March, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

FTC Approves HISA Safety Program Rules, Accreditation Standards

Edited Press Release

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today approved the rules and accreditation standards that comprise the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Racetrack Safety Program, a major milestone in HISA's mission to protect the wellbeing of equine and human athletes along with the integrity of the sport. With FTC approval, HISA will now move forward with robust industry education efforts ahead of the program's July 1, 2022 implementation date.

“The Racetrack Safety Program's multi-faceted approach will enable veterinarians, horsemen and all racing participants to optimize the safety of every horse before they set foot on the track while also increasing our understanding of the conditions that contribute to equine injuries,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “The importance of this program cannot be overstated as we build on advances the industry has already made by implementing national, uniform rules and regulations, increasing accountability, and using data- and research-driven solutions to enhance the safety of our horses and jockeys. We sincerely believe that this data will generate the information we need to help prolong equine and jockey careers.”

In drafting the rules, the Racetrack Safety Committee examined existing rules and best practices in addition to seeking input from state racing commissions, racing participants and other experts and industry organizations in a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process. The interested public had further opportunities to provide input on the draft rules via the HISA website and during the FTC's public comment period. Highlights of the Racetrack Safety Program include:

• Expanded veterinary oversight
• Surface maintenance and measurement standards
• Enhanced reporting requirements
• Collection and analysis of medication, treatment, injury, and fatality data
• A voided claim rule
• The transfer of claimed horses' medical information
• Jockey concussion and medical care reporting

Starting July 1, all tracks that are accredited with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will receive interim accreditation, while tracks that are not accredited with the NTRA will be granted a one-year provisional accreditation and be given a reasonable period to achieve compliance as long as they are demonstrating continuous progress. HISA intends to work with individual racetracks and state racing jurisdictions, recognizing that compliance with new legal requirements on day one is not realistic.

“We are gratified that after a rigorous process, the FTC has overwhelmingly approved the Racetrack Safety regulations and national accreditation standards,” explained Dr. Susan Stover, Chair of the Racetrack Safety Committee. “The next step in the process will be for HISA to share cost assessments with each of the states by Apr. 1, 2022. These new rules will decrease fatalities by detecting horses with mild pre-existing conditions through expanded veterinary oversight and the review of medication and treatment records and training histories. They will also provide a window into understanding and preventing the development of mild injuries in the first place via uniform surface maintenance standards and ongoing data analysis.”

The post FTC Approves HISA Safety Program Rules, Accreditation Standards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ascending Jockey Ramon Vazquez Plans To Shift His Tack To Kentucky, New York After Oaklawn Meet

Coinciding with an ascent in his riding career, Ramon Vazquez is about to make a career change, his agent, Bill Castle, said Thursday morning.

A post-Oaklawn fixture in recent years at Prairie Meadows, Lone Star Park and Remington Park, Vazquez is “leaning towards” moving his tack to “Kentucky, New York” after the 2021-2022 meeting ends May 8, Castle said.

“At the moment, I would say 99 percent that's the direction to some degree,” Castle said. “Ramon will be Kentucky and go to New York and probably get into New York early. I really truly hope that people will give him an opportunity and support and that will absolutely make a decision whether Kentucky is a good fit.”

A Puerto Rico native, Vazquez has gained traction nationally the past year after piling up graded stakes victories from coast-to-coast aboard marathon specialist Lone Rock for 2020 Oaklawn training champion Robertino Diodoro and scoring his most lucrative career victory to date in last Saturday's $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) aboard one-eyed Un Ojo, a 75-1 long shot, for trainer Ricky Courville.

The Rebel, among four Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn, propelled Vazquez, 38, to “Jockey of the Week” honors for Feb. 22-27 in a vote of racing experts. The award is open to members of the Jockeys' Guild, an organization that represents more than 1,000 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

“I think that taking him into a little bit of Kentucky and then back into New York would be a wise move for him,” said Castle, who also represents 2019 Oaklawn riding champion David Cohen and apprentice Erick Medellin in Hot Springs. “That's absolutely the plan. It's time. He's been riding a lot of years. He's got 3,500 wins. In Puerto Rico, he set all the records there.”

Vazquez entered Friday with 25 victories, including a single-season best three stakes, to rank fourth in the 2021-2022 Oaklawn standings. His $2,045,509 in purse earnings ranked second. Vazquez also won the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 18 aboard Lone Rock and the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares Feb. 12 aboard Miss Bigly for Southern California-based trainer Phil D'Amato.

Vazquez and Diodoro teamed to win the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses in 2016 at Oaklawn with Subtle Indian and their business relationship took off again during the 2021 meeting after Lone Rock won an allowance race at 1 ½ miles in April.

Vazquez then guided Lone Rock to victories in the $130,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes at 1 ½ miles in April at Churchill Downs, $400,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) at 1 ½ miles in June at Belmont Park, $120,000 Birdstone Stakes at 1 ¾ miles in August at Saratoga and the $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) Nov. 6 at Del Mar in which he set a track record for 1 5/8 miles (2:42.61). The Isaac Murphy marked Vazquez's first career Churchill Downs stakes victory. The Brooklyn was his first career mount at Belmont Park. Lone Rock represented Vazquez's first career victory at Saratoga.

Vazquez's other signature victories last year included the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer and $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) at Indiana Grand aboard Mr. Wireless for trainer Bret Calhoun and the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star for trainer Mike Maker. Vazquez also won the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs aboard Dream Lith for Diodoro.

“He's always, to me, the last eight, 10 years that I've known the guy, he's always been an A1 rider,” Diodoro said. “But because of different situations, he's been treated as an A2 rider. It's not like he just got better. That's my opinion. He's always been good.”

Vazquez was named on six horses Friday at Oaklawn. He is scheduled to return Saturday to Southern California for three stakes engagements at Santa Anita, including the $500,000 Beholder Mile (G1) aboard Miss Bigly. Vazquez is still seeking his first career Grade 1 victory in the United States.

“Last year was great and this year is going along nicely,” Castle said. “Hopefully, California goes well. Do the best you can and then strike again when given the opportunity.”

Vazquez has almost 3,400 victories and more than $62 million in purse earnings worldwide in his career, according to statistics provided by Equineline. He rode his first career winner in 2002 in Puerto Rico and began riding in the United States in 2011. Vazquez has ridden each season at Oaklawn since 2012 and entered Friday with 374 career victories in Hot Springs.

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California Tracks Initiate Shipping Restrictions Due To EHM Outbreak In Show Horses

Due to an outbreak of the equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) on California's show horse circuit, 1/ST Racing has instituted new shipping restrictions at its Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, and San Luis Rey Training Center.

The company released the following statement on Friday afternoon:

“The California Department of Food and Agriculture has recommended a 14-day stand down on all equine events in California due to an equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) outbreak in the show horse circuit. This is a result of the equine herpes virus which is spread very easily among horses through aerosolized secretions, direct contact, and contact with infected surfaces.

“While the racing industry is currently not included in this notice and we have no reported positives at this time on any 1/ST property in California, out of an abundance of caution we will be restricting movement of horses from any California property that is not a regulated CHRB (California Horse Racing Board) enclosure. Horses will be allowed to ship between Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos, and San Luis Rey Training Center – provided they meet all other shipping requirements.

“Horses may ship out of any 1/ST property to a farm or another state. Additionally, horses shipping from regulated facilities in other states will be allowed into 1/ST properties with proper health certificate documentation.

“Vanning companies will be required to disinfect between every trip and stopping at outside facilities will not be permitted when transporting horses between regulated CHRB racing facilities.

“This policy goes into effect immediately and will remain in place for 14 days beginning March 4, 2022.”

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Authentic’s Foal Derby: Deep Pedigrees In Week 2 Matchup

The first foals by Spendthrift Farm's Horse of the Year Authentic have begun to arrive, and to celebrate, Spendthrift is hosting a “Foal Derby” to share photos of the stallion's debut crop and reward breeders and fans with prizes.

Each week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, a group of Authentic's foals will be displayed on Spendthrift Farm's social media channels. The two foals with the most likes and shares will face off in the finals each Friday to decide the favorite. Both finalists will then be among 20 horses eligible to win the grand prizes, based on the results of this year's Kentucky Derby. Voters will also be eligible for weekly prizes.

To learn more about the rules and prizes for both breeders and voters, click here.

Authentic, a 5-year-old son of Into Mischief, stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $70,000. He was named Horse of the Year in 2020, following a campaign that saw him earn Grade 1 victories in the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Classic, and Haskell Stakes.

The second group of finalists, as voted on by the fans, pits a pair of new foals backed by strong pedigrees. Voting for this week's finals remains open through the end of Friday.

Click here to vote on the Week 2 finalists. Voting is also available on Spendthrift's Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Let's take a look at this week's finalists…

Foal: Filly o/o Champagne Humor
Bred by: Brandywine Farm
Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.

The second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Champagne Humor. Second dam Champagne Ice is a full-sister to 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Champagne d'Oro.

“You couldn't ask for a nicer foal,” said Brandywine Farm's Pam Robinson. “She's very athletic. You can see from the picture she's got length of leg, and she's precocious. She's fancy, and she knows it. The good ones always seem to know it.

“Authentic was Horse of the Year, and athletic,” Robinson continued. “He was my number-one pick for this year, and this is my future number-one star, I hope.”

Foal: Colt o/o Mimi's Tiz
Bred by: Loren Nichols
Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.

The fourth foal out of the unraced Tiznow mare Mimi's Tiz, whose two foals to race are both winners, including the Into Mischief colt So Determined, who was a winner at two last year. Grade 3 winner and notable sire Custom For Carlos is in his extended family.

“I sold his half-brother by Into Mischief last year for $875,000, and that's a good reason to stay with that line,” said breeder Loren Nichols. “I think they look alike. They look like they're full-brothers instead of half-brothers: a lot of leg, long necks, just beautiful foals.

“Into Mischief just sort of got out of my price range, and Authentic is just beautiful,” he continued. “He's got a lot of leg, and just has what my mares need. I had three mares booked to him last year, and I've already got this mare bred back to him, and a couple more.”

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