Month: February 2023

French Whip Use Reduced By One Strike Beginning On May 1

The number of strikes with the whip a jockey is allowed to use over jumps and on the Flat in France has been reduced from five to four beginning on May 1, France Galop announced on Wednesday.

There will be an educational and transitional period from Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 to allow jockeys to acclimate to the new regulations. The sanctions currently in place regarding overuse of the whip will be applied through Apr. 30. The aim is to gradually reduce the use of the whip, and the system will be reviewed at the end of 2023.

The following are specifications that apply to the manner and the number of times a whip can be used:

  • Using the whip on the shoulder or neck of the horse when the jockey does not have both hands on the reins counts towards the permitted number of strikes.
  • It is at the discretion of the stewards to decide if a jockey has used his/her whip clearly and unequivocally for safety reasons (correcting the horse's trajectory) rather than misused it.
  • The stewards will consider it a misuse offence (according to article 171 of the Racing Code) when a jockey uses his/her whip one or more times even though his/her mount was no longer able to improve or was out of contention (it is a misuse even if the jockey has used his/her whip below the authorised number).
  • Using the whip above shoulder height is considered a misuse offence.

Increased penalties will come into effect on May 1, as well, with specific penalties applying to group races. For the full details regarding penalties for whip offences after the new rules come into effect, and for more information on the new rules, please go to the France Galop website.

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Renowned Track Superintendent Javier Barajas Returns To Canterbury Park For 2023 Season

Canterbury Park racing officials announced Wednesday that track maintenance expert Javier Barajas, whose consulting services are in demand around the world, will return to the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack as track superintendent for the 2023 racing season. Barajas previously held the position at Canterbury from 2013 to 2016. He will again oversee the conditioning and daily upkeep of the dirt and turf tracks.

Barajas' resume includes management of the surfaces at many of the world's most famous racetracks including Keeneland in Kentucky, Arlington Park in Chicago, Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, Fair Grounds in New Orleans, and Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay Area, while most recently working at Ellis Park. Barajas also operates a consulting service, traveling internationally to assist with the installation of new track surfaces, equine arenas and polo fields providing guidance on drainage, footing and material composition to ensure safety for horses and riders.

“We are thrilled and fortunate to bring Javier back to Canterbury Park to manage our racing surfaces,” company CEO Randy Sampson said. “He is recognized as one of the top professionals in his field and his record of racetrack safety is impeccable.”

Barajas, a native of Mexico, grew up in Chicago. He began accumulating his more than 40 years of experience at the age of 13, learning track maintenance from his father who tended to the turf course at Arlington Park. The role of track superintendent is akin to a groundskeeper in baseball, demanding long hours and constant supervision to keep the surface safe and viable throughout a summer that will include long hot spells and torrential rains. Barajas will oversee a track crew that often maintains and reconditions the dirt track 18 hours each day using tractors and harrows to fine tune the track for the racing programs as well as daily training of the horses.

“I look forward to returning to Canterbury Park to work with a racing team that is dedicated to safety and innovation,” Barajas said. “Canterbury Park has a great reputation in the industry.”

Canterbury Park's 2023 racing season consists of 54 race days May 27 through Sept. 16. More information is available at canterburypark.com .

The post Renowned Track Superintendent Javier Barajas Returns To Canterbury Park For 2023 Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Kelly Armer Appointed TRF Executive Director

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Kelly Armer as Executive Director following the forthcoming retirement of Pat Stickney. Assuming her new role Mar. 1, she will be based in the TRF administrative offices in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Kelly Armer served 24 years at the Saratoga YMCA where she served as COO for 15 years.  More recently, she held the position of Development and Foundation Director for Saratoga Bridges, the largest nonprofit organization in New York State serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

After having retired twice, Stickney accepted the position of TRF's Executive Director in 2019 and is now stepping down to return to her previous role as TRF's Chief Financial Officer in a part-time capacity.

Patrick H. Mackay, TRF's Board Chair said, “Kelly is an ideal fit to lead the TRF, possessing strong leadership, marketing, and development experience to help us achieve our mission of saving retired racehorses from possible neglect, abuse and slaughter. Her powerful community involvement with disadvantaged populations models the compassion of our Second Chances Programs which provide vocational training to incarcerated individuals in caring for retired racehorses, allowing them to go on to careers as farriers, vet assistants, and caretakers after their release.”

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