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Longtime Mid-Atlantic Sale Vet Randall Brandon Dies

Randall Gatlin Brandon, 80, passed away Aug. 15, 2022 in his hometown of Camden, South Carolina. He was the son of the late Gatlin Randall and Frances Johns Brandon. Randy is survived by his wife Kirsty May Brandon, daughters Julie Carter (Andrew) and Lisa Boyle, both of Portland, Oregon, grandchildren Katie and Emma Carter, brothers Dr. Jeff Brandon (Nancy) of Palm Coast, Florida and Kyle Brandon of El Paso, Texas.

He graduated from Washington State University and followed with an internship at Auburn University. After completing his internship, he was a member of the Teigland Vet Group in South Florida where he attended to Thoroughbred racehorses at tracks in the area.

The following year, Randy moved to Maryland where he established his own vet practice serving owners and trainers at tracks including Laurel, Bowie, Pimlico and Delaware Park. His equine clientele not only included the bread-and-butter horses but also stakes winners and classic contenders. Randy was very “old school” when it came to giving veterinary advice to his clients as he chose good horsemanship and to unnecessary procedures and medications. The horse came first and if the best medicine for the day was some turnout time, that is what he prescribed for the horses.

After 30 years on the racetrack, Randy sold his practice and made South Carolina his home. The focus of his vet practice turned to assisting his clients in their pre-purchase needs at Thoroughbred auctions throughout the country. From coast to coast, if there was a horse sale, Dr. Brandon would be there.

Although the horse auction schedule kept him busy and on the road for weeks on end, he enjoyed planning the matings for his and Kirsty's small broodmare operation which awarded them many bonuses from their New York bred foals who competed and won on the New York circuit. They would foal in New York, be bred back in Kentucky and then raised to be sales yearlings at their Dixie Farm in Camden. He enjoyed watching his homebreds develop under his watchful eye and Kirsty's attention to detail. Whenever there was an open week, Randy enjoyed going on hunting and fishing trips with colleagues. He loved and appreciated the outdoors and all that went with it.

“Dr. Brandon was an integral and highly-valued member of the St. Elias Stables' team and even more importantly, a dear friend,” said Rory Babich, CEO of St. Elias Stables. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Kirsty, his children, grandchildren and other members of his family during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by his many friends, family, clients and his devoted pack of dogs.”

Contributions may be made in his memory to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), 261 State Farm Road #8200, Rembert, SC, 29128 or to New Vocations, 719 Dolan Lane, Lexington, KY, 40511 (newvocations.org)

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion at Timonium. Further details will be announced.

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$800k Sales Grad at Center of Delaware ‘Neglect’ Ruling

A 5-year-old Thoroughbred who auctioned for $800,000 as a yearling is at the center of a “neglect of a horse” case out of Delaware Park.

In an Aug. 12 ruling, the stewards at Delaware stated that owner/trainer Alison Escobar disregarded multiple veterinary recommendations by continuing to exercise Ashiham (Tapit), a one-for-eight horse who has changed stables twice after being sold at Keeneland in 2018. Ashiham's lone victory came at Saratoga in 2020 for different connections.

“The Stewards were concerned for the health and welfare of Ashiham,” the ruling stated in handing down Escobar's $2,500 fine and 60-day suspension. He will also have to pass a training competency test as a condition of relicensure.

At deadline for this story, it was unclear if Escobar plans an appeal. Efforts to reach him for his side of the story were not successful.

Escobar, a 43-year-old with 779 career wins, has been a Grade I-winning trainer in Puerto Rico since 2005. He took out his license in the United States in 2019, and won his first stateside stakes in 2021 at Monmouth Park.

The Delaware stewards laid out this timeline in their ruling, noting that Escobar waived his right to legal counsel at his Aug. 11 hearing:

“1. Ashiham, trained by Alison Escobar was a Vet observed scratch during prerace examination at Tampa Bay Downs on April 21, 2022, for lameness and heat in the left front flexor tendon, and was placed on the Tampa Bay Downs Vets' List. In testimony, trainer Escobar stated Ashiham was sore but did not want the horse scratched because he was the morning-line favorite.

“2. Ashiham worked on June 9, 2022, at Palm Meadows (Florida). Florida Regulatory Veterinarian Dr. Jane Teichner observed the horse lame on his left front on the while the horse was on the track surface after the work.

“3. Dr. Teichner contacted Mr. Escobar's practicing Veterinarian Dr. Rendon concerning Ashiham. In a follow-up text message from Dr. Rendon to Gulfstream Chief Regulatory Veterinarian Dr. Aponte, Dr. Rendon stated in his medical opinion that Ashiham's injury was career ending.

“4. Dr. Teichner reported Ashiham to Gulfstream Chief Regulatory Veterinarian Dr. Aponte, who placed Ashiham on the Gulfstream Park Vet's list as Vet Observed and required an ultra-sound before any workout was scheduled. No ultra-sound was ever taken.

“5. On July 12, 2022, Ashiham arrived by van from Palm Meadows (Florida) to Delaware Park. No foal papers were ever turned into the Racing Office as required by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission Rule 7.3.4

“6. On August 3, 2022, D.T.R.C. Safety Steward Eric Coatrieux requested the DTRC Veterinarian Annie Renzetti inspect the horse Ashiham after Eric observed Ashiham lame on the track with a significant bowed left tendon.

“7. On August 3, 2022, Dr. Renzetti observed Ashiham significantly lame on a scale of 4/5 and a bow on the left front flexor tendon that was warm to the touch and sore on palpitation. Dr. Renzetti placed Ashiham on the DTRC Vets' List requiring an immediate diagnostic testing including ultra-sound and stall rest until reevaluated by Commission Veterinarians.

“8. Trainer Escobar stated in testimony that Ashiham was not under the care of a practicing Vet and had not been observed at Delaware Park by a Veterinarian prior to the Stewards hearing.”

The stewards cited rules pertaining to trainer responsibility and “cruelty to a horse or neglect of a horse entrusted to a permittee's care” in meting out the penalties. They also stated that “Trainer Escobar failed to follow veterinarian medical recommendations after being placed on two separate Vet's list.”

Escobar's suspension is to start Aug. 19, unless he secures a stay via appeal. All horse transfers out of his stable must be approved by the Delaware stewards. Ashiham's current owner is Tres Potrillos Ranch Inc.

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Delaware Park Names Jerome Doro Director of Racing

With the retirement of Delaware Park's long-time Executive Director of Racing John Mooney announced earlier this week, Delaware Park has promoted Jerome “Jed” Doro to Director of Racing. He will assume most of Mooney's duties, effective Aug. 1.

“I am very pleased and excited to announce that Jed Doro has been promoted to Director of Racing,” said Kevin DeLucia, Chief Financial Officer at Delaware Park. “We believe the continuity of the program built by [Mooney] is important to the future success of racing at Delaware Park and we believe there is no better person to accomplish that goal. [Doro] brings a level of knowledge and experience of not only racing but racing in the Mid-Atlantic region and Delaware Park that is indispensable.”

Doro has served as the Racing Secretary at Delaware Park from 2014 through 2018, and again since 2021. He has also served in other capacities at Delaware, Oaklawn Park, the Maryland Jockey Club, Colonial Downs, and Timonium Racecourse.

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John Mooney Announces Retirement

John Mooney, executive director of racing at Delaware Park, has announced his retirement, effective Aug. 1.

Mooney has been involved in racing in the Mid-Atlantic region for nearly 40 years. Shortly after Delaware Park was purchased and reopened by William Rickman, Sr., in 1984, Mooney was named general manager. He was instrumental in keeping Delaware Park competitive in the 1980s and early 1990s with his innovative approach to the sport which included the introduction of the very successful Twin Trifecta.

In the summer of 1993, he left Delaware Park to take a similar post with the Maryland Jockey Club and later headed up the drive to establish racing in Virginia as head of Maryland/Virginia Racing which was the group that organized the opening and operation of Colonial Downs.

Mooney returned to Delaware Park as the Executive Director of Racing in the spring of 2008 at the request of William Rickman, Jr.

“His career has been brilliant, and like everyone in the Delaware Park family, I am proud and thankful to have been a part it,” said Kevin DeLucia, the track's chief financial officer. “So much of what Thoroughbred racing at Delaware Park is today has come from his leadership, guidance and experience over the last four decades. I wish John all the best in his retirement and am truly grateful for the significant contributions he has made to the industry.”

Mooney was born into the sport. His grandfather, J.D. Mooney, won the 1924 Kentucky Derby aboard Black Gold and trained the 1962 Canadian Horse of the Year Crafty Lace. His father, John J. Mooney, was a prominent horse racing executive who served at many racetracks, including the Ontario Jockey Club where he played an instrumental role in the development of the “new” Woodbine Racecourse in 1956.

Delaware Park's seven-furlong turf course will be dedicated to Mooney during a naming ceremony planned for Owners Day, Saturday, Oct. 1.

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