Month: July 2023

Open Letter To The Stronach Group: Where Are The Answers?

Over a week has passed since The Stronach Group (TSG) announced with a short statement light on detail the closure of Golden Gate Fields at the end of the year–a momentous decision that figures to upend a way of life for so many in California.

Since then, the company has remained publicly mum on the reasons behind the closure, and its vision for the future.

Every day since the announcement, the TDN has submitted a series of questions, to which TSG has responded only once. “For now, the [Sunday] statement is going to be our comment around the story. We look forward to being in touch in the future about our plans,” wrote Stefan Friedman, a TSG spokesperson, last Monday.

The silence is troubling for the thousands of breeders, trainers, owners, grooms, hotwalkers and phalanx of individuals attempting to make a living from horse racing in the state.

With the clock racing towards the end of the year–when many will pack up bag and box, van and car, to start life anew on Christmas Eve–they face stark decisions about their professional futures and personal lives.

Do they try to make a go of it in Southern California, or do they ply their trade in another state? What's best for their families? What kind of investments should they be making at this year's sales? How do they shape their breeding plans for next year? And what kind of industry will exist to justify such investments?

These are tough questions to grapple with at the best of times–much harder still beneath a veil of uncertainty and not a little fear. The edifice of any successful racing operation is built upon foundation stones laid years, decades sometimes, in advance.

With this in mind, the TDN is publishing the questions submitted each day to TSG, and again asking when can stakeholders expect the answers they need to make those long-term business decisions that ensure this industry's future.

1 – It appears that TSG didn't give all the relevant stakeholders much (if any) of a prior warning before making the announcement. If that is indeed the case, why did TSG decide to make the announcement in this abrupt fashion?

2 – How many horses does TSG expect to be relocated to Santa Anita from GGF? And has TSG spoken with the connections of those horses about possibly making the move?

3 – Many of the horses at Golden Gate don't seem an obvious fit for the Santa Anita/SoCal circuit. Is TSG concerned that fewer horses than expected will make the move? Is TSG prepared to offer cheaper claiming races at SA (cheaper than $10,000) to accommodate the lower-level horses currently stabled at GGF?

4 – What was the reason for closing GGF? Are they economic reasons? If not, are the reasons to do with the recently proposed Berkeley City Council ordinance? Or are they a combination of factors?

5 – Did the economics from Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) play any part in the decision to close GGF?

6 – Furthermore, TDN understands that the GGF purse account was in deficit to the tune of around $1.9 million. Did this play a part in the decision to close GGF? If so, is Santa Anita's purse account in the red or black?

7 – Is it true the state is stepping in to turn GGF into a park?

8 – What are TSG's thoughts about CARF's proposal to make Cal Expo a year-round hub of racing in the north?

9 – What specific long-term plans does TSG have for Santa Anita? Will TSG be making any substantial financial investments into the property, to show stakeholders that the company is sincere about the long-term viability of the facility?

10 – On top of that, will TSG be making any investments in the Santa Anita backstretch–in particular, to vastly improve living conditions for the backstretch workers living there?

11 – Does TSG intend to purchase the Arizona Downs facility?

12 – Will TSG extend GGF's closure date to accommodate the needs of California industry stakeholders in making the necessary adjustments to their businesses?

The post Open Letter To The Stronach Group: Where Are The Answers? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Two Added-Money Thoroughbred Events Scheduled For 2023 Timonium Meet At Maryland State Fair

The Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2023 Thoroughbred racing schedule for the Timonium meet. Running from August 25 through September 4, this year's seven days of racing held during the Maryland State Fair will offer purses of $287,000 daily.

The meet will conduct two added-money events this year: The $100,000 Timonium Distaff for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, going 61⁄2 furlongs on Saturday, August 26 and the $100,000 Timonium Juvenile for 2-year-olds going 61⁄2 furlongs on Saturday, September 2. Both races are $75,000 guaranteed, plus $25,000 for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired).

Once again, the Maryland State Fair is sponsoring $20,000 in trainers' awards. Grooms' awards to the best turned out horse in each race will also be awarded.

The Maryland State Fair thanks the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, the Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland State Fair board for bringing this all to fruition.

Annual College Day at the Fair will take place on August 26. Ten $1,000 college scholarships are awarded to preregistered full time college students in attendance. College Day is designed to attract young millennials to experience Thoroughbred racing and the Maryland State Fair. In addition, August 26 has been designated Ladies Day at the Races.

“Without the leadership of Gerry Brewster, Chairman of our Board, Donna Myers, President, Bill Marlow, Race Committee Chairman, and the support of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Maryland State Fair, these developments would not be possible. As always, we are particularly excited about College Day at the Fair on August 26, along with the two added money events offered this year, and thank the sponsors and horsemen for supporting us,” stated Bill Reightler, Director of Racing Operations.

Highlights for Timonium's seven days of Thoroughbred live racing, running August 25-27 and September 1-4, with post time 12:25 daily:

August 25 Opening Day of meet

August 26 College Day at the Fair, featuring the Timonium Distaff. Ladies Day at the Races

September 2 Featuring the Timonium Juvenile

The post Two Added-Money Thoroughbred Events Scheduled For 2023 Timonium Meet At Maryland State Fair appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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McStay Makes Hay In America – And Anisette Looks Another Stateside Star

In running out an impressive winner of the G2 San Clemente S. at Del Mar last weekend, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) capped a memorable few months for bloodstock agent Mark McStay, who helped source the filly privately on behalf of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. 

McStay had already been provided with one of his biggest kicks in racing this summer when Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), who he purchased on behalf of a host of American owners, landed the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot. 

Porta Fortuna could well be aimed at the Breeders' Cup later in the year while Anisette has Grade I targets more immediately. America has been a happy hunting ground for McStay, whose fingerprints are also all over high class Stateside performers Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Papillo (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), and he's keen to soak in the strong run of form.

On his latest big-race winner, McStay commented, “I signed for Anisette as a yearling and she is a filly whose career I watched closely in Britain. When she won at Wolverhampton in December, I thought she was very eye-catching and it was myself and one other agent who were on her straight away. I sent her to Aron Wellman, who is a guy who makes his mind up pretty quickly, and he is very experienced and successful at what he does. 

“Thankfully, we were on the same page with her and managed to get a deal done. From the moment she has gone out there, I have heard nothing but good reports and thankfully they have proved to be correct.”

McStay's good record across the Atlantic stems much further back than Anisette. Dubawi Heights, who was part-owned by his mother Clodagh, won twice at the highest level in California in 2011 and McStay has continued to make hay in the jurisdiction through his private purchases on behalf of various different clients.   

“Historically, I have had plenty of luck in America and that goes all the way back to Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was sent out there with Simon Callaghan, his father Neville, my mother [Clodagh] and MV Magnier,” McStay said. 

“She won two Grade Is out there in 2011 and Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who I bought as a yearling, was another filly who did very well out there and won the EP Taylor. I have had a lot of luck in America and I think finding a filly with the right outlook and attitude is key.”

On what he looks for in form horses when trying to fill orders for America, he continued, “Anisette is very genuine and is clearly very talented. Dubawi Heights had that same attitude and outlook and you need to find horses who are on an upward curve and look like they will progress. We don't have a crystal ball and it can be very hard to predict what will happen but, if you think there is more in the tank when you are buying them, that is always the question you need to be asking yourself when you are buying a form horse. 

“With Anisette, looking at her physically, there was always going to be plenty of progression. She's a beautiful-looking filly and was still quite unfurnished when we bought her. Leonard Powell has done a great job with her and has taken his time and Kevin was a star to deal with in brokering the deal as well. He's a great guy and is one of those young trainers who is very much on the up.”

Another handler who fits into that category is Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of the unbeaten Royal Ascot heroine Porta Fortuna. McStay acted quickly to snap up the filly on behalf of Medallion Racing, Dean Reeves, Barry Fowler and Steve Weston after she won her Curragh maiden and it has proved one of his shrewdest acquisitions. 

“That was huge,” McStay reflected. “Ascot is where all the big owners want to have winners and Porta Fortuna delivering for Medallion Racing, Dean Reeves, Barry Fowler and Steve Weston was massive. On a personal level, I have been going to Royal Ascot since I have been living in England and when I was working with Godolphin-which is 20 years ago-so, to have one that you have purchased on behalf of clients go and deliver on the big stage, it's huge. As an agent, it's the type of result you need to be getting. When people are spending good money you need to be getting those results.”

On future plans for the filly, McStay said, “She has loads of options which Donnacha will discuss with her owners. The Phoenix Stakes might be one and the Cheveley Park Stakes could be another. The owners are American and I think they would like to stretch her out in trip in time so maybe that might happen at the Breeders' Cup. She was so professional in the Albany and is a beautiful individual. She's got the size and scope and won't just be a two-year-old, with a bit of luck. Hopefully she has a big career in front of her.”

Papilo, bought privately on behalf of D J Stable LLC, Medallion Racing Et Al from Irish trainer Fozzy Stack to continue her career with Mark Casse, has already delivered the goods with a Grade 2 win at Keeneland back in April. The Saratoga Oaks could be next for the three-year-old, for which McStay plans to be in attendance prior to hot-footing it to Arqana for the August Sale. 

It was at that sale where Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), on course to contest one of the hottest King Georges in recent history at Ascot on Saturday, was sourced on behalf of the agent's major supporter Bon Ho back in 2020 for €200,000. McStay says he will be out to find the next classy performer in France next month but wouldn't be able to enjoy the run of success he is enjoying with the support of his family.

He explained, “Deauville Legend is a huge price [40-1] for the King George. I don't think it's a reflection on him but more the quality of the race. Mr Ho is based in Hong Kong and that is where this horse will finish his season. Deauville Legend had a long hard season last year and, with the Hong Kong International race meeting taking place in December, we weren't in any hurry to get him out this season. I think the lack of a run counted against him at Royal Ascot [when fourth in the Hardwicke] and I expect him to run a big race in the King George. Mr Ho has been a huge supporter of mine in recent years and is such an enthusiastic owner. I really appreciate the faith he's placed in me and he's got some very nice horses both in Europe and Australia-I hope he'll be rewarded by landing another one of these big International Group 1 races soon.

“The sale season is upon us and I'm looking forward to Arqana next month. It has been a lucky spot for us over the past few years so hopefully we might be able to unearth another nice horse or two from there. I go over there nice and early and provide my clients with an overview of the sale. With a smaller catalogue like Aqrana, it affords you the time to do that.”

He added, “A number of my clients are overseas, be it Hong Kong, Australia, America or Dubai, and with time differences etc, being able to send out lists and giving people the time to digest the information, that's a big plus. At the end of the day, most of these people are well-informed and want to be involved in the buying process so a sale like Arqana, where you have the extra bit of time, it's huge. 

“I can't wait for Arqana and am actually going to Saratoga beforehand. I did my diary with my wife Eva the other day for the next six months and, on a serious note, this job would not be possible without her support. I couldn't do the job that I do without Eva being behind me one hundred and ten per cent. Being an agent, or working in any capacity in this industry, the hours and the time that we give to it is far from nine to five. Having a family behind you that allows you to do your job well is crucial.” 

 

 

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Registration Open For Kentucky Horse Council’s Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training Sept. 15-17

Kentucky Horse Council's three-day Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) training is slated to return to the Kentucky Horse Park on September 15-17, 2023.

LAER is taught by Justin and Tori McLeod of 4Hooves Large Animal Services, LLC, a North Carolina-based company that specialized in large animal technical rescue emergency response and training for emergency responders and veterinary professionals. The course is geared specifically toward veterinarians, emergency responders and animal control officers, but horse owners and industry professionals will also find the course beneficial in learning how to care for and extract equines in potentially hazardous situations while remaining safe.

The course will cover topics like animal behavior; handling and restraint; containment; motor vehicle accidents and overturned trailers; entrapments; unstable ground incidents (mud, ditch, ice, etc.); water rescues; and natural disaster preparation and response. Specialized instruction will be given to participants based on their background and auditors are welcome.

“After taking the Kentucky Horse Council's Large Animal Emergency Rescue class, we learned what type of equipment we needed to be able to respond to an emergency involving a large animal, and how to use it,” says Kenny Pratt, chief of the Marshall County Rescue Squad. “After I took the class, I applied for – and received — grants to help us purchase the necessary equipment.”

Soon after the equipment arrived, the rescue squad had the opportunity to use it, assisting with animals that had been involved in the devastating tornadoes that swept through Western Kentucky. Pratt and his team responded to horses that were down and entangled in barbed wire. “Because of the training we received, we were able to go up to the horses, calm them and protect their faces the way we had been taught. We then used our new equipment to secure the horse's safety. We would not have been able to work as well or efficiently had we not taken the KHC class. I highly recommend this training to any emergency service or rescue squad — when you least expect it is when you're going to have to figure out how to get a horse or a cow out of a tricky situation.”

“The Large Animal Emergency Rescue training has proven to be a great learning experience for all attendees, but specifically for veterinarians, who learn how to work alongside both first responders and volunteers. All participants receive in-depth, technical training on how to safely handle emergency situations in which they may be asked to work together,” says Dr. Rocky Mason, owner of Lexington Equine Medical Group and head of the Kentucky Horse Council Health and Welfare committee. “This training also focuses on situational awareness and preparedness, both of which are necessary for a favorable outcome for the animal involved while keeping everyone safe.”

Continuing education credits for veterinarians are available through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Sponsorship opportunities are available here. For more information, click here or contact the Kentucky Horse Council at 859-367-0509 or info@kentuckyhorse.org.

Learn more about 4Hooves Large Animal Services at 4hoovessmart.com.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL: The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community through education and leadership. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programming; health and welfare programs; outreach and communication to equine enthusiasts; equine professional networking opportunities through the Kentucky Equine Networking Association; and trail riding advocacy. Learn more at kentuckyhorse.org

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