Update: Arsonist Charged With Four Felonies After Barn Fire Kills Over Two Dozen Horses At Tioga Downs

New York State Police have arrested 32-year-old Boyd Fenton, of Athens, P.A on charges of arson following a barn fire at Tioga Downs Thursday morning, reports Finger Lakes Daily News.

Police confirmed that over two dozen horses perished in the fire.

Fenton has been charged with:

  • Arson in the third degree, class “C” felony
  • Burglary in the third degree, class “D” felony
  • Criminal Mischief in the second, class “D” felony
  • Assault in the second degree, class “D” felony

Local radio station WNBF indicated the fire was reported just after 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, and triggered emergency response from multiple fire departments. The radio station indicates the barn involved was Barn F. Social media posts from the scene show a barn that has been completely destroyed, with its roof collapsed.

Tioga Downs is a harness track and casino located in Nichols, N.Y. Its live race meet concluded for this year on Sept. 28.

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Speakers Announced For TOBA’s Claiming Seminar To Be Held At Fair Grounds Dec. 2

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Claiming Seminar Saturday, Dec. 2 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana. The morning seminar is strategically positioned on the day of the 25th Claiming Crown, an event that will feature eight races totaling $1 million in base purses, headlined by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. 

Conceived to be a Breeders' Cup-style event for claiming horses, the Claiming Crown was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). The program gives Thoroughbred racing's workhorses, their owners and trainers a day in the spotlight in recognition of their importance to filling out race cards across the nation. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of claiming Thoroughbreds, pedigree, past performance and conformation analysis, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoying a day at the races.

The topics and speakers at the seminar include:

    • Understanding Racing Office Policy & Procedures, presented by Jason M. Boulet (Fair Grounds, Senior Director of Racing) and Scott L. Jones (Fair Grounds, Racing Secretary)
    • Understanding Claiming Strategy & Process, presented by Brett A. Brinkman (Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer) and W. Bret Calhoun (Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer)

The TOBA Claiming Seminar is aimed towards all levels of experience – from beginners to knowledgeable owners looking to continue their education. The clinic is open to the general public, with a special discount for TOBA members. Meals, educational materials, and a TOBA gift bag are included in registration.

Registration is available online, until Tuesday, November 28, at: toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics. Questions about the clinics and seminars may be directed to Barkley N. Porter at barkley@toba.org or (859) 276-6793.

The Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA), based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to improve the economics, integrity, and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, Claiming Crown, Ownership Seminars, Breeding, Conformation & Pedigree Clinics, US-Bred, TOBA Owners Concierge, OwnerView and the Sales Integrity Program. TOBA provides international representation for U.S. owners and breeders on the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee, International Cataloguing Standards Committee, and International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is the charitable arm of TOBA. TOBA Media Properties, a subsidiary of TOBA, is the co-owner of BloodHorse LLC. TOBA is represented on the board of directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium as founding members.

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Equine Hoof Care, Dentistry Covered In Latest Thoroughbred Owner Conference Panel

The ninth panel of the OwnerView Virtual Thoroughbred Owner Conference held Tuesday, November 7, featured videos of farrier work and equine dentistry with discussions with Dr. Scott Morrison and Dr. Brad Tanner, both of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, with OwnerView's project manager, Gary Falter.

The conference is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and sponsored by Bessemer Trust, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and The Green Group. This panel was sponsored by Equilume.

Attendees were able to ask questions through Zoom's Q&A feature, sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds.

During the hoof care session, Dr. Morrison walked through the process of shoeing a racehorse. He provided information on topics such as hoof angle and how a longer toe can put more pressure on the tendons, how Thoroughbred hooves are different from those of other breeds, how often horses should be shod, and how a shoe should fit.

“It's important for athletes to try to keep them sound and keep that foot balanced and keep them in proper alignment,” he said. “We try to shoe horses so the shoe is placed equally around the coffin joint, around the center rotation.”

Dr. Tanner discussed why horses' teeth need to be floated and the importance of having horses' teeth floated on a regular basis depending on age and use.

“Young horses' teeth grow really fast,” he said. “Horses that are between 2 and 5, 2 and 6, years old, their teeth are growing much faster than your horse that's 15 to 20. So as a result, we'll recommend that their teeth are floated every six months to try to keep up with those changes.”

A replay of the panel and all previous panels can be viewed at bit.ly/OVVideos. There is one more 2023 Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panel, scheduled for December 5 at 2 p.m. ET, Breeding Plans, which will feature a panel discussing matings, nicking, conformation traits, broodmare preferences, and stallion selection. A full schedule can be found here: bit.ly/OVSchedule.

There is no registration fee for the virtual conference series, but registration is required. For more information about the owner conference, please visit ownerview.com/event/conference or contact Gary Falter at 859.224.2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

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Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Retired, Offered For Sale At Keeneland

Rich Strike, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, has been retired, according to a social media post from owner Rick Dawson.

The 4-year-old colt had been working back from a lay-off that started earlier this year after a build-up of scar tissue in tendons in both front legs was discovered by Dr. Larry Bramlage.

“As you are aware, for the last several months Richie has been performing light exercise while being treated for front leg issues that has kept him from traditional training & obviously from racing,” Dawson wrote on his Facebook page. “Unfortunately, these nagging issues remain. Therefore, after conversations with Dr's & a number of great horsemen I have decided to retire Richie from racing & move toward a stallion career.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision for me, however, as always, it came down to 'what's best for Richie is what's best'.

“Thank you to all that have supported & prayed for Richie. Richie is grateful.”

Subsequent to Dawson's post, Keeneland announced that Rich Strike will be on offer as a stallion prospect at the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale. He will be consigned by Candy Meadows Farm and is available for inspection in Lexington, Ky., by appointment. He will go through the ring on Friday, Nov. 17.
“Keeneland is excited to showcase Rich Strike, a rare offering who will appeal to international buyers as a stallion prospect and to fans of racing worldwide,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said in a press release.
Rich Strike had been working at Margaux Farm near Lexington, Ky., and was expected to join the New York string of trainer Bill Mott in November with a potential run in the Pegasus World Cup as Dawson's goal for his next start.

Rich Strike retires with earnings of $2.5 million and two lifetime victories, as well as a second in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic and a third in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks. He took some time off after finishing sixth in the G1 Clark in November 2022 but his return in the G2 Alysheba — a fifth-place finish — proved equally disappointing and led to the veterinary evaluation by Bramlage.

His 80-1 Derby victory with trainer Eric Reed and jockey Sonny Leon captured the attention of race fans and gave the horse a strong following during the rest of his 3-year-old campaign.

Reed and Dawson split this spring following a disagreement over movie rights to the horse's story.

Rich Strike was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm and is the son of Keen Ice and Smart Strike mare Gold Strike. He was claimed from Calumet by Dawson's RED Tr-Racing for $30,000 in his maiden victory.

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