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How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Horse Health?

With over 100 wildfires raging in multiple states, both humans and animals are breathing unhealthy air containing smoke and particulates. These particulates can cause burning eyes, running noses and breathing complications like bronchitis. Smoke can also exacerbate heart and lung issues like congestive heart failure and asthma or heaves.

Though the composition of smoke differs with what is being burned, the particulate matter in the smoke is of the most concern. “Particulate” is a catch-all term used to encompass the mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Particulates from smoke are very tiny, enabling them to get to the deepest part of the airways.

Horses that breathe particulates from smoke may have reduced lung function in addition to irritated eyes and respiratory tract. Particulates can also reduce the lung's ability to remove foreign materials like bacteria and pollen.

A healthy horse's respiration rate should be between 12 and 24 breaths per minute. If the horse is breathing consistently more than 30 breaths per minute, is having difficulty breathing, has flared nostrils, is coughing deeply or has abnormal nasal discharge, a veterinarian should be called.

To protect horse health during wildfires:

Limit exercise the horse is smoke is visible
Reduce exposure to dust by feeding dust-free hay or by soaking hay before feeding
Offer fresh water close to grain or hay; water will assist in clearing inhaled particulates
Contact a vet if the horse is coughing or having trouble breathing
Give a horse ideally 4 to 6 weeks to recover from airway damage from wildfire smoke once the air had cleared

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Road to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup: Crucial Preps Scheduled at Woodbine

As the Road to the Breeders' Cup series picks up steam following a schedule adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus this upcoming weekend shifts to Woodbine in Toronto, which will host three Challenge Series races offering automatic berths to the 37th World Championships on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course. On Sept.

Former Zayat Financial Advisor Among Creditors Trying to `Force’ Stable’s Bankruptcy

Ahmed Zayat’s former financial advisor is among the entities now initiating an “involuntary bankruptcy” petition against Zayat’s family-owned racing stable. This Sept. 14 court action comes six days after the allegedly insolvent Triple Crown-winning breeder and owner voluntarily filed for his own personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.

Although once prevalent, involuntary bankruptcy proceedings are now relatively uncommon in United States courts. They are designed to protect creditors, not debtors, and are often filed against companies (as opposed to individuals) as an attempt to get paid when it is believed that a firm is rapidly burning through assets and/or financial malfeasance is alleged.

Zayat Stables, LLC, is currently a defendant in a $23 million lawsuit filed in January by a New York lender alleging fraud and loan defaults. A Kentucky receiver is in the process of liquidating those equine assets.

Although it is unclear exactly what effect this attempt at “forced” bankruptcy might have on that case, one possible scenario is that the petitioners believe that the only way to preserve the remainder of the dwindling assets for distribution to them is to take legal action via an involuntary bankruptcy. They’d be banking on the bankruptcy order stopping the current liquidation from moving forward, which might keep others from getting paid first.

The Chapter 7 documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey (Newark), on Monday allege that Zayat Stables owes $275,000 in loans “above the value of any lien” to Steven Keefer.

A 2003 New York Times story on Zayat’s beverage business referred to Keefer as “a former New York investment banker and now chief of staff to Mr. Zayat” who was also head of the development group for the beverage firm.

Zayat apparently even named a Thoroughbred racehorse “Keefer” in honor of his business associate. The colt broke its maiden in 2008 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, the home state for both men.

Keefer is now the chief executive officer at U.S. Elite, LLC, a New Jersey company that specializes in “tactical” apparel for fitness and military enthusiasts. According to Keefer’s bio page on the company website, the firm’s motto is “We exist to Enhance the Warrior Lifestyle.”

U.S. Elite itself is also listed as a petitioning creditor in the court documents, alleging $188,500 in loans owed by Zayat Stables.

A third party, Joseph Bodner, who lives in the same town (Teaneck) as Zayat, is listed in the petition as being owed $150,000 by the stable.

Under involuntary bankruptcy law, if a debtor has more than 12 creditors, three creditors must join in the involuntary petition for a “force” to move forward.

The claims total $613,500. All three amounts match what Zayat stated he owed those entities in his personal Chapter 7 filing last week.

The petitioners indicated via checking a box that “The debtor is generally not paying its debts as they become due, unless they are the subject of a bona fide dispute as to liability or amount.”

In his separate, voluntary petition for bankruptcy, Zayat is claiming $19,371,466 in total liabilities versus total estimated assets of $1,892,815.

Thoroughbred trainers, horse farms, bloodstock businesses, veterinarians, and equine transportation companies are among the 132 entities listed as creditors in Zayat’s own Chapter 7 filing. They are due $14,755,1717 in “non-priority unsecured claims,” which means they are at the bottom of the hierarchy to get paid—if they get paid at all. Zayat Stables is listed as a co-debtor to 112 of those 132 non-priority unsecured claims.

The next step in the involuntary petition is for Zayat Stables to file a response. If the debtor contests an involuntary petition, the petitioning creditor must prove that the debtor is generally not paying its debts.

If the petitioners are successful, the bankruptcy court will enter an “order for relief” granting the involuntary petition.

But if the court dismisses the petition, the creditors might be on the hook for paying Zayat Stables’ attorney fees and court costs. In addition, if the court rules that the petition was made in bad faith, it can award compensatory and even punitive damages.

Involuntary bankruptcies can be complicated and fraught with peril for both sides. Nicholas Gebelt, an attorney who writes on the subject as a California-certified bankruptcy specialist, described the process like this on his law blog:

“On a practical level, the most compelling reason for filing an involuntary bankruptcy against a debtor is the fear that the debtor is rapidly depleting the resources available to pay its creditors. [But] filing an involuntary bankruptcy against someone is very dangerous. If you are a creditor who files an involuntary bankruptcy against a debtor, then if you can’t establish one of the two grounds for relief…you may find yourself paying the very entity from whom you’re trying to collect. Therefore, absent compelling exigent circumstances it is probably safer to use some other approach to debt collection.”

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$2 Million Tapit Colt Headlines Day 2 Of Keeneland September Yearling Sale

A partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway, and Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $2 million for a colt by leading sire Tapit out of Grade 1 winner Tara's Tango to top Monday's second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which was marked by competitive bidding and the sale of nine yearlings for $1 million or more.

For today's final session of the two-day premier Book 1, Keeneland sold 100 yearlings for $44,535,000, for an average of $445,350 and a median of $360,000. Cumulatively, 209 horses have grossed $85,215,000, for an average of $407,727 and a median of $330,000. Fourteen yearlings sold for $1 million or more through the first two sessions and were purchased by 13 different domestic and international buyers.

Monday's session closed with four million-dollar horses sold within the last 11 hip numbers.

“It was a frantic end to the session, and we appreciate Barbara Banke for her support of Keeneland and congratulate her on having another top-priced horse,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said, referring to the breeder of the session topper. “Under the current circumstances, we are very pleased with the session. We are back to that great intensity of bidding, the going back and forth. The atmosphere and electricity returned, so that is wonderful.”

“For 30 minutes at the end of the sale we felt like there was no COVID,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said.

Eaton Sales, agent for Banke's Stonestreet Bred & Raised, consigned the session topper. By Unbridled's Song, Tara's Tango is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Visionaire and Grade 3 winners Scarlet Strike and Madison's Luna.

Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners signed the ticket for the colt.

“Partnerships are so prevalent in today's market,” Wellman said. “It is wild to think how far partnerships have come. We had a fabulous relationship with Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stable going back to when Eclipse first started. To think how the partnership model has evolved and that now we as a partnership company are partnering with moguls in the industry. It speaks volumes.

“Barbara Banke has been gracious about staying in as a partner,” he continued. “She adores this colt. Hopefully between all of us we have plenty of good mojo. All I care about is that you are interviewing our partnership after (the colt) wins a Grade 1.”

Larry Best's OXO Equine acquired a filly by Into Mischief for $1.9 million. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, she is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Taylor S, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Liam's Map and Grade 3 winner and sire Not This Time.

“Book 1 has been unbelievably strong,” said Best, who paid $1 million for an Into Mischief colt on Sunday. “It blew away my expectations. Keeneland should be very happy.”

Taylor Made was the session's leading consignor, recording sales of $6.92 million for 14 horses.

Three of Monday's seven-figure horses are by Into Mischief, sire of recent Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Authentic. Into Mischief was the leading sire by gross on Monday, with 11 yearlings selling for $8.25 million. He is also the leading sire by gross for Book 1, represented by 20 yearlings that brought $13,085,000.

Another three of day's top-priced horses are by Medaglia d'Oro.

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum paid $1.6 million for a filly by Medaglia d'Oro who is a half-sister to English and Irish stakes winner Sergei Prokofiev.

Rick Nichols, Vice President and General Manager of Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm in Lexington, signed the ticket.

“She is a beautiful filly – the kind you have to have,” Nichols said. “Sheikh Hamdan told me this morning to try to concentrate on getting some really nice fillies. We send all of our good fillies to England, and he keeps promising to send them back (but he doesn't). Our broodmare band is starting to get a little old, and we need to rejuvenate it a little bit. I am pretty sure she will stay (in the U.S.) because the (offspring of) Medaglia d'Oro seem to do better here.”

Anderson Farms, agent, consigned the filly, whose dam is the Tapit mare Orchard Beach. In 2017, Sergei Prokofiev sold for $1.1 million at the September Sale.

“I'm very emotional right now,” David Anderson said. “I bred the mother and I bred this filly and she's probably the most athletic filly I've ever had on the farm. We came here fairly confident that everyone would feel the same way I do, and I know that Mr. Nichols bought her for Shadwell. I want to thank Mr. (Joe) Allen for being the underbidder on the filly. There were many wonderful people that I respect that came by to see the filly and bid on her. It means a lot to a little guy from Canada.”

Robbie Medina, agent, spent $1.4 million for a Medaglia d'Oro filly who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Salty. Baccari Bloodstock, agent, consigned the filly, whose dam is the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Theycallmeladyluck.

A colt by Curlin and a filly by American Pharoah sold for $1.2 million each.

The partnership of Repole Stable, St. Elias, Gainesway, John Oxley and Grandview spent the amount on the Curlin colt, whose dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky, by Midnight Lute. Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 1 winners Hookedonthefeelin, Pussycat Doll and Jimmy Creed.

Mike Rutherford purchased the American Pharoah filly, who was consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds, agent. Out of Grade 1-placed winner Modification, by Vindication, she a half-sister to undefeated Amsterdam (G2) winner Yaupon.

Rutherford said his current racing stable consists of six offspring of American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner.

“She is beautiful, gorgeous. Best filly I have seen,” Rutherford said about his latest acquisition. “Let's hope she can run.”

Medaglia d'Oro also sired a filly that sold for $1.1 million. Indian Creek, agent, consigned the daughter of the stakes-winning Indian Charlie mare Thirteen Arrows. Out of multiple Grade 1 winner Stop Traffic, Thirteen Arrows is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Cross Traffic.

Two fillies by Into Mischief brought $1.025 million apiece.

Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm purchased the first, whose third dam is Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. Clearsky Farms, agent, consigned the filly, who is out of the winning stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Mary Rita.

“We've looked at a few Into Mischiefs,” Courtland Farm Manager Ernie Retamoza said. “Yesterday, we got outbid on the colt that brought $1 million. We're a big fan of Into Mischief. We thought (this filly) had a lot of substance and a lot of class, and she's the kind of filly we want in our race program.

“It seems like for all the better ones you have to go further than you thought you'd want to go. But that's the way the sale is going. Everybody is on the same ones it seems like.”

BSW/Crow acquired the second seven-figure Into Mischief filly, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gift Box and Grade 2 winner Stonetastic. She is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Special Me.

Liz Crow, who signed the ticket for an undisclosed client, said she first saw the filly at the farm before the sale.

“She has a great attitude, just the way that she carried herself and presented herself with a lot of class,” Crow recalled about that visit. “She did the same here. Every time I saw her she just was classier than the last time.”

The filly was consigned by Machmer Hall Sales, agent for Machmer Hall I.

“This means so much because I bought Special Me (at the 2009 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $6,000) as a broodmare prospect,” Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall said. “It has been a whole progression of seeing and raising all of her foals. She is a great mom and is easy to get in foal and raises nothing but runners. She is the little mare that could.”

BSW/Crow was the session's leading buyer, spending $2.84 million for four horses.

The September Sale takes a one-day hiatus tomorrow then resumes Wednesday with the first session of the two-day Book 2 beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

To view the full results, click here.

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