January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Op/Ed: ‘Even More Transparency’ Needed At California Tracks

The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board acknowledged improved equine safety measures at Santa Anita Park over the past two years, reducing equine fatalities from 37 over the 2019 season to 16 over the same period in 2020. Still, the editorial board insists there are more steps to be taken to prevent further on-track fatalities across the entire state of California.

First, there should be public postings of all necropsy and fatality reviews on horses that die on California tracks.

“The horse racing board already posts annual overall reports on fatalities and types of injuries, but even more transparency is called for,” wrote the editorial board.

Another suggestion was a centralized pharmacy at the racetrack, which is the only source for medications.

Finally, while Santa Anita's PET scan has been a good investment, the editorial board believes the machine should be used on asymptomatic horses prior to a race. Additionally, a 3D walk-in CAT scanner could be added to track veterinarians' tool kit.

Cheltenham Festival: Organisers prepared for ‘limited’ attendance

Cheltenham Festival organisers expect "only small numbers of people" to be able to attend this year's event in March.

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Eclipse Award Winner Kazushi Kimura To Ride In Saudi Arabia Through Mid-March

The Eclipse Award-winning Champion Apprentice Jockey of 2019, Kazushi Kimura has plans to ride in Saudi Arabia during the winter of 2020-2021, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. A 21-year-old native of Japan, Kimura will primarily ride for Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.

Kimura finished third in the standings at Woodbine this year with 83 winners, and celebrated his first Grade 1 victory with Gretzky the Great in the Summer Stakes. He has ridden just two starters thus far in Saudi Arabia, finishing unplaced in both, but has more mounts in the coming weeks.

“I've been getting good experience [in Saudi Arabia] so far,” Kimura told the TDN. “I'm gonna ride in Saudi Arabia until the middle of March, then I will be back to Woodbine before the opening day.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Eclipse Award Winner Kazushi Kimura To Ride In Saudi Arabia Through Mid-March appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Driving To The Wire: Quarter Horse Jockey Shanley Jackson Also Pilots School Buses

Veteran jockey Shanley Jackson regularly inhabits two different worlds. On weekends, he pushes the limits of speed on horseback aboard Quarter Horse in races primarily at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind. On week days, however, the 58-year-old can be found driving kids to school in Leon County near his hometown of Tallahassee, Fla., according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Jackson has an uncle, also a bus driver, who inspired him to apply for the position five years ago. He now drives bus routes for Amos P. Godby High School, Griffin Middle School, and Fort Braden School.

This year, per Equibase, Jackson recorded nine winners from 76 mounts for earnings of $320,073, including a win aboard Beach Blast in the $192,400 Miss Roxie Little Futurity at Indiana Grand on Oct. 24. Overall, the jockey has a record of 279 wins from 2,133 starts with Quarter Horses, earning over $5.6 million.

While injury has played a role in his career, Jackson said he's not ready to walk away from the “rush” of race-riding.

“The way I feel now, I feel no different than when I first started. I guess I'll let my body tell me when enough is enough,” Jackson told the Tallahasseee Democrat. “As long as I stay young.”

Read more at the Tallahassee Democrat.

The post Driving To The Wire: Quarter Horse Jockey Shanley Jackson Also Pilots School Buses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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