Tag: dr. stuart brown

Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit To Kick Off Thoroughbred Makeover On Oct. 12

The third annual Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 12 will kick off a week of Thoroughbred-centered activities at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit is the joint effort of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), and is a conference focused on education and networking among those with a professional interest in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds after racing.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will consist of four panel discussion sessions: “Proper Financials and Reporting;” “Best Practices for Rehabbing and Marketing Horses Retired Due to Injury;” “How the Pandemic Has Changed the Face of Fundraising;” and “Navigating Common Challenges Aftercare Organizations Face.” The panels and discussions offer opportunities for individuals and organizations to discuss and idea-share on challenges unique to Thoroughbred aftercare.

“Each year we work to curate session topics pertinent to those with a professional interest in aftercare, whether that be on the nonprofit side or in the private sector,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz. “This year's lineup of topics and speakers is a reflection of the current challenges many organizations and individuals are facing and will hopefully offer solutions and opportunities for meaningful dialogue.”

Confirmed panelists include Dr. Stuart Brown, DVM, Vice President of Equine Safety at Keeneland; Anna Ford, program director at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program; Karen Gustin, executive director of Kentucky Equine Adoption Center; Beverly Strauss, co-founder and executive director of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; and Matt Thacker, Finance and Data Manager at TAA. Panelists will be updated at TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit.

The conference is a collaboration of the four presenting organizations in an effort to bring together the Thoroughbred aftercare community in what is already the largest gathering of both individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in Thoroughbreds after their racing days are over.

“The pandemic continues to influence how aftercare operates and constantly presents new challenges to these organizations,” said TCA executive director Erin Crady. “The focus of this year's Summit is intended to help organizations face not only the normal challenges of aftercare but the unique tests of working and fundraising during a pandemic.”

“The TAA is thrilled to once again participate in the Aftercare Summit,” said TAA operations consultant Stacie Clark. “Our newly acquired Finance and Data Manager Matt Thacker has been invaluable to the TAA and we are eager for him to share his insights during the summit. The advancement of aftercare governance and financing protocols is instrumental to the success of our collective mission to facilitate Thoroughbreds retiring from racing.”

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Registration is required, which can be done online at the link on the TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit. The cost to participate is $10 per person, which will be collected as a donation and awarded as a 50-50 to a randomly selected aftercare organization in attendance. Registration will also include access to the live stream of the conference via Zoom so attendees can participate from anywhere in the world.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will be held in the TCA Covered Arena Lounge at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday, October 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. It is held in conjunction with the TCA Thoroughbred Makeover, a training competition for horses in their first year of retraining after retirement from racing. This year's edition also features competition for horses from the postponed 2020 event which have had up to two years of retraining, competing separately. Over 500 horses between both competition years are expected to attend and compete across ten disciplines, including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, freestyle, polo, ranch work, show hunter and show jumper. The full schedule of events can be found at TBMakeover.org.

For more information about the Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, please visit TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit.

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Keeneland’s Dr. Stuart Brown Named 2021 Recipient of AVMA Meritorious Service Award

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has named Dr. Stuart Brown, vice president of equine safety at Keeneland, as the winner of the 2021 AVMA Meritorious Service Award.

Established in 2001, the award recognizes a veterinarian who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional or community service activities that are conducted outside the scope of organized veterinary medicine or research. The AVMA Board of Directors selects the recipient.

“With his long, exemplary, and ongoing record of service, Dr. Stuart Brown epitomizes everything that the AVMA Meritorious Service Award represents,” said Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the AVMA. “Throughout his career, Dr Brown has established himself as a difference-maker in equine health and safety and proven himself more than qualified for this distinguished award.”

Dr. Brown has mentored countless veterinarians, served on numerous industry and veterinary boards and committees, and represented veterinarians on the national level. His recent appointments include serving as chairman of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation, trustee for the AVMA Insurance Trust, American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates, director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (KTOB), member of the AAEP's Public Policy and Welfare Council, AAEP liaison to the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, board chairman of the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, board member of the Thoroughbred Club of America and member of The Jockey Club.

Prior to joining Keeneland in June 2020, Dr. Brown served nearly 30 years at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, first as an intern and then as an associate veterinarian and a partner. With a primary focus on thoroughbreds, his areas of concentration included equine reproduction, foal evaluations, private/public purchase evaluations, herd health and preventative medicine, federally required import/export protocols and issues affecting the welfare and safety of equine racing athletes.

Dr. Brown, who received his DVM from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, has previously been honored with the 2014 Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian of the Year, the 2017 AAEP President's Award, and the 2019 Terry Mobley Philanthropy Award from the University of Kentucky.

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Robust Wagering, Safe, Top-Quality Racing Mark Return Of Keeneland Spring Meet

Friday marked closing day of the 2021 Spring Meet in Lexington, Ky., featuring the return of a limited number of fans to the track, strong all-sources wagering fueled by quality racing led by champion Essential Quality's win in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and an emphasis on community initiatives in furtherance of Keeneland's philanthropic mission.

“We thank our fans, both near and far, the Central Kentucky community, our horseplayers, our corporate partners and our loyal horsemen for a fantastic racing season,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland's continued success is built on the contributions of many, and we extend our appreciation to all those who make racing at Keeneland such a memorable experience.”

In accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited number of fans were permitted to attend the races at Keeneland this spring. Attendance totaled 96,243, for an average daily crowd of 6,416.

Despite the limited capacity, fans on track and remotely enthusiastically wagered on the Spring Meet. All-sources wagering for the 15-day Spring Meet, held April 2-23, increased 7.55 percent to $164,680,229 versus the 16-day Spring Meet in 2019, when all-sources wagering totaled $153,116,119. (Keeneland canceled its 2020 Spring Meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Average daily wagering of $10,978,682 was up 14.72 percent compared to $9,569,757 during the 2019 Spring Meet.

Boosting total wagering was robust handle on Toyota Blue Grass Day, April 3, which featured six stakes worth $2.1 million on the 11-race card. All-sources wagering that day totaled $22,723,197 to be the third-highest single-day handle in Keeneland history. The Pick 5 handled a record $1,485,090, eclipsing the previous mark of $1,395,051 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day during the 2020 Summer Meet.

Limited attendance this spring resulted in total on-track handle of $9,224,273, for average daily on-track handle of $614,952. In comparison, on-track handle totaled $16,490,636 for the 2019 Spring Meet.

Spring Meet Racing Moments and Milestones
Average daily purses of $739,902 at Keeneland this spring ranked among the richest in North America and attracted the sport's top trainers and jockeys.

Competitive racing was showcased in 18 stakes worth $4.1 million in purse money. Six graded stakes were carded for opening Saturday, anchored by the $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), major preps on the Roads to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively.

Champion Essential Quality kept his undefeated record intact in winning the Toyota Blue Grass, earning 100 points to establish himself as the top point earner and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. With the victory, he became the fifth horse to win Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity at 2 and the Blue Grass at 3. The others are Brody's Cause (2015-2016), Carpe Diem (2014-2015), Dullahan (2011-2012) and Round Table (1956-1957). Essential Quality also won the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland last fall.

Undefeated Malathaat won the Central Bank Ashland to rank among the top point earners on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. The victory marked owner Shadwell Stable's eighth graded stakes win here to earn a Keeneland Tray as part of Keeneland's signature Milestone Trophy Program. Only 20 other owners have such an accomplishment at Keeneland.

Other notable achievements by human and equine athletes this spring:

  • Raging Bull (FR) made a powerful move on the far turn and cruised to a 2-length victory in the $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) in his third start in the prestigious turf stakes.
  • Juliet Foxtrot (GB) led from gate to wire to win the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) and leading owner Juddmonte's 16th graded stakes win at Keeneland. For the accomplishment, Juddmonte received a Keeneland Pitcher – another level of the track's Milestone Trophy Program. Only three other owners have earned the Keeneland Pitcher: Claiborne Farm (Fall 1968), Bwamazon Farm (Spring 1983) and William S. Farish (Spring 2003).
  • In his first mount of the Spring Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux recorded his 500th career victory at Keeneland. He became the fourth rider to reach that milestone, joining Hall of Famers Pat Day (918 wins) and Don Brumfield (716) along with Robby Albarado (526). Leparoux won his first race at Keeneland during the 2005 Fall Meet in his first season as a jockey. Since then, he has earned 12 leading jockey titles at Keeneland, most recently during the 2019 Fall Meet, and two Eclipse Awards.
  • Trainer Michelle Lovell notched her first Keeneland stakes win and her 500th career victory when Change of Control won the Giant's Causeway (L). Lovell began training in 2003.

“Keeneland sincerely appreciates the loyalty and support of our horsemen, not only this spring but throughout the challenging past year,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “Our goal is to offer the opportunity for the best to compete against the best, which continues to produce thrilling performances and memorable accomplishments.”

Under the leadership of Equine Safety Director Dr. Stuart Brown, Keeneland continues to deploy rigorous safety protocols and measures to protect its horses and riders, which has resulted in no racing incidents this spring.

“We are proud of the collaborative effort between our horsemen, their attending veterinarians and the regulatory team that works with Keeneland to deliver on our time-honored promise of service to the horse in the area of safety,” Dr. Brown said.

Spring Meet Leaders
Keeneland-based Wesley Ward dominated the trainer standings, tallying 20 wins to secure his seventh leading trainer title to tie Henry Forrest for third place on the list of leading trainers by meet titles. Now with 201 career victories, Ward ranks seventh all time at Keeneland in the win category.

Ward's four wins on closing day ties him with Kiaran McLaughlin, Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher for most victories for a trainer on a single day during the Spring Meet.

Ward won four 2021 Spring Meet stakes: Madison (G1) with Kimari, Shakertown (G2) with Bound for Nowhere, Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select with Twenty Carat and Palisades Turf Sprint with Chasing Artie. The total equals the record for most Spring Meet stakes victories shared by Ben Jones (1948), Todd Pletcher (2011) and Chad Brown (2018).

With 19 career stakes wins at Keeneland, Ward is tied with Hall of Famers Carl Nafzger and Woody Stephens for 13th place on the list of the track's leading trainers by stakes wins.

Finishing second in the trainer standings was Brad Cox with 10 wins, including the Toyota Blue Grass with Essential Quality, Coolmore Jenny Wiley with Juliet Foxtrot and Baird Doubledogdare (G3) with Bonny South.

Todd Pletcher finished with nine wins, highlighted by Malathaat's win in the Central Bank Ashland and Jouster's victory in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, to rank third.

Among jockeys, Luis Saez recorded six multiple-win days during the meet to amass 29 wins and earn his first Keeneland riding title. Joel Rosario ranked second with 22 wins, riding three winners on closing day.

Saez and Rosario combined to win all nine stakes on opening weekend of the Spring Meet. On Friday, Saez rode Twenty Carat to win the Beaumont. On Saturday, he won four races topped by the Toyota Blue Grass on Essential Quality and the Appalachian on Jouster.

Rosario rode five winners on Toyota Blue Grass Day, including four consecutive stakes: the Commonwealth (G3) on Flagstaff, Shakertown (G2) on Bound for Nowhere, Central Bank Ashland on Malathaat and Madison on Kimari. On opening Friday, he captured two stakes: the Palisades Turf Sprint with Chasing Artie and the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) on Scarlett Sky.

Rosario joins Jerry Bailey (1999) and Javier Castellano (2016) as riders with a record six stakes victories during a Spring Meet.

Tyler Gaffalione finished third in the standings with 12 wins, led by his victory aboard Juliet Foxtrot in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley.

Juddmonte locked up their second Keeneland leading owner title with six wins, boosted by their aforementioned Milestone victory in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley with Juliet Foxtrot followed by Bonny South's victory in the Baird Doubledogdare.

Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables and Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables tied for second in the owner standings with three wins each.

Grade One Gamble Draws Record Field of Players
Frank Mustari of Chicago topped a record field of 248 players who competed at Keeneland and through XpressBet, TVG, NYRA Bets and 4NJBets to win the Grade One Gamble on April 10. Mustari took home a record first prize of $50,000, a berth in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) at Del Mar and an entry in the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.

Spring Meet Celebrates Philanthropic Mission and Valued Partnerships
Keeneland continued to honor its mission this spring by teaming with sponsors and industry partners to support the community and the Thoroughbred industry.

Keeneland designated the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden as its featured charity for the Spring Meet. Located in Lexington's historic East End, the Art Garden is on property owned by the legendary 19th century jockey. It is the first park in the U.S. to honor the earliest African American professional athletes: Thoroughbred jockeys. Proceeds from sales of the 2021 commemorative Maker's Mark Bourbon® bottle in partnership with Keeneland were earmarked to benefit LexArts and for the placement of a permanent art installation by artist LaVon Van Williams Jr. and for future programming within the park.

Keeneland celebrated the 25th running of the prestigious Maker's Mark Mile under the sponsorship of the world-famous bourbon distillery. Maker's Mark also made a $10,000 contribution to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Toyota, sponsor of the Toyota Blue Grass, and Keeneland made a $10,000 donation in support of Nourish Lexington, founded in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to use displaced hospitality and food service employees to provide more than 160,000 nutritious meals for community members in need.

The Spring Meet also marked the 10th running of the Doubledogdare sponsored by Baird (formerly Hilliard Lyons).

Among the other philanthropic and community-oriented initiatives this spring were:

  • Kentucky Utilities and Keeneland donated $5,000 to Black Soil KY to support and highlight their successful area programs. Keeneland collaborated with Black Soil KY, an agritourism social enterprise that fosters a greater market share for Black farmers in Kentucky, on two strategic initiatives during the Spring Meet: creating a locally sold Black Soil KY Skillet Frittata Meal Kit and incorporating local produce from Black Soil KY farmers and producers into Keeneland's rotating dining menus.
  • Keeneland and Country Boy Brewing of Lexington collaborated to create the Keeneland Spring Lager, with sales of the beer benefiting Blue Grass Farms Charities' Back to School Backpack Program to provide supplies for nearly 1,000 children whose parents work in Keeneland's stable area or on Central Kentucky horse farms.
  • More than 1,700 students representing 35 colleges and universities in 15 states participated in Keeneland's popular College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane's End, held virtually on April 9. Students had a chance to win a total of $35,000 in scholarships and prize packages provided by local Lexington businesses. Lane's End, Coca-Cola and Kentucky Thoroughbred Association were sponsors of the event.
  • On April 11, five lucky families won a day at the races as part of Kids Club Family Day Presented by Kentucky Children's Hospital.
  • Keeneland hosted Military Day Presented by UPS on April 18 that featured a POW-MIA Chair of Honor to raise awareness of past and current POWMIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5. UPS and Keeneland contributed $2,500 to the POWMIA program.

On closing day, Keeneland honored track announcer Kurt Becker, who this spring reached a unique milestone as the only track announcer in Keeneland's history. For 60 years prior to Kurt's appointment, Keeneland did not have an on-track race caller. Then-president Bill Greely hired Kurt from more than 40 applicants, and he began calling the races on April 4, 1997. The Spring Meet marked Becker's 25th Spring Meet at Keeneland.

2021 Spring Meet at a Glance (April 2-23)

  Spring 2021

(15 days)

 Spring 2019

(16 days)
All-Sources Handle on Keeneland $164,680,229 $153,116,119
Avg. Daily All-Sources Handle on Keeneland $10,978,682 $9,569,757
Total On-Track Handle $9,224,273 $16,490,636
Avg. Daily On-Track Handle $614,952 $1,030,665
Total Attendance 96,243* 242,547
Avg. Daily Attendance 6,416 15,159

*Limited number of fans permitted on track due to COVID-19 protocols

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Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adds New Reforms To Platform

The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition announced on Thursday the addition of eight medical and operational reforms to its platform in its latest move to ensure that equine and human athletes are racing under the safest and most transparent conditions possible. The Steering Committee, which is made up of executives from the Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs Inc., Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Keeneland Association, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Stronach Group, voted unanimously to adopt the reforms with the ultimate goal of uniform implementation across racing jurisdictions.

The Coalition also recently participated in the drafting of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and continues to fully support its passage, which would codify a standard set of rules and protocols to make racing safer and more transparent across state racing jurisdictions. In addition to the national legislation, the Coalition believes the work to advocate for these reforms at the state level must persist.

“As today's announcement and recent progress make clear, the Coalition's important work to ensure the wellbeing of our athletes has continued despite the challenging circumstances our industry and our nation have faced this year. The new reforms will go a long way toward increasing our collective ability to identify at-risk horses before they set foot on a track and protect the integrity of our sport,” said Coalition Strategic Advisor Donna Brothers.

The following reforms have been added to the Coalition's platform:

  • Strengthen race entry and eligibility requirements;
  • Work with state racing commissions to apply racing regulations surrounding prohibited substances and restrict selected therapeutic substances in proximity to high-speed works;
  • Prohibit the administration of external treatments, therapies and musculoskeletal manipulation within at least 24 hours of a race;
  • Work with state racing commissions to implement a clenbuterol prohibition in racing and training along with reporting/procedural requirements as outlined by the RMTC;
  • Strengthen requirements for removing horses from the Veterinarians' List;
  • Adopt a waiver claiming option for horses coming off an extended layoff;
  • Require implementation of an emergency track warning system; and
  • Modify racetrack on and off gaps to increase horse and rider safety.

“The industry must be wholly committed to horse safety and welfare in racing and training, and that includes the racing organizations,” said Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer at The Stronach Group.  “These additional reforms codify the measures many tracks have already undertaken to best protect our horses.”

“The ability to work with my colleagues and counterparts at other Coalition tracks on a regular basis has enabled us to share best practices and build upon one another's experiences and findings related to Thoroughbred safety, which is evident in the reforms we announced today,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, Equine Safety Director at Keeneland. “This level of collaboration ensures that the uniform safety reforms that the Coalition is advocating for are proven and effective solutions.”

“The safety of our athletes must be everyone's top priority, and the adoption of uniform rules and standards reinforces our commitment to the wellbeing of our horses,” said Dr. Will Farmer, Equine Medical Director at Churchill Downs Incorporated. “As our respective organizations advocate for or, where applicable, use house rules to implement the Coalition reform platform, the collective culture of safety within our industry continues to grow.”

The Coalition's Advisory Committee members – the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), along with Industry Supporter members Dixiana Farm, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Stonestreet Farm and the University of Kentucky – supported the development of the reforms and will continue to be instrumental in the Coalition's efforts to advocate for their adoption at the regulatory level.

The Coalition Steering Committee continues to convene on a regular basis to discuss issues and ideas relating to equine safety and the integrity of the sport. These meetings bring together Thoroughbred racing's most prominent tracks and organizations in the U.S. in a manner that is unprecedented – but much needed – in the racing industry. The collaborative framework built by the Coalition has also enabled members to work together, in coordination with other stakeholders, to support the racing and local communities and to bring back live racing safely and responsibly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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