January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Longtime Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Veterinarian, Dr. James D. (Jim) Smith, 86, Passes

Dr. James Donovan (Jim) Smith, DVM, of Lexington, Ky., husband of Judy Smith passed away on Dec. 28, 2020, surrounded in love by his family. Dr. Smith was born Oct. 10, 1934, in Hutchinson, Kan., to the late Raymond and Anita Smith.

Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor and Doctorate degrees in Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University where he was a member of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Known affectionately as “Doc”, Jim developed a love for equine medicine during his studies. This passion led him to specialize in equine reproductive medicine and ophthalmology. Jim enjoyed a long and successful career at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for over 40 years.

As a senior partner, Jim mentored and encouraged many young veterinarians. He instilled a lifelong love of learning with everyone he met. Dr. Smith was an extremely active member of both the veterinary and civic world, serving as president of the Kentucky Equine Practitioners Association, as well as a board member, secretary, and treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Jim was also active in Rotary, the Kentucky Harness Commission, the Kentucky Equine Drug Council, the Fayette County Board of Education, the Kentucky Equine Practitioners Infectious Disease Committee, Quality Assurance Program of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, The Jockey Club Medication Commission, The Committee on Environmental Affairs for the American Veterinary Medical Association, The George T. Fairchild Society, The Bluegrass Boys Ranch, and sat on the board of the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center.

After retiring from practice, he was involved in the Christian Muslim Dialogue, BUILD Nehemiah Action, The Cricket Club, and Birthright of Lexington – receiving the Louise Summerhill Award in 2017 along with his wife Judy. Dr. Smith's other awards include the Joan F. Pew Award for Racing Commissioners, the E.R. Frank Award for Meritorious Service, the Kansas State University Distinguished Veterinary Alumni Award, Registry of Merit from the American Quarter Horse Association, and he was Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.

His love for music started early when he was the youngest musician hired by Universal Studios to play trombone in their live studio orchestra. This evolved into him performing with the Lexington based big band group Men of Note. After moving to Kentucky, he also had his own local television show on KET called, Camping with Jim Smith. His numerous hobbies included reading, exploring the outdoors, dancing, and traveling, Panama being a favorite. He was the life of the party and loved cooking and feeding his friends and family, though never on time. He was deeply passionate about naps, ice cream, and head scratches. His love of endless storytelling and conversation meant that he never met a stranger and was never far from home. Family and friends describe Jim as “caring and gentle, hardworking and curious, intelligent but always learning. A man who truly lived life to the fullest.”

In addition to his loving wife of 31 years, he is survived by ten children: Laura (Martin) Smith-Nederpelt, Kelley Smith, Jeff (Melanie) Smith, Tim (Kelly) Smith, Amy (Patrick) Randles, Madison (Robert) Crispen, Sean (Kelly) Profitt, Jonathan (Rachel) Profitt, Nanzobe Aimee, and Bigabo Jackson; nine grandchildren: Sharee, Lauren, Emma, Will, Grace, Jackson, Gabrielle, Solomon, and Graham; two siblings, Michael (Cheryl) Smith and Pat (Rhea) Serpan; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The visitation will be held on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Milward's 159 North Broadway in Lexington. His memorial mass will be a private, family event.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, P.O. Box 910124, Lexington, Kentucky 40591 or St. Paul Catholic Church, 425 W. Short St., Lexington, KY 40507.

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High Rollers Handicapping Contest Jan. 9 At Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., will turn into a proving grounds for top handicappers on Saturday, Jan. 9, during the third annual High Rollers Handicapping Contest, which features a potential first-place prize of $20,000.

The contest is open to anyone willing to put up a $1,000 stake to compete (participants may bankroll up to two entries). Each entry requires a $1,000 deposit, of which $500 serves as the player's wagering bankroll and $500 goes to the prize pool. Any dollar amount remaining in a player's bankroll at the conclusion of the contest goes directly to them, meaning all of the prize money is returned to the entrants.

Wagers will be limited to win, place and/or show, with each player required to bet $100 on five separate races on the card. Anyone wagering on less or more than five races will be disqualified. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five finishers, with $20,000 to the winner, or 50 percent of the prize pool if there are fewer than 100 entrants; $8,000/20 percent to the second-place finisher; $6,000/15 percent to third; $4,000/10 percent to fourth; and $2,000/5 percent to fifth.

Only races at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 9 will be included in the contest, and players must wager at the contest site. The first and second-place finishers will also claim a seat in either of the next two National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) in Las Vegas (this year's event is currently scheduled Aug. 27-29 at Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino).

Players can enter online the High Rollers Handicapping Contest at www.tampabaydowns.com . The entry deadline is noon on Jan. 9; players should plan on meeting in the VIP Room before noon for final instructions. For additional details, call (813) 855-4401, extension 1368.

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‘It’s Not The 1800s Anymore’: Davis Calls For Rule Coupling Married Riders To Be Dropped

Newlywed jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis were made aware of a unique rule earlier this week stating that if a husband and wife are riding against each other in the same race, their horses have to be coupled as one betting interest, according to published reports.

McCarthy and Davis, who were married in mid-December, were both upset to find out about this little known rule. While Davis says that the trainers she rides for will not let the rule stop them from using her, the couple is worried that the rule could have a negative impact on McCarthy's business.

“Trevor is worried it might affect his business, and if it does it could come down to me choosing to make a living or not, and that's not fair,” Davis told Bloodhorse.com's Bob Ehalt. “It's not the 1800s anymore. The rule needs to be changed. We are very competitive. We don't give each other a shot. We're both trying 150% when we ride against each other.”

Davis has reached out to the Jockeys' Guild for help combatting the rule, but she has been told by sources that it could take six months for the rule to be dropped. New York Racing Association (NYRA) senior vice president of racing operations Martin Panza says that NYRA has no power to change the rule even if they do not agree with it.

Opinion: Dismissing Research Can Be Harmful To Horses

Though it can seem like some studies that are done repeat a foregone conclusion, it's important not to dismiss them as a known quantity. Some equine enthusiasts don't hesitate to express their feelings that an institution is “wasting” funds researching a topic they feel no longer needs to be examined.

Often this blatant dismissal of research indicates that the person doesn't truly understand how scientific research is done. In the long term, this mindset can end up hurting horses. Researchers design their studies so that any other group can conduct the same research and have the same results. This confirms the conclusions that were drawn.

It's important to scientifically confirm what is “known,” as sometimes what is known is wrong—even when it's common practice, reports EQUUS. Withholding water from hot horses was common until research was completed for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, which showed that, though often done, not allowing horses to drink after exercise was harmful to them.

Even if research confirms observations made by horse owners, it's still valuable–it increases the body of knowledge available. Studies collect data that can be used to better understand an issue and form the basis for more research—which can lead to better diagnosis and treatments, a win for both horses and their owners.