July, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jackson: Stronach Decision On Golden Gate Fields Has A Real Human Toll

The following open letter was submitted to the California Horse Racing Board in the wake of an announcement by The Stronach Group that it will close Golden Gate Fields at the end of this year. It has been edited.

As I'm sure you're aware now, The Stronach Group intends to close GGF as of the 10^th of Dec. I have to wonder who can intervene on the part of all the trainers, grooms, hot walkers, exercise rider, jockeys, owners, breeders, hay growers, grain manufacturers, vendors, small businesses, etc. that are going to be devastatingly impacted by this decision.

As I'm also sure you're aware, many of the backstretch workers have only provisional licenses that allow them to work at the track but have no work permit to allow them to work outside the track. This closure is going to throw many people out on the street without work, without the possibility to work and without a place to live.

The horses we have raised to race in Northern California are not of the quality to compete successfully in Southern California, as is the intended plan by Stronach Group to see them all move to Santa Anita and bulk up their horse population. That isn't going to happen. Horses and trainers are leaving the state by the droves as it is. Trying to improve racing in SoCal by destroying any competition in NorCal, just doesn't add up.

I don't know where to turn but this travesty is just eating away at my heart and I'm hoping since you allocate the dates for race meets, maybe you have some suggestions. I realize as a private corporation, Stronach Group doesn't have to open their books to the public. But as recently as this spring, Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, speaking to a group of TOC members at GGF, told us that GGF makes a better profit than Santa Anita and is basically supporting them.

Since the mission statement of CHRB is to ensure the integrity, viability, and safety of the California horse racing industry by regulating pari-mutuel wagering for the protection of the public, promoting horse racing, breeding, and wagering opportunities, and fostering safe racing through the development and enforcement of track safety standards and regulations for the health and welfare of all participants, it would appear that this sort of reckless decision-making by Stronach Group is certainly under your jurisdiction [and impacts] the welfare of all participants.

I am sincerely hoping when you make your decisions for race dates you take all the human toll into consideration and at least force the Stronach Group to be transparent in their decision-making, process and provide you with evidence that this plan to destroy NorCal racing is based on what is best for the industry as a whole.

–Ellen Jackson
Owner/breeder/trainer
Vacaville, Calif.

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please write to info at paulickreport.com and include contact information where you may be reached if editorial staff have any questions.

The post Jackson: Stronach Decision On Golden Gate Fields Has A Real Human Toll appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mage To Go In Haskell

The connections of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) may have waited until the 11th hour to make their schedule known, but in the end they gave Monmouth Park the answer everyone there was hoping for. Mage will be starting in Saturday's $1-million GI Haskell S.

The decision was not revealed until about 4:30 ET Thursday when trainer Gustavo Delgado, Sr. tweeted the following: “After much consideration and planning Mage's summer goal of getting to the G1 Travers; we have decided to have a prep run in the G1 Haskell this weekend.”

The other option, the connections had been saying for a couple of weeks, was to pass both the Haskell and the GII Jim Dandy S. and go into the GI Travers S. after a series of works. Watching Mage train, they decided a race in the Haskell was the best way to fulfill the goal of winning the Travers.

“Since the day after the Preakness, we have been targeting the Travers as our summer jewel,” said co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. “And we've identified the Haskell as the best route to get him ready for the Travers. We look forward to competing in our fourth consecutive Grade I and putting forth a quality effort.”

Mage hasn't run since finishing third in the GI Preakness S.

The Haskell had already lined up a strong field before the confirmation that Mage would be running, but the race is now shaping up to be one of the strongest Haskells in years.

“We have the Derby winner,” said racing secretary John Heims. “We have Bob Baffert's 'A' horse in Arabian Knight [Uncle Mo]. We have Tapit Trice [Tapit], a Grade I winner who was third in the Belmont. We have Geaux Rocket Ride [Candy Ride {Arg}], who is from the barn of Hall of Famer trainer Dick Mandella, who has been pointing to this race for some time. We have Extra Anejo [Into Mischief], Salute the Stars [Candy Ride {Arg}]. We had a very good race and I think with the addition of Mage it's a great race.”

The field for the Haskell will be drawn Wednesday at noon.

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Wildcard Entry Midnight Lion Tops Tattersalls Summer Sale

The re-located one-day Tattersalls Summer Sale, held Tuesday at Newmarket's Park Paddocks, saw 77 lots of the 96 offered pass through the ring as sold (80%) for gross receipts of 778,200gns.

Formerly under the now defunct Tattersalls Ascot umbrella, the sale averaged 10,106gns, and the median was 5,000gns.
Horses owned by Rabbah Bloodstock were offered by a variety of agents and filled the top three spots, with wildcard entry Midnight Lion (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 79) bringing 85,000gns from Nick Taylor, assistant to Tom Malone Bloodstock, to top the day. The recent Goodwood winner, who was offered by Kingsley Park, will now move on to a jumps career.

“He was clearly the pick of the day for us, and he has been bought for Paul Nicholls,” Taylor said. “We liked him when we saw him, Nathaniel is a big plus to go jumping, he has a lovely soft ground action and is just the type of horse we are looking for. He has the size and Charlie Johnston was very positive about him.”

Stephensen Bloodstock went to 72,000gns to secure the second-highest priced lot of the day, the 3-year-old Laafi (Fr) (Cloth of Stars {Ire}) (lot 74). The winner of the EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden S. at Nottingham last year was consigned by Somerville Lodge. She is out of the Smart Strike mare Mediterenea (Fr), who is a half-sister to multiple Group/Grade 1 winner and sire Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The 4-year-old filly Timeless Melody (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 51) rounded out the top three on the day when the hammer fell at 42,000gns for the Leicester novice winner. Matt Coleman of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock signed the ticket for the daughter of Dufay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who came from the Somerville Lodge consignment. The filly's second dam is Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer).

“She has been bought for Alec Waugh's Normandy-based Jedburgh Stud,” Coleman said. “Alec has had a lot of luck, as many people have, with mares by Teofilo–he is a phenomenal broodmare sire, and just getting better and better.”

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All Tied Up: Is Freshly Cut Hay Safe To Feed Right Away?

Nothing says “summer” to a horse person quite like freshly baled hay fields, but is hay picked up from the field safe to feed right away?

Hay that is cured properly prior to bailing is safe to feed directly off the field, said The Horse's Dr. Clair Thunes – but the caveat is cured properly. This means that the hay was given the correct amount of time to dry before it was baled. Hay should ideally be baled with 12 percent or less moisture.

Hay that is too damp when baled will continue to cure once it's baled, taking days to weeks to do so, depending on bale tightness, moisture level, and plant type. This ongoing curing once baling is why some people prefer to let the bales “sweat” for a while once it comes off the field, often waiting two to four weeks before feeding the bales.

Hay that cures in the bale produces heat, which causes fermentation – feeding fermenting hay to horses is a definite risk. Hay that is baled with more than 12 percent moisture may require time before it can be safely fed to horses. Hay should not be baled if moisture content is over 18 percent.

If a bale is opened and feels hot to the touch, it's unsafe to feed to horses. These bales may never be safe to feed, even after additional time, as too much moisture can result in mold. Too-wet hay can also combust, causing barn fires, so it's imperative that hot bales not be put up in the barn.

Producing good hay is difficult, as so many things can affect it, from the weather to the stage of the plant to the handling of the hay once it's on the ground. It's imperative that horse owners buy from an experienced, reputable farmer to get the best hay for their dollar.