Month: March 2023

Woodbine Unveils Stakes Schedule Worth Over $17 Million; Canadian International Returns For 2023

Woodbine Entertainment has unveiled the stakes schedule for the 2023 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The lucrative 2023 Thoroughbred stakes program will offer more than $17 million in purses, including 39 graded stakes, five Grade 1 events and two $1 million classics, The King's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

“Highlighted by the return of the Canadian International, and the first running of The King's Plate in 70 years, this year's stakes program at Woodbine will be as exciting as ever,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment.

The 164th running of The King's Plate is schedule for Sunday, August 20 to launch the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The $400,000 Prince of Wales will be run on Tuesday, September 12 at Fort Erie Race Track, while the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes will be contested on Sunday, October 1.

The Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile is accompanied by the $500,000 Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes and $500,000 Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Saturday, September 16 for a super showcase of turf talent. The trio of Grade 1 events are all part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.

The biggest addition to the 2023 stakes schedule is the return of the Grade 1 Canadian International. The iconic race will have its 84th running on Sunday, October 8 at a new distance of a mile and a quarter over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Grade 1 E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares will also be contested on October 8. Both Grade 1 races will be run for a purse of $750,000.

The Algonquin Stakes, formerly the Ontario Racing Stakes, will be run on Sunday, October 8 as well with an increased purse of $200,000 for two-year-olds on the inner turf.

The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser will launch the Canadian Triple Tiara on Sunday, July 23. The $250,000 Bison City Stakes (August 13) and $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes (September 10) complete the Triple Tiara.

Fans will also want to make note of July 1, as Woodbine will celebrate Canada Day in style with five graded stakes races. The Grade 2 Nassau, Grade 2 Highlander, Grade 3 Dominion Day, Grade 3 Selene and Grade 3 Marine Stakes are all scheduled for the nation's birthday.

To view the entire 2023 Thoroughbred stakes schedule, click here.

The 2023 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack opens on Saturday, April 22 and runs through Sunday, December 10. The number of race days remains at 133 with this start date. However, the number of race dates remains under consideration in consultation with the regulators and the horse racing community. In the event of reduced race dates the number of individual races will be substantially the same as 2022 through the redistribution of races to other periods during the meet.

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Fun To Dream Named California’s 2022 Horse Of The Year

Grade 1 winner Fun to Dream added the title of 2022 California-bred Horse of the Year to her resume, it was announced at the CTBA Awards Dinner on Monday night at Le Meridien Hotel.

Fun to Dream is by Arrogate, out of the Maria's Mon mare Lutess, was bred by Connie Pageler and Bob Baffert, is owned by Natalie J. Baffert and Pageler and trained by Bob Baffert. She had already been named champion Cal-bred 3-year-old female and sprinter and her dam was named Cal-bred Broodmare of the Year.

“I did this, it was a crazy thing, I called Garrett O'Rourke at Juddmonte and I told him I'm going to do something really crazy, I'm sending you a mare that I claimed for $8,000,” said Bob Baffert, who was voted Trainer of the Year. “I told Connie, we're going to breed her to Arrogate, one of the greatest horses I ever trained. And we got lucky. We talked about what to name her and it's fun to dream, that's why we're all in this business. And that's how she got her name.

“Connie sold the mare and I'm going to get crazy again and do a foal share with Justify. So, hopefully, I'll be up here in a couple of years and maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle twice.”

In 2022, Fun to Dream had five wins in six starts, including the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes, and earnings of $426,590.

Overall, she has six wins in seven starts and earnings of $546,590.

The other finalists for Horse of the Year were Slow Down Andy and The Chosen Vron.

Other Cal-bred champions recognized at the banquet:

Champion California-bred 2-Year-Old Male – Giver Not a Taker, bred by owners J. Kirk & Judy Robison, trained by Peter Miller.

Champion California-bred 2-Year-Old Female – Sell the Dream, bred by PT Syndicate #1 LLC, owned by Edward Rusty Brown, Alan Klein & Philip Lebherz, trained by Brian Koriner.

Champion California-bred 3-Year-Old Male – Slow Down Andy, bred by owner Reddam Racing, trained by Doug O'Neill.

Champion California-bred 3-Year-Old Female – Fun to Dream, bred by Connie Pageler & Bob Baffert, owned by Natalie J. Baffert & Connie Pageler, trained by Bob Baffert.

Champion California-bred Older Male – The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker & Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.

Champion California-bred Older Female – Becca Taylor, bred by owner Nick Alexander, trained by Steve Miyadi.

Champion California-bred Sprinter – Fun to Dream, bred by Connie Pageler & Bob Baffert, owned by Natalie J. Baffert & Connie Pageler, trained by Bob Baffert.

Champion California-bred Turf Horse – The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker & Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number of Winners – Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings – Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.

Champion Sire of California Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings – Stay Thirsty, property of Terry Lovingier.

Trainer of the Year – Bob Baffert.

Broodmare of the Year – Lutess, owned by Connie & Mike Pageler.

Champion Breeder of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings – Nick Alexander.

Scoop Vessels Award – The Derby Room

CTBA Hall of Fame – Joe Harper, Nashoba's Key.

The post Fun To Dream Named California’s 2022 Horse Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Do Opossum Feces Guarantee EPM Transmission?

Question: We found an opossum asleep in our barn and it looks like it defecated on a stack of small square bales we feed to our horses. We are very concerned about equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), but have a limited supply of hay. Should we throw away all of our hay or is it safe to feed once we remove the feces? Do all opossums carry the microbe that causes EPM? Does the extremely cold weather we've recently had kill the microbe? 

Dr. Anna Firshman, of the University of Minnesota, responds:

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease of horses caused by the parasite Sarcocystis neurona. It can spread to horses via ingestion of hay, feed, or water that is contaminated with opossum feces.

EPM is a rare disease. Not every horse that eats contaminated feed develops EPM. Additionally, not every opossum is infected with the parasite. Studies suggest that about one third of opossums are infected in Missouri and one tenth of opossums are infected in Michigan.

While the disease is rare, it is very serious in horses. Some horses may not survive the infection even with treatment. Therefore, we do not recommend feeding horses any hay or feed that is contaminated with opossum feces. Work in other sarcocystis species suggests that the organism may survive some time in the external environment, even in freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, it is best to remove any contaminated hay from your barn and do not feed it to your horses.

Remember that opossums are important members of our wildlife ecosystem. For example, they eat large numbers of ticks, which can also cause disease in horses. Precautions to prevent EPM disease include ensuring that feed is kept in enclosed containers to prevent access by opossums. You can also take other measures within and around your barn to make it less inviting for opossums to make it their home.

  • Keep things tidy. Clutter invites rodents and makes it harder to spot a potential problem.
  • Regularly check your facility, especially all feed, bedding, and equipment storage rooms, for signs of wildlife presence: denning, feces, evidence of chewed material, etc.
  • Secure all feed, pet food, and garbage in animal-proof containers. Feed barn cats and dogs away from where you store feed or feed horses.
  • Plug any holes larger than a quarter inch to keep rodents out of barns and hay storage. Steel wool is a useful temporary plug.
  • Maintain yard work around your property. Trim and clear weeds and grass close to buildings. Cut back overhanging limbs, shrubs and vines. Keep gutters clean and clear of debris.
  • Inspect the farm for likely wildlife homes. Deadwood piles, old equipment, and weed and brush growth are ideal habitats for many wild animals. Animals can den or hide in areas of dense growth. Stack firewood off the ground (in racks, on pallets, etc.) and frequently inspect for signs of denning. It's best to have wood piles away from house or barn areas.

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