“Former connections of competing horses will be able to come to the booth, located in the TCA Covered Arena, to find out ride times, ring locations, and stabling information, as well as be directed to those locations if needed,” said O'Keefe. “We want to encourage anyone who was involved with the Makeover horses (breeders, consignors, trainers, former owners, etc) to come out and see these horses thriving in their second careers, and possibly even meet their new connections.”

“Whether members of the Thoroughbred industry are highly involved in aftercare and retraining, or want to learn more about how horses transition out of racing, there is something to be gained from seeing the incredible work so many trainers put in over the last 10 months to retrain these remarkable athletes,” O'Keefe continued. “Aftercare is a multifaceted issue, and there are many approaches needed to fully address ensuring these athletes can thrive in all phases of their lives. The Makeover showcases one piece of the aftercare puzzle, and is a great opportunity to learn more about Thoroughbreds after racing and cheer on former connections once again.”

“Everyone smiles in the winner's circle, but I would encourage former connections (and any industry participant) to come out to the Makeover and see another side of the successful Thoroughbred. It might be different, but I bet they'll still end up smiling.”

For more information about the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover, please visit: https://www.therrp.org/.

The post New Connections Corner To Debut At 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“Erin's diverse background in the racing industry coupled with her hands-on experience in aftercare gives her a comprehensive perspective on the importance of our industries working together for the benefit of the horses,” said RRP Executive Director Kirsten Green. “Her passion for and deep understanding of the work we do is evident, and we're thrilled to add her to our team.”

“The Retired Racehorse Project's market-based approach to aftercare is about changing the conversation to create an industry where the transition to second careers is easy and automatic,” said O'Keefe. “I look forward to utilizing my knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry to help the RRP foster that conversation, and aid the industry in making impactful and lasting contributions for the benefit of the horses.”

The post Erin O’Keefe Named RRP’s Development Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“I wish racing would get more mainstream media attention.”
Ok, but it will be about yet another scandal.

“I wish more people saw the need for national uniformity, consistency, and better drug testing.”
Sure, but it will be because of a drug positive on the sport's largest stage.

“I wish we had an underdog to cheer for, a horse the sold for a reasonable price beating the million-dollar yearlings.” Absolutely, but it's still going to be trained by a “super trainer” and comes with a side of scandal.

Just once, wouldn't it be nice if our wishes for racing could come to fruition, exactly as we want them to, in a positive and beneficial way?

I am far from the first person to offer commentary on the Derby scandal and ensuing fallout, and most certainly won't be the last. While many have shared their frustration, disappointment, disgust, etc., there is still a shocking number of people defending the situation, which (based on current information and admissions) seems fairly indefensible.

The best case scenario right now, assuming you believe the most current information provided by Bob Baffert, is that he (or his staff) gave a topical with an active ingredient that is a regulated substance inside the recommended withdrawal window. Then, it took him two and a half days to discover that it had been administered. He called a press conference, broke the news of the positive himself, swore the horse had never had the drug, and seemingly didn't bother to check the treatment records for the horse prior to casting doubt over the integrity of post-race sample.

Best case, Baffert is so uninvolved in his own shed row that he didn't know what was being administered, what was in that substance, or who to ask to find that information out. Because that answer should not have been hard to find before a press conference. I'm not going to be a “conspiracy therapist” and make accusations about the plausibility of this chain of events (though Natalie Voss brought up several excellent points in her piece “Show Us The Paper, Bob: Records To Back Up Baffert's Story Remain A Matter Of Trust”). I am simply going to take this admission of guilt for what it is, and what it is happens to be entirely inexcusable for any trainer, especially one of his caliber.

I see people saying things like, “people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones” or, “nobody's perfect”. But following the rules of a job you are paid (quite well) to do so as to not jeopardize your results is not perfection. It is adequacy. And in this case, Bob Baffert has fallen woefully short. Hall of Fame trainer, two-time Triple Crown winner, seven-time Kentucky Derby winner, cannot even meet the bare minimum expectation of a trainer. And yet I see his actions being defended.

To my fellow owners and breeders, imagine this scenario on a breeding farm — your farm manager gives a substance to your pregnant mare that damages the foal in utero, and the excuse is they didn't know the active ingredient. Is that level of ignorance acceptable to you? The vet that prescribed it did so knowing the mare was pregnant. Is that acceptable to you? Or would you move your horses to a different farm with a different vet? As trainer, the burden of responsibility falls to you — to hire a qualified staff, to employ competent vets. If you fail to do so, their failings are your own, whether or not you personally administered the medication.

Looking back at the last year of violations, across many jurisdictions, brings to mind a category of penalty that does not exist in racing, but does in the NCAA. They would call it a “lack of institutional control.” The determination of this severe infraction is made when an institution fails to display (source ncaa.org):

• Adequate compliance measures
• Appropriate education on those compliance measures
• Sufficient monitoring to ensure the compliance measures are followed
• Swift action upon learning of a violation

Sound familiar? Stating you don't know what betamethasone is used for, despite being cited in the last year for the use of that drug at the same track is not merely “failure to monitor”. These actions show a laissez-faire attitude towards drug regulations that this sport cannot allow.

The justification of “how small a picogram is” becomes invalid when you look at how little concern was shown for withdrawal windows and regulated substances. Trainers are aware of the sensitivity of testing; Baffert more than most. If you had two drug positives in one day from incidental contact with a stable employee, you would think you'd be well aware that substances applied to the skin will be absorbed and show up on testing.

I've seen it said that Baffert wouldn't have risked an overage at the Kentucky Derby because he knows the stakes. Though, by his own admission he did in fact administer the substance, so does he know the stakes?

Throughout his career, and particularly in the last year, he has been Teflon. Nothing sticks. Positive tests are hidden or he gets a proverbial slap on the wrist. Based on past precedent, what reason does he have to think anything would be different this time? And even if he was banned for life, he still retires comfortably. He can watch this industry burn around him in the pursuit of records, and know that it doesn't matter for him. Those of us a few decades younger seeking to build careers in this industry simply don't have that luxury. Unfortunately, we largely also lack the ability to fight the fire he set.

Whether betamethasone should be allowed at the track at all, or completely unregulated, is irrelevant right now. Whether we should test to picograms is irrelevant right now. Baffert admitted to administering the substance, with no regard for withdrawal recommendations. The time to change those rules is not when you get caught. Whether or not the amount in the horse's system was performance enhancing is not the question. The threshold is established and the information is readily available, and should factor into treatment decisions.

If a similar drug positive happened to one of the “little guys,” there would be no news coverage, no press tour proclaiming innocence. There would simply be punishment. Fines and suspensions are routinely handed out as the consequence of a drug violation, no matter how minor the violation or robust the reasoning. Whether Baffert has dodged these ramifications because of his success or his legal team, it is a ridiculous double standard within the training ranks.

Yesterday, Baffert requested racing fans “not rush to judgement” as he reiterated the topical administration of betamethasone was the only “possible” exposure so far. For someone who has dodged penalties on far more tenuous “contamination” stories, I wonder what 'get out of jail free' card he's hoping will appear. He paired the reiteration of the statement that neither his barn nor veterinarians administered betamethasone with the statement that it was administered topically. He acknowledged that he could have handled the press conference he called better, but I have yet to see him acknowledge he could have run his barn better. While misstating something in a press conference gives the media a soundbite to run with, disregard for drug policies leads to the press conference in the first place. By rectifying the latter, you can entirely avoid the former.

So where do we go from here? HISA is just a step, and it's still a long way off. We need a pubic relations department for our industry, we need uniform drug policies, we need transparency, we need tighter surveillance. By eliminating the question as to how a horse tests positive, racing can more harshly punish wrongdoers with the clear conscious of knowing they were at fault. By responding swiftly and appropriately to issues like this, racing can easily refute welfare claims about drugged up horses being run into the ground, and maybe encourage participation and growth from our fan base.

Graham Motion suggested on Twitter that perhaps racing needs/needed to hit rock bottom to improve. While I would like to have optimism that maybe this is the rock bottom needed to right the ship, hope seems Sisyphean when racing appears to be sitting at rock bottom holding a shovel yet again.

–Erin O'Keefe, Farm Manager & Bloodstock Services, BTE Stables

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please write to info at paulickreport.com and include contact information where you may be reached if editorial staff have any questions.

The post Letter To The Editor: Baffert Scandal Demonstrates What NCAA Would Call ‘Lack Of Institutional Control’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In this series, participants throughout the Thoroughbred industry share the names and stories of the horses that have taught them the most about life, revealing the limitless ways that horses can impact the people around them. Some came early on in their careers and helped them set a course for the rest of their lives, while others brought valuable lessons to veterans of the business.

Question: Which horse has taught you the most about life?

Erin O'Keefe, BTE Stables: I worked with Exposure at Millennium Farms, where I was customer relations manager at the time. She came to the farm as a maiden off the track to be bred, for a seasonal client.

As the breeding sheds opened, she had what appeared to be an abscess. That abscess apparently burst into her coffin joint, and ended up being a highly resistant MRSA bacteria. What started as a simple abscess quickly developed into months in the clinic, tens of thousands in vet bills, and an extremely uncertain prognosis.

Working with her, and the team of people around her, taught me so many invaluable lessons.

From a business perspective, she showed me the value in seeking additional consults, building a team of qualified and open minded professionals, exploring non-traditional options, and continuously advocating for the horse.

From an industry perspective, she showed me the depths some owners will go to for their horses. Her owners were truly wonderful, and their number-one criteria for continuing on was not prognosis or cost, but if she was still fighting. So long as she didn't appear to have given up, they were going to continue to fight for her.

On a personal level, she taught me the value of never giving up. Even when things were bleakest, she kept trying. Some of her worst days aligned with some tough days of my own, but we both came out the other side. Her owners had the attitude that they had faced long odds before, and if they kept trying, eventually one would fall their way. When facing longs odds, I try to adopt the same mentality.

For them (and in some ways, me), she was the one that did – although 2021 gave me another. with my personal OTTB.

This year, she delivered her third consecutive healthy foal. Her first foal, “my” miracle child's miracle child, is a 2-year-old in training now. The probability of that filly ever existing, let alone racing, was incalculably small. Exposure at times faced a less than five percent chance of survival, down to almost zero at one point. But she fought back from that, with a quiet persistence that can be a lesson to all of us.

About Exposure
(2012, Colonel John x Cinderellaslipper, by Touch Gold)

Exposure started her racing career at Santa Anita Park for owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Bob Baffert, after selling for $310,000 at the 2014 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training. She broke her maiden in her third career start in a maiden claiming race at Santa Anita Park, and followed up with a starter allowance score at Los Alamitos. At the end of her 3-year-old campaign, she was sold privately to the partnership of Go-To-Toga Racing and Bill and Susan Tomasic, and put in the New Mexico-based barn of trainer Justin Evans.

She spent the remainder of her on-track career in New Mexico, highlighted by a victory in the Albuquerque Distaff Handicap, where she equaled the track record for one mile in 1:35.57. She retired with five wins in 17 starts for earnings of $124,717.

Exposure has had three foals as a broodmare. The first, a First Samurai mare named Call Me Penny, is a 2-year-old of 2021. She had a McCraken filly in 2020, and a first-crop Maximus Mischief colt earlier this year.

The post Lesson Horses Presented By John Deere Equine Discount Program: Erin O’Keefe Of BTE Stables On Exposure appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The latest edition of the PR Back Ring is now online, ahead of the OBS Spring 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale.

The PR Back Ring is the Paulick Report's new bloodstock newsletter, released ahead of every major North American Thoroughbred auction. Seeking to expand beyond the usual pdf presentation, the Back Ring offers a dynamic experience for bloodstock content, heavy on visual elements and statistics to appeal to readers on all platforms, especially mobile devices.

Here is what's inside the OBS Spring issue…

CLICK HERE TO READ THE OBS SPRING EDITION OF THE PR BACK RING

• Gun Runner became the 21st stallion since 2000 with a seven-figure juvenile in his first crop earlier this auction season. Joe Nevills examines the first 20 stallions to join the club, and how they performed in the short-term and long-term to see whether high-level auction success in a first crop leads to success on the racetrack.
• Stallion Spotlight Presented by Kentucky Equine Research: Airdrie Stud's Cormac Breathnach on American Freedom
• Lesson Horses Presented By John Deere Equine Discount Program: Erin O'Keefe Of BTE Stables On Exposure
• Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Equine Chiropractic Therapy
• Pennsylvania Leaderboard Presented By Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: Fire's Finale Led Juvenile Incentive Earners In 2020
• The Stat Presented By Pleasant Acres Stallions: Leading Florida Sires By :10-Flat And Faster Breeze Show Times, 2015-2021
• American Graded Stakes Standings Presented By Muirfield Insurance: Godolphin Leads A Tight Race Among Breeders
• First-Crop Sire Watch Presented By Neolithic: OBS Spring Sale 2021

CLICK HERE TO READ THE OBS SPRING EDITION OF THE PR BACK RING

The post PR Back Ring OBS Spring Sale: Gun Runner Joined The Seven-Figure Juvenile Club – What’s Next? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Each year prior to purchasing, I look at the pinhooking statistics from the previous year to see what the market trends are for the most profitable purchase point – by percentage, as well as dollars of profit.

It's great to double your money, but if you bought a horse for $5,000 and sold it for $10,000, it's unlikely you even covered your carry costs. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you'd love to make $60,000, but if you spent $400,000 and sold for $460,000 most of your “profit” is spent on commissions.

I seek to purchase in the sweet spot that's most likely to maximize actual profit. While a home run is a home run from any price point, it's key to mitigate risk as much as possible. Nobody anticipated the events of 2020, but a pragmatic approach allowed for profitable pinhooking.

To achieve these goals, certain compromises are sometimes required. If I'm looking to acquire a more physically precocious weanling, that likely means compromising on sire power. This formula can be successful, particularly when staying strict within a budget. Likewise, if I'm rounding out the group with a more commercial pedigree, that may mean compromising on something like size or vetting.

When narrowing from over 1,000 weanlings, the veterinarian you work with is key. A clear understanding of what can be helped, and what won't improve, allows for quick decisions and confident purchases.

Beyond the compromises that sometimes must be made, the main thing I look for is what I can improve.

In order to sell profitably, you must have done something to improve the “product” you're presenting. It's always a goal to have a pedigree update that improves the value, but those aspects are outside of your control as soon as the hammer falls and the horse is yours.

The physical improvement of the weanling to its yearling sale is a multifaceted process that can be influenced in many ways. At BTE Stables, we're fortunate to have resources to cater to the individual horse throughout the year it's with us prior to the yearling sale.

From a TheraPlate to a full spectrum of turnout sizes to individually-crafted feed protocols, we're able to craft care to allow for maximum improvement. From the time the weanlings set foot on the farm to the time they head to the sale, they are treated as individuals and assessed continually. The same horse will have a different outcome based on where it was raised and prepped, and that's something crucial to keep in mind during the selection process.

Erin O'Keefe is a partner in BTE Stables, in charge of farm management and bloodstock services. Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Mich., she moved to Lexington, Ky. to attend the University of Kentucky's Equine Science and Management program. A lifelong fan of Thoroughbred racing, she immersed herself in the industry, working for many prestigious farms in the Bluegrass prior to launching BTE Stables in 2019 with partner Daniel Schmidt. Learn more about BTE Stables here.

The post What To Look For In A Weanling-To-Yearling Pinhook, With BTE Stables’ Erin O’Keefe appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“We’re excited to stake our claim in the heart of Bourbon County among such esteemed neighbors as Godolphin’s Stonerside, Coolmore America’s Creekview, and Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa as we start the next chapter at BTE,” said founding partner Daniel Schmidt.

BTE Stables began as a pinhooking operation and is currently accepting new clients. In addition to pinhooking partnerships, BTE services include layups, weanling and yearling board, select mare and foal care, sales prep, and bloodstock advising.

The post BTE Stables Purchases Part of Historic Golden Chance Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The farm's proven soils have produced such notable alumni as John Henry and Run Dusty Run and features 56 stalls across two training barns, a HydroHorse aquatred, Kraft hot walker, round pen and grass gallop.

“We're excited to stake our claim in the heart of Bourbon County among such esteemed neighbors as Godolphin's Stonerside, Coolmore America's Creekview and Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa as we start the next chapter at BTE” said founding partner Daniel Schmidt.

Founded in 2019, BTE Stables began pinhooking with the intention to grow into a top-tier operation, offering personalized care for Thoroughbreds.

BTE Stables looks forward to transitioning to the property coming off the six-figure sale of its first independent pinhook (Hip 479 in the Fasig Tipton September Select Showcase), allowing the owner-operators to live onsite and and take on additional boarding clients.

BTE Stables' Erin O'Keefe expaned on the mindset; “Our focus is providing dedicated, individualized programs for every horse in our care. Our philosophy focuses on allowing horses to grow and develop naturally, incorporating ample turnout time and socialization with customized feed regimens and individualized attention. This hands-on approach establishes a solid foundation for success in the sales ring and on the racetrack.”

BTE is currently accepting new clients and their services include layups, weanling and yearling board, select mare and foal care, sales prep, on-site farriery and bloodstock advising in addition to pinhooking partnerships.

The post BTE Stables Purchases Portion Of Historic Golden Chance Farm appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Breeders' Cup is a celebration of the Thoroughbred industry's achievements on the racetrack, and on farms around the world, and the Paulick Report puts the spotlight on both in a unique Breeders' Cup edition of the PR Special.

In this edition, bloodstock editor Joe Nevills counts down the horses by freshman sires in each of Friday's five Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-olds. A win by one of their runners can turn the 2020 freshman sire race upside down, or put a leader out of reach for the rest of the year.

Nevills then examines all 14 championship races and identifies the most expensive auction graduate in each field. In INQUIRY, we have the members of the sales grounds go back to school, asking them what the name of their class on horse racing would be, if they taught one.

This issue's Ask Your Insurer sees Bryce Burton of Muirfield Insurance discuss coverage for in-utero foals purchased at auction. Then, Erin O'Keefe of BTE Stables goes over what to look for in a weanling-to-yearling pinhook prospect, especially on a budget. Finally, we see which stallions are represented by the most entries in the championship races this weekend in Breeders' Cup Sire Watch.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS EDITION OF THE PR SPECIAL

Thanks to our advertisers for making this edition of the PR Special possible. Your support is crucial to the functioning of our publication.

• Farmers National Bank
• Spendthrift Farm
• Thoroughbred Review
• Lane's End
• Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association
• Thoroughbred Charities of America
• Muirfield Insurance
• BTE Stables
• Virginia Thoroughbred Association
• Shadwell Farm

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS EDITION OF THE PR SPECIAL

The post PR Special Breeders’ Cup Edition: Freshman Sire Race Reaches Its Lightning Round appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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