Month: March 2021

Racing Victoria Announces Grants For Businesses That Use OTTBs

Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced new support for Victorian businesses, including horse/trail riding services, equine colleges, equine therapy centers and pony clubs, to bolster the opportunities afforded horses' that have retired from the Victorian racing industry.

A new $10,000 business grant for Victorian equine-related businesses will help boost their operations, with the sole objective of growing the number of off-the-track Thoroughbreds being utilized by these organizations.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program is expected to help stimulate businesses to accommodate more horses, including those currently operating with Thoroughbreds or looking to take them on for the first time.

The program contains four key initiatives, including increasing the number of retired Thoroughbreds an equine business can utilize; increasing the breadth of career options for non-competitive thoroughbreds; providing longevity to thoroughbreds in their post-racing career; and encouraging an equine business (which may currently utilize other breeds) to incorporate thoroughbreds into their operation on a sustainable basis.

Both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses are eligible to apply for the grant, and must submit their application before 5 p.m. (AEST) on April 9, 2021 via the programs SmartyGrants page.

Building on the positive progress of RV's current post-racing initiatives, this program recognizes the importance of growing the demand for thoroughbreds beyond the equestrian community to maximize the opportunities afforded every retired racehorse.

This grant becomes even more important in the current climate, where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to suppress economic activity, and may do for a considerable period into the future.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program will complement the various post-racing initiatives RV has introduced over the past 12 months, including the RESET Program, Retrainer Capacity Expansion Grant Program, COVID-19 relief support scheme for RV Acknowledged Retrainers, and partnerships with organizations such as Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria to help improve the post-racing wellbeing of racehorses in Victoria.

For more information on the Off The Track Business Grant Program, including application criteria, visit: racingvictoria.com.au/grants

Quotes attributed to RV General Manager, Equine Welfare, Jennifer Hughes:

“I'm really excited to see the Off The Track Business Grant Program open to Victorian businesses today.

“It's another important step to help expand our post-racing options available to retired racehorses.

“We know that like any horse, not all former gallopers are suited to the equestrian world, so this opens the door for more Thoroughbreds to explore non-competitive options post-racing.

“The program also provides us the opportunity to work with operators we traditionally haven't considered as a pathway for off-the-track horses and further demonstrate the versatility of Thoroughbreds.

“We hope to support and incentivize those businesses that are either looking to increase the number of Thoroughbreds they currently have or for those considering the breed for the first time.

“Ultimately, our aim is to see this program drive long-term demand for Thoroughbreds post-racing and support the growth of equine businesses operating in Victoria.”

The post Racing Victoria Announces Grants For Businesses That Use OTTBs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maiden Winner With ‘Un’-Tapped Potential

The GI Kentucky Derby-bound Helium (Ironicus) wasn't the only 3-year-old colt to impress on the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby card Mar. 6.

Untreated (Nyquist) put on a show earlier that day as well, graduating by a pole for Todd Pletcher at second asking with a flashy, come-from-behind maiden tally in his two-turn debut (video). He earned a very solid 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

A well-beaten sixth as the 4-5 favorite behind next out GIII Sam F. Davis S. winner Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}) going six furlongs in his unveiling for the late Paul Pompa, Jr. and trainer Chad Brown at Gulfstream Jan. 9, Untreated brought $300,000 from bloodstock agent Steve Young on behalf of Team Valor just five days later at the Keeneland January Sale. He was previously a $550,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, the most expensive of 44 yearlings from the first crop of promising young sire Nyquist to switch hands.

“The bottom line is, we got lucky,” Team Valor head Barry Irwin said. “Everybody knew about the horse before he ran. I was prepared to go to what he cost as a yearling, $550,000, and we got him for $300,000. Steve Young, who I've known pretty well for years, is the one who pushed me to buy the horse.”

That must have been one heck of a push considering Irwin's recent words regarding the current state of affairs for racing in this country and his plans for his longtime partnership to compete predominantly abroad going forward.

“I do not like racing in America anymore at this time,” Irwin said. “I am sick of it. The only horse I bought the previous year to stay here was [GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and GI Arkansas Derby second and 'TDN Rising Star'] Gouverneur Morris [by Constitution]. I can't stand this crap that's going on. But this horse was very intriguing.”

Untreated came out firing once joining Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs string, highlighted by a trio of bullet workouts. He did, however, have a gap between his Jan. 30 and Feb. 20 breezes.

“His first work was a bullet work, but the guy had to tap him on the shoulder to get him to gallop out,” Irwin said. “The next work, another bullet work, but he can't even gallop out a furlong this time. He gets back [to the barn] and he's got an entrapped epiglottis. Now, I would be willing to bet, based on my experience with that, that this horse was already starting to do this when Chad him, but didn't show enough evidence of it yet. So, we got lucky. We had Dr. Yarborough do the procedure in his stall.”

Irwin continued, “It worked and his next two works were just unbelievable. Especially the last one. We knew we had something.”

Drawn wide in post eight in his first try for Team Valor and Pletcher, Untreated was about three deep while rounding the clubhouse turn and raced near the rear heading into the backstretch. The bay traveled nicely from there and launched an eye-catching, four-wide move leaving the four-furlong marker into third. He took over with ease approaching the top of the stretch and increased his margin to the wire, scoring by 8 3/4 lengths. The final time of 1:39.17 was just a few ticks off the Tampa track record of 1:38 3/5 for a mile and 40 yards.

“We were thrilled to see how he did it,” Irwin said.

Untreated is out of the graded-stakes placed Unbridled's Song mare Fully Living and is from the same family of champion Halfbridled (Unbridled). He was co-bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Old Oak Farm.

Untreated is scheduled to return to the worktab Saturday, per Irwin.

Will we see him in a Derby prep next time out?

“I'll quote Mr. Todd Pletcher, 'We're gonna let the horse lead us to that decision,'” Irwin responded. “If we do the conservative thing, we'll look to run him in a small race somewhere. If we want to go crazy, we'll look at either the [GII Toyota] Blue Grass [at Keeneland Apr. 3] or [GII] Wood [Memorial at Aqueduct Apr. 3].”

Irwin concluded, “The problem is, he was ready to run in a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. If we had gotten that prep race in, then we'd be in a nice spot. Now, we have to be Big Brown in order to pull off something like that [make the Kentucky Derby]. My clients, by in large, are all dreamers and the Derby is the ultimate lure.”

The post Maiden Winner With ‘Un’-Tapped Potential appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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GSW Spielberg Confirmed for Florida Derby

SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert Masterson's Spielberg (Union Rags) has been confirmed to contest the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27 at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old is expected to face GIII Holy Bull S. and GI Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner Greatest Honour (Tapit) in the nine-furlong test that has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events.

“We'll see how he stacks up,” Baffert said Friday.

Spielberg, who is scheduled to breeze at Santa Anita Sunday before shipping to South Florida, most recently finished a well-beaten second behind Eclipse champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the Feb. 27 GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

“He's a great-feeling horse,” Baffert said about the colt's latest start. “He came out of that race in great shape.”

In his 2021 debut, the $1-million KEESEP purchase stumbled at the start of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita before finishing fourth behind Baffert-trained winner Medina Spirit (Protonico).

“He needs to get away from the gate well,” said Baffert of Spielberg's chances of winning the Florida Derby.

During his juvenile campaign, Spielberg finished second in the GI Del Mar Futurity and third in the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita before breaking is maiden in his fourth start. He went on to win the GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

The post GSW Spielberg Confirmed for Florida Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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