Month: March 2022

CHRB Addresses Four Recent Catastrophic Injuries At Los Alamitos; Track Implements New Safety Measures

The California Horse Racing Board has been in contact with personnel and executives at Los Alamitos Race Course concerning the four recent catastrophic injuries of horses at that facility:

  • The 6-year-old mare Ballet Royalty finished fifth (last) in the first race at Los Alamitos on March 12. She galloped back and was unsaddled, but then she collapsed while walking off. This is termed a “sudden death.” As always, a postmortem examination will be performed to provide more insight.
  • The 3-year-old filly Fastidious pulled up before the wire in the seventh race March 19 at Los Alamitos. The injury required euthanasia.
  • The 5-year-old horse Stolen Lives pulled up while galloping out after the ninth race at Los Alamitos on March 20. The jockey dismounted, then the horse was vanned off. The injury required euthanasia.
  • The unraced 3-year-old colt See You At Front sustained an injury while galloping during training on the morning of March 23, requiring euthanasia.

In recent days Los Alamitos has taken four steps to help improve safety:

(1) Eliminated the breaking bar in quarter-horse races;

(2) Eliminated high toe grabs on hind shoes;

(3) Consulted a racing surface expert regarding the track; and

(4) Contacted the University of California, Davis, to fund a study of lumbar fractures in quarter horses.

These safety measures are particularly applicable to a lumbar (back) fracture, which led to the death of Fastidious. However, it is believed that breaking bars and toe grabs could be a contributing factor to lower leg injuries, which resulted in the deaths of Stolen Lives and See You At Front. Sudden deaths (Ballet Royalty) are a phenomenon among horses (and humans) throughout the world and are the subject of numerous ongoing studies.

The CHRB will continue to closely monitor and scrutinize activities at Los Alamitos and will take appropriate action as needed.

The post CHRB Addresses Four Recent Catastrophic Injuries At Los Alamitos; Track Implements New Safety Measures appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Four Potential Kentucky Derby Contenders Moved From Baffert To Other Trainers

Embattled trainer Bob Baffert has had four Kentucky Derby hopefuls transferred to other trainers, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. The news follows the decision earlier this week that Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate sided with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and denied Baffert's bid to overturn the commission's refusal to issue a stay of his suspension.

Former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen will take over the care of Messier, Doppelgänger, and McLaren Vale, while Blackadder will head to Kentucky for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

“These are all good horses and they deserve to go,” Baffert told the LA Times. “It's just such a great race, both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. It's great for the fans and the sport. The fans deserve to see these horses run.”

Baffert-trained horses have been ineligible to earn points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby owing to Churchill Downs' two-year suspension of the Hall of Fame trainer from its properties. The suspension stems from a medication violation involving his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who was officially disqualified from that win on Feb. 21, 2022.

Baffert was also handed a 90-day suspension by the KHRC as a result of the disqualification of Medina Spirit, which the trainer could begin serving on April 4, according to Judge Wingate's ruling. The 90-day suspension would be reciprocated by other states, and per California regulation, could require Baffert to remove his signage and equipment from his barns at his home base at Santa Anita Park and send horses to be conditioned by someone other than his assistant training staff.

The future plans for the four transferred 3-year-olds are expected to be as follows:

  • Messier, 15-length winner of the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, will point to the G1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.
  • Doppelganger, second in the G2 San Felipe, could head to the G1 Arkansas Derby on April 2. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.
  • McLaren Vale, third in the G2 San Felipe, whose next start has not yet been decided on. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.
  • Blackadder, winner of the El Camino Real Derby, could target either the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway on April 2 or the G1 Blue Grass on April 9 at Keeneland. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.

Other Baffert-trained 3-year-olds not mentioned in the LA Times story include:

  • G3 Southwest winner Newgrange, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.
  • G2 UAE Derby entrant Pinehurst, owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm
  • G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche, owned by Speedway Stables (has not resumed breezing after his Breeders' Cup win)
Read more at the LA Times.

The post Four Potential Kentucky Derby Contenders Moved From Baffert To Other Trainers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

CHRB Addressing Recent Los Al Deaths

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) issued a release Thursday addressing a spate of recent deaths at Los Alamitos. The track is currently holding its traditional mixed-breed meet of predominantly Quarter Horses and lower-level races with Thoroughbreds.

The CHRB release read as follows:

“The California Horse Racing Board has been in contact with personnel and executives at Los Alamitos Race Course concerning the four recent catastrophic injuries of horses at that facility:

“The 6-year-old mare Ballet Royalty finished fifth (last) in the first race at Los Alamitos on March 12. She galloped back and was unsaddled, but then she collapsed while walking off. This is termed a 'sudden death.' As always, a postmortem examination will be performed to provide more insight.

“The 3-year-old filly Fastidious pulled up before the wire in the seventh race March 19 at Los Alamitos. The injury required euthanasia.

“The 5-year-old horse Stolen Lives pulled up while galloping out after the ninth race at Los Alamitos on March 20. The jockey dismounted, then the horse was vanned off. The injury required euthanasia.

“The unraced 3-year-old colt See You At Front sustained an injury while galloping during training on the morning of March 23, requiring euthanasia.

“In recent days Los Alamitos has taken four steps to help improve safety: (1) Eliminated the breaking bar in quarter-horse races; (2) Eliminated high toe grabs on hind shoes; (2) Consulted a racing surface expert regarding the track; and (4) Contacted the University of California, Davis, to fund a study of lumbar fractures in quarter horses.

“These safety measures are particularly applicable to a lumbar (back) fracture, which led to the death of Fastidious. However, it is believed that breaking bars and toe grabs could be a contributing factor to lower leg injuries, which resulted in the deaths of Stolen Lives and See You At Front. Sudden deaths (Ballet Royalty) are a phenomenon among horses (and humans) throughout the world and are the subject of numerous ongoing studies.

“The CHRB will continue to closely monitor and scrutinize activities at Los Alamitos and will take appropriate action as needed.”

The post CHRB Addressing Recent Los Al Deaths appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights