, said the board ofdirectors hasn’t discussed the issue.

Cerin and other trainers nationwide insistHBOT is beneficial in many ways, anassessment shared by a leading Marylandveterinarian.

“They are wonderful for helping horses getover soft tissue injuries and recuperate quickerfrom hard races,” said Dr. Kathleen Anderson ofthe Fair Hill Training Center.

“They also help treat bleeders. Those horsesstill have to receive anti-bleeder medicationwhen they race, but the therapy helps repairbroken blood vessels. It’s not inexpensive,about $300 per treatment, but owners like itbecause their horses can come back quickerand race again.”

Bill Casner, the chairman and co-owner ofWinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, is astrong proponent of HBOT.

“It’s one of the best therapeutic methods wehave in horse racing,” said Casner, who in2001 brought the first hyperbaric chamber toKentucky.

Two of Casner’s top runners, Dubai WorldCup winner Well Armed and 2008 Santa AnitaDerby/Travers winner Colonel John – both sonsof Tiznow – benefited greatly from their time inthe hyperbaric chamber at Alamo PintadoEquine Medical Center in Los Olivos, Califor nia,near Santa Barbara, which pioneered the therapyfor horses when it installed its oxygen chamber– big enough to hold two horses at a time – inApril, 2000.

“Well Armed needed to recover from his tripto Dubai and the chamber helped him do that,”Casner said. “Unfor tunately, he got hur t in hisfirst race back and won’t race again until nextyear.”

Colonel John was scratched from the SantaAnita Handicap in March, which would havebeen his first star t of 2009, when he developeda serious lung infection. He finally made his 4-year-old debut with a victory in the WickerrHandicap on Del Mar’s turf course in July.“Without the hyperbaric chamber at AlamoPintado, he might not have made it back to theraces at all,” said Casner.

“We have a chamber at our far m in Kentucky,”he continued, “and we put the mares who’ve justfoaled in there with their newborn foals. It helpsthem replace the blood they’ve lost in bir th.”

Casner said attempts to limit HBOT are a

Simply therapeuticor does HBOT reallyenhance performance?By Larry Bortstein


product of over-zealousness on the par t ofregulators.

“I think that when the RMTC (RacingMedication and Testing Consortium) develops auniform rule on hyperbaric chambers, we’ll getmore understanding of the science of what theydo and how beneficial they are. They’re notperformance enhancing because the effectswear off after a couple of hours.”

English-born trainer Graham Motion, whoseBetter Talk Now is still competitive in Grade Icompetition at the age of 10, said HBOTremains uncommon in his native countr y. Buthe dismisses the notion that it hasperformance-enhancing qualities.

“You don’t give it to a horse before a race, butright after a hard race,” Motion said, “or if theyrun down in their ankles or heels. It sends oxygendirectly to the area and helps it heal faster.”

New York-based Mark Hennig is the trainer ofthe good three-year-old filly Don’t Forget Gil.

When he trained in California in the 1990s, hewon the 1993 Santa Anita Derby with PersonalHope.

“I like the therapy because the horse can r unback faster than before,” Hennig said.

Both Motion and Hennig admit, however, thatNew York and Florida could have a valid point intheir stance limiting HBOT.

“Everyone is more sensitive about theseissues now,” Motion said. “I have no problemwith controlling the use of the therapy.”

Hennig said, “It’s OK with me.”“We saw the effect it had on humans over a

period of years,” senior veterinarian Dr. DougHerthel said, “and we thought it would be usefulwith our horse patients.”

Grade 1 winner Thorn Song sufferedabscesses on both front feet when he ran in theEddie Read Handicap at Del Mar on July 25.Once considered a leading candidate for theBreeders’ Cup Mile on tur f, he was sent to

Alamo Pintado by trainer Mike Mitchell. “I don’t know if he can make the Breeders’

Cup,” Mitchell said in August, “but we wantedto give him the best possible way to recover. Ican’t understand why anybody would thinkthat’s wrong.”

Enforcing use of the chambers could be anissue, since they are usually based away fromthe track. Trainers haven’t been required toreport a horse that has been on HBOT andtracks don’t list them in the program.

Even Hennig admitted he’d rather not specify whether one of his horses received thetherapy. “The owners want to make her abroodmare and they’d rather not let it beknown,” he said.

Whatever the effects of HBOT, be they purelytherapeutic or performance enhancing, thestigma that surrounds it suggests that it bearscloser examination in the interest of fair nessand uniformity in our spor t.

Albertus Maximus had HBOT during the lead up to his Breeders’ Cup Dir t Mile victory


HBOT


with and without complications. It seemsthat the negative effect experienced in somecases may be due to appropriate protocolsnot yet having been developed for horses, sothis is another important area for research.

Is HBOT economical?The economics of any therapy are usually

a good indicator of its effectiveness andvalue. Indeed, the increasing use of thistherapy by trainers, clinics and breedersworldwide suggests strongly that it iseffective. Equine hyperbaric chambers werefirst used in America in 2000, followed byAustralia in 2004.

Because HBOT is an expensive therapy,owners use it essentially on valuable horses.The cost per horse varies according to thefacility and the number of treatmentsneeded, which ranges from two to 25depending on the ailment. Chronic wounds, particularly those located on thelower limbs, do not recover at the samespeed as a fresher injury caught in its earlystages, thus increasing the cost. The price of treating a horse ranges from $325 to$1000.

Shelena Hoberg of the KESMARCrehabilitation centre considers HBOT to bea profitable form of therapy for both theservice provider and the owner butacknowledges that the cost of treatment in

relation to the value of the horse is invariablya major consideration for owners. It shouldalso be borne in mind that HBOT costsabout a third of an average surgery. Studieswith humans have shown that the extra costof HBOT is offset by reduced hospitalizationand treatment time, which also applies tohorses.

The above suggests that, for horse owners,HBOT is financially viable when applied tothe right wound and in the rightcircumstances. The main obstacle to thewider use of HBOT is a lack of awarenessand knowledge by horse owners of itsadvantages. Potential users tend to mainlyconsider its high cost when choosing whattherapy to apply. Such prejudice will have tobe overcome by providing potential users(horse owners, clinics, rehabilitation centers)with sound information on the use of HBOTincluding its benefits, drawbacks andfinancial costs.

Global expansion Growing interest in and use of HBOT fortreating horse wounds is reflected in growingattention being paid to this technique byresearch scientists, veterinarians andrehabilitation experts, and the increasingnumber of facilities being installed to treathorses. The latter is occurring mainly in theU.S. but is also happening gradually in other

countries. While a number of veterinaryfaculties worldwide are keen to explore theuse of HBOT, shortage of funds remains amajor constraint.

Growing interest and expansion isillustrated by the purchase and use ofhyperbaric chambers for use on animals.This is enabled by the Canadian companyEquineox Technologies which is the firstcompany in the world to develop,manufacture and install hyperbaric oxygenchambers in small and large animalveterinary clinics.

In 2004 it was known that 14 chamberswere being operated in Canada and theUnited States in a number of veterinaryclinics, colleges, private horse farms, andrehabilitation clinics (EquineoxTechnologies, 2004).

Conclusion The elite horse industry and racing inparticular is in constant progress and iscontinuously attempting to improve thewelfare and performance of its equineathletes. Consequently, as standardsimprove, better therapies and techniques arerequired. It is vital to raise questions whichwill trigger the scientific research needed toenable the appropriate use of new techniquessuch as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy inwound care. �


VETERINARY


WEIGHTYIssues

Einstein wins the Santa AnitaHandicap on the Pro-Ridesynthetic track

RACING


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RACING

Synthetic surfaces and the move towards moreweight-for-age races are giving racing secretaries aheadache when weighting horses. By Bill HellerTHE job of a racing secretary

has never been easy. Pleasingan entire population ofhorsemen simultaneously maybe literally impossible.

The recent advent of synthetic racingsurfaces has increased a racing secretary’schallenges exponentially. And it’s not likelyto stop.

Nobody knows that better than BenHuffman.

With remarkable candor, the veteranracing secretary of Churchill Downs andKeeneland explained why he would likeanother shot at weighting the horses thatcontested the $557,600 Grade 1 WoodfordReserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downson May 2nd, the race before the KentuckyDerby.

“Frankly, that one got by me,” Huffmansaid. “Einstein should have been thehighweight.”

Instead, because of the weightallowances Huffman had written into thestakes in January – several weeks beforeEinstein (Brz) won the Grade 1 SantaAnita Handicap on Pro-Ride, the track’ssynthetic course – Einstein carried 119pounds, five less than highweight CourtVision.


The allowances Huffman had written forthe stakes specified “Non-winners of aGrade or Group 1 stakes over a mile on turfsince October 3, 2008, allowed 3lbs.;$150,000 over a mile on the turf sinceSeptember 1, 2008, 5lbs.; a graded or groupstakes a mile or over in 2008-2009, 7lbs.”

He wishes he could go back in time andtweak those allowance conditions.

“My weight allowances were ‘Grade 1 onturf’,” Huffman said. “Einstein won a Grade1 on synthetic. We’re so used to writingweight allowances for turf, ‘Grade 1 winson turf.’ There’s never been a Grade 1winner of the Santa Anita Handicap whocame here for the Woodford Reserve. Nohorse had ever come from the Santa AnitaHandicap and run in the Woodford. I’dwritten those conditions in January. Hehadn’t even won yet. I didn’t have the Big‘Cap on my mind. I could have written ‘anyGrade 1.’ Especially with synthetics, youhave to be more careful. I won’t miss itagain.”

Huffman didn’t realize Einstein’ssurprising low weight until he saw anovernight. “I said, ‘Oh-oh,’” he said. “Thatwas a mistake on my part.”

Quite naturally, the weights didn’t sitwell with Court Vision’s connections. “Notat all,” Bill Mott, the horse’s Hall of Fametrainer, said in August. “Einstein got awaywith murder. We don’t give five pounds tohorses like him. He slipped in. Good forhim; bad for us. Generally, that doesn’thappen. The conditions were written ‘non-winners on turf.’ There used to be quite adifference between dirt and turf. Now youhave synthetics in the middle.”

Carrying 119 pounds, Einstein barelywon the 2009 Woodford Reserve by a headover Cowboy Cal, who had the sameimpost. Court Vision, toting five morepounds than both, rallied from last in thefield of nine to finish third, 2¾ lengthsbehind Cowboy Cal. The Daily RacingForm chart notes that Court Vision “angledout entering the stretch when making a


WEIGHTY ISSUES


good move, but could not sustain the bid.”We’ll never know what would have

happened if Einstein had been thehighweight. But carrying high weight isn’tlike it used to be.

Mott trained North America’s last greathandicap horse, Cigar, the two-time Horseof the Year who won 16 consecutive races,tying Citation’s all-time mark. Cigar carried130 pounds to win both the 1996 MassCapand the Citation Challenge.

Skip Away, who defeated Cigar in the1996 Jockey Club Gold Cup carrying 121to Cigar’s 126, won the 1998 MassCapcarrying 130 and the Iselin Handicapcarrying 131.

Those days are long gone.“Since then, some of the other horses

that have come around have been luckyenough to get into weight-for-ages,” Mottsaid. “I don’t know if that’s good for thesport. We always had both. The thing isabout the handicaps now, I think everyracing secretary that’s weighting races is alittle more careful putting too much weighton anybody because they can racesomewhere else. We can ship horsesaround the country, whether by air charteror by air cargo. If a guy doesn’t like theweights, they literally fly across the country

and get in another race. There was a timeyou had traditional races that everybodyhad to run in because everybody was there.”

Because trainers have that option withtheir top horses, the challenge for racing

secretaries these days is getting enoughquality horses into weight-for-age stakes ifthere is a standout nobody wants to raceagainst. It’s a challenge Del Mar RacingSecretary Tommy Robbins confrontedAugust 9th in the Grade 1 Clement L.Hirsch Handicap as unbeaten Zenyattapursued her 12th career victory in a stakesshe had captured in 2008, setting a trackrecord doing so.

“Your fear as a racing secretary is that youdon’t get enough competition,” said

“No horse had evercome from theSanta AnitaHandicap and runin the Woodford.With synthetics,you have to bemore careful. Iwon’t miss it again”Ben Huffman

After winning atSanta Anita Einsteinwent on to win theWoodward ReserveTurf Classic carrying119 pounds



Robbins, who has also been the racingsecretary at Hollywood Park and SantaAnita.

He was delighted when nine other filliesand mares entered against Zenyatta in theHirsch. And even though three of themwould scratch, Robbins was happy. Thatstill left a field of seven. “I didn’t think we’dget seven horses,” Robbins said.

This year, the Hirsch was run weight-for-age. “We’ve changed,” Robbins said. “Wechanged some of our graded stakes thissummer. There’s been a push on a national level to get more weight-for-ageraces.”

Is that good for racing? “It’s certainlybetter for the better horses because theydon’t get weighted out of races,” Robbinssaid. “That’s been the push of many peoplethe last few years.”

Robbins wrote in two weight allowances for the Hirsch, which assignedthree-year-olds 119 pounds and older filliesand mares 123: “Non-winners of a Grade 1at a mile or over in 2009 allowed twopounds,” and “non-winners of a Grade 2 ata mile or over in 2008 allowed fourpounds.”

Thus did Zenyatta and her stablemateLife Is Sweet carry 123 pounds and theother five fillies and mares 119 each. “If ithad been a handicap, Zenyatta would havecarried a lot more,” Robbins said.

As it was, Zenyatta was life and death toedge Anabaa’s Creation by a head, spottingthat rival four pounds.

That made Zenyatta 12-for-12. Eleven ofher victories have been on synthetic tracks,which set her up well to race in this year’sBreeders’ Cup, held at Santa Anita for the

Cigar wins the 1996 ArlingtonCitation Challenge carrying topweight of 130 pounds

“Einstein got awaywith murder. Wedon’t give fivepounds to horseslike him. Heslipped in. Goodfor him; bad for us”Bill Mott

second consecutive year.The wisdom of holding racing’s World

Series on a synthetic surface for the secondstraight year – an obvious disadvantage forgreat dirt horses – is dubious and will likelykeep America’s top horse this summer, thebrilliant filly Rachel Alexandra, out of theBreeders’ Cup.

For the first time in racing history,trainers have three different surfaces tochoose from: dirt, turf and synthetics, bethey Pro-Ride, Cushion, Polytrack orTapeta.

Evaluating that third surface and itseffects on training, racing, handicappingand betting will take time. But with truehandicap racing for North America’s top

horses on the endangered species list, theweight allowances for weight-for-age stakeshave never been more important.

“I’ve been in the game all my life,”Huffman said. “This is a third surface. It’scertainly going to change how racingsecretaries write weight allowances. Youhave to have tons of data over a long periodof time. It’s tough. This Turf Classic is aperfect example. I was thinking ‘Grade 1turf.’ I should have been thinking “Grade 1synthetic.”

Racing secretaries are left on their owndealing with this added variable. “Everyoneis different,” said New York RacingAssociation Racing Secretary P.J. Campo,who writes races for all three NYRA tracks:


Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct.“Everyone writes their own conditionswithin their own timeframes. I go back twomonths as far as my regular allowances toget weight off. When I start writing myconditions for the spring, I look at what’sgoing on in the winter in California and atGulfstream. It’s very difficult to pin down.There’s going to be certain horses that fallthrough the cracks.”

And what of synthetics? NYRA’s threetracks offer dirt and turf racing only. “What has made it difficult is synthetic,”Campo said. “I count synthetic as dirt. Ifyou wanted to get specific, you could. Butyou don’t want to jump the gun. It’s difficultto start writing a third set of conditions. InNew York, we don’t get a lot of synthetichorses running on dirt. That could change.”

It won’t change quickly at Arlington Park,where horses race on Polytrack or turf. “I

haven’t changed the way I weight racesbecause of synthetics,” Racing SecretaryKevin Greely said in August. “If it’s ahandicap, you might take it intoconsideration.”

Robbins is reluctant to changeconditions at Del Mar: “We’ve shied awayfrom that. We don’t designate specificsurfaces. Right now, there’s a very strongbelief that races on synthetics are verysimilar to turf.”

Others are skeptical. How could anyoneknow for sure after just a few years ofsynthetics, which seem to change atdifferent times of the year depending ontemperature and climate?

Remember, there isn’t one specific typeof synthetic surface being used byracetracks, but several. It seems more likelythat, eventually, racing secretaries will haveto deal with that difference.

“That’s coming,” Huffman said. “I’vewritten a couple allowance races on dirt andput in a money clause on a non-syntheticsurface with allowances. There was a goodsynthetic horse out there who wouldn’thave been eligible to run in one of ourallowance races. We called the horse’strainer and let him know about the clause,but he didn’t enter the horse. It’s hard to fillallowance races. I’m trying to gather up asmany horses as I can.

“In my mind, we have three surfaces inthe country. It used to be two. The way we do things are going to change a littlebit.”

But they will change. Racing secretariesare going to have to deal with the effects ofa third surface. “I think they’ve got to throwthat into the equation,” Mott said. “Theyhave to think about it, sure. It’s a wholedifferent ballgame.” �

WEIGHTY ISSUES



VETERINARY


1 CUTS/TRAUMANicks and scrapes of varying severity are anoccupational hazard for the racehorse,particularly if they are required to jumpobstacles. Most of these can be dealt withby first aid and simple ongoing treatments,such as the application of a bandage orantiseptic cream. Veterinary examinationwould certainly be required where thewound appears to be infected or suturing isnecessary. Most importantly, a vet shouldlook at any deep wound which lies over a

Ten commonskin conditions“He’s come into his summer coat and you can see your face in it.” “She looksvery well in her skin.” These typical comments from TV racing pundits underlinethe link most horsemen make between the sleek, shiny coat of the finely -tunedequine athlete and the general wellbeing of the animal that this reflects. However ,skin conditions are not merely an aesthetic consideration and, left unidentified oruntreated, can interrupt carefully planned training schedules. This article seeks tolist ten important skin conditions of racehorses and provide a brief explanation oftheir cause, recognition and treatment. Broadly, skin conditions may result fromtrauma, infection, allergy or abnormal growths.

By Barry Sangster and Phil Dyson

A deep wound directlyover the fetlock joint.Joint fluid may be seenleaking from the wound.The wound was lavagedunder arthroscopic guidance. Following thisprocedure and intensiveantibiotic therapy, thehorse made a full recovery

A small wound over the tarso-crural joint.The wound had penetrated the hock jointcapsule and aggressive therapy was necessary to ensure a successful outcome

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SKIN CONDITIONS

tendon sheath or joint capsule, as infectiontracking into these structures is a veryserious matter. Without prompt treatment,persistent lameness or even euthanasia maybe the result. There is no doubt that thewound illustrated in Figure 1 requiredurgent and extensive veterinary treatment.However, Figure 2 illustrates what, at firstpresentation, appears to be a relativelyminor wound. Closer examination revealedjoint fluid leaking from the wound, and aseptic tarso-crural (hock) joint sepsis wasdiagnosed. Joint sepsis is treated by lavageor flushing of the joint with sterile fluid,usually under a general anesthetic.

2 SUNBURNAs the name suggests, this is damage to theskin caused by direct exposure to intenseultraviolet radiation, i.e. sunshine. Theproblem is normally restricted to non-pigmented areas which receive the fulleffect of the sun. In racehorses, thisgenerally means white areas on the face.The lesions start with the formation ofblisters and progress to crusting of the skin.Secondary bacterial infection is apossibility. Prevention is by application ofhigh-factor sun cream to the affected area,placing a gauze fly screen over the horse’sface, or simply keeping the animal out ofstrong sunlight.

Mud fever normally occurs around the pasterns, coronets and bulbs of the heels af ter ahorse has stood in wet and muddy conditions

Rain Rot is the result of prolonged wetting of the hair

permethrin or cypermethrinpowders/washes at 10-day intervals. Allhorses in contact should be treated andrugs steam-cleaned.

4 RINGWORMA highly contagious fungal infection,ringworm is also capable of affectinghumans (Figure 3). It is also important toremember that racehorses with activelesions should not travel to the races.

Some damage to the skin is usually aprerequisite for ringworm to invade.Therefore, the areas most commonlyaffected are those which are rubbed by tack.The fungi attack and weaken the hairfollicles which break, causing alopecia. Thisreveals reddened, scaly and crusty areas ofskin beneath. These are usually circular inshape. Secondary infection by bacteria isalso a possibility. Microscopic examinationof plucked hairs or skin scrapings may benecessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Horses develop resistance to ringwormand the lesions would normally resolvewithin three months. Older horses arelikely to have less widespread or severelesions if previously exposed. Topicaltreatment with fungicides will limit theduration and severity of the infection andthey can also be applied to tack. Stablehygiene is important in preventing thespread of disease and fungicidaldisinfectants may be used for cleaningstalls. Tack, blankets, etc. should only beused on the infected horse.

4 MUD FEVER/RAIN ROTThese two conditions arise from infectionwith the same bacteria, DermatophilusCongolensis, resulting in two differingpresentations according to the areaaffected. Mud fever normally occurs aroundthe pasterns, coronets and bulbs of theheels and is usually due to horses standingin wet, muddy fields or exercise in similarconditions.

Rain rot is the result of prolongedwetting of the hair and is found along thehorse’s topline, flanks, rump and face, i.e.areas exposed to rainfall and run-off. Small lesions become widespread until thecoat looks like it is sodden. This fluidoozing from the skin mats the hairs, givingrise to ‘paintbrush’ lesions. The skin ispainful and may start to harden, with crustformation.

Mud fever can be prevented by ensuringthat horses which go out in wet, muddyconditions have their legs properly cleanedand dried afterwards. Waterproof barriercreams can also be applied before exercise.Rain rot can be avoided by simplypreventing the animal getting wet e.g. usinga waterproof blanket when going out in therain. Minor cases can be treated byapplication with silver sulphadiazine, while


3 LICEThis parasitic condition is the mostcommon cause of pruritis (itching) inhorses. Seen most regularly during thewinter months, the infestation usuallyconcentrates on the mane and tailheadareas and is often accompanied by anincrease of scale (dandruff) in the coat.Severe cases may develop hair loss and a‘moth-eaten’ appearance. Diagnosis can bemade by examining the infected areas witha hand lens, as the lice and their eggs arereadily identified in this way. Lice arecontagious and can be spread by rugs,grooming equipment and bedding.Treatment is by three applications of


mixed and malignant/malevolent. Theyvary markedly in appearance, and theirclinical significance varies with theirlocation on the body, their type and size.Occult sarcoids take the form of areas ofalopecia which become crusty. Theverrucose lesions are rough and warty. Thenodular versions are large, usually spheroidlesions contained within the skin.Fibroblastic sarcoids may appear to befleshy and ulcerated and can have a broador narrow (pedunculated) base. Mixedlesions can show any combination of thefour previous forms.

The malignant/malevolent version is arare and more aggressive form. The mostcommonly affected areas are the head, thehorse’s underside (particularly around thegenitals) and the limbs. Diagnosis isnormally made on visual appearance, butthis can be confirmed by histopathological examination of a biopsy.

Treatment of these lesions provides areal challenge, as simple surgical removalcan result in recurrence and the appearanceof further lesions around the surgical site.This is a problem even with a wide marginof excision. Other options are cryotherapy,in which the sarcoid is frozen havingpossibly been debulked surgically. Thelesion can be injected with BCG, whichstimulates an immune response, orcisplatin.

Topical chemotherapy and radiationtherapy are further options. However, thetruth is that there is no easy option and aveterinarian will always give a guardedprognosis regarding complete resolution.Some sarcoids may progress to the sizewhere athleticism is severely compromised(Figure 5)

more severe cases benefit from systemicantibiotic treatment.

6 HIVES/URTICARIAThe cause of this acute ailment is oftendifficult to pinpoint, but it has been linkedto food sensitivity, drug reactions, insectbites and various infections. The lesionstake the form of multiple raised plaques,usually on the head and trunk. These willpit when pressed with a finger i.e. they areedematous. Pruritis will only be mild, ifpresent at all. Most cases will regressspontaneously, but a steroid injectionusually effects a cure. In recurrent cases itmay be worthwhile attempting to identifythe allergen, so that it can be avoided.Figure 4 illustrates a horse which hadsuffered a severe urticarial reaction, whichthen became secondarily infected.

7 SARCOIDSThe cause of this nodular skin complainthas not been categorically identified, but apapilloma virus is likely to be at leastpartially responsible and there is a geneticcomponent to equine susceptibility. Theyoften develop at the site of a previouswound and it could be that flies contributeto their spread. Sarcoids do not spread

VETERINARY


beyond the skin and subcutaneous tissue,but they should be categorized as a tumourrather than a wart or simple lump.

Six clinical forms have been categorized:Occult, verrucose, nodular, fibroblastic,

A severe case of hives

An occult sarcoid situated behind a horse’s right ear


sheath. The warts should regress withinthree or four months as immunity develops.As such, no treatment is normallywarranted.

Where the warts are interfering with tack,a cream containing podophyllum can beapplied.

9 AURAL PLAQUESAnother condition likely to be the result ofthe Equine Papillomavirus, and which maybe spread by black flies. They normallypresent as grey-white plaques on the innersurface of the ear, (see photo, left) but thelesions may also appear grape-like.Although not generally causing a problem, once they appear they are unlikelyto resolve. Treatment is not usuallyrequired.

10 NODULARYNECROBACILLOSISThe cause of this common condition isunknown, but it may be related to insectbites or trauma to the skin. It presents assmall (usually 1cm or less), painlessnodules within the skin which are normallyfound along the back and on the chest walls.Some lesions can release granular materialor become mineralized and gritty to thetouch.

A punch biopsy to confirm the diagnosis may also be curative in small,isolated lesions. This type of distributioncan also be treated by injecting a steroiddirectly into the nodule. Widespread lesions will require systemic steroidtreatment to clear them up. Removal isrequired where the nodules have becomecalcified. �

8 JUVENILE WARTSInfection with the Equine Papillomavirusresults in these unsightly, but generallyharmless, warts. It is unusual to find themon a horse older than three years old.Commonly found on the face and muzzle,they may also develop on the pasterns and

An aural plaque

SKIN CONDITIONS



PROFILE


Helen Pitts-Blasi and her outriderhusband Greg Blasi, who helps lookafter his wife's Kentucky stable whenshe goes to Florida for the winterwith her main string

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THE OTHER HALF


TheOther

Half


PROFILE


Single-minded person, driven by a passion for traininghorses, would like to meet partner who is also tirelesslydedicated to the Thoroughbred seven days a week, 365 days a year, with no guarantee of success... ...So, who in their right mind would marry a trainer? Ken Snyder finds out

C ALL it “married with horses”– a box never to be found onany form, but surely the mostaccurate three-worddescription of life for a

married trainer. Thoroughbreds are theother children for trainers with families, thechildren for those without a family, and, atthe same time, four-legged taskmastersdemanding the highly unusual start- andend-time in workdays that are every day.

But while the TV sitcom “Married withChildren” presented dysfunction among ahuman family, “Married with Horses,” atleast in the lives of Kim and David Carroll,Anita and Graham Motion, Heather andTim Ice, and Greg Blasi and Helen Pitts-Blasi, presents a world of humans and horseswith way more positives than negatives.Marriages and families are forged andmaybe strengthened more than most in an

environment where failure gets short odds;where “soul-mate” means being, at the veryleast, part-time “barn help” and full-timecheerleader; and where, most surprising ofall, children might get more parenting and“family time” than children of “nine-to-fivers.”

One thing is for certain: racetrackersmarry racetrackers. The Carrolls were bothexercise riders at Belmont; the Motionswere “pupil assistants,” or “assistants toassistants,” to trainers in France when theymet; Heather Ice was a veterinary technicianvisiting, among many barns, trainer ColeNorman’s, who employed an assistantnamed Tim Ice; and Churchill Downsoutrider Greg Blasi’s ponies were and stillare stabled just across the road on thebackside from the barn of his bride of oneyear, trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi. In short,marriages may be made in heaven for some

people, but they’re made in the shedrow, itwould seem, for most trainers.

In producing racetrack romance,proximity, however, is probably secondaryto a shared love of Thoroughbreds andracing, pure and simple. “I love to gallophorses,” said Kim Carroll. “This is what I doand who I am.”

“We love the horses and that’s prettymuch all we talk about – the horses andcampaigns we have planned,” said AnitaMotion, who broke yearlings in her nativeEngland and here in the U.S.

Love and knowledge of horses givesspouses of trainers an understanding ofwhat the life is like. Unfamiliarity with thelong hours and days would probably be a“deal-breaker” for someone outside thesport.

“Heather knew my hours,” said Tim Ice.“It wasn’t something that was a totalsurprise to her.”

With a laugh, Heather talked about howfriends prior to marriage couldn’tunderstand the sizable cramp horses putinto a social life. “They had no idea whattime I had to be at work and couldn’tunderstand when they’d ask me to dosomething that most times I didn’t feel likeit because I was tired.”

In a serious tone she added: “It would bevery hard and very difficult to not be involved

For Graham and Anita Motionand their children, home iswhere the stable is



THE OTHER HALF

in racing and be married to someone who is –‘Why is he always out there so late?’ and‘Why is he always tired when he gets h ome?‘If you’re not out there experiencing it, youjust can’t comprehend it.”

Helen Pitts-Blasi goes so far as to say shecouldn’t imagine being married to someoneoutside the sport. “They couldn’tunderstand the hours and the time and thephone and everything else.” She grantedthat a person into show horses or someother horse-affiliated activity might be moreunderstanding of the life and demands of atrainer but only “maybe.”

Who, after all, could understand thathoneymoons with beaches, candle-litdinners, etc. are, by and large, for otherpeople?

The Carrolls’ honeymoon was spent atOaklawn Park when David left Saratoga totake a position as assistant trainer to PeterVestal. We had dated for seven months andgot married seven weeks after Davidproposed only because he was going off toArkansas,” recalled Kim. “I was like, I’mgoing back to Florida, not Arkansas; I’mfrom New York and I’m not going to thatpart of the world.”

I N the next breath and with no hintthat there was any real hesitationabout either David’s proposal ordestination, Kim recounted how shestarted riding for another trainer in

Arkansas, a good friend of Vestal’s.Obviously, married life with David won outover single life in Florida.

That life that she and David embarkedupon put demands on them that areprobably typical for many racetracknewlyweds. Kim was called on to “pitch in”literally, as in pitching hay into and out ofstalls and more. Arriving at Gulfstream Parkto begin training in his own name, Davidand Kim wound up with more horses thanthey had anticipated...10 to be exact. “And itwas just the two of us,” Kim recalled with ashake of her head at a workload best suitedto six or even seven people.

The Motions’ story is similar. WhenGraham first took out his trainer’s license,he and Anita would drive to Laurel and shewould muck stalls while he and an assistantgalloped horses. “And then I’d go to my realjob working for Katie Voss breakingyearlings and riding lay-ups at her farm,”said Anita.

“When I’d get done for the day, I wouldgo back and pick Graham up,” said Anita.

Those kind of days and hours wouldn’tsound unusual for Heather Ice. She meetsTim at his barn sometime in the earlymorning (he arrives anywhere between 5:00and 5:30 a.m.), helps out around theshedrow, then goes to work in the H.B.P.A.office, if they are at a Louisiana racetrack, asa bookkeeper. She works through the last

race of the day. “Usually between six and six-thirty my day is over.”

Kim Carroll may have graduated tobookkeeping, as has Anita Motion, for theirhusbands’ stables, but she is still hands-onwith the horses in a key capacity for herhusband. She gallops as many as seven

horses on some mornings. “They respond to her,” said David,

noting that Acoma, a graded stakes winner,is a regular workout mount for Kim.

Greg Blasi spends more time in thesaddle as an outrider, but being married to asuccessful trainer means there’s more for

“It would be very difficult to not be involvedin racing and be married to someone who is– ‘Why is he always out there so late?’ and‘Why is he always tired when he gets home?‘If you’re not out there experiencing it, youjust can’t comprehend it.” Helen Pitts-Blasi

Kim and David Carroll spenttheir honeymoon on thebackstretch and raise theirchildren around the horses


him to do than policing the horses of othertrainers in morning workouts. When Helenis at Gulfstream, as she is every winter, hehelps out with horses left behind. “Sheleaves some horses up here to run atTurfway. They’re stabled at Trackside [the training track in Louisville nearChurchill Downs] and I kind of keep an eyeon them.”

While assistance, be it bookkeeping orexercising horses, really does “come with theturf” for spouses of trainers, it is probablythe moral support that means the most in asport and profession that feature the highesthighs and the lowest lows.

“She’s the one that when things are goingbad is there to pick me up,” said DavidCarroll of Kim. “I don’t think I could do thiswithout her. Sometimes I don’t think I giveher enough credit for that.”

Again, it is an understanding of the sportthat makes morale-boosting a part ofcommunication and relationship. Greg Blasiis a former trainer from a family of horsemenand horsewomen, as is Helen. “When shegets down, I can be very beneficial to her asfar as helping her through a lot of that.”

Support is necessary in situations farworse than races lost. Heather Ice, adiminutive 4’10” to Tim’s strapping 6’4”,remembered how her husband’s career as atrainer was nearly derailed before it evenbegan.

“We had a very rough patch because wewere getting some horses from an ownerand he did a ‘180’ on us. We were left‘holding air.’

“Tim was ready to quit. I talked to himabout waiting it out, telling him that this wasstill our chance, and this is what you’ve beenwanting to do.”

Shortly after, other owners, Drs. K.K. andDevi Jayaraman, came into their lives with ahorse named Summer Bird. “The rest ishistory,” Heather said of the horse that wonthis year’s Belmont Stakes and who hasessentially launched Tim’s career.

There is a downside, though, to aSummer Bird, a Denis of Cork (who, lastyear, finished third in the Kentucky Derbyand second in the Belmont for DavidCarroll), an Einstein in Helen Pitts-Blasi’sbarn, or a Better Talk Now in the barn of

Graham Motion: time apart betweenspouses.

“It’s something you know going into amarriage and you know it’s just part of it,”said Gred Blasi of winters spent in Kentuckywhile his wife is in Florida, “but you have tomake it work.”

“It’s tough on both of us,” said Tim Ice,who has had to accompany Summer Bird forweeks at a time on a campaign through NewYork for the Belmont, New Jersey for theHaskell, and back to New York for theTravers in Saratoga and Jockey Club GoldCup at Belmont. Heather, who deliveredtheir first child on September 15th, joinedhim in the days preceding Summer Bird’sbig races, but they both looked forward tothings settling down after the summer. Still,as of October 5th, Tim had still not met hisson.

With horses at various times in Florida,Kentucky, New York and California, timeapart for the Motions, who are based in FairHills, Maryland, is a challenge.

GRAHAM and Anita will traveltogether if at all possible ontrips spanning only a few days.As for extended, meet-longtravel to Florida, for instance,

the Motions have adopted what Anitalaughingly calls the life of “gypsies” toinclude their two children, Jane and Marcus(called “Chappy”). The children attendschool in Fair Hills through Christmas, thentransfer to Florida schools through Easterbefore returning to Maryland to completethe school year. In summers, the wholefamily relocates to Saratoga for the racingthere.

Anita says of her husband: “He makes aneffort to be home as much as he can becausehe’s a dad, first and foremost.”

Fair Hills affords Graham, born and raisedin Cambridge, England, the opportunity toactually spend more time with his childrenthan if he had a conventional career. “Wetrain more European-style at Fair Hills,” hesaid. “Every time we race, we ship, whichmeans I don’t go to the races everyafternoon, which would be the case if I wasat Belmont every day, for example.”

“We’re very fortunate in that respect in

that I get to see the kids a lot. I’m often ableto come home and have lunch with them.Once a week, I’ll try to take the kids toschool then go to Delaware and see mystring of horses there.”

David Carroll, in summer months, has toonly look out his office door down theshedrow to see his son, 10-year-old Declan.“He loves the barn,” said Kim. In truth,Declan might be found anywhere atChurchill Downs. “This is his playground,”said David. “He goes up to the recreationhall and shoots pool. He goes over to [fellowtrainer] Norman Casses’s barn and rides theexerciser they have other there, and hespends a lot of time in the jocks quarters,too.”

Having Declan with him at the racetrack(and to a lesser extent, 13-year-old daughterAshlyn, who is active with horses of her ownand three-day eventing) is by design for theCarrolls. “A lot of trainers don’t want theirkids on the backside,” said David, “but Ithink the more time you spend with them,the better.”

In addition to time together, Davidbelieves the racetrack offers lessons that canserve his children well in adulthood. “Theysee us make the sacrifices and the ups anddowns. They see that life is not always rosy.


PROFILE

New parents Heather and Tim Ice.Because of obligations with SummerBird, Tim has yet to meet their sonCarson James (below) who was born inSeptember

“She’s the one that when things are goingbad is there to pick me up,” said DavidCarroll of Kim. “I don’t think I could do thiswithout her. Sometimes I don’t think I giveher enough credit for that” David Carroll



THE OTHER HALF

They see how hard we work for the things we have.”He spoke of Ashlyn calling him after Acoma did not finish in

the money in the Delaware Handicap. “She was crying and saying,‘Daddy, you work so hard. You were up there all week, and you’vegot nothing to show for it.’ And I said, ‘That’s life. You don’talways get out of life what you put into it, but you never give uptrying.’”

The lesson is applicable to everyone and everything, butparticularly important to racetrackers who must learn it to have achance at success. After all, what else would keep you goingthrough alarm clocks set to 4 a.m. or earlier, seven-day workweeks,extended time on the road from those you love, twists of fate bothcruel and marvelous, and being married with horses. �


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PRODUCT FOCUS


PRODUCT FOCUS issue 14.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 18:40 Page 2

PRODUCT FOCUS


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PRODUCT FOCUS


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North American Trainer Suppliers’ Guide


BUSINESS

State Owners Awards Breeders Awards Stallion owners Awards

Restricted Races Restricted Stakesraces

Out Of State RaceAwards

Arizona Range from 15-25% of thewinners share of the purse

Breeders can receive up to36% of the winners share ofthe purse

N/A Daily, with higher purses

Yes N/A

Arkansas Paid annually on earnings atthe Oaklawn Park live meetthe previous year

Paid annually on earnings inthe US and Canada the previous calendar year

Paid annually on earnings inthe US and Canada the previous calendar year

Four, at Oaklawn Park inMarch each year

Two, at Louisiana Downs inOctober or November

Alabama Awards range from 50% to2% of purse money, for winners down to 8th. If thereare fewer than 8 starters,those percentages go to thewinner

50%, 30% and 20% of nomination, entry and starting fees for horses finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rdrespectively

N/A N/A N/A 2-3 races per year, restrictedto AL-bred horses

California Can receive at least a 20%bonus on the finisher'sshare for finishing 1st-5thin an open allowance orovernight stakes race; canreceive up to a 20% bonusfor finishing first in openstarters above $15,000 andopen claiming races with agross purse above the pre-designated level

For 1st-3rd of any race runin California and any graded stakes in the US:75% of the remainder of thetotal incentive awardmonies after owners awardsare paid; individual breeders receive a pro-ratedshare of the breeders fund.Maximum purses: 1st -$330,000, 2nd - $120,000,3rd - $90,000

25% of the remainder of thetotal incentive awardmonies after owners awardsare paid given for progenywho win non-claimingraces with purses above$15, 000, and claimingraces with a purse abovepre-designated levels.Maximum purses: 1st - $330,000, 2nd -$120,000, 3rd - $90,000

At least one offered per day.Also California Cup heldduring Oak Tree meeting

10 during 2008 Breeder and stallion awardsfor horses finishing 1st-3rdin grade stakes races withinthe US

Delaware 25% of the purse share ifhorse finishes 1st, 2nd or3rd in any race, includingStakes races, during theDelaware Park meet(Awards in Stakes races notto exceed $15,000)

Receive 20% of purse wonfor horses 1st – 3rd inovernight races and stakesraces

N/A Yes Hold 4, with purses of$75,000

N/A

Florida Awards vary as they are paidout by the individual racetracks to winners of certain races. Payment isbased on a percentage ofthe gross purse

AAn award of 15% of thegross purse is given. Eachsingle breeder award maynot exceed $15,000. TheBreeder Bonus Award can bepaid based on the balance ofthe awards account aftercertain conditions have been fulfilled

20% of the gross purse of astakes races is given. Eachsingle stallion owner awardmay not exceed $15,000

Yes, amount depends onindividual racetrack

Yes, amount depends onindividual racetrack

N/A

Georgia Horses bred in Georgiafrom stallions nominatedwith the Georgia TOBA areeligible to run in restrictedstakes races held at Calderracecourse

Illinois Given if IL Bred comes 1st– 3rd in most open races.Ranges from 40-60% of thepurse

Awarded in open races tothe winner at 11.5 % ofpurse won. In restrictedraces offered from 1st – 4that 60%, 20%, 15%, and 5%of purse won

Sire incentive programsthrough restricted stakesraces

Yes, County Fair races for ILbreds

25; 2 specifically offering$100,000 in purse money

N/A

Indiana Receive 20% of base pursefor winners in all allowanceand stakes races. Alsoreceive 15% of base pursefor winners of claimingraces if claiming price isover $7,500

Receive 20% of the basepurse for winners of allraces in Indiana

Receive 10% of the basepurse for winners of allraces in Indiana

Hold restricted Indiana bredAllowance, Claiming andStakes races. IN bredsreceive 3lb weightallowance in open racesexcept stakes

18 in 2008, with purses of$100,000

Breeder awards for wins inother states or Canada at10% of purse (only if nolive TB meet in Indiana)

Iowa Receive 30% of purse wonfor horses 1st – 4th inrestricted races, and 40% ofpurse in open companyraces. Supplements arecapped at $50,000 per race

Receive 12% of the winners purse

N/A Required to hold at least 1race per day that is restricted

N/A N/A

Louisiana For horses foaled in KY &by KY sires, KTDF fundavailable on races distributed as follows 65%for 1st, 20% for 2nd, 10%for 3rd and 5% for 4th

Receive 25% of winningpurse for winners of all maiden special weights,allowance and stakes races(maximum bonus is$10,000 per race). Awardsalso for winners of Gr. 1races in Kentucky whoreceive $25 000, or $100000 for KY Derby/Oaks.Kentucky Claiming Titledivided among the breedersof the top three claiminghorses at all KY trackthroughout the year

N/A N/A N/A Breeder awards at 10% ofwin purse for winners ofmaiden and allowanceraces held within US (maximum bonus of$10,000 per race). Also$2500 to winners of Grade1 races held in other states.Breeders Cup races areexcluded

Kentucky N/A 22 % of the purse earnedby a LA bred finishing 1st,2nd, 3rd in any race in LA

Paid for the stallion’s progeny finishing 1st -3rdin an allowance, handicapor stakes race in LA or in astakes race outside of LA

3 races per day are offeredat each track holding a racemeeting. LA has four StateBred Days, one at eachtrack

N/A 22 % of the purse earnedby a LA bred finishing 1st,2nd, 3rd in any Stakes race outside LA. World WideBreeders Awards paid to LAbred finishing 1st, 2nd or3rd in any race outside LA

STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES


State Incentives table.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 12:56 Page 1

STATE INCENTIVES


State Owners Awards Breeders Awards Stallion owners Awards

Restricted Races Restricted Stakesraces

Out Of State RaceAwards

Michigan Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rdin open races.

10% of gross purse of allraces in Michigan

Amount changes depending on betting revenue, paid from 1st-3rdin open races.

Yes At least one race per day N/A

Maryland Awards available for winning Maryland bredhorses- except stakes,starter or claiming races(less than $20,000)

Awards available for winners of any race and forstakes-placed horses inMD. Breeders Award usuallydouble the Stallion Award.In stakes races the award isbased on the first $100,000of the gross purse

Awards available for winners of any race and forstakes-placed horses inMD. Stallion Award usuallyhalf the Breeders Award. Instakes races the award isbased on the first $100,000 of the grosspurse

N/A Around 20 N/A

Massachusetts 30% of purse won for hors-es finishing 1st – 3rd in anyraces except restricted ones

25% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rdin any race inMassachusetts

15% of purse won for horses finishing 1st – 3rdin any race inMassachusetts

Yes At least 8 races in 2008with purses of $50,000

N/A

Minnesota Purse supplements of 62%paid to all places in open,restricted overnight andrestricted stakes races

31% of total available paidfrom 1st to 3rd

7% of total available paid tostallion owners whose prog-emy finish 1st-3rd

N/A N/A N/A

New Jersey 30% purse supplement forhorses finishing 1st – 3rdin open company races inNJ (maximum award of$15,000)

Awarded for horses finishing 1st- 3rd in anyrace in NJ. Ranges from 25-35% depending on if siredby a state stallion or not

10% purse supplement foroffspring finishing 1st – 3rdin any race in NJ

Average 2 per day Minimum 16 through theyear

N/A

New Mexico 20% owner awards inovernight races for horsesfinishing 1st – 3rd.

10% breeder awards areavailable for winners ofraces in NM

7% for winners of progeny of races in NM

Varies depending on revenue available, usually 4per day

Varies depending on revenue available

N/A

New York Ranges from 10 – 20% ofpurse depending onwhether a NY based sire ornot, for horses finishing 1st– 4th in claiming races of$30,000 and over

Ranges from 10 – 20% ofpurse depending onwhether a NY based sire ornot, for horses finishing 1st– 4th in races in NY

N/A Run over 900 races annually restricted to NYbreds.

Hold 45 restricted stakesraces annually with a totalpurse of over $4 million

N/A

Ohio N/A 5% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starterallowance races and 10%on any other races

3% of purse paid on winners of claiming/starterallowance races and 5% onany other races

N/A 28 restricted stakes in 2008 N/A

Oregon 33% of money earned Breeders receive 10% of thepurse for horses that win inany race in Oregon

N/A Yes, at least 1 per day N/A N/A

Pennsylvania For horses finishing 1st –3rd in designated overnightraces owners receive a designated percentage ofthe purse share

Receive 30% of the pursewon for PA-sired horses finishing 1st – 3rd in anyPari–mutuel race in thestate; For non-PA-sired

horses, the award is 20%Receive 10% of the pursewon for horses finishing 1st– 3rd in any Pari – mutuelrace in the state

Hold overnight restrictedraces for PA breds

Yes N/A

Texas 40% of purse won for horsesfinishing 1st – 3rd in anyrace in Texas except restricted stakes races

40% of purse won for horsesfinishing 1st – 3rd in anyrace in Texas

20% of purse won by progeny finishing 1st – 3rdin any race in Texas

At least 2 required daily,with at least one for maidens

Yes N/A

Virginia 100% bonus on all openraces at Colonial Downs forwinners only

Pro-rata share of earningsbased on what other V bredhorses have earned

Pro-rata share of earningsbased on what other V bredhorses have earned

Very little, around 4 annually

6 Restricted stakes withpurses of $60,000

Breeder awards paid forwins in races anywhere inUS

Washington Awarded for owners of horses finishing 1st – 4th,at 15% of the purse won

Awarded for horses finishing 1st – 3rd in racesat Emerald downs. (75% ofaward goes to first placedhorse, 15% to 2nd and 10%to 3rd)

N/A N/A N/A N/A

West Virginia Owners will divide 25% ofmonies available for distribution, not to exceed35% of each horse's earnings

Breeders will divide 60% ofmonies available for distribution

Stallion owners will divide15% of the monies available for distribution,not to exceed 35% of thesire's progeny earnings

2 races/day at Charlestownand 1 race/day atMountaineer Park

N/A N/A

Canada – British Columbia

13% purse supplement onBC bred horses finishing 1st– 5th in any race.

An award is given to breeders for horses finishing1st – 3rd (except older horses competing in thelowest claiming categories)

Awards are paid when off-spring finishes 1st -3rd inany race other than a starterallowance and claimingrace.

N/A N/A N/A

Canada - Ontario N/A Awards available for horses finishing 1st-3rd inraces in Ontario.

N/A N/A Yes – restricted Ontario sirestakes and Ontario bredstakes

Breeder awards to Gradedstakes winners within NorthAmerica

Oklahoma Overnight races split 50%- 30% - 20% for firstthree finishers

Required to schedule atleast 2 per day

‘Oklahoma Classics’ – 8restricted stakes races heldat Remington Park. Startingin 2010 Remington and Will Rogers will offer 2additional stakes for nominated foals and nominated stallions standing in OK

N/A

If you have any updates for this par t of the magazine please call us on 1 888 218 4430or email us at [email protected]

STATE BREEDING AND RACING INCENTIVES

68% to mares and 32% to stallions standing in OK. Thensplit 50% - 30% - 20% for first thr ee finishers

State Incentives table.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 12:56 Page 2

RACESRaces are divided by distance and the relevant surface is indicated as follows:AWT – All Weather Track D – Dirt T –TurfThe indexes cover all graded races in North America over $50,000 in value,where information was available at the time of publication. Additionally, allEuropean Group One races have been included as well as major races fromJapan.

COPYRIGHTUnder Copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means. This includes but not limitedto; photocopying for commercial redistribution and or facsimile recording without the prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to the publisher.

BREEDERS’ CUP RACESPrize money is indicated by Breeders’ Cup and racetrack contributions.

DISCLAIMERWhilst every effort has been made to publish correct information, the publishers will not be held liable for any omission, mistake or change tothe races listed in all published indexes.

IMPORTANT NOTICEIf you would like to receive notification as we update the StakesSchedules on our website, simply send an e-mail to [email protected].

STAKES SCHEDULES

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Calder Cassidy Stakes 17-Oct-09 $75,000 2 F D 1100 5 1/16 3-Oct-09USA Calder Birdonthewire Stakes 17-Oct-09 $75,000 2 D 1100 5 1/16 3-Oct-09USA Zia Park Lea County Sprint 1-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ D 1100 5 1/16 20-Oct-09USA Sunland Park KLAQ H 12-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ D 1100 5 1/16 2-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Esplanade S 19-Dec-09 $60,000 3+ F&M D 1100 5 1/16 5-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Bold Ego H 27-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1100 5 1/16 19-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Swift S 2-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ D 1100 5 1/16 26-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Happy Ticket S S 16-Jan-10 $60,000 4+ F&M LA Bred D 1100 5 1/16 2-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds John E. Jackson Jr Memorial S S 16-Jan-10 $60,000 4+LA Bred D 1100 5 1/16 2-Jan-10USA Sunland Park Budweiser H 6-Feb-10 $50,000 3+ D 1000 5 29-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Sprint S 6-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ D 1000 5 22-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Matron S 6-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ F&M D 1000 5 22-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park Spring Fever 20-Feb-10 $60,000 4+ F&M D 1100 5 1/16 12-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise ATBA Spring Sales S R 2-May-10 $50,000 (+$25,000 for AZ bred) 2 D 1000 5

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA The Meadowlands Thomas Edison S 16-Oct-09 $60,000 3+ T 1000 5 9-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands P.G. Johnson S 17-Oct-09 $60,000 3 F T 1000 5 9-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands Witches Brew S 31-Oct-09 $60,000 3+ F&M T 1000 5 23-Oct-09USA Remington Park Remington Park Turf Sprint S 1-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ T 1000 5 23-Oct-09HK Sha Tin Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint Gp 1 13-Dec-09 HK$12,000,000 3+ T 1000 5 16-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Bonapaw S 19-Dec-09 $60,000 3+ T 1100 5 1/16 5-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Dr A.B. Leggio Memorial S 23-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ F&M T 1100 5 1/16 9-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Black Gold S 6-Feb-10 $60,000 3 T 1100 5 1/16 23-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Mardi Gras S 16-Feb-10 $60,000 3 F T 1100 5 1/16 30-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Colonel Power S 20-Feb-10 $75,000 4+ T 1100 5 1/16 6-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Bienville S 26-Mar-10 $75,000 4+ F&M T 1100 5 1/16 13-Mar-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingCAN Woodbine Fanfreluche S R 25-Oct-09 CAN150,000 2 F AWT 1200 6 7-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Jack Goodman S 31-Oct-09 $65,000 2 AWT 1200 6CAN Woodbine Ontario Fashion S 1-Nov-09 CAN150,000 3+ F&M AWT 1200 6 14-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Anoakia S 1-Nov-09 $65,000 2 F AWT 1200 6USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Sprint Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $2,000,000 3+ AWT 1200 6 26-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Kennedy Road S Gr 3 21-Nov-09 CAN150,000 3+ AWT 1200 6 4-Nov-09USA Turfway Park Holiday Inaugural Stakes S 29-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ F&M AWT 1200 6 19-Nov-09USA Turfway Park Gowell S S 19-Dec-09 $50,000 2 F AWT 1200 6 9-Dec-09USA Turfway Park Holiday Cheer Stakes 26-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ AWT 1200 6 6-Dec-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Finger Lakes Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies 17-Oct-09 $50,000 2 F D 1200 6 3-Oct-09USA Turf Paradise ATBA Fall Sales S R 17-Oct-09 $50,000 2 C&G D 1200 6

(+$50,000 for cer t. AZ-bred)USA Turf Paradise ATBA Fall Sales S R 17-Oct-09 $50,000 2 F D 1200 6

(+$50,000 for cer t. AZ-bred)CAN Hastings Racecourse Premier’s Handicap Gr 3 18-Oct-09 CAN 100,000 3+ D 1200 6 7-Oct-09USA Zia Park Permian Basin S 18-Oct-09 $60,000 2 F D 1200 6 6-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands Eillo S 23-Oct-09 $65,000 3+ D 1200 6 16-Oct-09USA Hoosier Park Indiana Stallion S S 23-Oct-09 $70,000 2 F D 1200 6 14-Oct-09

51/16f and less (1100m) DIRT

51/16f and less (1100m) TURF

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) AWT

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRT


STAKES SCHEDULES

US STAKES SCHEDULES ISSUE 14.qxd:Jerkins feature.qxd 13/10/09 12:57 Page 1


STAKES SCHEDULES

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA The Meadowlands Seton Hall University S 24-Oct-09 $65,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 16-Oct-09USA Hoosier Park The Crown Ambassador S S 24-Oct-09 $70,000 2 D 1200 6 14-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Hudson Handicap S 24-Oct-09 $125,000 3+ (NY bred) D 1200 6 10-Oct-09USA Zia Park Governor’s Cup 25-Oct-09 $60,000 2 D 1200 6 13-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Lightning Jet Handicap S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ (IL bred) D 1200 6 21-Oct-09USA Finger Lakes Finger Lakes Juvenile 31-Oct-09 $50,000 2 D 1200 6 17-Oct-09USA Beulah Park Scarlet & Gray Handicap S 31-Oct-09 $50,000 3+ FM D 1200 6 21-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Showtime Deb Stakes S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 2 F (IL bred) D 1200 6 21-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Sun Power Stakes S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 2 CG (IL bred) D 1200 6 21-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Powerless Handicap S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ F&M (IL bred) D 1200 6 21-Oct-09USA Philadelphia Park Parfaitment Stakes S 2-Nov-09 $75,000 2 D 1200 6 19-Oct-09USA Philadelphia Park Channel Three Stakes S 2-Nov-09 $75,000 2 F D 1200 6 19-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Pontalba 7-Nov-09 $60,000 2 F D 1200 6 24-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Old Hickory 7-Nov-09 $60,000 2 D 1200 6 24-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship S 8-Nov-09 $170,000 3+ D 1200 6 26-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Colts and Geldings S 8-Nov-09 $140,000 3 C&G D 1200 6 26-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile For Colts and Geldings S 8-Nov-09 $140,000 2 C&G D 1200 6 26-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile For Fillies S 8-Nov-09 $140,000 2 F D 1200 6 26-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Championship for Fillies S 8-Nov-09 $140,000 3 F D 1200 6 26-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands Jersey Juvenile Fillies S 13-Nov-09 $60,000 2 F (NJ bred) D 1200 6 6-Nov-09USA The Meadowlands Jersey Juvenile Colts S 13-Nov-09 $60,000 2 C (NJ bred) D 1200 6 6-Nov-09USA Calder Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap S 14-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ D 1200 6 31-Oct-09USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Fif th Avenue Division R 15-Nov-09 $100,000 2 F D 1200 6USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Great White Way Division R 15-Nov-09 $100,000 2 D 1200 6USA Mountaineer Sophomore Sprint Championship Stakes 17-Nov-09 $75,000 3 D 1200 6 3-Nov-09USA Turf Paradise Caballos del Sol S 21-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ D 1200 6 13-Nov-09USA Remington Park Oklahoma Classics Lassie S 22-Nov-09 $60,000 2 F D 1200 6USA Remington Park Oklahoma Classics Juvenile S 22-Nov-09 $60,000 2 C&G D 1200 6USA Fair Grounds Thanksgiving H 26-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ D 1200 6 14-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Fall Highweight Handicap Gr 3 26-Nov-09 $100,000 3+ D 1200 6 14-Nov-09USA Remington Park Silver Goblin S S 27-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ D 1300 6 1/16 18-Nov-09USA Turf Paradise Arizona Breeders’ Futurity - C&G S 28-Nov-09 $50,000 2 D 1200 6USA Turf Paradise Arizona Breeders’ Futurity - F S 28-Nov-09 $50,000 2 F D 1200 6USA Zia Park Zia Park Distaff S 28-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 16-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Yellow Rose S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 25-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Spirit Of Texas S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ D 1200 6 25-Nov-09USA Turf Paradise City of Phoenix S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 27-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Garland of Roses Handicap 5-Dec-09 $65,000 3+ FM D 1200 6 21-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Gravesend Handicap 12-Dec-09 $65,000 3+ D 1200 6 12-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 2 D 1200 6 6-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 6-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Lassie S S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 2 F D 1200 6 6-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Sprint S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ D 1200 6 6-Nov-09JPN Nakayama Capella Stakes Gr 3 13-Dec-09 $925,000 3+ D 1200 6 27-Oct-09USA Sunland Park New Mexico State Racing Commission H S 13-Dec-09 $125,000 3+ F&M (Reg NM bred) D 1200 6 3-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Johnie L Jamison S S 13-Dec-09 $125,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) D 1300 6 1/16 3-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Letellier Memorial Stakes S 19-Dec-09 $60,000 2 F D 1200 6 5-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Cactus Wren H S 19-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ (AZ bred) D 1300 6 1/16 11-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Sugar Bowl S 19-Dec-09 $60,000 2 D 1200 6 5-Dec-09USA Beulah Park Samuel H R 23-Dec-09 $15,000 3+ D 1200 6 12-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Lost in the Fog Juvenile S 26-Dec-09 $50,000 2 D 1300 6 1/16 18-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Arizona Juvenile Fillies S 26-Dec-09 $50,000 2 F D 1300 6 1/16 18-Dec-09USA Mountaineer Christmas Stakes 26-Dec-09 $75,000 3+ D 1200 6 14-Dec-09USA Mountaineer New Year’s Eve Stakes 29-Dec-09 $75,000 3+ FM D 1200 6 14-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Riley Allison Futurity 29-Dec-09 $100,000 2 D 1300 6 1/16 19-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Futurity S 31-Dec-09 $50,000 2 F D 1200 6USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Futurity S 31-Dec-09 $50,000 2 C&G D 1200 6USA Gulfstream Park Old Hat Stakes Gr 3 3-Jan-10 $100,000 3 F D 1200 6 19-Dec-09USA Oaklawn Park Dixie Bell S 15-Jan-10 $50,000 3 F D 1200 6 11-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park American Beauty S 16-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ F&M D 1200 6 12-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Mr Prospector Gr 3 16-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ D 1200 6 2-Jan-10USA Sunland Park La Senora H S 16-Jan-10 $125,000 3 F (Reg NM bred) D 1200 6 8-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Adena Springs Sugar Swirl Gr 3 17-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ F&M D 1200 6 2-Oct-10USA Sunland Park Pepsi Cola H S 23-Jan-10 $125,000 3 (Reg NM bred) D 1200 6 15-Jan-10USA Turf Paradise G Malleah H 23-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ D 1200 6 15-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds F.W. Gaudin Memorial S 23-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ D 1200 6 9-Jan-10USA Sunland Park El Paso Times H 24-Jan-10 $50,000 3 F D 1300 6 1/16 16-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Spectacular Bid Stakes 24-Jan-10 $100,000 3 D 1200 6 9-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park King Cotton S 30-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ D 1200 6 22-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Sprint S 30-Jan-10 $300,000 4+ D 1200 6USA Turf Paradise Mesa H 30-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ F&M D 1300 6 1/16 22-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Oaks S 30-Jan-10 $250,000 3 F D 1200 6USA Sunland Park El Diario H 13-Feb-10 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1300 6 1/16 5-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Phoenix Gold Cup 13-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ D 1200 6 5-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Hurricane Bertie H Gr 3 14-Feb-10 $125,000 4+ F&M D 1300 6 1/16 30-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Pan Zareta S 20-Feb-10 $75,000 4+ F&M D 1200 6 6-Feb-10USA Oaklawn Park Mountain Valley S 27-Feb-10 $60,000 3 D 1200 6 19-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Coyote H R 15-Mar-10 $50,000 3+ D 1300 6 1/16 5-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Hot Springs S 20-Mar-10 $60,000 4+ D 1200 6 12-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Prima Donna S 20-Mar-10 $60,000 3 F D 1200 6 12-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Natural State Breeders S 26-Mar-10 $50,000 4+ F&M (ARK Bred) D 1200 6 24-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Carousel H 27-Mar-10 $60,000 4+ F&M D 1200 6 19-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Duncan F. Kenner BC S 27-Mar-10 $50K(BC)/$75K 3+ D 1200 6 13-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Rainbow Miss S S 27-Mar-10 $50,000 3 F (Ark Bred) D 1200 6 25-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Rainbow S S 28-Mar-10 $50,000 3 C&G (Ark Bred) D 1200 6 26-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Nodouble Breeders S 28-Mar-10 $50,000 4+ (Ark Bred) D 1200 6 26-Mar-10USA Turf Paradise Princess of Palms H R 3-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 26-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Count Fleet Sprint H 9-Apr-10 $150,000 4+ D 1200 6 27-Mar-10

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRT



6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) DIRTCountry Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Sunland Park Czaria H 10-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1200 6 2-Apr-10USA Sunland Park KHEY Y-96 Sprint 20-Apr-10 $50,000 3 D 1200 6 10-Apr-10USA Turf Paradise Joanne Dye S S 24-Apr-10 $50,000 3 F (AZ bred) D 1300 6 1/16 16-Apr-10USA Turf Paradise Sandra Hall Grand Canyon H S 24-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ (AZ bred) D 1200 6 16-Apr-10USA Turf Paradise Ann Owens Distaff H S 24-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ F&M (AZ bred) D 1200 6 16-Apr-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingCAN Woodbine Nearctic S Gr 2 17-Oct-09 CAN500,000 3+ T 1200 6 30-Sep-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Sen. Ken Maddy H Gr 3 17-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ F&M T 1300 6 1/16USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Turf Sprint 7-Nov-09 $1,000,000 3+ T 1300 6 1/16 26-Oct-09JPN Kyoto Keihan Hai Gr 3 28-Nov-09 $960,000 3+ T 1200 6 13-Oct-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Keeneland Perryville presented by Budweiser Select Gr 3 17-Oct-09 $150,000 3 AWT 1400 7 7-Oct-09USA Keeneland Lexus Raven Run Gr 2 24-Oct-09 $300,000 3 F AWT 1400 7 14-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Frost King S R 4-Nov-09 CAN125,000 2 AWT 1400 7 14-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Filly & Mare Sprint Gr 1 6-Nov-09 $1,000,000 3+ F&M AWT 1400 7 26-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Cascapedia S 8-Nov-09 $65,000 3 F AWT 1400 7 13-Aug-09CAN Woodbine Glorious Song S 15-Nov-09 CAN150,000 2 F AWT 1400 7 28-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Jammed Lovely S S 15-Nov-09 CAN150,000 3 F AWT 1400 7 28-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Bessarabian S 22-Nov-09 CAN150,000 3+ F&M AWT 1400 7 4-Nov-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Belmont Park Iroquois Handicap S 24-Oct-09 $125,000 3+ FM (NY bred) D 1400 7 10-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Bold Ruler Gr 3 31-Oct-09 $150,000 3+ D 1400 7 17-Oct-09USA Delta Downs Louisiana Legacy S 6-Nov-09 $250,000 2 C&G D 1400 7 23-Oct-09USA Delta Downs My Trusty Cat 6-Nov-09 $125,000 2 F D 1400 7 23-Oct-09USA Delta Downs Louisiana Jewel S 6-Nov-09 $250,000 2 F D 1400 7 23-Oct-09USA Calder Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies S 14-Nov-09 $150,000 2 F D 1400 7 31-Oct-09USA Calder Jack Price Juvenile S 14-Nov-09 $150,000 2 D 1400 7 31-Oct-09USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Staten Island Division R 15-Nov-09 $75,000 3+ FM D 1400 7USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Thunder Rumble Division R 15-Nov-09 $75,000 3+ D 1400 7USA Philadelphia Park Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes S 28-Nov-09 $75,000 2 D 1400 7 1-Sep-09USA Delta Downs Sam’s Town R 4-Dec-09 $60,000 3 D 1400 7 20-Nov-09USA Delta Downs Orleans R 4-Dec-09 $60,000 3 F D 1400 7 20-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Bara Lass S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 2 F D 1400 7 25-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Groovy S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 2 D 1400 7 25-Nov-09USA Calder Kenny Noe Jr Handicap Gr 3 26-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ D 1400 7 12-Dec-09USA Delta Downs Triple Sec 15-Jan-10 $60,000 3 D 1400 7 1-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Genesis 15-Jan-10 $60,000 3 F D 1400 7 1-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Forward Gal S Gr 2 31-Jan-10 $150,000 3 F D 1400 7 16-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Prince S 6-Feb-10 $125,000 3 D 1400 7 22-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Starlet S 6-Feb-10 $125,000 3 F D 1400 7 22-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Gr 2 13-Feb-10 $150,000 4+ D 1400 7 30-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Hutcheson Stakes Gr 2 27-Feb-10 $150,000 3 D 1400 7 13-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Sunshine State 6-Mar-10 $75,000 4+ Fla-bred D 1400 7 20-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Inside Information Gr 2 14-Mar-10 $150,000 4+ F&M D 1400 7 27-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Swale S Gr 2 27-Mar-10 $150,000 3 D 1400 7 13-Mar-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingGB Newmarket Dewhurst St (Darley) Gp 1 17-Oct-09 £300,000 2 C&F T 1400 7 4-Aug-09JPN Kyoto Mainichi Broadcasting System Sho Swan Stakes Gr 2 31-Oct-09 $1,420,000 3+ T 1400 7 15-Sep-09USA Remington Park Ladies on the Lawn S S 27-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ F&M T 1500 7 1/16 18-Nov-09JPN Hanshin Hanshin Cup Gr 2 20-Dec-09 $1,660,000 3+ T 1400 7 10-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Grindstone S 27-Mar-10 $60,000 3 T 1500 7 1/16 13-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park Appleton H Gr 3 27-Mar-10 $100,000 4+ T 1500 7 1/16 13-Mar-10USA Turf Paradise Arizona Stallion S S 3-Apr-10 $50,000 3 T 1500 7 1/16USA Gulfstream Park South Beach S 10-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ F&M T 1500 7 1/16 27-Mar-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingCAN Woodbine Princess Elizabeth S R 31-Oct-09 CAN250,000 2 F AWT 1700 8 1/16 1-Aug-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Juvenile Fillies Gr 1 6-Nov-09 $2,000,000 2 F AWT 1700 8 1/16 26-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Juvenile Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $2,000,000 2 C&G AWT 1700 8 1/16 26-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Dirt Mile Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $1,000,000 3+ AWT 1600 8 26-Oct-09CAN Woodbine South Ocean S S 11-Nov-09 CAN125,000 2 F AWT 1700 8 1/16 21-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Autumn S Gr 2 14-Nov-09 CAN150,000 3+ AWT 1700 8 1/16 28-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Kingarvie S S 28-Nov-09 CAN125,000 2 AWT 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09CAN Woodbine Ontario Lassie S S 29-Nov-09 CAN150,000 2 F AWT 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09CAN Woodbine Sir Barton S S 2-Dec-09 CAN125,000 3+ AWT 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09CAN Woodbine Display S 5-Dec-09 CAN150,000 2 AWT 1700 8 1/16 18-Nov-09USA Turfway Park My Charmer Stakes S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M AWT 1700 8 1/16 25-Nov-09USA Hollywood Park Hollywood Starlet Gr 1 12-Dec-09 $500,000 2 F AWT 1700 8 1/16 15-May-09USA Hollywood Park CashCall Futurity Gr 1 19-Dec-09 $750,000 2 AWT 1700 8 1/16 15-May-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Delta Downs Gold Cup S 16-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ D 1600 8 2-Oct-09

STAKES SCHEDULES

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) AWT

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) DIRT

7f-71/16f (1400m-1500m) TURF

6f-61/16f (1200m-1300m) TURF

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) AWT

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT



STAKES SCHEDULES

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Delta Downs Magnolia S 16-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8 2-Oct-09USA Calder Florida Stallion Stakes - My Dear Girl Division R 17-Oct-09 $400,000 2 F D 1700 8 1/16 15-May-09USA Philadelphia Park Cozy Lace S 17-Oct-09 $75,000 3+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 3-Oct-09USA Calder Spend a Buck Handicap Gr 3 17-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 3-Oct-09USA Calder Florida Stallion Stakes - In Reality Division R 17-Oct-09 $400,000 2 D 1700 8 1/16 15-May-09USA Hoosier Park Francis Slocum S S 17-Oct-09 $70,000 3+ F&M (Reg IN bred) D 1700 8 1/16 7-Oct-09USA Hoosier Park Too Much Coffee S S 18-Oct-09 $70,000 3+ (Reg IN bred) D 1700 8 1/16 8-Oct-09USA Mountaineer Autumn Leaves Stakes 20-Oct-09 $75,000 3+ FM D 1700 8 1/16 6-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Sleepy Hollow Stakes S 24-Oct-09 $100,000 2 (NY bred) D 1600 8 10-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Maid of the Mist Stakes S 24-Oct-09 $100,000 2 F (NY bred) D 1600 8 10-Oct-09USA Pinnacle Michigan Futurity S 24-Oct-09 $50,000 2 C&G D 1600 8CAN Hastings Racecourse Fantasy Stakes 24-Oct-09 CAN 100,000 2 F D 1700 8 1/16 14-Oct-09USA Beulah Park Ohio Freshman Stakes R 24-Oct-09 $50,000 2 D 1600 8 14-Oct-09USA Pinnacle Michigan Juvenile Fillies S 24-Oct-09 $50,000 2 F D 1600 8CAN Hastings Racecourse Ascot Graduation Stakes 25-Oct-09 CAN 100,000 2 D 1700 8 1/16 14-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Buck’s Boy Handicap S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ (IL bred) D 1700 8 1/16 21-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Illini Princess Handicap S 31-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ F&M (IL bred) D 1700 8 1/16 21-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Iroquois Gr 3 1-Nov-09 $100,000 2 D 1600 8 14-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Pocahontas Gr 3 1-Nov-09 $100,000 2 F D 1600 8 14-Oct-09USA Delta Downs Jean Lafitte 6-Nov-09 $175,000 2 D 1600 8 23-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Ack Ack H Gr 3 6-Nov-09 $100,000 3+ D 1600 8 21-Oct-09USA Delta Downs Lookout R 6-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8 23-Oct-09USA Delta Downs B-Connected R 6-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ D 1600 8 23-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Chilukki S Gr 2 7-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8 21-Oct-09USA Beulah Park Glacial Princess Stakes R 7-Nov-09 $50,000 2 F D 1600 8 28-Oct-09USA Mountaineer Mountaineer Mile Handicap 7-Nov-09 $125,000 3+ D 1600 8 26-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Nashua Stakes Gr 2 7-Nov-09 $150,000 2 D 1600 8 24-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Tempted Stakes Gr 3 7-Nov-09 $100,000 2 F D 1600 8 24-Oct-09JPN Tokyo Tokyo Chunichi Spor ts Hai Musashino Stakes Gr 3 7-Nov-09 $925,000 3+ D 1600 8 29-Sep-09USA Zia Park Veterans S 7-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 27-Oct-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Peppers Pride Championship for Fillies/Mare S 8-Nov-09 $170,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8USA Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Rocky GulchChampionship S 8-Nov-09 $180,000 3+ D 1600 8 26-Oct-09USA Calder Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap S 14-Nov-09 $200,000 3+ FM D 1700 8 1/16 31-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Si Cima S S 14-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ F&M LA Bred D 1700 8 1/16 31-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands Honey Bee S 20-Nov-09 $60,000 3 F D 1700 8 1/16 13-Nov-09USA Beulah Park Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap R 21-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ FM D 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Top Flight Handicap Gr 2 27-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ FM D 1600 8 14-Nov-09USA The Meadowlands Alysheba S 27-Nov-09 $65,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 20-Nov-09USA Churchill Downs Kentucky Jockey Club Gr 2 28-Nov-09 $150,000 2 D 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Gr 1 28-Nov-09 $300,000 3+ D 1600 8 14-Nov-09USA Churchill Downs Golden Rod Gr 2 28-Nov-09 $150,000 2 F D 1700 8 1/16 11-Nov-09USA Delta Downs Delta Mile 4-Dec-09 $125,000 3+ D 1600 8 20-Nov-09USA Delta Downs Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes Gr 3 4-Dec-09 $750,000 2 D 1700 8 1/16 7-Nov-09USA Delta Downs Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes Gr 3 4-Dec-09 $500,000 2 F D 1600 8 7-Nov-09USA Delta Downs Treasure Chest 4-Dec-09 $125,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8 20-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Star Of Texas S S 5-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 25-Nov-09USA Hawthorne Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante Stakes S 5-Dec-09 $100,000 2 F (IL bred) D 1700 8 1/16 21-Oct-09USA Zia Park Zia Park Derby 5-Dec-09 $150,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16 23-Nov-09USA Zia Park New Mexico Eddy County S 6-Dec-09 $120,000 2 D 1600 8 23-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Damon Runyon Stakes S 6-Dec-09 $65,000 2 D 1700 8 1/16 21-Nov-09USA Aqueduct East View Stakes S 6-Dec-09 $65,000 2 F (NY bred) D 1700 8 1/16 21-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Handicap S S 12-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 6-Nov-09USA Hawthorne Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 2 C&G (IL bred) D 1700 8 1/16 21-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Ladies H S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 6-Nov-09USA Turf Paradise Hank Mills Sr. H 12-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ D 1600 8 4-Dec-09USA Remington Park Springboard Mile 13-Dec-09 $200,000 2 D 1600 8 4-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Enchantress S S 20-Dec-09 $125,000 2 F D 1600 8 11-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Tenacious H 20-Dec-09 $60,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 12-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Kachina H 26-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M D 1600 8 18-Dec-09USA Calder Stage Door Betty Handicap Gr 3 26-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ FM D 1700 8 1/16 12-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Red Hedeman Mile S 26-Dec-09 $125,000 2 (Reg NM bred) D 1600 8 18-Dec-09USA Aqueduct Alex M Robb Handicap S 27-Dec-09 $65,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 12-Dec-09USA Delta Downs Cocodrie R 1-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ D 1600 8 18-Dec-09USA Delta Downs Gardenia S R 1-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ F&M D 1600 8 18-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Albert Dominguez Memorial H S 3-Jan-10 $100,000 3+ (Reg NM bred) D 1700 8 1/16 26-Dec-09USA Gulfstream Park Hal’s Hope H Gr 3 3-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ D 1600 8 19-Dec-09USA Sunland Park Winsham Lad H 9-Jan-10 $50,000 3+ D 1600 8 1-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park Smarty Jones S 18-Jan-10 $100,000 3 D 1600 8 13-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Tiffany Lass S 23-Jan-10 $75,000 3 F D 1600 8 9-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Holy Bull S Gr 3 23-Jan-10 $150,000 3 D 1600 8 9-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Louisiana H 23-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 9-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Lecomte S Gr 3 23-Jan-10 $100,000 3 D 1600 8 9-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park Pippin S 23-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 15-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Donn H Gr 1 6-Feb-10 $500,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 23-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park Essex H 6-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 29-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Championship S 6-Feb-10 $200,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 22-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Distaff S 6-Feb-10 $150,000 4+F&M D 1600 8 22-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Star ter R 6-Feb-10 $55,000 4+ F&M D 1600 8 22-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Louisiana Premier Night Gentlemen Star ter R 6-Feb-10 $55,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 22-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Pelleteri S 13-Feb-10 $60,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 30-Jan-10USA Oaklawn Park Martha Washington S 13-Feb-10 $75,000 3 F D 1600 8 5-Feb-10USA Sunland Park Curribot H 14-Feb-10 $50,000 3+ D 1700 8 1/16 5-Feb-10USA Oaklawn Park Southwest S 15-Feb-10 $250,000 3 D 1600 8 5-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Silverbulletday S Gr 3 20-Feb-10 $150,000 3 F D 1700 8 1/16 6-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Sabin Gr 3 20-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ F&M D 1600 8 6-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Arizona Oaks 20-Feb-10 $50,000 3 F D 1600 8 12-Feb-10USA Sam Houston Race Park Jim’s Orbit S 20-Feb-10 $125,000 3 C&G D 1600 8 20-Jan-10USA Turf Paradise Turf Paradise Derby 20-Feb-10 $100,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16 12-Feb-10

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT


Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Sunland Park Sydney Valentini H S 20-Feb-10 $100,000 4 F&M (Reg NM bred) D 1600 8 12-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Risen Star S Gr 3 20-Feb-10 $300,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16 6-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Mineshaft H Gr 3 20-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 6-Feb-10USA Sam Houston Race Park Two Altazano S 20-Feb-10 $125,000 3 F D 1600 8 20-Jan-10USA Delta Downs Sportsman’s Paradise 26-Feb-10 $75,000 3 D 1600 8 12-Feb-10USA Delta Downs Green Oaks 26-Feb-10 $75,000 3 F D 1600 8 12-Feb-10USA Sunland Park Borderland Derby 27-Feb-10 $100,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16 19-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Davona Dale Stakes Gr 2 28-Feb-10 $150,000 3 F D 1600 8 13-Feb-10USA Sunland Park Island Fashion S 28-Feb-10 $50,000 3 F D 1600 8 20-Feb-10USA Delta Downs Goddess 5-Mar-10 $100,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 19-Feb-10USA Delta Downs Gulf Coast Classic 5-Mar-10 $100,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 19-Feb-10USA Oaklawn Park Razorback H 6-Mar-10 £150,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 26-Feb-10USA Oaklawn Park Azeri S 6-Mar-10 $150,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 26-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Ocala 7-Mar-10 $75,000 4+ F&M Fla-bred D 1600 8 20-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds TBA-2 S 13-Mar-10 $200,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 27-Feb-10USA Oaklawn Park Honeybee S 13-Mar-10 $125,000 3 F D 1700 8 1/16 5-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Rebel S 13-Mar-10 $300,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16 5-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park H Gr 2 13-Mar-10 $300,000 4+ D 1600 8 27-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Costa Rising S S 20-Mar-10 $60,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 6-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaks Gr 2 26-Mar-10 $400,000 3 F D 1700 8 1/16 13-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Cresent City Oaks S 26-Mar-10 $75,000 3 F LA Bred D 1600 8 13-Mar-10USA Sam Houston Race Park Maxxam Gold Cup 27-Mar-10 $100,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 17-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Cresent City Derby S 27-Mar-10 $75,000 3 LA Bred D 1700 8 1/16 13-Mar-10USA Sam Houston Race Park Sam Houston Distaff 27-Mar-10 $50,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 17-Mar-09USA Oaklawn Park Fantasy S 2-Apr-10 $300,000 3 F D 1700 8 1/16 20-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Apple Blossom H 3-Apr-10 $500,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 20-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Bayakoa S 7-Apr-10 $100,000 4+ F&M D 1700 8 1/16 27-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Fifth Season S 8-Apr-10 $100,000 4+ D 1700 8 1/16 27-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Instant Racing 10-Apr-10 $75,000 3 F D 1600 8 1-Apr-10USA Oaklawn Park Northern Spur 10-Apr-10 $75,000 3 D 1600 8 1-Apr-10USA Turf Paradise Arizona Breeders’ Derby S 24-Apr-10 $50,000 3 D 1700 8 1/16

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Belmont Park Athenia Handicap Gr 3 17-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ FM T 1700 8 1/16 3-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Cup and Saucer S R 18-Oct-09 CAN250,000 2 T 1700 8 1/16 1-Aug-09USA Keeneland Bryan Station Gr 3 18-Oct-09 $125,000 3 T 1600 8 7-Oct-09USA Keeneland Pin Oak Valley View Gr 3 23-Oct-09 $150,000 3 F T 1700 8 1/16 14-Oct-09USA Turf Paradise Queen of the Green H 24-Oct-09 $50,000 3+ F&M T 1600 8 16-Oct-09USA Retama Park Skyy El Joven Stakes 24-Oct-09 $100,000 2 CG T 1600 8 19-Jun-09USA Turf Paradise Walter R. Cluer Memorial S 24-Oct-09 $50,000 3+ T 1600 8 16-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Bunty Lawless S R 24-Oct-09 CAN125,000 3+ T 1600 8 7-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Harold C Ramser Sr H Gr 3 24-Oct-09 $100,000 3 F T 1600 8JPN Tokyo Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Fuji Stakes Gr 3 24-Oct-09 $960,000 3+ T 1600 8 15-Sep-09GB Doncaster Trophy (Racing Post) Gp 1 24-Oct-09 £200,000 2 C&F T 1600 8 11-Aug-09USA Retama Park M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes 24-Oct-09 $100,000 2 F T 1600 8 19-Jun-09FR Saint-Cloud Criterium International Gp 1 1-Nov-09 €250,000 2 CF T 1600 8 14-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Blushing K.D. H 6-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 24-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Juvenile Fillies Turf 6-Nov-09 $1,000,000 2 F T 1600 8 26-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita The Las Palmas H Gr 2 6-Nov-09 $200,000 3+ F&M T 1600 8USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Mile Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $2,000,000 3+ T 1600 8 26-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Juvenile Turf Gr 2 7-Nov-09 $1,000,000 2 T 1600 8 26-Oct-09USA Turf Paradise Chandler S 14-Nov-09 $50,000 3 F T 1600 8 6-Nov-09USA Turf Paradise Jack Coady, Sr. S 14-Nov-09 $50,000 3 T 1600 8 6-Nov-09USA Calder John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf S 14-Nov-09 $100,000 2 F T 1700 8 1/16 31-Oct-09USA Calder Arthur I Appleton Juvenile Turf S 14-Nov-09 $100,000 2 T 1700 8 1/16 31-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Mr Sulu S 14-Nov-09 $60,000 3+ LA Bred T 1700 8 1/16 31-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Mrs Revere Gr 2 14-Nov-09 $175,000 3 F T 1700 8 1/16 28-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Commonwealth Turf Gr 3 15-Nov-09 $100,000 3 T 1700 8 1/16 28-Oct-09USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Perfect Arc Division R 15-Nov-09 $75,000 3+ FM T 1700 8 1/16USA Aqueduct New York Stallion Series - Cormorant Division R 15-Nov-09 $75,000 3+ T 1700 8 1/16JPN Kyoto Mile Championship Gr 1 22-Nov-09 $2,360,000 3+ T 1600 8 13-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Woodchopper S 28-Nov-09 $60,000 3 T 1600 8 14-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Pago Hop S 5-Dec-09 $60,000 3 F T 1600 8 21-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park San Jacinto S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 25-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Turf H S 12-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ T 1700 8 1/16 6-Nov-09HK Sha Tin Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile Gp 1 13-Dec-09 HK$16,000,000 3+ T 1600 8 16-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Buddy Diliberto Memorial H 26-Dec-09 $60,000 3+ T 1700 8 1/16 12-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Furl Sail Hcp 2-Jan-10 $60,000 3+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 19-Dec-09USA Gulfstream Park Fort Lauderdale Stakes 9-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ T 1700 8 1/16 30-Dec-09USA Fair Grounds Dixie Poker Ace S S 9-Jan-10 $60,000 4+ LA Bred T 1600 8 26-Dec-09USA Gulfstream Park Marshua’s River Stakes 10-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 30-Dec-09USA Turf Paradise Glendale H 16-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 8-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Dania Beach 16-Jan-10 $100,000 3 T 1600 8 2-Oct-10USA Turf Paradise Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile 16-Jan-10 $75,000 4+ T 1600 8 8-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Sweetest Chant 17-Jan-10 $100,000 3 F T 1600 8 2-Oct-10USA Fair Grounds Marie G Krantz Memorial H 23-Jan-10 $60,000 4 + F & M T 1700 8 1/16 16-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Col. E.R Bradley Hcp Gr 3 23-Jan-10 $100,000 4+ T 1700 8 1/16 9-Jan-10USA Sam Houston Race Park Jersey Lilly S 30-Jan-10 $50,000 4+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 20-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach S 7-Feb-10 $125,000 3 T 1700 8 1/16 23-Jan-10USA Turf Paradise Sun City H 13-Feb-10 $50,000 4+ F&M T 1600 8 5-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Turf Paradise H 13-Feb-10 $50,000 4+ T 1700 8 1/16 5-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Coconut Grove 14-Feb-10 $125,000 3 F T 1700 8 1/16 30-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Tallahassee 21-Feb-10 $75,000 4+ Fla-bred T 1600 8 6-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Marion County 21-Feb-10 $75,000 4+ F&M Fla-bred T 1600 8 6-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Allen Lacombe Memorial H 27-Feb-10 $60,000 4+ F&M T 1600 8 13-Feb-10

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) DIRT

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) TURF


STAKES SCHEDULES



STAKES SCHEDULES

8f-81/16f (1600m-1700m) TURFCountry Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Gulfstream Park Canadian Turf H Gr 3 27-Feb-10 $150,000 4+ T 1600 8 13-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Sarah Lane’s Oates S S 6-Mar-10 $60,000 3 F LA Bred T 1600 8 20-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Gentilly S S 6-Mar-10 $60,000 3 LA Bred T 1700 8 1/16 20-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Honey Fox H Gr 3 6-Mar-10 $100,000 4+ F&M T 1600 8 20-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Tempe H 13-Mar-10 $50,000 3 T 1600 8 5-Mar-10USA Turf Paradise Scottsdale H 13-Mar-10 $50,000 3 F T 1600 8 5-Mar-09USA Turf Paradise Desert Sky H R 13-Mar-10 $50,000 3+ F&M T 1600 8 5-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Red Camelia S 28-Mar-10 $60,000 4+ F&M T 1700 8 1/16 14-Mar-09USA Gulfstream Park Boynton Beach 17-Apr-10 $50,000 3 F T 1600 8 3-Apr-10USA Turf Paradise Dwight D Patterson H S 24-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ (AZ bred) T 1700 8 1/16 16-Apr-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingeUSA Keeneland Fayette S Gr 2 31-Oct-09 $150,000 3+ AWT 1800 9 21-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Ladies Classic Gr 1 6-Nov-09 $2,000,000 3+ F&M AWT 1800 9 26-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Coronation Futurity R 8-Nov-09 CAN250,000 2 AWT 1800 9 1-Aug-09USA Turfway Park Prairie Bayou Stakes S 12-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ AWT 1800 9 2-Dec-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA The Meadowlands Meadowlands Cup H Gr 2 16-Oct-09 $300,000 3+ D 1800 9 2-Oct-09USA Philadelphia Park Docent Handicap S 17-Oct-09 $75,000 3+ D 1800 9 3-Oct-09CAN Hastings Racecourse Ballerina Breeders’ Cup Stakes 17-Oct-09 $25K (BC)/ CAN 100K 3+ FM D 1800 9 7-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Empire Classic Handicap S 24-Oct-09 $250,000 3+ (NY bred) D 1800 9 10-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Turnback the Alarm Gr 3 31-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ FM D 1800 9 17-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands Pegasus S Gr 3 6-Nov-09 $150,000 3 D 1800 9 23-Oct-09USA Calder Carl G Rose Classic S 14-Nov-09 $200,000 3+ D 1800 9 31-Oct-09USA Beulah Park Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Stakes R 14-Nov-09 $50,000 3+ D 1800 9 4-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Stuyvesant Handicap Gr 3 14-Nov-09 $100,000 3+ D 1800 9 31-Oct-09USA Hawthorne Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap 21-Nov-09 $200,000 3+ D 1800 9 11-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Discovery Handicap Gr 3 21-Nov-09 $100,000 3 D 1800 9 7-Nov-09USA Churchill Downs Falls City H Gr 2 26-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ F&M D 1800 9 11-Nov-09USA Churchill Downs Clark H Gr 2 27-Nov-09 $400,000 3+ D 1800 9 11-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Demoiselle Stakes Gr 2 28-Nov-09 $200,000 2 F D 1800 9 14-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Remsen Stakes Gr 2 28-Nov-09 $200,000 2 D 1800 9 14-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Gazelle Gr 1 28-Nov-09 $300,000 3 F D 1800 9 14-Nov-09USA Zia Park Zia Park Distance Championship 6-Dec-09 $200,000 3+ D 1800 9 23-Nov-09JPN Hanshin Japan Cup Dir t Gr 1 6-Dec-09 $3,080,000 3+ D 1800 9 13-Oct-09USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Champions Day Classic S 12-Dec-09 $150,000 3+ D 1800 9 6-Nov-09USA Aqueduct Queens County Handicap Gr 3 12-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ D 1900 9 1/16 28-Nov-09USA Fair Grounds TBA S 19-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ F&M D 1800 9 5-Dec-09USA Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Distaff S 30-Jan-10 $500,000 4+ F&M D 1800 9USA Gulfstream Park Fountain Of Youth Stakes Gr 2 27-Feb-10 $250,000 3 D 1800 9 13-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park Bonnie Miss S Gr 2 27-Mar-10 $200,000 3 F D 1800 9 13-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park Florida Derby Gr 1 27-Mar-10 $750,000 3 D 1800 9 9-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds New Orleans H Gr 2 27-Mar-10 $500,000 4+ D 1800 9 13-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Louisiana Derby Gr 2 27-Mar-10 $750,000 3 D 1800 9 13-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park The Rampart S Gr 2 28-Mar-10 $150,000 4+ F&M D 1800 9 13-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park The Skip Away S Gr 3 3-Apr-10 $100,000 3+ D 1900 9 1/16 20-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Oaklawn H 3-Apr-10 $500,000 4+ D 1800 9 20-Mar-10USA Oaklawn Park Arkansas Derby 10-Apr-10 $1,000,000 3 D 1800 9 27-Mar-10USA Sunland Park Sunland Park H 18-Apr-10 $100,000 3+ D 1800 9 10-Apr-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Keeneland Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S (by invitation only) Gr 1 17-Oct-09 $500,000 3 F T 1800 9USA Calder Calder Derby Gr 3 17-Oct-09 $100,000 3 T 1800 9 3-Oct-09USA Calder Calder Oaks 17-Oct-09 $75,000 3 F T 1800 9 3-Oct-09JPN Tokyo Fuchu Himba Stakes Gr 3 18-Oct-09 $925,000 3+ FM T 1800 9 1-Sep-09USA Belmont Park Knickerbocker Handicap Gr 3 18-Oct-09 $100,000 3+ T 1800 9 3-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Ticonderoga Handicap S 24-Oct-09 $150,000 3+ FM (NY bred) T 1800 9 10-Oct-09USA Belmont Park Mohawk Stakes S 24-Oct-09 $150,000 3+ (NY bred) T 1800 9 10-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oak Tree Derby Gr 2 7-Nov-09 $150,000 3 T 1800 9USA Calder Bonnie Heath Turf Cup S 14-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ T 1800 9 31-Oct-09USA Churchill Downs Cardinal Gr 3 21-Nov-09 $100,000 3+ F&M T 1800 9 4-Nov-09USA Churchill Downs River City H Gr 3 27-Nov-09 $100,000 3+ T 1800 9 11-Nov-09USA Calder Tropical Turf Handicap Gr 3 5-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ T 1800 9 21-Nov-09USA Calder My Charmer Handicap Gr 3 5-Dec-09 $100,000 3+ FM T 1800 9 21-Nov-09JPN Hanshin Naruo Kinen Gr 3 5-Dec-09 $960,000 3+ T 1800 9 27-Oct-09USA Sam Houston Race Park Richard King S S 5-Dec-09 $50,000 3+ T 1800 9 25-Nov-09USA Sam Houston Race Park John B. Connally BC Turf Gr 3 30-Jan-10 $150K / $50K (BC) 3+ T 1800 9 20-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Turf S 30-Jan-10 $500,000 4+ T 1800 9USA Gulfstream Park Suwannee River Gr 3 6-Feb-10 $125,000 4+ F&M T 1800 9 23-Jan-10USA Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Turf H Gr 1 7-Feb-10 $300,000 4+ T 1800 9 23-Jan-10USA Fair Grounds Fair Grounds BC H Gr 3 20-Feb-10 $50K / $50K (BC) 4+ T 1800 9 6-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park The Palm Beach S Gr 3 13-Mar-10 $150,000 3 T 1800 9 27-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park The Herecomesthebride S Gr 3 14-Mar-10 $150,000 3 F T 1800 9 27-Feb-10USA Fair Grounds Bayou BC H 26-Mar-10 $50K(BC)/$75K 4+ F&M T 1800 9 13-Mar-10USA Fair Grounds Mervin H Muniz Jr Memorial Gr 2 27-Mar-10 $500,000 4+ T 1800 9 13-Mar-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingCAN Woodbine Maple Leaf S 7-Nov-09 CAN175,000 3+ F&M AWT 2000 10 21-Oct-09

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) AWT

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) DIRT

9f-91/16f (1800m-1900m) TURF

10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) AWT


Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Classic Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $5,000,000 3+ AWT 2000 10 26-Oct-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingGB Newmarket Champion (Emirates Airline) Gp 1 17-Oct-09 £400,000 3+ T 2000 10 4-Aug-09CAN Woodbine E P Taylor S Gr 1 17-Oct-09 CAN1,000,000 3+ F&M T 2000 10 30-Sep-09JPN Kyoto Shuka Sho Gr 1 18-Oct-09 $2,100,000 3 F T 2000 10 1-Sep-09AUS Moonee Valley Tattersall’s Cox Plate Gp 1 24-Oct-09 AUS$3,050,000 3+ T 2040 10 3-Aug-09ITY Rome Premio Lydia Tesio Gp 1 25-Oct-09 €297,000 3+ F&M T 2000 10 24-Sep-09JPN Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) Gr 1 1-Nov-09 $3,120,000 3+ T 2000 10 15-Sep-09ITY Rome Premio Roma Gp 1 8-Nov-09 4297,000 3+ T 2000 10 8-Oct-09FR Saint-Cloud Criterium de Saint-Cloud Gp 1 14-Nov-09 €250,000 2 CF T 2000 10 28-Oct-09JPN Fukushima Fukushima Kinen Gr 3 21-Nov-09 $960,000 3+ T 2000 10 13-Oct-09JPN Chukyo Chunichi Shimbun Hai Gr 3 12-Dec-09 $960,000 3+ T 2000 10 27-Oct-09HK Sha Tin Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup Gp 1 13-Dec-09 HK$20,000,000 3+ T 2000 10 16-Oct-09JPN Chukyo Aichi Hai Gr 3 19-Dec-09 $925,000 3+ FM T 2000 10 10-Nov-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA The Meadowlands Princeton S 16-Oct-09 $60,000 3 T 2200 11 9-Oct-09USA The Meadowlands John Henry S 30-Oct-09 $60,000 3+ T 2200 11 23-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Filly & Mare Turf Gr 1 6-Nov-09 $2,000,000 3+ F&M T 2200 11 26-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Red Smith Handicap Gr 2 7-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ T 2200 11 24-Oct-09JPN Kyoto Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup Gr 1 15-Nov-09 $2,140,000 3+ FM T 2200 11 13-Oct-09USA Gulfstream Park Mac Diarmida H Gr 2 20-Feb-10 $150,000 4+ T 2200 11 6-Feb-10USA Gulfstream Park The Very One H Gr 3 27-Feb-10 $100,000 4+ F&M T 2200 11 13-Feb-10USA Turf Paradise Wildcat H 3-Apr-10 $50,000 3+ T 2200 11 26-Mar-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingCAN Woodbine Pattison Canadian International Gr 1 17-Oct-09 CAN2,000,000 3+ T 2400 12 30-Sep-09AUS Caulfield BMW Caulfield Cup Gp 1 17-Oct-09 AUS$2,550,000 3+ T 2400 12 3-Aug-09ITY Milan Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro Gp 1 18-Oct-09 €297,000 3+ T 2400 12 17-Sep-09USA Keeneland Sycamore Gr 3 22-Oct-09 $125,000 3+ T 2400 12 14-Oct-09USA Aqueduct Long Island Handicap Gr 3 1-Nov-09 $150,000 3+ FM T 2400 12 17-Oct-09USA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Turf Gr 1 7-Nov-09 $3,000,000 3+ T 2400 12 26-Oct-09JPN Tokyo Copa Republica Argentina Gr 2 8-Nov-09 $1,370,000 3+ T 2500 12 1/16 29-Sep-09JPN Tokyo Japan Cup Gr 1 29-Nov-09 $5,920,000 3+ T 2400 12 13-Oct-09HK Sha Tin Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase Gp 1 13-Dec-09 HK$14,000,000 3+ T 2400 12 16-Oct-09USA Calder WL McKnight Handicap Gr 2 26-Dec-09 $150,000 3+ T 2400 12 12-Dec-09JPN Nakayama Arima Kinen Gr 1 27-Dec-09 $4,260,000 3+ T 2500 12 1/16 10-Nov-09USA Gulfstream Park Pan American H Gr 3 20-Mar-10 $150,000 4+ T 2400 12 6-Mar-10USA Gulfstream Park Orchid H Gr 3 21-Mar-10 $150,000 4+ F&M T 2400 12 6-Mar-10GB Epsom Downs Derby (Investec) Gp 1 5-Jun-10 £1,250,000 3 C&F T 2400 12

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Aqueduct Gallant Fox Handicap 31-Dec-09 $65,000 3+ D 2600 13 12-Dec-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingUSA Oak Tree at Santa Anita BC Marathon 6-Nov-09 $500,000 3+ AWT 2800 14 26-Oct-09CAN Woodbine Valedictory S 6-Dec-09 CAN150,000 3+ AWT 2800 14 18-Nov-09

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingFR Longchamp Prix Royal-Oak Gp 1 25-Oct-09 €250,000 3+ T 3100 15.5 7-Oct-09USA Turf Paradise Hasta La Vista H 2-May-10 $50,000 3+ T 3000 15 23-Apr-10

Country Track Race Name & (Sponsor) Class Race Date Value Age Surface Metres Furlongs ClosingAUS Flemington Emirates Melbourne Cup Gp 1 3-Nov-09 AUS$5,650,000 3+ T 3200 16 3-Aug-09JPN Nakayama Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes Gr 2 5-Dec-09 $1,500,000 3+ T 3600 18 27-Oct-09

10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) TURF

10f-101/16f (2000m-2100m) AWT

11f-111/16f (2200m-2300m) TURF

12f-121/16f (2400m-2500m) TURF

13f-131/16f (2600m-2700m) DIRT

14f-141/16f (2800m-2900m) AWT

15f-151/16f (3000m-3100m) TURF

16f-20f (3200m-4000m) TURF


STAKES SCHEDULES



If I Were Czar – Part 1Education and LicensingThoroughbred business.

As the first step in my campaign tobecome the democratically-chosen dictatorof the Thoroughbred Industry, I am goingto publish a number of position papers inthis foreign-owned publication setting forththe ways I will improve our business when Iam elected Czar.

My first act as Czar – after the inauguralgala, of course, and prior to the firstassassination attempt – will be to requireeveryone in the business (and I do mean“everyone” – every owner, trainer, rider, racetrack operator, auctioneer, and, yes, evenevery bloodstock agent and breeder) to havea license in order to pursue their chosenaspect of our business.

Even worse, in order to obtain a license,every participant in the business would haveto undergo some “education” anddemonstrate at least a basic knowledge ofhow our industry operates.

For instance, they would have to endure acrash course in the basic principles of supplyand demand, in addition to which theywould have to pass a test to prove that theyunderstand that such lovely dreams as“Build It And They Will Come” or “Breed ItAnd It Will Sell” only come true in themovies.

They will have to demonstrate a completeand thorough understanding of sucheconomic bombshells as the following:A. Racing should be conducted as a result of

fan demand – not because you needsomething to do with your foals. Further,racing six days a week, 52 weeks a year, in38 states is too much for the public tostomach. The real reason “people aren’t

going to the races the way they used to” isthat there is way too much racing goingon. People have had too much of it.Racing is here to entertain people; peoplearen’t born to support racing.

B. Even though it’s a drop of nearly 15%,30,000 foals a year is still too many.

C. 5,100 (or even 1,500 horses) is way toomany to have in a sale.

D. Not every foal which is born is going tomake money for its breeder or for theperson who chooses to race it.

E. We can’t blame all our problems on therecession. As a matter of fact, we can’tblame any of them on the recession.Almost all of our major problems havebeen around for decades – and there isnot a single problem faced by theThoroughbred business today, not one,that is not our own damned fault.In fact, at the swearing-in of each licensee,

he or she will have to acknowledge thatthere is such a thing as the Law of Supplyand Demand, and that it applies to the horsebusiness, just as it does to everything else.Further, they will have to make a publicacknowledgement that they understand thatit applies to them, as individuals, too, andnot just to their neighbors.

So, my loyal followers, I hearby announcemy first declaration of war. Since I’m prettyold and don’t have a lot of time to foolaround, it’s going to be a biggie. We’reopening on three fronts – cupidity, stupidityand bad husbandry.

Демократия умерла. Да здравствуетцарь.1 �

1 “Democracy is dead. Long live the Czar.” (Courtesy of iGoogle,WordMonkey Translator.)

THEARNOLD KIRKPATRICKCOLUMN

L AST time I looked, the good ol’U. S. of A. was not only ademocracy but was trying toexport democracy to a number ofplaces, several of which didn’t

seem overly enthused about having it.Furthermore, despite the fact that almost

everybody in our country thinks democracyis great – even Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reillyand Rush Limbaugh, who are in favor of asort of altered democracy in which everyonehas a free choice, just so long as it’s whatthose three say we should do – ourpoliticians keep appointing Czars to runeverything to which applying somecommon sense would affect their numbersin the popularity polls. And the minute weappoint a Czar, he is expected to start a waragainst whatever it is we have appointedhim to control.

As best I can figure, we’ve started a lot ofwars recently, not just real wars, but a waron poverty, a war on drugs, a war on illicitsex, etc., but, also as best I can recollect, wehaven’t won a real war since World War II. Idon’t know much about wars and fights, butif I kept losing ‘em, I don’t think I’d be soquick to start ‘em.

Anyway, over the past couple of decades,there have been increasingly-frequent andincreasingly-strident calls for theappointment of a Czar of Racing, abenevolent dictator who could solve theProblems of Racing with a wisdom andcharm that would astonish even the mostardent opponents in the polyglot of factionswho spend their time blathering on about“WHAT WE NEED TO FIX OURINDUSTRY,” only to oppose anything thatmakes any real sense, because they didn’tcome up with it.

So, being as how I regard myself as A True Patriot, I am hearby offering myself up to become Czar of Racing. In fact Iintend to be Czar of the entire

“They would have to pass a test to prove that they understandthat such lovely dreams as “Build It And They Will Come” or

“Breed It And It Will Sell” only come true in the movies”

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an Tra

iner ISSUE 14 (FA

LL 2009)P

ublishing Ltd

THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOROUGHBRED

www.trainermagazine.comNorth American ISSUE 14 (FALL 2009) $6.95

THEOFFICIAL

MAGAZINE OF THE

Weighty IssuesHave synthetic surfaces changed the way racing secretaries write conditions?

Hyperbaric OxygenTherapyDoes it do more than aid recovery?

JOHN SHIRREFFSA trainer who likes to do things differently

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north american trainer - fall 2009 - issue 14

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