February, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

California Vets Considering ‘Modifications’ To Pre-Race Procedures After Downhill Turf Fatality

The 3-year-old filly Decorated My Life sustained a fatal injury during Saturday's running of the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park. Jockey Joe Bravo was unseated and wound up taking off his Sunday mounts; the filly was vanned off and euthanized.

After the race, a video clip of the horse during the pre-race warm up was widely circulated on social media.

California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) equine medical director, Jeff Blea, told the Thoroughbred Daily News that the video appeared to have been taken while the filly was negotiating a portion of the uphill course that regulatory vets are only able to see on video screens.

“What I saw is visual right front inconsistency or lameness,” Blea told the TDN. “It's a short window. It's there. You can't argue that. You can't deny that. Those are the facts.”

However, Blea also stated that the filly did not show any lameness during the multiple pre-race exams undergone by all horses racing at Santa Anita, nor did she show any lameness when arriving at the starting gate.

According to the TDN, Blea referenced a study which shows how slight slopes can affect lameness exams in horses.

The most recently published study on slopes and equine lameness is found in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, titled “An objective study into the effects of an incline on naturally occurring lameness in horses.”

“Horses with forelimb lameness showed no significant difference in asymmetry” when comparing lameness on a flat surface versus on an incline/decline of 2.4 percent, the study abstract explains. “However, there were considerable changes in poll asymmetry (>20 mm) among conditions in individual horses. Two horses with hindlimb lameness and two horses with forelimb lameness switched asymmetry between left and right by changing incline.”

After the incident with Decorated My Life, Blea said he and the track veterinarian are planning to implement a couple modifications to the pre-race warmup routine of the regulatory vets.

“I spoke with the track vet and we're thinking of making a couple modifications, especially for horses that are warming up on the turf course—and the downhill turf course in particular—so maybe we can get an eye on these horses as they're going up the hill, not just on a flat surface,” Blea told TDN.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Approves Funding For 12 New Projects, Nine Continuing Projects In 2023

The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced Monday that it has authorized expenditure of $1,498,077 to fund 12 new projects and nine continuing projects at 13 universities as well as two career development awards. The 2023 slate of research brings Grayson's totals since 1983 to more than $34.1 million to underwrite 426 projects at 45 universities.

“The Grayson Foundation is dedicated to tackling a variety of equine health challenges, which is clearly reflected in our selected projects for this year,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. “Our research projects and career development awards wouldn't be possible without the kindness of our donors, and we thank them for their understanding of the significance of equine veterinary research.”

Below is an alphabetical list by school of the new projects:

Transcriptomic Response To Osteoarthritis

Lynn Pezzanite, Colorado State University

This study will highlight the role that cells of the immune system play to contributing to disease progression of osteoarthritis toward the goal of developing treatments for each stage of disease.

Efficacy of Recombinant Equine Lubricin for Osteoarthritis

Heidi Reesink, Cornell University

This study will assess efficacy of recombinant equine lubricin (rEqLub) in mitigating equine joint disease and identify gene and protein pathways affected by rEqLub in equine joints.

Treatment Of Meniscal Injury With Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Aimee Colbath, Cornell University

This study will determine whether intra-articular mesenchymal stem cells lead to improved meniscal healing, providing an immediate impact on how veterinarians treat equine meniscal disease.

Stem Cell Neotissue Implants for Equine Tendon Healing

Mandi J. Lopez, Louisiana State University

This study will determine if viable neotissue implants generated from stem cells will augment current therapies to treat debilitating tendon injuries in equine athletes and companions.

Gallium Nitrate to Treat Bacterial Endometritis in Mares

Dale Kelley, Oklahoma State University

This study proposes to develop new, safe, and efficacious antimicrobial strategies to treat antimicrobial resistance.

A VapA mRNA Vaccine for R. equi Pneumonia

Noah Cohen, Texas A&M AgriLife Research

This grant evaluates an mRNA vaccine administered intramuscularly to foals to protect against pneumonia caused by the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, a major cause of disease and death in foals worldwide.

Genomics of Thoroughbred Stallion Subfertility

Terje Raudsepp, Texas A&M University

This project aims to identify candidate genes and regulatory variants underlying impaired acrosome reaction and subfertility in Thoroughbred stallions using multi-platform genomics.

Validation of Biomarkers for Equine Neurodegeneration

Carrie J. Finno, University of California Davis

It is expected that this study will improve the diagnosis of spinal cord disease in horses.

PET MRI Sport Horse Fetlock

Mathieu Spriet, University of California Davis

This study will compare 18F-NaF positron emission tomography (PET) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of fetlock injuries in sport horses.

Antibiotic Effects On Uterine Microbiome and Resistome

Igor Canisso, University of Illinois

This is a study of uterine microbiome and resistome of mares resistant and susceptible to endometritis treated with post-mating antibiotics.

Nanoparticle Vaccines For Equine Rotavirus B

Feng Li, University of Kentucky

The vaccine candidate developed from this project will help the equine industry to control and prevent equine rotavirus B infection.

An efficacious EPM vaccine is on the way

Sharon Witonsky, Virginia-Maryland CVM

This study plans to identify potential MHC class I CD8 and MHC class II CD4 protective epitopes for an efficacious vaccine against Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis due to Sarcocystis neurona.

Career Development Awards

The Storm Cat Career Development Award, inaugurated in 2006, grants $20,000 to an individual considering a career in equine research. This year, Grayson awarded Dr. Shun “Shune” Kimura of University of Georgia. Dr. Kimura's research will investigate how immune and metabolic responses in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) impact disease severity, and determine if metformin has beneficial anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects in equine SIRS.

The Elaine and Bertram Klein Career Development Award was first awarded in 2015 and grants $20,000 to a prospective equine researcher. This year's recipient is Dr. Bethanie Cooper of North Carolina State University. Dr. Cooper's research, entitled, “Myristoylated Alanine Rich C-Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) protein as a therapeutic target in equine asthma,” will examine this new protein-based therapy as a potential treatment for horses suffering with equine asthma.

“The track record of Grayson's career development awards in supporting up-and-coming equine researchers is undeniable, and we are thrilled to extend grants to two deserving recipients this year,” said Dr. Johnny Mac Smith, who serves as a consultant for the research advisory committee and is the A. Gary Lavin Chair of the foundation.

Details on the new projects are available at the following link: grayson-jockeyclub.org/default.asp?section=2&area=Research&menu=2.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation's leading source of equine research funding. The projects it supports enhance the health and safety of horses of all breeds. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson.jockeyclub.org.

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Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Approves 2023 Funding

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has authorized expenditure of $1,498,077 to fund 12 new projects and nine continuing projects at 13 universities, as well as two career development awards in the coming year. The 2023 slate of research brings Grayson's totals to more than $34.1 million to underwrite 426 projects at 45 universities since 1983.

Details on the new projects are available here.

The post Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Approves 2023 Funding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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What Is Compulsive Gambling?

Moderate gambling, like moderate alcohol use, is an accepted part of our culture and causes no problems. As with alcohol use, however, gambling to excess is a common weakness that may lead to serious security problems.

Compulsive gambling, or pathological gambling as most psychiatrists prefer to call it, is an inability to stop gambling even when one recognizes that gambling is causing serious financial, family, work, or other problems.

Compulsive gambling parallels alcohol and drug addiction in many ways. Compulsive gamblers lose control over their behavior and commonly lie and cheat in order to continue their gambling. They frequently try, unsuccessfully, to cut down or quit.

Compulsive gambling does not involve use of a psychoactive substance, but the “action” which compulsive gamblers crave is an aroused, euphoric state comparable to the “high” sought by drug users. This aroused state is accompanied by changes in brain chemistry similar to those caused by alcohol or drugs. There may be a “rush,” often characterized by sweaty palms, rapid heart beat, and nausea which is experienced during the period of anticipation.

Alcoholics and drug abusers develop “tolerance” for their drug of choice and then must increase their consumption in order to feel the same effects. Similarly, compulsive gamblers develop “tolerance” for the “action” and must increase the size of their bets or the odds against them to create the same amount of excitement.

About 2 1/2% of the adult population now has some degree of gambling problem. The rates of compulsive and problem gambling among 16 and 17 year olds are similar to those for adults.

The key difference between compulsive or problem gambling and social gambling is self-control. Each social gambling session usually lasts for a set period of time and involves pre-determined spending limits. It typically occurs with friends or colleagues rather than alone. The player gains satisfaction whether he/she wins or loses.

The key to gambling is money management and gambling in moderation. If you think you have a problem, seek help.