Month: May 2023

Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed In California; USEF Webinar Set For May 31

On May 17, 2023, vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus was confirmed on an equine premises in San Diego County, California. Currently, the virus has only been confirmed in San Diego and Riverside Counties, California.

USEF supports continuing competitions in VS-affected states and competitions which include horses from VS-affected states with the implementation of enhanced biosecurity measures. USEF is working closely with competition management in California and at events with horses traveling in from California to implement strict health protocols and veterinarian examination prior to admission to the horse show grounds.

VS is a viral disease of horses and other animals. Infection results in vesicles (blisters), crusts, and ulceration of the lips, muzzle, nose, tongue, ears, sheath, teats, and/or coronary band. Transmission is predominantly by black flies, sand flies, and biting midges. The virus is in the active lesion, thus animals with active lesions can transmit the virus by direct contact, shared feed/water sources, and other fomites contaminated by infective lesions, vesicular fluid and/or saliva. The lesions are self-limiting and typically resolve within 14 days. Humans can be infected from exposure to this virus and have mild flu-like symptoms.

VS is a reportable disease to a state or federal animal health official in all 50 states. Competitors should be sure to consult with the state veterinarian's office in the state of the competition for any VS-related movement restrictions and your state of origin for any potential restrictions on return from a VS-affected state. Additionally, international movement restrictions are placed on countries/states with confirmed cases. Therefore, prompt detection, reporting, and control of the virus is important. Equine industry vigilance and prompt response to observations of vesicles is essential.

For more information on the virus, please read the document here.

Don't miss the upcoming webinar next week:

Wednesday, May 31, 4 p.m. ET

Vesicular Stomatitis: What You Need to Know

Presented by Dr. Katie Flynn, USEF Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian, and Dr. Angela Pelzel McCluskey, USDA Equine Epidemiologist

Dr. Angela Pelzel McCluskey will provide an overview of vesicular stomatitis and the current situation report. Dr. Pelzel McCluskey will provide perspective based on her firsthand experience managing numerous VS outbreaks in her previous roles. Dr. Katie Flynn will cover prevention measures for horses and their premises, as well as the biosecurity requirements being implemented at those USEF events with horses competing from VS-affected states. You won't want to miss this critical and informative session!

Register Here

The post Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed In California; USEF Webinar Set For May 31 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Average Field Size Of 8.15 Starters For Opening Weekend At Canterbury Park

Minnesota's only Thoroughbred racetrack begins its 29th season as Canterbury Park on Saturday with a 5 p.m. central first post. The 54-day season starts with three days of racing, Saturday through Memorial Day Monday. Racing on Sunday and Monday begins at 1:00 p.m. The Shakopee, Minn. racetrack originally opened in 1985 but closed after the 1992 season. The track reopened for live racing in 1995 under new leadership and has conducted a race meet of at least 51 days each summer since.

Twenty-six races, 10 on the turf course, will be run during the first three programs. A total of 212 horses were entered for an average field size of 8.15 per race.

“Racing Secretary Robert Junk, Amber Carlisle and the rest of the racing office team did a phenomenal job putting together our Memorial Weekend cards,” Senior Director of Racing Chris Merz said. “With average field size over eight and an emphasis on our turf course with 10 turf races, we have assembled great cards for our bettors and fans to enjoy. We look to build on this early momentum throughout the season.” Merz will be experiencing his first meet at Canterbury Park after serving as racing secretary at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Saturday's nine-race card includes two $50,000 stakes races restricted to horses bred in Minnesota, both at six furlongs. The 10,000 Lakes Stakes has the smallest field of the weekend with just five horses entered but is not wanting for quality. Doctor Oscar, at even money on the morning line, is a deserving favorite based on strong performances this winter at Tampa Bay Downs and Oaklawn Park. Thealligatorhunter also raced at Tampa Bay Downs. He has won eight of 12 Canterbury starts including a dead-heat in this stake in 2022. Both are trained by Tim Padilla. Multiple stakes winner Hot Shot Kid, now nine years old, is 10 to 1 on the morning line. He won the 10,000 Lakes in 2019 and 2020. A win Saturday would make him the richest Minnesota bred racehorse in history. He is trained by Mac Robertson.

The female counterpart to the 10,000 Lakes is the Lady Slipper Stakes which attracted 10 entrants, eight of which are former stakes winners. Charlie's Penny is the 7 to 5 morning line favorite and drew post position 10 with Lindey Wade to ride. “Give me that outside post every time,” trainer Joel Berndt said.

Ready to Runaway, trained by Robertson, won this race in 2020. Her $533,400 in purse earnings at Canterbury Park is the second most in track history. Robertson also entered Clickbait, the '21 and '22 Lady Slipper winner and It's Her Time, winner of last year's Minnesota Oaks.

Robertson and Berndt tied for leading trainer in 2022. Each has entered 21 horses over the first three days of racing. Robertson is a Canterbury Hall of Fame member who has 15 training titles. Berndt won his second last season. Leading jockey in 2022 Harry Hernandez is listed on mounts in 24 of the opening weekend's 26 races including six mounts for Robertson and four for Berndt.

The racing season runs through Sept. 16. Additional information can be found at canterburypark.com.

The post Average Field Size Of 8.15 Starters For Opening Weekend At Canterbury Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Total Wagering Up Six Percent On Opening Day Of Fort Erie Meet

A strong card of exciting races drove big crowds to the wagering windows on opening day at the Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday.

Total wagering for the day topped $1.75 million, which was up 6 per cent over opening day last year, despite having two fewer races than in 2022. The day's signature race, the Spring into Summer Cup, was a stakes race with a $30,000 purse which attracted plenty of attention from bettors to cap off a busy day at the historic border oval as the final horse crossed the line just before sunset.

“It feels good to win any race, but winning a big stakes race feels even better,” said trainer Kevin Buttigieg, who was surprised to see his horse, One More Ring, cross the finish line first and bring home the cup. “He got sick on me recently, but we sent him up to the farm for a couple weeks to recover and he came back strong.”

Winning jockey Chris Husbands said the horse felt good from the gate to the finish line.

“He broke sharp,” said Husbands after the race. “There were two in front of me down the stretch but I could tell he was a runner so I just let him go.”

The action didn't end there though, as The Figure Four took to the stage as soon as the last horse was back in the stable. The rock band kicked off the first of the track's seven free summer concerts in style, entertaining the crowd well into the night.

Live racing returns on May 30 at 4:30 p.m. Tragically Hip cover band The Hip are next up on the concert schedule, and will hit the track's stage on June 27.

But before that, the track will host a special Sunday race card for Father's Day on June 18 with a noon post time so that dad's can spend the day at the races with the family while enjoying food trucks and a farmer's market.

The post Total Wagering Up Six Percent On Opening Day Of Fort Erie Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Kentucky Derby Winner Fusaichi Pegasus Dead At 26

The 2000 GI Kentucky Derby Champion, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prospector) has passed at the age of 26-years-old, Coolmore America said in a release on their website early Wednesday morning.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus who was euthanized at Ashford Stud yesterday due to the infirmities of old age,” the organization said.

Bred by Arthur Hancock and Bob and Janice McNair of Stonerside farm, 'Fu Peg' as he was affectionately known, was a $4 million yearling when purchased by Fusao Sekiguchi at the 1998 Keeneland July sale. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Fusaichi Pegasus won the GII San Felipe S. and the GII Wood Memorial before winning the 2000 Kentucky Derby as the favorite and finishing 2nd in the GI Preakness S.

A year on from his sire Mr. Prospector passing away, a heated bidding war involving most farms in Lexington for Fusaichi Pegasus ensued, and he retired to Ashford Stud at the end of 2000 for a then record breaking sum.

Twenty Years Later, Fond Memories Remain of Fusaichi Pegasus

Fusaichi Pegasus went on to sire six champions worldwide and Grade I winners which included Roman Ruler, Champ Pegasus, Haradasun (Aus) and Bandini. Southern hemisphere stints at Haras Don Alberto and Haras Philipson yielded champion older horse, Bronzo (Chi), and Fusaichi Pegasus was also broodmare sire of 2023 Chilean Triple Crown winner, Fortino (Chi) (Midshipman).

The stallion was pensioned from stud duties in 2020 and had been living out his retirement at Ashford.

“Fu Peg was a fantastic racehorse and a colorful character,” said Ashford Stud general manager Dermot Ryan, “I would like to thank Richard Barry and all of his team, past and present, for providing the highest level of care for him throughout his time at Ashford.”

The post Kentucky Derby Winner Fusaichi Pegasus Dead At 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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