Representatives from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and Centennial Farms selected the horse in each race that was deemed to be the best presented, and that horse's groom received a gift bag and cash prize. The TAA and Centennial Farms promoted the winners on their social media platforms, the winning groom was mentioned on the live simulcast feed, and a congratulatory ad was placed in both the Thoroughbred Daily News and BloodHorse Daily on Monday, Jan 31, 2022.

“There is nothing more gratifying than to award the unsung heroes who take care of our beloved Thoroughbred athletes,” TAA Inspection Coordinator Suzie Picou-Oldham said. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was thrilled to once again partner with 1/ST and Centennial Farms to celebrate our hardworking men and women of the backside.”

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a charity partner for the Pegasus World Cup.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Best Turned Out award recipients:

RACE 1

#9 STRIKE APPEAL

Groom: Odin Londono Jr

Trainer: Odin Londono

RACE 2

#2 MAD MOCHA

Groom: Michael Lewars

Trainer: Stuart Simon

RACE 3

#5 EARTH STRIKE (IRE)

Groom: Onildo Quevedo

Trainer: Mark Casse

RACE 4

#6 BOURBON HEIST

Groom: Robin Alvarez

Trainer: Ian Wilkes

Race 5 – LA PREVOYANTE S. (G3)

#6 BEAUTIFUL LOVER

Groom: William Aniceto

Trainer: Christophe Clement

RACE 6

#3 FANCY LIQUOR

Groom: Emilio Silva

Trainer: Mike Maker

RACE 7 – W. L. McKnight S.

# 3 FARMINGTON ROAD

Groom- Carlos Navas

Trainer: George Arnold

RACE 8 – Inside Information S.

#3 DANCE D'ORO

Groom: Jose Gonzales

Trainer: Ralph Nicks

RACE 9 – Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational S. presented by PEPSI (G3)

# 8 SUMMER IN SARATOGA

Groom: Carlos Orantes

Trainer: Joe Sharp

RACE 10 – Fred W. Hooper S. presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa

# 1 FEARLESS

Groom: Jesus Gomez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

RACE 11 – Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Baccarat

# 1 SPACE TR5AVELLER (GB)

Groom- Elmer Martinez

Trainer: Brendan Walsh

RACE 12 – Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by 1/ST BET

# 9 COMMANDEER

Groom- Javier Armenta

Trainer: James Toner

The post TAA, Centennial Farms Team Up To Recognize Grooms At Pegasus World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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For each race on every live racing day, the groom of the best turned out horse will be awarded a $25 gift card and recognized on television and simulcast broadcasts and by track announcer Dave Rodman. On Thanksgiving Day, winners will be awarded a $100 gift card provided by sponsor Fidelity First.

Judges will examine the presentation and appearance of both horse and groom to determine a winner.

“Grooms have an immeasurable role in the care of these wonderful equine athletes and it's important to acknowledge this dedication. It's a fitting partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, 1/ST Racing and the MTHA to recognize these individuals,” said Aidan Butler, 1/ST Racing COO.

“The MTHA is extremely thrilled to partner with the Maryland Jockey Club to recognize and reward the care and devotion regularly given by our horsemen to our equine athletes on a daily basis,” MTHA Executive Director David Richardson said. “We are proud to have the finest horsemen in the nation.”

Laurel's Thanksgiving Day program begins with a special first post of 11:25 a.m. and features the return of the popular family-sized pie giveaway after missing 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Fans will be able to choose a pumpkin or apple pie with purchase of a racing program, with a maximum of two pies per person, while supplies last. Pies will be distributed until 4:30 p.m. at the grandstand entrance.

Free donuts, coffee, cider and hot chocolate will be available at the grandstand and clubhouse entrances from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Laurel will also host a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Terrace Dining Room. To make a buffet reservation, call 301-725-0770.

The post MJC, MTHA Plan To Recognize ‘Unsung Heroes’ With Daily Best Turned Out Awards appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In the inaugural installment of the Paulick Report's Inside the Grooming Bag video series, Asmussen groom Hugo Morales guides us through the process of braiding the 2-year-old colt Munny Bolt.

With 10 to 15 horses to braid per day, each requiring about 20 braids down the neck plus another for the forelock, Morales has the process whittled down to about 12 minutes from the first handful of mane to the final rubber band – a blazing fast time.

The trainer himself then describes the reasons and traditions behind why the barn's runners sport the look.

Though he describes himself as “out of practice,” Asmussen said he learned how to braid horses from his mother, trainer Marilyn Asmussen, and he carries on the practice in his own stable to honor her.

“A lot of it's trial by fire,” he said. “Some of those first braids didn't look so good, but with the volume of horses we run, you get over that in a hurry. My mom braided, she was great at it and taught me how to braid, and we went from there. We've been doing it for a long time, and I'm very proud of it; especially the reason why.”

The post Inside The Grooming Bag: Braiding Manes At The Steve Asmussen Barn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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I'm reminded of a question I first asked sometime during the early 1980's: Why aren't grooms included in the Hall of Fame? This came to mind when I noticed that a yearling my employer (EMO Stables) had pinhooked at the time–Secretary General (by Foolish Pleasure out of Sippican, by Stage Door Johnny)–was running in the first-ever Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 1984. That race was won by Chief's Crown, trained by Roger Laurin and his groom was the great Eddie Sweat, who had provided the same service for Roger's father, Lucien, and the great Secretariat.

While, owners, trainers, jockeys and, of course, horses are included in the HOF, it only seems logical that the industry should include one more very important variable in the success equation: grooms. If so, I would think rubbing a Triple Crown winner and a Breeders' Cup winner would qualify one for such and honor if presented. My guess is, on further review, that there might be other grooms with a similar entry on his/her resume.

Seems like a good step forward on diversity would be to include grooms, many of which are women, or African American or Hispanic men.

The post Letter To The Editor: Glenn Petty appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The barn was engulfed in flames in a matter of 20 minutes and those on the scene say the man of the moment was Prado, with assistance from fellow Kenneally grooms Cristobal Munoz and Estuardo Godoy. Brendan Walsh's grooms Salvador Hernandez and Jose Garcia also were involved, including extricating their stable pony, the retired racehorse Scuba, from the barn.

“They are guys who have been with us a long time,” Kenneally said. “They are good people, so their natural instinct is to try to help. If there's a situation where you're needed, they're the type of people who will jump in and do the right thing.”

Prado noticed the flames while emptying a wheel barrow and yelled to his coworkers. According to those at the scene, Prado jumped into action and one by one retrieved the six racehorses, getting them out by their halters without a lead shank and handing them to his colleagues, who then found empty stalls for the horses.

Prado estimated it took “two or three minutes” to get the six horses out. Five minutes later, he said the barn was completely immersed in flames. Seven fire departments assisted to extinguishing the fire.

Asked later why he went back into the flaming barn, Prado said: “There wasn't any option. The horse had to get out.”

“Racing is a way of life. Taking care of our horses is a way of life,” said Michael Ann Ewing, owner and trainer of Bold and Bossy who was involved in the fire a day after getting loose on the highway. “These guys who stepped in–most of them I've never met–they're heroes. They just dropped everything. Especially those guys who ran into a burning barn without thinking and saved seven horses. Because it could have been really bad.”

“These acts of bravery are a testament to the real folks who represent this industry in largely unseen capacities and actions,” said Ellis Park racing secretary Dan Bork. “To do what they did, to run into a building engulfed in flames–and then go about their business as if nothing ever happened, like what they did wasn't anything out of the ordinary–they're true heroes with their totally selfless acts of courage.

The post Ellis Park to Honor Backstretch Workers Who Rescued Horses From Fire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“These are the people who dedicate their lives to caring for Thoroughbreds and we are immensely grateful to NYRA for partnering with us to honor them in this manner, as they have done for many years,” said chaplain Humberto Chavez. “These individuals are rarely in the limelight and this ceremony, as well as similar tributes conducted at Aqueduct and Saratoga Race Course, is a real morale-booster.”

According to Chavez, approximately 800 stable workers live at Belmont Park and another 2,000 live off track.

The post Grooms, Hotwalkers Honored in New York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The native of Orange County, Calif., was living her own version of Disneyland, the carefree amusement park that lit the night sky around the corner from her childhood home.

“If somebody would have told me when I was a little girl that one day you're going to be able to make a living working with horses and you're going to travel and see things, I wouldn't have believed it,” said Paye. “It would have been the best possible thing that could have happened.”

Her life took an even better turn several years ago when she met Jose, a fellow groom who came to the United States from Peru with the determination to build a better life. They quickly fell in love and will celebrate their second wedding anniversary in June.

Then came a most unexpected turn, bringing an equal measure of anxiety and excitement. At age 40, Paye will soon have more than horses, a husband, three cats, two dogs and a ferret to care for. She is eight months pregnant with a daughter who will be named Kinsley.

“I never dreamed of being a mother. I dedicated my life to these horses. That's been my life,” Paye said. “But I believe the universe unfolds the way it is supposed to and here I am at 40, eight months pregnant with our daughter, and we're very excited.”

Despite severe morning sickness that made early stages of her pregnancy extraordinarily difficult, she worked throughout the winter months at Oaklawn Park. She recently helped establish Amoss' barn at Indiana Grand, which is overseen by assistant trainer Katy Allen.

“I think Courtney doesn't think that she needs much help at all and we've been kind of careful because we don't want to treat her like something is wrong with her,” Allen said. “But all of the guys constantly jump in to help her. Nobody wants her going up in the hay loft. Nobody wants her bedding down stalls or picking up hay bales or feed bags or anything like that.

“It's really been kind of a team effort in the barn. Everyone has been on the same page and it wasn't like I said anything to the other grooms. It was just something they did.”

Paye gives Serengeti Empress a kiss after her win in the Grade 1 Ballerina

With the blessing of her obstetrician, Paye intends to report to the barn every morning, stopping to greet each of the horses assigned to her before she begins her chores, until her body signals that she must stop. She typically thrives on her daily routine.

“Those quiet mornings I have with them before the sun comes up, before the training starts, that's my favorite time of day,” Paye said. “I love taking care of them. I love trying to keep them happy.”

Serengeti Empress is foremost among the horses she has tended to. The filly became so attached to her last summer at Saratoga Race Course that she would gently bite Paye's toes as she prepared to leave the stall. It was as if to say, “'Please stay and fuss over me a little longer.'”

Paye fusses over every horse.

“She is not just a person who works with horses. She is a horse person,” said Jose, 34. “She doesn't care if the horse is going to run in a $5,000 claiming race or a stake. She takes care of every horse.”

Paye's dedication deep into her pregnancy also stems from the reality that she and Jose have modest means with which to satisfy major expenses they will soon encounter. There is no such thing as maternity leave for backstretch workers. They consider themselves fortunate to enjoy a rare day off.

“My husband and I have a bit of money set aside. But it is a big stress, to be honest,” Paye said. “I know we can make it work. I don't really have a full plan, but we're just going to do it. He's going to keep working as hard as he can and I'll get back to work as soon as I can.”

Although Jose toils primarily as a groom, he is licensed as an assistant trainer and looks forward to advancing his career. He noted that there are ample opportunities to gain extra income on the backside.

“I worry,” he said, “but I'm going to start doing extra things so we can afford everything.”

While Kinsley is an infant, they are considering giving up an apartment they rent near Indiana Grand to live in a recreational vehicle that has many payments remaining.

Paye and Serengeti Empress prepare to leave Saratoga

Amoss is well known for his dedication to hard-working employees facing challenging circumstances.

“Tom is really willing to work with people like that,” Allen said. “He doesn't leave anybody stranded.”

Allen said it is possible that Paye might assist with laundry or paperwork as a way to generate income before she can return to the barn.

“Her job is cemented with us,” she said.

Paye already knows that Kinsley's earliest memories will be of the racetrack.

“She's going to grow up different from other kids,” the mother-to-be said. “She's going to travel. She'll definitely ride a horse before she can walk.

“I hope that she wants to work with horses. I would love for her to work at the racetrack. If she doesn't, that's okay, too. I just want her to have a passion in life.”

Whatever the future holds for Kinsley, she will be blessed with loving, devoted parents. She will be in the best of hands.

Tom Pedulla wrote for USA Today from 1995-2012 and has been a contributor to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blood-Horse, America's Best Racing and other publications.

If you wish to suggest a backstretch worker as a potential subject for In Their Care, please send an email to info@paulickreport.com that includes the person's name and contact information in addition to a brief description of the employee's background.

The post Kirkpatrick & Co Presents In Their Care: Paye Looking Forward To Passing Her Love Of Horses To The Next Generation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Launched with Ado McGuinness Racing, the eight part series of races will be run for points over a variety of conditions to cater to different trainers and horses throughout the season. For each race, there will be a 40% prizemoney boost. A grand prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN Equine Nutrition products will be awarded to the trainer who tops the GAIN The Advantage Series at the end of the season.

The series will begin on Classic Trials Day at Leopardstown on Apr. 11, and then move to Cork, Navan, Ballinrobe, Fairyhouse, Tipperary, The Curragh and end at Naas on Oct. 17, where the overall winning trainer of the series will be determined. There will be a drawing for grooms only for a three-night luxury stay at The Alex Hotel in Dublin supported by The Alex. In addition, the winning breeder of each race will receive a framed photo of the winning horse and will be entered into a drawing to win one tonne of GAIN Equine Nutrition products. For more details on the series, please visit www.hri.ie.com.

Joanne Hurley, GAIN Equine Nutrition, Irish Country Manager, said, “The team at GAIN are really excited to launch the GAIN The Advantage Series. Thoroughbred racing and breeding customers are a key part of our business and we are delighted that we can support so much of the industry through this series that travels right around the country. The stable staff are often the lesser-known connections of the horse, but an equally important element to a racehorse's success and it is fantastic that we can reward them through this series also.”

The post GAIN to Sponsor The Advantage Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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As she walked the sturdy one-eyed colt over to the Woodbine paddock for the biggest race of his life, Siobhan Brown, almost every step of the way, patted the bay known as “Willy” and whispered words of encouragement.

“Everyone thinks I'm crazy,” started the groom who has worked in the barn of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll for the past three years. “I pep talk my horses all the way through their races – from the time they leave their stall to the moment they break from the gate.”

The walk from Barn 39 to the paddock on September 12 was different than any other trek Brown had taken in her horse racing life.

But nothing, not a one-eyed horse, not a $1 million purse, not contesting the iconic Queen's Plate, and certainly not the odds suggesting a victory was a longshot, was going to alter the pre-race game plan Brown always employs.

“Renee [Dockstader] helped me bring Mighty Heart over. She had prepared [Mighty Heart owner] Larry Cordes' two other horses, so it was really special for me to have her come over. We've bonded through his horses, so to have both of his grooms bringing his Plate horse over was amazing. When we were walking through the tunnel – we were going so slowly – Renee kept saying, 'We've got to hurry up!' And I said, 'No… this is his speed and we're not going to run the race before we get there.'”

As the trio continued their journey to the paddock, Brown readied the 3-year-old Ontario-bred, making his stakes debut, for what was waiting.

“I said, 'Willy, there are going to be a lot of cameras. There is going to be a lot of excitement. I know you're ready to go, but you need to listen to your jockey. You're going to go in the gate, you're going to get a clean break, and you're going to listen to Daisuke [rider, Fukumoto]. You're going to find a good spot early and when you come home, you just go, buddy.'”

The Nova Scotia native didn't know just how prophetic her words would be.

But there were still other matters at hand before track announcer Robert Geller would send the 14 horses on their way.

Brown was ready for all of it.

“We were in the paddock and Mighty Heart gets a little stressed out when he hears the voices of people that he knows. He got excited and we calmed him down. Everyone in our group had gone outside to the walking ring, and we were walking him around the paddock, telling him it wasn't time for him to go outside yet. Every time we'd go by and he'd see outside, he thought it was time to go.”

Carroll, who won the 2006 Plate with Edenwold and the 2001 running with the filly Inglorious, legged-up Fukumoto as Brown made her way to the grandstand to the spot she always stands in whenever a horse of hers runs.

“Go get 'em, Willy,” she said as he disappeared from her sight.

The next time she saw Mighty Heart was moments later in the post parade.

His body language spoke volumes to Brown. She liked what she was seeing.

“He looked amped up. He looked fantastic. I walked back over to my usual spot by the stairs, well back from the fence, and just past the finish line. I was nervous. It seemed like forever in the minutes before they went into the gate.”

Brown exhaled as the 14 horses began their journey over the Woodbine Tapeta.

When the field passed the wire for the first time, Fukumoto, in his first Queen's Plate, had guided 13-1 Mighty Heart from post 13 to the rail and to the front.

Looking at the tote board and seeing the brisk early fractions, a quarter-mile in :23.57 and a half in :47.61, Brown became concerned.

At least she was for a moment.

“I thought, 'What are you doing in the lead, buddy? It's a long race.' When the cameras zoomed in on him in the backstretch, I could see Daisuke wasn't pulling to hold him back, but he wasn't pushing him either. I thought they looked good. They looked relaxed.”

But there was still plenty of ground to travel.

Around the turn for home, Mighty Heart's rivals came calling to his inside and outside.

“They were starting to catch up and I thought, 'Oh, no.' Too many times, your horse is in the lead and they end up getting caught.”

Despite not being able to see all of them, Mighty Heart heard them, and braced for the challenge of his much more seasoned foes, ready to test his mettle against more highly regarded contemporaries.

For the woman who had requested to be his groom this year, it was a mix of nerves, excitement and crossed fingers as the real running began.

As the son of Dramedy shifted into another gear after leading nearly every step of the way in the 1 1/4-mile Canadian classic, Brown, tears streaming down her cheeks, put her arms out and shouted, 'Run to me, Willy.'

And that's just what he did.

Mighty Heart winning the Queen's Plate under Daisuke Fukumoto

Mighty Heart crossed the wire a 7 3/4-length winner in a time of 2:01.98, the second fastest Plate run since 1957.

“I just lost it. I just cried and cried. I was so excited. There is a video of me and I sound like a wounded seagull at a fast-food restaurant. I've never hit an octave so high in my life. I must have yelled “Willy” a hundred times. I couldn't get anything else out. My knees buckled and down I went. I got back up. I never thought I'd ever have a horse in the Queen's Plate let alone win it.”

When Brown was finally reunited with Mighty Heart in the winner's circle, she reached up, gave him a hug and said, “I knew you could do it, Willy.”

In the aftermath of the Plate triumph, it wasn't non-stop elation for the horse's connections, Brown included.

There was still work to be done.

“It's still kind of surreal. After the race, it was amazing. People were coming to the barn and taking pictures. Then it hits you … we did it. I thought to myself, 'Siobhan, you are so stupid.' I had changed out of my nice Plate clothes for a baggy t-shirt, so I could get my work done. I had him run in the Plate and then we had two horses run in the race after. You wanted to celebrate, but we had business to do.”

Just like Brown did the next morning.

“I got about two hours sleep Saturday night because I was so excited that I couldn't fall asleep. I got up at 2:30 on Sunday morning and went to the barn for another race we had that day. I had to put the day before on the back burner and focus on getting the job done again.”

Thankfully, she's had plenty of reminders of the big moment in the following days.

While the tears have stopped, Brown, even if she's not always aware of it, is still sporting a wide smile.

“I come back down to earth, trying to treat it like any other race, then someone mentions it, and I start glowing all over again. Probably one of my favorite moments was when Josie was giving Daisuke the leg-up for the race, and the horse moved right into him. I had to hold the horse steady, and I thought, 'Are you trying to be like the horse [Authentic] from the Kentucky Derby and knock everybody over?' I'm glad he didn't.”

Mighty Heart was simply content to bowl over his Plate competition.

The signature victory has thrust the horse into the spotlight, at Woodbine and beyond.

Brown, who began working as a groom in 2016, was recently interviewed by CBC News Nova Scotia, an opportunity for her to share recollections of a horse racing fairytale come true.

But there's much more to the story than just a one-eyed horse winning the longest continually run race in North America.

“My aunt, Helen, had passed away, and that's why I moved out here to Toronto. People will always tell me that she's watching over me. Leading up to the race, I was having all of these weird signs. I'm not one to believe in that, but a little part of me does. I was filling the horses' water buckets and I thought I saw a piece of hay floating in one of the buckets. I went to scoop it up and throw it away, but it stuck to my finger. I let out a scream when I realized it was a praying mantis. I grabbed a towel and picked it up.

“I went home and did a Google search – I had put him on the grass – and some people say it's a sign of good luck because the mantis is praying. I said, 'I'll take it.' It was only the second time I had seen one in my life. The day of the race, I had gone outside to talk to two other grooms, and one of them told me to hold still. There was an eyelash on my face and she told me I had to make a wish. They told me they knew what it was, but not to say it out loud. So, I said it in my head. And the wish came true.”

The number of people on the Woodbine backstretch coming to Barn 39 has wound down over the past couple of days.

Whether he's alone or with others at his side, Brown believes Mighty Heart might have some measure of what he accomplished.

“I think so. He's so funny. He has so much personality. When people walk by and call to him, you can tell how much he likes it. He's easy to love. I'm so glad I asked Josie that I could be his groom. His other groom didn't come back this year, so I was able to take him. I love his personality … there's just something about him, and I think everyone that's come to congratulate him also sees that.”

Brown is hoping people unfamiliar with horse racing might see it too.

“This is a story that shines a positive light on our industry, the sport that so many of us love. From the outside looking in, there is some negativity associated with it. But, we love our horses. We love when they win, but it's about so much more than that. This horse, he is a perfect example of what makes racing wonderful. He beat the odds in so many ways and he's found a new following. People love those underdog stories and he is one of them. He's a horse that people enjoying talking about.”

Mighty Heart is also a horse that seems to appreciate a good pep talk, even if he doesn't hear every word.

“He couldn't hear me when he was getting close to the finish in the Plate, but I told him, 'Run to me, Willy.' And I like to think that's exactly what he did.”

The post The Pep-Talking Groom, Willy, and a Queen’s Plate Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A federal judgment states 59 employees will receive $2,548 each in what the government said was unpaid overtime pay. A portion of the penalties assessed to Weaver were for incorrect timekeeping practices, according to the report.

The U.S. Department of Labor also assessed penalties for what it said were violations of the federal H-2B visa program, including adherence to the program's minimum wage standards, charging employees for costs related to utilizing the program, and trying to discourage employees from reporting to federal investigators or cooperating with the proceedings.

In 2019, the Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing, and Gaming Law touched on the topic of H-2B and wages law in an effort to correct common misconceptions about the federal requirements. You can read more about how those issues impact racing employers from our reporting here.

Read more about the recent Weaver settlement at The Miami Herald

The post Weaver Pays Over $400K In Earnings, Civil Penalties Related To Labor Laws, H-2B Visa Program appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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