Marshall Allen has been named the winner of this year's Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award. Allen, an assistant trainer at Emerald Downs, saved the life of long-time horse owner Jim Foulkes, who had collapsed in the track's barn area last May. Allen began CPR and assisted EMTs when they arrived on the scene. To see Allen's story, click here.
Also honored by RTCA White Horse nominations this year were: Julie Berry from Blue Grass Farms Charities; Jonathan Estrada from Belmont Park; Nick Garafola and Veronica Gallardo from Belmont Park; Sebastian 'Bas' Nichols from Ellis Park; and Marvin Navas Prado from Ellis Park.
The White Horse Awards banquet was not held this year due to the pandemic, but nominees will be recognized at their respective locations by RTCA chaplains and representatives.
Obesity in domesticated horses is a growing problem, Dr. Shannon Pratt-Phillips, and equine nutritionist at North Carolina State University, told the American Farriers Journal last week. One primary concern is that obesity can increase a horse's chance of developing laminitis, the potentially deadly inflammation of sensitive layers of tissue (laminae) inside the hoof.
Pratt-Phillips explains that fatty tissue is an inflammatory organ, which produces compounds that lead to inflammation in multiple different parts of the body. Those compounds can negatively affect the vasculature within the laminae, increasing the possibility for laminitis.
In addition, excess weight can have a negative effect on the horse's overall hoof health.
“Proper blood circulation is partly attributed to the compression and expansion of the digital cushion within the hoof,” Pratt-Phillips writes. “If a horse is carrying excess weight, the digital cushion's function may be compromised, resulting in poor blood circulation and laminitis.”
Of course, more weight can also cause strain on the hoof wall as it expands to absorb the concussion of a horse's movement.
“Over time, obesity may disrupt the integrity of the hoof wall, resulting in cracking or crumbling hooves,” wrote Pratt-Phillips.
A hero is a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities. There are heroes throughout the horse racing industry and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) recognizes these selfless servants annually through its RTCA White Horse Award.
This year's nominees were as follows:
Marshall Allen – Emerald Downs
Julie Berry – Blue Grass Farms Charities
Jonathan Estrada – Belmont Park
Nick Garafola & Veronica Gallardo – Belmont Park
Sebastian “Bas” Nichols – Ellis Park
Marvin Navas Prado – Ellis Park
The winner of this year's RTCA White Horse Award is Marshall Allen, who saved the life of a long-time owner at Emerald Downs.
On the morning of May 9, assistant trainer Marshall Allen was in the shed row walking to saddle a horse, when he observed a man collapse as he was walking by the barn. Without hesitation, Marshall dropped what he had in his arms and rushed to the scene. The man who was in distress was long-time owner Jim Foulkes, a frequent visitor to the barn area. Marshall noticed the man's color turning blue and began to perform CPR.
Emergency Medical Technicians eventually arrived on the scene and took over; when they lost Foulkes heartbeat, they brought out the external defibrillator and urgently asked if anyone had a knife to cut open Foulkes shirt. It was once again Marshall Allen who swiftly acted and pulled a knife from his pocket. Once Foulkes was stabilized, he was transported to the hospital. The prognosis at the time seemed dim, but later in the day they learned that Foulkes was on a respirator in a medically induced coma and was “hanging in there.” Prayers requests chains circulated the barn area and were sent to RTCA National.
By May 13, Foulkes was off of ventilator, breathing on his own and was making steady progress to recovery. On July 1, he was in the barn area and paid a visit to the Stenslie's barn to thank the man whose fast action saved his life.
I was told it was “a goosebumps moment” said MaryAnn O'Connell, Executive Director, Washington HBPA. “Marshall was the perfect person to perform such a selfless act, putting himself aside”.
Due to Covid-19, the traditional White Horse Awards banquet were not able take place. Therefore, Marshall and the other WHA nominees will be recognized at their respective locations by RTCA Chaplains and representatives.
For more information, please contact the RTCA National Service Center at (859) 410-7822.
More about the Race Track Chaplaincy of America – The overall mission of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA), through its Councils and Chaplains, is to minister to the spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and educational needs of those persons involved in all aspects of the horse racing industry. “Follow” us on Facebook.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) is pleased to report that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 20,000 H-2B visas for the first half of fiscal year 2022 that ends on March 31, 2022. This is the first time the DHS has provided supplemental H-2B visas in the first half of a fiscal year.
“Tremendously high demand for H-2B visas has led to this unprecedented move by the DHS and DOL,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “Competition for these visas has been fierce for many years but is particularly so in today's strong job market. We encourage affected trainers to act quickly.”
The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 13,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 6,500 visas, which are exempt from the returning worker requirement, are reserved for nationals of Haiti and the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
This nonimmigrant visa program is used by many industries that need temporary non-agricultural help when domestic workers are unavailable. Currently, Congress has set the H-2B cap at 66,000 per fiscal year, with 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the first half of the fiscal year (Oct. 1 – March 31) and 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the second half of the fiscal year (April 1 – September 30).
For the horse racing industry, racehorse trainers rely heavily on the H-2B program to fill various backside positions. Demand for H-2B visas often exceeds their availability and the cap level is quickly reached, leaving employers without sufficient help.
